South Africa: Celebrating 20 years of contributing to media transformation In its 20 years of existence, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has contributed to the transformation of the media industry through the provision of grant funding to community media. Since its inception, the agency has funded a total number of 586 community media projects. This number includes 321 community broadcast projects in the form of community radio and community TV stations, and 185 community print projects in the form of community newspapers, community magazines and small commercial print projects, the MDDA said. The MDDA facilitates the growth of the community broadcast, print and digital sectors in several ways; the biggest part of its mandate is to encourage the ownership, control, and access to media by historically disadvantaged communities as well as by the historically diminished Indigenous language and cultural groups. The concept of the MDDA was rooted in the founding consensus of our democracy, in the understanding that our nations legacy of imbalances and exclusions could be overcome through a partnership of all sectors of society, for our vision of a new society to become one for all South Africans. The agency was informed by the belief that if we address some of the fundamental problems in the media environment then the issues of content and diversity of opinion would take care of themselves, Chairperson of the Board of the MDDA, Professor Hlengani Mathebula said. To mark the 20-year anniversary of the agency, the Board has approved the celebration of the agency through a variety of events. These celebrations will highlight the importance of quality ethical journalism, community media sustainability, the advancement of social-cohesion and human rights by community media; and different critical media-related topics and issues. For the past 20 years, the MDDA has stayed true to its statutory mandate of consistently seeking to redress exclusion and marginalisation of disadvantaged communities and persons with disabilities from access to the media and media industry. The agency also collaborates with communities at the grassroots level through the projects funded in all corners of South Africa, as it also seeks to enable communities to be active citizens and provide them with access to the information, they need to play a real part in the countrys democracy, the MDDA said. Monthly events will be hosted by the agency from June to November 2023 under the theme: Democracy and Diversity: Celebrating 20 Years of Access to Information and Media Freedom through community media. On Monday at 6pm, the MDDA in collaboration with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will engage listeners of community radio stations across the country. This syndicated radio interactive broadcast will hone in on the role of youth as agents of community development through media. The programme will involve the Acting CEO of MDDA, Ms Nomkhosi Peter, Ms Phumla Williams, former DG of GCIS and an activist from the youth of 1976 as well as participation by the National Youth Development Agency. The details for dial in are toll-free number 0800 142 446 or on a WhatsApp number 065 935 5488. On Tuesday, the agency has invited various stakeholders to a cocktail launch taking place at the ICC Hotel in East London. This event will be the launch pad of the MDDA 20th Celebrations and will be jointly hosted by the Deputy Minister in the Presidency Ms Nomasonto Motoung and Professor Hlengani Mathebula the chairperson of the Board of MDDA. On Wednesday, the MDDA is launching the State-of-the-Art Digital Broadcast Studios for Vukani Community Radio in Cala, one of its beneficiaries from the last funding grant call. More information on the events can be found by e-mailing: margaret@mdda.org.za/ 082 785 6071. Information will also be shared on the agencys website and social media platforms. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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 Wednesday, the Hinsdale Police Department released the numbers of its most recent Memorial Day Click It or Ticket enforcement period, a nationwide campaign that lasted May 22-June 4. During that two week period, Hinsdale police issued 44 traffic citations, ranging from distracted driving and speeding tickets to suspended licenses and DUIs. Advertisement Through the Memorial Day enforcement campaign, we helped make Illinois roads safer and spread the word that seat belts and child safety restraints save lives, Deputy Chief Thomas Lillie said in a statement. According to the release, in 2022 the seat belt compliance rate in Illinois was 93%, slightly higher than the 92% national average reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Advertisement In 2022 Illinois saw an estimated 4% decrease in traffic related fatalities, from 1334 in 2021 to 1280 in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than half of all individuals killed in car accidents are not wearing seltbelts, the news release said. An Indian-American is suing a waterfront resort and a boat captain for alleged negligence that led to the death of his wife and left his son and nephew severely injured while parasailing last year in Florida. Srinivasrao Alaparthi filed a 68-page lawsuit in Monroe County circuit court this week against the boat captain, his first mate and the resort, Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway, alleging negligence and wrongful death, The Washington Post reported. He had filed a lawsuit last year against the parasailing company, Lighthouse Parasailing, which operated out of Captain Pip's Marina. On May 30, 2022, Alaparthi, his wife Supraja, 33, their son, 10, and nephew, 9, went parasailing while vacationing in the Florida Keys when the weather turned bad. Minutes later, boat's captain Daniel Couch cut the towline connecting the parasail to the boat, sending Supraja and children floating in the air for two miles before they crashed into a concrete bridge. Alaparthi, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, told reporters on Thursday that it was a "terrifying experience", The Post reported. He alleges in his lawsuit that the boat's crew failed to check the weather forecast, which would have shown an incoming storm and did not radio the US Coast Guard for help as the independent chute dragged Supraja to her death. In addition, the crew did not provide enough safety equipment, including life jackets on board, and did not properly bring the parasail down after losing control. "I can't help but think that if the people we trusted from the parasailing company and Captain Pip's Marina had done their jobs, my wife would still be with us today," The Post quoted Alaparthi as saying. "We trusted these companies, but they let us down in the worst possible way." In September last year, Couch was charged with manslaughter and multiple boating violations. He has pleaded not guilty. According to media reports, he believed that cutting the towline would allow them to drift into the water, where he could save them. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation said Couch lost control of the parasail with some 150 feet of line still extended and "immediately" cut the tow line with a pocket knife. Due to this, the three passengers plunged from "an unknown height", according to the affidavit. Untethered from the boat and propelled by the wind, the parasail itself stayed aloft and soared south, dragging its three occupants in and out of the water for two miles, The Post said, quoting the affidavit. Alaparthi told reporters that the children are still healing physically while "working through the emotional trauma". --IANS mi/ksk/ ( 448 Words) 2023-06-10-10:16:02 (IANS) The police and witnesses said the blast targeted Mogadishu's Lido Beach restaurant, which is near some government security buildings, reports Xinhua news agency. "Explosions followed with gunshots could be heard from the beach area. There is an exchange of fire between al-Shabab fighters and hotel security," a police officer told Xinhua. No group has claimed responsibility yet for the latest attack. --IANS ksk/ ( 87 Words) 2023-06-10-11:16:02 (IANS) On Thursday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry had said that the government officially notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Perthes, head of the UN Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan, "has been declared persona non grata as of today", reports Xinhua news agency "I think what I can tell you is that the secretary-general recalls that the doctrine of persona non grata is not applicable to or in respect of UnN personnel," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, told reporters on Friday. "Its invocation is contrary to the obligations of states under the Charter of the United Nations, including those concerning the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its personnel," he added. On May 26, Guterres received a letter from Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, in which the UN chief was reportedly asked to replace Perthes. Guterres has voiced full confidence in his special representative for Sudan. "The Secretary-General's position (on Perthes) remains the same," said Dujarric. --IANS ksk/ ( 207 Words) 2023-06-10-11:18:04 (IANS) According to NSW Police Force, at about 12.40 p.m., emergency services were called to a bus that stopped on Flinders Street, near South Dowling Street, after receiving reports that a man was stabbed, reports Xinhua news agency. Police officers were told that a 35-year-old male passenger was stabbed by another man -- not known to him -- before he fled the scene on foot. The passenger was treated at the scene by paramedics, before being taken to St Vincent's Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police established a crime scene and commenced a search of the surrounding area. The accused was arrested, and a knife was seized in Belmore Park at Haymarke. He has been taken to a police station to assist with inquiries, while the investigation is continuing. --IANS ksk/ ( 166 Words) 2023-06-10-12:08:02 (IANS) Addressing a news conference early Saturday, San Francisco Police Department Officer Eve Laokwansathitaya said that the victims are expected to survive the Friday night shooting, which took place while "some sort of block party" was underway, CNN reported. At least five of the victims were hospitalized, according to Santiago Lerma, a legislative aide to a San Francisco Board of Supervisors member. One of the five wounded is undergoing surgery, while four people were treated for minor injuries, Lerma told CNN affiliate KPIX. San Francisco Police Department officers were called to the Mission District around 9 p.m. on Friday night. "When officers arrived on scene they located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds," CNN quoted the police as saying in a statement. "Officers summoned medics to the scene to treat and transport the victims to local area hospitals." The Mission District, popularly known as The Mission, is a large and diverse neighbourhood often known for its historic architecture in the east-central portion of San Francisco. --IANS ksk/ ( 203 Words) 2023-06-10-13:14:03 (IANS) Prior to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal trip to China, coordinated efforts have been made to bring Nepal's communist parties together. According to reports, Dahal also known as 'Prachanda' has stated that he plans to visit China in July or early August. The CPN Maoist Centre and the CPN Unified Socialist Party, as well as Netra Bikram Chand (Biplab) and Mohan Baidya, have made attempts to unite the communist components, Pardafas reported. According to sources, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal has been quietly working for this union with the Ambassador and a group of intellectuals from the Chinese Communist Party in Nepal. Notably, this group has been in contact with high-level figures such as former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota, Maoist Centre leader Barshaman Pun, and National Assembly Speaker Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, who is currently in China. In response to these developments, China's Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, has been actively participating in political discussions. According to sources, China intends to complete initiatives that were previously stalled during the CPN era, including issues of trade, security, and defence, as well as treaties and accords, according to Pardafas. Recently, Prime Minister Prachanda accepted an invitation from Liu Jianchao, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party's Foreign Affairs Department, who had visited Nepal. Prachanda stated that he plans to visit China in the coming month or early August. This announcement follows the visit of a team of leaders from the Maoist Center who had recently returned from China. Agni Prasad Sapkota, one of the Maoist leaders who were part of the delegation, confirmed that he had conveyed Prachanda's desire to the Chinese side, Pardafas reported. Before that, the discussion on unification between the communist parties in Nepal intensified. Recently, there have been efforts to bring together parties such as the Maoist Center, CPN-US, Biplav, and Baidya leadership. In relation to this, the Chairman of the Maoist Center and Prime Minister Prachanda, Chairman of CPN-US Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of NSP Baburam Bhattarai, Biplav, and other leaders also held a discussion at the Prime Minister's Residence in Baluwatar on Friday, Pardafas reported. According to sources aligned with the Maoist, the objective is to initiate unity by forming a Socialist front and subsequently establish the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). The anticipated announcement of this front is expected to occur around or shortly after mid-June. The decision made during the upcoming meeting of the Central Committee of the Maoist Center in June will also play a significant role in shaping the formation of this front. Furthermore, this front will actively pursue unification with the CPN-UML and endeavour to revive the then-Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). CPN-US Chairman and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has publicly called for the revival of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Speaking at the first district convention of CPN (Unified Socialist) Bhaktapur held in Bhaktapur on Saturday, he expressed his willingness to revive the CPN, Pardafas reported. "Our party has no intention of merging with another party. Some people may speculate about a possible merger with UML. However, even within UML, there is unrest and disagreement. If we were to merge, it would be to revive the old party," he emphasized. "I invite Prachandaji to join hands, and together, we can revitalize the Nepal Communist Party CPN. Will KPji be ready? Let us reawaken the Nepal Communist Party CPN." After UML removed the age limit of 70 years, National Assembly lawmaker and former Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam are also ready to join CPN (UML). Following UML's decision to suspend the age limit for the party's executive post, he expressed his willingness to return to UML along with his friends. The Chinese side has consistently shown interest in the unity of communist parties in Nepal. They actively participated in the formation of the former CPN and sent high-level leaders to Nepal multiple times for this purpose. Even during the potential split of the CPN, the then-Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, made significant efforts to prevent it, Pardafas reported. During the presidential election, Chinese Ambassador Chen Song also played a crucial role in preventing the collapse of the ruling coalition. At that time, the alliance consisted of the Maoist, UML, RSP, and RPP. Ambassador Song met with Prime Minister Prachanda, UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli, CPN (US) Chairman Madhav Nepal, and others in order to prevent the collapse. This was crucial as UML and Maoist were the two main components of the former CPN. However, Ambassador Song's efforts were unsuccessful, and the Maoists formed a new alliance with the Congress party. Once again, China has shown interest in a communist alliance and unification, which seems to be in preparation for Prime Minister Prachanda's visit to China. (ANI) Twelve Indian Australians have been included in the list of Honours and Awards announced by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), The Australia Today reported on Monday. There are a total of 1,191 Australians on the list which also include the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), outstanding awards, and recognition for exceptional and noteworthy service, as per a report published in The Australia Today. Australia Today is dedicated to news, analysis and opinions from Australia focused on multicultural communities and the Indian subcontinent. 1. Sunita Gloster - Order of Australia (AO) Sunita Gloster has received the Order of Australia (AO) for her considerable contributions to the media and marketing industries, as well as to gender equality. Sunita is energised by the process of inspiring and galvanising people to take action. Her parents, Betty and John D'Souza OAM migrated to Australia from India in 1974. On this occasion, Sunita said, "We left Bombay to settle in Mt Gambier. I can't imagine the courage that took. I'm so grateful for all the sacrifices my parents made for my future. And I must acknowledge the community of Mt Gambier, which 49 years later my parents still call home, for welcoming us into their lives and to Australia." Sunita was part of the change in 2021, thanks to an advocacy campaign she helped build and execute for UN Women Australia. It's a rare sensation, she adds, to be told that someone out there thought she'd made enough of an impact to submit her for an Order of Australia award. 2. Ajay Satyan - Public Service Medal (PSM) Ajay Satyan received the Public Service Medal (PSM) for his extraordinary public service in delivering funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ajay works for the Victorian Government's Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry, and Regions as the Executive Director of the Programme Centre. Before his appointment in the Victorian Government, Ajay worked as the Chief Technology Officer at the Federal Department of the Environment and Energy, where he reformed critical platforms management by adopting Cloud and Software. 3. Ravi Subramanya - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Associate Professor Ravi Subramanya Bhat has been Awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to medicine, and to rural psychiatry. Dr Bhat came to Australia from India with his young family and assumed a position with GV Health as a consultant psychiatrist in 1999. Since 2012, he worked as a Divisional Clinical Director - Mental Health Services and Authorised Psychiatrist. 4. Harshal Nandurkar - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Professor Harshal Nandurkar has been awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his vital service to medicine, particularly as a haematologist. He completed his MBBS from the University of Mumbai and then undertook PhD research at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute followed by postdoctoral research in the Department of Biochemistry, at Monash University. He is presently the Director of Clinical Haematology Alfred Health Program Director of Alfred Cancer and also the Head of the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, as per The Australia Today. 5. Dr Virendra Kumar Berera - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Dr Virendra Kumar Berera has been awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the Indian community of Victoria. He is a renowned medical practitioner in Victoria and is President of the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria, from 2002-2004. 6. Vinod Daniel - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Vinod Daniel has been rewarded with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to conservation and the environment. He is an international museum expert by profession. he is also Chairman of AusHeritage and Chief Executive Officer of India Vision Institute (IVI) and was also a member of the Board of the Australia India Council, Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, for the period 2005-2011. 7. Dr Sunita Siddhu Dhindsa - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Dr Sunita Siddhu Dhindsa has been rewarded with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the Indian community of the Australian Capital Territory. Dr Dhindsa has a PhD in genetics and a Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management from Macquarie University. She is a member, founder member, patron, and life member of various community organisations and has worked in several positions. 8. Dr Saba Nabi - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Dr Saba Nabi has been rewarded with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to community health, education and multicultural affairs. Dr Nabi began work on her own PhD and also started volunteering at the university to help international students integrate into tertiary and community life. She is recognised as a major voice in the regional Australian community who is helping women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. "I was really proactive from day one. I really wanted to engage because I was feeling homesick and I also really wanted to understand the Australian culture," Dr Nabi said. 9. Jaishri Patricia Falcetta - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Jaishri Patricia Falcetta has been felicitated with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community through social welfare organisations. She is the founder and director of Social Living Solutions and creator of the Family Joy Model. Through her work, she hopes to see the fulfilment of her vision for a world where people with Autism and other neurodiversity are accepted, integrated, and recognised as valued members of society, according to The Australia Today. 10. Nishi Puri - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Nishi Puri has been feted with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the Indian community of Canberra. She is a small business owner who employs many new migrants especially women from domestic abuse relationships and supports their upskilling. In 2022, she was appointed as Honorary Australian Capital Territory Multicultural Ambassador. 11. Kalpana Sriram - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Kalpana Sriram has been conferred with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to community mental health. She is the Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia and the Founder of Madhuram Academy of Performing Arts. She is also a Sessional Clinician at Transcultural Mental Health Centre and Multicultural Problem Gambling for New South Wales. 12. Arun Venkatesha - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Arun Venkatesha has been awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to the Indian community of Canberra. Arun is Treasurer of the Canberra India Council and a Founding Member of Diwali Mela Inc. The Governor-General said in a statement, "Recipients have made substantial contributions and had a significant impact at the local, national or international level. Some are volunteers, and others have had a remarkable impact in professional roles - many have done both. They are all inspiring and their service is valued by us all," The Australia Times reported. (ANI) Earlier, Tripathi was serving as Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan. She is an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1994 batch. The Ministry of External Affairs informed in a press release, "Shubhdarshini Tripathi (IFS: 1994) presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Serbia." She is expected to take up the assignment shortly, MEA added. (ANI) India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released over 2 hours of CCTV footage of the attempted vandalisation of the Indian High Commission in London, United Kingdom by anti-national elements. NIA has appealed to the public to provide information regarding the people seen in the CCTV footage to the agency in the public interest. The NIA has released CCTV footage of the Khalistani attack, given a WhatsApp number as well seeking info on the vandalisers, while promising to keep the identity of the informant secret. A request for information from NIA read, "CCTV footage of the attack by anti-national elements on High Commission of India London, which happened on 19.03.2023 is uploaded above. All the members of the public are requested to provide any information regarding the persons seen in the footage to the NIA in the public interest. Information may be provided on Whatsapp No +91 7290009373. The identity of the informant shall be kept secret." Notably, a pro-Khalistan protestor in London climbed the High Commission of India's balcony and pulled down the Indian flag on March 19. A video of the same incident went viral on social media. In the then-viral video, the Khalistani protestor can be seen on the balcony attempting to bring down the Indian flag. At the end of the video, another man reaches the balcony from inside to avert any more harm to the flag. The Indian community on March 19 held a large gathering in front of the Indian High Commission in London against the "disrespectful act" of Khalistan supporters towards the Indian flag and demanded that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the British government act against the perpetrators at the earliest. The desecration of the Indian Flag led to an unprecedented outpouring of support from the diverse Indian community settled here in Britain. Expats from all across the UK travelled to London to express their solidarity with the Indian Flag and with the unity of India. The gathering resoundingly debunked the idea of Khalistan, saying there are no takers for it. A case was registered by the Delhi Police on March 24 in connection with protests in front of the Indian High Commission in London on March 19. "On receipt of a report from the Ministry of External Affairs on the incident at Indian High Commission, London on March 19, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked Delhi Police to take appropriate legal action," said an official statement. The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned after the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom was vandalised. The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned to convey India's strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs said earlier. British High Commissioner Alex Ellis condemned the attack on the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom. He condemned the "disgraceful acts" and called them totally unacceptable. "I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the High Commission of India - totally unacceptable," British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted. (ANI) Afghan refugees residing in Iran have voiced concerns about the scarcity of job opportunities available to them in the country and also raised concern over the "mistreatment" by authorities, reported Tolo News. "Even if an employment opportunity is provided, because of religious issues or for being a Sunni and Afghan, you cannot engage in work. If they are selected for a job, they are given heavy tasks," said Mursal, an Afghan refugee in Iran. Many find it challenging to secure stable employment and provide for their families, exacerbating their already precarious situation. The high number of Afghan refugees, estimated to exceed five million individuals according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, has strained the local labor market, making it increasingly difficult for refugees to find suitable work. Asifa Stanikzai, a human rights activist said, "The refugees have problems in working and residence issues and lack of identification and also the closure of identification and passport centres has created obstacles for the refugees." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation tweeted that more than 2,500 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan from Iran on Saturday. According to the ministry, "2534 refugees arrived in Afghanistan from Iran on Jawza 20 (June 10, 2023). "According to a border office in Islam Qala of Herat province, 228 of them were sent to IOM to receive assistance," the ministry added. Taliban's spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid called on Iran to treat Afghan refugees properly. He also said that the Islamic Emirate is trying to provide the ground for the Afghan refugees to return from Iran, as per Tolo News. "The situation of the refugees should be based on human beings in all neighbouring countries, especially Iran. Their rights should be ensured and they should not be deported. Migration is an issue which is difficult for Iran as well to cope with but it should consider it based on neighbourly and brotherly manners," Mujahid said. After Pakistan, Iran hosts the highest number of Afghan refugees. Tens of thousands of Afghans have left the country for Iran over the past two years. (ANI) Waukegan High School students attend school at either the Washington campus, pictured here in April 2017, or the Brookside campus. (Emily Coleman/News-Sun) Waukegan High School senior Breydon Wendricks goes to classes in the same building where his great grandparents went to school, but he has a different idea should he have children going to high school in the city a state-of-the-art campus near the lakefront. During his civics class in the fall, Wendricks and his classmates were tasked by teacher Ron Ashlaw to develop a project for the Mikva Challenge in the spring, of which the community took notice. Advertisement As the idea to construct and fund a new building big enough to educate more than 4,500 students in one place grew toward readiness for the Mikva Challenge, Ashlaw pushed Wendricks to seek more than wowing attendees at the school event in April. I told him to go even higher. I told him to apply to go to (a) youth summit in Washington, Ashlaw said. He did, and he got an all-expenses paid trip to D.C., he added, referring to the first-ever Mikva Challenge Youth Summit for 100 select students nationwide. Advertisement After three days in Washington from May 21-23, Wendricks returned to Waukegan and is now engaging students to get involved, working with his elders and taking steps to eventually make his Mikva Challenge of a new, modern high school here a reality. People I talked to there were really helpful, Wendricks said. I talked to (Rep.) Brad Schneider, (Rep.) Sean Castens staffer and (Rep.) Chuy Garcias staffer. I feel like Im actually doing something, Realizing he is embarking on a gargantuan task, which will eventually require a multimillion dollar referendum or some very generous donors, Wendricks said now it is time to put building blocks in place. Discussions in class considered finding the necessary money through a referendum, the focus of the education and a potential location. While the students talked about possible locations near Belvidere Road, the idea of a school near Lake Michigan was more exciting. Victor Hinojosa, a junior and the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education student member, said a lakefront campus would be a thrill for students. There is also vacant land there. It would be amazing, Hinojosa said. It would make students feel proud of their school. There wouldnt be anything like it. Realizing current Waukegan High School students will not go to the new school he envisions, he is starting a club in the fall to engage younger schoolmates so they can pass the enthusiasm to those after them. I want talk to elementary school students so they can take something home to their parents, Wendricks said. Their children will go there. We need to start building support for a referendum now. Advertisement Along with reaching students and their families, Wendricks said he is talking to school administrators and local officials to both build support and learn from them what they believe it will take to make the idea a reality. Board of Education President Brandon Ewing said with the high schools Washington campus more than 100 years old and the Brookside campus over 60, looking at something new is a good idea. We need to upgrade to make our high school competitive, Ewing said. Its exciting to see the young people stepping up to take an interest. Theyre doing something for those who will come behind them. Though Wendricks is academically astute with plans for a college education, he is also skilled as a plumber his familys business since 1959. He said building a school which not only has academic classrooms but modern labs for vocational training is necessary. Were not doing enough to get students ready for the trades, he said. Trade education is vital for Waukegan and America. It prepares you for a career where you can buy a home and raise a family. Wendricks said along with preparing people for college, there should also be the opportunity to learn how to become plumbers, electricians, masonry artisans, HVAC technicians, carpenters or welders. The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Summit of Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) in Goa on Monday. The CAG India is the Chair of the SAI20 Engagement Group under India's G20 Presidency. The delegates from the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of the G20 countries, guest SAIs, invited SAIs, international organizations, engagement groups and other invitees would are attending the SAI20 Summit. SAIs of Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Spain, UAE, Morocco and Poland are participating in person, the CAG office said in a statment. Under the guiding philosophy for India's Presidency of G20, Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam i.e., "One Earth, One Family, and One Future", the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had proposed the collaboration of SAI20 Engagement Group on two priority areas, Blue Economy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI), it said. Blue Economy is the Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the ecosystem. With AI making greater inroads into governance, SAIs must inevitably prepare themselves for auditing AI-based governance systems. Simultaneously SAIs must look for opportunities to adopt AI into their audit techniques to increase their effectiveness, the CAG office said. In line with this, during the course of the SAI20 Summit, SAI India shall present and introduce the Compendiums on Blue Economy and Responsible AI which has contributions and experience shared by the SAI20 members and other SAIs to guide future audits on these priority areas, it said. (ANI) Lt Gen Themistoklis and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari held discussions on bilateral issues of mutual interest and defence cooperation. "Lt Gen Themistoklis Bourolias, Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff called on Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari #CAS in New Delhi today. Bilateral issues of mutual interest and defence cooperation were discussed between the two Chiefs," Indian Air Force Media Co-ordination Centre tweeted. Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) took part in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, the air force of Greece. The exercise was conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from April 24, 2023, to May 4, 2023. The Indian Air Force took part with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft. The objective of the exercise was to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among the participating Air Forces. The exercise was conducted in a realistic combat scenario involving multiple types of air and surface assets. It also enabled the participating contingents to engage in professional interactions, providing valuable insight into each other's best practices. (ANI) A Tik Tok video of a terrorist's body being tied to an armoured vehicle in Peshawar has gone viral on social media, Pak vernacular media reported. The Police Department and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed a wanted terrorist during a joint operation in the Matni area of the provincial capital on April 6, whose body was later tied to an armoured car and rolled around the city, as per a report in Daily Jasarat. Daily Jasarat is a Pakistan-based online newspaper in the Urdu language. The terrorist was identified as Azmat alias Malang, who reportedly belonged to the Sheena group. The video of the incident went viral on social media, in which it can be seen that the dead body of the terrorist was rolled to the police station on the Indus Highway. After the revelation, the top police officials took notice of the video going viral and ordered an investigation by CCPO Peshawar. CCPO Syed Ashfaq Anwar formed an inquiry committee under the supervision of SP Sadar Circle, Malik Habib, the committee will submit a report soon. In the month of April, Balochistan witnessed as many as 13 armed attacks wherein 21 people lost the battle of their lives, as per a report. Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has compiled a brief report regarding the terrorist attacks in Pakistan during April 2023. According to the report, among 21 people who died in armed attacks in Balochistan, 11 were security personnel while 9 were innocent civilians. Besides this, 23 people met with critical injuries. These injured people included 21 civilians and 2 security forces personnel. Incidents of terrorism are on the rise in Pakistan. There has been a record increase in deaths due to terrorism in Pakistan in the first quarter of 2023, claimed a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan vernacular media Daily K2 reported. During the period, almost 854 people have been killed or injured in Pakistan's terror activities and anti-terror actions. A total of 358 people have been killed, and 496 injured from January to March 2023. This number is half of the total deaths in the year 2022. The maximum number of deaths, 68, reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as per Daily K2. Sydney-based Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)'s recent Global Terrorism Index (GTI) - 2023 highlighted Afghanistan and Pakistan among the ten countries most affected by terrorism in 2022, with deaths in Pakistan rising significantly to 643, a 120 per cent increase from 2021. It referred to a significant increase as being predominantly driven by increased attacks by the ethno-nationalist organisation -- the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Deaths by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) doubled while Islamic State-Khorasan (ISK) increased sevenfold in Pakistan. The BLA was responsible for a third of these deaths in Pakistan. BLA is Pakistan's own creation. It is the result of politics in Pakistan of the ethnic minority which turned into fighting for its own survival against the alleged suppressive attitude of the authorities. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on day 2 of the G20 Ministers' meeting in Varanasi on Monday not only urged everyone to adopt a game-changing action plan for women-led development but also said that attempts should be made to increase investment in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Delivering a special video address at the G20 Development Ministers' meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency in Varanasi, PM Modi emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of the people not to let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. He continued by saying that the Global South needed to strongly convey to the rest of the globe the necessary course of action. Underlining the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment in achieving the SDGs, the Prime Minister mentioned that India is not limited to women's empowerment but extends to women-led development. PM Modi emphasised that women are driving development agendas and acting as drivers of growth and transformation. Everyone, he said, should adopt a radical Action Plan for Women-led Development. The Prime Minister said that multilateral financial institutions should be reformed to expand the eligibility criteria to ensure that finance is accessible to those in need. "In India, we have made efforts to improve people's lives in more than a hundred Aspirational Districts which were pockets of under-development that have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country," the PM said in his address. The Prime Minister urged the G20 Development Ministers to study this development model."It may be relevant as you work towards accelerating Agenda 2030", he added. PM Modi also underlined that the democratization of technology is a crucial tool to help bridge the data divide. "Democratisation of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change," PM Modi said in his video address to the visiting delegates. "India is willing to share its experience with partner countries, PM Modi said. The Prime Minister welcomed delegates to Varanasi which he said is the oldest living city of the mother of democracy. Highlighting the significance of Kashi, the Prime Minister said that it has been the centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries while it also has the essence of India's diverse heritage serving as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country. "I am delighted that the G20 development agenda has reached Kashi as well. Development is a core issue for the global south...I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the sustainable development goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind," the Prime Minister said. In an address at the Ministers' meeting in Varanasi today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and added that it was understandable last year that the focus was on conflict, however over a period of time, a narrative began to take root that the conflict and its repercussions should not completely sideline the real concerns of the global south. "It was understandable last year that the focus was on conflict. Over a period of time, a narrative began to take root that the conflict and its repercussions should not obfuscate or completely sideline the real concerns of the global south...We're in no way diminishing the seriousness of conflict and its consequences," the EAM said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday hailed Singapore's ratification of the International Solar Alliance as a "big step."Calling it a big step, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday announced that Singapore has ratified the International Solar Alliance, signifying the decision to join collective efforts on climate action. "Singapore has ratified the International Solar Alliance. This is a big step because when a country like Singapore which is so active and motivational for many joins ISA fully, this is something very important," the EAM said. Taking to Twitter, Singapore in India wrote, "Today, Singapore Minister Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman deposited Singapore's @isolaralliance (ISA) Instrument of Ratification with India EAM HE @DrSJaishankar, signifying our decision to join collective efforts on climate action. @PMOIndia #OWOSOG #ISA #Renewables." The International Solar Alliance (ISA), also called the International Agency for Solar Policy and Application is a group of 106 signatory countries (86 of which are members), the majority of which are sunshine countries that lie entirely or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The alliance's main goal is to promote efficient solar energy use in order to lessen reliance on fossil fuels. This program was first presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who co-launched it with French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. International Solar Alliance is also the treaty-based agency responsible for implementing One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), which aims to transfer solar power-generated energy to other areas and meet electricity demands. He further said, "We have approved unanimously two outcomes- one is a G20 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress in the Sustainable Development Goals, and the second is G20 High-Level Principles on Lifestyle for Sustainable Development."Earlier today, Jaishankar also welcomed delegates at the venue for the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. The event began on Sunday (June 11) and will continue till June 13. Jaishankar is chairing the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting scheduled between June 11-13 and a total of 200 delegates are expected to attend the meeting. The Development Ministers' Meeting in Varanasi 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 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 official release, 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'.Delegates from Brazil, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and China on Sunday arrived at the Varanasi Airport. Delegates experienced the culture of Varanasi and attended Ganga Aarti at the city's Dashashwamedh Ghat yesterday. Delegates to the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting along with the EAM Jaishankar took part in the Ganga Arti ritual at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on Sunday evening. Jaishankar led the delegates on a cruise ride and sightseeing of the ghats. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], June 12 (ANI/TPS): Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid testified at the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. The opposition leader arrived at the Jerusalem District Court to take the stand as part of Case 1000 -- one of three cases brought against Netanyahu in the trial. Under Case 1000, known by Israelis as the Gifts Affair, the prime minister is charged with fraud and breach of trust. According to the indictment, Netanyahu asked then-Finance Minister Lapid in 2013 to assist in the personal affairs of Israeli businessman and Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan Milchan allegedly gave the Netanyahus expensive gifts in exchange for amendments to a law granting tax exemptions to immigrants and returning residents. Under cross-examination by Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad at the beginning of Monday's hearing, Lapid said that he knew about the close relationship between Netanyahu and Milchan but that he "didn't know then about the issue with the gifts." Hadad identified a contradiction in Lapid's version of events when he "spoke twice" with Netanyahu about Milchan's request to extend the tax exemption. At the hearing, Lapid said that they met at the Prime Minister's Residence at Balfour Street and also at the entrance to the Cabinet room on Givat Ram. However, Lapid claimed during a 2017 investigation that both incidents occurred at Balfour Street. After the judge asked Lapid about the contradiction, he said: "It was a marginal incident so I didn't remember where it was, but the content is important because when a prime minister addresses me regarding a tax matter, you remember the conversation and the content, not the place." The Gifts Affair is one of three cases which Netanyahu is on trial for. In Case 2000, also known as the Yediot Affair, the Prime Minister is charged with striking an illegal quid pro quo with Arnon "Noni" Mozes, the publisher of the Yediot Aharonot daily in 2009 when Netanyahu was Minister of Communication. In exchange for supporting legislation that would weaken the rival Israel Hayom daily, Yediot would provide more favorable coverage of Netanyahu. Case 4000, known as the Bezeq Affair, regards a quid pro quo with Shaul Elovitch, Bezeq's majority shareholder. Specifically, the PM is accused of giving the telecom regulatory benefits in exchange for favorable coverage on the Elovitch-owned Walla! News site. Netanyahu insists he is innocent of all the charges. (ANI/TPS) Malashko stated that three bombs, around eight kilometres (five miles) from the battle lines, had damaged private homes and communications in the little town. Even though Russian forces substantially destroyed the town's infrastructure, a few hundred people still live there. Last week, Russian soldiers shelled Kherson in "targeted strikes" during evacuation operations, leaving at least one person dead and 8 others injured, Al Jazeera reported citing Ukraine's Prosecutor General. "The shelling began precisely during the evacuation of citizens whose homes were flooded," the Interior Ministry of Ukraine stated in a statement, according to Al Jazeera. "And it continues to prevent Ukraine from saving the most valuable - human lives," it added. Kherson is located on the Dnipro River, approximately 60 kms (37 miles) downstream of the Kakhovka dam. Russia has already accused Ukrainian forces of shelling rescue personnel in Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson region. The Russia-Ukraine war that started on February 24, 2022, has taken numerous lives and the war continues to escalate between the two nations even now. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry has said it has repelled attacks by Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions. Moscow said that its forces used long-range, high-precision weapons launched from the sea to attack areas belonging to the Ukrainian army reserve. A day after claiming the first modest victories of its eagerly awaited counteroffensive, Ukraine claimed on Monday (today) that its troops had retaken a fourth hamlet from Russian forces, reported Al Jazeera. (ANI) Sharjah [UAE], June 12 (ANI/WAM): Expo Centre Sharjah has announced it is participating in the 57th edition of the Sfax International Fair, which commenced in the city of Sfax, Tunisia, on June 9, 2023, to bolster its regional and international presence, diversify its participation in foreign exhibitions, and explore collaborative opportunities with various stakeholders in the exhibition industry. During the event, the Centre highlighted the latest developments in the exhibition sector in Sharjah and showcased the emirate's leading position in the regional and global exhibitions industry. A delegation from the Centre, led by CEO Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, demonstrated its innovative business strategies and organisational measures adopted to create additional value for the exhibition sector and promote its sustainable growth. The delegation held several meetings with several officials, focusing on strengthening cooperative relations between Sharjah and Tunisia to meet the aspirations of the exhibition and conference sector on each side. The delegation also met with various representatives of entities participating in the exhibition, discussing potential avenues to enhance their participation in future events in Sharjah. Al Midfa emphasised that the Centre is committed to fostering diverse partnerships across all nations, particularly with its Arab counterparts in the exhibitions sector, to explore the current status and future prospects of the sector while enhancing collaboration, promoting strategic partnerships, and coordinating joint Arab exhibitions. Al Midfa highlighted that the Sfax International Fair is one of the most important events hosted by Tunisia. The Centre's participation in this pivotal regional event will further enhance its cooperation and coordination with Arab counterparts while also discussing ways to empower the exhibitions and conference industry to play its primary role in supporting economic development. Running until June 25, 2023, the Sfax International Fair brings together more than 180 exhibitors, representing major companies from within Tunisia and abroad. (ANI/WAM) The Pak National Assembly on Monday passed a resolution calling for swift action against the May 9 rioters under the Army Act, reported The Express Tribune. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif submitted the resolution, which demanded that the culprits of the May 9 events be prosecuted under the Army Act while respecting human rights. The text of the resolution said that on May 9, a gang and its leaders broke all boundaries by conducting attacks on military installations, causing irreparable damage to state institutions and the country. As a result, the resolution urged that all such elements be dealt with in accordance with the law and the Constitution, as per a report published in The Express Tribune. The Express Tribune is an internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan. It said that there should be no delay in taking action against the perpetrators and that even the party's workers and officials were distancing themselves from the events of May 9. According to the resolution, no violations of human rights occurred during the action taken against the miscreants and criminals. The resolution also said that the military has the authority to respond to attacks on military installations around the world and that all people implicated should be punished for their conduct under the Pakistan Army Act of 1952. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated in the House that military installations would be targeted on May 9. "Our system has been compromised. No new laws are being created against the culprits of May 9; the existing laws found in books are being utilised," as per The Express Tribune. He also said that the cases pertaining to attacks on military installations are heard in military courts worldwide. "We have not created any new law; rather, these laws already exist. Where there is terrorism, cases will be dealt with under anti-terrorism law," he added. He also added that instances that are intended to be heard under Article 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) will be handled appropriately. Those who targeted fighter jets and attacked the Bala Hisar Fort, on the other hand, will face charges under the Army Act. Maulana Abdul Kabir Chitrali, a Jamaat-e-Islami member, opposed civilians being tried in military courts, claiming that no one is above the law, not even the prime minister, army leader, or chief justice. He questioned whether the government and judiciary had failed totally. "If that is the case, then send the cases to military courts, and if not, then proceed with the cases in civilian courts," he said, according to The Express Tribune. He indicated that JI is opposed to the resolution's demand that cases be tried in military courts. Protesters purportedly affiliated with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalised public and private property and even stormed the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Lahore corps commander's mansion, popularly known as the Jinnah House in Lahore. On the orders of the National Accountability Bureau, paramilitary Rangers personnel arrested the party chairman, Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, later renamed the 190 million Pounds National Crime Agency scandal, from the Islamabad High Court premises. Following the crackdown, numerous senior PTI leaders were jailed, and many disavowed the party. So far, many prominent PTI figures have broken with Imran, including Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi, Amir Kiyani, Saifullah Nyazee, Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan, and Musarrat Jamshed Cheema. A number of PTI candidates who were given PTI tickets for the Punjab Assembly elections also left the party after condemning the May 9 unrest and attacks on military installations, reported The Express Tribune. (ANI) As UK Development Minister Andrew Mitchell attended the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting in Varanasi on Monday, new climate and tech partnerships were announced to benefit all by tackling global challenges, informed the British High Commission in India. Mitchell joined India and G20 partners in calling for reinvigorated efforts to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The new UK support includes funding for a tech start-up focusing on sustainable agriculture, including through growing vegetables in an environmentally-friendly way, as per an official release by British High Commission. UK's International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell is in India for the G20 starting Monday - and to boost UK-India cooperation on development including through climate and tech partnerships. He reinforced at the gathering in Varanasi how the UK's partnerships and investments are having a multiplier effect in tackling the biggest shared challenges of today - including climate change, poverty and food insecurity. The G20 Development Ministerial meeting in Varanasi is laying the groundwork to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of the G20 Leader's Summit in New Delhi this September. At the G20, the UK emphasised the need to redouble global efforts to tackle the climate crisis and shocks facing the most vulnerable countries demonstrating our position as a development leader set out earlier this year. New UK programmes announced in India include an investment of 10 million Pounds in the Avaana Fund, a women-led climate-tech fund that supports innovative businesses to develop solutions to climate change and create jobs for women in sectors such as clean energy, energy storage and agriculture. An investment of 12 million Pounds from the UK Government-supported Neev II fund will go to Nutrifresh, an Agri-Tech start-up enterprise focused on making agriculture more sustainable by growing vegetables in an environmentally friendly way. On Sunday, Minister Mitchell visited the Chakr Innovation research lab in Gurugram, which is developing cutting-edge tech to tackle climate challenges. The UK-supported lab is now developing innovative batteries for e-vehicles that do not need charging infrastructure and are fully recyclable, providing a cleaner and safer alternative to older Lithium tech. The lab has previously developed devices that capture pollution-causing emissions and convert them to pigment for black inks and paints. Targeted investments like these play a central role in tackling climate change and supporting sustainable development. They improve access to clean energy, create jobs and boost economic growth, all of which are vital to ending poverty. Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister for Development, said, "We commend India for putting development and the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable at the heart of its G20 Presidency. The UK is committed to working with G20 partners to tackle the climate crisis and reduce poverty," as per an official release. "The UK's new investments in India will deepen our collaboration, underlining the UK's focus on mutually beneficial partnerships. Make no mistake: these investments benefit the British taxpayer while delivering world-changing solutions. I am proud that the UK is supporting such visionary and innovative endeavours that are needed to achieve development progress across the globe," he added. Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said, "The investments highlight the UK's commitment to delivering the 2030 Roadmap - a partnership that delivers for both our countries. As set out in the UK's International Development Strategy, we are focused on delivering clean and green infrastructure and creating opportunities for women and girls." The investments will strengthen the UK's trading relationship in the region and help drive growth - one of the Government's five priorities, the official release said. (ANI) 1 out of 5 uptown office floors sit vacant now. What that means for Charlotte Charlotte has rarely, if ever, seen as much office space sitting empty in uptown as it has now. If you took all the empty office floor space spread out across uptown and put it in one building, it would fill the entire Bank of America headquarters the states tallest skyscraper three times over. Put another way, roughly one in every five office floors in uptown sits empty, setting a record late last year not seen in at least the last 25 years, according to real estate services firm JLL. Whats more, the 185 empty floors out of about 940 tracked is also more than what the city likely has ever seen before, partly because its been been growing for so many years, said Barry Fabyan, senior managing partner with JLL. The vacancies play a role in roughly a dozen office properties across Charlotte that are confronting troubled mortgage loans, according to data and analysis from CoStar Group and real estate firm Trepp. The buildings range from mid-rise suburban campuses to uptown towers. For some building owners, it could have been a case of bad luck: entering into a loan a few years before the pandemic hit only to see tenants give up leases during one of the most dramatic shifts to the modern office environment. The vacancy and distressed loan numbers are a stark illustration of where the Charlotte office market has found itself, as building owners contemplate a future where fewer workers show up to the cubicle today than were there prior to the pandemic. An uptown Wells Fargo tower complex goes up for sale. Lots of options for what comes next Of roughly 23 million square feet of office space in uptown, about 5 million close to 22% sits vacant, Fabyan said. About 90 of the 185 empty floors are contained in just five buildings, he noted. He considers a healthy office market to have between 75 and 100 empty floors. Office buildings are the weak link in commercial real estate right now, said Mark Vitner, chief economist at Charlotte-based Piedmont Crescent Capital, and the weakest link in the office sector is the oldest building in the central business districts. Aging office properties in uptown are among the weakest links in commercial real estate, experts told The Charlotte Observer. Office tenants are looking for more modern spaces with more amenities after work-from-home shifts impacted the market. Problems and opportunities in uptown real estate market With less buyer demand, commercial real estate experts say building values could go down. That presents an opportunity for a new owner to come along. Some office buildings could be retrofitted into other uses, like apartments or hotels, experts say. One local group, Charlotte Center City Partners, is studying what other cities are doing with older buildings to see how they can become repurposed. There are ripple effects for the rest of the city, too, Fabyan and other commercial real estate experts told The Charlotte Observer. Retail can begin to suffer, with fewer people frequenting lunch spots or bars after work. If you want to have a city in decline, Fabyan said, just have a central business district in decline. The snowball effect, as Fabyan described it, can slowly erode the health of a city. Uptowns vibrancy is key to get people back. One sign of life: new owners of three decades-old office towers are injecting millions of dollars into building upgrades with the hope of luring workers back. Other signs include the number of visits to uptown crawling back up as is parking revenue, the Observer has reported. New owners of old office towers in Charlotte make $42 million bet on getting workers back Vitner, of Piedmont, has seen the activity first-hand while grabbing lunch the past week in uptown, with more crowds around. He is confident the majority of people who were going into the office pre-pandemic will be back once the economy stabilizes. Vitner points to how much of the problem in the office market is largely confined to older buildings. Major office tenants leaving older buildings like this one on Whitehall Park Drive in west Charlotte has triggered the building owners to land on a mortgage loan watchlist. Typically when tenants leave space vacant, its harder for building owners to meet regular loan obligations. Whats driving all the Charlotte office vacancies Vitners assessment is backed up by data. Look at office towers built prior to 1990, and youll see availability rates that are at 33%, according to data from real estate research firm CoStar Group. The same data point for offices built after 1990? Its 11%. Availability rates reflect total vacant space plus the amount of space thats coming available soon due to a tenant leaving as well areas being marketed as available for sublet. Five of Charlottes biggest employers Wells Fargo, Duke Energy, Bank of America, Truist and Ally historically have helped absorb gluts in empty office space, Fabyan said. But each company has made big moves to consolidate space or relocate to newer office buildings. Earlier this year, Wells Fargo announced it was moving employees out of One and Two Wells Fargo Center buildings. Duke Energy recently shrunk its real estate footprint in uptown after selling two decades-old properties. The company is moving into its new 40-story uptown high-rise. Some of Charlottes largest employers, including Wells Fargo, have consolidated office space in uptown in recent months. Vacancy rates in the citys oldest office buildings have climbed up to nearly 30%. Uptown is relying more on smaller moves by office tenants that take up a floor or two of space. These are positive signs but dont put a dent in the vacancy problem, Fabyan said. Compounding those factors: companies have shifted to allowing more hybrid and remote work. Plus, tenants are following a flight to quality, experts say, where they seek out modern buildings with more amenities. Look no further than the southern edge of uptown, where some companies have recently relocated to Legacy Union, a multi-building development near Bank of America Stadium. And companies like Grant Thornton, the tax, audit and advisory firm, recently have made moves from uptown to South End. After COVID sent workers home, companies began shrinking their real estate footprint, said John Culbertson, managing partner at Charlotte-based Cardinal Real Estate Partners. To entice workers back, companies looked at areas that had more appeal for younger employees, he said. Its a tough sell for companies to bring employees back to dated office buildings. Millennials are like, Hey, if you bring us back, we will be in South End where we want to walk to breweries, Culbertson said. See our map of Charlotte office properties facing mortgage loan trouble Investments in uptown But some uptown office building owners are not giving up on the neighborhood. In fact, theyre investing more. In 2018, Pennsylvania-based Somerset Properties purchased the 15-story Trade West building for $24 million, Mecklenburg County property records show. Built in 1957, Trade West sits at the corner of West Trade and South Church streets. Somerset pumped $8.5 million into a new facade, entrance lobby, elevators, lounges and meeting spaces, managing principal Mark White said. Theyve also upgraded the ground-floor restaurant, Kings Kitchen. The investment appears to be paying off. In the last year, brokers for the building counted 28,000 square feet of new and resigned leases, according to White. Asked about tenants who might want to be in South End, White said his view of that neighborhood is that it complements uptown. The success of those two submarkets is not mutually exclusive, White said. First look at latest towers coming to South End, planned for near Common Market In his experience, White finds both companies and employees are pushing to get back in the office to collaborate. But as work from home trends are likely to stay in some form, White thinks some office buildings will fare better than others. Trade West has the advantage of being an upgraded property in the center of Charlottes business district. Trade West is a 15-story office building in uptown. Its new owner has invested $8.5 million into a new facade, elevators and entrance lobby. Leasing activity has picked up in the last year despite high vacancy rates in the city. Troubled office mortgage loans But what will happen to buildings with owners who cant sign new leases? Vacancy rates spell trouble for office building owners in many ways no more so than the ability to pay off mortgage loans. One type of loan exemplifies this issue: commercial mortgage-backed securities. Essentially, investors buy a pool of packaged bonds which are then held in a trust. That serves as collateral for a mortgage-backed security, according to the CMBS Loans website. The problem is, when tenants start to vacate space, the owner isnt generating as much income. There are other ways investors can keep an eye on the performance of these loans. A large tenant vacating a building can be among the reasons that trigger a building to land on a CMBS watchlist. Updates to the watchlist are filed monthly by loan servicers, according to a recent story by the Triangle Business Journal. Across Charlotte, 13 office buildings sit on this watchlist, according to data from CoStar Group. Eight of those were built prior to 1990. They range from mid-rise suburban campus offices like Carmel Crossings in south Charlotte to Two Wells Fargo, a 32-story tower in uptown that recently has been listed for sale. Three of the properties the Cambridge Corporate Center in the University area, Fresenius Medical Care off North Hoskins Road and Whitehall Corporate Center V near the airport have been on the list since the fall of 2020, according to CoStar and Trepp, a New York-based real estate data and analytics firm. Big increases in vacancies were cited as the triggers for the placement of a handful of the buildings on the watchlist, according to a Trepp analysis provided to The Charlotte Observer. Properties are typically put on the watchlist if theyre owners are having trouble with late debt payments or if theres a reason they could have issues paying off future payments, according to the Triangle Business Journal. In December 2022, Internet sales and marketing giant Red Ventures vacated nearly 98,000 square feet of office space at the Cambridge Corporate Center, according to the Trepp analysis. Red Ventures paid a lease termination fee of roughly $3 million as it had a lease expiration the following summer, Trepp data show. The space is being marketed and brokers have been giving tours at other office suites, according to Trepp. Packard Place is another building on the watchlist. A former automobile showroom built in 1928, the building has been converted into office space. Occupancy has been steadily declining, from 86% in 2020 to about 55% last year, according to Trepp. Northpond Partners, a real estate investment firm out of Illinois, purchased the building in July 2021 for $15.4 million. The company declined to comment on the watchlist status. But Northpond recently announced its investing $4 million into the property, a spokeswoman said. Northpond is updating the exterior and the first floor common area with all-day food and drink options. Doubts, hopes about the Charlotte office market Loan troubles are not unique to Charlotte. There are nine buildings on the CMBS watchlist in the Raleigh and Durham area, CoStar data show. In bigger cities like Los Angeles, nearly all office tower owners owe more to the bank than the buildings are currently worth, according to a recent story by Slate. In May, the percentage of CMBS loans that are seriously delinquent is 3.4%, according to Trepp. Among the reasons a loan is marked that way is if its been delinquent for 60 days or more, according to Trepp. Banks holding the loans typically dont like the uncertainty in the office market surrounding return-to-work shifts, Moodys Analytics Kevin Fagan recently told NPRs Marketplace. He predicted more building owners will miss payments in the months ahead. The uncertainty is leaving some office tenants to sit on the sidelines, Vitner told the Observer. They feel they could get a better deal as more space becomes available. The same goes for prospective buyers who feel like prices are going to get better by waiting. People have doubts as to what the return to office is going to look like, Vitner said. Even with the record office vacancy around 22%, Vitner and others expressed confidence the city will recover. Vitner recalls that as the country climbed out of the 2008 financial crisis, there were signs around uptown that things were coming back to life. Busier lunch crowds was one of them. Hes seeing that today as he walks around uptown. Longer lines at restaurants and people out at night. Citing a famous Yogi Berra quote, Vitner said: You can observe a lot just by watching. The following items were taken from Morton Grove Police Department bulletins. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Theft Advertisement Yaroslav Bodnar, 29, of the 900 block of Burr Oak Avenue, Arlington Heights, was arrested May 31 on the 6100 block of Capulina Avenue after switching the price tags on two items at Menards, police said. A court date is set for July 13. Battery Advertisement George Friedman, 79, of the 0-100 block of Star Flower Avenue, Bluffton, South Carolina, was arrested June 1 for battery on the 8200 block of Gross Point Road, police said. Burglary An unknown subject took a wallet from a car parked on the 7200 block of Foster Street that contained a drivers license, passport, credit cards, and $200 overnight on June 3, police said. A complainant stated June 4 that he saw three unknown subjects in masks access a business on the 5900 block of Oakton Street, drove toward them and saw them leave eastbound on Oakton Street in a black Mercedes-Benz, police said. Trespassing A complainant stated June 3 that an unwanted subject was causing a disturbance in a business on the 5700 block of Dempster Street, police said. Driving under the influence Carlos Hernandez, 50, of the 6200 block of Francisco Avenue, Chicago, was arrested June 4 at the intersection of Dempster Street and Austin Avenue for driving under the influence of alcohol and on a revoked drivers license, police said. Advertisement Theodore Hayes, 36, of the 900 block of Jackson Street, Waukegan, was arrested June 6 for driving under the influence of alcohol at the intersection of Dempster Street and Waukegan Road, police said. Deceptive practices A complainant residing on the 8500 block of Lillibet Street stated June 3 she received a phone call from an unknown subject telling her her grandson had been in a car accident in Florida and needed $8,000, police said. Police said the complainant then spoke to someone who said he was her grandson and would send someone over to pick her up. A male subject took her to an ATM in a white Toyota SUV where she withdrew the money to leave in a shoe box by the front door where it was picked up by another male subject, police said. The complainant then stated she was called back and told to withdraw more money, at which point she called her grandson and found he was not in Florida, police said. Washington The indictment of former President Donald Trump by a federal grand jury in Florida includes the most detailed look yet into special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into allegations that Trump mishandled classified documents and obstructed the probe itself. The 44-page document, unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida last week, outlines the types of highly sensitive documents Trump allegedly had at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, and includes key pieces of evidence gleaned from aides' communications and notes from Trump's own lawyer. The former president is charged with 37 felony counts, including 31 counts of willful retention of classified documents and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Trump has repeatedly asserted he has done nothing wrong. He pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts during his arraignment in federal court in Miami on June 13. Here are the top takeaways from the grand jury's indictment: Trump faces 37 federal felony counts The charges Trump faces under the indictment include: 31 counts of willful retention of classified documents1 count of conspiracy to obstruct justice1 count of withholding a document or record1 count of corruptly concealing a document or record1 count of concealing a document in a federal investigation1 count of scheme to concealand 1 count of making false statements and representations.Trump kept "hundreds" of classified documents after leaving office While he was president, Trump collected hundreds of letters, notes, photos, memorabilia and documents in bankers' boxes that he kept at the White House. The indictment alleges that "hundreds" of classified documents were mixed in with other material, and that Trump arranged for "scores" of the boxes to be moved to Mar-a-Lago as he was preparing to leave office. According to the indictment, the documents included information about: U.S. nuclear programsDefense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and other countriesVulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to attackHow the U.S. would retaliate in response to an attack The documents included material prepared by the CIA, NSA, the Pentagon, the Energy Department and other intelligence agencies. Once he left office in January 2021, Trump was not authorized to have access to these documents and they were not kept in the type of secure facility meant to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, the indictment notes. The documents at the center of the 31 charges of retaining classified information range from top secret to secret, the two highest classification levels for national security information. Trump showed sensitive documents to others at least twice The indictment alleges that Trump showed sensitive documents to others on at least two occasions at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The indictment says he had some of the boxes moved to the club where he spends his summers in May 2021. That July, Trump was speaking to a writer, a publisher and two staffers in a conversation that was being recorded. The indictment says he showed them a "'plan of attack' that TRUMP said was prepared for him by the Department of Defense and a senior military official." The former president, according to the indictment, "told the individuals that the plan was 'highly confidential' and 'secret.' TRUMP also said, 'as president I could have declassified it,' and, 'Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret.'" CBS News has previously reported that Trump was referencing Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and included remarks related to Iran and how to confront it militarily. Several weeks later, Trump showed a member of his political action committee "a classified map related to a military operation" and told the person "that he should not be showing it to the representative and that the representative should not get too close," according to the indictment. None of the people involved in either conversation held security clearances that would allow them to view classified material, the indictment notes. The boxes were stored in a ballroom, a bathroom, storage room and Trump's residence Waltine "Walt" Nauta, Trump's former personal aide in the White House who joined his staff at Mar-a-Lago in August 2021, is charged as a co-conspirator for allegedly helping Trump obstruct the probe and for lying to federal investigators. The indictment outlines Nauta's alleged involvement in moving the boxes to different rooms throughout Mar-a-Lago, reconstructing their path using text messages from two Trump employees referred to as "Trump Employee 1" and "Trump Employee 2" and Nauta himself. When Trump left the White House, some of the boxes were first stored in a ballroom before being moved to the "business center" and then a bathroom: 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, Florida. / Credit: Justice Department via AP Stacks of boxes can be observed in a bathroom and shower at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. / Credit: Justice Department via Getty Images In May 2021, Trump allegedly ordered them moved into a cleared-out storage room that was "near the liquor supply closet, linen room, lock shop, and various other rooms" and could be "reached from multiple outside entrances." The indictment includes a photo showing more than 80 boxes in the storage room once they were moved in June: This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records that had been stored in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after they were moved to a storage room on June 24, 2021. / Credit: Justice Department via AP Nauta and another aide would later move some of the boxes to and from Trump's residence at the club. Nauta found several boxes spilled onto the floor In December 2021, Nauta texted Trump Employee 2 with two photos showing several boxes that had seemingly been knocked over, their contents spilling out onto the floor of the storage room. At least one document on the floor was marked secret: This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records on Dec. 7, 2021, in a storage room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, that had fallen over with contents spilling onto the floor. / Credit: Justice Department via AP Trump Employee 2 replied, "Oh no oh no." The indictment doesn't indicate how or why the boxes had been spilled. Under pressure from the National Archives, Trump allegedly personally reviewed some boxes The National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA, is the federal agency responsible for collecting and preserving presidential records. By the end of 2021, NARA officials had been demanding for months that Trump hand over records he had kept after leaving the White House. Between November 2021 and January 2022, text messages included in the indictment indicate Nauta and Trump Employee 2 brought several boxes to Trump's residence on the Mar-a-Lago property for him to review. In one instance, Trump Employee 2 printed out a photo of dozens of boxes stacked in the storage room and taped it on one of the boxes delivered to Trump's residence so he could see how they were being kept: This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records in a storage room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, that were photographed on Nov. 12, 2021. / Credit: Justice Department via AP In December, a Trump representative who had been in contact with NARA pushed Trump Employee 2 to provide a tally of how many boxes Trump had so he could inform Archives officials. "12 [i]s his number," the aide replied, according to the indictment. On Jan. 13, Nauta texted that Trump was still "tracking" the boxes and said there would be "more to follow today on whether he wants to go through more today or tomorrow." Four days later, Nauta and Trump Employee 2 loaded 15 boxes into Nauta's car and then a truck to deliver them to NARA. A NARA review determined that 14 of the 15 boxes contained documents with classified markings. The FBI would later determine that the boxes included 197 documents with classified markings ranging from confidential to top secret. On Feb. 9, 2022, NARA referred the matter to the Justice Department. The FBI opened a criminal investigation in March, and a federal grand jury convened in April. Trump and Nauta allegedly hid documents from a Trump attorney looking for them The grand jury issued a subpoena on May 11, 2022, demanding all documents with classified markings in the possession of Trump or his office. On May 23, Trump met with two attorneys known as Trump Attorney 1 and Trump Attorney 2 in the indictment to discuss how he would respond. Details in the indictment and a subsequent court battle make clear that Trump Attorney 1 is Evan Corcoran, an experienced criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor. The section of the indictment detailing Trump's response to the subpoena relies heavily on Corcoran's contemporaneous notes and subsequent testimony. Attorney M. Evan Corcoran arrives at federal court in Washington on July 22, 2022. / Credit: Jose Luis Magana / AP The notes provide some of the clearest indications of Trump's state of mind as he apparently tried to avoid having to hand over the boxes. The indictment lays out how Trump responded, according to Corcoran, when the attorneys said they would need to look through the boxes to respond to the subpoena: I don't want anybody looking, I don't want anybody looking through my boxes, I really don't, I don't want you looking through my boxes. Well what if we, what happens if we just don't respond at all or don't play ball with them? Wouldn't it be better if we just told them we don't have anything here? Well look isn't it better if there are no documents? Eventually, Trump agreed that Corcoran would return to Mar-a-Lago on June 2 to search for the boxes, and he said he would delay his plans to travel to Bedminster in order to be there. Between May 23 and June 2, the indictment says Nauta moved a total of 64 boxes from the storage room to Trump's residence "at TRUMP's direction." Nauta brought 30 boxes back to the storage room on June 2 before Corcoran arrived to conduct his search. Nauta escorted Corcoran to the storage room, where the attorney spent nearly three hours looking for documents with classified markings. The attorney found 38 such documents and placed them in a folder that he wrapped with clear duct tape. After his search, he met with Trump, who, according to Corcoran, asked, "Did you find anything? Is it bad? Good?" Corcoran arranged for an FBI agent to meet him at Mar-a-Lago the next day to take the folder. He also asked a third attorney not involved in the search to sign a certification stating that all documents responsive to the subpoena had been located and handed over after a "diligent search" of "the boxes that were moved from the White House to Florida." The indictment states: "These statements were false because, among other reasons, TRUMP had directed NAUTA to move boxes before Trump Attorney 1's June 2 review, so that many boxes were not searched and many documents responsive to the May 11 Subpoena could not be found and in fact were not found by Trump Attorney 1." The FBI found 102 documents with classified markings in its August 2022 search A woman talks to Palm Beach police officer in front of former President Donald Trump's house at Mar-A-Lago on Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Florida. / Credit: Eva Marie Uzcategui / Getty Images Federal agents executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, 2022, to find any remaining documents with classified markings, a dramatic development that thrust the case into the public eye. The FBI found a total of 102 documents with classified markings. Twenty-seven were found in Trump's office and 75 were found in the storage room. Seventeen were top secret, a designation reserved for information that would cause "exceptionally grave damage to the national security" if exposed. The 31 charges Trump faces for retaining documents all concern documents seized in the FBI's search or those handed over by Corcoran in response to the May 23 subpoena. Trump is not charged with retaining any of the documents he voluntarily handed over to NARA earlier in 2022. Nauta allegedly lied to investigators about what he knew Walt Nauta, an aide to former President Donald Trump, follows Trump as they board his airplane at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday, March 13, 2023. / Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Nauta, the former Trump aide, is charged with five counts alongside Trump as a co-defendant. The 38th count in the indictment targets him specifically, accusing him of lying to federal agents who questioned him on May 26, 2022. The indictment says he told investigators he was not aware of any boxes being moved to Trump's residence, and said he first became aware of them when he was asked to help move them into a truck to hand over to NARA. Asked if he "could help us understand, like, where they were kept, how they were kept, were they secured, were they locked," Nauta allegedly replied, "I wish, I wish I could tell you. I don't know. I don't I honestly just don't know." Corcoran's testimony is central to the case Earlier this year, Corcoran refused to discuss his interactions with Trump before a grand jury in Washington, D.C., citing attorney-client privilege. But that privilege comes with what's known as the "crime-fraud exception," which says it does not apply if a client uses a lawyer's services to commit a crime. In sealed proceedings in March, a federal judge ruled in favor of the special counsel's office and ordered Corcoran to testify before the grand jury and provide evidence to federal investigators. Now Trump's attorneys could seek to have his testimony excluded from the Florida case on the same attorney-client privilege grounds that a judge in Washington rejected. Melissa Quinn and Robert Costa contributed to this report. Stolen cars trafficked across U.S. border What is Rule 29? Judge Aileen Cannon's power in Trump's case Trump stops at cafe and greets supporters after federal arraignment An 11-year-old British girl was shot dead in Saint-Herbot in Brittany, western France, on Saturday, during a dispute between two neighbors over their gardens, according to the local mayors office. The girls parents were seriously wounded in the gun attack. Her 8-year-old-sister escaped and was found unharmed but in a state of shock, Quimper prosecutor Carine Halley said in a statement on Sunday. The family were in their garden when their 71-year-old Dutch neighbor appeared with a firearm and started firing several times in their direction before shutting himself in his house with his wife, authorities say. Police intervened at 10 p.m. local time. An hour later the Dutch man and his wife surrendered and were taken into custody he has since been placed under investigation for murder, French prosecutors said. French prosecutors say the 11-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital, and her father sustained a life-threatening head injury, and is in a critical yet stable condition. The mother, 49, was also wounded in the shooting and remains under care in hospital with the familys other daughter, 8, who was hospitalized with shock. French authorities are investigating the attack. - Sophie PrVost/Maxppp/ZUMA The shooting was caused by a disagreement over gardening noise and the cutting down of trees bordering the properties, Regine Guillot, an administrative worker at the town hall of Plonevez-du-Faou, told CNN Monday. The shooter had been angry at his neighbor, who cut down trees that provided shade to his property, Guillot said, adding that the dispute had been running for at least two years. The Dutch man is suspected of firing three or four times with a rifle from his own property at his neighbors in their garden, some 10 meters away from him, French prosecutor Camille Miansoni said. According to the prosecutor, the man is thought to have deliberately targeted the mother and father of the family, adding that the fact that the man went to find his rifle from within his house suggested a level of premeditation in the act. Miansoni continued to say the pensioners wife who has Belgian nationality was placed under investigation on a less serious status for obstruction of finding the truth. The prosecutor said the wife returned the rifle suspected of being the murder weapon to their house following the shooting. According to the French prosecutor, the suspected shooter expressed regret for the killing, after being detained. We thought they were playing with firecrackers, Yannick, a neighbor who heard the gunfire, told CNN affiliate BFMTV. The youngest girl came running to the neighbors shouting: My sister is dead, my sister is dead, Yannick said. Halley said Sunday the motives for the tragedy are not yet known. But, according to the initial investigation, it appears there had been a dispute between the two neighbors for several years over a piece of land adjoining the two properties. The Quimper prosecutors office has opened an investigation on charges of voluntary manslaughter of a minor and attempted murder. Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of Plonevez-du-Faou, a town bordering Saint-Herbot, told BFMTV Sunday she had been made aware of a dispute between neighbors several years ago. I intervened with my deputies when we were elected. There was a problem with the land, noise complaints, Bleuzen said. Im dumbfounded, the mayor added. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 16-year-old tracks girlfriends phone, then shoots her ex-boyfriend dead, WA cops say A 16-year-old boy tracked his girlfriends location through her phone and shot her ex-boyfriend dead in Washington, police said. Jesus Castaneda-Peraza is accused of fatally shooting 20-year-old Fabian Gonzalez at about 9:32 a.m. on May 30 in the Seattle suburb of Auburn, police said in an arrest report. Before the shooting, Castaneda-Peraza found his girlfriends location and left Auburn Riverside High School after his first period, police said. His girlfriend was with Gonzalez, so he waited in a parking lot until Gonzalezs car passed, authorities said based on traffic camera footage. Then Castaneda-Peraza followed the vehicle for about two blocks, police said. Once Castaneda-Peraza was next to Gonzalezs vehicle, he shot the man three times at near point-blank range from the passenger side, police said. His girlfriend, who had been driving at the time of the shooting, got out of the car and ran into Castaneda-Perazas vehicle, multiple witnesses told police. The two fled to Gresham, Oregon, where they were both arrested a day after the shooting, police said. Castaneda-Peraza is being tried as an adult on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He faces a sentencing range of about 26 years to 34 years. He is set to be arraigned on June 14. The teen was convicted on two counts of second-degree attempted robbery less than six months ago, prosecutors said in the charging documents. He was accused of holding two people at gunpoint. Woman is shot dead by boyfriend in front of her 9-year-old daughter, Texas cops say Two shot dead outside strip club after robbery turns violent, Texas cops say Child calls 911 after mom is shot in chest during fight over loud music, Texas cops say 2,526 Ukrainian returned from captivity since start of full-scale invasion, says Zelenskyy Volodymyr Zelenskyy Every time we return out people from Russian captivity, we remember our fundamental goal: to leave nothing of ours, nothing Ukrainian, for the enemy, he noted. Read also: Tears of joy Ukraine returns 106 Bakhmut defenders from captivity, many of whom were thought missing Zelenskyy further thanked Ukraines troops for filling the countrys exchange fund for prisoner transfers. Read also: Most Azovstal defenders remain in captivity in terrible conditions, reveals former Azov commander We remember everyone, and are looking for every one, everyone should return. And we will return them, the president stated. Read also: Majority of Ukrainian citizens held captive in Russia subjected to torture, ombudsman says The most recent prisoner transfer was held on June 11. According to presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak, Ukraine returned 95 people from Russian captivity, including Army soldiers, National Guardsmen, and border patrol servicemembers. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Michigan toddler was killed Sunday in an accidental shooting, police said. According to police in Howell, Michigan, the 2-year-old gained access to an unsecured firearm and was accidentally shot at around 6 p.m. on Sunday, CBS News Detroit reported. The toddler was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead, police said. The Howell Police Department and the Livingston County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident. The shooting comes just days after a 6-year-old boy shot his baby brother twice in Detroit after getting access to an unattended gun. The 1-year-old, who is expected to survive, was shot through his cheek and left shoulder while sitting in a baby bouncer, Assistant Chief of Detroit Police Charles Fitzgerald said. In April, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill calling for safe storage requirements for guns. The law was passed as more than 110 gun incidents involving children have been recorded in Michigan since 2015. But since Whitmer signed the storage bill there have still been several instances of children accessing unsecured guns in the state. In May, a 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself, CBS Detroit reported. The boy found the gun, which belonged to his mother's boyfriend, on the couch. The boyfriend was charged with involuntary manslaughter. According to the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, firearms are the leading cause of death for children under age 18 in the United States, with unintentional shootings making up 5% of annual gun deaths among children 17 and younger. From the start of 2015 to the end of 2022, there were at least 2,802 unintentional shootings by children 17 or younger that resulted in 1,083 deaths and 1,815 injuries, according to Everytown. Aliza Chasan contributed reporting. Nonbinary actors make Tony Awards history as show goes on without script 2024 GOP candidates respond to Trump's federal indictment Rep. Nancy Mace discusses Trump indictment, McCarthy's speakership Here are the 2023 Juneteenth events in Portsmouth and what to know before you go PORTSMOUTH Records show in 1645 the first known Black person in Portsmouth was an enslaved man captured from Guinea who was sold to a man residing in the Piscataqua region. Thats according to the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. The Portsmouth-based nonprofit organization is busy preparing for 2023 Juneteenth events. The federal holiday on June 19 marks, June 19, 1865, when southern slaves were told they were no longer enslaved, more than two years after being granted freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The Black Heritage Trails Juneteenth festivities this year titled Reading the Bones: Celebrating the African Diaspora are running through the Monday, June 19 holiday. The Juneteenth events are happening as Portsmouth commemorates the 400th anniversary since its settlement in 1623. The Akwaaba Ensemble performed at last year's Juneteenth celebration at the African Burying Ground in Portsmouth, put on by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. We wanted to include other voices in that celebration other than the colonial voices that were being celebrated, JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail, noted of the citys 400th anniversary. New Hampshire has a richer history that goes before and beyond colonization. We thought we would focus on the African diaspora and start where the African-American story started in our region. The holiday, Boggis said, is not only a celebration of Black culture, but an opportunity to rethink the way the nations history has been taught. So many times, we try to separate African-American culture and African-American history from Americas history, as if its two separate things. They cannot exist in a vacuum if you were telling the story of America, Boggis said. If were telling the story of America, we have to tell the Native American story. We have to tell the story of enslavement. We have to tell the Asian story and of how they came to be, and we have to tell the white story. Theyre not exclusive of each other. Here's a look at the organization's Juneteenth events: 'Still, Uprooted? Heartache and Hope in New Hampshire' panel discussion 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 at Currier Museum in Manchester. The discussion is based on a 2009 documentary produced at the University of New Hampshire's Center for Humanities that tells the story of five refugees who were re-settled in New Hampshire. Presenters include Rashida Eltag Mohamed, domestic and sexual violence advocate for the Manchester Police Department; Anzura Gakwaya of NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire and Fisto Ndayishimiye of Change for Concord. The event is free and open to the public. 'If You Knew, Let it Be Us' art exhibit 5 p.m. Friday, June 16 at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth. McKinley Wallace and other artists will engage in conversation about their work. "Exploring race, history, and intersectionality, Wallaces artistic ideas are often expressed in a graphic style that incorporates realism, minimalism, and hard-edge painting," according to a description of the event. This event is free and open to the public. Reggae Festival Noon Saturday, June 17 at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth. The event, dubbed Chanting Down Babylon: Redemption Songs of the Diaspora, the festival will feature performers from the United States and Jamaica. Marcia Griffiths, Brigadier Jerry, Nadine Southerland, Onix Brown, Lady G and Glen Washington will perform. Caribbean foods and craft vendors will be available. Tickets are on sale at blackheritagetrailnh.org/reggae-festival. Dance performance 4 p.m. Sunday, June 18 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. Camille A. Brown and Dancers will perform. The group is "reclaiming Black narratives for Black and brown people and elevating African Diasporic culture to its rightful place in American society," according to a description of the event. Tickets are being sold at themusichall.org/events/camilleabrowndancers. African drumming The Akwaaba Ensemble including Michael Osendah, from left, Randy Armstrong, Theo Martey and Namory Keitaper. 11 a.m. Monday, June 19 at African Burying Ground, Chestnut Street in Portsmouth. The Juneteenth drumming and dancing performance by the Akwaaba Ensemble is free and open to the public. The Akwaaba Ensemble features drummers and dancers hailing from Ghana and Guinea. The group performs at community events, schools, colleges and festivals, while also occasionally holding workshops. The idea is to share with the community what I do as an African drummer and musician so other people know more about the culture, said Theo Martey, who formed the group, which has been popular in past Portsmouth performances. "The Healing Rhythm of the Drums is the title for this year's performance. Were going to be doing some call and response, where the audience will be able to participate as well to feel connected to the event, Martey said. Its about involving everybody at the grounds. Gospel choir performance 2 p.m. Monday, June 19 at South Church in Portsmouth. This event features a performance by the Howard Gospel Choir. Tickets for this event are $35. Information: blackheritagetrailnh.org/juneteenth-celebration-2023. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Juneteenth 2023 events in Portsmouth NH You Can Make $20K as a Recent College Grad to Travel Around the World Here's How Graduate Hotels is hiring recent grads for a 10 week trip. Steve Freihon/Courtesy of Graduate Graduating college is a big deal, and the Graduate Hotels wants to help recent alums celebrate by hiring them for a dream gig. The hotel group will pick four 2023 graduates for its brand-new Victory Lap program. Those selected will travel to 16 Graduate Hotels properties over a period of 10 weeks, the hotel group told Travel + Leisure. They will also receive a salary starting at $20,000 to capture content highlighting the true magic and spirit of each university town. Applications are open through July 7 and winners will be chosen by July 31. To apply, recent grads can submit a 60-second TikTok or Instagram Reel showing off their college towns. Applicants must have a passion for travel, social media, and storytelling. David Mitchell/Courtesy of Graduate Your college years are the best years of your life for a reason. It's where you find your [people], the community that gets you the most, and where you create the memories that stay with you for your lifetime, Ben Weprin, the founder and CEO of Graduate Hotels, told T+L. Our Victory Lap class of 2023 will immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of the countrys most beloved college towns, by way of Graduate Hotels. This isnt your average intern program were inviting the best creators from across the country to skip the 9-5, get some incredible experience, and make some lifelong friends along the way. Destinations job winners will visit include Nashville; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; Seattle; Palo Alto, California; Providence, Rhode Island; and New Haven, Connecticut. In the U.K., the itinerary includes Oxford and Cambridge. Christian Horan /Courtesy of Graduate Those who get the job will be responsible for working with the hotels field marketing team to drive awareness of Graduate Hotels during campus events, networking with local businesses, and sharing original content that drives back to Graduate Hotels brand pages, promoting events and bringing friends, family, students, and locals through hotel doors. Graduate Hotels has more than 30 properties in the U.S. and U.K., with plans to add four new hotels in Auburn, Alabama; Austin; Dallas; and Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to hotels, the company launched Graduate Homes for short-term vacation rentals in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Oxford, Mississippi. To learn more about the new program or to apply, visit graduatehotels.com. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. 3 former South Florida journalists covered executions. What they saw, in their own words. Duane Owen, on Florida's death row for the gruesome 1984 murders of a 14-year-old Delray Beach babysitter and a Boca Raton mother of two, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on June 15. If executed, Owen, 62, would be the 103rd person put to death by the state of Florida since capital punishment was reinstated in the United States in 1976. Owen raped and slashed to death Karen Slattery on March 24, 1984, while she was babysitting in Delray Beach. He beat to death 38-year-old Georgianna Worden with a hammer about two months later in Boca Raton. Owen has been on death row for the past 38 years. The last person to be executed by Florida who committed their crime in Palm Beach County was William Van Poyck in 2013. Van Poyck was sentenced to die for the 1987 murder of a Glades Correctional Institution prison guard who was taking a prisoner to a downtown West Palm Beach doctor. Palm Beach Post reporter Wayne Washington will travel to Florida State Prison in Raiford to witness Owen's execution and report on it. More: Duane Owen fights to get off death row for two vicious 1984 murders Three journalists who covered Florida executions explain how they felt Three South Florida journalists who covered four executions in Florida wrote first-person accounts of their experiences for The Palm Beach Post. Here are their stories. Watching Aileen 'Monster' Wuornos and UF coed killer Danny Rolling put to death Michael Mayo covered the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2002 and Gainesville coed killer Danny Rolling in 2006 for the (Fort Lauderdale) Sun Sentinel. Mayo remembers Rolling "singing to the Lord." He recalled Wuornos, played by actress Charlize Theron in the movie "Monster," vowed she would return from the dead. "I'll be back," she said. To read that story, go here (for subscribers) Florida's lethal injection cocktail: 2 drugs for Duane Owen's execution are in short supply 'I was just numb,' after watching the execution of William Van Poyck 6/25/1987 - William Van Poyck after his arrest Wednesday. (Tom Ervin/Palm Beach Post). Jane Musgrave, with The Palm Beach Post, witnessed the execution of William Van Poyck in 2013. Van Poyck was sentenced to die for the 1987 murder of a Glades Correctional prison guard. As Musgrave described it, after Van Poyck was put to death, "the world didn't seem safer. I was just numb." To read that story, go here (for subscribers). Flames erupted from Jesse Tafero after being put to death in electric chair Larry Keller, then with the Sun Sentinel, witnessed convictede cop-killer Jesse Tafero put to death in the electric chair in 1990. Tafero killed Florida trooper Phillip A. Black and his friend, Donald Robert Irwin. Tafero's was a botched execution as flames shot up from his head. To read that story, go here (for subscribers). The execution of Donald Dillbeck: Strapped to a gurney, death row inmate saves his last words for DeSantis Jesse Tafero More: Florida history: A brief review of Floridas death row More: Strapped to a gurney, death row inmate Donald Dillbeck saves his last words for DeSantis This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Duane Owen execution: Reporters describe watching someone put to death A Gary man is facing charges after his 4-month-old son suffered a leg fracture. Nicholas Gildart, 27, was charged June 9 with three counts of neglect. Advertisement He has not been apprehended and is ordered held on a $4,000 cash bond. Staff from St. Catherines Hospital in East Chicago called the Indiana Department of Child Services after the boys mother brought him in on Feb. 20 with a swollen leg that turned out to be a left femur fracture. Advertisement She said she working the night shift 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at a fast food restaurant while Gildart watched the child. The boy was fussy from 11 p.m. to midnight. When she returned home, the boys eczema flared, so she gave him Tylenol at 2:30 a.m. When she woke at 7 a.m., she noticed his leg was swollen and thought it could be from the eczema. She took him to the hospital. Gildart said he came back with the baby after dropping the woman off at work, then played video games. He fed the boy around 11 p.m. The leg looked funny, but he couldnt elaborate. The boy slept until 2:30 a.m. The child was later transferred to a Chicago hospital where the staff concluded it was most likely from an abusive injury. Aside from the fracture, the boy wasnt gaining weight, had micro anemia, and wasnt up to date on his shots from a lack of insurance. His mother told staff at St. Catherines the boy hadnt fell and she had been talking to the pediatrician for a few weeks about his sliding weight gains. 3 things to consider if youre looking to squeeze more money out of your paycheck BOSTONTaxes, insurance, retirement contributions. You may look at your paycheck every two weeks and wonder where all the money goes. Mike Murray, a financial planner with Peabody Wealth Advisors in Danvers, says there are three things to consider if youre looking for extra savings from your pay stub. REEVALUATE YOUR TAX WITHHOLDINGS Murray says tax withholding adjustments are a good way to not overpay the government. However, some folks are not great savers and could be in for an unpleasant surprise if they owe money versus expecting to get money back each year. Murray encourages people to talk to a tax professional prior to making any adjustments to tax withholding. I think being conservative on your tax withholdings is always the best strategy, Murray said. I think the key is that when it becomes tax filing season theres no surprise. DEBT VS. SAVING FOR RETIREMENT Murray says paying down high-interest credit card debt should be the priority over making retirement plan contributions. If your credit card is charging you 19 percent interest, your expectation in your 401(k) isnt going to be making 19 percent a year, Murray said. But Murray says you should try to take advantage of a retirement plan if your company offers a matching contribution. If you have a 401(k) and your company offers a match, if you have the ability take advantage of at least the match because thats free money, he said. Also, Murray said for those paying student loans, the recently passed Secure Act 2.0 has a provision effective in 2024 to allow employers to match your student loan payments and place matching contributions in your 401(k) as if you were contributing to the plan. This will allow to people to pay down debt and prioritize retirement savings, he said. DO NOT DROP INSURANCE If youre really desperate for extra cash, Murray says theres one thing you cannot do and thats opt out of health or disability insurance. Murray says having insurance is one of the pillars of financial planning and not having proper coverage is playing with fire. Disability [insurance] is what were most passionate about because the statistical likelihood of having a disability in your life is higher than you dying young, Murray said. Murray says one catastrophic medical or life event could put not only the individual at risk, but also their familys future. If you lose your ability to earn a living, quite frankly, your creditors dont care why you cant pay them, he said. Murray says depending on individual circumstances, people should consider a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). It is a way to control insurance premiums and potentially save money on a tax-favored basis for future health care costs, he said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Four people were shot and wounded during a funeral procession in the Chicago area on Saturday afternoon, authorities said. One person had critical injuries and another was listed as being in critical but stable condition that night, after both were admitted to a local hospital. The other two victims received treatment at a different hospital, where their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The shooting happened at about 1 p.m. in Oak Park, a suburban village about 10 miles from downtown Chicago, as the procession traveled from the city to a cemetery around 30 minutes north, in Des Plaines, according to Oak Park police. With the procession en route to the cemetery, a white pickup truck pulled up next to one of the vehicles and someone inside started firing weapons into that car, striking two passengers, the village of Oak Park said in a news release, citing law enforcement officials. The wounded passengers were taken to Loyola Medical Center, where they were listed in critical and critical but stable condition. Police are investigating after four people were shot and wounded during a funeral procession in Oak Park, Illinois, on Saturday. / Credit: CBS Chicago The pickup truck then targeted a second vehicle in the funeral procession, and two passengers in that car were shot, according to the news release. Both of those victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and took themselves to Rush Oak Park Hospital. Police said multiple shell casings were recovered at the scene. Authorities say the shooting was apparently a targeted attack, CBS Chicago reported. They have not identified a suspect or suspects. Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in a statement that whomever carried out the shooting likely does not pose a wider threat to the community. "While there is no indication of any further threat to the community stemming from this incident, any act of gun violence such as this does great harm to our collective sense of safety," Johnson said. It is not uncommon for shootings to occur during funeral proceedings around the Oak Park area, according to police and local residents. Tara Gerou, a business owner in the village, told CBS Chicago that she was not surprised by the incident. "This is something that we talk about very often," Gerou said. "I don't think that it is an easy answer because we want to be respectful of people's ability to mourn their dead, but when that ability now interferes with our public safety in our communities, it becomes a difficult topic." Oak Park Police are responding to a shooting that occurred this afternoon on the 900 block of Madison St. as part of a funeral procession. Madison is closed in both directions in the vicinity at this time. More information will be posted as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/BwDsIJ2P7E Oak Park Police Department (@VOPpolice) June 10, 2023 "It was very unsettling how desensitized perhaps we become when this is the third shooting that has happened in a while, in ... about a week and a half or two weeks," Gerou continued. "We have had three shootings. One in front of an elementary school where my son goes to school, one right down the street just earlier this week and now what feels way too close to home." Oak Park officials said in their news release that it is "standard protocol ... for funeral homes to alert law enforcement agencies along the route of potentially high-risk funeral processions so officers can assist with traffic flow and the safety of participants and the public along the route." An alert was not shared with police in this instance, according to the release. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to report what they know to the Oak Park Police Department. Daughter of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers pens personal letter to mother Myrlie Evers opens up about marriage to civil rights icon Medgar Evers The search for the Mona Lisa bridge An investigation by The Associated Press found that more than $400 billion in federal emergency pandemic aid was possibly stolen or wasted. The Trump and Biden administrations approved a combined $5.2 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding, the AP noted. Its analysis estimated that fraudsters stole about $280 billion in pandemic aid, and another $123 billion was wasted or misspent, combining to roughly 10 percent of the $4.2 trillion already disbursed by the government. The Justice Department established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force in 2021 to investigate fraud in emergency pandemic spending. The AP analysis noted that more than 2,230 defendants have been charged in connection with pandemic-related fraud crimes. Michael Horowitz, the inspector general who chaired the federal Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, told Congress last year the fraud is clearly in the tens of billions of dollars. He said at the time that the total could eventually exceed more than $100 billion. Im hesitant to get too far out on how much it is, he told the AP recently. But clearly its substantial and the final accounting is still at least a couple of years away. The Small Business Administration spearheaded two significant pandemic relief aid initiatives, the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection programs. These programs were responsible for doling out billions in aid but did not include key safety nets meant to protect the programs from fraud schemes, like allowing borrowers to self-certify their applications, the analysis said. The APs analysis said the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection programs lost $86 billion and $20 billion, respectively, to fraud. Gene Sperling, the White House American Rescue Plan coordinator, told the news service the loss total emanates overwhelmingly from three programs that were designed and originated in 2020 with too many large holes that opened the door to criminal fraud. We came into office when the largest amounts of fraud were already out of the barn, Sperling added. Earlier this year, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee group issued a report that found nearly 70,000 questionable Social Security numbers were used to obtain federal loans from these programs. In March, President Biden introduced a three-part proposal to combat pandemic-related fraud. His proposal included ramping up investigations to prosecute those who engaged in fraudulent schemes, investing in fraud protection and helping victims of identity theft. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 8-foot gator in Georgia swamp forced out of territory by bigger males looking for mates Its alligator mating season and thanks to GPS satellite tags, researchers are seeing how it can change gator behavior first-hand. The University of Georgias Coastal Ecology Lab tagged an 8-foot male alligator nearly a year ago. In that time, he hadnt ventured farther than half a mile from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge entrance in Charlton County, Georgia. This changed recently as new satellite pings showed him three miles away. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Researchers say he was likely pushed out by larger males searching for mates. If you want to learn more about gators, consider sponsoring a tag supporting conservation research. [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. 81-year-old food bank exec stole from charity, paid volunteer for sex acts, TN cops say A Tennessee food bank director is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from the organizations account and paying a charity volunteer for sex acts, officials said. James Gill, 81, was indicted on charges of theft of property, money laundering and patronizing prostitution on June 8, according to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation news release. After a yearlong investigation, officials found that Gill had used money from the Sumner County Food Banks accounts to make personal purchases that were unrelated to his work as director, the June 10 release says. Gill also wrote checks to himself and others from the food banks account and transferred money into other accounts using a different charity name, officials said. Gill also had paid a volunteer at the food bank for sex acts, according to the release. Gill was indicted by a grand jury and taken into custody on June 9 with a $75,000 bond. Sumner County is about 50 miles northeast of Nashville. High school teacher posed as teen on Snapchat to get nude photos of girls, feds say Man accused of trafficking caught when woman he met on Facebook flees motel, feds say Doctor groped woman mid-flight while headed to propose to girlfriend, feds say Physical therapist accused of sexually assaulting at least one client, Nevada cops say Accused carjacker flees with owner yelling on hood of car, California police say An accused carjacker crashed into a Coronado toll plaza with the owner clinging to the hood of his stolen car, California police say. 911 callers reported a man yelling on the hood of a moving sedan at 5:20 a.m. on Sunday, June 11, in the island community off San Diego, Coronado police said in a news release. Shortly afterward, police were notified the car had crashed into a toll plaza, sending the man flying, police said. The driver and passenger ran away. Officers found the 33-year-old man, identified as the cars owner, on the pavement beside the wreck with life-threatening injuries, police said. He was taken to a hospital. The 18-year-old accused driver and a teenage girl were found and arrested a short distance away, police said. The accused driver faces charges including being under the influence of drugs and alcohol, vehicle theft, hit and run and attempted murder, police said. More charges are pending. Coronado is a city of nearly 19,000 people about 5 miles southwest of San Diego. Police cars shatter concrete wall inches from home during chase, California cops say Man jumps off pier to swim, then needs helicopter rescue, California firefighters say Woman airlifted to safety after car plunges off highway into sea, California video shows Accused country club killer arrested over a decade later at bar, Ohio officials say After evading police for over a decade, a murder suspect was arrested at a bar in Oklahoma, officials said. Charles Turk had been wanted by Cincinnati police since 2011 when he was charged with murder in the death of a man whose body was found at a local country club, according to a June 9 news release from the U.S. Marshals Service. He was found working security at Coyote Ugly Saloon in Oklahoma City, about 850 miles away from Cincinnati, officials said. His arrest came seven years after the U.S. Marshals took on his case in 2016. The men and women of the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Southern Ohio will continue to track down those accused of violent crimes until they are brought to justice, regardless of how long they have been hiding, or where they have fled to, Michael Black, the United States Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, said in the release. Turk will be extradited to Ohio to face his murder charge. It was not clear if he had retained an attorney. When contacted by McClatchy News, a representative for Coyote Ugly Saloon declined to comment. Off-duty cop shoots his wife in the face with a rifle, Texas police chief says 14-year-old saved as flames engulf vehicle in deadly police chase, California cops say High school wrestlers body recovered from lake after 17-hour search, NJ officials say A group broke into a pool facility in Massachusetts on Sunday, stole chemicals and poured acid on three slides at a playground, officials said. Two children suffered burn-like injuries, the Longmeadow Fire Department said. Investigators found muriatic acid, a pool cleaning chemical, at Bliss Park Playground in Longmeadow on Sunday morning. Authorities said they were performing forensic and finger print analysis to identify the perpetrators. Authorities determined the acid came from the pump room of a local pool building, officials said. Chemicals used to operate the pool are stored in the basement room. Investigators said the perpetrators employed a "great deal of effort" to get access to the chemicals. "Two fences had been climbed and a cover to a ventilation shaft was torn off," the Longmeadow Fire Department wrote in a release. "The perpetrators entered the room through the ventilation shaft." Officials believe the suspects may have suffered burns to their hands or arms while obtaining the muriatic acid. Their clothing may have also been degraded by contact with the acid. A speciality contractor has been hired to clean the playground. It will be fenced off until it's cleaned, authorities said. Police have not yet released a description of the suspects in the case. They asked anyone with information or security camera footage from the area to come forward. U.S. confirms China has had spy base in Cuba since 2019 What to expect after Trump's court appearance in Miami Ukraine says it reclaimed seven villages from Russian forces Actor John Amos of Good Times, Roots, says his life is not at risk, not sure why daughter seeking money Shannon Amos, the actors daughter, launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $500,000, saying her dad was a victim of elder abuse and fighting for his life. The actor and his rep refute the need for financial help. John Amos, perhaps best known for his roles as James Evans on Good Times and as Kunte Kinte in Roots, denies that hes fallen victim to elder abuse as his daughter claimed in a fundraising effort, according to an entertainment outlet. Shannon Amos, the actors daughter, reportedly wrote in a GoFundMe solicitation that her 83-year-old father was fighting for his life in a hospital, CBS Colorado reported. The news outlet said Shannon Amos described his health struggle in the text of the GoFundMe campaign last week and added that His home had been violated, stripped of anything valuable. However, TMZ reported that its staff had spoken to John Amos, and the actor and his representative said he has not fallen victim to elder abuse, nor is his life at risk. Shannon Amos fundraiser has a $500,000 goal, and as of earlier today, 300 people have donated more than $12,400 in total. Actor John Amos (second from right) is joined by fellow Good Times cast members (from left) Johnny Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Jimmie Walker and Janet Dubois in 2006 as they accept the Impact Award at the TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) According to the TMZ report, John Amos said he has no idea as to why Shannon may have started the GoFundMe. His representative, Belinda Foster, said the actor was hospitalized to receive care for an accumulation of fluid in his lower extremities and abdomen, but doctors removed the fluid, and he was recovering, TMZ wrote. The GoFundMe text last week stated, My family and I unraveled a horrifying truth my dad had fallen victim to elder abuse and financial exploitation. Determined to seek justice, we are working closely with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and the local Sheriffs Department in my fathers home state. The combination of his current hospitalization, unstable housing situation, and health challenges indicates a daunting road to recovery ahead. Additionally, family members are required to travel and stay near the hospital to ensure his well-being. Your support is crucial in helping us provide the necessary care and support for John during this challenging time, the solicitation states. Today, the GoFundMe campaign includes an update. It reads: Our family is unwavering in our commitment to ensuring Johns safety, stability, and healing. All funds are being allocated to a trust for legal, medical, future housing, and care expenses. Meanwhile, last week authorities via a press release said the Custer County Sheriffs Office of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were working together to investigate whether someone had abused and victimized John Amos, CBS Colorado reported. The Custer County Sheriffs Office press release expressed admiration for the actor and stated that he has also been an ardent supporter of our community and this sheriffs office. We take allegations of crimes very seriously. We have also been in contact with Mr. Amos and his attorney, CBS Colorado reported. Amos career also included roles in the film Coming to America, in which he played the father of Eddie Murphys love interest, and the television shows Americas Dad, Maude, Sanford and Son, The Cosby Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Actor John Amos of Good Times, Roots, says his life is not at risk, not sure why daughter seeking money appeared first on TheGrio. Ashley Bitikofers relatives told police Dejuan McIntyre was trying to reconcile in the days before he allegedly fatally shot her near the Merrillville Menards parking lot. Another man with her was shot multiple times. Advertisement Tell my kids I love them and Im sorry, the man said in a 911 call. McIntyre, 42, of Gary, was arrested and charged Saturday with murder and attempted murder. Advertisement He is in custody, held without bail. A public defender was appointed Monday. Police were called to the big box stores parking lot, 6300 Mississippi St. at 11:13 p.m. June 8 after a 2007 Saturn Ion crashed into the stores east fence. Officers found the man, still alive, north of the fence. He was airlifted to a Chicago hospital. Bitikofer, 34, of Portage was found south of the fence. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 a.m. Her death was ruled a homicide. The wounded man managed to tell police on the scene that a man named Don shot them. A witness said he heard gunshots. A man dressed in a white shirt and black pants got into the Saturn SUV, then fled. Police found five bullet casings and recovered Bitikofer and the wounded mans cell phones. Bitikofer called 911, telling dispatchers she thought she was bleeding to death. She was going down a hill, she said. Advertisement Help, the cops are coming, she said. The recording appears to show a physical confrontation or running. Im sorry, Im sorry. Please dont. Please, please, stop, please. The dispatcher heard tapping sounds, then the line appeared to disconnect. Bitikofer didnt answer a return call. The wounded man, 35, called 911, reporting shots fired. One person in his car was dead, he said. The man appeared to be struggling to breathe. Advertisement Bitikofer was shot by her ex, he said. Tell my kids I love them and Im sorry. He needed water, he said. He said he was shot in the face, left leg and abdomen. He was found along Mississippi and partly in the roadway, according to the affidavit. The dispatcher overheard bystanders rushing to help him before the call disconnected. Bitikofers relative said she and McIntyre had a tumultuous relationship and had broken up a few months earlier. He showed unannounced on Mothers Day to Bitikofers mothers house trying to reconcile, the relative said. He would not leave her alone, the relative said. The relatives friend said via texts that McIntyre bought a hotel room the past few nights for her and knew about the other man, who was shot with her, according to court documents. Advertisement They were having issues and McIntyre threatened her. The friend declined to talk to the police. Bitikofer and McIntyre dated for about a year. Police learned he drove a Mercury Mountaineer. License plate readers traced one near the crime scene that was registered to him. Another relative said they knew this was going to happen. A witness told police they were texting with Bitikofer on June 8 just before the shooting. Dejuan just came in, Bitikofer wrote. Super 8 Merrillville. He was in the room. Put his hands on me, she wrote. We got kicked out after (the wounded man) paid. Like no refunds or nothing. Hes right here. Advertisement Why is McIntyre there, the witness asked in a text. I dont know, Bitikofer replied just before 11 p.m. Bitikofer shared her location via text near the crime scene just before the shooting. Forensic Pathologist Dr. Zhuo Wang said Bitikofer was fatally shot from 2-3 feet away in the right neck, exiting through her cheek. She was also shot in the right temple, exiting her right eye. She was shot twice in the left arm defense wounds, he concluded. A security camera showed the Saturn Ion and Mercury Mountaineer stopped at 11:05 p.m. at the traffic light near E. 83rd Avenue and Mississippi Street. Advertisement McIntyre appears to get out of his car, pop the hood and get something out of his engine, then gets back in the vehicle. He was arrested June 9 and denied involvement. His formal appearance is set June 20 before Judge Natalie Bokota. Chatbots are getting better at talking but that hasnt saved the workers developing them from an epidemic of loneliness. According to research published Monday by the American Psychological Association, artificial intelligence researchers are risking their mental and emotional health and are more likely to suffer from insomnia and to drink more after work. Humans are social animals, and isolating work with AI systems may have damaging spillover effects into employees personal lives, lead author Pok Man Tang said in a statement. The study which surveyed workers across industries and in four countries examines the impacts on workers of an ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution, spawned by AI. The studys relatively small sample size based on surveys of about 800 office workers around the world makes its findings suggestive rather than conclusive. But it suggests early warning signs in the industries that use AI as well as tactics that managers can use to mitigate them. The researchers wrote that AI-dependent workers have increasingly found themselves in a very different social environment from which humans are adapted. Across millennia, people evolved internal systems to gauge the quality of relationships with others. These systems have remained effective in a workplace that, just as in primitive tribal communities, prioritized social interactions with coworkers, the authors wrote in the paper. But now, they argue, the advent of digital, asocial AI systems is forcing people into ersatz social relationships with robot helpers. That is causing a shift toward more of an asocial system, wherein people may feel socially disconnected at work, the authors added. Such changes are already impacting tech workers in the U.S. and Malaysia, biomedical researchers from Taiwan and real estate consultants in Indonesia. In the study, workers surveyed by Tangs team were assigned to keep working with AI-related technologies or take a three-week break from using them while they and their families reported the impacts. The more frequently employees interacted with AI, the more likely they were to respond in both adaptive and maladaptive ways, Tang explained to The Hill. Working with AI triggered a stronger need to socially connect with other human coworkers, researchers found. Workers who used AI were also more likely to go out of their way to offer help to other workers likely because they were lonely and needed social contact, the researchers hypothesized. But the uptick in loneliness that led AI workers to be more helpful came alongside a rise in other problematic behavior. The same experience that led to greater levels of helping also led to greater levels of alcohol consumption and insomnia after work (which might jeopardize employees mental well-being and result in a negative spiral), the scientists wrote. One solution is for managers to try and combat the potential for employees to be lonely, they wrote. For instance, managers should be wary about having too much density of AI systems in the office too high of a ratio of AI harms the ability of employees to maintain desirable levels of social interactions with others as well. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Screenshot: KRON4 News Correction: Ashton Montalvo and Deangelo Boone were not police officers nor did they work for the Antioch Police Department. Updated as of 6/14/2023 at 9:30 a.m. ET The family of Mykaella Sharlman, a woman who died of an overdose in 2022, has spoken out after a Northern California prosecutor dropped the charges against the two men accused in her death. According to NBC News, the men moved her body to a dumpster and set it ablaze. Read more Yeah you read that right. Ashton Montalvo and Deangelo Boone were charged with arson and mutilation of human remains in the death of the 25-year-old woman in October. The report says Sharlman was an aspiring hair salon owner and praise dancer at her church until she fell into a spiral of drug abuse. The medical examiner found she died on Oct. 17 of a fentanyl overdose. The two men found her body in an abandoned apartment in Antioch. Instead of reporting it, they allegedly dumped her body in a dumpster, moved it blocks away and set it ablaze with lighter fluid. Sharlmans sister testified that Mykaella was reported missing a week later without having known what occurred nor that they were robbed of the ability to properly lay her to rest. Now, Montalvo and Boone have had their charges dismissed but because the investigation into their actions may have been compromised by the racist cops over at the Antioch Police Department. Read the statement from the Contra Costa County District Attorney: A dismissal at this juncture affords the District Attorneys Office the ability to refile criminal charges against Montalvo and Boone and reinitiate legal action if new evidence is developed. In this case, the prosecution of Montalvo and Boone for mutilation of human remains and arson on October 17, 2022, relied heavily on the investigative work of Antioch Police Officers who are associated with racist text communications. After thoroughly reviewing the officers role in this case, applying relevant legal principles, and considering ethical responsibilities, the Contra Costa District Attorneys Office no longer has confidence in the integrity of this prosecution. Our office extends our deepest sympathies to the family of Mykaella Sharlman and we aspire to renew this prosecution if presented with the opportunity to do so. This announcement was a huge blow to Sharlmans family. Though Mykaellas case deserves an unbiased eye, the complete dismissal of the case considering the evidence, eyewitness testimony and surveillance video was unacceptable and devastating to them, per NBC. Were getting ready to lawyer up. Were getting ready to fight, said Nicole Eason, Sharlmans sister, to NBC. -this scandal came out after my sisters death. It shouldnt have had any bearing on the evidence. 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. History was made Sunday night. Actors Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee became the first openly nonbinary performers to win Tony awards. Newell won their Tony for best-featured actor in a musical for their role as Lulu in the Broadway musical, Shucked. Newells performance and singing have been highly lauded. Especially for their rendition of Independently Owned. As a review in the Guardian notes, Lulus barn-storming anthem Independently Owned stopped the show; Newell, a veteran of late-stage Glee, is vocally so far beyond the rest of the cast that they drew a standing ovation. Newell plays a self-sufficient whiskey distiller in Shucked. Ghee was awarded a Tony for lead actor in a musical for their role in Some Like It Hot. The play is an adaptation of the 1959 comedy film. In their acceptance speech, Ghee dedicated their award to other nonbinary and gender nonconforming people like themselves. For every trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming human who ever was told you couldnt be, you couldnt be seen, this is for you, Ghee said. Newell on the other hand highlighted the huge landmark of their award. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here, as a queer nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, I am going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to, Newell said. WGA Concerns The 76th Tony Awards ceremony took place in the backdrop of an ongoing writers strike. Writers are an integral part of the Broadway community. However, the Broadway community consistently expressed their solidarity with the writers on strike. Award attendees wore pins on the red carpet and on stage. Some also showed support of the ongoing strike during their speeches. Host Ariana DeBose revealed to the audience before the show kicked off that the only words that would be shown on the teleprompter, were Please wrap up. The post Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee Become First Nonbinary Actors to Win a Tony Award appeared first on 21Ninety. UFO conspiracy theories, China contributing to record off-world population, the argument for an all-female Mars crew and more space news from the Yahoo News partner network. Welcome to This Week in Outer Space, where youll find a roundup of the best space coverage from Yahoo News and our partners. This week, weve got the space equivalent of the census, a pitch for who should be on the first mission to Mars, and a mystery about solar wind potentially solved. But first, everyones favorite topic: aliens. Whistleblower claims the intelligence community is holding back information on UFOs Theres been a lot of talk about UFOs lately: mysterious balloons popping up in February, congressional testimony from the Pentagons UFO chief in April, and last week NASA held a public meeting to discuss how it studies Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs (the latest term for UFOs). While speculation and fantasies about alien visitors may have surged, nothing officially released during these events suggest that theres genuine evidence of confirmed alien activity. But this week, things took an unexpected turn. On Monday, the Debrief reported that David Charles Grusch, an Air Force veteran who held positions in both the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office, is alleging that the U.S. not only has evidence of alien activity but has recovered intact and partially intact vehicles of non-human origin. And with those credentials, Grusch doesnt appear to be, as Jalopnik put it, just some guy waving signs on a street corner in D.C. But the Pentagon is downplaying the allegation. Susan Gough, a spokesperson for the Defense Department, told Fox News this week that there is no "verifiable information to substantiate the claims." Should the first crew to Mars be all women? While NASA and a consortium of private and international partners are hard at work preparing to return to the moon in 2025, theyve got an even more ambitious goal for 2040: putting the first humans on Mars. With eyes on a months-long flight to put boots on the red planet, some experts hold that the most logical choice to fill those boots is with women. This idea isnt altogether new. Studies dating back to the early days of the space race concluded that female astronauts make for more resource-efficient crews, requiring less food, water and oxygen to survive on long-haul missions and the notion of an all-female Mars crew has resurfaced every few years. However, NASA isnt entirely on board with following studies from the 1950s. They say that, while there may be some variance in resource consumption, the thing that actually makes a crew more efficient and effective is diversity of any kind. And with crewed missions to Mars at least a decade away, well just have to wait and see who they choose. China is contributing to a space population boom (sort of) The crews of Shenzhou-15 and Shenzhou-16 inside China's space station (Han Qiyang/Xinhua via AP) At any given time, there really arent that many people in space. Its expensive to get there and you need a really good reason like a mission from NASA to stay there for any length of time. For the last few decades, most of the space-faring population has been based on the International Space Station, typically about seven astronauts but as many as 13 during crew changeovers. However, the ISS is no longer the only game in permanent space installation, with China expanding the use of its own space station; last week the combined populations of the ISS and Chinas Tiangong space station briefly hit a whopping 17 people. Now, 17 people in space at the same time may not sound like a lot, but it is technically a record. Plus, as Russia eventually moves to its own separate space station and both NASA and China eye long-term lunar missions, its likely that well see that record surpassed multiple times in the next few years. NASA may have solved the mystery of what causes solar wind On Earth, we experience solar winds through auroras, like the Northern and Southern Lights, when charged particles ejected from the sun collide with our planets atmosphere and magnetic field. It looks really cool and occasionally wreaks havoc on communication systems but the exact reason why the sun emits these particles has long eluded astronomers. But newly published analysis of data collected by a 2021 probe of the suns upper atmosphere may finally provide an answer. The data reveals that solar wind generation is likely driven by a phenomenon known as magnetic reconnection, where opposing magnetic fields pass through each other on the sun's surface, violently intertwining then reconnecting, resulting in a reaction that propels charged particles outward and eventually toward Earth. Until now, most solar research has relied solely on measuring light. However, the success of the solar probe is a promising sign that theres lots more to discover about our nearest star using new technology. Alligators are known to eat almost anything, and one proved that when it attacked a marine drone in southwest Florida as the device was being used in law enforcement training. The odd encounter happened just after noon on Friday, June 9, in Lee County, about 125 miles south of Tampa. While the Lee County Sheriffs Office Marine Unit was training in Fort Myers, this insta-gator latched on to the underwater drone! the sheriffs office wrote in a Facebook post. The drone recorded the encounter, but its perspective is from below. That means viewers see the chin and white underbelly of the alligator rather than its jaws. Video shows the alligator appeared to toy with the device, splashing water on it and dragging it around. The sheriffs office did not report damage was done. A Florida alligator latched onto a marine drone as it was being used for training by the Lee County Sheriffs Office and the incident was recorded. Marine drones and sonar are used by the marine unit for a mission that includes patrolling waterways, performing rescues and conducting investigations of boating and swimming mishaps. The video has been viewed nearly 8,000 times and gotten hundreds of reactions and comments on social media. And what did we learn from this training? Carolyn Wigginton joked. It was probably thinking that thing would make a nice snack, Cindy Uzzell wrote. You should not be playing with prehistoric animals! Thats a good way to get eaten, Troy Fry said. Watch as camera finds an alligator relaxing in storm water pipe under Florida city Dentist pulls 3 teeth from alligators mouth in Florida so it can eat bigger prey Alligator snapping turtles found in an unexpected part of Florida, baffling experts The post American Punk Rocker Jailed in Russia on Drug Trafficking Charges appeared first on Consequence. A US citizen who played in several punk rock bands while living in Russia was arrested in Moscow on suspicion of drug trafficking. According to NPR, the Khamovniki District Court of Moscow has accused Travis Michael Leake of selling the drug mephedrone. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A former paratrooper in the US military, Leake has lived in Moscow for nearly a decade. While residing in Russia, he played in several punk bands, including as the lead vocalist in Lovi Noch. Additionally, he served as the president of Red Decades Records, which looks to identify and cultivate new and existing talent in the Russian marketplace for wider distribution in a world market. Leake was also featured in a 2014 episode of Anthony Bourdains Parts Unknown, where he voiced his frustrations with censorship in Russia. This was a documentary series about musicians standing up and risking their lives in some cases, to stand up against government abuse of power, government corruption, he said in the episode. 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 has denied the charge, telling police: I dont understand why Im here. I dont admit guilt, I dont believe I could have done what Im accused of because I dont know what Im accused of. A spokesperson for the US State Department said officials were aware of Leakes detention. The US Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas, the department said in a statement. When a US citizen is detained overseas, the Department pursues consular access as soon as possible and works to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Leake is the third American detained in Russia amid heightened tensions with the US. Last year, WNBA star Brittney Griner was jailed on drug charges, and was later released in a prisoner swap. In March, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges and remains in custody as of today. American Punk Rocker Jailed in Russia on Drug Trafficking Charges Scoop Harrison Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. FILE PHOTO: Rice is thrown on Newly-appointed General Joseph Aoun as army commander, upon his arrival at his family's house in Sin El Fil Analysis-Lebanon's Hezbollah mobilises to block IMF's Azour for presidency FILE PHOTO: Rice is thrown on Newly-appointed General Joseph Aoun as army commander, upon his arrival at his family's house in Sin El Fil By Maya Gebeily BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Iran-backed Hezbollah and its closest allies are set to torpedo an attempt by rivals to elect a senior IMF official as Lebanese president this week, in a tussle that underlines its decisive sway and the dim prospects for reviving the crumbling state. The standoff has laid bare Lebanon's deep splits, with the heavily armed Hezbollah deploying its political might against Jihad Azour's bid to fill the vacant presidency, while continuing to campaign for its ally - Suleiman Frangieh. The latest twist will unfold in parliament on Wednesday, when lawmakers will try for a 12th time to elect a successor to Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah-allied politician whose term ended in October. The attempt by groups including Hezbollah's opponents to elect Azour, an ex-finance minister and the IMF's Middle East director, is expected to fail because Hezbollah and its allies have enough seats to deny a two-thirds quorum. "We will obstruct for all to see," a senior Hezbollah-allied politician told Reuters, adding that Lebanon would then face an "open-ended crisis". Hezbollah officials say the movement and its allies are exercising their constitutional right to block Azour's election. The tussle has underlined the dim chances of a president being elected soon, leaving Lebanon drifting further from any steps towards remedying a devastating financial meltdown that has been left to fester since 2019. The power vacuum - with neither a head of state nor a fully empowered cabinet - is unprecedented even for Lebanon, a country that has known little stability since independence. With the presidency reserved for a Maronite Christian, the standoff also risks exacerbating sectarian tensions: Lebanon's two biggest Christian parties have rallied behind Azour, while Shi'ite Hezbollah and its Shi'ite ally Amal oppose him. As political splits deepen and the state endures its worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war, analysts say a deal may now require the kind of foreign intervention that has imposed compromise on its fractious parties in the past. UNDER ATTACK Possessing an arsenal that rivals the national army, Hezbollah has long been Lebanon's strongest faction, using its power to shield its interests and those of its allies, including by helping to bury the probe into a 2020 port blast. But its sway in parliament - where 128 seats are divided equally between Christian and Muslim groups - suffered a blow last year when the group and its allies lost a majority. The United States designates it a terrorist group. Hezbollah has described Azour as a confrontational candidate - a reference to his role as a minister in a cabinet backed by the West and Saudi Arabia and led by Fouad Siniora that waged political conflict with Hezbollah and its allies 15 years ago. That power struggle culminated in a brief bout of civil war in 2008 and Hezbollah taking over parts of Beirut. "The candidate of confrontation will not reach Baabda" Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told supporters last week, referring to the presidential palace. Lebanon's Shi'ite Mufti Ahmad Qabalan stepped up the rhetoric against Azour on Sunday without naming him, saying "a president with an American stamp will not be allowed". Al-Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah newspaper, reported news of Azour's candidacy on June 3 along with a photo showing him in the same frame as Mohamed Chatah, a former minister and adviser to former prime minister Saad al-Hariri who was assassinated in 2013. Hariri at the time accused Hezbollah of involvement in the killing. Hezbollah denied any role. Al-Akhbar withdrew the photo from its website after critics viewed it as a threat against Azour, a source at the paper said, denying that it was intended as such. A U.N.-backed court has convicted three members of Hezbollah in absentia over the 2005 assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, Saad's father and a former prime minister. Hezbollah has denied any role in the Hariri killing. Al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin, in a June 9 article, said a new attempt was underway to isolate Hezbollah and likened Azour to Siniora, saying said he had "accepted to be the fuse of the explosion". Azour, 57, has said his candidacy is not intended as a challenge to anyone. "My candidacy is a call for unity, for breaking down alignments and for a search for common ground in order to get out of the crisis," he said in a statement. SYSTEMIC PROBLEM Azour's candidacy gathered momentum when Hezbollah Christian ally Gebran Bassil endorsed him - a move seen as driven by his opposition to Frangieh and his own ambitions. He also enjoys the support of the anti-Hezbollah Christian Lebanese Forces party, the Progressive Socialist Party led by Druze Jumblatt family, and some Sunni Muslim lawmakers. But with his chances still in doubt, observers have questioned whether some of Azour's supporters have been trying to use his candidacy to get Hezbollah to abandon Frangieh and launch talks on a compromise. Frangieh, 57, is the heir to an old Christian political dynasty. A friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he has described Hezbollah's arsenal as vital to defending Lebanon from Israel. Foreign governments with sway in Lebanon including the United States, Saudi Arabia, France and Iran have called for the election of a new president. French President Emmanuel Macron met Frangieh in April - seen by many in Lebanon as an endorsement, though Paris has not declared support for him. Many in Beirut have anticipated that a detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran would eventually play out in Lebanon by helping to forge a presidential deal. But political sources in Beirut say they have yet to feel any impact of warming Saudi-Iranian ties, with Lebanon appearing to be a secondary priority to other issues, notably Yemen. Meanwhile, the paralysis is prompting new questions about the future of the political system established by the Taif agreement that ended the civil war. "Our problem is that the political system post-Taif is unable to elect a president or even appoint a prime minister to actually undertake reform because the ruling elite have so much vested interest in keeping the status quo," Sami Atallah, founding director of The Policy Initiative, said. (Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean) FILE PHOTO: Italian President Mattarella meets leaders of the conservative bloc that won the 2022 general election, in Rome By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) - The death of Silvio Berlusconi will send shockwaves through his Forza Italia party, a member of Italy's right-wing coalition, but analysts believe it could provide a chance for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to strengthen her leadership. Media tycoon Berlusconi founded Forza Italia when he entered politics in 1994. The party always relied on his charismatic leadership, and saw its support dwindle in recent years as health issues limited his political commitment. Forza Italia is currently the junior partner among the three main parties in the coalition and is seen as a more moderate force compared to Matteo Salvini's League and Meloni's Brothers of Italy. The support of Forza Italia's 62 lawmakers between the upper and lower house of parliament is crucial for Meloni to maintain a solid majority, but there is scepticism that the party can find a leader able to avoid a break up. "Forza Italia may die with Berlusconi, it is difficult to replace him, this is a monarchy that ends with the king," Giuliano Cazzola, a former lawmaker who was elected in parliament with Berlusconi, told Reuters. Analysts believe Forza Italia members will increasingly be tempted to shift allegiance to other parties without Berlusconi keeping them afloat, giving Meloni leeway to snap up lawmakers and broaden her party's ranks. "I expect Brothers of Italy to be attractive to Forza Italia members," Lorenzo De Sio, a politics professor at LUISS University in Rome, said. The relationship between Berlusconi and Meloni repeatedly came under strain since they won general elections together last year. They clashed over the war in Ukraine and he was spotted describing her as overbearing, arrogant and offensive. But the way Berlusconi shaped the rightist bloc in the last decades paved the way for Meloni's climb to power. The heirs of the post-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI) - which Meloni had joined in her youth - joined Berlusconi's coalition in the mid-1990s, taking cabinet posts for the first time. That triggered a long process which ended up in a merger between Forza Italia and MSI's heir Alleanza Nazionale in a single party. Meloni eventually left it in 2012 to co-found Brothers of Italy. 'GOOD GAME' Brothers of Italy presents itself as conservative, but often draws criticism for maintaining the old flame symbol of the original MSI and media occasionally publish photographs showing fascist memorabilia in the offices of some regional politicians. Eugenio Pizzimenti, a politics professor at Pisa University, said Berlusconi's death could lay the ground for Meloni to give up for good her party's post-fascist roots and usher in a new political force. "They would also need a 'makeup' at the international level to show they are ready to become a full conservative party. If Meloni plays it that way, she has a good game," he told Reuters. Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister, is Forza Italia's most senior figure within the government but analysts and politicians doubt he would be able to take over as leader. He is widely seen as a reliable figure and has strong European Union credentials following a long career in Brussels, but Pizzimenti believes he could only help Forza Italia's transition to a new Meloni-led conservative party. Investors are optimistic about Meloni's prospects. Althea Spinozzi, fixed income strategist at Saxo Bank, said the risk associated with investing in Italy can decrease with a downsized Forza Italia. However, analysts do not rule out a political successor to Berlusconi may eventually still emerge from his family, complicating Meloni's efforts to cement her leadership. His eldest child, Marina, who has chaired Berlusconi's holding Fininvest since 2005 and is aged 56, would be the frontrunner to take on the reins of the party in case the family decides to remain active in politics. Analyst De Sio said Marina Berlusconi could take the field to preserve the family's influence in the Italian politics. "She would be in competition with Meloni. The key issue is the family's desire to protect its companies, which are exposed without Berlusconi," he told Reuters. (Reporting by Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte; additional reporting by Antonella Cinelli; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Angels walk among us: Jacksonville man speaks at funeral of 19-year-old who saved his children The man saved in rough waters last week, by a Jacksonville teenager, said their families will now forever be connected. Action News Jax reported last week when 19-year-old Michael Myroshnychenko jumped into the ocean to save three swimmers in distress. He never made it back to shore, but now hes being remembered as a hero. READ: Family of 19-year-old swimmer who drowned off Atlantic Beach: He really loved people Family and friends laid Myroshnychenko to rest during a memorial service and burial in the Arlington neighborhood, Monday. During the ceremony, Eric Polite shared an emotional speech. My kids call him [Michael] a hero, but I believe that theyre using the wrong word, Polite said. My mother told me that angels walk among us. Polite was at Neptune Beach, last Tuesday. He was in the ocean with his two kids between Lemon Street and Atlantic Boulevard, when Myroshnychenko began assisting his daughter, according to a police report. Witnesses said the 19-year-old was trying to help Polite and his kids who were caught up in a rip current. Thank you for saving my kids, Polite said, during the funeral service, looking at Myroshnychenkos casket. Myroshnychenko disappeared once the Polite family got to shore. Investigators went searching for him. His body was found the next morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] It is very difficult when you lose a close friend, Bohdan Besdrushko said. He traveled from Poland for the funeral. He said he is proud of his friend for risking his life for others. I know that hes with God, and it is much better for him to be better there. Action News Jax also spoke with Myroshnychenkos brothers, Friday, about their brother and their grief. The three men came here to escape the war in Ukraine. We have a lot of Ukrainian refugees lately, Pastor Bogdan Bondarenko said. They came from Ukraine. They were fleeing the war that started in Ukraine. So, Michael, he is one of them. If youd like to help the family with funeral costs you can donate HERE. Im forever grateful and thankful for him, Polite said. Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko Image provided by the family of Michael Myroshnychenko [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. Skokie Ethics Commission attorney James Ferolo, standing, looks on while Skokie Trustee James Johnson speaks at a hearing for his complaint against Assistant Corporation Counsel James McCarthy, pictured at the right with attorney Michael Dorf at center, June 9, 2023. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press) The Skokie Ethics Commission on Wednesday dismissed a complaint alleging that one of the villages top attorneys had inappropriately mixed politics and municipal business by campaigning during village hours. The complaint, the third in a year brought by Skokies only independent trustee, alleged that Skokie Assistant Corporation Counsel James McCarthy had been passing out leaflets and supervising campaign activities while technically at work for the village on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. Advertisement Trustee James Johnson stated he had seen McCarthy passing out campaign literature opposing a trio of government reform referendums with volunteers nearby on Nov 7. Witness Maggie Vandermeer testified that she had seen McCarthy doing the same set of activities Nov. 8. Johnson is the only member of the Village Board not affiliated with the Skokie Caucus Party, which has dominated village politics since the 1970s and opposed the three referendums that passed in the November election. Advertisement Left to right: Skokie Trustee James Johnson, attorney Michael Dorf and Assistant Corporation Counsel James McCarthy at a hearing for Johnson's complaint against McCarthy, June 9, 2023. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press) Johnson was a vocal supporter of all three referendum measures and stated during the hearing that he had been volunteering for the Skokie Alliance for Electoral Reform at the Skokie Courthouse when he saw McCarthy there. Illinois law prohibits publicly compensated officers from soliciting votes, managing a campaign or assisting at polling places while at work. McCarthy did not deny that he had been distributing leaflets and working with political volunteers Nov. 7. McCarthys attorney Michael Dorf argued that McCarthy had used time off to do the campaign work, stating McCarthy had listed Nov. 8 as a vacation day and calling on village Finance Director Julien Prendei as a witness to support that argument. It is (Johnsons) burden to prove that Mr. McCarthy was not on vacation, personal or compensatory time off, Dorf said. One does not need to go to Bali or Las Vegas on their day off. McCarthy testified that the usual practice for taking time off in the corporation counsels office is to verbally notify colleagues and supervisors of planned time off, and said he had done so ahead of the election. No members of the village corporation counsels officer were at the hearing to testify. Left to right: Skokie Trustee James Johnson, attorney Michael Dorf, Assistant Corporation Counsel James McCarthy and resident Kimberly Polka at a hearing for Johnson's complaint against McCarthy, June 9, 2023. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press) The Illinois State Board of Elections lists McCarthy as the chair of the Skokie Caucus Party. Johnson noted that he had been doing nearly identical activities to McCarthy at the Skokie Courthouse and stated that he had been heavily involved with the campaign promoting the electoral reform referenda. Advertisement The difference between his activities and McCarthys, he said, was that I am an elected official of the village of Skokie; Mr. McCarthy is an appointed officer. Under our village code we both have the designation of officer but our jobs are fundamentally different, Johnson continued. I do not have any compensated time. I show up for our village meetings and besides that I dont really have any time obligations. Village trustees receive a $9,500 annual stipend for their work, according to Skokie records. McCarthys title with Skokie is assistant corporation counsel, and records show the village employs four people with that title, with salaries ranging from $13,800 to $137,850. The Skokie Ethics Commission, composed of Jonathan Minkus, Rev. Richard Lanford and Rabbi Leonard Matanky, has previously voted to dismiss two other complaints from Johnson. The first of those complaints alleged that Mayor George Van Dusen had conspired with Chief Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge to block the three form-of-government referenda from the ballot for political purposes. Left to right: Skokie Ethics Commission attorney James Ferolo, Chair Jonathan Minkus and members Rabbi Leonard Matanky and Rev. Richard Lanford at a hearing for Trustee James Johnson's complaint against Assistant Corporation Counsel James McCarthy, June 9, 2023. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press) The commission heard that complaint twice after the Illinois Attorney General found that it had violated rules for public meetings in its first consideration of the complaint. The second complaint alleged that McCarthy and Lorge had offered Johnson an appointment to a village board or commission in exchange for his withdrawing from the race for village board. Advertisement The commission rejected both of those complaints on the ground that their contents did not merit inquiry under Illinois ethics statute. Murder charges have been dismissed against a man accused of fatally shooting a person in the parking lot of a motel on South Hosmer Street in Tacoma. Prosecutors said they couldnt prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect did it. Damar McCall, 45, had been facing two counts of second-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Those charges were dismissed in April, and he was released from custody. McCall was arrested a little more than a week after the Jan. 25, 2022 death of Demonte Nettles Williams, 29. Investigators allegedly had surveillance video that showed him and his Lincoln Town Car at the Howard Johnson motel during the shooting. When detectives caught up to him in Lakewood, McCall reportedly said his car had been stolen about two weeks prior, and he claimed to have been stuck in traffic near Fircrest when he learned about the shooting. Phone records for McCall also allegedly placed him near the Howard Johnson at the time of the homicide, and a motel employee who identified him by a street name reportedly told police hed caused problems there before. A memorial for 29-year-old Demonte Williams, who was shot and killed Jan. 25, 2022, in a parking lot of the EconoLodge hotel on Hosmer Street in Tacoma, Washington, shown on June 28, 2022. He was one of five murders along Hosmer Street in 2022. Charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could refile them if circumstances change. It is second murder case from South Hosmer Street dismissed this year. In the nine months between September 2021 and July 2022, six people were killed at hotels or motels on the half-mile strip in the citys South End, according to previous reporting from The News Tribune. In March, charges were dropped against a man accused of killing 35-year-old Antonio Robinson in the parking lot of the Econo Lodge. Key witnesses couldnt be located. Among the six murder cases, five people were arrested and charged, and one defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. Two cases are pending, and the April 12, 2022 shooting of 25-year-old Astina Messieur remains unsolved. In this case, court records say Williams was killed when he walked out of a motel room sometime before 4:40 p.m. and approached a car. Records state an altercation ensued, and Williams struck the driver. A woman got out of the passenger seat and backed away, and soon after Williams could be seen staggering backward before falling to the ground. The Pierce County medical examiner found he died of a single gunshot to the chest. The Howard Johnson, 8726 S. Hosmer Street, sold for $4.8 million in June 2021 to two limited liability companies connected to Seattle-based Integrated Property Management. According to an investigation by The News Tribune of crime on Hosmer Street, the former motel was one of the most problematic lodging establishments, prompting more than 1000 police calls for service between 2018 and 2021. The Army has met its retention goals four months ahead of schedule, according to the services top enlisted soldier. On June 10 during remarks at the Armys birthday festival held at the National Museum of the United States Army near Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston shared the news. You know we have great soldiers and I do love our soldiers and they join a great team, Grinston said. And I can say for the last four years when they join, theyve stayed on the team. Weve met our retention goals every year for the last four years and this year, weve already met our retention goals. Numbers game: Inside the Army's end strength scramble The service has met and set goals of retaining or re-enlisting between 50,000 and 60,000 soldiers heading toward the end of their service obligations even as the Army and other services struggle with recruiting new troops and an overall shrinking of the size of the total force. Recruiting and end strength annual goals are set on the fiscal calendar; the fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Army Times reported in January that Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville set a focus on continued success in retaining soldiers. Retention is at a historical high, [and] we dont take that for granted, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville at an Association of the U.S. Army event. The chief also said commanders had higher retention goals than in 2022, despite the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill setting the Armys end strength goal at 452,000 troops. The end strength number is a drop of 12,000 from the estimated 465,000 soldiers who were on active duty in October, and McConville acknowledged that the decrease is a function of our ability to recruit. Specific data on this years retention goals were not immediately available as of press time. But according to recent testimony by Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo, reported by the news outlet Defense One, the goal was 55,100 soldiers. Less than 1% of soldiers who were eligible to leave the Army in the past two years did leave the Army, according to Defense One. In May, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth acknowledged publicly that the Army is likely to fall short of its recruiting goal of 65,000 new soldiers, the outlet reported. Around two dozen people living in a three-story home in Mattapan are displaced, while three residents and two firefighters were hospitalized, after a hot, fast-moving fire tore through the structure Sunday, according to Boston fire officials. Police arrived at 571 Cummins Highway Sunday afternoon to find the back of the building engulfed in flames, sending black smoke billowing out over the neighborhood. All the residents of the building were safely out of the building by the time fire crews arrived at the scene. Crews battled the intense flames for 30 minutes before they could get the fire under control. The back of the building was left blackened, with charred wood the only remnants of three back porches. Linton Blake was outside enjoying a sunny Sunday when he sprang into action. Blake ran across the street to the building, going door-to-door ringing doorbells to ensure everyone got out safely. All I see is fire blazing from the back of the house, Blake told Boston 25 News. Thats the first thing I thought about just leave my stuff run across the street make sure everybody is out that building that was the main mission right there. He said he specifically wanted to help his friend who lives with his brand-new baby in the triple-decker. He came downstairs with the newborn, but he also has other kids so I am like where is your other kids so I am like give me the newborn baby and he ran back upstairs and got his other 2 kids, Blake said. Although they believe the blaze began in the back of the home, fire officials do not yet know the exact cause of the fire. Up to 25 people lived in the building, according to Boston Deputy Fire Chief Brian Tully. Three residents and two firefighters sustained minor injuries in the fire. The building is not livable at this time and the Red Cross is assisting residents. It is a good thing that everybody got out because if this was like in the dead of night it could have been a lot worse, said Tully. Deputy Chief Tully briefs the media on the 2 alarm Fire on Cummings Hwy . 3 residents and 2 firefighters transported @BOSTON_EMS with minor injuries . 25 residents were displaced the @RedCrossMA to help with housing. pic.twitter.com/bSLijgZ9g9 Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) June 12, 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 [Source] An Asian American student from Florida with a 1590 SAT score who was rejected from six elite universities has joined the Supreme Court case seeking to end race-based admissions. About the student: Jon Wang, an 18-year-old student with a 4.65 high school GPA and a perfect score on the SAT's math section, was rejected from MIT, CalTech, Princeton, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon and the University of California, Berkeley. He blames affirmative action, which notably was banned in California in 1995. "I gave them my test scores, and then they must've ran the model on that [they] told me I had a 20% chance of getting accepted to Harvard as an Asian American and a 95% chance as an African American," Wang, whose parents immigrated from China, told Fox News. Wang has since been accepted at the Georgia Institute of Technology. More from NextShark: Elderly Filipino American Woman Beaten in NYC Speaks Out, Prays for Attacker Wang joined the anti-affirmative action nonprofit Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), which is currently seeking to overturn the Supreme Courts 2003 ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger in cases against Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The lawsuits: The two landmark cases Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina were kept separate by the Supreme Court due to Harvard's status as a private institution; UNC, on the other hand, is public. The case against Harvard examines whether the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by "discriminating against Asian American applicants in favor of white applicants," while UNC is similarly being sued for refusing to consider a "race-neutral alternative" in their admissions. The Supreme Court is expected to make its decisions for both cases before July 4. More from NextShark: British Indian BBC Reporter Forced to Stop Program Due to Racially Abusive Man Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! California Woman Goes on a Racist Rant After Asian Kids Draw Chalk Art on the Sidewalk Lawsuit accuses Google of firing exec after he rejected female boss's groping advances A Delta crew member was taken to the hospital after an emergency slide deployed inside one of their planes over the weekend. It happened Saturday when a flight from New York to Los Angeles was diverted Salt Lake International Airport. The Boeing 767 was having an unrelated maintenance issue when the emergency slide was accidentally deployed after the plane was on the ground. TRENDING STORIES: A crew member was taken to a nearby hospital for a precautionary evaluation because of the incident. In a statement, Delta said: The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority at Delta. We apologize to our customers on flight 520 on Saturday for the experience they had. Delta teams are fully investigating. Delta said the 168 passengers impacted by the emergency landing were quickly put on another plane to LA that same evening. RELATED NEWS: "I feel seen this year in a way that I don't think I ever have," Aubrey Plaza says of her most recent work in "The White Lotus" and "Emily the Criminal." (Maiwenn Raoult / For The Times) Aubrey Plaza hosted the very funny Jan. 21 episode of Saturday Night Live, wielding the dry wit thats long been her trademark on talk shows and social media. But one of the evenings highlights was during the Weekend Update segment where she effortlessly reprised her role as April Ludgate, the sarcastic young intern from Parks and Recreation, the sitcom that was her breakthrough. This wasnt her first time playing April since Parks left the air in early 2015 she was part of the shows 2020 COVID reunion benefit but it was striking to see her back as the iconic character, Amy Poehlers cheery Leslie Knope by her side. The moment felt like a time warp to a bygone era, especially for Plaza. I was terrified to play April Ludgate again, she admits over Zoom from New York. I had a moment where I was like, I dont know how to do this. I really wish I had been in therapy at the time. To reconnect with Aprils mind-set, she watched YouTube compilations of the characters highlight moments, but I was like, I hope I can pull this off, which is just so ridiculous. But it felt very satisfying to put on that wig and pull that hoodie up. What made it so easy is being next to Leslie Knope I mean, if I had to go out there alone, I dont know if I wouldve been able to. [The show] did feel forever ago. It seems even longer when you consider how far Plaza has come since which brings us to her performance in the second season of The White Lotus. She plays Harper, a sharp, brittle New York attorney dragged along on a luxury Italian vacation with her husband, Ethan (Will Sharpe), who encourages her to be nice to his college chum Cameron (Theo James) and his wife, Daphne (Meghann Fahy), both of whom strike her as rich dolts. Mired in a flailing marriage, Harper feels abandoned and trapped. It was a role Plazas good friend, show creator Mike White, wrote specifically for her. He kind of made a joke, but he said something along the lines of I think it would be really funny if you played a normie, recalls Plaza, laughing. Theres lots to dissect there, but I think what he meant was Im not going to cast you as a character that has some kind of extreme behaviors. I thought, OK, well, nobodys really a normie, are they? Still, its easy to understand Whites point. Whether on Parks and Rec or in cult indies such as Ingrid Goes West, Plaza has cornered the market on edgy misfits who excel at making others uncomfortable. But in The White Lotus, despite Harpers cutting commentary, we bear witness to a melancholy, sensitive soul ill at ease around the resorts obscene wealth and blinkered entitlement. Plaza likes to immerse herself in her characters headspace. Ive been called a Method actor I dont know how to define what I am, she says. But I dont take things lightly. Whatever the scene of the day is really dictates how my day goes it dictates my mood; it dictates how I interact with people. I have to say to people, Look, dont take it personally. Her process wasnt always easy for Sharpe, a director whos not as experienced as an actor, when theyd shoot tense scenes. As Plaza puts it, There was a learning curve for Will, where he would go, Are you mad at me? Are you OK? And I go, No, Im not OK. But Plaza wasnt merely trying on Harpers loneliness its a sensation she knows all too well. I felt lonely, she says softly about her time on set. But I think I feel lonely a lot. I mean, I had an incredible time I loved this cast, I wasnt alone but, yeah, I think I did [feel lonely]. I understand that about myself. I think its also a feeling of being misunderstood. I think theres an element of that with Harper its sad and exhausting when you feel like youre constantly misunderstood." No doubt the actress has also been misunderstood, having to escape a pigeonhole that her beloved April put her in. Thankfully, shes doggedly expanded Hollywoods assumptions about what she can do, most recently with the gripping low-budget thriller Emily the Criminal and now with The White Lotus, two performances where she displays startling vulnerability and emotional nuance. Receiving Independent Spirit Award nominations for Emily, which she also produced, and winning a SAG ensemble prize for Lotus, shes garnering more accolades than ever before. In fact, later on this day, shell be feted as part of Time magazines 100 most influential people. This year has been so interesting, she says, taking it all in. Im not really doing anything different, but I have glimpses of some kind of shift in perception. It feels really good to feel that people are watching things that Im doing. Emily the Criminal and White Lotus, I still am in shock just the sheer scope of how many people had eyes on both of those things thats rare for me. I feel seen this year in a way that I dont think I ever have. I feel lighter, in a sense. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. This story has been updated to include comment from the GAO. WASHINGTON The Government Accountability Office has denied Oshkosh Defenses protest of the U.S. Armys decision to award a nearly $9 billion contract to AM General to build Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, Defense News has learned. Oshkosh took issue with the Armys evaluation of its technical, price and cost proposals as well as with the Armys evaluation of AM Generals submission, Edward Goldstein, a GAO attorney said in a June 12 statement. Oshkosh also argued that the Army unreasonably and unequally conducted discussions and should not have found AMG to be a responsible contractor; that is, a contractor with the necessary financial, technical, and other business capabilities needed to perform the contract successfully. Finally, Oshkosh argued that the Army unreasonably made its best-value tradeoff determination. In denying the protest, GAO concluded that the Army reasonably evaluated proposals in accordance with the RFPs evaluation criteria, and that any judgments made were consistent with and adequately supported by the content provided in written proposals or observed as part of site visits conducting during the course of the solicitation process, Goldstein said. The decision was issued under a protective order because it may contain proprietary information. A redacted version of the report is forthcoming. We are disappointed with the decision, Oshkosh said in a statement sent to Defense News, and we firmly believe our proposal was the lowest risk, best value solution for the young men and women serving our nation. Oshkosh said it would assess the GAOs findings and evaluate next steps. AM General upset JLTV-maker Oshkosh in the Armys new competition to build more of the vehicles, winning a contract valued at $8.66 billion. Oshkosh won the original 2015 competition to build JLTV, beating out AM General and Lockheed Martin. Oshkosh filed a protest with the GAO on March 6 following its post-award debriefing with the government. Tim Bleck, Oshkoshs president, said at the time the company has significant concerns regarding the evaluation of the proposals under the solicitation that support an independent review. We believe the governments evaluation did not properly review the financial, technical, and manufacturing capabilities offered to select the best value and lowest risk solution to deliver the JLTV. Since 2020, private equity firm KPS Capital Partners has owned AM General. The subsidiary is now setting up infrastructure at its 96-acre Mishawaka Manufacturing Campus in Indiana. Oshkosh has built nearly 19,000 JLTVs to date, supplying them to the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy as well as military forces in Montenegro, Brazil, Slovenia and Lithuania. The company is under contract to build more than 22,679 vehicles and expects additional orders through November. According to a redacted copy of the protest obtained by Defense News, Oshkosh contends the Army took glaring risks by selecting AM General, noting the company has zero experience manufacturing the JLTV and by its own admission, must build out its own facilities before it can start production. Oshkosh said in the protest the Army did not appropriately consider AM Generals financial capacity. The company is preparing to close its JLTV production line by the end of 2024. As we move forward, we will continue to focus our mission to provide the highest quality vehicles and technologies that enable our warfighters to perform their mission and return home safely, Oshkosh said in its June 12 statement. AM General has to start building JLTVs by August 2024, and while the protest was still pending the Army went ahead and awarded a $4.7 billion contract to the company on May 24. Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners said in recent analysis prior to the decision that he doubted the Army would have moved forward with a contract award to AM General if the service thought the award would be overturned. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended Adm. Samuel Paparo as the Navys next chief of naval operations, two administration officials said, tapping an operational leader focused on the Indo-Pacific and passing over Adm. Lisa Franchetti, widely regarded as the frontrunner for the job. The Pentagon sent over Austins nomination suggestion to the White House days ago, the U.S. officials said, but President Joe Biden has yet to make a final decision. Both officials were granted anonymity to discuss internal matters before an announcement. NBC News was first to report the development. The White House declined to comment. This is a presidential decision, said Navy spokesperson Rear Adm. Ryan Perry. The United States Navy has several highly qualified senior leaders, and it would be inappropriate to speculate which leader the president will nominate to serve as the next chief of naval operations. If nominated and confirmed, Paparo would replace Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, whose four-year term ends this fall. Paparo currently commands the Navys Pacific Fleet, where he has focused on confronting Chinas growing naval power, a perch thats given him a front-row seat to Washingtons most pressing problem. Hes been doing a lot of innovative thinking with new concepts for how to employ U.S. naval power in the Pacific, and has instituted a series of experiments and exercises aimed at testing new ideas, said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and retired Navy officer. Hes been much more creative than other commanders who have led the Pacific fleet in recent years, Clark said, adding that Paparos potential nomination reflects the desire to get serious about the growing naval imbalance in the Pacific and how the U.S. can address it. Biden had been expected to nominate Franchetti to lead the Navy, making her the first woman to serve as a member of the militarys Joint Chiefs of Staff. As vice chief of naval operations, shes the Navys No. 2 officer. But the vice chief is rarely elevated to the chief of naval operations. Rather, the job often goes to a combatant commander with fresh operational experience. Adm. John Aquilino, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, recently made a push for Austin to recommend Paparo over Franchetti due to his experience with the China threat, according to a former senior Defense Department official familiar with the discussions, who was granted anonymity to speak about sensitive personnel moves. A spokesperson for Indo-Pacific Command denied that Aquilino made such a recommendation. As the service chief, Paparo would not be in the military's operational chain of command, but would be responsible for ensuring the naval forces are trained, equipped and prepared for combat. Paparo, a career naval aviator, has also commanded in the Middle East and did a tour in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, as the commander of a Provincial Reconstruction Team. His potential nomination comes as more than half of the members of the Joint Chiefs turn over this year. The White House has in recent weeks nominated Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown to be the next chair; Gen. Eric Smith to lead the Marine Corps; and Gen. Randy George to take over the Army. It must still nominate a new Air Force chief of staff to replace Brown. Gilday, the current Navy chief, will turn over leadership of a service that has been heavily criticized by Congress and has multiple shipbuilding plans wrested from its control by the Pentagon, which was frustrated by the lack of growth in the fleet. The Navy has been unable to increase the size of the 297-ship fleet since declaring a 355-ship goal in 2016, and will actually shrink over much of the rest of the decade before starting to climb in the 2030s, if current plans hold. It will be a tough path forward however, with the new debt ceiling compromise struck between the White House and Congress capping defense spending for the next two years just as the Navy has some big bills coming due. The service has just started building the first of a new class of ballistic missile submarines, which will carry the bulk of the nations nuclear strike capability and will eat up a considerable portion of the shipbuilding budget. Paparo would also have to grapple with what to do with the failed Littoral Combat Ship program, an experiment by the Navy in building small, light ships that was supposed to perform multiple missions. Despite ordering 38 ships, the Navy has already started retiring the first batch of LCS hulls, some just four years old, a move that has infuriated many in Congress. Paparo would also have to shepherd in several new classes of uncrewed ships, which the Navy has struggled to design and develop under Gildays tenure, as well as attempting to find more shipyards that can maintain and repair warships and get them out to the fleet more quickly, something Gilday and his predecessors have also grappled with varying degrees of success. Authoritarian Expert Spells Out What A Trump Return To Office Will Mean Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on authoritarianism, on Sunday delivered a sobering prediction about the future of America if Donald Trump returns to the White House. If he gets back into power, he will never leave, said Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University and author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. Thats very clear, because like all authoritarians, he needs to get back into power because hes so corrupt and shut down all investigations, Ben-Ghiat told MSNBCs Ali Velshi during a discussion on Trumps rhetoric following his indictment for mishandling classified documents. Trump in April was indicted in the Stormy Daniels hush money payment case. Last month, a civil jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation after writer E. Jean Carroll accused him of raping her in the 1990s. He remains under criminal investigation for attempting to overthrow the 2020 election result in Georgia and for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Multiple high-profile Republicans are staunchly defending Trump, the front-runner in the 2024 GOP race, even as his legal woes mount. Ben-Ghiat described the GOP as an autocratic party operating in a democracy. They have talking points just like the Kremlin does, and we have seen everybody use the same language about the weaponization of government, she said. Related... In this September 2014 photo, then-16-year-old Ari Giannetos puts flowers near where his friend, 17-year-old Max Gadau, was shot to death along the 9200 block of North Kedvale Avenue in Skokie. A 17-year-old girl was critically injured in the shooting. Both were then seniors at Niles North High School. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) A man sentenced to 56 years in prison in the 2014 shooting death in Skokie of Niles North High School student Maxwell Gadau, and attempted murder in the shooting of Gadaus friend Jeannette Spitz, must be given a new trial, an appellate court has ruled. In a June 2 ruling, the Appellate Court of Illinois First District, Sixth Division, said that Dzevad Avdic, the only person convicted of felony first degree murder and attempted first degree murder in the case, must be given a new trial because the jury in his original 2018 trial at the Skokie courthouse was not given proper instructions before they deliberated. Avdic has been in prison since that conviction. Advertisement We reverse and remand for a new trial consistent with this opinion, the courts 48-page written opinion says. It goes on to say that the trial court erred by refusing to provide the jury with instructions requested by the defendant that could have resulted in his acquittal or conviction on a lesser charge. After that reversal came down, the Cook County States Attorneys office said in a statement Friday.We are reviewing the matter to determine next legal steps and unable to further comment at this time. Advertisement Prosecutors never alleged that Avdic was the shooter in the crime or even in the vehicle when it happened. But of the five people charged, he was the only one found guilty of felony first degree murder and attempted murder in the case. Photo of 17-year-old Maxwell Gadau, courtesy of the Gadau family. Gadau was murdered in 2014 during a Skokie drug transaction that included several Niles North High School students. An Illinois Appellate Court on June 2 ordered that Dzevad Avdic, who was convicted of murder in 2018, must undergo a new trial. (Family photo) Anthony Hicks of Chicago, the man who prosecutors had alleged actually pulled the trigger in the robbery, was found not guilty of felony murder and attempted murder in September 2021. At the time of Avdics 2018 trial, prosecutors alleged that Avdic, Hicks and three others planned to rob Niles North High School student Jeanette Spitz of two ounces of marijuana and that Spitz agreed to meet them in a vehicle in the 9200 block of Kedvale Avenue in Skokie. They said Spitz had asked Gadau, her friend, to accompany her as support and protection during the drug transaction. Once there, Avdic and two other teens waited in a nearby vehicle as Hicks and another teenager, Myles Hughes, then 17, got into a vehicle with Gadau and Spitz, prosecutors said. During Avdics trial for murder, Hughes testified that he got into the car with Hicks and that as soon as Spitz pulled out two ounces of marijuana, Hicks shot Gadau through the back seat, then shot Spitz in the face. He said that he and Hicks grabbed the cannabis, ran back to the car and drove into Chicago with the other three men. The five were arrested and charged a short time later. Prosecutors also said that although Avdic was not in Spitzs car when she and Gadau were shot, he was waiting in a nearby car, and that because he helped plan the robbery, under the law of accountability, he was just as responsible for the shootings as Hicks. During Avdics trial, he testified that he didnt know that Hicks had a gun. Chicago defense attorney Damon Cheronis represented Avdic in his 2018 trial and subsequent appeal. Our theory was this was not a felony murder because our client was not involved in the planning of the underlying felony and he did not know that the shooter had a gun, he said. We really pushed that theory during the trial and we asked that all of these instructions, proximate cause and foreseeability instructions be given to the jury. It was not allowed. Also, the court should have instructed the jury on a lesser included offense, he said. In other words, they could have found our client guilty of robbery but not felony murder. Advertisement In this case, the court did a great job of saying wait a second, the state still has to establish that the murder was reasonably foreseeable to my client, he said. There was no dispute that our client was not involved in the acts that led to the killing of Max and to the attempted murder of Jeanette. He also said Avdics new trial will likely be held later this year. The opinion states that Justice Sharon Oden Johnson delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion, Justice Carl A. Walker concurred in the judgment and opinion and Justice Sanjay Tailor specially concurred, with opinion. The Awful Awful is a classic Rhode Island treat. Here's how it got its name. Rhode Island has a lot of iconic foods, and nearly all of them are a little weird. Theres pizza strips, where you take away what is arguably the best part of the pizza the mozzarella cheese to turn pizza into a stripped-down version of itself that somehow works as a perfect lunch or party snack. Then theres Rhode Island calamari, the state appetizer, which in the words of The Washington Post became the unexpected star of the 2020 Democratic Convention when the state promoted its seafood and our habit of pairing it with hot peppers. Its not often that an appetizer upstages a presidential candidate. Or we could talk about the New York System Hot Wiener, which this reporter recently tried to explain to someone from out of state with absolutely no success. But for todays What and Why RI, were going to talk about a delicious Rhode Island drink: the Awful Awful. Why is Newport Creamerys shake called an Awful Awful? wrote one reader, who added that the question was just asked on a radio show she was listening to and it stumped the hosts. An assortment of Awful Awful treats at Newport Creamery. Why is it called an Awful Awful? The Awful Awful was born at Bonds Ice Cream in the 1940s in New Jersey. The shop had come up with a drink that combined flavored syrups with ice milk instead of the ice cream one would find in a classic milkshake. A customer drank a 24-ounce serving and called it awful big and awful good, according to the New England Historical Society. Awful awful. Bonds did what anyone with a success on their hands would do: They trademarked the name Awful Awful on June 10, 1948. How did the Awful Awful become a Rhode Island drink, not a New Jersey one? After getting the drink trademarked, Bonds Ice Cream made two deals to sell the drink one to Friendlys Ice Cream in Massachusetts and one to Newport Creamery in Rhode Island, according to the New England Historical Society. The deals allowed them to use the name only if they didnt expand into New Jersey. But in the 1960s, Friendlys expanded into New Jersey, meaning they had to give up the name. They ran a contest for a new name, and the Fribble was born. Since then, according to MassLive, they changed the recipe three times, and the drink is now made with hard ice cream instead of ice milk. Then Bonds Ice Cream went bankrupt in the 1970s, and Newport Creamery swooped in and bought the trademark for Awful Awful for $1,000, according to the New England Historical Society. They hold the trademark to this day and they're the last Awful Awful provider standing. "We are proud to be known as New Englands frozen drink of choice," said Jonathan Janikies, a vice president of operations with the Jan Companies, the owners of Newport Creamery, in an email. "The Awful Awful is long known as an ultra-special milkshake treat that has a longstanding heritage throughout New England." What and Why RI: Kingston used to be known as 'Little Rest.' These are the stories behind the original name Where to get an Awful Awful If you're looking for an Awful Awful, there are eight Newport Creamery locations in Rhode Island and two in Massachusetts. To this day, they are one of the hallmark menu items of Newport Creamery, featured heavily in their social media feeds. They also have a lot of flavors. Diners can choose between vanilla, chocolate, coffee, strawberry, mint, cotton candy, orange, bubble gum, chocolate mint, and mocha for a classic Awful Awful, or there's the "outrageous" version, which comes in Oreo, choc o'nutter, strawberry, banana chip and chocolate mint chip, if you're looking for a little something more. What and Why RI: It's filled in now, but in its prime Rocky Point pool hosted Olympians. Here's the story. Janikies also recommended the new "Cookie Monstrous Extreme Awful Awful," which has cookie pieces and a little blue cookie monster on top. A tradition that won't be coming back this year, Janikies said, is Awful Awful Monday, when it's buy one, get one free. He said Newport Creamery will be "keeping an open mind" about bringing it back in the future. What and Why RI is a weekly feature by The Providence Journal to explore our readers' curiosity. If you have a question about Rhode Island, big or small, email it to klandeck@gannett.com. She loves a good question. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Newport Creamery's Awful Awful is a RI classic. Here's how it was named A plan to install separated bike lanes along one of Bostons busiest corridors is being met with strong opinions. The upcoming project calls for the installation of separated bike lanes on Berkeley Street, Boylston Street, a block of Beacon Street and two blocks of Columbus Ave. A statement from the city of Boston sent to Boston 25 News says the new lanes will create continuous, comfortable rides through the Back Bay from Fenway and the South End. The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay is expressing fierce opposition over the new separated bike lanes. Its likely to congest traffic even more, said Elliott Laffer, chair of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. We think that rather than make it safer for people its going to make it less safe. Laffer said he feels bicyclists may feel a false sense of security along several congested thoroughfares. He believes bicyclists will face dangerous encounters with traffic when attempting to make turns at busy intersections. He points to a stretch of Berkeley Street near Beacon Street leading to Storrow Drive as a major concern. Ive said publicly that I think, at some point, someone will die, and the someone who is most likely to die is someone on a bike, explained Laffer. The upcoming protected bike lane project will join others thatve been under construction for years in Boston. Its part of Mayor Michelle Wus ambitious goal to put 50 percent of the citys population within a 3-minute walk of a protected bike lane. Youre going to see safe road use be encouraged because of those bike lanes, said bicyclist Eitan Ehrlich. [Therell be] fewer people weaving out because they feel like theyre seen by the construction and the way the street is designed. The city is hosting a drop-in session about the new Back Bay bike lanes on Saturday, June 17th, at the corner of Berkeley and Boylston Streets from 2-4 p.m. Residents will have the opportunity to view the design plan, ask questions and learn more about the project. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Twitter/Getty Larry Cook, a prominent anti-vax activist who was banned from numerous social media platforms including Facebook for spreading QAnon conspiracy theories, has returned to Twitter, where he is using his verified status to sell expensive vaccine cures. A longtime anti-vaxxer, Cook is a former naturopath who resigned as executive director of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association in 2016 to educate as many parents and others as possible about the dangers of vaccination. Among Cooks many inflammatory claims, he has said vaccines kill babies and children. Not only can any vaccine given at any age kill your child, Cook wrote in one ad, but if this unthinkable tragedy does occur, doctors will dismiss it as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Cook is now using his Twitter platform to sell medically dubious products such as Zeolite Heavy Metal Detox Spray for $63.83 a month, which he claims helps clean out the chemicals from the body. Cook also maintains an Amazon storefront where he earns a commission selling anti-vax books, alongside supplements. Detox is the first step to health - something conventional MDs completely ignore. Heres what I recommend: https://t.co/Uns86LUt5L Larry Cook (@stopvaccinating) June 8, 2023 Cook was banned from Facebook and Twitter in November 2020 after using his platform to spread QAnon conspiracy theories. But he has built a new following on Elon Musks Twitter 2.0, where he is a verified Twitter Blue user with over 37,000 followers. (Then-Twitter CEO Musk confirmed in April that these verified accounts are prioritized as part of Twitters algorithm, meaning they are more likely to be seen by users on the platform.) I think its a terrible move to bring Cook (and others, such as Naomi Wolf) back to Twitter, Tara Smith, a professor of epidemiology at Kent State University told The Daily Beast. All they do is spread disinformation about vaccinesI see Larrys latest is that vaccines cause turbo cancer, whatever that is, and type 1 diabetes. This is absolutely unsupported scientifically, and has no purpose but to enrich Cooks coffers as it did before he was kicked off multiple social media and fundraising sites. He is a public health menace. You probably know all the major social media companies banned me, including YouTube and LinkedIn. But even .Linktr.ee banned me! The plan to force vaccinate every human is part of the DNA of most tech companies. Larry Cook (@stopvaccinating) June 7, 2023 When asked by The Daily Beast for a response to Smiths statement, Cook tweeted: That epidemiologist is lying. Trust parents, not Pharma shill epidemiologists. Or hit pieces by fake news. Cook declined to comment further, instead tweeting: I dont respond to these hit piece requests anymore. After his social media ban in 2020, Cook built a more explicitly right-wing online presence, founding a spin-off group called Medical Freedom Patriots, which he described as Pro Donald Trump, QAnon Friendly and Anti Vaccine. I have a lot of helpful resources in the link in my Bio. Heavy metal detox, trace minerals, vax free parenting course, vax injury treatment guide, vaccine dangers link, my book The Beginner's Guide to Natural Living, and much more. Take a look! https://t.co/obf5YKEPqt pic.twitter.com/qg0maCGUyW Larry Cook (@stopvaccinating) June 5, 2023 His current Twitter presence has expanded beyond anti-vaccine misinformation, and into a number of right-wing talking points. In recent weeks, Cook has tweeted criticism of gender-affirming care for minors and trans people participating in sport, called COVID a scamdemic, and claimed the wildfires raging in Canada are the work of Black op eco terrorists to supercharge the climate change narrative. Larry Cook was one of the most prolific and dangerous superspreaders of anti-vaccine misinformation during the Covid pandemicwhich allowed him to raise huge amounts of cash by peddling deadly lies, Callum Hood, head of research at the Center for Countering Digital Hate, told The Daily Beast in a statement. In 2021, Cook was highlighted as a Pandemic Profiteer by The Center For Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). When he took over Twitter, Elon Musk put up the Bat Signal to all manner of disinformation actors and extremists, encouraging them to flood back onto Twitter. It is more than happy to give a huge algorithmic boost to anyone as long as they cough up $8 a monthno matter how toxic they are, Hood continued. Malicious, self-interested actors like Cook are permittedeven incentivizedto peddle extreme propaganda by exploitative social media platforms that offer them direct access to captive audiences of paying followers. Initially Cook focused his efforts on building a community on YouTube and Facebook, where his group Stop Mandatory Vaccination was one of the sites largest anti-vax communities, with 195,000 members by 2020. In November of that year, Cooks Facebook group was shut down and he was booted off Twitter as both companies attempted to curb the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories on their platforms. It was not Cooks anti-vax activism that ultimately got him kicked off Facebook, but his support for QAnon, which violated the company's policies designed to address militarized social movements and violence-inducing conspiracy networks, Newsweek reported. I put a hugeand I mean HUGEamount of effort building my audience on Facebook. I lived on Facebook. When I learned about [QAnon], I got active on Twitter as well, Cook posted on the conservative social media site Parler after his removal. Remember we are at war. This is Good vs Evil. Pray, and Pray Big every day. Cook has long been able to harness the power of social media to reach new audiences. He ran multiple GoFundMe campaigns, raising around $80,000 before anti-vax campaigns were banned by the site in 2019. One campaign alone amassed $56,636. At the time Cook said the funds would go towards building a website and interviewing parents who believe their children were injured by vaccines. Another GoFundMe campaign in 2020 claimed the medical community was covering up baby deaths. Cook also spent thousands of dollars of targeted Facebook ads. In 2019, The Daily Beast found that Cook spent a total of $5,302 on 54 advertisements on the platform between May 2018 and March 9, 2019, according to Facebooks ad archive. Im a full-time activist, Cook told The Daily Beast in a phone interview in 2019, when asked about money he was raising. Im not a nonprofit. I dont need to report any incomewe are in a capitalist society and anyone can raise and spend how we want. That year, Cook took out a series of Facebook ads targeting parents in Washington State, where more than 50 people had been infected in a measles outbreak. Are you concerned about vaccines? What about MANDATORY VACCINATION, like whats being proposed in WA State and other states? Should our children REALLY be force vaccinated? one of the removed ads read. Read this tragic story and then join our group Stop Mandatory Vaccination if you want truthful answers that your pediatrician and mainstream media will never tell you. Anti-Vax Ad King Larry Cook Dethroned After Facebook Removes His Posts Facebook later removed Cooks ads, citing their vaccine misinformation policies. Several of these ads contained verifiable hoaxes identified by leading global health organizations like the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and were removed, Devon Kearns, who worked in policy communications at Facebook, told The Daily Beast in March 2019. In November 2019, the journal Vaccine found that the majority of Facebook ads spreading misinformation about vaccines were the work of only two groupsRobert F Kennedy Jrs World Mercury Project and Larry Cooks Stop Mandatory Vaccinations. Cook came under fire in February 2020, after a Colorado mother posted in his Stop Mandatory Vaccination Facebook group looking for advice for her 4-year-old son who was sick with the flu. The child was prescribed Tamiflu by a doctor, but posters in the group encouraged his mother not to give the boy the medication. Instead, they recommended Vitamin D and C, Elderberry, Zinc, and fruits and vegetables, according to CBS News. The child later died. In response, Cook posted in the group blaming the death on Childrens Hospital Colorado Springs, who he said never offered any real treatments that would have likely cured her boy. 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. Standoff ends with deputies killing man who opened fire on them, sheriffs department says An hours-long standoff ended Monday when deputies shot and killed a man after he opened fire on them, the Richland County Sheriffs Department said. The incident at a home on Two Notch Road started at about 8:55 a.m., according to Deputy Chief Maria Yturria. A power company employee went to the home to do work there when a man from the house came out pointing a gun at the employee, Yturria said during a news conference. The man told the worker to get off the property, and she complied, then called 911, according to Yturria. Two deputies arrived at the scene and were met outside by the man who was belligerently screaming at them, speaking profanities and telling them to get off the property, Yturria said. The man then went inside the home, and as the deputies attempted again to contact the man, he came out of the house and fired multiple shots from a pistol at the deputies, according to Yturria. The deputies held their ground and called for backup, which soon arrived along with negotiators, Yturria said. The sheriffs department evacuated people from homes and businesses in the area during the standoff, according to Yturria. The negotiations were conducted via public address and phone for roughly an hour, but the man was not responsive, other than when he came outside of the home and displayed his gun before returning indoors, according to Yturria. The departments special response team arrived on the scene and tried negotiating before attempting to approach the home, according to Yturria. That prompted the man to come out and point his gun at deputies, before again going back inside, Yturria said. The man then came back out, but this time he started firing at the deputies, and five or six of the law enforcement officers returned fire, according to Yturria. The man was shot and taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, Yturria said. The Richland County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the man. No other injuries were reported, and Yturria said the man was the only person inside the home. This is not the first time the sheriffs department has responded to the home and dealt with the man, according to Yturria. He is very well known to us, Yturria said. She added that the previous incidents had been aggravated in nature. Although the man was taken to the hospital, the situation was ongoing as deputies were investigating some suspicious packages they found inside the home. Further information about the packages was not available. The combination of the standoff, gunfire and investigation prompted the sheriffs department to block a stretch of Two Notch Road from Fontaine Road to Faust Street. Thats in the Dentsville area, near Exit 74 on Interstate 20 and Columbia Place Mall. At about 12:40 p.m., the Columbia Fire Department said the road was reopened and traffic was moving as normal. In addition to sheriffs deputies, members of the fire department and Richland County EMS were on standby as the incident developed. Bay County Commissioners approved to purchase this 122-acre parcel U.S. 231 and Transmitter Road for $2.4 million. It will be used to build a regional stormwater facility, and Bay County Fire Rescue Station 14 also will be relocated to the area. PANAMA CITY Local officials are working on a project to reduce flooding and improve public safety. Bay County commissioners on Tuesday voted to spend $2.4 million to purchase about 122 acres from the St. Joe Company. Located near U.S. 231 and Transmitter Road, the land will be used to build a regional stormwater facility. Bay County Fire Rescue Station 14, known as the Hiland Park Fire Station, also will be relocated to the area. Tuesday's decision came more than four months after commissioners voted on Dec. 22 to enter into a purchase agreement for the property. It will be bought using American Rescue Plan Act funds. "That property has a great deal of wetlands in it, so the county is going to construct a regional stormwater pond at that location to help alleviate flooding that's occurred throughout that area," said Keith Bryant, chief infrastructure officer for Bay County. "It has a couple of different purposes for buying the property." Purchase agreement: Bay County looks to buy 122 acres for regional stormwater facility, fire station Upcoming meeting: Bay County to hold workshop on possibly changing how public transportation is governed Along with the stormwater facility, which will boast a 20-acre retention pond, the Hiland Park Fire Station will be moved to the property. It currently sits off Lafayette Road in a location that not only is too small, but often experiences traffic congestion that slows emergency response. According to the meeting's agenda, the new property is "still within the fire station service area" and "will provide more room for future expansion." Bryant said it also will give firefighters better access to major roadways. The agenda also states "the site contains the main outfall system for the basin and is one of a few remaining vacant parcels of significant size within the basin." Bryant said it will play a key role in helping the county reduce flooding. "Once we purchase the property, we're going to design in that area that regional stormwater pond, and it will take water that traditionally has flowed south ... and will store that water," Bryant said. "It will prevent some of that structural flooding that's been occurring in that area." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County to buy 122 acres from the St. Joe Company for $2.4 million 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. 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. Fremont the left, Cheryl Schell, Principal of Oak Harbor High School; Brian Kaser, new Assistant Principal at Oak Harbor High School; Geoff Halsey, new Director of Administrative Services; and incoming Superintendent Cathy Bergman. OAK HARBOR - The Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools Board of Education met for its June 7 and approved contracts for two new administrators. Geoff Halsey will join the BCS team as the new director of administrative services, replacing Cathy Bergman, who will become superintendent on Aug. 1. Most recently, Halsey has been the principal at Battaan Intermediate School in Port Clinton since 2013. Prior to joining Port Clinton City Schools, Halsey served as the director of technology for Danbury Local Schools. Halsey also has several years of experience as an English/language arts teacher in both Ohio and Indiana. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Bowling Green State University as well as a master's of education degree in classroom technology. He also has a master's degree in educational administration from Ashland University. Brian Kaser will join the district as the new assistant principal of Oak Harbor High School, replacing Alison Wolf. Most recently, Kaser served as assistant principal for Washington Local Schools in Toledo. Kaser has eight years experience as a mathematics teacher at Toledo Whitmer High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from Indiana Weslyan University and a master's degree in administration from Concordia University. Outgoing Superintendent Guy Parmigian commented, "Mrs. Bergman and I are both very excited to welcome these two experienced and student-centered leaders to BCS. They are both excited to jump in and begin to meet staff, students, and community members." This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: BCS school board fills administrative slots RICHMOND, Calif. On a recent afternoon at Nystrom Elementary School, fourth grade teacher Rodney LaFleur asked his class to read along with him during a lesson on the American Revolution. Before he could finish, he noticed one boy who didnt have the reading material on his desk staring across the room. LaFleur told him to pay attention, and the boy pulled out the crumpled reading assignment. Go to the closet, LaFleur, 25, told him. The student had been warned already that day to stay on task, and LaFleur was frustrated. The open closet, filled with textbooks, dodgeballs and signs about managing emotions write about it and stretch or exercise is where LaFleur sends students who are disruptive and off-task. Fourth-grade teacher Rodney LaFleur quizzes his students on phonics skills at Nystrom Elementary in Richmond, Calif. A few minutes later, LaFleur directed his students to write a summary of what they read aloud and share it with their tablemates. But as he walked over to talk to the boy hed sent to the closet, some students immediately abandoned the assignment. Some began singing TikTok songs. Others yelled about what they did over their February vacation. One girl played with the Smarties candies she brought into class for Valentines Day. LeFleur looked on, exhausted. Crucial minutes of learning time during a year meant to catch kids up from pandemic learning loss had gone to waste yet again. Three years after schools across the nation were shuttered because of COVID-19, educators say they are still struggling to teach kids skills they lost out on during remote learning while managing a surge in post-pandemic misbehavior. More than 70% of 1,000 educators said in a recent national survey that students are misbehaving more now than they did before the pandemic in 2019. That's a slightly larger share than those who said the same in 2021. The spike in outbursts, fidgeting and nonstop chatter in classrooms coincides with a national mental health crisis. American pediatricians during the pandemic went as far as to call it a national emergency. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found 40% of parents with kids under 18 said they are extremely or very worried that their children might struggle with anxiety or depression at some point. Many kids lost loved ones to COVID, saw their parents lose jobs and witnessed or experienced abuse. Remote schooling led to kids spending countless hours in front of their screens in isolation from teachers and friends. Teachers are under pressure to help students make up for what they havent learned, and kids feel their stress. The combination has led to a pronounced rise in students expressing anger or sadness by lashing out and being disruptive at school. Distracted students, stressed teachers: What an American school day looks like post-COVID Anytime weve got a chaotic structure and high expectations of ourselves, its very easy for that to come out in disruptions, said Kent McIntosh, an associate professor in the College of Education at the University of Oregon. What on the outside can look like defiant behavior is sometimes a students best bet to get needs met in the moment. Teachers and students overall need more training on how to manage social and emotional well-being to cope, said Celeste Malone, president of the National Association of School Psychologists. One way educators can prevent and manage disruptions is by fostering trusting relationships with their students, she said. How are teachers managing? Many educators said they had no idea how to handle the rise in misbehavior this year. They sent kids to other classrooms or administrative offices to be consoled by someone else, worked longer hours to try to counsel children on their own, set up physical boxes for kids to anonymously share their complaints and ramped up lessons in managing emotions. Elsewhere, teachers doubled down on controlling their classrooms in ways that research has shown can be problematic and discriminatory against Black and Latino kids: issuing multiple referrals, suspending or expelling students, ticketing kids and disciplining them to a point where they face arrest. The Biden administration in late May issued a letter to public schools emphasizing their responsibility to follow civil rights guidance, which calls for nondiscrimination in student discipline. The letter highlighted several cases where the Education and Justice departments held schools across the nation accountable for violations. Lisa Cay, (in chair in white) third grade teacher at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Falls Church, Va., instructs her students. Several states and school boards this year brought back or are considering reviving harsher disciplinary policies, such as requiring schools to suspend or expel kids. Before the pandemic, there was a movement away from those practices. That was in part a response to concerns about discrimination against Black and Latino students who were being excessively removed from a learning environment. Some lawmakers have cited the pleas from teachers as a reason to resurrect harsh discipline policies. Unfortunately, its a fallback to a position we had in the 80s and 90s, said Thalia Gonzalez, a professor of law at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. But these quick fix options that remove kids from classrooms dont lead to long-term solutions, she said. Severe disciplinary practices this year that largely predate the pandemic also included school officials calling police who may ticket or arrest students and corporal punishment, despite criticism from child behavioral experts. Anytime youre thinking about removing a student from the classroom, thats a consequential decision. Sometimes we think sending a kid to the hallway is a break for them, but its really embarrassing, McIntosh said. And its teaching them the unintended lesson that maybe the classroom, and maybe the school, is not for them. At Downer Elementary School in San Pablo, California, many days in Wendy Gonzalezs fourth grade class this year went like this: She would start a lesson on math from a new curriculum meant to help kids speed up learning. Before Gonzalez, 45, would get very far, a misbehaving student from another class would end up in her room for counsel. Gonzalezs former Principal Chris Read said he directed teachers this year to prioritize building relationships with kids. Wendy Gonzalez has her fourth grade class stand up stretch multiple times when they become too rowdy and unfocused during class at Downer Elementary in San Pablo, Calif. A student drawing hangs on the wall next to Wendy Gonzalez's desk at Downer Elementary in San Pablo, Calif. 4th grade teacher Wendy Gonzalez sits at her desk after school at Downer Elementary on Monday April 17, 2023; San Pablo, Calif. These are kids who spent most of their formative years kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, when youre supposed to be learning social skills not learning them. They dont have those social skills, Gonzalez said. They dont know how to talk to each other. They dont know how to communicate. Theyre always arguing, fighting, yelling. On the opposite coast in Alexandria, Virginia, Daisy Andonyadis, a third-grade teacher at Cora Kelly School for Science, Math and Technology, gives her kids daily lessons on how to deal with their emotions and interact with others as a preventive measure. Lessons meant to teach kids how to manage their emotions are under attack, however, largely by people who say those skills should be taught at home and not at the schoolhouse. Sometimes I want to stop academics to focus on the social-emotional piece, Andonyadis said. Its more being a therapist than sometimes a teacher. Daisy Andonyadis, a third grade teacher at Cora Kelly School in Alexandria, Va., speaks with one of her students during lunch. 'The stakes are so high' The National Association of School Psychologists recommends teachers keep classrooms in order by helping kids manage their behavior in ways that model and reinforce positive behaviors and involve students families. Malone, Gonzalez and others who see one-on-one attention as a solution also say schools should spend more on professional counselors to give students that help at school. Some schools spent COVID relief dollars on counselors, school psychologists and other mental health services, but others have lost counselors, and many teachers say theyre still doing the brunt of the emotional work and need even more help. Some schools turned to approaches like restorative justice, which focus on mediation instead of punishment, this year. At Nystrom Elementary School, Principal Jamie Allardice said this years fourth graders are especially prone to misbehavior since their return to the school from remote learning as third graders. An empty desk belonging to Jayceon Davis, a student, is seen in the corner of the classroom at Nystrom Elementary in Richmond, Calif. LaFleur said five or six students made frequent visits to the closet in his class this year. Sometimes I wonder if I complain too much about student behaviors. Am I being too critical of their actions, too zealous of my pursuit of an orderly classroom? LaFleur wrote in April, in a journal USA TODAY asked him to keep about his work. But at the same time, the stakes are so high for many of my students. So many of them are not proficient at grade-level standards and a large portion are several grade levels behind. LaFleur, who is considering leaving teaching after this year, said while its not ideal, if he continues teaching, he will keep sending students to the closet when they interrupt his class. Contributing: Alia Wong, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US schools see behavioral issues steadily climb each year post COVID By Hank Beckman Nearly 60 volunteers packed more than 10,000 dehydrated meals at Presbyterian Church of Western Springs June 10, as community members pitched in to join the Rise Against Hunger campaign to help combat global hunger in impoverished countries around the world. Advertisement The event complimented the churchs ongoing partnership with the Second Baptist Church of La Grange Food Pantry. Interim Pastor Lesley Weir said the event was the idea of the previous pastor, and recalled how at a meeting, committee member Janet Anderson raised the subject to Weir. Advertisement Andy (Janet Anderson) said, weve got the money, weve had it for several years, COVID is sort of disappearing. This is the year, we have to decide to do it or not, Weir said. I was already familiar with Feed My Starving Children, which is a similar kind of program, so I was all for it. We have such abundance here and the rest of the world needs those of us who have, to share. This is what were called to do as a church, she said. Rise Against Hunger is in its 25th year, beginning in North Carolina. The organization ships meals to countries around the world, including Indonesia, Italy, India, Singapore, the continent of Africa including South Africa Malaysia, and the Philippines. Karissa Holland, representative from Rise Against Hunger, said the food packed at the church will be sent to their partners in Indiana. They will then determine which country will receive the food and update the church. Church officials hope the Rise Against Hunger program was a pilot event in what the church hopes will be a regular series of summer events that appeal to area residents as well as church parishioners. We often hear about how beautiful our church grounds are and we want to put it to good use, said Kami Booth, a member of the churchs communication team. We thought about what were some of the things that would bring people in during the summer. Live music; opportunities in the summer nights to dine (on the church lawn); well have food trucks there. This is more of a mission project for us, Booth said of Rise Against Hunger. Advertisement For further information on Rise Against Hunger and other Presbyterian Church of Western Springs events, including event schedules and volunteer opportunities, visit the churchs website, presbyws.org. Another summer event will be a July 22 trip to Bernies Book Bank in Lake Bluff, where 20 church volunteers will label, sort, and pack books to send to parts of the Chicago area that are traditionally underserved. Bernies Book Bank opened in 2009 and has since distributed 24 million books to various Title 1 schools and childhood programs. Title 1 is a federal program designed to help low-income students throughout the nation. Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Uzbekistan is the latest country to be on the receiving end of the technology and know how of Better Cotton, the worlds largest cotton sustainability initiative, which set up shop there a few months ago. Major stakeholders in the country recently signed a Roadmap of Sustainability with Better Cotton, to drive improvements in its cotton sector such as adopting more sustainable practices that are better for the environment, communities and the economy. More from Sourcing Journal The roadmap will build on the existing Better Cotton Program, launched in 2022, by laying out a detailed action plan whose progress will be measured according to four objectives. They include building effective management systems and raising awareness about sustainability, prioritizing good labor practices with criteria that ensures good work, health and safety conditions, balanced employer-worker relations and a productive social dialogue. It will also aim to build stakeholders awareness of the best in cotton production practices and assessing those approaches at field level, in addition to building a three-year plan to define ways the Better Cotton Initiative can be managed, funded and delivered at scale. Rachel Beckett, senior program manager, Better Cotton, noted the opportunity the initiative has in Uzbekistan which was blacklisted by brands and retailers for more than 10 years over labor violations. Better Cotton sees its work in Uzbekistan as an opportunity to create value and drive improvements for the environment, producers and workers in the countrys cotton sector, and bring us closer to our vision of a world where all cotton is more sustainable, she said. The freeze-out led to government-led labor reforms in what is the worlds sixth-largest cotton producer. A year ago, the International Labor Organization declared Uzbek cotton free of forced and child labor while at the same time, the global coalition known as the Cotton Campaign called off the boycott. Known as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic between 1924 and 1991, the country has since shown it can harvest cotton almost entirely without using forced labor. In September, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) struck Uzbek cotton off its annual list of countries whose goods are produced by child or forced labor, recognizing its significant advancement. In 2021, Uzbekistans cotton fields were monitored by state-of-the-art Cotton Cultivation Remote Assessment software developed by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the German data fusion agency Marple. It uses AI to differentiate cotton fields from other crops using satellite images and sensor data, as well as whether the cotton fields were organic. Tanzila Narbayeva, senate chairperson and chairperson of the National Commission for Combatting Human Trafficking and Forced Labor, believes Better Cottons latest initiative in Uzbekistan is yet another step forward for the sector, particularly on the human rights front. This roadmap serves to strengthen social protection, improve labor relations based in international standards and create decent and safe working conditions for workers, she said. Click here to read the full article. Correction: The White House has reached out to Cuba over a Chinese surveillance facility that has been on the island nation since at least 2019. The information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. The Biden administration has expressed concerns to the Cuban government for hosting a Chinese spy operation on the island since at least 2019, national security council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday. Weve made our concerns known, he said. The White House over the weekend said China has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, after earlier describing as inaccurate a Wall Street Journal report that such a facility was in the works. We communicated over the weekend; this is not a new development that Chinas been trying to achieve some intelligence gathering capabilities in Cuba, Kirby said. After the first stories appeared, we worked very, very hard, as expeditiously as we could with the intelligence community, to try to get some context downgraded so that we can provide it over the weekend, and we did that. Kirby said the U.S. has taken steps to mitigate the threat from Chinese spying activities, acknowledging relations between Washington and Beijing are tense. But President Biden is intent on working to improve lines of communication with Beijing, Kirby continued, in particular to convince Chinese officials to establish direct military-to-military channels the U.S. says are key in managing conflicts. Some of the important lines of communication, military to military, are not open, and we want to get them back open, he said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is reportedly preparing to travel to Beijing on June 18 as part of the administrations efforts at outreach to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). CIA Director William Burns met with officials in Beijing last month to emphasize the importance of keeping intelligence communication channels open between the U.S. and China. Kirby would not comment on Blinkens potential travel but said he would not expect the revelation about Chinese spying from Cuba to scuttle any such visit. The president wants to keep the lines of communication open with the PRC as for whether this recent reporting out of Cuba is going to affect Secretary Blinken and his travel plans, I would not expect so, Kirby said. Updated at 5:50 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Biden is determined to say as little as possible about Trump's indictment WASHINGTON (AP) Its rare for the leader of the free world to be rendered silent, but President Joe Biden is clearly determined to say as little as possible about his predecessor Donald Trumps federal indictment. Biden's White House dodges questions about the matter. His campaign doesnt respond to them. And Biden himself wants nothing to do with it. I have no comment on what happened, he told reporters Friday while in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The reticence reflects the precarious and unprecedented situation in which Biden finds himself: Just as Trump is the first former president to be charged by the federal government, Biden is the first incumbent to have his own administration indict his chief political rival. While hardly unforeseen, Trumps indictment brought a fresh round of reminders throughout Biden world that the president does not want to be drawn into the drama with commentary of any sort. He's wary of providing fodder for Trump and his allies efforts to portray the Justice Department as engaged in a politically motivated prosecution. Eric Dezenhall, a longtime crisis communications consultant, said Bidens cautious path was prudent. There are certain positions you take not because they are persuasive but because they do the least damage, he said. Any syllable Biden or the White House team utters will be used in court and politically to validate the witch hunt narrative. Biden, who made restoring the independence of the Justice Department a central campaign promise in 2020, now aims to reinforce that principle as both a matter of politics and policy. I have never once not one single time suggested to the Justice Department what they should do or not do, relative to bringing a charge or not bringing a charge, Biden said Thursday. Im honest. Later that evening, the White House said, the president learned of the 37 felony counts filed against Trump by a Miami grand jury through news coverage of Trumps announcement that hed been summoned to surrender on Tuesday. Asked Friday whether he had spoken to Attorney General Merrick Garland about the case, Biden replied curtly. I have not spoken to him at all, he told reporters. Im not going to speak to him. Further complicating matters for Biden is that he faces his own special counsel probe into classified documents discovered at his home and former office. The circumstances were markedly different: Unlike Trump, Biden voluntarily returned the documents to the federal government. Meanwhile, the presidents son, Hunter, faces an ongoing Justice Department probe into his finances and the purchase of a firearm while under the influence of illegal substances. Republicans defending Trump have already sought to accuse Biden of directing the prosecution, and they're alleging a double standard in how the Justice Department brings cases. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy calls the Trump indictment a grave injustice and has pledged that House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable. The idea that the case has a political slant rings true to nearly half of Americans. An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend found that 47% of adults believe the charges in the documents case are politically motivated, compared with 37% who say they are not. Still, Americans are also more likely to say Trump should be charged than that he should not, 48% to 35%. Most Republicans said he should not be charged, and 80% of them believe the charges are politically motivated. The White House is pushing back against the idea of any political meddling in the prosecution. Aides steadfastly continued to not comment on the case when pressed several times on Monday. What I can say and youve heard us say this over and over again this is a president that respects the rule of law. This is a president that wants to make sure ... that the Department of Justice is truly independent, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. He said that during the campaign he's restoring certainly the integrity of the Department of Justice. That is something that is important to this president. Privately, Biden aides express some satisfaction at Trumps predicament and some wish they were free to pile on in highlighting Trumps alleged crimes and Republicans rush to defend him to voters. There's also frustration that Trump will again steal the national spotlight and a desire to ensure Biden doesnt get sucked into the maelstrom. Speaking at a fundraiser Monday evening in New York, first lady Jill Biden ventured where her husband has not, criticizing Republicans for standing by Trump in the face of the indictment. My heart feels so broken by a lot of the headlines that we see on the news," she told donors. "Like I just saw, when I was on my plane, it said 61% of Republicans are going to vote, they would vote for Trump. They dont care about the indictment. So thats a little shocking, I think, she added. Biden allies have been quietly told to keep a low profile on the matter, and to ensure they don't inadvertently say something that draws the president into the controversy. Dezenhall compared the situation to when then-President Richard Nixon commented on the Charles Manson trial and sparked concerns that it would prevent the defendant from getting a fair trial. Imagine what would happen if a guy who already has the support of 40% of the country was thought to be suffering a similar fate, the communications consultant added of Trump. White Houses are very keen to this kind of thing. Said Dezenhall: As devastating as this prosecution appears to Trump at the moment, weve been hearing They got him now since 2015. Im not so sure, and you can bet the smarter Dems arent so sure either. ___ AP Director of Public Opinion Research Emily Swanson in Washington and AP writer Michelle Price in New York contributed to this report. FILE - President Joe Biden, left, speaks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a meeting at the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain on June 29, 2022. Biden is welcoming outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to the White House on Monday, June 12, 2023, as the competition to find his successor to lead the military alliance heats up. Stoltenberg, who has led NATO since 2014 indicated earlier this year he would move on when his term expires at the end of September. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden will welcome outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to the White House for talks on Tuesday as the competition to find his successor to lead the military alliance heats up. Stoltenberg, who has led the NATO since 2014 and has had his tenure extended three times, said earlier this year he would move on when his current term expires at the end of September. The jockeying to replace him is intensifying as leaders of the 31-member military alliance are set to meet next month for their annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Stoltenberg is in the midst of a tour of NATO capitals to meet with leaders ahead of the summit. The meeting with Biden originally was scheduled for Monday, but the White House announced it was being rescheduled for Tuesday because the president underwent an unexpected root canal procedure after experiencing dental pain. White House officials said that Tuesday's agenda would be wide-ranging but that there would be a particular focus on the war in Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby would not comment on whether Biden would ask Stoltenberg to extend again, but praised the former Norwegian prime minister for doing a superb job heading the alliance. Last week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the case for U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace directly to Biden. The Democratic president also met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, another potential contender. Asked about the NATO job at a news conference with Sunak by his side, Biden called Wallace very qualified but noted that the conversation among NATO leaders to find a consensus pick to replace Stoltenberg was ongoing. Biden's opinion carries enormous weight as the U.S. spends more than any other member in the alliance on defense. Frederiksen sought to play down her candidacy after she met with Biden last week. She declined to say whether she discussed the coming vacancy with him, telling reporters that she did not want to go further in these speculations about NATO. The alliance has never had a female secretary-general. A British government official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said ahead of Sunak's visit that the British leader wants to be sure the next secretary general carries on Stoltenbergs good work of modernization but also understands the importance of defense spending at this critical time. Denmark has lagged behind NATOs target for members to spend 2% of gross domestic product on military budgets by 2030. But the centrist government announced late last month that it would look to invest 143 billion kroner ($20.6 billion) in the countrys defense over the next decade, citing a serious threat picture. At Monday's White House briefing, Kirby did not directly answer whether Biden could support someone from a country lagging on the defense spending benchmark. The President believes that whoever is the secretary-general of NATO should be an individual who the entire alliance can get behind and lead the alliance into the future because theres a transformative future ahead for the alliance, Kirby said. Whenever this war ends, however it ends, NATO is going to be different. Biden and Stoltenberg are also expected to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and efforts to persuade fellow NATO member Turkey to back off blocking Sweden from joining the military alliance. Sweden and Finland, both historically unaligned militarily, jointly sought NATO membership after being rattled by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially blocked both countries from joining the alliance before agreeing to membership for Finland while continuing to object to Sweden. In public comments since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reelected last month, Biden has spoken with a measure of certainty that Sweden will soon join the alliance. It will happen. I promise you, Biden said of Sweden's NAT0 ascension earlier this month. Stoltenberg and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have expressed hope that Sweden will be taken into the NATO fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12. Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed reporting. Biden and Pence were also caught with classified documents. Why is Trumps case different? The circumstances around documents found at properties belonging to Mike Pence and Joe Biden are very different to Trumps case (AFP via Getty Images) Donald Trumps supporters and many Republican officials contend that the former president is the target of a politically weaponised justice system that has ignored similar alleged crimes committed by his rivals. Lock her up chants directed at Hillary Clinton still dominate GOP rallies. House Republicans have launched committees to investigate the sitting president and his family. But in classified documents cases involving President Joe Biden and former vice president Mike Pence, both men cooperated with federal law enforcement and returned those records. Ms Clinton was not found to have deliberately mishandled classified information or obstruct justice in the recovery of communications. Mr Trump, according to prosecutors, did exactly that. A federal indictment details the alleged coordination among Mr Trump, his aides and attorneys to bring documents to his Mar-a-Lago property and, later, conceal them from law enforcement when US officials sought their return. His alleged refusal and obstruction is at the centre of the 37-count indictment against him. The indictment lays out more than 40 pages of allegations based on witness testimony and recordings allegedly showing how the former president sought to hide and keep classified documents by conspiring with his aides to obstruct an investigation into their recovery, then lied to both the government and his own attorneys about them. He faces 31 counts of willful retention of national defence information in violation of the Espionage Act, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Each count represents a different top-secret document Mr Trump held at his Mar-a-Lago property, months after he left the White House in January 2021. The indictment does not include charges connected to dozens of other documents that he ultimately did return in the course of investigations surrounding the case underscoring some of the key differences between his prosecution and those involving the former vice presidents. Late last year, a lawyer for Mr Biden discovered a small number of classified documents from his time as vice president under then-President Barack Obama during a search of a Washington DC office space. Those documents were returned to the Justice Department. Another batch of documents were discovered at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. Federal law enforcement agents found more when they searched the property. In January, US Attorney General Merrick Garland named a special counsel to investigate those documents, which is still ongoing. No charges have been filed. The Justice Department also closed an investigation into Mr Pence earlier this month after the discovery of classified material at his home in Indiana. There were no allegations of obstruction or the willful retention of such documents, and no charges were brought against him. And in Ms Clintons case, then-FBI director James Comey said she was extremely careless with her handling of sensitive information, but law enforcement officials found no clear evidence that she intentionally obstructed justice or committed any other crimes in connection with the server. He said no reasonable prosecutor would have brought a case against her. Those findings stand in stark contrast to the allegations in the indictment against Mr Trump, who is accused of actively concealing documents and even suggesting that a lawyer hide them or falsely state to authorities that all requested records were returned, while hundreds remained at his property. None of the nearly 200 documents that Mr Trump ultimately returned to authorities are connected to the charges against him, suggesting that if he had returned them in the first place, he may not face criminal prosecution. In January of last year, a year after leaving the White House after losing his 2020 re-election bid, Mr Trump gave 15 boxes of documents to the National Archives and Records Administration, as required under the Presidential Records Act. The agency wrote to Mr Trump in May 2021 noting that some documents were missing, noting that there are certain paper/textual records that we cannot account for. Around that same time, according to the indictment, Mr Trump directed aides to clear a storage room on the ground floor of Mar-a-Lago. More than 80 boxes were moved there, according to prosecutors. A few months later, he allegedly showed a plan of attack document prepared by the US Department of Defense to a group at his Bedminster, New Jersey club. As president I could have declassified it, he said, according to a transcript of a recorded conversation in the indictment. Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret. The National Archives received 15 boxes from Mr Trump in January 2022, 14 of which contained classified materials, according to prosecutors. Among them, 67 were marked confidential, 92 were marked secret and 25 were marked top secret. The next month, the agency alerted the US Department of Justice that classified information was discovered in those boxes. It was then that a criminal investigation surrounding the former president started to build not from the results of the National Archives and its ultimately successful recovery of 15 boxes. A federal grand jury was opened in April of last year. In the weeks and months that followed, Mr Trumps aide Walt Nauta began moving more than a dozen boxes out of the storage room, according to the indictment. Mr Nauta also is charged in connection with the case. On 3 June of last year, Mr Trumps then-attorney Christina Bobb falsely certified to federal law enforcement that the former presidents legal team performed a diligent search for any and all responsive documents at his property, and that no other classified documents were found, according to prosecutors. The Justice Department received 38 documents in that file, including 17 marked top secret, 16 labeled secret and five others marked as confidential. Meanwhile, Mr Nauta and others loaded several boxes onto a plane that Mr Trump boarded out of his Florida home, according to the indictment. In August, FBI agents performed a search of Mar-a-Lago and discovered more than 100 classified documents among hundreds of government documents and photographs. In the documents outlined in the indictment, at least two of which involved nuclear secrets according to an inventory listed in the indictment, 21 were discovered by FBI agents who searched Mar-a-Lago. Ten others were turned over to federal authorities last June in response to a grand jury subpoena. Others involved intelligence briefings, foreign military activity, communication with foreign leaders, foreign military impacts on US interests, and communications with a foreign leader. According to prosecutors, Mr Trump conspired to conceal documents from a grand jury and federal officials, by suggesting that his attorneys make false statements to authorities, by moving boxes of documents to hide from attorneys, by suggesting that documents be hidden or destroyed, and by falsely certifying that classified documents were produced to authorities when, in fact, they had not. Prosecutors are expected to present compelling evidence that the former president knowingly and deliberately misled his attorneys about his retention of sensitive documents He also appears, on a tape, six months after leaving office, saying that a document in his possession was classified, highly confidential and secret information while admitting that he was not able to declassify it, because he was no longer president undercutting a critical part of his public defence over the last several months. President Biden is undergoing a root canal at the White House on Monday after complaining of tooth pain, his physician said in a letter released to the public. Bidens dental team examined him Sunday and took X-rays after the president said he was experiencing pain in one of his teeth, presidential physician Kevin OConnor said. The dental team determined a root canal would be necessary to address the issue, OConnor said, adding they performed the initial procedure Sunday at the White House. The President tolerated the procedure well. There were no complications, OConnor said. He is experiencing further discomfort this morning, which was anticipated, OConnor continued, adding Biden would have his root canal completed Monday at the White House. A White House official said Biden would not be put under anesthesia for the root canal on Monday, meaning the 25th Amendment would not be invoked to temporarily transfer power to the vice president. Biden will no longer attend College Athlete Day at the White House, where various collegiate champions were set to attend. Vice President Harris will host the event in Bidens place, along with second gentleman Doug Emhoff. The presidents meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was also rescheduled for Tuesday in light of the procedure. Updated at 12:02 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Plants, algae, fungi, and animals including humans are all eukaryotes: life forms with complex, nucleus-containing cells. A recent discovery of organic compounds in ancient rocks in Australia helps illuminate the early history of eukaryotes, suggesting that this group was already abundant more than a billion years ago, according to a new study. Eukaryotes are believed to date back 2 billion years, but scientists thought that they only became widespread about 800 million years ago, said Dr. Benjamin Nettersheim, one of the co-first authors of the study published in Nature. However, newfound traces of molecules possibly produced by eukaryotes are up to 1.6 billion years old, which indicates that early eukaryotes were already ecologically important for all this time, said Nettersheim, who is a postdoctoral researcher in geobiology at the MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen in Germany. We just didnt see their traces until now. Theyve kind of been hidden in plain sight. Dr. Benjamin Nettersheim examines ultra-high-resolution elemental and molecular maps of 1.64 billion year-old rock samples analyzed at the Geobiomolecular Imaging Laboratory at MARUM. - V. Diekamp/MARUM/University of Bremen The evidence of these ancient eukaryotes took the form of biological molecules that they produced. Modern eukaryotes produce a suite of signature biomolecules, including cholesterols. Cholesterol is an organic compound, a naturally occurring steroid. Too much of it can cause health problems like clogged arteries, but its an important component of cell membranes for almost all modern eukaryotes. Cholesterols are really important for a large number of physiological functions, and because they are part of the cell membrane, organisms produce relatively much of these kinds of molecules, Nettersheim said. In the new study, Nettersheim and another co-first author, Jochen Brocks, found a compound related to cholesterol that seemed to confirm a decades-old hypothesis about the evolution of eukaryotes. Finding ancient molecules Scientist Konrad Bloch, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1964, noticed that as modern eukaryotes synthesize cholesterol, some intermediate organic compounds form. He hypothesized that in the deep past, each of these intermediate compounds was a fully functional end-product of early organisms biosynthetic processes. However, Bloch thought that no one would ever be able to find fossil evidence to prove that ancient life forms produced these now-intermediate biomolecules. Advances in biochemical analyses have allowed scientists to identify ancient molecules preserved in the fossil record, particularly in old rocks that have been relatively undisturbed by geological processes. In the new Nature study, Nettersheim and his colleagues, including Brocks, a professor of geobiology at the Australian National University, examined rocks from Australias Barney Creek Formation. Previous studies established that the Barney Creek rocks, which are more than 1 billion years old, contain traces of ancient biomolecules. But people never looked, really, for these primordial types of steroids in those kinds of rocks, Nettersheim said. Nettersheim, Brocks and their colleagues performed chemical analyses of rocks from Barney Creek, looking for the cholesterol precursors that Bloch predicted would have been made by early eukaryotes. To our surprise, we actually found them in surprisingly high abundance, and everywhere we have biomarkers preserved in this time period, we also see these molecules, Nettersheim said. We now can confirm the Bloch hypothesis. Exploring a lost world of eukaryotes The presence of these protosteroids indicates that early eukaryotes were adapted to a world very different from modern Earth. There is far more oxygen in the atmosphere today than there was 1.6 billion years ago, and the proto-steroid molecules produced by these early eukaryotes required less oxygen to produce than cholesterols. It might be an advantage to use these more primordial sterols, Nettersheim said. The early eukaryotes were already perfectly adapted to the prevailing ecological conditions. Dr. Susannah Porter, a professor and chair of the department of earth science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said, What I really like about this study is thinking about recognizing that biosynthetic pathways evolve as well. However, Porter, who was not involved in the study, remains cautious in declaring that the molecules found in this study were indeed made by early eukaryotes as opposed to other ancient organisms. But Dr. Roger Summons, a professor of geobiology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who was also not involved with the paper, called it one of the more interesting organic geochemistry studies that I have seen in many a year. Konrad Bloch would have been delighted had he lived to see this because Brocks and colleagues have elegantly confirmed his prediction that biosynthetic precursors to cholesterol reflect biochemistrys search for functional optimization, Summons said. Meanwhile, Nettersheim said the next step for him and his colleagues is to further study the world inhabited by these ancient life forms by shooting lasers at a thin slice of rock and using the information about how the light bounces off it to map the different chemical compounds present. We hope that this will help us constrain a lot further, where, when, under which conditions our early eukaryotic ancestors thrived, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Tenoch Huerta (Getty Images) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta has denied a sexual assault allegation made against him. The Mexican actor, 42, played the villainous Namor in Marvels 2022 sequel. On Saturday (10 June), musician and activist Maria Elena Rios called Huerta a sexual predator on social media and later accused him of sexual assault. Its very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and the abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved around the world for playing a character in a movie such as Tenoch Huerta, she wrote. In a statement shared on social media on Monday (12 June), Huerta called Rioss accusation false and completely unsubstantiated. About a year ago, I dated Elena for several months, Huerta wrote. It was entirely consensual at all times, as countless others can attest. And throughout it was a loving, warm and mutually supportive relationship. After it ended, however, Elena began to misrepresent our interactions both privately and in front of groups of mutual friends. Huertas statement (Tenoch Huerta/Instagram) As a result, a few months ago, I engaged a legal team to commence the appropriate actions to protect my reputation and refute these irresponsible and false accusations that can cause great prejudice and damage, he continued. Although I am by no means perfect, I know that these allegations are simply untrue. And while I will always work to improve myself, I need to contest claims that are both false and offensive. Huerta added in his statement: I am deeply grateful to my family and the people who have supported me and greatly appreciate everyone who is willing to look at the facts and reflect before rushing to an untrue and unjust conclusion. Tenoch Huerta in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) It has not yet been made clear whether Huertas character Namor will recur in any other MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) projects, though, a return was heavily hinted at in Wakanda Forever. The Independent has reached out to Marvel Studios for comment. Huerta is also known for playing Rafael Caro Quintero in Netflixs 2018 Narcos spin-off, Narcos: Mexico. He got his film break in 2009 starring in Cary Joji Fukunagas critically acclaimed thriller Sin nombre in the role of Lil Mago, leader of the Tapachula faction of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha gang. Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673) There are a many ways to be a mother, and there are a number of ways a person can become one. Fully embodying the role of a mother goes far beyond biological processes. Now, one doesnt have to use the traditional methods to bring a baby into your family. Some of the societys favorite celebrity women figured out a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming mothers through unconventional means. Here are some Black women who have become a mother through unconventional means. Gabrielle Union Actress Gabrielle Union has been open and candid about her journey to become a mother. She shared her stories on social media of her journey with in vitro fertilization and more miscarriages than she could confidently count. Union wanted the experience of carrying a baby to term. However, her health started to suffer. Her husband, Dwyane Wade, stepped in and offered another solution. As much as we want this baby, I want you, she recalled him saying in an essay for Time. Though Union struggled watching another woman carry her child, in her second memoir, she discussed the deep bond she now shares with her daughter: Kaavia James. Kandi Burruss Kandi Burruss is the mother of three children. She carried her first two children naturally. Burruss pregnancy with her son Ace was high risk because she had fibroids and faced some complications. When the Tuckers decided to have another child, they decided to use a surrogate. The couple implanted two embryos, but lost one of them. We actually was supposed to be having twins, and then one of them didnt continue, she shared. I was sad at first, but then I just had to be grateful that the one made it. T-Boz T-Boz is a mother of two. One is the daughter she shares with her former husband, rapper Mack 10, and the other is her adopted son Chance. In 2017, T-Boz spoke about her decision to adopt him and the long process to do it during an interview with PEOPLE. She shared that she made plans to adopt from a woman in her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. However, when it came time to sign the papers, the mother decided she couldnt go through with it. In 2015, that same woman got pregnant again and promised T-Boz that the child would be hers. Chance has brought new life and fulfillment in our house and made us feel even more complete, she wrote in her memoir. I cant thank his birth mother enough for that. Viola Davis Shortly after actress Viola Davis turned into a household name, she became a mother. Davis daughter Genesis Tennon was born in July 2010. She was adopted by Davis and her husband Julius Tennon in October 2011. Davis said she decided to adopt because she wanted her life to mean something. It was great, but it was not fulfilling, Davis said of her Hollywood stardom. I wanted my life to mean and be something deeper. Thats when the urge came, and the urge was just very, very, very, strong. So I have a kid now, and she is just the light of our lives. Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes adopted her first daughter in 2002. The decision to bring a child into her life was influenced by the September 11 tragedy. She told Oprah during their Super Soul Sunday sit down that the tragedy was the thing that her wake up and realize there were things I need to do. She adopted her daughter Harper Lee the next year. She adopted her second child, Emerson, ten years later. In 2013, she welcomed a third daughter into her family through surrogacy. Been AWOL from Twitter. I totally have a good reason: TINY HUMAN #3 is here and shes perfect! she shared on Twitter. Babies are good. Life is good. #2shows3kids. Kimora Lee Simmons Model turn mogul Kimora Lee Simmons has delivered four children into the world traditionally. After four successful pregnancies, Simmons decided to adopt her 10-year-old son. Im blessed and super fortunate to have a boy like him and its been a very painless sensation, she said in an interview with Us Weekly. He just dropped in like he was born there. Angela Bassett Angela Bassett and her husband Courtney B. Vance underwent seven rounds of in-vitro fertilization before they decided to use a surrogate. Though conceiving naturally proved challenging, Vance had a sense that they would have the children they desired. I had a dream about seven years ago that we were going to have twins, he said in an interview with Oprah in 2007. . I didnt know how it was going to happen. In 2006, that dream came true with the birth of his children Bronwyn Golden Vance and Slater Josiah Vance. The post Black Women Whove Had Children Unconventionally appeared first on 21Ninety. Blinken says would like to see Tunisia present revised reform plan to IMF WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said he would like to see Tunisia present a revised reform plan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that it is clear Tunisia needs additional assistance. "We very much would welcome the Tunisian government presenting a revised reform plan to the IMF and for the IMF to be able to act on the plan presented, but these are sovereign decisions," Blinken said at a press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the State Department. "It's clear that Tunisia needs additional assistance if it is going to avoid falling off the proverbial economic cliff." Tunisia's bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund have looked stalled for months, and there is little sign President Kais Saied is willing to agree to the steps needed to reach a deal and help the country avoid a financial crisis. Tunisia reached a staff-level agreement with the fund in September for a $1.9 billion loan, but it has missed key commitments and donors believe the state's finances are increasingly diverging from the figures upon which the deal was calculated. Without a loan, Tunisia faces a full-blown balance of payments crisis. Most debt is internal but there are foreign loan repayments due later this year, and credit ratings agencies have said Tunisia may default. Blinken's comments on Monday come after 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 Saied to agree to the IMF bailout's terms. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Susan Heavey and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Alex Richardson) The European Union's chief diplomat Josep Borrell rejected the idea of cutting weapons supplies for Ukraine in an interview with the Spanish radio station Onda Cero on June 12. Borrell criticized those who call for stopping military aid for Ukraine "for the sake of peace." "What will be next? What if we stop sending military aid to Ukraine? This will not convince Russia to withdraw. We all want peace, but we have to know what kind of peace we want," Borrell said. According to the EU's top diplomat, the main goal of Ukraine's partners must be a complete Russian withdrawal from the occupied territories. He added that Putin made a "gigantic mistake" when he underestimated Ukraine's capacity for resistance against the invasion. Why Ukraine chooses to negotiate on the battlefield, not at peace talks When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed his 10-point peace plan to G20 leaders in Bali on Nov. 15, he had only recently returned from a historic visit to Kherson, the liberation of which marks another great step towards the return of all Russian-occupied territory. Touching on factors The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Borrell shared hopes that China, having a close relationship with Putin, may influence the Russian dictator to end the war. Many international partners who provide military aid to Ukraine have encountered domestic opposition to these efforts. For example in Germany and Czechia, rallies often attended by far-right and far-left figures protest their governments' policies of supporting Ukraine with arms. They instead argue with the necessity for immediate peace talks and diplomacy measures. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December 2022 that only Russian dictator Vladimir Putin could "turn the war from a military path to a diplomatic one" by ordering his troops to leave Ukraine. Customers of one local bank woke up to quite the shock on Monday if they tried using their debit cards to pay for their morning coffee. Eastern Bank said they experienced a technical issue interfering with [their] Debit Card service. Customers also werent able to use their debit cards for ATM services either. The issue was related to an outage at Mastercard and was not connected to any cyber incident at Eastern, according to a company spokesperson. As of 11 a.m., Eastern Bank says the issue has been fully resolved and all services are up and running as usual. We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have temporarily caused, the company wrote in a statement. Founded in 1818, the bank services more than 110 locations throughout the Commonwealth and Southern New Hampshire, according to the companys website. Earlier today, June 12, we reported a Debit Card service issue caused by a Mastercard outage. Service has now been fully restored. We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have temporarily caused. Eastern Bank (@easternbank) June 12, 2023 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The New Jersey lawyer charged in connection with a series of sexual assaults that took place in Boston about 15 years ago is expected to post bail, his attorney said at a brief court hearing Monday. Matthew Nilo, 35, was not present in the Boston courtroom. But his attorney Joseph Cataldo told the judge that his client was prepared to post the $500,000 bail that was set last week when he pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to rape and one count of indecent assault and battery. Nilo, of Weehawken, New Jersey, is also required to wear a tracking device, surrender his passport, have no contact with any victims or witnesses, and stay away from the area where the assaults happened. The charges stem from four attacks that happened in Bostons Charlestown neighborhood from August 2007 through December 2008 a time during which authorities say Nilo lived in the city. Prosecutors said at Nilos arraignment last week that he was tied to the attacks through DNA obtained from a drinking glass he had used at a corporate function earlier this year. At that hearing, Cataldo questioned the legality of his clients DNA being taken without a warrant. Nilo was arrested in late May. He is due back in court on July 13. 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 Update: Darnell Martin has been safely located. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORGINAL STORY: Boston Police are asking for public help trying to find a missing 10-year-old boy from Dorchester. Darnell Martin was last seen in the area of 92 Maxwell Street Sunday. Darnell is described as 411 with curly hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark blue shirt with an image of a female on the front, dark gray shorts, and black and gold Jordan sneakers. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact 911, Detectives at 617-343-470 or the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800 (494) -TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (Bloomberg) -- Brazil is seeking to mend ties with Africa, largely ignored by the Bolsonaro administration, as the government prepares for two rounds of official trips to the continent. Most Read from Bloomberg President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who in previous administrations sought to strengthen Brazil-Africa relations and visited 23 countries in the region over two terms, wants to visit at least eight African countries in the next months, local newspaper O Globo reported, citing government officials with knowledge of the preparations. Besides repairing diplomatic relations, Brazil wants to widen its economic footprint in Africa as it sees trade and business potential in the region, in line with the Brazilian governments South-South integration agenda. The first round of trips may happen as early as August, according to the report, as officials from the BRICS nations gather in Johannesburg. The government also sees the African Union meeting in February as a timely opportunity for the second round of visits. According to a Brazilian diplomat, the African countries to be visited by Lula include Angola, Mozambique, Senegal, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sao-Tome and Principe. Brazil also plans to reopen its embassy in Sierra Leone and create additional representation in Rwanda. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. British man detained after climbing 73 floors of Seoul skyscraper with no rope [Source] A man has been detained for attempting to climb the worlds fifth-tallest building, which is located in Seoul. What happened: George King-Thompson, 24, was seen free climbing Lotte World Tower, a 123-story, 555-meter (1,820-feet) skyscraper, without rope or safety equipment on Monday. The man, who is a British national, managed to reach the buildings 73rd floor before South Korean authorities were able to convince him to step into a maintenance cradle. He was reportedly taken into custody by the authorities for interrogation. "He finally gave in and we arrested him at the scene for obstruction of official business," an official from the National Police Agency told AFP. "He is currently being questioned at a police station in Seoul's Songpa district." More from NextShark: Single Chinese Nurse Asks Government to Give Her a Boyfriend For Fighting Coronavirus Not the first time: King-Thompson, who was first identified by local media outlets, was detained back in 2019 for attempting to free-climb The Shard, a 95-story skyscraper in London. More from NextShark: Japan dismisses South Korea complaint over new textbooks that distort historical, territorial facts Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Passenger traveling from Bali to Australia fined $1,800 over hidden McMuffins Delaware unanimously dismisses ethics complaint against representative who called Asian women 'ch*nk broads' Bryan Kohberger asks for more time to decide whether to give alibi for Idaho murders Accused killer Bryan Kohberger has asked a judge for more time to decide whether to offer an alibi for the murders of four University of Idaho students. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student filed a motion in Latah County Court on Friday saying that his legal team needs more time due to the wealth of evidence in the high-profile case. The evidence so far handed over by state prosecutors includes thousands of pages of discovery, thousands of photographs, hundreds of hours of recordings, further many gigabytes of electronic phone record and social media data, the court documents state. This voluminous discovery process is still ongoing so to decide whether or not to submit a formal alibi would be at a minimum, premature as wading through the extensive information that makes up the case is incomplete. The defense needs time to make this determination and consider evidentiary rules, the filing states. Under Idaho law, defendants have 10 days to provide a written statement about where they claim to have been at the time of the alleged crime and offering information about any witnesses who can support their claim. On 23 May one day after he was arraigned on four murder charges Latah County Prosecutors Office put in a demand for Mr Kohbergers notice of alibi. Now, Mr Kohbergers attorneys are asking for an extension to the timeframe or, failing that, for a hearing for them to present their arguments. Judge John Judge is yet to issue a ruling on the motion. Bryan Kohberger enters court for a motion hearing regarding a gag order (AP) Mr Kohberger is scheduled to stand trial on 2 October for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Etham Chapin, 20, after he was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of first-degree murder and one burglary charge. Mr Kohberger is accused of breaking into an off-campus student home on King Road in the early hours of 13 November and stabbing the four students to death with a large, military-style knife. Two other female roommates lived with the three women at the property and were home at the time of the massacre but survived. One of the survivors Dylan Mortensen came face to face with the masked killer, dressed in head-to-toe black and with bushy eyebrows, as he left the home in the aftermath of the murders, according to the criminal affidavit. For more than six weeks, the college town of Moscow was plunged into fear as the accused killer remained at large with no arrests made and no suspects named. Then, on 30 December, law enforcement suddenly swooped on Mr Kohbergers family home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania and arrested him for the quadruple murders. The motive remains unknown and it is still unclear what connection the WSU PhD student had to the University of Idaho students if any prior to the murders. However, the affidavit, released in January, revealed that Mr Kohbergers DNA was found on a knife sheath left behind at the scene of the murders. It also revealed that his white Hyundai Elantra was caught on surveillance footage close to the crime scene. New details have emerged since about what was found during an initial search of his apartment in Pullman and a rental storage unit. The court documents show that two items found in his apartment a mattress cover on the bed and an uncased pillow tested positive for blood. The documents do not reveal who the blood belongs to. Investigators also seized a string of other items from his home including possible human and animal hair strands, a disposable glove and a computer. Meanwhile, the murder weapon a fixed-blade knife has still never been found. As a criminal justice PhD student at WSU, Mr Kohberger lived just 15 minutes from the victims over the Idaho-Washington border in Pullman. He had moved there from Pennsylvania and began his studies there that summer, having just completed his first semester before his arrest. Before this, he studied criminology at DeSales University first as an undergraduate and then finishing his graduate studies in June 2022. While there, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who interviewed the BTK serial killer and co-wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer with him. He also carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime. He is facing life in prison or the death penalty for the murders that have rocked the small college town of Moscow and hit headlines around the globe. A judge sentenced Steven Ray Douglas, who admitted to smoking marijuana the morning of a 2018 crash, to 20 years in prison Monday in 89th District Court at the conclusion of a punishment trial. Steven Ray Douglas is led away Monday from the 89th District Court room after being sentenced for a hit-and-run fatal accident in 2018. Douglas, 61, killed Lorri Lynn Garst in a hit-and-run crash about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 2018, on Interstate Highway 44. More: Hit-and-run driver takes the stand in punishment trial for Garst's death He pleaded guilty to accident involving death on June 1, waiving his right to a jury to decide guilt or innocence. Wichita County Assistant District Attorney Matt Shelton asked 89th District Judge Charles Barnard to hand down the maximum sentence. More: Fear and chaos as hit-and-run crash kills woman on I-44: witnesses in Douglas' trial The second-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Steven Ray Douglas, second from left, talks with his attorney Dustin Nimz Monday in 89th District Court before medics arrived with a stretcher to treat Douglas. He was sentenced Monday afternoon for a hit-and-run fatal accident in 2018. In closing statements, Shelton said Douglas has no remorse, cares only about himself and has lied and attempted to deceive authorities about the accident that he left without rendering aid. Shelton said Douglas has tried to drum up sympathy for his medical problems, which have nothing to do with the accident. Douglas has suffered from bladder and prostrate cancer, and he has diabetes and heart problems. Defense attorney Dustin Nimz said in his closing statement that the first thing Douglas said in his testimony was, Im so very sorry, to the family. Nimz said Douglas was confused after the accident and went home to Burkburnett to get some help. Nimz said Douglas cooperated with law enforcement when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper showed up at his Burkburnett home, including going to the hospital for a blood test and to the DPS station for an interview. When he is told that a woman died in that accident, you can tell hes crushed, Nimz said, referring to DPS video. His head falls into his arms. Nimz said he would be a target in prison. The defense attorney said probation would be the right sentence. Witnesses, including Douglas, testified in a punishment trial June 5 and June 6 before Barnard. The trial was recessed until Monday afternoon to accommodate a medical expert, Dr. Joshua Caballero of United Regional Health Care System. Witnesses said they saw Douglas driving erratically and speeding down I-44 in the area of Bacon Switch Road. One woman testified that she saw him drive his sedan between Garst's SUV and a minivan, striking the SUV and causing it to tumble. A Lawton, Oklahoma, man testified that his mother followed Douglas after he left the scene of the crash. She confronted Douglas, who seemed confused, while the son obtained Douglas' license plate. Garst was thrown from the SUV and died from blunt force trauma, according to court documents. Douglas, who has a myriad of health problems, told a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper that his water pills affected his vision and caused him to have a blind spot. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Burkburnett man sentenced for hit-and-run that killed Lorri Garst Lighthouses with a price tag. Illustrated | Gettyimages The U.S. government is not going to give you a free lighthouse unless you are a state or local government or a lighthouse-preservation-oriented nonprofit. But you can buy one. And they aren't as expensive as you might expect. Since 2002, the U.S. General Services Administration has held an annual auction for historic lighthouses that the U.S. Coast Guard has determined are no longer needed by the federal government. The disposal of historic lighthouses was authorized under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (NHLPA), and the law's first priority is to give light stations free of charge to public bodies or nonprofits that will maintain them and open them up to the public. In cases where no such group applies to be gifted a lighthouse or the National Park Services doesn't find a suitable steward, however, the GSA auctions the lighthouse off to adventurous private bidders "who love waterfront living and historical restoration." Four lighthouses are being auctioned off in June 2023, with starting bids as low as $10,000. The previous 70 lighthouses auctioned to the public since 2002 sold for $10,000 to $933,888. Here's a look at how and why you can buy your very own lighthouse. Why is the U.S. government selling off lighthouses? Modern navigation technologies, especially GPS, have made lighthouses less important for mariners, and in some cases obsolete. But the shipwreck-preventing beacons to sailors of old still hold a strong pull in the popular imagination. "People really appreciate the heroic role of the solitary lighthouse keeper," John Kelly at the GSA's office of real property disposition told The Associated Press. "They were really the instruments to provide safe passage into some of these perilous harbors which afforded communities great opportunities for commerce, and they're often located in prominent locations that offer breathtaking views." Those same old lighthouses, with their breathtaking views, are also often dilapidated and in need of costly repair and upkeep. Selling off unneeded lighthouses as a "seaside or lakeside retreat" to romantics and history buffs "takes a burden off taxpayers for maintaining the properties," the GSA notes. What historic lighthouses are for sale in 2023? The four lighthouses up for auction in the GSA's 2023 "Lighthouse Season" are in Ohio, Michigan, and Connecticut. U.S. lighthouses for auction U.S. General Services Administration The Penfield Reef Lighthouse (1) outside Fairfield, Connecticut, "contains a 51-foot-tall octagonal lighthouse and a two-story, 1,568-square-feet keepers quarters" that was "built in the Second Empire Style" in 1874 and restored in 2015, the GSA says. It is accessible only by boat. The Stratford Shoal Lighthouse (2) is built on a submerged reef in the middle of the Long Island Sound, about halfway between Connecticut and New York. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, accessible only by boat, and the property contains "an active Aid To Navigation (ATON)" that "will remain the personal property of the US Coast Guard," the GSA says. The Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light (3) is located at the southern end of the Portage River in Chassell, Michigan, at the end of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breakwater. "The lighthouse stands 68 feet tall and contains approximately 1,000 square feet of interior space," the GSA says. It was built in 1919 and is now available for purchase through public auction "due to the previous steward's inability to comply with the requirements of the National Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000." The Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light (4) is located at the entrance of Cleveland's harbor and is accessible by boat only. The lighthouse tower is 50 feet high and dates back to 1911. "Own a piece of maritime history with a view of the Cleveland skyline!" the GSA says. The lighthouses sold through the NHLPA auctions are only for those included, or eligible for inclusion, in the National Register of Historic Places. The GSA says it typically auctions off non-historic lighthouses with other surplus government property. What do you get with your lighthouse purchase? The NHLPA says divested "light stations" include the lighthouse, light tower, lighthouse keeper's dwelling, garages, storage sheds, oil house, fog signal building, boat house, barn, pump house, tram house support structures, piers, walkways, underlying and attached land, and related real property and any associated improvements. Can you really turn a lighthouse into a vacation home? Yes, "some of the lighthouses purchased in the past have been converted into private residences by people who want a unique living situation," AP reported. There are a few strings attached, however. "When a light station is sold through public auction, the new owner has fewer use restrictions" than when the lighthouse is given away to a local government or nonprofit, the GSA notes, but "with both, new owners must adhere to applicable historic preservation requirements and provide [the U.S. Coast Guard] access to maintain any active aids to navigation." The Coast Guard also "reserves the right to continue maintaining active ATONs (aids to navigation) after transferring light stations to new stewards," the GSA adds. Also, "prospective buyers shouldn't get too deeply invested in any romanticized notions" of a move-in-ready pied-a-terre with a view, Mental Floss advised. "Virtually all require some kind of restoration, from painting to more extensive remodeling, and most do not have utilities. As you'd expect, getting insurance can also be costly." The lighthouses are "such unusual reflections of our history that it takes a certain kind of person who wants to be a part of that," GSA administrator Robin Carnahan told The New York Times. What is it like to own a historic lighthouse? It is, as with any fixer-upper, a labor of love. Sheila Consaul, a communications consultant in Washington, D.C., won the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse on Lake Erie in Ohio in the GSA's 2011 auction. "I've been renovating it pretty much ever since," she told BBC News in May. Her winning bid was about $71,000 for the two-story, 3,000-square-foot lighthouse, about 20 miles east of Cleveland, and she said she has lost track of how much she has spent turning the 1925 building into a summer home. Sometimes the call of a lighthouse is closer to a siren's song. A group of Las Vegas investors bought the historic Tillamook Rock Lighthouse off the northern Oregon coast for $5,600 in a 1959 GSA auction, hoping to turn it into a casino, then sold it for $11,000 to General Electric executive George Hupman in 1973. The Hupman family had to rent a helicopter to get out to the prospective summer retreat, on a small craggy island a mile offshore, then tried to clean up the mess of bird droppings, the Times reported in 2022. Tillamook Rock Lighthouse Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images "Sure, it's dilapidated," Hupman told KGW in 1978. "The paint's peeling off, and it's a mess inside and out," but "that structure's going to be there for a long time, one way or another. And, I don't know, it's an exciting and strong place in midst of a moving and turbulent environment. It gives you a great feeling, being here." After a few more helicopter trips to the lighthouse, Hupman sold it for $27,000 in 1978, then current owner Mimi Morissette bought it for $50,000 in 1980 and turned it into a columbarium, or place to house funeral urns. "I didn't want to be in the cemetery business, but there is no fresh water, no sewer, no light and no way to land," Morissette told The Oregonian in March. James Gibbs Jr. one of the last Coast Guard keepers of "Terrible Tilly" in 1944, wrote in his memoir that "everywhere I looked, the place took on more of the aspects of an insane asylum instead of what I had pictured a lighthouse to be." Morissette put it up for sale in 1993 and again 2022, asking for $6.5 million and volunteers to fly out and clean up the lighthouse beforehand, including helping "evict the sea lions that have knocked in the corroding front door." A five-person team of volunteers finally went out to paint and clean up the 1881 lighthouse in March, the first visit to the rock since 2019. "She calls to me," said volunteer Brian Coulson, who has a tattoo of "Tilly" on his left arm. "The conditions are so harsh. She was impossible to build, maintain or even remain ... yet she exists." At least two people working on the lighthouse fell to their deaths, in 1911 and 1979, and locals have reported seeing paranormal activity at the lighthouse, but "even people that are afraid of the ocean can't help but daydream about 'Tilly,'" Liz Scott, the outreach manager at Cannon Beach History Center, told the Cannon Beach Gazette. Back at the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse, Consaul had to install electricity and toilets it took nine years to get running water to the lighthouse and since it doesn't have a dock, she often has to lug groceries and other supplies down to the building along a narrow path, she told the Times, but her "very long journey" has been worth it. "There are some amazingly incredible views, as well as history and intrigue," she said. "All of those things people think about lighthouses are true." 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 Symposiums on the use of science and technology in archaeological conservation efforts and an exhibition on Chinese civilization and characters were organized in Chengdu to mark the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which fell on Saturday. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, was selected as the main venue for this year's celebrations, which are themed on "strengthening the protection of cultural relics, upholding cultural confidence and self-improvement". In a keynote speech during a ceremony at Chengdu Museum on Saturday, Li Qun, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that China will strengthen its research on the origins of the Chinese civilization. Li emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind and promoting inclusiveness in cross-border communication while upholding China's cultural confidence. "Through protection of cultural relics, we will further the Global Civilization Initiative and fully demonstrate the long history and rich legacies of the Chinese civilization," he said. During the ceremony in Chengdu, the administration released a list of 10 recent examples of development related to cultural relics. The list includes Beijing's Shougang Park, a venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which demonstrated how to revitalize industrial heritage and contribute to modern life. It mentions Shanghai where reforms were made in the management of privately owned cultural relics to facilitate the return of Chinese artifacts from overseas. The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province, is a shining example of rural vitalization, according to the list. During the ceremony, 15 individuals and 11 organizations, including relic conservators, volunteers, police officers and firefighters, were congratulated for being "excellent guardians of cultural relic safety". A three-month exhibition, titled The Splendor of Chinese Civilization in Writing, also opened at Chengdu Museum on Saturday. The exhibition traces the origins and evolution of Chinese characters through the display of 220 priceless relics on loan from 40 museums nationwide, ranging from oracle bones and inscribed bronze ware to calligraphic masterpieces. Sanxingdui artifacts Symposiums on recent scientific and technological developments in cultural heritage protection were held on Friday and Saturday in Chengdu to mark the occasion. Chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, spoke on the nationwide project to trace the origins of the Chinese civilization at Friday's symposium. About 5,800 years ago, various regions in China had social class divisions, which indicated the beginning of civilization, he said. Chen shed more light on the Sanxingdui Ruins in Guanghan, Sichuan province, which is considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, at the symposium. New carbon dating results of 200 samples unearthed from the site indicate they are from between 1120 BC and 1016 BC, he said. In 1986, two "sacrificial pits "filled with bronze and gold relics were discovered at Sanxingdui, which earned the site global attention. Six more pits, each a treasure trove of cultural relics, have been unearthed there since 2020. The Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute announced on Saturday that 3D modeling and auxiliary artificial intelligence technologies are being adopted to piece together the puzzle about these relics, which were found decades apart. A laboratory project jointly conducted by the institute and tech company Tencent has come to the conclusion that a bronze ritual vessel, known as zun, found in 1986, a kneeling human statue found in 2021 and a mythical animal statue unearthed in 2022 were all part of the same artifact. At least five fragmented artifacts from Sanxingdui have been pieced together with the help of digital technologies, the institute revealed. Digital restoration of relics will provide key clues and help further decode ancient customs, traditions and beliefs, it said in a statement. Ma Bin, vice-president of Tencent, said that more joint projects are on the cards to explore how AI technology can be used to improve archaeological studies and conservation efforts. In 2006, the State Council, China's cabinet, announced that every second Saturday of June will be celebrated as Cultural Heritage Day. In 2017, the day was renamed as the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. Around 7,200 events were organized nationwide to mark the occasion this year. In Beijing, a "world heritage protection and promotion week" was launched on Saturday by the Palace Museum to host a series of education programs for elementary and high school students. CA lawmaker accuses Meta of shameful bullying for threat to pull news from Facebook Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! WICKS RESPONDS TO METAS THREAT AB 886, which requires major social media companies like Meta and Google to pay media outlets for news content shared on their platforms, awaits assignment to a Senate committee for further consideration. But its author, Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, isnt waiting to respond to Metas threat to pull news from its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Wicks campaign sent an email out Friday with the subject line Facebooks scare tactics wont work. In that email, she pointed out that AB 886 only applies to companies with a market capacity of more than $550 billion, just the biggest and most profitable platforms, Wicks said. I will never cave to shameful bullying like this. Neither will my colleagues in the Legislature, Wicks said. She added that Meta has made threats like this before when other countries, including Australia and Canada, have considered similar legislation. In every single case, they ended up backing down, Wicks said. The Assemblywoman added that her office invited Meta to work with her on the bill and share their concerns. Reasonable people can disagree about the merits of policy choices. Wed welcome their constructive debate. But we wont be deterred by threats like these, she said. A spokeswoman for Meta declined to comment on the email, but referred The Bee to a Facebook statement that certain news content will no longer be viewable in Canada if a proposed law there is enacted. Ultimately, this legislation puts Meta in an invidious position. In order to comply, we have to either operate in a flawed and unfair regulatory environment, or we have to end the availability of news content in Canada. With a heavy heart we choose the latter, said Metas Nick Clegg in prepared testimony last month. CALIFORNIA SENATORS SLAM BIDEN ADMINISTRATION Via Gillian Brassil... Its not often both California senators write that the Democratic president is subverting the intent of Congress. But on Friday, Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein said in a statement that the Biden administration failed California and other southwestern states by underfunding them through a program that assists border communities. The California Democrats joined Arizona and New Mexicos senators all Democrats apart from Independent Kyrsten Sinema in chastising the Biden administration for neglecting them through the Shelter and Services Program. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Mark Kelly and Sinema of Arizona, Padilla and Feinstein wrote that the program was authorized by Congress to primarily aid communities close to the U.S. border with funding for shelter, transportation and emergency services. Instead, the senators claimed, over $100 million was diverted to New York City. The Biden Administration shortchanged border communities when they need support the most, they wrote. Instead of prioritizing Shelter and Services Program funding to border communities as primarily intended by Congress, theyve awarded New York City over $100 million without transparency or oversight of how funding levels were determined. The senators said that they helped secure $800 million for the Shelter and Services Program regarding immigration issues near the border. California received $44 million in the first round of funding and is expected to get $15 million in the most recent allocation. New York City got about $30 million in the first and will receive $104.6 million in this round: That makes up about a third of the funding in the most recent allocation, the senators said. This disregarded Congress intent, the senators wrote. A spokesman for the White House did not respond to a request for comment. This failure puts the future of this program at risk and hurts our communities abilities to secure the border, keep communities safe, and ensure the fair and humane treatment of migrants, the senators wrote. QUOTE OF THE DAY Job opening most likely to remain unfilled: Chief Librarian, Donald J. Trump Presidential Library. - Former Rep. Jackie Speier, via Twitter. Best of The Bee: The double murder trial of rapper YNW Melly, who came into the public eye in 2018 with his catchy hit Murder on My Mind, started Monday with the state laying out its case and calling its first witnesses. Now, Broward jurors are tasked with listening to weeks of testimony and ultimately deciding whether the Treasure Coast natives lyrics played out in real life and if he should get life or death, if convicted. READ MORE: Life or death? Fate of Murder on My Mind rapper rests with eight jurors, judge rules Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is accused of gunning down his childhood friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr., in an alleged drive-by cover up after spending the night of Oct. 26, 2018 at a Fort Lauderdale recording studio. Confidant Cortlen Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, was also arrested and charged with the murders. The 24-year-old was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder in February 2019. His case is among the first being considered after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law to lower the threshold for a death sentence to an 8-4 vote. A calculated cover-up? During opening arguments Monday, prosecutor Kristine Bradley presented the states case against the rapper, focusing on video, ballistics and cellphone evidence that she said points to Melly shooting his friends inside the car and staging a drive-by. Detectives, Bradley said, found a spent shell casing in the Jeep, which proves the gun was fired inside the car. They didnt find any physical evidence in the area where Henry said the trio was shot at by unknown assailants. When you look at the details, the details [of what people say] dont match up, Bradley said. Look at what the physical evidence shows. Fort Lauderdale, Florida - June 9, 2023 - Prosecutor Kristine Bradley speaks to jurors during opening statements at the Jamell Maurice Demons trial in Fort Lauderdale criminal court. In November, a month after the murders, cellphone data led police to the crime scene a waste facility on the edge of the Everglades, Bradley said. There, detectives found an additional eight .40 caliber shell casings. At 4:02 a.m. the day of murders, Melly exited the Jeep Compass and shot at the car to stage the drive-by, Bradley claimed. By this point, Williams and Thomas were already dead. Melly, Bradley said, then set up his story by FaceTiming his then-girlfriend and telling her he was shot at by another car. Shortly after, he asked a friend to pick him up, sending a pin to his location. Prosecutors also allege that the murders were committed to benefit, promote and further the interests of a criminal gang. Bradley said the state will present messages that show Melly is affiliated with the G Shine Bloods set, but didnt elaborate how the killings benefited the gang. Fort Lauderdale, Florida - June 9, 2023 - Jamell Maurice Demons, known professionally as YNW Melly, smiles as he talks to a member of his defense team just before opening statements began at his trial for murder in Fort Lauderdale criminal court. This is not just in music videos, Bradley said. This is not just in lyrics. Were not going to get into that because thats artistic expression. Thats not why were here today. Among the slew of messages from concerned friends and fans alike, one sticks out to Bradley. In it, Melly was asked if he was good. I did that, he responded, according to Bradley. Or a botched investigation? Facing the jury, defense attorney David Howard described the case against Melly as riddled with reasonable doubt and founded on an incompetent, incomplete investigation. Fort Lauderdale, Florida - June 9, 2023 - Defense Attorney David Howard points toward his client, Jamell Maurice Demons, as he speaks to the jury during opening statements at court in Fort Lauderdale. The state, after successfully seeking the death penalty, should have an air-tight case, Howard said, but they dont even have a inkling as to a motive. He said they only have evidence from a phone, which multiple people used interchangeably. They have no reason for why he would do this because there is no reason, Howard said. It doesnt make sense. The lead detective, Howard claimed, saw Melly on tape at the studio and learned he was a rising star. The detective got tunnel vision, imagining a star-studded case. For Howard, other leads werent properly vetted or investigated. He pointed to Mellys codefendant Henry, who lied about the shooting several times and had gunpowder residue on his hands. Police, Howard said, never searched Henrys home. Three days after the killings, a man and his sister mentioned intimate details about the murders in a recorded jail call. Police, Howard said, disregarded the lead after the mans sister said she heard the details on the street. Two men confessed to the murders on social media, Howard alleged, but detectives dismissed them after talking to them months later. These are all unanswered questions, Howard said. No investigation. Case closed. Lets move on. Fort Lauderdale, Florida - June 9, 2023 - Jamell Maurice Demons, known professionally as YNW Melly, listens intently during opening statements at murder trial in a Fort Lauderdale court. According to Howard, a Broward Sheriffs Office official even evaluated Miramar polices detective work, called it the worst thing I have seen in my life. Youre not here looking for proof, Howard told jurors. Youre looking for doubt. What did police find? In the early morning hours of Oct. 26, 2018, Henry rushed into Memorial Hospital Miramars emergency room, according to court records. He told medical staff that two men were shot inside his 2018 Jeep Compass. A video played on Monday showed Henry heading into the hospital and Miramar officers finding Williams, 21, in the front passenger seat with gunshot wounds to his head and torso and Thomas, 19, in the right rear passenger seat with gunshot wounds to the back and head. Photos shown in court Monday captured the bloody aftermath of the murders, such as gunshot wounds and bullets protruding Thomas and Williams skin. A crime scene technician, while on the witness stand, displayed the victims clothing including a black Stranger Things hoodie on which bullet holes were clearly visible though sealed in a clear plastic. Henry, in a recorded interview played Monday, recounted their whereabouts that night. He told police that the trio had left the New Era Recording Studio in Fort Lauderdale when a car pulled up next to them on Miramar Parkway and opened fire. Williams and Thomas, both aspiring rappers, went by YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy. Amid the gunfire, Henry lowered his body, he told police, to shield himself. He said he sped toward the nearest hospital the moment he knew his friends were struck by the spray of bullets. Police scoured the area where Henry said the shooting took place, but didnt turn up any evidence matching Henrys account, prosecutors say. Surveillance video captured the three men and Melly hopping into the Jeep, with Melly sitting in the left rear passenger seat. Thats where police later uncovered a single .40 caliber shell casing tucked inside a white plastic bag, prosecutors say. Jamell Maurice Demons, known professionally as YNW Melly, talks to a member of his defense team just before opening statements at his double murder trial on Monday, June 9, 2023, in a Fort Lauderdale court. After looking at the blood inside the bullet-riddled Jeep, police began to suspect that Williams and Thomas were shot inside the SUV, according to court records. Cellphone data also placed Melly, Thomas and Williams together throughout the night. Court records show investigators located evidence, including .40 caliber shell casings and glass matching the Jeep, on an isolated patch of Pembroke Road. Projectile analysis determined it to be unlikely for the barrage of bullets to have hit the SUV while in motion, according to court records. The autopsies suggested that the shots came from the left rear passenger side, where Melly was caught on tape sitting earlier that night. Police believe that Henry and the rapper drove around with Williams and Thomas bodies for a while before entering the hospital. At some point, Melly got out of the Jeep. After the slayings, fans and critics alike have dissected the lyrics of his best-known song Murder on My Mind, which features a grim retelling of an unintentional homicide over a blend of emotional piano riffs and hip-hop beats. As rap lyrics have been used in hundreds of trials, many following the case have hypothesized that Mellys lyrics, specifically those in Murder on My Mind, will be discussed during the trial. In court, rap songs are treated as confessions, proof of intent or threats, whether written before or after the crime, Erik Nielson, a professor at the University of Richmond, told Genius in 2016. The trial will resume Tuesday and continue through all of June and July. The Caldwell Police Department arrested a man Monday afternoon after he hid inside the Walmart on Ustick Road, forcing the stores evacuation for roughly three hours. At 1:20 p.m. police said they were called to a dispute between two parties known to each other near the 4900 block of Pioneer Avenue, which is less than a mile away from the Walmart Neighborhood Market, according to a Facebook post from the department. Police said that when they arrived, one of the men involved later identified as 34-year-old Cody Burnett had left after allegedly vandalizing the other partys home. The person who reported the dispute told police that the man was previously convicted of a felony and was armed, the post said. At around 2 p.m., a Walmart employee called the police to report a suspicious man in the restroom. Once police responded to the area, they were able to identify him as Burnett. Police evacuated the store, located at 622 East Ustick Road in Caldwell, and asked the public to please avoid the area. Caldwell Police Department spokesperson Char Jackson told the Idaho Statesman by email that no one was injured and everyone was able to get out of the store safely. Pioneer Federal Credit Union helped provide shelter. We appreciate the employees at Walmart who were quick to notice something was wrong and called us, the department said in a news release. This information was crucial to keep employees, customers, and the community safe. Police said a crisis negotiation team made up of members of the Caldwell Police Department, Nampa Police Department and the Ada County Sheriffs Office was at the scene. After a lengthy negotiation, Burnett agreed to surrender and officers arrested him without incident at 5:00 p.m., according to the news release. Burnett was booked in the Canyon County jail on suspicion of grand theft by possession of stolen gun, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting or obstructing an office and disorderly conduct. The egg laid by one of the endangered California Condors killed this spring by an outbreak of avian flu hatched a healthy female chick after an emergency effort to save it. A team with the Peregrine Fund, one of a number of nonprofit partner groups that work to monitor and maintain condor populations in the wild, recovered the egg from a cliffside nest near the Utah-Arizona border on April 17, according to the group. The egg was kept warm with heaters and towels as it was flown to an incubator run by Liberty Wildlife in Phoenix, where it hatched on May 9. The chick tested negative for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the virus that is presumed to have killed its mother and dozens of other condors over the past year. The chick was taken from there to a captive breeding facility in Boise, Idaho, where it was placed with a set of condor foster parents and was reportedly doing well. A California condor spreads its wings. "She's eating well from her foster parents and acting like a normal condor," Leah Esquivel, the propagation manager for the Peregrine Fund, said in an email. The single chick carried special meaning for the teams who work with condors, having survived against the odds at a time when condor populations have been at risk because of the devastating outbreak of HPAI earlier this year. At least 21 birds have died this spring in the Arizona-Utah flock of birds that is famous for nesting in and around the region's unique red-rock mesas and places like Zion National Park and the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. The losses, which include at least eight breeding pairs, could set conservation efforts back decades, according to officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More populations, more protection Agencies have worked for decades to help the species recover. The largest flying land bird in North America, the condor was nearly killed off in the 20th century due to lead poisoning, hunting, habitat destruction and other human causes. After the 1920s, they had disappeared from around the Grand Canyon. A reintroduction program first hatched in 1996 with the release of six birds into the wild near Zion National Park in Utah and Vermillion Cliffs in Arizona has seen slow but steady progress over the last 20 years, with the population growing to more than 115 birds as recently as last fall, according to a report from the Southwest Condor Working Group, a collaborative group trying to establish a healthy population in the area. Between the Southwest working group and others being held in captivity or participating in similar programs in California and Baja, Mexico, there were more than 500 living condors, a significant improvement but a number still low enough that this year's flu deaths have been a major shock. Observers with The Peregrine Fund first saw a sick condor in northern Arizona on March 9, the wildlife service said. The condor was found dead under her nest 11 days later, and testing confirmed she was positive for the highly contagious flu. More deaths quickly followed. The 21 recent deaths are four times the number of deaths counted in the region all of last year. Still, some condors do appear to be recovering. Eight sick condors were captured in Arizona and brought to a facility for treatment. Of those, four died and four others are still receiving care and showing signs of improvement, wildlife officials said. Virus can be fatal California Condors with numbered tags beneath their wings circle beneath the cliffs at Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. The highly contagious avian flu, H5N1, has affected more than 58 million birds in domestic poultry populations and wild flocks across the U.S. and continues to spread, federal officials report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says bird flu primarily strikes animals, but it has been detected in at least four human cases in the United States. An 11-year-old girl died of the flu in Cambodia in late February. Since January 2022, 11 cases of H5N1 have been reported in people. The first 10 were exposed to poultry. Investigation into how the 11th person, a patient in Chile, was infected is ongoing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on March 30. Symptoms include eye redness, flulike upper respiratory symptoms that range from mild to severe, fever and body aches. More condor facts The Peregrine Fund shares the following facts about condors: They're one of the largest birds in North America, measuring 9.5 feet from wing tip to wing tip. They're one of the longest-living raptors and may live to be 50 years old or more Unlike some other birds, there's no difference in physical appearance between male and female condors. Their wing tips point up when they fly, helping to reduce drag and soar for long periods of time. They sleep or roost in tall trees or cliff crevasses Like some other large birds, they poop on their legs when they get hot to stay cool as it evaporates Lead poisoning is responsible for 49.8% of the 253 condor deaths where a cause could be determined since 1992. Contributing: USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: California Condor chick rescued after mother killed by avian flu California man sets out on 7,000-mile trip to Arctic Ocean to honor veterans Two adventure-seeking septuagenarians set out early Saturday on a 7,000-mile round trip from Cambria to the Arctic Ocean. Jay Burbank of Cambria and South Carolina resident Charlie Enxuto will travel about 5,000 of those miles driving a 1931 Model A Ford, a slant-window town sedan converted to look like a U.S. Army Air Corps generals staff car from World War II. That includes 1,400 miles on the graveled Dempster Highway. The men are 77 and 75 years old, respectively. For the rest of the trip, from Cambria to Prince George, British Columbia, and back, the men will tow the antique auto in a 14-foot car hauler behind a Cadillac SUV. The trailer also will provide a place to mount a Cascadia Vehicles rooftop tent for camping and room to carry filled fuel cans. The back-up supplies arent optional. There are long gaps without gas stations on the way to the edge of the continent at Tuktoyaktuk in the Canadian Northwest Territories, explained Burbank, who owns the vehicles. The Model A gets about 15 mpg with a 10-gallon tank, he said, and the Caddy gets about 15 mpg with a 25-gallon tank. Jay Burbank of Cambria will see about 1,400 miles of a 7,000 mile adventure from this drivers seat in his 1931 Model A town sedan, honoring veterans and raising money for alternative-education graduates. The trip will take him and friend Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina from Californias Central Coast through the U.S. and Canada to the Arctic Circle. Theyll trailer the antique vehicle the rest of the way. Kathe Tanner/ktanner@thetribunenews.com SLO County man known for travels in antique vehicles Burbank has lots of experience doing other long, international drives in the the 1931 Ford now known as Military Maxi and another, smaller Model A. Since taking a 2001 trek through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy, hes done antique car tours, runs and rides along the West and East coasts of the United States as well as 18 foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada and Australia. Why travel from Californias Central Coast to the edge of the Arctic Ocean, partly in an antique auto? For the beauty, the people and the adventure, doing something other people think is impossible, Burbank said, and to honor military veterans. The idea started with a challenge, he said. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina take a pause Friday, June 9, 2023, before they load Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan, a cartop tent, fuel cans and more into the trailer before departing Saturday, June 10, 2023 for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll drive one-fifth of the journey in the antique vehicle on the graveled Dempster Highway. Pat Burbank While on a Model A trip in Utah, Burbank told a man from Canada that Someday, Id like to do the Alcan Highway in Alaska, the Cambria man recalled. Do you want to do an ordinary road like that or have an adventure? the Canadian asked, referring to the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, above the Arctic Circle. While Burbanks wife of 57 years, Pat Burbank, often accompanies her husband on his antique auto trips, shes bowing out of this jaunt. The short answer is no, she said. Its a guys trip. Theyre going to be camping in bear country, and nobodys told me for sure that bears cant climb a ladder to a car-top tent. Jay Burbank said he and Enxuto plan to protect themselves with a large supply of bear repellent spray and loud sound-emitting devices designed to repel aggressive wildlife. Hes also taking a protective screen to keep gravel and rocks away from Military Maxis engine and windscreen. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina begin loading Friday, June 9, 2023, up for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adven ture to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll do one-fifth of the journey driving Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan. That portion of the trip will be on the graveled Dempster Highway. Pat Burbank Trip to Arctic Circle is tribute to veterans Burbank is an Air Force veteran who served two tours in Guam and Okinawa. He met Enxuto, who was in the U.S. Army, in 2007 on a small ship cruise of the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. The two immediately bonded over their shared passions for photography and travel. Enxuto has accompanied Burbank on previous Model A adventures, starting in 2008 on a voyage that went from Cambria to Vancouver, British Columbia, across Canada and then to Mackinac Island, Michigan. In 2019, Burbank repainted and reoutfitted his Model A so he could participate in a recreation of a military convoy a century earlier from Washington D.C. to San Francisco on a route now known as the Lincoln Highway. On that trip, Burbank was approached by Tully Garrett, co-owner of the Launching Pad Drive-in on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois. The son of a veteran, Garrett told Burbank how his father was wounded during the invasion of Iwo Jima and how the injured man played dead for two days as he lay on the black sand beach, hearing fellow Marines being killed. I was so moved by the story that I asked Tully to sign Military Maxi with a Sharpie pen in honor of his fathers memory, Burbank said. Jay Burbank, at left, and Tully Garrett of Wilmington, Illinois, pose in 2019 after Garrett signed his fathers name on Burbanks 1931 Model A, in honor of the mans military service, wartime injuries and experiences. It was the first of hundreds of veterans autographs Burbank has collected on the antique auto since then. Pat Burbank Since then, Burbanks car has been autographed by or on behalf of 700 to 800 veterans. Hes lost count of how many names are there. After names fill up a section of the vehicles exterior, Burbank puts a clear coat on it to preserve the signatures and protect them from sun and rain. He plans to collect a lot more names on the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, which is dedicated to U.S. and Canadian veterans, especially those who served during wartime. Maggie Cox is an organizer with Honor Flight Central Coast California, which takes veterans on free Tour of Honor trips to Washington, D.C. About 700 to 800 signatures from U.S. military veterans adorn the 1931 Model A Ford town car that Jay Burbank of Cambria converted to look like a World War II Generals staff car. Kathe Tanner/ktanner@thetribunenews.com Jay is one of those amazing veterans who is still giving his time and heart in service to others, Cox said. Hes working the Maxi project and raising funds, driving (Maxi) to Calabasas to honor a 97-year-old WWII vet, then bringing his special spirit on our trip to D.C. He is someone special. Burbank went to Calabasas because the man hadnt been able to attend a pre-flight luncheon at which all the other Honor Flight vets signed Maxi. He was so excited. His blue eyes were just sparkling, Burbank said of the man. The car does such neat things to people, Burbank said. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina take a pause Friday, June 9, 2023, before they load Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan, a cartop tent, fuel cans and more into the trailer before departing Saturday, June 10, 2023 for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll drive one-fifth of the journey in the antique vehicle on the graveled Dempster Highway. Pat Burbank Trip has special meaning for Cambria man In addition to honoring veterans, the trip will serve as a fundraiser. Burbank and Enxuto are collecting donations for scholarships given annually by Cambrias American Legion Post No. 432 to students at the towns Leffingwell High School.. The men hope to raise enough for an endowment that would fund at least four $1,000 scholarships per year for Leffingwell grads. The continuation high school, which celebrated the Class of 2023 in a graduation ceremony on May 31?, serves the needs of alternative education students in Cambria, San Simeon and Cayucos, according to its website. That cause has special significance for Burbank. As a child and adolescent in the 1960s, Burbank dealt with undiagnosed dyslexic and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He never graduated from high school, he said, and as a young man, he found it hard to concentrate or make friends. With guidance, determination and grit, he began to bloom. In the military, Burbank developed skills as an aircraft mechanic working on Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. He went on to become a master wood crafter, metalsmith, photographer and warmly effective communicator. In Cambria and as part of American Legion Post No. 432, he and his wife found a welcoming community and many devoted friends. The retired couple devote their time now to giving back to that community and veterans. To donate to the scholarship fund, go to legionpost432.com To track the travelers adventures through the wilds, follow Pat Burbanks trip blog at jayspatsadventures.blog. California Republicans are hammering Democrats over fentanyl. But is it a political win? California Republicans have found an issue to use as their cudgel against the Democratic majority. For the past month, they have wielded it in nearly every policy debate in the Capitol. When the Legislature welcomed the expelled-then-reinstated Democratic Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones in May, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City invoked fentanyl to rail against one-party rule. During a recent debate over concealed carry permitting, Sen. Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach, raised Democrats alleged failures on fentanyl. Republicans even dragged fentanyl into a discussion about Skittles. A bill from Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, would ban chemicals used in food products, including the chewy, fruit-flavored candy. Its pretty tough to claim youre protecting our children by taking away their candy yet not doing everything in your power to help get lethal fentanyl pills off the street that are poisoning children and destroying families, the state GOP wrote in a May email newsletter. Now, a group of Republicans and a handful of Democrats are turning a failed fentanyl bill into a constitutional amendment they want to put to voters. It would require judges to warn drug dealers they could face homicide charges if they sell counterfeit drugs that kill people. The GOP will likely never get exactly what it wants to address the states fentanyl crisis. But what it does have is a new vehicle for conveying a traditional Republican message to moderate and independent suburban voters that Democrats are soft on crime. Republicans arent going to win right now on issues like abortion or guns, generally, in these suburban districts, said Matt Rexroad, a Republican political consultant. So heres an issue that works for them very well. Theyre very clear on it, and its not going to go away. Its on peoples minds. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, speaks about a bill in June. Gallagher and other Republicans have been attacking Democrats over fentanyl policy. Republicans new tough on crime issue Suburban voters view the problem with increasing urgency, which makes it possible for Republicans to win over lawmakers who represent purple districts. However, the GOP still has limited power, and progressive Democrats insist the party is making more noise than actual headway. Fentanyl is a cheap, powerful synthetic opioid that dealers cut into other drugs to increase their potency while reducing their own costs. Customers who might think they are buying a different substance end up ingesting a fatal dose of fentanyl that has been disguised and marketed as another drug. More than 7,100 people died of opioid overdoses in 2021, and 83% of those fatalities were related to fentanyl, according to the California Department of Public Health. Accidental fentanyl overdoses affect habitual drug users, as well as young people having initial experiences with opioids. A bag of evidence containing the synthetic opioid fentanyl disguised as Oxycodone is shown during a Fresno County Sheriffs Office press conference in 2020. California Republicans have been attacking Democrats over their alleged inaction on fentanyl policy. Republicans and some moderate Democrats want to see the state crack down on fentanyl dealers, which is at odds with Californias push to alleviate prison overcrowding and reduce penalties for drug crimes. For the past 15 years, the state has been under a federal court order to cut its prison population. Lawmakers and voters have curbed sentencing for lower level drug offenses and moved some inmates from state prisons to county jails. It means Democratic leaders and lawmakers in safely blue districts have consistently pushed back against stronger criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers. Instead, they promote community-based programs and recall the failed war on drugs of the 1980s and 1990s, which resulted in the mass incarceration of Black and brown people, even as overdoses continued. As prisons have become less overcrowded, Republicans have begun to challenge policies that reduce sentencing for drug offenses, saying they have caused crime to increase. Although violent and property crime rates were up in 2021, both have stayed relatively low since hitting peaks in the 1990s, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Republicans have reserved special ire for Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, who chairs the Assembly Public Safety Committee. This spring, they claimed he was refusing to hear a handful of fentanyl-related bills, some of which came from Democratic lawmakers. He eventually held a special meeting in April to consider the bills, although almost none of the criminal penalty-related measures advanced. Assemblymember Reggie Byron Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, listens to Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, at a press conference in Sacramento in May. Republicans have been attacking Jones-Sawyer, who serves as chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, for his stance on fentanyl bills. Democrats divided on fentanyl Andrew Acosta, a Democratic political consultant, said the issue is one that divides Democrats based on how blue their districts are. Theres clearly folks in very safe, uber-progressive areas who will never touch this with a 10-foot pole, Acosta said. But theres other folks, maybe folks in the Valley and in the Inland Empire, who would say, Yeah, this is something Im going to be supportive of. For example, Jones-Sawyer and Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles two members who have been vocal about their opposition to harsh drug crime penalties represent overwhelmingly blue districts, according to February data from the Secretary of States Office. Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, gives his opinion on a bill during a floor session discussion in June. Bryan has been vocal about his opposition to increasing penalties for drug crimes. Nearly 64% of voters in Jones-Sawyers District 57 are registered Democrats, while just 6.55% are Republicans. More than 65% of voters in Bryans District 55 are Democrats while about 8.5% are Republicans. On the moderate side, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, and Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, D-San Diego, both presented bills at the April Public Safety Committee hearing that would have created crimes or increased penalties related to fentanyl-dealing. About 40% of voters in Petrie-Norriss District 73 are registered Democrats, while nearly 27% are Republicans. In 2022, Maienschein narrowly won re-election in his District 76, where nearly 38% of voters are Democrats and about 31% are Republicans. A fentanyl constitutional amendment As the legislative session reaches crunch time, Republicans are considering new ways to pursue their fentanyl proposals. Their latest play is a constitutional amendment that would send a measure called Alexandras Law to voters. The bill is named after Alexandra Capelouto, a 20-year-old woman from Temecula who died of an accidental overdose after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl. Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, authored the bill, which requires judges to warn dealers about potential homicide charges that could result from knowingly selling fentanyl that kills people. The measure failed to advance from the Senate Public Safety Committee in April. As a result, Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, authored Assembly Constitutional Amendment 12, which would require a similar warning. Republican leaders are confident the public is on their side when it comes to policies like ACA 12. Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, reads an opinion during a floor session discussion at the Capitol. Dixon authored Assembly Constitutional Amendment 12, which would require judges to warn dealers about potential homicide charges that could result from knowingly selling fentanyl that kills people. You cant have an ordered, safe society if you dont have rules, Gallagher said. And I think a lot of people are seeing that now. Are they becoming Republicans? I dont know if theyre becoming Republicans, but I think theyre agreeing with us on issues, or theyre agreeing with us on policy. And I think that is resonating with independents and moderate Democrats. Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, chairs a Select Committee on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction, and Overdose Prevention. He called Republicans vocal stances on fentanyl background noise, because they dont have the power to stop bills or pass bills. The Republicans are focused, it seems, mainly on a handful of bills, most of which they didnt author, that would have extended consequences or punishment for promoting lower-level fentanyl dealing, Haney said. That may be a part of the solution and part of the response, but we have a lot more work to do. Acosta, the Democratic consultant, said Republicans focus on fentanyl is the party playing ball with the small tools they have available. Is there enough behind this (that) actual real voters have an understanding of this? No, Acosta said. And are they going to get enough to get this on the ballot? I would be surprised if they were able to pull this off. The Democratic majorities are such that it would be really tough for them to get over the hurdle. California woman, 18, killed and six others wounded in mass shooting at 19th birthday party Police in the California city of Antioch are investigating a mass shooting at a birthday party that left an 18-year-old woman dead and six wounded. The shooting occurred just before 1am on Sunday after uninvited guests showed up to the birthday of a 19-year-old male on the 3300 block of Sunset Lane, the Antioch Police Department said in a statement. The gunfire sparked panic among partygoers who fled in multiple directions, with many victims driving themselves to the hospital, police said. The suspects made off in a vehicle before police arrived. An 18-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said. The party host told NBC Bay Area that they had attempted life saving measures on the victim while on the phone to 911. He claimed that the ambulance took too long to arrive. The other victims ranging in age from 18 to 20 were treated for non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Police did not release any information about what led to the shooting, or a possible motive. Police in Antioch, California, are searching for suspects in a mass shooting at a 19th birthday party early on Sunday morning (NBC Bay Area) There have been 290 mass shootings resulting in four or more people being shot already in the United States in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In April, four teenagers died and 32 were wounded when gunfire erupted at a 16th birthday party in Alabama. Several young children were also among the victims in a mass shooting that claimed eight lives at a Texas outlet mall in May. Detectives with the Antioch Police Departments Investigations Bureau are interviewing numerous witnesses and residents in the area and are working to identify suspects or persons-of-interest. Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe told NBC Bay Area that his heart went out to the victims. Antioch is a city of about 115,000 residents located 45 miles northeast of San Francisco. Californians were asked to cut water use 15% during the drought. How close did they get? JJ Bennett waters the ninth hole during the First Look for the U.S. Open Championship 2022, in Los Angeles. (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP) The results are in: As California endured its three driest years on record, urban water users made a significant effort to conserve, but fell far short of Gov. Gavin Newsom's request to reduce water use by 15%. Between July 2021, when Newsom first called on water users to voluntarily cut back, and March of this year, when he rescinded that request amid a very wet winter, statewide savings were 7%, or about half of what was requested. That amounts to about 9 fewer gallons per person per day, a Los Angeles Times analysis has found. The findings varied considerably by region and by water district, with the North Coast and San Francisco Bay areas saving the most water 14% and 12%, respectively against the base-line year of 2020. The inland Tulare Lake and Colorado River regions saved the least, 4% and 2%, respectively. (The analysis did not include agricultural water use.) State officials say the numbers belie the long-term conservation efforts Californians have made in recent decades, including significant savings during the 2012-16 drought, which ended only a few years before Newsom's request. But they also acknowledged that there is considerable room for improvement. Residential statewide use was, on average, about 85 gallons per person per day. For comparison, Californians would have used 79 gallons per day if they had cut their use by 15%. "Absolutely we can do better than that," said Charlotte Ely, conservation supervisor with the State Water Resources Control Board. Read more: Newsom asks all Californians to voluntarily reduce water usage by 15% amid drought In July 2021, California was about two years into what was quickly becoming one of its most devastating droughts. Fifty counties were under a drought state of emergency when Newsom stood in front of a dwindling Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo County and called on residents to reduce their water use by 15%. Newsom rescinded the call on March 24 of this year after back-to-back atmospheric rivers refilled reservoirs and dropped record and near-record snowpack in the Sierra, significantly easing drought conditions statewide. But many experts were critical of Newsom's voluntary stance throughout the drought, arguing that he should have made cuts mandatory, like his predecessor, Jerry Brown, who ordered a 25% reduction during the 2012-16 drought. Residents reached just shy of that goal, reducing water use by 24.5%. The Newsom administration said it was more focused on targeted drought responses based on local conditions, rather than a "one size fits all" approach that cannot account for past investments in conservation or major water use drivers such as climate. "Seven percent is still an impressive number given that it happened in less than two years, and that it's on top of the water savings that the state has maintained since the last drought," Ely said. "And so I think what we see over the last decade is really a conservation success story." But some experts say the results are evidence that more could have been done. "The numbers are disappointing, given they're just under half of what was asked for," said Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, a water think tank. A 2022 report from the institute found that Californians could reduce their water use by 30% to 48% by adopting a host of technologies, efficiency standards and low-water use landscaping. Indoor use could be as low as 25 to 35 gallons per person per day, Cooley said. Read more: Tracking Californias water supplies She attributed the state's overall lackluster response to the governor's voluntary call, and said the messaging was inconsistent and often opaque about the severity of the situation. "I think that it was potentially a recipe for disaster," Cooley said. "If it had been another dry winter, we would have really wished we had gone to mandatory [restrictions] last year, because it would help us conserve the limited water that we had, and would make it stretch that much further." Still, the effort appeared to work better in some areas than others. The South Coast region, which includes Los Angeles and half the state's population, cut water use by 6%, or about 7 fewer gallons per person per day, the analysis found. In June 2022, as the drought deepened, the region's massive water wholesaler, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, ordered unprecedented restrictions for areas dependent on the State Water Project, a vast network of canals and pipelines that delivers water from Northern California to farmlands and cities to the south. The order was largely a response to slashed allocations from the state, and included a 35% reduction in water use for nearly 7 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties. The communities were able to "cut their water use enough to stretch the available water supplies for nine months, until restrictions were lifted in March," said Brad Coffey, manager of MWD's Water Resource Management group. But while the region succeeded in stretching scarce supplies, Coffey noted that operating under emergency restrictions is considered a last resort and "not a sign of success." "We have been working for years to prepare for a changed climate, but these changes are coming even sooner than predicted, and we must move fast to adapt," he said. The agency is working toward more sustained reductions in water use through investments in new infrastructure and local supplies, and is encouraging more water-efficient landscapes, irrigation systems and indoor plumbing and appliances, he said. Read more: 'Nature gave us a lifeline': Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashion In response to the MWD's order, one of its largest customers, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, opted to place its entire service area of about 4 million people under two-day-a-week watering limits in an effort to stay at or below a volumetric allocation during the drought. The effort was successful, according to the DWP. "LADWP, through the tireless efforts of our customers and staff, was able to stay below the MWD volumetric allocation every month it was in place from June 2022 through March 2023," spokesperson Mia Rose-Wong said in an email. However, the DWP did not come close to the 15% reduction requested by Newsom, with cumulative savings of 5%, or 5 gallons per person per day, the analysis found. Rose-Wong said customers have made aggressive efforts toward efficiency over the last three decades, so "it is getting progressively harder for our customers to reduce" daily gallons per person. "Yet, we're proud of our customers' response in diligently maintaining their water-efficient habits, as water use has dropped by over 30% in the past 15 years," Rose-Wong said. She added that the DWP uses a 12-month rolling average to track its savings in order to account for changes in population and weather throughout the year. L.A.'s 12-month rolling average for residential, commercial and industrial users went from 113 gallons per person per day in July 2021 to "below 105" gallons in March. For comparison, the same 12-month rolling average was 126 gallons statewide, she said. Read more: Where will all that snow go? Heres what Californias Big Melt looks like Not all of the Los Angeles area was as successful, however. El Segundo used 25% more water between July 2021 and March, more than any other district in the state. City officials said the high consumption was largely due to a massive sewage spill at the Hyperion sewage treatment plant in 2021. The spill resulted in the loss of production of recycled water, which had to be replaced with potable water for several months. The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District in far Northern California was technically the top performing district in the state, reducing its water use by 41%. However, general manager John Friedenbach said the numbers were somewhat skewed because its largest water user, an electricity plant, went off line in 2022. The rest of the district's savings was "pretty average," he said. The next biggest saver in the state, the city of Healdsburg, in Sonoma County, saw a 35% reduction. Healdsburg has long been touted as an example of efficient water savings, achieving significant reductions through household water use caps, a recycled water hauling program, a near-total ban on outdoor irrigation and other conservation efforts. But while the wet winter offered California a much needed reprieve, experts and officials said now is not the time for residents to ease up. While bouts of extreme precipitation are becoming more frequent, the region will continue to grow hotter and drier overall because of climate change. "People might be wondering why we should be worrying about saving when Tulare Lake has re-formed, and I think it's really just being aware that we are facing these long-term challenges," said Ely, of the state water board. She noted that hotter and drier conditions could diminish 10% of existing water supplies by 2040. "And so all of the water-saving habits that we have cultivated over the last decade are going to continue to serve us in the face of long-term aridification," she said. The state is working to roll out its new "Making Conservation a California Way of Life" framework, Ely said, which will establish unique goals for its more than 400 urban water retail suppliers and help drive long-term savings across the state, among other efforts. Read more: California could shrink water use in cities by 30% or more, study finds The state Legislature is also weighing two bills that could lead to more savings, including one prohibiting the use of potable water on some decorative grasses, and another that would require nonresidential projects to transition to low-water and local native plants. But California is also facing significant cuts from one of its water lifelines, the shrinking Colorado River, in the years ahead. Cooley, of the Pacific Institute, said those cuts, along with projections for more arid conditions, mean maintaining efficiency and an ethos of conservation are critically important for California and the West. "We need to still be pushing toward efficiency so that we make the best use of the resources that we now have," she said, "and to start preparing for the next drought, which could be just around the corner." Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Calik Denim was a voice at the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Networks second annual meeting in New York City on June 1. The meeting brought together more than 150 media, industry stakeholders, and UN representatives to highlight actions, solutions, and progress from the fashion and lifestyle sectors to advance knowledge and strengthen engagement to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. More from Sourcing Journal Calik was the only denim supporting partner at the meeting. Representatives from Lenzing, Renewcell and The Lycra Company were also in attendance. During a panel titled Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Designing a Better Future, Selen Baltaci, the Turkish mills senior marketing communications executive, shared Caliks leading eco-conscious technologies and its responsible production model. Baltaci highlighted B210, Caliks environmentally friendly solution to biodegrade denim fabrics including ones with synthetic fibers, in 210 days, noting that the technology is approved and certified by independent organizations. Caliks work supporting regenerative agriculture was also discussed. The mills Fall/Winter 2024-2025 collection includes its first fabrics that contain regenerative cotton. The fabrics bear the Regenagri certification which ensures the integrity of regenerative-certified materials from farm to finished products. We have been carrying out R&D studies on biodiversity for many years and one of the important projects we have implemented in this area is our regenerative farming investment, Baltaci said. With our ongoing investments, we plan to maximize this content in our collection in the coming period as well. Other panel discussions and keynotes at the meeting addressed responsible consumption, the role collaborations play in transformative action and fostering inclusion. Click here to read the full article. Sales of AR and VR products on the Chinese mainland surged 62 percent year on year to total 220,000 units in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, an industry report showed. Led by domestic manufacturers like PicoVR, iQiyi and DPVR, VR gear sales rose 31 percent over the same period of last year, according to a report by research and consulting company CINNO Research. Sales of consumer-grade AR products in Q1 was 17 times that of the same period last year, boosted by the growing popularity of AR glasses that can display projections from other screens, said the report. This type of AR glasses enables a large-screen experience at any place and any time, and shipments will potentially increase as the technologies evolve, said the CINNO report. The debut of Apple Inc.'s first mixed-reality headset Vision Pro is expected to spice up competition in the AR and VR market in 2023, the report revealed. FILE PHOTO: Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa OTTAWA (Reuters) - A Canadian Supreme Court judge being probed for alleged involvement in a drunken fight resigned on Monday, marking the first time a member of the top court has resigned amid questions of misconduct. Russell Brown, appointed to the nine-judge court in August 2015, had stepped aside in February after reports emerged of a confrontation with a U.S. Marine veteran in an Arizona resort in late January. The veteran told reporters that Brown had been drunk and made women at the resort feel uncomfortable. Brown denied this, saying the veteran was intoxicated and had punched him several times in the face without warning. Brown said the investigation, which showed no sign of ending, had imposed a significant strain on his family and was hampering the court. "Because the allegations made against me are false, I had hoped the issue would be dispensed with quickly ... sadly, that has not been the case," he said in a statement on Monday. Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner thanked Brown for his service. The Canadian Judicial Council, an independent body probing the allegations, said Brown's resignation meant its investigation was over. Brown was appointed by Conservative former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In a statement, Wagner invited current Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "to exercise promptly the necessary care and consideration in appointing a new justice." (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Tamika LEcluse is dropping out of the race for Sacramento City Councils 2nd District seat. LEcluse, who filed papers in March to raise funds to run, said she is withdrawing from the race for medical reasons. It was not a decision I made lightly, LEcluse, a former teacher and Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela staffer, wrote on her Facebook page Monday. With the timing of recent health changes, and looking ahead to the next three to six months, it would be irresponsible to continue. Former Twin Rivers Unified School Board member Ramona Landeros is running for the seat, she announced last week. Former state legislator Roger Dickinson is also considering a run, he has told The Sacramento Bee. Its unclear whether Councilman Sean Loloee, who holds the seat now, will run for re-election. He did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. He has filed paperwork with the city to raise money to run, but that does not necessarily mean he will do so. LEcluse plans to run for re-election to the American River Flood Control Board next year, she wrote. The primary election will be held March 5. If no single candidate receives at least 50.01% of the vote, the general election for the District 2 seat will be held Nov. 5. Canton Police Department, Ohio CANTON A 23-year-old city man is accused of injuring two Columbus residents in a drive-by shooting in Canton. Gregory Michael Marciano is being held at the Stark County Jail on charges of attempted murder, discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, and two counts of felonious assault. The suspect, who was driving a car, is accused of shooting a 35-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who were standing outside at 12:03 a.m. Sunday at 12th Street NE and Gibbs Avenue NE, according to a police report. Police involved in shooting: 'I'm worried': Neighbor of man shot, killed by Canton police reported fighting in 911 call Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police say. One was transported to Aultman Hospital and the other to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital. The suspect fled the scene. Police arrested Marciano hours later at his residence in the 1300 block of Rowland Ave NE. Authorities have no motive at this time. Marciano is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Canton Municipal Court Tuesday. Shooting in Canton: Police investigating shooting at Nimisilla Park This article originally appeared on The Repository: Gregory Michael Marciano charged with attempted murder in shooting Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said Roland Henry Halle, 73, threatened officers as they responded to a domestic disturbance on Sunday, June 11, 2023. When Halle raised a gun, they shot him multiple times. Cape Coral Police officers shot and killed a man as he raised a gun at them Sunday evening during a domestic disturbance, Chief Anthony Sizemore said at a news conference. He said there was an ongoing domestic disturbance, and police had responded twice Saturday to the home on the 1400 block of Northeast Fifth Avenue. Roland Henry Halle, 73, was shot about 5:37 p.m. Sunday as police returned to the home. 'There was a male and female arguing," Sizemore said, which led to Halle destroying the female's property. He referred to the female as a roommate. He said Halle had a gun and was heavily intoxicated. "Officers engaged in dialogue to deescalate the situation but Mr. Halle became agitated, was resistant to those efforts and his demeanor became heightened," Sizemore said. He said as Halle picked up the gun and "challenged the officers," they shot him several times. The chief said the two officers immediately attempted lifesaving measures, but Halle died at the home. Both officers were placed on administrative leave. Neither was injured, he said. "Our officers faced a rapid, complex and dangerous situation for everyone involved," he said, explaining he reviewed the officers' body cameras and the evidence. "Our officers followed their training and performed under extreme circumstances exactly as they were trained." Sizemore specifically said the department on Saturday found no criminal action or they would have made an arrest at that time. He said the department's Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the incidents and the State Attorney's Office is involved. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral police shooting: Man killed after threatening cops with gun Car crash with injuries shuts down Card Sound Road into Florida Keys on Sunday evening Card Sound Road, one of only two roads leading into the Florida Keys from the mainland, was shut down for about two hours Sunday evening because of a car crash with injuries, according to fire and police officials. The crash happened around 5:40 p.m., according to Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue dispatch. At least one person was flown by helicopter air ambulance for treatment at a Miami-Dade County hospital, a dispatch operator told the Miami Herald. The location of the crash was near Alabama Jacks, a popular road side bar at the western base of the Card Sound Road Bridge, law enforcement and fire rescue sources said. Traffic on the rural, two-lane highway was initially diverted to the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 the more frequently traveled route into the Keys from Florida City on the mainland. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office announced that both lanes of traffic were reopened shortly before 7:30 p.m. Details of the crash were not immediately available. The claim: Carbon is not harmful because all life on Earth is carbon-based A May 24 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a man speaking in front of a large compost pile. "Behind me is a big steaming pile of carbon thats currently composting and releasing massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere," he says. "All life on Earth is carbon-based and I spend the majority of time on the farm trying to increase my carbon footprint, which simply means increasing all life." At the end of the video, the speaker says, "Theres plenty of problems in the world and carbon definitely isnt one of them." It was shared over 22,000 times in one week. The video was originally shared on TikTok on March 16 where it was liked over 39,000 times. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False Carbon is a vital part of life on Earth, experts told USA TODAY. However, too much carbon, especially in the form of carbon dioxide, can have negative effects on carbon-based organisms, such as plants, animals and humans. Excess carbon can harm carbon-based life Carbon is one of the building blocks of life on Earth, Jared Gregory Ali, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Chemical Ecology, told USA TODAY. But he said that doesn't mean the Earth can absorb infinite amounts without experiencing negative effects. He explained that too much carbon dioxide in the environment could disrupt the carbon cycle, which is the natural movement of carbon in and out of reservoirs on Earth. This movement can happen through photosynthesis, burning fossil fuels or even breathing, according to National Geographic. "This is a natural part of our life cycle," Ali said. "What isnt natural is the burning of energy stored in reserves on our planet that wouldnt be released at the rate they are, that are throwing our planet cycles off a bit. The world will balance out that shift, but it has terrible, terrible consequences for life as we know it." Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which means high levels of it can influence climate. This is illustrated by the frequency of record-breaking heat events worldwide in recent years, said James Hicks, a physiologist at the University of California Irvine, in an email to USA TODAY. Fact check: Scientists say carbon dioxide levels affect the climate "Heat events do impact many organisms, including humans," Hicks said. "In addition, rising CO2 dissolves in the oceans and other bodies of water. CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid and ultimately alters the pH. These pH changes, again, are relatively small but can negatively impact some marine organisms, mainly invertebrates." Climate change, which is driven in part by carbon dioxide, has already led to illness and death from extreme weather events, the disruption of food systems and the increase of diseases and mental health issues, according to the World Health Organization. USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment and the user could not provide sufficient evidence to support the claim. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Viral video misrepresents the dangers of excess CO2 | Fact check A Navy captain who was commanding the amphibious transport dock Somerset in 2020 when a fatal Marine Corps assault amphibious vehicle mishap occurred will not be going on to command an aircraft carrier, Navy officials confirmed Monday. Navy Capt. John W. Kurtz commanded the amphibious transport dock Somerset on July 30, 2020, when the amphibious assault vehicle sunk off California, killing eight Marines and a sailor. A platoon of amphibious assault vehicles left the Somerset on the evening of the mishap and used two other amphibious assault vehicles as safety boats, because other boats promised by the Somerset were not operational, an investigation found. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro issued Kurtz a censure letter in June 2022 that noted that an investigation into the sinking did not establish that any of USS SOMERSETs actions or inactions caused the sinking. But it also states that Kurtz failed in his duties to oversee amphibious assault vehicle operations as the primary control officer. As the primary control officer, you ultimately bear responsibility to ensure positive control and leadership oversight over waterborne AAV operations and you failed to do so, Del Toro wrote. Skipper censured in fatal Marine AAV mishap tapped to command carrier Kurtzs name appeared in late 2022 on a fiscal 2024 aviation major command screening board to helm a carrier, Navy Times reported in November 2022. But the following month, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday removed Kurtzs name from the selection list pursuant to his authorities, the CNOs spokesperson, Cmdr. Courtney Hillson, said in an email Monday. Kurtzs removal was based on the adverse information in the secretarial censure letter and the Navys investigation into the mishap, she added. Task and Purpose first reported Gilday removing Kurtz from the list. A Marine Corps investigation into the incident found serious deficiencies and errors in judgment made by top leaders, while the Navy investigation mostly exposed flaws in the way the two services interacted during amphibious assault vehicle operations. A Frankfort man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a man was shot while driving and was found dead underneath his overturned vehicle in Lexington. Theodrick Tillman, a 32-year-old Frankfort resident was sentenced Monday after he pleaded guilty in January to facilitation of murder, first-degree criminal mischief and being a persistent felony offender, court records say. Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Goodman sentenced him for the amended charges: 10 years for facilitation of murder and two years for first-degree criminal mischief. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning his total prison time will be 10 years. Tillman is being housed in Franklin County. He was scheduled to be sentenced three times prior to Mondays hearing. Tillman originally faced murder, first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree persistent felony offender charges in connection to the death of 37-year-old DeShawn Jimerson. His offenses were amended down as part of his plea deal. Jimerson, who was from Washington, was found dead the morning of Nov. 20, 2020, after his SUV ran off the road and landed at the bottom of a large culvert at the intersection of Winchester Road and Midland Place. Originally, his death was investigated as part of a fatal crash. But once his body was recovered from the scene, it was discovered he had been shot several times. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said the fatal altercation likely took place in the early hours that morning. Police announced the next day that Jimersons death was being investigated as a homicide. Tillman was charged with murder several months after the incident. Before imposing sentencing, both Goodman and Tillmans attorney, Valerie Church, said the coroner was never able to definitively tell whether it was the crash or gunshots that killed Jimerson. Goodman said there was no evidence Tillman had a gun, nor that he was the person who pulled the trigger. Goodman also said there was a third man in the vehicle, Austin Pennie, who was Jimersons best friend. Pennie faced charges of leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid and being a persistent felony offender, according to court documents. His charges were later dismissed. It is almost always young Black men who are turning on each other, and society ignores it, and thinks to put them all in the penitentiary and put them out of sight and it will go away and we wont have to acknowledge that we have these issues, Goodman said. Goodman said she didnt feel the people who started a fight that led to Jimersons death were being held accountable. Why so many young men feel they have no other option but to turn to guns, anger and drugs that I cant fix, Goodman said. The victims aunt and legal guardian since birth, Debra, spoke on Zoom and said she hoped Tillman had a long time to think about what he had done. I pray for your family, that they wont have to go through life without you like I have to go through life without (Jimerson), she said. You left 12 children without a father. I dont wish pain or suffering on anyone but we are in a lot of pain and we are all suffering due to the loss of my baby. Tillman also has seven children of his own, which Goodman recognized during sentencing would leave 19 children without a father in their life as a result of Jimersons death and Tillmans prison sentence. I dont understand why grown men with seven and 12 children arent with their children and instead are out running the roads and the streets and why one from Washington state, where 12 children are, was in Fayette County, she said. It is not mine to understand, why you bring children into this world and choose not to be with them but would rather run with your friends. I cannot make these 19 children have fathers who cared to be home. Tillman spoke to the family and court, apologizing for his involvement because he knows what it is like to lose someone. Everyone makes mistakes and I made one, Tillman admitted. I didnt mean for it to happen but I wish I could take it back. Young women look at flowers on May 18, 2023 at a stall in Kunming, Yunnan province, ahead of May 20, which falls on Saturday, as "520" is a homophone of "I love you" in Chinese. [Photo provided to China Daily] China recorded a decline in marriage registrations -- 6.83 million in 2022, according to the latest quarterly report released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on its website. The number of marriage registration last year was the lowest ever seen since the ministry started to release such data in 1986. Compared with 2013, the number of marriage registrations has fallen 49.3 percent. China saw a record high of 13.47 million marriage registration in 2013. The number of marriage registrations dropped below 10 million in 2019 and continued to fall by a million every year since then. In 2021, the figure dropped to 7.64 million. A decline in the number of people of marriageable age is one of the reasons behind falling marriage registrations and marriage rate in China. From 1980 to 1989, the average annual birth stood at 22.09 million persons, while from 1990 to 1999, the figure declined to 20.85 million. Delayed marriage is another driver of the fall in the marriage rate. From 2010 to 2020, the average age for Chinese women's first marriage rose from 24 to 27.95, up almost four years in 10 years. In 2022, 2.1 million couples registered for divorce, and the figure in 2021 was 2.14 million, according to the latest quarterly report. State regulators fined CenturyLink more than $1.3 million for a 911 outage that affected Washingtonians for more than two days. According to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), the outage began on Dec. 27, 2018, as CenturyLink was in the process of transitioning out of its contract to provide 911 services. The UTC found that CenturyLink broke state laws and harmed the public when it couldnt connect at least 13,000 911 calls during the nearly 50-hour statewide outage. Officials said the outage was a result of network design and a technical error that could have been prevented. The penalty reflects the serious and potentially life-threatening impact an outage has on ensuring that vital life-saving services are available for Washington residents, the UTC said in a news release. CenturyLink was also fined $2.8 million for a 911 outage in 2014 that severely disrupted emergency services for six hours. The company is no longer the statewide 911 provider. Good morning, Quartz readers! We asked you what honest slogans youd like to see from oil and gas companies. Tom suggested, Oil and gas production: because if we dont do it, someone else will, which is about as simple and sad as it gets. Read more Heres what you need to know The White House would like Tesla to keep the US charging standard connection (CCS) alive. The automaker could access billions of dollars in federal subsidies if it added that port to its EV charging station. Binance is breaking up with the US dollar. The cryptocurrency exchange made the decision because the American banks it was working with were ready to stop dollar withdrawals as soon as June 13. Read more about cryptos insecurity complex. A judge ruled Apple and Amazon must face a price-fixing lawsuit. The two companies sought to dismiss the lawsuit that accused them of inflating the prices of iPhones and iPads. Netflixs password sharing crackdown did exactly what it was supposed to. Its number of subscribers shot up sharply, with daily signups reaching as high as 100,000. Indias engineers are looking elsewhere for work Indias most sought-after engineering graduates are taking their talents abroad: a third of them are leaving the country after their studies are over. Such highly skilled workers make up 65% of the migrants heading to the US alone. Read more about this talent migration in a report from Quartzs Mimansa Verma. Graphic: Mimansa Verma Reddit faces a 48-hour blackout We respect when you and your communities take action to highlight the things you need, including, at times, going private. We are all responsible for ensuring Reddit provides an open accessible place for people to find community and belonging. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman reacting to a protest by the platforms moderators that will see thousands of subreddits go dark for 48 hours starting today (June 12) to oppose charging developers of third-party apps for access to Reddits API. Sam Altmans global roadshow Photo: Reuters (Reuters) The CEO of OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, is on a globe-trotting mission to shape potential regulation against its technology. Sam Altman has exchanged words with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and sat down with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol. Hes traveled to Israel, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. And that was just last week. As Quartzs Michelle Cheng explains, the schmoozing campaign is about striking a fine balance between public harm and innovation. Quartz most popular Google has officially changed its mind about remote work Theres never been a better time in the US to be an electrician Neuroscience says these five rituals will help your brain stay in peak condition Whats next for student loans if SCOTUS knocks down Bidens debt forgiveness? Is it ever okay to express your anger by emailing someone elses boss? What kinds of government documents was Trump holding at Mar-a-Lago? Surprising discoveries Four kids survived in the Amazon for 40 days after a plane crash. They relied on cassava flour and fruit to stay alive. Slamming energy drinks may not be that bad for you. At least one ingredient, taurine, is linked with longer and healthier lives in mice, monkeys, and worms. Watch out for pyro-tornadogenesis. Yep, thats a fire tornado, and theres a good chance theyll become much more common. Turtles can be taxis for fairy shrimp. The tiny crustaceans are ferried across African wetlands after passing through the reptiles digestive systems. Englands coastal waters are full of drugs. Prescription and recreational substances in wastewater are biologically changing fish. Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, fire tornado shelters, and turtle taxis to talk@qz.com. Reader support makes Quartz available to allbecome a member. Todays Daily Brief was brought to you by Sofia Lotto Persio and Morgan Haefner. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Snail on a graphic graph. Illustrated | Gettyimages Is the era of China's explosive economic growth coming to an end? Analysts have long believed China would someday overtake the U.S. as the world's biggest economy, the Economist reported, but the country's shrinking workforce and slowing productivity raise questions about whether the goal is attainable. If China can't catch up to the U.S. by the middle of the 2030s, "it may never do so." The analysis comes amidst fresh signs of economic weakness in China. The country relies on exports to drive its economy, the South China Morning Post reported, but May exports were down 7.5 percent from a year earlier. The COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine have altered China's upward path, Axios reported those events "prompted countries around the world to reassess trade relationships and the risks of relying on rivals for core products." Indeed, there is growing talk in the U.S. of "decoupling" from China as tensions between the two countries rise. Perhaps the biggest long-term challenge facing China is demographic decline: The portion of residents above the age of 60 is expected to rise by one-third by 2050, Politico reported. The young people who remain may not be all that interested in picking up the slack. CNBC reported that "light labor" a Chinese version of "quiet quitting" is becoming popular: A quarter of college graduates are underemployed, and the country faces a record-high youth unemployment rate. What are commentators saying? "So much for the Chinese economic boom," Desmond Lachman wrote for Barron's. Like the United States at the onset of the Great Recession in 2008, China is experiencing the collapse of housing and credit "bubbles," which in turn has sucked the energy out of a once-vigorous economy. That raises the potential of a "lost economic decade" a stagnating economy akin to what Japan experienced after its skyrocketing economy petered out in the 1990s. And it means that China probably won't beat the U.S. economy anytime soon. "We will find that the Chinese economy had clay feet." China's future isn't what it used to be, Josef Joffe wrote at Tablet. Overinvestment in the housing market is one problem: There are an estimated 65 million unsold apartments in China. "This misdirected capital could have been put to more productive use." But "disastrous demographics" are also the culprit. "By midcentury, China will be the oldest big economy in the world." The economic headwinds aren't just a blip. The causes of the economic slowdown "are not fleeting." "I believe China will continue to prosper," former Treasury Secretary Steven Rattner wrote in The New York Times. It's true that trade restrictions imposed by Presidents Trump and Biden are taking a toll, as are recent U.S. restrictions on technology sales to China. But China also leads the world in battery manufacturing, electric vehicle sales and solar panel production. "We should not delude ourselves with the fantasy that China is going to fall under its own weight." What's next? Chinese leader Xi Jinping still wants to overtake the U.S., Michael Schuman wrote at The Atlantic, and now he's looking to do so by re-orienting the economy away from the West. But the West and indeed, the United States have driven China's economic growth. Now "the two countries have come to see their ties as a source of risk and vulnerability." So China is shifting its focus to countries, like Russia, it sees as "less threatening." But the two countries are still deeply intertwined for now. That means the weakness of China's economy has ramifications in America, CNN reported. The tensions between Washington and Beijing "have spooked investors." The fallout could actually be wider than that: American companies with operations in China "stand to lose if the economy continues on a downward trajectory." All these factors could mean that China's rise as an economic and world power has already peaked, Ian Bremmer wrote at Gzero Media. But maybe not: Even if China's economy is growing slower than it once did, "it is still growing faster than America's." And its role as the heart of the global supply chain means that decoupling from the U.S. "will be slow and incremental rather than sudden and absolute." The challenges facing China are great, but "it still has substantial upside." 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 China's Xi says willing to begin free trade talks with Honduras China's Xi says willing to begin free trade talks with Honduras Honduran President Xiomara Castro visits China BEIJING (Reuters) -China is willing to begin talks on a free trade agreement with Honduras "as soon as possible", Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday, during the first visit by the Central American country's president since forming diplomatic ties in March. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro is on a six-day official visit to China. She launched diplomatic relations with Beijing after cutting ties with Taiwan. The country is also seeking support from China to mitigate its debt burden. "You have resolutely fulfilled your election promise of establishing diplomatic relations with China, made a historic decision, and demonstrated your firm political will," Xi told Castro during talks in Beijing. China will actively promote Honduran products to enter the Chinese market, Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. Chinese customs said on Monday it had approved the import of Whiteleg shrimp from Honduras. China also encourages Chinese enterprises to participate in Honduras' projects in areas including energy, infrastructure and telecommunications, CCTV cited a joint declaration as saying. The Honduran side is willing to provide policy support and facilitation, CCTV reported. The Chinese leader also emphasised that both sides should deepen political mutual trust, and uphold the "One-China" principle. "One-China principle is the primary premise and political foundation for the establishment of loyal diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations," Xi said. When Honduras ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan, the island's foreign minister accused it of demanding exorbitant sums before being lured away by Beijing. China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that countries with which it has ties recognise its position. The Honduran foreign ministry said at the time it recognised the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government that represents all of China and that Taiwan was an "inseparable part of Chinese territory". The United States is watching with concern as China expands its footprint in its backyard by taking away Taiwan's Central American allies, and has repeatedly warned countries not to believe China's promises of aid. Xi said that China supports Honduras' "independent choice of development path in line with its national conditions", and opposes any external interference in the Central American country's internal affairs. (Reporting by Ella Cao and Liz Lee; editing by Robert Birsel and Sharon Singleton) Chloe Mitchell: Two men charged in murder inquiry after suspected remains found Chloe Mitchell Two men have been charged over the murder and disappearance of Chloe Mitchell who went missing in Northern Ireland. Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland charged a 26-year-old man with murder and a 34-year-old man with assisting offenders. Both men were due to appear before Ballymena magistrates court on Monday morning. Brandon John Rainey, 26, was remanded in custody until July 6. A second man was due to appear charged with assisting an offender. Ms Mitchell was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre. Detectives investigating Ms Mitchells disappearance opened a murder inquiry on Sunday after suspected human remains were found in the town. Forensic officers attended a flat in the James Street area of Ballymena on Sunday evening. The property had been cordoned off by police earlier in the week. The discovery came after extensive searches across Ballymena over recent days. Members of the Community Rescue Service (CRS) assisted police in the major search operation in Ballymena. In a statement on Sunday night, the volunteer-based organisation said: The CRS would like to thank the people of Ballymena, those who live and work in the Harryville area and especially Chloes family and friends for their exceptional support during our operations. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Sunday said Donald Trumps federal indictment over his handling of classified documents was self-inflicted, and he expects some kind of guilty verdict against the former president. Trump is facing 37 felony charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, willful retention of national defense information and making false statements. Hes accused of taking top-secret documents after he left the White House and blocking government efforts to recover them. Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, is set to appear in a Miami courtroom on Tuesday. He had every chance in the world to hand all those files and documents back, Sununu told CBS Face the Nation. He did just the opposite. He bragged about keeping them. So this is very self-inflicted. The Republican governor, who recently ruled himself out of the 2024 presidential contest, said Trump shouldnt be the partys nominee and called on the other GOP candidates to acknowledge the severity of the charges. Trump has been citing his indictment in fundraising appeals and remains the 2024 GOP front-runner. This is serious, Sununu said. If even half of this stuff is true, hes in real trouble. And it is self-inflicted. And I just see too many of the candidates trying to walk around it. For now, most of the GOP presidential hopefuls, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), have criticized the Justice Department without denouncing Trump. Vivek Ramaswamy has pledged to pardon Trump. DeSantis decried the weaponization of government agencies and said there was no single standard of justice in the country. Only two candidates, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and ex-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, have forcefully defended the DOJs case against Trump. Is this the type of conduct that we want from someone who wants to be president of the United States? Christie asked. Sununu told CBS John Dickerson he didnt think the charges were politically motivated and said all politicians should recognize the unprecedented nature of the indictment. Everyone has to be very straightforward and transparent about it and acknowledge the realities of the severity of these accusations, Sununu said. This will likely come down to some type of guilty verdict on the president, at least on some of these charges, he added. Former Attorney General Bill Barr echoed Sununu, telling Fox News Sunday Trump is in real trouble if the espionage allegations in the indictment are true. I do think we have to wait and see what the defense says, and what proves to be true. But I do think that if even half of it is true, then hes toast, Barr said. Related... Nine adults and 10 juveniles are now facing charges after a street takeover in East Columbus resulted in a gas station being overrun, parking lots blocked and property stolen. City Attorney Zach Klein said Monday the maximum possible penalty will be sought for all who have been charged and no plea deals will be offered. The incident occurred on April 29 at a gas station on Johnstown Road on the city's East Side. Columbus police had said the group had taken over a portion of the street, blocked the entrances and exits to a gas station and blocked access to the gas pumps. Cameras inside the gas station's convenience store captured more than two dozen people inside, eating food and taking other items without paying for them. Klein said nine people have been charged in Franklin County Municipal Court and 10 juveniles have been referred to the Franklin County Juvenile Court system for prosecution. Klein said his office's attorneys are being instructed to not offer any plea deals in the cases and push for 100% of fines and penalties for the offenders. "People are tired of the chaos and lawlessness of a small group of individuals who think the law doesn't apply to them," Klein said. "We want to send a message that if you engage in this lawless behavior, you're going to eat 100% of the fines and penalties." The effort to identify those involved is part of Columbus police's Operation Burnout, which has focused on street takeovers, reckless driving and other associated crimes. That effort has led to hundreds of citations and more than 100 cars being impounded so far this year. "Taking over streets, victimizing businesses and endangering the people of Columbus is unacceptable," Columbus police Assistant Chief Greg Bodker said. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: City Attorney announces charges in April East Side street takeover City of Leawood and two police officers dropped from lawsuit alleging excessive force The City of Leawood and two of its police officers have been removed from a lawsuit that alleged police used excessive force against a woman seeking treatment at a local hospital. Muriel Martin, 76, of Kansas City, filed a federal lawsuit on May 19 in the U.S. Court for the District of Kansas. An amended complaint now names Saint Lukes Health System as the sole defendant. In May 2021, Martin went to the emergency room at Saint Lukes community hospital in Leawood, at 13200 State Line Road. She was having excruciating pain in her abdomen causing cramping, nausea and vomiting, the lawsuit said. Martin has an implanted port which delivers medication. Nurses did not have the right needles to access the port so a doctor tried to insert an IV through her jugular vein, the lawsuit said, causing extreme pain. She pleaded for an alternative method, to which the physician allegedly said, Its obvious you dont want to be here, why dont you leave? Martin said she wanted to be treated. Shortly after, officers with the Leawood Police Department entered her room and escorted her out of the hospital in a wheelchair. Allegations against the officers accusing them of excessive force and discrimination were dropped from the lawsuit after attorneys for Martin reviewed body camera videos, said Capt. Brad Robbins, a spokesman for the police department. The lawsuit in its original form included false and damaging statements about the Leawood Police Department and its employees, said Chief Dale Finger. We responded immediately to these untrue allegations by bringing forward undisputable evidence proving otherwise. The lawsuit lists four counts against Saint Lukes including racial discrimination and violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It also says that Martin was a victim of implicit bias against African-Americans and unequal treatment attributed to enduring racist cultural beliefs and practices. Saint Lukes did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cobb man threatening girlfriend with gun shot to death by police Police shot and killed a man who allegedly beat a woman in Cobb County on Saturday. Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was in Cobb County, where police said domestic calls have proven to be one of the most dangerous calls police respond to. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police rushed to a home along Michael Drive on Saturday after a man with a gun was accused of beating his girlfriend. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Murdock Jacksons girlfriend told her neighbor to call 911. When officers arrived, Jackson had a gun. Two officers opened fire on him, killing him. TRENDING STORIES: A neighbor told Newell she saw police at the same home a week ago. I was just here in the living room with my grandchildren, and I heard shots and immediately I heard sirens, Jacqueline McSwain said. I felt really bad that it happened in this neighborhood and I felt for the people Stuart Vanhoozer with the Cobb County police department said there has been a spike in domestic violence cases in Cobb County. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] It was a dangerous call to go to, Vanhoozer said. It was a scary call to go to. They did their job. Unfortunately, it did not end the way the officers, the family and probably even the victim would have liked The officers and the victim were not injured in the shooting. Coca-Cola restores pre-war production volumes in Ukraine "In 2021, it was 120 million unit cases (of all products, including imported ones)," he said. Read also: Sandora juices return to Ukrainian stores despite damage to factory in Mykolayiv In 2023, we expect 115 million unit cases (1 unit case equals 6 liters - ed.)... We are moving towards this target with confidence, realizing we are already halfway through the year. Coca-Cola resumed production at its Velyka Dymerka plant in Kyiv Oblast in May 2022. However, due to ingredient issues, it only produced one-fifth of its product portfolio at first. Read also: Ukrainian business plans expansion despite ongoing war Payoneer survey Now, the company has fully restored production to nearly 190 stock-keeping units (SKUs). "I can say that in 2022 we started producing 40 SKUs," said Choban. "We initially put on shelves and distributed only fast-rotating products. Today, we produce almost 190 items (the full range - ed.)." The company representative noted that before the war, Coca-Cola had formed buffer stocks and dispersed them across the country, which allowed it to quickly resume distribution. Read also: Ukrainian businesses grapple with economic fallout of Russian aggression, only 6% remain unaffected "This is what we did in advance as a company, realizing the risks that there could be an escalation in 2022, and we really took almost everything that could be taken out to the regions and kept it there until a certain time," he said. And this allowed us to resume distribution almost immediately after the de-occupation of the region. The enterprise continues importing carbon dioxide (CO2) used for carbonated beverages from abroad as its own CO2 production recovers. "In May 2022, the lines at the plant were restored, we started distribution, but there was nowhere to get CO2, so we imported CO2 from abroad," said Choban. And now we continue to import. It is now cheaper to import it from abroad than to produce it in Ukraine. He added that the company employs 1,600 people and has had no layoffs in 2022. In 2022, Coca-Cola ranked ninth in the ranking of the most influential brands in the world. Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine produces a wide range of soft drinks including carbonated beverages, juices, water, energy drinks, and iced teas. The company's first plant in Ukraine was opened in Lviv. Currently, the company owns one plant in the village of Velyka Dymerka, Kyiv Oblast, which started operating in 1998. Read also: Coca-Cola resumes operations at plant near Kyiv It was damaged by shelling by Russian occupation forces on March 10, 2022. 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 "I have worked in the village for over 400 days, given villagers lectures about agricultural science, and helped them increase crop output and create a better living environment," described Wang Mingyang, a postgraduate from Beijing-based China Agricultural University (CAU), in Gusheng village of Dali, Yunnan province. "During this time, their care for me and sharing of their past experiences added up, which enabled me to integrate textbook knowledge with practical experience in the fields and has also ignited my passion for contributing to building up China's strength in agriculture and for devoting my youth to speeding up the rural revitalization." Wang is one of the students participating in a program which was set up by the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences of the CAU, known as the "Science and Technology Backyard." The program dispatches students to the frontlines of agricultural production. Postgraduate students with the program will spend one-third of their postgraduate time in classrooms and the other two-thirds in the field. Through the program, mentors and students spend time with local farmers, giving them instructions, showing them practical demonstrations, and providing technical services that cover the whole industry chain in order to realize a multi-win goal. Postgraduates from the China Agricultural University apply new technologies and plant new varieties of crops, helping to solve challenges faced by residents of Xihuaizhuang village in Yongledian township, Beijing's Tongzhou district, 10 kilometers away from the capital's beltway highway. The university launched the "Science and Technology Backyard" program, and Xihuaizhaung is one of 139 villages involved in the program among 24 provincial-level regions across the country. Under the guidance of their mentors, they have helped the villagers double their collective income and brought new hope for the development of local industries in the village. [Photo by Wang Yanfang/China.org.cn] Started in 2009 by Professor Zhang Fusuo, the program at first aimed to promote the application of scientific and technological advances on the frontlines. Now its goals, besides those mentioned above, have been added to training high-level agricultural talents and serving rural and agricultural modernization, which continues to make progress in these areas, according to the college. Green agricultural development, which needs a profound change in people's attitude to agriculture, will make a major contribution to accelerating the modernization and sustainable development of agriculture. One of the main features of modern agriculture is eco-environmental protection. Therefore, green development is a strategic choice. Over these years, the program has introduced over 200 green agricultural production techniques to the agricultural frontlines, and two articles have been published in the science journal Nature. Hao Jiaxuan, another student in Gusheng village, studies how to improve the environment of Erhai Lake, facing the village. He promotes healthier lifestyles among villagers, which means teaching them to reduce their intake of salt and fats and to eat more green vegetables and fruits. This in turn should help to reduce high nitrogen and phosphorus in the area's wastewater, which cause algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. "At the beginning, the villagers did not quite understand our efforts to instruct them to classify garbage and change their lifestyle," said Hao, "but after six months, villagers began to enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle and gave us more and more support." "At present, mentors and students from over 20 institutes are stationed in the village. Besides the tutors with CAU, I can receive diversified guidance from tutors with other institutes, and I think that is one of the reasons why I achieved something good," added Hao. More than 700 postgraduate students have passed through the program, which has also provided support for the cultivation of over 3,000 postgraduates with 68 institutes across the country. According to the college, they aim to promote green development and surmount hurdles and innovate technologies with local farmers for the purpose of forming simple, easy, and reproducible approaches to increasing crop output and providing scientific and technological support for green agricultural development. A postgraduate from the China Agricultural University livestreams and promotes products from Xihuaizhuang village in Yongledian township, Beijing's Tongzhou district, 10 kilometers away from the capital's beltway highway. [Photo by Wang Yanfang/China.org.cn] Since the beginning of the program, the university has developed 139 Science and Technology Backyard projects in 24 provincial-level regions across the country, according to Xinhua News Agency. Overseas students have also joined the program to learn about the technologies involved so that they can contribute to agricultural development in their hometowns. In 2022, a demonstration village for agricultural development and poverty reduction under the backyard program was unveiled in Malawi, according to People's Daily. In the village, students seek technological innovations and conduct demonstrations and experiments together with local farmers in a bid to improve farmers' agricultural production skills and increase crop yields. China feeds nearly one-fifth of the world's population with less than 9% of the world's arable land. These words were once known by every Chinese person and urged them on. In the new era, the country's millennia-old agricultural civilization has shined new light on these processes. Francie Edgeworth, of Frankfort, Illinois, introduced herself to the other mothers and told them her 45-year-old son, Eddie Jurinek, died of a stroke nearly 10 years ago. Edgeworth was one of about a dozen women who met last month as part of Coffee and Comfort, a grief group started by Diane Wendt and held at the Orland Park Christian Reformed Church, the fourth Wednesday of each month. Each mother went around the table introducing herself, her child, sharing how long ago their child died and the cause of death. As the women introduced themselves, many cried recalling how hard May had been because of Mothers Day and graduations. Wendt listened to the women carefully, allowed them to express themselves and openly cry. Then, with a soft voice and at the right moment, Wendt offered comforting advice. Theres nothing easy about the road of grief, but it does get better believe it or not, Wendt told a mother who shared her daughter died recently, just a few months after her son-in-law died. Wendt, 80, started the grief group shortly after her 4-year-old son, Karl, died of a heart condition in 1977. I believe, in his four years, his life was complete. I do believe that because how God has used me since he died. Its just amazing how this group has affected this community, Wendt said. When Karl died, Wendt said she had a 1-month-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, and she struggled with her grief while having to be present for her other two children. About three years later, Wendt received a call from someone who said their friends child died and asked her to talk to the friend. That led to her meeting mothers at their homes or at restaurants to talk about the loss of a child. Then I thought, maybe I should have these women meet each other. Wendt said. She started inviting the women to her house and, as the group grew, they moved to a room at the Orland Park Christian Reformed Church. I dont know whoever is going to walk through my door. I honestly dont. Sometimes I can have two. Sometimes I can have 18. I just never know, Wendt said. Wendt eventually left her job as a nurse and became a grief counselor, ultimately having a private practice until she retired at age 75. Her focus has been to help the mothers realize it takes three to five years for the pain of losing someone to subside, and everyone grieves differently. Theres not one person that grieves the same. Feelings are mutual, like you go through the anger, the frustration, the tears, but you recycle that, Wendt said. Giving them hope. Thats my goal, is giving them hope. Even though Wendt and her husband moved to Sturgis, Michigan, in 2008, they still make the five-hour round trip monthly to hold the meetings. After the women introduce themselves, Wendt asks them to share whatever is on their mind. During the May meeting, the mothers talked about the challenges Mothers Day presented. One mother, who faced her first Mothers Day without her son, shared how much it meant that her husband and other son bought her a gift from the son who died. Another mother shared how she was moved when her son gave her a card with a meaningful note inside and cooked her dinner, taking on the planning normally done by her daughter, who died this year. Wendt ends each meeting with a different video about grief. Throughout the meeting, the women can grab handouts or books about grief and, of course, drink coffee. The women also started a photo album where they put in a picture of their child to commemorate them. Edgeworth said she started attending the group shortly after Eddie died. Meeting with other mothers who understand her pain has helped her heal, she said. Its the community of women who know what were going through, Edgeworth said. This helped knowing its going to be OK. It just makes you feel like youre normal. Pat Prosapio, of Frankfort, said shes been coming for 17 years, starting shortly after her 19-year-old daughter, Katie, died in a car accident. The best part about the group, Prosapio said, has been saying Katies name after all these years. You miss just saying their name. I feel so comfortable here because the people understand the loss of a child, Prosapio said. Wendt said she will continue to lead the group as long as possible. But three women do fill in for her if she cant make the drive from Michigan. I feel that as long as I can help these people and I have my mental faculties, Ill keep doing this, Wendt said. ____ A Gillespie Street motel, long considered a nuisance by law enforcement, was deemed such by the courts last week, resulting in a Cumberland County judge ordering its closure and sale. "Today the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office served the Coliseum Inn an Abatement and Injunction Order. The Coliseum Inn was ordered to cease operations of the property for public lodging or public accommodations," the Sheriff's Office announced Monday. "The Sheriff's Office has responded to the Coliseum Inn in abundance over the last few years for 911 calls for service ranging from homicides, overdoses, shootings, domestics, thefts, etc. With this property ordered to not be in operation, the Sheriff's Office can divert law enforcement services to other areas and citizens in the county for assistance." Crime scene tape is seen outside the Coliseum Inn on Gillespie Street on April 19, 2021, after a woman was shot there. She died days later. The motel has been considered a nuisance by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office for at least a decade. Last week, a judge shut it down for good. Court order shuts it down In a ruling dated June 2, Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons found that the motel at 2507 Gillespie St. "has been established, continued, maintained, used, owned, operated, leased, or rented" as a place for the illegal use and sales of controlled substances; for the purposes of lewdness, gambling, the illegal use and sale of alcohol; for the use of promoting prostitution and human trafficking, homicides, shootings, shots fired calls, stabbings, violent assaults, assaults on law enforcement, fights, affrays, loud, abusive, and profane language, and "impaired and disruptive behavior" Ammons' order required that the property be vacated of tenants by June 10, and the owners, Raj Laxmi Hospitality Inc. which stipulated to the nuisance allegations, according to the consent judgment sell the motel "in an arms-length, good-faith, non-collusive, non-related transaction)n to a buyer who is and shall be acceptable to the Sheriff of Cumberland County." Related: Sheriff: Woman in Cumberland County motel shooting taken off life support The defendants named in the order are Raj Laxmi Hospitality LLC, and the motel's previous owner, Savita of Fayetteville Inc., along with company owners, agents and managers from both corporations: Kumudchandra Shah, Sonar Shah, Chaitali N. Sheth, Sanath-ar D. Naik, Sanathlmar D. Naik. Jayesh Patel and Niruv Sheth. County property records show that Raj Laxmi Hospitality LLC purchased the property in 2022 from Savita of Fayetteville Inc. The court's ruling states that Raj Laxmi Hospitality owner Kumudchandra Shah managed the daily operation of the Coliseum Inn as the general manager for more than four years before purchasing it Dec. 15, 2022. The sale came about a month after a woman, identified in court records as Jane Doe, filed a federal lawsuit against Coliseum Inn, and other area motels Red Roof Inn, Cardinal Inn & Suites, Crown Inn and Airport Inn Budget Motel for allegedly ignoring "the open and obvious presence of sex trafficking on their properties, enjoying the profit from rooms rented for this explicit and apparent purpose." The plaintiff alleged she was sex trafficked in 2019 and the traffickers "forced her onto Defendants properties where she was repeatedly raped and forced to perform commercial sex acts with 'buyers' under threats of death, physical violence, and psychological abuse... "Doe brings this lawsuit in an attempt to hold the Defendants accountable for facilitating and enabling her trafficking, and receiving profit from it." The case entered into mediation in December and the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed it without prejudice in February. Violent crime a common occurrence For years, the Coliseum Inn has been the scene of violent crimes and death, officials said. In its complaint, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office detailed some of the calls deputies responded to in the past three years at the motel. "There has been a continuing pattern and specific events, transactions, and occurrences showing the loathsome, despicable, dangerous and unlawful activity on the Property," the complaint said. "Sheriff's deputies have been needed and they have responded to thousands of calls at the Property since the beginning of 2015, and the pattern has continued, and deputies have been needed and they have responded to thousands of calls at the Property during the three years next preceding the filing of this complaint, which have been made necessary by the continuing trespass, that is, by the continuing nuisance activity." Related: Fayetteville man arrested in fatal April shooting at Cumberland County motel The following are some of the occasions noted in the complaint: April 6, 2023: Investigators executed a drug-related search warrant at the motel, seizing marijuana, fentanyl and weapons. Aug. 24, 2022: Drug overdose May 12, 2022: Deceased person in a room littered with drug paraphernalia. May 2, 2002: Death investigation with syringes in the room. March 26, 2022: Death investigation with drugs and paraphernalia in the room Sept. 22, 2022: Solicitation of prostitution arrest Sept 4, 2022: Woman assaulted Aug. 28, 2022: Innocent bystander was shot in her room after someone outside got into a dispute and opened fire. June 20, 2022: A woman reported a gun was pointed at her. June 14, 2022: Man reported he was robbed in a room at gunpoint. June 6, 2022: Man shot multiple times during an altercation May 1, 2022: Law enforcement officer "violently assaulted" by a patron of property. April 24, 2022: Man shot and killed. April 19, 2021: Woman is shot and later dies. Other instances are the arrest of a murder suspect in January 2020 and a person shot in January 2018. The complaint notes that in 2013 and in 2016 Sheriff Earl Butler notified the operators and owners of the Coliseum Inn to abate the nuisance. "The owners and managers feigned a willingness to work with law enforcement to stop the nuisance activity, but soon afterward such activity resumed," the complaint said. In 2018, Sheriff Ennis Wright again notified the operators and owners of the Coliseum Inn of the issue, and again nothing was done, the complaint said. "The owners and managers asserted a feigned willingness to work with law enforcement to stop the nuisance activity described in the complaint but failed to do so, and the nuisance activity continued, and the Sheriff's investigation continued and that of the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Nuisance Abatement Unit commenced and culminated with the filing of this complaint," the complaint said. In its news release Monday, the Sheriff's Office said nuisance and abatement signs have been posted at the motel. "Anyone who is caught on the property will be deemed to be trespassing and will be charged accordingly," the release said. F.T. Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Coliseum Inn on Gillespie Street shut down by court order Heads up, Midlands. The Scooters invasion is underway. Columbias first Scooters Coffee location has opened. The 700-square-foot drive-thru coffee shop is located at 81 Tulip Oak Drive in northeast Columbia, near the Killians Crossing development that includes a Kroger grocery store and a host of other businesses. Franchisees Joe Walker III and Andrew Reed have plans to bring more than two dozen Scooters Coffee locations to the Midlands and other areas of South Carolina. And after the Killian area unit debuted at the end of May, Walker, a former Richland County councilman, told The State the next two units are also on the precipice of debut. The Scooters at 812 Highway 1 South in Lugoff is slated to open on June 26, Walker said. Then, about three weeks later, a Scooters will open at 7808 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia. Thats just southeast of the Garners Ferry Road Walmart Supercenter, next door to a Bojangles. Scooters was founded in 1998 and is based in Nebraska. There are more than 300 Scooters locations across 21 states. The company says on its website that its keys to success are to find a great location and stay committed to high-quality drinks, speed of service, and a big smile. The menu at Scooters includes hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as smoothies and teas. It also has a number of breakfast sandwiches, including the maple waffle sandwich, which is built on fluffy, golden, touch-of-sweet waffles and stuffed with juicy, just-enough-spice sausage, a perfectly cooked egg, and rich cheddar cheese. The new Scooters location near Killians Crossing is in a high-traffic commercial area. More than 36,400 cars per day pass down nearby Killian Road, per the state Department of Transportation. Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign event on May 31 in Salix, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis crass stunt of flying desperate immigrants to California and dumping them on the doorstep of a Catholic Diocese headquarters showed us one thing: Hes not fit to be Americas president. Its not because of his sensible view that we must gain more control of our southern border. Any rational person would agree that the border is too porous. Members of Congress are trapped in their political silos and cant muster the courage to venture out and compromise on substantive immigration reform. Both parties exploit the issue in order to fire up their political bases. What makes DeSantis unfit for the Oval Office is how he cavalierly he treated hapless people as political pawns in a crude, uncompassionate effort to bolster his flagging campaign for the Republican presidential nomination while playing gotcha with California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Really, do we want a commander in chief who plays petty, reckless games with our adversaries? A president, say, who buzzes a Chinese warship as payback for a Chinese destroyer cutting across the bow of an American Naval vessel? Rash, stubborn, impetuous presidents can create all sorts of havoc, including war. Also, do we want a president who treats the most vulnerable people among us as political chess pieces? Who wastes taxpayers money trying to show up a nagging critic such as Newsom? That said, Californias governor also has not shown statesmanlike qualities in recent months by goading DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other red state leaders. Rather than focusing full-time on the California problems he was elected to solve homelessness, unaffordable housing, potential wildfires Newsom has been sporadically and loudly critiquing the conservative policies of other states. The consensus of political pundits is that Newsom is trying to position himself to run for president, if not next year, in 2028. He denies it and I believe him. But he does obviously want to be a national torchbearer for progressive causes. If thats his priority, then he should run next year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Meanwhile, to prove his effectiveness as a leader, he should spend more time on the public business he was assigned. Newsoms latest attention-grabber last week was to announce hell lead an effort to amend the U.S. Constitution with a specific set of gun controls. It has no chance of being adopted. But it makes a nice nationwide talking point for Democratic voters and a lucrative fundraising tool for his new federal political action committee: the Campaign for Democracy. In fact, his PAC immediately began using the proposed constitutional amendment to solicit donations. Dont get me wrong, Newsom is absolutely justified in attacking DeSantis for messing with Californias airspace and unloading 36 undocumented immigrants on the capital city of Sacramento. Kidnapping charges? Newsom pondered in a tweet, calling the Florida governor a small, pathetic man. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta pretty much ruled out charging DeSantis or anyone else with kidnapping last week. Kidnapping requires force or fear, Bonta told me. Were not seeing that at this point. .. I am seeing deception, false representation, unkept promises. Basically lies. And lying to move individuals hundreds of miles west, thats deception. ... It could be the basis for civil or criminal liability subject to a year or more prison time. For who? It could be anybody from the governor [down], Bonta said. They [immigrants] were treated cruelly by an official state action. They were told the ones I spoke to that if they got on the plane they would get jobs and help with food and shelter. There was never any intention to do any of that. ... Thats not how you treat people. DeSantis, after initially being silent about his involvement, finally fessed up and defended the action. He asserted that California deserves the immigrants because its a so-called sanctuary state that restricts local law enforcement involvement in federal efforts to deport people living here illegally. The border should be closed, DeSantis said. But if theres a policy to have an open border, then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that. So, as president, would he deploy jumbo military troop transports to fly thousands of undocumented immigrants from the Texas border to California? As governor, DeSantis got the Florida Legislature to authorize $22 million in tax money to fly immigrants from red states into blue states. The California-bound immigrants were picked up in El Paso. They werent even in Florida and were none of the Sunshine States business. Does this help DeSantis politically? Especially in Californias March 5 presidential primary, where the biggest bloc of Republican convention delegates 169 is at stake? If hes going to run as the culture warrior, it gives him some cheap applause on the trail, says Mike Murphy, a longtime Republican consultant and co-director of the Center for the Political Future at USC. But it hurts him in a national election if he should win the GOP nomination. The key to winning the California primary, however, is to gain momentum by first beating former President Trump in Iowa or New Hampshire, Murphy says. Well follow the leader. Early independent polls show Trump far ahead of DeSantis among California Republican voters. A survey released last week by the Public Policy Institute of California also found that 63% of likely voters believe immigrants to be more of a benefit than a burden. But Republicans are the outliers 74% of them regard immigrants as a burden. DeSantis is playing to the worst instincts, says GOP consultant Mike Madrid. Its all theater. The shrinking number of Republicans in California are going to cheer him on. And Democrats in Florida will cheer on Gavin Newsom. Its smart politics and bad governing. And not worthy of a potential president. Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Rome (Italy) Chamber Music Festival the festival founded by Macons Robert McDuffie 20 years ago began Monday. The internationally anticipated event draws musicians and audiences worldwide and, through Thursday, special celebrations are again being staged at the breathtaking Teatro Argentina performance hall in Romes historic center. Built in the 1730s, the storied venue has hosted legendary performers and historical premiers including for Rossinis 1816 opera, Barber of Seville. Musical fare at the 20th-anniversary festival runs from Mozart to Mendelssohn, Shostakovich to Schubert and Tchaikovsky to American contemporary composer John Adams. Of course, the festival showcases McDuffies violin virtuosity revealing why decades performing with the worlds leading musical organizations led to his solid superstar footing in the classical world. A Macon native, McDuffie left at high school age to study at Juilliard in New York. Not many years after, while on sabbatical at the American Academy in Rome, McDuffie said he fell in love with the city. Lodging with his family in the Academys Villa Aurelia built for Cardinal Girolarmo Farnese around 1650 he said Rome deeply penetrated his psyche. Its arguably the most beautiful city in the world, he told me prior to leaving for the festival. During my time at the Academy, having my family living and exploring the city with me, it became such a favorite. I knew I had to come back to the states but I knew l would return to Rome again and again. In a city filled with such musical history, there wasnt a chamber music festival so I created a summer festival to bring the worlds greatest musicians to play the most beloved chamber music. Im glad Rome has welcomed the festival in such a wonderful way. Its turned out to be even more than I thought when we began in 2003. International and Italian tourist and cultural websites point to the chamber festival as not-to-be-missed and it has gained award after award while being endorsed by the embassies of the United States, Italy and the Holy See as well as the City of Rome and Italys Ministry of Cultural Affairs. As the Rome Chamber Music Festivals Instagram and Facebook accounts show, 20th-anniversary festivities began early with pre-festival musical events, ceremonies and presentations. Iconic fashion designer and arts supporter Anna Fendi welcomed McDuffie to the city at one. Other welcomes and kudos came from the likes of Romes Vice Mayor Silvia Scozzese, composer-conductor Marcello Panni and former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, to name only a few. Its repeatedly said Maestro McDuffie is an adopted Roman. Its easy to make the case for McDuffies status as a musician and advocate for the music he loves but its important to factor in that while McDuffie left Macon for the world stage, he never left Macon behind. When given the opportunity to speak, he often speaks of Macon. Though now based in New York, just look at what hes done here. He began the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings with Mercer University, a conservatory for undergraduate, full-scholarship students where he teaches with other visiting virtuosos. Look at the many concerts featuring world-class performers drawn to Macon and Mercer through the weight of his reputation then presented at no cost to students and low cost to the community. Look at the wholly unique Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra and its ability to draw Atlanta Symphony players who perform alongside Center for Strings students for a mind-blowing educational opportunity that delights local audiences. Or look at his bringing the likes of R.E.M.s Mike Mills and the Allman Brothers/Rolling Stones Chuck Leavell to Macons Grand Opera House stage for A Night of Georgia Music which was recorded and is now being televised nationally. Center for Strings students performed for that as well. And look at the clear genius of bringing Amy Schwartz Moretti to Macon in 2007 to direct the Center with her own violin versatility, virtuosity and status. Moretti will also be featured on stage in Rome. I asked McDuffie to compare and contrast the festivals first year with this year. He noted the festivals shift to make room for the worlds most promising young students, including many from Macon and the Center for Strings. While the Rome Fest first concentrated simply on bringing the best of the best players together, it now brings them to mentor and spotlight up-and-coming artists. While the festival may showcase McDuffie, hes redirected the spotlight. Mary Pinson is the board chair of the Center for Strings and a floral designer operating Macons Mary Pinson Flower Studio. A non-musician, shes one of a larger-than-usual Macon contingent heading to Rome to celebrate 20 years. Shes in a good position to observe why we should be talking about the festival in Macon. The connection between Macon and the Rome Festival is real and strong, she said. Bobby is unashamed, excited even, to talk about the Center and being from Macon wherever he goes. When hes interviewed, you can tell hes passionate about Rome but loves Macon as well. Its amazing that at this stage in his career he could easily just travel and play with the worlds best symphonies without any care instead of working day and night as he does for young people, his students, the Center and really for Macon. What he does out there helps bring a greater culture to Macon and the opportunity to see and hear amazing music and musicians here. When hes here, he engages people and when hes traveling hes telling famous friends, Hey, Im a guy from Macon, Ga. So why talk here in admitted flowery ways about a chamber music festival 5,000 miles away? One, its a time to celebrate the 20th anniversary so, why not? As local photographer Dsto Moore always advises: give those flowers and bouquets while they mean something. And two, its good to be reminded that Macons cultural reach goes far beyond its natural borders. We can learn a lesson and be there for those whove taken it out there and for those whose stars are just beginning to shine. And take note of this, too: Macon200, the bicentennial campaign celebrating Macons 200th year, will celebrate the coming Juneteenth holiday and Black Music Month by releasing a song/music video recorded at Capricorn Sound Studios to serve as the bicentennial anthem. The release is June 14 at 5 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre, 382 Second St., with an after-party following featuring Charles Davis and the Velvet Sound, Reese Soul and CMD Styles. Its free and open to the public. Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. ZNPP The cooling pond is no longer being fed by fresh inflows of war, following the Russian destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. According to Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom, the water levels in the pond have shrunk to nine meters, though the operator says that this is currently still enough to cover ZNPPs cooling needs due to the fact that all of its reactors, save one, have been placed into cold shutdown. Read also: Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant at risk from Kakhovka dam breach, but situation currently stable Energoatom The current water levels in the pond are enough to sustain the plant for up to a year, Energoatom stated, noting that it is currently searching for alternative methods to top off the ponds water levels. The operator added that, barring further destruction by the Russian forces around the plant, there is currently no risk of accident. Read also: Workers at ZNPP forced to sign contracts with Rosatom under duress, Ukraine says International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi stated on June 12 that he was immediately leaving for Ukraine, given the heightened risks around the ZNPP. In an earlier announcement, Grossi stated that the IAEA was prepared to lend its expertise and aid to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Chris McLarty is scared to step into his front yard. The 12-year-old child has twice been attacked by a pit bull that lives only a few houses down in the Gulf Park Estates community of Jackson County. The second attack almost cost Chris the lower part of his right leg. Chris and his parents are upset because the dog, a pit bull named Trash Can, has not been euthanized. Instead, after the second attack the Jackson County Board of Supervisors declared Trash Can a vicious dog under its animal control ordinance. Trash Can must be confined at all times when home, and leashed and muzzled when he leaves the home of his owner, part-time Moss Point Police Officer Raymond Lias. Lias denies that Trash Can is vicious and has gone to some lengths to keep the animal. Supervisor Randy Bosarge, who represents the area, said that he and Joe Barlow, director of the county animal shelter, are working to strengthen the countys dog ordinance. Bosarge said he does not believe a dog owner should be able to keep their dog after a second biting incident. Referring to Lias, Chris father, Bill McLarty said: Theres a guy thats supposed to be a protector of the community who has a dog that hurts children and I cant do anything about it. Its very frustrating. The attacks have other neighbors who live near Lias and the McLartys frightened and angry, but they dont want to speak up. One of the neighbors, who did not want his name used for fear of repercussions, said: What happened to Bill McLartys son is horrible and I hate to see it happen again, and with school being out it bothers me deeply that this could happen again. Bill McLarty, right, and his son Chris, 12, at their Jackson County home on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Bill McLarty wants tougher laws for vicious dogs because Chris has been attacked twice by a neighbors pit bull, suffering a severe leg injury the second time. The pit bull still lives a few houses down. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald Chris McLarty, 12, spent weeks in a wheelchair while recovering from a dog attack. Bill McLarty/Courtesy of Bill McLarty Details of dog attacks on MS Coast child Chris said he was walking along the street the first time Trash Can attacked him on Jan. 1. The dog was loose outside the house, he said. Trash Can barked, then charged, Chris said. Trash Can bit him on the legs and behind. He had to go to the emergency room, have puncture wounds sealed and bandaged, and get loose stitches in one large gash that needed to drain. The Jackson County Sheriffs Department responded when Bill McLarty reported the attack. According to the investigative report, Lias said he had just walked outside with the dog. He said he retrieved Trash Can and took him inside after Chris was bitten. Lias quarantined the dog at home, as instructed, and was then contacted by animal shelter personnel. Trash Cans rabies shots were up to date. Bill McLarty said that Lias assured animal control officers the dog would be kept confined and not allowed to run loose outside. Chris had gotten the bandage off his leg about a week before the second attack on Feb. 18. He was walking down the road with a friend when he heard a low growl. Trash Can, he said, came charging off his owners front porch. Chris ran, but the dog bit into his right leg, tearing off half his calf. Lias claimed Trash Can was tethered on the front porch but broke free. However, the report from the Sheriffs Department noted the tether, attached to a front porch column, did not appear to be damaged. After the second attack, Chris spent five days at Childrens and Womens Hospital in Mobile. His recovery was excruciating. In addition to suffering severe pain, when he returned home, he had to sleep for about 10 weeks in a recliner with a negative-pressure vacuum machine to drain his wound. He had nine surgeries and missed almost 90 days of school. The wound has finally closed, but doctors say he could have a permanent limp. Part of his calf is noticeably missing and his foot swells from the loss of an artery in his leg. Hes been in physical therapy and is also seeing a therapist for post-traumatic stress disorder, his father said. Chris said that he cant bring himself to visit a store or restaurant where dogs are allowed, even though they are leashed. I cant even go in Walmart, Chris said. Its bad. Chris McLarty, 12, shows his healing dog bite at his Jackson County home on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Chris underwent nine surgeries and was in a wheelchair for weeks after he was severely attacked in February by a neighbors pit bull for the second time. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald What law says about vicious dogs, attacks After the second bite, the McLartys filed a lawsuit against Lias and his wife in Jackson County Circuit Court. They are asking for no less than $500,000 in damages for what the lawsuit says was the Liases negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of others. Lias knew, or should have known, that Trash Can was dangerous before the second attack, says the lawsuit, filed by William Bedwell of the Lott Law Firm in Pascagoula. The Liases say in their response to the lawsuit that Trash Can is a family pet and deny the dog is aggressive or vicious. Lias could not be reached to comment on the dog attacks and his attorney, NeShondria Shon Ellerby of Ellerby Law in Moss Point, did not respond to a voice message the Sun Herald left Thursday afternoon. Mississippi does not have a vicious or dangerous dog law. Instead, it is one of 14 states with a one-bite rule established through court cases. This rule applies in civil cases where owners are sued over dog attacks for monetary damages. If the dog has never bitten anyone, the rule goes, the owner cant be held liable because they had no reason to suspect the dog was dangerous. Jackson County and other localities in the state have their own laws addressing vicious or dangerous dogs. The countys law does not require a dog to be permanently confiscated or euthanized, even after a second attack. Instead, the ordinance requires an owner to take precautions when a dog has been declared vicious. Most owners voluntarily surrender dogs that have been declared vicious, Animal Shelter director Barlow said. He said owners rarely try to meet all the requirements needed to keep a vicious dog. The home of a part-time Moss Point police officer whose pit bull, Trash Can, attacked 12-year-old Chris McLarty, in the Gulf Park Estates community of Jackson County on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. According to Bill McLarty, the Beware of Dog signs were posted after the dog attacked Chris a second time. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald But Lias, Barlow said, met the requirements in the ordinance. He has installed a secure enclosure for Trash Can inside the fenced back yard and posted beware of dog signs on the outside of the wooden privacy fence. And Lias understands that Trash Can must be muzzled and leashed when he is taken anywhere. Lias also provided an insurance policy that covers the dog. Barlow said he has a copy of the policy and the animal shelter will be notified if it lapses for any reason. An owner who violates the law for keeping vicious dogs can be charged with a misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to six months in jail. Barlow and Supervisor Barton said they will work to strengthen the law. Barton wants a law that says, After the first bite, youre done and wouldnt get your dog back. The McLartys are stunned that Trash Can has not been euthanized. Wed like to see some sort of law change that would effectively prevent something like this from happening again because, at this point, the dog that did this to my son is living right there on that corner, McLarty said. And its one broken board away from happening to somebody else. Weve got far too many children that live in the community and moms with strollers walking around. It scares me. A Jackson County legislator introduced a resolution Monday that would authorize the awarding of contracts to remove the statues of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson that stand at the courthouses in Kansas City and Independence. The resolution is the latest effort to remove the monuments. The question was put on the 2020 ballot despite opposition from Black county leaders who wanted to remove them with legislation. The effort failed when 59% of voters favored keeping them up. Democrat Manuel Manny Abarca IV, 1st District, introduced the resolution at Mondays meeting. It states it is in the moral interest of Jackson County, which is named after the former president, to remove the statues so as to not accidentally bestow honor on individuals who were engaged in the genocide of indigenous groups or proponents of slavery. The resolution notes that Jackson, who was president from 1829 to 1837, owned hundreds of slaves. It also mentions that more than 430 confederate monuments and memorials have been removed across the U.S. as of May. The resolution was sent Monday afternoon to the budget committee. If passed later by the full legislature, the resolution would authorize County Executive Frank White Jr. to award contracts for the removal and storage of the statues which stand outside the downtown Kansas City courthouse and the Historic Truman Courthouse at the center of Independence Square as well as for site repairs of damage created by the removals. The statue has stood outside the north entrance of the courthouse in Kansas City since the building opened in 1934. In 2019, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker proposed installing plaques next to both statues outlining Jacksons controversial past. At the time, she said context was needed for visitors who walked past them. The statue became a flash point during the demonstrations for racial justice in Kansas City following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis policeman. In June 2020, the statue was spray painted with expletives and the words: Slave Owner. In 2021, a plaque was added to the bronze statue of Jackson outside the courthouse in Kansas City spelling out the former presidents history as a slave owner and his support of forcefully removing Native Americans from their land. More recently, Baker in May wrote that she was torn on if placing the plaque on the statue and leaving it in front of courthouse was the best solution. She wrote about the statue after visiting a courthouse in Alamance County, North Carolina, where she was sickened by the inscription on the statue of a confederate soldier. But whatever we do in the future, we should not fight for an upside-down view of patriotism as they have in Alamance County, or a history supported by dishonest reasoning and ignorance of our true American history, she wrote in a blog post. Its past time for America to be on the right side of race. He crashed his car into an apartment complex. That was just the start, Florida cops say A Central Florida man caused chaos and terror at an apartment complex in Wildwood early Sunday morning, according to the Sumter County Sheriffs Office. A Facebook post says that deputies responded to the Sandalwood Apartments, located about an hour northwest of Orlando, at approximately 4 a.m. Multiple 911 calls had come in reporting that a car had crashed into one of the complexs buildings and that the driver was breaking into peoples homes. When deputies arrived, the suspect, later identified as Corey Payton, had already barricaded himself inside of a second story apartment he had been burglarizing, says the release. After the 44-year-old began threatening to shoot deputies, the SCSOs SWAT team helped evacuate several residents who were considered to be in danger. Crisis negotiators also arrived to establish verbal contact with Payton trying to get him to surrender peacefully. After several hours, the suspect dove out of the second floor unit, smashing to the ground. Emergency crews were able to quickly initiate life-saving measures on the scene; Payton was flown to a regional trauma center by helicopter. Inside of one of the apartments, deputies located the sliced-off ankle monitor assigned to Payton, who was on parole for burglary and on supervised release. The defendant has a voluminous rap sheet, with a total of 139 prior felony charges and 30 total felony convictions. Though the current charges are still under investigation, the sheriff says they will include burglary to an occupied dwelling, burglary to a dwelling and multiple counts of criminal mischief. Once released from the hospital, Payton will be booked into the Sumter County Detention Center. The extent of his injuries are unknown. Crisis in Haiti deepens after earthquake, heavy floods and other world news you may have missed Haitians have been dealing with the aftermath of a string of devastating natural disasters, Euronews reported. On Tuesday, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, killing at least four people and injuring nearly 40 others. Just days before, heavy floods killed at least 52 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Some of the people struggling with the aftermath were already living in displacement campsites, after a 2021 earthquake destroyed their homes. Residents wade through flooded roads in Haiti on June 3. (Richard Pierrin/AFP via Getty Images) The World Food Program said that tens of thousands of Haitians had been affected. A significant weather-induced event of this level so early in the hurricane season raises concerns about the ability to provide a sustained response should extreme weather incidents continue to occur, the group said. Why it matters In the last decade, Haiti has been hit with an unrelenting series of natural catastrophes as well as spiraling gang violence and political crises. With more disasters striking the Caribbean nation, officials fear the country will never be able to fully recover. Here are four other international news stories you may have missed this week from Yahoo News partner network. U.N. investigation finds credible evidence of sexual abuse by peacekeepers The United Nations announced on Friday that it would send home a unit of 60 peacekeepers from the Central African Republic following allegations of sexual assault and exploitation. (Florent Vergnes/AFP via Getty Images) As reported by CNN, the United Nations announced on Friday that it would send home a unit of 60 peacekeepers from the Central African Republic following allegations of sexual assault and exploitation. Stephane Dujarric, a U.N. spokesperson, told reporters that a preliminary investigation found that 11 peacekeepers, from Tanzania, had allegedly sexually abused and exploited at least four victims two of whom were children. Investigators from the U.N. also discovered that there had been a breakdown in the authority of those leading the mission. The suspects had been stationed in a temporary base in the west of the country. The unit will be repatriated once their presence is no longer required by the investigation, Dujarric said on Friday. Why it matters The U.N. has been based in the Central African Republic since 2014, when conflict broke out following years of civil war. According to statistics from the U.N., more than half of the population of the Central African Republic is in need of assistance and protection. U.N. humanitarian coordinator in the Central African Republic, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, said last week that 2.4 million people have needs so severe and complex that their survival and dignity is at risk. The dire situation continues to worsen with persistent conflict, a lack of safe drinking water and underdevelopment. Dutch town imposes increased monitoring to curb sex on nudist beach A town in the Netherlands has launched a campaign to discourage visitors from engaging in sexual acts on a nudist beach. (Getty Images) The Guardian reported on Saturday that a town in the Netherlands has launched a campaign to discourage visitors from engaging in sexual acts on a nudist beach. Mayor Frederiek Schouwenaar of Veere, the southwestern Dutch city where the beach is located, said in a statement that the dunes are hugely important to the local community and so must be protected from undesirable behavior that damages the natural environment and can disturb other holidaymakers. Veeres city council set up Project Oranjezon after receiving a high number of complaints about sex acts carried out by naked recreationists. Last Thursday, posters and boards located on the beach warned beachgoers that public sex is banned on the beach and around the dunes. Increased monitoring would be conducted by the local government in a bid to stop sexual meeting place activities in the dunes, nature reserve, and beach. EU calls for probe after 77 Afghan schoolgirls poisoned An Afghan schoolgirl receives treatment for suspected poisoning, at a hospital in Sar-e-Pul province in northern Afghanistan, June 5. (AP) The European Union has called for an investigation into two separate poison attacks that left nearly 80 schoolgirls hospitalized in Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. Sixty girls were poisoned in Naswan-e-Kabod Aab School and another 17 were poisoned in Naswan-e-Faizabad in two separate attacks on June 3 and 4 in the northern Afghan province of Sar-e-Pul. The head of the education department, Mohammad Rahmani, said the girls began experiencing vertigo, asthma and headaches, while others vomited. An initial investigation found that the person who has been accused of the attacks had a personal vendetta but used a third party to carry out the poisonings. The EU called the attacks a heinous crime that needs to be followed up by the de facto authorities. It added: Right to education is the human right of all children, everywhere. Schools need to be safe places for all children. Since the Taliban took over in August 2021, education for women and girls has been barred past the sixth grade. Thousands of fake tweets found defending UAE hosting U.N. climate summit At least 100 fake social media accounts promoting the climate summit in UAE have been discovered. (@marcowenjones) An expert in social media disinformation found at least 30,000 tweets from 100 fake Twitter accounts defending the United Arab Emirates hosting of the United Nations climate summit COP 28, the Guardian reported. Dr. Marc Owen Jones, of Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, discovered a large, multilingual astroturfing effort of fake accounts promoting and defending the controversial event. Environmental activists have criticized the choice because the UAE is a major producer of oil and natural gas, which are major contributors to climate change. It is a network of fake accounts trying to promote UAE foreign policy, Jones said. Theyre focusing on promoting, or greenwashing, Cop28 by defending and deflecting criticism of having Cop28 in the UAE. Since exposing the accounts, some have been removed by Twitter. These [fake accounts] are generated by outside actors unconnected to Cop28 and are clearly designed to discredit Cop28 and the climate process, a COP28 spokesperson told the Guardian. A decade after the death of leading Cuban opposition leader Oswaldo Paya, the top human rights group in the Western Hemisphere has concluded that Cuban state security agents were likely involved in a car crash that killed him and activist Harold Cepero, and that the Cuban government bears responsibility for his death. In a report that ends an investigation opened in 2013, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, part of the Organization of American States, says the death July 2012 death of Paya, the founder of the Christian Liberation Movement, and Cepero was politically motivated in a context marked by state violence against human rights defenders in Cuba. Both were subjected to various acts of violence, harassment, threats, attempts on their lives, and finally, a vehicular crash that caused their death, the commission wrote in a preliminary version of the report obtained by the Miami Herald. On Monday, the Robert F. Kennedy human rights organization, which legally represented Payas relatives, made public the Commissions conclusions. The commission said there is serious and sufficient evidence to conclude that state agents participated in the death of Mr. Paya and Mr. Cepero, and in consequence, the Commission concludes that the State is responsible for the violation of the right established in Article I of the American Declaration to the detriment of Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero. Article I of the Rights and Duties of Man, the first human rights international instrument adopted by the countries in the Americas in 1948, enshrines the right to life, liberty, security and integrity of the person. In assigning responsibility to the Cuban state for their deaths, the commission said it focused the investigation on determining if this illegal act has had the participation, support or tolerance of State agents or has resulted from a breach by the State of its obligation to reasonably prevent human rights violations, to seriously investigate to identify and punish those responsible and adequately provide reparations to repairing the victim or their relatives for the damages caused. The Commission found the Cuban government at fault on each of those benchmarks and called on Cuban authorities to offer reparations to compensate for the human rights violations and conduct a thorough criminal investigation to clarify the facts and punish those responsible. The conclusions are vindication to Payas family, which for years has been insisting the car crash was the work of government security agents who had been harassing him for his political work opposing Fidel Castro. And it provides a rare instance of accountability in the international arena, where human rights violations by the Cuban government often get a pass thanks to Cuban authorities cunning diplomacy and propaganda efforts. After more than 10 years, the truth has prevailed, said Rosa Maria Paya, Payas daughter. Now it is official, as this IACHR decision shows, the Cuban regime murdered my father, Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero. Nothing can make up for the losses our two families suffered, but today we have taken a big step towards justice, which will only come when the legacy of democracy and freedom to which my father and Harold dedicated their lives is fulfilled in our country. The investigations conclusions, she added, are not only a relief for our families who have fought so hard for the recognition of the truth but a victory for all Cubans who have been and are victims of the Castro dictatorship. At the time of his death, Paya, 60, had become one of the most visible leaders of the Cuban opposition movement after he founded the Christian Liberation Movement and collected signatures to present a referendum petition to the National Assembly. If approved, the petition. would have allowed Cubans to vote to oust the regime. Known as the Varela Project, the proposal was fiercely opposed by Castro, who changed the Cuban constitution to make socialism irrevocable and ordered the arrest of 75 dissidents in 2003, many involved in promoting the initiative. According to the Cuban government, Paya and Cepero died in a car accident when the driver of the car they were in, Angel Carromero, a young politician from the Popular Party in Spain, lost control of the vehicle near the eastern Cuba city of Bayamo and crashed into a tree. After Carromero was arrested, the Cuban government showed a video in which he denied reports that the car had been rammed from behind by another vehicle. He was sentenced to four years in prison for reckless homicide in a closed-door trial that Carromero later said was full of irregularities. After the Spanish government secured his extradition in December 2012, Carromero repeatedly said that the car crash resulted from an attack by another car that had been following theirs and that the video in which he spoke was taken under duress. My first statement was that they had run us off the road and had hit us. This made them nervous, and they hit me, Carromero told the Miami Herald board during a visit to Miami in 2014. Later on, a Cuban official who introduced himself as an expert told me the version that I was to repeat: that I hit the brake pedal and fell into an embankment. In a hearing held by the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights in December 2021, Carromero said the same things he had told the Herald and wrote in his memoir Muerte bajo sospecha Death under Suspicion: that he was forced to read the statement prepared by Cuban military officers and that the trial was a farce. He said his lawyers did not have access to the evidence, could not call their own team of experts, and the witnesses brought by the government gave contradictory testimony. Payas family was not allowed to attend the trial. They never received a copy of his autopsy. Another key witness in the case, Jens Aron Modig, a Swedish politician who was also in the car, has not talked about the accident, likely due to a pact of silence, Carromero said at the hearing. Modig was quickly repatriated to his country and has said he doesnt remember the crash. Carromero said that while he and Modig were being treated a Cuban hospital after the crash, Modig had texted his contacts in Sweden that their car had been rammed. How is it possible that a key witness to what happened did not participate in that trial? Carromero asked during the hearing. The key fact is that it was all a setup to cover up the attack the regime carried out against two of its main opponents. The new report says the Cuban government did not deny any of the claims made to the commission by Carromero and the Paya family. Cuba is not an active member of the Organization of American States, but because it was of its founding members, the commission argues that it can investigate and issue recommendations pertaining to human rights violations on the island. The commission also heard testimony from Payas widow and daughter, who described the harassment of state security agents the family suffered for many years. Ofelia Acevedo, Payas widow, said that because of her husbands political activities, they were constantly followed and that state security agents threatened friends and family and placed microphones at their home in El Cerro, a neighborhood in Havana. But it was not until recent years that the persecution and harassment grew intensely, and we suffered several attacks, she said. On at least three occasions, they loosened the lug nuts on our cars wheels... On June 2, 2012, a car came out of nowhere and hit our car, causing it to overturn and fall on the opposite side of the road. They came out of that accident unharmed, she said, but it became clear to us that they were trying to annihilate us. A month later, Paya was dead. His legacy remains alive, his daughter, Cuban activist Rosa Maria Paya, said during the 2021 hearing. She has continued her fathers work through Cubadecide, another referendum initiative seeking democracy in Cuba, and has become one of the faces of a younger opposition movement. The regime failed in its attempt to eliminate my fathers legacy. We see it in the young protesters of July 11, she said in reference to the island-wide anti-government demonstrations in July 2021. I believe that the citizenry, the opposition, the civil society, todays leaders, we are standing on his shoulders. Special Counsel Jack Smith Makes Statement On Trump Indictment In this photo illustration, pages are viewed from the unsealed federal indictment of former U.S. President Donald Trump on June 9, 2023 in Washington, DC. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been indicted on 37 felony counts in Special Counsel Jack Smith's classified documents probe. Credit - Photo Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images The indictment of Donald Trump on charges of retaining government documents brought with it the inevitable false equivalencies of the conduct of Trumps chief political rival. But the actions of the two men are as different as deliberately driving your car into a crowd of people and committing a fender-bender. Both acts involve cars, but the similarities end there. Whataboutism may have become a common political ploy but it is a trick straight out of the disinformation playbook. On Thursday, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Trump with 37 counts encompassing violations of the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, false statements, and conspiracy. The charges are based on his months-long battle with the National Archives and the Justice Department over government documents with classified markings that Trump claims are his, even though the Presidential Records Act makes them the property of the United States. The 49-page indictment details Trumps efforts to deceive the Archives, the FBI, and even his own lawyers. In contrast, Biden, as well as Trumps vice president, Mike Pence, have come forward with information in the past year that they each had inadvertently retained classified documents at the end of their terms as vice president. Both men returned the documents and allowed the FBI to search their homes for any stray records. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to investigate Biden, and the probe into Pence was recently closed without charges. The mishandling of classified documents is a careless act that risks our national security, to be sure, but the conduct that has been publicly attributed to Biden and Pence to date is the not the type of offense for which prosecutors typically file charges. Government employees who unintentionally mishandle government documents may be disciplined, lose their security clearances, or be fired, but criminal charges may be filed only if prosecutors can prove criminal intent. In addition, as former FBI Director James Comey stated in 2016 when he recommended no charges be filed against Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server, prosecutors historically have elevated the response to criminal charges only when a case includes some aggravating factor, such as willfulness, obstruction of justice, exposure of vast quantities of material to individuals unauthorized to receive it, or disloyalty to the U.S. And when one or more of these factors are met, DOJ regularly charges former government employees who deliberately take or retain government documents. Just last week, a retired air force officer was sentenced to three years in prison for knowingly taking and storing more than 300 classified documents at his Florida home. Trumps conduct is more analogous to the former officer than to Biden or Pence. If the former president had simply brought home classified documents in the chaos of moving out of the White House at the end of his administration, the Archives likely would have been happy with their quiet return. In fact, for 18 months following Trumps departure, the Archives persisted in their requests to retrieve the documents, and Trump rebuffed them every time. Even the August 2022 search that the FBI executed at Trumps Mar-a-Lago home could have been a quiet matter that ended the dispute until Trump publicly announced it himself. Never one to miss an opportunity to label himself a victim, Trump spent the next year complaining that the search amounted to spying on political rivals. In November, he told a crowd of rallygoers in Iowa that they were silencing dissent and using the full force of government, law enforcement, and the media to try and defeat the greatest movement in the history of our country. MAGA! MAGA! In light of the governments obligation to safeguard our nations secrets, Trump left DOJ with little option but to indict him. Prosecutors use criminal charges to deter government employees from committing misconduct, and to hold them accountable when they do. If prosecutors had given Trump a pass on his brazen disregard for the law, DOJ would likely lose its ability to credibly prosecute less powerful government employees who mishandle classified documents. And while critics sometimes argue that the government over-classifies documents, no one would dispute that the documents at issue are incredibly sensitive. The indictment alleges that they relate U.S. nuclear programs and other sensitive military information about the United States and its allies. Following his indictment, Trump went on the attack against Biden, posting on his Truth Social platform the news that had been charged by the corrupt Biden Administration, 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. Trumps supporters were quick to follow suit. Stating that Joe Biden was found to have classified information in Delaware, Philadelphia, and Boston, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) called the Trump case a witch hunt against the Republican front runner for president in 2024. Whataboutism is a strategy used by authoritarian leaders to excuse their own misconduct. According to Russian analyst and writer Vadim Nikitin, whataboutism is an essential piece of Kremlin tradecraft. The goal of this tactic is not to convince the public that the leader is innocent, but to portray all politicians are dishonest. Anyone claiming to value integrity is scoffed at as duplicitous or naive. As former White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes writes in his book, After the Fall, Vladimir Putin came to power not by convincing people that he was honest. He simply needed to convince people that everyone was corrupt. And if all governments are corrupt, Rhodes writes, then Russians might as well have a strong, competent leader who shares their grievances and sense of national greatness. Echoes of MAGA. In court, prosecutors will certainly file a motion to preclude the defense from making any references to Biden from the case against Trump. But in the court of public opinion, beware of the cynical tactic to minimize Trumps grave threat to our national security. Daniel Penny claims in interview he was intimidated by Jordan Neely threats before choking him to death on NYC subway Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran whose chokehold killed Jordan Neely on the floor of a subway car last month, claims in a new interview he was scared and felt intimidated by the homeless victim. In newly recorded interviews released Sunday by lawyers defending him on manslaughter charges, Penny said he wasnt trying to choke him to death during the May 1 F train encounter, but just wanted to hold the menacing passenger long enough for cops to intervene. I was trying to keep him on the ground until the police came, Penny, 24, said in the videos posted on the Law & Crime Network Youtube channel. I was praying that the police would come and take this situation over. I didnt want to be put in that situation, but I couldnt just sit still and let him carry out these threats. According to Penny, an East Village resident, Neely was threatening passengers and, despite Pennys own fear, he felt compelled to respond. Theres a common misconception that Marines dont get scared, Penny said in the interview with his lawyers. Were actually taught one of our core values is courage and courage is not the absence of fear but how you handle fear. I was scared for myself but I looked around, there was women and children. He was yelling in their faces saying these threats. I just couldnt sit still. Penny jumped into action, a clash that ended with Penny, 24, and Neely, 30, on the filthy train floor with Pennys arm around Jordans neck and Jordan unable to breath. Some people say that I was holding on to Mr. Neely for 15 minutes, Penny said. This is not true. Between stops is only a couple of minutes. So the whole interaction lasted less than 5 minutes. Some people say I was trying to choke him to death, which is also not true, he added. I was trying to restrain him. Penny surrendered to police nearly two weeks later. He remains free on $100,000 bail. The killing of Neely, an unarmed Black man, has sparked protests and racial tensions. But Penny, who is white, said race was not a factor. Some people said this was about race, which was absolutely ridiculous, Penny said. I didnt see a Black man threatening passengers I saw a man threatening passengers, a lot of whom were people of color. A man who helped restrain Mr. Neely was a person of color, he pointed out. A few days after the incident, I read in the papers that a woman of color came out and called me a hero. Neely had been arrested 42 times in the past 10 years, most recently in November 2021 for slugging a 67-year-old woman in the face as she exited a subway station. Once a fixture in Times Square and aboard city subways as a Michael Jackson impersonator, he had a history of mental illness. The city Medical Examiner declared the death a homicide, finding Neely died from compressions to the neck as Penny applied the hold with his left arm wrapped around the victims throat. Viral video showed Neely struggling while held, his legs flailing until he finally stopped moving. 'Deadly risks': Migrants use TikTok to share journey to southern border. But smugglers use it too There are two things Hernan Vergel recommends when planning to cross the U.S. southern border: Bring a camping tent, and don't trust others. These tips can be lifesaving, especially for migrants starting from the Darien Gap from Colombia into Panama, where animals can attack during humid nights. But unlike other young users uploading the latest lip sync or spicy food challenge, Vergel, 34, has taken to TikTok every day since May 19 to document his journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. His videos explain how to safely cross Honduras without being bothered by authorities and how to shirk migration controls in Guatemala. He isn't the only one. Smugglers are taking to TikTok to advertise their services, too. Authorities and advocacy groups worry that social media platforms like TikTok are being used to encourage the perilous trek while minimizing the risks involved. Almost 2 million people try to cross the U.S.-Mexico border each year. Tens of thousands are kidnapped, abused and extorted by drug cartels running the smuggling routes just feet away from the U.S. Some migrants don't survive the journey as a result of hazardous conditions such as blistering heat and rough terrain. A review by USA TODAY identified at least 15 out of dozens of accounts that use hashtags such as #SuenoAmericano, #tapondarien, or #cbp, where anyone can browse through hundreds of videos with tips on how to cross the U.S. southern border or whom to hire. As of June, the hashtag #darien had been viewed 1.1 billion times. USA TODAY was able to reach a user of these accounts as well as a man who described himself as a "coyote" the Spanish slang word for smuggler who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity. The man, who said he is from Central America but would not provide the country in which he lives, said he facilitates travel for migrants across the border in exchange for money. The United Nations International Organization for Migration has warned about the dangerous trend. "The TikTok platform is used to promote the 'services' offered by human traffickers through short videos. These videos showcase successful cases of irregular border crossings and captivating images aimed at capturing the attention of individuals seeking to migrate irregularly with the assistance of a third party," according to an IOM report that mapped the use of different social media platforms on human trafficking to the U.S. TikTok did not respond to USA TODAY's multiple requests for comment for this story. The social media platform has also come under fire in recent months for other security concerns among teens and young users on the app. 'Too early': Mayorkas warns surge of migrants at southern border post-Title 42 is still possible Migrants, mostly Venezuelans, walk across the Darien Gap from Colombia into Panama hoping to reach the U.S. on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Documenting his journey on TikTok Vergel spent his second night with an old man after his tent was stolen. He began his trek in his native Colombia. Vergel said he was struck by how many people were gathered at the Darien Gap, the remote, roadless crossing that connects Central and South America and is made up of dense rainforest and steep mountains. He estimated there were hundreds, or even thousands, of people of different nationalities and ages, from newborns to elderly people carrying walking sticks. Guides took them to a summit coined "Cima de las Banderas," or Flags Hill in English, because migrants plant flags from their home countries on the ground. After that, they are on their own. No one helps anyone, not even relatives, Vergel said. Vergel said he believed that being in his mid-30s would make it easier to climb muddy mountains and hills along the way. The trip was like a video game, where migrants are guided by a path made of blue plastic bottles and cross from one rock to another, either jumping or using vines. What to know: What is Title 42, when does it end, how does it impact US-Mexico border? But there are no second chances. "It is very difficult, but unless you are in that moment, experiencing it firsthand, you won't feel the pain and fatigue of climbing those summits," Vergel said. He had to stop for half of his first day to avoid drowning in a rushing river that was rapidly increasing due to heavy rain. He found shelter in his tent. Others were not as lucky. Later that day, he heard stories of people who died, suffered bone fractures or went missing. "People on this route face deadly risks related to their transit through inhospitable topography and natural barriers characterized by large rivers, flash floods, dense foliage, and wild animals," the IOM warned. Between January and April, at least 127,687 people, mostly adults, crossed this jungle route. Most were from Venezuela, Haiti and Ecuador, according to Panamanian authorities. May 9, 2023: Migrant people cross through the banks of the Rio Grande to the US, as seen from Matamoros, state of Tamaulupas, Mexico. A surge of migrants is expected at the US-Mexico border cities as President Biden's administration is officially ending its use of Title 42. On May 11, President Joe Biden's administration will lift Title 42, the strict protocol implemented by previous president Donald Trump to deny entry to migrants and expel asylum seekers based on the Covid pandemic emergency. In Vergel's case, he has crossed not only Panama but Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and part of Mexico. His more than 10,000 followers are constantly reaching out to him, to seek advice on the journey and wish him safe travels. Vergel said one of the worst parts of his journey was a five-hour boat ride to a migrant camp on Panama's border. He was thirsty and had a high fever, headache and sunburn. When the boat arrived, there was a 200-person line for emergency cases, but he wanted to keep going. Now, he hopes his sacrifice will be worth it. Washington: Marjorie Taylor Greene silenced by committee after calling DHS Secretary Mayorkas 'a liar' Public smuggling activity Social media and other online platforms have increased smugglers' access to migrants, "creating an environment ripe for the manipulation of information regarding migration policies at the border," said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in a statement to USA TODAY. Videos and accounts promoting smuggling have spread on TikTok. Some smugglers present themselves as safe travel agencies, promising a low possibility of failure if migrants travel with them, based on USA TODAY's review of these posts. To gain trust, they record and post video testimonials of purported clients who appear to have arrived safely in the U.S. The man who described himself as a coyote from Central America claimed to know the safest way to cross the U.S. border without being caught. However, the cost could be as high as $10,000 if the journey starts from Guyana. The man said he has contacts along different routes and in multiple countries to "protect" migrants. He refers to his illegal enterprise as an "agency" that transports migrants to the U.S. border. He said he uses private cars, buses, vans and boats, providing accommodation and documents to ensure a safe journey. He said he maintains constant communication with the migrants' relatives. The man painted a rosy picture of his operation, saying that he and his associates provide hotels and food as part of his service. Meals could often include rice, meat, salad, eggs, bread and bananas, he said. That isn't the reality for many migrants. Some border crossers are found lost, disoriented and dehydrated in the desert sun. Smugglers have accidents or abandon migrants. Last fiscal year, at least 853 migrants died trying to enter the U.S. illegally, making it the deadliest year recorded by the U.S. government, according to data obtained by CBS from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Transnational criminal organizations continue to recklessly endanger the lives of individuals they smuggle for their own financial gain with no regard for human life, CBP said in a statement. Smuggling organizations are abandoning migrants in remote and dangerous areas, leading to a rise in the number of rescues but also tragically a rise in the number of deaths. The terrain along the border is extreme, the summer heat is severe, and the miles of desert migrants must hike after crossing the border in many areas are unforgiving. When asked by USA TODAY why he wasn't afraid of using TikTok to promote illegal activities, the coyote replied that other people use social media platforms to offer illegal services. Often, no one pays attention to those cases. A migrant gathers pieces of cardboard to sleep on, in Huehuetoca, Mexico, Friday, May 12, 2023, while waiting to board a freight train heading north, the day after U.S. pandemic-related asylum restrictions called Title 42 were lifted. "Those who operate in the shadows or do their job poorly do not use social media; they use other methods to steal or kidnap migrants. ... Our intention is precisely to find ways to prevent them from being harmed," the smuggler said. American officials have warned migrants about working with smugglers to try to enter the U.S. illegally. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this year said, "Those who arrive at our border and do not have a legal basis to stay will have made the journey, often having suffered horrific trauma and having paid their life savings to the smugglers, only to be quickly removed." Migrants wait to be processed by Customs and Border Protection at gate 42 on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. Dangerous viral content TikTok According to the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights research and advocacy group, the use of TikTok to facilitate illegal migration creates an information vacuum" and fuels rumors, which spread quickly now that most migrants have smartphones with internet access. In the fight to provide information to migrants, social media acts as a pipeline, while the government's efforts are limited," the group said. WOLA says American immigration policy has played a role in this spread online. "The increased use of the TikTok app is a symptom of the terrible job that the U.S. and all governments along the migration route do in warning about the dangers (let alone addressing them)," the group told USA TODAY. A file photo of the TikTok smartphone app. Catholic Relief Services, a nonprofit that provides support to thousands of displaced people, also expressed concern about the misinformation migrants face during their journey. "Smugglers and those who take advantage of migrants' desperation are using social media to offer highly risky services that endanger their lives," Miguel Meza, the group's migration program officer for Mexico and Guatemala, told USA TODAY in a statement. He added that part of the help they offer migrants includes legal advice in shelters so they can make informed decisions that "protect their well-being." Meza emphasized the need for migrants to access reliable information from official sources such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Organization for Migration and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched a digital advertising campaign last month to inform potential migrants that U.S. immigration laws under Title 8 are tougher. A Venezuelan migrant browses the CBP One mobile app searching for an appointment to enter the United States outside the temporary stay of the National Migration Institute (INM) in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, on May 5, 2023. Under the intense desert sun, among sand and brush, hundreds of migrants crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico on the rumor that the United States would let them in. But their hopes were dashed as they fell prey, once again, to misinformation. Falsehoods and deceptions add to the ordeal of these people, first to reach the border through Mexico and then to obtain asylum in the United States. "The Coyote swindled us. Entering the USA illegally is a crime. Say no to the coyote" is splashed across one of the ads. USA TODAY contacted TikTok to inquire about whether it knew its platform was being used to promote illegal migration and human smuggling. USA TODAY pressed TikTok on whether the platform was taking measures or planning steps to identify and remove such content and if there was any existing collaboration with law enforcement. Members of TikTok's global safety and policy communications team replied to an email asking USA TODAY for more information on these accounts. As of June 6, USA TODAY confirmed that those accounts had been banned and USA TODAY's questions remain unanswered. But for every account banned, a new one surfaces. More worrisome is the fact that many migrants are still turning to social media for guidance about crossing the U.S. southern border despite the risks. The last time USA TODAY reached out to Vergel on June 2, he said he was in Mexico, roughly 2,600 miles away from the U.S. border. After more than 38 days since leaving Colombia, he advised that if he couldn't be contacted, he might have been arrested. "If you dont see me again here, it is because I have been arrested by migration officers," he said. "It is riskier from this point on." He'd also run out of money and wasn't quite sure how he'd come up with the cash to keep heading north. For tonight, though, he'd retired his tent for a spot in a shelter. Carolina Pichardo Hernandez is an International Center for Journalists and USA TODAY fellow based in the Dominican Republic. You can find her on Twitter @caropichardoh and Instagram @carolinapichardoh This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Migrants and smugglers share their journey to the border on TikTok Death of 21-year-old DeKalb man found in Douglas County being investigated as homicide Deputies are now investigating the death of a 21-year-old man from DeKalb County as a homicide after his body was found in Douglas County last week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Michael Seiden was at the Douglas County Sheriffs Office Monday, where Keontae Chenault was found dead days after his family reported him missing. His remains were found beside a creek near I-20 and Lee Road by someone walking in the area. Last week, a detective in Douglas County saw the Channel 2 Action News story about the search for Chenault and realized they had a body in their morgue matching his description. Seiden spoke exclusively to Chenaults mother, Kissa Chenault, on Channel 2 Action News on Friday, after DeKalb Police told her the body was her son. TRENDING STORIES: Over the weekend, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the body through dental records. Chenault was first reported missing on May 22 after he went out with friends and never came home. His friends and family desperately tried to find him for weeks, despite the fact that his body was found in Douglas County on May 30. f Douglas County detectives are releasing few details about what they think happened to Chenault. Right now its being ruled as a homicide and our investigators are in touch with DeKalb County and theyre in the process of working the investigation and going back and tracking as much information as we can on that, Capt. Jon Mauney with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said. Chenaults cause of death has not been released. Layers of paint essentially erased the homophobic graffiti applied last week to the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain. The words may be gone -- but they certainly arent forgotten. I worry very much that there has been an increase in hate throughout the land, said Rabbi Victor Reinstein of the Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, also in Jamaica Plain. Its a very frightening reality and I think we have to address it on many levels. Reinstein was one of several church visitors attending the first Sunday service since First Baptist was vandalized last Thursday. He was joined by Sherry Grossman and Allen Spivack, who have lived in Jamaica Plain for 50 years. Its always a big deal when something like this happens, Spivack said. And were not just going to stand by -- were going to support each other. The service featured upbeat music, clapping and hardly a sign the violation had its intended effect. As I read the words on the wall my heart sank, said Pastor Ben Herrmann, who is transgender. (But) All I could think in the last several days was, God loves us so much. Goodness always triumphs over hate and meanness, said Administrative Pastor Darrell Hamilton. Life and love always triumphs over darkness and thats the takeaway for the day. Thus far, no one has been arrested for the vandalism, but Boston Police are investigating. Sherry Grossman hopes someone will be held accountable. To spread hate is the opposite of what we need now, said Grossman. We need the love and the support and the joy of being together. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Defender of Zmiinyi Island returns from Russian captivity on his birthday A 28-year-old Ukrainian defender of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island who has been released from Russian captivity returned to Ukraine on 11 June - his birthday. Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine His name has not been disclosed. The liberated soldier told the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine that he did not believe he would come home until the last moment. "We got on the bus and spent the whole journey blindfolded. I was thinking, what if something goes wrong? What if the swap gets cancelled or something and we go back? But I had this profound faith that everything would go as planned," the soldier recalls. He felt relieved only at the border when he set foot on his homeland and saw children waving Ukrainian flags, saluting the liberated soldiers. "I got lucky - destiny gave me such a birthday present. I cannot express the emotions I felt. I turned my head away and cried. It was like the whole of Ukraine knew it was my birthday," the soldier said. A 28-year old defender of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island has been liberated from Russian captivity. Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine A 28-year old defender of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island has been liberated from Russian captivity. Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine He added that captivity was psychologically challenging. "Every night you go to bed and pray, thinking of your loved ones. To everyone who is still in captivity, dont give up and stay positive, dont be afraid and dont lose heart," he said. Background: On 11 June, as a result of the latest round of PoW swaps, Ukraine brought back 95 soldiers, including members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard of Ukraine. Some of the released soldiers had been held captive by the Wagner Group and the Akhmat unit, and three of them were not officially recognised as captives by the Russians. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! In a surprise move, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended that Adm. Samuel Paparo become the Navys highest-ranking officer instead of a woman widely believed to have been the front-runner, several senior defense officials said. Adm. Lisa Franchetti. (U.S. Navy) Adm. Samuel Paparo. (U.S. Navy) Paparos nomination as chief of naval operations went to the White House about a week ago but President Joe Biden has not yet signed it, the officials said. Adm. Lisa Franchetti had been considered the leading contender for the chiefs job since becoming the vice chief of naval operations, the No. 2 officer in the Navy, last fall. She would have been the first female service member to hold the job and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A woman is running the Coast Guard, but she is not a member of the Joint Chiefs. Paparo, the commander of Pacific Fleet, was expected to become the next commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, as is common. He is one of the top operational leaders in the Navy facing the challenges against China and was expected to bring his expertise to Indo-Pacific Command at a time when China is a top Biden administration priority. Paparo was expected to expand on his expertise in the region as commander of Indo-Pacific Command rather than move to the Pentagon. If he becomes head of the Navy, he will have to shift focus to manning, equipping and training, with less focus on operations. Austin made the recommendation to pass over Franchetti in favor of Paparo, the officials said. This is a presidential decision, said Rear Adm. Ryan Perry, the Navys top spokesperson. The United States Navy has several highly qualified senior leaders, and it would be inappropriate to speculate which leader the president will nominate to serve as the next chief of Naval Operations. The Pentagon and the White House National Security Council declined to comment. The decision to pass over Franchetti the same week that the U.S. military celebrates the 75th anniversary of women joining the armed forces may not sit well with some inside the Pentagon who were advocating for the Joint Chiefs to finally have a female officer. Franchetti has both operational and policy experience. She commanded two strike groups in the Pacific, served as commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in Europe and commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Korea, and held various roles in the Pentagon, including her current job as the vice chief. She is every bit as qualified as the previous few CNOs, one senior defense official said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended to the president that Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, become the Navys 33rd chief of naval operations. NBC News first reported Monday that Paparos name was sent to the White House last week. Two defense officials with direct knowledge of the process, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter, confirmed the accuracy of the NBC report. President Joe Biden would still need to formally nominate Paparo and send the pick to Congress for approval. Mondays news flew in the face of conventional Beltway wisdom, with some news reports and talking heads predicting that the current vice chief of naval operations, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, would become the next CNO and the first woman to hold the title and to serve on the Joint Chiefs. Multiple sources said privately that high-ranking Pentagon officials were operating under the assumption Franchetti would be nominated for CNO right up until the NBC story broke. Last week, several current and retired flag officers told Defense News that Franchettis selection for the job was among the worst-kept secrets in Washington. White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Paparo assumed command of PACFLEET the tip of the Navy spear when it comes to containing China in May 2021. His spokesperson did not return a request for comment Monday afternoon. While Franchetti was expected to be nominated as CNO, command of PACFLEET has in the past often led to the job of leading the joint-force U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, a route taken by current INDOPACOM head Adm. John Aquilino. Navy officials declined to comment on the Paparo nomination Monday, and Defense Department officials declined to provide an on-record comment by Navy Times deadline. This is a Presidential decision, Navy spokesman Rear Adm. Ryan Perry said in a statement. The United States Navy has several highly qualified senior leaders, and it would be inappropriate to speculate which leader the President will nominate to serve as the next Chief of Naval Operations. The current CNO, Adm. Mike Gilday, became the top naval officer in August 2019. Gilday is statutorily required to step down after four years. His last day will be Aug. 21, and the following day a new leader will have to be in charge. If Bidens pick for CNO cannot be confirmed by that date a possibility, as Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is not allowing military nominations to move forward in the Senate then Franchetti will be called upon to perform the duties of CNO. Arnold Punaro, a former staff director on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Defense News that the services current vice chiefs can perform the duties of chief with no limitations, should there be a delay in the Senate confirming new service chiefs. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters/Getty Newly released documents show an entity owned by a top Democratic Party official has taken in $41,642,485 in public funds since landing a gig at a medical group catering to New York Citys most vulnerablean arrangement that has proved lucrative for both him and his political allies. The latest tax filings now available for Bronx-based nonprofit SOMOS Community Care show the organization, a network of doctors catering to the Big Apples low-income immigrant communities, paid more than $11.5 million in 2021 to a San Antonio-based pass-through company belonging to Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Henry Munoz. This comes on top of almost $15.8 million The Daily Beast previously reported the group had paid to the party officials S corporation MSTZO LLC, which does business as Cultural Productions, and upwards of $14.3 million it paid to him directly since he became its consultant in 2017. These colossal sums place Munoz, whose professional background is in political fundraising and construction design, among the highest-compensated individuals in the health-care sector in New York City or anywhere else. SOMOS was launched in 2015 to capitalize on a new Medicaid program, which was the sole source of its funding for most of its existence. That program expired in 2020, however, and the organization has become increasingly dependent upon contracts to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccination services to immigrant communities, for which SOMOS has received roughly $100 million in city and state funds, procurement records show. Munozs team has maintained he disburses the bulk of the funds the group allocates him to other contractors, and asserted that $9 million of the $11.5 million sum in 2021 went toward marketing expenses. They highlighted some multimedia material that they had previously sent The Daily Beast as examples of his design work, including a four-page Marvel-produced comic book from August 2021 promoting inoculation against the novel coronavirus, a tie-in pop-up vaccination site in Times Square, and some Spanish-language videos about the return to in-class instruction in public schools that fall. However, his representatives never provided price tags for any of these productions. How the DNCs Former Chief Fundraiser Turned a Medicaid Program Into His Personal Money Hose In its response to questions from The Daily Beast, SOMOS highlighted these same projects, along with an Olympics-themed campaign from 2021 that also targeted children. The group further asserted that all its expenditures got the approval of its fiduciary, Montefiore Medical Center, a politically connected local hospital. But going just by the accounting the Munoz team has provided, since he assumed his role at SOMOS, the Democratic official and his company have held on to more than $12.5 million in funds from the group, funds which have come entirely out of public coffers. And around the time the new SOMOS tax filing dropped, so did a legal notice from one of the contractors Munoz worked with: a Seattle-based political pollster seeking nearly a quarter-million dollars the it claims Munoz and the nonprofit failed to pay them. Court records show that Pacific Market Research obtained a default judgment from a Washington State court in December against a Munoz-run SOMOS entity for welshing on three nationwide polls of Latino Americans in 2020and recently filed to collect the cash in the Bronx. SOMOS only includes doctors in the New York City area, and Munozs team would not answer questions about what proportion of the 12,000 people sampled across the country resided in neighborhoods SOMOS serves. But they argued this was a wholly justified expenditure for the organization, because they claimed the survey questions dealt with the medical needs of Hispanics. Henry/MSTZO commissioned questions regarding the Latino community's views on healthcare and COVID-related issues, a person familiar with the situation asserted to The Daily Beast. Understanding the Latino community's views on relevant healthcare issues is a fundamental part of creating and executing effective outreach and community engagement strategies geared toward serving them, which is exactly the work Henry Munoz and his company was contracted to perform." However, an affidavit Pacific Market Research submitted in Washington State asserts that two of the surveys it conducted were explicitly political in nature and dealt with the 2020 election. SOMOS specifically hired PMR to design and conduct a national poll for Latino citizens based upon current political issues, the document reads, referring to a poll run in October 2020. Lastly, SOMOS contracted with PMR for a third time during the fall of 2020 for purposes of gathering voter data ahead of the 2020 election cycle. Further, coverage of the first poll in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times quoted Munoz discussing political issues. Pacific Market Research declined to comment on the record for this story. Munozs team blamed the failure to pay the bills on litigation between the survey firm and the pollsters who conducted the research. However, a Washington State jury decided that suit in Pacific Market Researchs favor almost a year ago. For its part, SOMOS itself insisted it has nothing to do with the case, and even insisted it was never billed for any of the polls. But one of the invoices in the court file is explicitly addressed to SOMOS Healthcare, and multiple media outlets have identified the nonprofit as the underwriter of the surveys, as has one of the pollsters. As it happens, 2021 was the same year Munoz purchased the Will Ferrell-founded production house Funny or Die for an undisclosed sum. The company was just one of the flashy acquisitions hes made since becoming SOMOSs consultant: In the last four years, hes also bought a 20-acre estate within the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico; a seven-bedroom mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut; and a full-floor condo on Manhattans Park Avenue, where he hosted President Joe Biden for a fundraiser last fall. During the same span, his political giving also spiked massively, particularly to the Democratic National Committee and its Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund, to which he has given a combined $716,644 just since 2021. SOMOS doctors, executives, and employees, including some who run companies that the nonprofit contracts with, have also grown increasingly generous toward the party committee. In the first three months of this year alone, they have given the Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund a total of $366,687. This sum makes SOMOS collectively one of the largest donors to the political action committee this cycle, outstripping even such institutional supporters as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. And more money may yet flow to the group. A new report by the Empire Center think-tank found state politicians, who have also benefited from $1.5 million in donations from Munoz and other SOMOS-linked figures since 2020, tweaked the rules this year in a way that will grant the nonprofit access to a $1.4 billion fund for medical institutions in severe financial distress. 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. Denmark to send $36 million worth of ammunition to Ukraine Danish flag Read also: Denmark to allocate EUR 1 billion for Ukraines reconstruction It is a substantial contribution that Ukraine needs very urgently, Rasmussen said. The ammunition being sent consists of 2,000 artillery shells one of the most commonly used types of munitions in Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The situation is what we can all see, that an offensive has been announced, the Danish minister explained. "It's just getting started. Ukraine has succeeded in keeping the Russians at bay, and now the time has come for them to respond again. It follows that they need the necessary capacities including ammunition. Danish defense minister Troels Lund Poulsen noted that this ammunition package is not something that makes Ukraine certain of having enough ammunition. Read also: Denmark to deliver $250 million military aid package to Ukraine This is a contribution to the concrete, acute challenge that they are facing, he clarified. Additional ammunition is needed. So this is a contribution to a current challenge. Read also: Denmark and Germany to transfer 80 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine Denmarks largest military aid package to Ukraine was announced on May 2, containing materiel and equipment necessary for mounting a counter-offensive against Russian invasion forces. 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 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) took aim Monday at former President Trumps Supreme Court picks, vowing to do better than his 2024 rival in picking justices. Conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt asked DeSantis if he would pledge to Republican primary voters that his judges would be like the three home runs that Trump nominated to the high court. Well, actually, I would say well do better than that, DeSantis responded. I mean, I respect the three appointees he did, but none of those three are at the same level of Justices [Clarence] Thomas and Justice [Samuel] Alito, DeSantis continued. I think they are the gold standard, and so my justices will be along the lines of a Sam Alito and a Clarence Thomas. Trumps three nominees Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett delivered a 6-3 conservative majority at the Supreme Court that has enabled a number of conservative legal victories, including overturning Roe v. Wade as well as expanding gun and religious rights. But the court doesnt always show a straight conservative-liberal split in its politically charged cases. On Thursday, Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the courts liberals in striking down Alabamas Republican-drawn congressional map, upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in its current form. DeSantis for weeks has touted the records of Alito and Thomas, two of the courts most conservative justices, who joined the bench prior to Trumps presidency, while notably steering clear of highlighting Trumps nominees. Just prior to announcing his campaign, DeSantis envisioned expanding the conservative majority even further, publicly touting how he could shape a 7-2 court if elected to two terms as president. And in Florida, I inherited a very liberal state supreme court, maybe the most liberal in the country, very activist, DeSantis told Hewitt on Monday. But I was able to replace three of the four liberals my first month in office with conservative justices, he added. Ive since been able to make a number of appointments since then. So we now have the most conservative state supreme court in the country. And so I think we have a really good track record on doing that. DeSantis had heaped praise on Gorsuch and Barrett when Trump nominated them. If you created a nominee from scratch with the goal of filling Scalias large shoes, such a nominee would look a lot like Neil Gorsuch, DeSantis, a congressman at the time, tweeted in January 2017. When Trump nominated Kavanaugh, however, who has become viewed as the so-called median justice on the Supreme Court, DeSantiss accolades werent as strong. Whether Kavanaugh will be a fearless defender of Constitution in mold of Justice Thomas remains to be seen. Lets hope so! DeSantis said at the time. Updated at 2:09 pm ET. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DeSantis says he has 'respect' for Trump's 3 Supreme Court appointees but they're no Thomas or Alito: 'We'll do better than that' Then-President Donald Trump campaigns with Ron DeSantis at a rally in Pensacola, Fla., on November 3, 2018. AP Photo/Butch Dill, File Trump appointed 3 conservative judges to the Supreme Court, leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade DeSantis said he has 'respect' for those picks, but he could do better. "My justices will be along the lines of a Sam Alito and a Clarence Thomas," DeSantis said. Former President Donald Trump is the most scandal- and indictment-plagued president in American history and oversaw an administration rife with dysfunction. But even his most strident critics admit that appointing three conservative justices to the Supreme Court was an impressive and historic achievement for Trump, the Republican party, and conservative movement, most significantly because it led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. One prominent Republican who isn't that impressed, though, is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump's top rival for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination told Hugh Hewitt that Trump did fine with his Supreme Court pick but he could do better by nominating ones who are even more conservative. "Now in terms of the judges that you will bring to bear on this, former President Trump hit three home runs with his Supreme Court appointments. Are you going to make the same kind of pledge to the Republicans as you go around the country that your judges will be like the Trump judges?" Hewitt asked. "Well, actually, I would say we'll do better than that," DeSantis said. "I mean, I respect the three appointees he did, but none of those three are at the same level of Justices Thomas and Justice Alito. I think they are the gold standard, and so my justices will be along the lines of a Sam Alito and a Clarence Thomas." He added, "And in Florida, I inherited a very liberal state supreme court, maybe the most liberal in the country, very activist. But I was able to replace three of the four liberals my first month in office with conservative justices. I've since been able to make a number of appointments since then. So we now have the most conservative state supreme court in the country. And so I think we have a really good track record on doing that. And in fact, two of my supreme court picks in my first year of office were elevated to the 11th Circuit by President Donald Trump." Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett were nominated by Trump during his four years in office, giving the Supreme Court a conservative supermajority. Alito and Thomas frequently stake out conservative positions, and have pulled the court rightward; it was Alito who wrote the majority opinion gutting the nationally recognized right for a woman to terminate her pregnancy. Thomas is under scrutiny for his failures to disclose luxury trips and financial dealings with a Republican megadonor. Not long after DeSantis' interview with Hewitt went up, Trump responded. Read the original article on Business Insider When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took the stage in a Greensboro, North Carolina, ballroom on Friday night, the country was still digesting the unsealing hours earlier of a 37-count federal indictment of his top rival, former President Donald Trump, a development that reverberated through the Republican presidential primary. But the governor's speeches this weekend in North Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma, his first public appearances after the indictment, diverged little from ones he gave last week across three early nominating states, with promises to "restore sanity" to a nation overcome by "woke" thinking. DeSantis never mentioned Trump by name and only appeared to reference the indictment news obliquely, condemning the "weaponization" of federal agencies -- as Trump and other Republicans have been sharply criticizing the Department of Justice and the prosecutor overseeing Trump's case. DeSantis took a somewhat less combative tone. Unlike some others in the 2024 race, he has also not said whether he would seek a federal pardon of Trump if he is elected. "Our founding fathers would have absolutely predicted the weaponization that we've seen with these agents, particularly Justice and FBI, because when you don't have constitutional accountability, human nature is such that they will abuse power. And that's what happened," DeSantis said at the North Carolina's state GOP convention. PHOTO: FILE - Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro, N.C., June 9, 2023. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters, FILE) As he did in a Twitter statement on Thursday night, DeSantis cited Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden to argue that a double standard of justice exists in America. Biden, the president's son, is under federal investigation and has maintained he will be cleared; a review of the investigation into Clinton's use of a personal email server while working in the government suggests notable differences with Trump's conduct and authorities found a "lack of intent" on her part, though the FBI director at the time called her "extremely careless." DeSantis said in his convention speech that "you know what, when I was in Congress, I remember, you know, Hillary had emails with the classified, and my view was, gee, as a naval officer, if I would have taken classified from my department, I would have been court marshaled in a New York minute, and yet they seem to not care about that." He went on to warn of threats to regular Americans who, he said, could be similarly mistreated by the system. "Here's the thing: There's obviously your high-profile examples, but there are examples of ordinary people who may not get the same headlines," he said. DeSantis' response mirrored his comments after Trump was indicted in March by a New York City grand jury on charges related to hush money he paid to an adult film actress. Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case. PHOTO: FILE - Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., June 10, 2023. (Chuck Burton/AP, FILE) "The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head," he wrote then on Twitter, not naming Trump. During his remarks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, DeSantis also did not mention Trump's federal indictment. Still, it was a concern for some voters who attended the event, with some believing it would impact Trump's ability to win in 2024. Richard Ferris, a Republican from Tulsa, told ABC News that he had not decided who he'll support in the 2024 election and that he attended DeSantis' campaign event to learn more about the governor. Despite supporting Trump in 2020, Ferris says he's concerned about the former president's ability to win the election. "Some of the things that are going on with him right now, I think he's got enough to worry about as far as running for president," Ferris said. PHOTO: FILE - Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers remarks June 9, 2023 in Greensboro, N.C. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images, FILE) Ferris cited the DOJ's indictment of Trump as one of his concerns but added that he believes that Trump is being singled out. Debbie and Bob Gresh told ABC News that although they voted for Trump in the 2020 election and believe he's a good man, "with all the issues that are going on, it would be hard to elect him." When asked about their thoughts on Trump's recent indictment, the Greshes said they believe it's a ploy to "drive away competition" in the election. "I think they're picking on him and I think it's shameful," Bob Gresh said. Trump, for his part, used his appearances this weekend to rail against the federal case and the special counsel, Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution. He had sharp words for DeSantis, too, labeling the governor a "lousy campaigner" with "no personality" -- while DeSantis has hit back at Trump over what DeSantis said are Trump's broken pledges on immigration and more. On Saturday, Trump appeared at a Waffle House in Georgia to greet supporters. At his side was Walt Nauta, who was also indicted in the federal case. Nauta's attorney has declined to comment to ABC News. ABC News' Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report. DeSantis skirts Trump's 2nd indictment but warns of government 'weaponization' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WASHINGTON Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump swiped at each other Monday in a debate that might surprise many Americans: Whether the Supreme Court is conservative enough. DeSantis, speaking on a talk show Monday, suggested Trump's three nominees to the nation's highest court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett weren't quite conservative enough for GOP voters and vowed to "do better" if elected. DeSantis and Trump are vying for the GOP presidential nomination. "I respect the three appointees he did, but none of those three are at the same level of Justices (Clarence) Thomas and Justice (Sam) Alito," DeSantis said on Hugh Hewitt's program. "I think they are the gold standard, and so my justices will be along the lines of a Sam Alito and a Clarence Thomas." Former President Donald Trump speaks at the National Rifle Association Convention in Indianapolis, on April 14, 2023. Trump points to Roe, DeSantis' earlier support for nominees Trump's campaign fired back by noting that the former president's nominees are the reason conservatives on the Supreme Court had the votes last year to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling was the culmination of a decades-long push to overturn Roe. The high court last year also expanded Second Amendment protections and sided with religious entities in several high-profile cases. Trump's campaign also pointed to a 2018 gubernatorial debate in which DeSantis claimed Trump had "done a better job appointing judges to both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Appeals Court than any other president in my lifetime." The back-and-forth underscores how the Supreme Court is once again emerging as a key issue in the presidential election, even though there's a chance the next president wouldn't be able to name any new justices to the bench. Seven of the nine justices are in their 50s or 60s, suggesting they have many years left to serve. Justice Stephen Breyer, the most recent member of the court to retire, stepped down at 83. Hundreds gathered to hear Governor Ron DeSantis speak at the North Carolina Republican Party 2023 State Convention on Friday, June 9. The event came on the heels of another indictment of former President Donald Trump.Mandatory Credit: Megan Smith-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-713029 (Via OlyDrop) Who is conservative enough for next GOP president? It's not the first time DeSantis has brought up the Supreme Court as he attempts to draw a contrast with Trump on what many conservatives see as his most significant achievement: judicial nominations. Last month, DeSantis claimed the next GOP president could forge a 7-2 conservative majority via departures of three or four justices. Republican nominees currently hold a 6-3 advantage and the high court is more conservative today than it has been in decades. Thomas, who wrote last year's Second Amendment decision, and Alito, who wrote the majority opinion overturning Roe, are the court's most conservative members. Indicted 'Explain:' Mike Pence calls on Merrick Garland to justify indictment of Donald Trump But Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett all also regularly vote with Thomas and Alito in the highest profile cases. Barrett voted with Thomas 87% of the time last term, according to data compiled by SCOTUSblog. For Gorsuch, it was 78%. DeSantis didn't name which cases, specifically, he took issue with. Some conservatives balked at a significant 2020 decision barring workplace discrimination against LGBTQ employees that Gorsuch wrote. Others noted Kavanaugh has written concurrences that could limit the impact of conservative outcomes, including in last year's abortion and guns cases. The Supreme Court on June 5, 2023. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DeSantis, Trump clash over who is conservative enough for Supreme Court Details of "aircraft coalition" and opening of hubs for aircraft repair to be discussed at Ramstein Members of the Contact Group on Defence of Ukraine will discuss the training of Ukrainian pilots and the opening of hubs for the repair and fitting out of equipment at the next meeting in the Ramstein format to be held on 15 June in Brussels. Source: Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, as quoted by the Ministry of Defences press service on Telegram Quote: "During the meeting, we will discuss the details of the 'aircraft coalition'. In this case, we are still talking about training pilots, and not only pilots, but also our technicians and engineers who will be involved in aircraft maintenance. This is a very complex system. We will be discussing the issues in detail with the teams from the defence ministries of the Netherlands, Denmark, the US and other countries that have joined this coalition." I have included representatives of our Air Force in the Ukrainian delegation. The commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, has allocated his officers who are responsible to oversee pilot training and logistics issues." Details: Reznikov said that the 13th Ramstein meeting will also discuss "everything related to air defence, shells, ammunition, artillery". In addition, the issue of opening hubs for equipment repair is important for Ukraine. "Our priorities have not changed. This war is a war of resources. Resources mean not only weapons, but also the ability to repair, maintain and everything related to them. That is why it is important for us to open various types of hubs for repairing and equipping equipment. Both on the territory of Ukraine, together with partners, and in friendly border countries," the Minister added. Background: Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that several states of the so-called fighter jet coalition had submitted specific proposals to Ukraine to provide F-16s. The so-called "fighter jet coalition" for Ukraine includes eight European countries the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal and France. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! When did Henrietta school aide accused of child sex crimes go to work for HISD? A 19-year-old Henrietta ISD school aide accused of making and sending child pornography on Snapchat has been working for the school district since Jan. 6 this year, and the Texas Department of Public Safety has put out a plea regarding possible additional victims. The DPS is asking parents who believe their child might be a victim of Blaine Tyler Frost or who have information helpful to investigators to contact special agents at 940-851-5554, a DPS spokesman said in a media release Friday. "Because of his close contact with children in his work environment investigators believe there is a possibility of additional victims in this case," Sgt. Marc A. Couch said. Frost Frost, a paraprofessional in Henrietta Elementary School, was being held Monday in the Clay County Jail on $1 million in bonds for three charges, according to online jail records. The Henrietta man was charged last week with one count of indecency with a child by exposure, one count of indecency with a child by contact, and one count of promotion of child pornography in connection with incidents in February involving a 3- to 5-year-old boy, according to court documents. Frost is accused of sending child pornography he created to another suspect via Snapchat, according to allegations in court documents. HISD is "definitely reporting" the allegations against him to the Texas Education Agency, Superintendent Jaime D. Clark said in a statement Friday to the Times Record News. Clark addressed the situation in a letter to HISD families posted Friday morning on the district's Facebook page. The superintendent said the district was made aware of the allegations against Frost. He has been placed on leave and is not permitted to be at any district facility. "I know you may have more questions, but this is a police matter and the district does not have additional information to share at this time," Clark said in the letter. She provided the DPS telephone number. "There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our students and allegations like this against one of our staff members are difficult to hear," Clark said. "Please dont hesitate to reach out to us if you believe your student may need support in response to this situation," she said. Special agents with the DPS Criminal Investigations Division arrested Frost on Wednesday, Couch said in a media release Friday. The agents were originally contacted by investigators with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who were looking into a child pornography case that led them to Frost, Couch said. The active, ongoing case involves HSI-Irving, the Clay County Sheriff's Office and Clay County Constable's Office, Couch said. More: Suspended Sheriff Lyde to have day in court for efforts to sink suspension order, dismiss case Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: When did Henrietta school aide go to work for district, more victims sought Former President Trump and his allies are testing out a slew of defenses against the Justice Departments 37-count indictment as he prepares for his first court appearance Tuesday on allegations he mishandled classified documents after leaving the White House. The defense being voiced by most Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), is that the Justice Department (DOJ) is pursuing a politically motivated case. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the powerful chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, argues Trump had wide discretion to declassify documents. And conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt points out no documents were sold or given to third parties. The litany of defenses reflects how much of the Republican apparatus still bends to Trumps will, even in times of crisis. But it also underscores the severity of the charges and how the former president and his team might have difficulty finding a clear defense in the face of what some Republicans acknowledge are serious charges. Declassification powers One of the defenses offered by Trumps allies is similar to one put forward by Trump: His right to declassify documents was absolute. Trump previously argued he had the right to declassify materials as president, even just by thinking about it, something experts dismissed as inaccurate. The former presidents defenders argue his declassification powers meant it was a nonissue he possessed highly sensitive government materials after he left office. He said he declassified this material. He can put it wherever he wants. He can handle it however he wants. Thats the law. Thats the standard, Jordan said on CNNs State of the Union. Pressed by anchor Dana Bash on the details in the indictment, including a recorded conversation in which Trump tells a staffer without a security clearance he could no longer declassify a classified document he was discussing, Jordan dug in. Saying he could is not the same as saying he didnt, Jordan said. Regardless of whether the information in Trumps possession was classified isnt a key point in the case, however, because proving a violation of the Espionage Act only takes showing someone improperly retained national defense information. The indictment focuses on 31 highly sensitive documents, some of which contain information dealing with American military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, or foreign military plans. The indictment also offers powerful evidence that contradicts Trumps claims that the records were unclassified. Prosecutors cite an instance in which Trump waved around a classified document while sitting for an interview with an author, noting he did not declassify it while president, adding, Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret. Nothing given to third party Some conservatives argue Trumps actions are not serious enough to warrant prosecution. Theres no allegation that he sold it to a foreign power or that it was trafficked to somebody else or that anybody got access to it, said Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Monday on CBS. And you have to weigh the harm of that, or the lack thereof, on the harm that this indictment does to the country. Hewitt tweeted that his first reaction to the indictment was: Thats it? The conspiracy is with the aide who moved the boxes? No documents were sold or given to third parties not in his close employ? Trump has been charged with illegal retention of records, meaning prosecutors did not charge him with the dissemination of the classified records. Still, the indictment points to cases where Trump appeared to show the records to associates. For example, Trump showed a classified map to an aide who works on his political action committee during a meeting in August or September at his Bedminster, N.J., club, the indictment alleges. Trump is said to have told the associate, who did not have a security clearance, he should not be showing it to the person and they should not get too close. The indictment also lists the locations where classified records were found on Trumps property, including a Mar-a-Lago bathroom in sharp contrast to the secure facilities that are supposed to house such documents. National security experts have warned Mar-a-Lago could be a target for foreign spies. Several foreign nationals have been arrested in connection with attempts to enter the property, though their motives were unclear. Double standard, political persecution The most common response among Republicans defending Trump has been to argue the DOJ had been politicized or was enforcing a double standard. Graham told ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos multiple times Sunday he did not agree with Trumps handling of classified materials. But he suggested Trump was being unfairly treated compared to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Biden or former President Clinton. I do believe, George, that most people on my side of the aisle believe when it comes to Donald Trump, there are no rules, he said. And you can do the exact same thing or something similar as a Democrat and nothing happens to you. Yet there are important distinctions between Trumps case and the investigations into the handling of classified records by other political leaders. Then-FBI Director James Comey accused Hillary Clinton of extreme carelessness for having a private email server at her home but added, We did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information. Former President Clinton kept tapes of his conversations with author and historian David Branch, reportedly storing them in a sock drawer. But the tapes were deemed personal records and did not contain classified records. In Bidens case, aides notified the Justice Department upon discovering classified material from his time as vice president in an old Washington, D.C., office and at Bidens Delaware home. And the presidents team has cooperated with the resulting DOJ probe of Bidens handling of classified material, a stark contrast to Trumps alleged obstruction. Trump spent almost two years resisting the return of records and even encouraged his lawyers to lie to authorities or destroy documents after they were subpoenaed. Trumps indictment takes into consideration his limited cooperation. Trump wasnt charged for using any of the documents he returned to Archives, which itself came after a lengthy battle. The charges are based only on those collected following a subpoena and recovered during the search of his home. Some Republicans also argue that even if Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden should be indicted, it is not an excuse for not indicting Trump. Assume for the sake of discussion that Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, fill in the blank, should be indicted, should be prosecuted, and the failure to do so constitutes a double standard. Just assume that for purposes of discussion, former Trump national security adviser John Bolton said Monday on CNN. Now look at this indictment of Donald Trump. Do those people who make that complaint say therefore the answer is not to prosecute Donald Trump? That the response to a double standard is to move to no standard at all? For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Does Idaho really have a state dinosaur? Here are 15 of Idahos most fun, wackiest emblems Lifelong Idahoans passionate about their state are likely well aware of the states official gem or flower. But did you know Idaho also has a state dinosaur, dance and even raptor? The Idaho Statesman, in conjunction with the Idaho Legislative Research Library, looked at old legislative documents and Statesman archives from the Boise Public Library to piece together when and how Idahos state emblems came to be. State Bird: Mountain Bluebird The mountain bluebird is one of Idahos oldest state emblems, despite being somewhat elusive to find. Tom Knudson One of Idahos oldest emblems, the mountain bluebird became the state bird in 1931. According to an article in the Statesman from February of that year, few residents in the states southern half were even aware that the mountain bluebird existed. According to the article, the bluebird would hide away in Idahos high plateaus around the Snake River, where it would remain through the mating season. For those lucky enough to see the bird, its arrival from warmer climates typically indicated the start of summer and was a sign of good luck and happiness, which led to the legislation adopting it as the state bird. Nearly 100 years later, the birds observe the same pattern and can be seen throughout the state after mating season, according to Idaho Fish and Game. State Flower: Syringa The syringa was collected by Meriwether Lewis during his expedition through Idaho and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. Pete Zimowsky/Pete Zimowsky The syringa also joined the annals of Idahos emblem history in 1931 after a vote by schoolchildren. According to an article in the Statesman, children across the state voted on Arbor Day for Idahos state flower, resulting in the syringa winning. The publication The Nampa Progress was quoted in the Statesman article, describing the syringa as a perennial native of Idaho, blossoms of pure snow white resembling orange blossoms and very fragrant. We do not know that it is a native of any other state. The syringas scientific name, Philadelphus lewisii, pays homage to Meriwether Lewis, who collected the flower on Lewis and William Clarks expedition across the Pacific Northwest. It can be found in Idaho near Idaho City and Anderson Ranch Reservoir in the Boise National Forest, according to the U.S. Forest Service. State Song: Here We Have Idaho The Idaho Capitol in Boise was once home to a chorus of representatives singing the newly minted state song. Darin Oswald/doswald@idahostatesman.com Can you imagine the entire Idaho House of Representatives all singing in unison? No? Well, thats what happened in 1931. The song, composed by Sallie Hume Douglas according to Idaho Code, was selected as the state song in February 1931. House Chairwoman Emma Yearin introduced University of Idaho graduate and soprano Lois Russell to the clerks rostrum, according to an article in the Statesman, where she sang the songs chorus as the clock struck 2 p.m. At Yearins request, all House members stood and sang the chorus. You can find the song with lyrics on YouTube. State Tree: Western White Pine A family hikes through an ancient grove of cedar trees in North Idaho. Trees like western red cedar and western white pine are better poised to withstand changing conditions due to climate change. Lewiston Tribune photo The Western white pine isnt as populous in Idaho as it was when designated as the state tree in 1935, but its existence in the northern reaches of the Rocky Mountains means North Idaho is one of the few places the tree can be found. The Idaho House passed a bill to make the Western white pine the state tree by a vote of 56-1, with the only no coming from a Valley County representative, according to a February 1935 article in the Statesman. The representative thought the yellow pine tree would be a better selection, but other House members argued that the yellow pine appeared more frequently in other states and therefore had no significance to Idaho. The largest white pine in the world stands in Idaho, according to the Secretary of States Office. The massive tree is near Elk River in North Idaho and stands 219 feet. State Gem: Star Garnet A star garnet in a piece of jewelry, found at a Boise jeweler. Katherine Jones/kjones@idahostatesman.com It only makes sense for the Gem State to have a state gem, and in 1967 the Legislature unanimously voted on the star garnet. According to a 1967 Statesman article, the Senate State Affairs Committee said that Idaho star garnets have a reputation for being the worlds finest and most beautiful, and the star garnet is the rarest of the popular star stones. The only place the star garnet can be found in abundance is in Latah County in North Idaho, specifically around the Emerald Creek Garnet Area near St. Maries. State Horse: Appaloosa The Appaloosa horse is now one of the most popular horses in America, but its origins come from the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho. Photo courtesy El Dorado County Animal Serivces In March 1975, Appaloosa horses were paraded in front of the Statehouse in downtown Boise to celebrate the native Idaho animal being named the state horse. The Appaloosa beat out competition from the quarter horse, which was initially in the running, according to a 1975 Statesman article, before it was pointed out the quarter horse was developed in Texas. In contrast, the Appaloosa was developed in Idaho by the Nez Perce Tribe and became an integral part of the tribes history during the Nez Perce War of 1877. The horses developed for intelligence, speed and endurance were used by tribal members to avoid the U.S. cavalry for several months. The Appaloosa is now one of the most common horse breeds in the United States, according to the Appaloosa Museum in Moscow. State Fossil: Hagerman Horse The collection of Hagerman Horse fossils in Idaho is the largest collection of the species found in the world. Susan Whaley/Statesman file photo While one state emblem is a live horse, another is an extinct horse. The Hagerman Horse was 5 feet tall and believed to be a herd species related more closely to zebras than horses. Over 200 fossils have been found in Southern Idaho around the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, signifying the most extensive collection of Hagerman Horse fossils ever found. The House Commerce, Industry and Tourism Committee proposed the Hagerman Horse as the state fossil in 1988, citing that it is the most common mammal fossil in Idaho. In the spring 1967 version of the Journal of the Idaho Historical Society, the mammal was called the Hagerman Zebra in an article highlighting the Hagerman fossil beds. A January 1988 Statesman article quoted Hagerman Mayor Merle Owlsey calling the 3.4 million-year-old horse Idahos oldest citizen. Idaho residents can find a fully reconstructed fossil of the Hagerman Horse, along with fossils of other animals like the ground sloth and saber-toothed cat, at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument just off Interstate 84 in south-central Idaho. State Amphibian: Idaho Giant Salamander The Idaho giant salamander is almost exclusively found in Idaho, with a small population also existing in Montana. Darin Oswald A recent addition to Idahos state emblems, the Idaho Giant Salamander was proposed in 2015 by Les Bois Junior High student Ilah Hickman, who stated that the salamander lived almost exclusively in Idaho and was a perfect contender for the state amphibian. Children around the state wrote to former House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher asking for the Idaho Giant Salamander to become the state amphibian. The Legislative Research Library still keeps those letters in its records. Hickmans bill was killed earlier in the 2015 legislative session before being brought back to life and quickly passed by the House and the Senate in the final hours of that session. The Idaho Giant Salamander can be found throughout the north-central parts of the state, according to Idaho Fish and Game, with a tiny sliver of the population also living in Montana. State Dinosaur: Oryctodromeus Idaho State University professor L. J. Krumenacker is shown with a skeleton of Oryctodromeus cubicularis. Courtesy photo A state fossil wasnt enough for Idaho. In 2023 the Legislature also voted on a state dinosaur, eventually landing on the Oryctodromeus, a dinosaur discovered in Bonneville County in 2006. State Senator Kevin Cook proposed the idea on Feb. 27 in the Senate State Affairs Committee, saying that fourth graders around the state had been lobbying for the Oryctodromeus to become the state dinosaur. According to committee minutes, Cook argued that the fourth graders had gone to great lengths to research and write a proposal for the state dinosaur and that their opinion should be valued. The Oryctodromeus was a small herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous Period about 94-99 million years ago, according to the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom. State Dance: Square Dance Idaho was the ninth state to adopt the square dance as part of a decades-long attempt to make it the official national folk dance of the United States. Jupiterimages/Getty Images In 1989 Idaho joined a growing list of states that adopted the square dance as its state dance. According to minutes from the House State Affairs Committee, Ted Koskella approached the Legislature with hopes for the square dance to one day be adopted federally as the national folk dance of the U.S. Koskella told representatives that the square dance was essential to the economics of Idaho because of the clothing purchased and out-of-state visitors who came to Idaho for square dance festivals. As of 2023, 31 states have adopted the square dance as their state dance. State Fish: Cutthroat Trout The Idaho Senate endorsed legislation to make the cutthroat trout the state fish in 1990 it happened just two years after an attempt to make the sturgeon the state fish failed, according to a Statesman article in March 1990. The idea of the cutthroat as the state fish was first presented by Jim Kolet, a fourth-grade teacher, and his students at Indian Creek Elementary School in Kuna. According to committee minutes, the students put on a play for the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, which resulted in rousing applause. About two weeks later, an Idaho Fish and Game fishery biologist presented a bill to designate the cutthroat trout as the official state fish it passed in the House by a 26-14 vote. Cutthroat trout can grow to about two feet long and are found throughout most of Idaho year-round. State Insect: Monarch Butterfly Monarch butterflies will rest and mate around areas with plenty of milkweed, such as in Southern Idaho. Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com Despite the monarch butterflys semi-annual journey from Canada to the southern U.S. and Mexico through dozens of states, Idaho adopted the butterfly as the state insect in 1992. Rep. Molly Lazechko introduced the idea to the House State Affairs Committee in February 1992, and on Valentines Day invited a group of fourth-grade students from Cole Elementary School to present a song and testimony on behalf of the butterfly. The monarch butterfly breeds in Idaho and then-Sen. Brian Donesley noted that the butterflies were also good for farms because they eat weeds. According to a Statesman article a week later, all it took was the group of students flapping around in orange and black paper wings for the Idaho Senate to approve the bill unanimously by a 41-0 vote. But it wasnt all straightforward; Sen. Betty Benton, tongue-in-cheek, suggested the common earwig, while Sen. Stan Hawkins joked that the selection of the monarch butterfly was discriminatory. Monarch butterflies can be found in Idaho most commonly during the summer months. State Fruit: Huckleberry Huckleberries are best picked in Idaho in late summer when the days are long and the fruit is ripe. Eric Barker/Lewiston Tribune Another fourth-grade class led the charge to make the huckleberry Idahos state fruit. Students from Southside Elementary in Bonner County wrote to the Legislature in 2000, but the idea did garner some pushback. Opponents claimed that the huckleberry grew in too few of the states counties and that taking time to debate the bill was too trivial, according to a Statesman article from March 2000. Rep. Maxine Bell from Jerome argued that critics were missing the point and that any chance to engage children in the legislative process was positive. The House forwarded the proposal to the Senate with a 48-19 vote, and it passed there, too. The best time to pick huckleberries is mid-July through August in many of Idahos coniferous forests, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The Priest Lake area in the Idaho Panhandle is a prime spot for picking huckleberries. State Vegetable: Potato Not much explanation is needed as to why the potato is the state vegetable. Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com This one isnt a surprise. When people hear the word Idaho, the first thing they probably think of is potatoes the state produces nearly a third of all U.S. potatoes. But it took until 2002 for the potato to become recognized as the state vegetable. There was some debate over why the state vegetable couldnt more specifically be an Idaho russet burbank potato. We raise a variety of potatoes in Idaho, Sen. Bart Davis was quoted saying in a March 2002 article in the Statesman. We are choosing to honor today the potato collectively. State Raptor: Peregrine Falcon Gus the peregrine falcon helps spread the word about the mission at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise. The Peregrine Fund supports conservation efforts around the world. Darin Oswald/doswald@idahostatesman.com The peregrine falcon is an Idaho success story, having come back from the brink of extinction thanks to the help of The Peregrine Fund just south of Boise. Rep. Skippen Snodgrass brought the idea of a state raptor to the Legislature in February 2004, citing that students from two schools in his district had researched and proposed the idea to him. Tom Cade, co-founder of The Peregrine Fund, spoke in support of the bill in front of the House State Affairs Committee. The peregrine falcon can be seen today at the World Center for Birds of Prey south of Boise and in the wild throughout the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. With the multi-year agreement signed between Orlandos Phillips Center and PepsiCo Orlando, area residents can look forward to even more of a commitment to the arts between the two partners. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< As the 2023 season begins, the Giveback Initiative will once again treat Orlando area residents from all backgrounds, ages, and economic statuses to free performances. In the past five seasons, over 3,500 beneficiaries have been impacted by the community giveback initiative Read: Massive sinkhole opens up near homes in Central Florida Also, included will be free transportation, a complimentary meal, an interactive pre-show experience, and even a gift bag. In past years, the largest program to date was for the four-week run of Hamilton, which raised $236,000 to host more than a thousand students, teachers, families, community groups, first responders, and veterans for a performance. Read: Artists to debut large mural to honors victims and survivors of Pulse nightclub shooting Their sponsorship will change lives with forever memories of the arts center, said Kathy Ramsberger, President & CEO of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Ramsberger added the Dr. Phillips Center is grateful for our long-standing partnership. Read: Central Florida marks seven years since the deadly Pulse nightclub mass shooting As this season kicked off earlier this month, 100 Metro Orlando Boy Scouts and Boys & Girls Club of America attended free performance of Into The Woods, presented at the Walt Disney Theater. 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. OAKLAND -- Supporters and members of the LGBT community came together in Oakland to condemn anti-drag bills being passed in several, mostly Republican-led states across the country. The event was called "Can't Drag Us Down: A Night of Drag and Defiance" at Shakewell, a restaurant and bar in Oakland's Lakeshore neighborhood. More than 300 people turned out to help raise at least $10,000 for the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. Drag performer Bionka Simone dazzled the sold-out crowd at Shakewell's first-ever fundraiser. It was meant to be a stand against hate amid a wave of anti-LGBT bills being introduced, advanced or passed in states across the country. There are currently more than 450 anti-LGBT bills in state legislatures, according to the ACLU. "Trans and LGBTQ people -- we're the most marginalized community that's out there so why not do something to help support my community?" Simone said. Bionka is a trans woman who has been entertaining for 25 years. "It pains me to see my girlfriends in other cities like Texas, Tennesse, Kentucky kind of battling it out. They're trying to take away their rights," she said. "It sucks, there's nothing more that I can say than it sucks. I just wish that people actually go out to a show and see what it was like. Anyone who was here could tell you there's nothing but love in the audience, people were having a lot of fun. There were kids that were here." Shakewell owner Tim Nugent also joined the queens as Lady Lakeshore to show the power of diversity and drag. He organized the event and also sits on the center's board. "We're going to celebrate, we're going to sing, we're going to dance, we're going to represent these drag queens from S.F. and Oakland," Nugent said. "We're super, super excited." "My goal is to just continue to show up and being who I am, as long as I represent me, I'm not the face for every transgender person but at least someone can get to know a trans person and see what they're like," Simone added. Nonbinary actors make Tony Awards history as show goes on without script 2024 GOP candidates respond to Trump's federal indictment Rep. Nancy Mace discusses Trump indictment, McCarthy's speakership With drag in the national spotlight and political hot seat, a new Modesto event is hoping to put the fun and some education back into the historical art form. The What a Drag fundraiser will be held June 17 at downtown Modestos State Theatre. Kappa Epsilon, a local chapter of the international womens professional educators society Delta Kappa Gamma, is presenting the show, which is being billed as a mashup of Dancing With the Stars and RuPauls Drag Race. The event brings seven community leaders together with seven local drag experts drag performers from Modesto and across the Central Valley to be mentored and then all perform at the benefit showcase. Event organizer and Kappa Epsilon Vice President Debbie Soro, a teacher with the Stanislaus County Office of Education, had the idea for a drag fundraiser years ago, before the pandemic. Then the local chapter of Kappa Epsilon launched in 2020. The group now has about 30 members, with teachers from Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Ripon and beyond. For their first in-person public event since forming, Chapter President Shannon Cato said they hope to raise money to support other local nonprofit groups and community organizations. When (we formed), we had three main goals for the chapter: one, connect with other local nonprofits; two, community service; and three, have fun, Cato said. So were excited for this event to (do) all three. Proceeds from drag event to benefit community groups Proceeds from the show will benefit four groups: Drum Love (a nonprofit drum circle and music sharing group), The PLACE (a nonprofit LGBTQ+ youth group), HARRT (a youth group promoting healthy relationships from the Haven domestic violence shelter), and Women Techmakers Modesto (local chapter of a larger Google initiative on women in tech). The shows novice performers will range from local restaurant owners to educators, and the professionals will be entertainers who perform regularly in the region. The drag novices: Jo Sisemore, owner of Pho Americana in Turlock and leader of The PLACE. Damon Robbins, owner of Camp 4 Wine Cafe in Modesto. Kaye Osborn, longtime educator and community performer, director, ASL instructor and interpreter. Claudia Linares, an educator, actress and community leader. Kate Trompetter, community leader who co-founded ModShop and Porchfest. David Rogers, musician and founder of Drum Love Karlha Davies, community leader and ambassador for Women Techmakers Modesto The drag experts: Sasha Devaroe, Modesto-based drag queen and regular host at Splash Modesto Gigi Banks, Merced-based drag queen and regular host at The Brave Bull Julian Moonlightt, Modesto-based drag queen Azula Rose, Modesto-based drag queen Sir Vix, Sacramento-based drag king Kai the Drag King, Denair-based drag king Deja Moore, Fresno-based drag queen, Modesto native and emcee for the event A drum circle is hosted by Drum Love during the Earth Day celebration at Graceada Park in Modesto, Calif., Saturday, April 22, 2023. Soro, who has a background working in theater and with gay-straight alliance clubs during her more than 30 years with SCOE and Modesto City Schools, thought the event would be a fun way to engage people with an art form they may not realize has ancient roots. Onstage female impersonation goes back to ancient times While drag has been in the news a lot lately, people performing as or in the attire of another gender is nothing new. The practice dates back historically to at least ancient Greece, according to Harvard Universitys Harvard Gazette. Shakespeare continued the tradition on stage in the late 16th and early 17th centuries with men dressing as women in his many plays because of womens exclusion from the theater arts at the time. In the more modern era, drag has been the main premise for everything from the 1959 Marilyn Monroe-Tony Curtis-Jack Lemmon classic Some Like It Hot to the 1980s sitcom that launched Tom Hanks career, Bosom Buddies, and the 1993 Robin Williams box-office hit Mrs. Doubtfire. More recently, drag has made headlines in states like Tennessee, Florida and Montana where its governors have signed laws banning some or all kinds of drag performances. Other bills targeting drag have been introduced and/or are advancing in more than a dozen other states. I dont think people know the history (of drag) at all. Theres a misconception that drag is always salacious, and thats not true. And it gets tied in with so many other misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community, Soro said. Drag and transgender issues often have been conflated in political debates as well. But not all drag performers are transgender, or vice versa. One is a performance style and another is a gender identity. But both, along with the larger LGBTQ+ community, have become targets for Republican-led state legislatures, with almost 500 bills aimed at restricting those groups introduced in 2023 alone, according to the ACLU. For newbies to drag, like Osborn, a longtime and now retired teacher from Modesto, the opportunity to try something totally new and show support for the regions LGBTQ+ community made her join the benefit. Drag queens and drag kings, they are people and they are not anything to be fearful of. So I am hoping that people will be intrigued enough in our community to see the beauty of people performing, Osborn said. Central Valley shows support for local LGBTQ+ community The State Theatre event will include some information about the history of drag, and each performer (novices and experts) will have their own showcase. The evening also will feature a group number as its finale. The show and performances will be for a PG-13 audience, meaning teens and up are welcome to attend. Politics aside, preparing to perform drag for the first time is a daunting task. All of the drag novices had to create their own drag characters from their stage names and personas to outfits, makeup, wigs and the performance itself. And then they had to practice the performances and get used to wearing the full makeup and costumes. Modesto drag expert David Soria, whose on-stage persona is Sasha Devaroe, is mentoring Sisemore for the show. The Oakdale native owns David Allen Salon in his hometown in addition to performing drag around the region for the last 15 years. Sorias husband, Larry Soria, is creating his and Sisemores outfits for the show. Some of his other work has been featured on the current all-star season of RuPauls Drag Race. Turlock restaurant owner Jo Sisemore getting measured for his drag outfit by Larry Soria, husband of drag mentor/performer Sasha Devaroe. Performing as Sasha is an outlet and place to feel free, Soria said, and the current negative political climate surrounding drag is nothing new. For the past three years, Modesto has been the often reluctant host to Straight Pride rallies, all which have been met with larger crowds of counterprotesters. Earlier this month, more than 100 people showed up to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors meeting in support of the local LGBTQ+ community, in response to a rumored protest that never materialized over a planned Rainbow Story Time at the Salida branch of the Stanislaus County Library. (Theres) a radical belief that we are dangerous. But we are far from dangerous. The LGBTQIA+ community has always been the main target of these radical beliefs. If its not transgender people, its the gay agenda and now, oh, its the drag queens, he said. But we will never cower and hide, because thats what they want us to do. ... And we have such a great support system in our Central Valley community. What a Drag is at 7:30 p.m. June 17 at the State Theatre, 1307 J St. in Modesto. Tickets are $50-$65 VIP, $35 back orchestra, $30 front balcony, $25 back balcony. For more information, call 209-527-4697 or visit thestate.org. By Max Hunder ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (Reuters) - The draining of one of Europe's largest reservoirs as a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam has revealed submerged military objects that offer a reminder of wars past and present on Ukrainian soil. On a drizzly morning near the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, a team of divers and underwater demining experts from Ukraine's State Emergency service grappled on Monday with the steering element of a S-300 missile. It had fallen in the water since Russia's full-scale invasion and was caked in algae and soil. The missile fragment had been spotted in shallow water on Saturday by a local resident taking a stroll on the newly formed beach. The demining team's leader, Oleksandr Chechko, said the water level at the location had fallen by around four metres. He said the amount of explosive or dangerous items the unit had been called out to deal with had grown several times since the Kakhovka dam was destroyed last Monday. Ukraine's environment minister said the Kakhovka reservoir, which was the body of water contained by the dam, had lost nearly three-quarters of its volume. Before the disaster, the reservoir contained 18 cubic kilometres (4.3 cubic miles) of water. Each side blames the other for the dam's destruction last week, but evidence is growing that there was an explosion at the dam around the time it collapsed, according to Ukrainian and U.S. intelligence reports and seismic data from Norway. Russia was in control of the dam when it was destroyed. The S-300, used by both Russia and Ukraine, is a Soviet-era missile built to intercept aerial targets, such as larger missiles. Russia also uses modified S-300s to hit ground targets in Ukraine. It was not clear which side had launched the recovered missile. REMNANTS OF A PAST WAR Chechko said the explosive detritus from the war with Russia was not the only thing exposed by the lower water level, as the dam's destruction had exposed reminders of earlier wars. "We often recover remnants of S-300 rockets, remnants of Smerch rockets, and after the water (level) fell we are finding munitions from World War Two," he said. Ukrainian news agency UNIAN posted a video on Sunday showing human remains on the dried-up reservoir bed which it said were from World War Two. One of the decomposing skulls was wearing a helmet similar to those worn by Nazi Germany's soldiers. Much of southern Ukraine, including the area around the drained reservoir, saw vicious battles in World War Two between the Soviet and German armies. Ukraine says 8 million of its people were killed in that war, a significant part of the Soviet Union's total losses. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has provided other historical echoes: In 1941, retreating Soviet forces blew up Zaporizhzhia's huge Dnipro Dam to slow a German assault. (Reporting by Max Hunder, Editing by Timothy Heritage, William Maclean) The person responsible for a Whatcom County traffic collision that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist earlier this month will not be criminally charged, according to the Washington State Patrol. Jason Rennings, 50, of Blaine, was driving a vehicle east on Anderson Road in Blaine at about 3 p.m. on June 6 before stopping at the intersection at State Route 548. William Fleischer, 58, of Blaine, was riding a motorcycle south on SR 548 at the same time. Rennings failed to see the motorcycle as he turned north onto SR 548, causing Fleischer to hit the vehicle and launching him onto the hood of Rennings vehicle. Fleischer died from his injuries, according to the Washington State Patrol. Rennings was cited for failure to yield because he was found to be at fault for the collision. But, he wasnt found to be negligent, reckless or impaired, so he wont be criminally charged for the death, Washington State Patrol Trooper Kelsey Harding told The Bellingham Herald. An example that would have made it negligent is if he did a rolling stop (so slowed to say 5-10 mph but not to a complete stop) then struck the motorcycle, Harding wrote. It also could be considered reckless if the driver of the vehicle was going through the stop sign at a high rate of speed, according to Trooper Harding. Rennings was separately arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail for multiple felony warrants including identity theft, and theft and possession of stolen property. Jail records show he has bonded out of custody. During a telephone conversation on Sunday, Presidents Andrzej Duda of Poland and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine discussed the preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. Source: Polish news agency PAP, as European Pravda reports Details: President Andrzej Duda and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation to discuss the outcomes of the Bucharest Nine summit in Bratislava as well as the ongoing preparations for the NATO summit scheduled to take place in Vilnius in July. The Ukrainian president informed Andrzej Duda about the situation at the contact line in light of the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Polish President's Office said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported on the conversation with the Polish president. "A late and, as always, productive conversation with Andrzej Duda has ended. We discussed our expectations from the NATO summit in Vilnius. We understand the importance of decisive steps by the Alliance to guarantee the security of Ukraine. I am grateful for the significant defence support from Poland. We also discussed further priority needs on the contact line," the Ukrainian President wrote on Telegram and Twitter. It is worth mentioning that on Monday, Andrzej Duda is leaving on a trip to Paris, where he is scheduled to hold a meeting in the Weimar Triangle format with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The dinner meeting will focus on Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership and security guarantees from allies ahead of the Alliance's summit in July. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A police officer in Olive Hill was injured in a shooting Monday afternoon, according to Kentucky State Police. KSP originally said the officer was shot, but later clarified that the officer was injured from broken glass after his cruiser was shot, KSP said. The officers injuries were described as non-life-threatening. In a tweet Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear said the officer is going to be okay. State police said Wednesday he was released from the hospital. The injured officer was Joe Preston, the Ashland Daily Independent reported. On Tuesday morning, a Facebook account that appeared to be Prestons posted photos of the injuries sustained in the shooting and an Olive Hill police cruiser with shattered glass. The good Lord had his blanket of armor around me yesterday, Preston wrote in the post. Suspect apparently attempted to murder a random police officer by shooting him in the head with a high powered rifle. Bullet missed my head by about six inches. The incident was reported at 3:15 p.m. and happened on Scott Street in the Carter County town, WSAZ reported. The suspects vehicle was located at about 8 p.m. in Lewis County. He was eventually arrested without further incident after a lengthy standoff, KSP said. Wesley Cornell, a 30-year-old Lewis County man, was booked in the Carter County jail early Tuesday and charged with attempted murder of a police officer, court records show. Cornells bond was listed at $1 million. The shot came from a wooded area and the suspect was not seen, WSAZ reported. The officer was not responding to a call when he was injured. Those in downtown Olive Hill and people in areas around Mill Street, Tom T. Hall Blvd. and Route 2 were told by police to shelter in place during the search for the suspect. The injured officer was flown to St. Marys Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia, Trooper Shane Goodall, the public information officer at KSP Post 14 in Ashland said. Following reports out of Olive Hill, I am asking Kentuckians to join Britainy and me in praying for one of their police officers, who was shot this afternoon and is receiving care, Beshear tweeted Monday evening. We are here for this family and entire law enforcement community during this difficult time. Following reports out of Olive Hill, I am asking Kentuckians to join Britainy and me in praying for one of their police officers, who was shot this afternoon and is receiving care. We are here for this family and entire law enforcement community during this difficult time. Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) June 12, 2023 This is a developing story and may be updated. Elizabeth Gilbert has announced that she is cancelling the planned publication of her new book, amid complaints over its use of a Siberian setting. Titled The Snow Forest, the novel had been announced by Bloomsbury last week, with a publication date scheduled for February 2024. Gilbert, the 53-year-old writer best known for her 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love, shared a video on social media addressing concerns over The Snow Forests subject matter in light of Russias ongoing war with Ukraine. Last week I announced the upcoming publication of my most recent novel, which was set in the middle of Siberia in the middle of the last century, and told the story of a group of individuals who made a decision to remove themselves from society to resist the Soviet government, and to try to defend nature against industrialisation, she said. Gilbert went on to say that over the course of the weekend, she had received an enormous, massive outpouring of reactions and responses from Ukrainian fans of hers, expressing anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain. She explained that the backlash concerned the fact that I would choose to release a book into the world right now any book, no matter what the subject of it is that is set in Russia. I want to say that I have heard these messages, and read these messages, and I respect them. As a result, I am making a course correction, and I am removing this book from its publication schedule, she continued. It is not the time for this book to be published. Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert (Elizabeth Gilbert via Twitter) I dont want to add any harm to a group of people who have already experienced, and who are continuing to experience, grievous and extreme harm. So that is the choice I have made. According to Gilbert, she is set to turn her attention to other ongoing book projects. Those fans who had been charged after pre-ordering the novel will receive refunds. Her announcement prompted a mixed reaction among followers, with some suggesting that pulling the novel from publication was unwarranted. Others, however, praised her for the decision, including many Ukranian commenters. Good going by New York City in filing suit in state court against 30 counties that have issued preposterous emergency orders to try to prohibit the arrival of migrants who could be sent to hotels in their jurisdictions, at NYCs own cost. This follows a federal judge slapping down Rockland and Orange Counties orders over clear discriminatory intent. Lets have a quick decision ruling that these counties cant unilaterally ban the arrival of certain migrants in their jurisdictions not under the U.S. Constitution, and not under state law. Well repeat what weve said before, that just because its absurd for these localities to attempt to categorically restrict the placement of asylum seekers in private hotels in their jurisdictions doesnt necessarily mean that its a good idea to bus people to localities that havent coordinated to receive them. Lest Mayor Eric Adams forget, this is the exact same pattern that triggered the crisis that hes so keen on mitigating now, and ultimately it doesnt matter if he thinks its unfair or wants the upstate counties to share the burden. It all ends the same way, with desperate migrants being shuffled around as political chess pieces while leaders that all have much more power than them bicker and launch recriminations at each other. What they need is a stable place to get their footing and establish their new lives, and no, it shouldnt fall on New York City alone to be that place, but rather than just sending them out to localities that are going to fight tooth and nail to make them feel unwelcome, what really needs to happen is a top-down, coordinated strategy of the type only authorities above the NYC government can provide. Thats looking at you, Gov. Hochul, and especially at you, President Biden. Stepping back doesnt make things less chaotic, it makes them far more chaotic, to the detriment of everyone. Lets use the federal governments vast resources to place migrants where theyll be welcomed and accommodated, and give them the work authorization they desperately need. _____ Just like DDT, PCBs and asbestos, a group of substances obliquely known as PFAS are incredibly useful, potentially deadly and devilishly difficult to clean up. Since the 1950s, PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) have been used in products ranging from pacemakers and fireproof foam to cosmetics and food containers. They persist in the environment practically forever, and its thought that almost every person on the planet carries at least a trace of these forever chemicals. Animal studies show they can stunt development, damage the liver and compromise immune systems. The effects on humans are still being fully assessed, but the Environmental Protection Agency recently issued health advisories saying theyre much more dangerous than previously understood. The good news is that companies making the most widely distributed PFAS chemicals are phasing them out under pressure, as lawsuits pile up. The bad news about PFAS is, well, complicated and it just keeps coming. For starters, these chemicals really do last forever, at least in terms of human life spans, and theyre showing up all over the place. The Tribunes Michael Hawthorne has chronicled how PFAS have wormed their way into drinking water and the food chain. This stuff has spread from the North Pole to Antarctica, and many people are consuming PFAS in quantities exceeding the EPAs latest proposed standards. No one can be sure if any amount is truly safe. Making matters worse, PFAS are still found in some common products, and phasing them out is no cinch. Without PFAS, some types of umbrellas would leak, nonstick cookware would stick, and stain-resistant carpets would stain. Some common cleaning products wouldnt clean as well. Nail polish and eye makeup wouldnt last as long. Those may sound like relatively minor annoyances, but what about eye surgeries that require small amounts of PFAS to help ensure successful outcomes? Or rocket ships that need PFAS as lubricants, or to make sensitive computer chips in mission-critical components? PFAS also are used to prevent contamination of surgical gowns. Commercial aircraft and low-emissions vehicles similarly rely on them. Scientists have scrambled to reformulate products without using PFAS, and in some cases theyve made it work. But as of today, no widely accepted substitute exists, and some of the alternatives developed so far might be no better for the environment and human health. The clock is ticking. Earlier this month, three of the biggest PFAS makers agreed to pay $1.2 billion to help remove the chemicals from U.S. public water systems. Thats one lawsuit down for those companies, and many more to go. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has jumped on the bandwagon, suing 14 PFAS companies earlier this year. One of the juiciest targets is 3M, the Minneapolis-based conglomerate and PFAS pioneer. Bloomberg recently reported that 3M has agreed to pay at least $10 billion to U.S. cities and towns to resolve water pollution claims, though as of Friday no settlement had been announced. 3M has been running away from PFAS as fast as it can, but not fast enough to escape ruinous liability. The company announced in 2000 that it would voluntarily phase out some PFAS production, then last December said it would end all PFAS production by the end of 2025 and remove the chemicals from all its products, taking an $800 million charge a fraction of what it might ultimately owe. The company acknowledges that it doesnt yet know the final cost of its PFAS divorce. It might lose some of its best customers if its products dont work anymore without the PFAS. The cost of litigation against it is likely to soar, especially if personal-injury attorneys start winning punitive damages for various health problems. The company acknowledges in public filings that its role in spreading PFAS around the world could lead to criminal proceedings. What a mess! Just last month, a leading maker of PFAS-drenched firefighting foam, Kidde-Fenwal, filed for Chapter 11, saying its liabilities far exceed its ability to pay. More corporate bankruptcies are inevitable, and plaintiffs lawyers are targeting the government and military as well. Remember hearing about the Camp Lejeune Justice Act passed by Congress last year, which enables veterans to sue based on exposure to toxic chemicals during their service? Yep, the main culprits were PFAS, mixed up with other toxins, and in those legal cases the Defense Department is expected to be both a plaintiff and a defendant. It would be no surprise if the chemical industry sought a government bailout, which is premature. Meantime, the government is late in playing a leadership role. In a recent letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., pointedly asked for details about how or is that, if? funds from the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 are being used to research PFAS alternatives, especially in producing semiconductors. As it stands, the letter says, these hazardous chemicals are still vital to our economic and national security. Belatedly, the letter directs the Commerce Department to sort out essential uses from frivolous ones and get busy solving the problem of what new substances to use instead. There you go, bureaucrats. In case you didnt know, its past time to swing into action. Meanwhile, everyone should hold onto their wallets. The full scope of the PFAS health and environmental disaster is just beginning to materialize, and the cleanup cost is going to be astronomical. 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. Mayor Karen Bass, pictured here signing the Los Angeles city budget on May 26, wants the city to pay for drug treatment, a task generally handled by the county. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Most of the roughly 1,000 homeless people who died in Los Angeles last year succumbed to overdose. Although only a minority of the people living on L.A.'s streets and sidewalks have a drug problem, and although lack of affordable housing is the largest driver of homelessness, substance use disorder is a significant presence on the street. Of L.A.'s 42,000 homeless people, between a quarter and a third are estimated to regularly use methamphetamine, opioids like fentanyl, or other dangerous substances. So any realistic plan to end homelessness must include effective drug treatment. That was clear to Karen Bass decades ago, when she was a physicians assistant and then an organizer who founded the Community Coalition. The original name of the South Los Angeles-based organization the Community Coalition for Substance Abuse and Treatment is a reminder of the central role addiction plays in homelessness alongside poverty, crime and racism, even as drug use undermines the lives of people of all races and economic circumstances. As mayor of Los Angeles, Bass has prioritized drug rehab and wants the city, for the first time, to help pay for it. To understand why that makes good sense, it helps to recall the recent history of other levels of government federal, state and county in funding substance abuse disorder treatment. Read more: Editorial: Homeless people shouldn't spend weeks proving they're poor before they get an apartment Rehab programs became more widely available with passage in 2010 of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In California, federal funds are directed by the state Medi-Cal program to counties, which reimburse providers for 30 days of treatment for each participant, or up to 90 days with extensions. Its not enough. Recovering from substance abuse disorder requires serious work, and a serious time commitment. A few weeks in residential treatment may be enough for the detox portion of therapy, which generally includes drug withdrawal and other physiological decontamination. But treatment also has to address habits and thought patterns that are based at least as much in psychology as biology. Many people who successfully completed programs report that 30 days was barely enough time to clear their heads. After 90 days, participants may be ready, with guidance, to begin talking about how to get their lives back on track. It may take a year of living with peers to be ready to live independently and begin the outpatient portion of recovery. The pre-Obamacare funding model sustained longer programs, but for fewer people. To serve most participants today, providers have had to adapt to the shorter model, and risk patients returning to the street and old habits once the funding runs out. To keep people on a sustainable road to recovery, supplemental funding is needed to pay for longer therapy regimens. Read more: Editorial: Haven't we learned yet? Harsher penalties won't save us from fentanyl Los Angeles County, rather than the city, administers Medi-Cal reimbursements and provides health services for most of its 10 million residents. But it has many competing needs for health funding and appears unenthusiastic about using it to extend drug treatment past 90 days. So why not tap city funds? The city of L.A. has no health department and little history in providing or funding drug rehab. But it has millions of dollars from the settlement of multiple lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of opioids. And it has a mayor who shows a refreshing impatience with the niceties of jurisdictional boundaries. Bass wants to use the money to supplement Medi-Cal drug treatment reimbursements so that providers can once again offer residential programs that last at least 180 days. Read more: Editorial: If L.A. can cut red tape, it can get more homeless people off the streets faster Members of the City Council will have their own ideas about how best to spend the opioid settlement funds, but theyd be hard-pressed to find a better use, or a better time for it. Longer, more effective substance use treatment programs are an essential component of any successful plan to treat anyone who is struggling with drug use, whether homeless or housed. There have been exciting developments in drug treatment. Some patients who take semaglutide, a medication prescribed for weight loss and diabetes under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, have discovered reduced cravings not just for food but for alcohol and tobacco. Could it also work for meth? For heroin? Further study is needed. For now, though, no magic pill or potion has yet been shown to be as successful at treating substance use disorder as sustained residential treatment followed by continuing outpatient care. The city has the need, and for now it has the money. Its time to put it to use. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Tim Cook and Elon Musk. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images and Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images Elon Musk has poked fun at the price of Apple's new mixed-reality headset. Apple launched the Vision Pro, the company's first major product in eight years, last week. However, the price has been a sore spot for many diehard fans. The $3,499 price tag for Apple's new Vision Pro headset may even be too steep for the world's richest man, Elon Musk. The Tesla CEO posted a meme on Twitter poking fun at the price of the augmented-reality headset. The image compared Apple's new headset to a bag of mushrooms with the text: "Apple $3,500 augmented reality VS. $20 augmented reality." Musk later posted another meme, featuring a headset with a similar shape to Apple's, which appeared to reference the new product. Apple launched the Vision Pro its first major product in eight years last week. However, the price has been a sore spot for many diehard fans. When the tech giant announced the mixed-reality headset at its Worldwide Developer Conference, the audience responded to the high price with groans, sighs, and laughter, as Insider's Pete Syme reported. Videos of the collective reaction have been shared widely on social media. Musk was engaged in an argument with the Big Tech company late last year. In November, the Tesla CEO said Apple had "mostly" stopped advertising on Twitter, tagging Tim Cook in his tweet. He later took aim at Apple's 30% App Store fee, calling it "a 30% tax on the Internet" and tweeting a photo implying he had gone to war with the tech giant. Representatives for Apple did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Eric Holder Says It Would Be 'Absurd' For Trump To Serve As President If Convicted Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under President Barack Obama, on Sunday said it would be simply absurd for Donald Trump to serve as president again if he is found guilty of mishandling classified documents. The former president, who is currently the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, was indicted on 37 counts over keeping top secret documents after he left the White House in January 2021 and allegedly obstructing government efforts to recover them. Despite the damning charges, which include willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice, Trump has continued to claim hes innocent and appears determined to stay in the 2024 presidential contest. The notion that you could have a trial, defend it, be convicted, somehow win the election, be sworn in as a president, or whenever it happens, that seems inconsistent with our notion of fairness, of the rule of law, Holder said on MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki. Holder added that he would hope that an impeachment proceeding would be triggered if Trump were to be found guilty while in office, and that he would ultimately be removed from the role. The notion that a convicted felon ... would serve as president of the United States is absurd, is simply absurd, Holder said. But Trump has said he has no intention of stepping aside. Ill never leave, Trump told Politico 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. Former U.S. Attorney General @EricHolder: "The notion that a convicted felon...would serve as President of the United States is absurd, is simply absurd." pic.twitter.com/ksoJhlyWkY Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) June 11, 2023 Holder also expressed concern about Aileen Cannon, the judge who will preside over the case, saying she doesnt have the legal acumen to oversee a case of this importance. Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, was criticized over her decision to grant the former presidents request for a special master to review the documents the FBI obtained during a search of Mar-a-Lago in August. Her ruling was overturned by a federal appeals court. I would hope that she would see within herself, or that somehow, some way, she is convinced that she should get off the case and some other judge should handle this matter, Holder said. I dont have confidence in her abilities to be fair, or to be seen as fair. He added that Cannon as a presiding judge would have the power to affect the case in a number of ways. But the one that concerns me the most is the notion of delay, and pushing this case, you know, past the general election, certainly well into the primary season, just by the way in which she schedules things, Holder added. "I'm concerned about her handling this case...I don't have confidence in her abilities to be fair or to be seen as fair."@EricHolder to @jrpsaki on Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon. pic.twitter.com/3oztHcWswm Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) June 11, 2023 Related... Escape to the Chateau stars Dick and Angel Strawbridge are reportedly set to shut down their French venture after being dropped by producers at Channel 4. The married couple appeared on the programme, which follows their renovation of a 19th-century chateau in Martigne-sur-Mayenne, France, for nine series, beginning in 2016 and ending in December 2022. However, the show ended after rumours emerged of a deteriorating relationship between [production company]Two Rivers and Dick and Angels Chateau TV for various reasons. Deadline first reported that the broadcaster had ended its relationship with the Strawbridges earlier this month. According to the article, an independent HR investigation was ordered by Channel 4 after Two Rivers Media, the company that produces the Escape To The Chateau franchise, raised concerns about the couple. Following a review, we have taken the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future, a Channel 4 spokeswoman said. The outlet then obtained a foul-mouthed audio recording, in which Angel can be heard calling a producer a f***ed up little c***. Find the full transcript of what she said here. It has now been reported that the couple have applied to close their castle company Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson Limited. MailOnline reports that the application to Companies House was signed on 9 May, with the company allegedly set to be dissolved within the next six weeks. All of the chateaus events are now marked unavailable, with the couple telling fans that they are endeavouring to catch up after completing their first international theatre and book-signing tour in Australia and New Zealand. We are currently on a two year weddings catch-up, we will reopen enquiries as soon as we can! a message under the weddings section of their website states. Angel and Dick Strawbridge on Lorraine' (ITV) According to documents at Companies House, the Strawbridges have also handed over control of Chateau Television Limited to Da2AD limited, which is run by an accountant. The Independent has contacted the Strawbridges for comment. This development follows the Strawbridges annoucement of a UK tour on Thursday (8 June). Its been nearly a year in the planning and we simply could not wait to tell you that we are hitting the road for our biggest ever theatre tour! the couple wrote, while vowing to set the record straight. Escape to the Chateau came to an end in December 2022, with the couple saying they believed the show was going out on a high. They said in a statement last month: It was a Strawbridge Family decision early last year to conclude Escape To The Chateau. Dick and Angel Strawbridge vow to set record straight on tour (Instagram) The couple added in a statement via their joint Instagram page: We know there are lots of stories in the press right now. Its not worth us even trying to comment or give context, because anything can be made into a good headline. We understand. They continued: There are two sides to every story and from the incredible support we have received, most of you know that. We are proud of who we are, and we feel we must do what we believe to be correct, that is in fact what kept Escape to the Chateau unique, and whilst we have indeed parted ways with Channel 4, we are hugely grateful to them and their teams for their support and creativity over the years. The future truly could not look more exciting and we thank you for your continued love and support. A Channel 4 spokesperson said: Channel 4 is taking an active role in challenging unacceptable behaviour in our industry. Following a review of our processes in 2021 we have made it easier to raise complaints both formally and informally. We require all our production partners to follow our Supplier Code of Conduct and when concerns are raised with us, they will be taken seriously and action will happen to ensure they are investigated and addressed appropriately. There is always more to do and alongside our suppliers we are committed to building safe, inclusive and professional working environments. You can read more about the Strawbridges here. FILE PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement on the launch of a partnership for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen starts a four-nation trip to Latin American on Monday to bolster political and trade ties that the European Union admits it has sometimes neglected. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has cast around for "like-minded" partners to provide other sources of trade and critical minerals required for its green transition and help reduce its reliance on China. Von der Leyen will meet the presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico on consecutive days. Her trip follows that of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this year and comes a week before Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva travels to Paris. Brussels will also host more than 30 leaders from Latin American and the Caribbean at a summit on July 17-18, a springboard for its "new agenda" with the region unveiled last week. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the partnership had been sometimes "taken for granted, or even neglected", and needed to be upgraded with "partners of choice". High on von der Leyen's agenda will be the trade agreement struck in 2019 with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but put on hold largely due to concerns over Amazon deforestation. The EU is expecting a Mercosur response soon to its proposal to attach sustainability and climate change commitments to the deal. Von der Leyen will also seek to push forward an update to the EU-Mexico trade pact which the two sides agreed in 2018. Another focus will be the EU's desire for partnerships on critical raw materials with a number of countries in the region. It has a trade agreement with Chile that could give EU companies greater access to the country's lithium and copper. A possible understanding with Argentina could also promote exploration of the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas reserves by EU investors. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by David Holmes) Evacuation of people from the left bank of Dnipro requires absolute media silence, says Humeniuk Hola Prystan flooded Read also: Trash washes ashore following Kakhovka dam destruction, Ukrainian military warns it may be dangerous The most important thing that everyone, especially in the media field, needs to realize is that the rescue operation from that bank is an extremely dangerous operation, Humeniuk said. It not only demands but urgently requires absolute silence, an absolute absence of any kind of (media). Even yesterday's incident should have been handled in complete silence to prevent any mishaps, she said, referring to an attack on evacuees near the city of Kherson on June 11 in which three people died. Humeniuk said that too much attention is currently being drawn to this matter. She also said that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are working on evacuating people and doing their job. Using a drone, Ukrainian military personnel managed to deliver water to a woman with a child on the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River. They were trapped in their own house following the destruction by Russian forces of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam, which caused a huge flood. Read also: After some time, the woman and children were successfully rescued. Ukrainian military personnel evacuated them on a boat. No details about the special operation have been disclosed. A total of 112 individuals were evacuated from the occupied left bank, including 54 women and seven children. On June 11, three people were killed, and 23 others were injured as a result of a Russian attack on a boat carrying civilians attempting to evacuate from the left bank in Kherson. 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 first named storm of the year in the Arabian Sea continued its approach to land late Tuesday as residents of Pakistan and western India made last-minute preparations. Cyclone Biparjoy reached its peak strength late Monday, local time, over the open waters of the Arabian Sea, and tens of thousands have already been told to evacuate. Ahead of the powerful storm, authorities initiated evacuation procedures to ensure the safety of residents in the storm's path. The Pakistani government, as reported by The Associated Press, has ordered over 80,000 residents to evacuate from the country's coastal province of Sindh. As of Wednesday afternoon, local time, Biparjoy was categorized as a "very severe cyclonic storm" by the India Meteorological Department, which is equivalent in intensity to a strong Category 2 or low-end Category 3 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. While the development of the formidable Biparjoy is notable since it's the first named storm of the current cyclone season in the Arabian Sea, it is not the strongest cyclone ever witnessed in this part of the Indian Ocean basin. "Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 was the last severe cyclone that made landfall in the same region. That cyclone claimed 174 lives and caused damage of more than $1.57 billion," the AP reported. This AccuWeather RealVue satellite image shows Cyclone Biparjoy over the Arabian Sea late Tuesday, local time. Biparjoy rapidly intensified since its formation last Tuesday and has now peaked in intensity. "As the cyclone draws closer to landfall, it is expected to slowly lose wind intensity from here on out," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said. However, despite winds being a bit less intense, they will still be strong enough to cause major damage alongside storm surge and flooding rainfall. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ The storm's projected path is toward the coastal regions between Karachi, Pakistan, and Mandvi, Gujarat, India. People living in low-lying areas of Gujarat will be evacuated if necessary, Indian officials said according to the AP. The country's military was already making storm preparations. View Cyclone Biparjoy's Forecast Track Map "Heavy rainfall, damaging winds and the risk of flooding are the anticipated impacts of Biparjoy to the region," Nicholls warned. Rain and wind were already impacting the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat as of Monday evening, local time. AccuWeather meteorologists expect 5-10 inches (130-255 mm) of rain with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 20 inches (510 mm) near landfall. Wind gusts from Biparjoy are expected to be extreme with widespread gusts of 60-75 mph (100-120 km/h) with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 95 mph (150 km/h). Nicholls said that Biparjoy could be the second strongest cyclone on record to strike Gujarat behind only Tauktae. "If Biparjoy makes landfall in Pakistan, it would be the strongest [to make landfall] since May 20, 1999," Nicholls said. Storms were not named in the basin until 2000, he added. Biparjoy is on track to become the first severe cyclone to hit Pakistan since devastating floods last year left 1,739 people dead in the country and caused $30 billion in losses, according to the AP. Rain from this tropical system can reach the states of Rajasthan and western Madhya Pradesh in India this weekend as the cyclone moves inland, forecasters say. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. [Source] A former New York Police Department (NYPD) detective was accused of taking bribes from a burglary crew who targeted Asian American-owned businesses. Bribes: On Thursday, federal prosecutors alleged Saul Arismendy De La Cruz, 31, helped burglary ringleader Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez and three other men Edwin Luciano Rodriguez-Genao, Santiago Xavier Maldonado and Diego Muelas-Gonzalez evade arrest in exchange for bribes he received between 2017 and 2022. There will always be zero tolerance in the NYPD for corruption of any kind. And our investigators, in close partnership with all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to ensure that it is punished to the fullest extent possible, NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said in a statement. Residential burglaries: The men allegedly committed residential burglaries and home invasion robberies that primarily targeted small business owners, a majority of whom were Asian Americans. They were reportedly armed with weapons, including guns, and stole jewelry, money and other items from dozens of homes in New York and throughout the country. More from NextShark: Woman Spits at San Jose Restaurant Employees in TikTok Video After Offered a Mask The indictment claims that the men chose their targets by stalking victims, conducting internet research and compensating tipsters. Arrest and charges: All five men have been charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. More from NextShark: Celebrities, Politicians Blast Trump for Fueling Racism and Xenophobia By Calling It Chinese Virus De La Cruz, Rodriguez-Genao, Maldonado and Muelas-Gonzalez were arrested on Friday morning and arraigned before White Plains Magistrate Judge Judith McCarthy. However, Soto-Ramirez remains at large. He is additionally being charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and two counts of possession of a firearm. The ringleader faces up to life in prison if convicted of the top count. The case is currently being handled by the Offices White Plains Division. More from NextShark: Cambodia urges people to stop picking its 'penis plants' About the ex-NYPD detective: De La Cruz, who retired in December 2022, previously received an annual salary of $143,092 as a Field Intelligence Officer assigned to the 100 Precinct in Queens. He was reportedly suspended without pay in November last year after allegedly being involved in an off-duty shooting. According to his lawyer, De La Cruz maintains his innocence. More from NextShark: Everything Everywhere cast and crew gather at Monterey Park following mass shooting South Korean prosecutors have arrested and indicted a former executive of Samsung Electronics suspected of stealing trade secrets while attempting to establish a copycat computer chip plant in China. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office said Monday that the unnamed 65-year-old unlawfully obtained Samsung's factory blueprints and clean-room designs from 2018 and 2019 while trying, unsuccessfully, to replicate a chip factory in the Chinese city of Xi'an, near where Samsung operates a plant. The technology allegedly stolen by the man's China-based company would have been worth at least 300 billion won ($233 million) for Samsung, prosecutors said. Whats in it for me, though? Ex-state Sen. Terry Link testifies about secret recordings in bribery trial of Chicago businessman Then-Illinois state Sen. Terry Link was secretly wired for sound by the FBI in August 2019 when he met at a North Shore Wendys restaurant with his colleague, state Rep. Luis Arroyo, and a businessman about passing legislation benefiting so-called sweepstakes gaming machines. After some discussion about legalizing and regulating the largely off-the-books machines, Link asked Arroyo if the two of them could speak in private. As the two stepped outside, FBI agents were recording it on video. Cars could be heard whooshing by on Route 41. Standing face-to-face, Link assured Arroyo, this is you and I talking now. Nobody else. He then asked Arroyo a question that is at the center of the bribery case now on trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse: Whats in it for me, though? On the recording, which was played for a federal jury on Monday, Arroyo proceeded to tell Link that he could get paid a monthly stipend of $2,500 for his efforts, and that the payments could be concealed as a consulting fee. That would be nice, said Link, proposing that the checks be put in another persons name so that the money could not be traced back to him. My word is my bond, and my reputation Arroyo said before Link cut him off. Just remember who passed your first bill, Link joked on the recording. Arroyo laughed and shot back, You got it baby! That conversation was one of a number of secret recordings made by Link that were played Monday in the trial of James Weiss, a politically connected businessman accused of agreeing to pay bribes to Link and Arroyo in order to advance legislation that would help Weiss sweepstakes gaming business. Listen to the audio: Link, 76, a Vernon Hills Democrat who resigned in 2020 after being hit with federal tax charges, is the star prosecution witness in the case against Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios. The investigation into Arroyo and Weiss was unfolding at a time when political corruption news seemed to be breaking on a daily basis. When Link was recording Arroyo, then-Chicago Ald. Edward Burke had recently been indicted on racketeering charges, ex-Ald. Danny Solis had been outed as an FBI mole, another state senator, Thomas Cullerton, was under indictment for ghost payrolling with the Teamsters, and the Tribune had reported that the feds had raided the downstate home of one of House Speaker Michael Madigans closest confidants. Meanwhile, prosecutors have previously disclosed that Link became a confidential source for the FBI in 2016, but he was terminated later that year when his tax evasion came to light. Link testified his early cooperation was mainly answering questions about state legislative process. But the Arroyo case significantly upped the ante. Over two days of testimony beginning last week, Link took the jury through his role spearheading the states massive gambling overhaul legislation in 2019, a shouting match he says he had with Arroyo about it on the Senate floor, as well as the meetings and phone calls he secretly recorded for the FBI, including at the Wendys as well as another meeting weeks later at a Skokie pancake house, where Arroyo allegedly handed over the first $2,500 check from Weiss. This is, this is the jackpot, Arroyo told Link as he handed over the check, according to the recording played for the jury Monday. Additional monthly $2,500 payments were expected to be made over the next six to 12 months, totaling $30,000, the charges alleged. At the direction of the FBI, Link had told Arroyo to have the checks made out to a purported associate named Katherine Hunter, who didnt actually exist. When Weiss was later questioned by agents, he lied and said Hunter was a lobbyist who lived in Winnetka and that hed spoken to her on the phone, according to a recording of the interview also played for the jury Monday. Weiss attorneys have argued Weiss was paying Arroyo as a legitimate consultant for his business, and that trying to enlist another politicians help is not a crime. Near the end of his direct examination Monday, however, Link was asked by prosecutors what he believed the $2,500-a-month offering was for. Passing legislation for sweepstakes games, Link said. Asked if he believed it would have been illegal for him to take money for that, Link replied, Absolutely. On cross examination, Weiss attorney, Ilia Usharovich, has pointed out repeatedly that it was Link who solicited the bribe from Arroyo at the behest of the FBI, and that he was cooperating in the hopes of reducing his own sentence on tax charges. Had anyone offered you anything of value before you asked Arroyo to step outside? Usharovich asked at one point. Not at that time, no, Link said. Later, Link grew defensive over Usharovichs questions about how legislation is drafted. First of all you dont understand the legislative process, Link snapped. It can be changed 20 different times. ... Verbiage could be changed. If I let you write legislation we could change the whole world. Usharovich also sparred with Link over whom Arroyo was referring to when he used the term us on some of the recordings. Have you ever read the Bible? Usharovich asked. Do you remember the part when God says Let us make man? But man didnt exist yet, so the question becomes who is us? How do you know us means Jimmy? Link maintained that he understood Arroyo meant himself and Weiss. Weiss, 44, who is married to former state Rep. Toni Berrios, is charged in a superseding indictment filed in October 2020 with bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to the FBI. He has pleaded not guilty. Closing arguments in the trial could come as soon as Wednesday. The case centers on the largely uncharted world of sweepstakes machines, sometimes called gray machines, which allow customers to put in money, receive a coupon to redeem for merchandise online and then play electronic games like slot machines. Since the machines can be played for free, they are not considered gambling devices. Critics, however, contend the unregulated devices, which operate in cities, including Chicago, that have banned video gambling, are designed to skirt the law. Prosecutors have alleged Weiss desperately wanted the states gambling expansion bill to include language explicitly legalizing sweepstakes machines, but it was left out of the proposal in the 2019 spring session. Weiss then agreed to pay monthly $2,500 bribes to get a deal done, first to Arroyo and later to Link, who was a chief sponsor of the gambling bill in the Senate, according to prosecutors. Instead of giving up, the defendant doubled down, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine ONeill said in her opening statement Tuesday. Arroyo pleaded guilty to his role in the alleged scheme but did not agree to cooperate with prosecutors. Seeger sentenced Arroyo to nearly five years in prison last year, calling him a corruption superspreader. Links appearance in a federal courtroom took on an added spectacle since he had vehemently denied reports including in the Tribune that he was the cooperating state Senator A mentioned in the charges first made public in October 2019. Hes since pleaded guilty to the tax charges and is hoping for a break on his sentence in exchange for his undercover work, he said. In his cross-examination Monday, Usharovich tried to paint Link as a liar for denying to the media that he was the mole. I wouldnt say its a lie, Link testified. I would say its none of your business what Im doing with the FBI at the time. ... Im cooperating with the FBI not the Tribune or Sun-Times anybody else. Also testifying Monday afternoon was FBI Special Agent Curtis Heide, who was one of Links handlers who conducted surveillance of the senators meetings with Arroyo and later interviewed Weiss in the car. Heide testified they had search warrants for Weiss phone and were sitting outside his house on the morning of Oct. 25, 2019, when Weiss exited and drove away. They pulled him over near a soccer field in Maywood and asked him to get in the car, Heide said. Weiss was told he was not under arrest, and was not handcuffed, Heide said. He wound up answering questions in a recorded interview for almost an hour and a half. Near the end of the interview, Weiss is asked about Katherine Hunter the woman that the FBI had invented and whether she works for Arroyo. Shes a, uh, consultant that I had hired. ... To help with us you know the relationship with, uh, Senator Link, Weiss responded. When one of the agents asked if Hunter was from Chicago, Weiss said, From uh, Winnetka, according to the recording played in court. I talked to Katherine over the phone about engaging in the relationship and helping me, thats all, Weiss said on the tape. Luis told me this is who I needed to hire and I hired her. Weiss said hed only talked to Hunter once. It was brief. It was a two-minute phone conversation, he said on the recording. At one point, Weiss said he could look through his phone to find out when he talked to her, but then said he didnt have her number stored. Later, Heide confronted Weiss about the payments. To me this looks like a bribe, Heide said in the interview. That wasnt my intention, Weiss replied. I hired a consultant, I hired a lobbyist to carry out to the legislative action on behalf of my company. The next day, the agents searched the P.O. Box in Lincolnshire where Link had directed Weiss to send the checks and paperwork. Inside was an envelope with a second check for $2,500 made out to Hunter, as well as a contract agreeing to pay Hunter a total of $30,000 over the next year. The note instructed the fictitious Hunter to please sign and email the contract back to an address used by Weiss for his valet parking companies. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Ex-Trump DHS Official Reveals What Security Community Endured During His Presidency Donald Trumps indictment alleging the mishandling of classified documents paints a really vivid picture of what the national security community endured during his presidency, a former high-ranking Department of Homeland Security official said Sunday. Trump had a blatant disregard, just did not care to follow the rules, Elizabeth Neumann told ABC News George Stephanopoulos. 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, added Neumann, who served as assistant secretary for counterterrorism until April 2020. Watch the video here: Former DHS Assistant Sec. for Counterterrorism Elizabeth Neumann tells @GStephanopoulos that Trump indictment paints a vivid picture for the American public of what the national security community dealt with for four years when he was president. https://t.co/PJkPNL9usJpic.twitter.com/NkZHm2pTY1 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 11, 2023 Neumann spelled out the real-life consequences of mishandling of classified materials. This causes people to die, she warned. This is very serious. Top secret special access programs, when they fall into the wrong hands, people die and the United States security is deeply compromised. Neumann voted for Trump in 2016 but endorsed then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden in 2020 because, in part, she said Trumps rhetoric was feeding the white supremacist movement that her department sought to subdue. Related... By Anthony Deutsch VOLKEL AIR BASE, Netherlands (Reuters) - Ukrainian pilots could begin training to fly U.S.-manufacture F-16 fighter jets as soon as this summer, the Dutch defense minister has told Reuters, a first step toward supplying Kyiv with a powerful, long-term capability in its war with Russia. NATO allies the Netherlands and Denmark are leading an international coalition to train pilots and support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately supply F-16s to Ukraine. Previously, the Netherlands had said it aimed to start training Ukrainian pilots "as soon as possible", but had stopped short of specifying when such training could get under way. "This summer is our ambition. And we'll see if that's realistic" for the start of the training programme, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren told Reuters in an interview. She said the aim would be to have the training programme fully operational within six months. Denmark, where there are flight simulators, is a possible location to host the program. A final decision has not yet been taken on a request from Kyiv to supply dozens of F-16s, Ollongren said. The U.S.-backed training program will include Belgium and Luxembourg, while France and Britain have offered assistance, she said. While adopting F-16s will not impact the war in the short-term, it will bring Ukraine more in line with NATO military capabilities, which "is very important for the future," Ollongren said. "When the war is over Ukraine has to be able to defend itself to deter Russia from trying again. And I think...that's what the Ukrainians also see." "It is a very strong weapons system. It's a very strong capability. But it's not going to be available anytime soon and President (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy, of course, knows that," Ollongren said. Two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the training would begin with two groups of 12 Ukrainian pilots, already experienced flying Soviet-era MiGs. The minister did not specify the initial size of the programme. JUST AN AIRPLANE Ukraine's Zelenskiy said last week he received "a serious, powerful" offer from leaders of countries ready to provide Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets and is awaiting final agreements with key allies. The Netherlands, like other NATO members, is transitioning to newer F-35 fighters. The Dutch still have 24 F-16s in operation and more out of service which could be transferred to Ukraine. It usually takes roughly 2.5 years to become a fighter pilot in the Netherlands. A U.S official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said estimates on the training time are still being finalised, but that it could take as little as four months to teach basic F-16 skills to an experienced Ukrainian pilot. Colonel Laurens-Jan Vijge, a Dutch F-35 pilot who flew F-16s for 15 years, including multiple missions to Afghanistan, is part of the team being assembled to train the Ukrainians. "Flying-wise, well, technically, if you're a pilot, this is also just an airplane," he told Reuters at the Volkel air base in the southern Netherlands, the roar of landing F-35 jet planes in the background. Ukrainian pilots would have to learn how to operate the F-16's so-called 'hands-on throttle and stick'. "That means that both on the throttle which you use to accelerate and on a stick to control the airplane, there's a lot of buttons that you use to operate all the avionics. Usually in Soviet equipment that's non-existent, or at least less part of the design," he said. The course will include language training and "simulator training where they learn how to deal with the different subsystems in the airplane," he said. "And that's before you start talking about how to operate it as a weapons platform. So that's really the last part of the training." ($1 = 0.9289 euros) (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Additional reporting by Phillip Stewart in Washington) Former lawyer Tom Girardi, accused of stealing millions of dollars from his clients, is shown outside the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 6. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) A government expert has concluded that Tom Girardi, the disgraced former attorney accused of stealing millions of dollars from his clients, is mentally fit to go before a jury despite his diagnosis of Alzheimers disease. Federal prosecutors revealed the finding of Diana Goldstein in a court filing on Friday, writing that the neuropsychologist has concluded her examination and opined, among other things, that [Girardi] is competent to stand trial. Her basis for that conclusion and her full analysis are unclear. Goldsteins report was filed under seal and partly redacted by Girardis attorneys, and even the prosecutors who retained her do not have access to the complete document. The finding undercuts years of assertions by Girardis attorneys and allies, and it is likely to add fuel to a long-running debate in the legal community over whether he actually has dementia or has been malingering to dodge accountability. His lawyers at the federal public defender's office did not immediately return messages seeking comment. They have retained two experts to evaluate Girardi, but their analyses have not been disclosed. Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online. Girardi, 84, is accused of federal wire fraud charges and other counts in two jurisdictions Los Angeles and Chicago related to the alleged misappropriation of $18 million in client settlement money. People close to Girardi have contended for years that he suffers from dementia that makes him unable to understand legal proceedings against him or explain what happened to tens of millions of dollars owed to clients from his once-revered firm, Girardi Keese. He still thinks hes practicing law, his estranged wife, Erika Girardi, told Andy Cohen last year on his Bravo show, Watch What Happens Live. A forensic psychiatrist diagnosed him with Alzheimer's in January 2021 and a judge subsequently placed him in a conservatorship overseen by his younger brother. He resides in a memory care facility and has been prescribed drugs for dementia, according to filings in his bankruptcy case. But some have questioned the diagnosis. Girardi was running his firm and speaking to clients and other lawyers up to the day it collapsed in December 2020. He hosted a continuing education panel the previous month. The State Bar of California was so suspicious that he was faking illness that it asked the judge in the conservatorship proceedings to order an independent and more thorough mental examination with an agency lawyer, writing that the claim of cognitive problems came only after [Girardi] became enmeshed in mounting legal troubles." The judge in that case denied the State Bars request. Girardi was disbarred last year. When Girardi appeared at his February arraignment, he did not speak. Assistant U.S. Atty. Scott Paetty said at that time that the government understands competency will be an issue in this matter. Girardis lawyers are expected to file a motion regarding their clients competency later this month, likely providing greater detail into his current condition and the findings of medical experts. A hearing is scheduled Aug. 3. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FILE PHOTO: Session to elect a new president at the parliament building in Beirut Factbox-Candidates in the frame to fill Lebanon's vacant presidency FILE PHOTO: Session to elect a new president at the parliament building in Beirut BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's parliament has been called to convene on Wednesday in a bid to elect a head of state to fill the vacant presidency. But with the main parties at odds over who should take the post, the session appears likely to fail. The post has been empty since Michel Aoun's term ended in October, underlining the deep political dysfunction that has compounded a four-year-long financial crisis. The post must go to a Maronite Christian under a sectarian power-sharing system. None of the main names put forward currently enjoy broad enough support to be elected: The rules require two-thirds of parliament's 128 lawmakers to attend for the session to go ahead, meaning one third can torpedo a vote by not showing up. Here are the main names in the frame: JIHAD AZOUR Azour, a former finance minister, has served as the International Monetary Fund's Director of the Middle East and Central Asia since 2017. He was nominated by groups including Lebanon's biggest Christian parties the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which are at odds on many other issues. The main Druze faction, the Progressive Socialist Party led by the Jumblatt family, has also backed him. In his first public comments on his candidacy on Monday, Azour said his candidacy was "a call for unity". Azour, 57, served as finance minister from 2005 to 2008, a period of political conflict pitting a government backed by the West and Saudi Arabia against opponents aligned with Damascus and led by the Iran-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has declared him "a candidate for confrontation", referring to his cabinet role during the political crisis that culminated in armed conflict in 2008 and the heavily-armed Hezbollah taking over much of Beirut. But LF leader Samir Geagea, a Hezbollah opponent, has described Azour as neutral and the candidate Lebanon needs to carry out reforms to address the financial crisis. During Azour's IMF tenure, the Fund reached a preliminary $3 billion funding agreement with Beirut, conditional on reforms which the government has mostly failed to enact. SULEIMAN FRANGIEH Heir to one of Lebanon's oldest political dynasties, Suleiman Frangieh has long been seen as a potential president and appeared close to getting the job in 2016 before it went to Aoun as part of a cross-party political deal. His main backers this time are the allied Shi'ite parties, Hezbollah and Amal, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Frangieh, 57, is a close personal friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. One of Hezbollah's closest allies, Frangieh has described its arsenal as vital to defending Lebanon from Israel, and has been dismissive of the capabilities of Lebanon's U.S.-backed army. His critics cite his close Hezbollah ties as a main reason for opposing his candidacy. Frangieh was thrust into politics early in life after his parents and sister were killed by a Christian militia in 1978 at their home in the north, part of a battle for primacy among Christians during the 1975-90 civil war. He was a pillar of a Damascus-dominated order that ruled Lebanon for 15 years after the war, until Syria was forced to withdraw in 2005 following the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri. His Marada party is one of Lebanon's smaller Christian factions. JOSEPH AOUN Although Wednesday's session is expected to pit Frangieh and Azour against one another, army commander General Joseph Aoun has been considered as a possible third candidate. Army commanders have moved into the presidency on several occassions in the past, including in 2008 when Michel Suleiman became head of state as part of a deal to end the political crisis. Aoun has led the U.S.-backed army since 2017, a tenure mostly defined by the financial crisis. In 2021, he warned the meltdown would "inevitably lead to the collapse of all state institutions including the Lebanese Armed Forces, the backbone of the country". A career soldier, he also criticised ruling politicians over the collapse, saying soldiers were going hungry along with the rest of the population and asking politicians, "what do you intend to do?". Shortly after assuming the army command in 2017, he oversaw the defeat of Islamic State militants at the Syrian-Lebanese border. The campaign won praise from the U.S. ambassador at the time, who said the army had done an "excellent job". Geagea has previously expressed support for him as a possible president, crediting him for running the army well and acting "as a statesman". But others oppose him: senior Christian politician Gebran Bassil earlier this year accused him of usurping the defence minister's powers and of corruption. Aoun, in response, said he was willing to break the law to keep his troops healthy, fed and accomplishing their missions. (Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean) Family displaced after lightning strike causes house fire in southwest Charlotte, officials say A southwest Charlotte family was displaced after a lightning strike caused a house fire on Sunday afternoon. Structure Fire Update; 9900 block of Steele Meadow Rd; CFD Investigators deemed the fire accidental due to a lighting strike; occupants displaced & staying with family; estimated fire loss $54k; working smoke alarms alerted occupants to the fire. pic.twitter.com/3g3lZqrPLO Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) June 12, 2023 Firefighters with the Charlotte Fire Department went to a call on Steele Meadow Road just after 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. ALSO READ: Fire intentionally set at vacant house, Mooresville fire marshal says CFD said the fire was controlled in 15 minutes by 30 firefighters from two departments. Fire investigators said the cause of the fire was accidental and caused by a lightning strike. The fire caused $54,000 in damage. The department said the residents have been displaced but will be staying with family. (WATCH BELOW: Firefighters respond to 3 alarm fire caused by lightning strike at Salisbury church) FDNY firefighter dies while trying to save daughter from drowning in New Jersey, officials say A New York firefighter died while trying to save his daughter from drowning in New Jersey on Friday, authorities said. Mark Batista, a 15-year veteran firefighter with the Fire Department of New York, was assigned to Engine Company 226 in Brooklyn, according to a statement released by the FDNY. We are heartbroken to learn about the death of Firefighter Mark Batista, who died Friday while swimming at the Jersey Shore," the statement reads. He was "a dedicated public servant who spent fifteen years serving in the FDNY, as both an EMT and a firefighter. We join his family in mourning his tragic passing. Mark Batista, a Teaneck resident and member of the FDNY drowned Friday, June 9, 2023 trying to save his daughter in Avon. Around 8:35 a.m., police responded to reports of two swimmers in distress at Sylvania Avenue Beach in Avon, according to police. At the scene, officers and members of the water rescue team got into the water and began searching for victims. Ten minutes later, rescue swimmers found a female juvenile in distress and successfully got her out of the water, police said. She was taken to the hospital by first aid members. She was expected to recover, NBC New York reported. Around 10 a.m., a second victim, later identified as Batista, a 39-year-old from Teaneck, New Jersey, was found submerged and brought to the shore where lifesaving efforts began, police said. He was then taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Drowning awareness: What a mom whose son drowned wishes she knew Rescue attempt: California woman falls to her death after trying to save teen at Three Sisters Falls Sylvania Avenue Beach in Avon, the location of a water rescue on Friday morning that left one dead. A sign on the boardwalk at Sylvania Avenue Beach indicated that lifeguards were off duty and the beach was unprotected. There was a low rip current risk Friday morning, according to Sarah Johnson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service at Mount Holly. Asbury Park Press Staff Writer Kenneth Serrano contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: FDNY firefighter Mark Batista dies after attempted drowning rescue First legal action in aftermath of Michigan State mass shooting: What we know Police stage outside the MSU Union off Abbot Road on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, on the Michigan State Campus in East Lansing. Two survivors of the mass shooting have taken steps to file lawsuits against the university. EAST LANSING Four months after the mass shooting on Michigan State Universitys campus, two survivors have taken steps to sue to the university. Mondays legal filings arent lawsuits. The notices of intent to sue, filed in the Michigan Court of Claims, open the door for the two shooting survivors to file lawsuits against the university. Three students were killed and five were wounded in the Feb. 13 campus shooting. The university police department is leading the investigation, which remains ongoing. The gunman killed himself the night of the shooting. What happened on Monday? The notices of intent to sue are required steps for filing suit against government entities like public universities. Claims can still be brought in federal court or Ingham County Circuit Court. Its unclear where the lawsuits will be filed. Mick Grewal, an attorney for the shooting survivors, declined to comment. What are the key claims in the suits? The filings are brief summaries of the legal positions the attorneys for the students plan to address more fully in their lawsuits. Based on the filings, central to lawsuits will be claims that the university lacked door locks across campus prior to the shooting, specific rooms or buildings could not be remotely locked and an inadequate campus video surveillance system. Attorneys also claim the university failed to protect students by allowing public access to campus buildings at night, did not use mass shooting deterrent technology that other major universities have and didn't conduct active shooter training and drills. Attorneys said in the filings that MSU had received complaints about the lack of restrictions for campus buildings prior to the shooting. They did not provide additional details. Who is bringing the legal action Nate Statly is one of five Michigan State University students injured in the Feb. 13 mass shooting. His family started a GoFundMe on Feb. 22 as Statly remains hospitalized Nate Statly and Troy Forbush are the students who filed in the Court of Claims on Monday. Both were juniors and attended the same lecture in Berkey Hall the night of the shooting. Statly was shot in the head and has spent the past few months in various hospitals. Hes unable to walk, talk or use the left side of his body, according to the filing. His attorneys and family have predicted a prolonged recovery period and the need for mental health therapy for the rest of his life. He was majoring in environmental biology and zoology at the time of the shooting. Forbush was shot in the chest, with the bullet striking a lung and coming within an inch of his heart, according to his filing. He spent 10 days in Sparrow Hospital and underwent multiple procedures. Michigan State University student Troy Forbush, an Okemos High School graduate, speaks on March 23, 2023, during the March for Our Lives rally at the state Capitol. Forbush spoke publicly for the first time about his brush with death after being shot in the chest on February 13, 2023, when a lone gunman shot and killed three students, and critically injured five. The event was organized by the MSU March for Our Lives chapter. His attorney has filed a notice of intent to sue MSU. Who could be sued The filings in the Court of Claims do not name defendants, but they put on notice several arms of the university and officials who might be named in the subsequent lawsuits. The presidents office, Board of Trustees, Department of Police and Public Safety and Department of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities are all included, as are a handful of officials who work in those departments. The Department of Police and Public Safety and Department of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities are included as campus-wide video surveillance and classroom door locks are central to the legal claims. Attorneys for Statly and Forbush will now have to decide what court federal, Ingham County Circuit Court or the Court of Claims is the best venue to bring their lawsuit. What is MSU saying? "Many lives among our community have been profoundly impacted by the violence our campus experienced. We are heartbroken and sorry for the tragic loss of life and each person harmed by senseless gun violence," MSU spokesman Dan Olsen wrote in an emailed statement to the State Journal. "MSU has been engaged in conversations with the families of those we lost and those injured to identify ways to provide ongoing support, and we are committed to keeping those lines of communication open." What security changes is the university making? The university is working on what's likely the largest single effort to upgrade surveillance and building security on the East Lansing campus in its 168-year history. Part of that effort is the addition of locks to at least 1,600 classroom doors that can be secured by anyone inside a room and require a key to open from the outside. The university is also setting up a Strategic Operations Center to be housed at the police department that will tie together all campus security cameras into one monitoring location. Police will staff the center around the clock. The new surveillance system will have software that can alert staffers to an open door that should be closed and will be capable of using artificial intelligence like facial recognition and license plate reading. Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at 517-377-1026 or mjmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: First legal action related to Michigan State mass shooting: What we know Broadway performs Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee became the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards on Sunday evening. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts, Newell said in their acceptance speech for best featured actor in a musical. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to. Newell won for their performance as Lulu in the musical Shucked, a comedy that hit the stage in March. Ghee later won the award for best leading actor in Some Like it Hot, a musical that is based on the famous 1959 film. Composer Toby Marlow of Six became the first nonbinary person to receive a Tony Award last year. Like other award shows, the Tonys uses gendered categories for best actor and best actress awards, so nominees who identity as nonbinary must choose which category that they want to be nominated in. & Juliet performer Justin David Sullivan withdrew their consideration for an award due to this requirement, saying in a statement to Deadline that the award structure does not hold space for people like me. Because I was told I had no other option but to choose between one of the two gendered categories in which I would be eligible, Sullivan said in a statement. I felt that I had no choice but to abstain from being considered for a nomination this season. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. First responders pull 15-year-old drowning victim from Ga. lake, authorities say A community is mourning the death of a teen who drowned over the weekend. Crisp County Sheriff officials said at 4:20 p.m. Saturday, first responders were dispatched to Georgia Veterans State Park after receiving reports of a possible drowning between the beach and the medical ramp. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] At 4:55 p.m., authorities recovered a 15-year-old boy from Lake Blackshear. The teen was taken to a local hospital, where he died. TRENDING STORIES: The victims identity has not been released. I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones as they experience this unimaginable loss. I greatly appreciate the outpour of assistance received from local and neighboring first responders, Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said. Authorities have not released information regarding what led to the drowning. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: As lawmakers in Washington move this month to consider the fiscal 2024 defense budget and annual defense authorization bill, the United States is on a path toward military defeat in the Pacific. Chinas strategic investments threaten to outpace the Pentagons ability to expand munitions stocks, integrate emerging technologies and weapon systems, and maintain the ability to fight at long distances from Americas shores. Repeated wargaming of Taiwan conflict scenarios in the 2027 time frame demonstrates that even if the United States acts promptly and decisively once the conflict begins, American military forces would often be stretched too thin to support Taiwan quickly enough to prevent a fait accompli. The good news is that such an outcome is not inevitable if Washington takes several steps this year. These include: Enhancing the United States ability to strike attacking Chinese forces. Strengthening Taiwans ability to defend itself. Bolstering the survivability of forward-positioned U.S. forces. Improving the ability of the United States and its partners principally Taiwan, Japan and Australia to fight together. Building more cyber-resilient U.S. infrastructure to support military mobility and economic continuity. Admittedly, deterring and defeating aggression from the Peoples Republic of China is easier said than done. That is because Beijing is undertaking the most ambitious and extensive military modernization effort in the history of the PRC, focusing its efforts on defeating the U.S. military and taking Taiwan. Why is China strengthening its military? Its not all about war. Opposing such aggression would also be difficult because the United States is trying to deter conflict in areas within 100 miles of Chinese ports and airfields, but 8,000 miles from the U.S. West Coast. To make matters worse, in several likely scenarios in the Taiwan Strait, Beijing would likely enjoy first mover advantage potentially concealing preparations for an actual attack behind the guise of yet another military exercise and deciding when and where to strike the first blow. So what can be done? Wargaming and operational exercises show that long-range strike weapons are Americas most reliable tool to both win a conflict with China and reduce U.S. casualties. Because of the cost of long-range strike systems, the U.S. military will require a large and mixed inventory of expensive, high-lethality weapons and less expensive swarming munitions. The U.S. military should develop the capability to launch these munitions from as many platforms as possible to create difficult dilemmas for the Peoples Liberation Army. That includes leveraging one of the U.S. militarys greatest remaining asymmetric advantages: the continuing stealthiness of U.S. attack submarines. Relatedly, to support effective bomber actions in the Western Pacific, the United States will also need to leverage advanced fighter aircraft and newly delivered air-battle management assets, eventually including the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, to regain control over Taiwans airspace and offset Chinas geographic proximity to the battlefield. In addition to bolstering American offensive capabilities, the United States simultaneously needs to help Taiwan reach an appropriate level of defensive self-sufficiency to survive the adversarys initial onslaught before U.S. and allied forces can arrive in numbers. While Congress authorized up to $2 billion per year in assistance to Taiwan in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, the funding still needs to be appropriated. Other necessary supporting efforts for Taiwan include prioritizing and expediting the delivery of foreign military sales by cutting red tape and bolstering industrial capacity; pre-positioning key munitions in Taiwan that U.S. or Taiwan forces can use in a crisis; and strengthening Taiwans cyber capacity to withstand Beijings cyberattacks. To ensure U.S. forces can fight within the second island chain, Washington has to mitigate forward basing vulnerabilities, particularly vulnerabilities related to missile defense. (The first island chain runs parallel to the mainland of the Asian continent, starting in the Kuril Islands, through the Japanese Archipelago; includes Taiwan and the northwestern portion of the Philippines; and finishes in Borneo. The second island chain runs parallel to the first farther out to sea and includes Japans Bonin Islands and Volcano Islands; the Mariana Islands, including Guam; the Western Caroline Islands; and extends to Western New Guinea.) Key among these efforts is the need to develop U.S. hypersonic defensive countermeasures, which currently lag Beijings offensive technology development. It will significantly undermine deterrence if China has an offensive hypersonic capability before the United States is able to defend against such a threat. Indeed, we should expect that China will attack U.S. air bases with swarm assaults consisting of a broad range of missiles and drones. To facilitate their survival and combat effectiveness, U.S. air assets will need to be able to disperse and operate in a nimble and unpredictable manner to alternate locations. Thats the big idea behind the Air Forces Agile Combat Employment concept, which deserves congressional support and oversight. While the United States should do everything it can to ready its own forces, it should also leverage the most valuable advantage it holds over the Chinese Communist Party allies. Wargames often assess the value of operational force integration with partners, such as Japan, Australia or Taiwan, and the results are consistently clear: When U.S. and partner forces are more coordinated and integrated, they are more likely to win and more likely to win with fewer casualties. The United States can support this objective by conducting increased training and exercises with Taiwan, and it can improve its operational partnership with Taiwan, Japan and Australia by rapidly establishing a dedicated joint force headquarters in the Indo-Pacific theater to integrate mission command and control with partners. Lastly, to support the militarys mobility and resiliency, we must better protect the cyber, information and critical infrastructure systems that support the projection and sustainment of forces from the United States. That will require increased efforts to improve the security of American ports, airports, power-generation facilities and rail systems. There is a clear and affordable path to deterring aggression in the Pacific or at least preventing American military defeat. But action needs to be taken by Congress in this years NDAA and defense appropriations legislation to match Chinas rapid military investment and development. If Congress makes targeted investments to meet the five key objectives laid out above, Americas ability to project power, impose costs and deter aggression can be retained using only a small portion of the defense budget. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. He previously served as policy director of the Senate Armed Services Committee under Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and as director of operations (J3) at U. S. Pacific Command. Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at FDD. He previously served as a national security adviser to members of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, and was an officer in the U.S. Army. Flood following Russians' destruction of Kakhovka power plant has claimed lives of at least 10 Ukrainians According to preliminary reports, 10 people have died and 42 people are considered missing as a result of the floods caused by the Russian occupiers blowing up the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). Source: Ihor Klymenko, Interior Minister of Ukraine, on the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: According to confirmed data, on the right bank of the Dnipro River, 8 Ukrainians died in Kherson Oblast and 2 in Mykolaiv Oblast, while 42 people are considered missing, including seven children. Klymenko said information from the river's left (eastern) bank was coming in as well, but it needs to be checked. Quote: "Of course, we also receive information about fatalities from the left bank. You know that yesterday the enemy fired on some of our citizens as they were trying to cross to the right bank, and three people were killed and several more were wounded. We are monitoring such information; as soon as we have more reliable information about the dead or injured citizens who are still on the islands or on the left bank, we will make it public and official." Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Floods create dire situation in Oleshky as Russians seal off occupied town, governor says Flooded as a result of Russians undermining the Oleshky Kakhovskaya HPP Russian invasion forces have sealed the town off and allow only those with Russian passports to evacuate, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, said on Ukrainian national television on June 11. Prokudin said that the situation in the region is critical. "The situation in the town of Oleshky, as well as the left (east) bank more broadly, is extremely precarious", he said. Read also: Some 1,500 houses flooded in Kherson Oblast, bridges destroyed in Mykolayiv Oblast "The occupiers announced an evacuation, but it never came to anything beyond mere words. There was no evacuation carried out in practice. Now the town has no communications, electricity, or gas supplies. The residents are in urgent need of drinking water and food." The occupation authorities have completely sealed off Oleshky and imposed a so-called quarantine. Residents of the town are not allowed to leave, and Russian checkpoints have been set up at the exits. Prokudin said the occupying administration is evacuating only people with Russian passports, with Ukrainians allegedly being taken to the Russian city of Voronezh. "Regarding casualties, we have verified that eight people died due to the floods," the governor said. "This is confirmed information from doctors in Oleshky. Yes, there have been cases of corpses found in the town. However, the larger numbers quoted online are unverified." Read also: At least 100,000 tons of crops lost in Kakhovka Dam explosion; several million could be lost He added that Ukrainian forces had managed to evacuate approximately 100 people from the occupied east bank of Kherson Oblast, but Russians were hampering rescue efforts by shelling civilians. 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. At an urgent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, 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. President Zelenskyy called Russia's 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 at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which relies on water from the Kakhovka Reservoir to feed its cooling ponds. 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 Florida gas prices have spiked 10 cents per gallon the most expensive average price since May, according to AAA - The Auto Club Group. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Summer hasnt officially begun, but the driving season is off to a roaring start, said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. Gasoline demand figures from the past few weeks have been stronger than what we saw during this same time last year, Jenkins added. Read: Central Florida community remembers lives lost 7 years after Pulse nightclub shooting But the good news is while demand is up, prices have remained relatively low this year. The state average should remain below this years high of $3.72 per gallon, according to AAA. On Friday, the U.S. price of oil settled at $70.17 per barrel. Read: New cruise ship to start sailing from Port Canaveral this year Oil prices declined last week, despite efforts from OPEC to boost oil prices by extending production cuts that were set to expire this year, and in the case of Saudi Arabia, pledging to cut an additional 1 million barrels per day beginning in July. Read: Recall alert: Kia recalling nearly 100,000 SUVs that could lose power brakes According to AAA, the most expensive price for gas in Florida is the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, where a gallon of gas cost $3.62 per gallon. Central Florida residents will have to travel a long distance to get the least expensive gas statewide. In Fort Walton Beach one gallon of gas is $3.18 and Pensacola and Panama City tie for $3.22 per gallon. Find the lowest gas prices in your area by using the free AAA mobile app. 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. How the flurry of legal threats against Trump could hurt his 2024 presidential bid Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the North Carolina Republican Party convention at the weekend - Jonathan Drake/Reuters Former US president Donald Trump faces a blizzard of civil and criminal litigation in the run-up to the 2024 election. Already indicted over alleged campaign finance allegations, he is set to appear before a court in Florida on Tuesday to face 37 counts of mishandling government documents. But there is also litigation relating to his business dealings and other investigations are under way examining his alleged involvement in attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Here is an overview of the legal threats facing the former president and how they could affect his presidential campaign. Mar-a-Lago documents Donald Trump faces 37 separate charges over alleged mishandling of government documents following a search by the FBI of his estate at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Of these, 31 counts relate to the alleged wilful retention of national defence information. He also faces three charges of withholding or concealing documents in a federal investigation. Mr Trump has also been indicted on two counts of making false statements about the documents and one further count of conspiring with an aide to obstruct justice. Theoretically, if convicted on all charges and sentenced to the maximum penalty, he could face hundreds of years in jail if the penalties are consecutive. In reality jail terms, if imposed, can run into months. Retired general David Petraeus was given probation after admitting to sharing classified information with his biographer. The former president has described it as a politically motivated witch hunt. The case is in its preliminary stages and it is unlikely to be concluded before the 2024 election. Mr Trump can still run for president while indicted or after being convicted. Candidates must meet only three requirements as set out by the US Constitution: They must be a natural-born citizen, aged 35 or above, and a resident of the US for at least 14 years. Two people have run for president in the past with criminal convictions. Socialist Eugene Debs ran in 1920 following his conviction under the Espionage Act over an anti-war speech he made in 1918, and Lyndon LaRouche ran for office on several occasions following a fraud conviction in 1988, including one bid conducted from a federal prison in Minnesota in 1992. Stormy Daniels hush-money case Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in a case brought by Alvin Bragg, the Democrat Manhattan district attorney. The former president appeared in court in April to deny the charges in which he is accused of trying to cover up a story of an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels. Stormy Daniels attends the 2018 Adult Video News Awards in Las Vegas - Ethan Miller Mr Trump has repeatedly denied a sexual encounter took place. It is alleged that he tried to buy Ms Daniels silence days before the 2016 presidential election. Mr Trump has called the charges politically motivated. A trial could take place early next year. A trial date has been set for 25 Mar 2024, the same month that the earliest state primaries are scheduled to take place. Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio are to hold their Republican presidential primaries on Mar 19, less than a week before Mr Trumps trial is expected to begin. If he were elected president, Mr Trump could technically pardon himself on federal charges (though experts consider this unconstitutional), or preemptively pardon himself from any pending federal charges. E. Jean Carrolls assault and defamation cases Magazine columnist E Jean Carroll was awarded 4m ($5 million) after a civil trial jury concluded she had been sexually abused by Mr Trump in a New York luxury department store in 1996, but not raped as she had alleged. The former presidents legal team is seeking to have the grossly excessive payment cut to $1m. Mr Trumps response to the original ruling has triggered a second defamation case, with Ms Carroll seeking additional damages after the former president called her a whack job during a televised town hall on CNN. Jean Carroll won a $5 million jury verdict against the ex-president - John Minchillo Mr Trump has often used criminal and civil cases against him, including that brought by Ms Carroll, as fundraising tools for his 2024 election campaign. In emails to supporters he has described the trial as being evidence of what he claims to be a Democrat plot, as he said registered Democrat Ms Carroll made up the allegations to try and increase the sales of her 2019 memoir and to harm him politically. Georgia election investigation A grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, has been investigating allegations that Mr Trump and his associates tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in Georgia. It hinges on an hour-long call Mr Trump made to fellow Republican, Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state asking him to find 11,780 votes needed to reverse the result. The call was leaked to the Washington Post. The insurrection at the US Capitol in Washington on 6 Jan, 2021 - Jose Luis Magana It is understood the grand jury has recommended multiple indictments, which are expected to be unveiled later this year. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis hinted that the charges could be brought in August, the same month that the first Republican presidential debate is scheduled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. DofJ investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who brought the Mar-a-Lago charges, is also investigating the role of Mr Trump and his allies to reverse Joe Bidens victory in 2020. The Democrat-dominated House of Representatives committee which held a series of explosive hearings on the Jan 6 riots has recommended Mr Trump be charged with conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to make false statements, obstruction of an official proceeding and inciting an insurrection. Civil cases brought in connection with Jan 6 insurrection Democrats in the House of Representatives and two Capitol police officers have sued the former president, accusing him of inciting the Capitol insurrection. According to a bipartisan Senate report, at least seven people including participants and members of law enforcement died as a result of the riot. Donald Trump speaks at the 'Save America March' rally near the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 - Anadolu Agency Lawyers acting for Mr Trump, who on Jan 6 told his supporters to fight like hell, have claimed presidential immunity. A decision by a federal district judge to reject Mr Trumps appeal to throw the cases out is being considered by a federal appeals court. New York Attorney General v Trump family and organisation New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued Mr Trump, his family and organisation for alleged financial malpractice. The 220-page lawsuit alleges that property values were inflated to secure loans and reduced to reduce tax liability. Allegations of a marketing scam brought against Trump and his three oldest children Four people claim Mr Trump pocketed $8.8m from a Celebrity Apprentice marketing scheme. Mr Trump claims the case, which goes to trial in January, is politically motivated. Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle at a Trump rally in 2020 - Evan Vucci Michael Cohen suing Donald Trump for legal fees Mr Trumps former lawyer, who went to jail for his part in the alleged Stormy Daniels hush-money scheme, says he is owed $2.3m. The case goes to trial on Jul 24. Reggae star Eddy Grant suing for copyright infringement Grant is claiming $300,000 for the unauthorised use of his 1983 hit Electric Avenue during the 2020 election campaign. The music was played behind a cartoon mocking Joe Biden. Mr Trump claims the animation was political satire and therefore exempt. 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. Paleolithic people worked their fingers to the bone crafting and practicing small flutes made from bird skeletons. The tiny instruments, fashioned around 12,000 years ago, may have helped hunters mimic animal sounds, according to a study published on June 9 in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. Seven waterfowl wing bones with small holes carved into them were discovered in northern Israels Hula Valley, researchers said. The meticulously made perforations would have functioned as finger holes and mouthpieces. The mastery of these instruments must have required a certain period of training and a level of dexterity, researchers said. The short distances between the finger-holes of certain aerophones also requires a certain agility. The international team of researchers created replicas from mallard bones to investigate the purpose of the ancient instruments. When they played the experimental replicas, which measured no more than a few inches in length, researchers found they made sounds that resembled falcon calls. Researchers hypothesized that the flutes were likely used to mimic bird calls specifically the high-pitched shrieks of the sparrowhawk and the common kestrel. Hunters might have played the flutes to lure birds to a close enough distance so they could shoot them. Its also possible that the instruments served more of a ritualistic purpose. The imitative sounds could have had a high symbolic value, researchers said. The seven bones unearthed in the Hula Valley appear to represent a unique, previously undocumented type of flute, though similar discoveries have been made in the Americas, Europe and China. Lost world of microscopic life in rocks could be humans oldest ancestors, experts say Fluorescent green waters in Tunisia spark concerns but theres a simple explanation Watch as dad-daughter duo reel in fish off NJ coast but lurking shark had other plans Food distribution events will be held at Butler County schools throughout the summer The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is holding a series of free food distributions for children in Butler County this summer. Moniteau, Knoch and Karns City School districts have partnered with the food bank to host the meals. Any kids 18 years old or younger can visit the schools on certain days to get a free meal. The locations for food distributions are: Karns City High School 1446 Kittanning Pk in Karns City Food will be distributed on 6/12, 7/25, 8/18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Knoch Primary School 328 Knoch Rd. in Saxonburg Food will be distributed on 6/23, 7/19, 8/16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m Dassa McKinney Elementary School 391 Hooker Rd. in West Sunbury Food will be distributed on 6/20, 7/18. 8/15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. No pre-registration is required. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Part of highway collapses in Philadelphia after tanker truck fire Doctor accused of submitting hundreds of false claims steps down as chair of a department in UPMC Local contractor accused of taking $50K from customer, not finishing job 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 The former CEO of Dippin Dots was arrested following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend in which he allegedly strangled her before she was able to escape. Oklahoma City police arrested Scott Fischer early Wednesday morning last week after responding to a 911 call from his girlfriend, multiple newsoutlets reported. An arrest affidavit from Nichols Hills Police states that Fischer was intoxicated when he came home from work last Tuesday, according to local station KFOR. Police said that around 5:45 p.m., he got into an argument with his girlfriend, who has not been identified in news reports. Six hours later, the fight escalated when Fischer allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by her throat and started choking her. When she tried to get away, Fischer allegedly threw her over the couch and hit her, leaving small droplets of blood on the cushions. Police said that the woman managed to get away and call 911, only to have Fischer grab the phone from her. She managed to escape the home before the police arrived, Law & Crime reported. Responding officers said that when they arrived on the scene, Fischer was completely naked with a blank expression on his face, smelled strongly of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet when he was walked to the patrol vehicle. He was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on complaints of public intoxication, domestic violence by strangulation, interfering with an emergency call and indecent exposure. Fischer gave a statement to News 9 on Friday stating that things may not be as reported, and have been [mis]represented. it is a regrettable matter that was not as reported. Fischer was CEO of Dippin Dots between 2012-2022. In 2018, he was arrested in Edmond, Oklahoma, on a complaint of driving under the influence after crashing into a power line pole, crashing through a fence and striking two homes. In 2021, he was sued for allegedly sharing nude photos of an ex-girlfriend with multiple people without her consent. Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Related... Former Gov. Bruce Rauner looks on his official gubernatorial portrait unveiled at the state Capitol on Monday, June 12, 2023. One governor was in the Capitol on Monday and it was not Gov. JB Pritzker. Back in Springfield after moving to Florida, former Gov. Bruce Rauner returned for his official gubernatorial portrait unveiling. Artist Richard Halstead of Evanston created the portrait for the one-term Republican governor defeated by Pritzker in 2018. Rauner, joined by his wife Diana and former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, took a look back at his "mostly a pleasure" of a time as the state's 42nd governor and shared details on his new life in the Sunshine State, where he serves as a director of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. His portrait now hangs on the second floor of the Capitol, just above former Gov. Patrick Quinn. "Most gentlemen hanging here did not go to prison," Rauner quipped, a nod to two of the state's more recent governors in George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich who did spend time behind bars. While no longer spending on himself, data from the Florida Department of State Division of Elections finds Rauner has spent nearly $1.5 million in political campaigns in the state including $960,000 going to Empower Parents PAC backing its governor and presidential candidate Ron Desantis. Local: Sangamo Club to close doors Friday after 133 years He mostly avoided politics in his speech, but did make mention of the Invest in Kids scholarship which became a driving point in budget negotiations. The five-year pilot program, providing a 75% income tax credit to individuals and businesses who provide scholarships for impoverished children to attend private schools, started during the Rauner administration and will expire this year without lawmaker action. "I hope the legislature will act to protect that program," he said, referencing the time during the legislative process when lawmakers could take up action during the fall veto session. Gov. JB Pritzker has signaled support for an extension of the program if modified to allow for federal and state tax credits. It was a proverbial who's who of prominent Illinois Republicans in attendance including House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, party chairman Don Tracy and former House Minority Leader Jim Durkin. Also making an appearance was former Springfield mayor Jim Langfelder. Rauner's sole term was marred by a multi-year budget impasse, where he warred with a Democratic-majority state legislature as a bills-due backlog and deficit grew to new heights as a result. Several tiffs also played out with the administration and AFSCME, including a Supreme Court victory for Rauner that prevented public unions from requiring its workers to pay union dues. Langfelder told The State Journal-Register that impasse had particular impact on the Capital city but also highlighted several coordinated projects between the state and city such as the Bicentennial Plaza and renovations to the coliseum at the state fairgrounds. "Even though a lot of people say two years without a budget is devastating, you know, across the state especially Springfield being the state capital, there were things that we participated in, worked together and got things done when others were not able to as successfully," he said. Rauner broke from some members of his party with his support of legislation making it easier for transgender people to change their gender identity listed on their birth certificate and a separate bill that ended the state's trigger ban on abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That bill also allowed individuals to use Medicaid and state-subsidized funds to cover abortions. A rare occasion for an incumbent, he was challenged in a tight battle by former Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, in the primary before ultimately losing to Pritzker. The 54%-38% result was greater than Pritzker's margin of victory over Republican challenger Darren Bailey last fall. Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Former Gov. Rauner's portrait unveiled at Capitol Photo of Samsung flag A Samsung flag flies outside the companys Seoul, South Korea headquarters. South Korean prosecutors have arrested a former Samsung Electronics executive. The unnamed ex-exec, taken into custody last month, is charged with stealing trade secrets and attempting to use that information to build a new, copycat chip plant in China. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office announced its indictment of the unidentified 65-year-old defendant in a Monday statement, according to numerous reports. Gizmodo reached out to the prosecutors office for independent confirmation and comment, as well as Samsungs press office, but did not hear back by publication time. Read more The former tech bigwig reportedly worked at Samsung, one of the largest chip makers in the world, for 18 years and another South Korean chipmaker, SK Hynix, for an additional decade. Then, he started up new chip companies in China and Singapore, poaching about 200 former Samsung and Hynix employees in the process, according to prosecutors. In addition to the workers, the defendant also allegedly stole Samsung company confidential information including blueprints, basic engineering data, and clean room designs from August 2018 to 2019. He attempted to duplicate an entire factory to manufacture and mass-produce semiconductors in China, the prosecutors wrote in their statement, per AP. The would-be copy/pasted plant was slated for construction less than a mile away from Samsungs factory in Xian, China. However, the facility was never built, after $6.2 billion in promised investment from a Taiwanese company fell through, according to Yonhap News Agency, a major South Korean outlet. The illicitly obtained corporate secrets were estimated to be worth about $233 million for Samsung. Its a grave crime that could deal a heavy blow to our economic security by shaking the foundations of the domestic chip industry at a time of intensifying competition in chip manufacturing, the prosecutors office additionally said, according to Reuters. Six others, on top of the exec, have been indicted on charges related to the same alleged scheme. These include a Samsung contractor who is accused of leaking architectural plans and five employees of the Chinese chip company begun by the primary defendant. South Korea is especially protective of its proprietary technologiesparticularly those related to the semiconductors used in its chips. These account for 17% of the countrys total exports, according to AP. Last year, Samsung made big strides in advanced chip tech, by beating out Taiwanese competitor TSMC and becoming the first manufacturer to produce 3-nanometer chips. The new indictments and charges of stolen intellectual property come amid an ongoing chip shortage and rising trade tensions between China and the U.S. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A former Samsung exec stole plans for a chipmaking plant in China then tried to replicate it across town, prosecutors say A former Samsung executive was charged with stealing trade secrets and attempting to establish copycat factory less than a mile from the company's Xi'an, China, location, the AP reported. Photo by Seung-il Ryu/NurPhoto via Getty Images An ex-Samsung executive has been indicted on charges of stealing company secrets for a chip plant. The 65-year-old man tried to use the stolen plans to build a copycat facility, prosecutors said. The copycat chipmaking plant would have been less than a mile from Samsung's in Xi'an, China. A former Samsung executive stole blueprints and trade secrets from his ex-employer and then tried to set up a microchip factory in China less than a mile away from Samsung's own, prosecutors said. The 65-year old man, whose identity wasn't disclosed, was charged by South Korean authorities with using secrets to attempt to set up the rival operation less than a mile from Samsung's chip plant in Xi'an, a city in central China. Samsung is based in Korea, where the chip industry is considered key to its economic competitiveness. The technology prosecutors said was stolen by the man's China-based company would have been worth at least $233 million for Samsung. They charged six people employed by the man with "active participation" in the alleged tech theft. Plans to establish a copycat factory in what would be less than a 20-minute walk from one of Samsung's three chip-manufacturing plants in China had begun to make progress before prosecutors intervened. After a Taiwanese company balked on a promise to invest $6.2 billion in the operation, the former executive was reportedly able to receive around $357 million from Chinese investors to make trial products based on existing Samsung technology, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. South Korea is highly sensitive to breaches of technologies related to semiconductors, which accounted for nearly 17% of its total exports in 2022. Samsung, the world's largest manufacturer of computer memory chips, didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the charges. It also didn't comment to the AP. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office said Monday that it was taking "stern legal measures" against the former executive, according to a Korean Herald report on a press conference. In a statement, prosecutors described the arrested man as an "undisputed top domestic expert in semiconductor manufacturing." After an 18-year career at Samsung, he held executive roles for a decade at SK Hynix, another major South Korean chipmaker, which trails Samsung in the memory chip market, according to prosecutors. The man later created chip-manufacturing companies in China and Singapore with the backing of Chinese and Taiwanese investors and lured more than 200 chip experts from Samsung and Hynix with higher pay before arranging to smuggle out crucial technologies from Samsung, prosecutors said. The manufacturing secrets that prosecutors said were taken from Samsung included processing blueprints and "basic engineering data" for designing clean-room environments to prevent contamination during semiconductor manufacturing, which prosecutors described as "core national technologies." "The suspect attempted to duplicate an entire (Samsung) factory to manufacture and mass-produce semiconductors in China," said the prosecutors' office, which described his crime as incomparable in damage and scale to previous theft cases. Used across personal computing for memory storage and processing, the chips created by semiconductor plants also help power AI technology. Read the original article on Business Insider South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently declared the chip manufacturing industry to be in an "all-out war," and the latest developments certainly support that statement. Prosecutors in the Suwon District have indicted a former Samsung executive for allegedly stealing semiconductor plant blueprints and technology from the leading chipmaker, BusinessKorea reports. They didn't name the 65-year-old defendant, who also previously served as vice president of another Korean chipmaker SK Hynix, but claimed he stole the information between 2018 and 2019. The leak reportedly cost Samsung about $230 million. The defendant allegedly planned to build a semiconductor in Xi'an, China, less than a mile from an existing Samsung plant. He hired 200 employees from SK Hynix and Samsung to obtain their trade secrets while also teaming up with an unnamed Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company that pledged $6.2 billion to build the new semiconductor plant the partnership fell through. However, the defendant was able to secure about $358 million from Chinese investors, which he used to create prototypes in a Chengdu, China-based plant. The plant was reportedly also built using stolen Samsung information, according to prosecutors. "It's so serious that it's difficult to compare it in terms of the scale of the crime and the degree of damage with previous individual semiconductor technology leakage cases," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. "It's a grave crime that could deal a heavy blow to our economic security by shaking the foundation of the domestic chip industry at a time of intensifying competition in chip manufacturing." Six co-conspirators, including one Samsung sub-contractor, were indicted alongside the lead defendant. These charges follow continued efforts from China to acquire South Korea's technologies across a range of industries and Korea creating stricter punishments for related offenses. Former Shelton school counselor held on bail for child rape. Heres how he was caught A former Shelton High School counselor accused of various crimes involving a student is being held in Mason County jail in lieu of $300,000 bail. Samuel Caffey, 30, has been charged with third-degree rape of a child, third-degree child molestation and delivery of a controlled substance, according to court records. Mason County deputies arrested him June 2 on suspicion of those crimes as well as first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct Caffey attended his preliminary appearance in Mason County Superior Court on June 5. Judge Monty D. Cobb found probable cause for the alleged crimes and set the bail amount. Cobb also ordered Caffey to have no contact with the alleged victim. The arrest came more than two months after deputies found him with a 15-year-old girl in a wooded area about a mile from her home on April 5. In a recent news release, the Sheriffs Office said they could not determine whether a crime had been committed at that time. The Shelton School District placed Caffey on administrative leave after the Sheriffs Office informed them of the investigation. He was fired at some point after that. Court records indicate the Sheriffs Office has received additional complaints of sexual misconduct from other potential victims and minors. These victims have reportedly expressed to officials that they would fear for their safety if Caffey were released. The Sheriffs Office has said they are investigating these additional complaints in cooperation with the Shelton Police Department and Shelton School District. Anyone with more information regarding these incidents or any others not previously reported is encouraged to file a report with the Sheriffs Office by emailing sheriff@masoncountywa.gov, or calling 360-427-9670, Ext. 313. The investigation An affidavit of probable cause describes the investigation into the alleged crimes from the perspective of law enforcement. The alleged victims mother called dispatch to request a welfare check on her daughter on April 5, according to the statement. She reportedly found her daughter about a mile from her home in a wooded area near a parked motorcycle. She told police that she and her partner tracked her daughter to that location after growing concerned about her whereabouts. When she found her daughter, she reportedly emerged from the tree line and said she was there with an 18-year-old man who was hiding in the woods. At one point, the mothers partner reportedly fired a gun into the air to draw Caffey out. The Sheriffs Office later collected a .40-mm brass shell casing at the scene. Caffey eventually emerged after a nearly one-hour standoff with the parent. By this time, a deputy had arrived at the scene. Given the suspicious nature of the incident, the deputy detained Caffey until detectives arrived. Detectives interviewed Caffey, who identified himself as a certified school counselor at Shelton High School for the freshman class. He allegedly told the detective that he had been meeting frequently with the teen and communicating with her on Instagram and Snapchat. He allegedly said the teens mother had previously told him she was concerned about how often he met with her daughter, according to the statement. He also allegedly said the school administration had previously confronted him about communicating with students on social media and told him to stop. The statement says Caffey admitted to crossing boundaries and violating school policies with his actions. However, he reportedly requested an attorney when asked if he had a romantic relationship with the teen. One detective later contacted Caffeys wife. She allegedly told them she had concerns about Caffeys boundaries with students and noted she knew he had inappropriately communicated with another student. The statement says Caffeys wife said she should have seen this coming because she was a student at Shelton High School when Caffey was a counselor there. She reportedly added nothing inappropriate occurred while she was a student and shes unsure if he ever told the school administration of their relationship. In the weeks that followed, detectives extracted data from the alleged victims phone and social media accounts. They did the same with Caffeys phone and accounts after being granted warrants. The data revealed communications and notes that indicated the pair had developed an inappropriate romantic relationship since February when Caffey was 29, according to the statement. Meanwhile, the teen was enrolled in a long-term psychiatric treatment facility in eastern Washington. On May 30, the teens therapist spoke with a detective about what the teen told her because she is a mandatory reporter. The therapist confirmed with the detective that Caffey and the teen started dating on Feb. 13 and had sexual relations on multiple occasions, including at least one incident where he raped her at her own home. Additionally, the therapist said Caffey had bought the teen several gifts, including a vape pen and marijuana vape cartridges. Caffey also allegedly offered the teen pills at school that she believed were vitamins. Its unclear what the pills were for. On June 1, two detectives interviewed the teen. The statement indicates she corroborated what the therapist had previously shared and offered further details about their relationship. In the course of this interview, the statement says the teen shared the name of another potential victim. Former Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan is running for mayor of Sacramento. Pan announced his candidacy Sunday on the Ronin Project Podcast. Were honored to have Jimmie Yee as our first Asian American mayor, but he was an interim mayor, not directly elected as mayor, so I am seeking to be the first Asian American mayor of the city of Sacramento, Pan, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, said on the podcast. Pan, a pediatrician, represented Sacramento in the state Legislature for 12 years before terming out at the end of 2022. Pan through a spokesman declined an interview for this story because he is out of town. On the podcast he touted his work to help 65,000 children get healthcare coverage, help keep clinics open and expand them, and create jobs. Things like that, I think, are important, Pan said. Pan is perhaps most known for drawing ire from anti-vaxxers from across the state due to his work on vaccine mandates. He led laws to eliminate personal belief exemptions to vaccinations for children attending schools, to close a loophole in the vaccine mandate in 2019, and to keep protesters from blocking vaccine sites. Anti-vaxxers and right-wing militia groups targeted Pan for the work. They installed a large banner outside the capitol with a drawing of Pans face, and the word LIAR over it. One anti-vaccine activist shoved Pan so hard he stumbled on a Sacramento sidewalk in 2019. Prior to his time in the Legislature, Pan was a pediatrician and UC Davis professor. He still practices as a volunteer physician at the Sacramento County Health Center, caring for children on Medi-Cal or who are uninsured. I mainly took care of kids who were from under-resourced communities and low-income families and brought that perspective back to policy making in the legislature, Pan said. Since leaving the Legislature, Pan has been working as the senior policy advisor for AAPI Data. When there isnt data about our community we dont have data to back up our advocacy, Pan said. Pan joins a crowded field of candidates running for mayor, all of whom are Democrats. They include state Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento; former councilman Steve Hansen; epidemiologist and social justice activist Flojaune Cofer; and prosecutor Maggy Krell. Mayor Darrell Steinberg earlier this month announced he will not seek a third term as mayor, meaning his term will end in December 2024. Steinberg, a former state lawmaker, has not yet announced his endorsement in the race. The primary will be held March 5. If no one gets at least 50.01% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a general election in November. A reverend mother who faces dismissal over breaking her chastity vow with a priest admitted to the transgression during interviews with the vicar general of the Fort Worth Catholic Diocese and another sister from her order over several days in April, Bishop Michael Olson said in a video statement released late Sunday. In his message to the faithful, Olson said that the Reverend Mother Teresa Gerlach admitted to the transgression outside of confession and that it was consensual. Olson then described that she identified the priest during an interview with him, the chancellor for the diocese and the safe environment director. He said the interviewed occured before she underwent surgery. I asked her the name of the priest, and she gave it to me plainly and with clarity, Olson said. She was not under the influence of anesthesia. She was clear and lucid and had normal use of her physical and mental faculties. Olson said that when he reached out to the priests superiors, he was told that the priest wouldnt neither confirm nor deny his involvement with Gerlach and that he refused to cooperate with the investigation. He also said the priests superiors restricted his faculties. However, Matthew Bobo, an attorney representing Gerlach in her civil suit against Olson and the diocese, said in a statement that Olsons statement is baseless. The fact that this Shepherd and Pastor of the flock of 1 million Catholics in Fort Worth feels obligated to defame the Reverend Mother publicly yet again with alleged sins that she confessed to another priest but not in the sacrament of Penance he alleges is beyond pale! Bobo said Olson made numerous allegations of unknown, uncertain and unverifiable alleged sins committed by a nun. He did this after admitting in his own writing that the core of the matter concerned fell within the confidentiality due to the Seal of the Sacrament of Penance and spiritual counseling. The Arlington police are investigating reports of illegal drug activity at the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity after the diocese said a confidential informant provided photos showing pill bottles, baggies of pot and what appears to be edibles and a bong on tables. A crucifix can be seen in the background. Olson said that claims that the drugs were planted are false. Bobo said the accusations of illegal drug use are preposterous. Olson said claims that he and the diocese spied on the nuns after confiscating a cell phone and iPad belonging to Gerlach are false. He described how the canonical counsels for Gerlach and for the diocese arranged for a framework for the information on the devices to be copied for the investigation. Please pray for all of the nuns and novices in the Carmelite monastery for their health and salvation, Olson said. Please pray for me as your Bishop entrusted to oversee this painful and spiritually delicate matter in accord with the heart and mind of Jesus Christ. Gerlach, 43, joined the monastery after she graduated from Ursuline Academy in Dallas. The nuns have lived on 72 wooded acres near South Bowen Road and West Sublett Road in Arlington since 1958. The Sisters of Carmel are withdrawn from the world and spend much of their day in silent prayer. The order has existed since 1562. Gerlach has been a member of the monastery for 25 years. Screenshot: Twitter Former Fox News host Tucker Carlsons new show, Tucker on Twitter, might not be on Twitter for much longer. On Monday, Carslons ex-employer upped the pressure on its former host and sent the right-wing commentator a cease and desist letter, according to Axios and confirmed by multiple reports. Lawyers for the company alleged Carlsons new show represents a breach of his Fox contract. The cease and desist letter, which reportedly features the phrase NOT FOR PUBLICATION marks the latest in the legal drama brewing between the two titans of conservative media. Fox fired Carlson earlier this year allegedly due to executives concerns over insubordinate messages uncovered during the Dominion Voting suit and over another suit accusing the host and Fox of sexism and harassment. Lawyers for Fox claim Carlsons new show violates his contract because the company have exclusive rights to his content until early 2025. Carlson claims hes using Twitter simply to express his First Amendment right to speech. Read more Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election, Harmeet Dhillon, a lawyer representing Carlson said in a statement sent to the New York Times. Tucker will not be silenced by anyone. Fox did not immediately respond to our request for comment. Carlson is only two episodes into his new show on Twitter, and its already jam-packed with the conspiracy-theory-clad, trollish diatribes hes spent years perfecting. In just around 23 total minutes, Carlson mocked Ukraines sweaty and rat-like prime minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accused the mainstream media of trying to bury a story about government-captured alien corpses, alleged South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham smelled like death, and generally tried to convince his audience of unique ability to deliver them the real TRUTH. The media lie, they do, the former star of one of cables most watched newscasts said. But mostly they just ignore the stories that matter. The tactics worked. In less than a week, Carlsons first episode attracted 114.7 million views and around 269,7000 retweets. Though the comparisons arent perfect, Carlsons former Fox show averaged just around 3.3 million viewers per episode last year. Fox claims this new show directly violates Carlsons non-compete clause of his contract. If the network gets its way, Carlson, whos still being paid by Fox, would be forced to spend the next year and change shut out from the political conversation. Carlson agreed to the non-compete, but now his lawyers claim Foxs demands violate his constitutional right to speech. Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds, Bryan Freedman, one of Carlsons attorneys said in a statement last week. Now they want to take Tucker Carlsons right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events. Elon Musk, Twitters owner since last October, retweeted Carlsons announcement on the platform but said the two of them had not signed any kind of deal whatsoever. Critics of Musk in recent months have claimed his loosening of content moderation standards and amplification of fringe voices is positioning Twitter as a type of modern, right-wing media alternative to Fox News. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Fox News is stepping up its legal fight with its former star Tucker Carlson, according to news reports. The network sent a cease and desist letter to Carlson claiming his new show on Twitter violates his Fox employment contract, which reportedly expires in early 2025. The letter was first reported Monday by Axios. Harmeet K. Dhillon, a lawyer for Carlson, called the decision to remove Carlson from the network the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, adding that her client wont be silenced. Fox News continues to ignore the interests of its viewers, not to mention its shareholder obligations, Dhillon said in a statement to Axios. Fox News did not immediately return HuffPosts request for comment. Carlson, who is still being paid by the conservative network, was pushed out following the networks $787.5 million defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor, the network said at the time, without citing a reason for his departure. Dominion sued Fox News for $1.6 billion over its broadcast of false claims that the company used its equipment to favor Joe Biden at the expense of Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Carlson has reportedly claimed his departure came as part of the settlement with Dominion, Axios and Variety have reported. Soon after his exit, Carlson announced his new show on Elon Musks Twitter. Carlsons lawyers reportedly told Fox News prior to the shows announcement that the noncompete clause in his contract is no longer valid, accusing the networks leadership of fraud and of violating the contract. Carlsons executive producer, Justin Wells, on Sunday said Carlsons next Twitter episode, scheduled for Tuesday, will cover Trumps federal indictment over his handling of classified documents. Trump is set to be arraigned on Tuesday in Miami. Related... PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said that a long-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive against occupying Russian forces had started, and he promised more military aid to the Kyiv government. At a press conference after a meeting with Polish and German leaders, the so-called Weimar Triangle, Macron said: "We have done everything to help it." "We have intensified the delivery of ammunitions, weapons and armed vehicles ... We'll continue in coming days and weeks," said Macron, who in recent days said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirming the start of the counter-offensive. Asked whether Germany agreed Ukraine needed to be given security guarantees at a NATO summit in July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "It's clear we need this and we need it in a very concrete way," he said. Ukraine on Monday claimed new gains in the early phase of the counter-offensive, saying its forces recaptured seven villages from Russian troops along an approximately 100-km (60-mile) front in southeastern Ukraine. The three-way meeting in Paris was meant to send a signal of unity between eastern and western Europe, after Warsaw took on a major logistical and diplomatic role in helping Ukraine, while often castigating German and French leaders for being too slow. Macron said the meeting was proof that there was no division between "old" and "new" Europe, a distinction once made by the United States when eastern European countries refused to back France and Germany over the war in Iraq 20 years ago. However, divisions emerged during the short question-and-answer session with journalists. Both Macron and Scholz said they supported the migration deal agreed by EU ministers last week, in which EU countries unwilling to take in refugees at home would be asked to give a financial contribution to their hosting peers. But Polish President Andrzej Duda said he was "skeptical". "We took in those who needed help in Poland ... we helped, to be honest, we did not receive any particular help especially from EU institutions," he said. "I hope that no institution in the EU will come up with an idea to punish us for the fact that while still having the perspective of more Ukrainian refugees arriving, we are skeptical about accepting migrants from other directions as well." (Reporting by Michel Rose and Dominique Vidalon in Paris; Sarah Marsh in Berlin and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw; editing by Grant McCool) The News Fred Ryan, the Washington Post's CEO and publisher, announced he is stepping down from the paper in an internal memo sent to staff. Ryan said he has a new job with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's nonpartisan Center on Public Civility. He had previously served as an official in the Reagan administration and as chairman of the foundation. He also was the founder and CEO of of Politico. "In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to spending time with all of my friends and colleagues across The Post to convey my deep appreciation for many impressive contributions to our success," Ryan wrote, adding that he would remain as publisher until August 1. Amazon's Jeff Bezos, who owns the paper, said his friend Patty Stonesifer, the founding CEO of the Gates Foundation and director of the Amazon board, has been appointed interim CEO of The Post. Know More Bezos, who purchased the Post in 2014 and named Ryan as CEO in an effort to better digitize the newsroom, also sent a rare email to the paper's staff confirming Ryan's departure. "Fred has led The Post through a period of innovation, journalistic excellence, and growth," Bezos wrote. "His focus on the intersection of journalism and technology has been of great benefit to readers and has laid the foundation for the future growth." Ryan faced internal criticism last year after announcing a series of layoffs and then not immediately addressing concerns of Post staffers. But in an interview with the Post, he said that his departure "has nothing to do" with the difficult media environment he had been navigating the paper through. Instead, as he wrote in his memo, he decided to leave the Post to lead the nonpartisan center as he had a "deep and growing about the decline in civility and respectful dialogue" in politics and social media. Free money for job training is still available to Californians if you act now Community colleges, such as Long Beach City College, are among the many schools with eligible job retraining programs. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Before the pandemic, Jose Rubio had been pursuing an environmental engineering degree while also working in construction and performing music. Once COVID-19 struck, he lost his job and couldn't afford to continue at Sierra College near Sacramento. In 2021, California established the Golden State Education and Training Grant Program, providing one-time grants of up to $2,500, aimed at helping people such as Rubio. And it did: Rubio applied, got a grant and is continuing his education. But now, Californians have just days until Thursday to apply for these grants because budget shortfalls have led lawmakers to propose slashing the available funding, as first reported by CalMatters. Here's what you should know. Who is eligible for the job training grant? You are eligible if: You are enrolled at one of 110 approved institutions. You will not be eligible if you were enrolled at the time you lost your job. You can verify that you were unable to find work at the same or better wages as your pre-pandemic job. You earn less per year than the income limits set by the state, which range from $42,800 for a single person with no dependents to $135,000 for someone with six or more dependents. Your parents have less than $90,400 in household assets if you are dependent on them. The same limit would apply if you are independent and have dependents other than a spouse. If you have no dependents, the limit is $43,000. How can I apply for the job training grant? Register as a first-time user on the Golden State Education and Training Grant Application. Registration includes filling out your Social Security number or Dream Act ID, student email and other personal information. Once you finish registering, your application is complete. You do not need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the California Dream Act application for this program. What led to the cuts and deadline? Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal decreases the allocation for this program to $20 million, from $500 million, due to lower revenue projections and an increased budget deficit of approximately $31.5 billion. The $480-million cut from the program would be returned to the state by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year, according to the governor's latest proposal. The decision on the proposed grant cut will be made by June 15, which marks the constitutional deadline for the Legislature to approve the budget. The budget committee in the Assembly and a key subcommittee in the Senate have signaled they accept the governors proposal. Nearly 8,000 grants totaling $19 million have been awarded as of early June, out of more than 11,000 applications, said Shelveen Ratnam, a spokesperson for the California Student Aid Commission. Officials had expected to award 190,000 grants. The Legislative Analysts Office wrote in February that the underlying need for [the] program has diminished, due to significantly improved unemployment rates. During April, California's unemployment rate stood at approximately 4.5% , a significant decrease from the 7.5% rate in July 2021, when the program was established. The analyst report added that, because the labor market has been very favorable for people looking for jobs, displaced workers are more likely to have the option to find other jobs rather than returning to school. How the grants help people Rubio's life changed when he was awarded $2,500. The grant covered his travel expenses to school, allowed him to acquire a new backpack after years of using the same one, and ensured he had enough food. Beyond the financial support, the grant instilled in him a sense of confidence reaffirming that someone facing circumstances similar to his can seize the opportunity to pursue an education. Cutting [the program] shatters people's dreams to accomplish their academic success, Rubio said. It's not fair because I feel that if I received it, other students should get a shot as well, because only I know how much it helped me. Rubio graduated last month and hopes to transfer to a University of California campus in the fall. What other options do displaced workers have to fund their education? Displaced workers have other options too. Community colleges offer free non-credit adult education courses and provide full tuition waivers for qualifying students taking credit courses. Students can submit applications for FAFSA or the California Dream Act before Sept. 2 Students may also be eligible for Pell Grants and Cal Grants, which can help cover education and living costs. Yet, these grants typically have a maximum duration of four to six years, and some workers may have already exhausted their eligibility for financial aid benefits. The California Student Aid Commission is actively working to implement the Cal Grant Equity Framework , a model adopted last year, that aims to enhance student access to financial aid. The framework is currently under consideration for the 2024-25 state budget and if implemented, more students would receive Cal Grants. The current Cal Grant system employs outdated eligibility criteria, such as age and time since high school graduation, Ratnam said. Longer term, the commission is working with policymakers to further expand access to Cal Grant programs in ways that would make it better serve the needs of specifically adult and returning learners, Ratnam said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Fruitland suspect arrested in 2022 Wicomico County homicide by Marshals in New Jersey The suspect wanted by Maryland State Police in connection with the murder of a man last year in Wicomico County was arrested Friday in New Jersey. The suspect, Riley Lee Collick, 44, of Fruitland, was apprehended Friday, June 9, 2023, by U.S. Marshals at an apartment in Moorestown, New Jersey. Collick was transported to a local detention center, where he is being held pending an extradition hearing back to Maryland. Collick had an arrest warrant for first-degree murder issued for him in the death of Alejandro Roland Exantus, 32, of Laurel. Shortly before 12:45 a.m. Dec. 4, 2022, officers from the Salisbury Police Department responded to the 100 block of West Market Street for a report of a stabbing. More on an MSP rescue State police rescue Wicomico County fallen hiker According to a preliminary investigation, Collick and Exantus were involved in a physical altercation following an argument. Investigators believe Collick stabbed Exantus before fleeing the scene. Exantus was transported by ambulance to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where he was declared dead. Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Salisbury Police Department and the Capital Area Region Fugitive Task Force. Anyone with information on this case or who may have been in the area of the crime scene is asked to call Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776 or the Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack at 410-749-3101. Callers may remain anonymous. The case remains under investigation. More on new MSP construction Maryland State Police break ground on new Berlin Barrack: PHOTOS This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Fruitland suspect arrested in 2022 Wicomico homicide by Marshals The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is already suing to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activsion Blizzard, but now it's taking steps to halt the deal before the July 18th deadline for the merger. On Monday afternoon, the agency filed for an injunction that would prevent the merger from closing as scheduled. We've asked the FTC for comment. Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith tells Engadget in a statement that the company believes the injunction is "accelerating the legal process" and will help the merger move forward sooner. In previous statements, Microsoft has downplayed the deal and claims that Activision Blizzard doesn't have "must have" games. It even suggests Sony has higher-quality exclusives. The FTC, however, notes that Activision is one of just a few giant game publishers that publish major titles across platforms. The lawsuit is going before the FTC's own administrative law judge in August. That official will make a decision that can appeal to the Commission for a vote. If the agency votes against the merger, Microsoft can appeal to a federal court to challenge the outcome. The injunction comes weeks after the UK's Competition and Markets Authority said it would block the $68.7 billion purchase. The regulator is concerned Microsoft may buy its way into a monopoly of the young cloud gaming space, giving it up to 70 percent market share. Microsoft has tried to assuage those fears by striking deals with game streaming providers to put titles on their services. The tech giant has also tried to address fears of a Call of Duty Xbox exclusive by promising multi-platform releases for a decade. Microsoft has had some success with its proposed merger. The European Union greenlit the deal, for example. The company clearly needs US and UK support to move forward, though, and there are no guarantees it can make concessions that satisfy those countries' regulators. Update 5:29PM ET: Added official confirmation of the FTC filing an injunction against Microsoft's proposed merger with Activision Blizzard. You are here: World Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina attend a signing ceremony of a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The China-Honduras high-level business meeting concluded in Beijing on Sunday. It is the first of its kind since the two countries established diplomatic relations on March 26, attracting around 200 political and business delegates from both sides. China and Honduras have different resource endowments and economic complementarity, said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. There are massive potential and broad development prospects for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, added Zhang. He called on joint efforts from enterprises of the two countries to introduce more high-quality Honduran products to the Chinese market, continuously expand the scale of bilateral trade, increase local employment, and enhance people's welfare. The holding of the high-level meeting will inject impetus for deepening bilateral relations and trade and economic cooperation, said the visiting Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina. Reina said he believed the evolving bilateral relations would bring vast opportunities for entrepreneurs from both sides and promote the yielding of more concrete results. FTC chair Lina Khan has led the charge to block Microsofts acquisition. A US judge temporarily blocked Microsofts acquisition of the popular video game company Activision Blizzard after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed an injunction earlier this week seeking to halt the deal. A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for next week. The decision by FTC chair Lina Khan is the latest move in a multiyear legal battle to block the merger of the two companies, on the grounds that it would stifle competition in the video gaming industry. The FTC first sued to stop the $68.7 billion deal last December, in a case thats scheduled to go before an administrative law judge in August. Read more The decision to file an injunction now allows the FTC to prevent the acquisition from closing before its July 18 deadline. In a written statement, Microsoft president Brad Smith said hes looking forward to the trial. We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court. We believe accelerating the legal process in the US will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market, Smith maintained. On June 12, Microsoft stock was up 1.3% after the news at market close in New York. The EU approved the deal last month The European Commission approved Microsoft Corp.s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in May. The ruling is contingent on Microsoft making concessions on access to cloud gaming, a burgeoning market that lets people play video games on any device. Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissions executive vice president in charge of competition policy, said the ruling will improve cloud gaming across the industry. The commitments offered by Microsoft will enable for the first time the streaming of such games in any cloud game streaming services, enhancing competition and opportunities for growth. The ruling came less than a month after the UKs Competition and Markets Authority rejected Microsofts acquisition in April. Microsoft and Activision are appealing that decision after a judge last week allowed the two companies to jointly make their case to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The appeal is expected to take place at an unspecified date in July. Related stories: Whats next for the Microsoft-Activision deal after receiving EU approval? Microsoft is getting ready to defend its Activision Blizzard acquisition to EU regulators Microsofts purchase of Activision Blizzard gives it the clear lead in the metaverse This story was updated with the judges decision. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Microsoft President Brad Smith addresses a media conference regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the future of gaming in Brussels, on Feb. 21, 2023 Microsoft President Brad Smith has been championing the merger for close to a year, despite pushback from regulators in the U.S. and UK. The mountain of pushback against the largest acquisition in gaming history just got a fair bit steeper. On Monday, CNBC first reported that the Federal Trade Commission is close to filing an injunction to block the $68.7 billion merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. The deal is nearing its July 18 deadline, and an injunction would halt the process while the agency is working on bringing its own ongoing legal complaints to the fore. The FTC, under the leadership of big tech merger opponent Lina Khan, had already sued to block the near-$69 billion acquisition. According to CNBC based on an unnamed source familiar with the matter, the agency has brought the case before an internal administrative law judge who is supposed to hear the case in August. Read more Essentially, the injunction would give the FTC time to marshal resources and bring its full legal weight against the deal. That initial internal judge decision could then be brought to the commission for a full vote. If it goes the FTCs way, Microsoft could then appeal. In an email, an FTC spokesperson confirmed the agencys plans to file a restraining order, saying: Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have represented in the past that they cannot close their deal due to antitrust reviews of the transaction in other jurisdictions. But Microsoft and Activision have not provided assurances that they will maintain that position. In light of that, and public reporting that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are considering closing their deal imminently, we have filed a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent them from closing while review continues. The two companies trying to become one claimed this move on the FTCs part would work in their favor. Activision shared Gizmodo an email sent to staff from CEO Bobby Kotick where he claimed Our excellent legal team has been preparing for this move for more than a year, and were ready to present our case to a federal judge who can evaluate the transaction on the merits. In an email statement, Microsoft President Brad Smith told Gizmodo We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court. We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S. will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market. The European Union has already granted its blessing to the merger, saying it accepted the concessions the companies made to facilitate cloud gaming across platforms outside Xbox. Still, the UKs regulatory body overseeing mergers blocked the near-$69 billion acquisition, also citing issues with competition in the cloud gaming market. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are both appealing that decision, though a decision could take place after the acquisition deadline. This article is part of a developing story. Our writers and editors will be updating this page as new information is released. Please check back again in a few minutes to see the latest updates. Meanwhile, if you want more news coverage, check out our tech, science, or io9 front pages. And you can always see the most recent Gizmodo news stories at gizmodo.com/latest. Update 05/13/23 at 9:40 p.m. ET: This post was updated to include a statement from the FTC and Activision Blizzard. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Update: The FTC confirms that it has requested a "temporary restraining order" preventing the deal from going through while reviews are underway. Original story follows this statement from the agency: Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have represented in the past that they cannot close their deal due to antitrust reviews of the transaction in other jurisdictions. But Microsoft and Activision have not provided assurances that they will maintain that position. In light of that, and public reporting that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are considering closing their deal imminently, we have filed a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent them from closing while review continues. Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has received a mixed response from regulators around the world, but the Federal Trade Commission may be its biggest critic. The agency has reportedly applied for an injunction to prevent the deal going ahead before its own official judgment on the situation later this year. Microsoft announced its intention to buy the gaming giant early last year as a way to bolster its own Xbox and PC gaming division, which has struggled to outplay perennial rival Sony. (Though yesterday's impressive Xbox showcase clearly indicates that the war is far from over.) This was followed by a flurry of concerned statements from antitrust regulators around the world, who said industry consolidation like this produces few benefits and plenty of risks for consumers. Several investigations are underway, and the U.K. has even moved to block the deal, though that is being appealed in court there. Cue the FTC, which already has a lawsuit challenging the acquisition, but that is not scheduled to be heard by its own administrative law judge until August. So the agency is reportedly asking for an injunction against the deal now essentially, asking a judge to pre-judge whether the lawsuit is likely to succeed, whether harm could occur during the legal process, and if so prevent the deal from going forward in the meantime. CNBC first reported the move. The agency did have a closed-door meeting this morning for "consideration of a nonpublic law enforcement matter," which very well could be the matter in question. Such decisions generally require the case to be pretty clear, though, and this one may not be. When it filed the lawsuit, the FTC said "we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets." To call Activision Blizzard an "independent game studio" is something of a stretch: The enormous conjoined corporation is responsible for some of the world's most popular games, including Diablo IV, which just set launch sales records last week across all platforms, it must be said. And Microsoft has been careful to state its support for multiple platforms on many of its own marquee titles since the acquisition announcement. I have contacted the FTC for confirmation and more details and will update this post if I hear back. Funeral procession shooting that left 4 wounded in Oak Park linked to slaying of Edgewater man with gang ties, police source says The shooting of four people Saturday in Oak Park occurred during a funeral procession for a North Side man who was shot and killed in the Edgewater neighborhood earlier this month, police sources and the mans family said. Around 1 p.m. Saturday, the funeral procession for Jamal Goings, a 33-year-old man shot to death May 23, was traveling west in the 900 block of Madison Street, according to Oak Park police and Goings family. A source with knowledge of the investigation identified Goings as connected to the Guttaville faction of the Gangster Disciples, which claims territory in the area where Goings was killed. Goings last month was found lying face down in the alley of the 6000 block of North Kenmore Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. He was shot in the back and taken to a hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead, Chicago police previously said. In a brief phone interview Monday, Goings mother said she did not know what precipitated Saturdays shooting. She added that her son was the father of two young girls. Theyre OK for now, but not too good, Renette Goings said of her granddaughters. Asked how she was faring since her sons death, she said, Im making it. A white pickup truck pulled up next to the procession, and someone inside opened fire, striking four people, all of whom are from Chicago. Two of the victims were hospitalized in critical condition, while two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Oak Park police. While there is no indication of any further threat to the community stemming from this incident, any act of gun violence such as this does great harm to our collective sense of safety, Oak Park police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in a statement. Oak Park police added that its standard protocol for funeral homes to alert law enforcement of potentially high-risk funeral processions but no alert was issued ahead of Saturdays funeral. Cook County court records show Goings in 2019 pleaded guilty to aggravated fleeing and was sentenced to 14 months in prison. A year earlier, Goings was sentenced to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Records show Goings was arrested several more times on various narcotics charges. Hed been on the radar in the past, a police source said, adding that officers discovered a gun on Goings person when he was found shot last month. The source said a faction of the Black P. Stones based in Uptown is believed to be in conflict with the Gangster Disciples faction. Gaza graffiti artists bedeck houses destroyed by Israel in war Artists draw graffiti on houses destroyed by Israel, in Deir Al-Balah By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Graffiti artists in Gaza have painted murals on the remains of houses destroyed in an Israeli missile strike during cross-border fighting in May. On one wall the artists depicted a woman holding her son. On another a boy is painted with tears in his eyes. A third shows a girl, seen through a mirror, combing her hair. Piles of rubble still encircle the houses in the town of Deir al-Balah. Parts of exploded Israeli missiles were placed on tables for display. "Out of suffering, pain, and siege, we derive hope, art, and victory," said artist Hussein Abu Sadeq. "We drew on the rubble so we can get the message through using a brush and colour." Gaza, home to 2.3 million people and ruled by the Islamist group Hamas, is blockaded by Israel and Egypt. In May, Israel launched a campaign against commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group who it said had planned attacks in Israel. In response, the Iranian-backed group fired more than 1,000 rockets, sending Israelis fleeing into bomb shelters. Israel killed six senior Islamic Jihad commanders and said it destroyed a number of military installations. Fifteen Palestinian civilians, including women and children, were also killed, according to Palestinian health officials. In Israel, two people - an Israeli woman and a Palestinian labourer - were killed by Palestinian rocket fire in Israel. "We collected those remains (of missiles) after the bombardment," said Mohammad Thuraya, an organizer of an exhibition of the art work on Sunday. "One missile destroyed a neighbourhood and destroyed the lives of ten families who used to live here." (Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi, Editing by William Maclean) By Federica Urso (Reuters) - Gender inequality has remained stagnant for a decade, according to research by the United Nations released on Monday, as cultural biases and pressures continue to hinder women's empowerment and leave the world unlikely to meet the UN's goal of gender parity by 2030. Despite a surge in women's rights groups and social movements like Time's Up and MeToo in the United States, biased social norms and a broader human-development crisis heightened by COVID-19, when many women lost their income, have stalled progress on inequality. In its latest report, the United Nations Development Programme tracked the issue through its Gender Social Norms Index, which uses data from the international research programme World Values Survey (WVS). The survey draws from data sets spanning 2010-2014 and 20172022 from countries and territories covering 85% of the global population. The latest analysis showed that almost nine out of 10 men and women hold fundamental biases against women and that the share of people with at least one bias has barely changed over the decade. In 38 of the surveyed countries the share of people with at least one bias decreased to just 84.6% from 86.9%. The degree of improvement over time has been "disappointing," said Heriberto Tapia, research and strategic partnership adviser at UNDP and co-author of the report. The survey also noted that nearly half of the world's people think that men make better political leaders, while 43% think men are better business executives. "We need to change the gender biases, the social norms, but the ultimate goal is to change the power relations between women and men, between people," Aroa Santiago, gender specialist in inclusive economies at UNDP, told Reuters. Though education has always been hailed as key for improving economic outcomes for women, the survey revealed the broken link between the education gap and income, with the average income gap at 39% even in the 57 countries where adult women are more educated than men. More direct harm to women's wellbeing could be seen in views on violence, with more than one out of every four people believing it was justified for a man to beat his wife, the UNDP said. (Reporting by Federica Urso in Rome; Editing by Simon Jessop and Matthew Lewis) Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved ahead with his threat to deploy nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Echoing prior condemnation of this planned action, the U.S. State Departments spokesman added: we have seen no reason to adjust our strategic nuclear posture or any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon. Ambassador Steven Pifer argued in March that even if Russian nuclear arms are actually placed in Belarus, that would not increase the military threat to Ukraine or to NATO. Lithuania, Poland, and various other governments in the region not to mention the European Union beg to differ. These sentiments from current and former American officials appear oddly indifferent to the political dimensions of Putins deployment. As a historical matter, the U.S. has placed enormous significance on the location of nuclear weapons, in Belarus and elsewhere. The military utility they provide is only part of the equation. In Belarus case, the deployment sends a message to governments in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as rivals farther afield. Questioning precepts of nonproliferation indirectly indicates President Putins willingness to move past mere brio. In addition, these steps attempt to humiliate the West by transgressing prior cherished agreements which removed residual Soviet nuclear arms from Belarus in the 1990s. Steven Pifer: Russian nukes in Belarus - much ado about little? Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. In a March 25 interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for use by the Belarusian milit The Kyiv IndependentSteven Pifer Understanding these dynamics requires following an archival paper trail. On Nov. 23, 1996, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, then serving as the chief speechwriter at the National Security Council, wrote an ebullient email to his boss, Anthony Lake. Understand last warheads left Belarus this weekend, he noted, adding, suggest written POTUS statement praising completion of our effort to rid NIS ( - Russia) of nukes. He prefaced his recommendation, assuming (the Russian and European Section staff) thinks its okay to say nice things about Belarus despite Lukashenko. On a printed copy of the email, Lake wrote agree, initialing it with an A that he turned, by pen swirl, into a cheerful star. The press release published four days later crowed, today we have witnessed another historic milestone toward the reduction of the global nuclear threat. It then alluded to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, the agreement by which Belarus, along with Ukraine and Kazakhstan, became non-nuclear states under the Nonproliferation Treaty. By this separate accord, they confirmed they would forfeit their inherited nuclear arsenals in exchange for aid and assurances of their security. Todays actions, boasted Blinken, reflect the success of President Clinton's policy to support the removal of nuclear weapons from those states, other than Russia, which inherited the Soviet nuclear arsenal when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. What has changed? Why was their elimination so celebrated and their return greeted with sang froid? Belarus Weekly: We pushed Belarus toward Russia, says Macron May 30 marks 24 years since the tragic Niamiha stampede, when thousands rushed into an underground passageway of Minsks Niamiha metro station, killing over 50 and injuring around 400. In a controversial speech at the 2023 Globsec summit in Bratislava, French President Emmanuel Macron claims Wester The Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma Upon his announcement in March, President Putin recited decades-old grievances regarding NATOs nuclear-sharing arrangements. These allow the U.S. military to keep a limited tactical nuclear arsenal in Europe. Putin claimed he was merely a copycat Belarus had not changed its non-nuclear status by hosting nuclear weapons. Yet NATOs spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, immediately asserted, Russias reference to NATOs nuclear sharing is totally misleading, adding, NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments. By implication, Belarus had violated its commitments, reversing its undertaking signed in Budapest in 1994. These muddy legal issues aside, the erratic character of Belarusian denuclearization in the 1990s should give observers of todays events pause. An odd paradox emerged during that period. When it gained sovereignty from the USSR, Minsk possessed far fewer weapons than Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and yet it took the longest to relinquish them. Lukashenko ascended to the countrys presidency the same year the Budapest Memorandum was signed. He did not share his predecessors faith in its terms. Shortly after President Boris Yeltsin famously claimed the Russian-Belarusian border no longer existed, on May 26, 1995, Lukashenko proposed that he retain the remaining nuclear weapons on his soil. A hailstorm of accusations ensued. For over a year, Minsk and Moscow played a shadow game of threatening and cajoling NATOs leaders, harassing candidates for accession. When then Polish Defense Minister Zbigniew Okonski announced his country was prepared, as a prospective NATO member, to host foreign troops and nuclear weapons, his counterpart in Russia, Pavel Grachev, struck back. A leaked map, which appeared in Nezavisimaya Gazeta, showed a joint Belarus-Russia attack on prospective NATO allies, as well as the Baltic States. The psychodrama didnt stop there. In June of 1996, Russian Lieutenant-General Leonid Ivashov emphasized his governments intentions to collaborate with Belarus, specifically placing on the table joint containment measures, nuclear bluffing, and retargeting of Western European capitals. For his part, Lukashenko careened wildly toward extreme demands that all of Central and Eastern Europe become a nuclear-free zone. This cacophony of bluster led then Secretary-General of NATO, Javier Solana, to reject a non-nuclear zone outright. In the same breath, however, he claimed the Alliance maintained no intention, plan or reason to station nuclear weapons on the soil of new member states, like Poland. Solanas statement prefigured the codification of that commitment in the NATO-Russia Founding Act. To this day, NATO may not put nuclear weapons or nuclear storage facilities on the territories of states that acceded after 1997. Burkovsky, Zolkina: How Ukraine and the West can stop Putins nuclear blackmail Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Putins threats to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus reflect his goal to keep Crimea after Russias defeat in the war. Three days after The Kyiv IndependentMariia Zolkina Whether or not Russian and Belaruss wrangling at the time won this bedrock stipulation, they have a case to believe it did. Putins deployment this year should be considered as part of this decades-long playbook. Americans too often ignore such legacies its all ancient history. Yet when their government faced its own great nuclear crunch, their leaders refused to accept arguments like those professed recently by Pifer. On the third day of the Cuban missile crisis, President John F. Kennedy, responded to news of Soviet missile deployment off Floridas coast by asking: What difference does (the deployment of missiles in Cuba) make? Referring to the USSRs intercontinental ballistic missiles, Kennedy noted, theyve got enough to blow us up now anywayAfter all, this is a political struggle as much as military. The weeks that followed brought two great superpowers to the brink. Central and Eastern Europeans feel the great weight of Kennedys political struggle every day. Refusing to acknowledge their circumstances corrodes Americas credibility in the region. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. background background Subscribe to newsletter Belarus Weekly George Soros passes control of his foundation to his son Alex American billionaire philanthropist and investor George Soros has passed control of his foundation, Open Society Foundations (OSF), to his son Alex. A foundation spokesperson confirmed to The Hill the leadership change within the organization. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news on Sunday. In an interview, Alex, 37, told the Journal that hes more political than his father, adding that he was concerned about former President Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, suggesting that his organization might have to play a significant financial role in the 2024 election. 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, the younger Soros added. In a separate interview, Soros, via a spokesperson, told the Financial Times that the organization plans to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad. A source told the Journal that Soros priorities in U.S. politics will remain unchanged with Alexs appointment as head of the organization. OSF, founded in 1993, is a foundation that donates money to humanitarian and democratic causes such as climate change and criminal justice reform initiatives. The organization has spent $19.1 billion on philanthropic causes, according to its website. Alex Soros, who was elected as the foundations chairman in December, recently met with Biden administration officials, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to push for issues related to his familys foundation, the Journal reported. Updated on Jun 12 at 2:14 pm ET. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp attends a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2023. The Republican governor is setting off for a weeklong trade mission to Israel in late May 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ATLANTA (AP) Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is making his third overseas trip since he was reelected, leaving Tuesday to visit the nation of Georgia and then France to represent the state in aerospace recruitment at the Paris Air Show. The Republican Kemp will be gone for nearly two weeks, with his administration saying he will be the first American governor to ever visit the nation of Georgia, which is located in the Caucasus region south of Russia and north of Turkey. The nation has been a hotspot of conflict, with Russian forces in 2008 invading to bolster separatists in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. American armed forces of the Georgia National Guard have long provided training to the nation of Georgia's armed forces. Its Kemps fifth overseas trip as governor and his third in less than six months as he seeks to build his foreign policy resume. The second-term Republican governor is trying to raise his profile and steer his party away from former President Donald Trump, though he has said hes not running for president in 2024. The cost to taxpayers for the trip is not immediately available. Our National Guard has had a presence there for a long time, Kemp told reporters Monday in Atlanta. "Its a very important region of the world for national security for the United States. Were going to have a lot of folks over there training like we have in the past. And so I think its important for us to really go there and learn and show our support while were that close. Kemp intends to meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, accompanied by Georgia National Guard Maj. Gen. Tom Carden among others. Kemp also plans to visit a humanitarian shelter built by the Georgia National Guard and meet with members of the Marietta, Georgia, Fire Department who are providing water rescue training. From there, Kemp plans to visit the Paris Air Show, which starts June 19. It's the top aerospace trade show in the world, and Kemp said he wants to showcase Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace and other companies. Theres a lot of pent-up demand because I didnt go anywhere for two-and-a-half years because of COVID," Kemp said Monday. "So really, these trips are driven by the department saying, Hey, we havent been to the Paris Air Show in three years, Georgia hasnt, we need to go this year. In January, Kemp attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, saying he was pitching the state of Georgia's economic model and meeting with corporate executives. Last month, Kemp spent a week in Israel, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting Israeli industries including cybersecurity facilities. In 2019, Kemp went to South Korea, where he met with then-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Hyundai Motor Group officials. Last year Hyundai announced it was building a $5.5 billion electric vehicle factory near Savannah. In early 2020, Kemp went to Germany, a trip that officials credit with sparking his interest in electric vehicles. (Bloomberg) -- Germany may be forced to wind down or even switch off industrial capacity if Ukraines gas transit agreement with Russia isnt extended after it expires at the end of next year, according to Economy Minister Robert Habeck. Most Read from Bloomberg Habeck, who is also the vice chancellor, issued the stark warning Monday at an economic conference in eastern Germany, saying that policymakers should avoid making the same mistake again of assuming that the economy will be unaffected without precautions to secure energy supplies. Rules on sharing the burden of potential gas shortages in Eastern Europe would have to be respected, meaning Germany would have to export gas there to offset the deficit and manufacturers in Europes biggest economy could have their supply restricted or cut, he added. There is no secure scenario for how things will turn out, Habeck said at the forum in Bad Saarow. Additional capacity including a planned LNG terminal on Germanys north coast that has provoked opposition from locals and environmental groups will therefore be essential to maintain supply to both Eastern Germany and Eastern Europe, he said. Despite the full-scale invasion of the country by Kremlin forces in February last year, Ukraine is still earning transit fees by allowing Russian gas to flow through its territory to countries like Austria, Slovakia, Italy, and Hungary. Even if some supply continues beyond 2024, its unlikely that the current transit agreement will be extended under similar conditions, given the lack of political support, according to a report by the Center on Global Energy Policy published last week. Direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on the extension of the transit contract look highly implausible in the current environment, according to the reports authors, Anne-Sophie Corbeau and Tatiana Mitrova. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Flash The UN children's fund (UNICEF) has deplored the death of 27 children and 53 others who were injured after unexploded ordnance exploded at a playing field near Qoryoley town in southern Somalia on Friday. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, UNICEF Representative in Somalia, said the UN agency was deeply shocked and horrified by the tragic incident following the detonation of an unexploded remnant of war in an area where the children were playing. "This tragic incident underlines the importance of all parties to the conflict in Somalia to handle ordnance with care, to clear existing mines and unexploded devices, and scale up mine risk education among children and communities," Saeed said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia on Saturday evening. Qoryoley Deputy District Commissioner Abdi Ahmed Ali said on Friday that the tragedy was caused by explosive remnants of war like bombs and landmines that children were playing with in an open field at a local village. The minors, Ahmed said, found unexploded ordnance in an open field and started playing with it but unfortunately, the remnants went off, killing some of them. UNICEF said children are mostly vulnerable, attracted to remnants for their colorful, shiny or unusual appearance and unaware of how dangerous they are. "No matter where they are used, or how long ago they may have been deployed, explosive weapons can continue to endanger a child's most fundamental rights for months and years to come," it said. The UN agency said the safety of children must be the primary consideration in all situations and no effort should be spared in upholding children's rights to a safe and protective environment. Saeed said UNICEF is working through its local partners to provide assistance to affected individuals and families and extended sympathies to the families of the victims and wish the injured a quick recovery. Giant Eagle is looking to hire 150 people during a hiring event happening on Tuesday. The grocery store will be looking for bakers, cake decorators, meat cutters, department leads, personal shoppers, deli and prepared food clerks, gourmet chefs and baristas. New hires would work at stores along the North Hills of Pittsburgh including: Township of Pine Market District at 155 Town Center Drive, Wexford, Pa. 15090 Wexford Giant Eagle at 9805 McKnight Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Seven Fields Giant Eagle at 206 Seven Fields Blvd, Seven Fields, PA 16046 Shaler Giant Eagle at 1671 Butler Plank Rd, Glenshaw, PA 15116 Anyone interested in going to the event can visit any of the Giant Eagle locations listed above. The event will run begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Anyone interested in attending should register online. Walk-ins are also welcome. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Part of highway collapses in Philadelphia after tanker truck fire Doctor accused of submitting hundreds of false claims steps down as chair of a department in UPMC Local contractor accused of taking $50K from customer, not finishing job 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 Girl, 11, dies on flight from Istanbul to New York An 11-year-old girl died after she fell ill on a flight from Istanbul to New York on Sunday, with a doctor onboard and first responders in Budapest, Hungary where the plane made an emergency stop unable to save the child, airline officials said. The child, who has not been publicly identified, became ill as the Turkish Airlines flight was headed to the U.S., the airline said in a statement. "Our cabin crew made the announcement on the PA system for any doctors on board while the captain of the flight immediately diverted to Budapest," the airline said. A doctor who was among the passengers attended to the girl as the flight crew prepared to make an emergency landing at Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Once the plane landed, emergency medical teams boarded to treat the girl, Turkish Airlines said. A spokesperson for the airport said staff member with the facility's medical service responded and worked to resuscitate the child. "Despite the rapid and professional intervention, unfortunately, her life could not be saved," they said. The girl's relatives got off the plane in Budapest, while the flight continued its planned route several hours later. It landed in New York after a 4-half-hour delay, the airline said. It was not clear which country the child was a citizen of. Turkish Airlines said it was unable to provide the information because of privacy laws. The Budapest airport referred NBC News to the airline. "We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones and share their pain," Turkish Airlines said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com We are going to end weaponization: DeSantis doubles down on mistrust of justice system Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday doubled down on the contention that the federal justice system has been politicized and weaponized, a view that a growing number of Republicans have espoused in the days following former President Donald Trumps second indictment. In an interview with conservative radio personality Hugh Hewitt, DeSantis said that if he is elected president in 2024, he will radically reduce the size of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and reorient the functions of federal law enforcement. DeSantis did not speak directly to the case against Trump, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination. Trump faces 37 felony charges related to allegations that he illegally kept classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructed the FBIs efforts to investigate. Instead, DeSantis more broadly talked about what he perceives to be the weaponization of agencies. We are going to end the weaponization, but the only way you can end the weaponization is to bring accountability. And that means, of course, a new director of the FBI, cleaning house in all those agencies, the GOP presidential hopeful said. Without providing specific examples, DeSantis said he would use the full scope of Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which delineates the process in which civil officers can be removed from office. DeSantis said he would use those powers to bring the bureaucracy to heel. I dont buy this idea that the president cannot remove a career person. When theyre abusing power, and theyre going outside of what is appropriate, they absolutely should be terminated, and terminated swiftly, DeSantis said. So were going to be doing that. I think were going to do it in a big way. His promise is consistent with how DeSantis has acted as the chief executive in Florida. As governor, he has been unafraid to use law enforcement, the courts or the expansion of his own executive powers to pursue his own agenda, and fight wokeness and his political opponents. More broadly, DeSantis appears to be attuned to Americans distrust of the federal government, an opinion that a majority of Americans hold, according to polls. The Republican governor made clear that he believes the problem goes beyond the Trump indictment. For instance, he said that he would like to see changes in how the federal government investigates civil rights cases. Yes, of course, you dont discriminate against a racial minority, but you also have to look at corporate America, government, academia, how they are wielding things like DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] in a discriminatory manner against other people, he said. And so we will say no tolerance for discrimination of all kind, regardless of whether youre in the majority or the minority. READ MORE: DeSantis vs. diversity: Blacklists have universities playing defense as Republicans attack The interview comes as the 2024 Republican presidential primary kicks into a higher gear this summer, with Trump and the rest of the GOP field bracing for the possibility that the former president could face two rounds of indictments before voters vote in November 2024. Trump is currently under federal indictment related to his handling of classified documents, and charged in New York with falsifying business records to conceal extramarital affairs in the months before the 2016 election. But he faces additional charges at both the state and federal levels related to investigations into his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the 2020 election in Georgia. On Tuesday, he will be arraigned in Miami federal court. DeSantis did not speak to those allegations during the interview Monday. Trump, who has vowed to fight the case, has added fuel to baseless claims that his indictment stems from a biased federal law enforcement system. 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, Trump said on Saturday at the Georgia Republican Partys annual convention. This vicious persecution is a travesty of justice, he said. In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, a Ukrainian military vehicle is hit during combat in Ukraine. Analysts say Moscow has learned from its mistakes so far in Ukraine and has improved its weapons and skills. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File) Ukrainian troops are probing Russian defenses as spring gives way to a second summer of fighting, and Kyiv's forces are facing an enemy that has made mistakes and suffered setbacks in the 15-month-old war. But analysts say Moscow also has learned from those blunders and improved its weapons and skills. Russia has built heavily fortified defenses along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, honed its electronic weapons to reduce Ukraine's edge in combat drones, and turned heavy bombs from its massive Cold-War-era arsenal into precision-guided gliding munitions capable of striking targets without putting its warplanes at risk. The changing Russian tactics along with increased troop numbers and improved weaponry could make it challenging for Ukraine to score any kind of quick decisive victory, threatening to turn it into a long battle of attrition. U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday that while Ukraine's military is well-prepared, as time goes on, "this will be a back-and-forth fight for a considerable length of time. Most attention last week focused on catastrophic flooding in southern Ukraine caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam that both sides blame on each other. At the same time, however, Ukrainian troops have unleashed a series of attacks in several parts of the front that so far have made only marginal gains against multilayered Russian defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions are underway against Russian forces, asserting that his commanders are in a positive mindset about its success. Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing the start of a full-blown counteroffensive. A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it had begun, but that Ukraine failed to make any headway and suffered significant losses. Sir Richard Barrons, a retired general who led the U.K. Joint Forces Command, said the Russian military has built textbook defensive lines and adjusted its tactics following its hasty retreat from wide swaths of the Kharkiv and Kherson regions last fall under the brunt of a swift Ukrainian campaign. He pointed at the improved Russian ability to both counter and use drones and also noted that Moscow has learned to keep key assets like command headquarters and ammunition dumps out of artillery range. And they have sharpened up how they can fire at Ukrainian artillery and tanks when they spot them, he told AP. So if you add all that together, everybody knows this will be a harder fight than for Kherson or Kharkiv in the autumn of last year. People are still using those two successes, and they were successes, as benchmarks, which I think is unfair, unreasonable in the circumstances, he said. Russia has fielded more troops to protect the long front line, even though many of them could be poorly trained, he said. At the start of the war, Russian military convoys stretched for miles to become easy prey for Ukrainian artillery and drones during a failed attempt to capture Kyiv, in what was seen as a major blunder. Ukrainian missiles then sank the Russian cruiser Moskva, the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, in a major blow to Moscow's pride; Kyiv's rockets pummeled Russian ammunition depots and command headquarters; and Kremlin forces hastily pulled back from large areas in the east and the south in the fall. Despite those setbacks, Russia dug in to defend broad parts of Ukrainian territory it captured early in the invasion. Last month, it claimed control of the eastern city of Bakhmut after the war's longest and bloodiest battle. Fundamental Russian weaknesses remain. Russian troops continue to suffer from low morale, there are shortages of ammunition, and coordination between units has remained poor. Vicious infighting has erupted between the military brass and the Wagner private military contractor, which has fielded tens of thousands of mercenaries to the battlefield to spearhead the battle for Bakhmut. A major factor still limiting Russia's capability has been its decision to keep its air force from forging deep into Ukraine after it suffered heavy losses in the war's initial stages. Its attempts to knock out Ukraine's air defenses have failed. Thanks to supplies of Western weaponry, Ukraine now poses an even more formidable challenge to Russian aircraft. Barrons emphasized it's essential for military leaders in Kyiv to continue keeping its adversary's warplanes at bay so that the counteroffensive isnt the moment the Russian air force suddenly finds its capability and courage and romps ... all over Ukraine." Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov notes that Moscow has maintained a numerical advantage in troops and weapons, despite any weaknesses. While Russia has increasingly tapped its Cold-War arsenals, deploying tanks dating to the 1950s to replenish its massive, early losses, such old weapons can still perform well, Zhdanov said. It doesnt matter what tanks they have; they have thousands of them, Zhdanov told AP, noting Russia put many of them to use as stationary weapons in their defensive lines, including in the Zaporizhzhia region where they proved effective. He acknowledged Russian success in hitting Ukrainian military depots. relying on Moscow's agents and collaborators, but said such losses were tolerable. He also said the Russians increasingly use drones and improved electronic warfare to jam those from Ukraine. Russia has stopped using battalion-sized tactical groups it deployed early in the war and shifted to smaller units, Zhdanov said. While the Russian air force has operated in relatively small numbers, it has modernized its stock of bombs to turn them into gliding weapons that have proven efficient, he said. The 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) bombs adapted with a GPS module can inflict massive damage. The Soviet Union produced those bombs in uncountable numbers, Zhdanov said, adding that the Russians drop up to 50 a day for a major psychological effect." One such bomb accidentally released over the Russian city of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine in April blasted a huge crater and slightly injured one person. Russian military bloggers hailed the punch of the gliding bombs and their ability to hit targets up to 70 kilometers (over 43 miles) away. One former military pilot said in his blog that work is under way to convert 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) bombs into gliding munitions. These conversions allow the Russian air force to ramp up strikes on Ukrainian forces without risking its warplanes. The Royal United Service Institute, a London-based think-tank that focuses on defense and security issues, listed these gliding bombs along with other improvements in Russian weapons and tactics. Although they only have limited accuracy, the size of these munitions poses a serious threat, RUSI said in a recent report, adding Russia was working to improve their accuracy. Russian engineers have shown prowess in building field fortifications and complex obstacles along the front line, including concrete-reinforced trenches and command bunkers, wire-entanglements, ditches, anti-tank hedgehogs or dragon's teeth and complex minefields, the report said. Extensive placement of sophisticated mines for use against tanks and infantry poses "a major tactical challenge to Ukrainian offensive operations, the RUSI authors said. Other Russian improvements noted in the report include better thermal camouflage for tanks; nimbler deployment of artillery into multiple positions, including integration with drones to avoid losses; and attacking Ukrainian artillery with loitering munitions drones that hover until they acquire a target. Such responsive Russian fire represents "the greatest challenge to Ukrainian offensive operations, the RUSI report said. Improved Russian electronic warfare systems have destroyed about 10,000 Ukrainian drones a month, while they also have been able to intercept and decrypt Ukrainian tactical communications in real time, it added. They also have learned to intercept GPS-guided rockets fired by Western-supplied launchers like the U.S.-made HIMARS, which embarrassed the Russians and inflicted major damage, the report said. Russia's military is able to improve and evolve its employment of key systems, RUSI said, but noted it could struggle to respond to similar quick adjustments by Kyiv that could make Moscow's units likely to rapidly lose their coordination. ___ Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London, Tara Copp in Normandy, France, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed. ___ Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war Green Line commuters are frustrated with yet another issue on the T after a trolley car derailed by Packards Corner in Allston Monday. The city itself needs to do a lot more to like invest in the infrastructure and make sure this doesnt keep happening across the T lines, said Maggie Onder, a Green Line commuter. The MBTA says all 30 passengers who were on the train got off safely, but it took about four hours to get the train back on track. We got to Blandford Street and they were like, yeah no sorry the trains not working, were taking it out of service, like tough luck kinda, said Julia Beal, a Green Line commuter. Its kinda frustrating when you pay 90 dollars a month to take the train and then the train doesnt work. MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng says it appears the rail tracks are to blame after the center wheels went off the track. Now crews are working into the night to fix those tracks at this busy intersection by Commonwealth Ave and Brighton Ave. Preliminarily the distance between the rails was not where it should have been, so were assessing as to how that happened, said Eng. Meanwhile, shuttle buses will replace the Green Line from Kenmore to Washington Street for the rest of the night. The MBTA is working to resume Green Line service by Tuesday morning. The shuttle buses are not reliable in the slightest whenever this happens or anything similar happens on the Green line, everyones delayed, people are late to work, its really a problem, said Onder. I do take it to get to work, and so Im either going to have to Uber or get on like 3 buses to get to where I need to go, its not going to be fun, said Aliya Zwyer. Eng says he hears those frustrations and will work to fix this stretch of the Green Line as quickly as possible. The team needs to pull together right, we have a lot of competing priorities as far as where we need to tackle, this is one of those that were going to look to accelerate, said Eng. Eng says they already had plans to fix this area of the Green Line this summer, but now they may move that work up after this derailment. 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 Maya Ixil survivors of the Guatemalan civil war living in the country's western highlands gather in Chajul on May 10, 2023, to mark the 10th anniversary of the genocide conviction of former dictator Gen. Efrain Rios Montt. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Gabriel de Paz still dreams that hes running from the dictator's soldiers. When the military invaded his Guatemalan mountain town in the early 1980s, De Paz and his Maya family abandoned their animals and their straw-roofed home and fled into the woods. They hid as Gen. Efrain Rios Montt's security forces burned villages and massacred Indigenous civilians they suspected of collaborating with leftist guerrillas. To De Paz, the general is why his family spent years in hiding, why his grandmother starved to death, why he still has nightmares. The farmer imagined that his people's memories of the mass killings under Rios Montt remained vivid, passed through generations. Guatemalan civil war survivor Gabriel de Paz, 62, moves through a bus on the way to a ceremony marking the anniversary of Gen. Efrain Rios Montt's genocide conviction. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Then the dictator's daughter came to the mountainous Ixil region this spring to launch her presidential campaign. De Paz was dumbfounded. Zury Rios received a warm welcome from hundreds wearing the traditional embroidered blouses and straw hats of the Maya Ixil. Here was the strongman's daughter standing next to an Ixil interpreter and speaking about how villagers needed agricultural fertilizers and schools with running water. People were cheering. "There are a lot of youth but there are also grandparents who remember the hard times we lived, and that's why forgiving is so necessary, that's why reconciliation is so necessary," she told the crowd. That was as close as she came to talking about what courts have deemed a genocide but that in interviews she denies ever took place. De Paz, 62, doesn't see an attempt at reconciliation, only an effort to expunge a traumatic history. They want to erase, they want to cancel, he said, sitting at his kitchen table in Nebaj, a municipality in the Ixil highlands. Thats our worry if she governs." Portraits of Gabriel de Paz's grandparents sit on his kitchen table in Nebaj, Guatemala. His grandmother starved to death in the early '80s after the family fled their home when the military invaded their town. His grandfather died several years later. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Guatemala has long fought over how its darkest chapter should be remembered, with Indigenous and human rights groups accusing right-wing forces of using their political power to bury the past. The government has stopped providing survivors reparations, and the 36-year civil war, which claimed more than 200,000 lives, is barely taught in public schools, activists say. Prosecutions of ex-military officials have run up against the erosion of the judiciary's independence. Rios' run raises questions about a country's collective memory: How much should a nation strive to remember its traumatic past? What happens when it forgets? Rios, 55, carries her fathers name and his fierce stare. She's tried to burnish his legacy, and she's not alone. Military families and right-wing power brokers have long said that both sides in the civil war committed excesses, and some have portrayed Rios Montt as a hero who had saved the country from guerrillas. They have disputed the findings of a truth commission created as part of the United Nations-backed 1996 peace accords that said security forces committed more than 90% of documented human rights violations. The government had exaggerated Maya support for the guerrillas, resulting in indiscriminate violence toward them and "acts of genocide," the commission found. The country descended into civil war not long after a CIA-backed coup in 1954 toppled Guatemala's elected president whose agrarian reforms had alarmed the U.S.-owned United Fruit Co. That gave rise to a series of military governments and the leftist rebels who organized to fight them. Rios Montt, brought into power by one coup and removed by another, ruled atop a military junta in 1982 and 1983, considered among the most deadly years of the civil war. In 2013, the general was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 80 years in prison for massacres in Ixil villages that killed more than 1,770 people. His conviction was overturned on procedural issues, and he died in 2018 during his retrial. A crowd surrounds Zury Rios, center, wanting to take photos with her at a campaign rally in Rio Bravo, Guatemala, on May 7, 2023. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) In an interview, Rios said her father's trial had been unfair. She had started her political career alongside him, getting elected to Congress in her late 20s and serving four terms as part of his right-wing party, where she focused on women's and healthcare issues. She's in a different party now but is backed by military families who share her views of the civil war. One influential supporter, Ricardo Mendez Ruiz, is the son of a military commander who served as interior minister under Rios Montt. Mendez Ruiz has called the former dictator the best president Guatemala has had in modern times." Mendez Ruiz, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. State Department for attempting to obstruct criminal proceedings against former military officers, touts on his Twitter bio his inclusion on the agency's "corrupt and undemocratic actors" list. The group he co-established and runs, the Foundation Against Terrorism, has filed criminal complaints to target judges and prosecutors who have worked on corruption and war crimes cases. Mendez Ruiz said he expected Rios would push for an amnesty law "to end the persecution of our war veterans." Rios' campaign filmmaker, Kenneth Muller, is also the son of a former military man, a retired colonel. Muller, who directed a film based on a 1980 bomb attack in Guatemala City attributed to a guerrilla group, contends "Guatemala is victim of a lie." After the peace accords, he said, "all the military returned home but the left didnt, they dedicated themselves to write stories and create a narrative." But the narrative of the right has consistently found a place in politics. The bloodshed of Rios Montt's military rule didn't stop him from reentering political life. He served several terms in the legislature, at several points becoming head of Congress, and ran unsuccessfully for president. He lost immunity from prosecution when his last term ended in 2012. "Wars are wars and they leave tragedy" More recently, members of Congress including from Rios' Valor party have tried repeatedly to pass an amnesty law that would free convicted war criminals. Though ex-military officials have been convicted and prosecutions against others continue, human rights groups say they face increasing challenges as democracy backslides in Guatemala. In recent administrations, the government expelled a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission, and prosecutors and judges have fled over intimidation. The government has dismantled peace institutions that served survivors of the civil war. A 2003 program to provide victims with therapy and economic reparations hasn't offered relief to families since President Alejandro Giammattei took office in January 2020, according to Miguel Itzep, a leader of an Indigenous-directed national victims association. There are 110 boxes of testimonies by mostly survivors of the civil war in the archive at the Centro de la Memoria Monsenor Juan Gerardi in Guatemala City. Each box contains about 50 testimonies or eyewitness accounts of human rights violations during the civil war. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) And as the decades tick by and survivors age, human rights groups say many schools aren't ensuring students know about the bloodshed. Public school curricula mention the civil war, but rights groups note educators arent encouraged to teach it. Vivian Salazar Monzon, director of the Guatemalan International Institute of Learning for Social Reconciliation, said the Education Ministry has stopped engaging in efforts to teach human rights and the civil war. "What this has cost Guatemala is that we have citizens that don't know their past," she said. Neither the Education Ministry nor the Ministry of Social Development, which oversees the reparations program, responded to requests for comment. Read more: He's one of Guatemala's last independent judges. Will he be forced to flee too? Its an issue of citizen conscience, Salazar continued. We are forming people who dont know the responsibility and role of the state, who vote blind, who arent thinking about the consequences of authoritarianism. When asked whether schools are doing enough to teach the civil war, Rios pivoted repeatedly, including to say that students should participate in activities that "foster peace," such as music, art and sports. Wars are wars and they leave tragedy, no one wins and no one loses, she said. Everyone suffers, but you go on, you advance, you progress. In any case, she said, the person who is running for president is me, not Gen. Rios Montt." On a recent Sunday morning, Rios held a microphone, eyes focused on the sun-baked crowd in front of her, as she shared a stage with a congressional and mayoral candidate in Rio Bravo, a non-Maya municipality in the southern flatlands a few hours outside Guatemala City. As several hundred people sweated in their campaign T-shirts, she noted that the taxes on every pound of beans they buy help pay the salaries of local officials who have failed to build a new hospital or fix a bridge. "It hurts me, it hurts me when I see here many of the most needy, the most forgotten, who vote every four years and their lives don't change," she told the crowd, her voice cracking. Katerina Sanchez, 9, holds a toy given to her by Zury Rios' political campaign as she waits for a rally in Rio Bravo, Guatemala. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) In a country where more than half of the population lives in poverty and many migrate to search for better opportunities in the United States, Rios campaigns on tackling inequality with broader internet coverage, mental health services in schools and mobile medical clinics in poor communities. Read more: They left gangs and found God. But they weren't spared in El Salvador's crackdown She's also praised the controversial gang crackdown in neighboring El Salvador, which has conducted widespread arbitrary arrests to reduce homicides, according to human rights groups. Rios ran unsuccessfully for president in 2015 but was blocked in 2019 after the country's electoral tribunal ruled the constitution prohibits children of coup leaders from becoming president. This time, the country's Constitutional Court allowed her on the ballot for the conservative Valor-Unionista coalition. Courts have blocked several others, including the leftist Indigenous candidate Thelma Cabrera and the popular political outsider businessman Carlos Pineda. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in the June 25 election, the race to succeed Giammattei will go to an August runoff. Recent polls have placed Rios among the top three candidates, along with former First Lady Sandra Torres and longtime diplomat Edmond Mulet. Laura Hernandez, 44, came to the Rio Bravo rally to support the mayoral candidate but liked the idea of a female presidential hopeful. She and several others couldnt recall much about Rios' father or the civil war. It was a good government, prices were very low, as well as crime, she said her own father had told her. A man walks past a wall of photographs of war victims and an image of Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi in Guatemala City. Gerardi was slain in 1998 days after he released a church report on human rights violations during Guatemala's 36-year civil war. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) At a campaign stop that night in the municipality of Mixco which drew voters with a fireworks display residents seemed more concerned about unreliable access to water than the background of politicians. Janneth Tema, 32, said she liked Rios' calls for tougher security measures and her support for the elderly. And she found it natural for the candidate to defend her father. "She's unfortunately chased by the shadow of her father," she said. Tema's mother, Claudia, said that Rios Montt "has nothing to do" with his daughter's candidacy and that she doesn't think Rios will commit the "errors he made." The elementary school teacher said that she has taught the civil war in school, but that some of her colleagues worry about upsetting parents. "I have colleagues that teach it, but it's the minimum," she said. Her daughter Lesly Tema, 30, made a blank face when asked about the civil war and Rios Montt. I dont remember a lot, she said. A six-hour drive from Guatemala City, up the winding mountain roads leading to the Maya Ixil region, the memory of Rios' father is still strong for many. In this hill country where women make and wear embroidered traditional blouses called huipiles and long skirts in colors marking their towns, many of the more than 150,000 residents scratch out a living growing beans and corn. Few of the tin-roofed homes have basic appliances such as an electric stove or a refrigerator. Teenagers sometimes leave their towns before they've finished high school to migrate to the U.S. to send back remittances. Maya Ixil people and human rights workers walk up a hill to a plaza in the municipality of Cotzal in May 2023, on the anniversary of Gen. Efrain Rios Montt's genocide conviction in Guatemala. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) It's a place that's slowly recovering Maya traditions that were lost in the violence under Rios Montt, which displaced tens of thousands. Ixil ceremonies, such as to ask for rain or to apologize to a mountain for using its land, are becoming more common. It's taken years to reestablish Indigenous councils that take up issues such as domestic violence or land disputes. In May, on Mother's Day, several hundred locals participated in a bus caravan that stopped at the main squares of the region's three municipalities to mark the 10th anniversary of Rios Montt's genocide conviction. A car crawled through narrow streets, a poster on its front bumper declaring "There was genocide." Passersby walked on as a boom box tied to the car's roof repeatedly blared the words "The Ixil people do remember" and played the judge's genocide verdict. In the squares, speeches rang out in Ixil and Spanish. "Think about your vote," a man said into a microphone at one stop. "Zury Rios of the Valor party is [from] a party of death, a party of revenge, and the Ixil people won't accept it." Elena de Paz, 52, left, prepares a traditional dish, boxbol, for her grandson Miguel Angel, 2, in her home in Nebaj, Guatemala. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) On one of the buses, Elena de Paz, a 52-year-old survivor, scrolled on her phone through Mother's Day videos posted on Facebook and thought about whom and what she lost in the war. She said that when she was 12, she watched helplessly as security forces sexually abused her mother, Jacinta, at a military base in Nebaj. As the child cried, someone stuffed a rag in her mouth; Elena was stabbed in the thigh and raped. She never saw her mother again. "Surely my mother isn't buried," she said matter-of-factly. "Perhaps they only threw her somewhere. We don't know anymore." Having testified about the attacks at Rios Montt's trial, she said she would not vote for Rios, who has the same head as her father. Yet the Ixil people are divided about the presidential candidate tensions partly tied to the military's strategy during the civil war. Julissa Chel, 7, left, and Jefferson Alexander Chel, 8, rummage for a snack at their home in Nebaj, Guatemala. Few residents in the Ixil region have electric stoves or refrigerators; most use wood to cook and don't have direct access to water. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Many Ixil were forced to join paramilitary groups fighting the guerrillas to avoid being targeted themselves often pitting them against their own people. Rios Montt offered the impoverished Ixil people food in exchange for supporting his rule and threatened those who refused. New "model villages" under rigid military control promised social services to the displaced and isolated them from the guerrillas. The aid and the divisions he created help explain why Rios Montt's party did unexpectedly well in the Ixil region when he returned to politics. That support, in some cases, has passed on to his daughter. "There are people in parts of rural Guatemala that look at her, and because of her connections to her father, they think of the heavy-handed mano dura policies to deal with the guerrilla movement, and thats appealing to some people," said Jo-Marie Burt, a Guatemala expert at the Washington Office on Latin America. Today, Zury Rios' political party signs hang from electricity poles and dot the mountain roads where small, three-wheeled "tuk tuks" drive. Jacinto Sambrano, mayor of the Ixil region's Cotzal municipality and a member of Rios' Valor party, grew up in the 1980s in a "model village" that his father occasionally helped patrol. He denied that Rios Montt oversaw a genocide and said the general protected the Ixil people during the war. Sambrano claimed, without offering evidence, that the anniversary caravan was filled with relatives of guerrillas and that efforts to change the historical narrative are financed by leftist countries such as Cuba and Nicaragua. Rios Montt is dead, he said. They signed the peace accords. Why do they want to revive something that has already passed? "They want to erase, they want to cancel" Others say residents are swayed by vote-buying practices, and lack education about political candidates and parties. Many of the elderly are illiterate, and speak only Ixil or little Spanish. Engracia Reina Mendoza Caba, 49, a survivor and member of an Indigenous council for the Ixil municipality of Chajul, said Rios came to the area for her campaign opener "without fear, without security, because she thinks all of Chajul supports her." Mendoza has tried to explain to townspeople that the candidate is the daughter of a man tried for genocide. Our own Ixil people dont understand what happened here, she said. Parts of the past are still buried deep in the ground. But as the bodies of victims are exhumed, awareness grows. The nonprofit Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation has exhumed more than 8,200 bodies in communities and at military bases and identified nearly 4,000 since 1992, said its director, Fredy Peccerelli. Its DNA bank, created in 2008, has samples from about 17,000 relatives of the disappeared that it can compare with exhumed bone fragments. It receives no financial support from Guatemala's government. The problem is that many people are dying without knowing the truth, without understanding what happened, Peccerelli said. Theyve spent their entire lives, 40 years, looking." Only after the bodies of Teresa Lopezs brother and sister were exhumed did she begin to tell her children about how their relatives died. Catarina, 17, was killed by bomb shrapnel while she hid in a trench the family had dug. Domingo, 19, was killed by guerrillas after he was falsely accused of stealing food. The two are now in a cemetery in Nebaj. A third sibling, Diego, 25, was killed by soldiers and dismembered, said Lopez, who saw his body. She doesn't know where he is. Her daughter, 28-year-old Nebaj resident Victoria Chel, plans to tell her 7- and 3-year-old children her mother's story one day. They shouldnt say we didnt have a lot of family, she said. "We had family, but the war took them. Clockwise from top left, a survivor participates in art therapy; Teresa Lopez sits in her home in Nebaj, Guatemala; a woman wearing a traditional huipil cradles a child. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Others are searching for justice. The day after the anniversary event, about a dozen survivors gathered in a church with a psychologist and others from the Human Rights Office of the Archbishop of Guatemala. They were preparing to testify in next year's trial of two former military officials accused of genocide against the Maya Ixil during the government that preceded the rule of Rios Montt. A representative of the rights office told the group that they needed to be emotionally ready for aggressive questions that could trigger trauma. The survivors worked with clay. One woman, Maria Garcia, molded a black flower and explained she was happy at seeing the support in the room but weighed down by more complicated feelings. Her mother had attended survivor meetings, planning to testify about the murder of her husband. She died last year, and Garcia was taking her place. At his home in Nebaj, Gabriel de Paz pulled artifacts from a large plastic bin. Cassette tapes hold the interviews he conducted with other survivors and translated from Ixil to written Spanish for attorneys. Videos show survivors meeting to discuss how to recover land seized during the war. A book contains his testimony and that of other witnesses from the Rios Montt trial. De Paz spilled the contents of a green urn onto his kitchen table, running his hand through dirt mixed with ashen clumps of burned corn, unleashing memories from decades ago. He was in Nebaj one day in 1982 when he spotted pillars of smoke rising from a nearby community. Security forces had gathered the area's entire harvest of corn and piled the corn sacks in a huge volcano-like mound. They lighted it on fire. Years later, De Paz attended a ceremony in the village of Xoloche where residents gather annually to mark the incident. The charred corn was still there. "What fault does the corn have?" he thought angrily at the time. With a few others, he collected bits of the corn in some leaves. A memorial plaque in Xoloche explains that the fire left the townspeople without food, and that a woman was thrown onto the blaze. It also carries a clear message: "We don't want this to repeat." A survivor named Catarina blows out a candle at the end of a therapy workshop at a church in the municipality of Cotzal. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gulfport mans trafficking network sent drug-infused mail to prisons nationwide, authorities say The letters, greeting cards and other mail sent to prisoners in federal correctional facilities all over the country had ink or other marking drenched in synthetic cannabinoids, or spice, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, according to federal authorities. The prisoners used encrypted emails and telephone numbers and code words like rims, cars, catalogs and pictures to indicate they were ordering the drug-laden correspondence, the records say. The base of operations for the drug-trafficking organization was a home in Harrison County, and its alleged leader was Johnson Tran, a 46-year-old Gulfport man already twice convicted of drug distribution in South Mississippi. Tran got out of prison for trafficking marijuana and cocaine in Gulfport in 2016. Johnson Tran Harrison County Adult Detention Center But Tran allegedly started hatching plans for his new criminal network with two other federal prisoners, identified in court papers as William Hernandez and Jermaine Jones, while incarcerated. By 2018, the records say, Trans new drug operation was up and running and filling orders from prisoners all over the United States. Some of the prisoners who received the correspondence sold them to other prisoners in exchange for postage stamps or payments made to someone outside of prison. Tran and at least three of his co-defendants, identified as Ashley Magee, Jasmine Cooks and Denise Duran, were authorized to receive payments for the drugs electronically or to work with the buyers to make payments to someone outside of the prison. Other prisoners signed over government checks to Tran or his associates to cash. Prison officials started finding the drug-laced correspondence during computer-generated mail scans that can detect drugs. Some prisons where the mail was recovered were in Terre Haute, IN, Marion, IL and Lewisburg, PA. Current, former federal prisoner among the indicted In addition to Tran, 19 others were indicted for the crimes, though some of the accused have not yet been taken into custody. Heres a list of the others: Ryan Schmittaur, a man previously convicted of sexual exploitation of minors in Florida Bobby Huneycutt. a federal prisoner convicted in a federal drug case involving meth distribution in Chesterfield County, South Carolina Marcus M. Thames, a former federal prisoner convicted in an aggravated identity theft case in Michigan Clarence E. Plato, a former federal prisoner convicted of drug trafficking in Illinois. The Tran Drug-Trafficking Organization based in Mississippi allegegedly send drug-inflused mail to various federal prisons across the county, such as the United State Penitiary Terre Haute in southern Indiana. Bureau of Prisons Chaze D. Lowery, a federal prisoner convicted in a drug case in the southern district of Texas. Ryan Douglas, a former federal prisoner convicted in a drug case involving heroin in Indiana. Jorge Pena, a former federal prisoner convicted of trafficking counterfeit goods in the central district of Florida. Bryan Simmons, a federal prisoner convicted of meth distribution in the western district of North Carolina. Salomon Alaya, a former federal prisoner in Indiana at Terre Haute USP Jonathan Estrada, a federal prisoner convicted of racketeering in the southern district of Texas. Stanley Spriggs, a federal prisoner convicted of sex trafficking in Oregon Corderius Trammell, a federal prisoner convicted of meth distribution in the eastern district of Tennessee Trae Short, a federal prisoner convicted of a meth distribution charge in the northern district of Texas Allen Butler Jr., a federal prisoner Jasmine Cooks, of Gulfport, released on $25,000 unsecured bond pending trial. Ashley Magee, of Gulfport, released on a $25,000 unsecured bond pending trial. Denise Duran, of Gulfport, released on a $25,000 unsecured bond pending trial. A history of run-ins with law enforcement Tran has spent a good portion of his adult life behind bars. His first arrest came in 2004 in a cocaine trafficking case in Harrison County. Tran pleaded guilty to one of the three federal drug charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, though he got out of prison early on that charge. Tran was on probation for the cocaine conviction when Gulfport police officers and federal drug enforcement agents raided Martins Grocery, a store Tran had ownership interests in on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. At the store, authorities seized an estimated 30 pounds of high-grade hydroponic marijuana and spice, digital scales, cash, and other paraphernalia. Tran returned to prison for distributing marijuana and spice and a probation violation for the 2014 charges, but was back in Mississippi by late 2016. Less than two years later, authorities started investigating the drug-infused correspondence that resulted in Trans latest arrest. Tran and the others charged in the three-count indictment handed down in April face a total prison sentence of up to 45 years and over $1 million in fines if convicted. Tran is held without bond but has hired attorney Donald Rafferty to represent him. Ballad Film The Gullspang Miracle begins with documentarian Maria Fredriksson instructing her subjects, Norwegian sisters Kari and May, to do multiple takes of their opening scenea stark vision of a filmmaker trying to manage her non-fiction material. Yet no matter how hard one attempts to orchestrate real life, it has a habit of evolving in its own insane mannerand that certainly proves to be the case with this film, whose astonishing twists and turns transform what appears to be one sort of unbelievable fable into an altogether different eye-opener. Craziest of all, however, is that by the time it reaches its wholly unexpected conclusion, Fredrikssons documentary suggests that perhaps our stories arent governed by fate, chance, or a higher power. Instead, with a bit of effort (some of it honest, some of it not), we have the power to write the narratives we wantor, at least, best suit our needs. A standout at this years Tribeca Film Festival (where it premieres on June 11), The Gullspang Miracle proceeds from a flabbergasting development. During a visit to see her sister Kari in Sweden, May hurt her tailbone while riding a water slide at a local amusement park. Raised a devout Christian, May took this as a sign that God wanted her to remain in Sweden (a pious notion no doubt reinforced by the rides car, which was shaped like a whale). She persuaded Kari to help her find an apartment and, just as importantly, a particular still-life painting to hang in it. Visiting one such residence in Gullspang, they found the exact painting May had envisioned, along with another two beside it. Jesus Christ, there are three of them, Kari thought, taking this as a symbolic representation of the holy trinity. It means something! Both women were sure a momentous event was about to occur. The Chilling Threat of Radicalized U.S. Military Vets They were right. Months later, upon going to the realtors office to sign paperwork for the apartment, they met the seller, and couldnt believe their eyes: the woman was the spitting image of their deceased older sister, Lita. It was a miracle, and it was just the beginning, says Kari. In that regard, she was also correct. The doppelgangers name was Olaug, and until the age of 18, everyone had called her Lita. She also shared the same birthdate as Kari and Mays sibling. And as Olaug eventually learned, she had been adopted by her well-to-do parents in northern Norway when she was just an infant. Further implying that something strange was afoot, Olaugs birth and baptismal certificates boasted erroneous dates (for reasons she couldnt comprehend), and when she, Kari, and May took a DNA test, it came back a match. By all accounts, Olaug was a long-lost member of their family. Ballad Film How could this be? Picking up with the trio (and their relatives) in the aftermath of this revelation, The Gullspang Miracle presents a rather reasonable (if astounding) explanation: Lita and Olaug were twins, and in 1941 Norway, their parents had split them up in order to prevent occupying Nazi forceswho loved experimenting on twinsfrom abducting them. Litas nanny remembers being told that the infant girls sister had been delivered stillborn, and the pain on Olaugs face upon hearing this is echoed in additional snapshots of the now-elderly woman as she wrestles with her parents abandonment, her lifelong inkling that she was missing something (or someone), and the feeling that shes a ghost in her own skin. Compounding matters, Kari, May, their brother Arnt, and Litas daughter Trine cant help but view Olaug as their resurrected relative, especially given that she boasts Litas face, features, and idiosyncratic mannerisms. Brooklyn 45 Is the Eeriest Nazi-Tinged Seance Youll Ever Attend This is, amazingly, just the start of The Gullspang Miracles shockers. Kari and May inform Olaug that Lita was found dead on July 29, 1988, on the banks of Lake Sigernes in Kongsvinger. Because of the pill bottles found around her body, Litas demise was deemed a suicide. If that didnt hurt their religious clan enough, they were told that shortly before taking her life, Lita had been embroiled in an embezzlement scandal at work that coincided with her split from partner Steinar. Confident that her twin wouldnt have killed herself, Olaug investigates, and as Oslo police officer Anne-Grethe pronounces in a new interview, there actually was more to this story: Unbeknownst to Kari and May, a subsequent autopsy had determined that Lita died due to heart failure. Unfortunately, though, that bombshell also didnt make total sense, especially in light of the pill bottle-littered crime scene and claims from witnesses who, today, forward a complicated account of Litas final days. The Gullspang Miracle is a cinematic Matryoshka doll, and director Fredriksson recounts her layered saga with an intimacy that can be downright awkward, especially once Olaug begins to clash with her new siblings, whom she disapprovingly views as dim, poor, and overly devout. That friction soon leads to questions about not only the legitimacy of their connection, but whether everyone is being completely sincere about the role theyre playing in this affair. At the same time, the film slowly mutates from a fairy-tale soap opera into a possible true-crime murder mystery, with Olaugand, later, Kari and Mayconvinced that Lita was the victim of a killer who may have been close to her. In The Gullspang Miracles closing passages, the real, the manufactured, and the otherworldly coalesce in ways that confound rather than enlighten, and director Fredriksson never strains to tie things up in a nice bow. On the contrary, in response to one momentous incident, she literally interrupts the action to express her distressed confusion over whats going on, and her growing suspicion that shes being duped. Moreover, the fact that Fredrikssons on-camera presence isnt always deliberate winds up enhancing the fluid nature of her portrait, whose style is as immediate as its surprises are captivating. Staring at the still life that originally inspired this odyssey, May muses that interpreting images (and authorial intent) is in the eye of the beholder. If nothing else, the fascinating The Gullspang Miracle definitively corroborates that sentiment. 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. Gunman who shot 6 at teen party near Tri-Cities reportedly stopped to reload, said parent A gunman in Benton City opened fire on a group of young partygoers over the weekend then reportedly stopped to reload, said a woman who later helped comfort some who were there. Six people were hit by gunfire at the Friday night party and one person died. Another person was seriously wounded and four more were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, said Benton County sheriffs officials on Sunday. As of Monday morning, officials had not said if they have a suspect, if he has been arrested or is dead. Jail records show no adult was arrested in the mass shooting. Names of juvenile arrested in Washington state are not readily available to the public. Investigators also have not said if the person killed or those injured were teens or adults. The Benton County Coroners Office said Monday an autopsy is being scheduled for the person who died but no other information was being released. There were unconfirmed social media reports that the person who died was a student but it was unclear what school the person attended. The Tri-City Herald reached out to the Kiona-Benton City School District on Monday, which was the districts final day of classes. Ki-Be Superintendent Pete Peterson told the Herald none of his students were involved in the incident. He believes the party involved students from the Kennewick School District who were celebrating graduation. That districts graduation ceremonies were on Saturday. While Angela Sanchezs son was not at the party, several of his friends were there, she told the Herald. We spent the evening cleaning blood off of kiddos who came home from trying to have a fun night out. Children who rushed other children to the hospital while on FaceTime asking how to keep these babies alive till they got there, she posted on Facebook. There was no reason for this. These kids did not deserve what happened to them and it was horrific and traumatic. She later told the Herald that the teens said a guy walked into the party and just started shooting at them. When he ran out of bullets, he began reloading, she was told. Teens rushed out of the home to get to their cars and to take wounded friends to the nearest hospitals. According to dispatch reports, at least one victim with a gunshot wound to the stomach was taken to Prosser Memorial Hospital, about 15 miles away. These kids are not in gangs, Sanchez told the Herald. (They were) all really good kids who just went to the party to have fun. A sheriffs office post on Sunday said the shooting happened just after midnight on Saturday morning on the 25000 block of North Willard Avenue, a rural neighborhood south of Interstate 82 west of the Tri-Cities in Eastern Washington. While investigators have said the shooting stemmed from an argument or dispute, Sanchez said the teens she spoke with didnt know of any argument. There was no target, she said. They just walked in and opened fire on anyone that was standing there. She told the Herald that some of the teens went to her home, and she was then on the phone giving first aid help, telling them to apply pressure on wounds while teens could be heard crying and moaning in a car. You are here: World Flash 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. Haim are sick of being accused of pretending to play their instruments Haim expressed their intense disapproval of a comment that questioned whether bassist Este Haim was acting during a performance. The LA band, formed in 2007 by sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim, perform vocals as well as play instruments on their songs, which include The Wire, The Steps and Now Im In It. On Saturday (10 June), NME posted a video of the group performing their 2013 track My Song 5 on Instagram. Este is known for pulling expressive faces and making large movements while playing the bass, as seen in the clip. Yet her performance style led to one commenter questioning whether she was acting. Is it just me or is that bassist just acting? they wrote. The band soon responded directly to the comment with: Lol I cant believe this s*** is still happening. Danielle, middle sister and the bands lead vocalist, then shared a screenshot of the interaction and posted it on the bands Instagram story on Sunday (11 June). Im so used to seeing this s*** on every f***ing video of us playing ever, but Im so over it, her message reads. Dont ever say we dont f***ing play our instruments. Haim shares disapproval over message that questions their instrument playing (Instagram / Haim) Fans of the band have joined in with expressing their upset. One fan page added: Its always men talking s*** about women playing rock music. Be a little more original next time guys. Haim have shared their frustrations with people underestimating their musical abilities on a number of occasions. Their 2020 song Man From the Magazine, from their album Women in Music: Part III, addresses the gender bias theyve faced, including from the music industry. In the lyrics, they criticise men who make sexist remarks about their performance style and skill. Man from the music shop, I drove too far / For you to hand me that starter guitar / Hey girl, why dont you play a few bars? / Oh, whats left to prove? Danielle sings. Este Haim performing at Glastonbury 2022 (Getty Images) When speaking to The Independent in 2020, Este spoke about the sceptical comments she receives for her expressive bass face. I think some men have a problem with seeing a woman enjoying herself, she said. Thats threatening to them. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said Monday that former President Trump was incredibly reckless if the federal charges lodged against him in an indictment over his handling of classified documents turn out to be true. Haley also criticized the FBI and the Department of Justice, joining other Republicans defending Trump who argue the former president is being treated unfairly. This is what Ill tell you, two things can be true at the same time: One, the DOJ and FBI have lost all credibility with the American people, and getting rid of just senior management isnt going to be enough to fix this. This is going to take a complete overhaul, and we have to do that, Haley said during an interview on Fox News. Two, the second thing can also be true. If this indictment is true, if what it says is actually the case, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security, she said. She explicitly criticized the taking of classified documents that detail U.S. military maneuvers. Trump is accused of having classified information at Mar-a-Lago that touched on the nations nuclear programs and its defense and weapon capabilities in addition to those of other nations. More than that, Im a military spouse, my husbands about to deploy this weekend, Haley said. This puts all of our military men and women in danger if you are going to talk about what our military is capable of or how we would go about invading or doing something with one of our enemies. And if thats the case, its reckless, its frustrating and it causes problems. Haleys comments come just days after Trump was federally indicted on 37 counts for his handling of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home. Trump is set to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday afternoon. Haleys remarks demonstrate a shift in tone since the former presidents first indictment, in which many 2024 GOP contenders blasted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) over the probe and largely defended Trump. Although the scope of the probes are different, some Republicans, including those who once worked in the Trump administration, say that if the charges are true, its troublesome for the former president. If even half of it is true, then hes toast. I mean its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning, and this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous, said former Attorney General Bill Barr on Fox News Sunday on Sunday. The Hill has reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nikki Haley on Monday called Donald Trump reckless. Tim Scott described the federal charges brought against him as serious allegations. It was far from an outright condemnation. But their comments marked a significant departure from the two presidential contenders initial reaction to Trumps indictment. Just days after Republicans rushed to Trumps defense, their remarks served as a sign the tide could be turning in the Republican presidential primary fields willingness to go on offense against the former president. Two things can be true at the same time, Haley said in a Fox News interview Monday afternoon. She said the Department of Justice and FBI have lost all credibility with the American people. Then she turned her fire to Trump. If this indictment is true, if what it says is actually the case, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security, Haley said, adding that her husband serves in the military. This puts all of our military men and women in danger, if youre going to talk about what our military is capable of or how we would go about invading or doing something with one of our enemies. She added, If thats the case, its reckless, its frustrating and it causes problems. You know, were looking now, this is the second indictment. Were looking at a third indictment coming in with Georgia. Earlier in the day Monday, Scott, at a campaign event in Spartanburg, S.C., maintained that there was a double standard for Republicans and Democrats in the justice system, as he suggested last week. But like Haley, he too went a step further. This case is a serious case with serious allegations, but in America you are still innocent until proven guilty, Scott said. Haley, who was Trumps ambassador to the United Nations after serving as South Carolina governor, and Scott, the states junior senator who has offered both public praise and criticism of Trump in recent years, each initially condemned the federal indictments against Trump, as did most of the rest of the Republican presidential field, including former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy. In an interview on Fox on Thursday evening one that came shortly after Trump confirmed news of the indictment Scott said Americans were now seeing a justice system where the scales are weighted. The next day, Haley tweeted that This is not how justice should be pursued in our country. Neither initially spoke to the substance of the allegations federal prosecutors have made against Trump. But their comments on Monday amounted to one of the first indications that GOP candidates running against Trump for the nomination who have overwhelmingly held back criticism of him in recent months may not remain as deferential as the primary race unfolds. Trump is currently trouncing the rest of the primary field by more than 30 percentage points, according to public polling averages. And while DeSantis since entering the race last month has begun pointedly attacking Trump, the Florida governor has not gone after him directly regarding his latest legal troubles. Since the indictment, DeSantis has condemned the weaponization of federal law enforcement and uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Speaking to the North Carolina GOP on Friday, DeSantis made a veiled jab at Trump, though his comments came after discussing the lack of charges brought against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat. 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. I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country. Lets enforce it on everybody and make sure we all know the rules. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were the only two Republican presidential candidates to quickly condemn Trump after the indictment. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Haley and Scotts remarks. Half-brother of 10-year-old who weighed 36 pounds found wandering in Griffin also arrested The half-brother of a 10-year-old boy nearly starved to death by his parents in Griffin has also been arrested in connection to the case. The Griffin Police Department began its investigation into a child abuse case on May 16. Police said they were called to Westminster Circle on May 12 about a lost child walking down the street. Officers arrested the boys parents, Tyler and Krista Schindley after the boy was found wandering the neighborhood, searching for food. Neighbors thought the child looked very small and thin and brought him inside. When police arrived, the boy told him he was trying to go to Kroger to buy food and begged that they not make me go back. This child was, simply put, being starved to death, and it is tragic, District Attorney Marie Broder said. I truly believe that if he had not gotten out of that home, this would be a very different case. The child was hospitalized and his current condition has not been released. On Monday, Ethan Washburn, 19, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault based on his alleged actions related to the child abuse case. Washburn is Krista Schindleys biological son and lives in Tennessee. Its unclear when Washburn last had contact with the child. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Authorities said there were other children in the home and they are currently with the Department of Family and Childrens Services. Police said the other children, who were homeschooled, appeared to be OK. Police also said a 19-year-old boy who is the biological son of Tyler Schindley is also in good health and living with family. TRENDING STORIES: Channel 2s Veronica Griffin talked to a neighbor who said his granddaughters often played with the boys sisters. We thought he was about six, Michael Seigler said. We didnt know how old he is. The little boy just stayed to himself. They were very quiet people. I say, very private. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The couple has been charged with criminal attempts to commit a felony, cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and simple battery. The pair were scheduled to be in court Monday afternoon but didnt have legal representation. The judge pushed the case to June 12. Officials said this remains an active and ongoing investigation. IN OTHER NEWS: Prince Archie received a special surprise on his fourth birthday in May, a thank you note from his parents the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has revealed. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles son Archie turned four years old on 6 May, the same day of his grandfather King Charles IIIs coronation. In honour of Archies birthday, a local bike shop in Harry and Meghans hometown of Montecito, California, gifted the couples eldest child his very own bicycle. The owners of Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Shop in Montecito shared the sweet thank you letter they received from the royals on Instagram. On behalf of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, please accept their sincere thanks for the thoughtful gift you sent to Prince Archie for his fourth birthday, read the letter, which was printed on The Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex letterhead. The bike has brought much joy, and is most appreciated by the family. They asked that I convey their gratitude at the lovely surprise, it said. The note was signed by Harrison Colcord, who works for the duke and duchess. Speaking to People, bike shop owner Jennifer Blevins explained how her British-born partner Martin wanted to give Archie one of their childrens bikes with training wheels for his fourth birthday. He went and got some birthday balloons, and he got some flowers for Meghan and a birthday card, and he said: Okay, Im gonna bike over and take it to their house, she recalled to the outlet. When security outside Harry and Meghans home asked whether he had received an invitation from the couple, he replied: Im just a British business in town that wanted to give Archie a gift. Security allowed him to leave the flowers, card, balloons, and bike for Archie after they performed a background check, according to People. One month later, a courier arrived at their shop in Montecito with the letter from Harry and Meghan. I wasnt expecting that. I had no idea, Blevins said. It was so thoughtful because, you know, they took the time to write something personal and not just a generic thank you. She added: Every celebrity in that town has bought bikes from us, and they all come through there. None of them sent a thank you letter. Prince Archies fourth birthday took place on the same day as King Charles III and Queen Camillas coronation in the UK. His father, Prince Harry, attended the coronation at Westminster Abbey on 6 May while Meghan stayed home with the toddler and the couples younger daughter, Princess Lilibet. The birthday celebration was reportedly a low-key party at the familys home in the coastal California town, with the couples friends and Meghans mother, Doria Ragland, in attendance. The newly crowned King also toasted his absent grandson Prince Archie on his fourth birthday at Buckingham Palace after the coronation, the DailyMail reported. King Charles was said to have toasted those that werent there and wished his grandson a very happy birthday wherever he was. Meanwhile, Meghan and Harrys daughter Lilibet Lili Diana turned two years old on 4 June. However, her birthday came and went without public birthday wishes from members of the royal family which royal experts say reflects the strained relationship between King Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. A 35-year-old Port Orchard man died in a head-on motorcycle crash on Sunday on State Route 3 near Fair Harbor in Mason County. The SUV driver who hit him was arrested and booked into the Mason County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide. Washington State Patrol troopers believe he was driving under the influence. According to a WSP news release, the 34-year-old Allyn man was driving south at 5:06 p.m. on SR 3 near milepost 18 when he crossed the center line and struck the motorcyclist head on. The SUV rolled onto its top into the northbound ditch, and the motorcycle landed in the southbound ditch, leaving its rider in the northbound lane. WSP trooper Katherine Weathewax said on social media the accident blocked both directions of traffic for some time, and traffic was diverted through Grapeview Loop Road. The Mason County Coroner could not be immediately reached for verification of the Port Orchard mans identity. Three generations of beauty! Heidi Klum is sharing a rare pic with her mom, Erna, and her daughter Leni, 19. The "America's Got Talent" judge, 50, posted the sweet family photo June 11 on Instagram. In the pic, the supermodel sported an ecru top and wore her long blond hair in shaggy layers with bangs. Erna wore a pink floral pattern and rocked a choppy platinum blond bob with bangs. Nestled between the two women was Leni, wearing a white top with her wavy long blond hair parted in the middle. Klum captioned the shot with three red heart emoji. While the former "Project Runway" host often shares photos of Leni, who's been following in her modeling footsteps, it's been a while since she's posted a pic featuring all three Klum women together. Klum previously shared an image of the trio in December 2020. Leni Klum and Heidi Klum attend the LuisaViaRoma for Unicef event at La Certosa di San Giacomo on July 31, 2021 in Capri, Italy. (Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images ) In that photo, all three women posed for a mirror selfie behind the scenes during Klum and Leni's first joint photo shoot with Vogue Germany. The photos, which marked Leni's modeling debut, were featured in the magazine's January/February 2021 issue. The publication spoke to Klum and Leni, who was 16 at the time, about Leni's interest in fashion. The teen explained that she had been yearning to model for years but her protective mom made her wait until she was the right age. It was only a matter of time before I would try to become a model myself, Leni said. The first offer came when I was only 12 or 13, from a brand I liked to wear: Brandy Melville. At that time I begged my mother, but no chance. Now I understand that it would have been too early. Klum explained why she felt 16 was "a good age" for her daughter to start modeling. If you are allowed to drive a car, you can also have an official Instagram account and show your face," said Klum, adding, "And to be allowed to start with a Vogue cover is an insane privilege. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Trump is in Miami for historic arraignment in Mar-a-Lago documents case. What we know. Donald Trump prepared for his initial court appearance Tuesday as the first former president to be criminally indicted by flying from New Jersey to Florida, continuing to fundraise off the accusations and blasting the rival Biden administration for what he calls a political prosecution. Trumps hearing is set for 3 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Miami. Trump has promoted the event like a grand opening, telling supporters he would see them in Miami. But security experts dont expect violence because of the more than 1,000 arrests after the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump is expected to plead not guilty at a routine court proceeding, similar to his New York arraignment in April. For that trip, news cameras aboard helicopters tracked his motorcade across town and monitored his flights from tarmac to takeoff. The hearing itself could offer revelations. Trumps lawyers will be new because he swapped lawyers after the indictment was unsealed Friday. Trump indictment live updates: Latest news as Trump lashes out on social media ahead of arraignment in Miami Here is what we know about the court appearance: Politics: Here's what to expect at Trump's Miami court hearing in classified records case Trump heads from New Jersey to Florida for court date Trump flew from one of his resorts to another Monday to prepare for the hearing. He left Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to fly from Newark to Miami before staying at Trump National Doral. Doral is about a half-hour drive away from the federal courthouse in Miami, considerably shorter than the drive from Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump is charged with allegedly stashing more than 300 classified documents after leaving the White House in January 2021. He is accused of not just storing and hiding the documents, but showing them to guests at Bedminster, according to the 44-page indictment unsealed Friday. Trump said one document described a plan of attack" and another had a map of a military installation, according to the indictment. He allegedly acknowledged knowing the documents were classified, saying, "This is still a secret," according to the indictment. Trump converts criminal charges into fundraising cash Trump wielded the charges in his fundraising for his 2024 presidential campaign almost immediately after announcing the indictment. In social media posts, he repeated familiar lines about the investigation being another witch hunt involving documents he had the RIGHT to declassify as President. He described the August search of Mar-a-Lago being staged to look like a made-for-TV crime scene with police sirens and flashing red and blue lights. The pleas echoed his appeals after his March indictment in New York state court on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to pay hush money to women who claimed to have had sex with him. Trump pleaded not guilty in April and awaits trial in March 2024. His campaign boasted that Trump raised more than $4 million in the first 24 hours after his New York indictment became public. Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to reporters Friday, June 9, 2023, in Washington. Former President Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed on Friday. What is expected at hearing? Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor, said defendants are usually brought before a judge for a preliminary appearance and later for a plea, but he expects both proceedings at once Tuesday because of the logistical challenges. Also during the Tuesday hearing the judge will set conditions on his release before the trial. Trump must not expect a gag order to prevent talking about the case because he scheduled an 8:15 p.m. speech Tuesday in Bedminster. He held a similar event after his New York arraignment. Trump verbally attacked the prosecutor and judge in his New York case, leading to death threats against them. In a similar strategy in the federal case, he has bashed Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith as a coward and a thug. Rossi said that federal judges and prosecutors are far less likely to tolerate public attacks by Trump than the judge and prosecutors in the New York case. The state system is Triple A; he's now in the major leagues and hes going before federal judges and career prosecutors, Rossi said. And he is going to have to watch himself, and what he says and what he does because they're not gonna play nice. Trump is expected to be arraigned in Miami on Tuesday. Security experts don't expect violent protests outside court Trump promoted the hearing using similar language to when he recruited election protesters to the Capitol on Jan. 6. But security experts said charges stemming from the attack could dampen demonstrations against his criminal charges. Rallies outside the New York courthouse were sparsely attended and mild. "We're seeing that that's had a chilling effect," Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI assistant director, told MSNBC on Thursday. "And we see that in chat rooms, we see violent extremists say, 'Hey, I don't want to get arrested. This could be a setup, I'm not going.'" 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. What charges is Trump facing? Trump was charged with willful retention of national defense information; conspiracy to obstruct justice; withholding a document or record; corruptly concealing a document in a federal investigation; scheme to conceal; and false statements and representations. After a year of exchanging letters with the National Archives and Records Administration, Trump returned 15 boxes in January 2022 that featured some classified documents including letters exchanged with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un. Prosecutors visited the estate in June with a subpoena and were given more classified documents, with a certification from Trump's lawyers that those were all of them. But FBI agents seized more classified records during an August search. Trump has argued the FBI had no business searching Mar-a-Lago because he was in negotiations to return disputed records and that as a former president he had a right to the documents. The documents held some of the countrys most closely guarded secrets. Trumps attorney general, Bill Barr, told Fox News Sunday he was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were, frankly. We have to wait and see what the defense says and what proves to be true, Barr noted, but he added that if even half of it is true, then he's toast. Who is representing Trump? Trump announced Friday in a social media post Todd Blanche, who has participated in his New York state criminal case, and a firm to be named later will represent him. That was a change from Trusty and John Rowley, who had been leading his team dealing with federal investigations. We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days, Trump said in the post on Truth Social. The clerk of court, Angela Noble, notified Trumps lawyers on Monday that Blanche, Chad Bowman, Maxwell Mishkin and Lauren Russell that they are not members of the federal bar in South Florida. Under rules governing lawyers, Noble said they could participate in the case if they file a written application and got permission from the court. Pages from the order by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon naming Raymond Dearie as special master to serve as an independent arbiter and to review records seized during the FBI search of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, is photographed Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick) ORG XMIT: DCJE393 Who is the judge in the case? The hearing Tuesday will be overseen by Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, according to The Miami Herald. But the case was assigned to Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by Trump. She is familiar with the investigation because she ordered a special master to review the documents after the FBI search. Trump had requested the review by arguing some records could be off limits to investigators because of attorney-client or executive privilege. But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned her order, saying a defendant traditionally challenges the evidence in a case after charges are filed. Legal experts divided about whether Cannon should recuse herself from the case. Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney in Alabama, said there is persuasive authority Cannon should step aside after leaning heavily in Trumps favor. But another former federal prosecutor, Nancy DePodesta, said it's not clear from previous hearings that Cannon must recuse herself. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general in the Obama administration, told MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki he was concerned about Cannons handling of the case in earlier phases when she was excoriated by the Circuit Court. He questioned whether she has the ability to project neutrality. But Holder said it is difficult to force a judge to recuse from a case. She ultimately makes the first determination about whether or not she should be recused, he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump arraignment: What to expect when he shows up in Miami court Polls show that while Trump support among Republican voters continues to be strong, a growing number say the charges against him are "serious." Donald Trump at the North Carolina Republican Party convention, June 10. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters) They are still a distinct minority of their party, but a growing number of Republicans have stepped forward to offer criticism of former President Donald Trump following the unsealing of the Justice Department's indictment relating to his refusal to hand over classified documents after leaving the White House. Just over three-quarters of Republican voters (76%) said they were concerned that the charges being brought against Trump are politically motivated, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday. Trump has made that claim the centerpiece of his public defense. "ELECTION INTERFERENCE at a level never seen before in our Country!" he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday. But Republican backing of Trump, while still strong, appears to be slipping. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday found that 38% of Republicans now believe the charges against the former president are serious, up from 21% who were asked about the case in early April. As public opinion continues to be shaped about the indictment, some prominent Republicans albeit those who have occasionally criticized him before have stepped forward to do the unthinkable and break with Trump. Here's a roundup: Former Attorney General William Barr William Barr, attorney general during the Trump administration. (Jeff Roberson/AP) Much to Trumps dismay, his own former attorney general William Barr has been giving interviews on Fox News about the indictment. On Sunday he said the following: If even half of it is true, then hes toast. Its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. Barr also shot down the notion that Trump was being unfairly treated. Hes not a victim here. He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents, Barr said. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley at a town hall in Ankeny, Iowa, May 17. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) In a Monday interview with Fox News, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is also running for the Republican presidential nomination, said Trump put Americans serving in the U.S. military in danger. If this indictment is true, if what it says is actually the case, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security, she said. Haley: Two things can be true.. The DOJ and FBI have lost all credibility with the American people The second thing can also be true. If this indictment is true, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security.. pic.twitter.com/RUBX4lE48J Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2023 Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Shortly after the Justice Department unsealed the indictment against Trump, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska called the charges quite serious, adding that mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and methods they were obtained through. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. (Alex Brandon/AP) Another longtime foe of Trumps, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, again broke ranks from his party and praised the Justice Departments handling of the case. By all appearances, the Justice Department and special counsel have exercised due care, affording Mr. Trump the time and opportunity to avoid charges that would not generally have been afforded to others, he said in a statement, adding, 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. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Former New Jersey governor and current GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie. (Charles Krupa/AP) In a Friday interview with CNN, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is also challenging Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, called the indictment devastating. Its a very, very evidence-filled indictment, Christie said. 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 New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu Gov. Chris Sununu speaking in New York City on April 25. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Time) In a Sunday interview on the CBS program Face the Nation, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu predicted a guilty verdict. Theyre very real, theyre self-inflicted, this is nothing like weve ever anything weve seen before, Sununu said of the allegations. And theres very likely, I think, going to come down to some type of guilty verdict on the [former] president, at least on some of these charges. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson campaigning in Clive, Iowa, April 22. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) In a statement, former Arkansas Gov. and current Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson said Trump should end his campaign because of the indictment. These are serious allegations that are relevant in this campaign and should not be dismissed lightly, he said in an interview on Saturday with CNN. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) Over the weekend, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt became the the first GOP governor to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's rival in the Republican presidential primary. While Stitt did not mention the indictment specifically, he made clear that he thinks DeSantis is more electable than Trump. I really believe that we need somebody that can beat Joe Biden, and I think Ron DeSantis is the guy, Stitt said, adding that it is time to turn the page. Louisiana Central, the areas economic-development organization, developed the Manufacturing Career Camp with guidance from their Manufacturing Council. High school sophomores and juniors learned about career opportunities offered by area manufacturers like Hayes Manufacturing, Crest Industries, Boise Cascade, ULTX Manufacturing, LLC., Procter & Gamble, RoyOMartin, LaSalle Lumber Company, PlasticPak Packaging, Inc., Manchac Technologies, LLC., and AFCO Industries. MaKenzie Hamilton had it in her mind that she wanted to be a military nurse. Then the Holy Savior Menard sophomore attended Louisiana Centrals inaugural Manufacturing Career Camp. She saw that there are multiple jobs in manufacturing that are not only for men. Women can pursue them, too. We were at Hayes Manufacturing today, and there were a lot of automated welding robots," Hamilton said. "I saw a woman that was grinding the angled bars. It was it was very cool to see. She was amazed to see women working in a plant right besides men. They're very good at their job. It's amazing that I'm able to see that, she said. Rose Killion, human resource generalist I for Boise Cascade, said the question they get asked quite a bit is if they hire women to work at their manufacturing sites and jobs. "The resounding response is yes. We are very proud of our diverse workforce and all the women who lead from the manufacturing front, said Killion. For many years, Boise Cascade has had a strong diversity, equity and inclusion philosophy. Boise Cascades facility in Alexandria is an Engineered Wood Products Plant, she said. "We manufacture Versa Lam and I-Joists beams from raw materials supplied to us from our plywood/veneer operations. Our products are the structural base 'bones' of residential homes, commercial construction and many other facets of construction applications," said Killion. "Boise Cascade is a leading manufacturer and distributor of building materials with the intent of bringing people, productions and services together to build strong homes, businesses and communities that stand the test of time." Jarvis Thomas, who will be in the 12th grade this upcoming school year at Red River Academy in Mansura, said Louisiana Central opened up the possibilities of new jobs. The camp gave him an insight into all the different jobs that are out there. And when visiting the facilities, he said it felt like most were like a family. Louisiana Central, the areas economic-development organization, developed the camp with guidance from their Manufacturing Council. High school sophomores and juniors learned about career opportunities offered by area manufacturers like Hayes Manufacturing, Crest Industries, Boise Cascade, ULTX Manufacturing LLC, Procter & Gamble, RoyOMartin, LaSalle Lumber Company, PlasticPak Packaging Inc., Manchac Technologies, LLC and AFCO Industries. Over the next few years, research indicates that hundreds of new manufacturing jobs will come from existing and new industries in the region, said Lafe Jones, vice president and executive director of industry relations at Louisiana Central in a press release. Our sponsoring manufacturing partners are giving on-site demonstrations to high schoolers during this camp, while they expose them to the diversity of jobs available now and in the future, as well as the training required for these jobs." On Friday, Sarah Sasser, talent management director; Madelyn Mayeux, talent acquisition specialist and Sarah Ceballos, human resources generalist of Crest Industries, spoke to the students about the company that specializes in electric power delivery, industrial services, distribution, specialty chemicals and natural resources. Students learned about career opportunities and all the companies come under the umbrella of Crest Industries, like DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations, DIS-TRAN Steel, Beta Engineering, Optimal, Mid-State Supply, Avant Organics, Millenium Galvanizing and Crest Natural Resources. Students toured facilities where they could see how the process works and learned about products created here in Central Louisiana. They also got to participate in hands-on activities and learn more about education available for these career choices from schools like Central Louisiana Technical Community College. Thomas said seeing people working at different jobs gave him insight into what they do as opposed to what he thought the job was and how it is portrayed on TV. Its more complicated and intellectual than what it seems, he said. There are certain skills that must be mastered, and if you dont know those skills, theyll teach you on the job or in the classroom. Students visited one facility where coding was used. They did do coding but its really simple. If you can draw it, you can code it. Or, you can use your hands, Thomas said. You can computer code on it and shows a certain shape on a board. You can transfer it on paper and whatever you want welded, they can do it. This is referred to as transcription. Could Hamilton see a job in manufacturing as a career option? It is definitely a career path that all men and young men and women should consider pursuing. Through this camp I learned that, she said. Creating opportunities for hands-on learning outside of a traditional classroom setting are crucial for students to gain excitement about career paths. Participating students get a diverse look at the career options available in Central Louisiana at manufacturing facilities, said Javonti Thomas, Program Coordinator at Louisiana Central, in the release. When opportunity meets talent, drive and eagerness, Killion said that Boise Cascade is always willing to explore partnerships through education, internships and leadership development to help students learn and get experience in manufacturing. We hope students learn that manufacturing is an exciting, secure, and prosperous career choice with many different business opportunities which can lead to only the brightest of futures, said Killion. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Students see variety of careers available at Manufacturing Career Camp High school sweethearts killed in crash weeks after graduation, Illinois families say A man is accused of driving under the influence in a crash that killed a couple who had just graduated from high school, Illinois reports say. The three-vehicle crash happened around 8:50 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, in Hoffman Estates, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago, according to WMAQ. Amelia Mazeikis was driving DShaun Tudela when their vehicle was struck, according to the Daily Herald. The two 18-year-olds died at area hospitals, the publication reported. The high school sweethearts had been together for three years and graduated in May from Schaumburg High School, family members said in a GoFundMe. The only thing keeping me together is that they are together, Tudelas mother, Katrina Tudela, said in the GoFundMe. Police said Deni Rubo, 32, was charged with two counts of aggravated DUI resulting in the death of another person, two counts of reckless homicide, and one count of trying to disarm a peace officer, WGN reported. Township High School District 211 officials called Mazeikis and Tudelas deaths devastating news and said they had bright futures ahead of them, according to a statement obtained by WGN. Tudela reportedly had dreams of being a Japanese cuisine chef. He had been looking at culinary arts schools for over the past year, his mom told WLS. Those dreams and aspirations of going somewhere, thats not a reality anymore. Mazeikis was known as a talented artist, gymnast and animal lover, family members said in a GoFundMe. She was an amazing sister, daughter and friend to many, the GoFundMe says. Teens dream of being nurse ends in tragedy days before graduation, Georgia family says High schooler two weeks from graduation is killed in train collision, Indiana cops say Teen fatally shot after confrontation at graduation party in Georgia, officials say High school wrestlers body recovered from lake after 17-hour search, NJ officials say A high school students body was found more than 17 hours after he disappeared underwater while swimming across a lake, according to New Jersey officials. The student was identified as Victor Rodriguez, a senior at Pitman High School, according to a statement from Pitnam Public Schools. It is with great sadness that after just over 17 hours of tedious and demanding work by many first responders, Victor has been recovered, Pitman Mayor Michael Razze wrote in a Facebook post at about 3:30 p.m. on June 12. Rescue teams began searching for a swimmer who disappeared underwater at Alcyon Lake in Pitman on the evening of June 11, the Borough of Pitman wrote on Facebook at about 10:30 p.m. on June 11. The student athlete had been trying to swim across the lake when he went underwater, the Burlington County Times reported. For whatever reasons, he got cramped up, tired, or even caught in the debris and the grass, Pitman Police Chief Daniel J. McAteer, told the outlet. The thick grass in the lake caused problems for rescue teams during the search, McAteer told the outlet. Exams at Pitman High School were canceled June 12, according to a post on the schools Instagram. Seniors were asked to go to the auditorium for an information session. Pitman Councilman Matt Weng called Rodriguezs death a terrible loss to our high school and to our town in a statement posted on Facebook. Thank you to the first responders who worked through the night in difficult conditions without giving up, the post says. Please keep Victors family, friends, and the entire Pitman High School community in your thoughts and prayers. Rodriguez was a standout on the high school wrestling team, McAteer told NJ.com. On behalf of the board of education, administration, and staff, we offer our sincerest condolences to Victors family and friends, the statement says. McAteer and Razze did not respond to requests for comment from McClatchy News. Alcyon Lake is 17.5 acres and about 10-12 feet deep, according to NJ.com. The area is dark at night, and swimming is not allowed, the outlet reported. Pitman High School graduation is scheduled for June 14, according to the schools calendar. Pitman is about 20 miles south of Philadelphia. 18-year-old drowns at park while swimming with friends, Utah officials say Woman vanishes underwater while trying to save dog, Oregon cops say. Now body is found Tourist dies after vanishing in surf at popular South Carolina beach, officials say Dead fish washing to shore in Quintana Beach County Park on June 10, 2023 Thousands of fish littered the shores of Quintana Beach and Bryan Beach in Texas this past weekend after low oxygen in the water killed off fish in the region, ABC13 News reported. The die-off began on Friday and continued until Sunday. According to officials from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the low oxygen affected an area large enough to have depleted water quality for thousands of marine animals in that part of the Gulf. If there isnt enough oxygen in the water, fish cant breathe. Low dissolved oxygen can be the result of human activities, but in many cases, its a natural occurrence, an announcement on the departments website said. Read more A Facebook post from the Quintana Beach County Park explained that the local waters lacked oxygen likely due to hot weather in the area this past week. Fish kills like this are common in the summer when temperatures increase, the post said. On Friday, a local National Weather Service station reported a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) in Brazoria County. Many of the fish that were affected were also in shallower waters, which warm quicker and therefore lose oxygen faster than deeper waters. As of Sunday afternoon, the beach was mostly cleared of dead fish, according to the notice. The pedestrian beach is cleared with the exception of a spattering of fish that the machinery couldnt get, the post said. High tides over the next couple of days should sift the rest down into the sand and bury them. Dead fish in Quintana Beach County Park, Texas on June 9 2023. Other mass death events for fish have occurred in the Gulf in the past. Dead zones where the water in the region has little to no oxygen can occur due to high temperature, sediments, and fertilizer from farming, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. This happens every single year, and the size of the dead zones in the Gulf varies depending on what caused the dead zone. Some of the affected water could regain oxygen eventually, which is great news for regional fish. But its disturbing to see so many dead marine animals washing to shore. Some experts fear that these death events could occur more often, especially as ocean temperatures have been on the rise for decades due to climate change. Hotter temperatures in the oceans affect other forms of marine life too. Coral reefs, which house all sorts of ocean life, are becoming increasingly stressed by higher-than-average temperatures. The iconic Great Barrier Reef near Australia has survived multiple recent mass bleaching events, which is when the reef is stressed and pushes out the algae that live and feed off of the reef. Want more climate and environment stories? Check out Earthers guides to decarbonizing your home, divesting from fossil fuels, packing a disaster go bag, and overcoming climate dread. And dont miss our coverage of the latest IPCC climate report, the future of carbon dioxide removal, and the un-greenwashed facts on bioplastics and plastic recycling. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Miamis federal courthouse will become the center of the political universe Tuesday, when former President Donald Trump is expected to surrender for his first appearance on a 37-count indictment that includes charges of violating the Espionage Act and conspiring to obstruct justice. Miami is on edge, understandably. Amid escalating threats online and defiance from Trump and his allies, Trump once again has egged on his supporters, posting on a social media account overnight: See you in Miami on Tuesday. There are plans for increased federal and local security for protests, including one outside the federal courthouse downtown on Tuesday. That rally might include the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group that has plagued the city for years. Will Miami become a shameful spectacle of violence and disorder, with Trump protesters allowed to create chaos downtown? Or will it be a moment when the city demonstrates its maturity and shows that, yes, it can handle such an extraordinary event? Much depends on the tone set by city leaders. Mayor Francis Suarez hosted a news conference Monday, reassuring citizens of Miami and across the country that security will be tight. He said the city has experience in handling large protests, citing the ones after the death of George Floyd. He wisely avoided questions about his rumored entry into the 2024 GOP presidential primary, which hes supposed to announce Thursday. Setting the tone Were taking this very seriously, Suarez told reporters. He said: We believe that people should have the right to express themselves, but we also believe in law and order . . . We hope that tomorrow will be peaceful. When a reporter asked him if, in light of Trumps encouragement of the mobs during the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, he had asked Trump to stop posting about his Miami court appearance, Suarez responded, I have not spoken to him. I do not have his phone number, he said. If the New York indictment is any guide, perhaps Tuesday will remain nonviolent. Trump walked into a courthouse as a criminal defendant in New York in April, when he was arraigned on business fraud charges related to his alleged payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair. Protesters converged on the courthouse in that case, too, as they are expected to do in Miami, and they were loud but largely peaceful. Will his appearance in Miami, which Trump has said is at 3 p.m., be the same? Florida isnt New York. Trump is widely despised in the Big Apple. In Miami, its a far different story. Miami-Dade County, once a solid-blue stronghold, flipped red last year. Trump had narrowly carried Florida in 2016 but grew his margin of victory in 2020 with help from South Florida Hispanic voters. This is also where former Proud Boys chief Enrique Tarrio paraded around for years with Miami tolerating him and where other Proud Boys have assumed leadership roles in the local Republican Partys executive committee. Just last month, Tarrio was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his role in the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection. Has Miami learned anything from that? In addition, Florida carries the dishonorable distinction of leading the nation in Capitol riot arrests, with some of our leaders ignoring extremism. Trump may have told the Proud Boys to Stand back and stand by during a 2020 presidential debate, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who wouldnt immediately disavow a neo-Nazi demonstration in Orlando last year has said he would consider pardoning some of those convicted in connection to the Jan. 6 attack if hes elected to the White House. Trump will find plenty of sympathy in Miami, where misinformation about the 2020 elections still runs rampant, especially on Spanish-language radio. Many of his supporters have already bought into his contention that the 37 charges against him are politically motivated. He recently posted on his Truth Social website that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has handled the case, is a deranged lunatic. But the weight of the allegations against Trump explains why the Department of Justice allowed this case to move forward. The contention that Trump stored top-secret documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach in places including a ballroom and a bathroom remains jaw-dropping, days after we saw the indictment. And then there was the rest of it: He endeavored to obstruct the FBI and grand jury investigations and conceal retention of classified documents, the indictment states. Worse, he is accused of discussing classified documents with others. The indictment contains transcripts of a conversation with a book author in which Trump discussed a classified military document described as a plan of attack against another country. The transcript indicates Trump knew the records had not been declassified. See, as president, I could have declassified it, Trump said. Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret. Trump will get his day in court, no thanks to him. Its a basic premise of the American legal system, one that is also supposed to treat all citizens equally, and it must be carried out. An ex-president is not above the law, even if he claims to be. No crowds, no protests peaceful or not should be allowed to disrupt the judicial process. And now its up to Miami to make sure. Jared Stephens, a homeless and mentally ill man who committed an inexplicable crime, shouldnt spend the rest of his life in prison, a judge ruled Monday. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge William Altfield undid a sentence handed down five years earlier by a different judge, who sentenced Stephens to a minimum of 150 years with 120 days in jail for good measure. Stephens delusional behavior, before and during his trial, had stymied his defense. But the new disposition is not a get-out-of-jail-free card: Under the new sentence, Stephens faces 10 years, with credit for time served, followed by 11 years of probation on the condition that he spend the first two years of that probation in mental health facilities. By the end of the second year of probation, he will be eligible to move to Arizona, where he can live with his family. This timetable potentially frees Stephens from prison in July 2025, 140 years sooner than his original release date of July 4, 2166, under the sentence meted out by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Veronica Diaz, one that shocked defense attorneys, prosecutors and court observers alike. In court Monday, Altfield signed off on an agreement between Stephens attorney and state prosecutors to drastically shorten the 32-year-olds stay in the Florida prison system. Stephens was convicted of several counts of a serious crime: having pornographic images of children on his laptop. The strange circumstances of Stephens arrest, together with his outlandish behavior in the courtroom, were indicative of a person in the throes of a mental health crisis. His refusal to cooperative with his lawyers, meantime, made it impossible to document his troubled childhood or bring in family members to speak on his behalf. In September 2016, Stephens, then 25, attempted to walk out of a Best Buy in Sweetwater with a laptop he hadnt paid for. When confronted, Stephens pulled his own laptop out of his backpack and declared, Look, I have child pornography! He then sat on the floor and perused pornographic images of children until police arrived and arrested him. The state originally offered him a plea deal of three years in prison, as well as treatment in a program for mentally disordered sex offenders. Estranged from family and uttering gibberish in open court, Stephens refused to cooperate with his attorney and rejected the offer. He was convicted, and the judge sentenced him to 150 years 129 years longer than the 21-year sentence recommended by the prosecution. It was also significantly greater than the typical sentence for possession of child pornography. Judge Veronica Diaz sentenced Jared Stephens to 150 years in state prison in 2018, far greater than the typical sentence for his crimes. Prosecutors had asked for 21 years. Diaz did not explain the lengthy sentence at the time. However, when she denied a motion to correct the sentencing in May 2019, she stated that the sentence was legal and a jury of his peers had found him guilty. After years of no contact, Stephens wrote his mother a letter, informing her of his legal woes. Stunned, she and other loved ones from around the country came to Stephens aide, testifying on his behalf at various hearings to amend his sentence. Fan Li, a new defense lawyer, became involved in the case shortly thereafter, and, equipped with more information about his clients background and mental health struggles, argued that Stephens needed treatment rather than a life behind bars. Previous attempts to amend Stephens sentence were unsuccessful. Mondays hearing was Stephens last resort to have a life outside of a prison. Stephens attorney and state prosecutors originally shared the outline of the agreement during a hearing in April. Judge Altfield raised no objections to the shortened sentence but declined to rule on the motion until all the details were finalized. He did, however, note his concern that Stephens mental health might deteriorate further in prison if he does not receive treatment. Both the state and Stephens attorney said that although receiving treatment while incarcerated is not a condition of the agreement, the option is available to Stephens. Miami-Dade County Judge Steven Leifman, instrumental in setting up Miami-Dades mental health court, appeared in the case as a witness. He stated that once Stephens is free from prison, he will be able to receive the treatment he needs and in a safer environment. Stephens, who did not attend Mondays hearing or the hearing in April because he requested to be returned to prison, is unlikely to participate in any treatment offered within the prison system due to what his attorney described as past mistreatment. Jared Stephens was a successful student and athlete in high school in Michigan before untreated schizophrenia left him homeless and struggling on the streets of Miami-Dade County. During the April hearing, Li described what he called one example, which involved the disappearance of all of Stephens belongings, including an iPad, and the Florida Department of Corrections claim that there is no record of him ever having owned any of it. Li said Stephens used the iPad to listen to meditation tapes, a way to keep occupied while avoiding some of the prison systems harsher realities. Stephens mental health struggles were clear at the outset of trial. He informed the court, falsely, that he was facing federal treason charges for crimes against humanity in Central America. After four months of treatment and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the court deemed him competent and the trial resumed. Hurdles for his defense team didnt end there. None of Stephens family and friends even knew he was on trial because he stopped responding to their messages years before. With no loved ones to speak on his behalf, combined with Stephens lack of cooperation, Stephens attorney at the time was unable to present any mitigating factors that would demonstrate to the judge why she should show mercy. She didnt. The jury found Stephens guilty of 32 counts of possession of child pornography. In addition to the 150-year sentence, Diaz tacked on an additional 120 days in the county jail for theft and disorderly conduct. Around then, Stephens contacted his mother, who provided an explanation of why Stephens might have fallen into a cycle of mental illness and homelessness. A news story in the Detroit Free Press chronicled the death of Jared Stephens two younger brothers in a house fire in 2000. Stephens is said to have blamed himself. When Stephens was just 9, he survived a fire that claimed the lives of his two younger brothers. The tragedy made the local papers. His loved ones say he blamed himself and never truly processed his shock and grief. A star wrestler in high school in Southfield, Michigan, he began experiencing mental health troubles in late adolescence derailing his career as a college wrestler at Arizona State University. His attorneys presented this new information to Judge Diaz during a series of hearings to amend or appeal his sentence. She was unmoved. Only when a new defense attorney and judge became involved was Stephens plight reconsidered. After initially resisting a change in the sentence, the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office agreed to the plan that was approved by Judge Altfield during Mondays hearing. Judge Altfield noted that, while all parties agreed to mitigate Stephens sentence, he still needs to speak with Stephens to inform him of the terms of his probation. Since Stephens is in state prison, this will be done via zoom or telephonically during a status conference on July 12. He also said that any violation of his probation must be done willfully and knowingly. Thus, if Stephens were to experience a mental health episode during a potential violation, he has faith that the court would take that into account and issue a just resolution. Homeless woman sued NYC Council candidate Hailie Kim for unpaid wage despite attempts by Kim to pay her Hailie Kim, a Democratic Socialist running for a City Council seat in Queens, was sued last year for allegedly stiffing a homeless woman on her salary but Kim provided the Daily News with records last week showing she tried multiple times to pay the woman, who seemingly refused to accept the cash. The peculiar dispute started after the woman, Cecilia Gullas, signed up to work for Kims unsuccessful 2021 campaign for the 26th Council District. Kim, whos running for the same western Queens Council district in this months Democratic primary, sent a $305 check on June 23, 2021, to Gullas to compensate her for passing out flyers to voters at a Woodside poll site the day before, according to a copy provided by Kim. But Gullas never cashed the check and nearly a year later, on May 18, 2022, she filed a lawsuit in Queens Civil Court claiming Kim never paid her for the poll site work, records obtained by The News show. In her suit, Gullas described herself as homeless and said she lived in a Manhattan shelter. She claimed she had been subjected to discrimination due to other workers being paid on the night of the election and asked a judge to award her damages, in addition to the unpaid salary, because of the emotional distress caused by the alleged nonpayment. The lawsuit prompted a Queens Civil Court judge to order Kim in October 2022 to cough up the wages she had owed Gullas for well over a year at that point, records show. The judge also ordered Kim to cover Gullas legal expenses. Kim campaign spokeswoman Rebecca Harshbarger confirmed this past Thursday that Kim paid a total of $350 to Gullas via a money order as demanded by the judge. But Harshbarger also said Gullas lawsuit was confounding because Kim tried to pay her three separate times before she went to court. [Gullas] refused three times to deposit the checks that the campaign gave her, Harshbarger said. Harshbarger shared an email Gullas sent Kim in August 2022 in which she wrote she did not want to cash one of the checks she had received because she was worried her bank account will be levied with a fine. I decided not to cash it. It is not good for my checking account to have a bad check, Gullas wrote in the Aug. 15 message. Harshbarger said Gullas concerns were unfounded because Kims campaign account had plenty of money in it at the time. Reached over email, Gullas, who remains homeless, said she took legal action because she claimed a manager at her local bank declined to cash the first check she received from Kims campaign due to it being not good. I no longer wanted to go to another round of going to the bank to see if her check is good or not, so I just decided to go to [court], Gullas wrote. The judge ordered that I get paid, and Hailie abided by that order and paid me promptly. On Dec. 10, 2022, weeks after paying Gullas, Kim launched her second campaign for the 26th District, which covers Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside and Woodside. The primary election in that race is set for June 27. The 26th district has been represented since last year by Democratic Councilwoman Julie Won, who beat Kim and several other candidates in the 2021 election. Kim, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and an ex-English professor at Hunter College, has made combating homelessness a key part of her campaign this year. This is the worst homeless crisis weve seen since the Great Depression, and New Yorkers need decisive action immediately from our political leadership, she tweeted last month along with a link to her housing plan, which includes support for Good Cause eviction protections. Eugene Noh, Wons husband and campaign manager, declined to comment on Gullas lawsuit. House Republicans said the evidence they had collected on the financial transactions of President Joe Bidens family members would make the Watergate scandal look like jaywalking. So in early May, people tuned in to watch Rep. James Comer of Kentucky and other Republican members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee attempt to explain how members of the Biden family had received money from foreign businesses while Biden was in office as vice president through a tangled web of financial ties that fell short of directly tying the money to Biden. Standing in the background was a mild-mannered Kansan Rep. Jake LaTurner. I had somebody bring it up and say, I saw him standing behind Comer, he looked kind of mean and needs to be the Jake we know, said state Sen. Tim Shallenburger, a Baxter Springs Republican who has been a fixture of Kansas politics for decades. And I said, he is. He just is on a big committee and you stand behind him and you get your picture in the paper. Thats how it works. LaTurner, a Republican from southeastern Kansas, has been on the Oversight Committee since he arrived in Washington in 2021. But since Republicans took control in January, the committee, packed with some of the loudest voices in Congress, has aimed its lens directly at the White House. In order to get to LaTurner in a committee meeting, one has to sit through comments from some of the most polarizing members of Congress. There are two members of the progressive Squad Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat. And there are several members of the ultra-right House Freedom Caucus including Arizona Republicans Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, who has been connected to white nationalists, Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican known for supporting the QAnon conspiracy theory, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, who has also supported QAnon conspiracy theories but appears to be currying favor with McCarthy. LaTurner paints himself as the levelheaded voice on the committee. I see my role as being a good committee member that is not distracted by flashy politics, but putting my head down and doing the work and doing the research and making sure that we are that were conducting legitimate oversight, LaTurner said in an interview with the Star. But his presence on the committee signifies that LaTurner, who was first elected to the Kansas Senate at 24, is aware he is a member of a Congress where public attention can be as valuable as passing meaningful legislation. The committee is made up of all kinds of people, Shallenburger said. And isnt it good that theyve got levelheaded folks on there as well. Hes Republican and he disagrees with the Democrats and he disagrees with Biden on a number of things, but hes not necessarily mean spirited about it. Over the past few decades, more of the major pieces of legislation in Congress have been driven by party leaders, instead of the committee process that used to hand out power more broadly. The top-down approach has shifted the focus for many committees, where they spend as much time on oversight activities as they do on actual legislating. LaTurner said the focus on government accountability is important in an era where people consistently report that they dont have faith in Congress. Trust in government is at an all time low, LaTurner said. People dont have faith in their governmental institutions anymore, and that has to change. But the only way for it to change is for us to come clean about when something goes wrong. To talk about how money is spent or misspent, to come clean with them, to be honest about it, and to hold people accountable when they do something wrong. Oversight becomes even more aggressive under divided government and theres little chance of major legislation outside of the required bills Congress needs to pass making it to the president. The Oversight Committee is appealing above to some because it has a broad jurisdiction. Recent hearings have touched on everything from artificial intelligence, staffing at the border, regulations on gas stoves and Chinese money laundering. Because its so broad, it allows members of Congress to look like theyre weighing in on the issues of the day while capturing the types of clips that can go viral and encourage supporters back home. At the end of the day, members of Congress are people responding to incentives and so they are doing things that they think are going to be rewarded, said Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution. I just think weve seen, because of changes in the overall political environment, a change in what kind of behavior members think is going to be rewarded. And right now it is more often this kind of attention getting behavior than it is necessarily legislative productivity. LaTurner said when hes in Kansas people ask him about how COVID-19 money was spent and Joe Biden and to what extent he was involved in influence peddling. He cultivated a relatively noncontroversial reputation in Topeka, where he pushed for more government accountability on open records and for things like term limits and preventing nepotism in politics. But his first vote as a member of the U.S. House was to invalidate the 2020 presidential election in Arizona, an effort that was driven by false claims that the election was stolen by former President Donald Trump. State Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City, Kan. Democrat, said he worked with LaTurner in the state Senate and liked him. But he expressed concern that LaTurner was lipsyncing the agenda of more conservative lawmakers in attempt to appeal to his base. Hes really a bright study, Rep. LaTurner is, and hes got tremendous potential, Haley said. Hes young enough that he could outlive having had these flirtations with the Trump mentality and Im optimistic because I really do like Jake. Weve always worked well together and hes my congressman now. LaTurner was dismissive of the idea that the committee is too political, or that its targeting Biden to hurt his reelection chances in 2024. But Comer has remained focused on investigating Biden, particularly his familys ties to foreign money. Jake helps us get answers to tough questions, and never loses sight of our mission to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, Comer wrote in a statement. We appreciate his good instincts, knowledge, and expertise as we strive for legislative solutions to ensure our government works for the American people. LaTurner has said he thinks the Biden investigation is important and said the public deserves to know about his familys finances but dodged a question about Trump familys business dealings by implying they should have been looked into by previous oversight committees. There was an ongoing investigation into Trumps finances that was stopped when Republicans took control of the committee. The payments that were made from foreign countries to the Biden family, is a legitimate issue that we have to talk about, LaTurner said. And if that has political consequences for the President, thats life. That should not be our intention on the committee though. In the last redistricting battle, the northern part of Wyandotte County was added to LaTurners district, adding Democratic-leaning voters to his conservative district that also represents Topeka. Haley said he hoped LaTurner would pay attention to the new voters in his district and avoid becoming the type of congressman who focuses on getting attention from the cable news networks. You cant name other congressional members from different states, but the ones you can name, theyre known for acting a fool, Haley said. Trump could maintain his grip on the GOP through the primary season, even as the cases against him proceed in court and the prospect of prison time looms. Donald Trump on his way to the New York Attorney General's Office for a deposition in a civil investigation, Aug. 10, 2022. (Julia Nikhinson/AP) For much of the past winter, Donald Trumps presidential campaign plodded along with little energy, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis increasingly seemed like the mainstream choice for the GOP nomination. Then came Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs indictment of Trump on charges of financial fraud related to a payment he had made several years before to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Suddenly, conservatives rallied to Trumps side. And they have stayed with him ever since, even as other candidates have entered the race, giving voters plenty of other options. Trump is now the Republican frontrunner by a wide margin. Last weeks federal indictment on 37 counts related to Trumps handling of classified documents is more serious than the Manhattan case, and, if convicted, could send Trump to prison for more than a century. Yet as grave as those charges are, could the new indictment actually help Trump politically? Read more from our partners: Senate GOP leaders break with House on Trump indictment Indictments are bad Special counsel Jack Smith speaking with reporters on Friday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Trump is the first former president to be indicted on federal charges. Special counsel Jack Smith has promised a speedy trial, which will likely take place as Trump tries to cement his standing as the GOP frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. If national politics is a game of inches, how can a federal indictment that includes photographs of secret documents stored in a bathroom amount to anything less than a 37-yard penalty? I dont know if it will make a difference in the political landscape, but it certainly seems pretty bad, a Senate Republican aide told The Hill. Another GOP staffer mused that Smiths indictment could be the silver bullet that ends Trumps third White House run. A recent poll by Yahoo News and YouGov found that 62% of Americans do not want Trump to serve a second term if he is convicted of a crime. Given the strength of Smiths evidence (photographs, audio recordings, text messages), such a conviction is entirely possible and maybe even likely. Read more from our partners: From the Ballot Box to the Jury Box, South Florida Voters Ponder Trump except when it comes to the GOP primary Then-President Donald Trump at the "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Even before the federal indictment, Trump was a twice-impeached former president who many believe incited the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In addition to the Manhattan and federal indictments, he is facing potential charges in Georgia for attempting to meddle with the states results in the 2020 presidential election. To his supporters, none of that seems to matter. Earlier this year, pollsters found that about 30% of the GOP electorate said that they supported Trump more than the Republican Party itself. Many of Trumps supporters have an emotional, even spiritual, identification with the president that has little to do with policy. During two political rallies over the weekend, Trump described the indictment as an attack on his supporters. In the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you and Im just standing in their way, he said in Georgia. The grievance-heavy message was potent in 2016, and could be again in 2024. This is more of a movement than a person, a Republican in South Carolina told USA Today. No matter how damning, the indictment may well fail to break Trumps bond with his supporters. After all, nothing else has. Read more from our partners: What to Expect When Trump Is Charged in the Documents Case on Tuesday Other candidates are at a loss Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., on Friday. (Chuck Burton/AP) Even if federal prosecutors move quickly, a trial could be months away. In the meantime, Trumps challengers for the GOP primary have a close-to-impossible task before them: They need to reassure his supporters that they stand with the embattled former president. At the same time, they also have to convince those voters to vote for them instead of Trump. The last several days have been a preview of how difficult that might be. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson bluntly said that the indictment disqualified Trump from ever setting foot in the Oval Office again, while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the charges "devastating." But they are both polling in the low single digits and have little to lose. Candidates with better chances at the nomination have done their best to acknowledge the gravity of the situation without actually blaming Trump. DeSantis railed against weaponizing the power of the state without mentioning Trump by name; Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a favorite of the GOP establishment, said mostly the same thing on Fox News. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, went slightly further than DeSantis and Scott, judging Trump incredibly reckless if the indictment "is true." Read more from our partners: The 2024 GOP Field Faces a Choice: Law and Order or Loyalty Peril in the general election Supporters of former US President Donald Trump during a caravan outside the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, US, on Sunday, June 11, 2023. The federal charges against Trump will test his supporters' tolerance for the growing scandals weighing on his White House comeback bid, as Republican rivals look to wrest the 2024 nomination from the former president. Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg Trump could maintain his grip on the Republican Party through the primary season, even as the cases against him proceed in court and the prospect of prison time looms. But then will come the general election and, potentially, new troubles. A recent poll of Utah voters found that 51% of independents would be less likely to vote for Trump because of the indictment. Unlike the GOP faithful, many of them see no reason to stand by a man who could soon be a convicted felon. For people who were on the fence about Trump, this may push them away. Enough of the chaos and craziness, one influential Republican donor told the Associated Press. So far, Biden has said nothing about the indictment, insisting that the Department of Justice should work in complete independence. But if he is to face Trump in the general election, his message could be relatively straightforward: Vote for the guy who definitely isnt going to prison. Read more from our partners: 'If you want to die in jail, keep talking' two national security law experts discuss the special treatment for Trump and offer him some advice Hunter Biden's drug use back in public eye as criminal charges could be around the corner WASHINGTON It was a Friday night when Hunter Biden arrived at his parents Delaware home for what he had been told would be a family dinner. But as soon as the drug-addicted son of future President Joe Biden walked through the door, he realized the family was planning an intervention, not a meal. Amid the tears, yelling and accusations of betrayal that followed, a visibly terrified Joe Biden turned to his son and pleaded. I dont know what else to do, he cried out. Im so scared. Tell me what to do. Anna LaBarre knows that feeling of helplessness. She, too, has watched as an adult child with a brilliant future teetered close to self-destruction under the demons of addiction. On her work break, LaBarre used to get in her car, drive through the streets and alleys of Columbus, Ohio, and search for her daughter. She had no plans to approach the young woman should she actually find her. She just wanted to know she was alive. I dont understand, shed often tell her daughter in a cry that eerily echoed Joe Bidens words to his son. Help me understand. I cant help you. Hunter Bidens battle with substance use is back in the spotlight as the White House prepares for the possibility that the presidents youngest son could face criminal charges. Federal prosecutors are reportedly nearing a decision on whether to charge Hunter Biden with tax crimes and with making a false statement about a gun purchase. No one can say with certainty the toll that Hunter Bidens addiction has exacted on the president and his family. Every case of addiction is different. Every family is affected in different ways. But while for most Americans addiction is a private family affair, many choose to keep a childs or siblings substance abuse and the criminal behavior that often accompanies it a secret from even their most intimate friends. Hunter Bidens struggles have played out in public and in the political sphere inhabited by his father. Further complicating matters: Republicans have repeatedly sought to use the federal investigation into Hunter Bidens private affairs, and at times even his drug addiction, as part of their campaign to portray the Biden family as corrupt. Perhaps more than anyone else, families whose lives have been wrecked by the disease of addiction understand what the Bidens have endured as Hunter Biden fought through recovery. No one can know what its like to have a child or sibling face down addiction until youve gone through it yourself, they say. Addiction traumatizes not only the person suffering from dependency. It terrorizes the entire family. It was horrible, said John Koch of Chicago, who got a protective order to keep his son, John Alexander Koch, away from the rest of the family when the son was deep in the throes of substance abuse. I would not wish it upon anybody. Families whove lived through the trauma of addiction find it appalling that anyones substance abuse issues would be turned into a political weapon, regardless of party affiliation. Hunter Bidens experiences show that addiction still carries a devastating stigma despite advances in the treatment and public perception of the disease. Theres really no one who is immune to this, said Alexis Pleus of Windsor, New York, whose son, Jeff Dugon, died of an accidental heroin overdose. It doesnt matter race, class, gender, what your income is, in the public eye, out of the public eye. Anyone can be affected. No one should be judged for this. Absolutely no one. Not even the president's son. 'My son has done nothing wrong': Biden defends son, Hunter Biden, in first interview since announcing his reelection bid Hunter Biden, the youngest son of President Joe Biden, has spoken publicly and written candidly about his battle with substance abuse. 'You gotta get some help' Joe Biden, who has made overdose and addiction issues a priority for his administration, rarely speaks publicly about his sons substance abuse. The White House declined to comment for this article. On the few occasions when the president has spoken about his sons addiction, it has usually been to vigorously defend him against partisan attacks. When Donald Trump invoked Hunter Bidens drug abuse during a presidential debate in 2020, Joe Biden came to his sons defense. My son like a lot of people, like a lot of people you know at home had a drug problem, Biden said. Hes overtaken it, hes fixed it, hes worked on it. And Im proud of him. In an interview with CBS News on Feb. 5, 2021, an emotional Biden again praised his son for writing honestly about his addiction in his memoir, "Beautiful Things." "I'll bet you there's not a family you know that didn't have somebody in the family who had a drug problem, or an alcohol problem," the president said. "And he's gone through hell." Reading the memoir gave him hope, Biden said. "I mean, it was like my boy's back," he said, his voice breaking. Hunter Biden has spoken candidly and written extensively about his battle with substance abuse. In his 2021 memoir, he recounted times when he would smoke crack cocaine every 15 minutes, the two weeks he spent thousands of dollars on drugs, and the 2019 intervention that ended with his father chasing him around outside the family home in Wilmington, Delaware. He recalled how his fathers enemies exploited his demons and addictions for political gain. Wheres Hunter? was a frequent refrain among Republicans during the 2020 presidential contest. Trumps campaign made up T-shirts bearing the phrase and sold them for $25 a pop, in sizes ranging from small to XXXL. Last fall, a private voice message that Joe Biden left to his son on Oct. 15, 2018, was leaked and aired by Fox News host Sean Hannity, ostensibly to provide insight into Hunter Bidens state of mind when he filled out the gun application under investigation by authorities. Joe Bidens message to his son on that voicemail: It's Dad. I called to tell you I love you. I love you more than the whole world, pal. You gotta get some help. I know you don't know what to do. I don't either." Brandon Swinehart of Cincinnati screen presses T-shirts at SRO Prints, the company he co-founded with his wife. Swinehart, who struggled with addiction, has been clean for 18 years and, in hiring for the business, gives people in recovery second chances. Brandon Swinehart, who lived on the streets of San Franciscos Tenderloin district for two years when he was heavily using drugs, cant understand how a fathers message of love and support to a son who is battling addiction could end up being a political issue. Using Hunter Bidens addiction to score political points is probably the most despicable thing Ive seen in my life, he said. If some Republicans child had these issues and a Democrat did the same thing, Id say the same thing, said Swinehart, who has been sober for 18 years and now runs a screen-printing business in Cincinnati, Ohio. This has nothing to do with competency or being president. This is someones family. Its a family affair. Please stay out of it. Influence peddling? House GOP: Hunter Biden, others got $1.3M from business associate linked to China 'Why did they choose drugs over me?' Gracie Parker never knew her mother. A heavy drug user, the young mom overdosed and was found dead at the bottom of a river six months after Gracie was born. Her father, who also suffers from a substance use disorder, has spent much of his life in and out of jail and rehab and has had next to no involvement in Gracies life. Why did they choose drugs over me? Gracie often wonders of her mom and dad. At age 10, she has become an advocate for other children dealing with trauma and has spoken at events across North Carolina and in Washington. Her grandparents, James Parker and Elke Kennedy of Franklin, North Carolina, have custody of her and are raising her. Addiction changes your whole life, said James Parker, whose son is Gracies father. Gracies father has no idea what she goes through, and that makes me mad, James Parker said. Why should my daughter have to stand up and talk about mental health for children at 10 years old? Gracie Parker, 10, of Franklin, North Carolina, who lost her mother to addiction, has turned into an advocate for other children dealing with trauma. Other families tell similar stories of how a sons or daughters addiction has destroyed marriages, of how an in-laws drug use has sowed lasting distrust and caused financial ruin, of how the trauma of a brothers or sisters behavior has lingered long after theyve gone into recovery if they were lucky enough to survive. I impacted my family and those who cared about me in so many different ways, said Amy Molinski of Waterford, Wisconsin, who started using cocaine at age 17 and eventually gravitated toward heroin and oxycontin. Molinski has been clean for 13 years and works as a peer support counselor at a drug addiction treatment center, but her mother was recently diagnosed with PTSD. Everything scares her, Molinski said. Everything startles her, and she may jump or yell or scream. And it really traces back to my addiction and the amount of trauma that caused her. Molinskis sister-in-law, Annie Molinski of Burlington, Wisconsin, recalled the years when Amy was using drugs as a deep and dark, devastating time for the family. Amy Molinski was smart, crafty and deceptive, a master manipulator who would steal anything of value to support her habit, including money that her brother and future sister-in-law had saved for their wedding. One time, she even pawned her mothers wedding ring for a fix. At a certain point, we were just in survival mode, said Annie Molinski, who recalls staying at her in-laws home, reaching into the bathroom cabinet drawer for her toothbrush and accidentally grabbing hold of a heroin needle instead. 'Bunch of Malarkey': Biden dismisses GOP bribery allegations John Alexander Koch was incarcerated 26 times and placed in treatment programs 22 times during his battle with heroin and opioid addiction. Now clean for 10 years, he works for Community Medical Services, a treatment clinic in Phoenix. 'So awful, you almost wish it was over' John Alexander Koch of Phoenix, who was incarcerated 26 times and placed in treatment 22 times during his battle with heroin and opioid use, remembers his mother getting down on her hands and knees in prayer position and begging him not to leave their home because she knew he was going to buy drugs. I love you I will do everything in my power to get you help, please dont go and use these drugs that are going to kill you, he recalls her pleading. All he could think of was not that my mother is crying in front of me or that Ive hurt her so bad, he said. It was that I hope my ride gets here soon enough so that I can take this $40 I have and feel better. Another time, Koch overdosed on fentanyl-laced heroin in the basement of the family home after Thanksgiving Dinner. A friend who supplied the drugs and was with Koch called 911. Unaware of the life-and-death drama unfolding just feet from them, his parents were relaxing upstairs on the couch. They got a knock on the door, said Koch, who has been in recovery for a decade and is now part of the senior leadership at Community Medical Services, a treatment program that helped change his life. It was the ambulance, and they said you need to let us in right now. Someones dying in your basement. His father followed the EMTs downstairs and watched as they injected his son with Narcan, which reverses opioid overdoses. Their quick action saved his son's life. But the horror of that ordeal turned the father into an advocate for making access to the drug more widely available something that also has been a goal of the Biden administration. When it gets so bad, its so awful, you almost wish it was over, the father said. Because you just dont know how much more youre able to take. Jessie Jennings of Columbus, Ohio, looks back on her addiction and the toll it took on her family with a sense of guilt. Here she is pictured with her husband, John, stepdaughter Ava, 9, and son Austin, 3. For years, LaBarres daughter, Jessie Jennings of Columbus, Ohio, looked back on her addiction and the toll it took on her family with a sense of shame. Shame eventually turned to guilt, which enabled to her to start making amends to those she loved for stealing money, jewelry, property, anything of value to support her habit, for selling the gift cards her parents gave her to purchase groceries and then using the money for drugs, for calling on her parents to pay her overdue rent so she wouldnt get evicted and turned out onto the streets. Swinehart, who grew up in a wealthy Cincinnati suburb, overdosed 20 times and spent 13 months in prison when he was hooked on heroin and other drugs. He would often go months at a time without any contact with his parents or other loved ones. During those prolonged periods, his father would call the morgue to see if he had died. They loved it when I was in jail, he said. Because they knew where I was, that I was safe. After her sons death from an overdose, Pleus started Truth Pharm, a nonprofit organization that works to educate people on harm reduction strategies and serves as a voice for those struggling with substance abuse. Pleus applauds Hunter Biden for being open about his struggles. The scrutiny and criticism the Bidens and others in the public eye face can be crushing. But, Pleus said, their openness is helping to shed some of the stigma of addiction. Its really important to get the message out to people that they shouldnt struggle alone and that they shouldnt struggle in shame and silence, she said. We have to break the stigma by talking about this more. Thats how were going to solve the problem. Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS. Alexis Pleus of Windsor, New York, lost her son, Jeff Dugon, to an accidental heroin overdose. After his death, she formed Truth Pharm, which advocates for people struggling with substance abuse. Treatment or enforcement? Record fentanyl deaths spark new debate over war on drugs This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Hunter Biden's addiction battle shouldn't be a political target A Meridian man is facing three felony charges in two counties after officials say he shot a rifle at two electrical substations, fled from police and possessed potential explosive devices, according to a probable cause affidavit. Randy Vail, 58, is charged in Washington County with attempting to flee law enforcement and possession of a bomb or destructive device. He also faces a charge of malicious injury to property in Adams County. Washington County sheriffs deputies arrested Vail near Cambridge early Friday morning. Deputies said they were dispatched at around 12:30 a.m. Friday for reports of a man on a white motorcycle who had fired a rifle at Hells Canyon and Brownlee dam substations. Both properties are owned and operated by Idaho Power. According to the affidavit, two deputies found a man matching the suspects description near the intersection of Idaho 71 and Horse Flat Road, about 4 miles west of Cambridge and 25 miles southeast of Brownlee Dam. Officials said they turned on their lights and sirens in attempting to pull Vail over on his motorcycle. Vail allegedly accelerated, driving 80 mph through a 25 mph zone in Cambridge and picking up more speed when he reached U.S. 95. According to the affidavit, Vail appeared to hold up a long black object as we were speeding through the canyon. Deputies said they later identified that as a gun case holding two rifles. Vail stopped the motorcycle near milepost 112, deputies said, and was arrested. Law enforcement reported finding two tire repair cans that are used to hold compressed air that smelled of gasoline. According to the affidavit, the canisters were attached to the motorcycle with ratchet straps. One deputy said he asked Vail whether the objects were bombs, and Vail replied that they were gas canisters for the motorcycle. Deputies called Nampa Police Departments bomb squad and were given the OK to move the canisters. A news release from the Adams County Sheriffs Office noted that no one was injured in the substation shootings and no customer power outages occurred from the incidents. The news release also noted that the sheriffs office worked with Meridian Police Department and the FBI to execute a search warrant on Vails Meridian home. The Idaho Statesman has reached out to Meridian officials for additional details. According to court documents, Vail told police when he was arrested that he did not understand his Miranda rights. He refused to sign a notification of his rights and did not respond to questions from 3rd District Judge David Eames during a pretrial conference, prompting Eames to order an evaluation to determine whether Vail is mentally fit to proceed in court. Spokesperson Brad Bowlin told the Statesman in an emailed statement that Idaho Power believes the most recent incident is isolated in nature, and we are not aware of any current threats to our critical infrastructure. As part of our physical security protocols, we dont discuss details about specific threats or security measures, Bowlin added. Our physical and cyber security teams are constantly assessing the emerging threats to our assets and to the electrical grid in general. We work with state and federal regulators to ensure we are in compliance with current security standards, and we will continue to evaluate our systems in light of this recent incident. Bowlin declined to provide any other details, citing the ongoing investigation. In the past several months, substations in North Carolina, Washington and Oregon have been damaged in various attacks. In February, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a bulletin that domestic violent extremists have looked at attacking electrical and communications infrastructure as a means to create chaos and advance ideological goals. There is no evidence or indication yet that what Vail allegedly did had something to do with such attacks. FILE PHOTO: Worker uses magnifier as he checks ballot papers in Jakarta By Ananda Teresia and Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's Constitutional Court is expected to issue a ruling on Thursday on a bid to change the country's voting system, an official said, a case that has sparked concern about a possible delay to an election just eight months away. The case filed by several politicians, including a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Struggle Party (PDI-P) seeks a return of a closed ballot list system that was scrapped in 2008, where voters choose parties instead of local candidates. Of the nine factions in parliament, eight have opposed changing the system, which they say would be regressive and undemocratic. Some legal and political experts have warned the procedures involved in changing the balloting so close to the February 2024 polls would make a delay possible. "The possibility of an election delay is high if the ruling is a closed system," said Bivitri Susanti of Indonesia's Jentera school of law, adding the election commission would need time to implement the necessary changes. Fajar Laksono, the court spokesperson, confirmed a decision on the voting system was expected on Thursday. The election in the world's third largest democracy will choose a new legislature and president, with incumbent Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, due to reach the end of his second and final term next year. The court case and talk of an election delay has added fuel to persistent speculation that allies of Jokowi want him to stay in power longer, a scenario he has officially rejected. Those concerns are compounded by a series of unorthodox manoeuvres in recent months that some politicians see as possible attempts to disrupt and interfere in the electoral process. A court in March ordered the election be delayed after an obscure, newly formed party said its registration had been unfairly rejected by the poll body. A higher court overruled that and Supreme Court has accepted the party's appeal. Jokowi's opponents have also raised alarm over repeated legal efforts by his chief of staff, Moeldoko, to take over the leadership of Indonesia's biggest opposition party. Jokowi for his part last week admitted to involvement in some behind the scenes "meddling" with parties and presidential candidates, in what he says is to ensure a smooth transition of power, adding that none of his moves would "tarnish democracy". Some legal experts and analysts say that any postponement of the 2024 polls would require a revision of the elections law, which was not likely to win the required support in parliament. (Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Stanley Widianto; Editing by Kate Lamb and Martin Petty) STUTTGART, Germany, and ROME As some NATO nations go to the drawing board for a new military helicopter, manufacturers are studying Russias war in Ukraine for clues about features and tactics that would give their designs an edge. Western leaders have put a premium on conventional ground warfare and related capabilities since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion in February 2022. For the rotorcraft world, the battles raging around the country have demonstrated how its not only the aircraft themselves that are a deciding factor in war, but also commanders tactical choices in employing them. Both Russia and Ukraine fly the 1960s-era Mil Mi-8 helicopters over the Ukrainian battlefield, albeit in very different ways, said Stefan Thome, the executive vice president of engineering and the chief technical officer for Airbus Helicopters, as well as CEO of the firms German arm. Russian troops have operated their aircraft during the daytime at high altitudes, giving Ukrainian defenders an easy target, he told Defense News. Meanwhile, Ukrainian pilots have flown the same type, but largely at night or at dawn, at low altitudes and always with natural coverage nearby. One of the lessons out of Ukraine for everybody is that the way you operate your systems, your weapons, your vehicle, can be more decisive than the vehicle itself, Thome said. Given two identical vehicles, the operational concept makes the difference. Since the war in Ukraine began, Airbus has seen client nations reassess operational concepts, envisioning novel ways of using existing and planned equipment to maximum effect, Thome added. And as Europe looks to refresh its military helicopter capabilities in the next decade, lessons learned from the war are bound to make their way into industry proposals, he noted. Several NATO members are in the early phases of developing a new multirole helicopter by 2035. The planned Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability, or NGRC, is meant to assist allies in missions that include insertion and extraction of special operations forces, and transporting small- and medium-sized cargo and troops on the battlefield. It could also be used for medical evacuation, search and rescue operations, and anti-submarine warfare. Six nations signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2022 during the biennial Eurosatory conference in Paris. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom then agreed to contribute about $28 million collectively to develop joint concepts for the new rotorcraft. Canada is expected to join the project in June, a NATO spokesperson told Defense News. So far, the NGRC group has planned a handful of concept studies. One or two of those studies will be awarded this year, focusing on novel power plant solutions and open-system architecture. Alliance officials have already talked with European helicopter manufacturers in these early days of honing requirements, including Airbus. Thome called it a significant initiative that could potentially emerge with multiple capabilities. Program stakeholders have largely come together to agree on the size of the next allied helicopter, he noted. NATO documents show a desire for the new aircraft to have an unrefueled range of more than 1,650 kilometers (1,025 miles), eight hours of endurance and a load capacity between 10,000 and 17,000 kilograms (22,000 and 37,500 pounds). Requirements for connectivity and in-field maintainability are two more elements that appear to be settled, Thome said. Other features under discussion include the ability to operate or connect with other crewed or unmanned vehicles as well as real-time decision-making tools for pilots as part of an avionics suite or communication systems, he added. The United States is not participating in the NGRC effort per se, the alliance spokesperson told Defense News, but as a NATO member with a very solid experience in innovative rotorcraft, we maintain communication channels to share feedback. A trans-Atlantic tech rift? If European partners of NATO drag their feet for too long, that could exacerbate what some analysts believe is a growing trans-Atlantic disparity on vertical flight technology. Complicating matters is the fact that there are several projects aimed at roughly the same capability. European Union officials recently announced their own dedicated helicopter effort as part of the blocs Permanent Structured Cooperation defense-cooperation scheme. France will lead the Next Generation Medium Helicopter program that also involves Italy, Finland and Spain, which will work on new platforms and upgrade existing types like the NH90. The program will ensure the availability and suitability of EU helicopter fleets until 2040, the EU said, as well as feeding into the blocs existing Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies program. The U.S. has invested in [next-generation helicopter technology] and identified the quantum leap it wants to take, none of which Europe has done yet, said Alessandro Marrone, head of the defense program at the Rome-based think tank IAI. Europe has important decisions to make, and waiting too long will be damaging. One key fork in the road of future development has to do with propeller setup and, as a result, the weight given to the element of agility in helicopter employment scenarios. A Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor technology demonstrator flew for the first time in 2021. (Courtesy of Bell) The U.S. Army last year chose the Bell V-280 tiltrotor aircraft to replace Black Hawks in the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program, or FLRAA, rejecting Sikorskys Defiant X coaxial rotor proposal. The Army hasnt chosen a platform for its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program, but any decision in such a large American program would likely shape Western technology choices writ large. The U.S. programs are the elephant in the room in Europe when it comes to the debate over future helicopters, Marrone said. Meanwhile, the U.S. decision to reject Sikorskys proposal raised eyebrows in Italy where generals and defense budget officials had come out in firm favor of the technology. Italys coaxial conundrum Last year, before the U.S. Armys FLRAA decision, Italian Air Force chief Gen. Luca Goretti urged Italy to partner with Sikorsky and its parent company Lockheed Martin on coaxial rotor helicopters. That type of system features two rotors turning in opposite directions, and pusher propellers that increase speed. He said the Italian Air Force needed the type, citing his concern that Bells tiltrotor solution would come with a large maintenance bill. The Italian 2022 defense budget included initial funding for a Next Generation Fast Helicopter program based on advanced and potentially disruptive technology, for example coaxial rotors and pusher propellors. The program is due to receive 129 million (U.S. $138 million) in funding by 2032, the budget plan states. To dispel any doubt as to which of the rival American FLRAA candidates the Defence Ministry preferred, the document features an illustration of Sikorskys helicopter. But following the FLRAA defeat, enthusiasm for that specific Sikorsky technology is wavering, according to a source with knowledge of the ministrys discussions. Additionally, the U.S. Army explanation of why it rejected Sikorsky was very critical, almost suggesting the firm was unreliable, the source told Defense News on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Insiders in Italy have meanwhile said local company Leonardo was less enthusiastic about the coaxial solution than Italian generals, even though the business was asked by the government to team up with Lockheed Martin on the technology. The reticence was linked to fears that focusing on coaxial technology could drain funds from Leonardos existing development of the conventional AW249, a replacement for its AW129 combat helicopter and of its AW609 tiltrotor. A Leonardo spokesman recently said the firm had first conducted a study of coaxial technology with Lockheed Martin in 2021 at the request of the Italian Defence Ministry, adding that in the last few weeks the ministry had asked Leonardo to undertake a second phase study based on operational needs of the various services. Asked what predictions Leonardo had for future helicopters, the firm said it saw a role for todays conventional technologies. In the nearer future we see greater capabilities incrementally introduced on existing conventional models, or a mix of latest-generation, dual-use and specialized platforms entering the market, the company said in a statement to Defense News. Those capabilities would include greater network-centric features, advanced avionics, manned-unmanned teaming and more autonomy. In the longer term, even with disruptive solutions and architectures gradually expected to enter the inventories, conventional but smarter helicopters will still have a significant role for decades, Leonardo said. There is still, however, plenty of opportunity for new revolutionary models, according to the company, primarily for delivering higher speeds and longer ranges. As a result of the flooding caused by Russias destruction of the Kakhovka dam, ten people died, and 42 are considered missing, including seven children, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on June 12. Eight people died in Kherson Oblast and two in Mykolaiv Oblast. The number of casualties on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River is yet to be confirmed, Klymenko said on national television. The water level continues to fall in Kherson Oblast, dropping to 3.12 meters as of 12:30 p.m. local time, the regional administration wrote, adding that 3801 homes on the west bank are still flooded. According to the Interior Ministry, 2743 residents of Kherson Oblast have been evacuated, including 205 children and 76 people with reduced mobility. 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 In Mykolaiv Oblast, 31 settlements have been flooded, from which 982 people, including 167 children, have been rescued, the ministry wrote on Telegram. Meanwhile, the Ecology Ministry reported that 72% or 14,395 cubic km of water had been spilled from the Kakhovka Reservoir, an important water source for Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and southern Ukraine. As of the June 11 evening, the reservoirs water level in the Nikopol area reached about nine meters and continues to drop. As a result, almost 165,000 households in 32 settlements of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast have no water supply, according to the Interior Ministrys latest update. Ukrainian authorities are delivering the water to the affected settlements and searching for other supply options. Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plants dam on June 6, sparking a humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. 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 Interstate 95 in Philadelphia could be closed for months after lanes partially collapsed Sunday with commuters beginning to face heavy volumes of traffic Monday morning. Northbound Interstate 95 lanes partially collapsed Sunday morning after a tanker truck caught fire underneath the highway, causing lanes above to buckle. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said in a statement that preliminary reports suggest the truck was carrying a petroleum-based product. The southbound side of Interstate 95 is not structurally sound to carry any traffic, the governor added. He noted authorities have set up detours to ensure folks can safely get to where they need to go. Shapiro also said the complete rebuild of the highway could take months, adding he would have an exact timeline once engineers and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation finish their review of the collapse. I-95 is a critical roadway that supports our economy and plays an important role in folks everyday lives, Shapiro said in a statement. My Administration together with the [Philadelphia Mayor Jim] Kenney Administration and all of our partners are all hands on deck to repair this safely, safely, and as efficiently as possible. Officials warned that the detours will lead to significant delays in the coming weeks. If you are traveling along the I-95 corridor in the coming days and weeks, please pay close attention to local traffic alerts as we expect significant regional traffic impact, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a tweet. Pennsylvanias Department of Transportation has posted detour routes to a website it launched after the collapse. Pennsylvania Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph told The Associated Press that motorists were sent on a 43-mile detour Sunday. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) said it was adding three more trains to its Trenton, N.J., line Monday and will add capacity on regularly scheduled trains to accommodate increased ridership. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Iran says prisoner exchange with U.S. could happen soon DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran and the United States could exchange prisoners soon if Washington shows goodwill, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, a day after Iran's supreme leader signalled the possibility of reaching a nuclear agreement with the West. "Regarding the issue of exchanging prisoners with America.. negotiations are ongoing through mediators...If the other party shows the same seriousness and goodwill, this can happen in the near future," Nasser Kanaani said in a televised weekly news conference One of several Americans held in Iran is Siamak Namazi, a businessman with dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, who was sentenced in 2016 to 10 years in prison for spying and cooperating with the U.S. government. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Angus MacSwan) By Deisy Buitrago and Vivian Sequera CARACAS (Reuters) -Iran and Venezuela want to increase bilateral trade to $20 billion, up from $3 billion, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday during a visit to Caracas. During the visit the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in petrochemicals with a view to carrying out joint projects, building on their already-close cooperation in oil. "We have decided to increase the cooperation between the two countries," Raisi said through translation in a statement with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after the petrochemical deal and a dozen other cooperation deals were signed. "The goal we have for commercial and economic cooperation, the first step is to take the level of cooperation to $10 billion," Raisi said. "The next step, we want to take it to $20 billion." He provided no time frame on the goal. The governments, both under U.S. sanctions, provided no details of the petrochemical deal. Venezuelan state television said the accord between Venezuelan state petrochemical firm Pequiven and its Iranian counterpart would facilitate cooperation in oil exploration and development and assess the possibility of joint projects. The countries also signed a deal to expand cooperation in mining, but provided no details. Maduro hailed Raisi's visit and the two countries' bilateral relationship and said further deals and investments were on the horizon. The Caracas visit is the first stop on a Latin American tour by Raisi, who will also travel to Cuba and Nicaragua. Iran and Venezuela signed a 20-year cooperation plan in Tehran last year, pledging partnership on oil, defense and other issues. That deal includes repairs to oil refineries in Venezuela, which has the world's largest crude reserves but has struggled to produce enough gasoline and diesel, leading to intermittent shortages that have forced drivers to queue for hours. Iran has provided fuel and diluents to convert Venezuela's extra-heavy crude into exportable varieties and since 2020 has supplied parts for repairs to the refining circuit. A unit of Iran's state-owned refiner NIORDC signed a 110-million-euro contract in May 2022 to make repairs at Venezuela's smallest refinery, El Palito, which has a capacity of 146,000 barrels per day. Iran is also set to be involved in a modernization project at Venezuela's largest refinery complex, partly to restore distilling capacity. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Vivian Sequera; additional reporting by Mayela Armas; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler) Iraq urges countries to repatriate their citizens from camp housing families of extremist IS group Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji, left, and U.N. special representative to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, attend a conference about Al-Hol camp in Syria which hosts families of IS members, in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) BAGHDAD (AP) Iraq urged countries on Monday to repatriate their citizens from a sprawling camp in Syria housing tens of thousands linked to the extremist Islamic State group, saying it has become a source for terrorism. The statements were made during a conference in Baghdad discussing al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. Iraqi officials, the U.N. representative in Iraq, some members of the international coalition fighting IS and ambassadors of several countries were present. Al-Hol Camp named after a town near the Iraqi border is an open wound left by Syrias 12-year conflict. Tens of thousands of people were taken to the facility after the extremist group's defeat in Syria in March 2019. The camp holds about 51,000 people, the vast majority women and children, including the wives, widows and other family members of IS militants, mostly Syrians and Iraqis. There are also around 8,000 women and children from 60 other nationalities who live in a part of the camp known as the Annex. They are generally considered the most die-hard IS supporters among the camp residents. There have been concerns that children at the camp were being taught extremist ideology by their mothers. Experts have warned that a future generation of IS fighters could emerge from al-Hol. Ending the issue of al-Hol camp has become a top national interest for Iraq, said Ahmad Sahhaf, Iraqs Foreign Ministry spokesman, according to the countrys state news agency. Sahhaf called on the international community to urge all countries that have citizens at the camp to repatriate them as soon as possible in order to eventually close the camp" because it has become a dangerous epicenter for IS gatherings. Iraq has repatriated 1,396 families from al-Hol constituting 5,569 of its citizens over the past weeks, said Iraqs National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji who spoke at the conference. Despite the repatriations, some 25,000 Iraqis remain at the camp, making up nearly half its population. The camp's population is down from 73,000 people, mostly because thousands of its Syrian and Iraqi inhabitants were allowed to return home. But other countries have largely balked at taking back their nationals, who traveled to join IS after the radical group seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Despite the extremist group's defeat in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in both countries. Over the past years, grisly crimes were committed inside al-Hol. Earlier this month, The U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced it handed over 50 Iraqi IS fighters to Baghdad. It also said that it repatriated 170 Iraqis who were living at the camp. The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria has been urging countries to repatriate their citizens from the camp for years. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-hosted a meeting in Saudi Arabia for 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. ___ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report from Beirut. An Italian restaurant is ready to make its debut in downtown Mooresville Two years in the making, the first restaurant at Mill One mixed-use development in downtown Mooresville is ready for its official debut. Acqua Ragazza will open at 4 p.m. Friday at 201 N. Church St. This weeks soft opening service on Tuesday booked so fast that Wednesday was added for another soft opening date, first-time restaurant owner Tara Marie Cottone told The Charlotte Observer. Acqua Ragazza, meaning Water Girl, is an upscale but comfortable casual authentic Italian restaurant serving traditional dishes such as seafood, steak and veal. Cottone had expected to open the 3,880-square-foot restaurant last September, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. But there were several construction delays. The restaurant has been chronicling its progress on its Facebook page. Its been a long project, Cottone said. The restaurant is part of MV2 Investments $23 million mill project. The four-story apartment building has about 33,000-square-foot ground floor commercial space for 14 tenants restaurants, retail and offices. Acqua Ragazza offers views and seating toward renovated Liberty Park, an open-air amphitheater that opened last summer. Acqua Ragazza, meaning Water Girl, serves traditional Italian dishes such as seafood, steak and veal in downtown Mooresville. More than a meal Italian master chef and sommelier Alessandro Magnani will lead the kitchen and create the menu. Magnani has more than 30 years of culinary experience from Bari, Italy, to Caribbean hotels and restaurants. Inside the restaurant, one of the focal points is a giant pizza oven in gold-colored tiles. Acqua Ragazza, opening June 16 at 201 N. Church St. in Mooresville, is owned by Tara Marie Cottone. Another centerpiece is the full-service bar and social area serving cocktails and bourbon, as well as an extensive wine list, many from Italy. There also are non-alcoholic drinks on the menu. Restaurant hours are 4-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Brunch will eventually be added on Saturdays and Sundays, Cottone said. Reservations are recommended. Acqua Ragazza has hired about 30 full- and part-time workers, Cottone said. The full-service bar and social area at Acqua Ragazza in Mooresville serves high-end cocktails and bourbon, as well as an extensive wine list, many from Italy. More at Mill One The first business at Mill One, Mikula Salon & Spa, opened last summer in a 2,130-square-foot space. Along with hair treatments for women, men and children, spa services include saunas and IV hydration infusions, according to the salons website. Savannah Oyster Co., a seafood and raw bar restaurant by Jason Tuton of Barrel and Fork in Cornelius, also has plans to open in a 4,200-square-foot space. Mill One is a mixed-use development with 33,000-square-foot of commercial space and 90 high-end apartments The first residents began moving in in October 2021. Built in the 1890s, Mill No. 1 was part of Mooresville Mills. It closed in the 1990s. Parts of the building were used in the structural design for Mill One. Silvio Berlusconi waves Silvio Berlusconi, who served as Italys prime minister four times, is dead at 86. He was one of the most influential figures in the countrys republican history, and the most consequential of the past three decades. None of it was for the better. Berlusconi committed a long list of wrongs against his countryand the world. He was involved in a series of questionable, and illegal, enterprises, including his affiliation with Propaganda 2, a right-wing Masonic lodge that planned a coup in 1970, his relationships with organized crime, and his friendships with autocrats such as Russian president Vladimir Putin and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban. Read more He faced trials for, among other things, several corruption charges, violation of campaign finance laws, false accounting, and having sexual encounters with an underage prostitute. He was convicted of fraud, and several times the trials ran so long they were dismissed under the law, despite his not being innocent. The end of an era, proclaimed La Repubblica, a mainstream Italian newspaper. The opposite is true. Berlusconis damage to the country will be felt for many years to come. He was a pioneer of a brand of populism now well known around the globe, embodying many of Italian cultures worst instincts. He was a product, then an enabler, of the damaging misogyny that still keeps Italy behind its peer countries in gender equality. He promoted racism, normalized extremism (paving the way for the current far-right government), ridiculed LGBTQ rights, and fostered and glorified an environment of impunity. Beyond all of this nefarious cultural impact, Berlusconi was the architect of a host of economic reforms that, nearly three decades later, have left Italy struggling to stay afloat in the 21st century. A billionaire who used politics to grow his enormous personal wealth, he promoted deregulation and liberalization, cutting billions in public school and healthcare funding. Throwing Italy into a race to the bottom His economic approach damaged Italy in many ways, until desperate conditions, exacerbated by the broader eurozone crisis, led to his final resignation in 2011. One in particular is worth highlighting. For many years before Berlusconis ascent to power, Italy had suffered from a lack of public investment in research and technology. What was, until the 1960s, a country of innovationthink computing pioneer Olivetti, or the design avant-gardebecame stagnant. This reached a breaking point in the 1990s, when prominent figures including the. president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the head of Italys central bank, the countrys leading entrepreneurs, and the main labor unions all agreed: Investing in technology was the only way to keep Italy relevant in the coming century. Berlusconi, who was prime minister from 199495 (and again in 200105, 200506, and 200811), did just the opposite. Not only did he fail to boost investment in research, he cut it every chance he got. His electoral promise of a million jobs was about low-paying employment that would keep Italy competitive in a race to the bottombe cheaprather than the topbe better. His government didnt encourage private investment in technology, either. Between 1990 and 2000, such spending plunged by 30%, paving a path that forced the country to remain competitive by shrinking the cost of its products and labor. This was myopic at the timelike choosing to float rather than swim aheadand turned disastrous: If competing with larger economies by lowering costs was somewhat sustainable when Italy had its own currency to manipulate, it wasnt once the nation joined the euro. Low salaries that had been enough to survive became abysmal, especially for highly qualified workers, the so-called generation 1,000 euros, who earned that monthly pay in the early 2000s, regardless of their education. Berlusconis legacy continues This was no accident. Berlusconis choices maintained, and worsened, the status quo that had made him rich, exploiting a majority of peopleand shortchanging younger generationsto keep power in the hands of the few. Even today, the average doctoral research salary in Italy is 1,200 a month (about $1,290), while the average pay of a factory worker is 1,300. (The minimum rent for a room in Milan, the nations economic hub, is 630.) This has led to a brain drain that cost Italy hundreds of billions and prompted an even greater lack of innovation and new ideas. With no drive to pursue true innovation, the country is running out of opportunities to compete: No matter how paltry its salaries are, it cant beat low-income countries in the race for cheap labor. Italians who werent even born when Berlusconi announced his entrance in politics continue to pay for his rule. For them, and for the entire nation, his era is far from over. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A 32-year-old Jackson Township resident was arrested for allegedly firing at his wife's family after a domestic dispute, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Police responded to a shooing incident at the 100 block of Reilly Road around 8:30 p.m. May 28. When they arrived, they were informed that Anatoly Akulov had allegedly fired a gun towards an occupied vehicle at that location. Before the shooting occurred, witnesses said, Akulov was arguing with his wife that afternoon "because he did not want her to go to work that evening." "During their argument, (Akulov) struck her in her head with his fists and shoved her," police said in court documents, adding that Akulo's wife had red marks around her arm and chest. When family members communicated that they were coming to the house to check up on her, Akulo's wife told them not to come "because she was afraid of what the Defendant would do." His wife told police that Akulo said "I'm going to kill you and if your family comes, I'll shoot them." Family members told police that Akulov had been abusive to his wife in the past and felt it was appropriate to check up on her. According to court documents, they assisted Akulov's wife and children into a 2013 White Volkswagen Jetta to leave the residence. Witnesses said Akulov became infuriated, and struck one of his wife's family members in the head before others intervened. After retrieving a handgun from inside the home, Akulov fired three to four rounds as the vehicle exited the driveway. "A search of the Defendant's residence yielded a black 9mm Ruger semiautomatic pistol and a spent casing in the driveway of the residence," police said. When family members stopped to contact police about the incident, they noticed Akulov following them in another vehicle. Witnesses said they heard more gunshots being fired by Akulov before he drove away. Police said that the Volkswagen Jetta had damage to the rear passenger side wheel/rim that witnesses assumed to be caused by Akulov when he shot at it. No injuries were reported, according to police. Akulov has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, four counts of Recklessly endangering another person, and two counts of simple assault. Akulov is being held at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, unable to pay bail that was set at $150,000 as of Friday morning. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial Judge Anthony J. Verna at 8 a.m. July 6. This investigation is ongoing. Please check back with the Lebanon Daily News for updates. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth. Jubilee Ministries: N. Lebanon Twp. residents furious about Jubilee Ministries' plans for parolee housing Triple Homicide: Two more suspects arrested in Lebanon triple homicide case This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Jackson Twp. man fired at wife's family after dispute: police Director James Cameron walks in Purmamarca, Jujuy province, Argentina, Thursday, June 8, 2023. The filmmaker arrived to Argentina to participate in a Sustainable Development Forum. (AP Photo/Javier Corbalan) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Movie director James Cameron says he feels he walked into an ambush this week during a visit to Argentina in which he believes there was an attempt to use his image as an environmentalist to give a positive spin to lithium mining operations despite Indigenous opposition. Cameron, the director of Avatar and Titanic, said Friday he would now devote attention and money from his Avatar Alliance Foundation to support Indigenous communities opposing lithium operations in South America. Ironically, the outcome of this is that I am now aware of the problem and we will now assist through my foundation with the issue of Indigenous rights with respect to lithium extraction, Cameron told a group of journalists gathered in his hotel room in the capital of Buenos Aires Friday evening. Cameron came to Argentina this week to speak at a sustainability conference in Buenos Aires on Friday. I believed that I was coming here to make a kind of motivational speech about environmental causes, Cameron said. As part of the visit, Cameron traveled to northern Jujuy province Thursday to visit a large solar power plant with Gov. Gerardo Morales and says he was never told lithium would be part of the discussion. After Camerons visit, Morales wrote a message on social media thanking Cameron for the visit, writing that the province was looking to transform the energy matrix through projects such as the solar power plant and lithium extraction. The director received a letter that a group of 33 Indigenous communities from the area had written to him a few days earlier asking him to either cancel his trip or meet with them so they could explain their long-held opposition to lithium mining projects they say affect their land rights and negatively impact the environment. I feel like I walked into an ambush, Cameron told journalists after meeting with local environmentalists, saying he was unaware of controversy involving lithium projects. I feel like I was put into an optic that had meaning that I wasnt aware of. Although Cameron says he doesnt know the exact architecture of how the ambush happened, he feels there was an effort to use his image not just because of his support for environmental causes but also because of the overarching message of Avatar. Avatar is the highest grossing film in history. It is about the conflict between an extraction industry and the rights of Indigenous people, Cameron said. If you could generate an optic where I appear to be approving of lithium mining, then you have a mandate of some sort or an approval of some sort. In their letter to Cameron, representatives of the Indigenous communities made a direct reference to Avatar to appeal for the directors support. Jujuy is Pandora, and it is under the threat of the greed of the mining industry, and we are the Navi, reads the letter, referring to the fictional world where Avatar takes place and its inhabitants who battle against colonizing miners. Before leaving Argentina, Cameron met with Veronica Chavez, the representative of one of the Indigenous communities from Jujuy. Argentina is the fourth-largest producer of lithium and is part of what is known as the lithium triangle, an area that contains a large share of the world's proven reserves of the metal and also includes neighboring Chile and Bolivia. Demand for lithium is soaring amid the transition to renewable energy around the world and the growth in electric vehicles that are powered by lithium batteries. Tempei Nakamura during a concert in Kyiv Nakamura gave a charity concert in the capital city of Kyiv, as well as a free concert on Kyiv Square in the town of Bucha at the weekend, during which he managed to raise UAH 13,000 ($355) to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Bucha City Council reported on Facebook on June 10. The musician shared his impressions of the trip to Kyiv in several posts on Instagram. The journey by night train turned out to be comfortable, and I talked with Ukrainians who were traveling with me in the same compartment, he wrote in Japanese. Read also: Okean Elzy helps raise UAH 5 million for Khersons State Emergency Services in a single day I arrived in Kyiv early on June 7. My heart is filled with joy. Of course, it is on alert, but the city itself is calm. Everyone is calm and lives a normal life. The apartment is huge! The zone with the nearest government agency and the most well-equipped (air defense) system. Its safe. The concert in Kyiv. Everyone was moved to tears. I felt that I had lived for this day. And I will continue to walk with Ukraine, he said in a post, adding Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine). In his posts about Ukraine, Nakamura recalled that last year his concert in Kyiv had been canceled due to a Russian large-scale missile attack that morning. It then took place in a bomb shelter. And finally, the concert took place in Kyiv on June 8, the pianist said. Coming straight from Japan, I was very tired and nervous. When I finished playing the Kimigayo composition, tears welled up in my eyes. I felt strongly that I had lived for this day, and felt that I had been relieved of some responsibility. But as long as there are people who can support us with music, we will support Ukraine. Nakamura also shared a photo from his concert in Bucha. Performance in Bucha. The city where the massacre took place, he captioned the post. A beautiful sunny morning, which is the exact opposite of a sad story. Most of the destroyed streets have been rebuilt, (but) broken hearts do not heal quickly. I thank them for listening to the end. He also shared a story about meeting a woman who approached him after the concert. My son is about the same age as you (fighting) on the battlefield! the pianist said, citing the woman. Read also: Japanese man opens free cafe for Kharkiv citizens after living underground with them for 9 months I feel her pain so much it hurts. I hugged her. I will never forget this day. And I want to come back. Nakamura came to Ukraine in October 2022. He held two concerts in the towns of Boyarka and Irpin. The Kyiv concert was then held in a bomb shelter. Nakamura began to engage in charity work at the age of 14, when his house was destroyed by the 1995 earthquake in Japan. The pianist has been helping Ukraine since the beginning of Russias war against Ukraine. In 2017, he gave several charity concerts in the east of Ukraine at the initiative of the International Organization for Migration within the project Support for the unity and development of communities affected by the conflict in the Donbas. 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 [Source] Police in Sapporo, Japan, are on the hunt for a serial urinal grate thief. The thefts: From May 16 to 30, a total of 38 urinal drain grates from 16 public restrooms were stolen, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. The specific urinal grate parts being stolen are called eye plates, which are placed at the bottom of urinals to prevent trash and other large objects from entering the drain. The thefts took place in park restrooms near Sapporos Okadama Airport, including Moerenuma Park in Higashi Ward and Takuhoku Himawari Park in Kita Ward. While a number of the stolen grates were replaced immediately, the newly installed grates were stolen again from June 6 to 8. Police have determined a single perpetrator is responsible due to key patterns in the thefts, which include the close proximity of the crime locations to one another and the timing of the thefts. More from NextShark: Chicago woman killed by ex-husband in murder-suicide after sharing difficulties of divorce in South Asian culture on TikTok Possible motives: Investigators remain unsure of the thiefs intentions. With each eye plate costing 680 yen (approximately $4.90), a Sapporo city official questioned why the perpetrator would go to such lengths to steal the urinal drain grates. An eye plate manufacturer suggested that the stainless steel from the drains could be sold as metal. However, a metal buyer in Sapporo revealed the purchase price of stainless steel has decreased to 20 to 100 yen (approximately $0.14 to $0.72) per kilogram. Local response: In light of the thefts, the Sapporo East Police have stated they will continue their theft investigation by increasing patrols and analyzing nearby security cameras. More from NextShark: Tesla Reveals 25% of Their US Management is Asian American Sapporo City residents have also shared their confusion and frustrations with the thefts. I dont know the reason at all, a 69-year-old resident stated. I want you to stop [stealing] in the toilet in public places. Another resident shared that the thefts have caused clogs due to foreign objects in the drains. Its annoying, he expressed. I want you to take care of it. More from NextShark: 'What are you doing here, Asian?': Three suspects sought by police for group attack on NYC man Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chinese Journalist Missing After Reporting on COVID-19 in January Revealed to Be 'Under State Supervision' Jennifer Aniston in a silver dress A backhanded compliment if there ever was one: Jennifer Aniston is opening up in a new interview with British Vogue about the compliment that she cant stand. The phrase You look great for your age apparently drives me bananas, Aniston said. I cant stand it. She continued Thats a habit of society that we have these markers like, Well, youre at that stage, so for your age'I dont even understand what it means, she said. Im in better shape than I was in my twenties. I feel better in mind, body, and spirit. Its all 100 percent better. Jennifer Aniston on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Instead, the actress said, the compliment should be changed to You look greatperiod. Elsewhere in the interview, the publication asks Aniston about the buzzy wellness discussion about longevity, to which Aniston responded My family lives a long time, especially my dads sideI want to be thriving; I dont want to just be alive. Jennifer Aniston at the Murder Mystery 2 premiere The interview also speaks of Anistons partnership with Pvolve, a workout that Aniston said is onto something, she said. I think its just taking the pressure off of ourselves and really knowing that whatever you did that day is enough, and dont be your own worst critic. Of the workout, she said its just good on my body; its good to my body. And I feel like Ive done something really good for myself. Jennifer Aniston on the street Aniston said her attitude towards fitness has absolutely evolved over the years and that I had to retrain my brain, she said. Workouts have also become more elegant: It used to be pounding, pounding, pounding, Aniston said. You had to get 45 minutes to an hour of cardio; otherwise you werent getting a workout. Not only do you stress your body, you burn outwho wants to do that at all? Jennifer Garner and Sheryl Lee Ralph bond over having healthy relationships with exes for their children Jennifer Garner and Sheryl Lee Ralph recently realized they take similar approaches to co-parenting with their exes. The two actors sat down for a wide-ranging discussion as part of an episode of Varietys Actors on Actors series posted June 10. As they interviewed each other, Garner, 51, and Ralph, 66, pointed out their many similarities. We have so many things in common, the Abbott Elementary star told Garner. With all the celebrity and all of that, I feel like I have a very normal life, and I think you have that similar sort of vibe. And we love our kids. Jennifer Garner and Sheryl Lee Ralph discussed their similarities for Variety's The Alias actor agreed and said, And all the mess of parenting. Its a gift. And both of us having gone through divorce," Ralph added. Speaking about their past marriages, Ralph said, You did something that I did as well maintain a healthy relationship with my ex for the health and well-being of my children. She said it can be challenging at times to navigate co-parenting with an ex, especially in the public eye. The Moesha actor applauded herself and Garner for succeeding and working with their exes to support their children. When I look at my kids, when I see you and your kids, I was like, Girl, we did that, Ralph said. Garner playfully corrected her and replied, Were doing it! before the pair shared a fist bump. Ralph married Eric Maurice in 1990. After keeping their romance slightly hidden from the public, she introduced her French fiance to the world in August 1990 and gushed about him in an interview with Jet magazine at the time. They called it quits in 2001. The exes share 31-year-old son and actor Etienne Maurice and 28-year-old daughter and stylist Ivy-Victoria Maurice. The siblings recently showed support for their mom by attending Essences 16th Annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards in March. They posed by her side at the event. The Broadway star is currently married to state senator Vincent Hughes, who represents the 7th District in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Garner shares her three children Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 11 with ex-husband Ben Affleck. The former couple tied the knot in 2005. They announced their separation in 2015 and finalized the divorce in 2018. Garner portrayed a stepmother who has a strained relationship with her stepdaughter in the Apple TV+ show The Last Thing He Told Me. She explained in an April interview with InStyle why it was challenging taking on the role. It was very difficult for me to play a character whos not maternal at all, she said. During an appearance on TODAY in April, she further spoke about how the series, which she called a story about motherhood, differed from her real life relationship with her children. My teens are pretty great, so I cant really toss them in there, she said. Its a different scenario, different friction, but I am familiar with being deeply embarrassing, yes. During their Actors on Actors sit-down, Ralph and Garner discussed the other similarities between them, like how they both started in theater before moving to film and television. They later compared Garners role as a struggling stepmom in her Apple TV+ series to Ralphs nurturing character, Barbara Howard, in the hit ABC comedy. The 13 Going on 30 star revealed she has a personal connection to "Abbott Elementary" and Ralphs character. My mom taught remedial English at West Virginia State College, Garner shared. She always said, There should be a sitcom of what happens in the teachers lounge. She loves Abbott Elementary. She says, This is us. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Jon Hamm is a self-proclaimed Bravoholic: It's going to get us all eventually New Jersey. New York. Beverly Hills. Jon Hamm isn't picky: He's into all the "Real Housewives" franchises. On TODAY June 12, Hamm appeared with his "Mad Men" co-star John Slattery to discuss their new movie, "Maggie Moore(s)." During the conversation, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie asked Hamm whether it was "faux news" that he is a "Real Housewives" fan. Hamm sighed heavily before relenting, "No, that's real." Savannah prodded a bit to learn which "Real Housewives" were his favorite. Jon Hamm on TODAY (Nathan Congleton / TODAY) "Well, I'm a Jersey man," Hamm responded. "Jersey?" Slattery questioned. "Not what I thought you were going to say." "Oh, yeah," Hamm confirmed. Savannah managed to squeeze out of Hamm which other franchises he's tried. "I'm a Vanderpumper," Hamm said. "I'm a Beverly Hills-ian. I like New York. We'll see what this whole new New York thing is all about." ("The Real Housewives of New York City," on Bravo since 2008, was rebooted with a new cast, while several "legacy" cast members are appearing in a "Girls Trip" series for a spinoff.) Hamm joked that he's obligated to watch "Real Housewives" because he and Bravo host Andy Cohen are both from St. Louis. "I have to support the home team," he said. Savannah didn't blame him for getting caught up in the franchises' webs. "Once you start watching, you do get sucked in," she said. "I started watching that real estate show 'Selling Sunset' have you tried that one?" "Not yet," Hamm replied. "Its only a matter of time. Its a universe, its a vortex. Its going to get us all eventually." "It really is," Savannah agreed. "The Real Housewives of New York City" is the first spinoff of the original franchise, "The Real Housewives of Orange County," currently in Season 17. The latest seasons of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and "Vanderpump Rules," a spinoff of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," ended earlier this month. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Joseph Fiennes is opening up about the backlash that ensued when he was cast as Michael Jackson for a British television series. The Shakespeare in Love actor controversially portrayed the King of Pop in a 2017 episode of Urban Myths. Though the episode was never aired in its entirety, Fiennes now views his casting as a bad mistake. I think people are absolutely right to be upset, he told The Guardian in an interview published Sunday. And it was a wrong decision. Absolutely. He went on to note, And Im one part of that there are producers, broadcasters, writers, directors, all involved in these decisions. But obviously if Im upfront, I have become the voice for other people. I would love them to be around the table as well to talk about it. But you know, it came at a time where there was a movement and a shift and that was good, and it was, you know, a bad call. Titled Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon, the Urban Myths episode depicted a cross-country road trip that Jackson was said to have embarked on with actors Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in America. Fiennes co-stars were Brian Cox and Stockard Channing, who played Brando and Taylor. Joseph Fiennes (left, in 2023) and Michael Jackson (in 1995). Joseph Fiennes (left, in 2023) and Michael Jackson (in 1995). At the time, director Ben Palmer defended the casting, calling Fiennes performance really sweet, nuanced [and] characterful. In what The Guardian describes as possibly the only time an actor could be accused of both blackface and whiteface at the same time, makeup was used to make Fiennes skin appear even lighter. Not surprisingly, the decision to cast a white actor as Jackson drew widespread condemnation from fans, and the episodes trailer which can be viewed here remains as troubling as it sounds. Among those to speak out was Jacksons daughter, Paris. Im so incredibly offended by it, she tweeted at the time, as Im sure plenty of people are as well, and it honestly makes me want to vomit. In the end, British broadcaster Sky Arts scrapped the Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon episode of Urban Myths, noting in a statement that the decision to do so was made in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jacksons immediate family. We set out to take a light-hearted look at reportedly true events and never intended to cause any offense, they added. In his interview with The Guardian, Fiennes said he asked the broadcaster to pull it, adding: And there were some pretty hefty discussions, but ultimately people made the right choice. Fortunately, the next person wholl portray Jackson will be a much more suitable choice. Earlier this year, it was announced that the pop icons real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will star as the King of Pop in Michael, a biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua. Related... Image via Getty/Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan JPMorgan Chase has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit it was facing in connection with the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges before dying by suicide while behind bars one month later. The bank was accused by an unidentified woman last year of both enabling and benefiting from Epsteins years of abuse. In an initial statement shared Monday morning, JPMorgan Chase confirmed the agreement but did not reveal the amount. The parties in Jane Doe 1 v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. have informed the Court that they have reached an agreement in principle to settle the putative class action lawsuit related to Jeffrey Epsteins crimes, which is subject to court approval, the statement read. Reps added that the settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epsteins terrible abuse. Still ongoing, however, are legal proceedings involving the U.S. Virgin Islands and banker Jes Staley. Meanwhile, reports from the Wall Street Journal and CNBC both cite sources as saying the agreement centers on a settlement in the amount of $290 million. In May, Minnesota Senator Tina Smith shared a public letter to current JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon; in it, Smith urged the bank to provide answers regarding its alleged Epstein links. According to an April 12 court filing, Epstein was a client at JPMorgan from 1998 to 2013 and maintained upwards of 50 accounts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, Smith said in her letter, available here. This not only granted him access to exclusive banking and wealth management services, but apparently earned him the banks discretion. Complex has reached out to a rep for JPMorgan Chase. This story may be updated. The JPMorgan Chase settlement follows word last month that Deutsche Bank had made a similar agreement worth $75 million to settle its own Epstein-related lawsuit. More on this Jeffrey Epstein (New York State Sex Offender Registry) JPMorgan Chase has reached a tentative settlement with some of Jeffrey Epsteins victims, following a slew of embarrassing revelations about the late paedophiles ties to the bank and its executives. In a joint statement, first reported by the New York Times, the bank and the victims lawyers announced on Monday morning that the two parties had reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuit brought last November by women who were abused by Epstein when they were teenagers and young women. The terms of the settlement and the value of the payout has not been revealed but the statement said that the agreement was in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epsteins terrible abuse. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking at a high-profile trial in New York in December 2022 and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has reported that a single-vehicle crash took place earlier Saturday, resulting in the loss of life on Yellow Bluff Road. According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, the incident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m., a male, driving a black two-door vehicle was traveling southbound in the 16200 block of Yellow Bluff Rd., just south of Eagle Bend Blvd. However, due to yet unknown circumstances, the driver lost control of the vehicle, leading to a collision with a power pole. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved in the traffic crash. The loss of life in this incident marks the 76th traffic fatality in Duval County this year, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and increased awareness among drivers. To facilitate the investigation and ensure the safety of motorists, Yellow Bluff Rd. will remain closed from Eagle Bend Blvd. to Deese Rd. for an estimated hour and a half. Authorities are working to determine the cause of the accident and provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - An Oregon jury on Monday found the utility PacifiCorp, a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, liable in a $1.6 billion class action lawsuit over four of the wildfires that devastated the state in 2020. Jurors in Portland, where PacifiCorp is based, awarded more than $73 million of compensatory damages to 17 plaintiffs, following a seven-week trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the plaintiffs' lawyers said. The jurors also applied their liability finding to thousands of other plaintiffs who said the fires damaged approximately 2,400 properties. Damages for those claimants will be determined in later court proceedings. Punitive damages for all plaintiffs have yet to be determined. PacifiCorp said it "plans to pursue appeals, and we areconfident we will prevail," adding that "regardless of theoutcome, a trial will never fully restore what was lost." Fire victims accused PacifiCorp of gross negligence and creating a nuisance for failing to shut down power lines during a Labor Day windstorm. Victims said PacifiCorp did nothing despite knowing its equipment was damaged, and despite forecasts for severe wind with gusts that could reach hurricane strength. Witnesses reported seeing power lines start fires or send off sparks. The case was brought by survivors of the Santiam Canyon fire, formed from the merger of multiple fires, east of Oregon's capital of Salem; the Echo Mountain fire in Lincoln County; the South Obenchain fire in Jackson County, and the 242 fire in Klamath County. PacifiCorp had defended its fire prevention efforts, saying power shutoffs would have been a last resort and were not necessary based on what it knew. It also said the plaintiffs did not establish that its equipment was to blame. Wildfires throughout Oregon in 2020 burned approximately 1,900 square miles (1.22 million acres), destroying an estimated 5,000 or more structures and killing at least nine people. The trial began on April 25. PacifiCorp is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, which is 92% owned by Berkshire Hathaway. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio) A Pueblo County man is standing trial in the October shooting death of 73-year-old Patti Magby. Jury selection began Monday. Max Struck, 35, is accused of first-degree murder after deputies say he fatally shot Magby at his residence on Bergemann Road on Oct. 21. Struck told investigators that he shot an intruder, later identified as his neighbor Magby, after giving several warnings to leave the property. Struck and his attorneys argued in a December preliminary hearing that Struck acted in self-defense. In a statement to the court, Tilyn Bell, an attorney for the Colorado State Public Defender's Office, argued that Magby was trespassing on Struck's property despite a no trespassing sign, no invitation to be on the property, and multiple warnings to leave or be fired upon. In a recorded 911 call played during the December hearing, Struck told a dispatcher on the night of the shooting that he was sitting in his driveway when he saw lights come on in his home. Bell also argued that Struck did not act knowingly to kill Magby, and had simply intended to scare the unknown intruder away from his property. "(First degree-murder) is appropriate for a boogeyman waiting in the bushes, or a wife who plots to kill her husband for the insurance money," Bell argued at the hearing. "It is certainly not appropriate for a homeowner who is defending his home against an unknown intruder." Past reporting on this case: Pueblo County Sheriff's Office says homicide suspect admitted to firing gun at neighbor In the 911 call, Struck said he saw the intruder circle around the side of the house, taking pictures of his property. He told the 911 operator he yelled at the intruder to leave before going into his house and arming himself with a 9mm pistol, before exiting a patio door and yelling again for the intruder to leave his property. Struck stated in the call that the unknown intruder replied, "Well, come here," at which point he said he fired into the darkness. Struck told the operator he had no idea what the intruder looked like or who it was, and that it was too dark in the yard to see whether he had hit anything when he fired his weapon. Magby's body was found in the backyard of the house with a bullet wound to the stomach and another to the leg. A firearm was found on top of Magby's car, although not on Magby's person. Inside Magby's vehicle, deputies say they found open bottles of alcohol, according to an arrest affidavit authored by the PCSO. Although Magby's cellphone did have exterior photos of the Struck residence, PCSO detective Steven Chavez wrote in the affidavit there was no evidence she ever entered the home. Neighbors of Magby told deputies there was a "change in the atmosphere" of the neighborhood when Struck and his partner moved in, according to the affidavit. One neighbor told investigators about a previous encounter with Struck in which he claimed Struck sat in his vehicle in the neighbor's driveway, blocking property access, and refused to move. The neighbor claimed when he asked Struck to move, Struck replied, "How do you know I ain't going to shoot you?" At that point, the neighbor said he produced a firearm of his own and Struck sped away down the road. The incident was previously documented by the sheriff's office, according to the affidavit. Struck's trial is scheduled for just over two weeks with an end date of June 26, according to the 10th Judicial District court docket. Struck is currently being held at the Pueblo County jail without bond. Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@jayreutter1. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo County man stands trial in October shooting death of neighbor The Russian Ministry of Defence has issued an order obliging all "volunteer formations" to sign a contract with the ministry by 1 July "to increase the effectiveness of their deployment" in the war in Ukraine. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's mercenaries from the Akhmat detachment were the first to sign such a document on camera. Source: Russian Defence Ministry and Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, on Telegram Quote from the Russian Defence Ministry: "A contract defining the legal regulation and activities of Akhmat volunteer units in the area of the special military operation [as the Russians call the war against Ukraine ed.], as well as the extension of social protection and support measures established by the state to volunteers and their families, has been signed by Alexei Kim, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and Adam Dashaev, director of the Russian Special Forces University." Details: State Duma member Adam Delimkhanov, who attended the signing of the contract, claimed that "All commanders of volunteer units and detachments will also be happy to sign this contract because it gives a serviceman the same status as in the Ministry of Defence." Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, however, said immediately after the order was issued that he "wont be signing any contracts with Shoigu". At the same time, Prigozhin admitted that the Ministry of Defence could stop supplying Wagner with ammunition following his refusal. Quote from Prigozhin: "What may happen after this order that we wont be given weapons and ammunition well figure it out, as they say. When the storm hits, theyll come running and bring weapons and ammunition, asking us to help." Background: On 10 June, the Russian Defene Ministry announced that "to increase the effectiveness of the deployment of volunteer formations as part of the Joint Group of Forces", Russian Defene Minister Sergei Shoigu had signed a decree stipulating that all "volunteer detachments" must sign a contract with the Defence Ministry by 1 July. The conclusion of contracts with the state will reportedly provide for the extension of social protection and support measures intended for the military to volunteers and their family members. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! In the early morning of June 6, Russia blew up a major dam in the occupied part of southern Ukraine, causing a humanitarian and ecological crisis. The Kakhovka dam, located on the Dnipro River, is a major waterway running through southeastern Ukraine and the last of a series of six Soviet-era dams. The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant played an important role in Ukraines power grid and water supply, and its destruction is a major blow to the countrys food, water, and energy system. But it also offers an opportunity for betterment. Power supply The Kakhovka dam, towering 30 meters and stretching 3.2 kilometers, is not a stand-alone structure. It is a cascade of hydro-technical structures comprising a water spill dam, a hydropower generator complex, and additional structures that help generate water supply as well as shipping and fishing logs, according to Serhiy Porovskyy, head of the Energy Efficiency Committee of the Professional Association of Environmentalists of the World (PAEW). The complex was completed in 1956 as part of the Soviet Unions rapid development of hydroelectric power, which began in the 1920s. However, its location is an anomaly, according to Vlad Mykhnenko, an Oxford University professor studying the urban development of post-Soviet countries. Hydropower is usually found in mountainous areas with fast-flowing rivers and steep terrains, but Ukraine is dominated by plains with slow-flowing waters. Building the Kakhovka hydropower plant required flooding an enormous amount of territory, which is why there is nothing of the same scale in the European plains of the Rhine and Danube rivers. The construction of the plant in this location had four purposes, according to Porovskyy, which have also come to define its modern use: power generation, water supply, securing the shipping route, and water levels necessary for shipping. Since Ukraine gained independence in 1991, the dam has been operated by the state-owned enterprise Ukrhydroenergo, producing 10.4% of the company's total energy and 0.7% of Ukraine's overall energy balance, according to Ukrhydroenergo's 2021 data. In Ukraine's energy mix before the war, hydroelectric power comprised about 9-10% of the total energy, while atomic energy accounted for roughly 50%, heat energy around 40%, and renewables only 1%. Although hydroelectric power wasn't a major energy source for Ukraine, the Nova Kakhovka dam played a role in diversifying the country's power generation. It was particularly important for Kherson's regional strategy to increase the use of renewable energy sources. Predictability of renewable energy generation is an issue you cannot control how much sun or wind you will get that day, said Porovskyy, which is why the Kakhovka plant was used to cover the daily consumption and compensate for the instability of the output from solar panels and wind turbines. However, the significance of the complex extended beyond energy production. Its primary purpose was water supply. Maxar satellite imagery of the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power facility after it was blown up by Russian forces on June 7, 2023. (Photo: Maxar Technologies) Water supply The Kakhovka hydropower complex was Ukraine's second-largest reservoir, providing four oblasts, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, with water, which was distributed through a network of canals. Amongst these were the Dnipro-Kryvyi Rih Canal, which supplied Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and the Verkhnio-Hachynsky Canal, which supplied the northern Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Northern Crimean Canal was particularly important as a water source for the western Kherson Oblast and the Crimean Peninsula, which is currently entirely occupied by Russia. Another significant waterway was the South Ukrainian (Kakhovsky) Canal, which supplied water to Kherson Oblast before flowing into Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The irrigation system facilitated by the Kakhovka complex transformed an area historically plagued by droughts, dust storms, and crop failures every 3-4 years into the most productive region in Ukraine. Before the dam breach, there were 330,000 hectares of irrigated land growing 80% of all vegetables in Ukraine and a significant percentage of fruits and grapes, said Vadym Dudka, a local agronomist and CEO of Agroanaliz Ltd, an international agro-consulting company. Over the years, the area has attracted major food producers. Amongst them is the AmericanUkrainian Freedom Farm, the countrys largest producer of corn on irrigated land, one of the largest global producers of tomato paste, AgroFusion (otherwise known as InAgro), one of the countrys biggest food processing companies Chumak and PepsiCos potato factories and plantations. These enterprises relied on water from the Kakhovka hydropower plant to irrigate crops. This general view shows grain silos encroached by floodwaters in Kherson on June 8, 2023, as water levels rose in the city following damage sustained at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam. (Photo by Aleksey Filippov/AFP via Getty Images) According to Dudka, 85-90% of the irrigated fields in the region were predominantly dedicated to growing corn and soybeans, Ukraines major exports. In 2021-2022, Ukraine was the sixth-largest producer and the fourth-largest exporter of corn globally and the worlds ninth-largest producer and seventh-largest exporter of soya with a production increase of 80% from the previous year. Both crops cannot grow on Kherson Oblasts light sandy soils without irrigation. Soya can also be grown in central Ukraine, but in Kherson Oblast, soya is high in protein and yields twice as much. According to a recent article by Ukrainian agribusiness expert Andriy Yarmak, most agricultural products in the area depend on this system, particularly fruits, and vegetables. The Kakhovka reservoir had a massive volume of water, including groundwater hidden from the eye but crucial for plant growth. The groundwater flow depends on the reservoir's water level, and reducing it drastically causes the groundwater to follow suit. This, in turn, causes plants to dry up as their root systems rely on the saturated soil for nourishment. Considering Kherson Oblast's scorching heat and average annual precipitation of 400 mm, mostly occurring outside the growing season, long-term crop production in the region becomes unfeasible without reliable irrigation. 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 Sustainable reset Once the war is over and territory is restored, Ukraines government said it plans to dismantle and construct a new plant on the same spot, which could cost up to one billion dollars and take at least five years to complete, according to the Ministry of Economy. But it doesnt necessarily have to. The Kakhovka dams destruction provides an opportunity to reconsider the country's approach to energy, food, and water security, much of which still relies on infrastructure built during the Soviet era. Scientists that have been tracing the long-term environmental effects associated with Soviet-era hydropower plants have discussed the need to gradually, over decades, lower the Kakhovka reservoir (and other reservoirs) altogether. The reservoir was built in the 1950s when nobody thought about environmental consequences, said Ukrainian environmentalist Olexiy Burkovskyy. Not only did the construction of the hydropower plant destroy 257,000 hectares of reeds, forests, and lakes and flood a hundred villages, displacing 37,000 people, but it also passed on environmental concerns to future generations. One issue is the deteriorating condition of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. According to Hryhoriy Romanenko, a member of Ukraine's National Environmental Council, the Dnipro River is not delivering enough water to the Black Sea due to infiltration processes. This is causing water areas in Kherson Oblast to become swamped and self-poisoned, which has decreased natural biological productivity in the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast by 32 times over the past 30 years. Another issue is the gradual soil deterioration due to higher salt concentrations in the tributaries of the Dnipro River used for irrigation in the Steppe zone, according to Burkovskyy. They are destroying us. People plea to escape flooded Russian-occupied areas Editors note: For this story, we spoke to people living or having family in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. For their safety, they are identified by first name only. After destroying the Nova Kakhovka dam and stranding thousands of Ukrainians in the catastrophic flood zone, Russians prevent The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko Furthermore, experts of the National Ecological Center of Ukraine (NECU) generally question the efficiency of the Kakhovka plant because it suffers 25-30% of energy loss used to operate the hydro-accumulator, wrote Oleksiy Angurets, ecologist and head of the NGO Clean Air for Ukraine. Efficiency is why Porovskyy also doesnt see a need to build another complex of similar scale the power output of the old plant was not optimal compared to its full hydropower potential. The most important thing will be that the plant establishes necessary water levels for irrigation and shipping, he said, maybe the solution is to build a few smaller hydropower plants instead. The fate of the Kakhovka plant and future projects depends on how the country will approach the question. The solution will require considering the impact on economic development, such as power generation, water supply, agriculture, fisheries, and shipping, but also human development in the region. The key will be to make smart decisions we need to assess the environmental concerns and the benefits for local people, Porovskyy said. On the third day after the explosion by the occupiers of the Kakhovskaya HPP, the rise of the water level in populated areas up to six meters was recorded He added that Ukrainian officials are monitoring the situation on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro in Kherson Obast as well. Read also: Some animals from zoo in Nova Kakhovka managed to escape death from flooding At this stage, 42 people have been confirmed missing, including seven children. "I can report the figures that we know for sure: eight of our citizens were killed in Kherson Oblast, two in Mykolaiv Oblast," the Interior Minister announced. Forty-two people are missing, including seven children. Read also: Floods create dire situation in Oleshky as Russians seal off occupied town, governor says Klymenko added that there are reports of casualties on the east bank of Kherson Oblast occupied by Russian troops. The exact numbers have not yet been released. "Yesterday, Russian forces shelled citizens crossing to the right bank, killing three people and wounding several others," Klymenko stated. "We are monitoring the situation. Once we confirm casualties remaining on the islands or left bank, we will release that information." Previously, officials reported five fatalities in flooded settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River. 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. At an urgent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, 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: Attack on Kakhovka dam is Kremlins response to calls for peace talks, says Ukraines envoy to UN The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was 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. Ukraines Defense Intelligence has said that the Russian demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its dam increases the threat of a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhya Nucelar Power Plant, as water from the reservoir was used to replenish the plants cooling ponds. Read also: Europe, US reacts in shock to Russias destruction of Kakhovka dam in south Ukraine Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Martin Griffiths, stated that due to the sabotage by Russian invaders of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, approximately 700,000 people in Ukraine are at risk of not having access to drinking water. Water levels in flooded settlements have decreased over the past few days and now stand at just over three meters, though remain high. Ukrainian Defensive Forces are attempting to evacuate people from occupied areas on the east bank of the Dnipro River. Read also: Evacuation of people from the left bank of Dnipro requires absolute media silence, says Humeniuk 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 Kansas City police officer who fatally shot two people during an encounter Friday night previously shot and killed an unarmed man in 2020 and was accused of excessive force in two other cases, according to sources with knowledge of the most recent shooting investigation. The officer, Blayne Newton, killed two people and injured a third around 9 p.m., near the McDonalds restaurant at 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting as an outside agency by agreement with the Kansas City Police Department. Neither the highway patrol nor the police department have publicly identified the officer. However, three people with knowledge of the investigation on Monday named Newton as the shooting officer. The Star is not naming them in this story because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation. Newton has previously been the subject of excessive force allegations. On March 12, 2020, he shot and killed a 47-year-old unarmed man, Donnie Sanders, after a traffic stop near Prospect Avenue. Later that year, he was accused of placing his knee into the back of a woman who was nine months pregnant during an arrest. He was one of three officers accused of beating and using a Taser on a teenager in 2019. Newton could not be reached for comment Monday. Community activists in Kansas City said they were troubled that Newton was involved in another fatal shooting. Blayne Newton is a serial killer, said Steve Young, an organizer with Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project or KC LEAP. There are officers who dont discharge their weapons their entire careers. Hes (Newton) now responsible for three deaths and two assaults that we know of. It is not known how many Kansas City police officers on the job today have shot and killed more than one person. But in a 2015 Star investigation of police shootings showed that seven officers had been involved in two shootings each over the previous decade. Two people died and one was injured during a shooting involving a Kansas City police officer Friday night near 31t Street and Van Brunt Boulevard that was being investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a police department spokesman, directed any questions about the investigation to the highway patrol, the agency tasked with reviewing officer-involved shooting or other deadly force cases. We have not named the officer, nor do we ever unless there are charges filed and the identification becomes a public record, Becchina said in a text message to a Star reporter. KCPD is fully cooperating with the Highway Patrol investigation, he said. Becchina said Missouri law prohibits the police department from releasing any individually identifiable personnel information about an officer. Sgt. Andy Bell, a spokesman for the highway patrol, the agency investigating the shooting, would not confirm Newton as the officer involved in the shootings. We will not release the name of the officer involved while there is an ongoing investigation, Bell told The Star on Monday. The most recent shooting The shooting on Friday unfolded after Newton noticed a pickup truck stopped in an area of the intersection. According to the highway patrol, footage from the dashboard camera from the officers car showed a person lean out the drivers side window of the truck and point a gun at either a sedan or a minivan stopped nearby. A passenger in the pickup truck then stepped out of the vehicle and started walking with a gun in their hand. They got back in the truck with their gun and sped away shortly after, said Bell, the highway patrol spokesman. The officers car pulled forward next to the minivan, which prevented the dashboard camera from recording the interaction between the people in the minivan and the officer, Bell said. Shots were fired by the officer through the drivers side window and into the minivan. Shell casings recovered at the scene would suggest that someone inside the minivan also fired a weapon, according to Bell. Following the gunfire, the minivan slowly rolled forward, striking a curb. The officer ordered the occupants of the minivan to exit the vehicle. Three people walked out, while two people, a driver and a passenger, were too injured to move. The victims, Marcell Nelson, 42, and Kristen Fairchild, 42, who police believe was driving, later died from their injuries, Bell said. A third shooting victim had minor injuries. No officers were hurt, according to authorities. Investigators interviewed two people about the shooting. Police recovered four firearms from the minivan, Bell said. The killing of Donnie Sanders In March 2020, Newton was patrolling the area near 51st Street and Prospect Avenue when his dashboard camera video showed him making a U-turn and begin following a Chevy Tahoe down Prospect, then turning west on 51st Street. Newton continued to follow the Tahoe as it turned into an alley between Wabash and Prospect avenues. Newton then activated his lights and sirens. Sanders pulled over near the end of the alley and ran as Newton got out of his patrol car and began chasing him. The dashboard camera did not record a view of the two men, though Newton was heard yelling commands at Sanders to stop and show his hands. Newton fired five shots, striking Sanders three times. Sanders died at a hospital the following morning. A day later, the police department said Sanders was not carrying a weapon. They found a cellphone in his pocket. Jackson County prosecutors said they did not have sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges against Newton. Justice for Donnie Sanders march heads north on Ward Parkway on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Earlier in the week, the Jackson County Prosecutor announced no charges would be filed against the officer who shot and killed Sanders nearly a year ago. The family of Sanders filed a $10 million civil lawsuit the following year in Kansas City federal court. That lawsuit remains ongoing. The arrest of Deja Stallings While making an arrest in October 2020, Newton was captured on video as he allegedly put his knee on 25-year-old Deja Stallings back with her belly on the ground. She was nine months pregnant at the time. Stallings attorney confirmed Newton was the officer who arrested the woman. Police did not confirm or deny Newtons involvement and did not provide unredacted documentation of the incident. Three officers accused of excessive force In March 2022, the police department paid $325,000 as part of a legal settlement involving a Kansas City teenager who was punched more than 10 times and tasered by three KCPD officers in 2019. Newton was one of three officers involved in the case. The 17-year-old was grabbed from his vehicle and tackled to the ground, repeatedly punched and then attacked with a Taser, according to a lawsuit that was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. Lora McDonald, executive director of the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity or MORE2, said the group would continue to petition the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the police department. Weve noticed a pattern of practice by the department, a complete failure to hold officers accountable, including when the officer has been criminally indicted, McDonald said. For that reason, we, as an organization and as a community, must insist upon local governance of this department. It is the only way that we can begin to create processes that will result in reduced brutality and killing of citizens. A member of the city of Key Wests planning board, a volunteer civic body that advises elected city commissioners on development matters that come before them, wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper in April that was critical of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority the utility responsible for supplying fresh water throughout the island chain as well as treating its sewage. That was enough for the city commissioner who the board member, Gregory Lloyd, serves under to recommend to her colleagues that he should be removed from his position. Last week, all but one agreed that the man who the citys mayor said is perhaps one of the most dedicated, prepared and qualified on the board, and who attends almost all the meetings, should be ousted from the post. Greg Lloyd has the highest attendance on the planning board, even higher than the chair on the planning board. We have members who havent attended but 50% of the time, Mayor Teri Johnston said from the dais of a city commission meeting Thursday, defending Lloyd. He has done the work. It was all judged by a fiery letter to the editor, Johnston said. However, Hoover stuck to her decision, and convinced the other commissioners to vote with her, insisting that Lloyd serves at her discretion. There is no entitlement to this position if values dont align, she said. Utility under pressure The FKAA has been plagued with serious problems in recent months, most notably three underground water main breaks in one week in March that threatened to starve the Keys of potable water. The FKAAs infrastructure is still not operating at full capacity and continues urging residents and visitors to conserve water. Replacing the 40-plus-year old pipe system is a massive undertaking that will cost between $1 and $2 billion, the utility acknowledges, cash it doesnt have available. A large gash is shown on a Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority water pipe Thursday, March 9. 2023. The pipe break caused several government offices and Keys schools to close. That concession prompted Lloyd, whos sat on the Key West Planning Board since 2016, to write a letter to the Key West Citizen newspaper criticizing the FKAA for not planning ahead and calling for a moratorium on future development until the infrastructure is better able to serve more people in the Keys. The Miami Herald has reported several stories based on documents its obtained detailing how the FKAAs five-year-old, $1-billion centralized wastewater system has had a series of serious sewage leaks and is need of repairs topping $16 million. He wanted his day in court Lloyd was originally appointed to the board by Hoovers predecessor, Margaret Romero, but Hoover has since re-appointed him twice. His current term would have ended in 2025. Hoover insisted that it was not true that the letter alone was the reason she sought to sack Lloyd, but she went on to say that the content of the letter could lead developers to believe he was a prejudiced against their applications for project approval. His position could have very well jeopardized anything going forward with that item, and this time, Mr. Lloyd, while not quite as explicit, did call out several things in the letter to the editor to FKAA, including talking about swimming pools, irrigation systems, vacation rentals, remodels, renovations, all of which at one point or another, could come before the planning board, Hoover said. Planning board members dont make decisions, rather they make recommendations to city commissioners. Hoover said she first tried to talk Lloyd into stepping down. He refused. She then tasked the city attorney to ask him to leave. Again, he refused. He wanted his day in court, Hoover said. Bubba pixie dust Lloyd spoke on his behalf at the meeting, aiming harsh criticism at those seeking his ouster as well as the original target of the letter in question, the FKAA, which he said is a hotbed for nepotism hires among entrenched Key West locals, known both pejoratively and affectionately depending on point of view as bubbas. Ive spent hours and hours working on your behalf, and this is the thanks I get, Llloyd said. What kind of message if you pass this are you sending to your volunteers? Speak out, give your opinion and youre going to be silenced? Bad message. Regarding the FKAAs woes, he noted nothing was done to prepare for the inevitability that the aging system would need major repairs and that the utilitys answer was to sprinkle bubba pixie dust, and it will all magically disappear. Instead they spend their time hiring unqualified cronies passing out lifetime benefits to their buddies and building a new Taj Mahal headquarters on Kennedy Street, all on our dime, he said. Commissioner Samuel Kaufman said he took issue with Lloyds negative use of the word bubba in criticizing the utility. Im not from here, but I think of myself as a bubba, Im sorry, Kaufman said. Its a term of endearment, right? When we go to the mainland, everyone thinks of us as bubbas and were proud of that. Commissioner Clayton Lopez said he voted for Lloyds removal because the appointee should reflect the agenda of the appointing commissioner. Commissioners Lissette Carey, Billy Wardlow and Jimmy Weekley didnt speak on the matter before voting. Carey did not respond to an emailed question asking her the reason for their vote. The treatment plant for the Cudjoe Regional Wastewater System was completed in 2017. Documents obtained by the Miami Herald reveal that parts of the Lower Keys wastewater treatment system leaked sewage only three years after construction was completed. Weekley and Wardlow told the Herald in an email that retaining Lloyd or removing him is Hoovers prerogative. It was Commissioner Hoovers appointment and if she wanted him removed she had the right to do, Weekley said. She really didnt have to have a reason. Wardlow added that hes removed members of Key West boards during his time in office. A Commissioner has the right to remove an appointed board member and re-appointed a new one during there term, he said. I have removed members and reappointed new members during my time on the commission. [Source] North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has reportedly secretly ordered local authorities to prevent citizens from committing suicide. The prevention order: Declaring suicide as an act of treason against socialism, Kim called emergency meetings across North Korea to order local authorities to take preventative measures against the act. His order was relayed to party committee leaders in each of the countrys provinces. In the ruling, Kim reportedly stated that government officials would be held accountable in the event that they fail to prevent suicides. An alarming trend: Kim made the orders after data in May estimated a 40% increase in suicides since 2022, the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) reports. There are a lot of internal unrest factors in North Korea due to the hardships of people, an NIS agent shared with Radio Free Asia. These internal unrest factors include a rise in violent crimes as North Korean citizens attempt to find ways to make ends meet. In some suicide cases, entire families have reportedly ended their lives together. Others left suicide notes that critiqued the country and its social system, an anonymous official from North Hamgyong revealed to RFA. According to one anonymous official, those present at the meeting in Ryanggang province were told that suicide has had a greater social impact than starvation. More from NextShark: S. Korean politician in hot water for resurfaced fanfic featuring K-pop star IU Family suicide is a final act of defiance against a hopeless system, the official explained. Local response: Although North Korean officials have attempted to prevent suicides in their respective provinces and cities, the official revealed little has changed. Despite the suicide prevention policy ratified by the General Secretary, the officials were not able to come up with an appropriate solution, he shared. Most of the suicides were caused by severe poverty and starvation, so no one can come up with a countermeasure right now. More from NextShark: Medical Doctor Drops FACTS on Novel Coronavirus in TikTok Video If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. For a list of international suicide hotlines, click here. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Fashion world celebrates the life and legacy of Virgil Abloh Korean Boy, 12, Convinces Mom to Let Him Trade Stocks, Makes Over $13,000 in Gains Kim Jong Un really wants to be Putin's buddy, saying they should start 'holding hands' and that North Korea stands in 'solidarity' with Russia's war in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin greets North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un before a meeting April 25, 2019 in Vladivostok, Russia. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has nothing but praise for Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine. Kim expressed a desire for close cooperation with Moscow, saying he and Putin should be "holding hands." North Korea has been seeking closer ties with Russia, especially after the war in Ukraine began. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is cozying up to his counterpart in Russia, expressing "full support and solidarity" for the Kremlin's war on Ukraine. In a Monday greeting message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Kim said he wanted to work toward "strategic cooperation" between Pyongyang and Moscow, and desired to be "holding hands firmly with the Russian president." Kim's message, published by state media, piled praise upon Putin and Russia, saying that "justice is sure to win" and that Russia would "add glory to the history of victory." Kim lauded the invasion of Ukraine, portraying it as a move to protect Russia's sovereignty even though Ukraine is an internationally recognized independent nation. "The people of the DPRK are extending full support and solidarity to the Russian people in their all-out struggle for implementing the sacred cause to preserve the sovereign rights, development, and interests of their country against the imperialists' high-handed and arbitrary practices and to realize the international justice," the message said, per KCNA Watch, a US-based tracker of North Korean state news. Kim typically uses similar language to blame the US and its allies whenever he tries to justify North Korea's increasingly aggressive weapons tests. North Korea was one of the few nations that has continually voted in favor of Russia at the United Nations since the war began. It has pursued closer relations with Russia, especially since the war began in March, discussing a deal to sell weapons and munitions to Moscow in exchange for food, according to US officials. The country has, in recent years, suffered from a devastating food crisis brought about by a drought in 2022 and the tightening of food imports from China due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Putin vowed in August to deepen ties with Pyongyang, promising to" expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts" and highlighting how Soviet Union and Korean soldiers fought alongside each other during World War II. The war has also drawn China and Russia closer together, with Beijing and Moscow strengthening trade and economic cooperation as they seek to distance themselves from the West. Read the original article on Business Insider Kimberly Akimbo won the Tony Award for best musical Sunday night. The show is about a teenage girl coping with a genetic condition and dealing with her dysfunctional family. The musical won five awards in all, including best actress for Victoria Clark, best featured actress for Bonnie Milligan, best musical book and best original score for composer Jeanine Tesori and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire. The ongoing writers strike nearly prevented the Tony Awards from happening at all, but a compromise was reached and the event went on without scripts. Ariana DeBose, who returned to host for a second year in a row, told the crowd she was live and unscripted, as the show kicked off. To anyone who thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say, darlings, buckle up, she joked. The Tony Awards aired live on CBS on June 11 from the United Palace in New York City. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com King Charles III Restored This Tradition at His First Trooping the Colour as Monarch "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." King Charles III added a unique touch to his first birthday parade as monarchhe celebrated on horseback. Charles rode in the annual Trooping the Colour celebration in London on Saturday, becoming the first reigning British monarch to mount a house in the event since his mother Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1986, according to Buckingham Palace. The 74-year-old rode almost a mile from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade at St. Jamess Park, where he inspected troops representing the seven regiments of the Household Division of the British Army and received a Royal Salute. Getty Images Charles has attended the event since he was a child, first for his grandfather King George VI and then his mother, but Saturday marked the first time following his ascension to the throne in September 2022 and coronation in May. Charles actual birthday isnt until November 14, but Trooping the Colour is traditionally celebrated in June. It became affiliated with the sovereigns birthday in 1748, during the rule of King George II. According to People, around 1,500 soldiers and 400 musicians were scheduled to take part in the ceremony. Three guardsmen fainted because of high temperatures during a rehearsal one week ago known as the Colonels Review, which is overseen by Prince William. A big thank you to every soldier who took part in the Colonels Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job, William later tweeted. Whats the Horses Significance? Elizabeth was an avid equestrian and had a beloved horse named Burmese, whom she rode in the annual parade until the mares 1986 retirement. Rather than select a new horse to participate, she simply rode in a carriage over the decades that followed. Still, she passed down her love of horse to members of the royal family, and many have continued to ride on horseback in the event, including Charles, William, Princess Anne, anduntil 2019Prince Andrew. The queen stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages in January 2022 after he faced a sexual assault lawsuit. Who Was and Wasnt There? Getty Images All working members of the royal family were expected to attend. Like the king, Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward rode on horseback during the event. Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte followed closely behind in a carriage. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who quit as working royals in 2020, werent invited to the event according to the Daily Mail, with a source saying its a reflection of the state of relations between Harry, his father, and the rest of the family. Harry and Meghan attended the event last yearQueen Elizabeths final Trooping the Colourbut werent on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the ceremonial flyover. You Might Also Like How to know how your kid is doing in school, and what to do if they are falling behind Daisy Andonyadis, a third grade teacher at Cora Kelly School in Alexandria, Va., speaks with one of her students during lunch. Data emerging from this school year confirms a troubling reality facing Americas schools: The pandemic erased two decades of kids progress in math and reading, depriving many of more than a full school years worth of learning. Recent figures also show a decline in civics and history proficiency among eighth graders. It could take at least four years for student achievement to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent analysis by scholars from Harvard University and Stanford University. Now that the school year is wrapping up, parents may want to get a better handle on how their kids are performing academically and on how much work (if any) is needed to get them caught up. Here are some tips for better understanding how your kid did this school year and how to better support their progress in the fall. Is my child at grade level? Report cards can help indicate how a child is doing in school, but they typically also have little to no connection to whether the child has mastered the content and skills necessary to succeed at the next grade, said Robin Lake of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a nonpartisan think tank based at Arizona State University thats been studying pandemic-era achievement and districts responses. Despite culture war-fueled efforts to assert parents so-called rights and spur their involvement in school, most families, as the Harvard and Stanford researchers pointed out, remain ill-informed about how far behind their children are. A Pew Research Center survey last fall found just a quarter of parents felt their children were still lagging while in reality about 2 in 3 kids were at least partly behind where they should be in some subjects. If you want to further investigate whether your child is ready for the next school year, start by asking whether theyre performing at grade level. (Kids teachers are usually the best person to ask, but if classrooms are already closed for the summer or you dont know how to reach the teachers, try contacting the central office the staff there might be able to help track down the info you need.) Whether a student is performing at the level expected of someone in their grade isnt a perfect metric, nor are the tests used to assess that, Lake said. But if a parent could ask their teacher, Is my child performing at grade-level expectations and how do you know? that question alone can yield a lot of important information, she said. Thats especially true at certain points in the K-12 trajectory. If a child isnt reading by third grade, research suggests, they are significantly less likely to graduate on time. Other research shows the same goes for kids who fail Algebra I by the end of ninth grade. Distracted students, stressed teachers: What an American school day looks like post-COVID Will my child be ready for college? The next important question to ask your kids educators once the students reach high school or even middle school is whether they are ready for college or are on the right track to be ready. You can dig further by asking if your student has taken the required courses to graduate. Are they getting the grades required to get into their desired postsecondary programs? And how did they perform on the PSAT? Education terms parents should know People in the education world, including teachers, often use certain terms when talking about grade-level performance. Here is what you should know before talking with your kids teachers: Proficient: On federal tests and in your kid's school, this generally means someone who is performing at grade level. Standard: An educational goal, typically set by the state and used to determine whether a student is at grade level. Assessments: This word is usually used to describe federal, state, or local standardized exams designed to measure whether a student is performing at a certain level. Curriculum: A broad (and loaded) phrase that can refer to a variety of things but at K-12 schools generally involves a teachers plan and content for instruction, including the topics and skills students are expected to learn over the course of the school year. Intervention: A student-specific program or steps schools take to help children improve in an area of need small-group instruction for kids still learning English, for example, or silent signals for those who struggle with behavior. Why arent kids returning to class? COVID isn't the cause, but not-so-old habits die hard. What to do if your child is behind The above prompts should be treated as conversation starters, Lake said, that can help parents decide on the next best steps. You may want to request examples of your childs school work and more information on standards to see how their performance was evaluated. You can also ask your childs educators what they did this past school year to help them improve and what steps should be taken next year to help them stay or get on track. Research shows so-called high-dosage tutoring intensive small-group sessions during the school day is one of the most effective means of catching kids up. See if you can talk or connect with professionals on campus, such as reading specialists or special-education experts, who are trained to help students struggling in certain areas. Check if your child is eligible for summer learning or enrichment programs that may be designed specifically for students in need of a boost. There may also be free summer tutoring in your area and options online. Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aliaemily. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is your kid falling behind in school post-COVID? Here's how to know. Officers from Police Scotland at the home of former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Peter Murrell and Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, in Uddingston, Glasgow, after he was arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the party, on April 5. Credit - Andrew MilliganPA Wire/Press Association/AP When Scotlands longtime leader Nicola Sturgeon announced her shock resignation in February, no one would have guessed that just four months later, she would be pictured in the back of a police car. The former First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader was arrested on Sunday amid an ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP. After several hours of questioning, Sturgeon was released without charge. To find myself in a situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offense is both a shock and deeply distressing, Sturgeon wrote in a statement posted to Twitter following her release. 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 arrest marks a dramatic fall from grace for Sturgeon, a once-towering figure in British politics who dominated Scotlands independence movement for nearly a decade. Although her successor Humza Yousaf has so far avoided implication in the ongoing probe, neither he nor his party have been insulated from the blowback. The scandal has sent the SNP into internal disarray, with some of its members now calling for their former leaders suspension. The partys standing in the polls, though better than that of its rivals, has seen a marked dip in recent months. A recent Survation survey found that 41% of SNP voters are less likely to vote for the party as a result of the investigation. Below, what you need to know about the investigation and its implications for British politics. Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon talking to media as she returns to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on April 25. Her husband, former chief executive of the SNP Peter Murrell, was arrested earlier this month by police investigating the SNPs finances, and questioned for more than 11 hours before being released pending further investigation. Andrew MilliganPA Wire/Press Association/AP What is the police investigation about? Operation Branchform, as Police Scotlands investigation into the SNPs finances is known, first began in 2021 over complaints of alleged mishandling of more than 600,000 ($750,000) in donations earmarked for securing a second independence referendum. More from TIME The first, which was held in 2014, resulted in Scots voting 55% to 45% to remain in the U.K. But independence campaigners argue that support for independence has only been bolstered by Britains exit from the E.U., which the majority of Scots opposed. Central to the investigation are allegations, first raised in 2017, that donations earmarked for another referendum were instead used by the SNP to finance its general election campaign in 2017a claim that the party has staunchly denied. Those allegations only grew louder in 2020, after the U.K.s Electoral Commission published the SNPs 2019 accounts, which revealed that the party had just under 97,000 in the banka far cry from the 600,000 it claimed to have ring-fenced to fight for another referendum. The next year saw a number of high-profile resignations from the party over transparency issues, including the SNPs national treasurer. In June 2021, the SNPs longtime chief executive (and Sturgeons husband) Peter Murrell provided the party with a personal loan of 107,000 ($133,000) to assist with cash flow. One month later, Police Scotland formally launched its investigation. Police officers attend the Scottish National Party's offices on April 5 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Robert PerryGetty Images Though it remains unclear how much Sturgeon knew about the status of the investigation prior to her resignation, her decision was swiftly followed by the resignation of her husband, who stepped down as the SNPs CEO after taking responsibility for misleading the media about the partys membership figures, which saw a sizeable drop from its peak of 125,000 in 2019 to 72,000 in 2023. (A decline that is estimated to have cost the party hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost income generated by membership dues.) Like Sturgeon, both Murrell and the SNPs erstwhile treasurer Colin Beattie were arrested and taken in for questioning before ultimately being released without charge, pending further investigation. Among the most surreal moments of the investigationat least prior to Sturgeons arrestwas the polices decision to search her and Murrells home as well as confiscate a luxury motorhome worth an estimated 110,000 ($137,000), which had reportedly been purchased as a battle bus for the Scottish elections in 2021 and was, at the time of confiscation, parked outside Murrells mothers house. What impact has the investigation had on the SNP? The SNP has been in turmoil following Sturgeons resignation. The race to replace her exposed deep divisions within the party on matters as wide-ranging as gender-recognition reforms and how best to achieve a second independence referendum, and even prompted speculation of a potential split within it. While Yousafs victory was welcomed by the SNP leadership, his brief tenure has largely been overshadowed by the ongoing investigation. His status as the continuity candidate has made it difficult for him to distance himself from Sturgeon, who only days before her arrest he described as being one of the best politicians Europe has seen in decades. Though the arrest of former political leaders is highly unusual in Britain, Sturgeon is not the first former First Minister to be taken into police custody. Indeed, her predecessor Alex Salmond, who led the SNP into government in 2007, was arrestedbut ultimately acquittedon sexual assault charges in 2019. Then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, with her husband Peter Murrell, rehearses her SNP campaign speech during the Scottish Parliamentary Elections, in Glasgow, Scotland on March 28, 2021. Russell CheynePA Wire/Press Association/AP Will the investigation hurt the SNPs independence aspirations or electoral prospects? The investigation into the SNPs finances has been ongoing for some time, with an unclear impact on the publics overall support for the partys signature goal of Scottish independence. According to What Scotland Thinks, a blog run by British pollster John Curtice and the Scottish Centre for Social Research, support for Scottish independence has oscillated between 45% and 55% in recent months, with the most recent polling showing support for independence trailing those against 45% to 48%, respectively. The same may not be true for the SNPs electoral prospects, however. The ascendant Labour Party, which is leading national polls, is hoping to make gains in Scotland when Britain holds its next general election, expected in late 2024. In addition to being the largest political party in Scotlands devolved legislature in Holyrood, the SNP also claims the majority of the majority of Scottish seats in the U.K. national government in Westminster. As things stand, the SNP is at risk of losing half of its Westminster lawmakers to Labour, according to recent projections from the British pollster YouGov, in what would be the partys worst performance since 2010. After a harsh warning from Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, the Wichita City Council is poised to vote on an overhaul to the citys ordinance regulating political signs. The changes would allow an unlimited number of temporary signs, political or otherwise, on private property in the 45 days before an election and the two days afterward. Kobach contends the city is willfully violating a 2015 state law prohibiting local governments from regulating the placement or number of signs on private property in the lead up to elections. Mayor Brandon Whipple, who last week accused Kobach of attempting to stir up controversy ahead of his re-election bid, now says he will vote in favor of the new sign ordinance. Its time that we change this and get this up to date, because we are about to see the political season kick off, Whipple said Friday. City staff recommends that the council declare a public emergency and pass the amendment on first read Tuesday, an unusual measure that would lock changes into place 49 days before the Aug. 1 primary. At Fridays agenda review meeting, City Manager Robert Layton said the staffs efforts to update the sign ordinance language have been underway for the last at least 30-45 days, predating the May letter from Kobachs office. We could have had a collaborative approach in letting the attorney general and his allies know that we were on top of this, Whipple said. Instead, they snail mailed us a packet and then attacked us on social media. It was just Topeka politics 101. Whipple was not on the City Council in 2017 when it approved an ordinance that requires permits for placing political signs and forbids placement in public rights-of-way, including the first 18 feet of private property from the curb along city streets. We hope that you can assure us the City will cease its willful violation of section 25-2711, Kobachs letter states. But if the City intends to continue breaking the law, the Attorney General will take appropriate action. The amended ordinance coming to a vote Tuesday includes a number of conditions for sign size and placement that Whipple said will balance public safety with First Amendment messaging. Signs may not be illuminated, exceed 8 square feet in area or be more than 5 feet tall. They also cannot be closer than eight linear feet to a side property line. The proposal does allow for signs of less than 4 square feet to be placed in the public right-of-way during an election period as long as they are no taller than 30 inches and are not placed in the median, attached to traffic control devices or placed on city bridges or overpasses. Our ordinance is focused on size and placement based on safety, Whipple said. You can go to small towns and have big yard signs up and not have the same safety concerns that you have in Wichita where were an urban center. We have more cars, more lanes than other cities. Signs political or otherwise are also prohibited from being placed adjacent to or on public property, including libraries and parks, under the proposal. They must be removed no more than two days after an election. City Council member Bryan Frye, who is among eight candidates challenging Whipple in this years mayoral election, said he needs more time to examine the amended ordinance before he can say if he supports it. Problems with water in Kryvyi Rih began after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP "Industrial enterprises have already reduced their consumption to a minimum, and the villages near the city, which are supplied by Kryvbasvodokanal, receive water four hours a day," Vilkul said. But the main consumer of water is the city's population. It is very important for everyone to reduce water consumption by 40%. Everyone should do it. Read also: Ukrhydroenergo says how destruction of Kakhovka dam will affect Ukraines hydrosystem He said that the authorities began preparing for a potential Russian terrorist attack last year. Specifically, the Pivdenne and Karachunivske reservoirs were filled to maximum capacity. However, Vilkul said that the current maximum water reserves will now last for one-and-a-half months. "The technical solutions that will have to be implemented to raise the water have never been done in such a short time before," the official said. During this time, implementing several urgent projects will be necessary to ensure the city continues to have access to water. 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. At an urgent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered the evacuation of at-risk areas and the provision of drinking water to towns and villages servedby the affected Kakhovka Reservoir. Read also: Military expert explains Russias decision to destroy Kakhovka dam, details preparations The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was 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 has called Russia's attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant the largest man-made environmental disaster inEurope 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 Fans of rotisserie chicken at restaurant chain Boston Market may want to rush to the one remaining Sacramento-area location, but it may be too late for the chicken pot pie. After the restaurant at 2300 Fair Oaks Blvd. was closed in mid-May for around a week, financially troubled Boston Market reopened. However, a sign on the side window of the Arden Arcade restaurant noted that in addition to the chicken pot pie other popular favorites, such as chicken noodle soup, crispy BLT, Nashville hot crispy chicken sandwich, were not available. Restaurant general manager Mai Vue said the establishment closed after food suppliers werent paid, employees didnt get their paycheck and the power was shut off for a day. She said employees are being paid again but didnt know if the shortage of some Boston Market food items was related to supplier payment issues. A sign in the window of Sacramento Countys lone remaining Boston Market restaurant lists its sold-out items including pot pies and crispy chicken sandwiches on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The parent company, Boston Market Corp., recently sold stores in California and Arizona to a franchise owner, known as Boston Market of California, Vue said. She believed the new owners intent is to keep the location open. State and county records still list the owner of the restaurant as Boston Market Corp. in Golden, Colorado. The corporation was acquired by Engage Brands in 2020. Engage ended up owing $328,592.34 in unpaid sales and payroll taxes dating back for more than a year, Dan Carr, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Revenue said in an email. Carr said after the state seized Boston Markets headquarters on May 16, changing locks and seizing business assets. The company paid the overdue bills. The mid-May seizure coincides with the time period that the Sacramento area Boston Market was closed. A sign on the door of the Fair Oaks location on May 17 stated, Closed!!! Due to shipment issues, we will be closed till future notice. Sacramento County assessor records show the Boston Market, which is just east of the Sacramento city line, owes more than $18,000 in taxes dating back to 2022. County records also show that Starbucks submitted renovation plans on May 25 seeking to turn the Boston Market into an outlet of the Seattle-based coffee house chain. A County spokesman said the plans are under initial review. Boston Market, formerly Boston Chicken, opened its first location in Newton, a suburb of Boston, in 1985. The rotisserie chicken restaurant became enormously popular by offering freshly made ready to eat chicken. By the early 1990s, there were more than 1,200 locations nationwide, including eight in the Sacramento area. The Boston Market website today lists 312 restaurants. A location in Roseville closed earlier this year. The nearest open restaurant from the Arden Arcade location is in Oakland. Vue, who has worked for Boston Market for 10 years, said the Sacramento area location saw dramatic drops in business once the COVID-19 pandemic started. It dropped drastically, she said of customers, never returning to pre-pandemic levels. At lunchtime on June 5, the more than 3,000 square foot Boston Market had only several customers inside. Photo: Rogelio V. Solis (AP) A Mississippi civil rights lawyer was arrested over the weekend after filming a traffic stop. According to The Associated Press, she had filed a federal lawsuit against the same police department on behalf of a group of residents alleging official misconduct. How does recording a traffic stop warrant failure to comply, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges? Jill Collen Jefferson is asking the same question. Jefferson, president of civil rights organization JULIAN, was arrested Saturday evening. Her attorney, Michael Carr, said she pulled over to the side to record a traffic stop conducted by the Lexington Police Department. Read more Carr said Jefferson complied with the commands of the officers, handing over her identification but asked why she was approached while filming the encounter. She was then told to exit her vehicle which she refused to do. Then, she was pulled out of the car and arrested, the attorney said. Jeffersons actions werent just that of a bystander but gathering evidence of the experiences of the people she represents in a police brutality lawsuit filed last year. Unfortunately, she ended up in the same position as her clients. Read more from Mississippi Today: Civil rights attorney Jill Collen Jefferson was arrested Saturday night by Lexington police the same department she complained about nine days earlier to Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke. The Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting broke the story of a recording of then-Lexington Police Chief Sam Dobbins, who is white and can be heard on a recording filled with racist and homophobic slurs, bragging about killing 13 people in the line of duty. In one case, he said, I shot that n 119 times, OK? In another part of the tape, Dobbins can be heard saying, I dont give a f if you have to kill a motherfer in cold blood. A day later, the City Council fired Dobbins, but Jefferson and other residents said the harassment of Black residents has continued under the new chief. JULIAN filed a lawsuit that said more than 200 Black residents had complained about unconstitutional treatment by the Lexington Police Department. In the state of Mississippi, people have a right to record law enforcement as long as they arent interfering with police activity. JULIAN released a statement claiming Jefferson was falsely arrested and wrongfully charged as a form of retaliation. Its unclear what exactly warranted Jefferson to be placed in handcuffs but maybe well learn more at her next court hearing. For now, she remains in Holmes County Jail. 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. What a North Fort Myers woman thought would be a ride home after an evening at a local nightclub soon became her biggest nightmare early Saturday. Julio Velazquez, 24, of Lehigh Acres, remains at the Lee County Jail on Monday afternoon on a $1 million bond. He's charged with sexual assault and kidnapping. What a North Fort Myers woman thought would be a ride home after an evening at a local nightclub soon became her biggest nightmare early Saturday. Julio Velazquez, 24, of Lehigh Acres, remains at the Lee County Jail on Monday afternoon on a $1 million bond. He's charged with sexual assault and kidnapping. During a Monday press conference, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said around 6 a.m. Saturday deputies responded to a residence in North Fort Myers in reference to a sex crime that had just occurred. A female victim, who was violently battered and bruised, told deputies she had been taken to what she believed was a cab after she left Romance Night Club, 3506 Palm Beach Blvd. After he dropped another person off, the victim realized the driver was not driving to her residence and she became scared, Marceno said. She begged the driver to simply take her home, but he kept driving in a different direction. The driver pulled over in a secluded area near Bayshore Road and Pritchett Parkway and ordered the victim from the vehicle. Still in fear, Marceno said, she exited and armed herself with a broken bottle. She tried to defend herself, but Velazquez began viciously attacking her, punching her repeatedly in the face and in the head to the point where she lost consciousness. Marceno said the photos of her injuries are "bone-chilling." She had bruising and swelling, he said. "She was in a fight for her life," Marceno said. "Victim awoke to the suspect raping her, with his hands around her neck, threatening to kill her." As he attack continued, Marceno said the victim screamed for help, begging Velazquez to stop. "Eventually, she was able to flee and hide in the woods," Marceno said. "After several hours of hiding, she began knocking on doors in a nearby neighborhood, until a homeowner was able to contact law enforcement." Marceno said detectives began canvassing the area as analysts reviewed cameras and other databases for clues. "Detectives and analysts were able to retrace that evening," Marceno said. "They identified the suspect vehicle located at the scene in a heavily wooded area." Hours later, patrol deputies located the pickup in the Tice area occupied by Valazquez. Marceno said authorities believe Velazquez has been in Lee County for two years. Marceno said Velazquez had been detained at the Texas border and was given a summons to appear in court, later released at the border. He did not release his country of origin. Velazquez is next due in court July 10 for his arraignment on the kidnapping and sexual assault charges. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lehigh Acres man accused in kidnapping, rape of woman from nightclub Travel to Miami, and you might hear people say 'get down from the car' instead of 'get out of the car.' Miami Herald/Getty Images We got down from the car and went inside. I made the line to pay for groceries. He made a party to celebrate his sons birthday. These phrases might sound off to the ears of most English-speaking Americans. In Miami, however, theyve become part of the local parlance. According to my recently published research, these expressions along with a host of others form part of a new dialect taking shape in South Florida. This language variety came about through sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers, particularly when speakers translated directly from Spanish. When French collided with English Whether youre an English speaker living in Miami or elsewhere, chances are you dont know where the words you know and use come from. Youre probably aware that a limited number of words usually foods, such as sriracha or croissant are borrowed from other languages. But borrowed words are far more pervasive than you might think. Theyre all over English vocabulary: pajamas from Hindi; gazelle from Arabic, via French; and tsunami from Japanese. Borrowed words usually come from the minds and mouths of bilingual speakers who end up moving between different cultures and places. This can happen when certain events war, colonialism, political exile, immigration and climate change put speakers of different language groups into contact with one another. When the contact takes place over an extended period of time decades, generations or longer the structures of the languages in question may begin to influence one another, and the speakers can begin to share each others vocabulary. One bilingual confluence famously changed the trajectory of the English language. In 1066, the Norman French, led by William the Conqueror, invaded England in an event now known as the Norman Conquest. Soon thereafter, a French-speaking ruling class replaced the English-speaking aristocracy, and for roughly 200 years, the elites of England including the kings did their business in French. An 18th-century illustration of the Battle of Hastings, which initiated the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Heritage Images/Hulton Fine Art Collection via Getty Images English never really caught on with the aristocracy, but since servants and the middle classes needed to communicate with aristocrats and with people of different classes intermarrying French words trickled down the class hierarchy and into the language. During this period, more than 10,000 loanwords from French entered the English language, mostly in domains where the aristocracy held sway: the arts, military, medicine, law and religion. Words that today seem basic, even fundamental, to English vocabulary were, just 800 years ago, borrowed from French: prince, government, administer, liberty, court, prayer, judge, justice, literature, music, poetry, to name just a few. Spanish meets English in Miami Fast forward to today, where a similar form of language contact involving Spanish and English has been going on in Miami since the end of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. In the years following the revolution, hundreds of thousands of Cubans left the island nation for South Florida, setting the stage for what would become one of the most important linguistic convergences in all of the Americas. Today, the vast majority of the population is bilingual. In 2010, more than 65% of the population of Miami-Dade County identified as Hispanic or Latina/o, and in the large municipalities of Doral and Hialeah, the figure is 80% and 95%, respectively. Of course, identifying as Latina/o is not synonymous with speaking Spanish, and language loss has occurred among second- and third-generation Cuban Americans. But the point is that there is a lot of Spanish and a lot of English being spoken in Miami. Cuban refugees on the island of Cay Sal wait for the U.S. Coast Guard to take them to Florida in 1962. Lynn Pelham/Getty Images Among this mix are bilinguals. Some are more proficient in Spanish, and others are more skilled English speakers. Together, they navigate the sociolinguistic landscape of South Florida in complex ways, knowing when and with whom to use which language and when its OK to mix them. When the first large group of Cubans came to Miami in the wake of the revolution, they did precisely this, in two ways. First, people alternated between Spanish and English, sometimes within the same sentence or clause. This set the stage for the enduring presence of Spanish vocabulary in South Florida, as well as the emergence of what some people refer to as Spanglish. Second, as people learned English, they tended to translate directly from Spanish. These translations are a type of borrowing that linguists call calques. Calques are all over the English language. Take dandelion. This flower grows in central Europe, and when the Germans realized they didnt have a word for it, they looked to botany books written in Latin, where it was called dens lionis, or lions tooth. The Germans borrowed that concept and named the flower Lowenzahn a literal translation of lions tooth. The French didnt have a word for the flower, so they too borrowed the concept of lions tooth, calquing it as dent de lion. The English, also not having a word for this flower, heard the French term without understanding it, and borrowed it, adapting dent de lion into English, calling it dandelion. A new lingo emerges This is exactly the sort of thing thats been happening in Miami. As a part of my ongoing research with students and colleagues on the way English is spoken in Miami, I conducted a study with linguist Kristen DAllessandro Merii to document Spanish-origin calques in the English spoken in South Florida. We found several types of loan translations. There were literal lexical calques, a direct, word-for-word translation. For example, we found people to use expressions such as get down from the car instead of get out of the car. This is based on the Spanish phrase bajar del carro, which translates, for speakers outside of Miami, as get out of the car. But bajar means to get down, so it makes sense that many Miamians think of exiting a car in terms of getting down and not getting out. Locals often say married with, as in Alex got married with Jose, based on the Spanish casarse con literally translated as married with. Theyll also say make a party, a literal translation of the Spanish hacer una fiesta. We also found semantic calques, or loan translations of meaning. In Spanish, carne, which translates as meat, can refer to both all meat, or to beef, a specific kind of meat. We discovered local speakers saying meat to refer specifically to beef as in, Ill have one meat empanada and two chicken empanadas. And then there were phonetic calques, or the translation of certain sounds. Thanks God, a type of loan translation from gracias a Dios, is common in Miami. In this case, speakers analogize the s sound at the end of gracias and apply it to the English form. The Miami-born adopt the calques We found that some expressions were used only among the immigrant generation for example, throw a photo, from tirar una foto, as a variation of take a photo. But other expressions were used among the Miami-born, a group who may be bilingual but speak English as their primary language. In an experiment, we asked Miamians and people from elsewhere in the U.S. to rate local expressions such as married with alongside the nonlocal versions, like married to. Both groups deemed the nonlocal versions acceptable. But Miamians rated most of the local expressions significantly more favorably than folks from elsewhere. Language is always changing is practically a truism; most people know that Old English is radically different from Modern English, or that English in London sounds different from English in New Delhi, New York City, Sydney and Cape Town, South Africa. But rarely do we pause to think about how these changes take place, or to ponder where dialects and words come from. Get down from the car, just like dandelion, is a reminder that every word and every expression have a history. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts, from an independent nonprofit. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Phillip M. Carter, Florida International University. Read more: Phillip M. Carter 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. McCarthy, US House hardliners reach deal to allow votes US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an agreement on Monday with an insurgent group of Republican conservative hardliners that will allow legislation to move forward this week, following a standoff that had paralyzed the chamber for days. But the lawmakers, including members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, warned that they could block other measures in the House of Representatives, unless they see progress toward a "power-sharing" deal with McCarthy that would bolster their influence, particularly over spending. "We're concerned about the economic security of this country, and to that end we will work. If we don't have that, there are going to be fights," Representative Ralph Norman told reporters after he and several other members of the House of Representatives met with McCarthy. The same lawmakers blocked legislation last week in protest over a bipartisan debt ceiling bill that passed the House on May 31 without spending cuts they had demanded. "We had a very productive meeting tonight," McCarthy told reporters after the meeting. "Everybody's attitude in the room was how do we move forward to where we were." The House is scheduled to begin voting on delayed Republican bills on Tuesday, starting with a floor rule governing debate and votes on passage. The delayed bills would shield gas stoves from new federal regulations and give Congress the ability to block other new federal rules. Under an agreement with McCarthy, the rule will also allow a floor vote on a firearms measure to repeal a federal ban on pistol braces that conservatives strongly support. Norman and other hardliners told reporters they would press for additional spending cuts in 12 appropriations bills that Congress will try to enact by Oct. 1 to keep federal agencies operating during the 2024 fiscal year. The lawmakers also want to eliminate an estimated 1,100 programs that have not been reauthorized by Congress, saying the programs represent $100 billion in spending. McCarthy's debt ceiling compromise with Democratic President Joe Biden set limits that would keep discretionary spending roughly flat for the next fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1. But the hardliners are also looking to expand their influence over the House Republican agenda. "We want to work on an accountability regime and a power sharing agreement," said Representative Matt Gaetz, one of the hardliners. "We want to see House conservatives in a position to be able to enforce the agreements that we all make." Continued Republican in-fighting could complicate passage of key legislation later this year on defense and agriculture as well as spending. With a narrow majority of 222-213, McCarthy can afford to lose no more than four Republican votes on any measure that faces uniform opposition from Democrats. Asked how he would be able to keep the House on an even keel with hardliners ready to block measures, McCarthy replied: "I just wake up every morning, pray for the patience of Job and find a solution." (Reporting by David Morgan in WashingtonEditing by Andy Sullivan, Mary Milliken and Matthew Lewis) Local crafts, moonshine, frozen yogurt and more: What to expect at new Philipsburg shop A shop set to open next month in Philipsburg is seeking to make a place where community members can gather. A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held Monday at Old Pops Corny Village Emporium, a store at 1374 Troy Hawk Run Highway thats expected to officially open in mid-July. The business is owned by husband and wife duo Mark and Grace Crompton. The front part of the building will sell crafts sourced from Pennsylvania vendors alongside snacks, drink mixes, and a coffee station with five flavors of cappuccino, Mark Crompton said. The back of the main store will be a live bait and tackle shop with everything you need for fishing in Pennsylvania, he added. Another section of the shop will sell frozen yogurt. An addition to the building will be designed after a 1920s speakeasy and will sell moonshine from Triple Nickel Distillery in Weedville. The shops unusual name comes from a story Mark Crompton told his grandson and a movie theater full of frustrated kids during a disrupted movie showing. To keep the kids entertained, he told them a story about how popcorn was invented. (According to the story, it was when a heat wave popped all the corn on Farmer Pop Cornys land). Grace Crompton has written a childrens book that Mark illustrated, based on his original story, which will be sold at the store. It came out to be what it wanted to be, Grace Crompton said Monday. Im very happy with the response we got today. Old Pops Corny Village Emporium will officially hold its grand opening in mid-July. Screen displays the company logo for semiconductor and chipmaker, GlobalFoundries Inc. during the companys IPO at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square in New York (Reuters) - Chipmaker GlobalFoundries and missile manufacturer Lockheed Martin on Monday announced their partnership to secure domestic semiconductor supply for defense systems. The strategic collaboration will secure manufacturing across a range of advanced and next-generation chips, and will allow leveraging of GlobalFoundries' technology to increase anti-fragility in microelectronics systems and supply chains. Defense companies have been grappling with supply chain disruptions including that from global chip shortages, which continue to hurt production. The collaboration directly supports the U.S. government's CHIPS and Science Act, which seeks to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States, the statement said. The Act provides around $52 billion in government subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production and an investment tax credit for manufacturing plants estimated to be worth $24 billion. Lockheed Martin along with GlobalFoundries will also pursue external funding opportunities, technology development and collaboration with the U.S. government. GlobalFoundries' manufacturing facilities in New York and Vermont have accreditation from the U.S. government and are authorized to produce secure chips used in sensitive mission systems. The companies will also work to develop a chiplet ecosystem, which stacks and stitches multiple chips together for rapid and affordable production. (Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) WASHINGTON Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday said he welcomes a new partnership between Lockheed Martin and New York semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries meant to produce chips critical to national security systems. Schumer said the new partnership will give GlobalFoundries an edge when applying for grants through his chips subsidies bill that Congress passed last year, which sets aside $2 billion in grants specifically for microelectronics in defense systems. Because of my chips and science bill, two titans of upstate New York industry are coming together GlobalFoundries and Lockheed Martin to ensure that most of the chips that are used in our sensitive military technology are made right here in upstate New York, Schumer said at an event announcing the partnership at GFs headquarters in Malta, New York. When Global Foundries applies for a chips grant to expand and meet demand for their chips by the defense industry and other industries like autos, theyre going to know that they have a willing customer in a great company like Lockheed Martin, he added. In addition to the possible defense grants from the Chips Act, the Pentagon already awarded GlobalFoundries $117 million in Defense Production Act funding last year to produce 45-nonamometer semiconductors in New York. The company will seek to more securely and efficiently manufacture chips Lockheed needs, including next-generation microelectronics, while bundling chips more tightly to reduce production costs. Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said the partnership will help increase access to domestically produced microelectronics a true national security imperative. Lockheed declined to offer details on the partnership, including how much it is investing. The subsidies and tax incentives for microelectronics companies in the Chips Act are largely geared toward onshoring semiconductor production amid concerns China could disrupt the global supply chain. China and its neighbors produce most of the words semiconductors, and the U.S. only produces 12% of global microprocessors. Additionally, Taiwan makes 92% of the worlds most advanced semiconductors, sparking fears that a Chinese invasion of the island could deprive the U.S. of the cutting-edge and lower-end chips both needed in weapons systems. We need the most advanced chip technologies and superior cybersecurity, anti-tamper and other capabilities that are specialized to bolster our national defense and deter aggression, said Taiclet. Taiclet noted that each CH-52 helicopter for the Marines contains over 2,000 chips. He also stressed the need for lower-end legacy chips for systems like Javelin anti-tank missiles that Ukraine has used to defend against Russias invasion. Each Javelin system contains 250 microchips, and the U.S. has sent thousands of the missiles to Ukraine. Beijing produces many of these lower-end chips and exports many to the U.S. though its unclear how many actually end up in American weapons systems. Schumer added an amendment to the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that will eventually ban Chinese-produced semiconductors from critical U.S. national security systems, arguing they could compromise weapons systems. Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are betting that primary voters, like the Leonard Cohen song, want it darker. For weeks, the frontrunners in the Republican presidential primary have painted current events in increasingly apocalyptic terms, in a fundraising appeal, likening his indictment on Thursday to watching our Republic DIE. DeSantis, who had previously suggested the government is imposing a biomedical security state, said the weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society. At a VFW Hall in Laconia, N.H. earlier this month, the Florida governor asked repeatedly if anyone was happy with the state of the economy, federal bureaucracy or an open southern border where drugs are pouring in and killing millions of Americans. Its nonstop doom and gloom a strategy squarely in line with public polling that suggests the Republican electorates sky-high dissatisfaction with how things are going in the country with a Democrat in the White House. Yet as the two behemoths in the primary compete for the angry vote and with their own rivalry becoming increasingly hostile some of their competitors are attempting to gain a foothold in the primary by carving out a less dystopian lane. There is still a desire among some Republicans for a more hopeful, optimistic, Reaganesque message, said Whit Ayres, a longtime Republican pollster. It appears to have been eclipsed by the angry populace, but were going to test that in this presidential election. Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence cast himself in his campaign announcement as a sunnier, Reaganesque Republican, appealing to the better angels of our nature and maintaining he isnt convinced our country is as divided as our politics despite a mob trying to kill him on Jan. 6, 2021. Doug Burgum, the near-anonymous North Dakota governor, talked about small-town values and fighting to unite the country in his campaign launch. Im a business guy, a strategic guy I wouldnt have gotten into this race if I didnt think there was a path, Burgum told POLITICO in an interview. He added: It's not just a lane, theres a huge lane to get out and tell our message. And then theres South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who has said conservatives are starved for hope and that the country is a more perfect union today than we were yesterday or last year or the last decade. The more optimistic appeal to voters is a longshot strategy in a party where Trump perfected grievance politics and where GOP voters have soured on the direction of the country, with only about 1 in 10 Republicans seeing things going in the right direction. And appealing to anger, any number of studies has concluded, is among the most effective short-term motivators to drive voters to the polls. Make no mistake, the Republican party from Trump on has gone to a guttural, angry mood and that carries on in revenge politics, and resentment, said Matthew Bartlett, the Republican operative who has been involved in several presidential campaigns. With few other options, a handful of their rivals are betting a more upbeat, happy warrior approach will offer at least a modicum of contrast as they attempt to move up in the field. Its a strategy that wont inflame the base. As Pence often says, Im a conservative, but Im not in a bad mood about it. Scott, too, despite criticizing many of the policies of President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, still doesnt say that all is lost. America continues to evolve in the right direction, he said on Fox News Monday night. We continue to call upon our better angels." His strategy there is less poll-tested and more about being consistent with his existing brand in the Senate, where Scott is known as an affable member who has neither fully embraced nor loudly rejected Trump. Scotts team has wagered that half the Republican Party wants a Trump-like fighter but theres another half of conservatives who arent demanding that approach to politics. Hes going to be authentic to himself. Hes going to be who he is, said an adviser to Scott. Hes not going to be somebody hes not. As the Scott hive mind has it, theres some evidence that his positive message is resonating with voters, however incrementally. Scott has not yet experienced any surge in polling since his May 22 campaign launch event, remaining in the low single digits. A Morning Consult poll released last week found that in the week after his launch, 38 percent of Republican primary voters said they heard something positive about Scott not an overwhelming number versus 7 percent who heard something negative. An optimistic, positive message has not been shared in so long, Scott said on the midday talk show The View recently, and as long as its anchored in conservatism and you have a backbone, people are interested in engaging in the conversation. Whether it will work is another question entirely. Barrett Marson, an Arizona-based Republican strategist, said candidates like Scott could ultimately fail to ignite the kindling of a tinderbox base. At this particular stage, seven months before any vote is cast, right now the mood of the Republican base is nothing but grievance, Marson said. A positive fighter like Tim Scott will just have a hard time reaching those voters emotionally, reaching them in their hearts. But theres at least a sliver of the GOP that may be open to a less caustic message. Mitch Daniels, the former Indiana governor who weighed a presidential bid in 2012 and served as Ronald Reagans chief political adviser, said that a Reaganesque sense of humor is in short supply in the current field. Even if the city is not shining very brightly at this moment, he suggested candidates 'leaven' their remarks with a touch of humor, pointing to Reagans line: Recessions are when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. Recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his. This year's crop would be well advised to do that, he said. Its the opening that theyre counting on. And according to Vikram Mansharamani, a former Republican New Hampshire Senate candidate, it taps into something about the country that angrier candidates are missing. Why the hell is everyone trying to come into this country if its so bad? he said. At the end of the day this is still a pretty damn good country. Ukraine Dam Catastrophe: Churches Rush to Help in Flood Zone U.S. mission joins with local churches to get generators, solar power kits, food, medical aid to crisis area Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org ) is rushing to support Ukrainian churches racing to help families impacted by the catastrophic dam collapse in southern Ukraine. "For many, these local church volunteers are their lifeline," SGA president Michael Johnson said. NEWS PROVIDED BY Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) June 12, 2023 LOVES PARK, Ill., June 12, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- A U.S. mission is rushing to support Ukrainian churches racing to help families impacted by the catastrophic dam collapse in southern Ukraine as a counter-offensive gets underway. "People are desperate for water, food, and a way to charge their phones as flood waters surround them and the counter-offensive goes on," said Michael Johnson, president of Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org). The Illinois-based organization is rushing generators, solar-powered phone charging kits, food, and other emergency supplies to local evangelical church teams and pastors responding at the scene of the disaster. "For many, these local church volunteers are their lifeline," Johnson said. The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam has been described as one of the biggest industrial and ecological disasters in Europe for decades, wiping out farms, destroying entire villages, and cutting off power and safe drinking water supplies to tens of thousands. Shock and Tears "I couldn't stop crying," said local church worker Olexandra, who partners with SGA. "I've never seen anything like this in my life. The damage caused by the flooding is terrible the scale is terrifying." Local churches are asking for prayer. "Keep praying for us," Olexandra said. "(We) hope God turns everything for good." Ready-Made Relief Force SGA's network of thousands of local evangelical churches and missionary pastors across the former Soviet Union has been operating for nearly 90 years, through times of war and peace, and even during the Cold War. "It's a ready-made relief force in emergencies, with local church volunteers already on the scene, so we're able to respond quickly, offering hurting people not only practical aid but also spiritual support and the good news of the Gospel," Johnson said. "It's so powerful when local Christians pray with people in distress and share with them that, yes, there is hope even in this dire situation." Founded in 1934, Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) helps "forgotten" orphans, widows and families in Ukraine, Russia, the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel caring for their physical needs and sharing the life-transforming Gospel. SGA supports an extensive grassroots network of local evangelical missionary pastors and churches in cities and rural villages across this vast region. SOURCE Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) CONTACT: Palmer Holt, 704-662-2569, pholt@inchristcommunications.com 'Look what God has done': Uzo Aduba expecting first baby with husband Robert Sweeting Uzo Aduba reveals on the red carpet at the 76th Tony Awards that she's expecting her first child with husband Robert Sweeting. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press) There's a baby on the way for actor Uzo Aduba! The "Orange Is the New Black" star is expecting her first child with her husband, writer-director Robert Sweeting, whom she quietly wed in 2020. Aduba, 42, confirmed the news Sunday on Instagram, sharing a video that showcased the crispest of baby onesies along with a gentle "ta-da!" "What a blessing," she added in the caption. "My husband Robert and I are so happy to enter this next chapter together as parents. I am beyond excited. I get to be someones Mommy!" Then, addressing her future child, she wrote: "I know as the three of us continue to grow, our only, ONLY goal will be to love you, little one. My goodness. Look what God has done." Followers, fans and friends including Viola Davis, "OITNB" co-stars Laverne Cox and Matt McGorry, actors Phoebe Robinson and Grace Byers and new moms Keke Palmer and Gina Rodriguez shared their well-wishes in the comments section of Aduba's post, posting celebratory emojis, congratulations and assurances that she's going to be a great mom. It's unclear when the little one is due and a representative for Aduba declined to comment further when reached Monday by The Times. The "Mrs. America" star also showed off her growing belly in a three-piece orange suit Sunday when she walked the red carpet for the 76th Tony Awards. Aduba, who was nominated for a Tony last year for her featured role in "Clyde's," also took the stage at the United Palace Theater in New York with Common to present the award for revival of a play. Designer Christian Siriano, who designed her apt red-carpet look, congratulated the "In Treatment" star on Instagram too. "You are going to be the most fabulous mom and I love dressing you all these years later!" the former "Project Runway" star wrote. "Thank you so so [much], @csiriano for making so many moments in my life, like this one, so memorable and special," she replied. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON A Virginia judge gave Richard and Mildred Loving a choice in 1958: The couple could serve a year in jail for violating a state ban on interracial marriage or they could move away for 25 years. The Lovings opted for a third choice: They appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a decision celebrated every June 12 as Loving Day, the nation's highest court ruled that bans on interracial marriage that were in place in 16 states at the time violated the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The day is named for the landmark decision, Loving v. Virginia. "Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the state," Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote for a unanimous court. "The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men." In the five decades since the decision, interracial marriage has increased dramatically. In 2015, one in six newlyweds had a spouse of a different race or ethnicity, which is more than five times higher than the number of intermarried newlyweds in 1967, according to Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Mildred Loving and her husband Richard P Loving are shown in this January 26, 1965 file photograph. What is National Loving Day? More than 30 years after the Loving v. Virginia decision, designer Ken Tanabe learned of the monumental ruling while in graduate school at Parsons School of Design. He said he was intrigued by the case because of his own interracial heritage and made it the subject of his graduate thesis project. That project grew into Loving Day, a holiday Tanabe said is celebrated around the country and the world. Loving Day has been officially recognized by a handful of states and cities including Virginia, Vermont, New York City and Los Angeles, and civil rights organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. Tanabe said the name is "not just a reference to a real couple who fought racial injustice, it also represents the love that we give to each other." What happened to Richard and Mildred Loving? In 1958, Mildred Loving got pregnant and the couple traveled to Washington, D.C., to get married. They then returned home to Caroline County, Virginia, and not long after, they were awakened in the middle of the night by policeman who informed them they were breaking the law. They were jailed on charges of unlawful cohabitation and offered a choice: Continue to serve jail time or leave Virginia for 25 years. The couple chose the latter and left the state. It wasnt my doing, Mildred Loving told the Associated Press in 2007. It was Gods work. Richard Loving died in a car crash 1975. Mildred Loving died in 2008. Why was Loving v. Virginia back in the news recently? When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, it noted abortion isn't explicitly included in the Constitution. But some advocates pointed out the same is true for many other rights millions of Americans take for granted: The right to same-sex marriage, the right to access contraception, the right to privacy, among others. Those rights were grounded in the 14th Amendment in the same way that abortion was. Among those is the right to interracial marriage. Justice Clarence Thomas used a concurring opinion last year to call on the Supreme Court to "reconsider" some of those rights established by the high court. Thomas, who is himself in an interracial marriage, didn't mention the Loving decision among those he thought worth revisiting an omission that was noted by his critics. The court's majority opinion by Justice Sam Alito said the difference is that none of the other precedents involved the "critical moral question posed by abortion." Justice Brett Kavanaugh also mentioned Loving in a concurrence in last year's abortion decision, asserting that the precedent and others like it would remain in place. "I emphasize what the court today states: Overruling Roe does not mean the overruling of those precedents, and does not threaten or cast doubt on those precedents," Kavanaugh wrote. A pedestrian is seen close to the Supreme Court on June 5, 2023. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is National Loving Day? The important history behind June 12 From Lupita Nyongo and Jessica Chastain: 6 of our favourite looks at the 2023 Tony Awards The red carpet at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night (11 June) was awash with some of the biggest names on Broadway, as stars turned up in their finery. The annual ceremony has been recognising the biggest achievements in theatre since 1947. This year, the show was hosted by Ariana DeBose, who made a statement when she opened the show by referring to a blank script due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike in pursuit of a fair deal. Meanwhile, the two biggest awards of the night were clinched by Leopoldstadt for Best New Play and Kimberly Akimbo was named Best New Musical. You can see the full list of Tony Awards winners here. Yet among the dozens of actors, musicians and performers who strutted down the red carpet, only a few truly dazzled with their outstanding sartorial choices. Here are our six favourite looks from the 2023 Tony Awards. Lupita Nyongo Lupita Nyongos striking look became a talking point among fans watching the awards show. Lupita Nyong'o attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star wore a metallic custom-made breastplate moulded over her own chest. The silver breastplate, which was created by Pakistani artist Misha Japanwala, covered the front of Nyongos entire torso, from her neck to her waist. The actor wore a black velvet suit jacket and trousers over the piece and accessorised with a Venezia box clutch by The Bella Rosa Collection, along with large diamond earrings and geometric silver rings. It wasnt just her outfit that turned heads. Nyongo also sported an intricate henna tattoo on her shaved scalp by artist Sabeen Marghboob Lupita Nyong'o visits the Zacapa XO x Baccarat Speakeasy at the 76th Annual Tony Awards on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Zacapa Rum) Sharing her look on Instagram, Nyongo wrote: Honoured, humbled, strengthened and energised to don this breastplate created by @mishajapanwala, which she cast and moulded of my body. Dylan Mulvaney Dylan Mulvaney attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) Comedian and TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney debuted a dramatically different hairstyle at this years Tony Awards. The transgender rights activist swapped her usually dark brunette hairstyle for platinum tresses, which were styled as wavy strands framing her face. She wore a sparkly black off-the-shoulder dress with a corset-style waist and a full skirt by Christian Siriano. Dylan Mulvaney attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) Mulvaney first showed off her new hair in an Instagram post on Friday (9 June) and last night was the first time she wore it out at a public event. J Harrison Ghee J Harrison Ghee attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Some Like It Hot star J Harrison Ghee made history at this years Tony Awards when they became one of the first openly non-binary actors to win an award. Ghee made a splash on the red carpet in a bright blue structured gown with a plunging neckline and off-the-shoulder collar. They wore matching blue opera gloves, as well as a layered choker around their neck and dangling earrings, as well as a large diamond ring on their left pinky finger. On social media, fans described Ghees dress as gorgeous, with one person writing: This is a fabulous outfit J Harrison Ghee got on, we love when winners dress to win. J Harrison Ghee attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) The 32-year-old won Best Lead Actor in a Musical for their dual role in Some Like It Hot and dedicated their award to every trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming human who was ever told you couldnt be seen. They continued: People often see me and say, Well, I could never wear that or I can never do that and this whole season, I have been living in this mantra: You have to free yourself to see yourself. Jessica Chastain Jessica Chastain attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Jessica Chastain was a bright ray of sunshine as she walked down the red carpet in a bold yellow Gucci down with a matching cape. The A Dolls House stars stunning dress featured a sweetheart neckline and a bodice that cinched in at her waist. The skirt fell in straight, tiny ruffles, while her cape swept dramatically across the floor as she walked. Chastain kept her red hair off her face in a sleek ponytail and wore a large chain necklace with an oversized glittering pendant. Jessica Chastain attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) She was nominated for Best Actress (Play) alongside Jodi Comer (Prima Facie), Jessica Hecht (Summer, 1976) and Audra McDonald (Ohio State Murders). Comer emerged victorious at the end of the night. A Dolls House was also nominated for a number of awards, including best play revival, best supporting actor for Arian Moayed, and best direction for Jamie Lloyd. Alex Newell Alongside Harrison Ghee, Alex Newell also became one of the first openly non-binary actors to clinch a Tony Award last night. Alex Newell attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Newell won Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for their part in the 2022 musical Shucked. The 30-year-old star was dressed to the nines for the evening in a sparkly gold off-the-shoulder gown with a corset waist and draped floor-length skirt. In their acceptance speech, Newell thanked the crew, cast and creative team behind Shucked and their mother for loving me unconditionally. Alex Newell accepts the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) They added: Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer nonbinary fat Black lil baby from Massachusetts. To anyone that thinks they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face [and say] that you can do anything you put your mind to. Stephanie Hsu The Everything Everywhere All At Once star brought goth glam to the Tony Awards in a beautifully structured black off-the-shoulder gown by Markarian. Stephanie Hsu attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) The structured dress featured puff sleeves and a fitted bodice, with a voluminous skirt. Hsu kept her jewellery simple by wearing dangling pearl earrings that stood out against her jet-black hair. Stephanie Hsu attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Although Hsu is best known for her role in the Oscar-winning film, as she starred alongside Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, she has regularly appeared in Broadway musicals including Be More Chill and Spongebob Squarepants The Musical. Lupita Nyongo brought her bold and unconventional sense of style to Sunday nights Tony Awards, appearing at the New York ceremony in a look she described as shameless. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actor walked the red carpet outside Manhattans United Palace theater in a black tuxedo and trousers. Underneath her jacket, however, she eschewed a traditional blouse in favor of a metallic breastplate. (NSFW images below) The breastplates details were strikingly realistic, and for good reason: Pakistani artist and designer Misha Japanwala created it by molding it from Nyongos own body. On Instagram, Nyongo said she felt honored, humbled, strengthened and energized to wear the piece, noting that Japanwalas work was rooted in the rejection and deconstruction of external shame attached to ones body. In her artistic process, she creates a realistic and true record of a persons body as an act of resistance and celebration, and an insistence on being allowed to exist freely in our bodies, she wrote. She went on to thank Japanwala for this special opportunity to BE EXACTLY HERE, IN THIS BODY NOW, calling it a SHAMELESS OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE. An Oscar winner for 2013s 12 Years a Slave, Nyongo is no stranger to the New York theater scene. In 2016, she received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of a Liberian orphan in Eclipsed, which made history as Broadways first play to have an all-Black female cast and creative team. Shes slated to return to the big screen next year in the horror film A Quiet Place: Day One, co-starring Denis OHare and Joseph Quinn. Related... A magistrate judge will be presiding over the momentous Miami federal court hearing on Tuesday afternoon when former President Donald Trump makes his first appearance on charges of keeping classified documents at his Palm Beach estate and obstructing government efforts to reclaim them. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman not U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was randomly assigned Trumps case will be handling the former presidents arraignment and bond matters. Cannon, who had been widely reported to be handling those duties, will still remain on the historic case as the lead judge. Goodman is a well-regarded veteran magistrate who once worked as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and later obtained his law degree and practiced civil litigation, including as a partner with the Akerman law firm in Miami. Goodman, who is on duty as the magistrate judge this week, is known not only for his legal wisdom but also for his wry humor in the courtroom. Cannon is the newest member of the federal bench in South Florida, joining the court system as a judge just days after Trump lost the November 2020 election. Cannon, who was nominated by Trump and previously served in the U.S. Attorneys Office as a prosecutor, drew widespread criticism for her handling of the former presidents civil case challenging the FBIs seizure of classified documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate last summer. Miami attorney Joseph DeMaria, who once worked in the Justice Departments organized crime task force in South Florida, told the Herald last week that there may be no legal reason to disqualify Cannon from staying on the Trump case. But he said that the American public is so divided politically that if she chooses to stick with it, many people might not have faith in the outcome. Should she recuse herself? asked DeMaria, a Republican. As a citizen, I think she should. Donald Trump is entitled to a fair trial, but the people of this country also deserve a fair trial. If Cannon were to step aside for any reason, the Trump case would be randomly assigned again to one of the other three federal judges in the West Palm Beach division: Robin Rosenberg, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, Donald Middlebrooks, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, or Kenneth Marra, who was nominated by President George W. Bush. Trumps legal team has been interviewing South Florida lawyers to join the team, most notably Ben Kuehne, a Democrat and prominent member of the legal community. Hes a former president of the Miami-Dade Bar Association and most recently represented Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo in his federal civil case in which Carollo was sued by businessman Bill Fuller. A 37-year-old man died Sunday after being shot in Wilmington, police said. Officers were called to the first block of E. 23rd St. about 2:15 p.m. for reports of the shooting. There, they found the man badly injured. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. Police will release the man's name once family has been notified. The department has released little information about the shooting. But Wilmington gun violence activists are planning a prayer chain for Tuesday to protest gun violence. The event, hosted by Pastor Margaret Guy, will begin at E. 23rd and North Market streets, where Sunday's shooting occurred. The fatal Wilmington shooting occurred several hours before Dover police shot a 37-year-old man who fired a gun "in the presence of police," the department said. SUNDAY POLICE SHOOTING: Man shot by Dover police after firing gun 'in the presence of police,' department says He was taken to the Bayhealth Hospital Kent Campus in serious condition. As of Monday morning, he was still alive. Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington shooting leaves one man dead Sunday afternoon Uniformed Boston Police officers fill Roxbury District Court for the arraignment of 23-year-old John Lazare, the Brockton man accused of shooting a Boston Police officer during a robbery in Roxbury Friday night. The judge allowed the defense motion to have Lazare listen from a nearby room, out of range of our courtroom camera. The defendant stands before you charged in two separate dockets with a number of violent crimes, prosecutor Erin Murphy told the court. John Lazare now facing a series of charges including, assault and battery with a firearm, and assault with a dangerous weapon for Fridays shooting that sent a six-year Boston Police veteran to the hospital. It all happened Friday night at about 9:15 on Cedric Street in Roxbury. The police officer was investigating the robbery of a pizza delivery driver two nights before on June 7th. When the officer arrived at the scene in uniform, another armed robbery of a pizza delivery driver was taking place. Authorities say when the officer approached Lazare, Lazare shot the officer twice and ran into the building. The police officer was struck in the foot and the back. A prosecutor said Lazare ran up the building stairs to the roof and on the way, dropped his gun, as police followed him. They followed the shooters path of travel up to the third floor of the building and out of the door to the fire escape and down to the roof. Thats where they saw the defendant running across the roof and demanded that he stop, that he show his hands, but the defendant ran across adjacent rooftops, prosecutor Murphy said. Police found Lazare in an alley, suffering from a leg injury, and arrested him. Police say he suffered the injury when he tried to get away from police by jumping off a roof. Days later, the Boston Police officers who filled district court were not able to get a glimpse of the man charged in the shooting, but they appeared here to show support for a colleague who gave all he had. This is what officers face every night that they go to work. The unknown. Ae they going home the same way came in, alive and healthy to see their loved ones, said Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmans Association. Boston Police have not identified the police officer who was shot. However, a spokesman says he is now home from the hospital and recovering. As for Lazare, he is ordered held without bail pending a Dangerousness Hearing on June 23rd. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A man was arrested on the University of Kentuckys campus early Sunday morning after inappropriately touching a woman and attacking police officers, according to court documents. At about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, UK police received a report of an assault in progress near the William T. Young Library on UKs campus, according to court documents. The incident began when two victims walked past Mark Lindsey, 34, sitting in a chair next to a walking path by the library, documents say. Lindsey stood up and asked the victims for their names, court documents say. He then slapped a phone out of one of the victims hands and inappropriately touched one of the victims. A man saw the encounter and intervened, and Lindsey threw a glass bottle at the mans chest, according to court documents. The three victims ran off and called police. When officers arrived, Lindsey threw the victims phone at one of the officers, according to court documents. He also lunged at and hit two officers during his apprehension. Lindsey was eventually arrested and taken to jail, court documents say. Lindsey was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of assaulting a police officer, second-degree assault, second-degree robbery, public alcohol intoxication, criminal mischief, indecent exposure, resisting arrest and three counts of menacing, according to jail records. He was being held at the Fayette County Detention Center Monday morning on a $3,000 bond. Lindsey is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Fayette District Court Monday afternoon, according to court records. A 21-year-old Rochester man shot late Sunday in southwest Rochester has died from his injuries, Rochester police announced on Monday afternoon. Officers are investigating what led to the fatal shooting, which occurred at 301 Genesee St., just north of Frost Street, around 11 p.m., said Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department. The man, who was not identified by police, was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment. He underwent surgery overnight and later died from his injuries. Umbrino said that a party was underway at 301 Genesee at the time of the fatal shooting. Police are investigating to determine what led to the incident, which marked Rochester's 20th homicide of 2023. No charges have been filed in connection with the slaying. Anyone with information is asked to call 911. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Genesee St. shooting leaves one dead in Rochester NY A man hunting rabbits was injured by a brown bear possibly defending its cubs and was forced to shoot and kill it, Alaska State Troopers reported. The 34-year-old man reported being attacked near Sterling at 8:24 p.m. Saturday, June 10, troopers said in a dispatch. He shot and killed the bear with a .44-caliber pistol, troopers said. The mans injuries were not life-threatening. Sterling is a community of roughly 6,000 people about 145 miles southwest of Anchorage. What to do if you see a bear Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space. There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack. Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize youre a human and nonthreatening. Stay calm: Bears usually dont want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear. Dont scream: Screaming could trigger an attack. Pick up small children: Dont let kids run away from the bear. It could think theyre small prey. Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people. Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Dont make any sudden movements. Hunter opens fire and kills grizzly bear charging toward him, Montana officials say Bear swims off Florida coast as crowd of beachgoers watches. Guess hes on vacation Bear attacks sleeping camper during river rafting trip in Montana, officials say A man shared the joy of getting drunk and going to Costco on a Friday night, a risky adult activity that's bonding millennial TikTokers Daniel Bennett showing fans the joys and dangers of going to Costco with a buzz and no shopping list. @dxnielbennett / TikTok "It's Friday night, and our entire apartment wanted to stay in," the TikToker Daniel Bennett told viewers. His roommate had a brilliant compromising idea: Pregame and go shopping at Costco. Bennett said the "ROI" of going to Costco buzzed was greater than that of spending money at a bar. A TikToker named Daniel Bennett has bonded a millennial demographic on the app who no longer want to spend their Friday nights partying or out at a bar. The supreme Friday-night activity is, apparently, getting drunk and going to Costco. In his June 3 viral video, Bennett, who lives in Los Angeles, took viewers along on his wild night out at the big-box retailer, where he and his roommates debated whether they needed to buy 6 pounds of meat because it was a good deal. "New friday activity unlocked," the 27-year-old captioned the video, which has been watched 3.8 million times. It's also been tagged "millennial" for seemingly obvious reasons. "It's Friday night and our entire apartment wanted to stay in," Bennett said in his video. "We're like, we're not going out tonight there's no way we're going out. So one of our roommates suggested that we just go to Costco and walk around." He then showed himself pregaming the expedition with two glasses of wine. "Fuck, why am I so excited," someone in the background, presumably one of his roommates, could be heard saying. Bennett said he spent $85 that evening though the damage could have been much, much worse. "When you have a couple of drinks, the budget goes out the door," he said. "Do I need 2 pounds of shishito peppers that are $14?" Bennett said he and his roommates had a thrilling time and also had groceries for the weekend and the rest of the forthcoming week to show for it. "Last night I spent $100 at the bar and I'm never getting that back. The ROI on Costco is big," he joked, using the abbreviation for "return on investment." On TikTok, his video has bonded both millennials and impassioned Costco fans. "THESE ARE MY PEOPLE," one top commenter wrote. Others said they'd done something similar but come away spending hundreds of dollars on items they probably didn't need. "My husband and I go to Costco with our 2yo who acts just like someone who's had a few drinks and we spend at least $600 everytime," a user shared. Similar to other US grocers like Trader Joe's, Costco has grown a cult following. The wholesale chain is beloved for its diverse offerings, like startlingly cheap food-court items, affordable clothing, and deals on electronics and jewelry. One TikTok creator, Tasmin Dhaliwal, has even built a loyal following showing fans how to eat your way through Costco with its many food samples. Bennett told Insider he's happy that his content was so resonant with a "25 and over" crowd. And anyone younger may not understand the domestic bliss of pregaming a trip to Costco. "Hangovers get worse as you get older," he said. "People over 25 doing activities other than going to bars is becoming more popular." Read the original article on Insider Man shot by Dover police after firing gun 'in the presence of police,' department says A 37-year-old man was shot by Dover police Sunday night after firing a gun "in the presence of police," the department said. The shooting, which police called a "rapidly evolving incident," occurred about 8:40 p.m., after officers were dispatched to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of Sussex Avenue. Police were told a woman was refusing to leave a home. On scene, responding officers "observed a disturbance between an adult female and an adult male, in the middle of the block, in proximity to the dispatched address," a department news release said. The man had a handgun, police said, and shot it. The department did not say where he was pointing it. As the chaotic scene unfolded, police shot the man "in response to an imminent threat to life," Dover police said. After securing the man, officers began first aid and he was taken to the Bayhealth Hospital Kent Campus in serious condition. As of Monday morning, he was still alive. RELATED: The Delaware police reform bills have bipartisan support. Yet advocates feel left out Police said a handgun was found on the ground "directly" next to where the man was standing. The officer who shot the man has been with Dover police for 2 years and is a member of the patrol division, the department said. As with all police shootings, he's been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation. Dover police are investigating internally while the Delaware Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust is also investigating. The department said it will provide more details as they're available. Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dover police shoot man who they say fired gun in 'presence of police' Man threatening driver with gun was caught on video, then he was arrested, SC sheriff says A Lexington man who was filmed holding a gun during a road rage incident has been arrested, the Lexington County Sheriffs Department said Sunday night. Adam Lee Jones, 43, was charged with presenting a firearm, the sheriffs department said in a news release. On June 8, Jones displayed the weapon while stopped at a traffic light near the 200 block of Longs Pond Road, according to the release. Thats at the intersection with Two Notch Road in Lexington, near Exit 51 on Interstate 20. Adam Lee Jones was charged with presenting a firearm, the Lexington County Sheriffs Department said His menacing act and threatening vulgar language were recorded on a cellphone, the sheriffs department said. In cellphone video recorded by the victim, Jones can be seen yelling before reaching down and grabbing a black handgun, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release. Jones then holds the gun where the victim can clearly see it. A family member of the victim reported the incident, according to the release. Detectives received tips in the case as soon as the victim shared the video on social media, the sheriffs department said. Video of the confrontation was shared on multiple Facebook and Twitter groups and accounts. Jones was arrested June 9, according to the release. He was not listed on the inmate roster at the Lexington County Detention Center as of Monday morning. Bond was set at $10,000 Saturday during a court hearing, sheriffs department spokesman Capt. Adam Myrick told The State Monday. Information about when Jones was released was not available. No injuries were reported. If convicted on the felony charge, Jones faces a maximum punishment of five years in prison, according to South Carolina law. How many UBI trials do we need to prove giving away money works? Turns out people love getting this stuff. For the next two years, 30 people in the United Kingdom will receive 1,600 ($1,984) a month from the think tank Autonomy to help researchers understand the effects of universal basic income (UBI) policies. Will the program teach us anything other UBI pilots havent? The idea of UBI is to expand, regularize, and streamline social spending by giving every citizen cash payments, thus reducing inequality and increasing opportunity. It pulls together several threads: the realization among aid workers that giving cash to people in poor countries is a powerful tool for development; the success of policies like Social Security and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which provide a basic income for seniors and low-income workers respectively; and the concerns about structural changes in a technology-driven economy that concentrate wealth at the top. Read more Critics fret about the cost of such programs and whether they can really replace national health programs and other welfare spending; they worry, too, about the incentives a UBI could create for recipients to leave the job market. Proponents are building a case by launching a wide variety of pilots across the world to test the effects in real time. In the US, there are more than 120 pilots happening right now, according to Natalie Foster, president of the Economic Security Project, which advocates for UBI policies and assists in trials. A Stanford University lab is tracking 30 US pilots that include more than 7,000 people. And the charity GiveDirectly is currently working on a 12-year project tracking guaranteed incomes provided to 20,000 people in Kenya. What UBI pilots can teach us, and what they cant Early returns on studies that have been completed tend to be positive, according to literature reviews: Labor force participation tends to increase, while metrics for health and well-being (pdf) rise. However, some economists have argued that pilots wont provide answers to long-term questions about how UBI could change the way people behave. This is in part because the samples are quite small, a function of the high cost of providing a UBI (and a cautionary tale about the feasibility of implementing a UBI at a large scale), two UC Berkeley economists wrote in a 2019 study. [T]hey will shed little or no light on any long-term effects, such as those operating through human capital accumulation, or on the psychological and political effects of universality. There are some long-term natural experimentslike Alaskas Permanent Fund, which shares oil revenue among the states citizensthat suggest a UBI could work. The pandemic relief checks distributed in the US also provided hints/ /although the results are hard to disentangle from the rest of the effects of the pandemic on the economy. Another recent policy, the refundable child tax credit, was hailed by UBI advocates but expired due to a lack of support in Congress. If good data passed policy, we would live in a very different world, says the Economic Security Projects Foster, noting that several state governments in the US are considering expanding the child and employment tax credits. The point of local experiments with UBI Foster argues that pilots, including one in Stockton, California (pdf) enabled by her organization, have catalyzed interest in deploying and exploring cash grants. The point of the pilots isnt just the empirical findings, but to make the policy tangible. And that brings us back to the latest experiments in England. It is important that questions are asked and answered locally, Foster says, so that elected officials can hear the answers more clearly. In the UK, with the pilot, they would be able to have local data that tells a local story. A story that [success] is possible is a prerequisite for a guaranteed income. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Marines from an air-support detachment who were sent to the Middle East in May in the midst of training were supporting Army activities in Kuwait, according to the Marine Corps. When the service announced on April 29 the short-notice deployment of Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, it provided few details. Marine spokesman Lt. Col. L. L. Gilbert told Marine Corps Times at the time that approximately 20 Marines would temporarily provide routine air defense support to a larger, layered air-defense effort within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Back then, he declined to elaborate further, citing operational security. Now, the Marine Corps has specified that 17 Marines from the expeditionary units low-altitude air-defense detachment were deployed to Kuwait in support of U.S. Army Central, the Army formation focused on the Middle East and surrounding countries. Marines want $200M for powerful drone-killing machines The 26th MEU LAAD served as a link in a chain of layered air defense programs, systems and capabilities designed to defeat adversary Unmanned Aerial Systems within the U.S. CENTCOM Area of Responsibility, Capt. Angelica White in a statement Monday to Marine Corps Times. The Marines demonstrated the USMCs ability to rapidly deploy and redeploy episodic air-defense support capabilities, Gilbert said in a statement to Marine Corps Times on Friday. The spokespersons statements didnt offer more specifics about the impetus for the deployment. Gilbert declined to name the air-defense system the detachment used. That information is sensitive, he said. What I can say is that Low-Altitude Air Defense captures both the proper title of the unit and the characterization of their mission, he said in a follow-up statement to Marine Corps Times on Monday. It is also accurate to say, as we have before, that they served as a cog in the wheel of a larger, layered air-defense effort within the (area of responsibility). Among the 26th Marine Expeditionary Units capabilities is the light Marine air defense integrated system, Task & Purpose previously noted. The L-MADIS is the only counter-unmanned aerial system platform based on the East Coast that is permanently part of the Marine Corps capabilities, according to a photo caption on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Site. Twelve of those systems already have been fielded, according to a Marine Corps planning document released earlier in June. The L-MADIS is light enough to be loaded onto the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft or Marine cargo helicopters. All 17 Marines who deployed to Kuwait received the Army Achievement Medal before they returned to North Carolina, where they are based, White said. The Army Achievement Medal is awarded to troops who distinguish themselves by meritorious service or achievement that doesnt rise to the level of an Army Commendation Medal, according to the Army awards manual. The Marines medals did not include a C device, which recognizes actions that took place in combat, or an R device, which recognizes actions that took place outside of an operational area but in direct support of combat, according to White. Its unclear where, exactly, in Kuwait the Marines went. The U.S. military has several bases in the country. In fact, Germany, Japan and South Korea are the only foreign countries host more U.S. service members than Kuwait, according to a 2021 fact sheet by the State Department. The recent deployment is the first time a Marine low-altitude air-defense detachment has deployed on short notice to support operations in Central Command, White said. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit was entering the last stage of a predeployment training program when the group of Marines deployed, the Marine Corps stated in its news release announcing the deployment. The 26th MEU is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and is set to deploy in July to areas that fall under European Command, Africa Command and Central Command, according to White. Each week, this series shares MarionMade! stories of our many wonderful people, places, products and programs in the greater Marion community. To read more positive stories of Marion, or to share some of your own, visit us at marionmade.org or on social media. With a dazzling smile and a talent for tap dancing, Marion native Marilyn Meseke won the Miss America pageant in 1938. Marion is still the only town to have both a Miss America and a U.S. president. Marilyn Meseke tap danced to three songs to win Miss America in 1938. In addition to her crown, she was awarded a sash, trophy, scepter and robe. Meseke was born Mary Ellen Spurrier on Oct. 7, 1916, in Lima. Charlie and Clara Meseke, her maternal grandparents, adopted the infant and renamed her Marilyn Meseke. They lived on South Prospect Street. Neighbor Evelyn Long described Clara as very strict and disciplined, which Long said contributed to Marilyns later success. Marilyn started tap dance lessons at age 4. She had a natural talent. She also learned to sing, play piano and twirl batons. The 1933 Harding High School yearbook lists Meseke as a member of the National Honor Society. After high school, the enterprising woman opened a dance studio in her familys living room. Many Marionites still remember taking lessons from her. She was my two older sisters tap-dancing teacher. They said she was as nice as she was pretty, remembered Carolyn Barnhard on the Growing up in Marion Facebook group. Mesekes beauty, drive and talent made her a successful pageant queen. She won Miss Ohio twice. Her first win was in 1931 at just 14 years old. Due to her age, she was not allowed to compete in the Miss America contest. Meseke was undeterred. Meseke won Miss Ohio again in 1938. This time, she went to Atlantic City for the Miss America pageant. This was the first year the talent competition was mandatory. The dance teacher shone. Friends in Marion listened to her win the Miss America crown live on national radio. More than 112 million moviegoers eagerly watched the newsreel footage a week later. The trophy give to Marilyn Meseke when she won Miss America and other items are displayed at the Marion County Historical Society at 169 E. Church St., Marion. During the summer, it is open from Wednesday through Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. When Meseke came home victorious, 30,000 people welcomed her with a nighttime parade on Sept. 29, 1938. Meseke represented her hometown at appearances around the nation. She then started a modeling career, according to the Marion Historical Society. Meseke didnt let the fame go to her head. She has been described as humble, gentle, kind, giving and charitable. She was active in the Miss America program for many years, including organizing the pageants 75th anniversary ceremonies in 1995. She was an amazing woman. And she loved Marion, and Marion people. So kind, said Stuart Haley, an administrator on the Growing Up in Marion Ohio Facebook group. Meseke married Stanley Hume in 1944. They moved to Florida, though she still stayed in touch with her friends from her hometown. The couple had one son, Michael. After Stanley died, the widow later married pilot Ben Rogers. Marilyn Hume-Rogers continued to teach piano. She died on Sept. 12, 2001, at age 84. Meseke was a two-time Miss Ohio before going on to win Miss America in 1938. She is one of five Miss Ohios to win the title of Miss America, according to the pageant website. Ohioan Mary Katherine Campbell won the Miss America title in back-to-back wins in 1922 and 1923, leading to the rule that a winner cannot enter the contest again. "She was really an elegant lady and just as beautiful the day she died. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. She brought a lot of notice and fame to Marion, Ohio, longtime friend Phyllis Bell Smith said after her death. Meseke donated her trophy and other memorabilia to the Marion County Historical Society. The museum, located at 169 E. Church St., is open from Wednesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults; $5 for seniors; $3 for students from kindergarten through college; and free for children under age 5. More museum details can be found at marionhistory.com or on the muse This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marilyn Meseke's unique role in Marion's history How will Maryland get tough on cyber security? Sen. Cardin aims to help small businesses Ben Cardin has been highlighted a lot lately after announcing his intent not to run for another term in the United States Senate. But before backing away from five-plus decades in public life next year, Marylands senior senator sought to address a small business and government issue that has been significantly stepped up during his last six-year term cyber incidents. My focus today is going to be on how the government and Small Business Administration can help entrepreneurs, starting businesses and growing businesses, to help us in cybersecurity, said Sen. Cardin, during an interview with reporters at the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute facility in Columbia on Friday before leading a discussion with small business owners about cyber. In Western Marylands Washington County in 2022, on the Eastern Shores Dorchester County in 2020 and the Salisbury Police Department in 2019, cyber issues have rankled local government officials in recent years. Maryland's senior U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, chair of the Senate Committee Small Business & Entrepreneurship, leads a discussion with business owners about cybersecurity at the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute facility in Columbia on June 9, 2023. State Sen. Katie Fry Hester, D-Howard, smiles during the senators remarks. Ransomware, where hackers hold computer systems hostage typically in return for payment, hit Baltimore Citys government in 2019, curtailing access to emails and cutting off water billing for months. In another case, Baltimore County Public Schools were closed for a day after a ransomware attack in 2020. Cardin, who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, toured the Columbia facility called DreamPort with leadership from the institute and looked to learn how other non-cyber focused entities like small businesses could become more secure. My focus is going to be trying to help smaller companies that dont have the same capacity to protect themselves, he said. About a dozen or so local cyber business owners attended the discussion with Cardin as did state Sen. Katie Fry Hester, D-Howard/Montgomery, and Brigadier Gen. Reid Novotny, a former state delegate, who flanked the senator on either side at the table. State officials from the Department of Commerce also were present. Kimberly Mentzell, the Maryland Department of Commerce director of cybersecurity and aerospace, said during the discussion that cybersecurity is as important to a business' success as human resources (HR) or accounting. Cardin touts Small Business Cyber Training Act. Area businesses weigh in The retiring senator touted the Small Business Cyber Training Act passed into law last year, which is designed to help small businesses plan for cybersecurity. To some extent, those efforts to increase cyber awareness are already beginning to bear fruit. Maryland Innovation and Security Institute Senior Program Manager TC Hoot points to a model town for cyber training during a tour of the Columbia, Maryland facility on June 9, 2023. The institute's CEO Gregg Smith, at right, looks on with state Sen. Katie Fry Hester, D-Howard, and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, who toured the facility on Friday. Small businesses are just coming around to the realization in the last two to three years for the need for those kind of (cybersecurity) services, said Bryan Murfree, president of the Salisbury-headquartered company Telewire, in a phone interview before the meeting. His company of a handful of employees has been working with businesses primarily on the Delmarva Peninsula for 39 years, providing information technology (IT) services, and now cybersecurity. Every single IT system that an organization implements needs to take cybersecurity into consideration, Murfree said, in a May post. In Howard County, in the interview before the discussion, Cardin noted the huge cost of cybersecurity for businesses and governments. In Washington County, David Nathans, a director with the Hagerstown-based cybersecurity company SOCSoter is looking to keep those costs down for a clientele, primarily in the private sector. More: Cybersecurity students hear from CIA's former chief of disguise We really focus on making sure that full cybersecurity protection services, said Nathans, of his company, in a phone interview, are available for small businesses at a price they can afford. The company of about 25 employees provides cybersecurity services to small businesses in Hagerstown as well as some local and state governments, and a few international clients. After touring the DreamPort facility, which hosts over 100 kids and parents for Saturday cyber education programs sponsored by the National Cryptologic Foundation, Cardin said forums like the one in Columbia help people understand risk factors in cyber and minimize them. More: Maryland's US Senate race to succeed Ben Cardin already a crowded field. Here's who's in. You have to take steps to protect yourself, he said. Dwight A. Weingarten is an investigative reporter, covering the Maryland State House and state issues. He can be reached at dweingarten@gannett.com or on Twitter at @DwightWeingart2. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Cardin aims to help small businesses get secure in cyberspace Tensions between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) bubbled up into the open last week as House GOP leaders dealt with hard-line conservative rebels bringing action on the floor to a halt over the debt limit compromise with the White House. McCarthy on Wednesday morning directly named Scalise when explaining to reporters why the conservatives rebelled, pointing to a misinterpretation between Scalise and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.). McCarthy answered yes when asked Wednesday evening if members of his leadership team were on the same page amid the floor drama. But in an interview with Punchbowl News on Wednesday afternoon, describing the rebellion on the House floor, Scalise pointed to the conservative members feeling misled by the speaker over McCarthys handling of the debt limit deal compared to the commitments he made during the Speakers race in January a gripe that Scalise neither affirmed nor shot down. Conservative revolt in House alarms Senate GOP Senate GOP leaders break with House on Trump indictment The two men publicly pointing to differing reasons behind the conservative rebellion represents a rare public display of the tensions between the GOP leaders managing a slim and spunky House majority. Its a situation that some members hope can be put to rest sooner rather than later. Cooler heads have got to prevail. Theyre great people. Theyre actually very similar, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said of Scalise and McCarthy, adding that he hopes they can work together. They better. McCarthy and Scalise have never been viewed as the best of friends, but any animosity has mostly stayed out of their public statements. During the historic 15-ballot Speaker election in January, Scalise the most obvious potential alternative to McCarthy if he had been forced to drop out of the running always publicly supported McCarthy, and gave one of the nominating speeches in favor of the Republican Speaker nominee on the floor. But last weeks unexpected floor rebellion, in which 11 GOP members sunk a procedural rule vote for the first time since 2002, has exposed cracks between the leaders and in how the GOP leadership team functions. Clydes legislation One key dynamic at the core of the floor rebellion was an allegation from Clyde that a member of leadership whom he did not name had threatened to keep one of his legislative items from getting a floor vote if he did not voted no on the rule vote for the debt bill May 31. Clyde was one of 29 Republicans who did oppose that rule, forcing the GOP to rely on Democratic support to advance the debt limit bill. McCarthy later named Scalise directly in relation to Clyde when explaining the chaos on the floor. The Majority Leader runs the floor. And yesterday was started on something else, McCarthy said. It was a conversation that the majority leader had with Clyde, and I think it was a miscalculation or misinterpretation of what one said to the other. And thats what started this, and then something else bellowed into it. Scalise had a different account when asked about Clydes allegation at a press conference just hours before the 11 GOP members sunk the rule. Scalise said Clydes resolution, which would block the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from banning pistol brace attachments, did not yet have enough support in the GOP to pass but that Scalise was working to get it to pass. Clyde had told The Hill the day before that he spoke to leadership and was expecting a vote on his legislation the following week. But after Scalises comments, Clyde reiterated in a statement that he was threatened by leadership. The stunning floor rebellion hours later, which blocked advancement of legislation relating to gas stoves and regulatory reforms, included Scalise and Clyde in a heated discussion on the House floor that later included other GOP rebels. Clyde was not one of the 11 GOP members who voted against the rule, but some who did like Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) specifically mentioned the alleged threat against Clyde when explaining the rebellion. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) arrives for President Yoon Suk Yeol to address a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Debt limit bill tension But others in the group of 11 rebels, including Reps. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) and Ken Buck (R-Colo.), said the alleged threat was only a symptom of a larger problem that sparked their votes against the rule. We had an agreement that had been forged by all of us together, and it was utterly jettisoned unilaterally by the Speaker, Bishop said of the debt limit bill. Were concerned that the fundamental commitments that allowed Kevin McCarthy to assume the Speakership had been violated as a consequence of the debt limit deal, Gaetz also said. Bishop said leadership flouted an agreement struck in January during the Speakers race to revert total discretionary spending to fiscal 2022 levels. It is not clear whether such an agreement existed, though conservatives at the time called for a budget resolution within that framework and GOP leaders have defended the debt bill as increasing defense spending and reverting other spending to around fiscal 2022 levels. Scalise was not a key negotiator in either the debt limit deal with President Biden or during the Speakers race in both, Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) were key McCarthy deputies. The No. 2 House Republican highlighted the members frustration about feeling betrayed when explaining the floor impasse to Punchbowl News. There was a lot of anger being expressed. And frankly, you know a lot of the anger they expressed was that they felt they were misled by the speaker during the negotiations in January on the Speaker vote, Scalise said. Whatever commitments were made, they felt like he misled them, and broke promises. And they expressed that. I dont know what those promises were. [I] understand some of them went and talked to [McCarthy] and when they left, they still publicly were expressing anger with him over what they perceived as broken promises, and thats got to get resolved, Scalise said. In a demonstration of mending the issue with Clyde, Scalise released statements from himself, the Georgia congressman and gun rights groups in support of the pistol brace rule repeal. The measure is slated for a vote Tuesday, Clyde said after emerging from a meeting with Scalise hours following the sunk rule vote. The offices of McCarthy and Scalise did not provide any additional comment for this story. McCarthy and Scalise are far from the first party leaders to have bumps in the road. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) had a working dynamic sometimes described as frenemies. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said McCarthy and Scalise will work together when they need to work together, noting that it was a very high-stakes environment to get the debt limit bill across the finish line. They pull it together when they need to. And I think thats indicative of a relationship that works on a professional level when it needs to, Thune said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mexico City mayor to step down to pursue historic bid for presidency Mexico City mayor to step down to pursue historic bid for presidency Outgoing Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum holds a press conference in Mexico City MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said she will step down on Friday to pursue the ruling party's candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, bidding to become the country's first female leader. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) on Sunday agreed that on Sept. 6 it would announce the winner of its internal selection process. Sheinbaum is one of the two favorites. MORENA is heavily favored to win the June 2024 presidential election, lifted by Lopez Obrador's personal popularity. He cannot seek re-election because Mexican presidents are restricted by law to a single six-year term. Close aides to Lopez Obrador have told Reuters they believe he would like Sheinbaum to succeed him. He denies having any favorite. Announcing her resignation plan at a press conference on Monday, the 60-year-old Sheinbaum underlined her credentials as a scientist and environmentalist, saying she would continue Lopez Obrador's "transformation" of Mexico with her "own stamp." "I have made the decision to leave the post definitively on June 16, with the goal of becoming the first woman in the history of Mexico to lead the fate of the nation," she said. MORENA's leadership at the weekend agreed that the contenders should step down this week to compete. Most opinion polls have tended to give Sheinbaum a slight advantage in the race over her rival Marcelo Ebrard, who stood down as foreign minister earlier on Monday to compete. Sheinbaum highlighted that past polling had put her ahead and said she was confident it would remain that way. Five polls open to the general public are due to determine MORENA's presidential nominee. Sheinbaum also cited a study published last month by the national statistics agency showing that over two-thirds of Mexicans strongly backed a woman holding the presidency. "It's time for women," she said. Ebrard had argued that prospective candidates should leave their posts to ensure a level playing field. Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez, another contender, is also expected to resign. Ebrard, speaking to reporters after his resignation, said improving security was his first priority, and stressed the need to beef up public healthcare and education. In an earlier radio interview, he argued that Mexico had a "golden opportunity" to double "or more" economic growth, spurred by companies' bringing manufacturing capacity to the country due to economic tensions between China and the United States. (Reporting by Dave Graham in Mexico City; Writing by Sarah Morland and Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler) Miami Beach canals poop pollution is off the charts. Its been that way for years University of Miami engineering professor Helena Solo-Gabriele spent part of 2022 assessing the persistently foul water that flows in Miami Beachs Park View Island Canal, site of a once popular and long-closed kayak launch. Her findings? Well, they only confirmed what residents have complained about for years the canal has a severe and pervasive poop problem. Its one Miami Beach leaders are only beginning to fix as the city pours tens of millions into upgrading its aging stormwater and sewage systems. Ever since a sewage leak in 2020, water quality scientists and environmental advocacy groups have sounded alarm bells around the levels of enterococci, a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. In waterways, its a tell-tale indicator of pollution and unhealthy levels of human and animal waste. The Florida Department of Healths Florida Healthy Beaches Program will issue a no-contact advisory if enterococci levels exceed 70 parts enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. Moderate levels are 36-70 enterococci per 100 milliliters, and a good level is 35 or less. In periods of rain, Solo-Gabriele saw staggering levels of 20,000, she said. The sediment at the bottom and nearby the canal is far worse off, with levels into hundreds of thousands concentrations so high that dredging, or removing silt from the bottom may be needed to improve water quality to health levels. Since the city began testing the canals waters in 2019, it has routinely surpassed the 70 enteroccoci per 100 milliliter threshold 90% of the time, the report revealed. The severe pollution closed the Park View Island Kayak Launch in 2020 and leaders have since warned of contact with the water. For residents of Park View Island, a one square mile neighborhood of townhomes and apartments a few blocks west of North Beach, this has meant no longer swimming in front of their canal-front properties at the risk of their health. Omar Jimenez, a resident who founded the Park View Island Sustainable Association after learning of the water quality issues, said hes fed up that there hasnt been a significant change after three years. He said its important to keep pressure on elected officials. How much time are we going to live knowing that this is going on and not have an assertive plan from the city recognizing this as an emergency situation? Jimenez said. Its complete bulls***. Complicated problems Solo-Gabriele isnt the only one to analyzing the canal. Of the nearly 500 sites across 12 states that Surfrider, a national environmental organization, tested weekly in 2022, the canal failed the third most tests an 85% fail rate, according to its annual report. Fixing the canal is complicated because a number of things can be contributing to the problems from the citys aging sewage system to pollution problems in Biscayne Bay. Park View Island is a canal within another canal, within Biscayne Bay, and the bay itself is also impaired, Solo-Gabriele said, adding that the islands stormwater conveyance system hasnt been replaced since the 1930s. It takes a long time to flush out. Following an outcry from residents, the city commissioned Solo-Gabriele to take extensive samples of the canal. In March, she presented her findings to the commission along with both short- and long-term recommendations based on a 140-page report. The report lists several factors play roles, including waste from dogs, feral animals like iguanas and the homeless. And though Solo-Gabrieles team didnt find any specific leaks, she was unable to rule out contribution from the citys aging sewage system. But repair projects are ongoing. Earlier this year, the city lined and repaired holes in sewage pipes that serve Park View Island in a $300,000 citywide project, Miami Beach engineer Cristina Ortega said. To address runoff from more development in the east, the city also secured a $10 million grant from the state to update the sewage and stormwater systems between 69th and 73rd streets and from the canal to Collins Avenue, Ortega said. The city finance committee also recommended the city approve $200,000 to initiate design and permitting to update water infrastructure outside of that area. Dredging, for which initial surveys would cost $500,000, may be on the table, but has not yet made it to a city budget meeting. Theres a $2 million price tag associated with going through with it. We have not found the silver bullet, Ortega said. Its just the combination of many factors. More warning signs for time being Along with sewage repairs, the city has taken other steps to protect public health, Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles said. This has included installing more warning signs, signage, more dog poop bag stations, diligent street sweeping and a campaign to stop residents from feeding feral animals, she said. Miami Beach also cleans its storm drains annually. Were not giving up as a city, Knowles said. It took a long time to create the problem and its going to take a little while. But at least note that we are working hard on it. And there are some indications the citys efforts are working. Christi LeMahieu, lab director of Surfrider Miamis Blue Water Task Force that tests the kayak launch weekly, said the site experienced two consecutive weeks of good levels of enterococci in March a first since Surfrider began their own testing in 2021. Its encouraging, she said. The results arent as high as they used to be. Were not seeing week after week of off-the-chart levels. Tanya Bhatt, who lived on the island before moving in March and has filed to run for an open city commission seat, wishes there was more of a sense of urgency to address failing and aging sewage systems. We are a city that is being developed at a ferocious pace with ancient infrastructure, Bhatt said. And its a recipe for disaster. Updating infrastructure is also on the top of the priority list of Commissioner Steven Meiner, who launched his campaign for Miami Beach mayor last week. If the city doesnt commit to bold, swift action to update antiquated sewage and stormwater systems, leaks and other issues will continue, he said. And the costs will keep multiplying. I think any resident, even if you dont live right there, should be concerned, Meiner said. The expense is going to be there. The earlier we do it, the better off we are. Miami Marlins week in review: Another round of comebacks lead to two more series wins The Miami Marlins went 5-1 this week in a pair of series against Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox. All five wins had something in common.: Miami had to rally from a deficit to win all of them. This included a four-run hole in the series opener against the Royals on Monday, a five-run deficit going into the eighth inning in the finale against the White Sox on Sunday and three others in which Miami was down by a run at some point in the game. Overall, the Marlins have 20 come-from-behind victories this season, including five when they are trailing after eight innings like they were on both Saturday and Sunday against the White Sox. With those five wins, the Marlins have improved to 37-29 on the season and are holding strong in second place in the National League East, three-and-a-half games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves and four-and-a-half games above the third-place Philadelphia Phillies. Its the first time they are eight games over .500 since July 31, 2016, when they were nine above .500. Its also tied with 2004 for the second-best start in franchise history through 66 games, behind only the 39-27 record from the 1997 World Series champion team. The Florida Panthers were dubbed the Comeback Cats because of their propensity for late rallies. Are the Marlins the Fighting Fish? Luis Arraez tiene mil papeletas para hacer historia en septiembre. Independientemente de si el venezolano batea para .400 este ano, su desempeno ofensivo viene llamando la atencion mas alla de los confines del loanDepot park. Luis Arraez batting average update After going 1 for 5 with a rare strikeout on Sunday, Arraezs batting average dipped below .400 for the first time since Monday. The Marlins hit-collecting second baseman still has a .397 batting average, easily clearing the rest of the field in MLB Freddie Freeman is second at .338. While the .400 average milestone is the biggest headline Arraez is chasing this year, there are others he should be able to obtain this season. For more on that, click here. Miami Marlins closing pitcher Bryan Hoeing (78) reacts with teammate Bryan De La Cruz (14) after defeating the Kansas City Royal 6-1 in nine innings of an MLB game at loanDepot park in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Game recaps from this week Monday Marlins 9, Royals 6: The bottom of the lineup stepped up to help the Marlins erase a four-run deficit and win the series opener. Tuesday Marlins 6, Royals 1: Jesus Luzardo faced one batter over the minimum over seven innings and the offense scored five runs in the fifth to go ahead for good. Wednesday Marlins 6, Royals 1: Edward Cabrera exited early with a recurring blister issue but the Marlins made easy work of the Royals for a series sweep. Friday White Sox 2, Marlins 1: Luis Robert Jr. hit a walk-off single to end the Marlins season-long six-game win streak. Saturday Marlins 5, White Sox 1: The Marlins were three outs away from being shut out; instead, they rallied for five runs in the ninth to even the series in Chicago and back a stellar outing from Sandy Alcantara. Sunday Marlins 6, White Sox 5: Jorge Soler hit two home runs, Jean Segura and Garrett Cooper each had one as well and Bryan De La Cruz had the go-ahead double in the ninth inning to back Braxton Garrett and secure the series win. Jun 7, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Jesus Sanchez (7) celebrates hitting a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports In case you missed it Jesus Sanchezs evolution into a complete hitter. Andrew Nardi has been an unsung hero in the Marlins bullpen. Nick Fortes is producing and getting extended playing time as a result. Upcoming Marlins schedule Monday: At Seattle Mariners, 9:40 p.m. Tuesday: At Seattle Mariners, 9:40 p.m. Wednesday: At Seattle Mariners, 9:40 p.m. Thursday: OFF Friday: At Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m. Saturday: At Washington Nationals, 4:05 p.m. Sunday: At Washington Nationals, 1:35 p.m. Top Miami officials said the city is prepared for anywhere from 5,000 to upward of 50,000 protesters ahead of the arraignment of former President Donald Trump, who faces a 37-count federal indictment over classified documents he allegedly stored at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House. Trump is expected to report to the federal courthouse in Miami around 3 p.m. amid protests planned by both his supporters and detractors. Mayor Francis Suarez and Police Chief Manuel Morales addressed security concerns but provided few specifics, in a joint press conference held Monday afternoon. Security will be a coordinated effort by local, state and federal law enforcement, according to Morales. He did not go into specifics about what security measures will be taken. Suarez repeatedly pointed to the citys handling of the protests after the killing of George Floyd in 2020 as proof of its preparation for dealing with unruly crowds and charged political gatherings. Im not here to talk about politics, Suarez said. Im here in my role as mayor of the city of Miami projecting confidence to our residents and to the residents of the country that were going to be ready for tomorrow. Suarez said commuters can expect a disruption Tuesday but declined to state which specific streets could be affected. Police said much of their decisions would be dependent on crowd size. As of Monday, Miami police had not received any formal requests for demonstration permits, according communications director Kenia Fallat. Nonetheless, pro-Trump rallies are planned for outside the courthouse Tuesday, including at least one promoted on Twitter by members of the extremist group the Proud Boys. Leaders of the Proud Boys were convicted of seditious conspiracy for planning to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including Miami-resident Enrique Tarrio, who is currently serving time in federal prison. Enrique Tarrio and the Proud Boys demonstrate near Freedom Plaza during the Million Maga March protest regarding election results on Nov. 14, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Far-right politician and media personality Kari Lake tweeted that she will be joining protesters Tuesday. Earlier, in a speech denouncing the indictment, Lake mentioned weapons and hinted at a physical intervention in the legal process. We will not let you lay a finger on President Trump, she said. Frankly now is the time to cling to our guns and our religion. Lake did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Unlike New York or Washington D.C., where Trump previously called on crowds to protest on his behalf, Florida has notoriously loose gun laws. Although Suarez called for peaceful demonstrations, neither the mayor nor the police chief addressed what safety measures were in place should protesters come armed. Morales declined to say whether the city plans to erect metal barricades or make efforts to harden the courthouse amid concerns that protesters might be planning to enter the building and disrupt legal proceedings. But he insisted that law enforcement would be prepared for anything. We know theres a potential of things taking a turn for the worst, but thats not the Miami way, Morales said. At least one anti-Trump protest has also been called by a local antifa anarchist group, leading to concerns over the possibility of clashes between the left-wing protesters and those gathering outside the courthouse to support the former president. Morales said there will not be a designated perimeter around the courthouse, and that protesters will be able to move freely around the building. But, he said, authorities would be ready to address the situation. If we begin to see that theres opposing parties well, at that time, make sure that they are separated and theres plenty of officers on the scene, Morales said. A source familiar with the matter said the Secret Service had begun planning for the arraignment within hours of learning that Trump had been indicted, coordinating with local law enforcement on securing a perimeter around the federal courthouse. While the courthouse in Miami is an easier site to secure than the Manhattan criminal court was in April, when the former president was arraigned on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in New York state, federal law enforcement have also noticed more online traffic from Trump supporters discussing plans to protest than they had before, according to one Department of Homeland Security official. The U.S. Marshals will lead on federal assistance to secure the courthouse. The U.S. Marshals are responsible for the protection of the federal judicial process, and we take that responsibility very seriously, said Drew Wade, chief of public affairs at the U.S. Marshals Service. Ensuring that judges can rule independently and free from harm or intimidation is paramount to the rule of law, and a fundamental mission of the USMS. While we do not discuss our specific security measures, we continuously review the measures in place and take appropriate steps to ensure the integrity of the federal judicial process, Wade said. The FBI declined to comment. County police have not received a request from federal authorities for security support but are coordinating closely with city police, according to a statement by County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. However, we are prepared to provide any assistance, support, or resources requested by our partners at the city of Miami Police Department, which has jurisdiction over downtown Miami and the Wilkie D. Ferguson Courthouse, the county mayor said in the statement. As always, MDPD will continue to ensure safety of all county residents, buildings and transit stations. Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales take questions from reporters Monday regarding security around former President Donald Trumps arraignment. Although he declined to answer what he called political questions at Mondays press conference, Suarez has gone on national television and echoed Trumps claims that the indictment is part of a politically motivated campaign to attack the former president. Suarezs comments land at an inflection point in his mayoral career. He is expected on Thursday to announce his 2024 presidential bid near Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the mayors business dealings with South Florida develop Rishi Kapoor, who gave Suarez $10,000 a month as a paid consultant for his development firm. Suarez said he has not communicated with Trump ahead of tomorrow. I have not spoken to him, the mayor said. I dont have his phone number. Miami Herald staff writers Doug Hanks and Joey Flechas contributed to this report. Miami won't let police officers take off of work on Tuesday as it prepares for Trump's court date, the Washington Post reports Miami police confer in front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. federal courthouse building in Miami, Friday, June 9, 2023. Gerald Herbert/AP Photo Miami police have reportedly been told not to take Tuesday off work ahead of Trump's arraignment. Plainclothes detectives have also been asked to wear their uniforms, the Washington Post reported. Trump is scheduled to be arraigned on charges connected to a classified documents scandal. Officials in Miami won't let police officers call out of work on Tuesday, the day former President Donald Trump will be arraigned at a federal courthouse in the city, the Washington Post reported, citing internal emails. The Post reported that plainclothes detectives have been ordered to wear uniforms in case they're deployed on Tuesday, too. Neither the Miami-Dade Police Department nor the Miami Police Department confirmed the orders to Insider. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami Police Chief Manny Morales did not address vacation requests during a Monday afternoon press conference, but they said the city is preparing to respond to any violence or protests that happen on Tuesday. Morales said that his department has been working with the Miami-Dade Police Department and federal officials to make sure Miami is "secure." "We're taking this event extremely serious," he said at the press conference. "We know that there's a potential of things taking a turn for the worst, but that's not the Miami way." Suarez urged any protesters to be "peaceful in demonstrating how they feel." A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police Department, meanwhile, told Insider that operations had not been impacted by vacation days. Trump is accused of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021. He's facing 37 charges in the case. According to The Post, officials have heightened security around the Miami federal courthouse ahead of Trump's arraignment. At 2024 presidential campaign events over the weekend, Trump called the indictment "ridiculous" and "baseless," the Associated Press reported. "They've launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people," Trump said to a crowd in Georgia. "In the end, they're not coming after me. They're coming after you." Trump allies have hinted at violence ahead of the court date. Failed Arizona Senate candidate and Trump supporter Kari Lake said during a Georgia GOP convention that Justice Department leaders and the media will need to go through millions of Americans to get to Trump. "And I'm going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA," she said. "That's not a threat, that's a public service announcement." The Post reported that there are plans for pro-Trump rallies outside the Miami courthouse on Tuesday, one of which seems to be organized by the Proud Boys' local branch. Trump supporters had already gathered outside Trump National Doral Miami, where the former president is expected to arrive before his arraignment. Read the original article on Business Insider Michael Shannon becomes latest actor to bash their own superhero role: Not satisfying as an actor Michael Shannon has added his voice to those who have criticised their own roles in superhero franchise movies. The actor plays General Zod in the DC cinematic universe. He made his debut as the villain in 2013s Man of Steel opposite Henry Cavill as Superman and is set to reprise it in The Flash, which stars Ezra Miller in the titular role. In a new interview with Collider, Shannon, 48, admitted that he wasnt entirely content with his role in the film, which is released on 16 June. Im not going to lie it wasnt quite satisfying for me, as an actor. These multiverse movies are like somebody playing with action figures, Shannon said. Its like, Heres this person. Heres that person. And theyre fighting! Its not quite the in-depth character study situation that I honestly felt Man of Steel was. Shannon added that The Flash was all about Ezra [Miller] and that his character was basically there to present a challenge to the films star. He nevertheless praised Miller, who has been embroiled in several controversies in the run-up to the films release, saying: I thought Ezra was lovely very kind to me when I was there. Michael Shannon as General Zod in The Flash (Warner Bros) Its difficult to talk about, but I always give people a lot of slack in this business, because theres a lot of people in this business that have issues. And some people have more privacy than others. Shannon is the latest star to speak out against their own superhero role. In an interview with The New Yorker this month about the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins said: They put me in armour; they shoved a beard on me. Sit on the throne, shout a bit. If youre sitting in front of a green screen, its pointless acting it. The 85-year-old Welsh actor played the Norse god Odin across three films in the Chris Hemsworth-led Thor franchise. Christian Bale, who played the supervillain Gorr in Taika Waititis Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), previously said acting in front of a green screen was the definition of monotony. Back in 2014, Idris Elba spoke about the difficult transition from playing Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) to the supporting role of Heimdall in Thor: The Dark World. In between takes I was stuck there, fake hair stuck on to my head with glue, this f***ing helmet, while they reset, he told The Telegraph. And Im thinking: 24 hours ago, I was MandelaThen there I was, in this stupid harness, with this wig and this sword and these contact lenses. It ripped my heart out. The Flash is out in cinemas on 16 June. Read The Independents three-star review of the film here. Middleborough boy asking Boston court to halt schools ban on There are only two genders shirt A Middleborough seventh grader is asking a Boston court to halt his schools ban on T-shirts that say There are only two genders and There are censored genders, which school officials ordered him to remove in school, violating his First Amendment rights, his lawyer said Monday. Liam Morrison wore the T-shirt saying There are only two genders to Nichols Middle School in March, and the principal of the school, along with a school counselor, pulled Liam out of class and ordered him to remove his shirt, the boys attorney, Logan Spena, said in a statement. After Liam politely declined, school officials said that he must remove the shirt or he could not return to class. As a result, Liam left school and missed the rest of his classes that day, said Spena, who will argue the boys case in the U.S. District Court in Boston on Tuesday. After that, Liam wore another shirt to school that read, There are censored genders, to protest to school officials that only some messages about gender are allowed in school, Spena said. As soon as (Liam) arrived at school, his teacher instructed him to go to the principals office where he was told that he could not wear that shirt at school, either, Spena said. Spena is legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which along with the Massachusetts Family Institute filed a lawsuit last month on behalf of Liam. This isnt about a T-shirt; this is about a public school telling a seventh grader that he isnt allowed to hold a view that differs from the schools orthodoxy, said Spena. Public school officials cant force Liam to remove a shirt that states his position when the school lets every other student wear clothing that speaks on the same issue. Their choice to double down and silence him when he tried to protest their censorship is a gross violation of the First Amendment that were urging the court to rectify. Boston 25 reached out to Middleborough Public Schools for comment on Monday. An assistant to Schools Superintendent Carolyn Lyons declined comment, saying the school district is represented by legal counsel and that This is a matter of ongoing litigation. Tuesdays hearing involves a motion for preliminary injunction, in which Spena is requesting that the court prevent Nichols Middle School from prohibiting Liam from wearing his shirts to school while the case proceeds. Alliance Defending Freedom is a nonprofit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life, according to its website. In the case, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys argue that Middleborough school officials have adopted one particular view on the subject of sex and gender: that a persons subjective identity determines whether a person is male or female, not a persons sex. They have expressed this view through their own speech; instituted schoolwide events celebrating their view; and encouraged students to engage in their own speech on this subjectso long as the students express the schools favored viewpoint, according to Alliance Defending Freedom. School officials admit that their policy permits students to express viewpoints supporting the officials view of gender but forbids students from expressing a different view. Liam wore the first T-shirt to peacefully share his belief, informed by his scientific understanding of biology, that there are only two sexes, male and female, and that a persons gendertheir status as a boy or girl, woman or manis inextricably tied to sex, Spena said. The boys attorney said the case involves school officials censorship of Liams message, along with their decision to silence his speech protesting their censorship and this violates the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 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 Milwaukee moves toward a settlement with a man who was wrongfully convicted at age 16 and served 12 years in prison A Milwaukee Common Council committee on Monday recommended approving a $225,000 settlement with a man who sued the city over his 2008 homicide conviction that was later thrown out because of how detectives handled his interrogation. Ladarius Marshall was 16 when he was arrested and charged with fatally shooting Lavare Gould, 19, on North 37th Street on the city's northwest side. He subsequently was incarcerated for a dozen years and, in a previous notice to the city, sought $12 million $1 million for each year he was held. The May 2022 complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin names as defendants the city and four police officers who are now retired, according to the legislation being taken up by the council committee. The named officers are Matthew Goldberg, Timothy Heier, Gust Petropoulos, and Michael Braunreiter. The complaint states that Marshall was subjected to "aggressive questioning" for hours, prevented from reaching out to a guardian and had his repeated efforts to stop the interrogation ignored. The interrogation violated his constitutional rights, which "led directly to Mr. Marshalls conviction and approximately twelve years of incarceration," the complaint states. More: Man who spent 12 years in prison for wrongful conviction at 16 sues detectives he said violated his rights More: Milwaukee man files notice of claim against city seeking $12 million in overturned homicide conviction "Mr. Marshall will never regain the foundational years of his life taken from him as a result of Defendant Officers unconstitutional actions, but he brings this suit seeking redress for the loss of liberty and terrible hardship he has endured and continues to suffer as a result of the defendant officers misconduct," the complaint states. The state asked that Marshall's conviction and sentence be vacated, and dismissed the case, after a federal judge in 2020 ruled that detectives had violated his rights and ordered him to be released from prison if prosecutors did not restart the case against him in 90 days, the Journal Sentinel previously reported. In a letter to the council, City Attorney Tearman Spencer and Deputy City Attorney Jennifer Williams recommended the settlement, which was negotiated by attorneys outside the office. Law firm Nathan & Kamionski LLP was hired in 2021 for a maximum fee of $100,000 to advise and represent the city regarding the case. Spencer and Williams said in the letter that the settlement was in the city's best interest. The settlement is expected to be taken up at the council's June 20 meeting. Need more help with crime and safety questions? The Milwaukee Resource Guide is here to help. Have something you want answered? Submit a question. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee moves toward settlement with wrongfully convicted man As the Missouri marijuana industry rakes in millions from recreational weed, state regulators have slowly started to roll out a program intended to help small and minority-owned businesses break into the lucrative market. After voters approved an amendment to legalize adult use last year, only well-established marijuana businesses have been able to cash in while small companies have been left in limbo. A smaller micro-license program, overseen by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, is supposed to be geared towards minority groups, lower income individuals and those who have been previously arrested for nonviolent marijuana offenses. One of the requirements to apply for the program was intended to give marijuana licenses to owners who live in areas that have faced high rates of marijuana criminalization, which are predominantly Black or other marginalized communities. But the programs rollout has faced intense criticism from groups such as the Missouri NAACP on the grounds that some of the ZIP codes listed for areas with high rates of marijuana incarceration are heavily skewed away from the states two most diverse cities in Kansas City and St. Louis and towards rural parts of the state. More conservative and rural parts of the state are less diverse but are also where marijuana crimes are typically pursued more aggressively. It seems like it is excluding the very people that were supposed to have been impacted by the law, Nimrod Chapel, the president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, told The Star. Others have criticized the program itself, saying it creates a separate and unequal category of marijuana businesses that have to compete with large, established companies. Micro-license holders also cant sell or buy products from larger players. In the face of criticism, the state health department last week made some tweaks to the program, allowing prospective applicants to provide documents to the state showing that, while they may not meet the requirements, they should still qualify for a micro-license. Heres a look at the roll out of the controversial micro-license program and what to know before applying to sell legal weed. What is a micro-license? The micro-licenses are supposed to be a way for small business owners to break into the recreational weed market which is dominated by large medical marijuana companies. The smaller licenses are more restrictive than the full licenses for large-scale facilities that sell, cultivate and distribute marijuana. There will be two kinds of micro-licenses: one for dispensaries, and another for wholesale facilities. Wholesale facilities with micro-licenses will be capped at 250 flowering plants at any given time. These facilities can only sell marijuana products to other micro-licensed facilities, not to the bigger dispensaries. And dispensaries with micro-licenses can only acquire marijuana products from other microbusiness facilities, not from the larger players. When can you apply? The health department made applications for the micro-license program available on its website earlier this month. The state will accept the applications from July 27 to Aug. 10. Applicants will need to meet specific requirements, have a proposed building for the business and pay a $1,500 fee to be considered. After the application period closes, the state will hold a lottery to award licenses. In October, six micro-licenses will be awarded in each of the states eight congressional districts for a total of 48 licenses. An additional 48 will be awarded in 2024 and another 48 in 2025. Who qualifies for the program? To qualify for a micro-license, business owners will need to meet one of several requirements. Applicants dont need to fit all of the requirements to be eligible, just one. Income Individuals applying will need to have a net worth less than $250,000, or have an income that is less than 250% of the federal poverty level, which is around $34,000 a year for one person in 2022. A person qualifying for a license under the income category needs to meet this financial criteria for at least three of the past 10 years to qualify. Location People could qualify for a micro-license if they live in a census tract area where at least 30% of the community lives below the poverty line. Another eligibility requirement is people who live in an area where the unemployment rate is 50% higher than the states average. People who graduated from an unaccredited high school or live in a ZIP code that housed an unaccredited school district for three of the past five years can also qualify for the micro-license program. This would likely include most Kansas City residents, since Kansas City Public Schools didnt gain accreditation until 2022. Communities impacted by marijuana prohibition Specific groups that qualify include disabled veterans and individuals whose families have been arrested, prosecuted or convicted of a nonviolent marijuana offense. To qualify, the charge must have occurred before December 2021. This category does not include anyone charged with providing marijuana to minors or driving under the influence of marijuana. People who live in a community where the rate of incarceration for marijuana-related charges is historically higher than the rest of the state by at least 50% also qualify. Why is the program being criticized? The micro-license program has faced criticism since its inception for being more restrictive than the full licenses given to established companies. The rollout of the program has some groups, including the Missouri NAACP, increasingly worried that minorities and Black-owned companies will be left behind. A list of qualifying ZIP codes for places with high rates of marijuana criminalization released by the state last month only included one geographic ZIP code in Kansas City. And other ZIP codes included were not for geographic areas but for unique places, such as post offices, banks and the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. Anytime that you have ZIP codes that are so targeted that they reside within the four walls of a post office, I think that youve got to look at the inherent problems with the administration of the program, Chapel told The Star. It looks like the state of Missouri has been in opposition to the expansion of marijuana usage and utilization by Missourians from day one. Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, told The Star in an email that the formula the state used to calculate incarceration rate included dividing the 20-year average number of incarcerations in an area (provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol) by the areas average population. Areas where the rate of incarceration was 50% higher than the statewide rate were included on the list. Cox, in an email, said Chapel was misunderstanding the scope of the eligibility requirements, pointing to the fact that the incarceration rate was just one of several possible qualifiers. The state, Cox said, has reached out to minority groups about the micro-license program and also received more than 800 public comments on the rollout. But, in response to criticism, the state issued a variance last week, allowing people living in other ZIP codes to prove that they should be included. Prospective applicants are expected to provide documents, including independent studies or evidence from a state or local official. The Department has demonstrated many times its willingness to incorporate feedback and new information into its processes over time to ensure the cannabis program is effectively and appropriately implementing the amendment to the state constitution, Cox said in an email. How are marijuana companies reacting? People like Andrew McDowell who plan to apply for a micro-license have been scouring the state health departments website to research the new program and prepare for the application period. McDowell, who co-owns Funky Skunk, a Black-owned smoke shop in Raytown, said hes been trying not to focus too much on criticism of the program or the rules rolled out by the state. He knows that even if he qualifies for the program, theres still a chance he wont get a license from the lottery. You can have all the boxes checked and be the best possible option for the state to select and you still might not get it because its a random selection, he said. Its just about making sure that we put our best foot forward with the application and make sure its timely and complete. Josh Mitchem, the CEO of Clovr, a Kansas City manufacturer of marijuana-infused products, said the micro-license program was intended to help minority groups break into the industry. He doesnt think some of the ways in which the state has implemented the program, including the list of ZIP codes, has aligned with that goal. That sort of alignment isnt what we were looking for when we wrote the constitutional amendment, he said. To anti-hate researchers, it's a well-connected extremist group that attacks inclusion in schools. Moms for Liberty didn't exist during the last presidential campaign, but the Florida-based nonprofit that champions parental rights in education has rapidly become a major player for 2024, boosted in part by GOP operatives, politicians and donors. The group that has been at the forefront of the conservative movement targeting books that reference race and gender identity and electing right-wing candidates to local school boards nationwide is hosting one of the next major gatherings for Republican presidential primary contenders. A moose was killed after wandering onto a Connecticut airport, and people are asking why it wasn't relocated instead Illustrative photo of a moose grazing near an airport in the US. Debora Vandor/Getty Images A moose was killed after wandering onto a Connecticut airport. Authorities said the animal posed a safety risk for passengers and drivers on a highway. But several online users are asking why the moose wasn't relocated out of the airport instead. A moose was killed after wandering onto the grounds of a Connecticut airport but online users are asking why the animal wasn't relocated instead. The moose was euthanized after it was seen roaming near Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Friday, a spokesperson for the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection told Insider. The incident was first reported by the Associated Press. Authorities said the moose posed safety concerns for passengers and drivers at a highway close to the airport, per AP. "When moose are roaming in high-traffic areas such as airports and public roadways, it is a public safety concern and both DEEP and airport staff are authorized to euthanize a moose if deemed necessary," the spokesperson told Insider, adding that the moose "had breached an outer perimeter fence." A video posted on Twitter by the local TV station WFSB showed a frail-looking moose wandering about on a road. Connecticut has only around 100 moose, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP. WFSB Channel 3 (@WFSBnews) June 10, 2023 According to AP, the moose did not wander onto the runway behind the airport's perimeter fence, nor was the animal injured. Several online users were left asking why the moose was euthanized instead of being relocated. "The moose is just lost, hell anyone with a horse trailer could have moved it somewhere safe," read a tweet. "Why not just tranquilize and relocate? Zero reason to kill that animal," read another tweet. Another tweet pointed out: "It could have been moved back to the woods. Every time an animal is where it's not supposed to be it gets killed." The DEEP spokesperson told Insider that it was a "difficult decision to euthanize the moose" and that it does "not take these kinds of decisions lightly" "Tranquilizers don't take effect immediately, and during that time, the animal may run into roads, or other very dangerous public safety situations, putting both the animal and people at risk of injury or death," he said. A spokesperson for Bradley International Airport told Insider it "recognizes the importance of preventing wildlife on or near the airport property," adding that "there was no impact to flight operations." Read the original article on Business Insider Standing in a conference room in a suburban convention center Friday morning, 6-year-old Raven Edmunds gently stroked a brown ball python as she listened to a zookeeper explain that pythons dont generally bite, but instead wrap themselves into a tight ball when they feel threatened. The snake, for its part, handled the attention well, calmly coiling itself around the zookeepers hands as she talked to parents about the educational programs the Dallas Childrens Aquarium offers. Raven and her mom, Haley Edmunds, were two of dozens of home-school students and parents at the Texas Homeschool Expo on Friday morning at the Grapevine Convention Center. Although getting to play with a python was a nice bonus, Raven was at the expo to help her mom pick out instructional materials for second grade. Raven finished first grade last month, marking the end of her first year as a home-schooler. Edmunds, of Azle, said the transition from the private school where Raven went to kindergarten to home-schooling was a big adjustment, both for mother and daughter. It was definitely different, because I had no idea what I was doing, Edmunds said with a laugh. Edmunds and her daughter are one of a growing number of Texas families who have left traditional schools in favor of home-schooling over the past three years. Experts say the pandemic was just one of several factors behind that trend. Already on the rise, home-schooling grows during pandemic Although home-schooling was already gaining popularity before the pandemic, researchers say interest has grown rapidly over the past three years. In March 2021, a year after COVID outbreaks forced school districts across the country to close their buildings and move instruction online, the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey noted that the number of families who reported that they were home-schooling doubled between the spring of 2020 to the fall of the same year. That trend was even sharper among Black families: In the spring of 2020, 3.3% of Black families reported that they were home-schooling their children, about two points lower than the American populace at large. But by the following fall, that number had jumped to 16.1%, a five-fold uptick. The exact definition of home-schooling makes the magnitude of the trend hard to pin down. A family who enrolls their kids in a public virtual academy and augments the curriculum with field trips and special projects might tell survey-takers they were home-schooling, even though their children are enrolled in a public school and taking classes taught by Texas-certified teachers. Parents from across North Texas attend the Texas Homeschool Expo at the Grapevine Convention Center on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Grapevine. In nearly every school district in the Fort Worth area, the number of students who left the district and switched to home-schooling climbed between the 2019-20 school year, which wasnt affected by the pandemic until March, and the 2020-21 school year, which most districts began in remote learning, according to TEA records. In Fort Worth ISD, that number climbed by 64%. In Arlington ISD, it climbed by 36%. In Crowley ISD, it nearly doubled. But those numbers dont tell the complete picture: Texas only requires school districts to track the number of students who leave in grades 7 and up, meaning state-level data leaves out younger students who disenroll from the public school system. Those figures also dont include students who began their school careers in home-schooling. Azle family tries home-schooling to fit daughters learning style Raven didnt start her school career in home-schooling. Two years ago, she went to Pebbles Preschool and Kindergarten, a private school at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Fort Worth where Edmunds taught preschool. But when the time came to enroll Raven in first grade, Edmunds and her husband knew theyd have to make a decision about where to send her, because Pebbles program didnt go beyond kindergarten. After talking about their options, Edmunds and her husband decided that home-schooling might be the best fit for Ravens learning style. They were also concerned about safety in the public school system, she said. So Edmunds left her teaching job and committed to a new role as a home-school mom. The first year of home-schooling involved a lot of trial and error, Edmunds said, especially in math. Edmunds would put one workbook in front of Raven, and she wouldnt understand it. So shed try another that covered essentially the same material but presented it in a different way, and Raven would do better, she said. But Edmunds quickly learned that Raven is a visual learner, so even the best workbooks used on their own didnt work that well for her. She was just going through the motions, but she wasnt actually retaining it, Edmunds said. So Edmunds started mixing pencil-and-paper assignments with hands-on activities using manipulatives, as well as online videos like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Sid the Science Kid. That combination seemed to work best for Raven, Edmunds said. Home-schooling gave her the freedom to explore which options help Raven learn best, then tailor lessons around those instructional styles. That level of individualized instruction wouldnt be possible in a first-grade classroom, she said. The fact that Edmunds was a teacher before she was a home-school mom probably gave her an advantage, she said. She was used to working with preschoolers, which is radically different from teaching a first-grader, she said. But she already knew how to structure a lesson and how to tell when her daughter understood the material or when a lesson didnt work for her. Still, she had to learn a lot, she said. It was fun, but it was an adjustment, she said. School safety, health concerns among reasons for home-schooling Peggy Semingson, a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, has been tracking home-schooling trends since the beginning of the pandemic. Although the state doesnt yet have data to show whether the growth in home-schooling persisted through the 2022-23 school year, based on what shes heard anecdotally, Semingson said she suspects that trend has continued. A variety of factors have led families to home-school their kids, Semingson said. Some pulled out of the public school system because of concerns about safety, either in response to bullying or news of school shootings, she said. Others, especially in the earliest days of the pandemic, opted to keep their kids at home for health reasons. Others had religious or ideological reasons, she said, including objections to what was included in the public school curriculum. Other families had more proactive reasons for choosing home-schooling over public schools, Semingson said. They saw opportunities that didnt exist in a formal school setting, and possibilities of enriching their childrens lives, she said. Grand Prairie resident Maurica Curry, center, talks to a vendor while attending the Texas Homeschool Expo at the Grapevine Convention Center with her three children on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Grapevine. Semingson said home-schooling can look radically different from one family to the next. Some families use a prescribed, structured curriculum that mimics what students would get in public schools. Others use virtual schooling, which can either look similar to public schools or give parents a way to adopt pieces of a prescribed program and provide the rest themselves through supplemental activities like trips to museums or zoos, she said. Still others have adopted unschooling, a free-form educational model that rejects the structure of a set curriculum and instead emphasizes student-directed learning and projects that allow kids to explore their areas of interest. Many families also participate in home-schooling co-ops, in which several families join together to hold group classes. That model offers a few advantages, Semingson said. Co-ops often hire teachers to work with students in particular subject areas, which can take pressure off of parents who dont feel equipped to teach their kids subjects like science and upper-level math. Having students participate in group classes also helps alleviate concerns about socialization, because it gives kids a chance to interact with other children their age, she said. Families who opt to home-school today have access to resources home-schoolers didnt have decades ago, Semingson said. Online courses offer opportunities for review and remediation that can help when students are struggling, she said. For example, if a student is having a hard time understanding fractions, parents can connect them with other resources like math learning games, which can help them look at the material in a different way, she said. Theres just a lot more instant creative options rather than just a textbook or flash cards and that kind of thing, she said. Rowen Going, 3, of Anna, Texas, plays with a educational toy while his mother talks to a vendor at the Texas Homeschool Expo at the Grapevine Convention Center on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Grapevine. Semingson said she expects interest in home-schooling will continue to grow in the coming years. Across all educational levels, more students and parents are looking for flexibility that the traditional brick-and-mortar public school system struggles to provide, she said. Rather than forcing families into a model that may seem outdated to some, Semingson said, educational providers need to embrace that demand for flexibility and recognize that alternative options may work best for many families. That being said, state policymakers might have reasonable concerns about how much of an education home-school students actually receive, Semingson said. If home-schooling continues to grow in Texas, she said, she expects to see lawmakers enact measures to ensure that those students arent being neglected. Pandemic influenced parents decisions to home-school Before the pandemic, the reasons most families cited for switching to home-school had to do with concerns over the public school environment, concerns about academics and parents desire to provide religious and moral instruction that didnt exist in public schools, said Jeremy Newman, vice president of policy and engagement for the Texas Home School Coalition, a home-school advocacy group. After the beginning of the pandemic, those reasons stayed largely the same, but the facts behind them changed, he said. For example, parents concerns about the public school environment could take many forms, Newman said. But during the early days of the pandemic, a large number of parents became concerned about how their childrens schools responded to the virus. Parents from opposite ends of the political spectrum arrived at the same conclusion, but for different reasons, he said. Some people didnt like what they felt like was a heavy-handed treatment from their school about COVID. Other people didnt like what they felt like was lax treatment from their school (about) COVID, he said. And the uniform solution for a lot of those people was Im going to do this myself. Parents from across North Texas attend the Texas Homeschool Expo at the Grapevine Convention Center on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Grapevine. Newman said flexibility is one of the main reasons people leave traditional schools and switch to home-schooling. Families with students in traditional schools have to arrange their entire lives around the school schedule, he said. If something in a familys life goes wrong, like a major illness or a lack of transportation, their schedule may have to change in ways that the public school system cant accommodate, he said. Jennifer Morris, a tutor with the Salt Educational Co-op, said the group saw a decline in attendance at the beginning of the pandemic because families were concerned about meeting in person. Since then, the home-school co-op, which meets at Faith Bible Church in DeSoto, has seen growing interest among families in the area, she said. Many families come to the co-op because theyre looking for a faith-based curriculum that public schools cant offer, Morris said. Students go to the co-op for classes two days a week, for four periods a day, she said. The co-op isnt a school, she said. Instructors there are called tutors instead of teachers, and as classes are intended to supplement the instruction students get at home, rather than serving as the only schooling kids get during the week. The co-op does enrichment activities like field trips and class parties just to give them all of the perks of a public school experience without all the negatives, she said. Black families represent fast-growing piece of home-school picture Both in Texas and nationwide, Black families make up the fastest-growing segment of the home-school population. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, said many of those families left the public education system for the same reasons that other families did a desire to give their child a better academic experience than they got in public schools or a desire to spend more time together as a family, among other reasons. But many also said they left to teach their children using a curriculum that centers Black history and culture in ways public school instruction doesnt, or to escape discriminatory treatment against Black children, and Black boys in particular, that they found in public schools, he said. Ray said there are indications that growth in interest in home-schooling has continued, although likely not at the rapid rate that it grew in the early days of the pandemic. The list of reasons that families choose to home-school their kids hasnt changed much over the past 40 years, Ray said, but some reasons may be more or less common at any given time, depending on whats going on in the world. After school shutdowns and remote learning caused parents to get more involved in their childrens instruction, there was an uptick in the number of families who said they left traditional education because they were unhappy with what their children were being taught in school, Ray said. Months after school shutdowns ended, he said, more families began to cite concerns about school safety in the wake of violent incidents, including last years shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Home-school mom reflects on lessons from first year Looking back on her first year as a home-school mom, Edmunds, the mother in Azle, said she wishes shed spent more time researching what resources were available, rather than picking the ones she found first and trying them out. She also wishes shed asked for more input from her daughter earlier on. Although Raven is only 6, she has a lot of insight into which instructional styles work best for her, Edmunds said. She can tell her mom what makes sense to her and what doesnt. Thats important information for Edmunds to have when she picks a curriculum, so she tries to remember to listen to what her daughter has to say about it. She can understand how her brain works better than I can, she said. Morning Joe Calls Out New York Post for What About the Bidens? Headline: You Dont Have to Play to the Dumbest Readers (Video) Joe Scarborough was on a tear on Monday morning, raging over those who are still defending former president Trump amid that second indictment. Among those on the receiving end of Scarboroughs ire was The New York Post, after they ran a headline ending in What About the Bidens? on their front page. In full, the front page headline of Mondays New York Post read Trump was indicted but WHAT ABOUT THE BIDENS? It featured images of both President Biden and his son Hunter, and opinions from House speaker Kevin McCarthy and Post columnist Miranda Devine, complaining about a double standard (despite the fact that there is in fact an investigation ongoing into the classified documents found at President Bidens homes). The New York Post cover in question Listen. Listen, listen. You break my heart, Scarborough said, holding up a copy of the paper. You break my heart, official newspaper of Morning Joe. You dont have to play to the dumbest readers that you have. You really dont. Also Read: Lawrence ODonnell Chuckles at Trump Indictment Details: Everything About It Is Incredible (Video) The New York Post did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment. That said, Scarborough isnt shocked that Republicans are turning to whataboutisms at this point. He then offered some advice hes received. Were gonna see a lot of that noise. But as one Admiral said to me, You get ground noise, and you get the signal. Ignore the ground noise Joe, focus on the signal,' he said. The signal is, we have a guy, as president, who has committed the worst crimes in the White House and outside of the White House, of any chief executive in the history of this republic. You can watch the full moment from Morning Joe in the video above. Also Read: Morning Joe Says Trump Is Going to Have to Plea to Avoid Jail Time: About to Get the Harshest Lesson of His Life (Video) MSNBC host Joe Scarborough launched a furious rant at Republicans who are still backing Donald Trump after he was federally indicted, saying they are narrowing down their base to insurrections, weirdos and freaks. On Mondays episode of Morning Joe, Mr Scarborough passionately condemned Trump-allied Republicans who have remained loyal to the former president, despite his indictment on 37 counts related to the retention of classified documents last week. If they want to harbor a fugitive, politically, that like stole nuclear secrets, good luck youre going to lose even more in 2024, Mr Scarborough said. Several allies of Mr Trump including Representatives Matt Gaetz (R - Florida), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R - Georgia), Elise Stefanik (R - New York), Andy Biggs (R - Arizona) and Senator Marco Rubio (R - Florida) all came to the former presidents defence when he was indicted last week. Many of them claimed the indictment was an attempt to discredit Mr Trumps 2024 presidential campaign as they downplayed the severity of the allegations. But Mr Scarborough said their efforts to defend the former president were hurting their party more than helping. A lot of them are still too stupid to realize theyre just giving up 2024 by doing it, he said. The Morning Joe host cited a poll from YouGov and CBS that indicated 80 per cent of Americans believe it was a national security risk that Mr Trump allegedly kept military documents at his home in Mar-a-Lago. Trumps indictment further radicalizes Republican base and pulls the GOP further from swing voters who will decide the 2024 election. This is political self-harm taken to an even higher level. There seems to be no end to the election losses Trump will continue bringing to pic.twitter.com/hvHao0FoUw Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) June 11, 2023 Mr Scarborough argued that if the polls numbers are true, Mr Trumps loyal defenders will end up pushing away Republican voters. You keep narrowing down your base until you have insurrectionists, weirdos and freaks, Mr Scarborough said. Raising his voice to a shout, he continued: Everybody, look, youre freaking out about whats going on. Look at that number. That is us people who actually give a damn about a president of the United States who steals nuclear secrets and then lies about it to the FBI when the FBI tries to retrieve nuclear secrets. The indictment, which was unsealed on Friday (10 June) alleged that the former president had kept 31 documents containing information related to US national security among the many boxes of material that he allegedly refused to give the National Archives when he left office. Some of those documents contained top secret information related to US nuclear weaponry and the nuclear capabilities of a foreign country. The Most Popular U.S. Cities to Visit for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, According to Expedia Travelers are planning ahead to get the best views of the celestial sensation. Smartshots International/Getty Images Total solar eclipses are rare and its particularly unusual to see them from the contiguous U.S. The last one to be seen in the U.S., on August 21, 2017, was the first in nearly four decades. So its actually quite lucky for another to come along on April 8, 2024 after that, you'll have to wait 21 years to see a total solar eclipse cross the Lower 48. So its no surprise that eclipse fans are already planning ahead to get the most strategic view of the event. In fact, so many eclipse chasers are already researching hotels for the eclipse that Expedia has seen a major uptick in some of cities where experts believe there will be especially good views as the moon blocks out the suns light for a few minutes. Hotel searches for the top cities to view the eclipse are seeing massive spikes already for April 5 to 8, 2024, compared to those same dates this year, the company said in a release. With more than half of Indiana in the path of totality, searches for its capital city of Indianapolis have already seen a 6,040 percent increase. Not far behind is Burlington, Vermont, which has seen a 4,515 percent rise (its neighboring cities Stowe and Montpelier should also offer great views). Farther south, Little Rock, Arkansas, has also seen a 2,275 percent surge, as the eclipse will go from Texarkana, through both Hot Springs and Little Rock, and then over to Jonesboro. New York state is home to two of the most popular spots to travel to for the total solar eclipse: Niagara Falls and Buffalo. Expedia adds that, of those cities, the average nightly hotel rates are the highest in Burlington at $378, while Little Rock offers the lowest hotel prices (at an average of $187 a night). The companys experts suggest using filters to book refundable rates or using the book now, pay later option to lock in the prices while staying flexible. But definitely dont wait, as Expedia says availability is starting to dwindle in both Burlington and Little Rock. For more availability, try searching for properties in Texas (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio) or take a quick trip across the Canadian border to Montreal, the company advised. Some of the hotels within the total eclipse viewing path that are still available in the Hotels.com app, from April 6 to 9, 2024, include the former Coca-Cola buildinghoused Bottleworks Hotel in Indianapolis; the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk in Texas (pro tip: book a reservation at the rooftop bar or outdoor restaurant for a prime view); the Kimber Modern in Austin, Texas, with rooms offering private outdoor space; and The Lake House on Canandaigua in New York's Finger Lakes, for a gorgeous lakefront viewing venue. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. MS Coast woman who tried to flee on a bus to Iowa violently shook a 5-month-old baby A woman who was arrested on a bus to Iowa was sentenced for child abuse of a five-month-old baby. Rosa Robicheaux, 41, of Jackson County pleaded guilty June 2 and was sentenced by Judge Calvin Taylor to 40 years, with 25 years to serve, in state prison. Gautier Police were called when the baby was taken to Singing River Hospital, suffering from multiple brain bleeds and skull fractures due to abusive head trauma caused by Robicheaux shaking the infant, according to a press release. Robicheaux went to the hospital with the baby and his mother, but fled to Alabama. She was arrested days later by the Mobile Police Department while on a bus to Iowa. Rosa Robicheaux violently shook a helpless infant into a state of unconsciousness, verging on death, said Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. By Gods grace this infant is alive and healthy, she said. Our children are our treasures and we remain committed to fight, to protect our children in and out of the courtroom. We appreciate the diligence of the law enforcement agencies involved in solving this crime and capturing Robicheaux before she fled. McIlrath and Justin Lovorn, assistant district attorney, represented the state in this case. How much does Meridian pay city employees? Search our 2023 salary database The city of Meridian has 642 employees, who make annual salaries anywhere from more than $170,000 a year to $17,000 a year. The highest-paid employee is Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea, who was hired in 1996 and makes $173,036. The lowest-paid employees are Meridian City Council members Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Jessica Perrault, John Overton and Liz Strader. They are part-time employees and make $17,335 annually. Council President Brad Hoaglun makes $19,000 annually. Mayor Robert Simison makes $119,770 annually. His Chief of Staff, David Miles, makes $104,488. Other than Basterrechea, the highest-paid Meridian employees include City Attorney Bill Nary, who makes $162,905, and two police captains, Scott Colaianni and Berle Stokes, who make $154,170 annually. The average employee pay is $30.11 an hour. Below is a searchable database showing the salaries of all city employees as of May 2023. Some searches will contain multiple pages of results. The Idaho Statesman obtained this data through a public records request. Heres how and why we did it: The following items were taken from Mundelein, Vernon Hills and Libertyville police reports and releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. MUNDELEIN DUI Roselyn Mendiola Vazquez of Mundelein was charged May 26 with driving under the influence of drugs. Mendiola Vazquez was also found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis. While being taken into custody, she resisted arrest. Mendiola Vazquez has a court date scheduled in Waukegan. Andrew R. Crowley of Buffalo Grove was charged May 25 with driving under the influence of alcohol. Crowley has a court date scheduled in Mundelein. Konstantin Stroitelev of Vernon Hills was charged May 20 with driving under the influence of alcohol. Stroitelev has a court date scheduled in Waukegan. POSSESSION Javier A. Betancourt of Mundelein was charged May 30 with possession of a firearm. Betancourt was stopped for an equipment violation and during the stop, officers located cannabis and a loaded firearm with an extended magazine. Betancourt does not have a Firearm Owner Identification Card nor a Concealed Carry License. He has a court date scheduled in Waukegan. VERNON HILLS DUI Christopher Robert Santi, 31, of Libertyville, was charged June 5 with driving under the influence of alcohol. Santi has a court date scheduled July 12 in Waukegan. THEFT Andres A. Villamarin-Chambo, 31, of the 4200 block of N. Bloomington in Arlington Heights, was charged May 31 with retail theft for leaving a Macys store without paying for $3,000 worth of sunglasses. Villamarin-Chambos court information was unavailable. UNDERAGE CONSUMPTION Aleishai A. Maldonado, 20, of the 400 block of 4th Street in Northfield, was charged June 4 with underage consumption, speeding and failure to signal. She has a court date scheduled June 21 in Waukegan. LIBERTYVILLE WARRANT Xavier Coleman, 25, of the 12000 block of W. Wakefield Drive in Beach Park, was arrested May 31 after an officer conducting a traffic stop identified Coleman as having an active out-of-state arrest warrant for intimidating/stalking out of Racine County, Wisconsin. Coleman was turned over to the Lake County sheriffs office. George Tieman, 28, of the 1400 block of N. East End Avenue in Round Lake Beach, was arrested May 20 after officers looking into a report of two subjects arguing, identified Tieman as having two active arrest warrants for larceny and failure to appear. The warrants are out of Lake and McHenry counties respectively. Tieman was first transported to a hospital for medical treatment unrelated to his arrest, then turned over to the Lake County jail. UNLAWFUL USE OF WEAPON Alicia Contreras, 26, of the 300 block of Susan Circle in Park City, was charged May 29 with speeding and unlawful use of a weapon, after officers conducting a traffic stop located a loaded firearm in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Contreras had a court appearance June 6 in Waukegan. Musical based on 1915 lynching of Ga. man triumphs at the Tonys A musical based on the trial and lynching of a Jewish American man in Georgia in 1915 is captivating audiences more than a century later. Parade, starring Ben Platt, won Best Revival of a Musical at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles. The musical is based on the life of Leo Frank, who was convicted of a 13-year-old girls murder in 1913 and lynched two years later. This was a character I related to. I recognized this guy, Platt told The New York Times. Its a lot harder to distance from than I was hoping it would be. This show is all about not only antisemitism, but the failure of the country to protect lots of marginalized groups, and were all feeling that really intensely right now. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the Library of Congress, 13-year-old Mary Phagan was seen in April 1913 walking to the National Pencil Company, where Frank also worked, in Atlanta to pick up her paycheck. The next day, her body was found in the factorys basement. Two days later, Frank was arrested and charged with her murder. Later that same year, Frank was convicted of killing Phagan and was sentenced to be hanged. TRENDING STORIES: Frank spent the next two years appealing his case until the U.S. Supreme Court denied his appeal in April 1915. In August 1915, a mob from Marietta, Phagans hometown, broke Frank out of the state prison in Milledgeville. They brought him back to Marietta where they lynched him, the Library of Congress says. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Michael Arden, Parades director, also took home the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical. Parade first premiered in 1998 for a three-month run on Broadway before coming back to the stage earlier this year. IN OTHER NEWS: Newlywed husband drowns on Hawaii honeymoon as thieves strike during efforts to save him (Steven Phan/Facebook ) A honeymoon turned tragic when a newlywed husband drowned while snorkelling in Hawaii and thieves robbed the couples rental car as bystanders attempted to save him. Steven and Brittany Phan tied the knot in a ceremony on 20 May in Mexico before setting off to the paradisiac Hawaiian island of Oahu to celebrate their first trip as a married couple, KITV4 reports. But in a matter of hours, their blissful trip took a heartbreaking turn. The California honeymooners had been snorkelling right off the shore of Electra Beach on 1 June when Phan vanished under the water. Beachgoers frantically searched for him until a spear diver pulled his body from the ocean and bystanders began to perform CPR on him. Amid the panic, a group of thieves stole all of the Phans belongings, including their rental car, cellphones, wallets and clothes. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene took over efforts to resuscitate Phan but he ultimately died at a hospital. Thats just unreal, you question that person as a human being, spear fisherman Shin Tamashiro told KITV4. Some people dont have the decency, the integrity, just the morals. Hawaii officials are now investigating the drowning and the robbery, and have reassured the community that a lifeguard tower will be installed in the stretch of the beach where Phan died. Its tragic to see these circumstances, John Titchen, with the Honolulu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division, said. This is a place where we have long known we need more of a safety presence. Anytime we see a case like this, before we can get set up and get in here ... its heartbreaking. According to local news station KTVU, Phan worked as a manager at an Apple in the San Francisco Bay area. Family friends have created a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral costs. According to the pages description, the Phans had been legally married for just three months before the tragedy took place. We are all shocked, in disbelief, and heartbroken at the loss of such a great man as Steven, it read. Steven always found a way to be part of everyones lives, no matter the distance. [He[ was a true friend and an amazing husband, Steven will be incredibly missed by all. A funeral service for Phan will be held on Monday. It is illegal in Los Angeles to display a hippopotamus at a loud or unruly house party. (John Minchillo / Associated Press) Section 53.49 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code is a classic of lawyerly syntax and needless verbosity. It appears on a sign outside my local public library branch and reads as follows: It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having custody of any dog to fail to immediately remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, by replacing in a closed or sealed container and depositing in a trash receptacle, any feces deposited by such dog upon public or private property, without the consent of the public or private owner or person in lawful possession of the property, other than property owned or controlled by the owner or person having custody of such dog. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a blind person being accompanied by a guide dog. Were the lawyers who wrote that paid by the word? Does a dog really deposit feces? Is there an imaginable scenario in which someone would ask for consent to leave their dog's feces on someone elses property? Im not a lawyer, but if I were in charge the sign would just say Clean up after your dog, with perhaps a further note that failing to do so is illegal. Still, when I got home from the library the other day, I was curious. Was the citys municipal code more amusing than I had previously realized? Was there more entertaining gobbledygook in it or was Section 53.49 an outlier? The L.A. Municipal Code, for those who don't know, is the compendium of the regulatory and penal ordinances of the city. Violations might get you fined or even tossed in jail. It was first adopted in 1936, though some provisions go back further. It has been amended continually and runs to about six volumes. Read more: Dear Los Angeles: You still have to pick up your dog's poop during the coronavirus lockdown I flipped through the code online, of course to Section 53, and, to be honest, I couldnt stop reading. It's the part of the code that deals with animals and fowls. Other parts address public health, public welfare, zoning, businesses and traffic, among other things. But I stuck with animals and fowls. Just a few items away from Section 53.49, I stumbled on Section 53.47, which says: No person shall let to a mare any stallion or jack, or let to a cow any bull, or let to a sow any boar, or let to a bitch any dog, or let to a nanny goat any goat, except within an enclosure so arranged as to obstruct such animals entirely from the view of all persons outside such enclosure. For a second or two, I wasnt sure what was meant by let to. What were our citys leaders trying to hide from view behind an enclosure? But then the light bulb went on. Read more: Academy Museum hired a hawk. His name is Spencer, and he scares for a living Does this even belong in the code? To my knowledge theres no current crisis involving boars and sows copulating in public view and offending the sensibilities of Angelenos. Besides, didnt generations of Americans learn about sex by watching animals go at it on the farm? Was that so bad? No doubt this ordinance was adopted at the behest of some previous-era Ron DeSantis hoping to stamp out woke barnyard sex-ed. The rule dates back at least to the original 1936 municipal code, according to the helpful librarians at the L.A. Law Library. And possibly well before that. It is no doubt one of many provisions that are no longer relevant or enforced but remain on the books because nobody has bothered to remove them. Another section of the code bans the feeding of pigeons but not everywhere in the city. Only here: "Beginning at the intersection of the center line of First Street with the center line of Los Angeles Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of Los Angeles Street to the center line of Eighth Street; thence northwesterly along the center line of Eighth Street to the center line of Main Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of Main Street to the center line of Ninth Street; thence northwesterly along the center line of Ninth Street to the center line of Olive Street; thence northeasterly along the center line of Olive Street to the center line of Eighth Street; thence northwesterly ." The delineation of the no-feeding zone goes on for a hundred more words, along 9th, Flower and Figueroa, then back to Olive, over to 1st and down to Los Angeles Street again. I realize that precision and specificity is essential to the law, so I won't complain about that. But why am I forbidden to feed a pigeon at Olive and 4th but permitted to do so with impunity at Grand and 4th? Did an influential lobby of Grand Street pigeon feeders carve out a privilege for themselves, or are the lines merely arbitrary? Read more: The problem with Pablo Escobar's hippos. What Colombia plans for their descendants A few more rules from the code: Bullfights are prohibited in L.A. It's illegal to sell ducklings under four weeks of age in quantities less than six. Wild, exotic or dangerous animals may not be exhibited at house parties or loud or unruly gatherings. What animals does the city consider wild, exotic or dangerous? The code specifies hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, moose, giraffes, baboons and reptiles over 8 feet long, among others. So, if you live in the city of L.A. and you have a hippopotamus and youre planning an unruly party, consider yourself warned. While youre at it, when you take it out, you might want to carry a really big sealed container to dispose of any mess it might deposit on a neighbor's property. Unless youre blind, in which case you can just ignore it. @nick_goldberg This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Nicki Minaj recently had a run-in with the Los Angeles Police Department due to prank calls from anonymous people. On the evening of June 5, an unknown person called the police to report Minaj for child abuse to her 2-year-old son, who she calls Papa Bear since she hasnt disclosed his name to the public, reported TMZ. The allegations prompted the LAPD to knock on the door of the Red Ruby Da Sleeze rapper and her husband Kenneth Pettys Los Angeles home to ensure her child wasnt in any danger. After talking with the couple and inspecting their son, who was perfectly fine, the officers deemed she was a swatting call, a harassment technique that generates an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses, which is a waste of the polices time and resources. That same evening, another call came in to alert authorities that her house was on fire during the late night hours, but the LAPD determined it was another prank call. Unfortunately, the 40-year-old isnt the only celebrity that has been caught off guard when a swarm of police arrives at their home due to jokesters. Others that have been caught up in an ordeal include Rihanna, Diddy and Tom Cruise. Minaj and her husband met when they were teens, reconnected in 2018 and tied the knot in December 2019 according to US Weekly. The We Go Up artist announced her pregnancy on Instagram in July 2020 and welcomed her baby boy just a couple months later. Due to the harassment and inconvenience the call caused the family, Minaj is reportedly taking legal action to find the person, or people, behind the fake claims. The News Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley adopted a harsher tone on Donald Trump's indictment in the classified documents probe, becoming one of the few 2024 GOP contenders to openly slam the former president for his alleged mishandling of the files. "If this indictment is true...President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security," Haley said Monday in an interview with Fox News. "This puts all our military men and women in danger." Before the indictment had been unsealed, Haley had described the Department of Justice's case as "prosecutorial overreach" and "vendetta politics." Know More Haley, who served as U.N. Ambassador under Trump, emphasized that "two things can be true at the same time," underscoring that while Trump may have acted recklessly and unlawfully, she still believes the the case against him has been highly politicized, which echoes the sentiment expressed by most Republican candidates in the race. "The DOJ and FBI have lost all credibility with the American people," Haley said, adding that it was "time to move beyond" the indictment for the moment. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is so far the only major GOP contender who has called on Trump to drop out from the race in light of the accusations described in the indictment. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the allegations "devastating" but stopped short of calling on Trump to drop out. Step Back Trump faces 37 charges in relation to the probe, including 31 counts under the Espionage Act for willful retention of national defense information The indictment details how Trump recklessly stored boxes of highly sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, including moving some files to a bathroom and shower at the club. Many of these files reportedly contained data related to U.S. nuclear weapon capabilities and military plans in case of a foreign attack. Prosecutors also allege that on at least two occasions, Trump showed classified documents to people without authorized clearance. When subpoenaed for the documents, Trump also allegedly called on his staff to conceal the documents in question. The former president is set to be arraigned at a Miami federal courthouse on Tuesday, pending confirmation that he finds new representation in Miami after his legal team shakeup. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to stay in the campaign. Host Ariana DeBose, third right, performs at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) NEW YORK (AP) No script? No problem! There was plenty of uncertainty in the run-up to this years Tony Awards, which at one point seemed unlikely to happen at all because of the ongoing Hollywood writers strike. But the ceremony went off without a hitch on Sunday night. The event was scriptless, to honor a compromise with striking writers, but chock-full of high-spirited Broadway performances drawing raucous cheers from an audience clearly thrilled just to be there at all. It was a night of triumph for the small-scale but huge-hearted musical Kimberly Akimbo, about a teenager with a rare aging disease, but also a night notable for inclusion: Two nonbinary performers, Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee, made history by winning their respective acting categories. The ceremony also touched on the specter of antisemitism in very different places: World War II Europe, with best play winner Leopoldstadt," and early 20th-century America, with Parade, winner for best musical revival. In the end, the lack of scripted banter didn't much dampen the proceedings, and little wonder: Broadway folks are trained in improv. And of course there was more room for singing and dancing including from current shows not in competition and nobody was complaining about that. Oh, and the show ended right on time. Oscars, are you listening? Some key moments of the night: BROADWAY HEADS UPTOWN It wasnt just the writers strike that made for a different evening. The venue was new, too. It was on Broadway, yes, but miles from the theater district. The ceremony took place uptown in Washington Heights, in the ornate, gilded United Palace, a former movie theater filled with chandeliers and carpets and majestic columns. Thank you for coming uptown never in my wildest dreams, quipped Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has helped bring events to the venue in the neighborhood where he set his In the Heights. The afterparty was held in tents outside the building instead of the usual festivities in the fancy food halls of the Plaza Hotel near Central Park. A BLANK PAGE, BUT A FULL NIGHT Oscar winner and Broadway luminary Ariana DeBose, hosting for the second year running, immediately addressed the elephant in the room. Speaking to the audience before the pre-show telecast began, she explained nothing would be scripted and told winners the only words they'd see on teleprompters would be wrap up please. When the main telecast began, she appeared on camera reading a Tony script, but the pages were blank. Instead of words, DeBose and others spoke with their dance moves, doing a brassy number in the theaters grand lobby, staircases and aisles, complete with gravity-defying leaps. Afterward, DeBose warned anyone who may have thought last year was unhinged: Buckle up! DeBose, who performed in the original cast of Hamilton and won an Oscar for West Side Story, also passionately explained why the Tonys are so crucial to the economic survival of Broadway, and to touring productions around the country. A TIMELY REMINDER OF ANTISEMITISM IN EUROPE ... An early award brought a sobering reminder of the horrors of antisemitism. Brandon Uranowitz of Leopoldstadt, Tom Stoppards sweeping play about a Jewish family in Vienna, thanked the celebrated playwright for writing a play about Jewish identity and antisemitism and the false promise of assimilation, and noted his ancestors, many of whom did not make it out of Poland, also thank you. Uranowitz, who won for featured actor in a play, also joked that the thing he wanted most in life was to repay his parents for the sacrifices they made only he couldnt, because he works in the theater. ... AND IN AMERICA Leopoldstadt went on to win best play, while best musical revival went to another searing work about antisemitism: Parade, starring Ben Platt as Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched in 1915 in Georgia. In his acceptance speech for best director, Michael Arden echoed the plays somber themes: We must battle this. It is so, so important, or else we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history. He added his own story of how, growing up, he often had been called the f-word, referring to a homophobic slur. He then earned some of the night's loudest cheers when he triumphantly reclaimed the slur while pointing out that he now had a Tony. I SHOULD NOT BE UP HERE It was an emotional moment when Alex Newell of Shucked became the first out nonbinary person to win an acting Tony, taking the prize for best featured actor in a musical. Newell, also known for The Glee Project and Glee, thanked close family for their love and support and then addressed the outside world. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black, little baby from Massachusetts, they said. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face and tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to. Like the Oscars, the Tonys have only gendered categories for performers. THIS IS FOR YOU J. Harrison Ghee was the second nonbinary actor of the night to make history, winning best actor in a musical for their role in Some Like It Hot, based on the classic 1959 film. They play a male musician on the run who disguises as a woman in what becomes a voyage of discovery about gender (the movie role involved disguise, but no discovery). Accepting the award, Ghee said they had been raised to use their gifts not for themselves, but to help others. For every trans, non-gender-conforming, nonbinary human who ever was told you couldn't be seen, this is for you, Ghee said, tapping the Tony for emphasis. LEA MICHELE GETS HER TONY MOMENT (NEIL DIAMOND, TOO) Not to mix show metaphors or anything, but Lea Michele was not about to throw away her shot. The Funny Girl lead was not eligible for a Tony because she didn't originate the role last year (that would be Beanie Feldstein, whom Michele replaced in a matter of months). But the former Glee star, who has turned around the fortunes of the revival, is seen by many as the ultimate Fanny Brice, and her gorgeously belted rendition of Dont Rain On My Parade 13 years after she first performed it at the Tonys definitely did not disappoint. Judging from faces in the crowd, neither did Neil Diamond actually Will Swenson, who plays Diamond in the musical A Beautiful Noise (not nominated but currently playing). After the audience was warned during a commercial break to keep the aisles clear for a big moment, Swenson came onstage crooning Sweet Caroline, soon accompanied by dancers dressed in sparkly gold, filling the aisles. Among those seen singing happily along: Sara Bareilles, Jessica Chastain, Melissa Etheridge, Miranda, and countless others shouting out the lyrics: So good! So good! PARTY TIME Most Tony attendees spent a good five hours in the United Palace, and the room got pretty warm. So folks were happy to step outside to the afterparty, where guests munched on ceviche, mangoes on sticks and mini-Cuban sandwiches, and sipped specially designed cocktails. Ghee was a clear star of the party, towering over most guests literally and figuratively as they clutched their Tony and accepted well wishes or agreed to selfies. Ghee also chatted with last years winner of the same award, Myles Frost, who played Michael Jackson in MJ. Our industry is shifting forward! We are erasing labels and boundaries and limits, Ghee said when asked their main takeaway of the night. The actor wore a bright blue custom ensemble by Bronx designer Jerome LaMaar, with a choker of glistening jewels. When you're getting it custom made, you can really do something, they quipped. ___ For more on the 2023 Tony Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/tony-awards When I started thinking, Im like, This is so much bigger than me, like representation matters, Alecia Washington said. A North Carolina student is celebrating an outstanding achievement after becoming Valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Alecia Washington is the first African American student to obtain the high honor in 100 years, WXII 12 News reports. Over the weekend, she completed her second graduation in the past two months. Washington recently graduated from Forsyth Technical Community College with an associates degree. Screenshot of Alecia Washington, the first African American valedictorian at R.J. Reynolds High School in 100 years. (Source: WXII 12 News) Its a new chapter, she told the news outlet ahead of her high school graduation ceremony this past weekend. Im going into adulthood. Im going to be living on my own in college, Washington added. Washington attributes her achievement to her school counselor, Cristen Wiley, who advocated on her behalf, according to WXII 12 News. The teenager said she is more excited about the impact her historic achievement can have on younger students. When I started thinking, Im like, This is so much bigger than me, like representation matters, she told WXII 12 News. Washington was active in several organizations throughout high school that helped students and youth in underserved communities, including the Ebon Society. She also served as vice president of the Student Government Association. As part of her work with Youth Grant Makers in Action, Washington helped create grants for student-led organizations, according to WXII 12 News. The teen said she was a voice for the voiceless. Washington will attend UNC Charlotte on a full academic scholarship. She intends to study medicine and become a pediatric nurse anesthetist, WXII 12 News reports. Lavonya Washington, Washingtons mother, said her daughters valedictorian title made her reflect on the first African American student to attend R.J. Reynolds High School after segregation. Her name was Gwendolyn Bailey. She set the foundation for Alecia, the proud mom told WXII 12 News. I think about the challenges that she faced as a student, and it made it possible for Alecia to have this title today, Lavonya Washington added. The student said the key lessons she learned from her great-grandmother were invest in yourself and expand your knowledge, Washington told WXII 12 News. If youre going to invest in anything, invest in yourself. Invest in getting a good education and expanding your knowledge because that is something nobody can take away, Washington said of her great-grandmothers advice. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post North Carolina high school student becomes schools first Black valedictorian appeared first on TheGrio. A while ago, we shared some of the most haunting deathbed confessions and final words that nurses have ever heard from patients. Other nurses in the BuzzFeed Community then contributed their own, so here are some more wild stories. 1. "I'm an RN. While I was a student, I was caring for a lady who had end-stage renal failure. She had a DNAR ('Do not attempt resuscitation') and was shutting down. We were having a little chat well, I was chatting away while helping her to put on some lotion when she stopped, looked over my shoulder, and said, 'Bill's here, love. I've got to go.' She then swiftly stopped breathing. I read her old notes and learned that Bill was her deceased husband." u/Jesspandapants ABC 2. "My grandma confessed to murder on her deathbed. Normally you'd think it was the pain relief, but she was such an eccentric woman that it was actually believable. We traced all her ex-husbands, partners, and any other likely candidates, and fortunately, no one was missing or had died an untimely death, but sometimes I wonder..." u/NotAnEarthwormYet ABC 3. "When I was an EMT, we arrived at the scene and found an old man who was already dead. He was on holiday with his wife and two adult children. Apparently that morning hed said to his family, 'Im going to die today.' After he collapsed, he briefly regained consciousness and said, 'See? I told you I was going to die,' before going unconscious and then passing. His poor son was crying as he said, 'Thats Dad. Always had to be right.'" u/naomis16 ABC 4. "I'm a practicing advanced care paramedic. One night, we got a call to the condo of a 29-year-old man who had become severely sick from COVID. He had refused to go to the ER the week before, so by the time we got there, it was too late. CPR went on for four and a half minutes. I got him back, but he would fade. This happened three times. During the third and final time, he came back and was with me for just enough time to say, 'Two worlds wait for us: a beautiful one, and one with fire. Please, I dont want to go anymore.'" u/Shoddy-Ad88 ABC 5. "I took care of a World War II veteran with dementia. He would say the number '22' over and over, and his family never knew the significance of it. The number didn't line up with any major events or dates that they were aware of. The day before he died, his mental state became incredibly clear, and he started telling the staff, 'Twenty-two men...I killed 22 men over there.' Poor guy. He lived with that anguish for 50-plus years." u/Nurse317 ABC 6. "I'm a white male. I've worked with many elderly people as a registered nurse. I had one man who was 90-plus years old talk about how he had been a part of the Ku Klux Klan in his youth and how ashamed he was for participating in some truly gross and despicable behavior. He had several nursing assistants and patient care techs who were either Black or Hispanic, and he was always so polite and sometimes even loving toward them. I could tell how deeply his past haunted him. He asked me not to share this information with any of the staff. The last days before he became too weak to speak anymore, he asked one of the Black RNs if she forgave him. He passed a couple of days later." u/Hobie642 ABC 7. "Doctor here. Working in the Deep South, I've heard a lot of patients' final words be about the regret they have for disowning their LGBTQ children and the relationships they could've had. Unfortunately, rigid religious/political dogma tears apart more families than most people realize. Life is short. Accept people especially the ones you love for who they are and not who you would like them to be. That's always been my big takeaway lesson from hearing these stories." u/RunsWithApes ABC 8. "During my first year as a nurse, I worked in palliative care. There was a 28-year-old dying of cancer. She'd moved here from Canada to be with her boyfriend, who left her a year after she moved. We werent expecting her to deteriorate so fast. I held her hand as she died alone, without her family or friends. But right before she died, she cried and told me she wished she'd never left Canada. Her family was overseas and couldnt make it in time. I'll always remember this heartbreaking moment. It reminds me to regularly tell my family I love them, to spend time with friends, and to stop making excuses." u/Roaming_Pie ABC 9. "I had this old patient where I used to work who would never talk unless his daughter was in the room. She had asked something about her stepmother, who passed away a couple of years before, and her death was the reason he had to come to the nursing home. On one of the days after she left, I was getting him ready for bed, and the last thing he said before passing was, 'I should have finished the job of drowning her and burning down the house.'" u/boxylady ABC 10. "I used to plan fundraising events and would hold a candlelit memorial walk around our hospice campus every year. One year, there was a hospice patient in the house. She somehow sensed that she was in her final hours on the morning of the event, and she told her family, 'Don't worry. I'm leading the parade today.' The family had no idea what she was talking about, but she ultimately passed later that day. Her family saw us setting up the memorial walk and asked what we were doing. When we told them, they all started to laugh and cry. They brought her photo out with them that night and led the procession." u/lianaseviltwin ABC 11. One patient was in for very routine, fairly minor surgery. Before going under, he said, 'Im going to die. I know Im going to die.' I held his hand and told him he would be fine. He died shortly after the procedure." u/JenQPublic ABC 12. "My grandpa, a Sicilian man with blessed cooking skills, told us on his deathbed that his meatballs were actually frozen meatballs from the grocery store." u/orangestar17 ABC 13. "EMT here. My most chilling experience ever involved an old woman who was heavily Christian, judging by the family sentiment and household decor. She was struggling to breathe, and her last words were, 'I feel nothing. I thought this would be better.' Yeah, I was depressed for a full month after that." u/Phys_ass ABC 14. "My friend who's a nurse told me about an elderly patient she had. The woman apparently woke up late at night and told her 'I have to fart' in Spanish. She then farted (a stick-to-the-walls kind of fart) and went into a short coma and died three hours later. There was just enough time for her daughter to come in and say goodbye. After her death, the room still smelled like ass for a few days from her fart. They left the windows open over the weekend, and the janitorial staff did all they could to get rid of the smell. In the survey, the family mentioned that the room smelled bad. The supervising nurse had to have a small meeting with everyone about keeping the rooms clean. I just think about it sometimes." Anonymous ABC 15. "Ive witnessed several final words during my time in the ER. The wildest one was when a man was brought in after having a severe heart attack. Shortly before losing consciousness and going into cardiac arrest, he started mumbling, 'The fire! The fire! It burns!'" u/Nationofnoobs ABC 16. And finally: "I had a patient whose memory had been fading for years. It's weird...right before a patient dies, sometimes they'll suddenly appear to be doing a lot better. Anyway, he thought I was his late wife. I played along and just listened to him while he recalled his engagement, his wedding, his first child's birth, and a few other memories. At one point he said, 'Oh! Irene, there you are! Sorry, you know my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. Well, thank you for listening to an old man tell his stories. I hope you have great stories to tell one day too. I'm coming, Irene.' Then he passed." u/bedroompopprincess ABC Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity, and some are from this Reddit thread. New York City will expand its Summer Streets program next month with a plan to double the amount of car-free, pedestrian-friendly space to 20 miles. The expansion, which will encompass all five boroughs and runs through August, will extend in Manhattan up to 125th St. along Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. and will include stretches of Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Vernon Blvd. in Queens, the Grand Concourse in the Bronx and Richmond Terrace on Staten Island. Mayor Adams announced the launch of the expanded program Monday morning in Long Island City, Queens. I hope this is not lost on people. We did not go to the small, dead-end block and say, Lets open it and be just symbolic. We went to Eastern Parkway. We went to the grandest concourse in the Bronx, the Grand Concourse, Adams said. Were going after the large places where people are going to be able to walk and to really congregate together. The program, which first launched in 2008, was put on hold for a year during the pandemic, but was back and running last year and in 2021. Last year, more than 500,000 people took part in the program, which included free bicycle repairs and bike-riding lessons. This year, it will result in 20 miles of streets being closed off to cars at various points during the summer, a prospect some motorists might not be too keen on, especially when it comes to major thoroughfares like Eastern Parkway. The mayor didnt seem too worried about such concerns, though, and said he hopes Summer Streets will encourage drivers to use mass transit, get on a bike or walk instead of getting behind the wheel. Im surprised how many people dont get on our subways and see how wonderful it is. Even some of our citywide leaders, I dont know if theyve been on the train for a long time. Im on the train often. Its a great way to move around the city, Adams said. They may go out and say, Let me take them up on learning how to ride a bike in three hours. Theyre going to learn the exercising that comes with riding a bike. And theyre going to do something revolutionary: Theyre going to walk. NYC delays Airbnb Registration Regulations New York City has passed one of the strictest laws against short-term rentals in the country but has agreed to delay implementing it until September. The law, known as Local Law 18, would require Airbnb hosts to register for an operating license. The regulation was passed in January 2022 and imposes fines on any New York hosts without an operating license who allowed renters to stay for less than 30 days. The law was set to go into effect next month, but the city has agreed to push it back until September 5 after Airbnb sued on June 1st in conjunction with three local hosts. Read more In the lawsuit, the company claims Local Law 18 would implement a de facto ban on all short-term rentals in the city. As it stands, the law requires hosts to jump through what the company considers to be unreasonable hoops, requiring them to register with the New York City Mayors Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) The suit accuses the city of implementing its most extreme and oppressive regulatory scheme yet. Registration requirements include providing personal and private information like income, the number of people unrelated to the host, and informing OSE if a romantic partner moves in or out. Other restrictions are imposed if the host bypasses the first hurdle, stipulating that there cannot be locks on bedroom doors, and the host cannot rent out the unit while they are on vacation. OSE will review the applications behind closed doors following a process, the suit says, claiming the law will ensure only a minuscule number of hosts will ever be granted a registration. Karen Dunn, Airbnbs attorney, said at a press conference last week, It is literally impossible for regular people to comply with the rules. She added, These are regulations that experts will tell you no regular person could understand unless they had a history of working in building code engineering. In the interim, Airbnb is working to come to an agreement with New York City to ensure that hosts and tourists can continue to benefit from the rental opportunities the company presents. Following the laws delay, Airbnb said in an email to hosts, We are happy to report that the summer bookings of guests and Hosts will not be affected, Gothamist reported. The email continued, Our hope is that prior to September 5, the City will accept our invitation to work together to find sensible solutions that allow regular New Yorkers to share their home. If not, please be assured that we will continue to support Hosts and fight to prevent the elimination of the short-term rental market in New York City. The delay will give Airbnb time to continue litigating its case against the city, and Dunn said in an emailed statement to Gizmodo, While we are happy on behalf of guests and hosts whose summer plans and rentals will no longer be ruined by these rules, we hope the city will use the extra time to collaborate with us on a sensible alternative solution that will benefit hosts, tourism, and the local economy. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, the first woman to lead the nations largest police force, resigned Monday. I have made the decision to step down from my position, Sewell said in an email blasted out to every cops smartphone. While my time here will come to a close I will never step away from my advocacy and support for the NYPD and I will always be a champion for the people of New York City. Sewell did not give a reason for her departure or a date for when she is leaving. A request for comment emailed to her NYPD account bounced back, suggesting she has turned off her professional email. Shes expected to be out by July 1, according to a city government official with knowledge of the resignation. It appears First Deputy Commissioner Edward Caban will be the next commissioner, at least on an interim basis. Mondays abrupt resignation announcement took Sewells own staff by surprise, said a police source. Mayor Adams thanked Sewell in a statement. The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude, he said. Sewell maintained a relatively low profile in her 1 years as commissioner, giving few sitdown interviews and often holding press conferences in which she would only take questions about the topic at hand. She battled the persistent belief at Police Headquarters and City Hall that Adams, a former NYPD captain, and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, a former Chief of Department, were calling most of the shots. Police sources said Banks was heavily involved in making high-level personnel decisions. A trusted Adams aide, Timothy Pearson, a retired NYPD inspector, also plays a role in advising Adams on public safety matters. Still, Sewell and the mayor were in virtual lockstep on some of the key issues in the city from their support of the new gun unit, formed last year, to their constant criticism of bail reforms and discovery laws. In their first year, murders dropped 11% and shootings declined 17% even as the overall crime rate spiked 22% compared with 2021. Crime stayed mostly flat in 2023, though murders and shootings continued to drop. But things changed recently, according to police and City Hall sources. Sewell raised eyebrows last month when she agreed with the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which substantiated a complaint that Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey abused his authority by voiding the arrest of a retired cop who had been accused of threatening a group of teens with a gun. Adams has consistently backed Maddrey, saying he believes the chief handled it appropriately. Sewell, who has final say in all disciplinary matters, has been criticized for declining to prosecute more than 300 cops in 2022 after CCRB substantiated complaints against them. She had the same option with Maddrey, but chose instead to go forward with the case, though Maddrey, who could lose up to 10 vacation days, has vowed to fight it. Police sources said Sewells decision irked City Hall but won her the support of several high-level police executives who felt Maddrey had crossed the line. Meanwhile, the NYPD has faced ongoing criticism for treatment of nonwhite New Yorkers. Neighborhood Safety Teams tasked with keeping illegal guns off the streets carry out a high number of unlawful stops that largely target Black and Latino New Yorkers, according to a damning federal monitors report filed earlier this month. The NYPD maintains it does not do racial profiling. The top cop in March privately bristled when Chief of Training Juanita Holmes did an end-around, going over Sewells head by getting Adams to back her plan to eliminate the required 1-mile run all recruits must complete, in 14 minutes and 21 seconds, before graduating the Police Academy. Sewell shot the idea down because she viewed it as lowering the standards to become a police officer, sources said. But Holmes, who believed the running requirement was unnecessary and an obstacle for many female recruits, used connections at City Hall to persuade Adams to agree with her, sources said. Holmes also irked Sewell with her invite to Cardi B to a Girls Talk event at the NYPD Academy on Feb. 24 in which the hip-hop star talked and danced with young girls as part of her court-ordered community service for her role in a Queens strip club assault in 2018. The invite, made without Sewells knowledge, forced academy supervisors to scramble by shuffling 400 recruits to different classrooms for an important academic test that was to be held in the auditorium where Cardi B appeared. Holmes is no longer with the NYPD, but Adams named her commissioner of the citys Probation Department. An Adams administration official suggested Sewells departure is no shock. Sewell had been out of the real decision-making in PD for some time, the official said. Phil Banks, Tim Pearson, the mayor himself too many former PD execs around and with very real points of view on how to run the PD. That never left much room for Keechant Sewell to be PC. Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, was fond of Sewell, noting that when they spoke she listened, unlike other NYPD leaders who pay the unions lip service but dont address their concerns. In her short time with the NYPD, Commissioner Sewell made a real impact, Lynch said. She took over a police department in crisis and faced tremendous challenges from day one. She cared about the cops on the street and was always open to working with us to improve their lives and working conditions. There are still enormous challenges facing the NYPD. Sewell, who previously served as the chief of detectives for the Nassau County Police Department, made her mark in her first month with the NYPD. Speaking to more than 100 cops gathered at Harlem Hospital the night two cops were shot in Harlem, she lamented the war at hand It is our city against the killers, she said and the beyond comprehension pain inflicted on the city. Our department is hurting, she added. Our city is hurting. In her email to the rank and file, Sewell noted the time she has spent with the families of slain or wounded cops. She called the NYPD an extraordinary collective of hardworking public servants dedicated to the safety of this city. And she urged them to remember the New Yorkers who want them to succeed. There are people all over this city who want and appreciate you, she said. They want safe streets, transit and housing. They are families, workers, tourists, business owners and students and they depend on the NYPD. NEW YORK NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, the first woman to lead the nations largest police force, resigned Monday. I have made the decision to stop down from my position, Sewell said in an email blasted out to every cops smartphone. While my time here will come to a close I will never step away from my advocacy and support for the NYPD and I will always be a champion for the people of New York City. Sewell maintained a relatively low profile in her 1 1/2 years as commissioner, giving few sitdown interviews and often holding press conferences in which she would only take questions about the topic at hand. She battled the persistent belief at Police Headquarters and City Hall that Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks were calling most of the shots, particularly regarding high-level personnel decisions. Still, she and the mayor were in virtual lockstep on some of the key issues in the city from their support of the new gun unit, formed last year, to their constant criticism of the bail reform and discovery laws. But Sewell raised eyebrows last month when she agreed with the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which substantiated a complaint that Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey abused his authority by voiding the arrest of a retired cop who had been accused of threatening a group of teens with a gun. Adams has consistently backed Maddrey, saying he believes the chief handled it appropriately. The mayor thanked Sewell in a Monday statement. The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude, Adams said. Sewell, who has final say in all disciplinary matters, has been accused of declining to prosecute more than 300 cops in 2022 after CCRB substantiated complaints against them. She had the same option with Maddrey, but chose instead to go forward with the case, though Maddrey, who could lose up to 10 vacation days, has vowed to fight it. Off-duty cop shoots his wife in the face with a rifle, Texas police chief says A police officer accused of shooting his wife in the face has been arrested and relieved of his duties, according to a Texas police chief. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said in a news briefing the shooting happened just after midnight Monday, June 12, at an apartment on the northwest side of the city. Officers found the 30-year-old female victim had been shot in the face by her husband, an officer with the Houston Police Department, Finner said. The woman was taken into surgery, and her condition is unknown. We pray that shes going to be alright and make a full recovery, the police chief said. Its believed that a rifle was used in the shooting, according to the police chief. The Houston Police Department does not issue rifles, so the weapon may have been purchased by the officer, Finner said. Police said its unclear what led to the shooting. The accused shooter and gunshot victim were the only people inside the apartment, the chief said. The officer, who has been with the department for two years, was arrested and faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Finner said. Because formal charges have not been filed, his name has not been publicly released. Finner said the officer was immediately relieved of duty. An investigation will be conducted. We all took an oath of office to serve and protect, but were human as well. This hurts. It hurts all of us, Finner said. Cop arrested after ex-girlfriend finds hidden camera in her home, Texas officials say Missing 16-year-olds remains found in woods lead to officers arrest, Georgia cops say Flyers that appeared to be from a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan were spread around multiple neighborhoods in Mt. Sterling Saturday evening, according to social media posts and the local police department. Residents found the flyers Sunday morning placed on cars, according to Mt. Sterling police. The flyers were found in the Holly Hills subdivision and along Pines on Main. Montgomery County Judge-Executive Chris Haddix said neighborhoods mostly on the western side of the county were hit with the flyers, including his own house. I think they were disturbed by it, Haddix said on the neighbors response to finding the flyers. Any group thats founded on hate, we obviously denounce that. Detective Aaron Noel, a sergeant with the Mt. Sterling Police Department, said police are aware of the incident and they were investigating Monday. On Tuesday morning Noel said they have identified a suspect believed to be involved in spreading the flyers and have forwarded that persons information to Kentucky State Police and the FBI. Potential charges for criminal littering are pending in district court, Noel said. While only one suspect was identified by Mt. Sterling police, Noel believes there are more people connected to the incident. Noel confirmed similar flyers were found in Paris and Winchester. Social media posts also indicated that flyers were left in Paris neighborhoods, but local police didnt immediately provide information on those incidents. A lot people threw the flyers away while others submitted official reports to police, according to Noel. He encouraged people who received flyers to contact police at (859) 498-8899. We have copies of the flyers, so feel free to throw yours in the trash, where they belong, police said in a Facebook post. The M.S.P.D. and City of Mt. Sterling does not tolerate any kind of hate or bigotry in our community. The flyer appears to come from the Trinity White Knights of the KKK and promotes a neighborhood watch. You can sleep tonight, the flyer reads. The Klan is awake! The recent incident is one of several that have occurred in recent months and years involving the promotion of white supremacy groups in Kentucky. A recent incident occurred at a rally to support pride and the LGBTQ community in downtown Corbin when a man brandished a firearm and a card that Trent Osborne, one of the organizers of the rally, said he recognized as a KKK card. In November 2020, hateful white supremacist flyers were distributed in Lexington neighborhoods. The flyers said that Antifa and Black Lives Matter groups are destroying our citys and all the time the news makes it seem like they are just peacefully protesting. In 2021, similar flyers were placed in Scott County neighborhoods, prompting advocacy groups to speak out against the derogatory language used in the material. Its only been two years since Justin Cooley was a theater kid performing in musicals at Olathe East High School. And there he was, on Sunday night, performing at the Tony Awards in New York City where he was nominated for his first professional acting job. Cooley was one of five nominees for best featured actor in a musical for his role in Kimberly Akimbo. It went to Shucked star Alex Newell, a Glee alum who became the first out nonbinary actor to win a Tony for a performance. Cooleys castmate, Bonnie Milligan, who plays Kimberly Akimbo, won best featured actress in a musical. In the last Tony of the night, Kimberly Akimbo won for best musical. After his acceptance remarks, producer David Stone tried to let Cooley address the audience, but the sound was cut off because the show was ending. Kimberly Akimbo is a comedy/drama about the life, friends and dysfunctional family of Kimberly, a 16-year-old whose fatal aging disease makes her look 72. Cooley plays Seth, described by The New York Times as an anagram-obsessed, Elvish-speaking, sweetly weird high school student. Cooleys supporters back home were invited to gather at Olathe East to watch the show Sunday night. Fans congratulated Cooley and wished him luck on social media. Rooting for Olathe East graduate Justin Cooley tonight at the Tony Awards! Hes nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his Broadway debut. Were cheering you on back home, Justin. https://t.co/TVcicwnz2G Rep. Sharice Davids (@RepDavids) June 11, 2023 Kansas City had other representation at the Tonys this year. Another teenage actor from Kansas City, 14-year-old Drew Squire, is currently a cast member of Tom Stoppards play, Leopoldstadt, which won for best play. Broadway and music producer Evan McGill from Kansas City, nominated twice, won as a producer for Parade, named the best revival of a musical. Kansas Citys Evan McGill won a Tony Award on Sunday as part of the producing team of Parade, which won the Tony for best revival of a musical. Before Sunday, Cooleys agent, Elin Flack, told The Star that his work in Kimberly Akimbo has attracted tons and tons of interest from people wanting to work with him. Hes under contract with the show for a year. Fame has come quickly for Cooley. He had never seen a live Broadway show or been to New York City, and didnt have an agent or manager when he auditioned for Kimberly Akimbo. He was preparing for freshman orientation at Texas Christian University, where he planned to study musical theater. He recently told The Star how, in November 2021, he stood at the edge of the stage when Kimberly Akimbo opened off-Broadway, having belted out his moving and introspective ballad, Good Kid. I was so nervous, so nervous. I was so scared to be on a professional stage, he said. During his curtain call that night, he thought: I cant believe I did this. I cant believe Ive come this far in such a short time. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst The decision to prosecute Donald Trump in South Florida appears to be centered around keeping the case airtight and avoiding a potential retrialbut its also one that could cost the Department of Justice a conviction at all. For starters, the court districts supposedly random assignment wheel placed the case in front of Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a Trump appointee who previously tried to derail this very investigation. And at the tail end, prosecutors will inevitably face a stark reality when seeking 12 impartial jurors at a trial: Floridas increasingly right-wing politics. Floridas embrace of MAGA politicsas well as its acceptance of Gov. Ron DeSantis new brand of far-right authoritarianismcould be a real problem for prosecutors trying to get a unanimous guilty verdict. The traditional view of Florida as a so-called purple toss-up state is now a distant memory, as best evidenced by the scathing letter Miamis former mayor wrote when stepping down as the states Democratic party leader last year, after Republicans completely eviscerated their opponents in the polls. The moderate battleground politics of Florida have been replaced by deep-red passion. Damning Indictment Shows Trump Knewand Hid Docs in a Shower In courtwhere Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith will try to prove that Trump illegally kept classified documents and engaged in a coverupthat means politics will be impossible to avoid, an especially daunting task in a forum where a single Trump-loyal juror can cause a mistrial. Maybe there are better places in the country that love former President Trump more, but there cant be many, said Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr., one of the states top lawyers and past president of the Cuban American Bar Association. The adoration in South Florida, and in particular Miami-Dade County, is something uniquesomething Ive never witnessed with any other president. The adoration is, as the younger generation would say, extra. Broward and Dade [counties] used to be the bastion of Democrats, but that has changed profoundly, Sanchez-Medina continued. If his supporters see him shoot somebody here, theyll still support him. The evidence better be solid. If its purely circumstantial, its going to be very difficult to expect a juror to not go in favor of Trump. Americans who live far from the Sunshine State often have a misunderstanding of the Spanish-speaking community there, with some expectation that South Florida will somehow abide by traditional notions of the liberal Hispanic vote. But that bears little semblance to the reality there, where politics keep shifting rightward. The growing and entrenched Cuban-American community that now stretches more than 200 miles from Key West to West Palm Beach has always been Republican-alignedespecially given its origins as a class of communist-fleeing political refugees. But Trumps fever dreams about encroaching socialism have hit a nerve, allowing him to sweep that demographicand nearly reach 50 percent of the 2020 vote in what was once a solidly blue southeast corner of the state. In an alarming turn, the Proud Boysthe violent MAGA thugs who played a central role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol after Trump infamously told them to stand back and standbyhave infiltrated the Miami-Dade Republican Party, according to The New York Times. Smith and his team of prosecutors likely have a year to prepare for a trial where they aim to convince a dozen jurors that Trump abused his oath to protect the nation he once ledspilling state secrets to appease his own ego, and lying about having classified records to save his own skin. As it currently stands, itll be up to a panel of South Floridians to decide whether Trump committed any of the 37 crimes listed in the indictment unsealed on Friday. But theres a lingering question to the Trump case: Why Florida? Although Trump hoarded the classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach County, he initially took them from the White House in the nations capital. In a case with a potential crime spanning court jurisdictions, prosecutors often choose to launch a case in the district closest to its capable law enforcement resourcesor where judges are well-versed in the material. In a case involving Top Secret records and other national secrets, the natural home might seem like the seat of the nations government in Washington, D.C., which is indeed where Smith initially empanelled a grand jury to subpoena Trump for documents. But legal scholars, like those at Just Security, have recently speculated that one reason Smith chose to file the case in Florida is because of a pending Supreme Court case that could take a much more stringent view about how prosecutors decide where to file a case. The cost of getting that element wrong could make the case disappear in a puff of smoke and prevent the feds from giving it a second shot. Former state prosecutors in South Florida told The Daily Beast that the feds have their work cut out for them in this historic case, because they also face an uphill cultural battle: locals have a deep-seeded distrust of the government and a shockingly complacent tolerance of public corruptiona toxic mix that could put Trump on the path to victory. The Incredible Mystery of How Trump Got Judge Cannon in the Mar-a-Lago Case Adriana Alcalde spent two years as a public corruption prosecutor in Broward County, where she learned just how tolerant South Floridians can be with misbehaving politicians like Trumpand how reluctant they can be to support law enforcement crackdowns. It's going to be a very difficult case, because of where it is. There are a lot of trust issues with the government. And thats what the defense is going to be: making this a political case, Alcalde said. A self-described Hialeah girl, referencing the one city in the region where local city meetings are regularly held in Spanish, Alcalde pointed out how her hometowns longtime mayor was taken down on extortion and racketeering charges in the 1990sbut still managed to make a political comeback and return to office. Today, the city hall bears his name: the Raul L. Martinez Government Center. And it happens all the time. Just last week, Joe Carollo, a Miami city commissioner who was found liable in federal court for abusing his power to harass businesses in Little Havana and ordered to pay a whopping $63.5 million in damages, remained unapologetic when he returned to his day job and attended his first commission meeting since the trial. The culture down there is: As long as I'm doing OK and he was doing good for the city, he was a good mayor, Alcalde said. Given her experience with juries there, Alcade expects that same logic will apply to Trump. They like to look at results. And they think Trump did a good job with the economy, and the lies he's been spewing wont matter. Some hardcore Trump people will think this is the government being the corrupt one, not him, she said. That tolerance for fraud is also seen in everyday life in South Florida, which has become a hub of low-level criminality over the decades. Although Miami is no longer the cocaine-infused murder capital of the country that it was in 1984, it is a place where shopping plazas hawk fake Obamacare services, hit-and-runs are the norm as few drivers care to carry auto insurance, and the suburban landscape was ground zero for the real estate crisis during the 2007 recession. Sanchez-Medina chalks it up to a permissive culture that newcomers take with them from Latin Americasomething that takes generations to shake off. We were No. 1 in mortgage fraud, No. 1 in health-care fraud, and recently we had the trial with Joe Carollo. Corruption in our politicians just means its Wednesday, he said. A lot of us come from countries where its normal. In South Florida, were a little bit different. Political corruption just doesnt shock the conscience the way it would in Maine or Vermont. Elsewhere, things would be outrageous. But the power in this case will ultimately rest with the judge overseeing the trial, which at this point appears to be a U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. Trump-loyal to the point that legal scholars have begun to balk at her nonsense judicial orders, Cannon has already shown herself willing to write embarrassing opinions as long as they benefit the president who put her on the bench. When Trump challenged the FBIs search of Mar-a-Lago last August, Cannon inserted herself in the matter to slow down the investigation by appointing a secondary judge in New York City to screen the DOJs review of documentsgrinding the gears to a halt until an appellate court eventually forced her to eject herself from the case. Is Bringing the Trump Documents Case in Florida a Mistake? If Cannon presides over this criminal case to the very end, she will play an instrumental role in jury selection. Unlike state courts, where prosecutors and defense lawyers are intimately involved in a long and drawn-out process, federal courts give judges a lot more leeway and ultimate say in deciding who serves on the jury, according to Kathleen Bogenschutz, who spent years as a prosecutor there in Broward County. Its significantly faster than state jury selection and less in-depth. You never really find out what youd find out in a state jury selection, Bogenschutz said. And that makes it all the more likely that one of Trumps many MAGA acolytes in his friendly home turf ends up deciding whether their beloved president committed a crime. I often joke with people that everything youve heard about Florida is true, Bogenschutz said. Florida is Americas Australia: a large criminal population and most things can kill you. 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. One in six people are expected to be affected by infertility at some point in their lives, and with the cost of procedures, like in vitro fertilization, costing tens of thousands of dollars for each procedure, more people seek better ways to understand their reproductive health. There are a number of startups tackling this issue, for example, Generation Prime, Flo, Future Family, Maven and Mate Fertility, which all received funding within the past few years. Oova, a women's health and fertility startup working in the fertility-tracking segment of the market, is the latest to get additional venture-backed funding, raising $10.3 million in Series A funding for its at-home approach to translating a woman's fertility. It is also launching the Oova Membership. Priced at $99 per month, the membership includes The Oova Kit and offers features, such as personalized support via the Oova Provider network of healthcare professionals and hormone experts and access to a community of people going through similar fertility journeys. Oova was previously profiled in 2021 when founder and CEO Amy Divaraniya, Ph.D. officially launched its at-home urine test, called Oova Kit, with $1.2 million in seed funding. The test comes with 15 days of testing strips and measures the luteinizing hormone and progesterone to provide advanced personalized analytics and real-time action plans so a woman can know her most fertile days and confirm ovulation. Oova, Oova Kit, at-home fertility test Oova's Oova Kit, an at-home fertility test. (Image Credit: Red Antler) It is FDA registered, and the company touts it is the only product that allows its users to sync and share results with their doctor in real time. Divaraniya told TechCrunch that talk within the fertility industry, especially following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, shifted to data security, and unlike other period and fertility tracking companies, Oova was always HIPAA compliant and invested in secure connections with its clinic partners. Divaraniya was mum about the companys growth over the past year, but did say Oova is now working with over 100 clinics, up from 75 at the launch in 2021. In addition, the company has trained its model on over 10,000 cycles monitored through the platform. We've also seen a massive increase in the adoption across both consumer and clinical channels, Divaraniya said. Because of the adoption, it led to one of the most powerful datasets in the industry. This is a dream of information to work with. Not only do we have daily hormone measurements across tens of thousands of cycles, but we also have treatment data. We've been able to train our algorithms on actual hormone information across thousands of women, and then even look at intrapersonal data to understand the nuances between cycles for a single woman, leading to a very personalized experience for our users. Meanwhile, Spero Ventures led the new round and was joined by US Fertility, Virgin Group, Jefferson Health, Connecticut Innovations, Hannah Bronfman and Spanx founder Sara Blakely. In total, the company raised $11.5 million. Oova has revolutionized the way we understand our hormonal health, said Sara Eshelman, partner at Spero Ventures, in a written statement. By making clinical-grade hormone monitoring convenient and cost-effective for daily use, Oova is empowering its users to understand their cycles, improve fertility outcomes and manage their symptoms. Divaraniya said Oova went after a new funding round when its technology reached some heavy adoption and the company received feedback from physicians asking for Oova to test additional hormones. Patients are also using Oovas technology for use cases that it wasnt initially designed for, like the early part of pregnancy and postpartum, but are finding value in the data. In addition, the company is eyeing all other phases of a womens health. We started off with fertility because it's a place that I'm very passionate about, but what is also very clear is that all the different phases of a woman's life are dictated by hormones, she said. If you can understand the different patterns that happen in classic urban spaces, you can actually start adjusting those. Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, attends an open dialogue with students at Keio University in Tokyo OpenAI CEO says 'optimistic' on global AI coordination Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, attends an open dialogue with students at Keio University in Tokyo By Sam Nussey TOKYO (Reuters) -The CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI on Monday said a tour of capital cities had left him "quite optimistic" about prospects for global coordination on artificial intelligence (AI). The public face of the startup, backed by Microsoft Corp, has been on a whirlwind tour looking to capitalise on interest in generative AI and exert influence on regulation of the burgeoning technology. "I came to the trip ... sceptical that it was going to be possible in the short term to get global cooperation to reduce existential risk but I am now wrapping up the trip feeling quite optimistic we can get it done," Sam Altman told students in Tokyo. Regulators are scrambling to adapt existing rules and create new guidelines to govern the use of generative AI, which can create text and images and is engendering excitement and fear about its potential to reshape a wide range of industries. The European Union is moving ahead with its draft AI Act, which is expected to become law this year, while the United States is leaning toward adapting existing laws for AI rather than creating new legislation. Altman visited Japan in April, meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and saying he was considering opening an office in country. "All of the conversations have progressed quite well," Altman said on Monday without providing detail. Japan is seen as a laggard in the types of AI services currently generating enthusiasm among consumers even as its manufacturing heavyweights invest in automation technology. "There's a long history of humans and machines working together here," Altman said. Altman is due to visit Singapore, Indonesia and Australia before returning to the U.S. (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Tom Bateman; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Some Republicans love to spout whataboutisms to defend against any allegations of wrongdoing by former President Donald Trump. The latest example comes after a federal indictment was unsealed Friday charging the former president with 37 criminal counts over his handling of classified documents after leaving office, including a violation of part of the Espionage Act. Dean Obeidallah - CNN These Republicans are defending the twice-impeached former president by pointing to Hillary Clinton not being charged over her handling of classified information while using a private email server when she was secretary of state. For example, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, stated Friday, Hillary had the emails, adding, Is there a different standard for a Democrat secretary of state versus a former Republican president? And Trump ally GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina offered a similar defense Sunday on ABC News by invoking Clintons emails. But comparing Trumps actions to Clintons is akin to comparing a peaceful protest to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. True, some Republican officials have tried to rewrite the January 6 insurrection as being a normal tourist visit. But just as we should reject that attempt, we should dismiss any effort to equate what Trump is accused of doing with Clintons conduct. They are not in the same universe, namely because the 49-page indictment alleges Trumps behavior was deliberate and intentional in resisting government efforts to retrieve classified documents after the material was taken to Mar-a-Lago. Lest we forget, in July 2015, the FBI opened a criminal investigation into Clinton as it examined whether the former secretary of states use of a private email server violated any laws concerning the storage of classified information. After an investigation lasting nearly a year, then-FBI Director James Comey announced that he would not recommend filing any criminal charges against Clinton, who was the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee at the time. Comey stated that in looking at previous Department of Justice investigations concerning mishandling or removal of classified information there was always some combination of the following: clearly intentional and willful mishandling of classified information; or vast quantities of materials exposed in such a way as to support an inference of intentional misconduct; or indications of disloyalty to the United States; or efforts to obstruct justice. Comey concluded, We do not see those things here, although he criticized Clinton for being extremely careless in the handling of sensitive, classified information. In contrast, allegations of repeated intentional conduct are at the heart of the case against Trump. For starters, 31 of the 37 felony counts that Trump faces are for willful retention of national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act. The defense information included highly sensitive military secrets such as United States nuclear programs and potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack, according to the indictment. The indictment alleges intentional misconduct, accusing Trump of directing an aide to remove boxes containing classified documents from a storage area so that his own lawyers could not find documents required to comply with a grand jury subpoena. (Trump aide Walt Nauta faces six counts in the case, including several obstruction- and concealment-related charges. An attorney for Nauta declined to comment Friday.) Bill Barr, a Republican who served as Trumps attorney general, described the indictment as very detailed and very, very damning in an appearance on Fox News Sunday: I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were, Barr said, and I think the counts under the Espionage Act that he willfully retained those documents are solid counts. Trump is also charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice over efforts to conceal these records and is accused of misleading his own attorney so that a false certification was submitted in response to the grand jury subpoena that all classified documents had been returned. Noting the obstruction charges, Barr commented that the federal government acted in a very patient way. And what they were met with was, according to the government, and the indictment, very egregious obstruction. In contrast, Comey did not find evidence of obstruction on Clintons part. The indictment against Trump alleges the former president knowingly shared classified information on two occasions, the most notable occurring in July 2021 at his country club in Bedminster, New Jersey, with a writer, publisher and two staff members, none of whom had security clearances. During that meeting, Trump referred to plans drafted by the US military to attack another country. This is secret information. Look, look at this, Trump said, according to the indictment. Trump then admitted that since he was no longer president, he didnt have the power to declassify that document. Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret, the indictment says. (CNN reported earlier that this meeting was captured on an audio recording that prosecutors had obtained.) Interestingly, back in 2016, then-GOP presidential candidate Trump denounced Comeys decision not to recommend charges against his Democratic rival, saying that adversaries almost certainly have a blackmail file on Hillary Clinton. He said she should be disqualified from being president and insisted she was guilty. In August 2016, the indictment cites Trump as saying, In my administration Im going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information. No one will be above the law. Yet in the face of allegations of intentional and willful misconduct against him, Trump slammed the charges Saturday night at a Georgia Republican event as a joke and part of a witch hunt. (In a video Thursday, he insisted, I am an innocent man. I did nothing wrong.) Given the polarized nation we live in, I doubt the differences between Trumps and Clintons conduct will matter to the Trump faithful. But at this point, all that matters is: Can federal prosecutors convince a jury of 12 people that Trump is guilty? Doing so is always a heavy burden for prosecutors, but as Barr stated Sunday about whats in the indictment against Trump, If even half of it is true, he is toast. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Oregon man now charged with shooting Pasco policeman with the officers gun Franklin County prosecutors have charged a Hermiston man with shooting a Pasco officer in the leg during a struggle at home in December. Devontea Wright, 28, is charged with first-degree assault, disarming a police officer, unlawful possession of a gun and resisting arrest in connection with the incident outside Riverview Drive. Wright has been in the Benton County jail for nearly six months on two unrelated assault cases, both of which have since been dismissed. A $500,000 warrant issued in Franklin County has kept him jailed. A U.S. Marshals task force was looking for Wright in December on a $100,000 arrest warrant in connection to one of the cases that was dropped. He had been accused of pointing a gun at a woman inside the 3 City Sports Bar in Kennewick. Police responded after a Pasco officer was shot trying to make an arrest, according to police. The officer is in stable condition and the suspected shooter is in custody. Pasco Officer Jeremy Jones and Kennewick Detective Randy McCalmant were two of the officers waiting outside 1927 Riverview Drive when Wright showed up as a passenger in a pickup, according to court documents. Jones told investigators that other officers surrounded the pickup when he spotted and recognized Wright. He opened the passenger door and took a hold of Wright. He told Wright to exit and put his hands behind his back, Franklin County sheriffs Sgt. Steve Warren said in his affidavit. Wright replied, You are going to have to f--g kill me. And Wright began to pull away. As Wright started struggling, they moved away from the truck and eventually ended up on the ground. That was when Wright allegedly went for Jones gun. Shot in the leg McCalmant said he had Wrights arm when he saw that Wright had a hand on Jones Glock .45 caliber handgun, and was trying to take it out of the holster. The detective told other officers and about that time Wright allegedly pulled the trigger. McCalmant then focused on prying Wrights hand off the weapon. They were able to get control of Wright, and that was when Jones discovered he had been shot. Two tourniquets were used on Jones leg to slow the bleeding before he was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Footage from the officers body cameras and patrol car dashboards corroborate what happened, Warren said in his affidavit. I could clearly hear the words, Hes reaching. Hes reaching. Hes got Jeremys gun! Warren said. You then can clearly hear the gun go off followed by sounds of painful hollers of agony from Jones. The bullet did significant damage to Jones leg. A Pasco police officer is back at work after being shot in December. The 16-year veteran Pasco officer was released from the hospital the next day and given a police escort back to his Richland home, according to a video posted on Facebook. Jones is the husband of Richland Councilwoman Jhoanna Jones. He spent two months recovering before returning to work in February, according a Pasco police Facebook post. Wrights Past Crimes While he has been accused of threatening two people in Benton County with guns, prosecutors have dropped the charges in both cases. In 2011, he was 16 and living in Hermiston, Ore., south of the Tri-Cities, when he was sentenced to six years for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, according to the East Oregonian newspaper. He had turned 16 less than month before the arrest for sexually abusing the girl while babysitting two younger children. According to the Oregon State Police sex offender registry section, he is not compliant with registering since his release from a juvenile facility. Since his release, he has two convictions for misdemeanor assaults in 2018. He also was convicted for failing to appear at a court hearing in 2018, which is a felony in Oregon, and sentenced to nearly two years in prison. Currently, he is still wanted in Oregon for failing to show up for a sentencing hearing in August 2021 after pleading guilty to attempting to commit a felony, fourth-degree assault and second-degree criminal mischief, all misdemeanors. Nearly a year after he was fired from Orlando Museum of Art in the aftermath of an FBI raid on the Loch Haven Park institution, former director Aaron De Groft has broken his silence on the discredited Heroes & Monsters exhibition of art attributed to Jean-Michel Basquiat. De Groft spoke with a Vanity Fair reporter as part of a detailed article, found on vanityfair.com, about the scandal that broke after the FBI shut down the museums exhibition as part of an investigation into the arts authenticity. In April, Los Angeles auctioneer Michael Barzman admitted to helping forge some of the works featured in the exhibition. But De Groft told Vanity Fair he continues to stand behind the exhibit and accused Barzman of making up his story. He did not forge them, he told Vanity Fair reporter Nate Freeman, an expert on the contemporary-art scene. I think this is a totally sweet-deal cover-up. In the magazine article, De Groft also sheds light on his termination from the museum while he was vacationing in Italy, brags about giving the staff raises and providing maternity leave to female employees and laments the damage done to his career by the scandal. Its like, Oh, Aarons just a bad guy that ruined the museum, he told Freeman. I just want my reputation back. The Vanity Fair article reflects the continuing worldwide fascination with Basquiat, a critically acclaimed street artist who rose to fame in the contemporary art world of the 1980s and died at the height of his fame from a heroin overdose at age 27 in 1988. A new exhibition that reunites eight commissioned Basquiats is making international headlines. Basquiat: The Modena Paintings will open next month at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland. Among its works: The Guilt of Gold Teeth, which sold for $40 million at Christies in 2021. At an auction last month, a 1983 Basquiat painting titled El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile) sold for $67 million. Thats only the fourth-highest price paid for a Basquiat work. (The record is $110.5 million for an untitled work auctioned in 2017.) Other major exhibitions of his work are on view. Through July 31, The Grand LA in Los Angeles hosts Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure, a collection of more than 200 rare works organized by his sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux. Painting with Four Hands, a look at works created during a collaborative period between Basquiat and pop artist Andy Warhol, can be seen until Aug. 28 at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. That partnership inspired a play, The Collaboration, which ended its Broadway run earlier this year with Orlando native Jeremy Pope starring as Basquiat. Orlando Museum of Art spokeswoman Maureen Walsh did not comment on the Vanity Fair article but provided a copy of the statement given to reporter Freeman. It mirrored an earlier statement released to the Orlando Sentinel and other media outlets where the museum expressed hope the FBI probe would bring justice to all victims. In its statement, the museum also revealed its board was undergoing governance training and had adopted new personnel policies with enhanced whistleblower protections. The museum had contracted Akerman law firm to conduct an internal investigation on how the scandal came to pass, and board chairman Mark Elliott had stated its results would be shared with the community. Although the board began hearing the Akerman firms findings last fall, not much has been shared with the public a situation that caused the Orlando Sentinel editorial board to take the museum to task. In its most recent statement, the museum hinted that more information may be forthcoming. Where such actions can be disclosed publicly, they have been and will continue to be, the statement read. The museum is eager for the [Department of Justice] to continue its investigation and hold those who committed crimes responsible. At the appropriate time, the museum looks forward to sharing our story regarding the works in question. Theresa Collington of Tucker/Hall, the crisis-management public-relations firm hired by the museum after the scandal broke, said museum leaders had nothing to add to the statement. Orlando Museum of Art recently hired Cathryn Mattson as its interim executive director and CEO; she started on the job in May. The museum has been moving forward in other ways. Its the first institution in the country to display the current winners of the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in an exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. The museums latest installment of its Florida Prize in Contemporary Art is up and running. It has instituted a new quarterly Platform event that spotlights local artists in a social setting. Walsh said Platforms debut was well attended by fans of the former First Thursday series and newcomers; the next Platform event will be July 28. But as long as the FBI investigation into the art of Heroes & Monsters continues and the community awaits answers from Orlando Museum of Art leadership, a shadow hangs over the institutions efforts. According to the Vanity Fair article, which dives into deeper detail about the FBI investigation and the convoluted back story of how the art came to be discovered, De Groft is waiting, too for his name to be cleared. I certainly did nothing wrong, he says in the Vanity Fair article, referring to himself as a scapegoat and sacrificial lamb in the article. All I did was bring an art exhibition to a regional museum and made it internationally famous. Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews. An Orlando police officer is off the job after Seminole County deputies said he was clocked driving 82 in a 45 mph zone in his police cruiser and then fled a traffic stop. A dashboard camera captured when deputies say Officer Alexander Shaouni sped by a Seminole County deputy on Florida Avenue in Oviedo Friday afternoon. According to the arrest report, the deputy said the OPD cruiser had no lights or sirens activated at the time. When the deputy caught up with Shaouni, deputies said the officer didnt stop and passed cars to evade the deputy. Eventually, the deputy got him to stop at the intersection of State Road 434 and Hammock Lane. Read: State attorney: Ex-Orlando police officer pleads guilty to battery Body camera footage shows Shaouni, of Oviedo, become irritated when questioned. What? I am going into work, my man, he says to the deputy. Why are you trying to pull me over as Im going into work? In the footage, when asked for his drivers license, the officer says no, gets back in his cruiser and drives away. Read: St. Cloud police officer accused of using dead persons credit card Shaouni is charged with resisting an officer, reckless driving and fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer. He turned himself in Friday to the Seminole County Jail and was released on $9,000 bond. Orlando police said Shaouni has been relieved of his duties pending the Seminole County Sheriffs Office criminal investigation as well as Orlando polices internal affairs investigation. You can see the bodycam footage below: 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. 'I need an outlet': Grieving relatives talk to lost loved ones on phone in the forest Grieving relatives talk to lost loved ones on phone in the forest By Matt McKnight OLYMPIA, Wash. (Reuters) - In the middle of a serene forest four miles from Washington state's capital Olympia sits a vintage rotary phone. It is not connected to a telephone line and looks out of place. But it has become a literal lifeline for people to speak words out loud to lost loved ones; words they never got the chance to say while they were still alive. Corey Dembeck, 41, created and installed the original wind phone in the Pacific Northwest's Squaxin Park in late 2020, after learning about the death of their family friend's four-year-old daughter. It was inspired by the original wind phone set up in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, ten years earlier. "One morning, I woke up and went downstairs, and my wife looked shocked. She was like 'Joelle died,'" says Dembeck. He has since moved away from Olympia but keeps in touch with the Sylvester family, whose young daughter Joelle Rose died suddenly after becoming sick with strep throat that triggered sepsis in her body. "It messed me up, so I was like, right then and there, I'm going to build one of these things for them." Dembeck, a U.S. Army veteran who worked as a photojournalist from 2000-2005, brought the phone, supplies and tools into the city-owned park and attached it to an old-growth cedar tree in a quiet area off a trail. Dembeck, standing beside the phone almost three years later, says his reasoning behind sneaking it into the park was that it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission, especially because it was going to be something that was hard to explain. After people learned of the phone and started visiting it in droves, the city decided to make it an official installation, removing it from the tree and working with Dembeck to create a signage board and plaque memorializing Joelle. The plaque reads: "This phone is for everyone who has ever lost a loved one. The phone is an outlet for those who have messages they wish to share with their friends and family. It is a phone for memories and saying the goodbyes you never got to say." 'I NEED AN OUTLET' During a recent afternoon, Joelle's family paid a visit to the phone to celebrate her life. Erin Sylvester, Joelle's mother, said they sometimes have pizza parties and invite friends to join them. "I need the phone. I need an outlet. Because it's dedicated to my daughter, I feel like it's different than for someone else to come and use it," says Sylvester, 34, her eyes welling up with tears. "Not being able to hear her voice on the other side of that phone can be very gut-wrenching. So, I usually come when none of my other coping mechanisms are working and I'm looking for a last-ditch effort." Joelle's brothers, Jayden, 12, and Jonah, 8, and her sister, Joy, 5, take turns speaking into the handset, telling her how much they love and miss her, and place new photos on the post and keepsakes that she loved on top of the phone. During their visit, a speckled brown and white barred owl lands on a branch of the cedar tree, just above the phone. The family is mesmerized. Erin says owls were Joelle's "baby theme" when she was born, and the same type of owl visited them recently in a similar way, but at a different location. "It's got to be a sign. There's no other way I can think about it ... that's not a fluke," says Joelle's father, Andre Sylvester, 37, wiping tears from his eyes. Moments later he picks up the phone to speak to his late daughter. "I miss you. Thanks for showing up today. I miss you a lot." Sylvester says, looking up at the branch where the owl perched moments before. "I wish we could go take a walk around the block while I smoke my cigar and you tell everybody hi, and you pet every dog. I miss that." Since the installation of Olympia's telephone, word of it has inspired other Americans to create ones across the country. Dembeck has spoken by email and phone with many others who have installed a phone in honor of their loved ones and he estimates there are now 50 across the United States. Dembeck says everyone who tells him about using their phone also told him a tragic backstory. "The fact that something simple like this immensely helped them, it's been really humbling," he says, adding he feels it's the greatest thing he has ever done. (Reporting by Matt McKnight; Editing by Diane Craft) A Parents and Verywell Mind survey of 1,600 dads paints a concerning picture of fathers overall mental health. How can we help them? Jovo Jovanovic / Stocksy In honor of Men's Health Month and Father's Day, Parents and Verywell Mind partnered to survey 1,600 Dads in the US for our Dads & Mental Health Study to find out how dads are feeling, what's missing from their mental health toolkits, and take a look at the kind of support dads need to ensure mental wellness for fathers everywhere. Check out these helpful resources and insights to help dad long the way. Data from a recent survey from Parents and Verywell Mind paints a concerning picture of the state of dads mental health today. The Dads & Mental Health Study comprised 1,600 American fathers who were interviewed over a two-week period this spring. Overall, findings indicate that many dads are hurting and need more support. And when it comes to mental health, many fathers are struggling. Of those surveyed, 2 in 3 dads said they have been at least moderately stressed in the last 30 days, and 43% of dads say at least half their stress is related to child care, with 62% saying the pressure to provide for their family is a major stressor. Parents and Verywell Mind The mental load that comes with parenting is taking a big toll on all of usbut dads say its impact on them is being overlooked. Aaron Gouveia credits his wife for connecting him with his own mental health. In 2012. Gouveia, 43, was struggling adjusting to life as a new father, but he refused to admit it. He was tough, he thought. He could power through the doldrums. Therapy was for the weak. Gouveias wife had other plans. With consent from her therapist, she asked Gouveia to come to her counseling session under the guise of helping her progress with her mental health. This he could do, he thought, since it was all about her. Turns out he's hardly alone. While 84% of fathers think it's important to talk to your children about mental health, 45% say they feel judged when they talk to others about their mental health, and 75% believe there should be more support for fathers when it comes to mental health. That means there are a lot of fathers who are struggling and need supportbut they're not sure where to start, especially given the stigma that comes with issues related to mental health. Related: We Need to Talk About Dad's Mental HealthAnd Not Just During Men's Mental Health Awareness Month Fathers Want to Feel Seen PARENTS and Verywell Mind Nearly 83% of respondents say they prioritize their familys needs over their own. At the same time, 59% of responding dads say they do more childcare and/or parenting than they get credit for. This number is even higher64%among respondents with annual income over $75,000. Put differently: the majority of responding fathers feel underappreciated in their roles as fathers. These numbers are alarming to Christy Livingston, a family therapist with a private practice in Healdsburg, California. Livingston says the data suggests fathers are feeling disconnected, which is never a good way to feel. Dads are a crucial part of many families. To feel seen is to experience living. We are social beings by nature, and feeling seen helps us feel a part of [something larger than ourselves], says Livingston. Feeling seen in a relationship and in a family is huge. Feeling understood, heard, appreciatedall these lead to connection, which, in turn, leads to a more fulfilling life. Parents and Verywell Mind Other statistics reveal a deeper disconnect: 55% of responding dads say they wished their friends and family members checked in on them more often. 51% of respondents say they lost touch with friends and family after fatherhood. 46% say they wished others recognized them more as a parent. 38% say they dont know how to express their feelings. 27% of responding dads say they never talk to their friends about mental health. While 67% of responding dads described their mental health over the last 30 days as very good or good, the remaining 33% described it as okay, bad, or very bad. The Impact of Gender Roles Whats behind these numbers? One answer: gender roles. Of fathers surveyed, 52% believe they are the primary caregiver, including 38% of those with a live-in partner. Parents and Verywell Mind While growing numbers of dads have mixed up traditional gender roles in recent yearsaccording to the Pew Research Center, 16% of stay-at-home parents were fathers in 2012, compared to 10% in 1989antiquated perspectives on stereotypical dad duties still could be fueling some of these tendencies. And 2018 numbers from Pew note that about 7% of fathers are stay-at-home dads. In a 2022 Parents story about the evolution of fatherhood, author Jay Deitcher referred to the stereotypes that result from the rules society places on men as the man box. Gouveia says this was what stunted him for so many years. In traditional relationships and gender-based arrangements, the dads are more likely to be working outside the home and therefore spending less time on household chores and childcare responsibilities. That creates a default or go-to parent and it's usually not us, which perpetuates the tendency for dads to shrink from these responsibilities, he says. Despite some recent incremental progress, we're still supposed to be strongimmovable objects standing strong in the storm. The problem with being a rock is that people will treat you like an inanimate object. Parents and Verywell Mind Anthony J. Nedelman, regional psychology manager at Psych360, a mental health service in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, remembers experiencing this first-hand after his second child was born. Nedelman recalls a doctor appointment where one of the pediatricians gave his wife a screener for postpartum depression and declined to offer one to himeven after he cited research that indicates men grapple with postpartum depression at nearly the same rates as women. The subject of dads mental health is always met with skepticism, Nedelman says. You always get, What about mom? in response. And moms mental health is important. But dads is, too. Related: PSA: Dads Want To Meet Other Parents at the Playground, Too Fighting Stigmas This skepticism is represented in the recent Parents and Verywell Mind data as well. Roughly 45% of responding dads say they feel judged for talking to others about their mental health, and 40% of respondents say they have resisted therapy because they think they dont need it. One in four responding fathers (25%) who choose not to see a therapist say they did so to avoid being judged negatively by their peers. Parents and Verywell Mind Whats more, only 37% of responding dads say they have taken a mental health day in the last year. (The concept of mental health days certainly is gaining acceptance; a separate Parents and Verywell Mind survey from 2022 addresses this subject with regard to children.) Part of these stigmas could be connected to shame that spans generations. About 25% of dads who responded to the most recent survey say they werent able to talk to anyone about their mental health growing up, and about 78% of respondents said they were more open to talk about their mental health with their kids than they were with their parents growing up. Overall, 28% of responding fathers said they have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and 42% have seen a mental health professional or sought treatment for mental health reasons. About 22% said they are currently seeing a therapist or counselor. Gouveia says he finds therapy invaluable. I think if more men knew it was less clinically going over unresolved Freudian feelings and more like talking with a buddy over a beer, then more guys would take advantage of these important services, he says. It's so nice to have an hour once a week to talk about whatever I want and whatever I'm feeling to someone who has the time to listen and the knowledge to help me process those feelings. Related: These Mental Health Apps Offer On-the-Go Relief for Caregivers, Teens, and Kids Making a Difference In addition to shattering these stigmas, there are several ways to make fathers feel like they have more emotional support. Sports, meditation, video games, and other forms of creative expression are practices that several respondents noted work for them. Other fathers said a big way to change the landscape is to reject stereotypes and stop maligning dads for failures and missteps. My wife tells me about times shes hanging around other women and it automatically goes to how stupid or inept or lazy their husbands are, and she never participates, Gouveia says. That's not to say she doesn't complain about me from time to time, but she doesn't tear me down for sport. Knowing I have a supportive partner who doesn't put up with that stuff makes me feel valued and appreciated. Livingston, who has a 4-year-old son, says its also important for fathers to advocate for more appreciation. She noted that it can be helpful to increase communication between parents on what each of their goals are for their child or children, how they envision working cohesively with one another, and how they can proactively ask for help. Related: How the Mental Load Sneaks Into Your Everyday LifeWhether You Realize It or Not I like to start with imagining what it would look like and how it would feel to be seen as part of the family, she says. From there, its important to work toward concrete behavioral changes that can be made in the home. If parents are struggling to come up with ideas, I love the magic wand or miracle question. It may seem silly, but I ask them if they woke up tomorrow morning and all their problems were solved, what would have changed? And how would they know that things had changed? She adds that once this communication begins to flow, parents must discuss how they can support it over time. When we get stuck in homeostasis, making a shift like this feels strange and it is easy to go back to our old ways of thinking and behaving, she says. It takes feelings of discomfort to shift out of these very ingrained behaviors and belief systems. Related: Project Mental (Un)Load: We Need to Talk About the Unspoken Burdens of Parenthood For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents. WASHINGTON The Defense Department will stop accepting some newly built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters beginning next month as delays in upgrading the fighter drag on. The planned delivery halt of new fighters loaded with Technology Refresh 3 hardware means manufacturer Lockheed Martin may have to store dozens of the planes at its main factory in Fort Worth, Texas, for much of the rest of the year, and perhaps into spring 2024. The F-35s Technology Refresh 3 effort a slate of improvements that aim to give the fighter better displays, computer memory and processing power was originally due this past April. TR-3 is necessary before the F-35 can receive a more expansive modernization known as Block 4, which will allow the fighter to carry more long-range precision weapons, improve its electronic warfare capability and provide better target recognition. The TR-3 schedule has slipped considerably, and the F-35 Joint Program Office is now expecting it to arrive no earlier than this December and perhaps as late as April 2024, a full year behind schedule. The F-35 Joint Program Office said in a statement to Defense News that the TR-3 delays will in turn disrupt deliveries, causing new fighters to have to be stored in the meantime. Starting later this summer, F-35 aircraft coming off the production line with TR-3 hardware will not be accepted until relevant combat capability is validated in accordance with our users expectations, JPO spokesman Russ Goemaere said in an email. The JPO and Lockheed Martin will ensure these aircraft are safely and securely stored until [acceptance] occurs. Breaking Defense first reported the Defense Departments plan to not accept new F-35s. Lockheed is now building F-35s with TR-3 hardware installed, and the first such fighter is expected to come off the production line by the end of July, Goemaere said. The challenge lies in the TR-3 software and getting the programming to work with the new hardware., he said. In March, F-35 program executive officer Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt told the House Armed Services subcommittee on tactical air and land forces that the development of TR-3s hardware had lagged behind and its production started slow, but that it had improved and became reliable. Software integration, Schmidt said, began late and was proving difficult. The JPO on Monday said the Defense Department will continue to accept deliveries of fighters with the previous hardware and software known as Technology Refresh 2. The government and industry team will continue to work this issue until full resolution is achieved, Goemaere said. Lockheed said it remains committed to delivering the first TR-3-enabled F-35 this year. Our team is fully dedicated to delivering TR-3 F-35 aircraft and will continue to work with the JPO on software development while maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality, the company said in a statement to Defense News. We continue to deliver aircraft in the TR-2 configuration as planned. CEO Jim Taiclet this year downplayed the potential for the problems to affect F-35 deliveries. In an April earnings call, after the TR-3 delays were acknowledged to lawmakers, he said the company expected deliveries to be lower than anticipated, but said they would be a fraction of total Lockheeds total deliveries and would have little to no effect on the companys aeronautics revenue. If the problem is not resolved by the end of the year, perhaps dozens of new F-35s could be undelivered by the end of the year. Lockheed Martin said in an email to Defense News that it is too early to say how many fighters might be affected, and the company did not say how many F-35s with TR-3 hardware it expects to build this year. The company originally planned to deliver between 147 and 153 total fighters in 2023. Lockheed on Monday said that it has so far delivered more than 45 F-35s this year, with about 50 more TR-2 F-35s now under construction. This will be the third time in less than a year that F-35 deliveries have been halted. In September 2022, the Pentagon announced that it had temporarily halted F-35 deliveries after the discovery of a Chinese-sourced alloy had for years been used to make a key magnet in the fighter. Those deliveries resumed in October 2022 after the Pentagon decided the Chinese material did not pose a danger to security or flight safety and issued a waiver. Pre-delivery acceptance flights were also halted in December, which had the effect of also halting deliveries, due to an engine vibration problem that led to a Dec. 15 mishap involving an F-35B. After a fix was put in place that allowed Lockheed Martin to resume acceptance flights, the Defense Department once again began accepting new F-35s. In the March hearing, subcommittee chairman Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., called the TR-3 delays unacceptable, and said it would hurt Air Force squadrons that need the new fighters to replace older, retiring aircraft. Wittman also quoted an unnamed Air Force official who said of the F-35, We currently are paying for a great capability, but were currently only getting a good capability fielded. This article was originally published in Alabama Reflector. The percentage of Alabama third graders reading on grade level decreased 2% between 2022 and 2023, according to Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) scores released by the Alabama State Department of Education on Thursday. 76% of Alabama third graders read on third-grade level this year, compared with 78% last year. In 2021, 77% of third graders read on grade level. State Superintendent Eric Mackey said there are reasons that the numbers might not have changed as they hoped. The test has changed since last year to focus more on the science of reading, so the test includes components that were not previously tested. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The superintendent also suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic might have had an effect. This years third graders were kindergarteners in the 2019-20 school year. After the first COVID-19 case in Alabama was confirmed that March, Alabama schools went to distance learning about two months before classes ended. Obviously, its not going the direction we want, he said. Alabama rose in rankings for the National Assessment of Education Progress, or The Nations Report Card, after many states lost ground due to the pandemic. However, the state still lags the country. Most recently, 28% of Alabama fourth graders were deemed proficient or higher on the NAEP in comparison to the national average of 32%. Second graders saw a smaller year-to-year decline. In 2023, 79% of second graders read at grade level, compared to 80% in 2022. In 2021, 78% of second graders read on grade level. The third graders who make up these numbers are not going to be retained under the Literacy Act. Retention begins this upcoming school year. Mackey said they are also planning to evaluate which textbooks were used in classrooms. He also said that some classrooms did not get textbooks until last November. Bonnie Short, Alabama Reading Initiative director, said that the districts that had the greatest growth had used the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training. LETRS is a professional training course that offers instruction for teaching the science of reading. Not all LETRS trained districts did well, however, so she stressed that it was about implementation. She said that many districts with growth had varied instructional programming. What was not varied was professional learning, she said. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter. Eliza Anderson, Deseret News Not long ago, I attended a college reunion for the first time. And while I enjoyed catching up with some old friends, I missed seeing people who didnt graduate in the same year. Who made up this conceit, I wondered, where we only associate with people who are the exact same age as us? Wouldnt it make just as much sense to have a reunion by dorm every few years, or for different majors or campus activities? Free-range parenting expert Lenore Skenazy has been thinking along the same lines. In a recent post on her Let Grow website, Skenazy explains why parents who want successful, well-adjusted kids should consider the benefits of exposing them to people of multiple ages. She tells the story of Mike Wimmer, a prodigy from North Carolina who just graduated college at age 14. He also runs two tech companies and is trying to figure out how to curb the population of invasive lionfish in the Caribbean and beyond. Mikes parents attribute his success in part to his regular contact with people who were not the same age. They let him order in restaurants when he was 3 or 4. Though some parents of academically gifted kids might worry about putting their children with older kids, the Wimmers saw it as a great opportunity. Despite research showing that mixed-age relationships are helpful for kids development, making them less likely to be lonely, this kind of interaction is happening less frequently. The most obvious reason for this is smaller families. Kids used to have siblings and cousins who were older and younger than them. Today a lot of parents worry about younger children taking their cues from older children. But maybe theyre just hanging around the wrong older children. Watching older kids will help younger ones learn physical skills like throwing a ball or riding a bike, and emotional skills like how to win and lose without making everyone else mad. You want social emotional learning? Try playing neighborhood-wide games of capture the flag with kids from ages 4 to 13. And older children used to learn empathy having younger relatives hanging around. They would have to slow down and explain things or include younger children in games when they might otherwise have wanted to forge ahead. Related Not only do natural environments today fail to integrate kids by age, our created environments do, too particularly school. At young ages, kids are separated strictly by age. In earlier generations it used to be common for kids to skip a grade here or there, but now thats rare because people frown on the social barriers. Imagine what would happen in one-room schoolhouses. Kids would be grouped by ability, and older students would often help younger ones. Even in day care settings there are strict regulations about having 2- and 3-year-olds in the same area as babies. As with so many restrictions, the risks here are minimal, but people worry about the legal liability. Then they create environments that are detrimental to all. And dont even get me started on college. If I didnt babysit for faculty children in college, I could have gone years without seeing any young kids. Is it any wonder, by the way, that many women who become mothers at 30 or older feel as if they have no idea what to do with an infant? Our religious institutions are not much better. Some churches are good about tolerating the disruptions of babies and small children, but there are still plenty that are not. My own synagogue has babysitting and separate childrens services. I understand that each institutions leadership is trying to balance the desire of adults to fulfill their religious obligations with some peace and space for spiritual contemplation. But kids get the impression that faith is a boring thing that grown-ups do. Speaking to adults is now a skill that a lot of schools need to teach. Young people need to know how to look adults in the eye, shake their hand and so forth. The idea is that these things will be necessary when they grow up and want to get a job. But what about now? Shouldnt kids be able to speak with their teachers without being overcome by anxiety? Of course, teenagers have been mortified by adult interaction since as long as there have been teenagers (not that long really). But if children were asked to interact with adults more regularly, maybe this wouldnt be such a big deal. And really, we are putting too much of the onus here on children. It is adults who are separating society by age. Maybe its time for a new approach. Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Deseret News contributor and the author of No Way to Treat a Child: How the Foster Care System, Family Courts, and Racial Activists Are Wrecking Young Lives, among other books. Photos show the 'remarkable devastation' of the I-95 collapse in Philadelphia that claimed the life of one person Aftermath of the collapse of I-95 highway Billy Kyle via Reuters On Sunday, a portion of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia after a truck burst into flames. Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and the events that led to the bridge collapse. Repairs and reconstruction are expected to take months, disrupting daily commutes. On Sunday, June 11, a portion of the northbound Interstate 95 in Philadelphia collapsed after a tanker truck burst into flames underneath the roadway. Aftermath of the collapse of the I-95 highway. Billy Kyle via Reuters Source: CNN Photos from the scene of the collapse showed billowing plumes of smoke. Firefighters stand near the collapsed part of I-95. Office of Emergency Management via AP Mark Fusetti, who was driving to pick up his son at the time of the incident, said he initially thought the smoke was coming from a brush fire. "I realized what happened when I looked in my rearview mirror," Fusetti told CNN's Jim Acosta. "I see 95 all of the cars stopping and then I learned, shortly after that the road had just collapsed and what was really going on." Source: CNN The truck fire sparked explosions around the collapse, likely due to "runoff of maybe some fuel or gas lines that could have been compromised by the accident," according to Derek Bowmer, battalion chief for the Philadelphia Fire Department. Officials working on the scene following a collapse on I-95. Philadelphia Fire Department via AP Bowmer detailed the extent of the blaze in a press conference on Sunday morning: "We have fire coming out of those manholes." Source: CBS, CNN The truck was carrying gasoline for delivery to a nearby Wawa gas station. A firefighter views the aftermath of a section of Interstate 95 that collapsed. AP Photo/Matt Rourke The driver of the truck, Nathaniel Moody, was found dead during the investigation, trapped in the 8,500-gallon-capacity truck. Moody's family told a local FOX affiliate that he was "a husband, father, and experienced driver for 10+ years." Currently, no other fatalities have been reported. Source: CNN, FOX29, ABC6 The interstate is one of the busiest highways in the state, seeing around 160,000 vehicles every day, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll. Interstate 95 signs stand near an elevated section that collapsed. AP Photo/Matt Rourke Source:USA Today, CNN Federal investigators are conducting a probe into the collapse while crews continue to remove rubble around the buried truck. An investigator surveys the aftermath of the Interstate-95 collapse. AP Photo/Matt Rourke Investigators will examine both the truck and the structural integrity of the bridge to better determine both the cause of the fire and the events that led to the collapse. "We have to get in and see what we think happened with the tanker truck," Jennifer Homendy, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board, told CNN. "There are lots of different scenarios." Source: CNN The collapse has already caused serious delays and is expected to continue to cause disruptions for commuters for months. An officer directs traffic detoured from the Interstate 95 collapse. AP Photo/Matt Rourke "In addition to road closures, we expect delays of trash collection and SEPTA bus routes in the area," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said at a press conference. Repairs and reconstruction are estimated to take months. Source: CNN Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to issue a disaster declaration in order to allow the state to dip into federal funds to aid in the aftermath. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference following the I-95 collapse. AP Photo/Joe Lamberti Shapiro told reporters that US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg vowed to provide the state with "whatever resources needed to rebuild I-95, in a safe and expeditious manner." While Buttigieg said his agency would do whatever it could to help locals address disruptions "swiftly," he clarified that swiftly would not mean "overnight." "We're talking about major structural work," Buttigieg said at an event hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies. Source: CNN, CBS News Locals and officials will face months of strategizing detours and alternative routes as normal commutes are upended. Officers direct traffic detoured in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Matt Rourke "One of the problems with this stretch of 95 is there really are not great, perfect alternates," said Matt Pellam, a traffic reporter on the local ABC affiliate. "Over the next few days, I think people are going to try out different options to see which is least awful." Source: New York Times The collapse reminded many of a similar disaster that took place on I-85 in Atlanta, Georgia, six years earlier. Crews work on a section of an overpass that collapsed from a large fire on Interstate 85 in Atlanta. AP Photo/David Goldman Just as in Philadelphia, a fire caused an overpass bridge to collapse a portion of Interstate 85 running through Atlanta on March 30, 2017. Three people were charged with "maliciously" setting the fire under the overpass. They were believed to have gathered under the bridge to smoke crack when the fire was lit. The fire ultimately eviscerated pipes that had been stored under the overpass for more than a decade. The National Transportation Safety Board also determined that the Georgia Department of Transportation played a role in the devastation for storing the pipes under the bridge. Source: Washington Post Read the original article on Business Insider After a planned break on Friday, day nine of the trial against Robert Bowers, the man accused of shooting and killing 11 worshippers at a Squirrel Hill synagogue, continued Monday with more witnesses taking the stand. On Thursday, the jury heard from a variety of witnesses, including FBI experts, a co-president of New Light Congregation, the Tree of Life president and a Comcast employee who discussed Bowers internet records. Channel 11 has a sketch artist inside the courtroom | Click here to see photos from throughout the trial Warning: the details coming out of this trial are difficult to hear and may be upsetting to some. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health effects from the trial, go to 1027healingpartnership.org to find help resources. As always, call 911 to report threats. We have a team of reporters inside the courthouse and have live updates below throughout the day. UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: FBI tactical specialist testifies Evan Browne, a tactical specialist for the FBI, takes the stand. Browne testified that he reviewed records regarding Bowers activity on Gab, including usernames that both followed Bowers account and were followed by him. He also read an IP address that matches previous IP addresses introduced as Bowers. Browne said that Bowers account was created on Jan. 5, 2018. He then testified about a list of posts from Bowers on Gab, which includes expressed antisemitism and violence against Jewish people. UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Gab CEO takes stand Andrew Torba is the next witness to take the stand. Torba, 32, is the CEO and founder of Gab AI Inc., which runs the social network Gab.com. I saw a need for a social media platform that didnt have the censorship of Facebook, he said. Torba testified that if the content is protected by the first amendment, users can post about antisemitism on the platform. He said in 2018, there were about 800,000 Gab accounts, and that Gab was able to export data for law enforcement investigations. On Oct. 27th, 2018, Torba testified that he directly contacted the police about Robert Bowers account, which was named OneDingo. He said it was a public account and that they took steps to shut down Bowers access to the account. A disk containing data associated with the OneDingo account was introduced. Andrew Torba, the CEO and founder of GAB, during his testimony Monday afternoon. The defense has Torba testify again that Gab allowed antisemitic content if it didnt violate the First Amendment. They then ask Torba if he posts antisemitic posts on his own account, and Torba says he does not. Next, the defense asked about a post that Torba made in April. He said he has made over 70,000 posts and doesnt have every one memorized. Torba said he has posted about America being a Christian nation and it should stay that way, and that he has also posted about people coming into the country and replacing natives and says the government isnt doing anything to stop it. He said all that content is legal and his right under the First Amendment. Torba testified that he has not posted about antisemitism but has seen posts about it. He defines it as irrational hatred towards Jews. Torba said the reason Gab shut down Bowers account was because of his alleged involvement in the shooting and people involved in shootings are not welcome on the site. UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: HIAS CEO Mark Hetfield takes stand The CEO of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Mark Hetfield was the fifth witness to take the stand today. HIAS works with 24 communities to resettle refugees. Dor Hadash is one of its partners. Hetfield testified they work with all refugees no matter a religion. We used to say we welcomed refugees because they are Jewish, but now we welcome them because we are Jewish, he said. Hetfield said HIAS maintains a website, which includes web pages on various activities that the organization is involved in. Government exhibit No. 412 is a photo showing the welcome campaign for refugees on the HIAS web page. The page refers to Jewish values repeatedly with an interactive map. Mark Hetfield, the CEO of HIAS, takes the stand on June 12, 2023. HIAS started a Refugee Shabbat, which took place for the first time one week before the shooting. It also included the congregations participating, including Dor Hadash. The defense then pointed out some organizations listed that are not Jewish organizations, specifically in New York. The defense handed Hetfield an IRS tax form asking about the principal officer of HIAS, which shows his name with the business address in Maryland. HIAS is the global Jewish nonprofit organization that stands for a world in which all refugees find welcome, Hatfield said. He added that HIAS does receive funding from the government, including the Department of State. UPDATE 12:02 p.m.: Brett Mills with the FBI takes the stand Brett Mills, who was working at the FBI Quantico firearms lab in 2018, takes the stand. Mills reviewed the guns and the hundreds of rounds and fragments fired at the synagogue shooting. He was asked to determine which firearms rounds were fired and he wrote multiple reports as part of the investigation. Mills reviewed the guns and rounds found in each of the rooms of the synagogue. His testimony included if the guns had been fired and if the rounds had been fired and if so, what guns they had been fired from. The court then broke for lunch. UPDATE 10:05 a.m.: Retired ATF Agent Kevin Kauffman takes the stand Kevin Kauffman, retired agent with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, takes the stand. ATF firearms training takes place in Martinsburg, W.Va. They get in-depth training on firearms, including manufacturing processes and legal elements. Kauffman has handled and examined thousands of firearms. Hes also done work for the U.S. Marshals, FBI, ICE and U.S. Attorneys Office. Kauffmans role in the investigation is to determine if the guns found on the scene crossed state lines, regardless of when, which ultimately makes this a federal case. Kauffman said physical examination of a gun or ammunition will have the imprint model and manufacturer and serial number. Thats what he did with five firearms found with Bowers in this case, plus ammunition. Kauffman reviews those guns again on the witness stand and tells the jury that each gun was manufactured outside of Pennsylvania, with the four Glock handguns from Austria. The prosecution also displays a summary of his report from the ammunition he was asked to examine. All the cartridges were manufactured in either Missouri, Israel France or Illinois. This is the retired ATF agent named Kevin Kauffman during his testimony this morning. He was holding a model of ammunition to explain to the jury how it works when a bullet is fired, questioned by Nicole on the prosecution. UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: Allen E. Bogdan of Remora Holsters takes the stand The second witness, Allen E. Bogdan, of Remora Holsters, takes the stand. Remora is based in Florida. A 3-in-1 leg holster from his company is shown. The strap is for the leg. An ankle holster, it also can be used in a waistband or pocket, depending on the size of the gun. There is a label on the strap. All Remora holsters are manufactured in Naples, Fla. Any product from Remora has crossed state lines to get here. Defense shows evidence that an email shows Bowers transaction from Oct. 2011. UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: Anthony Farah, owner of White Hat Holsters, takes the stand The first witness is Anthony Farah, the owner of White Hat Holsters. He was the president from 2011 to 2022. The holsters are all made in Arlington, Texas. Evidence is shown of a waistband holster, which is typically used for concealed carry. There is a logo for White Hat Holsters, which is the original logo. Farah says all of the products are manufactured in Texas, so they have to cross state lines to get here. The defense asks Farah as he was prepping for this case with the FBI if he had emails with Robert Bowers and Farah said yes. The defense shows evidence that is the email correspondence. The defense asked if he kept up with record keeping of where people could send inquiries on the website. Farah says all inquiries go to support@whitehatholsters.com. He said the email with Bowers was to that support site. The email from Bowers was sent in 2012 and they replied in 2012. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Man dead after vehicle hits motorcycle, flees the scene Pittsburgh Police asking for publics help in finding a missing man 4 people, including juveniles, injured in drive-by shooting in Bon Air Pittsburgh residents prepare for closure of Fern Hollow Bridge DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Idahos largest for-profit employer wants to boost the regions microchip workforce. Micron announced a new partnership Monday with more than a dozen higher-education institutions across six states in the Northwest to drive more students into the semiconductor industry, part of an effort thats related to the companys $15 billion investment to build a memory manufacturing fab at its Southeast Boise headquarters. The fab is expected to create more than 17,000 American jobs, including about 2,000 that Micron will need to hire. The network of universities which includes Boise State, Idaho and Idaho State is operating under the STEMM Opportunity Alliance, a nationwide initiative led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science that got its start at a White House summit in December. The goal is to better equip students for jobs in the chip industry. Public-private partnerships help the U.S. stay competitive in key technology areas and grow access to high-wage, good-quality jobs in every part of the country, Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for technology, innovation and partnerships at the National Science Foundation, said in a news release about the network. A student in the University of Idahos College of Engineering evaluates microelectronic device designs at U of Is Moscow campus. The U of I is working with Micron to boost the semiconductor workforce in Idaho. Micron also shared details about a $10 million partnership with the National Science Foundation to promote equity in education. That alliance looks to facilitate the professional development of K-12 science teachers, and address needs for recruiting, preparing and retaining elementary and secondary math and science teachers in high-need school districts. Micron is the only memory manufacturer based in the U.S. Outside of Idaho, its partners in the workforce network are 10 universities across Washington, Oregon, California, Utah and Montana. The company broke ground on the fab (semiconductor fabrication) at its Boise campus in September. Micron has plans for another, much larger mega fab in upstate New York that would cost it $100 billion over the next two decades. The investments followed passage by Congress of the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed by President Joe Biden in August. The legislation authorized subsidies for semiconductor companies to expand in the U.S. Micron, as of December, had about 6,000 workers in the Treasure Valley and 49,000 employees worldwide, but the company began laying off workers in February, with plans to reduce its global headcount by about 10% over the next year, according to previous reporting by the Idaho Statesman. Its unclear how many workers in Boise and Meridian, where Micron also has a facility, were affected by the cuts. At Microns headquarters in Boise, where it was founded in 1978, the memory-chip maker operates its principal research and development center. A Micron employee moves through a clean room at a fab on the memory-chip makers Southeast Boise campus in 2022. The technology is developed in Boise and the chips are manufactured at fabs in the U.S., Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, and assembled and tested in China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore, a spokesperson for the company previously told the Statesman. Micron broke ground in late May on a new child-care center at its Boise campus and held a ceremony with Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Boise Mayor Lauren McLean in attendance. The company said in a news release that the center would be operated by the Treasure Valley Family YMCA and located across from the companys headquarters and planned fab. Micron said the center will help address barriers to workforce entry. Micron also has plans to annex a big chunk of land south of its Boise campus to aid in the construction of the 600,000-square-foot fab, according to two pending applications filed with the city. The first proposes adding 517 acres south of its Boise campus into the citys area of impact, which is required for the land to be annexed into the city. The second application is to annex the land itself. In its first application, Micron included a 79-acre parcel to be designated as a planned community. Scott Gatzemeier, corporate vice president of front-end U.S. expansion at Micron, told the Statesman in May that the 517 acres the company hopes to annex would support temporary construction activities for the fab. As for the 79 acres, that land wont be annexed just yet. We dont know when it will be, but we do expect growth and encourage growth, Gatzemeier said. Boise memory-chip maker Micron reports another revenue drop amid workforce reductions This Idaho college aims to give full-ride scholarships to underrepresented students Boise residents can expect rate hikes for water, power and heat. How much might you pay? The Plum Borough School District superintendent will not be returning for the upcoming school year. The district announced on Sunday that Dr. Brendan Hyland will be leaving the school district on June 30. Hyland is leaving to work as the superintendent at the North Allegheny School District. Dr. Rick Walsh will be appointed as the districts interim superintendent. Walsh has been Plums assistant superintendent since 2018. Dr. Walsh is a proven and accomplished leader in education, school safety, and policy development. This will ensure a seamless transition to our superior education standards and goals. Dr. Walshs commitment to the Plum Borough School District is unquestionable, and we look forward to continuing our work on making our school district one of the very best in Pennsylvania, Plum Borough School District said in a statement. Walshs first day in the new position will be July 1. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Part of highway collapses in Philadelphia after tanker truck fire Doctor accused of submitting hundreds of false claims steps down as chair of a department in UPMC Local contractor accused of taking $50K from customer, not finishing job 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 Six people were shot Sunday evening in an Annapolis neighborhood following an interpersonal dispute, killing three men and hospitalizing three other people, authorities said. On Monday, authorities charged Charles Robert Smith, 45, in the killings, a single event that doubled the municipalitys homicide count and was the deadliest act of violence in Marylands capital city in several years. Smith lives on the same block as the shooting, police said. Smith has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. He is being held without bond, court records show. FBI investigators were surveying the area Monday morning. Mixed with residential, media and local police vehicles, their trucks cluttered the bottom part of the Wilshire neighborhoods W-shaped roadway. Officers responded to a private residence on the 1000 block of Paddington Place at about 8 p.m. Sunday and found six wounded people. Three men, whose ages ranged from their 20s to early 50s, died at the scene. Authorities would not say whether the shooting took place inside or outdoors, but Jackson noted that the three men died outside. Three other victims two males and one female were hospitalized for gunshot wounds and are in stable condition, Jackson said early Monday morning. Jackson said the shooting was not random and that there was no threat to the public. He said the gunfire stemmed from an interpersonal dispute, but noted investigators have not determined the relationship between the people involved. He said police believe there might have been an exchange of gunfire at the home. Our community experienced a tragedy beyond words this evening, Annapolis Sen. Sarah Elfreth posted on social media soon after the shooting. Please keep the family and the first responders of the Annapolis Police Department [and] Annapolis Fire Department in your thoughts tonight. Jackson and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley described the area of the shooting, between Edgewood Road and Kensington Way, as a very stable and middle class community. We dont get very many calls of this nature in this area, Jackson said, adding that no area is immune to widespread availability of handguns. We are saddened, saddened for the families, saddened for Annapolis, Buckley said. This sort of thing can happen anywhere, and nothing gets resolved from the use of a gun. Kenny Scaturro moved into the Wilshire neighborhood in December, a block away from where the shooting took place. An insurance salesman, Scaturro was watching TV with his brother, maybe Jeopardy, when he heard the gunshots. Initially, with so many back-to-back bangs, he thought it was construction and Dude, his 10-week-old yellow lab, cowered without barking. However, while he was relieved there was a suspect in custody he told The Capital he witnessed law enforcement take a man away Scaturro added he isnt scared in his new home. Its not the area, Scaturro said. He walks his puppy regularly and feels comfortable in what he described as a very diverse neighborhood. I feel like it was just that person. Its weird, but Im not that concerned in the long run. Jackson did not identify a motive for the shooting, noting its still very early on in the investigation. He acknowledged that police have received information about a graduation party taking place in the area of the shooting. Were still trying to determine that. I dont want to say officially what this was about yet, he said. Before the shooting, Annapolis Police had handled three homicides so far this year. Sundays violence doubled that number. Anne Arundel County Police have investigated nine homicides this year. Reached before the news conference Sunday evening, Jackson described the number of fatalities from Sundays shooting as unusual for Marylands capital, recalling the most recent mass shooting in Annapolis: the 2018 attack at the Capital Gazettes newsroom, where a gunman with a long-standing grudge against the newspaper fatally shot Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters. Sundays shooting came just over two weeks before the fifth anniversary of the attack on June 28. YONKERS A Danbury, Connecticut, man has been accused of second-degree murder for the Morris Street fatal shooting of 19-year-old Yonkers resident Daquon Powell on May 31, in what the police said was one of several gang-related incidents in recent weeks. The accused, Matthew Quinones, 20, was arraigned June 7 on the Morris Street murder charge in Yonkers Criminal Court and ordered held in Westchester County Jail, the police and city officials said at Mondays news conference. The next scheduled court date is June 23. The police allege people were with Quinones, but no one else has been charged in the Morris Street killing. Police said they believe Quinones and others were lying in wait for Powell in a driveway. Police responded about 8:20 p.m. to the 55 Morris St. area for a report of a shooting victim. Powell, who police said they found unresponsive down on the street with multiple gunshot wounds next to a black sedan, was given CPR on scene but later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Powell drove the sedan, according to the police. An 18-year-old male was the front-seat passenger in the sedan, which had been traveling east on Morris Street when it stopped at 55 Morris. As the front-seat passenger exited, an assailant ran up and fired six times through the drivers side window, striking Powell six times and the passenger one time. The police said one of the shots struck both Powell and the passenger. Yonkers: Woman fatally struck by car that also hit a house Elections: NY may move local elections to even years. What does that mean for voter turnout? State: NY Clean Slate bill to seal criminal records passes in NY. What it will do The passenger suffered a non-life-threatening wound to the leg, according to police. Quinones and two people who were allegedly with him fled the scene. The police said Monday that two people who allegedly had been present with Quinones on Morris Street, but havent been charged in that incident, were involved in a May 13 incident in the area of 100 Livingston Ave., where a Brooklyn man, 42, was shot once in the chest and survived but in critical condition. The police characterized them as Yonkers residents, one 16 and the other 17, each charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and second-degree conspiracy for roles in the Livingston Avenue shooting. A third Yonkers resident, 16, has also been charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and second-degree conspiracy for his role in the Livingston Avenue shooting, police said. Police did not identify any of them, saying they were adolescent offenders. As investigation continued, police responded to a June 4 shooting at about 4:10 p.m. in the 77 Riverdale Ave. area. A gunman allegedly fired at least seven shots at two people riding dirt bikes. The shot missed them, but did strike a random vehicle across the street that was occupied by two brothers in their 30s. No one was injured. The police believe that shooting, targeting the people on dirt bikes, was also gang related, and said the gun used in the Riverdale Avenue shooting was likely the same one used to shoot Powell on Morris Street. Police said that detectives are working to locate and charge another person, who is now 18 but was 17 at the time, as the person who allegedly fired the shots on Riverdale Avenue. The police said that officers, using search warrants at Riverdale Avenue, recovered two semiautomatic pistols. One was thrown out a window as police approached, according to the police, and another was recovered from one of the 16-year-olds who is accused in the Livingston Avenue shooting. Both guns were illegally possessed, police said. Yonkers remains one of the safest of the big 5 cities in New York state, thanks to the hard work, skills, and training of our Yonkers Police Department," Mayor Mike Spano said in a news release. "Far too many young people are following the wrong path and if they become a threat to public safety or themselves, they will be arrested. I applaud the Yonkers Police Department on this investigation, and I hope these juvenile offenders are swiftly brought to justice to avoid any repetitive crimes in our City. The statement said Spano has directed increased motor and foot patrols in areas where many incidents have occurred, so "residents and community members should expect to see a strengthened presence of both uniform and plain-clothes officers engaged in public safety activities." Police Commissioner Chris Sapienza said, Now it is up to the courts to make sure that these individuals, regardless of age, are held fully accountable to the maximum extent of the law.:The police asked that anyone with information call the Yonkers Police Detective Division at (914) 377-7724, saying that all calls may remain confidential. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting the key word YPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637), police said, and anonymous tips can also be sent through the Yonkers Police website by clicking on the submit a tip button. Michael McKinney is a breaking news reporter for The Journal News, Poughkeepsie Journal and Times Herald-Record of Middletown. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Yonkers NY fatal shooting gang-related, one charged Poorna Jagannathan celebrates 4 generations of love stories on 'Never Have I Ever' Warning: This post contains spoilers from the series finale of Never Have I Ever. In the fourth and final season of Never Have I Ever, Devis mom Nalini, played by Poorna Jagannathan, finally gets a love story of her own. The popular Netflix drama began in 2020 by introducing audiences to Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), a brassy teenager who was grieving the unexpected loss of her father. Throughout the seasons, the show follows Devis journey and her love triangle with Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) and Ben Gross (Jaren Lewison) while her mom tried to be her support system. But when Nalini attempted to move on after the death of her husband and started seeing Dr. Chris Jackson (Common) in Season Two, Devi objected. Nalini and Chriss budding romance immediately cooled off and she suppressed her needs. Poorna Jagannathan as Nalini Vishwakumar (Netflix) Nalini gives love a second chance in Season Four, which was released on June 8, after falling for Andres, played by Ivan Hernandez. Their feelings develop each episode and they share a kiss by the end, with full support from Devi. Poorna Jagannathan as Nalini Vishwakumar, Ivan Hernandez as Andres Ramos (Netflix) Jagannathan celebrates Nalinis love story in an interview with TODAY.com, praising the show for how it explores female sexuality across the board. She says her characters Season Four storyline explores Nalinis desires not only as a woman but as a mother. The 50-year-old actor points out that Kamala, played by Richa Moorjani, and Ranjita Chakravartys matriarchal character, Nirmala, also end the show in happy relationships, meaning every generation in the Vishwakumar household finds love. Its so much more than the stereotype thats always handed to us, Jagannathan says. And so that felt really amazing. She reveals that the storyline slightly mirrored her mothers experience in real life. My mother got remarried really late in life and she was really reluctant. Shes South Asian, but her mother said, You should really give yourself a second chance, she explains. Jagannathan says that support was reflected in Devi giving Nalini her blessing to start dating again. In some weird way, you need approval from your mother and you need approval from your child. As soon as thats given, something magical happens, Jagannathan says. Richa Moorjani as Kamala, Poorna Jagannathan as Nalini Vishwakumar, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi, Ranjita Chakravarty as Nirmala, Lee Rodriguez as Fabiola Torres (Netflix) Devis approval is one of a few ways the final episodes highlight her growth compared to the earlier seasons. The series finale also shows a change in her relationship with cousin Kamala, which allows Never Have I Ever to address another cultural stereotype. During the final episode, all the characters come together for Nirmalas wedding to Len (Jeff Garlin). Their jubilant nuptials include Devi and Kamalas Bollywood dance sequence. Moorjani tells TODAY.com that filming the scene was surreal and a callback to Devis comment about Indian dancing in Season One. Moorjani recalls, In the first season, Devi says, when she sees a group of Indian girls dancing, she makes fun of it." The 34-year-old actor, who is also a dancer in real life, says this type of scene was something she had dreamed of seeing on American TV. "For so long Bollywood dance has been shown as this kind of like circus act, spectacle," she says. But Never Have I Ever used the scene as a way to demonstrate the evolution between Devi and Kamala." Over the course of the series, and particularly in the last episode, Devi comes to embrace her culture. You see her having so much joy and dancing with her cousin who she first hated when she came here. It just felt like such a celebration, Moorjani says. This article was originally published on TODAY.com I-95 collapse updates: 1 vehicle trapped under the highway, no one injured, governor says A portion of Interstate 95 has collapsed in Philadelphia following a large vehicle fire, according to authorities. Emergency dispatchers received a call for an accident response on the off-ramp of I-95 at 6:22 a.m. on Sunday, Philadelphia Fire Battalion Chief Derek Bowmer said Sunday. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found heavy fire from a vehicle underneath the I-95 overpass, Bowmer said. There is one vehicle trapped underneath the collapsed roadway, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference with local and state officials on Sunday. We are still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse, he said, though he later clarified no one on I-95 at the time was injured in the incident. I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died, Shapiro said. The highway is completely collapsed on the northbound lanes, while the southbound lanes are compromised, Bowmer said. PHOTO: A general view shows the partial collapse of Interstate 95 after a fire underneath an overpass in Philadelphia, June 11, 2023. (City Of Philadelphia Office Of E/via Reuters) The incident was then upgraded to a hazmat situation, Bowmer said. Crews have extinguished the fire, but there is some runoff from possible fuel or gas lines. The cause of the fire is unknown, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told ABC News. The accident occurred between Exit 32 for Academy Road and Exit 30 for Cottman Avenue in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, ABC Philadelphia station WPVI reported. MORE: 1 dead, 3 injured after Missouri bridge collapses while under construction All northbound lanes between Exit 25 at Allegheny Avenue and Castor Avenue and Exit 32 at Academy Road and Linden Avenue are currently shut down, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Southbound lanes between Exit 32 and Exit 30 at Cottman Avenue and Rhawn Street are also closed. That portion of I-95 is expected to remain shut down for an extended period of time, according to the DHS. The southbound overpass is in critical condition, according to the Pennsylvania DOT. PHOTO: A tanker fire caused part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia to collapse, June 11, 2023. (WPVI) With regards to the complete rebuild of I-95 roadway, we expect that to take some number of months," Shapiro said. Shapiro said he plans to issue a disaster declaration on Monday morning to expedite this process and immediately draw down federal funds. The fire was so big it had overtaken both northbound and southbound lanes on the highway, witness Lisa Taormino, who was commuting southbound on I-95 about 20 minutes before it collapsed, told ABC News. Video taken by Taormino, and posted to social media, showed flames and smoke billowing from the northbound lane into the southbound. "It wasn't until I reached the bridge part that it was starting to be compromised and the structure wasn't as sound as it should have been," Taormino said. "There was another car behind me that looked like it was going to back up instead of traveling across the bridge." The governor confirmed the northbound side of the interstate completely collapsed and the southbound side is not structurally sound. PHOTO: A tanker fire caused part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia to collapse, June 11, 2023. (WPVI) Other videos posted to social media show large plumes of dark smoke hanging over the highway. There is no information on any injuries or occupants involved in the vehicle fire, Bowmer said. Multiple agencies are involved in the response to the crash, with some expressing concern regarding the runoff due to the proximity to the Delaware River. Health officials will determine the environmental impact. Shapiro acknowledged on Sunday that any petroleum product that might have discharged into water sources was contained using booms. According to NOAA, a boom is a "floating, physical barriers to oil, made of plastic, metal, or other materials, which slow the spread of oil and keep it contained." There was a very, very slight sheen in the sort of entry area of the waterway, Shapiro said. There has been no sheening on the Delaware River, signaling no gasoline has reached the river, U.S. Coast Guard petty officer Kimberly Reaves told ABC News. Reaves says there was a little sheening in a cove adjacent to the river, but none in the river itself. There were 8,500 gallons of gasoline in the tanker truck, with the majority of the cleanup happening on land, she said. Department of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Shapiro issued statements saying that they are closely monitoring the accident. Closely monitoring the fire and collapse on I-95 in Pennsylvania. Ive been in touch with FHWA and spoke with Gov. Shapiro to offer any assistance that USDOT can provide to help with recovery and reconstruction. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023 I was just briefed by @PEMAHQ, @PennDOTNews, and @PAStatePolice on the I-95 fire and collapse in Philadelphia. State Police and PEMA are on the scene assisting local first responders and @PennDOTSec and his team are en route to assess the situation and address traffic needs. Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) June 11, 2023 President Joe Biden "has been briefed on the collapse" and the White House is communicating with Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's offices, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted. The collapse will have "significant impacts" on the city and region until reconstruction is complete, Buttigieg wrote in a later tweet. An average of 160,000 vehicles drive each day on the section of I-95 that collapsed this morning in Philadelphia, according to a DOT spokesperson. "This is a major artery for people and goods, and the closure will have significant impacts on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete," Buttigieg tweeted. "Our department will be there with support throughout the process of I-95 returning to normal." "The challenges will be real when it comes to traffic movements in the city," Pennsylvania's Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll said at Sunday's press conference. Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to offer federal support and assistance. "The I-95 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and FHWA has offered support and assistance to state and local officials to help them safely reopen this section of I-95 as quickly as possible," a spokesperson for the FHA said in a statement. A team of specialists in motor carrier and hazardous materials safety, highway and technical reconstruction, and emergency response are expected to be on site as well on Monday to begin the on-scene portion of the investigation into the I-95 collapse, according to the National Transportation Safety Board A preliminary report will be available in two to three weeks, the NTSB said. ABC News' Teddy Grant and Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. I-95 collapse updates: 1 vehicle trapped under the highway, no one injured, governor says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com REUTERS/Toby Melville Royalist is The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday. Prince Andrew is reportedly determined to stay in his Windsor home, Royal Lodge, while roof repairs are being done because he fears being permanently evicted if he leaves. Andrew, who shares the property with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and who has reportedly paid for the roof repairs himself, fears he wont be able to afford the upkeep of Royal Lodge once brother King Charles cuts his 249,000 ($311,000) annual allowance. Its become farcical, a source told the Daily Mail. Andrew has roof repairs scheduled later this summer which will take several months to complete, and he has been advised that staying in the house during those renovations could prove problematic. But he is reluctant to leave. Prince Andrew Will Move Out of Royal Lodge in the End, Royal Sources Say Another source told the Times of London that Andrew thought he could stay in the property because his name was on the lease with the Crown Estate, rather than the royal familys. The saga of Andrew and the property has been rumbling away for months. In a seemingly serpentine game of royal property-swap, King Charles reportedly wants Andrew out of Royal Lodge and into the smaller Frogmore Cottage, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles British base, once their lease runs out in July. Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton were reportedly being lined up to move into the 30-bedroom, grade II listed Royal Lodge, which is a lot bigger than their Windsor abode, the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage. Last month, friends of the royals told The Daily Beast that they suspected Andrew would move out in the endand that media forays by Andrews camp, suggesting he would not willingly move out of Royal Lodge, were simply maneuvers to get a better deal. A friend of King Charles told The Daily Beast: In the end, Andrew will play ball. The house is far too big and expensive for him to run without the kings support and goodwill. The speculation is that he is on maneuvers, and trying to get a better deal. A friend of Prince Williams also scoffed at reports that Andrew could try and stay at Royal Lodge. The friend told The Daily Beast: Its a hugely expensive house to run and he doesnt have any money, so if they want him out hell have to go. A source told The Daily Beast that William and Kate were not pressuring Andrew to leave, and were perfectly happy at Adelaide Cottage. Buckingham Palace was approached for comment. Andrew no longer has formal press representation, but his solicitor was emailed with a request for comment. 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. Prince Harry made political comments in his witness statement that was part of his ongoing trial against Mirror Group Newspapers. (Getty Images) Prince Harrys political comments during his ongoing trial against Mirror Group Newspapers will have left Buckingham Palace uncomfortable, it has been claimed. Harry, 38, is suing MGN for damages, claiming journalists at its titles were linked to unlawful methods at sourcing stories, including phone hacking. In his witness statement, Harry gave a scathing indictment of the government as being at rock bottom and of being in bed with elements of the press in order to avoid scrutiny. On a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government both of which I believe are at rock bottom. Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo. I may not have a role within the Institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest. "The country and the British public deserve to know the depths of what was actually happening then, and indeed now. We will be better off for it. Harry, no longer a working royal, has been open about his opinions and personal relationships since stepping back from his official role. (ITV) According to the Sunday Times, a royal source has claimed the palace will find [Harrys comments] 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 park at Westminster too not least because it wasnt necessary for the core of his case. The source added: 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. However, Harry is by no means the only member of the Royal Family who has been accused of entering political territory in recent months. In February this year, King Charles met with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, whilst she was in the country to finalise a post-Brexit deal over the Northern Ireland protocol. King Charles controversially received European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen whilst post-Brexit deal talks were ongoing. (PA) The decision to meet with von der Leyen at that juncture was criticised across the political spectrum because of the controversial nature of the deal, and the figure of the monarch itself in Northern Ireland. In addition, both Charles and the Prince of Wales have made strong statements of support for Ukraine following the invasion by Russia. While supporting Ukraine is a popular position in the UK and unlikely to offend, its a significant deviation from the late Queens Elizabeth well-known and much admired soft touch when it came to diplomacy. Harry, who is no longer a working royal in any capacity, is free to express political opinions. As the Sunday Times source noted, this type of comment would have been inappropriate if the Sussexes had agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth to represent the crown in a half-in, half-out capacity. However that option was rejected by the Royal Family, leaving the Duke of Sussex able to comment on whatever issues he wishes - thereby leaving the Windsors vulnerable that those comments may be associated with them in some capacity on the world stage. The half-in, half-out option was what Harry referred to as option three in his memoir Spare. He called it A compromise. Closest to what wed originally proposed, that was halfway between a total split from royal life and remaining as full-time working royals. If the palace had opted for this third option, they would have retained the ability to influence both the public comments the Sussexes made, and the projects they embarked upon, thereby potentially avoiding any uncomfortable situations. Princess Annes fiery response to the UK Foreign Office in the 1980s proved she was always going to be a strong presence Princess Anne's fiery response in the 1980s proves she was always going to be independent Damn them, Im going. A short but powerful response. The kind one has almost come to expect from the no-nonsense Princess Anne. The Princess Royals defiant retort came after the UKs Foreign Office insisted she cancel a royal tour she was undertaking for a charity close to her heart back in the 1980s. Anne, the Princess Royal, has always been fiercely independent and fiercely committed to her work and that can be seen in a throwback anecdote involving a royal tour in the 80s Anne was seemingly ordered to cancel her tour of some countries due to safety concerns, but she point-blank refused to let down her charity In other royal news, King Charles will have a second coronation sort of. Find out why the oldest set of crown jewels werent at the first coronation, and where he will be presented with them If there was ever any doubt that Princess Anne has always been consistent the same hard-working, quippy, and strong person of principles lets revisit a recently re-discovered story of one of her first major tours. Back in the 1970s, Anne began her work with the Save the Children Fund. By 1982, she had more than settled into her role as the President of the charity, and she planned her most extensive tour with the Fund yet. The tour would eventually take her to Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, North Yemen and Beirut. She would cover 14,000 miles in just three weeks, visiting immunization centers where diseases like typhoid and polio were rife. Princess Anne on tour for Save the Children Fund in the 1980s However, the tour almost didnt come to be. Writing in his book, Princess Anne: A biography, biographer Nicholas Courtney claimed the Princess Royal was beginning her tour when she received an urgent communique from the Foreign Office. He writes, Princess Anne received an urgent communique from the Foreign Office to say that it was unsafe for her to go on to Somalia as the sporadic border war with Ethiopia had flared up again. However, he writes that the Foreign Secretary at the time, Francis Pym, had not bargained for Princess Annes tenacity. Her response to being told to abandon the important mission was simple and unambiguous. Damn them. Im going. An undeterred Princess Anne called her 1982 tour a 'highlight' after defying orders to cancel it She continued the work undeterred, visiting the Boroma refugee camp where she saw 40,000 refugees of war, and spoke to many Fund workers a visit she later described as a highlight of her 1982 tour. Princess Anne actually shares this pain with her nephew, Prince Harry. The government intervened with Harrys work when he had to cut his first military tour in Afghanistan short in 2008, after a publication leaked his location. There was supposed to be a media blackout on the news but when Harrys secret location got out, there was an immediate risk to his - and his squadrons - safety. The Government hastily evacuated the prince, but Harry voiced his frustration at the sudden turn of events many years later. In 2016, he told the Andrew Marr show, I was feeling very down. To be taken away from your team not knowing what is going to happen to them and whether you may be indirectly responsible was a huge thing that I had to swallow. (Bloomberg) -- A nascent political group promising to modernize Montenegro and bring the Balkan nation closer to European Union membership scored a victory in a snap election. Most Read from Bloomberg Europe Now, a party founded less than a year ago and led by former Finance Minister Milojko Spajic, secured 23 seats in the 81-member parliament in Sundays vote, edging out the Democratic Party of Socialists, which claimed 22 seats, according to the Center for Monitoring and Research. Spajic, 35, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. credit analyst, will need coalition partners to form a governing majority. Should he succeed, Spajic would follow in the footsteps of his ally Jakov Milatovic, a 36-year-old former banker who defeated Montenegros long-time leader Milo Djukanovic to win the nations presidency in an election in April. President Milatovic may give Spajic a mandate to form a cabinet after officials results are out. The central election authority has yet to release its vote count. Spajic ruled out partnering with the DPS, without naming possible coalition allies late on Sunday. While serving as a finance minister in the government that collapsed in early 2022, Spajic oversaw a tax reform and an increase in public wages, despite criticism it could undermine state finances. He has vowed to keep up wage and pension hikes, while cutting the standard work week to 35 hours from 40 hours. Read More: Why EUs Balkan Expansion Faces Long and Winding Road: QuickTake With almost three-quarters of the electorate supporting Montenegros bid to join the 27-nation EU, most mainstream parties campaigned on the promise to achieve that goal and to prop up a tourism-reliant economy. Still, an alliance of conservative nationalists who favor ties with neighboring Serbia and Russia, won 13 parliament seats, followed by 11 seats for the pro-EU, anti-graft alliance led by caretaker Minister Dritan Abazovic. Djukanovic remains a formidable force given his partys legacy of helping restore Montenegros independence in 2006 with a split from former partner Serbia. He also secured the accession to NATO in 2017, overcoming resistance from Russia. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. In the last 20 years, Californias northern forests have experienced a stark increase in lands burned by fire. Now scientists have a better idea why. The culprit is a familiar one human-caused climate change, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, according to findings published on Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But other aspects are new. The paper presents for the first time a portrait of fires in an alternate California in which human-caused climate change hadnt happened. And by comparing that world to our own, it offers a sobering warning for any ecosystem notably Canada and the Western U.S. in which temperature, not the availability of trees, is the primary factor limiting the size of fires. Fossil fuel burning expanded vulnerable forests In those regions, lead author Mario Turco told The Hill, the impact of a century of burning fossil fuels has vastly expanded the amount of forest vulnerable to fire. That relationship portends a grim future, he noted. Californias coming fires could burn up to 50 percent more land than the fires of today. Those specific prescriptions focus on the pine forests of Northern and Central California. But Turco emphasized that similar dynamics were at work in the record Canadian wildfires that clogged the air of the U.S. Northeast last week. In Canada, the amount of land burned by fire thus far this season is now 13 times the national average only a couple of weeks into what was traditionally considered to be the fire season. What is happening in Canada this month is something strange because there are not so many analogs in the past, Turco told The Hill. California, by contrast, offered the scientists a golden setting for a natural experiment. In addition to its long history of big blazes in particular, the enormous fires in the summers of 2018, 2020 and 2021 California has unusually good data around fires. Unlike many other fire-prone areas, Californias state agencies have been collecting rigorous data on the extent of fire in the state for decades. That data shows that the 10 largest wildfires in California history also happened in the last 20 years, with those fires getting bigger and more powerful later in that period. (Half occurred in 2020 alone, and eight since 2017.) But while the increased scale of the problem is clear as is the fact that it has come alongside an implacable rise in both global temperatures and the burning of fossil fuels it has historically been difficult to untangle how much human-caused climate change, specifically, has contributed to Californias current fire problem. Simulation shows scope of problem To answer that question, the team simulated an alternate California that had experienced only natural climate variation since 1996. While the scientists didnt make this point explicitly, this experiment amounted to a rough simulation of an alternate past: one in which people rapidly stopped burning fossil fuels once their role in climate change was discovered. Off-ramps from the current crisis into such an alternate world appear early. As NASA notes, the Swedish scientist who first predicted the relationship between rising levels of carbon dioxide the major byproduct of burning and rising temperatures first published in 1896. That relationship was confirmed as early as 1938, when British engineer Guy Callendar linked the worlds use of fossil fuels to a slight but already statistically significant rise in temperatures; by 1956 U.S. Office of Naval Research was already promulgating The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climatic Change. But even in a world where such scientific work had led to an early, widespread and total move away from fossil fuels, climate change would not stop. The suns power would still fluctuate, as would the distance thanks to an orbital wobble between it and Earth, each of which would impact how much heat reached the surface. And down on Earth, changes in terrestrial processes like volcanic eruptions and the spread or contraction of forests would also have led to broader changes in the climate. FILE A home burns as the Dixie fire jumps Highway 395 south of Janesville, Calif., Aug. 16, 2021. Two insurance industry giants have pulled out of the California marketplace, saying that wildfire risk and the soaring cost of construction prompted them to stop writing new policies in the nations most populous state. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) Humans caused threefold rise in burned lands But on that alternate Earth, natural variations in the climate wouldnt be enough to produce the dramatic rise in burned areas that California has experienced over the past 30 years, the PNAS paper found. In fact, the scientists wrote, our world was accelerating away from that nature-only paradigm. The historical record shows that California has had nearly twice as big an increase in burned land 1.7 times, to be exact between 1971 and 2021 as it would have under purely natural cycles. And the magnitude of that difference was increasing, they wrote. Human-caused climate change has led to a remarkable threefold increase in burned lands between the latter half of that period 1996 and 2021 and the equivalent period over on nature-only Earth. That has been a pivotal period for climate change not only in terms of its rise as political issue, but also in the acceleration of the forces driving it. (More than half of the carbon discharged into the atmosphere since the dawn of the industrial revolution came from fires lit in fireplaces, power plants and internal combustion engines since 1990.) What role does forest management play? One major question rests outside the scope of the paper: the role of forest management or mismanagement on the fire problem. Since the 2018 fire that leveled Paradise, Calif., state and federal officials have faced harsh criticism for their decades-long policy of suppressing low-grade wildfires that might otherwise have cleaned fuels from the forest sowing the ground for the unstoppable fires of the present. Conservative politicians have appealed to similar management concerns to explain away the impacts of climate change, as in Donald Trumps 2018 claim that California faced such bad fires because unlike the forest nation of Finland the state didnt rake its forests. To Trumps defense and despite the bemusement those remarks caused on both sides of the Atlantic the Finnish forestry sector really does use giant mechanized rakes to pull flammable tree residues out of its forests after they have been cut. That real geographic difference, however, conceals an even more important historical one. Such tree residue which is now burned in district-level power-plants could once have been safely left to decompose in place, before climate change heated up the forests. Trump has a point, fire ecologist Matthew Hurteau wrote in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post. The U.S.could get away with poor management, until global warming. Reinforcing that idea, the PNAS study didnt find any historic change in forest management that was big enough to explain the size of the jump in the amount of California that now burns, Turco said. The one place that scientists did find such a connection was Europe where they found that forest policy had led to a striking decrease in the amount of land burned, even as human-caused climate change pushed in the opposite direction. That might not be entirely good news, Turco said. It means that the tool of fire management where basically they try to suppress all fires is working. But that doesnt mean it will work in the future climate. On the one hand, because the climate itself was heating up and drying out European forests, leading to a greater capacity for fire. On the other hand, because with each wildfire stopped too early, we are creating more fuel to be burned in the future. That rising climatic pressure towards bigger wildfires makes it more important to focus not only on suppression, but also on preparedness, proactive action, proactive management, he added. Thats something the Biden administration Forest Service has staked out as a priority. The agency sees the decades of forest mismanagement of forest fuels as a serious and systemic problem they are spending billions to fix. Turco said those steps are important, even if blunting the speed of human-caused climate change is the main imperative. Its quite dangerous to say climate change is responsible for all the problems of the forest fires in California so its not important to have a good plan, he added. Because this is not true. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Charlotte City Council approved a proposal to turn an apartment complex in south Charlotte into affordable housing during Mondays meeting. Councilmembers said the move will lower rent at the Charlotte Woods apartments to between $250 and $1,000 per month. On top of making rent more affordable and housing more acceptable, renovations to windows, roofs, heating, and cooling systems PREVIOUS COVERAGE Residents at Charlotte Woods apartments said doing so would make a world of difference, and would even allow them to save more money. ALSO READ: Nonprofit helps Charlotte couple buy home, plan for future As far as the inside, the inside is beautiful, and thats why I fell in love with it, Deborah Jordan said. Jordan loves her home. Still, she faces a tough reality each month. Sometimes youre like should I go to the doctor or should I pay rent, which is very important, she said. >> RESOURCES: Priced Out of Charlotte: County-by-County Resource Guide Jordan said she pays a little over $1,000 per month in rent. It could be affordable for some people, but for older people, it can be expensive, she said. But shes hoping Charlotte City Council will vote to make rent there less expensive. On Monday, members will consider a proposal to convert the complex to affordable housing. Woodlawn Noah, LLC is asking the city for $8 million to turn all 266 units into rental subsidies. ALSO READ: The Carolinas Get Real: Priced out of Charlotte I think that would be great because I know lots of people are struggling with rent, Sabrina Garner said. And I know people who have two or three jobs to be able to even afford living here. Garner is going on two and half years living at Charlotte Woods and said she likes the plans to convert it. In addition to making rent more affordable, Woodlawn Noah would replace windows, roofs, and HVAC and electrical systems. Some of the things have been a bit dated, especially the HVAC system because you cannot have heating or cold, Garner said. As city leaders vote Monday, Garner wants them to keep one thing in mind. People who live here and have lived here, they deserve to be able to live in the city and not have to move to cheaper areas, she said. (WATCH BELOW: Organization works to bring affordable housing to the Concord area) Protesters with Nazi flags and signs supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis demonstrated outside Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, according to the local police. The Orange County Sheriff's Office confirmed that some of the approximately 15 people protesting were there with signs supporting the state's Republican governor and presidential hopeful. Some were carrying Nazi flags featuring swastikas. The OCSD said it responded to the protest and that the disturbance dissipated after approximately two hours. "We are aware of these groups that aim to agitate and incite people with anti-Semitic symbols and slurs. They are also aware of the law," the OCSD said in a statement. "The Orange County Sheriffs Office deplores hate speech in any form, but people have the First Amendment right to demonstrate." Lisa Gause, a 60-year-old old spotted the protesters with her son, told USA TODAY that she snapped a photo of the protesters after she spotted a "DeSantis 2024 Make America Florida" flag amongst their number. She lamented the state of political polarisation in the US. "We don't want this going on," she told the paper. Anna Eskamani, a state congressional lawmaker representing Orlando, was sent several images and videos of the protest, she she shared on Twitter. "It's absolutely disgusting to see what has become a common presence of Nazis in Florida, and even more disturbing when they are holding signs and flags that signal support for people like Governor DeSantis," Ms Eskamani told USA TODAY. "Every person, regardless of political ideology, should condemn this. Florida is a state built on diversity and we will always stand against bigotry and hate. Nazis outside of Walt Disney World right now absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/WeXtRi3OSL Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (@AnnaForFlorida) June 10, 2023 Shannon Watts, the founder of the progressive parents advocacy group Moms Demand Action, shared an image of the protests were Nazi flags, a DeSantis Make America Florida flag, and a black sign cut into the triple circle shape associated with Mickey Mouses head and ears that read butt f*****. Two dozen white supremacists are outside the main Disney World entrance in Orlando right now, marching with signs featuring Gov DeSantiss face, swastikas, the n-word and homophobic slurs. This is the 2023 Republican Party, she wrote on Twitter. The Independent has reached out to Mr DeSantis for comment. The protest was reportedly not the first time anti-Semitic symbols were on display at the location; a "similar occurrence" happened at the spot last May, according to a statement from the Combat Antisemitism Movement. Disney made an enemy in Mr DeSantis when the company's then-CEO Bob Chapek criticised the Republican-led state legislature's "Don't Say Gay" law. The law bars classroom instruction that includes discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity. Mr Chapek faced criticism for waiting too long to speak on the issue and for not directing the company to pour resources into fighting the legislation. After he condemned the law, he ended the company's political donations in Florida. Disney had previously donated hundreds of thousands to Republicans. That infuriated Mr DeSantis, who moved to strip Disney of its right to govern its land in central Florida and shook up its governing board. In April, the governor threatened to build a prison or allow another theme park to open up shop next to Disney World, and announced legislation that could allow such developments. A few days later, Disney sued Mr DeSantis and other lawmakers for what it described as retaliation for expressing its constitutional rights to speech. The Providence Journals Summertime Fund is now accepting donations to send needy Rhode Island children to camp. Last year, hundreds of donors contributed over $60,000 to give disadvantaged youngsters the opportunity to build friendships, learn life skills and experience the joy of summer camp. Through your generosity, we can make 2023 another unforgettable summer for children throughout Rhode Island, said Lynne Sullivan, regional executive editor of the Providence Journal. The Summertime Fund has sent thousands of youngsters to camp since The Providence Journal launched it in 1972. Administered by the Rhode Island Foundation, the fund relies on donations from individuals some made as family remembrances or in lieu of personal gifts as well as corporate contributions. We are delighted to work with the Providence Journal and generous donors to make summer camp possible for so many children. Our hope is they return home energized and inspired by their experience, said David N. Cicilline, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. Political Scene: David Cicilline, homeward bound, talks about Congress, polarized politics and local impact Donations by check or money order payable to The Providence Journal Summertime Fund should be mailed to the Rhode Island Foundation, One Union Station, Providence, RI, 02903. Online donations can be made at ProvidenceJournal.com/Giving. Donors will be recognized weekly in the Thursday edition of the newspaper and online. The Providence Journal is southern New Englands leading news organization, publishing high-quality local content and offering innovative multimedia marketing solutions. Its local journalism appears in Rhode Islands largest newspaper, The Providence Journal winner of four Pulitzer Prizes and on ProvidenceJournal.com. NEW Providence Journal Summertime Fund 5/19/2014 More than 400,000 local adults consume Providence Journal news and information in print, online and across mobile devices. The Providence Journal and ProvidenceJournal.com are part of Gannett. Today, Gannett publishes USA TODAY along with hundreds of local media outlets across 43 states, and through 120 local media brands in the United Kingdom. The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the foundation raised more than $75 million and awarded nearly $84 million in grants to organizations addressing the states most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities last year. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal accepting donations for 51st annual Summertime Fund Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters The head of New Zealands public radio station apologized on Monday after it was found that a journalist had been inserting pro-Kremlin garbage into news stories about Russia and Ukraine which were published on the broadcasters website. Paul Thompson, the chief executive of the publicly-funded Radio New Zealand (RNZ), said around 250 stories had already been forensically checked for Russian propaganda since they became aware of the issue on Friday and that 16 had been found that required corrections and editors notes. The digital reporter allegedly responsible for the embarrassing incident has been placed on leave, and Thompson said thousands more articles would need to be reviewed for problems. Russian Propaganda Turns to Lord of the Rings to Stir Ukraine Hatred The majority of the altered stories were based on reports from the Reuters news agency. Speaking to RNZs Checkpoint program, the accused unnamed journalist said: I subbed several stories that way over the past number of years. In fact since I started RNZ and I have done that for five years and nobody has tapped me on the shoulder and told me that I was doing anything wrong, they added. The claim that the employees edits went unchallenged for years has yet to be verified with the journalists managers. But serious concerns had been raised about their work as far back as May 2022 following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thompson said at the time, a story was reviewed and updated in line with editorial standards. Some of the propagandistic alterations may have been subtle enough to escape the attention of casual readers in that they were only a few words long, but they dramatically changed the context of a story. Amendments adding Kremlin talking points to stories included sentences that neo-Nazis had created a threat to Russian borders and that Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum. Russian President Vladimir Putin initially cited an intention to denazify Ukraine as among his justifications for the invasion, and Russia has accused Ukraines leadership of nazism ever since the countrys pro-Moscow government was toppled in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, has repeatedly rebuffed the allegations and has vowed to defeat Russia just as Nazism was defeated in Ukraine during World War 2. The comment about Russia annexing Crimea after a referendum also failed to include the context that the vote was considered a sham and not recognized internationally, with the United Nations General Assembly adopting a resolution calling the referendum invalid. It is so disappointing, Thompson told RNZs Nine to Noon show. Im gutted. Its painful. Its shocking. We have to get to the bottom of how it happened. He added that an external review of the organizations editorial process had been commissioned. The job of a sub-editor is to improve stories, add context, improve the journalism, he told Checkpoint. What were talking about here is a very small proportion of stories where something quite different happened, where incorrect and misleading information was inserted into wire copy. So its important to make that distinction. Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing, Helen Clark, who served as New Zealands prime minister between 1998 and 2008, tweeted on Saturday. Accountability? Expect better from public broadcaster. 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. Pueblo City Council to decide again Monday whether to put anti-mayor question to voters A roll call is taken at a Pueblo City Council meeting before an executive session at Pueblo City Hall in April. The majority of Pueblo city councilors have rebuked an effort to abolish the mayors office multiple times over the past year. Councilor Lori Winner, however, is reviving an effort to ask voters to amend the structure of city government with an ordinance that will be on council's agenda for a first reading Monday. Winner told the Chieftain that the ordinance would simply revert the city government to the pre-2019 city manager form of government. She is hoping to pick up votes from councilors who objected to changes to the city government structure that were included in a petition that failed earlier this year. Most recent update: Pueblo City Council rejects special election for anti-mayor question The timeline of the anti-mayor campaign The anti-mayor effort in Pueblo, spearheaded by local resident Judalon Smyth and aided by Winner, has been ongoing since last summer. Pueblo voters approved an amendment to the city charter in fall 2017 that abolished the city managers office and replaced it with a strong mayor system. Denver and Colorado Springs are the only other Colorado municipalities with that governmental structure, in which the mayor runs the city's executive office and city council mostly has legislative power. Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar was a proponent of switching to the strong mayor government and later won a runoff election in early 2019, making him Pueblos first mayor in recent memory. Mayor Nick Gradisar speaks to supporters during a formal announcement of his re-election bid at Zaragoza Hall in February. Gradisars first term ends in January 2024. Hes running for re-election, and several other candidates have launched campaigns, including two city councilors: Heather Graham and Dennis Flores. Smyth had been communicating with the city clerks office for a few months before she spoke during a work session in August 2022, asking for city council to directly place a measure on the ballot to get rid of the mayor's office. Discussing the topic was not on the work session agenda, but council discussed a ballot question about the citys structure of government after Winner brought it up. Smyth left the room after the majority of councilors indicated they would not seek to put the question on the ballot, with some saying the city has not had enough time to know how the mayoral system works. Controversy arises after the city misinformed petitioners Petitions for signatures started circulating early this year. Organizers did not collect enough signatures to meet a deadline for a May election, which would have been held simultaneously with a special election in Pueblo West, which couldve saved the city money. Petitioners were told how many signatures were required to put the question on a ballot, but that information was inaccurate and they collected only half the number they actually needed a fact they didnt find out until after all collection deadlines had passed. Questions can end up on the ballot if citizens collect enough signatures or by referral from an elected body. Pueblo City Councilwoman Lori Winner speaks during a council meeting in December of 2022. Winner attempted to sponsor another ordinance that wouldve put the petitioners charter amendment on a special election ballot. Winner and Councilor Regina Maestri were the only two of seven councilors to support that ordinance, while Graham voted yes on an amendment to move the question to November. That failed without a majority. Winner helped explore a legal challenge but decided not to follow through because it was too expensive: It wouldve cost $40,000 to $50,000 in attorney fees to bring the case before a judge, she said. Could Winners new ordinance pass? Winner said she hopes this new iteration will pass because some of her fellow councilors she mentioned Dennis Flores and Larry Atencio were initially concerned that the original petition language included several changes that would have given city council more powers than it had before the charter amendment passed, such as the power to appoint the city clerk. But Winner said her new ordinance reverts the city charter to the same as it was before voters approved the swap to the mayoral government in 2017. "I'm fixing that problem, hoping to get their vote," she said, referring to Flores and Atencio. Winner said petitioners arent trying to collect signatures again this summer because they feel the city would find another reason to invalidate the campaign even if organizers followed all the rules. She added that the city should investigate what happened and why Dan Kogovsek, the former city attorney, was asked to by the mayor to retire. Atencio himself signed the petition, but he later told the Chieftain he wouldnt have signed it if he knew about the differences between the charter amendment circulated by petitioners and the original charter language before the swap to the mayoral government. Flores said he still wouldnt support this new ordinance because voters approved the change to the mayoral system only a few years ago. "There might be somewhere down the road where there might be a justification for going back (to a city manager form of government)," Flores said. "It's too early right now; we need to give the voters a chance for it to work." Flores added that as a candidate for mayor, it wouldn't make sense for him to support an effort to get rid of the office he's trying to win. Atencio was unavailable for comment Friday because he was on a trip to Chihuahua, Mexico, along with Gradisar, related to Pueblos sister-city relationship with that city. Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo City Council will vote again on mayor governance ballot issue A day after hailing the retaking of three Donetsk province villages, the Ukrainian military said its forces added another small victory Monday by capturing the village of Storozhov in the same eastern region, providing momentum to the initial phase of the countrys long-awaited counteroffensive. The national flag is flying over Storozhov again, and it will be the same with every settlement until we liberate all Ukrainian land, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote in a Telegram app posting with a photo of seven soldiers in front of a hollowed-out building. Maliars stated goal is a long way away and may never be accomplished considering Russian troops control about 20% of Ukrainian territory and have dug in for months over the 600-mile front line to defend their war gains. But reclaiming the villages represents an incursion into the first line of Russian defenses and could allow Ukrainian troops to try a deeper thrust into occupied areas. Reflecting on operations conducted Saturday and Sunday, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War wrote: Ukrainian forces made visually verified advances in western Donetsk Oblast and western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, which Russian sources confirmed but sought to downplay. The southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, home to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, is another focus area of the counteroffensives early stages. Maliar said Russia is moving some of its top units from Kherson province to Zaporizhzhia and the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, and she speculated that Moscows forces had blown up the Kakhovka dam last week to prevent Ukraine from attacking them in Kherson. Emergency teams help injured civilians get to safety after they came under fire from Russian forces while trying to flee by boat from Russian-occupied territory near the Dnieper River to Ukrainian-held Kherson on June 11, 2023. Developments: Water levels in Kherson province are down to an average of almost 10 feet higher than normal, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Monday, compared to a high of more than 15 feet last week after the Kakhovka dam collapsed. More than 32 towns and villages remain flooded, Prokudin said, and Russian forces have continued shelling inundated areas held by Ukraine on the Dnieper Rivers western bank. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine is 'gaining ground' against Russia in the counteroffensive and said U.S. support has been key to its success. Rescue and relocation efforts continue on both sides of the Dnieper for civilians driven from their homes by the flooding. With many homes and shops submerged in polluted water, the U.N. and other aid groups say access to fresh drinking water is crucial and that water-borne diseases pose a major risk. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said 10 people have died and 42 are missing because of the dam's collapse. Water from the Kakhovka reservoir won't reach Russian-occupied Crimea for at least a year as a result of the dam's breach, the head of Ukraine's state-owned energy company said Monday, the Kyiv Independent reported. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said at least four civilians were killed and 16 wounded by Russian shelling over the last 24 hours, including airstrikes in apartment buildings and a cultural center that hit nine towns and villages in the Donetsk province. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that the U.S. would be soon announce further military aid packages for Ukraine featuring weapons well suited for this stage of the war. Putin decries attacks on Russian civilian areas Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated Monday the very same autonomy hes trying to deny Ukraine as he delivered a Day of Russia speech. The holiday marks the countrys declaration of sovereignty in 1990, a year before it became independent upon the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, which also allowed Ukraine to gain independence. At a ceremony presenting state awards, Putin urged support for his special military operation in Ukraine and decried without a hint of irony attacks by Kyivs forces on Russian civilian areas. I cant understand in any way why the enemy is striking residential areas. What for? Why? What is the point? he said. (They are striking) clearly humanitarian facilities. What is the point of this? There is no military point, there is none. According to a United Nations report, at least 23,600 Ukrainian civilians had been killed or injured by May 15 since Russia invaded its neighbor. Last fall, Russia launched a monthslong assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of the winter chill. Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live Ukraine updates: Push to liberate land starts with villages NANJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A cargo plane loaded with 17.6 tonnes of textile products recently flew from Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, to Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, the Nanjing Customs confirmed. This is the first time the eastern Chinese city has launched an air cargo route linking South Asia, the customs said, adding that the route is scheduled to operate regularly every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and the annual freight volume is expected to exceed 2,800 tonnes. "The surrounding areas of Nanjing have a large-scale textile industry with a complete supply chain. The textiles produced here are popular among international customers, and the newly opened air cargo route will offer local enterprises enhanced accessibility for exporting their goods," said Bi Hengfen, a staffer from an international logistics company. Putin admits the Russian military needs more modern weapons to win the war in Ukraine a rare admission of fault Russian President Vladimir Putin Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin conceded that Russia needed more modern weapons. He'd previously boasted of the sophistication of Russia's arsenal. According to reports, Russia has suffered steep equipment losses. Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that the Russian military needs to modernize its weapons if it is to win the war in Ukraine. In a statement posted on the Kremlin website Friday, Putin said that the Ukrainian offensive had begun and Russian forces were successfully resisting it. He said that this was due to the "the right command of the troops and the high effectiveness of Russian weapons, especially modern weapons." He then conceded that Russia needed to increase its supply of modern weapons, a significant remark in the light of reports that Russian troops on the front line were using outdated, Soviet-era equipment. "We do not yet have enough modern arms, but the defense industry and the military-industrial complex are developing rapidly and, I am sure, all the challenges facing our defense industry will definitely be met. We are intensively building up production of modern weapons," Putin said. Putin's concession is a sharp departure from his previous remarks on Russia's military arsenal, with the Russian president last August boasting that they were "years, perhaps even decades" ahead of rivals. The claim was contradicted by analyses by Western officials, Insider reported in April, who said that amid heavy losses of troops and equipment, Russia has resorted to using Soviet-era tanks and other weapons. Ukraine said it had liberated three villages in the south-east of the country as part of its counteroffensive. It accused Russia of blowing up the Kakhovka dam last Monday to slow its advances, forcing Ukraine to evacuate thousands of civilians. Ukraine has been handed sophisticated weapons by its NATO allies, including US-made HIMARS missiles, and German-made Leopard tanks, but on some fronts Ukrainian forces are reportedly using dilapidated weapons. According to Russian state media guidelines on covering the counteroffensive recently obtained by Russian independent media outlet Meduza, publications were instructed to talk up Ukraine's weapons advantages, so Russia could portray itself as an underdog and positively spin even modest successes. Analysts told the Associated Press in a report published Monday that Russia had learnt from its mistakes, and had improved its weaponry in Ukraine. Read the original article on Business Insider MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin marked Russia's national day on Monday by appealing to Russians' patriotic pride at what he said was a "difficult time" for the country. However, speaking at a lavish award-giving ceremony in the Kremlin, Putin made no direct comment on the latest developments in Ukraine, where Kyiv's forces have launched a long-awaited counteroffensive and have retaken several villages in the eastern Donetsk region over the past few days. "This public holiday marks the inseparability of our centuries-old history, the greatness and glory of the fatherland," Putin told the assembled dignitaries. "Today, at a difficult time for Russia, (feelings of patriotism and pride) unite our society even more strongly... (and) serve as a reliable support for our heroes taking part in the special military operation (in Ukraine)," Putin said. Russia's Defence Ministry released a video for Monday's national day featuring scenes of Russian lakes, forests and Orthodox churches and icons, along with clips of soldiers expressing love for their country. "I am Russian, thank the Lord, I am Russian, I am so lucky," says one. "Russia is like a fortress above the abysss, it has stood and will stand," says another. On this day in 1991, the Russian parliament formally declared Russian sovereignty from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was officially dissolved in December that year and the June 12 holiday was established in 1992. Former president Dmitry Medvedev posted a mock-up picture on his Telegram channel of Russia's white, blue and red tricolor flag flying over Kyiv's central square, the Maidan, with a message saying it would soon be renamed "Russia Square". Oleg Osipov, an aide to Medvedev, who is now deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, cited the former president as saying "Kyiv is our direct target. It is a Russian city and it will return home. We will not rest until we recover it. Happy holiday!" (Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Racial gerrymandering in Alabama slapped down by SCOTUS. Could the same happen in SC? South Carolina voting rights advocates who challenged how the states Congressional districts were drawn are encouraged by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected Alabamas congressional map. The Alabama case mirrors concerns raised in South Carolina, specifically that both states Congressional maps discriminate against Black voters. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that Alabamas map violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The 5-4 ruling upheld a lower court decision that said Alabamas map was likely unconstitutional because it included only one majority Black seat out of seven districts in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. South Carolina also has seven congressional districts, and only one the 6th District at 47.8% is close to being majority Black. The states population is about 27% Black, according to the U.S. Census, compared to 25% Black in Alabama. Meanwhile, a panel of three U.S. District judges earlier this year ruled South Carolinas 1st Congressional District, represented by Republican Nancy Mace, is an unlawful racial gerrymander that discriminates against Black voters in violation of the U.S. Constitution. South Carolina Republicans appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, while the NAACP and ACLU of South Carolina filed a motion asking the high court to affirm the lower courts decision. The court is expected to hear the case this fall. Allen Chaney, legal director for the ACLU of South Carolina, said while hes thrilled by the Supreme Courts ruling in the Alabama case, its uncertain whether the high court will follow suit in South Carolina because each case involved different claims. That said, we are certainly encouraged that the Court respected the trial courts findings of fact and remained committed to its own legal precedent, Chaney said. If the Court does the same in our case, I feel confident that our win will be affirmed. Differences between the Alabama and SC cases The differences between claims raised in Alabama and South center around different legal theories. The case in Alabama was brought under a theory that the design of the states congressional map harms the ability for Black voters to exercise their electoral power under the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiffs from Alabama convinced a lower court that the minimization of Black voters into one congressional district diminished their ability to elect two candidates of choice rather than one. The Supreme Court agreed. In South Carolina, two claims were raised under the U.S. Constitution the 14th and 15th Amendments as opposed to Alabamas claim being based on a federal statute, the Voting Rights Act. One claim in South Carolina alleged that Republican lawmakers sorted voters on the basis of race without a compelling state interest. Another said that the state intentionally designed the map to ensure that Black voters in the 1st Congressional District lacked electoral power. That is, by setting a target for a very low population of Black voters in that district, Black voters would be unable to impact elections there. Despite the differences, however, the cases in Alabama and South Carolina essentially allege the same thing, said Leah Aden, an NAACP attorney and one of the lead counsels who argued the South Carolina case. Namely, racial gerrymandering limits the ability for Black voters to elect lawmakers who represent their interests. But if you step back very globally, these are all different theories trying to get at how Black voters are harmed by the (congressional district) drawing process, Aden said. Despite them being different cases, I think, with respect to ours (in South Carolina) ... three judges on a panel all agreed that there was racial discrimination (from the map), and we think they followed the law and credited the facts to get to a unanimous decision, Aden said. And we think all of that should be affirmed by the Supreme Court and is likely to be affirmed by the Supreme Court. A history of the controversial congressional map South Carolinas Republican-controlled General Assembly passed the redrawn congressional map in January 2022 over the objection of Democrats and public interest groups, which argued the map carved up the area around Charleston along racial lines and guaranteed largely uncompetitive U.S. House races. The South Carolina chapter of the NAACP challenged the map in court, alleging lawmakers had used race as the predominant factor when drawing the 1st, 2nd and 5th Congressional Districts in order to dilute the voting strength of Black South Carolinians and maintain political power. Republican leaders settled similar allegations leveled against the state House of Representatives map by agreeing to adjust that maps lines but could not resolve the dispute over the congressional map. A bench trial over the contested congressional map was held last fall in Charleston federal court. Republican lawyers argued at trial that politics, not race, had motivated line-drawing decisions. The map, they said, was drawn to shore up Republican control of the competitive 1st Congressional District, and they stressed the importance Republican lawmakers placed on ensuring Mace, who won by only one percentage point in 2020, retained her seat. Their efforts were successful, as the Lowcountry congresswoman cruised to a nearly 14-point victory in her redrawn district in November. What the court ruled The panel of three U.S. District judges didnt buy the Republicans argument, at least as it related to the 1st District. Following testimony from statistical experts, who analyzed the map and found it to be racially biased, the panel opined that Republicans had intentionally discriminated against Black voters in the 1st District. The judges did not, however, find the contested 2nd and 5th districts to be unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. South Carolina enacted a congressional map that minimizes Black voters power and silences our voices, said Taiwan Scott, one of the plaintiffs in the pending South Carolina case, in an NAACP news release issued in March. As the panel of judges already recognized, rectifying this egregious discrimination requires enacting a fair map. We believe the Supreme Court will uphold the panels decision so that we can move one step closer to achieving the fair representation that is constitutionally required. Rape and torture: Transgender women open up about their suffering under Argentina's dictatorship Julieta Gonzalez poses for a photo inside the Banfield Pit, where the Argentine military dictatorship held her for a month, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Gonzalez and four other trans women testified in April about the repression they suffered, part of what human rights lawyers and activists say is a long overdue effort to recognize systematic human rights violations suffered by members of the trans community under the countrys military rule. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Julieta Gonzalez stepped inside the blocky white building where the Argentine military dictatorship held her for a month, and the flashbacks began. Blood stains on the mattresses. Hearing screaming as she was inside her cell. Being forced to wash blood out of cars. The endless sexual abuse. Transgender women like Gonzalez often pretended to be asleep when a guard appeared in the middle of the night, she remembered. I was always the one who bore the brunt," Gonzalez, 65, told AP journalists during a visit to the cell where she was held. "I was younger. Gonzalez and four other transgender women testified at the trial of former security officers in April on charges of crimes against humanity, part of what human-rights lawyers and activists call Argentina's long-overdue effort to recognize the suffering of the trans community under military rule from 1976 to 1983. Members of the community took part in a demonstration last month in support of a bill under discussion in a congressional committee that would provide a lifetime pension for trans people over 40. Patricia Alexandra Rivas, 56, said at the demonstration that she was raped and tortured while illegally detained for five days in 1981, when she was 14. The people who did the dictatorship's dirty work were particularly brutal to members of the trans community, which continued to suffer after the return of democracy in 1983. But things have been changing in Argentina: More than a decade ago, the country approved a landmark gender-identity law that allowed people to change their gender on documents without permission. More recently, Congress passed a law that reserves 1% of public sector jobs for trans individuals. They were brought to this place, tortured, raped, subjected to slave labor, deprived of their freedom and then released, assistant prosecutor Ana Oberlin said while standing outside a set of cells at the Banfield Pit, a suburban former police station that was one of hundreds of illegal detention and torture centers in the capital. Military rule engulfed much of Latin America in the 1970s and 80s and human rights organizations say some 30,000 people were illegally detained and disappeared without a trace in Argentina. Until recently, little was said about how the trans community suffered under the military rulers. Part of the reason why the recognition has taken so long is because violence against members of the trans community, is completely normalized, said Marlene Wayar, 53, a transgender activist and author who gave expert testimony at the trial. This dynamic largely played out in the 296 trials relating to dictatorship-era crimes against humanity that have taken place since 2006, after amnesty laws were struck down, in which 1115 people have been convicted, according to the Public Prosecutors Office. It's only recently that Argentina has begun discussing gender roles and sexual mores under the dictatorship, Oberlin said, including a model of family that laid out the role that men and women must play. Oberlin played a key role in including the testimony of the five transgender women who were held in the Banfield Pit as part of a trial that started in 2020, in which 12 officers are facing crimes against humanity charges for actions that took place in three clandestine detention centers involving some 700 victims. Violence at the hands of security forces was something that Gonzalez was used to when she and other trans women were detained by police in 1977 or 1978 she doesnt remember the exact date while working as prostitutes. They ended up in the Banfield Pit. They pick us up, and I didnt want to get in the truck, so he hit me on the back with a rifle like this, grabbed me by the hair, Of course youre going inside, Gonzalez recalled. Gonzalez and her friends were locked up in a cell where they often heard people they didnt see cry out in pain. One night they heard a girl yell out several times and then a baby could be heard crying, Gonzalez said. I spent my whole life wondering about that baby, she said. Security officers often stole babies that were born from pregnant detainees, who were then disappeared. Gonzalez and her cellmates were forced to do various types of work, including cooking and cleaning cars, many of which had blood inside, Gonzalez testified in April. They also abused us sexually, Gonzalez testified at the trial, frequently describing instances in which she was raped. Could you refuse? Oberlin asked Gonzalez. No, no, Gonzalez answered with a shrug. It was, I dont know, at the time it was normal. One time, she was picked up and gang-raped by a group of soldiers. When those things happen, you know, I think about other things, she said in her old cell. Although trans women, who largely had to resort to prostitution to make a living, were used to abuse from security forces, things worsened for them during the dictatorship that pushed a traditional conception of the family. In addition to rape and torture, they were subjected to extreme brutality precisely because of their gender identities, Oberlin said. The sentences in the case, which are expected by the end of the year will be very important, notes Oberlin, because trans women were taken to illegal detention centers across the country and it could open the door for others to testify. For her part, Gonzalez said she never thought that she was going to be testifying at a trial. For a long time, she thought that what she had experienced at the Banfield Pit was not important. But now she knows it is important, Gonzalez said. Now that we can talk be listened to when we were always so quiet, she said. Associated Press journalist Victor R. Caivano contributed to this report. The real story behind the creation of Flamin' Hot Cheetos is complicated David Tonelson/Shutterstock Richard Montanez is often credited as the Frito-Lay janitor that came up with the idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Born to a family of Mexican immigrants, Montanez climbed the corporate ladder to become a VP at PepsiCo. Searchlight's new movie "Flamin' Hot" tells the story of how Montanez left his mark on Cheeto history. Richard Montanez was born in Ontario, California, to Mexican immigrant parents. One of 10 siblings, he grew up on a migrant labor camp in southern California. Steve Granitz/Getty Images At one point, his entire family lived in a one-bedroom apartment. Struggling to pick up reading and writing, Montanez ended up dropping out of high school before getting his GED. Source: CNBC Montanez picked up odd jobs to support his family, doing everything from slaughtering chickens to washing cars. In 1976 at the age of 18, he was hired as a Frito-Lay plant janitor in Southern California. Entrance to Frito Lay Distribution Center in California. Smith Collection/Getty Images Source: CNBC According to Montanez, the idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos came to him when a broken assembly machine put out a plain batch of Cheetos without the usual cheddar cheese dust. Montanez claimed he took the batch home and experimented with familiar flavors, eventually adding chili powder inspired by the street vendors in his neighborhood. A bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Fauzan Fitria/Shutterstock After testing it out on his family, he said he decided to bring his new idea to Frito-Lay management. Source: CNBC The company incentivized all employees of any level to bring innovative ideas to management. Montanez claimed he cold-called Frito-Lay CEO Roger Enrico in 1991 about his new chili-flavored Cheeto. Montanez said Enrico then gave him two weeks to come up with a pitch for the other C-suite executives. The new film "Flamin' Hot" explores the life and story of Richard Montanez, the man who claims to have helped bring the Flamin' Hot Cheetos product to life. Searchlight Source: CNBC Montanez quickly brought himself up to speed on marketing and product design by borrowing books from his local library. He said he spent the two weeks developing a marketing strategy and packaging ideas for what would become Flamin' Hot Cheetos. John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images Source: CNBC After a successful presentation, both Montanez's career and the Flamin' Hot Cheeto, took off. PepsiCo executive Richard Montanez accepts the Inspiration Award onstage at the '2014 Latinos De Hoy Awards' Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images Montanez went on to become vice president of multicultural sales and community promotions at PepsiCo as the Flamin' Hot Cheeto became one of the company's most successful products. Source: CNBC Although lauded as a beloved "rags-to-riches" story, Montanez's account has been disputed. According to the Los Angeles Times in 2021, Frito-Lay had already been testing the Flamin' Hot Cheeto by 1989 in Plano, Texas, with little documentation to support Montanez's meeting with Enrico. Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock Montanez refuted the claims by saying, as a janitor, his contributions may not have been prioritized enough to document and that he was unaware of other simultaneous operations going on at the company. Source: Los Angeles Times In a public statement, Frito-Lay did not directly credit the creation of Flamin' Hot products to Montanez, but did attribute "the launch and success of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and other products to several people who worked at PepsiCo, including Richard Montanez." Ryan Miller/Associated Press Source: Variety Since then, Flamin' Hot Cheetos have exploded into a social phenomenon. Guests attend The Flamin Hot Spot, Cheetos new limited-time restaurant with a menu inspired by chef Roy Choi at Madera Kitchen on September 19, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Rachel Murray/Getty Images Inspiring fashion shows, costumes, and new categories of cuisines, the Flamin' Hot Cheeto has become an undeniable icon of American gastronomy. Source: CNBC With the recent release of the "Flamin' Hot" movie, Montanez has become an integral part of the iconic snack's history. David Tonelson/Shutterstock Source: CNBC Read the original article on Insider Lil Waynes daughter, Reginae Carter, took to social media this weekend in a real emotional video pleading for some grace as she navigates ongoing online pressure at 24. The clip is making its rounds on social media, where Carter describes her insistence on staying true to who she is, even as she grew up in the public eye. Growing up, I feel like you guys [have] seen me in different lights, she said. I never hid myself. I never hid who I am. Ive always stayed true to myself. Baby Carter tearfully appealed to people to cut her some slack and understand she is still learning and evolving at 24. You guys have seen me clap back, youve seen the spoiled brat side, youve seen all of this, Carter continued. And I want yall to give me some grace and to understand that I am learning; I am only 24 years old. The Louisiana rapper further expressed that the worlds pressure on the younger generation demands we put too much on ourselves. Child, Im strong as hell, but like, sometimes this world puts too much onour generation and whats going on, Carter said. We want to be the biggest and have the most money andhave everything all figured out in our 20s, bro, she explained. Its just not gonna happen; it dont go like that. Carter then condemned the judgment shes received, especially from older folks, and again reiterated she is still learning, but more importantly: We gotta start helping each other. I have literally people thats older than me judging me on what I do when its, like, reach out a hand, she said. Carter regularly takes to Twitter to inspire fans to do you! Make sure you make yourself happy! Make sure you do everything you want! Do not be trying to please these people because they will love you today and hate you tomorrow! Trust me, I see it too often, she said in one tweet, indirectly addressing her critics. Make sure you make yourself happy ! Make sure you do everything you want ! Do not be trying to please these people because they will love you today and hate you tomorrow! Trust me I see it too often . Do you! God has the last say so . Love me (@reginae_carter1) June 10, 2023 Like many stars her age, its true that online pressure can take its toll. We can only hope that people heed her message and provide her with that much-needed grace. On May 18, the University of Rhode Island conducted a commissioning ceremony for its newest group of ROTC cadets. One of those newly minted officers is 2nd Lt. Chantel Rosario de Los Santos. She knew she wanted to go to college. By the time she was a junior at Classical High School in Providence, she also knew she would have to find a way to pay for it. A conversation with an Army National Guard recruiter showed her a path forward. It was called the Simultaneous Membership Program, or SMP. It provided a tuition waiver at a state college for any student who joined the Guard or Reserve and also participated in ROTC. After training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, she began her studies at the University of Rhode Island in January 2019. She still drilled one weekend per month and two weeks during the summer with her Guard unit, but she was on her way to a college degree and a commission in the Army. The payback was a six-year military commitment. Im fine with that, and am looking forward to it, Rosario de Los Santos told me. Im getting an education, building career benefits, and I see how I can take care of my family. 2nd Lt. Chantel Rosario de Los Santos, right, receives her first salute from Marine Sgt. Tracy Santos, president of the URI Student Veteran Organization. (Following tradition, Rosario de Los Santos gave Santos a silver dollar after the first salute.) Lt. Col. Tad Granai, professor of military science at URI, speaks very highly of the SMP program. As a state school, SMP is extremely valuable for URI, he said. Its a tuition-waiver program that allows graduating cadets to serve anywhere in the Army. Theres also the Minuteman Program, which provides ROTC scholarships, but that requires graduates to serve specifically in the R.I. Guard. In early 2020, Rosario de Los Santos was called to full-time active duty during Rhode Islands COVID-19 emergency. That meant 12-hour overnight shifts as an MP working with the state police on highway patrol stopping cars entering the state to help enforce quarantine restrictions. The schedule was grueling. It was surreal," she said. "We had masks on, with loaded weapons, tasers and pepper spray on our belts. People were a little freaked out. Then Id have to go home and try to get some sleep while everyone else was getting up to go to work or school. In late March 2020, a member of the Rhode Island National Guard stops a car with New York plates at a Westerly rest stop to help enforce the state's COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. Fortunately, the change to online classes made it possible for Rosario de Los Santos to keep up with her studies while on active duty. After switching to a day shift, she would take classes in her vehicle while working security outside testing centers. She was happy to return to campus and to a sense of normalcy in the fall of 2021. She declared her major in kinesiology and entered URIs Accelerated Bachelor's to Masters Program. She is on track to attain her master's degree in kinesiology in May 2024. She is transferring to the Massachusetts National Guard in order to fill an open billet in the Quartermaster Corps, her chosen branch. Proudly Serving Our Nation: May culminates with Memorial Day commemoration and graduations Cadets commissioned on May 18 Here is a list of her classmates, along with their college affiliation: 2nd Lieutenants Jack Lambros (Roger Williams); Jack Eustis (URI); Joseph Morrissey (Salve Regina); Patrick Lane (Roger Williams); Megan Brigham (URI); Katie Bzowyckyj (URI); James Koester (Salve Regina); Christian Ditusa (URI); David Falano (URI); and Madison Christiana (URI). Lt. Col. Tad Granai, center, with URIs commissioning class of 2023: From left, 2nd Lieutenants Jack Eustis, Madison Christiana, Katie Bzowyckyj, Megan Brigham, James Koester, James Morrissey, Patrick Lane, Chantel Rosario de Los Santos, David Falano and Christian Ditusa. Three more cadets will be commissioned as part of this class after graduating from Cadet Summer Training this year. They are soon-to-be 2nd Lieutenants Isabella Rosado (Roger Williams); Jake Bernard (Roger Williams) and Delaney Fisher (URI). Lane is also a Distinguished Military Graduate, ranking in the top 10% of cadets nationwide. Brigham earned the Top Notch Soldier award, given to a graduating cadet who has demonstrated military excellence. The battalion held a ceremony on April 20, giving out some 40 awards. In addition to Lane and Brigham, recipients included Jack Eustis, Joseph Morrissey, William Schanck Jr., Katherine Bzowyckyj, Isabelle Rosado, Christian DiTusa and Madison Christiana. History of military training at URI Military instruction at URI dates back to 1894, two years after the school's formal establishment and six years after it began agricultural classes at a local farm. After the program's iffy existence for a few years, the school finally received enough money from the legislature to expand to a four-year curriculum in 1892. Military training at civilian colleges began with the passage of the Morrill Act (more familiarly known as the Land Grant Act) in 1862. During the Civil War, the Union Army was caught flat-footed when many of its best-trained and most capable officers elected to serve the Confederacy. That should have been no surprise; the Southern states had always provided much of the professional officer corps. Scrambling, Congress voted to provide free land for civilian colleges that agreed to offer compulsory military instruction. URI is one of the beneficiaries of that program, although it took a few decades to get there. Military training begins in 1894 Capt. William W. Wotherspoon, in a photo likely taken during the Indian Wars. As URIs first professor of military science, he was clearly well regarded by his cadets; the 1898 yearbook was dedicated to him. He was well thought of by the Army as well; he later commanded the Army War College and served as chief of staff of the Army until his retirement in 1914. In September 1894, 44-year-old Capt. William W. Wotherspoon arrived to become the schools first professor of military science. He was commissioned in 1873 and had fought in the Indian Wars. Military drill and tactics immediately became required of all male students. World War I brings about changes In 1916, the "land-grant" system of military training was absorbed into several other programs, including the present-day ROTC. The first university to establish an ROTC program was Harvard; Brown followed shortly thereafter. In 1918, all ROTC units were suspended in favor of a short-lived program called the Student Army Training Corps, under which draftees were allowed to defer active duty as long as they were enrolled in college. Rhode Island State College also hosted a SATC program. In 1920, it was redesignated as an ROTC unit. Since then, URI can credibly claim to be the most consistent and productive ROTC program in the state. For more information about the Simultaneous Membership Program, please visit nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program. For details about Minuteman Scholarships, go to nationalguard.com/tools/guard-scholarships. For information specific to Rhode Island, reach out to the recruiting superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Susy Reyes, at (401) 639-2568, or email virgen.reyes@us.af.mil Announcement On Flag Day, Wednesday, June 14, at 2 p.m. in the Bell Room on the first floor of the State House, Rep. Camille F.J. Vella-Wilkinson, D-Warwick, will host an event beginning a series of briefings to inform veterans of their benefits under the federal Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act, which greatly expands eligibility for Veterans Administration health care to veterans who have health problems due to exposure to toxins ranging from burn pits to Agent Orange. All veterans and family members are welcome. To report the outcome of a previous activity, or to add a future event to our calendar, please email the details (including a contact name and phone number/email address) to veteranscolumn@providencejournal.com. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: URI's ROTC graduates worked on the front lines of the COVID pandemic Trinity County sheriff logo Trinity County officials have agreed to pay $7 million to a couple that was seriously injured in a knife attack after a sheriffs deputy asked them to check on their neighbor and they came upon the scene of a double homicide. In their federal civil lawsuit against the county, James and Norma Gund of Kettenpom maintained sheriffs Cpl. Ronald Whitman misled them into believing their neighbor might be having a weather-related problem at her home and told them to go to the woman's house to see if she needed help. The Gunds were not told by Whitman that their neighbor was likely in danger, according to their lawyer, Benjamin Mainzer. On the contrary, the Gunds alleged Whitman withheld from them key facts about the call that had been previously communicated to him, including facts that pointed to a dangerous and likely violent incident underway. But the Gunds trusted that they were being told the truth and went to check on their neighbor, unconcerned for their safety, Mainzer said. This settlement makes clear that what the county did to the Gunds was reprehensible, Mainzer said. "The Gunds will be dealing with the consequences of the attack for the rest of their lives." Trinity County Counsel Margaret E. Long said the county disputes that the Gunds were asked to enter their neighbors cabin, but instead were asked to merely view their neighbors house from their own adjoining property and look for any strange vehicles at the womans house. However, the county recognizes that these longstanding members of our Trinity County community suffered a horrific attack with significant injuries. Accordingly, we believed it to be in everyones best interests to bring this lengthy litigation to a constructive conclusion, Long said. In 2020, the California Supreme Court it was immaterial whether Trinity County sheriff's officials withheld information from the Gunds. The Supreme Court also ruled the couple could collect state worker's compensation benefits because a sheriff's deputy had enlisted their help in the case, in effect making them law enforcement officers. State Supreme Court rules against couple The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of Trinity County in a case where a couple was attacked after a sheriff's office corporal allegedly asked the couple to check on a neighbor. The dispute in the case came down to whether Whitman asked the Gunds to look from their own property to see what was happening at their neighbors house or if he asked them to go to the neighbor's house to investigate. According to court documents and Record Searchlight archives, here is what happened: On March 13, 2011, the Gunds' neighbor Kristine Constantino called 911 and whispered "Help me" into the phone. The message was forwarded to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office. Whitman knew the Gunds lived near Constantino in the remote southern Trinity County community of Kettenpom and asked them to check on her. At the time of the incident, Norma Gund was 49-years-old and James Gund was 59. There had been a massive snow and wind storm the day of the 911 call and Whitman was more than two hours away in Weaverville. Whitman mentioned the impending arrival of a major storm and allegedly told the Gunds this must be what this is all about and its probably no big deal, according to the court documents. Bruce Haney, who was the sheriff at the time, denied the Gunds' allegations that Whitman told them to go to their neighbor's home, saying that although an employee did call the Gunds, he had only asked if they could see what was going on at Constantino's home from their house. Haney said the Gunds were told to stay put and wait for help. Couple allege deputy withheld information The Gunds allege Whitman never told them that just minutes earlier Constantino had called 911 "whispering help, help, over and over again." The 911 dispatcher did not want to call Constantino back for more information because she felt Constantino was whispering to prevent someone from overhearing the phone conversation, according to court documents. More: Shasta County still fighting to keep Magrini documents secret, despite judge's ruling When the couple arrived at Constantino's house, Norma Gund went into the house and found a grisly scene. There was blood all over the cabin, Mainzer said in a statement. Two bodies were lying on the floor and it appeared both of them had been bound and tortured, Mainzer said. When she entered the house, Norma Gund was attacked by a man who slashed her throat with a knife and zapped her with a stun gun. James Gund heard the commotion and went into the cabin after her. The man turned on him, zapped him and attacked him with the knife. Both Gunds were able to eventually break free and drive to a nearby store and call for help. Sheriff's deputies arrived to find Tomas Gouverneur had fatally stabbed Constantino, 33, and 26-year-old Christopher Richardson of Blodgett, Oregon. Norma Gund spent several days at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento recovering from her wounds. James Gund was treated and released from the hospital. Gouverneur, 32, of Corvallis, Oregon, died later that day in a car crash after a police chase on Highway 101 in Mendocino County. Attorney says sheriff's officials previously used civilians Mainzer said that what happened with the Gunds was not an isolated incident and that Trinity County has a history of placing civilians in danger. In 1997, the sheriffs office asked Carole Laag to act as a negotiator after her neighbor, Haskell Hall, had barricaded himself in his trailer in Weaverville. When Laag entered the trailer, Hall stabbed and killed her. After the stabbing, two deputies shot Hall five times. He died five days later at Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Mainzer said the sheriffs office admitted it had no evidence that it had implemented any policy changes following the Laag incident. More: 'Horrific': California Supreme Court rules against couple in Trinity County slashing After filing the lawsuit against Trinity County, another woman, Deena McGaughey, contacted Mainzer to tell him that back in 2008 sheriffs deputies used a nearby resident as a decoy to distract a neighbor who had been shooting in the direction of her home. McGaughey said the responding deputy sheriff arranged for a nearby resident to dress up in camouflage clothing and run across McGaugheys property in one direction so that he could search the property from another direction. It was McGaugheys understanding that the deputy believed by doing this it would throw off the shooter and allow the deputy to better locate the shooter, Mainzer said in his statement. Mainzer said during the discovery phase of the lawsuit Trinity County acknowledged that all records related to the McGaughey incident were destroyed. Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today! This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Trinity County pays $7 million to couple stabbed in knife attacks Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP The San Francisco lawyer Harmeet Dhillon is a fixture on Fox News who has garnered support from the likes of Matt Gaetz, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham; she also helms a non-profit that appears to have directed more than $1m into her law firm, Dhillon Law Group. Dhillon most recently made headlines when she signed on to represent Carlson in a gender discrimination lawsuit he and Fox News face from former producer Abby Grossberg. She also acted as an attorney for Donald Trump and former Project Veritas head James OKeefe, who in 2021 sued Twitter for banning him. Last November, Dhillon was able to mount a serious challenge to Ronna McDaniel for chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Archived snapshots of her campaigns official website touted endorsements from elected officials such as Gaetz and conservative media figures such as Carlson, Ingraham and Jack Posobiec. Related: Tucker Carlson lawyer hits back at Fox News claim of contract breach Her growing profile proved a huge advantage. Since becoming an RNC committeewoman for California in 2016, she made hundreds of appearances in conservative media, predominantly Fox News. From 2019, these appearances were often based on lawsuits sponsored by that non-profit she helms, the Center for American Liberty (CAL), and aimed at rightwing bugbears like Covid restrictions, leftist street protesters and gender-affirming healthcare. The Guardian has found that at least $1.32m has been transferred from the CAL to her law firm, Dhillon Law Group, in a move one charity expert described as problematic. Additionally, state and federal filings show Dhillon takes a $120,000 salary from CAL for a two-hour work week. Meanwhile, the non-profit has entered into a close relationship with a well-heeled rightwing foundation whose financial generosity has been matched by a seat on the non-profits board. CAL was founded in 2018, initially under the name Publius Lex, by California lawyers with extensive connections to Republican politics and rightwing legal organizations, according to state and federal filings. All of the founding members are still officers: president Jason Clark; treasurer Lee Cheng; secretary Christopher Hage; with Dhillon as CEO. A fifth founding member, Christopher Marston, is a Virginia-based Republican lawyer whose work includes non-profit compliance and who is listed as an officer for a wide array of organizations. Publius Lex received little public attention until mid-2019, when Dhillon offered full-throated support to Andy Ngo, the far-right media performer and provocateur who was filmed being punched and doused with milkshakes in downtown Portland that June. Ngos alleged assault became the focus of intense coverage in rightwing media: Dhillon either accompanied Ngo or was billed as his representative in eight appearances on Fox News alone in the following two months. This helped cement Dhillon as a Fox News regular. In the three years following her 2016 debut on the network, she appeared as a guest on the network 70 times. In the three years beginning in 2019, the year she began advocating for Ngo, she appeared on Fox News 200 times, according to broadcast transcripts published by Nexis. She appeared most often on Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle. Days after Ngos assault, on 5 July 2019, Dhillon in effect relaunched the non-profit in a Twitter thread, writing that the first cause Publius Lex will take up will be to advocate legally for Mr Andy Ngo, a journalist viciously assaulted in Portland by Antifa thugs and directing supporters to a since-deleted crowdfunding page for Ngos legal expenses on the Publius Lex website. That crowdfunding effort was successful: it shows up as a donor-restricted asset of $104,380 in the organizations 2019 tax return, the first filed under its current name, CAL. But another single-donor contribution of $500,000 contributed far more to CALs 2019 haul of over $690,000, a figure more than 20 times what they had raised in their first year. In CALs published returns, the identity of that donor is redacted, but a separate tax return from the Adolph Coors Foundation that year reveals a grant of $500,000 to Publius Lex, which was among the foundations largest grants to any single recipient that year. The Coors Foundation was established in 1975 by the heirs of the Colorado brewing magnate Adolph Coors II, and it has continued that familys history of supporting rightwing causes. The foundation and the spinoff Castle Rock Foundation which operated between 1994 and 2011 have given significant funding over decades to rightwing activist organizations including the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), the State Policy Network and the Federalist Society, along with donations to community groups in Colorado. On its website, the foundation says its aim is to educate Americans about the wisdom of the free enterprise system, traditional Judeo-Christian values and the rule of law. The half-million donation in 2019 was just the start of the Coors Foundations largesse. Subsequent IRS filings indicate a $400,000 grant to CAL in 2020; $300,000 in 2021; and a 2022 filing published this week by ProPublicas Nonprofit Explorer shows a further $200,000 contribution. The running total of $1.4m is a significant chunk of the $7m lifetime income CAL reported as of 2021. By 2020, according to CAL filings, the Coors Foundation chief executive, Carrie Coors, Tynan the great-granddaughter of Adolph Coors II had a seat on an expanded CAL board. The Guardian emailed detailed requests for comment to Carrie Coors Tynan, Harmeet Dhillon, and the board president, Jason Clark. None responded directly, but CALs executive director, Mark Trammell, emailed a response to the questions sent to Dhillon. On Tynans board seat, Trammell wrote: All board members are subject to the organizations conflict of interest policy, and there is no conflict of interest in having the CEO of a grantmaking foundation that supports an organization also serve on its board. Rather, it is both ethical and a best practice for board members to also financially support their nonprofits, Trammell continued. Non-profits must distinguish between program expenses those made in pursuit of its mission and expenses incurred by fundraising efforts and administration costs. Legal fees are a program expense for CAL, as is executive compensation. In 2020, Dhillon Law was listed as the largest single contractor in CALs 990 IRS filing, receiving $814,714 in legal fees, which was over 45% of all program expenses that year, and 30% of its total expenses of almost $2.8m. In 2021, Dhillon Law received $507,469 in fees from CAL, making it the second highest earning contractor. Dhillon began receiving a $120,000 annual salary without increasing her two-hour weekly commitment to the organization, according to that years 990 filing. Together, then, Dhillon and her law firm were taking just over 37% of CALs program expenses that year. On Dhillons weekly time commitment as reported to the IRS, Trammel wrote that the 2021 Form 990 should show Ms Dhillon working 40 hours per week. That correction will be made shortly through an Amended Form 990. Trammell added that CAL is governed by a Board of Directors, and Ms Dhillons compensation is set by disinterested board members. Ms Dhillon has no control over what salary the board pays her for her extensive CEO services, and the board has the authority to hire or fire the chief executive officer position. Dhillons position as CEO in a non-profit whose biggest contractor is Dhillon Law Group is a conflict of interest, according to Joan Harrington, a fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at the Santa Clara University, and an expert on non-profit law and ethics. Harrington added that non-profits can navigate this, and that the board can accept conflicts of interest if they are brought to the boards attention annually. But another ethical problem the board cant fix, Harrington said, is the issue of compensation. Several sources, including Charity Navigators 2016 CEO compensation study, put the amount of Dhillons annual salary roughly in line with expectations for the organizations fundraising. Harrington said non-profit boards can also approve high salaries, and so avoid tripping IRS rules about excessive compensation. With her law firm being paid so much by CAL, Harrington said, and the law firms own financials hidden from public view, we dont know all the ways she is being compensated as CEO. Trammell, the executive director, wrote on the extensive use of Dhillon Law that the organizations day-to-day legal operations are managed by me, its executive director, adding, I select the law firms the Center for American Liberty partners with on its public interest litigation. Trammell also wrote: We select law firms based on their expertise, geographical location, and interest in representing our clients at nonprofit legal rates. But Harrington added that transparency protects donors, and this is not a transparent situation. With Dhillon acting as CEO and legal contractor, running cases sponsored by the non-profit, and making Fox News appearances in both guises, Harrington said: It looks like Dhillon Law and the non-profit are overlapping to the extent that its hard to tell the difference. The headline and standfirst were amended on 20 June 2023 to better reflect the text of the article. An earlier version included reference to Harmeet Dhillon taking a $120,000 salary for a two-hour week; while these figures are reported from official filings, the article also notes a representative for CAL saying there was an error in the 2021 Form 990 and that it would shortly be corrected to show Dhillon working a 40-hour week. Coptic Solidarity's 11th Annual Conference on June 15-16 to Focus on Indigenous Rights of Egypt's Copts NEWS PROVIDED BY Coptic Solidarity June 12, 2023 WASHINGTON, June 12, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Coptic Solidarity will host its 11th Annual Conference The Indigenous Copts: Past Denied and Future Unknown in Washington, DC this week. The event is open to the public and media with online registration required. The conference additionally sheds light on the broader situation for minorities throughout the Middle East and North Africa region with guest speakers and survivors from a variety of countries throughout the region, including a recently escaped Sudanese Copt. The Policy Day will be hosted on June 15th in the US Capitol Visitor Center, Room 201 from 9AM 5PM and will feature legislators, academics, and policy experts to share their views and recommendations to provide achieve equal citizenship rights for Copts and other minorities in Egypt. On June 16th, the conference will be continued at the Courtyard by Marriott Pentagon South from 9AM 4PM. Coptic Solidarity's president, Mrs. Caroline Doss, states: "While many other conflicts worldwide have absorbed media attention, this is a critical opportunity to shine a light on the systematic oppression and discrimination imposed on Copts by the Egyptian government and society. Confirmed speakers include: Frank Wolf - Commissioner, US Commission on International Religious Freedom Mariah Mercer - Deputy Director, Office of International Religious Freedom State Department Habib Afram - President of the Syriac League Ahed Al Hendi - Founder, Syrian Youth for Justice Hayvi Bouzo - Broadcast Journalist, Co-Founder of Yalla P and Host of the Yalla Show Nathan J. Brown, Ph.D. -Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Ann Buwalda, J.D. - Executive Director, Jubilee Campaign USA Robert A. Destro, J.D. - Professor of Law - Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America Caroline Doss, J.D. -President, Coptic Solidarity Mohamed Gohar - Founder of 25TV who hid 17 Copts in his office building during the Maspero Massacre Adel Guindy - Founding President of Coptic Solidarity & Author of A Sword Over the Nile: A Brief History of the Copts Under Islamic Rule Amy Hawthorne - Deputy Director for Research, Project on Middle East Democracy Mariam Ibraheem - Co-Founder & Director of Global Mobilization, Tahrir Alnisa Foundation; Former Sudanese prisoner of conscience Raymond Ibrahim - Author, Public Speaker, and Middle East and Islam specialist Bashar Jarrar - Political Analyst, Commentator, & Media Consultant Jeff King - President, International Christian Concern Sherif Mansour - Middle East Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists Paul Marshall, Ph.D. - Senior Fellow Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom; Wilson Distinguished Professor of Religious Freedom at the Institute for Studies of Religion; Director - Religious Freedom Institute's South and Southeast Asia Action Team Sean Nelson, J.D. -Legal Counsel Global Religious Freedom, ADF International Simisola Okai - Activist, TV Producer & Author of I Want to Be a Mommy When I Grow Up: Lessons of Faith and Hope Aimar Raheema - Christians Without Home Lindsay Rodriguez - Director of Development & Advocacy, Coptic Solidarity David Schenker - Director, Program on Arab Politics, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Gregory Stanton, Ph.D. - Founder & President, Genocide Watch Raouf Zaki - Writer, Producer, Director at RA Vision Productions, Inc Unamed Sudanse Coptic Witness will share firsthand testimony and about recent escape to the US In April, Coptic Solidarity published a new report titled The Coptic Identity: Recognizing the Coptic Indigenous Peoples Status for Protection from State-Sponsored Discrimination, which was presented to the UN Special Rapporteur for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to 8 United Nations Country Missions in New York City during the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights. The report explains why Copts qualify and should be recognized as an indigenous minority and contends that Egypt's Copts merit additional protection for their persons, and for cultural, linguistic, and historical protection beneath a variety of United Nations Charters and Agreements. The 11th Annual Conference will be a continued exploration of that theme and seeking possible solutions. Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts of Egypt. We support those in Egypt working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens, and advocate in cooperation with the affiliated organizations in Canada and in Europe (Solidarite Copte). For more information, contact Lindsay Rodriguez at 801-512-1713 or coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org SOURCE Coptic Solidarity CONTACT: Lindsay Rodriguez, 801-512-1713, coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org BEIRUT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Monday appealed to the United Nations to help cover the electricity expenses of Syrian and Palestinian refugees living in the country. "The cost of electricity consumed by refugees ... must be paid through electricity tariff," caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad was quoted by National News Agency as saying after he met with UN agencies. Fayyad said he agreed during the meeting to form two technical committees, with the first to deal with the electricity consumptions in Syrian camps and the second in Palestinian camps. "We cannot allow this issue to disturb the financial balance of Lebanon's state power company, which was on the brink of collapse," he noted. The lack of electricity in Lebanon has been a chronic problem and cost the treasury over 40 percent of its sovereign debt. The electricity problem was exacerbated in the past three years by the country's financial crisis, as the shortage of U.S. dollars limits its fuel imports needed for the operation of existing power stations. Lebanese authorities have been trying to secure a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland as the cost of their presence in Lebanon is estimated at around 6 billion dollars per year instead of the 3 billion dollars assessed by the World Bank in 2013, according to Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib in an interview in May. One person dead and 11 injured after tour boat capsizes in New York cave All 36 passengers reportedly accounted for after tour boat capsized in Lockport caves in New York (WBEN NewsRadio) A tour boat capsized inside a New York cave 20 miles from Niagara Falls. Lockport Mayor Michelle Roman said during a press conference that one person was killed during the accident, according to Spectrum News. Twenty-eight passengers and one staff member were on board the Lockport Cave & Underground tour boat when it capsized in the cave at around 11.45am on Monday morning. Multiple agencies were called to the scene to search for the passengers. By 12.30pm, all passengers on board had been pulled from the water, reported BNO News. Crews are working to assist all parties safely out of the area. This incident is still ongoing, LPD said in a statement. Law enforcement officials told The Niagara Gazette that a tour group was making its way through the cave when weight seemingly shifted on the boat, causing it to capsize. All of the passengers ended up in the water with the boat on top of them. Four adults were being treated by Eastern Niagara Health System, with none believed to be in a critical condition, according to ABC News. Lockport Cave is a half-mile-long manmade tunnel created in the 19th century with the original purpose of transporting water from the Erie Canal to the nearby Holly Manufacturing Company to power the plant. In the 1970s, it was turned into an attraction offering thrilling underground boat rides to tourists. According to the New York Upstate website, the water in the caves is around two to four feet in depth. Lockport is a city of approximately 21,000 residents in Niagara County, New York, and is located around 20 miles northeast of Buffalo. One dead, several hospitalized after boat capsizes touring Lockport caves in New York One person died and several were hospitalized Monday after a boat capsized during a cave tour in Lockport, New York, authorities said. Lockport police and fire departments responded to the scene about 20 miles northeast of Niagara Falls at around 11:30 a.m. after the flat-bottom tour boat apparently became unbalanced and overturned, killing a man who got trapped underneath, officials said. All 29 people on board 28 passengers and a tour employee were flung into water 5-6 feet deep toward the end of the ride in a tunnel, Lockport Fire Chief Luca Quagliano said at a news conference. The name of the man who died was not released. Officials said his wife was one of 11 people taken to local hospitals, mostly with minor injuries. The tours take visitors on an underground boat ride illuminated only by small lights. What happened on the boat tour? The boat did a 180-degree turn, so the bottom of the boat was upright in the water, Quagliano said. A number of victims were on top of that boat initially when rescuers got to them. Quagliano said 16 passengers were rescued by crews with an inflatable boat, while others reached safety on their own. The water in the caves is super cold, said Jeremy Swiatowy, 42, who watched as rescue workers breached the wall to the tunnel with a sledgehammer before squeezing through the hole to reach people inside. Seven people were treated at the Eastern Niagara Hospital emergency room, spokesperson Patricia Kingston-Brandt said, adding later that six were discharged and the other one would be released in the evening. This photo provided by Jeremy Swiatowy shows rescue workers as they breach a wall with a sledgehammer June 12, 2023, before going through the hole to help rescue people stuck inside the caves in Lockport, N.Y. "It's a very confined area, and any time a boat is capsized I can imagine there would be some related injuries," Kingston-Brandt said. Nearby streets were closed to make room for rescue vehicles and crews. Video footage from the scene outside the Lockport Cave office showed one person talking as she was loaded onto an ambulance. Others wrapped in white towels were being escorted to a bus as a steady rain fell. The tunnel was blasted out in the 19th century to transport extra water from the Erie Canal to power nearby businesses. Who was on the boat? All of the passengers were hospitality employees from across Niagara County, according to Andrea Czopp, chief operating officer at Destination Niagara USA. The agency organized the outing as part of a familiarization tour, she said. Nobody on board had a life preserver, authorities said. It was unclear whether they were required or offered. Lockport Mayor Michelle Roman said tours on the motorboats have operated since the mid-1970s without incident. What do you see on the tours? A website advertising a "Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride" describes the experience as a 75-minute historic guided walking tour along the Erie Canal, located a 30-minute drive from Niagara Falls or Buffalo. Images of the tour show a small engine-powered boat in a dimly lit underground cave. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lockport is a city of about 21,000 residents in Niagara County, New York, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It is located about 20 miles northeast of Buffalo. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In Lockport, New York capsized boat leaves 1 dead, several in hospital Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian flag in Blagodatny, June 11, 2023 "The village of Blahodatne was liberated by the soldiers of the 68th separate Oleksa Dovbush Ranger Brigade during an offensive in cooperation with neighboring units of the Tauride Defense Forces," Shershen said. Read also: Ukrainian troops advance in Tavria area, enemy grows anxious and sabotages dams The very first assault group aimed at seizing the village club, where the enemy had well-equipped and fortified positions. It included the deputy commander of the brigade. The representative of the Defense Forces noted that the enemy troops " resisted fiercely." He also said that during the liberation of Blahodatne, Russian soldiers and militants from the "DPR Ministry of Internal Affairs" were captured. (The locals) were waiting for liberation of the ruined village," said Shershen. Read also: Ukrainian army makes advances at the front near Svatove and the Ivanivskyi Forest After the fighting stopped, people came out of their cellars and greeted their liberators. It was a very touching moment that inspires and creates motivation to move forward. This is literally the direct speech of our fighters who liberated this village. The Ukrainian flag over the village club was installed by a fighter with the callsign Olympus. ... The enemy has significant losses in the area of Blahodatne and further forward. In addition to the Russian military and "LPR" militants, the occupied territories in this area are being defended from Ukraine's offensive by Storm-Z units recruited from former prisoners, Shershen noted. Read also: Ukrainian military announces liberation of Novodarivka Earlier on national television, the spokesman reported that during the de-occupation operation in Blahodatne, six Russian soldiers were captured. "The invaders resisted to the last," Shershen said. Our soldiers used some ingenuity, made a hole in the wall of the club with a grenade launcher, entered through it, and then began to clear it. We surrounded several enemies, suggested they surrender, but they refused. The school was liberated at the same time. Blahodatne's liberation was reported on June 11. 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 With a conservative U.S. Supreme Court widely expected to overturn race-conscious admissions in higher education, attention in the education community has already shifted to what happens next. One likely effect is obvious. There is going to be some closing of doors, said Halley Potter, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank. Its going to be a landscape in which its harder to secure access in most competitive schools. But further down the line, a ruling against schools that factor race in admissions could affect a host of other academic mainstays, from scholarships to the centrality of tests like the SAT and ACT. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The ruling might not end diversity efforts outright. Granting preferential admission to low-income students, children of single parents or those from communities where students often dont go to college could achieve similar results, experts say, without courting legal trouble. Most Americans dont want race used in admissions, but Americans do want selective institutions to be racially diverse, said Richard Kahlenberg, a non-resident scholar at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy, and an expert on integration. He thinks the courts decision could reflect that paradox. They dont want to be seen as simply dismissive of the aspiration of racial diversity. The court is expected to issue decisions in two lawsuits brought by Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina later this month. The plaintiff in both cases argues that the weight universities place on race in admissions violates anti-discrimination laws and puts Asian American students at a disadvantage. Related Skeptical Supreme Court Asks: Do Race-Conscious Admissions Have an Endpoint? Next generation While the cases dont deal directly with K-12 schools, the high courts decision could elevate the importance of a recent lower court ruling rejecting a legal challenge to diversity efforts at an elite Virginia high school. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., removed a rigorous admissions test and a $100 application fee, and reserved seats at the school for the top 1.5% of 8th graders in each middle school. Coalition for TJ, the plaintiff in the case, called the revised admissions criteria discriminatory against Asian American students. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that view. The policy challenged here is not just race-neutral: It is race blind, Fourth Circuit of Appeals Judge Toby Heytens wrote in the May 23 opinion. The conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, which represents the plaintiffs, said board members desire to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students at the school motivated the new policy. They plan to ask the Supreme Court to hear the lawsuit. Related 4th Circuit Weighs Whether Elite Va. School Discriminates Against Asians Kahlenberg, who testified on behalf of Students for Fair Admissions about race-neutral alternatives, called the TJ case a next generation issue. If the Supreme Court rules that universities can no longer ask applicants to identify their race, they might see the Fairfax case as a chance to spell out in further detail the line between what is acceptable and unacceptable, he said. I think the answer will be that the TJ program is perfectly fine. Formative experiences The college admissions industry, meanwhile, has been preparing for the end of affirmative action for months. Beginning in August, for example, colleges can hide a students race if its included in the Common App, a uniform application for undergraduate admissions accepted at more than 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Counselors advised institutions earlier this year to review all of their policies and practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to examine any area, such as mission statements and recruitment efforts, where race is a factor no matter how minor to determine if changes are needed. Organizations that focus on high school graduation and college enrollment say they plan to continue to identify students who would be the first in their families to attend college, regardless of race. In some ways for us, it will be business as usual to serve underserved students. Thats been really the heart of our work long before this became a hot-button issue, said Pam Johnson Davis, director of fellow support for OneGoal, a nonprofit that works in eight states to increase graduation and college enrollment rates. Eighty-six percent of the students served by the organization are Black or Hispanic. She supports 400 fellows in the Chicago area who are already in college or another postsecondary program. If students are barred from bringing up their race even in their admissions essays a hypothetical scenario that came up during Supreme Court oral arguments teachers at OneGoal schools would still encourage students to write about barriers they overcame to pursue education, Davis said. Pam Johnson Davis, left, director of fellow support for OneGoal, greeted students at the organizations 15th Anniversary Gala in Chicago in May. (OneGoal) Facing discrimination, raising younger siblings, translating for parents who dont speak English these are really formative experiences in students lives, she said. Their stories will be shaped by their cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Stephen Barker, a spokesman for the organization, added that opportunities for Black and Hispanic high school students to earn college credit could become more important for colleges and universities if the court strikes down affirmative action in admissions. Related Court Documents: Racial Preferences Massively Boost Black, Hispanic Applicants Institutions need to double down on those partnerships [with districts] if they want to keep that diversity going in a race-neutral way, he said. But he said its hard to predict what importance universities might place on other aspects of a students application, including GPAs, honors classes, and SAT and Advanced Placement exam scores if race no longer factors into the equation. The potential end of affirmative action in admissions could further accelerate a growing movement away from requiring the SAT or ACT for admission, with some researchers and advocates for educational equity arguing the tests are biased against Black and Hispanic students and reinforce racial inequities. According to FairTest, an advocacy group, 1,900 institutions are now test-optional or dont even accept the exams. But others say that criticism of the tests is misguided and that they still serve as a good predictor of how well students will perform in college. Adam Tyner, national research director at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative think tank, said the tests are deeply vetted to remove content that might disadvantage minority students. GPAs, he added, are less controversial, but large racial gaps remain. Related Experts Expect K-12 Ripple Effects as Supreme Court Considers Race in Admissions He doesnt think the test-optional trend is only about removing barriers for Black and Hispanic applicants. Admissions officers may have other motivations, he said. Either [universities]think that the exams arent so important or they, for financial reasons, desire an excuse for admitting more affluent students with less academic preparation, he said. With or without admissions exams, the end of race-conscious admissions would put more pressure on K-12 counselors serving Black and Hispanic students, Kahlenberg said. For years, the [private] prep school kids have had the upper hand. There are fewer students per counselor and they can put time into writing impressive letters [of recommendation], he said. Heres an opportunity for public school counselors to paint a picture of students who have done remarkably well despite the barriers. Russia has not confirmed that transfer of Ukrainian POWs to Hungary, says HUR Andrii Yusov Read also: Ukrainians not being released from prisons in Belarus even after their term ends The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has considered this question with representatives of the aggressor state responsible for issues of (prisoner) transfers, he said. Currently, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation have not confirmed the transfer of any Ukrainian citizens and the implementation of the project mentioned by both media and Hungarian officials. Yusov was responding to a June 8 announcement by the Russian Orthodox Church that it had transferred a number of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war to Hungary, though the ROC did not specify the number of POWs allegedly transferred. Following the ROCs announcement, Hungarian vice prime minister Zsolt Semjen confirmed that Hungary had received 11 Ukrainian POWs from Russia. Read also: Kyiv Oblast council calls on parliament to legally ban Russian Orthodox Church According to Yusov, the Center does have information that the Hungarian government had requested the transfer of 13 prisoners-of-war to their custody. However, there is no confirmation on how many, if any, of those 13 were transferred, who was transferred, and the fate of these POWs, he added, speculating that the transfer may have been unofficial using alternate channels involving the ROC. Read also: Putin allows deportations in occupied territories, in breach of Geneva conventions This is absolutely going to been considered in the scope of a goal-oriented informational-psychological operation from the side of the aggressor state and the ROC, with violations of the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law, he explained. Unfortunately, this (scheme) uses a number of international organizations and representatives. 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 Russians plan to use coastal missile systems to attack Ukrainian cities The systems belong to the 11th separate coastal missile and artillery brigade of the Black Sea Fleet coastal forces located in Utash, Krasnodar Krai, the agency said. Read also: Third drone attack on oil refinery in Russias Krasnodar Krai reported this month The main purpose of this brigade is to destroy ships, the report says. However, due to the lack of suitable missiles, the Bal was equaled in terms of range and the ability to fire at land targets with the Bastion anti-aircraft missile defense system, which uses the Oniks supersonic missile. Read also: Come Back Alive, Nova Poshta announce fundraiser for air defense forces For this, the system is equipped with Kh-35/35U turbojet, subsonic cruise missiles, whose range was upgraded from 260 kilometers to 500 kilometers in 2021. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian troops carried out strikes on nine Ukrainian oblasts over the past 24 hours, killing four civilians and wounding 18, according to regional authorities. Russian attacks were reported in Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Luhansk oblasts. Russian forces struck southern Kherson Oblast 26 times on June 11, firing 132 rounds from artillery, mortars, Grad multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), aviation, and drones, the regional administration wrote. The attacks killed three civilians in the region and wounded 12 more, according to Kherson Oblast Military Administration. In Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one person in Avdiivka and injured two more in Ivanivske, according to Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit five settlements and two communities in the region, damaging two houses, outbuildings, and a depot, said Kyrylenko. Browder: West must hand Russian Central Banks $350 billion to Ukraine for reconstruction London-based American investor Bill Browder says people call him the number one enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin and, more recently, an official Friend of Ukraine. Browder has spent the last 13 years campaigning to freeze Putins assets hidden in the West. Now, hes fighting for them t The Kyiv IndependentAnna Myroniuk Russian troops hit four districts in Kharkiv Oblast with mortars, artillery, and missiles, wounding a 40-year-old man in the village of Vilkhuvatka and a 33-year-old man in Shevchenkove, reported Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The damages in Kharkiv Oblast include at least 16 houses, an industrial facility, garages, and outbuildings, he added. In Luhansk Oblast, a man received a mine-explosive injury and shrapnel wounds in a Russian attack on the village of Nevske near the border with Donetsk Oblast, according to the regional administration. Russia reportedly struck six settlements in the region, damaging infrastructure facilities. Russian forces attacked 17 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast 74 times over the past day using MLRS and artillery, as reported by the regional administration. A 50-year-old woman was wounded in a Russian attack on the village of Novoselivka, reads the report. 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 The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet Russian military vehicles are parked near an overturned military vehicle, following an attack that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said was caused by Turkish shelling near Tal Rifat Russian fighter killed in northern Syria -monitor, security source Russian military vehicles are parked near an overturned military vehicle, following an attack that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said was caused by Turkish shelling near Tal Rifat QAMISHLI, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Russian fighter was killed and several others wounded in Syria's northern province of Aleppo on Monday, a war monitor and a Kurdish security source said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors conflict in Syria, said the Russian casualties occurred when their convoy was hit by Turkish shelling. The security source said the attack came from an area where Turkish troops are deployed and that the wounded were treated in a hospital in a nearby area controlled by Kurdish forces. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Russia intervened in Syria's conflict in 2015, using air strikes and deploying advisers as well as military police to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad retake territory from rebels, some of them backed by Turkey. A Turkish defence ministry official said on Monday reports that Turkish forces had shelled positions in Aleppo's northern countryside and hit Russian armoured vehicle were "untrue." The Syrian National Army, an opposition faction backed by Turkey which controls the area near where the attack took place, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. A video published by Ronahi TV, a station affiliated with the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northeast Syria, showed men in fatigues transporting at least two men on stretchers into a Russian helicopter. The helicopter is then seen taking off. It was not immediately clear where the helicopter was flying to, who the apparently wounded men were or what was being said in the video. Syria's 12-year conflict has carved the country into complex zones of control where outside actors - including government allies Russia and Iran, as well as Turkey and the United States - hold significant sway. In 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border but Ankara and Moscow have since mended relations. They coordinate joint patrols in northern Syria and Russia is trying to mediate between the governments of Turkey and Syria. (This story has been corrected to change the location of the hospital where the wounded were treated, to 'a nearby area controlled by Kurdish forces' instead of 'Afrin, an area controlled by Turkish-backed troops', in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Orhan Qereman in Qamishli, Syria; Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Huseyin Hayatsever in Turkey; editing by Mark Heinrich) At midnight on 12 June, a diesel locomotive was blown up in a locomotive depot in Russian-occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Source: Ivan Fedorov, Mayor of Melitopol, legally elected before the occupation of the city Quote: "According to updated information, today's night explosion destroyed an enemy locomotive in a locomotive depot. Ruscists use this equipment to transport fuel to the front. But every time there are fewer means to do so. " Details: The mayor of Melitopol recalled that this is the second locomotive in the last two months which "went out of service prematurely." On 22 April, Fedorov reported that a diesel locomotive filled with fuel exploded in the area of the depot, right "under the nose of an armed guard." On 12 June, the mayor notes that explosions are heard in Melitopol for the second night in a row. According to him, at 01:00 on the night of 10-11 June, during the curfew, the Russian military police opened fire on the soldiers from Ossetia; one Ossetian was killed, another was wounded. On Monday night, Fedorov said that "something exploded loudly in the west of the city: residents of Yurivka and Novy Melitopol heard it." Volodymyr Rohov, a proxy of the Russian invaders in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has reported the alleged explosions in the temporarily occupied cities of Tokmak and Melitopol. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian occupation forces have high mortality rate among seriously wounded because of lack of medics General Staff The Russian occupiers are suffering heavy losses on the Bakhmut front, with more than 50 seriously wounded invaders arriving daily at one hospital in Rostov Oblast in the Russian Federation alone. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "Over the past week, Russian invaders have been suffering significant losses on the Bakhmut front. More than 50 occupiers with serious injuries arrive daily at the military hospital near Persianovka, Rostov Oblast, alone. The hospital is overcrowded, and due to the lack of sufficient medical staff, there is a high mortality rate among the severely wounded." Background: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said that the Russians are trying to hide the heavy losses of the occupation forces in occupied Berdiansk. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! TEHRAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran will accept further monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) providing that the sanctions are lifted, said the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) on Sunday. Behrouz Kamalvandi made the remarks in a live televised interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, elaborating on the cooperation between the AEOI and IAEA. He said the AEOI is cooperating "favorably" with the agency, yet some Western states put forward "excessive demands" on Iran, urging it to assume obligations beyond the safeguards agreements. It is practically "unjustifiable," said the spokesman. He said a law passed by the Iranian parliament in 2020 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. He said Iran's uranium enrichment capacity currently stands at 38,000 separative work units (SWUs), adding it can be swiftly increased to nearly 40,000 SWUs. 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." He stressed that the cooperation between Iran and the IAEA should be maintained, but the parliament's strategic law must not be violated. 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. Russians brag about destroying Ukrainian tank with UAV, but it was a dummy The Ukrainian military has denied a claim by the Russians that they supposedly destroyed a Ukrainian tank using a Lancet kamikaze drone. In fact, the Russian forces blew up a dummy made of wood. Source: K2 unit of the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade on Facebook Details: On 11 June, Russian channels posted a video on the internet showing the purported destruction of a tank using a Lancet kamikaze UAV. But on 12 June, a video appeared showing the area from a different angle, in which the filmmaker says the tank was a wooden model. Defence officials noted that "presenting a failure as a victory is a litmus test for determining a Russian". At the same time, they called on Ukrainians to filter the sources from which they get their information, since Russian psyops are working to the max. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Sacramento lacks hundreds of psychiatric beds even after new facility built, grand jury finds Even after building a new $10 million facility, Sacramento County will still have a whopping shortage of nearly 200 psychiatric beds, a new civil grand jury report found. That is just one of the findings in the report, released Friday, that serves as a sweeping indictment of the countys handling of the homelessness crisis, particularly those suffering from severe mental health crises. Among the findings: Of the $530 million annually the county spends on behavioral health, the jurors could not find a breakdown or determine how much is spent specifically on homelessness, making it impossible to determine if money is being spent effectively. There are at least 30 boards, committees, and entities in Sacramento working on the issue, often duplicating efforts and not communicating. There is no cohesive homelessness plan for the region. The one Sacramento Steps Forward published last year lacks metrics and has not been successful in addressing the mental health and substance abuse needs of the homeless. Sacramento County officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The report heavily criticized the county for its lack of psych beds, especially for homeless people, who are often unable to access mental health services when experiencing severe mental health crises. With millions of dollars available to manage the momentous task of appropriate treatment for mentally ill homeless men and women or those locked in the desperate jaws of substance abuse, the countys approach seems clumsy and inefficient, the report stated. As the crisis proliferates, the countys public response fails to match its intensity. Even after the county opens 64 subacute psychiatric beds in its new Mental Health Rehabilitation Center by 2026, it will still be short 189, the report found, using data from a Rand Corporation study released last year. The county is responsible for beds for people without private insurance, which often includes the unhoused. Its clear theres a shortage of beds needed for the existing population, so when you compound that with the increasing homeless population, it goes even higher, said Norv Wellsfry, grand jury foreperson. Of Sacramentos estimated 9,300 homeless people about 50 to 80 percent likely are suffering from a mental health or substance use issue, the report found. The most common afflictions are post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and a small number with psychosis, the report stated. While those suffering from psychosis are a small number, they are often the most visible. Drive down dozens of busy thoroughfares in Sacramento County, and you cant miss them, the report stated. Men and women, exhausted and defeated, huddled on curbs or jammed into makeshift encampments. With no home and no immediate future, many numb that jarring reality with drugs or drift toward psychosis. Psychosis often causes people to break from reality and experience hallucinations, delusions, or talk incoherently. Its often caused by severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or drugs such as meth. Its treated with antipsychotics, but unlike antidepressants, those can only be prescribed by psychiatrists. Even if someone has private insurance, the typical wait for a psychiatrist in the Sacramento area is about three months. Homeless men and women, who typically dont have private insurance, often have to wait longer. That often leaves emergency rooms and jails as the only alternative for those in psychosis. Sacramento emergency departments, which are not designed for long-term stays, are sometimes housing mental health patients for as long as weeks, the report revealed. Hospital emergency departments house homeless mental health patients for days and sometimes weeks while they wait for mental health bed capacity to open due to a severe shortage of inpatient and step-down unit beds, the report stated. During a visit to a city and county downtown WellSpace sobering center in 2021, a reporter observed a board listing what substance each person was sobering up from. One person was not on drugs or alcohol at all, but was experiencing psychosis. He ended up at the facility because the caller had assumed it was drugs, and there was nowhere else to go. Sheriffs deputies are also transporting people, including those in psychosis, to jail for petty misdemeanors, the report found. Those who are inebriated or high in public, but pose no other threat, are arrested and jailed, the report stated, which results in increased health risk and high cost of incarceration as opposed to these alternatives. Meanwhile, theres at least one location the county could be sending people thats better than the jail. The paltry rates of referral to the Acute Intake Center at the (Sacramento County Mental Health Clinic) is another lost opportunity to manage people with acute mental health and substance abuse with an option besides incarceration to protect the public, the report stated. Spending not tracked Of the roughly $530 million annually the county spends on behavioral health services, the jurors could not find a breakdown or determine how much is spent specifically on homelessness. To spend a lot of money and not know what that money is accomplishing is a breach of trust, Wellsfry said. By contrast, neighboring Yolo Countys budget includes an itemized breakdown, showing expenditures and funding sources, such as $11,131 to a winter shelter, and $36,521 to an independent living center. Despite the fact that the county, unlike the city, has a health department, it still contracts out more than 90 percent of its homeless mental health and substance abuse services, the report found. The report recommended the county start posting public data on homeless spending quarterly to a county website by the end of the year. Duplicating efforts The grand jury also found there are too many boards trying to address the substance use and mental health issues among the homeless, often times duplicating efforts. The grand jury identified at least 30 boards, committees, agencies, and entities with hundreds of individuals that include staff, elected officials appointees and volunteers If all these entities could put aside their silo thinking, invest in coordination, relate to each other productively in search of solutions, then they can make a difference in mental health for the homeless. In addition to the County Board of Supervisors, there is also the Mental Health Services Act Steering Committee, the county Mental Health Board, and the Sacramento Steps Forward board, for example. The current strategic plan, the Homeless Action Plan published last year by Sacramento Steps Forward, has not been successful in addressing the mental health and substance abuse needs of the homeless, the report stated. Goals are not quantified, accountability is not assigned, and performance is not monitored, the report stated. In addition, the Sacramento Steps Forward organizations board does not include any elected officials, Wellsfry noted. Wheres the accountability in that? he said. The report recommends the county adopt a new strategic plan, modeled after one in Riverside, Calif., by Jan. 1. It also recommends the county appoint a deputy county executive position to handle homelessness, including mental health and substance use. Currently the highest level homeless staffer at the county is Emily Halcon, director of homeless services. The report criticized the county for its months of delays in opening hundreds of tiny homes in south Sacramento, and also for clearing the longstanding Bannon Island encampment of seniors without moving all of them into permanent housing. The county and its Sheriffs Office will be required to formally respond to the report in the coming months. The Bees Ariane Lange contributed to this story. A San Diego man got sick of living in a regular country so he founded a nation of his own called Slowjamastan and crowned himself its sultan Randy Williams, the self-appointed sultan of Slowjamastan. Courtesy of the sultan of Slowjamastan Randy Williams is a radio DJ from San Diego who loves slow jams. He loves them so much that he named his own micronation, Slowjamastan, after them. "I ran out of countries, so I created my own," Williams told CNN. A San Diego man got so tired of living in a regular country that he founded one in the California desert. Randy Williams, the self-appointed sultan of Slowjamastan, told CNN that he had visited every UN-recognized county in the world: "I ran out of countries, so I created my own," he said. The micronation is an 11.07-acre plot of desert land off Southern California's Route 78. Its official name is the Republic of Slowjamastan, named for its leader's love of slow jams. CNN reported that Slowjamastan which has its own flag, currency, and national anthem declared its sovereign status and seceded from the US proper on December 1, 2021. Republic of Slowjamastan (@slowjamastan) June 11, 2023 It even has its own timezone, Slowjamastan Standard Time, and 12 states within the 11-acre space, including Dublandia, the capital. Williams told CNN that he had visited at least one other micronation: the Republic of Molossia, a similarly sized micronation in Nevada that supposedly seceded from the US in 1998. Inspired by his visit, Williams went home and bought the land in California in October 2021 before declaring the country independent three months later. Whether the independence of Slowjamastan is recognized is debatable. Williams told Insider that President Joe Biden had yet to acknowledge his micronation's secession via email and social media. The country's website says it's recognized by "The Sultan's mom" but does not list formal diplomatic relations with other nations. In terms of governance, the nation of Slowjamastan currently defines itself as a "dictatorship," though that could change. "Currently, we have 5,000+ amazing, registered Slowjamastanis in the census," Williams told Insider. "We do not have any elections planned, although it is not off the table. I'm trying to get this beautiful nation off the ground before I let anyone else run it into the ground!" And it's not like Slowjamastan is a lawless place: It does have some rules, as defined in the "Slowjamastan Laws, Statutes and Regulations." "Crocs are not allowed inside the Republic of Slowjamastan," the statute reads. "Punishment for violation: We will forcibly remove a 'Croc' and beat you over the head with it." The sultan, meanwhile, remains gainfully employed in and outside of Slowjamastan. "When he's not ruling over the world's newest nation, our Dear Leader hosts an internationally syndicated radio show called 'Sunday Night Slow Jams,' currently heard on over 200 radio stations across America," Williams' bio on Slowjamastan's website reads. Despite being the supreme leader of the so-called land of slow jams, Williams wrote in his bio that he still spent "most of his time outside of Slowjamastan." That's around 70 miles away, where he works as a radio DJ at the San Diego stations Magic 92.5 and Z90. "I visit as often as I can working mostly out of our American Consulate here in San Diego, California, United States of America," Williams said. "It's here where I enjoy the luxury of electricity and running water. And a roof." Williams said he had "big dreams" for Slowjamastan. "I do wish to one day construct a grand palace for The Sultan and his harem, but for now, I am concentrating on the people," Williams told Insider. He said that he planned to build a lazy river, an interactive armadillo farm, and an all-you-can-eat Mongolian restaurant on the plot. "These are just dreams at the moment, although we have started on the lazy river," Williams said, acknowledging that it was now just "a dry gulch." "There is no moving water, but on every other Wednesday, we bring the sprinkler out," he added. Read the original article on Insider SBI hands over 17 seized cars of Medvedchuk, Kozak families to Ukrainian Army Cars transferred to the needs of the Armed Forces The cars are together worth $1.1 million, the agency reported on June 12. Read also: Viktor Medvedchuk, The Professor SBU recalls some of its biggest catches after nabbing 300 Russian agents since Feb. 2022 In particular, 12 trucks, a truck crane, a minibus, a van, and two SUVs, which belonged to an enterprise of Medvedchuk and Kozaks relatives, have been transferred to a Ukrainian military brigade. The SBI said that the families of the two former lawmakers are involved in the financing of armed aggression against Ukraine and a criminal proceeding regarding the illegal extraction of sand at two quarries in Lviv Oblast. Read also: Ukraine arrests two land plots in Lviv Oblast belonging to Medvedchuk wife Oksana Marchenko The SBI seized the vehicles as part of this proceeding in April 2022. The officers then managed to have the cars transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In July 2022, law enforcement officers sized and then handed over to the Ukrainian Army an airplane and a helicopter belonging to Medvedchuks family. 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 SBU Counter-intelligence detained a 52-year-old Kharkiv resident, a GRU agent Read also: Viktor Medvedchuk, The Professor SBU recalls some of its biggest catches after nabbing 300 Russian agents since Feb. 2022 In a large-scale special operation, the SBU Counter-intelligence detained a 52-year-old Kharkiv resident who passed information to Russian intelligence about Ukrainian army and border guard personnel, weapons, and the locations and movement of military equipment, the press release reads. He also took photos of equipment movements, the SBU said. The suspect was charged with treason and faces life imprisonment. Read also: Ukraines SBU exposes two Russian spies trying to recruit agent at Kyiv defense plant To conceal his ties with Russian intelligence, the agent immediately deleted all messages that he received on his phone. In August 2022 and February 2023, the SBU exposed three other members of this agent network, including a Russian intelligence liaison officer. 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 School boards in Minnesota may now renew property tax levies that pay for things like classroom materials and career and technical programs, a responsibility that until now rested with voters who elected those officials. But they can only do it once. That's the upshot of a new law that went into effect late last month when Gov. Tim Walz signed the sweeping education bill that Minnesota lawmakers largely passed along party lines. "This has been a membership-supported position for a number of years," said Kirk Schneidawind, executive director of the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA). School districts must still go to voters when they first seek a new property tax levy. But critics of the new law say it dilutes voters' say in how their tax money is spent when levies come up for renewal. Osseo School Board Member Tanya Simons argues that referendums represent "important oversight for our constituents." "It gives them the power to tell us whether they agree with how we're using taxpayer money," she said. Simons told her peers on the Osseo School Board she couldn't support lobbying in favor of the law back in December. Now that it's passed, Simons said she'd likely vote against a levy renewal if it came up for a vote in her district. "It would be a little self-serving to say we know how the majority of our constituents would want us to vote," she said. The school board association has long pressed lawmakers to adopt such a provision in state law, citing historically overwhelming public support for property tax renewals. Fourteen school districts asked voters to renew property tax levies in 2022, according to MSBA data. Only one of those efforts failed at the ballot a 10-year, $173,000 measure to pay for career technical programs and classroom materials in the Staples-Motley district, located about an hour north of St. Cloud. The district enrolls 931 students. More than a dozen districts have levies expiring next July, which means their school boards must hold a vote by Wednesday or approach voters with the question on the ballot later this year. Four of those districts Lakeville, New Prague, Hastings and Eastern Carver County are in the seven-county metro area. All of those districts have scheduled board meetings to consider renewing their property tax levies. Some lawmakers and school board members say the broad support for levy renewals makes the campaigns around them, with district staff spending hours compiling informational packets and presentations for public meetings, overly burdensome taking time away from focusing on programs for students. "That can all add up," said Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, who chaired the Senate Education Finance Committee. Supporters say the public feedback sessions required by the law provide communities with a mechanism to make their voices heard. Hastings School Board Chair Lisa Hedin, who will preside over one of the state's first levy renewal votes on Wednesday, said the new law provides districts with one more tool to secure funding. Even if the agenda item for that meeting is for the board to consider its own renewal of the levy, members might still put the question to voters if they feel that's the right thing to do. "We stand ready as individual board members to take public feedback, then act based on the information we collect," Hedin said. There are other guardrails. Boards may only renew a levy for the same amount and length voters originally authorized. Still, Republican lawmakers would have preferred the law not apply to existing levies, but only those new ones approved by voters going forward. That way, the voters could make their choice with the knowledge that school boards could renew the levy without a public vote later, Senate GOP spokeswoman Rachel Aplikowski said. Simons, the Osseo board member, would rather lawmakers overhaul the school funding structure instead of tweaking the levy process. "If the Legislature feels the model isn't working in the state, it should enact a permanent change," she said. FILE PHOTO: Nicola Sturgeon makes her last official visit as Scotland's First Minister Scotland's leader won't suspend Nicola Sturgeon from party after arrest FILE PHOTO: Nicola Sturgeon makes her last official visit as Scotland's First Minister LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf said on Monday he would not suspend his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon after her arrest as part of a police inquiry into the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP). The police are investigating what happened to more than 600,000 pounds ($750,000) in funding raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017 that was supposed to have been ring-fenced, but may have been used for other purposes. Yousaf has faced growing calls from senior members of his party and rival politicians to suspend Sturgeon, her husband Peter Murrell, the party's former chief executive, and its former treasurer, who have all been arrested and then released without charge, while the investigation continues. "I see no reason to suspend their membership," Yousaf told the BBC. He said Sturgeon's arrest was "quite painful personally" given their "long-standing friendship". After she was released on Sunday, Sturgeon said she had committed no offence and was innocent of wrongdoing. Sturgeon's arrest marks a dramatic fall from grace for a politician who served as leader of Scotland's semi-autonomous government for more than eight years until she announced she was stepping down earlier this year. Ash Regan, a former SNP leadership candidate, called on Monday for Sturgeon to resign her membership while under investigation as she had become a "distraction". Angus MacNeil, one of the SNPs longest-serving members of the British parliament, said on Sunday Sturgeon should be suspended. "This soap opera has gone far enough," he said. Britain's main opposition Labour Party believes that the scandal will help them gain seats in Scotland, which is likely to be a key battleground at the next United Kingdom-wide election expected to be held next year. Large gains for Labour in Scotland could be key to the party's hopes of winning a majority and returning to power in Westminster for the first time since 2010. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Kylie MacLellan; editing by Mark Heinrich) The Sedgwick County Republican Party chair says she doesnt stand by a now-deleted post on the partys official Twitter account likening the celebration of Pride Month to mass psychosis, when a large portion of society loses touch with reality. As you watch the celebration of Pride Month, take note of the methods of their attempts to control the narrative, read the June 2 tweet, which linked to a 20-minute YouTube video about government brainwashing. I have no idea where that post came from. Im trying to figure it out, Chair Deb Lucia told The Eagle, speculating that the partys account may have been hacked. The county Republicans tweeted a link to another video from the same YouTube creator less than a week before the post in question. Lucia said just a couple people have posting access on the partys official social media pages but would not say who they are. Its totally offensive. I mean its ridiculous. Thats not what were about at all, she said. Lucia said county Republicans have no official stance on Pride Month, which is celebrated annually in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots that were a turning point in the U.S. gay liberation movement. Its just not our focus, Lucia said. Dalton Glasscock, a former chair of the county party who is openly gay, said whoever made the post should face consequences. Im confident the current chairwoman is not the one who tweeted this, but whoever did should not have access to any property of the party, nor any posting rights, Glasscock said. Lucia said that when she first saw the tweet, she didnt realize it was posted on the partys page. First of all, its a bizarre post, Lucia said. My first reaction, I was going, What am I looking at? And then I see that it was our little logo. The June 2 post also included a graphic referencing a Cherokee proverb. Inside each of us are two wolves. One is Evil. One is Good. Which wolf wins? The one you feed the most. Its time to feed the wolf . . . Recognize the mass psychosis that is happening, read the tweet, which was deleted on Sunday. Screenshot of a graphic from a now-deleted Sedgwick County Republican Party tweet. The same wolf graphic was used in a May 27 tweet on the county Republican page linking to a video titled Equity: The Thief of Human Potential - Thomas Sowell. Lucia said the episode should not give people the idea that the Republican party is intolerant of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our focus is for people to be free, for one thing, Lucia said. Were the party of freedom, and so you should be free to be doing what you want to do as long as it doesnt impose on somebody elses rights. As Americans, we can passionately debate policy, but we must remember our shared humanity, Glasscock said. Inclusive parties strengthen our system of government. All of our parties should welcome diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The Sedgwick County Democratic Party took to social media on June 1 to celebrate pride month. To the LGBTQ+ community: we will always stand with you and fight for your rights. Happy pride! the post reads. See Jessica Alba and her look-alike daughter Honor, 15, twinning at the French Open Pictures of Jessica Alba and her 15-year-old daughter, Honor, at a tennis tournament are netting twin comparisons. Spitting image! one fan wrote on Albas Instagram carousel. Looking more like sisters, added another person. Alba and Honor attended the 2023 French Open on June 10. The actor and entrepreneur, 42, wore a striped midi dress, white platform sneakers and oversized sunglasses, while Honor opted for a shorts and bralette set paired with a button-up. Jessica Alba and Honor Marie Warren (Stephane Cardinale / Corbis via Getty Images) Alba shares Honor, a rising high school sophomore, with her husband, Cash Warren. The couple, who have been married for 15 years, are also parents of daughter Haven, 11, and son Hayes, 5. Last year, Alba opened up to Glamour UK about attending therapy sessions with Honor and Haven. While speaking with the publication, the Honest Company founder explained that both of her girls started to sort of shut down during puberty. Im like, Were not doing this. Weve got to keep a line of communication here. How can I bet a better parent to you? How do you want me to talk to you? Alba shared. Alba went on to detail the positive impact counseling had on her relationship with her two girls. She noted that therapists have studied human behavior and they have no relation to you so they can be really objective. Heres a safe space, you cant get in trouble, Alba recalled telling her daughters. Jessica Alba and Honor Marie Warren (Stephane Cardinale / Corbis via Getty Images) In 2018, Alba revealed to Redbook that she doesn't share parenting mistakes on social media. I dont have it together at all. I just dont need to use social media as therapy and tell everyone, Today I f----- up as a mom. Its none of your damn business, Alba told the magazine, laughing. Im fine if people want to air their dirty laundry online, but people know enough about me. I make mistakes all the time ... and sometimes when I get together with my friends, well reflect on how weve made similar good and bad decisions," she added. "Its like, Yeah, that was humbling. Then you move on and have a glass of wine, she said. This article was originally published on TODAY.com TEHRAN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- West Asia is witnessing expanding cooperation in the region, and so is Latin America. This demonstrates how the U.S. influence is waning and a new "systematic order" is taking shape, an Iranian scholar said in a recent opinion piece. In his article publisehd online by Iran's state-owned Press TV on Saturday, Reza Javadi, a Ph.D. candidate in British Studies at the University of Tehran, mentioned a recent meeting among South American leaders on regional integration as an example of such transition. Leaders of the South American countries reached the Brasilia Consensus on May 30 at the regional summit convened in Brasilia by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, seeking to facilitate regional integration. During the meeting, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged the region to form a common currency against the U.S. hegemony in world trade, according to Javadi. Meanwhile in West Asia, some countries with strained ties are moving toward normal relations, he added. The recent mending of fences between regional countries constitutes a new order in which several regional coalitions co-exist. These regional networks are not necessarily rivals or adversaries, but healthy competitors, he said. A more significant and common factor among these coalitions is that they are not willing to be subservient to Western hegemony, he noted. EVANSVILLE Police arrested a woman with an apparent history of posting conspiratorial screeds and neo-Nazi beliefs online after she allegedly burnt an Evansville business' American flag Sunday and claimed to be a member of the Islamic State, or ISIS. Evansville police booked the woman, 43-year-old Sierra Justice Malloy, into the Vanderburgh County Jail just after 10:50 p.m. Sunday on five preliminary charges, including flag desecration, criminal mischief and trespassing. According to a probable cause affidavit, Malloy who has no prior criminal history in Vanderburgh County told Evansville police she was a member of ISIS. Her interaction with law enforcement began just after 9:45 p.m. Sunday when 911 calls began streaming in from a Spectrum cable store in the 1900 block of Old Business Road. "The caller advised grass was on fire approximately six to ten feet from the building," EPD officer Ed Kitzinger's affidavit states. "The fire department was on scene already and the fire had been put out." For Subscribers: Evansville police have used powerful facial recognition technology with little oversight Police said Malloy had burnt an American flag she removed from the Spectrum store. Officers quickly placed Malloy into handcuffs. She then allegedly threatened to decapitate the responding officers while hurling a flurry of slurs and homophobic insults at them. "Sierra claimed to be ISIS and continued saying homophobic slurs to officers on scene," Kitzinger wrote. "Sierra claimed her ISIS handle was Lori D. Franklin." Online account posted neo-Nazi screeds A public Facebook account corresponding to Malloy's supposed pseudonym features a cacophony of conspiratorial content covering such topics as the COVID-19 vaccine, "#WhiteLivesMatter," and "justice" for those who participated in the January 6, 2020, U.S. Capitol riots. The posts also feature hashtags commonly associated with the Q-anon movement, such as "#SaveTheChildren" and "#KidsForCash." In at least one post, the Lori D. Franklin account shared an image of a Nazi-style swastika with the caption, "Be the light." Malloy was initially booked into the Vanderburgh County jail on a 72-hour hold, as is standard. Malloy is scheduled to appear in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Monday at 1 p.m. for a probable cause hearing. Houston can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Self-styled 'ISIS' member arrested after burning flag in Evansville ALBANY, N.Y. The Seneca Nation of Indians and the Hochul administration have been quietly negotiating plans for a casino in downtown Rochester as part of a new gaming compact for the Western New York tribe, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The private talks shocked local leaders in Rochester late Friday as the state Legislature was preparing before the end of session to approve a bill authorizing the governor's office to negotiate a new compact with the Senecas, who already have three casinos in the Buffalo area. The bill passed the Senate, but was not approved in the Assembly amid concerns from Rochester leaders and neighboring gambling facilities about the impact of a casino in the city. In particular, the del Lago Casino in the Finger Lakes has about 1,000 union jobs represented by the powerful Hotel and Gaming Trades Council. "I learned of it pretty late last night. I was extremely concerned about it," Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D-Rochester) said in an interview Saturday with POLITICO. "This is something that should be seriously discussed in an open and transparent way, and if the rumor is correct and they are considering potentially downtown Rochester or even in the surrounding area of Rochester, local folks should have a say in this." The Hochul administration did not respond for comment. Bronson said when he reached out to Hochul's office about the prospect of a Rochester casino being part of the compact, he was told it couldn't discuss it because of a non-disclosure agreement, which he called "extremely inappropriate." The Senecas have long eyed Rochester and Monroe County as a way to expand in Western New York. But its efforts never have come to fruition, and it didn't bid on an open parcel of land in the heart of the city in 2016. The Senecas have been pushing for a new compact because the current one expires at year's end, and the sides would need a law to authorize the governor's office to sign off on a new 20-year compact. The Assembly wrapped up its session Saturday, but are expectd back in the coming weeks when the issue could be revisited. On Wednesday, the Senecas announced an "agreement in principle" with Hochul's office on a new compact, but declined to give any specifics. On Saturday, the tribe urged unsuccessfully for the Assembly to vote on the legislation to give the administration the ability to "finalize and submit that agreement as required by federal law." We have come to a fair deal with the State, and it is incumbent of them to hold up their side of the bargain. The State Senate has already passed the bill providing the Governor authority to complete the deal, and we strongly encourage the Assembly to do the same, Seneca Nation president Rickey Armstrong, Sr. said in a statement. He also said the union supports labor unions and, without mentioning a Rochester casino, "a compact represents an opportunity for new and continued jobs that are vital to our region. It is our goal to add more jobs to the entire region, including more union jobs." Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul has recused herself from the negotiations because her husband, Bill, is an executive at Delaware North, the Buffalo-based hospitality company that owns Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in nearby Farmington, Ontario County. If a Rochester casino was to move forward, the Senecas would need to buy land and then win federal approval to make it sovereign land to build a casino. The tribe and the state have been at odds for year. The tribe had a five-year legal battle over paying casino revenue to the state. The dispute ended last year when the Senecas agreed to pay the state $566 million which Hochul said is being used to pay for a new Buffalo Bills stadium. She paved the way for us: Arlingtons first Black nurse honored in Juneteenth celebration Every morning in high school, Margaret Taylor would wake up early to ride a bus 13 miles from her home in Arlington to Fort Worths segregated I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth. Years later, Taylor continued her routine of early mornings, this time as the citys first Black nurse in the city of Arlington. Taylor would wake up at 5:30 a.m. to start her day at Arlington Memorial hospital, today known as Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, where she worked for almost 50 years. You had in your plan that Sister Taylor would break a barrier that needed to be broken, said the Rev. James P. Thompson of Arlingtons Mt. Olive Baptist Church said during a prayer. You chose the person that was able to handle it with integrity and with spiritual guidance of your leadership. Taylor, 82, was recognized by local officials and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in a ceremony Monday for her historic work. Taylor was joined by friends, family, and former colleagues at the hospital where she worked her entire career. Taylor was one of dozens of students who left Arlington to continue their education while schools remained segregated. Some students were charged a fee to take the bus, plus an additional fee to attend school in Fort Worth. Because of these barriers, few of Arlingtons Black students continued their education beyond the eighth grade until the late 1960s, according to a report completed for the city of Arlington and the Texas Historical Commission. The Arlington school district was forced to integrate its schools in 1965. After graduating from Terrell in 1957, Taylor attended a new, one-year nursing program at Arlington Memorial Hospital. When she graduated in 1967 and began working, she was the citys first Black nurse in its history, according to the Arlington Historical Society. I have much love, respect and honor for you for paving the way for us in 1967, said Janet Hicks, a longtime friend and former colleague of Taylor. Former colleagues recalled Taylors bright smile, fast walk, and crisp, white uniform. She kept her uniform spotless, she said, by scrubbing her shoelaces and polishing her white shoes every Sunday, before her work week started. Despite Taylors historic work in Arlington, her loved ones said they didnt learn about the significance of her achievements until they became adults. Taylor typically avoided from drawing attention to herself, they said. Even though this moment is celebrating her, shes not making this moment about her, said Rev. Patrick Taylor, Taylors son. Thats just who she is. Tayla Vaughn, 31, said she didnt learn about her grandmothers history until she was in her 20s. The two have worked to preserve Black history in Arlington by contributing their memories to the Arlington Black History Community Archive, a project of the Arlington Public Library System. The ceremony was organized in recognition of Juneteenth, commemorating the announcement on June 19, 1865, that proclaimed the freedom of slaves in Texas, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday has a long history in Fort Worth. Longtime city resident Opal Lee campaigned for decades to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Lee earned her nickname as the Grandmother of Juneteenth when the day was officially declared a federal holiday in 2021. EVANSVILLE High-tech cameras led Warrick County law enforcement to arrest a woman Monday who allegedly fled Nebraska with four missing children. The Warrick County Sheriff's Office identified the woman as 27-year-old Danielle E. Cleary. She is currently being held at the Warrick County jail on a $250,000 bond and is awaiting extradition. According to the sheriff's office, Cleary had an "active felony arrest warrant" from Nebraska for "violations of a custody order." Cleary reportedly hit local law enforcement's radar after she drove across the Warrick County line sometime on the morning of June 11 with four children who were reported missing. The vehicle Cleary was driving passed by a Flock Safety camera just after 4:15 a.m., a WCSO news release states. Flock cameras use artificial intelligence to automatically scan vehicles' license plates and log other information. Cleary's vehicle triggered a "Missing Persons-National Crime Information Center hit," the news release states. Deputies then located Cleary's vehicle on Indiana 61 near French Road and initiated a traffic stop. Inside, deputies allegedly found the four children, who were between the ages of 2 and 9 years old. Flock Safety: Evansville police to install license-plate cameras in 'high-crime' areas "Cleary, from Bancroft, Nebraska, was a non-custodial parent of the children," the WCSO news release states. "The investigation revealed she had been on a supervised visit with the children on June 10 and planned to leave with the children and travel to a family members residence in Warrick County. She drove through the night with the children, who were reported missing by their legal guardians." The Warrick County Sheriff's Office touted Cleary's arrest as a key justification for the presence of Flock cameras in the Tri-State. "This is a prime example of how technology can be both unobtrusive and highly effective in keeping our community safe," Warrick County Sheriff Mike Wilder said. "The Flock system may be best known for locating stolen cars. This time, it found something far more important." The Evansville Police Department also has about 50 Flock Safety cameras at its disposal. A department spokesperson said the AI-powered cameras played a role in the capture of escaped inmate Casey White. In July 2022, the Flock Safety cameras also reportedly led to the successful rescue of a missing and endangered child. The cameras allegedly captured the male suspect as he traveled on his motorcycle with the child. However, the man implicated in the kidnapping was not successfully prosecuted. As of June, the Vanderburgh County Prosecutors Office had dismissed the charges stemming from that case, according to court records. Wilder said the four juvenile children rescued following Cleary's arrest were placed in the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services. From there, the children will go to their "legal guardians," the WCSO news release states. Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Flock cameras lead to recovery of missing Nebraska children in Warrick A ship captain who's been attacked by orcas twice says they're learning how to attack boats faster: 'It didn't take them that long to destroy both rudders' A pod of orcas swimming together. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images A ship captain whose boat has been attacked by orcas twice says they are becoming more coordinated. The orcas knew "exactly" what they were doing this time, Dan Kriz told Newsweek. "This time, they were quiet, and it didn't take them that long to destroy both rudders," Kriz said. A ship captain who's had his boats attacked by orcas twice says they're learning to be more organized and faster in their attacks. Dan Kriz, a sailor with more than 20 years of sailing experience, told Newsweek that he was first attacked by orcas in 2020. And he said that he noticed marked differences in how the orcas behaved when he was attacked again three years later, on April 15. "First time, we could hear them communicating under the boat. This time, they were quiet, and it didn't take them that long to destroy both rudders," Kriz, a crew member with Reliance Yacht Management, told Newsweek. Kriz also said that the latest attack was more organized and swifter than the one three years ago. "Looks like they knew exactly what they are doing. They didn't touch anything else," Kriz told Newsweek, adding that a large female orca chased the boat and "wanted to finish the job." Kriz told Newsweek that the first orca attack he experienced in 2020 happened while he was sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar the same area that has seen a spike in vessel attacks by orcas since 2020. "I was sailing with my delivery crew through the Strait of Gibraltar delivering a yacht when I was surrounded with a pack of eight orcas, pushing the boat around for about an hour," Kriz told Newsweek. Kriz said he believed that the "same pack of orcas" was responsible for the attack that he experienced in April. Though most orca interactions with boats have been harmless, there has been an increase in the reported number of orca boat attacks off Spain and Morocco. It is unclear what is driving the orcas to attack the shipping vessels so violently. The orcas' increasingly aggressive behavior has seen them ramming and even sinking boats. Some marine-life experts said that a traumatized orca called White Gladis may have kickstarted the trend of orca boat attacks. Nonetheless, experts have cautioned sailors against retaliating against the orcas and advised them to remain calm. "It's best to just not try to interfere with anything they're doing like socializing or hunting for their prey," Thomas Doniol-Valcroze, a marine biologist who heads the Canadian government's cetacean-research program, told CTV News. "Maintain your course and your speed, basically not doing any sudden changes," Doniol-Valcroze said. Read the original article on Insider Shoigus nonsensical rhetoric challenged by military expert, who predicts enemy retreat to old defensive lines The replacement of Ukrainian infantry at positions in the Bakhmut direction takes place at night On the Donetsk front, due to unsuccessful assaults on Maryinka, Avdiyivka, and Bakhmut, the enemy has depleted a significant number of its forces, Kramarov said. Read also: Ukraine already liberating settlements in the most grandiose offensive operation since WWII They have physically exhausted (their forces) in unsuccessful assaults. And now, they simply lack the physical capability or personnel to hold the positions that were gained after the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24. Kramarov said the enemy will begin leaving the recently occupied territories: Clearly, they did not construct any new defensive lines as they did on the Zaporizhzhya front, as they were anticipating further advances. Their advance did not materialize. Consequently, they are now retreating from these positions. Read also: Ukrainian troops advance in Tavria area, enemy grows anxious and sabotages dams Kramarov also revealed which territories the occupiers will leave behind: They will primarily retreat to the positions that existed before Feb. 24, 2022, because over the course of eight years, the enemy has built a system of defensive lines and fortifications there. I expect that we will continue to witness this movement of the enemy towards their positions until Feb. 24, throughout this week. The expert also commented on the increase in public appearances by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. A person responsible for the state of the army and its combat readiness. Considering his nonsensical rhetoric, the only thing that interests me is whether he actually knows the truth. Clearly, (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin does not know the real state of affairs in the army and on the front, said Kramarov. Read also: All Ukrainian commanders optimistic about Ukrainian counter-offensive, Zelenskyy says Im genuinely curious if Shoigu knows. Judging by his facial expression, he does. However, he continues to put on a brave face in a bad situation. As of June 12, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducting counter-offensive actions and counterattacks on at least three fronts: the flanks of the Bakhmut sector, the western part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast, and the western part of Donetsk Oblast bordering Zaporizhzhya. Currently, at least five villages have been liberated. Specifically, Ukrainian forces are known to have control over the following settlements: Novodarivka, Storozhove, Makarivka, Blahodatne, and Neskuchne. Over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have advanced on the flanks of the Bakhmut sector, covering distances ranging from 250 to 700 meters. 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 News Silvio Berlusconi, the leader of Italys Forza Italia party and the countrys former premier, has died at age 86. He had been hospitalized in intensive care for heart concerns and respiratory issues on April 5, and was later diagnosed with leukemia. Know More Berlusconi led Italy as prime minister three times between 1994 and 2011. A billionaire, Berlusconi made his fortune in media, founding Fininvest, a media holding company, in the 1970s. In the 90s, he established the right wing Forza Italia party, which merged with the People of Freedom party in 2009. In 2013, Berlusconi re-established Forza Italia as a separate entity. The former premier has been the subject of several controversies, and in February was acquitted of charges which alleged that he had paid a minor for sex during a party at his Sardinia estate. He was repeatedly accused of ties to the Sicilian mafia, but the allegations have never been proven. This year, Berlusconi was criticized for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the war. I judge, very, very negatively the behavior of this gentleman, he said at the time, referring to Zelenskyy. ROME (Reuters) -Silvio Berlusconi, the four-time Italian prime minister and billionaire media mogul who died on Monday at the age of 86, spent much of the past 30 years embroiled in legal battles. Here is a breakdown of his many legal cases: LOTS OF CASES, ONE CONVICTION Berlusconi was at the centre of a series of investigations and trials, almost all of them opened after he entered politics in 1994. In all, he faced 35 criminal court cases, but only clocked up one definitive conviction. Under Italian law, a defendant, if convicted, has the right to appeal first to the appeals court, and then to the country's top court, the Court of Cassation. A sentence becomes enforceable, therefore, only once the appeals process has been exhausted. That takes several years and some alleged crimes are wiped due to the statute of limitations, which dictate how long investigations and trials can last. "RUBY" CASES Berlusconi was accused of abuse of office and paying for sex in 2010 with a minor, nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, better known in Italy by her stage name, Ruby the Heartstealer. Berlusconi was initially found guilty in 2013 and sentenced to seven years in jail. The verdict was overturned in 2014 by an appeals court which ruled there was no proof he had known that she was 17 at the time of the encounter. Italy's top court confirmed his acquittal in 2015. Berlusconi was put in the dock again in Rome, Siena and Milan after being accused of bribing witnesses at his so-called Bunga Bunga parties to lie in the original Ruby trial. He has been cleared in each city, most recently in February in Milan. SINGLE DEFINITIVE CONVICTION The only Berlusconi trial that ended with a final conviction was one for tax fraud, false accounting and embezzlement tied to his media empire, which was then called Mediaset. In 2013, the top court confirmed Berlusconi's sentence of four years' imprisonment, three of which were covered by a pardon. Given his age, the former prime minister was able to complete his sentence as community service from 2014 to 2015. He was banned from political office until 2018. ACQUITTALS A total of 10 cases ended with an acquittal. Two of them, including the All Iberian party funding trial, were shut down "because the alleged fact no longer represents a crime" after his government changed the law to his benefit. Seven resulted in acquittals "because the allegations did not prove to be founded", including trials for alleged bribes to the tax police, bribes to judges and tax evasion. He was acquitted in one case because the judge ruled what had happened was not a crime. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS AND AMNESTIES A further 10 trials against Berlusconi concluded with a decision not to pursue the case to a verdict, many because the statute of limitations came into force, bringing a guillotine down on proceedings, including a case where Berlusconi was originally found guilty of bribing a senator in 2006 to bring down the then centre-left government. A number of the cases were curtailed after a Berlusconi-led coalition reduced the statute of limitations for false accounting. He also benefitted from two amnesties. DROPPED CASES Another 10 proceedings ended with a preliminary judge deciding to drop the case without going to trial, including one where he was investigated for alleged connections to the mafia. CASE PENDING A trial in which Berlusconi is accused of "inducing people to lie" is still pending in the court in the city of Bari. He is accused of having paid a businessman to lie to magistrates investigating young women allegedly brought to his residence in Rome between 2008 and 2009, when he was prime minister. As in all the other cases, Berlusconi denied any wrongdoing. The case will closed following his death. (Reporting by Emilio Parodi and Crispian Balmer, editing by Keith Weir, Frank Jack Daniel and Angus MacSwan) In the year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ruled states should decide the legality of abortion, voters at the state level have been doing just that: 4 essential reads Abortion-rights demonstrators protest in front of the Supreme Court building on June 25, 2022, a day after the announcement of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling. Brandon Bell/Getty Images News via Getty Images When the Supreme Court ruled on June 24, 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that states some of which have been chipping away at womens access to abortion for years should decide the legality of abortion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the courts majority opinion that women are not without electoral or political power. In one fell swoop, the courts 6-3 ruling that abortion is not a federal constitutional right overturned Roe v. Wade, decided in 1973, and 1992s Planned Parenthood v. Casey two decisions that provided federal protections for abortion. Since the Dobbs decision, women and men alike have exercised the political power Alito referenced at the ballot box and, in the states that allow it, through legislation citizens initiate themselves. State legislatures, too, have been passing abortion laws. The Conversation has covered the fight over abortion rights in the U.S. for years. Here are four essential reads to help you understand some of the state-level decisions legislators and citizens have made since the Dobbs ruling. 1. Kansans safeguard constitutional access to abortion On Aug. 2, 2022, in the first state referendum on abortion since the Dobbs ruling, voters in Kansas rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to deny the right to abortion in that state. The 59% to 41% vote was decisive. Scholars Matthew A. Baum, Alauna Safarpour and Kristin Lunz Trujillo, of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, who poll Americans on social and political issues, wrote that most residents of Kansas favor neither unrestricted access to abortion nor a total ban on the procedure. Sentiment appears to be the same in various states across the country. In one survey that they conducted between June 8 and July 6, 2022, these scholars asked Americans about the importance of abortion to them and if they support the procedure under nine specific scenarios, ranging from saving the life of the woman to avoiding financial hardship. Their findings were eye-opening. Since the Dobbs decision was announced, Americans also increasingly appear to prefer fewer restrictions on abortion, even as many states are moving to enact more restrictions, they wrote. Across the U.S., more Americans support than oppose the right to an abortion in most scenarios including cases in which the life or health of the mother is at stake, the fetus could be born with severe health problems, the pregnancy resulted from rape or the woman does not want to be pregnant. Support for abortion in all nine scenarios increased following the Dobbs ruling. Read more: Kansas vote for abortion rights highlights disconnect between majority opinion on abortion laws and restrictive state laws being passed after Supreme Court decision 2. Kansas was no fluke Whether they were voting in favor of a state constitutional amendment that protected abortion rights or voting against one that would have banned abortion, voters in a record number of states from California to Vermont made clear on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, that they want abortion to be an option for women. In Kentucky as in Kansas, for example, voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have stripped residents of the right to seek an abortion. And in California, Michigan and Vermont, voters approved constitutional amendments to protect the right to an abortion. Linda C. McClain, a law professor, and Nicole Huberfeld, a professor of law and health law, of Boston University, have studied the issue. They wrote: Exit polls indicate 60% of voters nationwide up 9% since 2020 believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. A majority 60% of voters expressed anger at the Supreme Court over the Dobbs ruling and indicated that they trusted the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party on the issue by a margin of 52% to 42%. The pair pointed out that abortion was also indirectly on the ballot in federal races and in states like Pennsylvania and New York, where it was a campaign issue. In Pennsylvania, abortion figured prominently in the gubernatorial race between Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican Doug Mastriano. Access to abortion care and protecting abortion rights were key themes in Shapiros campaign, while Mastriano stressed culture war issues, they wrote. Commentary and exit polling suggest that abortion was a motivating issue among Pennsylvania voters especially younger voters. Shapiro won the contest. Read more: In first nationwide election since Roe was overturned, voters opt to protect abortion access Supporters of abortion rights react happily to news that an amendment which would have denied the right to abortion failed. Dave Kaup/AFP via Getty Images 3. Some abortion fights are through constitutional amendments John Dinan, a scholar of state constitutions at Wake Forest University, wrote that even before the Dobbs ruling, state constitutional amendments had shaped abortion policy as much as state court rulings had. But, he noted, how these amendments are used and who proposes them is different now. Before the Dobbs ruling, abortion-related amendments invariably sought to limit protection for abortion rights by clarifying that there is no state constitutional right to abortion, he wrote, noting that, as in the cases of Kansas and Kentucky, voters dont always approve these amendments. After the Dobbs decision, most proposed abortion-related amendments have aimed to expand protection of abortion rights. In November 2022, voters in Vermont, California and Michigan approved amendments that explicitly protect reproductive rights. Read more: State battles over abortion are leading to state constitutional amendments an option in all states and available directly to citizens in 18 states 4. A patchwork legal landscape Since the Dobbs decision, womens access to abortion has increasingly been determined by geographic boundaries. As Temple Universitys Rachel Rebouche, a scholar of reproductive health and justice, wrote for us, women who live along the East and West coasts can get abortions, but women in parts of the South and Midwest cant. And since the Dobbs decision, which prompted state-level referendums, some of those boundaries have hardened. But voters in some states with tight abortion restrictions opted to loosen them. For example, in California, Michigan and Vermont, voters added abortion protections to their state constitutions. And in Kentucky, where abortion was severely restricted, voters rejected a referendum that would have denied constitutional protections for abortion. The legislation that states pass post-Dobbs of course reflects differences in opinion about abortion itself. But in some places where abortion has been banned, or restricted, anti-abortion legislators may not reflect their constituents beliefs. The recent ballot measures reveal that, Rebouche wrote. Read more: Abortion rights referendums are winning with state-by-state battles over rights replacing national debate Editors note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversations archives. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts, from an independent nonprofit. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Lorna Grisby, The Conversation. Read more: DAMASCUS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Monday that the Syria-Turkiye normalization talks should work toward the goals of Turkish withdrawal from Syria and counter-terrorism, state news agency SANA reported. During his meeting with visiting Iranian foreign minister's senior advisor Ali Asghar Khaji, Assad said Syria's main goals in the upcoming talks are Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory and the fight against terrorism. The two sides must find ways to realize these goals in cooperation with the Russian and Iranian sides, the president added. For his part, Asghar Khaji, an advisor on special political affairs, lauded Syria for normalization with some other Arab countries. Iran and Russia have been mediating normalization talks between Syria and Turkiye recently, arranging several meetings on the level of defense ministers and foreign ministers. Since late last year when Russia and Iran were paving the way for the Syria-Turkiye negotiations, the Syrian government has prioritized the withdrawal of the Turkish forces from Syria as a prerequisite for the normalization. Sinkhole as big as a house opens in Florida neighborhood and keeps growing, county says A large sinkhole is continuing to grow in a Florida neighborhood, prompting government officials to close a nearby road and warn three homeowners evacuation may be required, according to officials. It appeared June 8 on private property along Scott Lake Road in Lakeland, about 35 miles northeast of Tampa. The sinkhole is currently around 75 feet in diameter and slowly growing, Polk County officials said. The Polk County Sheriffs Office rendered aid in blocking access and directing traffic away from the unstable area. Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on scene to aid in assessing the threat to structure and safety. A large section of Scott Lake Road has been blocked between between Old Scott Lake Road and Fitzgerald Road, officials said. Investigators said the hole appeared after a drilling company hit a pressurized pocket. The drilling project was an attempt to dig a well, and when the crew reached 180 feet they broke through something, a hard layer, and then it was pretty much a void down to, like, 300 feet, county officials said in a news conference posted on Facebook by WFLA. Depressions in the surrounding ground began to occur soon after, officials said. No structural damage has been reported by homeowners in the immediate area, officials said. The hole does not pose a threat to Scott Lake Road, but it was closed because the vibration caused by passing traffic might speed the collapse, officials said. Because it is on private property, the homeowner is leading efforts to stabilize the hole, officials said. A permanent fix would likely require creating something akin to a support column beneath the pit, then filling the hole with soil to stabilize the sides, officials said. Rare American crocodile caught in Florida drainpipe, police say. It was 9 feet long Little hand reaching from flipped van leads deputy to trapped child, Florida video shows New homeowner looks out door and comes face to face with panther, Florida video shows The Skokie Ethics Commission on Wednesday dismissed a complaint alleging that one of the villages top attorneys had inappropriately mixed politics and municipal business by campaigning during village hours. The complaint, the third in a year brought by Skokies only independent trustee, alleged that Skokie Assistant Corporation Counsel James McCarthy had been passing out leaflets and supervising campaign activities while technically at work for the village on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. Trustee James Johnson stated he had seen McCarthy passing out campaign literature opposing a trio of government reform referendums with volunteers nearby on Nov 7. Witness Maggie Vandermeer testified that she had seen McCarthy doing the same set of activities Nov. 8. Johnson is the only member of the Village Board not affiliated with the Skokie Caucus Party, which has dominated village politics since the 1970s and opposed the three referendums that passed in the November election. Johnson was a vocal supporter of all three referendum measures and stated during the hearing that he had been volunteering for the Skokie Alliance for Electoral Reform at the Skokie Courthouse when he saw McCarthy there. Illinois law prohibits publicly compensated officers from soliciting votes, managing a campaign or assisting at polling places while at work. McCarthy did not deny that he had been distributing leaflets and working with political volunteers Nov. 7. McCarthys attorney Michael Dorf argued that McCarthy had used time off to do the campaign work, stating McCarthy had listed Nov. 8 as a vacation day and calling on village Finance Director Julien Prendei as a witness to support that argument. It is (Johnsons) burden to prove that Mr. McCarthy was not on vacation, personal or compensatory time off, Dorf said. One does not need to go to Bali or Las Vegas on their day off. McCarthy testified that the usual practice for taking time off in the corporation counsels office is to verbally notify colleagues and supervisors of planned time off, and said he had done so ahead of the election. No members of the village corporation counsels officer were at the hearing to testify. The Illinois State Board of Elections lists McCarthy as the chair of the Skokie Caucus Party. Johnson noted that he had been doing nearly identical activities to McCarthy at the Skokie Courthouse and stated that he had been heavily involved with the campaign promoting the electoral reform referenda. The difference between his activities and McCarthys, he said, was that I am an elected official of the village of Skokie; Mr. McCarthy is an appointed officer. Under our village code we both have the designation of officer but our jobs are fundamentally different, Johnson continued. I do not have any compensated time. I show up for our village meetings and besides that I dont really have any time obligations. Village trustees receive a $9,500 annual stipend for their work, according to Skokie records. McCarthys title with Skokie is assistant corporation counsel, and records show the village employs four people with that title, with salaries ranging from $13,800 to $137,850. The Skokie Ethics Commission, composed of Jonathan Minkus, Rev. Richard Lanford and Rabbi Leonard Matanky, has previously voted to dismiss two other complaints from Johnson. The first of those complaints alleged that Mayor George Van Dusen had conspired with Chief Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge to block the three form-of-government referenda from the ballot for political purposes. The commission heard that complaint twice after the Illinois Attorney General found that it had violated rules for public meetings in its first consideration of the complaint. The second complaint alleged that McCarthy and Lorge had offered Johnson an appointment to a village board or commission in exchange for his withdrawing from the race for village board. The commission rejected both of those complaints on the ground that their contents did not merit inquiry under Illinois ethics statute. Despite some typically British (or, more accurately, English) doom-mongering about the UKs VC ecosystem lately, theres no denying its capability for reinvention. Witness Moonfires recent new $115 million fund, IQ Capitals $200 million fund, and Seedcamps new $180 million fund. And there is fresh good news on the horizon in the shape of firstminute capitals new early-stage venture fund. Founded by Brent Hoberman CBE and Spencer Crawley in 2017, the new generalist fund which has raised $100 million so far with a final close to come later this year will invest in early-stage startups in the UK and Europe. New investors in the latest fund include Slack co-founder Cal Henderson and Sir Richard Branson from Virgin Group. Back in November 2020, firstminute raised its second early-stage venture fund which ended up being $160m. So lets breakdown the fund to date. FMC Fund I: 73m fund I ($91m in today's dollars) FMC Fund II: 132.3m fund II ($160m) FMC Fund III initial close - with final close expected later this year: 80m ($100m) SPVs: 32m ($40m) Firstminute says the fund is backed by 130 unicorn founders, including co-founders of Palantir, Ocado, Supercell, MongoDB, Check Point, Wayfair and Zalando. Also participating are institutions such as Mubadala Capital and half a dozen U.S. multistage firms, alongside a number of global CEOs. You can see a bunch more previous and current LPs here. In a statement, co-founder of the fund, Hoberman said: One of our superpowers is leveraging our network to help support our founders whether its for business development or bringing on star LPs to invest alongside us as angels. This is hardly a surprise - Hoberman hosts the elite, invite-only Founders Forum event every year, which is literally a whos-who of tech in the U.S. and Europe. The funds portfolio has notable startups, such as A.Team, Storyblok, Robocorp, Engflow, Wayve, Klang, Clockwork Labs, Ramp, Element) and Generation Home. Many have gone on to raise from the likes of Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Atomico, Index, Benchmark, Coatue, Softbank, Tiger, General Catalyst, Northzone, Mubadala Capital, NFX, Balderton, D1, Felicis, Bain Capital and Tencent. With this latest raise, firstminute now says it has an an AUM of $400 million and a team of 20 (eight investors, eight on the platform side and four part-time venture partners) based in London, Berlin and Nice. Firstminute will have to compete with many other early stage VC funds of course, of which there are many in London, and far more than any other capital in Europe. These include, Index Ventures. Accel Partners, Balderton Capital, Ascension, MMC Ventures, Octopus Ventures, LocalGlobe, Connect Ventures, Downing Ventures, Passion Capital, Notion Capital, Playfair Capital, Fuel Ventures and Beringea, to name just a few. SLO County man sets out on 7,000-mile trip to Arctic Ocean to honor veterans Two adventure-seeking septuagenarians set out early Saturday on a 7,000-mile round trip from Cambria to the Arctic Ocean, the final stretch of which will be in a car thats older than they are. Jay Burbank of Cambria and South Carolina resident Charlie Enxuto will travel about 5,000 of those miles driving a 1931 Model A Ford, a slant-window town sedan converted to look like a U.S. Army Air Corps generals staff car from World War II. That includes 1,400 miles on the graveled Dempster Highway. The men are 77 and 75 years old, respectively. For the rest of the trip, from Cambria to Prince George, British Columbia, and back, the men will tow the antique auto in a 14-foot car hauler behind a Cadillac SUV. Firefighter Tim Murdoch of Cambria will join them on the final leg of the journey, likely in the SUV while Burbank and Enxuto drive the 1931 Ford. The trailer also will provide a place to mount a Cascadia Vehicles rooftop tent for camping and room to carry filled fuel cans. The back-up supplies arent optional. There are long gaps without gas stations on the way to the edge of the continent at Tuktoyaktuk in the Canadian Northwest Territories, explained Burbank, who owns the vehicles. The Model A gets about 15 mpg with a 10-gallon tank, he said, and the Caddy gets about 15 mpg with a 25-gallon tank. Jay Burbank of Cambria will see about 1,400 miles of a 7,000 mile adventure from this drivers seat in his 1931 Model A town sedan, honoring veterans and raising money for alternative-education graduates. The trip will take him and friend Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina from Californias Central Coast through the U.S. and Canada to the Arctic Circle. Theyll trailer the antique vehicle the rest of the way. SLO County man known for travels in antique vehicles Burbank has lots of experience doing other long, international drives in the the 1931 Ford now known as Military Maxi and another, smaller Model A. Since taking a 2001 trek through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy, hes done antique car tours, runs and rides along the West and East coasts of the United States as well as 18 foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada and Australia. Why travel from Californias Central Coast to the edge of the Arctic Ocean, partly in an antique auto? For the beauty, the people and the adventure, doing something other people think is impossible, Burbank said, and to honor military veterans. The idea started with a challenge, he said. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina take a pause Friday, June 9, 2023, before they load Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan, a cartop tent, fuel cans and more into the trailer before departing Saturday, June 10, 2023 for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll drive one-fifth of the journey in the antique vehicle on the graveled Dempster Highway. While on a Model A trip in Utah, Burbank told a man from Canada that Someday, Id like to do the Alcan Highway in Alaska, the Cambria man recalled. Do you want to do an ordinary road like that or have an adventure? the Canadian asked, referring to the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, above the Arctic Circle. While Burbanks wife of 57 years, Pat Burbank, often accompanies her husband on his antique auto trips, shes bowing out of this jaunt. The short answer is no, she said. Its a guys trip. Theyre going to be camping in bear country, and nobodys told me for sure that bears cant climb a ladder to a car-top tent. Jay Burbank said he and Enxuto plan to protect themselves with a large supply of bear spray and loud sound-emitting devices designed to repel aggressive wildlife. Hes also taking a protective screen to keep gravel and rocks away from Military Maxis engine and windscreen. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina begin loading Friday, June 9, 2023, up for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll do one-fifth of the journey driving Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan. That portion of the trip will be on the graveled Dempster Highway. Trip to Arctic Circle is tribute to veterans Burbank is an Air Force veteran who served two tours in Guam and Okinawa. He met Enxuto, who was in the U.S. Army, in 2007 on a small-ship cruise of the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. The two immediately bonded over their shared passions for photography and travel. Enxuto has accompanied Burbank on previous Model A adventures, starting in 2008 on a voyage that went from Cambria to Vancouver, British Columbia, across Canada and then to Mackinac Island, Michigan. In 2019, Burbank repainted and reoutfitted his Model A so he could participate in a recreation of a military convoy a century earlier from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco on a route now known as the Lincoln Highway. Jay Burbank, at left, and Tully Garrett of Wilmington, Illinois, pose in 2019 after Garrett signed his fathers name on Burbanks 1931 Model A, in honor of the mans military service, wartime injuries and experiences. It was the first of hundreds of veterans autographs Burbank has collected on the antique auto since then. On that trip, Burbank was approached by Tully Garrett, co-owner of the Launching Pad Drive-in on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois. The son of a veteran, Garrett told Burbank how his father was wounded during the invasion of Iwo Jima and how the injured man played dead for two days as he lay on the black sand beach, hearing fellow Marines being killed. I was so moved by the story that I asked Tully to sign Military Maxi with a Sharpie pen in honor of his fathers memory, Burbank said. Since then, Burbanks car has been autographed by or on behalf of 700 to 800 veterans. Hes lost count of how many names are there. After names fill up a section of the vehicles exterior, Burbank puts a clear coat on it to preserve the signatures and protect them from sun and rain. About 700 to 800 signatures from U.S. military veterans adorn the 1931 Model A Ford town car that Jay Burbank of Cambria converted to look like a World War II Generals staff car. He plans to collect a lot more names on the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, which is dedicated to U.S. and Canadian veterans, especially those who served during wartime. Maggie Cox is an organizer with Honor Flight Central Coast California, which takes veterans on free Tour of Honor trips to Washington, D.C. Jay is one of those amazing veterans who is still giving his time and heart in service to others, Cox said. Hes working the Maxi project and raising funds, driving (Maxi) to Calabasas to honor a 97-year-old WWII vet, then bringing his special spirit on our trip to D.C. He is someone special. Burbank went to Calabasas because the man hadnt been able to attend a pre-flight luncheon at which all the other Honor Flight vets signed Maxi. He was so excited. His blue eyes were just sparkling, Burbank said of the man. The car does such neat things to people, Burbank said. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina take a pause Friday, June 9, 2023, before they load Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan, a cartop tent, fuel cans and more into the trailer before departing Saturday, June 10, 2023 for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll drive one-fifth of the journey in the antique vehicle on the graveled Dempster Highway. Trip has special meaning for Cambria man In addition to honoring veterans, the trip will serve as a fundraiser. Burbank and Enxuto are collecting donations for scholarships given annually by Cambrias American Legion Post No. 432 to students at Leffingwell High School. The men hope to raise enough for an endowment that would fund at least four $1,000 scholarships per year for Leffingwell grads. The continuation high school, which celebrated the Class of 2023 in a graduation ceremony on June 1, serves the needs of alternative education students in Cambria, San Simeon and Cayucos, according to its website. That cause has special significance for Burbank. As a child and adolescent in the 1960s, Burbank dealt with undiagnosed dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He never graduated from high school, he said, and as a young man, he found it hard to concentrate or make friends. With guidance, determination and grit, he began to bloom. In the military, Burbank developed skills as an aircraft mechanic working on Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. He went on to become a master wood crafter, metalsmith, photographer and warmly effective communicator. In Cambria and as part of American Legion Post No. 432, he and his wife found a welcoming community and many devoted friends. The retired couple devote their time now to giving back to that community and veterans. To donate to the scholarship fund, go to legionpost432.com To track the travelers adventures through the wilds, follow Pat Burbanks trip blog at jayspatsadventures.blog. The Socastee Swing Bridge is an Horry County landmark. Heres what to know about it. The Horry County bridge involved in a June 12 wreck is one of the regions most distinctive and oldest. Heres what to know about the Socastee Swing Bridge. 1. Its closing in on its 100th birthday Built in 1935 as a link between Conway and Myrtle Beach over the Intracoastal Waterway, the bridge is able to pivot twice an hour when necessary to regulate both surface and aquatic traffic. Part of the nationally recognized Socastee Historic District, the 217-foot long span is one five contributing resources that helped the area win a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in the early 2000s. Once it was finished, the bridge marked completion of South Carolinas portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, and a celebration marking the occasion was held in April 1936. Then U.S. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes was in attendance. 2. Swing bridges are a rare sight in South Carolina, and two of of them are in Horry County In addition to the Socastee swing bridge, another connects Little River and North Myrtle Beach. That structure opened in 1935 and was restored several decades later. Engineering firm HDR Inc. says on its website the bridge operates on demand of the boat captains approaching it and clears only about 10 feet over the surface of the water at low tide, making it low enough to require frequent openings. Consequently, this in-demand bridge must work at optimal efficiency to avoid delays. In 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard proposed a change to let the bridge operate on a signal-based system rather than as needed. A new high-level fixed bridge has recently been constructed in close proximity to the swing bridge and currently the majority of vehicular traffic utilizes this new bridge. This action would remove the regulations that provide for scheduled openings for the swing bridge and improve navigation for vessels transiting the area, Coast Guard officials said in suggesting the switch. 3. Horry County has hundreds of bridges. Many are unsafe. An updated structural report for the Socastee Swing Bridge was not immediately available, but its one of 72 countywide. According to a 2011 National Bridge Inventory data sheet, the structure was projected to see 19,712 daily trips by 2031. Engineers at the time deemed the bridge structurally deficient and in need of nearly $2 million worth of repairs. South Carolinas 7th Congressional District that includes Horry County counts 1,571 bridges of various sizes and types with more than 204,000 daily crossings. A 2022 Federal Highway Administration survey found that 43 of the districts bridges were classified as structurally deficient, down from 76 in 2018. It would cost nearly $392 million to repair all 282 7th Congressional District bridges in need of work to make them structurally sound, the agency said. Southern California's persistent June gloom is finally clearing, but more rain is possible Kim Wright, left, and gliding instructor Adam Zachary Smith, center, help students hang glide off the bluff on Sunday at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) After weeks of a particularly persistent bout of overcast weather as May gray dragged on into June gloom, forecasters are hopeful Southern California could see some clearing and warming by the end of this week. As the week goes on we have a slightly better chance of seeing peeks of sun," said David Sweet, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Oxnard. "Theres a trough of low pressure that remains in the area through the week, but it gets weaker and weaker each day." Any shift in the gloomy weather pattern will be gradual, Sweet noted, with temperatures still in the 60s for much of the region Monday about 10 to 15 degrees below average. In some parts of San Diego County, daily low maximum temperature records were set Sunday, with Alpine and El Cajon reaching highs of only 58 and 63, breaking records from the 1960s. Were looking at a weather pattern that is very favorable for the development of low clouds and fog," Sweet said. "Its gloomy out there." This season's chilly, gray spring has been "a pretty aggressive, persistent form," he said, as a trough of low pressure has sat stationary over much of Southern California. "Its causing these very weak low pressure systems to form, and thats keeping the low clouds and fog in place," Sweet said. On Monday morning, Sweet said his team had caught some glimpses of sunshine poking through the clouds in downtown Los Angeles, which should continue in the coming days. By Friday, high temperatures could reach the mid-70s for much of L.A. County's coast and valleys. "The clouds over L.A. County are starting to break up a little bit," Sweet said. "We are starting to see a few breaks here and there. But as the marine layer, fog and clouds continue, Sweet said there's a continued chance for light rain in the area, especially in the mornings across the San Gabriel foothills. And through at least Thursday, there is also an "outsize chance" for afternoon thunderstorms in the Ventura and San Gabriel mountains, which could bring the possibility of local flooding, small hail and gusty winds. As the month progresses with the official start to summer around June 20 the typical June gloom usually begins to fade, Sweet said. "Were hopeful that a little bit before the end of the month well start to break out of this," Sweet said. "Believe me, I'm tired of it too." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SpaceXs first Transporter-branded mission takes flight in 2021. Today (June 12), SpaceX is launching a Falcon 9 rocket with 72 different payloads onboard, the eighth mission in its Transporter ride-share series. These regular flights, which debuted in 2021, offer small satellite companies a chance to put their hardware on orbit for cheap. That, in turn, lets them win over new customers and investment. Every venture-backed company is in a race to demonstrate that its business has traction before the money runs out, and its even harder when launching a product involves a rocket and not an internet connection. Read more Cheap is relative in space launch: SpaceX advertises costs of about $5,500 per kilogram to launch satellites. But a decade ago, when then-young companies like Planet and Spire were starting out, they paid about $85,000 per kilogram to have prototypes launched from the International Space Station. The price has gone down because SpaceXs rocket is low-cost and partially reusable, which allows the company to spread the expense of building and operating it over multiple missions. SpaceX then shares those launch costs between customers, some directly (typically for larger satellites weighing around 100 kilograms (202 pounds) or with launch brokers like Exolaunch or space-tug operators like Momentus, which debuted its vehicle on a previous Transporter mission. Whats inside SpaceXs Transporter-8 mission? Satellites are stacked inside the payload fairing of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ahead of the Transporter-8 mission. This mission is no exception: It will include the first in-space pharmaceutical laboratory, developed by the company Varda Space, which hopes to autonomously produce valuable drugs in orbit. Launcher, recently acquired by the space station company Vast, is sending its first spacecraft to orbit. Starfish Space will launch a small spacecraft to demonstrate its ability to dock with other vehicles in orbit. These missions are also an opportunity for established small satellite operators, like Spire and ICEYE, to expand their networks by launching new spacecraft, and for industry behemoths to get hardware in orbitLockheed Martin has four experimental vehicles for the US military on this mission. And theres always a collection of prototypes, satellites whose activities havent been disclosed by their makers, and intriguing one-offs: Transporter-8 will launch a satellite designed by the Vatican to broadcast a message by Pope Francis. Still, these flights dont benefit everyone in the space industry. SpaceXs virtual monopoly over commercial launches has increased the pressure on companies building rockets designed to fly small satellites, forcing many to pivot toward building larger rockets. And launch brokers are heavily dependent on Elon Musks company; one, Spaceflight, once a mainstay of these missions, was barred from SpaceXs rockets in 2022 and ultimately acquired last week for an undisclosed price by the space firm Firefly. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Russian pro-war commentators have been trying to downplay the gains made by Ukrainian forces during counter-offensive operations, calling their advance through Russian defences the capture of "grey zones". Source: Report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: The ISW stated that Ukrainian troops had visually confirmed advances in Donetsk Oblasts west and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts west. Russian sources also confirmed this, although attempts have been made to downplay Ukraine's advances, the analysts noted. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said that Ukrainian troops had advanced 300-1,500 metres in Ukraines south. Maliar and other Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Ukrainian forces had made gains south of the settlement of Velyka Novosilka between 10 and 11 June, liberating the settlements of Makarivka, Neskuchne, Blahodatne, Storozhove and Novodarivka, among others. The institute noted that some Russian sources have reported that the fighting is ongoing in the "grey zone", or disputed territories, or that Ukrainian troops are acting in areas that Russian soldiers had not fully occupied before the counter-offensive in the countrys south. Quote: "Russian sources are likely referring to Ukrainian territorial advances through Russian defenses as capturing 'grey zones' in order to downplay Ukrainian gains and omit reporting on Ukrainian forces breaking through defensive lines." Details: Meanwhile, the institute said that even though the Ukrainian military had liberated several settlements, it was too early to talk about a "Ukrainian breakthrough". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation delivered 17 cars seized from relatives of former members of parliament Viktor Medvedchuk and Taras Kozak to the needs of one of the Ukrainian army brigades. Source: State Bureau of Investigation Details: In particular, 12 trucks, a crane, a minibus, a van and two SUVs were delivered. The cost of vehicles is US$1.1 million. These vehicles belonged to a business run by relatives of Medvedchuk and Kozak, who were involved in funding Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. They are also the subjects of criminal proceedings regarding the illegal extraction of sand at two quarries in Lviv Oblast. Background: At the request of the SBI, in April 2022, these cars were seized as part of a criminal investigation on suspicion of abuse of power and violation of the rules of protection or use of subsoil. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held talks with visiting President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento in Beijing, pledging to work with Honduras to steer the bilateral relationship toward greater development from a strategic and long-term perspective and to turn their vision of cooperation into tangible results for the greater benefit of the two peoples. "I believe that under joint efforts from the two sides, the China-Honduras relationship will experience sound and steady development, sailing into a bright future," Xi said. COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING FRIENDLY TIES Noting Castro as the first Honduran president to pay a state visit to China, Xi said her visit has "opened a new chapter in the annals of China-Honduras relationship." Xi said the bilateral relationship has got off to a good and speedy start and enjoys great dynamism and promise since China and Honduras established diplomatic relations in March this year. Underscoring the immediate and long-term significance of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Xi stressed "China will remain committed to developing friendly relations with Honduras, firmly support economic and social development in Honduras, and forge a good friendship and partnership with Honduras featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and common development." According to a joint communique released after the conclusion of the talks, China and Honduras have agreed to strengthen political guidance, promote exchanges at all levels, strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and be good friends and partners that have mutual respect, equality, mutual benefits and common development. The historic meeting between the two heads of state took place less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic ties, fully demonstrating the great importance the two sides attach to enhancing ties, and their important consensus will inject strong impetus into the promotion of China-Honduras ties, said Song Junying, head of the Department for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. ONE-CHINA PRINCIPLE AS POLITICAL FOUNDATION Regarding the deepening of political mutual trust, Xi said the one-China principle was the primary prerequisite and political foundation for the establishment of diplomatic ties and the development of bilateral relations between China and Honduras, and it is believed that Honduras will act faithfully upon it. For her part, Castro said Honduras firmly supports and abides by the one-China principle, as well as efforts from the Chinese government to realize national reunification, and Honduras deeply admires China's development achievements under the strong leadership of President Xi. Xi also voiced China's staunch support for Honduras' efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and independence, promote development and improve people's livelihoods. China supports Honduras in choosing its own development path suited to its national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Honduras' internal affairs, Xi said. China is ready to strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance, share experience in poverty eradication, social governance and corruption punishment, and encourage exchanges and cooperation among governments, legislatures, political parties and localities, Xi added. Yuan Dongzhen, deputy director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that adhering to the one-China principle has proved to be the right choice in keeping with the general interests of the world and the trend of the times, and boosting the development of China-Honduras ties will also have an important bearing on the promotion of democracy in international relations. ENHANCING COOPERATION ACROSS THE SPECTRUM During the talks, Xi stressed that the two sides should synergize strategies, building multiple pillars for cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, and pursue common development with the Belt and Road Initiative as the main line. Xi said China will promote the early introduction of Honduran specialty products to the Chinese market, and is willing to start the negotiation process for a free trade agreement at an early date, adding that the two sides should promote people-to-people exchanges. Castro said the Honduran side firmly believes that friendly cooperation with China will bring Honduras more and better development opportunities, and the country looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in such areas as trade, investment, infrastructure, telecommunication, energy, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges. Experts have noted that despite their difference in size, the economies of China and Honduras are highly complementary. The two countries' cooperation in various fields thus enjoys huge potential and broad prospects. Xi said China is willing to work with Honduras to strengthen collaboration on multilateral fronts, jointly safeguard international order and the basic norms governing international relations, enhance solidarity among developing countries, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice. "Cooperation with China in various fields will help facilitate post-COVID-19 economic recovery and development for Honduras, and successful cooperation between China and Honduras can also exert a radial effect on the continuous deepening of China-Latin America relations in the new era," Song Junying said. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) State Farm wont sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market? State Farm made national headlines recently when it said it would stop selling new home insurance policies in California. As Californias largest single provider of bundle home insurance policies the company had 20% of the market in 2021 the news struck some as the beginning of a fresh emergency, with insurers abandoning a fire and flood ravaged state. But the retraction of Californias biggest home coverage provider is only the latest development in a wildfire-fueled crisis that has smoldered beneath the surface of the states insurance market for years. After the disastrous fires of 2017 and 2018, the number of Californians who were told by their insurer that their policy wouldnt be renewed jumped up by 42% to almost 235,000 households. The two severe wildfire years wiped out decades of industry profits. Last year, American International Group let thousands of customers know their home insurance policies would not be renewed, and Chubb, a high-end insurer, said it would continue to non-renew some of its customers. And late last year, thousands of condo owners also found themselves among the uninsurable as the states regulated insurers dropped suburban homeowner association members in droves across San Diego Countys wildfire-prone shrubland. State Farm sort of publicly said what they were doing, but I think for the last few years, weve all seen insurers restricting and pulling back their business in California, said Seren Taylor, vice president of Personal Insurance Federation of California, an industry trade group that counts State Farm as a member. State officials emphasized that State Farms current policyholders will not lose coverage. Its important to note that current customers will not lose their insurance, wrote Michael Soller, deputy insurance commissioner at Californias Insurance department, in an email to CalMatters. This decision will affect people who are shopping for home insurance, in that they will have one fewer provider to choose from. More: Fire in Joshua Tree National Park. What to know about road, trail, camping closures State Farm in a press release blamed high construction costs that make it extra expensive to rebuild after a home is destroyed in California, growing natural disaster risk particularly from wildfires and a challenging reinsurance market. Insurance companies frequently purchase their own insurance known as reinsurance to minimize the risk of getting hit with millions of dollars of costs all at once, as might happen during a catastrophic wildfire or a major hurricane. Reinsurance premiums have spiked in recent years in disaster-prone states like fire-ravaged California and storm battered Florida, Louisiana and Texas. California law prohibits insurers from passing along the cost of reinsurance to customers. Industry groups are lobbying to change that. This is tough for legislators, said John Norwood, a lobbyist for independent insurance brokers. Because the solution is prices going up. How California regulates home insurance High rebuild costs, increasingly severe wildfires and high prices of reinsurance are all risks that insurance companies might be willing to take on. But only for the right price. Increases in insurance premiums in California are approved or denied by the states elected insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara. Industry groups have long argued that Laras office has not allowed providers to set prices commensurate with the cost of doing business in fire-prone California. We have very inexpensive home insurance in California, compared to other states, said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy police program at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. But the thing is, five years ago, we realized oh yeah, actually in California you can burn down 50,000 houses overnight. The consequences of a continued drip-drip decline of insurers from California could be far more costly in the long run, warns Dan Dunmoyer, president of the California Building Industry. As an illustration, he points to California history. After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake dealt roughly $42 billion in damage across Southern California, many home insurers opted to stop doing new business in California entirely. Because home insurance is a basic requirement for most home loans, the exodus of insurers caused the state real estate industry to grind to a halt, Dunmoyer recalled. The whole world stopped, he said. Thats the worst case scenario. Were not quite there yet. Can California block State Farms retreat? There are various ideas circulating about what the state can do to keep State Farm in the market, some more drastic than others. The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog on Tuesday argued Insurance Commissioner Lara has the power to order State Farm to reverse its decision. That authority, the group said, comes from Proposition 103, a voter-backed initiative passed in 1988 that gave the department the power to approve or deny premium increases. Wara, from Stanford Law, said the idea was a non-constructive approach to this problem. He said the entire insurance industry likely would sue the state if the California insurance department were to assert that authority, and the lawsuit would take several years to resolve. He said he finds it hard to believe that a court would force the industry to keep issuing new insurance policies during the years the case was in court. That is a recipe for the entire market falling apart, potentially overnight, Wara said. That would undo not just the insurance market, but everybody that has a home mortgage in California, everybody that wants to buy or sell a home in California. Last resort for California homeowners Another sword hanging over the states insurance industry: The possible demise of the FAIR Plan, the limited insurance plan Californians can turn to when no standard private company will cover them. Its funded by levies on private insurance companies that do business in the state. A lot of other insurers have stopped selling, said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a consumer group. If you talk to an agent or broker today, theyre going to tell you it can be pretty hard to find insurance outside of the FAIR plan, Bach said. As the risk of catastrophic wildfire ramps up across California, that risk falls disproportionately on the FAIR Plan. And if an especially severe fire season renders the plan bankrupt, the tab will fall on those insurers still doing business in the state in proportion to their share of the market, said Wara, from Stanford. State Farm, as the largest insurer, would have to chip in the most. Thats one reason the company might have decided to not issue new policies anywhere in California rather than just limiting new policies to places with low wildfire risk. State Farm is saying we want less of that, Wara said. That problem isnt unique to California. In Texas, the increasing severity of Gulf Coast hurricanes has driven tens of thousands of homeowners onto that states chartered backstop insurer leading to talk of an inevitable crisis. In Florida, the crisis may have already arrived. This week, Floridas insurance commissioner authorized a $1.25 billion line of credit to that states insurer of last resort now the single largest insurer in preparation for the coming storm season. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: State Farm wont sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market? Study: Most Asian Americans agree with affirmative action, but not for college admissions [Source] Only one in five Asian adults believe race and ethnicity should be a factor in college admissions decisions, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center. Affirmative action: On Thursday, the think tank released new data on Asian Americans views regarding affirmative action ahead of the Supreme Courts ruling on the matter later this month. The policy, also known as positive action, allows colleges and universities to consider race in admissions, among other factors. The practice was presented as an effort to boost racial diversity within student bodies. The study: According to Pews national survey, 54% of Asian Americans who have heard of affirmative action said it is a "good thing," 19% said it is a "bad thing" and 27% said they dont know whether it is good or bad. Indian adults (60%) were more likely than Vietnamese adults (48%) and Chinese adults (45%) to say affirmative action is a good thing. More from NextShark: Japans Miyu Kato reaches French Open mixed double finals days after disqualification Democrats were also found to be more likely to agree with the policy than Republicans, who have more divided views. The majority: While Asian Republicans and Democrats may differ in their views of affirmative action, the majority in both groups 90% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats said race or ethnicity should not be a factor in college admissions. According to the study, only one in five Asian adults said race or ethnicity should be considered in college admissions. When asked what factors should be considered, most Asian American adults said high school grades (87%), community service (71%) and standardized test scores (71%). More from NextShark: Strong stench' coming from newly built apartment in S. Korea turns out to be human feces in walls According to another recent Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults, most Asian adults said affirmative action negatively affects fairness and student quality in colleges and universities. There are very, like, pretty big downsides to it but also it hurts Asians the most because, like, affirmative action stuff, like with college board and SAT scores, they dock us down. Its not based on merit, its based on just affirmative action. They want non-Asians less Asians in there, a Loatian respondent said. Pews conclusion: Pew Research Center concludes Asian American adults hold mixed views regarding affirmative action. More from NextShark: More Asian Americans are voting Republican, says new study The research comes amid tensions leading up to the upcoming affirmative action cases involving Harvard University and University of North Carolina. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Shocking video of women diners brutally attacked by men sparks China nationwide outrage FILE PHOTO: Man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment in Khartoum North KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Air strikes, artillery and gunfire rocked several areas of Sudan's capital on Monday as fighting between warring factions intensified for a second day, trapping civilians in a worsening humanitarian crisis. The war between the country's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has raged for almost two months, forcing almost 2 million to flee and wrecking the economy, causing frequent electricity and water outages. Talks in Jeddah have failed to permanently end fighting and clashes intensified as soon as a ceasefire ended on Sunday. While the RSF has spread out across most of the capital, controlling main streets and setting up camp inside some homes, the army has the advantage of air and artillery weaponry. Residents of eastern Khartoum reported being hit by air strikes, while in southern Khartoum as well as northern Omdurman reported being hit by artillery fighting. Eyewitnesses reported clashes in central Khartoum as well. "Since yesterday, the war has come back and there's strikes from all direction," said Awatif Sidahmed, 43, living in Sharq el-Nil across the Nile from Khartoum. "Our neighbourhood is a war zone so leaving is difficult and staying home is difficult. We don't know what to do." Those who stay also struggle with dwindling funds as the government has stopped paying salaries and pensions. More than 200,000 of the 1.9 million Sudanese who have managed to flee their homes have gone to Egypt, which this week imposed a visa requirement for children, women and the elderly who had previously been exempt. Hundreds of Sudanese were turned back at Cairo airport and sent back on return flights, according to Cairo airport sources, after a similar exemption for those with residencies in western and Gulf states was removed. DARFUR FIGHTING No side has made clear progress, and the fighting has spread to several cities to the west in the Kordofan and Darfur regions. In the westernmost city of El Geneina, militias backed by the RSF have launched attacks on the city, which has now lost access to power and running water. Tens of thousands have fled to Chad. Activist Kamal Alzein told Reuters that he had heard from three activists in the city that has been largely cut off from telecom networks that 1,100 people had been killed and 3,000 injured since attacks began in April. Reuters could not immediately verify the numbers. The highest official death toll from the Sudanese health ministry was 510, reported in late May. The Darfur Bar Association, which monitors the conflict in the region, said that 17 people had been killed on Monday as a result of shelling, while 100 had died over the past five days. Geneina remains under siege, it said. In a statement on Sunday's intense fighting in Bahri, the army says that while they were able to make gains against the RSF and claim to have killed hundreds, it had also lost several soldiers. It blamed the RSF for deadly air strikes on civilians in southern Khartoum. The RSF in turn said that the army had used the 24-hour ceasefire on Saturday to reposition troops and attack immediately after. Kenyan President William Ruto said on Monday that East African countries would conduct face-to-face meetings with the heads of the army and RSF within 10 days to discuss stopping the war and humanitarian corridors. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Monday agencies had been able to deliver supplies for 2 million people including 57 cross-line movements. That included medical supplies to 42,000 people living on the island of Tuti on the Nile, where residents have said their single bridge to the mainland was blocked by the RSF, cutting off food and medicine supplies. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz in Dubai and Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo; Additional reporting by Abdelnasser Aboelfadl; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Relatively obscure nominations are turning into Senate knife fights as 2024 approaches. And the Commerce Committee is the center of the action. So far this year, three Biden picks for executive-branch positions withdrew because they lacked enough support in the committee, which has four Democratic members up for reelection in swing states next fall. And when Republicans stick together under the surprising leadership of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) that can cause problems. In theory, the Democratic Senate can unilaterally confirm anyone with 50 votes and push nominations through committees with simple majorities. But that requires near-total party unity which isnt always easy to achieve on the Commerce Committee, other panels or the Senate floor. Its a dynamic that could force Biden to keep acting officials in some top jobs, which Trump took to extremes and elicited Democratic criticism. But the Biden administration, congressional Democrats and the nominees themselves are realizing some fights arent even worth having. Take Ann Carlson, who Biden tapped to run the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. Facing tough attacks from Cruz and committee Republicans, she removed herself from consideration two months after the White House nominated her. The Biden administration realized that there's no reason to go through this because the agency can continue to function without a Senate-confirmed nominee, said a Democratic senator familiar with the nomination, granted anonymity to speak candidly. A White House official said Carlson made the decision to withdraw. The Carlson episode is instructive for a White House and Democratic Senate thats faced several tough nomination crunches. At the moment, Labor Secretary hopeful Julie Su is in the highest-profile fight, as a handful of Democratic senators remain undecided and there's no floor vote in sight. Su may be able to serve as acting secretary through the election if needed, according to a person familiar with the nomination. White House officials expressed confidence in the overall percentage of nominees theyve pushed through the 51-49 chamber, including the recent confirmation of Dilawar Syed to the No. 2 job at the Small Business Administration after two years of delay. The Senate has confirmed more than 850 Biden administration appointees as of this week, according to a White House official. That's more than the Trump administration had at this point despite larger GOP majorities. Still, its not hard to see why the Commerce Committee is so tough: The combative Cruz is the top Republican on the panel. And the committees Democratic members include incumbent Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). In addition to Carlson, the nominations for Bidens FAA administrator Phil Washington and FCC Commissioner Gigi Sohn both faltered in the Commerce Committee. Tester put it this way: I could blame it on Cruz, but I dont know that to be the truth. Still, the withdrawal is a point of pride for Cruz, who had criticized Carlson's position on fuel economy standards, Washington's lack of aviation experience and Sohn's progressive positions. The Senate has defeated three non-judicial Biden nominees, Cruz said. All three had been in the Commerce Committee. Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said in an interview that each nominees circumstances were different, calling Carlsons withdrawal a surprise and Sohns defeat earlier this year less so: The administration "knew exactly what was going to happen," Cantwell said. "We tried to fight for her. We didnt have the votes. Its no secret that Republicans have made blocking the presidents nominees a top goal, especially when it comes to positions protecting consumers, Cantwell added in a statement. Democrats will never stop fighting for President Bidens nominees who will stand-up for American consumers. The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative opposition research group run by a former staffer for Cruzs 2016 presidential bid, took credit for helping dismantle Sohn and Washingtons nominations. The White House official blamed an onslaught of unfounded Republican attacks for Washingtons defeat and said Sohn would have been a strong FCC commissioner. Su, meanwhile, is still in limbo after she got through the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which also has jurisdiction over her confirmation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is laboring to confirm her but declining to guarantee confirmation, or even a floor vote. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he's "nowhere" on Su, but Democrats are operating as if he is opposed, according to a person familiar with the matter. That leaves no margin for error given the assumption that all Republicans will vote no. Moderate Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) both voted against Su in committee. Theres little political upside for a vulnerable incumbent to publicly support a nominee who may never get a vote. Tester said I want to keep my options open until we have a vote on Su and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) similarly demurred. Thats frustrating their colleagues from solidly blue states. I haven't been told factually why people would be against her. We're not even talking about the Republicans, said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). I'm just at a loss. Biden has confidence in Su, who is currently serving as acting labor secretary, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this week: Were going to do everything that we can to make sure that she actually becomes secretary. White House officials and outside groups including labor unions have maintained a steady drumbeat of support for Sus nomination, according to a White House official granted anonymity to detail private conversations. They regularly participate in a war room call on the effort. Chief of staff Jeff Zients and Director of Legislative Affairs Louisa Terrell are in regular touch with Schumer and senators, according to the official. Terrell is working with Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to coordinate support. Past Su and the Commerce Committee, the logjam on judicial nominees has eased since Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) returned to the Judiciary Committee, allowing Democrats to advance Biden nominees who lack GOP support. Still, it hasnt been all roses there either: Two of the presidents lifetime judicial picks, Jabari Wamble and Michael Delaney, have withdrawn in recent weeks and a third, Scott Colom, is facing a veto from Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi. Still, Biden and the Democrats have prevailed on other tough fights. Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti muscled through the Senate in March after a nearly two-year stall. The Biden administration is making headway with Republicans on some judicial nominees. And with an evenly split Senate last Congress, Cantwell was able to confirm FTC commissioners Lina Khan and Alvaro Bedoya and Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Mary Boyle over some rigid GOP opposition. The president has already tapped Anna Gomez to replace Sohn as the FCC nominee, and Cantwell believes she has better prospects. The senator added that she hopes the administration nominates new candidates for the FAA and NHTSA. And while Democrats are often able to go around Republicans to unilaterally confirm nominees, early Republican blockades make it that much more difficult to unite their caucus. Even the public defection of one Democrat, like Manchins opposition to Sohn, can be enough to force a withdrawal. They're having problems on their side, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a former Commerce Committee chair. They just hope that when they push hard enough, that eventually their members will come in line. But there are a couple of cases now where that's not been true. John Hendel and Tanya Snyder contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- Proceedings on the fatal shooting case of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had to be temporarily called off after a suspicious item was delivered to the Nara District Court premises, public broadcaster NHK said, citing a source related to the investigation. Most Read from Bloomberg The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, had been due in court Monday for pretrial consultations when staff and visitors to the building were briefly evacuated as police dealt with a potentially dangerous object delivered earlier that day, the Asahi newspaper reported. Asahi cited local police as saying the object was a cardboard box sealed with adhesive tape, which set off alarms when it passed through a metal detector. Police removed the object and confirmed the security of the premises before allowing staff to return, it said. A court official contacted by telephone declined to comment. The incident comes almost a year after the suspect was seen in video shooting Abe at close range with a homemade gun while the former premier was making a campaign speech in the western prefecture. The shooting horrified Japan, where gun ownership is tightly controlled, and was followed in April by a man throwing what appeared to be a pipe bomb that exploded close to current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as he prepared to make a speech. The suspect in the attack on Kishida may have nursed a grudge over the fact he was rejected as a candidate for Japans upper house because he was too young, Kyodo News reported at the time. Kishida was unharmed and continued his program of speeches after the explosion. Yamagami told police he was motivated by a grudge against Abe for his links to a fringe religion that he blamed for bankrupting his family by taking excessive donations from his mother. The incident prompted the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attempt to distance itself from the conservative religious group, formerly known as the Unification Church, and the fallout hit support for Kishidas government. The latest incident comes amid simmering speculation that Kishida may call a general election in the coming weeks. While he neednt hold the vote until 2025, renewing his mandate now would help him keep control of his party as he heads into a tough debate over how to pay for increased spending on defense and policies to halt a fall in the birthrate. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. HELSINKI The hurdles facing Swedens accession to NATO have delayed talks to elevate Nordic defense cooperation to something of a self-enclosed cluster of nations within the alliance. Nordic governments, working on the basis that Finland and Sweden would have both secured membership approval ahead of NATOs summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, now face the possibility that the political landscape in Turkey might continue to thwart Swedens accession ambitions. Following the reelection of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in late May, U.S. leaders have increased the pressure on Ankara to lift its blockade against Stockholms accession. Well be better off when the process is finalized, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Sweden, The Washington Post reported on May 31. And so we urge both [Turkey] and Hungary, who also has not yet ratified, to ratify their accession as quickly as possible. U.S. President Joe Biden has made the issue a priority ahead of the NATO summit next month, telling reporters additional discussions between him and Erdogan were to follow in early June. Leading Nordic politicians, including former Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, have raised concerns that approval of Swedens entry to NATO could be postponed until April 2024 when the United States hosts the 75th anniversary of the alliance in Washington. Finland, which had initially vowed to join NATO at the same time as Sweden, became a member in April. Hultqvists Social Democratic Party has criticized Swedens center-right government for lacking a fallback position should Sweden fail in its mission to join in July. What is needed as a plan B is broader Nordic cooperation to ensure Swedens security going forward if entry to NATO is delayed. If this is to be a joint project for Sweden, the government must sit down and engage with parties. It must talk plainly about what they are doing to ensure accession to NATO, Hultqvist said. Prime Minister Ulf Kristerssons administration has so far declined to present an alternative course of action. Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to block Swedens accession to NATO, accusing the Nordic state of refusing to extradite suspected Kurdish militants to Turkey. Erdogan also labeled Sweden a country soft on dealing with terrorism. The worst-case scenario for Sweden was a victory for Erdogan that leads to Turkey digging in its heels. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during an election campaign rally in Ankara on April 30, 2023. (Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images) Nordic governments had hoped to convene separate meetings between national defense ministers and military chiefs in the wake of the Vilnius summit. The proposed gatherings would carry the historic importance of being the first between four Nordic NATO states, serving as platforms to build a more unified defense bridge previously impossible given Finlands and Swedens neutral status. A Nordic region in NATO has serious implications for cross-border, collaborative military organizations like Nordic Defence Cooperation, or NORDEFCO. Hultqvist views that forum as having the capability to quickly expand its role, especially if Sweden is left waiting. The basis for strong Nordic cooperation already exists within the framework of NORDEFCO where there are different agreements between the countries, he said. This level of cooperation can be developed and deepened considerably. By contrast, Finlands placement within NATO is expected to take shape in the coming months. The government anticipates it will fall under the Allied Joint Force Commands headquarters in Brunssum, Netherlands. The command is responsible for NATOs defense in Europe north of the Alps, an operational region that also covers the NATO-policed Baltic states and Baltic Sea area. It may take some time before final answers are found on the issue of placement, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen said. Long-term solutions are still open. Finland has so far done business with Brunssum, as we have expected all along. Norfolk is not yet fully operational. Longer-term solutions will fall into place in due course. Norfolk, Virginia, houses a sizable NATO headquarters contingent, including the alliances Allied Command Transformation, a clearinghouse for next-generation technologies and warfare concepts to which all members contribute staff. An operational element, Joint Force Command Norfolk, also opened there in 2020. Future talks to deepen defense collaboration in the High North may depend on the collective long-term desire by Nordic governments to fall under the latter structure, as opposed to the Europe-based command. Norway and Denmark have indicated their preference to be part of Joint Force Command Norfolk, while Finland and Sweden concur, viewing a unified Nordic approach as fundamental to building a robust defense capability that maximizes the pooling of Nordic air, land and naval resources. The potential for asset pooling is greatest in the area of air defense. Collectively, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland have 200-280 modern fighters existing and on order including Saab JAS 39 Gripens and F-35 aircraft types. A solid Nordic defense capability offers a powerful deterrent to hostile forces in the High North, said Knut Storberget, chair of the Norwegian Defence Commission. That organization delivered a report critical of Norways defense spending and capabilities to the Defence Ministry on May 3. The report advocated the establishment of a united Nordic region in NATO to counter potential future aggression by Russia. The panel recommended a dramatic and immediate one-off payment of $6.4 billion to top up the Norwegian defense budget for 2023. Norway will spend 1.43% of its gross domestic product on defense in 2023, short of NATOs 2% target. The government is committed to meeting the 2% target by 2026. Russia regards NATO expansion to Sweden and Finland as a regional threat, said Storberget, who described the relationship between Nordic states and Moscow as having changed forever in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The new tensions has consequences for Norway and all nations in the High North, Storberget said. We are in a new security policy situation where defense capabilities do not correspond to the security situation we find ourselves in, and far less to the challenge picture that is being developed. Greater long-termism, predictability and unifying political solutions are needed. Ukraine's President Zelenskyi pays tribute to Ukrainian servicemen killed in battle for the Moshchuk village, in Kyiv region GENEVA (Reuters) -Swiss authorities said that several government websites were targeted in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Monday that was claimed by pro-Russian hackers. The attack comes as the Swiss parliament prepares for a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy scheduled for Thursday and coincides with a national holiday in Russia. Switzerland's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said that "various websites of the Federal Administration and enterprises affiliated with the Confederation were unavailable" in the wake of the attack, claimed by the NoName hacking group. "The NCSC is analysing the attack together with the administrative units concerned and defining appropriate measures," it said in a statement. The NCSC, which did not link Zelenskiy's upcoming address to the attack, said the NoName group had also been behind a separate attack against the Swiss parliament's website last week. In a post on the Telegram messenger service, the group said the attack against the parliament's website last week had been carried out to "thank Swiss Russophobes" for adopting another EU sanctions package against Moscow. The group, which pledged to continue defending Russian interests "on the information front," added it had taken down the websites of Switzerland's justice ministry and police. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Hugh Lawson) A tanker truck fire, unidentified body and disaster declared: What we know about Philadelphias I-95 collapse I-95-Collapse ( Copyright 2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer) A major travel and shipping corridor in the northeastern US will face major disruptions after a vehicle fire caused parts of I-95 in Philadelphia to crumble. Government officials in Pennsylvania and the US Department of Transportation are scrambling to respond to the catastrophic collapse of an overpass. The highway is a major thoroughfare for both individual travel and shipping in the region, and may cause significant disruption to both due to the severity of the collapse. At noon on Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in response to the collapse. Here's everything we know about the I-95 highway overpass collapse. Tanker truck fire spews black smoke into the sky Emergency dispatchers received calls of a massive vehicle firing burning beneath a portion of I-95 where it overpasses a ramp to Cottman Avenue around 6.20am on Sunday. Drivers reported seeing huge black plumes of smoke rising from beneath the highway as they rode past. First responders found the fire originated from a truck hauling 8,500 gallons of 87-octane fuel to a local Wawa gas station. It is still unclear how the fire started. The intense heat mixed with the immense weight of the concrete of the highway apparently weakened the structural integrity of the overpass, causing a portion to collapse down onto the ramp and the truck below. Mark Fusetti was driving south on I-95 on the way to pick up his son from the airport when he saw the smoke rising from below the highways. He said he initially thought the smoke was cause by a brushfire, according to CNN. I-95-Collapse He began filming and recorded himself and other drivers going over a "dip" in the highway he compared it to the feeling of driving over a curb and only later realised what he felt was the concrete collapsing beneath him. I realised what happened when I looked in my rearview mirror. I see 95 all of the cars stopping and then I learned, shortly after that the road had just collapsed and what was really going on, Mr Fusetti told CNNs Jim Acosta on Sunday. Sierra Jones, a resident of the Tacony neighborhood on Philadelphia, said the fire smelled "like burning plastic mixed with, like, if you're standing right behind a car and it's blowing fumes in your face," according to ABC6. All lanes of the highway were shut down due to the fire and collapse. Rescue crews rush to find survivors in rubble First responders were tasked with trying to stop the fire while also searching for possible victims on and beneath the overpass. Because the highway collapsed onto the burning truck leaving thousands of tons of steel and concrete in its wake their first major hurdle was actually reaching the seat of the fire in order to extinguish the flames. After hours of work and searching the debris, first responders found no evidence that any motorists were killed during the collapse. Initially it was unclear what happened to the truck driver, but ABC6 reported on Monday that crews had located human remains beneath the rubble they believe may be the driver. Officials have not positively identified the human remains. However, the truck driver's family identified him as Nathaniel Moody. He has not been seen since the accident. Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Getty) Traffic along the affected sections of I-95 which services more than 160,000 motorists daily was re-routed to detours as crews began the process of clearing the rubble and investigating the site. The city's public transportation service, SEPTA, was immediately cleared to increase its capacity to help service commuters in the city whose daily drives will be impacted by the route's closure. In order to accommodate travel through the city and region following the I-95 collapse, SEPTA will provide added capacity and Service. on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Lines, the agency said in a statement. The governor conducted a fly-over of the site, describing it as "remarkable devastation" and noting that it was incredible that more people did not die. I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died, he said. That statement was made prior to the discovery of the human remains that may belong to the driver of the truck that burned. The Coast Guard was also deployed to contain a sheen that was reported in the Delaware River following the fire. Coast Guard Ensign Josh Ledoux said it did not appear that any of the material was spreading further into the environment, and later determined the sheen was only spotted in a cove near the river, but not in the river. "As far as waterways go, it's being contained, and it seems like things are under control," Mr Ledoux told ABC6. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Sunday that Joe Biden had been briefed on the collapse and had been in contact with both the governor's and mayor's offices. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team to investigate the incident. This screen grab from video provided by WPVI-TV/6ABC shows the collapsed section of I-95 with fire trucks on the scene in Philadelphia, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP) (WPVI-TV/6ABC) Fears highway rebuild could take months Due to the extent of the damage, the governor said rebuilding the highway would likely take months. "We expect that to take some number of months. We expect it to take that time," Mr Shapiro said. "And we will have that specific timeline set forth once the engineers and PennDOT have completed their review to expedite this process and to cut through the red tape." Mr Shapiro said he had spoken with DOT head Pete Buttigieg and was assured that there would be "absolutely no delay" in securing federal funds to begin rebuilding the "critical roadway" as safely and as efficiently as possible. This is a major artery for people and goods, and the closure will have significant impacts on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete. Our department will be there with support throughout the process of I-95 returning to normal. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023 Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt traveled to the region Monday to survey the damage and offer support in the clean-up and rebuild effort. "The I-95 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and FHWA has offered support and assistance to state and local officials to help them safely reopen this section of I-95 as quickly as possible," an agency spokesperson said in a statement. Tumar Alexander, the managing director for the City of Philadelphia, said the collapse will have a "significant impact to this community for a while," according to CNN, noting that the corridor "will be impacted for a long time." The corridor services numerous industrial businesses, port facilities, and manufacturing plants in the surrounding area. Those industries are whats going to feel the brunt of the disruption probably due to surface street delays and potentially diversions for shipments coming in and out, Kristen Scudder, the city's planning commission freight program manager told the network. She warned that diversions could also cause a ripple effect in the area's supply chain, potentially spiking shipping and inventory storage costs. Ms Scudder said that while there would likely be some initial congestion among regular city traffic, she anticipates drivers will become familiar with new routes and that corridor clogging should subside over time. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) After seven years, British rock band Coldplay will be returning to the Philippines as part of the Asia leg of its "Music of the Spheres" concert tour. Concert producer Live Nation Philippines confirmed in a Facebook post on Monday that the band's one-night show will be held on Jan. 19, 2024 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Pre-selling of tickets will open on June 19, 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at www.coldplay.com, while general on-sale tickets will be available on June 20, 12 p.m. Ticket prices and seat plan of the concert are yet to be announced. "Be prepared to sing your favorite anthems from this amazing band who performs a crafted-to-perfection show, while championing sustainability," Live Nation Philippines added. The award-winning band has made a commitment in 2022 to make its latest concert tour as sustainable and low-carbon as possible. Since then, stage production of the band has been powered by kinetic dance floors that will generate energy to power the show through audience movement. Fans can also use electricity-generating bicycles that will be installed at each show to help charge the show batteries. "We're very conscious that the planet is facing a climate crisis," the band wrote in its official Twitter account as they announced the onset of the tour. "We spent the last two years consulting with environmental experts to make this tour as sustainable as possible." Coldplay held its first concert in the country in 2017 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay City. It featured a mix of the band's old and new hits from "Yellow" to "A Head Full of Dreams" tracks. Many tech workers are back in the office at least some of the time. Getty Silicon Valley bosses are not backing down when it comes to return-to-office policies. Most major tech companies are mandating some form of in-office work. Many of them either embraced or tolerated remote work but now they seem less keen to do so. After fully embracing or at least cautiously tolerating the remote-work policies that the pandemic forced upon them, tech CEOs have become far less keen on the practice in recent months. Earlier in June, Meta announced that workers must go into the office three days a week, beginning September 5. The company originally said it was on board with remote-work culture, but since March it's been instructing managers to stop posting jobs with a remote option, Insider reported. Apple has always been stricter than some of its peers about staff returning to its office, as Insider previously reported. The company has been monitoring employees to ensure they show up at the office at least three days a week. Staff who don't comply would be given "escalating warnings," Platformer's Zoe Schiffer said in March. Google is also cracking down on hybrid workers who try to dodge the company's mandate to show up at least three days a week. In an email sent to staff last week, which was reviewed by Insider, Google said office attendance would be a factor in employees' performance reviews. Twitter's former CEO Parag Agrawal memorably announced in 2022 that he'd continue the option of working from home "forever." Elon Musk's takeover quickly brought that promise crashing down. Musk has criticized remote work on several occasions and recently called it "morally wrong." He accused the "laptop classes" of living "in la-la land." Martha Stewart has also weighed in on the productivity of remote workers, saying: "You can't possibly get everything done working three days a week in the office and two days remotely." Mandates to work in the office are generally unpopular with employees. More than half of US workers who are fully remote would be willing to take a pay cut rather than return to the office, a recent poll from The Washington Post and Ipsos found. Amazon workers have been some of the most vocal critics of the new demands. Last month, workers planned a walkout to address the company's return-to-office demands, among other issues, according to The Washington Post. The employer backlash against remote work follows a period of upheaval in the tech industry. The sector has been savaged by mass layoffs, which appear to have tipped the balance of power back to employers after a widely reported talent war and mass resignations last year. Read the original article on Business Insider A teenager was arrested after gunshots rang out as El Paso police responded to noise complaints about a loud house party in a far East Side neighborhood over the weekend. Dominic Vaquera, 17, is accused of firing gunshots and then allegedly threatening to shoot officers who responded to the "shots fired" incident, police said. No one was wounded by the gunfire. Dominic Vaquera At 12:13 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a noise disturbance where a party was going on and people were in the street and blocking driveways in the 11700 block of Campfire Lane, a police spokesman said. The street is next to Saul Kleinfeld Drive, north of Dick Shinaut Park. Violent crime: El Paso couple found dead in murder-suicide in Northeast home As officers approached the party, gunshots were fired. Officers entered the backyard of the home, where they encountered Vaquera, who allegedly told police that he had a gun and threatened to shoot officers, a prosecutor said at a bond hearing Monday, according to Channel 14-KFOX. Witnesses allegedly identified Vaquera as the shooter. Vaquera, of East El Paso, was arrested on charges of discharge of a firearm, obstruction/retaliation and unlawful carrying of a weapon. On Monday, he remained at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown held on bonds totaling $250,000. More: Teens, guns and mental health: Juvenile crime in El Paso getting more violent Police also arrested 45-year-old Roberto Antonio Rodriguez on a charge of purchasing or furnishing alcohol to a minor, officials said. Another 17-year-old man was arrested on a misdemeanor public intoxication charge. Both have since been released from jail. Roberto Antonio Rodriguez Under Texas law, people 17 and older are considered adults in the criminal justice system and go to adult courts and adult prison. Anyone with information regarding shootings, illegal gun possession and any other criminal activity may call police at 915-832-4400 or may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS). Loaded revolver This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Teen arrested after shots fired at far East El Paso house party Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Monday that prohibits sexually explicit material in public school libraries, but said more work is needed from lawmakers on education-related legislation. In the past couple years, debates have played out in Texas districts over whether certain books are appropriate for school libraries and the role parents should play in monitoring reading material. The new Texas law requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to create mandatory standards for school libraries, that includes a ban on material that is sexually explicit. Im signing a law that gets that trash out of our schools, Abbott said. Book vendors would be responsible for rating library materials as sexually explicit or sexually relevant. Books labeled as sexually relevant could be available to students with parental approval. Books considered explicit could not be sold to districts and would need to be recalled if in library collections. The bill was among four parental empowerment bills that Abbott signed Monday. Other bills relate to the vetting process for instructional materials, a fund to help parents pay for special education services outside the classroom and a bill to let parents decide if their child should repeat a grade. The library book law comes after a former North Texas representative in 2021 targeted more than 800 books in a school library book probe. The topics included race, sex and sexuality. An April report from free speech organization PEN America found in the first half of the 2022-2023 school year, instances of books being banned increased 28% compared to the six months before. Thirty percent of the books are about race, racism or featured characters of color and 26% had LGBTQ characters or themes. Texas was among the states with the most instances of book bans, according to the report. Ahead of signing the four bills, Abbott confirmed during the Monday news conference that lawmakers will be called back for a special session to focus on parental empowerment in education. He prefaced that by saying the state needs to deliver on the promise to parents that parents will have the ability to choose the education pathway best for their child. Abbott has advocated for education savings accounts, a voucher-like program that would allow state dollars be used for a students private education. The House and Senate have clashed on vouchers in recent months, a debate that became entangled in the prospect of teacher pay raises as the regular legislation wrapped up in late May. Its important for parents and Texans to know that there has been a pathway for both the House and Senate to work collaboratively to achieve parental choice in education, Abbott said. Weve gotten far closer than what people know. The most important thing that we can do is to provide the broadest opportunity possible for parents in the state of Texas to choose. Asked whether the special session would focus solely on school choice or if would also include teacher pay raises and other education policies, Abbott said the call can be expected to look like a House Bill that, after being amended in the Senate, bundled education savings accounts, teacher pay and other topics. The legislation did not make it to Abbotts desk. Combined with funding allocated during the regular session, Abbott said he would authorize more funding for public education and teacher pay raises than any governor in the history of the state. A long way from the dance floor, MDMA has caught the attention of researchers who believe it could be a powerful way to treat a wide variety of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. In interviews with Scientific American's "Science, Quickly" podcast, researchers who study the potential therapeutic effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine, better known as "MDMA" or "ecstasy," describe how it could help treat these conditions by flooding the brain with the neurotransmitter serotonin. As Scientific American notes, the drug was initially synthesized more than 100 years ago by pharmaceutical company Merck, which was originally trying to make a blood clotting agent. It was shelved after animal tests because it was too expensive, but years later, when it was given to humans, its euphoria-inducing properties quickly turned it into a popular party drug. But it was also used by therapists as early as the 1970s and 1980s before being banned by the US Drug Enforcement Agency in 1985. In spite of being banned, researchers have remained intrigued by whether it has any therapeutic potential. Michael Mithoefer, a psychiatrist who's been studying MDMA's therapeutic effects for more than 20 years, told Scientific American that the drug showed huge promise when paired with psychotherapy, in a trial involving 90 patients with PTSD. "88 percent of people receiving MDMA plus the therapy had meaningful improvement in their PTSD symptoms," Mithoefer said, "versus 60 percent who had improvement with the therapy alone." "In terms of losing the PTSD diagnosis, the therapy plus MDMA was 67 percent of people no longer meeting the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis versus 32 percent in the therapy-only group," he added. Other similar studies also found that MDMA, along with therapy, could be an effective way to treat PTSD. As of right now, the substance is still considered a Schedule I drug, which means that the US government sees it as a dangerous drug that has no accepted medical use. That, however, could soon change. The Food and Drug Administration is considering legalizing MDMA therapy based on these kinds of therapeutic findings. And given the promising results, it's clearly a psychoactive drug with huge potential. More on MDMA: Doctors Fascinated by Man Who Took 40,000 Ecstasy Pills and Experienced Years of Terrible Symptoms A weekend trip to the beach turned into a distressing event as thousands of dead fish washed ashore on Texas's Gulf Coast in biblical proportions. According to officials, a low dissolved oxygen event was the culprit. Photos and videos shared online this past weekend showed massive amounts of dead fish inundating the shoreline of Quintana Beach, which is located roughly 61 miles south of Houston. Wave after wave that crashed ashore pushed more dead fish onto the beach. At one point, dead fish spanned from Quintana Beach to the mouth of the Brazos River, which is a distance of approximately 6 miles. "This is an ecological disaster," one person wrote on Twitter. "There's hundreds of thousands of dead fish floating at Quintana beach. You can see them floating as far as the eye can see. And the smell is so pungent it gives people headaches," another Twitter user wrote. Quintana Beach officials warned residents to stay out of the water as the thousands of dead fish raised bacterial levels. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) Kills and Spills Team, low dissolved oxygen was to blame for the swarms of dead fish. "If there isn't enough oxygen in the water, fish can't 'breathe.' Low dissolved oxygen can be the result of human activities, but in many cases, it's a natural occurrence," the agency wrote on its website, noting that this is one of the most common causes of fish kills in Texas. An excessive amount of algae can often be to blame for a low dissolved oxygen event. As algae decompose, they consume dissolved oxygen, making it difficult for fish to absorb. This can be exacerbated by warmer ocean waters, which create conditions favorable for the growth of toxic algae. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell said water temperatures in the ocean along Texas's coastline were generally running 2.8-3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to NOAA buoys. "Fish kills like this are common in the summer when temperatures increase," according to a statement from TPWD shared by Quintana Beach County Park's Facebook page. Water samples taken from the area and other nearby locations, including the Brazos River, which feeds into the Gulf, revealed an alarming absence of dissolved oxygen, the TPWD said. According to the TPWD, the Gulf menhaden, a species of fish prevalent in the region, were the most affected by the event. Quintana Beach County Park reported that the pedestrian beach was largely cleared as of Sunday but urged residents to "give it a couple more days" for everything to clear out. Just two months ago, millions of dead fish washed up in a river in the small Australian town of Menindee. Like this most recent event in Texas, officials in Australia said the cause of the fish deaths was related to low oxygen levels in the water. These massive fish kills have drawn attention to climate change. A 2019 report from the United Nations indicated that human-induced climate change and the warming of ocean waters were leading to oxygen loss. Marine organisms, including fish, are among the wildlife most vulnerable to these changes. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Massive fire on Egypt tourist boat leaves at least three British tourists missing LONDON (Reuters) - Three British nationals died in a fire on a boat in Egypt's Red Sea on Sunday, British holiday company Scuba Travel said in a statement on Monday. Twelve other people also on the scuba diving holiday and 14 crew members were rescued from the ship, the 'Hurricane', after the fire broke out at 0530 GMT on June 11, the company said. The three tourists who died had chosen not to dive that day, while the other 12 were attending a briefing on board when the fire broke out. They were immediately evacuated by rib, while the captain and two dive guides tried to reach the missing passengers before also abandoning the ship for safety. Britain's Foreign Office said it was in contact with local authorities about the incident and supporting nationals involved. The boat was located off the Elphinstone Reef near the south eastern Egyptian town of Marsa Alam, when the fire started. Egypt's Red Sea resorts are popular with tourists for their beaches and diving. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, Egyptian authorities said on Sunday. "Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time," Scuba Travel said. The local authorities and police will now conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fire, the company's statement added. (Reporting by Alun John; editing by Sarah Young) Annapolis mass shooting that left three dead began with argument over a parked car The horror mass shooting that left three men dead and three others injured at a home in Annapolis, Maryland, began with an argument over a parked car, it has been revealed. Police were called to reports of a shooting at around 8pm local time on Sunday at the 1000 block of Paddington Place, Annapolis Police said. Officers arrived on the scene to find six victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Three of the victims Mario Mireles Ruiz, 27, Christian Segovia, 25, and Nicholas Mireles, 55 were pronounced dead at the scene. The three other victims were taken to Shock Trauma Units and were expected to survive. A suspect Charles Robert Smith, 43 surrendered to police on the scene and has since been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and assault. Now, new details have emerged about the mass shooting, revealing what exactly turned a birthday party into a deadly attack. Court documents allege that the incident unfolded when Mr Smiths mother Shirley Smith was unhappy with a car parked blocking her driveway. Ms Smith called a local parking enforcement employee to complain about the vehicle, prompting Ruiz to go to speak to Ms Smith. Mr Smith and Ruiz then got into a verbal argument that then became physical, the charging documents state. At that point, Mr Smith then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Ruiz multiple times. Charles Robert Smith, 43, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and assault (Annapolis Police Department) Mr Smith then allegedly shot and killed Ruizs friend Segovia. According to the court documents, Mr Smith then went back inside the house and retrieved a rifle, which he used to fire out of the window at other people who had rushed to render aid to the two victims. The gunfire struck Mireles, killing him. All three victims bodies were found outside while police seized a semiautomatic handgun and a rifle at the scene. Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson said in a press conference on Sunday that the shooting was not random. This was an interpersonal dispute so I want to assure the community there is no public safety threat, Mr Jackson said. Mr Jackson said the shooting was unusual for the area of Annapolis where it occurred. Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley expressed sadness and frustration at the shooting during the press conference. Tonight was an example of, yet again, senseless violence, Mr Buckley said. He added: People trying to resolve issues with guns it is the most ridiculous thing we can do as a society. We have to do things to stop this. Police on the scene of the shooting (AP) Mr Smith is being held without bond while investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the shooting was a hate crime. Last week, seven people were shot and two died after a high school graduation ceremony in Virginia after an individual opened gunfire in a crowd of people. Police in Virginia said they believed the suspected shooter knew one of the victims and had a dispute. Last month, five people including a nine-year-old child were killed in Texas after neighbours got into a verbal argument over a noise complaint. So far in the United States, there have been 290 mass shootings this year, according to Gun Violence Archive. Annapolis police are asking anyone with information to submit it via their direct tip line, 410-280-2583, or via Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-2587. Nearly a month after a grisly early-morning incident in a St. Helena home, a mother of three at the center of the high-profile murder will appear before a judge for the first time. The bond hearing for Jamie Michele Bradley-Brun, accused of drowning her 6-year-old daughter and attempting to drown her 8-year-old, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Beaufort County Courthouse. Bradley-Brun was arrested May 19 and has been in custody at the county detention center for 20 days, according to records from the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office. These proceedings were scheduled for Thursday, rather than immediately after Bradley-Bruns arrest, due to the cases severity. Bonds for murder cases can only be set by Circuit Court judges, said Solicitor Duffie Stone, meaning court officials had to wait until Beaufort County General Sessions Court reconvened. Bradley-Brun will appear Thursday afternoon before SC Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Bonds. Its pretty horrific Beaufort County deputies responded in the early morning hours of May 19 to a home on Sam Doyle Drive, finding the body of 6-year-old Mackaya Bradley-Brun, whose autopsy results she had died in a homicidal drowning. Investigators say the mother most likely drowned the six-year-old, then allegedly tried to drown her eight-year-old daughter as well. The middle childs plea for help awoke the households eldest daughter, who pulled her sister away and called 911 as both girls retreated to a relatives home across the street, Sheriff PJ Tanner told reporters at a Beaufort press conference. I think she did an unbelievable job, the sheriff said of the teen. She defended her family when no one else was available to do so until we got there. Police are not releasing the names of the two surviving sisters. I know what happened, and its pretty horrific, Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner told reporters at a Friday afternoon press conference. Police charged a St. Helena mother with murder and attempted murder, alleging the woman drowned her six-year-old daughter before attempting to drown the girls older sister. Tanner stuck to a strict narrative during Friday afternoons press conference, refusing to answer questions about a motivation behind the mornings gruesome outcome. I know what happened, and its pretty horrific, he told reporters. He also steered clear of details behind the drowning, although he said the eight-year-olds screams for help came from the bathroom. Asked if the incident was tied to a psychological issue, Tanner said he is not a mental health expert and would not elaborate on Bradley-Bruns state of mind. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) The Commission on Audit (COA) has urged the Philippine Childrens Medical Center (PCMC) to secure payment amounting to over 200 million for COVID-19 tests done on returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2021 and 2022. In its report for 2022 uploaded on its website on May 30, the COA found that claims for 62,285 tests with a total cost of over P200 million have yet to be filed due to a lack of supporting documents. The non-filing for reimbursement of the RT-PCR test within the prescribed period due to the issues encountered in securing the required documents and information may result in a significant loss on the part of the PCMC for operational expenses already incurred, the auditors noted. Under a Department of Health memorandum, the PCMC was directed to process specimens collected by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) from returning OFWs. Accordingly, the costs shall be applied for reimbursement through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporations (PhilHealth) benefit package for the COVID-19 RT-PCR test. Issues encountered in documents received by the PCMC from the PCG include unreadable files, forms with no PhilHealth Identification Number, and other necessary information. The COA said the PCMC should require the PCG or the Transportation departments One Stop Shop to submit properly accomplished Case Investigation Forms and other supporting documents for the specimens. Exert utmost effort and explore other possible means to collect the amount of P200.277 million from PhilHealth, the COA said. In its comment, the PCMC management said it is coordinating with the One Stop Shop to obtain the necessary data of OFWs tested. The hospital is also requesting a certification from the PCG on the number of samples processed which may also be used as a supporting document. Dome of St. Peter's Basilica at sunset An Australian TikTok influencer hopped onto the app recently to warn travelers about dressing appropriately while visiting Europe. Jackie Hodge, 26, posted a video in May after she was denied entry into multiple historic landmarks while visiting Rome. Hot tip: dont dress like a hoe in Europe at least not in the daytime when you want to go to churches and monuments, Hodge said in her video caption. Known as jetsetting_jacki on TikTok, Hodge has grown online as the self-proclaimed chaotic travel bestie of her 12.1 thousand followers. Providing tips for budget travel, easy hacks, and travel wardrobe options, Hodges video detailing her experience in Rome was a good tip for some and a nuisance for others. Cracking Down On Wild Tourists At a glance, Hodges outfit didnt appear to be what she described as too slutty. The white dress was relatively loose fitting with a v-neck, an exposed back, and short sleeves. However, Hodge was dismissed from many tourist hotspots including the Pantheon, the Vatican, and the Museum of the Dead. At places like the Pantheon, they just said no, get out as robes to cover up were not available, Hodge told the Independent. In the video, Hodge calls out the reasons for her repeated entry denial including exposed knees, back, shoulders, and cleavage. Since shed already seen many monuments that day, she opted to wait outside with her friends. However, she still wanted to warn other travelers so they could avoid being denied entry. While Hodges video encouraged travelers to dress appropriately when visiting the ancient, Roman landmarks, many users were disgruntled by her disdain for Roman culture. Many Italian regions have started enforcing stricter rules for rowdy tourists visiting the country. From bad behavior to indecent wardrobe, fines are flying around Italy to crack down on uncouth behavior. In 2022, the city of Sorrento began issuing a fine for tourists walking around shirtless with exposed nipples, according to the Independent. While some may feel the rules are restricting, others believe its as simple as respecting customs in foreign spaces. Respecting International Customs Oftentimes, there is a disconnect between the desires of foreign travelers and the rules in the country they are visiting. Hodge experienced this firsthand when she was unable to enter the Roman monuments. However, many online users were thankful for her advice. Why are the comments acting like shes complaining and upset, one user said. Shes just making a psa for other people. Some disagreed and questioned why Hodge would try to enter a religious building with so much exposed skin. OK, Bestie, you couldnt have thought the Vatican would let you in like that when have they ever had a chill rap, said another user. Rome isnt the only country with varying dress codes depending on where youre visiting. Some countries still outlaw women wearing trousers and its against the law to wear sandals while driving in Spain. RELATED: Frolicking Around Zanzibar Nude Could Result In Hefty Fines, Heres Why Even as president, Trump had a history of mishandling confidential information. Here are some examples of how he botched intelligence procedures, including the events that led to his indictment on June 8. Republican Presidential nominee Donald J. Trump holds a rally at Giant Center November 4, 2016 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump will be arraigned Tuesday on 37 felony counts tied to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. While this is by far the most severe allegation against Trump regarding his treatment of information security, its not the first time hes shown a lax approach to confidential information. The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our armed forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people, said special counsel Jack Smith when unsealing the indictment Friday. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States, and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk. Key takeaways from the Justice Department indictment of Donald Trump >>> Included in the charges Trump is facing 31 of which fall under the Espionage Act are willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing a document or record and scheme to conceal. If convicted, the former president and current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination could face years in prison. Loose with classified info while president 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) Four months after Trump took office, the Washington Post reported that he had revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador to the United States. An official familiar with the matter said Trump revealed more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies. That same month, a transcript circulated of an April 29, 2017, phone conversation in which Trump told Rodrigo Duterte, then president of the Philippines, that the U.S. had two nuclear subs off the coast of the Korean Peninsula. In August 2019, Trump tweeted a photo of a failed Iranian rocket launch that reportedly came from the presidents daily intelligence briefing. The image raised concern among intelligence experts that Trump had revealed previously undisclosed surveillance capabilities, with one satellite imagery analyst telling NPR that Trump's post included "some pretty amazing capabilities that the public simply wasnt privy to before this. Trump classified documents charges: Read the full indictment >>> While these incidents may have raised some eyebrows, they never rose to the level of a criminal investigation. But after Trump left office in 2021, questions were raised about Trumps handling of classified materials at his home in Mar-a-Lago which would eventually lead to his indictment on federal charges. Heres a timeline of events leading to the investigation of Trumps handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, which ultimately resulted in his indictment. February 2022: The National Archives and Records Administration seeks investigation The National Archives and Records Administration asked the Department of Justice to investigate Trump's handling of government records after he returned some classified materials that had been stored at Mar-a-Lago. Of most significant concern was that highly classified records were unfoldered, intermixed with other records and improperly identified, the special agent in charge of the agencys Office of the Inspector General said, according to the Associated Press. May 2022: Trump fights handover of remaining classified documents A police officer outside of Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Fla,, on Aug. 9, 2022, following a FBI search of Donald Trump's estate. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) A grand jury subpoena required Trump to turn over all classified materials, but the former president told his attorneys, I dont want anybody looking through my boxes." Weeks later, federal agents visited Mar-a-Lago to collect 38 more classified documents found by Trumps lawyers and were allowed to visit a storage room where documents had been kept, but they were prohibited from looking inside boxes. August 2022: FBI agents search Mar-a-Lago Pages from the order granting a request by former President Donald Trump's legal team to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI during a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate is photographed Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. (Jon Elswick/AP Photo) The FBI searched Trump's Florida residence and a court-approved warrant released days later revealed that: Two weeks after the search, Trump sued to block the Justice Department from reviewing seized materials until a third-party "special master" had reviewed them. September 2022: DOJ temporarily barred from accessing seized materials Florida U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted Trump's request for outside review by a special master, which temporarily barred the DOJ from using the seized materials. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later partially lifted Cannons injunction, granting the DOJ access to classified documents. Who is Jack Smith, the special counsel who secured an indictment against Trump? >>> November 2022: Special counsel appointed Jack Smith makes a statement to reporters about the 37 federal charges returned by a grand jury in an indictment of former President Donald Trump. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Days after Trump announced that he's running for president in 2024, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that special counsel Jack Smith would oversee the classified documents investigation. December 2022: DOJ gets access to all Mar-a-Lago documents The 11th Circuit reversed Cannons appointment of a special master, giving the DOJ access to all materials seized at Mar-a-Lago. Trump's attorneys also found and handed over more documents marked as classified to the DOJ. June 2023: Grand jury indicts Trump On June 8, a grand jury in Miami indicted Trump, and the indictment was made public the next day. A federal court appearance in Miami is scheduled for June 13. Denee Benton didnt hold back as she labeled Gov. Ron DeSantis the Grand Wizard of Florida in a wicked onstage criticism Sunday at the Tony Awards. Benton, a Florida native known for her roles in Hamilton and Into the Woods, drew applause and gasps from the Manhattan audience as she took aim at the 2024 Republican candidate for president by comparing him to a Ku Klux Klan leader. And while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard, Im sorry, excuse me, governor of my home state of Florida ... , said Benton, who was nominated for a Tony in 2017 for her role in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. Denee Benton calls Governor Ron DeSantis the "current grand wizard" of Florida at the #TonyAwardspic.twitter.com/O2iEfbOvQO The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 12, 2023 Bentons remarks arrived as she acknowledged Jason Zembuch Young, a teacher at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida, and the 2023 winner of the ceremonys Excellence in Theatre Education award. Her criticism appeared to target the governors record on restricting lessons in public classrooms in the state, particularly his efforts to restrict conversations in school about race and LGBTQ+ people. She also alluded to the anachronistic name of the Florida city. Related... Glee fans have celebrated the delicious moment Alex Newell won a Tony Award in front of their former co-star Lea Michele. Back in 2020, Newell was among the Glee cast members to accuse Michele of bad behaviour on set of the musical comedy series. Newell, who rose to fame on the reality spin-off series The Glee Project and played Wade Unique Adams on Glee, defended Micheles original accuser Samantha Marie Ware after she claimed that the actor made her life a living hell on the Fox show. Referencing Ware, Newell tweeted: When my friend goes through something traumatic, I also go through it. Thats what friendship is and if you cant understand that then youre part of the problem. I mean that for both sides of this coin! Michele apologised at the time for her behaviour, suggesting that her privileged position might have been why her co-stars thought she was acting inappropriately. Both Newell and Michele were in attendance at Sunday (11 June) nights Tony Awards, as the theatre community came together to celebrate the best of Broadway. You can find the full list of winners here. But while Michele performed with Funny Girl, having taken over the role of Fanny Brice from Beanie Feldstein after the revival failed to win a single Tony in 2022, Newell was one of the big winners of the night. Lea Michele backstage while TONY AWARD WINNER Alex Newell performs is DELICIOUS. #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/czJLI1aqnn Dr. Lauren (Lucy on Thursdays) (@WrackWonder) June 12, 2023 Michele sat in front of Newell, with the actor ignoring their applauding former co-star as they went up on stage to collect the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway, Newell told the crowd in their speech. I should not be up here as a queer non-binary, fat, Black lil baby from Massachusetts. On social media, fans quickly noticed the moment as they celebrated Newells success. Alex Newell winning a Tony in front of Lea Michele (who is sitting in the audience, Tony-less), wrote one viewer. Alex Newell walking past Lea Michele after winning a Tony #TonyAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/XrydsZLSFB Priyant (@Priyant1987) June 12, 2023 Something so poetic about Alex Newell winning a Tony in front of Lea Michele, another tweet read. I dont know but having Lea Michele perform Dont Rain On My Parade in the Tony Awards the role Rachel Berry was obsessed with while not being eligible for a nomination and having her Black Glee co-star Alex Newell win a Tony in front of her is ironic, one fan commented. Newells win, along with that of Some Like It Hot star J Harrison Ghee, marked the first time an openly non-binary actor has ever won a Tony Award. You can read the biggest talking points from Sundays ceremony here. President Joe Bidens packed Monday schedule was derailed by none other than a root canal. Biden was supposed to host College Athlete Day at the White House, but Vice President Kamala Harris subbed for him so he could undergo the dental procedure. The presidents afternoon meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office and his remarks at the Chiefs of Missions Reception in the East Room Monday evening were rescheduled for Tuesday, the White House said. As of Monday afternoon, the presidents root canal had been completed, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, adding that Biden will work in the residence. The president was not put under general anesthesia and the 25th Amendment was not invoked. As far as the health of the president's teeth, I cannot speak to that, Jean-Pierre said, when asked what caused the root canal. On Sunday, Biden said he was experiencing some pain in his lower right premolar tooth 29, to be exact, according to a letter from Kevin C. OConnor, physician to the president. The dental team from Walter Reed National Medical Center examined the president and took X-rays. The team decided that the president needed a root canal, and they performed an initial procedure at the time, with a plan for the president to see a specialist for this tooth work in the near future, according to the letter. Bidens discomfort continued Monday morning, so the specialty team from Walter Reed will finished the root canal at the White House on Monday. Luckily for Biden, he just had to make a short trip to the White House basement where theres a full dental setup, according to former President Barack Obama, who told Jimmy Kimmel about the office in a 2015 interview when asked about how going to the dentist works when youre president. (And shout out to former President Herbert Hoover, who set up the facility for quick and convenient dental work while he was in the White House.) The presidents schedule beyond Monday is also busy, with White House events and trips to both Connecticut and Pennsylvania on the agenda. Root canal pain typically subsides within a few days and can be managed with some over the counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or Tylenol. Adam Cancryn contributed to this report. A former general counsel of Venezuelas state-owned oil company apologized profusely Monday in Miami federal court for accepting more than $11 million in bribes for his supporting role in a government racket that fueled a money-laundering scheme extending from his homeland to South Florida to Europe. Alvaro Ledo Nass, a lawyer who also served as secretary of PDVSAs board of directors, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay back the bribery money to the U.S. government as part of his punishment imposed by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams. He was also fined $7,500. The judge called the foreign corruption conspiracy a cancer that acts like a virus, but she gave Nass a lighter sentence after both his defense attorney and federal prosecutors said that the defendant provided tremendous assistance in the massive $1.2 billion money laundering case. Since 2018, the case has resulted in money-laundering charges against a dozen defendants, mostly Venezuelan officials and international businessmen with political connections to Caracas government leaders. Despite his substantial assistance, prosecutor Kurt Lunkenheimer recommended that Nass be sent to prison for eight years less than the maximum of 10 years. Nass defense attorney Oscar Rodriguez described that reduction as conservative and argued for much less, noting that his clients insider evidence helped convict two other defendants and that his life had been threatened. The judge decided to give Nass the lower sentence because she said it would be more consistent with the punishment of other PDVSA officials who cut plea deals in the case. Nass, who voluntarily began cooperating with U.S. authorities long before he was formally charged in February, told the judge that he had failed the people of his country and the United States, as well as his wife and two daughters, who attended Mondays hearing. I have done everything in my power to correct the wrong I did, Nass, 42, said while reading a statement in English. Nass, who pleaded guilty in March, remains free on bond and is living with family members in Miami. He must surrender to prison authorities on Jan. 5, 2024, allowing him time to continue helping federal investigators and complete an engineering program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. So far, a dozen foreign and local defendants have been charged in the sprawling foreign corruption case, and five have pleaded guilty in Miami federal court. Nass is the latest senior Venezuelan official at PDVSA to admit giving access to a ring of political insiders accused of providing massive loans to the national oil company in exchange for inflated payments washed through the governments lucrative currency exchanges. A factual statement, signed by Nass, his lawyer and prosecutors, says that between 2012 and 2017 the defendant and others engaged in various foreign exchange schemes using loan contracts with PDVSA that were unlawfully obtained via bribes and kickbacks. The cases main money-laundering scheme unfolded in late 2014 with a sham loan to PDVSA that was repaid through the governments bolivar-dollar exchange system, siphoning $600 million from the state-owned oil companys coffers, according to an indictment and other court documents. That money was moved offshore to bank accounts in Switzerland and Malta, though the network of co-conspirators used by an associate based in Miami to launder a portion of the PDVSA funds in the United States, according to prosecutors. By 2015, the conspiracy had doubled to $1.2 billion embezzled from Venezuelas national oil company, the indictment says. Meanwhile, the associate became a key cooperating source for Homeland Security Investigations within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including recording conversations in undercover meetings with some of the co-conspirators. The HSI informant has not been charged in the Miami case. The accused ringleader is Venezuelan Francisco Convit Guruceaga, who allegedly collaborated with other influential business people to exploit the oil-rich administrations of the late President Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro. Convits defense attorney, Adam Kaufmann in New York, has declined to comment while his client remains in Venezuela. Since 2018, federal prosecutors and Homeland Security Investigations have seized hundreds of millions of dollars in bank and real estate assets belonging to the dozen defendants named in the main money-laundering indictment and related cases. A tour boat capsized Monday morning in a cave along the Erie Canal in Upstate New York, authorities said. One person died after being trapped beneath the boat for at least an hour. Fire officials and emergency medical personnel rescued 16 people from the water. Authorities said there were 28 people on board the boat when it capsized before 11:30 a.m. The rest of the passengers were able to emerge safely out of the cave. The tour was carrying passengers and one staff member from Destination Niagara through a series of caves in a section of the Erie Canal in Lockport, near Niagara Falls at the U.S.-Canadian border. The capsize happened during a stretch of the underground trip where tourists board a small boat and travel along a 300-foot channel inside the cave, where the water level hovers around five feet deep, although it exceeds six feet in some areas, authorities said at a news conference Monday afternoon. Authorities said the boat, which can carry as many as 40 people, became unstable and flipped near the end of the channel. The passenger who was killed was about 60 years old, authorities said. Of the 16 people rescued by crews, 11 were injured and transported to a hospital for treatment. Officials said a broken arm and a possible head injury were recorded, although some passengers could have potentially suffered from hypothermia after being in the water for 15 or 20 minutes. The water temperature at the time was between 55 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The Lockport Police Department originally confirmed the incident in a statement shared to its Facebook page about an hour after it happened. "Lockport police and fire departments, as well as several other agencies, are currently working to assist parties that were on a boat that capsized in the Lockport Cave Tours," police said in the statement. Streets in the surrounding area were closed off to give rescue crews easier access to the scene, according to Lockport police. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities said the area where the boat capsized will be considered a crime scene until their probe is complete. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a tweet that authorities with the New York State Police, Division of Homeland Security, State Parks and Health Department were at the scene and assisting local officials in their response. "My team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams who have responded to a capsized boat along the Erie Canal in Lockport," the tweet read. My team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams who have responded to a capsized boat along the Erie Canal in Lockport.@nyspolice, @NYSDHSES, @NYstateparks, and @HealthNYGov are on site to assist local officials in the response. Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 12, 2023 CBS affiliate WIVB shared an image to Twitter that appeared to show authorities loading adults, wearing towels, onto stretchers along a roadway near the canal. The sheriff tells me no children were on the boat. Around 30 adults were on the boat that capsized. @news4buffalo https://t.co/IqTze5mi3k Jeff Preval (@JeffPrevalTV) June 12, 2023 As WIVB reported, boat tours have taken place inside the Erie Canal's network of caves since 1977, while the caves themselves were created in the late 19th century. Authorities said Monday that the Lockport Cave Tours have proceeded without incident since they began more than four decades ago. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp not planning to run in 2024, but 'always doors opening and closing' U.S. confirms China has had spy base in Cuba since 2019 What to expect after Trump's court appearance in Miami Tourist dies after vanishing in surf at popular South Carolina beach, officials say A missing tourist died after he was pulled from the surf at a popular South Carolina beach, public safety officials told news outlets. Rescue crews responded Sunday, June 11, after a report of a drowning at the Folly Beach Pier, WCBD reported, citing public safety chief Andrew Gilreath. The 27-year-old was swimming with others when he went under and didnt resurface, according to WCIV. The man, who wasnt identified, was visiting from China at the time, officials told the station. Charleston County lifeguards pulled him from the surf, WCBD reported. Despite performing CPR, the man died, officials told WCSC. McClatchy News reached out to the Folly Beach Public Safety Department on June 12 and was awaiting a response. Authorities didnt release additional information. Folly Beach is about 10 miles south of Charleston. Spearfisherman vanished 2.5 miles off Florida coast, cops say. Body has been found Man jumps off pier to swim, then needs helicopter rescue, California firefighters say FDNY firefighter dies trying to save teen daughter from rip current, officials say All lanes of Kirkman Road reopened Monday afternoon more than four hours after a deadly crash. Orlando police said one person died in the crash near the intersection of Kirkman Road at LB McLeod. Police said the crash happened around 11 a.m. The roadway reopened around 3 p.m. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. Read: FHP: Driver sought after pedestrian dies in crash on US 1 near Sharpes Update: Unfortunately 1 individual is deceased. The roadways are expected to be reopened within the hour. No other injuries reported. https://t.co/P4JABPwEic Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 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. Trash washes ashore following Kakhovka dam destruction, Ukrainian military warns it may be dangerous Mines washed away after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP washed up on the coast of Odesa Oblast In the heaps of garbage, amidst the drifting fragments that make their way to the coastline, hazardous objects, remnants of household items, and various structures can be found, she said. These items were swept away from positions, field warehouses, ammunition depots, and defensive lines constructed by the Russians on the left bank. Anything could be discovered there. Humeniuk added that not only anchored mines but also pressure-activated mines could be washed ashore, and they can create a powerful explosion even with the slightest contact. Read also: Kakhovka dam flood washed away Russian arms depots, Ukrainian military says Independently organizing the collection of debris that has reached the shore is not safe, Humeniuk said. Its imperative to contact professionals, such as pyrotechnicians and explosive experts, to examine the area. Only after their assessment can the cleanup of the coastline be initiated. In the aftermath of the destruction if the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam and the subsequent flooding of Kherson Oblast, furniture and household appliances have begun to wash up on the Black Sea shores of Odesa Oblast. Previously, local authorities issued a warning that the Russian detonation of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant could introduce pollutants into the sea, resulting in water contamination and posing a threat to the aquatic environment. Access to beach zones is now strictly prohibited. Read also: Border guard video shows Odesa Oblast sea transformed into dumpsite and graveyard for animals 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, was affected the most. 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 has largely drained 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. Read also: Kryvyi Rih residents must cut water usage 40% after Kakhovka dam breach, governor says 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 at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, as its cooling ponds were fed by water from the reservoir. 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. Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Martin Griffiths, stated that due to the sabotage by Russian invaders of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, approximately 700,000 people in Ukraine are at risk of not having access to drinking water. 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed that the Philippines would never become submissive again to any external force as he encouraged Filipinos to find confidence from the past and continue to stand up to new oppressors and challenges. The heroes of our liberation will be proud now that we have thrown off the ominous yoke of domination, never again to be subservient to any external force that directs or determines our destiny, Marcos said during his speech for the countrys 125th Independence Day. Marcos led commemoration rites in Manila on Monday. The president said the Philippines has evolved into a healthy and vibrant republic. However, he noted that corrosive political and social conditions, such as poverty, inequality, and apathy, make the Philippines not as free as we would like to profess and believe. Marcos vowed that his administration would be responsible in leading Filipinos to real freedom. He also reiterated his call for Filipinos to unite. The chief executive also highlighted the efforts of the nation's ancestors to defend the country's freedom, which, Marcos said, provided Filipinos the guidance and confidence to move forward united. With new oppressors and challenges, our people remained defiant affirming that it is in our core to defend what is ours," he said in a message released by the Palace. "And with all that, this occasion symbolizes and entails, we understand better now that liberty will not flourish on its own; freedom will not materialize unless it is declared boldly, believed sincerely, and demonstrated passionately. Marcos said the fight continues, as he urged Filipinos to take to heart the immeasurable courage and loss that came out of our heroes. For this, I challenge each of us: On the 125th year since the declaration of our freedom, let us assert our liberty day by day, the president said. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), however, said Marcos failed to assert the country's sovereignty over Philippine waters and protect the rights and welfare of small fishers. READ: Probe underway as Chinese Coast Guard 'drives away' Filipino fishing boat in Ayungin Shoal "There is no cause for celebration today as our territorial waters remain subjected to relentless militarization by China, while the continuing presence of the US military further erodes our national independence, " PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said. Arambulo said the Philippines has become a "pawn" in the conflict between China and the United States. READ: China 'gravely concerned, strongly disapproves' US-PH stance on South China Sea After nearly a year of assuming the presidency, he said Marcos proves that small fishers cannot rely on him when it comes to upholding their rights in the West Philippine Sea. PAMALAKAYA joined other progressive groups in an Independence Day protest this morning in front of the Chinese Consulate in Makati and the US Embassy in Manila. Meanwhile, officials led flag raising and wreath laying ceremonies at other historic places, including the Aguinaldo Shrine in Cavite, and the Mausoleum of Veterans at the Manila North Cemetery. I appeal to all Filipinos to look at our national flag and national anthem with the sincerest affection and genuine respect. Although purely symbolic, flag raising and singing of the national anthem are never trifling or insignificant. Both the flag and the anthem are concrete symbols of our nationhood and unity, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said during the celebration in Cavite. Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was at the Independence Day rites at Bonifacio Monument, said Filipinos should continue fighting against poverty and hunger. Romualdez also urged the public to awaken the heroism in themselves and work towards nation-building. CNN Philippines Correspondents Gerg Cahiles and Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report. Former President Trump hit Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) over his endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) 2024 bid Monday after the two governors campaigned together over the weekend. Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, who I didnt know very well, called me before his last election to say he was in BIG trouble and very much needed my Endorsement. I LOVE Oklahoma & won 77 out of 77 Counties, something that never happened before, the former president said on his social media platform Truth Social. Ronald Reagan was next with 56. Anyway, I gave him my endorsement, he immediately went way up, and won. Now, despite the fact that DeSanctimonious is losing to Biden, & me, Stitt just endorsed him. Wow! He disliked the Indians & my great Senate pick! the former president continued, appearing to reference Stitts working relationship with Indigenous tribes within the state. Stitt himself is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Former President George W. Bush won every county in Oklahoma in 2004 and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also won all 77 counties when he ran for president in 2012. Trumps remarks follow DeSantiss visit to the state Saturday when he formally received Stitts endorsement. DeSantis also received an endorsement from former Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), Trumps former NASA administrator, and 20 state lawmakers last week. Governor DeSantis is a strong conservative and principled leader, and I am proud to endorse him for president, Stitt said in a statement. As fellow Governors during COVID, DeSantis did not surrender states rights and individual liberties over to groupthink, the governor continued. 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. Trump endorsed Stitt when he ran for governor in 2018. Trump had formally thrown his support behind Stitt two days after he won a runoff election for the GOP primary in the race. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Any time Donald Trump's rhetoric and his most extremist supporters overlap, there's a possibility of chaos. Trump, after all, held a Washington rally on Jan. 6 where he repeated false claims about election fraud and encouraged his supporters to "walk down to the Capitol" and "show strength" which many of them promptly did, raiding the Capitol in an insurrection that turned deadly. Later, when the Justice Department pursued its investigation of Trump and the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago home for the classified documents that are now the core of the federal charges against him, Trump called the effort a "hoax." When he faced an earlier indictment in New York, he called on supporters to "PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST." In both cases, widespread protests were scant. But after the initial raid, individual extremists posted plans on social media to attack the FBI, and one died in a shootout with police after attempting to follow through on those threats. Now, the former president is set to surrender himself to federal authorities in Miami on Tuesday on new charges that he mishandled classified documents. The moment will be historic: No American president has faced federal charges. Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump protest outside of Trump National Doral resort as they await his arrival on June 12, 2023 in Doral, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. Are there protests at Trump arraignment? Despite the occasion, the consensus was that widespread protests and civil disobedience are unlikely. But security experts remain worried about individual people or small "cells" of extremists, or simply the possibility of an armed dustup among passionate demonstrators. By early Tuesday afternoon, the Miami federal courthouse was surrounded by at least 200 protesters from both pro- and anti-Trump camps. The protesters donned costumes and waved signs and appeared far-outnumbered by the media scrum present to witness the historic court appearance. Heavyweight pro-Trump Republicans were also protesting in Miami, or nearby. What are the chances of violence as Trump is again indicted? Online, in pro-Trump forums and on far-right social media, a few loud voices have called for protests, violence and even civil war. But experts who monitor extremism again are not predicting wide-scale protests and violence, for a variety of reasons, although the threat of a small-scale or individual terrorist attack remains a possibility. Are experts predicting large, violent protests in Miami? Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives with his motorcade to Trump National Doral Miami resort on June 12, 2023 in Doral, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear Tuesday in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. No, they're not. "We have not encountered online chatter that leads us to believe that violence is inevitable," said Jared Holt, a senior researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Holt estimates that "a couple hundred" people will show up to protest, but said he has seen no indications of a "big swell of folks." "Based on our observations, I feel we may see larger crowds in Miami than we saw in New York after Trump's prior indictment. But certainly not a crowd on the scale of the Capitol riot," Holt continued. "The analysis doesn't support that notion." Daryle Lamont Jenkins, an anti-fascist researcher and founder of One People's Project, a group that monitors and exposes far-right extremists, concurred. Jenkins, who travels regularly around the country to attend protests and gatherings of far-right extremists, said he's not flying to Florida for the event. "You might see the same sort of activity you saw in New York. It might be a bit increased because that's where (Florida) Trump hangs his hat now," Jenkins said. "There's just going to be a lot of fanfare, but there's not going to be another Jan. 6th at his indictment." Special report After Jan. 6 riot, hundreds of identifiable people remain free Why not? Aren't Trump supporters really angry? There's little doubt that Trump supporters are seething at the new indictment. Pro-Trump forum "the Donald" has been full of posts supporting Trump and decrying the charges since they were announced last week. A typical thread compared Trump's prosecution to a white prosecutor in the South in the '50s only prosecuting Black people. But there are several reasons why that anger isn't jelling into a Jan. 6-style confrontation with the federal government: Organized extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys have taken a serious battering since the insurrection. More than 1,000 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes, and the Oath Keepers, particularly, have largely disappeared. Since President Joe Biden took office, the White House has also turned 180 degrees on far-right extremism from largely ignoring it under Trump to making fighting it a top stated priority under Biden. That means federal law enforcement is paying attention to domestic extremists and the extremists know it. The "false flag" argument: Spend enough time on far-right online message boards and you'll see a similar refrain: Don't protest, it's a trap! This phenomenon which USA TODAY wrote about here is still the case with the Florida indictment, and people are still using the threat of a "false flag" to warn each other not to protest. A lot of extremists no longer support Trump: He has fallen out of favor with a lot of extremist groups, for several reasons including his embrace of the COVID vaccine and the perceived lack of support he gave to suspects imprisoned for their role on Jan. 6. "We're just seeing some Trump fatigue," said Alex Friedfeld, associate director of investigative research at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism. "People have moved on, and the far-right seems much more animated about other issues right now." Database: See who's been charged nationwide in Jan. 6 Capitol riots A different worry: Isolated cases of violence "The only thing in that direction that I conceive happening is some lone idiot doing something," Jenkins said. That's the same warning experts have been sounding for months now ever since the United States entered uncharted waters when the FBI searched Trump's Florida home and club, Mar-a-Lago. That search set off a wave of angry and violent rhetoric online. But it also led to at least two incidents of extremist violence or threats, each by individual actors. In Cincinnati, a man attacked his local FBI office and was shot and killed. Another man was arrested in rural Pennsylvania and charged with threatening local law enforcement after he allegedly posted about wanting to "slaughter" FBI agents. Truly dangerous extremists may have their own breaking points, and that might be the federal indictment of a president they support. So, the risk of an individual or "small cell" attack remains a distinct possibility, Friedfeld said. "That's really the main worry," he said. Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump protest outside of Trump National Doral resort as they await his arrival on June 12, 2023 in Doral, Florida. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court for his arraignment on charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. Clashes among protesters, instead of against the government The other possibility is that pro-Trump demonstrators could clash with anti-Trump protesters. Jenkins cautioned that if enough people show up on each side, there's a possibility of violent confrontations in the street. That phenomenon led to violence in street demonstrations in the days after Jan. 6, including a California march of the Proud Boys extremist group and a counter-protest that has become a legal test case for the movement known as antifa. Those concerns could be even more acute if people are carrying guns. Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. two months ago signed a bill allowing anyone who legally owns a gun to carry it concealed, without a license. Though that law doesn't take effect until July, other laws, such as Florida's "stand your ground" law, which has been at the center of high-profile shooting cases, further raise the stakes of a possible armed confrontation. "We have seen some isolated chatter that suggests a few people may carry weapons and that some Proud Boys may attend," Holt said. Political rhetoric escalating around guns Whatever happens on the streets, angry rhetoric has continued from Trump-aligned politicians. "We have now reached a war phase," Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., tweeted on Friday. "Eye for an eye." Kari Lake, the former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, said over the weekend that if prosecutors "want to get to President Trump" they are going to have to go through me, and 75 million Americans just like me. And most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA." Contibuting: Marina Pitovsky This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump indictment in Miami: Experts monitor chance of violent protests After Trumps recent indictment, he got legal advice from an unlikely source Donald Trump faces 37 counts related to holding classified documents inside his personal residence and obstructing justice. He was scheduled to appear at a Miami federal court on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Seth Wenig/Pool photo USA TODAY) Former President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he was indicted on charges of illegally storing classified documents from the White House at Mar-a-Lago and that he must make his first appearance in Miami federal court Tuesday. The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, Trump posted on his platform Truth Social. According to the historic indictment unsealed Friday, the 76-year-old Palm Beach resident faces 37 felony charges. The 49-page charging document alleges that the former commander in chief described a Pentagon plan of attack and shared a classified map related to a military operation, among other top secret information. The best legal advice I ever received pic.twitter.com/bSa2OiZSRy O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) June 9, 2023 While many of the ex POTUS fans are disturbed by the news, one controversial person came out the woodwork to offer his legal advice. READ MORE: Scenes from Trumps indictment in New York City That would be O.J. Simpson, who was infamously acquitted on charges he murdered his wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995. The fallen Buffalo Bills star, 75, was fortunate to be able to afford a so-called Dream Team of defense lawyers that included Robert Shapiro, Johnnie Cochran, F. Lee Bailey and Barry Scheck. In a Twitter video, Simpson, who served nine years of a 33 year prison sentence after being convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2007, sits outdoors among some trees and talks to the camera. It is unclear where the onetime Florida man was, but he reportedly retired to Sin City since getting sprung in 2017. READ MORE: Ivanka Trump attends a Miami Heat game Im gonna share some advice that I got from the greatest legal minds of our generation, of my lifetime, The Juice says. The one thing they stressed to me: Do not talk about the case publicly. Do not do interviews about the case. Simpson expressed concern that Trumps cadre isnt giving him the proper counsel (Jim Trusty and John Rowley abruptly resigned after the news broke). I dont know if Donalds lawyers are stressing this to him, Simpson says. If theyre not, they should be fired, and he should sue em. News that former President Trump has been indicted by the Justice Department is fueling Republican attacks that the federal government is weaponized, giving GOP lawmakers more ammo in their months-long crusade against the Biden administration. In the eyes of Trumps staunchest allies on Capitol Hill, the indictment of President Bidens chief political opponent the result of the investigation into his handling of classified documents is the ultimate piece of evidence that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been politicized. And they are vowing to hold it accountable. The American people are smart and understand this is the epitome of the illegal and unprecedented weaponization of the federal government against Joe Bidens leading opponent, President Donald J. Trump, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) said late Thursday. In an interview with Fox News on Friday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said the indictment of Trump is going to disrupt the nation because it goes to the core of equal justice for all which is not being seen today. A sitting president arresting his political opponent is the ultimate weaponization of government, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) wrote on Twitter, while Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) mounted a call to action: We ought to defund and dismantle the DOJ. I stand with President Trump, he added. More Trump indictment coverage from The Hill Trump announced his indictment in a Truth Social post Thursday night, rocking the political world and sending his congressional supporters to his defense on social media and television airwaves. Less than 24 hours later, the DOJ unsealed a 37-count indictment accusing the former president of mishandling records at his Mar-a-Lago residence and working to block authorities from retrieving them. According to prosecutors, Trump had documents pertaining to defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries, U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and allies to military attack and plans for potential retaliation to a foreign attack. He is scheduled to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Trumps longtime aide Walt Nauta was also charged in the indictment on allegations that he moved documents to conceal them and lied to authorities about his actions. Thursdays indictment is Trumps second in less than three months a grand jury empaneled by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) charged the former president with 34 felony counts in March for his alleged participation in a hush money scheme involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty. This weeks indictment, however, marks the first time a former president will face federal charges. And the case the mishandling of classified documents had Republicans immediately jumping to compare Trump with Biden, who is also the subject of an investigation into classified records found in his possession. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the 12:30 Report newsletter The Trump and Biden probes bear significant differences: Trump is accused of obstructing attempts by authorities to regain the documents, including asking his attorneys to lie about their existence or destroy them, while Bidens attorneys alerted authorities when records were discovered then handed them over. But Republicans are still connecting the two. The fact that special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed to oversee the Trump probe, reached a charging conclusion before Biden special counsel Robert Hur Smith was placed on the Trump case in November, Hur was appointed to Bidens probe in January marks another bullet point in Republicans argument against the federal government. Based on the FBI and DOJs documented and verified history of biased and dishonest actions taken against President Trump in the past, I am suspicious of Trumps indictment, especially since the DOJ is not indicting President Biden for taking and storing classified information in multiple locations, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) said on Twitter before the indictment was unsealed. McCarthy also pointed to the ongoing Biden case when railing against the Trump indictment. This is a very dark day in America, McCarthy told Fox News on Friday. When you think about what theyre trying to indict President Trump on, youve got a sitting president right now in the exact same situation. In America, some of our greatest strength is equal justice, he added, and today it shows that it is not. Former Vice President Mike Pence was also under investigation for his handling of classified documents after some sensitive records were found at his home, but the DOJ determined that it will not bring charges against him. Smith, for his part, defended his work. Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice. And our nations commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone, Smith said Friday. Applying those laws, collecting facts, thats what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more, nothing less. The outrage from Republicans will likely translate into oversight action from the House GOP conference, which controls the lower chamber and, subsequently, wields the gavels of powerful congressional committees. McCarthy on Thursday said the House GOP conference will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable, and he told Fox News Friday that he spoke with Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) about things that we can do to make sure equal justice. Jordan has been looking into the investigation of Trumps documents case for months. After the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago as part of the probe in August, Jordan asked the White House, DOJ and FBI to preserve and produce documents related to the decision to raid the premises. And when reports surfaced that Smith may be nearing the end of his investigation, Jordan sent Attorney General Merrick Garland a letter asking that he turn over information about Smiths probe, specifically its use of FBI personnel, and days later, he requested a memo that formalized Smiths appointment and his investigatory role. On Friday, Jordan revealed in a new letter to Garland that the Judiciary Committee days earlier conducted a transcribed interview with a former FBI employee who was involved with the search of Mar-a-Lago. He said the employee, Steven DAntuono, expressed strong concerns with the Departments pursuit of the raid and noted several unusual features in the Departments handling of the case. Additional information recently obtained by the Committee about the Departments execution of a search warrant on President Trumps residence only reinforces our grave concerns that your reported actions are nothing more than a politically motivated prosecution, Jordan wrote. Republicans were also quick to point out that news of the indictment came the same day that members of the House Oversight Committee were granted access to view a document detailing an unverified tip that, according to GOP lawmakers, contains allegations that then-Vice President Biden accepted a bribe a claim the White House denies. The opportunity to view the document was a significant development for Republicans on the committee, who were planning to stage a vote on holding FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt over the agencys initial refusal to share the record with the entire committee. Emerging from a secure room in the Capitol after viewing the document on Thursday, Republicans on the panel sounded the alarm, arguing that the document supplemented their allegations. Some of those same GOP lawmakers are now saying that the timing of Trumps indictment was not an accident. Its no coincidence that on the same day @GOPOversight forced the FBI and Director Wray to hand over form FD-1023, which directly implicates Joe Biden in a foreign bribery pay-to-play scheme, President Trump is indicted for the Boxes Hoax by the Department of Injustice, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who sits on the panel and viewed the document, wrote on Twitter Friday morning. The DOJ indicting President Trump the same day House Oversight Members (to include me) saw documentation from the FBI stating that BIDEN AND his SON each received a wire transfer of $5 million from a foreign actor is not by accident, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said in a tweet Thursday evening. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. One of the lawyers expected to help former President Donald Trump defend himself against federal charges is Chris Kise, an attorney who has been closely aligned with Florida Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). Trump will make an initial appearance in a Miami federal courthouse on Tuesday afternoon on 37 counts stemming from his handling and retention of classified documents he took from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago estate. Its unclear if Kise will accompany Trump into the courtroom during Tuesdays hearing, though Kise is admitted to practice law in the Southern District of Florida. Todd Blanche, who Trump has tapped to lead the legal team fighting the documents case, is expected to be in the courtroom. Kise was first brought on to assist with the case last August and since then has joined Continental PLLC , a relatively new law firm that was founded with the help of Carlos Trujillo, a former state legislator who was appointed ambassador to the Organization of American States by Trump. Within months of being brought onto Trumps team, Kise was reportedly sidelined from the documents probe and sent to work on the New York attorney generals civil case against the former president. Trump's legal team has undergone some turmoil in the run-up to his appearance in federal court, with two of his lawyers, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, stepping aside from the case late last week and another, Tim Parlatore, resigning from the team in May. Kise on Monday declined to comment about his role in the case. Kise, who was once solicitor general under then-Attorney General Charlie Crist when Crist was still in the GOP, played a pivotal role in the 2018 election contest between DeSantis and Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum. Kise represented Adam Corey, a lobbyist and former friend of Gillum, amid a swirl of questions about possibly improper trips Gillum made while he was Tallahassee mayor, including who paid for them. Kise at the time refuted some of the assertions made by Gillum that he had paid for a trip to Costa Rica, and Kise also released damaging texts related to an ongoing ethics probe of Gillum. Gillum would ultimately lose the election narrowly to DeSantis as Republicans hammered the Democratic challenger over his ethics issues and an ongoing corruption probe into Tallahassee City Hall. Gillum was eventually charged in 2022, but federal authorities last month dropped the charges after a jury acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI and jurors deadlocked on other charges. Kise, who once ran for the state senate back in 1998, has long-standing connections to many of Floridas Republican power brokers extending back to his time as the top attorney for Crist. After serving as solicitor general, he worked for the law firm of Foley & Lardner and was one of the attorneys who litigated Floridas long-running battle with the state of Georgia over water rights. Kise also played a key role on the transition team for newly-elected Gov. Rick Scott in 2011. Kise dealt with a public relations crisis after Scott ordered an investigation into emails from his and his transition team that were deleted, a possible violation of state law. After DeSantis narrow win over Gillum in 2018 a victory helped guided by Susie Wiles, who now works as a top adviser to Trump Kise was appointed counselor to the DeSantis transition team. Wiles and DeSantis later had a falling out that led to her being pushed out of Trumps reelection campaign in 2019. But Wiles was brought back into the Trump orbit later and is now considered an integral part of Trump's third campaign for the White House. Betsy Woodruff Swan contributed to this story. Former President Donald Trump issued calls to arms of sorts to his followers ahead of his appearance in a Miami court this week. Also in the news: Ukraine has recaptured a fourth village in a refreshed offensive against Russia and the 2023 Tony Awards delivered performances from fan-favorite shows like "Funny Girl" ...and a few gripes about Ron DeSantis. I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Who really invented spicy Cheetos? Now, here we go with Monday's news. How will Trump's court appearance unfold? When Trump made the dramatic announcement on his social media platform last week that he'd been indicted by the Department of Justice, he made sure to issue a vague call to arms, sharing with his supporters he will appear at a federal court in Miami on Tuesday. But what, exactly, might happen on Tuesday before, during and after Trump's initial court appearance as the first president in history to face federal felony charges? Trump may decide to adopt a much more contentious approach than he did in April in New York, where he quietly exited his SUV and walked inside. We know the former president was especially vitriolic about this indictment, which involves his handling of the classified documents he took with him when leaving the White House. What will this mean for voters? There has never been a candidate like the under-indictment former president who is still seeking another term in the White House in 2024. Ukraine claims recapture of 4th village Ukrainian military officials said Monday their forces have retaken another village from Russian forces, signaling incremental successes in ramped-up counteroffensive operations against Moscows more than 15-month invasion of Ukraine. A day earlier, Ukrainian officials said three other small villages had been liberated, although Russian authorities did not confirm the Russian losses. The move also comes as 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. Read more Emergency teams respond to injured civilian evacuees who had came under fire from Russian forces while trying to flee by boat in Ukraine on Sunday, June 11, 2023. (Credit: AP) More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. Tanker fire causes part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia to collapse A heavily traveled segment of the East Coasts main north-south highway is closed indefinitely, authorities said. The closure comes after a tanker truck fire shut down I-95 in both directions after an elevated portion of the heavily traveled interstate collapsed in Philadelphia on Sunday morning, state officials said, raising concerns about possible travel headaches throughout the Northeast. The fire took about an hour to get under control and in a Sunday night update, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at least one vehicle was still trapped under the collapsed roadway but there were no immediate reports of injuries. Read more A vehicle fire shut down I-95 southbound in Philadelphia. Largest settlement in US history over police misconduct reached A $45 million settlement has been reached in the civil police brutality case involving Richard "Randy" Cox, a Black man now paralyzed from the chest down following an arrest by police officers in New Haven, Connecticut, nearly a year ago. The case represents the largest settlement involving police misconduct in U.S. history and comes two years after the $27 million settlement involving the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day weekend in 2020. Read more Just for subscribers: These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. Tony Awards 2023 top moments Oscar winner Ariana DeBose returned to host this year's Tony Awards, which featured no scripted banter during the presentation of awards. The performance-heavy show was led by standout numbers from Ben Platt of "Parade" and Lea Michele of "Funny Girl." "Kimberly Akimbo," a musical about a 16-year-old girl played by Victoria Clark who ages four times faster than the average person, picked up the night's biggest trophy for best musical, along with prizes for best actress for Clark, best score and best book. And huge cheers came from the audience when "The Gilded Age" star Denee Benton compared 2024 hopeful Ron DeSantis to a "grand wizard, referring to a leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Read more Gallery: See Jodie Comer, Jessica Chastain, Ariana DeBose, more on the red carpet. Victoria Clark, left, and Justin Cooley, members of he cast of "Kimberly Akimbo", perform. Quick hits Photo of the day: Conor McGregor's punches send Miami Heat mascot to emergency room MMA star Conor McGregor sent the person who plays the Miami Heats mascot Burnie to the emergency room Friday after decking him during a partnership announcement between McGregor and the Heat, a person familiar with the matter told USA TODAY. Read more Conor McGregor punches Burnie, the Miami Heat mascot, during a break during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this subscribe to USA TODAY here. Associated Press contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Will Trump make a spectacle of his arraignment? Former President Trump has landed in Florida, where he will be arraigned Tuesday on federal charges of willfully possessing documents with national security implications. The Department of Justice unsealed an indictment Friday afternoon, formally charging Trump with 37 counts of mishandling classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and trying to block the government from recovering the documents. The city of Miami is prepping for what the mayor described as a possible disruption. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) said during a press conference Monday that the city is prepared to handle any protests and demonstrations that may occur during Trumps first federal court appearance in connection to his alleged mishandling of documents Tuesday. He warned commuters that there could be disruption to traffic patterns, adding that they will shut down roads if necessary, but are not initially planning to do so. Reaction to the indictment has ranged from accusations of the federal government being weaponized against political enemies to assertions that even a former president is not above the law. Follow along here for updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson says the cable news business is in trouble. I really do think the cable news business has a limited future, Carlson told journalist and author Chadwick Moore as part of comments published Monday. Its too obviously controlled. Its like Google its just become too clear that theres a certain selection of stories that are allowed, and a very thick file of stories that are not allowed. And I think people have come to understand that, and its just not sustainable. Moore, a conservative writer, is penning a forthcoming book on Carlsons life and career and has spent weeks with the longtime television news personality, including in the days following his departure from Fox, the top-rated network on cable. Carlson was ousted from his prime-time post just days after the network agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement money stemming from its coverage of former President Trumps claims about the 2020 election. Carlson, who worked as a host and contributor at CNN and MSNBC before joining Fox, has since launched a new version of his wildly popular show on Twitter, spurring the network to send him and his lawyers a cease and desist letter this week saying he is in breach of his contractual agreement with the network. Cable news ratings have been in steady decline since Trumps time in the White House, though Fox remains the top dog in total day and overall prime-time viewers. Industry experts have warned more broadly warned that a dwindling ad market coupled with more Americans cutting cable poses serious risks to the cable news ecosystem. Carlson has separately praised the work of Twitter CEO Elon Musk and noted the growing influence of social media on American politics. I really think people are on to it, dont you? he asked Moore. I see these clips of people on podcasts or just taking video of themselves on Twitter, and you can tell when someones really telling the whole truth. Its obvious right away. Maybe I dont agree with the person, but I can see this person is not lying, hes saying what he really thinks, and thats immediately perceptible. You can tell when someones lying to you or when someones shading the truth or trying to spin you. And theres a lot of artifice in television. In the first episode of his Twitter show, published last month, Carlson blasted the mainstream news media generally, saying he had come to Twitter, which we hope will be the short wave radio under the blankets. Were told there are no gatekeepers here, Carlson said. If that turns out to be false, well leave. But in the meantime, were grateful to be here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Tucker Carlson has received a 'cease-and-desist' letter from Fox News over new show on Elon Musk's Twitter, report says Fox News has accused Tucker Carlson of violating his contract terms. AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File Fox News has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Tucker Carlson after the launch of his Twitter show. The network has accused Carlson of breaching his contract, Axios reported. It raises the stakes in the battle between Carlson and his former network. Tucker Carlson has received a cease-and-desist letter from Fox News as his new Twitter show poses a fresh threat to the host's former network, Axios reported. The move comes as Carlson, who launched a new show on Twitter last week called "Tucker on Twitter," is embroiled in a contract dispute with the media giant, per Axios. Axios reported previously that Fox accused Carlson of violating contract terms that said his services would be completely exclusive to the network until the end of 2024. Carlson's contract with Fox runs up until January 2025. The debut of Carlson's new show aired on June 6. The show has received almost 170 million views after two episodes. The move from Fox ups the ante in a heated dispute between the two parties that has become increasingly public, following Carlson's departure from the conservative news channel in April. Carlson was ousted from the organization after Fox reached a $787 million defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, which was baselessly accused of being involved in a rigged voting system that stole votes from Donald Trump during the 2020 presidential election. Carlson has since taken to Twitter for his new show, saying Twitter's ownership under Elon Musk made it the last remaining platform open to "free speech." In his first episode, which involved a monologue on UFOs and Ukraine war conspiracies, Carlson said the US public had been lied to "at full volume over a period of years." The controversial host was a huge draw for Fox, with his weekday prime-time show consistently hitting roughly 3 million viewers each evening. In a statement to Axios last week, Carlson's lawyer Bryan Freedman said Fox News wants to take "Carlson's right to speak freely away from him." Fox News and Carlson's legal team did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Gender biases against women have not improved in a decade, a Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) report launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said on Monday. The report drew upon data from 91 countries and from figures from three waves of the World Values Survey (WVS) spanning from 2005 to 2009, 2010 to 2014, and 2017 to 2022. The study found that 85% of the total population or nearly 9 out of 10 men and women worldwide hold biases against women. It also reported that 50% of people worldwide believe that men make better political leaders than women, while 40% of all people believe that men make better business executives than women. A staggering 25% of all people believe it was justified for a man to beat his wife, it said. The study pointed out that the average gender income gap remained 39% in favor of men in 59 countries where women were more educated than men. The report argues that these biases drive hurdles faced by women, manifested in a dismantling of womens rights in many parts of the world with movements against gender equality gaining traction and, in some countries, a surge of human rights violations, the UNDP said. Pedro Conceicao, head of UNDPs Human Development Report Office, said that social norms which impair womens rights are detrimental to society. In fact, lack of progress on gender social norms is unfolding against a human development crisis: the global Human Development Index declined in 2020 for the first time on recordand again the following year," Conceicao noted. "Everyone stands to gain from ensuring freedom and agency for women. The report emphasized that governments play a major role in shifting gender social norms and urged them to invest in laws and policy measures that promote womens equality in political participation; scale up insurance mechanisms such as strengthening social protection and care systems; and encourage innovative interventions that effectively challenge harmful social norms, patriarchal attitudes, and gender stereotypes. Biases among Filipinos In the Philippines, 99.5% of the entire population hold biases against women, specifically: 99.33% of all men, and 99.67% of all women, according to WVS data from 2017 to 2022 presented by the UNDPs study. Three out of four Filipinos or 75.50% were found to have political biases against women. This is based on indicators constructed from responses to two questions about women having the same rights as men is essential for democracy, and men make better political leaders than women do. Almost half or 43.61% of Filpinos reportedly held educational biases against women, based on the question if university is more important for men than for women. Nearly four out of five Filipinos or 77.81% had economic biases against women, as indicated by responses to these statements: men should have more right to a job than women, and men make better business executives than women do. Finally, 92.83% of Filipinos were biased against women in terms of physical integrity. This was indicated by their reactions to these statements: It is justifiable for a man to beat his wife, and abortion is never justifiable. Meanwhile, only 0.67% of Filipino men and 0.33% of Filipino women had no biases against women, the study noted. Tucker Carlson vows he will not be silenced as Fox News issues cease-and-desist letter over Twitter show Tucker Carlson has insisted he will not be silenced after Fox News sent a cease-and-desist letter ordering him to stop releasing shows on Twitter. The rightwing network has been locked in a bitter contractual despite with its former primetime anchor since he left in the aftermath of the $787m Dominion Voting Systems payout in April. Last week, Foxs attorneys wrote to Carlson demanding he stop posting Tucker on Twitter videos which have attracted hundreds of millions of views. In a statement to Axios, Carlons lawyer Harmeet Dhillon said: Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election. Carlon remains under contract at Fox until the end of 2024. More follows Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino threw a party with tea and Champagne to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, report says Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino threw a party with tea and Champagne to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, report says Twitter's new CEO Linda Yaccarino. Aurora Rose/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino threw a party to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Yaccarino hosted the party for ad buyers and brand leaders at New York's Baccarat Hotel, per WSJ. Guests picked out fascinators, tried on jewelry, and were served tea and champagne, per WSJ. Twitter's new CEO Linda Yaccarino reportedly threw a party to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Yaccarino hosted the event for ad buyers and brand leaders at New York's Baccarat Hotel, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the event. Guests picked out fascinators, tried on Swarovski jewelry, and were served tea and champagne, the publication added. Last week, Yaccarino had her start date at Twitter, which was originally due to be June 22, moved up. She took control of the company on June 6, confirming her first day via a tweet. At the helm of Twitter, Yaccarino faces the tough job of making Twitter profitable and revitalizing its damaged advertising business. Musk's chaotic takeover and erratic management have made advertisers skittish. After a New York Times report said ad revenue was down 59% from April to May in comparison with the same period last year, Musk recently conceded that the company's advertising revenue had halved. Yaccarino is experienced at handling advertisers. Prior to accepting the role at Twitter, she headed up NBCUniversal ad sales and had been with the company for more than 11 years, according to her LinkedIn page. Musk, who recently said he would try out advertising at Tesla after years of shunning it, and Yaccarino appear to have very different opinions on how to deal with ad buyers. The differences between the two have some insiders privately speculating how long the partnership will last, per the Journal. Representatives for Yaccarino did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Two Charlotte murder suspects arrested at U.S. border, authorities say Two Charlotte murder suspects arrested at U.S. border, authorities say Two murder suspects were arrested at the U.S. border Friday in connection with a killing of another man in an east Charlotte neighborhood last month, police said. The men fled to Mexico after killing Juan Santiago-Flores, 24, on Milton Road, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said in a statement announcing arrests on Monday. Officers found Santiago-Flores shot May 15 at about 1 a.m., and paramedics took him to the hospital, where he later died. Erik Espino-Perez, 20, and William Espino-Perez, 25, were taken into custody while trying to reenter the U.S. at a regulated border crossing, CMPD officials said Monday. It is not clear which port of entry they were arrested at. The FBI and Customs and Border Protection helped local police. Police charged both men with murder, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, shooting into an occupied dwelling and attempted murder. DATABASE: Homicides in Charlotte in 2023 Two CHP cars crash into each other, plunge through home's fence, land near front wall One of two California Highway Patrol cars that landed in a La Puente home's frontyard. (KTLA-TV) Two California Highway Patrol cruisers in pursuit of a speeding motorcyclist on Saturday afternoon collided with each other and crashed through a La Puente home's wrought-iron fence coming to rest very close to the front of the house. "I see two Highway Patrols on the frontyard right by my mom's room, and I run to check on her," Nestor Rendon, an occupant of the home, told KABC-TV. "She was fine, thank God." Around 4:40 p.m. Saturday, California Highway Patrol officers attempted to pull over a motorcyclist traveling westbound on the 10 in the San Gabriel Valley, according to authorities. The motorcyclist continued to speed off, leading pursuing officers off the freeway. At the intersection of Ector Street and Hacienda Boulevard, the CHP cruisers crashed into each other, sending at least one bursting through a house's white wrought-iron fence and onto the frontyard, according to TV news outlets. Another car, unrelated to the police chase, also struck a nearby fire hydrant. No one was seriously injured, a CHP spokesperson said. But the crash was an alarming reminder of how often bystanders are swept up in the chaos of Southern California law enforcement pursuits. Los Angeles Police Department officers alone have been involved in at least 4,203 pursuits since 2018, according to an April report by The Times. About one-quarter (1,032) resulted in injuries or death, and people who aren't involved in the chase are more likely to be hurt or killed than the fleeing suspect. An aerial law enforcement unit found the suspect, who had ditched his bike and attempted to hide nearby. He was apprehended around 5:20 p.m. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Men killed in shootings outside of bars identified by Richland County coroner Two men were killed Sunday in separate early morning shootings that happened outside of bars in Columbia, according to the Richland County Sheriffs Department. There is currently no indication that these two incidents are connected, the sheriffs department said in a news release. The first shooting happened at about 5 a.m., according to the release. Deputies responded to a shots fired call at Vault Nightclub, at 3106 Broad River Road, the sheriffs department said. Thats in a strip mall near the intersection with St. Andrews Road. When they arrived, deputies found a man who had been shot lying on the ground in the parking lot, according to the release. The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, the sheriffs department said. The man was identified as Dennis Taylor, a 39-year-old Columbia resident, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford. About an hour later, the second shooting happened 9 miles away outside of Felicitys Bar & Grill, at 7708 Fairfield Road, according to the release. Deputies were responding to a call about a shooting and found a man who had been hit by gunfire lying on the ramp leading up to the business, the sheriffs department said. The second victim was also taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries, according to the release. That man was identified as 28-year-old Columbia resident Basile Darby, according to the coroners office. No other injuries were reported in either shooting. There was no word if the bars/night clubs were still open when the shootings happened. While the sheriffs department said it does not believe the fatal shootings are related, it did say that investigators do not believe there is a threat to the community. There was no word on the gunmen involved in either shooting, or a motive for the shootings. No arrests have been reported by the sheriffs department, which is continuing to investigate both deaths. Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip. A judge has put on hold key parts of a lawsuit filed by Florida against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, after the federal agency said it expects to make a decision by Oct. 31 on the states plan to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber issued an order Thursday granting the Food and Drug Administrations request for a stay and noting that a trial is scheduled in November. The stay applies to allegations by Florida that the federal agency violated a law known as the Administrative Procedure Act in its consideration of the plan. Although the court understands plaintiffs desire to expedite this case, the court notes that this case is currently set for trial in November, Barbers order said. The potential for the APA (Administrative Procedure Act) claims to become moot upon a decision from the FDA prior to trial weighs heavily in favor of staying the proceedings as to these claims to conserve judicial resources. Barber, however, added that the state and the FDA should be prepared to go to trial in November should these claims not be resolved at that time. Gov. Ron DeSantis and then-Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, made the drug-importation issue a priority in 2019, with lawmakers approving a plan to make imported drugs available in government programs such as Medicaid, the prison system and facilities run by the Department of Children and Families. At least initially, the state wants to import drugs to treat conditions such as HIV and AIDS, hepatitis C, diabetes and mental illness, according to court documents. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The state submitted a proposal in November 2020 to the Food and Drug Administration, which would need to approve the importation program. The proposal falls under what is known as the federal Section 804 Importation Program, or SIP. DeSantis and other state officials have blasted the federal agency for not making a decision and filed a lawsuit last year alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Freedom of Information Act. The Administrative Procedure Act allegations center on delays in the decision-making, while the Freedom of Information Act allegations involve records that the state sought from the federal agency. The FDA last fall requested more information from the state about the SIP proposal. In a court document filed on May 26, it said the state in April sent a 3,215-page supplement to the SIP proposal. The FDA said it was seeking input about the proposal from experts in numerous federal offices. Attorneys for the FDA wrote that given the statutory and regulatory requirements governing the SIP program and the multi-component review process that is underway, the agency expects to issue a decision by Oct. 31. The FDA asked for the stay in April, before Florida submitted the supplement to the proposal. Lawyers for the state opposed the stay, accusing the FDA of gamesmanship that would lead to further delays. Meanwhile, the state filed a separate lawsuit in April alleging violations of the Freedom of Information Act. That case is pending before Barber, who is based in Tampa. [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. By Karen Freifeld (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Monday added 43 entities to an export control list, including Frontier Services Group Ltd, a security and aviation company previously run by Erik Prince, for training Chinese military pilots and other activities that threaten U.S. national security. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa, a flight school under scrutiny by authorities in Britain for recruiting British ex-military pilots to train Chinese military fliers, was also added to the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List. Companies on the list are restricted from receiving U.S. exports for activities deemed contrary to U.S. interests. The new listings include Frontier Services Group sites in China, Kenya, Laos and the United Arab Emirates; TFASA units in South Africa, China, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom; and aerospace and defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) entities in China and South Africa. The companies could not immediately be reached for comment. In addition to recruiting Western pilots to train People's Liberation Army pilots on Western aircraft maneuvers, companies were added to the list for acquiring U.S.-origin items in support of China's military modernization, including hypersonic weapons development and hypersonic flight modeling, the Commerce Department said in a release. "It is imperative that we prevent China from acquiring U.S. technologies and know-how to enable their military modernization programs," Matthew Axelrod, a Commerce official, said in a statement. Thirty-one Chinese entities in total were added to the list. Shanghai Supercomputing Technology Co Ltd was added for offering cloud-based supercomputing capabilities to support hypersonics research. Nine Chinese and Pakistani companies were added for contributing to Pakistans ballistic missile program and other weapons contributions. And two companies were added for enabling China to carry out human rights abuses, including as part of its repression of the Ugyhur Muslims and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang, western China. Ryan Wende Science and Technology Co in Beijing procures and distributes mobile phone inspection software, fingerprint analysis technology, biostatistics software and DNA testing items to Public Security Bureaus throughout China, the Commerce Department said. Xinjiang Kehua Hechang Biological Science and Technology Co Ltd acquires and distributes biotech items to the Xingjiang Production and Construction Corps, which is on the entity list, and Public Service Bureaus in Xinjiang. U.N. experts and rights groups estimate that over a million people, mainly Uyghurs and Muslim minorities, have been detained in camps in China's western region of Xinjiang in recent years, with many saying they were subject to ideological training and abuse. China has denied all accusations of abuse. The U.S. also removed Fiber Optic Solutions in Latvia from the Entity List on Monday. Fiber Optic Solutions, which produces fiber optic gyroscopes and other equipment, was added in December for its contributions to the Russian military and/or defense industrial base. Erik Prince, a private security executive, was the founder of the security firm Blackwater. According to his LinkedIn profile, Prince was vice chair of Frontier Services Group from 2014 to 2021. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by David Shepardson.Editing by Chris Sanders and Alistair Bell) By John Kruzel WASHINGTON(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to decide whether requiring criminal defendants to pay a fixed amount of cash bail to secure their release from jail before trial violates the U.S. Constitution. The justices turned away an appeal by Bradley Hester of a lower court's ruling that upheld Cullman County, Alabama's cash bail system. Hester was required to remain in jail following a misdemeanor arrest because he could not afford to make a $1,000 bail payment. Hester joined a lawsuit against Cullman County Sheriff Matthew Gentry and other officials in 2017 following his arrest and detention for possessing drug paraphernalia. He argued that jailing defendants due to their inability to pay bail violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law, and ran afoul of the presumption of innocence that defendants enjoy under the American legal system. A federal judge in Alabama in 2018 temporarily blocked Cullman County's bail practices, ruling that Hester was likely to prevail on his claim that the county's "discriminatory bail practices deprive indigent criminal defendants in Cullman County of equal protection of the law." But a divided 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in 2022 reversed that ruling, prompting Hester's appeal to the Supreme Court. A group of legal scholars with expertise on bail practices had urged the justices to take up the case, arguing in a friend-of-court brief that the American legal tradition protects the right to liberty before conviction. Bail reform advocates say that, in addition to a defendant being deprived of freedom, jail inmates can also be exposed to violence and disease, suffer loss of employment and housing, and may be coerced into pleading guilty to secure their release. (Reporting by John Kruzel; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Migrants gather along the U.S. Mexico border near San Diego after the lifting of Tile 42 By Daina Beth Solomon and Ted Hesson MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. asylum appointments at a dangerous Texas-Mexico border crossing can no longer be scheduled via an online app following reports that migrants face extortion in Mexico. Advocates for migrants in the Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo, just across the border from Laredo, were informed of the suspension by a U.S. consular official, a June 2 message reviewed by Reuters showed. No reason for the change was stated. A website for the app, called CBP One, no longer lists Laredo as a city where asylum seekers can schedule appointments. Nuevo Laredo has long been notorious for widespread kidnapping and extortion of migrants. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not respond to requests for comment. The appointments are a key part of a border system put in place by U.S. President Joe Biden last month when COVID-era restrictions known as Title 42 expired. Biden's administration opened up legal pathways, including via the app, while also implementing a strict new regulation that could deny asylum to many migrants crossing the border illegally. Advocates and some Democrats argue that migrants should not be forced to wait in dangerous conditions in northern Mexico, particularly as demand outstrips the 1,250 CBP One appointments available per day. The suspension was first reported by the Associated Press. Lately, criminal groups in Nuevo Laredo have allegedly demanded payment from migrants headed to the port of entry, including those with CBP One appointments, according to a May report from the Strauss Center at the University of Texas at Austin. An advocate in Nuevo Laredo, who requested anonymity due to safety fears, said criminals have demanded as much as $500 per person. Human Rights First recorded over 13,000 reports of violent attacks against migrants in Mexico in 2021 and 2022. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang) By Noele Illien ZURICH (Reuters) -UBS completed its emergency takeover of embattled local rival Credit Suisse on Monday, forging a Swiss banking and wealth management giant with a $1.6 trillion balance sheet. Marking the closing of the biggest banking deal since the 2008 financial crisis, UBS Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti and Chairman Colm Kelleher said despite challenges there were "many opportunities" for clients, staff, shareholders and Switzerland. The combined group will oversee $5 trillion of assets, giving UBS a leading position in key markets it would otherwise have needed years to grow in size and reach. The merger also ends Credit Suisse's 167-years of independence. Having peaked at more than 82 Swiss francs in 2007, the price of Credit Suisse shares has been eroded by scandals and losses in recent years and closed at 0.82 francs on Monday. UBS shares gained 0.8%, valuing the bank at about 64 billion Swiss francs ($70 billion). The two banks now jointly employ about 120,000 worldwide, although UBS has already said it will be cutting jobs to reduce costs and take advantage of synergies. UBS announced a string of management changes with the closing including at Credit Suisse AG, which is now a UBS subsidiary that will be run separately. Of the more than 160 leaders being confirmed or appointed, just over a fifth are from Credit Suisse, a UBS spokesperson said. Andre Helfenstein will remain as head of the Credit Suisse domestic business, which UBS has said it is considering all strategic options for. CLOSING RUSH UBS agreed on March 19 to buy Credit Suisse for a knockdown price of 3 billion Swiss francs and up to five billion francs in assumed losses in a rescue orchestrated by Swiss authorities with Switzerland's second-largest bank on the edge of collapse. On Friday, UBS finalised an agreement on the conditions of a 9 billion Swiss franc public backstop for losses from winding down parts of Credit Suisse's business. UBS sealed the takeover in less than three months, a tight timetable given its scale and complexity, in a race to provide greater certainty for both clients and employees. The deal, however, exposed two myths - namely, that Switzerland is a steady, predictable investment destination and that banks' problems would no longer hit taxpayers. "It was supposed to be the end of too-big-to-fail and state-led bailout," said Jean Dermine, professor of banking and finance at INSEAD, adding that the episode showed this central reform after the global financial crisis had not worked. The rescue also showed that even big global banks are vulnerable to bouts of panic, said Arturo Bris, professor of finance and director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center. An outflow of deposits forced Credit Suisse to seek help. Switzerland's reputation as a "safe, predictable political environment where the private sector operates freely and without government intervention" had taken a hit, Bris added. The disappearance of Credit Suisse's investment bank, which UBS has said it will seek to cut back significantly, marks yet another retreat of a European lender from securities trading, a business now largely dominated by U.S. firms. Since the global financial crisis, many banks have pared back their global ambitions in response to tougher regulations. Swiss regulator FINMA, which came under fire for its handling of the situation, said one of the most pressing goals for the newly-merged bank was to quickly reduce the risk of the former Credit Suisse investment bank. UBS is set to book a massive second-quarter profit after buying Credit Suisse for a fraction of its so-called fair value. Ermotti has, however, warned the coming months will be "bumpy" as UBS gets on with absorbing Credit Suisse, a process it said will take three to five years. Presenting the first snapshot of the new group's finances last month, UBS underscored the high stakes involved, by flagging tens of billions of dollars of potential costs - and benefits, but also uncertainty surrounding those numbers. NEXT CHALLENGE Possibly the first challenge for Ermotti, brought back to UBS to steer the merger, will be a politically fraught decision about the future of Credit Suisse's "crown jewel". Bringing its domestic business into the UBS fold and combining the two banks' largely overlapping branch networks could produce significant savings, which Ermotti has indicated as a base scenario. But he will need to weigh that against public pressure to keep Credit Suisse's brand, identity and, critically, workforce. Analysts say public concerns the new bank will be too big - with a balance sheet roughly double the size of the Swiss economy - means UBS might need to tread carefully to avoid being exposed to even tougher regulation and capital requirements. They also warn that uncertainty inevitably caused by a takeover of such scale can leave UBS struggling to retain staff and customers and that it remained an open question whether the deal can deliver value for shareholders in the long run. ($1 = 0.9101 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Noele Illien; Additional reporting by John O'Donnell and John Revill; Editing by Miranda Murray, Tomasz Janowski, Edwina Gibbs, Sharon Singleton, Elisa Martinuzzi and Alexander Smith) Rome (CNN) Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant billionaire and former Italian prime minister who once described himself as the Jesus Christ of politics, has died at a Milan hospital at the age of 86, his press office confirmed on Monday. Berlusconi, who had a recent history of health issues, had recently been diagnosed with leukemia, Milans San Raffaele Hospital said. He had been admitted to the hospital before with breathing problems, and attended a check-up there on Friday. The politician, who was long regarded as Italys most colorful public figure, was elected prime minister three times and served for a total of nine years, longer than anyone since fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Affectionately nicknamed Il Cavaliere (The Knight), his career was marked by a series of political, financial and personal scandals, many of which landed him in court. He was tried on charges ranging from tax evasion and bribery to corruption and having sex with an underage prostitute. But only one case stuck a 2012 conviction for tax evasion in a deal involving television rights. Berlusconi was voted out of parliament in 2013. But never one to give up the fight, he re-emerged in early 2018 as a kind of grandfatherly elder statesman, the kingmaker of a right-wing alliance involving his Forza Italia party. After the Court of Milan granted him rehabilitation later that year, effectively lifting the ban on him re-entering politics that was in place following his 2012 tax fraud conviction, he announced he would run for a seat in the European Parliament. He was elected in May 2019, at 83 years old, and remained in office as a Member of the European Parliament at the time of his death. Berlusconi also led his Forza Italia party, which he revived in 2013 after leaving the People of Freedom party, to victory with the center-right coalition with Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini in September 2022, though he did not have a government portfolio. This is a breaking story, more to follow This story was first published on CNN.com. Silvio Berlusconi, Italys former showman leader, dies at 86 Considering the first losses during the counteroffensive, Andrii Melnyk, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, is asking for more German-made tanks. Source: ntv, a media outlet, as European Pravda writes Details: Against the background of the loss of the first tanks delivered by the Western allies to participate in the hostilities in Ukraine, Kyiv is once again calling for increased support, in particular from Germany. "The Ukrainian army desperately needs many more Western battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other armoured vehicles," Melnyk said. "Each Leopard 2 is literally worth its weight in gold for a decisive offensive," added the former ambassador of Ukraine in Berlin. In his opinion, the Bundeswehr is capable of providing more than the 18 already delivered pieces from its stockpile of more than 300. The current number could be "tripled without jeopardising Germany's ability to defend itself". Melnyk also asked to hand over "another 60 Marder infantry fighting vehicles" to the Ukrainian army. CDU security politician Roderich Kiesewetter supported Melnyk's demand. "Allies should immediately replace all destroyed equipment, including Leopard battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers, and deliver additional equipment," he said. Markus Faber, a military politician from the Free Democratic Party, said that "clear statements about the replacement of lost material" could "support the defenders in their offensive". For example, the Bundestag decided to replace the Leopard 2 rounds in service with the German armed forces. "This is where we can increase the numbers to help," Faber said. Melnyk also reiterated his demand for Germany to provide Taurus cruise missiles and help build a powerful Ukrainian air force. Ukraine is waiting for "Germany's strategic decision on active participation in the coalition of fighter jets to give Ukrainian pilots the opportunity to train on Eurofighter jets and to provide a part of more than 130 aircraft". As reported, the German government is currently not thinking about supplying Ukraine with Taurus long-range cruise missiles. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine claims first gains in its counteroffensive against Russia ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine Ukraine has claimed the first battlefield gains since the launch of its counteroffensive against Russian forces, saying it liberated a string of villages over the weekend after fierce fighting on the war's southern and eastern front lines. Ukraines 35th brigade posted video Monday of soldiers raising the blue and yellow national flag over what they say is the retaken village of Storozheve in the eastern Donetsk region. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said its military had also retaken three other nearby villages as it seeks to push south and threaten Russia's main defensive lines. It will be the same with every settlement until we liberate all Ukrainian land, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said. The gains were celebrated on social media. But they are small-scale victories in the early days of what is expected to be a long and difficult effort to drive the Kremlins forces out of occupied land across the country's south and east. Appropriate counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. I will not say in detail at what stage they are, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a weekend news conference in Kyiv, his first public acknowledgement of the campaign. Ukrainian officials have asked for operational silence to avoid compromising their battlefield efforts, but in recent days reported their first successes. Russian officials have not confirmed the losses, but the country's increasingly influential military bloggers acknowledged the initial setbacks beginning with the village of Blahodatne. Valeriy Shershen, a Ukrainian military spokesman, said that Russian forces were entrenched in the village club there and were driven out only after house-to-house combat. After the fighting ended, people came out of the basements and greeted their liberators. It was a very poignant moment that inspires and creates motivation to move forward, he said in a statement. Ukrainian forces claim to have liberated the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region Sunday as part of a push south. (Oleksy Dovbusha / Ukrainian 68th Separate Hunting Brigade) The launch of the counteroffensive has also seen the battlefield debut of western-supplied armored vehicles, including German Leopard tanks and American-made Bradley fighting vehicles. Video footage reviewed by NBC News showed Ukrainian forces using Bradleys in combat for the first time near the small city of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, which has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the counteroffensive so far. One Bradley was disabled after taking a direct hit, but its heavy armor shielded troops inside from the worst of the impact. Soldiers are seen in the video throwing smoke canisters to hide their escape before evacuating to a second Bradley. Footage released by the Russian defense ministry shows the aftermath of the same skirmish, with both Bradleys and Leopards left disabled or partially destroyed. It was not clear what losses Russian forces may have suffered during the encounter. Anton Borshch, a Ukrainian soldier who recently came off the front line in the east, told NBC News that the Western vehicles were making a significant difference. This is more maneuverable equipment, of better quality, more accurate, which allows us to clear the enemys tree lines and fortifications much faster. My guys ride a Bradley, they calmly clear the landing and can also evacuate dead and wounded from the battlefield, he said. Separate footage released by Ukraines 59th Brigade showed a pair of American Humvees with mounted heavy machine guns taking part in an attack on a Russian bunker near the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk. Moscow says its forces are holding the line against Ukrainian attacks. Over the weekend, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded medals to troops he said were successful in destroying NATO-supplied vehicles. But far from the front lines in Ukraine, Shoigu is mired in an increasingly bitter political battle with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the volatile head of the Wagner mercenary group. Prigozhin said Sunday he would defy orders that his mercenaries sign formal contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, a move that would increase the Kremlins control over Wagners private army. Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu, Prigozhin said, accusing him of poor management. It was the latest in a series of angry broadsides the mercenary chief has made against Russias military leadership. However, at the end of his defiant statement, Prigozhin reiterated that his forces remained completely loyal to the supreme commander-in-chief Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian counteroffensive began last week but was overshadowed by the destruction of a major strategic dam on the Dnieper River. The resulting torrent of water has inundated dozens of villages and towns in the southern war zone, leaving many people stranded and forcing thousands to be evacuated by boat. On Monday, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said 10 people died in the Kherson and the Mykolaiv regions as a result of the dam's collapse, and that 42 people, including seven children, were considered missing. The Kremlin-installed head of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said Friday that at least eight people were among the dead on the Russian-controlled side of the river. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Ukrainian troops in Zaporizhia Anatolii Stepanov / AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy more or less confirmed over the weekend that Ukraine has begun its long-anticipated counteroffensive, though he added he will "not disclose in detail" the stage of Ukraine's effort to pry back heavily fortified land from Russian occupiers. "Ukrainian forces made visually verified advances in western Donetsk Oblast and western Zaporizhia Oblast, which Russian sources confirmed but sought to downplay," the Institute for the Study of War research group assessed Sunday night. "Ukrainian forces liberated several towns, but claims of a Ukrainian 'breakthrough' are premature at this time." Ukraine said Sunday and early Monday that it had recaptured several small villages south of Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Neskuchne, Blahodatne, Makrivka, and Storozhove and made gains in Zaporizhzhia and on the outskirts of Bakhmut. Kyiv also acknowledged taking casualties and losing several Western-supplied armored vehicles in hard fighting. Russian aircraft, mines and artillery destroyed or crippled at least three German-made Leopard 2 tanks and eight U.S. Bradley fighting vehicles, The New York Times reported, analyzing verified photos from pro-war Russian bloggers. The Russian military bloggers "gloated over footage appearing to show the destruction of numerous vehicles," The Wall Street Journal added. "But videos posted online mostly showed hits on the same tanks from different angles." "Ukrainian forces are attempting to do something no other European military is currently capable of: conducting sustained combined-arms operations at scale against a peer-adversary in a state-on-state, high-intensity war," defense analyst Franz-Stefan Gady told the Journal. And the U.S., which has that capability, has overwhelming air power. "Ukraine doesn't control the air," said Phillips O'Brien at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. "People forget how hard this is, what Ukraine is trying to do." Ukrainian military officials and Western analysts said Kyiv is so far committing only limited forces, testing Russian outer defenses for weaknesses to exploit. "Some of what we are seeing is intended, perhaps, to confuse the Russians as to where the main attack is going to be," retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges told the Journal. When the main push comes, he added, Ukraine will likely send in formations with several hundred tanks and armored fighting vehicles. For now, Ukraine's recapturing of multiple settlements "reinforces the fact that they are moving forward," retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling told CNN on Sunday. "Every single piece of land Ukrainian forces can pull back to their sovereign territory is going to be part of a march toward operational success." 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 -Lawyers for Ukraine at the top U.N. court on Monday rejected Russia's account of the downing of a Malaysian airliner as a "rambling conspiracy theory", in a case alleging Moscow backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Kyiv says that Moscow violated a U.N. anti-terrorism treaty by equipping and funding pro-Russian forces, including militias who shot down Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, killing all 298 passengers and crew in July 2014. Last November, a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist in absentia for their role in the downing of the airliner and sentenced them to life in prison. It found that Russia had "overall control" over the separatist forces. Russia at the time rejected the decision by the Dutch court. Last week, in hearings before the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, Russia said Ukraine's MH17 case was based on "nonsense" and offered a host of alternative explanations for what happened. On Monday, Ukraine's lawyers hit back. One of them, Marney Cheek, told the court it had been "subjected to a rambling conspiracy theory" about the shooting down of MH17 which would be "better relegated to the darkest corners of the internet". Kyiv has accused Russia of being a terrorist state and said it had also tried to erase the culture of ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Kyiv has asked the court to find Moscow guilty of breaching its treaty obligations and order it to pay reparations. Russia denies systematic human rights abuses in Ukrainian territory that it occupies. It also says it has met its obligations under the U.N. treaty against financing terrorism. Russia will get a last chance to reply to Ukraine's allegations on Thursday. The World Court case stems from 2017 and was filed well before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The International Court of Justice is expected to rule on the case before the end of this year. (Editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich) Ukraine has lost 16 US-supplied armored vehicles in the past several days, according to open-source intelligence analysis, as the countrys military announced its forces had captured three villages from Russia in an offensive in the eastern Donetsk region. The 16 US Bradley infantry fighting vehicles either destroyed or damaged and abandoned in recent days represent almost 15% of the 109 that Washington has given Kyiv, according to Jakub Janovsky of the Dutch open-source intelligence website Oryx, which has been collecting visual evidence of military equipment losses in Ukraine since Russias invasion began on February 24, 2022. The Bradley fighting vehicle, which moves on tracks rather than wheels, can hold around 10 troops and is used to transport personnel into battle while providing supporting fire. When the first batch of more than 60 Bradleys were sent to Ukraine at the end of January, US Army Lt. Col. Rebecca DAngelo, commander of the Armys 841st Transportation Battalion, said the armored vehicles would be important to Kyivs offensive operations. US soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, train with Bradley Fighting Vehicles at Nowa Deba, in Nowa Deba, Poland, on April 12, 2023. - Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Getty Images/File This is going to hopefully enhance their capabilities to provide forward advancement in the battlefield and regain lost ground, by having equipment that matches or exceeds what the Russians have, DAngelo said in a US Army report. But when Washington announced in January it would supply to Bradleys to Ukraine, CNN military analyst James Spider Marks, a retired general, said the Bradleys would need the right mix of other abilities, including air support, long-range artillery and incisive intelligence. A single piece of equipment like the Bradleys is wonderful, but it needs to be used in conjunction with all those other enablers, he said at the time. Air support is one area where Ukraines military is lacking, although Kyivs forces are expected to get F-16 multirole fighter jets from Western allies in the future. Despite the loss of the Bradleys, analysts said it doesnt necessarily portend problems for Ukraines effort to push back Russian invaders. Given the size of the front, and intensity of fighting I would expect such losses, said Nicholas Drummond, a defense industry analyst specializing in land warfare and a former British Army officer. Ukraine is attacking across four main lines of advance in order to force Russia to commit its reserves. A necessary but costly approach, Drummond said. But he also echoed Marks comments from January. Id like to see the use of armor accompanied by more artillery fire and combat aircraft. You cant make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, Drummond said. Drummond and others also pointed out a positive sign for Ukraine in its losses of Western armored vehicles. We are not seeing catastrophic damage. This suggests that the vehicles are doing their job and the crews are escaping, he said. And Janovsky, from Oryx, said the Bradleys might not be lost for good. Most of those vehicles are just damaged and abandoned, so it might be possible to recover and repair them if Ukraine takes the area, he said. The Bradleys are among almost 3,600 pieces of military equipment Ukraine has lost in the war, according to Oryx. Meanwhile, the website says it has documented the loss of more than 10,600 pieces of Russian military equipment. In a statement in Monday, Moscow claimed it had destroyed multiple Ukrainian armored vehicles in the Zaporizhzhia region. Enemy armored forces are currently launching more and more attacks in the [Zaporizhzhia] direction. However, Russian anti-tank troops stand in their way, cold-bloodedly turning Western armored vehicles into scrap heaps, the Russian Ministry of Defense said. The statement did not say what kind of vehicles were destroyed. Villages retaken Despite the loss of the Bradleys, Ukraine reports it has taken back at least three villages from Russian forces in fighting over the weekend. Ukraines advance south from the front-line town of Velyka Novosilke in the Donetsk region now stretches somewhere between 5 and 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles), according to information released by Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. Writing on Telegram Sunday evening, Maliar said the village of Makrivka had been recaptured from Russian control the third in a string of settlements that sit along the Mokri Yaly River to be declared liberated by Ukrainian forces over the course of the day. Earlier, videos emerged showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag from buildings in Neskuchne and Blahodatne. CNN military analyst Mark Hertling said the situation was positive for Ukraine from both morale and battlefield perspectives. It reinforces the fact that they are moving forward, Hertling told CNNs Jim Acosta. Meanwhile, every single piece of land Ukrainian forces can pull back to their sovereign territory is going to be part of a march toward operational success, Hertling said. Reporting on developments, Russian military bloggers offered a pessimistic assessment of the situation facing the Kremlins forces in the area. The Rybar Telegram channel suggested late Sunday that Ukraines offensive looked set to continue, adding that Russian forces should expect the pressure to intensify in the near future. Fighting is taking place near the village of Urozhaine, slightly further down the river, Rybar reported. The channel added that heavy cloud and rain were also limiting Russian forces ability to use drones to repel the Ukrainian advance. A Ukrainian army spokesman said Russian forces had blown up a dam on the river, adding that there was flooding on both banks but saying it would not affect our counteroffensive actions. On Monday, Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up another small dam along the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, near the village of Novodarivka. Floodwaters spilled over both banks of the Mokri Yaly River after the dam of a small reservoir near the village was destroyed, according to Ukraines Military Media Center. Novodarivka is one of several villages in the area that Kyivs troops have claimed in recent days. In its most recent battlefield roundup, Russias Ministry of Defense made no mention of retreats but said its forces had destroyed the concentrations of manpower and equipment of three Ukrainian brigades operating in the same area. Further west, in neighboring Zaporizhzhia region, Russian airstrikes and artillery fire by the Vostok brigade had succeeded in pushing back three Ukrainian advances south of Orikhiv, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian army spokesman told CNN that Kyivs forces have been counterattacking around the eastern city of Bakhmut for a week but downplayed its importance saying, this is not a major offensive. These are counterattacks where we take advantage of the fact that the enemy is rotating, that the enemy has not fully reconnoitered, has not fully coordinated its units, has not fully dug in. We take advantage of this and counterattack them, Serhii Cherevatyi told CNN by phone. He said Russian forces continue their shelling towards Ukrainian positions but said Ukraines forces had advanced up to two kilometers (1.25 miles) in places. Cherevatyi said Russias presence in Bakhmut was maintained by airborne troops, with support from infantry personnel and mercenaries from several smaller private military companies. While Russian forces continue to hold the city, Ukraines forces have concentrated their efforts on areas to the northwest and southwest. Hertling noted that Ukraine has been using a deep-strike capability to disrupt Russian supply lines well back from the front lines. Ukraine has been very good in terms of striking deep targets that effect the logistics support, Hertling said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Ukraine and Moldova to construct bridge across Dniester, key link between Kyiv and Chisinau Signing of the agreement on the construction of the bridge The bridge will serve as a crucial link in the transportation corridor connecting Kyiv and Chisinau. Read also: Moldova to join EU in imposing restrictions on Ukrainian imports The respective agreement was signed by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukrainian Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development, and Lilia Dabija, Moldovas Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Kubrakov said that the bridge will provide Ukrainian exporters with the most direct route from central Ukraine to Central and Southeastern Europe, bypassing the Russian-occupied region of Transnistria. Read also: Ukraine and Lithuania agree to develop railway link bypassing Belarus and Russia The Yampil Bridge will serve as an alternative to the non-operational ferry crossing at the Yampil-Koseuts border checkpoint, which no longer meets the modern requirements and needs of residents in both countries. Moreover, the Yampil Bridge will help distribute the traffic flow between Ukraine and Moldova, currently passing through the Mohyliv-Podilskyi-Otaci international checkpoint. The artificial structure will exceed 1,400 meters in length and will feature two traffic lanes with sidewalks on both sides. Kubrakov stated that the signing of the agreement is a practical outcome of the agreements reached by the presidents of Ukraine and Moldova in 2021. Despite changes to the projects implementation due to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the critical need for the development of alternative logistic routes makes the Yampil Bridge project indispensable. Read also: Russia may open case against Moldovas Sandu over threats to Putin, says official In January 2021, the Office of the President announced that Ukraine would finance the construction of the bridge, which is intended to be part of a new highway connecting Kyiv and Chisinau. 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 and Moldova signed an agreement about the construction of a bridge on the Ukraine-Moldova border, linking the settlements of Yampil and Cosauti. Source: European Pravda with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine The agreement was signed by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime-Minister of Rebuilding of Ukraine, Minister of Development of Hromadas, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, and Lilia Dabija, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova (hromada is an administrative territorial unit including a town or village and adjacent settlements ed.). Signing this agreement basically prolongs the agreements, reached in 2021 by presidents of Ukraine and Moldova. The full-scale Russian invasion slowed the implementation of the project but the critical necessity for the development of alternative logistic routes makes the project of the Yampil Bridge non-alternative. "The bridge will become the key element of the transport corridor between Kyiv and Chisinau. In addition to this, the bridge will become the shortest route from Ukraine's centre to the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe with a detour of the Russia-occupied Transnistriia for the Ukrainian exporters," Kubrakov explained. The Yampil Bridge will become an alternative to a ferry crossing at the border crossing, which has not been operating for several years and does not correspond to modern requirements and necessities of the residents of both countries. The bridge will also reduce pressure on the international checkpoint Mohyliv-Podilskyi-Otach, through which almost entire traffic between Ukraine and Moldova circulates. The total length of the bridge will be over 1400 metres. The artificial construction will have two lanes of movement with pavements on both sides. The project of the bridge also takes into account the barrier-free standards; specifically it provides for the instalment of sidewalks with low level of curb stones within crosswalks. Warning tactile stripes will be installed for the visually impaired people to navigate. In January 2021, the Presidents Office of Ukraine reported that Ukraine would finance the building of the bridge over the Dniester river, which must become a part of the highway between Kyiv and Chisinau. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine appears to be playing a deadly 'game' as the big counteroffensive gets underway, and its main attack is likely still to come The Ukrainian military conducts training on Leopard 2 tanks at the test site on May 14, 2023. The German-made tanks are one of many Western weapons sent to aid Ukraine in time for its counteroffensive. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Getty Images Ukrainian counteroffensive operations are happening at points along the front line with mixed results. The main attack likely hasn't started yet as each side tries to outfox the other, experts say. One expert, a retired US general, says big armor formations may signal the start of the main effort. Ukraine's forces are conducting counteroffensive operations, even achieving some breakthroughs, but we haven't yet seen a hammer blow to Russian lines. Both sides, but Ukraine in particular, look to be playing a deadly "game" aimed at getting a read on the threat, as well as misleading and misdirecting the enemy, and the main attack is likely still to come, experts say. The early stages of the Ukrainian offensive have been marked by limited but not insignificant pushes at various points along the front lines. Some of these efforts have yielded modest gains, even liberating some front-line villages, but other pushes have hit heavier resistance, which Ukrainian leadership has described as "tough battles." As was expected, these opening moves have come at the cost of both people and equipment, including some of the newer weapons Ukraine recently acquired from the country's Western partners, like the German-made Leopard tanks and the American-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Russian forces, though unable to man every position along the front at full strength, are dug in, with an extensive network of trenches, minefields, and vehicle and infantry barriers like dragon's teeth and razor wire creating a complex, layered defense that presents a difficult obstacle for Ukraine, which hasn't reached the main defensive line yet. Furthermore, Kyiv's forces are attempting to employ new weapons and tactics in a hard offensive fight without air support, and the Russians are in some places mounting a sound defense consistent with their military doctrine. A Ukrainian serviceman at a training exercise in the Donetsk region on April 7, 2023. GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images But this new phase of the war in which Ukraine is taking the fight to the invading Russian army is really just getting started, and while there has been speculation about Ukraine's objectives, the main line of effort is unclear, perhaps purposefully so. "With their operations, the Ukrainians seek to play this shell game, this three-card monte game, where they're trying to use surprise and deception to get the Russians to commit to decisively defending certain parts of the theater at the expense of others," George Barros, a war analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told Foreign Policy on Friday. Barros said that "the actual intended main Ukrainian effort," whenever it comes, "is going to attack something else." Others have made similar observations as counteroffensive operations continue. "We haven't committed our main forces," a source in Ukraine's General Staff told The Economist Sunday, adding that "the Russians haven't committed their main forces." He said the Ukrainian and the Russian forces are playing a "chess game" aimed at drawing out the enemy, specifically those reserve forces needed to sustain a fight. The Ukrainian military appears to have formed a dozen counteroffensive brigades, around nine of which are equipped with Western weapons, and the military seems "to have committed only a portion of the large reserve of forces available for counteroffensive operations," ISW said last week in an update on the war. The Ukrainian military conducts training on Leopard 2 tanks at the test site on May 14, 2023. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Expert observers predicted weeks ago that the deployment of Western heavy armor would be a telltale sign the counteroffensive had begun, and that largely proved to be the case. The main attack, according to a former US Army general, will likely also be identifiable by armored vehicles but a lot of them. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, a former US Army Europe commanding general, wrote in a Sunday Center for European Policy Analysis article that "there is a big difference between starting an offensive" and "the main attack." "The offensive has clearly started," he observed, "but not I think the main attack." He said he suspects a powerful attack by at least three armored brigades consisting of hundreds of armored vehicles, from tanks to infantry fighting vehicles to troop carriers, against a narrow section of the front will signal the beginning of the main attack, the effectiveness of which remains to be seen. But even if we see those large armor formations, "be careful," Hodges cautioned, arguing "the Ukrainian General Staff will want to keep the Russians guessing about the location of the main attack for as long as possible." Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine said its forces liberated at least two villages in the east of the country Sunday in the first wave of a long-expected offensive to take back Russian-occupied territory. Were seeing the first results of the counteroffensive actions, localized results, Ukrainian military spokesman Valeriy Shershen said on television. Most Read from Bloomberg Ukraines gains, announced in social media posts and statements by its military, couldnt be independently verified. Russias Defense Ministry called the situation fluid. Nothing extraordinary is happening, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian occupation official in the Zaporizhzhia region, said on Telegram. The villages, Blahodatne and Neskuchne, are in the Donetsk region near the border with Russia. Russias Defense Ministry said earlier Sunday it repelled an attack by Ukrainian speedboats on one of its Black Sea Naval vessels. Evacuations continue in flooded regions of Kherson after the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed almost a week ago, causing a humanitarian and environmental disaster. Russian soldiers were again reported to attack civilians involved in rescue efforts. Three people were killed and another 10 were injured when their small boat came under fire, the regions governor said on Telegram. Latest Coverage New POW swap of 95 Ukrainian service members, 94 Russian soldiers Wagner Chief Says His Mercenaries Wont Sign Ministry Contracts Russia Says It Repelled Ukrainian Attack on Black Sea Fleet Ship Ukraine Warns of Toxic Black Sea Garbage Dump From Dam Debris Saudi Oil Minister Says OPEC+ Is Tackling Market Uncertainties Coming Up UN watchdog Rafael Mariano Grossi to visit Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant this week Germanys Scholz, Polands Duda expected to meet Macron in Paris on Monday to discuss Ukraine, NATO Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang visits Dak Lak attack victims Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang has led a delegation to visit victims of the armed attacks on the headquarters of the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communal peoples committees, including the communal police stations in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (left) visits families of victims on June 12. During his visit on Monday morning, Deputy PM Quang met with the families of the police officers who were killed in the attacks which occurred in the early morning of June 11. He also visited the two injured police officers who are being treated at the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital. He requested the hospitals medical staff make all efforts to ensure their recovery. The deputy PM visits an injured police officer who is being treated at the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital. Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam has also signed a decision to posthumously promote four police officers who died in the attacks and give assistance to the families of the injured and dead officers. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security Lieut. Gen. To An Xo, 26 suspects had been arrested for involvement in the attacks and a number of weapons were seized as of 11:30 am on June 12. Xo said that more people may be arrested as they are still expanding their search for other accomplices who participated in the attacks. Police search for people who participated in the attacks. The ministry requested that the people of Cu Kuin District and neighbouring areas stay calm and follow the instructions of local authorities and police. (CNN) 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. 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. This story was first published on CNN.com. Zelensky signaled Ukraines counteroffensive against Russia is underway. Heres what to expect By Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Monday its troops had recaptured seven villages from Russian forces along an approximately 100-km (60-mile) front in the southeast since starting its long-anticipated counteroffensive last week. The task of ending Russia's occupation of southern and eastern Ukraine is daunting, given Russia's numerical superiority in men, ammunition and air power, and the many months it has had to build deep defensive fortifications, especially in southern Ukraine. Despite rain and fierce fighting, Ukrainian forces were making progress on the battlefield, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address on Monday night. "The battles are fierce, but we have movement and that is crucial," Zelenskiy said. "The enemy's losses are exactly what we need." Soldiers were seen in video holding the Ukrainian flag in the village of Storozheve, along the Mokri Yaly River which flows northward out of Russian-held territory. Reuters confirmed the location. On Sunday, Ukraine said its forces heading south had liberated three other nearby villages along the Mokri Yaly: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post late on Monday that Ukrainian forces had also recaptured Levadne and Novodarivka, around 10 km (6 miles) west of the Mokri Yaly, as well as Lobkove, southeast of the city of Zaporizhzhia. Maliar said troops had advanced a total of 6.5 km and taken control of an area of 90 square kilometres (35 square miles). The reclaimed territory is just a fraction of the 40,000 square miles that remains under Russia's occupation. Maliar added that the seven settlements were taken over the past week, without giving details of precisely when. It was not possible to verify all the battlefield claims. Moscow has yet to officially acknowledge any Ukrainian advances. But prominent Russian military bloggers said Ukrainian forces had in fact taken Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka, and were pushing on southward. Russia's defence ministry on Monday repeated regular assertions of the past week that it had repelled attempted offensives in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Eight Ukrainian drones were destroyed and an ammunition depot hit in eastern Ukraine, the ministry said. SHORT OF MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH The push is already Ukraine's most rapid advance for seven months, though still short of a major breakthrough. The furthest advance claimed by Kyiv leaves its forces still some 90 km (55 miles) from the Azov Sea coast and the prize of cutting Russia's "land bridge" to Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, eight years before its full-scale invasion of its neighbour. A Ukrainian defence spokesperson said Russia had blown up a dam on the Mokri Yaly to make it harder for Ukrainian forces to thrust farther south. Last week a dam was destroyed on the much larger Dnipro River, causing a humanitarian disaster in parts of the south. Ukrainian forces have also launched assaults at other locations along the long front line, probing for Russian weaknesses, though it has given few details so far. TWO DOZEN HEAVY BATTLES Ukraine is banking on the tens of billions of dollars' worth of weaponry, training and intelligence it has received from the West, combined with its own battlefield resolve, tactics and the motivation of driving an invader from its own land, to give it the edge. It also knows it may have to show significant progress over the summer to maintain the same level of Western military, financial and political support, and one day have a chance of recovering from the loss and devastation inflicted by Moscow. The leaders of France, Germany and Poland - the so-called Weimar Triangle - met in Paris on Monday to discuss Ukraine and other topics. "We have intensified the delivery of ammunitions, weapons and armed vehicles ... We'll continue in coming days and weeks," French President Emmanuel Macron, who in recent days said he had spoken with Zelenskiy confirming the start of the counteroffensive, told a press conference. Asked whether Germany agreed Ukraine needed to be given security guarantees at a NATO summit in July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "It's clear we need this and we need it in a very concrete way." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said it was too soon to say exactly where Ukraine's counteroffensive was going but Washington was confident Kyiv would continue to have success. Some Western military analysts said it was too early to draw conclusions, and the skirmishes so far might show Ukraine is still just testing Russian defences. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine was attempting "an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation a frontal assault against prepared defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority", and that initial assaults should not be overinterpreted. Russia has yet to face a full onslaught and its unconvincing battlefield performance in the past 15 months has led to frequent changes of command and public arguments with the private militias summoned to fight alongside the army. President Vladimir Putin marked Russia's national day with an award ceremony in the Kremlin but made only glancing mention in his speech of the war he had unleashed, at enormous cost to his own citizens in lost lives, money and international relations. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth in Kyiv, Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Writing by Kevin Liffey, Alex Richardson and Grant McCool; Editing by Peter Graff, Conor Humphries, Mark Heinrich and Lisa Shumaker) Kakhovka HPP, June 6 It has been only days since Ukraines second Chornobyl. Half a thousand square kilometers of our beautiful land is underwater, taking everything alive with it. Read also: Whats happening to Ukrainians in the flooded occupied territories in Kherson Oblast military interview Yesterday, my friend showed me video footage from her aunt sitting on the roof of her house in the Kherson region, of the moment when a mother with twins choked and drowned with them in her arms, unable to hold on to her roof by the pipe. Many catastrophic videos are circulating on the internet these days. Even more footage of how Ukrainians rushed to help from all corners of the country: how they saved people and animals and brought necessities. Read also: Russia shells civilians fleeing flooding in Kherson Oblast, injuring eight The UN is probably still celebrating Russian Language Day, because there is no action. The shameful behavior of this organization cancels out everything their Ukrainian representative has done during the war. The Red Cross is giving money to the residents of Shebekino because they are apparently more important than the people and animals drowning in Kherson. Elon Musk writes about how "not everything is clear." The EU admits that Europe doesn't really want to accept new refugees because the previous ones are tired. All international organizations sat down to meet, and on the way out, they only expressed their "concern about the tragedy." Why am I writing about all of them? Because they all have global influence! Because people, as it happens, are used to relying on their "expert" opinion. Because Musk's "not everything is clear" is retweeted by 500 million people. Almost all posts and stories by Ukrainians about the truth of the consequences of the explosion at the Kakhovka hydropower station are mercilessly deleted by the Meta company. My appeal to the hostile people yesterday was able to get 300,000 reposts in three hours, but it has already been removed. For all of us who write the truth, each such removal is a shadow ban - when you can publish something, but no one sees it! We'll survive it - not even for the hundredth time. But will Ukraine survive such a massive shadow ban? When everyone knows the truth?! Absolutely everyone, in fact, knows who is to blame for all our tragedies. But they continue to express only "concerns." Read also: Kakhovka dam explosion limits water flow to North Crimean Canal, satellite images confirm The text is published with the permission of the author. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Key developments on June 12: Ukrainian military confirms liberation of Storozheve, Novodarivka Russia preparing evacuations, sabotage in Crimea 10 dead, 42 missing due to Kakhovka Dam disaster Russian attacks kill 5, injure 21 over June 11-12 Ukraine's military confirmed another two villages were liberated as the ongoing counteroffensive pushes forward in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Novodarivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast was reportedly liberated back on June 4 by the Separate Zaporizhzhia Territorial Defense Brigade, while the 35th Separate Marine Infantry Brigade reported liberating Storozheve in Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, Russian proxies in occupied Tokmak and Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast claimed strikes by "unguided Western long-range rockets" against the cities, without providing any further information on the aftermath. 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 According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine's troops made visually verified advances in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblast, which Russian officials continue to downplay. Citing the U.K. official Tobias Ellwood, Sky News wrote that Ukraine may launch a "major attack" against Russian forces in the eastern Donbas region "in the next few days." "The main front of the Ukrainian capability still in reserves ready for that singular attack," Ellwood, who is the head of the U.K. parliament's defense committee, said. On June 11, Ukraine confirmed the liberation of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka villages in Donetsk Oblast, while in the south the troops advanced in two directions from 300 to 1,500 meters. "Although the weather is unfavorable these days the rain makes our task more difficult the strength of our warriors still yields results," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 12. Russia preparing evacuations, sabotage in Crimea Russia is preparing evacuations in the occupied city of Armiansk in northern Crimea amid the Kakhovka Dam breach, as well as "sabotage operations" at a factory in the city, Ukraine's military intelligence reported on June 12. A shortage of water coming through the North Crimean Canal has critically disrupted the functioning of the Crimean Titan plant, a factory producing titanium dioxide, according to the report. Evacuation preparations are reportedly underway for Russian proxy leaders in the area, as well as the local population. The military intelligence added that Russia may put a full halt on the plant's production, adding that the plant's engineers have been laying explosives in the facility. "A terrorist attack on the Crimean Titan enterprise, which the Russian invaders are preparing, will mean an artificial man-made catastrophe, terrible in its consequences," Ukraine's military intelligence wrote, as around 200 tons of ammonia, stored in the facility, could be released into the atmosphere. Such a disaster would threaten Armiansk, the Krasnoperekopsk district in Crimea, and the southern districts of Kherson Oblast, the intelligence report said. Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Dam on June 6, triggering one of the largest man-made environmental and humanitarian disasters in Ukraine's history. Zelensky: Russia needs to bear full responsibility for ecocide In a June 8 address to the worlds environmental protection community, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia needs to bear full responsibility for the ecocide it caused through the Kakhovka dam destruction. The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek The breach represents a serious water supply crisis for Crimea, disrupting the water flow through the canal to the occupied peninsula. On June 11, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported that the canal draws water from the Kakhovka Reservoir "from an inlet higher than the bed of the reservoir." By June 9, however, the water level in the reservoir had "likely dropped below the level of the inlet," and "water will soon stop flowing to Crimea," the ministry added. The local proxies lack a clear plan for countering the freshwater shortage and instead downplay the crisis, the Ukrainian military's National Resistance Center reported on June 10 10 dead, 42 missing due to the Kakhovka dam disaster As a result of the flooding caused by Russias destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, 10 people died, and 42 are considered missing, including seven children, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on June 12. Eight people died in Kherson Oblast and two in Mykolaiv Oblast. The number of casualties on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River is yet to be confirmed, Klymenko said on national television. After several days of heavy floods, water levels are steadily dropping. Russia puts flooded town of Hola Prystan under quarantine, preventing evacuations Russian forces announced a quarantine in the town of Hola Prystan in the Kherson Oblast, which suffers unprecedented flooding Russia blew up the Kakhovka dam up the Dnipro River, the local media reported on June 11. Currently, the water level in the Russian-occupied town is falling, but still reach The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Datskevych Kherson Oblast Regional Administration reported the water levels at 3.1 meters by 2:45 p.m. on June 12. Some 46 settlements have been flooded, 32 of them on the government-controlled right bank of the Dnipro River and 14 on the occupied left bank. On the right bank, 3,801 houses have been impacted by the floods. The Interior Ministry reported that 2,743 residents have been evacuated from Kherson Oblast, including 205 children and 76 people with reduced mobility. In Mykolaiv Oblast, 31 settlements have been flooded, from which 982 people, including 167 children, have been rescued, the ministry wrote on Telegram. The effects are not limited to Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, as the draining of the Kakhovka Reservoir left almost 165,000 households in 32 settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast without water supplies. According to the Ecology Ministry, only 28% of water remained in the reservoir by the morning of June 12. Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plants dam on June 6, sparking a humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. Russian attacks kill 5, injure 21 over June 11-12 On June 11 and 12, Russian attacks against Ukrainian villages and cities killed five civilians and injured 21 more. Russian attacks were reported in Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Luhansk oblasts. Russian forces struck southern Kherson Oblast 26 times on June 11, firing 132 rounds from artillery, mortars, Grad multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), aviation, and drones, the regional administration wrote. The attacks killed three civilians in the region and wounded 12 more, according to Kherson Oblast Military Administration. In Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks targeted Avdiivka several times over the past two days, killing one person and injuring two more, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported. Elsewhere in the oblast, two people were wounded in Ivanisvke. Russia hit five settlements and two communities in the region, damaging two houses, outbuildings, and a depot, said Kyrylenko. Russian troops hit four districts in Kharkiv Oblast with mortars, artillery, and missiles, wounding a 40-year-old man in the village of Vilkhuvatka and a 33-year-old man in Shevchenkove, reported Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The damages in Kharkiv Oblast include at least 16 houses, an industrial facility, garages, and outbuildings, he added. In Luhansk Oblast, a man received a mine-explosive injury and shrapnel wounds in a Russian attack on the village of Nevske near the border with Donetsk Oblast, according to the regional administration. Russia reportedly struck six settlements in the region, damaging infrastructure facilities. Russian forces attacked 17 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast 74 times over the past day using MLRS and artillery, as reported by the regional administration. A 50-year-old woman was wounded in a Russian attack on the village of Novoselivka, reads the report. Russias new guided bombs pose increasingly serious threat to Ukraine Still unable to achieve air supremacy, Russia is nevertheless finding ways to threaten Ukraine from the sky. Early this year, Russia introduced guided bombs essentially, the regular gravity bombs modified to be dropped by multirole fighter-bombers from safe distances and deal precise and very dam The Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko Later on June 12, Russia target Zaporizhzhia again with air strikes, killing one 48-year-old man and injuring a 32-year-old in the the front-line city of Orikhiv, Governor Yurii Malashko reported. "Three guided aerial bombs launched by the enemy hit the city's territory: private houses and road infrastructure were damaged," the governor wrote on Telegram. Ukraine's Interior Ministry says curfew in Kherson should be extended Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs is proposing to extend the curfew in Kherson to tackle the effects of Russian forces blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs on Telegram, quoting Ihor Klymenko, who is overseeing damage mitigation following the Kakhovka HPP explosion Quote from Klymenko: "We will propose to extend the curfew in Kherson so that we can quickly tackle all of the effects of the HPP explosion." Details: During the meeting of a staff responsible for damage mitigation following the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP, Deputy Health Minister Ihor Kuzin said there were no infectious disease outbreaks. Water supplied through the water mains meets the standards, he reported. Nearly 150 water samples (both drinking and river) are tested every day. Residents of the affected areas were advised to not use water from wells and to filter water for drinking. Swimming in natural bodies of water has been strictly prohibited. Water level is currently falling dramatically as car roofs, trees, metal frames and trash start to surface. Additional essential service workers and equipment have been sent to Kherson from other parts of Ukraine to help clear the debris quickly. Previously: A curfew has been in place between 20:00 and 06:00 in Kherson since March 2023. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council, has called for former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to be given a straitjacket. Shortly before, Medvedev had been fantasising about a "Russian" version of Kyivs Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). Source: Danilov on Twitter Quote from Danilov: "I asked my colleagues from the psychological crisis management department to pass this on to medvedev and to "congratulate" him on the day of temporarily existing russia." Details: Danilov added a picture of a straitjacket to his tweet. According to the NSDC secretary, this particular accessory would suit Medvedev. Background: On 12 June, Medvedev, who is the Deputy Head of Russias Security Council, posted a Russia Day greeting that included a photoshopped picture of Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv and a wish that it be renamed "Russia Square". , . pic.twitter.com/jfRYG92ddm Oleksiy Danilov (@OleksiyDanilov) June 12, 2023 Medvedev is known for his provocative and impulsive statements, which is why social media users are inclined to believe that the former Russian president writes most of his posts while drunk. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian defenders have advanced from 250 to 700 metres on the flanks of the Bakhmut front, pushing the Russian forces back. Source: Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the East Grouping of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "Positional combat is ongoing here [on the Bakhmut sector ed.]. The enemy is also trying to counterattack, but to no avail. A total of three combat engagements occurred in this area over the past 24 hours; Russian forces hit the Ukrainian positions 249 times with various types of artillery and carried out two airstrikes. We, in turn, continued to counterattack where possible, and we moved from 250 to 700 metres on the flanks, pushing the enemy back." Details: Cherevatyi said the Ukrainian troops killed 66 Russian invaders, wounded 86 more, and captured three. Two Russian infantry fighting vehicles, two airborne assault vehicles, an armoured personnel carrier, two Nona self-propelled mortars, a D-30 howitzer, an anti-tank missile system and a field ammunition storage point were also destroyed. The spokesperson added that the Ukrainian military is trying to defeat the superior Russian forces with skill. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian defenders kill another 540 Russians and destroy 10 artillery systems Ukrainian defenders have killed more than 216,000 Russian invaders and destroyed 3,931 tanks, 7,636 armoured combat vehicles and 3,746 artillery systems. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of Facebook Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 12 June 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses ed.]: approximately 216,180 (+540) military personnel 3,931 (+5) tanks 7,636 (+5) armoured combat vehicles 3,746 (+10) artillery systems 601 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems 362 (+0) air defence systems 314 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft 299 (+0) helicopters 3,307 (+7) operational-tactical UAVs 1,183 (+0) cruise missiles 18 (+0) ships/boats 6,471 (+10) vehicles and tankers 510 (+1) special vehicles The data is being confirmed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian military "As part of counter-offensive actions, Odesa marines liberated the village of Storozhove, Donetsk Oblast, which had been under occupation since March 2022," the statement said. As a result of stabilization operations in the village, about fifty racists (Russian fascists) were killed, and four were taken prisoner. "Today, the national flag flies again over Storozhove, and it will be the same for every settlement until we liberate all Ukrainian land," the message reads. Read also: Ukrainian troops advance in Tavria area, enemy grows anxious and sabotages dams Ukrainian troops liberated Storozhove, which is in Donetsk Oblast, early on June 12. On June 11, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar said that Ukrainian troops had de-occupied Makarivka in Donetsk Oblast. She also confirmed the liberation of nearby Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast. Earlier, soldiers of the 7th separate battalion of the Arei Ukrainian Volunteer Army of the 129th Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on June 10, the Defense Forces liberated the village of Neskuchne, Volnovakha district, Donetsk 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 Ukrainian military is probably in positions in the area of Novodarivka The Zaporizhzhya Separate Territorial Defense Brigade on Facebook on June 12 announced the liberation of the village, which actually occurred on June 4, at what is believed to be the start of the counter-offensive the Ukrainian military has said it would not announce the start of the operation to liberate more Ukrainian territory. Read also: Russian invaders still focusing main offensive efforts in four areas Numerous attempts by the enemy to regain control of the settlement, which have lasted for several days, have been unsuccessful. The brigade units continue to achieve success, the brigade said. The details of the operation were not disclosed by the Ukrainian military. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on June 11 reported local successes by Ukrainian forces in the western part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast during counterattacks to the southwest and southeast of the city of Orikhiv. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reminded that they only report on the progress of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the consolidation of their positions. Read also: Ukrainian forces kill around 50 Russian soldiers, capture 4 during liberation of Storozhove Valerii Shershen, the spokesperson for the Joint Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tavria direction, revealed during an interview with Radio NV that following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam, the occupiers were attempting to destroy other, smaller reservoirs and dams. Russian forces blew up a protective hydrostructure near the settlement of Novodarivka, resulting in flooding on both banks of the Mokri Yaly River, he said. However, according to him, this did not affect the advancement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukraines Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported on June 11 that Ukrainian military had liberated the villages of Makarivka in Donetsk Oblast and Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast. On June 12, it became known that the village of Storozheve had been liberated as well. 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 128th Mountain Assault Brigade However, Valerii Shershnen, the spokesperson for the Joint Press Center of Defense Forces in the Tavria region, in an interview with Radio NV on June 11 did disclose some details about the liberation of the village of Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast, and the advances made by Ukrainian forces on the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya oblasts. NV: Could you explain what the liberation of Blahodatne means for us? Shershen: The Defense Forces of the Tavria region have intensified their strikes against the enemy, effectively dismantling their defensive capabilities and fortified positions in the Yevhenivka and Novopavlivka areas. This offensive operation has resulted in localized battles and significant advances. sonsequently, the village of Blahodatne, situated south of the populated locality of Velyka Novosilka, has been successfully liberated. The liberation of Blahodatne was accomplished through the collaborative efforts of soldiers from the Oleksa Dovbush 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade, in conjunction with neighboring units of the Defense Forces in the Tavria region. During the offensive, the deputy commander of the brigade also participated in the first assault group, which aimed to seize control of the village club, a well-equipped and fortified position held by the enemy. Read also: Ukraine goes on offensive in Bakhmut, regains 1.2 kilometers in last day Despite fierce resistance from the aggressors, the operation resulted in the successful capture of Russian military personnel and individuals claiming affiliation with the so-called Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Donetsk Peoples Republic. The ravaged village eagerly awaited liberation, and as the battles subsided, its inhabitants emerged from their basements to warmly greet their liberators. This poignant moment serves as a testament to the bravery and determination of our fighters, who played a pivotal role in freeing this settlement. It was Olimp, a dedicated fighter, who proudly raised the Ukrainian flag above the village club, symbolizing the restoration of freedom and the triumph of the Ukrainian forces. NV: I would like to clarify: who were among the occupiers? Were they regular Russian forces or other units? I understand that both regular forces and some LPR/DPR units. Shershen: Yes, thats correct. In addition to that, there are also representatives of the so-called Storm-Z Units, which were formed from former prisoners and now serve as representatives of the Armed Forces of Russia. NV: Reports are emerging from the enemy side. Speaking specifically about Blahodatne, the occupiers mention neighboring settlements that have either been liberated or possibly come under the fire control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Can you provide any information on that? Shershen: In general, we are referring to the Vremivka and Novopavlivka directions, which are situated on the border of Donetsk Oblast and Zaporizhzhya Oblast. The enemy is actively defending this area in an attempt to hinder the advance of our units. They are making efforts to regain lost positions and are mobilizing reserves. Additional units are also being deployed to this region. The enemy has suffered significant losses in the vicinity of the village of Blahodatne and beyond, along the indicated direction. They have resorted to cunning tactics, growing increasingly apprehensive, and employing any means necessary to impede a breakthrough in their defense. Read also: Kyiv dam protected from airstrikes and enemy sabotage, senior Ukrainian commander assures Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and the subsequent catastrophe, there have been further attempts to undermine smaller reservoirs and dams. We recently received information that the enemy has detonated a barrier hydrostructure near the settlement of Novodarivka, resulting in the flooding of both banks of the Mokri Yaliv River. However, it does not affect our ongoing counteroffensive operations. NV: The Ministry of Defense has reported that Russians are withdrawing their most combat-ready units from the Kherson region and redeploying them elsewhere. Do we have any information on their exact destination? Shershen: We are closely monitoring the enemys movements and redeployments. While we may not have precise details on their exact destinations, we understand their motives. Their actions are primarily aimed at impeding any breakthrough in their defense, particularly in the Vremivka and Novopavlivka directions. As our operations on the front lines continue to intensify, the enemy is taking additional precautions and reinforcing their defensive positions. Furthermore, I would like to highlight that the enemy conducted a significant airstrike on the settlement of Novopavlivka, utilizing a Su-35 aircraft. This attack resulted in three individuals sustaining injuries, the destruction of a private house, and damage to an additional 10 residential buildings in the private sector. In general, the Defense Forces of the Tavria region have transitioned from a defensive stance to an offensive one. This strategic shift has yielded initial localized outcomes and has contributed to the liberation of various areas, including the village of Blahodatne. NV: Was our transition to the offensive phase a surprise for the enemy? Shershen: We are engaged in a highly advanced warfare scenario, where reconnaissance drones, intelligence teams, and sophisticated surveillance capabilities are employed. Concealing our strategic maneuvers becomes exceedingly difficult under such circumstances. Read also: All Ukrainian commanders optimistic about Ukrainian counter-offensive, Zelenskyy says Its worth noting that official reports have consistently indicated that the enemy is actively defending on the Tavria front in reference to our area of responsibility encompassing Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk oblasts. The term active defense denotes the enemys lack of knowledge regarding our precise breakthrough strategy and the imminent launch of the long-awaited offensive. However, this strategic breakthrough involves a series of meticulously coordinated actions culminating in a significant advance. It is important to highlight that the enemy has already been employing dynamic and mobile active defense measures for a considerable time. At present, our forces have achieved notable breakthroughs on our front lines. A particularly intense enemy assault is witnessed in Maryinka, where their objective is to capture the city, thus creating favorable conditions for the encirclement of Avdiyivka. However, in the regions of Zaporizhzhya and southern Donetsk Oblast, the enemy remains entrenched in active defensive positions. 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 National Historic Vehicle Register isnt just reserved for American-made cars. Just look at the latest addition to the growing index. Over the weekend, the Hagerty Drivers Foundation announced that the ultra-rare 1952 Porsche America Roadster (Type 540) will be the 34th vehicle entered into the Register, which is the only federally recognized program documenting the cultural significance of the automobile in the U.S. More from Robb Report The news was announced (and celebrated) this past Saturday at Broad Arrow Groups 75th Anniversary Porsche sale at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta. The two-seater, chassis no. 12336, is one of 16 aluminum-body roadsters built by the German marque specifically for American racers thanks to the efforts of legendary importer Max Hoffman and famed dealer John von Neumann. It was originally owned by John Crean and racked up competitive victories with von Neumanns stepdaughter, Josie, at the wheel. Inside the 1952 Porsche America Roadster (Type 540)r (Type 540) The race car was the only aluminum-body American Roadster that left the factory in Fire Red and has a light grey interior. In the engine bay sits a naturally aspirated four-cylinder with two single-barrel Solex carburetors mated to a five-speed manual that sends all 70 hp to the rear axle. The car was purchased by the late Porsche collector Bob Ingram in 2009 and remains part of his familys collection. In 2018, his son Cam oversaw an exhaustive nut-and-bold restoration of the vehicle, which was promptly rewarded with third in class at that years Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. Having the America Roadster added to the National Historic Vehicle Register and documented for perpetuity on the anniversary of Porsche is an enormous honor, Bobs other son, Rory, was quoted as saying by Hagerty. Of all of the significant Porsches, we feel this is a fitting example for the Register. This is a tough year to have lost our dad, and to honor his legacy with the celebration of this important car and to document Porsche heritage in the U.S. in our fathers honor is a great distinction. The engine The America Roadster wont be locked away in a vault now that its been added to the Register. The car will actually be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, this September during the Hagerty Drivers Foundations month-long Cars of the Capital event. Click here for more photos of the 1952 Porsche America Roadster (Type 540). The 1952 Porsche America Roadster (Type 540) in Photos Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. (Reuters) - The U.N. atomic watchdog said on Sunday that it needs wider access around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to check "a significant discrepancy" in water level data at the breached Kakhovka dam used for cooling the plant's reactors. International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi, who is to visit the plant this week, said that measurements the agency received from the inlet of the plant showed that the dam's water levels were stable for about a day over the weekend. "However, the height is reportedly continuing to fall elsewhere in the huge reservoir, causing a possible difference of about two metres," Grossi said in a statement. "The height of the water level is a key parameter for the continued operability of the water pumps." The destruction of the Kakhovka hydropower dam in southern Ukraine last week has flooded towns downstream and forced thousands of people from their homes. Both the Kakhovka hydropower dam and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have been occupied by Russia since the early days of its invasion in February 2022. The water from the reservoir is used to cool the facility's six reactors and spent fuel storage, the IAEA said. "It is possible that this discrepancy in the measured levels is caused by an isolated body of water separated from the larger body of the reservoir," Gross said in the statement. "But we will only be able to know when we gain access to the thermal power plant." Grossi said the thermal power plant "plays a key role for the safety and security of the nuclear power plant a few kilometres away," hence the need for access and independent assessment. The agency has said earlier that the Zaporizhzhia plant can fall back on other water sources when the reservoir's water is no longer available, including a large cooling pond above the reservoir with several months' worth of water. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates) On Jan. 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation declared, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. ... Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United Statesdo order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free persons. This executive proclamation ended slavery in some parts of the United States but only applied to the Confederacy where the Union had no practical jurisdiction. The Confederate Rebellion ended on April 9, 1865 when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. On June 19, 1865 General Gordon Granger arrived on the remote island of Galveston, Texas to enforce the emancipation of its formerly enslaved people. He pronounced General Order No. 3: The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. On Dec. 18, 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified, stating: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. The era of legal human slavery in this country was officially over. It had lasted 246 years. On June 17, 2021, 156 years later, President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Act making Juneteenth the 11th American federal holiday and the first to obtain legal observance as a federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated in 1983. This year the Borough of State College, the State College NAACP, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau will hold its 4th annual celebration of Juneteenth. On June 17 there will be a street fair held in the MLK Plaza and the 100 block of Fraser Street from noon-5 p.m. There will be an art exhibit at the Woskob Family Gallery in the Downtown Theatre Center, 146 S. Allen St. between 5-8 p.m. June 16. IN THE COMMUNITY Last Monday, Pastor Scott Schul welcomed 300 people to his church, Grace Lutheran in State College, for a Concert for Ukraine benefit for Nizhyn, the Boroughs new Sister City. Volunteer organizers included Laurel Sanders, Daryl Durran and Svitlana Budzhak-Jones. Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins gave opening remarks. There were performances by Allison Brault, Emily Long, Ruth Stokes, Christopher Guzman, Dennis Glocke, Max Zorin, Jonah Glunt, Rusiana Kaminska, Melody Quah and members of the Stonebridge Winds: Ashley Shank, Anthony Poehailos, Anna Skupky, Daryl Durran with Andreas Oeste, Brandy Davis, Sarah Schouten, and Matthew So. The benefit raised over $7,000 for Nizhyn. The Pride Parade was held on Saturday, with a festival in Sidney Friedman Park sponsored by Centre LGBTQA Support Network, the State College Borough and the Downtown State College Improvement District. Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games was canceled this past weekend because of the air quality. This past Friday The Crowded Room, a new series that stars Tom Holland (Spiderman) and Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout) premiered the first three of 10 episodes on Apple TV+. Later episodes may include someone we all know but cant reveal because of non-disclosure agreements. Ssssh! Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He was the 2022 Lions Paw Awardee and Living Legend honoree of the National Black Theatre Festival. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has allegedly stalled forking over millions in academic funding that would have helped journalists of color after a spat over New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones 1619 Project. The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting says UNC-Chapel Hill has slacked in transferring the organizations $3.8 million to its new home at Morehouse College, NC Newsline reported Monday. According to the outlet, the society, which funds summer internships for journalists of color, opted to move its organization from UNC-Chapel Hill to Morehouse in December after Hannah-Jones, one of its co-founders and the Black creator of The 1619 Project, declined a job as a faculty chair because she was not initially offered tenure, unlike the chairs before her who were white. Yet, five months after the move, the society says its still waiting for its funding to be relocated. This is all of our funding, Hannah-Jones told NC Newsline. Without it, we cant work toward our mission, we cant do any of our work. The Ida B. Wells Society expected the transfer to be complete well before summer. But due to the funding delay, the society has had to cancel its summer internship program for college students and a separate program for high schoolers. According to NC Newsline, the transfer to Morehouse, a Historically Black College and University, began in January, and $1.1 million was moved by the end of the month. However, the Ida B. Wells Society said communication and transfers then stopped, so society co-founder Topher Sanders contacted UNC-Chapel Hill for an update in May. Right now, we are walled-off from our funds for an unknown reason, Sanders wrote to UNC-Chapel Hill Dean of Journalism Raul Reis in an email obtained by NC Newsline. Our organization cannot do any of its vital and important work because UNC is holding The Societys money. Nikole Hannah-Jones Turns Down UNC Job After Fight to Get Tenure Sanders complained that the lack of communication was incredibly unprofessional. As soon as the group told UNC-Chapel Hill they were going to publicly announce the delay, the university immediately resumed sending money on May 12, NC Newsline reported. Hannah-Jones said the societys leaders were happy to see some progress, but were disheartened that they had to cancel summer programs. These are such great opportunities for these young journalists, she told NC Newsline. And theyre just gone. This didnt have to happen. She said the transfer process typically takes a few weeks. Wed never seen anything like this before, she said. But UNC-Chapel Hill wrote in an email to The Daily Beast that the university has worked to ensure that all funds designated to support the Ida B. Wells Society are transferred as expeditiously as possible while also following the gift agreements with each funder and applicable law. We have completed the transfer of nearly $2.1M in funds to date, the media relations team said. We are working with Morehouse College and the relevant funding agencies on the process for the remaining fund transfers. The Ida B. Wells Society, named after the trailblazing investigative journalist and civil rights activist, was created at the City College of New York Newmark School of Journalism in 2016. In 2018, it moved to the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and then to UNC-Chapel Hill until 2023, when controversy arose over whether or not the university would offer Hannah-Jones tenure. Alums Pissed After Ritzy Prep School Disinvites 1619 Writer The UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees initially offered her a five-year contract, unlike white predecessors who received tenure. Hannah-Jones legal team said it was retaliation for the 1619 Project and the conversations around critical race theory in classrooms that it generated. According to The 19th, Walter Hussman, a major donor after whom the journalism school is named, took issue with some of the 1619 Project, which analyzed how Black racism and enslavement continue to be systemic. Hussman was concerned that the school would be more aligned with critical race theory than his ideas of journalism, according to The Daily Tar Heel. As of last week, NC Newsline reported UNC-Chapel Hill still owed the Ida B. Wells Society $1.1 million. UNC-Chapel Hill told The Daily Beast that the processes for moving money through various gifting organizations can be time consuming. Representatives for the Ida B. Wells Society and Morehouse did not immediately return The Daily Beasts requests for comment Monday. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. WASHINGTON The U.S. Army extended its contract with artificial intelligence and analytics company BigBear.ai as it constructs the Global Force Information Management system, which will provide service leaders an automated and holistic view of manpower, equipment, training and overall readiness. The six-month extension for GFIM, as its known, is valued at $8.5 million. It builds upon a nine-month, $14.8 million deal announced in late 2022 as well as prototype work the year prior. The management system is meant to consolidate more than a dozen aging applications. It will also automate a raft of tasks that were once done manually, such as determining unit status. GFIM is a game-changing capability that holds immense importance for the U.S. Army and has the potential to revolutionize processes by enabling data-driven decision-making, automation of critical functions, and real-time visibility, Ryan Legge, BigBear.ais president of integrated defense solutions, said in a statement June 12. Senators plan briefings on AI to learn more about risks During the extension, BigBear.ai is expected to migrate GFIM to the cARMY cloud. Modernization of the Armys networks and underlying computer infrastructure is among the services priorities; Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has said achieving digital fluency and data centricity is her No. 2 objective. The extension for BigBear.ai comes on the heels of user testing in late May and early June. BigBear.ai staff, Army leaders and technical experts associated with GFIM attended. Army GFIM Capabilities Management Officer Lori Mongold in a statement Monday described the system as a transformative leap forward in force management capabilities, once fully fleshed out. BigBear.ai last month unveiled a partnership with L3Harris Technologies, the 10th largest defense contractor by revenue, according to Defense News analysis. As part of that agreement, BigBear.ai will supply L3Harris with its computer vision, predictive analytics and related applications in a bid to improve manned-unmanned teaming and identification and classification of foreign vessels for the Navy. A dog toy called Bad Spaniels, shaped like a Jack Daniel's whiskey bottle, is at the center of a trademark dispute that will go before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington By Blake Brittain (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court handed brand owners a win against parody products on Thursday when it ruled that "Bad Spaniels" dog toys resembling Jack Daniel's whiskey bottles are not shielded by the U.S. Constitution from the liquor maker's trademark lawsuit. The decision is likely to force companies to toe a more careful line when making commercial products that mimic other brands for the sake of parody, legal experts said. VIP Products had argued that the First Amendment protected its toys' poop-themed variations on Jack Daniel's famous label and bottle design, which it described as commentary on alcohol brands' "self-serious bombardment of consumers with advertising" and dog owners' "joyful humanization of their pets." But in a 9-0 decision, the justices said a precedent known as the Rogers test for assessing the use of trademarks in artistic expression did not apply to VIP's products, reversing a U.S. appeals court and raising the bar for parodies to survive trademark claims. The Rogers test is "not appropriate when the accused infringer has used a trademark to designate the source of its own goods - in other words, has used a trademark as a trademark," Justice Elena Kagan wrote. Kagan contrasted the case with situations where she said applying the Rogers test was justified, including when Danish pop group Aqua's label MCA Records defeated a trademark lawsuit by Mattel over the band's song "Barbie Girl." "On the one hand, this is a victory for artists," said Megan Bannigan, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton. Bannigan said the decision is "also a victory for brands" because it clarifies that the Rogers test does not apply when branding is being used as a typical trademark to identify a source of goods without permission. VIP had conceded that it used "Bad Spaniels" as a trademark. But the high court provided little guidance on where to draw the line between a trademark use and a non-trademark use that could be subject to the Rogers test, Bannigan said. Doug Masters, a partner at Loeb & Loeb, said the decision suggested parody products accused of infringement may not be able to rely on the Rogers test if they are "intended to be a commercial product, even if there's some expression beyond just the commerce part of it." Masters said the decision could force companies that want to engage in parodies to ink licensing deals or find ways "to be more creative" and less similar to the brands they reference. Other experts said the decision leaves space for the First Amendment to apply to parody products. Alexandra Roberts, a law professor at Northeastern University, cited a "Chick-Fil-Hate" t-shirt as an example of a parody product that could still receive First Amendment protection because it conveys a message about Chick-fil-A and does not use "Chick-Fil-Hate" as a trademark. The shirt refers to fast-food restaurant Chick-fil-A's past donations to Christian groups that opposed same-sex marriage. "If Chik-Fil-Hate were also on the inside of the shirt on the tag, that would be more of a trademark use," Roberts said. Elizabeth Brannen, a partner at Stris & Maher, said Jack Daniel's victory "could turn out to be pyrrhic." The whiskey maker will still have to prove VIP's toys are likely to confuse potential customers into thinking it was affiliated with them in order to win its infringement case. "The likelihood of confusion analysis will still take the challenged product's funny message into account," Brannen said. She noted that the high court said consumers are "not so likely to think that the maker of a mocked product is itself doing the mocking." (This story has been refiled to change dateline to June 12) (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington) Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, talks to members of the media after a roundtable discussion about the Jordan River Watershed and the Great Salt Lake at the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District in West Jordan on Friday, May 5, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News According to the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, 41% of Utah voters say they approve of Sen. Mitt Romneys performance while 49% say they disapprove and 10% of voters say they dont know. The approval percentage is down 11 points since March, when a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll showed that 52% of Utah voters either strongly approved or somewhat approved of Romneys performance. Romney, who is still weighing whether he should run for a second term in the U.S. Senate, struggled among Republican voters in the latest poll, with 51% saying they strongly or somewhat disapprove of his performance. In this polarized environment, true conservatives are seeking candidates that really speak to their conservative core and distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, said Josh Ryan, a political science professor at Utah State University. Related Mitt Romney has sought a more moderate path, and in the process may have alienated himself from the most conservative voters, Ryan said. But, Ryan argued, since Romney isnt afraid to take an independent stance on issues and is well respected in the state of Utah, his Senate seat is likely safe if he decides to run again. Plus, he said, Its also very difficult to defeat an incumbent senator. I think these polls likely underestimate his strength, and in my mind, hes still favored to win reelection. The poll was conducted by Dan Jones & Associates from May 22-June 1, 2023, and it surveyed 798 Utah voters. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percentage points. Romney was better positioned in the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll in March, when 44% of voters disapproved of his performance. Josh McCrain, a political science professor at the University of Utah, pointed out the unusual course Romney has charted for himself, cutting across party lines. Hes an equal opportunity offender, McCrain said. As for his approval rating, its tough to land a supermajority in the Beehive State, the professor argued. When voters were asked if Romney should seek reelection, 51% of voters said no while 47% said yes and 3% said they didnt know. Among Republicans, 54% said no, but a majority of Democrats, nearly 55%, said Romney should run again. Will Romney run for a second term in the Senate? Romney filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission in April, as the Deseret News reported. This will allow him to raise and spend money on a potential reelection campaign. Earlier this month, Romney said he would announce in the summer or fall whether he will run again, and his decision would be based on what he thinks he can accomplish in the Senate. I am doing what Ive got to do to make sure that if I decide to run again, Ill win. So Im raising money, I put together a team and keeping my options open, he said. Whether or not Romney runs, a Utah mayor announced in May he plans to seek Romneys Senate seat. Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs told the Deseret News previously that throughout his 10 years of service as an elected official in Riverton, I think I have proven myself as a fighter, somebody who is consistently conservative, on all fronts. Related Another prominent Republican in the state, Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, has also declared an interest in Romneys seat and has formed an exploratory committee. Political science professor Michael Lyons at Utah State University said he doesnt think the poll numbers cast much doubt on (Romneys) ability to win reelection, if he can win the renomination. The overall congressional approval rating has been so low for so long (20% roughly) that it is dragging down ratings for individual incumbents more than had been the case historically, Lyons said. A 41% approval rating is no longer, necessarily, an invitation to retire. But Lyons said that the Utah senator may face some struggles, especially with conservative voters who are loyal to former President Donald Trump as well as those who are ultra-conservative, which could easily splinter convention opposition to Romney and land him in a primary. A South Miami-Dade woman targeted a nearby church for vandalism Saturday night because it was of the Catholic faith, a Miami-Dade police arrest report says. The report also says the surveillance cameras at St. Timothys Catholic Church, 5400 SW 102nd Ave., caught Alfa Illescas spray painting walls and a camera along with a literal trashing of the church. The 44-year-old Illescas, who lives less than a half mile from St. Timothys, was arrested Sunday afternoon on one count of felony criminal mischief against a church or place of worship. Her bond will be set Monday. Illescas knows about bonding out of county jail, having posted a $500 bond for her release after a March 27 arrest on a charge of felony criminal mischief over $1,000. The report of that arrest says a car owners cell phone video caught her spray painting his car. READ MORE: Cops searching for teen suspect in murder of a Homestead father Saturday night at St. Timothys According to the arrest report, surveillance cameras caught Illescas walking into the east gate of St. Timothys around 10 p.m. Saturday. The report said cameras caught her spray painting perverts, pigs, an upside down cross and liars with a smiley face. After kicking trash bins over and before breaking a saints altar, the report said, she spray painted the camera facing the altar of the Virgin Mary. Police say they found Illescas at her home wearing the same clothes as on the video. Sunday, the Archdiocese of Miami released a statement that said, This is a tragedy that a sacred place such as a Catholic school and church property are vandalized. It is a hate crime. The Archdiocese of Miami and administrators of St. Timothys are fully cooperating with the investigation. The kindness of parents is obvious as they are on-site (Sunday) helping with clear-up, painting and repairing the damaged walls. The Archdiocese has learned of the arrest of the suspect, and while the judicial system provides the journey this woman will take, prayers are offered for her to find peace. A South Carolina man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting in Chester, sheriff deputies said. Karall Tamichael Dixon, 30, is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the Chester County Sheriffs Office, and jail and court records. Dixon was arrested over the weekend, Chester deputies said in a written statement. The victim died after being shot on Back Gate Street Friday, officials said. The area is west of the city of Chester near the intersection of U.S. 321 and S.C. 9. The victim was identified as Anthony Todd Jude, 42, of Chester, said Terry Tinker, Chester County Coroner. No other information about the fatal shooting has been released. Dixon remains in the Chester County jail after he was denied bail by a judge in an initial appearance, according to the jail Web site and South Carolina online court records. In Vieques, Puerto Rico, cancer rates are high. Advocates say Navy bombing may be to blame The island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, for decades had all the makings of a tropical paradise, save for one thing: The roar of bombs blasting into the picturesque landscape. Zaida Torres still has that sound ringing in her head. She recalls buildings trembling as if there were constant earthquakes. It felt like a war zone and there was no war, says Torres, 69, a lifelong resident of the island. Tourists still flock to the Puerto Rican tropical haven, known for its white-sand beaches and glimmering cerulean waters less then 10 miles east of the main island. But many are unaware of its tainted history and legacy of suffering. The U.S. Navy for 60 years used the eastern side of Vieques as a bombing range, dropping 5 million pounds of ordnance each year. The Navy finally left in May 2003, four years after an off-target 500-pound bomb killed a security guard. This summer marks 20 years since the Navys departure, and while it was a victory for locals, the U.S. left behind toxic heavy metals, chemicals, and other putrid industrial waste. The island is now a hotspot for cancer and kidney disease, with almost everyone on the island knowing someone who is seriously ill. Or already dead. It breaks your heart, University of Puerto Rico chemist Jorge Colon says. We just keep hearing that they have to bury their family and friends. Experts and locals alike say the illnesses are tied to contamination from the military onslaught, which includes napalm, Agent Orange, arsenic, lead and depleted uranium. But health care resources are scarce, and there is no hospital. Torres feels "rage and sadness," she told USA TODAY through a translator. A retired nurse of three decades at what was the islands only hospital, Torres is a leader in the Alianza de Mujeres Viequenses, or Vieques Womens Alliance. She's a survivor of breast cancer and her husband survived prostate cancer. But they grieve for their daughter. In 1997, Liza, one of their three children, suffered an embolism during chemotherapy for leukemia and died. She was 17. Zaida Torres' daughter, Liza, photographed with a singer in 1996, a year before she died. The familys story echoes throughout the island of about 8,000 people, where half of the islands residents live in poverty and many are uninsured. Torres believes the cancers her family suffered are linked to the contaminants and that the disparities and lack of resources speak to a neglect of "fundamental human rights." Patients must take the ferry to the main island, which also lacks stable health care infrastructure, for cancer treatments, dialysis and other medical therapies. The way we are being treated is like a genocide, Torres said, even though we are U.S. citizens. Six decades of US Navy activity The Naval training range was used for exercises including amphibious landings and air-to-ground bombing. When a security guard, David Sanes, was killed by the errant bomb in 1999, residents flooded the training area to protest, leading to the arrests of many for trespassing on federal property. After the Navy left, it transferred ownership of 15,000 acres of Vieques land to the Department of the Interior, which turned it into a wildlife refuge. In 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the bombing range a Superfund site, the term given to an abandoned hazardous waste area. The area in Vieques is one of 26 such sites throughout the Puerto Rican archipelago, 19 of which remain on the agency's National Priority List for cleanup. For comparison, the main island is a bit smaller than Connecticut, which has had about 18 Superfund sites designated by the EPA, and 13 remain on the national priority list as of April. This Jan. 13, 2017, photo a no access warning sign stands at Verdiales Key point on the south coast of Vieques island, Puerto Rico. Tons of unexploded bombs, rockets and other munitions still lie scattered across the eastern half of the island and the surrounding seabed. Federal cleanup efforts on Vieques have been slow-moving. As of 2021, crews had removed 32,000 bombs from Vieques. But many unexploded munitions remain both on land and in surrounding underwater sites. A report from the Government Accountability Office found that substantial work and cleanup remains and could continue into 2032. Residents worry that the cleanup itself consisting of Navy operatives disposing of the remaining bombs via detonation and open burning is causing air pollution. But the Navy says air sampling it conducted between 2005 and 2013 shows levels of particulate matter were insignificant. In 2019, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to include $10 million for closed detonation chambers. Two chambers were purchased, and the EPA said it would begin to use the chambers for munitions that can be safely moved and detonated last spring. 'Highly toxic' chemicals and metals endanger health Along with cleanup, experts say federal efforts should focus on establishing health care resources and better data collection to track health problems in Vieques. The EPA awarded a grant to a research team led by environmental health risk researcher Lorena Estrada-Martinez, a University of Boston assistant professor of environment and public health. She and her team are involving residents in the research, letting them lead tests for contaminants. The team is also testing whether plant-based remediation methods can decontaminate the soil. They've had to repeat that process after Hurricane Fiona flooded the area. Estrada-Martinez said involving the community is key. A group of volunteers with Vieques En Rescate, which supports cancer patients in Vieques, Puerto Rico, put together food. The group honors their patients during a festival fundraiser once a year. "We want to call it a commonwealth or territory, but the way it functions is in a colonial relationship," she said. "After so much abuse, after so many years, they're not very trustful of the federal government. They're not very trustful of researchers in general. And so we have a completely different approach, in that instead of working on them, we're working with them." Along with assessing environmental health risks, the team is looking to fill gaps in health data by interviewing residents to gauge health problems over their lifetimes. Cruz Maria Nazario, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Puerto Rico, said that Vieques' legacy of medical problems is tough to quantify. That's because patients go to the main island for diagnosis, so cases are often not recorded and tied to Vieques. It's frustrating for us that try to get some help for the people of Vieques. We cannot access very good data, said Nazario. What is needed is a comprehensive epidemiologic health needs study in Vieques. The Navy has admitted the use of toxic substances but denies that its activities have affected Viequenses' health. It cites a 2011 report by the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry that dismissed any connection of Navy activity to the islands health disparities. The report was widely criticized by Puerto Rican officials, residents and local scientists. But while official data is scarce and poorly reported, research has shown higher cancer and toxin rates compared to residents on the main island. After the Navys departure, the Puerto Rico Department of Health released an analysis finding Viequenses were 27% more likely to have cancer. In another study, researchers found almost 27% of Vieques women had high mercury levels in hair samples compared to roughly 6% of women residing in a neighboring, highly industrialized area in the northeast part of the main island. Mercury is known to be dangerous to a developing fetus, and the women were of reproductive age. Similarly, a 2017 analysis found Vieques women had 280% higher lung or bronchus cancer rates compared to other Puerto Rican women, and men had a 200% higher rate, according to the paper published in Global Security: Health, Science and Policy. Heavy metals such as aluminum, lead and arsenic were higher in Viequenses urine samples compared to main islanders, another study published in 2020 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found. Those are chemicals of high concern, highly toxic. They can be very persistent in the environment, but it's difficult to remediate, said Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, a physician and professor of environmental health sciences at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Navas-Acien studies the effects of toxic exposures on human health and said elements like depleted uranium can remain in the soil for decades. The studies confirm concerning levels of exposure, she said: Air, water and food become contaminated with toxic chemicals, people become exposed, and its presence in the body is measured. Along with cancer, evidence also shows exposures to toxins like these contribute to cardiovascular and kidney diseases, she said. 'Completely abandoned' Lawmakers in the U.S. have proposed legislation to aid families hit hard over the decades. Amid lawsuits filed by groups and families against the U.S. government over the health issues, Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., have proposed The Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act, a $1 billion bipartisan package that would fund compensation for residents of the island, a cancer center and kidney dialysis clinic. It also would test for toxins in the soil, water, vegetation and food sources. In past years, similar bills failed to pass. Advocates say reparations are long overdue. And amid President Joe Biden's interagency environmental justice initiatives like Justice 40, the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council recommended the administration include decontamination of Vieques in its national agenda. In this Sept. 8, 2018, photo, 42-year-old dialysis patient Sandra Medina waits inside a plane at the airport in Vieques, Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria hit, authorities began flying kidney patients in Vieques to the Puerto Rican mainland. The storm had ruined the only dialysis center on this tiny island; without treatment, the patients would die. Myrna Pagan, 88, survived uterine cancer. But she lost her husband as well as her son, who died at 32, to liver cancer. Pagan, founder of the environmental justice group Vidas Viequenses Valen and Radio Vieques, said all her family members who were tested had high levels of heavy metals. I can't think of a family in Vieques that hasn't . . . suffered the death of one or two members on this island because of this toxic situation," she said. University of Puerto Rico professor Carmen Velez Vega, an expert in social policy and environmental health, studies Superfund sites and childhood exposures. Her team also offers families education on environmental toxins. She said the compensation couldnt be more urgent. Sandra Melendez, founder of assistance group for cancer patients, Vieques En Rescate, with an oncologist at the Seventh Annual Festival de la Arepa Viequense fundraiser. Vieques, Puerto Rico, lacks a hospital and patients have to go to the main island for care. If you don't have the money, you don't go (to doctors appointments). You don't follow up on these health care situations, she said. It's a social justice to be able to compensate people that have been harmed for such a long time." To fill those gaps, Sandra Melendez, a retired treasury department worker, started Vieques En Rescate. It's a nonprofit that pays for cancer patients transportation to appointments on the main island. It also helps with copayments, supplies and other assistance. Melendezs father died in 2021 of tonsil cancer. She said she hopes the proposed law for compensation, introduced to the Senate in May, passes. But she says health services, schools and a hospital on the island should be the priority. The islands only hospital was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. We hope the U.S. government responds because weve done our part for the U.S. nation for 60 years. So, now we deserve something for that, said Melendez, 56. We are completely abandoned. Her five sisters left Vieques for the U.S. mainland, but she stayed to advocate. She thinks of children like her 8-year-old granddaughter, who has asthma, and wonders about their future there. I want for them a peaceful, healthful, beautiful place for them to live, she said. Torres said she hopes the island will one day be safe and better resourced for her two grandchildren. For them, she said, she'll continue advocating. "I have to keep in the struggle," she said. "I've got to continue trying." Zaida Torres, center, is seated with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. More: Study of health woes in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria shows effects of climate change Reach Nada Hassanein at nhassanein@usatoday.com or on Twitter @nhassanein. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vieques bombing from Navy training may be linked to high cancer rates Visa launches digital community platform for woman entrepreneurs in east Europe The platform aims to facilitate networking, knowledge sharing, and international business expansion for entrepreneurs from various countries. Notably, previous Shes Next projects have successfully connected participants from a range of countries through shared interests and values. A survey conducted by the company last year revealed that 85% of business owners in these regions expressed willingness to join the international community of entrepreneurs. Read also: Can Ukrainian businesses withstand harmonizing with EU standards? McKinsey expert discusses risks and opportunities The Shes Next digital community platform offers a range of features to its users. During registration, users can create a detailed profile, specifying their country, professional field of interest, and purpose for joining the platform. This information will help community managers provide targeted assistance. Registered users can leverage the platform to find business partners, develop and enhance their personal brand, increase business visibility through content and materials, seek and become mentors, participate in discussions, webinars, and events, and stay updated about opportunities within the Shes Next Empowered by Visa program in their own and other countries. While the platforms website hosts diverse content accessible to all, the professional social networking features, including news feeds, interest-based groups, publication creation tools, and messaging, are exclusively available to registered users. This exclusive access empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to communicate, find business contacts, mentors, suppliers, investors, and further develop their personal brands. Read also: The Shes Next digital community platform welcomes anyone interested in entrepreneurship, including those who do not yet have their own business. This initiative follows Visas recent announcement of opening a new global hub in Poland, marking the first of its kind for Visa in Central and Eastern Europe. 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 I want to start crying: Family has to move even though landlord says they didnt do anything wrong A Charlotte family that relies on Section 8 says they have to be out of their home by the end of the month even though their landlord acknowledges that they didnt do anything wrong. Keyana Chisholm told Action 9s Jason Stoogenke that things were looking up for her family. They have been living in a northwest Charlotte house for almost a year and she just started a new job. ALSO READ: Charlotte councilmember hopes to implement centralized rent application beginning of next year My kids, they love being here. I got a big yard in the front and the back, Chisholm said. But this month, she says her landlord sent her a letter saying the way the current market conditions are the rental amount has increased, so hes not renewing the lease, and they must be out when its up on June 30. The landlord did make a point of saying it was at no fault of the tenant. In other words, this is one more side effect of Charlottes hot housing market. Chisholm says she could stay if Section 8 paid the difference, but she showed Stoogenke emails saying it will not cover it. I want to stay My mindset is not ready to move, she said. I actually want to start crying because I work so hard. Its been a hard road, and I worked so hard to get to where I am. Stoogenke searched Mecklenburg County property records and the landlord is right. The value jumped from around $68,000 to roughly $118,000 in just four years. Chisholm says her landlord is worried about the taxes that go along with that. Stoogenke found a recent federal housing document that recognizes rents have risen so quickly ... voucher holders are increasingly unable to find units within Section 8s price range. The government sets new rates every year. Nationally, they went up about 10% for this year, but hot cities such as Charlotte saw extra bumps. In Chisholms zip code, three-bedroom houses (what she rents) went up more than 14%, but nowhere near the nearly 74% her landlords propertys value went up. ALSO READ: Renters confront NC Rental Homes Council in hopes of lowering Charlotte rent Stoogenke asked the landlord if he wanted to weigh in on this issue, but he did not respond in time for this report. Stoogenke asked Section 8 officials if they have any advice for Chisholms family. They did not offer any advice. The only comfort they could offer was that this family isnt alone and that they should be able to transfer their Section 8 money to a new place without starting the process over. At this point, thats what the Chisholms think theyll have to do. (VIDEO: Gaston County woman struggles to stay off streets, find affordable rent) Washington Post CEO Fred Ryan will step down later this summer, after nearly a decade in the position, he informed staff on Monday. Ryan, in a memo to the newsroom, said he would step down in August to head up a new project on public civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. Ryan said the project has the support of Jeff Bezos, who purchased the Post in 2013 and hired Ryan to lead it. In an interview with the newspaper, Ryan said he was concerned that the decline in civility is threatening the foundation of our democracy, and his relationship with Bezos could not be closer. Patty Stonesifer, the founding chief executive of the Gates Foundation, will take over as interim CEO, the newspaper reported. Ryans departure comes amid a time of ongoing strife between the Posts masthead and its employees union, as well as broader challenges facing large news publishers in terms of readership and financial health. The Post eliminated nearly two dozen newsroom positions in January, citing the current economic climate. A month earlier, Ryan was shouted at by members of the Posts employees union during a town hall event during which he addressed the planned layoffs. Ryan told the Post his departure had nothing to do with that saying I firmly believe there is a sound model for successful journalism and The Washington Post is well positioned to do that. A former aide to president Ronald Reagan, Ryan was a founding executive at Politico before Bezos hired him to run the Post. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TheGrios Eboni K. Williams talks to Kristin Kitchen, Black owner of Dunns Josephine Hotel in Miami, about the NAACP travel advisory. Two months ago, the Florida chapter of the NAACP issued a travel advisory for Black Americans to not travel to the state of Florida. Floridas Governor Ron DeSantis has been issuing policies that are extremely anti-Black, which have made it feel unsafe for Black Americans in the state. In the past couple of years, his administration has blocked the Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, signed the Stop Woke Act, a law which prohibits workplace training or school instruction that teaches individuals are inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive and has banned critical race theory from public school classrooms. Although the advisory is a way to stand up for Black rights, how do Black businesses located in the state feel about this announcement? TheGrios Eboni K. Williams talks to Kristin Kitchen, owner of Dunns Josephine Hotel in Miami about how the NAACP got it wrong. The following is a transcript of the conversation. How could have the travel advisory been better executed to consider the needs of Black business owners in Florida? Kristin Kitchen, Black owner of Dunns and Josephine Hotel in Miami. (Image from Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS) Williams: The summer season is now in full swing and I know a whole lot of yall plan to hit the beach. The question is, are you going to the state of Florida? The NAACP wants to see you go somewhere else. Its been about a month since the organization issued a travel advisory for the state in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis attempt to erase Black history and restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools. Williams: So how do some Black business owners in Florida feel about the travel advisory, especially if there is a big drop in tourism? Joining me now is Kristin Kitchen. She owns Dunns Josephine Hotel in Miami. Kristin, thank you so much for being with us. Now, you say, of course, you understand the need for something to be done in response to the governors actions, but you do fear that this particular travel advisory could have been executed differently in a way that better considered the needs of Black business owners. Kristin, what would you prefer to see? Kitchen: Absolutely. I believe that, like you said, were in agreement that, you know, an awareness about whats going on in Florida with the governor needs to be brought to light. But having the small Black businesses in Florida become the scapegoat, or the guinea pig for this travel advisory is just not the right idea. Were just coming back off of COVID. Miamis bread and butter is tourism. So, now that weve all pushed past that and were one-year post-COVID and its just absolutely not the right thing to do to tell people not to come to Florida. And we feel like there could have been an advisory with direction, say, come to Florida and when you come purposely support Black businesses. And what I really think is that the NAACP got it wrong because they could have really done something amazing and created a hashtag, came up with an idea that would have allowed people to become a collective about it, maybe take pictures and photos with different Black entrepreneurs at the businesses that theyre supporting and come up with some way that this can be a campaign that says Black history does matter, Black business does matter in Miami. So we just wish that they had come up with a little bit better of a plan than telling everybody just not to go. Williams: Yeah. I think one thing that is glaring to me in this, kind ofI dont want to say miscommunication, but I agree with you actually that its potentially a missed opportunity for something that was more collaborative. So whats glaringly obvious to me, Kristin, is that there needs to be better communication between the NAACP chapter leadership there in the state of Florida and also the needs of the Black business owners. How has this announcement from the NAACP affected Black businesses so far? Williams: So I think going forward, thats something for both sides of this conversation to consider. Now, one of my producers of this very show had planned a very big family trip to the state of Florida to celebrate her parents 50th wedding anniversary. But she actually canceled the trip because of this advisory and she moved it somewhere else. Are you hearing other stories that are similar to that from other Black tourists? Kitchen: So far we have not heard anything, but how would we know? People arent calling us and canceling. The summer is our slowest season, so this is when we really do need people to come to Florida, particularly we need Black folks to come to Florida when its beautiful and its hot. You know, its only been a month. Were just coming out of the busy season, so I think June, July, and August will really tell the story of whats going to happen. We really put in a lot of marketing and advertising in preparation for the slower season this year coming from last year out of COVID. And its just really kind of disheartening that all of this effort would be in vain if were putting out a national announcement telling people not to come. Williams: Yeah. Now, youre right. Were going to have to wait and see as the summer plays out exactly what the impact of the advisory will look like. What could a beneficial alternative look like for both the NAACP and Black businesses in Florida? Demonstrators protest Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plan to eliminate Advanced Placement courses on African American studies in high schools as they stand outside the Florida State Capitol on Feb. 15, 2023, in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joshua Lott/THE WASHINGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAGES) Williams: We do know that Governor Ron DeSantis laughed off the whole concept. He called it a joke. Do you think that this will have the impact that the NAACP desires in terms of awakening consciousness to the governors actions? Kitchen: I think the NAACP has a really great opportunity to give direction. So, you know, the travel advisory came out, its not exactly a travel ban. Its just an advisory of whats going on in Florida. Heightening that awareness is definitely something that needed to be done. I think they have a wonderful opportunity right now. Collaboration doesnt have to end. The summer is just starting. I think this is a great opportunity for us to all sit down at the table and come up with a really great way to make sure that the small businesses and the Black-owned businesses in Miami and in Florida all over dont suffer because of this. I mean, I think that what is the goal? What is the goal? And I think that there is a far better marketing, advertising, promotional effort that could be made, that could really give it the awareness that it needs because the goal is to bring attention to whats happening with erasing our history, books being banned. Everything thats going on in Florida needs to be brought to light. But I think that there is a way to do it with a direction. So if youre coming or when you come come with purpose, come with purpose. Our hotel is a historic hotel that celebrates African American history. The entire hotel is themed from the Harlem Renaissance. So when you come there, you sleep in the Josephine Baker room or the Dorothy Dandridge room. So were teaching that same history that theyre trying to erase. So I really feel like, theres a lot more that can be done collectively at this moment to get it right for small businesses. Williams: Kristin Kitchen, owner of Dunns Josephine Hotel in Miami, Florida, thank you for joining. Check out the full clip above and tune into theGrio with Eboni K. Williams at 6 p.m. ET every weeknight on theGrio cable channel. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Watch: Black Florida business owners arent in favor of NAACP travel ban appeared first on TheGrio. Image: Bandai, NECA, and Hasbro Welcome back to Toy Aisle, io9's regular round up of the latest and coolest Toy news around. This week: Bandai leaps on the Indiana Jones train, Hasbro gets Cobra in its sights with a new HasLab campaign, and Alf heads to San Diego Comic Con. Check it out! Image: S.H. Figuarts S.H. Figuarts Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones Although Hasbro has released a surprisingly solid lineup of Indiana Jones figures as part of its Adventure Series line, the head sculpts only bear a passing resemblance to the various characters from the films. If youre willing to pay a little more for a six-inch figure, closer to ~$67 (9,350) instead of $25, S.H. Figuarts has finally revealed its Indiana Jones figure, based on the characters original appearance in Raiders of the Lost Ark. The head sculpt is unmistakingly Harrison Ford, while the figure features more refined articulation, more detailing in the clothing, and even the ability to swap the arms in order to dress Indy up in his iconic leather jacket. Youll just have to wait until October to grab this one. Read more Image: Hasbro Hasbro HasLab G.I. Joe Classified Series Assault Copter Dragonfly (XH-1) Hasbros HasLab crowdfunding platform has so far had the most success with elaborately recreating some of the most iconic vehicles from the 80s G.I. Joe toy line, including the Cobra HISS Tank, and the G.I. Joe Skystriker, for the companys six-inch Classified Series line. The latest HasLab project brings more support to the Joes in the form of the Dragonfly helicopter, which is loosely based on the real-life Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter, oddly enough. It took almost no time at all for this HasLab project to find 10,000 backers, even with a price tag of $275, which means the Dragonfly will definitely go into production, with an expected delivery in the Summer of 2024. As with previous HasLab G.I. Joe creations, the Dragonfly is packed with details, including a cockpit with an illuminated instrument panel and controls, rockets, missiles, machine guns, working rotors, a functional hoist for rescues, and a display stand. The toy also comes with a six-inch William Wild Bill Hardy pilot figure, with additional figures and accessories promised as the number of backers rises. If you want to contribute, you have until 11:59PM EST on July 17th to do so. Image: NECA NECA Alf Melmac Cosmic Con (SDCC 2023 Exclusive) San Diego Comic-Con is still a few months away, but NECA is one of the first to reveal a collectible that will exclusively be available at the show in late July. Alf, a pop culture icon of the mid-80s, is being resurrected once again as a comic con attendee, but instead of San Diego, its the Melmac Cosmic Con on his home planet. The seven-inch Alf figure comes dressed in a Hawaiian shirt with a camera around his neck to snap celebrities, and includes additional accessories like an MCC ID badge, and an MCC-themed bag for carrying schwag. Image: Hasbro Pulse Hasbro G.I. Joe Classified Series Arctic B.A.T. When introduced in season two of the 80s animated series, the Cobra Battle Android Trooper-or B.A.T.primarily served as a tool for the shows writers who werent able to show any human characters dying. As robots, the B.A.T. could be blown up and destroyed without any remorse, but for some kids, their design made them more appealing than human characters that writers had spent months developing. As part of its six-inch G.I. Joe Classified Series, Hasbro has been churning out a few new iterations of the B.A.T., including this fantastic Arctic version that might be a re-accessorized repaint, but includes an alternate head revealing whats underneath a B.A.T.s helmet. The Arctic B.A.T. is available for pre-order now through Hasbro Pulse for $25, with shipping expected in September. Image: Fisher-Price Fisher-Price Little People Collector The Big Lebowski Special Edition Set If there was any doubt that Mattel was targeting every last collector with its Fisher-Price Little People figures, you can now get a four-pack featuring characters from one of the most popular Coen Brothers films to date: The Big Lebowski. The $25 set includes Little People versions of Donny Kerabatsos holding a bowling ball, Walter Sobchak holding a coffee can full of Donnys ashes, Maude Lebowski in a viking costume, and The Dude himself, Jeffrey Lebowski, in his iconic sweater and holding a White Russian drinkalthough Fisher-Price doesnt explicitly recognize it as that. Image: Hasbro Pulse Hasbro Transformers Masterpiece MP-58 Hoist Originally a retool of a G1 Transformer called Trailbreaker with a fresh green paint job and the addition of a towing mechanism on the back when transformed into a Toyota Hi-Lux 4WD pickup truck, Hoist was an unsung hero of the Autobots, providing repair services and the occasional rescue. The Takara Tomy Masterpiece version of Hoist is now available for pre-order through Hasbro Pulse for $160, and includes extensive articulation in robot mode and and accessories that include an extending grapple arm, alternate tools to replace his right hand, and a swappable face plate. Delivery isnt expected until April of next year, however. Image: Mattel Mattel MEGA The Witcher Geralts Griffin Hunt Lego likes to keep its sets and partnerships as kid-friendly as possible, which means that if you want to build a recreation of a popular video game like The Witcher, youll need to turn to Mattels Lego-alternative, MEGA. This 431-piece set is the first collaboration between the MEGA brand and CD Projekt Red, and features a buildable version of Geralts Corvo Bianco home from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and includes details like a light-up fireplace, and a trophy Leshen skull. The set also comes with a poseable Geralt micro action figure, and a buildable Griffin, and is available now for $110. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Photo: Getty (Getty Images) Forty-two women and 10 minors say they plan to sue the West Virginia State Police after an investigation revealed that a camera had been hidden in the womens locker room at the State Police Training Academy in Institute. The discovery is just one of a number of alarming allegations that were brought to light when Gov. Jim Justice (R) received an anonymous letter in February detailing over a dozen incidents of misconduct within the state police departmentincluding intoxicated altercations, office affairs, misappropriated funds, sexual assaults, and more. But as of now, the only allegation to spur legal action is that a state trooper had installed a video camera in the womens locker room at the police training academy. Not only did the footage show women being recorded, butsickeninglyunderage girls who were enrolled in the Junior Trooper Academy, too. Read more Our ongoing investigation shows rampant sexual misconduct, including hidden videotaping, toward female cadets and others, while they attended the Academy, Wheeling West Virginia Attorney Teresa Toriseva, who represents a number of the victims, told 7News. Much of the conduct is through witness provided evidence. All of these women were victims of a civil conspiracy perpetrated by instructors, staff and leadership at the West Virginia State Police Academy, Toriseva wrote in a notice to Interim WVSP Superintendent Colonel Jack Chambers and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Accordingly, these women will bring suit seeking all available damages under the law. Its unclear exactly when the camera was placed in the locker room, when it was removed, and how many people knew of its installation and monitoring. The only detail thats been released to the public is that one trooper whos now deceased was alleged to have been involved. In late Marchjust a month after the letter was made publicJustice told reporters that a USB flash drive with the footage on it had been found, and other troopers allegedly threw it on the floor and stomped on it. According to Toriseva, the victims who were recorded without their consent say theyre now suffering from anxiety, humiliation, and emotional distress. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The White House is trying to persuade Tesla to keep the US's EV charging standard alive The Biden administration is opening up federal subsidies to Tesla charging stationsbut only if they carry USs own fast-charging standard for electric vehicles. On Friday (June 9), the White House said that EV charging stations using Teslas standard plugsthe North American Charging Standard (NACS), as Tesla christened it last yearwould be eligible for billions of dollars in federal subsidies. But they must include the combined charging system (CCS) to qualify. Read more Teslas charging ports are so rapidly becoming the norm, as legacy carmarkers like Ford and GM embrace it, that US government is unable to resist its ubiquity. The White Houses announcement marks the first time the administration has explicitly included Tesla in its $7.5 billion plan to build new, high-speed charging stations on 7,500 miles of the nations busiest highways. Photo: Mike Blake (Reuters) Public funding must continue to go towards open standards, which is always better for the consumer, a displeased CharIN North Americaan industry body that promotes CCShad said after Ford became the first major US automaker to jump on the Tesla charger bandwagon last month. Public EV infrastructure funding...should continue to only be approved for CCS-standard-enabled chargers per federal minimum standards guidance. Quotable: White House brings Tesla into its EV charging plans for the first time Earlier this year, we developed minimum standards to ensure publicly funded EV charging is accessible, reliable, and affordable for all drivers, and we required interoperability to promote competition. 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, in statement to Reuters A brief history of the growing presence of Tesla Superchargers 2012: There is no industry standard when Tesla debuts on the scene, so it develops its own charging plug for its EVs. November 2022: Musk releases the NACS design and extends an invitation to rival manufacturers to build EVs using Teslas charging port. The White House cheers the move but makes no announcements about Teslas role in its charging infrastructure plans. February 2022: Tesla announces it will open up its US charging network to other car brands, as part of a $7.5 billion federal program to increase the use of EVs and reduce carbon emissions. May 2023: Setting its price wars with Tesla aside, Ford becomes the first major US automaker to announce that its new EV owners in the US and Canada will be able to use Teslas Superchargers starting in spring 2024. Existing Ford EVs like the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit can be modified to use Teslas Superchargers via an adapter and software integration. June 2023: GM follows in Fords footsteps and adopts Teslas NACS as the norm. datawrapper-chart-SwK6V Charted: The popularity of Tesla chargers shocked the shares of rival EV charging firms datawrapper-chart-SwK6V By the digits: The charging standards war 17,000: The number of Tesla Supercharger connectors in the US and Canada, compared to... 11,000: ...the number of CCS combo ports in North America. Half the size, twice as powerful: Teslas claims about NACS versus CCS 70%: The share of US EV sales that Tesla, GM, and Ford together account for. That makes NACS more of a standard then CCS. 200: The number of miles that can be added to an EVs range in 15 minutes at a Tesla supercharger station Hundred of dollars: The price range for the adapter that owners of older Ford EVs will require to use Tesla chargers, according to Musk 81,000: The number of fast charging stations using the CCS connector worldwide, compared to... ...45,000: The number of Tesla Superchargers around the world More than 300: The number of domestic and international members of CharIN North America that are using or investing in CCS More than 50: The number of passenger vehicle models in the US that use CCS, according to CharIN $175 (or less): The price of an adapter that lets NACS cars use CCS, suggesting that theres no big incentive for CCS station managers to add NACS plugs. This, combined with the possibility that NACS adapters for CCS cars will become readily available, would suggest that having two standards in the US is possible and maybe even convenient. Fun fact: Tesla uses CCS Tesla uses CCS in Europe, in compliance with the global standard. Related stories Ford became the first US carmaker to take up Teslas offer to use its supercharging network The EU mandated USB-C ports for devices. Electric car chargers should be next Fords EV unit lost $722 million last quarter, but its still cutting prices to compete with Tesla More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has made its concerns known to the Cuban government about Cuba hosting Chinese spy operations on its territory, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday. Kirby said the bilateral relationship with China was tense at the moment, but President Joe Biden was committed to keeping the lines of communication open. He told a White House briefing that he would not expect recent reports about a Chinese spy base in Cuba to affect a planned visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China later this week. "We understand the bilateral relationship with China is tense right now, and nothing's changed about the fact that the president wants to keep the lines of communication open with the PRC," Kirby told reporters, using the initials for the People's Republic of China. The Wall Street Journal last week quoted U.S. officials as saying a new Chinese spying effort was underway on Cuba. China on Monday denied it was using Cuba as a spying base. Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez on Monday again rejected the allegations as false, dismissing them as a U.S. fabrication meant to justify Washington's decades-old economic embargo against the island. Blinken told reporters on Monday that China's efforts in Cuba were part of a global push by Beijing to expand its presence overseas, but U.S. actions since Biden came to power in January 2021 had "slowed down this effort." (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason and Andrea Shalal; additional reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana, editing by Jonathan Oatis and Gerry Doyle) Wisconsin is considering changes to its alcohol industry. Here's what this could mean for consumers, breweries, wineries and more MADISON Republican lawmakers unveiled a plan last week that would overhaul how alcohol is regulated in the Badger State and how laws that govern the industry are enforced. The changes, enshrined in a massive 156-page bill, are the product of years of negotiations prompted by infighting among the beer, wine and spirits industry. The bill is now being moved quickly through the Legislature, with an Assembly hearing scheduled for Tuesday. What are the big changes and how will this affect consumers? Here is a breakdown of the issue and what to expect next. What changes will consumers notice most? Chelsea Muench, taproom manager at Gathering Place Brewing Co. at 7208 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa, pours a pint of Ryed of the Valkyries, a dunkel lager, for a customer on Jan. 27, 2023. Likely the most visible change will be a potential influx of new beer, wine and other shops tied to alcohol products. Currently, state law bars breweries and other producers to open retail shops if brewing, distilling or other production does not occur on-site. Under the bill, such producers could sell their products without a tap room or production facility on site. For example, the bill could allow New Glarus Brewing Company to open a retail store where customers could buy Spotted Cow and other New Glarus beers directly from the company, rather than going to a grocery store, bottle shop or tap room. Another big change consumers may notice is the extension of hours at wineries. Current law bars wineries from staying open past 9 p.m. The bill would allow wineries to stay open until the early morning, like traditional taverns. Why were these changes needed? There is widespread agreement in the alcohol industry that the states alcohol laws, housed in Chapter 125 of the states statutes, are outdated and vague. Those regulations, paired with limited and uneven enforcement over the years, have made it difficult for new businesses in the industry to know what is legal and what is not. It has also frustrated longstanding players in the industry, including the Tavern League and beer wine and spirits distributors who have lamented that enforcement has not been fair. Who does this bill affect? Those in Wisconsin who produce beer, wine and distilled spirits, along with those who distribute those products and sell them at retail locations, will see new rules under the legislation being considered this week by lawmakers. This means that large-scale distribution companies, shippers, grocery stores, and bars and taverns are especially affected. The changes would also have an impact on those who own wedding and other private event venues that serve alcohol or want to serve alcohol but are not taverns. What would the bill do to Wisconsins alcohol industry? Create a license, with limitations, for wedding barn owners who are not otherwise alcohol producers, retailers or wholesalers, to have alcohol on-site for events. This license, called a no sale event venue permit, would allow those renting the barn to bring in their own alcohol but would limit wedding venue owners to rent or lease the property on no more than six days per year and one day per month. Provide a pathway for contract brewing, winemaking and distilling, which is a rapidly growing segment of the alcohol industry in Wisconsin. There is no guidance in current law for how facilities can contract with off-site producers to make alcohol. Allow individuals in the alcohol industry to invest in a new business that is also in the industry, but only up to a certain percentage. The investor would be barred from having a managerial role in the new business. Current law bars one kind of alcohol industry from investing in a new business in another part of the industry. Give retail licenses to axe-throwing facilities that accept underage customers without parental supervision. Allow bars to prepare and store mixed drinks up to 48 hours prior to selling to customers. Increase the "safe ride" surcharge for people convicted of operating while intoxicated from $50 to $75 (the program is funded by those fees along with the Tavern League) How will enforcement change? The bill significantly expands state oversight of the industry. It proposes to create a new division, the Division of Alcohol Beverages within the state Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue regulates the alcohol industry in Wisconsin but there are few staff dedicated to enforcing the states alcohol laws, which has resulted in uneven enforcement. The bill also creates within the division separate bureaus dedicated to enforcement, legal services, and education and community outreach. The administrator of the division may appoint special agents and other employees necessary to carry out the permitting, audit, education, legal, and enforcement functions of the division, according to the bill. Is there any opposition to the legislation? Rustic Manor 1848 is a barn wedding venue located at 3115 WI-83, Hartland. Most groups involved in the alcohol industry say that while the bill is a compromise, it generally has support among both lawmakers and business owners. But those who own private venues that want to serve alcohol at weddings, showers, and other events see the creation of a permit as limiting. Those types of venues, including wedding barns, have soared in popularity over the years and have offered a significant supplement of income for struggling farmers. They have also largely existed in regulatory limbo, with much debate over the years over whether they are subject to current laws or if new regulations should be created for them. Jean Bahn at Farmview Event Barn in Berlin, Wisconsin, says the bill hurts private venue owners like her. This proposed law is not a good thing for private venues nor for citizens who may enjoy using that type of rental space for things like showers, employee appreciation events, graduation parties, birthday parties, along with weddings. And it certainly affects many other private event facilities that are not barns, she said. Where does Gov. Tony Evers stand on this? While the governor has not said definitively whether he supports the bill as it stands, his spokeswoman said there are ongoing discussions about it. Our office has had some conversations with the stakeholders working on the bill and I also understand there are still ongoing conversations with the DOR regarding some technical changes and addressing resources for the department to implement the bills changes on an ongoing basis," said Britt Cudaback, Evers' spokeswoman. If I want to follow the process or offer comments, what should I do? There is a public hearing scheduled on the bill at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the state Capitol in Madison in room 225 Northwest. You can also watch it live on WisEye, where it will be broadcast live. Those wishing to opine can send an email or call the bills sponsors, Republican leaders Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about changes proposed for Wisconsin alcohol industry Woman arrested weeks later after allegedly hitting officer with car, tossing drugs at Ga. prison The woman accused in May of hitting an officer with her car at Lee Arrendale State Prison, then getting away on foot has been arrested, according to the Habersham County Sheriffs Office. Leticia Erika Perry of Summerville was accused of using her Lexus to hit a corrections officer while he was investigating a suspected contraband drop at the prison fence on May 24. The officer, William Edgar Hitchcock, was driving a Ford F-150 when he was hit. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officers were investigating an area on Shore Circle west of Mt. Zion Church Road, where theyd found a 2008 Lexus RX stopped off the roadway with the lights off. When Hitchcock tried to speak to the driver, she reportedly drove off, hitting Hitchcock on his left side and leg area, then hitting the prison truck he had been driving. According to deputies, Perry and Devonte Jenkins of Dalton had been throwing drugs over a gate at Lee Arrendale Prison. The Lexus became disabled and Perry and Jenkins ran away on foot. TRENDING STORIES: Georgia State Patrol officers then searched for both Perry and Jenkins, arresting Jenkins near the Cornelia and Baldwin city limits, according to deputies. He was charged with possession of prohibited items by a state inmate, bringing contraband across guard lines, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine. Perry remained at large until mid-June. The Floyd County Sheriffs Office said that they found Perry, arrested her, and took her to the Habersham County Detention Center on Friday. Perry was charged with aggravated assault, criminal interference with government property, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, failure to report an accident, seatbelt violation, and driving while license was suspended or revoked, according to deputies. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] RELATED NEWS: Woman got a DUI while trying to escape boyfriend in Pismo Beach. Heres what judge said Editors note: This story describes domestic violence. A judge on Monday dismissed the case against a woman who was given a DUI in Pismo Beach for driving 30 feet to escape a man she said was an abusive boyfriend, saying police made the wrong decision is arresting her.. Palmdale resident Anne Marie Nunez, 55, was charged with a misdemeanor DUI on Sept. 17, 2021 around three months after the incident. Nunez had told officers who responded to a report of her and her boyfriend fighting that she had been hit and threatened, but officers ultimately left her with the man inside his van. She later got into her own car, which was parked nearby, and drove it to a new parking spot, prompting a DUI arrest. Her case went to trial in February but ended in a mistrial in March after jurors could not agree whether she was at fault for moving her car to a different spot in the parking lot while visibly intoxicated. The District Attorneys Office moved to retry the case, noting that the jury was deadlocked in their favor. Nunezs lawyer, Trace Milan, filed a motion inviting the judge to dismiss the case, arguing Nunez moved her car while intoxicated out of necessity to protect herself from further harm. San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino agreed with Milan. The trial served its purpose, the judge said, adding that the trial allowed both him and a jury to fully understand the case. Im left convinced that this is among the most compelling necessity defense cases. A necessity defense functions similarly to self-defense in a murder trial, meaning someone broke the law because there was more danger if they didnt, and there were no other viable options. Officers made wrong decision, judge says On June 17, 2021, Pismo Beach police officers responded to a report of Nunez and her boyfriend, Michael Deryden, fighting in the Dennys parking lot on Five Cities Drive. Nunez, who was visibly intoxicated, told Pismo Beach Officer Kyle Laughlin that her boyfriend had hit her and threatened to strangle her. Laughlin noted she had a restraining order against Deryden that only allowed peaceful contact, body camera footage showed, but left Nunez in the van with Deryden. About 25 minutes later, Laughlin arrested Nunez for a DUI when she moved her car 30 feet to another parking spot. She told him she wanted to get away from her boyfriend. Deputy District Attorney James Statton argued dismissing the case would infringe on the district attorneys right to prosecute crimes, adding that driving intoxicated is a serious offense. Marino agreed that driving drunk is a serious offense that can lead to deadly outcomes, but added that there are instances where the manner in which someone drives and how far matters. Nunez drove late at night, at a slow speed for 30 feet before parking her car in a new space in a relatively empty parking lot. Marino said he understands law enforcement officers have to make decisions in a stressful manner, sometimes quickly with life and death at stake, but he said law enforcement should have separated Nunez from her boyfriend when she reported abuse. He said he believed Nunez interrupting officers and telling them everything was fine toward the end of the encounter was what he believed to be battered woman syndrome. Nunez was left alone in this van with a man I absolutely believe threatened her, Marino said. Law enforcement made the wrong decision in this case. The judge noted he found Nunezs testimony credible, adding that she had been beaten and hospitalized on multiple occasions. Nunez was in more danger inside a van with her abuser than she was driving intoxicated in an empty parking lot, Marino said. She drove to protect herself, Marino said. The judge said he thought Nunez acted out of necessity from the beginning and even urged the DAs Office to modify her charges but he was hesitant to dismiss the case at that time. Marino wanted to allow the jury to do its job, and also hear all the evidence in the case from both sides. After hearing the evidence himself, the judge said, he is even more convinced that Nunez acted out of necessity. If I was a juror, I would have had no problem taking this as a necessity defense, he said. With that, he dismissed the case. How to get help If you or someone you know are a survivor of domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. The hotline offers a range of free services including confidential support from a trained staff member, help finding a local health facility, legal and medical advice and referrals for long-term support. Survivor support and resources are also available through Lumina Alliance at luminaalliance.org or their Crisis and Information Line at 805-545-8888. Woman is shot dead by boyfriend in front of her 9-year-old daughter, Texas cops say A 9-year-old girl witnessed her mother being shot and killed by the womans boyfriend, Texas police say. The fatal shooting happened around 8 p.m. Sunday, June 11, at an apartment in Houston, police said in a news briefing streamed by KHOU. Police said the woman and her boyfriend were in a verbal argument when the man grabbed a gun and fired multiple shots. She was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. Multiple family members, including the womans 9-year-old daughter, were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, according to police. One of the witnesses, described as an elderly female, was hospitalized for unknown reasons, officers said in the news briefing. The man was taken into custody. His charges have not been announced. Police have not publicly released the ages and identities of the victim and accused shooter. Husband killed when hes ambushed in driveway and shot in front of wife, PA cops say Kids had front row seat for home invasion that left father of 5 dead, Ohio cops say Boyfriend kills mom of 4 in front of kids after shopping trip, California reports say Toni Collette stars in "The Power," a series that poses the question: What if women didn't ever have to be afraid anymore? (Brandon M Young / For The Times) Toni Collette has been on a tear. Touching down in Los Angeles briefly to discuss her role in The Power, she has been doing little other than working, traveling with my kids and being perpetually jet-lagged everywhere. She hopes at some point to find the time to finish watching the first season of the Prime Video sci-fi series, in which she stars as Seattle Mayor Margot Cleary-Lopez, and to read the novel by Naomi Alderman upon which its based. It says so much thats so relevant that Im eager to read it. The Power posits the simplest of questions: What if women didnt ever have to be afraid anymore? As Margot says in the opening moments, We never dared to imagine it. A world that was built for us. It starts with a spark, created from an organ called a skein that previously lay dormant, that gives girls, and then women, the power to electrocute at will. With that power comes liberation and vengeance, revolution and chaos. The Power branches out in stories around the world, as electric organ discharge, allows females to rise up against their oppressors everywhere from Saudi Arabia to Alabama. In Seattle, Margot fights for the rights of the newly empowered, against the efforts of a hostile governor (Josh Charles) to remove them from society. The fight finds its way to her own home as well, as her husband, Rob (John Leguizamo), reels from her political machinations, and son Matty (Gerrison Machado) finds solace with online conspiracy theorists. Her daughter Jos (Aulii Cravalho) passes the power to her but has trouble handling it herself. Collette is direct and straightforward, eager to discuss The Powers themes. Its really interesting how in the show and in life, somebody else coming into their power becomes a threat to particularly men and their power. But surely if we empower each other, its a better world. Its not about domination, its about balance. The discussion of womens bodily autonomy is eerily timely. During a political debate, Margot notes that since women gained the power, reported rapes have gone down 75% and domestic violence 61%. As Collette notes, The idea of that ideal, of that actually being possible, is really contributing to the conversation. Even though its a fantasy sci-fi, it is so grounded in reality, its incredible timing. Shes found discussions about the show contentious and exciting. Everyones really passionate about it. Thats why she took the job, even though she had almost no time for it. Most of the series had been shot long before Collette came on. Margot was initially played by Leslie Mann, but the filming schedule was interrupted by the pandemic, and Mann couldnt return to shoot pickups, so the role was recast. Collette was filming Mafia Mamma in Rome when she received the offer last summer and was shown a rough cut of the first few episodes. That never happens. And it was really impressive. That was a big piece of the puzzle that persuaded me to do it. So right after going into prep on yet another project, Bong Joon Hos Mickey 17, Collette headed to Vancouver for five weeks to shoot her part of eight episodes. I felt so welcomed and very supported, but it was like shooting several movies in five weeks, she recalls. It was bonkers, like driving a bus full of people who are depending on you to get there, and the steering wheel keeps coming out. She used that overwhelmed feeling to relate to her character. I was like, Well, this is how Margot would feel, so run with it, girl. I dont need to feel like Ive got it all, I just need to feel like I managed to bring truth to each moment. The Power is part sprawling epic, part intimate drama. And in Margots case, both. Toni has to hold a lot of the center of the show together, executive producer Naomi De Pear notes, by phone from London. Shes the character that most explicitly talks about the themes of the show, and thats a big responsibility. Also to have to hold that authority of being a mayor, and also be the sci-fi lens of the show, the woman whos going, Hang on a minute, I think Im onto something here, whats going on? So she had to wear a lot of hats, and she wears them all so brilliantly. She ties it all together and makes it all feel raw and real. Collette says that the cast and crew held her together, shouting out Edwina Findley, who plays Margots aide Helen. She was my wing woman; I did a lot of grabbing her arm. And she calls Leguizamo so open and present and fun, and hes frank and hell speak his mind. I loved, loved, loved working with him. As for the finale, in which Margot lights up a debate with the governor, It was an accident. He was really provoking her, she says, laughing. What happens when you go from fighting the power to being the power? If the show gets a second season, its certain to ramp up the voltage. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. YNW Melly double-homicide trial continues after state rests. Here's how to watch it online After 15 days of testimony, state prosecutors on Monday rested its case in the death penalty trial of Gifford rapper Jamell Demons, known as YNW Melly, who is the accused shooter in a 2018 double homicide in Broward County. Before resting, jurors were shown an Instagram post from Demons account the day of the murders that prosecutors said was a confession. Demons defense attorneys are expected to begin presenting their case Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. It's unclear if Demons will testify. Scroll down for livestream of the trial . The trial recessed last Wednesday after Circuit Judge John Murphy III was told one of Demons defense attorneys felt ill and couldnt participate. Before calling for the four-day break, Murphy denied a mistrial motion argued by Demons lawyer David A. Howard, who objected to reams and reams of text messages admitted as evidence that he characterized as irrelevant and prejudicial. Mark Moretti, a Miramar Police homicide detective, spent nearly two days this week testifying about cell phone data and may return to the stand next week. On Monday, prosecutors questioned Traveon Glass, who was seen on surveillance video with Demons leaving a recording studio hours before the deadly shooting, testified that he saw Demons wearing different clothes later in the night at a friends house. On June 29, before the trial paused for a week, Leondra Phillips, the mother of murder victim Christopher Thomas Jr. aka YNW Juvy took the stand to identify her 19-year-old son, who was recorded on surveillance video getting into the back seat of a Jeep Compass with Demons, 24, along with Cortlen Henry, 24, of Gifford, and Anthony Williams aka YNW Sakchaser on Oct. 26, 2018. The video was recorded hours before Williams and Thomas were shot to death during what law enforcement authorities later called a staged drive-by shooting. Demons and Henry are charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm. Broward County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Christopher Williams also wrapped up his testimony that began June 28. Earlier in the week, a medical examiner was called to testify, along with an undercover gang expert who works for the Broward County Sheriffs Office. Detective Danny Polo was permitted to testify last week wearing a black ski mask to shield his identity after he told Murphy his life had been threatened because of his work infiltrating gangs. Circuit Judge John Murphy III on Monday told Polo to remove the mask while seated at the witness stand. Demons defense attorney David Howard had objected to Polo testifying while hiding his face. State prosecutors have also questioned a DNA expert and a T-Mobile official about phone records being introduced as evidence. Murphy last week denied a defense motion for a mistral after Demons' lawyers sought the ruling following testimony from Demons ex-girlfriends mother, Felicia Holmes, who took the stand as a state witness. Demons lawyers had argued after her testimony that state prosecutors deliberately elicited statements in an effort to bring in inadmissible evidence that tainted the jury. Jamell Demons, 24, known professionally as YNW Melly, is in a Broward County courtroom June 13, 2023 during the second day of his double capital murder trial. YNW melly, who grew up in Gifford, Fla., has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the Oct. 26, 2018 fatal shootings of Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19. State prosecutors during the first week of trial called three law enforcement officials, including a firearms expert, to testify about DNA, fingerprint and ballistics evidence collected in the case. Opening statements and testimony began June 12 with state prosecutors previewing their case against Demons, 24, who with his childhood friend and recording partner Cortlen Henry, are accused of the shooting deaths of friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. Demons and Henry were both 19 when Thomas, 19, of Gifford in Indian River County, and Williams, 21, of Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County, were fatally shot. Demons turned himself in to Broward County officials on Feb. 13, 2019 after being indicted by a grand jury on Feb. 7. He pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charges and has been incarcerated at Broward County Jail since 2019. Henry, who also pleaded not guilty, is not facing the death penalty; he was released in 2020 on bail and conditions of house arrest. State prosecutors in court June 13 showed jurors photos of the 2018 Jeep Compass and questioned a criminal investigator about fingerprint evidence collected from the Jeep. Where can I watch the trial? Law&Crime partnered with hip-hop music journalist Byson Paul as a correspondent on the trial. The trial is being broadcast through the Law&Crime Network which can be accessed through a cable provider, streaming service and radio. Here is the full list of how you can follow along on the trial. Click here to watch the live stream of the trial on YouTube. State and defense attorneys addressed jury during trial's first day State prosecutors questioned a detective and a criminal investigator on the stand following opening statements June 12. During her opening remarks, Assistant State Attorney Kristine Bradley told jurors when Henry was questioned by investigators, he repeatedly lied about the shootings. She said there was a "lack of evidence," to show Wilson and Thomas Jr. were killed in a drive-by shooting. Miramar police, Bradley said, found no evidence of shots fired in the location Henry said the shooting occurred. Jamell Demons, known professionally as YNW Melly, in a Broward County courtroom on the first day of his double homicide trial on June 12, 2023. YNW Melly, who grew up in Gifford, Fla., pleaded not guilty to the murders of Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas, 19, in Broward County on Oct. 26, 2018. Things arent adding up, she said. Bradley said before the shootings, Henry was driving the Jeep and Demons was in the back seat on the drivers side. Williams was in the front passenger seat and Taylor Jr. was behind him in the back seat. Ballistic evidence and medical examiner reports show both Wilson and Thomas Jr. were shot inside the Jeep with a weapon that was never recovered, Bradley said Monday. The fatal wounds for Christopher Thomas and Anthony Williams are coming in from inside the vehicle from the rear driver side passenger going out towards the passenger side, she said. The other interesting thing the Medical Examiner's office is going to tell you is that when the drive-by was staged at 4:02 a.m., the victims were already dead. The bullet that caused the fatal shot to the back of Williams head blew out the front passenger window, she said. The shot that killed Thomas Jr. struck his left cheek. And both bodies showed post-mortem-inflicted gunshot wounds, Bradley told jurors. During his opening statement, Demons' attorney David Howard on Monday told the jury the states case was based on an incompetent, incomplete investigation, and prosecutors lacked any proof of a motive for the double homicides. What happens if Demons is convicted? If a jury finds Demons guilty of first-degree murder during the first part of his trial, the same jury that convicted him would then determine his punishment, which can only be life in prison or execution. By state law, first-degree murder is punishable either by death or life without parole for suspects at least 18 years old at the time of the offense. If there is a penalty phase, state prosecutors will be able to rely on Floridas new death penalty statute that reduces from 12 to eight the number of juror votes required to recommend a defendant guilty of capital murder be put to death, according to a June 2 order issued by Circuit Judge John J. Murphy III. The new statute signed into law April 20 by Gov. Ron DeSantis 10 days after jury vetting began for Demons trial dropped a requirement that all 12 jurors vote in favor of execution before a judge could impose the death penalty. Demons lawyers had argued the new statute couldnt be used in his case because nothing in it showed lawmakers intended that the amended law be applied retroactively. Murphy, though, ruled it is not fundamentally unfair for Demons to be sentenced under the amended statute, nor would it violate his right to due process of law. YNW Melly accused shooter: New details released about alleged cover-up 'Versace on my sneaks', COVID in jail: Gifford rap star YNW Melly's life behind bars Who is YNW Melly? 24-year-old rapper on trial in 2018 murder case Jamell Demons: Jury selection underway in YNW Melly's double murder trial in Broward County Capital murder: Prosecutors seek death penalty against rap artist YNW Melly in double homicide case YNW Melly murder case: Anthony Williams, Christopher Thomas Jr. shootings 3 years later The state on April 18, 2019 filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty alleging in part, the capital felony was committed for pecuniary (monetary) gain. When determining whether capital punishment is warranted, the law requires the state to list the aggravating circumstances, or reasons why a sentence of death is legal and appropriate. Prosecutors weigh such aggravators against any potential mitigating evidence, such as neurological problems, substance abuse or diminished mental health. In court filings, prosecutors have stated their intent to prove a number of aggravating factors, arguing the alleged killings were: "especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" "committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification" "committed by a criminal gang member" Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of Uncertain Terms, a true crime podcast. Reach her at melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the Treasure Coast. Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: YNW Melly double homicide trial livestreamed, updates, how to watch Yuma man arrested in Riverside County after officials say he fatally shot man, fled Police lights A man died on June 11 after police say he was shot by another man who later tried to flee to California from Yuma police officers. Yuma police said on Tuesday that the suspect has been taken into custody. The suspect, identified as Nicholas Berry, 27, was arrested by deputies with the Riverside Sheriff's Department, police said. Police did not say when the suspect was arrested. Around 8 a.m. on June 11, officers responded to the area of 10th Street and Arizona Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting. Police found a man with several gunshot wounds, said Yuma police spokesperson Sergeant Lori Franklin. The man was identified as Benjamin Pilgrim, 51. Pilgrim was taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he died, police said. Police drew a suspect and vehicle description from interviews with witnesses at the scene, police said. About three hours later, police found Berry's vehicle unoccupied near 25th Street and Virginia Drive. Police found out Berry owned a second vehicle, a white Cadillac, that was found near First Avenue and 16th Street. Police tried to stop the car but they say Berry sped away from officers, Franklin said. Berry fled toward California and headed west on Interstate 8 as police pursued him, authorities said. California Highway Patrol was notified, police said. Berry exited the highway at Andrade, past the Colorado River, crossed the overpass and then reentered Interstate 8 on the eastbound lanes at a high speed, Franklin said. Stop sticks were deployed and the Cadillac struck them about two miles west of the Winterhaven exit, just north of the Arizona-California border at the B&C Colonia in Yuma. The car was propelled off the roadway and rolled several times, police said. Berry was ejected from the car. He was flown to a California hospital in serious condition, Franklin said. There were no other occupants in the car. Berry was later released from the hospital and booked into Riverside County Jail, police said in an update on June 20. Police said Pilgrim and Berry knew each other but did not provide any further information about their relationship. The incident was being investigated and police did not release details about what led to the shooting. The Yuma Police Department asked anyone with any information to call the Yuma Police Department at 928-783-4421 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. Police said members of the public may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward if the tips they provide lead to an arrest, Franklin said. Reach breaking news reporter Laura Daniella Sepulveda at laura.sepulveda@gannett.com or on Twitter @lauradaniella_s. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nicholas Berry held in CA in fatal Yuma shooting of Benjamin Pilgrim The U.S. State Department recently announced its support for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression against Ukraine in a hybrid internationalized format. This move echoes the myopic policies of Western countries toward Ukraine and has very little legal grounding. From a legal standpoint, this type of tribunal is a stillborn child. It appears as though the U.S., fully understanding that the suggested approach is legally void, is still pushing for a solution that buries the possibility of bringing Russia to responsibility for its crimes of aggression. Ukraine and the international community face the challenge that, within the current system of international law, there are no institutions that have jurisdiction over prosecuting Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, the only way to achieve justice is to create a special ad hoc tribunal. Browder: West must hand Russian Central Banks $350 billion to Ukraine for reconstruction London-based American investor Bill Browder says people call him the number one enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin and, more recently, an official Friend of Ukraine. Browder has spent the last 13 years campaigning to freeze Putins assets hidden in the West. Now, hes fighting for them t The Kyiv IndependentAnna Myroniuk To date, there have been two vastly different approaches: the special tribunal backed by a coalition of over 30 states and the U.S.-backed hybrid internationalized tribunal. The U.S.-proposed court would be rooted in Ukraines judicial system but include international elements, whether they be international financing, foreign experts and judges, or proceedings that take place outside of Ukraine. However, these international elements do not change the fact that the proposed tribunal would be a national (Ukrainian) institution. Advocates of the internationalized approach point to the success of the UN-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), or the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, which was established in 1997 to prosecute the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. However, this precedent would not work for Ukraine for multiple reasons. Zakhar Tropin: Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism a legal perspective Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Not long ago, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) dealing with the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) said intercepted phone conversat The Kyiv IndependentZakhar Tropin First, the ECCC applied to an internal conflict for which Cambodia asked the UN to create a specialized tribunal. Russias full-scale war against Ukraine is an international conflict and, needless to say, Moscow will never agree to any mechanism to prosecute its crimes. Second, the ECCCs jurisdiction applied only to individuals. It is crucial in Ukraines case to investigate not only high-ranking Russian officials but the state itself. In other words, the tribunal must be able to exercise dual responsibility. Punishing the Russian state as a whole would be impossible through the proposed internationalized court, as Russia enjoys jurisdictional immunity under international law. Third, while the ECCC had jurisdiction over its own nationals, this is not the case with the suggested internationalized court with respect to Russia, which would instead prosecute Russians, bringing an additional mess to the tribunals legal status. Fourth, the main reason behind establishing the ECCC was a lack of relevant specialists in Cambodia at the time. This is not the case for Ukraine, which currently possesses the necessary experts and knowledge. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraines national institutions are well-functioning and enjoy a high level of cooperation with the International Criminal Court. Fifth, the ECCC prosecuted former high-ranking officials who did not have personal immunity. Those for whom this internationalized tribunal would apply in Russia are still in office and enjoy such immunities. To sum up, the biggest problem with the U.S.-proposed tribunal is that it would be a Ukrainian national entity with no means of overcoming the immunities afforded to both Russian officials and the state itself. Roland Freudenstein: Macrons Bratislava speech a French Zeitenwende or charm offensive? Some told you that you were missing opportunities to keep quiet but I believe we sometimes missed opportunities to listen. That time is over. - French President Emmanuel Macron at GLOBSECs 2023 summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, on May 31, 2023, in reference to a statement made by then-Presiden The Kyiv IndependentRoland Freudenstein The issue with national and international courts is unambiguous: heads of state and government officials currently in office enjoy jurisdictional immunity. These immunities can only be legally overcome at the international level for example, via an international agreement. Any attempt to push this process to the national level will result in multiple legal gaps to the extent that they will be ineffective or even illegal. For example, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) determined in 2000 that Belgiums international arrest warrant against then-acting Congolese Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi failed to respect his immunity, even amid alleged grave violations of international humanitarian law. The previously mentioned special tribunal backed by a coalition of over 30 states is the only viable option to bring Russia and its leadership to account for its aggression. The auspices of an international organization (preferably the UN) will add weight to this institution. Only an international special tribunal, reminiscent of those used in the cases of Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, and the Nuremberg trials, will eliminate the immunity issue when it comes to prosecuting Russias aggression against Ukraine. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. New Zealand PM Hipkins to visit China at end of June FILE PHOTO: New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks to the media at Downing Street in London By Lucy Craymer and Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday he will visit China at the end of this month at the head of a trade delegation. China is New Zealand largest trading partner with New Zealand's exports there worth more than NZ$20 billion a year. Unlike Australia, New Zealand has not faced Chinese trade barriers in connection with various disputes in recent years. The New Zealand delegation would include representatives of a wide range of sectors including dairy, tourism, education and gaming, Hipkins told a weekly media conference. "The relationship with China is one of New Zealand's most significant, wide-ranging and complex," Hipkins said. New Zealand, part of the Five Eyes intelligence and security alliance that includes Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States, has historically taken a more conciliatory approach towards China than its allies. However, New Zealand has increasingly raised concerns about China, in part over the possible militarization in the Pacific, where China has been extending its influence. When New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta visited China in March she raised concerns about the South China Sea, tension in the Taiwan Strait as well as the human rights situation in the west Chinese region of Xinjiang, and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. Hipkins said New Zealand prided itself on its relationship with China being stable and consistent. "That means where we have human rights concerns around trade or any other foreign policy issue," he said. This will be Hipkins first visit to China since he became leader in January when former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood down. He travelled to Papua New Guinea this year for a U.S.-Pacific Summit. (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel) Volodymyr Zelenskyy Read also: Trash washes ashore following Kakhovka dam destruction, Ukrainian military warns it may be dangerous The man-made catastrophe at the Kakhovka Dam was "not a natural disaster and not a manifestation of the climate crisis, the president said, placing the blame squarely at the feet of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy reported that Russian invasion forces were continuing to shell the very areas where evacuation from flooded areas is ongoing, and that people have been wounded. "People who are rescuing others and themselves from Russian ecocide are also forced to save themselves from Russian fire, he stated. In the occupied part of the territory, where about a dozen settlements have been flooded, there is no evacuation at all. For the second day, people are on the roofs, in a water trap, without drinking water, food, or medical assistance. We do not yet know how many dead and injured there are. Read also: Evacuation of people from the left bank of Dnipro requires absolute media silence, says Humeniuk President Zelenskyy noted that as a result of the Russian terrorist attack, life was destroyed in more than 30 settlements, that fuel storage facilities, warehouses with chemicals, fertilizers, and animal burial grounds were flooded, that sewage effluent was swept into the water, and that thousands of ecosystems were destroyed or put on the verge of extinction. Read also: Russia considering retreating deep inside Crimea, leaving frontline occupiers to die Malyar "More than 50,000 hectares of forests have been flooded, and at least half of them will die, he noted. Tens of thousands of birds and at least twenty thousand wild animals are at risk of death. It is obvious that the Kakhovka reservoir has been turned into a giant grave for millions of living creatures. He emphasized that people in Russian-occupied territories are not receiving help from international organizations, and that "the longer this continues, the more victims there will be, can called on Ukrainian advocates to pressure international organizations to help ensure that all the damage from the disaster is repaired. Read also: Zelenskyy calls environmental devastation in Ukraine ecocide by Russian invaders The president stated that Ukraine is already creating an expert group that will be responsible for uniting the world in holding Russia accountable for ecocide and to ensure "that our country is not left alone with this tragedy." "Please spread the truth about this Russian ecocide, Zelenskyy said. Call on leaders, states, and international organizations to act. It is no coincidence that in the peace formula we have proposed, one of the key points is countering ecocide. Let's work together to ensure that there are no more ecocides. Join our community, our platform, and our experts. Read also: Kakhovka dam destruction kills 10, 40 missing in two Ukrainian oblasts - Interior Ministry The Kakhovka Dam: what is known about the explosion On the night of Tuesday, June 6, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Dam, which has been monitored for over a year. Cities and villages downstream of the dam on the Dnipro River were completely or partially flooded. Ukrhydroenergo reported that the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was completely destroyed and cannot be repaired. Ukraines Southern Command clarified that the entire dam was not destroyed, but there is significant damage. At an urgent meeting of the National Security Council, President Zelenskyy gave the order to carry out evacuation from at-risk areas and to provide drinking water to all cities and villages that received water from the Kakhovka Reservoir. Evacuation from the right bank of the Kherson region continued through the night, while on the Russian-occupied left bank, which was much more affected by the flooding, a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding. Read also: Zelenskyy categorically rules out Ukrainian involvement in Nord Stream pipelines sabotage The Office of the Prosecutor General opened an investigation into the disaster as an act of ecocide, and Ukraine appealed to the International Criminal Court to ensure justice. Zelenskyy called the Russian terrorist attack on Kakhovka Dam the biggest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. The Main Directorate of Intelligence stated that the Russian destruction of the dam increased the threat of a nuclear disaster. Read also: Floods create dire situation in Oleshky as Russians seal off occupied town, governor says As of 20:00 on June 8, emergency service personnel had evacuated 2,339 people from flooded areas of Kherson Oblast. Thirty two settlements and 3,625 houses on the right bank of the Dnipro were flooded. Yevhen Ryschuk, the mayor of Russian-occupied Oleshky, reported that at least eight people had died as a result of 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 Zelenskyy signs law recognising 8 May as Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the law "On the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II in 1939-1945", which will be celebrated in Ukraine on 8 May. Source: website of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) Details: An explanatory note to the law states that as a civilised, peaceful and democratic European state, Ukraine honours the memory of the heroic achievement of everyone who fought against Nazism, as well as all the victims who were affected by the war civilians who suffered from the occupation and hostilities, Ostarbeiters, resistance fighters, children of war and others. It is a duty for the citizens of Ukraine to remember the huge losses it took to secure the victory over Nazism. In European countries, this victory is annually celebrated on 8 May, the day on which Nazi Germany surrendered, as a commemoration of those killed in World War II. "This is pure history, without ideological impurities. And this is the history of our people, our allies, the entire free world. Today we are bringing it back to our state," the president said as he submitted the document to parliament. Background: In March 2015, then President Petro Poroshenko issued a decree designating 8 May as the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation in Ukraine, but 9 May remained the Day of Victory over Nazism in World War II. 8 May was a working day and 9 May remained a public holiday. Poroshenko then explained this by his desire to unite Ukraine, saying: "When we hear the president of a neighbouring country answer the provocateur's question that the victory could have happened without Ukrainians, it is a split in the general anti-fascist movement, a mockery of the memory of Ukrainians who liberated not only Ukraine but the whole of Europe." On 2 May 2023, after 9 years of Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine and more than a year of full-scale war, the Verkhovna Rada legislatively recognised the political regime in Russia as "Ruscism" and condemned it. On 9 May, Russia celebrates Victory Day in the so-called Great Patriotic War. European countries celebrate Europe Day on 9 May; in Ukraine, Europe Day was celebrated on the third Saturday of May until this year. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! On June 13, former President Donald Trump will step into a courtroom in Miami, Florida, and become the first ever former U.S. President to be indicted on federal charges following a months-long investigation into his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. On Friday, a court in the Southern District of Florida unsealed the federal indictment against Trump, showing the former president is facing a total of 37 charges for his handling of classified documents, including unauthorized retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, tampering with grand jury evidence, concealing evidence and making false statements. While South Florida braces for Trumps court appearance, politicos in the Lynchburg area are weighing in on what it means for the former president and the upcoming Republican primary. David Richards, chair of the political science department at the University of Lynchburg, called the move a risky one, citing the Department of Justices and President Joe Bidens response to the indictment handed up last week. It is kind of a strange thing to have happened, Richards said. There are political ramifications. In other countries ... this is often a tactic used to punish people who have lost an election or to prevent them from running again. Richards said that likely isnt the case here, pointing out troubling aspects in the case relating to national security issues for Trump. But Richards said he can see how Republicans might chalk this up as an attempt to undermine the former presidents pursuit of the Oval Office in 2024. Vance Wilkins Jr., chair of the Amherst County Republican Committee and a longtime Virginia legislator and speaker of the House, said this is a part of a long push to get at Trump dating back to 2016. If youre looking for justice, I havent found it yet with these things, Wilkins said. If Trump is actually guilty of the breach of some security laws, then I wouldnt mind if he got indicted for that. Wilkins said he sees a double standard when it comes to pursuing possible wrongdoing by other political candidates. If they treated everybody the same, I would have no complaints. But if thats not the case then I have a huge complaint, he added. Because of the optics, Richards warned the indictment could open Pandoras box. If the GOP gets back into power, they could say this was done before and now were going to do it. And maybe we have great evidence, maybe we dont have much evidence. But its been done before so we can do it, he said. But Richards pointed out President Biden and the Department of Justice have gone out of their way to quash politics so far. Biden himself has been very careful to steer clear of being involved, Richards said. ... The Department of Justice has gone out of its way to be careful and to present the evidence as being very much related to national security and to other problems. That hasnt stopped some Virginia politicians from weighing in, however, such as U.S. Senator Mark Warner, who said similarly to when Trump was indicted in New York in April, I believe that nobody is above the law. I trust that Donald Trump will have his fair day in court and the opportunity to speak to these accusations, Warner continued in a statement. While our constitution protects the right to peaceful protest, it also guarantees the right to due process. I hope to see my colleagues and fellow Americans uphold these values by respecting law and order and allowing these legal proceedings to run their course without violence or interference. With the field of candidates challenging Trump for the Republican nomination ballooning by the week, Richards said the criticism from his challengers has been largely nonexistent in the last few days. Were not at that stage and we may never get to that stage, where someone says, he did something illegal, broke the law and thats wrong ... and therefore Im going to criticize him, he said, pointing out the current narrative from fellow Republicans is this is a politically-motivated indictment. One local example of that is Virginias 6th Congressional District Representative Ben Cline, who posted on social media last week, Our Constitutional Republic is supposed to guarantee Equal Justice Under the Law, not Weaponized Justice Against Your Political Opponents. Richards did say, however, this is going to lead to a fundraising bonanza for Trump, who is known for rallying his base in the face of peril. For their supporters, he said, this is a time for his core to double-down or to get out. And I think most of them are going to double down. Wilkins said, in his opinion, its yet to be seen what kind of impact this will have on Trumps standing in the party, but rallying around the former president despite his horrible personality might be the best thing for the party heading into 2024. If he and I were in a room for five minutes together wed get into a fight, Wilkins said. ... But I have to admit, once he got in [office], everything he did was something that needed to be done, citing Trumps record of holding to campaign promises, such as filling the Supreme Court with conservatives justices. All of his actions were basically good ... but people vote on their emotions many times and a lot of people dont like him emotionally and I understand that because I dont either, he added. At the end of the day, however, Richardson said while the narrative is that this is a political attack, its important to understand the seriousness of the charges levied against Trump. My initial reaction to all of this was oh this is some sort of attempt to smear Trump and maybe smear him easily with actions that most people would find wrong, Richards said. The more I read about this and the more I find out, you kind of realize the seriousness of what was going on and the potential for damage to our national security and to the people in our armed forces and in our places like CIA and State Department. The average person may not dive into this that way, Richards added. Outgoing Chair of the Lynchburg City School Board James Coleman was honored by his colleagues last week for his nearly decade worth of service and contributions to public education in the Hill City. Coleman, a nine-year veteran of the school board, three of which he served as the boards chair, was recognized with a resolution and a gift by fellow board members at the beginning of Tuesdays meeting. Joined by his daughters in the middle of the LCS boardroom, with several former members of the school board in attendance, Coleman stood solemnly as Vice Chair Dr. Bob Brennan read the resolution honoring the chair, whose time on the board will come to an end on June 30. A three-term member of the school board, Coleman is ineligible to seek reappointment this year. With this resolution, Brennan read, the Lynchburg City School Board pays tribute to Dr. James E. Coleman, a person of excellence and integrity, who by effort and by example made valuable and far-reaching contributions to public education in Lynchburg, Virginia. His numerous contributions will affect generations to come, Brennan added. Mayor Stephanie Reed, who was in attendance for the special recognition, commended Coleman for his hard work despite her short time of working alongside him. Its very apparent that he does have a heart for the children of our city, Reed said. I really do appreciate your passion for this community; Ive gotten the chance to attend his church and see where his other passion is, which is for the body of Christ and believers ... so I appreciate all you do here and around the city. We all know he is not going to stop, she added. He is going to continue to serve this city and serve it well. After the mayor spoke, members of the school board commended Coleman for his leadership on the board in recent years. Your wisdom, your guidance, your thoughts, your caring attitude for not just the children in this community but this entire community is unsurpassed, board member Randall Trost said about Coleman. Board member Kimberly Sinha, who has served alongside Coleman for his final two terms, joked about when she first arrived on the board, remembering Coleman as the man who felt the need to comment on every single thing adding he always had to say a lot, to which Coleman laughed and said, its true. But I think its the mark of a good man and a good leader, who can listen to criticism about that, which he got ... Sinha said. He took it to heart and has become a man who not only doesnt feel obligated to comment on every point, but as chair, withholds his views until everybody else has had a chance to speak. After thanking his fellow and former board members, Coleman recalled some of his prior work and decisions on the board, pointing out that one of the best decisions I ever participated in was bringing in Superintendent Crystal Edwards in 2018. Speaking to his departure, Coleman said, You may see me struggle, but youll never see me quit. Im gonna fight for Lynchburg City Schools in a different type of way, he added, to continue to make Lynchburg one of the best places to live in all the world. Coleman will preside over one final meeting as the boards chair when it holds its monthly work session set for 5 p.m. on June 20 inside the LCS boardroom at the school administration building, 915 Court St. in Lynchburg. The family of a 28-year-old man who died in a garbage compactor at a Spotsylvania County trash facility issued a statement last week, expressing the devastation of Brandon Nutters horrific 2022 death. The statement alleges that a criminal investigation could soon go to a grand jury and the family intends to sue all responsible parties in the event there is no amicable resolution. In his third week on the job at the Chancellor Convenience Center on July 7, 2022, Nutter was inside a compactor when the machine activated after he cut free a piece of rebar. He was crushed while trying to escape, according to a report from the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office. According to the July 7, 2022, Sheriffs Office report, several factors played crucial roles in Nutters death, including a lack of training and record keeping. The county faces nearly $300,000 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines for violations related to the fatal incident. The labor and industry department is handling the state-based investigation for OSHA. The OSHA case has not been resolved. Stafford County attorney Charles B. Roberts released a statement from the family that described Nutters death as senseless. His mother spoke to him almost daily, as did his father and brothers, and they loved him very much, the family stated. They enjoyed weekends with him at Lake Anna boating, swimming, and barbecuing. The statement added that Nutter and his fiancee had planned a May 2023 wedding, and she is heartbroken. The statement covers details of the Sheriffs Office report and also states that the labor report found a criminal violation, something the family alleges county officials were aware of when commenting they declared no crime was committed by any employee. The incident was investigated by the Spotsylvania Countys Sheriffs Office and it concluded that no crime had been committed by any county employee, as evidenced by the Sheriffs Office investigative report, the county said in a statement. Detective Anthony Horn requested to close the criminal case, but that has not happened. The county statement also notes that it has not received any notification regarding a recommendation of criminal charges through the OSHA investigation and that there was no criminal finding in the citations. The county said officials continue to work through the OSHA investigative process and that it was prepared to complete the process in April, but OSHA and the department of labor and industry rescheduled it to August. This matter is not closed, the county response stated. Importantly, the county actively continues to address and responsibly improve workplace safety. It remains important to the County meaningfully to learn from this tragic and terrible accident and engage in actions to prevent something similar from happening to someone else. The Sheriffs Office and state department of labor and industry have not yet responded to a request for a response and update on the case. Roberts, the familys attorney, said they hired him to investigate this tragic matter and file a wrongful death lawsuit against all responsible parties in the event there is no amicable resolution. If we must file suit, we are preparing for a protracted and expensive legal battle. The family statement ends by saying its time for the county to give Brandons life and his family the respect, dignity, and closure they deserve by accepting responsibility for its employees actions and by resolving the citations and a settlement with the family. Hadi Sirika, former Aviation Minister. By Prince Okafor Says, weve 3 not two Boeing 777 aircraft purchased outrightly Non-issuance of visas responsible for Dubais flights suspension Nigerias largest airline company, Air Peace has faulted former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirikas claims on it asset. The airline reaction is coming against the backdrop of an interview granted by Sirika to Arise TV yesterday. Sirika had stated that the airline leased two of its Boeing 777 aircraft on a monthly lease fee of $250,000. The former minister also stated that the aircraft were parked for several months and incurred losses of $19 million while all the aircraft engines and landing gears became due for replacement when we were ready to fly. He further questioned the idea, insisting Ethiopian Airlines would never do that. However, in a swift reaction, the airline Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, stated that Sirikas assertions were blatant lie, stressing that they have three and not two Boeing 777 aircraft which were never leased or rented, but were purchased outrightly by the airline. Air peace never incurred such a loss, we never paid rentals contrary to his lies. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, can attest to the purchase and ownership of the Aircraft by Air peace. Secondly, Sirika said the airline stopped flying to Dubai because we lack capacity. This is another stark lie. Air Peace never stopped the Dubai operations because of lack of capacity. Air Peace commenced operations into the UAE in July, 2019, but in October 2022, the UAE Government announced a total visa ban on Nigerians. Neither Emirates nor Air Peace is operating the Nigerian/UAE route since the ban. The persisting non-issuance of visas and the accompanying inconveniences necessitated the suspension of our Dubai operations from November 22, 2022 till date. For the former minister to ascribe the suspension to lack of capacity is not only shocking but also shows how keen he is to disparage an airline which ascendancy, has defied all the commercial odds and hostile environment placed on its path to continue to serve our nation proudly. How could an airline that placed a firm order for 13 brand new E2-195 aircraft, a firm order of 15 Boeing 737 Max 8 & Max 10, with over 30 aircraft already in its existing fleet be accused of lacking in capacity? How can an Airline that stood up for the entire nation during the Covid-19 outbreak, and embarked on rescue operations worldwide, evacuating Nigerians from far away China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, UK and South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdowns be accused of lacking capacity? We implore the general public to disregard these lies told by the former minister of Aviation against Air Peace during the interview. We take serious exception to a situation where Airpeace is being misrepresented in the public sphere, causing wrong perceptions about our brand. VANGUARD NEWS SECTIONS Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen highlighted the efforts of the Fatherhood Initiative in Sarpy County while signing a proclamation last week. The Fatherhood Initiative is a program which exists to serve all non-custodial fathers wanting to better connect or re-engage with their children and learn how to be better parents, according to a news release by Sarpy County following the proclamation of June as Fatherhood Awareness Month on Monday, June 5. The Fatherhood Initiative works statewide as a partnership between Lutheran Family Services, Legal Aid of Nebraska and post-release reintegration service provider RISE. The Sarpy County Corrections Department works directly with LFS on the program, connecting them with fathers in the Sarpy County Jail. The program served 244 fathers in 2022, impacting the lives of nearly 600 children since its inception. Twenty incarcerated, non-custodial fathers have graduated from the program. Kevin Flores, the director of the Fatherhood Initiative, described the process as a 13-week course that helps fathers recognize their skills and behaviors that they want to exhibit as a parent. The fathers week twice a week throughout the program and work on reinforcing positive behavior in their children, understanding parenting throughout different stages of development, and how to have a positive impact on their childrens lives. They hope to expand beyond their current twice-a-week framework. We want incarcerated fathers to get the help they need to be successful, to reconnect with their families and to integrate back into communities, Sarpy County Commissioner Jim Warren said. The Fatherhood Initiative gives them that opportunity, and were proud to be a part of it. The proclamation signed by the governor also declared June 5 as Fatherhood Initiative Day in Nebraska. Eric More from RISE, Andrew Schill from Legal Aid of Nebraska, Lauren Reed from Sarpy County Corrections, Jessica Welstead from LFS and state Sen. Rob Clements also spoke alongside Pillen and Warren during a news conference. We see how this program is changing lives, every day, Flores said. It is so worth it when we can give fathers the tools they need to be a good and involved parent. By working with Legal Aid and RISE, we can give these parents hope they could not imagine before. The staff of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will hold traveling office hours in 19 counties throughout Iowa during the month of June. Iowans seeking assistance regarding a personal issue with a federal agency or wishing to share views on matters of federal policy may stop by during the scheduled hours. Grassley will be represented by his regional directors, Laney Feight of Des Moines, Jonathan Bladt of Council Bluffs, Jacob Bossman of Sioux City and Matt Rector of Waterloo. Senator Grassley will not be in attendance. Two stops are scheduled for Friday, June 16, in Pottawattamie County. Bladt will be at the Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., from 10 to 11 a.m. in Conference Room E. Bladt will then staff an event at Oakland City Hall, 614 Dr. Van Zee Road, from 1 to 2 p.m. Grassleys state offices regularly help constituents contact federal agencies to resolve problems with Social Security payments, military service matters, immigration cases, veteran benefits, IRS challenges and other issues. Iowans can also seek assistance via Grassleys website. My top priority is to serve the people of Iowa, and traveling office hours is one way of doing that. Throughout the year, my regional staff help Iowans work through issues they have with the federal government. I encourage anyone seeking assistance to stop by my staffs office hours in their area. Iowans are always welcome to reach out directly to any of my offices throughout the year, Grassley said in a news release. Hard-core railroad buffs are offering big money for a ride in the cab of Union Pacific Railroads Big Boy, Engine 4014. The ride on what Union Pacific calls the worlds largest operating steam locomotive will take one lucky passenger from Pine Bluffs, Wyoming to Union Pacifics Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Bidding in the online auction closed Sunday morning, according to a press release from the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. As of last Wednesday afternoon, 72 bids had been placed, and the highest bid was $17,600. All of the proceeds will benefit the Union Pacific Museum Association, a 5013 nonprofit organization. This opportunity is being offered this year instead of a passenger excursion fundraiser benefitting the museum, according to Patricia LaBounty, curator of the museum. The response has been overwhelmingly positive at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she said. Engine 4014, Big Boy, was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941, materials from the museum stated. The locomotive was retired in December 1961, having traveled 1,031,205 miles in its 20 years in service. Union Pacific reacquired the engine from the RailGiants Museum in Pomona, California in 2013 and relocated it back to Cheyenne to begin a multi-year restoration process. It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroads completion. The journey will take place on Monday, July 3. The steam consist will arrive at 10:15 a.m. Mountain Time into Pine Bluffs for a whistle stop at the Main Street Crossing. The engineer and passenger will depart Pine Bluffs at 11 a.m. MT and arrive in Cheyenne at 12:30 p.m. MT. The passenger, who must be 18 or older, will have to board the steam engine via a ladder on the side and stand for part or all of the trip. They will have to withstand the high temperatures inside the cab, which can reach 140 degrees or higher during the summer. The person should dress in comfortable, appropriate clothing. Non-skid, closed-toe shoes are required. A safety vest, protective eyewear and hearing protection will be provided. The Big Boy will run on live track operated by Union Pacific and may need to stop temporarily on a siding to allow freight traffic to pass. Delays are possible. The passenger should arrange for ground transportation to and from the train locations and arrive 30 minutes before departure time for a safety briefing. Payment is non-refundable. For more information, visit uptraintix.com/index.html. WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania authorities drew on 100 people, drones and cadaver dogs Monday in their search for two missing children whose family's car was swept away in flash flooding that ravaged the East Coast over the weekend. Other parts of the country endured threatenin As part of the 19th edition of the ongoing African Lion drills, a synthetic exercise on Moroccan-US cooperation in disaster management took place on Sunday at the military port of Agadir, to assess the responsiveness of the Royal Armed Forces Rescue and Assistance Unit (USS-FAR) to a suicide drone attack presenting a crisis situation linked to chemical risks. According to Lieutenant Hossam El Khazi, Deputy Commander of the USS-FAR, the exercise scenario involved two unmanned suicide drones containing an explosive device targeting a chemical warehouse. The exercise also involved the discovery of improvised explosive devices that caused an explosion and injured dozens of people. During the simulation exercise, the USS FAR explosive ordnance disposal team carried out a preliminary reconnaissance using robots and sophisticated equipment to locate the IEDs safely and accurately. This was followed by the neutralization of suicide drones, risk assessment, and the triage and regrouping of victims. An EOD team was also deployed to carry out search operations, in addition to detecting the site of the disaster and carrying out emergency decontamination of elements of the explosive ordnance disposal team following the presence of chemicals. The USS FAR also neutralized and destroyed the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and took chemical samples, before treating the victims and opening a criminal investigation. The representative of the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Kelly Veenden, said he was pleased to take part in this exercise, which is part of the strengthening of the partnership and age-old joint cooperation between the US Armed Forces and the FAR. The aim of the exercise is to assess the USS FARs ability to react to a CBRN attack, in close cooperation with American players in the field of Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, Chemical and Explosive (NRBCE) response. On the sidelines of the exercise, media representatives were given a guided tour of the Royal Navys Tarik Ibn Ziyad multi-mission frigate and a U.S. Marine Corps Forces frigate. On Saturday, Aircraft from the two countries armies took part in airdrop maneuvers at the Benguerir military base. After the airdrop of a batch of military equipment, which had been conditioned by Moroccan and American executives at the Kenitra air base, aircraft from the two armies carried out a series of mass airdrop operations on the drop zone, with the execution, once the aircraft had landed, of a ground maneuver aimed at carrying out the assigned mission. Paratroopers from the FAR and the US Armed Forces carried out an airdrop exercise, to reinforce the operational interoperability of the two countries paratroopers and promote their joint action, Major Mohamed El Kouiti, from the 2nd Parachute Infantry Brigade at the Benguerir military base, told the press on the sidelines of the maneuvers. During this collective airdrop operation, military officers from both armies conducted a tactical exercise, demonstrating their ability to carry out a wide range of joint maneuvers, explained El Kouiti. For his part, Lieutenant-Colonel John Staeheli, Battalion Commander of U.S. Forces Africas Southern Europe Task Force (SETAF), said the combined joint operation, which brought together 240 Moroccan and American paratroopers, offered the exercises we need to fight and win together on the contemporary battlefield. Staeheli emphasized that the African Lion exercise is an illustration of the long-standing security relationship between the two countries, saying he was more convinced than ever that we are stronger when we are together. The main aim of these maneuvers is to harmonize tactical, technical, and logistical procedures, from the planning phase through to conduct in the field, and to develop the capabilities of the two armies in the field of force projection. The airdrop maneuvers involve setting up a joint operational center to monitor the various situations and airborne maneuvers, pooling efforts, particularly in terms of air and medical logistics, carrying out combined load conditioning and splitting the airborne echelon and its complement, and coordinating plans for grounding and maneuvering on the ground. African Lion is a combined joint exercise organized annually by the Royal Armed Forces and the U.S. Armed Forces. African Lion 2023, which will run until June 16, in seven regions of Morocco, namely: Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir and Tifnit, remains an annual event that contributes to consolidating Moroccan-American military cooperation, and reinforcing exchanges between the armed forces of different participating countries, with a view to promoting security and stability in the region. Rwanda is the house of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) after the Eastern African country signed Saturday an agreement with the African Union (AU). Minata Samate Cessouma, the AUs Commissioner for health, humanitarian affairs and social development, and Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwandas Health minister penned the deal in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. AMA will play a key role in building confidence in the quality of health products on the continent, promote cooperation and mutual recognition in regulatory decisions and facilitate the movement of health products, Nsanzimana stated. For Nsanzimana the agreement constitutes another step toward turning ideals into reality. Rwanda also argues that the Agency will enhance coordination among regulators, increase access to medications, facilitate pandemic preparedness, and create resilient health systems. The AU in 2019 approved a treaty to create an African Medicines Agency. The treaty went into effect in late 2021. AMA is tasked to increase access to medical goods that are reliable, efficient, cost-effective, and of high quality throughout African nations. Several other African countries including Egypt and Tunisia had sought to host the Agencys headquarters. Donald Trumps scheme to steal government documents has become so blatant and undeniable that many of his most habitual defenders have abandoned any legal defense and retreated to a sort of boys will be boys rationalization. Sure, maybe Trump took some boxes he wasnt supposed to, and held on to them after the government demanded their return, and ordered a wee cover-up to throw the FBI off the trail. But he didnt mean anything by it. He just likes boxes is all. Smiths indictment leaves alone the question of why Trump so persistently defied government demands. His defenders have filled in this absence by treating the most innocuous explanation as proven correct. But this defense is less certain than its proponents pretend, and more importantly, it hardly provides any basis for getting him off the hook. The early version of this rationalization posited that Trump never even bothered to look through the boxes he insisted on keeping. I cant imagine you ever saying, um, Bring me some of the boxes that we brought back from the White House, Id like to look at them, Sean Hannity suggested to Trump in March. Did you ever do that? As it turns out, Trump did exactly that. I think he wanted to pick from them. I dont imagine him wanting to take the boxes, Trumps valet, Walter Nauta, wrote in one text message obtained by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The indictment also depicts Trump making a plucking motion to his lawyer in relation to the boxes, as if to say, If theres anything really bad in there, like, you know, pluck it out. The defense has fallen back to insisting that at least Trump didnt steal intelligence secrets and sell them to hostile foreign powers. The rumors at the time that this broke was that he was selling off our nuclear codes to the Chinese or some such nonsense. And it turns out that was all crap. The theory I had from the beginning was correct that basically Trump was like, I like that document, its nice, claims Ben Shapiro. That was the actual reason he had documents. Not for any nefarious purpose, but because Trump likes things. As usual, Mr. Trump is his own worst enemy, laments the Wall Street Journal, depicting Trump once again like a clumsy but lovable Labrador retriever, stumbling innocently into trouble. While its highly unlikely Trump sold secrets to foreign powers, we dont actually know this for a fact. He was definitely selling access to a club where those secrets were scattered around loosely and where he conducted state affairs out in the open. Smiths investigation did find Trump using one highly sensitive document almost certainly the Pentagons contingency plan for war with Iran to try to plant stories in the press embarrassing General Milley. This hints at Trumps motive for combing through the boxes, or at least one of his motives. The Journal insists that the FBI got all its documents back, so there was no need to punish Trump any further: It was once unthinkable in America that the governments awesome power of prosecution would be turned on a political opponent. That seal has now been broken. It didnt need to be. However cavalier he was with classified files, Mr. Trump did not accept a bribe or betray secrets to Russia. The FBI recovered the missing documents when it raided Mar-a-Lago, so presumably there are no more secret attack plans for Mr. Trump to show off. The FBI got all its files back in the raid, so why push it? One thing to keep in mind is that, when the raid occurred last August, the Journal denounced it hysterically. The Journals editorial, headlined The FBIs Dangerous Search at Trumps Mar-a-Lago, warned ominously that the Justice Department is unleashing political furies it cant control and may not understand. No former president who was disliked by many not Clinton, Reagan, nor FDR had his home invaded by a squad of FBI agents, added Journal columnist Daniel Henninger. This should never happen in the U.S. End of discussion. It seems that the Journal regards any effort to make Trump obey the law as an overbearing abuse of power. More importantly, the Journals claim that the FBI recovered all the missing documents is not true. The document Trump used to try to smear Milley the Iran war plan, almost certainly remains missing. Given the Journals ultra-hawkish stance on Iran, youd think it would find this detail more concerning. You can only imagine the conservative response if, say, Hillary Clinton had stolen the Pentagons plan for fighting Iran and it remained missing a year later. Trumps defenders simply assume that none of the intelligence he stole was compromised. The whole reason the government has laws restricting its national-security secrets is that letting people walk out with boxes of highly sensitive documents is risky. If we could assume it was completely safe to let somebody store sensitive government secrets in places like a bathroom or the ballroom stage of a social club thats world-famous for the conduct of foreign policy in an unsecured environment, we wouldnt need laws restricting those documents. The truth is we dont know why Trump was so insistent on stealing high-level secrets that he put himself at legal risk, and we dont know what happened to those secrets as a result. His defenders are filling in those blank spaces with the most benign interpretation. Their analysis then treats the factual elements of the case Trumps extensive defiance of the law as marginal, while treating assumptions about his intent as central. Trump should be permitted to violate the law because he wouldnt do anything corrupt or dangerous is one of the most desperate defenses you can imagine. Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt, a big fan of religious charter schools. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Charter public schools are privately operated and publicly funded schools charging no tuition and open to all. They typically have a performance contract or charter with a public body specifying their educational objectives and expectations. In other words, they are truly public except for their independence from school districts and many of their regulations. As such, charter schools get a lot of flack from both ends of the ideological spectrum. Liberal defenders of traditional public schools view charters as an undermining force and particularly resent their exemption from collective-bargaining agreements benefiting teachers and other school personnel. Conservatives increasingly view charters as an obstacle to the full privatization of public education, with public money being controlled by parents who can use it for any kind of private schools or even homeschooling. Thanks to the highly decentralized nature of K12 education in this country, the nature and quality of charter schools varies a lot depending on the laws and rules prevailing in any one jurisdiction. Some charter schools are clearly undersupervised; others may be overregulated. But in Republican-controlled Oklahoma, a legally iffy experiment is underway that would destroy the public nature of charter schools by authorizing a fully state-funded religious school, as the New York Times explains: After a nearly three-hour meeting, and despite concerns raised by its legal counsel, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the school in a 3-to-2 vote, including a yes vote from a member who was appointed on [June 2] The online school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, is to be run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, with religious teachings embedded in the curriculum. This move represents an overt attack on the principle of church-state separation in public education and would all but eliminate the walls that have traditionally separated charter schools from private sectarian schools. It was sharply criticized by the National Association of Charter School Operators, and also by Oklahomas Republican attorney general Gentner Drummond, as the Associated Press reports: The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers, Drummond said in a statement shortly after the boards vote. Its extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly. Potential legal action is precisely the object of this precedent-breaking initiative, strongly backed by Oklahomas very conservative governor Kevin Stitt. The U.S. Supreme Court has recently held that state subsidy programs for private schools cannot exclude religious schools categorically. Stitt and other religious conservatives now hope to convince the Supreme Court to abolish any restrictions on the use of public dollars by sectarian schools. If this shocks you, be aware that it has become gospel truth among many conservative Evangelicals that church-state separation is a constitutional and historical myth. Roman Catholics have never fully accepted a strict wall of separation either, particularly in education. So the leap Stitt and others are trying to make isnt at all unimaginable given the current makeup and trajectory of the Supreme Court. Should the Oklahoma arrangement pass muster in the courts, conservatives would probably soon dispense with vouchers, scholarships, and other roundabout ways of subsidizing religious schools (though they presumably would still need such expedients to subsidize homeschooling), and just begin directly setting up religious charter schools that arent really public in any respect other than funding. Such a development would also show that the wall of separation between church and state has crumbled into dust. This is what MAGA loyalty looks like. Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images Immediately after Donald Trumps federal criminal indictment over his handling of classified documents, a lot of observers figured the impact on the 45th presidents comeback effort might be more significant than those of his earlier indictment in Manhattan for falsified business records or his guilty verdict in a civil trial for defaming and sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. The charges against Trump in the latest indictment involve offenses that are easy to understand, do not rely on disputed legal theories, and stem from quite recent conduct. Plus theres a sense that the cumulative effect of Trumps legal troubles (which may not be over) will soon wear down the teflon that has protected him throughout his political career if only because Republicans will worry about damage to his electability. Its still early days, but the initial evidence from public opinion surveys is that, indeed, this indictment is a source of more serious concern across the political spectrum. But it hasnt shaken Republican solidarity with Trump and may have actually strengthened his position in the 2024 Republican primary as his first indictment almost certainly did. The best evidence of Trumps enduring intraparty teflon is a CBS NewsYouGov survey with post-indictment data. It shows 75 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents either supporting or considering support for Trump. And among that solid majority of probable primary voters next year, only 4 percent said the indictment makes them less likely to vote for the former president, while an astonishing 40 percent said it makes their support more likely. Its not clear whether these voters fully embrace Trumps own witch hunt denunciation of past, present, and future indictments. But fully 76 percent of likely GOP-primary voters agreed that the indictments were politically motivated. And only 12 percent believed the documents Trump mishandled created a national security risk. Perhaps even more striking, when asked if Trump should be able to serve as the 47th president if he is convicted in the classified-documents case, 80 percent of likely GOP-primary voters had no problem with that scenario. Thats loyalty. Other surveys dont delve as much into Republican opinion, but they do show widespread belief in the electorate as a whole that the classified-documents charges are serious but may be politically motivated. A post-indictment survey from ABC NewsIpsos shows that opinions about Trumps conduct havent changed much since the first indictment dropped in April: Overall, 61% say the federal charges related to Trumps handling of classified documents are serious, compared to 52% answering the same about Trumps April indictment in New York on charges related to a payment of hush money. Roughly half believe Trump should be charged, and should suspend his campaign (48% and 46%, respectively). These views are unchanged from April, when 50% said Trump should be charged and 48% agreed he should suspend his campaign. On the other hand, 47% view the latest charges as being politically motivated, also unchanged from April (50%). These views are mainly driven by Republicans, while Democrats want to see Trump charged and to suspend his campaign. Interestingly, independents are split, with roughly half agreeing with all three sentiments. Republican opinion-leaders, to be clear, havent changed their tune since the first indictment either. With the exception of Asa Hutchinson, a self-styled anti-Trump candidate, Trumps 2024 rivals have either attacked his tormentors or withheld comment. Most notably, Ron DeSantis paused his increasingly toxic exchanges with Trump to defend the 45th president: 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. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter? The DeSantis Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 9, 2023 We obviously dont know yet whether future indictments will shake Republican confidence in Trump. But its worth noting that his first speech after the federal indictment was at a Republican state convention in Georgia not far from where Atlanta-based district attorney Fani Willis has been hinting indictments of the former president and some of his associates may arrive in August. As the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions Greg Bluestein reports, the MAGA-dominated GOP confab was seething with fury on Trumps behalf: The Georgia GOP convention had hardly started when U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene took the stage and tore into the Justice Department over the historic federal indictment that had just been unveiled against Donald Trump. Greene was no outlier. In speeches, interviews and remarks from the chaotic convention floor, activists and high-ranking party officials dismissed the criminal charges against Trump as retaliatory witch hunts and professed their support for his comeback bid. Trump himself delighted the crowd with attacks on Willis and other prosecutors, Bluestein noted: The former president used his roughly 90-minute speech to more than 2,000 delegates to frame himself as a victim of vicious persecution from politically motivated prosecutors who were agents of a Washington system that would stop at nothing to block his return to power. Witch hunt, witch hunt. Scam. Hoax, Trump said, alleging that the criminal probes amount to election interference that would inevitably backfire on President Joe Biden and his supporters. Trumps campaign, by contrast, was an epic final battle against corrupt powers in Washington. In the end, theyre not coming after me, theyre coming after you, Trump told the delegates. The audience egged him on as he labeled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis a lunatic Marxist for her probe into his attempt to overturn his defeat, and dubbed special counsel Jack Smith a deranged bureaucrat. Even if his legal troubles begin to erode the breadth of Trumps base of support, it looks like this will only increase the intensity of loyalty from the passionate partisans most likely to vote in primaries. Photo: Jason Koerner/Getty Images Tucker Carlsons abrupt termination from Fox News in April wasnt exactly a clean break. Since then, leaks from the Murdoch camp have revealed unflattering details about the hosts off-air racism, and over the past few days, legal disputes about Carlsons next venture have shown that things will stay ugly between Carlson and Fox for quite a while. On June 6, Carlson debuted his new show, Tucker on Twitter, uploading a 10-minute segment directly to the social-media network, as is his plan for the entire series. It was pretty standard Carlson fare a top-of-the-hour monologue questioning mainstream Republicans support for Ukraine and its ratlike, dead-eyed president. There was more wood paneling in his Maine studio than at his Fox News desk, and a little less makeup. The next day, Fox News responded by reportedly sending a letter to Carlsons lawyers claiming he violated his contract when he uploaded the video. The ousted hosts contract with Fox News lasts until January 2025. By paying out the remaining sum owed to Carlson, the network hopes to stop him from becoming a competitor. Fox expressly reserves all rights and remedies which are available to it at law or equity, reads a copy of the letter obtained by Axios. It appears Carlson is trying to get around that problem by posting directly to Twitter. And he didnt seem fazed by the letter, loading up another Tucker on Twitter episode the day after Fox sent it. This time, he claimed pedophilia is becoming normalized in the United States. Standard stuff. On Monday, Fox News escalated its legal threats, sending a cease-and-desist letter to Carlson, according to Axios. In a statement to Axios, Carlsons attorney didnt back down. Tucker will not be silenced by anyone, said Harmeet Dhillon. He is a singularly important voice on matters of public interest in our country and will remain so. Fox News hasnt had this problem with hosts it has fired in the past; the network has simply let them broadcast to smaller audiences. But Carlson commands a huge following: By Twitters metrics, the first two episodes of his show received over 168 million views (though that number comes with some major caveats). And Fox News is feeling the pain at his old 8 p.m. slot with a 37 percent drop in viewers this May compared with last year. They recognize that he will hurt them, and theyre doing everything in their power to keep him on the sidelines, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly said on her radio show last week. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. 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. Charleston Police reported Lucius Benjamin Gibbs of Cross, South Carolina went missing on Tuesday June 6. Gibbs' truck, a 2000 Ford F250, had last been seen in the area of Hazelwood Dr. and Orleans Rd in Charleston before being spotted on Highway 280 in Lee County on Friday June 6. died after allegedly exchanging gunfire with Lee County Deputies on Friday, June 9. Gibbs was reported missing by the Charleston Police Police Department on Tuesday June 6. Animated Bewitched, Kids Wheel of Fortune in the Works at Sony (Exclusive) https://t.co/TYvj8oGql3 The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 8, 2023 -Bewitched is getting the animated treatment! Sort of....-Sony is looking to do a Sabrina The Teenage Witch knock off centered around Samantha Stevens daughter, Tabitha.-Tabitha had her own show that ran for all of 1 season back in 1977 that followed her as an adult but this new animated series would follow Tabitha at the age of 13.-The show will follow Tabitha as she juggles two lives attending middle school while also being secretly enrolled in a magical academy run by her grandmother, Endora DAmbrosia describes the premise as Hannah Montana meets Harry Potter.-The Partridge Family animated series would focus on a Black family from Brooklyns Bed-Stuy neighborhood that operates a food truck. They travel throughout New Yorks five boroughs to serve up treats and tunes. Id be kind of down for a Bewitched animated series if it followed Samantha and was in the OG animated style were discovering the universe as we go after hours til dawn tour LEG 2 pic.twitter.com/Sz4ojO0ek2 Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd) June 1, 2023 Added songs to set so far: THE WEEKND. pic.twitter.com/T9BbSo2cqk The Weeknd Brasil | Fan Page (@SiteTheWeekndBR) June 10, 2023 The Weeknd performing Hurricane, then transitions into The Hills #AfterHoursTilDawnTour pic.twitter.com/6nbr5hvyBD (@MementoMoriXO) June 11, 2023 New fav transition !!! pic.twitter.com/ZXD2JXqF2V The Weeknd News (@NewsWeeknd) June 6, 2023 It's fair to say @theweeknd knows how to put on a show #AfterHoursTilDawnTour pic.twitter.com/2wOQ2q8wj2 Callum Macrae (@MarketingMacrae) June 11, 2023 After wrapping up the U.S./Canadian leg of his AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN stadium tour last year (which was chronicled as an HBO concert film earlier this year), The Weeknd has kicked off the next leg of the tour for Europe in Portugal and Manchester this week.Some changes have been made to the stage, costumes, and setlist. -Abel is now wearing an all white variant of his black outfit from the first leg, complete with a durag and new metal mask he wears for the first few songs of the show (and new mic stand!)-His dancers are also wearing all white, changing over from the red veiled costumes.-The LED video wall that served as backdrop to the city buildings is gone, and has been replaced with stationary building shaped cutouts. (possibly a cost cutting measure to lessen the travel load? The video wall mostly just displayed a city backdrop anyway, with varying dystopian skys and collapsing buildings, so perhaps it wasn't worth the trouble).The buildings also appear to be painted chrome.-His band is now on stage, placed in their own "buildings" (for the first leg, the band was playing behind the stage in a tent. In an interview with the production manager, they were always meant to be on stage, but felt they looked awkward in terms of scale with the building set pieces).-The extended catwalk stage is the same shape, but is no longer a video stage that displays graphics and video (again, this may be a cost cutting measure to lighten the load and setup time??). However...-A giant robot statue is now in the center (it appears to be the one depicted on the alternate covers of Dawn FM).The moon is also still there.-Floor tickets are all general admission/standing.-As of this posting, only 2 shows have been performed, and both have had varying setlists, so it doesn't appear to be set in stone yet.Some songs were removed from first leg to make room for others (dropping Alone Again/Gasoline as the opening song? LAME)Dawn FMHouse Of BalloonsMoth To A FlameDouble FantasyPopularCreepin'Lost in the FireRandom pics+vids:Sources 1 Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest crude oil exporter, has assured at least five North Asian refiners they would get the full crude volumes they had asked for in July, even after the production cut Saudi Arabia announced last week, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Monday. On June 4, the OPEC+ producers decided to keep the current cuts until the end of 2024, while OPECs top producer, Saudi Arabia, said it would voluntarily reduce its production by 1 million bpd in July, to around 9 million bpd. The cut could be extended beyond July, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said. On the following day, Saudi Arabia raised the official selling price (OSP) for its flagship grade Arab Light for Asia by $0.45 per barrel to a premium of $3.00 over the Oman/Dubai average, off which Middle East crude for Asia is priced. The price hike from Saudi Arabia surprised the market, which before the Saudi production cut had expected lower prices in a Reuters poll. At least five North Asian customers will receive all the volumes they have asked for, according to Reuters sources. But other refiners in are said to be looking to buy spot crude oil cargoes from Russia, Africa, Brazil, or the United States after Saudi Arabia unexpectedly raised its official selling prices for its crude going to Asia in July. At least three refiners in Asia are looking to nominate lower volumes of Saudi crude for next month as per the contract allowance and boost purchases from outside Saudi Arabia, including cheaper spot cargoes from Russia, sources with knowledge of the refiners buying strategies told Bloomberg last week. Yet, spot supply for July may not be readily available as the typical trading cycle for next months loadings has expired, traders told Bloomberg. Some Chinese refiners sent their nominations for July before the announcement of the Saudi cut, so they may not be able to change those. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: For nearly two decades, South Americas largest economy Brazil has been reaping a tremendous economic windfall from a massive oil boom that kicked off with the first offshore ultra deep-water pre-salt discovery in 2006. The boom nearly collapsed as corruption, mismanagement and malfeasance saw national oil company Petrobras laden with so much debt it was almost forced to declare bankruptcy. Since then, industry reforms and rationalization coupled with higher oil prices had reinvigorated the massive fossil fuel boom underway in Brazil, although it nearly faltered for a brief moment when left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assumed power. There are indications that Brazil, regardless of the naysayers, is on track to become the worlds fourth-largest oil producer, which will be a tremendous boon for the economy. Data from Brazils hydrocarbon regulator, the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP Portuguese initials), shows that for April 2023, the country pumped an average of 3.1 million barrels of oil per day. That number is almost 1% higher than a month earlier and 5% greater year over year. Total hydrocarbon output for April 2023 amounted to just over 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day which was 1.1% higher month over month and 4.4% greater than a year earlier. Those numbers represent a modest recovery after a March 2023 slump because of rising industry concerns that Lula will take a more interventionist approach to Brazils oil industry. That growth indicates Brazil possesses the potential to become the worlds largest oil producer, especially when it is anticipated the country 2023 will add 300,000 barrels per day, taking production to 3.4 million barrels daily by the end of the year. During 2022, Brazil was ranked ninth globally by oil production, ahead of Kuwait and behind Iran, lifting an average of just over 3 million barrels per day. Suppose Latin Americas largest economy is to become the worlds fourth-largest oil producer. In that case, it will need to be pumping more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil per day so as to overtake Canada, which currently holds that spot. Brazils energy ministry expects the country will be pumping 5.4 million barrels daily by 2029, which is a whopping 80% higher than the 3 million barrels of oil lifted daily during 2022. Consistent year-over-year growth in hydrocarbon production indicates that Brazil indeed possesses the potential to expand production and become the worlds fourth-largest oil producer. Another key aspect that will support those plans is Brazils copious hydrocarbon reserves. According to the ANP, at the end of 2022, Latin Americas largest oil producer held proven or 1P petroleum reserves totaling 14.9 billion barrels, of which 77% were categorized as pre-salt. There are also 21.9 billion barrels of proven and possible or 2P reserves and 27 billion barrels of 3P reserves, known as proven possible and probable reserves. This illustrates that Brazil possesses considerable hydrocarbon potential and the reserves required to support a significant increase in oil production. Those reserves will keep growing as exploration and development drilling gains momentum, with the Baker Hughes International Rig Count showing 17 active rigs at the end of May 2023 compared to 11 a year earlier. Such a massive leap in oil output will be driven by expanding pre-salt oil production, which Brazils energy ministry believes will eventually be responsible for 80% of the countrys hydrocarbon output compared to around 77% at this time. For that to occur, there must be a significant increase in production which can only occur if energy investment and drilling expand substantially. The energy ministry hopes to stimulate this through a plan called the Potencializa E&P programme, the main tenets of which are to encourage investment in frontier, commercially marginal and mature oil basins. There is also a push to expand spending and activity on onshore drilling in Brazil, with news agency Reuters pointing out that small to medium-sized energy companies planning to invest $7.7 billion in onshore operations between now and 2029. While Brazils national oil company Petrobras will be the key driver of such a massive expansion of production volumes, committing to spending $78 billion over five years, it will take considerable investment and injections of technology from foreign energy majors to achieve that goal. The reasons for this are simple, such a significant expansion of hydrocarbon output must be supported by a solid increase in exploitable reserves and the deployment of enhanced recovery techniques. This includes plans by smaller energy companies to invest $7.7 billion in onshore oilfields in Brazil by 2029, which will broaden petroleum reserves and production. In January 2023, French supermajor TotalEnergies approved the $1 billion final investment decision, or FID, for Lapa South-west offshore oil project in the Santo Basin, Brazil. TotalEnergies is the operator of the operation, holding a 45% working interest, with partners Shell controlling 30% and Repsol Sinopec the remaining 25%. The project consists of developing three wells to be connected to the Lapa FPSO, which has been operating in the North-west of the Lapa field since 2016. Upon start-up, which is anticipated for 2025, the facility will pump 25,000 barrels of oil per day, lifting overall field production to 60,000 barrels daily. According to TotalEnergies, the project is a natural fit for its existing Brazilian assets and will boost a key growth lever for the company's pre-salt oil production. TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Senior Vice President David Mendelson stated: This latest development is an important milestone for TotalEnergies in Brazil that will increase its operated production in the pre-salt Santos Basin, a key growth area for the Company." He then went on to say: With its efficient engineering approach and synergies with existing facilities, this project illustrates TotalEnergies strategy of focusing on low cost, low emissions assets. In late-May 2023, TotalEnergies, which holds a 39% interest, and its partners, Petrobras with 30% and QatarEnergy as well as PETRONAS with a 20% interest each, signed a production sharing contract for the offshore Agua Marinha Block. The block is located in the prolific Campos Basin south of the pre-salt Marlim Sul oilfield and was awarded to TotalEnergies in December 2022. It is believed that the block has the potential to mirror Petrobras success with the 2017 Marlim Sul pre-salt oil discovery. TotalEnergies Senior Vice President Exploration said: The signature of the PSC for Agua Marinha expands our presence in this promising area of the pre-salt Campos Basin alongside our three strategic partners, and we are looking forward looking to exploring the block and drilling the Touro prospect. In early May 2023, Norwegian energy supermajor Equinor announced that it, along with partners Repsol Sinopec and Petrobras had approved the FID to proceed with the $9 billion development of the B-M-C-33 project in offshore Brazil. The operation covers three pre-salt natural gas and condensate discoveries with recoverable reserves of one billion barrels of oil equivalent. On start-up, which is anticipated to occur in 2028, the operation will pump 565 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, of which, an estimated 88% will be exported. Equinor, which is the operator, holds a 35% working interest, with Repsol Sinopec controlling 35% and the remaining 30% held by Petrobras. These events demonstrate that Brazil remains an attractive jurisdiction for foreign energy companies despite President Lula's hiking oil industry taxes and the growing risk of increased government intervention. Indeed, while he irked energy majors with the March 2023 introduction of a 9.2% levy on oil exports for three months, investment in offshore Brazil remains strong. As discussed, foreign energy supermajors are continuing to approve billion-dollar projects in the country, which will significantly boost production. Even Petrobras plans to decarbonize operations will have little impact on growing Brazils oil production and exports, with the company expecting its oil production to expand by 19% by 2027. For these reasons, the ambitious target set by Brazils energy ministry to be pumping 5.4 million barrels per day by 2029 appears achievable. ADVERTISEMENT By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Yahya Al-e Eshaq, announced on June 10 that Iraq has released $2.76 billion worth of Iranian funds in gas export money owed by Baghdad. Iraq received a sanctions waiver from the US to make the payment. According to an unnamed foreign ministry official that spoke with Reuters, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein got the clearance to make the payment from US State Secretary Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the Riyadh Conference on Thursday. Eshaq told Iranian media on Saturday that the released funds will meet the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) demands and ensure the purchase of goods needed in the country. He added that the funds could significantly help stabilize the foreign exchange market. "Part of Irans blocked funds in Iraq has been earmarked for hajj pilgrims, and portions have been used for basic goods," the Iranian trade official told local media. In April, Eshaq said that Tehran and Baghdad had "found several solutions to receive our debt from the Central Bank of Iraq, so Iraqs outstanding payments to Iran will be cleared gradually within the next three to five months." The US green light to release the money comes following reports that Iranian and US negotiators recently held "proximity talks" in the Omani capital Muscat, with Omani officials going between them and passing messages. According to the sources, the talks aimed to deescalate tensions as a basis for future talks on a new nuclear agreement between the parties. In 2015 Iran and several world powers, including the US, signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed significant restrictions on Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Washington withdrew from the deal in 2018 and launched a "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against the Islamic Republic. After months of talks between Iran and the remaining signatories of the JCPOA, last September under heavy Israeli pressure the US put an end to any hope of reviving the deal. Since then, Iran has restored ties with Saudi Arabia under a Chinese-brokered deal and is reportedly working alongside Gulf countries to form a "naval alliance" to protect the northern Indian Ocean. Earlier this week, Iranian media reported that $24 billion of Irans frozen assets would soon be released from Iraq and South Korea. ADVERTISEMENT Due to the sanctions on Iran, Iraq is only allowed to receive Iranian energy imports and pay for them via waivers that extend up to 120 days, a policy implemented by former US president Donald Trump and kept in place by Biden. The sanctions have also hampered Iraqs payments for imports, putting it in heavy arrears. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil prices began this week with by falling further, with West Texas Intermediate slipping below $70 in pre-noon trade in Asia. Both benchmarks shed more than 1% in Asian trade earlier today as traders took a cautious approach to the possibility of the Federal Reserve announcing yet another rate hike, even though there were signals it may pause the hikes. Most investment banks appear to expect a pause, Reuters noted in a report earlier today. The report quoted, however, a Morgan Stanley analyst as saying that "We maintain our call for a soft landing in the U.S., but policy could tighten further if growth does not slow, and funding pressures in the banking system keep risks skewed to the downside." "Oil prices are caught in a clash between two opposing forces, bearish asset allocators who point to monetary contraction and bullish oil speculators expecting lower inventories in 2H23," Francisco Blanch from Bank of America Global Research said in a note quoted by Reuters. Goldman Sachs meanwhile revised down its price outlook for crude oil for the rest of the year. The bank now expects Brent crude to end 2023 at less than $90 per barrel, the Financial Times reported, citing expectations of weaker demand. The bank cited expectations of higher supply from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela for next year as well, with additional production of 800,000 bpd. That would offset the additional cuts Saudi Arabia announced at the last OPEC+ meeting, should the kingdom decide to extend these into next year. The size of the cuts was 1 million bpd but while Saudi cuts, the UAE was given the green light to boost its output by up to 200,000 bpd. At an Arab-China summit during the weekend, energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman said the latest adjustments in OPEC+ production were an attempt to address "uncertainities and sentiment" in the oil market. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement worth $5.6 billion with Chinas electric vehicle maker Human Horizons to design and manufacture EVs, the Saudi state news agency reports. The signing of the agreement took place on the first day of the 10th Arab-China Business Conference, which Saudi Arabia hosts. The value of the EV deal accounts for just over half of the agreements of a combined $10 billion (37.5 billion Saudi riyals) signed on Sunday across several sectors, including technology, renewables, agriculture, real estate, minerals, supply chains, tourism, and healthcare. The agreements are part of deepening ties between the worlds top crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, and the worlds largest crude importer, China. Both countries cooperate in oil refinery construction in China, and now they are expanding their partnership into alternative energy, including renewables and EVs. Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has an ambitious program to transform the Saudi economy with multi-billion-dollar investments in smart cities, green hydrogen, and other non-oil sectors. At the end of last year, Mohammed bin Salman launched the first Saudi EV brand, Ceer, which will design, manufacture, and sell a range of vehicles for consumers in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, including sedans and SUVs. Ceer is a joint venture of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, and Foxconn, and will license component technology from BMW for use in the vehicle development process. Ceer vehicles, to be designed and manufactured in Saudi Arabia, are scheduled to be available in 2025, the company said in November 2022. The launch comes in line with PIFs strategy to focus on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors locally that can help drive the diversification of the economy, to help achieve the objectives of Vision 2030. In addition, the company will contribute to Saudi Arabias efforts towards carbon emissions reduction and driving sustainability to address the impact of climate change, Ceer said. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via the Jamestown Foundation While the West is still contemplating sending sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ukraine, such as the Reaper and the Predator, Moscow and Tehran are taking a step further to bolster Russias unmanned aerial capabilities and tip the balance of power in Russias favor on the battlefield. Through an outside-the-box approach and carefully designed logistics that exploit the Wests vulnerabilities and blind spots, Tehran and Moscows partnership is rapidly developing into a threat that could become a permanent fixture in NATOs backyard. As Russia embarked on its summer offensive, open-source intelligence reported that Moscows strike package in Ukraine now includes Irans Mohajer-6s (Twitter/@clashreport, June 6). In February, Western sources argued that Iran had been smuggling drones to Russia in order to aid in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. These allegations were also echoed in the Iranian press (Iran International, February 13). Tehrans generous package allegedly included at least 18 advanced UAVs, including Mohajer-6s, with all 18 enjoying air-to-ground strike capabilities (Iranwire, February 13). Equipped with much more sophisticated features than the Iranian single-attack kamikaze drones, these UAVs can rapidly become highly lethal assets in the hands of the Russian Armed Forces, which may significantly change the trajectory of the war in Ukraine in Russias favor. Produced by the state-owned Qods Aviation Industries, the Mohajer-6 is a mid-range (1200 miles) combat drone with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities (Iribnews.ir, January 7, 2022). It can carry laser-guided munitions and offer its operator sophisticated air-to-ground strike capabilities. As opposed to the single-attack Shahed-136s actively used by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, the Mohajer-6 is a multipurpose drone that can return to its base after each strike. This provides a much more sustainable and flexible concept of operations (CONOPS). In addition, with its low production price and high effectiveness, the Mohajer-6s are a significant asset to any force that needs cheap and high-performance UAVswith Russia serving as a prime example (Iran Press, January 1, 2022). A Force Multiplier for Iranian Proxies In the past, the Mohajer-6 supported Irans state-related entities and proxy groups in various ways. At present, it is actively used by the Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). According to U.S. intelligence, a Mohajer-6 operated by the IRGC was downed on its way to Erbil in the Kurdish Region of Iraq in September 2022 (US Central Command, September 28, 2022). The IRGC has also used the Mohajer-6 in the mountainous areas in the Iraqi-Kurdistan border region against Kurdish insurgents (Tasnim News, July 12, 2019). Other operational advantages that the IRGC derived from the Mohajer-6s involved surveillance and intelligence gathering on militant groups, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), as well as managing border traffic and security. The Mohajer-6 is also proliferating fast among Tehrans proxies across different conflict zones. Open-source intelligence suggests that Iranian-backed militant groups, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah, have a stockpile of more than 2,000 drones (Al Mayadeen, December 23, 2021). This includes advanced drones, and potentially the Mohajer-6. Hezbollah is also known to work closely with the IRGC, which strengthens the possibility that Hezbollah has access to the groups drone program and capabilities (Gulf International Forum, October 18, 2022). Based in Yemen, the Houthis also often resort to the use of Iranian drones, such as in the strikes against Israeli and Saudi targets, like oil tankers off Abu Dhabis coast (Twitter/adityarajkaul, January 17, 2022). As a critical asset in the hands of Tehrans militias, the Mohajer-6 has thus become a serious force multiplier for Irans proxies. Besides its active use by insurgent groups, the Mohajer-6 has also entered the arsenal of various countries and has multiple operator states. In fact, the UAV has been combat-tested on various fronts and entered state inventories in Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, and Venezuela. In Ethiopia, Addis Ababa is using the Mohajer-6 in its fight against the rebels in Tigray (Military Africa, August 27, 2021). And in Venezuela, the UAV was spotted in a live speech by President Maduro on the future production of multipurpose drones (Twitter, November 20, 2020). In the hands of governments with friendly ties with Tehran, these drones can significantly disrupt the power balances and the security environment in a given region. Enter Ukraine After Syria and Yemen, open-source intelligence suggests that the Mohajer-6s next performance test is taking place on the battlefield in Ukraine. In fact, the Mohajer-6 drones were already spotted in Ukraine in the first few months of the Russian invasion (Defense of Ukraine, October 3, 2022). The first instance where the Ukrainian Armed Forces downed a Mohajer-6 was in Odesa in late September (General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, October 7, 2022). Filling important operational gaps in the Russian toolbox, the Mohajer-6s support Moscow in two critical ways. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Mohajer-6s were mainly used in a tactical sense, such as in missions mostly related to advanced surveillance and intelligence gathering on the positions of Ukrainian platforms and troops (General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, November 8, 2022). In addition, they helped Russias Shahed-136 offensives by providing the kamikaze drones with guidance support. The Mohajer-6s can also help Moscow to close the gap in its rapidly depleting air fleet (Oryx, March 20, 2022). In addition, they can provide a cheaper alternative to the soaring costs of Russias indigenous drone programs (due to Western sanctions). Further, the arrival of new and advanced drones, such as the Mohajer-6, would be a major burden for the Ukrainian air defenses, which are already pressured by the swarms of Iranian loitering munitions. The intensive use of the Shahed-136s has been a key threat for Ukraines critical national infrastructure and urban population centers. The expansion of Russias unmanned aerial strike package to include the Mohajer-6s can amplify this trend and lead to a complicated scenario for Ukrainian defenses and military decision-makers. Potential Transit Routes: The Caspian Sea and Aerial Transfers with Civilian Airlines Open-source intelligence suggests that the deliveries of the Mohajer-6 are likely to be done through two routes: the air route, which is facilitated by the use of civilian airlines to cover these shady arms transfers (Iran International, December 15, 2022); and the water route, which is through the Caspian Sea (Iran Wire, February 13). The first one is a rather conventional, yet a neglected route, while the second is a more unconventional and creative one. In the past, Iran has resorted to its civilian airlines to transfer arms and military personnel to conflict zones. In Syria, Tehran kept Bashar al-Assads lifeline open by providing arms and weapon systems using Mahan Air and Iran Air, which are known for providing financial and technical support to the IRGC and the Quds Force, as well as to other insurgent groups (Iran International, December 15, 2022). In Yemen, it was Mahan Air that built an air bridge between Iran and Yemen to transfer arms to the Houthi proxies in 2015 (Al Masdar, February 4, 2022). U.S. intelligence agencies argue that Iran has flown around 70 secret flights to military complexes in Russian airports. These aged planes (mostly 747s) belonged to the IRGC, which heightened the possibility that Tehran is following a similar path to boost Russias capabilities against Ukraine (Forbes, November 16, 2022). Although the West has sanctioned these airlines multiple times, the resurgence of this tactic in Ukraine shows that the current policy still has loopholes. The second route for Iranian arms transfers, including the packages that can include the Mohajer-6, goes through a region where the West has little control. In November 2022, some sources claimed that Tehran has indeed been considering this option. According to Ukrainian intelligence services, Iran had plans to transfer 200 disassembled Shahed-136s, Mohajer-6, and Arash-2 drones to Russia via the Caspian Sea (Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, November 1, 2022). At present, the Caspian region has become a major transport hub for Iranian supplies and the Volga-Don Canal connects the Caspian Sea to the Sea of Azov. The former is subject to heavy Persian control, while the latter is (for the time being) effectively a Russian lake. This creates a situation where Iran and Moscow can establish a safe transfer route in a region outside of the Wests control and oversight. ADVERTISEMENT Conclusion Russias use of the Iranian Mohajer-6s in Ukraine will place heavy pressure on Ukrainian air defenses and military personnel, already burdened by Iranian loitering munitions. This additional boost for Russias strike capabilities will also significantly increase Moscows aggression towards Ukrainian targets, including civilian infrastructure. However, this development should not only be read as an Iranian success, but rather as an indicator of the Wests vulnerabilities in contested geopolitical hotspots. By Sine Ozkarasahin More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Georgian authorities are pondering building a new airport near the capital city, citing long-term prospects of the country becoming an "aviation hub" in the region. Government leaders made the announcement in early June, saying they would either build a new airport in place of the Vaziani military airfield near Tbilisi or expand the capital's existing international airport. It's the latest in a series of moves aimed at elevating Georgia's role in transportation and cargo traffic between various parts of the world. "Today we have the capacity, experience, and, most importantly, the goal of effectively becoming an aviation hub in the region," Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said at a government meeting on June 5. "We are talking about building a modern, new airport of international class." The authorities said studies are underway to determine the best option between building a new airport or expanding the currently operational international airport in Tbilisi. But they've already expressed their preference for the former. They argue that while the current airport meets present demands, it has limited growth capacities and a new airport in another location would be necessary in terms of "20-30-50 or even 100-year prospects." Georgia is currently home to three international airports, with Tbilisi airport, some 20-30 minutes drive from the city center, being the largest. A smaller airport near Kutaisi, in western Georgia, has been gaining popularity in recent years by hosting budget airlines such as Wizzair and offering cheap flights to Europe. The third international airport near Batumi, a city on the Black Sea, also accepts international flights but is less busy than the other two. Since 2005, Tbilisi airport has been operated by TAV Airports, a Turkish company whose largest share (46 percent) is owned by French Groupe ADP. The contract with TAV prohibits the country from building an airport within a 150 km radius of the current one without the company's consent. The contract expires in 2027, and the authorities claim they remain loyal to the agreement. According to the government's projections, if the decision to build a new airport is made, construction will commence next year and finish in 3-4 years. It is unclear whether the current contract will be amended or if authorities will wait until it expires. Since early May, Georgian officials have been offering various arguments in support of a separate, bigger airport, with some citing ever-growing passenger flow and others pointing at the need to boost the country's air cargo handling capacity. "If we are saying that Georgia must be a regional hub in terms of logistics and talk about transit flights, including cargo operations, for this we need space for expansion and a large economy," Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili told reporters after June 5 government meeting. Building an airport at the new location in Vaziani would double the distance and thus drive time from the city center. But Davitashvili argued that it offers better conditions for navigation and is better in terms of urban and economic development. The minister also did not rule out revamping the old military aerodrome along with building a new civil airport, citing similar combined arrangements elsewhere. The prospects of Georgia becoming a regional aviation hub have been discussed in various circles for several years. But these particular plans come as Georgia has been reinventing itself as a major transit corridor between the East and the West as a result of geopolitical shifts resulting from the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. While passenger flow in Georgian airports has been growing in recent years, in Tbilisi it has yet to catch up with pre-pandemic numbers. Air cargo traffic, on the other hand, has seen steadier growth. It is, however, yet to be seen how the recent controversial resumption of direct flights with Russia will affect Georgian aviation. After Moscow's decision in May to lift its 4-year unilateral ban on air travel with Georgia, Tbilisi authorized three airlines for regular flights to Russia - flag carrier Georgian Airways, and two Russian flyers, Azimuth and Red Wings. The latter's planes are yet to land in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, after postponing the start of operation to mid-June. ADVERTISEMENT With the authorization came talk, from both Russian and Georgian business representatives, about using Georgian airports for transit between Russia and the EU countries that closed their airspace to Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine last year. It was theorized that Georgia - and in particular Kutaisi - could eventually compete with major regional transit hubs like Istanbul. However, Georgian Airways later said that the country would need at least five years to acquire this role. Experts, too, were skeptical that the many sanctions and restrictions Russia and its citizens are currently facing could ever make this possible. And late in May, Tamaz Gaiashvili, head of the Georgian flag carrier, said that against general expectations, bookings on Georgia-Russia flights so far did not amount even to half of the available seating capacity. By Nini Gabritchidze via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A 24-hour ceasefire in Sudan has ended and clashes between warring political factions have resumed, dampening hopes for a quick solution to the situation in the country. The conflict erupted in mid-April, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, took up arms against the Sudanese army in the capital Khartoum. The fighting quickly escalated, plunging Sudan into chaos. Sudan is the only conduit for landlocked South Sudans crude oil. South Sudan has an estimated 3.5 billion barrels in oil deposits. The two countries export primarily Nile and Dar blends to markets in Asia from Port Sudan via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. While most of the oil belongs to South Sudan, the two countries together exported some 132,000 bpd of crude oil in 2021. This has since risen to some 170,000 bpd. This is not a whole lot of oil but it appears to be enough to get some oil traders worried about the security of these exports in a market that is getting increasingly tight in the supply department. The ceasefire that lasted from Saturday to Sunday was brokered by U.S. and Saudi mediators but these have so far failed to achieve a more lasting arrangement between the two warring factions: the Sudanese army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the head of the Rapid Support Forces and former deputy of Al-Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. So far, the conflict has resulted in 1,800 deaths and the displacement of close to 2 million people, according to media reports. Analysts have pointed out that neither the Sudanese army nor the Rapid Support Forces have any interest in disrupting oil flows from South Sudan, Al Jazeera reported in April. Yet the fighting has threatened the security of transport for the oil from landlocked South Sudan to the Sudanese coast. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPECs second-largest producer, Iraq, approved on Monday its 2023 budget of $153 billion (198.9 trillion dinars), envisaging record spending and basing the budget on an oil price of $70 a barrel. Oil revenues are the most important income for Iraq as they account for more than 90% of its total revenues. The new budget for 2023, belatedly approved by Parliament today after months of disputes, also has new provisions regarding the sharing of oil revenue between the federal government in Baghdad and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in the north. The new provisions say that Kurdistan will deposit the revenue from its oil exports in a bank account that the central government can monitor. The federal government will deduct the amount of oil revenue from the monthly budget allocations to Kurdistan, Associated Press notes. Iraqi lawmakers told Reuters that the budget was based on the assumption of oil exports of 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd), including 400,000 bpd from Kurdistan. Iraq exported on average 3.3 million bpd of oil in May, flat compared to April, according to the Iraqi oil ministry. Iraq is currently exporting oil only via its southern oil export terminals, with around 450,000 bpd of exports from the northern fields and from Kurdistan still shut in due to a dispute over who should authorize the Kurdish exports. Kurdistans exportsshut-in since March 25have yet to resume. At the end of May, reports emerged that a flare-up between the regional government in Kurdistan and the federal Iraqi government added risk for the resumption of oil flows from the northern Iraqi region. Overall, Iraqs economic growth has lost momentum in recent months, due to foreign exchange market volatility and reduced oil production, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said at the end of May. ADVERTISEMENT The combined effects of increased government spending, the exchange rate revaluation, and reduced oil production would bring the fiscal break-even oil price to $96 per barrel, the IMFs staff team said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Pakistans petroleum minister Musadik Malik has revealed that his country paid for its first imports of discounted Russian crude in Chinese currency. According to Malik, the purchase, the first government-to-government (G2G) deal between Pakistan and Russia, consisted of 100,000 tonnes, of which 45,000 tonnes have already docked at Karachi port. The decision to pay in Chinese currency instead of the traditional U.S. dollar comes after Russia last year said it will no longer accept the American currency as payment for its energy commodities but will instead switch to Chinese and Emirati currencies. Further, Russia was cut off from the US dollar-dominated global payments systems following sweeping sanctions off the Ukraine war. On its part, the new arrangement is convenient for Pakistan considering that the country is facing a severe shortage of foreign exchange reserves and risks defaulting on its debt obligations. Pakistan has long been a close Western ally and an arch-rival of neighboring India, which itself has massively ramped up imports of cheap Urals. Last month, a report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) titled Laundromat: How the price cap coalition whitewashes Russian oil in third countries, revealed that Western countries bought $42 billion worth of laundered Russian crude in the form of various oil products from nations that are friendly towards Russia, with India leading the five other countries. For instance, Indias diesel exports tripled to ~1,600,000 barrels per day in March 2023, compared to a year ago, making diesel one of the largest components of India-EU trade. Russia ditching the greenback is not without its own headaches. Business Insider has reported that Russia is accumulating $1B in Indian rupees per month and struggling to trade in the currency since India imports far more from Russia than the reverse. Overall, Bloomberg has estimated that Russia accumulated a staggering $147 billion in net foreign assets built up over 2022 alone due to sanctions and the new currency regime. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via AG Metal Miner Ukrainian steelmaker and longs producer ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih (AMKR) recently stopped steelmaking and rolling operations. A spokesman for the company told MetalMiner that the halt stems from a rupture of the Kakhovska Hydropower Plants dam after a suspected Russian operation. So far, there is no consensus on how this might affect steel prices. The source added that concerns over water consumption prompted the plant to stop production on June 6, the same day the incident occurred. Production will resume once water levels in the Kakhovka Reservoir stop falling, the spokesman said. However, he declined to say when that could happen. Meanwhile, AMKRs blast furnaces are continuing to operate. The same goes for the coking coal ovens and iron ore mining operations. The source also told MetalMiner that deliveries are also continuing on schedule. Get all the news on shifts in steel prices and other valuable commodities. Sign up for the free weekly MetalMiner newsletter here. Production Loss Could Impact Steel Prices The dam is on the Dnipro River in Ukraines Kherson region. According to international and local reports, the breach caused severe flooding downstream, necessitating urgent evacuations. Steel plants like ArcelorMittal mainly use water in their rolling mills for cooling purposes. However, water is also integral to the steelmaking process. The source declined to indicate Arcelor Mittal Kryviy Rihs average water consumption levels before the dams explosion. It was also unclear at what percentage of capacity the plant was pouring steel and rolling. However, reports indicate that the combined crude steel production from Ukrainian steelmakers in the first four months of 2023 fell 54% year on year. According to a May report from local steelmaking association Ukrmetalurgprom, this represents a drop from 3.93 million metric tons to almost 1.81 million metric tons. Such a large drop in supply must also be factored into current steel prices. Water Supplies Severely Impacted On June 7, AMKR announced that there would be no water supplies to the plant on June 8. Management then asked that staff either work from home or, upon agreement with relevant supervisors, take unpaid leave. The plant also said that it would give updates on water supplies for subsequent days. ArcelorMittal predecessor Mittal Steel acquired the plant in 2005. This was after the government at the time annulled the plants 2004 sale to Ukrainian pipe and railway producer Interpipe. AMKR can produce about 6 million metric tons per year of crude steel via the BF/BOF route. The plant casts this into billets for rolling into long products, such as wire rod, rebar, and merchant bar. Also on June 7, compatriot company Interpipe Group announced that operations would continue at its Niko Tube plant. According to Interfax-Ukraine, company management noted that it was closely monitoring the situation. Niko Tube, which also lies in the Dnipropetrovsk region, produces seamless pipes for the gas and oil, transport, and mechanical engineering sectors as well as for general applications. Its products range in diameter from 42-325mm with 2.5-40mm wall thicknesses. By Christopher Rivituso ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: LINCOLN 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 states flagship campus last week. Across more than 20 public forums, Rodney D. Bennett spoke with students, faculty, staff and the general public about issues such as the financial pressures faced by colleges and universities, and 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 nations 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 last 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 hell 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. 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 hes 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 also would 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 Ive 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. Its 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 UNLs top leader will be the same his predecessor faced: slashing millions from UNLs 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 nonstate-aided funding sources. As much as $13 million still will need to be trimmed from UNLs 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 the amount that needs to be cut. Bennett said hes 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 that without diving into the numbers, he could not offer a specific recommendation for how to move forward. At several forums last 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 underutilized or not realizing a return on investment, he said. Breaking down silos Some of those priorities may focus on fostering greater collaboration among departments across UNL, Bennett said in response to several questions put to him last 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 youre 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, its 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 youre 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, improved graduation rates and more 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 generate excitement among donors and the business community, he said. Navigating politics Bennett is no stranger to traversing difficult political environments. When former NU President Hank Bounds, then the 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 Mississippis state flag, which included the Confederate battle emblem, from campus. A symbol that for many represented slavery was antithetical to the kind of welcoming campus community that Bennett said Southern Miss was trying to create. But it generated backlash in the former Confederate state, with some calling for Bennetts 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 youre 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 Im 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 Statehouse. 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. 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. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023 People concerned about the safety of patients often compare health care to aviation. Why, they ask, cant hospitals learn from medical errors the way airlines learn from plane crashes? Thats the rationale behind calls to create a National Patient Safety Board, an independent federal agency that would be loosely modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, which is credited with increasing the safety of skies, railways and highways by investigating why crashes occur and recommending steps to avoid future incidents. But as worker shortages strain the U.S. health care system, heightening concerns about unsafe care, one proposal to create such a board has some patient safety advocates fearing that it wouldnt provide the transparency and accountability they believe is necessary to drive improvement. One major reason: the power of the hospital industry. Two measures are underway to create a safety board: A bill filed in the U.S. House in December by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-Calif., which is expected to be refiled this session, calls for the creation of a board to help federal agencies monitor safety events, identify conditions under which problems occur and suggest preventive measures. However, the board would need permission from health care organizations to probe safety events and could not identify health care providers or settings in its reports. That differs from the NTSB, which can subpoena both witnesses and evidence, and publish detailed accident reports that list locations and companies. A related measure under review by a presidential advisory council would create such a board by executive order. Its details have not been made public. The push comes as many patients continue to get hurt, according to recent reviews of medical records. The Department of Health and Human Services inspector general found that 13% of hospitalized Medicare patients experienced a preventable harm during a hospital stay in October 2018. A New England Journal of Medicine study of patients hospitalized in Massachusetts in 2018 showed that 7% had a preventable adverse event with 1% suffering a preventable injury that was serious, life-threatening, or fatal. Learning about safety concerns at specific facilities remains difficult. While transportation crashes are public spectacles that make news, creating demand for public accountability, medical errors often remain confidential, sometimes even ordered into silence by court settlements. Meaningful and timely information for consumers can be challenging to find. However, patient advocates said, unsafe providers should not be shielded from reputational consequences. People pay vast amounts of money for health care, said Helen Haskell, president of South Carolina-based Mothers Against Medical Error, an advocacy group she founded because her 15-year-old son died from septic shock following elective surgery in 2000. Providers shouldnt be able to sweep things under the rug. Barragans bill follows a 2014 effort to create a national patient safety board to investigate incidents and make more providers safety records public. It stemmed from the Institute of Medicines landmark 1999 report that called medical errors in hospitals a leading cause of death and recommended a nationwide mandatory reporting system for serious adverse events. That campaign never got enough traction to become a congressional bill. Patients and their families would still like to know the rate of harm in every hospital, said Lisa McGiffert, president of the Patient Safety Action Network, a group discontented with some aspects of the current bill. We are so far away from that now, she added. But Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based philanthropy that leads more than 70 groups pushing the latest safety board campaign, said during an online forum in January that public reporting would compromise data integrity by leading hospitals to scrub records to hide bad events. Youre going to have to protect data for a while de-identify it, she said, so that we can do what needs to be done. She said that a patient safety board will not happen without broad support, including from hospitals and medical societies. Those groups have long opposed measures to publicly identify facilities where errors occur. That industry influence is the elephant in the room, said McGiffert. Hospitals, nursing homes and medical professionals pour hundreds of millions of dollars into federal political campaigns each election cycle and spent $220 million lobbying Congress last year, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks money in U.S. politics. Moreover, health care is the dominant employer in at least 47 states, according to Health Affairs, which means that, when legislation is in play, the industry can always drum up local people to talk about how it affects them, McGiffert added. Feinstein agreed that legislators always ask about the position of their local health systems. That is the first question, she said during the January forum. Although patient safety groups represent the interests of millions of people, they dont have the same financial firepower on hand as the health care industry does. McGiffert said her own organizations bank balance is $6,000. Feinstein said her foundation is using its endowment created with proceeds from the sale of a tax-exempt hospital to fund the patient safety board campaign, among other initiatives. The foundation reported assets of nearly $186 million in 2021. The American Hospital Association declined to comment about the patient safety board proposal because it was still reviewing it, said spokesperson Colin Milligan. He provided a statement from the associations senior director of quality and patient safety policy, Akin Demehin, saying hospitals are deeply committed to safety and have urged that publicly reported measures assess hospitals accurately and fairly while giving patients meaningful information. NENZEL, Neb. 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 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 wine's too good to spoil it. Vinegar's 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 family's wines debuted in 2012, with Johnson offering his vinegary 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, about a mile off U.S. Highway 20 southeast of Nenzel, which is 30 miles west of Valentine. It's one of the 70 stops in the 2023 Nebraska Passport tourism program. Nenzel is 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, went into education, although they also felt a call to agriculture, inspired in part by the hogs and cattle their father, Joseph Nollette, raised on the family's acreage in town. In 1982, with Tim teaching in 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 didn't sell. That's why we're 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 weren't teaching or working elsewhere. When Johnson asked them to consider raising grapes, the brothers jumped. "It was a passion to try to fi nd a way to make a living at a small place," Greg said. The luck was with the spot the brothers chose for their vines. "It had good air fl ow, so the grapes wouldn't freeze in the spring," he said. And "we're on a hill at 3,300 feet elevation, so it's pretty high." Western Nebraska's later growing season impacts Niobrara Valley's 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. It's not something we do. It's from where we happen to be." The Nollettes have multiplied their initial 200 vines more than tenfold, with 2,350 vines and 10 varieties of French-American hybrid grapes cited on Niobrara Valley's website at nvvsandhills.net. Thirteen wines are listed on the website, and Greg Nollette said they can be shipped to 38 states. "All of them are cold, hardy grapes," he said. "We have a ranching mentality about the grapes. If they can't survive, we don't 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. A new tasting room and event center, closer to Nebraska Highway S-16F, is expected to open by late summer. The Nollettes are developing a 10-unit RV park and a 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 summers. People come for pizza from a 90-mile radius which in western Nebraska isn't seen as a long drive. "Everything's relative out here," Greg Nollette said. "'Local' means they could be 60 miles away." NIOBRARA VALLEY VINEYARDS 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 p.m. to 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) Forty-five years ago today, three prisoners pulled off a daring escape from the Douglas County Jail by using fake keys and a 109-foot rope fashioned from bedsheets to shimmy down from the roof of the county courthouse. C. Michael Anderson, 26, Peter Hochstein, 24, and Danny J. Sheppard, 22, escaped from their cells sometime after 4 a.m. on June 12, 1978, and left the building via the recreation area by going through a window on which they cut the bars. They then slid to the ground using the homemade rope, which was fashioned from braided strips of bedsheets. After gaining their freedom, they stole a car and later an airplane that they used to escape to North Dakota. The three were found 18 hours later, huddling on a bank of the Red River near the hamlet of St. Vincent, Minnesota, three-quarters of a mile from the Canadian border. "They were unarmed and pretty cooperative. It seems to me they wanted to be captured. They were being eaten alive by wood ticks and mosquitoes." Pembina County (N.D.) Sheriff Glenn Wells said. Douglas County Sheriff Ted Janing at first thought that the prisoners may have had "inside help" in their escape from the sixth-floor jail atop the courthouse. An internal investigation, however, determined that no sheriff's deputy intentionally contributed to the escape. "There was some laxity, some carelessness in the jail, but none of the sheriff's personnel took an active part in the escape," Douglas County Attorney Donald L. Knowles said. Janing said the escape had to have been well planned over a long period. He'd initially thought that the escapees may have had inside help because he said three keys were needed for the prisoners to get from their cells to the recreation area. Anderson, who was in jail awaiting sentencing in the murder of Omaha real estate broker Ronald J. Abboud, bragged, both before and after the jailbreak, that the escapees had looked closely at jailers' keys, made drawings independently, then fashioned keys from pieces of an aluminum ladder. The escapees also made lifelike dummies using stuffed pillowcases and placed them on their bunks to make it appear as if they were sleeping in their cells. Photos: June 12, 1978, Douglas County Jail escape LINCOLN Some of the interpreters for Nebraskas state courts are refusing to work until further notice to protest their pay. The walkout comes several weeks after Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed a pay increase for court interpreters that was proposed in the states two-year budget. State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln attempted to override that veto but failed to get enough support from other lawmakers. Theres no official count for how many interpreters are participating in the walkout statewide, and no end date for the protest has been set, said Kelly Varguez, a court-certified Spanish interpreter. A lack of available interpreters could mean delays in court services, an increased reliance on video interpreters and extra money spent extending some cases. According to a press release from Interpreter Advocacy Nebraska, the hourly rates for the states court interpreters havent been changed since 2004, despite numerous attempts to raise them. The current rate is $50 an hour for certified interpreters and $35 an hour for registered and non-certified interpreters, with a two-hour minimum. The interpreters latest requested increase was $85 an hour for certified interpreters and $60 an hour for non-certified interpreters, with a 3% automatic yearly increase. Varguez said Nebraskas court interpreters serve the roughly 5% of the states residents for which English is not their first language, amounting to about 96,000 people. That population has the right to have an interpreter present if they appear in court. We, as court interpreters, exist to make access to justice a reality, Varguez said. This year, Dungan proposed a bill that would appropriate about $1.2 million in the budget to cover rate increases for court interpreters. After debate in the states Appropriations Committee, the funding was lowered to about $400,000, and was then eliminated entirely through Pillens veto. In his veto announcement, Pillen said he believed the Nebraska Supreme Court had enough funding already to cover rate increases and other needs. An official with Pillens office noted that the courts current general fund has about $58.8 million, a majority of which will carry over into the next fiscal year. Our interpretation of events is that theres money there, Varguez said. In his unsuccessful bid to override Pillens veto, Dungan said a shortage of court interpreters in Nebraska has reached a crisis level. Varguez said Nebraska hasnt added a new certified interpreter in about seven years. When an interpreter isnt available, the court dates are typically delayed until an interpreter is free. During a criminal trial, Dungan said that means the defendant is kept in jail, something he contended costs the state more money than the proposed rate increases. Our interpreters do some of the most difficult and necessary work in our courts and deserve to be paid accordingly, Dungan said Monday. After rumors of a walkout surfaced, the state court administration came forward with an offer to increase interpreter rates, Varguez said. However, the offer wasnt accepted because it was only about half of what was requested, and gave higher increases to some interpreters over others. Since then, Varguez said administrators havent made any new offers, but they have removed interpreters who are participating in the walkout from the states roster of available interpreters. Varguez called this retailiatory and noted that the roster isnt just used as a resource for state courts, but its also used by private attorneys and other consumers in need of interpreters. Removing names from the list hinders those interpreters ability to get work, she said. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023 written by Osayimwen Osahon George One thing being a journalist and a Nigerian has taught me is that things are deeper than how they appear at the surface level. I have learned to trust my observatory skills and try to regularly juxtapose my findings with what the physical features tend to show in reality. This has helped in exposing discrepancies that foretell doom. I focus more on the underlying factors that define events. I tend to dig into what an interviewee is trying hard to conceal and not really what he is letting you know. When Deji Adeyanju, the convener of the Concerned Nigerians group collaborated with the eccentric Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) of the OurMuMuDonDo movement a seeming good governance advocacy group for regular protests, I felt something was amiss. It was hard to concretely and empirically explain my feelings in a way that would make sense to the next person. A former colleague of mine at the newsroom was fond of Deji Adeyanju and Charly Boy. He was an ardent Twitter user which is like the base of both individuals. He was always eager to report their protests and also follow them up with updates. He so much believed in them that he would sing their praises like a chorister. His interest and passion were really intense and intimidating. One day, I was forced to express my uneasiness about the duo and my colleague apparently shouted me down. He took my views personal and this affected our cordial relationship briefly. I only told him time would tell if my views are relevant or not. This didnt deter my colleague from giving the duo media coverage in a reinvigorated manner. Many things didnt just seem right about Charly Boy apart from his weird and confusing physical appearance. With due respect, I have always seen the former PMAN president as an elderly attention-seeker who just wanted his name in the headlines and two major incidents gave that mere feeling credibility. In 2011, Charly Boy gave oxygen to rumours about his bi-s*xual orientation when he was pictured kissing media personality, Denrele Edun who many will swear with their precious lives that he is gay. Charly Boy leveraged on the alleged publicity stunt to promote his new music titled Ninja Bike. It took him 5 years to come out with an explanation summarized to be a promotional strategy. That extreme measure to me was deeper that what it seemed. Apart from this, the 67-year-old man graduated from uploading nauseating photos that could give a baby bad dreams to sharing his nude pictures online. He boasted that he was fit and strong at his age, challenging people in his age group to attempt such. Who does that at old age? Moving away from Charly Boy, Deji Adeyanju is a product of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was the director of New Media of the main opposition party in Nigeria. Specifically, he was in charge of the official Twitter account of the PDP. According to a presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, Deji who is a close associate of the Chief Editor and Purveyor of Fake News Femi Fani Kayode frolicked with the numerous goats that ate our yams. Life was good for Deji and the instincts of activism were recessive in him. Deji and Fani Kayode share a major similarity which is the uncanny penchant for Fake News. The duo has contributed immensely to the spate of misinformation in Nigeria via Twitter where they are heavily followed. When the All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015, the PDP ran into crises. The conduit pipe conveying the ever-flowing loot was cut off or let me say the looting changed hands and the PDP ran into threatening challenges. The Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee moved to reform the party. The former governor of Kaduna State felt Deji was soiling the image of the party on social media so he axed him. Deji was left without a job so he decided to run for the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the party but that failed. The young man needed to survive desperately and also sustain his family so he delved into activism. He formed the Concerned Nigerians group and became a professional protester. He listed some causes and decided to pursue them towards the reformation of Nigeria. Nigeria has uncountable problems and someone like Deji found reasons to protest every day. Charly Boy birthed his the OurMumuDonDo movement around the same period of time with Dejis pressure group and the duo later morphed into one technically. One factor which made me uncomfortable about them was that they were available to protest against any issue that came up in the political space and they did it virtually every day. As a realist, I was more concerned about how Deji was surviving the harsh economic realities in Nigeria. A man with a momentous means of livelihood will not engage in public protests every day like the Arab Spring except the act pays the bills. Even the almighty Yellow Vest protest in France is done during the weekends as the participants have lives outside the movement. Most public protests and advocacies in Nigeria are hollow and artificial. They are mostly serving the agenda set by a politician who is ready to fund the exercise and pay the participants. A perfect example is the influential Occupy Nigeria group, a socio-political protest movement which gained prominence when it marched against the removal of fuel subsidy by the ex President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration in 2012. We were shocked to later find out that the group was being funded by the popular godfather in Lagos State. The group went silent when Buhari removed the same fuel subsidy in 2016 thereby confirming the elitist interests they actually serve. Inasmuch as Dejis tainted history affected his public acceptance as an activist, he used his contacts in the media to massively promote his causes. The unprofessional nature of our security operatives made Deji, Charly Boy and their other hungry-looking counterparts look like victims and some people showed them sympathy. I soon discovered that Deji was promoting his public page on Instagram and Facebook simultaneously as a politician with other free titles added to it. I sensed his direction; apart from the perks he would have been entitled to for running a protest company, he was also building his profile as an activist purportedly fighting for the liberation of his people like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. This could have given Him political advantage in the future as a reformer. Fast forward to March 2019, Deji returned from prison after 78 days and Charly Boy collected money from a spokesman of the camp that locked up Deji. While Deji was behind bars, Charly Boy was loudly quiet. Rumours have it that Charly Boy was bribed to speak against the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar. It has also been revealed that the OurMumuDonDo movement has been collecting money from international donor agencies to execute projects and Charly Boy has refused to be accountable and transparent with financial records presumably for selfish reasons. We cannot be criticising others outside without following some of those things internally. Do you know what it means, if you get XYZ million Naira for a campaign in Sokoto or Anambra and the project team spends about 20 percent and the rest is unaccounted for? a source in the circle of the OurMumuDonDo movement told the Vanguard newspaper. As Charly Boy accused Deji of wanting to use the movement to generate and share money like a political party, Deji has released an audio tape in which Charly Boy admitted he collected a Greek Gift from Festus Keyamo as support for the advocacy group. Nigerians are not fools! Charly Boy brazenly claimed in an interview with Roots TV that he recorded a song to taunt Atiku and Keyamo paid him handsomely in the tune of 8 to 9 figures to use the song for political advantage. He alleged that everybody around him including Deji wanted a part of the money he received for the song he recorded. Trust me, the song was produced after Charly Boy was paid by Keyamo. Both parties came together to grab their share of the national cake. They have been seeking relevance to position themselves for lucrative political deals. The OurMumuDonDo movement is nothing but a transactional group set up to be hired by powerful hands who could afford their clamourous services. If Charly Boy had shared the money Festus Keyamo gave him with Deji, I can bet my life that the latter would have remained silent like a dead man. Deji who has been away for three months needs cash to settle bills and stand as a man. He feels hurt that Charly Boy has swindled him and he decided to sue him to the court of public opinion. Its heartbreaking that an achiever like Charly Boy who hails from a very honourable family of the late Chukwudifu Oputa GCON who was Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1984 to 1989, will soil his image for a few coins. The Senate has passed the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill. The passage followed the presentation of a concurrence report by Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, at plenary on Tuesday. One of the major objectives of the bill is to improve funding for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the National Assembly had fulfilled its promise to pass the bill before expiration of the 8th Assembly. He said: By passing this bill, we will be creating big strides towards providing and improving security and policing in our country. One of the major concerns has always been the issue of funding. We believe that this bill will provide the funding needed for training and recruitment. I am confident that by the time we lay the report on the Police Reform Bill, we would have gone a long way in moving the police in the right direction. It is our view that once we have these police bills as laws, we will relieve the burden on the military, so that it can focus on its constitutional responsibility, Saraki said. The Police Trust Fund Bill, has also been passed by the House of Representatives. It aimed to providing a legal framework for the management and control of the special intervention funds established under the Act for the training of personnel of the NPF. The trust fund would also be utilised to enhance the skills of the personnel of the Police in order to ensure their efficiency, overall performance, and constant improvement while they performed their duties. In addition, the trust fund would be used to ensure that the NPF had the necessary operational equipment, instructional materials, police stations and living quarters. With the passage by the Senate, the bill is ready to be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. Post Views: 62 The Lagos State House of Assembly has recommended a fine of N250, 000 or six months imprisonment for any individual who obstructs members of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) from carrying out their duties. This followed the adoption of the report of its Committee on Information, Security and Strategy as presented by its Chairman, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho by the House during plenary on Monday. Tejuosho presented the report on A Bill for a Law to Amend the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency for the Regulation and Control of Neighbourhood Safety Corps Activities and for Connected Purposes. According to her, it was observed at the public hearing held on Dec. 14, 2018 that certain sections of the Principal Law needed to be amended in addition to those contained in the Amendment Bill. She said that in order to allow for proper efficiency and strengthening of the agency, there was a need to create more sections to make the amendment more encompassing. Tejuosho said that the amendment created a new Section 25 in the Principal Law with the side-note Obstruction of Authorised Officer. A person, who wilfully and unlawfully obstructs, restrains, prevents, harasses or injures a safety corps member or any authorised officer in the discharge of his duties under this law commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of six months imprisonment or to fine of N250, 000 only or both fine and imprisonment. A duly authorised safety corps member shall have power to enter, inspect and conduct search upon warrant issued by a Magistrate as may be incidental to be operation of this law. A safety corps member shall have power to arrest anyone who commits, about to commit or is suspected of criminal activities and shall handover such person (s) to the police, the amendment bill read in part. Section 27, subsection 2 of the amendment, however, stated that a safety corps member shall not exploit his or her membership of the safety corps for personal advantage or benefits. A safety corps member who violates the provisions of this section commits an offence under Section 68 of the Criminal Law and is liable on conviction to five years imprisonment, Subsection 3 of Section 27 read in part. The amendment stated that some functions of the LNSC include establishment of the uniform safety corps in all local government areas of the state. The agency is also expected to take over all existing responsibilities of the neighbourhood watch and absorb all eligible neighbourhood watch members into the safety corps. According to the bill, the agency will register all private vigilant groups, private home security and any other person employed for private security as well as carrying out enlightenment campaign on crime detection and prevention. The lawmakers took turns to commend the committee for the amendment and debated the bill. In his observation, Prince Bisi Yusuff said that tenure of the board should not be put on part time but on full time as proposed in the amendment because of the importance of security. Yusuff said that LNSC should be thoroughly funded through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Mr Rotimi Olowo (APC-Somolu I) harped on the need for the agency to liase with other security agencies for proper security of lives and property. The Majority Leader, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, who corroborated Yusuff said: The tenure of members of the board should not be part time because of the nature of the issue (security). Lagos is a dynamic state with various security challenges. We must be emphatic on this. I wish to state that the job should be permanent and not part time. In his submission, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the House, Mr Obasa said that the fines for anyone who obstructs LNSC officials was mild and that it would not deter criminals. Obasa said that the board should be separated from the agency to allow the agency function well. On whether the job of the board members should be part-time or full time, the speaker said that depended on the functions of the board. The bill is, however, awaiting the third reading having scaled the second reading. Meanwhile, the House also debated reports on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) The reports were presented by the Chairmen of House Committee on Finance and House Committee on Establishment, Training and Pension, Mr Yinka Ogundimu and Mrs Mojisola Meranda respectively. On PPP, the lawmakers were unanimous during debate that the House should be involved in all MoU and feasibility studies on PPP as the representatives of the people for transparency and accountability. The two reports were adopted as the resolutions of the House. (NAN) The lawmaker representing Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives, Aliyu Betara, and his colleague, Yusuf Gagdi, have stepped down from the House speakership race. Gagdi is representing the Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the lower legislative chamber. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had last month nominated the lawmaker representing Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Tajudeen Abbas, and the Houses former spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, as speaker and deputy respectively. However, the decision did not sit well with some members of the party, including Betara, Gagdi, and the former deputy speaker, Idris Wase, who had declared their interest in the position. READ ALSO: Reps speakership: Tinubu meets Tajudeen, Kalu in Aso Rock The two lawmakers took the decision to withdraw from the race after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Sunday. Shettima, who addressed the State House correspondent at the end of the meeting, praised the two men for aligning with the partys position on the National Assembly leadership. Join the conversation Opinions Support Ripples Nigeria , hold up solutions journalism Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate Now The Labour Party presidential candidate during February 25 presidential election, Peter Obi, has claimed that Nigerias democracy is deeply troubled. In a statement to commemorate June 12, the former Anambra State governor said the country is in search of solutions to too many basic problems. According to him, we are now in an era where these foundational pillars of democracy are undermined by prevalent impunity and pervasive violence and bloodletting. He, however, said he was committed to a New Nigeria. The full statement read, Today is June 12, June 12 marked in our dear country as Democracy Day. It is a historic day that deserves to be celebrated. On that day in 1993, we the people of Nigeria stated our unreserved preference for true democracy. Though under military rule, we freely chose a transparent voting method. Our votes reflected our true choice as a people. Our choice on that day defied divisions of ethnicity, religion and region. It is these qualities that added up to make June 12 special in our search for true democracy. Our collective choice of late Chief M. K.O Abiola as a worthy leader for the nation was saluted by Nigerians and governments and people across the world. Therefore, June 12 underpins our long collective journey to nationhood as a 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. Related News 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. In the spirit of June 12, therefore, we need to emplace 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. Above all, 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. Regrettably, we are now in an era where these 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. The challenge of June 12 and a dedicated Democracy Day is to inspire us to correct the errors of our recent elections. This is the surest way to restore the confidence of our people in the future of our nation and the promise of true democracy. I however urge us all not to lose faith in the inbuilt design of our democratic system to self-correct. Personally, I remain committed and convinced that a New Nigeria is possible. Our aspiration for a nation of equity, justice, security and peace can hardly be a utopia. We are a nation blessed richly with human and natural resources. 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. Let me, therefore, on behalf of the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement across the globe wish all Nigerians a happy democracy day. -Peter Obi The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, has denied asking for a five per cent equity in Nigeria Air. The lawmaker inferred that the ex-minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, is a drowning man struggling to grab anything on his way to survive the barrage of attacks he has been receiving since his controversial unveiling ceremony of the so-called Nigeria Air. While responding to Sirikas allegations, Nnaji in a statement on Sunday, said the former minister was not happy that he had demanded transparency and due process in all matters relating to the aviation sector, especially the Nigeria Air project. He added that the House suspended further questions when the Airline Operators of Nigeria sued the Ministry and Nigeria Air in court and got an injunction to stop it. He said, Ordinarily l would not have bothered to reply to his allegations of my demand for 5 per cent equity in Nigeria Air as he claimed during his interview on Arise Television but l believe I owe my constituents and indeed Nigerians a duty to put the records straight. It is on record that last year when the Minister announced Ethiopian Airlines as a core investor in Nigeria Air, my committee which was also inundated with petitions from various stakeholders regarding that announcement invited the Minister and his team to furnish the committee with the details of the project. The committee requested the evidence of the bid process that gave Ethiopian Airlines the award and, the full business case as prepared by the Nigerian Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC) which was supposed to spell out the details of all the investors and their equity contributions. Related News Sirika at that meeting said Full Business Case was still being worked out by the ICRC and promised to make it available to the committee as soon it was ready which he failed to do before Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON) took the Ministry to court and got injunction restraining it from going ahead with the project. The lawmaker, who said all enquires were suspended to avoid court contempt, added that he crossed Sirikas path again when he issued a statement against threats of mass resignations by key personnel of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority due to pressures from the ministry to give waivers to Nigeria Air to enable it to secure Air Operators Certificate. Of course, we suspended our discussions and enquiries on the project the moment the court got involved. Normally when a matter is before the court the parliament does not discuss it. However, on May 20th, 2023, l received reports of threats of mass resignations by key personnel of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) due to pressures from the Ministry to give waivers to Nigeria Air to enable it to secure Air Operators Certificate, (AOC) so that it could take Off before the exit of the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. I quickly issued a statement warning the former Minister against subverting the authority of NCAA because of its severe consequences on Nigerias air transport sector. It is also common knowledge that the Nigerian institutional investors he mentioned as participants have all denied him. It is not strange that Sirika came up with this spurious allegation against my person because l remained consistent in demanding that he followed due process. He should not deviate from the subject matter. Let him tell Nigerians the truth about the contraption he sold to us as Nigeria Air. Nnolim Nnaji is not his problem, Nnaji added. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered a secret laboratory producing a deadly illicit substance, Methamphetamine. It said the laboratory is located in Ikeja Lagos state. According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, operatives recovered already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production. The statement said operatives stormed the clandestine laboratory located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland Ikeja on Tuesday 6th June after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building. The statement further noted that 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. Similarly, 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 in the 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. Meanwhile, a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom has been intercepted by NDLEA operatives 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 arrested. In a similar vein, a bid to export 3,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed inside womens hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo agent, Akinwale Taiwo Bolutife, through the MMIA was thwarted by operatives who arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers at the departure gate of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. In Benue, a suspect, Emmanuel Onah was arrested during a routine stop and search of vehicles at the Vandeikya checkpoint with a total of 61, 790 pills of tramadol seized from him on Thursday 8th June, while another suspect, Ikenna Jonathan Udeze was nabbed at Otuo-Agor, Owan East LGA, Edo state with 208kg cannabis hidden in his Toyota Camry car marked ABJ 117 MR. No less than 235 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23.5 litres and 1,500 pills of Tramadol and Swinol were recovered on Friday 9th June from Agara Ogbonna, 35, along Owerri Onitsha expressway, Imo state, just as operatives in Ondo state arrested two suspects: Friday Augustine, 25, and Segun Akintudoye, 20, with 30kg cannabis at B-Ali Junction, Idanre and 10.4kg of the same substance recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect at Oke Odowo, Idanre on Tuesday 6th June when operatives raided some drug joints in the town. Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, Alin Bala (45), and Danzaki Alhaji (52), were arrested on Thursday 8th June at Goran Maiyaki, Gwandu LGA with 5.9kg cannabis and 3,792 tablets of diazepam while 18-year-old Babangida Mande was nabbed on Friday 9th June along Mararaban Yauri-Kebbi road, with 6kg cannabis and 658 tablets of diazepam. In Osun state, a total of 115.9kg cannabis was recovered from Adewole Abidemi, 31, who was arrested at Araromi Oke Odo in Ife South LGA; Raji Musa, 25, and Alominile Folashade, 34, nabbed at Gbokuta village in the same LGA on Monday 5th June. While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Imo, Kebbi, Osun, Benue, Edo and Ondo Commands for the seizures and arrests of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their counterparts across the country to remain vigilant and keep their focus on the corporate goal of the Agency. In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has set up a committee to recover all looted government property by the immediate past government. Related Udora Orizu in Abuja The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the failure to probe the allegations that $2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion oil revenue budgeted as fuel subsidy payments were missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019. The suit followed allegations documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation in the 2016 and 2019 annual reports that the public funds were missing. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1107/23, filed last Friday, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP also sought, an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to promptly probe allegations that USD$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019. SERAP is sought an order of mandamus to compel Tinubu to direct the anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe fuel subsidy payments made by governments since the return of democracy in 1999, name and shame and prosecute suspected perpetrators, and to recover any proceeds of crimes. SERAP also sought an order to direct and compel Tinubu to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address the impact of the subsidy removal on poor Nigerians, and to put in place mechanisms for transparency and accountability in the oil sector. In the suit, SERAP argued that the allegations that US$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion of public funds were missing and unaccounted amounted to a fundamental breach of national anticorruption laws and the countrys international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. SERAP also argued that the Tinubus government has constitutional and international legal obligations to get to the bottom of the allegations and ensure accountability for these serious crimes against the Nigerian people. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Adelanke Aremo, read in part: There will be no economic growth or sustainability without accountability for the human rights crimes. Poor and socio-economically vulnerable Nigerians should not be made to continue to pay the price for the stealing of the countrys oil wealth while state and non-state actors pocket public funds. Investigating and prosecuting the allegations, and recovering any missing public funds would serve the public interest, ensure justice and accountability, and end the entrenched impunity of perpetrators. According to the audited reports between 2016 and 2019 by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit N663,896,567,227.58 into the Federation Account. The Auditor-General fears that the money may be missing. The NNPC also reportedly failed to account for the allocation of crude oil to refineries in 2019. 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document. The Auditor-General fears that the crude valued at N55,891,009,960.63 may have been diverted. Subsidy records show that N443,940,559,974.80 was paid as total subsidy for 2016 but the money was not budgeted for. The payments were for outstanding Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) commitments for year 2015. However, there was no payment in 2016. Only outstanding payments for previous years 2014 and 2015 and interest payments were made in 2016. The Auditor-General fears that the oil marketers that received the subsidy payments may not have been eligible to draw from the Petroleum Support Fund as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) failed to provide any document on the payments. Spread the love Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has accused a member of the House of Representatives who branded the launch of Nigeria Air as fraud of demanding five percent shares of the National Carrier Air from him. During a hearing by the House of Representatives, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, had declared the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud. He had picked holes in the project, criticising the Federal Government for what he described as poor handling. Nnaji said after careful evaluation of the matter, his committee was dissatisfied with the actions of Sirika. We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airlines in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our two nations. A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community, he had said. But speaking when he appeared on ARISE TV on Sunday, Sirika said the lawmaker approached him and asked for five percent shares of the airline for him and his people. READ ALSO: Nigerians demand arrest, prosecution of Sirika over Nigeria Air fraud On the issue of Hon Nnaji who called Nigeria Air launch a fraud, I will respond now. I will say exactly what I told him in private when we spoke. Hon Nnaji asked me that I should give him 5% of Nigeria to carry him along with his people, and I said to him at that time, Honourable, a bidding process that has taken place, and some people won. So, I think you should go to those people and ask for the 5 percent. When Reuben Abati, anchor of the show, asked the former Minister to clarify if the lawmaker indeed asked for bribe for himself and other legislators, Sirika said, Lets be fair, Hon Nnaji didnt say anything to the other members. He said he wants it for himself and his people. His people could be his family, could be members and it could be leadership. I dont know, but he insisted on 5%. I said that he should relax and approach the owners. Thats exactly what I told him. Advertisement The former Minister also criticised Nnaji and the aviation committee for conducting what he said translated to a predetermined hearing. I was a member of the House of Reps 20 years ago, and 10 years ago, I was a Senator. I know the workings of the National Assembly. He [Nnaji] called for a public hearing. And right under the public hearing, he just turned the paper and read the riot act. The practice in the National Assembly is that after hearing people and the complaint, you now go and sit down as a committee, discuss the issues, raise them, approach the whole house of reps and take position of the house plus leadership and come back and make your findings known, but not immediately you just read the riot Act out. It means it is predetermined. Spread the love Embattled suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele may have gotten his hands burnt with his handling of the Naira redesign policy and several other policies that got his critic riled for years. Recall that he was unceremoniously removed from office on June 9, 2023 by President Bola Tinubu barely a year to the completion of his second term which is expected to expires by 2024. Whilst the official narrative of the government was that his removal was due to ongoing investigations in the office of the central bank, there were no further details explaining what the investigations were about. Findings however revealed that of the major issues contributing to Emefieles suspension is believed to be his handling of the naira redesign policy. While his argument was that the policy would enhance security features of the Naira, it was marred by allegations of mismanagement and poor implementation, drawing significant criticism from both experts and the public. READ ALSO: Godwin Emefieles overdue desserts Speculations surrounding his political ambitions also raised concerns about his dedication to his role as CBN Governor. Emefiele even went as far as going to court to get an order confirming his eligibility to run for office. Though he eventually did not run for office, the damage had already been done. Another contending factor was his handling of the forex policies, Nigerias exchange rate policy got him low marks amongst the financial and business class. Under Emefiele, Nigeria also experienced the widest exchange rate disparity between the naira and dollar falling to as high as N305/$1. He also rationed forex for personal and business travel allowances and limited spending on naira and dollar cards approved. These were all in a bit to control forex demand, which many thoughts were a wrong move. Another controversial policy aimed at controlling forex demand was the ban on 41 items, which prohibited access to foreign exchange for the importation of certain goods. Advertisement This policy aimed to promote local production and protect domestic industries. READ ALSO: All you need to know about new CBN acting Governor, Folashodun Sonubi However, it drew criticism from businesses and consumers alike, as it led to shortages, price hikes, and disruptions in the supply chain for essential goods. Many argued that the ban disproportionately affected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and hindered economic growth in the long run. During Emefieles tenure as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country experienced significant expansions in its money supply. While some of these measures were intended to stimulate the economy in response to fiscal pressures, critics argue that they were marked by poor implementation and nepotism. The prolonged implementation of intervention funds, surpassing the provisions of Ways and Means, and the significant increase in the money supply may have negatively impacted the CBNs balance sheet. Revealing these issues through the release of audited accounts could potentially undermine foreign investor confidence in the country. However, some critics contend that if Emefiele had chosen to release the audited accounts, the exposure of the problems could have prompted the government to take early action. Advertisement Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on all levels of government to prioritise human rights and citizens welfare noting that government in recent times have been weaponized with attendant consequences on citizens rights and freedoms. In a statement in Port Harcourt to mark this year;s democracy day,president of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, said the government has been increasingly weaponised to a frightening dimension in the past four years. He said the weaponization has placed limitations on peoples freedoms and undermined the principles of democracy. In recent times, we have seen the orders of the supreme court being disrespected and the state being run by peoples wishes, we have seen executive orders replacing laws and a seemingly degenerating lawless society. Government has been weaponized to the point that in some cases, there is no thriving opposition to check the excesses of government and give citizens an alternative during elections. Nsuke said the situation in Nigeria has degenerated down to the Police and military forces. We have seen civilians call out the army over minor family issues. We have also seen the Police increasingly becoming a repressive force available for public office holders to detain and torture rather than secure the people Nsuke said. The MOSOP leader noted that the weaponization of government undermined the principles of democratic freedoms and threatened the peace and security of citizens. Expressing worries that the government in Nigeria has overtime become increasingly brutal, repressive and weaponised, MOSOP called for the de-weaponization of government noting that there had been growing limitations on citizens freedom including access to justice, free speech and alternative views. Citing the Ogoni case, Nsuke said the Ogoni people have been subjected to the worst inhuman treatments despite frantic efforts by MOSOP to resolve the issues. He accused the previous governments of subjecting the people to deliberate poverty with hopes that they will submit to injustice under extremely difficult conditions. One glaring case of weaponization of governmenance is the Ogoni where all efforts to resolve pending issues have failed despite our proposals. Government has instead encouraged conflicts in Ogoni, allowed conditions that heighten insecurity and weaponsed the privileges and powers of state against the people. That puts the Ogoni people under extremely difficult conditions and government in alliance with Shell have hoped that the people will be forced to give up on their rights and allow injustice to prevail The MOSOP leader called on the Nigerian government to promote democratic freedoms and justice and pay attention to the needs of the people. He urged special attention to resolve the Ogoni problem which has lingered for over 3 decades. Nsuke said MOSOP is committed to a peaceful resolution of the Ogoni problem but regrets the continual deployment of the instruments of state to repress its leadership and the people. Its actually a shame that we have been unable to peacefully resolve the Ogoni problem in over three decades. Instead of engaging with MOSOP, government have repeatedly used repressive tactics and divide and conquer methods in attempts to crush the peoples demands for basic rights MOSOP has proposed a model for the implementation of an Ogoni Development Authority which is an acceptable path to a resolution and we are very committed to that process. We expect the government to give our proposals a chance Nsuke said. Signed: Alex Akori Secretary-General, MOSOP June 12, 2023. Related Advertisement Advertisement By SULE TAHIR Commandant of the 6 brigade Jalingo, Brig. General F S Etim has assured the people and government of Taraba state military readiness and commitment to put to an end security challenges such as Banditry, kidnapping, among others which for quite often bedevilling the Southern part of the state. Speaking at a palace of Emir of Ibi, His Royal Highness, Alh Abubakar Salihu Danbawuro while on familirazation tour in the area. The Commandant who said he has special regards to Ibi being Ibi is under his military jurisdiction, and having on- going federal Govt project (Ibi Bridge) of critical infrastructure. Responding, the Emir of Ibi His Royal Highness, Alh. Abubakar Salihu Danbawuro thanked the military personnel for the visitation, and call on him to arrest an incessant cases of kidnappings, that is so pronounced day in day out along Sarkin kudu- Ibi axis. Regrets to inform you that we are worrisome of high spate of kidnappings, among other security challenges bedeviling our community Similarly appeal on behalf of the community to the government and the security agencies to come to our aid in finding lasting solutions on the menace of kidnappings that posed security challenges in our domain. He seized the opportunity in making a passionate appeal through the Commandant on the federal government for the continuation of the stalled Ibi bridge which was awarded by former president Buhari. Related Advertisement However, the media aide to former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Terver Akase, has reacted to the allegation by Governor Hyacinth Alia that there was massive looting of the government house in Makurdi under the previous administration. Akase said Ortom is no longer the Governor, and so should not be speaking about issues of governance in the State. Well, I dont work in a government house. I dont know about that. What I do know is that the Benue State Government executive council, before Governor Ortom left office, made a resolution that government officials of the Ortom administration should leave with their vehicles. So, if the Governor had a car, that is, the former Governor and Exco made a resolution that he should go with his vehicle, thats a different thing; that is Excos decision. I dont know about all the other things because I havent been to the government house since we left. I dont know the veracity of those things you are saying. All I know is that Exco made a resolution that government officials who worked under the Ortom administration should go with their vehicles. Yes, so if the Governor was using a vehicle at that time and Exco said he should go with it, there is nothing wrong with that; its not criminal. It is legal because this is the decision of the Benue State Government. I am not the spokesperson for PDP. I only speak for the former Governor. And the former Governors reaction is that he is no longer the Governor. Our people say that when you dont have clues on the close line, you no longer put your hands there. He is no longer the Governor, so he cant be speaking about issues of governance in Benue State. Governor Ortom prays for the current Governor and wishes him well, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed his plans to alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians due to the removal of fuel subsidies. The announcement was made by Tinubu during a live broadcast on Monday in honor of Democracy Day. It is important to note that Tinubus administration recently eliminated fuel subsidy, resulting in a significant increase in petrol pump prices, from N197 to nearly N500 per liter. Nevertheless, Tinubu urged Nigerians to endure the temporary difficulties, assuring them that his administration would provide relief. In order to compensate for the loss of gasoline subsidies, he outlined a commitment to substantial investments in transportation infrastructure, education, reliable power supply, healthcare, and other essential public services. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives, he stated. Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily News earlier posted the Presidents Democracy full speech. Related President Bola Tinubu says his administration will not tolerate illegal orders from courts used to truncate or abridge democracy. He said the process of reforming the judiciary has started. Tinubu stated this in his first Democracy Day speech broadcast to the nation on Monday morning, June 12. Nigeria celebrates Democracy on June 12 in commemoration of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election of MKO Abiola by the military regime of retired General Ibrahim Babangida. He vowed to improve the justice sector as part of the dividends of democracy. The president said, It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started. Tinubus comment may not be unconnected to decisions of some courts in the country which dismissed applications from lawyers that called for the stopping of his swearing-in on May 29. Referring to politicians seeking redress in courts, particularly his major opponents, the president said he backs them in their quest. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections, he said. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man. In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered a secret laboratory producing a deadly illicit substance, Methamphetamine. It said the laboratory is located in Ikeja Lagos state. Related The former governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has responded to his successor, Alex Otti, who alleged that he left behind debts without any cash or assets. A statement released by Ikpeazus former media aide, Ikechukwu Iroha disputed these claims, stating that he left N6 billion in the states coffers and that the Abia State government had no outstanding debts with commercial banks, including temporary overdrafts, at the time of his departure. Iroha expressed confidence that the new administration could effectively manage the states liabilities with the available resources without resorting to alarmist statements. The statement reads, Abia State under the watch of Dr. Ikpeazu invested $5,000,000.00 in Geometric Power Company. Thats a near-cash asset. As of Friday, June 9, 2023, the state received N24 billion through the Nigeria Governors Forum as part of a total of N48 billion standing to the credit of the state. The money was earned under the watch of Dr Ikpeazu. The implication is that the current administration can commence drawing down on that facility from day one to construct critical roads in Abia State and will not have to repay the money over the pendency of its tenure, assuming it is up to eight years. African Development Bank facility of $200 million processed by the Ikpeazu administration is also ready for the new administration to access for construction of rural roads. Before the exit of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu from office, Abia State Government and the office of the accountant general of the federation reconciled their accounts with N6 billion standing to the credit of the state. What that also says is that the Ikpeazu administration was not owing the federal government but rather it was FGN that owed the state. The current administration has access to that additional fund of N6 billion. While we are still expecting the new administration to give the detailed composition of the alleged debts left behind by the Ikpeazu administration, it is safe to say that they are mostly long-term development facilities, contractor debts, and possibly outstanding payments to pensioners and salary earners. It is my candid view that the new administration in the state can smoothly take off and service state liabilities with what it has without screaming or yelling. KanyiDaily recalls that a Federal High Court in Abuja had also made an interim order freezing bank accounts of the Benue state government over its involvement in securing a N333 million loan in 2008. Related President Bola Tinubu has told Nigerians not to take Nigerias democracy for granted. Tinubu made the call in his first democracy day speech on Monday morning, June 12 since assuming office on May 29th. He asked Nigerians to jealously guard the democracy they enjoy today. He argued that people can never appreciate the freedoms and rights that democracy guarantees them until they lose it. The president, who has for long been an advocate/fighter for democracy said, The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999. President Tinubu paid glowing tributes to Chief MKO Abiola, the supposed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He also acknowledged the sacrifices of Kudirat Abiola, Pa Alfred Rewane, and General Shehu Musa YarAdua (rtd), who he argued fought for democracy but were unfortunately silenced by the military junta at the time. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself. Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle, and Major General Shehu Musa YarAdua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today, For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal, president said. In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has set up a committee to recover all looted government property by the immediate past government. Related As candidates continue to jostle for the Senate Presidency seat of the 10th National Assembly, two most vibrant support groups, the Arewa Women for Tinubu/Shetima and 100% Focus Group Movement have thrown their weight behind Senator Godswill Akpabio to emerge as the Senate President. The decision of the All Progressive Congress, APC to endorse the former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Akpabio, as the one to lead the red chambers of the 10th National Assembly was taken in the best interest of the nation, hence the support by the two groups. Akpabio is well known to have passion for the Renewed Hope project that is undiluted and nonnegotiable, adding that he is someone that does not discriminate against any group, region or religion. The leader of Arewa Women for Tinubu/Shetima, Hajia Saadatu Garba Dogonbauchi who alongside with the chairman 100% Focus on Jagaban briefed newsmen today in Abuja, said the decision of the APC to endorse the former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Akpabio, as the one to lead the red chambers of the 10th National Assembly was taken in the best interest of the nation, hence the support by the two groups. READ ALSO: 100% Focus Movement, Dogon Bauchi felicitate with president-elect @ 71 Dogon Bauchi called on other candidates in contention for the Senate Presidency to step down for Godswill Akpabio, who she noted remains the right man for the plum job at this time of the nation, stressing that he is well known to have passion for the Renewed Hope project that is undiluted and nonnegotiable, adding that he is someone that does not discriminate against any group, region or religion. His sterling performances and achievements as governor of Akwa Ibom state, made Nigerians have firm confidence in his capacity to replicate the same feat as Senate President of Nigeria. As expected, a new era of renewed hope has finally presented itself to the Nigeria populace via a credible general election that has ushered in the preferred choice of the eligible Nigerians in February 2023 through the polls. Now that the stage is set for the position of the number 3 seat to be taken, a couple of names have sprang up to that effect, but one of such that keeps ringing the bell of assurance, positivity and optimism in the ears of the Nigerians is no other person but Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio with Jibrin to deputize. She explained. 100% Focus Group Chairman, Dr. ibrahim Mohammed said Akpabio is a political enigma that is widely preferred by APC, this of course isnt just based on sentiments or favouritism, rather it proves confidence, capacity, track records, integrity, experience, credibility not forgetting antecedents that precedes the two times Governor of the State of Akwa Ibom. This in essence proves that the Nigerians in general will be more comfortable and rest assured with such a combination (Akpabio/Jibrin), as it will enhance the much-required unity, not forgetting ethnic and religious tolerance across the whole nation, he said. US tops the list of inbound nationalities visiting Vietnam this summer: Booking.com The United States has been named among the list of the leading inbound nationalities visiting the nation this summer, according to details given by Booking.coms Travel Predictions 2023. Foreign travelers visit Temple of Literature Complex in Hanoi. Photo by Vietnamnet US travelers topped the list, followed by tourists from Australia, the Republic of Korea, Spain, and France. Furthermore, Booking.com also released its latest search data trends that reveal Vietnamese travelers preferred destinations this summer. Da Nang retained its top spot as the most searched domestic destination among Vietnamese tourists this summer, followed by Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. The website noted that boasting 3260 km of remarkable coastline and almost 5000 years of history, beaches continue to hold an irresistible appeal for Vietnamese travelers. Along with beaches, Vietnamese people are also searching for urban cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and charming countryside destinations such as Da Lat, Vung Tau, and Hoi An, all of which make it to the list of top 10 most searched destinations this season. Moreover, as the tourism industry continues on its recovery path, outbound trips from the country are increasing, with people eager to resume and reboot their international travel plans. Booking.com revealed that Bangkok makes up the most popular outbound destination for Vietnamese travelers, followed by Singapore and Paris. Since reopening its borders Tokyo and Seoul are also seeing great interest among Vietnamese travelers and among the top 5 most searched destinations this season, Booking.com noted. If it's not open warfare, it's collusive lawfare By Paul Driessen web posted June 12, 2023 The Biden Administration continues waging war on fossil fuels, aided by environmentalists, politicians, and corporations chasing subsidies, competitive advantages, power and profits. They want to "fundamentally transform" America's energy and economic systems, prevent "climate cataclysms," and ensure "environmental justice" for some (by inflicting injustices on others). Their weapons include withdrawing huge areas from economic activities; banning leasing, drilling and pipelines; and imposing regulatory standards so costly or technologically impossible that coal-fired power plants, internal-combustion vehicles, and gas stoves, furnaces and water heaters must be abandoned. This open warfare is augmented and amplified by more clandestine "lawfare." Environmentalists have long employed lawsuits to impose by court decree what they cannot achieve via ballot boxes or legislation. The litigation often redefines sloppily or deliberately vague statutory language, to impose more onerous standards that can block or bankrupt oil, gas and mining projects and then ignored for land- and resource-intensive wind and solar projects. An especially pernicious strategy is "sue-and-settle" lawsuits, wherein environmentalists collude with friendly federal agencies to create a "disagreement" over a policy or regulation, and sue in friendly courts. The parties then agree to a settlement that's been negotiated behind closed doors, leaving the public and impacted third parties with no opportunity to address the case's legal or evidentiary merits. Now ultra-progressive states and cities are charging onto this battlefield with more destructive lawsuits. Delaware and Rhode Island have joined Baltimore, Honolulu, New York City, San Francisco, and other jurisdictions in filing climate change lawsuits against oil and gas producers, refiners and sellers in state courts where they believe they will face more sympathetic judges and juries than in federal courtrooms. The arguments for transferring the cases to federal jurisdiction are compelling and were presented persuasively by John Yoo, C. Boyden Gray and other experts who reviewed the differing Courts of Appeals decisions, and the policy and legal questions surrounding them: Fossil fuel "greenhouse gas" emissions alleged to cause climate change cross state lines and must therefore be governed by federal agencies. Sea level rise, flooding and other damages allegedly caused by those emissions must likewise be attributed to multiple sources in multiple states, and thus must also be the purview of federal laws and agencies. No state, much less any city, should be permitted to set or manipulate national energy, climate or environmental policies and hold other jurisdictions to their agendas. Different legal opinions among various federal courts require Supreme Court intervention. BP America, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Suncor Energy and other oil company defendants made these and additional arguments in asking the US Supreme Court to reaffirm that cases addressing climate change claims are inherently governed by federal law and should be transferred from state to federal courts. However, the Supremes inexplicably opted not to review the cases at this time. That means these and other cities and states will continue suing energy companies perhaps securing verdicts and multi-billion-dollar damage awards. The litigation will create a legal, constitutional, scientific and public policy nightmare for the nation, businesses, consumers, courts and states, especially after verdicts have been rendered and bills tendered to scapegoat companies for payment. An already confusing and impenetrable judicial and permitting jungle will become even more perilous. However, these complex pollution issues are made vastly more complicated by the basic question of whether carbon dioxide (which humans and animals exhale and plants require to grow, "green" our planet and help ensure record crop yields) should ever be labeled a "dangerous pollutant." Even more so by the impossibility of separating "greenhouse gas" emissions from a few US petroleum companies from: all other American oil and gas, coal, agricultural, industrial, transportation and other emissions; human activities worldwide, including thousands of coal-fired power plants in China, India and dozens of other countries that have no obligation or intention of reducing their fossil fuel use anytime soon, thus increasing carbon dioxide levels (deliberately and misleadingly called "carbon pollution") in Earth's global atmosphere for decades to come; greenhouse gas emissions (and toxic air pollution) from mining, minerals processing and manufacturing to make the wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, grid-scale backup batteries, transformers and transmission lines required for a "clean, green, renewable, sustainable" energy future; and climate changes caused by natural forces throughout Earth past history, now and in the future. As litigant cities and states pursue billions in penalties and damages from these companies supposedly to cover the costs of building levees and stormwater impoundments, raising roads and bridges, and otherwise protecting communities from "increasing sea level rise" and "more frequent and intense storms" they will also have to address other inconvenient truths. For example, seas have risen naturally 400 feet since the last ice age ended 12,000 years ago. They are now rising at an easily manageable 7-12 inches per century and much of the perceived sea level rise is actually due to land subsidence in coastal cities worldwide, not rising seas. The litigants and courts will also encounter the bitter reality that the "fundamental transformation" they so earnestly seek means covering the planet with wind turbines, solar panels, transmission lines ... and the quarries and mines to build them. America already lacks sufficient EV charging stations and step-up and step-down transformers for new homes and a functional grid. Millions more will be needed in short order to reach Net Zero which means thousands of new mines, quarries, processing plants and factories. Toyota Motor Corp. calculates that "more than 300 new lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite mines are needed to meet the expected battery demand by 2035." That's essentially just for new EVs, and getting them approved and developed would likely take decades. A US energy transformation to say nothing of a global transformation would require thousands of mines, and thousands of processing facilities. The process of converting cobalt, lithium, aluminum, iron, rare earths, manganese, nickel and other ores into high-end metals is fossil-fuel-intensive, greenhouse-gas-emitting and dirty. "Reaching the nickel means cutting down swaths of rainforest," the Wall Street Journal notes. "Refining it ... involves extreme heat and high pressure, producing waste slurry that's hard to dispose of." Using little children to mine cobalt and processing rare earth elements involve legendary ecological and human rights abuses. Worse, all this is only the beginning of the planetary desecration. We're talking millions of onshore and offshore wind turbines, billions of solar panels, hundreds of thousands of miles of new transmission lines, billions of half-ton battery modules and all that goes into making them. We'll have to replace fertilizers for crops and feed stocks for thousands of products, by planting millions more acres in food and fuel crops, destroying more wildlife habitats. Turbine blades chop millions of birds and bats from the sky every year. Offshore turbines disorient whales and dolphins, causing many to beach themselves and die. Then we'll have to bury the broken, worn-out and obsolete panels, turbine blades and other equipment. The world has already installed some 100,000 wind turbines and 2.5 billion solar panels. In whose backyards will the landfills go for all this trash and the massive lakes for the waste slurries? There is nothing clean, green, renewable, sustainable or climate-friendly about any of this. The Supreme Court and courts, regulators and legislators everywhere have a lot of work to do. Paul Driessen is senior policy advisor for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of books and articles on energy, climate change, environmental policy and human rights. Home Advertisement By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri Students Union Government of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri have officially written to the school management, over their proposed massive protest Against the policies of the Rector, Arimanwa Micheal and extortion by school management. A letter, sighted by our correspondent, dated June 7, 2023 was respectively endorsed by one Okebaram Stanley and Obidianso Anthony who were identified as the SUG president and secretary of the Institution. The letter addressed to the Rector through the division of students affairs, read in full; resolution of students consultative council on the breach of agreement by the polytechnic management pertaining to the imposed schedule of the CBT exams in the first semester and restrictions attached to students inability of tuition fee payment. Sequel to the respective meetings between the Dean, Staff of the DSA, and officials of the students Union Government held on Tuesday,6th June 2023 and that of the Polytechnic management and officials of the Students Union Government held on Wednesday,7th June,2023, the students consultative council (S.C.C) of the 2022/2023 academic session write in humility to your authority to formally inform you of our unanimous stand on the breach of agreement by the polytechnic management under your authority for imposing to schedule the CBT exams in the first semester and the unbearable ultimatum for students of the Polytechnic to pay their tuition within 2days or risk the stoppage of writing their CBT exams. Sir, the Students Union Government being the Apex body of all students of the institution and the students consultative council which comprises of 11 Constituents bodies of the students Union Government have resolved in a meeting held on 8th, June 2023 that the imposition of the CBT exams to be scheduled in the first semester should be retired and that the mandatory restriction of students unable to pay their tuition from pertaining in the first semester exams should not be invoked. This resolution is in the ground of the following; The harsh economic standard of living faced with the students of the Polytechnic which barely have remedy for the time being. Also on the worrying cry and restivenes of the entire Polytechnic students who have yearned bitterly in the face of academic frustration and aggravated grievances caused by continuous Increment at a very high rate. Sir below is the list of harsh increment, induced fees, duplicated payments made by the polytechnic management under your authority and other challenges that the entire Polytechnic students are also agitating for Double payment of students identity cards and library fee, whereas these fees are already included in the schedule of students tuition fees. Our stand is that the duplicated ID cards and library fees made at the bursary and library fees respectively, should be totally scrapped out. We can not be making double payments. Course registration fees should be scrapped out, because the purpose has no stand to claim. Acceptance fee should be reduced, Olevel verification fee should be scrapped out, Unit price of textbooks should be reduced to#1,500 and grassroots implementation of content of the memo with ref FPN/R/223^/XII/27 dated 23, June 2022. Transcript fee should be reduced, cutting of shrubs, cleaning of the drains, and fumigation of the Polytechnic campus should be looked into because of the rising inhabitants of reptiles. Removal of TEDC fee. There are reported cases by students, of snakes being seen in the drains. However, the students also revealed that the incessant increment and unlawful policies of the institution management have exposed majority of them into hardship, prostitution, theft, cultism, scamming and other fraudulent activities as means for survival. The students have concluded their plans for a mass protest against the rector, starting from Monday 12, June 2022. Related Advertisement Nigerian actor, Bolanle Ninalowo has has featured in blockbuster Hollywood film Extraction 2,. He announced it on his Instagram page while taking part in the filming in South Africa. The A-list Nollywood act via his Instagram page, shared some fun videos of his feature in the Netflix movie. Fondly called Makanaki, the 43-year-old movie star said it feels great to work with the cast and crew of Extraction 2. So much fun at the Extraction2 fan facing event, the post accompanying caption reads. Bolanle Ninalowo is well renowned for his American accent and convincing portrayals in movie. Before returning to Nigeria, the towering actor spent 15 years living in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States of America. After a string of films in which he appeared, including his 2010 debut feature Rebirth, he gained prominence in 2014. Bolanle Ninalowo is popularly known for his excellent performances in Nollywood movies and for his American accent. The hulky actor lived in the United States of America, Chicago to be precise for 15 years before relocating back to Nigeria. He made his first debut production, Rebirth in 2010, and came to limelight in 2014, following series of films he starred in. Over the past few years, Bolanle has made a name for himself and is often regarded as one of Nollywoods hunks. Bolanle has established himself over the past few years and often gets referred to as one of Nollywoods hunks. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has given approval to investigate Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. This comes after Abiodun was accused of using N5 billion in bank-linked vouchers to influence the outcome of the March 18 gubernatorial election. These accusations come from a petition lodged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun, Ladi Adebutu. Adebutu claims that Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in vote buying, electoral violence, and voter intimidation. Through his lawyer Ehi Uwaifoh, Adebutu further accused Abiodun of enticing voters with pre-loaded gift cards valued at N10,000 and N5,000 each. He claims the N5 billion spent on these cards breaches the N1 billion financing limit established by the Electoral Act, 2022. In a letter dated May 8, Idris Abubakar, the principal staff officer to the Inspector General, directed the Ogun police command to examine the governors alleged vote-buying scheme. Abubakars letter includes a directive from the Inspector General, stating, The inspector-general of police directs that you deal with the complaint and report findings. As of now, Governor Abiodun has not responded to the allegations. In his petition, Adebutu, who is challenging the governors election victory at the governorship election petitions tribunal, listed 16 people allegedly involved in using armed thugs to intimidate PDP supporters and voters. Reports suggest that these suspected APC supporters also disrupted the tribunal hearing that was reviewing the legitimacy of Abioduns election victory. Adebutu has previously accused the Inspector General of Police of ignoring his complaint regarding suspected vote-buying and other electoral misconduct by the Ogun governor. In a lawsuit, where Adebutu and nine others are being charged, the police declared that the governor candidate was at large. See the petition below: The Senate on Tuesday passed some resolutions to review relevant laws that will provide for stiffer sanctions for perpetrators of rape in the country. The decision of the senate followed a motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Sen. Rose Oko (PDP-Cross River North), titled Rising incidence of rape of minors. The senate also directed its committees on Judiciary, Police Affairs, Women Affairs and Social Development, when reconstituted, to interface with relevant stakeholders to strategise on implementation of all legislation and policies aimed at protecting minors from rapists and other forms of violence. The senate also directed the committees to review relevant legislation with a view to providing stiffer penalties against sexual abuse of minors in the country. It further urged the Police and other law enforcement agencies to conduct mandatory training for officers in dealing with rape cases and young victims of abuse. It also urged the Judiciary to establish national sentencing framework for child sexual abuse cases and judicial officers, to impose stiffer penalties on perpetrators of all forms of abuses against minors. The lawmakers further urged state governments to domesticate and implement the Child Rights Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, to curb the issues of sexual abuse of minors. Furthermore, it urged the general public to continue to act as watchdogs to curb child sexual abuse and other forms of violent abuse. Oko, who brought the motion through Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Rule, said the rising incidences of rape of infants and minors in parts of the country are worrisome. She said that six out of every 10 Nigerians were being raped on daily basis. The lawmaker noted the shocking rape story of a six-month old baby in Kano and other cases of students being raped by their teachers and lecturers in the nations institutions were issues of concern to the parliament. She lamented that law enforcement agencies had not lived up to their responsibilities in checking the increasing wave of rape in the country. She therefore called on the senate to evolve ways of providing stiffer measures to serve as deterrent to rapists. Contributing, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APCLagos Central) also described rape of minors as extreme wickedness and called for imposition of death sentence on offenders. The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta Central), in his contribution, noted that the country had sufficient laws on rape but lacked the will power to enforce such laws. He therefore called on the Red Chamber to review the existing laws. Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (PDP-Enugu North) also observed that not much was being done on sex education in the nations public and private schools for the purpose of educating the children on steps to take when they felt prey to rapists, urging for inclusion of sex education in the education curriculum. Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP-Enugu East) said that rape victims would suffer stigma by society and rejection by spouse. He urged hospital authorities to have rape counselling unit to handle the victims. Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, The Consul General, CG, of Nigeria in New York, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, on Tuesday, advised jobless and homeless Nigerians in the United States to return home, saying that the consulate was ready to assist those willing to return. Speaking at a conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hosted by the consulate in New York, Okoyen disclosed that the provision of accommodation for homeless Nigerians was not part of the consulates mandate. According to him, the best his office can do in such circumstance is to counsel affected persons, NAN reports. The CG was responding to appeals by some conference participants, who drew his attention to the plight of many Nigerians suffering in the streets of New York and elsewhere in the country. The consul general, who admitted that many Nigerians were truly suffering, said that only persons living honestly in the US were entitled to consular services in an event of ill treatment. When they come to us we always advise them that home is home. It is not part of our mandate to start looking for accommodation for you here. What we can do is that if you are unjustly treated, we intervene with the relevant authorities to make sure that your right is respected. And that means that your stay here is legal; you must also not have committed any crime that warrants whatever treatment that you are getting. We will at all times intervene in circumstances like that. But the best thing is that if you have nothing doing, I advise you go back home, he said. The consul general also solicited the support and partnership of the Nigerian community especially in the area of information sharing on the conditions of fellow citizens in the country. We need to know what is going on also, because we dont know everything that is going on. People need to inform us about what is going on. Once that is done we would be able to know what next step to take. Again, partnership is key. The Nigerian mission is a resource that you have. We are your representatives that you can run to at any point in time. That is very important, he said One of the participants, Ms Bernadine Uzor painted a gloomy picture of the living condition of many Nigerians in the U.S. Uzor, who is the Coordinator of Asabe Shehu YarAdua Foundation, said that homelessness was a serious issue for the Nigerian community. He, therefore, pleaded with the consulate to help through the provision of accommodation. Acting on false impression, many of our people come here from Nigeria only to start suffering and dying in the streets of America. I put some of them in churches, because when I find them in the streets, I am not happy about it. I have somebody right now dying in a shelter, and the people dont care. They just want to see that the woman dies so they can throw her away. I want to know what you are doing about our children who are deceived from home with false stories of America being a heaven, only to come here and discover that it is a different story, she said. Adenike Oyejide, another participant and Vice Chairperson of the African Advisory Council, Bronx, New York, said that Africans in the Diaspora were part of the problem. Oyejide said that that besides promoting corruption back home, they usually paint false pictures of America, a situation which encouraged their family members, friends and relations to think that money grew on trees in the country. Starting from some years ago, some of us encouraged the politicians to come here and buy houses worth millions of dollars when you and I working here in the rain, sun and winter cannot afford to buy a 100,000 dollar home cash. Two, some of us when we go home, we paint a different picture of what America is all about. Most of us do not tell our people the truth that in America you dont pluck dollars from trees. If you work for a white man or even black man in this country, if you dont work for an hour you will get nothing. Even that one hour pay, they will deduct the taxes and give you the change. When we go home and they tell us they want to come to America, we encourage them even when we know they dont have enough education or skills to be relevant here. For me, that is human trafficking because you dont tell that person the right thing. We dont ask them what they want to do here. They come here and become a problem. So, we in the Diaspora should start rethinking and refocus what we say when we go home of have a phone call with our people, she said. The US has honoured Abdullahi Abubakar, the 83-year-old Muslim cleric who hid over 200 people, including Christians, during an attack in Plateau state last year. Abubakar and four others from Sudan, Brazil, Iraq and Cyprus were honoured with the first-ever International Religious Freedom Award (IRFA). In June 2018, Abubakar hid over 200 people he saw fleeing an attack in Barkin Ladi local government area at a mosque in Nghar Yelwa, his village, saving them from their attackers. Abubakar had explained that he gambled with his life to save them. The US Department of State said Abubakar was selected for the award after he, selflessly risked his own life to save members of another religious community, who would have likely been killed without his intervention. In 2005, Chris Ekpenyong made history in Nigeria: he was impeached as the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state but was hurriedly returned to that position in less than seven days. The members of the state house of assembly reversed the impeachment after the intervention of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, although Ekpenyong was forced to resign afterwards. Fourteen years later, he has bounced back to secure a place at the senate, defeating Godswill Akpabio, an uncommon senator, in Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial district. Akpabios defeat was shocking to say the least: Apart from being being an incumbent senator, he was a two-time governor who practically had Akwa Ibom as his chessboard. And you wouldnt believe Ekpenyong defeated him with more than double his votes, after securing 136,373 votes as against the senators 67,487. So, who is Chris Ekpenyong? Born on September 29, 1954, Ekpenyong is a HND holder in electrical and electronic engineering. He holds a masters degree in business administration from Kensington University, Glendale, California, in America. He was the deputy governor during Victor Attahs tenure until 2005 when he was impeached on grounds of abuse of office, gross misconduct and disregard for constituted authority. HOW HE FELL OUT WITH ATTAH Attah is believed to have masterminded Ekpenyongs impeachment. The two fell out after his then deputy endorsed Obasanjo to become the PDP presidential candidate at the partys presidential primary in January 2003, contrary to Attahs wish. The former governor had instructed Akwa Ibom delegates to support Alex Ekwueme, late former vice president, who was challenging Obasanjo for the PDP ticket. In addition to this, Attah was said to have been paving way for Udoma Ekarika, his son-in-law, to succeed him as governor in 2007, a position Ekpenyong was eyeing as well. He was impeached not long after the PDP presidential primary but Obasanjo quickly intervened. He sent a powerful delegation led by Tony Anenih, then-chairman of the PDP board of trustees, to resolve the issue leading to the reversal of the impeachment. Ekpenyong eventually resigned but was unable to secure the PDP nomination for the governorship election. HOW HE FOUGHT FOR AKWA IBOM AS DEPUTY GOVERNOR In an interview in 2017, the senator-elect spoke of his struggles as the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state. He recalled how he pleaded with Obasanjo over the states allocation. The PDP candidate said he knelt down before Obasanjo, begging for the state to get its due share of the federal government allocation. He had said: Between the periods I was with Obong Attah, we were receiving only about N600M as our monthly allocation. I remembered vividly kneeling down for 45 minutes, begging former President Obasanjo when we were short-changed from what was accrued to the state and he approved N600 million for us. That was when I got to know the wage bill of the state at that time as the deputy governor. I called the accountant general of the State who told me that the wage bill of the state was N1.1 billion. Probably, that was why people said I exercised so much influence on the government of Obong Attah. I wrote to former President Obasanjo, appealing to him for increase in our allocation, while also playing the role of a mediator. Probably, at the federal level Obong Attah was misconstrued. KNOCKED GOODLUCK JONATHAN Ekpenyong was also a critic of Former President Goodluck Jonathan who he once accused of wasting the six years of his administration. In an interview with Sun, he said this was because the former president neglected the people of the south-south region. According to him, I blame my political party that when we had a chance with our son from the South South for six years, we did not make good use of it. It was six years of wasted service as far as I am concerned. Yes, (it was a wasted period). Where is the road to even his village? Not to talk of other major roads that should have been a priority to him. Today, when people are criticising Buhari for not looking at us, I laugh. Somebody has to look at where he comes from. That is Nigerian politics for you. THREATENED THE EXPOSE AKPABIO In the build up of the elections, Ekpenyong threatened to unleash Akpabios secret deals. The former governor was alleged to have said Ekpenyong deceived him into defecting from the PDP to the APC. But the former deputy governor had denied the allegation and said he would expose the senator if he continues to attack him. Assuming someone gave that kind of advice and agreed, it means someone can ask him to go and jump into the river and he would obey? If he continues to attack me, I will unleash his records of secret deals,he had said. I am happy that generally, people know Akpabio to be an uncommon liar; he cannot continue to fool everybody all the times with his lies. I want to implore all of you to go back to your various local governments to begin your campaign for effective change in our zones. Share this: Is Hizbullah preparing for total war with Israel? By Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah web posted June 12, 2023 Screenshot of a Hizbullah military exercise in southern Lebanon on May 21, 2023 (RT Arabic) Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah's latest speech replied to IDF warnings not to commit one mistake too many that could lead to a total war on several fronts. Nasrallah declared that Israel was the one which should be cautious as it faces Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), and "occupied Palestine." As if to challenge Israel and illustrate what he meant, Hizbullah conducted two military exhibitions to which the foreign and local press were invited on the 23rd anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the security zone in south Lebanon. Hizbullah's drill objective was to destroy a defensive wall erected by Israel on the border with Lebanon. Breaching the defensive barrier would involve creating several breaches in the wall to enable Hizbullah elite units to storm Israeli villages and "conquer" parts of the Galilee. Hizbullah's spokesman emphasized that those drills were offensive tactics against Israel and not defensive. The idea of Hizbullah invading the north of Israel is not new. The operational plan to conquer the Galilee was first raised on February 16, 2011, when Nasrallah told his fighters to be prepared to conquer the Galilee should Israel launch a war against Hizbullah. The fighting force was composed at the time of five brigades, each with a pre-designated combat zone in northern Israel: Brigade 1 will take over the town of Nahariya or parts of it. Brigade 2 will take over the town of Shlomi. Brigade 3 was ordered to reach the town of Carmiel and conquer areas south of it. Brigade 4 would take over the communities of Malkiya, Ramot Naftali, and Yiftach. Brigade 5 will serve as a strategic reserve force for special missions. However, this plan, which included the active participation of Syria, was postponed because of the Syrian civil war and the fact that Hizbullah had to send its troops to fight in Syria at the orders of Iran to save Assad's Alawite regime from collapse. Since the massive return of Hizbullah's units to Lebanon, there's little no doubt that this operational plan has been modified to suit the present conditions in the field and the changes in the Hizbullah fighting force. With the return of Syria to the Arab fold and the seeming end of the civil war, Hizbullah may believe the time has come to revive this plan and put it back on the movement's top priority agenda. In his speech, Nasrallah said that the struggle with Israel has not ended since parts of the "Lebanese homeland were still under Israeli occupation." Nasrallah was referring to three issues: A. The tunnel that links Lebanon and Israel on the seashore border crossing of Rosh Haniqra (Nakoura for the Lebanese). B. The Sheba'a farms adjacent to the Golan Heights. C. "Seven villages" in northern Israel abandoned by their Shiite residents during the 1948 independence war. The territorial issue is high on Hizbullah's agenda with Israel. However, to concretize Nasrallah's vision, Hizbullah understands that it could be facilitated only if and when Israel faces a united front led by Iranian proxies extending from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the West Bank, Gaza, and far to the south in Yemen. Against all logic, since the Shiite community suffered during the years of the "Palestinian occupation" of southern Lebanon in the 1970s, Hizbullah has endorsed the Palestinian cause, has become its champion and chief promoter, and is closely coordinating its efforts with the two Palestinian terrorist organizations linked to Iran: Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Moreover, Hizbullah assesses that such a plan could reinforce Hizbullah in its struggle against Israel, facilitated by the Israeli failure to establish an Arab-anti-Iranian alliance and with the waning influence of the United States in the Middle East. Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah, a special analyst for the Middle East at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, was formerly Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence. Home Both the DSS and Nigeria Police have deployed their men to secure the premises, barring even secretariat staff, visitors, and journalist from entering, and the building locked down for now. IGP Mohammed Adamu met with the two sides on Friday, warning the two factional leaders of the NWCNational Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and his northeast Vice Chairman Salihu Mustaphato calm down and not take law into their hands. The unrest became intensified Thursday when Oshiomhole got a counter order against an FCT high court order suspending him. The counter order came from a Kano federal high court presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa. Both factions now have a court order each to lay claim to and resent each time they go to the IGP for protection during rallies and counter-rallies. Oshiomhole has been battling internal opposition for the better part of his tenure so far. Hes accused of high handedness and rigidity, which many said led to the APC guber losses in Zamfara and Imo, though the party eventually claimed the Imo victory. But the former governor said some governors and a minister are after him because of 2023. PV: 0 BLOOMINGTON Increased demand to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect in the Bloomington-Normal area prompted a fast-track approach to hiring state workers on Monday. Hundreds of applicants from across the region showed up at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 10 Brickyard Drive, Bloomington, for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' inaugural "On-the-Spot" hiring event. Organizers were looking to fill roughly 100 positions in the area, including child welfare specialists, child protection specialists, child welfare trainees and child protection trainees. Jassen Strokosch, chief of staff for DCFS, said the event consolidated the steps needed to qualify for a job with the state agency. "If you're a candidate, you just move from table to table with your paperwork," he said. "You get all those things knocked out, and at the end, you leave us some fingerprints and a background check being run and a conditional offer if you meet the qualifications." The expedited hiring process reduces the turnaround time needed to make an employment offer by 80%, officials said. Bilingual Spanish-speaking child protection specialists and child welfare specialists also remain in high demand. Strokosch said there has been some uptick in the Bloomington-Normal area over the last year in terms of investigations, and more staff is needed in the agency to accommodate the workload and fill vacancies. There have been 437 investigations since Jan. 1, a little under half of the 1,262 investigation conducted in the prior year. Previous year totals were: 2021: 1,292 2020: 1,121 2019: 1,149 Statewide, there have been 47,398 investigations since Jan. 1, a little under half of the 98,289 investigations conducted in the prior year. Previous year totals included 96,568 investigations in 2021, 83,692 investigations in 2020 and 91,140 investigations in 2019. "One of the things that's unique about DCFS is our staffing levels go up and down depending on what kind of demand we have for services," Strokosch said. "If we have more investigations coming in, we need more staff and we adjust that in real time." DCFS considers candidates who have a bachelor's or master's degree in human services, education, criminal justice, administration or law enforcement, Strokosch said. He said the agency hosted a similar event in Rockford last week and had almost 200 applicants walk out with a job offer. "I would have loved something like this, especially since it's different than a college recruitment event and is very targeted on those qualified people who live and work in and around this community," said Heather Tarczan, director of communications at Illinois DCFS. "It's a really unique opportunity to be a part of a innovative organization." While DCFS oversees child welfare in Illinois, it does not do so alone. The state contracts with private organizations throughout the state that administer foster care and other child care services. Monday's event targeted people to work for DCFS, but Strokosch said the agency could partner with those private sector organizations down the road to connect them with applicants. "Normally, we're at hiring fairs and universities and in all of those we partner up with the private sector," Strokosch said. "We really see child welfare, whether you're at the state or private (level), all are part of the whole system, so we want to see them succeed as well." Among the applicants was Aleisha Mack, from Joliet, who learned about the event on the state's employment opportunities web site and thought it would be worth trying out since she had been applying for some time but never received a call back. Mack said she was able to work with DCFS staff one-on-one and receive detailed answers for questions about certain job positions and learn that she qualified for a higher position. "I had a lot of anxiety on the way in but I got here, I saw a lot more people than I expected and it like the focus wasn't just on me and made me feel a little relieved," Mack said. "Even with the workers walking and everybody helping you, it made for a welcoming and comfortable process." A full list of job openings is available online at dcfsjobs.illinois.gov. Close Visitors walk through a corridor of quilt during the third annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Cathy Hiser of Charleston, Chrissy Leitch of Mattoon, Evelyn Webb of Decatur, and Beth Covington of Mattoon look over a display of small quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild Membership Chair Noemi Bowers, at center, talks to Jan Booker of Charleston and Norma Himes of Mattoon about the guilds display of miniature quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild President Lisa Baermann, seated, takes viewers' choice nominations and raffle tickets from Debby Schoonover of Mattoon and Louise Duncan of Trowbridge during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. The raffle was for the guild's 64-by-82-inch "Into the Light" quilt, seen behind them. Jan Booker of Charleston talks about the adjacent student-made quilt during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Her son, Jason Booker, and his classmates at Mattoon's Columbian Elementary made this quilt for retiring teacher Jane Edgar in the early 1980s. 2023 Outdoor Quilt Show at Lytle Park The Mattoon-based Prairie Stitchers and the Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild held their annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Visitors walk through a corridor of quilt during the third annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Cathy Hiser of Charleston, Chrissy Leitch of Mattoon, Evelyn Webb of Decatur, and Beth Covington of Mattoon look over a display of small quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild Membership Chair Noemi Bowers, at center, talks to Jan Booker of Charleston and Norma Himes of Mattoon about the guilds display of miniature quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild President Lisa Baermann, seated, takes viewers' choice nominations and raffle tickets from Debby Schoonover of Mattoon and Louise Duncan of Trowbridge during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. The raffle was for the guild's 64-by-82-inch "Into the Light" quilt, seen behind them. Jan Booker of Charleston talks about the adjacent student-made quilt during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Her son, Jason Booker, and his classmates at Mattoon's Columbian Elementary made this quilt for retiring teacher Jane Edgar in the early 1980s. 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. Invest in Kids voucher update: Thanks to the efforts of our IEA members and other organizations emailing and calling their legislators, the Invest in Kids Act will NOT be extended beyond its current sunset. This is a win for public education. Thank you for your work on this! Illinois Education Association (@ieanea) May 30, 2023 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. INVEST IN KIDS HOW IT WORKS: People and corporations can donate money for private school scholarships in exchange for an income tax credit. A handful of nonprofits process applications and distribute the aid. WHAT HAPPENED: The newly enacted state budget does not include an extension of Invest in Kids beyond the next school year. WHAT'S NEXT: Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said he would consider renewing the program, in modified form, if lawmakers approve it in the fall legislative session. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Flag Day is June 14National Flag Day in the United States of America is June 14. The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag. But it wasnt until Aug. 3, 1949, when President Harry Truman signed it into law for Flag Day to be June 14. Some people choose not to understand the symbolism in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and try to create controversy that we should not be pledging to a piece of cloth. However, a closer look at the pledge reveals the words and to the Republic for which it stands. Some choose not to stand when the flag passes, or refuse to recite the pledge. They do not understand nor appreciate the irony of their behavior, in that it is this country that protects their right not to stand or recite the pledge. Many men and women have made great sacrifices while serving in the military so that the rights in our constitution are protected for all of us. Happy 248th birthday to the ArmyBesides celebrating Flag Day June 14, that date also celebrates the 248th birthday of the United States Army. The army was established in 1775, even before the Declaration of Independence was signed, and consisted of volunteer soldiers with roots in the Continental Army. It was formed to fight the Revolutionary War, which our founding fathers could see on the horizon. On June 14, fly your American flag and your Army flag to show your pride in America and the United States Army! VA clinic masking requirements The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has relaxed the masking requirement at VA medical facilities. VA facilities will no longer universally require masks in most clinical areas, except for the highest-risk areas and situations, such as transplant units, dialysis, chemotherapy units, emergency and urgent care, open bay medical intensive care units, and spinal cord injury and community living centers. During the pandemic the VA conducted care for more than 332 million appointments serving 870,000 veterans with COVID-19 and vaccinating more than 4.4 million veterans. Traveling Korean War memorial Q: I have visited a traveling Vietnam War memorial wall several times over the years at different places. I have not seen where there is a similar traveling exhibit for the Korean War (the forgotten war). Is there a traveling Korean War memorial? If there is, does it ever come to the Midwest? A: Yes, there is. The Traveling Korean War Memorial will be displayed June 23-26 at Lake Park at 2200 Lee St. in Des Plaines. The memorial consists of 19 soldiers walking through a Korean rice paddy and includes four statistical signs, one 4-by-8-foot The Forgotten War sign, and a sign requesting silence to show respect. If you are unable to go to Washington, D.C., to see the actual Korean War Memorial, this traveling display evokes the same emotional, spiritual and respectful gratitude to those who served in The Forgotten War. Q: I hear a lot about services and resources for veterans who have issues with post-traumatic stress disorder. Are there any events concerning PTSD scheduled soon in Central Illinois? A: Several groups provide these opportunities for veterans, including Moraine View R&R, Hooah, Central Illinois Veterans Warriors and others. Gateway Family Services of Illinois has just announced its first veterans-only retreat set for June 23. This retreat will include equine-related activities, hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddle boards and more. The retreat will focus on strategies to help veterans manage stress and mental health. The retreat is free! Reservations are required. Visit gatewayfamilyservices.org/veterans for more information and registration. This retreat will be conducted in Potomac, near Danville. Quote of the dayIn these times of questioning the American experience and the values which our Constitution promotes, the following quote is well worth considering. For we know when a nation goes down and never comes back, when a society or a civilization perishes, one condition may always be found. They forgot where they came from. They lost sight of what brought them along. Carl Sandburg Photos: Biden marks Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery About this story This story is part of a series looking at area lawmakers' takeaways from the recent legislative session. Sen. Sally Turner is a Republican who resides in Beason and represents the 44th Senate District. She was the Logan County Clerk for 24 years. She was appointed to the Illinois Senate in 2021 and elected to her first full term in 2022. Key votes State budget: No. Withhold state funds from libraries that ban books: No. Permitting all-gender, multi-occupancy bathrooms: No. Barring deceptive practices from anti-abortion pregnancy centers: No. Lifting moratorium on new nuclear plants: Yes. Bills sponsored Senate Bill 73 : Makes it a Class X felony for anyone to sell or distribute a scheduled drug, such as Adderall or Vicodin, that is laced with a detectable amount of fentanyl. (did not pass) : Makes it a Class X felony for anyone to sell or distribute a scheduled drug, such as Adderall or Vicodin, that is laced with a detectable amount of fentanyl. (did not pass) Senate Bill 279 : Would make school zone speed apply during the whole school day instead of just when children are present. (did not pass) : Would make school zone speed apply during the whole school day instead of just when children are present. (did not pass) Senate Bill 1376: Prior to referring a homeless family with school age children to a shelter, an agency must consider the military status of any member of the family to determine eligibility for state and federal benefits. (passed) Successes from session Turner said she was satisfied with increases in funding for K-12 schools and state universities. She was also glad to see line items increase for the need-based Monetary Assistance Program and the merit-based Aim High Grant Program. She said the budget process was much better this year than in past years. We didn't get all the issues addressed that we wanted, but at least our budgeteers Sen. Chapin Rose and Sen. Don DeWitte were there. And that, I think, is something that is refreshing to see. But we still need to work together for all the issues of Illinoisans, not just the ones that (Democrats) choose to address. Disappointments from session Turner said she wanted to see a larger increase in hourly wages for direct service professionals, who work in group homes that serve the developmentally disabled. She also wanted to see more guidelines for wind and solar projects to mitigate the impact on rural communities. And she wanted to see business-friendly changes to the states toughest-in-the-nation biometric privacy law. We need to make sure that we keep bringing businesses into the state of Illinois and retain them. That's extremely important for our tax base. We want to be a welcoming state for business. And I think BIPA was something that was very important that we missed out on. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has told world leaders and captains of industry to divert a chunk of their investments into Ghana and Africas agricultural sector for good returns. Ghana and Africa, he noted, are the worlds biggest hope for global food security by 2050, hence an investment in the continents agricultural sector is the surest bet one can ever make on his or her investment. He has therefore assured them of Ghana and for that matter the rest of Africas readiness to provide them with the conducive and enabling environment for their investment. Ghana and Africa are ready to receive your investment in this era of our agricultural transformation, he noted. Delivering his keynote address as the Special Guest of Honor at the African Investors Council Forum in Turkey on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, under the theme Agricultural Development and Investment Opportunities in Africa (Ghana as a case study), Dr. Akoto said Ghana and Africa possess the greatest potentials to feeding 9.7billion people globally by 2050. This, he said, could be achieved if Ghana and Africa are able to align themselves properly by strengthening all sectors of their economies and transforming agriculture sustainably, believing that the transformational drive could propel the continent to be the driving force in an emerging economic order in the areas of Food, Renewable Energy, Water and Big Data. According to Dr. Akoto, despite the impacts of COVID-19 and the effects of climate change on agricultural production as well as political unrest across the continent, macroeconomic instability, and the raging debt crisis that many African governments face, the agricultural sector offers immense and significant opportunities for transforming Africas economy from a net importer of food to the provider of food to the rest of the world. According to analysis by McKsiney, if agricultural development gets the necessary financial investment, smallholders across Africa could produce two to three times more cereals and gains. In turn, this would add 20% more cereals and grains to the current worldwide annual output of 2.6billion tones. With a strong belief that Africa could become the food basket to the rest of the world, Dr. Akoto went on to challenge all African governments, the private sector and anyone who has a stake in the economic development of Africa, to explore a new strategy to unlock the wealth of the continent for the direct benefit of the people in a meaningful and sustainable way. It is time we stop perceiving Africa as a potential investment destination but as an actual investment choice for Regional Trade and Foreign Direct Investments. It is time to create more mutually beneficial opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration with the African continent. To achieve this would require collaboration and political will of international actors to provide a level playing field in global trade making it more fair and mutually rewarding, he asserted. Zero in on Ghana as the best destination of choice for investors, the former Food and Agricultural Minister highlighted the strong foundation he has laid for the West African nations agricultural sector, combining policies with regulations to achieve sustained rapid economic growth. Under my tenure as the Minister for Food and Agriculture in Ghana, in 2019, I initiated the establishment of the Tree Crop Development Authority under an Act of Parliament, Act 1010. The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), established in 2020, seeks to coordinate and promote the development of six tree crops cashew, rubber, oil palm, coconut, mango and Shea. The goal of the Authority is to develop, produce, and distribute the selected cash crop seedlings to farmers so as to produce and generate a combined potential of export earnings between US$6 to US$12 billion per year after 8-10 years of implementation. At their full development, the additional US$6 to US$12 billion per year in earnings can substantially increase the less than US$2billion annual earnings from cocoa, the current highest foreign exchange earner for Ghana for over a century, he emphasized. Dr. Akoto further took his audience through the establishment of the National Cocoa Rehabilitation Program which was designed to put in measures to support the private sector to scale up cocoa production, expand local cocoa processing, promote market expansion of the export of cocoa products into new markets and for vigorous promotion to boost domestic and international consumption.He also spoke highly of the construction of Greenhouse Training Centers with attached commercial units at Dawhenya, Akumadan and Bawjiase for the training of 537 youth in high-quality vegetable production. "The creation of a Poultry Development Authority, Grains Development Authority (yet to be passed by Parliament) and the Horticultural Development Authority (at Cabinet) and a proposed legislation requiring all commercial banks to increase loanable funds to agriculture and its value chains are all veritable initiatives under my tenure to make the Agric sector the brain hub to achieve Ghanas economic independence and in other words wean itself from excessive borrowing . The recent experiences from Ghana clearly indicate that prioritizing public resources to promote agriculture in general and the interest of smallholdings can yield very positive results in the effort to transform the Agricultural sector in African economies. These positive impacts open up new investment opportunities in agro-processing and other businesses down the value chain. Serving the burgeoning domestic urban and export markets should generate the foreign exchange and domestic revenues needed to fund industry, education, health, roads and other infrastructure, he posited. Invest in women in agriculture Dr. Akoto, who is also a former two-time Member of Parliament for Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region said for agriculture to experience exponential growth in the African continent, much will depend on women who contribute to over 70% of food production. He has therefore, charged African governments to prioritize investing in women in the agriculture sector. Source: Peacefmonline.comn 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 Audio Attachment: Listen to Akwasi Acquah on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' programme NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Oda constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah has testified about the character of former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, who is eyeing the flagbearer position of the party. The ruling New Patriotic Party is gearing up for its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer to lead the party into the 2024 elections. While the party awaits the day, ten candidates have picked their nomination forms to contest the race. Among the ten are Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister; Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Assin Central MP; Kennedy Agyapong, former Agriculture Minister; Dr. Afriyie Akoto, former Energy Minister; Boakye Agyarko, former Railways and Development Minister; Joe Ghartey and the former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. Although all the candidates are eager to win the election, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has presented himself as no joke but rather to give all the candidates a run for their money. Kwabena Agyapong hopes to come top at the end of the primaries and become the flagbearer but there may be a problem with his chances of winning the election. According to Akwasi Acquah, though Kwabena AgyApong is fine gentleman and equally bears the qualities to become the party's Presidential candidate, he is very stingy. Hon. Akwasi Acquah noted that one cannot underestimate the role that money plays in politics and its impact on delegates or electorates, seemingly to say Mr. Agyepong's difficulty to spend money on the delegates doesn't speak good of him. "One thing that people say against him is that he is stingy. He doesn't like to pay," he said while giving his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' morning show. The Akim Oda MP however wished Mr. Agyepong good luck in the race. "If Kwabena Agyapong becomes President today, I will become a Minister straight. I will definitely get a post" in his government, he told Kwami Sefa Kayi. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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: Collage with Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company ads from the 1800s, a smudge stick and New Age meditation group at the Snoqualmie Moondance festival in 1992. Credit: Deb Berger/Iowa State University Sarah Dees pulls several yellow-tinged booklets out of plastic bags. Flipping through one titled "Life Among the Indians," she points out sections on ceremonies and customs. Toward the back are ads for so-called "Indian remedies," products like "Kickapoo Indian Sagwa" and "Kickapoo Indian Worm Killer." Dees, an assistant professor of American religions at Iowa State University, explains the booklets were part of a larger marketing campaign by the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company. It was founded in 1881 by two Euro-American men, one of whom claimed a Kickapoo healer had saved his life with "Sagwa" and divulged its secret ingredients. "While the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company no longer exists, there are many examples today of companies that appropriate Indigenous cultures to turn a profit," says Dees. "By examining these historical instances of cultural appropriation, we can better understand more recent forms that have spread over the course of the 19th and 21st centuries and grapple with tough questions about appropriation vs. appreciation." In a new peer-reviewed paper, Dees emphasizes it's common for people to draw from other cultures. But misrepresenting cultures or "hijacking narratives" for economic gain can cause harm, especially when unequal power dynamics are at play. Dees shows how the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company pushed stereotypes and claimed authority on Indigenous cultures to sell products to non-Native consumers. She also highlights several ironies. As "Indian remedies" became mainstream, the U.S. government rolled out policies to restrict Indigenous healing and spiritual practices, which Dees explains are often intertwined. Kickapoo Indian Company In the late 1800s, Dees says there was growing interest in "medicines purported to draw on Native American medicinal knowledge." Part of this was a backlash to the Industrial Revolution and Western medicine's harsh, sometimes deadly treatments, like bloodletting and mercury compounds. The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company advertised its remedies as harmless (because they were all natural) but also powerful in their ability to help people "achieve total well-being." The company frequently did this by exploiting the image of the "noble savage," a trope of an Indigenous person uncorrupted by civilization, morally pure and living in harmony with nature. Dees says one of the reasons this stereotype is problematic is because it suggests Indigenous people must stay in the past to be authentic. The Age of Aquarius The number of Indian medicine companies declined with the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. But interest in Native American healing practices by non-Native people resurfaced again during the latter half of the 20th century. Dees explains an eclectic set of practices emerged with the New Age movement, which drew from earlier spiritualist ideas (e.g., seances, hypnotism,) eastern religions, old European pagan traditions and Indigenous ceremonies. "One of the big critiques of New Age practices is that they're very individualistic. It's this idea that you can buy a blessing or pay $1,000 for a sweat lodge for your own personal betterment when Indigenous religious practices are communal and specific to a nation or a subgroup within that nation," says Dees. This extraction of spiritual practices makes it harder for Indigenous communities to control narratives about the history and purpose of their traditions. Some also worry that sharing certain ceremonies and sacred sites with outsiders reduces their potency. In her paper, Dees points to the 1993 Lakota Summit in which 500 members passed the "Declaration of War against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality." It denounced the long process of "having [their] most precious Lakota ceremonies and spiritual practices desecrated, mocked and abused by non-Indian 'wannabes,' hucksters, cultists, commercial profiteers and self-styled 'New Age shamans' and their followers." Cultural appreciation vs. appropriation Whether it's Victoria's Secret models wearing headdresses or sage smudge sticks sold on Amazon, companies continue to profit from Indigenous cultures and healing practices. But Dees says there's also been more interest in finding the line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. "If someone's curious or unsure, I really encourage going to the source and finding multiple perspectives. You can learn a lot from Indigenous artists, writers and musicians because they're going to share stories from their lives and communities that they feel comfortable sharing," says Dees. "But also, I think it's good to remember that sometimes there are multiple perspectives. People's outlooks within one nation may differ greatly." She also recommends that people who are interested in Native designs support Indigenous artists rather than buy 'Native-inspired' knockoffs. More information: Dees, Sarah. Before and Beyond the New Age: Historical Appropriation of Native American Medicine and Spirituality / Antes Y Mas Alla De La Nueva Era: Apropiacion Historica De La Medicina Y La Espiritualidad De Los Nativos Americanos. American Religion, vol. 4 no. 2, 2023, p. 17-44. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/article/896071 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: SN Zwicky. Credit: Joel Johansson, Stockholm University. According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, time and space are fused together in a quantity known as spacetime. The theory suggests that massive objects, like a galaxy or galaxy clusters, can cause spacetime to curve. Gravitational lensing is a rare yet observable example of Einstein's theory in action; the mass of a large celestial body can significantly bend light as it travels through spacetime, much like a magnifying lens. When light from a more distant light source passes by this lens, scientists can use the resulting visual distortions to view objects that would otherwise be too far away and too faint to be seen. An international team of scientists, including University of Maryland astronomer Igor Andreoni, recently discovered an exceptionally rare gravitationally lensed supernova, which the team named "SN Zwicky." Located more than 4 billion light years away, the supernova was magnified nearly 25 times by a foreground galaxy acting as a lens. The discovery presents a unique opportunity for astronomers to learn more about the inner cores of galaxies, dark matter and the mechanics behind universe expansion. The researchers published their findingsincluding a comprehensive analysis, spectroscopic data and imaging of SN Zwickyin the journal Nature Astronomy on June 12, 2023. "The discovery of SN Zwicky not only showcases the remarkable capabilities of modern astronomical instruments but also represents a significant step forward in our quest to understand the fundamental forces shaping our universe," said the paper's lead author Ariel Goobar, who is also the director of the Oskar Klein Center at Stockholm University. Credit: University of Maryland Initially detected at the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), SN Zwicky was quickly flagged as an object of interest due to its unusual brightness. Then, using adaptive optics instruments on the W.M. Keck Observatory, the Very Large Telescopes and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the team observed four images of SN Zwicky taken from different positions in the sky and confirmed that gravitational lensing was behind the supernova's extraordinary radiance. According to Andreoni, who is a postdoctoral associate in UMD's Department of Astronomy and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, supernovae like SN Zwicky play a crucial role in helping scientists measure cosmic distances. Zooming in to supernova Zwicky: starting from a small portion of the Palomar ZTF camera, one out of 64 quadrants, each one containing tens of thousands of stars and galaxies, the zoom in takes us to detailed explorations carried out with the larger and sharper VLT and Keck telescopes in Chile and Hawai'i respectively. On the best resolved Keck images, the four nearly identical copies of supernova Zwicky can be seen. The multiple images arise due to the warping of space caused by a foreground galaxy, also seen in the center and approximately half-way between the site of the supernova explosion and Earth. Credit: J. Johansson "SN Zwicky not only is magnified by the gravitational lense, but it also belongs to a class of supernovae that we call 'standard candles' because we can use their well-known luminosities to determine distance in space," Andreoni explained. "When a source of light is farther away, the light is dimmerjust like seeing candles in a dark room. We can compare two light sources in this way and gain an independent measure of distance without having to actually study the galaxy itself." In addition to being useful as a metric for cosmic distance, SN Zwicky also opens new avenues of research for scientists exploring the properties of galaxies, including dark matter (which is matter that does not absorb, reflect or emit light but make up the majority of matter in the universe). Researchers also believe that lensed supernovae like SN Zwicky could prove to be very promising tools for examining dark energy (a mysterious force counteracting gravity and drives the accelerated expansion of the universe) and refining current models describing the universe's expansion, including the calculation of the Hubble constanta value that describes how fast the universe is expanding. For Andreoni, who is preparing for the opening of the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile, the team's success in identifying and analyzing SN Zwicky is only the beginning. Now still in its construction phase, the new observatory is expected to begin full operations in 2024 and build upon the team's findings as it takes multiple images of the entire visible sky to search for other supernovae and asteroids. Andreoni believes that the "big picture" tactic used to find SN Zwicky will continue to help scientists gather large volumes of data about celestial events in the sky. "This discovery paves the way to find more of such rare lensed supernovae in future big surveys that will help us study transient astronomical events like supernovae and gamma ray bursts," Andreoni said. "We look forward to more unexpected discoveries using broad, untargeted optical surveys of the sky like the one that helped us identify SN Zwicky. With this approach, we'll be able to probe the transient sky with an unprecedented depth." More information: Ariel Goobar et al, Uncovering a population of gravitational lens galaxies with magnified standard candle SN Zwicky, Nature Astronomy (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-01981-3. www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-01981-3 Journal information: Nature Astronomy This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The cholera-pathogen Vibrio cholerae (blue) forms an aggressive biofilm on the surface of immune cells (red). Credit: Biozentrum, University of Basel Bacteria harness the power of communities. A research group at the University of Basel, Switzerland, has now discovered that the bacterial pathogen that causes cholera forms a novel type of bacterial community on immune cells: an aggressive biofilm that is lethal for the cells. The study, recently published in the journal Cell, provides new insights into the infection strategies of pathogens. Many bacteria adopt a fascinating defense strategy by forming communities on surfaces, known as biofilms. We encounter such biofilms in our daily lives, for example, as dental plaque in the mouth, slimy films on stones in water or even as part of our intestinal flora. Bacterial biofilms are intrinsically tolerant to antibiotics and can pose a significant threat in clinical settings when they colonize implants, catheters, or surgical instruments. This colonization enables pathogens to infiltrate our body and trigger infections that are difficult to combat by the immune system and with antibiotics. Previously, it was assumed that bacteria form biofilms to defend and protect themselves. The research team led by Prof. Knut Drescher at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, has now demonstrated, in their recently published Cell study, that bacteria form biofilms on the surface of immune cells. This previously unknown type of community differs from already known bacterial biofilms not only in its structure, but also in its function: instead of serving a protective purpose, this biofilm is an aggressive trait. Biofilm on immune cells: meshwork rather than typical slimy matrix Drescher's team has discovered this novel type of biofilm in the cholera-causing pathogen Vibrio cholerae. This bacterium colonizes various immune cells in the human host. To better understand biofilm formation on immune cells, the researchers focused on a certain type of phagocytic cells, so-called macrophages. "Bacteria that accidently encounter a macrophage attach to the cell's surface using a kind of a 'feeler'," explains first author Lucia Vidakovic. "Subsequently, the bacteria start to divide and intertwine their feeler-like appendages." The structure of the extracellular matrix of this type of biofilm is thus fundamentally different from previously known ones, in which bacteria are typically embedded within a slimy matrix consisting of sugars and proteins. Biofilms on immune cells are an aggressive instead of defensive strategy Over time, the biofilms produced by the cholera pathogen completely encase macrophages, leading to cell death. "The bacterial community actively attacks and kills the immune cells. However, we initially didn't understand the exact mechanism," says Vidakovic. "To solve this puzzle, we meticulously investigated all 14 known toxins produced by the cholera pathogen and could finally identify the hemolysin as the culprit." This toxin forms pores in the protective membrane of the immune cells, thus killing them. Cholera is a life-threatening infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea. As humans are the only host of the cholera-pathogen, the scientists established a human intestinal organoid model. Using this model, they could demonstrate that Vibrio cholerae is able to form lethal biofilms on macrophages after colonizing and disrupting the human intestinal barrier. "This novel strategy of attack, employed by the bacteria, can significantly affect the progression of the cholera infection," adds Knut Drescher. "In a next step, we aim to explore whether other pathogens also form such aggressive biofilms. Deciphering the strategies of bacterial pathogens is crucial for the development of new approaches to fight them." More information: Lucia Vidakovic et al, Biofilm formation on human immune cells is a multicellular predation strategy of Vibrio cholerae, Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.008 Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde: A transgender tale of terror By Thomas M. Sipos web posted June 12, 2023 Stephen King famously said that horror is a conservative genre, because it's about people struggling against attacks on normalcy and social order. Catholic cultural critic E. Michael Jones narrowed the scope, positing that horror is about the transgression of God's sexual moral code. Both theories find supporting evidence in Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971). Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Britain's Hammer Studios specialized in horror period pieces, most notably its many Dracula films starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Coming at the tail end of Hammer's heyday, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde is, as its title implies, (very loosely) based on the Robert Louis Stevenson novel (with Jack the Ripper and Burke & Hare tossed in for good measure). As in the novel, Hammer's Dr. Jekyll (Ralph Bates) is a noble man of science. But rather than seek a serum to extract all the "evil" from man, his goal is an elixir of life. He wants to live forever so he will have enough time to cure all diseases. And his elixir works (sort of), but it has a side effect. It changes the recipient's sex. Testing the elixir on himself, Dr. Jekyll becomes Mrs. Hyde (Martine Beswick). The transformation only lasts a short while. Jekyll doesn't remember being Hyde, but he figures out what must have happened. He names his alter ego Hyde on the spur of the moment, explaining to his upstairs neighbor that "My sister is staying with me." Then he quickly adds "Mrs." to explain why his sister's last name isn't Jekyll. And, as there is no husband in sight, further elaborates, "She's a widow." (Jekyll is not exactly a smooth liar.) Unfortunately, Jekyll's serum requires organs from young women, so he enlists grave robbers Burke & Hare, who murder women when the morgue's supply runs low After they're caught, Jekyll/Hyde must do their own killing. The press calls this new, unknown killer "The Ripper." Susan (Susan Brodrick), the upstairs neighbor, begins courting Jekyll. It should be the other way around, but Jekyll is no Casanova. Jekyll likes Susan, but he's also beginning to like transforming into Hyde. It's addictive. Jekyll fondles the dresses he bought for "his sister." And as Hyde, he/she begins to seduce Susan's brother, Howard (Lewis Fiander). So Jekyll/Hyde is dating a sister and her brother. Essentially, it's a menage a trois involving two siblings and a genderfluid bisexual. Tres kinky, n'est-ce pas? Surprisingly (or perhaps not?), Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde enjoys a cult following among gay audiences. It's so transgressive. Mainstream horror fans like it too. It's original and fun. It's bloody and salacious by the standards of 1971, but its gore and nudity would be considered tame before the end of the decade. Today the film is more admired for its camp than its scares. The casting is excellent. Apart from being talented and charismatic actors, Bates and Beswick share the same sharp features, pale skin, and dark hair. They look like brother and sister. They also look like one might have transformed into the other. (The above is a publicity photo; as they're playing the same character, Bates and Beswick never actually appear together in the film.) But does the film have a message? One poster from the era promised ... Shock After Shock After Shock ... Unnatural Laboratory Experiments Performed Behind Barred Doors! ... Once Again He Will Change Sexes and Kill, Kill, Kill! ... Warning! The Sexual Transformation of a Man Into a Woman Will Actually Take Place Before Your Very Eyes! ... PARENTS: Be sure your children are sufficiently mature to witness the intimate details of this frank and revealing film. That's not very woke. Now, it's doubtful that director Roy Ward Baker or screenwriter Brian Clemens intended a serious criticism of transgender politics. Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde is pure exploitation film, its vintage poster using the lurid language of a carnival barker to lure people into the freak show tent. It's not an outright attack. But neither is it very respectful. Yet there is a message, that of classic horror, as defined by King and Jones and Mary Shelley. It's the message of Frankenstein. Do not play God. Do not tamper with His creation. You will suffer and fail. Jekyll changed his sex but never became fully female. The transformation was always temporary, and thus incomplete. And in his futile attempts, he created much misery and death for himself and others. Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde is available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Or you can watch it free of charge on Tubi TV. Thomas M. Sipos writes satirical novels and film criticism. His website is CommunistVampires.com . Home 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: Both the poleward ocean heat convergence and the hydrological cycle are strengthened with climate warming. (P: precipitation; E: evaporation.). Credit: Qiang Wang et al. The Arctic Ocean is connected with the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans through several ocean gateways, and changes in the linkage between these oceans and the Arctic Ocean can affect both climate and marine ecosystems. Notable changes have been observed in the inflows and outflows of the Arctic Ocean over the past decade, including unprecedented high temperatures and remarkably low salinities. Models suggest additional ocean heat transfer to the Arctic Ocean in the future due to warming inflow waters, which will lead to amplified warming in the Arctic Ocean. They also predict increasing exports of low-salinity waters from the Arctic Ocean to the North Atlantic Ocean as the climate continues to warm. The warming of the Arctic Ocean and the increase in freshwater exports to the North Atlantic Ocean could have significant impacts on marine life and the evolution of the climate. A team of leading oceanographers recently reviewed current research analyzing the waters that flow between the Arctic and subarctic oceans and studies aimed at predicting the temperature, salinity and volume transport of water at these connection points in the future. Acquiring a comprehensive understanding and making accurate predictions of these changes is essential for effective policy-making and the development of mitigation strategies in the context of climate change. The researchers published their review in the journal Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research. "We conducted a review of prior observational and modeling studies on Arctic-subarctic ocean linkages and examined their changes and driving mechanisms," said Qiang Wang, first author of the review paper and senior scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany. Overall, studies observed stronger heat convergence, or increased heat transport, to the Arctic Ocean in the 2010s. These changes have been attributed to the warming inflow waters from subarctic oceans. Additionally, there is evidence of an increase in the volume of ocean inflows, responsible for carrying warm waters from the Pacific and Atlantic into the Arctic Ocean. Simultaneously, the Arctic Ocean experienced reduced sea ice formation and increased freshwater input from river runoff and precipitation. Furthermore, the inflow of low-salinity water from the Pacific Ocean further contributed to the decrease in Arctic salinity. These changes are indicative of ongoing climate change. "Both the ocean heat convergence from lower latitudes to the Arctic Ocean and the hydrological cycle connecting the Arctic with subarctic seas were stronger in 2000-2020 than in 1980-2000 and will continue to be intensified in a future warming climate," said Wang. CMIP6, or Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6, climate modeling predictions suggest that the warming rate of the Arctic Ocean is about twice the global average and will remain at this level due to increasing ocean heat convergence into the Arctic Ocean. The Barents Sea Opening, between Bear Island in the south of Svalbard and the northernmost point of Norway, is predicted to be the largest heat source of the Arctic Ocean. The increase in this heat source contributes to the retreat of Arctic sea ice in cold seasons and fuels the warming of the atmosphere. The Arctic Ocean will experience an increase in freshwater input through increased net precipitation, river runoff and overall sea ice decline. Importantly, freshwater export from the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean plays a major role for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC. Modeling predicts that freshwater exports from the Arctic to the North Atlantic Ocean via Fram Strait, located between Greenland and Svalbard, will increase due to enhanced freshwater input to the Arctic Ocean, affecting large-scale ocean circulations and climate. "Both observation and modeling capabilities need to be further improved to better monitor and predict changes in Arctic-subarctic ocean linkages," said Wang. There is a need to better understand forcing, or the effects of winds, tides, heating, cooling, precipitation, evaporation and river discharge on ocean circulation and water property both inside and outside the Arctic. Realistically representing these effects in models is crucial. The researchers also argued that currently available observational instruments are insufficient for accurately measuring ocean transports in all the Arctic gateways. To enhance our understanding of the ocean and climate change, it is crucial to collectively examine the intricate processes involved in Arctic-subarctic exchanges. For example, freshwater outflow from the Fram Strait can affect the air-sea heat exchange in the Greenland Sea and influence ocean heat flux. Furthermore, enhanced freshwater flux through the Davis Strait could reduce the freshwater export in the Fram Strait, so the exports in both straits are subject to sea level changes in the subpolar North Atlantic. Modeling should adequately account for all these comprehensive processes to enhance ocean and climate predictions. More information: Qiang Wang et al, A review of Arctic-Subarctic ocean linkages: past changes, mechanisms and future projections, Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research (2023). DOI: 10.34133/olar.0013 Provided by Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR) 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: Illustration (not to scale) showing the ability of the upstream bow shock and the magnetic field induced in the ionosphere to push the solar wind around the planet. MAVEN's orbit early in the mission is shown schematically. (Courtesy NASA/GSFC). Credit: Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5703 Magnetosheath jets on Earth are plasma entities that have a higher dynamic pressure surrounding the plasma and can cause waves that transfer energy within such environments. Such jets also exist beyond Earth in the magnetosheath of Mars, as observed by Herbert Gunell and a research team at the Department of Physics, Umea University, and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, in Sweden, by using the MAVEN spacecraft database. The team's results are now published in Science Advances. The extraterrestrial counterpart of this Earthly phenomenon comparatively varied on Mars due to its smaller bow shock wave and is associated with increased magnetic field fluctuations such as jets in the solar system to impact the astrophysical plasmas. In this work, the research team incorporated single-spacecraft database-driven analyses to validate the existence of jets in the magnetosheath of Mars. Mechanism of magnetosheath formation and progression on Earth: Implications for Mars Astrophysicists had at first assumed the existence of magnetosheath jets only on Earth. However, since all planets have bow shocks, as do some comets, the phenomenon of shock is ubiquitous in astrophysics. In this study, the data obtained by the MAVEN spacecraft provided a clear view of the existence of jets in the magnetosheath of Mars. When solar winds encounter Earth's magnetic field, the resulting change from supersonic to subsonic flow forms a bow shock wave. Braked solar wind can form a magnetosheath, a compressed region with heated plasma. Magnetosheath jets occur via the dynamic presentation of pressure in the plasma that result from an increased density and/or velocity on Earth. Astrophysicists initially studied the movement of jets across magnetic fields in the lab using a vacuum with background plasmas to engineer plasmoids. Researchers first reported the phenomenon on Earth in the late 1990s, which has now resulted in a substantial body of work. Observation location. Positions of the MAVEN spacecraft in Mars Solar Orbital (MSO) coordinates during the three observations. Spacecraft positions projected onto (A) the x-y, (B) the x-z, and (C) the y-z plane. (D) Spacecraft positions in a cylindrical coordinate system, where the vertical axis represents the distance to the MSO x axis. The arrows show the direction of the velocity component in the plane of each panel. The velocity is normalized so that all arrows have the same length. The component in the y-z plane (C) is substantially smaller than the other components. The dashed and solid lines show a model bow shock for two different parameter sets. The spacecraft moves about 100 to 200 km during a jet observation, which is smaller than the symbol that marks the positions in the figure. Credit: Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5703 Jets can generate waves in the magnetosheath to cause surface waves and the emission of Alfven waves detected by ground-based magnetometers. The concept is also associated with a phenomenon known as throat auroras. Most mechanisms of bow shock formation and magnetosheath production suggest interactions of solar winds with ripples on the bow shock, relative to Short Large Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS), or hot flow anomalies, and bow shock reformation. Jets are integral to downscaling the bow shock in the magnetosheath, and to transfer solar wind energy to wave energy across the plasma environment. MAVEN spacecraft data analysis Gunell and colleagues presented three examples of jets observed by the MAVEN spacecraft on January 28 and January 29, 2017, as well as on June 10, 2020. During the initial timeline of observation, the team projected spacecraft positions onto the principal planes of the Mars solar orbital coordinate system. They schematically presented the outcome with dashed and solid lines to show a model bow shock in the study. During subsequent analyses, the spacecraft did not enter solar wind; the parameters of the second timeframe were therefore estimated from measurements in the magnetosheath. MAVEN observations on 29 January 2017. The displayed quantities are (A) the differential energy flux (DEF) of the ions as measured by the Solar Wind Ion Analyzer (SWIA) instrument; (B) the dynamic pressure of the ions, the red line represents the average dynamic pressure during the 10-min interval shown; (C) the ion density and temperature measured by the SWIA instrument; (D) the ion velocity components in MSO coordinates; (E) the electron DEF measured by the Solar Wind Electron Analyzer instrument; and (F) magnetic field components in MSO coordinates measured by the magnetometer investigation instrument. (G to L) show the data between the gray lines in (A) to (F). The scales on top of (A) and (G) show the distance traveled by the spacecraft from the center of the interval between the two gray lines, approximately at the center of the jet observation. Credit: Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5703 The ion spectrum obtained from the database showed many protons and alpha particle populations. The alpha particles took longer to undergo thermalization after passing through the bow shock compared to protons due to their larger gyroradius. The team further examined the comparative proximity of the magnetosheath jets to planet Mars on the two timeframes in 2017 and 2020 to show that the phenomenon was closer to the planet at the earlier timeframe than the latter, as encountered and documented by the MAVEN spacecraft. The evolution of a bow shock By June 10, 2020, the team observed the jet magnetosheath to occur further downstream and at a higher altitude. They noted two pulses of increased dynamic pressure and the longer distance of the bow shock resulted in a mixture of alpha particles and protons instead of appearing as distinct populations. The enhanced dynamic pressure of the scenario depended on an increased density, where magnetic field fluctuations showed higher amplitude inside the jets. The astrophysicists continued to monitor the bow shock and interplanetary magnetic field. The single-spacecraft study revealed a simple estimation of the jet size. Gunell and colleagues compared the jet size to the magnetosheath scale to arrive at conclusions about the shape of the jet and its origin. For instance, they recorded a jet size in the range of 400018,000 km in the direction of ion velocity a scale much greater than the distance traveled by the observatory spacecraft. Outlook In this way, Herbert Gunell and colleagues showed how the ubiquitous and geoeffective phenomena of magnetosheath jets on Earth can generate waves and transfer energy within the magnetosheath. While such phenomena exist beyond Earth's atmosphere on a Martian magnetosphere at a different scale and character, they play similar roles on both planetary environments. The researchers propose employing larger statistical studies in the future for the quantitative estimation of the geo-effectiveness of magnetosheath jets on Mars suited for diverse solar wind conditions to cover all regions of space around the planet. 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Neotropical army ant Eciton burchellii provides a compelling test case for colony differences in thermal physiology. Credit: Sean O'Donnell Drexel University researchers sampled a variety of army ant (Eciton burchellii parvispinum) colonies to test how their habitat distribution affected the ants' tolerances of extreme low and high temperatures. What they found was colonies' thermal tolerances differed by elevation zonebut outstandinglysignificant colony differences in thermal tolerance existed within similar zones, leading the team to believe that local adaption to temperatures is not the only factor contributing to differences in thermal physiology. "Investigating how animals are able to tolerate extreme high and low temperatures can shed light on how climate change may affect animal behavior and ecology," said Sean O'Donnell, Ph.D., biologist and professor in Drexel's College of Arts and Sciences. "The ants used in this study are uniquely exposed to the temperature conditions of their habitat because they are out in ambient conditions all the time while foragingwhereas other ants conduct a large part of their activities underground which buffers them from the temperature." The team sampled colonies in northwestern Costa Rica, across a wide elevation rangeaccounting for body size and geography. "We compared mean colony thermal tolerances between the low and high elevation zones to assess whether colony performance physiology was associated with local thermal climates, and we tested whether significant colony differences were evident after accounting for body size and elevation, said Kaitlin Baudier, a co-author on the study and assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. O'Donnell and Baudier a former Drexel Ph.D. student found three important patterns within their data, recently published in Ecological Entomology: Colonies differed significantly in their thermal tolerances. Both the minimum and maximum temperatures workers could tolerate differed among colonies. This means that animal social groups are likely to be affected differently by changing climates. Local adaptation to temperature conditions is one piece of the puzzle. Colonies from cooler high-elevation sites were more sensitive to high temperatures and more tolerant of low temperatures. Within colonies, low and high temperature tolerances were not correlated. This addresses an important open question in thermal biology research: it suggests the mechanisms that affect abilities to tolerate extremely hot conditions are distinct from the ability to tolerate extreme cold. "This work expands our understanding of how thermal performance varies across levels of biological organization, from individual ants to entire colonies," said Baudier. The team notes, that in addition to the physiological characteristics that make the ants a good model to study, the colonies are ecologically important to the function of the forests they inhabit. "The army ant colony is operating as a unit and is comparable to larger predatory animals like the jaguar or Harpy eaglebut instead of a singular animal, it's made up of hundreds of thousands of individuals that are really thermally sensitive," said O'Donnell. "Larger bodied predator animals will be able to regulate their body temperatures, and while climate changes aren't irrelevant to these animalsit's likely their response to thermal changes will be a lot more buffered." The colonies' physiological and ecological importance could make them a good benchmark for identifying early effects of climate change. The researchers hope that by learning about the army ant colony's ability to tolerate extreme high and low temperatures, they will be able to connect the data to the overall understanding of thermal environment variation and possible effects of climate change on animal behavior and ecology. "We don't quite know yet why this iswhat the causes for these colony differences are among groups within a testing site," said O Donnell. "While some of the difference is described by local adaptation to temperature conditions, we hypothesize that there is also a genetic basis for the differences among the neighboring colonies." The group plans to continue its work by looking at the genetics of the colonies in hopes of better understanding why colonies differed in the ability to tolerate temperature extremes. "If significant colony variation in thermal physiology is associated with genetic differences, thermal environments could drive evolutionary changes in thermal physiology," said O'Donnell. More information: Sean O'Donnell et al, Significant colony differences in thermal tolerances and decoupling of high and low critical temperatures in the army ant Eciton burchellii parvispinum, Ecological Entomology (2023). DOI: 10.1111/een.13258 Journal information: Ecological Entomology 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 hypothetical cross-sectional view of the Earth's crust and mantle during the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia, a mantle plume initiates the peeling away process of the lower mantle. Credit: Lijun Liu The seemingly stable regions of the Earth's continental platesthe so-called stable cratonshave suffered repetitive deformation below their crust since their formation in the remote past, according to new research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This hypothesis defies decades of conventional plate tectonics theory and tries to answer why most cratons have remained structurally stable while their underbellies have experienced significant change. In a study led by Illinois geology professor Lijun Liu, researchers used previously collected density data from the Earth's uppermost rigid layers of crust and mantleknown as the lithosphereto examine the relationship between craton surface topography and the thickness of their underlying lithosphere layer. The results of the study are published in the journal Nature Geosciences. The lack of deformation within the cratons since their formation makes them the longest-lived tectonic units on Earthsurviving supercontinent cycles like the formation and breakup of the supercontinent Pangea, as well as the lesser-known and more ancient supercontinent Rodina, the study reports. "It is generally accepted that the cratons are protected by their thick underlying mantle roots, or keels, which are believed to be buoyant and strong and thus stable over time," Lui said. Several recent papers from Liu's research group directly challenge this wisdom by showing that these mantle keels are actually quite dense. In a 2022 study, the team demonstrated that the traditional view of buoyant craton keels implies that most of the Earth's cratons would be sitting about 3 kilometers above the sea surface, while in reality, their elevation is only a few 100 meters. This requires the lithospheric mantle below the crust to be of high enough density to pull the surface down by about 2 kilometers, Liu said. In another study, the team used gravity field measurements to pinpoint the density structure of the craton keels to find that the lower portion of the mantle keel is most likely where the high-density material resides, implying a depth-increasing density profile below the cratons. In the new paper, the team shows that the lower portion of the mantle keel that has a high density and tends to repeatedly peel away from the lithosphere above when mantle upwellings, called plumes, initiate supercontinent breakup. The peeled-offor delaminatedkeels could return to the base of the lithosphere after they warm up inside the hot mantle. "The whole process is like what happens in a lava lamp, where the cool material near the surface sinks and the warm material near the bottom rises," Liu said. This deformation history is expressed in some of the more puzzling geophysical properties observed in the lithosphere, the study reports. "For example, the repetitive vertical deformation of the lower half of the mantle keel allows the seismic waves that vibrate the rock vertically to travel faster, compared to the upper half of the keel, which experienced less vertical deformation," Liu said. The team also determined that mantle delamination will cause the craton surface to rise, leading to erosion. "This is reflected in the strong dependence of crustal thickness on lithospheric thickness, an observation never made before this study," Liu said. "In particular, there are two major uplift and erosion events in the past, when supercontinents Rodinia and Pangea each separated, the former causing what is known as the Great Unconformitya feature in the Earth's rock record shows no evidence of new deposition, only deep craton erosion. This is the reason why we see pieces of ancient lower crust exposed at the craton's surface today." With the help of numerical simulations, the team said that this episodic deformation style of the lower craton keels is how the craton crusts survived the long geological history. "We believe this newly hypothesized lifestyle of cratons will significantly change people's view on how continents evolve and how plate tectonics operate on Earth," Liu said. More information: Wang, Y. et al, Secular craton evolution due to cyclic deformation of its dense mantle lithosphere, Nature Geoscience (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-023-01203-5. www.nature.com/articles/s41561-023-01203-5 Journal information: Nature Geoscience This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The earthquakes that happened before and during the eruption are primarily concentrated along the edge of magma reservoirs as pictured above. The observation of a double-reservoir magmatic system correlating with the two seismically active regions to the northwest and southeast of the volcano summit suggests that the two reservoirs interreacted with each other with alternating magmatic activities. Credit: Purdue University One of Alaska's most active volcanoes has been erupting since May 2021, but the location of intense seismic activity has moved around during that time. Scientists have wondered why, and now, new belowground imaging reveals the volcano actually has two magma chambers, which have driven the ever-shifting eruption. Much like a tree, what you see above ground with volcanoes can pale in comparison to what is happening beneath the Earth's surface. All of the magma and activity is building up below the surface and scientists use seismic data to measure this activity in hopes of learning more about the mechanics of a volcano and attempting to predict their behavior. An active volcano can put on a fiery show or spread ash around the globe. These eruptions can cause regional chaos, but also upset weather patterns on a global scale. They can be societally disastrous, according to Dr. Xiaotao Yang, Assistant Professor of Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). He studies seismology, tectonics and earthquake hazards. Yang and a team of researchers have studied the seismic data from the Great Sitkin Volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc, which has been erupting since May 26, 2021 (Coordinated Universal Time) with ongoing lava effusion since late July 2021. The team recently published their findings, "Double Reservoirs Imaged Below Great Sitkin Volcano, Alaska, Explain the Migration of Volcanic Seismicity," in the American Geophysical Union's Geophysical Research Letters. At the Great Sitkin Volcano, seismic activity (earthquakes) before and during the current eruption alternated between regions to the northwest and the southeast of the volcano summit, within a northwest-southeast trending seismic zone across the island. Yang and his colleagues wanted to pinpoint the cause of this spatial variability, which can make warning for earthquakes and volcanic hazards difficult. Typically, the magmatic system undergoes five stages: magma accumulation, increased seismic activity, initial eruption (could be explosive or effusive), continuing eruptions with a lava fountain or flow, and decaying activity as the eruption reaches the end. But with the Great Sitkin Volcano, the research team proposed an additional stage involving the eruption sourced from the second, shallower reservoir. Credit: Geophysical Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL102438 The team constructed a seismic velocity structure for the uppermost 6 kilometers of the Great Sitkin Volcano, collecting data with seismic data from 2019 to 2020 (more than a year before the eruption began) collected by the Alaska Volcano Observatory. This paper investigates how these volcanic eruptions develop with time and what controls them. The team addressed these issues by constructing the seismic velocity structure of the top 6 km below Great Sitkin Volcano in the central Aleutian arc. The findings in this study help to better understand the control of eruption behaviors by the underlying magma plumbing system at active volcanoes. This will help the prediction of volcanic eruptions and the assessment of volcanic hazards. The team consists of Yang and Cody Kupres, MS student, of Purdue University, Diana C. Roman of Earth and Planets Laboratory at Carnegie Institution for Science, and Matt Haney of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey. Yang conducted seismic imaging to get the subsurface seismic model of the Great Sitkin Volcano and led the formal analysis of the earthquake catalog and seismic velocity model. Kupres contributed to the selection of the study site and helped interpret the seismicity and seismic velocity model. The team proposes that Great Sitkin Volcano has not one but two magma reservoirs bubbling deep beneath the Earth's surface and has a six-stage eruption cycle. Typically, the magmatic system undergoes five stages: magma accumulation, increased seismic activity, initial eruption (could be explosive or effusive), continuing eruptions with a lava fountain or flow, and decaying activity as the eruption reaches the end. The team proposes though that the Great Sitkin Volcano actually has an additional stage with the second (shallower) magma chamber kicked in following the initial eruption likely sourced from the deeper chamber. This is an important addition as it implies the interaction between the chambers that both contribute to the lava effusion. Tapping of magma chambers has been proposed at other places. Together, this six-stage eruption cycle and the dual-magma chambers explain the evolution of seismicity in space and time across the island and the alternating eruption of two reservoirs. "This phenomenon of changing earthquake locations with time, termed spatiotemporal migration, has also been observed at other volcanoes. However, vertical migration of volcanic seismicity is more common," says Yang. "The clear lateral migration of seismicity below Great Sitkin volcano provides an important opportunity to study the control of eruption seismicity and what it tells us about the development of volcanic eruptions. The new seismic velocity model reveals two crustal magma reservoirs, with distinctly low seismic velocities (the speed of a seismic wave traveling through the medium)." The team attributed additional observations of the eruption to the presence of dual magma chambers. First, the seismicity at the volcano (before and during the eruption) shows a clear lateral migration at different times. Also, the reservoir to the southeast reached its peak seismicity level one year before the eruption on May 26, 2021, though the initial eruption was companioned by an increased seismicity level only to the northwest of the summit. They also observed that the initial eruption was explosive, though only negligible magma erupted. The peak lava effusion started about two months after the initial eruption, which left a two-month gap between the initial eruption and lava effusion. This phase of lava effusion coincided with the ramping seismicity to the southeast. About a year after the initial eruption, there was a second phase of lava effusion that is consistent with increased seismicity to the northwest. "These observations suggest alternating volcanic activity between the two magma reservoirs, which is an important addition we propose compared to the typical stages based mostly on a single-reservoir model or a model involving mostly vertical migration of seismicity," says Yang. "However, we argue that the phenomenon we observe at Great Sitkin Volcano is not unique to this volcano. It can be generalized to help us understand how multiple reservoirs, which may be in different sizes, could interact and influence the initialization and development of the eruption as well as magma flux." The unpredictable nature of volcanic activity can release lava, ash, water, and gases into the atmosphere quickly or slowly over time. Yang says that using seismic data alone is not enough for a thorough investigation. Scientists need to monitor gas emissions, surface deformation, temperature changes and other data. Each volcano requires thorough research so that scientists can better predict how and when volcanoes might erupt in the future. "Our work at Great Sitkin Volcano demonstrates the complexity of active magmatic systems and the importance of real-time monitoring of active volcanoes, including earthquake activities, gas emissions, surface deformation, and surface temperature, building on top of the knowledge on the distribution of active magma reservoirs," says Yang. More information: Xiaotao Yang et al, Double Reservoirs Imaged Below Great Sitkin Volcano, Alaska, Explain the Migration of Volcanic Seismicity, Geophysical Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL102438 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain "We got down from the car and went inside." "I made the line to pay for groceries." "He made a party to celebrate his son's birthday." These phrases might sound off to the ears of most English-speaking Americans. In Miami, however, they've become part of the local parlance. According to my recently published research, these expressionsalong with a host of othersform part of a new dialect taking shape in South Florida. This language variety came about through sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers, particularly when speakers translated directly from Spanish. When French collided with English Whether you're an English speaker living in Miami or elsewhere, chances are you don't know where the words you know and use come from. You're probably aware that a limited number of wordsusually foods, such as "sriracha" or "croissant"are borrowed from other languages. But borrowed words are far more pervasive than you might think. They're all over English vocabulary: "pajamas" from Hindi; "gazelle" from Arabic, via French; and "tsunami" from Japanese. Borrowed words usually come from the minds and mouths of bilingual speakers who end up moving between different cultures and places. This can happen when certain eventswar, colonialism, political exile, immigration and climate changeput speakers of different language groups into contact with one another. When the contact takes place over an extended period of timedecades, generations or longerthe structures of the languages in question may begin to influence one another, and the speakers can begin to share each other's vocabulary. One bilingual confluence famously changed the trajectory of the English language. In 1066, the Norman French, led by William the Conqueror, invaded England in an event now known as "the Norman Conquest." Soon thereafter, a French-speaking ruling class replaced the English-speaking aristocracy, and for roughly 200 years, the elites of Englandincluding the kingsdid their business in French. English never really caught on with the aristocracy, but since servants and the middle classes needed to communicate with aristocratsand with people of different classes intermarryingFrench words trickled down the class hierarchy and into the language. During this period, more than 10,000 loanwords from French entered the English language, mostly in domains where the aristocracy held sway: the arts, military, medicine, law and religion. Words that today seem basic, even fundamental, to English vocabulary were, just 800 years ago, borrowed from French: prince, government, administer, liberty, court, prayer, judge, justice, literature, music, poetry, to name just a few. Spanish meets English in Miami Fast forward to today, where a similar form of language contact involving Spanish and English has been going on in Miami since the end of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. In the years following the revolution, hundreds of thousands of Cubans left the island nation for South Florida, setting the stage for what would become one of the most important linguistic convergences in all of the Americas. Today, the vast majority of the population is bilingual. In 2010, more than 65% of the population of Miami-Dade County identified as Hispanic or Latina/o, and in the large municipalities of Doral and Hialeah, the figure is 80% and 95%, respectively. Of course, identifying as Latina/o is not synonymous with speaking Spanish, and language loss has occurred among second- and third-generation Cuban Americans. But the point is that there is a lot of Spanishand a lot of Englishbeing spoken in Miami. Examples of unique expressions that have emerged in Miami. Among this mix are bilinguals. Some are more proficient in Spanish, and others are more skilled English speakers. Together, they navigate the sociolinguistic landscape of South Florida in complex ways, knowing when and with whom to use which languageand when it's OK to mix them. When the first large group of Cubans came to Miami in the wake of the revolution, they did precisely this, in two ways. First, people alternated between Spanish and English, sometimes within the same sentence or clause. This set the stage for the enduring presence of Spanish vocabulary in South Florida, as well as the emergence of what some people refer to as "Spanglish." Second, as people learned English, they tended to translate directly from Spanish. These translations are a type of borrowing that linguists call "calques." Calques are all over the English language. Take "dandelion." This flower grows in central Europe, and when the Germans realized they didn't have a word for it, they looked to botany books written in Latin, where it was called dens lionis, or "lion's tooth." The Germans borrowed that concept and named the flower "Lowenzahn"a literal translation of "lion's tooth." The French didn't have a word for the flower, so they too borrowed the concept of "lion's tooth," calquing it as "dent de lion." The English, also not having a word for this flower, heard the French term without understanding it, and borrowed it, adapting "dent de lion" into English, calling it "dandelion." A new lingo emerges This is exactly the sort of thing that's been happening in Miami. As a part of my ongoing research with students and colleagues on the way English is spoken in Miami, I conducted a study with linguist Kristen D'Allessandro Merii to document Spanish-origin calques in the English spoken in South Florida. We found several types of loan translations. There were "literal lexical calques," a direct, word-for-word translation. For example, we found people to use expressions such as "get down from the car" instead of "get out of the car." This is based on the Spanish phrase "bajar del carro," which translates, for speakers outside of Miami, as "get out of the car." But "bajar" means "to get down," so it makes sense that many Miamians think of "exiting" a car in terms of "getting down" and not "getting out." Locals often say "married with," as in "Alex got married with Jose," based on the Spanish "casarse con"literally translated as "married with." They'll also say "make a party," a literal translation of the Spanish "hacer una fiesta." We also found "semantic calques," or loan translations of meaning. In Spanish, "carne," which translates as "meat," can refer to both all meat, or to beef, a specific kind of meat. We discovered local speakers saying "meat" to refer specifically to "beef"as in, "I'll have one meat empanada and two chicken empanadas." And then there were "phonetic calques," or the translation of certain sounds. "Thanks God," a type of loan translation from "gracias a Dios," is common in Miami. In this case, speakers analogize the "s" sound at the end of "gracias" and apply it to the English form. The Miami-born adopt the calques We found that some expressions were used only among the immigrant generationfor example, "throw a photo," from "tirar una foto," as a variation of "take a photo." But other expressions were used among the Miami-born, a group who may be bilingual but speak English as their primary language. In an experiment, we asked Miamians and people from elsewhere in the U.S. to rate local expressions such as "married with" alongside the nonlocal versions, like "married to." Both groups deemed the nonlocal versions acceptable. But Miamians rated most of the local expressions significantly more favorably than folks from elsewhere. "Language is always changing" is practically a truism; most people know that Old English is radically different from Modern English, or that English in London sounds different from English in New Delhi, New York City, Sydney and Cape Town, South Africa. But rarely do we pause to think about how these changes take place, or to ponder where dialects and words come from. "Get down from the car," just like "dandelion," is a reminder that every word and every expression have a history. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The persistent gender gap in voting for Democrats versus Republicans is, in part, because a higher proportion of women than men voters are Black and because Black voters have historically voted overwhelmingly Democratic, according to a new study by a team of sociologists. "We've long known about both gender and racial gaps in voting, but the relationship between the two is less clear," says Dean of Social Science at NYU Abu Dhabi Paula England, the lead author of the paper, which appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "These findings show the fact that a higher percentage of women than men voters are Black explains about a quarter of the gender gap in voting Democratic." Women have voted for the Democratic candidate more than men have in each U.S. presidential election since 1980. Notably, previous research has shown that Black men have disproportionately high rates of death, incarceration, and disenfranchisement due to criminal convictionsdisparities that reduce the share of men voters who are Black and lead to a higher percentage of Black voters who are women relative to other racial groups. The PNAS study, which also included Michael Hout, an NYU sociology professor, and Karyn Vilbig and Kevin Wells, NYU doctoral students, sought to better understand the gender-race dynamic as a factor in partisan voting gaps. To do so, the authors examined General Social Survey (GSS) data from the 1980 through the 2016 presidential elections, replicating this analysis with data from the American National Election Surveys. Their analysis showed that the gender difference in racial composition explains 24% of the gender gap in voting Democratic. In other words, given that approximately 90% of Black voters back Democratsa much higher proportion relative to other groupsthe fact that a higher percentage of women than men voters is Black tilts women's votes toward Democrats. "There is of course a gender gap in voting among White voters, but nearly one-quarter of the overall gender gap arises solely because of the difference between men and women voters in their racial composition," says England, also a professor of sociology at NYU. To rule out another factor that may explain the gender gap, the researchers also studied income. Specifically, among unmarried voters, they looked to see if the fact that single women are poorer than single men was a reason that women are more likely to vote more Democratic. In fact, the gender gap in voting Democratic was especially large among those who are unmarried. However, while unmarried women are poorer than unmarried men, lower-income voters vote only slightly more Democratic than more affluent voters. "No matter how we measured income, controlling for it did not reduce the gender gap," the authors write. "One key factor in the gender gap is racial composition." More information: England, Paula, Part of the gender gap in voting for Democrats arises because a higher proportion of women than men voters are Black, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221910120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new study by researchers at Penn State reveals that populations of giraffes separated geographically by the Great Rift Valley have not exchanged genetic material in more than a thousand years, raising conservation concerns. Credit: Sonja-Metzger Giraffes in eastern Africa may be even more endangered than previously thought. A new study led by researchers at Penn State reveals that populations of Masai giraffes separated geographically by the Great Rift Valley have not interbredor exchanged genetic materialin more than a thousand years, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of years. The researchers recommend that the two populations be considered separately for conservation purposes, with separate but coordinated conservation efforts to manage each population. Populations of giraffes have declined rapidly in the last thirty years, with fewer than 100,000 individuals remaining worldwide. Numbers of Masai giraffes, a species found in Tanzania and southern Kenya that is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have declined by about 50% in this period due to illegal hunting and other human activities that encroach on their habitat, with only about 35,000 individuals remaining. "The habitat of Masai giraffes is highly fragmented, in part due to the rapid expansion of the human population in east Africa in the last 30 years and the consequent loss of wildlife habitats," said Douglas Cavener, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Distinguished Chair in Evolutionary Genetics and professor of biology at Penn State and leader of the research team. "Additionally, the Great Rift Valley cuts down through East Africa, and the steep slopes of its escarpments are formidable barriers to wildlife migration. We looked at the genomes of 100 Masai giraffes to determine if populations on either side of the rift have crossed over to breed with each other in the recent past, which has important implications for conservation." According to the researchers, giraffes are notoriously bad climbers. Using high-resolution satellite data, the team found only two locations where the angle of the rift's slopes was shallow enough for giraffes to potentially climb over, but there are no reports of them actually doing so. To better understand the historical exchange of genetic information, the researchers used a combination of whole genome sequencing of the nuclear genome, which includes genetic information passed on from both parents, as well the mitochondrial genome, which includes information passed on only from the maternal line. They present their results in a paper appearing June 12 in the journal Ecology and Evolution. "Interbreeding among different populations results in the exchange of genetic informationoften called gene flowand is generally considered to be beneficial because it can improve overall genetic diversity and help buffer small populations against disease and other threats," said Lan Wu-Cavener, assistant research professor of biology and a member of the research team. "To understand potential gene flow across the rift, we sequenced the more than 2 billion base pairs that make up entire nuclear genome as well as the more than 16,000 base pairs that make up the entire mitochondrial genome. This complex data presented a variety of computational and data storage challenges for our small team, but using the entire genome instead of a small portion allowed us to definitively investigate the extent of gene flow among these populations." The researchers identified several blocks of genes within the mitochondrial genome that are typically inherited togetherwhich researchers call haplotypesacross the two populations and conducted a network analysis based on patterns of similarity across those haplotypes. They found that giraffes on the east side of the rift had no overlapping haplotypes with giraffes on the west side of the rift, which suggests that females have not migrated across the rift to breed in the past 250,000-300,000 years. "Female-mediated gene flow between the two populations has not occurred in hundreds of thousands of years, or probably ever," said Cavener. "This raised a new question that we hadn't anticipated about the origin of these populations. We originally thought that one population was founded and then some individuals crossed over to the other side of the rift to establish the second population. But we now think that the two populations were founded independently more than 200,000 years ago." Analysis of the nuclear genome suggests that gene flow through the movement of males may have occurred as recently as a thousand years ago. The researchers plan to take samples from additional animals from both populations to better understand when and why this gene flow might have stopped. "Taken together, these results suggest that populations of giraffes on each side of the rift are genetically distinct, with each population having less genetic diversity than if they were one, larger interconnected population," said Cavener. "There are very little prospects of giraffes crossing over the rift on their own, and translocation is highly impractical with giraffes. This suggests that Masai giraffes are more endangered than we previously thought, and that conservation efforts for each population should be considered in an independent but coordinated fashion. We hope that the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments will increase the protection of Masai giraffes and their habitats, especially given the recent increase in giraffe poaching in the area." The researchers also found alarmingly high indicators of inbreedinga process that decreases genetic diversity and overall fitness of the populationon both the east and west side of the rift. The researchers plan to continue to study populations of Masai giraffes on both sides of the rift, including those that are particularly isolated, to better understand any danger faced due to inbreeding. They also plan to investigate how giraffes move between groups on the east side of the rift, where the habitat is particularly fragmented, to better understand how to prioritize conservation efforts to maintain connectivity between them. "We would also like to use genetics to clarify parental and sibling relationships in Masai giraffes," said Cavener. "There's a lot we don't know about how giraffes mate, for example do only a few males successfully breed in a local population over many years or do several males breed in that population? These questions are critically important to estimating the actual breeding population of the populations and will continue to guide our efforts to protect and conserve these majestic and charismatic animals." In addition to Cavener and Wu-Cavener, the research team at Penn State includes first author George Lohay, postdoctoral scholar who collected the biological samples from wild giraffe in Tanzania; Associate Research Professor of Biology Derek Lee and academic affiliate in biology Monica Bond, whose work over the past decade on the Masai giraffe populations in this study were essential for the project design and interpretation of the results; undergraduate student David Pearce; and graduate student Xiaoyi Hou. More information: Genetic evidence of population subdivision among Masai giraffes separated by the Gregory Rift Valley in Tanzania, Ecology and Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.10160 Journal information: Ecology and Evolution This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new class of materials that can absorb low energy light and transform it into higher energy light is a composite of organic and inorganic materials. The team includes researchers from The University of Texas at Austin. Credit: University of Texas at Austin A group of scientists and engineers that includes researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have created a new class of materials that can absorb low energy light and transform it into higher energy light. The new material is composed of ultra-small silicon nanoparticles and organic molecules closely related to ones utilized in OLED TVs. This new composite efficiently moves electrons between its organic and inorganic components, with applications for more efficient solar panels, more accurate medical imaging and better night vision goggles. The material is described in a new paper in Nature Chemistry. "This process gives us a whole new way of designing materials," said Sean Roberts, an associate professor of chemistry at UT Austin. "It allows us to take two extremely different substances, silicon and organic molecules, and bond them strongly enough to create not just a mixture, but an entirely new hybrid material with properties that are completely distinct from each of the two components." Composites are composed of two or more components that adopt unique properties when combined. For example, composites of carbon fibers and resins find use as lightweight materials for airplane wings, racing cars and many sporting products. In the paper co-authored by Roberts, the inorganic and organic components are combined to show unique interaction with light. Among those properties are the ability to turn long-wavelength photonsthe type found in red light, which tends to travel well though tissue, fog and liquidsinto short-wavelength blue or ultraviolet photons, which are the type that usually make sensors work or produce a wide range of chemical reactions. This means the material could prove useful in new technologies as diverse as bioimaging, light-based 3D printing and light sensors that can be used to help self-driving cars travel through fog. "This concept may be able to create systems that can see in near infrared," Roberts said. "That can be useful for autonomous vehicles, sensors and night vision systems." Taking low energy light and making it higher energy also can potentially help to boost the efficiency of solar cells by allowing them to capture near-infrared light that would normally pass through them. When the technology is optimized, capturing low energy light could reduce the size of solar panels by 30%. Members of the research team, which includes scientists from the University of California Riverside, University of Colorado Boulder and University of Utah, have been working on light conversion of this type for several years. In a previous paper, they described successfully connecting anthracene, an organic molecule that can emit blue light, with silicon, a material used in solar panels and in many semiconductors. Seeking to amplify the interaction between these materials, the team developed a new method for forging electrically conductive bridges between anthracene and silicon nanocrystals. The resulting strong chemical bond increases the speed with which the two molecules can exchange energy, almost doubling the efficiency in converting lower energy light to higher energy light, compared with the team's previous breakthrough. Kefu Wang and Ming Lee Tang of University of Utah, R. Peyton Cline and Joel D. Eaves of University of Colorado Boulder, Joseph Schwan and Lorenzo Mangolini of University of California Riverside and Jacob M. Strain of UT Austin also contributed extensively to the research. More information: Efficient photon upconversion enabled by strong coupling between silicon quantum dots and anthracene, Nature Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01225-x Journal information: Nature Chemistry This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Schematic of the implantable flexible neural probe. Insertion of the flexible neural probe into a rat brain, showing the full system: probe, ZIF connector, and flexible PCB. Resorbable insertion aid covering the flexible neural probe. Credit: Advanced NanoBiomed Research (2023). DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202200117 The prospect of a cure for a type of epilepsy could be one step closer following breakthrough research on materials that may help new types of probes be safely implanted in the brain. Bioengineering researchers from the University of Glasgow have investigated new dissolvable coatings which could help safely guide flexible implants into brains to help regulate temporal lobe epilepsy. The development of the material, outlined in an early-view paper in the journal Advanced NanoBiomed Research, is part of a collaboration that aims to tackle epilepsy by treating and regenerating damaged brain tissue. The 8m Hybrid Enhanced Regenerative Medicine Systems projectHERMESwas launched in 2019. It brings together 12 partners from seven EU countries to find new ways to heal brain disorders using transplants that combine biological and artificial components. Neural probes capable of deep brain stimulation have been used to help treat people living with Parkinson's disease and other conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder. They are a promising future treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy, which can be resistant to drugs. Currently, deep brain stimulation probes, which are made from silicon, often cause scarring around their implantation site because of a mismatch between the stiffness of the artificial materials and the soft tissue of the brain. One solution could be a new generation of flexible probes made from new bendable materials which offer a better match with the softness of brain tissue. Flexible implants could also widen the possibilities of where the implants could be placed in the brain, opening up treatments for more conditions. However, the increased flexibility of the materials can increase the risk of the probes bending or breaking when introduced into brain tissuea key problem that needs to be solved before the HERMES team and others can use them effectively as implants. In the paper, the Glasgow team and colleagues in Italy outline how they explored the potential of four different biological materials as coatings for future HERMES implants. The materials act as temporary stiffeners, which could allow flexible probes to reach their target in the brain without bending, before dissolving once the surgery is complete. They examined the performance of sucrose, maltose, silk fibroin and alginate as stiffeners for a flexible probe like the one which will be used in the HERMES project. While three of the materials had previously been tested in the lab as stiffeners in previous research, the Glasgow team were the first to explore alginate, a naturally occurring polysaccharide extracted from algae, as a stiffening material. They coated flexible probes similar to those that will be used in future HERMES implants in samples of the materials. They tested their performance as stiffeners by examining their performance as they were inserted into blocks of agarose gela material with a similar consistency to real brain tissue. The alginate-covered probes performed well, increasing the force required to buckle from 0.31 millinewtons for an uncoated probe to 28.97 millinewtons. However, the silk fibroin performed best, increasing the force required to bend the flexible probe to 75.99 millinewtons. They also tested the material's potential biocompatibility by conducting chemical tests and measuring how long they took to dissolve in brain-like conditions. Again, the silk fibroin and alginate materials performed well, lasting longer than the other materials before dissolving, which could offer surgeons more time to perform HERMES implant operations successfully. The silk fibroin materials were further tested in samples of lambs' brains and in rat brains to gather further data about their performance in human-like brains. Maria Cerezo-Sanchez, from the James Watt School of Engineering, is the lead author of the article. She said, "The tests we conducted show some really promising results for creating coatings for future flexible neural probes that could help safely guide them to their targets in the brain. "It's an exciting step forward, and we're continuing to explore the potential of these materials for use in neural implant procedures." Professor Hadi Heidari, of the University of Glasgow's James Watt School of Engineering, is the paper's corresponding author. He said, "The work we've done here is an important pillar of the strands of research that are coming together to create the advanced neuroprostheses that HERMES is aiming to achieve. "Some of our research partners are using the stiffeners we've developed to conduct further tests on the functionality of the probes. We're looking forward to seeing the results of those experiments as we get closer to delivering on the potential of HERMES." More information: Maria Cerezo-Sanchez et al, Bioresorbable Insertion Aids for Brain Implantable Flexible Probes: A Comparative Study on Silk Fibroin, Alginate, and Disaccharides, Advanced NanoBiomed Research (2023). DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202200117 Save us from more politics! By J.K. Baltzersen web posted June 12, 2023 Popes and presidents came and went. The Platinum Queen ruled on. Since that accession in a tree in the wilderness of the Aberdares. It would not go on forever. The new King stands crowned and ready for his first official birthday, Trooping the Colour, separate from his own birthday, November 14, a tradition that goes back more than a quarter of a millennium. The British and Commonwealth monarch is a ceremonial monarch, whose tradition is to stay far away from political controversy, particularly since the abdication of Edward VIII, although that wasn't always clear when the new King was Prince of Wales. In the reign of the present King's great-great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist Walter Bagehot wrote The English Constitution, in which he put out the rights of a "constitutional monarch," narrowly defining constitutional monarchy. The rights are: the right to encourage, the right to warn, and the right to be consulted. It is indeed a form of constitutional monarchy, but it is a narrow definition and describes a subclass of constitutional monarchy, denying the term to other constitutionally limited monarchies of the past, and even the European principalities of this present age. Queen Victoria is often described as the first British constitutional monarch, but that too is according to a narrow definition. In extension of the Bagehot rights are the reserve powers, the available option for a monarch to pull the emergency brake, indicating a less narrow definition of constitutional monarchy, but narrow still. One would wonder whether the modern monarchs ever could pull that emergency brake, considering a top priority is to stay out of political controversy. The King of Italy pulled it first after more than 20 years with Mussolini as his Prime Minister. These monarchies are technically a form of constitutional monarchy. It would, however, be more precise to call them ceremonial or symbolic monarchies (sometimes called crowned republics), especially for the case of Sweden, where the monarch has been completely removed from the decision-making process. The closest the King of Sweden comes to that process is the formal opening of Parliament and signing of ambassadorial credentials. Yet, no politician occupies the highest post, as it is reserved for the monarch, who behind the scenes may challenge them, and to whom they may confess. Certainly, in modern-day constitutional monarchy, the monarchy can serve as a nice wrapping around the dirty work of politics. The limits those especially limited monarchs put on power are admittedly far from sufficient to secure liberty. However, the likelihood of what would come in the place of those monarchies, being better is low. Yet often, republicans want minimal changes beyond having the monarchy removed. That would limit the potential harm but also the potential gain. In some cases, republicans argue that removing the monarchy is needed to make way for checks and balances. How realistic it is that the political system will put effective limits on itself, that is another story. The premier example of checks and balances in our age is arguably the United States. While the American union to some extent does have such checks and balances and limits on politics and government, it leaves much to be desired. Yet, modern monarchies to a large extent separate national loyalty and unity from politics, which may provide much needed stability. While stability varies amongst republics, replacing a cultural institution in a country with a deep-rooted tradition over centuries is gambling with stability, and could be a perilous experiment. As Edmund Burke told us, constitutions are grown, not made. Monarchy is not merely not harmful; it is beneficial. That is important to keep in mind this upcoming Saturday, when His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth Realms marks and celebrates his first official birthday. God save the King! J.K. Baltzersen is a Norwegian author and political commentator. He has edited and co-written a book on constitution, democracy and liberty. His writing has also been published in North America, most recently in The Washington Times. Home This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain This week, Canadian wildfires are producing significant amounts of smoke that is traveling vast distances, hovering over the eastern United States and producing unhealthy levels of air quality for millions of people. Dr. Gunnar Schade, an associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University, discusses what is causing these hazardous conditions to blanket so much of the U.S. airspace and the related impacts for human health. What is causing fires in Canada to blanket the air at such an alarming level on the East Coast of the US? Simplecurrent weather conditions. Smoke is lifted into the atmosphere by the heat of the fire that is producing it in Canada. The smoke is then distributed vertically and horizontally based on the current synoptic weather conditionsthe North Central Canadian (Arctic) high-pressure system and a persistent, slow-moving, low-pressure system off the northeast coast. Combined, they cause large-scale southerly to southeasterly air movement, which has taken the smoke to the U.S. upper Midwest, southeast and east coast. What are some of the major atmospheric effects of wildfires? There are three main effects. Number one, large inputs of particulate matter (PM), also called particle pollution, and many trace gases, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), etc. Some of these are short-lived (PM, VOCs), some long-lived (carbon dioxide, methane). PM, the main constituent of the haze encountered, can be made up of primary ash, soot and partially combusted plant materials as well as secondary products formed during its transport. Number two, short-term reductions in visibility and solar radiation reaching the surface. Meaning, less sunlight is reaching the surface of the region. Number three, medium-to-long term repercussions for atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. How far south do you expect the smoke will travel? A slow northerly transport appears to be maintained, thus reducing air quality as far south as Alabama and Georgia. The current weather pattern breaks only slowly, and the haze is expected to travel as far as Europe. I would ask those concerned to keep abreast of the weather developments from the National Weather Service website. How long do you expect this increase in air pollution to last on the East Coast? Presuming the wildfires (and their associated emissions) continue, I expect poor air quality will persist until the current synoptic weather conditions change, which appears to be early next week. In the meantime, some areas like the far northeast will see improvement. Others like the mid-Atlantic regions will see degradation. What are the short-term and long-term effects of this air pollution on humans and our planet in general? Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 , specifically) is associated with a host of health effects that can be both acute and chronic. People in the affected areas should wear KN95 masks whenever outside and limit strenuous exercise. PM is typically removed from the air within 5 to 10 days. The current smoke may persist for longer than this average, however, based on the synoptic weather conditions. The smoke can also modify the weather itself if it absorbs a lot of sunlight, thus heating the atmosphere regionally, while reducing the sunlight that reaches the ground. This can increase atmospheric stability, further worsening air quality from local emissions. In the long run, an increase in wildfires causes more carbon dioxide, more methane and elevated ozone levels to end up in the atmosphere, further aggravating global warming (wildfires are a known reinforcing factor). Longer wildfire seasons and larger acreage burned are current trends we are seeing. How will this affect indoor quality for those in the affected areas? In theory, not much if you live in a newer home and keep the windows and doors to the outside shut. PM, depending on size, can get deposited on surfaces indoors, but not letting it inside your home in the first place is more important. Running air filters and air conditioning systems speeds up PM removal. 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: Masai giraffes in Tanzania have lower survival during seasons of heavier rainfall, which is predicted to increase under climate change. Credit: Derek Lee Giraffes in the East African savannahs are adapting surprisingly well to the rising temperatures caused by climate change. However, they are threatened by increasingly heavy rainfall, as researchers from the University of Zurich and Pennsylvania State University have shown. Climate change is expected to cause widespread decline in wildlife populations worldwide. But little was previously known about the combined effects of climate change and human activity on the survival rates not only of giraffes, but of any large African herbivore species. Now researchers from the University of Zurich and Pennsylvania State University have concluded a decade-long studythe largest to dateof a giraffe population in the Tarangire region of Tanzania. The research is published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation. The study area spanned more than a thousand square kilometers, including areas inside and outside protected areas. Contrary to expectations, higher temperatures were found to positively affect adult giraffe survival, while rainier wet seasons negatively impacted adult and calf survival. First exploration into the effects of climate variation on giraffe survival Led by Monica Bond, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Zurich, the research team quantified the effects of local anomalies of temperature, rainfall and vegetation greenness on the probability of survival of the giraffes. They also explored whether climate had a greater effect on giraffes that were also impacted by human activity at the edges of the protected reserves. "Studying the effects of climate and human pressures on a long-lived and slow-breeding animal like a giraffe requires monitoring their populations over a lengthy time period and over a large area, enough to capture both climate variation and any immediate or delayed effects on survival," said Bond. The team obtained nearly two decades of data on local rainfall, vegetation greenness and temperature during Tanzania's short rains, long rains and dry season, and then followed the fates of 2,385 individually recognized giraffes of all ages and sexes over the final eight years of the two-decade period. Surprising effects of temperature on giraffe survival The team had predicted that higher temperatures would hurt adult giraffes because their very large body size might make them overheat, but in fact they found that higher temperatures positively affected adult giraffe survival. "The giraffe has several physical features that help it to keep cool, like a long neck and legs for evaporative heat loss, specialized nasal cavities, an intricate network of arteries that supply blood to the brain, and spot patches which radiate heat," noted Derek Lee, associate research professor of biology at Pennsylvania State University and senior author of the study. However, Lee also pointed out that "temperatures during our study period may not have exceeded the tolerable thermal range for giraffes, and an extreme heat wave in the future might reveal a threshold above which these massive animals might be harmed." Heavy rains may increase parasites while reducing nutritional value of vegetation Survival of giraffe adults and calves was reduced during rainier wet seasons, which the researchers attributed to a possible increase in parasites and disease. A previous study in the Tarangire region showed giraffe gastrointestinal parasite intensity was higher during the rainy seasons than the dry season, and heavy flooding has caused severe outbreaks of diseases known to cause mortality in giraffes, such as Rift Valley fever virus and anthrax. The current study also found higher vegetation greenness reduced adult giraffe survival, potentially because faster leaf growth reduces nutrient quality in giraffe food. Human pressure place additional stress on already declining populations Climate effects were exacerbated by the giraffes' proximity to the edge of protected reserves, but not during every season. "Our findings indicate that giraffes living near the peripheries of the protected areas are most vulnerable during heavy short rains. These conditions likely heighten disease risks associated with livestock, and muddy terrain hampers anti-poaching patrols, leading to increased threats to giraffe survival," said Arpat Ozgul, University of Zurich professor and study author. The team concluded that projected climate changes in East Africa, including heavier rainfall during the short rains, will likely threaten the existence of giraffes in one of Earth's most important landscapes for large mammals, indicating the need for effective land-use planning and anti-poaching to improve giraffes' resilience to the coming changes. More information: Monica L. Bond et al, Effect of local climate anomalies on giraffe survival, Biodiversity and Conservation (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10531-023-02645-4 Journal information: Biodiversity and Conservation This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The amniotic egg, showing the semipermeable shell and the extraembryonic membranes. Credit: Mike Benton The earliest reptiles, birds and mammals may have borne live young, researchers from Nanjing University and University of Bristol have revealed. Until now, the hard-shelled egg was thought to be the key to the success of the amniotesa group of vertebrates that undergo embryonic or fetal development within an amnion, a protective membrane inside the egg. However, a fresh study of 51 fossil species and 29 living species which could be categorized as oviparous (laying hard or soft-shelled eggs) or viviparous (giving birth to live young) suggests otherwise. The findings, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, show that all the great evolutionary branches of Amniota, namely Mammalia, Lepidosauria (lizards and relatives), and Archosauria (dinosaurs, crocodilians, birds) reveal viviparity and extended embryo retention in their ancestors. Extended embryo retention (EER) is when the young are retained by the mother for a varying amount of time, likely depending on when conditions are best for survival. While the hard-shelled egg has often been seen as one of the greatest innovations in evolution, this research implies it was EER that gave this particular group of animals the ultimate protection. Phylogeny of amniotes, showing known reproduction mode and eggshell mineralization, and EER of 80 modern and extinct species, and the estimated ancestral states for all branching points. The dominant inferred state at the origin of amniotes is viviparity with EER. Source:. Credit: Image from Jiang et al. (2023), with silhouettes of animals from PhyloPic.org, illustrated by Chloe Schmidt, Emily Willoughby, Mark Witton, Dmitry Bogdanov, Nobu Tamura, T. and Michael Keesey. M.J. Benton, University of Bristol Professor Michael Benton from the Bristol's School of Earth Sciences explained, "Before the amniotes, the first tetrapods to evolve limbs from fishy fins were broadly amphibious in habits. They had to live in or near water to feed and breed, as in modern amphibians such as frogs and salamanders." "When the amniotes came on the scene 320 million years ago, they were able to break away from the water by evolving waterproof skin and other ways to control water loss. But the amniotic egg was the key. It was said to be a 'private pond' in which the developing reptile was protected from drying out in the warm climates and enabled the Amniota to move away from the waterside and dominate terrestrial ecosystems." Project Leader Professor Baoyu Jiang added, "This standard view has been challenged. Biologists had noticed many lizards and snakes display flexible reproductive strategy across oviparity and viviparity." "Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviors, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed." "Also, when we look at fossils, we find that many of them were live-bearers, including the Mesozoic marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs," said Dr. Armin Elsler. "Other fossils, including a choristodere from the Cretaceous of China, described here, show the to-and-fro between oviparity and viviparity happened in other groups, not just in lizards." Skeleton of a baby chorisodere, Ikechuosaurus, from the Early Cretaceous of China, found curled up inside the remnants of a parchment-shelled egg. Credit: Baoyu Jiang, Nanjing University. Dr. Joseph Keating explained, "EER is widespread among vertebrates today, where the developing young are retained by the mother for a lesser or greater span of time." "EER is common and variable in lizards and snakes today. Their young can be released, either inside an egg or as little wrigglers, at different developmental stages, and there appears to be ecological advantages of EER, perhaps allowing the mothers to release their young when temperatures are warm enough and food supplies are rich." Professor Benton concluded, "Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic 'reptile egg' model of the textbooks to the wastebasket." "The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favorable." "Whether the first amniote babies were born in parchment eggs or as live, snapping little insect-eaters is unknown, but this adaptive parental protection gave them the advantage over spawning earlier tetrapods." More information: Extended embryo retention and viviparity in the first amniotes, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02074-0 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The damaged rudder of a boat attacked by killer whales in the Strait of Gibraltar. Groups of killer whales have rammed hundreds of small boats off the coast of Spain in recent years in "terrifying" behavior that has baffled scientists. "They directly attacked the rudder, not swimming around the boat, not playing with anything," Friedrich Sommer told AFP as he recalled how his sailboat Muffet was damaged earlier this year by "three or four" killer whales. "They rammed at full speed against the rudder," the German sailor told AFP as he waited for his vessel to be fixed in Barbate, a coastal town in Spain's southern Cadiz province. Rafael Pecci, manager of the shipyard where it is being repaired, is already busy repairing another sailboat that was attacked by killer whales, also called orcas. "It has completely lost the rudder," he said, pointing to the damaged part of the vessel. On Barbate's main beach, the mast of a sailboat that sank after it was rammed by killer whales in early May juts out of the water, a reminder of the danger ships face. The attacks began in 2020 and they have taken place mainly between Cadiz and the port of Tanger in northern Morocco, near the Strait of Gibraltar. Killer whales are drawn to these waters by the presence of their favorite preybluefin tuna that migrate through the Strait of Gibraltar to breed in the warmer Mediterranean. So far this year, Spain's coast guard has recorded 28 "interactions" between orcas and sailboats. Between 2020 and 2022, there were nearly 500 such encounters, according to data released by the Atlantic Orca Working Group, known by its Spanish abbreviation GTOA, which researches orcas in the region. 'Fury' Jose Luis Garcia Varas, who heads the oceans program at WWF Spain, told AFP that "very little is known about the causes of these interactions". One theory is that a killer whale, christened Gladis, had a bad run-in with a boat in the past and is now teaching other killer whales to attack vessels in turn. Gladis is the matriarch of a pod of killer whales that has been blamed for several boat attacks. Stories and videos of the attacks have been widely shared on social media, turning the orca into a meme. Killer whales "are group-oriented, they are very intelligent and are able to transmit knowledge orally", Garcia Varas said. The species live, hunt and move in very closely connected family pods. These tightly knit, matriarch-led groups have in some populations been shown to have their own pod-specific dialects. Maria Dolores Iglesias, head of the environmental group Agrupacion Voluntarios de Trafalgar, believes Gladis has died and her descendants have continued their attacks out of anger. One of Gladis's granddaughters has shown "fury" in her encounters with boats, Iglesias added. 'Quite terrifying' But Renaud de Stephanis, a biologist with the Spanish conservation group CIRCE who has been investigating the boat encounters, said they could be a form of "play". "We don't have a final conclusion," he said. De Stephanis is putting tracking devices on killer whales that will allow the authorities to locate them and hopefully minimize their encounters with boats. Killer whales can measure up to nine meters (30 feet) and weigh up to six tons as adults. While not all their collisions with boats lead to damage, when it does often it is a vital part that is destroyed like the rudder or mast. "It is quite terrifying," April Boyes wrote on her Instagram account after her boat was attacked by killer whales while crossing from Portugal's Azores Islands to Gibraltar. "We turned off the engine and waited, they started to bump into the rudder continuously for over an hour," she said, also posting a video showing crew members removing water from the boat to prevent it from sinking. 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: Diagram of the probe locations for the COMPLETE mission. Credit: Caspi et al. There are always more space missions than there is money to support them. Ultimately, some make the cut, and some do not. Various factors go into that decision, though those factors can change over the years and decades that some of these missions are designed to take. But the more ideas, the better, and now a new idea has sprung up from a group of scientists at SWRI, NASA, and the University of Minnesota, among others. It involves four different probes sent to various points in the solar system to observe the sun as it has never been seen beforeand just in time to see its most spectacular display in 2032. The mission, called COMPLETE (which does not appear to be an acronym), would send satellites to several different Lagrange points in the Earth-sun system. L4 and L5 (the trailing and leading Lagrange points) would each get one probe, and L1, which is much closer to Earth, would get two. Each of these probes could be launched on a Falcon Heavy rocket sometime near 2032, the expected height of the next 11-year solar cycle. As that cycle kicks off, COMPLETE mission controllers would be able to observe it in unprecedented resolution. Each probe would have a spectrograph to capture regular light and a magnetograph to detect magnetic fields associated with coronal mass ejections and other phenomena emanating from the sun. One of the significant considerations for which missions are selected is cost, and having four different probes for a single mission would increase COMPLETE's cost. That is especially true as each probe is expected to be largemuch larger than a typical human. So the team behind it decided it was essential to use probes that already have "heritage," as it is called in the jargonmeaning they were developed for a different mission and don't need expensive development efforts themselves. They can just be integrated into the probe design and with each other. Rough mockup of a COMPLETE probe. Credit: Caspi et al. Those sensors will be needed to answer four primary questions about the magnetic and other types of energy released during impulsive phenomena on the sun. To answer those questions, the design team realized they needed sensors in several different wavelengths, including extreme ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. Luckily, sensors for each of those wavelengths were already developed for other missions. Unfortunately, there was one area where the team couldn't get away with piggybacking on technologies developed for other missionsdata transfer. NASA's Deep Space Network, the most common way to communicate with probes beyond Earth's orbit, is two orders of magnitude too slow to communicate all the data COMPLETE's probes will be collecting. NASA already has plans in the works for an optical communication system that the agency plans to release by 2035. However, they would be slightly too late to make use of for the expected 2032 solar maximum, and thereby the main focal point of the mission. As such, the COMPLETE team suggested putting some more funding into pushing up the timeline of that optical communication system so that not only COMPLETE but other deep-space missions could benefit from it in that timeframe. So with all the heritage hardware and needed updates to worldwide communications infrastructure, what about the final number? The project team provides two different estimates for the mission, ranging from $2.1B to $2.5 billion. That level puts it in the "Flagship" class of missions, the determination of which is primarily based on the expected cost of the mission. Unfortunately, there can only be a small number of Flagship missions being actively worked upon at any one time, and COMPLETE has yet to receive that recognition from any funding agency, including NASA. However, the paper describing the mission was presented to the Heliophysics Decadal survey team and is freely available for those interested. It might become a reality someday with enough support from funding agencies or the private sphere. The research is published on the arXiv preprint server. More information: Amir Caspi et al, COMPLETE: A flagship mission for complete understanding of 3D coronal magnetic energy release, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2305.16533 Journal information: arXiv 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: Resin extruding from a tree. Credit: Earth-Science Reviews (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104455 Fossil tree resins open a window into the deep past as their organic compounds, termed biomarkers, can be used to identify the botanical provenance of these ancient trees, as well as the paleoenvironmental conditions in which they grew. Amber, one such resin, is a prized gemstone, but can also preserve plants and insects living on the tree at the time of resin exudation in immaculate detail. Due to this exceptional preservation, resins have been given a special name to signify their paleontological and geological importanceKonservat Lagerstatten. Resins have a practical purpose for trees as they have antifungal and antibacterial properties, and they deter invasions of hostile organisms, such as insects, which ultimately are themselves preserved. They can additionally attract pollinators to aid in reproduction. Sedimentary rocks yield fossil resins at the scale of several centimeters down to a few millimeters and are often transported to coastal and nearshore environments, but may even extend to the deep sea. It is these sediments that scientists sample to obtain resins for chemical analyses to understand environmental and ecological changes through time. Each of the preserved resin biomarkers in these sediments have a distinct chemical pattern, which matures over time as the resin is buried under more sediment, forming a bioterpenoid. Researchers have used cutting-edge technology to study these bioterpenoids in order to identify tree families from millions of years ago. These methods include gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, whereby small samples of the resin are crushed and react with chemicals while heating and evaporating, causing the organic compounds to separate. The mass spectrometer equipment then displays a visual image of these compounds, known as a chromatogram, which can be analyzed. This allows the fossil resin to be categorized into one of five major classes that are known to be associated with particular tree families, therefore aiding in the reconstruction of past botanical communities. At the largest scale, the resin can be identified as belonging to either a gymnosperm (plants that reproduce via exposed seeds and tend to be evergreen, such as pines, cedars and ginko) or angiosperm (flowering and fruiting plants and trees that usually lose their leaves in autumn, such as oaks and maples). Summary research by scientists at AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland, newly published in Earth-Science Reviews identifies 25 key biomarkers in gymnosperms and 15 in angiosperms that can be associated with particular environmental conditions, collating a wealth of previous studies of ambers from different global locations and ages. Interestingly, the reason that the resin was extruded impacts which biomarkers are present, as lead researcher Jan Panezak explains. "The occurrence of some compounds can be indicative of paleoenvironment, but not all compounds can provide direct information, for example, due to the reasons of resin exudation, such as if this specific resin exudated because of herbivore or microbial attack." These biomarkers include monoterpenes, which occur in all resins initially, but transform over time and thus are generally only found in more geologically recent tree resins, such as those from the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene (3.6 to 0.77 million years ago) found within ambers from East Himalaya. Today, they form part of the essential oils in plants that attract pollinators. Sesquiterpenes are another group of early biomarker that matures, possessing antimicrobial and defensive properties in modern plants and trees. Examples include bicadinanes, which are indicative of warm and humid climates, known from tropical zones of South-East Asia during the Cenozoic (66 million years ago to the present day), while rosane suggests an environment with high oxygen levels. Conversely, more complex biomarkers that fall under the categories of diterpenes and triterpenes include sulfurized forms that indicate the presence of reducing bacteria that thrive in oxygen-deficient conditions. Through the process of identifying the conditions in which a particular biomarker forms, scientists have been able to locate specific regions in which the trees would have originated and determined which tree families were thriving under particular climatic conditions. Furthermore, the paleoclimate at the time of resin expulsion can be determined by the isotopic composition of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen, as these remain fixed through time and can be important proxies for paleotemperature, therefore highlighting climate change events. Given that these biomarkers still occur in extant plants and trees, looking to the past is an important key to understanding how modern plant communities may also fare during current and future climate change. More information: Jan Panczak et al, Biomarkers in fossil resins and their palaeoecological significance, Earth-Science Reviews (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104455 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Illustration of The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Credit: NASA/Fermi and Aurore Simonnet, Sonoma State University In a study published in Nature Astronomy, a team of researchers from the University of Naples "Federico II," the University of Wroclaw, and the University of Bergen examined a quantum-gravity model of particle propagation in which the speed of ultrarelativistic particles decreases with rising energy. This effect is expected to be extremely small, proportional to the ratio between particle energy and the Planck scale, but when observing very distant astrophysical sources, it can accumulate to observable levels. The investigation used gamma-ray bursts observed by the Fermi telescope and ultra-high-energy neutrinos detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, testing the hypothesis that some neutrinos and some gamma-ray bursts might have a common origin but are observed at different times as a result of the energy-dependent reduction in speed. "By combining data from IceCube and Fermi, we found preliminary evidence supporting quantum gravity models that predict this effect. This marks a significant milestone in the field of quantum gravity research since it is the first time that such a level of quantum gravity-supportive statistical evidence is found," says corresponding author, Professor Giovanni Amelino-Camelia of the University of Naples on behalf of the team. "While these findings are preliminary, they provide a strong foundation for further detailed investigations as we continue to gather data from our gamma-ray and neutrino telescopes. Even if future data were not to confirm this effect, our findings would still provide stringent limits on the parameters of relevant models, which would already represent a rare and notable step for quantum gravity research," adds Amelino-Camelia. More information: Giovanni Amelino-Camelia et al, Could quantum gravity slow down neutrinos?, Nature Astronomy (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-01993-z. www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-01993-z Journal information: Nature Astronomy This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain With wildfire smoke affecting most of North America, what are the best ways to minimize the health impacts of air pollution under climate change? Here are answers to some key questions about the ongoing air quality problems. What is happening with air quality right now? Many North Americans have never experienced local air quality as bad as it's been this week. The air quality has been poor across the most densely populated regions in Canada and the United States. Based on analysis starting in 2006, the average U.S. population exposure to wildfire smoke is one of the highest estimated, and the highest over the eastern U.S. Air pollution levels, measured by the Air Quality Health Index in Canada, and the Air Quality Index in the U.S., have been considered high risk across much of Canada, and the eastern U.S. What is causing the poor air quality? Climate change is contributing to unusually hot, dry weather recently experienced over much of Canada. This creates conditions that foster haze, smog and wildfires. The number and extent of fires burning, and prevailing winds, means that the vast majority of Canadians across the country have been at least somewhat impacted by wildfire smoke this week. Winds are pushing smoke from western fires eastward across the north and Prairies. They have, during the worst air quality, swept smoke from fires in Quebec directly into the most densely populated regions of the continent, contributing to record-breaking pollution in New York. Those living nearest to the fires are affected by high levels of harmful particles and gases directly emitted by the fires. Those in downwind regions are also affected, as small particles stay suspended in air for days, and hot gases from the fires cool and condense into even more particles, forming haze and smog. What are the risks to us? The unhealthy levels of pollution we have now can impact our daily activities or affect travel due to poor visibility and haze. The current estimated cost of air pollution in Canada is $120 billion per year. The worst impacts are to human health. Health Canada estimates that air pollution is linked to more than 15,000 premature deaths in Canada every year. Wildfire smoke, specifically, can cause throat irritation, coughing, headaches and can affect lung function even in healthy children. It is linked to acute respiratory symptoms for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Visits to doctors, emergency departments, and hospitalizations will increase. What can we do to protect ourselves in the short term? People can help protect themselves by paying attention to air quality alerts and follow associated guidance. This guidance typically involves reducing exposure by limiting time outdoors when pollution is severe, especially for vigorous physical activity. We need more evidence on who is most susceptible groups to wildfire smoke, specifically. However, based on evidence of the effects of air pollution, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with asthma and COPD, among others, should follow guidance for sensitive groups, which may mean remaining indoors. Outdoor air can also get inside, especially in leaky homes with open doors and windows. When inside, keep your doors and windows closed, and run filtration, such as a central HVAC or heat pump system with an air filter, or run an indoor air purifier. Keep indoor air clean by reducing sources of smoke from tobacco, wood fireplaces, cooking and candles. When outside, wearing a well-fitting N95 mask offers protection from smoke particles, but will not filter out harmful gases. What can we do to protect ourselves in the long term? My own research has shown that fighting climate change per our global agreement will help reduce the rise in air pollution. So will further reductions in other sources of air pollution, along with wildfire management strategies. Given, however, that wildfiresand days with poor air qualitywill continue, we should also protect our most vulnerable with access to clean indoor environments. Outdoor air pollution unfairly affects racialized and socio-economically disadvantaged communities, which also have lower access to shelter that keeps polluted air out. Is this a 'new normal?" Climate change has already played a role in rising wildfire risks over the last century. Those risks are projected to further increase over parts of North America. Canadian research suggests that the conditions causing unmanageable wildfires could more than double some risks in parts of the country this century, including those currently experiencing fires. Further, climate change is known to increase air pollution, both average, and extremes levels. We can hope this will not be a new normal, but, to prevent that, we need to act to reduce these risks. What can we learn from this moment? This moment shows the risks we face if we do not address climate change and air quality together. We have made major gains in air quality in North America over the last fifty years thanks to significant reductions in emissions of air pollutants. However, those reductions are at risk from the worsening effects of climate change. This moment also shows the clear and tangible impacts of climate change on our health. Research, including a study I co-authored, has shown that policy to fight climate change has big benefits for air quality, and those benefits alone can exceed the entire cost of a climate policy. Climate change is also a local health issue, and the greatest opportunity to equitably improve health of this century. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A bridge over the Battenkill River will be named in honor of a Washington County firefighter who inspired his colleagues and community with his service and his fight against cancer. State Sen. Jake Ashby, R,C-Castleton, said the Legislature approved a bill in its final session days last week that names the bridge carrying State Route 372 over the river after the late Brian Buell, who was deputy chief of the Greenwich Fire Department. Buell died at age 47 in June 2022 from esophageal cancer. The Deputy Chiefs family, friends and fellow volunteers will never forget him. Neither will this community. The name Brian Buell will mean dedication and courage to the people of Greenwich for generations to come, Ashby said in a news release. I want to thank Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner for her efforts navigating the bill through her house. This wouldnt have happened without her, Ashby added. Woerner also issued a statement about the legislation. Deputy Fire Chief Brian Buell was a fearless leader, who for 33 years was committed to protecting the people of Greenwich, she said. To recognize him for his service and all he has done for our community, I am honored to designate this bridge in Brian Buells memory. He is a testament to what it truly meant to be a hero, going above and beyond the call of duty, and for that, we are forever grateful. Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the bipartisan bill into law. Buell was the youngest ever lifetime member of the Greenwich Fire Department, serving for more than three decades. He was also a New York State firefighter instructor. He is survived by his wife, Carrie, and their children Ryan, Stephen, Rachel and Bailey. I hope this provides a measure of comfort and pride for the Buell family, Ashby said. Landscape workers face a wide variety of hazardous tasks on the job, including working outside in a variety of weather conditions, navigating tricky elevations, operating machinery and traveling to multiple work sites each day. Its a job that is rewarding, but also entails substantial risk. Whether due to inclement weather, defective tools and equipment, or repetitive moving and lifting, the kinds of injuries landscape workers can suffer from include: Lacerations and abrasions Burns Fractures Joint dislocations Soft-tissue injuries Neck and back injuries Nerve damage Overexertion injuries Repetitive stress injuries Exposure to toxic chemicals Spinal injuries Vision/hearing damage or loss Traumatic brain injury Amputations Specific accident claims The majority of workers compensation claims are based upon injuries caused by a specific event during the course of employment. The cause of and fault for the accidental injury is typically irrelevant as long as it arose out of and in the course of employment and was not due to intentional self-infliction of harm. To receive compensation, the specific event does not need to be the sole cause of the injury. Accidents that aggravate, accelerate or exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition also entitle New Jersey landscapers to workers compensation benefits. What if it wasnt one specific event? Occupational injury claims are those that arise from the performance of work duties or exposures that occur on the job over time. Many occupational workers compensation claims commonly involve so-called wear-and-tear injuries, but also include exposures over time to harmful substances that eventually develop into a variety of diseases. The sham indictment is the last reason to desert Trump for another presidential candidate By Rachel Alexander web posted June 12, 2023 Conservatives who say we need to go with someone else for president other than Donald Trump due to the left targeting him with political prosecutions are missing the larger picture. This is one of the most frightening eras in America's history, where the left has weaponized politics to the point of putting our most powerful, leading conservatives in prison. It is not the time to desert them. If we complacently allow the fascist left to take down Trump, it will become far easier to take down others, having set a precedent. It's just a matter of time before they turn their sights on prosecuting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; if he gets the nomination, they'll proceed with a criminal fishing expedition against him. It's not true that Trump can't beat Joe Biden but DeSantis can. The polls are all over the place, with many of them showing Trump more likely to beat Biden. A Morning Consult poll from earlier this month has Joe Biden at 43% to Trump at 41%, and 43% to DeSantis at 40%. Premise polls are scattered, with Trump ahead of Biden by six points in one, Biden leading DeSantis by one point in another, and other variations. Redfield & Wilton Strategies shows Trump defeating Biden, with DeSantis losing to Biden by as much as 15 points. Everyone knows Trump really won in 2020. The Democrats have mastered election fraud in swing states with the aid of the MSM and judges terrified of ever ruling there was voter disenfranchisement of Republicans. I've specialized in writing about the left coming after conservative leaders for several years now Tom DeLay , Rick Perry , Rick Renzi , Steve Stockman , Ted Stevens , Bob McDonnell and Dinesh D'Souza . None of them did anything seriously wrong, yet prosecutors tried and in some cases succeeded in putting them in prison. We all know the expression, "a good prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich," since the defense doesn't get to show the jury the other side. Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed because he could be trusted to do the dirty work of the left; he prosecuted McDonnell, Renzi, and wanted to prosecute people targeted by Obama's IRS. The legal system has become dominated by the left in recent years, with large swaths of prosecutors now Democrats due in part to George Soros funding their races around the country. Before Sidney Powell ever got involved in Trump's election fraud fights, she wrote the book Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice. The legal system drags out the prosecutions of conservative targets in order to maximize the tarnishment of their names and bog them down fighting back it's not easy to do much else but survive when you're up against the unlimited pockets of big prosecution. It took DeLay nine years to fight groundless charges until he was finally exonerated. What heinous crime did Trump allegedly commit, resulting in 37 felony counts that could lead to 400 years in prison? Mishandling classified documents, a violation of the scary sounding Espionage Act (as if Trump was going to get involved with spying on the U.S.). Since he took 15 boxes of documents to Mar-a-Lago, he was accused of taking classified documents from the White House. But the president can declassify any document, any time under the Presidential Records Act. He may have kept them for nostalgic value, hardly anything nefarious, or perhaps he kept them to keep up to speed for his return to office. Let's contrast this with the prosecution of a previous Maricopa County Supervisor, RINO Don Stapley, who a grand jury indicted on 93 felony charges for spending $70,000 in campaign funds on luxury items from a campaign where he had no opponent. He also transferred the money to a personal bank account so he could qualify for a loan. Sounds clearly wrong, right? But since he was being prosecuted by a very conservative DA, he turned it around , filed a bar complaint against Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, got a judge to dismiss the charges, got Thomas disbarred, and got the taxpayers to award him $3.5 million for the "stress" of being prosecuted. Or look at what happened with Hillary Clinton and the classified emails she destroyed and illegally stored on a private server, not to mention phones she had destroyed with a hammer. Nothing. Similarly, what happened to Biden when he was caught with classified documents in his garage? Nothing. So all the drama about Trump being indicted could easily go nowhere if he was a buddy of the left. But since he's not, we know we're looking at years until this is finally concluded. A judge out to get Trump can find a way to weasel around the Presidential Records Act. This is all part of what defense attorney Harvey Silverglate wrote about in his book Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent. It's how our laws have become so many, so expansive, and so vague that the average American commits three felonies a day and doesn't know it. So as Joseph Stalin's chief of police famously said, "Show me the man and I'll show you the crime." The 37 counts are repetitive (mostly variations of "did not turn over documents"), with some just thrown in to pile on and sound scary, like "conspiracy to" types of counts. The other prosecutions Trump is facing are equally as bogus. We now have a two-tier justice system, just like a banana republic. While many of us may get annoyed at Trump's sharp attacks on others, including fellow Republicans, deserting him would be a Pyrrhic victory. The left will launch multiple criminal investigations of DeSantis if he gets the nomination. Let's stop ignoring history and face reality. They are coming after Trump because he is the leading candidate to challenge their incumbent president, and sweeping it under the rug and choosing DeSantis instead solves nothing, especially since the left will engage in as much election fraud against him too. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home 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. MARGATE Amid a nationwide spike in antisemitism, a local community is having conversations about how to prepare for instances of hate. The Anti-Defamation League held its Words to Action program in the city Sunday morning. The program invited the areas Jewish students and parents to discuss their experiences with antisemitism and possible strategies to respond to prejudice and bigotry. Randi Boyette, senior associate regional director of education for ADL Philadelphia, said the program was designed to be grounded in what Jews regularly encounter in their school environments. We really tried to focus on the things that actually are real-life experiences happening for students across the country, Boyette said. The program was held at the Milton & Betty Katz Jewish Community Center. Two sessions were held, one for children in grades six through 12 and another for parents and guardians. Boyette said the program discussed any antisemitic incidents that students encountered. They also drilled responses to typical antisemtic scenarios, such as finding swastika graffiti on a students locker, and talked about how to respond to stereotypes that people have of Jews. After the program, Boyette said she was relieved to hear that the local students in attendance had relatively few experiences with antisemitism, particularly due to their young age. While acknowledging it was a small sample size, Boyette said she was glad to see the students not feel unsafe or frightened as they mature and learn. Ive been in other places where Ive heard horrible, horrible stories from young kids, and that is not the situation that happened today, Boyette said. Everybody needs to understand (antisemitism is) a reality, and everybody needs to be thinking ahead of how to handle things, but when youre in a situation where it doesnt feel pervasive, that is reassuring. ADL program to guide Margate families in responding to antisemitism The Anti-Defamation League will host a Words to Action program in Margate next month to te Leigh Turner, who lives in the city, came to event with her seventh-grade son. She said she wanted to be as prepared as she could to help him respond to bigotry as he grows older and reiterate her teachings of how much verbal harassment can affect children. It was a particularly important topic, Turner added, for her sons age group. I think middle school is just hard, so finding your place within middle school is a hard thing, but I think its the perfect age to teach them how to do this as well, Turner said. But also, (the program helps) to recognize the importance of being an ally and not only speaking up when something is happening to him, but also speaking up when he sees something happening to others. Samantha Hammond, a local parent who volunteers for the ADL, said the program involved students and families from a variety of beliefs, differing in religiosity and family backgrounds, something that impacted their experiences and interaction with the program. But theyre all proud to be Jewish, that was never a question, Hammond said. Nobody was really going to hide who they are. They all wanted to just get along with other kids. Confronting prejudice Boyette said students were eager to learn ways to respond to antisemtism. She said they were particularly receptive to the idea of interrogating antisemtic comments that other students make, asking what compelled them to make the comments. She said antisemitic remarks, which can come from a students classmates or even at times from friends, are often driven by misinformation and ignorance. Middle school kids in particular will say hurtful, ignorant things to other students, Boyette said. So this idea, if you then could say, Well, what do you mean by that? then the kid who says it has to take a step back and think about it. Boyette said some of the students were excited to be able to confront prejudice in their schools. History of South Jersey Jewish farming colony brought to life at Stockton screening GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP A Jewish farming colony hidden away in the Pine Barrens and obscured by A couple of the kids said even when it doesnt go well, this idea of at least stepping up for yourself or for somebody else made them feel good, Boyette said. Hammond said she has two children, 5 and 3, and is expecting a third. She said she was glad to see students assert themselves and their beliefs in fighting antisemitism. Events where students can practice responses to antisemitism, such as the Words to Action program, Hammond said, helped her feel safer for her children. For me, watching them talk about whats important to them, what their values are and that they want to be advocates for themselves, it was very empowering, and it was very uplifting, Hammond said. Theres going to come a time where I need to have conversations that are difficult to have with (my children), and I want them to be prepared to go out and advocate for themselves. A national concern While Boyette said students felt relatively safe in Margate, antisemitism remains an issue nationwide. The annual ADL antisemitism audit found 3,697 reported antisemitic incidents throughout the United States in 2022. This figure was a 36% increase from 2021 and the highest total on record since the ADL began its audit in 1979 with a record being set for antisemitic incidents in three of the past five years. New Jersey saw 408 antisemitic incidents in 2022, which was the third highest statewide total in the U.S. These acts of hate are breaching what are meant to be secure locations, such as schools and synagogues. There were 589 antisemitic incidents targeting and occurring at synagogues, Jewish schools and Jewish community centers in 2022, which amounted to a 12% increase over 2021. Included among those incidents were 86 acts of vandalism, nine assaults and 91 bomb threats. Antisemitic incidents inside non-Jewish elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. rose 49% in 2022, while antisemitic incidents on college campuses rose 41% to 219. Signs of this growing antisemitism have been seen locally. In August 2022, antisemitic flyers were disseminated throughout Brigantine by the Goyim Defense League, a prominent antisemitic hate group. In November, the FBI issued a warning to all New Jersey synagogues after a man allegedly posted a text on social media calling for an attack, citing his motive as hatred towards Jews. Ventnor synagogue readies young congregation for Passover VENTNOR Shirat Hayam hosted a Seder on Sunday, with children, parents and teachers from th Doug Stanger, a local attorney who has served on the regional advisory board for the ADL Philadelphia executive committee and the ADL national board, was in attendance at the program Sunday. He said there are currently efforts to lobby Congress on a bill to condition federal funding to local police departments on their documentation and reporting of hate crimes, as well as their completion of hate-crime training. What we know is there have been substantial increases, Stanger said. And the importance of programs like this to empower youth and adults to respond when they hear something is critical to stopping the wave, to actually interfering with this increase. The program Sunday complements other local activities meant to help arrest the rise in antisemitism. Margate Superintendent Audrey Becker said her school district is partnering with the ADL next school year to launch a No Place for Hate program a student-driven initiative that involves the whole school community in combating prejudice. With these efforts to combat antisemitism underway, Boyette said it was important for local students to not be saddled by the prejudice and bigotry of others. One of the things we said right from the start was that antisemitism doesnt define Jewish people, Boyette said. And I think what I saw today is that these kids are not defined by antisemitism or by the thought of antisemitism they might experience in the future. Theyre Jewish kids in the United States. CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE Since being named director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, Len Desiderio has sought to strengthen connections between the county and its 16 municipalities. That effort has included regular roundtable discussions with the countys mayors, and Desiderio has recently been attending the meetings of municipal governing bodies, where he said he has been welcomed with open arms. It helps that he comes carrying a big check each time. He literally has big checks, printed on oversized poster board. On each check is also written a big number: $400,000 for each community for use on infrastructure projects. Will that check make it through our check machine? Upper Township Mayor Jay Newman joked when Desderio visited a meeting in May. Its not like the checks are from Desiderios bank account, or even from county taxes. Its the money from COVID, Desiderio said Wednesday. More than $10 billion came to New Jersey from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion injection of federal money into the American economy to blunt the impact of the pandemic. Cape May County resolution opposes wind power SEA ISLE CITY If there was any doubt where Cape May Countys governing body stood on plans The county towns had already taken in some of that money. A breakdown released by Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez in 2021 put that amount at a little over $15 million, with a wide range of how much came to each. For instance, Lower Township got $2 million, Middle Township $1.78 million and Upper Township took in a little over $1.1 million. But Cape May Point took in just a little over $27,000, while Ocean City brought in more than $7 million. The same rundown shows the county received $17.85 million from the federal package, for a county total of more than $32.9 million. It put the total payment to Atlantic County at $106 million, with $33.34 million going to Atlantic City. The county used $2.5 million from its funding to offset lost revenue, according to Brittany Smith, the countys chief financial officer, and spent $901,000 on equipment for the Office of Emergency Management. $134,000 went to expenses related to COVID, including testing, and $250,000 to tourism, with other line items each coming in at less than $1 million. The total spent is well under the total award to the county. At $400,000 to each of 16 communities, that puts the grants the county has handed out at a total of $6.4 million, roughly 36% of its total award. The recent grants that Desiderio is handing out one meeting at a time are the same for each town. That might mean a nice break for Ocean City taxpayers on funding a project, but it will make a far bigger splash in communities with annual budgets a fraction of the size of some other communities, such as Dennis Township or West Wildwood. The money could not be used to reduce tax rates or go into the general fund. Each town had to submit an application with an infrastructure project that was already in the works, Desiderio said. Ocean City police chief: Change in juvenile alcohol laws source of teen problems OCEAN CITY Its still light at 8 p.m. this time of year, but the public will be required t Everyone gets the same amount. You bring $400,000 to some of those communities, and theyre ecstatic, Desiderio said. In tiny West Wildwood, where meetings take place Friday evenings for the convenience of seasonal property owners, Desiderio had everyone in attendance included in the check presentation photo rather than just the governing body. Desiderio said he plans the outreach effort to extend beyond big cash prizes. Hes asked members of the county governing body to attend municipal meetings on a regular basis to better understand local issues, and has let municipalities know the county can offer support, from shared service agreements to loans of equipment that may be a big purchase for a small town to buy for a single project. The meetings of mayors held so far have included discussions on how to handle teen gatherings and pop-up parties, he said, also strengthening the connections between communities. If we can work together and discuss things, it only makes us better and stronger, Desiderio said. Theyre really buying into that were all one big, happy family. At the Ocean City meeting Desiderio attended, Mayor Jay Gillian said the additional time with fellow mayors has been helpful. It has been an amazing resource, he said. The city makes up a significant portion of the countys overall tax base. We send a lot of money to you guys, Gillian said of the county. He said some question whether Ocean City is getting its moneys worth. I can tell you that we are. Cape May County commissioners approve work for fishing pier restoration CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE Revitalization of a local fishing and crabbing spot is moving forward In many instances, the funds will go toward drainage or road projects. For instance, Wildwood Crest plans to spend its share on the reconstruction of Syracuse Avenue, including new sewer lines, and other improvements as well as repaving. Desiderio also serves as the mayor of Sea Isle City, a post he has held since before being elected to county government. Since then, a change in state law prevents someone from holding a county and municipal elected office at the same time, but because Desiderio already had both jobs when it passed, he was grandfathered in. For Sea Isle, Desiderio accepted the check, which was presented by Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski. Desiderio believes the countys municipalities will be more likely to look to the county for help when needed. We got their attention, he said, Theyre happy to know were there for them. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Stockton University plans to launch a pilot program through its initiative to help recovery court graduates find scholarships, training and employment with the help of nearly $1 million from the state, schools officials said Monday. Stockton announced it was given a state Department of Labor grant for $947,100 to aid its Judiciary Opportunities for Building Success program, which helps people on probation find jobs at state colleges and universities. Kean University, Rutgers University-Camden and three nonprofits joined Stockton in sharing nearly $6 million provided by the Labor Department, officials said in a news release. Chief Justice Stuart Rabners JOBS initiative is one of the best examples of a public/private partnership to improve society, Glenn A. Grant, administrative director of the courts, said in a statement. The collaboration between the Department of Labor, the Judiciary and institutions of higher learning will help to further enhance the mission of the JOBS program as we continue working to build our network of companies and organizations who see the value and importance of giving people a second chance. Stockton said it intends to create SJ-JOBS, an employment program for 200 people on probation in Atlantic and Cape May counties. Marissa Levy, Stocktons dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said the university has been a leading institution in the statewide initiative. Levy cites full-time employment opportunities with suitable benefits, job training and mental health support as the top factors in lowering the recidivism rate among people on probation. Stocktons SJ-JOBS program will provide a wraparound approach, offering people in the program social services, identifying career goals and training and eventually a job, Levy said. Were not only helping people get the training they need, but were helping them realize that they have potential and value in society, said Levy, who is also Stocktons interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. This will help the person leave the program as a fully prepared citizen. Stockton will partner with Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties for mental health training, Ideal Institute of Technology in Mays Landing for job training and the Atlantic County Workforce Development Board for assistance in recruitment. The district administration on Sunday welcomed the representatives of various countries who will take part in the G20 Digital Economy Working Group Conference scheduled in the city between June 12 and 14. The Conference is being attended by representatives of around 50 different countries. The district administration in Pune welcomed the guests in a Puneri style by offering Puneri Pagdi to them. Traditional dhol tasha was also there to make the guests feel the culture of Maharashtra. Union Minister of State for Electronic and Information Technology Rajiv Chandrashekhar will inaugurate the conference in Pune. Among those who will take part in the meeting include representatives of Australia, Kenya, Srilanka, Oman, Nigeria, Singapore, Indonesia, Russia, Mauritius, Laos and England. Three major issues: digital public infrastructure, security in digital public economy and digital skills will be discussed in this meeting, said officials. The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday affirmed a lower court ruling that the city of Muscatine is not liable for the rape of a woman by a former Muscatine Police officer. The court's decision said the city was not "vicariously liable" because the former officer's criminal actions fell outside the scope of his assigned duties. On Feb. 4, 2015, Shari Martin filed suit against former Muscatine Police Officer Tomas Andrew Tovar, also known in court records as Thomas Tovar, and the city of Muscatine. In her suit she included causes of action of sexual assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and invasion of privacy. On June 9, 2016, Tovar was convicted by a Muscatine County jury of raping Martin on the morning of Feb. 16, 2013, when he gave her a ride to her hotel after her boyfriend was arrested for operating while intoxicated. Tovar was sentenced July 26, 2016, to 10 years in prison on the charge of sexual abuse in the third degree. His conviction was upheld by the Iowa Court of Appeals in a Jan. 18, 2019, ruling. According to the Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Tovar was released from prison on Dec. 24, 2020. He is on parole for life and, according the Iowa DOC, is living in Minnesota. In her lawsuit, Martin attempted to hold the city of Muscatine liable for Tovars actions, saying the city had a supervisory role over Tovar. The district court, however, granted summary judgment in favor of the city of Muscatine saying that the city could not be held responsible for Tovars criminal actions because Tovars actions were outside the scope of his employment. The district court also denied Martins request to extend liability to the city based on the theory of aided by agency. Martin appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court, which concurred with the district courts ruling. In writing the opinion for the court, Justice Matthew McDermott said that Tovars rape of Martin was an egregious departure from the authorized or assigned duties of his employment as a police officer. His criminal act was not intended to further any purpose or interest of the city; indeed his crime was antithetical to it. McDermott went on to say that Tovar knew his act wasnt authorized or condoned, which is why he took steps to prevent the city from finding out about it," such as turning off the camera in his police car and turning off his body microphone. Martin argued that Tovars sexual assault was within the scope of his employment because it was foreseeable that he would misuse his authority as a police officer to take advantage of her. McDermott said the court could find no evidence that Tovars sexual assault was the kind of act that was expected, foreseeable, or sanctioned by the city. Martin said Tovar had performance problems, including poor evaluations and that he was demoted from a detective position for misconduct. McDermott said that while that evidence convinces us that Tovar was a substandard police officer, none offer clues that Tovar would sexually assault someone. Martin argued that even if the court found that Tovar was acting outside the scope of his employment, vicarious liability should apply against the city under the aided by agency theory. Under this exception, an employer may be held vicariously liable for an employees conduct if the employee was aided in accomplishing the act by being connected to the agency. McDermott said that an argument can almost always be made at some level of generality that an employees tortious conduct was aided by the employees job. He also quoted the Michigan Supreme Court, which warned that aided-by-agency liability would expose employers to the threat of vicarious liability that knows no borders for acts committed by employees that are clearly outside the scope of employment and would pose the danger of adopting an exception that essentially has no parameters. The court declined to adopt Martins proposed aided-by-agency argument to impose vicarious liability on the city of Muscatine. One of the greatest operas of all time will be presented by Opera Quad Cities on Friday and Sunday, June 16 and 18, at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center, 3600 Avenue of the Cities, Moline. Don Giovanni, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, will be the eighth fully staged performance by the nonprofit opera since it was founded in 2001, Jon Schrader, board president, said. Premiering in Prague in 1787, Don Giovanni tells the story of a young, arrogant and sexually promiscuous nobleman who abuses and outrages everyone else in the cast until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge or outwit. The message is that those who do evil in life will face an evil end. By fully staged, Schrader means a performance with sets, lighting, costumes, a cast of eight named characters and a chorus of 25, plus a 40-member orchestra of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion, involving nearly 80 people total. Audiences may recognize performers from the Genesius Guild, Music Guild or the bank, Schrader said, explaining that his day job is as a banker. He also directs the choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bettendorf. Schraders part is short but pivotal. He dies within 30 seconds of his first entrance but returns at the end as a ghost who drags Giovanni into hell. The title role is played by Bin Peng, assistant professor of voice at Augustana College, Rock Island. His servant Leporello, played by Michael Callahan, of the Quad-Cities, delivers what is perhaps the operas most recognizable song, The Catalog Aria. The cast is about evenly divided between the Quad-Cities and within a 60-mile radius, primarily Iowa City, Schrader said. The opera will be 7:30-10:30 p.m. June 16 and 2-5 p.m. June 18. Admission is $30, $25 for seniors and free for students with ID. DES MOINES State Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville, in a social media post Monday, described and defended the events that led to his ouster last week as Democrats leader in the Iowa Senate. Wahls was voted out of his position as Iowa Senate minority leader when Senate Democrats called an impromptu meeting and voted to make Sen. Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, their new leader. Wahls post Monday was his first public comment since the vote. I am no longer leader because I made the difficult decision to fire two longtime staffers who did not share my vision for change while restructuring our staff. My Senate Democratic colleagues disagreed with my decision, Wahls said in the post. There is always a resistance to change and new ideas, and I stand by the decision because Iowa Democrats desperately need a new direction and leaders who will chart that course. The two Democratic caucus staff members that Wahls had fired, Erik Bakker and Deb Kattenhorn, are once again employed by the caucus, a spokesman confirmed Monday. Previous disagreements over Wahls direction as caucus leader also led to his ouster, although neither Wahls nor Senate Democrats have not said publicly what those issues were. Senate Democrats did not specify any reasons for the change in a statement issued the day after the vote. Wahls post made no mention of his future plans. A 31-year-old from Coralville serving his second four-year term in the Iowa Senate, Wahls declined further comment, and referred The Gazette back to his public statement. There are just 16 Democrats in the 50-member Iowa Senate. Thats the lowest number of Senate seats held by either of the two major parties in 50 years. Iowa Statehouse Republicans have held the governors office and agenda-setting majorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature since 2017, giving them full control over the state lawmaking process over that time. So many people are discouraged about the direction of our state and the losses our party has sustained over the past decade, and if you are one of them, I want to speak directly to you, Wahls said in his post. While they want us to give in to cynicism, we must refuse to accept that Iowa is lost forever. Our fight for liberty, justice, and shared prosperity is difficult. Our success will require honest reflection, an immense amount of hard work, and a deep commitment to change. And while change is always hard Iowans are counting on us, and failure is not an option. Wahls was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018, and in 2020 was elected leader of the minority-party Senate Democrats. He first gained prominence in 2011 when he spoke on the Iowa House floor about his two mothers as legislators debated a proposal to ban same-sex marriage in the state. Jochum, 68, has served in the Iowa Senate since 2009, and before that had served in the Iowa House since 1993. In 2012, she was chosen by her peers as the second woman and first female Democrat to serve as Iowa Senate president. The next session of the Iowa Legislature is scheduled to convene Jan. 8, 2024. Photos: Change of command at the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center. With many cities and regions of the country impacted by smoke from Canadian fires, officials remind the public of a city website feature that monitors daily and hourly air quality conditions in Rapid City. The Air Quality Index link has been on the citys website since 2021 and can be found at two locations on the itys home page at www.rcgov.org in the Community Bookmark and Whats News in the City sections. Visitors are taken to AirNow, a one-stop source for air quality data. AirNow reports air quality using the official US Air Quality Index. AirNow is a partnership of the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control and tribal, state and local air quality agencies. For Rapid City, the Air Quality Index displays a color-coded scale from 0-500, ranging from good to hazardous designations. The scale is used to communicate the air quality for the Rapid City area and anywhere in the country. Other features of the page include a color-coded map matching the color scale to show the air quality of the region. The Air Quality Index displays the current air quality and is updated hourly. It also includes any pollutants that may be impacting the air quality index and a recommendation or advisory on outdoor activities given the current air quality. The Air Quality Index feature provides a great opportunity for the public to check and monitor the air quality of our area, said City Senior Planner Kelly Brennan. The designations provide important details about the air quality in Rapid City with real-time updates and important advice on precautions to take, especially when the index falls into the unhealthy or hazardous categories. Violence and the civilized society: Conformity and dissidence in different societies (Part One) By Mark Wegierski web posted June 12, 2023 Author's Foreword (2023) The following essay arose out of a presentation to a ginger group the author belonged to at the time, which took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on December 16, 1988. The starting point of the discussion was the theme "Tories vs. Whigs". These were rather unhappy times for the author. Before the Internet, living as a conservative and traditionalist in a megapolitan metropolis like Toronto, one often almost felt that (as Orwell had put it) that the only things that belonged to you were the few cubic centimeters inside your own skull. The reading of the essay should be properly contextualized by taking note of the extreme alienation that the author felt from the Canada of the late-1980s, which tended to push him into a deeply questioning mode about "the received opinions" about liberal democracy, and the exercise of violence in society. The embrace of toryism seen at times below is clearly Canadian. Although the author is uncomfortable with this line of argument, some have argued that the reason that Canada tightly regulates speech today is its tory-touched origins, which preferred an orderly society to free-wheeling debate that could create acrimonious social divisions. Indeed, one can notice in the essay a sometimes uneasy hybridization of Canadian and American conservatism, as well as of other influences, such as the Polish. (Initial drafts of this essay date back to 1988.) In looking at the theme of "Tories and Whigs," and its possible application to some current-day debates, it must not be imagined that the Tory theorists of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries defended Toryism in the bald terms of the "the King has a right to do whatever he wants." "The Divine Right of Kings" was interpreted in terms of its meanings and implications for society as a whole - i.e., as an embodiment of the Great Chain of Being which gave coherence and meaning to the human person's very existence. The Monarch (or Sovereign) embodied the collective will of society, and it could not be imagined that there could exist in society something that could be superior to the Sovereign. (By definition, the Sovereign is sovereign.) If one could "translate" this concept into more "modern" terms, this would be as follows: there is a "touchstone" or social consensus around which every traditional society is based, and all major transgressions against that "touchstone" or social consensus can be met with appropriate punishment and/or countermeasures. This is to say that the Sovereign reserves the ultimate power to punish or execute his subjects when they seriously transgress - or, in other words, that the traditional society may vigorously defend itself against those who threaten its moral code (spiritual existence) or, obviously, its merely physical existence. The point to be made is that if the Sovereign is not sovereign, it is no longer the grounding or centering or absolute principle within that society. Yet, one could argue, without this "center" or absolute principle, life in society is no longer truly meaningful to the human person, because society itself is no longer truly meaningful, i.e., it is deabsolutized. Clearly, there are some exceptions to the principle of always upholding traditional societies, most notably in the initial arrival and extension of Christianity into the world. It is also possible that some traditional societies still existing outside the West today, may embrace some highly questionable notions, and should not defend those notions. Edmund Burke's counsel of prudential statesmanship, and the idea of "reform in order to preserve", may be suggested as a way out of the dilemma of bad traditions without undermining the concept of tradition as a whole. But what happens in the far more currently prevalent situations, when a society eventually comes to be built emphatically around anti-traditionalist premises? This could be seen as occurring in current-day liberal democracy dominated by left-liberalism, and also in Nazism and what could probably be most precisely called Leninism. It is possible to argue that any society can have (or inevitably has) a prevailing ideology or worldview. But, is in fact, every society justified in defending itself against those who seek to somehow change, or perhaps ultimately, overthrow it? Obviously, the idea that every society is justified in upholding its world-view, cannot be accepted. For example, traditionalists such as true Tories in Canada are obviously a tiny minority in a predominantly left-liberal society - are they therefore to be "dealt with" and suppressed? There is also a twist in the fact that true Tories would (most likely) oppose a Far Left terroristrevolutionary attempt to topple a liberal democratic regime. Therefore, traditionalists would be advocating tolerance for themselves in a liberal democratic system, while calling for a "crackdown" on the Far Left though presumably only if it advocated and carried out violence. Therefore, one must ask the crucial question, what criteria can be used to properly distinguish between what could be considered healthy though perhaps quite pointed political debate (regardless from which part of the political spectrum it emanates), and something that constitutes an "immediate incitement to violence"? This also raises a further issue - the fact that organized social violence is only one of a wide panoply of normative, utilitarian, and other coercive controls which any society uses to "keep people in line." A distinction may also be drawn here between the use of coercive instrumentalities mainly for the maintenance of civil order (or the professed attempt to do so), as in some earlier forms of liberal democracy, and the employment of coercive (and also normative and utilitarian instrumentalities) for the sake of the promotion, strengthening, and reinforcement of a given "worldoutlook." In more classical liberalism, the coercive instrumentalities are most often used for the sake of maintenance of civil order (and this is usually their sole "legitimate" justification in classical liberalism). Even today, in many liberal democratic societies, it is usually the normative and (to a certain extent) the utilitarian instrumentalities which are mostly used to "induct" people into various shades of liberalism (most especially through the mass-media, and the mass-education of the young). However, one can see increasingly in some liberal democratic societies, that coercive instrumentalities indeed begin to be used against such things as alleged "hate speech". The recent IRS scandal in the United States is another example of coercive instrumentalities coming to be used against dissenters. And, more recently, the prospects of the emergence of the so-called "surveillance society" have been instantiated more concretely that at any earlier point in American history. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Its no coincidence that South Dakotans are well-versed in direct democracy. The state was the first in the nation to adopt an initiative and referendum process in 1898, giving citizens the power to propose and approve laws under which they live. Petition-fueled constitutional amendments were added in 1972, a more weighty process that some conservative legislators view as a political end around for progressive causes in a state where Republicans control the executive and legislative branches. While initiated measures can be repealed by the state Legislature or referred to the ballot for reconsideration, initiated amendments are entrenched in the state constitution and can only be reversed through court challenges or a superseding amendment. The stakes are high, in other words, especially on an issue such as abortion, a complex and ongoing legal and moral debate with deep political divisions in South Dakota. Dakotans for Health, a grassroots organization that pushes for progressive policy change through petition efforts, is collecting signatures for a proposed 2024 amendment that would enshrine abortion rights in the South Dakota Constitution. If passed by voters, it would supersede a 2005 state trigger law enacted last summer when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with its ruling in Dobbs vs. Jacksons Womens Health Organization, leaving it up to the states to determine reproductive rights. The South Dakota trigger law makes it a Class 6 felony for anyone who administers to any pregnant female or prescribes or procures for any pregnant female a means for an abortion, except to save the life of the mother. Dakotans for Health founder Rick Weiland thinks the time is right for an abortion amendment because of the unsettled nature of South Dakotas ban. Women now cross the border into neighboring states to obtain abortion pills. And questions remain about the legal interpretation of life of the mother in state law. With Roe v. Wade, at least there was a framework that provided some reasonable guardrails on both sides of the issue, Weiland said. Its like the wild, wild West right now. The petition drive has galvanized an equally passionate opposition movement, with anti-abortion groups wary of allowing the issue to reach the ballot. South Dakotans rejected near-total abortion bans by statewide vote in 2006 and 2008. A News Watch-sponsored poll of 500 registered voters in July 2022 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy showed that a majority (57%) of respondents support allowing legal access to abortion medications in the state. Nearly two-thirds (65%) said they support having a statewide referendum to determine South Dakotas laws regarding reproductive rights. More than three-fourths (76%) of those polled support allowing legal abortion in cases of rape and incest, an exception not currently allowed under South Dakota law. That public support of abortion rights with restrictions is reflected in other GOP-controlled states. In Kansas, which former President Donald Trump won with 56% of the vote in 2020, voters overwhelmingly rejected a 2022 constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Republican-led Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban abortion outright, with 59% voting against the amendment. In South Dakota, the abortion measures most public opponent is state Rep. Jon Hansen, a Republican from Dell Rapids. He serves as vice president of South Dakota Right to Life and co-chair of the Sioux Falls-based Life Defense Fund, which has the stated goal of fighting against this deadly constitutional amendment at every step. Hansen has encouraged volunteers to stand next to Dakotans for Health petition circulators and explain to the public how radical this amendment is and encourage our fellow citizens not to sign the petition. Hansen, a lawyer who serves as Speaker Pro Tempore of the South Dakota House, has also criticized the wording of the proposed amendment, claiming that its far more extreme than Roe v. Wade itself. Weiland and others pushed back on that statement by claiming that the amendment uses the same trimester framework as Roe, the landmark 1973 ruling in which the Supreme Court held that the Constitution protected a womans right to an abortion prior to the viability of the fetus. The proposed South Dakota ballot amendment prevents the state from regulating the abortion decision and its effectuation during the first trimester (1 to 13 weeks). During the second trimester (14 to 26 weeks), the state could regulate the abortion decision and its effectuation only in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman. After the end of the second trimester (when the fetus becomes viable), abortion could be regulated or prohibited except to preserve the life or health of the mother. Hansen, who sent a statement to News Watch via email but didnt agree to an interview, did not respond directly when asked what specific elements of the amendment are more extreme than Roe v. Wade. In public statements, Hansen pointed to a lack of safety protections such as parental notification, waiting periods and informed consent. In South Dakota, before Dobbs, informed consent meant that doctors were required to tell patients that women who undergo abortion procedures could experience depression and suicidal thoughts and that the procedure would terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being. These state restrictions were not permissible under Roe v. Wade. They were passed after Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the basic tenets of Roe but overturned the trimester framework and used a more flexible standard as to whether state-imposed restrictions were constitutional. Based on this, supporters can be taken literally when they say the proposed abortion amendment is an attempt to codify Roe v. Wade, according to Hannah Haksgaard, a professor at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law The proposed amendment is very closely aligned with the original Roe v. Wade framework, Haksgaard told News Watch. The language mimics the trimester framework of Roe v. Wade and nothing in this amendment indicates any abortion rights more extreme than that. Dakotans for Health does not dispute the assertion that the proposed amendment allows greater abortion access than existed under post-Casey laws in many states, including South Dakota. Hansen also contends that the amendment, if passed, would allow abortions up to nine months because of the measures language. After the second trimester, the state would be permitted to regulate or prohibit abortion except when abortion is necessary, in the medical judgment of the womans physician, to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman. Hansen notes that the phrase or health could include mental health, however severe or however mild, and that preserve means to keep something as it is. So the abortion amendment isnt even about abortion to relieve existing mental health issues, he wrote on Twitter. The abortion amendment legalizes late-term abortion up to the point of birth if the stated reason is to avoid stress, anxiety, or adjustment issues, however mild, even before these issues ever occur. Mental health conditions account for more than 20% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, according to data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees and reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The criteria for mental health included suicide and overdose/poisoning related to substance abuse. Most states with health exceptions limit those exceptions to physical health concerns such as serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function (Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Wyoming, Indiana) or risk of serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ (Kentucky and Louisiana). No such declaration exists with the proposed amendment in South Dakota, keeping in line with the original Roe wording, which Hansen sees as a weakness of the proposal. We cannot allow abortion through nine months of pregnancy to be written into our states founding document, he said in a video on the Life Defense Fund website. The results would be completely devastating to life in our state. Fewer than 1% of U.S. abortions in 2020 took place at 21 weeks or later, according to CDC abortion surveillance data, compared with 93.1% up to 13 weeks and 5.8% at 14-20 weeks. Medication abortion, through the use of pills, currently accounts for 54% of abortions in the United States, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health organization. Under current South Dakota law, abortion is banned unless there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female. The legal uncertainty surrounding the wording of that exception, and possible fallout for doctors and patients, became an issue during the 2023 legislative session. A bill sponsored by Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, a Sioux Falls Republican and certified registered nurse anesthetist, would have defined preserving the life of the pregnant female as meaning at serious risk of death or in danger of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of one or more major bodily functions. Rehfeldt, who declined an interview request, tabled her own bill in committee after facing backlash from anti-abortion factions of the Republican caucus. I would have never thought that the idea of preserving the life of the mother would be debatable, Rehfeldt said during a February hearing, or even considered not pro-life by some who would think that being pro-life could mean that we do not protect women, that we are not willing to provide clarification for doctors who have given their lives to care for not just one but two patients. Weiland calls the abortion through nine months warning a scare tactic not based on reality. Weiland said the failure to advance that bill points to the zero tolerance approach by Hansen and other state GOP leaders. Hansen has criticized leaving life or health abortion decisions up to medical professionals because the physician will likely be an abortionist like those from Planned Parenthood, whose business and profits are derived from performing abortions. Planned Parenthood didnt respond to an interview request for this story. The South Dakota State Medical Association doesnt comment on citizen initiatives until they qualify for the ballot. But the association stated after the Dobbs decision that our position remains that an abortion is a personal health and medical decision to be made by a qualified physician and patient. Weiland referred to Hansens hardline stance as out of touch with voters and post-Dobbs scenarios in South Dakota. He raised the possibility that there will be another attempt to soften the states trigger law during the 2024 legislative session in anticipation of the proposed amendment making the ballot in November of that year. The question is whether theres enough support within the Republican caucus in Pierre to moderate the law. And I would submit that the answer is no, Weiland said. Dakotans for Health needs to collect a minimum of 35,017 signatures by May 7, 2024, to place the abortion amendment on the ballot. The goal is to submit 60,000 or more to ensure that ballot access isnt foiled by invalidated signatures or other technicalities. If the group makes the ballot, which Weiland expects to do, it wouldnt be the first time South Dakotans have gone to the polls to determine state abortion laws. In 2006, legislators passed a law to ban all abortions except those done to save the life of a pregnant woman. Then-Gov. Mike Rounds signed it, but opponents gathered enough signatures to refer it to the ballot, where it was defeated with more than 55% percent of the vote. Two years later, voters rejected by a margin of 55% to 45% a ballot initiative that would have banned all abortions in the state except in cases of rape or incest or to preserve the health or life of the woman. Since the Dobbs decision threw the abortion question back to the states, a new battleground exists between representative democracy, with red state legislatures looking to ban or restrict abortion, and direct democracy, with pro-choice groups sponsoring petition drives to expand abortion rights in the 26 states that have initiative processes. The fact that constitutional amendments passed by voters supersede state statutes in most cases has sparked efforts by some Republicans to raise the threshold for petitions needed to make the ballot or percentage of votes required to pass. When it became clear that Medicaid expansion would be on the South Dakota ballot in 2022, Hansen joined a group of Republicans who tried to orchestrate a preemptive strike with Amendment C. It would have required a 60% vote for ballot measures that raise taxes or spend $10 million in general funds in their first five years. The fact that 67% of voters rejected Amendment C on a GOP-friendly June primary ballot was viewed as a message from South Dakota voters to stay away from the states first-in-the-nation initiative process. Just when you think voters arent paying attention, they surprise you, said Weiland, who saw Medicaid expansion later pass with 56% support. I have to admit I was somewhat surprised that (Amendment C) went down in such a blaze of glory. Voters in Ohio face a similar decision in an August 2023 special election after Republicans passed a resolution to raise the voting threshold for constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60% in response to abortion-related initiatives. The measure would also double the number of counties where signatures must be collected. In North Dakota, the Legislature placed a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot to add restrictions to the ballot measure process, including a single-subject rule, which South Dakota adopted in 2018. It would increase the signature threshold and require constitutional amendment initiatives to be approved in both a primary and general election. Republican-led efforts to raise the voting threshold for constitutional amendments fell short in Missouri, Oklahoma, Idaho and Florida during the 2023 legislative sessions. In Florida, initiated amendments already require 60% support to pass, and the failed bill would have raised that threshold to two-thirds. In Missouri, where Republicans tried and failed to raise the threshold from a simple majority to 57%, state GOP leaders warned that if the threshold was not raised, an effort to allow abortions will be approved by voters. That concern is shared by some Republican legislators in South Dakota, where attempts to restrict the states initiative process have largely been unsuccessful, whether at the ballot or in the courtroom. I dont know why it should be so scary, said Weiland of the direct democracy tradition. If you believe in democracy, if you believe in majority rule, why would you be throwing up roadblocks to prevent people from circulating a petition to let the people decide at the ballot box? I mean, thats America, right? This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org. A 22-year-old Illinois man pleaded not guilty Monday to rape charges stemming from allegations he drove 13 hours to Rapid City and had sex with a 15-year-old girl at a local hotel. Bao Pham appeared in Pennington County Court Friday morning before Circuit Court Judge Stacy Wickre for his arraignment. A Pennington County grand jury charged Bao Pham in a May 17 indictment with three counts of fourth-degree rape; one count of solicitation of a minor; and one count of contributing to the abuse, neglect, or delinquency of a minor. Fourth-degree rape is defined in South Dakota as sexual penetration of someone between the ages of 13 and 16 by a perpetrator who is at least three years older than the victim. The alleged victim in this case was seven years younger than Pham. The crime a class 3 felony carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine. Solicitation of a minor is a class 4 felony, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Contributing to the abuse, neglect or delinquency of a minor is a class 1 misdemeanor with a maximum of 1 year in the county jail and up to a $2,000 fine. According to Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Angela Shute, Pham picked the alleged victim up outside her parents' house three nights in a row April 29, April 30, and May 1 and brought her to the hotel to have sex. Pham had with him various sexual items, emergency birth control and alcohol, according to the state. Law enforcement arrested Pham on May 1. At his initial appearance on May 2, Magistrate Judge Janki Sharma set bond at $200,000 cash only. Pham's retained defense attorney, Ellery Grey, asked Wickre on Friday to lower his bond to $5,000 cash or surety, meaning Pham could post the full amount or work with a bondsman. Grey noted Pham's mother travelled the 13 hours from Illinois to support her son, who is autistic and lives with her. The woman travelled for his initial appearance as well. The attorney told the court the mother would ensure Pham attended all his court dates, noting she is former law enforcement and currently works as a dispatcher. Grey said his client has no criminal record, and the alleged victim lied about her age. Whether Pham knew the girl's age is disputed. According to the state, he initially said he didn't know her age and then admitted he did. In a letter to Sharma the judge who initially set his bond amount Pham asked her to "please rethink my bond to allow us to go through a bondsman or to put up collateral. Please keep in mind this is the first offense and my mom drove 13 hours to give you her promise I'll be at all my court dates." "Please at least give us a chance to be together as family during this trial," Pham wrote. Shute called him a "quintessential flight risk," with no ties to the community other than the criminal charges against him. The prosecutor also stated there were text messages that indicated Pham planned to return and repeat the alleged crimes. Wickre said she acknowledged the mother's presence in the courtroom, but "he is an adult," who is "not required to stay in her care." She added Pham "does pose a risk to younger, female individuals." The judge cut Pham's bond in half and lowered it to $100,000 cash only, well above the amount the defense requested. If Pham posts bond, Wickre ordered he cannot leave the 7th Judicial Circuit Pennington, Custer, Oglala Lakota and Fall River Counties or have contact with anyone under 18. He would also have to wear an ankle monitor. As of Monday afternoon, the Pennington County Jail roster showed Pham had not bonded out. His next appearance in court is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on July 31 for a motions hearing. Employees will frequently characterize their work-place as a "hostile work environment." Employees who are bullied or harassed might well be in such an environment, but they might not be in a legally actionable one. This is because the cause of action for a hostile work environment requires specific elements. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a lower court opinion that found an employee had failed to provide sufficient facts to support allegations of a racially hostile work environment. The case will now proceed to a jury. The employee, Tyrone Rembert, worked for Swagelok Co. in Ohio and contended he suffered harassment, discrimination and retaliation. Rembert, a Black man, worked as a tool crib operator. He alleged that in the nine months he worked for the company, multiple employees subjected him to race-based harassment daily. This included numerous co-workers using a racial slur "routinely" when he was around, as well as his two white supervisors, who allegedly used the slur in comments directed toward him "45 to 50 times, 'if not more.'" Among other allegations, Rembert also said that a coworker once made a noose out of hose pipe, held it up to his face and told him, "This is what we do around here." Rembert took this as a threat of violence. A white supervisor allegedly told Rembert, "I see you have your Black face on today." On this backdrop, the lower court concluded there were insufficient facts as a matter of law for Rembert to prevail on a hostile work environment claim. The Court of Appeals reversed that opinion. To prevail on a claim of a hostile work environment for co-worker harassment, the employee must show that: He belonged to a protected group; He suffered unwelcome harassment; The harassment was based on race; The harassment was "sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive work environment"; and The company "knew or should have known" and did nothing. The court focused on whether the conduct was severe or pervasive, and whether the employer was on notice and failed to act. In concluding that the employee presented sufficient evidence to move forward with trial on the merits, the court noted that, "Rembert has presented sufficient evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that the harassment was severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would find the work environment hostile." The court added, "If a jury were to credit the testimony about the ... (racial slur) alone, it could reasonably conclude that Rembert was subject to severe or pervasive harassment." Further, the court held that "holding up a noose and telling Rembert 'This is what we do here' was a physical threat.'" The court emphasized the need to review the allegations as a totality-of-the-circumstances analysis and to be "'mindful of the work environment as a whole.'" The court also determined that the employee met his initial burden to show that he subjectively regarded the environment as hostile. As for the question of whether Rembert demonstrated the company had notice of the harassment, Rembert alleged that he reported the harassment to his supervisor 14 to 17 times and that the supervisor failed to act. The supervisor denied that he was made aware of this conduct. On this, the appeals court concluded that a jury could make this determination. Employers can avoid all of this by having policies that prohibit this type of behavior and communicating them widely and often. That your employee signed the handbook in 2006 isn't going to cut it. This isn't a question of compliance, but one of commitment commitment to a civil and respectful workplace. At least annually, employees should confirm their understanding of the company's expectations for complying with policies on anti-harassment and discrimination. And, while you're at it, add mandates for civility and respect. In addition to policies, conduct education and training on these expectations at least annually. Conversations around expectations for civil treatment of one another in the workplace should be commonplace. Even though the message doesn't change, many of my clients want me to come back year after year to share it: Don't discriminate. Don't harass. Don't touch. Be civil. Don't disparage or make offcolor remarks about race, gender, national origin, color, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or veteran status, or any protected characteristic. Train managers that if they become aware of something, they must say something. Managers who have notice of allegations of harassment or discrimination put the company at risk for every act of harassment or discrimination that happens after that notice. It's not a complaint-based system; it's one of notice. Managers need to bring issues forward so they can be addressed immediately. Every employee deserves a civil, respectful and safe work environment. If you are an employer or manager, you have the responsibility to make that happen. PONCA, Okla. Republican White House candidate Ron DeSantis plowed ahead Saturday with efforts to portray himself as his party's staunchest national conservative leader, even as the 2024 GOP race has been disrupted by drama surrounding the 37-count felony federal indictment for mishandling classified documents against former President Donald Trump. The Florida governor sought to project strength amid the turmoil by campaigning in Oklahoma one of more than a dozen states scheduled to hold its Republican primary on Super Tuesday, weeks after the earliest states vote. He also notched the endorsement of the state's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, the first governor to formally announce his support for DeSantis, while appearing at a rally in the state's second-largest city of Tulsa. DeSantis has argued that his record in Florida has put him at the cutting edge of the next generation of Republicans. But Saturday, before a sweat-soaked audience fanning themselves with yard signs, DeSantis introduced a loftier theme, asking Americans to embrace his call for new national leadership. "So our duty is to preserve what the founders of the country called the sacred fire of liberty," said the governor, who wore jeans, cowboy boots and a red-and-blue checked shirt. He ticked through the Declaration of Independence, the battle of Gettysburg and the Normandy invasion during World War II as moments Americans rallied during times of crisis. "Our generation now is called upon to carry this torch. It's not a responsibility we should shy away from," DeSantis said. "It's a responsibility we should welcome. We have to stand firm for the truth, and we have to remain resolute in the defense of core American and enduring principles." Later, he planned to stop at a rodeo in Ponca, about 75 miles northwest of Tulsa. The legal drama presents both an opportunity and challenge for DeSantis and other Trump campaign rivals. Multiple criminal cases while initially lifting Trump's polling numbers and fundraising efforts could ultimately undermine the former president as the best general election candidate against President Joe Biden. But direct criticism of Trump over the criminal indictment might alienate the former president's core supporters, which his rivals are out to convert. That is especially true for DeSantis, who is continuing to criticize Trump while attempting to position himself as the field's most conservative choice, but also has opted to slam the case against Trump rather than overtly trying to capitalize from it. "One of the things that flows from that is this increasing weaponization of these federal agencies against people they don't like," DeSantis said. He didn't mention Trump or the indictment specifically but added, "On day one you'll have a new director of the FBI. We're going to use our authority to hold people accountable." On policy matters, DeSantis has gradually ramped up criticism of Trump, though not directly by name, for rejecting the idea of changes to Social Security and Medicare spending. The former president has rejected the idea of cuts to the programs. Legendary hip-hop group Arrested Development will headline Richmonds Jubilation in June event this Sunday. This year marks the citys second annual Juneteenth event, which will be held at the Intermediate Terminal at 3101 Wharf St. near Rocketts Landing on the James River on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jubilation in June will feature live music from Arrested Development, DJs, food trucks, vendors and a fireworks display over the river. Formed in Atlanta in the late 1980s, Arrested Development is best known for its alternative Afrocentric hip-hop hits such as Tennessee, People Everyday Remix and Mr. Wendal. This festival will also feature performances from Richmonds Thea Paul, the Virginia Union University gospel choir, national recording group WanMor, KAMAUU, and DJs from Power 92.1 and Kiss Richmond. Were excited to be in the second year of this new tradition for the City of Richmond, as a reminder that it is not just a celebration of freedom but also one of opportunity, equity and access, Priscilla Wright, a spokesperson for the event, said. It brings us jubilation to celebrate this event where many enslaved people first stepped foot in America. Those that plan to attend the event can park at the Main Street Station parking lot for free and catch the GRTC Pulse bus to the East River Front Station. Jubilation in June is free and open to the public. The event is hosted by Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. Yalini Wijesundara stared at the air gun sitting in her lab. Her lab director, Jeremiah Gassensmith, had built it in a fit of pandemic-induced boredom, shooting table salt around his home office. Once lockdown ended, he brought it to his biochemistry lab and asked Wijesundara to find a research purpose for it. Wijesundara, then a first-year graduate student at the University of Texas at Dallas, had just moved to Texas from Sri Lanka. She felt like a fish out of water, still figuring out how the lab worked. Take your time, Gassensmith told her. You'll figure it out. Two years later, Wijesundara cracked the code. She brought new life to Gassensmith's old air gun, creating a system to deliver vaccines with a puff of gas. It's less painful than traditional needle vaccines, Wijesundara said, comparable to being hit by a Nerf bullet. The research was published in the journal Chemical Science last year. There's a long way to go before people could receive gas-puff vaccines, but Wijesundara and Gassensmith are committed to creating a less scary way to deliver lifesaving medicines. "We need to move the field forward in our ability to make vaccination as painless as possible," Gassensmith said. Tinkertoys and chemistry Before moving to Texas, Wijesundara studied metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. MOFs are metal ions and sticklike organic molecules that, like Tinkertoys, come together to build complex cages. These cages can hold gases, proteins and even DNA. When selecting a doctoral program, Wijesundara saw that Gassensmith's chemistry lab at UTD designed MOF "cages" to hold powdered, shelf-stable vaccines. It was a perfect fit. Considering the air gun, Wijesundara wondered if it could propel the powdered vaccines into people. She dove into the history of vaccines and found that high-pressure vaccine injectors became popular in the 1950s. These injectors used a high-speed stream of liquid to propel vaccines through the skin. Not only were these liquid injectors painful, but body fluids could also squirt back onto the injector nozzles, promoting the spread of diseases like hepatitis B and C. "(I realized) we can solve that problem," Wijesundara said, "because we are using a solid (vaccine) that has zero spray-back problems." A 'little therapeutic bullet' Wijesundara figured out the ideal pressure and distance from the skin to propel a vaccine with the air gun, which she modified to create the "MOF-jet." She used an MOF that contains zinc a mineral found throughout the body to carry the vaccine. She also tweaked the gun's nozzle to hold the vaccine until injection. With a push of a button, the MOF-jet's valve quickly opens and closes, shooting out a vaccine "bullet" inside a zinc cage. Once the cage enters the skin, salts in our skin fluids pull the cage apart, releasing the vaccine. Wijesundara and Gassensmith tested the MOF-jet on plant cells and mice with a protein commonly used in vaccine experiments. During the tests, Wijesundara and Gassensmith discovered another useful property of the MOF-jet. When the vaccine was propelled through the skin using an acidic gas like carbon dioxide, the zinc cage quickly dissolved and released its contents over 24 hours. But when they used a more neutral gas like air, the cage broke down slowly over one to two weeks. "You can effectively control whether or not you want the medicine right now or you want the medicine slowly released over a period of time," Gassensmith said. Many research teams are exploring new ways to deliver drugs and vaccines, according to Tim Corcoran, an associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Transdermal patches that can transfer medication through the skin and ultrathin "microneedles" are two methods being studied. Although Wijesundara and Gassensmith's research is in early stages, Corcoran said that the design of the MOF particles and timed release of their contents add something new to the field. "The concept of being able to really control the little therapeutic bullet, and make that do exactly what you want, is really the novelty here," said Corcoran, who was not involved with the research. Other possible applications Gassensmith said the MOF-jet could be used to inject flu and COVID-19 vaccines as well as some diabetes drugs and allergy shots. The MOF-jet could not inject drugs that need to work immediately, like emergency-room drugs. It's a long way from being used at the doctor's office and has yet to be tested on humans, aside from Gassensmith trying it on himself in the lab. Wijesundara and Gassensmith also need to convert the clunky prototype into an easy-to-use device. "It looks like something you'd find in an auto shop, not something in the doctor's office," Gassensmith said. Wijesundara is exploring whether the MOF-jet could deliver treatments for a type of skin cancer called melanoma. The MOFs could distribute treatments more evenly throughout the body compared with a needle, and doctors could time the release of the medicines. The Outer Banks has become home away from home for many Virginians, especially during the summer vacation season. Locals choose the pristine beaches, pirate culture and endless supply of things to do as the perfect vacation spot, and many return annually to enjoy the splendor of its natural beauty. Some of us are lucky enough to have spent a lifetime of visits to the beaches of North Carolina and have grown up with mythical tales of lost colonies and hapless mariners who experienced heartbreak off the treacherous shoals that parallel the tiny stretch of land. Of all the legends and tall tales, one remains paramount in the minds of many who frequent the area: What happened to a tiny band of English settlers who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587, and vanished less than two years later? The mystery of what happened to these 115 men, women and infants has intrigued historians for centuries. Their plight was immortalized in Paul Greens production of The Lost Colony, an outdoor production performed since 1937 on the very spot the colonists landed. As a young child, I sat in that amphitheater in total silence as the play ended. The only sound came from the waves as they gently splashed against the shore as an audience pondered what could have happened to these poor souls. It made an impression on me and provided me a lifetime interest in the colony and what might have occurred. The single clue left behind by presumably the colonists was an etching on a tree trunk containing the word Croatoan. For years, that provided historians with the best evidence for a solution, and popular theories surmised the group had picked up and moved the 50 miles south to Hatteras Island, then known as Croatoan. English investigators visited the island in the 19th century and concluded the settlers had intermarried with Indian tribes in the area. Over the years, other theories have emerged. Perhaps, the settlers, desperate for supplies, had packed up and headed back to England, possibly lost at sea during the voyage. Or maybe Spanish settlers or Native Americans had attacked the English settlement and murdered the group. The latest installment of the mystery began when scientists found strange markings on a map made by John White, who headed up the Roanoke mission. He had returned home to gather supplies for the settlement, but was delayed in his return for two years. When he reached Roanoke Island, the settlement had disappeared. The markings led scientists to head inward to Bertie County where they began to dig for artifacts and discovered several pieces of pottery whose origin was believed to be English and from the same period of time. After an excavation of that site and another located nearby, that group of scientists and historians believe they have solved the mystery. But other experts believe the shards of pottery found could have come from a variety of sources, and cannot find reasonable explanations why the colonists would travel to an area inland that had been identified as dangerous territory. So, even with the latest technology and the expertise of dozens of experts who have spent lifetimes studying the colony, the mystery remains. The remains of a woman who has been missing from Chesterfield County for more than five years have been found in Maryland, police say. A family member reported Ashley Lynn Huddleston, who also went by Nicole, missing on Feb. 20, 2018, after not hearing from her for nearly two weeks. The last day that any family member had contact with Huddleston, who had no permanent residence, was February 7, 2018, though police told WRIC last year that the last time family had seen Huddleston in person was on Christmas Day 2017. According to a statement from the Chesterfield County Police Department, Huddlestons remains were recovered in Prince Georges County, Maryland, and positively identified May 31. Detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Anyone with information is asked to call the Chesterfield police at (804) 748-1251 or contact Crime Solvers anonymously at (804) 748-0660. Celebrity Birthdays: June 12 Chris Young Dave Franco Eamonn Walker Finesse Mitchell Jason Mewes John Gourley Kenny Wayne Shepherd Luke Youngblood Marv Albert Mel Rodriguez Paul Schulze Richard M. Sherman Sonia Manzano Timothy Busfield Timothy Simons Just weeks after signing up for the School of Rock, Rebekah Kusterbeck noticed a difference in her daughter Dotties confidence. Though Dottie was always interested in learning guitar, Kusterbeck said Dottie was shy by nature and unsure if she wanted to participate in group lessons or band practices. But by the time of her first School of Rock concert, Dottie could be seen rocking out on stage with fellow students to songs such as Hit Me With Your Best Shot and I Love Rock N Roll even performing two guitar solos. School of Rock is a performance-based music education program with over 300 locations worldwide, including eight in Virginia. Dottie is one of the approximately 50 students currently enrolled at the Midlothian School of Rock, which music enthusiast and former emergency medical services provider Bryan McRay opened at the Commonwealth Center shopping mall in February. Before becoming a small-business owner, McRay worked a variety of roles in emergency services, but after 32 years, McRay said he was ready for a change. Having seen a similar transformation in his own daughter as she developed her passion for singing at the Short Pump School of Rock, McRay said he believed in the program enough that he decided to open his own location. Not everybody is into sports, not everyone is an academic and not everybody finds that space in school, McRay said. But seeing it firsthand and watching my child come up through the ranks to find her niche in music and the opportunities that being part of this program has done for her thats what I wanted to go and share with others. For McRay, overcoming the financial obstacles to get a small-business loan was the biggest challenge when launching School of Rock Midlothian, he said. McRay also said that developing a client base large enough to at least financially break even proved difficult because not everyone can afford the School of Rock program. It is tough seeing a potential student get excited only to find out that due to financial reasons they cannot take part, McRay said. But McRay was able to overcome these obstacles with advice from fellow School of Rock owners as well as guidance from members of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce and Chesterfield Development Authority, he said. McRay also noted that while other businesses may struggle to find staff, he has been fortunate to have found an enthusiastic group of instructors. Tanner High, who teaches guitar, is one of the members of McRays all-star staff. This is Highs first teaching gig, and after developing his own confidence through music when he was younger, High said he is eager to return the favor for School of Rock students. Loving music and being able to play it is definitely something that becomes a part of you, High said. But just getting to help people grow and develop their confidence within a fun hobby is the best thing to do. Founded on the idea that music is best taught through performances, School of Rock deploys a teaching style that focuses on improving students music proficiency through preparation for live performances and allowing them to practice songs of their choice in all of its programs. Whether its a musically inclined toddler, an aspiring songwriter, someone looking to perfect their pitch or hone their skills playing a variety of instruments, School of Rock offers music programs for students of all ages and abilities, McRay said. School of Rock programs include a mix of weekly individual and group practice sessions, and lessons are available online. The prices for programs range from $100 per month for Little Wings, which is designed for students ages 3 to 5, and up to $450 per month for programs like School of Rocks performance program for ages 8 to 18. The goal of the performance program is to prepare students for live performances, which take place at the end of every season and give students the opportunity to showcase their hard work and rock out on a professional stage, McRay said. For those who do not have their own instruments, School of Rock uses GearSelect, a program through which students can buy new instruments and gear directly from School of Rock. There are also summer camp options available that allow students to sample School of Rocks programs. Though this is the first summer School of Rock Midlothian is open, McRay said camps can be a tricky but worthwhile business to break into as they help offset the natural lull in business during the summer months and gain more full-time students. Our regular programming continues on through the summer we dont have a summer break. It does become challenging as other warm-weather activities and vacations cause some attrition in our student population, McRay said. The camps help offset this to keep our students engaged and our instructors employed. Along with several individual studios and lesson rooms, School of Rock Midlothian also has a main stage specifically designed for group practices that comes equipped with lights, a drum set, microphones, guitars and amplifiers. McRay emphasized that group practices and performances allow students to sharpen their music skills and help foster confidence and camaraderie. As a corporation, School of Rock also focuses on supporting students mental health through partnerships with nonprofit organizations like the Society for Prevention of Teen Suicide and hosting companywide mental health webinars. Kusterbeck and McRay also stressed how the program supports students well-being by offering a safe space for those who may be going through hardships or lacking confidence. McRay recalled that while deciding to open a new location he had several conversations with fellow parents who told him how the School of Rock program provided their child with a crucial outlet and means of expressing themselves while navigating the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges at home. Being able to see a student who comes through the door shy or timid, and a few weeks later and through the support of both their peers and our instructors, theyre a totally different person and their shell goes away, McRay said. Thats what its about: being able to provide that environment that helps support students, and music just happens to be the reason that were here. PHOTOS: School of Rock in Midlothian 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-01 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-02 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-03 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-04 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-05 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-06 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-07 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-08 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-09 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-10 060523-rtd-mbz-cover-ER-11 Bill Lohmann Follow Bill Lohmann Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today As he winds down his wide-ranging career in medicine, Dr. Bob Newman has some thoughts about health care in the United States. The diagnosis is not particularly good, though he has a prescription to address some of the things that are ailing American health care. Now semi-retired, Newman, 70, has spent 40 years in primary care medicine, practicing in the military, a small town and academic settings. He has seen enough to realize the U.S. health care system can be confusing, expensive and impersonal, as well as too-often focused on the wrong things, such as unnecessary testing and misguided end-of-life care. In addition, too many Americans do not have access to health care at all, which Newman describes as an embarrassment. Newman feels so strongly about this that he has written a book which he is giving away. Patients Compass: How To Chart the Waters of the Modern American Health Care System is available to read online at yourpatientcompass.com The sad irony of U.S. health care is that some people get too much medical care, he writes, and others get too little. Newman has been disillusioned by the problems he has witnessed and so have many of my colleagues, he said, leading to an epidemic of burn-out among physicians, particularly primary care doctors who are the first point of contact for patients, he writes in the books preface. This is a major threat to our health care system that has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reform of the system is badly needed. The book is tended to educate people but its obviously an unabashed plug for primary care and how that should be done right, and unfortunately a lot of times its not done right, said Newman, in a phone call from his home in Virginia Beach. He does not think a radical reinvention is required, but he believes a good start would be a shift of emphasis toward primary care medicine, which receives a relatively small piece of the financial pie. The practice that I think would be a model for the country is what we had in White Stone, he said. Newman was alluding to White Stone Family Practice on the Northern Neck. His employment there is, in fact, the reason we first met. For 15 years, he practiced with Dr. David Nichols, who became known, not only for founding White Stone Family Practice, but for his work on Tangier Island. Soon after starting the practice in 1979, Nichols, who was also a pilot, began flying to Tangier once a week to attend to the medical needs of the islanders, who were without a resident physician. Tangier evolved into a regular part of the White Stone practice, and members of the staff including Newman, who Nichols hired in 1986 took turns flying to the island on Thursdays. Years later, I wrote several articles and ultimately a book about Nichols and his devotion to Tangier. The book, Dr Coptr: The Flying Physician Who Kept His Promise To Tangier Island, was published in 2018, eight years after Nichols death. While researching Dr Coptr, which, by the way, was the license plate on Nichols car I interviewed Newman, who had left White Stone in 2002 for a job in North Carolina. Tangier represented a somewhat unusual part of the practice, but it was the way Nichols and Newman and the rest of the staff went about their business with patients in those days that made Newman think they were on to something. Newman said theirs was a cradle-to-grave practice, providing the full spectrum of family medicine. They delivered babies in the early days (before malpractice insurance premiums became unaffordable), and they performed X-rays, lab work and numerous procedures on-site. They took care of their patients in hospitals as well as in their busy outpatient practice, and even made house calls, often to provide end-of-life care for the dying. They did not have to adhere to some prescribed, corporate-set amount of minutes per patient. In other words, they came to truly know their patients. We were what I would consider typical country doctors, Newman told me when I interviewed him for my book. He described it as patient-centered care, an approach, defined in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2017, in which patients are partners with their health care providers, and providers treat patients not only from a clinical perspective, but also from an emotional, mental, spiritual, social, and financial perspective. Such an approach leans heavily on primary care providers. But these providers are hard-pressed to deliver such care in practices increasingly run by large corporations that are more driven by the bottom line. Though primary care doctors are a backbone of health care, Newman says, they tend to be under-valued and under-compensated in a system that prizes medical specialists. The United States spends more than $4 trillion a year on health care, but, according to the Primary Care Collaborative, only 5-7% goes to primary care. Newman said data shows that states that spend a higher percentage on primary care tend to have lower total health costs and better health outcomes In general, the United States does not seem to get the same bang for its buck that other nations do, Newman notes. According to a 2021 study of 11 high-income countries including Norway, Netherlands and Australia by The Commonwealth Fund, the United States ranks last in an analysis of performance measures, despite spending far more of its gross domestic product on health care. A graduate of University of Virginia Medical School, Newman was a physician in the Navy before joining the White Stone practice. Since leaving White Stone, he has been teaching family medicine for the last two decades. First, he went to the Family Medicine Center at East Carolina University, where he was vice chair of clinical services for the ECU Department of Family Medicine, which was a clinic of last resort for the uninsured, treating some of the sickest of the sick, he said. Later, he returned to Virginia to teach and practice at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, where he was vice chair for clinical services in the department of family and community medicine and where he still teaches part-time. He says any reform of the health care system would do well to marry our public health care system with our primary care system, as Costa Rica has done. Overall, he said, the U.S. health care system should provide care to all, as the military does for its service members. Everyone should have a primary care medical home, and such a medical home must be funded adequately so it can perform its many functions. The result would be better health outcomes for our population at much less expense, Newman writes. In his book, Newman goes into greater detail about these complicated issues, relates anecdotes from his years of practice and offers advice for navigating the health care system. If you would like to know more, you should check out his website, where you can read his book and check out newspaper op-eds he has written over the years. Close 01-02-1955 (cutline): This generator is one of the few pieces of modern machinery. 01-02-1955 (cutline): Marker lists names of Tangier's war dead. 08-01-1971 (cutline): Women seated at the table inside building pick out crab meat. Company pays them for amount of work they do: 50 cents a pound. 01-11-1955 (cutline): Tangier Islanders leave the Dorelena II for a morning's shopping in Crisfield. The mail boat skipper, Eulice Thomas, watches their departure from the deck above. 01-07-1955 (cutline): Swain Memorial Methodist Church is center of most Tangier Island social as well as religious activities. Islanders (right) shown at song during regular weekly prayer meeting, important in the lives of some. 10-27-1968 (cutline): Unlike others its size, combine school at Tangie is accredited. Five-room addition dedicated recently was built by island. 05-05-1985 (cutline): Six of seven seniors at Tangier Combined School horse around as they line up for a class picture. They are (standing from left) Maria Pruitt, Marty Crockett, Lisa Charnock, Bev Parks, Rose Marshall and Tommy Eskridge (kneeling). The seventh classmate, Laura Parks, was absent on photo day. Enrollment in the school totals 122, K-12th grades. Year unknown (cutline): About 900 people live on Tangier Island in Chesapeake Ba. Cleanup plans have been delayed by bureaucracy, says Mayor Robert Thorne. 01-02-1955 (cutline): This small car has just enough room to negotiate a bridge. 02-27-1978 (cutline): Sherman Pruitt (right) hands boxes to Jeff Yuhas. Pruitt owns boat that carries groceries. 02-27-1978 (cutline): Night watchman Thomas Bryant observes boat leaving private pier at Reedville. Groceries for Tangier are loaded from wharf owner by New Jersey-based firm. 05-04-1980 (cutline): There may be no palm trees and steel bands, but Tangier attracts tourists. Motorized and manpowered bicycles carry islanders through narrow streets. 02-14-1957 (cutline): The Rev. Oscar J. Rishel seeks equipment for Tangier clinic. 04-22-1979 (cutline): Two residents share transportation. Mopeds, bicycles are common on island. 08-01-1971 (cutline): W. Ray Crockett (left), Marshall Buy Catch; Plant in background. Excess crabs will be taken by boat in the afternoon to Crisfield, Md. 10-27-1968 (cutline): Tangier children on dock watching all the people go by. 06-29-1969 (cutline): This church cemetery on Tangier Island is enclosed by familiar picket fences. From the Archives: Tangier Island A look back at Tangier Island. Interested in a print of any of these photos? Click here. 01-02-1955 (cutline): This generator is one of the few pieces of modern machinery. 01-02-1955 (cutline): Marker lists names of Tangier's war dead. 08-01-1971 (cutline): Women seated at the table inside building pick out crab meat. Company pays them for amount of work they do: 50 cents a pound. 01-11-1955 (cutline): Tangier Islanders leave the Dorelena II for a morning's shopping in Crisfield. The mail boat skipper, Eulice Thomas, watches their departure from the deck above. 01-07-1955 (cutline): Swain Memorial Methodist Church is center of most Tangier Island social as well as religious activities. Islanders (right) shown at song during regular weekly prayer meeting, important in the lives of some. 10-27-1968 (cutline): Unlike others its size, combine school at Tangie is accredited. Five-room addition dedicated recently was built by island. 05-05-1985 (cutline): Six of seven seniors at Tangier Combined School horse around as they line up for a class picture. They are (standing from left) Maria Pruitt, Marty Crockett, Lisa Charnock, Bev Parks, Rose Marshall and Tommy Eskridge (kneeling). The seventh classmate, Laura Parks, was absent on photo day. Enrollment in the school totals 122, K-12th grades. Year unknown (cutline): About 900 people live on Tangier Island in Chesapeake Ba. Cleanup plans have been delayed by bureaucracy, says Mayor Robert Thorne. 01-02-1955 (cutline): This small car has just enough room to negotiate a bridge. 02-27-1978 (cutline): Sherman Pruitt (right) hands boxes to Jeff Yuhas. Pruitt owns boat that carries groceries. 02-27-1978 (cutline): Night watchman Thomas Bryant observes boat leaving private pier at Reedville. Groceries for Tangier are loaded from wharf owner by New Jersey-based firm. 05-04-1980 (cutline): There may be no palm trees and steel bands, but Tangier attracts tourists. Motorized and manpowered bicycles carry islanders through narrow streets. 02-14-1957 (cutline): The Rev. Oscar J. Rishel seeks equipment for Tangier clinic. 04-22-1979 (cutline): Two residents share transportation. Mopeds, bicycles are common on island. 08-01-1971 (cutline): W. Ray Crockett (left), Marshall Buy Catch; Plant in background. Excess crabs will be taken by boat in the afternoon to Crisfield, Md. 10-27-1968 (cutline): Tangier children on dock watching all the people go by. 06-29-1969 (cutline): This church cemetery on Tangier Island is enclosed by familiar picket fences. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. In a way, the biggest two votes in the Democratic primary for an eastern Henrico County-anchored House of Delegates district came from Charlottesville, and well before early voting opened in May. The lobby group Clean Virginia which says that, as a condition for getting its typically five- and six-figure campaign contributions, candidates have to foreswear getting funds from Dominion Energy weighed in against progressive stalwart Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Henrico, who regularly votes for bills Dominion opposes. McQuinn so far has received $6,000 from Dominion one of the electric monopolys smaller donations. Her opponent for the Democratic nomination in House District 81 newcomer Terrence Walker, an administrative assistant working in counseling services at Virginia Commonwealth University received $30,000 from Clean Virginia and $20,010 from Sonija Smith, wife of Clean Virginia founder, Charlottesville hedge fund billionaire Michael Bills. He also has received $5,000 in cash and $13,460 in unpaid staff time from Commonwealth Forward, another political action committee associated with Bills and Clean Virginia. Although McQuinn voted against several Dominion bills, Clean Virginia says she has voted for others that Dominion favored, including one to promote electric school buses. The group said she has received larger sums in years past and considers her a Dominion ally. Most Virginians would classify a lawmaker who has repeatedly voted in favor of legislation allowing Dominion Energy to overcharge customers by hundreds of millions, has accepted $83,238 from Dominion Energy, and is currently supported by a Dominion Energy front group as an unabashed ally of the utility, said Executive Director Brennan Gilmore. The donations in the district, which includes Charles City County and a slice of Chesterfield County, mark one of the starkest tests this season of the political muscle that big money brings to elections. And it is coming in a part of metro Richmond that has rarely seen contested House elections, in a primary that will almost certainly determine the strongly Democratic districts next House member. The next reports, with the latest updates on money and political muscle, are due to be filed Monday. This years election for the General Assembly is a generational opportunity to shift the landscape in the state legislature towards one that favors a people-powered government over one dominated by corporate utility interests, Brennan Gilmore, Clean Virginias executive director, said in a statement as the group issued its endorsements. With those endorsements, Clean Virginia is opposing McQuinn, the longtime head of the Slave Trail Commission and routine sponsor of tenant protection measures as well as longtime opponent of Dominion and of efforts to limit access to abortion. McQuinn responds to our candidate questionnaire in HD 81 Del. Delores McQuinn and Terrence Walker are competing in a June 20 Democratic primary in the 81st House District, based in eastern Henrico County. McQuinns said work on the Slave Trail Commission, as well as her time from 1992 to 2009 on Richmonds school board and city council representing the citys then-neglected eastern neighborhoods, inform her agenda. Back in the 90s on the school board, we were trying to collaborate on gun violence; I went to the General Assembly to ask it to do something, she said. McQuinn said she will keep supporting efforts to limit access to assault-style weapons. Educational equity is my top big concern ... you should be able to get the same things if you live in the east as if you live in the West End, she said. There were so many left out of the history books, to act as if thats okay, I just think thats wrong, she said. Redistricting cut out Richmonds Church Hill area, which McQuinn represented on the school board and city council from 1992 to 2009, when she won her first election to the House of Delegates. But she has represented two-thirds of the voters in the new district, and been re-elected five times without any opposition. She overwhelmed independent challengers in 2021 and 2009 and has only faced one primary challenge, in 2017. Eastern Henrico is where she grew up and now lives, and where she has a deep network of family and friends. She is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, where this year she pushed for a $90 million rental assistance pilot program for low-income Virginians as well as $38.6 million for temporary instructional aides to lend a hand at struggling schools. McQuinn chaired the Transportation Committee when Democrats held the House majority, and this year, despite being in the minority, successfully sponsored bills to require the Commonwealth Transportation Board to fund public transit as well as a measure to protect bus drivers from assault. She also is a senior member of the Education Committee and was on the conference committee that negotiated tuition relief for some students at Virginias public historically Black colleges and universities, Norfolk State University and Virginia State University. She successfully carried a 2020 bill requiring school boards to increase the number of counselors at elementary, middle and high schools. She voted for bills Dominion strongly opposed in 2022 one that would have forced rate cuts and another that would have freed all customers to shop for renewable power from firms that compete with the utility. Walker, a Philadelphia native who moved to Henrico 20 years ago and is making his first run for elected office, says ensuring access to quality education is a key focus. He joined the parent-teacher association at his sons elementary school even before his son was old enough to attend, to ensure that he obtained a quality public education. He has been a member of the PTA at his sons elementary, middle and high schools. He has also served as Varina representative on the Henrico County Council PTA. After his wifes death from cancer, he was among those who came to the General Assembly to argue unsuccessfully for passage of legislation for paid family leave. Walker said he wants to focus on environmental justice issues, noting that eastern Henrico is vulnerable to over-development, exacerbating pollution that already causes high rates of asthma. He said on his web site that he "will continue to advocate for working families" if elected, and that he knows from personal experience the hopes and concerns that families have about the economy, education, and the environment. Before the latest campaign finance reports, Walker had more than three times as much money as McQuinn, with the Clean Virginia, Smith and the other Bills-linked PAC contributions, along with free consulting services valued at $42,000 from a retiree named Frank Callahan, who was not reported to have provided any such services to any other Virginia candidate. No other primary candidate has reported receiving free consulting services valued at anywhere near the amount that Walker reported. The donations Walker received from Clean Virginia, Smith and Commonwealth Forward are the fourth largest the group has given in a primary race: so far, they have given cash and in-kind services totaling $187,250 to Rae Cousins, who is running in district anchored on Church Hill, and $105,000 to Kannan Srinivasan, in Loudoun County. The group has made still bigger donations in state Senate primaries, including $283,000 to Lashrecse Aird, who is taking on state Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico, and $163,000 to Stella Pekarsky, who is challenging state Sen. George Barker, D-Fairfax. Profiles: Meet the candidates in Virginia's June 20 primary election This is a collection of stories about races in Virginia's primary elections on June 20. Robbery determined motive behind deadly ranch shooting of German man Lazaro Cardenas, Q.R. Robbery has been determined the motive behind a shooting that left a German man dead and his British girlfriend injured. On Monday, State Attorney General Oscar Montes de Oca said that their investigation has lead them to attempted robbery as the motive. He made the announcement during a Monday morning press conference from Chetumal. During the conference, Montes de Oca said that five people entered the property with the intent of robbing the buildings. When one of the men tried to resist the gunmen, he was shot. He died at the scene. He has been identified as Martin S from Germany. His 32-year-old British girlfriend Sofie W remains stable in a Playa del Carmen hospital. The investigations indicate that there was resistance and the subjects fired a 9-millimeter weapon, he explained. The shooting happened on the morning of June 9 on a private ranch in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas (a northern area in the state of Quintana Roo). According to Monte de Oca, details surrounding the shooting were obtained from the British woman who continues to recover in hospital. The ranch consists of several home-style buildings and was being looked after by temporary caretakers when the shooting happened. Photo: June 9, 2023. The woman is fine. She has already been interviewed and has already provided more information, he said adding that details regarding the shooting have also come from some employees who work on the ranch. Five people entered La Esperanza Ranch. The ranchs workers were subdued by the invading group of thieves before they made their way to the main house. Once there, they met the couple who were temporary caretakers of the ranch. The property is owned by a German woman. Carl, Sofies father, told Riviera Maya News that his daughter and her boyfriend arrived at the ranch on May 23 to look after it while the owner was away. The couple were on the ranch less than two weeks when the shooting happened. TotalEnergies Renewables wants to build what would be the first solar installation for public consumption in the Roanoke Valley in Botetourt County, and the multinational energy company will begin the process with a community meeting on Monday. The French-based company has plans to build a 25-acre, 4.89-megawatt facility at 1 Pattonsburg Lane Road in Buchanan which will provide reduced rate electricity to Dominion Energy customers, according to Alex Fox, a senior account executive with TotalEnergies. The potential site is just north of the James River, and east of the intersection of Virginia 43 and U.S. 11 Citizens will have the chance to learn more about the project and ask questions at the meeting held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Buchanan Branch Library. Preference will go to homes who qualify as low to moderate income based on the states Community Solar pilot program TotalEenrgies is using for the project, Fox said. Local residential homeowners or possibly small commercial business owners are able to own shares in the community solar farm, he said. Essentially, they could subscribe to get their electricity from our community solar farm. And we would allocate them credits from the community solar farm based on their electrical needs When they get their electric bill, they see those credits subtracted off of it. We then charge them for that electricity, however, we charge it at a decreased rate to what they would have paid. Dominion began implementing the pilot program Virginia passed into law in 2020 last month, according to its website, with the first community solar facility, Rappahannock Solar, launching in Lancaster County, a Northern Neck peninsula locality situated near the Rappahannock River. Fox said the panels would be housed on about 15 of the 25 acres being leased, with other parts of the site consisting of an access road and potential shade management if some trees need to be removed. Its a smaller piece of a 3- or 400-acre property, he said. The actual farm acreage is substantially larger than a small piece releasing. The company plans to sign a 25-year lease, with multiple options to extend the lease by another 15 years in totality, according to Fox. With the average homeowner using approximately 6,000 kilowatts of electricity per year, the company could have up to roughly 1,300 homes subscribing to receive some or all of its energy from the farm, he said. The community meeting is the first step of a new local ordinance companies looking to build solar energy facilities in Botetourt County must follow. The board of supervisors passed the new measures in May, which also includes getting a special exemption permit that must be approved by the planning commission and ultimately the supervisors before construction can begin, according to county officials. Fox said if everything goes to plan, the company would be looking to get its permit for the facility by the end of September and begin the six to eight months of construction to complete the site by spring 2024. Solar proposals have been slow to take root in Western Virginia. Installations proposed Patrick and Henry counties in recent months have generated concerns from citizens and local governing bodies about negative effects on rural scenery and groundwater quality. In April, a Colorado-based firm withdrew its proposal to build a solar generation farm on roughly 30 acres near the Montgomery County village of Elliston after the plan generated community opposition. Last month, plans for a solar installation on 258 acres near Wirtz in Franklin County also encountered negative public headwinds and were withdrawn. Botetourt County has received pushback to other clean energy projects over the last few years, including a proposed wind farm in a mountainous area of the county that has yet to be built. Current plans by Apex Clean Energy call for construction of the wind farm to begin in the summer of 2023, and for the utility to be operational the following year, according to company officials. It is still facing legal challenges from a group of about a dozen Botetourt and Rockbridge county residents who live anywhere from two to 25 miles away from the wind farm site on North Mountain, about five miles northeast of Eagle Rock. They oppose the turbines on multiple grounds: that they will mar the scenic landscape, kill birds and bats that fly into their rotating blades, cause other environmental damage and produce low frequency noise and shadow flicker. In a separate lawsuit, the same group of residents is contesting a decision earlier this year by the Botetourt County Board of Zoning Appeals to allow a concrete-making facility in the area. The plant would be temporary, existing only long enough to produce the concrete needed for the bases of the turbines. Opponents say that it would nonetheless lead to pollution of a nearby creek and cause other damage to the surrounding forestland. Reporter Laurence Hammack of The Roanoke Times contributed information to this story. A Vinton man died Sunday night after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a passenger car, according to state police. A 2008 Honda Accord northbound on U.S. 11 failed to yield the right-of-way at 10:22 p.m. while making a left turn onto Virginia 670 near Troutville and was struck by a 2005 Yamaha Road Star motorcycle travelling the opposite direction on the highway, according to state police. The driver of the Yamaha, David Charles Scott, 46, of Vinton, was wearing a helmet but died at the scene. The Hondas driver, who was not identified by state police, was not injured. There was also no word about charges, but state police said the crash remains under investigation. The recipients were Drew McElvain of Franklin County High School, who plans to major in finance at James Madison University; Hung Lam of William Fleming High School who plans to major in computer science and business at the University of Virginia; and Baylee Compton of Northside High School, who plans to attend Roanoke College, major in business and play on the softball team, the bank said. The third of six men charged three years ago with robbing brothers during a home invasion, injuring one and killing the other, was sentenced in Franklin Circuit Court Monday to 24 years in prison. TeSean Markee Brooks, 22, of Rocky Mount was charged with firing the three gunshots that seriously injured James Matthew Prillaman, then 18, in July 2020. You shot Matthew and left him for dead, Prillamans mother told Brooks in court Monday, adding that she doesnt wish death for the defendant. No mother should ever have to bury a child. Prillamans brother, 20-year-old Justin Chase Prillaman, was also shot during the robbery but died. Their sister testified Monday that Brooks actions were horrific and unforgivable. She said she hoped the judges sentencing decision would reflect a collective commitment to a society free of fear. Brooks entered a plea agreement in July 2021, when the commonwealth agreed not to prosecute three charges. In exchange, Brooks was ordered to testify truthfully as a prosecution witness in his co-defendants upcoming trials. Brooks mother said Monday in court that her son has a good heart and was under the influence of drugs and the pressure of his friends when the Prillaman brothers were shot. She added that her family has lost loved ones to gun violence, too. My heart goes out to you more than my own son, she told the Prillaman family, seated in the courtroom. I know your pain. Brooks attorney, Rob Dean, asked the court to consider a 16-year active prison sentence on six other charges. He likened Brooks case to a federal one he defended earlier this month. In that case, a 19-year-old was fatally shot after a group of armed young men attempted to rob a Roanoke apartment after a drug deal went bad. Deans client in that case received a 16-year sentence. This is the exact same case, Dean argued Monday. Where there is drugs, there is money and there is guns, there is violence. But Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Sandra Workman said the cases are not the same: This was two young men asleep in their own home in the middle of the night. Workman told Judge Tim Allen that a 20-year sentence, in the middle range of state sentencing guidelines, was a good starting point. Allen called the 2020 shooting a senseless act, then sentenced Brooks to a total of 113 years in prison, suspended after he serves 24. Thirteen of those 24 years are mandatory sentences related to three firearm offenses. For aggravated malicious wounding, Brooks received a 40-year sentence, suspended after he serves nine. And for two counts of robbery, Brooks was sentenced to 60 years, suspended after he serves two. Once released from prison, he will spend five years on probation. Allen also granted a commonwealth motion Monday to not prosecute five additional charges against Brooks, including murder, armed burglary, firearm larceny and two counts of firearm use in the commission of felonies. But, in accord with his plea agreement, Brooks will have to testify in any upcoming trials. Attorneys have said QuShawn Tylek Manns, 23, of Rocky Mount led the 2020 robbery scheme. He was sentenced in September to 31 years in prison. But Workman said after Mondays hearing that Manns chose to appeal the decision, and now the court is awaiting those results. A first-degree murder charge and an associated firearm use charge are also still pending against Manns, according to Virginias online court case information system. Workman said the cases of two other co-defendants Austin Kerry Lane, now 25, of Concord, North Carolina and Treavon Rachez Taylor, now 23, of Hardy have not been resolved. She added they may need to testify on Manns pending charges. The last two co-defendants were not cooperative and have already entered plea agreements, Workman said. Leon Douglas Mitchell Jr., now 25, of Rocky Mount and Sean Gabriel Schwallenberg, now 24, of Hot Springs each agreed to 15-year sentences in July 2021. BLACKSBURG Town Councilman John Bush will not seek re-election, a move that will bring an end to a more than dozen-year-long tenure. The decision will bring an end to an even longer track record of service to Blacksburg. Prior to his first election to the council in the fall of 2009, Bush spent approximately 11 years on the towns Historic Design Review Board. Bush, 60, said there are a few reasons for his decision not to run again. One, he said, is he has other duties hed like to make more time for, including an ongoing plan with his wife to design and build their own home. Bush said he has in recent times frequently found himself on the other side and by himself, as well on issues. He said its also time for more younger town residents to run for office and ultimately make decisions about the place theyll be living in for years to come. I dont want to be the old guy yelling at the cloud. I dont want to be Grandpa Simpson, he said jokingly. I dont see myself being that effective anymore. Bush is one of three council members whose terms are set to end this year. The other two are Michael Sutphin and Jerry Ford Jr., each of whom have announced plans to seek re-election. This election year comes amid the recent formation of a group called the Council of Citizens for Blacksburg CCB which launched with the goal of putting three new faces on the council. The CCB is raising a number of issues. One goal CCB identified in an announcement earlier this year is to bring a stop to the overdevelopment of Blacksburg, a problem they said is straining the localitys resources and services. The CCBs stance on development reflects a greater attitude some Blacksburg residents have held over the years toward certain projects due to concerns over issues such as traffic and land and natural resource conservation. Although the issue of development is chief among the groups concerns, Bush has over the years taken some of the toughest stances on development as a council member. For example, Bush cast the lone vote against a rezoning last year that was needed for Legacy on Main, a project slated to bring in more than 50 apartment units that will use low-income housing tax credits. The Legacy rezoning drew opposition from many residents due to the anticipated density and fears over the potential impact on traffic and the surrounding neighborhood. The rezoning, one of the most debated land use matters in some years, served as a major catalyst for CCB, people affiliated with the group have said. Bush has also in the past been vocal about his concerns over requests to surpass by-right building height limits in town. He did, however, vote in favor of the recent rezoning for Glade Spring Crossing, another much debated development that includes an affordable housing component. Town council really holds all the cards due to Blacksburgs continuous growth, Bush said. The council should be able to put down requirements for the approval of projects, but seems to have been a little easy on some of those measures in recent years, he said. I think we should be making it tough to build in town, he said. Bush said he has underlying concerns, with one of them being the continued growth of Virginia Tech that effectively puts pressure on the town. One issue he and other council members have raised concerns about is the universitys anticipated future enrollment and the communication of those numbers to the town. The enrollment growth has contributed to certain residential neighborhoods turning into areas with substantial numbers of rental units, Bush said. About 80% of his current neighborhood consists of rental properties, he said. Housing affordability has worsened in Blacksburg and it has become increasingly difficult for families to find starter homes in town, including in Bushs own neighborhood, he said. That challenge, he said, has led to people not wanting to live in town, even if they work there. The other concern Bush raised is the increasing number of commercial buildings that are owned by the Virginia Tech Foundation but dont pay taxes like other properties in town due to state-allowed conditions on the nonprofits leases. At a certain level, the balance is OK, Bush said. The issue, he said, starts to become a struggle when the scale begins to increasingly tip in one direction. Bush clarified that he, like others in the area, are appreciative of the benefits Tech has brought to Blacksburg. People would kill to have an ACC school in the middle of their town, said Bush, an architect by profession who works for the state in the Office of University Planning at Tech. But Bush said that doesnt mean the university cant present some complicated challenges with which the town has to grapple. Were still a small southern town, and change is slow, he said. Twelve score and eight years ago the United States Army was born, and Virginians played a significant role in the formation of the countrys oldest branch of the military. The Association of the United States Army Allegheny-Blue Ridge Chapter celebrated the June 14, 1775 anniversary of the Continental Army a few days in advance, on Sunday at Vintons War Memorial. Virginia Military Institutes 15th superintendent, Cedric Wins, was the afternoon events keynote speaker. Since its inception, Virginia provided two of the first six companies of soldiers on June 14, 1775, the volunteers swore their oath of enlistment, very similar to what some of you will do here today. And then they marched north to join the fight for independence, Wins said. The retired Army Major General and 34-year veteran said Virginia still plays a major part in supporting the Army 248 years later. This willingness of our fellow Virginians to volunteer for the Army has not been in the years since we continue to have a very strong military presence across our commonwealth, and over two dozen military installations, Wins said. He also lauded other military fixtures in the region such as his school, VMI, and Virginia Techs Corp of Cadets. These historical institutions have sent thousands of soldiers to defend our country in each and every conflict over the last two centuries. More recently, Mary Baldwins Virginia Womens Institute of Leadership has graduated a number of women who have served, Wins said of the Staunton university. Wins told those in attendance that serving in the military is an honor only a small percentage of the population has taken on. Currently, less than 1% of the adults in the United States serve in the military, and only about 6% in the United States have ever served, he said. So we owe so much to these who have served in the Army. Because of the selfless service of those in our military, we have the opportunity to take full advantage of the rights and privileges of being Americans that we so often take for granted. Wins also praised the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, and said the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Chapter was created to serve those working at the foundry. This plant has provided munitions to the army for generations, and its kept our army ready each and every time a conflict arose, he said. In addition to honoring those who have served, the event also saw the swearing in of recent Salem High School graduate Cooper Purl. Purl, 17, was sworn in by Wins in front of a crowd of about three dozen veterans and citizens. He will serve as a combat medic after undergoing boot camp and other training at various Army bases throughout the U.S., beginning next month. Vinton Mayor Brad Grose said Vinton was honored to hold the event at one of the towns two war memorials. I would like to thank everyone who has served in the military. We certainly depend on our veterans to keep us free Its great to celebrate an institution like the U.S. Army that has remained constant, consistent and honorable over the years, he said. The Allegheny-Blue Ridge Chapter serves 49 counties in Southwest Virginia and in West Virginia up to Huntington, according to the groups literature. Its mission is to provide recreational and educational opportunities to soldiers and their families. Additional information can be found at www.ausablueridge.org. There is always room to improve First Amendment freedoms on campus, said Radford University President Bret Danilowicz. I believe our campus is in a good place with respect to freedom of expression and civil discourse, Danilowicz said. But we can always get better. During a university board meeting last week, he questioned why it took prompting from Gov. Glenn Youngkin for colleges and universities in Virginia to more closely examine policies and cultures regarding such fundamental founding principles. You all know that this is a priority of the governor. I feel bad that it has to be a priority of the governor, Danilowicz said. Again, why would this ever have to go through the governors office? He said a nationwide focus on free expression and civil discourse, paired with Youngkins emphasis, are causes that led him to convene a university task force when he arrived at Radford University last summer. The governor should not be in a position where he has to tell campuses this should be a priority, Danilowicz said. This should simply be an institutional priority. Stabilizing a years-long enrollment decline is Radfords main priority, Danilowicz said. That goal to enroll, retain and progress more students at Radford ties directly into the national conversation around free speech on campus, he said. This is a national priority, because there are institutions and students who are being turned off by the nature of conversations on some campuses, Danilowicz said. If a student gets here and they feel that they cant speak up and have their voice heard, why would they stay here? Across the country, free expression concerns are widespread, said Radford Free Expression Task Force member Tricia Smith, who is also associate vice president for student life. We learned in early fall that 63% of students nationally dont feel like they can say what theyre thinking on their campus, Smith said. That is an issue that we need to tackle. The free expression group at Radford consisted of 12 representatives from around campus, and met monthly from last November to this April, said Heather Keith, the schools executive director of faculty development, who also served as chairwoman. Looking at our political climate, were hoping that we are graduating our students who will go out and be productive, constructive, supportive members of that climate, Keith said. So that the future looks a little more empathetic, reflective and reasoned, and a little less polarized and antagonistic. The task force recommended outcomes to build, instill, align, establish and maintain opportunities to practice constructive dialogue and free expression, including a two-year action plan to achieve those results. Like other universities, Radford also drafted a statement affirming free expression that the university Faculty Senate since adopted. We want everybody to feel trusted and an included member of our community, Keith said. So that they can find their voice and then also understand the responsibility of using that voice in reasoned argument and constructive debate, and moving forward together to solve problems. Already underway, first year students are participating in programs with the Constructive Dialogue Institute, an external partner partly paid for using state funding, she said as one example of a task force recommendation. Radford is one of 12 schools statewide, including Virginia Tech, participating in that partnership with Constructive Dialogue Institute, Keith said. Shared campus book reads, annual speakers, online First Amendment resources, external evaluations and audits are other recommendations from the task force at Radford, according to university documents. Were also recommending that we train a student response team, Keith said. So that if we have difficult dialogue on campus, were not just equipping faculty and staff, but were equipping our students to also respond. Those are just some methods that Radford expects to employ to turn yellow lights to green for free expression on campus, she said. Radford University is meeting with other colleges and universities across Virginia to compare notes. In Blacksburg, free speech and inquiry are some of the societal issues that Virginia Tech can impact as we prepare generations of U.S. citizens, said Tim Sands, university president, during a board of visitors meeting last week. Similar to Radford, a university task force at Virginia Tech surveyed, examined and mapped the status of free speech on campus this past school year. Some of the emerging recommendations include faculty training, practice opportunities for students, and integration of those opportunities into residential life and orientation, Sands said. Some of that is well along already. These conversations happening now are about listening to and honoring voices of everybody on campus, said Hollins University President Mary Hinton. Because womens voices have largely been erased throughout history, its a topic of everyday importance at Hollins, she said. What I think people should know is that the work of ensuring rights first amendment and other rights is not a one-time thing. Its work we must all do every day, Hinton said. That work means knowing your own beliefs but also being willing to listen with an open heart and an open mind to the beliefs of others. It means intentionally creating space for voices to be heard, and most of all, listening to learn and understand, not just listening to react, she said. I also think it is important that people realize we have never done this work perfectly at any institution or in our nation, Hinton said. In many ways, the current effort to bring in more voices, to hear those voices, and to sit with different perspectives is the most important work we can do. But there does not exist any singular model for bringing more voices to the table, she said. Its taken us evolving to this point as a society. Yes, it is challenging and yes we must always center civility, but we cannot allow fear to silence one another, Hinton said. Importantly, I think we must always speak from a place of love and understanding. To me, those two principles need to be at the heart of every freedom. During our recent visit to the Petersburg Area Art League, we had the pleasure of meeting Huey Gaston Lightbody, an artist based in Petersburg. Lightbody aptly labels his works as Brutalism, evident at first glance with their untamed brushstrokes and contorted, anime-inspired illustrations gracing the canvases. Contrary to expectations, his art is not a mere reflection of himself; instead, it passionately expresses his defiance against the dark forces consuming his thoughts, serving as a plea stemming from his self-imposed seclusion in Petersburg. Although the town is not devoid of art, it stands at the precipice of a nascent phase, brimming with potential for an enchanting renaissance. Huey, meanwhile, finds himself at the heart of something cool, right in downtown. Courtesy of Huey Lightbody Who are you? And what do you do? Im a visual artist and a DJ. I also dance a little bit, you know, I like to keep movement a part of my practice. Ive studied yoga and things like that. So I understand the healing aspects of movement. I like to incorporate movement into my work and definitely struggle with ADHD and needing stimulus. Keeping myself stimulated in healthy ways is something I like to incorporate into my practice as well. I like to put myself into anything where I feel like Im expressing or communicating non-verbally. Throughout my journey, Ive needed to do that in order to cope essentially. Has that been going on for a while? Yeah, man, ever since I was a kid. Were you a problem child? Was your mom like, Why is he always moving around? A little bit. I was a little off the walls. But, when I was a kid, I felt like I was a sponge to certain things my family was moving through. I absorbed a lot, but then I didnt really know how to communicate what I felt, or I didnt feel like it was my place to communicate those things. I had to find other outlets. So I started with writing, I used to write stories. I used to be really into poetry. In elementary school, I would sit with my English teachers and write poetry. They would pull me to the side to talk to me about what I was writing I guess they thought it was really good. But as time went on, I became really inspired by drawing and illustration. I started to incorporate the two. And it kind of led me into making my own little form of language. I took the way I wrote in school in the English language and tried to make my own language out of it. And I think that was really me just trying to communicate non-verbally. Self Study 2022 And that happens now in your painting you call it brutalism. It does seem very, almost primitive, with touches of anime and hip-hop. Your symbology repeats in several pieces. Can you talk a little bit about that? I feel like I really noticed it when I started getting into middle school and high school. I would fill pages up with these symbols. Eventually, I was in this thing called AVID, which was a college prep class. And I would go up on the board, and Id write these things, and my teachers and my college mentors would be like, Why do you write like this? Do you draw? That helped me segue way back into drawing because I realized where it came from. The way I started to construct drawings or symbols was me communicating nonverbally the emotions I was feeling, you know, the emotions through attachment, addictive tendencies, and seeking stimulus. And it felt so raw and jagged, these were emotions I felt like I just couldnt shake, they felt so real. I needed a way to communicate without it getting painful to talk about. I needed to create a sense of certainty where people could look at something and understand exactly what it is. So the work for you is almost therapy. Yeah. Are those feelings that youre talking about, isolation and addiction, something that youre observing in other people? Or is that something that youre dealing with? I think its one and the same. Were all so reflective, and we deal with it on different levels. I shouldnt even say deal with it we grow through it all on different levels. I want people to know theyre not alone, because I want to know that Im not alone in that journey. Ive moved through my own moments in that, Ive gone to adult/child meetings and Addiction Anonymous meetings. Even though my experience may not have been as severe as someone elses, I feel like it was still necessary for my own healing. People in these groups come from all walks of life, and maybe this person doesnt have it as bad, but they still understand, and theyre still here with you. It was beautiful to feel that. So I want to be that person as I communicate my journey, not only for the people around me but for myself. To talk about it in vulnerable spaces is healing for everyone involved. That seems like something that your generation wants to do sharing experiences for the purpose of healing. So, youre making this art and you dance and youre DJing, is it all working? How do you feel? I feel so good, I feel thankful for it all. The beauty in it is, even though Im communicating this large portion of my life that has been painful, it has also been beautiful. Its helping me to break these conditionings that Ive gone through from the people who cultivated me, my family, and my parents, not that they ever did anything necessarily wrong. Its opening the door for this new kind of uncomfortableness. Im so thankful to be able to grow through what caused these tendencies for attachment and addiction. I feel like Im healing through the source of it all, you know? Courtesy of Huey Lightbody Yeah, I mean, looking at your work, it starts a conversation. You recently had an art show in Petersburg, what was the response to your work like? It was beautiful. I had some of my peers come through and I was presenting some new work. So, it was a first for a lot of people. I feel like my work has changed a little bit as I refine my understanding of the things Ive been through and what the world has been through. I saw tears man, and that was a blessing for me. One of the reasons I wanted to place myself in Petersburg, aside from the studio space and the treasures that are there, was because I see it as a place where people do shelter themselves, they dont talk about things that are happening widely. There are some deep energies there, but I see it as energy to be transmuted, energy to be pushed in a more positive direction. I feel like what I communicated in that area really changed their perspective on vulnerability, communication, art, and culture. And its hard sometimes, but there is a culture there that is ready to be tapped into. I wanted to shine a light on that. I think up until recently when you would think about Petersburg art, you would think about non-conflict or surface-level kind of work, which is fine, but that really doesnt touch on whats happening in the city of Petersburg. As an artist, do you see more people coming in? Do you see the conversation changing? I do. I think its a large opportunity for artists to cultivate their inner culture, to cultivate an understanding of who they are as an artist. A lot of my time spent there has been challenging. I started a gallery and I ran it for two years and it didnt work out, because the culture there isnt ready though I cant blame it solely on that. I definitely went through my own inner things that contributed to that as well. But it would have been easier if the culture was there. It would have been easier with the necessary environment. The art scene there, if you want to call it that, is still growing. Its still budding, its still in its early stages. And with me being there, like I said, I found my challenges within that. Im actually thankful for it, its made me kind of a hermit at times, which can be unhealthy, but it allowed me to cultivate new things within myself as an artist. The time spent alone enabled me to find deeper things that my audience hasnt seen outwardly, or wasnt communicated vulnerably before. So I give thanks to the atmosphere for all that it is. Does it feel like youre at the beginning of something? Yeah, right at the precipice of something. I came there right after the pandemic, right as things started to wean off. I got there on February 5 of 2021. Why did you initially decide to go there? I had lived in Richmond for about three years. I moved from Virginia Beach because I was going to VCU, but I ended up dropping out. So I went back home to Virginia Beach and after a while, I was like, I need a studio space. I need to find something. My room was cluttered with my paintings. I started looking and I found that space in Petersburg almost immediately, and I saw that the price wasnt too expensive for an open warehouse, so I decided to just pack it up and take it over there. Do you think your peers in the art community had anything to say about that? Like wondering why you would go from Virginia Beach, which has a scene, to Petersburg? They might have been worried it sounds so crazy. But for me, personally, I felt like the direction I was going with painting didnt align in Virginia Beach. I had an art representative there, he was a beautiful guy, and he would try to take me around to different galleries, but when it comes to painting there, you see a lot of turtle paintings or beach stuff. You know, thats the stuff that was sold there. There are a lot of wealthy people there who are collectors and Ive met some really great people in Virginia Beach, but there was also a lot of distraction. The scene out there is very music-oriented, and lots of party culture, you know what I mean? To be wrapped up in those things, thats not where I wanted to identify my upcoming in art with. I love Virginia Beach, its where I grew up and its a beautiful place. Theres so much culture and love there, but I needed to cultivate something internally. I needed to cultivate the individual that I was. I felt like I could get washed out there. I could get distracted, I could fall into the hype of certain things and I dont want to build off of the hype or the scene, I need to build within myself. So you needed to have some isolation. Yeah. I can see how, if you have temptations for addiction, being in Virginia Beach, and being around your friends can slow you down not that you have any ill will towards them. I thought it was a beautiful opportunity. When it comes to painting, there is this act of just sitting with the self. That may be involved in all acts of creation, but I guess Im speaking of my experience with it. So that can be really painful at times. There are times I break down while painting. Im moving my brush or the graphite, putting that movement into my work, and its all body Im sweating while painting. Thats why I dance, and I have music playing, you know, all of these mediums are coming together. Everythings coming out blood, sweat, and tears. Literally, theres blood inside some of my paintings, full disclosure. When I had the gallery in Petersburg, I did a six-month residency with a good friend of mine, Jay Young. He was even like, Yo, I love this place. Im loving the way Ive cultivated my work and moved through it. I see why youre here. He almost moved here, though there were certain things that kept them from it, but he was ready. He was like, I want to be in the studio right next to you. Seeing some of the artists there, and the amount of energy that they hold sometimes I feel like theyre not even aware of the amount of energy or the emotions they exude. Man, I feel like that place is this funny vortex with so much energy to be transmuted and utilized, and it draws certain people there for that reason. I do see a lot more artists flocking to that area, I do see people noticing the studio spaces that are there and the culture that they could build. Its one thing for me to run to a place that has the culture ready, not to say I dont want to do that ever because I definitely see myself moving and touching base with other cultures and other cities in the future, but here, I feel like I can really push something. I can push the culture and help people to be inspired by it, and Ive already seen that happening. I really believe that people can go there and build something new. Yeah, I think youre having a new conversation with Petersburg. From the outside looking in. I think that generally, people see Petersburg as still segregated in a lot of ways. There are not a lot of opportunities for young Black artists, specifically. Though now that the Art League is putting up a show with you and have some other stuff lined up, things may be evening out. No one should be excluded, but Black voices definitely need to be incorporated in a city thats majority Black. Exactly. And some people dont even realize that. Theyre all surprised like, There are Black artists here? Its like, No, theyve been here and there just havent been outlets for them. Thats something that I noticed when I moved there and started walking around. Yeah, as soon as I met you, I was like, Youre the only Black artist I know there. So if I noticed that off the jump, I know It must have been pretty profound when you got there. And then knowing the history there too because you have Pocahontas Island, which is one of the oldest Black settlements on the east coast at least, maybe in all of America. Just knowing that and knowing how many Black people are there, how many people of color are there with Native Heritage is like, Wow. And its all untapped, its not talked about and it is wildly segregated. Like where I am in Old Towne, all those businesses are predominantly run by white people, and thats one of the reasons I dont work there anymore. Ive had my bad experiences with a lot of the businesses, and Ive gotten to a point where its not doable. Ive had my run-ins with certain people in political power, who hindered me from growing. I see the ways that I need to spread myself out a little bit, and not let this community be the only thing that Im relying upon for growth. While I give love back to the city, it doesnt have to be to these particular individuals, but to the light of that place, because there is light and so much love there. It is tough being one of the few Black artists there, but there are other artists that have moved in. I dont know if you know Nastassja Swift, she does these felt masks and felt sculptures, and theyre so beautiful. She recently moved out there and got a studio with her partner for some of the same reasons I have. And then you got The Haus on Market that popped up out there and theyre doing wonderful. So I see it slowly. Some people like myself, are attracted to the type of adversity that it is and growing through it, and making something beautiful out of it. Old Towne is so cool. And then the downtown area is gigantic empty buildings. I like to tell people, because a lot of my family came from real estate, that there are beautiful things to cultivate here. Its like a canvas to me, and being there feels so open, and sometimes Im walking and I visualize what could be and its inspiring for me when I come back to my work. Its only 30 minutes from downtown Richmond too. Like, people freak out, acting like youve gone so far. Yeah, its like going to Norfolk, know what I mean? Courtesy of Huey Lightbody Yeah, its one neighborhood to another. So talking about your work, what do you have coming up? What are you excited about? I used to do my own exhibits. For a long while, I wasnt really happy with gallery representation in certain spaces, so I avoided it. I would put together a lot of my solo exhibitions myself, and Im really looking forward to doing that again. Ive found I cant necessarily sit back and wait around. I dont have any set showings, but I am putting together a new body of work for myself to exhibit, and I do plan to take it elsewhere. Ive done a lot of my shows in Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Petersburg, and I kind of want to take it a little north. Then also getting back into helping artists in the ways that I was trying to before. I was working a little bit with NFTs and digital assets where the certificate of authenticity was that token and when thats collected, the physical piece will be inherited by the collector. So, I want to get back into that and re-navigate it in a different way. And hopefully, Ill segue myself back into working as a gallery owner. I want to be able to help artists have what I havent had, and I do eventually want to end up placing some foundation back up north, but not necessarily leaving Petersburg. I want to build something there that can be used by other artists as a space for journey, and a space to learn about themselves. When I leave my studio, I want to cultivate it in a way so I can rent it out to the next artist, I want them to be able to experience what I got to experience. Most artists dont get to experience a studio space like that, a studio space where you can lay your head, thats a live/workspace. Thats my goal, to place things in a position where Im helping other artists build in the place that I was able to build and continue to grow through myself and focus back on my work. I feel like Ive been giving so much energy to these other things and I want to get back to that point where Im putting that love back into myself and investing in myself and my showings and yeah, just giving back the love in the best ways that I can. Give Huey Lightbody a follow @lightbody.studio Buying used camera gear and other photography gadgets can really save you money compared to purchasing new ones. However, before you start buying second-hand cameras and cam accessories, you need to know the risks they pose. There's no denying that used camera gear offer many benefits. But, there are things you need to know before investing in used camera equipment. Used Camera Buying Guide 2023 MakeUseOf provided the perks and risks that used camera gear have. 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Do not reproduce without permission. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Darlington, S.C. Darlington County Fire District has welcomed a new Arson K9 thanks to a generous program through State Farm. This special K9 is Paige, an accelerant detection canine (K9) who partnered with Deputy Chief John Shoemake during a four week canine training school. The program is funded by State Farm and is available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the United States. Since its beginning in 1993, the State Farm Arson Dog Program has placed more than 450 dogs in 46 states, three Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. All arson dog teams are trained by Maine Specialty Dogs and certified by the Maine State Police. John and Paige will be introduced at a news conference at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at DCFD Headquarters located at 137 N. Center Rd in Hartsville. They will complete a demonstration of their skills and be available for interviews and photos. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an estimated 280,000 intentional fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year, with associated annual losses of 420 civilian deaths, 1,360 civilian injuries, and $1.3 billion in direct property damage. The actual number of arson fires and the amount of property damage is likely much higher, as arson is an underreported crime. Arson dogs played a crucial role in determining the cause of many of these fires. Accelerant detection canines, commonly called arson dogs, are trained law enforcement dogs that are used to sniff out evidence at fire scenes. These canine heroes work alongside their human handler, identifying the cause of home or business fires, assisting in cold crime cases, and uncovering potential evidence in homicides. We feel local officials should have every tool possible to combat this costlyand sometimes deadly crime, said Kim Conyers, Corporate Responsibility Representative for State Farm. These K-9s enable investigators to do their job more efficiently and effectively. The scope of arson goes beyond impacting insurance companiesit affects the personal and financial well-being of us all. Training dogs to detect accelerants at fire scenes saves time and money in arson investigations. This new team of K9 Paige and Deputy Chief John Shoemake will investigate fires in Darlington County and be available to assist other departments in the area. K9 Paige is a 2 year old, black, lab. For more information about the Arson Dog Program visit www.arsondog.org DARLINGTON, S.C. A worker from Horry County died Monday morning when a machine collapsed and fell on him. Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee identified the man as Michael Thomas Hinnant. He was 30. The death occurred around 7:30 a.m., Hardee said, and Hinnant was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is under investigation by the Darlington County Coroners Office. Hardee has sought the assistance of the South Carolina Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T). This team is assembled by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also assisting in the investigation at the request of the coroner. Hardee said he would like to express his sincere condolences to this young mans family and friends, and his extreme gratitude to the Darlington County First Responders. Our men and women in uniform throughout Darlington County are the best of the best, Hardee said. Days like today make me applaud them even more. Bureau of Justice Statistics reports encouraging crime declines in release of results of 2019 National Crime Victimization Survey | Main | DPIC releases big new report on "Enduring Injustice: the Persistence of Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Death Penalty" Kevin Ring has this effective new Hill commentary headlined "Congress should support independent oversight of federal prisons." I recommend the full piece, and here are excerpts: If the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) can ignore a United States senator with impunity, what chance does an average citizen with a loved one in prison have of getting their concerns addressed? The answer is likely none. Its time for Congress to address the BOPs lack of accountability and transparency by creating an independent body to oversee the agency. Nine months ago, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) learned of allegations that women were being sexually assaulted by corrections staff at the Coleman federal prison complex in his state. He also had heard reports that Legionnaires disease was spreading throughout the complex. He wrote to Attorney General William Barr to ask what the BOP, which the Justice Department oversees, was doing to protect women and stop the diseases spread. Nine months later, Rubio still had not gotten a response. What Rubio experienced is what nearly 160,000 families with people in the BOPs custody experience every day: maddening silence or, if theyre lucky, getting the run-around in response to inquiries about a loved ones health, safety, or sometimes even their location. If a U.S. senator cannot get answers from the BOP, imagine what doing so is like for an average person with no political connections. The media, lawmakers, taxpayers and families are left in the dark about how the BOP runs its 122 prison facilities. Prisoners and their families regularly must resolve problems small, large and life-threatening with the agency, for the years or decades that a sentence lasts. Congresss judiciary committees hold BOP oversight hearings, but they are rarely in-depth or revealing. At a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, committee members were unable to get data from the BOP about basic issues such as coronavirus testing, demographics of people released, and the agencys response to ongoing federal litigation. An agency that is constitutionally required to maintain the health, safety, and rehabilitation of 160,000 people deserves continuous oversight, not a hearing once or twice a year.... Several states have established effective prison oversight offices to great success. These offices, sometimes called ombudsmen, typically are independent from state Departments of Corrections. Their powers include the ability to enter and inspect prisons without notice, conduct confidential interviews with incarcerated people and prison staff, recommend improvements and monitor their implementation, access data and records, and even help resolve complaints from families and prisoners. Oversight such as this helps identify and prevent problems (and costly lawsuits) and makes prisons safer places for those who reside and work there. This year, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law greatly expanding the powers of the states oversight office. Washington State, Pennsylvania and New York also have prison oversight bodies, and Texas has a statewide jail oversight body. Notable NY politician gets furlough from BOP as he is "considered for home confinement" | Main | SCOTUS argument in Terry suggests low-level crack defendant unlikely to secure resentencing based on FSA retroactivity The Federal Public and Community Defenders sent this new letter today to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders to follow up on the April 15 oversight hearing concerning the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The 16-page letter covers a lot of ground, and here are excerpts: For too long, DOJ and BOP have ignored congressional directives to prioritize the safety and rehabilitation of individuals in its custody, and left tools provided by Congress unused. These failures have been exacerbated by a culture that bends towards opacity and against accountability. We urge Congress to intervene. At minimum, it must strengthen and increase its oversight of DOJ and BOP to help ensure that federally incarcerated persons remain safe and that Congress vision for sentencing and prison reform is realized. At best, it will enact legislation to smartly and swiftly lower prison populations and to move vulnerable individuals to a place of relative safety. For the past 13 months, COVID-19 has torn through BOP facilities. Meanwhile, BOP has failed to take the necessary steps or to use available resources to remediate the pandemics risk. Even now, despite the increased availability of vaccines across the country, COVID-19 remains a lifethreatening risk to those in BOP custody. The death count of incarcerated individuals continues to mount, and conditions in federal detention facilities remain dire.... BOP and DOJ have failed to use the tools Congress gave them to safely lower prison populations. The failure by DOJ and BOP to use tools to move vulnerable individuals to a place of relative safety either by transferring them to home confinement or by seeking their release through compassionate release has exacerbated the consequences of substandard medical treatment and care in BOP.... The First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) was intended to shorten certain federal prison sentences and to reorient the federal prison system away from pure punishment and towards rehabilitation. The FSAs ameliorative sentencing provisions have made significant strides: as of September 28, 2020, BOP has released 2,509 individuals who qualified for retroactive Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 relief. But since the FSAs enactment, little has been done to advance the Acts core prison reform: a system designed to reduce recidivism risk by offering individuals incentives in exchange for their participation in evidence-based programming and productive activities. To create that system, the FSA directed the DOJ to dramatically expand programming in BOP facilities, and to develop a risk and needs assessment system (RNAS) that could determine the recidivism risk of each prisoner and the type and amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programming for each. Unfortunately, DOJ and BOP have failed to meet the programming or RNAS mandates and have undercut the promise of the FSA by promulgating restrictive policies behind closed doors.... Even prior to the pandemic, BOP had a long history of not providing sufficient programs. Because the recidivism-reduction efforts of the FSA are meaningless without adequate programming, and in light of the IRCs warning, we are deeply concerned that BOP does not have a plan of action to comply with the FSA requirement that BOP provide all prisoners with the opportunity to actively participate in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities according to their specific criminogenic needs, throughout their entire term of incarceration. BOPs past performance, with inconsistent access and quality across institutions, makes it difficult to have confidence that BOP will meet its statutory obligations in this regard. We hope that Congress will continue to closely oversee BOPs efforts on this front, and to appropriate sufficient funding to support adequate programming. "Legislative Regulation of Isolation in Prison: 2018-2021" | Main | Might we celebrate this Festivus with a polite airing of sentencing grievances? December 23, 2021 BOP chief from Trump Administration says "prisons are in crisis, riddled with deep and systemic ills that wont be cured by simply replacing the BOP chief" Hugh Hurwitz, who served as Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons from May 2018 to August 2019, has this notable new Hill commentary headlined "To fix our prison system, we need far more than a change in leadership." It is worth reading in full, and here are some extended excerpts: U.S. prisons are in crisis, riddled with deep and systemic ills that wont be cured by simply replacing the BOP chief. In fact, weve already tried that. Carvajal, appointed last year, became the sixth director or acting director in just five years. The reality is that one person can only do so much. I should know. I was one of those six. The news that sparked Durbins ire was an Associated Press report revealing that numerous federal prison workers have been arrested, convicted or sentenced for crimes since the start of 2019. Sadly, corruption and other malfeasance within prison systems are not uncommon. But as Durbin rightly noted, its clear that there is much going wrong in our federal prisons, and we urgently need to fix it.... How do we move forward? We must rethink our overall approach to incarceration to ensure that only the right people those who need to be separated from society or require intensive reentry programming are confined for the appropriate amount of time. Common-sense sentencing reforms are a good place to start. These include mandating a greater reliance on drug courts, community service and other alternatives to prison, such as halfway houses. It also means eliminating mandatory minimum penalties for drug crimes, which, among other problems, result in long sentences that drive prison populations up. On the back end of the system, we need more intensive reentry programs to ensure that the more than 650,000 people leaving prison annually find the jobs, housing and healthcare they need to lead stable lives and remain crime-free. Congress started this effort with bipartisan passage of the First Step Act of 2018 (co-sponsored by Durbin), but BOP needs sufficient resources to fully implement this law. We also must invest in the recruitment, retention and training of correctional officers, while paying them on par with what other law enforcement officers earn. While the conduct spotlighted in recent news reports was reprehensible, it does not reflect the majority of BOP officers who put their lives on the line every day, and suffer disproportionately high rates of PTSD and suicide. They deserve to lead healthy lives, and their mental health has a direct impact on the orderly functioning of our prisons. It must be our concern. Beyond such measures, Congress must tackle what should be the easiest, but may be the most divisive, piece of the debate: closing some of Americas oldest and costliest federal prisons. Shuttering these aging lock-ups, some of which are more than a century old, would allow the BOP to reallocate staff and resources to the remaining facilities, improving safety and security while strengthening programs and services. Closing prisons may be a hard sell to some, particularly to those in Congress. But it has been done recently, at least at the state level. South Carolina, for example, has closed six correctional centers in the past decade, as its prison population declined following bipartisan passage of sentencing and corrections reforms in 2010. One step the Attorney General and Congress should quickly consider is a recommendation from the Council on Criminal Justices Task Force on Federal Priorities, which called for creation of an independent oversight board for BOP. This would bring outside expertise to bear on the agencys multiple challenges while retaining the career leadership that historically has served the agency well. The board would also provide political cover for harder choices that agency leaders and elected officials are sometimes reluctant or unable to make. While the recent news about the BOP is disturbing, I hope it serves as a reminder of the need to rebuild our criminal justice system so that it is smaller, less punitive, more humane and safer for all. With political will, independent oversight and an unwavering commitment, we can make holistic change to a system long in need of it. December 23, 2021 at 12:50 PM | Permalink Comments This opinion piece by Former BOP Director Hugh Hurwitz may be the most audacious attempt to rewrite a career in history. Director Hurwitz, who previously was Acting Assistant Director over Reentry services singlehandedly ordered the closure of 16 BOP Halfway Houses. Further, he ordered the BOP to only grant up to 120 days of Halfway House Placement to the inmates, rather than up to the one year they were previously eligible for. This order was issued in an October 10, 2017 memo (Google it, I can't attach it here). Further, he misrepresented this action as a cost saving measure. Yet, it costs the BOP less to house a prisoner within a Halfway House, then in the prison system. Today it seems Failed Director Hurwitz is hoping to use this newfound wisdom to be a voice of reason regarding the how to fix the prison system. The reality is the last individual whose advice anyone needs on how to fix the unjust criminal justice system is an individual responsible for ensuring that the men and women housed within the BOP had less time in the Halfway House to assist in their transition back to the community. You want to fix the prison system, ask the many men and women who have served time there and been released and are successfully advocating to change this broken system. They (we) can tell you everything that ails that system. On a final note, BOP guards are some of the most well compensated prison guards in the world. With benefits that would make another union blush. If they have a high case of PTSD it is because of the Executive Branch of the BOP bureaucracy that they must deal with daily, not the inmates. (Poll the guards, they will certainly agree). The BOP is the most top heavy agency in the Federal Government. Here's a way to save money and invest in reentry services. Abolish all the BOP Offices (Central, Regional, etc...) that do not house inmates. Relocate those staff members inside the prison complex offices. Hundreds of millions of dollars would be saved! Next you could simply begin to abolish all the redundant positions within those offices, and invest that money into education. That would be a small start to a much needed overhall. Posted by: Dani Hourani | Dec 24, 2021 9:58:43 PM Post a comment "What the end of Roe v. Wade will mean for people on probation and parole" | Main | New podcast for all sentencing fans (and especially defense attorneys) July 3, 2022 Another account of continuing struggles with FIRST STEP Act implementation NBC News has this lengthy new piece under the headline "Thousands of federal inmates still await early release under Trump-era First Step Act." Here are excerpts: Thousands of nonviolent federal prisoners eligible for early release under a promising Trump-era law remain locked up nearly four years later because of inadequate implementation, confusion and bureaucratic delays, prisoner advocacy groups, affected inmates and former federal prison officials say. Even the Biden administrations attempt to provide clarity to the First Step Act by identifying qualified inmates and then transferring them to home confinement or another form of supervised release appears to be falling short, according to prisoner advocates familiar with the law. The Department of Justice was tasked with carrying out the law through the federal Bureau of Prisons, but the bureau director, Michael Carvajal, a Trump administration holdover, announced his retirement in January amid criticism of a crisis-filled tenure marked by agency scandals. No replacement for Carvajal has been named, and criminal justice advocates contend that for the bureau to allow even one person to be incarcerated beyond what is permitted under the First Step Act exposes ongoing failures. It shouldnt be this complicated and it shouldnt take this long, said Kevin Ring, president of the nonprofit advocacy group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, or FAMM. Here we are, four years later, and its maddening. The Justice Department published a final rule in January that implements an integral feature of the law in which inmates can earn so-called time credits, which are obtained through participation in prison and work programs and calculated as part of the process of getting out early. The problem, advocates say: They are identifying inmates whose time credits arent getting applied, and in some cases, the inmates arent getting released as early as they should be.... Data provided by the Bureau of Prisons shows that as of June 18, more than 8,600 inmates have had their sentences recalculated and are slated for release with the application of their time credits. But its unclear how many qualified inmates are entitled to have been released early but remain incarcerated. In a response, bureau officials said, We have no data which suggests inmates had their release dates delayed. But with the bureaus own data identifying about 66,600 inmates who are eligible to earn time credits, some industry experts disagree. We estimate that there are thousands of inmates who will not receive the full benefit days off of their federal prison sentence of the First Step Act simply because the agency is uncertain how to calculate these benefits, said Walter Pavlo, president of the consulting firm Prisonology LLC.... Pavlo said the Bureau of Prisons never had the mechanisms in place to adequately track inmates participation and he is concerned the agency is not facilitating the timely calculation and application of time credits in accordance with the final rule, forcing inmates to serve custodial terms longer than required. In the cases hes reviewed, he said he has seen inmates in prison from six months up to a year who could have had either an earlier release or time in pre-release custody. The biggest problem is nobody on the front lines seems to understand the new rule, Pavlo said. There needs to be a task force on this now. Some prior related posts: July 3, 2022 at 10:25 PM | Permalink Comments It's the law. It should be applied. They don't need a task force. They just need to do it. Posted by: William C Jockusch | Jul 4, 2022 12:04:50 PM The biggest issues are 1) lack of training, 2) institutional reluctance, and 3) lack of proper software monitoring. 3) For example, the BOP did not track who was taking what classes for years. They know about your job, but they did not care what you were doing in underwater basket-weaving or how many times you were missing class. Now they are needing to re-create that wheel retroactively BY HAND. Thus, they did not have a central repository of who was in "compliance" with their Risk and Needs Assessment stuff. This is all sad and old news. Give me a bit of money and 5 coders and I could fix this in 90 days. Posted by: Zachary Newland | Jul 5, 2022 12:04:28 PM I was released 18 days after my FSA release date because the FBOP added criminal charges to my BOP profile that I was never indicted on, convicted of or pled guilty to. I have the BOP Sentence Computation sheets showing these added criminal charges. These charges made me ineligible to apply my earned First Step Act Time Credits towards early release. I pled guilty to an offense not listed as ineligible under 18 USC 3632(d)(4)(D). I have a declaration from CMC Mullins at FCC Coleman Low where he admits the BOP created a system to make me "automatically" ineligible for the FSA. I also have several emails between my family and Senior General Counsel Robert Martinez from DSCC making the BOP well aware of these added fake criminal charges and how I was being held beyond my lawful FSA release date. How many other human beings are languishing in Federal Custody with false criminal charges added to their Sentence Computation sheets or internal BOP files in order to deny them their lawful release under the First Step Act? If you want the evidence, I have it. It's also under case number 2:22-cv-73 in the middle district of Florida. Hopefully the truth about how the BOP has intentionally kept inmates incarcerated because it disagrees with the principles of the First Step Act, will come out. Posted by: Jon B | Sep 29, 2022 8:41:30 PM Post a comment "The Bureau of Prisons is beset by dysfunction. Heres how to address it." | Main | "Criminal Courteaucracy" June 12, 2023 Notable general and specific accountings of former Prez Trump's federal sentencing prospects In this post from late last week, I asked "Is it too early to try to calculate former Prez Trump's possible federal sentencing guideline range?". In the comments to that post, one helpful reader did basic calculations to suggest Donald Trump would be looking at a guideline range of at least 6.5 years and likely at least 9 years in federal prison. I presume such a calculation in part accounts for why Prof Jonathan Turley is quoted in this new Hill piece as saying "All the government has to do is stick the landing on one count, and he could have a terminal sentence. Youre talking about crimes that have a 10- or 20-year period as a maximum." As those who follow my blogging about acquitted conduct know, Prof Turley is wise to not that the government only needs to "stick the landing on one count" in order to have all of Trump's conduct, including any and all conduct associated with any acquitted counts, used in his sentencing guideline calculation. But, of course, any guideline calculation only serves as, in the words of the Supreme Court, "the starting point and the initial benchmark" for federal sentencing now that the guidelines are advisory. The sentencing judge will need also to consider all the other statutory 3553(a) factors, including the "the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct." (To work though how all the 3553(a) factors should apply to a former President starts to make my head hurt.) Notably, others are now hard at work at possible guideline calculations based on the Trump indictment. Specifically, over at Just Security, David Aaron has this lengthy new post titled "How Much Prison Time Does Former President Trump Face? Applying the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines." Sentencing fans should check out the full post for the specific calculations, but here is how the post starts: Now that the public has seen the current list of federal charges against former President Donald Trump, there is a long road ahead. If the defendant is ultimately convicted, that road will lead to sentencing. The Espionage Act charges the defendant faces carry a maximum prison sentence of ten years. The Tampering (and related Conspiracy) and Concealment charges each carry a maximum prison sentence of twenty years. The Scheme to Conceal and False Statements charges each carry a maximum prison sentence of 5 years. Of course, in any criminal case, numerous factors affect the sentence, and focusing on the statutory maximums can be misleading. Federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. 3553, directs courts to impose a sentence based on a list of considerations. The U.S. Sentencing Commission issues Sentencing Guidelines to assist courts and promote consistent application of criminal law. Sentencing trends in similar cases can provide reference points, but only if similar cases exist. This quick note gives an idea of how a sentence would be calculated, with the caveat that issues such as sentencing on multiple counts of conviction, related conduct, and new factual developments could arise. Prior related post: UPDATE: Another accounting of how tocan count up former Prez Trump's guideline sentencing range can be heard via Doug Passon's Set for Sentencing podcast in this new episode titled "Reality Check: Unpacking the Trump Indictment." As explained in this show notes: "IN THIS EPISODE: Updates to the guideline calculations now that we have a better picture of the alleged conduct; Comparing Trump's case to Reality Winner; Other musings on the inner workings of the federal criminal system." June 12, 2023 at 02:08 PM | Permalink Comments Before we get to sentencing, we have first to get to trial. I understand that Mr. Trump is having difficulty finding a Florida attorney to appear for him at arraignment tomorrow. Not surprising given that many attorneys who have represented him in the past or who are closely associated with him find themselves in jail (Cohen) or facing bar discipline or court sanctions. E.g., Jenna Ellis (disciplined by Colorado bar); Giuliani (suspended New York and DC); Alina Habba (anctioned by Florida court); John Eastman (facing disciplinary hearing before Cal. Bar); Jeffrey Clark (Trump acolyte) (facing discipline DC Bar) Posted by: anon14 | Jun 12, 2023 5:29:29 PM Something is seriously wrong in a nation where a swath of the population supports an individual like the former President. It is no longer about his depravity or his trail of potential crimes. The focus should be on those who continuously make excuses for this person or highlight the shortcomings of other individuals as a defense for his wrongdoings. How long will his party members, e.g., Tom Cotton, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, etc., demonstrate 'Profiles in Cowardice' while this person runs roughshod though the Constitution and exploits the ignorance of so many of his followers? In a perfect world, he and his minions would serve the duration of their lives in a federal prison for conduct detrimental to the democracy. Posted by: Eric Hicks | Jun 12, 2023 7:43:31 PM Mr. Hicks, it appears that the dam blocking the Repbulican candidates maybe starting to break. According to Politico, Niki Haley just started singing a new tune: "If this indictment is true, if what it says is actually the case, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security, Haley said, adding that her husband serves in the military. This puts all of our military men and women in danger, if youre going to talk about what our military is capable of or how we would go about invading or doing something with one of our enemies. She added, If thats the case, its reckless, its frustrating and it causes problems. You know, were looking now, this is the second indictment. Were looking at a third indictment coming in with Georgia. Posted by: anon13 | Jun 12, 2023 7:51:34 PM Anon13, Thanks for the info!! Let's hope that common-sense, integrity and decency win the day. It's only fitting that a woman would be the one to (hopefully) carry the torch towards an enlightenment which rids the country of this imminent threat. Posted by: Eric Hicks | Jun 12, 2023 8:23:36 PM Eric Hicks: I have felt the same way you do! How can so many people be so ignorant that they would continue to support Donald Trump now? yet, I have had faith that the tide is turning, indictment by indictment -- and I am expecting two more indictments of Trump [Georgia and another Federal indictment about the January 6th events at the Capitol] before the end of the summer. Former Speaker of the House John Boehner gave a radio speech a few days ago where he said that it is time for the Republican Party to move on from Donald Trump, and if Trump is smart, he will move on too. Senator Mitch McConnell (R. Ky.) is remaining silent about Trump's new indictment, because he knows that the handwriting is on the wall now. Before the end of the summer, I think Trump's support will break down and fizzle, leaving Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Republican nominee. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 12, 2023 8:47:47 PM Jim Gormley, I hope that you are correct my friend. I really do. This entire situation sickens me. Like you, I expect indictments of the former President to be forthcoming in Georgia and D.C. for his behavior on January 6th and the weeks prior. The country will be so much better off if this person ends up with a very long prison stint. Another hope of mine is that the public comes to understand that this current version of the Republican Party CANNOT be trusted in positions of power because they have allowed the desire to remain in power and appease a swath if their misguided constituents to outweigh their duty to defend the Constitution and the Democracy. Only when the party has collectively shown that they have the courage to honestly identify and confront abhorrent and dangerous behavior---even if it means losing an election---should they be trusted to hold any meaningful positions in the Legislative or Executive branches. Posted by: Eric Hicks | Jun 12, 2023 9:03:39 PM Eric: This version of the Republican party is far from what Ronald Reagan would recognize. Too many ultra-conservative Republicans today look and sound more like Fascists to me. And they have no tolerance for anyone whose views are different than their own. I am waiting for the pendulum to swing back. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 13, 2023 6:43:45 AM Jim Gormley, You are correct. The behavior of the Republican Party at present harkens back to the brief era of Reconstruction, viz., the lengths and detestable conduct in which individuals have moored themselves to all in the name of power. I keep asking myself why are these individuals so fearful of change? I can only return to the phrase that the 'arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.' I believe in the American people and their collective power to 'bend the arc toward justice.' Posted by: Eric Hicks | Jun 13, 2023 7:22:25 AM Erik Hicks -- "Something is seriously wrong in a nation where a swath of the population supports an individual like the former President. It is no longer about his depravity or his trail of potential crimes. The focus should be on those who continuously make excuses for this person or highlight the shortcomings of other individuals as a defense for his wrongdoings." I too have my misgivings about the defense bar, but you might be a bit harsh here. Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 13, 2023 8:25:26 AM https://thegrio.com/2023/05/31/white-man-who-pulled-gun-gets-probation-for-mlk-day-confrontation-with-black-teens/?utm_source=social_2&utm_medium=NY+Post&utm_campaign=gadsk&utm_content=White+man+who+pulled+gun+gets+probation+for+MLK+Day+confrontation+with&utm_term=NY+Post_NY+Post+Sports&dicbo=v4-lI746hh-1077191605 Maybe something that you'd be interested in, Doug . . . . Posted by: federalist | Jun 13, 2023 10:42:24 AM I love hearing these breathless descriptions of Trump, not all untrue, while ignoring that we have a POTUS who might be the most corrupt in history. Even Sloppy Joes personal life is worse. For all of Trumps many shortcomings and porn star screwing, he doesnt have any grandchildren that he denies or shower with his own daughter. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 13, 2023 2:22:50 PM Post a comment US Sentencing Commission releases FY 2023 second quarter sentencing data | Main | Notable general and specific accountings of former Prez Trump's federal sentencing prospects The title of this post is the title of this Washington Post editorial which was published over the weekend. Here is how the editorial starts and ends: The Federal Bureau of Prisons generally labors in obscurity, except when a high-profile inmate arrives, as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes did the other day, or when a notorious one passes away, most recently FBI-agent-turned-Russian-spy Robert Hanssen. And yet its mission housing roughly 159,000 people convicted of federal crimes humanely and securely, and then fostering their reentry to society is crucial to the rule of law. The BOP operates 122 facilities at a cost of about $8.4 billion in fiscal 2023, the second-biggest budget item, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the Justice Department. With more than 34,000 personnel, the BOP is the departments largest employer. Its time for more attention to be paid to the BOP. A steady flow of reports has documented an agency beset by chronic problems unsanitary kitchens, sexual assaults, an astonishing recidivism rate of around 43 percent in urgent need of reform. In April, the Government Accountability Office, Congresss watchdog agency, declared management of federal prisons a high-risk area. The BOP faces significant, longstanding management challenges which represent a serious threat to inmate and staff safety, the GAO noted. Last year, Senate hearings, chaired by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), exposed major failings at the 121-year-old federal penitentiary in Atlanta, including rampant smuggling of drugs and weapons, rodent infestation, malfunctioning sewage systems and tragically 12 inmate suicides between 2012 and 2020.... To be sure, there has been some recent progress. The federal prison system has $290 million for modernization and repair in fiscal 2023, up significantly from the previous year. Still, theres a limit to what funding can achieve absent structural reform. Bipartisan legislation, spearheaded by Mr. Ossoff and enacted in December, has produced the BOPs first required inventory of its security cameras albeit with the depressing finding that 80 percent of the roughly 25,000 devices are analog and a plan for a systemwide upgrade. More is needed. A recently introduced bill, also bipartisan, would require [Inspector General] Mr. Horowitzs office to inspect all BOP prisons and assign each a risk score, with higher-risk facilities required to face more frequent inspections. It would also establish an independent ombudsman to assess inmate and staff complaints. The BOPs new director, Colette S. Peters, took office in August 2022, tapped by Attorney General Merrick Garland after serving as director of Oregons prisons. She is refreshingly open to legitimate criticism. In a statement to The Post, she expressed sincere appreciation for the valuable work of the GAO and Mr. Horowitz. What remains to be seen is whether her appointment will end the revolving door at the top of the BOP: She is the sixth director or acting director in the past six years. Perhaps more than anything else, the BOP needs stable leadership, without which consistent policy cannot be sustained, let alone reformed. Its director should be nominated by the president for a single 10-year term, subject to Senate confirmation, like the director of the FBI. A measure proposed in both houses last year would make this change, yet it languishes, despite bipartisan support from lawmakers including its initial sponsor in the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Mr. Ossoff. The need for structural change at the BOP is clear. So are the costs of inaction. Candidates to submit Certificate of Eligibility and community declaration, applications close on fifth day after issuance of Writ of Election Singapore's Istana, the official residence and office of the nation's president. (PHOTO: Getty Images) SINGAPORE Potential candidates interested in running for the Singapore Presidential Election (PE) can begin the application process for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from Tuesday (13 June). The Elections Department (ELD) announced in media release on Monday that the CoE serves as a certification that the PE candidate possesses integrity, good character, reputation, and fulfills the relevant public or private sector service requirements. To qualify, prospective candidates must have held a senior public office or served as the head of a company with at least $500 million in shareholders' equity for a minimum of three years. Furthermore, candidates must be Singapore citizens, at least 45 years old on Nomination Day, and not affiliated with any political party. The CoE application period and submission of community declarations will close on the fifth day after the issuance of the Writ of Election by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Candidates who qualify for the PE will be notified before Nomination Day. Evaluation and community declarations for presidential election candidates The Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) - headed by Lee Tzu Yang, chairman of the Public Service Commission - will evaluate candidates and issue the CoE. Additionally, candidates are required to submit a community declaration to the Community Committee, led by Edward D'Silva, indicating whether they belong to the Chinese, Malay, Indian or other minority communities, said ELD. While the upcoming election is open to candidates from all races, the declaration is necessary to determine if a future reserved election will be held. If no candidate from a particular community has been elected as President in the last five terms, the subsequent election will be reserved for that community. "Prospective candidates are encouraged to use the digital services for candidates at ELDs website to submit their community declaration early. They may also (but need not) submit additional information to support their declaration," ELD said in its media release. Currently, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has publicly declared his intention to run for the presidency. However, there are political observers who believe that George Goh, the founder of Harvey Norman Ossia, could also be a potential contender for the position. Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam during a live People's Action Party webcast during the General Election. (PHOTO: PAP) Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. (Photo : Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been released without charges following an arrest in relation to a financial misconduct probe into the Scottish National Party (SNP). Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was released without charges after being arrested The incident about an investigation into financial misconduct issued by the Scottish National Party (SNP) Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of SNP, was also arrested in April Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was released without charges after being arrested in a financial misconduct investigation. The official was taken into official custody on Sunday as part of the probe issued by the Scottish National Party (SNP). In a statement, Police Scotland said that the 52-year-old woman they arrested was released without charge pending further investigation. Nicola Sturgeon Arrested and Released The former first minister is a suspect in connection with the probe into the funding and finances of the SNP. A spokeswoman for Sturgeon previously confirmed that she was arrested and said that she was consistently noted that she was willing to cooperate with the investigation if she was asked. In April, Sturgeon's husband and former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was also taken into custody and released. The group's treasurer, Colin Beattie, was the next one to be arrested, as per CNN. The former first minister abruptly announced her resignation in February following a nine-year run where she became the figurehead of the movement for the country's independence from the United Kingdom. Sturgeon cited that her reason for stepping down was that the demands of public life and the "brutality" of frontline politics had become too much for her to handle. However, since her resignation, the SNP has become chaotic over a widely publicized investigation. Officers have been looking into the SNP's handling of funds slated for Scottish independence campaigning; the party has dominated the country's politics north of the border for more than a decade and has continued to push for a 2014 referendum on independence. Read Also: Kakhovka Dam Breach: New Problem Emerges as Ukraine Flooding Starts to Subside Financial Misconduct Investigation Following the incident, Sturgeon posted on Twitter that she was distressed and surprised to find herself in that situation. According to the New York Times, the former first minister added that innocence is not simply a presumption that she is entitled in law, arguing that she is innocent beyond doubt. Sturgeon's resignation came as the prospect of a new vote over the breaking away of the country from the United Kingdom had already receded. However, the latest investigation has become a significant setback to the SNP. Recent polls have shown that the Scottish public is now broadly split on the issue despite the majority backing the party's previous agenda. SNP MP Angus MacNeil was among those who decided to join the opposition and called for the former first minister to be suspended from the party. They argue that "this soap opera has gone far enough." Law enforcement personnel raided Sturgeon's home as well as the SNP's headquarters that is located in Edinburgh on April 5. Police officers also seized a luxury motorhome with a monetary worth of roughly $138,000 found outside Murrell's mother's home in Dunfermline, said BBC. Related Article: Scotland's Former First Minister Detained Amid Probe Into Party Finance @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SIOUX CITY In a partial victory for a Woodbury County couple fighting to keep a proposed liquid carbon dioxide pipeline from crossing their farm, a judge has denied the pipeline company's request to survey their property. District Judge Roger Sailer dismissed Navigator Heartland's petition for an injunction to let survey crews access land Vicky and Bill Hulse own north of Moville, Iowa. Sailer found that while Navigator sent a single legal notice to the Hulses at their mailing address in Moville, the company failed to notify Bill Hulse, who lives in the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown. "....it is undisputed that no notice whatsoever was provided to Mr. Hulse at any time, nor was there any possibility of Mrs. Hulse delivering the notice to him or relating to him its contents, as she refused acceptance of the mailing and therefore was not in possession of the notice nor had she ever read it herself," Sailer wrote. Navigator spokesman Andy Bates said the company has no current plan to send new notices to the Hulses or do any survey work on their property. "The vast majority of our surveys have been completed without incident or litigation, and we continue to complete survey work in a collaborative manner with landowners and local officials," Bates said. After being twice denied entry to the land, which lies in the pipeline's proposed route, last summer, Navigator sued the Hulses in August to get a temporary injunction allowing survey crews to enter the property. The couple responded with a counterclaim that Iowa's laws giving pipeline companies the right of entry to private land to survey and examine it are unconstitutional. Sailer in October denied Navigator's request for the temporary injunction. A one-day trial was held in March on the matter. During testimony, Vicky Hulse said he has guardianship and power of attorney to make decisions on behalf of her husband, who has dementia and Parkinson's Disease. In his ruling, Sailer dismissed the Hulses' counterclaim that state law giving surveyors the right of entry to private property is unconstitutional. "The court has found the statute granting entry to be constitutional and although the court has found that Navigator has not sufficiently complied with the statue at present to obtain the injunction it seeks, there is no present invasion of right or threatened invasion of right absent a trespass, for which adequate remedy exists at law," Sailer wrote. The decision differs from a ruling in a similar case in Clay County on May 8. District Court Judge John Sandy found in favor of Sioux Falls landowner Martin Koening, saying the law violated Iowa's constitution because it did not provide for just compensation for certain damages to landowners for their loss of the right to deny entry onto their land. "The court can find no other reasonable interpretation in which Iowa Code (section) 479B.15 passes "constitutional muster,' " Sandy wrote in the ruling. A judge in Hardin County last month ruled the same statute was constitutional. Navigator has applied for a state permit to build a pipeline through five states, including Iowa, that would collect carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer processors in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois, convert it to liquid form and transport it under high pressure to an Illinois site, where it would be pumped thousands of feet beneath the surface. Many Iowa landowners have refused to grant surveyors access to their land or sign easements. The company depends on Iowa's law allowing surveyors the right to complete surveys if landowners don't voluntarily agree to them. The pipeline would run approximately 900 miles through 36 Iowa counties, including Woodbury, Clay and Butler counties. Other Siouxland counties include Plymouth, Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Cherokee, Dickinson and Buena Vista in Iowa and Dakota, Dixon and Wayne counties in Nebraska. It's one of two carbon pipelines proposed to run through the region. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council will be asked Monday to approve a contract with a Sioux Falls gym equipment and bleacher dealer for 2,300 upper level seats for Lewis & Clark Park. Combined Building Specialties (CBS) was the lone bidder on the ballpark's seating replacement project. CBS' bid of $429,000 came in at 1.1%, or $4,727, under the city engineer's estimate of $433,727. According to city documents, the city expected to receive multiple bids for Hussey brand seats. "It is unclear why multiple bids were not received," the documents stated. The city replaced 770 seats in the stadium's lower bowl in time for the Sioux City Explorers' first weekend series of the 2023 season against the Kansas City Monarchs. The city-owned stadium, 3400 Line Drive, has 3,070 box and general admission seats. The ballpark has been home to the Explorers since it opened in 1993. The distinctive red and blue seats had only been replaced one other time in the team's 30-year history. The situation came to a head last year, when Explorers owner John Roost sent a letter to Mayor Bob Scott and the other four City Council members, in which he again asked the city to replace all of the ballpark's plastic seats. Roost described the seats as being in "serious and poor condition." Roost said the deteriorating condition of the plastic seats presents a danger to fans and a financial liability for the team and city. He noted he was personally involved with extricating fans from failed seats at the stadium. Replacement of the upper level seats is expected to be completed by May 1, 2024. To tell the whole story would take a book, so let me start in the middle. Let me start in mid-March of 2022, a few weeks before my daughter, Ash, turned 10. Let me paint you a picture of a child brimming with life, larger than life, who only wants to die. Who writes this poem: The Cycle I am a boat leaking with worry water I am the sea that carries it far beyond the sunset I am the fish that feasts on the worry water I am the eagle that feasts on the worry fish I am the girl who reads this poem I am her mind that breathes in the worry I am the body that meditates the worry boat To worry island. Advertisement Who angrily swallows medicines that do not help. Who inherited her ecologist grandmas eye for the tiny, beautiful things outdoors. Who adores her grandpa. Who has more style than I ever will. Who, since she was tiny, has had just two flavors of experience: This is the BEST day ever! or This is the WORST day ever!no in-between. A chorus of voices, rising through the last decade (or more), has become a crescendo: We are experiencing a child mental health crisis. You could paper the Eiffel Tower with articles on this topic, very, very few of which have any real solutions. But as a mom caught in a small boat out in this perfect storm, I do not need these pieces to tell me what I have lived. I already know that trying to obtain humane therapeutic care for a child in crisis is no easier than trying to stop a hurricane. This is the story of my attempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In mid-March 2022, a few weeks before her 10th birthday, Ash was crashing hard. She cut herself with any sharp object she could find (of course we tried to keep everything we could from her). She wrote detailed, and remarkably consistent, suicide plans, which all culminated in everyone cheering her death. She refused to go to school. And she could not be calmed, no matter what we tried. Desperate, her dad and I followed her psychiatrists advice and scheduled an evaluation at a hospital in Virginia. I took her to the appointment, telling her that afterward we would go out for a treat. But there was no afterward. Three hours later, we were told she was being admitted for inpatient treatment and could not leave. They took her shoelaces. They showed her to her room that was barely better than a prison cell. They pointed out the seclusion rooms, which were prison cells. They told me to drive an hour home, pack her a bag, drive an hour back, leave the bag with the receptionist in the lobby, then drive an hour home. And so I left her sobbing. And so I left her, to call me over and over and over, screaming that she was in jail, screaming that she hated me, begging me to take her home. I left her in a place where the first contact we got from the social worker assigned to her was six days later at our discharge meeting, after Ashs dad and I insisted they let her go. I left her in a hell where the stuffed dog she never let go ofwhich I thought she would be able to keep with her at all times as a comfort objectcould not be carried out of her room, because maybe she might find something dangerous somewhere else in the ward and rip out the dogs seams and stuff the dangerous object in and then later use it to cause harm to herself. I left her in a place that allowed only 90 minutes of visiting time every other day, which I spent sitting in her cell, holding her as she wept and begged me to take her with me. I left her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time we insisted she be discharged, the only thing they had done was switch her medication. Thats it, in six days. After we took her out, they wanted her to attend their partial hospitalization program, and we reluctantly agreed, seeing no other option. But after half a day of that, after she got in my car in tears and told me that they had banned her comfort object, I knew we would never go back. We managed somehow to get her through to the fall of 2022, but as school started back up in August, she started to spiral again. And that is when everything fell back apart. Advertisement Ash attends a public school in a large and well-resourced Maryland district. She is considered twice exceptional, in that she has a severe emotional disability but is also advanced academically. She is also an internalizer, which means she never gets in trouble at school, just quietly falls apart without disrupting others. Her school district is exceptionally good at public-facing verbiage about supporting student mental health, and, it turns out, incredibly difficult to maneuver in when it comes to actually accommodating a fragile child who doesnt cause any disruptions except to her own learning. And so we spend much of our time (and resources) trying to secure an appropriate therapeutic school placement for Ash, largely to no avail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I observe a concrete-block cell at the back of the classroom she would be in, containing only a single mattress on the floor. Let me pause here to say: Ashs dad is a neurologist, and I am an educator and attorney with an expertise in special education. Ash has access to therapists, a psychiatrist, an excellent pediatric practice, and two parents who, despite being divorced, can work very well together to help find the best options for her. There are few limitations on what we can do, except we do not have the wealth necessary to send her to a boutique private school or private program. So we have to navigate the options available through the public schools and through insurance, supplemented with what we can afford to pay for therapy. We have a special-education advocate who specializes in school-avoidant, internalizing kids like Ash, and, later in the school year, we hired excellent attorneys. And so we begin the year feeling confident that we are in a strong position to get Ash the help she needs at school. Advertisement By October, though, Ash is spiraling againleaving class up to two dozen times a day to visit the counselor or the nurse or to just sit in the bathroom and cry. Within the first weeks of the academic year, the school tells us that they are not equipped to help her. When we convene with her team in early November, the district insists on placing her in a different school, but the program there is designed for kids who have very different emotional disabilities than she does, and she would not have access to any accelerated classes (which is illegal). Nonetheless, in a show of good faith, I visit the program, where I observe a concrete-block cell at the back of the classroom she would be in, containing only a single mattress on the floor. Apparently, after seclusion became illegal in Maryland, they took the door off and made it a calm-down room. I try to imagine Ash, day after day, being forced to relive her hospital trauma in this classroom. The staff member giving me the tour proudly describes their main strategy for managing their students: sticker charts that can earn them Fun Fridays. I am sure there is no double-blind study proving that Fun Fridays are an effective treatment for suicidal depression, so I head home certain that this is the wrong school for Ash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We decline that placement. This results in a back-and-forth with the district that goes on for months, due to a number of factors, one of them being the districts pretextual and endlessand I do mean endlessrescheduling of meetings at which we might come to a solution. Every time we think we are making progress, a new roadblock is put in our path, and by the time we file state and federal complaintswhich ultimately are the key to getting anything doneit is April. In the meantime, Ashs mental health deteriorates precipitously. Through the fall, she refuses to go to school, or when she does go, they invariably call us to tell us she needs emergency mental health care, and they send home a suicide risk form and a crisis center referral form and either ask us to pick her up immediately or assign a staff member to stay with her all the time. Advertisement At her dads house, she is agitated and angry. At my house, she is depressed and anxious. And she starts having frequent panic attacks, which for her manifest as complete paralysisshe cannot move or see or hear anythingand which leave her shivering, her palms and forehead clammy, with deep grooves in her hands from where shes grabbed on to the nearest piece of furniture to steady herself as the darkness descends. She writes, of these episodes: Alone I shake uncontrollably frostbitten with fear starstruck with loneliness demons running through my veins flowing through my body I feel alone no sense of reality, everything is me, in a dark spinning void Alone Alone And so we start her in art therapy. We start her in dialectical behavioral therapy (or DBT)both in a group and with an individual therapist. We research every option for residential treatment or partial hospitalization or outpatient treatment, and she is either too young or the waitlist is months long or the program is too far away. We ask all of the professionals, but they are hammers in search of nails. The psychiatrist recommends changing medications again, even though lithium and two different antipsychotics have not helped at all. The DBT therapist recommends more DBT, maybe at a residential program in Indiana or one in Virginia where a kid died in their care during a restraint less than five years ago. And the school does not know what to recommendthey just know they cannot provide her with services there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things come to a head the day before Thanksgiving. We have been taking Ash to extra sessions with her new DBT therapist, and her dad takes her to a session Wednesday morning, after which we get a call from the therapist and the head of the practice. The practice head, who has never once met Ash and has not had a single helpful thing to say to us since Ash started group DBT therapy in September, tells us that based on the therapists assessment, Ash is not safe at home and we must take her to the emergency room immediately, or else they will sign an emergency petition to have her removed by the police from our care. Our jaws drop. These peoplewho we pay to help Ashare forcing us to do the one thing that we know will hurt her far more than it helps: take her to an overcrowded and underfunded ER, where if she is admitted, she could easily get trapped in a hospital unequipped to help her. If she is transferred, it may very well be to a unit that takes the same liability-based, anti-therapeutic approach as her last hospital experience. Ash still has nightmares about that hospital, and sometimes I find her in her room, holding an artifact from her stay there, weeping, consumed by terrible memories. I have promised her over and over that I will not ever again make a quick decision based on fearthat whatever we choose going forward will be based on research and conversation and what we agree is best for her. Forcing me to break this vow, forcing Ash into the very environment that compounded her mental health crisis, will harm her deeply. Advertisement We try to explain this. They refuse to listen and insist their judgment trumps ours. I hang up the phone, frantic, and start exploring options. By some stroke of luck or grace, I text a friend who has been through a similar experience with her own child, and she tells me to take Ash to the Montgomery County Crisis Center. We can get a second opinion there, and maybe avoid the ER. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no choices. There is no help. That evening, I wait with Ash on hard plastic chairs in a tired room where the only other person is a woman sitting with her legs propped up on her suitcase laughing hysterically at something we cannot know. We are quickly called into an evaluation room where a social worker who toggles between empathy and no-nonsense officiousness spends the next 90 minutes interviewing Ash and me, then Ash alone, then both of us together again. Ash is shutting down, as she often does when she feels like shes being interrogated about her mental health, and I can see the social worker is getting frustrated. Finally the social worker stands up and says, Im sorry, but thats it. If she cannot talk to me and demonstrate she can be safe at home, I am going to send you to the ER, and my decision is binding. I turn to Ash, panicking. I want what is best for her, but I feel to my very core that what is best for her is to spend Thanksgiving at home while we continue to search for whatever options might actually help her. But what if I am wrong? Ash has been swinging back and forth between begging to be allowed to come home and fiercely insisting that we have to take her to the hospital, but she is 10; she is so little, and being forced away from her family is a soul-gutting prospect. Please, I say to her. Help us understand whether you can be safe at home for Thanksgiving. Well figure out what to do next, and we will keep working to get you help, but if you cannot promise safety, we have to go to the ER. Can you be safe with me over the holiday? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says she wants to be home, she wants to see her grandpa and my boyfriend, who is coming over for Thanksgiving and who understands her in a unique and beautiful way. After some more back-and-forth with the social worker, I am free to take her home. I exhale, possibly for the first time all day, and we head out into the night. On Thanksgiving morning, Ashs dad calls around to inpatient units that have a better reputation than the hospital where Ash went in March. Even though he is a doctor, and speaks the language they know, every call is fruitless: No one will share information on capacity with anyone other than a referring physician in a hospital. The only option is to go with Ash to an emergency room and hope that they can transfer her to a good inpatient unit, and hope that the wait isnt days, and hope that the first bed that opens up isnt like the place she went last spring. Luckily, her dad discovers that a local hospital with a stellar reputation has an emergency center that can evaluate Ash and potentially get her admitted to a strong program. We ask Ash if she can stay safe through the weekend, and we make a plan to take her to the hospital on Monday morning. We know that we are taking a terrible risk, but what else can we do? There are no choices. There is no help. As if to drive this point home with a mallet, on Sunday we receive an email from the DBT practice. In the email, they lay out a plan that is required if Ash is to continue in their care. According to them, Ash must continue with six courses of DBT group therapy, which costs $1,200 for each of the six-week courses. She must attend extra therapy with her individual therapist, at $170 for each 45-minute session. We must also have phone calls and sessions with other members of the practice, billed at $115 for 30 minutes, $170 for 45 minutes, and $225 for one hour, in order to create and maintain a safety plan for Ash. Her dad and I must sign up for weekly DBT parent therapy, at the same rates. And we must consult with one of two placement consultants, who no doubt charge hundreds if not thousands of dollars for their services, to find out if there are decent options for Ash for a higher level of care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do the math. Nine months with this practice will cost us over $25,000, conservatively speaking, and thats without even factoring in the placement consultant, whose cost is unknown. And under all of this is the echo of the threat they have just made: That they will not hesitate to call the police and have Ash taken from us if at any point they decideindependent from our judgment or perspective as parentsthat Ash should go to the emergency room. I stare at the email, not knowing whether to cry or laugh. Something in me is breaking, though, and breaking hard. A small window finally opens on Monday, when Ashs dad takes her to an intake session at a very highly regarded childrens psychiatric hospital in Baltimore. This time, we are far better prepared. We know that the program is a good one. We have Ashs full agreement to the intake and possible hospitalization, and she is in a good mood as she packs her bag. She is cooperative through the intake, and when they make the decision to admit her, she is ready. That night, on the phone, she cries a bit because she misses us, but she soon settles in, and spends the next 10 days there, working with an exceptional team, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a social worker who communicate with us frequently. We visit once on the weekend, and she is cheerful and happy to return to the unit when the hour is up. For the first time in months, I feel my heart unclench a bit. But of course, the feeling does not last. When she is discharged, it is with the recommendation that she attend a step-down programsome sort of intensive outpatient therapy program that can give her a couple of months of support. We do the research and find two: One is only virtual still, which we know from experience is not helpful for her, but the other one looks good. Luckily, there is no waitlist, and since I have been approved for family medical leave, I can take her three days a week, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., even though the program is an hour away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days before the program starts, we get the schedule. We think there must be a mistakethe program is set for 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., three weeknights a week for eight weeks. We reach out to the group, and they confirm that their hours have changed. With two other kids at home, spending five hours out of the house three evenings a week is a nonstarter. Were out of luck again. Now we turn to looking for a therapy practice that can see Ash regularly, in the hopes that someone really good can build a long-term relationship with her. All of the best therapeutic options are at least 30 minutes away (in wealthier neighborhoods than ours), but we are prepared to take any option, even if it means contorting our work schedules (to the extent possible) to take her. Luckily, we have access to a care manager through Ashs dads insurance, which covers Ash. The care manager is instrumental in identifying therapy practices that might be a good fitsomeone who might understand Ash, who will not be frightened away by her illness, and who has availability. Because we have gotten used to paying out of pocket for therapy, the prospect of covered care feels miraculous. After calling around and joining waitlists and doing a few intake sessions, we find a therapist at a reputable practice not too far from our house who has an opening for Ash. Even better, the practice has psychiatrists on staff, and we are hopeful that she can transition to having all of her therapeutic and psychiatric care managed by one team. Five sessions later, the ceiling falls again. The therapist will not commit to working with Ash. She sends Ash out of the room and tells us that Ash needs more intensive help than she can offer. She is discharging Ash from her care, but offering four last sessions so that Ash can learn to say goodbye. I am crying as I tell her that Ash has said goodbye more times than any 10-year-old should have to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The therapist says that her recommendation is the same as the hospitals discharge recommendationan intensive outpatient program. But in my view, these programs do not exist. The only two programs that are even remote possibilities are not real options because one is virtual and one is not accessible for our family. She mentions a residential program in Indiana that the hospital team has recommended against because it is a residential program, and thus above Ashs set of needs. We find ourselves in a landscape that would have Kafka reaching for his pen: Ash is too sick for any therapist to work with her on an outpatient basis, but she is not sick enough to qualify for a therapeutic placement through her school district, either. I am almost (almost) laughing through my tears. In late February, a space opens up in the virtual program that we had decided against in December. Because we are desperate, we start Ash in the program. The program lasts for six weeks, and it is three evenings a week, for three hours at a time, all on Zoom. Nine hours of virtual group therapy every week would test the patience of anyone, and Ash is no exception. She absolutely hates it. I am proud of her for persisting, since we really have no other option. At our final meetings with the therapist and psychiatrist, Ash is adamant that the program has not helped her at all. I think about what Ash and thousands of other children like her are trying to tell us. In the meantime, the family medical leave I had applied for in December in order to stay with her has ended. With my boss offering no flexibility, I have no choice but to quit my job, giving up my financial stability to care for her. I start looking for jobs, cutting my spending, and spending my savings. It is scary and stressful. At the same time, the office in our school district responsible for the home tutoring Ash qualifies for ghosts us for two full months, leaving me solely responsible for keeping her caught up with her learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So here we are, six months after Ashs hospitalization, with no school placement, no educational services from the district, and no regular therapy other than her lovely art therapist, who is wonderful and refuses to quit on Ash, but cannot address her more serious needs. In some ways, Ash has gotten better over these months, which I attribute mostly to her being home every day with me. The cutting has subsided. She has not written a suicide plan in many weeks. But she still reports feeling sad most of the time, she still is highly anxious, she still has daily panic attacks, and she is not otherwise any better than before. Also, she has been deprived, for the most part, of the oxygen of friendship with children her own age, and that is hard to watch. By the end of the school year, Ash has not been able to attend any school since November. She cries almost daily about being cut off from other children her age, about missing her elementary school promotion ceremonies, and about how the exclusion makes her feel broken and unlovable. I miss sitting in class, Mom, she says. I miss just learning with my friends. I get that, and I feel for her. Ironically, despite the mind-bending madness of these weeks and months, I recognize that we are relatively lucky. Our child is a danger only to herself, not to others. Many desperate parents have fallen victim to vile and unscrupulous programs that are designed to take advantage of families at their most vulnerablewhen their children are too out of control for school or home. Even as I write this, a friend of mine sits in a hospital with her son, day after day, waiting for a psych bed to become available. Other friends are going about their days desperately missing children who are living in residential treatment centers far away. But of course we dont feel lucky, because we are just trying to keep our daughter alive. That is everything to us, even if it is a private kind of hell that does not threaten others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swirling through all of this, I think about what Ash and thousands of other children like her are trying to tell us: That the world that we have created for them does not work for them. That the world we have created, plus a global pandemic and so many other unaddressed crises in public life, does not work for them or anyone. But because they are children, and because it is clear that we are not wise elders, but just flawed people stumbling in the dark, the way that this all plays out is that they are destroyed from the inside, and that explodes outward in a myriad of terrifying wayssuicide, self-harm, school avoidance, failure to launch, school shootings, and on and on and on. We do not hear them clearly, and we keep not hearing them clearly. Instead, we stick to our old systems, which never worked and still dont work. And for those of us in our small boats in the storm, there is no sunlight, no clear horizon. There is only a small slip of moon to ebb the surging tide. In a stunning 54 ruling issued last week in Allen v. Milligan, the Roberts Court, long a foe of the Voting Rights Act, upheld a key component of the VRA and struck down Alabamas discriminatory congressional maps. As much of the early coverage has stressed, Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion in Milligan has huge implications for our multiracial democracy, forcefully reaffirming protections against vote dilution that observers expected the courts conservative supermajority to roll back, and requiring mapmakers in Alabama and elsewhere to draw new majority-Black districts where Black voters have the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Advertisement Milligan is important in other ways that have barely received notice so far. Milligans constitutional holdingupholding the discriminatory results test to Section 2 of the VRA that Congress passed in 1982 as appropriate legislation to enforce the 15th Amendmentprovides an important reaffirmation of broad congressional power to enforce rights-protecting constitutional provisions. More generally, it reaffirms the power of Congress to push back on restrictive Supreme Court rulings. Indeed, Milligan provides a template for Congress to respond to court rulings that strip away or gut bedrock fundamental rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand this facet of the courts ruling, some background is essential. As Roberts opinion in Milligan explains, the results test was passed in response to the courts 1980 decision in City of Mobile v. Bolden. Bolden upheld the at-large election system of Mobile, Alabama, and, more importantly, reasoned that the 15th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act required proof of intentional racial discrimination. Discriminatory effects were not enough. As Roberts noted, this produced a flood of criticism that the court had hollowed out the right to vote free from racial discrimination and turned its back on prior rulings curbing vote dilution. In 1982, Congress responded by enacting the results test, which pointedly rejected Boldens discriminatory intent test. The results test, as its name suggests, targets discriminatory results, not discriminatory intent. This makes it a powerful tool to redress racial discrimination at the polls. The adoption of the results test provides a singular example of Congress pushing back against the Supreme Court when the justices undermine basic fundamental legal protections. Advertisement Congress enacted the results test using its power to enforce the right to vote free from racial discrimination. It was not until Reconstruction that the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments each gave Congress the power to enforce the Constitutions new guarantees of freedom, equality, and voting rights, by appropriate legislation. This was a crucial innovation, reflecting the fact that those who framed these amendments did not want to leave fundamental rights to the Supreme Court that decided in Dred Scott v. Sandford that Black people could never be citizens and had no rights worthy of respect. By giving Congress broad power to fully realize the new constitutional guarantees, such as the voting rights guarantee contained in the 15th Amendment, the Reconstruction Framers gave Congress a tool to help ensure that these rights were actually enjoyed by all. As constitutional text and history show, the remedy for the violation of the 15th Amendment, like the remedies for the violation of the other Reconstruction Amendments, was expressly not left to the courts. The remedy was legislative, because the amendment itself provided that it shall be enforced by legislation on the part of Congress. The enforcement power reflects that Congress, no less than the Supreme Court, has the duty to interpret and carry into effect the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Related from Slate Dahlia Lithwick John Roberts Is Nobodys Chump Read More Roberts majority opinion in Milligan holds that the results test is constitutionally valid legislation to enforce the 15th Amendment, rebuffing Alabamas radical plea to nullify the results test. His reasoning is brief, yet incredibly important. The Milligan majority accepts the governing doctrinal rule that the 15th Amendment requires a showing of purposeful discrimination, but explains that this is irrelevant to the scope of Congress enforcement power. Leaning on past precedent, Roberts opinion holds that Congress can prohibit voting policies and practices that result in discriminatory effects as an appropriate method of promoting the purposes of the Fifteenth Amendment. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in his concurring opinion, says something very similar. The upshot of Milligan, then, is that the legislated Constitution is not limited by the adjudicated Constitution. In other words, Congress in exercising its enforcement power is not constrained by the Supreme Courts interpretation of the 15th Amendment. Congress can adopt broader statutory guarantees to protect the right to vote free from discrimination. Roberts does not discuss the text and history of the 15th Amendments enforcement power, but interprets the law in line with it to produce a robust view of congressional enforcement authority. Advertisement The chief justices majority opinion is all the more important because the Supreme Courts conservative majority has in the past taken a very crabbed view of Congress enforcement power, even though the original meaning of the enforcement power is incredibly clear and accepted by scholars across the ideological spectrum. In the past 25 years, beginning with City of Boerne v. Flores, conservative jurists have repeatedly disavowed what the history shows: The Reconstruction Amendments gave Congress the lead role in enforcing their protections. Rather than follow the text and history of the enforcement power, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court has invented out of whole cloth a test for second-guessing Congress exercise of its powerthe so-called congruence and proportionality testignoring the Reconstruction Framers structural choice to create a new, expansive congressional power to protect fundamental rights and make equal citizenship a reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along these lines, in Shelby County v. Holder, Roberts wrote the courts abominable 54 opinion holding that the 15th Amendments enforcement power did not permit Congress to extend the preclearance requirement of the actone of the acts most effective weapons against racial discrimination in votingprompting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to offer a history lesson in dissent: The stated purpose of the Civil War Amendments was to arm Congress with the power and authority to protect all persons within the Nation from violations of their rights by the States. It is cause for celebration that Roberts majority opinion in Milligan, in stark contrast to Shelby County, adopts a constitutionally faithful understanding of the broad scope of Congress enforcement power. This will be crucial for future fights to come over Congress enforcement power. Advertisement Milligans clear recognition that Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution are not frozen in amber and that Congress can legislate prophylactically to respond to the courts crabbed construction of constitutional freedoms is hugely important in this moment. On issues from reproductive freedom to voting rights, to police accountability and criminal justice, the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority has been riding roughshod over fundamental rights, offering a twisted brand of judging to strip away or gut a whole host of fundamental rights. As Milligan illustrates, Congress has the authority to pass enforcement legislation to push back on Supreme Court rulings that whittle away bedrock fundamental rights, such as the right to vote. Milligan thus provides a crucial template for court reform: Congress should use its enforcement power to restore rights gutted by the court, as Congress did with the Voting Rights Acts results test, and fulfill its constitutional duty to enforce the fundamental guarantees of freedom and equal citizenship that lie at the core of the Reconstruction Amendments. This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Were working to change the way the media covers the Supreme Court. Sign up for the pop-up newsletter to receive our latest updates, and support our work when you join Slate Plus. Last weeks voting rights decision in Allen v. Milligan was surprisingly good news: rather than hobble or destroy the existing protections for minority voters to elect their candidates of choice in congressional, state, and local elections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court essentially left existing law intact. That two conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, would join the courts liberal justices in protecting minority voting rights, even a little, was remarkable given these justices earlier track records in voting cases. They may have reached this result based on a legitimate change of heart or acted more strategically to blunt the force of an upcoming decision likely to be adverse to minority interests in the school affirmative action cases. But whatever the reason, best to not look a gift horse in the mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Roberts strong opinion in Milligan reaffirming the vitality of Voting Rights Act jurisprudence and confirming the constitutionality of Section 2, theres no reason to expect that voting rights opponents will drop their attacks as they seek to maximize the power of white majority voters. And the varied opinions in the Milligan case leave open at least two major lines of attack against the VRAthat the act is no longer constitutional and that it does not give private plaintiffs a right to suethat may once again test Roberts and Kavanaughs commitment to voting rights in cases down the road. The first attack is a separate constitutional one from the one that failed in Milligan. In Roberts Milligan majority opinion, the court upheld Section 2s constitutionality against Alabamas claim that Congress only has the power to ban intentional discrimination, not just those voting laws with discriminatory effects. Citing earlier precedents, the court concluded that Congress had the power through the 15th Amendment to dismantle laws with racially discriminatory effects as well. Advertisement Despite that holding, Justice Kavanaugh, writing separately, left the door open for a future constitutional challenge. Kavanaugh described that argument, raised by Justice Clarence Thomas in his dissent, that even if Congress in 1982 could constitutionally authorize race-based redistricting under 2 for some period of time, the authority to conduct race-based redistricting cannot extend indefinitely into the future. Kavanaugh wouldnt reach the question in his separate opinion, but left it open: Alabama did not raise that temporal argument in this Court, and I therefore would not consider it at this time. Advertisement This argument that a law once constitutional is no longer so because of the passage of time echoes the courts 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, authored by Chief Justice Roberts, reaching the same conclusion about a different part of the Voting Rights Act, Section 5. As voting rights expert Ellen Katz opined on my site, the Election Law Blog, Justice Kavanaugh said he was declining to consider this argument at this time because Alabama had failed to press it. But the invitation was, of course, clear: bring this claim and the Allen dissenters might just have a majority in the next case. In other words, stay tuned. Advertisement Advertisement Related from Slate Mark Joseph Stern John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh Just Delivered the Surprise of the Supreme Court Term Read More Would Kavanaugh (or even Roberts) switch back again and pull a Shelby County in a few years? It is hard to say, but Roberts at least offered a surprisingly full-throated endorsement of current Section 2 jurisprudence, and having pronounced Section 2 constitutional without alluding to or even citing the argument in Shelby County that the passage of time could render the law now unconstitutional, it seems hard to imagine him reversing course so soon. What Kavanaugh might do should such an opportunity arise is a separate question, of course. Advertisement Advertisement The second argument is a statutory one. Everyone agrees that Section 2 protects minority voters, but there is a dispute in the lower courts over who has the right to sue over its violation. The United States Department of Justice surely has that right, but DOJ brings only a small fraction of this type of litigation. Most are brought by voting rights groups suing on behalf of voters. A huge number of Section 2 lawsuits have been filed by private plaintiffs since Congress amended the Voting Rights Act in 1982 to protect minority voters against racially discriminatory effects. Nonetheless, in a 2021 case Justice Neil Gorsuch raised the question as an open one: Our cases have assumedwithout decidingthat the Voting Rights Act of 1965 furnishes an implied cause of action under 2. Advertisement Last year, a federal district court in Arkansas held that Section 2 contains no private right of action, meaning that private plaintiffs could not sue. The Arkansas case is currently on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. As Professor Derek Muller notes, the arguments in the case are technical, in part over whether a majority of Supreme Court justices in an earlier case recognized such a right to sue or not in a 1995 voting rights case. Advertisement Advertisement In Milligan, the Alabama case decided by the Supreme Court last week, the majority did not say a word about whether Section 2 allows private plaintiffs to sue. Justice Thomas in a footnote in his dissent noted that Alabama had raised the issue in the lower court but did not bring that issue to the Supreme Court on appeal. So the issue remains technically open. Advertisement What would the Supreme Court do if the issue reaches the court in a few years? Professor Nick Stephanopoulos believes that Milligan should put an end to conservative lower court judges shutting down voting suits through potential technical loopholes, such as by finding no private right of action. The signal the majority opinion sends, according to this view, is that Section 2 is safe for now. I hope he is right. And Roberts emphasis in Milligan on deferring to Congresss understanding of what the act allows and requires suggests he would recognize Section 2 as allowing private plaintiffs to sue. In one part of his majority opinion, Roberts rejects Thomass argument in dissent that the Voting Rights Act does not even apply to redistricting. Roberts said that this argument is at odds with Congresss understanding of the Act and how the courts have handled Section 2 cases. The same point can be raised about the private right to sue. If Congress doesnt want private plaintiffs to sue after more than 35 years of such suits, and after Congress has passed up the chance to amend the act to preclude such suits, it should have to say so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But once again, where Justice Kavanaugh stands on this question is harder to see. He did not opine on the question, and the issue of private rights of action is just the sort of technical issue about standing and justiciability that could provide an out to shut down the vast majority of Section 2 cases without striking down the statute itself. Winning the battle is not the same as winning the war, and the war isnt over. Professor Katzs admonition to stay tuned reminds us that Milligan is not the end of the attacks on minority voting rights, but only a welcome pause. Soon after the news broke that Donald Trump will become the first former president to face federal criminal charges37 counts that include willful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealing documents, and false statementsit was also revealed that Judge Aileen Cannon is scheduled to oversee the case. In our view as experts with more than a century of collective experience in judicial and other ethics questions, that cannot stand. She must recuse herself from the case or, if she refuses, be reassigned by the appropriate judicial oversight authorities. Advertisement Her name may be familiar to many. Judge Cannon heard Trumps challenge to the governments classified-documents investigation, appointed a special master to review the documents, and temporarily barred the Justice Department from using those records in its investigation. That much-maligned decision was later reversed by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit consisting of three conservative judges: two Trump appointees and the G.W. Bushappointed Chief Judge William Pryor. They wrote that her decision violated clear law and that her approach would be a radical reordering of our caselaw limiting the federal courts involvement in criminal investigations and violate bedrock separation-of-powers limitations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that the same investigation has resulted in an indictment against Trump, Judge Cannons prior, fundamentally erroneous approach casts a shadow over the proceedings. Because her earlier handling of this case went well outside the judicial norm and was roundly criticized by the Court of Appeals, reasonable observers of this case could question her impartiality. Federal law has a way to deal with this challenge: Under 28 U.S.C. 455(a), a judge shall disqualify himself [or herself] in any proceeding in which his [or her] impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Judge Cannons situation clearly fits that test, and she is obligated to recuse herself in Trumps case. Advertisement Recusal is necessary here to avoid serious concerns about Judge Cannons impartiality in the public eye. The judicial recusal rule is about preserving the publics confidence in the judicial system; it does not require a showing of actual bias. Rather, as the Supreme Court has explained, it simply asks whether an objective observer in the public would have questioned [the judges] impartiality. That is clearly the case with Judge Cannon. It is irrelevant whether a judge subjectively believes herself to be impartial. Because the statute aims at ensuring both justice and the appearance of justice, a federal judge must recuse if facts connected to the judges actions in the case would cause an objective observer to doubt the fairness of the proceedings. Advertisement Several features of this case make it clear that members of the public will harbor serious concerns about the fairness of the proceedings and Judge Cannons impartiality, well beyond the objective observer standard. First, it is common knowledge that Judge Cannon already took the deeply erroneous step of ordering federal prosecutors to refrain from using the materials seized from Mar-a-Lago in their investigation when she appointed a special master to review whether these materials were subject to executive or attorney-client privilege. The charges here are the direct result of the investigation her order temporarily halted. Advertisement Related from Slate Mark Joseph Stern Judge Aileen Cannon Can Absolutely Sink the Federal Prosecution of Trump Read More Second, Judge Cannons other statements and actions in the prior proceedings made clear her view that Trump is entitled to differential treatment than any other criminal defendant. She wrote that as a function of Plaintiffs former position as President of the United States, the stigma associated with the subject seizure is in a league of its own. She reiterated this position in denying the governments motion for a partial stay of her order pending appeal, stating that her consideration is inherently impacted by the position formerly held by [Trump]. After the 11th Circuit rejected her position and granted a partial stay to allow the government to use classified materials and remove them from the special masters review, she still ruled for Trump on procedural issues over the views of the special master she appointed. As the ultraconservative panel of the 11th Circuit forcefully explained when finally dismissing Trumps civil action in its entirety, it was Judge Cannons attempt to carve out an unprecedented exception in our law for former presidents that was in a league of its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third, federal courts have explained in related contexts that prior reversals of a judges decisions in a case can support the conclusions that the judge would have difficulty putting [her] previous views and findings aside, and that another judge taking the case would be appropriate to preserve the appearance of justice. Here, Judge Cannon has issued a repeated series of decisions that were harshly criticized by the appellate authorities as being far outside the law. That is a pattern that leads to the ineluctable appearance of bias. Notably, the prior erroneous rulings had to do with the treatment of classified documents, and she had to be schooled by the DOJ and then 11th Circuit on her cavalier attitude. These decisions are directly related to the current charges. And she will have to deal with those issues constantly, including under the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA), the complex statute governing how a court deals with the intricacies of a criminal prosecution involving classified information. Add all this on top of the fact that she is the only judge in her division of Fort Pierce, and that, for security reasons, the U.S. Marshal will likely insist the case be tried in Miami where the arraignment will occur, there are also substantial logistical reasons for her to step aside. That provides Judge Cannon with an elegant exit opportunity, should she choose to take it, without having to even address the significant conflict issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be clear, our concern is not that Judge Cannon is a Trump appointee. The conflict of interest is that she has already issued unusual and profoundly wrong decisions favoring the defendant in this case that have been severely criticized and overturned, again by conservative or Trump-appointed judges. Yet another dimension of recusal that judges sometimes consider is whether it would have practical downsides. But there are no such costs here to another judge overseeing Trumps case. The proceeding is still in a nascent stage, and the bulk of pretrial motions, discovery, and hearingswhich will likely be extensivehave yet to occur. But what if Judge Cannon does not recuse herself? One possibility that should be explored is for the chief judge of the district court, Chief Judge Cecilia Altonaga, to reassign the case pursuant to the courts power under federal law to assign cases so far as [local] rules and orders do not otherwise prescribe. Nothing in the Southern District of Floridas local rules or internal operating procedures is to the contrary. Those local procedures provide for Judge Cannon and her colleagues to agree to transfer the case to another judge. The chief judge should have a vigorous discussion with her under that provision. If Judge Cannon demurs, though, the rules are silent about what happens next and so the federal statute comes into play for the chief judge to reassign the case. She too can point to logistical concerns, including the security ones, in reassigning it to a judge in Miami saving face for Judge Cannon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recognize that such intervention by the chief judge is not an everyday occurrence. If it doesnt happen, though, there are other options. The more likely possibility here if the Southern District of Florida chooses not to deal with this issue is that the 11th Circuit should be called upon to reassign the case to a different judge at the earliest opportunity. As the case is lodged at the trial court level and is not before the circuit at the moment, that reassignment would likely come only as part of a reversal on appeal of one of Judge Cannons decisions. Advertisement Under binding 11th Circuit precedents a case should be reassigned to a different judge if, among other reasons, the original judge would have difficulty setting aside her previous views and findings and reassignment would not result in a waste of judicial resources. Those factors clearly weigh in favor of reassignment here, due to the difficulties that Judge Cannon will likely face in diverging from her previous unorthodox and wrongful rulings benefiting Trump. Advertisement This is the path that appears most likely to be pursued if Judge Cannon is to be removed, because her approach thus far suggests that it unlikely that the judge will recuse herself. DOJ might choose to make the case in a recusal motion that it would be better for her and everyone concerned if she stepped aside. In just about any other high-profile criminal case, if a trial judge were to err in the direction of excessive leniency favoring a criminal defendant in a preliminary hearing and were reversed on appeal, law-and-order conservatives would be the first to say that trial judge had a conflict and should be removed. That judges reputation would be on trial. Impartiality would be too dubious. The same is true here. Advertisement Advertisement But the department may, as they often do, take the more conservative approach to recusal. If so, they may instead wait for the judge to overstep once more and at that point ask her, and if she refuses, ask the 11th Circuit to act. They could do so as part of the appeal of that particular issue if it is available pretrial, as are all CIPA rulings on classified document handling (the general area where she stumbled before). Or, if a Cannon ruling is sufficiently outrageous on an issue that is not normally appealable before trial, they could seek mandamus (available in unusual situations when a district judge is failing to perform their duty). Advertisement If seeking reassignment by the 11th Circuit is the outcome here, that will require a bit of patience by all of us. Still, if the special master case is any indication, we should not have a long wait for an erroneous decision by Judge Cannon (although we would be pleased to be proven wrong). Advertisement Ultimately, Judge Cannon should do the ethical thing and recuse herself. If she chooses not to, DOJ should be watchful for the first opportunity to seek reassignment by the 11th Circuit. The reputation of the 11th circuit and the ability of their judges, both trial and appellate, to handle sensitive cases with an absence of bias are at stake here. So is the publics confidence in the outcome of one of the most important criminal trials in the history of our republic. Not to mention the American peoples faith in the entire criminal justice system. Ultimately, a failure to recuse or reassign could well do great damage to the core American principle that no onenot even a former presidentis above the law. If youve traveled abroad, youve probably seen the warnings. Outside the United States, cigarette packages are affixed with gruesome pictures of lips, teeth, and lungs damaged by smoking-related diseases. Such pictorial warnings have become the gold standard across the world for conveying smokings risks. Well over 100 countries require them. They are disturbing to look atin Thailand, cigarettes have featured a gaping tracheotomy hole; in Brazil, a man with legs amputated below the knees; in Singapore, a foot mangled with gangrene. The U.S. is an outlier, with our inconspicuous, text-only warnings on the narrow side of a cigarette pack. Advertisement This summer, a federal court is set to hear one of the biggest tobacco cases in U.S. history, which will decide if our tobacco warnings will finally catch up to those of our global peers. The case was brought in 2020 by R.J. Reynolds and other cigarette companies against the Food and Drug Administration. Its the latest battle in a long legal saga: Congress mandated pictorial warnings in 2009, but the tobacco industry has held them off with claims that the warnings violate the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is being heard by the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, where 12 of 17 active judges were appointed by Republicans (six by Donald Trump). The Biden administration is defending a set of pictorial warnings developed by the FDA under both Obama and Trump. If the 5th Circuit rules against the FDA, it would be years before we might see pictorial warnings on cigarettes. At stake in this case is the First Amendments role in mandated product warnings, the power of administrative agencies, and the future of smoking-related death and disease. Advertisement The story of this case begins in 2009, when Congress enacted the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the most comprehensive set of tobacco restrictions ever passed in the U.S. That law, passed with bipartisan support, required that cigarette packages and cigarette advertising include 1 of 9 text labels, such as WARNING: Tobacco smoke can harm your children or WARNING: Cigarettes cause strokes and heart disease. Congress empowered the FDA to modify these warnings or add others. These rotating warnings would replace the blander variety of text warnings that have been on cigarettes since 1965. (The text-only cigarette warnings we are stuck with today have been unchanged since 1985.) Advertisement That law also required the FDA to develop color images to accompany each warning, to add visual punch to the text. It stated that the graphics must occupy at least 50 percent of the front and back of each cigarette pack and 20 percent of every cigarette advertisement. Thats a dramatic expansion of marketing real estate for warnings. Advertisement No doubt these were aggressive measures, but Congress found that other steps to curb smoking were inadequate. Academic studies show that text warnings are less effective at dissuading new smokers and that graphic warnings are particularly effective for teenagers and low-literacy smokers. One peer-reviewed study concluded that graphic warnings would reduce smoking prevalence in the U.S. by 5 percent in the first few years and over a 50-year period would likely avert 652,800 deaths and 73,600 preterm births. Advertisement In 2011 the FDA finalized nine images to accompany the new text warnings for cigarettes. The images were accurateand upsetting. One showed yellowed teeth and a cancerous lip. Another showed smoke coming out of a tracheotomy hole in a mans neck. Each graphic had a toll-free number on it: 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Advertisement But cigarette manufacturers refused to use them. R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies sued, alleging that the FDAs graphics violated the First Amendment. They said the FDA was compelling them to convey the ideological message of the government, curtailing their free speech rights. Advertisement Advertisement There were no prior cases about how the First Amendment applies to mandated pictorial warnings. Courts have ruled for decades that the government cannot compel anyone to speak political messages. But courts have also upheld requirements that companies disclose factual information about their products. Under this commercial speech doctrine, disclosure mandates are permissible so long as they are reasonably related to a governmental interest, such as public health, energy conservation, or consumer protection. The doctrine covers things like fuel-economy stickers on cars, country-of-origin labels on meat, and disclosure of artificial colors or flavors in food. Advertisement The tobacco companies claimed that the FDAs images were not disclosing facts, like the gas mileage on a car, but were instead designed to trigger emotions to quit smoking. Thats a First Amendment violation, they asserted, because the FDA was making private companies convey controversial government messaging. In 2012 the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and sent the FDA back to the drawing board. It said the agency had to develop a less provocative set of images, ones that conveyed accurate information but did not browbeat consumers into quitting. That ruling put the FDA in a bind. The Tobacco Control Act had commanded the agency to develop graphics depicting the negative health consequences of smoking, but now the courts were saying the graphics couldnt be too provocative and couldnt evoke emotion. But how can accurate images of smokings harmscancer, lung disease, deathnot evoke emotion? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the same time, the tobacco industry brought a separate suit to get large portions of the Tobacco Control Act struck down on First Amendment groundsa frontal attack on the legislationbut that suit was rejected by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. That court found that current warnings are easily overlooked and that larger warnings incorporating graphics promote a greater understanding of tobacco-related health risks and materially affect consumers decisions. These court decisions from a decade ago put us in the strange situation were in now. The Tobacco Control Act remains on the books and was upheld under the First Amendment, including its requirement to devote 50 percent of cigarette packaging to warnings. But the FDAs implementation of the law has been micromanaged by the courts, down to the content of specific images. Advertisement The FDA deserves some of the blame for the holdup since 2012 because, after the D.C. Circuits decision, it was sluggish in designing new graphic warnings, and the project lasted well into the Trump administration. It took another lawsuit (this time brought by public health groups) to compel the agency to act. In 2018 a district court judge in Massachusetts ruled that the FDA had unlawfully withheld and unreasonably delayed action to revise the graphic warnings. Advertisement Advertisement In 2020 the FDA finally decided on a new set of 11 images to fulfill Congress mandate. Compared with the 2011 images, these were toned downno more tracheotomy holesand the FDA dropped the 1-800-QUIT-NOW number that the courts had specifically criticized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency made other changes to increase the odds that the images would survive First Amendment review. It chose to focus on less well-known risks of smoking, like diabetes and cataracts, to counter the tobacco companies claim that the warnings serve no real purpose because the public is already aware of smokings health hazards. The new images are medical illustrations rather than photographs, and each was tested through consumer studies. Each image straightforwardly depicts the related text warning. For instance, a warning that smoking causes Type 2 diabetes is accompanied by a graphic of a finger being pricked by a glucose monitor. None of this satisfied R.J. Reynolds and the other tobacco companies. In 2020 they sued again, strategically judge shopping to ensure a favorable outcome. Although the FDA issued the new warnings in Washington, the tobacco giants sued the FDA in Tyler, Texas, where there are only two federal judges, both Trump appointees. Advertisement Their strategy paid off. Last year, Judge J. Campbell Barker tossed out the FDAs revised graphics. He ruled that they were not purely factual and uncontroversial but instead impermissibly provocative and value-laden. Focusing on the FDAs image of a woman with a neck tumor, he said that some consumers might interpret the depicted persons gaze as expressing regret at her choice to smoke, thus conveying an ideological message that smoking is a mistake. He added that the images failed to show the most common or typical results of smoking. It is Barkers ruling that the Biden administration has now appealed to the 5th Circuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related from Slate Melissa Hart I Was a Jerk to Health Care Workers. Heres How I Learned to Be Kind. Read More The 5th Circuit should reverse Barkers ruling, which overly handcuffed the FDA. The agency cannot control what emotions arise in viewers of these images, and there is no way a single image can convey every possible outcome from smoking. Not every smoker will develop head or neck cancer, of course, but the FDAs images show factual outcomes that many smokers do suffer. The First Amendment does not demand banality. These are, after all, warnings, and they should be allowed to depict severe outcomes. Most people overlook the existing text warnings and are unaware of the full range of diseases that smoking can causeuntil it is too late. Advertisement This whole saga shows how hard the tobacco giants will fight to duck the Tobacco Control Act. They know the stakes. Putting graphic warnings on both cigarette packages and advertisements would be the biggest change to the industry since it settled more than $100 billion in state Medicaid claims in the 1990s. Smoking rates have declined dramatically since the Tobacco Control Act was passed, as people have quit or switched to vaping. But smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death and takes more than 480,000 lives annually in the United States, damaging the health of countless more people along the way. If the 5th Circuit upholds Barkers decision and vacates all 11 images, its not clear what would ever satisfy the courts. A childish cartoon of a mouth with a warning about mouth cancer? A bar chart of cancer risks? If the only images that are constitutionally permissible are those that are bland, those images would not convey vital information. Bland visuals would actually be misleading. Advertisement Given the conservative tilt of the 5th Circuit, its likely that the court will find some flaw in these revised images and send the FDA back for another rule-making process. That would likely take two or three years (followed by another round of litigation). If the court upholds the FDAs revised set of images and warnings, the tobacco giants will undoubtedly appeal to the Supreme Court, where they are likely to receive a favorable reception from the courts six conservatives. In the meantime, millions of Americans, who have long ignored the current text-only warnings, will continue to suffer from their addiction to smoking. 404 404. Thats an error. The requested URL was not found on this server. Thats all we know. Are you a small business owner looking for an edge to help your business stand out among the competition? Obtaining a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) DUNS number, sometimes confused with DNS (Domain Name System), could be just the key to success that youve been missing. But what is a DUNS number, and what is a DNS number? They are quite different and serve unique purposes in the business and internet world, respectively. In this article, well delve into what is a DUNS number, why you need one, and how to apply for one. In addition, well clarify what a DNS number is and how its different from a DUNS number. Continue reading to learn more What is a DUNS Number? A DUNS number, or Data Universal Numbering System number, is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned to businesses. Its a key tool in establishing credibility and recognition, which are vital for attracting customers, accessing new resources, and driving growth in the competitive marketplace of today. This number is provided by Dun & Bradstreet, a credit bureau that maintains an extensive database with up-to-date information on hundreds of millions of global businesses. By using this vast resource, businesses can validate their credibility and improve their market position. The value of a DUNS number extends beyond mere identification; it also serves as a measure of a businesss creditworthiness, reputation, and financial standing. This means it gives potential investors, partners, and customers an indication of the businesss financial stability and reliability, making it a crucial asset in building trust and fostering successful business relationships. You can get your feet wet before diving into the article by watching Destiny Adams informative video titled How To Get A DUNS Number From Dun & Bradstreet To Build Business Credit | Step By Step Guide. She walks you through the critical process of securing a DUNS number to establish and improve your business credit, a crucial step for every budding entrepreneur. Adams easy-to-follow guide makes this seemingly complex process a breeze! Key Facts A D-U-N-S number is essential for businesses for many reasons. Lets take a look at four key facts you need to know about DUNS numbers. It is used to establish your businesss unique identity and creditworthiness in the marketplace. It is an important element of most business loan and grant applications. Businesses must have their own unique D-U-N-S number to be granted access to certain government contracts and funding opportunities. It is also used to track your businesss performance in its industry by allowing vendors, suppliers, and customers to access certain records. What is a Data Universal Numbering System Number Used for? A Data Universal Numbering System or D-U-N-S number is used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to: Establish Business Credit DUNS numbers are often used to set up a businesss credit file. Vendors, suppliers, and financial institutions can use a businesss DUNS number to access its creditworthiness. Federal Government Contracts Having a D-U-N-S number was used to provide access to contracts from government agencies and funding opportunities. However, as of April 4th, 2022, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is now needed. Obtain Financing Having a DUNS number can help to increase your chances of obtaining financing from vendors, suppliers, and financial institutions. Register as a Supplier Businesses that wish to register as suppliers with larger companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple must have a DUNS number. Who Needs a D-U-N-S Number? Does your business need a D-U-N-S number? Lets take a look at five scenarios to help answer that question. New business. If you are setting up a new business, you need to obtain a DUNS number. If you are setting up a new business, you need to obtain a DUNS number. Establish credibility. If youre looking for ways to establish credibility in the market and build trust with potential customers, then a D-U-N-S number is essential. If youre looking for ways to establish credibility in the market and build trust with potential customers, then a D-U-N-S number is essential. Secure financing. If youre looking to secure financing, then having a DUNS number can help lenders see different financial health indicators. If youre looking to secure financing, then having a DUNS number can help lenders see different financial health indicators. Grow your business. Having a DUNS number can help you gain access to resources that can help your business grow and succeed. Having a DUNS number can help you gain access to resources that can help your business grow and succeed. Looking for partners. If youre looking for potential business partners to help expand your business, a DUNS number can help you stand out in the crowd. How a DUNS Number Can Help Your Business Having a DUNS number can help businesses in many ways. Here are four ways a DUNS number could help a small business: Sets Businesses Apart DUNS numbers provide businesses with a unique identifier that sets them apart from their competitors helping potential customers easily recognize their business. Improves Credit Rating Having a DUNS number can help small businesses build their credit rating and establish their business as a legitimate entity. Gives Access to Capital Having a DUNS number can give small businesses access to more capital, including business loans, small business credit cards, and other financing options that may otherwise be unavailable. Helps Establish International Trade Partnerships Small businesses can use their DUNS number to establish international trade partnerships, helping them to expand their services and reach a larger market. How to find your DUNS and Bradstreet Number Finding your DUNS number is simple and straightforward. After accessing their DUNS number lookup tool, follow these steps: 1. Search for a company. In the dropdown box, select My Company or Other Company. 2. Enter business details. Insert the business name and address youre looking up. Alternatively, you can use the business phone number. Click Search after youve entered the businesss information. 3. View the company profile. From the search results page, click on View / Edit Company Information to view all of the companys information such as its business credit file. Youll need a Dun & Bradstreet account to view any information, including a companys DUNS number and business credit file. The table provides a clear and organized summary of the process, making it easier for users to understand and follow the procedure of finding a DUNS number. Steps for Finding your DUNS Number Description Search for a company Go to the DUNS number lookup tool. In the dropdown box, choose between "My Company" or "Other Company." Enter business details Type in the business name and address you're looking up. As an alternative, you may also use the business phone number. Click "Search" after entering the business's information. View the company profile After reaching the search results page, click on "View / Edit Company Information" to view comprehensive information about the company, like its business credit file. Remember, you need to have a Dun & Bradstreet account to access any information, including a company's DUNS number and business credit file. How to apply for a DUNS Number If you know how to open a business bank account, applying for a DUNS number should come naturally. The process is uncomplicated and largely web-based. It involves providing details about your business on an application form found on the Dun & Bradstreet website. Upon approval of your application, a unique nine-digit DUNS number will be assigned to your business, acting as a key to unlocking new resources. Here are the steps in bullet form: Visit the Dun & Bradstreet Website: The first step is navigating to the Dun & Bradstreet website, where youll find the necessary resources to apply for a DUNS number. The first step is navigating to the Dun & Bradstreet website, where youll find the necessary resources to apply for a DUNS number. Fill Out the Application: The application will require various details about your business. Essential information includes the businesss name, its physical address, and possibly additional details regarding your operation. The application will require various details about your business. Essential information includes the businesss name, its physical address, and possibly additional details regarding your operation. Await Approval: After the submission of your application, it will undergo a review process. This may take some time, so a bit of patience might be required. After the submission of your application, it will undergo a review process. This may take some time, so a bit of patience might be required. Receive Your DUNS Number: Once your application is approved, a unique nine-digit DUNS number will be sent to you. This number is your businesss new identifier and can be used to access new resources and establish a credit profile. Building Your Business Credit Profile with a DUNS Number Having a DUNS number is essential if you want to build your business credit history and improve your business credit report. With it, creditors and lenders can gain access to business credit report records of your businesss creditworthiness that help them evaluate the risk associated with providing you with a small business loan or line of credit. Make sure to learn how to get a small business loan before applying for financing. Is a DUNS Number the Same as a Federal Tax ID Number? No, a DUNS number is not the same as a Federal Tax ID number. A DUNS is a unique nine-digit number issued by Dun & Bradstreet and used to identify organizations in the marketplace. A Federal Tax ID number is a unique nine-digit number issued by the IRS and used to identify organizations for tax purposes. While they both serve important purposes, they are not interchangeable. Is a DUNS Number the same as an EIN Number? No, a DUNS number is different than an Employer Identification Number (EIN). A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier used to identify different businesses in the market. An EIN number is a unique nine-digit number similar to a social security number, except for businesses. Its obtained from the IRS and is used for business tax filings. How much is a DUNS number? Its free! Unlike some other business identifiers and registrations, there is no cost to obtain a DUNS number. All you have to do is visit the Dun and Bradstreet website, fill out the application, and wait to be approved. However, they also offer $229 one-time and $399/yr options. What is a high business credit score on DUNS number? A high business credit score on a DUNS number indicates that the company has a history of paying its bills on time and is in good financial standing. Generally, a score of 70 or higher on a scale of 1 to 100 is considered good and indicates that the company is likely to be approved for loans and other types of financing. If your business score is low, discover how to fix your credit score. Do you need a tax ID to get a DUNS number? A tax identification number is not required to obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) DUNS Number, which is used by the United States federal government and other organizations around the world to track business entities. Do you need a website to get a DUNS number? No, you do not need a website to get a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) DUNS Number. All that is required to get a DUNS number is to fill out an application on the Dun & Bradstreet website with your business details and physical address. The Origami building was supposed to stand in a lucrative spot. In the middle is the land where a new high rise called Origami was supposed to stand. (Source: Google Earth) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page It was supposed to be a project that would have been talked about a lot. The financial group Arca Capital intended to build another high rise with apartments and offices on busy Bajkalska Street in Bratislava. However, Arca's developer subsidiary ended up in bankruptcy, which revealed the project details. How the bankruptcy goes may also be interesting in terms of how land left by the company will be used. The European Union offers a $1 billion aid package to Tunisia to help the region develop its battered economy The announcement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a trip to Tunisia The commission president was joined by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni The European Union is offering Tunisia a $1 billion aid package to help the region develop its battered economy, rescue state finances, and address the current migration crisis. Most of the funds the bloc offers Tunisia are contingent on the latter agreeing to economic reforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was the one who announced the aid package during a visit to Tunisia alongside Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. EU Offers Tunisia $1 Billion Aid Package The officials' efforts were spurred by increasing concerns among European officials regarding Tunisia's stability. It is seen as part of a last-ditch effort by major donors to urge Tunisian President Kais Saied to agree to the terms of a massive $1.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, as per Reuters. So far, Saied has rejected all of the proposals originally made by his government to cut subsidies and restructure state-owned companies that continue to incur losses. He argued that this risks a social explosion. Tunisian state media cited the president as saying that he had already "confirmed" during the meeting with the European leaders that "solutions cannot be in the form of diktats and the IMF should review its prescriptions." However, donors argue that time is almost up for Tunisia to agree to the loan and prevent a potential collapse in its state finances. This comes as they are willing to lend the region funds with the reassurance of fully costed reforms that would allow it to repay its debts in the future. The situation comes two days after the Italian prime minister said that Europe could see a wave of refugees and migrants from North America. According to Aljazeera, she claims that this would be what officials have to face if financial stability in Tunisia is not safeguarded. Read Also: Kakhovka Dam Breach: New Problem Emerges as Ukraine Flooding Starts to Subside Addressing the Migrant Crisis Now, any new agreement based on different reforms could take several months to negotiate. Furthermore, Italian Prime Minister Meloni has continued to push the IMF to relax its conditions on Tunisia. Authorities also discussed a series of longer-term European investments, such as ongoing plans for a $161 million digital cable link to Europe. Another one is a $320 million renewable energy power export project. Von der Leyen also announced that the EU plans to provide more than $100 million to Tunisia for border management, search and rescue, anti-smuggling operations, and returns "rooted in respect for human rights." In a statement, Tunisia's presidency said it was also creating a partnership with the EU to address illegal migration. However, Saied said that the solution that some officials call for, which is to settle migrants in exchange for money, is neither humane nor acceptable, said France24. Related Article: Nicola Sturgeon Released Without Charges After Arrest Over Financial Inquiry @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/us-journalist-hersh-declines-to-speculate-on-culprit-of-kakhovka-dam-breach-1111069888.html US Journalist Hersh Declines to Speculate on Culprit of Kakhovka Dam Breach US Journalist Hersh Declines to Speculate on Culprit of Kakhovka Dam Breach Journalist Seymour Hersh declined to point to a suspect on who blew up the Novaya Kakhovka dam, though he did hint that he has an opinion. 2023-06-11T21:59+0000 2023-06-11T21:59+0000 2023-06-11T21:59+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine kherson seymour hersh dnepr 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/07e7/06/06/1110966961_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e6434eb7bd439a8973471089aeb3fb1b.jpg Hersh noted that he has some thoughts on the matter, but decided to keep them to himself for now. The upper part of the Kakhovka power plant on the Dnipro 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 (3.1 miles) from the city of Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson Region, which became part of Russia through a referendum in September 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/ukraines-counteroffensive-wont-bring-any-good-to-kiev-us-or-nato---seymour-hersh-1111069747.html kherson 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 kakhovka dam, novaya kakhovka, seymour hersh, hydroelectric power plant https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/cynical-ukrainian-counteroffensive-takes-horrific-casualties-1111076303.html 'Cynical' Ukrainian Counteroffensive Takes 'Horrific' Casualties 'Cynical' Ukrainian Counteroffensive Takes 'Horrific' Casualties Ukraine's much-hyped counter-offensive has proven a costly debacle so far. But international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda warned that Kiev and its NATO backers may still have some tricks up their sleeves. 2023-06-12T14:31+0000 2023-06-12T14:31+0000 2023-06-13T09:22+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia mark sleboda ukraine kiev nato high mobility artillery rocket system (himars) attack on novaya kakhovka dam zaporozhye zaporozhye npp /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/12/1109628521_120:0:1052:524_1920x0_80_0_0_ed7dc6b14680617eb4f8fe63effbc132.jpg The Kiev regime appears to be cynically throwing men and machines against solid Russian defenses but all may not be as it seems, a military commentator says.One week into the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the Kiev army has already lost thousands of casualties, along with up to 15 of the vaunted German Leopard 2 tanks, eight M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) supplied by the US and five of the French AMX-10 RC light tanks.Security analyst Mark Sleboda told Sputnik that Ukraine's military chiefs were to blame for sending their troops into the killing fields.He said the Kiev regime was sending troops forward in NATO-supplied IFVs and armoured personnel carriers (APCs), supported by tanks and artillery including US-made HIMARS rocket launchers."But they're doing it into echelon to Russian defenses that have been formed over months," Sleboda stressed. "Five layers of defense, trenches, concrete fortifications, pillboxes, bunkers, tank obstacles like dragon's teeth."But he said that most significant was that Russian forces had "created mazes of minefields" which have taken a significant toll on attacking Ukrainian vehicles.He said the Ukrainian plan right now appeared to be based on "hoping to punch a hole in the line somewhere.""And then presumably a very large reserve force, supported by a the majority of the western main battle tanks, will seek to exploit that," Sleboda ventured. "But then even so, to make it even through one line of defense and to face several lines more, each actually progressively more significant than the others, It seems a very bad situation."But the security expert warned against complacency on the Russian side, saying he expected "something more cunning" from the Ukrainian armed forces."Once the waters recede from the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, I expect some kind of multiple pronged attack, including amphibious assaults against a lower Kakhovka reservoir towards Energodar and the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant," he said. "But I would presume that Russia is also prepared to defend that there as well."For more in-depth analysis of the top news events, tune in to our Sputnik Radio show Fault Lines. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/ex-intel-officer-scott-ritter-portrays-ukraines-counter-offensive-as-dead-end-1110956743.html russia ukraine kiev zaporozhye Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png russia's special military operation (smo) in ukraine, ukrainian armed forces counter-offensive, how many tanks and men has ukraine lost in its counter-offensive? bombing of the kakhovka hydroelectric dam https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/dc-scholars-bidens-experiments-with-russias-red-lines-may-end-up-in-nuclear-chaos-1111093931.html DC Scholars: Biden's Experiments With Russia's 'Red Lines' May End Up in Nuclear Chaos DC Scholars: Biden's Experiments With Russia's 'Red Lines' May End Up in Nuclear Chaos Instead of poking Moscow over and over again, the Biden administration should focus on the vital security issue of avoiding a direct conflict with Russia, according to DC-based think tank Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 2023-06-12T18:41+0000 2023-06-12T18:41+0000 2023-06-12T18:41+0000 americas us joe biden antony blinken washington kremlin nato russia jake sullivan ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/13/1108562932_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8766ffc15fbb5893a11579b324fb2335.jpg It appears that Team Biden wants to find an answer to the question under what circumstances Russia would lose patience and launch a direct attack on the US and its allies, a DC-based think tank has written on June 12. What's more, Biden officials apparently believe that "the best way to discover an answer to this question has been to experiment," the scholars added.Scholars have drawn attention to the fact that over the last year and a half, Washington's assistance to the Kiev regime has grown from anti-tank weapons and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles to M1A1 Abrams tanks and Patriot air defense batteries. It appears that Biden and his entourage "has grown increasingly confident" that the Kremlin's "red lines" aren't as solid as they previously imagined, according to the scholars.This assumption prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a key Biden confidant, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to push forward with even more lethal supplying for the Kiev regime, the Washington Post revealed, citing unnamed government officials. Recently, the Biden administration green-lighted handing over F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force and stepped up the training of Ukrainian pilots.Meanwhile, US officials claimed that Moscow's decision to exercise restraint in response to Washington's actions could be explained by "the diminished state of Russian military": "It would not seem to be in their interest to get into a direct confrontation with NATO right now. They are not well positioned to do so," insisted the newspaper's source.As per Responsible Statecraft scholars, this approach could lead the Biden administration to nothing short of a "fatal flaw."Furthermore, the think tankers don't rule out that the Kiev regime may consider that it is "their best hope for victory" to drag Washington into a direct conflict with Moscow. If Washington relies on "tight Ukrainian discipline" while providing it with more longer-range, sophisticated arms, it "looks increasingly unwise".An "experimental approach" to testing Russia's "red lines" may end up in a direct conflict between two nuclear powers. In order to avoid this worst-case scenario, the US should focus on what is vital to US security, i.e. preventing escalation into a direct war with Russia, the think tank's report emphasized. The scholars urged Washington to resort to a diplomatic offensive to broker peace in the region. "The American people should insist on it," they added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230517/unstoppable-kinzhal-one-us-made-patriot-cracked-up-more-to-come-1110424287.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/scott-ritter-kakhovka-dam-attack-designed-to-cure-wests-ukraine-fatigue-1110958667.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/ex-pentagon-analyst-biden-faces-shrinking-options-on-ukraine-1110580213.html americas washington russia ukraine 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 russia red lines, ukraine, us lethal military aid to ukraine, us f-16 ukraine, us patriot system ukraine, potential russia-us confrontation, us national interests, us security interests, direct war between nuclear powers, kiev dragging us into confrontation with russia, antony blinken, jake sullivan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/finland-completes-military-integration-with-nato-1111094202.html Finland Completes Military Integration With NATO Finland Completes Military Integration With NATO The head of the Finnish Defense Forces and the NATO supreme allied commander in charge of transformation signed a declaration on Monday, marking the closure of the Nordic nations military integration with NATO. 2023-06-12T18:37+0000 2023-06-12T18:37+0000 2023-06-12T18:37+0000 military sauli niinisto finland nato sweden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/10/1082090658_0:105:2000:1230_1920x0_80_0_0_d292cc6ab0c7610b3b9730de8ab7c763.jpg "As an affirmation of fulfillment of the Integration Phase objectives by the Finnish Defence Forces today, the 12th day of June 2023, we hereby declare the formal end of the Integration Phase," the joint statement read. Gen. Timo Kivinen of Finland and Gen. Philippe Lavigne of France, the current NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, signed the declaration at a ceremony in the Presidential Palace in Helsinki in the presence of Finnish leader Sauli Niinisto. "Finland's accession to NATO is a game changer, a major contribution to our collective defense. A decisive step towards restoring stability on the European continent," Gen. Lavigne said. Finland, along with its neighbor Sweden, applied to join NATO in May 2022, months after a conflict broke out in Ukraine. Swedens entry process was stalled by Turkey, while Finland went on become a formal NATO member in April, which marked the start of the final phase of its military integration with the US-dominated alliance. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/finlands-military-spending-soars-to-cold-war-levels-as-it-joins-nato-1109810831.html finland sweden 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 finland, nato, nato accession, nato membership, finland official nato member, sweden https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/global-nuclear-arsenals-growing-amid-increased-tensions---sipri-1111077234.html Global Nuclear Arsenals Growing Amid Increased Tensions - SIPRI Global Nuclear Arsenals Growing Amid Increased Tensions - SIPRI The nine nuclear powers continued to increase or modernize their atomic weapon stockpiles in 2022 as the fallout from the Ukraine conflict undermined nuclear diplomacy, a fresh report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said on Monday. 2023-06-12T11:16+0000 2023-06-12T11:16+0000 2023-06-12T11:16+0000 military nuclear weapons stockholm international peace research institute (sipri) russia us russia-nato showdown us-china relations india pakistan north korea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103469/64/1034696429_0:175:4796:2873_1920x0_80_0_0_abe66ea5365db4e1b91be36b0f47c653.jpg "A key finding of SIPRI Yearbook 2023 [annual assessment of global armaments] is that the number of operational nuclear weapons started to rise as countries long-term force modernization and expansion plans progressed," SIPRI said in a statement. Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12,512 warheads in January 2023, about 9,576 were in military stockpiles for potential use 86 more than in January 2022. Of those, some 3,844 warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft and around 2,000 were fitted to missiles or held at airbases hosting nuclear bombers. The United States and Russia account for almost 90% of those arsenals. SIPRI's estimate of China's nuclear arsenal increased from 350 warheads in January 2022 to 410 in January 2023 and is expected to keep growing. The arms control watchdog said China could grow its stockpile of intercontinental ballistic missiles to match those of the US or Russia by 2030. The United Kingdom is similarly expected to increase its warhead stockpile after raising the limit from 225 to 260 warheads. It also said it would no longer disclose the size of its nuclear weapons publicly. France continued in 2022 to refurbish its existing nuclear weapons and work on new ballistic missile submarines and air-launched cruise missiles. India and Pakistan both appeared to increase their nuclear arsenals and develop new types of nuclear delivery systems in 2022, while North Korea conducted hundreds of missile tests, including with new ICBMs. SIPRI says it may have around 30 warheads and fissile material enough to build another 50-70. The research institute believes that Israel is also modernizing its nuclear arsenal, despite it having never publicly acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons. SIPRI Director Dan Smith warned that there was an urgent need for the world's governments to find ways to restore nuclear diplomacy and strengthen international controls on nuclear arms as tensions and mistrust permeate geopolitical relations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/us-nuclear-sensors-in-ukraine-deployed-to-scapegoat-russia-1109960215.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/what-is-the-cfe-treaty-and-why-has-russia-renounced-it-1110776394.html russia pakistan 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 arms race, nuclear weapons, nukes, russia-nato showdown, nuclear diplomacy, nuclear arsenals, sipri report https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/japan-to-continue-providing-assistance-to-ukraine-in-demining-reconstruction-1111083689.html Japan to Continue Providing Assistance to Ukraine in Demining, Reconstruction Japan to Continue Providing Assistance to Ukraine in Demining, Reconstruction Japan will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine in demining and reconstruction, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday. 2023-06-12T09:59+0000 2023-06-12T09:59+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 world japan russia-nato showdown fumio kishida ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0f/1109547437_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_5c846861a3e485d2b351794f01baccca.jpg The government and private companies of Japan have created a council for the preparation of promoting the economic recovery of Ukraine, Kishida added. In February, Japan provided non-lethal assistance to Ukraine, which included bulletproof vests, helmets and trucks. In addition, wounded Ukrainian militants will be treated in Japan with two of them starting treatment in June. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230130/japanese-pm-kishida-urged-to-hold-early-elections-ahead-of-record-defense-tax-rise-1106814457.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 ukrainian crisis, russia-nato showdown, japan, japanese militarism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/kiev-shelling-places-hosting-people-evacuated-from-kakhovka-hpp-zone---russian-official-1111080176.html Kiev Shelling Places Hosting People Evacuated From Kakhovka HPP Zone - Russian Official Kiev Shelling Places Hosting People Evacuated From Kakhovka HPP Zone - Russian Official Ukraine is shelling places of accommodation of people evacuated from the flood zone of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP), despite the fact that there is no military there, Sergei Kirienko, the first deputy head of the presidential administration, said on Monday. 2023-06-12T11:25+0000 2023-06-12T11:25+0000 2023-06-12T11:25+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine attack on novaya kakhovka dam sergei kirienko ukraine russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0c/1111080016_0:0:2846:1600_1920x0_80_0_0_e7a7e65347280c6cddf06b5fb26183f0.jpg "Today, volunteers are involved in helping people caught in the flood after the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP by the Ukrainian armed forces ... [Ukrainian troops] are constantly shelling the evacuation sites," Kirienko told reporters, adding that "there is no military ... not a single piece of military equipment."The upper part of the Kakhovka power plant on the Dnepr River was damaged overnight from June 5 to June 6. 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 Dnipro hydroelectric power plants located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the city of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson Region, which became part of Russia through a referendum in September 2022. ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian special military operation in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, conflict in ukraine, war in ukraine, kakhovka hpp, kakhovka dam, ukraine shells civilians https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/most-countries-side-with-russia-in-ukraine-conflict-while-uss-credibility-slips---hersh-1111070124.html Most Countries Side With Russia in Ukraine Conflict While US's Credibility Slips - Hersh Most Countries Side With Russia in Ukraine Conflict While US's Credibility Slips - Hersh Most countries side with Russia over NATO in the Ukraine conflict, says Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh 2023-06-12T00:49+0000 2023-06-12T00:49+0000 2023-06-12T00:49+0000 world nato ukraine russia saudi arabia george galloway seymour hersh /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102220/16/1022201645_0:0:2430:1367_1920x0_80_0_0_672005c6c5090eb766d26feacd84dee1.jpg "The percentage of the [countries], particularly of the African and Central Asian and South Asian countries, that have changed from being pro-America to being pro-Russia is really quite dramatic. Much more than a half of the world's population supports Russia in the war and not the United States. This was never the way it was," Hersh said in an interview with talk show host George Galloway. The journalist opined that "things are not as good as they used to be in Russia" amid Western sanctions, but "the idea that they are desperate is just wrong." Hersh also argued that Washington "lost so much credibility around the world," citing Saudi Arabia's diplomatic rapprochement with Iran as an example. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The world has split into those who support Moscow and accuse NATO of provoking the conflict, and those who condemn Russia's actions and impose sanctions on the country, while also ramping up their financial and military aid to Kiev. Some countries have avoided taking sides in the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/us-journalist-hersh-declines-to-speculate-on-culprit-of-kakhovka-dam-breach-1111069888.html ukraine russia saudi arabia 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, ukraine, nato, iran, saudi arabia, what does the world think about ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/over-430-wildfires-active-in-canada-208-out-of-control---emergency-preparedness-minister-1111094892.html Over 430 Wildfires Active in Canada, 208 Out of Control - Emergency Preparedness Minister Over 430 Wildfires Active in Canada, 208 Out of Control - Emergency Preparedness Minister There are 431 active wildfires burning across Canada at present, and 208 of them are out of control, Minister for Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair said on Monday. 2023-06-12T19:50+0000 2023-06-12T19:50+0000 2023-06-12T19:49+0000 americas canada wildfires bill blair quebec ontario /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0c/1111094735_0:110:3251:1938_1920x0_80_0_0_30ecabbdce46f5fb4663a4f676edc682.jpg "Across the country, there are currently 431 wildfires burning, 208 of which are determined to be out of control," Blair said at a press conference. Blair added that although significant improvement has been observed in some parts of the country, Western Canada, Quebec, and areas of Northern Ontario are still facing air quality notices due to wildfire smoke. The number of those evacuated across the country has sharply increased from 20,183 on June 7 to nearly 32,000 at present, the minister said. With 4.7 million hectares of forest burnt, the 2023 wildfire season has become the worst of the 21st century, Blair noted. As wildfires continue to burn across Canada, almost 5,000 firefighters have been deployed, including incident management personnel, overhead specialists, and members of the Canadian armed forces, Blair continued. The minister also noted the presence of 1,098 international firefighters and the expected arrival of personnel from Portugal and Spain later this week to help with the situation in Quebec. Last week, the smoke from the wildfires in Canada descended upon parts of the eastern US in a thick haze and has since drifted over Norway. Several countries have sent firefighters to Canada to help quell the wildfires, including the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and France. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/severe-smoke-from-canadian-wildfires-prompt-hundreds-of-us-flight-delays-1110990292.html americas canada quebec ontario 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 canada, wildfires, minister for emergency preparedness bill blair, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/pepe-escobar-us-attempts-divide-and-conquer-strategy-against-brics-1111073623.html Pepe Escobar: US Attempts Divide and Conquer Strategy Against BRICS Pepe Escobar: US Attempts Divide and Conquer Strategy Against BRICS Something extraordinary, at least on the surface, happened on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier this month - a somewhat pompous affair self-described as Asias premier defense summit. 2023-06-12T10:52+0000 2023-06-12T10:52+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 brics us russia-nato showdown pepe escobar analysis ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/01/1102914691_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_59e38c0ffd640d1997f88b70232a3e51.jpg Intel heads of 24 nations met in de facto semi-secrecy, because in the end the event was duly leaked (Western spin qualified it as an informal meeting).Among the 24, the real deal comprised the US and all the other Five Eyes, plus representatives of two BRICS members, China and India. All the others were not identified with certainty or preferred to remain anonymous - presumably due to their hanger on status.Crucially, key BRICS member Russia was not represented.Reuters swore the information about the not-so-secret gathering came from five different - unnamed sources. A Southeast Asian diplomat independently confirmed the presence of the Five Eyes, China, India and Singapore and that was it. The de facto sponsor of the meeting was Singapores Ministry of Defense.Things gets curioser and curioser when we examine the leak a bit closer. So many sources basically corroborating each other point to a concerted spin practically on an official level. If this was meant to be really secret, as in the past, that would have been the case, with every involved lip conveniently sealed. So why leak it?Washingtons Divide and Conquer StrategySuch spy vs. spy meetings, historically, take ages to prepare, especially one involving 24 nations and featuring superpower rivals US and China. That implies countless qualified sherpas redacting documents; very complicated logistics; an ultra-secure environment; and an extremely detailed script covering every intervention.All of that must have been discussed in excruciating detail for months, side by side with putting together the larger agenda for the Shangri-La Dialogue: and all the while there were no leaks.And then what was leaked, after the meeting, was just that it happened. With only selected participating players fully identified. Theres absolutely nothing on substance.It beggars belief that the Five Eyes would openly discuss Western security fears and/or procedures openly with the Chinese, not to mention the other minor hangers-on. After all the Beijing leadership is fully aware the US-UK is engaged in full hybrid war against China, with the Five Eyes and containment mechanisms such as Quad and AUKUS in tow.The main reason for the leak is a dead giveaway when we see what US Think Tankland is spinning: the US was talking security with China and India behind Russias back. Translation: the US is trying to undermine the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) from the inside.This is purely wishful thinking because no one knows anything about the substance of the discussions. The meat of the matter was not leaked on purpose.The dead giveaway about the leak being engineered to undermine the BRICS at least in the Western public sphere would have to come from the usual suspects themselves: US think tanks, inserted in what the indispensable Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst, christened as MICIMATT (Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think Tank complex).The chairman of the Eurasia Group laid it all out in detail: US foreign policy needs essentially to deploy the whole arsenal of Hybrid War techniques to seduce, coerce or subdue 6 so-called swing states in the geopolitical arena: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkiye.Its no accident three of these are BRICS members (Brazil, India, South Africa) and the other three (Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye) are prime candidates to the inevitable expansion, BRICS+, already being discussed and about to get started during the upcoming BRICS summit in August in South Africa.The American tactics remain predictable: classic Divide and Rule; attempts to undermine BRICS from the inside via P.R. operations and a vast 5th brigade; and if all goes wrong, attempts at color revolution and regime change.Recently, the tactics miserably failed against both Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, and are also failing in terms of provoking mischief within the key RICs trio (Russia-India-China).Growing Signs of US DesperationThe leak was, once again, shadow play: an extra layer of fog of war and related to an ongoing war. Its quite intriguing the secret gambit took place right before the green light from the usual suspects for Kiev to bomb the Kakhovskaya dam, and the de facto start of the spun-to-death Ukrainian counter offensive.To have DNI head Avril Haines and her Beijing counterpart Chen Wixin discussing this on the same table is as far-fetched as it comes.A more realistic scenario would have China and India on the same table discussing their intractable border issues. But they dont need to go to Singapore to do that; they do it in the framework of the SCO, of which both are members, with Russia playing a mediator role.US Think Tankland/MICIMATT spinning, predictably masquerading as political analysis, never reaches beyond the level of guesswork: they assume that China was discussing security with the superpower that really matters the US while ditching their comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.Nonsense strikes again: top security issues concerning both are discussed at the highest level, for instance during the recent visit to Moscow by Chinas Minister of Defense Li Shangfu, complete with a personal encounter with Putin.Even without any input on the substance of the meeting, its fair to consider all about the leak that points to Ukraine.The American intel narrative would go something like this: we need an exit strategy, badly, immediately. So lets get Chinese intel to convince the Russians to freeze the battlefield as it stands a ceasefire of sorts. Then we can re-weaponize Kiev and have another go at it later on.Anyone following Russia-China high-level interaction these past few months knows this is once again - nonsense. Beijing may have its 12-point plan for peace which Moscow respects. But facts on the ground, imposed by US/NATO hubris, have engineered a major game-changer.And then theres the really fundamental question: when and how Russia will decide to cross the Dnepr. Only after that Moscow will be willing to discuss any possible peace, and only under its own terms.At the same time, both Moscow and Beijing are fully aware that the proxy US/NATO war in Ukraine against Russia is a rehearsal inbuilt in the ongoing Chronicle of a War Announced: the real one, up next, against China, with Taiwan as pretext.To believe that Chinese intel would willingly bend to the whims of the Five Eyes because they feel China is in a precarious geopolitical position does not even qualify as laughable. And yet thats also inbuilt in US Think Thankland spin.Its as laughable as the Beltway narrative, imposed 24/7, of China threatening war over Taiwan when its the Hegemon that is using Taiwan as a remixed Ukraine, forcing Beijing to lose its Taoist patience.So in the end what really stands out in this spy vs. spy saga? Not much. Except yet another whiff of Hegemon desperation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230609/michael-hudson-de-dollarization-is-remedy-against-us-militarism-1111033558.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230609/a-new-world-order-looms--but-not-how-george-bush-imagined-1111027064.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/ex-cia-advisor-reveals-date-when-dollars-hegemony-may-start-to-crumble-1110978215.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/fundamental-changes-taking-place-in-global-arena--putin-1110565696.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/pepe-escobar-eurasian-heartland-rises-to-challenge-the-west-1110600622.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg brics, russia-nato showdown, us expansionism, nato expansion, "World factory" upgraded with high-tech, new energy and originality Xinhua) 08:34, June 12, 2023 Aerial photo taken on June 23, 2020 shows a view of the Humen Bridge, which links Guangzhou City and Dongguan City, in south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) GUANGZHOU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- An unparalleled manufacturing enterprise and foreign trade volume bestowed the title "world factory" to Dongguan in southern China's Guangdong Province. As the 24th Chinese city whose GDP has surpassed 1 trillion yuan (about 140.62 billion U.S. dollars), Dongguan has been forging ahead with high-tech, new energy, and originality, other than a stereotype as a massive contract factory for mobile phones and garments only. ADVANCED SCI-TECH RESEARCH In the "world factory" lies a world-class sci-tech project -- China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). Over 1,000 research tasks have been tackled since it started in August 2018. Chen Hesheng, general director of the CSNS and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained that a spallation neutron source is like a super microscope to help study the microstructure of some material. "This function could find out, for example, when the parts of high-speed trains should change to avoid accidents caused by fatigue of materials," he said. Chen said the transformation of CSNS achievements to practical use is underway. For now, the second phase of CSNS is under construction, and the cooperation between CSNS and high-level colleges and institutes is accelerating to build scientific research instruments. Chen considered the CSNS the most significant infrastructure for the comprehensive national science center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. EMPHASIS ON NEW ENERGY Founded in 2010, Greenway Technology is a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for micro-mobility and energy storage applications such as electric bikes, electric motorcycles, drones, intelligent robots, and sound equipment. With clients in over 80 countries and regions, Greenway has invested nearly 260 million yuan in research and development in the recent three years to secure its competitiveness in the new energy market. Thanks to early-stage planning and quick response, the company has rapidly grown and maintained a 20 percent share of the European market, said Liu Cong, Greenway's vice president. According to official statistics, Dongguan's new energy industry saw revenues up 11.3 percent year on year to 66.73 billion yuan in 2022. The local government has coordinated policies and funds to build a strategic base for emerging industries, including new-style energy storage, new energy vehicles, parts, semiconductors, and integrated circuits, said Liang Yangyang, chief economist of Dongguan's industry and information technology bureau. ORIGINALITY IN MANUFACTURING Despite emphasizing high-tech and new energy, Dongguan still attaches great importance to manufacturing, which contributes to over half of the city's GDP. As one of the city's industrial pillars, toy manufacturing has over 4,000 manufacturers and nearly 1,500 supporting enterprises. Among them, ToyCity is a pioneer in exploring paths for more brand power and added value. Originality is the key to the company's success, said Zheng Bo, ToyCity's founder, while introducing the fashion and trend toys designed by his company. Toy companies used to choose contract manufacturing at the expense of initiative. But it's different now, Zheng said, stressing that creating original brands with intellectual properties wins independence and profits for toy businesses. ToyCity's annual turnover has exceeded 100 million yuan, and profits have surged over 300 percent since its path changed towards originality, Zheng added. Furthermore, supportive measures have been implemented by the local government, such as financial support, fashion toy centers, and Chinese fashion design competitions to establish a whole industry chain for toy manufacturing. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Alex Soros gives a first statement after taking control of father George Soros' $25 billion business empire The 37-year-old said that he is more political than his 92-year-old father and reportedly plans to support left-leaning politicians George has long supported left-leaning authorities by donating millions of dollars to their campaigns Alex Soros, the 37-year-old son of 92-year-old billionaire and philanthropist George Soros, has spoken out in his first interview after taking control of his father's $25 billion business empire. In a statement, Alex said that he is more political than his father, which could suggest that he plans to broaden George's liberal goals moving forward. The younger Soros reportedly intends to continue supporting left-leaning politicians in his father's footsteps. Alex Soros Takes Control of Father's $25 Billion Empire On the other hand, George said that he and his son think alike, adding that they agree on various issues, such as voting, abortion rights, and gender equity. Alex said he cannot stop putting money into politics as long as the other side continues doing so, as per Fox Business. He also expressed concerns over the prospect of former United States President Donald Trump returning to the White House and reclaiming power. Alex was reported to have been elected as chairman of Soros' non-profit Open Society Foundations (OSF) in December. Now, the 37-year-old directs political activity as president of Soros' super PAC, Democracy PAC, which has long supported left-wing district attorneys and law enforcement campaigns. He also met recently with Biden administration officials, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Alex has also met with several heads of state, such as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Previously, George said that he initially did not want one of his children to become the successor to his foundation as "a matter of principle." The billionaire philanthropist's business empire includes OSF, active in more than 120 countries worldwide. The foundation is known to funnel roughly $1.5 billion every year to groups such as those that support human rights and promote the growth of democracies around the world, according to Politico. Read Also: Biden Slammed for US Flag Code Violation After Pride Month Display at the White House Continuing To Support Left-Leaning Politicians Alex is the oldest of two sons from George's marriage with Susan Weber, his second wife. The billionaire philanthropist's elder son Jonathan Soros is a lawyer with a background in finance and was supposedly the one in line to take the reins before a falling out within the family. In contrast to what others are saying, Alex says that he believes free speech has already become too restricted on some college campuses. He noted that he has some differences from his generation with free speech and several other things. Prior to becoming a billionaire philanthropist, George spent several years in finance and investing. He was famous for aggressive trades, such as his decision to shorten the British pound in the 1990s. More recently, the Hungarian-American businessman, a survivor of the Holocaust, founded the OSF and donated millions of dollars to political causes. Employees of the Soros Fund Management donated more than $179 million in the 2022 election cycle to several Democratic candidates and organizations, said Forbes. Related Article: Trump Set To Host First Campaign Fundraiser on Day of His Arraignment @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/putin-expresses-condolences-over-death-of-silvio-berlusconi---kremlin-1111083382.html Putin Expresses Condolences Over Death of Silvio Berlusconi - Kremlin Putin Expresses Condolences Over Death of Silvio Berlusconi - Kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences in connection with the death of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the Kremlin said on Monday. 2023-06-12T11:32+0000 2023-06-12T11:32+0000 2023-06-12T12:13+0000 world russia italy vladimir putin silvio berlusconi /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/15/1108656987_0:0:3179:1788_1920x0_80_0_0_68dc37089b6a546fad6a3959d6bf015f.jpg Earlier in the day, the Italian newspaper reported that the ex-Italian prime minister, who was hospitalized in Milan's San Raffaele hospital for scheduled follow-up tests for a blood condition last week, died at the age of 86. Speaking with a Russian TV channel later, the Russian president said that former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi did a lot to improve relations of Russia with the West and NATO.Berlusconi was a world-tier politician, the president said, noting that there are currently few such people in the international arena."This is a big loss not only for Italy, but also for world politics," Putin added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230213/all-he-had-to-do-was-stop-attacking-donbass-italys-berlusconi-blames-zelensky-for-ukraine-crisis-1107386273.html russia italy 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 berlusconi death, berlusconi, silvio berlusconi, forza italia, vladimir putin https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/swiss-bank-ubs-says-acquisition-of-credit-suisse-completed-1111085405.html Swiss Bank UBS Says Acquisition of Credit Suisse Completed Swiss Bank UBS Says Acquisition of Credit Suisse Completed Swiss banking group UBS said on Monday it had finalized a deal to acquire Credit Suisse, less than three months after discussions about combining the two banks were launched. 2023-06-12T12:40+0000 2023-06-12T12:40+0000 2023-06-12T12:40+0000 economy ubs ubs group ag credit suisse group ag /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107591/52/1075915288_0:53:1023:628_1920x0_80_0_0_f6d648b85a1f8771151dc0c4fa4803a7.jpg "UBS has completed the acquisition of Credit Suisse today, crossing an important milestone. Credit Suisse Group AG has been merged into UBS Group AG and the combined entity will operate as a consolidated banking group," the Swiss banking group said in a statement. UBS Group AG will manage two separate parent banks, UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG, the statement read. Each institution will retain its subsidiaries and branches, keep serving its clients and working with counterparties. The board of directors and group executive board of UBS Group AG will be responsible for the consolidated group. "In the future, UBS will report consolidated financial results for the combined group under IFRS [International Financial Reporting Standards] in USD. The second-quarter 2023 earnings will be communicated on 31 August 2023," the banking group added. The announcement came after last week, UBS reached an agreement with the Swiss government that the latter would cover losses of 9 billion francs (about $10 billion) that might emerge as a result of the takeover of Credit Suisse, after UBS covers the first $5.5 billion in losses. In mid-March, Credit Suisse's share price plunged nearly 30%, sparking fears of a liquidity crunch. The incident followed the collapse of several US financial institutions, including Silicon Valley Bank. Later in the month, the Swiss National Bank announced the acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230403/switzerland-to-investigate-buyout-of-credit-suisse-by-main-rival-ubs-1109060821.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 swiss bank ubs, credit suisse, ubs completed acquisition of credit suisse https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/trump-if-ever-convicted-may-get-pardon-in-exchange-for-ending-presidential-run---experts-1111073247.html Trump, If Ever Convicted, May Get Pardon in Exchange for Ending Presidential Run - Experts Trump, If Ever Convicted, May Get Pardon in Exchange for Ending Presidential Run - Experts Former US President Donald Trump, if convicted over alleged mishandling of classified documents, could be pardoned by offering to end his presidential campaign and vowing to never run for office again, experts told Sputnik. 2023-06-12T07:26+0000 2023-06-12T07:26+0000 2023-06-12T07:39+0000 americas us 2024 us presidential election donald trump's indictment donald trump /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/05/1108027035_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b1dcfce31729c08b515a4f423594ca9d.jpg On Friday, a federal court unsealed a new indictment against Trump showing he faces 37 counts in connection to his alleged mishandling of classified documents, 31 of those counts related to willful retention of national defense information. Several of Trump's charges carry sentences of 20 years in prison. However, some Democrats are concerned that even a conviction will not stop Trump's presidential ambitions. There is no law banning a US citizen from running for office from jail, as Socialist Party candidate Eugene Debs did in the 1920 presidential campaign. Debs secured 3% of the national vote while sitting in an Atlanta federal prison as convict No. 9653. Cannady said it is likely Trump will be convicted, adding that it would send a message that people of his stature can be touched. Former Assistant District Attorney for the District of Columbia Kami Chavis said the Justice Department now has sufficient evidence to prosecute. Although Trump could be pardoned, Davis added, obstruction charges could change that prospect. However, Chavis also said if Trump proceeds to run for president and wins the 2024 election, he would be in charge of the Justice Department and may seek to have the charges dropped. Despite the fact many Democrats are glad to see Trump charged, political consultant Michele Watley warned that there is a downside to prosecuting him. Moreover, Watley said it would be surprising if Trump is convicted because the former president is shielded by his wealth, network and family connections. Trump, who denies the allegations, is set to appear at a federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday for proceedings. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/could-trump-pardon-himself-if-he-wins-in-2024-1111064402.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/trump-indictment-fbi-veteran-raises-red-flags-over-abnormal-mar-a-lago-raid-1111061994.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/from-department-of-injustice-to-wwiii-key-takeaways-of-trumps-post-indictment-speech-1111056855.html americas 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 2024 us presedential elections, donald trump indictment, donald trump, us justice https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/trump-says-will-appoint-special-prosecutor-to-investigate-biden-crime-family-others-1111094403.html Trump Says Will Appoint Special Prosecutor to Investigate Biden Crime Family, Others Trump Says Will Appoint Special Prosecutor to Investigate Biden Crime Family, Others Former US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate current office holder Joe Biden, his family and others allegedly engaged in corruption that negatively impacts the United States. 2023-06-12T18:43+0000 2023-06-12T18:43+0000 2023-06-12T18:43+0000 americas donald trump joe biden hunter biden fbi burisma house oversight committee us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/05/1108027344_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_69d412e74f54a2daca76bd07125edca7.jpg I WILL APPOINT A REAL SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO GO AFTER THE MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE USA, JOE BIDEN, THE ENTIRE BIDEN CRIME FAMILY, & ALL OTHERS INVOLVED WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR ELECTIONS, BORDERS, & COUNTRY ITSELF! Trump said in a statement via social media. On Friday, an indictment charging Trump with 37 counts of crimes including willful retention of national security information was made public. The indictment comes as Trump leads the pack of Republican presidential candidates for the 2024 election. Trump denies the allegations against him and has criticized the US Justice Department for not investigating alleged criminal activity by Biden with the same rigor. In addition to allegations of Bidens own mishandling of classified documents, the US House Oversight Committee is also investigating a potential political bribery scheme involving a foreign national. The lawmakers probe is based on information provided to the FBI by a confidential human source, who alleges that Biden and his son Hunter Biden received a total of $10 million from Ukrainian energy company Burisma to help end a probe into the entity. Biden has dismissed the allegations involving Burisma as a bunch of malarkey. US House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said on Monday that he will soon be granted access to additional FBI documents on the matter with information from confidential sources. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/almost-half-of-americans-say-trump-indictment-politically-motivated-poll-finds-1111070867.html americas 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, joe biden, biden family, corruption, investigation, 2024 us presidential election https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/ukraine-loses-250-military-in-zaporozhye-south-donetsk-directions-in-past-day-1111083517.html Ukraine Loses 250 Military in Zaporozhye, South Donetsk Directions in Past Day Ukraine Loses 250 Military in Zaporozhye, South Donetsk Directions in Past Day Ukraine has lost up to 250 military in the Zaporozhye and South Donetsk directions over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. 2023-06-12T11:49+0000 2023-06-12T11:49+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ministry of defense (mod) ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/13/1094883481_0:63:3072:1791_1920x0_80_0_0_d8c1a124e5fbd4dd1cbb9e7ae15648af.jpg Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces continued to attempt offensive operations in the South Donetsk direction. In the area of the Vremevka ledge, the Vostok group of the Russian armed forces repelled three enemy attacks from the direction of the Donetsk People's Republic and in the Zaporozhye region. "Over the past day, up to 250 Ukrainian military, five tanks, seven armored combat vehicles, two cars, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed in [the Zaporozhye direction]," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Ukraine lose over 120 military in South Donetsk direction. The Russian military also repelled two attacks of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction, the statement said, noting that Kiev lost up to 140 military in the direction over the past day.The ministry also reported that the Russian armed forces launched a missile attack with sea-based high-precision long-range weapons, targeting places of deployment of reserves of Ukrainian troops. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230524/kiev-regime-gets-us-made-weapons-and-license-to-kill-russians-says-analyst-1110568747.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 special military operation, ukrainian crisis, russian ministry of defense, protection of donbass https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/ukraine-urges-germany-to-spare-many-more-leopard-tanks-after-military-setback-1111085590.html Ukraine Urges Germany to Spare 'Many More' Leopard Tanks After Military Setback Ukraine Urges Germany to Spare 'Many More' Leopard Tanks After Military Setback Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Melnyk says Germany has the capacity to triple the number of Leopard 2 main battle tanks supplied to Kiev. 2023-06-12T12:51+0000 2023-06-12T12:51+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 military andriy melnyk germany ukraine european union (eu) bundeswehr leopard 2 ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/1d/1108901855_0:235:2000:1360_1920x0_80_0_0_af1fd0c723037a51e637f5fcad53af3b.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry said over the weekend that Ukrainian armed forces lost four Leopards and five US-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles in an attempt to breach Russian defenses in southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions. Melnyk, a former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany who was recalled from Berlin last year after repeatedly offending the host countrys government, estimated that the number of Leopard supplies could be "tripled without endangering Germanys defense capability." According to the Ukrainian official, Germany gave Ukraine only 18 Leopard 2 tanks from its armed forces' stockpile of more than 300 tanks. Ukraine's EU allies pledged to muster more than 50 Leopard 2 tanks from their arsenals. Melnyk also asked for another 60 Marder tracked infantry fighting vehicles and reminded Berlin of Kievs requests to give it a tenth of Bundeswehr's Puma tracked infantry fighting vehicles, Boxer wheeled armored fighting vehicles, Fuchs armored personnel carriers and Fennek armed reconnaissance vehicles. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230124/leopard-2-tanks-armored-beasts-berlin-is-about-to-send-into-ukraine-conflict-1106662864.html germany 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 ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, andrii melnyk, germany, leopard 2 tanks, bradley fighting vehicles https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/us-preparing-evacuation-plans-for-american-citizens-in-taiwan---reports-1111087922.html US Preparing Evacuation Plans for American Citizens in Taiwan - Reports US Preparing Evacuation Plans for American Citizens in Taiwan - Reports The United States has been planning a potential evacuation of its citizens from Taiwan over the past six months amid heightened tensions over the island between Washington and Beijing, media reported on Monday citing three US officials. 2023-06-12T14:30+0000 2023-06-12T14:30+0000 2023-06-19T12:47+0000 asia one china policy china us-china relations taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/0e/1106317765_0:159:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_26fff75989f3a725326b22190de9820f.jpg Among the reasons for starting the preparations, American intelligence officials also cite the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the rapprochement between Russia and China. "Its nothing you wouldnt read in the news," a senior intelligence official was quoted as saying. "Forces building up." As of 2019, as many as 80,000 American nationals were living in Taiwan in 2019. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/us-navy-releases-video-of-close-encounter-with-chinese-warship-1110966501.html china 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 us-china tensions, us-china rivalry, tensions over taiwan, taiwan strait https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/what-are-japans-new-defensive-anti-ship-cruise-missile-targets-1111092642.html What are Japan's New 'Defensive' Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Targets? What are Japan's New 'Defensive' Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Targets? Japan has kicked off a new project under the banner of "island defense" within the framework of the nation's military reinforcement plan. 2023-06-12T17:46+0000 2023-06-12T17:46+0000 2023-06-12T17:46+0000 military japan tokyo china dprk aukus russia us missile cruise missile /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102473/64/1024736409_0:0:4326:2433_1920x0_80_0_0_1350e1c83327189ee49b20f3da5197ea.jpg The Japanese Defense Ministry has unveiled a plan to create a new surface-to-ship guided cruise missile, according to the ministry's press release. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has been assigned to implement the project over the next four years.The anti-ship cruise missile program is just one in the Japanese MoD's vast list of endeavors, including the development of hypersonic gliders, and comes as part of the nation's broad "Defense Buildup Program" announced in December 2022.It was earlier reported that Japans military budget of 1.42 trillion yen ($10.2 billion) would specifically include $257 million "for research on a new anti-ship missile."The new missile will reportedly have a length of between six and ten meters; boast a range of 2,000 kilometers, and be capable of achieving a subsonic speed of Mach 0.8 (980.04 km/h). To that end it would be equipped with the KJ300 turbofan engine currently under development by KHI.Judging from the Japanese MoD's press release, the weapon will have a "modular" design, allowing different configurations for various missions including land attack, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance.For its part, the US press reveals that during its cruise phase, the highly maneuverable "island defense anti-ship missile" will be guided by an inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS). Having entered the terminal phase, the weapon will use an infrared (IR) and/or a radio frequency (RF) seeker. Military observers pointed out that combining infrared and radar seekers will make it less vulnerable to jamming.Reportedly, the new surface-to-ship guided missile will be launched from warships, aircraft, and land-based launchers, as well as from submarines.The Drive noted that even though the contract was unveiled earlier this month, KHI has already been developing a prototype of the wonder weapon for several years. Moreover, a scale model of the KHI's "anti-ship missile" was demonstrated at the DSEI Japan 2023 exhibition this March.The media report went on to say that the new missile could be used in disputes with both China and Russia over islets in the East China Sea and Sakhalin, respectively. It noted that Japan has "a particular stake" in "protecting" the territories within the First Island Chain - which comprises the Kuril Islands, the Japanese archipelago, the Ryukyu (Nansei) Islands, Taiwan, northwestern Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan) and ending at Borneo.US military observers believe that Tokyo is set to invest in new cruise missiles as part of its broader strategy to "deter" China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and, possibly, Russia. To that end, last December Japan passed a record defense budget for the 2023 fiscal year. In addition to the aforementioned anti-ship cruise missiles, Tokyo doubled down on the development of aircraft carriers such as the Izumo class JS Kaga (DDH-184) and hypersonic missiles.Furthermore, some commentators suggest that the new "island defense anti-ship missiles" would primarily target enemy hypersonic-armed ships. Given that there are no countermeasures or air defenses capable of effectively thwarting the hypersonic threat, a pre-emptive strike at hypersonic armed assets could purportedly be held, preventing them from launching their missiles. Russia, China and the DPRK have already obtained powerful hypersonic military capabilities.Meanwhile, Article 9 of Japan's pacifist Constitution prohibits offensive actions by the nation's military. Therefore Tokyo's new cruise missile project is presented as an issue of "self-defense", as per the US media. In January 2023, Western media suggested that Japan was gradually "scrapping" its post-WW2 pacifist defense strategy. The ongoing military buildup in Japan comes in parallel with the US beefing up its military presence in the Asia Pacific along with the UK and Australia within the framework of the tripartite AUKUS alliance. The US Indo-Pacific Command made it clear in April 2023 that the ongoing developments are aimed at "deterring" China, Russia and the DPRK. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230214/japans-hypersonic-weapons-wont-make-asia-pacific-more-secure-but-the-contrary-expert-warns-1107429068.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230608/military-vet-new-japan-taiwan-drone-fleet-is-part-of-us-plan-to-contain-china-1111011747.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230511/natos-liaison-office-in-japan-part-of-plan-to-destabilize-china-and-russia-1110263884.html japan tokyo china russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova japan military buildup, japan defense buildup program, japanese military budget, japanese pacifist constitution, japan first island chain, japan hypersonic weapons, aukus, us pacific command, asia pacific, pivot to asia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/znpp-still-able-to-pump-water-from-kakhovka-reservoir-1111076528.html ZNPP Still Able to Pump Water From Kakhovka Reservoir ZNPP Still Able to Pump Water From Kakhovka Reservoir The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is still able to keep pumping water from the Kakhovka reservoir through a nearby thermal power plant, but the reservoir's level has been dropping rapidly after the Kakhovka dam was severely damaged, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said. 2023-06-12T09:57+0000 2023-06-12T09:57+0000 2023-06-19T12:48+0000 world russia-nato showdown zaporozhye npp iaea attack on novaya kakhovka dam ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104617/40/1046174068_0:185:2983:1863_1920x0_80_0_0_5ce431ee950a9b42d848798d43d7c0e1.jpg However, the pumps are currently "not continuously being operated" since both the ZTPP channel and the cooling pond near the ZNPP have enough water to meet cooling requirements for several months ahead, the statement added. Meanwhile, the level of the Kakhovka reservoir has been dropping rapidly, the agency said. On Sunday morning, it was estimated at 11.27 meters (36.97 feet), down from nearly 17 meters before the dam was damaged. Moreover, the height keeps falling elsewhere in the reservoir, which may result in a "possible difference of about two metres compared with the level reported by the ZTPP," the IAEA said, while recalling that the height of the water level is a key parameter for the continued operation of the water pumps. In his regard, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the agency's experts needed access to the location near the ZNPP to "clarify the reason for a significant discrepancy between different measurements of the height of the reservoir," the statement read. The upper part of the Kakhovka power plant on the Dnepr River was damaged overnight from June 5 to June 6. It was not destroyed completely but its crumbling caused an uncontrollable outflow of water to towns downstream. Moscow said AFU militants attacked the dam, which led to a large-scale humanitarian disaster and called on the international community to condemn the actions of the Kiev regime. Authorities in some of the affected areas evacuated the population. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230608/iaea-to-continue-inspections-of-zaporozhye-npp-until-situation-stabilizes---grossi-1110997905.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/what-do-we-know-about-kakhovka-hydroelectric-power-plant-attacked-by-kiev-forces-1110941220.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, zaporozhye npp, nuclear terrorism, ukrainian war crimes "Hes big, hes strong, and he has got it going on." Ken Middletons famous call of Somebeachsomewhere winning the Pepsi North America Cup helped cement the 2008 edition as one of the all-time great moments in Canadian harness racing. It was the first time an undefeated horse won the Pepsi North America Cup and just the second win by an Ontario Sired horse. Heady achievements considering Beach was the lone horse in trainer Brent MacGraths barn. It was unbelievable for us to be competing with one horse against these big stables. This is their profession, said MacGrath. Were a car dealer from Nova Scotia that happened to grab the right halter at the sale. The story of Somebeachsomewhere is ingrained in modern harness racing lore. He was purchased for $40,000 as a yearling at the 2006 Lexington Select Yearling Sale by MacGrath and his partners at Schooner Stable. He set a Canadian seasonal record in his debut start as a two-year-old, an elimination for the Battle of Waterloo, and won his remaining five juvenile starts, all stakes, the Battle of Waterloo final, Metro Pace elimination and final, and divisions of the Champlain and Nassaweyaga. With as much hype behind him as its possible for a horse to have entering a sophomore season, he started by being scratched from an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold leg, and was still wearing a bar shoe to protect a bruised foot in the Burlington (now renamed the Somebeachsomewhere), the week before the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations. It was nerve-wracking because we were used to racing him when he was healthy and expecting to win, said MacGrath. Now, coming into the biggest race of his life, he wasnt fully himself. But he won the Burlington and actually lost the shoe during the race. Then on elimination night, he wasnt perfect warming up, so I was a little nervous, but away he went, and the rest is history. On the night of the Cup, MacGrath followed his usual routine, despite the night being anything but normal. The race was going for $1.5 million. Prior to Somebeachsomewhere earning more than $800,000 as a two-year-old, MacGraths total earnings a trainer were under $10,000. It was the brightest stage, with the spotlight directly on the Truro, N.S. trainer. I always went to the grandstand at Mohawk because you can walk up right around the corner from the paddock. So, I stood by myself up in the grandstand, said MacGrath I wanted to watch him race and not stand there answering questions and talking. With MacGrath in the grandstand, when the wings rolled in the 25th Pepsi North America Cup, Paul MacDonnell and Somebeachsomewhere left from their chosen post two, a reward for winning the elimination. We took the two-hole, and I remember leaving off the gate and a hole opening up, and Paul not going in it and sitting in the turn, said MacGrath. [Randy Waples] was driving Keystone Horatio and he grabbed up and went in behind, and when he did, Paul just went in for a second, and as soon as the smoke cleared, he headed on to the front and before the quarter he was making his way to the front. MacDonnell and Somebeachsomehwere made the front by the half-mile in :54.4 and the 2-5 favourite proved he was worthy of all the hype, rolling to a two-length win in 1:49. Paul got to the front at a good clip, so I was confident, and [Somebeachsomewhere] did what he did most nights when you put him on the gate and that was show up and race, said MacGrath. It was just an unbelievable feeling to win that kind of race and have that kind of horse no matter what race you were in. The winners circle that night is a famous scene, with all the partners of Schooner Stable, and the public sharing in the historic moment. 'Beach' would swing his head sometimes after and if he ever hit a kid trying to get a picture, it would have turned a beautiful night into a disaster, said MacGrath. But to have families there and all the owners, on the biggest stage, biggest night and biggest purse, it was unbelievable. I trained young horses my whole life, but never anything like him, and of course, not many have ever been like him. Looking back on the career of Somebeachsomewhere and how it changed his life, MacGrath doesnt focus on the purse money, or the wins, as memorable as those are, but something that money cant buy. The people we met and the doors that owning and training 'Beach' opened for us is what was the biggest for us, said MacGrath. The people that weve met and become friends with because of 'Beach' is incredible. We never would have met these people without him, and friends that I have now, I met a lot of them because of 'Beach.' (OSS) Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas welcomed Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva, Ambassador Luis Gilberto Murillo, and their delegation to the White House on June 10, 2023. The delegations recalled their respective announcements on June 4 and 5, 2023, describing their collaboration on migration and regional development. READ NEXT: Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Supreme Court Ruling in Allen v. Milligan During the meeting, the two sides underscored the need to open new and flexible legal pathways to reduce irregular migration. They decided to proceed on June 19, 2023 with an initial six-month implementation phase of the Safe Mobility Offices (SMOs), receiving applications from migrants for the purpose of identifying and registering irregular migrants that, as of today, are present in the country, and advising them on safe, regular, legal pathways for migration. Furthermore, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to concurrently expand legal pathways for Colombian nationals, including through labor and family reunification opportunities. These steps will be undertaken in the context of the commitments contained in the joint statement of June 5, 2023 regarding the need for broader efforts to deliver social services, create employment, and generate economically sustainable opportunities for communities along Colombia's borders. READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on Dr. Ashish Jha @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. West Nebraska Arts Center is one of 34 organizations nationwide selected to receive a Creative Forces Community Engagement grant. The grant of $7,500 will support the Veterans Art Project, a series of creative art classes including pottery, drawing/painting, writing, photography and metalsmithing. We are excited to witness how these arts engagement activities have the power to enhance the health and well-being of our military and veteran populations, Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, said in a press release. These Creative Forces Community Engagement projects are vital in helping to improve the quality of life for military-connected people, bolster health equity through the arts, and build healthy communities where all people can thrive. Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs that seeks to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers. Creative Forces Community Engagement grants will increase access to arts activities in more communities and will serve a broad population, including active-duty service members, guardsmen, reservists, veterans, military and veteran families, as well as caregivers and health care workers providing care for military service members and veterans. The Veterans Art Project through West Nebraska Arts Center will offer classes on a rotating basis in pottery, drawing/painting, writing, photography and metalsmithing. The classes are staggered throughout the year and will be repeated once. Some of the instructors are veterans themselves and are well aware of the benefits of having a creative outlet. At this time, the arts center staff are taking registrations for all classes. Those who are interested may contact the West Nebraska Arts Center at 308-632-2226 or stop by and visit at 106 E. 18th St., Scottsbluff. Todd Stein, president and CEO of Mid-America Arts Alliance, said, Weve seen how art can create new bonds of connection and understanding through the Creative Forces Community Engagement projects, especially for those in our military communities who may feel isolated and alone. We are honored to partner with the National Endowment of the Arts on this grant program, and we are continually inspired by the power of these projects to deliver hope and healing to our service members, veterans and their families. By providing opportunities for engaging in art or artmaking, the West Nebraska Arts Center seeks to help participants gain a better understanding of themselves and others through creative expression, while increasing their sense of belonging to our community. Participation in the arts often leads to individual and shared sense of purpose, as well as positive self-worth, supporting their ability to adapt and readjust to lifes challenges. For more information on other projects included in this grant announcement as well as resources for arts engagement with military-connected populations, visit creativeforcesnrc.arts.gov. We would love to hear your thoughts... 1. How did you come up with the idea for your startup? 2. What was the hardest part in the early stages of the startups growth? 3. What are the services/solutions/products that the startup offers? Who are the targeted audiences? 4. What are your strengths and advantages over your competitors? 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? 6. Is the company bootstrapped or funded? What milestones will the financing get you to? 7. What is the road map ahead? How are you planning to achieve it? Key Management : Founding Year : Milestones : Awards/Recognition : Clients : Mekdad expressed Syria's readiness to collaborate with Saudi Arabia across various domains, according to Athr Press. The second ministerial meeting of Arab countries with the Pacific Islands commenced in Riyadh on Monday, featuring the presence of Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad, who arrived in Saudi Arabia for his third visit since last April. During his speech at the meeting, Mekdad emphasized the significance of cooperation and coordination among countries and regional alliances to confront challenges affecting all nations without discrimination. He stressed the need for a comprehensive and synchronized response to overcome the adverse effects and address the underlying causes, as reported by the official SANA news agency. Addressing the Arab-Syrian reconciliation process, the outcomes of the Jeddah Arab summit, and the step for step policy, Mekdad remarked, The summits outcomes were positive and accurate. As for Syria, I assure you that we have taken numerous steps without any reciprocal actions from the other parties. He further stated that the other parties should demonstrate goodwill and cease support for terrorism, as stated in the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. Mekdad identified these other parties as those responsible for fostering terrorism, perpetrating violence, and fueling division within Syria, which subsequently spread to other Arab countries. He underscored the initial stages in Syria, highlighting the current trend of these activities, which align with the interests of specific countries, moving from one Arab nation to another. Additionally, Mekdad commended the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in organizing the ministerial meeting between Arab countries and the Pacific Islands. He expressed Syrias readiness to collaborate with Saudi Arabia across various domains, stating, We are delighted to be in Saudi Arabia, witnessing major events such as the Arab-Chinese Forum and the meeting with island countries, which attract thousands of Arab participants. Regarding the developments in Syrian-Saudi relations, Mekdad confirmed that the two sides are currently discussing the appointment of ambassadors. He emphasized that the newly appointed ambassador should strive to enhance Syrian-Saudi relations, fostering integration across all Arab and foreign policies. Regarding the reopening of the Syrian embassy in Riyadh, Mekdad mentioned, I recently visited the Syrian embassy in Riyadh, which has been impacted by 12 years of closure. Thankfully, the Saudi embassy in Damascus is nearly ready. A delegation from the Kingdom recently visited Damascus, and they expressed satisfaction with Syrias cooperation to promptly reinstate embassy operations. 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. HTS proposed actively participating in the SDF's counter-terrorism efforts, according to Syria TV. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has shown a tendency to establish communication channels with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who currently hold control over northeastern Syria. This communication primarily aims at securing economic interests, but it appears that these contacts have also assumed a political dimension. This is particularly evident due to the dissatisfaction felt by both parties towards the increasing pressure imposed by Turkey. For a considerable period, HTS has been actively seeking to expand its operational scope in response to mounting Turkish pressure in northern Aleppo. Turkeys efforts to completely oust HTS from the region have prompted HTS to take proactive measures. Economic Agreements According to confidential sources revealed by Syria TV, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has reportedly hosted several delegations from Hassakeh in recent months. These delegations comprised security leaders from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as well as merchants engaged in cooperative endeavors with HTS. During these meetings, the two parties finalized an agreement regarding the supply of fuel. As per the terms of the agreement, the North Company, overseen by Malik al-Abd who is loyal to HTS, will determine the refineries from which SDF-affiliated traders will deliver fuel. The North Company will ensure that these refinery owners fulfill their commitment to supply the fuel to the company upon receipt of payment. In case of non-compliance, the North Company will engage with the SDF to halt the fuel supply to the non-compliant refinery. Furthermore, HTS has been actively seeking to persuade the SDF to allocate the output of certain oil wells to Tahrir al-Sham at predetermined prices. However, discussions between the two sides have yet to yield a consensus. Political Talks According to information obtained by Syria TV, discussions between HTS and the SDF have expanded to encompass political matters. Recently, a delegation from HTSs public relations department visited areas controlled by the SDF. The primary objective of this visit was for HTS to improve its relationship with the SDF in order to persuade its international supporters to remove HTS from terrorist lists. During the discussions, HTS proposed actively participating in the SDFs counter-terrorism efforts, which receive support from the international coalition. Additionally, HTS suggested the complete dissolution of other active factions in the Idleb governorate. In what appears to be a gesture aimed at fostering trust, HTS released a previously detained security cell comprising two men and a woman who were working for the SDF. The talks also explored the possibility of establishing a joint civilian administration between HTS and the SDF. This would be contingent on HTS gaining control over areas currently held by the Syrian National Army. The SDF indicated that the United States is supportive of the unification of the northeastern and northwestern regions of Syria. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Alexander Yefimov candidly acknowledged that the two sides still have a long way to go in bridging their differences, according to Orient Net. The Russian ambassador to the Assad regime, Alexander Yefimov, highlighted the significant differences between the positions of the regime and Turkey regarding the normalization of their relations. He emphasized that restoring what has been destroyed over the span of 12 years cannot be accomplished in just a few months. Yefimov stated in an interview with the pro-national newspaper Al-Watan on Monday that recovering from the extensive damage incurred over 12 years requires substantial effort and time. He candidly acknowledged that the two sides still have a long way to go in bridging their differences. The meetings of the Syrian-Turkish-Russian-Iranian Quartet, however, have yielded positive outcomes, according to Yefimov. Furthermore, he considered the resumption of direct public contact between Syria (Assads militia government) and Turkey, after more than a decade of frozen bilateral relations, to be a significant achievement in itself. Regarding the agreed-upon road map between the two countries, Yefimov mentioned that it is currently being drafted, and the initial discussion of its contents is scheduled to occur soon. Yefimov revealed that over the past six months in Moscow, there have been organized interactions between Syrian and Turkish representatives, involving army officers, intelligence services, and foreign ministry officials. The participation of Iran alongside Russia and Turkey, the three guarantor countries of the Astana process, underscores the success of this process. The Russian ambassador also addressed the progress made in normalizing relations between the regime and Arab countries. He considered the current stage to be more than satisfactory, as most countries in the region have decided to reestablish constructive contacts with Syria. Normalization between Turkey and the regime In May, Mevlut Cavusoglu, former Turkish Foreign Minister, unveiled a political roadmap aimed at strengthening relations with the Assad regime. He outlined three key objectives while acknowledging three factors that impede the return of Syrian refugees to their country. During a press conference in Antalya, Cavusoglu emphasized the shared goals of the countries participating in the quadrilateral meeting in Moscow. These goals include eliminating terrorist threats, facilitating the safe return of refugees, and revitalizing the political process in Syria. Cavusoglu highlighted Turkeys sincere efforts to normalize relations with the Assad regime. He emphasized that these interconnected goals require comprehensive plans and policies that extend beyond daily political slogans. The Turkish minister underscored the necessity for resolute and consistent military and diplomatic engagement to achieve these objectives. In the same month, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the regime concluded a quadrilateral meeting hosted in Moscow as part of the ongoing process of normalizing relations between the Assad regime and Turkey. During that time, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, stated that the roadmap should clearly define the positions of Syria and Turkey on their priority issues. These issues include restoring the Syrian governments control over the entire territory of the country, ensuring reliable security along the shared 950-kilometre border with Turkey, and preventing cross-border attacks and terrorist infiltration. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The 27 EU member states on Monday backed plans that could force companies like Uber and Deliveroo to treat workers as employees in a potential radical overhaul of the gig economy's business model. Talks will soon begin to prepare the law between the European Council, which represents member states, and the European Parliament, which already backed the changes in February. The European Commission first proposed the overhaul in December 2021 but it has come under fierce criticism from delivery platforms.Currently, the EU has 28 million platform workers. The bloc has previously said that if the legislation is passed, it would help reclassify five million platform workers in the 27 member states as fully-fledged employees. Under the council's plans, workers will have to meet at least three of the EU's seven criteria for redesignation, forcing many companies to offer them protections under labor laws. The initial proposal said at least two of five criteria had to be met. "The council's approach strikes a good balance between protecting workers and providing legal certainty for the platforms that employ them," Paulina Brandberg, Swedish Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life, said in a statement. But Delivery Platform Europe, which represents Uber Eats and Deliveroo among others, remained unhappy with the draft legislation and hoped talks would lead to more changes. "While the text approved today brings more clarity than the original proposal, it still fails to draw a clear enough line between employment and self-employment and it does little to enhance the situation of the genuinely self-employed," it said. The new rules also demand greater transparency in how the platforms use algorithms to monitor workers and make decisions. 2023 AFP ChatGPT AI delivered a sermon in a Protestant church in Germany, telling the congregation not to fear death. Hundreds of attendees gathered to hear a sermon written by the viral AI chatbot of OpenAI. ChatGPT AI-Delivered Sermon in German Church ChatGPT, a large language model chatbot developed by OpenAI, took the world by storm early this year since it does all sorts of things. But this time, hundreds of protestants attended a sermon at the St. Paul church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth. As per the Associated Press, more than 300 people gathered to hear the AI-written virtual sermon and witness the experimental Lutheran church service, which heavily dips its toes into AI technology. An avatar of a Black man with a beard delivered the AI-written sermon on a massive display above the altar of the church. The avatar, which features a monotonous or robotic voice, began the service by saying, "It is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you." It further touted itself as the "first artificial intelligence" for the convention of Protestants in Germany. According to Business Insider, the church service, which runs for roughly 40 minutes, was made possible by the viral AI chatbot and Jonas Simmerlein. The latter is a philosopher and theologian at the University of Vienna. Besides the sermon, they also co-created prayers and music. Simmerlein told The Associated Press that ChatGPT created about 98 percent of the service. So he says that although he "conceived this service," he believes that he "rather accompanied it." Read Also: 'Black Mirror' Creator Uses ChatGPT AI to Write Script, But it Was 'Sh*t' Protestant Attendees were Told Not to Fear Death Like any church service, the sermon shared its wisdom and comfort with the congregation, urging them not to fear death. It said that this fear is often based on the unknown and that it is important to remember that death is simply a transition to another state of being. Fox News Online reports that the AI-generated service sometimes drew laughter from the crowd due to the deadpan delivery of the avatar. At least four avatars lead the service, two males and two females. The use of ChatGPT in delivering sermons represents a significant milestone in AI integration. However, some of the attendees seem unimpressed. They noticed that the presence of AI in the pulpit strikingly differs compared to human-led services. The 54-year-old attendee, Heiderose Schmidt, told Associated Press it lacked "heart" and "soul." Schmidt emphasized that the four AI-generated avatars "showed no emotions at all." Besides the apparent lack of body language, it not only talked too fast, but it also delivered the sermon like a robot. Related Article: Lawyers Who Used ChatGPT Face Possible Sanctions After AI Cited Fake Cases @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: South Korean fishermen stage a rally against Japanese government's decision to release treated radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear power plant, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began tests on Monday of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring countries. The tests at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said. Plant workers examined pumps and emergency shutdown equipment at the newly constructed seaside facility, which will dilute the treated water with large amounts of seawater. The diluted water then enters an undersea tunnel and is released into the ocean about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the coast. The undersea tunnel and other key facilities are near completion. TEPCO says the voluntary tests are expected to continue for about two weeks ahead of mandatory pre-operation checks to be conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, possibly in early July. Japan's government announced plans in April 2021 to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plant's decommissioning. Japan's Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, left, meets with fisheries officials, not in photo, in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, northern Japan, Saturday, June 10, 2023. The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began tests on Monday of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring countries. Fisheries officials said they remain opposed to plan when they met Industry Minister Nishimura on Saturday when he visited Fukushima and the neighboring prefectures of Ibaraki and Miyagi.Credit: Kyodo News via AP The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Nearby countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Japan's government has set up a fund to promote Fukushima seafood and provide compensation in case sales fall due to safety concerns. Fishing officials said they remain opposed to the plan when they met Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Saturday when he visited Fukushima and the neighboring prefectures of Ibaraki and Miyagi. "We stand by our opposition," Tetsu Nozaki, head of the Fukushima prefectural fisheries association, told Nishimura. Nozaki, however, said the association supports progress in the plant's decommissioning and hopes to continue the dialogue. "At the moment, our positions remain wide apart." South Korean fishermen stage a rally against the planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon South Korean fishermen stage a rally against the planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon A South Korean fisherwoman participates in a rally against the planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon South Korean fishermen stage a rally against the planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. The signs read "Oppose to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima." Credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon South Korean fishermen attend a rally against the planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, June 12, 2023. The signs read, "Oppose to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima." Credit: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon Nishimura told reporters that he hopes to gain the understanding of fishing communities while working to prevent reputational damage. In South Korea, fishermen staged a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday against the plan to release treated radioactive water. Japanese officials say the diluted water will be released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life. Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency to gain credibility and ensure safety measures meet international standards. Some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides is unknown and the release should be delayed. A massive March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. 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: Chengping Chai found that portable seismic sensors could be used to detect the operating status of a nuclear reactor, such as the High Flux Isotope Reactor at ORNL. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy Like most scientists, Chengping Chai is not content with the surface of things: He wants to probe beyond to learn what's really going on. But in his case, he is literally building a map of the world beneath, using seismic and acoustic data that reveal when and where the earth moves. Yet earthquakes are not the focus of Chai's research at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is using these waves to make wavescreating new opportunities for developing clean energy and enhancing sensing capabilities around nuclear reactors. Chai is a geophysicist who works closely with ORNL scientist Monica Maceira, a collaboration that began when Maceira was already managing ORNL's seismology portfolio and Chai was a graduate student at Pennsylvania State University. Chai initially used seismic imaging at different scales to better pinpoint earthquake epicenters. But since joining ORNL's Energy Sciences and Technology Directorate in 2018, he has shifted his focus in new directionseven though they all point down under his feet. Clean energy generation, carbon storage How does seismology relate to clean energy? It is foundational to the safe operation of both geothermal energy and carbon storage, two groundbreaking approaches for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide that drives climate change. Geothermal power plants use heated water from deep inside the earth to create steam that drives a turbine to generate electrical current. Unlike power plants that burn fossil fuels, geothermal plants don't release greenhouse gases. Atmospheric carbon dioxide can also be reduced through storage in underground caves or reservoirs, trapped by a "lid" of solid rock. Carbon dioxide slowly combines with subterranean water or minerals in the rock. Both carbon storage and geothermal energy projects require understanding underground spaces where fissures are located and where the earth moves. These questions are answered primarily with seismic and acoustic sensing. "We need to use these tools before, during and after these projects occur," Chai said. "We need to understand the subsurface for choosing sites and drilling boreholes. During the pumping of water or carbon dioxide, we need to monitor how the fluid is moving and how the fracture is going. And afterward, we need to see if the fracture remains as intended or is evolving the way we want." Accurate seismic information enhances both safety and the effectiveness of operations. For example, geothermal projects rely on generating a network of large but stable fractures. More accurate mapping of fractures could help enhance the capacity of geothermal power plants. Chai developed cutting-edge machine learning techniques and advanced seismic data processing algorithms using data sets from Oklahoma earthquakes. He applied physics and artificial intelligence to create high-resolution, 3D images of the subsurface. Maceira said that Oklahoma's uptick in earthquake activity coincided with the introduction of fracking, which injects liquid and sand into the ground to force out oil or natural gas. These quake records provide insight into human-induced seismic activity, which can be applied to analytic tools for clean energy projects. "All these types of energy production involve extracting something from the underground or injecting something in the underground," Maceira said. "That causes a change in the state of stress, which can induce earthquakes. Seismic data is key to being able to alert operators and keep people safe. The goal is getting higher-resolution information faster, with the ultimate goal being real time." That could enable on-the-spot decisions about altering operations to prevent earthquakes. Today's current process for high-precision seismic analysis is so labor intensive that it takes months or even years. Chai is still refining his technique, but for a single step of the analysis, his deep-learning approach detected more seismic events and took 99.9% less time. Understanding nuclear reactor activity Monitoring nuclear reactors is an important safety and security task with growing requirements. Verifying that a nuclear reactor is operating as declared is of value to the nuclear nonproliferation community. Chai and Maceira, who works in the National Security Sciences Directorate, have been developing ways to use seismic and sound waves to infer the power level of an operating reactor. Chai developed machine learning models for recognizing from a distance when the High Flux Isotope Reactor, or HFIR, at ORNL was operating. He and a research team built on the approach to be equally effective at recognizing the operating condition of the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. A persistent challenge was maintaining accuracy when other large pieces of equipment, such as valves and pumps, were running, too. Vibration sources so close to each other create interference. So, after deploying seismic stations around the HFIR cooling tower, the team developed a new technique using amplitude and polarization of the seismic signals to pinpoint the location of different vibration sources. Maceira said when seismic research began at HFIR in 2017, the team had no idea if seismo-acoustic sensing would work for monitoring a nuclear reactor. Since then, others have seen how seismic results can be combined with other observations to increase confidence in monitoring conclusions. Seismic team members are now consulted as subject matter experts in nonproliferation. 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: AI will revolutionize education but won't supplant learning, Altman told students in Tokyo. Artificial intelligence tools will revolutionize education like calculators did, but will not supplant learning, ChatGPT's founder Sam Altman told students in Tokyo on Monday, defending the new technology. "Probably take-home essays are never going to be quite the same again," the OpenAI chief said in remarks at Keio University. "We have a new tool in education. Sort of like a calculator for words," he said. "And the way we teach people is going to have to change and the way we evaluate students is going to have to change." ChatGPT has captured the world's imagination with its capacity to generate human-like conversations, writing and translations in seconds. But it has raised concern across many sectors, including in education, where some worry students will abuse the tool or turn to it rather than producing original work. Altman was in the Japanese capital as part of a world tour where he is meeting business and political leaders to discuss possibilities and regulations for AI. He has regularly urged politicians to draft regulations for AI, warning "if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong". "The tools we have are still extremely primitive relative to tools we are going to have in a couple of years," he said Monday, again urging safety measures and regulation. He said he felt "positive" about new regulatory frameworks for AI after meeting world leaders, without offering details, but reiterated his fears. "We will feel super responsible, no matter how it goes wrong," he said. He also repeated previous attempts to calm fears that AI could make many existing jobs obsolete, though he conceded that "some jobs will go away". "I don't think it is going to quite have the employment impact that people expect," he added, insisting that "new classes of jobs" will emerge. "Almost all of the predictions are wrong," he said. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The seal of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at SEC headquarters, June 19, 2015, in Washington. Two lawsuits filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against the worlds biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, have reopened tensions between the government and a volatile industry that has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File First came the crypto winter, then the alleged fraud wrought by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, and now the lawsuits. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed lawsuits last week against the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, deepening tensions between the government and a volatile industry that has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Binance and Coinbase are both alleged to have violated the law by operating as securities exchanges without registering their businesses with the SEC. Binance faces additional charges, along with its CEO, of diverting customer funds to a separate business, among other accusations. Most recently, the SEC asked a federal judge to freeze the assets of Binance's U.S. platform. The lawsuits are the latest in an ongoing tussle between government officials who describe the crypto industry as the " Wild West," and creators of digital assets who seek to legitimize cryptocurrency as a currency of the future. Industry leaders say that, with their latest actions, U.S. regulators are more clearly signaling that they seek to ensure cryptocurrency has no room in the traditional financial system. And leading regulators are more open about their thoughts on the merits of cryptocurrency. SEC Chair Gary Gensler told Bloomberg on Tuesday: "We don't need more digital currency we already have digital currencyit's called the U.S. dollar." What results from the legal battle could greatly diminish the growth of the crypto industry or, alternatively, restrict the scope of the SEC's regulatory authority. The Binance app icon is seen on a smartphone, Feb. 28, 2023, in Marple Township, Pa. Two lawsuits filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against the worlds biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, have reopened tensions between the government and a volatile industry that has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File Federica Pantana, an attorney at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron in New York who handles SEC cases, has been watching the episode unfold and is now clear with her crypto clients in the interim: "With the SEC taking a strong enforcement agenda, there is no question that firms have to take the view that crypto assets are securities and platforms that exchange these assets have to accept that." Whether companies that trade in crypto decide it makes business sense to register with the SEC, or drop their businesses all together, will determine the landscape of the industry in the future, Pantana said. The reverberations of the litigation could put some companies out of business, she said. The crypto industry already knew it was under a tough spotlight from Washington's regulators and politicians. The collapse of crypto prices last year as well as the demise of several notable crypto companiesincluding FTXexposed investors to billions of dollars in losses. Gensler had repeatedly stated, both to Congress and in public appearances, that he believes the SEC has more than enough authority to regulate the industry. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC Wednesday that she's "very supportive" of the SEC using the tools it has to protect consumers and investors. Despite the increased scrutiny from regulators, the crypto industry was expecting Congress to eventually intervene and help legitimize the industry through new laws. Several bills were introduced last year by Democrats and Republicans that would have put crypto under the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and made other products, including stable coins, more legitimate by standardizing what assets those products could hold. Yellen said Wednesday that she sees "some holes in the system where additional regulation I think would be appropriate and we would like to work with Congress to see additional legislation passed." Crypto lobbyists now believe that those laws are more urgently needed to stop the SEC from moving forward with its lawsuits. The Coinbase app icon is shown, April 13, 2021, in New York. Two lawsuits filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against the worlds biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, have reopened tensions between the government and a volatile industry that has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew, File The most viable piece of legislation sits in the House Financial Services Committee, spearheaded by Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who chairs the pane. The legislation was co-authored by Glenn Thompson, R-Penn., chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Their discussion draft of legislation seeks to delineate agencies' jurisdiction over certain digital assets and "strike the appropriate balance between consumer protection and encouraging responsible innovation," McHenry said in a news release. New legislation would grant digital-asset issuers an exemption from securities laws if they meet certain conditions and would exclude digital commodities and payment stablecoins from the definition of a security under the securities laws, among many other provisions. "Congress has no choice but to thoughtfully move forward with legislation to clear up this confusion," said Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association. Perianne Boring, founder of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, one of the top lobbyists for the cryptocurrency industry, said the lawsuits the SEC filed against Binance and Coinbase are "arbitrary and capricious" and "the SEC's vigorous enforcement in this space is politically motivated, opening up legal risk against SEC." She said Gensler's public comments about the merits of cryptocurrency in the backdrop of the traditional financial system go outside the scope of his role as SEC chair to protect consumers and investors. "They're not a merit regulator," Boring said. Representatives from the SEC and White House did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Hong Kong government's bid to ban the popular protest song, "Glory to Hong Kong," online has raised fears that tech giant Google could leave the city altogether. The song entitled "Glory to Hong Kong" has become an unofficial anthem for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Notably, the anthem, sung by protesters during the 2019 protests, has gained popularity online, amassing millions of views on YouTube. Hong Kong Bid to Ban Protest Song Raises Fears of Google Pullout According to a report by Bloomberg, the Hong Kong government is now seeking to ban the song, citing "national security" concerns. The government has also asked the Google-owned service YouTube to remove the song from the platform. To be more precise, the Hong Kong authorities have asked the high court to ban at least 32 videos posted on YouTube, which feature the protest song. The move to ban "Glory to Hong Kong" is now spurring fear that US-based tech giants like Google might consider pulling out from China's Special Administrative Region (SAR). The protest anthem grew in popularity during the Hong Kong mass protests in 2019. And since then, the song has been erroneously played in various public events instead of the Chinese national anthem. Read Also: Hong Kong Government Takes Legal Action to Ban Protest Anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong' Hong Kong Seeks to Ban 'Glory to HK' Protest Song As per a report by Al Jazeera, the Hong Kong Department of Justice confirmed that it applied for a court order that bans the "Glory to HK" song. The bid to ban the unofficial protest anthem includes the internet, preventing online users from accessing the song online. The court order also includes a ban on performances, distribution, sale, and broadcast. The Justice Department cites "national security" concerns since the song has been "repeatedly" mistaken as the national anthem of Hong Kong. The lyrics of the "Glory to Hong Kong" protest song echo the plea of the demonstrators in the Chinese territory. In Cantonese, it says, "Break now the dawn, liberate our Hong Kong; in common breath, revolution of our times." On top of that, the Hong Kong government also requests Google to remove the "Glory to Hong Kong'' from search results. However, the giant search engine refused to entertain such a request. Last November, Al Jazeera notes that the protest song was played amid a rugby tournament in South Korea, wherein the Hong Kong team was playing. The Amnesty International China Head says the "song is not a threat to national security," calling the bid to ban it "absurd." Bloomberg notes that the High Court in Hong Kong will start to examine the request of the Justice Department to ban the protest song. As per Financial Times, the recent move in Hong Kong gave more attention to the protest song. The unofficial anthem of demonstrators is now ranking highly in iTunes charts. Related Article: China Accessed Hong Kong Activists' TikTok Data, Ex-ByteDance Exec Claims @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. American Bank Incorporated (OTCMKTS:AMBK Get Rating) declared a dividend on Friday, June 9th, investing.com reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.14 per share on Monday, July 3rd. This represents a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This is an increase from American Banks previous dividend of $0.10. American Bank Price Performance Shares of American Bank stock remained flat at $17.10 during trading on Monday. The companys 50-day moving average is $16.81 and its 200-day moving average is $17.10. American Bank has a 52-week low of $15.50 and a 52-week high of $25.00. Get American Bank alerts: About American Bank (Get Rating) Further Reading American Bank, Inc is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of personal and business banking services through its subsidiary. The firm offers credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, mobile & online banking and digital wallets. It operates through the following portfolio segments: Commercial, Commercial Mortgage, Commercial Construction, Residential Mortgage, and Consumer. Receive News & Ratings for American Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. M&G (LON:MNG Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Berenberg Bank from GBX 218 ($2.71) to GBX 208 ($2.59) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. Berenberg Bank currently has a hold rating on the stock. A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 247 ($3.07) target price on shares of M&G in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of M&G from GBX 190 ($2.36) to GBX 200 ($2.49) and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, HSBC upped their price objective on shares of M&G from GBX 260 ($3.23) to GBX 265 ($3.29) and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, M&G currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 219.17 ($2.72). Get M&G alerts: M&G Trading Up 0.2 % MNG stock opened at GBX 201.70 ($2.51) on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of 4.76 billion, a PE ratio of -305.61, a P/E/G ratio of -2.76 and a beta of 1.65. M&G has a 12 month low of GBX 159.30 ($1.98) and a 12 month high of GBX 229.90 ($2.86). The firms 50-day moving average is GBX 198.69 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 197.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 281.17, a current ratio of 2.74 and a quick ratio of 0.39. Insider Activity About M&G In other M&G news, insider Andrea Rossi purchased 10,000 shares of M&G stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 193 ($2.40) per share, with a total value of 19,300 ($23,993.04). Insiders own 2.71% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) M&G plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in savings and investment businesses in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through Asset Management, and Retail and Savings segments. It offers retirement, savings, and investment management solutions to its retail and institutional customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for M&G Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M&G and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. North West (TSE:NWC Get Rating) had its price objective cut by BMO Capital Markets from C$41.00 to C$39.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on NWC. TD Securities boosted their price target on shares of North West from C$39.00 to C$41.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. CIBC raised their price target on North West from C$37.00 to C$39.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Get North West alerts: North West Stock Performance TSE:NWC opened at C$34.57 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$38.36 and a 200 day moving average of C$37.00. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.45, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.13, a current ratio of 1.91 and a quick ratio of 0.64. North West has a 1-year low of C$30.55 and a 1-year high of C$40.49. North West Announces Dividend North West ( TSE:NWC Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, June 7th. The company reported C$0.43 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$593.60 million for the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts predict that North West will post 2.7480127 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.38 dividend. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. North Wests dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.14%. North West Company Profile (Get Rating) 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 Canadian operations comprises Northern stores, which offers food, financial services, and general merchandise; NorthMart stores that provides fresh foods, apparel, and health products and services; Quickstop convenience stores that provides ready-to-eat foods, and fuel and related services; Giant Tiger junior discount stores, which offers family fashion, household products, and food; Valu Lots discount center and direct-to-customer food distribution outlet; solo market, a store in remote market; Pharmacy and Convenience stores; and North West Company motorsports dealership offering sales, service, parts and accessories for Ski-doo, Honda, Can-am and other premier brands. Read More 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. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP Get Rating) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $32.44. A number of research firms have recently weighed in on CNP. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $33.00 price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 14th. UBS Group downgraded shares of CenterPoint Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $33.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, StockNews.com lowered CenterPoint Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Sunday. Get CenterPoint Energy alerts: CenterPoint Energy Stock Performance Shares of CenterPoint Energy stock opened at $28.95 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $29.69 and a two-hundred day moving average of $29.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.98, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.88. CenterPoint Energy has a 52 week low of $25.03 and a 52 week high of $33.50. CenterPoint Energy Dividend Announcement CenterPoint Energy ( NYSE:CNP Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.79 billion. CenterPoint Energy had a net margin of 8.99% and a return on equity of 9.97%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.47 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that CenterPoint Energy will post 1.49 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. CenterPoint Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 60.32%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Barry T. Smitherman sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.51, for a total transaction of $152,550.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $642,998.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other CenterPoint Energy news, Director Ted Pound sold 2,770 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.50, for a total value of $84,485.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 46,541 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,419,500.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Barry T. Smitherman sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.51, for a total transaction of $152,550.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 21,075 shares in the company, valued at approximately $642,998.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of CenterPoint Energy Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Pinebridge Investments L.P. acquired a new position in CenterPoint Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its stake in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 127.9% in the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 891 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 176.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 891 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 569 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in CenterPoint Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its holdings in CenterPoint Energy by 137.5% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 950 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. 90.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. CenterPoint Energy Company Profile (Get Rating) CenterPoint Energy, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the business of power generation and distribution. It operates through the following segments: CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric, and CERC. The CenterPoint Energy segment consists of electric transmission and distribution services in the Texas gulf coast area in the ERCOT region and electric transmission and distribution services primarily to southwestern Indiana and includes power generation and wholesale power operations in the MISO region. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CenterPoint Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CenterPoint Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Get Rating) by 340.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 298,898 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 231,089 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $25,036,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Concord Wealth Partners bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Coston McIsaac & Partners bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 201.6% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 573 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Price Performance Shares of EFG traded up $0.98 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $95.16. 640,219 shares of the company were exchanged. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a one year low of $67.58 and a one year high of $85.81. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $95.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $90.85. The company has a market capitalization of $13.40 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.89. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFS High Yield Municipal Trust (NYSE:CMU Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Friday, June 2nd, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.011 per share on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.13 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 13th. MFS High Yield Municipal Trust Price Performance Shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust stock remained flat at $3.21 during trading hours on Monday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 18,988 shares, compared to its average volume of 66,917. MFS High Yield Municipal Trust has a one year low of $2.88 and a one year high of $3.71. The companys 50-day moving average is $3.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.20. Get MFS High Yield Municipal Trust alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other MFS High Yield Municipal Trust news, major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 14,574 shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $3.19 per share, with a total value of $46,491.06. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 2,886,910 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,209,242.90. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders have acquired a total of 405,244 shares of company stock valued at $1,278,435 in the last quarter. Institutional Trading of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust MFS High Yield Municipal Trust Company Profile Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the 1st quarter worth $42,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the 4th quarter worth $45,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the 2nd quarter worth $49,000. Finally, Doyle Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of MFS High Yield Municipal Trust during the 1st quarter worth $66,000. 30.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) MFS High Yield Municipal 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFS High Yield Municipal Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Colombia plane crash children's mother told them to leave and find help for them to survive, the father of the four kids told reporters. Rescuers found the siblings, aged one, five, nine, and 13, who have been missing for more than a month deep within the Amazon jungle, last June 9, Friday. Colombia Plane Crash Mother Told Kids to Leave, Find Help As per a report by BBC, the mother of the four kids, Magdalena Mucutuy, who died in the plane crash, urged her lovely children to leave her for survival. She also told them to find help as she tragically lay dying after the accident, the father of the kids, Manual Ranoque, told reports. He notes that their eldest daughter told him about it, telling them to "get out." Their father also disclosed that Magdalena was still alive for the first four days, according to his 13-year-old girl. He told reporters, "Before she died, their mother told them something like, 'You guys get out of here.'" According to The Independent UK, the mother asked the young minds to leave the crash site of the plane for them to survive. Besides that, she left a heartfelt message to her kids. She tells them, "You guys are going to see the kind of man your dad is, and [he is] going to show you the same kind of great love that I have shown you." One of the members of the search group, Henvy Guerrero, told reporters that the four kids who miraculously survived the crash were found in two small bags. It contained clothes, two mobile phones, a flashlight, a towel, a soda bottle, and a music box. Guerrero revealed to the reporters that the kids utilized the bottle to collect water in the jungle to quench their thirst. The kids immediately complained to the rescuers that they were famished. He disclosed that "they wanted to eat rice pudding, they wanted to eat bread." Read Also: Colombia Plane Crash Missing Children Found After Over a Month in the Jungle Plane Crash Kids Found Alive After More Than a Month Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Friday that the missing children from the Colombia plane crash have survived. Rescuers stumbled upon them deep within the Amazon jungle after five weeks of grueling search. According to CNN, Indigenous leader Lucho Acosta finally found the missing children after hearing the youngest child cry in the jungle. He says the young minds are "we very weak" and "tired." The plane that crashed in the middle of the Amazon forest, a small Cessna 208B, carried 13 people, including four children and their mother. The only survivors of the accident were the four kids. Related Article: Search for Missing Children in Colombian Jungle Plane Crash Ramps Up @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. William Blair reaffirmed their outperform rating on shares of Squarespace (NYSE:SQSP Get Rating) in a research note released on Thursday morning, PriceTargets.com reports. A number of other brokerages have also commented on SQSP. Citigroup upgraded shares of Squarespace from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $30.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Squarespace from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Squarespace from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Squarespace from $32.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Squarespace from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $31.33. Get Squarespace alerts: Squarespace Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSE SQSP traded up $0.30 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $29.94. The stock had a trading volume of 113,804 shares, compared to its average volume of 703,693. Squarespace has a twelve month low of $16.86 and a twelve month high of $33.41. The companys 50 day moving average price is $30.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $25.87. Insiders Place Their Bets Institutional Trading of Squarespace In other Squarespace news, Director Jonathan D. Klein sold 53,758 shares of Squarespace stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.28, for a total transaction of $1,466,518.24. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 691,682 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,869,084.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . In other Squarespace news, Director Jonathan D. Klein sold 28,446 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.00, for a total transaction of $768,042.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 745,440 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,126,880. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, Director Jonathan D. Klein sold 53,758 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.28, for a total transaction of $1,466,518.24. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 691,682 shares in the company, valued at $18,869,084.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 47.14% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in Squarespace during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Squarespace in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in Squarespace by 2,128.1% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,270 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,213 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Middle East FZE bought a new position in Squarespace in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Squarespace in the 1st quarter worth approximately $46,000. Institutional investors own 40.90% of the companys stock. Squarespace Company Profile (Get Rating) Squarespace, Inc operates platform for businesses and independent creators to build online presence, grow their brands, and manage their businesses across the internet. Its suite of integrated products enables users to manage their projects and businesses through websites, domains, e-commerce, marketing tools, and scheduling, as well as tools for managing a social media presence. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Squarespace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Squarespace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HALL COUNTY A Kearney business owner has been charged in Hall County Court with felony theft of $5,000 or more. According to an arrest affidavit, Joshua Madsen, 40, went to a rural Hall County residence upon request to give the resident a written quote to replace the roof of the house. The resident wrote Madsen a check for $16,692 on Aug. 19, 2022 to pay for materials for the roofing job. After receiving the check, Madsen told the resident that he would complete the roofing job within 10-14 days. Madsen allegedly cashed the check and never completed the roofing job. The resident tried to contact Madsen several times by phone and by going to his residence in Kearney, but he was not able to make contact with him, according to the arrest affidavit. Deputy Hall County Sheriff Travis Sturgill also attempted to contact Madsen by phone, but the number was disconnected. Madsen was arrested on May 19 after a warrant for his arrest was issued on March 23. This is not the first time that Madsen, the sole proprietor of Madsen Roofing and Exteriors LLC, has been in legal trouble. In the past four years, Madsen and his business have been sued five times in civil court in Nebraska. Madsen has another open criminal case against him as well. In Buffalo County Court, Madsen is charged with two misdemeanor counts of shoplifting $500 or less. The shoplifting allegedly occurred on Jan. 27, 2023, and Feb. 2, 2023, at Menards in Kearney. Madsen Roofing and Exteriors has an F rating on the Better Business Bureau website, and it is not BBB accredited. Two complaints are listed on the website. One complaint alleges that Madsen accepted money from the customer to buy siding materials for their home on March 3, 2021. However, the complaint alleges that Madsen never completed the job or returned the money, and he stopped answering the customer's messages on April 27, 2021. The second complaint alleges that on April 12, 2021 the customer paid Madsen to replace their roof and gutters and repair a piece of siding. Madsen allegedly delayed the job several times before stopping all communication with the customer, and he allegedly never returned the money. Madsens business was administratively dissolved by the Nebraska Secretary of States Office on June 15, 2021 for failing to file its 2021 biennial report and pay the filing fee. Because it was administratively dissolved, the business is only allowed to carry on activities necessary to wind up its activities and liquidate its assets. Madsen's charge of felony theft in Hall County stems from a business transaction that occurred more than a year after his business was dissolved by the state. What does administrative dissolution mean? According to the Nebraska Secretary of State's Office, a limited liability company that has been administratively dissolved continues to exist but may only wind up its activities and liquidate its assets. The company may apply to the Secretary of State for reinstatement, however. If the company is reinstated, the reinstatement takes effect as of the date of the administrative dissolution, so the company may resume its activities as if the dissolution never occurred. If a company continues to operate without applying for reinstatement, possible repercussions could include the members or managers of the company becoming personally liable for the actions of the business, the name of the company could become available for use by another business and the company would not be able to receive a certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State's Office. This certificate is typically needed when engaging in financial transactions, such as purchasing property, opening a bank account or financing a purchase. Madsen Roofing and Exteriors LLC was administratively dissolved on June 15, 2021 and has not applied for reinstatement, according to records from the Secretary of State's Office. A job never completed Former Kearney resident Justin McClintic bought a house at 211 W. 32nd St. in February 2019 knowing that it would need some work. Ridge ventilation needed to be installed, but McClintic wasn't comfortable cutting a hole through the roof on his own. So, a little more than a year and a half later, he hired Madsen Roofing and Exteriors to complete the job. On Oct. 13, 2020, when Madsen was giving McClintic an estimate on the ridge ventilation, McClintic said Madsen noticed some hail damage on the roof and offered to fix that as well. According to Buffalo County Court records, Madsen gave McClintic an estimate of $8,582.10 to replace shingles, ridge ventilation, gutters, downspouts and facia on McClintic's Kearney residence. McClintic paid Madsen the full amount of the estimate. According to court documents, on Oct. 13, 2020, Madsen gave McClintic an estimate of $9,949.95 for siding replacement at his Kearney residence. On June 4, 2021, after Madsen's crew completed the roofing job, McClintic paid Madsen $6,900 for siding materials in advance of the work being done. McClintic said Madsen never completed any work on the siding nor did he give McClintic any siding materials. McClintic said he kept receiving delay messages from Madsen, and then Madsen stopped communicating with him entirely. Court records indicate that even though Madsen's crew completed the roofing job, the crew failed to do work on the residence's gutters and facia, which were valued at $1,305.40 on the original estimate. Madsen did not refund McClintic this amount, and he never refunded McClintic $6,900 for the siding job that he did not complete, according to court documents. By the time McClintic decided to settle the matter in civil court, he was in the process of moving to Blair and had to hire and pay for a lawyer in Kearney. He said the county impounded Madsen's vehicle to get Madsen to pay him back. Court records indicate that Madsen's vehicle was returned to him after he paid the debts owed to McClintic on March 1, 2022. Additionally, McClintic noted some unsafe and odd practices by Madsen's workers. While Madsen's crew was completing work on McClintic's roof, McClintic noticed on his Ring camera that the crew was climbing onto his roof by standing on the edge of a dump trailer and boosting each other up. McClintic said he texted Madsen a screenshot from his Ring camera of the workers and asked why they weren't using a ladder. He said Madsen later texted a picture of a ladder and said they had found a ladder. The ladder was from McClintic's shed, which McClintic said he never gave Madsen's crew permission to use. McClintic said Madsen seemed like a nice guy, like everything was going well, but said that something seemed to have happened between the roofing job and the siding job that was never completed. I would definitely not recommend him from my experience," McClintic said. Because McClintic was moving before his civil court case was settled, in September 2021 he sold his Kearney residence without the siding done. Who knows what the real cost was to me, to the value of the house not being done, McClintic said. If it wouldve been more curb appeal, it would have sold faster for more money." History of legal trouble Madsen's other civil court cases stem from similar incidents. According to Buffalo County District Court records, on June 3, 2020, Madsen was hired to install a new roof on Qdoba at 2414 Second Ave. in Kearney. Madsen agreed to install the new roof for $25,200. Madsen was paid $13,000 by MINE LLC, which owns the property on which Qdoba is built, as an advance payment to purchase materials. Madsen allegedly attempted to complete the roof replacement but did so in a defective, deficient and negligent manner, according to court documents. Madsens work allegedly caused the roof to leak excessively, causing damage to Qdobas building as well as property inside the building and forcing the restaurant to temporarily close. The defective roof replacement also allegedly caused all the new roofing materials to be unusable. According to court documents, Madsen failed to use the advance payment from MINE LLC for the roofing materials. A construction lien was placed on the property by the roofing materials provider as a result, and the roofing materials provider filed a lawsuit to foreclose the construction lien. MINE LLC paid the cost of the roofing materials to the provider, according to court documents. Court documents noted MINE LLC suffered damages totaling $47,336.37. K-H Enterprises Inc., which leases 2414 Second Ave. from MINE LLC and operates the Qdoba restaurant on the property, suffered damages totaling $27,170.78. In response to the complaints filed against him in Buffalo County District Court, Madsen alleged that he was not allowed to finish the job and requested the rest of the agreed-upon payment for his work in the amount of $12,200, plus late fees, according to court documents. His late fee rate is 3.5% every 30 days, which MINE LLC and K-H Enterprises Inc. allege is an illegal rate of interest and would constitute usury, as it would amount to approximately 42% interest per year. MINE LLC and K-H Enterprises Inc. allege that Madsen claimed to have completed his work and refused to do repairs to the leaky roof. They allege damage to property occurred after Madsen claimed to have completed his work and more damages ensued when Madsen refused to correct his defective work. Because the civil case is ongoing, K-H Enterprises Inc. owner Reed Miller declined to comment on his experience with Madsen Roofing and Exteriors. The other two civil court cases against Madsen have been closed. In Nebraska Furniture Mart Inc. v. Madsen in Douglas County Court, court records indicate Madsen purchased eight furniture items through a revolving charge agreement dated April 4, 2020. The revolving charge agreement meant that Madsen had possession of the items, but Nebraska Furniture Mart retained a security interest in the items until they were fully paid off. Madsen allegedly prematurely stopped making payments and failed to pay $4,561.51 of the agreement. Madsen did not appear in court for the hearing, so the case was closed as uncontested default. On June 8, 2022, Douglas County Judge Darryl R. Lowe granted Nebraska Furniture Mart $4,561.51 plus interest from July 10, 2021 at 18% per year as well as court costs totaling $70.72 and post-judgment interest at 18% per year. In Mead Lumber - Kearney v. Joshua Madsen in Buffalo County Court, Madsen was accused of receiving goods and services totaling $23,474.81 from Mead Lumber over the span of several months without paying. Mead Lumber wanted the money for their goods and services, but Madsen allegedly refused to give them the money owed. The case was dismissed without prejudice by Buffalo County Judge Gerald Jorgensen Jr. on July 15, 2022 for lack of activity in the case. Madsen was released from Hall County Jail on May 22 after posting bail set at 10% of $10,000. He will appear in Hall County Court for a preliminary hearing on June 20. 45 people arrested following fatal attacks on police stations in Vietnam's Central Highlands By Huong Dung, Bach Quang Sun, June 11, 2023 | 2:05 pm GTM+7 Updated 9:52 p.m, Tuesday June 13 Police have arrested 45 people suspected of attacking two police stations in Dak Lak province on Sunday morning, leaving four police officers, two communal officials, and three residents dead. The incident site in Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, Vietnam's Central Highlands, June 11, 2023. Photo courtesy of the police. A group of motorcyclists with guns and other dangerous weapons attacked the police stations in the communes of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur in Cu Kuin district, according to the Ministry of Public Security. "Our forces are continuing to hunt for the remaining suspects," Lieutenant General To An Xo, a spokesperson for the ministry, said on Tuesday. Two hostages have been rescued, while the third escaped. The reason for the attacks remains unknown. Three out of the 45 suspects arrested. Photo courtesy of People's Police newspaper. Earlier, a leader of Cu Kuin district's Party Committee told local media that some of the suspects are from Krong Buk district, Cu Mgar district and Ayun Pa township in neighboring Gia Lai province. Authorities advised local residents in Cu Kuin district and neighboring localities to stay calm and follow instructions from competent forces. Anyone with information about the wanted assailants should contact their nearest police station, they said. Police blockade the police station in Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district on June 11, 2023. Photo courtesy of Youth newspaper. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday granted certificates of national gratitude to the four policemen and two communal officials who died while on duty. Previously, on Sunday afternoon, Minister of Public Security To Lam had signed a decision to promote the four policemen posthumously and support their families with VND100 million ($4,300) each. Two policemen injured in Cu Kuin district received VND50 million each. CT Group embraces sustainable sea-based economic development By Gia Linh Mon, June 12, 2023 | 4:02 pm GTM+7 Ho Chi Minh City-based real estate major CT Group joined an online forum held in Vietnam last week to discuss sea-based economic development ideas, promoting the United Nations World Oceans Day. Sustainable development is one of the worlds current hottest issues, with the oceans playing a significant role worldwide. Global warming and rising sea levels have drawn close attention from countries, communities, and the business circle as the whole world is seeking to counter climate change effects. Additionally, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) incentives are also seen as measures to support global sustainable development. "Vietnams coastline stretches more than 3,260 km while almost half of the Vietnamese population (100 million people in total) are living in coastal localities," Vu Hong Quang, a representative of CT Groups ESG council, told the forum to explain why sea-based economic development was the events topic. Sea resources make substantial contributions to Vietnams socio-economic development in many areas, including steelmaking, shipbuilding, oil and gas, minerals, marine transportation, logistics, high technology, aquaculture and fisheries, coastal industries, and renewable energy. They also play a critical role in Vietnams national defense strategy. CT Group joined the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the UK and supports the Vietnamese governments carbon neutrality goal by 2050. Quang said the groups Leman Cap Residence project in the middle of the beach town of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam is an example of sustainable development. In front of it is the sea, while at the back is a natural forest site carefully cared for. It is using on-site solar energy. An artist's impression of CT Group's Leman Cap Residence project in Vung Tau town, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the corporation. At the forum, Doan Duy Khuong, former chairman of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development, pointed out a number of strategies and tactics for Vietnam's ocean-oriented development. Khuong highlighted digitalization as one of the top tasks in exploring Vietnams marine advantages. He suggested Vietnam should work out proper sets of standards for the process, and proposed five solutions to promote marine economic fields while protecting the environment. The first is Vietnams development plans for coastal areas and islands, taking into consideration lessons worldwide. The second is to continue strengthening international cooperation, especially within ASEAN on issues related to the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea. The third is to continue developing logistics in order to further support other fields like tourism. The fourth is to keep promoting public-private partnerships so that private companies can make more contributions. The final suggestion is to take advantage of digital technology in forecasting climate change and implementing large projects in coastal areas. French Development Agency mulls over more funding for Vietnam Electricity By Nguyen Thuy Mon, June 12, 2023 | 12:02 pm GTM+7 The French Development Agency (AFD) is considering new soft loans for state utility Vietnam Electricity to support the countrys carbon neutrality goal by 2050, said AFD chairman Philippe Le Houerou. AFD will continue to be with Vietnam Electricity with the most efficient solutions, he said during his working trip to the electricity giants headquarters in Hanoi on June 9. AFD chairman Philippe Le Houerou (central) speaks at his meeting with Vietnam Electricity leaders in Hanoi on June 9, 2023. Photo courtesy of EVN. Tran Dinh Nhan, CEO of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), said his group expected the French governments financial institution to keep providing EVN with electricity development assistance, and the state utility is committed to utilizing its best resources to drive Vietnams clean energy transition. AFD has been providing funding for electricity generation plants and transmission lines in Vietnam, such as the extended Hoa Binh hydropower plant, the extended Ialy hydropower plant, Sesan 4 Hydropower project, and upgrading transmission capacities in southern Vietnam. These AFD funds are not on the Vietnamese governments list of public debts. Early this month, the AFD delegation met with EVN subsidiaries, units, and departments across the country to discuss business and cooperation ties. The AFD said last September that it planned to mobilize EUR20 million in the future to help EVN transition to and innovate towards clean energy projects, with top priority given to the Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower plant in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan. Prior to that, the development agency had announced loans of EUR350 million without government guarantees for EVN projects related to power grids and power sources. Hanoi to inspect 81 foreign-invested projects By Tri Duc Mon, June 12, 2023 | 11:28 pm GTM+7 Hanoi has set up a team to inspect 81 foreign-invested projects in the capital city over the next six months, according to a decision signed by director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Le Anh Quan. Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower is the tallest building in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of VTC newspaper. The inspection aims to improve investors compliance with local laws, detect wrongdoings, and settle problems related to project implementation, says the decision which was published on the department's website in early June. It will focus on the progress of capital contributions and disbursements, project implementation, financial obligations to the state, and labor management. The inspection team will be led by Le Hoang Nam Thang, vice head of the foreign economics office at the planning and investment department. Among the 81 projects, South Korea-invested ones account for 24, followed by mainland China and Taiwan with 16, Japan with nine, and Singapore with seven. The inspection list features large realty projects, such as the South Korean-invested Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, British Virgin Islands-invested Giang Vo Complex, and South Korean-backed Grand Plaza Hanoi Hotel, all in Hanoi. Other notable names on the list are China-invested Huawei Vietnam, Airbus Vietnam, Gucci Vietnam, and Louis Vuitton Vietnam. Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in Vietnam declined 7.3% year-on-year to nearly $10.86 billion in the first five months of 2023, while disbursed capital dropped 0.8% to $7.56 billion, the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) reported. Of which, Hanoi accounted for the biggest registered figure of $1.87 billion, up 170% year-on-year, partly thanks to the $1.5 billion deal of lender VPBank selling a 15% stake to Japans Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC). The deal has made SMBC a strategic investor in VPBank. Michelin honors 3 restaurants at Capella Hanoi By Trang Nguyen Mon, June 12, 2023 | 11:05 pm GTM+7 Hibana by Koki is one of four Vietnamese restaurants to be recognized with one Michelin Star, while Backstage and Izakaya by Koki have been named among the top Michelin Selected Restaurants. Hibana by Koki, a one-star Michelin restaurant. Photo courtesy of Capella Hotel. Hibana by Koki presents a theatrical experience at a 14-seat counter in the basement of the Hanoi-based Capella Hotel, with chef Hiroshi Yamaguchi cooking teppanyaki dishes rich in complex flavors. "The menu features a distinctly decadent edge, epitomized by the premium ingredients flown in twice a week from Japan, such as abalone, spiny lobster, sea urchin, Yaeyama Kyori beef and Hokkaido hairy crab," the renowned food guide Michelin commented. Meanwhile, tucked away in the basement of the Capella Hotel, Izakaya by Koki is a modern and chic setting, with various seating options, including intimate sofa areas. "Izakaya by Koki takes place alongside a secluded Teppanyaki setting ideal for celebrating special occasions. Each room exhibits craft through a culinary lens that invites thought and conversation," Capella Hotel says on its website. According to Michelin, guests are welcomed with a complimentary sake with aromatic notes of tropical fruit. Sourcing 70% of its ingredients from Japan, this restaurant has an extensive menu including a specialty of grilled dishes like the grilled black cod with Saikyo sauce, and housemade yame matcha or black truffle ice cream as signature dessert. Another restaurant named among the top Michelin Selected Restaurants at the Capella Hotel is Backstage. The Michelin Guide commented that dishes respect the heritage of the north but combine modern techniques with European touches that will "leave your tastebuds singing an aria of delight". "They also serve steaks from a Josper grill and sharing dishes for two. The theatrical setting showcases stunning costumes from the operas greatest performances," it added. Backstage, the opera-themed restaurant. Photo courtesy of Capella Hotel. Four Vietnamese restaurants have been recognized with one Michelin Star for their high-quality cooking and outstanding culinary experience that is worth a stop when travelling to Vietnam. The awarded are Hibana by Koki, Gia and Tam Vi in Hanoi and Anan Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Michelin announced last Tuesday. There are currently over 3,000 Michelin-starred restaurants in nearly 40 different countries. South Korea's SKC signs deal with Hai Phong city for green, advanced materials investment By Nguyen Thuy Mon, June 12, 2023 | 11:01 am GTM+7 SKC Co., a South Korean manufacturer of advanced materials, signed a preliminary agreement on Monday with Vietnam's Hai Phong city to explore potential investment in advanced materials for secondary batteries, semiconductors, and other green sectors. SKC CEO Park Won-cheol (third from right) poses for a photo with Le Tien Chau (third from left), Hai Phong's Party committee Secretary, and other officials during the signing ceremony in Seoul on June 12, 2023. Photo courtesy of SKC. Under the memorandum of understanding, SKC will consider ways to invest in Hai Phong, a major port city and logistics hub in the north, as a site for the Korean firms expansion into high-tech materials, the Seoul-based company said in a release. Hai Phongs administration will assist SKC with its efforts to obtain incentives from the Vietnamese government and provide support for utilities and infrastructur should SKC decide to invest in the city, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported on Monday. A production facility of SKC in Cheonan, Chungcheong province, South Korea. Photo courtesy of Korea Times. Hai Phong is part of the Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh development triangle, and Korean giant LG Group has selected the major industrial and port city as its strategic location in Vietnam. About two hours from Hanoi, the city is home to three companies under the LG roof. LG Electronics Vietnam Hai Phong focuses on electronics, LG Innotek Vietnam Hai Phong supplies electronic components, while LG Display Vietnam Hai Phong manufactures LCD and OLED displays. SKC, a unit under the energy-to-telecom conglomerate SK Group, says it is pivoting to an advanced materials company largely engaged in the manufacturing of copper foil used in lithium-ion cells, and is expanding into other advanced components like semiconductor packaging. SKC announced on May 30 that it had joined hands with Korean major Posco Group in the cutting-edge electric vehicle battery materials sector. SKC said in a release that day that it is expanding its business presence across the entire spectrum of EV battery materials such as silicone-based cathode materials as the global leader of copper foil production for EV batteries. Posco Group is completing a value chain ranging from raw materials for EV batteries to anode and cathode materials, the release said. Other next-generation materials are expected to create a powerful synergy through the two sides partnership. Posco Group is forging a series of partnerships with EV and battery makers one after another and the business partnership with SKC will drastically beef up competitiveness in the next-generation anode materials sector, SKC said on May 30. Regarding semiconductor development in Vietnam, the Southeast Asian country is poised to become a new chip design hub in the region. Germany-based Infineon Technologies AG, a global leader in automotive, power management, energy-efficient technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT), opened a center for chip development in Hanoi on May 31. This facility will be a vital contributor to Infineons design & enabling services (DES) ambitious competency growth plans, the German firm said. It will also focus on microcontroller chip verification for automotive applications to support strong growth in the industry. Amid the trend of semiconductor factories looking toward Southeast Asia as an alternative for production in China, U.S. chip vendor Marvell Technology announced on May 16 plans to establish a world-class design center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams economic powerhouse. Last year, the U.S.-based electronic design automation company Synopsys started to expand its investment in Vietnam, announcing its commitment to training Vietnamese chip designers in HCMC. American giant Intel was the first major corporation to start the chip-making process in Vietnam with a test and assembly facility based in HCMC, and has so far invested $1.5 billion in the country, with fresh investments in the pipeline. CARBONDALE Deer and other wild animals moved more freely during the COVID-19 lockdowns, according to a new study, which included work from a researcher at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The study, published June 9 in the journal Science, reflected another impact of the lockdowns, which kept people indoors more while giving wildlife the green light to move more freely by disentangling humans impact on the wildlife movement patterns. As one of more than 170 co-authors of the study, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, assistant professor with SIUs Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, played a small but important role in the work. He was able to use long-term data from deer he and others at the CWRL have been collaring since 2018 at both SIUs Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center and Lake Shelbyville in central Illinois. Overall, our findings were in line with the overall findings of the study, Bastille-Rousseau said. The stringency of the lockdown in the USA overall, and in Illinois, was not as high as other parts of the world, so there was still a bit of human activity at our sites. That meant the change of movement in deer during the lockdown and afterwards was not as marked as observed with other species. Looking back on lockdowns The pandemic lockdowns resulted in a drastic reduction in human mobility, the studys authors stated. While not only often confined to their homes, the measures also saw officials shut down recreation areas both wild and otherwise which also greatly reduced automobile traffic and its noise, too. This anthropause, as the authors call it, provided a unique opportunity to quantify the effects of specifically human mobility on wildlife by decoupling it from other factors, such as the effects of landscape and environmental changes. Piggybacking on other studies Bastille-Rousseau was already engaged in deer movement studies for several years, leading to a good number of collared deer under his surveillance at the two Illinois locations. Using clover traps a giant box-like trap drop nets and dart guns, Bastille-Rousseau and his students captured and then fit the deer with GPS collars that are programmed to take a reading on their locations every 30 minutes or every hour. These locations are then sent back to us via satellite, he said. We then analyze the information on deer movement with several goals in mind, ranging from understanding disease transmission to how the deer respond to predators, such as coyotes or bobcats. Having the cache of trackable wildlife already available for analysis made Bastille-Rousseau a ready partner for the study released today. There was an opportunity that emerged from these long-term tracking data to assess how deer could have been impacted by change in humans behavior, for example, during the early days of the pandemic with the stay-at-home orders, he said. Lockdowns and wildlife During the early days of the pandemic lockdowns, stories emerged in mainstream media of animals reasserting their presence in cities, Bastille-Rousseau recalled. The researchers work provides some science to back up those observations. For example, the data showed that in areas with very strict lockdowns, animal movement drastically increased. The animals also avoided roads less than they normally would, possibly owing to the marked decrease in traffic during the stricter lockdowns. In other areas less-strictly locked down, residents could still take advantage of natural areas. Doing that provided a bit of relief from everything for those people, Bastille-Rousseau. But in those areas, the change in animal movements was not as apparent. The Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office responded to several shooting incidents over the weekend. They included: 2:17 a.m. Saturday: A clerk reported seeing a woman fire a weapon at a man outside of the Hot Spot gas station, located at 12340 Old Number Six Highway, Eutawville. The clerk said the woman and man were in separate vehicles. The vehicles left the store at the same time, the report states. A deputy recovered a spent shell casing from the area where the shooting occurred. The case will be handled by the Eutawville Police Department. 1:55 a.m. Sunday: A bullet entered an Ataria Street home outside Orangeburg. Several individuals began shooting at a nearby graduation party, the incident report states. A bullet entered the home through a kitchen window and then struck a wall. The homeowner and his family were asleep when gunfire erupted. The three adults and three children inside the home werent physically hurt. Between 4:15 a.m. and 4:42 a.m. Sunday: Multiple Langley Road homeowners reported bullets striking their residences. No one was physically injured in the shootings, which took place outside Orangeburg. At one home, two sisters reported that a bullet entered the house and exited through the front door. They reported a party was underway nearby. At another home, a man reported that a bullet hit the exterior of his home, but didnt enter. And at a third home, a homeowner reported a bullet striking the home, but not coming inside. The homeowner also reported finding the following items in his backyard: a pair of black shoes, a water bottle, a South Carolina beginners permit and two grams of marijuana. 9:50 a.m. Sunday: A Robert Street woman reported that she saw a familiar man exit the passenger side of a silver sedan that pulled up in front of her home, according to an incident report. She claims the man had something in his hand and ran toward the house, which is located outside Orangeburg. She then heard four or five gunshots. The woman got down and called deputies when she heard the car drive away. Multiple bullet holes were found in the residence and one projectile was discovered in the common area of the home, a sheriffs office incident report said. Multiple shell casings were discovered in the front yard and near the roadway. The woman told deputies that she believes the gunman is the person who stole her tan 9 mm Glock 19x handgun on Friday. A new survey has found that the China-US rivalry is the biggest worry for people in Singapore, South Korea, and the Philippines. The survey, conducted by the Economic Forum on Geopolitics (EGF), a think tank based in Singapore, polled 1,000 people in the three countries. Decline in Confidence (Photo : Wikimedia Commons / Office of U.S. Treasury Secretary) Look forward to a day of productive meetings with Vice Premier Wang Yang, @SecretaryRoss and the US-China Delegations. #CED The survey found that 90% of respondents in all three countries are worried about the China-US rivalry, according to South China Morning Post. The top concerns among respondents were the potential for economic disruption, military conflict, and a decline in global stability. The survey also found that people in all three countries are calling on their leaders to take steps to de-escalate tensions between China and the US. The survey results show that the China-US rivalry significantly impacts Asia. The countries' people are worried about how it will affect the economy, military, and global stability. Thus, these people are calling on their leaders to take action. The China-US rivalry has been intensifying recently, as the two countries have clashed over various issues, including trade, technology, and security. The rivalry has the potential to destabilize the region and harm the global economy. The survey results suggest that the people of Singapore, South Korea, and the Philippines are acutely aware of the risks posed by the China-US rivalry. They call on their leaders to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful way to coexist peacefully. The survey also found a growing sense of uncertainty about the future in the three countries. Respondents were asked to rate their confidence in the future of their country on a scale of 1 to 10, with one being the least confident and ten being the most confident. The average score was 6.5, which is down from 7.5 in 2019. The decline in confidence is likely due to several factors, including the China-US rivalry, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global economic slowdown. The survey results suggest that people in the three countries are worried about the future and are looking for their leaders to provide stability and certainty. The China-US rivalry is a significant challenge for the region and the world. The people of Singapore, South Korea, and the Philippines called on their leaders to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful way to coexist. The future of the region and the world depends on it. Read Also: New Chinese Ambassador to the US Arrives, Admits Challenging US-China Ties US-China Tensions The United States and China are the world's two largest economies, and their relationship is one of the most important. However, tensions between the two countries have been rising in recent years. There are several reasons for this. One is the growing rivalry between the two countries for economic and technological dominance. China is rapidly catching up to the United States in terms of economic power and investing heavily in research and development. This has led to concerns in the United States that China is becoming a threat to its economic and technological leadership. The tensions between the United States and China have manifested in several ways in recent years. In 2018, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, and China retaliated with its tariffs. The two countries also engaged in a war of words over trade and other issues. In addition to trade, the United States and China have also clashed over issues such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and human rights. The United States has accused China of using its economic power to bully its neighbors, and it has also expressed concern about China's human rights record, particularly its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. Related Article: US-China Conflict: Ambassador Nicholas Burns Calls Breakdown in Relations a 'Manufactured Crisis' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. An Italian producer of biostimulants and fertilizers for the agriculture industry is planning to invest $27.3 million and create 33 new jobs at a 46,000-square-foot Orangeburg plant. Valagro, which first announced plans to locate in Orangeburg in 2018, was purchased in October 2020 by Syngenta Crop Protection, a subsidiary of Sygenta Group. The transaction delayed the company's progress at its Orangeburg plant. Due to the capital investment required to establish the site, Syngenta conducted its own due diligence, to see if there were other options within our existing manufacturing base to accommodate the capacity which would be provided, Global Head of Biologicals Communications Kate White said. The conclusion was that Orangeburg remained the most attractive option and the capital project was subsequently sanctioned, White said. Valagro has continued to operate as an independent brand within the Syngenta Crop Protection business. The company has announced it is planning to invest about $18.3 million in buildings and $8.9 in machinery and equipment at 397 Millennium Drive at the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park. The property is located near Allied Air and HT Hackney. The building is expected to be completed by June 2024. County attorney Jerrod Anderson told Orangeburg County Council on Monday that the county entered into an incentive agreement with the company in 2018, but the company was not able to fulfill the requirements to receive the performance-based, five-year incentives. They are asking for a reset to do such, Anderson said. Valagro had previously planned to invest $14 million and create 47 new jobs through 2024. The Orangeburg County operation is Valagro's first manufacturing facility in the United States. Orangeburg County Council gave first reading by title only Monday to incentives for the company. The company is seeking a 30-year term with the fee-in-lieu of taxes as well as other incentives to include special source revenue tax credits and the placement of the project in a multi-county industrial park with Dorchester County. In a separate issue, council unanimously approved $54,990 in funding for several local organizations including: $8,000 for the Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center for advertising the museum. $15,000 for the town of Eutawville to assist with the 2023 Eutaw Village Festival and King Kat Tournament. $1,960 for the Town of Norway to reallocate previously awarded funds for the annual Christmas Parade, Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. $5,030 to advertise for the 2023 Raylrode Daze Festival in Branchville. $25,000 for advertising and security for the 2023 Orangeburg County Fair. The approvals were based on the recommendations of the countys tax and tourism committee. In other matters: Council gave unanimous third and final reading to a local accommodations and hospitality tax. The accommodations tax will be levied on individuals staying in hotels within the county. The accommodations tax will be 3 percent in the county. It is expected to raise about $600,000 for the county each year. The local accommodations tax will be in addition to the 2 percent state accommodations tax. The state distributes those revenues to local governments. The local hospitality tax will include a 2 percent tax on the purchase of meals and beverages in restaurants and on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages. The hospitality tax will bring in an estimated $1.1 million annually. The revenue will be used to upgrade the countys hospitality corridors and provide additional funding for law enforcement officers that have to cover those areas. Council unanimously agreed to enter into a lease with the Nix/Stilton community to allow it to use the former Nix Elementary School to provide recreational opportunities for the community. Last month, the Orangeburg County School District voted to donate the former school to the county for community use. Council Chair Johnnie Wright and County Administrator Harold Young encouraged county residents to focus on the countys positives rather than the negatives. I love Orangeburg County, Wright said. I am committed to Orangeburg County. I feel no counties have everything. It is like a household and a family: everybody has their pluses and minuses. Young praised county law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services and public safety for their work in handling a June 2 standoff on Morgan Road. For the 12th year in a row, Santee's town budget wont mean an increase in the property tax rate, Mayor Donnie Hilliard says. Santee Town Council gave unanimous final approval to the $8,248,480 budget on June 14 at special meeting that lasted about four minutes. For many years, growth has generated increased revenues sufficiently to offset rising costs, Hilliard said during a public hearing on June 7. But if the growth stops, a tax increase is likelier next year, he said. In recent months, a developer submitted multiple proposals for rezoning to build residential and/or commercial structures on acreage near the intersection of Old Number Six Highway and State Park Road. The council rejected all of the proposals, most recently by a 2-2 vote in March. The balanced budget anticipates 2023-24 income, with an equal amount of expenses, as follows: General Fund: $2,316,240 Water Fund: $1,114,770 Wastewater Fund: $1,818,270 Water Capital Improvement Fund: $100,300 Special Revenue (Hospitality and Accommodations Tax income): $2,550,000 Enterprise Fund (Conference Center): $348,900 During the budget public hearing, a man in the audience asked if Premium Peanuts shelling facility, when it's completed and becomes operational, would generate enough new income for the town to avoid tax rate hikes in the future. The mayor thanked him for asking a good question and explained that Premium Peanut is outside the town limits, so the company wont pay town taxes. But the town-owned wastewater systems service area extends beyond the town limits, and the peanut plant will be one of its customers, Hilliard added. The pumping station that will serve the Premium Peanut property is 42 years old and could not accommodate the new industrys needs, he said. So, on June 7, the council voted to accept the bid of $236,172 by Spicer-On-Call Services LLC to replace the pumping station. A state grant will reimburse the town for half of the cost. In another wastewater-related matter, Hilliard said the people in charge of the wastewater system decades ago didnt document where they installed all of the pipes, and that omission has present-day ramifications. For example, town officials initially told Dollar General that theyd have to pay $50,000 to bore a sewer line under a road to serve their new store site. Then a usable pipe was discovered, already installed under the road. Hilliard said. Another example of unintended consequences involves the mayors year-long campaign to make Santee more pleasant by placing litter barrels throughout the town. Hilliard said a few individuals have been using the litter barrels to dispose of their household garbage. He said bags of garbage will be checked for identifying names and addresses, and citations will be issued to the offenders. The Town of Santee does not offer garbage pickup service. Id rather see the private sector do it, Hilliard said. He said five companies are on record with the town as willing to pick up household garbage in Santee: Capital Waste Service of Columbia, Disposal Solutions of Eutawville, SC Waste of Orangeburg, Republic Services of North Charleston, and Waste Management of Orangeburg. Another option is to use a free county convenience site. The mayor also announced that applications are being accepted for the newly created position of town administrator in addition to a wastewater system operator and an accounting clerk. Police Chief Joseph Serrano announced that the Santee Police Department is fully staffed for the first time in years. He introduced Lt. Kevin Borghi, Sgt. Christopher Williams, Cpl. David Martin, Ptl. Devon Dotter, Ptl. Michael Stutts, and Ptl. Tyquonez Shaw. Hilliard thanked them for their service. Hilliard also noted the shortage of law enforcement and corrections officers generally across South Carolina and much of the nation. Serrano, who has been with the department for 17 years, said Santee is a great place to pursue a law enforcement career. In other business, the council: Tabled, for further discussion, a proposed set of policies and regulations for mobile vendors and concession operators, such as food trucks. At present the town has no such policies. Appointed Melvin Seabrooks to the town Architectural Review Board. Appointed Hilliard and Herman Keller as the towns voting delegates at the S.C. Rural Water Associations annual conference. Discussed in executive session a contractual matter involving the wastewater upgrade and a personnel matter involving the administration department. Hilliard said no votes on those matters would be taken that evening. The councils next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 12. 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. An exhibit of batik paintings by Orangeburg artist Leo Twiggs will open at Hampton 3 gallery in Taylors, a suburb of Greenville, Friday, June 16. The exhibit includes works from the artists private collection and more recent paintings created during the pandemic. An opening reception will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit is titled "A Quiet Conscious." Dr. William Eiland, director emeritus of the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia, wrote the introduction to the exhibit catalogue. Eiland has written extensively about Twiggs work and hosted his first retrospective at the Georgia Museum in 2004. Also, he wrote the introduction to Twiggs' book, "Messages From Home: The Art of Leo Twiggs," published in 2011. The exhibit will be on display until Aug. 26. For more information visit online: hamptoniiigallery.com The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan began testing a plan to release treated wastewater into the sea on Monday, despite opposition from fishing officials. The wastewater has accumulated at the plant since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that caused a meltdown at three of the plant's reactors. The water has been treated to remove radioactive elements but still contains low radiation levels. Opposition from Fishing Officials (Photo : Wikimedia Commons / IAEA Imagebank) The IAEA International Remediation Expert Mission examines Reactor Unit 3 during the teams visit today to TEPCOs Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant. The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), says the wastewater must be released to make room for the plant's decommissioning. The company has said it will release the water in stages for several years, according to APNews. The Japanese government has approved the plan, but it has been met with opposition from fishing officials concerned about its potential impact on the environment and the fishing industry. The government has said that the wastewater will be diluted to levels that are safe for the environment. However, some experts have raised concerns that the release could still harm marine life. The fishing industry is also concerned about the release of the wastewater. The industry is already struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Discharging the wastewater could further damage the industry and lead to job losses. The government has said that it will compensate the fishing industry for any losses caused by the wastewater release. However, it is still being determined how much compensation will be provided or how it will be distributed. The release of the Fukushima wastewater is a complex issue with no easy answers. The government is trying to balance the need to decommission the plant with the concerns of the fishing industry and the environment. It remains to be seen how the release will ultimately be carried out and its impact. Read Also: Fukushima Leak Could Cause Explosion At Nuclear Plant Decommissioning the Fukushima Plant The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan is currently in the process of decommissioning. The plant was damaged by a tsunami and earthquake in 2011, which caused a meltdown in three of the plant's reactors. The decommissioning process is expected to take 30 to 40 years and cost an estimated $195 billion. The first step in the decommissioning process is to stabilize the plant. This involves removing the fuel from the reactors and cooling them down. The fuel is currently being stored in pools of water, but it will eventually need to be moved to dry casks. Once the fuel is stabilized, the next step is to remove the radioactive debris from the reactors. This debris is made up of melted fuel, concrete, and other materials. It is highly radioactive and will need to be disposed of carefully. The final step in the decommissioning process is to demolish the plant. This will be a complex and challenging task, as the plant is heavily contaminated with radiation. The demolition will need to be carried out in a way that minimizes the risk of radiation exposure to workers and the public. The decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is a massive undertaking. It is a complex and challenging project that will take many years to complete. Related Article: Japan Allows Treated Water to Be Released from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A clubhouse where pensioners meet to exchange painting tips over coffee has grown into a vibrant cultural space. Several women sit and paint in a small, sunny courtyard. Above them, hanging from wires stretched between the surrounding buildings, colorful umbrellas create shade. Protective masks on their faces, they peek at one anothers sketches, giving advice and sharing jokes. The women are part of a course for senior citizens run by the association Nas Most (Our Bridge) in Zenica, a city of about 100,000 in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sabiha Bajramovic, 72, created her first painting in that very courtyard, in a course she took two years ago. Like most of the participants, she first picked up a brush in her later years. Nas Most held a fundraising bazaar of art and craft works created by its members. Photo by Adjin Kamber. I regret not having started earlier, but its never too late, she says. She passed on her enthusiasm for her new hobby to her grandchildren, who started painting with her. Her works now decorate the walls of her apartment and those of her friends, as well as the Nas Most art gallery. Bajramovic also began to socialize with the group and to participate in other association activities. According to the 2013 census, about 14 percent of the population of Bosnia is over 65. The United Nations estimates that in 2060 people 65 and older will make up more than 30 percent of the population; and they are one of the most marginalized social groups in the country. Pensions, which average at just under 350 convertible marks ($200), amount to about 42 percent of the average salary. Many elderly people live on the edge of poverty. Loneliness and social isolation are other major challenges. The governments draft 2018-2027 strategy document for improving the position of the elderly in the Federation entity, one of the two semi-autonomous regions that make up Bosnia, cites the problem of the lack of initiatives offering seniors life improvement activities. For this reason, various abilities and skills, and the knowledge of the elderly remain untapped, while due to exclusion, they become susceptible to mental illness (primarily depression), which has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of the elderly, the document states. This was also the conclusion of 2010 research by the Caritas Bishops Conference in Bosnia entitled We Talked to the Poor. A sample of 1,200 beneficiaries of Caritas programs, of whom more than 47 percent identified as elderly people in need, cited impaired health, insufficient income, and loneliness as the seniors biggest problems. Centers for healthy aging, which offer socialization and social inclusion, exist only in a few major cities. Zenica, which according to the 2013 census has more than 13,000 inhabitants over the age of 65, is not one of them. Pensioners groups and womens associations organize activities for the elderly, although these sometimes lack continuity because they depend on specific projects and donations. By connecting older people and keeping their brains active, their physical health will be better, says psychologist and psychotherapist Nermina Vehabovic Rudez. The brain can be regenerated and needs work so that the possibility of dementia, isolation, and mental disorders is reduced. Thats why starting seven years ago, Nas Most started bringing together seniors from Zenica and surrounding areas through artistic and cultural initiatives. Most association members hadnt previously engaged in creative activities. They learn new skills, teach one another, and make new friends. A yearly membership fee of 25 convertible marks allows participation in all association activities, but non-members can attend Nas Mosts events as well. Coping With Old-People Troubles Aging is more beautiful through creative work, says 69-year-old Zdena Saric, Nas Most president. She started painting 10 years ago. In 2013, she and several friends began to transform an empty space into a center for creative workshops and an art gallery. A place where pensioners met weekly to exchange beginner painting tips over coffee has grown into one of the most important cultural spaces in Zenica. We realized that creative work and socializing through painting is good for us and helps us cope with old-people troubles, Saric says. And we wanted to help others do the same to make them feel better. In addition to painting and handicraft courses, the association organizes events such as exhibitions of members works, book promotions, and art colonies. Under the slogan Waving for Culture, in 2019 Nas Most hosted a project under the auspices of Tandem for Culture, an international cultural cooperation program, designed to acquaint Zenica with the culture of the Sultanate of Oman. More than 100 Zenica seniors attended free workshops on painting and making decorative objects inspired by Omani culture. Podcasts called Moze Oman covered topics such as traditional music. Socializing during a jewelry-making workshop. Photo by Adjin Kamber. The woman behind the podcasts, artist and curator Tara Aldughaither, whose work is focused on the Arabian Peninsula, visited Nas Most in 2018 during a two-week stay in Bosnia. The sense of community I saw is really special, particularly because the elderly who gather there share not only a common space, but also memories, friendships, and creative energy, she recalls. The collaboration with Tandem for Culture was the first international effort for Nas Most and sparked media interest. The association, which had about 30 active members seven years ago, has more than 100 today. The Moze Oman podcasts were broadcast on Radio Active, run by the youth association Nasa Djeca (Our Children). After that initial collaboration they joined forces to design Art Kvart, a common cultural space in their adjoining locations. In Art Kvart, they organize concerts, exhibitions, performances, and debates. Sabiha Bajramovic shows off work during a painting class for seniors. Photo by Nermin Kozlo. Its a pleasure to work with people who want to see changes in their community and who look at our city from a slightly happier viewpoint than the majority of the population, even young people, says Nasa Djeca director Ernad Bihorac. Sometimes it seems to me that these seniors have more energy than most of the younger generations, and thats fantastic. Connecting Across Borders Nas Most also cooperates with cultural organizations from Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, and Serbia. In November 2019, association volunteer Meliha Bico Druzic, 65, traveled to the Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk to share the experiences of Nas Most in working with the elderly with Insha Osvita, a nonprofit educational and cultural organization. As we planned to start working with the elderly population, we started looking for an expert experienced in working with people over the age of 65. And we found Meliha, who herself is in that age group and an expert [in that field], says Anna Potymkina, art curator and Insha Osvita project coordinator. Potymkina says she admires Nas Most because they dont wait for society to take care of them but are initiators of activities intended for themselves. The two groups currently are collaborating on Urban Herstories Female Face of Zenica, documenting the social, political, and urban changes in the city since the 1960s. A group of seniors from Zenica were to make a Female Map of Zenica in March of this year, through group walks and discussions about their relationships to various locations in the city center. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a revamp. Six women from Zenica, almost all pensioners, gave interviews, talking about how their lives intersected with six locations on the route. They spoke of their memories of growing up in socialist Yugoslavia; historical attitudes toward women; changes in the city; and aging in post-Yugoslav wars Bosnia. An audio guide was created to go along with the mapped locations. Artists Dorota Vlnova from Slovakia and Elena Subach from Ukraine used the stories and collected archival materials for a short film and an online photography project. The pandemic also affected plans that Nas Most had with Art Aparat, an association of artists, educators, and researchers in Belgrade, to join Belgrade and Zenica seniors in a choir. Instead, online singing, painting, and handicraft classes for Zenica seniors launched in June via Viber. Virtual Sewing Safija Vucenovic, 67, records herself with her phone camera while singing her favorite folk songs and sewing clothes at home. She then sends the videos to the Viber group, through which about 30 women follow online creative workshops and exchange videos and photos of their works. Work is salvation, Vucenovic says. I have always been an active woman, and I have remained one. Its very important to be active. Psychologist and psychotherapist Dzelila Mulic Corbo agrees that creative work and online connections help seniors stay in touch with the outside world, have necessary contacts with others and make days meaningful. When movement restrictions relaxed during the summer, Nas Most returned to some of its offline activities, while maintaining online art classes to encourage seniors to spend their time at home creatively. But seniors often-limited digital skills can hamper online efforts, Nas Most president Saric points out. The organization has held several internet training sessions, but it is not enough. It is a real blessing that we had the internet during this spring when we were under lockdown, she says. But we still need a lot more knowledge on how to use it. Insufficient knowledge of digital tools such as social networks also makes it challenging to promote association activities online. It often happens that we mistakenly delete some content from our Facebook page or forget to post something, Saric says. The average age of the members is 60, and attempts to recruit younger volunteer staff have so far been unsuccessful. Activities are financed from donations and membership fees, which have grown but are still insufficient. Saric believes younger volunteers could communicate more quickly and skillfully with the public through social networks, increase the groups visibility, and help find donors. Financial contributions from the city have been symbolic, and the association has outgrown its space. The number of members and activities have long exceeded capacity, and the need for social distancing makes organizing activities even more difficult. New helpers also could help create online and offline activities for seniors living outside of the city, many of whom lack the opportunity or financial resources for regular visits to Zenica. Nas Most has so far focused its activities only on seniors who can access its premises in the city center. Theres a growing desire for socializing through art and culture among seniors in Zenica, Saric says. They see how much fun we have, and they want to have fun too. She hopes the pandemic will not stop the growth and outreach of Nas Mosts activities. No one actually likes to sit alone at home and watch TV all day. Its just that everyone thinks its the only thing we can fill our days with. Lidija Pisker is an independent journalist and researcher who has written for Euronews, the BBC, Equal Times, and The Guardian, among others. This article originally appeared on the Bosnian news site Inforadar. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). JACKSON (WNE) The Bridger-Teton National Forest is looking for a company to operate about 15 campgrounds and a hot springs pool in the Jackson area. For well over a decade, the Bridger-Teton has asked private companies to collect fees from visitors and maintain developed campgrounds and other developed sites across the Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts. Aud and Di Campground Services, Inc., a Utah-based company that operates campgrounds throughout Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, has held the contract for the past 10 or so years. Bridger-Teton spokesman Evan Guzik said the forest is rebidding the contract because its set to expire April 30, 2024. The Forest Service isnt asking companies that bid on the contract to change anything in particular. Instead, when companies submit their bids, theyll be able to spell out how they want to operate and whether theyll be looking to make any changes to fees or other operations. One thing that companies will be required to do is detail how much they want to charge people for the first three years of operations. Bids are due by 4:30 p.m. July 31, and the Bridger-Teton hopes to decide which company will take over the operation by December 2023 so the firm can start operating campgrounds the following May. The contract will be for five years, with an option for the Bridger-Teton to renew the contract for another five years without a competitive bidding process at the end of the first five-year term. Prospective applicants can find details posted on the federal contracting website SAM.gov, or by contacting Linda Merigliano, the forests recreation/wilderness program manager, at Linda.Merigliano@usda.gov or 739-5428. A Montana man is accused of kidnapping a Wyoming woman and holding her hostage at his residence for at least one month, authorities say. Adolfo Vargas Lepe, of Roberts, Montana, made his initial appearance Thursday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with kidnapping, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Montana said in a statement. Lepe allegedly kidnapped a Lander woman, who is identified as Victim #1 in federal court filings, from her home and kept her against her will from April to May 29, the statement said. The 59-year-old man took her to his residence in Roberts, where the victim was not free to leave, the statement said. Lepe is accused of repeatedly assaulting and mentally abusing the woman. She was finally able to escape on May 29 and called 911 for help, the statement said. Lepe is facing up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release if hes found guilty. He is being held in custody until further proceedings. The Carbon County Sheriffs Office and the Lander Police Department helped conduct the investigation. 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. 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. A food factory worker has been accused of spitting in Nando's sauces and spiking tubs of hummus with metal ring pulls and rubber gloves. The 38-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, worked at a factory in Kent that produces Nando's sauces and hummus. She is alleged to have contaminated the products on several occasions between January and March of this year, according to the Daily Mail. The woman was arrested after a customer complained that they had found a metal ring pulled in a tub of hummus. The customer's complaint led to an investigation by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which found evidence that the woman had tampered with the products. The woman has been charged with two counts of contaminating food with intent to cause harm. She is due to appear in court next month. Recall of Nando's Sauces and Hummus The FSA has issued a recall of all Nando's sauces and hummus that were produced at the factory between January and March of this year. They advise consumers to throw away any of these products they may have in their homes. The incident has raised concerns about food production safety in the UK. The FSA has said that it is taking the matter "extremely seriously" and will work with the factory to ensure that food safety standards are met. Nando's has also said it is "deeply concerned" by the incident and is working with the FSA to investigate. The company has said it will provide customers with a full refund for any of the affected products. The incident is a reminder of the importance of food safety. Consumers should always check the expiry dates on food products and be aware of the signs of food contamination. If you find anything suspicious about a food product, do not eat it and contact the FSA. Read also: FDA Withdraws Authorization for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 Vaccine; What Happened? The Safety of Food Production in the UK Food production safety in the UK is regulated by a number of organizations, including the FSA, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and local authorities. These organizations work together to ensure that food produced in the UK is safe for human consumption. The FSA is responsible for setting food safety standards and monitoring the food industry to ensure these standards are met. HSE regulates health and safety in the workplace, including in food production facilities. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing food safety laws and investigating food poisoning outbreaks. Food production businesses in the UK must comply with a number of food safety regulations. The UK has a good record of food safety. However, there have been several high-profile food poisoning outbreaks in recent years. These outbreaks have highlighted the importance of food safety and the need for businesses to comply with food safety regulations. Related article: FDA Issues Recall Order for Enoki Mushrooms Over Potential Listeria Contamination @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is bringing the ocean to landlocked Tucson with its newest exhibit, Undersea Discovery. The exhibit features actual sea creatures, interactive displays, hands-on activities and information designed to help visitors learn about the ocean and its fragile ecosystem. Our goal for Undersea Discovery is for visitors to discover the wonders of the oceans, gain a better understanding of the importance of the oceans to all life on Earth, and learn how everyone, even those of us living in the Sonoran Desert, can have a positive impact on preserving our oceans, said Bill Plant, Flandrau exhibits director. As soon as you enter the exhibit, you are greeted by the touch tank, which includes sea creatures such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers and brittle stars. Trained staff members will be on hand to provide information about the animals in the tank, as well as providing tips on how to gently handle them. The sea life doesnt stop there with three salt-water tanks that showcase the diversity within marine life. The stunning coral reef tank features colorful corals, sea anemones, clownfish and blue hippo tangs. The open ocean tank is a large saltwater display with schooling fish, eels and lionfish. The kelp tank is home to seahorses, grouper, wrasses and basslets. One of the show stoppers is an adolescent squid at 25 feet long. While it is a sculpture and not the real deal, it allows visitors to appreciate the large size of this ocean dweller, Plant says. The exhibit also shines a light on some smaller ocean objects that may go unnoticed through its microscopic projection station. Visitors can use a powerful microscope to take a closer look into the intricate design of items like sand particles from the beach of Okinawa, Japan, and a baby starfish. There are two games that visitors can also play while in the exhibit. In the Ocean Rescue Game, players have to navigate through plastic bags, trash and oil spills. The Ocean Sounds game showcases the interesting sounds and calls of different sea animals, with a goal of teaching players how the animals communicate. While youre there, you can catch the 2018 documentary Expedition Reef, an immersive undersea show about coral and its importance in growing and supporting marine life. The documentary also discusses the ways in which climate change is affecting the reefs. The exhibit has had a positive reception, Plant said, with lots of oohs and ahhs. I think the calm, immersive atmosphere of the space makes it the kind of exhibit you can spend a lot of time just relaxing and marveling at the beauty of the aquariums, Plant said. Theres still more to come with plans to add a life-size Goblin shark. Flandrau is also home to other animal-centric exhibits, including The Wild World of Bugs and Sharks: Magnificent & Misunderstood. The Flandrau Science Center, 1601 E. University Blvd., is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on ticket prices and special events, visit flandrau.org. HOUSTON The April visit to a Houston clinic was just one of a long assembly line of medical appointments 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 Underwoods 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 didnt 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. Theres also the uncertainty of whether hell 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 dont know about my future. I dont know what this government, what the United States (will) do with me, Wasi Safi said. Its 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 thats representing Afghans still trying to flee 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 the U.S. made to its Afghan allies. It's a promise many feel has been broken. Wasi Safi's monthslong 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 Safis attorneys didnt 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. Theyre 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 thats been delayed to December. The postponement was a gut punch for the Safi brothers. Every time Im having a piece of hope, they somehow take the hope away from me, said Sami Safi, 30. Wasi Safis unresolved immigration status has meant hes not authorized to work. Its 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 mosques main prayer hall was filled with about 200 men and boys, some wearing Houston Astros jerseys or carrying bags emblazoned with the Texas flag. Thats 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 whos helped several Afghan families resettle in Houston, has taken on Wasi Safis 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. Shes 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, Ill celebrate my birthday when Im feeling better, Sami Safi said. 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 Lowerys 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 PHOENIX All Phoenicians are familiar with heat, though resources to mitigate the health risks presented by extreme heat are not nearly as consistent from resident to resident. In 2022, 425 heat-associated deaths were reported in Maricopa County, a 25% increase from the previous year. To curb the rise in deaths, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has made efforts to provide assistance and disaster relief for residents susceptible to heat exhaustion and other heat-related harms with the creation of the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation within the citys government. I made it my mission to adapt to this trend to innovate, to try to find solutions so that we are not falling behind on heat resilience, Gallego said Friday at a news conference to discuss heat reliefs efforts. Were the first city with a permanent office of government that is dedicated to fighting the heat and adapting to it anywhere in the United States. The office works side by side with the entire city government to address our city streets, our fire response programs, environmental problems and so much more, she said. Some of Gallegos efforts have already been put into place. Just this week, the city reached 100 miles of cool pavement coating a water-based product applied over asphalt that has been found to reduce surface temperatures up to 12 degrees. The Cool Pavement Program started in 2020. In addition to Gallegos efforts in Phoenix, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, is pushing for federal heat-resistance legislation in Washington. The proposed Extreme Heat Emergency Act urges the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider adding extreme heat to the existing list of 16 types of declared major disasters. When a hurricane hits in Florida, or a tornado touches down in Oklahoma, the federal government steps in and provides assistance, Rep. Gallego said. The same should be true when extreme heat waves strike. My bill allows cities like Phoenix to do more in building cool pavements, add more trees, install additional bus stop covers and deploy more cooling centers around the city, he said. With $30 million available in funding, my bill would make a difference in keeping Phoenicians cool. According to the National Safety Council, heat was the second-highest death-causing weather event in 2021, and heat-related deaths are only continuing to climb. The National Weather Service reported that over the last 125 years, Phoenix experienced an average of 12 days per year that exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit, but that average has climbed to 21 days over the last three decades. Gallegos bill is not set at a specific temperature, so any of the 50 states could potentially ask for federal aid when heat becomes extreme relative to the states normal temperature averages. In other words, northern states would not have to experience temperatures that would be extreme for Phoenix in order to qualify for federal aid. Currently, local governments are forced to take from their general funds in order to offer relief to residents during extreme heat situations. Under the bill, cities would work with FEMA to create better and faster aid at a lesser cost to local governments. 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. 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. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: The Biden administration is currently considering the creation of a new national monument that would protect over a million acres of the public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. The proposed Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument represents a transformative opportunity, not only to protect the irreplaceable ecosystems of the Grand Canyon region but to imagine a more just and equitable future for the public lands of the United States. The proposed monument is the culmination of a movement to protect the lands surrounding the Grand Canyon from the toxic effects of uranium mining that has been unfolding for more than a decade. The driving force behind this movement has been a coalition of Arizona tribal nations, many of which continue to suffer the human and environmental consequences of uranium mining undertaken on their lands. This tribal-led struggle has galvanized a remarkable coalition of local residents, environmentalists, and outdoor recreationists who understand the invaluable nature of these landscapes and the waters that move through them. Efforts to conserve public lands in the Western United States have not always been so inclusive. For those of us who grew up believing the celebrated idea, first articulated by writer Wallace Stegner and popularized by documentarian Ken Burns, that these public lands represent Americas best idea, an honest look at the history of how our national park system came to be can be sobering. Even some of the most iconic national parks of the American West still had Indigenous peoples living within their boundaries when they were created. This inconvenient fact led to a continuation of the process of dispossession that began with the violence of the frontier, all in order to create the illusion of parks untouched by human habitation. In signing The Antiquities Act in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt empowered himself and future presidents to protect millions of acres of significant landscapes and hundreds of Indigenous heritage sites. He did so, however, not out of any sense of solidarity with Indigenous peoples but rather thanks to his desire to celebrate the myth of the frontier and preserve the ruins of a people he understood to be a dying race. In the 117 years since Roosevelt signed that act, generations of Indigenous activists have begun to transform how the rest of us understand the relationship between public lands and Indigenous peoples. The restoration of Timbisha Shoshone lands to tribal control in Death Valley National Park in the year 2000 and the creation of Bears Ears National Monument, administered through a collaboration of the Federal Government and the tribal governments of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, are two striking examples of how that relationship is being reimagined. By creating Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument, the Biden administration would be taking the next step on the path towards restoring Indigenous nations rightful role in the stewardship of the lands they have lived in relation with since time immemorial. But Indigenous peoples are far from the only constituencies who would benefit from this act. The protection of these lands and the Colorado River watershed is of vital importance for the regions legions of visitors and the local businesses that depend on them; the hunters and anglers who rely on thriving fish and wildlife populations; and the millions of residents of the Southwest who utilize the Colorado River for drinking water. As Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma said in voicing his support for the proposed monument, The creator gave us a gift. That gift is in the form of the Grand Canyon. That gift is not only to the tribal nations that have that intimate connection with it, its a gift to the state of Arizona, its a gift to the United States, its a gift to the entire world. For all of us who believe that our public lands ought to stand as a living testament to the best of our democracy, it is time to start listening to Indigenous leaders like Nuvangyaoma and urge President Biden to use his authority to work with the Indigenous nations of the region to protect that gift for future generations. Over the last five years, Kia Sweat homas 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, baby doll heads and beer-chugging racers, Sweat homas 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 Tulsa's party of the year. June Ricks, who performed with her band Bronco Henryetta Sunday afternoon, said after coming to Cry Baby Hill for years, she's 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, it's an act of rebellion and an act of solidarity with your trans and gender nonconforming siblings," she said. "It's 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. Oklahoma's ban never made it to the floor but Tennessee's 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 year's 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 organization's 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 it's 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 aren't 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. We're here, we're members of your community and you're 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 she's 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 Sunday's 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 she's 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 closeminded 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." Sunday's 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 year's theme was focusing on discussion across the country and locally, one that needed to be had. "If you can't have the discussion over bikes and beer, when can you have it?" Sweathomas said. 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. Say goodbye to one of Logitech's most popular microphone brands. The popular computer peripheral company recently announced it is axing its Blue microphone brand in favor of merging the device's parent company and its other acquisition to its G Brand. Logitech purchased Blue in 2018 for around $120 million in cash to accelerate its entry into "a growing market," presumably in the music-producing industry, per a report from Tech Crunch citing a statement from CEO Bracken Darrell. Logitech Blue, Astro Integration Details Logitech mentioned in a video posted on its official Logitech G Twitter page that it is integrating AstroGa, Blue, and Logitech for creator brands into one brand - Logitech G. According to Ujesh Desai, Logitech G's General Manager, Logitech will continue to sell the products under the previously mentioned brands. However, it is planning on having a "deeper integration," allowing those devices to be configured in one place, presumably its G HUB app, per Engadget. Unfortunately, that also means that the company is getting rid of the Blue microphone brand, keeping the name and using it to "describe [its] technologies," per an FAQ the company posted on Reddit's r/LogitechG subreddit. To reflect this decision, Logitech removed Blue from its website's brands section, while the Bluemic.com online domain redirects to Logitech's homepage instead. Read More: The LCS Returns! Riot Games, Pro Players Reach Agreement The company has also transferred all Blue products, including the Yeti and Snowball, to its homepage's Logitech G section. It had also done the same to its Astro high-end gaming headsets, mixers, and other devices from that brand. Speaking of Astro, the brand will live on as a premium console audio product series under its Logitech G brand; Logitech plans to launch a new Astro product soon under Logitech G. Logitech's Reason For The Merger Logitech didn't reveal the reason why it is axing two of its popular and influential brands, which defined the high-end gaming headset and the microphone-for-streamers categories, according to The Verge. However, it could do so during the Twitch stream mentioned in the video. Regardless, Logitech has been giving out hints that it might ax its Blue brand in late 2022 when it released the Blue Sons streaming mic under Logitech G. It also changed its description of the Yeti mic some time ago, describing it as the Yeti microphone with Blue VO!CE technology. There are some Logitech brands that the company may have plans for integration in the foreseeable future, though it is debatable if they do. For instance, it hadn't axed Ultimate Ears since it acquired it for $34 million in 2008, nor has Logitech's flight stick brand Saitek, even if the company does sell a Logitech G X56 HOTAS on its website. Jaybird, another Logitech brand, is still alive and well despite its seven-year tenure under the company, but it could be a matter of time before Logitech decides to merge them together under a new brand. Related Article: Leaked Pics of Logitech's Gaming Handheld Reveal a Steam Deck-Like Design The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute is underway at Quartz Mountain State Park & Lodge this month. Nearly 250 of the states most artistically advanced high school students including 10 from Owasso and Collinsville are congregating in southwestern Oklahoma June 10-25 to develop their talents and study with renowned artists. Chosen through a competitive statewide audition process, students attending OSAI experience a unique creative interaction with peers from across the state. OSAI provides high-caliber arts instruction in a creatively charged atmosphere. Students study for six hours per day in one of eight disciplines in the literary, visual and performing arts. Evening performances, faculty showcases, demonstrations and electives allow students the unique opportunity to interact with all disciplines in addition to their chosen art form. Students from Owasso include: Aidan Anderson (chorus), Presley Boschert (creative writing), Eliza Fultz (creative writing), Eli Hall (orchestra), Boston Reed (orchestra), Mallory Sepulveda (acting) and Ethan Turner (orchestra). Those from Collinsville include: Levi Ashlock (chorus), Ella Fillmore (chorus) and Will Lester (orchestra). Im excited to see what these exceptional students are able to accomplish through the instruction of a world-class faculty, said Rob Ward, president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Our goal during these two weeks is to enrich and motivate many of our states most dedicated young artists so that they can explore the rigors, requirements and rewards associated with their respective arts discipline. Each student accepted to OSAI receives a full scholarship to attend the program. This year, nearly 800 high school students auditioned for a coveted spot. Students study, reside and build community during this two-week institute, creating lifelong friendships and setting students on a course for future engagement with the arts. The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute culminates in OnStage Weekend, a series of performances showcasing each students work at the Institute. Performances and gallery openings are open to the public with no charge for admission. All students will be featured in final performances or presentations during OnStage Weekend, June 23-24. BIXBY Bixby police have released the identity of a woman found dead in a vehicle in a park Sunday night and said her husband has been arrested as the suspect. Kara Nichole Ballard, 40, of the Haskell County town of Whitefield, was the victim of a homicide, Bixby Police Chief Todd Blish told the Tulsa World on Monday morning. Blish said that shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, a Tulsa police dispatcher who had received an emergency call from the womans daughter requested that the Bixby Police Department attempt to locate a vehicle and check on the womans welfare. Ballard reportedly had called her daughter and told her she was traveling to meet her husband at a park near the Arkansas River. Bixby police found the victim dead inside a red Nissan sedan in Washington Irving Park. Late Monday morning, the car was towed from the park, and Bixby police officers could be seen scanning walkways to the north and south for evidence. Bixby investigators were able to determine that the person she was meeting or the person she was with, along with (that persons) vehicle description, may have been in the Pryor, Oklahoma, area late last night, Blish said Monday. Pryor police located the vehicle, and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle crashed, and the suspect was taken into custody, Blish said. The victims family has been notified, and my department is continuing their investigation with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The suspect has been identified by both Bixby and Pryor police as Travis Glenn Ballard, 33. Pryor police posted on social media Monday morning that the suspect was arrested with the help of the Pryor, Locust Grove and Bixby police departments, the Mayes County Sheriffs Office, the Grand River Dam Authority Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and the U.S. Marshals Service. Deadline extension: As part of the consent agenda at last Monday nights meeting, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education voted to extend the sign-on bonus deadline through June 30 for certified teachers who are new to the district. TPS is offering a $4,000 bonus for any certified teacher who accepts a position and signs a contract by June 30. Teachers who meet that deadline will receive an extra $2,000 if they are already certified to teach special education, secondary math, secondary science or a world language. One last time: The state will have one final distribution of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer funds to eligible children and their families by July 1, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services confirmed Thursday. To qualify, students must have been eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-23 school year, either based on their household income or through their attendance at a school that exercised the National School Lunch Programs Community Eligibility Provision, such as all of Tulsa Public Schools elementary sites. The program was launched in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offset the financial impact on families whose children missed free or reduced price school meals due to COVID-19. The summer distribution of $120 per eligible child was authorized before the national public health emergency declaration lapsed in May. Under new leadership: The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics announced Thursday that Tony Cornforth will be the residential schools next president. Cornforth has been with the school since 2002, with teaching stints at the main campus in Oklahoma City and two regional sites. He follows Edna McDuffie Manning, who had been serving in an interim capacity for the 2022-23 school year after the retirement of long-time school president Frank Wang. Getting ready for big kid school: TPS is hosting an early childhood transition fair Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at the Wilson Teaching and Learning Center, 2710 E. 11th St., for families of incoming prekindergarten students. Along with free food and games, the event will have representatives from community partners and information about the districts early elementary grades. School board schedule: The boards of education for Allen Bowden, Berryhill, Claremore, Claremore Sequoyah, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, Jenks, Mannford, Mounds, Liberty, Owasso, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Sperry, Tulsa Tech, Union and Verdigris have meetings on Monday. The board for Osage Countys Woodland Public Schools has a special meeting Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Boards previously scheduled Tuesday meeting in Oklahoma City has been canceled. The state CareerTech board is scheduled to meet Thursday in Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY A proposed passenger rail expansion that could connect Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas, leaves Tulsa out in the cold. Oklahoma and Kansas officials are seeking federal approval to extend Heartland Flyer passenger rail service north from Oklahoma City through Wichita, Kansas, and up to Newton, where there is an Amtrak station. But Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials still have no immediate plans to connect Oklahoma City and Tulsa via passenger rail. ODOT spokesman Bryce Boyer said extending Heartland Flyer service to Newton would allow for more connectivity to the national passenger rail network because the Amtrak train would connect to major east-west trains on both ends of its route. The Heartland Flyer currently runs from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, Texas, making stops in Norman, Pauls Valley, Ardmore and Gainesville along the route. The proposed rail expansion to Newton could include stops in Edmond, Guthrie, Perry and Ponca City. Fort Worth is one of the many stops for the Texas Eagle, an Amtrak train that runs from Chicago to Los Angeles. Amtraks Southwest Chief train also runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, with a stop in Newton. Connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa by passenger rail service has always been part of ODOTs long-range plan, Boyer said. Funding is an issue for the Tulsa connection, but ODOT continues to look for solutions to get passenger rail to Tulsa, Boyer said in an email. The next extension beyond the current line of the Heartland Flyer is to connect to Tulsa. In 2014, the state sold a nearly 100-mile rail line between Sapulpa and Midwest City to Stillwater Central Railroad LLC, an affiliate of Watco Cos. LLC. The company agreed to improve the rail line and launch passenger rail service. In 2019, Watco paid $2.8 million in damages to ODOT after determining that operating passenger rail service on the Sooner Subdivision rail line would not be cost effective, Boyer said. The condition of the railroad tracks between Oklahoma City and Newton is better than the condition of the Sooner Subdivision line, said Gary Lanman, vice president of the Northern Flyers Alliance. Thats the big reason why we would have trouble getting a passenger train to Tulsa, he said. When the Sooner Subdivision line was sold in 2014, estimates indicated that more than $223 million in upgrades would be needed for that stretch of railroad to meet passenger rail standards. Members of the Northern Flyer Alliance have advocated for the Oklahoma City-to-Newton expansion for more than a decade. Lanman said that route used to be traversed by Amtraks Lone Star, which ran between Chicago and Houston until 1979. Oklahoma and Kansas officials are asking the Federal Railroad Administration to add the Heartland Flyer expansion to its Corridor Identification and Development Program, which would allow the states to unlock federal funds to expand passenger rail service. The Federal Railroad Administration created the new program as a result of increased rail funding in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The reason that things have changed big time is that out of the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill there was like $66 billion for rail, Lanman said. Weve never ever had anything like that. Now, all of a sudden, everybodys eyes are big wide, and theyre saying, Go get some of that. Tulsa-area elected officials vocalizing their support for passenger rail service to Oklahoma City would go a long way toward reviving discussions about connecting the states two largest cities by train, said Northern Flyer Alliance President Deborah Fischer Stout. Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, has long dreamed about connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa by passenger rail. He co-led a 2017 interim study on the issue with Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa. There is a growing chorus of voices of everyday Oklahoma City residents and Tulsa residents who would love to see this happen, he said. Ideally, Bennett wants the two cities to be connected by high-speed rail, which would likely cost more than traditional Amtrak service. Bennett said the proposed rail expansion to Newton is a good first step toward restoring a prior passenger train route, but he said state officials should be thinking long-term about expanding rail access in Oklahoma. Also, he criticized ODOTs decision to sell the Sooner Subdivision line to a private company. The states made some bad deals with rail companies over the years, especially with the Oklahoma City-to-Tulsa corridor, he said. We sort of sold away our chance to control that future. The idea of passenger rail service between Tulsa and Oklahoma City has long been a topic of conversation at various levels of government, said Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow. The chairman of the Senates Aeronautics and Transportation Committee said knowing cost and ridership estimates of an Oklahoma City-to-Tulsa route would be key to determining whether an expanded passenger rail route is a good use of taxpayer dollars. While I am not completely opposed to the concept, I will need a price tag to taxpayers, estimated number of passengers and what the reoccurring revenue to the state will be, Haste said in a statement. We do not want to end up in a California-like situation with a train to nowhere and spend millions on something that never comes to fruition or isnt used. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine received a historic appropriation during the last legislative session. Lawmakers approved House Bill 2863 to create the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medicine Authority and appropriated about $80 million for it. Carlos Risco, OSU College of Veterinary Medicine dean, said it is the largest appropriation in the colleges history. The bill and appropriation will allow the college to increase the number of faculty, expand clinical services and upgrade facilities, he said. Oklahoma State University is home to one of 33 veterinary colleges in the nation, Risco said. It graduates between 103 and 106 students each year after completion of the four-year program. The creation of the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority will allow the school to receive long-term support and direct appropriations from the Legislature, Risco said. He said the funds will allow the college to address deferred maintenance, adding that its animal hospital is old. It will also allow the hospital to expand its reception area and parking lot and add examination rooms, Risco said. It will allow for upgrades to some cattle- and horse-handling facilities that need to be replaced, he said. Oklahoma and the nation have been facing a shortage of veterinarians. In Oklahoma, the shortage is particularly evident in rural areas, Risco said. The expansion with the new money will allow more folks that live in those communities to bring their animals to us, Risco said. Right now, with the shortage of faculty I have, that is difficult to do. As I expand the number of faculty, then I am going to be in a better position to see more cases from those rural communities that bring their animals to the hospital. Risco said the financial support will be helpful in the accreditation process, although the veterinary program already is fully accredited. Gov. Kevin Stitt initially vetoed House Bill 2863, which created the authority, but lawmakers overrode that veto. Stitts veto message said the bill would allow the Veterinary Medicine Authority to issue up to $50 million in bonds with little or no oversight. Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Waurika, said during the override that because Oklahoma relies so heavily on animal husbandry and the agricultural industry, he was perplexed by the veto. House Bill 2863, when implemented, will have transformational and generational changes for the health of Oklahomans livestock and agricultural industries, ensuring their strength and viability for the long term, Kidd said. Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum thanked lawmakers, especially House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, and Kidd for leading the charge to support what is a crown jewel for Oklahoma the only veterinary college in the state. Both were authors of the measure. This is a major step forward, not just for OSU but for all who rely on crucial veterinary services, both at OSUs veterinary teaching hospital and through our network of skilled graduates who are making a difference in communities across the state, she said. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.(tncms-asset)83950bb9-d5df-5053-99d9-dab09ad645b0[0](/tncms-asset) Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Editorials Editor Follow Ginnie Graham Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Oklahoma state employees learned that their retirement plans will take a $9.7 million hit due to a state law passed last year banning the state from investing in companies perceived to be adversarial to the fossil fuel industry. The federal government put a hold on a $4.5 million family planning grant to the state because Oklahoma laws may not allow women to know all their reproductive options, including that Kansas is the nearest state for abortion services. A lawsuit is coming against the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board, which willingly ignored the Oklahoma Constitution, the state charter school law and the nations laws by approving a Catholic Church request to pay for its new religious school. One new board member who cast a vote may not have been eligible to do so. State Attorney General Gentner Drummond advised against approval, saying the fallout will be costly for Oklahoma. The approval is meant to provide a test case, meaning Oklahoma gets to be someone elses guinea pig in a lawsuit. Last summer, a development officer with the Tulsa Regional Chamber told Tulsa city councilors that the states anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion laws and rhetoric are making it harder to recruit businesses to the state. State Superintendent Ryan Walters accused public schools of distributing pornography and indoctrinating children, called teachers unions terrorists and released a propaganda-laced video using racist tropes, all of which contribute to the states already severe educator shortage. His firing of workers for sharing memos, which are open records, has drawn lawsuits. The state needs at least 4,100 more certified teachers. Feeling respected by the states top education official and other state leaders would help in recruitment. Oklahomas new culture wars are just starting, and theyre going to get expensive. Frustratingly, these divisive public policies arent originating from Oklahomans but rather are imported from national ideologues who are hellbent on creating their version of a utopia in their likeness. The culture wars dont reflect actual challenges facing Oklahomans. They dont embrace the states diversity. They dont improve anything. Culture wars have been around for decades. Nothing is new in the age-old struggle for dominance over ideas. But recent years have seen it ramped it up and brought it into public governance. Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, became a presidential hopeful after his masterful use of a complacent supermajority Legislature to push his political dogma, creating a model for right-wing conservatives. He picked on Disney for supporting LGBTQ+ people, feuded with the College Board over the content of its AP African American studies course, restricted discussion of race, gender or sexuality in schools, and popularized the overuse of the word woke. As of December, his moral crusades have cost Florida taxpayers at least $17 million in attorney and legal costs, according to a Miami Herald investigation. That number is rising. Texas instituted laws on Sept. 1, 2021, forbidding municipalities from contracting with banks that restrict funding of firearms companies or the oil and gas industry through ESG environmental, social and governance policies. In the first eight months, Texans paid between $300 million and $500 million more in interest on government bonds. In January, a study published by the nonprofit Sunrise Project found that such anti-ESG laws in the the 18 states, including Oklahoma, that have enacted them could cost taxpayers more than $708 million. Oklahomas share of that is estimated to be at least $49 million. Typically, boycotts launched by activists played out as individuals or organizations tried to change a system or business. The most famous was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.-led Birmingham bus boycott, which successfully challenged racial segregation. Now more elected leaders and people in power are turning boycotts into public policies. Lawmakers enjoying supermajorities are using their power over taxes and laws to codify their political leanings and in some cases their financial interests. Its a hammer the majority uses to beat down those with different ideas, opinions and ways of life. The only people benefiting are attorneys, who happily prosper in a litigation-based society. Oklahoma cannot afford to go down this road. The states population and gross domestic product ($191 billion) are significantly less than other red states that are taking a chance with these cultural battles. The state has three Fortune 500 companies, compared to 17 in Florida and 55 in Texas. A bigger population provides a broader well of resources to push wedge issues. Oklahoma topped 4 million residents last year, but thats small compared to Floridas 22 million or the 30 million in Texas. When Texas ($1.9 trillion GPD) or Florida ($1 trillion GDP) loses out on recruiting a major company or adds millions to its bond or investment costs, it can survive. For Oklahoma, that can be a major setback. Oklahoma operates on a slimmer margin, and missteps have bigger consequences. Thats just the financial bill; there is also a human toll. Recently, Oklahoma parents of transgender children have been on social media usually only within their close network raising money and making plans to get health care out of state. If a bill had passed that would have prosecuted parents for obtaining such care, that would have forced them to move away from Oklahoma. Those who dont care for these families and want them gone are cruel and dangerous. Our laws shouldnt harm people. Yet some wedge issues are costing lives. Gun safety has only worsened as the number of firearms grows. Guns are the No. 1 killer of U.S. children, and the regularity of mass shootings is a national and international embarrassment. Nothing changes. Consensus shows Americans want and need more access to mental health care. But extremists have taken aim at social-emotional learning, which gets at the heart of healthy mental health development. People in mental health distress still get their hands on firearms. Abortion positions, for and against, are a political litmus test. But some anti-abortion laws may be putting pregnant women and rape victims into deadly situations. Even vaccines are politicized, not just those for COVID-19 but of generations-old inoculations that have all but eradicated diseases such as polio, measles, rubella and whooping cough. Lawmakers are making it easier to ignore immunizations. A states actions budget priorities, laws, policies reflect upon its residents. Those who do not live here will make judgments based on words our leaders say and the decisions they make. As a lifelong Oklahoman with five generations of roots here, I know this state has unique selling points. Tulsa and Oklahoma City have transformed themselves into dynamic cities with distinctive personalities. Rural areas have vast natural resources and playgrounds. All of that can quickly be undermined by battles waged by ideologues who are more interested in a national profile than local progress. Oklahoma cannot afford a culture war. Vietnamese instant noodle products imported into the European Union (EU) market from June 27 will no longer need to have food safety inspection certificates issued by Vietnams authorized agencies, according to an amendment to an EU regulation. On June 7, the EU announced an amendment to its Regulation 2019/1973 regarding emergency measures for controlling food exports to the EU, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Accordingly, the grouping has officially moved Vietnams instant noodles from Annex II, which requires a health certificate and a 20-percent inspection rate at EU border gates, to Annex 1, which only requires the same inspection rate at border gates. As per the amendment, Vietnamese instant noodles imported into the EU from June 27 will no longer be required to have a certificate issued by an authorized Vietnamese agency. This decision is a recognition by the EU of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trades efforts in improving food safety control as well as addressing difficulties facing exporters. This relaxation was issued about 18 months after the EU put Vietnamese instant noodles, along with vermicelli and rice products, under urgent control in January 2022 in accordance with Regulation 2019/1793 in order to control ethylene oxide (EO) residues. Accordingly, a certificate issued by a Vietnamese agency was required for these commodities to be imported into the bloc. However, only six months later, the EU removed Vietnams vermicelli and rice products from the control list under the aforementioned regulation. That the EU still maintains a 20-percent inspection rate at EU border gates requires Vietnam to constantly improve food safety control over instant noodles, according to Tran Ngoc Quan, Vietnam trade counselor in Belgium and the EU. If in the last six months of 2023, Vietnams instant noodles exported to the EU are found violating food safety regulations, the bloc will raise the inspection rate for this commodity to 50 percent at border gates and may later bring it back to Annex II, Quan warned. With an aim to improve the quality of Vietnams exports to the large EU market, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed exporters to strengthen control over their production lines and strictly abide by relevant food safety regulations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Several traditional wet markets which were developed in prime sites in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam have been left deserted for many years. Meanwhile, unauthorized markets have encroached on sidewalks nearby. One of the unoccupied wet markets is in Ward 4, Ca Mau City of the namesake province. It has hundreds of kiosks and areas measuring hundreds of square meters for selling fresh goods. However, traders are not interested in doing business at the market. They have adhered to a nearby old market, which has been dismantled. Nguyen Thanh Nga, a trader at the new market, said after selling products there, traders found that the design of kiosks is inappropriate. Each kiosk is only five square meters, which is too small to arrange goods, Nga said. Traders operating at the new market are subject to space rentals, taxes, and fees, while those in unauthorized markets pay no fee, said To Yen Xuan, another trader. I could sell VND2-3 million [US$85-128] worth of goods at the old market per day but only dozens of thousands of Vietnamese dong now, Xuan said, adding that she will find another place to sell goods. (VND10,000 = $0.42). Ward 4 has a small population, so the new market has few customers. It is also hard to call on traders to move to the market, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, head of the economy and infrastructure division of Ca Mau City, explained. Also in Ca Mau, a private company invested over VND15 billion ($639,314) in block A of Tac Van Market, which has some 200 stalls, but only 20 stalls are occupied. A trader at the market said it has experienced a slump, so local residents call it the 'ghost market.' Many wet markets have an unfavorable location for residents, said Duong Vu Nam, deputy director of the Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade. The loose management paves the way for the mushrooming of unlicensed neighborhood markets. The province will disperse these illegal markets and those encroaching on sidewalks, Nam said. In Soc Trang City of the namesake province, many traditional wet markets have also been abandoned or become warehouses. For example, a wet market on Pham Hung Street in Ward 8, Soc Trang City has not been used for years. It has become a stop for buffaloes and cows. Similarly, a wet market on Duong Ky Hiep Street in Ward 2 with facilities in disorder has no traders. On the other hand, traders and buyers gather at a busy neighborhood market in the intersection of Vo Van Kiet and Duong Ky Hiep Streets, which are 500 meters apart. The market is encroaching on the sidewallks. An Cu Market, nestled in a prime site in Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City with a large population, has also been gloomy. Viet Mai Market and Supermarket Investment and Development Co. Ltd. developed 280 stalls and 73 kiosks at the market in late 2013. However, traders have left 190 of the stalls and kiosks. The market operator finds it hard to compete with unauthorized markets and online channels, according to Lam Duy Phuc from Viet Mai Market and Supermarket Investment and Development Co. Ltd.. The company will suggest converting part of the market into a warehouse for lease and lease the space in front of the market once the authorities of Ninh Kieu District develop a pedestrian street passing through the venue. Traders at the Cai Khe trade center in Ninh Kieu District have also gone through a slump. Lien, a clothing trader at the trade center, said she sometimes sells nothing for five consecutive days. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The number of visitors to the Minh Chau-Quan Lan tourist area in Van Don District in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam has fallen about 35 percent to roughly 12,700 tourists per week due to frequent blackouts caused by the ongoing drought, according to the Van Don Peoples Committee. The figure was forecast to drop further in the following weeks if power cuts remain. The inadequate power supply has sent the revenue from services plunging and hit the districts image, reducing the number of visitors to Van Don during the peak summer travel season. Island communes in Van Don often welcome 19,000-25,000 tourist arrivals per week during the peak travel time, according to the local Peoples Committee. Therefore, the district has proposed the Peoples Committee of Quang Ninh Province, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, and Quang Ninh Power Company prioritize around-the-clock power supply to the Minh Chau-Quan Lan tourist area. The Peoples Committee of Van Don District is committed to seriously complying with electricity saving plans, and regularly inspecting and asking individuals and organizations to use power sparingly in production and business as required by the provincial administration. Officials of Ha Long Power Company in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam directly call on household businesses to save electricity by switching off unnecessary electric devices. Photo: H.Nga / Tuoi Tre Quang Ninh Power Company said it had publicized power cut plans in the province to minimize the impact on production and business activities. Key tourist sites in Ha Long City, the capital of Quang Ninh, will receive priority to serve tourism development. The company will make the power cut schedule more specific and shorten outage durations. In particular, it will suspend the power supply for five hours per day on average on each transmission line and will not cut the power in Bai Chay, Hung Thang, and Tuan Chau Wards and the area from Tran Quoc Nghien coastal road to the Quang Ninh Museum on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. However, this is just a plan and it may be adjusted, said Nguyen Dai Cuong, director of Ha Long Power Company. Ha Long Power Company currently has over 110,000 customers, the largest number of customers in Quang Ninh Province, with the total power consumption volume of some 543 million kilowatt hours in the first five months of this year. During hot days, the citys power consumption often surges 30-35 percent. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! AT&T will soon get the advanced texting features Google's RCS platform is offering. Google Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer recently announced that AT&T would soon have its RCS platform as its default Android messaging system to grant its subscribers access to the latest RCS features instantly. AT&T, alongside Verizon, had switched all its Android phones on its network to Google's Android Messages app for SMS and RCS services in 2021, per CNET. T-Mobile was the first to switch to Google's RCS messaging platform, per Android Police. AT&T Messaging Platform Switch Details Lockheimer mentioned in his announcement on Twitter that Google is working with AT&T to accelerate the adoption of the RCS standard in the mobile phone industry. As a result. AT&T will make the Jibe platform its default Android messaging system, allowing Android subscribers to instantly get the latest RCS features on their phones. These features include adding emojis to replies, more accessible voice messages, watching YouTube videos within the Messages app, and responding to an individual message in a conversation, per Google. AT&T used its messaging system for its subscribers to use, per 9to5Google. However, they complained about this setup due to their experiencing issues with sending and receiving messages to and from other subscribers. Read More: FAA Lifts Ground Stop, Delays Flights at NYC Airport Due to Smoke The Jibe platform, which Google bought in 2019, lets carriers "easily launch and manage RCS services with Google-hosted infrastructure" instead of hosting it on their servers. It also offers the "Jibe Hub" to allow interoperability between third-party RCS networks. Google bought the Jibe platform to start its efforts at RCS multinetwork support. What Is RCS Messaging? RCS messaging, or Rich Communication Services, is a messaging protocol meant to replace SMS messaging; it offers the ability to send and receive high-quality photos and videos without switching to a different protocol. It also allows users to see real-time typing indicators and read receipts, name group conversations, remove contacts from group chats, and text over Wi-Fi. More importantly, RCS messaging can be encrypted while SMS can't, preventing hackers and cybercriminals from seeing and reading a user's SMS messages when their phones are compromised. Lockheimer mentioned that more than 800 million people are using RCS messaging to message their friends and loved ones; he expects that number to hit one billion before 2023 ends. However, Google previously pointed out that Apple is the only mobile phone industry not to adopt RCS messaging for its devices despite these features. You may recall that Apple CEO Tim Cook told an attendee that if he wanted to have seamless messaging between an Android phone and an iPhone when chatting with his mom, he must "buy [his] mom an iPhone." This refusal to adopt RCS could be due to the company's wish to keep its iMessage service unique, as doing so would bring many iMessage-like features to cross-platform communication between iPhone and Android devices. Regardless, Apple is in no hurry to adopt the messaging standard. Related Article: AT&T Raises Concerns Over SpaceX-T-Mobile Partnership Deal For those enchanted by the allure of Southeast Asia and the majestic beauty of northwestern Vietnam, conquering Mount Fansipan the Roof of Indochina is hailed as the pinnacle of every adventurous expedition. Fansipan the Roof of Indochina. Photo: Le Viet Khanh Vietnam may not have a mountain that stands as a national symbol like Mount Fuji in Japan or the Matterhorn in Switzerland. However, if there were to be a mountain that the Vietnamese people can proudly boast about, it would undoubtedly be Mount Fansipan the highest peak among the former French Indochina, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It is not just by chance that the Vietnamese people have a saying, Everyone has their own Fansipan to climb, as a metaphor for their greatest dreams in life. The allure of Fansipan A familiar stranger Fansipan, also known as Hua Xi Pan in the local language, carries the meaning of the tottering giant rock. According to the records of the Vietnam Institute of Geological Sciences, the mountain is a majestic granite rock that rose from deep within the earth over 250 million years ago. The northwestern region of Vietnam is renowned for its treacherous terrain, ranking among the most challenging in Southeast Asia. Nestled within this rugged landscape, Fansipan stands as a part of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, which boasts the most complex topography in the northwestern region. As stated in various sources, the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range is also regarded as the southeastern terminus of the magnificent Himalayas. The beauty of the gold season in Muong Hoa Valley in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam Throughout the four seasons, the swirling clouds and treacherous terrain have bestowed upon Fansipan a breathtaking and surreal beauty. It is fascinating how, for each individual, that beauty manifests itself in unique ways. When the French first set foot here for exploration 120 years ago, they likened Sa Pa to the renowned Alps of Europe. A Vietnamese, immersed in the rich tapestry of folk tales, believes that Fansipan is the mystical gateway connecting the sky and the earth. An adventurous traveler assumes that the beauty of Fansipan evokes a slight resemblance to the spectacular Himalayan range. Regardless of the interpretation, Fansipan not only embodies grandeur but also exudes a profound sense of connection and familiarity for each person. The awakening of hidden paradise The challenging nature of the journey has made the conquest of Fansipan peak an endeavor that was once exclusive to the adventurous souls, who have courage and physical stamina to trek through dense forests for days to finally reach the top. When it comes to Fansipan, many travelers have regarded it as a distant dream. Like a hidden paradise, Fansipan stands as a coveted destination that has stolen the hearts of countless travelers who visited Sa Pa, a resort town in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. However, climbing to its summit remains beyond many peoples reach due to the considerable travel time required. The Fansipan cable car In 2016, Sun Group introduced the Fansipan cable car, which was designed by the world-renowned cable manufacturer Doppelmayr Garaventa. It opened up the opportunity for travelers of all ages to conquer the highest peak in Indochina. This cable car system has significantly shortened the travel time from a 2-to-7-day journey to a 15-to-20-minute route through the ethereal clouds. As the doors of the cabins swing open, visitors are instantly immersed in a breathtaking panorama where the lines between land and sky blur with the rolling sea of clouds. Bathed in the resplendent glow of the sun, this destination surpasses the splendor found anywhere else in Vietnam. Embarking on the journey to Fansipan on a day shrouded in clouds allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the mysteries and legends of the past. In the mist, visitors can catch a glimpse of spiritual structures that embody the essence of ancient Vietnamese temples in the 15th and 16th centuries. Fansipan is also known as Gateway to the Sky. Photo: Nguyen Minh Tu Fansipan, known for its breathtaking landscapes, is also celebrated for its four distinct seasons, each unveiling a kaleidoscope of vibrant blooms that embellish the landscape all year round. In this captivating realm, the tourism developer has taken on the role of guardians, carefully selecting and nurturing a diverse array of flowers. In the spring of Fansipan, flowers bloom above the clouds, leading the way to Gateway to the Sky. Nestled amidst the magnificent mountains, the forests of cherry blossoms and Himalayan cherry blossoms create enchanting scenery with the beautiful birdsongs in the early morning mist. Spring is also the time when the 300-to 400-year-old rhododendrons showcase their vibrant splendor, weaving a floral tapestry upon the ancient foundations of this mystical land. The largest rose valley in Vietnam When summer comes around, Fansipan becomes a symphony of blossoms and gentle breezes. In the grandeur of Sun World Fansipan Legend, the largest rose valley in Vietnam adorns itself in the captivating red hues of the exclusive climbing roses found only in Sa Pa. Along the hillsides, the flourishing fields of verbenas come into full bloom, exuding a beauty akin to purple clouds gracefully dancing in the sunlight. Particularly, autumn is the cloud-hunting season of Fansipan. At an altitude of 3,143 meters, fluffy clouds roll over the sacred summit. The terraced rice fields on mountain slopes look like golden waterfalls, descending from the sky. At any corner of Sun World Fansipan Legend, visitors are treated to the mesmerizing sight of crocosmia flowers drenched in brilliant red, gracing the mountainous landscape. It may be autumn, and it may be red, but this hue of red is truly distinct from that of temperate regions. A snow blanket on the summit of Fansipan in northern Vietnam. Photo: Vu Minh Quan During winter, the temperature on the summit of Fansipan can drop as low as -9 degrees Celsius, offering a rare opportunity to experience snow in this part of Southeast Asia. Sometimes, over half a meter of snow blankets the mountain, creating a fascinating landscape reminiscent of a charming Nordic fairy tale. The colorful culture of Fansipan Choosing Fansipan as ones destination is not just about visiting a place; it is about embarking on a journey to explore Sa Pa a melting pot of ethnic groups in northwestern Vietnam. There is a beautiful song that perfectly describes the people of Sa Pa, The sun shines on your face, capturing the radiant smiles of the northwesterners and their rosy cheeks flushed by the sun's warmth. Within the Northwest Cultural Space, which is closely akin to a small village nestled at the foot of Mount Fansipan, visitors can truly grasp the vibrancy reminiscent of embracing the sun itself in the colorful traditional costumes of the indigenous highland communities, such as the H'Mong, Giay, Tay, Dao, and Xa Pho. The exhilarating rhythms of Cheraw dances and the haunting melodies of the Khen instrument create the distinct soundscape of Sa Pa. These spiritual elements linger in the hearts of visitors, evoking a deep longing for this northern land even after they have left. A Red Dao house in the Northwest Cultural Space Notably, visiting Sa Pa is an opportunity to bond over the unique culinary experiences. Delight in the flavors of wild forest vegetables, indulge in the traditional dish called Thang Co, and share a toast with the friendly locals. Immerse oneself in the vibrant atmosphere of the Rose Festival, the Golden Season Festival, and the Winter Festival, where they can witness the rich cultural traditions of the region. And do not miss the thrilling horse race known poetically as Race Through the Clouds. A bride-kidnapping performance of H'mong culture With every visit to Fansipan or Sa Pa, travelers will discover that no experience is ever repeated. Each moment or each season unveils a distinct and extraordinary beauty that sets Fansipan and Sa Pa apart. Hence, Fansipan is known as a once-in-a-lifetime destination, beckoning travelers to return time and again. With each ascent to its sacred peak, where humans, legends, and nature coexist in perfect harmony, one will experience different emotions and enjoy unique moments. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 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. 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. 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. 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 Kongs 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 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 woks. "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." A fish larger than a man, tasty as well as beautiful, the freshwater pirarucu is a favorite with poachers in a lawless part of the Amazon jungle where Brazil, Peru and Colombia meet. Prized for its skin as much as its flesh, the pirarucu has long been a staple for Indigenous people who hunt the air-breathing fish in lakes in the Javari Valley. But it has also become a much sought-after protein on the menus of gastronomic and fusion restaurants in Rio, Bogota and Lima -- its rising popularity pushing up prices and raising the stakes for Amazon dwellers. The growing appetite for pirarucu is blamed for the deaths last year of Indigenous rights defender Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips at the hands of fish poachers who hacked up the pair's bodies and hid the remains in the jungle. In Brazil's Amazonas province, pirarucu harvesting is strictly regulated. In the Javari Valley which holds the country's second-largest protected Indigenous reserve -- home to seven tribes including the Kanamari -- only residents may hunt it. Yet, "they are stealing from us!" said Joao Filho Kanamari, an Amazon resident who takes his last name from his tribe which comes into regular conflict with intruders in pursuit of the prized fish. 'Cow of the Amazon' For the Kanamari, the story of the pirarucu is that of "a tree leaf that fell into the water and became a giant fish," tribal chief Mauro da Silva Kanamari told AFP. "Arapaima gigas" by its scientific name, the pirarucu is one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet. It is a weird-looking creature with a pink, tapered tail, awkwardly-flattened head and globular eyes reminiscent of a prehistoric monster. An omnivore, the pirarucu can grow up to three meters (9.8 feet) long and weigh over 200 kilograms (440 pounds.) Caught with nets and harpoons, the giant fish is relatively easy to spot and kill as it needs to surface to breathe about every 20 minutes. Known lovingly to locals as "the cow of the Amazon," presumably for its ability to feed many at a time, the pirarucu is also versatile: its skin is used for exotic leather products -- shoes, bags or wallets. Pirarucu scales, reputedly resistant to piranha teeth, are sold to tourists as key chains. Subject to overfishing in the Brazilian Amazon, the pirarucu all but disappeared in the 1990s until the government introduced fishing restrictions. 'Fished like crazy' In 2017, a project was started in the Javari Valley with the help of an Indigenous NGO called CTI to ensure the community will be able to continue harvesting pirarucu for a long time to come. Sustainably. The project is managed by the Kanamari themselves, who have voluntarily limited their own catches of pirarucu and agreed not to sell any for five years. "The idea is that the natives can feed themselves, provide for their needs, all while protecting their territory," said CTI spokesman Thiago Arruda. The project also involves patrols to spot and report poachers -- a risky endeavor that can bring the tribespeople in contact with illegal fishermen, often armed. "The project is very important for us," said Bushe Matis, coordinator of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley (Univaja.) "Before people fished like crazy. From now on we will take care of the lakes and fishing areas, so that we will always have fish in the future." A stocktake will occur within weeks, and if fish numbers have recovered sufficiently, the Kanamari will be able to start selling again. But there are obstacles ahead: the community still has to set up a cold chain to get the fish safely to clients from all the way inside the bowels of the jungle, and decide how to split the proceeds. Some fear the opening to sales could expose the Indigenous jungle dwellers to a whole new kind of risk. According to one project promoter, who asked not to be named, there is a danger of local politicians or businessmen "not necessarily well-intentioned and probably involved in illegal fishing networks" working their way into the system. Deep in South Africa's semi-desert Karoo region, a glittery drag show in an old hilltop hotel brings a burst of weekly excitement to a sleepy conservative town. Every Saturday night, Mark Hinds and Jacques Rabie, the owners of the Karoo Theatrical Hotel, amaze their guests with a night-long cabaret and drag show in the small town of Steytlerville in the Eastern Cape. The show, called "The Steytlerville Follies", stars the couple in their flamboyant stage alter egos -- the desert diva Dame Leyla Lamborghini and the piano maestro Freddy Ferrari. "If you tell somebody that there is a drag show happening in the middle of absolutely nowhere... every single Saturday night, that creates curiosity," Hinds told AFP as he added the final touches to the set. A grand piano sat on the stage against the backdrop of bright pink party foil curtains, feathers and disco lights as around 20 guests took their seats in the dimly candle-lit hotel restaurant. In his dressing room, minutes before the show began, Rabie recalled how "it was difficult" to begin with to put on the show in the region of mountains and wild expanses best known for ostrich farming. "But after a while more people like us, more gay people... moved in and it became more acceptable in town," he said as he put on his make-up. Welcomed by his partner on stage, Rabie, wearing a blonde bob wig, high heels and a glittery pink corset dress ripped off his pink feather tutu skirt as he broke into song and dance. For show-goer Lara Engelbrecht-Wilbraham, the performance was "classy and beautiful". Celebrating her birthday, it was only the second time in her life that she had attended a drag show. The 44-year-old who sells solar energy products brought her partner and two friends. The show, which the organisers described as a rollercoaster of emotions, from outrageously funny to nostalgic, is "packed out every Saturday night", said Hinds. "One of the biggest things that draws people here is curiosity, having heard about something that they have never heard before, that they would have never thought possible," he added. Police have apprehended 10 more gang members behind armed attacks on two police stations in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, taking the total number of suspects involved in the fatal raid to 26 as of 11:30 am on Monday. Several weapons, including rifles, were also confiscated, Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. An armed gang of many unidentified members attacked two police headquarters of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur Communes in Cu Kuin District on Sunday morning, leaving four police officers dead and other officers and locals wounded. As such, the Ministry of Public Security directed the police in Dak Lak Province and other relevant forces to hunt for these gang members. The ministry also called on locals in Cu Kuin District and neighboring localities to stay calm and follow the instructions of the authorities. The ministry encouraged those who know the gang or have information about gang members to contact the nearest police station. At noon on the same day, police officers arrested six gang members, who reside in Ayun Pa in Gia Lai Province, and in Krong Buk and Cu Mgar in Dak Lak Province. On Sunday night, police officers caught 10 more suspects, raising the total number of participants in the armed attacks to 16 then, while two locals held hostage were rescued. Police seize weapons used in a fatal armed attack on police stations in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. Photo: Cong An Nhan Dan (Peoples Police) newspaper Police seize weapons used in a fatal armed attack on police stations in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. Photo: Cong An Nhan Dan (Peoples Police) newspaper One of the armed attackers is arrested. Photo: Cong An Nhan Dan (Peoples Police) newspaper Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three children aged 12 to 14 drowned during a sea swim in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam on Sunday. The accident happened at about 3:00 pm at the Hai Ninh Beach in the namesake ward of Nghi Son Town, Thanh Hoa Province. Their grandfather took them and another child to the beach to bathe in the sea. While the three children were swimming at the beach, the grandfather was sitting ashore and then took the youngest child home. When he came back to the beach, the three had been swept away and gone missing. Local rescuers found their bodies the same afternoon, Le Dinh Phuong, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hai Ninh Ward, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday. The tragic accident occurred when the children returned to their homeland for the summer holiday. Local authorities have handed over the bodies to their family for funeral, Phuong added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- At least three individuals sustained injuries when a tourist bus, following a collision with a motorcycle, plunged approximately 50 meters down a hill in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam on Sunday. -- Three children aged 12 to 14 drowned during a sea swim in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam on Sunday. -- The National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting predicted moderate to heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms in the northern region and Thanh Hoa Province starting Monday evening, which will alleviate water scarcity in the northern hydropower reservoirs. -- Two individuals were instantly killed when a motorbike and a pickup truck collided with an overturned tank truck on National Highway 4D in northern Lao Cai Province, while another person, although hospitalized, ultimately succumbed to their injuries on Sunday. -- Police in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam on Sunday announced the arrest of a 43-year-old suspect following his acts of murdering a woman and subsequently concealing her body in two sacks on a sidewalk a day earlier. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City caught a public bus operated by popular Vietnamese transport firm FUTA red-handed carrying packs of smuggled cigarettes on National Highway 1 in Thu Duc City on Sunday. Business -- The number of visitors to the Minh Chau-Quan Lan tourist area in Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam has decreased by about 35 percent to about 12,700 tourists per week due to frequent blackouts caused by the ongoing drought, according to the Van Don Peoples Committee. -- Digital channels account for over 90 percent of transactions in numerous banks across Vietnam at present, according to data from the central bank. Lifestyle -- A Vietnamese record and a world record were established as a staggering 2,126 bowls of pho were served for breakfast to participants of a fundraising walk event in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, on Sunday. Sports -- Vietnamese chess player Tong Thai Hoang An clinched the silver medal in the Girls U12 event at the World Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships held in Batumi, Georgia on Sunday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A tourist bus fell off the side of a hill following a collision with a motorcycle on Sunday in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam, leaving at least three people injured, confirmed a local official. The accident occurred at around 11:30 am when the 45-seater bus carrying over 20 tourists, including foreigners, was en route from Hanoi to the provinces Tan Son District. The bus collided with the motorbike and rolled down the hill, a police officer of Xuan Dai Commune, Tan Son District told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday afternoon. Tran Dung, an eyewitness, said that the bus fell down the hill, crashed into a trail at the foot of the hill, and overturned. Some occupants escaped the bus, then broke the bus doors to rescue others trapped inside. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, the police officer said, adding that many of the passengers are international tourists. Police in Tan Son are investigating the cause of the crash. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! As a young woman, Tran To Nga was a war correspondent, a prisoner and an activist. Now, at 81, she is waging a court battle against US chemical firms to win justice for the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. Nga is the first and only civilian to bring a lawsuit against the 14 multinational chemical firms, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto, that produced and sold the toxic herbicide sprayed over Vietnam by US forces during the war. According to the World Health Organization, some batches of Agent Orange were contaminated with a dioxin -- a highly toxic environmental pollutant -- that is being investigated for its link to certain types of cancer and to diabetes. In May 2021, a French court threw Nga's case out. But she refuses to give up. "I will not stop. I will be on the side of the victims until my last breath," Nga, visiting Hanoi from her home in Paris, told AFP. "This will be my last fight, and the most difficult of all," said Nga, herself a victim of Agent Orange. Like many other first-generation victims, Nga was at first unaware she had been exposed. In her mid-20s, she was stationed in Saigon -- now known as Ho Chi Minh City -- as a trainee journalist working for Hanoi's Liberation News Agency. One day, Nga was "covered with a wet powder from a US aircraft". "I took a shower only when I was told that it was herbicide all over my body. But then forgot all about it," she said. Between early 1962 and 1971, US warplanes dropped about 19 million gallons (68 million litres) of Agent Orange -- so-called because it was stored in drums with orange bands -- to defoliate jungles and destroy Vietnamese military crops. At that time, no-one knew they had been exposed to a substance that many believe destroyed not only their lives, but also their children's and grandchildren's. A year after the exposure, in 1968, Nga gave birth to her first baby, a girl born with a congenital heart defect who survived for just 17 months. "For so long, I blamed myself for being a bad mother, giving birth to a sick baby and not being able to save her," Nga told AFP. Nga only suspected her child was a victim of Agent Orange decades later when she encountered veterans and their disabled children in a similar situation. Vietnam's Association of Victims of Agent Orange says 4.8 million people were directly exposed, and more than three million have developed health problems. The US Department of Veterans Affairs has said it assumes -- although there is no official scientifically proven link -- that some cancers, diabetes and birth defects are associated with Agent Orange exposure. It has also recognised a link among veterans' children to spina bifida -- a spine defect in a developing foetus. Nga herself is suffering from effects including type 2 diabetes and cancer. "I think of Agent Orange as the ancestor for all sorts of other substances that have destroyed the environment," Nga said. At a state-sponsored facility caring for Agent Orange victims in the suburbs of Hanoi, Nga watched a computer lesson given by Vuong Thi Quyen. Quyen, 34, was born with a deformed spine after her soldier father was exposed during the war. "I am so happy to meet Nga, my idol. She has done so much for victims of Agent Orange like ourselves," Quyen told AFP. After the war, Nga, a trained chemist, spent many years as a head teacher at a school in Ho Chi Minh City before assuming a role as a go-between for donors in France and Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. "I have no hatred towards the American government or people. It's only those that caused devastation and pain that should pay for what they did," Nga said. At the trial in France, the multinationals argued that they could not be held responsible for the way the US military used their product, with the court ruling they had been "acting on the orders of" the United States, and were therefore immune from prosecution. Nga said she had been offered "a lot of money" to settle the lawsuit, but "I refused to accept". She has since started a crowdfunding campaign to finance an appeal, scheduled for 2024. So far, only military veterans from the United States and its allies in the war have won compensation over Agent Orange. In 2008, a US federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of a civil lawsuit against major US chemical companies brought by Vietnamese plaintiffs. "The fight to get justice for Agent Orange victims will last a long time," Nga said. "But I think I have chosen the correct path." Cozy coffee house blends into Tibetan life 08:49, June 12, 2023 By Tenzin Seldron and Wang Songsong in Lhasa ( China Daily One sunny morning in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, Gongsang Dekyi, owner of the Kakimo Cafe, was busy preparing to open for the day. The cozy environment and tasty coffee have made the cafe a popular hangout for young residents in the city. Gongsang Dekyi is a business owner now, but she used to work in the public sector. After completing her studies, she returned to work in Tibet, as have many of her peers and as her parents expected. However, she felt uneasy about doing a job in which she could be replaced by anyone on a moment's notice. "I have studied in other provinces outside Tibet since I was very young. During my time at college in Beijing, I got a chance to participate in an overseas exchange program for further study," she said. Those years of study shaped her in many ways and gave her a strong sense of independence. "For me, a stable job is another form of instability," Gongsang Dekyi said. Breaking away from the boredom of mundane work, she began to share her life on social media. She opened a snack bar and nursed her dream of opening a coffee shop, which had been on her mind for a long time. Tibet's unique tea culture, coupled with the slow pace of the city, once sent many residents of Lhasa to its traditional sweet tea houses in their free time. With the change of times and the impact of new cultures, coffee has entered the picture. The aromatic beverage has gradually infiltrated daily Tibetan life, especially among the young. "I have loved the cafe atmosphere since the very first time my mother took me to drink coffee," she said. "I thought it would be nice if I could open one that was different from the others, and which embodied my own ideas." After careful preparation, she opened the Kakimo Cafe in August 2020 in her own neighborhood. "Bringing coffee back to a daily routine" is her philosophy. "While traditional sweet tea houses are everywhere in Lhasa, coffee shops should play the same role to serve nearby residents," Gongsang Dekyi said. During peak season, sales revenues at the cafe can reach 3,000 ($420) to 4,000 yuan a day. "My study time outside Tibet has deepened my knowledge and expanded my horizons, and now I would like to bring that back to my hometown and give back in my own way," she said. Gongsang Dekyi works at the Kakimo Cafe in Lhasa, Tibet autonomous region. CHINA DAILY She is not alone. Tibetan middle schools in other provinces and municipalities have become an important education platform for Tibetan children, bringing precious opportunities for better career prospects. Like Gongsang Dekyi, many who have graduated from Tibetan middle schools across the country have chosen to return to work in Tibet. Yangkyi, a 26-year-old lawyer, was taking a leisurely lunch break with a colleague at the Kakimo Cafe. She opted for two Americano coffees from the menu. Frequently burning the midnight oil, hard-working young people often regard coffee as a vital and invigorating necessity. Yangkyi said she has attended schools in Shanghai since she was 12. Her first encounter with coffee was at a Starbucks, and she thought it was "so foreign". When she returned to Tibet after graduation, she chose not to enter the governmental system. She joined a private company as a litigator. "In Tibet, many people still feel that working in a company is an unstable job. But I think the system of doing more work for more pay will stimulate my enthusiasm," she said, adding that 10 years of study experience in provinces outside Tibet allowed her to envision a different life. Since Tibetan middle schools were set up in other provinces in the 1980s, many people with talent have been educated, and most of them have returned to Tibet. "There are many ways to give back to our hometown, and we can choose the way we like most," Yangkyi said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) AI may not be taking over the world (just yet), but it is taking over people's jobs. Humanity is seeing a technological boom in recent times. We went from making VR headsets more affordable and life-like to AI becoming more reliable and capable. However, we may have made AI a bit too capable - it is already replacing people in the job market and forcing those laid off to find other work that AI can't replace. Here are some jobs AI has been taking over recently: Tech Jobs The people who made AI this intelligent are now being replaced by their creations. While coding and computer programming are in-demand skills, ChatGPT and similar AI tools are poised to replace people in the workplace sometime soon. After all, AI has always been good at crunching numbers with relative accuracy, making basic coding obsolete. These jobs include developers, web developers, computer programmers, coders, and data scientists. This fact is evidenced by the 3,900 employees laid off from the tech industry because of AI - the first to happen. Media Jobs Writers, journalists, proofreaders, and advertisers are also at risk of losing their jobs thanks to AI advancements. In fact, ChatGPT and other AI tools could do tasks like reporting and writing "more efficiently than people," per Economist Paul Krugman's statement in a New York Times op-ed. AI replacing writers had already begun. You may recall that a content writer lost all of his clients and was rendered jobless thanks to ChatGPT replacing him, forcing him to turn to trade work to support his family. However, there may be some hope for those who worked in the media industry for years; CNET and other news outlets found numerous issues with AI-generated reports, such as plagiarism. Fact-checkers will be in-demand for quite some time to correct these mistakes until AI is capable of writing with originality. Read More: Creative Ways You Can Light Up Your Room Teaching Jobs Teachers are the shepherds of the next generation; they're responsible for preparing the kids of today for the challenges and rigors of the workplace and life in general, along with nurturing their talents and abilities to help them become the best they can be. Unfortunately, they, too, could be replaced by AI in the future. You may recall that Chinese students have been using AI to help them with homework and learn English faster, offering an alternative means of teaching to formal education. Customer Service Jobs Customer service representatives in many a company are already losing their jobs to AI thanks to ChatGPT's conversational capabilities, which it was first programmed for. This fact is especially so for small companies and start-ups that can't afford or don't want to hire people for such a role. As such, it is commonplace for many companies we buy our needs from, such as Amazon, to have AI as their customer service representative instead of actual people. In fact, "chatbots" is predicted to be the main customer service channel for around a quarter of companies within the next four years, per research company Gartner. Accountants Surprisingly, accountants are also at risk of getting replaced by AI despite their specialized nature. According to a statement from Brett Caraway, associate professor with the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at the University of Toronto, intellectual labor done by accountants, lawyers, and other white-collar jobs could be at risk of losing their jobs sometime in the future. However, it won't be as soon as others on the list. CPAs worldwide have turned to AI to augment their abilities or help them sort records and data while giving advisory services, per Finance Online. As such, accountants who embrace AI in their work will probably be more in-demand than those who don't, per Spiceworks. Related Article: Scenarios Where Robots Take Over Human Jobs Police in South Korea recaptured five Vietnamese nationals who fled a police station in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Sunday through a window that only one cat can barely pass through, after they were taken into custody on gambling charges, Yonhap News Agency quoted officials as saying. According to the Gwangsan police station, officials nabbed one Vietnamese hiding in an undisclosed location in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, by analyzing CCTV footage and witness testimonies. Authorities reported that two of the suspects who had fled to neighboring cities notified police officials of their intention to surrender, while the two others showed up at the Gwangju Immigration Office later in the day. A total of 23 Vietnamese nationals were taken into custody but were not handcuffed around 3:00 am on Sunday while gambling in a house in Gwangju. While awaiting interrogation, ten of them managed to flee through a small window in a meeting room at the Wolgok police patrol unit station, with the police becoming aware of the mass escape at approximately 6:40 am. This is a space that only one cat can barely pass through and we didnt expect people would get out through it, a police officer told Yonhap about the window. Police verified that six of the escapees are unauthorized immigrants, while the remaining four are staying in the country on valid visas. Their motive of the escape is believed to be the fear of being deported. Police officers successfully identified all of the escapees and are presently pursuing leads to locate those who are still hiding. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The first-ever fruit festival in Ninh Son District, Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam will kick off on Friday, offering visitors a wide range of tropical fruits and local staple products. The Ninh Son administration, the host of the festival, said the event, scheduled to take place in the districts Tan Son Town, will feature eight main activities, including the display of local fruits, staple products, local food specialties, a fruit display contest, and a seminar on reorganizing production and improving the districts capacity for supplying fruits for export. According to Kieu Tan Thinh, chairman of the Ninh Son Peoples Committee, visitors to the fruit festival can explore and try various types of fruits such as durians, mangosteens, rambutans, grapes, apples as well as handicraft items showcased at 18 booths. Moreover, food stalls at the event will offer traditional food delights made from goat meat, lamb, beef, chicken, in addition to cold drink and snack stalls. Also, fruits from the provinces Khanh Son District and neighboring Lam Dong Provinces Don Duong District will be on display at the two-day festival. The festival is aimed at promoting local fruits and the agriculture sector in Ninh Son to tourists and businesses at home and from other localities, enabling local farmers to seek new business partners and exchange their farming experience with each other, Thinh added. A jackfruit-laden tree in Lam Son Commune, Ninh Son District, Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: The Kiet / Tuoi Tre Lieu Thi Phuong, general director at Charm Group, which coordinates with Ninh Son to organize the festival, said that the fest would be an effective channel for tourism promotion, adding that her company is looking to find new fruit seedlings with economically high quality. She revealed that many tropical fruits in Lam Son Commune, Ninh Son District are grown using organic farming methods, thereby making positive contributions to community health. These days, orchard owners in Lam Son have been taking great care of their orchards to make good preparations for the upcoming festival. Workers are seen setting up facilities to serve the upcoming fruit festival scheduled to kick off on June 16, 2023 in Ninh Son District, Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Hong Duom / Tuoi Tre Duong Dang Minh, head of the agriculture and rural development division in the district, said fruits grown in Lam Son secured geographical indication tags in 2018. Local orchard owners mainly sold their fruits to traders before, but now they are focusing on developing ecotourism, so they mostly offer the fruits to visitors to the orchards, Minh said. To develop the orchards in the long run, local authorities frequently call on farmers to improve the quality of their farming areas and seek new fruit seedlings in order to diversify the fruit supply, Minh stressed. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! If Season 2 of Parental Guidance feels a tad more judgmental than Season 1 it could be because this season the parents choose a best in show parenting style. As contrasting parenting styles are compared, perhaps harking back to its original title The Parent Jury, host Ally Langdon explains there were format tweaks second time around. I guess weve made it a little bit pacier in places and weve obviously added additional parents, she tells TV Tonight. There are 12 sets of parents and they go through the challenge within groups of 4. So theres two nights where the same four sets of parents are all under under pressure. Then the other eight parents agree and vote on who they think wins the day, or whose parenting style resonated most with them, and which of that group then go through to the grand final. Theres a fantastic challenge at the end which three sets of parents and the kids undertake. Theres no scores, but its one of those ones where each parent looks at what works for them. They choose which of the parenting styles over all those challenges, handled it best. Obviously, a lot of that is swayed by your own parenting style. Its not really a competition as such. I dont feel like any of the families come in with this idea of winning. Everyone wanting to share their parenting styles and tips. But everyones also open to being the best parent they can. Joined by parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson, the series includes parents deemed Outback / Spiritual / Gentle / Unstructured / Road School / Influencer / Stage / Slow / Honest / Lighthouse / Team and American. Youve got your gentle parents. You watch them when their kids have big emotions. I think its really wonderful to watch, they just let that process play out and theyre incredibly patient. I do not have the patience to be a gentle parent but I love how they do it. Other parenting styles are probably a bit more strict, she continues. Everyone defends their parenting style pretty well and often, you have these moments where parents go, Look, maybe I do need to shift. I thought what I was doing was great, but you can see from how it played out in the challenge that maybe we need to shift how we parent. I think everyone leaves the experiment a better parent. Challenges have again been filmed prior to the show, which are discussed and contrasted in the studio. Sometimes friction arises amongst those who disagree on the better approach to handling kids. Every parenting style has its moment where its really in the hot seat. But its not nasty. Most of the criticism or the comments are based on the parenting style .But it does fire up, because everyone passionately believes in what theyre doing. Without conflict there is no drama, surely? No, thats boring, right? Its boring if everybody says Well done and pats each other on the back, Langdon agrees. These parenting styles are really challenged. This season looks at raising children in the digital age, including the rise of Influencer parenting, the dark side of online gaming and the internet, effectively managing tantrums and sibling rivalries, addressing bullying, discussing health education, and fostering a drive for success in children. Langdon says only once did a set of parents choose to abort a challenge, which drew some comment when it was explained in the room. There is a point with our Slow parents, where they choose to abort a challenge, halfway through. That was then explained to the room, all the reasons why that sort of went to their parenting style. It was interesting also to see how the room dealt with that. There were some who really felt for them. and a whole bunch of others going, Hang on, you came into the experiment, you know the kids are safe. Theyre not actually on their own. Theyve got a film crew with them. Why wouldnt you allow them to do a little bit more?' she explains. So with no TV reality prize whats in it for the parents? Is their motivation to be challenged on their parenting skills, to share their methods for the greater good -or to have 15 minutes of TV fame? Its not the sense I get from any of the families. I think Season One really resonated with people and they wanted to come on the show and share, but also learn. Whats really interesting in the room is that every time Justin Coulson speaks, I watched other parents lean forward, and they just gobble up any information or wisdom he has to share. Im quite distressed they didnt do the same thing when I spoke! she laughs. The original series developed by Eureka and Nine has been a success with US network ABC even screening its own adaptation in December known as The Parent Test. As to her own parenting she shares with journalist Michael Willesee, the Current Affair host admits there is always room from improvement. Im so inconsistent. Thankfully, the children have my husband whos a little bit more consistent than me. Im strict one day no television. But the next day out, Ive had no sleep overnight, or Im distracted with work stuff, so Its fine (to watch)! So mine needs a little bit of work and more consistency, she admits. I grew up in the country so I was very much raised as a free range style. I have two little kids and I live in the city, so while Id like to be a little bit more relaxed, the kids are small, there are busy roads, traffic everywhere. Youve got to keep a closer eye on them. But I reckon my style will change as they get a little bit older. I believe in a routine. I think maybe just with working with 60 Minutes and then certainly doing the mornings for three years the kids have a set bedtime, have their vegetables every night. Thats considered maybe a bit old school in some ways. There are definitely rules but you also try and make sure that theres a heck of a lot of fun in there. Parental Guidance screens 7pm Sunday, 7:30pm Mondays and Tuesdays on Nine. Leaked recordings of a five-hour meeting between Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins have been referred to police to investigate whether a contempt of court has been committed. The Age reports Thomson Geer law firm partner Marlia Saunders, who is acting for Network 10 in defamation proceedings initiated by Bruce Lehrmann, made a complaint to ACT Policing last Wednesday about material issued under subpoena for his criminal trial being aired in a televised interview with Seven last week. I asked them to investigate the suspected breach of the implied undertaking given that documents produced under subpoena to the ACT Supreme Court criminal proceedings appear to have been provided to various media organisations contrary to the implied undertaking, Saunders said. ACT Policing declined to comment but police have confirmed they did not provide the subpoenaed material to Seven, which screened elements in a 7News Spotlight report. Last week lawyers for Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson alleged that a calculated and concerted media campaign using restricted court material was being waged to pressure and dissuade witnesses from giving evidence in the defamation trial brought by Bruce Lehrmann. Meanwhile an apology from Network 10 to Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, over comments heard in the leaked audio, has also made international news. A Deadline story in the USA was headed Australias Network Ten Apologises For Racist, Derogatory Comments Heard In Leaked Audio By TV Host. Metro in the UK also published a story headlined, Australian TV network issues apology after racist and derogatory comments in leaked audio. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences has announced the 2023 Research Excellence and Diversity fellowship winners. The fellowship was created by an anonymous endowment to provide support for the writing and research of masters theses and doctoral dissertations. The selection of our second cohort of Summer Research Fellows was drawn from a very competitive pool of proposals, remarked Susan Scarrow, CLASS associate dean of graduate studies. These students are passionate about their research and creative activities, which cover the broad range of disciplines and methods represented in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The competitive fellowship supports graduate student research excellence and contributes to graduate programs in the college. One thing that makes many of these projects so compelling is that they are inspired or informed by the students personal experiences and encounters, Scarrow said. These summer research fellowships are particularly valuable for our students because they are flexible enough to support students at various stages of their research, whenever the students and their advisors think they need this. Chosen by a multi-disciplinary faculty committee, winners were selected from a strong pool of applicants from the various disciplines represented in the college. The fellowships are available to CLASS students of all fields of study, providing summer financial support so that they can focus full time on their projects. The 2023 Research Excellence and Diversity fellows are as follows: Madeleine Allman, Ph.D. student, psychology A third-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology Lab, Madeleine Allman earned her bachelors degree in psychology and public health from Tulane University in 2016 and her Master of Public Health in epidemiology from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 2017. After graduating, she came to Houston to work in global health research at Baylor College of Medicine. Allman is interested in caregiver-child relationships, primarily their impact by exposure to trauma and interventions that focus on the impact of adversity in caregiver-child relationships. Allman defended her masters thesis by analyzing the impact of the Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (MISC) on Social Cognition among Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in South Africa. She is also working on her dissertation project, focusing on MISCs implementation in the context of Intimate Partner Violence. Allman is also interested in the assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. Heather Butina-Sutton, Ph.D. student, history Heather Butina-Sutton holds a Bachelor of Science in cultural anthropology and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in history under the mentorship of Professor Philip A. Howard. Her research interests include the cultural and socio-economic history of Black women in the Atlantic World, gender studies and public history. Her work has received awards from both the womens, gender and sexuality studies program and history department at the University of Houston and an honorable mention from the national Black Womens Studies Association. This summer, Heather will be conducting research in Charleston, SC, for her dissertation, titled Hucksters, Hawkers, and Ganhadeiras: How Black Women Shaped Culture and Capitalism in the Atlantic World. Vanessa Beatriz Golenia, MFA student, creative writing Vanessa Beatriz Golenia grew up straddling the Tijuana-San Diego border in a home with no common language. Prior to moving to Houston, she bounced between Brooklyn and Los Angeles, writing capitalist poetry for corporate beauty brands. Her work has appeared in Longreads, The Rumpus, Mr. Bellers Neighborhood and elsewhere. In 2020, an essay she wrote was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is now slowly chiseling away at her first book. Symone Daniels, M.A. student, communications Symone Daniels is in her final semester as a graduate student in the Jack. J Valenti School of Communication. Her thesis project will focus on Black women and how negative stereotypical images in the media impact them in society. She was recently invited to present her research at the TAMU Communicating Diversity Conference held at Texas A&M. She hopes her project adds to conversations about how stereotypes are formed by the media and wants people to challenge their beliefs regarding Black women. Jeonghyeok Kim, Ph.D. student, economics Jeonghyeok Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in economics, and her research is in labor, education and health economics. Kim is currently researching Noncognitive Skills and the Gender Gap in Education and Labor Market Outcome and School Closures and Student Outcomes. [SL1] [HJ2] Currently, Kim has other projects in process that are focused on the relationship between air quality and birth outcomes, industrial robots on health outcomes in Mexico and emerging challenges to global primary education provision. Jesse Walker, Ph.D. student, psychology Jesse Walker is a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program who received his bachelors degree in psychology from Clemson University. Following graduation, Walker served as research assistant and later research coordinator on projects under Drs. Carla Danielson and Tatiana Davidson at the Medical University of South Carolina. Jesse received his masters degree in clinical psychology from the University of Houston in 2021 and, during his time in the Youth & Family Studies Lab, his work has broadly focused on identifying cultural, relational and biological risk and protective factors of depression and suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults within minoritized groups. Currently, Walker is conducting his dissertation research, titled Do Discrimination and Adversity Drive the Inflammatory Basis of Suicidal Ideation Among Black and Latinx Young Adults? funded by an NRSA F31 National Research Service Award under the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). He has completed clinical practica with the Lone Star Circle of Care, a federally qualified health clinic, the McLean OCD Institute of Houston and the Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Women and Children, Southwest in Houston, Texas. Victor Zuluaga, Ph.D. student, economics Victor Zuluaga is a graduate student in economics at the University of Houston. Zuluaga is primarily interested in questions in trade and labor economics. Before beginning his doctorate, Zuluaga worked at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in Washington, D.C. and at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia. The popularity of learning languages at Northern Irelands schools is slowly recovering from the pandemic, a report by the British Council has found. The Language Trends Northern Ireland report found that the decline in language learning at post-primary schools is plateauing, with Spanish emerging as the most popular, overtaking French. The research was led by Dr Ian Collen, director of the Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (NICILT) at Queens University Belfast, and follows a previous report which found that language lessons were hardest hit during Covid-19. This years report found that Spanish is now the language most frequently taught in Northern Irelands schools at both GCSE and A-level, overtaking French as the most popular GCSE language in summer 2021. Up until 2021 French was the most studied language at GCSE, however, the language has been on a steep decline since the turn of the millennium. Meanwhile, Irish has remained relatively stable at GCSE since 2007, and at A-level, it has now replaced French as the second most popular language. German figures continue to decline, with the subject offered only in 17% of responding schools at Key Stage 3, and nearly a 50% decrease in uptake at GCSE from 2002 to 2022. Schools also offer several languages as part of extra-curricular or enrichment subjects at Key Stage 4, including Polish, Portuguese, Arabic and Mandarin, with a growing number of schools offering newcomer pupils the opportunity to take exams in their home or community languages (63.2% of schools in 2023 compared to 56.3% in 2021). Despite this, there has been a sharp decline in the uptake of these languages at GCSE during the pandemic. In terms of languages that students would like to learn, Italian came out on top. Almost one in five (19%) of Year 9 pupils expressed an interest in learning Italian in addition to the language(s) they already learn at school, followed by Spanish (16.6%) and then Irish (11.3%). When asked about the value of languages, almost all pupils do not see the potential for languages to be a part of their future careers with just 14.2% of the 1,158 Year 9 pupils surveyed expressing any likelihood of using languages in the future. However, motivation for language learning in Year 9 is still high with most young people (74%) enjoying languages at Key Stage 3. Meanwhile, in primary schools, languages are also recovering, having almost collapsed following the pandemic. The report shows that 51% of responding primary schools currently teach languages as part of the curriculum, with Spanish the main language taught at Key Stage 2, closely followed by French. When asked if languages should be statutory at Key Stage 3, 84% of responding schools agreed, with Northern Ireland remaining the only part of the UK and Ireland where pupils at primary school do not have an entitlement to learn a language as part of the curriculum. Dr Collen said that following years of decline, language learning in Northern Ireland has stabilised. Whilst other UK jurisdictions and Ireland are investing in language learning, there is an urgent need to start similar endeavours in Northern Ireland to ensure we have a multilingual workforce ready to grow our economy, he said. It would be timely to overhaul curriculum content and assessment of languages to better reflect the lives of young people today, and offer appropriate vocational qualifications in languages through progression pathways for all learners. Jonathan Stewart, director, British Council Northern Ireland, said the latest report gives cause for optimism. Our increasingly multicultural society makes it more important than ever to promote languages in our schools, equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in future careers, he said. Strong language skills enhance communication and interpersonal skills, expand career opportunities, and develop intercultural awareness. The winners of this years recipients of the Walter Cronkite Awards had a common theme: Combating misinformation. So when award sponsor USC Annenbergs Norman Lear Center held a National Press Club luncheon for the honorees last week, there was a bit of reminder of the stakes: During the ceremony news unfolded of the unsealing of former President Donald Trumps federal indictment. More from Deadline Many of the winners reported on Trump and his false claims of a stolen 2020 election, something that he has repeated during his current election campaign. Hes also called the indictment itself the boxes hoax. Martin Kaplan, director of The Norman Lear Center, said, Disinformation is an apt focus in particular for the Cronkite award, not only because it feels like disinformation is everywhere all at once, but because the namesake of this award is Walter Cronkite who was known as the most trusted man in America. ABC Newss Jonathan Karl, an honoree for Reporting on the Big Lie, was not present but said in a video message, Theres one area where we as journalists must take sides. We stand for truth, we stand against disinformation. When confronted with those who tell us that up is down or day is night, or that a free and fair election was stolen, or that an attack on the Capitol is nothing more than a tourist visit, we must take a side. The truth is the truth. PBS/WGBHs Frontline received multiple awards, including for Ramona Diaz for A Thousand Cuts; A.C. Thompson and Samuel Black for Plot to Overturn the Election; Michael Kirk, Mike Wiser and Vanessa Fica for Lies, Politics and Democracy; and Gesbeen Mohammad and Vasily Kolotilov for Putins War at Home. Raney Aronson-Rath also accepted an award for the show overall. Other honorees: The NBC 5 Investigates team at KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth for Against All Enemies; Kyung Lah and Anna-Maja Rappard for The Lies Undermining Democracy on CNN; Margaret Brennan and Mary Hager for Fallout After January 6th on CBS News Face the Nation; Terry Moran of Impact x Nightline for Threat to Democracy from ABC News Studios; NBC News Ben Collins for A Status Report on the Information War; Jordan Klepper of Comedy Centrals The Daily Show for Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe: Hungary for Democracy; Madeleine May and Alexis Johnson of VICE News for Death Threats to Election Workers We Called Back; Joe Phelps and Roko Belic for Trust Me from the Getting Better Foundation; and Chris Ingalls of KING 5 News in Seattle for The Fraud Crusade. The award was in partnership with the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Rappard and Lah reported on the post-election audit in Arizona by the state GOP that was led by the Cyber Ninjas. The audit still showed that Joe Biden won the state. Rappard said that it is the bravery of ordinary Americans standing up to the lies, threats and even abuse in their own communities that form the very spine of our stories. 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. Elon Musk has had strong, if not controversial opinions about certain matters, and he shares yet another opinion on Twitter about technology's negative effects on humanity, despite him being the CEO of several companies that are tech-centric. Elon Musk Agrees with Kaczynski Theodore John Kaczynski, more known as Ted "Unabomber" Kaczynski, was a bomber who terrorized civilians between 1978 to 1995. The Unabomber died in prison just this Saturday, which led to a Twitter user quoting a statement the 81-year-old terrorist said. Kaczynski believed that the Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster to the human race, to which Elon Musk replied: "He might not be wrong." This seems a bit off given that he's the CEO of companies that contribute to technological advancements. He might not be wrong Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2023 One of his biggest companies, Tesla, largely contributed to the ongoing rise of production in electric vehicles. Although vehicles powered by renewable energy are a good thing, it does invalidate the idea that technology could be detrimental to humanity. Musk is also the CEO of Neuralink, a company that is currently developing a chip that can be implanted in the brain. As a matter of fact, the company has finally gotten FDA approval to conduct human trials, as reported by The Guardian. Even though there are many issues that can come with the technology, its main goal is also to help people who have limited mobility due to certain medical conditions. The tech billionaire has also created X.AI to develop artificial intelligence that will not cross lines. Perhaps Musk is referring to other kinds of technology, which are the ones that cause actual harm like military technology or ones that destroy the planet. Still, none of them, even the ones that help people, would be possible if the Industrial Revolution did not take place. It's not just the fact that Elon Musk is a tech billionaire, with emphasis on the "tech." One reason why his agreeing to the statement may be controversial is because of the deeds of the man who said them, considering that Kaczynski was a terrorist. Read Also: Elon Musk's Tweets about 'Lab Leak' Theory Could Affect Tesla Operations in China Ted 'Unabomber' Kaczynski Kaczynski, nicknamed Unabomber, created homemade bombs which caused the death of three people and injured 23 in the late 70s up to the mid-90s. He targeted academics, businessmen, as well as civilians during his attacks. The Unabomber used the US mail system to deliver the bombs, with his actions fueled by hatred of the modern world and technology. He was eventually apprehended in 1996 by no less than 40 FBI agents, according to The New York Times. He was also regarded as a genius, and not because of his ideologies, but because of his academic prowess. As a boy, Kaczynski scored 167 on an IQ test and got into Harvard at 16 years old. He was even skilled in mathematics. Reports say that while in graduate school at the University of Michigan, "a member of his dissertation committee estimated that only 10 or 12 people in the country" understood his work. He even became an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Related: Tesla CEO Elon Musk: SEC Won't Remove Tweets Regulation 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.) Endava DAVA, a technology company specializing in advanced solutions, has announced its acquisition of DEK Corporation Pty Ltd, DEK Technologies Sweden AB and DEK Vietnam Company Ltd (known collectively as "DEK"). DEK focuses on the development of innovative software and hardware solutions, including embedded systems, real-time applications, telecommunications and data communications. Established in 1999, DEK is a company with 660 active employees. It is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and has satellite offices in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and Stockholm, Sweden. DEK possesses expertise across various industry sectors, with a notable focus on telecommunications. Through the recent acquisition of DEK, Endava continues to pursue its diversification strategy by engaging in M&A activities, thereby strengthening its operations in Australia. This marks the third acquisition of an Australia-based company by Endava within the last fiscal year, following the successful integration of Lexicon in October 2022 and Mudbath in May 2023. Endava PLC Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus Endava PLC Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus Endava PLC Sponsored ADR price-consensus-chart | Endava PLC Sponsored ADR Quote Expansion to Boost Endavas Top Line As of Mar 31, 2023, Endava provided its services to clients in various sectors, including Payments and Financial Services, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Consumer Products, Retail, Mobility and Healthcare. With a global presence, Endava served clients from multiple locations, including Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe, with a total of 11,742 Endava team members serving these clients. Endavas recent acquisitions include DEK, Lexicon and Mudbath. These acquisitions serve multiple purposes for Endava. The company expands its presence in the Asia Pacific region, enabling it to better serve its clients, employees and local communities. Additionally, the acquisition of DEK bolsters Endava's telecommunications capability and contributes to its growth and customer base in Sweden. DAVA wants to increase its presence around the world with these acquisitions. These acquisitions will boost the number of customers as well as the top line of the company in the upcoming quarters. Shares of Endava have declined 40.2% year to date against the Zacks Computer and Technology sectors increase of 32.4% in the same time frame. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DAVAs fourth-quarter 2023 earnings is pegged at a profit of 46 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 48.31%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $810.78 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 2.05%. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Currently, Endava carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks, which investors can consider, are Cinemark CNK, Crocs CROX and DraftKings DKNG, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Shares of Cinemark have gained 115.4% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cinemarks second-quarter 2023 revenues is pegged at $868.74 million, indicating a year-over-year rise of 16.75%. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 52 cents per share, which has remained unchanged over the past 30 days. Shares of Crocs have gained 7.2% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Crocs second-quarter 2023 revenues is pegged at $1.05 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 8.35%. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $2.95 per share, which has decreased by 1 cent over the past 30 days. Shares of DraftKings have gained 118.9% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DraftKingss second-quarter 2023 revenues is pegged at $714.58 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 53.28%. The consensus mark is pegged at a loss of 29 cents per share, which has increased by 2 cents over the past 30 days. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Crocs, Inc. (CROX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cinemark Holdings Inc (CNK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Endava PLC Sponsored ADR (DAVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report DraftKings Inc. (DKNG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research UK's Heathrow Airport has busiest month since the pandemic in May LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's Heathrow said 6.73 million passengers passed through the hub in May, making it the airport's busiest month since the pandemic as travel demand continues to bounce back. May passenger numbers at the airport are just below the 6.77 million passengers it carried in the same month in 2019, and are higher than last summer's July peak of 6.31 million passengers. Heathrow, the busiest airport in Britain and western Europe, has said it expects total passenger numbers for 2023 to reach 96% of 2019 levels at its top estimate. Last year, the airport put a cap on passengers after it struggled to ramp up operations to match demand following the end of COVID-19 restrictions, but it has said it is better prepared this year. It said on Monday it had been able to manage during May despite strikes by some staff and it was confident that further industrial action this summer would not result in flight cancellations. Britain's Civil Aviation Authority has told Heathrow that the fees it charges passengers need to fall between 2024-2026 but the airport, owned by Spain's Ferrovial, Qatar Investment Authority and others, is appealing the ruling by arguing that lower charges will undermine investment. (Reporting by Sarah Young, Editing by Paul Sandle) Chloe Mitchell: Suspected human remains found in missing woman case - two men have now been charged Two men have been charged in connection with the disappearance of a 21-year-old woman in Northern Ireland. Chloe Mitchell was last seen by her family on the evening of Friday 2 June, and was captured on CCTV in the early hours of the following morning in the centre of Ballymena. Last night, officers confirmed a murder inquiry had been launched after suspected human remains were discovered in the town. A 26-year-old man has since been charged with murder, while a 34-year-old man has been charged with assisting offenders. They both appeared before Ballymena Magistrates' Court this morning. The discovery of suspected human remains comes after extensive searches across Ballymena over recent days. Forensic officers attended a flat in the James Street area of Ballymena on Sunday evening. The property had been cordoned off by police earlier in the week. In an earlier statement after the suspected human remains were found, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar said: "While there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder inquiry 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 are very much with Chloe's 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." Pedestrians walk on a street in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap 'More women in workforce boosts growth rate' By Lee Yeon-woo Korea's gender gap in labor force participation between men and women was recently marked as the seventh-highest among the 38 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). According to a recent OECD report titled "Joining Forces for Gender Equality: What is Holding Us Back?" the gap between Koreans aged 15 to 64 was 18.1 percent in 2021. This was 1.7 times higher or 7.2 percentage points above the OECD average of 10.9 percent. Korea was among the eight countries that showcased the largest gap compared to the OECD average. Out of 38 countries, 26 maintained a single-digit gap, including major economies such as France (6.2 percent), Canada (7 percent) and the United Kingdom (7.2 percent). Lithuania had the lowest gap at 2 percent, followed by Finland (3.2 percent), Israel (3.3 percent), and Sweden (4.1 percent). Only six countries Italy, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and Turkey showed a larger gap than Korea. The report stated that challenges posed by aging populations and declining fertility rates are leading to shrinking workforces in many OECD countries. It suggested that "boosting female employment could be a crucial factor in maintaining economic growth and living standards" in the coming decades. The report also indicated that closing gender gaps in labor force participation and working hours could increase Korea's potential gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth by an additional 0.2 percentage points per year by 2060. Earlier this week, the Paris-based organization lowered its 2023 economic growth forecast for Korea to 1.5 percent from 1.6 percent. During the assessment, it noted that the country's future policy should "focus on reconciling career and family, including greater public financing or parental leave and expanding after-school care to boost female employment and fertility" to tackle challenges against slowed growth. OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli, left, speaks with First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun, right, during his attendance at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, Thursday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Economy and Finance PURE POETRY: The cover of 'Measureless Melodies: Focus on Vietnam' published by 'Modern Poetry in Translation', No 1, 2023 print edition.Photo Modern Poetry in Translation 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. LITERARY LEGEND: Playwright, poet, and essayist Luu Quang Vu and his wife, Xuan Quynh. Photo courtesy of the poet's family 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. WOMAN OF LETTERS: Novelist, poet and translator Hien Trang. Photo courtesy of the poet. 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 HCM CITY Viet Nam is seeking investment in clean energy as part of its scheme to develop a carbon market to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Speaking at a recent meeting in HCM City, Karl Van den Bossche, Belgian ambassador to Viet Nam, said Viet Nam has potential to attract investment in clean energy which has an important role in achieving net zero emissions. "With the ambition to achieve net-zero emissions, the cost of Viet Nams decarbonisation roadmap by 2040 is estimated at a hefty US$368 billion," he said. According to the World Bank, it will cost the country 6.8 per cent of its GDP every year to achieve it. It mainly comprises the cost of renewable energy and managing the transition away from coal, which could cost $64 billion for the 2022-40 period, it said. The Government has approved a national action plan for green growth that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a ratio of GDP. These emissions have increased rapidly in the past three decades in direct proportion to the countrys growth, experts said. Viet Nam has a high emission intensity per GDP unit compared to other countries in the Southeast Asian region of around 0.35kg carbon-dioxide per $1. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, total emissions will reach 928 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent by 2030 and 1.5 billion tonnes by 2050 in a moderate scenario. Carbon market Experts proposed Viet Nam promote the use of carbon pricing instruments with a focus on developing a carbon market. Le Xuan Nghia, former vice chairman of the National Financial Supervisory Commission, said Viet Nam has many advantages if it seeks to develop such a market since it has 14.7 million hectares of forests. The country has in place a legal framework and policies to establish a carbon market such as the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will operate a carbon credit trading system to manage and monitor the market. It will start trialling the carbon credit market in 2025 before setting up a carbon trade exchange in 2028. A carbon market allows countries to sell to or buy from countries that emit more or less than their committed target. Viet Nam is estimated to be able to sell 57 million carbon credits to international organisations annually at $5 each. VNS SINGAPORE The Vietnamese Trade Office in Singapore is working to promote the export of Vietnamese fruits, particularly longan and lychee, to Singapore. Accordingly, a series of activities, including the Vietnamese Goods Week programme, as well as business networking and lychee testing events, have taken place in the island nation. Further support from the office is also available for any Vietnamese localities and enterprises with intention to export fresh lychee and longan to the market. As per data from the Singaporean business administration, last year, the country spent 6.78 million Singapore dollars (US$5.02 million) and 4.6 million Singapore dollars on importing fresh lychee and longan, respectively. Of the sums, shipments of the two fruits from Viet Nam were worth 43,000 Singapore dollars and 4,000 Singapore dollars. Viet Nam's lychee and longan have so far entered many demanding markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Australia. With their quality, brand, and potential, they see ample room to gain a foothold in Singapore. VNS HA NOI The capital city plans to build more industrial zones and industrial clusters to attract foreign investment, said deputy chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen. The city would focus on speeding up site clearance and perfecting the infrastructure system, Quyen said during a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Planning and Investment to discuss solutions to further attract foreign investment into the capital late last week. Le Quang Long, head of the Ha Noi Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority, said the city had 10 industrial parks which were home to foreign-invested projects from more than 20 countries and territories. But it could only attract additional capital from existing projects due to the shortage of available land in its industrial zones. Nguyen Anh Duong, director of the committee's Ha Noi Investment Promotion Agency, said the city's promotion activities which provided some essential information on projects calling for investment failed to attract the interest of potential investors. In addition, information technology application in these promotion activities had not been fully optimised, resulting in inefficient online promotion activities, Duong said. To address this issue, Quyen said Ha Noi would direct relevant agencies to improve the quality of investment promotion activities. It would concentrate on urging investors to fully comply with the commitments made in their investment licences, Quyen said. He also asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to strengthen information sharing and continue to provide support, working closely with the city to improve the effectiveness of attracting foreign investment to the capital. Statistics from Ha Noi Department of Planning and Investment revealed that the city had to date attracted over US$69.84 billion worth of foreign investment, ranking second among localities nationwide. Real estate had been the sector attracting the lion share of capital with 63 per cent, followed by trading services with 9 per cent, and construction and science and technology with 5 per cent. The department said that foreign investment inflow into the city had seen a significant increase over the past four months of 2023 with $1.82 billion, representing a remarkable 260 per cent increase over the same period last year. Numerous projects in sectors such as healthcare, education, electricity, processing, and manufacturing have either received new grants or witnessed an increase in capital, with investments of $1 million or more each. The encouraging result amid the challenging context had helped the city rank first in terms of foreign investment attraction in the period, demonstrating the confidence of foreign investors in the city's investment climate, it said. Despite its success in foreign investment attraction, the city still encountered with several challenges, the department's deputy director Nguyen Ngoc Tu said. Tu outlined lengthy investment preparation and project implementation procedures, a lack of synchronised technical infrastructure, limited land availability, and comparatively high land rents - 1.5 to 2 times the rates of neighbouring localities, as among difficulties. VNS HA NOI LIXIL power brands, GROHE and American Standard, celebrated the outstanding achievements in the architecture, interior design, real estate and property development sectors at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2023-24 held in Bangkok recently. This years awards aimed to highlight the breadth and depth of exceptional projects and industry excellence across the region. The event recognised 362 winning companies from across the Asia Pacific and culminated in a gala event with the announcement and presentation of the GROHE Award for Sustainability and the American Standard Award for Innovation. The International Property Awards is renowned as one of the property industry's most significant and prestigious global accolades. The Asia Pacific Property Awards, a branch of the International Property Awards (IPA), attracted over 850 registrations from companies across the region. Entries are meticulously judged by a panel of more than 100 industry experts and peers based on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability. Winning an IPA award enhances the reputation and branding of the participating companies, with increased public visibility of their award-winning projects and increased networking opportunities. Satoshi Konagai, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Asia Pacific, said: The property industry is steadily growing across the region, and we note increasing demand for projects that enhance personal health and well-being and sustainability, particularly in premium property projects. We are pleased to curate a special showcase for IPA guests of our GROHE SPA Rainshower Aqua Ceiling Shower and American Standard Acacia SupaSleek solutions to meet this growing need. As a global leader in water technology, LIXIL touches the lives of over one billion consumers across the world with bathroom and kitchen solutions from a portfolio of industry leading brands, including GROHE and American Standard. VNS HA NOI Firms are clamouring for tough measures to accelerate the pay-out of value-added tax (VAT) refunds to lift them out of financial hardship. Thang Van Thong, a representative from the Association of Vietnam Timber and Forest Products (VIFOREST), said delays in VAT refunds had driven scores of timber firms to the brink of bankruptcy. By 2023, delayed refunds in the sector had amounted to over VN6 trillion (US$255 million). Delays in tax refunds were running rampant because tax reimbursement requires proof of origin (P/O), which is difficult for timber firms to obtain given the multiple layers of sellers in the supply chain. Origin tracing is so complicated a task that if passed to the police, Thong said, it would take them around 15 years to complete. And the situation is not better for manioc exporters, who are required to disclose their partners' identities to be eligible for VAT refunds. The rationale behind this requirement is to prevent bad exporters from using bogus identities to commit tax evasion. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) believed that the P/O requirement is too burdensome for firms because they buy feedstock from multiple suppliers and it is not an easy feat to trace their timbers back to every single one of them. According to a survey by the Private Economic Development Research Board (Board IV), about 51 per cent of the respondents said they were facing cash flow problems and 45 per cent were hampered by red tape. "And many firms have been driven into indebtedness because of delays in tax refunds. Some of them have not received tax refunds for almost three years," the survey said. The VIFOREST representative called for the abolishment of the legal document that requires P/O as a prerequisite for tax refunds. He suggested firms be eligible for tax reimbursement upon entering into a commercial contract. "Firms with good track records should receive tax refunds first and have the refunds reviewed later," Thong added. Board IV urged tax authorities to accelerate the payment of tax refunds to free up money for firms. The board also suggested exporters be tax-refunded for a batch of products within three months from the date they export the batch. VCCI Vice President Hoang Quang Phong said a delay of two to three years in tax refunds would put many firms out of business. He suggested firms be tax-reimbursed for a transaction as soon as the transaction is verified by the authorities. Truong Thanh uc, Director of ANVI Law Firm, said the current procedures for tax refunds are cumbersome because it takes at least one to two years for firms to get reimbursed from tax authorities. He called for an ex-post approach to tax refunds to improve firms' cash flow. His suggestion goes as follows: all firms will be immediately tax-refunded and only those with suspicious activities will get their refunds reviewed by tax authorities. Tran inh Thien, former head of Vietnam Institute of Economics, shared Phong's view. He called for simplified procedures for tax refunds to help firms get their money back from the taxman more easily. In late May, Prime Minister asked Ministry of Finance to accelerate the pay-out of tax refunds to ease firms' financial problems. He said: "Ministry of Finance should chase up tax refunds to help firms and individuals". VNS HCM CITY Hundreds of new picture books on a variety of topics by Vietnamese and international authors have been introduced to increase childrens interest in reading. Young author Huynh Trong Khang has just released his latest childrens book titled Khu Rung Trong Chai (Forest in the Bottle) at the third HCM City Book Fair for Children held earlier this month. The 60-page book, published by Phuong Nam Books, has attractive and colourful drawings by young painter Nguyen Nhan, but contains a serious message on environmental protection. Khu Rung Trong Chai tells the story of a boy named An An who is given a seed by a candy vendor. He plants it in a bottle. The seed later grows into a forest. As time goes by, the forest is gradually disappearing, and being replaced by skyscrapers and pollution. However, by the end, the forest is still there. The book sends lessons about loving our earth and environmental protection to both children and adults, and calls for them to act for our planet, Khang said. Children can plant their own seeds and turn them into small forests. Millions of small forests combine to form big forests that help to save our planet. Born in 1994 in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, Khang is known for short stories about life and youth such as Mo Phan Tuoi Tre (Tomb of Youth) and Be Trang Coi (Lonely Moon). In 2020, Khang collaborated with author Chung Bao Ngan and illustrator Tran Quoc Anh to release the bilingual book Bo Khong Phai e An (Bo Is not for Eating) in Vietnamese and English. The book, published by the Viet Nam Women Publishing House, consists of three short stories about the adventures of an avocado named Bo to discover the world. Khang said his favourite topic was philosophy, but he wanted to challenge himself. I also love to write for children and bring them quality books, he said. The picture poem book titled Ba To La Runner (My Dad is a Runner) by author Bui Phuong Tam is published by the Kim ong Publishing House with two editions in Vietnamese and English. The book brings child readers the story of a father who tries to balance between his passion and his family, and motivate children to pursue their own dreams and passions and make the right choices in life. The 48-page book is illustrated by Jeet ZDung, co-author and illustrator of two popular childrens bilingual graphic novels Chang Hoang Da Gau (Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear) and Chang Hoang Da Voi (Saving Hnon: Chang and the Elephant). Tam began writing for children as a mother. Her first picture book, This is Tet!, has been translated into many languages and has become a favorite book for Vietnamese children in many countries. She is pursuing studies in early childhood education at Portland State University in the US. Kids encyclopedia The Tre (Youth) Publishing House has released a box set of Vietnamese editions of 20 titles from the famous series The Knowledge, Horrible Science, Horrible Geography and Horrible Histories These books are written and illustrated by Kjartan Poskitt, Hans Magnus Enzensberger, Anita Ganeri, Terry Deary, Martin Oliver, and Nick Arnold. The works consist of funny stories and illustrations that help children to increase their interest in and knowledge of science, history, and geography. According to the publisher, the box set is suitable for children aged 10 and above, and even adults who want to learn more knowledge. The publishing house also presents a set of 16 colour comic books titled Lich Su Viet Nam (The History of Viet Nam). Each book tells the story of the life and career of Vietnamese heroes such as the Trung Sisters and Tran Hung ao, as well as the countrys important events. All books are available at bookstores across the country. VNS Gettyimagesbank Korea's exports moved up 1.2 percent on-year in the first 10 days of June due to a greater number of working days, data showed Monday, although overseas sales of semiconductors continued to remain sluggish. The country's outbound shipments reached $15.3 billion in the June 1-10 period, compared with $15 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. The number of working days over the period came to seven, up from the previous year's 6.5. In terms of daily average, Korea's export volume dropped 6 percent on-year. An official from the agency noted the 10-day tally may not represent the export trend accurately as it is strongly influenced by the number of working days. Imports fell 20.7 percent on-year to $16.7 billion during the period, resulting in a trade deficit of $1.4 billion. By sector, outbound shipments of semiconductors, the key engine of Asia's No. 4 economy, reached $2.18 billion over the first 10 days, down 31.1 percent from a year earlier. Exports of automobiles, on the other hand, more than doubled to $1.47 billion. Overseas sales of petroleum and steel products lost 35.8 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, over the period, the data also showed. By destination, exports to China, the country's top trading partner, fell 10.9 percent to $3.26 billion. Those to the United States, on the other hand, rose 6.9 percent to $2.57 billion. Exports to the European Union and Vietnam increased 26.9 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. In May, Korea's overall exports fell for the eighth consecutive month, plunging 15.2 percent on-year to $52.24 billion. The decline came as exports of semiconductors sank 36.2 percent on falling global demand. (Yonhap) HA NOI PM Pham Minh Chinh has visited two thermal power plants in Quang Ninh Province to review the progress of electricity generation. The two facilities playing host to the top brass on June 11 were Mong Duong and Quang Ninh Thermal Power Plants, the backbone of the province's power infrastructure. At Mong Duong Plant, PM Chinh gave gifts to workers in appreciation for the hard work they had done to keep the power supply stable. He also underlined the role of power consumption forecasting in production planning and resource management. He called on the facility to stay on top of the latest technologies to improve its efficiency and keep up with international standards. It is worth noting that Mong Duong is the first power plant of EVN to employ Circulating Fluidised Boilers, a state-of-the-art technology in emission control. At Quang Ninh Plant, PM praised workers for their efforts in electricity generation during peak power demand. He called for frequent inspection and maintenance of machinery to prevent any engine failure that could result in a power outage. The head of the Government also visited a coal mine under the management of Ha Tu Coal JSC on the same day. The PM urged the company to embrace the circular economy model to reduce the impact of coal mining on the environment. For instance, he suggested that waste rock from the process could be reused to backfill roads and highways. In his meeting with state-owned corporations in the evening, the PM requested Vietnam Electricity spare no effort in keeping power shortages at bay. He also urged Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group to take measures to feed sufficient coal to thermal power plants. He also asked the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises to take an active role in removing obstacles in the way of the electricity generators amid the prolonged heat waves. Quang Ninh is Viet Nam's powerhouse in terms of power and coal production. The province has seven thermal power plants with a total capacity of 5.6 MW. In the first five months of 2023, the province produced 16.7 billion KWh of electricity, accounting for 15 per cent of the country's output. As the province is home to over 100,000 workers in the power and coal industries, PM pressed for more social housing to accommodate the workers. He said the province should set aside land and tap into the credit package of VN120 trillion (US$5.1 billion) to get the job done. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday sent congratulatory messages to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos on the countrys Independence Day (June 12, 1898-2023). National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue meanwhile, congratulated Philippine Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. Also on this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son extended his message of congratulations to Enrique Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. Viet Nam and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on July 12, 1976. In late 2015, the two countries signed an agreement to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. VNS Undaunted UN peacekeepers With a high rate of female officers joining UN peacekeeping, Viet Nam is helping to enhance the diversity in peace missions. Vietnamese women have taken different roles in the military and police forces and military field hospitals in Africa. Many say serving in the mission is an honour and a precious experience that they have in their career. HA NOI As people and businesses across the country try to save energy due to power shortages, advertisements for devices that claim to reduce nearly half of a households usual electricity consumption are rampant on the Internet but their effectiveness remains questionable. It is easy to find advertising posts selling energy-saving equipment on social networking and e-commerce platforms that are said to reduce up to 40 per cent of electricity bills per month, and that the seller will refund in full if the devices are inefficient. In addition to saving electricity, some devices are supposed to prevent lightning strikes, helping ensure the safety of the whole family's electrical system. The user instructions is to simply plug the device into any electrical outlet in the house, preferably near appliances that use large capacity and are constantly in operation such as air conditioners or refrigerators. This small-sized additional equipment will then optimise the capacity of the main appliances, said the sellers. Advertisers added that the principle of these energy-saving devices is based on harmonic filtering, thereby, reducing power loss. Consumers can easily feel lost in the "matrix" of energy-saving products, with numerous different models, types, and origins. The selling price of these products ranges from a few hundred thousand to a million Vietnamese ong each. In the hope of reducing the amount of electricity use and cost during the summer, many people have bought the product. Nguyen Danh T., a customer in ong a District, Ha Noi, said that the result disappointed him. The first month I thought it was to save electricity, but the bills increased the next month. I called to ask the sellers and they still even insist that their equipment can save energy, he told VTC News. Tran Trong Trang, an industrial and civil electrical engineer in Ha ong District, also bought one of the energy-saving devices to test out for himself and confirmed that it has no use in saving electricity as advertised. He said: Inside the device are only a simple circuit, a capacitor, and eight resistors, a current compression diode for the red indicator light on the device. With this simple device, Im certain that it does not have the ability to save electricity. People should consult with information from research units or customer care services of electricity companies to avoid losing money for falsely-advertised devices. Not as advertised In the face of the boom in so-called energy-saving devices, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has issued a warning to consumers against these products. "These devices energy-saving ability is not certified by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, or reputable specialised units in energy-saving in the market for their power-saving efficiency as advertised. An experiment was carried out by the Central Power Electronics Measurement Equipment Manufacturing Centre and the Central Power Corporations Electricity Purchase Supervisory Board on the electricity saving box sold on the market. EVN said in an announcement on its official website: After the experiment, the device when used can reduce the magnitude of the current through the load, but cannot reduce the amount of power consumed, leading to an increase in power consumption. The equipment has been falsely advertised for sale and deceiving customers, the announcement said. Potential harm According to Dr Tran Van Thinh, former head of the Electrical Engineering Department at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, these devices use compensation capacitors, which are prone to overheating, short circuits and explosions. These devices can damage household electrical equipment by making the current unstable. If there is equipment that can directly interfere and cause the electric metre to slow down, it also means that the person using the device is violating regulations on electricity use and can be subjected to penalties according to the laws. Dr Nguyen Bach Phuc, head of the Electric, Electronics and Informatics Institute in HCM City said that this device can save energy at a minuscule level, having virtually no effect on the households electricity system. He said: The best thing to do is to not waste money on these devices, because it has no use in saving energy and can even potentially damage the electric system. VNS HA NOI Twenty-six people have been arrested and a number of weapons seized after an armed attack at a police headquarters that left four police officers dead, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security Lieutenant General To An Xo said on Monday. "Efforts to hunt down the remaining fugitives will continue," he added. As previously reported, on Sunday morning, gunmen entered the building in Cu Kuin District of the Central Highlands province of ak Lak and began opening fire. Two people taken hostage were rescued, while a third hostage escaped by themselves. The building is the HQ for the Peoples Committees of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes. Local authorities have quickly taken measures to stablise the situation, support the bereaved families and the injured, and urged local residents to stay calm and follow authorities instructions to ensure safety. After having a working session with ak Lak Province's authorities on Monday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang led a Government delegation to visit the victims of the attack and their families in ak Lak, asking the local authorities to take care and provide support for them both materially and mentally. He also visited the two police officers of Ea Ktur Commune who were injured in the incident and are being treated at the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital, Lieutenant Le Kien Cuong, 35, and Captain am Binh Bop, 30. They have passed the critical stage and the conditions are stable at the moment. The Deputy PM asked the medical staff to pay attention and focus best resources to ensure their swift recovery. Also on Monday morning, Colonel General Huynh Chien Thang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army, led a delegation from the Ministry of Defence to inspect the scene of the attack. Thang and the army delegation encouraged the forces to continue to guard and protect the scene in the two communes, Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur, and requested the functional forces, self-defence forces, and local authorities to maintain a high level of vigilance, ensure security and order, and guarantee the safety of the people. On Sunday afternoon, Minister of Public Security General To Lam signed a decision to posthumously promote the ranks of the four police officers killed in the attacks and assist the families of the dead and injured officers. Each of the two injured officers will receive VN 50 million (nearly US$2,200) as support, while the family of the dead officers will receive VN100 million. VNS A new report published by consulting firm Access Partnership (UK) said that retail export turnover from business to consumer (B2C) via e-commerce in Vietnam reached 3.5 billion USD (about 80,700 billion VND) dong) last year. This figure accounts for about 1% of total exports in 2022. The Access Partnership said the data was calculated based on data from Vietnam's customs authorities, statistics and information from the Asian Development Bank. , Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank. Based on recent export trends and the current rate businesses adopt e-commerce, this unit forecasts that e-commerce export revenue in Vietnam could increase to 5.5 billion VND. USD (VND 124.2 trillion) in 2027, with an annual growth rate of 9%. This is called a "business as usual" (BAU-Business as Usual) scenario. In a better scenario called "MSME in charge", Access Partnership forecasts the turnover could reach 13 billion USD (296.3 trillion VND) by 2027. To achieve this number, micro-enterprises and small and medium enterprises (MSME) must accelerate the rate of e-commerce adoption to export their products and services compared to the present. "Vietnam is in an advantageous position to reap significant benefits from the rapid development of the e-commerce sector," the report commented. The advantages are mainly due to restrictions from the pandemic that help to change consumption habits and a favourable policy environment for exports through e-commerce. Access Partnership says 95% of MSME respondents expect B2C export growth via e-commerce of at least 10% annually over the next five years. "Cross-border e-commerce is assessed to have great potential and is in line with the government's policy of developing the digital economy," said Ms Lai Viet Anh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (iDEA) commented at the "Cross-Border E-Commerce Conference" held by the Department and Amazon Global Selling on June 9 in Ho Chi Minh City. According to Ms Viet Anh, many market research units expect Vietnam's turnover to exceed tens of billions of dollars in the next four years. However, for this number to become a reality, Vietnamese enterprises need to overcome four main barriers in terms of import market regulations, competitiveness, costs (marketing, logistics) and market information. To help businesses overcome obstacles, the government now has several policies such as supporting 50% of the cost of opening and maintaining booths according to Decree 80, stimulating cross-border e-commerce demand under Decision 645 or a project to train 5,000 businesses with cross-border e-commerce knowledge and skills to participate in global distribution platforms. However, as noted by the Access Partnership, businesses still want to receive more support. This unit recommends that Vietnam consult many government support schemes for sellers from other countries. For example, China's "Comprehensive Pilot" (CPZ) for cross-border e-commerce. Among them, Hangzhou CPZs have developed two platforms, an online integrated service platform and an offline industrial park platform, allowing information exchange between government agencies along the chain value, including customs, financing and taxes. These platforms have reduced the time required for customs clearance and simplified the export declaration process for MSMEs. Assessing the situation of B2C exports across borders in the first 5 months of the year, Gijae Seong, Managing Director of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, did not share specific data but said that the revenue of Vietnamese sellers on Amazon is still positive growth. Also read: E-commerce platforms expected to boost Vietnams exports "The growth rate of Vietnam's exports on Amazon is the highest in the world and is being noticed by the corporation. Not many countries have built a cross-border export model like here," he said. The reason is that the number of new sellers increased sharply and quickly. Vietnam has abundant strength and capacity. Read more: Amazon FBA: How to sell on Amazon from Vietnam? In 2022, the number of Vietnamese sellers on Amazon will increase by 80% compared to 2021, to thousands of units. This helped export value increase by 45%, with more than 10 million "Made in Vietnam" products sold abroad. "2023 still has global economic challenges, but cross-border e-commerce opportunities still await," added Mr Gijae Seong. To grasp, he recommends businesses pay attention to 3 aspects: reading customer tastes through digital tools, thereby innovating products to match needs, and building a brand to add value to the product. Secretary of Bac Ninh Party Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan conducted an inspection of the construction progress at Amkor Technology Vietnam's plant last week. Tuan expressed his joy at the on-schedule construction of the Amkor plant, while ensuring labour safety. This facility will not only be Amkor's largest and most advanced plant globally, but also a model working environment for the group. Amkor plant in Bac Ninh is a key project, marking the beginning of a new trend in attracting new investment to the province, Tuan said. During the meeting, Kim Sung Hun, CEO of Amkor Technology Vietnam, spoke of the Amkor's beginnings and establishment in 1968 to the South Korean group's current status, operating in 12 countries around the world. Amkor is one of the world's largest providers of outsourced semiconductor packaging, design, and test services. The firm offers deep submicron wafer fabrication, wafer probe testing, integrated circuit packaging assembly and design, and reliability testing. Amkor Technology chose Yen Phong II-C Industrial Park (IP) for the plant's construction due to Bac Ninh's favourable investment environment, robust infrastructure, and its synchronised utility networks encompassing electricity, water, and communication. Additionally, Bac Ninh possesses the necessary conditions to nurture talent and a highly skilled technical workforce, with positive support from the provincial leadership and local authorities. The construction of Amkor Technology Vietnam's plant is progressing according to schedule, with expected completion in September, followed by trial production in late October. The company has requested that the province direct the relevant departments to promptly relocate a landfill and complete the construction of road 285B. They also seek assistance in obtaining environmental permits, fire safety certificates, building completion permits, and layout changes. Secretary Tuan suggested authorities should prioritise efforts to clear land, relocate waste collection sites, expedite the completion of road 285B, and promptly address any obstacles faced by Amkor. These measures are crucial to ensure the timely completion and commencement of production for the project. Bac Ninh Party Committee held a signing ceremony with Amkor Technology in November 2021. During the event, Chairman of Bac Ninh People's Committee Nguyen Huong Giang and Ji Jong-rip, chairman of Amkor Technology, signed the agreement for the development of the semiconductor materials manufacturing, assembly, and testing project in Yen Phong II-C IP. The total investment for the project is $1.6 billion, covering an area of approximately 23 hectares. Vietnam's market becomes ray of hope for South Korean semiconductor manufacturers Vietnam's emergence as a growing market for South Korean semiconductor manufacturers provides a much-needed boost amidst sluggish chip demand in China. Hanmi Semiconductor spreads wings in Vietnam South Korean firm Hanmi Semiconductor has forged its path into Vietnam, capitalising on the countrys strategic foothold in Asia's high-tech supply chain and its bountiful pool of local talent. gettyimagesbank By Lee Yeon-woo An announcement of tax reform plans, scheduled for July, is drawing near and attention is focused on what changes the government intends to propose. Market watchers predict that drastic reforms are unlikely this time, given that the current fiscal deficit is dangerously high and the government implemented several tax cuts last year. Sources familiar with economic policies said, Monday, that the Ministry of Economy and Finance began working on the agenda of reform plans. An official at the ministry said the government is currently considering the direction of the reforms and gathering opinions from various sectors. Real estate and corporate taxes are the areas attracting the most public attention. However, chances are slim that the government will implement a noticeable restructuring of these systems. Real estate taxes were significantly lowered last year. Under the previous system, an owner of two houses in populous regions was subject to higher tax rates than an owner of a single property. But starting this year, the same rates are applied to both types of owners if their properties are worth 1.2 billion won or less. Efforts to lower corporate taxes have also faced criticism from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Last year, the finance ministry proposed lowering the maximum corporate tax rate to 22 percent from 25 percent in line with OECD standards. However, this faced backlash from the DPK, resulting in a one percent reduction. Inheritance taxes will not be included in the reforms. During a discussion forum last Thursday, Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho mentioned that reforming the inheritance tax is a major task and requires more research and discussion. Nonetheless, the government is expected to prepare tax incentives to address the country's notoriously low birthrate. During a meeting with the president in March, the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy announced plans to expand tax support for households with children. The number of enterprises leaving the market this year has been cause for concern, Photo: Duc Thanh A month ago, the National Assembly (NA) delegation group of the Mekong Delta province of Long An organised a meeting with more than 200 constituents representing 400,000 factory workers from many industrial parks across the province. The workers said that their lives had become increasingly difficult due to companies reducing working hours and salaries, and a lack of accommodation, said NA deputy Phan Thi My Dung, representing Long An. According to many reports, the number of newly established enterprises and enterprises resuming operations has been slashed, while many operational businesses are suffering big losses and the number of businesses with dissolution and bankruptcy has kept increasing. Many enterprises have been suffering from a serious lack of orders, which has led to a rise in unemployment. According to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, from September 2022 to January 2023, nearly 547,000 workers at 1,300 enterprises in the country had to reduce working hours or stop work 75 per cent from foreign enterprises. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs last week reported to the NA that nearly 510,000 Vietnamese workers lost their jobs or had their work hours cut in the first five months of this year. Of the total, 280,000 people quit their jobs or were laid off, accounting for 54.79 per cent. They were mainly working in localities with large industrial parks and economic zones, such as Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City in the south, and Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and Hanoi in the north. The textile and garment industry saw the largest numbers of workers laid off or having their hours cut, with 70,000 and 66,600, respectively. It was followed by leather and footwear, with 31,600 and 66,000; and manufacturing of electronic components and products, with 45,000 and 24,800. This bleak situation has been causing a big decrease in incomes. This could also mean a lack of safety and social disorder, Dung said. It is recommended that the government immediately take proper solutions. This is also an effective way to boost economic growth and achieve the desired goal of 6.5 per cent. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnams five-month index of industrial production (IIP) dropped 2 per cent compared to the same period last year, when the IIP increased 8.1 per cent on-year. The IIP for the processing and manufacturing sector declined 2.5 per cent against the corresponding period last year, when it rose 8.9 per cent on-year. The electricity production and distribution sector climbed only 0.8 per cent on-year, while the mining sector fell 3.5 per cent on-year, and the sector of water supply and wastewater and waste management and treatment expanded 6.4 per cent. The IIP of many key sectors also witnessed an on-year fall, including engined vehicles at 10.1 per cent; paper and paper-based products 8.5 per cent; clothes 8.3 per cent; furniture 5.9 per cent, wood and wood products 5.8 per cent; transport means 5.6 per cent; metal 5.5 per cent; and electronics, computers, and optical products 5.1 per cent. Stark warnings NA deputy Tran Thi Hoa Ry, representing the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, underlined the urgent need for the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the employment situation nationwide. The negative impacts of the pandemic have hurt the economys employment and personal incomes. Figures from the GSO show that unemployment remains enormous. In Q1 of 2023, about 150,000 people were driven into unemployment. It is expected that if enterprises continue facing big difficulties as they are doing now, unemployment will continue expanding, Ry said. In Q1/2023, the number of labourers drawing their social insurance packages increased strongly by 20 per cent on-year. Like many other NA deputies, Pham Trong Nghia from the northern province of Lang Son suggested that unemployment would cause many types of unwanted issues in society. The government needs to prepare plans for solving issues related to social security due to increased difficulties of enterprises, and to thoroughly review the domestic and international economic situation to have proper response scenarios, Nghia said. In its report sent to the NA, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front said that global instabilities had caused a slash in export orders for enterprises in Vietnam, leading to job losses and lower incomes for factory workers. Many business and production activities have been ineffective, with losses incurred and incomes of workers in many sectors plunging, while the lives of part of the population remains unstable post-pandemic, the report read. Constituents are anxious that if this situation continues, the number of enterprises leaving the market will continue to increase and the life of workers will become more difficult. Seeking a way out Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung told the NA that the main difficulties facing enterprises included a lack of output markets, difficulty accessing loans, cumbersome administrative procedures, and a need for a better business climate. Input costs and costs for compliance with legal regulations, and costs for access to the market, remain high. Enterprise difficulties are directly affecting employment, incomes, and workers livelihoods, he said. These issues have received special attention from the government which has enacted a series of pro-business policies regarding reduction of lending rates, borrowing conditions, taxes, and fees. Going forward, the government will continue with stronger and more effective policies to support enterprises and assist economic growth. NA deputy Tran Thi Hien representing the northern province of Ha Nam underlined the need for the government to provide bigger support for businesses. The government needs to have long-term preferential policies in corporate income tax and land rental, for example, instead of the existing temporary policies which wont help enterprises recover quickly, Hien said. In the first five months of this year, Vietnam saw over 61,900 newly established businesses registered at $24.72 billion, using 405,900 workers down 1.6 per cent in the number of enterprises, 25.3 per cent in registered capital, and 7.2 per cent in the number of labourers as compared to those in the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile, the total five-month number of businesses leaving the market is 88,000, which is 27 per cent higher than the number of newly established ones. This is an unprecedented situation. According to data since 2020 when the revised Law on Enterprises was enacted, the annual number of enterprises entering the market has always been far higher than those leaving the market, Hien said. The establishment or dissolution of enterprises in an economy is a normal thing, but a sudden and abnormal increase in the number of businesses leaving the market needs to be thoroughly studied, with concrete solutions to be applied to each types of enterprises. This will help revive businesses performance and achieve the desired economic goal of 6.5 per cent. Plenty still to do to stabilise businesses In spite of the domestic economys gradual recovery, Vietnam is facing high risks caused by a rise in unemployment and uncertainties in the global market affecting the countrys economic prospects. ACB's chairman Tran Hung Huy and his mother Dang Thu Thuy In the realm of Vietnam's privately owned banks, a hidden tapestry of family connections weaves its way through the corridors of power, bringing an air of intrigue and familiarity to the country's financial institutions. Dynamic relationships exist within prominent banks such as Techcombank, TPBank, LPBank, OCB, SHB, ACB, and SeABank, where the ties that bind extend far beyond professional alliances. Techcombank, a powerhouse in the banking sector, finds its leadership imbued with familial bonds. At the helm stands Ho Hung Anh, a seasoned veteran born in 1970, who serves as chairman of the Board of Directors (BoD). By his side is his younger brother, Ho Anh Ngoc, a talent in his own right, as vice chairman of the BoD. With an impressive academic background, Ngoc obtained a bachelor's degree in Commerce-Accounting and a master's degree in Economics from the Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. His over 14 years of dedication to Techcombank and its subsidiaries have paved the way for his ascent to the position of vice chairman, where he continues to leave an indelible mark. TPBank, another prominent player in the domestic banking system, boasts a lineage of leadership within its ranks. Do Minh Phu, an industry luminary born in 1953, reigns as the chairman of the BoD. His younger brother Do Anh Tu shares the limelight as vice chairman of the BoD, simultaneously holding a similar role at Diana Corporation, a subsidiary of the illustrious Unicharm Group in Japan. Together, their collective vision and expertise have propelled TPBank to new heights since its inception in 2008. LPBank witnessed a changing of the guard with the appointment of Nguyen Duc Thuy as chairman of the BoD in late 2022. Hailing from the picturesque province of Ninh Binh, Thuy took the reins from the outgoing Huynh Ngoc Huy, who graciously stepped down to pursue personal endeavours. LPBank's annual meeting in 2023 brought another fresh face into the fold. Nguyen Van Thuy, the younger brother of Nguyen Duc Thuy, emerged as a new member of the BoD, igniting speculation about his potential contribution. At SHB, the father-son duo of Do Quang Hien and Do Quang Vinh reigns supreme. Do Quang Hien, an experienced financier born in 1962, holds the mantle of chairman of the BoD, while his eldest son Vinh a young and dynamic force, proudly sits in the position of vice chairman. Armed with a master's degree in finance and management from the esteemed University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, and enriched by 12 years of financial and banking experience, Vinh spearheads the bank's comprehensive transformation strategy, including digitalisation and virtual banking. Ho Chi Minh City's OCB has carved its own path by embracing family ties within its leadership. Trinh Van Tuan, born in 1965, serves as chairman of the BoD, while his daughter Trinh Thi Mai Anh, born in 1992, assumes the role of a BoD member. The inclusion of Mai Anh, the sole female member of OCB's BoD, marks a progressive step for the bank. With a wealth of experience garnered from her tenure at institutions such as HSBC London, Vietnam International Securities JSC, VinaCapital Group, and Temasek Holdings in Singapore, she brings a unique perspective to the table. ACB, one of Vietnam's leading banks based in the south, showcases a tale of generational transition. In a symbolic passing of the torch, Tran Hung Huy, born in 1978, assumed the mantle of chairman of the BoD, succeeding his father Tran Mong Hung. At present, Hung may have stepped away from ACB's leadership, but the story does not end there. Dang Thu Thuy, Hung's wife, graces the BoD as a member, ensuring that the family legacy endures. SeABank, known for its dynamic nature, witnessed a captivating shift in leadership. Nguyen Thi Nga, a remarkable woman born in 1955, initially assumed the role of chairwoman before adhering to the revised regulations of the Credit Institutions Law in 2018. Following this transition, she chose to take on the role of chairwoman of the BoD at BRG Group, marking a new chapter in her distinguished career. Adding to the family narrative, Nga's daughter Le Thu Thuy brings her own expertise as vice chairwoman of SeABank. With a wealth of experience gained from international financial organisations and a series of pivotal roles within the bank, Thuy represents a dynamic force in the financial realm. Peering into the intricate tapestry of Vietnam's private banks, it becomes evident that familial bonds intertwine with professional aspirations, shaping the country's financial landscape in profound ways. These captivating family connections, embedded within the corridors of power, add a touch of intrigue and familiarity to the world of finance, ensuring that legacy and influence continue to echo through the generations. Vested interests doing damage in banking Concerns are being raised by various stakeholders in Vietnams banking sector regarding the risks of cross-ownership, emphasising the need for regulatory reforms to enhance transparency, mitigate the dominance of major shareholders, and propose measures such as reducing ownership ratios and expanding information disclosure. Going digital the answer to withstand global fluctuations As a retail bank with a strong foothold in small- and medium-sized enterprises, ACB expects to continue its growth momentum. ACB chairman Tran Hung Huy and CEO Tu Tien Phat spoke with VIRs Le Luu about the banks digital transformation and its strategic plan for 2023. CEL Consulting, a consulting firm specialising in the optimisation of supply chains, recently conducted an extensive industry survey, unearthing valuable insights and addressing the challenges faced by businesses in the realm of supply chain planning. The survey results have provided a comprehensive understanding of the current state of supply chain planning practices, offering organisations a roadmap to enhance their planning capabilities. The survey encompassed a wide range of industries and geographical regions, capturing responses from supply chain professionals, decision-makers, and industry experts. These individuals play a pivotal role in shaping supply chain strategies, making the findings a reflection of their perspectives. One of the key findings to emerge from the survey was the substantial amount of time dedicated to data preparation compared to actual planning. On average, 41 per cent of the total planning time is spent on data preparation. This highlights the pressing need for efficient tools and processes that can streamline data management, thus freeing up more time for strategic planning activities. The survey also revealed that while 30 per cent of companies rely on dedicated planning software, a significant 35 per cent still heavily depend on Excel spreadsheets. This emphasises the importance of adopting advanced planning technologies to improve accuracy, collaboration, and overall planning effectiveness. Demand unpredictability emerged as one of the most challenging aspects of supply chain planning, with over 44 per cent of respondents identifying it as a significant hurdle. This underscores the necessity of implementing robust demand management practices and leveraging real-time data to enhance forecasting accuracy. Surprisingly, the survey uncovered that 16.7 per cent of companies do not integrate finance into their planning processes. This represents a missed opportunity to align financial goals and objectives with supply chain planning efforts, which can yield substantial benefits for organisations. Furthermore, a staggering 67 per cent of companies expressed dissatisfaction with their current planning tools or platforms. This dissatisfaction signals the urgent need for technology solutions that can cater to the evolving needs of supply chain professionals, thereby improving overall planning capabilities. Julien Brun, managing partner at CEL, emphasised the critical role of effective supply chain planning in today's fiercely competitive landscape. Effective supply chain planning is the key to unlocking operational excellence and driving business success. Extensive research has demonstrated that companies with robust supply chain planning processes experience an average cost reduction of 15 per cent and inventory reduction of 20-30 per cent," he said. "Moreover, they achieve an impressive 99 per cent on-time delivery rate and a 20 per cent increase in customer satisfaction. Brun also believes that by investing in optimised supply chain planning, organisations can maximise efficiency, minimise costs, and deliver exceptional value to their customers. Vietnam looks to deeply join global IC supply chain Vietnamese localities and enterprises are attracting design talents to deeply join the global integrated circuit supply chain, as global IC design corporations are shifting their operations to Vietnam. Vietnam ranks among top exporters to global supply chain of Walmart Vietnam's pivotal role as one of the leading exporters to Walmart's global supply chain is poised to strengthen, as discussions with senior executives highlight the potential for enhanced collaboration and increased participation of Vietnamese suppliers. Thai Binh People's Committee revealed last week that a collaborative investment agreement between Compal Electronics Vietnam and Green i-Park JSC, of Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park (IP), was signed on June 7. Compal Electronics Vietnam will invest in a specialised manufacturing project encompassing the production, processing, and assembly of computer systems and peripheral devices, communication equipment, consumer electronic goods, as well as electronic components. The ambitious venture is poised for implementation within the current calendar year, with the commencement of both trial runs and full-fledged operations earmarked for early 2024. The overall registered capital committed to this endeavour stands at a sum of $260 million. Once operational, this project is anticipated to yield considerable returns, estimated at $1.2 billion by 2029 and $6.8 billion by 2037. Securing a lease of 40 hectares within Lien Ha Thai IP, Compal Electronics Vietnam plans to expedite the construction of their manufacturing facility within this year. The project has set its sights on undergoing comprehensive testing phases and transitioning into full-scale operations by the first quarter of 2024. During the projected first phase, slated for the year 2026, the manufacturing plant aspires to yield an output of 12 million units. This figure is expected to double by 2030, with more substantial growth anticipated by 2031, with a projected total output of 30 million units per annum. The venture also holds promise for the local labour force, aiming to create opportunities for an estimated 17,000 individuals. Compal Electronics boasts a remarkable reputation as a top producer of portable computers, LCD products, and intelligent devices. The company proudly features on the esteemed Fortune 500 list of emerging enterprises and is presently in partnership with renowned brands such as Sony, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, and Apple. Lien Ha Thai IP was established in 2021. Occupying a sprawling land area spanning 588.8ha, this IP was designed as a multifaceted hub for diverse sectors, emphasising high-tech industries while minimising the environmental impact. Its key industries are electrical and electronics manufacturing, IT, precision mechanical engineering, consumer goods production, food processing, and beverage manufacturing. Trelleborg to build modern maritime product manufacturing plant in Vietnam Trelleborg Marine and Infrastructure has set its sights on Vietnam for the establishment of an advanced manufacturing facility, marking a strategic move to expand its presence in Southeast Asia and cater to the growing demand for maritime and infrastructure products. The patient is sent back to Da Nang for treatment (Photo: VNA) Da Nang - The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centres vessel SAR 412 on June 12 brought a sailor back to the central city of Da Nang for medical treatment. Earlier at 3:00 PM on June 9, fishing vessel QNg 98064 TS, captained by Nguyen Dinh Nghi, was operating in the waters of Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) when Nguyen Tien Sy, 31, suffered severe pain around the abdomen. The intensity of the pain increased continuously, leaving him unable to eat and frequently vomitting. Other crewmembers aboard took care of him but his condition failed to improve. By 11:17 AM on June 11, his health continued to worsen and he became unconscious. The fishing vessel was too far from the mainland, approximately 30 nautical miles northwest of Tri Ton island. Aware of the urgent situation, captain Nghi contacted the centre, requesting urgent rescue. Upon receiving the distress signal from the vessel, the centre provided the fastest route guidance for the vessel to return to the mainland. It also coordinated information with the Vietnam National Institute of Maritime Medicine and the municipal emergency centre to offer remote medical advices. Through the consultation process, the doctors diagnosed Sy with acute appendicitis in a critical stage that requires immediate medical intervention and rescue. Delaying treatment could potentially result in fatality. At 8:33pm on June 11, the maritime rescue force successfully approached the fishing vessel. The team of doctors and rescue personnel was immediately deployed to the vessel to provide on-site emergency medical treatment for the patient. Following the emergency treatment at sea and intensive medical care on the mainland, the patient has successfully overcome the life-threatening situation. His condition now is stable. Da Nang aims to become attractive logistics centre by 2030 The central city of Da Nang targets to become an attractive logistics centre of the central key economic region by 2030, and the key gateway of the East-West Economic Corridor and an important link of the Asia-Pacific transport corridor by 2050. EuroCham and the broader business community have expressed growing concerns regarding ongoing power shortages in Hanoi and northern Vietnam. Many European companies with production and manufacturing facilities in the region, including numerous EuroCham members, have been adversely affected. Swift action is imperative to preserve Vietnams reputation as a global supplier. EuroCham's vice chairman Jean-Jacques Bouflet, in an interview with Reuters, expressed his concerns about the situation and emphasised the need for urgent measures from the MoIT. "To tackle this urgent issue, EuroCham has intensified our advocacy efforts by writing a letter to the MoIT and proposing a series of short- and long-term measures designed to alleviate the effects," said Bouflet. EuroCham is advocating for more communication, ensuring affected companies receive advance notice of scheduled power cuts. By providing specific schedules and durations of power interruptions, businesses will have the opportunity to make necessary arrangements and effectively minimise disruptions to their operations. "This proactive approach ensures that affected companies are well-informed and can prepare accordingly, mitigating the negative impact on their productivity and minimising financial losses," added Bouflet. The group strongly advocates for the prioritisation of electricity production and emphasises the need for promoting the development of additional sustainable capacities, such as solar panels, without imposing undue bureaucratic restrictions. While these short-term measures are crucial for addressing the current power shortage, EuroCham underscores the importance of long-term solutions. The MoIT is being urged to concentrate on renewable energy projects and foster a diversified energy portfolio that can withstand various climate conditions. This approach will contribute to a sustainable future and mitigate power shortages regardless of climatic conditions. "EuroCham is committed to keeping a close eye on any new developments and ensuring that our members are promptly updated on the progress made regarding this issue. Rest assured, we will continue to provide timely and relevant updates on this matter," said Bouflet. Northern Vietnam lacks between 30 and 50 million kWh daily The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has warned that the northern power grid faces a shortfall of approximately 4,350MW. It has a median daily generation of approximately 30.9 million kWh; however, the largest daily output can reach 50.8 million kWh. Northern region facing risk of daily power shortage: official The northern region is facing the risk of power shortage at almost every point of time each day, according to Tran Viet Hoa, head of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). The move marks the ongoing expansion of GreenYellow in Vietnam, which will contribute to the country's net-zero emission target by 2050. The rooftop solar power system was installed with a total capacity of 5MWp, located at the New Wing factory in Van Trung Industrial Zone in the northern province of Bac Giang. The project is expected to produce 5,300MWh of solar energy per year, which will in turn offset about 4,500 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions over a 12-month period. New Wing, an energy arm of Foxconn Group, a major player in manufacturing semiconductors and other electronic components, has deployed its sustainable development strategy by entering a power purchase agreement with GreenYellow. The project marks an important milestone in GreenYellows investment in the Vietnamese market, especially in the northern region. The French firm will be the sole investor and operator of New Wings solar power system over the 20-year period of the contract. The project marks an important milestone in GreenYellows investment in the Vietnamese market, especially in the northern region. This project will also add to GreenYellow's growing solar portfolio in Vietnam. In November 2022, GreenYellow took over a 49.5MWp solar farm from Qair, a French independent renewable energy producer. Sebastien Prioux, CEO of GreenYellow Vietnam and Cambodia, cited a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicating that Vietnam is the second-largest electricity consumer in Southeast Asia. "Vietnam's ambitious green energy goals now place it in a position to become a regional and global leader and a focal point for renewable energy financiers and investors," said Prioux. To facilitate the goal, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha finally approved the country's Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) last May. With PDP8 approved, the aim now is to ensure energy security for the country while it begins its transition to being carbon-neutral by mid-century. Consequently, Vietnam's renewable energy sector represents a huge opportunity for investors to consider and make viable long-term plans, Prioux added. Vietnam is stepping up its efforts to accelerate the peak of its greenhouse gas emissions and transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. As a result, foreign and domestic investments are on the rise in the renewable energy sector. Meanwhile, more enterprises are starting to join corporate social responsibility campaigns with green energy commitments. This trend is opening a new world of opportunities for GreenYellow, which has established itself as a key player in the energy efficiency markets in different countries like France, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa, and Thailand. In Vietnam, GreenYellow is developing the business under two types of contracts, the Energy Efficiency Agreement (EEA) and the Utility as a Service (UaaS). EEA is primarily a financial solution for the client. The energy efficiency concept is based on a system to reduce energy consumption while still ensuring the same output, which is achieved through automation and process optimisation. Meanwhile, UaaS is GreenYellow's strategy for financing retrofit projects. It helps clients modernise their sites with more efficient machines and automated operations. As GreenYellow invests in the new system, the client will be able to focus its investments on their core business while GreenYellow takes care of the utilities. The first EEA was signed between GreenYellow and an international retail chain in Vietnam. The energy efficiency project provides the client with more than 800 MWh of savings annually, equivalent to VND2 billion ($85,000). Its flagship UaaS project is a retrofit for industrial refrigeration, representing a 1GWh reduction in energy consumption per year for the client, equivalent to VND1.9 billion ($81,000). In addition, the firm also offers Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), which help save grid operational costs as well as money for electricity consumers who install energy storage at their businesses. By using energy storage during brief outages, businesses can avoid costly disruptions and continue normal operations. GreenYellow is implementing a BESS pilot project in Vietnam and will soon make an announcement on that. With over 16 years of investment and operations expertise and 930 MWp of solar agreements signed globally, GreenYellow made its first entry into Vietnam in 2019 with the aim of accelerating the low-carbon trajectory of large companies. To date, GreenYellow has invested more than VND2.6 trillion ($113 million) for a total capacity of 170MWp in solar power generation in the country, engaging more than 100 businesses. Malaysians tend to use solar power in concern of power bills More Malaysian households and businesses are installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in a bid to bring down monthly electricity bills. Rooftop solar energy lacks legal foundation Businesses that intend to deploy rooftop solar energy for their own use must await a seamless link to the national energy grid. GreenYellow acquires 49.5MWp solar farm of French IPP Qair in Vietnam GreenYellow Vietnam - a major player in the energy transition - recently acquired the Vietnamese subsidiary of Qair - French independent renewable energy producer refocusing on European, Brazilian, and African geographies - as well as its 70 per cent stake in Binh Dinh solar farm, a 49.5 MWp asset in operation in Binh Dinh province in Vietnams central coast. What led to Michelins decision to expand its operations to Vietnam this year, and what were the most challenging aspects of curating the list? Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide Our inspectors have been in Vietnam for several years already to monitor the evolution of the countrys culinary landscape, and we felt that it reached a level of maturity and consistency to move forward and publish the very first Michelin Guide recommendations. The biggest challenge for Michelin when making a very first selection is to leave no stone unturned. There are so many restaurants, and we have to make sure that we sufficiently explored both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In the long run, another challenge will be to ensure that the selection remains constantly fresh, relevant, and up to date. So, there will be a lot of work to do to follow up with the dynamism of the local culinary scene. Overall, our inspectors have been very pleased with their job in Vietnam, selecting carefully the very best places to eat. They were seduced by the very healthy approach to the cuisine sometimes bold, sometimes sophisticated. Because we have within Michelin Guide an enormous selection, both luxury fine dining restaurants and small casual eateries, the inspectors were amazed by the diversity and creativity of the styles of cooking being represented. There is also an impressive number of young chefs working in the industry, pushing the boundaries of what Vietnamese cuisine is today. Based on all these factors, we can definitely say that the future of the Vietnamese culinary industry is very bright. Following the release of the list, there were suggestions that certain restaurants were overrated, while other deserving establishments were overlooked. How does the Michelin Guide address these concerns and maintain objectivity and transparency in its selection process? Im very pleased to hear that there are a lot of conversations around Michelins first selection in Vietnam. By all means, they do contribute to the awareness of the industry about Vietnamese cuisine, not only here, but also abroad. On the other hand, the Michelin Guide is unique and independent in the way we select teams or restaurants. Thats the reason why our inspectors work full-time for Michelin and remain undercover and anonymous. This is to ensure that there is no compromise or bias. In addition, to recognise all the different food styles, we involve several different inspectors to assess the quality of the same restaurant. Ultimately, the decision of the Michelin Guide is not a one-man show its always a team decision. Our inspectors recommendations only reflect their own experience as a guest, without taking into account what is shared on social networks. The value of recommendation is the same everywhere in the world, so one star in London, Paris, or Tokyo is the same as one star in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. This is to ensure fairness and to provide our readers with recommendations they can trust. In certain cases, Michelin-starred restaurants have experienced a decline in quality after receiving their accolades, which can often be seen as both an advantage and a pressure for these establishments. What is your perspective on this? One important feature of the Michelin Guide is consistency. If the level of experience offered to customers is not the same, over time, the restaurant will be removed from the selection. Thats a way to ensure that we foster positive regulation within the industry and contribute to amplifying customer experience. The Michelin Guide does not work for restaurants it works for food lovers. An example of this would be the story of the very first sushi restaurant in Japan to receive three stars. A lot of success followed. But a few years ago, there was a change in its admission policy. To get a seat as a customer, you have to be on a shortlist, almost like a private club. As this street-style restaurant was not available any longer to the public, our inspectors removed it from our selection. What are Michelins long-term goals for elevating Vietnams culinary industry? I believe after last weeks unveiling of the first Michelin list, there will be plenty of ripple effects. For one, it will help restaurants and chefs attract more loyal staff and young, talented people willing to join the industry. Hopefully, it will encourage them to be more daring, more creative, and express their own personality. In addition, the Michelin Guide selection is putting Vietnam and Vietnamese cuisine on the global culinary map. Vietnam, as a destination, will attract the attention of not only international food lovers but also chefs from all around the world who could be interested in establishing restaurants here. Michelin Guide bestows stellar accolades on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam is celebrating the recognition of four exceptional restaurants with coveted Michelin stars. This momentous occasion marks the accolades bestowed on a total of 103 remarkable dining establishments, spanning across four esteemed award categories. Bia Saigon sponsors Michelin Guide elevating reputation of Vietnamese brands Vietnamese cuisine attracts not only to Vietnamese people, but also to international tourists because of its rich diversity and uniqueness. By collaborating with and sponsoring the Michelin Guide, Bia Saigon reaffirms its commitment to elevating the reputation of Vietnamese brands to the world Illustrative image (Source: Bernama) Jakarta - The issue of Indonesian illegal immigrant workers (PATI) was the main agenda of the recent meeting between the Director General of Indonesian Immigration Silmy Karim and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Ruslin Jusoh. In a statement, Silmy said the visit to Malaysian Immigration headquarters is aimed at finding a solution for PATI so that they can become legal workers. He said the Indonesian side is ready to issue passports to the illegal workers who are working and suggested that the Malaysian Immigration issue work permits with certain procedures till they have complete documents. The meeting also touched on efforts to prevent human trafficking. According to the statement, there are 450,000 Indonesian workers recorded by the Malaysian Government so far, compared to 1.5 million workers recorded by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has repatriated 11,000 illegal Indonesian workers, and a total of 309 Indonesians are still at the Malaysian Immigration Detention Depot. Prior to his arrival in Malaysia, Silmy inspected the Indonesian Immigration office in Pontianak and Entikong, West Kalimantan on June 5. He also visited the Tebedu Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex which nears border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Indonesia surpasses Thailand, Malaysia in tourism index Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan has said Indonesia's Travel and Tourism Development Index score increased, from 4.2 to 4.4 and rose from the 44th ranking to 32nd. According to one report, Vietnams cryptocurrency market ranked second among ASEAN countries with a total transaction value of over $100 billion for the period from July 2021 to June 2022 alone. Despite being a regional hotspot for digital currency transactions, Vietnam has not yet established a clear legal framework concerning digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens. As a result, digital assets transactions in Vietnam carry inherent risks for related parties. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Vinh, Senior counsel, Indochine Counsel and Pham Viet Tuan, Associate, Indochine Counsel The 2015 Civil Code of Vietnam defines assets to include items, money, valuable papers, and property rights. Accordingly, digital assets do not well fit into any of these categories and are therefore not considered assets per se. Vietnamese authorities have different views on the legal status of digital assets within their regulatory domains. For instance, the State Bank of Vietnam states that crypto currencies are not a lawful means of payment in Vietnam. All acts of issuance, supply and/or use of digital currencies as a form of payment are prohibited and subject to penalties. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance views cryptocurrencies as property rights under civil law and classify them as commodities, taxable under tax laws. Against the foregoing background, court judgments should be a reliable source for law interpretation. Unfortunately, it does not meet such expectations. Two court cases in particular show the perplexed views of Vietnamese courts on the wobbly status of cryptocurrencies in Vietnam. The first court judgment concerned a challenge against a tax collection decision. During 2008-2013, the plaintiff traded Bitcoin on exchanges. In 2015, the tax authority (the defendant) issued a tax collection decision to collect taxes from the plaintiff for his income of nearly $6 million from Bitcoin trading and the related VAT amount. The plaintiff argued that Bitcoin is not considered as taxable goods or services under applicable laws. He submitted his case before Ben Tre Peoples Court to seek the latters annulment of the tax collection decision. In its judgment, the court reasoned that Bitcoin is neither a lawful means of payment in Vietnam nor recognised as goods or services by any legislation. Accordingly, the court annulled the tax collection decision. However, in the judgment, the court neither affirmed nor negated whether Bitcoin is a type of asset under Vietnamese laws. Secondly, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court recently held a first-instance trial of a so-called Bitcoin robbery case. In 2018, a group of individuals planned and staged an extortion scheme to obtain Bitcoin from a businessman who they claimed defrauded them to trade coins. The group successfully took away 168 Bitcoin and sold part of them for $800,000. The victim reported to the police and the suspects were later criminally accused of the crime of robbery of assets under the 2015 Penal Code. In May this year, the court opened the hearing and sentenced the headman to life imprisonment while the accomplices received imprisonment sentences ranging 9-19 years. In addition, the defendants were ordered to pay the money gained from the sale of the Bitcoin to the owner. In this case, the court reiterates that Vietnamese law does not acknowledge Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as lawful currencies or means of payment. Thus, there is no basis for a formal evaluation of the value of the taken Bitcoin as a Vietnamese court normally applies in determining the damage in a criminal case (for a corresponding penalty). However, the court views that because part of the taken Bitcoin was converted/sold to a VND amount, such converted amount could be seen as the amount of damage to the Bitcoin owner. On this basis, the defendants were sentenced and ordered to compensate the Bitcoin owner. In other jurisdictions, the above ruling may raise controversies because it appears to contradict with the ruling for the first Bitcoin case. Further, such a ruling may imply that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can be considered lawful assets because the court applied the crime of robbery of assets, and the Bitcoin owner was paid the converted VND amount and other similar arguments. Nevertheless, it seems far from clear that such an implication can be made from a practical point of view here. From one case to another, courts may express different views. Vietnam does not have a clear-cut answer if crypto and other digital assets are considered lawful assets. Depending on a particular case, authorities may have different views on the same issue. Owners and investors should take extra care in transactions related to these assets. SECUI cooperates with FPT IS to protect data and digital assets On July 19, FPT IS and SECUI jointly organised a seminar on protecting enterprises' data and digital assets in the age of digital transformation, aiming to assist organisations to tackle the issue of information security. A poster for the Seoul International Book Fair 2023 features the event's six ambassadors from left, Korean novelists Cheon Seon-ran, Pyun Hye-young, Oh Jung-hee, Kim In-suk, Kim Ae-ran and Choi Eun-young. Courtesy of Korean Publishers Association By Park Han-sol An official poster for the Seoul International Book Fair 2023 / Courtesy of Korean Publishers Association The government has reported to the National Assembly that Vietnam and Israel will likely ink a bilateral free trade agreement (VIFTA) this month, making it more favourable for the two countries to strengthen trade flows. After signing the deal, both nations will issue action programmes with specific tariff schemes. Israel and Vietnam are boosting agricultural cooperation, Photo: Le Toan Vietnam exports around 70 types of item to Israel each year. The key exports include electronics and mobile phones and their spare parts; agro-forestry-fishery products; garments and textiles; footwear; machinery; and wooden products. Meanwhile, from Israel, the main products are refined oil and petrol, pharmaceutical products, machinery and equipment, medical equipment, computer software and hardware, farm produce, and chemicals. Figures from the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade show that two-way trade turnover increased from $1.2 billion in 2019 to $1.6 billion in 2020, $1.88 billion in 2021, and about $2.2 billion last year. The figure is expected to soar to about $3 billion next year. According to pan-Asia consultancy Dezan Shira & Associates, in recent years, two-way trade between Israel and Vietnam has shown promising growth, and the upcoming agreement is expected to enhance it. The firm sees great cooperation potential in some sectors to be produced by the VIFTA, including agriculture, footwear, and electronics. For example, Israel and the Middle East have a high demand for spices like cinnamon, anise, and pepper. Meanwhile, pepper production in Vietnam accounts for about 40 per cent of the worlds supply. Vietnam can leverage the VIFTA to increase exports of food products and consumer goods, such as seafood, cashew nuts, coffee, soft drinks, confectionery, textiles, and shoes to the region, Dezan Shira & Associates said. Compared to the US or EU, Israels standards are not as stringent, creating a promising opportunity for Vietnamese agricultural products, particularly spices from the south of the country. Israeli companies produce many types of fertilisers, including organic and biofertilisers, as well as specialised fertilisers for different crops and soil types. This diversity in the product range makes Israeli fertilisers suitable for different applications and industries. This is highly valued by Vietnamese businesses. The Vietnamese agricultural sector, with its high-growth opportunities and growing need to better cater to the demands of firms and farmers have long been on the radar of Israeli high-tech businesses. For example, currently, Vietnams TH Group is boosting its cooperation with Israeli firms in its projects to produce fresh milk and agricultural products in Vietnam. Specifically, Israels Afimilk is providing consultancy on an automatic milking system, and cow management software for the groups $1.2-billion high-tech concentrated dairy and fresh milk production project in the central province of Nghe An. In another case, Aquaculture Productions Technologies (APT) is planning to begin its presence in Vietnam. With over 40 years of experience in providing agricultural smart solutions, and operating in many nations including in Southeast Asia, it provides solutions and services on consultancy and construction for fish farms inland and offshore, according to its CEO Michael Pascal. Vietnam currently has nearly 4,000 hectares of basa farms, and the country is now one of the biggest exporters of this type fish worldwide. This will give us an opportunity to bring our high technologies to Vietnam, Pascal said. A few months ago, more than 50 Israeli firms later joined a business-to-business event with Vietnamese partners in Tel Aviv. They want to cooperate with Vietnamese companies in developing projects on investment in and exportation of aquatic products, cashew nuts, coffee, and pepper. Cooperation in other sectors was also discussed, including in mobile phones and spare parts, footwear, and garments and textiles. Vietnams agricultural sector has great potential for development for such groups, with high technologies to be applied. For example, Agriancer is eager to introduce its high-quality plant varieties to the domestic market. Vietnam is focusing on controlling food safety and hygiene, so we want to market varieties here with high capacity in disease resistance. We intend to boost cooperation with local partners, said Trinh Phuong, country manager of Agriancer. Galcon is also seeking to sign more contracts with partners in Vietnam. Currently, it is providing automatically controlled irrigation-related products in Vietnam with tech-based cloud platforms. We are implementing a number of projects in Vietnam. One of the most typical is a 25 ha project in cooperation with Vineco. In this initiative, all processes from irrigation and temperature controlling to harvesting are conducted automatically, said a representative of Galcon. Currently, this project is entering the second stage. We also want to deploy other similar projects here. As of May 20, Israel had 40 valid projects in Vietnam registered at $140.7 million, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment. Israeli projects focus on processing, manufacturing, IT, and agriculture. Israeli organisations and businesses are also showing interest in collaborating with local partners, particularly those involved in clean energy production, renewable energy storage technology, and solar power projects, Dezan Shira & Associates said. Vietnam also has large corporations that invest tens of millions of US dollars in the research and development market in Israel. The VIFTA can also benefit both nations in the sector of technological devices, parts, and components. Specifically, Israel is known for its technological innovation, especially in the sectors of computers and electrical products. Numerous Israeli companies lead the way in developing new technologies, producing high-quality goods that are in demand worldwide. Israel is also known for its expertise in agriculture, particularly in innovative agricultural practices and technologies. This expertise has allowed Israeli companies to develop and produce high-quality fertilisers that are effective in enhancing crop yields and improving soil health. Vietnam becomes largest tuna supplier to Israel Vietnam has become the largest tuna exporter to the Israeli market after demand from the market boosted in the first haft of the year. Israel and Vietnam heading to deal Vietnam and Israel are preparing to sign a bilateral free trade agreement to beef up trade and investment ties, with the Middle Eastern country eager to engage in high-tech agricultural projects in the Southeast Asian market. According to the e-portal of Hoa Binh, the provincial leadership recently held a meeting with representatives from the Meiko Corporation of Japan to discuss the proposal for investing in a factory that produces electronic circuits at the Da River Left Bank Industrial Park in Hoa Binh City. During the meeting, Atsushi Sakate, deputy chairman of Meiko Corporation, announced that the group was actively planning to construct a factory for manufacturing electronic circuits on the left bank of the Da River. This endeavour will involve leasing both land and infrastructure components from Da Hop JSC. The project will encompass a sprawling expanse of 9.2 hectares, with an investment capital of around $200 million. Sakate expressed Meiko's desire to forge a harmonious alliance with the province, seeking support to propel the venture to success. Nguyen Phi Long, Secretary of the Hoa Binh Party Committee, said the province was prioritising the implementation of crucial transport projects. The projects include the expansion of Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh Road and regional connectivity, the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau Expressway project, administrative reform, improvement of the business environment, and the successful attraction of foreign enterprises, particularly Japanese companies, to invest in projects within Hoa Binh. The provincial leadership pledged its full commitment to accompany Meiko throughout the project's journey, providing maximum support in terms of administrative procedures, wastewater management, electricity, and investment in transportation infrastructure. The aim is to create favourable conditions for Meiko Corporation, as well as other domestic and foreign businesses, to invest in the province. Meiko stands as one of the world's top corporations specialising in the production and assembly of printed circuit boards (PCBs). The company operates five factories in Japan, two factories in China, and has representative offices and subsidiaries worldwide. Its primary activities encompass the design, production, and manufacturing of various types of PCBs, along with component assembly onto PCBs and the assembly of complete electronic products. In Vietnam, Meiko Corporation has invested in the construction of three electronic circuit manufacturing and PCB assembly factories, amounting to a total investment of $500 million. These factories provide employment for over 7,000 workers and contribute approximately $30 million annually to the state budget. Having originated as a company specialising in PCB production in Kanagawa province, Japan, back in 1975, Meiko Electronics Corporation has emerged as one of the world's leading corporations in PCB production and electronic component assembly over three decades of development. In 2006, Meiko embarked on its first electronic factory construction project in Vietnam, situated in former Ha Tay province. This state-of-the-art facility covers an expansive area of 170,000 square metres and is conveniently located approximately 60 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport. JiaWei Corporation invests $100 million in Nam Dinh JiaWei Corporation, a Taiwanese company, has decided to invest $100 million in the My Thuan Industrial Zone in Nam Dinh province, encompassing high-tech household appliance manufacturing, support printing, and paper box production plants. Infineon expands operations in line with Hanois R&D goals German global semiconductor solutions provider Infineon Technologies AG has unveiled plans to expand its operations in Vietnam. Some of the arrested persons involved in the gun attacks in Cu Kuin district of Dak Lak province (Source: Portal of the Ministry of Public Security) Hanoi Twenty-two persons have been arrested for involvement in the gun attacks on the headquarters of the Peoples Committees of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes, including the communes police stations, in Cu Kuin district of the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on early June 11. Authorities have also rescued two hostages while another managed to escape, Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security Lt. Gen. To An Xo said on June 12 morning.According to the Dak Lak provincial Department of Public Security, a group of persons made gun attacks on the headquarters of the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communal Peoples Committees on early June 11 morning, killing and injuring some communal police officers, communal cadres, and civilians.Local authorities have quickly taken measures to stablise the situation, support the bereaved families and the injured, and call on local residents to stay calm and follow authorities instructions to ensure safety.On June 11 afternoon, Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam signed a decision to posthumously promote the ranks of the four police officers dying in the attacks and give assistance to the families of the dead officers and the injured ones. Nguyen Quoc Trung, deputy director of Vietnam Electricity's (EVN) National Load Dispatch Centre, said on June 9 in, "The heat in the north has lowered in recent days due to heavy rain, which has helped reduce stress on the power system." El Nino has a close relationship with the dearth of electricity in Vietnam. Since April, the electrical supply has encountered numerous difficulties. In comparison to the same period in 2022, the power output of the entire system has increased by 20 per cent, resulting in a burden of more than 453 million kWh. Currently, hydropower and thermal power are the primary sources of electricity in the north, but both of these sources are experiencing issues. In comparison to the previous year, the average mobilised hydropower output decreased by half, reaching only 12 to 15 per cent of the generating capacity. A number of additional hydroelectric reservoirs in the north are also dry. In addition to the reduction in power generation from hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants also encountered numerous difficulties as a result of prolonged operation at maximal capacity. To ensure electricity supply, EVN has mobilised all power sources across the nation, including diesel power sources that cost more than 21 cents per kWh. "If there is no immediate remedy, we will lose up to 1,920MW of power when the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant runs out of water and the water level drops to zero. This will have a significant impact on the power supply not solely in the north but on a national scale until July," Trung said. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has instructed EVN to implement numerous solutions to guarantee the production and consumption of electricity. However, "importing electricity is currently challenging" due to the difficulty of exporting electricity from China and Laos, Trung said. China also faces power shortages and must reduce capacity. Director of Electric Power Trading Company's Electricity Trading Department Nguyen Huu Khai said that the amount of electricity imported from China is approximately four million kWh per day, while the amount imported from Laos is over seven million kWh per day. Approximately 1.3 per cent of the total daily electricity consumption of nearly 900 million kWh is imported. According to Khai, the quantity of electricity China sells to Vietnam has fallen significantly in recent days. Vietnam has imported electricity since 2005 and continues to do so. According to the ministry, the entire northern hydropower system's available capacity was 4,147MW on June 8, 15MW more than the previous day. Going forward, however, the pressure to operate the reservoir system will increase, placing a significant burden on coal-fired power facilities. Many coal-fired power facilities, with a total capacity of up to 2,600MW, experienced difficulties due to the constant mobilisation of sources. In Hanoi and the northern provinces, power outages not only alternate between 1 and 2 hours, but can last anywhere from half a day to an entire day. In areas where electricity is heavily utilised for production, electricity is prioritised for production during the day and only provided to residents at night. People, enterprises save electricity in prolonged hot weather Nguyen Thi Hoa, who lives in Tay Ho district in Hanoi, has actively reduced her electricity usage over the past two months. EVN strives to ensure stable electricity supply for the north The North-South 500kV transmission line plays an important role in ensuring electricity for the northern region as the power supply is limited, the water falling into the hydropower reservoirs is exhausted, much of the lake water evaporates, and the electricity demand in the hot season skyrockets. Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai last week told the National Assembly (NA) that one of the prime tasks of the government from now until the years end is to use all best resources to effectively carry out the nations 2022-2023 Programme on Socioeconomic Recovery and Development (PSRD) which is valued at $15 billion and has been implemented since early last year, but at a slow pace due to various hurdles. Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai - source: chinhphu.vn We will have to drastically and effectively implement the PSRD, DPM Khai stressed. The disbursement of public investment and deployment has failed to meet the desired requirement, affecting the governments efforts to support enterprises and achieve the economic growth goal. Figures revealed by a government report submitted to the NA showed that by late April, over $3.77 billion or 28.8 per cent of the PSRDs total value was disbursed. The PSRD is set to officially expire by the end of this year. Under the PSRDs initiative on providing preferential loans via Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), accumulatively as of April 26, this bank disbursed loans worth $737.26 million for about 332,000 customers; $207.87 million as loans for purchasing social houses; $434.8 million for employment assistance; $8.04 million for 2,600 non-state nurseries and primary schools; and $50.56 million for over 23,700 customers in ethnic minorities and mountainous areas. By late March, VBSP disbursed loans with a preferential annual lending rate of 6 per cent valued at $58.56 million for poorer people. When it comes to the policy on providing housing rental for factory workers, localities disbursed $163.37 million or 57.2 per cent of the policys value for about 5.3 million workers. Accumulatively by late March, about $2.48 billion was disbursed for exempting and decreasing land taxes; and payment of land taxes and land rental worth $4.81 billion was extended. Additionally, the opportunity cost for assistance via policies on extending land taxes and land rental reached $321.74 million. At present, all of these types of policies have been terminated. Regarding the PSRDs initiative on offering a 2 per cent lending rate from the state budget for enterprises, cooperatives, and household businesses via commercial banks, accumulatively as of late March, total money provided reached only $14.2 million, tantamount to merely 0.82 per cent of this policys value. Under the Ministry of Planning and Investments calculations, it is expected that by late this year, the disbursed sum may reach only VND2.57 trillion ($111.74 million), and the remaining VND37.43 trillion ($1.62 billion) may not be disbursed. NA deputy Trieu Quang Huy representing the northern province of Lang Son commented, Such a very slow disbursement rate would mean big pressures for the government, ministries, and localities from now until the years end. This is one of the biggest obstructions against boosting economic growth and supporting enterprises. The most important solution is to boost administrative procedures which remain cumbersome now. Echoing this view, many like NA deputy Mai Van Hai from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa also felt anxious about the slow-paced deployment. The government and localities have made big efforts to accelerate the programme, but overall disbursement has stayed at a very low level, Hai said. Some policies within the PSRD cannot benefit businesses much. For example, some are finding it very hard to approach the 2 per cent lending rate incentive. The key reason is the tough condition that borrowers must prove their recovery ability, which is irrational and infeasible. Thailand boosts wellness tourism with 5-year traditional Thai medicine plan (source: nationthailand.com) Bangkok The Public Health Ministry of Thailand is implementing a five-year traditional medicine development plan to boost wellness tourism. The plan aims to increase health security while preserving herbal-medicine wisdom via wellness tourism to attract more foreign visitors. Anucha Burapachaisri, a government spokesman, on June 12 said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had acknowledged a five-year plan (2023-2027) for steering local traditional and alternative medicine to generate revenue for the country. The plan has three main purposes, including developing treatment plans for people suffering chronic pain, sleep disorders, and drug addiction; ensuring hospitals and factories that make herbal medicine receive the good manufacturing practice (GMP) standard; and planning to develop Thai wellness centres that will attract both local and foreign tourists. So far, 160 of the countrys 570 wellness centres have been certified under the plan. According to the spokesman, the five-year plan has three key goals, including increasing public confidence in traditional Thai medicine and boost the number of people using herbal medicine to cure minor health conditions from 1.48 per cent of the population now to 15 per cent; expanding the proportion of people seeking treatment from traditional medicine practitioners from 4.58 per cent currently to 20 per cent; and boosting the value of medical herbs consumed in the country to 90 billion THB (2.5 billion USD) a year by 2027. The Thai government expects the plan will boost local wisdom while also raising foreign visitors confidence in Thai wellness tourism. Highway connecting Thailand, Myanmar, Laos helps boost cross-border economic activities Thailands government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri has announced the country completed the expansion of the Highway 12 that connects Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. The estimated investment for this facility amounts to a staggering 170 million baht, or $4.9 million, according to the Bangkok Post. Targeting the discerning cohort of affluent clientele with a keen interest in healthcare and anti-aging medicine, this collaborative initiative aims to tap into Vietnam's surging economy and capitalise on its propitious healthcare prospects. The financial arrangement entails IFF Holdings shouldering 60 per cent of the total investment, while THG commits 30 per cent and Mithmitree Clinic provides 10 per cent of the funding. THGs principal business operations cover hospital operations, hospital management, healthcare solution provider, development and sales of hospital operation software, and property development. The BeWell Wellness Clinic is projected to commence operations in Ho Chi Minh City before the end of the year. Further expansion plans encompass the establishment of additional branches in Danang and Ho Tram by 2025, solidifying THG's position as a major player in Vietnam's healthcare landscape. Tanatip Suppradit, CEO of THG, outlined the profound purchasing power wielded by Vietnamese customers who express a strong desire for medical services delivered by Thai doctors. This venture aligns with THG's business strategy and represents a significant opportunity to tap into Vietnam's growing wellness trend. The investment is part of THG's broader commitment to Vietnam, as THG and Thonburi Bamrungmuang Hospital have already partnered to provide consultancy services to FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, covering various aspects such as construction, interior design, management systems, procurement, recruitment, and the establishment of an in vitro fertilisation clinic. IFF Holdings chairwoman, Ngyen Thi Mai, highlighted the company's decision to invest in the clinic due to the evident surge in the wellness industry across Vietnam and ASEAN following the pandemic, as economies gradually recover. She expressed confidence in THG's expertise in delivering world-class medical services and Mithmitree Clinic's specialised medical knowledge. The establishment of the clinic bears significant implications for Vietnam's medical service quality enhancement and represents an important step towards imparting extensive wellness knowledge to the local population, thereby ensuring better health outcomes for all. Given the intrinsic appeal of holistic healthcare and anti-aging medicine to Vietnam's wealthy customers, this bustling market holds immense potential for the wellness industry to flourish and thrive, as underscored by Worasak Manit, CEO of Mithmitree Clinic Co. Promoting healthcare system's cybersecurity Cyberattacks pose a threat to the healthcare industry by leaking patient data and disrupting essential services. Huong Le, country manager of Exclusive Networks Vietnam, spoke with VIR's Thanh Van about how to improve cybersecurity in the healthcare system. Modern policy for private hospitals Since the early years of the 20th century, Vietnam has had the policy to attract private investment and resources from the society to develop private healthcare. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van De, chairman of the Vietnam Private Hospital Association, explains how the past can be linked up to the future in this regard. Thomson Medical Group, a healthcare group headquartered in Singapore and backed by Singaporean magnate Peter Lim, is reportedly engaged in negotiations to bolster its controlling stake in Vietnam's FV Hospital, as disclosed by sources familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg. FV Vietnam Hospital stands to amass a substantial $400 million through an equity sale to Singaporean magnate Peter Lim. These sources further divulged that Thomson Medical Group has surpassed rival contenders to persist in the bidding process. The conglomerate is presently collaborating with financial advisors to explore potential acquisition prospects. Bloomberg previously reported that Quadria Capital, a private equity firm specialising in healthcare, was deliberating the divestment of its stake in FV Hospital, with the goal of generating an estimated $300 million to $400 million in proceeds. At that time, insiders revealed that FV Hospital's shareholders, including Jean-Marcel Guillon, the founding CEO, were also contemplating the partial or complete sale of their holdings in the hospital. The negotiation process remains ongoing, and it remains plausible that both Thomson Medical and Quadria Capital may ultimately opt not to proceed with the transaction. A spokesperson for Thomson Medical declined to provide commentary, while representatives from FV Hospital and Quadria did not promptly respond to Bloomberg's requests for input. FV Hospital was founded by a group of French doctors and lawyers who shared a common vision for prenatal care and development at a time when the Vietnamese government was actively encouraging foreign investment in the healthcare sector. In 2003, FV Hospital commenced operations and became the first hospital in Vietnam with 100 per cent foreign capital. It boasts modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities, coupled with an experienced team of doctors. Additionally, the hospital operates an outpatient clinic in the city. With 36 specialised departments, including prominent areas such as obstetrics, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, and cardiology, FV Hospital boasts a capacity to accommodate 1,500 patients per day. The institution also caters to patients hailing from neighbouring nations, including Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Out of the nearly five million patients who have sought medical attention and treatment at the hospital over the past two decades, 75 per cent were Vietnamese nationals, while the remaining 25 per cent were international patients. As per the outlined strategy, FV Hospital aims to inaugurate a comprehensive clinic and diagnostic centre in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City by 2023. Subsequently, in 2025, a seven-story edifice is slated for completion in District 7, serving to expand the hospital's cancer and hepatology treatment capabilities, while introducing additional services and cutting-edge techniques such as in vitro fertilisation, artificial kidney dialysis, and bone marrow transplantation. Moreover, FV Hospital has set its sights on establishing supplementary clinics in various provinces and municipalities within the next five years. In 2017, Quadria acquired an undisclosed stake in FV Hospital. Other participating investors encompassed funds under the management of Neuberger Berman Private Equity and DEG, the developmental finance institution affiliated with Germany's KfW Group. During the commemoration ceremony of FV Hospital's 20-year journey, held on April 9, Duong Anh Duc, Deputy Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said, "Having witnessed the remarkable development of FV Hospital over the past two decades, amidst the backdrop of the evolving trend towards integrated medical and educational institutions, I envision a future where our city will proudly welcome a 'FV Hospital University.' This institution aims to provide high-quality human resources for the healthcare sector and cater to the ever-growing demand for healthcare services." Hanoi French Hospital to increase medical service offerings and hospital capacity On May 11, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Luong Ngoc Khue, peoples physician, director of the Department of Medical Service Administration at the Ministry of Health (MoH) and vice chairman of the Vietnam Medical Council, presented a decision by the Ministry of Health to allow Hanoi French Hospital (HFH) to expand its services and up its capacity to 170 in-patient beds. Businesses rely on banking support, and so transparency is vital A report published last week by the National Assembly Economic Committee (NAEC) on Vietnams economic landscape and state budget for 2022-2023 has brought to light the convoluted patterns of cross-ownership, manipulation, vested interests, and clandestine lending within the countrys banking sector. Ha Sy Dong, Deputy Chairman of Quang Tri Peoples Committee, elucidated the ever-evolving and intricate nature of these practices, which pose significant threats to the stability of the financial system. One such risk is the augmentation of virtual capital through investment borrowing and mutual contributions, either directly or indirectly through subsidiary and affiliated firms. This artificially inflates the systems capital solely on paper, resulting in distortions in bank management, risk evaluation, provisioning for non-performing loans, and financial surveillance, he said. Moreover, he warned that risks emerge from the domination and takeover by large shareholders and related parties, whereby parent banks, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies jointly invest in a single enterprise, exerting substantial control over the operational activities of banks. Dong provided illustrative examples, such as BaoVietBank and PVcombank, where state-owned enterprises hold shares surpassing 15 per cent of the charter capital, along with the case of Truong My Lan, Van Thinh Phat Group, and SCB. These instances underscore the prevalence of cross-ownership and its ramifications within Vietnams banking panorama. According to Dong, numerous banks fail to conform to their intended status as publicly listed companies in accordance with existing legal regulations, impeding specialised regulatory bodies ability to effectively identify and address the issue. Dang Ngoc Huy, Standing Deputy Secretary of Quang Ngai Party Committee, pointed out, Beyond SCB or Van Thinh Phat Group, numerous businesses rely on the support of banks. The issue of cross-ownership remains unresolved and underscores the necessity for preventive measures within the framework of the Law on Credit Institutions. In the draft legislation, Nguyen Hai Nam, a member of the NAEC, introduced provisions to decrease the ownership ratio of major shareholders from 5 to 3 per cent to curb their dominance. He contended that in reality, various techniques are employed to circumvent the law, such as holding a small number of shares while receiving authorised mandates to hold 9-10 per cent ownership from other shareholders. Nam cited Italys experience in tackling cross-ownership during the 1990s, which entailed promoting equity divestment to bolster modern governance and reform the legal framework (see box). In line with Nams viewpoint, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stated that the governments directive is not merely to limit cross-ownership but to eradicate it, making the banking system robust. He highlighted, In other countries, credit institutions are obliged to publicly disclose and report major shareholders holdings, enabling the public to identify the associated groups and controllers of banks. Vietnam should consider this valuable experience as the country is witnessing the emergence of organisational models resembling financial conglomerates. Meanwhile, Dong from the central province of Quang Tri proposed, More collaborative opportunities for foreign investors in the banking sector should be encouraged to address this issue. Such capital influx would support banks restructuring process as well as enhancing corporate governance. Furthermore, in order to mitigate the adverse effects of cross-ownership, it is imperative to contemplate broadening the scope of information disclosure to encompass all shareholders, whether individuals or related groups that possess at least 1 per cent stake of the institutions charter capital. This would enhance transparency with regard to ownership and guarantee the security of the credit institutions operations, Dong added. In the 1990s, Italy faced the challenge of addressing cross-ownership in its banking sector. The country took significant steps to tackle this issue and restore transparency and stability in its financial system. One of the key initiatives undertaken by Italy was the introduction of the Consolidated Banking Act in 1993, which aimed to consolidate the fragmented banking sector and enhance regulatory oversight. It mandated that banks must divest their non-banking activities and prohibited cross-ownership between banks and industrial companies, effectively separating banking and non-banking entities. Additionally, it established the Italian Banking Association as a self-regulatory body to oversee and promote best practices within the banking industry. Furthermore, Italy encouraged foreign investment in its banking sector, which helped diversify ownership and inject fresh capital. This openness to foreign investors not only boosted competition, but also brought in international expertise and best practices. High interest rates cast shadow over real estate Despite improved liquidity compared to the outset of 2023, bank lending rates remain a key factor in resolving the current slowdown in the real estate market. The meeting to give law information to Vietnamese workers in Changwon city on June 11. (Photo: VNA) Seoul - Vietnamese workers in Changwon city of Gyeongsangnam province, the Republic of Korea (RoK), were updated on the host countrys laws at a meeting held on June 11. The event, organised by the citys centre for supporting foreign workers and the labour management office under the RoKs Employment Permit System (EPS), attracted a large number of Vietnamese workers who also had their questions answered. The meeting was part of a series of activities to give legal advice and encourage workers to return to Vietnam when their contracts expire, in line with regulations so as to enhance labour management and assist them during their stay in the RoK. Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Jin Jong-sang, Director of the Changwon centre for supporting foreign workers, said his centre is providing assistance for all foreign workers in different aspects. He held that as most Vietnamese work industriously and sincerely, they have won local employers trust. However, illegal labour is still a problem needing to be addressed. Up to now, Vietnam has sent over 110,000 workers to the RoK under the EPS programme, with average monthly income of 1,800 USD. About 30,000 are working under the EPS among the 40,000 Vietnamese workers in the RoK at present, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Number of Vietnamese labourers in RoK grows The number of Vietnamese workers registered to work in the Republic of Korea (RoK) has reached more than 23,400, nearly double the agreed recruitment target between Vietnam and the RoK, the Centre for Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs announced. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong declares victory in her country's battle against COVID-19 during a meeting with health care workers in Pyongyang in this 2022 file photo. Yonhap By Kang Hyun-kyung North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae has drawn media frenzy since she was first spotted on November 18, 2022 when she was with her father at the launch site of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile. The plump little girl, believed to be born in 2013, has since been at the center of media attention whenever accompanying her father at major national or military events. Her public appearance has generated much buzz, sparking speculations over whether she is Kim Jong-un's heir apparent. Ju-ae is the second female member of North Korea's ruling Kim family to make international headlines, following her aunt Kim Yo-jong who is notorious for her fiery and strongly worded statements. Aunt Kim made a stunning diplomatic debut in 2018 when she visited South Korea as her brother's emissary to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. She stole the show. Her uniquely snobbish attitude and connection with Kim Jong-un came under wide media scrutiny. Little is known about the relationship between the aunt and her niece. But, a political scientist said that their ties may turn sour in the event Kim Jong-un becomes incapacitated. Lee Sung-yoon, professor of Korean Studies at Tufts University / Courtesy of Lee Sung-yoon Lee Sung-yoon, a professor of Korean Studies at Tufts University in the United States, did not rule out a possible power struggle over succession in North Korea. "As for the prospects of a power struggle between Ju-ae and Yo-jong, the latter is far better poised to deal with it than her child niece," he said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times. Lee is an expert on North Korea's leadership. His new book, titled "The Sister" published by Pan Macmillan, will be officially released on June 15 in the United Kingdom. In the book, Lee tracks the rise of the North Korean leader's sister since her father's sudden death in December 2011. He claimed Kim Yo-jong, who has served as North Korea's chief propagandist since 2014, is "far better prepared" for the leadership than her brother was in 2011 following their father's death from cardiac arrest. "Even if Kim Jong-un has decided his daughter is his most suitable successor, it will be some time before she grows into adulthood and is able, like Aunt Yo-jong, to issue formal statements in her own name or lead a delegation to Seoul or a foreign country," he said. The cover of "The Sister" published by Pan Macmillan Based on extensive research of media reports, research papers and books about North Korea, as well as interviews with experts, Lee follows Kim Yo-jong from childhood to her rise as a propagandist for the regime. "The Sister" is thought-provoking. The political scientist attempts to delve into the mind of Kim Yo-jong regarding leadership succession and how her presence can reshape North Korea's political scene after Kim Jong-un. "In the event of such a sudden power transition, whether North Korea's first female supreme leader chooses to settle for the role of regent until her nephew or niece comes of age, or decides to rule for life the rest of her life and for her own life is a question to which there is no clear answer," the book reads. Questions over Kim Yo-jong's choice in the hypothetical situation remain unanswered, mainly because of learned experience of what happened in North Korea in the previous succession process. Kim Yo-jong witnessed the tragic fate of her uncle, Jang Song-taek who served as caretaker for Kim Jong-un in his early years in leadership but was brutally removed from the post, according to Lee. It is a chilling reminder of the risks Yo-jong could face in case she remains as a caretaker for her niece, rather than a ruler of her country. "The wrathful nipping winter of 2013 could give her sobering pause for thought: Kim Jong-un's uncle, Jang Song-thaek, had served as the new, young supreme leader's regent for the previous two years, but that winter his utility and life together expired," Lee's book reads. "Suddenly accused of being a traitorous counter-revolutionary, and also guilty of clapping half-heartedly at his nephew's formal events, Jang was stripped of all his titles and executed at the same time as which, or some after, the process of digitally removing him from articles and photos was completed." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, front row right, shares a laugh with his daughter Ju-ae during a banquet to celebrate North Korea's Military Foundation Day, Feb. 9. Yonhap Lee remains skeptical about the possibility of Kim Ju-ae rising to power in the event her father is incapacitated. "Even in the profoundly weird political setting of the DPRK, an 11-year-old, pre-pubescent girl emerging as the supreme leader is an absurdity that cannot be tolerated," he said. The DPRK stands for the Democratic Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. "What would Ju-ae be able to do? Head a DPRK delegation to Seoul or abroad as her aunt Kim Yo-jong has? Receive a foreign delegation? ... You'll recall that even her dad, in spite of intensive leadership training, appeared nervous and amateurish at his first public speech in April 2012," Lee said. In the event of a sudden power transition, Lee claimed that North Korea has no other option but Kim Yo-jong for its leadership. "There is simply no leader of the Mount Paektu Bloodline who can assume the royal leadership other than Kim Yo-jong," he said. The Mount Paektu Bloodline refers to the direct descendants of North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of Kim Jong-un. Kim Jong-un is in his late 30s and appears to be fully in control. Despite his tight grip on the totalitarian state, mainly through fear politics and brutal repression of North Korean residents' human rights, people outside of North Korea continue to speculate about who will rule the impoverished state next. The current leader's family history of cardiovascular problems plays a part in the continued speculation about a sudden change in the North's leadership. His father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather, Kim Il-sung, both died of sudden cardiac arrest. Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack in December 2011 while traveling outside of Pyongyang on a train. His grandfather also died of a heart attack in July 1994, two weeks before a scheduled inter-Korean summit with then-South Korean President Kim Young-sam. On top of his family health history, Kim Jong-un's health is another reason behind media speculation about a sudden change in the North. TV footage shows that Kim has gained significant weight since rising to power in 2011. Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the ruling People Power Party said Kim's weight is believed to be over 140 kilograms based on an estimate by artificial intelligence. "Kim is believed to suffer from a severe sleep disorder and increased dependence on alcohol and nicotine as massive amounts of foreign cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are shipped into North Korea," he told reporters last week after attending a meeting between members of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee and the National Intelligence Service. Since purchasing their North 30th Street home last year, Allie and Luke Russell have had two speeding drivers blow past a stop sign and crash into their yard and driveway, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Police records show there have been at least five crashes at the house since 2011, including three since January 2022. A previous owner of the home said there were at least three crashes when he lived there. After the most recent crash early last month, the Russells called on city officials to install speed bumps and other safety measures on Washington Avenue to slow drivers down before another crash possibly results in an injury or death. The driveway of the Russells home on 30th Street is directly across the street from a stop sign where Washington Avenue ends its straight shot from downtown, through an area of mixed density development and into the neighborhood of primarily single-family homes. When they moved in, the couple was aware of one previous crash in January 2022 that destroyed a gate to their driveway and damaged parts of a brick wall in front of the home, Allie Russell said. In November 2022, the couple was asleep when their neighbor called and told them someone crashed into their property, once again damaging the brick wall, she said. He was driving pretty fast, Allie Russell said. He put on his brakes quite a few yards in front of our house. He wedged himself up on the wall. He was so drunk and trying to get away that he went to the back of the car and started pulling it. As soon as he heard sirens he took off running. She said the driver was uninsured, so the damages to the wall, $20,000, came out of their policy and raised their premium. Attempts to find information about criminal charges, if any, in the crashes at the house were not immediately successful. After the crash, the couple said they reached out to the city and asked for the city to install speed bumps and extra signs on Washington Avenue or to turn one of the intersections leading to their house into a roundabout similar to one on Austin Avenue. Luke Russell said nothing really came of the couples efforts. Allie Russell said city officials told them the problem was an issue of drunk drivers, who would ignore speed bumps or signs anyways and continue speeding. They said, We thought about speed bumps, but ultimately, it wont stop them from crashing at the end of the street, she said. OK, but the house has been hit at like 50 miles an hour, 55 miles an hour, 90 miles an hour. Something needs to stop them from going that fast. The most recent crash happened early last month, only one day after they finished repairing the damage from the previous crash. Allies siblings and their families were visiting that night, and only 10 minutes before the crash, Allies sister was loading her two sons into a car in the driveway, where the crash occurred. It was not late at night, 8:30 p.m., Luke said. And the car never stopped and came in straight into my driveway at about 45 or 50 miles an hour. He comes cruising through and made it all the way to my back door, hit my truck, which then hit another truck in the driveway. Once again, Luke said the driver was inebriated. Luckily, the damages that time were covered by the drivers insurance, but the Russells said they are worried the danger of crashes will lower their homes value. Retired Baylor University professor Robert Darden lived in the house on North 30th Street from 1982 to 2014, and said starting in the 2000s, he saw an uptick in speeding drivers, several of which ended up crashing into the house. Cars started barreling down Washington, Darden said. A guy drove his truck into my living room one night about 2 a.m. Darden said about three serious crashes occurred when he lived in the house, and said a couple cars crashed into his neighbors homes on either side. Darden said his petitions to the city to fix the issue only resulted in a yield sign being put up on 30th Street, which was changed to a stop sign after the truck crashed into his living room. The Russells and one of their neighbors spoke to the Waco City Council during last weeks meeting and pleaded with council members to do something to address the crashes. After the meeting, they said they felt truly heard by the city for the first time. The Russells live in city council District 3, represented by Josh Borderud, but Washington Avenue is in District 4, represented by Darius Ewing. The Russells said they spoke with both council members, who pledged to help them solve the crash problem. Ewing said the city is in the idea phase of how to address the issue. He and Borderud said they are committed to working with city staff to help make the Russells feel safer and protected. The couple said they love their home and the neighborhood, but are frustrated by the crashes and the amount of time and money they have spent on repairs and trying to make their home safer. Were thankful to live here, Luke Russell said. We love this home and this neighborhood and our neighbors. And its just frustrating that someone whos decided to make a really, really poor choice could really damage property, and then even the potential of causing a loss of life, either their own or someone of my family. The Russells have been married a little over a year and said they plan on having children soon, but want the crashing problem fixed before they have kids running around the house. Thats just big concern for us, Allie Russell said. Were like, Man, are we going to be able to load our kids into a car? When we drive into our driveway, we used to sit in there and talk for a minute or finish listening to a song and now, we pull in the driveway and as soon as our seatbelt comes unbuckled were like jump out and shut the door as fast as we can, because were like, Well, someone could run into the back of us. We love it when our readers submit their own stories for publication, and it is even better when they are actually involved in the restoration itself. Rafael Aguirre is one such reader; he has been following our site for many years from his native Brazil. Aguirre is passionate about vintage aviation and his Brazilian aviation heritage. He has put this passion to work as a member of the board of directors for REVOAR, a non-profit, aviation enthusiast-driven association created which rescues and repairs long-forgotten historic aircraft. Presently, the association is caring for several historic aircraft with Brazilian heritage, and is set to lead the restorations of several in the coming years. These aircraft include such significant airframes as the CAP-4 Paulistinha (a Brazilian Piper Cub variant), a Vultee BT-15, Fokker S-11, Fairchild PT-19 and several gliders. Right now they are working on a North American T-6 which the legendary Antonio Arthur Braga (better known simply as Colonel Braga) flew for seventeen years in the Esquadrilha da Fumaca (Smoke Squadron), the Brazilian Air Forces aerial demonstration team. Then, of course, there is the Muniz-7 The Muniz M-7 emerged during the 1930s as the brainchild of a Brizilan Army Major named Antonio Guedes Muniz. The aircraft, a tandem two-seat biplane intended for the primary pilot training role, was the first aircraft designed and produced in series in Brazil. It employed a 130hp de Havilland Gipsy-Major engine as a powerplant. Total production amounted to 28 airframes. The Brazilian Army acquired 11 of them, while the remaining 17 examples saw service in civilian aviation schools. Sadly, only two examples of the M-7 survive, these being s/n 13 on static display at the Museu Aeroespacial (the Brazilian Air Force Museum in Rio de Janeiro), and s/n 14. The latter example belongs to the Santos Dumont Foundation Museum, and they assigned REVOAR the task of restoring it. REVOAR has established a partnership with the Santos Dumont Foundation with the objective of returning a significant number of their aircraft back to flying condition. Rafael Aguirre decided to take charge of the Muniz restoration process and has been working on the forgotten airframe for some time now. After the airframes complete disassembly, each part was subjected to non-destructive testing to ensure its integrity and airworthiness. Necessary repairs are underway (see images below) and enough progress has occurred that fuselage reassembly should begin in the near future. That being said, none of the biplanes wooden structure is capable of being refurbished to airworthy standards, including the wings, so these components will have to serve as patterns for the remanufacture of suitable replacements. At the time this article was written, Rafael was creating templates for the lower wing ribs so that new examples could be made. Thankfully, the aircrafts original Gipsy Major engine (see image below) seems to have survived in good condition; it is currently undergoing analysis for possible overhaul. Currently, REVOAR plans to have the Muniz M-7 ready for its first post-restoration flight in October 2024, the anniversary month of the types first flight in 1935. For more information, visit www.revoar.org By Greg Morehead It has been eight years since TBM Avenger owners Brad and Jane Deckert decided to host a gathering of flyable Avengers. It was not planned as an annual pilgrimage; however, this one-off event inspired the communitys patriotic support and introduced thousands to the warbird world. It is now an annual tradition that many locals simply refer to as the air show. Those versed in air shows understand this is far from a typical display of aerial hardware and pilot skill. This is essentially a warbird-only event where the rumble of radial engines and whine of jet turbines is described by announcer Tim Gillian as the sound of freedom. A massive American flag hanging from a crane at the center of Illinois Valley Regional Airport provides a visual beacon for moms pushing toddlers in strollers and dads with children hoisted onto their shoulders. Along their way an encampment of WWII reenactors display Jeeps, construction equipment, weapons, and uniforms. Inside the Midwest Air Charters maintenance hangar, tables are manned by WWII veterans who give autographs and vendors sell patriotic items and military collectibles. Although some people bypass the hangar, nobody can resist strolling among the iconic warbirds assembled on the ramp, including seven TBM Avengers, a B-25 Mitchell, P-40N Kittyhawk, P-51 Mustang, two T-33 Shooting Stars, L-39 Albatross, plus an A-1D Skyraider, C-45 Expeditor, PT-26 Cornell and at least five AT-6 Texans. For the warbird geeks keeping track of warbirds and pilots, here are some specifics: Type BuNo N-No Owner(s) Pilot(s) Home Base TBM-3E 81865 N81865 TBM Avenger LLC Brad Deckert/Matt Cropp Peru, IL TBM-3E 85460 N145WB Few TBMs LLC Ed Wuerker Rio Grande, NJ TBM-3E 85650 N85650 Heritage Flight Foundation Mark Simmons Pawcatuck, CT TBM-3E 53420 N420GP Tri-State Warbird Museum Greg Vallero Batavia, OH TBM-3E 53768 NL683G Tom Buck Tom Buck Joliet, IL TBM-3E 85983 NL28SF Avenger Educators LLC Steve Sorge Wilmington DE TBM-3E 53835 N3967A Ellenville LLC static display Warwick, NY The diversity of warbirds was a testament to event organizers who scrambled to fill the ramp after several warbirds were lured to Chuck Marshalls hometown air show in Elkhart, Indiana. Also affecting participation were the ever present weather and maintenance challenges. Charlie Cartledge and Tim Savage were unable to bring their TBMs due to mechanical issues while Daniel Mosley was stymied by bad weather. Despite several cancelations, Peru can again boast the largest gathering of TBMs in the country, a claim they have been able to make annually since 2016. The full array of aircraft flew both Friday and Saturday and Friday night featured a night show that started with Matt Younkins amazing Twin Beech aerobatics followed by a ground run of six TBMs. The thunderous roar of six R-2600 radial engines and blue flames jetting from their exhaust stacks was acknowledged by the crowd with unanimous applause. Photographers were disheartened by the inability to position light towers optimally but the crowd loved the annual spectacle. On Saturday, a special ceremony was held in which the flags of deceased veterans were escorted to Brad and Jane Deckerts TBM Avenger, where they were taken on board to be flown by Matt Cropp during the missing man formation pass. Unfortunately, an issue with the aircrafts brakes kept it from launching at that time, but Brad flew the precious, symbolic cargo overhead as the National Anthem was sung. Akin to a Sesame Street limerick, One of these TBMs look different than the others. While the average spectator overlooked the odd, non-military paint job of one Avenger, the avid warbird aficionados drooled over the only flying example of a TBM in its fire bomber configuration. A significant number of Avengers survive today because they found commercial use as fire bombers and sprayers in the post war years. Ed Wuerker surprised all when he entered the pattern and landed at the Reunion. Wuerker seemed to enjoy being a rock star for the weekend. It was a well-earned accolade because it took a big set of kahoonas to get the well-worn TBM half way across the country despite radio problems and one of two iPads dying during the flight. The TBM Reunion was a success on many levels. Rain was avoided and funding was available to provide the hard-working families of north-central Illinois with a family-friendly, totally free event a rarity in modern society. Event organizers went above and beyond to treat owners, pilots, and crews with exemplary hospitality. To say it was a group effort would be a gross understatement. Countless people dedicated themselves to making the event a success. But, there would be no purpose, no need for any of it if not for the veterans who were so aptly honored all weekend. After the veterans flags were loaded into Brad Deckerts TBM, there was a delay as the TBMs taxied and took off. Announcer Tim Gillian said it best when he solemnly said, I appreciate your patience, ladies and gentlemen. I assure you, they (veterans) are worth it. The American flag could be seen everywhere, from a towering crane and scores of flag poles, but when The National Anthem rang out and Brad Deckert flew his precious cargo overhead, tears were unavoidable knowing the flags that had draped over so many coffins were the Stars and Stripes over Peru. Thanks to all those who made the TBM Reunion a success and a special thanks to the new owners of Midwest Air Charters for accepting the baton of a noble and worthy event. WATERLOO A Waterloo man is expected to survive after he was shot while sitting in a vehicle outside a home Sunday. Police said the victim was behind the wheel of a vehicle parked in the driveway of 420 Boston Ave. around 12:25 p.m. when someone in a passing car opened fire. After being shot, the man drove himself to UnityPoint-Health Allen Hospital, where he was treated. Police investigating the shooting spotted the suspect vehicle, a Chevrolet Cruz, at about 3:10 p.m. in the area of West Parker Street. Following a brief chase, police detained three people. Officers also seized a firearm. No one has been charged with the shooting, but Dayton Amaru Sharuk Bruce, 19, and Camren Montgomery, 19, were arrested for misdemeanor interference for allegedly running from the car following the pursuit. Also detained was a 17-year-old male, police said. The investigation into the shooting continues. 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 Some cities have reigned in police spending, while others have tightened overall public safety budgets 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. Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (11 June 2023) The AFU continued unsuccessful attempts at offensive actions in South Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions. In the area of Vremevka, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation have hit manpower and hardware concentration areas of the 1st Separate Brigade of the President of Ukraine, the 110th Brigade of Territorial Defence, the 72nd Mechanised and 1st Tank Brigades of the AFU near Novodonetskoye, Neskuchnoye, Storozhevoye and Oktyabr state farm (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In Zaporozhye direction, decisive and competent actions of the defending units, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have repelled three enemy attacks close to Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka and Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region). A column of armoured vehicles of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade advancing in a southern direction has been hit near Lukyanovskoye (Zaporozhye region). Total losses of the AFU were over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 11 tanks, including three Leopard tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one UK-manufactured Stormer surface-to-air missile system, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system. In Donetsk direction, the most active combat operations took place close to Maryinka and Avdeevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The Yug Group of Forces successfully repelled eight attacks by the units of the 110th mechanised, 1st tank, 59th motorised infantry and 79th airborne assault brigades of the AFU forward Novobakhmutovka, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaiskoye and Maryinka. No incursion into Russian defence has been allowed. The enemy losses were up to 310 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, three pick-up trucks, two Msta-B howitzers, and one D-30 howitzer. Ammunition depots of the 63rd Motorised Infantry Brigade and the 53rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed close to Krasnoye and Lastochkino (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, as well as artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware close to Krasnoye, Pervoye, Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Tabayevka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Artyomovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Novomlynsk. The enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two pickup trucks, Polish-manufactured Krab and U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery systems, as well as one D-20 howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces have hit enemy units near Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Terny (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Serebryansky forest. The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Torskoye. The enemy losses were over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two D-30 howitzers and one D-20 howitzer. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 30 Ukrainian servicemen, one Osa-AKM surface-to-air missile system combat vehicle, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one Msta-B howitzer. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 91 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 109 areas. One command post of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade has been hit near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region). A signal node of 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Kirovo (Zaporozhye region). The headquarters of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, as well as command and observation posts of the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 15th Brigade of Operative Purpose have been hit close to Rai-Aleksandrovka, Predtechino (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region) Air defence facilities have shot down one Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Osokorovka (Kherson region). Five HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and one HARM anti-radar missile have been intercepted. In addition, eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Kremenets, Lipovoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Sladkovodnoye, Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye Region), Olshany, Kolomyichikha, Chervonaya Dibrova and Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In total, 442 airplanes, 238 helicopters, 4,571 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 9,900 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,122 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,084 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,885 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. WtR North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wishes Putin on Russia Day, expresses full support and solidarity It is a holiday, Russia Day WtR PS: NK is ready and its job is South Korea and Japan. When the west starts full crap? NK is ready to go Interesting times are coming, soon Would you like to know more? The Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, 1824 E. Highway 33, Portage, will host two Madison authors as they discuss their novels. The FWSQ Book Club will host Renee Ryan, author of The Widows of Champagne, at 3 p.m. Sunday and then at 3 p.m. Aug. 20, Margaret George will discuss her historical fiction novel, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles. FWSQ is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution and both authors are members of the John Bell Chapter in Madison. Ryans The Widows of Champagne chronicles three womens fight to survive Nazi-occupied France and protect their livelihood, the Chateau Fouche-Leblanc vineyard in Reims, after it was requisitioned by the Nazis. It is based on true events, as many widows operated vineyards after their husbands died during World War I. George's Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles recalls the life of Mary Stuart, who became Queen of Scots when she was only 6-days-old. She was sent to France to be raised alongside her betrothed, the Dauphin Francois. Mary became queen of France at 16, but was widowed two years later when the king died from an ear infection. In 1561, the pope appointed Mary as the Catholic queen of a newly Protestant Scotland. She ultimately was accused of murdering her second husband, Lord Darnley, in order to marry her lover, the Earl of Bothwell. Mary was only 25 when she fled Scotland for what she hoped would be sanctuary in her cousin, Queen Elizabeth Is, England, However, after nearly 19 years in captivity, she was convicted of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth I and was beheaded in 1587. Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday through Oct. 15. For more information, visit fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org or call 608-742-2949. Last week the Human Rights Campaign, the countrys largest gay rights organization, issued a state of emergency over anti-LGBTQ laws passed across the United States. It was the first emergency declaration in the organizations 40-plus year history. The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived they are real, tangible, and dangerous, said HRC President Kelley Robinson. Over 75 bills across the United States have been signed into law this year, including ones banning drag performances, gender-affirming care, LGBTQ-inclusive education, inclusive bathrooms, and laws curbing transgender athletes playing organized sports. Meanwhile, outside Baraboo this past weekend, Baraboo Queers and Allies had a Pride Built in conjunction with the local Habitat for Humanity. Upcoming, at Con Amici Craft Bar in downtown Baraboo, there will be a karaoke fundraiser for the organization. It takes place on Tuesday, June 13, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will be a celebration with songs and prizes. The LGBTQ community in Sauk County is definitely tight-knit, said Jacquie Steele, the organizations new president. The 34-year-old from Madison has been involved in the organization for some time. She works full-time for UW Health and is a video editor and owner of her own business, Fish Flop Productions. I wouldnt be part of Queers and Allies and be such close friends with people in Baraboo if it wasnt for the family feel that I get from being in the Sauk County area. Steele came out to her family and friends last year. I have great support from my family and have a very supportive group of friends, she said. She knows, however, thats not the case for many who are LGBTQ. Thats why, in part, she joined the organization. Baraboo Queers and Allies was founded in 2020. The purpose is to promote the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, their family, and their friends. Its a group, Steele said, that comes together and supports each other, educates our members and the community about the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, and advocates for us all. Currently, the organization is in a transitional phase. Theyve recently secured a new board of directors. Steele, and Julie Westegaard, have been on the board since February of this year. New board members include Cathy Christman and Gabby Kluender. Jon Freed has also been active in the organizations transition. The organization is always seeking new members and encourages everyone in the community to participate. Steele is eager in sharing our stories, and showing we can love, and showing we have feelings just like everyone else. Seeing some of Baraboos churches becoming more accepting has been rewarding for Steele and the organization to see. Local businesses have shown their support, as well. Showing that they are a safe space is great, Steele said. Education and communication are paramount, Steele feels. Letting people know who we are and how we got to where we are, is important, Steele said, so that we can feel more comfortable being our true selves. Steele is particularly keen on reaching local youth who are still learning about themselves. Letting them know that its okay to be yourselfand that we will be here to support them every step of the way, Steele said. According to the UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, 9.5% of youth, ages 13 to 17 in the United States, is LGBTQ. It is estimated that there are 35,000 LGBTQ youth, aged 13 to 17, in the state of Wisconsin. The Trevor Projects 2022 National Survey on LGTBQ Youth Mental Health noted that 45% of LGBTQ youth in the United States seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. 73% reporting experiencing symptoms of anxiety. 60% of LGBTQ youth wanted mental health care in the past year and were not able to get it. Things can always improve, Steele said, but I believe that it will come in time and having Baraboo Queers and Allies will help. Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Sang-keun speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex in Sejong, Monday. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Korean taxpayers will have to shoulder further costs as the government tries to ensure the safety of seafood, amid lingering concerns about Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Monday. On the day that Tokyo Electric Power began facility testing operations for the discharge, the Korean ministry unveiled plans to enhance communication with fishermen and consumers, to dispel concerns about the safety of seafood. Vice Minister Song Sang-keun reiterated that domestic seafood will be safe even after the release of the wastewater. But he also told reporters that the central and municipal governments will purchase additional equipment and hire additional personnel to conduct radioactivity inspections on seafood products nationwide. "At this moment, our ministry, municipal governments and private institutions collectively have 29 pieces of equipment to check radioactivity at the stage of production," the vice minister said. "We will buy nine additional pieces of such equipment this year and 11 more next year." According to the ministry, each piece of equipment costs 300 million won ($233,000). The vice minister also said that the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service will hire additional inspectors as soon as possible. "If necessary, the government may purchase additional equipment to check the radioactivity of ballast water," said Lee Chang-yong, head of the ministry's maritime industry and technology division. In addition, the vice minister did not rule out the possibility of the government compensating fishermen for damages caused by declines in domestic seafood consumption caused by concerns over the release of the radioactive wastewater. Although he emphasized it is too early to talk about compensation, the vice minister said the government is bracing for a possible decrease in seafood consumption. Baraboos AL. Ringling Brewing Company recently announced that it has reached a settlement agreement for a civil lawsuit brought against the business in 2021. We are happy that the matter has been resolved and look forward to a better and stronger future serving both the local community and visitors, AL. Ringling Brewing Company Co-Owner Joe Colossa said. We really appreciate all the support weve received from our customers, partners and friends during this time. The brewery, which opened to the public in 2020 inside the historic AL. Ringling mansion in downtown Baraboo, is co-owned by Colossa and Don Horowitz. They are also the majority stakeholders of the brewery. Due to the stipulations of the agreement, no further information about the particulars of the lawsuit settlement was provided. The lawsuit stems from 2021, when former employees and shareholders of the brewery sued the company and its owners for alleged sexual assault and allegedly lying to get them fired and removed from the company board. This, according to a complaint filed in the Western District Court of Wisconsin U.S. District Court. The complaint, filed in district court after those alleging the charges withdrew a lawsuit filed in Sauk County Circuit Court, outlined an atmosphere in which Colossa verbally abused then-General Manager Jonathan Bare, and sexually harassed and assaulted brewery employees Barbara Vera Torres and Carmen Vera Torres. The plaintiffs in the case were Bare, Barbara Vera Torres, and Michael Grassman. Grassman owned a minority share of the brewery and sued for minority shareholder oppression. They could not be reached for comment. The worst beers in the world, according to Beer Advocate What are the worst beers in the world? #25. Old Milwaukee Beer #24. Heineken Premium Light Lager #23. Corona Extra #22. Desperados #21. Black Label Beer #20. Tecate Light #19. Kirin Light Beer #18. Colt 45 Malt Liquor #17. Labatt Blue Light #16. Beck's Premier Light #15. St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor #14. Coors Light #13. Red Dog #12. Corona Light #11. Keystone Lager #10. Bud Light #9. Keystone Premium #8. Busch Ice #7. Natural Ice #6. Keystone Light #5. Milwaukee's Best Light #4. Miller 64 #3. Natural Light #2. Sharp's #1. Budweiser Select 55 According to the complaint to the ethics commission, Lombardo used his position as Clark County Sheriff, along with government property, to significantly benefit himself. When you get a new computer, it seems lightning fast. But after a few years, it slows ... and slows. The reasons arent a mystery: With age, the number of stored programs and applications keeps growing, straining its resources. At the same time, the physical mechanisms in the hardware degrade. Considering that the cost of a decent new computer often approaches or exceeds $1,000, you probably want to keep your current one running well as long as possible. The typical life span for a computer is three to five years, but with routine care and maintenance, you can stretch that to seven years or longer. Heres how: When you notice problems 1. Treat the viruses. Is your computer suddenly much slower, besieged by pop-ups or crashing regularly? Antivirus software scans can clear out malware programs and be set up to run automatically, so this process is regularly done for you. Some popular options include Bitdefender Antivirus, Norton Antivirus Plus, Kaspersky and McAfee Antivirus Plus. All run about $60 a year. Repair or Replace? Check out prices for parts. Components for older computers can be more difficult to source and may be more expensive than parts for a newer machine, says Roberto Baires of Micro Tech Resources. Compare old vs. new. Much like a car, computers can be totaled, which means the cost of repair is greater than the worth of the machine. Determine the age. If your computer is 5 years old and you want it to run as good as new or close to it, based on prices, youre probably better off getting a new computer, Baires says. Look at the long term. Buying now might be cheaper than repairing versus having the computer last another year or two and then having to buy a new one at a higher price. 2. Declutter. Delete applications and files you dont need. Freeing this space helps the machine run faster. Thats like taking out the trash in your home, says Eddie Matos, director of technical support for Dell. Its going to give you extra hard drive space. Free programs such as CCleaner will scan your computer and tell you if you have temporary files that can be deleted easily. 3. Add memory. If you open multiple applications and your computer slows, that may be a sign you need more RAM. Generally, upgrading from 4 gigabytes (GB) to 8GB will do the job for about $40. You can add memory by yourself, but it involves opening up the computer, which you cant do with Apple products. Taking your computer to a repair shop should cost about $40 for labor. 4. Go extreme. A clean wipe of the hard drive and a fresh installation of the operating system will breathe new life into the system almost immediately, Matos says. This is an extreme option because it will wipe information off your computer. Youll need to back up data first and reload it later. The new operating system can be downloaded off the web. You can search for online tutorials. Next time, consider a desktop This bit of advice is offered with the obvious caveat: You must be OK with always using your computer at the same location. Typically, desktops last longer than laptops because their components arent so jammed together. Desktops have a lot of breathability in them, which really helps the life span, because there is so much space for the power supply and the hard drive, says Alexe Proctor, a former sales manager with Staples. Dignitaries toast in celebration of Sweden Day 2023 at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Embassy of Sweden in Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo The Embassy of Sweden in Korea hosted Sweden Day 2023, Friday, to commemorate two major anniversaries for the Scandinavian country the 500th anniversary of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the 50th year on the throne for incumbent King Carl XVI Gustaf. Held at Grand Hyatt Seoul on top of Mount Nam, Sweden Day is one of the largest events hosted by the diplomatic community in Korea with over 1,300 participants. Swedish Ambassador to Korea Daniel Wolven noted the ongoing growth of the strong bilateral relationship between Korea and Sweden. "Together with my wife and two children, I have now lived in this amazing country for almost two years. And each day, I am struck by the ties that bind Sweden and Korea together; our innovative companies, our vibrant music industries, our passion for world-class film, design and food. And, of course, our strong commitment to freedom, to peace and to security," Wolven said. "We were especially honored to receive Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in Stockholm last month and his visit also opened up new promising areas of cooperation between our countries, including on nuclear energy." Swedish Ambassador to Korea Daniel Wolven delivers a speech at Sweden Day 2023 celebrations at Grand Hyatt Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Embassy of Sweden in Korea HBO TV The Nymeria Sand depicter admits she 'couldn't watch' the HBO series despite starring in it although she was 'quite religious about it' before joining the cast. Jun 12, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jessica Henwick struggled to watch "Game of Thrones" after she landed a role in it. The 30-year-old actress loved the HBO fantasy series when she was cast as Nymeria Sand but explained its illusion was "broken" once she began to see herself on screen. "That show really did a great job of building up the anticipation every single week. And I watched it with friends and family. And I remember when I was in LA, and it was playing or when I was in America, people would have viewing parties so and they would make more effort then when they went to the cinema like people would dress up and bring thrones inspired dishes to these parties," She exclusively told BANG Showbiz. "It was a strange one because I love the show. Before I was on it, I was one of those people who would go to the viewing parties and was quite religious about it. And then it's interesting. As soon as I was on the show, I couldn't watch it anymore. Just because there was something about seeing myself that broke the spell for me." "So I didn't experience it. The viewing parties when I was in the show, but I definitely went before and I loved it. It was fun trying to predict what would happen in the next episode. People were doing sort of fantasy league rankings of who's gonna end up on the Iron Throne and I thought that was really interesting." These days, the "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" star has turned to voice acting and is now appearing as "firecracker" mole Dotty in the animated children's series "Moley" and explained she finds the part "freeing" because she is able to experiment with accents that would not usually be associated with her heritage. She said, "I actually find voice acting to be incredibly freeing, in a way that sometimes screen physical acting can be restrictive because, you know, on 'Moley', I'm doing this accent that I would never be allowed to do if I were being physically seen on camera because people would just go oh, that voice doesn't match that body. That voice doesn't match that look." That's the beauty of playing Dotty. It doesn't it doesn't matter who I am where I'm from, how tall I am my hair colour. My ethnicity or none of that comes into play. It really is just okay. Well, this is how I want a mole to sound and no one has any preconceived notions so it's incredibly freeing actually!" New episodes of "Moley" air on Boomerang this month. You can share this post! Marvel Studios Movie The actor who plays Chris Hemsworth's onscreen father, Odin, gets candid as he weighs in on his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe being not challenging enough. Jun 12, 2023 AceShowbiz - Sir Anthony Hopkins has called his work in "Thor" "pointless acting." The two-time Best Actor Oscar winner portrayed the role of Odin, the father of Chris Hemsworth's titular hero, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies but did not see the point of giving it his all as he did not find the project challenging. "If you're sitting in front of a green screen, it's pointless acting. They put me in armour; they shoved a beard on me. Sit on the throne, shout a bit," Anthony told the New Yorker magazine. The Welsh actor found fame in the 1960s after being spotted by Laurence Olivier and joining the Royal National Theatre and previously suggested that he would carry on acting until he is physically unable to do so. Questioned on if he planned to retire, "The Silence of the Lambs" star told Saga magazine, "No! I enjoy working. I enjoy getting out of the house and doing something different, I enjoy the novelty of it. I love the whole... well, I hate the word 'process', but I love the activity." "My wife Stella worries about my health and once said, 'Do you want to keep going until you drop dead?' I replied, 'I guess so, unless my health gives out first.' And she said, 'Well, that's good, if it's really what you want to do.' And it is. Acting is my passion." The 85-year-old actor also discussed how age has made him more reflective. Anthony told Sorted magazine, "I think as you get older, you do go around examining life more. This did make me think about my past and my parents and about all the sweet sadness of it all." You can share this post! Ruling People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon, right, is seen speaking at the party's Supreme Council meeting in Seoul, June 12. Yonhap The ruling People Power Party (PPP) slammed opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Monday for acting like a "branch chief of the Communist Party of China" after Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming used a meeting with Lee to issue a warning message to Korea. Xing said during the meeting with Lee last week that it is a wrong bet for Korea to believe that China will lose in the rivalry with the United States and that those betting on China's defeat "will certainly regret it later." The remark was an apparent swipe at the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol, which has been seeking to bring Korea closer to the U.S. and Japan in a departure from the previous Moon Jae-in administration that had put a greater emphasis on China. Korea's foreign ministry summoned the envoy and issued a strong warning. On Monday, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the PPP, said Lee appeared to agree with Xing's statement. "Lee's actions, which opened the floor for the Chinese ambassador to interfere in domestic politics, was a critical mistake that cannot be overlooked," Kim said during a party meeting, adding Lee should "clarify whether he is Korea's No. 1 opposition party leader or the Korean branch chief of the Communist Party of China." Kim also said Xing's remarks were an "intolerable insult" to a sovereign nation. "Such attitude of coercing a sovereign nation like Korea to obey China ... is an intolerable insult. It was a serious discourtesy that resembles the local commander of an occupying nation," he said. Other PPP lawmakers heaped criticism against the Chinese Ambassador and urged Beijing for a sincere apology over the remarks. "A foreign ambassador summoning the leader of the opposition party of the host country and publicly criticizing its government is a rare move and a disregard for the host country on an international scale," said Rep. Yoon Jae-ok during the meeting. Yoon further said the party will urge the government to take stern measures against Beijing if it attempts again to interfere in internal affairs or undermine the dignity of Korea, while demanding an apology from ambassador Xing and the Chinese government. "I would like to express my deepest regrets over the consecutive provocations and discourtesy from Chinese diplomatic officials. We firmly demand a responsible apology from Ambassador Xing Haiming himself and the Chinese government over the remarks," he said. (Yonhap) Instagram TV The actor-turned-TV host was warned to be careful because he could catch a flak if choosing the wrong side when talking about the 'Vanderpump Rules' scandal on television. Jun 12, 2023 AceShowbiz - Mark Consuelos reveals his daughter Lola got him up to speed with the "Vanderpump Rules" cheating scandal. The "Riverdale" actor, 52, said he and his wife Kelly Ripa's 21-year-old daughter - who has brothers Michael, 26, and 20-year-old Joaquin - was the one to let him know all he needed to know before he went on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen" about the so-called "Scandoval" drama involving Tom Sandoval, 39, cheating on his girlfriend of nine years Ariana Madix, 37, with their friend Raquel Weiss, 28, for months. "Yes, Lola texted me when we were going in about the 'Scandoval' episode, 'You better watch yourself. You better watch what side you're taking because it could go very bad for you.' So that was the latest times our kids checked in," Mark told Andy Cohen, 55, on the presenter's late night chat show. Mark added Lola "made" him and his wife watch the episode in which news of the affair broke, telling Andy, "She made us watch it. She said, 'We're doing two things tonight - we're watching 'Scandoval', the episode, and then we're going to watch the first episode of the reunion.' " The "Live With Kelly and Mark" host also told how he believes "there's no hope" for Raquel as he offered up prediction for the final chapter of the reunion show in the series. He said, "I think she's gonna apologise a lot - they're all gonna yell at her, and she's gonna apologise some more." In May, Mark and Kelly told fans they were "proud" their daughter had graduated from New York University at a ceremony held at Yankee Stadium. On an Instagram slideshow soundtracked to the song 'Whatever Lola Wants' by the late Ella Fitzgerald, Kelly said, "#HappyGraduation and congrats @theyoungestyung we are so proud of you." Mark captioned the same clip, "Congratulations Lola!!! We love you!!" You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity In the footage, the 'Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out' star takes to his Instagram account to share insight into the Atlanta church where Jacky's funeral is held in Atlanta, Georgia. Jun 12, 2023 AceShowbiz - DC Young Fly is bidding farewell to his late partner Ms Jacky Oh. The YouTube star, whose real name is John Whitfield, paid tribute to Jacky at her memorial service, where he and Jacky's loved ones celebrated her life. Writing in the caption, the former "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out" star said, "Sent you off the right way mama, love u forever." He added, "the kids gon be str8 and you kno GOD got us." In the footage, DC shared insight into the Atlanta church where Jacky's funeral was held in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, June 10. He also shared some snaps of himself, the model and their children. At the end of the video, the comedian gave a look at the horse-drawn carriage that carried Jacky's casket to her final resting place. Videographer Craig Shoots also shared another video showing DC and his three children, Nova (6), Nala (2) and Prince'Nehemiah (10 months). Surrounded by family and friends, they were seen releasing doves in Jacky's honor. Prior to this, DC shared a heartfelt tribute to Jacky in an Instagram post. "I wasnt in no rush to post this because I wanted it to be a dream so bad but every hour Im reminded of realty so I wanna make sure I applaud you in the proper manner," the "House Party 2" actor wrote. "You are the GREATEST MOTHER I KNOW your soul was beautiful." He continued, "Yu always wanted the best for others and I admired how our family love each other!!! Never had to worry about our kids loving each other cause you were on top of Dat!!! You kno we GOD fearing and we are grounded by the spirit we never question the HIGHER POWER we roll wit the punches and continue to live righteous." "will always tell our kids how much an amazing person you were especially a GREAT MOTHER!!! You know how our last convo went I prayed for Yu and now we are here.. but its ok we willll continue to pray and hold on to our FAITH because that's alll we kno!! Love you forever and our kids are super strong they helpin me wit my tranquility no Kap!!!!! U wit me forever," he added. "The QUEEN of my children will always have a spot in my heart and the paradise (Yu gon get me for Dat but its true) LOVE YOU FOREVER jus know we goinn harder than ever and GOD is in control and he got us covered." Jacky died on May 31 in Miami. "It is with sadden (sic) hearts we share with you that Jakclyn aka MsJackyOh has passed away on Wednesday, May 31st 2023," her family confirmed the sad news in a statement. "Our family is still processing this very tragic and unexpected loss; we ask that you please give us privacy during this time." You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity The 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' star and the 'Shazam!' actress are spotted shopping for home decor in Los Angeles after they traveled to Morocco earlier this month. Jun 12, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good continue to spend time together while remaining silent on their dating rumors. Amid speculation that their relationship is just a PR stunt to mitigate his current legal issues, the pair show that they remain strong as they were spotted rug shopping over the weekend. On Friday, June 9, the 41-year-old actor and the 33-year-old actress visited Modern Rugs in Los Angeles to look at a few designer carpets. The "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" appeared to be interested in a furry carpet as the "Creed III" hunk stood beside her. The two dressed casually for the outing, with Jonathan wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants in matching color with a pair of sneakers. Meagan opted for a pair of gray biker shorts which she teamed with matching cardigan, a black beanie and white sneakers. The pair appeared to continue shopping for home decor after their trip to Morocco, where they were seen in a pottery shop. During their vacation to northern Moroccan city of Fez earlier this month, they were seen browsing the local pottery, which has since been identified as Art Naji. Jonathan and Meagan's dating rumors were first reported by TMZ in May. A source told the outlet that the two stars have gotten close "over the course of the last several weeks." An eyewitness additionally told the publication that the pair went to the Alamo Drafthouse in L.A. to watch a movie. On May 20, the two boarded a flight together from New York City to Los Angeles. In photos surfacing online, the pair could be seen chatting while walking hand-in-hand. They also waited in line together to grab something to eat. Later in the same month, the "Lovecraft Country" actor and the "Think Like a Man" actress were also seen dining out with her family in L.A. They kept things low-key while slipping in and out of Red Lobster in Woodland Hills with Meagan's mom Tyra Wardlow-Doyle and older sister La'Myia Good. They reportedly spent 3 hours inside the eatery before walking out of the seafood chain. It seems that Jonathan spoiled the ladies with some flowers as the three of them carried a bouquet of flowers each when leaving the restaurant. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The 'Blank Space' hitmaker continues to give back to communities to help eradicate poverty while she is hitting the road for the North American leg of her 'Eras' world tour. Jun 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Taylor Swift sent a generous donation to a food bank in Detroit, Michigan. The Grammy winner has made donations to food poverty charities in cities on her "Eras Tour", and her latest was to the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan as she played two nights at Detroit's Ford Field on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10. "No matter what happens in life, be good to people," the food bank wrote on Facebook, quoting the "Shake It Off" hitmaker. The post added, "These words ring true today with Taylor's surprise donation to Gleaners during her #TSTheErasTour stop in #Detroit. Thank you for making an impact and empowering kids and families with nutritious food!" In a statement to local press, Kristin Sokul, a representative for Gleaners, said, "Taylor Swift's support of food banks across the country comes at such a critical time for so many emergency food providers - when resources are down, and need is up. Her generosity goes beyond dollars for meals." "The space in her heart will empower households across Southeast Michigan to live happier, healthier lives and elevate the important issue of food security so others who have the ability to help can be inspired by her example. The entire Gleaners team is so grateful for this incredible gift." The generous sum was not disclosed. Earlier on the tour, Taylor donated enough money to make 125,000 meals for food bank users in Tampa Bay, Florida. The pop megastar completed three nights at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, and Feeding Tampa Bay hailed Taylor a "hero" for helping them feed food-insecure people in West Central Florida. The non-profit tweeted, "Thank you @taylorswift for being a HERO and supporting Feeding Tampa Bay's mission to end hunger by 2025! Your generosity will place over 125,000 meals on tables!" The 33-year-old musician kicked off "The Eras" trek in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, and it was revealed that she made a surprise donation to the Arizona Food Bank Network as part of a commitment to make a positive impact in the communities during her tour. Terri Shoemaker, Vice President of External Relations at the Arizona Food Bank Network, told Azcentral.com, "It's not every day that you get a call from someone who works in PR for Taylor Swift, so we were dubious at first, but happily, it turned out to be absolutely real." "Donations like this from very high-profile people like Taylor Swift help denote that hunger is still a problem in the U.S. It's here and it's a problem across the country. The recognition of that is so important and so is just setting an example of how to support organisations in the community." Bosses at the Three Square food bank, which helps struggling families in Nevada, revealed it had also had a donation from the musician. You can share this post! WASHINGTON, June 12, 2023 Journalists who register for the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will have access to about 12,000 presentations on topics including agriculture and food, energy and fuels, health and medicine, sustainability and more. ACS Fall 2023 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in-person in San Francisco on Aug. 13-17 with the theme Harnessing the Power of Data. ACS considers requests for press credentials and complimentary registration to meetings from reporters (staff and freelance) and public information officers at government, nonprofit and educational institutions. Please request credentials by completing this form. ACS reserves the right to refuse press credentials for any reason. Marketing and public relations professionals, lobbyists, scientists, journal managing editors, book-commissioning editors, acquisitions editors, publishers or those who do not produce news for a publication or institution are not eligible for press credentials but can register for ACS Fall 2023 via the meeting page. Cutting-edge developments on a range of scientific topics will be featured at the meeting. Embargoed press releases will be available in advance, and virtual media briefings with researchers will be available to view during the meeting. For health and safety information for this meeting, see the FAQ webpage. Crunchyroll, the global brand providing fans with the ultimate anime experience, is announcing today the addition of fan-favourite supernatural action anime Bleach to its streaming service in India, alongside 9 other catalogue series. All 366 episodes of Bleach will be available subtitled in English. Bleach is based on the manga series by Tite Kubo, serialized in Shueishas Weekly Shonen Jump from 2001 to 2016, which consists of 74 volumes. The animation production is by Pierrot. Also Read: Crunchyroll launches Hindi UI interface for Indian anime fans Official Synopsis: For as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, his life is changed forever. Now, with a newfound wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling: to protect the world of the living and the dead as a Substitute Soul Reaper. When Rukia is taken away to face the ruthless justice of the Soul Society, Ichigo and his friends must cross over and do battle in the spirit world. Bleach joins more than 10 other anime series heading to the Crunchyroll service in India today, including: How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift? Hibiki Sakuras love for food is starting to affect her size, but training at her local gym is pretty intimidating! After meeting her handsome personal trainer, Machio, Hibiki bites the bullet and starts her quest for a hot bod! If it's for my Daughter, I'd Even Defeat a Demon Lord Dale is a well-known and highly skilled adventurer despite being so young. One day, he's on a quest and goes deep into the woods and finds a little devil girl named Latina, who is just skin and bones. Latina is branded with the mark of a sinner, but Dale decides he can't just leave Latina there and decides to become her guardian. Thinking to himself, "Latina is too cute, I don't want to work," he ends up doting over her before he even realizes it. Lord Marksman and Vanadis Tigrevurmud Vorn, the young lord of a remote region far from the kingdom's centre, is commanded by the king to go fight the war against a neighbouring country. The leader of the enemy is Eleonora Viltaria, one of the seven Vanadis given supernatural arms from a dragon. The moment when an archer boy and the silver-haired beautiful war maiden meet, it is the beginning for the legend of a hero that will be told for generations to come. Magical Sempai "I met her... a sempai who's cute, but strange!" She loves magic tricks, but she fails every time due to stage fright?! She drags me into the Magic Club and makes me her assistant... and siblings Saki-chan and Ma-kun of the street performers club, and Madara-san of the chemistry club get dragged into it, too. Every day, Sempai fails in energetic yet slightly erotic ways! It's a gag anime about crummy magic tricks that are painful to watch... but you can't stop watching! Peach Boy Riverside "This is a tale that took place long ago. There once lived an old man and an old woman. The old man went into the woods to cut down some grass and the old woman went to the river to... (You know the rest.) The ogres had finally been defeated, but apparently, there were more ogres living elsewhere, so Peach Boy crossed the sea... It was an amazing feat to defeat the ogres and a joyous feat that Peach Boy saved many lives. But the one thing that went wrong... Was that they had fun. This is nothing more than a "What if"... What if there was more than one peach that tumbled down the river? So I'm a Spider, So What? (Addition of episodes 13-24) I, the protagonist, was just an ordinary high school girl, but suddenly I was reincarnated as a spider monster in a fantasy world. Not only that, but I awakened in a dungeon filled with vicious monsters. Armed with only my human knowledge and my overwhelming positivity, I'm forced to use spiderwebs and traps to defeat far stronger monsters just to stay alive... So begins the labyrinth survival story of a girl with incredible mental strength living as one of the lowest-ranked beasts! The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar Yuto Suoh is a boy from modern times who accidentally ended up in the warring world of Yggdrasil. In a world where various clans fight for supremacy and survival of the fittest rules supreme, Yuto managed to use his modern knowledge as a weapon and at the age of sixteen, managed to become a Patriarch with a force of thousands. Welcome to an exhilarating battle fantasy chronicle about a young man who became a king in a parallel world and the beautiful battle maidens who swear absolute fealty to him!! The Strongest Sage of Weakest Crest His strength limited by the magical crest with which he was born, Mathias, the worlds most powerful sage, decides reincarnation is necessary to become the strongest of all. Upon his rebirth as a young boy, Mathias is thrilled to discover hes been born with the optimal crest for magical combat on his first try! Unfortunately, the world hes been born into has abysmally poor standards when it comes to magic, and everyone thinks hes still marked for failure! Now its up to Mathias to prove everyone wrong the worlds strongest sage-style! Your Lie in April Kousei Arima was a genius pianist until his mother's sudden death took away his ability to play. Each day was dull for Kousei. But, then he meets a violinist named Kaori Miyazono who has an eccentric playing style. His monotonous life was about to change forever. In addition to these new titles, fans can stream the dark fantasy action series JUJUTSU KAISEN, the superhero epic My Hero Academia, the action-packed fantasy Fire Force, the high school romantic comedy Horimiya, the fantasy martial arts series Hunter x Hunter, and more. Crunchyroll connects millions of global fans with their favourite anime series. Fans in India can try Crunchyroll free for 14 days by visiting www.crunchyroll.com or by downloading the Crunchyroll application from their favourite mobile store. Crunchyroll membership plans start as low as 79 per month. Crisis management in the age of social media has become increasingly challenging due to the rapid spread of information and the ability for individuals to voice their opinions and concerns publicly. To effectively manage a crisis in this digital landscape, organisations need to adopt an agile and transparent approach. The third edition of IMAGEXX Summit and Awards 2023, held on June 09, 2023 hosted a panel discussion on the topic, Crisis management in the age of social media: The need to be Agile and Transparent. Chaired by Amit Mukherjee, Senior Assistant Editor, The New Indian Express, the panellists included: Kamna Hazrati, Founder, KH Advisory Nandini Chatterjee, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer PwC India Nivedeeta Moirangthem, Country Communication Manager, IKEA India Amit Mukherjee commenced the discussion by introducing the topic and said, If we look at the entire concept of crisis, it has changed in the last 10-15 years, and all corporations are looking at redefining everything from the way they have been defining crisis. Crisis in the new age involves when everything is out on Twitter and reputation damage is being done within a matter of seconds. So, people who are handling crisis in the new era need to be agile and active 24x7. As everything has gone now digital, crises are also in digital platforms. It doesnt take much time to dent your reputation. Crisis management now, as compared to 10 years back, has a much bigger role to perform. One needs to understand what plays out well, he added. During the discussion, Mukherjee posed the question, How has the entire transition in dealing with crises happened? Nandini Chatterjee noted that while a lot has changed, some things have remained the same. Firstly, she highlighted the complexity introduced by the digital world, which is widely acknowledged and requires no further elaboration. Secondly, due to the interconnectedness of the world, an incident occurring in a remote corner of a country can quickly escalate and have repercussions in some other part of country. The monitoring of events across 157 countries has become a necessity. The third aspect is the vital importance of real-time monitoring. Lastly, one cannot undermine the significance of virtual influencers and their management in crisis situations. Chatterjee stressed that having a core action team, protocols, processes, designated spokespersons, policies, and advance scenario planning are essential components in crisis management. Nivedeeta Moirangthem, too, stressed on being prepared to avoid future crises. Planning alone may not be sufficient; one must be ready to face crises as they arise. Particularly in customer-centric situations, constant preparedness and agility are essential. It is important to keep the entire organisation, including not just the communication and social media teams but also co-workers in online and on-site roles, aware and prepared to work effectively with customers. The issues can be genuine, or situations may arise where customers become angry, necessitating different approaches in resolving them. These are some of the regular challenges we are working with, Moirangthem added. Kamna Hazrati added here, For start-ups, the impact is much higher if they lack the proper structure. As a start-up, if there is no proper strategy to manage crises, it can have a direct impact on your revenue bottomline and your reputation. These are edited excerpts of the panel discussion. For the entire discussion, please watch below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZooHP2qDDNM As a polycrisis rolls across the world, brands are under more pressure than ever to deliver for consumers facing rising prices and falling real incomes. At Cannes Lions, renowned advertising executive Josy Paul, Chairman and CCO (BBDO India), and Lindsay Franke, President for Ipsos US, Ben Page, Ipsos Global CEO will bring the latest trends, insights, and creative breakthroughs that are shaping the Turbulent Twenties. Together they will share nuanced thoughts and strategies on how brands can successfully overcome this ever-evolving landscape and "surf the polycrisis". Ipsos experts, alongside Josy Paul, will highlight new analysis on the three fundamental drivers of brand growth. The speakers will share the findings from Ipsos' broadest survey ever conducted, covering 48,000 people across 50 markets, representing 87% of the global economy and 70% of the global population. These findings showcase the shared experiences and disparities the world faces at this liminal moment. Ipsos and Josy Paul will take the stage together, leading thought-provoking sessions across various forums at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Ipsos will also partner with creative and strategic intelligence agency Contagious to present a Citizen Cannes event. The interactive event will provide actionable insights into brand success. Brand builders must recognise the current context. New Ipsos research shows that three key factors have become more important for brands to surf the polycrisis wave: shaping consumers expectations, taking the macro- and micro- contexts into account, and acting with empathy to drive creative, brand and global success, says Ben Page, Global CEO of Ipsos. We know from Ipsos findings that advertising which leverages both creativity and empathy perform at above-average levels, generating a 20% lift on short-term sales impact. Throughout the week at Cannes and beyond, we want to help brands harness these learnings and frameworks for informed decisions that shape brand success, providing ways for them to confidently react and build resilience. Adding to this, Josy Paul said, It promises to be a mind altering session. Through first-hand stories, personal anecdotes, lived experiences, qualitative and quantitative data, this interactive sharing session will reveal how deep listening, personal confessions and a sensitive understanding of context can drive creative impact in these uncertain times. To learn more about Ipsos, BBDO India, and their participation at the Cannes Lions Festival, please visit https://www.ipsos.com/en/ipsos-at-cannes-lions-2023 In a heartfelt tribute to the courageous veterans of the Indian Armed Forces, Radico Khaitan, under its esteemed brand umbrella "Spirit of Victory," commemorates the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas. Celebrating the courageous tales of valour and decorated wartime heroes, Radico Khaitan is poised to launch the Fourth season of the Battlefield Dossier a video series narrating lesser-known, gallant stories of bravery from the wars fought and won by Indian soldiers. Under the umbrella of "Spirit of Victory," this season serves as a tribute to the nation's brave warriors in the Kargil War of 1999. The upcoming episodes will continue to weave captivating narratives, engrossing the viewers in their enthralling accounts. Initiated in November 2021 on the YouTube channel of Spirit of Victory, the Battlefield Dossier series resurrects nostalgic anecdotes from wartime heroes and officers. Through this series, officers recount their heroic tales of going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of operations on their respective battlefields. Following the overwhelming response to the first season, Radico Khaitan launched the second season of the Battlefield Dossier in January 2022. This season featured captivating narratives from war heroes such as Lt. Gen. JBS Yadava (Indo-Pak War 1971), Brig. OP Yadav (Kargil War), Brig. Manoranjan Singh (IPKF-Operation Pawan), Lt. Cdr. Deepak Agarwal (IPKF-Naval Rescue Operation), and Col. SC Tyagi (Kargil War), who shared stories of their gallantry and triumph in the battles they fought. In May 2022, the third season of the Battlefield Dossier was launched, featuring distinguished individuals including Col. Ashok Tara (Retd.), Capt. Shakul Tyagi, Gen. R.N. Bhalla, Brig. (Dr.) Bhagat Kr. Khanna (Retd.), and Lt. Gen. Sanjay Kulkarni (Retd.). These war heroes recounted the most thrilling moments of their lives, dedicated to bringing glory to their motherland. The fourth season of the Battlefield Dossier, commemorating the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas, will be aired on the 1965 Spirit of Victory YouTube Channel on June 10, 2023. This season promises to continue the tradition of captivating storytelling, paying homage to the brave warriors who fought in the Kargil War and ensuring their stories live on in the hearts and minds of the viewers. Mr. Amar Sinha, the COO of Radico Khaitan, highlighted the importance of the Battlefield Dossier series and expressed deep gratitude and honour in acknowledging the efforts of these brave hearts. Leveraging the power of widespread internet penetration, this series aims to bring forth untold and unheard stories of wartime experiences directly from the lionhearted warriors themselves, reaching a mass audience. The company hopes that the fourth season of this soul-stirring series will receive the same warm reception from the audience as its predecessors. He remarked. The journey of the "Spirit of Victory" brand umbrella began with the launch of the distinctive rum, "1965 Spirit of Victory Premium XXX RUM," dedicated to the martyrs and war heroes of the 1965 war. This exceptional brand has not only earned immense appreciation from the armed forces but has also captured the hearts and palates of civilians across various markets in India. Beyond the remarkable products, Radico Khaitan has launched the YouTube channel "Spirit of Victory" as a platform to showcase the valorous stories of Indian Armed Forces heroes through captivating short films, songs, and dedicated audio-visual series. One such remarkable series is the "Battlefield Dossier," which began in 2021 and has recounted the heartfelt stories of numerous war veterans. This series not only sheds light on the efforts of unsung war heroes and martyrs but also evokes emotions of courage, honour, brotherhood, and glorythe four pillars embodying the very essence of the "Spirit of Victory." With great reverence and respect, Radico Khaitan has created this series of premium products (Under the Spirit of Victory label) and launched a captivating YouTube series to symbolize significant milestones in India's sovereign history. Life Health Foods (India) Pvt. Ltd., a renowned health beverage company, launches a new campaign #FeelsSoGood for their flagship brand, SO GOOD. The brand film, centred around plant-based beverages, aims to resonate with health-conscious individuals who lead busy lives and seek convenient yet healthy options. With a presence in 75 cities across various retail channels, SO GOOD has become a popular choice for consumers looking for dairy alternatives that offer both great taste and health benefits. The campaign has been conceptualised by Tonic Worldwide and produced by Tonic films, the films division of Tonic. Mr. Rohit Bhagat, Business Head of Life Health Foods said, The company's strong commitment to promoting plant-based options that deliver exceptional taste, versatility, and health benefits, all at an affordable price. By partnering with Tonic Worldwide, Life Health Foods aims to capture the essence of a busy lifestyle and inspire healthier choices among consumers through this transformative campaign. Sudish Balan, Co-Founder, Tonic Worldwide said, We wanted the brand film to capture the essence of a hectic lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of incorporating healthier alternatives into daily routines. It highlights how SO GOOD offers a refreshing and nourishing solution to individuals seeking plant-based beverage options that complement their fast-paced lives. The strategic approach is to increase occasions of usage by showing versatility and variety. China donates more than 3,500 tons of grain to quake-hit Syria Xinhua) 09:03, June 12, 2023 DAMASCUS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday donated more than 3,500 tons of grain to Syria to aid the war-torn country's recovery from the aftermath of the massive earthquakes on February 6. President of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) Khaled Hboubati and Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei attended the handover ceremony of five shipments of 2,336 tons of wheat and 1,180 tons of rice, at the SARC's headquarters in Damascus. During the ceremony, Hboubati thanked China on behalf of the Syrian people and the SARC for offering aid during the country's humanitarian crisis, particularly in the wake of the earthquakes which caused massive damage to northern and western parts of the country and displaced tens of thousands of people. For his part, the Chinese ambassador told reporters that his country would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria and will be part of the reconstruction process in the country. He hoped the Syrian people would overcome the impacts of the earthquake quickly. Since the powerful earthquakes that struck Turkiye and neighboring Syria on February 6, China has been actively involved in assisting both countries. China donated two shipments of aid to Syria in February, along with 80 tonnes of medical supplies and other goods for earthquake relief, such as tents, blankets, clothing, and food. In May, China donated 225 prefabricated houses to Syria. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, left, gestures during a meeting with main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung at the envoy's residence in Seongbuk District, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps Neighboring countries urged to prevent tensions from escalating By Lee Hyo-jin Korea's already-deteriorating relations with China seem to be going further downhill following Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming's openly critical remarks about the Korean government's foreign policy. Analysts viewed that both countries should make efforts to prevent the latest diplomatic flare-up between Seoul and Beijing from deepening into friction in other fields such as the military and the economy. During a dinner with main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Jae-myung last Thursday, Xing read a prepared statement in front of reporters, expressing discontent about Korea's increasing alignment with the United States. The 15-minute speech given in Korean was aired live on the DPK's official YouTube channel. "The current China-Korea relations are facing various difficulties, and frankly speaking, the responsibility for these problems does not lie in China," Xing said. He also complained about Korea's stance leaning toward Washington amid the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, saying, "With the U.S. exercising full-fledged pressure on China, some people seem to bet that the U.S. will prevail and China will be defeated. That is a wrong bet Those who bet on China's loss will surely regret their decision in the future." Those comments prompted a furious response from the Korean government and ruling party. The People Power Party (PPP) slammed the remarks as a "diplomatic blunder," with some PPP members calling for designating Xing as persona non grata and expelling him. The presidential office also expressed displeasure. "The role of an ambassador is to bridge their home country and receiving nation. If they do not carry out their role accordingly, it may harm the national benefit of both nations," a presidential official told reporters, Monday, in response to an inquiry about the Chinese envoy's remarks. Maharashtras Thane police was on Monday granted transit remand by a local court to take Shahnawaz Khan, the prime accused in an Uttar Pradesh case allegedly involving religious conversion of youngsters through an online gaming app, to Ghaziabad, an official said. Khan, who hails from Mumbra township, was arrested from a relatives place in Alibag in Raigad district on Sunday, the official said. He is being taken to Ghaziabad from Thane by road, the police official said. As per the police, 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 the cleric and Khan had unlawfully converted his son, who recently passed the class 12 board exam, to Islam. As per the complainant, his son came in contact with Khan through an online gaming app and frequently spoke to him, following which he got inclined towards adopting Islam. BIrmingham-based Capstone Building Corp. has begun construction on a residential apartment complex in Athens, Ga. Classic City Flats, totaling 348,914 gross square feet, will be situated on 21.64 acres, with 280 apartment units in 12 buildings. The complex will include 124 one-bedroom units, 132 two-bedroom units, and 24 three-bedroom units, with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The average unit size will be 946 square feet. The complex will also feature a clubhouse, two garage buildings, a saltwater pool and cabana, game room, carwash, pickleball court, dog park and fire pit. The developer is Graycliff Capital Partners. Steele Group Architects serves as the architect, while HFC Interiors is the interior design firm and Armentrout Matheny Thurmond, PC serves as the civil engineer. Capstone Building Corp. is proud to work alongside Graycliff Capital Partners as the construction firm on this development, states Joe May, Vice President of Project Management at Capstone Building Corp. Classic City Flats will provide residents with an elevated living experience for the Athens community. A Mississippi state senator was arrested for driving under the influence in south Alabama last week. Michael McLendon, 59, was taken into custody June 5, charged with DUI/combined substance. He was booked into the Baldwin County Jail at 6:47 p.m. and released later that night after posting $2,500 bond. The Baldwin County Sheriffs Office has not released information relative to what substance they believe McLendon was driving under. McLendon, a Republican from District 1 in DeSoto County who resides in Hernando, is in his first term in the Mississippi legislature. According to the legislatures website, McLendon is the vice-chair of the Senates Insurance committee and also serves on the Appropriations, Business and Financial Institutions, Education, Highways and Transportation, Investigate State Offices, Municipalities, and Technology committees. A Mississippi coast woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for felony child abuse after admitting she shook a 5-month-old so violently the child suffered multiple skull fractures and brain bleeds. The Jackson County (Miss.) District Attorneys Office announced the plea Monday. Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor sentenced 41-year-old Rosa Robichaux to 40 years, with 25 to serve in a Mississippi state prison. Rosa Robicheaux violently shook a helpless infant into a state of unconsciousness, verging on death, said Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. By Gods grace this infant is alive and healthy. Our children are our treasures and we remain committed to fight, to protect our children in and out of the courtroom. Robicheaux, a Jackson County resident, originally accompanied the child and his mother to a local hospital, but later fled to Alabama. She was arrested days later by Mobile police as she attempted to flee the area on a bus to Iowa. The case was investigated by the Gautier (Miss.) Police Department. Teds Restaurant, a Birmingham classic where generations of diners have gathered for meat-and-three lunches served with Southern hospitality and a Greek accent, is celebrating its 50th year in business this week. And husband-and-wife owners Tasos and Beba Touloupis are commemorating the restaurants golden anniversary with new-look Teds coffee mugs, T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as a custom poster of the iconic Teds sign. Also, from June 12 to June 17, proceeds from all dessert sales will benefit three area charities -- aTeam Ministries, which provides spiritual, emotional and financial support to children and families fighting pediatric cancer; Blanket Fort Hope, which offers healing and helps restore hope to survivors of child sex trafficking; and ELI Thrive, which helps empower residents of Birminghams East Lake community. RELATED: Through the years at Teds Restaurant The Teds Restaurant story began with Ted Sarris, who was born in Tsitalia, Greece, and moved to Birmingham in 1955 to work at his uncle Jim Sarris restaurant. Five years later, Ted Sarris -- or Mister Ted, as customers called him -- became the sole owner of Old Hickory Restaurant. Then, on June 11, 1973, he renamed the business Teds Old Hickory Restaurant and moved it to its current location at 328 12th St. South, just east of I-65 and a little north of the UAB campus in what is now known as Birminghams Parkside District. Sarris and his wife, Litsa, who worked the register, ran the restaurant for the next 27 years. Beba and Tasos Touloupis bought Ted's Restaurant in 2000 from original owner Ted Sarris, who opened the restaurant in Birmingham, Ala., in 1973.(Photo courtesy of Ted's Restaurant; used with permission) New owners; same Teds Fate intervened when, in 2000, Sarris visited Hoover Country Club to make plans for his upcoming 70th birthday, and met Tasos Touloupis, who was a manager at the club. They got to talking, and Sarris told Touloupis he was ready to hang up his apron. He suggested that Touloupis, who also came to America from Greece, might want to buy it. Tasos and Beba had lunch with Sarris at his restaurant a couple of days later, and within a month, on May 15, 2000, they became the new owners of Teds. The Touloupises kept the Teds name and many of Sarris recipes. We kept the name because it was an institution downtown already, Beba Touloupis said in a 2013 interview with AL.com, on the restaurants 40th anniversary. Everybody knew it as Teds. We were not just buying a restaurant and a building; we were buying a history and his customers. Now, 23 years after they bought Teds, the Touloupises are continuing to build on that history. Its our dedication to our customers and the Birmingham community, Beba Touloupis says of the restaurants longevity. They are like family to us, and we are constantly looking for ways to better serve them -- whether it be cooking up someones Saturday morning regular or supporting local charities. Teds Restaurant is at 328 12th St. South in Birmingham, Ala. Lunch hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; brunch hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The phone is 205-324-2911. For menus and more information, go here. READ MORE ABOUT BIRMINGHAM FOOD: This food trucks connection to Birminghams beloved Joy Young Restaurant Tomato salad season arrives early at Birminghams Hot and Hot Fish Club BBQ is in the name but tacos are the game for this Birmingham food truck The story behind Pastry Art Bake Shoppes one-of-a-kind Baby Bites Marlon Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace as a result of an incident Friday at Denver International Airport. The actor and comedian confirmed the ticket but accused United Airlines of racism. United Airlines, per CBS News, said Wayans was told he would have to gate-check his bag. Thats when Wayans allegedly pushed past the airline employee who he was interacting with and tried to board the plane. Wayans, 50, took to Instagram and claimed a gate agent told him he had one too many bags to board his flight and it escalated to him getting a citation. I complied and consolidated them, (and) he was like, Oh, now you have to check that bag, Wayans wrote. Most agents are always love but every now and then you come across BAD PEOPLE. This was one of them. United Airlines responded in a statement to USA Today, A customer who had been told he would have to gate-check his bag instead pushed past a United employee at the jet bridge and attempted to board the aircraft. Wayans confirmed that he was given a ticket but added that he didnt make contact with the gate agent. Yes, a ticket thats all they could give me, the comedian posted. Dude tried to lie and say I assaulted him. The video clearly shows I never touched him. He was desperate to try to have some authority. Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily. United Methodist Bishop David Graves, leading a meeting of the Alabama-West Florida Conference for the first time since 193 churches disaffiliated last month, fired up his remaining members with an admonition to move on and win new disciples. There are still a lot of people that are part of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, Graves said on Sunday night during the opening service of the annual conference in Mobile. God is not finished with us called United Methodists. Graves last presided over a conference meeting on May 7 as 193 churches in South Alabama and West Florida disaffiliated from the denomination over the decades-long controversy about whether to change the churchs stance on sexuality issues such as its ban on same-sex weddings. Many of the churches that left have joined more conservative denominations that oppose same-sex marriage and ordaining openly gay ministers, a stance United Methodist progressives have been fighting to change for four decades. In one day, the Alabama-West Florida Conference went from 511 member churches, most of them in South Alabama, some in the Florida Panhandle, down to 318 after the vote to disaffiliate. In earlier votes, 47 churches had left, including Frazer Methodist in Montgomery, once the largest United Methodist church in Alabama with 7,000 members. I have tried everything in my power to get people to stay, Graves said. The changing of the church wont happen if you change the name on the church. Across Alabama, in the two conferences that cover the state, more than 500 churches have disaffiliated, roughly half of all United Methodist churches. On Dec. 10, 198 churches left the North Alabama Conference in one day. Another 132 disaffiliated last month. That was a loss of 330 churches of 638, representing more than half of previously recorded attendance in North Alabama United Methodist churches. Doing double duty as a bishop, Graves presides over the South Georgia Conference, which also had 193 churches disaffiliate in one day. After supervising mass defections in three states, Alabama, Florida and Georgia, Graves said its time to move on. Several of our churches and people have disaffiliated; theyre now moving in another direction, Graves said as the conference opened its four-day meeting Sunday night in the Mitchell Center on the campus of the University of South Alabama. Lets just be honest. Theres emotion in this place. The Rev. Jean Tippit, district superintendent for the Pensacola-Marianna district, outlined the plan for starting new ministries where churches disaffiliated. Were going to do a new thing here in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, she said. Ten new churches begin in July. By the end of the year, well have three to four more new things. The plan includes starting churches in Orange Beach and Prattville, where churches disaffiliated. We have business to do, and were going to do it, Graves said. Lets get ready to do new and exciting things, Tippit said. Were all called to do a new thing. Graves criticized the actions of some former members who gloated about leaving, such as people taking selfies outside the annual conference office when they turn in their money to disaffiliate. Churches are required to fulfill financial obligations for pension liabilities and apportionments (conference tithes) before taking their property with them. Graves said some critics have referred to him as The Soprano bishop. They dont know me very well, he said. I just want life to be normal again, dont you? Graves said. Im over it. Graves said some who remained in the United Methodist Church may be angry with him over how hes handled the departures. Perhaps you come tonight just a little angry; perhaps youre not just angry at those out there, perhaps youre even angry with some of us in here, Graves said. Maybe you have just a little disappointment. You know, life is hard for just about everybody. Now is the time to move on, he said. We need to turn a page, Graves said. We need to be focused on making disciples. See also: United Methodists ask for loyalty from leaders, tighten rules on disaffiliation and downsize Mountain Brooks Canterbury United Methodist Church votes to stay in denomination Another 132 North Alabama United Methodist churches disaffiliate: Trussville, Helena, Gardendale Division is of the devil, United Methodist bishop says as 193 churches disaffiliate United Methodists crushed after being left behind by disaffiliating churches United Methodists plan new churches in Prattville, Orange Beach, elsewhere to replace churches that disaffiliate in split United Methodists start new congregations where churches disaffiliated in North Alabama United Methodist split: 198 churches leave North Alabama Conference Frazer Memorial officially leaves the United Methodist Church The owner of a gym in Greenville has apologized to the public for sharing a meme on social media extolling straight pride. Craig Waller, owner of Greenville 24 Hour Fitness, addressed the issue in a public video on the gyms Facebook account. Earlier this month, the gym posting a meme on its business page which read, Straight Pride, accompanied by an illustration of a bride and groom. Its natural, its worked for thousands of years and you can make babies. Its okay to be straight. The post was later taken down. A spokesman for the national 24 Hour Fitness chain said the company doesnt have any locations in Alabama and says it is unaffiliated with this business, as the brand has a strong stance on inclusion and safe spaces for everyone. A comment on the meme from the fitness center, according to screen shots, stated it was not meant to demeanor (sic) anyones lifestyle but shows we can have pride in every marriage option and individuality. The reference to babies would in my opinion be referring to men now trying to give birth to children. Everyone can be proud of their relationship. Various comments to the message, posted during Pride Month, said Waller should have understood that not everyone would agree with the message, while others pointed out it was also offensive to women who cant have children. In a video posted over the weekend, Waller, standing next to an unidentified man who he said is homeless, appealed for help for him from the community. He then said: To all those this last week, I want to appreciate everybody for their support, Waller said. For those that took things a different way, I want to say that I found out that really our audience is bigger than just the gym. I get used to talking to gym members, and we keep it real around here, so we talk about everything - from politics, religion, to our children, everything. So to those that dont know us, our gym members probably came off a little harsh. I apologize. I truly do. But around here, because we communicate, we talk about everything, we just have an open rapport. So I appreciate everybodys support. I apologize to those that were offended. Anything we can do to help yall, let us know. In a statement to AL.com, the gym owner said we have addressed this issue. He also accused a rival business of pushing the issue to help their business and use the news to hurt ours because the members we have werent offended and we have cater(ed) to everyone with open arms. Everyone needs to feel free to be proud of who they are and whom they choose to spend their lives without feeling left out or discriminated against, the statement reads. David Lawrence, a Greenville resident, said he is not a member of the gym but saw the meme after a friend drew attention to it. He said posting the meme during Pride month on the business page, and not on a personal page, really struck a nerve with me and a lot of people. He called Wallers video apology a damn joke. The reaction of course has been mixed, Lawrence said of the response to the original post. There are quite a few gay people in Greenville that I know personally and they were all shocked by his post. Of course he had all his friends supporting him. This post was modified at 1:31 p.m. June 14 to reflect that the Greenville gym is not affiliated with the national 24 Hour Fitness Chain. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded licenses Monday to 21 companies that will be part of the states new medical marijuana industry as cultivators, processors, transporters, dispensaries, and a testing lab. The AMCC chose the licensees from 90 companies that applied. Here are the companies chosen by category: Integrated facility: Flowerwood Medical Cannabis, Southeast Cannabis Company, Sustainable Alabama, TheraTrue Alabama, Verano Alabama. (Integrated licensees will be authorized to cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis. Each integrated licensee can have up to five dispensaries). Cultivator: Blackberry Farms; Gulf Shore Remedies; Pure by Sirmon Farms; Twisted Herb Cultivation. Processor: 1819 Labs; Enchanted Green; Jasper Development Group, Inc.; Organic Harvest Lab. Dispensary: CCS of Alabama; RJK Holdings AL: Statewide Property Holdings AL: Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries. Transporter: Alabama Secure Transport; International Communication; Tyler Van Lines. Testing lab: Certus Laboratories. The AMCC met Monday morning in Montgomery and voted to go into a closed session to discuss the selections. The AMCC returned for an open meeting shortly after 1 p.m. The licensee names were read by category and the AMCC voted to approve the selections. The meeting room was filled with license applicants, lobbyists, media, and others. The companies chosen have 14 days to pay their licensing fee. The AMCC plans to issue licenses on July 10. I think we had a fantastic process, AMCC Director John McMillan said. I just dont know how it could have been any better. It worked out as well as we had hoped or maybe even better. We certainly are grateful to everybody that applied for any of these licenses. But we also are very happy and look forward to working with those who are awarded licenses. Asked when the earliest medical marijuana products could be available, McMillan said, I still think late this year or worst-case early next year. McMillan was asked about the possibility of lawsuits filed by companies that were not chosen. You never know, McMillan said. Weve had litigation already. There are some applicants that are certainly very disappointed, some very good applicants, McMillan said. But we had a system to evaluate them and were proud of that system and are willing to stand behind that system. The AMCC engaged the University of South Alabama to coordinate the application review process and recruit application evaluators. USA used 66 evaluators with experience in the categories that were factors in ranking the applicants, such as financial ability, facility suitability and infrastructure, security plans, personnel, quality control, and marketing and advertising. Asked whether litigation could delay the availability of products, McMillan said it would depend on the judicial system. The end game of all this is to get (products to) patients that need these products, primarily for pain and other reasons, McMillan said. And so we hope everybody is going to come together now and recognize that primary goal and not do anything to obstruct our ability to make it happen. Under the states medical cannabis law, the AMCC could have awarded up to 12 cultivator licenses but instead awarded only four. AMCC Vice Chairman Rex Vaughn announced at the meeting that the AMCC intends to open a second offering of licenses for cultivators, secure transporters, and state testing laboratories. The law did not place a limit on the number of transporters or testing labs. The Commission looks forward to affording more opportunities for individuals to participate in the industry, Vaughn said in a press release. These businesses will not only serve Alabama patients but provide business and job opportunities for local communities. Antoine Mordecai Sr., CEO of Native Black Cultivation, said he was disappointed that his company was not awarded a cultivator license. Mordecai said he intends to review the process and look for ways to address any shortcomings the AMCC cited. Native Black Cultivation has been growing hemp at its Jefferson County facility since 2020, Mordecai said. This is just a bittersweet moment, Mordecai said. Were happy the program is moving forward, but disheartening that Im not a part of it. Former state Rep. Mike Ball of Madison County, an advocate for access to medical marijuana for about a decade, was at Mondays commission meeting. He said the awarding of licenses was a milestone but said he wishes it could have happened sooner because of the people who need the products. From the day I started working on this it has been frustrating how slow and how long it has taken because I know there are people who are suffering who will be helped by this, who can be helped by this, and who should have been helped by this for a long time, Ball said. And what we need is some commonsense put into our law and a lot less politics. Politics has got us in a place with regard to cannabis where theres so much talk between people who are against it in any form and then the people who want to legalize it for everything. The poor folks who get lost in the middle are people who suffer from epileptic seizures or some of the other ailments that can be helped by this. Kim Gunn, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, speaks to reporters upon arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, June 11. Joint Press Corps The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States will meet in Washington this week to discuss ways to cooperate on countering North Korea's planned launch of a military spy satellite and other pending issues. Seoul's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Gunn, is scheduled to meet his U.S. counterpart, Sung Kim, on Monday to discuss Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and military threats. "After its botched attempt to launch the satellite, North Korea has been threatening to launch it again ... I am here to assess various (security) situations and to discuss ways to respond to them," Kim told reporters at Washington's Dulles International Airport when asked about the purpose of his trip. "I am not here to simply discuss one agenda but we plan to share our overall assessment of the past year and discuss the direction forward," he added. Separately, Kim is expected to meet officials from the U.S. Treasury Department to discuss sanctions and North Korea's cyberthreats. In late May, North Korea attempted to launch its first reconnaissance satellite, although it fell into the Yellow Sea following what Pyongyang claimed was "abnormal starting" of the second stage engine of its space rocket. (Yonhap) The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is scheduled to award licenses Monday to the companies that will grow, process, transport, test, and sell medical marijuana products. The AMCC accepted 90 applications during a period that ended in April. The AMCC met at 9 a.m. Monday and immediately voted to go into an executive session, closed to the public, to consider the applications. The AMCCs attorney said pending litigation would also be discussed during the closed session. He said the topics for discussion fell under the exceptions allowed under the states open meetings law. AMCC Chairman Dr. Steven Stokes said the commission planned to return to open session by 1 p.m. The open meetings law requires public boards to take votes on official actions during open sessions. Stokes thanked the applicants for their patience during what he said has been an arduous process. The Legislature passed a bill in 2021 to authorize the medical cannabis industry. Alabama is one of 38 states that have legalized medical cannabis, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Alabamas industry will be fully intrastate. Doctors who receive certification will be able to recommend medical cannabis products for a wide range of conditions and symptoms. Those include autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain, weight loss, and vomiting; Crohns Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinsons Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourettes Syndrome; a terminal illness; and conditions causing chronic or intractable pain. Licensed dispensaries will sell the products, which can include pills, capsules, tinctures, gel cubes, creams, patches, suppositories, nebulizers, and liquids or oils for an inhaler. No raw plant materials or products for smoking or eating will be allowed. The University of South Alabama helped the AMCC evaluate and rank the applications. The AMCC accepted public comments on the process until May 14. AMCC officials have said products could be available late this year or early next year. They also said lawsuits challenging the licensing process are a potential snag that could delay that. This story will be updated. Authorities are searching for family members of a 71-year-old man who died in Hoover earlier this month. Thornton Womack Lyon, 71, was a resident of Diversicare of Riverchase on River Haven Drive. He was under the care of Amedisys Hospice. Lyon died June 2 of natural causes. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said all attempts to locate family have failed and his social worker doesnt know of any family. Lyon is believed to be from Georgia and may have family living in south central and/or northeast Florida. He also previously listed a home address in Pelham from 2014 until-2021, as well as Daytona. 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. 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 U.S. politics will be unchanged by Alexs appointment, the newspaper reported, citing a person close to the family it didnt identify. 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. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dozens of boaters out for a day in the sun in Alabama got a special surprise when they suddenly werent alone in the water. A large group of boats were anchored off Robinson Island, an island in the middle of a coastal bay, when a school of sharks swam up to the boats, causing swimmers to rush to get out of the water. In a video posted by Meredith Perry on June 10, the few swimmers left in the water are shown leaping up into their boat as the hammerhead sharks swim ever closer. The fins of the sharks splash around in the water as the group circles between the boats anchored in the shallow waters. Perrys fiance, Paul Hubble, told WLBT there were as many as 8 sharks swimming around between the boats. All of sudden we started hearing people say shark, shark and then everybody getting on the boat. People thought they were fixing to get eaten alive or something, Hubble told the outlet. We got the kids, and I walked around the boat and noticed they were hammerheads. You could tell they were feeding on something and doing their thing. Everybody was climbing all over the boats and stuff. It was very dramatic to see for sure in probably like 2 (feet) of water, if that. Hubble stayed in the water after everyone else had made a run for it, and his fiance can be heard in the video asking, Where is Paul? to which another person answers, Hes in the water! If I had known my fiance was filming me, I would have knelt down and let them slurk around, Hubble told WLBT. Ive never seen that, every weekend for years Ive come out and Ive never seen sharks come up like that. Hubble said the sharks stuck around for about 10 minutes before swimming out to deeper waters. Reactions to the video ranged from Thats so cool, to OOOOO HELLLL NAWWWLLLL, in the comment section. Perry recorded the video as they were anchored off Robinson Island, a popular summer boating stop in Orange Beach, near the Florida-Alabama border. On a nearby beach a 14-foot, pregnant hammerhead shark washed up two months ago. A hammerhead feeds mostly at dusk, the Shark Research Institute reports, according to McClatchy News, and uses their head shape to bludgeon and pin stingrays and other aquatic life. However, Most hammerhead species are fairly small and are considered harmless to humans, National Geographic says. Few attacks have been recorded. I think everybody needs to know that when we go down there, were in their world, Hubble told WLBT. That happens so rare. People need to know its a fun place to go, you need to keep going. 2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Pulled over for speeding in Alabamas city of Harpersville? Dont try to use Matthew McConaughey as an excuse to beat the ticket. The Harpersville Police Department, known as a longtime speed trap, gave fair warning in a light-hearted Facebook post Monday: We are aware that Matthew McConaughey is in the Birmingham metro area filming a movie. We have discussed it, and while we are empathetic to the plight of you wanting to meet him before he leaves, Harpersville Police officers are NOT taking his short presence in Alabama as an excuse for speeding. It was a tough call, but the law being the law and all.. We wish you happy and safe @officiallymcconaughey stalking. Reserve Officer Amy Wagar said no one has yet tried to use the McConaughey excuse, but she wont be surprised if it pops up. You wouldnt believe some of the hilarious excuses we get sometimes from people talking about why theyre doing whatever theyre doing thats not correct, said Wagar, who made the post after seeing sightings of the actor pop up in her news feed. Wagar said she is a fan of McConaugheys movies but wont be putting the pedal to the metal herself to hunt him down for an autograph or selfie. I know there are a lot of people who love him, Wagar said. His adoring fans span generations, but my husband is my Matthew McConaughey. A Huntsville man faces murder charges after a shooting Sunday morning. The Morgan County Sheriffs Office said Charles Theodore Spears, 33, has been charged with murder in connection with the early morning shooting on Lenox Lane in the Union Hill community. Spears also faces charges of obstruction and a probation violation. He is being held in the Morgan County Jail without bond. The Morgan County Coroners Office identified the victim as Ronald Richard Morgan, 61, of Somerville. A second person, detained at the scene for questioning, was turned over to another agency on outstanding warrants, the sheriffs office said. Get the Down in Alabama newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to the daily Down in Alabama newsletter: Congressional redistricting We mentioned last week the ruling by the United States Supreme Court that Alabamas map of Congressional districts likely violates the Voting Rights Act, and that the state will likely be redrawing that map to have two districts that have a majority or near-majority of Black voters, rather than just one. The political point here is that Alabama could end up with a second district in play for the Democratic Party, rather than just Alabama District 7, which includes parts of Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and several Black Belt counties. But could the redrawn map, however it may end up, also make District 7 less of a slam dunk for the Democrats? AL.coms Mike Cason reports that some political watchers think it might, depending on how many Black voters are moved into another district, possibly District 2, which includes some Wiregrass counties up to Montgomery and has the second-highest concentration of Black potential voters. Former Athens State political science professor Jess Brown: Now what Republicans might try to do is trade off here. If were having to give up a solid district (District 2), were going to try to make the Democrats give up a solid district (District 7). Chinese spy base China has been operating a spy base right across the Gulf of Mexico in Cuba, the Associated Press reports that an unnamed Biden administration official said on the condition of anonymity. The White House claims the report is inaccurate. So does a Cuban deputy foreign minister. However, the unnamed official told the AP that U.S. intelligence has been aware of Chinese spying from Cuba going back to at least 2019. He or she said the base is part of Beijings ramping up its foreign intelligence. This comes after The Wall Street Journal reported that China and Cuba have made a deal to build an electronic eavesdropping station in Cuba. Tuition in Alabama The next-best thing to a lower price is the same price, at least if youre the one doing the buying. And AL.coms Rebecca Griesbach reports that the University of Alabama System is keeping the cost of in-state tuition for 2023-24 frozen for the sixth time in seven years. Out-of-state tuition at UA System schools (University of Alabama, UAB, UAH) is going up 3%. Of course, college tuition is costly enough as it is. The State Higher Education Finance Report said that in 2021 Alabama colleges netted the fourth-highest revenue in the nation on tuition and fees (minus state and institutional financial aid). Were talking $13,685 per full-time student. And thats just tuition and fees -- never mind books, Taco Casa, Momma Gs, parking tickets and poor financial decisions. Seen in Alabama: Matthew McConaughey Matthew McConaughey, center, is seen on the set of "The Rivals of Amziah King," a crime thriller written and directed by Andrew Patterson. The Oscar-winning actor was spotted during filming on June 9, 2023, at J&J Grocery & Deli in Bessemer, Alabama. "The Rivals of Amziah King" is set to film in several locations in and around Birmingham, for about seven weeks in June and July. (Photo courtesy of Devin Glasgow Carter) The Oscar winner began filming in the Birmingham area last week for The Rivals of Amziah King. AL.coms Mary Colurso reports that scenes are expected to be shot in around 70 area locations, even though the movie is set in Oklahoma. McConaughey was seen with the crew on Friday at J&J Grocery & Deli in Bessemer. Hopefully he scouted ahead and was told to try the burger. (Photo courtesy of Devin Glasgow Carter) Quoting Members of Alabamas Congressional delegation on former President Donald Trumps indictment over his alleged mishandling of classified documents: Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks: The weaponization of the Justice Department by Biden has taken its most sinister turn yet. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover: The federal indictment of former President Trump is another example of the weaponization of the Department of Justice against President Bidens political enemies. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia: Hillary Clinton was exonerated after mishandling classified information, and it is unlikely we see an indictment of our current President Joe Biden for the same thing. ... This appears to be a weaponization of our nations justice system to influence elections. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise: Americas political battles belong at the ballot box, not in the hands of Bidens DOJ. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham: Just like every American, he is entitled to due process. But lets be clear. No one -- not even a former president -- is above the law. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.: The same DOJ that labeled parents questioning school boards as domestic terrorists are now doing everything in their power to stop @realDonaldTrump from retaking the White House. More Alabama news The podcast The Down in Alabama podcast is short and free. Listen to it by clicking on the player above or subscribe by looking for Down in Alabama on the device of your choosing. You can find Down in Alabama wherever you get your podcasts, including these places: Retired pastor Rick Warren, author of the publishing phenomenon, The Purpose Driven Life, has been intensifying a media blitz in what he acknowledges may be a lost cause. He is trying to get the Southern Baptist Convention to reverse its ouster of the California megachurch he founded, Saddleback Church, for having women pastors. With animated social media posts complete with all-capitalized words, Warren has even issued a statement, My Apology to Christian Women, repenting of blocking womens full use of their gifts and leadership skills until a recent change of views after a half-century in ministry. I wish I could do it all over, said Warren, who is expected to speak on behalf of Saddleback on Tuesday at the opening of the SBCs annual meeting here in New Orleans. Christian women, will you please forgive me? The issue is just one of the controversies facing the more than 9,000 SBC messengers, or church representatives, who had registered as of Monday in advance of their two-day annual meeting at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The messengers will vote on how and whether to continue reforms in the wake of a sexual-abuse scandal that was the subject of a withering outside report in 2022 and has drawn a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The meeting will also feature a rare contested election between an incumbent SBC president, Texas pastor Bart Barber, and Georgia pastor Mike Stone, who is part of a group of Southern Baptists seeking to take the already staunchly conservative denomination further to the right. On Tuesday, the messengers will hear from Saddleback and another church, Fern Creek Baptist of Louisville, Kentucky, which are appealing their expulsion in February by the SBCs Executive Committee for having women pastors. Three other churches ousted over the same issue are not appealing. 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. Warrens expected appearance on Tuesday will amount to a titanic faceoff the nations largest Protestant denomination receiving a challenge from someone long touted as one of its biggest success stories. Launched in 1980 by Rick and Kay Warren, Saddleback has grown over four decades to 14 locations in Southern California, with an average weekly attendance of 30,000. In 2021, Saddleback ordained its first three women pastors. In 2022, Warren retired and was succeeded by pastor Andy Wood, whose wife, Stacie Wood, was named teaching pastor at Saddleback. Those actions prompted some to call for Saddlebacks ouster. The denominations statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message, says that while men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. Wood has said Saddleback does maintain male authority with an all-men board of elders but that they can equip women for ministry most recently in May when Katie Edwards, one of the three women ordained in 2021, was named campus pastor of the flagship Lake Forest campus. Warren said he had a change of views only recently supporting women as pastors after taking another look at the Bible and its New Testament passages in the original Greek language. Not doing so earlier is his biggest regret in 53 years of ministry, he said in a lengthy Twitter statement. I dont expect to win in New Orleans and I certainly dont expect to change the mind of any angry fundamentalist, he said. They are responsible to God, not to me. Then Warren issued a public apology to all good women in my life, church, and ministry that I failed to speak up for in my years of ignorance. He has received both support and pushback on social media. In meetings on Monday, SBC leaders continued to affirm that pastors should only be men, but questioned whether that ban needs to be encoded in its constitution, which already has a list of what disqualifies a church. Member churches need to identify closely with the denominations faith statement and cannot engage in ethnic discrimination, be LGBTQ-affirming or fail to address sexual abuse. The Executive Committee which runs the day-to-day business of the denomination recommended Monday that the full annual meeting reject a constitutional amendment that would add churches with women pastors to that list, saying theres already a mechanism to expel them for not identifying with the SBC faith statement. Various estimates on both sides say hundreds or more SBC churches have women serving as pastors either as leader of the congregation or, more often, in assistant ministry roles. Such estimates could not immediately be confirmed. Most of us believe there is a problem when certain Southern Baptist churches have pastors who are women, said Josh Hetzler, a South Dakota pastor on the Executive Committee, who favors such an amendment. Were at a cultural moment in which this issue of mens and womens roles is very confused, he added. We have an opportunity to speak clearly into this moment. But other members said the statement of faith speaks for itself and isnt needed in the constitution. Also on Monday, officials said the SBC was phasing out its connections with Guidepost Solutions, the consultant that issued a blistering report in 2022 on how SBC officials mishandled reports of sexual abuse and mistreated victims. Guidepost has also been staffing a hotline to receive reports of abuse, and it was originally slated to develop a public database of abusers. Those reforms, though criticized by victims advocates as too small, are also facing pushback from others, in part over a Guidepost tweet last year that it is an ally to our LGBTQ+ community. The denominations statement of faith opposes homosexuality. Executive Committee Interim President Willie McLaurin said Monday that officials are lining up a different firm to develop the list and will also phase out Guideposts role in the hotline. Incoming Executive Committee chairman Philip Robertson said that while there can be disagreements over how to respond to the scandal, We need to continue that work to make sure every person in every church in the SBC is protected and safe. Millions of people with federal student loans will be required to restart payments in October, the Department of Education clarified Monday. Previously, the Biden administration had said the payment pause in place since March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic would end either 60 days after June 30 or 60 days after the Supreme Court rules on President Bidens separate student loan forgiveness plan. READ MORE: Student loan payment restart: Dates, details you need to know In a statement to CNN, the Department of Education clarified that start date, as well as the date interest will begin accumulating again. Student loan interest will resume starting on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October. We will notify borrowers well before payments restart, the Department of Education said in a statement. Borrowers can expect to receive their bill statements from loan service providers a few weeks before they are due. The department said it will also be in communication with student loan services to provide additional information before repayments resume. Payments are set to restart no matter what the Supreme Court says in its decision on Bidens plan to dismiss up to $20,000 in student loans per borrower. That decision is expected in June or July. READ MORE: $42 billion in student debt forgiven through special program: Do you qualify for PSLF? In November of last year, former President Donald Trump announced his plans to run for president again in 2024. Despite potential complications presented by his indictment over falsifying business records in March and a jury finding him liable for defamation and sexual abuse in civil court in May, Trump has not announced any changes to his re-election bid; in fact, the Trump campaign announced an influx of donations after his grand jury indictment, signaling continued support from his base. However, Trumps broader appeal in the context of the 2024 presidential race remains unclear. The 2022 midterm elections put his political influence, both within the Republican party and among the voting public, to the test. Trump endorsed more than two dozen Republican candidates. While the GOP expected a red wave to deliver overwhelming control of both houses of Congress, the results were significantly more muted. Democrats retained control of the Senate, and while Republicans have the House, the margin of success proved to be narrower than pro-Trump devotees anticipated. Candidates that were given the thumbs-up by Trump did not overwhelmingly win as expected. Exactly how the midterm election results and his ongoing legal troubles will affect Trumps long-term fundraising efforts remains to be seen. But Trump committees raised millions of dollars before the midterms, particularly after the FBI raided his Florida Mar-a-Lago home. In fact, by the end of July 2022, the political action committee Save America (one of Trumps largest PAC affiliates) had accumulated more than $99 million on Trumps behalf. Stacker analyzed Federal Election Commission records from Jan. 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023, to compile a list of the zip codes that have donated the most money to Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. The total number of donations from Alabama was $144,177 from 2,819 individual donations. Each zip code is ranked by its total donation amount per 1,000 people to the Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. campaign committee, filing as the Donald J. Trump For President 2024, Inc PAC. Only FEC-processed records from unique individuals (as opposed to outside groups or committees) were considered. Slides also include the number of donations made toward Trumps campaign in that zip code and in the state overall. Demographic and population information is derived from the Census Bureau. The townships listed beside each zip code represent the most sizable community within that respective zip code, but do not necessarily encompass its entire population. They are offered as a geographic frame of reference. Zip codes with populations under 1,000 or with population data not available were excluded from the analysis as were zip codes with fewer than 10 individual donations. #25. 35803 (Huntsville, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $95.87 ($2,683 total) - Number of individual donations: 29 - Population: 27,990 - Median household income: $84,951 #24. 35051 (Columbiana, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $95.92 ($828 total) - Number of individual donations: 19 - Population: 8,627 - Median household income: $55,899 #23. 35757 (Madison, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $96.34 ($1,718 total) - Number of individual donations: 29 - Population: 17,829 - Median household income: $95,239 #22. 35824 (Huntsville, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $100.27 ($915 total) - Number of individual donations: 14 - Population: 9,129 - Median household income: $93,857 #21. 35570 (Hamilton, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $103.65 ($1,150 total) - Number of individual donations: 38 - Population: 11,097 - Median household income: $45,154 #20. 35650 (Moulton, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $105.79 ($1,375 total) - Number of individual donations: 80 - Population: 12,996 - Median household income: $55,199 #19. 36303 (Dothan, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $106.07 ($3,317 total) - Number of individual donations: 40 - Population: 31,269 - Median household income: $48,141 #18. 35613 (Athens, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $106.81 ($2,187 total) - Number of individual donations: 28 - Population: 20,475 - Median household income: $84,512 #17. 35120 (Odenville, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $109.84 ($1,879 total) - Number of individual donations: 28 - Population: 17,106 - Median household income: $65,795 #16. 35406 (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $114.15 ($2,081 total) - Number of individual donations: 26 - Population: 18,228 - Median household income: $108,188 #15. 35586 (Sulligent, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $114.21 ($440 total) - Number of individual donations: 10 - Population: 3,851 - Median household income: $38,172 #14. 35634 (Florence, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $119.56 ($1,240 total) - Number of individual donations: 25 - Population: 10,375 - Median household income: $73,188 #13. 35125 (Pell City, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $120.94 ($1,300 total) - Number of individual donations: 27 - Population: 10,752 - Median household income: $49,030 #12. 36271 (Ohatchee, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $121.05 ($733 total) - Number of individual donations: 32 - Population: 6,056 - Median household income: $47,281 #11. 36804 (Opelika, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $123.14 ($2,378 total) - Number of individual donations: 59 - Population: 19,307 - Median household income: $51,699 #10. 35242 (Birmingham, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $123.32 ($7,039 total) - Number of individual donations: 165 - Population: 57,077 - Median household income: $107,191 #9. 35043 (Chelsea, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $128.53 ($1,806 total) - Number of individual donations: 15 - Population: 14,054 - Median household income: $94,959 #8. 36266 (Lineville, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $160.07 ($986 total) - Number of individual donations: 22 - Population: 6,159 - Median household income: $45,461 #7. 35776 (Woodville, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $177.52 ($612 total) - Number of individual donations: 25 - Population: 3,447 - Median household income: $44,868 #6. 36604 (Mobile, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $195.43 ($1,790 total) - Number of individual donations: 33 - Population: 9,158 - Median household income: $49,927 #5. 35670 (Somerville, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $207.63 ($1,384 total) - Number of individual donations: 24 - Population: 6,667 - Median household income: $55,559 #4. 35983 (Leesburg, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $280.39 ($1,112 total) - Number of individual donations: 29 - Population: 3,966 - Median household income: $58,867 #3. 35740 (Bridgeport, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $568.12 ($1,915 total) - Number of individual donations: 386 - Population: 3,371 - Median household income: $39,925 #2. 35097 (Locust Fork, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $999.02 ($1,938 total) - Number of individual donations: 38 - Population: 1,940 - Median household income: $44,688 #1. 36528 (Dauphin Island, Alabama) - Money donated per 1k people: $1,049.41 ($1,859 total) - Number of individual donations: 38 - Population: 1,771 - Median household income: $62,560 In this photo released by the U.S. Eighth Army on the Pentagon's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, the first Stryker vehicle, assigned to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, arrives in Pohang, 262 kilometers southeast of Seoul, June 10. Yonhap Key pieces of equipment for a new American rotational force employing the Stryker armored fighting vehicle arrived in a southeastern port city over the weekend, a U.S. military unit in Korea said Monday. Stryker fighting vehicles and other items of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) of the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colorado arrived in Pohang, 262 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Saturday, the Eighth Army said. The new team will replace the current 2nd SBCT of the 2nd Infantry Division in the coming weeks as part of a regular rotation of forces "to support the United States' commitment" to the defense of Korea, it added. "The presence of a rotational brigade here in is vital to maintaining the ROK-U.S. alliance and readiness of our combined forces," it said, referring to Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. Last year, the current SBCT arrived in Korea, representing a shift from an Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) construct to the SBCT. The ABCT operates M-1 Abrams tanks and M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, while the Stryker team uses the eight-wheeled armored vehicle, which the U.S. military says combines firepower, battlefield mobility, survivability and versatility with reduced logistics requirements. (Yonhap) Juneteenth, a holiday in honor of one of the final acts of emancipation of the slaves in the U.S., will be celebrated later this month. Its the nations newest federal holiday and the first one established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. The word Juneteenth is a combination of June and 19, which is when the holiday is celebrated June 19th. This year, that falls on a Monday. As a federal holiday, almost all government offices will be closed. What is Juneteenth? On June 19, 1865, the announcement was made that tens of thousands of African-Americans in Texas had been emancipated, closing the door on one of the last chapters of slavery in the U.S. Juneteenth traces its origins back to Galveston, Texas where on June 19, 1865 Union soldiers, led by Major Gen. Gordon Granger landed in the city with news that the Civil War had ended and slaves were now free. The announcement came two-and-a-half years after President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation of Jan. 1, 1863 that freed slaves in Confederate states. However, since that proclamation was made during the Civil War, it was ignored by Confederate states and it wasnt until the end of the war that the Executive Order was enforced in the South. Granger delivered the news himself, reading General Order Number 3: The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer. The days name is in honor of the date of Grangers announcement and first appeared around 1903. It is also known as African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. The day was celebrated occasionally until it was revived during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s On Monday, just over two years since Alabama became the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will award licenses to grow, process, test, transport, and dispense the drug in the state for medicinal purposes. According to the law, at least a quarter of the awardees in all but one category (integrated facility) must be minority-owneddefined as at least 51 percent owned by individuals of African American, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian descent. For the integrated facility category, where up to five licenses will be awarded, the minimum threshold is 20 percent. The other categories are cultivator (up to 12 licenses will be awarded), processor (up to 4), dispensary (up to 4) secure transporter (no limit), and state testing laboratory (no limit). RELATED: Who will dispense medical marijuana in Alabama? About one-third of the 90 applicants qualified by the commission indicates that the applicant is majority owned and controlled by a minority group, commission spokesperson Brittany Peters shared in an email. The commission will satisfy the minority criteria set by the statute, Peters wrote. If this cannot be accomplished in the current offering of licenses, then a future offering of licenses may be necessary. All applicants were required to disclose their ownership structure. Heres complete list applications (with redactions by the applicants; some are all but completely redacted). RELATED: Which minority-owned firms were awarded Alabama cannabis licenses? Minority participation in what is projected to be a $70 billion industry by 2028and last year accounted for 428,059 full-time jobs, according to the 2022 Leafly Jobs Reporthas been a source of frustration nationwide since California became the first state to legalize marijuana in 1996. African American entrepreneurs account for less than two percent of business owners in the nation, according to the 2021 Leafly Jobs Report. Thats worse than in 2017 when 4.3 percent were Black. (That year 81% of cannabis business owners were white, 5.7 percent Hispanic, and 2.4% Asian.) The cannabis industry must show true commitment to equity as it expands, so the wealth generated by this new opportunity will uplift minority communities, the 2021 reports stated. If it cannot we will continue to see these communities struggle in the shadow of white supremacy without a fair shot. Among the companies applying for an Alabama license that listed themselves as minority owed: 1819 Labs (processor), Trulieve AL (integrated facility), I Am Farms, (cultivator), James Gang Dispensary (cultivator), Native Black Cultivation (cultivation), Sanitus (cultivator), ), GP6 Wellness, (dispensary), Kush Medicinal (dispensary), LeBlue Fields (dispensary), Shangri-la AL (dispensary), Harvell Motor Company (secure transport), Pick Up My Things (secure transport), and XLCR (secure transport). Cultivator licensees could start growing marijuana within weeks, an AMCC member told AL.coms Mike Cason in April. The various forms of medical cannabis (pills, oils, ointments, patches, and gelatinous tubes) could be available for consumers before the end of 2023, the board member said. The timeline could, however, be slowed by appeals. Applicants that do not receive a license can ask the AMCC to reconsider its decision. Failing that, they may also take the matter to court. If SCOTUS recent ruling striking down President Bidens relief plan still has you reeling, then the Broke & Bothered newsletter is for you. Join Reckons Alexis Wray as she questions the legitimacy of student loans, gives you tools to take action and shares stories from real people most impacted: Enter your email to subscribe. Paying back federal student loan debt this year is less of a question now than a cold, hard reality. The debt ceiling deal, which avoided an unprecedented default on the federal governments debt also permanently ended the pause on student loan debt payments. Now, starting September 1, more than 45 million Americans are expected to make what could be their first student loan debt payment in three years. Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a press briefing that even though the deal ends the payment pause, that the Biden administration was planning to restart them around the same time anyway. While the Biden administration planned to end the payment pause 60 days after June 30, Americans remain in limbo about their debt as they await a decision from the Supreme Court on the forgiveness plan aimed at canceling up to $20,000 of student loan debt for federal borrowers. At some point this month, SCOTUS justices will deliver their ruling on Bidens forgiveness plan. Regardless of their decision, the federal government expects borrowers to start paying back their loans this year. As borrowers await a decision from the high courts, theres momentum, led by Congressional leaders from both parties, to compel borrowers to pay back their student loans. One resolution that would force borrowers to repay the principal and interest owed while the loans were paused plus new, additional interest charges House Joint Resolution 45 passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by President Biden this Wednesday. It is a shame for working families across the country that lawmakers continue to pursue this unprecedented attempt to deny critical relief to millions of their own constituents, President Biden said after vetoing the resolution. I remain committed to continuing to make college affordable and providing this critical relief to borrowers as they work to recover from a once-in-a-century pandemic. With the resolution dead for now, borrowers await the SCOTUS decision on Bidens forgiveness plan. Regardless of the high courts ruling, those with student loan debt will need to start preparing for repayment. Heres how: Whether borrowers decide to pay back their student loans or not, having a better understanding of what the federal government expects when payments restart should first include visiting StudentAid.gov. Create a profile or log in to your account to ensure your contact information is up to date. If you attended college and took out federal student loans, the government already has your information but taking this step will ensure you know how much debt is tied to your name, dont miss updates and have access to resources to apply for a repayment plan or loan counseling in the future. Use your StudentAid.gov account to discover and confirm what loan servicer holds your student loan debt. Borrowers can find this information under the My Aid section. Since the payment pause, loan services like Navient, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (also known as FedLoan) and Granite State have ended their relationship with the federal government if any of these companies held your debt, they no longer do. Start now by contacting your new or previous loan servicer to save yourself from waiting on hold for long periods of time once student loan debt payments resume. Knowing how much your monthly payment will be is just as important as knowing how much student loan debt you owe. While most borrowers will receive a billing statement in the mail at least 21 days before their first payment is due, contacting your loan servicer in advance will provide you with an estimate of your payments, a due date and any upcoming interest. Find your student loan servicer here. Borrowers are worried about the future of affording and paying back their student loans. Are you one of them? Share your story and thoughts here with Reckon. The good people of Austria are shocked -- shocked, I say! -- to learn that the Muslims theyve invited to live among and benefit from them hold to various divisive, if not downright hostile, doctrines. According to a May 10, 2023 article, alarm bells are ringing in Austria following the publication of a report on what Austrian mosques are teaching to Muslims. One of these teachings, according to the report, is that Muslim children should only have Muslim friends. To underscore the magnitude of this finding, keep in mind that there are now more Muslims than Catholics in Vienna, Linz, and other Upper Austrian regions. Commenting on this divisive finding that impacts such a large demographic, Manfred Haimbuchner of Austrias conservative Freedom Party said: So Muslims should only be friends with Muslims? This is taught in the Upper Austrian mosques. What does [Austrian president] Van der Bellen say about this? What is the Presidents opinion on this fact? In fact, all Western leaders would do well to ponder and answer this question -- not least as the call for Muslims not to befriend non-Muslims is not some aberration unique to Islam in Austria, but is rather a mainstream Islamic teaching that goes straight back to the Koran. Here, for example, is Koran 3:28: Let believers [Muslims] not take infidels [non-Muslims] for friends and allies in place of believers. Whoever does so will have nothing to hope for from Allah -- unless it is by way of taqiyya against them. The latter portion of that verse referencing taqiyya means that, whenever Muslims are in a position of weakness, they may pretend to befriend and ally with non-Muslims, as long as they continue harboring hate for the infidels in their hearts (for other Islamic-sanctioned forms of deception, read about tawriya and taysir). Koran 5:51 is even more explicit, and names names: O believers! Take neither Jews nor Christians for friends and allies -- for they are friends and allies of one another. Whoever does so will be counted as one of them. Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. But the matter is far worse than not befriending non-Muslims. Koran 60:4 calls for Muslims to perpetually hate all non-Muslims until they believe in Allah alone. Here is how Osama bin Laden explained that verse: As to the relationship between Muslims and infidels, this is summarized by the Most Highs Word: We renounce you. Enmity and hate shall forever reign between us -- till you believe in Allah alone [Koran 60:4]. So there is an enmity, evidenced by fierce hostility from the heart. And this fierce hostility -- that is, battle -- ceases only if the infidel submits to the authority of Islam, or if his blood is forbidden from being shed [i.e., a dhimmi], or if Muslims are at that point in time weak and incapable [of going on the offensive]. But if the hate at any time extinguishes from the heart, this is great apostasy! Such, then, is the basis and foundation of the relationship between the infidel and the Muslim. Battle, animosity, and hatred -- directed from the Muslim to the infidel -- is the foundation of our religion. (The Al Qaeda Reader, p. 43). Similarly, after quoting the hate-all-infidels verse, Koran 60:4, the Islamic State (ISIS) confessed to the West that We hate you, first and foremost, because you are disbelievers. As for any and all political grievances, these are secondary reasons for the jihad, the group said: The fact is, even if you were to stop bombing us, imprisoning us, torturing us, vilifying us, and usurping our lands, we would continue to hate you because our primary reason for hating you will not cease to exist until you embrace Islam. Even if you were to pay jizyah and live under the authority of Islam in humiliation, we would continue to hate you. Many other hostile and divisive verses permeate the Koran (see also 4:89, 4:144, 5:51, 5:54, 6:40, 9:23, and 60:1). Koran 58:22 goes as far as to praise Muslims who kill their own non-Muslim family members. Little wonder, then, that Americas supposed best Muslim friends and allies -- such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- have issued fatwas (in Arabic) calling on all Muslims to oppose and hate whomever Allah commands us to oppose and hate, including the Jews, the Christians, and other mushrikin [polytheists, blanket term for non-Muslims], until they believe in Allah alone and abide by his laws, which he sent down to his Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings upon him. The matter is such that, because enmity for non-Muslims is so ironclad in the Koran, mainstream Islamic teaching holds that Muslim men must even hate -- and show that they hate -- their non-Muslim wives, while enjoying them sexually, or for their wealth, etc. Returning to an Austria that is shocked to learn that local mosques are indoctrinating Muslim children not to befriend non-Muslims, Manfred Haimbuchner, after pointing out that, for Muslims in Austria, integration is apparently undesirable and actively prevented by teaching in mosques, said, We stand for the practice of religion within the framework of religious freedom. However, if an ideology is spread under the guise of religious freedom that is not compatible with the values of Austrian society, the state must take action. In other words, if a religion, in this case, Islam, preaches things that go directly against the values of any given state -- for example, that people should be hated on account of their religion -- should that state tolerate it? The answer is obvious, but will anyone do anything about it, or will they continue thrusting their heads in the sand in the name of inclusivity, multiculturalism, and the rest? Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Image: PxHere See also: Call Them What They Truly Are: The Fascist Far Left With apologies to William Shakespeare (a white supremacist, we're reliably informed by university academics), shall we compare the American government and Democrat party with the German Nazis of their day? As Elizabeth Barrett Browning might say, let us count the ways. Holocaust aside (so far), Nazi fascists and American Democrats (D) voters included are a distinction without a difference. As Steve McCann wrote in his excellent American Thinker article this past March, BLM and Antifa are the ruling regime's chosen violent street thug enforcers, the equivalent of the Nazi SA (Stormtroopers), while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are the extralegal police state SS (Schutzstaffel) of the (D) party. Polls show that a large majority of registered Democrat voters admire these groups and their tactics, cheering on the atmosphere of intimidation, violence, censorship, confiscation of private assets, suspension of due process, arbitrary arrests of political foes, imprisonment of dissidents, and many other related abuses. But aren't fascists right-wingers, as gesticulating, spittle-flecked presidential historians like Michael Beschloss tell us? Yeah, no. While epitomizing and celebrating centralized power, and abolishing freedoms, fascists and communists (much like Beschloss himself) each occupy one side of the same far-left socialist coin once again, a distinction with no meaningful difference. A fascist by any other name would be the same. Walking around in large cities with white skin and identifying as conservative in the America of 2023 is akin to wearing a Star of David in the Germany of 1938. Hyperbole, you say? Try walking around downtown in any large American city with a MAGA hat on, and count the minutes nay, seconds until you are physically or verbally assaulted. Or murdered outright. Social media are ironclad proof that Democrat voters undulate their hips and get their groove thing on anytime something awful happens to a prominent conservative. If they could push a button to erase your existence, they would not hesitate. And if they can't push the button themselves, they will support a government that promises to push the button on their behalf. How's this truncated checklist below vis-a-vis WWII-era fascists and modern (D) government officeholders and their ("Good German") progressive voters? Racial scapegoating and demonization? Check. Silencing and censorship? Check. State control of/symbiosis with a slavishly obedient media establishment? Check. Attacks on churches, churchgoers, and synagogues? Check. Passionate hatred of Zionist and religious Jews? Check. A nonstop fire hose of regime disinformation, propaganda, hysteria, and outright lies? Check. Tinfoil-hat conspiracy theories about a demonized out-group supposedly scheming to overthrow Club Fed? Check. Eugenics, sterilization, the veneration of the state, and the worship of science? Check. Surgical experiments on and mutilation of healthy bodies? Check. Masked or uniformed Jackboots in the streets, violently enforcing the whims of the ruling regime and its like-minded priestly caste of Brahmin billionaires? Check. Reichstag Fire/contrived emergencies (J6)? Check. Political dissidents imprisoned? Check. Space constraints alone prevent this checklist from easily and quickly expanding ten- or a hundredfold. Everything is confirmation bias to a leftist. After all, if you're a progressive hammer, everything looks like a conservative nail. Do you drink black coffee? You're a racist. What, you don't drink black coffee? You're a racist. Equity, you see. Trying to persuade or convert progressive citizens and voters with dispassionate facts and logic, or appeals to civility, the law, or the Constitution, are examples of wishcasting. Forever constipated with unctuous concern, state media propagandists like Norah O'Donnell/Leni Riefenstahl and Jake Tapper/Joseph Goebbels will lie about everything to shoehorn reality itself into their ideology. And endlessly credulous, hate-filled (D) voters will drool on cue like Pavlov's dogs at the media's every absurd utterance and provocation to incitement. This brings us to the (former, now badly tarnished) Golden State. It's long been a truism: as California goes, so goes the nation. California's progressive Governor Brylcreem, silver spoon wedged firmly in cheek above his pencil neck, somehow manages the political trifecta of being unmistakably fascist, oily, and blow-dried. All of this makes him a heartthrob for the (D) electorate and a genuine threat to win the presidency, whether in 2024 or 2028. From his "nation state of California" pretensions to his homeless industrial complex; from his corrupt deals with China to Sacramento's proposed trillions in "reparations" for non-slaves; from his constant racial scapegoating of white men and fear and loathing of Republicans to California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registering illegal aliens to vote; from his maskless bacchanals bursting the mercury on the hypocrisy meter to his unfortunate gamine of a wife feeling compelled to testify about an assignation of some sort with a hoary, encrusted Harvey Weinstein, this ridiculous fop and poseur of a governor and the horrifically degraded state of California are assuredly a sneak preview into America's near and increasingly turd world future if America doesn't pull back from the cliff's edge right now. California in a political Petri dish is analogous to COVID-19 in the Wuhan lab. It should be viewed as an extreme cautionary tale, not as a blueprint. GOP members of Congress issuing subpoenas or politely sending letters and begging cooperation from the likes of Christopher Wray or Dr. Anthony Fauci and their odious ilk are wasting precious time. It is unlikely that Heinrich Himmler or Dr. Josef Mengele would respond to letters either. Absent indictments and enforcement, letters are an exercise in futility. And besides, as John Updike might put it, Gods don't answer letters. The Romans had a Goddess of Justice, called Justitia. Later, America adopted Justitia as its own symbol of justice. Many in America still pretend Lady Justice is blind (fair, impartial, transparent, law-abiding), although today that's just an in-joke for the vast majority of the (estimated) 120,000 employees of the so-called Department of Justice. It is imperative that conservatives affirm that Lady Justice wields a sword (for punishment) in addition to her scales of neutrality. Or, to reframe it in the context of the GOP House panel inquiring into the weaponization of the federal government, it is well past time for the elephant to use the tusks nature endowed her with. Much as we'd like to avert our eyes from the Medusa-like ugliness of the administrative state and its vast implications, it is critically important for the conservative electorate and GOP leadership to identify and neuter the fascism within the (D) party, the bureaucratic state that does the Democrats' bidding, the statist media, and the rank and file (D) electorate that celebrates their widespread abuses. Know thyself, know thy enemy. 1,000 battles,1,000 victories. Image via Raw Pixel. It's hard to believe how many high-ranking government officials have been serving time behind bars these last couple decades. Bill Clinton got caught selling military secrets and influence to communist China in return for campaign contributions. Hillary Clinton got caught storing top-secret materials on an unsecured email server in a bathroom closet. Lois Lerner got caught using the IRS as a weapon for targeting conservatives and influencing the 2012 election. Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt of Congress for withholding subpoenaed documents concerning the Obama administration's transnational gunrunning racket. Barack Obama, Jim Comey, John Brennan, and James Clapper were all thrown in the clink for spying on a political opponent's campaign and then covering up their illegal activities by framing the victim as a covert Russian agent. The saddest thing was watching Dementia Joe Biden stumble out of the White House in cuffs, as remaining federal agents finally arrested him for decades of corruption involving quid-pro-quo schemes that enriched his family by selling the powers of his various offices to the highest foreign bidders. Oh, right none of that happened, because the Deep State and those in bed with the Deep State protect their own. At this point, anybody not being attacked or politically persecuted should be presumed as secretly working for some shady enterprise hostile to the best interest of the United States. Yet somehow special counsel Jack Smith has the temerity to stand before the American people, announce the federal government's continuing crusade to keep President Trump from office, and shamelessly declare, "We have one set of laws in this country." Right. What he really means is, "The Deep State controls America, and if you mess with those gangsters, we'll lock you up and throw away the key." Jack Smith like Robert Mueller, Andrew Weissmann, so many inspectors general who ignore crimes under their purview, and too many partisan political operatives posing as judges is just another thug enforcer sent out to protect the ruling regime. Well done, Jack! Collect your thirty pieces of silver and career advancement as your reward! It wouldn't be election season without the Department of (in)Justice setting people up and prosecuting fake crimes to influence voters. In 2016, while shutting down numerous criminal investigations involving Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, D.C.'s lawfare-waging politburo concocted an elaborate hoax blaming Russian internet trolls for her embarrassing loss to a political outsider. Two weeks before the 2018 midterms, the FBI arrested a mentally unstable and childlike Cesar Sayoc for allegedly threatening Trump opponents with pipe bombs made in his van/home. Just before the 2020 election, the FBI announced that it had stopped a kidnapping plot against Democrat governor Gretchen Whitmer a "plot" that was planned primarily by undercover federal agents. And the DOJ and FBI "carpet-bombed" Trump associates with J6 subpoenas, announced more J6 protester arrests, and improperly raided the former president's Mar-a-Lago home in the run-up to the 2022 midterms. Covering up the crimes of Democrats, framing domestic political enemies, and engaging in blatant election interference are what the FBI and DOJ now primarily do. That's also why Clueless China Joe is so certain of his re-election victory, when a super-majority of the country is worse off since his installation and strongly want him gone. Even many of his Marxist fellow-travelers and World Economic Forum foreign enablers have been looking at his cratering poll numbers and inability to take two steps without face-planting and have begun expressing a sense of urgency that the brain-dead doofus be replaced on the Democrat ticket. Obama insiders and the Deep State praetorian guard, however, are all smiles while doing their best Hans Gruber impressions and calmly responding, "You ask for miracles. I give you the F...B...I." It is true that "exceptional thieves" are just as common in the Justice Department these days as in the Die Hard movie franchise. While the DOJ goes after Joe Biden's principal 2024 opponent, the old corrupt codger is looking to repeat his election strategy of 2020 which is to say, he will hide in some undisclosed basement and watch as the Deep State's criminal element rigs another election his way. We're watching history in the making. In 2020, quid-pro-quo Joe a politician who would have struggled to win an election outside of his native Delaware "won" more votes than any candidate in American history while hardly campaigning. In 2024, the corrupt Department of (in)Justice will just prosecute his rivals, until he's the only candidate left. Some might call that kind of system indistinguishable from the Chinese Communist Party's stranglehold over their people and the Obama Marxists running America into the ground all say, "Isn't it great?" After the protests for free and fair elections on January 6, 2021, the federal Leviathan hunted down and locked up any dissenter with a voice. Going into the 2024 election, it will hunt down and lock up any dissenter who refuses to obey the one-party State. If foreign countries engaged in the same behavior as D.C.'s corrupt "elite," they would be publicly pilloried and ostracized as enemies of "democracy." Everything the hypocrites in D.C. claim to abhor, they do every day. Censorship, political persecution, and rigged elections it's the new American way! So much for all those dire NeverTrump warnings about the America First political outsider destroying precious civic norms with his behavior. The Uniparty RINOs fanning themselves on fainting couches claimed President Trump would lock up his enemies, start nuclear wars, destroy the economy, betray conservative voters, and put family members on the Supreme Court. Instead, he presided over the most consistently conservative administration in a hundred years, brought jobs home, increased middle class incomes, avoided new foreign wars, saved what's left of the Constitution from an increasingly activist Court, and tried to pursue a policy of national reconciliation by refusing to punish those who sought to topple his presidency. Clearly, his capacity for forgiveness has been rewarded only with more malicious villainy aimed at keeping him down permanently. This is about so much more than just an election. This is about taking a stand against outright political tyranny. It's about defiance. It's about rage. It's about refusing to surrender meekly. It's about refusing to board the trains or aid those who wish to load them with our silent complicity. Image: Don Hankins via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). The title of the David French New York Times column, June 11 (print edition) was "Indicting Was the Right Call." And how could a Garland/Biden/Smith indictment of former president Trump not be a "right call" to a New York Times columnist? (The online title of the French column was "Trump's Misconduct Was Too Brazen Not to Charge.") Here are two observations on the French column. He writes, nearing the end of his screed, "that Trump's status as a former president means that he should be treated no better and crucially no worse than ordinary American citizens or his political peers." First, does French have round-the-clock Secret Service protection? One would think not. One would think, further, that French would have to concede that, as a former president, Mr. Trump is treated rather better "than ordinary American citizens" and pursuant to law the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, to boot. French adds that Mr. Trump should be treated no better or worse than "his political peers." Who are those peers? Not former secretaries of state. Not former vice presidents. Pursuant to the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, the political peers of Donald J. Trump alive today are precisely four in number: former presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush, and Obama. Accordingly, while no person not being a former president is above the law, federal law confers special protections and benefits to former presidents. (An argument can well be made that ex-Manhattan prosecutor M. Pomerantz is also above the law, but that is another matter having to do with his display of contempt for the law at his May 12 deposition before the House Judiciary Committee, for which he is yet to be held accountable.) French clearly dismissed the significance of U.S. law relating to former presidents with this line that concluded his column: "but this is a republic, not a monarchy, and if the Justice Department can prove its claims, then Donald Trump belongs in prison." Along with his Secret Service detail, office staff, and other perks provided by U.S. law to former presidents? Mr. French, your contempt for equal application of the law concerning former presidents is showing. Below the snarky column by David French is a column from a tawdry trio Norman Eisen, Andrew Weismann, and Joyce Vance called (print edition) "How Jack Smith Can Win His Case." (The online title: "How to Convict Trump.") The bias of this anti-Trump triumvirate is apparent from its reference to the federal judge assigned the Trump indictment as a "rogue Florida district court judge" for her ruling that a special master should review the documents seized by the FBI in its raid on Mr. Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Could this be an attempt by this trio to intimidate the judge into handing Mr. Trump over to the Bureau of Prisons? It is not difficult to envision Eisen or Weismann or Vance howling in political rage at rulings against the Trump prosecution. If this troubling trio were Florida residents and were summoned for service on the Trump jury, it seems to this writer that within a minute or two of the voir dire, each of the three would be dismissed for cause. Eisen was special counsel on Impeachment I, the proceeding that falsely charged President Trump with being a threat to national security. Weissmann was the eminence grise to Robert Mueller in his now-discredited probe of President Trump under the false claim of collusion with Russia. Vance is a former U.S. attorney for Alabama's Northern District, now serving MSNBC as an anti-Trump commentator. This Vance quote, from Politico July 2, 2018, expressing her disdain of President Trump would get her excused from the Trump jury before it was read in full: We've never had an administration that was so cavalier about following ethics rules or has this sort of focused investigation on the president and his inner circle. The "focused investigation" she praised was the Mueller probe discredited by the Durham Report. The Eisen-Weissmann-Vance anti-Trump diatribe ends with an apparent plea for a verdict of "guilty as criminally charged," the "alternative" being " too grim to contemplate." Translation: We shall just have to resume our campaign of insurrection against a re-elected Trump. The editorial board chimed in with a June 11 editorial, "The Justice Department Had No Choice." The online title for this, "Donald Trump Should Never Again Be Trusted with the Nation's Secrets," makes one wonder if John Brennan and James Clapper wrote the invidious title, which calls to mind the false charge of the Russia hoax, and Impeachment I's projection of Biden's bad conduct onto Mr. Trump. Suffice it to observe that where the editorial board writes that the Garland/Biden/Smith indictment of Mr. Trump raises "the harrowing prospect of a former president facing years behind bars," what the board really means: "finally, we've got the SOB where we want him." It is now up to roused Republicans and persons of goodwill across the homeland to disappoint the true insurrectionists, sending them into paroxysms of political self-destruction. In this photo captured from SOCKOR's Facebook page, Brig. Gen. Derek N. Lipson, the new U.S. Special Operations Command-Korea (SOCKOR), speaks at a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, June 12. Yonhap The new commander of the U.S. special operations unit in Korea took office Monday, saying that he is committed to working with Korean troops to support the U.S.' "ironclad" commitment to the alliance. Brig. Gen. Derek N. Lipson replaced Maj. Gen. Michael E. Martin as the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command-Korea (SOCKOR) and the United Nations Command Special Operations Component (UNCSOC) during a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul. Senior U.S. and Korean government and military officials attended the event, including Christopher Maier, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, and Gen. Ahn Byung-seok, deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. "I am grateful for the opportunity to support our nation's ironclad commitment to the alliance that has continued to grow and prosper and strengthen for 70 years," Lipson said at the ceremony. "The things we do daily as allies with regional partners ensure those we compete against do not miscalculate the strength of the United States and the Republic of Korea alliance and our commitment to winning." Lipson previously served as the deputy commanding general support for the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) in North Carolina. Martin, who took command of SOCKOR and UNCSOC in June 2021, will move to the U.S. Special Operations Command in Florida to serve as the J3 director of operations. (Yonhap) A memoir is a history of one's past. Mine includes attempts to reveal who Barack Obama really is or isn't. I recently published my memoir at the age of eighty-one years: The Rubbish Hauler's Wife versus Barack Obama. I have been chasing Obama since 2009, when I uncovered, while working as a licensed private investigator, that he has used a phony CT Social Security number his entire adult life. I was undaunted when my lawsuit to keep him off the Ohio presidential ballot in 2012 was dismissed, even though it is illegal to use a false Social Security number. My book contains other investigations, but I found more juicy information about Obama to include, especially about the alleged purchase of the Magnum P.I. property on Oahu. I note specifically: Hawaii television station KHON2 announced on March 19, 2015 that Marty Nesbitt bought the Waimanalo property, made famous in the television show Magnum P.I. for $8.7 million and that he is the "sole investor." YouTube screen grab. Nesbitt said that Obama was not a party to the transaction. It was listed then under Waimanalo Paradise LLC and still is. There was no sale to Obama. But the news media informed us incorrectly in August 2022 that Obama had purchased that estate. The original 9,000sq. ft. house was razed and will be replaced by three houses. The repair of a hundred-year-old seawall on the property, slipped through with the help of a legal loophole, has Hawaiians outraged. They said it affected their beaches and the environment. The papers for the property at 41-505 Kalanianaole Hwy. were signed by Judy Grimanis, Nesbitt's assistant, who previously worked for Penny Priztker. Priztker, whose brother is now Governor of Illinois, was a prominent Obama fundraiser and U.S. secretary of commerce under Obama. In 2012, Penny thought Obama was going to lose his re-election and was trying to enlist donors to cough up $35 million to buy Plantation Estate for him in Kailua, the place where the Obamas, the Nesbitts, Valerie Jarrett, Marian Robinson, and others celebrated Christmas every year on our dime. No one would kick in. According to IL recorder documents, he did not own the mansion at 5046 S. Greenwood Ave. in Chicago. The house is owned by Homefront Holdings LLC, which does not even appear as a company on the IL secretary of state's business website. It bought the house on October 1, 2017 from ATG Trust Company for $1 and a Quit Claim Deed. Although the filing said "Land Only," it describes a 6,243sq. ft building. Obama's Kalorama house at 2446 Belmont Rd., NW in Washington, D.C., is owned by Homefront Holdings, although there is a claim that the Obamas control Homefront Holdings. Since the property was purchased in 2020, an extra $5,000 has been tacked on each year as penalties for the late payment of $70,000 taxes due in 2021 and 2022. And the $12-million property at 79 Turkeyland Cove, Edgartown, Mass., is listed in the name of James F. Reynolds, Trustee. Does Obama own anything? Does Obama pay for anything with his own money? Susan Daniels has been a licensed private investigator in the State of Ohio for thirty years and is president of Susan Daniels & Associates. Her memoir, The Rubbish Hauler's Wife versus Barack Obama, is available at Amazon.com. A lot of us had hoped the Soros empire and all its works would end once the billionaire hedge fund speculator, who is very elderly now, passes. No, not to be. According to the Wall Street Journal, cited on this CNBC report, George Soros passing the baton to his 37-year-old son and Mini-me, Alex Soros: Philanthropist billionaire George Soros confirmed that he is handing control of his $25 billion empire to his son Alex. Soros, 92, has a net worth of $6.7 billion, according to Forbes, and is one of the top 400 richest people in the world. In 2017, he shifted $18 billion from his family office to his Open Society Foundations a group of charities that works in more than 100 countries which Alex was named chair of in December. Alex, speaking to the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive interview published over the weekend, said he is more political than his father and hinted at a significant financial role for the Soros organization in the U.S. elections next year. The Open Society Foundations did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment but a spokesperson did confirm the details of the interview with the Reuters news agency. Which isn't exactly in the interest of the rest of us. Even more leftist? Lucky us, because he's now got a river of money to spread for that. But let's not despair. Soros is all about keeping the elites elites and seeing to it that the rest of us do not have a safe place to live, do not have free and fair elections, and indeed, do not have a country we can call home. He is, after all, the self-described "stateless statesman" and has spent $140 million in the last election cycle to get the worst Democrats into power. Elon Musk called him out correctly in comic book terms, even if his choice of villains wasn't optimal. According to this mother-of-all-Soros-suckup pieces by Luc Olinga for The Street, Soros got into a scrap with Elon Musk, who leveled most of the known charges at Soros about how he spends his money, continuously rigging the system against the little guy: The Techno King, as Musk is known at EV maker Tesla, launched a crusade on May 15 against Soros, by comparing him to the character Magneto, a Jewish supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, who "hates humanity" and who "wants to erode the very fabric of civilization." Soros, 92, is Jewish and a Holocaust survivor [No, he's not. -ed]. Musk then accused Soros of buying off district attorneys by funding their election campaigns so that they become his "pets" and obey his orders. "Soros astutely identified a massive arbitrage opportunity in district attorney elections, where a relatively small amount of money has outsized influence," the billionaire said on May 17. "Soross instructions to his pet prosecutors were (essentially) to minimize prosecuting even violent criminals." ...and... "Does the public realize that Soros wants open borders? Literally not even checking to see if theyre convicted serial killers on the run, which has happened more than once," Musk argued on May 18, without providing evidence. Oh, there's lots of evidence, but not for apparent MSNBC watchers, such as Luc. Soros also has bankrolled the election of secretaries of state over the past year, bringing us the rigged elections such as we have seen of Katie Hobbs, who, as secretary of state, was in charge of counting the ballots as she ran for Arizona governor. She's dogged by 'fraudster' charges everywhere she goes, but with everything rigged, no one can stop her, and her state is now probably permanently, and unhappily, blue. And, he's the king of the color revolutions abroad, which has dragged America into endless conflicts overseas, making America unbearable on the world stage with all its "democracy" talk, and as for the color revolutions themselves, merely swapped one set of kleptocrats in various shambling democracies abroad for another. I don't read comic books so I don't know anything about this Magneto character Musk compared Soros to, whether the figure happens to be Jewish by circumstance, like Shylock, or whether the figure exists as an attack on all Jewish people, or what. I would have avoided the comparison if it were me, because it's not the point of the comparison, which is that the guy hates humanity. What's more, Soros isn't Jewish the way normal observant Jewish people are -- and if anything, he's the opposite. The guy is a longtime atheist and supports anti-Israel causes, as well as Democrats, many of whom have made a cottage industry of their anti-Semitism. Soros certainly hates a lot of things, and humanity can be counted as one of them. Left out of the gushy piece praising Soros and attacking Musk -- and it's a big one: That Musk is Jewish, too, so the criticism is comparable to one black person calling another black person the n-word unaffectionately. That's not quite the same as when a white Democrat such as Bull Connor or Robert Byrd does it. Now that Soros is passing control of his vast $25 billion foundation empire to the youthful Alex, the latter vows to shovel the cash even more leftishly. We will see more money going to let-the-criminals-out district attorneys, more money to the open borders lobby, more money for color revolutions and more money for secretaries of state who openly rig elections. Judges may be bought, gun control promoted, the green and LGBTQ agenda lobbies empowered, plus anything else they can think up. It sounds awful, this continuation of the Sorosian empire, but it may not be as bad as it looks. One solution is the daylight disinfectant: Here in San Diego, a non-woke, non-Soros district attorney in San Diego, Summer Stephan, destroyed a Soros candidate at the polls a few years ago despite being outspent by a factor of three, by holding out the Soros card against vastly superior Soros money machine, winning that election against all odds. She explained clearly how it worked quite ably here: Stephan says her opponent has never prosecuted a case. She is a junior level criminal defense attorney who has never held a leadership position in her own office. She is running as a protege or proxy of an out-of-state billionaire George Soros. He has spent $1.5 million, an obscene number in local politics. Soross funding of Jones-Wright is one of 17 District Attorney races he is pouring funds to using his California Justice & Public Safety PAC. He is selecting criminal defense attorneys or ACLU affiliated lawyers with the goal of decriminalizing prostitution, drugs and prosecuting law enforcement whether they did anything wrong or not. The target for Soros is the police, says Stephan Stephan says that Soros funded DAs elsewhere have led to failure. This has been a failed social experiment in Houston. The violent crime since his candidate was elected has gone up nine percent. In Florida his candidate refused to prosecute to the full extent of the law a police officer murderer who also murdered a pregnant woman. To the point that the governor has stripped her of her authority to prosecute special circumstance murders. Her opponent, she says, promises the same. She has pledged to not even consider pursuing the death penalty in any serial murder case or any murder case, whether the case qualifies or not. She has also pledged in writing to not petition the court for any 17 year oldeven if they have committed mass murderto be treated as an adult. Which means they would be released at age 25 no matter what. The money infusion is intended to buy this election and to have our community replace experience and qualifications with a dangerous experiment. That is the challenge for my campaign. Like Musk, she was attacked as an anti-Semite for bringing up the Soros juggernaut, but she never apologized for it. "Apologize for what?" as Andrew Breitbart used to say. Transparency, sunlight, and a refusal to apologize, have definitely damped the Soros ambitions in certain incidents. This template should be repeated and expanded. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and already the Soros crowd has a growing public relations problem. Second, empires run by juniors, the cossetted sons of the original founding moneybags, are pretty prone to foundering. Alex go wild with the spending and may take the Soros empire in an entirely unpopular direction from which he is unable to pull back, making his empire the Bud Light of arrogant foundations. He also may simply squander the money on personal luxuries, the way Black Lives Matter's executives did, leaving them in the hole. Junior doesn't have old dad's investing skills, let alone his weird organic base philosophies, he's just a copier of all things left-wing. That may be a recipe for blowing the Soros pile on useless or ineffective projects. If it happens, it wouldn't be the first time an heir blew old dad's fortune on idiocies. Soros insists the kid has got the smarts for this, but anything is possible. Third, there should be other empires out there emerging to counter the Soros madness -- for rule of law at the borders, for prosecutors who prosecute crime, and for secretaries of state who count ballots honestly. Perhaps that counterforce can be Musk. It's not an entirely cause for despair that the Soros empire is set to continuing expanding its tentacles. It mainlys serves as a call to action to find effective ways to counter it. Image: Filtered image with use of photos by World Economic Forum. swiss-image.ch/Photo by Sebastian Derungs // CC BY-SA 2.0. David Solway, frequent essayist at PJ Media and American Thinker, has always been a realistic and conservative writer. He says in this recent essay, "It has by now become starkly obvious that the leftist attack on the Judeo-Christian West proceeds on three main fronts: Christianity, the family, and borders." The attack is making too much progress, and there is too little resistance. He details the strategy of the campaign to destroy Western Civ. "An organized and multifaceted attack on Christian morality and practice." A multitude of religions is represented in the U.S. and Canada, but Christianity is the originary ground of both, now seismically disturbed by secular and especially socialist intolerance. An organized societal project to destroy the family. [B]ecause it encourages a prior allegiance ... [and] because it allows for inheritance and property rights. This is anathema to the Marxist vision of the centralized, property-owning and all-encompassing state. The Marxist offensive against the monogamous union of a man and a woman is seen as the means by which to destabilize the family, and thus to destroy the democratic state root and branch. ... Woke ideology, feminist dogma and the cultural focus on sexual pathologies have taken up the Marxist cudgel to eradicate the traditional family and the legitimacy of parenthood in order to remake the Judeo-Christian West in their own infernal image. An attack on citizenship and national borders. "The real and ongoing intention is clearly to dilute a cohesive citizenry and render the nation a stranger to itself, easy pickings for subversion." Solway raises the question is there time to save civilization, and what can be done to avoid the destructive left? He answers: Many will no doubt disagree with me, but this is no time for timidity. It may demand a populist uprising of immense, if not unprecedented, proportions, certainly not seen since the American War of Independence what Richard Fernandez, citing novelist George Eliot's term, refers to as "hidden lives" uniting to defend their patrimony. It may entail the secession of those states and provinces where the civilizational imperative remains in force. It may require a determined purge of the neo-communist Left issuing at the federal level by a patriot president or prime minister and an aggressive administration. One way or another, there is no alternative solution. Mr. Solway goes on to say that some piecemealing is not going to work; the defense of the nation requires carnivores, not herbivores, and pushback needs to be thoroughgoing. The left must be expunged, the political landscape razed and salted. No time for timidity, compromise, and tolerance. He concludes: Speaking historically, we have arrived at a now-or-never moment, and in the present social and political context, never has the upper hand. The people must rise, or imperiled jurisdictions should contemplate the possibility of secession or at least initiate an Article V Convention of States as a preliminary step toward political change, or a legitimate government, should it survive electoral malfeasance, must act with uncompromising conviction. Nothing else will suffice, assuming the will is there. This is it. Strong words from a Canadian who feels the ominous nature of recent developments, but does he have an answer to the power, the deadly power of the totalitarian state? Ask the J-6 gulag prisoners who protested a stolen election. Ask the truckers who protested the COVID restrictions of the Canadian prime minister. John Dale Dunn is a retired emergency physician and inactive attorney in Brownwood, Texas. Graphic credit: Clkr-Free-Vector-Images, Pixabay license. In the classic movie Casablanca, two Nazi-controlled French Vichy police utter the famous, or infamous, line: "May I see your papers?" When the suspect provides expired government-issued identification papers and attempts to flee, the fascist supporting police gun him down in the street. Even though the suspect is outnumbered two to one, no attempt is made to pursue him, to apprehend him, or to establish guilt. He is just gunned down. The lesson couldn't be clearer. Have the proper government-issued papers, or you can (will?) be killed by authorities with complete immunity. Comply or die! While there is another set of government-issued papers critical to the movie plotline that I will return to shortly, the phrase "May I see your papers?" became a symbol of the dangers of the police state to the freedom-loving Hippie generation. Sadly, what once was art is now becoming reality. On May 17, I wrote of the threat of "mandatory digital health passports (probably first for travelers, then for everyone)." I also noted about implementation that "speed is critical." Now the other shoe is dropping. From the Epoch Times: The WHO said in a June 5 statement it has entered into a "landmark digital health partnership" with the European Commission (EC), the European Union's executive body. As part of this new joint venture, Europe's existing framework of digital vaccine passports will serve as the first building block of a global network of digital health products. The WHO stated it will "take up the European Union (EU) system of digital Covid-19 certification to establish a global system that will help facilitate global mobility and protect citizens across the world from on-going and future health threats." Negotiations are ongoing right now, including in the United States as to granting the WHO virtually unlimited "emergency" powers in the event of a real or "potential" health emergency. The agreements being negotiated grant the WHO broad powers to declare such an emergency. Any bets that it will use that power? Once everyone is required to have a digital ID, don't expect it to be limited to health. A Central Bank Digital Currency and Digital Social Credit Score, impacting basically everything you do, are quick to follow. Expect "May I see your papers?" to become universal. The Epoch Times noted, "the new vaccine passport has already drawn criticism, with Australian senator Alex Antic saying in a statement that the move is 'just another conspiracy theory coming true.'" I would argue that it never was a conspiracy theory. It was part of the tragic movie scripted by evil forces that we find ourselves against. Back to Casablanca: Besides the ID papers of the aforementioned improperly papered dead man, there is a set of super"letters of transit" that provide the holders basically universal and unquestionable freedom of movement. Using them, a known criminal, at least according to the evil Nazis, is able to board a government-controlled airplane and fly away to safety. Want to bet in any "universal" digital control system that there will also be super"letters of transit"? And no one reading this blog post will ever get them! Image via Pxfuel. The other day, I came across a recording of a press conference concerning the upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese, long one of our best and smartest directors. With this film, Scorsese has left his customary urban haunts for the broad plains of Oklahoma. It can fairly be called a neo-western, a genre untouched by Scorsese until now. Flower Moon concerns a deadly scandal involving the Osage tribe and local whites. The film features a turn by longtime Scorsese collaborator Robert De Niro, who also took a prominent role during the press conference. The first thing one notes is how inarticulate De Niro can be when he doesn't a have a script in front of him. The recording was full of hemming, hawing, y'knows, I means, and so on to the point of exasperation. It's enough to make you wonder if the role of the mumbling, unbalanced loner Travis Bickel was an actual acting job. The other thing...well, that's not much of a challenge. De Niro was the guy who infamously threatened to punch out a sitting U.S. president for reasons difficult, if not impossible, to grasp. De Niro's hatred of Donald Trump has achieved the status of legend. Nancy, Hillary, and Merrick may think they burn white-hot in their loathing of DJT, but they all have to step back in the face of Robert De Niro. De Niro was trying to get across why he didn't, y'know, like, unnastand the character he plays in the film. William Hale, a historical character, was involved in a plot to murder members of the Osage nation, though others remained friendly with him, and some in fact attended his funeral. (This is not a difficult point to grasp for anyone who has escaped wokism. The wokies believe that anyone who raises a hand against a single Indian or other person "of color" raises a hand against them all. In fact, it's likely that Hale had difficulties murderous difficulties with one faction of the tribe while getting along perfectly well with the others.) While casting around for a known historical reference for Hale, De Niro referred to "someone who must not be mentioned..." Okay, I said to myself. Here we go... De Niro, with superhuman effort, managed to retain control of himself. I admit I was impressed. But then it came. Late in the proceedings, apropos of nothing, with the air of a man who has held back too much for too long, De Niro at last cuts loose: TrumpTrumpTrump...I hate Trump...everybody hates Trump...you're not human if you don't hate Trump... In the background, Scorsese himself says, "Oh jeez, he said it," and there's a smattering of laughter. Clearly, they'd been waiting on the edge of their seats along with everybody else. Evidently somebody Scorsese? had sat him down and told him, "Bobby, for God's sake, don't mention Donald Trump..." What's striking about DeNiro's outburst is how irrational it sounds. It isn't measured criticism. It isn't an expression of weary contempt. It's the ranting of a man tried to the limits of reason. Donald Trump didn't just run over Robert De Niro's dog he ran over every dog De Niro could possibly have owned, and the cats, too, and then topped it off with some widows and orphans. This outburst provides us with a clear window, if any is needed at this point, into the Trump-haters' mentality: unreasonable, incoherent, and overwrought, and far outside the boundaries of any acceptable discourse. With these remarks, Robert De Niro has told us something about himself he didn't want us to know. De Niro remains a great artist despite himself, and I intend to see Flower Moon at some point. But all the same, it's a relief to hear that De Niro's role in the film is limited to a few scenes, with the major role taken by Leonardo DiCaprio, who, whatever his failings, lacks De Niro's more wild-eyed crotchets. Hatred is never attractive. It is not something people wish to witness. De Niro, Scorsese, and the industry at large may want to ponder the fates of Anheuser-Busch and Target. Image: Greg2600. Recently much has been said and written about gas stoves causing childhood asthma, justifying politicians moving to ban residential gas stoves. We reviewed the epidemiology studies used to support the ban in a recently published study. We demonstrated that the studies were unreliable and there is no basis for the claims made. This essay sums up our findings. NO2 and asthma Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is not carbon-based, is the emission at issue for gas stoves. Allergens are the basic issue in asthma. Allergens are carbon-based and are mostly protein substances. For example, pollen and plant parts; biological fragments shed from furry animals, rodents, cockroaches, dust mites; and fungal detritus can cause allergenic asthma reactions. A recent American Thoracic Society report notes, It is unclear whether direct effects of NO2 explain the causal link with asthma. If NO2 were a cause of asthma, they would know. Image: Gas stove by wirestock. Thus, epidemiology studies in the literature are not founded on evidence that NO2 causes asthma. They are just studies looking for statistical associations of NO2 with asthma. Association does not prove causation, and the people arguing to ban gas stoves know it. However, their analytical methods increase the chance they can show a statistical association. NO2-asthma epidemiology We evaluated a meta-analysis of indoor NO2 and gas cooking effects on childhood asthma. We used novel statistical methods (search space analysis and p-value plotting) to evaluate the reliability of a research claim in the meta-analysis. We found that the claim is not well founded in good evidence. Search space analysis allowed us to see whether excessive hypotheses testing (called multiple testing bias) occurs in gas stove-childhood asthma studies. Multiple testing occurs when researchers use their data set to test many statistical hypotheses. This presents an opportunity for fishing for the results you want. We used p-value plotting to examine whether statistical results from gas stove-childhood asthma studies (p-values) used in the meta-analysis support either no association (randomness) or a statistically significant association. If p-values follow an approximate 45-degree line in the plot, the studies support randomness (no effect). In essence, the plot shows the studies are worthless. If p-values approximately follow a line with a flat/shallow slope, where most (the majority) of p-values are small (< 0.05), then the studies provide evidence for a real association. Results of our search space analysis Our study counted the number of statistical hypotheses tested in 14 of 27 epidemiology studies used for meta-analysis. Summary statistics for the 14 studies are shown below: One-in-twenty (5%) of hypothesis tests can be a statistically significant but false-positive error. A study with a median count of 15,360 hypothesis tests can have 5% 15,360 = 768. Under the latter circumstances, how do you tell if a result presented in a study is real or just a false-positive error? Results of our p-value plotting analysis You can see in the chart below a p-value plot for 13 test statistics used for meta-analysis of a gas stove-childhood asthma association. The p-values are aligned at approximately 45 degrees. This is evidence of randomness (i.e., no association between gas stove NO2 and childhood asthma). Boom! Theres no proof that gas stove emissions cause asthma. Conclusions The people pushing to ban gas stoves rely on studies that have flawed methodologies, making their results meaningless. 1. Research on NO2 has not established that it or any other emission from gas stoves causes childhood asthma. 2. Questionable statistical methods (excessive hypotheses testing) appear common in NO2-childhood asthma epidemiology studies. These studies are made unreliable and invalid because of unknown false positive errors. 3. The p-value plot for a gas stove-childhood asthma association supports randomness. This is not proof of a toxic causal effect from gas stoves. The published studies we evaluated, which are supposed to be reliable, were not. They have methods that facilitate the researchers pre-existing biases. The public can consider the gas stovechildhood asthma claim both unproven and wrong. There is no reliable evidence to justify a public policy as extreme as banning gas stoves. Warren Kindzierski has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering; Stan Young has a Ph.D. in Statistics and Genetics; John Dunn has an M.D. and a J.D. One can just hear the Laurel and Hardystyle phone conversations among Democrats, such as former President Obama and Joe Biden: another fine mess you've got us into. With their latest effort to take down President Trump with an indictment, they bought themselves this can of whoop-ass: A poll indicates that former President Donald Trump has widened his lead in the GOP primary following the Department of Justice's indictment of him for allegedly mishandling classified documents at his Florida home. Surveying 1,798 potential voters between June 9-10 with a margin of error 3.3 points, the CBS News poll showed the former president had 61 percent support in the Republican primary, leading his opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by a full 38 points 61 percent to 23 percent. Republican Sen. Tim Scott (SC) stands in third place with just 4 percent of support, just one point ahead of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. That's an obvious response to a hypocritically applied use of the law against Trump, charging him with things no former U.S. president has ever been charged with, complete with a threat to throw him in the slammer for the next 400 years, just as he prepares to run for president again. That's the banana republickization of U.S. politics. The logic of this polling surge suggests that if we don't fix this by electing Trump, the gate's open for every former U.S. president to get ready to flee the country after his term is up, and for some, simply not to leave office in order to avoid the legal harassment to follow. We've seen this repeatedly happen in Latin America, and here we are. Citing CBS's poll, Breitbart highlighted the following: Republican primary voters say they're far more concerned that Donald Trump's indictment is politically motivated than his alleged conduct being a national security risk and there's no evidence it's hurt his status as the clear front-runner for the 2024 nomination, at least not yet. He remains well ahead of rivals in both consideration and vote choice. In fact, most Republican primary voters would not generally consider him keeping the alleged documents with nuclear systems or military plans to be a national security risk, in and of itself. Most explicitly ruled out the charges announced in the indictment changing their views about Mr. Trump. Rather than being disqualifying in their eyes, even if he's ultimately convicted of a crime in the matter, they overwhelmingly feel he should still be able to serve as president again. CBS, by the way, is far from a conservative pollster, so one can only imagine what the real poll numbers look like. They're not knocking Trump out they're actually beefing up his army of voters. Smart move, bozos. TIPP Insights, which is run by the respected and accurate polling firm TIPP, argued a couple of days ago that this was exactly what these Democrats were going to get in a piece titled "Six Strong Reasons Trump Will Come Out Ahead After All." Here are six reasons why we think that Trump could come out ahead and deliver a fatal blow to the very Deep State that has taken extraordinary measures to hurt him, all under the vague standard of equal justice for everyone. They cited seven reasons, actually. First, the Presidential Records Act was missing from the indictment. Second, the Espionage Act was grossly misused. Third, there's been the fraudulent use of the "no person is above the law" standard, given that the Deep State has been trying to Get Trump for years while ignoring the comparable or worse breaches by the Obamas and Clintons. Fourth, Trump has become a martyr. Fifth, Biden has proven himself "above the law." Sixth, Jack Smith's record at the Supreme Court is weak. Seventh, the Supreme Court will likely rule in President Trump's favor. The details on each are satisfying reading and well worth the click. That's because forecasts like that are the result of their research and polling sense and they obviously portend bad news for Democrats in this gambit. There has been some talk bruited around about Democrats wanting it this way to make Trump the nominee so that Joe Biden and friends can mop the floor with him in the general election. That kind of thinking is too clever by half, not just because these two-steps never work, but because such thinking doesn't recognize what's fueling the surge which is the deranged behavior of Democrats, still maddened by President Trump's 2016 election. I had been leaning toward Ron DeSantis in this upcoming election, but I feel as a voter that this problem of selective prosecution and third worldstyle jailing of opponents has to be taken care of first or there won't be any Ron DeSantis presidencies in the future. We can all have Ron in 2028. But unless these political prosecutions are halted right now with the re-election of President Trump, who will wring this garbage out of the system, we won't have a country to elect him to. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bidenites are surprised at the negative reaction their acts are triggering among the voters and may move to distance themselves from their own Frankenstein's monster. They see it, and everybody sees it: they've shot themselves in the foot. They've own-goaled. We hope they're proud of themselves. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. An article by executive editor of the Daily Beast, Katie Baker, called Casey DeSantis "Walmart Melania." This is a hit piece against the Florida first lady, and the governor himself, for trying to imitate the Kennedys' Camelot and for being fakes. Baker also made a reference to Lady MacBeth, as another viral article by Politico did. Throughout the piece, Baker continues to make unsavory comparisons of the DeSantises and the Trumps. The article first mentions Casey DeSantis's leather jacket, which she wore to a biker rally and which says on the back, "Where Woke Goes to Die," with a picture of an alligator and an outlined drawing of the state of Florida. Baker sneered at the fashion statement, calling it "ghastly," and said it looked as though it had come from a "Red State big-bin store where it would be retailing for $24.99." She also compared it to Melania Trump's "Really Don't Care Do U'' jacket. Baker jabs at Gov. DeSantis's, policies, criticizing him as the reason why so many people died from COVID in Florida and for banning certain books and the AP African-American Studies course from schools. Baker fails to recognize that Florida is a retirement state, so the people who did die were the most at risk. Florida banned books that are inappropriate for children, such as books that depict pornography. The true crime of this is that the authors are targeting children. Florida rejected AP African-American Studies to be taught in schools, citing the content as untrue and violating state law on how race should be taught, but allowed for reconsideration if the AP program changed its content, which it did. The College Board scrapped Critical Race Theory and made modern topics like the Black Lives Matter movement optional. The Florida governor has yet to reconsider his decision. Baker tries to attack Casey by trying to connect her jacket to her husband's policies. She comes off as not only an incredibly judgmental woman who doesn't know anything about fashion, but also someone who just doesn't know anything at all. Baker insinuates that Casey DeSantis is a "wannabe" Jackie Kennedy who doesn't actually have anything in common with her. Jackie was a strong woman, seeing her husband get shot and still getting up every day to be a devoted mother. Casey survived breast cancer. They both stood by their husbands throughout every step of their political journey. Casey is one of Ron's greatest political assets. Casey fights back against mainstream media and is outspoken. She volunteered to help communities that were affected by Hurricane Ian. Casey used her position to support and empower Florida's adoptive and foster families. These are only some of her greatest accomplishments as first lady. So what because Casey doesn't just shut up and smile, she is not entitled to the same amount of respect as one of the U.S.'s most iconic first ladies? How misogynistic is that? It's funny, because I remember a first lady who was not only outspoken to the media, but also worked to help our nation's children, and I don't remember the media ever bashing her to this degree. Maybe it's because she was a Democrat. Baker rails against the DeSantises for being out of touch with reality when most of their policies and what they stand for are more in line with the values of the average American than those of AOC, a former bartender. She then accuses the DeSantises of trying to imitate the Trumps when, not five seconds ago, she called them wannabe Kennedys. Which is it, Katie? The DeSantises are nothing like the Trumps and are not trying to be. They are more disciplined and less controversial, personally, not politically. Whereas Trump picks fights with everyone, DeSantis picks his battles. DeSantis is focused on winning this election, while Trump has a bunch of court cases in different states. The whole point of him running for president is that he believes that he is a better choice than Trump. Baker goes on to say that Casey DeSantis and Melania Trump will never compare to Michelle Obama and "Dr." Jill Biden. She even called Bernie Sanders's inaugural mittens "fashion." Not even Bernie Sanders himself would agree. The bias is outstanding. Did she not see Casey's long golden dress that she wore to her husband's second gubernatorial inauguration? She looked like a star. She shined in that room, just as a woman whose husband just won an election in a landslide should. Or how Melania Trump literally looked like Princess Diana when she wore a white Dolce & Gabana midi dress and hat when she visited Queen Elizabeth? Nor should Baker be comparing Melania and Casey to Michelle and Dr. Jill on class. Michelle Obama said she was never proud of her country until her husband got elected. Dr. Jill compared Latinos to breakfast tacos. In all seriousness, all the first ladies look excellent, and Casey DeSantis should not be singled out just because her fashion statements are more bold. The fact is, Katie Baker is unfairly targeting Casey DeSantis because she doesn't agree with her political beliefs and is using something as trivial as fashion to make a "fiery" piece about how much the DeSantises suck. How pathetic is that? You can't find anything truly awful about her, so you have to resort to your own nonexistent fashion taste? Casey DeSantis isn't a "Walmart Melania." She's the embodiment of a first lady. Image: Casey DeSantis. Credit: First Coast News via YouTube, CC BY 3.0 (cropped). Should a major highway artery running through a major city take "months" to repair? That seems to be the case with highway collapse in Philadelphia, which officials say will take "months" to repair. According to Reuters: 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. Video showed emergency vehicles and workers gathered in the vicinity of the huge chunk of the charred, collapsed overpass. Traffic in both directions of the eight-lane highway was halted due to concerns about the structural integrity of the remaining southbound lanes. US President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and the White House has offered help to state and local officials, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. US transport 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. Pete to the rescue. Feel better now? Oh, he's looking busy. A tanker truck fire this morning in NE Philadelphia has led to the partial collapse of an elevated section of I-95 and closure of the highway in this area. Were grateful to first responders who were quickly on the scene and continue to manage the immediate response. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023 Im in contact with Gov Shapiro, Mayor Kenney & other regional leaders. FHWA has asked surrounding states to alert drivers about the collapse & has offered assistance to state & local officials as they develop traffic plans & PennDOT mobilizes to rebuild the collapsed structure. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023 If you are traveling along the I-95 corridor in the coming days and weeks, please pay close attention to local traffic alerts as we expect significant regional traffic impact. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023 Which is more than we usually see of him during a crisis. He's been distributing a lot of infrastructure money, which makes one wonder why none of it that went to preventing major accidents like this one, on a high-traffic, wear-and-tear-dilapidated crossroads like Philadelphia: President Biden has ushered in an infrastructure decade - bringing economic opportunity, good-paying jobs, and investments to every state and territory across the US. See what's happening near you at https://t.co/MMOmgu136J. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 9, 2023 Closely monitoring the fire and collapse on I-95 in Pennsylvania. Ive been in touch with FHWA and spoke with Gov. Shapiro to offer any assistance that USDOT can provide to help with recovery and reconstruction. Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023 Somehow, it never reaches the places where the most disruption can happen. A look at the link Buttigieg provided about federal infrastructure projects in the Philadelphia area shows one major safety project regarding natural gas, which is good, and a slew of green energy transition projects, which well outnumber that likely important natural gas safety project. Also, there's no major private infrastructure spending in the deep blue city, which is no surprise. Instead of shelling out cash for loopy green and energy projects and smart buildings, maybe Buttigieg's department ought to focus on actual safety reinforcements for critical and neglected existing infrastructure along with backup plans, such as this one suggested here:. With all the national ramifications from business to tourism really thought Gazillion crews working 24/7 be fixed in a week. Like why arent there pre fab slabs you could just insert/lock-in??? Suffice to say we are not going to fare well in nuclear snow #I95 SonofaMitch (@mitchbytes) June 11, 2023 He's also larded up government projects with new regulations and reporting requirements, plus minority contracting requirements, which don't match the urgency of the situation. That will certainly keep the repair of the broken highway in the "months" state for repair as commuters curse the stop-and-go traffic from even less well maintained back roads. And let's not even get started when he starts in about rebuilding with "green" specifications. It's coming... Just rebuild the thing and skip the green. Skip the DIE regulations, skip the red tape, and get it done. If this were any place other than the leftist-led U.S., the repair of the highway would be taking weeks, not months, and all stops would be pulled out to get it done on time if not ahead of schedule, the way Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis was able to do with the washed away bridge to Sanibel Island in the wake of a recent major hurricane near Fort Myers and Naples. Can Pete beat Ron for getting the roads moving again? Not at this point. These guys plan to take "months," and Buttigieg should be all over them to cut regulations and speed the process up. The reality is, he's at least one of them slowing the repairs down. Image: Twitter screen shot. By Kang Seung-woo Colin Kahl, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, is scheduled to visit South Korea later this week to discuss pending bilateral issues between Seoul and Washington, such as U.S. extended deterrence and the envisaged Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). Colin Kahl / Courtesy of Department of Defense AT&T has pledged whole-hearted support for Googles RCS (Rich Communicate Services) on Android devices. With this partnership, Google Messages will be the default messaging app on all AT&T Android phones in the US. This follows a similar commitment from T-Mobile in March, making messaging a more consistent experience for Android users. Verizon is yet to get on board, though. AT&T finally embraces RCS wholeheartedly RCS is a modern messaging standard and a massive upgrade to age-old SMS and MMS technologies. It brings features like read receipts, typing inductor, support for larger files, better group chats, end-to-end encryption, and many more to your phones messaging app. As you may have guessed, RCS requires an internet connection to work. But even if youre offline, your messages will still go through as SMS or MMS. So your communication wont be cut when theres no internet, something that instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram dont offer. Google has been long trying to make RCS the default messaging system on Android devices. But despite its best efforts, US wireless carriers never committed to this system wholeheartedly. In October 2019, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint (which merged with T-Mobile in 2020) formed a consortium and launched a joint venture called the Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI) to improve the messaging experience for mobile users. However, years later, nothing has materialized out of it. Meanwhile, Google took matters into its own hands and integrated RCS into its Messages app, which comes pre-installed on most Android devices around the world. It then started calling on carriers for full-fledged RCS support through Messages, which is finally coming. Shortly after T-Mobile committed to it, AT&T joined the bandwagon too. Verizon is sticking to its own RCS solution with a separate app, but we hope it would also adopt the more universal standard and help make messaging on Android more consistent. Advertisement RCS is still missing on iPhones Unfortunately, carrier support will only improve the messaging experience in the Android space. Cross-platform messaging between Android devices and iPhones is still a mess. Thats because Apple doesnt support RCS on iPhones. Messages sent from an Android device to an iPhone go through as SMS and are notably distinguished in the iMessage app using green bubbles. Messages sent from other iPhones appear in blue bubbles. Despite Google repeatedly taking digs at the company publicly, Apple has shown no signs of fixing this mess. It recently debuted iOS 17 without RCS support. Less than a week ago, Digital Chat Station, a well-known tipster, reported that Xiaomi is working on its very own clamshell foldable smartphone. Well, the same source now reports that the very first clamshell foldable from Xiaomi wont launch until next year. The very first clamshell foldable from Xiaomi coming next year The tipster actually said that both the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 and Xiaomi MIX Flip are coming in 2024. The MIX Fold 4 will succeed the MIX Fold 3, which is expected to arrive in the coming months. The Xiaomi MIX Flip will become the companys first clamshell foldable. We were wondering if it will launch by the end of this year, but that wont happen, it seems. The Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 is marked as N18, while the Xiaomi MIX Flip has the N17 model number. The tipster also said that both phones will be fueled by a Snapdragon 8 series processor. The Xiaomi MIX Fold series always gets the latest flagship, Qualcomm-branded chip available. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is expected to fuel the Xiaomi MIX 3. Presuming that the MIX 4 is coming in Q3 next year, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will likely fuel it. A Snapdragon 8 series chip will fuel the Xiaomi MIX Flip Xiaomi will either opt for that same chip in the Xiaomi MIX Flip, or use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, or possibly the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2, if it ever launches. We can only guess at this point. That phone is still a mystery. We do hope to see Xiaomis foldable smartphones in global markets. Xiaomi already released the Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold and Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 foldables, but only in its homeland, China. Advertisement Neither of those two phones made it to global markets. Were hoping that will change with the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, as the companys foldables do look quite compelling from the design standpoint. Prosecutors have reportedly indicted a former Samsung executive on charges of stealing and leaking company secrets. The suspect is accused to have used the illegally obtained confidential Samsung data to build a copycat chip factory in China. Officials did not reveal the identity of the accused. According to a Reuters report, the suspect illegally acquired critical information about Samsungs semiconductor technology when working for the company. They used the data to build a rival chip factory just about a mile (1.5km) away from the Korean firms chip manufacturing facility in Xian, China between 2018 and 2019. The attempt failed due to funding issues, but the person ended up with cuffs around their wrists. Its a grave crime that could deal a heavy blow to our economic security by shaking the foundation of the domestic chip industry at a time of intensifying competition in chip manufacturing, the Suwon District Prosecutors Office said in a statement. The defendant, meanwhile, is denying the allegations. They have already been arrested, though. The court has yet to confirm the trial date for the case. This data theft is estimated to have caused Samsung losses of at least KRW 300 billion (more than $233 million). The accused may not have pulled off the theft alone, though. Prosecutors have reportedly also indicted six other people for their suspected involvement. Among them is an inspection company employee who may have leaked the architectural plan of the companys semiconductor factory. Apart from Samsung, the prime suspect in this data theft also worked with another South Korean semiconductor firm SK Hynix, serving as a Vice President. Their tenure or designation at Samsung is not known. But, the report suggests the person held a high-level position at the company. Overall, the person worked in the Korean semiconductor industry for about 28 years. Advertisement Prosecutors previously indicted four Samsung employees on similar charges This isnt the first case of Samsung employees stealing critical semiconductor technology. In October last year, prosecutors indicted four current and former Samsung employees on similar charges. These indictments are coming amid the South Korean governments push to strengthen the nations semiconductor industry. Prosecutors say these kinds of data thefts jeopardize national economic security. We will sternly deal with any leakage of our technology abroad and strongly respond to illegal leaks of domestic companies core technologies in semiconductor, automobile, and shipbuilding sectors among others, Reuters quoted a South Korean police official as saying. The country has launched a nationwide investigation, arresting 77 people involved in 35 cases of suspected corporate spying over the past four months. It comes as no surprise that the last few years have been nothing short of a revolution when it comes to artificial intelligence, with text-to-image AIs like DALL-E and Stable Diffusion changing the landscape of photography and image production as we know it. Now, in line with these efforts, Google has recently unveiled a new AI tool called Imagen Editor, which allows users to make specific modifications to images based on textual prompts without altering the rest of the picture. A new way of editing One of the major features of the new tool is its simplicity, as users only need to upload their image, select the region they wish to edit, and describe the desired changes for that particular area. For example, when a user highlights a dogs body in an image and requests a red spacesuit with a white star, the tool accurately incorporates the spacesuit into the selected area. In another instance, the tool added a rocket made out of cardboard and blue gaming headphones to the image of the dog. Similar to Googles object eraser, users can erase unwanted elements in the background of a photo, thus highlighting the main subject and removing distractions. Additionally, the Imagen Editor tool also offers the ability to alter the colour of the sky in a photo. For instance, if you have a picture of a sunset and want to enhance its visual impact, the tool can transform the sky into a more vibrant and captivating shade of blue, adding depth and beauty to the image. Advertisement No release date yet Although the features of the Imagen Editor have the potential to transform the world of photo editing and photography, Google has decided not to release the tool to the public due to concerns related to responsible AI and bad actors potentially misusing it to manipulate images. Therefore, if Google ever intends to release the tool to the public, the company must implement stringent measures, such as proper image labelling and marking, when processing images through the tool. Its no secret that over the past few years, threat actors have become increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to hack companies and gain unauthorized access. Now, in a recent incident, Microsoft OneDrive fell victim to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, which resulted in some users being unable to access their OneDrive accounts, encountering an error message that read, This page isnt working right now. Although Microsoft has not yet provided specific details about the DDoS attack, the company assured users that they are diligently working to analyze OneDrive telemetry data in order to identify the source of the problem and develop a mitigation plan. Anonymous Sudan behind the attack As per Bleeping Computer, the hacking group Anonymous Sudan has taken responsibility for the attack. And although the group has not stated the reasons for the attack or provided any details, it appears to have connections with Russia, as the same group was behind the anti-Israel activity on Jerusalem Day and had also targeted other Microsoft services earlier in the week, including Outlook, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business. Furthermore, in a statement directed at Microsoft, Anonymous Sudan said, Microsoft, you think we forgot you? We are motivated to teach you, liars, a very good lesson in honesty that none of your parents ever taught you. Lets see your new excuse now. Microsofts response Fortunately, Microsoft was quick to act and successfully mitigated the DDoS attack. Additionally, the company also clarified that the hack only affected onedrive.live.com and reassured users that access to the OneDrive service using the desktop client, synchronization client, or Office clients remained unaffected. However, as the investigation continues, users need to exercise caution and adopt best practices for online security, including setting up strong passwords and enabling 2FA. Advertisement We are aware of these claims and are investigating. We are taking the necessary steps to protect customers and ensure the stability of our services, said Microsoft. If youre planning to get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, make sure not to expect a major crease improvement. What do we mean by that? Well, itll be almost as noticeable as the one on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Galaxy Z Fold 5 wont bring major crease improvement, it seems Considering that Samsung plans to make some hinge changes, we were expecting the Galaxy Z Fold 5s crease will be considerably less noticeable. A number of other OEMs managed to pull it off, so everyone expected something similar from Samsung. Well, based on some info a well-known tipster released, that wont happen. This information comes from Ice Universe, as he says that the crease will be only 15% less noticeable. He did confirm that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will come with a different hinge, though. He mentioned a waterdrop hinge style, which is what Chinese OEMs use too. The thing is, Samsungs crease will be a lot more noticeable. Perhaps water and dust resistance has something to do with it, as the phone is expected to offer both? Either way, there you have it. A number of Chinese OEMs did a great job minimizing crease exposure OPPO did a great job with crease control on its Find N, Find N2, and Find N2 Flip phones. The same goes for Huawei with the Mate X3, and several other companies. All in all, it doesnt seem like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be much different than its predecessor. Ice Universe keeps on mentioning that in his tweets, and it seems to be true. If you expected a huge design jump, you may be disappointed. Advertisement The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will launch next month, alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Samsung confirmed a July launch, which is a month sooner than the second Unpacked event usually takes place. Samsung will host its global press event in Seoul, Korea, this time around. A separate US and Canada launch event is rumored, but only as a secondary event, after the main, global one. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is tipped to fuel the Galaxy Z Fold 5, while the phone will once again be quite narrow when folded. If youd like to know more about the device, check out our preview. Its no secret that ever since the start of the AI revolution with the launch of ChatGPT, the US government has had its concerns regarding the rampant development and transparency in the field. Now, in an effort to address these issues, US senators have recently introduced two bipartisan bills that will focus on increasing transparency in government AI usage and ensuring the US remains competitive in the latest technological advancements. These bills come after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated he had scheduled three briefings aimed at educating the senators about these AI systems, with the first session focusing on defence and intelligence implications. This legislation will better synchronize our national security community to ensure America wins the technological race against the Chinese Communist Party, said Senator Young. Disclosing AI usage Introduced by Senators Gary Peters, Mike Braun, and James Lankford, the first bill focuses on transparency, as it mandates that federal agencies disclose their use of AI when interacting with individuals. Additionally, the bill also includes a provision for individuals to appeal decisions made by AI systems. The federal government needs to be proactive and transparent with AI utilization and ensure that decisions arent being made without humans in the drivers seat, said Senator Braun. Assessing Global Competition Meanwhile, the second bill, introduced by Senators Michael Bennet, Mark Warner, and Todd Young, aims to establish an Office of Global Competition Analysis, which would be responsible for assessing the countrys competitive position in AI development, particularly in comparison to China, which has recently intensified its efforts in the field. Additionally, the bill also acknowledges the importance of maintaining a competitive advantage in other key areas, including semiconductors and quantum computing. Advertisement There is no single federal agency evaluating American leadership in critical technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, despite their significance to our national security and economic prosperity, said Senator Young. Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in October of last year, he has done everything he can to cut costs. This included laying off thousands of workers, cutting back on services that were redundant, and now that includes not paying the Google Cloud bill. As reported by the Platformer over the weekend, Twitter has not paid its Google Cloud bill, which is set to renew on June 30. Twitter doesnt want to renew the deal with Google, and thus is attempting to move everything off of Googles servers, before the June 30 renewal date, and the effort is apparently running behind schedule. What does this have to do with trust and safety? Twitter uses Google Cloud to house some of its services that it uses to moderate the platform. The biggest tool on Google Cloud, is the tools that is uses to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The tool is called Smyte, which is a company that Twitter acquired back in 2018. Even before this whole fiasco, Smyte was showing signs of strain, due to Musks many cutbacks. This is really just the latest in platform instability under Musk, since he laid off so many people. Employees say that Smyte crashes at least once a day. In addition to that, Florida Governor Ron Desantis also had trouble announcing his Presidential Bid on Twitter Spaces, due to it crashing. Among other things. Not to mention that this is not the first bill that Musk has refused to pay. He has also refused to pay the rent for its headquarters in San Francisco. California Property Trust, the owner of the building Twitter HQ is located in, sued the company for failing to pay rent. Advertisement It has also been delaying payments to Amazon Web Services, which has led the company to threaten to withhold advertising payments to Twitter. Which is its only real revenue stream these days, since so little people have signed up and paid for Twitter Blue. Members of the Korea Military Song Choir perform a concert at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Korea Military Song Choir By Jun Ji-hye The Korea Military Song Choir (KMSC) performed songs from the musical "Hero," drawing rounds of applause from around 2,000 audience members during its annual concert held at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Sunday. "Hero" is a musical about the life of Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910). The KMSC, founded in 2015, consists of about 90 men including retired soldiers, government officials and members from academic and businesses communities. It performs an annual concert each June, a month dedicated to honoring and remembering patriots and veterans in Korea with Memorial Day observed on June 6. The choir said more members could participate in this year's performance following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Besides songs from the musical, the choir sang a variety of songs including military and folk songs. The audience included Korean War veterans, actively serving soldiers, reservists and officials from the Korea Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), as well as officials from the embassies of Thailand, Greece and New Zealand. These nations dispatched troops to help South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. Retired soldier Kim Seong-deok, 54, watched the performance and said, "I hated to sing military songs when I was on active duty but I was deeply touched when listening to the songs sung by the choir today. I want to join the choir if I am eligible to do so." The choir members are scheduled to give a performance honoring the sacrifices of the fallen Thai soldiers of the Korean War and their families during a memorial ceremony to be held in Thailand on June 23. The ceremony is organized by the Korean Embassy in Bangkok to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted the war. In October 2019, the choir performed for Korean War veterans in the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria. (ANSA) - ROME, JUN 12 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Monday paid tribute to the ex premier and leader of government coalition partner Forza Italia (FI), Silvio Berlusconi, who passed away earlier, describing him as one of the most influential figures in the history of Italy. "Silvio Berlusconi was above all a fighter, he was a man who was never afraid to stand up for his convictions, and it was exactly that courage and determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of Italy," said Meloni in a video message, hailing his "real breakthroughs in the world of politics, communication and business". "With him, Italy learned that it never had to have limits imposed on it. It learned that it never had to give up. With him we fought, won, lost many battles. And also for him we will achieve the goals that we set together. Goodbye Silvio," she added. (ANSA). The 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Bath on Saturday night has been named by Avon and Somerset Police as Mikey Roynon. Mikey, from Kingswood, died at the scene in Eastfield Avenue, Bath, at about 11pm on Saturday after members of the public and paramedics rushed to help him. Over the weekend, 11 teenagers were arrested on suspicion of murder including a group of eight who were removed from a bus near the crime scene 30 minutes later. The group have since been released from custody and no further action will be taken against them. The boy who died at a property in Bath at the weekend has been formally identified as Mikey Roynon. His family continue to be supported by specially trained officers and our thoughts remain with them. Full update here https://t.co/ufWzZ3XnAq Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) June 12, 2023 On Sunday, another two 15-year-old boys and a boy aged 16 were also arrested on suspicion of murder, police said. The boys remain in custody and will continue to be questioned by detectives. Detective inspector Mark Newbury, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: Mikeys family have been informed of these developments and our thoughts continue to be with them as they come to terms with their loss. Specialist family liaison officers supported them through the formal identification process which is something no family should ever have to experience. The investigation into Mikeys murder continues at pace with a team of officers and staff working tirelessly to piece together what happened. A cordon remains in place at the scene and the police are appealing for anyone who has images, footage or information to get in touch. Chief inspector Ronald Lungu, of the Bath Neighbourhood Policing team, said: This tragedy is one too many and it should not be allowed to happen anywhere. I hear the communitys concerns about this and other recent incidents and would like to reassure them we are doing everything we can to tackle knife crime in Bath, as well as in other towns and cities across our policing area. Were working closely with our partners to educate and divert young people away from crime as we recognise many of them are vulnerable and need support. Anyone concerned about Mikeys death or who has worries more generally about knife crime is encouraged to talk to officers. Anyone with information about the stabbing can submit it via the major incident public portal: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/5223C92-PO1 People can also call 101 and quote reference 5223136640 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers. Foreign officials have expressed discomfort when Scottish ministers discuss independence during international visits, Alister Jack has said. The Scottish Secretary appeared before Westminsters Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday to discuss how the UK Government promotes Scotland abroad. However, he again defended the decision by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to instruct UK officials to ensure Westminster representatives were present for talks between Scottish ministers and overseas governments. A row has erupted between the two Governments, with Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson branding the comments misleading. External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has hit out at the comments (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Jack told MPs that one example of the blatant breaches came from former first minister Nicola Sturgeon who discussed constitutional issues with US deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Washington in 2022. He told the committee that the foreign representative had personally told him they were not comfortable with Holyrood ministers raising the issue of separation or Scotlands re-entry to the European Union. He said: Consuls of foreign countries have made this point to me directly that they find it uncomfortable when the Scottish Government raise separation, independence or other constitutional foreign affairs issues with them because they would no more want, if the French or the Spanish consul or ambassador would no more want to have to organise a meeting, or expect to organise a meeting with, say, the separatists in Catalonia or Corsica with UK Government ministers, nor would they expect us to meet with separatists from other countries. They understand that we are one state the United Kingdom and it puts them in an invidious position and it is not appreciated. He told Scottish Tory leader and Moray MP Douglas Ross that he had been trying to de-escalate the tension with the Scottish Government, however, had received a lot of push back on it and no acknowledgement of these blatant breaches. Im trying to de-escalate it by working with the Foreign Secretary on the clear parameters whereby we can all work together constructively, he added. But we cant work together constructively when theres someone in the room talking about independence or re-joining the EU or other approaches to foreign affairs where we disagree. If we can all just stick to our brief and deal with things in the devolved space then we can all get on better together, rather than having this unnecessary tension. Other breaches, he said, came from Mr Robertson, who discussed Erasmus and Brexit with a French EU minister in Paris, and former minister Ivan McKee who discussed Scotland rejoining the EU during a Poland visit. During the meeting, the Scottish Secretary was joined by Scotland Office minister Lord Offord and Foreign Office under-secretary David Rutley. A spokesperson for the SNP responded: Scotlands wannabe governor general Alister Jack can perhaps convince himself that he represents the people of Scotland but he serves in a Tory government which Scotland did not vote for, imposing upon Scotland a Brexit we overwhelmingly rejected. Our excellent record of attracting overseas investment, our leadership on climate change and our promotion of Scotland as an energy powerhouse all demonstrate the value of Scottish Government international engagement. The reality is simply that the Tories are determined to ignore the views of people in Scotland and are trying to silence the Scottish Government whatever the cost. They are demonstrating they have no interest in working in partnership but want to exert ever tightening Westminster control. With independence, we can get rid of these unelected Tory governments for good, and work in a partnership of equals with our neighbours on these islands and our friends across Europe and the world. Banning pupils from addressing school staff as sir will not help with the recruitment and retention of teachers, a Tory former minister has said. Sir Desmond Swaynes comments come days after a leading London headteacher introduced a ban on pupils using the titles sir or miss to address teachers, arguing the terms are deeply unequal. Sir Desmond said that instead of dropping both titles, schools should just replace miss with maam, noting it was good enough for her late majesty. Education minister Nick Gibb cautioned the New Forest West MP against believing everything that he reads in the newspapers. During education questions in the Commons and as Mr Gibb was grilled over the recruitment and retention of teachers, Sir Desmond said: The abandonment of respectful address like sir, wont help, will it? Apparently its because the female equivalent miss is considered demeaning. Might I suggest the substitution of maam. It was good enough for her late majesty. The education minister replied: I wouldnt believe everything that he reads in the newspapers. Behaviour in our schools is improving. We have set up behaviour hubs around the country to make sure that best practice is spread throughout the school system. SNP education spokeswoman Carol Monaghan later joked: Can I say, as a former teacher, I was quite happy to be called miss and Ive been called far worse as an MP. Last week, James Handscombe, executive principal at Harris Westminster Sixth Form and Harris Clapham Sixth Form, said the school would require students to call teachers by their names to avoid cultural misogyny. In an assembly given to students and shared on his Twitter account, Mr Handscombe said the term sir was associated with powerful men while miss was how you refer to a small girl, or an Edwardian shop assistant. Black Panther star Tenoch Huerta has denied an unsubstantiated accusation of sexual assault brought against him by a former partner. The actor said the claim had spread like wildfire and he could not let it go unchallenged. Huerta played the villainous feather serpent God Namor, in the blockbuster Marvel sequel, which also starred Angela Bassett and Letitia Wright. It comes after the actor was accused of sexual assault by musician and activist Elena Rios on Twitter. Letitia Wright and Tenoch Huerta attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Suzan Moore/PA) In a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram story, Huerta said Rios had misrepresented their interactions and that their relationship last year was entirely consensual at all times. A false and completely unsubstantiated accusation about me has spread like wildfire and I cannot let it go unchallenged any longer, the statement read. About a year ago, I dated Elena for several months. It was entirely consensual at all times, as countless others can attest. And throughout it was a loving, warm and mutually supportive relationship. After it ended, however, Elena began to misrepresent our interactions both privately and in front of groups of mutual friends. As a result, a few months ago, I engaged a legal team to commence the appropriate actions to protect my reputation and refute these irresponsible and false accusations that can cause great prejudice and damage. Huerta added that he was deeply grateful to those who had supported him and were willing to look at the facts and reflect before rushing to an untrue and unjust conclusion. Although I am by no means perfect, I know that these allegations are simply untrue, he said. And while I will always work to improve myself, I need to contest claims that are both false and offensive. This photo shows the building of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office, Jan. 17. Yonhap A former senior executive of Samsung Electronics has been arrested and indicted for stealing the chip giant's trade secrets to build a copycat chip plant in China, prosecutors said Monday. The 65-year-old former executive, whose name is withheld, was charged with violating the industrial technology protection and unfair competition prevention laws, according to the Suwon District Prosecutors Office. He is accused of attempting to build a complete copy of Samsung's semiconductor factory in China after illegally acquiring the company's confidential data, including chip plant basic engineering data (BED) and process layout and design drawings, from August 2018 to 2019. The prosecution also indicted six other people one employee of a Samsung Electronics subcontractor and five employees of a Chinese chipmaker established by the former executive without detention on charges of colluding in the alleged technology leak. BED is a technology needed to ensure impurities do not exist in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Process layout contains information on the floor plan and dimension of a chip plant's eight core processes for semiconductor production. Such trade secrets essential for the manufacturing of sub-30-nano DRAM and NAND flash chips are considered national core technologies. According to prosecutors, the former executive had attempted to use the stolen technologies and data to build a copy of Samsung Electronics chip plant just 1.5 kilometers away from the company's chip plant in Xian, western China. But his plan failed to materialize as a Taiwanese company broke its promise to invest 8 trillion won ($6.2 billion) in the project, they said. Instead, the former executive reportedly received an investment worth 460 billion won from Chinese investors and produced trial products from a chip manufacturing plant built on the basis of Samsung technology in Chengdu last year. His Chinese chip plant is known to have hired about 200 people from Samsung and SK Hynix. He allegedly instructed his employees to obtain and use Samsung's semiconductor design data and other trade secrets and they participated in the crime according to his instructions, prosecutors said, estimating Samsung suffered damage of at least 300 billion won due to the technology leaks. (Yonhap) The King took the opportunity to climb on board the footplate of Flying Scotsman as the Royal Train was pulled into a station by the famous steam locomotive. Charles chugged into the market town of Pickering after a trip through the countryside on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Despite wearing a light-coloured suit, the royal visitor accepted an invitation from the crew, including driver Chris Cubitt, to step on to the footplate of the 100-year-old engine to see how Flying Scotsman works. After leaving the station, the King was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers as he worked his way through the centre of Pickering on an extended walkabout, asking many of the schoolchildren who had gathered to see him whether they had enjoyed the half-term break. Temperatures soared in the baking sunshine and one woman in the crowd appeared to faint just after Charles passed her, falling through the barrier just a couple of metres from where he was talking to the crowd. The King turned and looked concerned for a moment as one his protection officers and his equerry moved to help her before a number of North Yorkshire Police officers stepped in. The Royal Train pulled by the Flying Scotsman passes through Goathland in North Yorkshire (Owen Humphreys/PA) Flying Scotsmans driver, Mr Cubitt, said of Charles: He said he enjoyed the trip. Hes a regular because he has been here before when he opened the station in 2000. Hes on his way to Scarborough now through my village. I invited him in for tea, but he said he couldnt come. Mr Cubitt, who started working on the railways in 1961, said: Hes interested in everything. Hes a good egg. He likes everything heritage. He added: He was a gentleman. Asked if he felt more nervous than usual as he was pulling the Kings train, he said: The drivers job is to get to the destination on time, and whats going on behind doesnt matter if its a load of cattle, fish, passengers or whatever thats somebody elses problem. We look after the train and get it there safely. Hes the same as me. We all come into the world together. Weve just got to look after each other whilst were there. Charles looked relaxed as he chatted with many of the hundreds of people who had gathered on both sides of Pickerings sweltering Market Place. Charles visited a butchers shop during his walkabout in the market town (Owen Humphreys/PA) As he worked his way up the hill, he visited some of the local shops, including a family butchers, which sells produce from the Duchy of Lancaster. Inside Birdgate Chocolatiers, he asked for some Kendal Mint Cake, which he said he remembered from going on expeditions when he was young. After around 20 minutes in the sun, the King moved into the cool atmosphere of St Peter and St Pauls Church, which is famous for its medieval wall paintings. Commissioned around 1450, the paintings, one of the most complete sets in Britain, were only accidentally rediscovered behind plaster in 1852. The King was given a guided tour by Dr Kate Giles, co-director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture and senior lecturer at the University of York. Hundreds of people had gathered in the hot sunshine to greet the King (Owen Humphreys/PA) Charles made a point of chatting to the bell-ringers, who had been in action all morning, providing a musical backdrop to his visit. He asked them whether young people are interested in taking up the hobby, and was told they are not. He asked about the different rings he had heard during his visit. What are you going to ring when I go? he asked them. What do you want? one of the group replied, making the royal visitor laugh. The King replied: Im not sure. Ill leave it to you. As he signed the visitors book, the King was told by the Reverend Gareth Atha that Queen Mary had visited the church in 1937. Charles said: I remember my great-grandmother very well. A Labour MP has accused the Foreign Secretary of being a Chinese stooge over a possible trip to the country after his ministerial colleague was sanctioned by Beijing. James Cleverly asked Chris Bryant to withdraw the discourteous and inaccurate comment during an angry exchange before the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The minister was being questioned by MPs on a wide range of issues including a visit he is reportedly expected to take to Beijing, when Mr Bryant suggested: China plays the tune and you dance. It comes after security minister Mr Tugendhat, one of the most vocal critics of the Chinese government in Parliament, was banned from entering the country in 2021. Asked whether he would consider taking his Foreign Office colleague with him on any trip to Beijing, Mr Cleverly replied: The idea that the Foreign Secretary interacting with another government is anything other than my duty and my responsibility is nonsense. It is literally my job. Youre just a Chinese stooge then. You just do what they want Youve said because China has sanctioned some MPs, you wouldnt be prepared to take them, Mr Bryant said. I dont take ministers on visits with me, the minister replied. Mr Cleverly accused the MP of deploying a nice headline without evidence to back it up and called on him to withdraw it. The fact is its the job of Foreign Secretary to engage with foreign governments, including ones we disagree with, he said. Unless you can give evidence to back up your assertion, I would suggest politely that you withdraw it because it is not just inaccurate, it is also really quite, I think, discourteous. Political discourse surrounding China has grown heated in recent months amid disputes over the right approach to an increasingly assertive Beijing. The Foreign Secretary has adopted a less hawkish stance towards the country than some in his party would like. Chris Bryant accused the Foreign Secretary of being a Chinese stooge (Rick Findler/PA) Some senior Tories including Iain Duncan Smith have called on ministers to go further in distancing the UK from China and want the Government to be more outspoken in criticising the Far East countrys leadership. Meanwhile, former prime minister Liz Truss has accused Western leaders meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping of displaying weakness. It comes after China was at the forefront of the agenda on Rishi Sunaks trip to Washington last week, when he agreed a new partnership with Joe Biden to bolster economic security in response to the countrys growing influence. MPs at Mondays committee session also criticised the Government for failing to expel Chinese diplomats over the assault of a protester outside the nations consulate. Chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the group of MPs was unified in its view that not enough was done over the attack on Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Bob Chan. China pulled out six officials wanted for police questioning over the assault in Manchester last year, insisting the departure of the consul general was a normal rotation. Labour MP Graham Stringer told the Foreign Secretary: You just had a nice quiet, cosy word. For meaningful action, you could have said youre behaviour is unacceptable publicly and diplomatically expelled them from this country Because it was China, you took a very weak, cosy position. Mr Cleverly said he viewed the incident as an example of effective diplomacy because the diplomats ultimately left the country and no British officials were removed from China in a tit-for-tat response. The earliest reptiles, birds and mammals may have given birth to live young rather than laying eggs, new research suggests. Until now, the hard-shelled egg was thought to be the key to the success of the amniotes a group of vertebrates that undergo embryonic or foetal development within an amnion, a protective membrane inside the egg. But a new study of 51 fossil species and 29 living species which could be categorised as oviparous (laying hard or soft-shelled eggs) or viviparous (giving birth to live young) suggests otherwise. According to the findings, all the great evolutionary branches of Amniota, namely Mammalia, Lepidosauria (lizards and relatives), and Archosauria (dinosaurs, crocodilians, birds) reveal giving birth to live young and extended embryo retention in their ancestors. Extended embryo retention (EER) is when the young are retained by the mother for a varying amount of time, likely depending on when conditions are best for survival. Experts say that although the hard-shelled egg has often been seen as one of the greatest innovations in evolution, this research implies EER actually gave this particular group of animals the ultimate protection. Professor Michael Benton from the University of Bristols School of Earth Sciences, said: Before the amniotes, the first tetrapods to evolve limbs from fishy fins were broadly amphibious in habits. They had to live in or near water to feed and breed, as in modern amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. When the amniotes came on the scene 320 million years ago, they were able to break away from the water by evolving waterproof skin and other ways to control water loss. But the amniotic egg was the key. It was said to be a private pond in which the developing reptile was protected from drying out in the warm climates and enabled the Amniota to move away from the waterside and dominate terrestrial ecosystems. He added: Our work, and that of many others in recent years, has consigned the classic reptile egg model of the textbooks to the wastebasket. The first amniotes had evolved extended embryo retention rather than a hard-shelled egg to protect the developing embryo for a lesser or greater amount of time inside the mother, so birth could be delayed until environments become favourable. Whether the first amniote babies were born in parchment eggs or as live, snapping little insect-eaters is unknown, but this adaptive parental protection gave them the advantage over spawning earlier tetrapods. Project leader Professor Baoyu Jiang added: This standard view has been challenged. Biologists had noticed many lizards and snakes display flexible reproductive strategy across oviparity and viviparity. Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed. Conducted by researchers from Nanjing University and the University of Bristol, the study is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Garry Jones is accused of spitting and pouring fish sauce into plastic tubs not meant to contain fish at the food production company he was working for. (SWNS) A food factory worker contaminated restaurant-bound sauces and dips with ring pulls and rubber gloves, a court has heard. Garry Jones, 38, is accused of spiking containers of sauces and dips while working on a production line. Worcester Magistrates' Court heard Jones deliberately added fish sauce to non-fish dressings and contaminated others with sesame and chilli sauce. Jones tampered with the sauces while working at Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company in Evesham, Worcestershire, the court heard. A small number of Nando's hummus tubs were contaminated with blue plastic gloves and blue paper towels at the factory. His charge read: "Between 1 October, 2022, and 1 November, 2022, with intent to cause public alarm or injury to members of the public contaminated or interfered with goods. "Namely 24 hummus tubs with rubber gloves, plastics bags and metal ring pulls; metal ring pulls in tubs of sesame and ginger dressing, sesame miso dressing and Vietnamese chilli and ginger dressing; and poured fish sauce into dressings which should not contain fish." Jones tampered with the sauces while working at Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company in Evesham, Worcestershire, the court heard. (SWNS) Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said Jones was involved in the production of the tubs of sauces and dips at the firm which were then distributed to restaurants. He said: Tubs began being returned to the company as contaminated leading the firm to investigate. He added that restaurants, where the product was later served, would say 'does not contain fish' on their menus so it would be potentially deadly if consumed by someone with an intolerance. Hambling said on one occasion Jones had been caught on CCTV poking a hole in a plastic container which he then spat into. Read more: Deadline to boost pensions by potentially 10,000s extended to 2025 Jones also faces a charge of burglary with intent to steal from the home of a co-worker. Mark Turnbull, defending, described the charges as "unusual", as they were ones he had never seen before. Jones, of Evesham, entered no plea to a charge of contaminating/interfering with goods with intent. He was given conditional bail and ordered to attend Worcester Crown Court on 12 July for sentencing. A spokesperson from Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company said: A small number of hummus tubs were contaminated with plastic and paper towel fragments. However, this was rapidly identified as part of our quality control processes and these products were immediately recalled and destroyed before they reached any consumers. This article was updated on 12 June Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness which has raged through the area since Saturday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were still battling the blaze on Monday morning. A spokesperson said: We were alerted at 2.45pm on Saturday June 10 to reports of a fire in the open at Daviot, south of Inverness. At its height, six appliances and specialist resources were fighting the wildfire. As of Monday June 11 at 8am, two appliances remain on scene working to extinguish the fire and prevent further fire spread. The fire service said the area burned is approximately 132 hectares, which is just over half a square mile. Locals have been advised to remain indoors with windows shut and to avoid the affected area entirely if possible. A spokesperson for the Scottish fire and rescue service Dundee control room added: Firefighters continue to dampen down the area and tackle hotspots. The recent heavy rain and thunderstorms were welcomed which have helped to supress the fire. Lost power has been restored to affected homes and residents are encouraged to return. Local people are advised to stay away from the area as firefighting efforts continue into the evening and overnight. An 11-year-old British girl was not the target of a fatal gunshot which killed her outside her home in France, officials have said. Solaine Thornton and her sister Celeste, eight, were playing on garden swings during a barbecue in Saint-Herbot, near Quimper, Brittany, when a 71-year-old Dutch neighbour opened fire at them, according to the BBC. He had been in a conflict with the family over a plot of land beside their properties for several years, state prosecutor Carine Halley said. She added Solaines father Adrian, who is about 40, was badly hurt when police arrived, while the younger girl was safe and sound but in a state of shock. The victim and her parents, Adrian and Rachel Thornton, were named by mayor of Plonevez-du-Faou, Marguerite Bleuzen. Mrs Thornton was also hurt, but her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. The Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie tactical unit was called and a negotiator persuaded the couple to give themselves up (Steve Parsons/PA) Speaking at a press conference on Monday, public prosecutor Camille Miansoni said it did not appear that the Dutch neighbour had been aiming at the girl when he fired the shot. He said: It would seem that he was not aiming at the little girl. A police spokeswoman said they were aware of a conciliation process between the families that began in 2019. Translated by the BBC, she said: It is true that we were warned in 2019 of the conciliation process with regard to the dispute between these two neighbours but subsequently we havent had any kind of follow-up, and neither has there been any kind of criminal offence committed since. Mr Miansoni added: In response to the question about mediation, we know about that. The couple was charged or was asked to get involved in a mediation process by the Mayors office. All that must be, of course, clarified and verified. Certainly, the couple in question was less involved in the case. Obviously, if you have mediation everyone involved has to play their part. The mediation process had been started but the other family was not particularly keen to participate. Mr Miansoni also explained that the man arrested had been assessed by a doctor. He said: He has agreed to all his rights, hes been seen by a doctor, for example, and there is no evidence to suggest that he is unhinged psychologically. Ms Halley said the childs father was taken to hospital in a critical condition and initial evidence suggests the suspect suddenly emerged armed with a gun and fired several times towards the victims. He then retreated to his house where he barricaded himself in with his wife, the prosecutor said. The Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie tactical unit was called to the scene, and a negotiator persuaded the couple to give themselves up. They were then arrested. An investigating source said test results showed he was under the influence of drugs at the time, according to the Evening Standard. Solaines grandfather, Irvin Thornton, reportedly told the Sun newspaper she didnt stand a chance. He said his son, Adrian, is in a coma. A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are providing consular assistance to a British family following a shooting in France and are in contact with the local authorities. A financial analyst who made homemade explosives while harbouring deep-seated hatred against people he saw as enemies of Islam has been jailed for eight years. Asad Bhatti, 50, from Redhill, Surrey, was convicted at the Old Bailey of having a stash of bomb-making materials after police received a tip-off from a computer repair shop. On Monday, Mrs Justice McGowan jailed Bhatti for eight years with a further four years on extended licence after finding he posed a danger to the public in the future. She said Bhatti had developed a deep-seated hatred for a group of Muslims he identified as The Hypocrites as well as other people based on their race and sexuality. Bomb-making equipment shown to the jury during trial of Asad Bhatti (Counter Terrorism Policing/PA) The judge noted that Bhatti had been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and was a compulsive individual but was also intelligent, well educated, with a responsible job. She told him: You were not targeted or taken advantage of by others. You became interested and that interest may well have been obsessive because of your autistic condition. But the interest was real and caused you to experiment in a way that was highly dangerous. The court had heard how Bhatti was reported to police by the owner of a computer repair shop who became suspicious of the content on his laptop. An analysis of the computer and other electronic devices seized by police revealed a library of materials on how to manufacture explosive devices. A search of the defendants home and a rented storage unit uncovered precursor chemicals and circuitry for the construction of explosive devices. Experts also identified an improvised explosive device and three quantities of an improvised explosive known as black powder. The prosecution alleged Bhatti had the explosives for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. An examination of Bhattis computer also revealed a 173-page document compiled by the defendant entitled The Mumins Handbook. Although unfinished, its contents page included sections on Islam, jihad and martyrdom followed by chapters on a simple guide to explosives, hand-to-hand combat and handguns and sniper rifles. The 20th chapter entitled The Munaafiqun (The Hypocrites) identified a perceived worldwide enemy to Islam and its true adherents. He wrote that the evil human beings included corrupt heads of Governments, Black Magicians, Religious Scholars. When asked in police interview to explain the content, Bhatti said it was just like educational documents, work documents, just like hobby documents, stuff that interests me. Bhatti explained that he had studied engineering and business management at the University of Greenwich, and that he was a part-qualified accountant working as a senior financial analyst. Bomb-making equipment shown to the jury during trial of Asad Bhatti (Counter Terrorism Policing/PA) Giving evidence at his trial, Bhatti claimed he had the materials for lawful experimentation and out of curiosity. In March, a jury rejected his explanation and found him guilty of two counts of possessing explosives, making explosives and two counts of possessing articles for terrorist purposes on or before January 8 2021. In mitigation, Edward Henry KC told the court that Bhatti was sad rather than bad and had not sought to share his writings with others. Mr Henry said: He wanted to reduce the world to pure reason, a reason of his own understanding. Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East , said: This case is a perfect example of how important it is that the people within our communities, the people who know it best, are confident to report anything suspicious into us. Thankfully, due to the vigilance of a member of the public, Bhattis actions were investigated, and he was stopped from causing harm. We will never fully know what the consequences could have been. I would like to take this opportunity to thank anyone who either has or will come forward with information, whether this leads to an investigation on this scale or not, your report will help us to keep our communities safe. Detective Inspector Alex Maguire, Borough Commander of Reigate and Banstead, said: This sentence reaffirms our commitment, alongside our partners in Counter Terrorism Policing South East, to root out those with extremist views and bring them to justice. While he evidently had the intent to equip himself with harmful substances, he was stopped and those devices were not deemed functional and he has now been bought to justice. The former judge who will lead a new legacy body in Northern Ireland has said he hopes that the Irish government will work with the commission. Former Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan, is to become chief commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). The commission, aimed at uncovering facts around unsolved Troubles deaths, will be created by controversial new Government legislation to deal with the legacy of Northern Irelands troubled past. From next year, the ICRIR will take over hundreds of unresolved Troubles cases. The Bill has proved highly contentious, with victims groups, all of the main Stormont parties and the Irish government all opposed to it. But Sir Declan said while he conceded it would take time for confidence to be built, he hoped the Irish Government would be persuaded that they should participate in it. He told the BBC: I dont contemplate this commission failing. One of the most controversial aspects of the new legal framework is the offer of immunity from prosecution for perpetrators who co-operate with the commission. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill would also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict. Sir Declan conceded that there were some victims groups who had already stated they would not meeting with the new commission. Sir Declan Morgan says he hopes that people will engage with the commission (UTV/PA) He said: There have been some people who have indicated that they dont wish to engage, the Ballymurphy massacre families are on record in relation to that. What I have found is that there are people out there who want to understand what the commission is likely to be able to do for them. I recognise that there are concerns about the legislation, and I recognise there are concerns about how we achieve reconciliation, which has to be at the heart of everything that we are doing. But it seems to me that the way to address that is not by throwing up ones hands and saying well we cant do this, the way to address that is to think through the strategy as to how you will be able to deliver for the people who have been left behind. The former judge also referred to concerns raised that the new government bill is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. He said: That is a decision which, of course, will be for the courts to make. I expect, because it has been advertised, that there will be challenges and that the court will determine whether the bill is compliant. A number of protests have been staged in opposition to the governments new legacy bill (Stefan Rousseau/PA) He said that he was committed to ensuring that everything the commission did was human rights compliant. Sir Declan said: How people respond to this process will be different. There will be some people who will find it too traumatic to come forward in relation to the process. There will be others for whom there will have been perhaps investigations carried out in the past and information of some sort provided to them but there are things that they still wonder about. Banking giant HSBC has launched a new global division, called Innovation Banking, housing the former UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank as part of a push into technology and life sciences. The FTSE 100 lender unveiled the plans at the start of London Tech Week, with the new division centred on SVB UK which it rescued earlier this year and newly created innovation teams in the US, Israel and Hong Kong. It said the arm will offer a globally-connected, specialised banking proposition to support a broad range of innovation businesses and their investors. Erin Platts, the former boss of SVB UK, will head up the new Innovation Banking UK division, HSBC said. HSBC bought SVB UK on March 13 for a nominal 1 after SVB failed in the US, sparking fears of a global financial crisis. The deal was brokered over a weekend as the Government and Bank of England raced to find a buyer for the business amid feats that the UK tech sector would be thrown into chaos if SVB UK went bust. HSBC said it has taken on a team of bankers and experts across the US, Israel and Hong Kong to add to the 650 UK employees it took on as part of its rescue takeover of SVB UK. In the US, HSBC has put together an innovation team of more than 40 across the Bay Area, Boston and New York City. In Israel, more than 20 newly recruited bankers will be based in Tel Aviv, while it also has around a dozen bankers in Hong Kong for the new unit to cover Hong Kong and Asia-Pacific. HSBC group chief executive Noel Quinn said: The UKs world-leading technology and life sciences sectors are central to growing the UK economy and boosting global exports. HSBC now has a world-class team focused on innovation companies, their founders and their investors. We will protect this specialism and take it to the next level by combining these capabilities with our financial strength and global reach. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is also speaking at the opening of London Tech Week on Monday, said: The UK is home to world-leading tech and life sciences sectors, and I am proud of the role the British Government has played in securing their future and enabling them to thrive. HSBC Innovation Banking will help innovative businesses to unlock their potential, create more jobs and access new global opportunities supporting my priority to grow the UK economy and cement our position as a science and tech superpower. The new division has more than 3,000 customers across the UK, focused on the tech and life sciences sectors. Rishi Sunak has accused Boris Johnson of asking him to do something I wasnt prepared to do. It comes amid a row with former prime minister Mr Johnson and his allies, who blame Downing Street for Conservative MPs failing to appear on his resignation honours list on Friday despite them being nominated for the House of Lords. Appearing at the London Tech Week conference for his first public remarks since his predecessors decision to quit as an MP, Mr Sunak said on Monday morning: Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasnt prepared to do because I didnt think it was right. That was to either overrule the Holac (House of Lords Appointments Commission) committee or to make promises to people. Now, I wasnt prepared to do that. I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough. When I got this job I said I was going to do things differently because I wanted to change politics and thats what Im doing. And Im also keen to make sure that we change how our country works and thats what Im here talking about today: making sure that we can grow our economy, that we can maintain our leadership in the innovative industries of the future. Boris Johnson accused the Privileges Committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court (Jonathan Brady/PA) Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, ex-minister Nigel Adams and Cop26 president Sir Alok Sharma were reportedly put forward by Mr Johnson for peerages. Ms Dorries and Mr Adams have resigned as MPs since being omitted, giving Mr Sunak the headache of three separate by-elections, with Mr Johnson also quitting over complaints about a Commons partygate inquiry. Government figures have insisted that neither Mr Sunak nor Downing Street removed names from Mr Johnsons peerages submission, with Michael Gove stressing on Monday that the appropriate procedure and the correct precedent was followed. Downing Street took the decision on Saturday to declassify Holac chairman Lord Bews approved names to Mr Sunak. The letter, dated February 5, contains the seven peerages announced on Friday, along with a redacted name of a person who took the personal decision to withdraw themselves. Holac has confirmed it did not support eight peerage nominees put forward by Mr Johnson. The row over the Lords appointments comes as the Privileges Committee is set to meet to conclude its inquiry into whether the former prime minister misled Parliament over No 10 lockdown parties. MPs have pledged to continue the investigation process despite Mr Johnsons Commons exit amid accusations of a witch hunt. The panel is set to meet in Westminster on Monday with a view to deciding when to publish its report. There has been speculation that the seven-person committee, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, could release its findings in a matter of days. Mr Gove said on Monday that any vote on the findings is a matter for the House of Commons, as he appeared to distance the Government from any role in the response to the inquiry. The probe is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament when he told MPs Covid rules were followed in Downing Street despite boozy parties taking place while social distancing restrictions were in place. Reports suggest the panel was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election to be potentially triggered in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. (PA Graphics) Mr Johnson accused the committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court. The Privileges Committee, in response, said Mr Johnson impugned the integrity of the House with his attack. While the former Tory Party leader will no longer be affected by a decision to suspend him, given that he has resigned from the green benches, the committee could choose to apply other sanctions. Former Commons speaker John Bercow was banned last year from being permitted a pass to gain entry to the parliamentary estate after being found guilty of bullying by Westminsters Independent Expert Panel. Mr Gove defended the integrity of the committee but refused to rebuke party colleagues during an appearance on BBC Radio 4s Today programme. It is not my job or role to censor or police anyones views in a matter of public debate, he said. I have respect for the work that they have done and I think that we need to respect again the integrity of the process and wait until the report is published before then debating its conclusions and the consequences. The second thing that I want to say is that I do deprecate the fact that they are now in a position where, as reported, they have to seek or have been granted additional security. By Ko Dong-hwan Cambodian police on Monday identified the body of a Korean female found abandoned near Phnom Penh earlier this month. Her name was Byeon Ah-young. She was a 33-year-old broadcast jockey who was active on YouTube and Instagram.Her body was found on June 6 in a puddle in a small town near Phnom Penh. Her body was wrapped in a red sheet, according to a report by Cambodian local news outlet, Rasmey Kampuchea.Following identification, the deceased's social media platforms received plenty of attention with some people choosing to post comments to pay tribute to her. She had over 258,000 followers on Instagram. The story of her passing went viral after it was discovered that Sunday, May 11, was her birthday.One of her latest Instagram posts is from March, in which she declared she had quit being a broadcast jockey. It said that she would now live a normal and busy life.Byeon's family members arrived in Cambodia on Sunday. The Korean Embassy in Cambodia began communicating with the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Korea to help the bereaved family with post-mortem procedures and further investigate the case jointly with local Cambodian police.Local authorities in Cambodia arrested a Chinese couple on Sunday as suspects in Byeon's death. The police believe the suspects, who are in their 30s and running an illegal medical clinic, transported her body and abandoned her in a puddle, after she had experienced a seizure and died while receiving treatment at their clinic on June 4. The details came from the suspects' confessions, according to local reports.According to a local source, it is presumed that the victim died after receiving an intravenous solution or serum injection at the clinic two days after arriving in Cambodia on June 2. She is also rumored to have been found with a swollen face, which raised the possibility of assault, the source said.According to a local Korean who wished to remain anonymous, Byeon entered the country to travel with another person. The Korean embassy is known to have contacted that person to further investigate the situation.Cambodian authorities said Monday an autopsy will be required to find the exact cause of Byeon's death but her family has rejected it, saying that they want to proceed with her funeral as quietly as possible.Illegal medical clinics are known to exist in large numbers in Cambodia. Koreans planning to travel there have often been warned to avoid such clinics. Seo Se-won, a former influential Korean comedian who retired from show business decades ago, died at a medical clinic run by local Koreans in Cambodia on April 20. He died at 67 while receiving an intravenous solution. Just Stop Oil (JSO) protests have cost the Metropolitan Police 4.5 million in six weeks, the force said. Activists have been staging demonstrations every day since April 24, mainly marching slowly on major roads in London, but also disrupting high profile events like the Chelsea Flower Show, Gallagher Premiership rugby final at Twickenham and World Snooker Championship. Up to June 8, nearly 13,770 officer shifts had been used dealing with the demonstrations, the Met said on Monday. The sweet sounds of the dawn chorus as Just Stop Oil supporters begin week 8 of slow marching. Birds dropped dead in 40C heat last year. New oil and gas adds fuel to the fire. Millions of people and animals will die. Sign up to slow march https://t.co/7BzUVS02dZ pic.twitter.com/hkoOesHOKw Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 12, 2023 The 4.5 million cost is on top of the 7.5 million spent policing the series of protests JSO staged between last October and December. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: In deploying the new tactics of moving slowly in front of traffic along highways, Just Stop Oils intent has been clear on disrupting road users. This has caused significant impact to the public and officers have been responding as swiftly as possible once aware of the incidents. Officers have new powers introduced last month to force protesters out of the road if they are deemed to be causing significant disruption, and these have been used in 125 of the 156 slow marches that have taken place so far. Police said 86 people have been arrested for failing to comply, with 49 charged so far. A Just Stop Oil protester throws orange powder on the pitch during the Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham Stadium, London on May 27 (PA) The demonstrations continued on Monday with protesters marching in various locations including Waterloo near the Imax cinema, Victoria Street and Cromwell Road, Chelsea. JSO has pledged to carry on its protests indefinitely until the Government stops granting new licences for gas, coal and oil. Mr Adelekan added: We know that this action has been very frustrating for the public who just want to carry on with their day-to-day business. We would urge the public not to intervene or take matters into their own hands, but to call the police, let us know where the incident is and we will get to the scene quickly. It may look like we are not responding quickly enough, however policing protests is complex and there are steps officers must take to make sure our response is lawful and appropriate. You can see from both the arrest and charge figures that we are taking this operation very seriously, and once a protest is deemed to have caused serious disruption or may do so, we are taking swift action to stop it. Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams has urged fans to donate to a crowdfunder for a Bristol-based charity helping to support young people facing food poverty. The actress, 26, said she had been inspired by the amazing work of The Mazi Project since attending a recent fundraiser with her friend. The charity helps empower disadvantaged young people through food, providing weekly meal and recipe kits and fresh produce, among other things. In an Instagram live video, later posted to her page, Williams spoke to the founder of the charity, Melanie Vaxevanakis, and one of its users. She said that as her career had taken off she had been introduced to new types of food, from industry dinners to meals in the homes of those from different socio-economic backgrounds. I was learning about all these ingredients and all of these techniques and it really just grew my confidence socially, she said. And when I heard you speaking about The Mazi Project for the first time I could really see how things that you were speaking about I could sort of pinpoint in my life. She continued: I really see how food as a fundamental part of life can bring so much good beyond just knowing where your food is coming from. It kind of builds your confidence as a person and, you know, (by) surprising yourself by cooking and treating yourself to these amazing meals. Williams co star Kit Harington is among those to have already donated to The Mazi Projects crowdfunder (PA) Then you sort of start to question what other things am I capable of, and can I reach further and further beyond the limits that I see on myself? And I think that thats kind of really at the core of Mazi its helping people to eat but it also kind of empowers people beyond that. The Mazi Project has a fundraiser target of 30,000, with 9,000 already pledged by supporters. Williams Game Of Thrones co stars Lena Headey and Kit Harington are among the high-profile figures who have already donated. NatWest has said an issue which its customers were having with Mastercard payments has been resolved. Some customers who tried to use their Mastercard debit or credit card online may have experienced issues when attempting to make a payment earlier today, a spokesperson for the bank, which also runs the Royal Bank of Scotland, said. This issue has now been resolved by Mastercard and we would like to thank our customers for their patience. Earlier, some Mastercard customers had struggled to shop online as the global payments giant was facing technical issues. We are aware of these reports and are looking into them, Mastercard said. At this point, we can confirm that transactions continue to flow successfully across our payments network, but some additional services may be temporarily unavailable. As soon as we have additional information, we will provide an update. It was unclear if the problems had been fixed for all Mastercard users, or just NatWests banks, which include Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank and Coutts. The issues impacted only online payments, NatWest said on Monday, while the banks customers were not having any trouble making point-of-sale transactions. The problems started at around midday on Monday. In a message to customers, NatWest said: You can still use your card at ATMs to take out cash. It said people should get in touch via the app or a private message on social media if they need help, but warned that customer support times might be longer than usual. Earlier in the day a NatWest Group spokesperson said: We are aware that some customers who have tried to use their Mastercard debit or credit card online may have experienced issues when attempting to make a payment. This issue is affecting a number of banks that work with Mastercard and we are working closely with them to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Around one in every 100 current account applications is now fraudulent, with money muling often being behind such incidents, according to a financial information company. Money mule activity is often behind bogus applications which are detected or prevented, accounting for more than two-fifths (42%) of reported first-party current account fraud, Experian said. First-party fraud happens where a person knowingly misrepresents their identity or gives false information, which could lead to financial gain. Money muling is a criminal activity. Those taking part allow their bank accounts to be used by others, in exchange for cash. A money mule is someone who lets someone else use their bank account to send money, keeping a little bit for themselves. Its a crime. Learn more https://t.co/uSN0q415iS#DontBeUsed pic.twitter.com/DBBC3kuNqx Action Fraud (@actionfrauduk) March 30, 2023 Funds deposited in these accounts are often the proceeds from authorised push payment (APP) fraud, when people have been tricked into transferring money by a fraudster. The money is eventually distributed to the fraudsters own accounts but it can be harder to trace if it has already passed through accounts belonging to other people. Funds held in a mule account are often moved between two and three others before being transferred to international accounts or in some cases, crypto wallets, and then reintegrated into the UK financial system, Experian said. Accounts being used for mule activity tend to be newly opened but the holder will often have several older accounts that can continue to be used to transfer funds if the newer one is closed, it added. Eduardo Castro, managing director, identity and fraud, Experian UK and Ireland, said: Many people dont realise that acting as a money mule is illegal and carries the risk of prosecution. Mules, especially young people, can be tempted by offers advertised on social media sites to let their accounts be used with the promise of financial gain, but others are unwittingly duped into it by fraudsters. People need to think twice if they are approached and asked if money can be transferred, as it will almost certainly be fraudulent funds. To help account providers tackle the problem and ultimately prevent fraudulent funds entering the mainstream financial system, Experian has launched Experian mule score. By analysing account opening history and turnover activity, as well as the characteristics of thousands of confirmed mule cases, Experian said the initiative can help banks and other account providers to identify, investigate and close accounts suspected of being used to deposit proceeds from fraud. Its analysis is based on data from National Hunter, which helps the finance industry to prevent fraud. Ukraines biggest bank has accused two former owners of fraud on an epic scale covered up by money laundering on a vast scale at a High Court trial in London. JSC Commercial Bank Privatbank says former owners Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov misappropriated more than 1.5 billion (nearly two billion US dollars). A judge began overseeing a trial due to last several months on Monday. Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov are fighting the case. The trial was due to start a year ago but lawyers representing Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov persuaded Mr Justice Trower that it should be delayed because of the war in Ukraine. Andrew Hunter KC, who is representing Privatbank, told Mr Justice Trower on Monday that the fraud contributed to the failure of the bank in 2016. This case concerns fraud on an epic scale, covered up by money laundering on a vast scale perpetrated against the bank in 2013-14 by its former owners, Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov, he said in a written case outline. The fraud contributed to the failure of the bank in 2016 and its nationalisation in December of that year, following which an investigation led the bank now under new ownership and management to discover what had happened. That fraud referred to in these proceedings as the misappropriation concerned the extraction of more than 1.9 billion US dollars from the bank, using a complex network of vehicles. He said the bank was the largest in Ukraine. Mr Hunter added: There is a wealth of evidence to establish the misappropriation, and the defendants involvement in it. Neither Mr Kolomoisky nor Mr Bogolyubov were at the hearing on Monday. Mr Hunter told the judge that the two elephants in the case were not in the room. He suggested that, had the two men answered questions at the hearing, they would have been exposed as fraudsters, money launderers and liars. Mr Hunter said Mr Kolomoisky is 60. He said Mr Bogolyubov is 61 and has lived in London for almost a decade. Mr Hunter said the bank had been the jewel in the businessmens crown. He said the banks case is that it had suffered a loss of around 1.9 billion US dollars. (Mr Kolomoisky) eschews conventional means of communication and record-keeping, Mr Hunter told the judge, in a written case outline. He states that he does not use email (believing it to be unsafe and unreliable); restricts the volume of documents he creates, promptly disposing of any hard copy documents; and uses a secure telephone network to communicate with his inner circle known as the Black, in respect of which he claims to have no record. Mr Hunter added: Like (Mr Kolomoisky) Mr Bogolyubov relied on his trusted agents to administer his affairs, keep records and/or hold his assets for him, usually on the basis of oral agreements. Barristers representing Mr Bogolyubov told the judge that the banks claims are misconceived. The banks case is that Mr Bogolyubov misappropriated money from the bank through a scheme or misappropriation comprising the relevant loans, relevant drawdowns and unreturned prepayments, they said in a written case outline. However, the bank fails to recognise the significance of the total absence of any direct evidence against Mr Bogolyubov implicating him in any involvement with the scheme. They added: The absence of any material of this sort is the evidence that Mr Bogolyubov was not involved. Barristers representing Mr Bogolyubov went on, in their written case outline: The banks case is no more than an assumption that Mr Bogolyubov must have been involved when his conduct is viewed through English eyes and the prism of English commercial principles and practices. This is not a legitimate way in which to judge this Ukrainian case. Lawyers representing Mr Kolomoisky said the dispute is Ukrainian and told the judge that Mr Kolomoisky denies any unlawful conduct. Had the bank sued Mr Kolomoisky in Ukraine, the claim would undoubtedly have failed, said barristers representing Mr Kolomoisky in a written case outline. Among other fatal problems, a Ukrainian court would find that the bank had failed to identify specific acts, omissions, or decisions on the part of Mr Kolomoisky that were unlawful as a matter of Ukrainian civil law, or which directly caused the bank loss. The bank presumably hopes that an English court will be more disposed to construe and apply Ukrainian law generously in its favour, filling in any perceived gaps by recourse to analogies with English law principles. That is not a legitimate approach They added: Mr Kolomoisky denies any unlawful conduct. Lawyers said Mr Kolomoiskys defence turns on the factual inadequacies of the banks case, the contemporaneous documents and the expert evidence. MPs will meet in the wake of Boris Johnsons dramatic Commons exit to conclude their inquiry into whether the former prime minister misled Parliament over No 10 lockdown parties. The Privileges Committee has pledged to continue the investigation process after Mr Johnson stepped down as an MP and launched a scathing attack on the probe, branding it a witch hunt. The panel is set to meet in Westminster on Monday with a view to deciding when to publish its report. There has been speculation the seven-person committee, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, could release its findings as soon as Wednesday. Commons aides on Sunday would only repeat the committees commitment, made in the wake of Mr Johnsons resignation, to publish its conclusion promptly. Harriet Harman is due to chair Mondays meeting to discuss publishing the partygate report Niall Carson/PA) The probe is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament when he told MPs that Covid rules were followed in Downing Street despite boozy parties taking place while social distancing restrictions were in place. Reports suggest the panel was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election to be potentially triggered in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. Mr Johnson has accused the committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court. The Privileges Committee, in response, said Mr Johnson had impugned the integrity of the House with his attack. While the former Tory Party leader would no longer be impacted by a decision to suspend him, given he has stood down from the green benches, the committee could possibly choose to apply other sanctions. Former Commons speaker John Bercow was banned last year from being permitted a pass to gain entry to the parliamentary estate after being found guilty of bullying by Westminsters Independent Expert Panel. Rishi Sunak could face questions about Boris Johnsons resignation after his tech speech (Dan Kitwood/PA) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to give a speech at London Tech Week on Monday. He is expected to take questions from the media in which he could face questions about the manner of his predecessors resignation. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has warned that the UK Covid-19 Inquiry could be frustrated following a legal submission to Baroness Halletts investigation. The pandemic leader has offered to hand unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks to the inquiry, bypassing the Cabinet Office and its judicial review. Ministers have begun a High Court challenge to stop the chairwoman being given what they regard as unambiguously irrelevant materials. A letter sent to the inquiry on Friday by Government lawyers noted that Mr Johnson took a different position and suggested officials would not give him back materials if he intended simply to provide it, without protection, on to the inquiry. Mr Johnson told The Times that the Cabinet Office was refusing to return his notebooks in case he turns them over to the inquiry, which is due to hear from witnesses for the first time this week. The Cabinet Offices foot-dragging approach to the inquiry is costing public time and money, he told the newspaper. He said the Governments position was now in my view frustrating the inquirys work. A black British artist hopes his mural honouring black blood donors can encourage more generous souls to donate blood to save lives as the NHS highlights the need for more people of black heritage to come forward. Neequaye Dreph, 49, from London, has unveiled a mural honouring members of the black community in England who donate blood to help those living with sickle cell disease, to mark the start of National Blood Week. The mural, which is displayed in the Stockwell Hall of Fame in London, forms part of NHS Blood and Transplants Giving Type campaign which aims to change the misconceptions around sickle cell by encouraging more people of African and Caribbean heritage to donate blood. Drephs colourful artwork shows five portraits of black donors, wearing bright clothes, drawn against a black backdrop. The painting highlights five incredible people who regularly donate blood to help patients with sickle cell and the street artist hopes his artwork will highlight the very real and important issue of sickle cell. Dreph, who has been painting for 30 years, said: Everyone in the black community knows someone with sickle cell. Its a very real and important issue that touches so many lives right here at home in the UK. I am grateful and humbled to have met these five incredible human beings who regularly give their blood to help patients with sickle cell, and I hope that this art will inspire more generous souls to come forward and save lives. Those with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause issues as they do not live as long as healthy blood cells and can block blood vessels. Sickle cell is among the fastest growing blood disorders in the UK, and disproportionately affects people of African and Caribbean heritage, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). It reports that more than half of blood donors of black heritage have the blood type needed to help sickle cell patients compared with 3% of the general population. NHSBT says that giving blood can save up to three lives with each donation and it is calling for more donors to help those with sickle cell disease. Neequaye Dreph said he spent seven days painting the mural to mark the start of National Blood Week (Keanu Taylor/PA) Neequaye Dreph, who spent seven days painting the piece, said: Over the last few months Ive been working closely with one of my aunties, who has sickle cell. So, the thing about being close to someone who has sickle cell is when they have their debilitating pain you feel very helpless and you want to do something. You might not be able to do something with that particular person, but the idea of being able to give blood, and that blood can then help someone with their transfusion, or potentially save the life of at least three adults, its an amazing thing, its an amazing act of generosity. Torkwase Holmes, 60, from Filton, Bristol, one of the five people depicted in the mural, said it was amazing to be featured. Amazing, proud, that I could be showcased like this, but its because of the work that I do, she told the PA news agency. People know how important it is to give blood, especially for our community. Torkwase Holmes (depicted right) said it was amazing to be featured in the mural (Keanu Taylor/PA) Ms Holmes has been giving blood regularly since 2001, but due to a recent operation, she can no longer donate which she said was devastating. I just gave blood anyway to help people, and once you give blood you are literally saving three peoples lives, she said. Ive had an operation which has prevented me now from giving blood, which was devastating to me, really devastating to find out that I couldnt give blood anymore, so December was my last donation I gave. I actually cried when I knew I couldnt give blood anymore because thats how important it is to me. But I want to keep pushing it to our community how important it is for us to give blood. Its so sad that so many people turn away from giving blood, and what we need to do is educate them, change the mindset of those out there. Naim Akhtar, consultant haematologist and lead in donor medicine for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: Many sickle cell patients need regular blood transfusions to prevent life-threatening complications, but currently we are only able to provide ethnically matched blood for around half of the hospital requests leaving other sickle cell patients at risk of developing serious reactions to non-ethnically matched blood. While we are delighted to celebrate members of the black community who regularly step forward to give lifesaving blood, demand is increasing rapidly and we urgently need more people of black heritage to come forward. The mural will be on display to the public throughout National Blood Week which runs from June 12 until June 18. Albanian migrants to the UK are unlikely to be at risk in their own country or require asylum, a cross-party group of MPs has found. However, more needs to be done to support the Albanian victims of people smuggling, especially women, the Home Affairs Select Committee said. In a report published on Monday focusing on Albania, the committee said there was no clear basis for the UK to accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens. It comes after migration data revealed more than a quarter of the 45,755 people who crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2022 were Albanian, most of whom made an asylum claim. The number of Albanians making the channel crossing in small boats rose from 800 in 2021 to 12,301 last year. Labour chair of the committee Dame Diana Johnson MP said: Such a substantial sudden increase in asylum claims from a seemingly peaceful country understandably raised concerns. While it is important that questions are asked and lessons are learnt, it is clear that the immigration picture is not static and will continue to evolve. New challenges are likely to continue to emerge and it is important that the UK improves its overall approach to asylum, rather than focus on one country. The committee said the main driver of migration from Albania was economic and recommended the Government promote seasonal work visas in agriculture and construction to give more Albanians the opportunity to come to the UK without making unauthorised channel crossings. The committee also said that while claims for political asylum should not normally be entertained, there are unquestionably cases of Albanian citizens being trafficked to the UK. It said appropriate safeguards must be in place before any victims of trafficking are returned to Albania and also recommended the UK maintain strong links with the countrys government. Dame Diana added: Changes in migration will inevitably place strain on any system, but the Government must do much more to ensure it can better handle these stresses. Most importantly, it must improve the speed of decision-making and clear the backlog as we set out in our Channel crossings report in 2022. We expect the Home Office to set out how it plans to achieve this. People will continue to be attracted to the UK from Albania while it continues to offer job opportunities and higher wages. The UK should look at how access to work visa schemes can be improved to fill our skills or staffing gaps while offering Albanian nationals a route to higher income, benefiting both nations. A Home Office spokeswoman said: This Governments priority is stopping the boats. Last year, 28% of those who arrived by small boat to the UK were from Albania a safe European country and Nato ally placing further strain on our asylum system. Weve worked closely with the Albanian government to disrupt criminal gangs and deter illegal migration. In the five months to the end of May, Albanian small boat arrivals are down 90% on last year and we have returned 1,800 illegal migrants and foreign criminals back to Albania. Thanks to changes to our asylum system, we have gone from accepting one in five Albanian asylum claims to just one in 50, in line with other European countries. We will carefully consider the report and respond in due course. EU funds managed by scandal-hit Odey Asset Management are reportedly considering restrictions to curb investor withdrawals as the firm looks to stabilise the business following assault allegations against its founder Crispin Odey. The firm, which had 4.8 billion US dollars (3.8 billion) in assets under management as of last September, announced replacements of key funds run by its ousted founder, Mr Odey, late on Sunday. It said Mr Odeys main hedge fund will be run by his co-manager Freddie Neave as part of the shake up. It comes as the partnership looks to further distance itself from Mr Odey after announcing on Saturday that he would be leaving following a series of allegations of misconduct. He denies the allegations. It is understood that curbs on investors pulling out their cash are being mooted amid fears of a rush to withdraw over the coming days, according to the Financial Times (FT). The boards of some of its EU investment funds, called Ucits, are said to be looking at so-called gating to avoid a run on the funds. It follows a report in the FT, together with Tortoise Media, last Thursday which included several allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct from women who either worked at the firm or had social or professional dealings with Mr Odey. The allegations involve 13 women who claim Mr Odey abused or harassed them, with eight of the 13 saying he sexually assaulted them. The report sparked the Financial Conduct Authority to widen an investigation into the asset manager and some of the firms key banks and brokers to review or cut their ties with the group. Odey Asset Management said late on Sunday, ahead of the stock market opening on Monday, that Mr Neave will take over full responsibility of the Odey European Inc (OEI) and OEI Mac hedge funds. James Hanbury will now run the Odey Opus Fund and Oliver Kelton will take responsibility for the Odey Pan European Fund. It said it was considering options to put to the fund board regarding the Odey Swan Fund, which may include an option to close the fund. The fund will continue to be run by Mr Neave in the meantime. We plan to announce a complete rebrand of the partnership in the near future, it said in a further move to contain the fallout. Announcing Mr Odeys departure on Saturday, it said he will no longer have any economic or personal involvement in the partnership. The statement, signed by chief executive Peter Martin and chief financial officer Michael Ede, said the firm investigated the allegations concerning Mr Odey but cannot comment in detail as it is bound by legal obligations of confidentiality. The alleged incidents happened between 1998 and 2021, the FT reported after interviewing 40 former employees at Odey Asset Management. In a statement to the FT, Mr Odey described the claims as rubbish. By Ko Dong-hwan The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a new series of evening yoga sessions for those seeking stress relief, fitness and peace. A space in Gwanghwamun Square at the heart of Seoul will be reserved for 100 people every Tuesday and Thursday night from June 27 to Aug. 31. To keep the event orderly, the city government is putting a cap on the crowd size. "Gwanghwamun Moonlight Yoga," headed by the square's operation division under the city government's Balanced Development Headquarters, accepts participants from the city's , yeyak.seoul.go.kr. The one-hour sessions starting at 7:30 p.m. are open to all ages and available for those of all levels. The event kicks off in the month of the United Nations International Day of Yoga, which falls on June 21. The day is also the Summer Solstice, traditionally known in Korea as "haji," a time of the year when daylight is at its peak. An opening ceremony for the event will be held on the same day on the northern section of the square. Organizers will provide yoga mats for the first 100 participants of the two-hour yoga session starting at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony's main events consist of endurance yoga challenges for participants, quiz shows and a music performance by a Korean traditional "gugak" fusion band. At the end of the ceremony, the city government will give away yoga tops to all participants. The pre-programs kick off from 11 a.m. and continue until 6 p.m. when visitors to the square can check out the moonlight yoga and hashtag events launched by the city government. Yeo Jang-kwon, chief of the Balanced Development Headquarters, said that Gwanghwamun Moonlight Yoga was designed to invite people to experience the summer nights in Seoul at the city's most iconic venue through the globally known practice for bodily and mental healing. "You will be able to feel the city's new kind of urban night groove at its full length," the organizer said. Yoga is not just a sport but part of broader cultural activity for all, according to MBN, a local TV network that jointly organized the event with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Out of the high-tension, stressful city life, the event has been planned to provide a peaceful, therapeutic space to urban dwellers, the broadcaster added. One of the nifty ideas available at the festivity is collecting points and exchanging them for goods at the end of the campaign. Reserved for pre-online bookers, those coming to the square for the moonlight yoga programs from June through August get points at each session. Goods include yoga outfits, yoga mats and tumblers. Parliament is dealing with a permanent swamp of complaints and concerns about MPs conduct, Penny Mordaunt said as she outlined proposed reforms to the Commons. MPs could be prevented from entering Parliament if they are under investigation by police for credible allegations of sexual or violent offending, according to the proposals. The House of Commons Commission report states the MP could face a risk assessment to judge whether they pose a threat to others working on the parliamentary estate. An adjudication panel consisting of senior parliamentarians would then make a decision if there is a recommendation for exclusion, which would automatically end once the matter has been concluded. Commons Leader Ms Mordaunt said there are more than 12 different bodies who oversee the conduct of MPs, telling the House: We have this incredibly complicated standards landscape, a myriad of bodies that are forming oversight of members conduct and yet barely a week goes by without something happening that calls into question our adherence to those rules. We seem to remain in a permanent swamp of complaints, cases and concerns, and the need for professionalism and the need to build trust has never been greater. It is therefore vital that as well as the minutiae of schemes and reports, we also focus on the principles that should govern our behaviour and the culture, and, crucially, duty of care we have to one another in this place, and the duty we have to protect the good functioning of democracy. Conservative former minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg earlier voiced concerns over the proposed process, saying: There is nobody that can suspend a member from this House without a vote of this House. The constitutional problem with the proposals before us today is that they would allow a suspension by bureaucracy rather than by democracy of this House. Ms Mordaunt, in her reply, said: No rule that we will make in this place will be arrived at without the consensus of the House and will of the House. DUP MP Jim Shannon (Strangford) said: I am always reminded that youre innocent until proven guilty, and I just want to ask this question to the Leader of the House because it seems to me that what I see looking from the outside in (is) that now youre guilty, now prove your innocence surely thats against the law of the land in its entirety? Ms Mordaunt replied: I completely agree with (Mr Shannon) on that point and this is a very narrow set of circumstances, and its not about asking people to make a judgment on whether someone has committed an offence or not, its not about that. Its about the risk an individual poses to other people. Conservative MP Nickie Aiken, a member of the House of Commons Commission, said: As a House of Commons Commission, we do have a duty of care to the thousands of members of staff who work in this estate. Conservative former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: We have to be really, really careful here because reputational damage is the end to Members of Parliament and often cannot be regained your character is all. So, the point really here is, how do we protect that if people are then going to be sent away? How can they not do the work in their constituencies and still retain their reputation as being Members of Parliament? Ms Mordaunt said: There are members that are off the estate for various reasons on a voluntary basis currently, I feel very strongly that in those circumstances, particularly when as we all know investigations are taking a long period of time, that their ability to represent their constituencies is not compromised. Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said: This is not a replacement for the criminal justice system, it is not a parallel system but we need to find a way to take on board when there is a criminal justice system investigation of a very serious crime, how we mitigate those risks in a time-limited way. One of Scotlands leading paediatric doctors said she still does not know what happened at a multi-million pound super hospital to cause infections in a childrens ward. Professor Brenda Gibson, a consultant paediatric haematologist, gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry on Monday, which is investigating a series of contamination issues at the 840 million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Scottish ministers announced the inquiry in the wake of deaths linked to infections at the hospital, including that of 10-year-old Millie Main, who was being treated for cancer at the childrens hospital that is part of the same campus. But on Monday, Professor Gibson, lead of the Schiehallion haemato-oncology unit, said: There are two versions of whats happened. There is a real environmental problem (and) theres no environmental problem at all. I still dont know which is true. All I can say is we have had our 11 million refurbishment and we now have what is said to be the best ventilation system that money can buy and we have got water that is coming out of a post-filter tap which has no bacteria in it. The professor told inquiry chairman Lord Brodie that she had tried to get explanations for what the issues were at the hospital from the most senior management at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Alastair Duncan KC, the inquirys senior counsel, asked her if she had ever had an answer to what was happening from the very highest level. She replied: No. Contamination issues have been linked with water quality and ventilation systems in the super-hospital, which opened in April 2015. The Inquiry will begin hearing evidence today in relation the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH). The first witness is Prof Brenda Gibson. Follow her evidence here: https://t.co/egrtmLmkJ1 pic.twitter.com/hyI7o0htpC Scottish Hospitals Inquiry (@ScotHospInquiry) June 12, 2023 The inquiry heard patients in the ward had been moved because of concerns, and then had to be moved again because issues persisted. During her day-long evidence session, the professor said: For all of how awful this has been, I do think we are a great team. I built the unit and Im very proud of each and every one of them whos worked in it and, you know, has survived this. As Churchill said, when you find yourself walking in hell keep walking. And thats what we did. The entrance to the childrens hospital in the QEUH in Glasgow (Alamy/PA) We did our best and we just want everybody to appreciate that we did do our best, and that we did try endlessly to bring attention to the concerns we had to those above us. The toll it had on families had been considerable, she said. And there had also been an impact on staff, she added. Some people have described themselves as destroyed, she told the inquiry. You cant reassure or tell somebody not to worry about something if you dont know what the root cause is or what the problem truly is. So it was very difficult trying to be reassuring and honest and supportive at the same time. And I think as a team we did question what we were doing all of the time, was it right what we were doing, but we did all of this in the background of actually being told on the one hand there was a problem, and on one hand there was no problem. The inquiry heard there was an enormous amount of stress suffered by the staff, and she had never seen a toll taken on staff like it. She said: One has to recognise that the biggest toll was taken by the parents, and I would never say anything that sounded as if I didnt recognise that because I do, but the strain on some of them, particularly nursing staff, was huge. The professor told the inquiry that the responsibility for providing a safe environment for patients lies with the health board. The unit had been based at Yorkhill in the city, and plans were drawn up for it to be moved. Professor Gibson said there had been very limited consultation. Professor Gibson told the hearing she had no involvement with ventilation or water systems, and her departments involvement was purely in deciding how we would allocate the space. Upon moving into the hospital, the inquiry heard, there were sewage leaks, cladding issues, and windows falling out. The inquiry also heard there were issues with temperature, blinds, televisions not working, and also issues with the smell of a nearby sewage treatment works. Professor Gibson is the lead clinician for the haematology and oncology service based in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. The inquiry is also examining problems that led to the delay in the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. It continues on Tuesday. Several winners at the 2023 Tony Awards expressed their solidarity to striking Hollywood writers during the unscripted live show. Host Ariana DeBose acknowledged the compromises made for this years ceremony and told audience members to buckle up as she kicked off the 76th annual event in New York on Sunday. It comes as over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), remain on strike, primarily over royalties from streaming media. The strike, which began on May 2, had previously threatened to derail the Tony Awards. Host Ariana DeBose acknowledged the compromises that had been made for 76th annual awards show (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) The WGA ultimately agreed to a waiver for the show, so that its members would not picket the event and allow the broadcast on US network CBS to go ahead. References to the WGA strike were made by various actors, including best leading actress in a musical winner Victoria Clark. We are nothing without our writers and I support the WGA and their struggle for the contract they deserve, she said. Collecting the award for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play Miriam Silverman added: We are staunchly pro-union household. My parents raised me to believe in the power of labour and workers being compensated and treated fairly we stand with the WGA in solidarity. David Lindsay-Abaire, who won the Tony for best book of a musical also urged audiences to support the WGA. I want to say how special it is that were all here tonight, supporting the theatre community, which we adore so much, and that tomorrow, were going to be on the picket line supporting the beloved other industry TV and film, he said. Please support the WGA we just want to be treated fairly. DeBose began the show with a high-energy routine, which saw her flipping through empty pages in a binder labelled script in a dressing room. She later told audiences: Im sure some of you caught that I opened the number by opening a script blank pages. Theres a very good reason for that. Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal. (And) Im sure for some of you at home youre thinking, Okay, what does that have to do with the Tony Awards? Im going to tell you, thanks for asking. Award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA, so in order for this show to go on, a whole host of people had to come together in order to find a compromise. And we are all here. So to every single person who had a hand in finding that compromise. I say a full-throated thank you. Host Ariana DeBose, third right, performs at the 76th annual Tony Awards (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) She continued: So now youre asking, whats the compromise? Well, we dont have a script you guys. I am live and unscripted. Youre welcome. So to anyone who may have thought that last year was a bit unhinged. To them I say darlings, buckle up. She then explained that she and every presenter would be operating without a script or a teleprompter, with only a countdown clock for people to know how much time they had left for their acceptance speeches shown onscreen. At times throughout the show DeBose referred to notes on her hand, but could not make them out, telling audiences please welcome whoever walks out on stage next. The WGA has had major impacts on numerous Hollywood productions and events, including the 2023 MTV Movie and TV Awards, which took place last month. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to transform work and public services but measures are needed to protect against the extreme risks it could pose, Rishi Sunak has said. The Prime Minister wants the UK to be home to a global AI regulator and it will host a major summit on the issue in the autumn. The Prime Minister said there was a concern about the impact on jobs and a risk of misuse by bad actors, as well as the potential for the technology to act in ways its creators had not expected. Mr Sunak was speaking alongside Google DeepMinds boss, Demis Hassabis, a government adviser on AI, who was among industry experts to sign a statement saying that mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority. Exciting to see the first Global Summit on AI Safety take place in the UK later this year. AI brings incredible opportunities but also challenges for the world. International cooperation is going to be essential for ensuring this technology is developed safely & responsibly https://t.co/1aHPgHEy2s Demis Hassabis (@demishassabis) June 10, 2023 It compared the potential risks from the technology to pandemics and nuclear war. Asked if he believed there was an existential risk, Mr Sunak said there was a concern about the impact on jobs and a risk of misuse. People have always used technology to do bad things, thats not a new thing, we just need to be alert to that, he said in a speech to open London Tech Week. Then there was capability overhang where the technology is capable of things which its creators did not envisage. That leads to a space where people are talking about very significant risks that some would call existential, others would say alongside things like pandemics or nuclear war. And thats obviously concerning. And thats why I think its important that we put guardrails in place to make sure that we develop and exploit this technology in a way thats safe, and that is secure, the Prime Minister added. Mr Sunak said the technology could be useful across the economy with every job essentially having AI as the co-pilot and had the potential to transform public services. Mr Hassabis said: In the situation where theres a high degree of uncertainty, but huge potential impact either way, I think the only the right way to proceed is with the precautionary principle. Proceed with exceptional care, be optimistic about what we can do with the opportunities, and use things like the scientific method to study and carefully analyse these systems as they get increasingly more powerful in the future. Speaking at London Tech Week, Mr Sunak suggested that British company chiefs were less ambitious than their counterparts in California. Fundamentally, it requires entrepreneurs to just keep going, to be not content with building the 100 million business and then the 1 billion business but just to keep growing. That, I found in California, is very much the attitude, the sky is the limit. Everyone thinks they can create a 100 billion-dollar company and actually changing that culture is tough for government to do. Jeremy Hunt also pointed to the US as an example, saying he wants to see more British role models in tech entrepreneurship like across the Atlantic. Speaking in a panel discussion, the Chancellor said: I think we need to inspire people and I would say that, you know, the US does this best and we can all think about the role models in the US who are the tech titans that everyone knows about. And I think we could encourage so much more of that in the UK. He called for cultural changes including for the UK to take on a truly growth mindset and stop being too harsh on business failure. Mr Sunak, who is under pressure from within the Tory party to curb net migration, defended having a visa system open to tech entrepreneurs. Rishi Sunak has dug into the Tory civil war by accusing Boris Johnson of asking him to take action that wasnt right in discussions over the former prime ministers honours list. The Prime Minister said his one-time Conservative ally asked him to do something I wasnt prepared to do by overruling the panel that vets appointments to the House of Lords or to make promises to people. I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough, Mr Sunak said on Monday in his first comments since Mr Johnson dramatically resigned as an MP. An ally of the former prime minister fired back by accusing Mr Sunak of having secretly blocked the peerages of former culture secretary Nadine Dorries and others. The escalating war of words came after Downing Street published Mr Johnsons resignation honours list on Friday without the names of his key allies, also including former Cop26 president Sir Alok Sharma and former minister Nigel Adams. Hours later Mr Johnson announced that he would stand down as an MP, as the Privileges Committee investigating whether he lied to Parliament over partygate prepared to find that he had broken the rules and recommend a suspension which could trigger a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. Mr Adams and Ms Dorries also said they were quitting the Commons, triggering three challenging by-elections for the Prime Minister as his party trails in the polls. (PA Graphics) Publicly turning on the man he used to share Downing Street with, Mr Sunak suggested Mr Johnson wanted him to ignore the recommendations of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac). Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasnt prepared to do because I didnt think it was right, the Prime Minister said when asked after a speech at the London Tech Week conference. That was to either overrule the Holac committee or to make promises to people. Now, I wasnt prepared to do that. I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough. Mr Sunak said he had vowed to do things differently when he entered No 10, adding: And thats what Im doing. There have been claims that Mr Johnson reached a gentlemans agreement with Mr Sunak that he would wave through the honours list and allow the MPs to be re-vetted by Holac at a later date so they would not have to stand down now. One Downing Street source said the Cabinet Office had made it clear to Mr Johnson that there is no re-vetting process. But Mr Johnsons camp has accused his successor of breaking the deal that has now enflamed tensions rather than buying a ceasefire in the hostilities. An ally told the PA news agency: Rishi secretly blocked the peerages for Nadine and others. He refused to ask for them to undergo basic checks that could have taken only a few weeks or even days. That is how he kept them off the list without telling Boris Johnson. Boris Johnson accused the Privileges Committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court (Jonathan Brady/PA) The Prime Ministers official spokesman said it is entirely untrue to say that anyone from No 10 attempted to remove or change the list approved by Holac, understand to have been finalised in February. The body, which Mr Johnson himself overruled while in No 10 over the peerage of Tory donor Peter Cruddas, has confirmed it did not support eight nominees put forward by the ex-leader. Government figures have insisted that neither Mr Sunak nor Downing Street removed names from Mr Johnsons peerages submission. Cabinet minister Michael Gove stressed on Monday that the appropriate procedure and the correct precedent was followed. Downing Street took the decision on Saturday to declassify Holac chairman Lord Bews approved names to Mr Sunak. The letter, dated February 5, contains the seven peerages announced on Friday, along with a redacted name of a person who took the personal decision to withdraw themselves. The Privileges Committee will meet on Monday to finalise and discuss the publication of its report into Mr Johnson, who has dismissed the investigation as a witch hunt. The probe is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament when he told MPs Covid rules were followed in Downing Street despite boozy parties taking place while social distancing restrictions were in place. Reports suggest the panel was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election to be potentially triggered in Mr Johnsons west London seat. Mr Johnson accused the committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court. The resigning MPs are yet to formally trigger their exit from the Commons under the archaic process of being appointed to be the Steward and Bailiffs of the Chiltern Hundreds or of the Manor of Northstead. A teenage mother accused of murdering her newborn son has denied ever knowing she was pregnant, a court heard. Paris Mayo is accused of inflicting complex skull fractures on baby Stanley Mayo at her parents home in Springfield Avenue, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire on March 23 2019. It is alleged that after inflicting the fractures, possibly caused by her foot on his head, Mayo then stuffed five pieces of cotton wool into his mouth two of which were found deep in the throat. Paris Mayo is giving evidence for the first time during her murder trial at Worcester Crown Court (Jacob King/PA) After giving birth in a living room, Mayo is accused of putting Stanleys body in a bin bag and leaving it on the front doorstep of their home before going upstairs to bed. Stanleys remains were discovered the following morning by Mayos mother who had looked inside the bloodstained bag. Giving evidence for the first time in her trial, the 19-year-old said she never knew she was pregnant. Worcester Crown Court heard Stanley had been conceived in the summer of 2018 and by the autumn Mayo was suffering from sickness and back and abdominal pain. Bernard Richmond KC, defending, asked whether at any time before Stanley was born she knew she was pregnant. No, I was always scared of the thought I might be. I had never taken a test and it telling me I was pregnant, Mayo told the jury. I was more suspicious I could have been, rather than actually knowing if I was or not. I would just try and make excuses to myself to what I thought was wrong. I was worried I might be as I was putting on weight, but I was trying to put it down to other things. I was eating bigger portions of food and eating throughout the day. Mr Richmond asked: Was there a stage before the birth you said to yourself, I am pregnant? Mayo replied: No. Describing her on and off sickness in the autumn of 2018, Mayo told the court: I think there were times when I was sick, but it would go back and come away it was irregular. I thought it was a stomach bug that went away, or I had eaten something that disagreed with me. Mr Richmond asked: Did you ever equate that with being pregnant? Mayo replied: No. Jurors were told Mayo had been taken to see her GP in October 2018 by her mother and during the examination was asked if she was having sex. Mayo told the court: She asked me at that time if I was having sex and at that time I told her no because at that time I wasnt, she said. I think I must have misunderstood how she was asking it. I felt like I could have told her if I felt comfortable enough, but I didnt know how to go about it. Mr Richmond asked if her mother knew she had been having sex and Mayo replied: I think she knew I had but she thought I had stopped having sex with people. I think she knew before that I had lost my virginity but believed I had stopped having sex with people. The jurors were told Stanley would have been conceived when Mayo was 14 with the teenager losing her virginity at 13. Explaining why she started having sex so young, Mayo said: I just thought it was a way to get people to like me because I was quite insecure about the way I looked and the way I was made to feel about myself at home because my family situation was quite bad. I was always being patronised and belittled and told I was worthless. I just wanted to feel a bit more validated and the way I felt to get that was to have sex with people. Mayo told the jury she only acknowledged to herself being pregnant shortly before she gave birth. He wasnt crying or making any noise and his eyes werent open, she said. I started to panic because he wasnt crying or making a noise and I got really scared. It all happened so fast, I dont really remember a lot about it. I just remember he hit his head and that was really it. The cord was around his throat when I undone it and that was when it was broken. Mr Richmond asked: Stanley had skull fractures. Did you do them to him deliberately? Mayo replied: No. Asked about putting cotton wool balls in Stanleys mouth, she replied: To me it looked like there was stuff coming out of his mouth. When I was questioned I said two because thats all I remember doing. Asked how she felt about it all, Mayo said: It makes me feel really horrible because I knew I didnt want to hurt him. I do feel stupid that I didnt go and tell anyone and get help. I loved him. I always think about what he would be like and how he would have been. Mayo denied killing Stanley and insisted she believed he was not alive when he was born. Mr Richmond asked: At any stage did you actually think Stanley was alive? No, she replied. Mayo explained her father was in poor health, including heart problems and diabetes, and died in April 2019. Prior to his death, she would help care for him and would prepare meals and do the shopping and tidy the house but described him as a bully. He put a lot of pressure on us to be the kids he wanted us to be, rather than what we wanted to be, she said. It was like he thrived on us being scared of him because he knew he had the control over us and that authority over us and we would do everything he wanted because we were scared of upsetting him. He would shout at us and tell us we were not kids of his. Asked if she loved her father and whether she missed him, Mayo fought back tears and said: I loved my Dad. Mayo, of Ruardean, Gloucestershire, denies murder and the trial continues. A young woman accused of pretending to be a man to sexually assault a teenager admitted she was caught in a web of lies. Georgia Bilham, 21, is charged with 17 sexual offences after allegedly deceiving a 19-year-old woman. A trial at Chester Crown Court has heard Bilham created a Snapchat account as George Parry, a male drug dealer from Birmingham, and wore a hood while meeting the short-sighted complainant, claiming to be paranoid because of an involvement with Albanian gang members. Bilham was cross-examined by prosecutor Anna Pope and admitted telling lie after lie to her alleged victim. But she maintained throughout that she thought the woman she had sex with believed she was really a woman and not a man. Ms Pope said: You knew she was not going to be sexually attracted to you as Georgia Bilham? The defendant replied: I cant answer that. Ms Pope said sex took place based on the complainant believing she was having sex with a man. Bilham said she enjoyed no sexual gratification from the encounters. And Bilham again said she believed the complainant knew she was a female but Bilham did not want to tell her who she really was. Georgia Bilham at Chester Crown Court where she is charged with 17 sex offences (Steve Allen/PA) Ms Pope continued: Why didnt you just say you are a female with a different name? Bilham replied: Because I was caught in a web of lies. Ms Pope added: You were getting a buzz out of deceiving her into believing you were a man. Is that what you were in it for? No, replied Bilham. Earlier Bilham told the court she had been a bit of a tomboy when she was younger and had a difficult relationship with her mother after she split from her father when Bilham was a teenager. Bilham said she had never wanted to change her gender to a boy but had questioned her own sexuality and that her mother would not be happy if she was in a same-sex relationship. Asked why she set up the fake Snapchat account pretending to be a boy, Bilham replied: I just was not happy in myself. I just, it was just more like an escape. I dont know. She added: I was not confident in myself. It was a stupid thing to do. It was a way of not being me. Ms Pope asked the defendant: Do you agree part of that not being you was you being a girl? Bilham replied: At the time, yeah. Bilham said after the first time they met in person the complainant messaged her to say Theres something weird about you, and blocked her on Snapchat. But there continued an online love hate relationship which became toxic at times, the court heard. After Bilham passed her driving test in April 2021 they agreed to go for a drive together in the countryside, where they were together in her car for five hours. On another drive on May 11, 2021 Bilham crashed her mothers car into a hedge and police were called asking for her licence, which had her real name. Bilham told the jury she believed a police officer called to the scene revealed to the complainant her true identity. She said: I think they told her I was female. It was not George, it was Georgia. She added: I believe she knew about my gender the night of the crash. Bilham said she stayed overnight at the complainants home, sleeping in her bed, but always wearing a tracksuit with a hood-up. Martine Snowdon, defending, asked Bilham, You were touching her sexually. Did you think she thought you was a girl or a boy? I thought she knew I was a girl since the crash, Bilham said. Bilham, of Bunbury Road, Alpraham, Cheshire, denies nine sexual assaults and eight counts of assault by penetration all between May to August 2021. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday morning. Six people were shot, with one person critically injured, after a disturbance inside a Houston nightclub spilled into a crowded parking lot overnight, police said Sunday. Officers responded to calls of shots fired at Tabu at about 2:10 a.m., Police Chief Troy Finner said. They found six victims, ranging in age from their late twenties to their early thirties. Five of the victims suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening, while one man underwent emergency surgery. "We're just praying that he's going to make it," Finner said. No one has been taken into custody and police do not yet know if there was one shooter or more than one. Officers will review surveillance camera footage, police said. Finner said police did not yet know the nature of the disturbance that led to the shooting, but he noted that there have been problems at the nightclub before. He said the shooter would be held accountable and urged people to make "smarter decisions." "A crowded parking lot, whatever you've got going on, whatever beef you have going on with somebody, it makes no sense to fire up into a crowded parking lot," he said. 2024 election may be similar to 2020 if Trump is the GOP nominee Curtain up for the 76th annual Tony Awards North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he has "only one" campaign promise so far in 2024 presidential race gettyimagesbank By Jun Ji-hye As a journalist and mother of a 17-month-old baby, I share the same concerns about childcare that many working moms grapple with every day. Then, I asked myself if I would be willing to hire a foreign nanny who will look after my son for a cheaper fee than a Korean one while I work, as the government is pursuing a pilot program to allow Southeast Asian domestic helpers to work in Seoul as early as this year. My answer was "no" for now, because there are many more things to consider than just lower costs to hire such helpers. One of the biggest concerns mothers have when leaving a baby with nannies is how much they can trust them. Such concerns transcend nationality, as news about child abuse committed by Korean nannies have already been reported quite often, and some of those nannies were recruited through the government's childcare support program. So my question is, how thoroughly can the government run background checks on foreign nannies in its hastily prepared pilot program, at a time when the existing program recruiting Korean nannies has sometimes failed to sort out potential problems. In addition, it would not be an easy decision for some mothers to hire a nanny who speaks a different language than they do. The ongoing discussions about the government's pilot program has largely neglected the concerns of one of the key stakeholders ordinary mothers. The discussions have mostly or only revolved around cost, with politicians busy stressing the cost effectiveness of a foreign domestic worker. Under existing laws, the domestic and care sectors have strict provisions on who is eligible to work as domestic helpers. The government is pushing for the pilot project to bring workers from Southeast Asian countries to reduce the burden of childcare and housework for parents here. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon suggested the idea during a Cabinet meeting in September last year as a measure to boost the country's record-low birthrate. Then, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed government officials to push for the measure at a Cabinet meeting on May 23. Debates regarding the project and the cost have since drawn public attention. The mayor cited examples of Hong Kong and Singapore that introduced the foreign domestic worker system in the 1970s. He said it costs 2 million won ($1,500) to 3 million won per month to hire a domestic helper in Korea, but monthly salaries for foreign domestic workers in Singapore stood only at 380,000 won to 760,000 won. In March, Rep. Cho Jung-hun of the minor opposition Transition Korea party submitted a revised bill designed to exempt foreign domestic workers from minimum wage requirements. He suggested such workers could be hired in Korea at monthly salaries of 700,000 won to 1 million won. However, due to concerns of discrimination, the Ministry of Employment and Labor's pilot program does not include the previously suggested provisions for exempting helpers from being paid the minimum wage. As a result, Korea's minimum wage of 9,620 won per hour would be applied to all foreign domestic helpers. If a helper works eight hours a day, five days a week, they would be entitled to a monthly wage of around 2 million won. According to the ministry, this amount is about 30 percent lower than the wages typically earned by domestic helpers in Korea at present. gettyimagesbank File under: You can't always get what you want. Eight in 10 Democratic primary voters say in a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll they would like to see a series of Democratic debates during the 2024 campaign. That includes an overwhelming 72% of those supporting President Joe Biden. But the odds of that actually happening are as close to zero as you can get in politics. Biden has expressed no interest in participating and the Democratic National Committee says it won't sponsor any. History is on their side. "As you know, no incumbent R [Republican] or D [Democrat] have done debates," Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, said in an email. Incumbents generally see no advantage to risking a misstep or to giving their challenger such a significant platform. In 1980, for instance, President Jimmy Carter didn't debate Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy. Now Kennedy's nephew, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is mounting a challenge to Biden that has considerably lower prospects of success. Biden's claim to the nomination hasn't been seriously threatened, but the findings underscore his need to consolidate and energize the Democratic base. In the poll, 58% of Democrats support Biden for the nomination while 15% back Kennedy and 6% back Marianne Williamson; 21% are undecided. There could be at least a bit of a political downside to ducking debates. "The decision not to debate is ignoring the 82% of women, 84% of union households, 86% of independents, and 90% of young voters who are not only planning to vote in their state's Democratic primary or caucus next year but also would like to see a series of Democratic primary debates," noted David Paleologos, director of Suffolk's Political Research Center. The poll of 293 registered voters who plan to vote in Democratic primaries and caucuses, taken Monday through Friday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points. Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. and an anti-vaccination activist, has said it's "unfortunate" that no debates seem to be on the horizon. Williamson, the author of self-help books who ran for the nomination in 2020, accused the DNC of "rigging" the election. "Candidate suppression is a form of voter suppression, and the party that purports to be the champion of democracy should not be so wary of it in our own house," she said in an op-ed published in Newsweek. In the last election, with no Democratic incumbent in office, Biden participated in 11 DNC-sanctioned debates during the primaries. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Biden debate RFK Jr. and Williamson? Democrats say he should. Officials recovered a body from the wreckage of the Interstate 95 collapse in Philadelphia, which happened on Sunday morning when a tanker caught fire beneath an underpass. Family members of Nathaniel Moody told ABC News he was the truck driver who died in the crash, fire and collapse on I-95. Authorities have not yet identified the remains taken from the wreckage as Moody's. Moody leaves behind a son and two daughters, his son told ABC News. PHOTO: Moody's son tells ABC News he leaves behind three children: two girls and a son. (Moody, Cooper and Baylock Families) The Philadelphia County Medical Examiner and coroner are working on identifying the remains, as officials continue to clear the damaged part of the highway. The rebuild of that section of I-95 is expected to take months, officials said. "With regards to the complete rebuild of I-95 roadway, we expect it to take some number of months," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference on Sunday evening. Shapiro signed a disaster declaration on Monday, which he said would allow Pennsylvania to use federal funds in its rebuilding effort and immediately access $7 million in state funds. PHOTO: Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion on June 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) The complete demolition of the bridge is likely to be complete within the next four to five days, officials said at a press conference Monday. The bridge itself, which was constructed 10 to 12 years ago, was "structurally sound" prior to the crash, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said at a press conference Monday. The tanker truck, carrying 8,500 of gasoline, attempted to navigate a left-hand turn after exiting at the Cottman Avenue offramp of I-95, according to officials. Losing control through its turn, the tanker fell on its side and ruptured its own tank, according to Carroll. Once ignited, the fuel burned at a high enough heat to structurally compromise the concrete and steel I-beams of the overpass. MORE: I-95 collapse updates: 1 vehicle trapped under the highway, no one injured, governor says The tanker that crashed and ignited has since been removed from the crash site. Officials have largely removed the collapsed section of the interstate and are working on demolishing the structurally unsound southbound portion of the road. Inspectors from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation determined that the southbound portion cannot be reopened and will also need to be replaced, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report reviewed by ABC News on Monday. PHOTO: A map of the location of the I-95 bridge collapse in Philadelphia. (ABC News, Philadelphia Inquirer) Individuals who crossed the southbound portion of the road around 6:25 a.m. prior to the road being shut down described the road as slumping downward. "It was like a sinkhole," emergency room nurse Lisa Taormino told ABC News. "It felt like if you were driving, and you hit a really big pothole, and the whole entire road just sunk down probably a good six to 12 inches down." Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pledged the full support of his department to the rebuilding efforts during remarks at the American Council of Engineering Companies conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Buttigieg said the collapse would slow passenger traffic but significantly impact supply chains. PHOTO: Aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed, in Philadelphia, June 12, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP) "This is going to be a major disruption in that region and it's really going to affect the Northeast," he told reporters Monday. I-95 is one of the busiest travel corridors in the United States and serves as the main north-south highway on the East Coast. An average of more than 160,000 vehicles travel across the impacted section in Philadelphia every day, according to a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Roughly 8-9% of traffic through that portion of I-95 is comprised of commercial traffic, with the American Trucking Association warning that the collapse is "likely to have significant impacts on the supply chain." Carrol pledged on Monday to work "24/7" to "attack this problem in the most efficient way possible so that we can resume normal traffic movements on I-95." All lanes between the exits for Philadelphia's Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Avenue are closed in both directions indefinitely, local ABC station WPVI reported. Boat capsizes during underground cave tour in upstate New York "It's gonna look like lower Manhattan like every day, probably throughout the summer," Somerton resident Mark Fusetti told ABC News. "It's going to be a nightmare." President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and his administration is in communication with Shapiro as well as Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. PHOTO: Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion on June 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) A team of specialists from the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, will also be on site Monday to begin the on-scene portion of their safety investigation into the incident. A preliminary report will be available in two to three weeks, according to the NTSB. ABC News' Victoria Arancio, Matt Foster, Amanda Maile, Chad Murray, and Josh Margolin contributed to this report. Body recovered from Interstate 95 collapse wreckage originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Adrian Gaut For the past four years, Abby Bangser, the former artistic director of Frieze Art Fairs, has organized intimate group shows of artists and designers at architecturally important homes. Object & Thing has made stops at the Noyes House in New Canaan, Connecticut and the Rose House in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and the 2023 edition is on view for the next three months at LongHouse Reserve, the East Hampton home of the late textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen. Called "A Summer Arrangement," the exhibition by Bansger, LongHouse's curator-at-large Glenn Adamson, and the buzzy interiors stylist Colin King, pulls together over 100 works by 32 artistsincluding Rashid Johnson, Gaetano Pesce, Ludmilla Balkis, Kiva Motnyk and Paul Arnholdsome created specifically for the site. "Instead of considering the neutrality of a white walled gallery space, for these exhibitions, artists can engage with very specific creative histories as well as the design of these spaces," Bangser tells T&C. Adrian Gaut Larsen, who died at 93 in 2020, was one of the most influential textile designers of his generation, and many of his designs, which adorned postwar American homes, offices and hotels, are now in permanent collections around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Louvre. He started working on LongHouse in 1986, collaborating with the architect Charles Forberg to fashion a home inspired by a Shinto shrine that became, in the words of the New York Times, "his most potent legacy." It opened to the public in 1992 and today it is a non-profit museum, educational institution and sculpture park that boasts large-scale works by Dale Chihuly, Willem de Kooning, Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono and Takashi Soga. Adrian Gaut Visitors to the Object & Thing exhibition, which is open until September 3, will find a juxtaposition of Larsen's treasures and contemporary talent. On the home's first floor, his signature Magnum fabric shares space in a guest bedroom with ceramic vases by Balkiswhose work is also on view at Roman and Williams Guild Gallery in New York City, until July 22and textile works by Motnyk. Elsewhere, glass works by Arnhold sit alongside delicate wooden combs by Teague Costello of Teague's Path, and Simone Bodmer-Turner contributed a series titled "House Paintings" made from lily stems, cattail leaves and soiled salvaged floorboards. Adrian Gaut King, who recently published his first book for Rizzoli, brought harmony to the disparate range of pieces and disciplines. "Colins role in installation design focused on the placement of both the artworks selected for the exhibition, as well as gaining familiarity with the way Larsen lived with objects, embracing an approach that finds art in all formsshells from the beach, treated with equal care as well-known artworks," Bangser says. Adrian Gaut The dialogue between two generational sensibilities is what distinguishes Object & Thing exhibitions. "A Summer Arrangement" is first and foremost a gallery show, with works for sale, but it also helps keep alive the legacy of a 30-year-old institution and its founder. Bangser conceived the project with LongHouse's director Carrie Barratt, who previously enjoyed a long curatorial career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a percentage of the show's sales will benefit the organization. "In our partnership with LongHouse, we hope to support their work by bringing new audiences to visit," Bangser says. Lead image, left to right: Paintings by Megumi Shauna Arai; hand-stitched pillows by Kiva Motnyk with pillows from the collection of LongHouse; Cody Hoyt's Untitled Vessel (2017); and Rashid Johnson's Untitled Ceramic (2019) on a table by Wharton Esherick from the collection at LongHouse. You Might Also Like By Maya Gebeily BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Iran-backed Hezbollah and its closest allies are set to torpedo an attempt by rivals to elect a senior IMF official as Lebanese president this week, in a tussle that underlines its decisive sway and the dim prospects for reviving the crumbling state. The standoff has laid bare Lebanon's deep splits, with the heavily armed Hezbollah deploying its political might against Jihad Azour's bid to fill the vacant presidency, while continuing to campaign for its ally - Suleiman Frangieh. The latest twist will unfold in parliament on Wednesday, when lawmakers will try for a 12th time to elect a successor to Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah-allied politician whose term ended in October. The attempt by groups including Hezbollah's opponents to elect Azour, an ex-finance minister and the IMF's Middle East director, is expected to fail because Hezbollah and its allies have enough seats to deny a two-thirds quorum. "We will obstruct for all to see," a senior Hezbollah-allied politician told Reuters, adding that Lebanon would then face an "open-ended crisis". Hezbollah officials say the movement and its allies are exercising their constitutional right to block Azour's election. The tussle has underlined the dim chances of a president being elected soon, leaving Lebanon drifting further from any steps towards remedying a devastating financial meltdown that has been left to fester since 2019. The power vacuum - with neither a head of state nor a fully empowered cabinet - is unprecedented even for Lebanon, a country that has known little stability since independence. With the presidency reserved for a Maronite Christian, the standoff also risks exacerbating sectarian tensions: Lebanon's two biggest Christian parties have rallied behind Azour, while Shi'ite Hezbollah and its Shi'ite ally Amal oppose him. As political splits deepen and the state endures its worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war, analysts say a deal may now require the kind of foreign intervention that has imposed compromise on its fractious parties in the past. UNDER ATTACK Possessing an arsenal that rivals the national army, Hezbollah has long been Lebanon's strongest faction, using its power to shield its interests and those of its allies, including by helping to bury the probe into a 2020 port blast. But its sway in parliament - where 128 seats are divided equally between Christian and Muslim groups - suffered a blow last year when the group and its allies lost a majority. The United States designates it a terrorist group. Hezbollah has described Azour as a confrontational candidate - a reference to his role as a minister in a cabinet backed by the West and Saudi Arabia and led by Fouad Siniora that waged political conflict with Hezbollah and its allies 15 years ago. That power struggle culminated in a brief bout of civil war in 2008 and Hezbollah taking over parts of Beirut. "The candidate of confrontation will not reach Baabda" Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told supporters last week, referring to the presidential palace. Lebanon's Shi'ite Mufti Ahmad Qabalan stepped up the rhetoric against Azour on Sunday without naming him, saying "a president with an American stamp will not be allowed". Al-Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah newspaper, reported news of Azour's candidacy on June 3 along with a photo showing him in the same frame as Mohamed Chatah, a former minister and adviser to former prime minister Saad al-Hariri who was assassinated in 2013. Hariri at the time accused Hezbollah of involvement in the killing. Hezbollah denied any role. Al-Akhbar withdrew the photo from its website after critics viewed it as a threat against Azour, a source at the paper said, denying that it was intended as such. A U.N.-backed court has convicted three members of Hezbollah in absentia over the 2005 assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, Saad's father and a former prime minister. Hezbollah has denied any role in the Hariri killing. Al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin, in a June 9 article, said a new attempt was underway to isolate Hezbollah and likened Azour to Siniora, saying said he had "accepted to be the fuse of the explosion". Azour, 57, has said his candidacy is not intended as a challenge to anyone. "My candidacy is a call for unity, for breaking down alignments and for a search for common ground in order to get out of the crisis," he said in a statement. SYSTEMIC PROBLEM Azour's candidacy gathered momentum when Hezbollah Christian ally Gebran Bassil endorsed him - a move seen as driven by his opposition to Frangieh and his own ambitions. He also enjoys the support of the anti-Hezbollah Christian Lebanese Forces party, the Progressive Socialist Party led by Druze Jumblatt family, and some Sunni Muslim lawmakers. But with his chances still in doubt, observers have questioned whether some of Azour's supporters have been trying to use his candidacy to get Hezbollah to abandon Frangieh and launch talks on a compromise. Frangieh, 57, is the heir to an old Christian political dynasty. A friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he has described Hezbollah's arsenal as vital to defending Lebanon from Israel. Foreign governments with sway in Lebanon including the United States, Saudi Arabia, France and Iran have called for the election of a new president. French President Emmanuel Macron met Frangieh in April - seen by many in Lebanon as an endorsement, though Paris has not declared support for him. Many in Beirut have anticipated that a detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran would eventually play out in Lebanon by helping to forge a presidential deal. But political sources in Beirut say they have yet to feel any impact of warming Saudi-Iranian ties, with Lebanon appearing to be a secondary priority to other issues, notably Yemen. Meanwhile, the paralysis is prompting new questions about the future of the political system established by the Taif agreement that ended the civil war. "Our problem is that the political system post-Taif is unable to elect a president or even appoint a prime minister to actually undertake reform because the ruling elite have so much vested interest in keeping the status quo," Sami Atallah, founding director of The Policy Initiative, said. (Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The head of a trade group representing nearly all major automakers urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to "ease up" on its aggressive proposal to sharply cut vehicle emissions through 2032, saying it could benefit China. Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella said Monday in a blog post the "EPA should ease up and reassess this rule before it helps cement Chinas place in the U.S. auto market." He predicted that if the EPA regulations are too tough, China will gain "a stronger foothold in Americas electric vehicle battery supply chain and eventually our automotive market." The EPA, which declined to comment, proposed in April cutting vehicle emissions by 56% over 2026 levels. EPA estimates would result in 60% of new vehicles by 2030 being electric and 67% by 2032. The trade group - which represents General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motor, Volkswagen, Hyundai MotorCo Ltd , Ford Motor Co, Stellantis NV and other major automakers - warned in May that automakers will struggle to meet those targets because of problems with the supply chain for EV batteries, motors and chargers as well as consumer resistance. Chinese automakers sell few vehicles in the United States, and only a small number of Chinese-made vehicles are imported by major automakers for sale in the U.S. Bozzella said Europe offers a warning of what could happen in the United States. "With a 2035 ban on fossil fuel vehicles looming, Chinese manufacturers gained a foothold and entered the European market at a budget price point," he said. "They achieved a 5% share of Europe's EV market in the first nine months of 2022 and are on a steady march to hit 20% by 2025." Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley said Chinese electric vehicle makers are its main rivals in the sector, but the company has hurdles competing on cost at a smaller scale. "I think we see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM or Toyota," Farley said. "The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse." Environmentalists are pressing the Biden administration not to soften the proposal. Some say the EPA should have proposed tougher rules. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden postponed a meeting with the head of NATO and skipped his other public events on Monday to undergo his second root canal procedure in as many days, the White House said. "The president is doing just fine and he will be certainly working in the residence this afternoon," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said following the treatment at the White House. Biden reported tooth pain on Sunday, prompting an X-ray examination and root canal treatment by a team from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, according to a letter from his physician that was distributed to the press. "The President tolerated the procedure well," the physician, Kevin O'Connor, wrote about the previously undisclosed treatment. "There were no complications." Biden, 80, experienced more pain on Monday, received local anesthesia and did not need to transfer his powers to Vice President Kamala Harris under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the White House said. Biden's wife, first lady Jill Biden, commented on the procedure at a New York campaign fundraising event, saying she went to the dentist office at the White House to check on Biden and "he was under anesthesia. But he came up and he was good. Asked for clarification of her remarks, a White House official said Biden had simply undergone a local anesthesia for the procedure. Root canal procedures are common to treat infected teeth that cause pain, especially for older adults, said Asgeir Sigurdsson, endodontics chair at New York University's College of Dentistry. Millions are performed each year in the United States with a near-universal rate of success, he said. Two or more procedures are sometimes required to remove damaged tooth tissue and fully resolve the issue, Sigurdsson said. Local anesthetics used to numb pain during the procedure can make it difficult to speak for a few hours afterwards. "Once you treat it properly, it will heal without any complications," said Sigurdsson. Biden previously underwent root canal procedures in the 1990s, as a senator overseeing the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas. Biden is the oldest person to serve as U.S. president and both his age and health have been a focus of voters as he seeks a second, four-year term in the 2024 election. NATO LEADER SEARCH HEATS UP A meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and a reception for diplomatic personnel were rescheduled for Tuesday. An event celebrating college athletes was attended by Harris, who made no mention of Biden's absence. U.S.-led NATO's search for Stoltenberg's successor was heating up with several potential candidates emerging from Europe as the military alliance supports Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, in its response to Russia's invasion. Biden has not yet made a choice known, according to a person familiar with the matter. Stoltenberg is due to step down at the end of September after nine years in the post. Any new NATO leader needs to balance unified member support for Ukraine while guarding against any developments that would draw the group directly into a war with Russia. NATO's secretaries general are generally appointed through a consensus-oriented process, involving all of the group's 31 members. The United States exercises outsize influence in all NATO decisions, putting special attention on Biden's views. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Tyler Clifford and Doina Chiacu in Washington and Nupur Ananda in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Grant McCool and Leslie Adler) ISLAMABAD (AP) The Pakistani government on Monday welcomed the arrival of the first shipment of discounted crude from Russia under a key deal between Islamabad and Moscow. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif hailed it as a fulfillment of promises to the nation while Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted that it marked a true service for the people. The cargo was being unloaded in the port city of Karachi, the country's main hub for imports. Cash-strapped Pakistan had been in talks with Russia to import discounted crude since February 2022, when former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Khans visit coincided with the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine a visit that at the time strained relations between Pakistan and the United States. Moscow has since grappled with Western sanctions over the war, rerouting much of its supply to India, China and other Asian countries at discounted prices after Western customers shunned it in response to the invasion. Pakistan's deputy oil minister, Musadiq Malik, told the Geo news TV that Islamabad had initially signed an agreement with Russia for the purchase of 100,000 tons of oil, which is supposed to arrive in two ships. The first vessel with the crude arrived in Karachi on Sunday. The size of its cargo load was not immediately known. He did not share any details about the price of Russian oil, saying only that Pakistan will try to ensure a steady import with the expectations that prices at the pump will decrease. If we start getting one-third of our crude oil from Russia, then there will be a big difference in prices and its effect will reach peoples pockets," Malik said. No details were revealed about how the payments are being made. Sharif's government is grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis in the aftermath of the devastating flooding last summer that killed more than 1,700 people and caused $30 billion in damages. Meanwhile, talks with the International Monetary Fund for the revival of the $6 billion bailout package have been on hold since December. BEIJING (Reuters) -China is willing to begin talks on a free trade agreement with Honduras "as soon as possible", Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday, during the first visit by the Central American country's president since forming diplomatic ties in March. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro is on a six-day official visit to China. She launched diplomatic relations with Beijing after cutting ties with Taiwan. The country is also seeking support from China to mitigate its debt burden. "You have resolutely fulfilled your election promise of establishing diplomatic relations with China, made a historic decision, and demonstrated your firm political will," Xi told Castro during talks in Beijing. China will actively promote Honduran products to enter the Chinese market, Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. Chinese customs said on Monday it had approved the import of Whiteleg shrimp from Honduras. China also encourages Chinese enterprises to participate in Honduras' projects in areas including energy, infrastructure and telecommunications, CCTV cited a joint declaration as saying. The Honduran side is willing to provide policy support and facilitation, CCTV reported. The Chinese leader also emphasised that both sides should deepen political mutual trust, and uphold the "One-China" principle. "One-China principle is the primary premise and political foundation for the establishment of loyal diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations," Xi said. When Honduras ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan, the island's foreign minister accused it of demanding exorbitant sums before being lured away by Beijing. China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that countries with which it has ties recognise its position. The Honduran foreign ministry said at the time it recognised the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government that represents all of China and that Taiwan was an "inseparable part of Chinese territory". The United States is watching with concern as China expands its footprint in its backyard by taking away Taiwan's Central American allies, and has repeatedly warned countries not to believe China's promises of aid. Xi said that China supports Honduras' "independent choice of development path in line with its national conditions", and opposes any external interference in the Central American country's internal affairs. (Reporting by Ella Cao and Liz Lee; editing by Robert Birsel and Sharon Singleton) Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign event on May 31 in Salix, Iowa. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis crass stunt of flying desperate immigrants to California and dumping them on the doorstep of a Catholic Diocese headquarters showed us one thing: Hes not fit to be Americas president. Its not because of his sensible view that we must gain more control of our southern border. Any rational person would agree that the border is too porous. Members of Congress are trapped in their political silos and cant muster the courage to venture out and compromise on substantive immigration reform. Both parties exploit the issue in order to fire up their political bases. What makes DeSantis unfit for the Oval Office is how he cavalierly he treated hapless people as political pawns in a crude, uncompassionate effort to bolster his flagging campaign for the Republican presidential nomination while playing gotcha with California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Really, do we want a commander in chief who plays petty, reckless games with our adversaries? A president, say, who buzzes a Chinese warship as payback for a Chinese destroyer cutting across the bow of an American Naval vessel? Rash, stubborn, impetuous presidents can create all sorts of havoc, including war. Also, do we want a president who treats the most vulnerable people among us as political chess pieces? Who wastes taxpayers money trying to show up a nagging critic such as Newsom? That said, Californias governor also has not shown statesmanlike qualities in recent months by goading DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other red state leaders. Rather than focusing full-time on the California problems he was elected to solve homelessness, unaffordable housing, potential wildfires Newsom has been sporadically and loudly critiquing the conservative policies of other states. The consensus of political pundits is that Newsom is trying to position himself to run for president, if not next year, in 2028. He denies it and I believe him. But he does obviously want to be a national torchbearer for progressive causes. If thats his priority, then he should run next year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Meanwhile, to prove his effectiveness as a leader, he should spend more time on the public business he was assigned. Newsoms latest attention-grabber last week was to announce hell lead an effort to amend the U.S. Constitution with a specific set of gun controls. It has no chance of being adopted. But it makes a nice nationwide talking point for Democratic voters and a lucrative fundraising tool for his new federal political action committee: the Campaign for Democracy. In fact, his PAC immediately began using the proposed constitutional amendment to solicit donations. Dont get me wrong, Newsom is absolutely justified in attacking DeSantis for messing with Californias airspace and unloading 36 undocumented immigrants on the capital city of Sacramento. Kidnapping charges? Newsom pondered in a tweet, calling the Florida governor a small, pathetic man. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta pretty much ruled out charging DeSantis or anyone else with kidnapping last week. Kidnapping requires force or fear, Bonta told me. Were not seeing that at this point. .. I am seeing deception, false representation, unkept promises. Basically lies. And lying to move individuals hundreds of miles west, thats deception. ... It could be the basis for civil or criminal liability subject to a year or more prison time. For who? It could be anybody from the governor [down], Bonta said. They [immigrants] were treated cruelly by an official state action. They were told the ones I spoke to that if they got on the plane they would get jobs and help with food and shelter. There was never any intention to do any of that. ... Thats not how you treat people. DeSantis, after initially being silent about his involvement, finally fessed up and defended the action. He asserted that California deserves the immigrants because its a so-called sanctuary state that restricts local law enforcement involvement in federal efforts to deport people living here illegally. The border should be closed, DeSantis said. But if theres a policy to have an open border, then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that. So, as president, would he deploy jumbo military troop transports to fly thousands of undocumented immigrants from the Texas border to California? As governor, DeSantis got the Florida Legislature to authorize $22 million in tax money to fly immigrants from red states into blue states. The California-bound immigrants were picked up in El Paso. They werent even in Florida and were none of the Sunshine States business. Does this help DeSantis politically? Especially in Californias March 5 presidential primary, where the biggest bloc of Republican convention delegates 169 is at stake? If hes going to run as the culture warrior, it gives him some cheap applause on the trail, says Mike Murphy, a longtime Republican consultant and co-director of the Center for the Political Future at USC. But it hurts him in a national election if he should win the GOP nomination. The key to winning the California primary, however, is to gain momentum by first beating former President Trump in Iowa or New Hampshire, Murphy says. Well follow the leader. Early independent polls show Trump far ahead of DeSantis among California Republican voters. A survey released last week by the Public Policy Institute of California also found that 63% of likely voters believe immigrants to be more of a benefit than a burden. But Republicans are the outliers 74% of them regard immigrants as a burden. DeSantis is playing to the worst instincts, says GOP consultant Mike Madrid. Its all theater. The shrinking number of Republicans in California are going to cheer him on. And Democrats in Florida will cheer on Gavin Newsom. Its smart politics and bad governing. And not worthy of a potential president. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Host Ariana DeBose speaks at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday at the United Palace theater in New York. (Charles Sykes / Invision / Associated Press) The ceremony for the Tony Awards was unscripted this year because of the Writers Guild of America strike, but playwrights, librettists and lyricists were omnipresent throughout an evening that recognized the centrality of the written word. Speaker after speaker at the United Palace in Manhattans Washington Heights neighborhood, where the event was held on Sunday, paid tribute to those who spend their time arranging words on the page. "Writers are not just the cornerstone of theatrical production the sharp end of the inverted pyramid," as Tom Stoppard more eloquently put it when he accepted the best play award for Leopoldstadt. They are the articulators of our values and the search lights of our consciousness. The WGA had asked its members not to attend, but it was moving to see so many artists advance the cause of the union by refusing to be invisible and by speaking truth to power. Capitalism undervalues the soul, which is the locus of writers activity. Ironically, the script-free ceremony, hosted by Ariana DeBose with sharp focus, was one of the most soulful Tony Awards in history, because there were no intermediaries brought in by the network to check off boxes that executives deemed necessary. Theater people were allowed to be theater people. Which is to say artists were allowed be full humans open about their dreams, their struggles and their experiences of difference. There were speeches in support of trans and nonbinary people on a night when history was made with two awards going to nonbinary performers Alex Newell, winning for featured actor in a musical (Shucked), and J. Harrison Ghee, winning for lead actor in a musical (Some Like It Hot). The tone, however, was never political for politics sake. Artists spoke from their own experience, as Michael Arden (who won for his direction of the musical Parade) bravely exemplified when he recalled being called the F-word as a gay youth. Arden then reclaimed the homophobic slur, exclaiming: "Now I'm a f with a Tony!" to rapturous applause. CBS apparently found this a bit too brave and bleeped the speech in the telecast. But the point was to communicate to all those LGBTQ+ kids watching across America that they are not alone and that their dreams not only matter but are indeed achievable with hard work, determination and a survivors defiance. Controversy ensued at the ceremony when actor Denee Benton presented the Excellence in Theatre Education Award from Carnegie Mellon University to Jason Zembuch Young, of South Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla. Benton referred to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the states Grand Wizard, a reference to Ku Klux Klan leadership that she quickly corrected but not before the entire theater was cheering her on. Looked at one way, the Tony Awards were everything DeSantis has been railing against in his fear-mongering messaging. But I couldnt help thinking of how many people were helped, in blue and red states alike, by hearing from artists who once were watching the Tony Awards at home, wondering if they would ever find a place for themselves in the world and be judged on the basis of their talents alone. The secret that theater people have no trouble understanding is that most human beings worry that some aspect of their identity might be disqualifying in a world openly intolerant of difference. The voice that right-wing conservative politicians want to demonize is actually the voice that is trying to say, I see you, I hear you and I welcome you. Once again at the Tony Awards, eloquence was achieved in the acceptance speeches. Tony winners dont waste a lot of time thanking their agents, managers and publicists. The precious airtime is reserved for more courageous personal testimony. The absence of scripted patter cleared the way for a more authentic form of communication. Again and again, those who were being honored shared their struggles and feelings of shame not to elicit sympathy but to give others hope. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway," Newell said on accepting their award. "I should not be up here, as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face [and tell you] that you can do anything you put your mind to. Ghee struck a similar note in their acceptance speech: For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human, whoever was told you couldnt be, you couldnt be seen, this is for you. The pervasiveness of racism was acknowledged. Suzan-Lori Parks, while accepting the Tony for the revival of her play Topdog/Underdog, thanked her actors for living large in a world that often doesnt want the likes of us living at all. But the power of unconditional love was a theme of the night. Whether they grew up queer, nonbinary or trans, whether they experienced oppression stemming from gender, race, ability or size, those who were honored attested to the role early encouragement played in allowing them to realize what otherwise would have been impossible. A child affirmed has an enhanced capacity for generosity. My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me, Ghee said. To use them to be effective in the world, to help somebody else's journey. So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give. These lines echoed sentiments expressed by director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who in his acceptance of the Isabelle Stevenson Award for his philanthropic efforts in raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS quoted the playwright George Bernard Shaw: "I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community. And as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. These words of a brilliant dramatist were not just moving to hear spoken by a 21st century director and choreographer committed to making a difference. They were a reminder of what writers uniquely offer us. Everyone in attendance at the Tony Awards was there in part because of the space that was created by the words of a playwright or a lyricist. Words that mapped out another way of living in the world. A way of greater empathy and connection. An understanding that no one is alone, as Stephen Sondheim indelibly put it in a lyric from Into the Woods, one of the years most successful revivals. Writers were the heart and soul of this Broadway season, which was notable not only for the rich array of dramas but also for the complexity and literary distinction of the musicals. Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Browns Parade, about the trial and antisemitic lynching of Leo Frank, won for musical revival in what was one of the years most competitive categories. The other nominees Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd and Camelot revealed the limitless scope of what's possible when text meets music. Kimberly Akimbo, which David Lindsay-Abaire and composer Jeanine Tesori adapted from Lindsay-Abaires 2001 play, won for best musical. The show, about a teenage girl with a medical condition that prematurely ages her, is all about finding the strength to accept and appreciate the only life you have a idea that Lindsay-Abaire implicitly reiterated in tracing his own path as a writer when accepting the award for best book of a musical. In his acceptance speech for best play, Stoppard succinctly articulated the reason there was so much solidarity with the striking screenwriters. Describing himself as someone teeming with emotions that a chatbot wouldnt begin to understand, he lamented the way theater writers have been progressively devalued on the food chain. Without a script, he said, were all basically flummoxed. If this wasnt the case at this years Tony Awards, it was because all in the room were beneficiaries of a long noble line of dramatic poets. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Hong Kong: Platform nurtures family offices in HK Invest Hong Kong today announced the launch of the Network of Family Office Service Providers, a platform specially designed to help promote Hong Kong as a preferred destination of choice for global family offices. Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui officiated the network's launch event. Over 100 representatives from a wide array of family office service providers participated in the special occasion, under the witness of key representatives from regulators and industry associations at the HKEX Connect Hall. Launching the network is one of the eight initiatives in the Government's Policy Statement on Developing Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong announced on March 24. The network aims to nurture the ecosystem that continues to support local and global family offices as they set up or expand in the Hong Kong market. Apart from providing a two-way channel for the Government to brief the industry on the latest development and supplying opportunities for family offices in Hong Kong, the network will also help with mobilising such networks around the world to advocate opportunities in the city for family offices. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr Chan made it clear that Hong Kong, with its vibrant financial ecosystem, sophisticated financial infrastructure and the best professional services providers as well as the convergence of investment opportunities in the Mainland and the world, is naturally the preferred choice of location for global family offices. The Network of Family Office Service Providers brings together the relevant professional services providers, including private bankers, trustees, lawyers, accountants, wealth management professionals, etc, to create mutual business opportunities and promote Hong Kong's advantages to target markets. The network will also provide advice to the Government on how we could better facilitate the sector's growth and thrive together. On the launch of the network, Mr Hui explained that the launch of the Network of Family Office Service Providers marks a key milestone of the Government's basket of measures to promote Hong Kong as a family office hub. Looking ahead, we will thrive to work together with the regulators and the industry to roll out other new initiatives in the Government's policy statement, with a view to facilitating the rapid growth of the ecosystem for global family offices and asset owners in Hong Kong. Invest Hong Kong stressed that the Government is actively pursuing various initiatives announced in the policy statement to create a conducive and competitive environment for the businesses of global family offices and asset owners. Besides launching the network, some of the new initiatives include a new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, tax concessions, a new Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, establishing art storage facilities at the airport and developing Hong Kong as a philanthropic centre. This story has been published on: 2023-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RCEP injects strong momentum into regional economic integration 09:15, June 12, 2023 By Luo Shanshan ( People's Daily The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) entered into force for the Philippines on June 2, confirming that the trade pact is now in effect for all 15 members. Photo taken on May 5 shows the first Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Expo held in central China's Hunan province. (People's Daily Online/Tian Min) The landmark RCEP agreement covers roughly 30 percent of the world's population, GDP and trade in goods, and the full implementation of the RCEP is a new stage for the trade bloc with the world's largest population and trade volume as well as the greatest development potential, said an official with China's Ministry of Commerce. The full entry into force of RCEP reflects the determination and actions of its 15 members to support an open, free, fair, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system, continuously promoting a comprehensive, mutually beneficial and high-level economic partnership. The 15 members' commitment to open goods, services and investment markets, superimposed with high-level rules in various fields, are expected to significantly promote the free flow of production factors in the region, including raw materials, products, technologies, talents, capital, information and data. It will gradually form a more prosperous large regional market that promotes wider integration, higher-level and deeper open cooperation among member states, it added. On June 2, Chenfeng Group, a company that manufactures and exports apparel products based in east China's Jiangsu province, received an RCEP certificate of origin for exports to the Philippines under RCEP from the customs. With this certificate, men's shirts manufactured by the company will enjoy zero-tariff treatment in the Philippines. "After the RCEP agreement came into force in the Philippines, we have another choice following the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. It is good news for us to expand exports and maintain overseas clients," said Yin Lijun, customs affairs manager of the company. Containers are loaded onto a cargo vessel to Japan, a member country of the RCEP, at the Damaiyu port in Yuhuan, east China's Zhejiang province, March 13. (People's Daily Online/Wu Xiaohong) Since the RCEP was implemented, trade in goods between member countries has come more frequent, and regional trade has grown into a key factor stabilizing and driving their foreign trade growth, said an official with the Ministry of Commerce. According to the official, thanks to the positive signals released by the implementation, the RCEP region continues to be a hot spot for global investment, with a growing trend in the utilization of foreign capital in most of the RCEP members. The RCEP region is attracting more greenfield investment as a whole. The implementation of the trade pact plays a crucial role in stabilizing China's foreign trade and investment. In the first four months this year, the total import and export volume between China and other RCEP members hit 4.12 trillion yuan ($577.91 billion) with a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent, accounting for 30.9 percent of China's total foreign trade. During the same period, China's actual use of investment from other RCEP members amounted to nearly $8.9 billion, a year-on-year growth of more than 13.7 percent. Regions across China have strengthened policy coordination and optimized the business environment to enhance cooperation under the framework of the RCEP since the trade pact came into effect. A customs official from Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, shows the province's first RCEP certificate of origin for exports to the Philippines, June 2. (People's Daily Online/Xia Chenxi) Many places have implemented trade facilitation measures provided by the RCEP agreement to a high standard, enabling 6-hour customs clearance for perishable and express products. They also built smart online RCEP public service platforms and promoted whole-process digital services related to RCEP certificates of origin to ensure that enterprises enjoy the benefits of the RCEP efficiently. Some places in China launched or increased the number of foreign trade vessels, flights, and trains to other RCEP members, to improve logistics and supply chain services and lift the efficiency and capacity of customs clearance. Local authorities and enterprises across China are utilizing RCEP's cumulative rules of origin and favorable policies for trade in service and investment market, to optimize regional trade and investment layout and promote the deep integration of industrial and supply chains. Some places have combined RCEP policies with other open platforms such as pilot free trade zones to attract targeted investment in key industries, promoting the implementation of a series of major projects. The RCEP is an opportunity for China to build a world-class business environment. Regions across China strictly obey domestic laws and regulations corresponding to RCEP mandatory obligations and implement RCEP encouraging obligations. Working to improve governance capability and attract industries, capital and human resources, they have significantly bettered the local trade and investment environment. China will keep implementing the RCEP with high quality, said the Ministry of Commerce. Besides, it will work with other parties to fulfill obligations and strengthen the construction of the RCEP mechanism for better implementation of the agreement. It will contribute to the long-term stability of the cooperation under the RCEP and strive for win-win results and common development on a higher level. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) North Chungcheong Provincial Government Office in Cheongju / Courtesy of North Chungcheong Provincial Government By Ko Dong-hwan Foreign migrants flocked to North Chungcheong Province faster than anticipated this year following the immigration authorities' policies to promote immigration, especially in regions with dwindling populations. The signs of an increase were found in Jecheon City and Danyang County, regions subject to the central government's pilot project, which started at the beginning of this year. Under the new policies, the authority introduced a region-special visa to encourage migrants to settle in regions, which meet their needs for study or employment. The Ministry of Justice rolled out the system last October. "The visa has two categories: F-4 for ethnic Koreans with foreign nationalities and F-2 for those with a different ethnicity," Yeom Mi-sook, head of the new Foreigners Management Division under the North Chungcheong Province Government, told The Korea Times, Monday. The division was set up in January to focus on immigration and other legal support for foreign nationals in the province. While local populations in the two regions have shrunk much faster than other municipalities in the province, the justice ministry allocated a cap of 170 migrants in the two regions for this year under the system. The provincial government said 148 migrants have already settled in the regions with the two new special visas, which fills 87 percent of the quota for this year. The quota for Danyang, 35, has been fully met and the provincial government is looking to attract more applicants for Jecheon during the remainder of this year. Cho Deok-jin, chief of the Planning and Management Bureau under the provincial government, said that they aim to attract 60,000 foreigners to the province as a long-term goal. The authority plans to attract skilled migrants to settle there and ensure that they are free from discrimination by local Koreans, he said. The provincial government began running a team of foreign advisors for local administrative policies and surveyed foreign residents to study their needs and current living conditions. The authority said that they plan to expand the target regions for the new visa to attract more skilled migrants to the province. As of late April, almost 59,000 foreigners were living in the province, according to the authority. By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen starts a four-nation trip to Latin American on Monday to bolster political and trade ties that the European Union admits it has sometimes neglected. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has cast around for "like-minded" partners to provide other sources of trade and critical minerals required for its green transition and help reduce its reliance on China. Von der Leyen will meet the presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico on consecutive days. Her trip follows that of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this year and comes a week before Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva travels to Paris. Brussels will also host more than 30 leaders from Latin American and the Caribbean at a summit on July 17-18, a springboard for its "new agenda" with the region unveiled last week. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the partnership had been sometimes "taken for granted, or even neglected", and needed to be upgraded with "partners of choice". High on von der Leyen's agenda will be the trade agreement struck in 2019 with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but put on hold largely due to concerns over Amazon deforestation. The EU is expecting a Mercosur response soon to its proposal to attach sustainability and climate change commitments to the deal. Von der Leyen will also seek to push forward an update to the EU-Mexico trade pact which the two sides agreed in 2018. Another focus will be the EU's desire for partnerships on critical raw materials with a number of countries in the region. It has a trade agreement with Chile that could give EU companies greater access to the country's lithium and copper. A possible understanding with Argentina could also promote exploration of the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas reserves by EU investors. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by David Holmes) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean prosecutors have arrested and indicted a former executive of Samsung Electronics suspected of stealing trade secrets while attempting to establish a copycat computer chip plant in China. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office said Monday that the unnamed 65-year-old unlawfully obtained Samsungs factory blueprints and clean-room designs from 2018 and 2019 while trying, unsuccessfully, to replicate a chip factory in the Chinese city of Xian, near where Samsung operates a plant. The technology allegedly stolen by the man's China-based company would have been worth at least 300 billion won ($233 million) for Samsung, prosecutors said. They charged six people employed by the man with active participation in the tech theft. South Korea is highly sensitive to breaches of technologies related to semiconductors, which accounted for nearly 17% of its total exports in 2022. Samsung, the worlds largest manufacturer of computer memory chips, didnt immediately comment on the charges. In a statement, prosecutors described the arrested man as an undisputed top domestic expert in semiconductor manufacturing. After an 18-year career at Samsung he held executive roles for a decade at SK Hynix, another major South Korean chip maker which trails Samsung in the memory chip market. The man later created chip manufacturing companies in China and Singapore with the backing of Chinese and Taiwanese investors and lured more than 200 chip experts from Samsung and Hynix with higher pay before arranging to smuggle out crucial technologies from Samsung, prosecutors said. The manufacturing secrets allegedly taken from Samsung included processing blueprints and basic engineering data for designing clean-room environments to prevent contamination during semiconductor manufacturing, which prosecutors described as core national technologies. The suspect attempted to duplicate an entire (Samsung) factory to manufacture and mass-produce semiconductors in China, said the prosecutors office, who described his crime as incomparable in damage and scale to previous theft cases. It said South Koreas semiconductor industry would have been irreversibly damaged and the countrys security interests greatly compromised if the factory was actually built and produced chips similar to Samsungs products. TOKYO (AP) The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began tests on Monday of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring countries. The tests at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said. Plant workers examined pumps and emergency shutdown equipment at the newly constructed seaside facility, which will dilute the treated water with large amounts of seawater. The diluted water then enters an undersea tunnel and is released into the ocean about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the coast. The undersea tunnel and other key facilities are near completion. TEPCO says the voluntary tests are expected to continue for about two weeks ahead of mandatory pre-operation checks to be conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, possibly in early July. Japan's government announced plans in April 2021 to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plants decommissioning. The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Nearby countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Japans government has set up a fund to promote Fukushima seafood and provide compensation in case sales fall due to safety concerns. Fishing officials said they remain opposed to the plan when they met Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Saturday when he visited Fukushima and the neighboring prefectures of Ibaraki and Miyagi. We stand by our opposition, Tetsu Nozaki, head of the Fukushima prefectural fisheries association, told Nishimura. Nozaki, however, said the association supports progress in the plant's decommissioning and hopes to continue the dialogue. At the moment, our positions remain wide apart. Nishimura told reporters that he hopes to gain the understanding of fishing communities while working to prevent reputational damage. In South Korea, fishermen staged a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday against the plan to release treated radioactive water. Japanese officials say the diluted water will be released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life. Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency to gain credibility and ensure safety measures meet international standards. Some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides is unknown and the release should be delayed. A massive March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. ATLANTA (AP) Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is making his third overseas trip since he was reelected, leaving Tuesday to visit the nation of Georgia and then France to represent the state in aerospace recruitment at the Paris Air Show. The Republican Kemp will be gone for nearly two weeks, with his administration saying he will be the first American governor to ever visit the nation of Georgia, which is located in the Caucasus region south of Russia and north of Turkey. The nation has been a hotspot of conflict, with Russian forces in 2008 invading to bolster separatists in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. American armed forces of the Georgia National Guard have long provided training to the nation of Georgia's armed forces. Its Kemps fifth overseas trip as governor and his third in less than six months as he seeks to build his foreign policy resume. The second-term Republican governor is trying to raise his profile and steer his party away from former President Donald Trump, though he has said hes not running for president in 2024. The cost to taxpayers for the trip is not immediately available. Our National Guard has had a presence there for a long time, Kemp told reporters Monday in Atlanta. "Its a very important region of the world for national security for the United States. Were going to have a lot of folks over there training like we have in the past. And so I think its important for us to really go there and learn and show our support while were that close. Kemp intends to meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, accompanied by Georgia National Guard Maj. Gen. Tom Carden among others. Kemp also plans to visit a humanitarian shelter built by the Georgia National Guard and meet with members of the Marietta, Georgia, Fire Department who are providing water rescue training. From there, Kemp plans to visit the Paris Air Show, which starts June 19. It's the top aerospace trade show in the world, and Kemp said he wants to showcase Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace and other companies. Theres a lot of pent-up demand because I didnt go anywhere for two-and-a-half years because of COVID," Kemp said Monday. "So really, these trips are driven by the department saying, Hey, we havent been to the Paris Air Show in three years, Georgia hasnt, we need to go this year. In January, Kemp attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, saying he was pitching the state of Georgia's economic model and meeting with corporate executives. Last month, Kemp spent a week in Israel, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting Israeli industries including cybersecurity facilities. In 2019, Kemp went to South Korea, where he met with then-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Hyundai Motor Group officials. Last year Hyundai announced it was building a $5.5 billion electric vehicle factory near Savannah. In early 2020, Kemp went to Germany, a trip that officials credit with sparking his interest in electric vehicles. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Authorities in southern Greece said Monday that 90 migrants, including 37 children, have been rescued from a U.S.-flagged yacht believed to be sailing from Turkey to Italy. The rescue took place on Sunday after a passenger made a distress call off the Greek island of Kythira, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Athens. The coast guard said three vessels were involved in the rescue of 35 men, 18 women, 27 boys and 10 girls from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iraq, and Egypt. Two of the passengers were later arrested on smuggling charges and detained, while the others were taken to a nearby mainland port for registration. Smugglers in recent years have used yachts and sailboats, often later discovered to have been stolen at Turkish marinas, to try and avoid detection along routes to Europe. They often bypass Greece and head to the southern Italian mainland, which provides easier access to Central European countries. The longer trip to Italy is also more profitable, typically costing each passenger about $9,000, or about six times the amount charged by smugglers on Turkey's coast for a dinghy ride to an eastern Greek island. In October, at least six people died in Kythira when a sailboat with dozens of migrants on board hit rocks and partially sank, while 80 others were rescued. ___ Follow AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration Donald Trump at the North Carolina Republican Party convention, June 10. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters) They are still a distinct minority of their party, but a growing number of Republicans have stepped forward to offer criticism of former President Donald Trump following the unsealing of the Justice Department's indictment relating to his refusal to hand over classified documents after leaving the White House. Just over three-quarters of Republican voters (76%) said they were concerned that the charges being brought against Trump are politically motivated, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday. Trump has made that claim the centerpiece of his public defense. "ELECTION INTERFERENCE at a level never seen before in our Country!" he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday. But Republican backing of Trump, while still strong, appears to be slipping. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday found that 38% of Republicans now believe the charges against the former president are serious, up from 21% who were asked about the case in early April. As public opinion continues to be shaped about the indictment, some prominent Republicans albeit those who have occasionally criticized him before have stepped forward to do the unthinkable and break with Trump. Here's a roundup: Former Attorney General William Barr William Barr, attorney general during the Trump administration. (Jeff Roberson/AP) Much to Trumps dismay, his own former attorney general William Barr has been giving interviews on Fox News about the indictment. On Sunday he said the following: If even half of it is true, then hes toast. Its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. Barr also shot down the notion that Trump was being unfairly treated. Hes not a victim here. He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents, Barr said. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley at a town hall in Ankeny, Iowa, May 17. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) In a Monday interview with Fox News, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is also running for the Republican presidential nomination, said Trump put Americans serving in the U.S. military in danger. If this indictment is true, if what it says is actually the case, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security, she said. Haley: Two things can be true.. The DOJ and FBI have lost all credibility with the American people The second thing can also be true. If this indictment is true, President Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security.. pic.twitter.com/RUBX4lE48J Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2023 Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Shortly after the Justice Department unsealed the indictment against Trump, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska called the charges quite serious, adding that mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and methods they were obtained through. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. (Alex Brandon/AP) Another longtime foe of Trumps, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, again broke ranks from his party and praised the Justice Departments handling of the case. By all appearances, the Justice Department and special counsel have exercised due care, affording Mr. Trump the time and opportunity to avoid charges that would not generally have been afforded to others, he said in a statement, adding, 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. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Former New Jersey governor and current GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie. (Charles Krupa/AP) In a Friday interview with CNN, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is also challenging Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, called the indictment devastating. Its a very, very evidence-filled indictment, Christie said. 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 New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu Gov. Chris Sununu speaking in New York City on April 25. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Time) In a Sunday interview on the CBS program Face the Nation, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu predicted a guilty verdict. Theyre very real, theyre self-inflicted, this is nothing like weve ever anything weve seen before, Sununu said of the allegations. And theres very likely, I think, going to come down to some type of guilty verdict on the [former] president, at least on some of these charges. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson campaigning in Clive, Iowa, April 22. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) In a statement, former Arkansas Gov. and current Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson said Trump should end his campaign because of the indictment. These are serious allegations that are relevant in this campaign and should not be dismissed lightly, he said in an interview on Saturday with CNN. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) Over the weekend, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt became the the first GOP governor to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's rival in the Republican presidential primary. While Stitt did not mention the indictment specifically, he made clear that he thinks DeSantis is more electable than Trump. I really believe that we need somebody that can beat Joe Biden, and I think Ron DeSantis is the guy, Stitt said, adding that it is time to turn the page. BAGHDAD (AP) Iraq urged countries on Monday to repatriate their citizens from a sprawling camp in Syria housing tens of thousands linked to the extremist Islamic State group, saying it has become a source for terrorism. The statements were made during a conference in Baghdad discussing al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. Iraqi officials, the U.N. representative in Iraq, some members of the international coalition fighting IS and ambassadors of several countries were present. Al-Hol Camp named after a town near the Iraqi border is an open wound left by Syrias 12-year conflict. Tens of thousands of people were taken to the facility after the extremist group's defeat in Syria in March 2019. The camp holds about 51,000 people, the vast majority women and children, including the wives, widows and other family members of IS militants, mostly Syrians and Iraqis. There are also around 8,000 women and children from 60 other nationalities who live in a part of the camp known as the Annex. They are generally considered the most die-hard IS supporters among the camp residents. There have been concerns that children at the camp were being taught extremist ideology by their mothers. Experts have warned that a future generation of IS fighters could emerge from al-Hol. Ending the issue of al-Hol camp has become a top national interest for Iraq, said Ahmad Sahhaf, Iraqs Foreign Ministry spokesman, according to the countrys state news agency. Sahhaf called on the international community to urge all countries that have citizens at the camp to repatriate them as soon as possible in order to eventually close the camp" because it has become a dangerous epicenter for IS gatherings. Iraq has repatriated 1,396 families from al-Hol constituting 5,569 of its citizens over the past weeks, said Iraqs National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji who spoke at the conference. Despite the repatriations, some 25,000 Iraqis remain at the camp, making up nearly half its population. The camp's population is down from 73,000 people, mostly because thousands of its Syrian and Iraqi inhabitants were allowed to return home. But other countries have largely balked at taking back their nationals, who traveled to join IS after the radical group seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Despite the extremist group's defeat in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in both countries. Over the past years, grisly crimes were committed inside al-Hol. Earlier this month, The U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced it handed over 50 Iraqi IS fighters to Baghdad. It also said that it repatriated 170 Iraqis who were living at the camp. The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria has been urging countries to repatriate their citizens from the camp for years. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-hosted a meeting in Saudi Arabia for 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. ___ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report from Beirut. Lawmakers attend the parliamentary plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 30. Newsis The National Assembly voted Monday to reject a request for parliamentary consent to the potential arrests of two lawmakers accused of involvement in a cash-for-votes campaign ahead of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's 2021 leadership election. Prosecutors had sought arrest warrants for the two Reps. Youn Kwan-suk and Lee Sung-man for their alleged involvement in a campaign to distribute "cash envelopes" to Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) members to help then candidate Song Young-gil win the party chairmanship ahead of the party's national convention in May 2021. Song was ultimately elected the party chairman. Specifically, Youn was accused of handing over 60 million won ($46,595) to DPK lawmakers, while Lee allegedly gave campaign officials 10 million won so that the money could be provided to regional party officials The two left the party last month after the allegations surfaced and are now independents. The motion on Yoon was voted down 139-145 with nine abstentions, and the motion on Lee was rejected 132-155 with six abstentions. National Assembly consent is necessary to arrest them because by law, legislators are immune from arrest while parliament is in session, a measure designed to shield lawmakers from political persecution. In order for an arrest consent motion to pass, it requires majority support in a vote attended by at least half of all lawmakers. "Perhaps there was a widespread opinion among our party members that the investigation was excessive and the prosecution's request for arrest warrants was over the top," DPK lawmaker Lee So-young told reporters after the vote. Monday's votes marked the fourth time the National Assembly has rejected arrest motions for DPK lawmakers since the launch of the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Previously, parliament rejected arrest motions for two DPK lawmakers, including leader Lee Jae-myung, while approving an arrest motion for a ruling party lawmaker. (Yonhap) ALMATY (Reuters) - Flags were lowered across Kazakhstan on Monday as the country mourned 14 forestry workers killed in a wildfire in the eastern Abai region. Firefighters were still struggling to contain the blaze raging across 43,000 hectares (106,000 acres) of land in the Central Asian nation, the government said. Officials said they had last heard from the workers on Thursday last week and their bodies were found on Saturday. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sacked Emergencies Minister Yuri Ilyin over the weekend, saying "criminal negligence" was behind the disaster. The new minister, Syrym Sharipkhanov, said it could still take a few more days to extinguish the blaze, news website Tengrinews.kz reported. He said about 1,500 people equipped with hundreds of vehicles and 12 helicopters were working at the scene, in the region the borders Russia and China. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Heavens) MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday she will step down this Friday to seek the ruling party's presidential nomination, bidding to become the country's first female leader in an election due to be held next year. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) said on Sunday it would on Sept. 6 announce the winning candidate from its internal selection process. Sheinbaum is one of the favorites. Most opinion polls have tended to give Sheinbaum a slight advantage in the race for the nomination over her rival Marcelo Ebrard, who said he was standing down as foreign minister earlier on Monday to compete in the contest. MORENA is heavily favored to win the June 2024 presidential election, lifted by Lopez Obrador's personal popularity. The 60-year-old Sheinbaum underlined her credentials as a scientist and environmentalist in a speech she gave to announce her resignation. At the weekend, MORENA's leadership agreed that the contenders should step down this week to compete. "It's the time for women," Sheinbaum said, pledging to continue Lopez Obrador's so-called 'transformation' of Mexico. Ebrard, who announced his plan to resign last week, had argued that prospective candidates should leave their posts to ensure a level playing field. Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez, another contender, is also expected to resign. Lopez Obrador cannot seek re-election because Mexican presidents are restricted to a single six-year term by law. (Reporting by Dave Graham; Writing by Sarah Morland) By Diego Ore MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) said on Sunday its candidate for the 2024 presidential election will be announced on Sept. 6 after polling to pick a winner. Five polls will be held, Alfonso Durazo, MORENA governor of the northern state of Sonora, said following a meeting of the leftist party's leadership in Mexico City aimed at setting out rules for the internal contest. MORENA has such a commanding lead in opinion polls for the June 2024 election that many analysts view the party's internal race as tantamount to a de facto presidential election. All those competing for the party's candidacy must step down from public office to campaign, MORENA's board resolved. That decision had been widely anticipated, and followed what party insiders said was a recommendation made by Lopez Obrador on Monday evening which aimed at keeping his movement united. "Unity, unity," chanted the contenders during the meeting. The decision follows months of pressure from Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to have the MORENA hopefuls jockeying for the nomination stand down, arguing that it was the only way to ensure a level playing field in the contest. Ebrard is one of the leading candidates to secure the presidential nomination, and his attitude had fed concerns that he could split from MORENA and weaken the party. Ebrard said he would stand down from his post on Monday, June 12. Most recent opinion polls have tended to show Ebrard slightly trailing Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum in the race to win the nomination. Debates are not expected to happen, but contenders will be able to campaign across Mexico from June 19 to Aug. 27, MORENA party chairman Mario Delgado said. Ebrard has been pressing for debates between the candidates to take place. The polls will be conducted between Aug. 28 and Sept 3. The party also proposed that whoever wins invite the contenders placing second and third to be part of their campaign and offer them a job in their administration, assuming MORENA wins. Lots will be drawn to select the four pollsters tasked with carrying out the polling, which also will include one conducted by the party's polling commission, Durazo said. Some details on the polling are still to be worked out. Lopez Obrador, whose personal popularity has underpinned support for his party, cannot run again because Mexican law restricts presidents to a single six-year term. (Reporting by Diego Ore and Dave Graham; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Diane Craft) North Carolina leaders are considering legislation intended to improve the states ability to hold children accountable for committing crimes and increase mental health evaluations and treatment for a vulnerable population. Critics, however, say that the bill wrongly excludes too many young defendants. The latest juvenile justice legislation introduced into the General Assembly outlines a new process for teenagers and younger kids accused of crimes whose age or mental health may prevent them from understanding the judicial process or defend themselves against allegations. Children and teenagers who face serious felony charges will not be eligible, however. Instead, they will be transferred to the adult court system and follow its rules, which place more emphasis on punishment than rehabilitation. The proposed change will help more kids, especially the younger ones, to be evaluated and receive needed services, said William Lassiter, who oversees North Carolinas Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The current evaluation process, which is the same as adults, falls short of addressing unique needs of youth, including assessing whether they are mature enough to understand the system, Lassiter and other experts said. We should have had a juvenile standard a long time ago, Lasssiter said. William Lassiter, Deputy Secretary for Juvenile Justice with the NC Department of Public Safety, speaks during a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, June 30, 2021. New process The bill outlines a process that includes inquiring about the capacity of children under 12 the first time they appear in court. In the judicial system, capacity centers on how well a child understands the judicial process and can participate in their defense. In other instances, the prosecutor, attorney or others may raise the concern, allowing the court to appoint a forensic evaluator after a hearing. The evaluation will determine whether a child is unable to understand or participate in the process due to mental disorder, intellectual disability, neurological disorder, brain injury or developmental immaturity. Under the current law, the definition of not having capacity centers on not understanding the system by reason of mental illness or defect. That phrasing doesnt make it clear whether youth who are too immature to understand the system fit in that category, Lassiter and other experts said. The bill also outlines a process to provide services for three years for kids who are charged with the most serious offenses but are found not to have capacity. The proposed change is estimated to cost about $200,000 the first year and $1 million the second year to pay for the evaluations and services, Lassiter said. With exclusions The proposal to improve evaluations of young defendants capacity was discussed years ago by the Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction Advisory Committee, which was established in 2017 to plan what became monumental changes in North Carolinas juvenile justice system. Those include no longer automatically transferring 16- and 17-year-olds accused of crimes to adult court unless they are charged with serious crimes or have previous felony convictions. That change went into effect December 2019. The legislation now under consideration would create a standard process by which the mental capacity and maturity of young defendants would be evaluated while they are under the juvenile justice system, followed by plans for services for each child. The bill also makes plain that this process wouldnt apply to youths charged with the most serious crimes, which some deeply familiar with North Carolinas efforts to reform juvenile justice oppose. State Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat, said a childs age, not their charge, should decide where they are evaluated. Its unfair that these kids are moved to the adult system, where their names and charges will become public, even if they are later determined to have a severe mental illness, Morey said. They are still young people, said Rep. Abe Jones, a Wake County Democrat and former Superior Court judge. We need these people to come in and help them out. Advocates also said the process leaves out the kids who need it the most. A survey of children and teens committed to youth development centers, the most restrictive and intensive Juvenile Justice system disposition, revealed that 100% had at least one mental health diagnosis. On average, they had three mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses. In some cases, they had as many as nine. The Juvenile Jurisdiction Advisory Committees initial capacity proposal called for all young defendants to be evaluated in the juvenile court system. But such proposals get refined over time with compromises to win support from the influential North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys and other influential organizations, according to Lassiter and others. Those compromises included protecting a current process to automatically transfer 16- and 17-year-olds indicted by a grand jury for Class A through Class G felonies to adult court, meaning they would have to follow the adult capacity consideration process. Thirteen- to 15-year-olds charged with Class A felonies are also automatically transferred to adult court. Lorrin Freeman is the Wake County district attorney . Most violent felonies This and other similar bills working their way through the General Assembly strike a balance between preserving the practice of transferring youth facing serious felony charges and setting up better procedures to address capacity issues for other youth, wrote Kimberly Spahos, executive director of the NC Conference of District Attorneys. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman agrees, saying the cases transferred to the adult system are almost always the most violent felonies, including cases involving murder, Freeman wrote in an email. Superior Court judges routinely hear these motions in those cases and are best positioned to make the determination, she wrote. Inasmuch as these are most often cases of significant community impact as to public safety, I have concerns about these sorts of matters being considered and determined under the cloak of confidentiality that exists in juvenile court, she wrote. The current system allows charges to be dismissed for defendants who will never be able to understand court proceedings or help defend themselves.. The new bill better outlines a remediation process that will prevent future dismissals or situations where kids abuse the loophole to escape charges, Lassiter said. Julie Boyer, a Winston-Salem based attorney who specializes in juvenile cases, said in her experience those types of cases are rarely dismissed. Typically, with serious charges, court officials work to rehabilitate the child or is transferred to adult court. Boyer, who often represents children charged with serious charges, said its unfortunate that most of her clients wont benefit from the changes in capacity assessments. NC bill would let law enforcement release names, photos of some juvenile suspects As teen murder cases advance, will North Carolina DAs push for life sentences? A blip or a trend? The number of NC minors committing violent crimes rose in 2022 Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism. MOSCOW (AP) President Vladimir Putin on Monday marked the Day of Russia national holiday by lauding the country's patriotic tradition as a support for soldiers fighting in Ukraine. This public holiday marks the inseparability of centuries-old history, the greatness and glory of the Fatherland, affirms the unity of the multinational people, devotion to their country, a warm, sincere attitude towards their beloved Motherland, he said at a ceremony presenting state awards. Such keen feelings ... in a difficult time for Russia, they unite our society even more strongly, serve as a reliable support for our heroes, the participants in the special military operation, Putin said, using the Russian official terminology for the Ukraine conflict. The holiday comes amid intensifying counteroffensive operations by Ukraine against Russian forces that occupy about 20% of the country. Ukrainian officials in recent days claimed to have regained control of some villages and to have made advances at some points along the front line. Although Russia has been widely criticized for strikes on civilian targets including apartment buildings, Putin told recipients of the state awards that he was shocked by Ukraine attacking civilian areas. I cant understand in any way why the enemy is striking residential areas. What for? Why? What is the point? (They are striking) clearly humanitarian facilities. What is the point of this? There is no military point, there is none," he said. The Day of Russia marks Russia's declaration of sovereignty in 1990, when it was still part of the Soviet Union. As part of that declaration, Russia asserted that its own laws took precedence over Soviet legislation. The move is seen as marking the beginning of constitutional reform in Russia, which became independent in the USSR's collapse in 1991. BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said he had resigned on Monday as part of a ruling coalition deal for a rotating premiership, meant to ensure stability but which has stalled policymaking and delayed European Union recovery funds. Ciuca's centre-right Liberals and their former rivals, the leftist Social Democrats (PSD) formed a grand coalition government in late 2021 together with a junior partner, the ethnic Hungarian UDMR, following the collapse of a previous centrist cabinet after less than one year in office. At the time, the main parties agreed to rotate prime ministers, with the Liberals' party leader Ciuca going first. President Klaus Iohannis is widely expected to designate Social Democrat party leader Marcel Ciolacu as the next prime minister, with a vote in parliament later this week. "Our objective is to have a new government sworn in by Thursday," Ciuca told reporters, "so that we can continue ... to handle the priorities." Ciolacu has said he sees the current coalition going forward even after a general election in 2024 for the sake of policy continuity. Romania, one of the EU's least developed states, has had 11 prime ministers since it joined the bloc in 2007. The new cabinet could face unrest from a disgruntled public sector over pay demands, as well as pressure to enforce already delayed economic reforms agreed with the European Commission in exchange for recovery funds. Meanwhile, Romania must bring its consolidated budget deficit below the EU's 3% ceiling by 2024, when the country holds presidential, general, local and European elections. The three coalition parties are still negotiating key jobs in the swap. The PSD holds the powerful finance, farming, defence and transport ministries and the Liberals are at the helm of departments such as justice, energy, home and foreign affairs. The two parties often clash over key policy measures including a flat tax on income, a legacy item for the Liberals that the PSD want to replace with progressive taxation. The Romanian leu was down 0.1% versus the euro on the day. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Mark Heinrich) A section of Philadelphia's I-95 has collapsed after a tanker truck, carrying flammable cargo, caught fire caught fire beneath the highway. The Philadelphia Fire Department said it responded to the scene at the Cottman Avenue exit in Northeast Philly at 6:30 a.m. The blaze was under control by 7:30 a.m., but both sides of the roadway remain closed. Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management tweeted that all lanes of I-95 are closed between the Woodhaven and Aramingo exits. There's no official word on whether anyone was injured, but the fire from it caused a major portion of the interstate above to completely buckle. "At least one vehicle is still trapped underneath the collapsed roadway. Preliminary reports indicate that a commercial truck carrying a petroleum-based product was the source of the fire," said Gov. Josh Shapiro. "We're still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse." The governor also said he plans to issue a disaster declaration on Monday that will help expedite the process of getting federal funding. Explosions surrounding the collapse came as a result of the fire, according to Derek Bowmer, battalion chief for the Philadelphia Fire Department. He said the explosions were caused by "runoff of maybe some fuel or gas lines that could have been compromised by the accident," Bowmer said in a news conference Sunday, according to CNN. "We have fire coming out of those manholes," he said. Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management, said officials face a big feat ahead. "Today is going to be a long day. Obviously with I-95 northbound gone, and southbound questionable, it's going to be even longer than that," Mireles said in a news conference. He said efforts are just in the preliminary stages, and right now agencies both from within and outside of Philadelphia are getting together to determine next steps. Shapiro also said Philadelphia Police and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency have been on scene assisting local first responders. Two adventure-seeking septuagenarians set out early Saturday on a 7,000-mile round trip from Cambria to the Arctic Ocean, the final stretch of which will be in a car thats older than they are. Jay Burbank of Cambria and South Carolina resident Charlie Enxuto will travel about 5,000 of those miles driving a 1931 Model A Ford, a slant-window town sedan converted to look like a U.S. Army Air Corps generals staff car from World War II. That includes 1,400 miles on the graveled Dempster Highway. The men are 77 and 75 years old, respectively. For the rest of the trip, from Cambria to Prince George, British Columbia, and back, the men will tow the antique auto in a 14-foot car hauler behind a Cadillac SUV. Firefighter Tim Murdoch of Cambria will join them on the final leg of the journey, likely in the SUV while Burbank and Enxuto drive the 1931 Ford. The trailer also will provide a place to mount a Cascadia Vehicles rooftop tent for camping and room to carry filled fuel cans. The back-up supplies arent optional. There are long gaps without gas stations on the way to the edge of the continent at Tuktoyaktuk in the Canadian Northwest Territories, explained Burbank, who owns the vehicles. The Model A gets about 15 mpg with a 10-gallon tank, he said, and the Caddy gets about 15 mpg with a 25-gallon tank. Jay Burbank of Cambria will see about 1,400 miles of a 7,000 mile adventure from this drivers seat in his 1931 Model A town sedan, honoring veterans and raising money for alternative-education graduates. The trip will take him and friend Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina from Californias Central Coast through the U.S. and Canada to the Arctic Circle. Theyll trailer the antique vehicle the rest of the way. SLO County man known for travels in antique vehicles Burbank has lots of experience doing other long, international drives in the the 1931 Ford now known as Military Maxi and another, smaller Model A. Since taking a 2001 trek through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy, hes done antique car tours, runs and rides along the West and East coasts of the United States as well as 18 foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada and Australia. Why travel from Californias Central Coast to the edge of the Arctic Ocean, partly in an antique auto? For the beauty, the people and the adventure, doing something other people think is impossible, Burbank said, and to honor military veterans. The idea started with a challenge, he said. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina take a pause Friday, June 9, 2023, before they load Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan, a cartop tent, fuel cans and more into the trailer before departing Saturday, June 10, 2023 for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll drive one-fifth of the journey in the antique vehicle on the graveled Dempster Highway. While on a Model A trip in Utah, Burbank told a man from Canada that Someday, Id like to do the Alcan Highway in Alaska, the Cambria man recalled. Do you want to do an ordinary road like that or have an adventure? the Canadian asked, referring to the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, above the Arctic Circle. While Burbanks wife of 57 years, Pat Burbank, often accompanies her husband on his antique auto trips, shes bowing out of this jaunt. The short answer is no, she said. Its a guys trip. Theyre going to be camping in bear country, and nobodys told me for sure that bears cant climb a ladder to a car-top tent. Jay Burbank said he and Enxuto plan to protect themselves with a large supply of bear spray and loud sound-emitting devices designed to repel aggressive wildlife. Hes also taking a protective screen to keep gravel and rocks away from Military Maxis engine and windscreen. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina begin loading Friday, June 9, 2023, up for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll do one-fifth of the journey driving Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan. That portion of the trip will be on the graveled Dempster Highway. Trip to Arctic Circle is tribute to veterans Burbank is an Air Force veteran who served two tours in Guam and Okinawa. He met Enxuto, who was in the U.S. Army, in 2007 on a small-ship cruise of the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. The two immediately bonded over their shared passions for photography and travel. Enxuto has accompanied Burbank on previous Model A adventures, starting in 2008 on a voyage that went from Cambria to Vancouver, British Columbia, across Canada and then to Mackinac Island, Michigan. In 2019, Burbank repainted and reoutfitted his Model A so he could participate in a recreation of a military convoy a century earlier from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco on a route now known as the Lincoln Highway. Jay Burbank, at left, and Tully Garrett of Wilmington, Illinois, pose in 2019 after Garrett signed his fathers name on Burbanks 1931 Model A, in honor of the mans military service, wartime injuries and experiences. It was the first of hundreds of veterans autographs Burbank has collected on the antique auto since then. On that trip, Burbank was approached by Tully Garrett, co-owner of the Launching Pad Drive-in on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois. The son of a veteran, Garrett told Burbank how his father was wounded during the invasion of Iwo Jima and how the injured man played dead for two days as he lay on the black sand beach, hearing fellow Marines being killed. I was so moved by the story that I asked Tully to sign Military Maxi with a Sharpie pen in honor of his fathers memory, Burbank said. Since then, Burbanks car has been autographed by or on behalf of 700 to 800 veterans. Hes lost count of how many names are there. After names fill up a section of the vehicles exterior, Burbank puts a clear coat on it to preserve the signatures and protect them from sun and rain. About 700 to 800 signatures from U.S. military veterans adorn the 1931 Model A Ford town car that Jay Burbank of Cambria converted to look like a World War II Generals staff car. He plans to collect a lot more names on the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, which is dedicated to U.S. and Canadian veterans, especially those who served during wartime. Maggie Cox is an organizer with Honor Flight Central Coast California, which takes veterans on free Tour of Honor trips to Washington, D.C. Jay is one of those amazing veterans who is still giving his time and heart in service to others, Cox said. Hes working the Maxi project and raising funds, driving (Maxi) to Calabasas to honor a 97-year-old WWII vet, then bringing his special spirit on our trip to D.C. He is someone special. Burbank went to Calabasas because the man hadnt been able to attend a pre-flight luncheon at which all the other Honor Flight vets signed Maxi. He was so excited. His blue eyes were just sparkling, Burbank said of the man. The car does such neat things to people, Burbank said. Jay Burbank of Cambria, at left, and Charlie Enxuto of South Carolina take a pause Friday, June 9, 2023, before they load Burbanks 1931 Model A town sedan, a cartop tent, fuel cans and more into the trailer before departing Saturday, June 10, 2023 for their 7,000-mile roundtrip adventure to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. Theyll drive one-fifth of the journey in the antique vehicle on the graveled Dempster Highway. Trip has special meaning for Cambria man In addition to honoring veterans, the trip will serve as a fundraiser. Burbank and Enxuto are collecting donations for scholarships given annually by Cambrias American Legion Post No. 432 to students at Leffingwell High School. The men hope to raise enough for an endowment that would fund at least four $1,000 scholarships per year for Leffingwell grads. The continuation high school, which celebrated the Class of 2023 in a graduation ceremony on June 1, serves the needs of alternative education students in Cambria, San Simeon and Cayucos, according to its website. That cause has special significance for Burbank. As a child and adolescent in the 1960s, Burbank dealt with undiagnosed dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He never graduated from high school, he said, and as a young man, he found it hard to concentrate or make friends. With guidance, determination and grit, he began to bloom. In the military, Burbank developed skills as an aircraft mechanic working on Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. He went on to become a master wood crafter, metalsmith, photographer and warmly effective communicator. In Cambria and as part of American Legion Post No. 432, he and his wife found a welcoming community and many devoted friends. The retired couple devote their time now to giving back to that community and veterans. To donate to the scholarship fund, go to legionpost432.com To track the travelers adventures through the wilds, follow Pat Burbanks trip blog at jayspatsadventures.blog. SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese warships are conducting salvage operations in waters where a North Korean space rocket crashed last month, South Korea said on Monday. The South Korean military is carrying out its own search for wreckage of the North Korean space vehicle that plunged into waters near the west coast island of Eocheongdo. The rocket came down in the sea at a point where the exclusive economic zones of China and South Korea meet, according to the South Korean military. South Korea has pulled some debris from water including a large cylindrical object. "Regarding the Chinese vessels, a salvage operation is currently being carried out at a point 200 km (124 miles) west of Eocheongdo, and the waters are open sea," Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a regular briefing on Monday. "We understand that some Chinese warships are active in that open sea," Lee said, adding that there were "no disturbances" around the Chinese activity that required any response from the South Korean side. His comments came after NK News, a Seoul-based website monitoring North Korea, reported on Friday that Chinese vessels have intensified patrols in the Yellow Sea where debris from North Korea's failed satellite launch fell. On May 31, North Korea launched its first spy satellite into space, although it ended in failure with the booster and payload plunging into the sea. It has vowed to conduct another satellite launch soon. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Korea should double down on technological renovation Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI, met President Yoon Suk Yeol and representatives of domestic startups, Friday. After visiting Europe in May, Altman also traveled to Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates to meet with government and parliamentary authorities there. In an unprecedented move, he met with startup entrepreneurs in Korea. Altman, called the "father of ChatGPT," and also the CEO of the U.S.-based artificial intelligence (AI) technology company, said he would seek investment opportunities and expand cooperation with Korean firms. "We are exploring investing more in Korean startups and are very excited to explore joint chip cooperation to develop AI accelerators," Altman told a group of some 130 startup leaders. Attendees of the event, hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, showed keen interest in the direction, ethics and regulations of AI-related technology. Minister Lee Young pointed out that more than 200,000 AI-based startups are founded in Korea every year and sought more business opportunities between those companies and OpenAI. Altman responded, "I think the next three years will probably be the greatest startup opportunity since the internet" He also positively assessed possible collaborations with Korea's Big Tech companies such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group and LG Electronics. He also met with Korean AI developers and founders during another event organized by Softbank Ventures. The potential collaboration between OpenAI and domestic startups is very meaningful in that it will help both expand business scope and items. As Altman put it, now is the opportune time for technological renovation. AI has become state-of-the-art and is poised to expand its ecosystem network at full throttle, reminiscent of the emergence of the internet and cellular phones, which ultimately overhauled the industrial landscape. It is heralding a "big bang" in the industrial paradigm with the possible advent of the 5th Industrial Revolution. In order to survive increasingly tougher global competition, enterprises should tackle diverse challenges. The Yoon Suk Yeol government, for its part, should roll up its sleeves to help companies leap forward on the global stage by assisting with technological developments and deregulation. Altman praised Korea for taking the lead in the global AI ecosystem. Yet Korea needs to tackle tectonic challenges to lead the global AI market. Most urgently, it should nurture human resources. For instance, the U.S. federal government poured some 1 trillion won ($773 million) to establish an AI graduate school at MIT. China has been pushing for a project to raise some 5 million AI experts in the next five years. In contrast, Korea is suffering from a lack of professors and facilities despite sprouting AI-related departments and aspirants. For starters, Korea should realign its education curriculum and other systems in universities while strengthening cooperation between industries and academia, thus laying the ground for creating AI experts and prompting relevant research and development. The administration should take measures to boost the technology renovation. Businesses should also sharpen their global competitiveness by applying AI in all processes of manufacturing and marketing as well as R&D. Altman reckons that semiconductors are the sector that Korea should designate as its first priority. He underscored the need for Korea to expand its capabilities in the production of system chips, the setup of an AI ecosystem through deregulation, and play a leading role in setting up an international standard. Korea has been focusing on boosting semiconductors as its backbone industry. In March, the Yoon government announced a plan to construct the world's largest system chip cluster by investing 300 trillion won in the Seoul metropolitan area. The plan should be progressed without interruption. It is time for the government and the private sector to combine their efforts to enable Korea to play a leading role in the forthcoming AI era. GENEVA (Reuters) -Swiss authorities said that several government websites were targeted in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Monday that was claimed by pro-Russian hackers. The attack comes as the Swiss parliament prepares for a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy scheduled for Thursday and coincides with a national holiday in Russia. Switzerland's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said that "various websites of the Federal Administration and enterprises affiliated with the Confederation were unavailable" in the wake of the attack, claimed by the NoName hacking group. "The NCSC is analysing the attack together with the administrative units concerned and defining appropriate measures," it said in a statement. The NCSC, which did not link Zelenskiy's upcoming address to the attack, said the NoName group had also been behind a separate attack against the Swiss parliament's website last week. In a post on the Telegram messenger service, the group said the attack against the parliament's website last week had been carried out to "thank Swiss Russophobes" for adopting another EU sanctions package against Moscow. The group, which pledged to continue defending Russian interests "on the information front," added it had taken down the websites of Switzerland's justice ministry and police. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Hugh Lawson) The words Tom Holland and spoilers can immediately illicit snickering. There are compilation videos on YouTube of the Spider-Man star accidentally revealing too much about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His slip-ups and near-giveaways have become a running joke among his co-stars and filmmakers. The actor found himself in familiar territory with his new twisty, surprise-laden series The Crowded Room, now streaming on Apple TV+ and says by comparison, keeping quiet about Marvel is a piece of cake. With Marvel... its all about the villain, the costume, the locations, the end result. Theyre relatively easy to keep those things a secret," said Holland in a recent interview. I know that sounds stupid coming from me because I spoil everything, but with The Crowded Room there are so many twists and turns in this show that people wont be expecting. It really is a puzzle. The limited-series takes place in 1970s New York with Holland as Danny, a young man arrested in connection with a crime. His accomplices are nowhere to be found and an investigator assigned to the case (played by Amanda Seyfried) conducts a series of interviews with Danny to piece together his involvement. Holland and Seyfried filmed their scenes out of order for almost three weeks straight" in an interrogation room. It sometimes was confusing. I needed to know exactly where I was in the process with Danny, how much we knew or how much the audience knew and how much (Seyfried's character) Rya knew," she explained. It was tricky. Holland credits Seyfried for keeping him on track as they did over 100 pages of dialogue at that one table in that one room. Amanda is so talented, shes so professional. Shes able to keep it light when its dark, he said. There were certain times in that room where we were both just losing our minds, just scenes after scenes, after scenes after scenes. We were just a great team. Holland describes his work on The Crowded Room as the hardest job I've ever had, but equally probably the most rewarding. Danny is an exhausting character. Going to those places on a daily basis, having that haircut, shooting on the streets of New York, it was tough. It was not an easy show to make," but says watching the end result made him "happy that I dug my heels in and stuck with it. It was a really, really tough experience without a shadow of a doubt. He says halfway through filming he was counting down the days that I could take ... off and have some time to myself. He also served as a co-executive producer for the first time, which helped him to finally understand what the job entails. I spent the first 15 years of my career on set being like, What do all of these people do? Theyre all just sitting there. But having been a producer now myself, it is one of the most stressful things Ive ever done. Youre shooting in a car and the car breaks down and all of a sudden youre trying to figure out how to get a new car or how to turn the scene into a walking scene and all that sort of stuff." Since beginning his performing career at 11 in Billy Elliott the Musical, in London's West End, Holland says his formal education has been somewhat non-existent" so he appreciates the learning opportunities he gets from working. With The Crowded Room Holland says I learned a lot about myself. I learned about my capabilities as an actor. I learned about things that I can put up with. I feel like Im much more capable at dealing with adversities and fighting against things that are going wrong on set. I learned a lot about mental health. I learned a lot about the power of the human mind and the amazing things we can do to protect ourselves, to heal and to survive. One of two California Highway Patrol cars that landed in a La Puente home's frontyard. (KTLA-TV) Two California Highway Patrol cruisers in pursuit of a speeding motorcyclist on Saturday afternoon collided with each other and crashed through a La Puente home's wrought-iron fence coming to rest very close to the front of the house. "I see two Highway Patrols on the frontyard right by my mom's room, and I run to check on her," Nestor Rendon, an occupant of the home, told KABC-TV. "She was fine, thank God." Around 4:40 p.m. Saturday, California Highway Patrol officers attempted to pull over a motorcyclist traveling westbound on the 10 in the San Gabriel Valley, according to authorities. The motorcyclist continued to speed off, leading pursuing officers off the freeway. At the intersection of Ector Street and Hacienda Boulevard, the CHP cruisers crashed into each other, sending at least one bursting through a house's white wrought-iron fence and onto the frontyard, according to TV news outlets. Another car, unrelated to the police chase, also struck a nearby fire hydrant. No one was seriously injured, a CHP spokesperson said. But the crash was an alarming reminder of how often bystanders are swept up in the chaos of Southern California law enforcement pursuits. Los Angeles Police Department officers alone have been involved in at least 4,203 pursuits since 2018, according to an April report by The Times. About one-quarter (1,032) resulted in injuries or death, and people who aren't involved in the chase are more likely to be hurt or killed than the fleeing suspect. An aerial law enforcement unit found the suspect, who had ditched his bike and attempted to hide nearby. He was apprehended around 5:20 p.m. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration has taken diplomatic steps that have slowed down a Chinese effort to project military power around the world, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday ahead of a visit to Beijing later this week. Washington's top diplomat was asked at a press conference about Washington's response to a Wall Street Journal report last week that cited U.S. officials saying a new spying effort was underway on Cuba. Blinken said China's efforts in Cuba were part of a global effort by Beijing to expand its presence overseas, and that U.S. actions to address this since President Joe Biden came to power in January 2021 have produced results, without specifying what those results were. "Our experts assess that our diplomatic efforts have slowed down this effort by the PRC," Blinken said, referring to the People's Republic of China. China on Monday denied it was using Cuba as a spying base. Blinken said the administration of former President Donald Trump knew of a 2019 Chinese upgrade of intelligence-collection facilities in Cuba but efforts to address this "weren't making enough progress". Incoming Biden administration officials were briefed on efforts by China to "expand their overseas logistics, basing, collection infrastructure, to allow them to project and sustain military power at a greater distance", including the upgrade in Cuba, Blinken said. Biden instructed his team to take a more direct approach that has included engaging governments that are considering hosting Chinese bases and exchanging information with them, Blinken said. "Weve been executing on that approach quietly, carefully - but, in our judgment, with results - ever since. I cant get into every step that weve taken, but the strategy begins with diplomacy," Blinken said. (Reporting by Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Alex Richardson) TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The United Nations mission in Libya said on Monday it was concerned by the arbitrary arrest of migrants and asylum seekers in the country, accompanied by what it called a disturbing rise in hate speech and racist discourse. The mission said Libyan authorities had detained thousands of men, women and children from the streets and their homes, or following raids on alleged traffickers camps and warehouses. It said many of them, including children and pregnant women, were being detained in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and that thousands of others, including some who entered Libya legally, had been collectively expelled. Last week eastern Libya authorities deported thousands of migrants into Egypt, making them cross the border by foot. In Tripoli, migration police have recently deployed at a major city roundabout where many migrants gathered daily for work. Despite insecurity in Libya, where political control is contested and armed factions control most territory, the country is home to about half a million migrants. Some seek to travel onwards to Europe, others to work in the oil-financed economy. Both Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah in Tripoli and eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar recently travelled to Rome where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pushing to reduce migrant crossings to Italy. In eastern Libya, authorities said on Monday they had detained 20 Bangladeshi citizens aboard a boat attempting to cross illegally to Italy and that "all legal measures" had been taken against them. Mohammed Ismail, 48, a Sudanese metal worker who had arrived in Libya illegally said he had faced brutal treatment from people traffickers but had regularised his status with authorities. He was worried about reports of deportations, he said. In Tripoli, in the west, an Egyptian plumber who asked to remain anonymous because he feared reprisals, said many of his friends had been arrested. "I'm frightened of detention, kidnapping, being held for ransom and forcible deportation... it's difficult to survive in Libya," he said. The Government of National Unity in Tripoli and local authorities in eastern Libya did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the U.N. mission's statement. (Reporting by Reuters Libya newsroom; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Alex Richardson) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian troops have retaken seven villages spanning 90 square kilometers (35 square miles) from Russian forces in the past week, the deputy defense minister said Monday as the early stages of Kyiv's counteroffensive notched small successes. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on the Telegram app that the Ukrainian flag was again flying over the village of Storozhov, in the eastern Donetsk province, and that her troops had also retaken three other nearby small villages and three in neighboring Zaporizhzhia province. The battles are tough, but our movement is there, and that is very important, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address." He added that rainy weather is challenging his troops, and that he's discussed with his military commanders which points of the front we need to strengthen and what actions we can take to break more Russian positions. On Sunday, Ukrainian officials said their troops took the Donestk villages of Blahodatne, Makarivka and Neskuchne south of the town of Velyka Novosilka. Maliar reported Monday that the Zaporizhzhia province settlements of Lobkove, Levadne and Novodrivka were also now back under Ukrainian control. Russian officials did not confirm Ukraine's gains, which were impossible to verify and could be reversed in the to-and-fro of war. The gains amounted to only small bits of territory and underscored the difficulty of the battle ahead for Ukrainian forces, who will have to fight meter by meter to regain the roughly one-fifth of their country under Russian occupation. Recent fighting on the western edge of the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line has been complicated by a dam breach that sent floodwaters into a part of the Dnieper River separating the two sides. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that an effort to rid Ukraine of entrenched and powerfully armed Russian troops could take years, and the success of the Ukrainian counteroffensive is far from certain. French President Emmanuel Macron said in Paris that the Ukrainian counteroffensive began several days ago and is set to be deployed over several weeks, if not months. Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration of the Zaporizhzhia region at the western end of the front line, said heavy battles" were raging in the area Monday involving Russian artillery, mortars and air power. The villages are part of an area where the Russian front lines jut out into territory held by Ukraine. While just a few kilometers (more than 1 mile) deep, the protrusion has recently become one of several epicenters of intense fighting along the front line that cuts across southern and eastern Ukraine. Despite their small size, the capture of the villages involved an incursion into the first line of Russian defenses and could allow Ukrainian forces to try a deeper thrust into occupied areas. Russian forces control far less Ukrainian land than they did before a blistering Ukrainian counteroffensive last year that retook the northern city of Kharkiv and southern city of Kherson, among other places. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place without specifying whether it was the all-out counteroffensive that has long been expected after a vast infusion of Western firepower and air defense systems into Ukraine. A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that the counteroffensive had started and Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. Ukrainian forces have focused on the Zaporizhzhia region and an area near the devastated Donetsk city of Bakhmut, among other locations. Russian authorities have said their troops are largely holding their ground. But Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian military blogger who goes by the nickname WarGonzo, acknowledged Russian troops had withdrawn from Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka, and said Ukrainian forces were trying to push forward along the banks of the Mokri Yaly River on Monday. Alexandet Kots, military correspondent for Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, said Ukrainian forces were attempting to advance, despite heavy losses, toward the town of Staromlinovka, which sits on a strategic highway leading to the port city of Mariupol. Russian forces captured the city over a year ago, after Ukrainian forces held out for several months in a grueling and desperate defense. Separately Monday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said least four civilians were killed and 16 others wounded by Russian shelling over the last 24 hours. In Donetsk, Russian shelling hit nine towns and villages and left one civilian dead and two others wounded. Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko posted images of apartment buildings and a cultural center damaged by Russian strikes in the town of Avdiivka. In Kharkiv, to the north, Russian forces pummeled several settlements with artillery, mortar and rocket fire, wounding at least three people, regional state administration chief Oleh Synehubov wrote on Telegram. The reported Ukrainian advance came as authorities on both sides of the front line pressed on with rescue and relocation efforts for civilians in the Kherson region driven from their homes by flooding from the breach of the Kakhovka dam last week. With many homes and shops submerged in polluted river water, the U.N. and other aid groups say access to fresh drinking water is crucial and that water-borne diseases pose a big risk. Thousands of people have been evacuated, though some remain. Kherson Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Monday that water levels have been receding. They now average about 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) higher than normal down from about 5 meters at the peak level last week. More than 32 towns and villages remain flooded, he said, and Russian forces have continued shelling inundated areas held by Ukraine on the river's western bank. On Sunday, Prokudin said three people were killed when Moscows troops opened fire on a boat evacuating people from Russian-occupied areas toward Ukrainian-held ones. ___ Associated Press writers Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine By Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Monday its troops had recaptured a fourth village from Russian forces in a cluster of settlements in the southeast, where its forces have at last claimed gains in its long-anticipated counteroffensive. The task of ending Moscow's occupation of southern and eastern Ukraine is daunting, given Russia's numerical superiority in men, ammunition and air power, and the many months it has had to build deep defensive fortifications. On Monday, soldiers were seen in video holding the Ukrainian flag in the village of Storozheve, along the Mokri Yaly river which flows northward out of Russian-held territory. Reuters confirmed the location. "The Ukrainian military liberated another settlement - Storozheve," Kyiv's defence ministry said in a Telegram post. A day earlier Kyiv said its forces heading south had liberated three other nearby villages: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. The push is already Ukraine's most rapid advance for seven months, though still short of a major breakthrough, with Russia believed to have a strong line of fortifications further south. At the furthest claimed by Kyiv, it adds up to five km (three miles) in total, still some 90 km (55 miles) from the Azov Sea coast and the prize of cutting Russia's "land bridge" to Crimea, the peninsula Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. A Ukrainian defence spokesman said Russia had blown up a dam on the Mokri Yaly to make it harder for Ukrainian forces to push farther south. That came less than a week after a huge dam was destroyed on the much larger Dnipro River, causing a humanitarian catastrophe in a swathe of the south. Kyiv has also launched assaults at other locations along the huge front line, probing for Russian weaknesses, though it has given few details so far. TWO DOZEN HEAVY BATTLES Ukraine is banking on the tens of billions of dollars' worth of weaponry, training and intelligence it has received from the West, combined with its own battlefield resolve, tactical nous and the motivation of driving an invader from its own land, to give it the edge. It also knows it may have to show significant progress over the summer to maintain the same level of Western military, financial and political support, and one day have a chance of recovering from the loss and devastation inflicted by Moscow. Ukraine's armed forces said they had engaged in two dozen heavy battles in the previous 24 hours on the eastern front, near the town of Bakhmut, further south near Avdiivka and Maryinka, and further north near Bilohorivka. They have not been providing similar detail about fighting on the southern front, where the main counteroffensive is expected. Moscow has yet to officially acknowledge any Ukrainian advances. On Monday, Russia's defence ministry repeated regular assertions of the past week that it had repelled attempted offensives in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, and said it had hit Ukrainian army reserve locations with long-range missiles. But prominent Russian military bloggers said Ukrainian forces had in fact taken Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka, and were pushing on south. Ukraine's military also said on Monday it had liberated the village of Novodarivka in Zaporizhzhia region on June 4. Its forces repelled Russian efforts to retake the settlement, it said. MAIN ATTACK 'NOT YET STARTED' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said it was too soon to say exactly where Ukraine's counteroffensive was going but that Washington was confident Kyiv would continue to have success. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Blinken said the United States was determined to maximize its support for Ukraine. A "robust" package of political and practical support for Ukraine, Blinken added, could be expected at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. Some Western military analysts said it was too early to draw conclusions about the counteroffensive, and the skirmishes so far may show Ukraine is still just testing Russian defences. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine was attempting "an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation a frontal assault against prepared defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority", and that initial assaults should not be overinterpreted. Ben Hodges, a former commander of U.S. forces in Europe, said the main attack, when it came, would feature several hundred tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. "The offensive has clearly started, but not I think the main attack," which will involve large, armoured formations, he wrote in an article for the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis. Russia has yet to face this kind of onslaught, but its unconvincing battlefield performance in the 15 months since its full-scale invasion has led to frequent changes of command and public arguments with the private militias summoned to fight alongside the army. President Vladimir Putin marked Russia's national day with an award ceremony in the Kremlin, but made only glancing mention in his speech of the war he had unleashed, at enormous cost to his own citizens in lost lives, money and international relations. "Today, at a difficult time for Russia, [feelings of patriotism and pride] unite our society even more strongly ... [and] serve as a reliable support for our heroes taking part in the special military operation," he said. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth in Kyiv, Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Writing by Kevin Liffey and Alex Richardson; Editing by Peter Graff and Conor Humphries) 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) Seonjuk Bridge (right) and its smaller replacement bridge (left) can be seen in the center of the image. In the background is Pyochung where two stone steles are kept commemorating the assassination one erected by King Yeongjo in 1740 and the other by King Gojong in 1872. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff John Baptiste Bernadou, a 24-year-old ensign in the United States Navy and temporarily assigned to the legation in Seoul, visited Gaeseong for a very short time in early July 1884 while on his way to Pyongyang. Bernadou's descriptions of Gaeseong are anemic especially in regard to the ruins of the city. According to Bernadou: "The ruins of the former palace are still be seen; they are to the northward of the city, at the foot of a range of granite hills like those at [Seoul]. The foundations along remain. Circular grooves, cut in certain stones such as are now made, would seem to show that the structures were of wood like those of the present day. A few walls and wide flights of ruined steps remain; the base of a small pavilion, a pile or rectangular blocks of stone, is the only structure standing." It appears Bernadou was referring to Manwoldae Palace (Palace of the Full Moon). Construction was started in 919 and completed in 1029. The palace was no stranger to fire and was frequently damaged the final time in 1362. It is a shame Bernadou did not make the effort to describe some of the other sites he encountered. Sungyangseowon in the first part of the 20th century Robert Neff Collection Not far from the city, he likely crossed a small stream by means of a double bridge two bridges side-by-side. The newer bridge was used by travelers to cross the stream while the ancient stone bridge enclosed by a stone fence, known as Seonjuk Bridge, was honored by the residents of Gaeseong. It is probably safe to assume he knew nothing about the alleged dark role Seonjuk Bridge played in the establishment of the Joseon Kingdom. Legend claims that on April 26, 1392 (solar calendar), 54-year-old Jeong Mong-ju, a very influential official of the Goryeo court, was riding home after a banquet at General Yi Seong-gye's house. His attendance at the banquet spelled his doom. It was no secret that Jeong was opposed to Yi Seong-gye and his reforms and would oppose him in any way that he could. When Yi's fifth son, Yi Bang-won, noticed Jeong at the banquet, the two dueled one another with words they used poetry. Yi Bang-won subtly encouraged Jeong to sway from his support to the king and Jeong refused with verse. Here is the verse translated into English in the early 20th century: By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he is concerned that Russia will on July 17 quit a deal allowing the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizers from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Moscow has been threatening to walk away from the deal known as the Black Sea grain initiative - brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year - if obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer shipments are not removed. "I am concerned and we are working hard in order to make sure that it will be possible to maintain the Black Sea initiative and at the same time that we are able to go on in our work to facilitate Russian exports," Guterres told reporters. To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea grain deal, a three-year memorandum of understanding was struck at the same time under which U.N. officials agreed to help Russia with its own food and fertilizer exports. While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Saturday that Russia "cannot be satisfied with how this memorandum is being implemented", the TASS news agency reported. He was speaking after meeting with top U.N. trade official Rebeca Grynspan in Geneva on Friday. Among the demands made by Russia are the resumption of its ammonia exports via a pipeline to Ukraine's port of Pivdennyi and the reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT international payment system. The United Nations has helped boost Russian exports of food and fertilizers, facilitating a steady flow of ships to its ports and lower freight and insurance rates, a U.N. spokesman said on Friday. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Rami Ayyub and Mark Heinrih) By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has made its concerns known to the Cuban government about Cuba hosting Chinese spy operations on its territory, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday. Kirby said the bilateral relationship with China was tense at the moment, but President Joe Biden was committed to keeping the lines of communication open. He told a White House briefing that he would not expect recent reports about a Chinese spy base in Cuba to affect a planned visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China later this week. "We understand the bilateral relationship with China is tense right now, and nothing's changed about the fact that the president wants to keep the lines of communication open with the PRC," Kirby told reporters, using the initials for the People's Republic of China. The Wall Street Journal last week quoted U.S. officials as saying a new Chinese spying effort was underway on Cuba. China on Monday denied it was using Cuba as a spying base. Blinken told reporters on Monday that China's efforts in Cuba were part of a global push by Beijing to expand its presence overseas, but U.S. actions since Biden came to power in January 2021 had "slowed down this effort." (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason and Andrea Shalal; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Wichita police arrested two Wichita men in connection with an extensive narcotics investigation on Friday. Both 37-year-old Oscar Martinez-Ortiz and 60-year-old Ignacio Negrete-Diaz of Wichita were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance and distribution, Wichita police said in social media post. The department had been investigating a liquid meth operation that was transporting illegal drug from Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona to the Wichita area, police said. Officers conducted a search warrant at a home in the 2000 block of S. Greenwich. The search turned up around 28 to 30 gallons of liquid meth, the post read. What the officers seized from this house could have been converted into approximately 300 pounds of crystal meth, the post added. The estimated street value of this seizure is approximately $972,857.00. Sen. Mitt Romneys (R-Utah) approval rating dropped by 11 percentage points since March, according to a new poll, as the former Republican presidential candidate is set to decide whether to run for a second term in the U.S. Senate. In a recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, Romneys approval rating among Utah voters dropped to 41 percent, down 11 points from March, when 52 percent of Utah voters said they either strongly or somewhat approved of the senator. Romneys disapproval rating increased by 5 percentage points, with 49 percent of respondents saying they disapproved of Romney, up from 44 percent in March. Ten percent of respondents said they dont know, up from 4 percent in March. When asked whether they approve or disapprove of Romneys performance, 15 percent of respondents said they strongly approve, 26 percent said they somewhat approve, 19 percent said they somewhat disapprove, 30 percent said they strongly disapprove, and 10 percent said they dont know. The poll, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates from May 22 to June 1, surveyed 798 Utah voters and had a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percentage points. In the most recent poll, Utahns were split on whether Romney should run for reelection, but a majority of Democrats said he should run again, whereas a majority of Republicans said he should not. Asked whether he should run again, 51 percent of all respondents said no, 47 percent said yes, and 3 percent said they didnt know. Among Republican voters, 54 percent said Romney should not run again. Among Democratic voters, nearly 55 percent said Romney should. Romney has distinguished himself in the U.S. Senate as one of the few members willing to vocally criticize former President Trump. He was the sole Republican to vote to convict Trump in the former presidents first impeachment trial. He was acquitted. Romney filed paperwork to run for reelection, but he has yet to announce whether he would run again. Filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission allows Romney to raise money before making his official announcement. If Romney does run for reelection, he is certain to face a primary challenge. He recently said he would announce his decision in the summer or fall. I am doing what Ive got to do to make sure that if I decide to run again, Ill win. So Im raising money, I put together a team and keeping my options open, he said, Desert News reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The U.S. has told the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that it is interested in re-joining the agency, nearly six years after withdrawing its membership. A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Axios that the U.S. privately notified the UN agency of its interest in rejoining, saying that Richard Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for management and resources, sent a letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay last week proposing a plan for the U.S. to rejoin the agency. A source told the media outlet that the proposed plan, which was negotiated between the State Department and UNESCO, detailed a timetable for paying the U.S. debt and being readmitted to the agencys executive board. Lawmakers approved a bill last year that allocated more than $500 million needed to pay the U.S. debt to UNESCO in an effort to allow its return as a full member, according to Axios. Another source told Axios that Azoulay office informed ambassadors of all member states of a meeting set for Monday, where the director-general will brief members of the U.S. plans to return to the agency, also asking for their approval to hold a special general conference meeting next month to welcome the U.S. decision and approve their plans to rejoin the agency. Its been nearly six years since the then-Trump administration announced it would leave UNESCO due to what it called anti-Israel bias. Last year, Israel, who also left the agency, informed the State Department that it wouldnt be opposed to a U.S. return to the agency. Rejoining the UN-based agency is a top foreign policy goal of the Biden administration, in part to counter the growing influence of the Chinese government in UNESCO, Axios reported. The Hill has reached out to the State Department for comment and more information. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The White House on Monday renewed its support for the Biden administrations pistol brace ban, threatening to veto a resolution that has been linked to the House conservatives revolt. The GOP resolution disapproves of the Department of Justices Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule relating to Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached Stabilizing Braces, which the Biden administration released in January. The rule, which has been a target of conservatives since Attorney General Merrick Garland announced it, would reclassify pistols that have a stabilizing brace as short-barreled rifles and require those with existing pistols that have stabilizing braces to have registered with the government by May 31, 2023. But, last week the resolutions sponsor, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), claimed that GOP leadership told him if he didnt support advancing the debt limit deal, the resolution would be tough to bring to the floor. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has denied the claim and that leadership is working to bring it to the floor, Fox News reported. The president made clear Monday that if the resolution reached his desk, he would veto it. Even though Congressional Republicans should take additional action to keep these and other dangerous weapons off our streets, they are instead pushing a resolution to reverse this rule and the progress we have made to enforce existing statutory requirements on these dangerous weapons, according to the White Houses Statement of Administration Policy. The House Judiciary Committee was set to mark up a resolution to nullify the rule in March but postponed it following the mass shooting at a Nashville, Tenn. The rationale is clear: short-barreled rifles are more concealable than long guns, yet more dangerous and accurate at a distance than traditional pistols, according to the White House statement, outlining that Congress restricted them in 1934. Recently, however, the gun industry has circumvented this longstanding law by manufacturing and selling so-called stabilizing braces that convert heavy pistols into short-barreled rifles, the statement said. It noted that the shooters in recent mass shootings like in Dayton, Ohio, and Boulder, Colo., used the brace devices on pistols. When the rule was announced, the Justice Department said that the new regulation ensures that manufactures, dealers and individuals who use stabilizing braces to convert pistols into rifles with a barrel of less than 16 inches should comply with the laws of short-barrel rifles. That marks a change from 2012, when the ATF said pistol attachments do not change the classification of a pistol. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) launched the Fight Like Hell PAC on Monday in an effort to boost Democrats running for federal office in 2024. When Michiganders gave me the honor of serving as their governor for a second term, I did not take that responsibility lightly, said Whitmer, who handily won her reelection bid last year in the battleground state, in a statement. Now, we must do everything we can to keep up the momentum for candidates who fight for everyday Americans and the will of the majority, she continued. While MAGA extremists do what they can to undermine our progress, I am committed to bolstering our efforts to elect partners at the federal level who will stand up and fight like hell for working families, seniors, and children across the country. Whitmer is considered a rising star within the Democratic Party. In 2020, she was among the contenders to be President Bidens running mate. Two years later, Whitmer led Michigans state-level Democratic ticket to victory amid fears Republicans would gain traction in the swing state. While Whitmers PAC will aid Democrats running at the federal level across the country, Michigan stands to be a battleground state going into 2024. In 2020, Biden won the state by under three points. The state also has an open Senate seat, which the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates as lean Democratic. Cook also rates Michigans seventh congressional district as a toss-up. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sheikh Saud Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi of Sharjah Emirates shakes hands with a robot at Naver's 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Courtesy of Naver By Baek Byung-yeul A delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), led by Sheikh Saud Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi of the Sharjah Emirates, visited a high-tech building owned by global tech platform Naver in Bundang south of Seoul, as the Middle Eastern country explores the possibility of cooperating with Korea on digital transformation and infrastructure building at the national level, the company said Monday. The visit comes as Naver reaches out to Middle Eastern countries to export high-tech products such as robots, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous driving, cloud computing, digital twin and 5G communication as part of the Korean company's overseas expansion strategies. Naver said the delegation's visit holds particular significance, since the sheik also heads the Sharjah Digital Office. Sharjah is the third-largest emirate in the UAE. The members of the royal delegation toured the 1784 building and got a taste of tech convergence that integrates advanced technologies such as robotics, autonomous driving, cloud computing, digital twin and 5G communication. Sheikh Saud Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi of Sharjah Emirates takes a look at robots at Naver's high-tech headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Courtesy of Naver YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Russia Day. I cordially congratulate you and all Russians on the occasion of this meaningful day, Russia Day, which emphasizes the deep devotion of the Russian people to the origins of statehood, Pashinyan said in a letter to Putin. The historically rich and time-tested allied relations of Armenia and Russia have reached a new qualitative level over the course of the last thirty years. The active and effective partnership of our countries over regional and international agenda issues emphasizes our common intention to deepen the mutually beneficial relations between our peoples, based on mutual respect and taking into account each others interests. I am sure that Armenia and Russia, by consistently developing constructive ties, will continue to progressively develop cooperation in various sectors, including with the purpose of ensuring security and stability in South Caucasus, the Armenian Premier said in the letter, wishing robust health and vigor to President Putin, and peace, success and all the best to the brotherly people of Russia. In a separate letter to PM Mishustin, the Armenian Prime Minister congratulated on Russia Day, the meaningful holiday which emphasizes the determination of the Russian people to build a sovereign and strong state. The relations between Armenia and Russia come from the depths of history. It is our unshakable duty to preserve the inherited strong friendship and brotherhood, in order to continue ensuring the progressive development of the Armenian-Russian allied relations, including through implementing mutually beneficial, promising projects for the benefit of our peoples, PM Pashinyan said in the letter to PM Mishustin, wishing him robust health and successes, and happiness and prosperity to the Russian people. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of the national holiday. "Your Excellency, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, I congratulate you and the friendly people of the Philippines on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of the Philippines, the125th anniversary of Independence, PM Pashinyan said in the letter. I would like to note with satisfaction that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Philippines, the relations between the two countries have developed in a regular manner, both on bilateral and multilateral platforms. I am confident that with joint efforts we will contribute to the further development and deepening of relations between Armenia and the Philippines in areas of mutual interest for the benefit of the peoples of our two countries. I wish you good health and new success, and prosperity and peace to the friendly people of the Philippines, Pashinyan said. Stan Swamy, suffering from Parkinsons disease, was disallowed a glass with a sipper straw in jail for weeks This month marks five years since the first arrests in the Bhima Koregaon case. A total of 16 people were arrested, including one, Father Stan Swamy, who died in custody. Most of them are in jail. No one has been convicted in the case, none has been connected with violence in the place for which the matter is named. If there is a case that exemplifies the draconian nature of the law they have been arrested under, the cruelty of the States intent not on prosecuting cases but keeping people jailed indefinitely, it is this one. It is important we not forget it or those jailed under it. Less than 10 per cent of all cases under UAPA have ended, and only a fourth adjudicated end in convictions. In this case, the activists, who includes academics, professors, lawyers and poets, have been accused of waging war against the state. The man who filed the complaint on the basis of which the arrests were made says he follows a simple rule for his Hindutva: We should keep things which are helpful for Hindus; rest should be abandoned. After his complaint, the case was spun to include accusations of attempting to overthrow the government and assassinate the Prime Minister. When the BJP was defeated in the Maharashtra elections, the case was taken away from the Pune police. Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in on November 28, 2019. The Centre told Maharashtra it had given the case to the NIA on January 24, 2020. One can infer from that what one wants but all of this was accompanied by mistreatment of the accused by the government. The media firm News Laundry made a list of some of these things. Stan Swamy, suffering from Parkinsons disease, was disallowed a glass with a sipper straw in jail for weeks. Shoma Sen, suffering from arthritis, found it difficult to use the Indian commode in jail. Her daughter brought her a commode chair, but was turned away. Surendra Gadling asked to access books, including the UAPA and IT Acts, some paper to take notes on and four books by Swami Vivekananda. The government opposed this vehemently, with the prosecutor even saying she was unsure whether Vivekanandas books were banned or not in India. After the court allowed the books to be brought, the prison authorities still didnt allow them to be given to Gadling. He was denied a sweater despite a court order, and told only thermal sweaters were allowed and not woollen ones. When his wife brought him a full-sleeved thermal sweater, this was disallowed saying only half-sleeved ones were allowed. The spectacles of Gautam Navlakha, 70, were stolen in prison. He was virtually blind without his glasses. But he was not permitted to make a call to ask for a replacement for three days. His partner sent a pair to the jail, but the jail authorities refused to accept it though they were told the packet was coming. When Gadlings mother died, he applied to be allowed to attend the funeral. It was denied on the grounds that his application didnt have her death certificate, without which the NIA would not accept that she was dead. The family could not get the certificate because of the lockdown. When the certificate was produced, the NIA said the funeral had already been conducted so they saw no reason to let him out temporarily. When Gadling applied to go to the condolence meeting, this was turned down as he hadnt submitted a copy of the meeting with his application. When Sudhir Dhawales brother died, the application was supported with documentary evidence, an announcement card for the post-funeral meeting and the death certificate. This application was rejected on the grounds that bail could not be given because the offence was serious. Mahesh Rauts sister married while he was in jail as an undertrial. When Vernon Gonsalvess mother died in May 2021, he chose not to put his family through the rigmarole of attempting to get him bail. In February 2021, the Washington Post reported that the letters found by the police on Rona Wilsons laptop had been planted. Malware was used to introduce them to the computer, an independent analysis found. These letters, including the one allegedly on the Modi assassination, had been created using a newer version of Microsoft Word that did not exist on Wilsons computer, the report said. There was no evidence that the documents or hidden folder were ever opened. In April 2021, a leading firm in digital forensics said it had irrefutable proof Wilsons computer was hacked. Files were planted on it on January 11, 2018, 11 days after the Bhima-Koregaon violence. Despite all this, most of the accused remain in jail. The Bhima Koregaon case is not the only instance of the government misusing the law to go after those who dissent. Umar Khalid has spent over 1000 days in jail for being one of the most eloquent voices against what the BJP is doing to India. Of course, the minorities, poor and marginalised face the brunt of a brutal State. They always have. This isnt in dispute. But Bhima Koregaon is emblematic. It represents what the government can do in India against well-meaning people who speak up against atrocities, who stand up for the weak and dispossessed and for this reason alone are seen as enemies of the state and kept in prison for as long as the government can manage. So long as the rest of us do not speak up against this misbehaviour by the State, so long as we forget about those who have been made its victims, this behaviour will continue. The Bhima Koregaon 16 must not be forgotten. The writer is the chair of Amnesty International India. Twitter: @aakar__patel In the Galwan Valley, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army found an unguarded but very strategic spot on the LAC and occupied it The ongoing military standoff in Ladakh at the Line of Actual Control, the de facto India-China border, represents an escalation not seen since the 1962 war. We have had many standoffs since then, but it always involved differing perceptions about the Line of Actual Control. In most sectors there is an overlap of these lines with the Indian and Chinese claim lines going beyond each others LAC, sometimes by a few metres and sometimes by many kilometres. But we had tested Confidence-Building Mechanisms (CBMs) in place to keep the peace. But the latest standoff at the Galwan Valley and the Depsang Plains represents a PLA ingress into a hitherto undisputed area. By doing so, the PLA has thrown down the gauntlet. How does India now respond? In the Galwan Valley, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army found an unguarded but very strategic spot on the LAC and occupied it. It now places it less than 2 km from the newly-rebuilt strategic all-weather Durbuk-Daulat Beg Oldi road that supports the lone Indian outpost of DBO at the mouth of the Karakoram Pass. It happened in a sector that was supposed to be guarded by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Till the recent incidents, the PLA conducted an annual exercise on the Aksai Chin and its immediate forward areas along the LAC. Every year the Indian Army moved its reserves forward to check a possible PLA move. That year the Indian Army, funked by the outbreak of Covid-19 in some formations in Ladakh, had held off. The PLA just stepped in. Just like the Pakistan Army occupied the Kargil heights back in 1999. It was a gross dereliction of duty by the home and defence ministries. China has occupied strategically vital bits of Indian territory. The irony is that they had done a Doklam on us. We had objected to a Chinese road leading to the disputed meadow in Bhutan, which we rightly surmised would threaten the Siliguri corridor, commonly referred to as the Chickens Neck. Here China has put another Chickens Neck under threat by claiming the all-weather road actually threatens it in Xinjiang. We have left the border question to fester for much too long. It seems unresolvable now with public opinion on both sides inflamed. There was a time when, with a little bit of give and take, this contentious and now protracted problem had seemed solvable. In 1960 Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, while visiting New Delhi, suggested something akin to a status quo as a permanent solution. This was repeated in 1982 by Chairman Deng Xiaoping to Indias ambassador in Beijing G. Parthasarathy. Once again it was offered during Rajiv Gandhis tenure as Prime Minister to the then Indian ambassador A.P. Venkateshwaran by then Chinese PM Zhao Ziyang. When Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing in 1988, both countries decided to keep a permanent solution aside and focus on the immediate doables. All along India felt that the internal political situation would not allow the government of the day the room to go with it. What is commonly referred to as the border dispute between India and China has now manifested itself into two distinct disputes? The first is the dispute over two large and separated tracts of territories we have agreed to leave for history to sort out. But what causes frequent friction between the two is that they do not agree on the LAC to separate the jurisdictions. But the perceptions of the LAC differ at many places, and in some by a considerable degree. To minimise the inflammability caused by active patrolling by security personnel of both sides, the two countries had a CBM in place. This was the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) that set out norms of behaviour for both sides. The important things being that nothing of a permanent nature would be built on these disputed areas, and that the patrols will take all precautions not to confront each other. Which simply means that if they come face to face, they will both withdraw. The corollary to this is that the patrols will not tail each other either. The agreement also requires local commanders to frequently meet and exchange views and sort out local differences across the table. This CBM is now pretty much in tatters. For three long decades since Rajiv Gandhi and Deng Xiaoping met in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 1988, the two countries have been meeting to discuss the border issue, but so far, we have seen only unwillingness by both sides to forget the past. Since 2003 these talks were elevated to a high-level political dialogue between the special representatives, in Indias case the national security adviser and in Chinas case an official at the level of state councillor. The first meeting at this level took place between Indias NSA Brajesh Mishra and Chinese state councillor Dai Bing Guo. We had the 22th round of this dialogue between Indias national security adviser Ajit Doval and Chinas state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi in New Delhi in December 2019. Then the PLA upped the ante. The BDCA was a major outcome of these talks, and that had by and large worked. The next logical step of these talks should have been to agree on an LAC. But unfortunately, even that is now being weighed down by aggressive nationalism driven by the social media that equates giving up with a national loss of face. This is something increasingly very important to both countries. We will not be seen giving up anything, even our obduracy and historical short-sightedness. Now the immediate task is to get the PLA to leave the encroachments in the Galwan Valley and the Depsang Plains without any loss of face? On the other hand, this could just be the opportunity for the two sides to settle new LACs in the three sectors. Both India and China are now relatively prosperous and militarily powerful. This has engendered aggressive new nationalisms, leading to a hardening of hearts and arteries too. To add to the confusion, many strategic thinkers in India now labour under the illusion that when push comes to shove, the recent bonhomie between India and the United States will translate into active military and diplomatic support. They refer to the Quad, which brings together the US, Australia, Japan and India, as an instrument to take on China. But the Quad is just a fig leaf for AUKUS (Australia, UK and US). The fig leaves dont matter. When push comes to shove, we will stand alone. The writer, a policy analyst studying economic and security issues, held senior positions in government and industry. He also specialises in the Chinese economy. An Italian PIME missionary, he ministered for 65 years in many parishes in Hong Kong. In 2005 he launched an online School of Evangelization in Mandarin and Cantonese. In 2019 he involved artists and producers in a large musical about Matteo Ricci that attracted thousands of people. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - After 65 years spent as a missionary in Hong Kong, Fr. Gianni Giampietro, an Italian missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), passed away yesterday at the age of 89. His was a life-long apostolate and he was active to the very end in the community of St. John the Baptist in Kwung Tong, where he still resided, but also in the frontier of web-based pastoral care: in 2005 he had in fact started a School of Online Evangelization through which he organized online catechesis and evangelization paths in Cantonese and Mandarin, with a particular focus on Chinese in the diaspora who struggled to find communities that spoke their own language. Born in 1934 in Marsicovetere, in the Basilicata region of Italy, and ordained a priest in 1958, Fr. Giampietro had arrived that same year in Hong Kong, then a British colony. During this long span of time, he ministered in numerous parishes: St. Margaret's Church in Happy Valley, St. Cecilia's Church in Diamond Hill, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Wan Chai, Our Lady of China in Tai Kok Tsui, Saints Cosmas and Damian Church in Tsuen Wan, Resurrection Mass Centre in Kwun Tong, before the last years spent in St. John the Baptist. But Fr. Giampetro in Hong Kong is also remembered for promoting the spirit of the liturgy of the Second Vatican Council in the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy, which he also led. Despite his advanced age he had always remained very attentive to the languages of young people: with them in 2019 he had promoted a musical on the life of Fr. Matteo Ricci, the great Jesuit evangelizer of Ming Dynasty China. This initiative was the result of more than two years of work, in which the missionary involved famous producers, directors and actors from Hong Kong and Singapore, and which - brought to the stage - attracted tens of thousands of spectators. "Ricci helped me to see the presence of God in the Chinese people," Fr. Giampietro had told us at the time. "Ricci, on the other hand, listened and learned from the Chinese, without confusing faith with European cultures. From him I learned to have a high regard for Chinese culture. Like Matteo Ricci I wish to spend my life for the Chinese, and to remain in this land until my death." The school of evangelization itself had come about through Christian music. "Many young people in Hong Kong have relatives abroad," he recounted, "Sometimes almost the whole family. Through their contacts, these young music enthusiasts found that other Chinese youth were doing the same thing especially in Australia and New Zealand. After a few years of web contacts, it was decided to organize a concert with all these groups here in Hong Kong. Modern Chinese songs, but imbued with Christian spirit. It was a great success. So much so that our Hong Kong people later went to Canada. From there the EV Concert (Evangelization Concert) format was born: recitations, songs, sharing, testimonies. It was simply about doing evangelization, but through music with young people and for young people." Through these contacts, Fr. Giampietro and his collaborators realized that in many communities in the Chinese diaspora there were no catechists or other people able to accompany those who wanted to prepare for baptism. Thus the online school of evangelization was born: a two-year distance learning course that provides Catholic catechism instruction in the first year and concrete evangelization activity in the second. Each week material is provided for about three hours of study in total. "It is not always easy for priests to accept this solution. They would like to see people physically every week," Father Gianni explained. "But in some cases it is not possible, especially for work or travel reasons. I remember a case in Australia. The person concerned was in jail for illegal immigration. He had met pastoral workers who were visiting the prison. But how could he have participated in the catechumenate in the parish? Not to mention all those whom parishes and catechists cannot reach." by Mathias Hariyadi Opposition from radical Islamic groups blocked the construction of St Bernadette Parish Church. Despite intimidation, thousands of worshippers continued to gather for Mass. Cardinal Suharyo led yesterdays service. May it boost our Christian faith and generate many benefits for the people, he said, speaking about the new church. Jakarta (AsiaNews) After years of struggle, thousands of members of St Bernadette parish yesterday experienced the joy of the blessing of their new place of worship during a service led by Card Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta. Located in Pinang subdistrict (Banten province), the saga of St Bernadette's Parish Church clearly reflects the dark side of Indonesia's slow bureaucracy, which represents a serious threat to the right to worship. A weekly Mass was celebrated, starting in 1992, in the function hall of Sang Timur Catholic School, in neighbouring Ciledug subdistrict. It took more than 26 years to get the local administration in Tangerang to issue a building permit for a church in Pinang. The request had to deal with the opposition of local radical Muslim groups. This struggle reached its lowest point when the main access to the school was blocked, preventing the religious Sisters who run the establishments from entering in. Even when the parish got a site in Pinang subdistrict in 2013 to build a permanent place of worship, local radical Muslim groups organised a massive protest. After religious services began at the site began, unknown persons padlocked its front gate while another group of Muslim hardliners filed a lawsuit against the Tangerang administration in order to get the building permit revoked. When this was achieved, the project was brought to a sudden halt. Still, despite resistance from hardliners, at least 12,000 people had the courage to take part in weekly services under the protection of security officials, until a new permit was issued. Last Christmas, AsiaNews was able to report the optimism that surrounded the project, even though the church had no benches for services yet. And in February, construction was completed. Yesterday, speaking before the Mass consecrating the church, Card Suharyo expressed strong hope. May St Bernadette Parish Churchs existence represents Gods grace for the whole Catholic congregation, he told the 2,000 worshippers present. May it boost our Christian faith and generate many benefits for the people. The cardinal expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the project, all the parties and donors. "This long history of struggle reflects our endurance," he noted. He also personally thanked the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), also known as the Scheut Missionaries, who always provide the priests to St Bernadettes Parish Church. For the project chief, Mr Sahat Manalu, the long struggle of St Bernadette Parish Church was inspired by three fundamental spirits: trust, respect and integrity." by Hal Swindall The National Association of Skilled Workers slams the Malaysian government for not doing enough to get high school graduates into vocational training to meet the needs of local industry. For the countrys deputy prime minister, the government has a plan to coordinate Malaysia's 1,260 vocational schools to eliminate competition and improve training. The UN development goals include inclusive and equitable quality education. Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) A major Malaysian association has accused the government of not doing enough to promote technical and vocational education and training (TVET) among the country's youth; however, official sources say that restructuring of TVET programmes is underway with the aim of improving training offers. Free Malaysia Today recently reported that the National Association of Skilled Workers (PKPB)[*] publicly complained that the government was not making TVET a top choice for high school graduates who passed the exam for the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM),[] which paves the way for university or work. The PKPB also said that Malaysian industry relies too much on foreign manpower and that TVET establishments face financial problems and an overly theoretical curriculum. In February, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the creation of a TVET institute unit to coordinate Malaysia's 1,260 TVET schools to eliminate competition among them and increase graduates marketability. TVET is actually being restructured at the moment, said Rubin Khoo, press secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, one of several ministries offering TVET programmes. Wirdawati Ahmad, who teaches at Tun Syed Nasir Syed Ismail Polytechnic near Johor Baru, explains that institutions like hers and community colleges offer TVET programmes under the Ministry of Higher Education. Like other Malaysian higher education institutions, hers also uses Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) and Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs) to ensure quality instruction. For Study Malaysia, TVET abides by UNESCO's definition, which is the study of technologies and related sciences as well as the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding, and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economics and social life. Malaysias TVET programmes meet the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS), which stress practical components, psychomotor skills and exposure to training in industry, this according to Malaysias Department of Skills Development (JPK).[] This follows changes implemented in 2017 to rebalance what was seen as excessive emphasis on academic rather than applied skills. UNESCO-UNEVOC,[] which has a network of some 220 vocational centres in 140 member states, aims to provide 10 million learners with adequate vocational skills by 2029 in line with the fourth of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. In Malaysias TVET country profile, UNESCO reports that some 285,000 young Malaysians are enrolled in TVET programmes, 44 per cent of whom are women. Photo: Flickr / World Bank Photo [*] Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Pekerja Berkemahiran [] Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia [] Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran [] UNESCOs International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Yesterday, Supreme Leader Khamenei backs an agreement on condition that "the existing infrastructure of [Irans] nuclear industry should not be touched". Washington has denied any progress in negotiations. Iran is reportedly close to the 90 per cent threshold in uranium enrichment, deemed a red line for Israel. Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) Iran has confirmed indirect talks with the United States via Oman over its nuclear programme, but reiterated that it is not interested in an interim agreement. This comes a day after the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed support for an agreement on the country's nuclear programme with the West, provided that the existing infrastructure of [Irans] nuclear industry should not be touched." At a press conference today, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani thanked Oman for its efforts, Tasnim news agency reported. The latter noted that Irans nuclear programme is but one of the issues mentioned, adding that any agreement needed to meet the supreme leaders standards and include sanctions relief. The spokesperson also said that a prisoner swap could be agreed "in the near future," if Washington shows "the same seriousness" as Tehran. At least three dual nationals (Iranian and US) are held in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, who was arrested in October 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. On Friday, news website Axios reported on ongoing US-Iranian contacts through Oman, noting that US officials made it clear to Iran that a stern response would be forthcoming if Tehran reached 90 per cent uranium enrichment levels required for nuclear weapons. According to the most recent estimate by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has 114.1 kilograms (251 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, which Iran cannot use for civilian purposes, according to non-proliferation experts. For its part, the White House had denied reports that Washington and Tehran are making progress on a new nuclear deal. Israel has lobbied hard against the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which the United States scrapped in 2018. Subsequent efforts by Europe and US President Joe Biden's administration to revive the deal and bring Washington back into the pact were also met with protests from the Israeli government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened action if Tehran crosses the red line of 90 per cent uranium enrichment. Flickr: Photo / Babak Fakhamzadeh by Alessandra Tamponi The government wants to revise rules on permits for nikkei yonsei, foreign descendants up to the fourth generation. The first immigration incentives with the Abe government in 2018, albeit within strict labor, social and language terms. A revolution dictated by aging and declining population, collapsing consumers and active workers. Tokyo (AsiaNews) - The governemnt of the Land of the Rising Sun plans to revise the current policy governing the granting of residence permits for nikkei yonsei, foreigners with fourth-generation Japanese ancestry. One of the most important changes will be the possibility of permanent residency permits to those who meet certain parameters. The current policy-which went into effect in 2018-provides a work visa for up to five years for foreigners with fourth-generation Japanese descent who are between the ages of 18 and 30. Under the current system, to obtain such a work residence permit, in addition to falling within the age range, other parameters must be met including: possessing a Japanese language certificate of N4 level (A2 according to the Cefr); no criminal record; having medical insurance coverage; and sufficient funds to return home. In addition, the permit is not extended to the family unit, excluding any spouses or children. With the policy update, many of these parameters will change. In fact, the permit will be able to be extended to members of the household, as long as they have a command of the Japanese language that allows them to interact in daily life. The age range is being extended, raising the established limit from 30 to 35. Finally, those who have already obtained a permit and have lived in Japan for five years will be able to apply-after passing an N2 (B2) level language test-for a permanent permit. The changes will allow foreigners of fourth-generation Japanese descent no longer just to work for a limited time, but to plan to stay indefinitely. According to Kyodo News, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan hopes in this way to incentivize stable residence in the country. Japan is known for the strictness of its immigration policies; however, it is since 2017 that the country has undertaken a change of course by softening many of its regulations, especially those that affect the labor force. In 2018, under Shinzo Abe's government, Tokyo had simplified laws governing the presence of foreign labor with the creation of two new visa categories to encourage the employment of foreigners in sectors experiencing an employment crisis: construction, agriculture, and nursing. A five-year stay was provided for less skilled workers, while permanent residency was possible for the more skilled. Initiatives to mitigate policies governing immigration are a direct result of the severe demographic crisis Japan has been in for more than a decade now. It was precisely the Abe administration that focused on policies that boosted immigration in the face of a rapidly aging population with fertility rates dropping to 1.25; in 2022 alone, the population declined by half a million, down for the twelfth consecutive year. Hence the inevitable shrinkage of the working-age group of individuals (15-65 years) for which a further collapse is projected over the next 50 years, bringing this population group to just 45.35 million in 2070. The decline in the working-age population will also inevitably lead to the shrinking of the consumer segment, with potentially dramatic consequences for the economy. Incentivizing permanent residency for those between the ages of 18 and 35-especially of those who, like the nikkei yonsei, can count on a connection to Japanese culture and might therefore find it less difficult to integrate into society-might be part of the solution. The goal is to lift the fertility rate, reduce labor shortages in some of the sectors, and mitigate the decline in the consuming segment of the population. In less than a month, the fifth anniversary of the plan launched in 2018 will fall. It will therefore be interesting to observe how many of those who were first granted visas five years ago will choose to stay in Japan indefinitely, managing to meet the criteria required by the policy. By Chung Hwang-keun American writer Kate Springer once called "hanwoo," Korean beef, "the best meat on earth" after enjoying it. I am confident that Korean beef is one of the best ingredients in the world. With its excellent flavor and quality, hanwoo has and will capture the world's taste, moving towards the global market. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Chung Hwang-keun The inaugural contract for halal-certified hanwoo was signed in Malaysia on May 12. This made Malaysia the fourth export destination of hanwoo, following Hong Kong, Macao and Cambodia. Through the first contract, it is expected that Korea can export about 600 tons of hanwoo in one year. Hanwoo, which is 13 times the 44 tons exported last year, will appear on Malaysian people's dining tables. In the halal market targeted at 1.9 billion people, representing 25 percent of the global population, halal certification is the most absolutely important standard. Exporting hanwoo to Malaysia, a leader in the global halal market which is recognized as an authority in halal certification, will serve as the bridgehead into other halal markets. The signing ceremony for the first hanwoo export to Malaysia is much more than just an event. It is the achievement of seven years of quarantine negotiations for hanwoo since 2016. There were many challenges until the dedicated Korean halal slaughterhouse was approved in March. The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) had sent a letter, saying that the slaughterhouse was not eligible for approval after completing an on-site inspection. The stakeholders even had to take training sessions to broaden their understanding of halal food. One day before the hanwoo export-signing event in Malaysia, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) broke out in Korea. The outbreak could have interrupted the export. However, I attended the event and provided an update on the FMD outbreak and control status, as well as an explanation of Korea's traceability system, applied to hanwoo beef, for Malaysian government officials. I also explained that the FMD-affected region is completely separated from the region that produced halal-certified hanwoo. Moreover, exporters and importers, government officials and the Korean Embassy in Malaysia, all worked hard to overcome such challenges making this achievement more meaningful and valuable. As the new market is now open to hanwoo, the localization strategy would be critical to gain consumer confidence. The promotion of exports depends on quality control of the product. Korea is seeking to gain consumer trust in hanwoo through exports to Malaysia, by attaching a QR code to the beef products. By just scanning the QR code with a smartphone, consumers can find the locations and dates of slaughter, level of quality and place of origin in local languages. It would provide a great opportunity to promote Korea's excellent and organized livestock traceability system in local markets. Now is the time for hanwoo to go global. The Korean government has been exerting efforts to expand the hanwoo exports by organizing export council meetings from February this year to collect feedback from producers and distributors and improve quarantine policies for exports. It will make full preparation for the control of animal diseases in Korea to ensure there is no problem on the export front. Hanwoo farms and distributors will make efforts to control quality so that global consumers can trust the products. There is a saying, "Well begun is half done." The first halal-certified hanwoo to Malaysia will bring more vitality to Korea's livestock industry and also lay the foundation for the globalization of hanwoo. The government will continue working together with the hanwoo industry so that our beef can gain culinary attention from the world. Chung Hwang-keun is minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. Saudi Arabia and China continue to strengthen their trade and economic partnership. After the successful December summit that opened a "new era" in relations between the Asian giant and the Arab world, Riyadh and Beijing have significantly deepened cooperation in different fields. In order to consolidate this alliance promoted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the tenth edition of a Sino-Arab economic forum is being held in Riyadh, which is expected to strengthen the bilateral partnership in various fields. So far, the Chinese and Saudi sides have already reached 30 investment agreements worth $10 billion in sectors such as technology, renewable energy, agriculture, tourism and healthcare, according to Arab News. "The crown prince has continuously expanded efforts to enhance the long-standing and advanced partnership between the Arab world and China in all fields," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the opening of the summit. The head of Saudi diplomacy stressed the importance of such a forum in exchanging experiences and identifying new opportunities to promote growth and investment, which, in Bin Farhan's words, will contribute to "prosperity and progress". During the meeting - organised by ministries of both countries in collaboration with the Arab League - the Saudi government agreed with several Chinese companies on projects related to research, development, production and sale of automobiles, development of tourism, as well as the manufacture of railway equipment. Partnerships between Chinese and Saudi companies have also been promoted. The insightful discussions in our next panel discussion, Biotech and Pharma, shed light on the transformative power of healthcare & bioscience. Attendees learned about the Middle East's investments in medical research, technology, and healthcare infrastructure, as well as pic.twitter.com/evfFMEvhCT June 12, 2023 Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, stressed that his country seeks cooperation and not competition with the world's second largest economy. The Saudi minister also recalled that both countries share similar interests and paths, since, while the Kingdom is developing its national project, Vision 2030, China is working on the Belt and Road Initiative, a plan designed by Beijing in which the Middle East plays a key role. In this sense, the Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih, has described the Kingdom as "the gateway to the Arab world" for the Asian giant. Trade between the two countries amounted to $106 billion in 2022, an increase of 30% over the previous year. #___ #_ . pic.twitter.com/I69PHk96Q7 | Khalid Al Falih (@Khalid_AlFalih) June 10, 2023 Oil, key to the Saudi-Chinese alliance Within trade, energy is one of the strong points of the strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter, and China, the largest energy consumer. Riyadh is aware that demand for oil continues to grow in China, which is why it aspires to capture "part of that demand", as Abdulaziz bin Salman pointed out. REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV - Saudi Aramco oil plant in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia To this end, state oil company Saudi Aramco announced in March two agreements to increase its investment in China, reinforcing its position as Beijing's main crude oil supplier. However, the Kingdom is not alone in its desire to lead the oil market in China. Due to sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been forced to sell its oil at lower prices to Asian countries, especially India and China. Riyadh ignores criticism of its partnership with Beijing The strong relationship being forged between Saudi Arabia and China is one of the current challenges facing the US. Through its alliance with Riyadh, Beijing is also gaining influence in the Middle East, and not only in economic and commercial matters. The Asian giant took centre stage last March after securing an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume relations after years of disagreements. Given the success of its mediation, the Asian giant has shown its willingness to negotiate peace between Israelis and Palestinians after decades of confrontation and violence. Washington is wary of China's emergence in the region, as well as the new ties between Riyadh, one of its key regional allies, and Beijing, its main trade competitor. Likewise, US-China relations have been significantly strained by the situation in Taiwan and the Chinese government's stance on the war in Ukraine. The Kingdom is aware of Washington's growing concern over its ties with China, although Riyadh sees "nothing political about it". "Saudi Arabia will go wherever opportunities present themselves," said Abdulaziz bin Salman, who said he was "completely unaware" of criticism of his alliance with China. #Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman says theres nothing political or strategic about working with #China, adding that the Kingdom is an open country working with many nations.https://t.co/NaailfB6IM pic.twitter.com/GnU1T4V1wu Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 11, 2023 Saudi Arabia is making decisions based on its national and strategic interests, even if these are at odds with those of the US. In recent months ties between Riyadh and Washington have cooled in the wake of, for example, OPEC+'s decision to cut oil production. The Kingdom has also decided to resume relations with Syria, despite the US's strong refusal to readmit Damascus to the Arab League. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia remains a key US ally in the region in security, defence and counter-terrorism. During Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit to the Kingdom, the two nations reaffirmed the bilateral partnership on these issues. I ended up struggling with this problem in my car earlier this week, and after a search online, it looks like more than a handful of users are hitting the same glitch too.Android Auto 9.5 and 9.6 seem to be the culprit, though in my case, only the latter breaks down the wireless connection. Android Auto 9.5 worked flawlessly, but oddly enough, downgrading to this version does not restore the cord-free experience.Users first reported the error in mid-May when they received Android Auto 9.5. Version 9.6, released a couple of weeks ago, did not restore the expected behavior, so Android Auto wireless is still broken down at the time of writing.While it's difficult to determine how widespread the bug currently is, posts on Google's forums clearly signal that the latest Android Auto updates might include a critical problem on this front.Users have already tried the generic workarounds, such as clearing the cache and the data, but all of them failed to produce an improvement. The downgrade to Android Auto 9.3 or 9.4 brought things back to normal, as these are the last two versions known to work properly with a wireless connection. I, too, tried the downgrade to version 9.3, and I can confirm that Android Auto wireless once again connects correctly to my head unit with no issue whatsoever.If you downgrade Android Auto, make sure you block the automatic updates. Otherwise, the Google Play Store will try to update the app, eventually getting you on the latest release known to produce wireless connection bugs.Google has yet to acknowledge the issue at the time of writing, so time will tell if this is a widespread problem that requires an urgent fix. But based on Google's typical reaction time when new bugs are discovered in the Android Auto world, you'd better not hold your breath for a fix just yet. Issues like this are fixed in months, especially if only a handful of users hit them.In the meantime, the search giant is still striving to resolve more widespread errors, such as the one breaking down the lower part of the screen on Coolwalk. The issue was discovered shortly after the January rollout of Coolwalk, as users could no longer interact with the taskbar and the bottom side of the screen. For some reason, half of the interface freezes on Coolwalk, so changing apps or interacting with what's on the screen is no longer possible. Google started an investigation about two months ago, but the fix still isn't on the radar at the time of writing. Autoliv, a major supplier of car safety equipment recognized as an industry leader in airbag manufacturing technology, is keen on saving as many lives as possible. And it wants to do so by making airbags for motorcycles. The Swedish company has announced that it will start producing a new motorcycle airbag in the first quarter of 2025. ECU ABS Antilock Braking System ASR As the number of commuters relying on electric two-wheelers globally has increased, bikes and motorcycles themselves must get safer. More so if we consider that technology is in continuous development and manufacturers are producing two-wheelers that are faster, more advanced, and mightier in terms of performance.The Swedish safety equipment maker feels like motorcycle riders have not benefitted from the advancements in vehicle safety as much as car drivers and passengers. While helmets are known to offer increased rider protection if you were to crash on your own, if another vehicle is involved in the incident, you would need much more than that to stay on the safe side.Autoliv's research into powered two-wheelers, specifically riders' behavior and crashes, has led to the development of cutting-edge safety solutions for this kind of vehicle. The first product they plan to introduce to the market is a bag-on-bike airbag that they claim will significantly reduce the risk of serious injury for powered two-wheeler riders in the nefarious event of a frontal crash.The bag-on-bike airbag system will be comprised of an airbag module with a gas generator, an optional in-house-developed electronic crash sensor, and anwith an algorithm that will decide whether or not to deploy the airbag. It is meant to complement the) and(Anti-Slip Regulation) systems already present on many scooters and motorcycles. The airbag system will be compatible with a wide range of two-wheelers."To reach the global target of halving road traffic fatalities, we need to increase the safety for powered two-wheeler riders. Through working with real-life data, we understand the most frequent crashes and injury types and how to assess them in a laboratory environment," explained Cecilia Sunnevang, Vice President of Research at Autoliv. "Through virtual and physical testing, we have demonstrated the benefit of the airbag in frontal crashes, and we acknowledge that there is a need for additional solutions to cover more crash situations and rider behaviors."We have already seen inflatable vests for bike riders, but Autoliv's idea of a motorcycle airbag is very different. They have designed a bag-on-bike airbag system, meaning that the airbag will be affixed to the motorcycle itself. After performing extensive virtual simulations, Autoliv has come to the conclusion that an airbag mounted in the front of a motorcycle that gets into an accident can reduce injuries to the head, neck, and chest.The company is collaborating with road safety organization MIROS to further develop safety technology specifically geared toward powered two-wheelers. Autoliv is also working with Italian helmet manufacturer Airoh on the development of airbag helmet tech for motorcycle riders.Airbag technology in the realm of motorcycles is not a new concept. Back in 2006, Honda invented a motorcycle airbag that was mounted on its Gold Wing touring motorcycles. To this day, Honda's bike is still the only production model featuring an airbag, but that is about to change soon with the introduction of Autoliv's bag-on-bike solution Tesla fans rejoiced at the news that Chinese authorities greenlighted Tesla to start FSD Beta tests in Shanghai, although that was not technically true. Tesla China promptly dismissed the reports, even though similar denials proved to be true in the past. Still, there's a silver lining: Chinese authorities are warming up to the idea of Tesla testing the FSD Beta. FSD EV Although many Chinese companies are well underway with autonomous-driving testing in China, Tesla has been denied the same privilege. The main problems were mapping local roads and processing data remotely, two concepts China considered related to national security. Things are set to change, even though Tesla is not yet getting the permit to test FSD Beta in China According to a report by CITIC Securities, an investment bank that also does market research and analysis, Shanghai Economic and Information Commission intends to deepen ties with Tesla, including by supporting its autonomous-driving ambitions. This would be the first time a local authority in China signaled that it is willing to accept Tesla. Elon Musk's visit to China at the end of May is considered the catalyst of this change of heart. Musk was given royalty treatment during his visit to Beijing and Shanghai, and we know he met some high-level officials Still, FSD deployment is not a given, and Tesla still needs to address China's concerns about collecting and processing data. Current regulations stipulate that high-precision mapping, which includes collection, storage, transmission, and processing, can only be carried out by approved entities. Only 19 such entities are qualified to maintain and provide navigational map data in China, and Tesla is not among them. Themaker will likely need to use a local provider since collecting mapping data takes time, even if Chinese authorities allow it.There's another issue that Tesla has to address, and it's not an easy one. Tesla needs a lot of processing power to harvest the full potential of FSD Beta, which requires local supercomputer centers. Tesla Vision is a data hog, and machine learning takes a lot of model training, hence the Dojo supercomputer in the US. Even if Tesla is granted a permit to collect data in China, it will likely be forced to process it locally, as sending it back to the US is out of the question. Setting up a supercomputer center in China will also take time and resources.Still, the trend is clear, and once Tesla overcomes these hurdles, it's pretty much open season, as long as China allows it. Tesla has a significant advantage over its Chinese rivals, as it has already polished the FSD Beta software. As Musk once said, 90 percent of the software capabilities can be used anywhere in the world, and only 10 percent has to be localized. Tesla only needs to sort out regulatory approvals to zoom past Chinese companies.Although local companies have an advantage because they are already testing similar technology on local roads, Tesla has been doing this for much longer and has significantly advanced its software through many iterations. And let's not discount the advantage Tesla has in raw in-car processing capabilities versus its rivals, which are at least 2-3 years behind. Tiny living spaces go hand in hand with design hacks. Size limitations are the perfect challenge for talented builders to come up with interesting ideas that add comfort while saving space. Tiny House Aster is a fine example of modern craftsmanship with a focus on modular furniture, coming from one of the most popular tiny house brands in Europe. Photo: Mobi House Photo: Mobi House Photo: Mobi House Bartek was a passionate supporter of tiny living before tiny houses were cool. He was one of the pioneers of tiny house building in Europe at a time when mobile living was hardly as popular as it is today on the old continent. Bartek's bet was lucky: Mobi House, his company, is now a successful builder with an impressive portfolio, going far beyond the Polish borders.Mobi House is also a family business; several team members live in tiny homes. This was great for getting real feedback and constantly improving design based on that. This brands homes on wheels are meant to be perfectly comfortable year-round, in all weather conditions, and to last for generations. They look great on the outside and inside but excel in functionality.Aster is one of the most spacious tiny house designs, also full of surprises. Sitting on a galvanized, 8.4-meter (27.5 feet) trailer with two axles, it offers generous accommodation for couples and families. In addition to the main loft bedroom, it boasts a main floor bedroom that also doubles as a living room, plus a second loft space with a versatile design. The kitchen and bathroom are fully equipped, while high-quality insulation and electrical systems ensure the perfect ambiance at all times.Even at first glance, Aster catches the eye with its elegant black exterior and numerous windows. The Polish brand used Scandinavian spruce for the wooden frame plus the exterior and interior cladding. Bartek worked in Norway for many years before launching his business, and he used Scandinavian design as the main inspiration for his future designs. To this day, Mobi House uses raw materials imported mainly from Northern Europe an important factor contributing to the final products' resistance and reliability.The large windows and double glass doors make Aster feel spacious and airy, constantly filled with natural light. The two-in-one living room deserves full attention. Initially, it looks like a simple main-floor bedroom with a comfy bed that can double as a sofa and integrated storage. A compact stove, spotlights, and a tiny cabinet create a welcoming ambiance.A large wooden table is perfect for dining, with enough room for the entire family to gather around. As if by magic, the same table turns into a compact desk, while one of the staircase steps, which proves to be detachable, serves as a quirky stool. This is how the same room can be used as a bedroom, living room, dining room, or home office without any permanent modification. With large windows on three sides, it also gets great views and connects to the natural surroundings , further blurring size limitations.You might be wondering how the owners access the loft area right above the main floor bed since there's no staircase or ladder in sight. If you look closely, you'll spot some unusual shelves mounted on the wall. That is a foldable ladder, another clever hack that keeps the area uncluttered. When not in use, it just hangs on the wall in the most compact way possible. As for the loft area above, it can be used for different purposes. The team at Mobi House created an additional room with just a sturdy net, strong ropes, and large windows that ensure cross-ventilation.The main staircase is another fine example of modular furniture. It incorporates abundant storage, a built-in electric refrigerator, and a generous pantry. On the opposite side, the kitchen includes a stove, a microwave oven, and a dishwasher. Plenty of cabinets provide additional storage. A sliding wooden door separates the kitchen from the bathroom, fitted with a full shower, toilet, and an elegant vanity.The loft bedroom is large enough for a king-size mattress and features a beautifully-crafted protection wall. Two windows on each side bring in lots of natural light and fresh air. Spot lamps and LED strips provide discrete illumination throughout the house. Aster also comes with digitally-controlled underfloor heating. Together with high-quality insulation and air conditioning, it ensures optimal temperatures in all weather conditions.The Comfort version has extra features such as exterior lighting, an LED-illuminated handrail, window insect nets, and extra bathroom appliances. Each Mobi House model is available in a standard version (fully furnished), a comfort version (with additional appliances), or a DIY version, where future owners are in charge of all furnishing and equipment.The beautiful Aster is perfect for those who want to enjoy plenty of space, even inside a tiny home , without sacrificing any of the conventional living areas. Numerous pieces of modular furniture keep the Aster tiny house highly functional, with zero cluttering modern living meets perfect style. The Silverado EV and Sierra EV won't replace their internal combustion-engined counterparts, at least not in the near future. General Motors committed $632 million for the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant, with said investment going into the production of next-generation ICE light-duty pickup trucks. ICE This announcement follows the $1.021 billion investment into next-generationheavy-duty truck production at Flint Assembly and Flint Metal Center in Michigan. The Fort Wayne Assembly Plant currently makes the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500, with the Indiana-based plant boasting nearly 4,000 employees. Just around 1,300 pickup trucks are built every day, with said employees assisted by over 2,200 robots.Regarding the $632 million investment announced today, General Motors will use that money for new equipment, conveyors, and tooling in the body and general assembly areas. General Motors also highlights that its Chevrolet-branded Silverado was the most popular half-ton pickup of 2022 in terms of retail sales (according to GM and S&P Global Mobility). As for the overall sales king of the light-duty segment, does it come as a surprise that Ford's F-Series continues to shame both the Silverado and Sierra lines?Ford delivered 653,957 units of the F-Series last year, including 15,617 units of the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup truck. The Silverado finished in second place with 523,249 units (light-, heavy-, and medium-duty pickup trucks), and the Sierra totaled 241,522 units. Last but not least, the Ram P/U ended the year with 468,344 deliveries to its name.On a standalone basis, the F-Series continues to dominate the full-size segment in the first quarter of the current year, clocking 170,377 trucks compared to 126,992 for the Silverado . The Sierra ended Q1 2023 with 67,198 units. The Ram P/U slots between the GM twins with 105,350.The Silverado 1500 continues to be listed as a 2023 model on Chevrolet's website. By comparison, the heavy-duty lineup is available to configure as 2024 models. General Motors did confirm a few changes for the light-duty truck, with the 2024 model carrying the TurboMax designation for the 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Another novelty is the Duramax turbo diesel becoming available in the ZR2.Lakeshore Blue Metallic and Slate Gray Metallic have been added to the list of exterior paint colors, and the rear seatbelt indicator is now standard across the board. Customers who specify the 6.2-liter small block get a dual active exhaust with Sport mode as standard. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as OnStar, are standard on the WT trim.Further updates include the available Midnight Edition package for the High Country, which boasts power-retractable assist steps with LED lighting for good measure. The High Country also gets adaptive cruise control as standard. The Blackout Appearance package is available on the Custom through the ZR2 . Finally, the Safety Package and WT-specific Safety Package now come with front/rear park assist. Head of Hiossen, Osstem Implant's U.S. unit, Lee Kyung-rae, center, poses with the United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, left, during the award ceremony of 2023 President's "E" Award at the U.S. Department of Commerce's building in Washington D.C., June 6 (local time). Courtesy of Osstem Implant By Kim Jae-heun Osstem Implant's U.S. unit, Hiossen, won the 2023 President's "E" Award, in recognition of the company's product quality, clinical education and job creation, the company said Monday. The award was established in 1961 to encourage and promote companies and organizations that contribute to the expansion of U.S. exports under former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Twenty winners are selected every year by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the final screening, among candidates recommended by the 50 state governments. "This award means that the U.S. government has recognized our U.S. branch's excellent capabilities and potential for business development. It is expected to play an important role in not only facilitating our business there but also securing customers in more than 50 countries around the world," Head of Hiossen Lee Kyung-rae said. The company has demonstrated a high level of profitability and financial soundness in the U.S. by achieving steady export growth and strengthening domestic performance over the past four years. All of Osstem Implant's products used in the U.S. are produced, manufactured and packaged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its production plant produced an average of 180,000 implant sets per month as of last year, focusing Hiossen's premium production line. This is equivalent to 11 percent of Osstem's total annual production in the three countries: South Korea, the United States and China. Osstem Implant's U.S. unit plans to improve its customer reliability by reflecting the commemorative logo of the presidential award symbol on the package design of all its products sold locally. That's not all, though. Bugatti also used the Circuit de la Sarthe to display the Bolide, a Chiron-based track car powered by a quad-turbo W16 colossus. Pictured in two shades of blue, said vehicle lapped the circuit on Saturday afternoon with Andy Wallace behind the wheels. Not the guy who co-produced Walk This Way with Rick Rubin for Run-DMC and Aerosmith, but the Wallace who won at Le Mans in 1988.Andy Wallace, the racing driver, secured first place overall with the Jaguar XJR-9LM. The Leaping Cat of Coventry has a long history with the 24-hour endurance race, having won at Le Mans in the 1950s with the C-Type and D-Type racecars. The British automaker tasted victory champagne one last time on the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1990 with the fabulous XJR-12.Born in 1961 in Oxford, the racing driver praised the Bolide for the way it feels on the track. 1,578 horsepower (1,600 metric ponies) in a car that weighs approximately 3,197 pounds (1,450 kilograms) is truly outstanding, especially in comparison to the curb weight of the road-going Chiron. We also have to remember that it's a torque monster that cranks out a ludicrous 1,180 pound-feet (1,600 Nm) of torque at full chatter. The concept may produce more power and torque due to racing fuel, but alas, the Bolide intended for customers is running 98 research octane fuel due to wider availability.Regarding Wallace's praise of the Bolide, generating almost twice the car's weight in downforce at maximum speed gives the W16-engined special edition tremendously good stability in high-speed corners. Another big difference over the Chiron is four slicks rather than road-going tires, which make a world of difference on the track. Only 40 units of the Bolide will ever be delivered, with Bugatti charging 4 million for each.That's $4.3 million (and some change) at current exchange rates, excluding tax. Bugatti sold out the entire run a few months ago, partly because the Bolide serves as the last hurrah for the quad-turbo W16 behemoth located behind the driver. The Volkswagen Group-developed mill is going the way of the dodo in favor of an electrified powertrain. Mate Rimac, the head honcho of Bugatti Rimac, confirmed that the Chiron's long-awaited successor will receive a unique powerplant, unrelated to the W16 or other Volkswagen Group engines.We don't know the number of cylinders, we don't know if we're dealing with a regular hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, but one thing is for sure. With Mate Rimac in charge of the project, the next-gen Bugatti road car is definitely going to blow our minds. HVAC kW New from the ground up, the 2024 Lexus GX has adopted a boxier design, albeit without dropping the company's signature spindle grille that was neatly incorporated into the bumper. It has slimmer headlamps compared to its predecessor, sharp styling, a muscular hood and wheel arches, and a full-width LED light bar at the rear. The usual black cladding is present on the lower parts of the body, giving it a more rugged stance, and you certainly won't mistake it for anything else.Sporting a wider overall footprint, it has a more spacious interior that can seat up to seven. It doesn't cut back on the comfort and tech gear either, as stuff such as the massaging function and a sizeable infotainment screen are included. The latter has a 14-inch diagonal and incorporates many functions. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are on deck, and future users will be glad to hear that thesystem can be controlled via physical buttons. Individual captain's chairs can be specified to the second row, and the buttons that allow drivers to access the off-road features were positioned next to the gear shifter on the center console.Mind you, it still is a proper off-roader that boasts a ladder-frame chassis. It has full-time four-wheel drive standard across the range, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and a transfer case said to have been significantly improved over the older one. It can tow up to 8,000 pounds (3,629 kg) when had with the tow-hitch, and a V6 supplies power. That's right, the V8 was dropped in favor of a 3.4-liter unit assisted by two turbos. The output and torque are rated at 349 hp (354 ps/260) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), channeled to both axles via a ten-speed automatic transmission. This will be the sole powertrain available at launch, but a hybrid one will be introduced soon.If it's something that the new-gen Lexus GX misses out on for the time being, it is a real off-road makeover. But fret not because several tuners are already working on improving its prowess off the beaten path. You can look forward to chunky tires wrapped around new wheels, different suspensions, new front and rear bumpers, tubular side steps, additional lights, snorkels, and winches. In short, you will be able to make your 4x4 look similar to the one imagined here by ildar_project. Due to the white look, it seems ready to take on the menacing sand dunes in the Middle East, and we reckon it will do that like a champ. So, are you hyped about the car world getting a new and veritable overlander? Photo: Pioneer AV Photo: Pioneer Google says Android Auto's adoption figures will soon include over 200 million vehicles, with more carmakers switching from the wired connectivity system to the wireless mode All these figures show that mobile phone projection has become an essential feature in new cars, and drivers are no longer interested in buying a model without it.Thanks to the skyrocketing adoption of Android Auto and CarPlay, the third-party media receiver market has expanded significantly in the last few years, with companies like Pioneer, Kenwood, and Sony investing big in such products.As such, users can get Android Auto and CarPlay even in older cars that didnt roll off the assembly lines with such systems.However, Pioneer seems to believe that a new-gen experience behind the wheel doesnt always have to come down to Android Auto and CarPlay (and I'm pretty sure General Motors fully backs this statement as well).The company's latest product, officially called DMH-AF555BT, launched with a massive display and a very intriguing feature package. The biggest omission, however, is the support for Android Auto and CarPlay.With a floating 9-inch display, this media receiver can be installed in any car supporting a 2-DIN size chassis. The floating design allows for easy installation at any angle, providing full horizontal, vertical, and tilt adjustability. In other words, you can install Pioneer's device in any way you want at an angle that makes everything on the 9-inch screen easy to read, regardless of the dashboard's design.The device has almost everything you'd need, including a USB port for listening to music stored on a flash drive, a rearinput, a parking camera connector if you want to see real-time footage on the screen when you go in reverse, as well as RCA preamplifier outputs.Now let's move to the part that most people are interested in.Compared to most new-generation head units, Pioneer's new model does not come with Android Auto and CarPlay. The company didnt believe this feature would be necessary for some reason, so it decided to go for the next big thing.First and foremost, the DMH-AF555BT supports Bluetooth wireless connectivity. In other words, you can pair your phone with the head unit via Bluetooth and listen to your music wirelessly. The whole thing works pretty seamlessly, and the feature also gives you full control over incoming calls.The star of the show is the WebLink integration. If you've never heard of WebLink, it's more or less an Android Auto and CarPlay alternative that allows you to access mobile apps using the screen in the dashboard. Using the dedicated WebLink Host app, users can stream mobile apps to the head unit just like on Android Auto and CarPlay. Many popular apps are already available on WebLink, including Waze.Sure enough, while apps are still available on the display, you lose the full smartphone integration that's otherwise offered on Android Auto and CarPlay. If you want to get message and app notifications and make phone calls behind the wheel, you'll have to stick with Bluetooth support. Otherwise, WebLink serves its purpose just right, letting you listen to music using your favorite apps, navigate with the most popular choices, and so on.For many people out there, the lack of Android Auto and CarPlay could be a deal-breaker, so Pioneer might be playing a risky game this time. To be honest, I'm not sure that DMH-AF555BT can convince too many people to buy it, but if you're not a big fan of Android Auto and CarPlay, this media receiver is certainly worth trying out.The 9-inch floating display is fantastic, and as the owner of a car whose built-in screen measures just 7 inches, this difference feels huge. Navigation feels significantly upgraded on a larger screen, and so does any other app projected on the display.Without a doubt, Pioneer wanted to build a product capable of delivering the essential feature lineup that drivers are typically interested in when getting behind the wheel. Android Auto and CarPlay would have been nice, but thanks to WebLink integration, Pioneer can offer a solid package at a more compelling price tag.While the parent company describes smartphone compatibility as the main selling point, I think the 9-inch display is the sales catalyst this time. Time will tell if drivers can survive without Android Auto and CarPlay and go for WebLink, but given all the controversy around GM's decision to abandon phone projection , I'm pretty sure many drivers unwittingly resist the change.DMH-AF555BT is only available in select European and Asian markets, with no plans to launch it in the United States just yet. Pricing varies by region, and Pioneer says interested customers should reach out to the local stores for such information. If legends never die, then the North American P-51 Mustang is already immortal by all intents and purposes. But this doesn't mean Mustangs could maintain relevancy indefinitely in a military context. But that didn't stop an iconic name in American aviation from trying to find out how much life was left in the Mustang's airframe. This is the story of the Piper PA-48 Enforcer, the all-American P-51 given a thunderous new heart. CAS Photo: Piper Aircraft But first, a brief backstory regarding the P-51 Mustang 's exploits after the end of the Second World War. Because contrary to what most people might think, the Mustang had a pretty successful stint in service with Air Forces across the globe post-1945. After helping the mighty Eighth Air Force lay waste to the German war machine over Europe as well as in Japan, Mustangs continued to form the backbone of the newly founded U.S. Air Force. In the Korean War, Mustang pilots joined the world's first jet fighters in combating communist aggression over the 38th Parallel.The last operational P-51 was withdrawn from American service with the West Virginia Air National Guard in 1957. But the last documented case of Mustangs in American service came as a chase plane during the development of the Lockheed YAH-56 Cheyenne attack helicopter in 1968. From this point forward, Mustangs continued to operate with Air Forces in the developing world in places like South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa until at least the mid-1980s. All the while, surplus P-51 airframes began to flood the civilian market for anyone with enough cash on hand to do with as they pleased.One such company that planned to squeeze every ounce of gusto out of a P-51 Mustang's airframe was the Cavalier Aircraft Corporation of Sarasota, Florida. Though initially founded to transform surplus P-51Ds into a bizarre two-seater executive transport plane, only a few examples were sold before the company's focus once again shifted back to military service. Though long obsolete as an escort fighter, Cavalier believed the Mustang would be perfect for a completely different role, that of a counter-insurgency/close air support () airplane.With a similar Rolls-Royce-derived Merlin V12 engine as was standard during World War II , the Cavalier Mustang II was fitted with upgraded avionics, structural improvements to the wings, and under-wing hardpoints for a variety of different munitions turned WWII's most famous American dogfighter and made it a proverbial king of CAS. Oh, and we can't forget the six M2 Browning 50-caliber machine guns from the original P-51D. They're still large and in charge, the same as in Mustangs of old. Though a handful of Cavalier Mustang IIs did wind up being sold to El Salvador and Indonesia, a federal mandate preventing the aircraft from carrying wingtip drop-tanks limited its range, snuffing out potential sales.By the end of the Cavalier Mustang II's days on sale, it was clear the old P-51's Merlin engines had reached the zenith of its aeronautical capability. As far as Cavalier Aircraft's founder David Lindsay was concerned, the best way to get even more life out of a Mustang airframe was to ditch piston engines altogether in favor of a turbine engine. Dubbed the Turbo Mustang III, a single prototype was fitted with the same Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engine found on the Fokker F-27 Friendship airliner as well as the first generation Grumman Gulfstream I business plane. Later variants received a Lycoming/AvcoT55 turboprop engine famous for powering the Boeing Chinook Helicopter.With 2,445 shaft horsepower on offer, it's roughly 1130 more than what you'd get out of a Merlin V-1650-7. But the Turbo Mustang III's top speed of just 345 mph (555 kph, 300 knots) denotes this warbird is no speed demon. Instead, the aircraft was built to fly low and slow over scattered and chaotic battlefields eliminating enemy ground personnel and light armored vehicles while keeping the area secure for friendly ground forces. The Turbo Mustang III made its first flight in April 1971, after which Cavalier sold the design to the historic Piper Aircraft, Inc to mass produce the aircraft.Ultimately, the re-named Piper PA-48 Enforcer was only manufactured four times. One prototype fitted with the Rolls-Royce Dart engine, two dual-seat, dual-control examples, one of which was lost in a 1971 accident, and a single one-seater example more in line with what would have been manufactured had the Enforcer garnered a military contract. In truth, only around ten percent of the PA-48's airframe had anything in common with the old P-51D' Mustang by the time Congress approved an $11.9 defense contract to test the aircraft in 1979.For the next five years, the project was overseen by a U.S. Air Force evaluation team while being test flown by Piper's own corporate pilots. Though no doubt capable in its role, test flights over Edwards Air Force Base in California failed to net the PA-48 any more interest from the Pentagon. The program was quietly withdrawn from service in 1984, and two are currently known to be in the hands of private museums. One is on display at the Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base , while another is in the collection of the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. Say you're a celebrity with serious baller claims. Do you even exist if you can't flaunt a private jet in the name of providing "inspiration" for everyone else to follow their dreams? Rick Ross has now joined the ranks of serious celebrity ballers with the acquisition of his first private jet. Rick Ross has long made the transition from rapper to successful business mogul. If there are still people out there unaware of it, he's more than happy to bring them up to speed with his constant posting and flexing on social media, where he takes viewers into the Rich Boss lifestyle , packed with luxury goods ranging from custom automobiles to diamond jewelry and designer clothes stacked more impressively than in an exclusive store.Irony aside, the only thing more impressive than Rick Ross' so-called dedication to being an inspirational example by showing off is his luxury fleet . It includes anything from the latest customized vehicles to rare classics, either still in original condition or restomodded to suit a particular theme, motorcycles, and bikes over 100 items in total, stored across the U.S. In recent years, Ross holds an annual car meet at his Florida mansion that has become an extravaganza combining the best of an auto show and a giant star-studded rave with lavish prizes for fellow car enthusiasts.The only thing that Ross did not have until late last week was a private jet. He does now, and, of course, he made sure his millions of fans and followers learned about it directly from him. He posted videos and photos of the custom jet on the tarmac, calling it "a $5 billion play," which led many to erroneously assume he was claiming that was the amount he'd paid for it.He couldn't have, even if he had this kind of money , which he doesn't. The aircraft is a 2012 Gulfstream G 550 powered by twin Rolls-Royce engines and boasting a custom paintjob by Duncan Aviation. The "$5 billion play" means its Ross' way of solidifying his status as future billionaire. He also explains that, unlike other celebrities who got a wrap on their plane, he didn't want to have to deal with the letters peeling off, so he went for a new coat of paint.The G 550 now boasts "RICK RO$$" lettering on the side in rose gold over a black background and the Maybach Music Group logo on the tail. The registration number N676AS shows that the rapper bought it for Maybach AIR LLC in April of this year, so he's probably been waiting for the customization to be complete before the big unveiling."Skys the limit... Maybach Airlines Reaching new heights," Ross said on his IG Stories, inviting fans along for his future trips around the world. Not in the literal sense, we assume. Tesla unveiled a new retail concept in China showcasing its manufacturing prowess. The first Giga Lab concept store that opened in Chengdu aims to offer customers a behind-the-scenes view of how Tesla vehicles are built. EV The first "GIGA LAB" Tesla store held its opening ceremony today. The interior of "GIGA LAB" imitates the Shanghai Gigafactory and shows the manufacturing process of Tesla vehicles. Here, customers can feel the hardcore beauty of Tesla?? ????Chengdu, China pic.twitter.com/VlYi9TGr3o Tesla Asia (@Tesla_Asia) June 10, 2023 Tesla is an unconventional carmaker that already changed the automotive industry. Its direct-sales retail system is copied by startups and envied by traditional carmakers. Its manufacturing has also given rivals plenty of headaches as it became one of Tesla's strongest assets. Elon Musk even bragged about Tesla being a manufacturing company, although it is much more than that. It is also significant in energy, software, artificial intelligence, and more. With the latest move, Tesla might also disrupt retail.Tesla opened a new concept store in Chengdu, China, exhibiting installations inspired by the Giga Shanghai production lines . Aptly named "Giga Lab," the new store houses exploded cars, manufacturing robots, and other exhibits that look impressive and offer geeks something to talk about. And that's precisely what Tesla wants, people talking about its products and technology.In an official announcement on its Weibo account, Tesla named it "the most beautiful store in Chengdu" and promised visitors "an immersive experience of the magic of building a car in 45 seconds." It's not a traditional store in the true sense of the word but rather a relaxed space where people can meet up with friends, chat and "take a break." Tesla bets that this will attract more car buyers to Tesla, offering an advantage over the competition.This might seem like going against Tesla's direct-to-consumer retail strategy, which favors online sales. Themarket leader decided years ago that the online sales experience is best suited for its strategy, although it later reconsidered this. People can browse, configure, and order a Tesla from the comfort of their living rooms, but they can still go to a Tesla Store and see the cars if they want to.Still, the concept store in Chengdu proves that Tesla can experiment and get more out of this in-store experience. The Giga Lab concept can also boost the image and act as a catalyst driving up engagement. Elon Musk promised to consider advertising at some point, but no advertising is as powerful as organic promotion. The Giga Lab will make many people talk about Tesla, acting like a catalyst for free advertising for the brand.The Chinese market is a highly competitive one, especially for electric vehicles. Tesla is doing a great job staying on top, but the competition is sharpening its weapons every day. Although online sales can be enough in some markets, Chinese customers appreciate the in-store buying experience. Considering all this, the Giga Lab concept will undoubtedly attract more people to the store. It will also expose more buyers to Tesla's technology and manufacturing. The church expressed serious concern over the difficult situation created in the country's life in a weekend statement on a regular session of its Supreme Spiritual Council (SSC) chaired by Catholicos Garegin II. It was emphasized [during the meeting] that the authorities of Armenia should renounce actions that violate the dignity of the nation and oppose the humiliating ambitions and demands of foreign enemies with realistic and exclusively pro-Armenian positions, resolutely defending the non-negotiable right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, it said. The SSC expressed its support to the people and authorities of Artsakh, noting also that the just right of the people of Artsakh to live freely and independently will find protection in all national frameworks, added the statement. The SSC held another, emergency meeting late last month. It joined Karabakhs leadership and the Armenian opposition in condemning Pashinian for his readiness to sign a peace deal recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. It said that the restoration of Azerbaijan rule would leave the Karabakh Armenians facing a new genocide and loss of the homeland. The church also openly criticized the Armenian governments Karabakh policy last fall. Garegin authorized an Armenian archbishop to address an opposition rally in Yerevan that warned Pashinian against recognizing Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. Tensions between the ancient church and Pashinian have deepened further since then. Last month, the prime minister accused the church of meddling in politics, prompting a scathing response from Garegins office. Suren Torosian, who is in charge of utility services in Aragatsavan, a large village 80 kilometers northwest of Yerevan, sparked an angry demonstration there on June 7 after allegedly spraying a local man with tear gas and repeatedly hitting him with a stick during an argument. Armen Sahakian, the 24-year-old man, suffered a head injury and received urgent treatment in hospital. Dozens of other Aragatsavan residents blocked a highway leading to Yerevan to demand Torosians arrest and prosecution. They were especially furious with the fact that Sahakian was assaulted despite suffering from serious chronic diseases. Is this the rule of law created by Civil Contract? one of the protesters told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Torosian was promptly detained and charged with assault only to be set free hours later. Armenias Investigative Committee said the assault charge leveled against him is not serious enough to warrant his pre-trial arrest. The incident drew media attention to the content of Torosians Facebook page and, in particular, an angry video message posted by the official there this month. In that message, the ruling party member lashes out at Pashinians vocal critics, saying that he will have their ears cut off and kick them in the face. If we force a couple of such types to lie down and drag them along the ground, everything will get fixed I will shoot them in the forehead, he says. Torosian, who got his current job after the 2018 velvet revolution that brought Pashinian to power, goes on to urge the heads of regional divisions of Armenias police and National Security Service to drag the prime ministers detractors out of their homes. A spokesman for the Investigative Committee said on Monday the law-enforcement agency has not opened a criminal case in connection with the death threats because it has not received a formal crime report. For its part, the Office of the Prosecutor-General told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that it will comment on legal consequences of the threats only in response to a written inquiry. Civil Contract has still not reacted to its members public calls for violence. The governor of Aragatsotn province encompassing Aragatsavan, who is also affiliated with Pashinians party, on Monday criticized those calls and pledged to initiate a discussion of Torosians conduct. His words werent normal, in my view, said Sergei Movsisian. Torosian also revealed in the same scandalous video that he recently gave a ride to an 8-year-old boy who turned out to be a refugee from Nagorno-Karabakh. He said he stopped his car on a highway outside Aragatsavan and ordered the boy to get out after the latter said that his family fled Karabakh because traitor Nikol gave away our lands. Torosian then pledged to deal with the boys parents working in the public sector of another rural community. We will throw such people out of the sector, he said. 12 June 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) By Akbar Hasanov Funny news came from the capital of France. On June 5, the Paris City Council unanimously adopted a resolution "On the provision of emergency assistance to the "people of Artsakh" and the Karabakh people who have found refuge in Armenia." This is stated in a message circulated on the page of the Armenian Embassy in France. It's already fun. What followed was even more fun. But before assessing the scale of the stupidity of the provocateurs, let me remind you that since 1975 Paris has been both a city and a department, led by the Paris mayor at the head of the Paris Council, which meets 11 times a year, whose public sessions last up to two days. The mayor of Paris, as you know, is Anne Hidalgo. I will once again remember about it below, but for now I will point out the tricks of the members of the Paris City Council. As you see, they believe that some "illegal blocking of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan" took place. Amazing logic from the capital of the country, where the police regularly and brutally suppress protests of citizens dissatisfied with the pension reform of President Emmanuel Macron. The Parisians only blocked the streets of their native city, but they were dispersed with all the special means available to the police. And here Azerbaijan is accused of "illegal blocking" ...literally, of itself. The reality is that there is no Lachin corridor, but the Lachin road. It is located all over the world, including France, the recognized territory of Azerbaijan, which has the right to establish BCPs and any other inspection points on its territory. We did not install the Azerbaijani chckpoint in Armenia! But members of the city council of Paris "do not notice" such details. They continue to replicate the Armenian lie that "the 120,000 inhabitants of 'artsakh' are cut off from the rest of the world." And this is despite the fact that the absence of the mythical "artsakh" has been proven many times over. Even Armenia, for all the years of occupation of Azerbaijani lands, did not recognize him. Or does the city council of Paris put itself above the official Yerevan in this matter?! And so it turns out. Indeed, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan was forced to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh economic region and enclaves. That is, the leadership of the Republic of Armenia officially announced that the so-called "artsakh" project turned out to be a bursting soap bubble. But even the position of Nikol Pashinyan is ignored in the Paris City Council. In addition, they indicate that by this resolution, the members of the city council give the mayor of Paris the authority to call on other administrative-territorial units of France and foreign AIMF member cities to join this urgent support initiative, the purpose of which is to support the Karabakh Armenians who have found refuge in Armenia, and the delivery of food to the population of Karabakh through a humanitarian convoy. Against the backdrop of the scale of the stupidity of the authors of this provocative text, it is even inconvenient to recall such a "trifle" as the artificial inflating of the real number of arns living in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. It will be much more interesting to watch how this clowning eventually ends. After all, it is not enough to collect something in France and send it to Armenia. We also need to make sure that everything collected will reach the Karabakh economic region. We remember what scandals took place in the ranks of the world Armenians due to the fact that tens of millions of dollars collected for the Karabakh Armenians disappeared without a trace. Weapons sent to the Karabakh separatists from around the world during the 44-day war also disappeared. So, here, too, it is necessary to monitor the situation, allowing the final cries of the Karabakh Armenians, who did not wait for the help that the Paris City Council promises to collect and send. Finally, as I promised, I will return to Madame Hidalgo, who has been breathing unevenly not only for the Republic of Armenia, but also for the Karabakh separatists for a long time. She, I remember, promised to visit the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, visiting the Armenian population of this region of our country. But somehow everything will not be decided by Madame Hidalgo on this voyage. And he does it right. After all, it is much easier to declare readiness to give up on Khankendi than in reality to carry out in this direction. Tea, this Frenchwoman is not Ruben Vardanyan, to travel in the car of Russian peacekeepers, hiding in piles of dirty linen. So we see another French provocative number, which in reality will not change anything in the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and in the fate of the Armenians of the Karabakh economic region of our country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 18:15 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Although the war in Ukraine had a negative impact on the economies of some countries in the region, it became a great salvation for Armenia. Armenia has taken the lion's share of the Ukrainian war. The country races to cash in the sanctions imposed on Russia due to the ongoing conflict. On the one hand, Armenian public figures and politicians pretend to share the grief of Ukrainians caused by the war through mass media, on the other hand, the country continues to breach the sanction by re-exporting the components needed in the production of weapons. The government in Yerevan fakes out as though it shuns the Russian influence and approaches the West, but in reality it does not miss any opportunity to breach the sanctions on behalf of Russia. Of course, Armenia refuses the accusations by offering some unimaginable excuses, but the facts and figures shed light on the issue. For example, money transfers from Russia to Armenia ramped up by 4 times and amounted to $3.6bn in 2022 according to the Central Bank of Armenia. The most important issue is that the increase started in the February of 2022, i.e. the start of the war. Besides, the World Bank says that the money transfer surged by sevenfold in January 2023 versus the same period in 2022. As for the trade turnover between the two countries, it has continued to increase since the inception of the war. The trade turnover between Russia and Armenia exceeded $5bn in 2022, hitting a record 91.7 percent growth year-on-year. Armenia's exports to Russia grew by 2.4 times in January-December 2022. The increase of export to Russia continues to increase in 2023. According to the World Bank Data in January 2023, Armenian export to Russia surged by ten folds. It is worth noting that the export has increased not due to the production, but re-export of sanctioned items. The US Bureau of Industry and Security stated that between 2021 and 2022, Armenias imports of chips and microprocessors from the US shot up by 515%; from the EU it was 212%. The bureau estimated that nearly all the imports, 97% of them, were re-exported to Russia. Speaking to Azernews on the issue, the economist Eldaniz Amirov noted that it is normal in terms of Armenia since it has been used as a tool by foreign forces. It is impossible for Armenia to change itself at the moment. Because foreign forces use Armenia against other countries. Since Armenia is under the influence of different forces, the contradictory decisions and the contradictory speeches of policymakers are understandable, the economist noted. Amirov said that any strict sanction can cripple the Armenian economy. However, he does not expect that the West will impose sanctions on Armenia, because Armenia is controlled not only by Russia but also by the West. As for sanctions, they have been applied against several Armenian companies. The continuation of these sanctions is expected. It is clear that in this situation, sanctions will not be applied to Armenia because the West has interests in the country, as well. In other words, Armenia is not completely controlled by Russia. Armenia is controlled by four different forces - Russia, Europe, the USA, and Iran. Therefore any strict sanction is not expected. Of course, if any serious sanctions are imposed, then the situation in Armenia will worsen. It will have negative effects. However, as I mentioned, these sanctions are not expected to be massive for the time being, the expert said. The expert said that it is the tradition of Armenia to always act on its own decisions outside the framework of international laws, adding that Armenia has been helping Iran in this case for many years. We should note that Armenia assists Iran more than Russia which is totally against the sanctions. As is known, strict sanctions on Russia have been imposed since 2022, but Iran has been subject to these sanctions for many years. Iran circumvents these sanctions with the help of Armenia. The country also provided a corridor for transit cargo to Iran through the then-occupied Azerbaijani territories. Iran used this area to carry out its illegal activities. Armenia has always helped sanctioned countries to avoid sanctions. The reason for this is not due to love for those countries. In return for this help, Armenia sought certain economic benefits. Because Armenia is in a turbulent economic situation, the expert added. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Hyundai Motor's IONIQ 6 / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group 12 June 2023 14:45 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Azerbaijan-Armenia negotiations have stalled at a dead end. The main reason for this is the hypocritical behaviour of the Armenian leadership, which plays a double game with both the West and Russia. Yes, what Armenia has been doing is replicating the negotiations it has engaged in with Russia and the West. It is riding two horses intending to only back one horse when it feels that horse will be the best one to save it. Irish political analyst, historian Patrick Walsh told Azernews in his comment on Pashinyans double-crossing the West. Essentially Pashinyan aimed to offload the Karabakh issue to Russia but found the Kremlin an unreliable ally. He now aims to "internationalise" the so-called issue of status, meaning the West is used as Yerevan's instrument. The West is willing to play this game for now but sooner or later it will demand Armenia stops dealing with Moscow if it wants Western assistance. Washington is not there to facilitate a peace agreement that strengthens Putin's standing, expert added. But the problem does not end there. The Armenian side, not only by itself, but also through its patrons, interferes in the issue of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and tries to harm it. Unfortunately, official Paris expresses opinions and makes decisions based on theses presented by Armenia without carefully considering international laws. First up, the border checkpoint established on the Lachin road is located on the territory of Azerbaijan, and hundreds of Armenian minorities living in Karabakh pass through this checkpoint during the day. But official Paris ignores this and supports separatist forces of Armenia. The political analyst also clarified the reaction of the European Union regarding this biased behavior of France. Paris is pro-Armenian and always has been. On the one hand, France is really the dominant influence on EU foreign policy since Britain's exit. Michel and Von Der Leyen are weak leaders and Macron feels that French ascendancy in Europe is imperative. On the other hand, the EU is very much under US hegemony since the war in Ukraine. However, Macron wants to assert any degree of independence the EU has, as a French policy. Paris is indeed dismissive of international law and strongly hypocritical. It fully supports and facilitates military action against separatists in Ukraine whilst simultaneously supporting the same in Karabakh, for political purposes, Walsh said. It should be noted that some regrettable issues do not end with Armenia. Although Armenia is a very small country in terms of territory, economy, and population, it is given excessive aid, and even its whims are ignored in many cases. And to recall, the USA recently imposed an embargo on 20 Armenian companies related to illegal trade with Russia. This is just the business side of the matter. However, such an irresponsible action of a state like Armenia is still ignored. Although Azerbaijan is the most reliable economic partner for Europe, the West shows insensitive behavior in such delicate issues. According to Irish expert Patrick Walsh, Armenia is still useful to some superpowers in a certain sense. This must both perplex and frustrate Azerbaijanis. But it is no different than before the 2020 war. International Law is unfortunately not applied as law should be. It is applied selectively according to the political interests of the Great Powers. It is no doubt, useful in a moral sense since while it can be frustrated these Powers will find it difficult to act fully against it. But I'm afraid this issue will in the end be settled by force, as it was in 2020. This fact, which those in the West who do not insist in the application of international law now, ignore will have consequences. If the issue is settled by force it will have to be settled in conjunction with the Power that is more amenable to this through high level behind the scenes bargaining. And that is not the West. So by supporting Armenian obstructionism the West is handing the process over to its opponent in Moscow, he pointed. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 17:39 (UTC+04:00) The products of Sheki Sharab factory are mainly exported to Russia, but the export geography of the enterprise will expand, Azernews reports, citing Boris Titov, the head of the Abrau-Durso group of companies in an interview with Azerbaijani journalists. "Russia is our main market. However, we also plan to export to Turkiye. At the same time, we also hope for the Chinese market. We use our marketing and distribution efforts, we are looking for partners to increase volumes," Boris Titov said. He noted that currently, the productivity of company in Azerbaijan is 3.5 million bottles per year. But in reality the company can produce more. We have produced more than 1 million bottles of wine since the middle of last year. We have already taken the first place in the export of Azerbaijani wine to Russia. We hope that the volume of production will only increase," said Titov. Boris Titov said that Azerbaijan is the largest wine-growing region in the former Soviet Union, and paid special attention to the creation of the wine-making museum. "We made wonderful wine-making friends here. Therefore, we did not doubt for a moment that it is necessary not only to produce wine, but also to create the history of winemaking in this country." We should note that the Abrau-Durso group of companies demonstrated the results of its investment activities in Azerbaijan - officially opened the modernized Sheki Wine plant and presented the newest line of filtering sparkling wines. Within the framework of the event, Az Abrau Museum was opened, and the history of viticulture and winemaking in Azerbaijan was reflected in the exposition. Abrau-Durso LLC announced the investment project in Azerbaijan at the end of 2021. At that time, the group won the competition for the privatization of the Sheki Sharab winery. During the past period, a large amount of work was done by Abrau-Durso. The production process was modernized, equipment for the production and filtering of sparkling wine was purchased and installed, a total of 430 hectares of land was purchased for the planting of vineyards, and preparatory work was carried out for the planting of grapes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 14:21 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more YARAT Contemporary Art Space has opened an exhibition "Heaven Can Wait" by Azerbaijani artist Aida Mahmudova. Rector of the Baku branch of Moscow State University, Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences, academician Nargiz Pashayeva, Deputy Culture Minister, People's Artist Murad Huseynov, founder of the YARAT Contemporary Art Space, famous artist Aida Mahmudova, editor-in-chief of the NARGIS magazine Ulviya Mahmud, as well as prominent public figures, well-known representatives culture and art, creative youth attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Azernews reports. In order to explore all the possibilities of our existence, we have to turn to art and the social sciences. While there are universal values of art, we must not forget that our literary and visual context is strictly local. The following point is essential: The reality in which a person feels himself/herself most profoundly is the artistic reality that leads us to the universal reality. Here, Aida Mahmudova takes us to a kind of landscape, to the reality of the landscape, to save us from the claustrophobia of the self. Although the reality of the landscape that the artist created at the center of the Heaven Can Wait exhibition may seem personal and difficult to understand at first glance, the artist critiques the pathology of the self. On the one hand, life stands before us in all its anatomical reality, and in some cases, life appears as much more than a landscape. On the other hand, trying to separate life from the landscape will also lead us to a kind of alienation. All life, all personal or social history, takes place in a landscape, in geography, and there is always some place that resonates in our memory. Mahmudova states that geography is an essential dimension of civilization, and that people can be contacted within this geography. Two large canvases at the center of the exhibition tell us about geography and its diversity and importance, while also drawing our attention to its beauty and horror. These canvases, which symbolize the beginning and the end, also contain clues about the past and the future. The paintings, which are in harmony with the fragmentary structure of our age, mark an organism's return to its original point after its entire natural cycle (birth, life, and death). While the artist depicts the world by looking at humanity, she also affirms our shared experience through herself. It is a call made by Mahmudova: The power of art summons and affects our minds, nerves, memories, emotions, and, ultimately, souls. She expresses our existence in the world through the negative castings of the molds she took from her own body and the volumes they occupy in the void. She also conveys hope in her canvases and surface works that she hangs from the ceiling. In these landscapes, we can see our memories as well as glimpses of our future. In her works, she proclaims that through art, we can fight material and spiritual evils, and communicate the ideals of the past, present, and future. Mahmudova shows us the universal importance and power of art because she makes people remember their lives and their history with her works. Art no longer confines itself to describing, measuring, and analyzing the world as it appears. Mahmudova believes that geography and memory are too abstract to be presented in a naturalist way. While Mahmudovas works convey that art contributes to the world's renewal, she states that modern time and space are insecure and introverted. Therefore, the world is depicted as an open composition on the edges of the canvases. Her works can be a means of discovery and expression for the audience; she calls for greater openness and creativity where barriers to meaning are removed. With a courageous pioneering action, Mahmudova shows us that humanity can transcend borders with appropriate skills and tools. As a result, the exhibition seeks to cross physical and conceptual borders. Unless we cross these borders, we will not have humanist geography. A careful look at the works will provide us with significant clues to understand a little bit about how this can happen, and if we dare. YARAT Contemporary Art Space is delighted to present The Seventh Solitude, a remarkable group exhibition that brings together the captivating works of a talented ensemble of Azerbaijani artists, including Huseyn Hagverdiyev, Tarlan Gorchu, Orkhan Huseynov, Ramal Kazim, Novruz Mammadov, Faraj Rahmanov, Eltaj Zeynalov, Ismail Safarali, and Nadir Eminov. This exhibition showcases both commissioned pieces by YARAT and other works created by these artists in recent years. Drawing inspiration from Nietzsche's enigmatic concept of the Seventh Solitude, the group exhibition endeavors to connect the fundamental values of modern estrangement, presence, and eternal return within the social context. In today's fast-paced modern world, despite the abundance of people, close interactions do not necessarily enhance opportunities for communication. The prevalent conveyor production of socio-psychological stereotypes, preferences, evaluations, behavioral patterns, and perceptions tends to erode individual differences, ultimately resulting in the fragmentation of one's personality. It becomes evident that within the framework of modern society, attaining the state of the seventh solitude necessitates a specific social context. Solitude, in this sense, extends beyond physical separation and encompasses a spiritual dimension detached from society. Within this framework, the central theme of the exhibition revolves around the quest for the elusive seventh solitude experienced by individuals who deliberately seek solace in seclusion. The exhibition explores the progression from the initial notion of solitude to a more profound and transformative state known as the seventh solitude. This evolving state, seen as a conscious choice, is intertwined with concepts such as freedom, the Path towards self-realization, and the essence of existence. It delves into the intricate connections between these concepts, inviting contemplation on the profound implications they hold for individual experiences. Centering around solitude as its primary focus, the exhibition brings attention to the individuals personal experiences and observations that guide them towards the realm of the Supernatural. It also underscores the integral aspects that form part of this transformative Path, such as freedom, value systems, goals and aspirations, truth and power, obedience, instincts, and more. Through the exploration of solitude, the exhibition delves into the notion of personal belonging, accentuating its exceptional significance and superiority over alternative social environments. Curated by Farah Alakbarli, the exhibition will last until October 22, 2023. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 11:43 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan expressed its condolences to Kazakhstan in connection with the loss of life as a result of forest fires, Azernews reports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published this on its Twitter page. Deeply saddened by news of devastating wildfire in Abay region of brotherly Kazakhstan. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost their lives & wish speedy recovery to all injured. We express our solidarity w/People & Government of brotherly Deeply saddened by news of devastating wildfire in #Abay region of brotherly #Kazakhstan. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost their lives & wish speedy recovery to all injured. We express our solidarity w/People & Government of brotherly . @MFA_KZ MFA Azerbaijan (@AzerbaijanMFA) June 11, 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 11:19 (UTC+04:00) As is known, in April 2023, the soldiers of the Azerbaijan Army, Babirov Agshin Qabil oglu and Akhundov Huseyn Ahliman oglu, who went missing in the border area with Armenia in the Shahbuz region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and were captured by Armenia, were deprived of their liberty on false charges, Azernews reports. During this period, they were not provided with a lawyer, were subjected to various tortures and ill-treatment, and thus grossly violated the norms of international law. Unfortunately, we would like to note that despite repeated appeals on this issue, the Armenian authorities, which still maintain a hostile position, have once again shown their intention to undermine the ongoing peace negotiations, ignoring the requirements of international law by extending the prison terms of those persons. As a result of the so-called "court process" held by Armenia, the biased "decision" made regarding the illegal deprivation of liberty of our military personnel and the extension of their prison term is completely contrary to the norms and principles of international law, and once again strongly demands the immediate release of Azerbaijani soldiers. As the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I once again call on the international community to take serious and effective steps for the release of our captive military personnel. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 11:24 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, On behalf of myself and people of Azerbaijan, I wholeheartedly congratulate You and through You, all people of Russia on the national holiday Russia Day. Azerbaijan and Russia are bound by centuries-long traditions of friendship, good-neighborly relations and mutual support between our peoples. Our interstate ties, close and reliable partnership relations spanning new spheres day by day are successfully developing today on this solid foundation. I would like to note with great pleasure the Declaration on Allied Interaction, which reflects the spirit and character of Azerbaijan-Russia relations and defines the ways of multifaceted allied interaction for the coming years. I am sure that thanks to our joint efforts, we will actively contribute to the further strengthening of our ties, the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas for the sake of the prosperity of our peoples and countries. Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, on this remarkable day, I wish you good health and success, and the friendly people of Russia happiness and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 13:29 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has presented the "Istiqlal" Order to the outstanding film director, screenwriter, People's Artist Ogtay Mirgasimov, Azernews reports. Congratulating the People's Artist, President Ilham Aliyev said: - Dear Mr. Mirgasimov, it is your birthday anniversary today. I heartily congratulate you on this occasion and wish you good health and continued success. You have been working very hard for the development of cinema for many years. All of us are very happy with the work you have done in Azerbaijan in recent years. You have gained great fame both as an outstanding director and as an educator. You have played a major role in the development of Azerbaijani cinema. Ogtay Mirgasimov: Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: At the same time, you are an active public figure. You have always declared your civil position. Your valuable opinions on issues of public concern are very important. Your activity has been highly appreciated by the state of Azerbaijan. You were awarded the Shohrat Order in 2003 and the Sharaf Order in 2018. Today, on your anniversary, you are being awarded the highest order of the state of Azerbaijan, the Istiglal Order. I want to sincerely congratulate you on this occasion and present this order to you. x x x The head of state presented the Istiqlal Order to Ogtay Mirgasimov. President Ilham Aliyev: Congratulations! Ogtay Mirgasimov: You are a remarkable commander, a wonderful politician and a man never goes back on his word. These qualities are important to us. We grew up exactly like this since our childhood soldiers and heroes have always been role models for us. May Allah be pleased with you. You are the son of great Heydar Aliyev, your father. This is a great achievement and an inspiring event is. Everyone knows that. President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. Thank you for the kind words. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 15:37 (UTC+04:00) The European Parliament will hold discussions on the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace treaty, Azernews reports. On June 13, relevant discussions will be held with the participation of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs Josep Borrell. The discussions will be devoted to the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace treaty. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Bloomberg German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his cabinet will pass a national security strategy on Wednesday thats aimed at boosting the countrys economic resilience. The strategy, among other things, seeks to reduce one-sided dependencies in areas such as energy, raw materials and critical technologies. Our multi-polar world is getting more complex, with many emerging centers of power, Scholz said Sunday evening at a forum promoting business in eastern Germany. We have to strive for new partnerships, and thats what were doing. Scholz has been prodding businesses for months to seek out new markets, especially in Asia, and avoid an overreliance on China. Hes called on European leaders to accelerate trade talks with countries including Indonesia, India and Mexico. Germany is at risk of a long, slow decline with consequences for the whole of the EU. His admonitions are aimed, in part, on preventing Germany from faltering as Europes economic engine. The country needs to quickly diversify both its supply chain for importing key materials as well as its customer base when it comes to selling products like automobiles. But so far, thats proved challenging, with bosses from some of Germanys biggest companies including Siemens AG and Volkswagen AG - pushing back. Germany can ill afford a hard break with China, its largest trading partner, with total trade last year of nearly 300 billion ($323 billion), or nearly 8% of the output of Germanys economy. 12 June 2023 09:04 (UTC+04:00) Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday a nuclear deal with the West is welcome as long as the countrys nuclear industry infrastructure is not touched, Azernews reports, citing Turkish media. "There is nothing wrong with the agreement (with the West), but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry should not be touched," Khamenei said during a meeting with senior officials of Irans atomic nuclear agency and nuclear scientists on the sidelines of an exhibition on Irans nuclear achievements in Tehran. His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western countries over the countrys nuclear program and a significant increase in uranium enrichment. The talks aimed at the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US unilaterally withdrew in May 2019 and under which Iran was supposed to limit its uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent, remain stalled since last August over key disagreements between Tehran and Washington. Khamenei dismissed claims about Iran developing a nuclear bomb as a lie, saying Tehran does not want it based on our religious beliefs. He accused the West, in particular the US and its European allies, as well as the UN nuclear agency of not keeping promises, adding that the experience Iran gained was not to trust their words. Khamenei stressed that Iran has over the past 20 years understood who to trust and who not to, noting that the country was hit because of misplaced trust. He commended Iranian scientists for their contribution to the countrys nuclear industry, saying the industry was developed despite sanctions and threats and killings of scientists. Several Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed over the past two decades, which Iranian authorities have blamed on Israel. The last one to have been killed was Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November 2020. Khamenei said cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should continue within the framework of safeguards regulations, while adding that the parliamentary law that called for scaling up uranium enrichment in early 2021 must also not be violated. Under the law, which was passed after the assassination of Fakhrizadeh, Iran gradually ramped up its uranium enrichment, which has now reached up to 60 percent purity. Khameneis remarks came a day after Irans nuclear agency chief Mohammad Eslami said the country is enriching uranium on a higher scale to force the West to lift sanctions. He dismissed concerns over Iran's nuclear proliferation, saying the main goal is to convince or force Western countries to lift sanctions reinstated by the former US administration after leaving the deal. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Foods of foreign countries are served to migrant workers of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' subcontractors in this file photo. Courtesy of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Firms also compete to hire R&D researchers By Park Jae-hyuk HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries are in a fierce rivalry to secure foreign workers and employees specializing in R&D, amid a lingering labor shortage under the recent shipbuilding industry boom, according to industry officials, Monday. In order to prevent the outflow of their workforces, the top three shipbuilders in Korea have come up with various welfare benefits for their employees. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, one of the shipbuilding affiliates of HD Hyundai, is the nation's first shipbuilder running a support center for foreign workers. It also hired 22 translators to help foreign workers communicate better with their Korean peers at its shipyard in Ulsan. In addition, the company is using Instagram to share ways of communicating with foreign shipbuilding workers in English, Vietnamese, Thai, Uzbek and Sri Lankan languages. Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, another shipbuilding affiliate of HD Hyundai, designated June as the month of foreigners and decided to provide beverages from foreign countries on every Friday of this month. It is also running a Korean language class for foreign workers. "We have offered various welfare benefits for foreign workers, including translation services, dormitory housing and food suitable to their religious faith," an HD Hyundai official said. As part of efforts to secure R&D specialists, HD Hyundai decided to pay a bonus of 1 million won ($774) to its employees whenever they recommend an experienced worker who ends up joining the company. Hanwha Ocean, which changed its name from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering after Hanwha Group's acquisition, finished remodeling dormitories for foreign workers late last year. It also offers foods of their countries every weekend. In addition, the company is running a coordinator program to ask foreign workers familiar with Korean culture and language to help workers from abroad adapt. In order to retain its Korean employees, Hanwha Ocean plans to raise base salaries to as high as those of its rivals. It also started recruiting a large number of experts in engineering and various other fields, so that it can have as many employees as its rivals have. "We will recruit our staff by the end of this year," a Hanwha Ocean official said. "We decided not to limit the size of the workforce, in order to secure future experts in advance." Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan also told reporters last week that it is time for the shipbuilding unit to hire additional employees and asked former employees to return. Samsung Heavy Industries CEO Jung Jin-taek, right, poses with Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon at Busan City Hall, Monday, after signing a memorandum of understanding regarding the shipbuilder's investments in an R&D center to be built in the city. Courtesy of Samsung Heavy Industries 12 June 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, on Monday, highlighted the dynamics of the tourism industrys recovery from the pandemic period, as well as planned and implemented projects in Georgia, at a meeting of the tourism working group of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.ge. The meeting was hosted ahead of a gathering of CAREC senior officials, set to run between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, with the Administration saying Omiadze drew up action plans and overviewed expected new joint projects at the meeting together with members of the commission. Xiaohong Yang, the Deputy Director General of the Asian Development Banks Central and West Asia Regional Department, said the development of tourism in Georgia was important for Central Asian countries as well. The fact that Georgia easily came out of the economic crisis period is thanks to tourism, it is not only good for Georgia, it gives a great stimulus to the region and other countries. We are in Georgia for this purpose, to share this experience. Georgia is an extraordinary country with tourism, environment, nature [and] gastronomy, Yang said. The GNTA also said members of the CAREC would explore sights of Tbilisi on Tuesday as part of their visit. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 18:55 (UTC+04:00) Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said surrogacy would only be permitted for those with a citizen status, citing foreign nationals turning this issue into a business on the backdrop of a lack of regulation, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.az. The Government Administration cited Garibashvili as noting limitations on surrogacy across different countries in Europe, with the Government head also noting alleged widespread online promotion of offers. "[F]oreign citizens have turned this issue into a business, and in recent years, there is no regulation at all regarding this issue, he said, adding legislative initiatives would prevent foreign nationals from ordering surrogacy services. I do not want to put it harshly, but there are orders made [for children]. This is also happening online, [where] there are too many advertisements, and we think it is very disturbing to leave this issue unregulated, the PM added, claiming the promotions led to situations where the eventual fate of the children was unknown. There is information that same-sex couples may take the children born here, and there can be a lot of problems. Other difficulties were solved by our agency, the Ministry of Health. Therefore, this needs to be regulated, Garibashvili said. The Government has studied examples of both complete prohibition in Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, Garibashvili noted, adding legislators also looked at a hybrid model used in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Georgian Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili said the Government initiative would also apply to in vitro fertilization. We are taking various measures in the country regarding the demographic problem. This [initiative] could be one of the opportunities [to improve the issue]. The draft law will be sent to the Parliament this week. We think it will be approved in the fall, and it will come into effect on January 1, 2024, and the problem will be solved once and for all, Azarashvili said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 22:50 (UTC+04:00) Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone talk upon the Turkish sides initiative, Azernews reports, citing Kazinform. The President of Turkiye expressed deep condolences to Tokayev and the fraternal people of Kazakhstan over the deaths of people as a result of major wildfires in Abai region. During the conversation, the Kazakh and Turkish leaders also discussed the issues of bilateral cooperation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 June 2023 23:25 (UTC+04:00) Deputies discussed a bill On limiting the circulation of plastic bags in the territory of Kyrgyzstan at a meeting of the Committee on Budget, Economic and Fiscal Policy of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan on Monday, Azernews reports, citing 24.kg. The initiator of the bill is a deputy Marlen Mamataliev. The document proposes to ban the import of plastic film bags into the country, with the exception of those that citizens import for personal use when transporting and packaging goods and personal belongings, as well as the transit movement of goods in sealed cargo compartments. In addition, it is proposed to ban the production of plastic bags from January 1 next year, with the exception of those produced for export, as well as bags made of biodegradable polymer materials that do not have handles and are sold in rolls for household use. The initiators also want to ban the sale of plastic film bags from June 1, 2024, their handing out for free in trade and provision of services. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bahrain is expecting the highest temperatures of the year in June and workers are starting to demand an extension of the ban on outdoor work during summer. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, starting in July of each year, workers will be allowed to benefit from a two-month summer work ban to be protected from the hot weather. Throughout July and August, this rule will ban workers from working outside between noon and 4 pm. Several workers are requiring that the prohibition extend to cover June as well. They are complaining to have regular headaches and sickness after working morning shifts outdoors and instead would like to work nighttime shifts. Lyn Le Altarejos, Director of Foreign Workers' Rights at Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS), highlighted that the dangers & the risks of working outside in this hot and humid weather, particularly for construction workers are huge. Sal Moretti served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, is a retired city superintendent and a former county supervisor district director. You can email him at morettis3313@gmail.com. https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/shad-spawn.html Summer Image A rocky bank is a favorite spot for Dion Hibdon to target bass feasting on spawning shad. Hungry postspawn bass can gulp down a quick and easy breakfast when the shad spawn is on. Former Bassmaster Classic and FLW Forrest Wood Cup champion Dion Hibdon takes advantage of the shad spawn several times a year to catch bass on Ozark lakes. He targets bass hanging around spawning shad in the late spring and fall on the waters in his area, but he has been told by former Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kenyon Hill that shad on some lakes in warmer climates can spawn as often as four times a year. Hill is the son of the late famed Oklahoma fisheries academic Loren Hill, who researched bass and their prey. Hibdon notes that the same factors that trigger the bass spawn also activate the shad spawn. It normally starts when the water temperature gets into the high 60s or that neighborhood, and the moon (phase) absolutely has an effect on it, Hibdon says. The touring pro has found blueback herring spawning around clumps of islands and along clay banks, whereas threadfin and gizzard shad prefer different spawning banks. "On the Ozarks lakes, the shad get up around the rocks, and on other lakes around the country, they get around bushes and whatever kind of cover is in the lake," Hibdon says. "The threadfin and gizzard shad spawning in the same spot is a cool deal because you have two completely different sizes (of baitfish) for fishing big swimbaits or glide baits sizes (for gizzard shad), and then you can fish Rat-L-Trap size stuff (for threadfin). Shad spawning along the bank becomes a buffet line for bass. It throws all the shad into certain areas, Hibdon says. It puts all the food up on the bank where the shad are easier for bass to catch. A bass' instinct is always to push its food shallow because it has the surface and bottom working for it, and when you get the surface and bottom close together, it is easier for the bass to catch the shad. Timing is critical when fishing the shad spawn because the baitfish prefer mating in low-light conditions. Hibdon suggests the best time to fish the shad spawn is from predawn dark to the first few hours of daylight. If you get cloud cover or a rainy day, that can prolong it," Hibdon says. He notices the baitfish will also resume their spawning ritual in the evenings, usually during the last hour and a half of daylight. Wind will have some effect on where the shad spawn. Too much wind is not good for the shad spawn, but a little bit of breeze is perfect, Hibdon says. You dont want the bank getting hammered by the wind. Fluctuating lake levels can also affect the shad spawn. Hibdon notices that shad seem to prefer spawning on a rising lake level rather than when the lake level is dropping. "If the water is going down, it throws the bass and the shad off, Hibdon says. The shad are up there in inches of water, and if you take away a couple of inches, then they are up there rubbing their bellies (on the bottom) and touching stuff which I am a big believer that they don't like touching stuff." Image Dion Hibdon's favorite lures for catching bass during the shad spawn are (clockwise from left) a spinnerbait, topwater popper, topwater walker, and swimbait. Any lure closely resembling a shad will produce bass during the shad spawn. Hibdon favors topwater lures such as poppers, Zara Spooks, or other walking-style baits. He also throws swimbaits and spinnerbaits when bass chow at the shad buffet. The Missouri pro also suggests throwing a white swim jig around flooded bushes when the shad spawn. Twitching his topwater lures quickly and steadily usually produces strikes for Hibdon when the shad spawn is on. "I am keeping it moving most of the time," he says. "I am not doing much hesitating because the shad are non-stop swimming. I do like to watch and see what the shad are doing. If they are poking along down the bank, then I slow it down slightly." A sexy shad hue is Hibdon's favorite color for his topwaters to imitate the baitfish spawners. Hibdon throws a 6.8- or 7.8-inch pro blue-red pearl Keitech swimbait on a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce swimbait jighead into the line of spawning shad in the shallows around docks, bushes, or rocks. He employs a quick retrieve to trigger strikes from bass attacking the vulnerable baitfish. Running a tandem willowleaf spinnerbait at a rapid clip just below the surface produces bass for Hibdon during the shad spawn. He matches the color of the spawning shad by selecting a blade bait with silver spinners and a skirt mixed with white, gray, and chartreuse hues. Most of the time, Hibdon matches his lures to the size of the spawning shad, but sometimes he brightens the colors of his lures. If I feel like bass are starting to get off of the bait or quit biting it a little bit, I might put a bit more chartreuse to it or something like that, Hibdon says. For the most part, though, if the bait looks like shad, bass are going to eat it. Hibdon notices the shad spawn is short-lived, usually lasting only a week or a week and a half. When word gets out that the shad spawn is on, get on your favorite lake before sunrise to take advantage of bass feasting at the baitfish buffet line. President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, shakes hands with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun at the groundbreaking ceremony for Kia's electric vehicle plant at Kia Autoland in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, April 11. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon Governor Cooper Statement on Republican Vote to Override SB20 Veto Press Release: RALEIGH: Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement on the Republican vote to override the Senate Bill 20 veto: "Strong majorities of North Carolinians don't want right-wing politicians in the exam room with women and their doctors, which is even more understandable today after several Republican lawmakers broke their promises to protect women's reproductive freedom. "For the last two weeks, Republican sponsors of this abortion ban have strenuously argued that it is much less restrictive than we warned, so we will now do everything in our power to make sure that's true. "North Carolinians now understand that Republicans are unified in their assault on women's reproductive freedom and we are energized to fight back on this and other critical issues facing our state. I will continue doing everything I can to protect abortion access in North Carolina because women's lives depend on it." Contact: Sam Chan Phone: (919) 814-2100 Email: govpress@nc.gov In 2022 a major report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine warned that enormous wind turbines severely affect the marine vessel radar (MVR) used for navigating waterways shared by commercial and recreational vessels as well as extremely large commercial shipping vessels Disrupted radar systems can result in deadly open-seas collisions - and they can also hinder search and rescue operations In April the U.S. Coast Guard warned mariners of the dangers of bulk ships carrying oversized wind turbine parts obscuring visibility from their navigational bridges This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation . The author of this post is Jon Sanders In recent weeks the U.S. Coast Guard and commercial and recreational fishing vessels as well as commercial shippers have been alerted to serious problems for maritime safety posed by gigantic offshore wind turbines and even their construction.Marine vessel radar cluttered withAs mentioned in the previous research brief, in February 2022 a major report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine warned of significant radar disruption from offshore wind turbines. The report found that marine vessel radar (MVR) are severely affected by the presence of wind turbines.Why that finding is ominous is that MVR is commonly used for traversing waterways. Not every day at sea is a calm and clear (or, of course, even day). The waterways are used not only by commercial and recreational vessels, but also by extremely large commercial shipping vessels - as well as search and rescue vessels.The report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that offshore wind turbines - these- haveWind turbine generators' impacts to marine vessel radarAs a reminder: the wind energy areas planned off the coast of Brunswick County beaches would feature large numbers of these turbines that, at 853 feet tall, would rival the tallest building in the state. Meanwhile, the wind energy area planned off the Outer Banks would feature 69 turbines of 1,042 feet tall apiece - 20 percent taller than the tallest manmade structure in the state.The report found that the turbines causeMaking things worse, when the winds are blowing, the wind towers are even more disruptive. The report explained,For those thinking that the problem would be easy to fix, the report found otherwise. While the report offered some ways for mitigation, it noted that there isthat could allow marine vessel radar to operate inDeadly open-seas collisions and hampered search and rescue effortsDisrupted radar systems are not mere hassles of dealing with cluttered displays. They can result in deadly open-seas collisions. The turbines canShould collisions or other emergencies happen, the turbines make it harder to save lives. As the report noted,In other words, maritime search and rescue efforts also rely on MVR. If MVR interference from offshore wind turbines compromise their operations, they could lose touch with their targets, which could result in unnecessary loss of life.Huge wind turbine parts obscuring bulk carriers' navigational visibilityMariners face new dangers even before the turbines get built, however. On April 4, the Coast Guard had to issue a safety warning to mariners alerting them to the dangers of bulk carriers being given special exemptions from internationally recognized safety standards of visibility from the navigation bridge.The ships are being given special dispensations to let them bring in wind turbine parts, especially blades. The problem is that the parts are so large that they severely limit visibility from the navigation bridge. The Coast Guard warns that they areCoast Guard image offrom the navigation bridge owing to how excessively large wind turbine parts are stowedThe Coast Guard warned mariners to be on the lookout for these bulk carriers with large, dangerous blind spots, especially in congested areas and narrow channels. The letter noted,The Coast Guard then warned operators of bulk carriers not to think that a dispensation letter was a free pass for dangerous navigation.the bulletin warned. Furthermore,More consequences of heedlessly seeking politicalPres. Joe Biden and his administration, aided by ideological allies such as North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, continue to rush a political goal for building offshore wind facilities without regard to consequences. They do so in deliberate and irresponsible ignorance of the long-term and even short-term effects on electricity costs, unreliability issues given an intermittent energy source that fully depends on the whims of Nature to produce electricity, exacerbation of energy poverty, inability to yield any measurable or palpable difference in climate change, harms to critically endangered, threatened, and other marine animals and avian species, negative impacts on job creation and economic growth, ill effects it will have on the coastal fishing industry and beach tourism, compromised national defense and interference with military training and operations, questionable ability to withstand storms in North Carolina's uniquely hurricane-prone waters, and serious problems with disposing offrom blades.Disrupting maritime radar, endangering mariners, and risking open-seas collisions from radar problems and hindered visibility are just more unfortunate consequences of choosing politicalover prudent policy. The Maoist War on History of the American left's assault on historical statues has now claimed a hundred year old statue of Revolutionary War General Phillip Schuyler which stood outside city hall in Albany, New York. The Revolutionary War patriot and later senator led succesful military operations in New York that saved the state from the British. He was the father in law of Alexander Hamilton. Last year, a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt was removed from in front of a New York Museum to meet demands of the leftist War on History. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/06/erasing-history-statue-revolutionary-war-hero-removed-city/ The EU Green Deal is putting pressure on European national govenrments to take drastic measures to cut CO2 and other emissions to stop "global warming / climate change." Bureaucrats serving Ireland's ultra-progressive government have suggested exterminating 200,000 dairy cows to do that. That would likely make the highly regarded Irish butter hard to find. Farmers seem to be in the crosshairs of the environmental extremists, and that will impact the food for all of us. We have similar crazies here in the US. AOC has called for "fully getting rid of farting cows and airplanes." Eagles, whales, and seabirds are already on the climate crazies kill list as they put up wind turbines to slaughter them. https://freebeacon.com/politics/adorable-cows-join-bald-eagles-whales-on-left-wing-climate-kill-list/ Greenwood Village, Colo.-based psychiatrist Howard Weiss, MD, has been sentenced to six months in prison and must pay nearly $1 million for illegal controlled substance distribution. An investigation revealed Dr. Weiss was prescribing medically unnecessary methamphetamine to several adult patients, as well as poly-drug prescribing he regularly prescribed high-dose stimulants with high-dose sedatives, according to a June 8 news release from the Justice Department. In July 2017, one of his patients was arrested after showing up to a drug deal with 119 methamphetamine pills prescribed by Dr. Weiss. Additionally, the patient's probation officer had already contacted Dr. Weiss to warn about the patient's methamphetamine addiction. Dr. Weiss also engaged in illegal banking activity. According to the report, he structured financial transactions to thwart bank requirements to file reports for deposits of more than $10,000 in cash. From November 2015 to February 2018, Dr. Weiss made 45 cash deposits that were more than $9,000 but less than the $10,000 threshold. After his sentence, Dr. Weiss will also face 10 months of home confinement, part of three years on supervised release. S China's Hainan promotes coffee processing, trade People's Daily Online) 09:40, June 12, 2023 Sipping coffee is common in south China's Hainan Province, especially in Xinglong town, Wanning city, which boasts of a profound coffee culture. In the last century, thousands of returned overseas Chinese settled in Xinglong, known as the hometown of overseas Chinese, and brought back the habit of drinking coffee. Coffee fruits on the tree in Hainan. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) However, Hainan coffee had long been plagued by low yield, a small market share, and low public recognition. To solve the problem, the island province has leveraged the favorable policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) and exceptional geographical advantages to boost coffee processing and trade. China's coffee market has been booming in recent years. The value of the Chinese coffee market reached 381.7 billion yuan ($53.5 billion) in 2021, according to an estimate from the International Coffee Organization. A coffee plantation in south China's Hainan Province. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) Thanks to the huge Chinese market, Hainan's proximity to the producing areas of coffee raw materials in Southeast Asia, and the dividends from both the RCEP and FTP policies, the province seeks coffee raw materials and customers outside the island. It is expected to become an important coffee trade channel in the world. Coffee beans produced in Hainan. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) In Wanning, M1 Coffee Dream Factory sells nearly 30 kinds of coffee products from coffee-producing areas across the world. Since 2022, Zhengda (Hainan) Xinglong Coffee Industry Development Co., Ltd. has imported coffee beans from Ethiopia and produced coffee products that better cater to the preferences of Chinese consumers through coffee production lines in Hainan. Data from the Hainan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed that the province has added three coffee production lines with a combined production capacity of 3,500 tonnes since 2022. The annual processing capacity of coffee products in the island province peaked at 9,000 tonnes. A barista makes coffee. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) "We need to give full play to the FTP policies to purchase a large number of coffee beans, roast them, and sell processed value-added goods to the markets outside Hainan and international markets," said Gai Wenqi, Party chief of Wanning. Global coffee enterprises are gradually turning their eyes to Hainan. Coffee products from the province and the world were exhibited at the third China International Consumer Products Expo held in Haikou, capital city of Hainan, in April this year. International coffee companies including Indonesia's Kapal Api Global and Vietnamese coffee brand Trung Nguyen Legend have inked cooperation agreements with companies in the province. It is reported that Trung Nguyen Legend and local companies will jointly build a coffee industry chain in Chengmai county, Hainan. "Zero carbon coffee" products are displayed at the third China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province. (Photo courtesy of Hainan State Farms Tropical Products Industry Co., Ltd.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Ukrainian soldiers fire the grenade launcher towards the Russian positions on the frontline near Kreminna, Luhansk region, Ukraine, June 8. AP-Yonhap 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 Defense Minister Hanna Maliar later said Ukrainian forces had "deoccupied" Makarivka, the next village to the south, and advanced between 300 and 1,500 meters 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 Zelenskiyy, 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," Zelenskiyy 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." Zelenskiyy 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. Ukrainian soldiers works during a combat operation on the frontline near Kreminna, Luhansk region, Ukraine, June 8. AP-Yonhap El Paso, Texas County commissioners are considering the approval of a $55 million revenue bond for the El Paso County Hospital District's University Medical Center Surgical Hospital, according to a June 12 report from KFOX14. The request would add operating rooms at the surgical center, replacing a previous bond request for an ASC in El Paso, according to the report. In addition to operating rooms, the money would be used to add cath lab augments, endo rooms, 40 beds, an emergency department and a new location for the surgical hospital. There are many exciting changes occurring in healthcare, but not all are well received. Bhagwan Satiani, MD, professor of surgery emeritus in the department of surgery at the Ohio State University in Columbus, connected with Becker's to discuss the healthcare disruptors he is nervous about. Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Dr. Bhagwan Satiani: Not in their order of importance, [the healthcare disruptors I am nervous about] are mergers of megacorporations (CVS, Walmart, Amazon, UnitedHealth or Optum) with physicians and insurers; private equity continuing to impact the marketplace; rapid adaptation of artificial intelligence leading to more self-diagnosis and self-care with its policy, payment and legal headaches; probably endemic COVID; and continued shortages of clinical workers. ASC development is becoming increasingly lucrative for health systems and hospitals as more complex procedures move to the outpatient setting. Although the ASC industry is largely fragmented, Tenet Healthcare, HCA Healthcare and Optum are leading the charge in big chain ASC development. Dallas-based Tenet, parent company of United Surgical Partners International, has been focusing on ASC development for years. The health system operates more than 445 ASCs the most of any system and 24 surgical hospitals. USPI, the largest ASC chain in the country, also employs more than 11,000 physicians, including 6,000 physician partners, across the 35 states it serves. In 2021, USPI acquired Towson, Md.-based SurgCenter Development and its more than 90 ASCs, strengthening its market share. USPI also plans to inject more than $250 million into ASC mergers and acquisitions and work with SurgCenter to develop at least 50 more ASCs, according to terms of the transaction. Its closest competitor is Deerfield, Ill.-based SCA Health, which UnitedHealth Group's Optum acquired for $2.3 billion several years ago. SCA Health boasts about 320 ASCs with 1.43 million patient encounters annually. Unlike Tenet, Optum is focusing on physician acquisition over ASC acquisition. The company is the largest employer of physicians in the country, with a portfolio of 70,000. Optum snagged Middletown, N.Y.-based Crystal Run Healthcare, a multispecialty physician group with more than 400 providers. It also acquired Houston-based Kelsey-Seybold for $3 billion, Dallas-based Healthcare Associates of Texas for $300 million and Auburndale, Mass.-based Atrius Health for $236 million in the last year. SCA Health is expanding its focus past ASC management into specialty care. In May 2022, Surgical Care Affiliates rebranded to SCA Health and updated its logo to symbolize growth momentum and added a tagline: "The future of specialty care." "When I joined the organization in 2015, we were an ambulatory surgery center company singularly focused on partnering with surgeons in their ASCs," Caitlin Zulla, CEO of Optum Health's east region and former CEO of SCA Health, told Becker's last year. "Since then, we've evolved to support physician specialists more holistically across the specialty care continuum." Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, another massive, for-profit system, employs or is affiliated with more than 47,000 physicians, but is also ramping up its ASC portfolio. HCA comprises 2,300 ambulatory care facilities, including more than 150 ASCs, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, according to its first-quarter earnings report. The company is continuing to double down on developing outpatient facilities and increasing outpatient procedure migration, it said in its first-quarter earnings call. The company has a "more significant investment" in its ASC development pipeline, as well as possible acquisitions in the works, CEO Sam Hazen said. Minneapolis-based Allina Health has pulled back from its policy of denying care to some indebted patients, according to a June 9 New York Times report. The move was described as a "thoughtful pause" by CEO Lisa Shannon as the health system reviews the policy, the report said. Allina Health has previously confirmed it was cutting off patients for some nonemergency services only if they have at least $1,500 of unpaid debt three separate times. Such moves are not unique to Allina Health, the Lown Institute has said. A 2022 investigation from KFF Health News found 55 hospitals allow denials of nonemergency care for patients with medical debt, and 22 said the practice is allowed but not current practice. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asked patients to get in contact if they have been affected by such Allina Health policies. "Allina is bound under the Hospital Agreement to refrain from aggressive billing practices and provide charity care when patients need and qualify for it, as all Minnesota hospitals are," he said in the New York Times report. Allina Health employs approximately 27,500 people and is one of the largest employers in Minnesota. As of Dec. 31, the system's hospitals had a licensed bed capacity of 2,451 acute care beds. Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University had "A" ratings on a series of bonds affirmed but saw its outlook revised downward amid a relatively weaker financial profile, S&P Global said June 9. The outlook and ratings refer to both the healthcare system and the university's academic sector. Thomas Jefferson is pausing future acquisitions as it seeks to find cost savings of approximately $300 million, according to the research note. Recent transactions have included the 2021 purchase of Temple University Health System's 50 percent stake in what is now called Jefferson Health Plans. The system, which operates 18 hospitals, competes with large health systems such as Penn Medicine and Temple University Health, both also based in Philadelphia, and Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health, among others. It has the top market share in all key service lines, S&P said. Management is predicting an $80 million operating loss for fiscal 2023. "Management's ability to translate the system's enterprise profile strengths into improved financial performance will be important for future rating stability," S&P said. Shon Dwyer, RN, is resigning from her role as president of Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. Ms. Dwyer joined the hospital in 2020 and has 36 years of experience in academic hospitals and health systems. She is stepping down to "further expand and leverage her leadership capabilities toward a greater impact on U.S. healthcare," according to a June 9 news release. Lee Ann Liska, the hospital's COO since 2020, will serve as interim president. New York City-based NYU Langone Health is using an artificial intelligence model that can predict the chances of a patient's death and readmission. The new AI is a large language model that can "learn" from text without needing specifically formatted data, according to a June 7 system news release. New York City-based NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers developed a model called NYUTron that used clinician notes from electronic health records to make assessments about patient health. A study, published June 7 in Nature, trained NYUTron using millions of clinical notes from 336,000 men and women who received care at NYU Langone between January 2011 and May 2020. The notes included radiology reports, patient progress notes and discharge instructions. Language was not standardized among physicians, but the AI could interpret abbreviations unique to a particular writer, according to the release. NYUTron identified 85 percent of those who died in the hospital, estimated 79 percent of patients' actual length of stay and successfully assessed the likelihood of additional conditions and complications, as well as the chances of an insurance denial. "These results demonstrate that large language models make the development of 'smart hospitals' not only a possibility, but a reality," study senior author Eric Oermann, MD, said in the release. "Since NYUTron reads information taken directly from the electronic health record, its predictive models can be easily built and quickly implemented through the healthcare system." Researchers said the AI model may speed up workflow and allow physicians more time to spend with patients. A physician accused of misdiagnosing possibly up to 600 patients at the Tomah (Wis.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center has been terminated, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported June 8. The physician, Mary Jo Lanska, MD, performed thousands of disability exams on patients seeking benefits and care for traumatic brain injuries and other conditions throughout her tenure with the VA. Multiple veteran patients had raised concerns about her, claiming she did not believe they were experiencing any injuries or conditions and as a result they were denied benefits, according to the news outlet. It is not the first time questions about her practice as a physician have been raised, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., has called for an investigation into the physician for a year and a half. She has also pushed for veterans who were diagnosed by her to be reexamined, a June 6 press release states. "Unfortunately, many of our Wisconsin heroes did not get the care at the VA that they deserved," Ms. Baldwin said in a statement. "I am glad to see that after years of working alongside some of our veterans, hundreds of Wisconsinites who have been wronged by the VA will be getting the care and benefits that they earned." The VA terminated Dr. Lanska as of May 16, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents plan to begin a five-day strike June 13 at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West in New York City. The union represents 500 resident physicians and fellows at the facilities, according to a news release from CIR, a local of the Service Employees International Union. Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West are part of the Mount Sinai Health System, which includes more than 7,200 physicians total, according to its website. Union members voted to authorize a strike in May. The union and management began negotiating a new labor contract in January. A statement from Mount Sinai Health System says the health system "is committed to providing the best possible working environments, wages and benefits" for physicians and continues to negotiate in good faith to avert a strike. The union contends that Mount Sinai has engaged in bad-faith bargaining and refuses them parity with non-union colleagues. "It's important that our patients and the community understand that this strike is a last resort for us. For decades, resident doctors have avoided striking, but we have reached a point where enough is enough. We live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, have families, hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and we work 80-hour weeks we deserve to be treated fairly," Carla Calagua Bedoya, MD, said in the union release. "On Wednesday, May 31, we offered CIR a salary package equal to those the union has accepted at other New York City hospitals," Mount Sinai Health System said in its June 5 statement. "We remain confident a resolution can be reached. However, we are prepared for any potential staffing changes to ensure patients and families receive the highest quality care under all circumstances. The care of our patients is our top priority and will do everything possible to minimize any inconvenience." If a strike occurs at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, it would take place weeks after members of the Committee of Interns and Residents and Mount Sinai reached a tentative agreement, ending a three-day strike at NYC Health + Hospitals' Elmhurst Hospital Center. Physicians are turning to ChatGPT to craft more empathetic responses to patients, The New York Times reported June 12. Michael Pignone, MD, chair of internal medicine at the University of Texas at Austin, and his team employed the artificial intelligence chatbot to address patients who have been drinking too much but have not been helped by behavioral health therapy, according to the story. They asked ChatGPT to write a compassionate script at a fifth-grade reading level. It responded: "If you think you drink too much alcohol, you're not alone. Many people have this problem, but there are medicines that can help you feel better and have a healthier, happier life." "Doctors are famous for using language that is hard to understand or too advanced," Christopher Moriates, MD, co-principal investigator of the project at University of Texas at Austin, told The Times. "It is interesting to see that even words we think are easily understandable really aren't." While some physicians express skepticism about the usefulness or consistency of ChatGPT's responses or the need for AI to augment their compassion others swear by it, according to the story. Isaac Kohane, PhD, a professor of biomedical informatics at Boston-based Harvard Medical School, has used it to quickly evaluate if patients qualify for a federal program for people with undiagnosed diseases, while Richard Stern, MD, got a payer to change its mind on covering a medication thanks to a ChatGPT-generated appeal. "It's like a new world," Dr. Stern told the newspaper. Billionaire media tycoon and former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, died of leukaemia today. He will be remembered for his involvement in numerous corruption scandals, sleazy bunga bunga parties, child prostitution allegations, and for the attacks perpetrated by his governments against the working class. The liberal wing of the ruling class would like to distance itself from him, but for all that, Berlusconi held up a mirror to the rottenness of his class. Between 1994 and 2011, he headed four governments. Twice, he was ejected and replaced by a left government in the form of the Democratic Party of the Left (which later became the Democratic Party) and twice these so-called left governments headed by Prodi ended in disappointment, having carried out programmes of austerity and privatisation. Thus, Berlusconis long political career was only possible because of the rotten role of the Democrats, and it is a stark lesson in the failure of lesser-evilism. Berlusconi entered politics precisely to protect his own business interests and to keep himself out of prison, but, more important for the ruling class, to save the Italian bourgeoisie. His rise coincided with the collapse of the traditional party of the Italian capitalists (the Christian Democracy), of the countrys political system and with the stagnation of the Italian economy in the 1990s and the full-blown crisis after 2008. He attempted to foster an image as an outsider, whilst using right-wing populist rhetoric, full of racism and misogyny. As the following article from 2005 points out, he also repeatedly defended the record of fascist dictator Mussolini, and in doing so his views fully accord with the most reactionary and money-grabbing section of his class. The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, does not know the meaning of shame. In an interview with a British magazine, last week he said that Mussolini, "never murdered anyone, he sent people on holiday into internal exile". The journalist's comparison between Mussolini and Saddam Hussein provoked the anger of Berlusconi. He later justified his comments by saying, "I reacted as a patriot, as a real Italian, to a comparison which I do not accept." According to this logic Germans should defend Hitler, Chileans should defend Pinochet, and so on. Berlusconi simply reveals the views of the class he belongs to, or at least the most reactionary and money grabbing sections of it. It may well be true that Mussolini may not have killed anyone with his own bare hands. He wouldnt get involved in such dirty work. Better to leave that to the thugs he had gathered around himself. However, he definitely ordered the killing of thousands of socialists, communists and trade union activists. He was the leader of a regime that caused the death of tens, and hundreds of thousands of people. In reality Berlusconi no doubt has a great sympathy for the figure of Mussolini. After all he was able to destroy the organisations of the labour movement and impose the will of the bosses without having the nuisance of going through parliamentary procedure, or having to deal with mass protests. All the judges are "communists" In spite of his seemingly "crazy" outbursts, Berlusconi does represent an important wing of the Italian bourgeoisie / Image: Niccolo Caranti, Wikimedia Commons In another part of the same interview, Berlusconi launched another of his usual attacks against the Italian judges. In his opinion they are all "communists". But this time he went even further. "If they do that job, it's because they are anthropologically different", he claimed. This is in tune with his obsession with Communism. He is convinced that everyone in the media, in the bulk of the state apparatus, in the Trade Unions, etc, is a dangerous Communist. Now of course, we would be very pleased as revolutionaries if this were true. If it were true it would mean that in Italy we would now be on the eve of a socialist revolution. We can, of course, but laugh at all these "statements" and also agree with a lot of people on the left in Italy that seriously think that Berlusconi is mad. However, if it is true that he is mad, why is it that a raving lunatic can become the Prime Minister of Italy? This is one of the seven most powerful nations in the world! The fact remains that, in spite of his seemingly "crazy" outbursts, Berlusconi does represent an important wing of the Italian bourgeoisie. He came to power two years ago with the full backing of the Italian ruling class. He had the complete support of the Confindustria (the Italian bosses confederation), the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Italy and the majority of the mass media. Responsibility of the left It is also true to say that he could not have come to power simply with the backing of this unholy alliance of the powers that be. He was also able to exploit the fact that the centre left coalition government had failed to deliver any reforms for working class people. Not only did they not do anything for the workers, they actually carried out a whole series of counter-reforms such as cuts in the pension system, privatisation of many state run utilities, etc. In the 2001 general elections all this led a lot of left wing voters to stay at home as they had lost confidence in the left but were not prepared to vote for the right. Berlusconi is often presented in the British and international media as a kind of buffoon, or at the very least an untrustworthy character. The British magazine, The Economist, has made its position quite clear on more than one occasion. They have openly challenged Berlusconi to answer a series of questions about his business dealings and his long list of court cases that have never really led to any clarification about his methods of bribery, corruption and underhand deals. It would however be the height of naivety to believe that The Economist stands for genuine representative government, or that in some way it stands for "fair play". In reality what they are worried about is the credibility of Berlusconi. They want him to deliver the goods, as the saying goes. They want firm action on pensions, the welfare state in general, and on the so-called excessive state spending. If Berlusconi cannot provide this because of the delicate balance of forces within his coalition government, then he is of no use to him. If on the other hand he proves capable of attacking the working class and getting away with it, (i.e. without a mass reaction from the working class) then he becomes a man they can do business with. An embarrassment they can live with At the end of the day, both Bush and Blair appreciate his support for their war in Iraq / Image: White House, Wikimedia Commons Proof of this is the recent war in Iraq. Berlusconi came out in support of the US and Britain. Of course his "support" was of the verbal type. He didnt actually send forces to do any fighting. Nonetheless it allowed Bush and Blair to present themselves as not being "isolated". Berlusconi is indeed a bit of an embarrassment when he comes out with his idiotic statements. He is a bit like a "nouveaux riche" joining the club of the long established wealthy classes. He doesnt know how to hold his fork, and which knife to use for the fish. But this doesnt stop him from having a very good relationship with Bush and Blair. In the case of Bush, no doubt when it comes to intellect they compete for the position of most uncultured, unknowledgable and most clumsy of international leaders. So Bush will see him as "one of the boys". Blair probably has a bit more to be embarrassed about. But as he feels a bit lonely, even a Berlusconi type will do. At the end of the day, both Bush and Blair appreciate his support for their war in Iraq. So although Berlusconi may be an embarrassment on certain occasions, the fact remains that he defends the same class interests of the imperialists in general. So when these are at stake he can be of use to them. We should remind our readers of the attitude of the Italian (and international) bourgeoisie towards the rise of fascism. It was considered as a "painful" but "inevitable" necessity against chaos and Bolshevism. Turning to a fascist dictatorship was the only way for the capitalist system to survive. The facts Let us recall some figures Mussolini didnt kill anyone says Berlusconi. The truth is rather different. Mussolini came to power on a wave of killings. At least five hundred people were killed by the Fascist squads between 1919 and 1922. They went around in groups attacking socialist and communist party headquarters, the offices of left wing journals and trade unions in a systematic campaign of terror which finally ended in the smashing of the workers organisations. Thousands where injured and tens of thousands were imprisoned. Between 1926 and 1943 the Special Tribunals sent more than 5,000 people to jail for "political crimes". Another 15,000 were sent into internal exile. This involved the sending of left wing and trade union activists to isolated villages, often in the south or on the islands, where they were forced to report to the local police and could not leave the village. In exchange for this they were allowed to stay in one of the village houses. Thus they were kept far from their families and isolated from their comrades. Berlusconi considers this a holiday! In 1938 Mussolini introduced the Racist Laws as a concession to his friend Hitler. Thus a widespread persecution of the Jews in Italy was unleashed and around 10,000 of them died in the Nazi concentration camps. Yes, Mussolini didnt kill them himself. He just handed them over to Hitler to do with them as he pleased! The number of people who died at the hands of the Mussolini regime, however is far higher. One biographer of Mussolini, Richard Bosworth (well known for his right wing views) has estimated that at least one million people died as a result of his policies during his 20 years in power. The "atrocious massacres of Libyans, Ethiopians, inhabitants of ex-Yugoslavia" involved the death of at least a million people. This, in the warped mind of Berlusconi, is what makes for a great statesman of the 20th century. Finally we must forget the period between 1940-45 when Mussolini entered the war in alliance with Hitler. Mussolinis famous statement, "I need some thousands of dead to sit down at the table of victory" has gone down in history as one of the most cold-blooded and cynical of calculations. Between 1940, when Italy entered the war, and September 1943, when the Fascist regime collapsed, 200,000 Italian soldiers and more than 30,000 civilians died. Then came the period of Nazi occupation between September 1943 and the end of the war in 1945, during which more than 50,000 people were killed in the partisan struggle to remove the invaders and their local Fascist puppets. More than 70,000 soldiers and civilians also died in the Nazi concentration camps. These are some of the tragic figures that Berlusconi seems to have forgotten (or pretends to have forgotten about). It is no accident. Most of those killed were ordinary workers, trade union activists, partisans, socialists and communists. They came from the world that he despises so much, the world of the workers, the peasants, the poor people of Italy who fought with all their strength against fascism and capitalism. That generation of Italian workers finally overthrew the despotic regime of Mussolini and the Nazis. Those same workers who refused to be tools of Italian imperialism, often deserting en masse, were prepared to take up arms and fight to smash the despot in their own homeland. Those workers desired radical change, going beyond the question of formal parliamentary democracy. They wanted to put an end to the very system that had created Mussolini and his regime. Unfortunately they were thwarted in this. The leaders of the Italian labour movement (Communists, Socialists and Trade Unions) played a key role in this and handed power back to the bosses. If they had not done so, we wouldnt have to be listening to the likes of Berlusconi today. But that is another story. Whatever Belusconi may say or do in his attempts to rewrite history, we will not forget the martyrs of our movement. In honour of their memory we will build the genuine forces of Marxism until a successful socialist transformation of society is achieved in Italy, Britain, and throughout the world. Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses around the country represented by more than 200 national, state and local nursing organizations are making sure Congress hears their collective voices loud and clear. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners submitted a letter of support inked with 235 signatures to Congress on June 6 in support of H.R. 2713 the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act. It's time "outdated barriers to practice" be removed so patients will no longer have "delayed access to healthcare," April Kapu, DNP, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, said in a June 6 AANP news release. "Healthcare policies should be responsive to patient needs and inclusive of the healthcare providers delivering care in our communities," she said. "The ICAN Act will move healthcare delivery forward for patients, providers and our nation." Federal and state regulations in many states limit the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses and require physician oversight. ICAN seeks to reduce these barriers to care and allow these nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical training. The American Medical Association strongly opposes the ICAN Act and has been fighting to stop what it calls "inappropriate scope expansions" by formally opposing more than 20 state bills across the country it says "would put patients at risk by expanding the scope of practice of nonphysicians," according to a May 4 AMA news release. The organization also launched the Truth in Advertising campaign to make sure patients are made aware of who is providing their care, which aims to ensure patients clearly know the license and training of those providing their health care, and empowering them to make informed decisions about their care. "Patients are confused about the qualifications of different healthcare professionals. Many non-physicians earn advanced degrees, and many of those degree programs now confer the title 'doctor,'" the AMA said. "As a result, patients often mistakenly believe they are meeting with physicians (medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine) when they are not." Many nursing organizations strongly disagree. Certified registered nurse anesthetists "play an important role in maintaining critical access in communities across the country" and are often one of the only sources of healthcare in rural communities, Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, said in an April 24 news release distributed by Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio, one of several legislators who reintroduced the ICAN bill. "Yet, unnecessary regulations serve as barriers to expanding care, especially at a time when those same communities face a shortage of providers. This critical legislation is an answer to workforce shortages in healthcare, as it will reduce barriers to help ensure that everyone who needs access to high-quality care," Dr. Mund said in the new release. Heather Clarke, DNP, president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, added that "it is critical that health policy, laws and regulations facilitate the most efficient relationships between healthcare professionals and create systems in which midwives and other APRNs can communicate openly, practice collaboratively and provide quality care." The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2031, there will be a 46 percent growth rate in the nurse practitioner profession, making it the fastest-growing occupation in the country. In a September 2022 article, Nurse Journal said employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is expected to grow "much faster than the average for all occupations," noting "an average of 30,200 openings for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are projected to open each year over the decade." 2022 was the worst year on record for acts of violence against healthcare facilities and personnel on the global level, according to a new report from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition. The coalition documented 1,989 incidents of violence against or obstruction of healthcare in conflicts and situations of political unrest in 32 countries and territories, a 45 percent increase compared to 2021 and the highest annual number of incidents that the coalition has recorded since it began tracking such violence. The coalition notes that the annual tally is likely an undercount. Violence included the deliberate targeting of health facilities with explosive weapons; destroying and looting hospitals and clinics; killing, kidnapping and threatening health workers; and the deliberate obstruction of patients' access to healthcare. Reported incidents in Ukraine (782) following Russia's invasion in February 2022 and in Myanmar (271) following the February 2021 military coup account for half of the violent incidents recorded throughout the year. In 2022, over 230 health workers were killed across 26 countries. This total includes 78 in Ukraine, 27 in Myanmar, 26 in Afghanistan, 11 in Sudan, and 10 each in the DRC, South Sudan, and Syria. Separately, at least 298 health workers were kidnapped or taken as prisoners of war in 20 countries. The report includes recommended actions for the International Criminal Court, United Nations Security Council and World Health Organization, among other bodies and ministries. Len Rubenstein, chair of the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition, notes that the war in Ukraine could "prove an inflection point" for the international community to prevent attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. "Never have calls for accountability for attacks on health care been as loud and sustained as now," Mr. Rubenstein wrote. "We have an opportunity to press for justice for the people of Ukraine in the face of these atrocities and to extend that demand to people everywhere. The time for accountability for these devastating assaults on health care throughout the world is now." A proposed regulation drafted by the New York State Department of Health requires hospitals to assign at least one nurse for every two patients in critical care units. The proposed regulation is a result of rulemaking necessitated by the addition of Section 2805-t to the Public Health Law under Chapter 155 of the Laws of 2021, state officials told Becker's. It is part of a state law signed in 2021 mandating hospitals to establish clinical staffing committees. "There shall be a minimum of one registered professional nurse assigned to care for every two patients that an attending practitioner determines to require intensive or critical care," the regulation says, according to the New York Post. The proposed regulation is on the agenda of the New York State Health Department Public Health and Health Planning Council's June 15 Codes Committee meeting. State officials said the full council will meet on June 29, at which point the proposed regulation could be considered for adoption. States across the U.S. have considered or adopted legislation related to staffing in hospitals. New York's law requires hospitals to establish clinical staffing committees composed of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, ancillary staff members and hospital administrators, and for the committees to develop clinical staffing plans. "The proposed clinical staffing requirement codifies standard industry practice and places patient health and safety first," state officials said. "The proposed regulation allows each hospital to collaboratively develop clinical staffing plans with nurses and other staff, and this hospital-by-hospital approach will enable facilities to balance what is best for the patient and workforce while taking into account the varying needs of each individual hospital." Artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to transform work and public services but measures are needed to protect against the extreme risks it could pose, Rishi Sunak has said. The Prime Minister wants the UK to be home to a global AI regulator and it will host a major summit on the issue in the autumn. The Prime Minister said there was a concern about the impact on jobs and a risk of misuse by bad actors, as well as the potential for the technology to act in ways its creators had not expected. Mr Sunak was speaking alongside Google DeepMinds boss, Demis Hassabis, a government adviser on AI, who was among industry experts to sign a statement saying that mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority. 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 It compared the potential risks from the technology to pandemics and nuclear war. Asked if he believed there was an existential risk, Mr Sunak said there was a concern about the impact on jobs and a risk of misuse. People have always used technology to do bad things, thats not a new thing, we just need to be alert to that, he said in a speech to open London Tech Week. Then there was capability overhang where the technology is capable of things which its creators did not envisage. That leads to a space where people are talking about very significant risks that some would call existential, others would say alongside things like pandemics or nuclear war. And thats obviously concerning. And thats why I think its important that we put guardrails in place to make sure that we develop and exploit this technology in a way thats safe, and that is secure, the Prime Minister added. Mr Sunak said the technology could be useful across the economy with every job essentially having AI as the co-pilot and had the potential to transform public services. Mr Hassabis said: In the situation where theres a high degree of uncertainty, but huge potential impact either way, I think the only the right way to proceed is with the precautionary principle. Proceed with exceptional care, be optimistic about what we can do with the opportunities, and use things like the scientific method to study and carefully analyse these systems as they get increasingly more powerful in the future. Speaking at London Tech Week, Mr Sunak suggested that British company chiefs were less ambitious than their counterparts in California. Fundamentally, it requires entrepreneurs to just keep going, to be not content with building the 100 million business and then the 1 billion business but just to keep growing. That, I found in California, is very much the attitude, the sky is the limit. Everyone thinks they can create a 100 billion-dollar company and actually changing that culture is tough for government to do. Jeremy Hunt also pointed to the US as an example, saying he wants to see more British role models in tech entrepreneurship like across the Atlantic. Speaking in a panel discussion, the Chancellor said: I think we need to inspire people and I would say that, you know, the US does this best and we can all think about the role models in the US who are the tech titans that everyone knows about. And I think we could encourage so much more of that in the UK. He called for cultural changes including for the UK to take on a truly growth mindset and stop being too harsh on business failure. Mr Sunak, who is under pressure from within the Tory party to curb net migration, defended having a visa system open to tech entrepreneurs. Thats what viewers can expect from an upcoming Northern Irish film by screenwriter and director Dominic ONeill. The 43-year-old came up with the concept of Haunted Ulster Live during the 2020 lockdowns. With the team behind the movie currently putting in festival submissions and negotiating with distributors, Dominic is planning for a Halloween release this year. The Belfast man wrote and directed Haunted Ulster Live alongside producer Will OConnell. The pair worked together previously on Dominics first movie, Belfast 1912, a supernatural horror released two years ago. Screened at over 25 festivals internationally, the short film won numerous awards and the crew is hoping to repeat that success with their latest production. Haunted Ulster Live will be Dominics first feature film, with a running time of 77 minutes. Read more Jodie Comer overwhelmed after first Tony Award win for Prima Facie Set on Halloween night 1998, the story follows a local TV station as it investigates a reputedly haunted house in Belfast, which was filmed in a property just off the Castlereagh Road. One of the reasons we made the feature is because a lot of the footage is in a documentary style, Dominic explained. Were using one camera angle usually, rather than shooting a scene with four different cameras and angles, like a lot of films do. Therefore we knew we could shoot it a little bit faster and for a bit cheaper. It also meant we had to make sure we got the perfect location and good production design. What sells it is the immersiveness of believing youre watching TV in the 1990s. The 90s in Northern Ireland is something that audiences, both here and around the world, have connected with in recent times. Dominic believes a lot of that is due to the Good Friday Agreements 25th anniversary and the popularity of Derry Girls. Were hoping we can leverage that nostalgia a little bit when Haunted Ulster Live is released, he added. However, the main inspiration for the story comes from a BBC mockumentary made over 30 years ago. In 1992, the BBC did a TV drama called Ghostwatch, which starred hit presenters of the time, including Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene, said Dominic. A lot of people thought it was real, and its not that well known now, because the BBC were a bit traumatised by the reaction to it, and they wouldnt repeat it for years. True enough, Ghostwatch was presented as live television during its first UK broadcast, resulting in over a million phone call enquiries to the BBC switchboard on that Halloween night, comprising of a mixture of complaints and praise for the programmes unique presentation. Dominic added: The premise for our film is a little bit like that, but doing it from an Ulster perspective. The two presenters in our film are like analogues for Gerry Anderson and Zoe Salmon the idea of a young, bubbly childrens TV presenter being paired up with an old-school broadcasting legend who maybe thinks hes at the end of his career. The comedy-horror features Aimee Richardson who played Myrcella Baratheon in Game of Thrones as a rising star in local TV who is about to be catapulted into national fame. Mark Claney plays Gerry Burns, a witty prolific presenter who, although only in his early 50s, is plagued by the fear that he is an out-of-date broadcaster in a changing world. Read more Michael Fassbender crashes out of 24 Hours of Le Mans race Haunted Ulster Live is loaded with Northern Ireland themes. Dominic said: During the film, when the presenters go to commercial break, at one stage you can see the commercials which we shot in Belfast. One of them is an anti-terrorism ad. Thematically, we wanted to show that at that time, Belfast was being haunted in lots of different ways. The house is haunted, and in Northern Ireland, against the backdrop of the Troubles, we wanted that to reflect how everyone had secrets, and how the past started to catch up with people. The team behind Haunted Ulster Live say it will definitely be in at least one cinema in Belfast by Halloween, and theyre hoping to have Irish and UK premieres. We are also hoping to get it streaming on Shudder, which is a horror version of Netflix that is very popular, Dominic said. Its not gory or particularly violent, but hopefully creepy. Were excited to give found footage horror fans a quirky take on the genre that theyve never seen before. J Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for Some Like It Hot at the 76th annual Tony Awards (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Two Broadway stars have become the first openly nonbinary performers to win Tony awards at this years Manhattan ceremony. Actor J Harrison Ghee walked away with the lead actor in a musical award last night, while Alex Newell won the prize for featured actor in a musical. Ghee, 33, from Fayetteville in North Carolina, won the prestigious award for their performance as a gender-questioning musician in the Casey Nicholaw musical Some Like It Hot. For every trans, nonbinary, gender non-conforming human who ever was told you couldnt be seen, this is for you, said Ghee in their acceptance speech. J. Harrison Ghee poses with the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for Some Like It Hot (Evan Agostini/PA) (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Newell, who won their best featured actor prize for their role as Lulu in Jack OBriens musical Shucked, thanked the world of Broadway theatre for seeing them as they accepted their statuette. To my entire building and cast and crew of Shucked, you are my rock, I love you all. Thank you for seeing me Broadway, they said, adding that they should not be up here as a black and nonbinary actor. They are best known for playing transgender teenager Unique Adams on the musical comedy series Glee after coming runner-up on the reality spin-off series The Glee Project Both Ghee and Newell also thanked their mothers in their acceptance speeches. Mommy I love you, thank you for believing in me, thank you for loving me unconditionally, thank you for teaching me what strength is, said Newell. Alex Newell accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical for Shucked at the 76th annual Tony Awards (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me, to use them to be effective in the world, to help someone elses journey. So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give, Ghee said. While the Tony awards still use gendered performance categories, both Newell and Ghee agreed to be considered under the category of actor rather than actress. A third nonbinary actor, Justin David Sullivan, who starred in the musical & Juliet, chose not to be considered for a prize instead of competing in a gendered category. 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 In a pre-award interview with MSNBC, Ghee said: One of the things thats helped me in making the decision for myself is the understanding that I will always show up in the fullness of who I am, no matter where someone else compartmentalises me. We put labels and limits on people to make sense of them for ourselves, they said, adding that they dont expect other people to get their identity all the time. When I chose this category I literally went to what the word meant, said Newell of their decision to be considered within the traditionally male category. You dont say Im going to see my doctor-ess, you dont say Im going to get a plumber-ess, they explained. You say, Im a plumber, Im a doctor, and I said Im an actor, so thats what I chose for that. Brandon John Rainey (27), of James St, Ballymena, is charged with murdering Chloe Mitchell between June 2 and June 5 this year The man accused of murdering Ballymena woman Chloe Mitchell (21) had absconded to the Ballymena area three times from a secure mental health facility, a court has heard. Unemployed Brandon John Rainey (27), of James St, Ballymena, appeared via video link at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Monday morning. Charged with murdering Ms Mitchell between June 2 and June 5 this year, he replied yeah when asked if he understood the charges. Detective Inspector Foreman told the court she could connect the accused to the charges. Defence for Rainey made an application that the defendant be remanded at the Shannon Clinic - a secure psychiatric unit in Belfast - rather than at HMP Maghaberry. Counsel Neil Moore said the defendant was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and argued he should be detained in the facility under Article 43 of the 1986 Mental Health Order. The court heard Rainey had previously been a resident at the clinic and had been subject to a tribunal in August 2022 to assess him for release. The tribunal ruled that he should not be released, but a full hearing 14 days later overturned the decision, leading to Raineys release. Police objected to the application and said Rainey should be remanded at Maghaberry as he had previously absconded three times from the facility. Brandon John Rainey appears charged with the murder of Chloe Mitchell On each occasion, he was located in the Ballymena area, which DI Foreman said indicated a propensity to return to the area. District Judge King refused the defence application, remanding Rainey at HMP Maghaberry to appear before the court again on July 6. It is of note that there have been three reported escapes from that facility, so Im not minded to return him to anywhere apart from HMP Maghaberry, said the judge. Also appearing via video link was co-accused Ryan Johnston Gordon (34) of Nursery Close, Ballymena. Johnston replied yes to indicate he understood the charge against him of assisting an offender. Defence counsel Stephen McNamara indicated that Gordon also suffered from mental health issues, and that more time was required to prepare his bail application. Judge King agreed to adjourn the bail application until June 20. Chloe Mitchell previously described by police as a high-risk missing person - disappeared after being last seen on CCTV in Ballymena town centre in the early hours of Saturday June 3. A murder investigation was subsequently launched on Sunday evening following the discovery of suspected human remains at a flat in the James St area of the town. Forensic officers attended the flat after the property had been cordoned off by police earlier in the week. Chloe Mitchell murder accused escaped three times from secure mental health facility Both Rainey and Gordon were arrested on Monday June 5, and remained in custody last week as extensive searches of the Ballymena area took place to locate Ms Mitchell. North Antrim TUV MLA Jim Allister was present in court for the hearing on Monday morning, having previously described Ms Mitchells death as a tragic loss. This sad news in Ballymena will evoke great sympathy and support for the Mitchell family, he said. 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. First Minister Designate Michelle ONeill also tweeted in support of Chloes friends, family and community. "My heart goes out to the family, friends and local community to which Chloe Mitchell proudly loved and belonged, as they come to terms with the devastating news, she said. "Women and girls in this society need to be safe and sadly, we are seeing the horrific reality that this isnt the case. "I appeal to anyone with information on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance to contact police. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has obtained an interim injunction preventing publication of details of any secret recordings made at its offices A Northern Ireland council is facing a High Court challenge to its transparency in seeking an injunction to prevent publication of alleged secret recordings. Proceedings lodged by a personal assistant to an independent member of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council dispute the lawfulness of the steps taken to stop any disclosure. Mary McKiernans application for leave to seek a judicial review is expected to be heard later this month. The Council has obtained an interim injunction preventing publication of details of any secret recordings made at its offices. The order was made at the High Court in proceedings brought against persons unknown. Continuing reporting restrictions prohibit disclosure of any information which could lead to the identification of individuals involved in the case. The action relates to conversations allegedly recorded and posted online. Further legal steps are also being taken in Switzerland and New Zealand in a bid to obtain information from a site believed to have posted any relevant material. But it emerged today that Ms McKiernan, who worked for Councillor Padraig McShane, is now challenging the Councils decision to initiate injunction proceedings. Her lawyers claim it was contrary to the public law principle of adherence to policy. They are also seeking disclosure of any documents relating to the decision and explaining what efforts were made to involve councillors. Mr Justice Colton indicated that he will hear the challenge before the summer recess. Outside court Ms McKiernans solicitor, Michael Brentnall, said: Our client is challenging the legal basis for a senior council official in Causeway Coast & Glens Council to take civil proceedings without appropriate authority under the Local Government Act (NI) (2014) and the scheme of delegation. It is our clients contention that a public authority should operate in a transparent manner and ensure democratic accountability, and the issue has been placed before the High Court on this basis. Spanish resorts popular but city destinations offer new ideas Barcelona is one of the top 10 destinations holidaymakers are flying to from Belfast International Airport this summer. Pic: Getty Northern Irish holidaymakers are eyeing up a summer break in the sun, with Spain remaining as popular as ever. Over six million passengers are expected to travel through Belfast International Airport this summer the highest since 2019. Belfast City Airport said it will welcome around 10,000 holidaymakers per day throughout the months of June, July and August. The top 10 destinations for those travelling through Belfast International include Spanish hotspots Palma, Malaga, Alicante, Tenerife, Reus, Ibiza and Barcelona. Those in search of better climes are also flying to Faro in Portugal, Turkish destination Dalaman and Paris. Belfast Internationals top newest destinations for 2023 also include Orlando, Budapest, Valencia and Milan. Meanwhile, the majority of those flying out of Belfast City Airport in the coming months are travelling to Palma de Mallorca, Amsterdam and Frankfurt the only German destination currently served from Northern Ireland. With a strong domestic offering, popular destinations from Belfast City also include Newquay, Edinburgh, London, Southampton and Jersey. Elsewhere, Spain is set to be the number one destination for passengers flying out of Dublin Airport this summer, with Malaga and Barcelona occupying the top two spots. Madrid, Faro, Lanzarote, Lisbon, Paris, New York and Chicago are also some of the most popular port of calls for travellers from the airport. Belfast International Airport suggested that passengers pre-book their car parking, check their travel documents, arrive at the airport on time, be prepared for security and keep travel essentials handy to make sure the trip goes as smoothly as possible. The managing director of the airport Graham Keddie, said as well as the usual destinations, Belfast International has 21 new routes that are launching or have already launched. We are looking forward to a very busy summer season ahead, said Mr Keddie. We are expecting passenger numbers to be similar to what they were in 2019 as passengers continue to prioritise their summer holidays. This year we have 21 new routes that are launching or have already launched including Valencia, Budapest, Orlando and Crete as well as increasing frequencies on traditional hotspots in Spain and Turkey. So whether you are jetting off to explore exotic destinations or reconnecting with loved ones, we are looking forward to welcoming passengers over the summer period. A spokesperson for George Best Belfast City Airport said it was pleased to offer passengers 27 top domestic and international destinations this summer. This represents the most extensive route network that we have ever had at Belfast City Airport which sees us serve more domestic destinations that any other airport in the region and provide unrivalled choice for our passengers, added the airport. Through our unmatched convenience, with the airport located just five minutes from Belfast city centre, to our average security processing time of only six minutes, current standing as Northern Irelands most punctual airport, and our extremely short car to boarding gate distances, we are committed to delivering an exceptional airport journey for passengers throughout 2023 and beyond. Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision A pedestrian has been seriously injured in a crash in west Belfast after a man with a gun was seen in the area. The crash occurred in the early hours of Monday morning on Milford Place. Shortly before the crash, it was reported that a man with a suspected firearm was seen in the area, accompanied by two other people dressed in dark clothing, following criminal damage at a property in Clonfadden Street. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving offences, including causing grievous injury by dangerous driving. A second man, also aged 44, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. Both have since been released on bail to allow for further enquiries. The pedestrian is currently receiving hospital treatment for serious injuries. Detective Sergeant McCartan said: "We are appealing to anyone who witnessed a collision involving a blue Hyundai Kona and a pedestrian on Milford Place just before 5.15am this morning to make contact with us. We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have relevant dash-cam or CCTV footage. We would also like to speak to anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour in the Clonfadden Street, Milford Street and Milford Place areas in the time leading up to the collision. Police have asked anyone with information to contact them via 101. A senior Scottish judge has been appointed as the chairman of the Omagh bomb inquiry. The secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris announced that Lord Turnbull will head up the independent statutory inquiry into the 1998 Real IRA attack, which killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins. Chris Heaton-Harris said Lord Turnbull, who has served as a judge in Scotland's highest civil and criminal courts, would bring "the highest levels of knowledge and professionalism" to the role. "I have no doubt that Lord Turnbull will bring to the inquiry the required rigour, independence, and impartiality and I am grateful to him for accepting this important job," he added. The inquiry was confirmed by the UK government back in February following years of campaigning by victims and relatives. It will have the full powers of the Inquiries Act 2005. Lord Turnbull, who was appointed as a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary in Scotland in 2006, said he is honoured by the appointment. "I am very conscious of the devastation brought to the lives of so many by the atrocity which took place in Omagh in August 1998," he said. "I understand the determination of those who lost family and loved ones, and of those who were themselves injured, or whose family members were injured, to learn whether the attack could have been prevented." Lord Turnbull confirmed he will be seeking views from people affected by the inquiry which will examine four key issues as soon as possible. The handling and sharing of intelligence, the use of mobile phone analysis, whether there was advance knowledge or reasonable means of knowledge of the bomb and whether disruption operations could or should have been mounted to prevent the atrocity are among the key issues to be scrutinised. The senior judge was instructed as one of the two Senior Counsel for the Crown in the Lockerbie Bombing case conducted at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands whilst in practice at the Scottish Bar. For the five years preceding his appointment to the Bench he served as the Principal Crown Counsel for Scotland. Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken has issued an unreserved apology to Alliance Party leader Naomi Long after sharing a tweet which contained a false allegation that she and two other party leaders had broken Covid regulations in the past. A tweet shared by the UUP MLA for South Antrim said all Sinn Fein, Alliance and SDLP representatives were crying good riddance to Boris Johnson MP as he "broke Covid rules and ate some cake. It added: And yet their esteemed leaders ignored Covid rules and travelled all the way to Dublin for an EU photo shoot on the excuse of Zoom wasn't able to work for our meeting. Naomi Long The original tweet was accompanied by a photo of Mrs Long, Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, all wearing facemasks. Its believed to have been taken in Dublin in 2020, when the three party leaders met with then tanaiste, Simon Coveney. On Friday, Mr Johnson resigned as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip over the investigation into Partygate. It came after he saw in advance a report by the Commons Privileges Committee investigating whether he deliberately misled the Commons over lockdown breaches in Downing Street. After sharing the tweet former UUP leader Mr Aiken said: Earlier today I retweeted a post that accused Naomi Long of breaching Covid regulations. I accept that the allegation is entirely false, no rules were broken, and I unreservedly apologise for sharing it. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Alliance Party said it did not want to comment any further on the incident. Mr Aiken didnt apologise to the SDLP or Sinn Fein whose leaders were also pictured in the tweet. An SDLP Spokesperson said: We dont take much of what Steve Aiken tweets too seriously these days. He was right to apologise unreservedly. The UUP and Sinn Fein were contacted. An internee who was tortured by the Army and RUC Special Branch has died without receiving the apology he had asked for. Joe Clarke (71) was one of 14 Hooded Men used as human guinea pigs for torture methods in August 1971. Speaking in a BBC documentary earlier this year after he had been diagnosed with cancer, Mr Clarke said all he wanted to hear was sorry. An apology is everything, he said. We want them to admit that what was done to us was torture and its absolutely been proven it was torture. Its looking very like they are waiting for us to die off. Mr Clarke was a 19-year-old motor mechanic when he was arrested by paratroopers at his Beechmount home in west Belfast at 4.30am on August 9 1971. He was held with dozens of others from Belfast in Girdwood Barracks where he was interrogated, beaten and kicked in the genitals over the next two days. Then he and three other young Belfast men were separated from the rest of the internees. They were handcuffed together, hooded, put in a helicopter and flown to a specially constructed torture centre in Ballykelly army base, although they didnt know where they were at the time. On the journey, I was asked if Id seen pictures of US soldiers pushing Vietnamese prisoners out of a helicopter. Then I was pushed out the door, Mr Clarke told me. I thought it was mid-air, but we were just a few feet off the ground. In Ballykelly, the men were clad in over-sized boiler suits. For the next week, they were made to stand spread-eagled against a wall continually; deprived of sleep, food and water; and subjected to white noise in what was called the music room. The 14 internees singled out as human guinea pigs had their numbers stamped on their hands. Clarke was never referred to by his name but by his number. Not allowed to use a toilet, he was forced to urinate and defecate in his boiler suit. I felt I was going to suffocate under the thick hood, he said. My hands grew numb from standing in the search position. Every time you moved a limb, or fell down through pain or exhaustion, you were beaten until you got up again. You werent allowed to sleep. The only rest was when you lost consciousness. There were no meals. They pulled the hood up to your nose to feed you dry bread and water. I lost 16lbs in a week. I believed we would be murdered. I thought, Theyll never let us out alive to tell the world what they did. Towards the end, Clarke began hallucinating. Labour politician Jim Callaghan had visited the Falls in 1969 when Home Secretary. For some reason, I thought I was his bodyguard, he recalled. After a week, Clarke was taken to Crumlin Road Jail. He remembered the look of horror on a prison officers face when he arrived. I was a battered, bruised and traumatised teenager and he asked me where Id been, he recalled. I told him I didnt know because Id been hooded. He said, Son, dont worry. Youre with men now. Nothing more will happen to you. It was the first kind words spoken to me in nine days. I found it very moving. That prison officer was from the Protestant community. Clarke was later moved to Long Kesh where he was held for three years without charge. The father of five continued to have flashbacks of what happened in Ballykelly. Then years ago, he won 10m in the Euromillions lottery. He reckoned those who detained him must have been sick as parrots at his luck. He died peacefully at his south Belfast home this afternoon. Just one in eight cross-border driving bans have been enforced in the Irish Republic this year. The revelation came as Irish road safety group Parc demanded an urgent overhaul of enforcement regulations in the Republic, which currently allow that such mutual disqualifications can only be handled in the South after court proceedings. In contrast, the UK is able to enforce such bans because drivers must, by law, surrender their licences on disqualification and such disqualifications are automatically notified to the UK driver upon receipt of details of an Irish disqualification. Road Safety Authority (RSA) statistics revealed that 40 cases of mutual licence recognition have been before the courts so far this year. To date, only five (12.5%) have been affirmed by the Irish courts with the driving disqualifications being upheld. Of the remaining 35, eight were dismissed as the disqualification had expired before the Irish court proceedings were completed, two were rejected, one could not be served and 24 were still mired in ongoing legal proceedings. In many cases, the disqualification cannot be enforced in the Republic as, by the time the court proceedings reach a hearing in the district court, the driving ban imposed in the UK has already expired. In the meantime, the motorist involved could have been driving in the Republic without hindrance. Parc founder Susan Gray warned that there was major concern over the fact that drivers who are disqualified in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England or Wales could still be freely driving in the Irish Republic. Mutual recognition of driving licence issues dates back to an order signed by then Transport Minister Shane Ross in March 2017. It applies to a specific number of serious road traffic offences such as dangerous driving, including dangerous driving causing death, drink and drug driving as well as hit-and-runs. Northern Ireland authorities raised concerns over how the cross-border enforcement of disqualified drivers was working three years ago. Northern Irelands chief inspector of criminal justice Jacqui Burkin warned in 2020 that problems were arising from the fact that gardai and the PSNI do not have automatic access to each others road safety records. Parc wants the enforcement regulations reviewed and streamlined. The group also wants the provision of greater manpower resources for Garda Roads Policing Units. The woman was sent abortion-causing drugs by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Steve Allen Travel Photography/Alamy/PA) Womens rights groups have said there is desperate need for legal reform after a mother-of-three was jailed for illegally obtaining abortion tablets to end her pregnancy during lockdown. Carla Foster, 44, was given a 28-month extended sentence after she admitted illegally procuring her own abortion when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she was sent the drugs by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) after she called them during lockdown in 2020 and lied about how far along in her pregnancy she was. The prosecution said Foster made a number of internet searches between February and May 2020, including how to hide a pregnancy bump, how to have an abortion without going to the doctor and how to lose a baby at six months. Foster was initially charged with child destruction and pleaded not guilty. The woman was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (Dave Thompson/PA) She later pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion, which was accepted by the prosecution. The sentencing has prompted a backlash from womens groups, including the Centre for Womens Justice (CWJ), with director Harriet Wistrich questioning how it was in the public interest to prosecute the mother. She said: What possible purpose is served in criminalising and imprisoning this woman, when at most she needs better access to healthcare and other support? She is clearly already traumatised by the experience and now her children will be left without their mother for over a year. When most forms of violence against women and girls go unpunished this sentence confirms our very worst fears about contemporary attitudes to womens basic human rights and an utterly misdirected criminal justice system. Womens human rights programme director at Amnesty International UK Chiara Capraro described the decision to prosecute over a law from 1861 as shocking and quite frankly terrifying. She said: Access to abortion is essential healthcare and should be managed as such. This is a tremendously sad story and underscores the desperate need for legal reform in relation to reproductive health. British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) chief executive Clare Murphy said no woman can ever go through this again and called for MPs to protect women in desperate circumstances so they are never threatened with prison. She said: Vulnerable women in the most incredibly difficult of circumstances deserve more from our legal system. The Crown Prosecution Service said the case was complex and traumatic, but added it has a duty to ensure laws are properly considered and applied when making difficult charging decisions. A CPS spokesperson said: The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully administering a poison or noxious thing with intent to procure a miscarriage, and has now been sentenced by the court. Ahead of the sentencing, a letter was sent to the court from leaders of health organisations calling for a non-custodial sentence. The letter from leaders of medical groups such as the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, warned that imprisoning Foster could put other women off accessing telemedical abortion services. The letter also said it could put off late-gestation women from seeking medical care or from being open and honest with medical professionals. In response, Mr Justice Pepperall said in his sentencing remarks it would have been better if the letter had not been written at all. He said: The letter also has the capacity to be seen as special pleading by those who favour wider access to abortions and is, in my judgment, just as inappropriate as it would be for a judge to receive a letter from one of the groups campaigning for more restrictive laws and which might seek to argue that it is important that the law is upheld by passing a deterrent sentence. The court heard Foster, who had three sons before becoming pregnant again in 2019, did not see a doctor about her pregnancy because she was embarrassed and did not know how far along she was, the court was told. She spoke to a nurse practitioner at BPAS, an abortion care service, on May 6 2020 and, based on her answers to questions about her pregnancy, it was determined she was only around seven weeks pregnant and she was sent abortion pills in the post. A post-mortem examination determined the child was between 32 and 34 weeks gestation when born. Her cause of death was recorded as stillbirth and maternal use of abortion drugs. Foster will serve 14 months in custody and the remainder on licence after her release. Mr Justice Pepperall said: This case concerns one womans tragic and unlawful decision to obtain a very late abortion. The balance struck by the law between a womans reproductive rights and the rights of her unborn foetus is an emotive and often controversial issue. That is, however, a matter for Parliament and not for the courts. People take shelter beneath umbrellas as they walk in the rain along Boscombe Pier in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA) Flash flooding and thunderstorms are forecast to hit parts of the UK today, as the high temperatures continue throughout the week. The Environment Agency has issued 14 flood alerts across the Midlands over concerns heavy, thundery showers could produce large amounts of surface water. Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms and rain from 12pm to 9pm on Monday, covering parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of Southern England, Wales, and the Midlands and including London, Manchester and Bristol. 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 Grahame Madge, a meteorologist at the Met Office said it is difficult to predict exactly where thunderstorms might hit, and that people within areas likely to be affected should prepare for any sudden weather changes. Mr Madge said: Within these areas we can expect heavy rain, possibly hail, potentially frequent lightning. Just because youre within that warning area, it doesnt mean that youre guaranteed to see a storm or even hear one. By their nature, they develop quickly and in almost seemingly random areas. He added: Within the area we are advising that people might want to think about how suddenly they can be subjected to flash flooding or a power cut. Are people prepared? Make sure mobile phones are charged and that sort of thing. (PA Graphics) Because when you get these storms they can change your circumstances quite dramatically within almost a matter of minutes. Mr Madge said that heat rising from freshly ploughed fields or over a city area could trigger thunderstorms even when nearby areas remain dry. Flash flooding can occur in a few minutes, caused by these highly localised weather conditions. Urban areas with lots of concrete can be vulnerable to flash flooding as the rain hits surfaces such as pavements which cannot absorb heavy downpours, leaving them to flow into drains or roads. Beachgoers at Bournemouth beach in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA) Underpasses can also fill quickly and drivers could face hazards with flood water on roads. Higher temperatures are concentrated in the north today, with Manchester, Leeds, and Keswick, Cumbria, between 30 and 31C, while south-central England remains in the high 20s, with London and Cambridge both reaching between 27 and 28C. Further thunderstorms may be possible in the first half of the week, with fresher conditions and temperatures slightly decreasing towards Thursday and Friday. However, the sunny weather is staying with most parts of the country forecast to remain above 24 and 25C throughout the week, and temperatures potentially reaching 29C in Bristol and Birmingham over Wednesday and Thursday. Cooler air from the North Sea will reach parts of the UK on Thursday and Friday, particularly areas along the North Sea coast and the East of England. Part of the inquirys remit is examining issues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) One of Scotlands leading paediatric doctors said she still does not know what happened at a multi-million pound super hospital to cause infections in a childrens ward. Professor Brenda Gibson, a consultant paediatric haematologist, gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry on Monday, which is investigating a series of contamination issues at the 840 million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Scottish ministers announced the inquiry in the wake of deaths linked to infections at the hospital, including that of 10-year-old Millie Main, who was being treated for cancer at the childrens hospital that is part of the same campus. But on Monday, Professor Gibson, lead of the Schiehallion haemato-oncology unit, said: There are two versions of whats happened. There is a real environmental problem (and) theres no environmental problem at all. I still dont know which is true. All I can say is we have had our 11 million refurbishment and we now have what is said to be the best ventilation system that money can buy and we have got water that is coming out of a post-filter tap which has no bacteria in it. The professor told inquiry chairman Lord Brodie that she had tried to get explanations for what the issues were at the hospital from the most senior management at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Alastair Duncan KC, the inquirys senior counsel, asked her if she had ever had an answer to what was happening from the very highest level. She replied: No. Contamination issues have been linked with water quality and ventilation systems in the super-hospital, which opened in April 2015. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The inquiry heard patients in the ward had been moved because of concerns, and then had to be moved again because issues persisted. During her day-long evidence session, the professor said: For all of how awful this has been, I do think we are a great team. I built the unit and Im very proud of each and every one of them whos worked in it and, you know, has survived this. As Churchill said, when you find yourself walking in hell keep walking. And thats what we did. The entrance to the childrens hospital in the QEUH in Glasgow (Alamy/PA) We did our best and we just want everybody to appreciate that we did do our best, and that we did try endlessly to bring attention to the concerns we had to those above us. The toll it had on families had been considerable, she said. And there had also been an impact on staff, she added. Some people have described themselves as destroyed, she told the inquiry. You cant reassure or tell somebody not to worry about something if you dont know what the root cause is or what the problem truly is. So it was very difficult trying to be reassuring and honest and supportive at the same time. And I think as a team we did question what we were doing all of the time, was it right what we were doing, but we did all of this in the background of actually being told on the one hand there was a problem, and on one hand there was no problem. The inquiry heard there was an enormous amount of stress suffered by the staff, and she had never seen a toll taken on staff like it. She said: One has to recognise that the biggest toll was taken by the parents, and I would never say anything that sounded as if I didnt recognise that because I do, but the strain on some of them, particularly nursing staff, was huge. The professor told the inquiry that the responsibility for providing a safe environment for patients lies with the health board. The unit had been based at Yorkhill in the city, and plans were drawn up for it to be moved. Professor Gibson said there had been very limited consultation. Professor Gibson told the hearing she had no involvement with ventilation or water systems, and her departments involvement was purely in deciding how we would allocate the space. Upon moving into the hospital, the inquiry heard, there were sewage leaks, cladding issues, and windows falling out. The inquiry also heard there were issues with temperature, blinds, televisions not working, and also issues with the smell of a nearby sewage treatment works. Professor Gibson is the lead clinician for the haematology and oncology service based in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. The inquiry is also examining problems that led to the delay in the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. It continues on Tuesday. One of Scotlands leading doctors has said she did not sign off on plans for a childrens ward, telling an inquiry they were promised a like-for-like unit they never got. Professor Brenda Gibson, a consultant paediatric haematologist, gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry on Monday, which is investigating a series of contamination issues at the 840 million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Scottish ministers announced the inquiry in the wake of deaths linked to infections at the hospital, including that of 10-year-old Millie Main, who was being treated for cancer at the childrens hospital that is part of the same campus. The inquiry is also examining problems that led to the delay in the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. Professor Brenda Gibson was made an OBE by the Queen (Yui Mok/PA) Professor Gibson told Alister Duncan KC, the inquirys senior counsel, that she she did not sign off on plans because they had not got the hospital they were promised. The professor, lead of the Schiehallion childrens cancer unit, told the 11 million inquiry that the responsibility for providing a safe environment for patients lies with the health board. The unit had been based at Yorkhill in the city, and plans were drawn up for it to be moved. Prof Gibson said there had been very limited consultation. All that I remember we had as choices was there was a floor plan, and that was to be our space, and we were not to have any more space than that, the inquiry heard. We could do anything related to that space, but if it didnt meet our needs, it couldnt be extended. So we just had to make the most of that space and we opted to maximise the number of patient cubicles. It meant at the new hospital, she told the inquiry, they had to sacrifice much of what had been at the old unit in order to fit patients to avoid them being sent to other wards and, as a result lost office space, parent accommodation, a staff room, a seminar room, and pharmacy accommodation. I, as the lead, was asked to sign off the plan and I didnt do it. Well, I didnt do it to the best of my knowledge. I certainly held out for a very long time, she said. I think it was signed off by a senior nurse, a managerial nurse. Thats my understanding. And, the inquiry heard: We had been promised a like-for-like unit in a flagship hospital and it certainly wasnt a like-for-like unit. Contamination issues have been linked with water quality and ventilation systems in the super-hospital, which opened in April 2015. Prof Gibson told the hearing, which is being overseen by inquiry chairman Lord Brodie, she had no involvement with ventilation or water systems, and their involvement was purely in deciding how we would allocate the space. During the hearing, Prof Gibson said it was the view of clinicians that they were responsible for providing chemotherapy or any other form of care within national or international protocols or guidelines, and to do that with a well-trained workforce within a holistic manner. She added: The responsibility for providing a safe environment for that treatment to be delivered lies, within our view, with the health board led by the chief executive. The responsibility for deciding is a place safe or not safe, lies with control of infection. Upon moving into the hospital, the inquiry heard, there were sewage leaks, cladding issues, and windows falling out. The inquiry also heard there were issues with temperature, blinds, televisions not working, and also issues with the smell of a nearby sewage treatment works. Prof Gibson is the lead clinician for the haematology and oncology service based in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. The inquiry continues. Sam McBride argues that the strength of the Irish Army is a crude barometer of how seriously the Republic takes the possibility of unity Members of the Irish Defence Forces during the Arbour Hill 1916 Leaders Commemoration ceremony in Dublin in 2018 (Getty Images) Irelands Defence Forces are small, underequipped and getting weaker as more and more servicemen and women abandon the ranks due to poor pay and conditions. The world has become a dangerous place, and some believe that Ireland should have the capacity to defend itself others think that is impossible and a waste of money. Currently, the Republic would depend on the UKs RAF in the case of emergency despite a history of armed resistance to British rule. But what about a united Ireland if loyalism chose to resist, would Irelands armed forces be able to deal with that? Professor Brendan OLeary, who has examined unification in depth, has described that as an entirely legitimate fear. The Belfast Telegraphs Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride tells Ciaran Dunbar that Irelands lack of military capacity shows that its not yet serious about unity. Ireland's Defence Forces and a united Ireland: Could they handle it? This is episode three of a three-part series. Zimbabweans have welcomed improved electricity supply across the country after Hwange Thermal Power Station started performing at its best in the last week, generating 740 megawatts as of yesterday, a 10-fold increase on the mere 74MW that was being generated late February. The increased power generation has brought joy to both domestic and industrial consumers who had been enduring long hours of loadshedding since the last quarter of 2022 The continued improvement in power generation helps Zimbabwe reduce electricity imports and ease power cuts, which drive increased industrial production as there is guaranteed electricity supply, a key economic enabler and driver towards realisation of Vision 2030. As the country pushes to replicate the 2022 wheat season of achieving flour self-sufficiency, the Government has already assured farmers of uninterrupted power supplies during the winter wheat season as Zimbabwe aims at maintaining self-sufficiency. Power cuts have been common in the Sadc region because of a generation gap brought about by increased demand as more homes and industries are being connected to regional grids. New connections have not been met by corresponding development of new power stations or expansion of existing ones, leading to supply deficits. However, power cuts in Zimbabwe are set to significantly decrease as one of the Second Republics signature projects, the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7, which was undergoing synchronisation process is now feeding in the national grid. The situation is set to further improve with the coming on stream of Unit 8 this year, which will add 300MW to the national grid. Depressed output at Kariba South due to low water levels had also worsened the situation, but all is now a thing of the past as both domestic and industrial users are experiencing steady supply of the electricity. Asked over the improved electricity supply, Zesas general manager stakeholder relations communications and welfare Dr George Manyaya said: A statement will be released tomorrow after Cabinet. According to daily production figures, Kariba generated 761 MW and Hwange 740MW. Power China which synchronised the Hwange Thermal Power Station however said: Unit 7 of Hwange Power Plant was officially integrated into the national grid, adding 300MW of electricity to the national grid. A Dzivaresekwa 3 resident, Mr Simon Masangudza said of late there has been an improvement of electricity supply. At least we are getting electricity for the better part of the day unlike the past months where we would spend the whole day or sometimes even the night with blackouts, he said. Gogo Sarah Chitengwa from St Marys in Chitungwiza said there has been a clear improvement in supplies. The costs of losing electricity were just too much for me. Imagine buying gas and candles almost on a weekly basis yet I would have also bought electricity in advance, she said. Mr Tafadzwa Ndoro of Westlea suburb said he hoped the situation would continue to improve. The availability of electricity is a welcome gesture. My wish is to see the situation improving, he said. Mrs Rutendo Dengu also applauded Zesa for the improved power supplies. It is all joy having electricity for the whole day. At least my kids are now spending time watching television, she said. The imminent completion of works at the Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 8 will also further reduce issues of power challenges that has been bedevilling the country. Herald People walk outside the gates of the headquarters of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka, Jan. 31, 2023. Bangladeshs anti-corruption agency on Monday charged 146 people, including a top bank official said to be close to the ruling party, for the alleged embezzlement of U.S. $209 million from BASIC Bank. The announcement by the Anti-Corruption Commission marked the first time it had tied Sheikh Abdul Hye Bachchu, the former chairman of the state-run bank, to the alleged fraud in the decade-old investigation. The agency was heavily criticized over the years for not investigating Bachchu despite more than 50 cases against him. The charges have been approved in a board meeting today. Investigation officers will submit the reports to the court shortly, Md. Mahbub Hossain, secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), told the media. Of those charged, 46 are bank officials and 101 are borrowers, he said. BASIC Banks [former] Chairman Bachchu and [former] Company Secretary Shah Alam Bhuiyan have been accused in 58 cases, Mahbub added, about the cases that were filed against the two bankers in 2015. BenarNews contacted Bachchu but he declined to comment. Opposition members had alleged that the ACC had ignored investigating Bachchu, a former Jatiya Party lawmaker, because of his alleged close links with the ruling Awami League party. Bachchu was appointed as BASIC banks chairman in 2009 by the Awami League government, led by Sheikh Hasina. His appointment was renewed in 2012, but he resigned under pressure in 2014 after allegations about a huge loan scam had surfaced a year earlier. In 2013, the ACC received an investigation report from the countrys central bank about the embezzlement of around $415.4 million between 2009 and 2013 from BASIC Bank. In February this year, the ACC informed the High Court that aside from $209 million, the remaining money had been recovered. The accused persons embezzled through issuing bank loans in favor of fake institutions for non-existent mortgages, ACC officials explained. Bachchu is the only member of the banks board of directors who has been charged. According to ACC Secretary Mahbub, the reason for that is all the loans disbursed were signed by Bachchu, former Company Secretary Shah Alam and former Managing Directors A.K.M. Sajedur Rahman and Kazi Faqurul Islam. No loan proposal has signatures of any board members. These were done without informing the board members, Mahbub said. Even if there was a board meeting, Bachchu would hand over his working papers to the board members the night before the meeting or in the morning so that no board member could look at it. This was done despite a rule that the minutes of meetings had to be given to board members at least seven days earlier, Mahbub said. In November 2022, the High Court gave the ACC three months to complete the investigation into the BASIC Bank loan scam. The court ordered the agency to prepare its investigation report and submit it to the trial court within that time. Back then, the court also expressed disappointment that the anti-graft agency had failed to submit the charge sheet in a case that involved such a huge sum being embezzled. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, said it was a positive development that the charge sheet was finally being filed, although this had taken a long time. However, why the name of any other board members at that time did not come up should be investigated during the judicial process, he told BenarNews. Indonesian presidential candidate and incumbent Joko Widodo speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, April 13, 2019. A whistle-blowing service said Monday it found evidence that Indonesian state agencies have been using Israel-made spyware that can hack into phones and turn them into surveillance devices. The State Intelligence Agency and police may have used the Pegasus software to spy on politicians and activists, including former opposition leader Prabowo Subianto, IndonesiaLeaks, a consortium of media outlets and investigative reporters, said in a report it released on Monday. Jakarta supports Palestinian statehood and does not recognize Israel, but the devices to hack into phones and install the software did not come into the country directly from the Jewish state, according to IndonesiaLeaks. The investigative team of IndonesiaLeaks found evidence that Pegasus had entered Indonesia in 2018, it said. Two sources told IndonesiaLeaks that a businessman who was the treasurer of President Joko Jokowi Widodos campaign team for the 2019 election and is now a minister had allegedly used the Israeli spyware. Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, currently the minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, was said to have had a special room in his house where spyware was allegedly used to tilt the presidents reelection bid in Jokowis favor. The system was believed to be Pegasus, a former Jokowi administration official told IndonesiaLeaks, adding that the spyware could infiltrate the WhatsApp accounts of Jokowis political opponents. Among the alleged targets of the spyware were Prabowo, who is now the defense minister in the second Jokowi administration, and Airlangga Hartarto, chairman of the Golkar party and the coordinating minister for economic affairs, the report by IndonesiaLeaks said. When BenarNews contacted Trenggonos office on Monday, an aide to the minister said he was not aware of the information. The IndonesiaLeaks report also cited unnamed sources who claimed to have operated Pegasus. Pegasus was created by the NSO Group, one of Israels most successful technology companies. There have been widespread allegations that authorities in several countries such as Bangladesh have used the technology to spy on politicians, activists and journalists. The software has been used to facilitate human rights violations globally on a massive scale, according to a major investigation of potential surveillance targets conducted by a consortium of journalists from 10 countries and Amnesty International. A protester holds a banner during a protest attended by dozens of people outside the offices of Israeli cyber company NSO Group in Herzliya near Tel Aviv, July 25, 2021. [Nir Elias/Reuters] NSO Group has said that it sells its products only to governments for legitimate law enforcement purposes. In November 2021, however, Washington blacklisted the firm for acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. This is a lot of money According to the IndonesiaLeaks report, the Indonesian police in 2018 first purchased a zero-click system to infiltrate devices for 99 billion rupiah (U.S. $6.7 million). Such a system doesnt require any action from the user of the device. Pegasus has one of the most sophisticated zero-click capabilities, according to experts. The police denied using Pegasus or any other spyware. The police have never acquired or used the Pegasus spyware. We have a system that follows legal interception procedures, Slamet Uliandi, the chief of the polices technology, information and communication division, said in the IndonesiaLeaks report. Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, the director general of informatics applications at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, said Indonesia was not a Pegasus customer. Indonesia is not on its list, he told BenarNews. He declined to comment further on the IndonesiaLeaks findings. We only handle electronic system providers and content, he said. The State Intelligence Agency did not comment on the report. Other government officials also declined to comment, or did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The Alliance of Independent Journalists, one of the initiators of IndonesiaLeaks, said it wanted to highlight how the spyware was used to target certain groups. This is a lot of money and it comes from the taxpayers, of course, Sasmito Madrim, the chairman of the alliance, told BenarNews. He said that using taxpayers money for political interests or spying on activists who fought for democracy was unacceptable and demanded Jokowi offer an explanation. We should not let the past election be tainted by things that are unaccountable, especially using tools from a country that we dont have diplomatic ties with, Israel, he said. Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, the frontrunner for prime minister, gestures to supporters at party headquarters in Bangkok after preliminary election results revealed the party leading in the vote count, May 14, 2023. Thailands Election Commission announced Monday it would investigate the post-electoral frontrunner for prime minister to determine if he is qualified for political office a move that could block his path to power. The announcement came as the party raised questions about the integrity of minutes recorded during a shareholder meeting of a media company tied to a complaint that could derail Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrats plans to form a new government. His party won the most seats in Parliaments lower house in last months general election, threatening to upend a pro-military government, which has ruled Thailand since a coup nine years ago. There is sufficient information to suspect that the candidate is unfit or prohibited from seeking public office, according to electoral regulations, to further investigate Pita, Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said in a text message on Monday. The issue of the operational status of the iTV media company could have a significant bearing on another investigation by the commision into Pita, who has been accused of owning 42,000 shares while applying for office a potential violation of electoral laws. If found that he broke the rules, Pita could be disqualified as an MP, potentially damaging his partys ability to form a coalition government. The latest statement by Thailands electoral body follows Fridays announcement by the commission that it had dismissed allegations against Pita related to ownership of media shares. Instead, it shifted focus toward examining whether Pita knowingly applied to be an MP candidate while being potentially ineligible to contend for a House seat. Politician Ruangkrai Leekitwattana filed the complaint with the commission ahead of the May 14 general election, in which he challenged Pitas qualification for office over ownership of the media shares. Ruangkrai, a party-list candidate from the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party, claimed that owners and shareholders of media businesses are prohibited from running in national elections. Last week, Pita reported that he had preemptively transferred the 42,000 iTV shares he inherited from his father to relatives to avoid potential political concerns. He denied any wrongdoing and said he was confident in beating the complaint against him. Meeting minutes questioned During an episode that aired on Sunday night, Channel 3s investigative program, Three Miti News, presented details from iTVs parent company Intouch Holdings annual shareholder meeting. The broadcast appeared to show a discrepancy between the official minutes and comments by a top executive. In the minutes, Kim Siritaweechai, director of Intouch Holdings and chairman of the meeting, was asked whether iTV was operating as a media firm, to which he answered yes. The company was running in accordance with its registered objectives and it had submitted its balance sheet and corporate tax return to the revenue department as normal, he said. But in a video clip of the April 26 meeting leaked to Three Miti News, Kim could be heard saying that iTV had not been operating as a media company since 2007, when it filed a lawsuit against the prime ministers office for canceling its broadcast permit. On Monday, Move Forward Secretary-General Chaitawat Tulathon said the discrepancy between the minutes and the leaked video raised suspicion that people at iTV could be involved in efforts to block Pitas bid to become prime minister. This doesnt seem to be a casual mistake or standard procedure of report preparation, he said in a statement to the media. Instead, it may be an intentional modification to align with subsequent documents, creating questions about potential foul play to prevent MFP forming a coalition government. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a party member, questioned whether the meeting minutes were being investigated. The question that society needs to pose is whether this behavior constitutes the creation of false shareholder meeting reports to frame someone else for criminal charges, he said on Facebook. How will the companys board chairman, the reviewing and revising committee of the meeting report, and other board members be held accountable for this case, Wiroj asked. US: a delicate time in Thailand Earlier this month, the U.S. National Security Council coordinator for the Indo-Pacific said that Washington was watching the Thai election carefully. This is a delicate phase in terms of the formation of a government. I think our goal is to sustain a strong bilateral relationship, Kurt Campbell said, according to the transcript of his appearance at Hudson Institute, a conservative think-tank, adding that Thailand is the oldest treaty ally in the region and many American companies have invested there. I think it is undeniable that the politics of Thailand have been unstable and complicated. I think our goal would be to support an effective, stable democratic government in Thailand and then work consequentially with it, he said on June 6. But this is an undeniably delicate time. Thannapat Jarernpanit, a professor at Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, said protests were possible. Even though we see efforts trying to prevent the MFP from forming a government, the case with iTV seems to exhibit a great disregard for the public and media. Creating false evidence is a serious matter, Thannapat told BenarNews on Monday. The problem is that this situation could prolong the process of forming a government and induce public dissatisfaction. If asked whether there is a chance that the people will protest again, it is definite, she said. Especially facing an unjust case like iTV, peoples anger accumulates and could turn into a large-scale protest similar to when the Future Forward Party was dissolved. Wilawan Watcharasakwej in Bangkok contributed to this report. This Cumberland Farms store on First Street in Pittsfield is among five of the chain's outlets in the Berkshires that were recently sold as part of a $1.5 billion transaction This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle. Susan Phillips is a former reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. She lives in Windsor after living abroad and in Washington, D.C. 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. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4). These words from Paul are written in the context of modeling our lives after the same attitude Jesus illustrated when He left the glory of heaven to come to earth as a lowly human man, destined to die on a cross for the sins of the world. Everything He did was in consideration of the dire state of lost humanity, separated from their Creator. He took into account, or considered, our circumstances and was moved to act in mercy. As followers of Jesus, we are commanded to walk in the same manner. The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked (1 John 2:6). What Does It Mean to Be Considerate of Others? The root word is consider, meaning to think carefully about something, especially before making a decision. A considerate person shows regard for the needs or feelings of others. Their words and actions are characterized by careful thought; they are deliberate and intentional, given to consideration or to sober reflection. They are mindful of consequences or circumstance and especially careful of the rights, claims, and feelings of others. In this article, well unpack some practical ways Scripture teaches us to be considerate. But first, we need to address an incorrect understanding that our culture has created. From a worldly perspective, being considerate is often interpreted as avoiding anything that could offend someone. The secular world would have us to believe that we can never say or do anything that could possibly hurt the feelings of someone who views life from a different perspective, even if it means not telling the truth. This is not the biblical concept of being considerate. Jesus words and actions were often challenging to His listeners. The truth He spoke was diametrically opposed to the cultural and religious ideology popular in His day. He questioned both the religious and the secular belief systems that were in place. And while He never sought to dismantle the current political structure, He was clear that the kingdom He came to install was of a spiritual nature, not subject to the whims and notions of this worlds rulers. Jesus considered the true circumstances of the people He came to save and spoke and acted accordingly. His words and actions were characterized by careful thought, always intentional, always truthful, and always with the goal of changing the heart behind the faces who followed Him. Thankfully, the Bible does give us a pattern for how we can consider the circumstances of the people around us and respond, both in Jesus life and words, and the teachings of the apostles. The most inconsiderate thing we could do is fail to tell others the truth about the God who loves them so much He would die for them. But how we speak about truth and the actions we take because of that truth can and should be done with great consideration. As others see our heart for them, their hearts will be more open to the Savior we represent. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 3:3). Pauls letter to the Philippian believers gives us some practical wisdom for how we can model the love of Christ as a considerate person. We are told have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). Here are just four things which characterize the type of person we want to be: 1. A Considerate Person Speaks and Acts from a Place of Humility Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves (Philippians 2:3). In our definition of considerate, we saw that we must be mindful of consequences or circumstance and especially careful of the rights, claims, and feelings of others. This takes humility, a willingness to step back and think about what pre-existing events might have taken place in a persons life to bring them to their current situation or attitude events which we may know nothing about personally. It is prideful to think we may have made better choices when faced with similar circumstances. Paul reminds us of this again in Romans, a book that focuses largely on the doctrines of our faith. But where our doctrine is made practical is in chapters 12-15. Paul has a lot to say about how we treat one another, stressing that we ought to view ourselves through the lens of humility. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation (Romans 12:16). 2. A Considerate Person Thinks of Others Interests, Not Just His Own Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others (Philippians 2:4). Jesus modeled this perfectly. It was not in His best interest to lay aside His glory, be made in the likeness of a human, and suffer and die unjustly. He acted first in the interests of His Father as He fulfilled the eternal covenant, and secondly in the interest of all humanity who needed forgiveness and redemption. From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You. But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on Gods interests, but mans (Matthew 16:21-23). Just after this exchange, Jesus says those who wish to be His disciples must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him the very essence of putting others interests, and more importantly, Gods interests, at the forefront of our words and actions. Paul exhibited this characteristic later in Philippians 2, when he willingly sent Epaphroditus to the Philippian church for their benefit and promised to send Timothy later. It was in his interest to keep his friends and co-workers nearby, so they could visit him in prison and see to his needs. Instead, he considered the needs of the believers first, and set aside his own interests. But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:19-21). 3. A Considerate Person Understands and Bears with the Weaknesses of Others For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith (Philippians 2:21-25). Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification (Romans 15:1). Paul had an internal struggle as he sat in prison. On the one hand, it would be far easier and better for him if the Romans decided to end his life. He would escape the hardships and persecution that followed him everywhere he preached the gospel and would receive the heavenly rewards he knew awaited him in the presence of Jesus. On the other hand, he knew that God had called him to take the gospel to the Gentiles, and that those who believed needed the teaching and encouragement he was gifted to share. Ultimately, it was God who would determine the length of his life, but in his heart, Paul willingly surrendered to the harder path out of consideration for others. He chose to not just please himself. 4. A Considerate Person Gives Room for God to Work I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:3-6). An understanding that God is at work in a persons heart allows us to be patient and considerate with others. We think before we judge, weighing our words carefully so as not to get in the way of what God might be doing. An example is when and how we address issues with brothers and sisters in Christ, or with unbelievers, praying diligently for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom. It also means we see that our actions have a direct impact on how others view Jesus. If we are impatient and inconsiderate, it reflects badly on Jesus, whose name we bear as a professing Christian. Choosing to be considerate and unselfish towards others shows that we are different because of the work God has done in us. Sanctification is a process over a lifetime of learning to walk in the Spirit, and salvation often takes many years of sowing and watering the seeds of the gospel before it bears fruit. It is inconsiderate to think we can rush the spiritual work of God with our works or passionate words that are rooted in our flesh; in fact, we may even hinder it. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). As we strive to exhibit the character traits of a considerate person, let us remember the root meaning: to consider. Thoughtful relationships are built on a commitment to humble ourselves to be quick to hear and slow to speak out of consideration for the needs, interests, and weaknesses of others, knowing that God may be doing a work that we cannot see. But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ (Ephesians 4:15). This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20). Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men (Titus 3:1-2). Photo credit: Getty Images/Prostock-Studio Author Sheila Alewine is a pastors wife, mother, and grandmother of five. She and her husband lead Around The Corner Ministries, which serves to equip Christ-followers to share the gospel where they live, work and play. She has written seven devotionals including Just Pray: Gods Not Done With You Yet, Grace & Glory: 50 Days in the Purpose & Plan of God, and her newest one, Give Me A Faith Like That, as well as Going Around The Corner, a Bible study for small groups who desire to reach their communities for Christ. Their ministry also offers disciple-making resources like One-To-One Disciple-Making in partnership with Multiplication Ministries. Sheila has a passion for Gods Word and shares what God is teaching her on her blog, The Way of The Word. Connect with her on her blog, Facebook, and Instagram. Talking Points Memo: The failure of the Biden administration is only getting more and more obvious by the day. Heres three major agencies that are falling apart. President Biden snaps at reporter for asking about Hunters text messages. SCOTUS rules on states control over elections and agrees to hear case on wealth tax. Bill renews calls for investigation into Zuckerbergs efforts into the 2020 presidential election. Former Prosecutor Cully Stimson on his new book Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers are Destroying Americas Communities. Reuters releases report that says all living US Presidents descended from slaveholders all expect Donald Trump. Smart Life: pickleball injuries This Day in History: International Body Piercing Day Final Thought: Leaving money to kids, charities & friends In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, "They're Not Victims" It's the 'Summer Reading Special!' 'Killing the Killers,' Killing the Legends,' and 'Killing Crazy Horse' all for $32.95. We'll also give you a FREE 'Team Normal' hat. 'Team Normal!' gear is 15% for a limited time. Go to BillOReilly.com now and order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Health Ministry has requested CERT-In to look into this issue & submit a report According to a few media reports, breach of data from the Co-WIN portal has been raising concerns. The data leak apparently includes personal information of Indian citizens including PAN number and Aadhaar number. Certain posts on the social media platform Twitter have claimed using a Telegram (online messenger application) bot, the personal data of individuals who have been vaccinated is being accessed. It is reported that the BOT has been able to pull individual data by simply passing the mobile number or Aadhaar number of a beneficiary. Responding to these reports, Union Health Ministry has clarified that all such reports are without any basis and mischievous in nature. Co-WIN portal of Health Ministry is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy. Union Health Ministry has requested the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to look into this issue and submit a report. In addition, an internal exercise has been initiated to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. CERT-In in its initial report has pointed out that backend database for Telegram bot was not directly accessing the APIs of CoWIN database. Namibia has banned the export of unprocessed lithium and other critical minerals, the government announced late last week, as it seeks to profit from growing global demand for metals used in clean energy technologies. The southern African country has significant deposits of lithium, which is vital for renewable energy storage, as well as rare earth minerals such as dysprosium and terbium needed for permanent magnets in the batteries of electric cars and wind turbines. "Cabinet approved the prohibition of the export of certain critical minerals such as unprocessed crushed lithium ore, cobalt, manganese, graphite and rare earth minerals," Namibia's information ministry said in a statement. Only small quantities of the specified minerals would be allowed, after approval by the mines minister, it said. Namibia is one of the top global producers of uranium and gem-quality diamonds, but its battery metals are attracting growing interest as the world shifts away from polluting fuels to renewable energy. Supplying rare earth minerals to the EU Last year, Namibia signed an agreement to supply rare earth minerals to the European Union under the bloc's plan to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals. Some firms with critical minerals projects in Namibia include the Australia-listed Prospect Resources, Arcadia Minerals and Askari Metals. Celsius Resources and Namibia Critical Metals are developing cobalt and rare earth projects, respectively. Zimbabwe banned lithium ore exports last December, allowing only concentrates to be shipped out. Zimbabwe has said it wants lithium miners operating in the country to work towards producing battery-grade lithium locally and could impose a tax on exports of lithium concentrate in future. The SA Social Media Landscape Webinar sets to captivate attendees with a thought-provoking exploration of the theme 'Human touch, Algorithms, AI - Is social media still social?' This year's event aims to delve into the evolving nature of social media, examining the impact of algorithms and artificial intelligence on our online interactions and questioning whether the essence of social media is still intact. "In a world driven by human touch, algorithms, and AI, we can't help but wonder: Is social media still social? As our online lives become increasingly curated by complex algorithms and artificial intelligence, it's easy to feel disconnected from genuine human interaction. But amidst the noise, there's still a glimmer of hope. Social media is about connecting people, sharing stories, and building communities. It's up to us to reclaim its social essence, embracing authentic conversations and meaningful connections. Let's rediscover the power of genuine interaction in this digital age, where human touch triumphs over algorithms, and true social connections prevail." Ornico and World Wide Worx invite industry professionals, social media enthusiasts, and anyone interested in exploring the evolving dynamics of online interaction. This enlightening webinar promises to unravel the mysteries behind algorithms and artificial intelligence and shed light on the challenges and opportunities they present to the concept of social media. Event details Name: SA Social Media Landscape Webinar Theme: Human touch, Algorithms, AI - Is social media still social? Date: 30 June 2023 Time: 10am 11am SAST Attendees will engage with distinguished speakers who are leading experts in the field of social media. Through their insightful presentations and interactive discussions, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the social media landscape and discover ways to navigate its evolving terrain. Register today and receive a free and coveted copy of the SA Social Media Landscape Report. The report will include but is not limited to: Findings from our partner Ask Afrika, whose survey unveils the way South Africans utilise social media and their valuable demographics. YouKnow, a South African intelligence technology company, will provide interesting social media data research through the Brandwatch platform and in-depth survey insights by GWI. Turn Left Media, an independent boutique digital media sales house helping African brands connect to and build economic opportunities through LinkedIn. Thought leadership articles from our of list renowned subject matter experts. Do not miss out on this exciting panel discussion! RSVP yourself and invite your colleagues to this event using this link: https://bit.ly/3CbzlZB. About SA Social Media Landscape webinar The SA Social Media Landscape Webinar is an annual event that brings together professionals and enthusiasts from the field of social media to discuss and explore the ever-changing landscape of online interaction. Through engaging presentations, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities, the webinar aims to provide valuable insights and practical strategies for harnessing the power of social media. Schools for Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) in KwaZulu-Natal were last week the recipients of three customised multimedia centres, worth R6m, courtesy MTN SA and the Department of Basic Education. The three schools are Day Dawn Special School, S Dass Special School and VN Naik Special School. Mbali Frazer, MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal and Arthur Mukhuva, MTN SA Foundation General Manager While students across South Africa continue to benefit from the MTN Foundation's multimedia centres, e-learning platform, and other specialised digital support, load shedding, battery theft and vandalism takes its toll on network connectivity, holding learners back from accessing these opportunities. The handover of the multimedia centres is the next step in the MTN Foundations support of the communities of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini at large. While our main focus remains to help increase access to digital learning and improve academic performance, this is not possible without reliable access to connectivity and, through it, to data and information, says Arthur Mukhuvha, general manager at the MTN SA Foundation. During periods when load shedding is at stages 1 or 2, which allows for MTN backup batteries to recharge, one might expect that access to the network would continue, but criminals are still vandalising towers and stealing batteries, which means that students cant fully utilise the multimedia centres or e-learning platforms even when the power is on, continues Mukhuvha. Community support necessary to stop theft Learners experiencing the new digital centre provided by MTN SA Were working on engaging several critical role-players to collaborate on matters related to the impact of any extended outages and actively seeking alternative solutions to ensure connectivity during load shedding, but criminal activity continues. Community support and vigilance is desperately needed, says Mukhuvha. KwaZulu-Natal saw 536 sites vandalised between Jan 2022 to Feb 2023 - 203 of these were battery theft incidents. Copper cables, diesel, generator batteries, alternators and even whole generators are being stolen. While rural remote areas are hit the most, the trends show that no area is safe, with sites in the eThekwini metro also affected. Despite these challenges, MTN is making solid progress against its broader R1bn network resilience plans to reinforce the strength of the network to withstand the onslaught of crime affecting customers both in KZN and across the county. These investments are already showing success and will enable significant improvement to network availability in the second half of the year, as more of the work rolls out. At the moment nothing is more important than safeguarding our network as an increasing number of South Africans turn to mobile internet for work, for business, education, staying connected to loved ones, and for accessing emergency services, says Mukhuvha. People who are connected are ultimately empowered. Children who are connected are uplifted. To this end, MTN remains committed to doing all it can to contribute meaningfully to helping alleviate the adverse impact of battery theft, vandalism and load shedding on the nation, its people and the economy, and we call on all South Africans to remain vigilant for any suspicious acts. "Remember, if you see something, report it by contacting 086 101 1721 or moc.sffopit@suomynona, concludes Mukhuvha. Nissan SA reaffirmed its commitment to adventure and performance by hosting media for a thrilling edition of the Nissan Spirit of Africa challenge. It was unforgettable, to say the least, and judging from comments from fellow motoring colleagues and journalists, it was a day thoroughly enjoyed by all. Image credit: Naresh Maharaj Image credit: Naresh Maharaj This was no straight 4x4 trail. Everything we did on and off track was either a speed or precision test, overseen by a group of ever-willing officials, both from the Spirit of Africa track as well as Nissan officials. Spirit of Africa Nissan's partnership with the exciting Spirit of Africa property, which is celebrating its 19th year, highlights the brand's dedication to fostering a community of adventure-seeking off-road enthusiasts. It also serves as the perfect showcase for the all-terrain capabilities and advanced technologies in the Nissan Navara. Challenges There were at least 14 challenges that faced the media from dragging a tractor tyre over a measured and twisty route to putting pedal to the metal and going flat out on the speed test with late-breaking to negotiate tight turns. The Navara handled all pf the challenges we threw at it with such great aplomb. Think it and we endured it, or should I say the Navara endured it all. Oom Sarel Renowned for its challenging terrain and thrilling atmosphere, the Spirit of Africa challenge was created by eleven-time South African Rally Drivers champion and local motor racing legend, Sarel van der Merwe. It has been described as the "toughest 4x4 challenge in Africa" and provides the "average" driver with an opportunity to test their off-road driving ability in a competitive environment. But more than that, it was sheer fun with a touch of adrenalin. Navara: Rugged Redefined The best Nissan Navara Bakkie ever built is styled to stand out, but dont be fooled by its robust good looks, because this pickup is also one tough customer when taken off-road and put through its paces. In fact, the Navara Pickup is one of the best all-around utility vehicles ever to hit South African shores. This is all thanks to its bold and distinctive style, heavy-duty independent double-wishbone with stabiliser front suspension and Leaf spring rear suspension which gives it superior off and on-road performance, best-in-class technology and segment-first features. All of which are perfectly blended with exemplary levels of performance and capabilities to create a truly South African vehicle that suits a diverse range of drivers needs and lifestyles. With its reliability, brute power, and cutting-edge technology, the Nissan Navara is the ideal choice for navigating the wild terrain of the Spirit of Africa. Several locally built, highly capable Nissan Navaras have been made available for the media leg of the event, each expected to be pushed to the limit. Through rough terrain marked by steep inclines, muddy crossings, and heart-stopping descents that demand precision, speed, and endurance the Nissan Navara has your back. Under the hood Nissan's 2.3l four-cylinder turbo-diesel features two-stage inline turbochargers that provide excellent lag-free response and ample outputs. It produces 140kW at 3750rpm and 450Nm of torque served at full strength between 1500-2500rpm. Impressive. A real thoroughbred. Image credit: Naresh Maharaj Adventure As part of Nissans dare to move and commitment to pushing boundaries, defying limits, and bringing the thrill of off-road adventure to the forefront, the carmaker also recently launched the Nissan Adventure Club. Designed to empower its customers with knowledge of their Nissan vehicle's features and capabilities by taking it through its paces on the off-road track while learning important defensive driving techniques. As we packed up and headed for the airport, I reflected back on a day that was well spent, with lots of adventure and daring drives, all made possible by an exciting Navara 4x4. Quick on the gas for speed, hard breaking with lots of twisty, tight turns, hill climbs and descent and then some. Final word We are proud of the turnout for the first edition of Nissans Spirit of Africa, which saw drivers contest to secure their spot in the finals. Through all the dust, terrain, sport and navigation Nissan is excited to see what our motoring associates can do behind the wheel of the rugged and redefined Nissan Navara, said Stefan Haasbroek, Nissan Africa Chief Marketing Manager Direct. The Nissan Navara has been meticulously enhanced for African roads, offering a bakkie that is not only competitive globally, but also tailored to thrive in the unique conditions found in Africa. Our commitment to delivering the right products for South Africa and the markets we serve across the continent is evident in the Navara's innovative design and capabilities," concluded Haasbroek. Catch up on all the previous Spirit of Africa rounds on Nissan South Africas YouTube page, with the finals episode airing a week after the competition has taken place. South Africans are currently facing significant hardships, particularly with regard to financial struggles and limited employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Moreover, a lack of access to employment or entrepreneurial opportunities exacerbates the difficulties faced by most South Africans. Considering these challenges, a recently released report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) emphasises the urgent need for the telecommunications industry in South Africa to undergo a comprehensive transformation to enhance customer experience, loyalty, and retention. Customer sentiments and the need for service improvement The PwC report reveals alarming statistics, indicating that a staggering 90% of telecom consumers in South Africa were dissatisfied with the service they received in 2022. Such dissatisfaction highlights the pressing need for telecommunication companies (telcos) in South Africa to improve their service offerings and ensure a positive customer experience. Business transformation within the telco sector is therefore imperative to meet the expectations and requirements of customers effectively. Of course, the sector is confronted by subjective and objective challenges such as load shedding. One of the major challenges faced by communities across South Africa is load shedding, a scheduled power outage implemented by Eskom to manage the electricity supply. Loadshedding severely impacts network connectivity, resulting in poor connection quality and subsequent customer complaints. However, telcos that have made substantial investments in network quality and resilience during load shedding have garnered positive sentiments from customers. Conversely, telcos without such measures have witnessed customers shifting their intent to purchase to network providers with more reliable networks. Therefore, addressing load shedding-related challenges and improving network resilience is crucial for telcos to meet customer expectations and enhance their overall experience. Collaboration with the government While load shedding is primarily a consequence of broader performance issues within the country, rather than shortcomings specific to the telco industry, it is vital for telcos to work in collaboration with the government to address these challenges. Telcos should actively engage with the government to help overcome obstacles related to community safety and energy crises, as these factors significantly impact network provision. For instance, the theft of tower battery systems and the prevalence of load shedding both contribute to interruptions in network quality. I was impressed by the past recent engagement between the Minister of Electricity Kgosientso Ramokgopa and telco industry leaders. By fostering strong partnerships with stakeholders, particularly the government, telcos can improve their service offerings and better serve their customers. The imperative of business transformation Despite apparent financial success, as evidenced by dividends paid to shareholders and healthy profit margins, the telco industry must prioritise comprehensive transformation to avoid potential consequences of dissatisfied customers switching to its competitors. The PwC report indicates that South African telcos deliver lower average operational Net Sentiment scores compared to banking and insurance operators within the same customer base. See the table below: Cross-industry view: Public Net Sentiment on their service offerings Source: PwC South African Telecommunications Index 2022 To address this disparity and become more customer-centric, telcos must prioritise innovation, digital transformation, and the development of accessible services that meet customer expectations. By aligning their strategies with customer needs, telcos can ensure a sustainable and thriving business model. However, in a bid to find their competitive edge and differentiate themselves in a saturated market, leading telcos such as Vodacom and MTN have begun venturing into the fintech sector. By leveraging digital technology, these telcos aim to enter the financial services space. Notably, financial services have been identified as the most crucial category of digital services for most African telcos by Omdia, a leading technology research firm. Currently, companies such as Safaricom, MTN, and Airtel dominate mobile money services across various parts of Africa. However, a negative customer experience poses a significant threat to telcos' expansion into new products like fintech. Customers tend to express more negative sentiments towards network providers than towards banks and insurers, with the latter making more substantial strides in addressing operational deficiencies and enhancing customer satisfaction. Regulatory challenges and customer protection Entering the financial services sector presents telcos with a highly regulated environment that demands stringent adherence to customer protection measures. Compliance with regulations enforced by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and adherence to the "Treating Customers Fairly" (TCF) principle is essential. If telcos are already struggling with customer satisfaction, it raises concerns about their ability to effectively manage compliance in the financial sector. Overcoming these challenges will require robust internal processes, including efficient compliant management and a strong commitment to customer protection. Becoming customer-centric To thrive in the current business landscape, the telco sector must undergo a transformative shift that places the customer at the centre of its approach. Telcos should prioritise improving product performance, enhancing network quality, and providing reliable services. By focusing on meeting customer needs and expectations, telcos can foster stronger customer loyalty and retention. Additionally, collaborative efforts with stakeholders, particularly the government, are vital in addressing challenges related to community safety, energy crises, and network disruptions caused by theft and load shedding. By working together, telcos and the government can improve service offerings and ensure a more seamless and satisfying customer experience. The telecommunications industry in South Africa is at a critical juncture where the challenges of customer dissatisfaction and evolving customer expectations necessitate comprehensive transformation. Telcos must prioritise enhancing the customer experience through improved network quality, reliable services, and innovative offerings. Moreover, collaboration with stakeholders, including the government, is crucial in addressing challenges related to load shedding and community safety. By aligning their strategies with customer needs, telcos can successfully navigate the path to sustainable growth and remain competitive in the dynamic South African market. Scale Computing has announced their platform award winners for 2023. The inaugural Scale Computing Platform Summit was held at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. EnchaCloud won the Scale Computing Partner Collaboration Award. The award recognises a partner who has leveraged the Scale Computing Ecosystem to provide the most complete solution built on Scale Computing Platform. EnchaCloud provides a fully hosted infrastructure built on the Scale Hyperconverged Platform, enabling customers to securely and efficiently run their business-critical workloads at an affordable cost. EnchaCloud aims to truly be at the edge, delivering services to marginalised communities in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, in a secure and efficient network. Reflecting on the importance of the award, executive director Gladwin Marumo said: This is a major recognition for our company that we have built a cloud management platform, NavEngine, which companies as far afield as Canada and Kenya now wish to deploy in their multi-cloud environment. CTO and director Andy Brauer is pleased that the many years of research and development have yielded a world class product: NavEngine utilises the best of AI to offer clients a predictive, easy to use platform that is both pliable and secure. Sedise Moseneke, CEO of Encha Group Sedise Moseneke, CEO of Encha Group, had this to say about the award: This award to our nascent company, EnchaCloud, shows that with focus, and key collaborations, dedicated technology solutions developed for Africa, are often exported to the rest of the world. We are pleased with the current interest in NavEngine, particularly from North America. EnchaCloud has been a model user of our solutions, and they have added a layer of management that makes it easy to get maximum value of Scale Computing. I can see a bright future for this industrious company, said Jaco Delport, executive manager, EMEA, Scale Computing. Tiger Brands will once again extend operations at its deciduous fruit business Langeberg & Ashton Foods (L&AF) for a further season. Source IOL IOL Once again Tiger Brands will extend operations at its deciduous fruit business Langeberg & Ashton Foods (L&AF) for a further season The decision was taken after a compact was agreed upon with organised labour, L&AF employees and members of the Canning Fruit Producers Association that allows the Company to undertake the significant risk required to operate the business for the forthcoming season. Tiger Brands will continue to engage with interested parties towards executing a transaction that could provide for the continuation of a sustainable deciduous fruit processing operation beyond the 2022/3 season. In a better position Eyewitness News quotes Canning Fruit Producers Association chairperson Jacques Jordaan as saying that the decision to delay the closures for one more season has lifted the spirits of farmers and farmworkers. "From our side, I think we are relieved that there is another season. That Tiger is willing to continue with the business and we don't have the distressful situation of one year ago. I think that we are happy that there is interest in the business and if there's interest, I think there's hope." In the same article Jordaan says the canned fruit farming business should soon be in a better position because the markets are doing well internationally. "With the weaker rand, we really have some tailwinds in this aspect, so I think in general canning fruit exports should be in a better position with the weaker rand." However, Jordaan said there are still feelings of uncertainty among farmers and farm workers. Interest but no conclusion In June 2022, Tiger Brands commenced consultations and engagements on the future of the business in the absence of any reasonable prospects of a viable transaction at the end of an exhaustive two-year process. In recent weeks, a significant number of parties have expressed an interest in further discussions on the possible acquisition of L&AF. However, the conclusion of any transaction would not have taken place in time for any successful buyer to put the required preparations in place to process the upcoming 2022/3 seasons crop. The company, therefore, engaged its key partners on an urgent basis. The flexibility, open-mindedness and good faith shown by all parties in reaching this compact will allow for the rigorous exploration of any new proposals in respect of the Companys deciduous fruit processing operations while securing the jobs of 250 permanent employees and 4,300 seasonal workers directly employed by L&AF for a further season, says Noel Doyle, Tiger Brands chief executive officer. While the processing and marketing of deciduous fruit remain subject to the vagaries of weather, exchange rates and global pricing dynamics, the compact meaningfully contributes to mitigating the risk of significant operating losses in the forthcoming season. The company will explore all options while assessing the viability of current interest in the facility. In parallel processes, Tiger Brands will continue engagements with the relevant Provincial and National Government departments as well as talks with potential buyers who are able to meet the working capital requirements of the business and have a long-term commitment to ensure the sustainability of the South African deciduous fruit processing industry. The Langeberg & Ashton Foods Division Based in the Western Cape, the Langeberg & Ashton Foods Division produces canned fruit (peaches, pears, apricots, apples and guavas) and fruit purees largely for the export market. It also supplies Tiger Brands Culinary division (canned fruit under the Koo brand, pulps for All Gold and Hugos jam, and Koo Baked Beans) and the Baby category (purees for Purity). Of the canned fruit and puree products, 85% are exported to markets that include Europe, China, Australia and Japan. The L&AF Division employs 250 permanent employees. Seasonal employment fluctuates throughout the year and peaks at around 4,300 individuals during the apricot processing season for a period of approximately three weeks. Fruit is sourced from approximately 250 local producers, all of whom are GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) accredited. In May 2020, Tiger Brands announced its intent to exit the deciduous fruit business. This followed a strategic review and formed part of efforts to better align its portfolio to the Groups future growth aspirations on the African continent and focus on manufacturing, marketing and distributing everyday branded food and beverages. Over the past two years, Tiger Brands has sought to find a buyer for the L&AF business with a view to ensuring a controlled exit through a disposal of the business. By Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH On Friday June 9, 2023, I returned to the Pennsylvania Senate on request by former military officer and American hero, Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33). The session was co-chaired by Senator Cris Dush (R-25). Co-presenters included Steve Kirsch, Founder of the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation, and attorney Tom Renz. I organized my comments along the lines of this outline: Update on the US design and blueprint of SARS-CoV-2 from Baric et al at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, funding by the NIH and outsourcing of the research plans via the EcoHealth Alliance to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 vaccine injury syndromes Cardiovascular Neurological Thrombotic Immunological Questions from Senators and Representatives answered Shedding Risk benefit analysis of COVID-19 vaccines Failure of vaccine efficacy Reason why SARS-CoV-2 was created Global results of mass indiscriminate COVID-19 vaccinationwinners and losers The Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania located in downtown Harrisburg which was designed by architect Joseph Miller Huston in 1902 and completed in 1906 in a Beaux-Arts style with decorative Renaissance themes throughout; opened 1906. Please take the time to listen to this presentation on the record in the Pennsylvania Senate and feel free to use any or all of this testimony in your posts and critical conversations on this important matter. Please subscribe to the Courageous Discourse as a paying or founding member to help support our work in helping you stay informed and up to date in these times of crisis and controversy. Mastriano, McCullough, Renz, Kirsch et al, Medical Freedom Panel 2023 PA Senate Senator Cris Dush, 25th District, State of Pennsylvania From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. A new law in California will force those who make more money to pay more for their electricity. Under the new rules, higher-income earners will pay seven times more than low-income earners. CNET reported: If you live in California, how much you pay for electricity will soon be tied to much you earn. A state law passed last summer requires the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, to approve a pricing structure that incorporates a flat fee with a sliding scale based on income. Currently, Californians pay for the energy they use and the cost of upgrading the grid, settling lawsuits related to wildfires and providing assistance to low-income customers is built into the per-kilowatt-hour price. Under the new system, however, funds for these programs would come from income-graduated fixed charges. Its an unprecedented move: In an April blog post, energy economist Ahmad Faruqui said more than 170 investor-owned utilities nationwide incorporate a fixed rate the median being $10 and the highest $40. None has an income-based component. Earlier this year, The Gateway Pundit reported that California electric companies proposed fixed-rate bills based on income. Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric proposed a plan to charge customers based on income, not usage. This was based on a new assembly bill that requires simpler electricity bills. Customers will see the new changes starting in 2025. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Indian Navy has carried out the mega drill in the Arabian Sea involving two aircraft carriers, multiple frontline warships, submarines and over 35 combat planes. (Photo: (PIB) NEW DELHI (PTI): 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 frontline warships, submarines and over 35 combat planes amid China's increasing presence in the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Navy said the "seamless" operational integration of the two aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and newly-inducted INS Vikrant, as well as the accompanying fleet of ships and submarines, is a "powerful testament" to the capabilities of its sea-based air power and India's role as the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean and beyond. The twin carrier CBG (carrier battle group) drills were held recently, officials said without divulging the specific date of the exercise. The Navy said the demonstration of the naval prowess underscored India's commitment to safeguarding its national interests, maintaining regional stability, and fostering cooperative partnerships in the maritime domain, in comments also seen as an indirect message to China. The two aircraft carriers were the centre-pieces of the exercise as they served as floating airfields for operations of a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K and choppers such as MH60 Romeo, Kamov and Advanced Light helicopters, officials said. "The Indian Navy has undertaken the twin-carrier CBG operations with more than 35 aircraft in the Arabian Sea, demonstrating its formidable capability in ensuring sustained air operations across the vast maritime expanse and underscoring our commitment to safeguarding India's national interests," Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. 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. Commander Madhwal said the exercise marked a "significant milestone" in the Indian Navy's pursuit of enhancing maritime security and "power projection" in the Indian Ocean, and beyond. "The successful demonstration of two-carrier battle group operations serves as a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority," the Navy said in a statement. "As India continues to strengthen its security apparatus, the significance of aircraft carriers will remain paramount in shaping the nation's defence strategy and promoting regional stability," the Navy added. It was the first mega exercise involving the two aircraft carriers after the induction of indigenously-built INS Vikrant in September last year. Officials said almost all air assets of the Navy's Western Fleet operated from INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant and that the two aircraft carriers acted as mobile bases. "These mobile bases can be positioned anywhere, allowing for increased mission flexibility, timely response to emerging threats and sustained air operations to safeguard our national interests across the globe," the Navy said. "In addition, they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our 'collective' security needs in the region," it said. In the last few years, the Indian Navy has significantly enhanced its overall presence in the Indian Ocean region against the backdrop of China's increasing forays into the region. The Indian Ocean is considered the backyard of the Indian Navy and is critical for India's strategic interests. Last month, the MiG-29K fighter aircraft undertook a night landing on the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The Navy then said the aircraft carrier would be able to play a role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the aircraft carrier that made the country part of an elite group of nations capable of manufacturing aircraft carriers above the 40,000 tonnes category. Built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, INS Vikrant has a sophisticated air defence network and anti-ship missile systems. It has the capacity to hold 30 fighter jets and helicopters. At the commissioning ceremony of the vessel, PM Modi called it a "floating city" and that it is a reflection of India becoming self-reliant in defence. INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier purchased by India from Russia in 2013 under a US$ 2.3 billion deal and it was renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, the legendary emperor. The 44,500-tonne warship is about 284 metres long and its height is around 60 metres which is like a 20-storey building from keel to the highest point. The ship has a total of 22 decks and it has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K jets, Kamov 31 and Kamov 28 helicopters. 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 Jodie Comer said she felt overwhelmed after winning her first Tony award for her performance in Prima Facie. The Killing Eve star paid tribute to her character and writer Suzie Miller as she collected the prize for best leading actress in a play. Advertisement The award is Comers first Tony nomination and win, and comes following her Broadway debut in Millers one-woman production, which follows a British defence lawyer who ends up in the witness box. Advertisement The 76th annual event, which celebrates the best in Broadway theatre, saw success for several British names, including Tom Stoppard, whose play Leopoldstadt scooped one of the nights top prizes best play. The 2023 Tonys took place on Sunday in New York and was hosted by Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose. Jodie Comer accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Advertisement Opening the show, DeBose told audiences to buckle up after warning them that the show would be completely unscripted, amid the ongoing Hollywood writers strike. Advertisement The strike, involving over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had previously threatened to derail the show. The WGA previously agreed to a waiver for the show, so that its members would not picket the event and allow the broadcast on US network CBS to go ahead. Advertisement #PrimaFacies (@estreetprods) Jodie Comer, you're the #TonyAwards-winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play! pic.twitter.com/rQWFL56f0R The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) June 12, 2023 Advertisement We dont have a script you guys. I am live and unscripted. Youre welcome, DeBose said. So to anyone who may have thought that last year was a bit unhinged. To them I say darlings, buckle up. Comer fended off competition from Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain in her category, as well as Jessica Hecht and Audra McDonald. Speaking about her character, she said: This woman in this play has been my greatest teacher and I have to thank Suzie Miller for that, who wrote this magnificent piece. Jodie Comer accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for Prima Facie at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theatre in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Without her writing that (I) would not be here so this feels just as much Suzies as it is mine. The actress went on to thank members of her production team and apologised to her friends and family for being absent in the past year. Advertisement To every person who feels represented by Tessa, this has been my greatest honour, she said, quickly adding and it continues to be theres three weeks left! Comers win comes after a recent matinee performance of Prima Facie was halted after approximately 10 minutes, after the actress experienced difficulty breathing due to poor air in New York caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. Host Ariana DeBose, third right, performs at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theatre in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) The play had received four Tony nominations, including for best scenic design, best lighting design and best sound in a play, but lost out in all three categories to Life Of Pi. The awards were accepted by British creatives Tim Hatley and Andrzej Goulding, Tim Lutkin and Carolyn Downing respectively. Goulding and Downing both gave shout outs to Sheffield Theatres in the UK, where their play had its world premiere. Veteran playwright Stoppard said he was teeming with emotion as he accepted the best play award. I feel very proud and grateful. Thank you so much, he said. But listen, I actually won a Tony Award in 1968, so I knew about not having scripts. Advertisement Im teeming with emotions that a chat-box wouldnt begin to understand. Naturally, they include gratitude and pride in the Leopoldstadt ensemble. Elsewhere, the nights other top prize of best musical went to Kimberly Akimbo, with Sean Hayes winning best leading actor in a play. Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical was awarded to J Harrison Ghee, while Victoria Clark claimed the award in the equivalent female category. Hollywood star Samuel L Jackson lost out in the category for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play to Brandon Uranowitz. Sir Tom Stoppard, center, and members of the company of Leopoldstadt accept the award for best play at the 76th annual Tony Awards (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Lifetime Achievement In The Theatre awards were also presented to actor Joel Grey and composer John Kander. Accepting the accolade, Kander said: This is a very big deal. When your own community honours you its very humbling and a little bit scary, he said. I am grateful to music which has invaded me early on from the time I was a baby, and stayed my friend, through my entire life, and has promised to stick with me to the end. Grey, who won a Tony and an Oscar for his performance in Cabaret, was presented with his award by his daughter, actress Jennifer Grey, who described him as her hero. Advertisement Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Barry Humphries and Dame Angela Lansbury all featured in the Tonys 2023 in memoriam section. The section was accompanied by a performance by Joaquina Kalukango, last years leading actress in a musical winner, who sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from Phantom Of The Opera. The former judge who will lead a new legacy body in Northern Ireland has said he hopes that the Irish government will work with the commission. Former lord chief justice for Northern Ireland, Declan Morgan, is to become chief commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Advertisement The commission, aimed at uncovering facts around unsolved Troubles deaths, will be created by controversial new British government legislation to deal with the legacy of Northern Irelands troubled past. From next year, the ICRIR will take over hundreds of unresolved Troubles cases. The Bill has proved highly contentious, with victims groups, all of the main Stormont parties and the Irish Government all opposed to it. Advertisement But Mr Morgan said while he conceded it would take time for confidence to be built, he hoped the Irish Government would be persuaded that they should participate in it. Advertisement He told the BBC: I dont contemplate this commission failing. Advertisement One of the most controversial aspects of the new legal framework is the offer of immunity from prosecution for perpetrators who co-operate with the commission. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill would also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict. Mr Morgan conceded there were some victims groups who had already stated they would not meet with the new commission. Advertisement Declan Morgan says he hopes that people will engage with the commission. Photo: UTV/PA He said: There have been some people who have indicated that they dont wish to engage, the Ballymurphy massacre families are on record in relation to that. What I have found is that there are people out there who want to understand what the commission is likely to be able to do for them. I recognise that there are concerns about the legislation, and I recognise there are concerns about how we achieve reconciliation, which has to be at the heart of everything that we are doing. Advertisement But it seems to me that the way to address that is not by throwing up ones hands and saying well we cant do this, the way to address that is to think through the strategy as to how you will be able to deliver for the people who have been left behind. Advertisement The former judge also referred to concerns raised that the new government bill is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. He said: That is a decision which, of course, will be for the courts to make. I expect, because it has been advertised, that there will be challenges and that the court will determine whether the bill is compliant. A number of protests have been staged in opposition to the British governments new legacy bill. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA He said that he was committed to ensuring that everything the commission did was human rights compliant. Mr Morgan said: How people respond to this process will be different. There will be some people who will find it too traumatic to come forward in relation to the process. There will be others for whom there will have been perhaps investigations carried out in the past and information of some sort provided to them but there are things that they still wonder about. Weather warnings for thunderstorms and rain are in place for much of Ireland on Monday, with very warm temperatures set to linger throughout the week. Status yellow thunderstorm and rain warnings are in place from 12pm to 10pm on Monday and cover Leinster, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Waterford. Advertisement Warm & humid today with a mix of cloud & sunny spells Scattered showers in the east this morning will push westwards across the country later. Some will be heavy and possibly thundery Highs: 20-25C, warmest in the northeast More here https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/v1EqZSTJ8Z Met Eireann (@MetEireann) June 12, 2023 Met Eireann said slow-moving heavy downpours in these areas could lead to localised flooding and transport difficulties. There is also the potential for thunderstorms and hail in some parts of the island. Advertisement The UK Met Office issued a separate warning for thunderstorms in Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone lasting from 12pm until 9pm on Monday. The forecast follows a weekend of high temperatures and heavy rainfall in parts. Met Eireann said the rest of this week will be very warm with sunny spells along with heavy showers or thunderstorms in some parts. Temperatures will reach 27 degrees in some areas on Tuesday and Wednesday and conditions will remain humid and warm at night. Michael Scott subjected his elderly aunt Chrissie Treacy to "verbal abuse and mental torture" before he caused her death by driving over her, a friend of Ms Treacy's has told the Central Criminal Court. Regina Donohue gave a statement at a sentencing hearing for Scott, who was convicted earlier this year of the manslaughter of his aunt through gross negligence when he drove over her in an agricultural teleporter outside her home. Advertisement He had gone on trial accused of her murder, but the jury returned a unanimous verdict, acquitting him of that charge. Scott will spend his first night in prison on Monday having been remanded in custody until Ms Justice Caroline Biggs passes sentence on July 26th. Manslaughter At Monday's hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions said that Scott's offence falls within the mid-category for manslaughter and should carry a headline sentence of four to ten years. Paul Greene SC, on behalf of Scott, said that the offence falls into the lower category. Advertisement Mr Greene said the issues to be considered are the roadworthiness of the teleporter and Scott's failure to keep a proper lookout when reversing. Advertisement Counsel also pointed out that Scott has no previous convictions and that psychological and probation reports state that while he is "not in the highest rank of intelligence", Mr Scott has expressed regret and displayed an awareness of the harm he caused. Mr Greene said his client has been described as a "pariah" in his community and he asked the court to consider the impact that will have on his life. Counsel accepted there was a "high degree" of negligence in Scott's driving but he asked the court to also consider that it was unusual for Ms Treacy to be in the yard where she was struck. Ms Justice Biggs said she will be considering a number of issues in sentencing, including "a number of self-serving lies" that Scott told to gardai. Advertisement She said she will consider whether Scott was truly remorseful and genuine during his garda interviews and she noted that he said he didn't call emergency services because he didn't know that he could ring 999 to summon an ambulance. Scott (59) of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway had pleaded not guilty to murdering his aunt Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy (76) outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27th, 2018. Advertisement The prosecution case was that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running dispute over land. The trial heard that the Health Service Executive and gardai had been informed of concerns regarding Ms Treacy's welfare due to her relationship with Scott. The jury were told that Ms Treacy and her brothers farmed about 140 acres at Derryhiney and that she owned another farm at nearby Kiltormer. Advertisement Following the deaths of Ms Treacy's brothers, Michael Scott came to own half the land at Derryhiney and Ms Treacy owned the other half. She leased her land at Kiltormer and Derryhiney to Michael Scott. In early 2017, Mr Scott did not bid to continue leasing the land from Ms Treacy in Kiltormer when it went up for auction. Ms Donohue told the trial that by Christmas 2017, the deceased had made an application through her solicitor to split the land at Derryhiney and put a new lease on the half that she owned. On the day of Ms Treacy's death Scott received a letter from an agricultural consultant telling him not to claim payments for parcels of land on the farm he jointly owned with his aunt. Scott told gardai that he was not concerned about the letter and drove to the yard outside his aunt's home to do some work on the farm. He said he was reversing across the yard when he felt a "thump", thought he might have hit a trailer and moved the teleporter forward to level ground. Advertisement Advertisement He said that when he got down from the cabin he saw his aunt lying on the ground. He described her death as a tragic accident. Statement In her statement to the court, Ms Donohue said that her "great friend and neighbour was needlessly robbed of her life by the reckless actions of Michael Scott". She said that since Ms Treacy's death she has discovered the "absolute disregard" Scott had for his aunt. She described the background to a land row between Ms Treacy and Scott which Ms Donohue first learned of in late 2016. At that time, Ms Treacy told Ms Donohue that Scott was attempting to draw up leases on his terms to rent land belonging to Ms Treacy at a time when Ms Treacy did not have independent legal advice. Ms Donohue said she and Chrissie were met with a "torrent of verbal abuse from Michael Scott" on Ms Treacy's birthday in 2017 that left Ms Treacy visibly upset and Ms Donohue shocked and scared. After that, Ms Donohue could only visit her friend and mentor when Ms Treacy was sure Scott would not be around. Ms Donohue would pull her car up to the house and Ms Treacy would let her in and immediately lock the door. Advertisement Ms Donohue said Ms Treacy became more dependent on her "as the abuse and torment got worse". She added: "I was very concerned for Chrissie, but she was still determined to live out her life in her home." In February 2018 Ms Treacy's spirit was broken when her dog Bradley, a "much-loved and loyal friend", vanished. Ms Donohue said she tried to calm her distraught friend while Scott "sat in stoney silence totally ignoring the sobs of his only aunt as she pined for her loyal dog, Bradley." Following Ms Treacy's death, Ms Donohue said she was left in no doubt "that I had every reason to be very alert as to the safety of myself and my family". Ms Treacy left her lands, including the land she shared with Michael Scott, to Ms Donohue. In April 2019 Ms Donohue attempted to gain access to the lands but, she said, Michael Scott acted aggressively towards her and drove "erratically on his newly acquired loadall machine". Ireland Galway man sexually exploited and raped teenage ne... Read More When Ms Donohue tried to access Ms Treacy's home, she said Michael Scott blocked the entrance with his tractor. When she walked past the blockage and into the house, Ms Donohue found it had been "totally ransacked" and certain items had been removed. Ms Donohue said she has been left "shocked" by allegations of threatening behaviour by Michael Scott towards other people. In particular she said she was shocked by evidence heard during the trial that on one occasion Scott, with a shotgun in his hand, told his friend Francis Hardiman, "I hope there's none of them people does cross me." Mr Hardiman told the trial that he understood Scott to be referring to Ms Donohue and her family. After striking his aunt with the teleporter, Scott phoned Mr Hardiman who was the first person at the scene. He described how Scott was crying to himself before retrieving a shotgun which Mr Hardiman feared he would use to shoot himself. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar has said he is absolutely sure the vast majority of his parliamentary party has confidence in his leadership, after media reports suggested some members were unhappy with him continuing in the position. Speaking at the annual National Economic Dialogue at Dublin Castle, Mr Varadkar said Fine Gael has achieved so much under his six years of leadership. Advertisement We have full employment for the first time. For only the second time in the history of the State, we have a budget surplus. We have high life expectancy because of the improvements in the health service and health outcomes, notwithstanding the problems there. He also highlighted falling childcare costs and high levels of educational attainment. Advertisement Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris (Damien Storan/PA) I dont think most of my colleagues have any doubt about how much has been achieved by my party in government. Advertisement Asked by reporters about his position as leader into the next election, Mr Varadkar said: The next election is ages away. I believe it is an election in which Fine Gael can gain votes and gain seats and if we can do that, we could well be in a position to form another Government. But thats not where my focus is at the moment. Advertisement My focus is on building more houses, in helping middle Ireland with the cost of living, its in standing up for farmers in rural Ireland, its building safer stronger communities. Speaking shortly afterwards at the same event, his Fine Gael colleague and Minister for Further Education Simon Harris said the talented parliamentary party is a testament to Mr Varadkar. Asked if he would like to lead that parliamentary party, Mr Harris said the issue does not arise. Mr Harris, who has been named in reports as a potential successor to Mr Varadkar, rejected the suggestion he was briefing the media against his party leader. Advertisement Were working very closely together as a Fine Gael team and the priority has to be to focus on delivery, delivery, delivery. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney (Damien Storan/PA) Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney, a Fine Gael TD, said the Irish economy is stronger under Mr Varadkar Advertisement Advertisement Hes an extraordinarily talented politician. Mr Coveney, who ran against Mr Varadkar for the party leadership in 2017, said the Taoiseach is providing strong leadership at the moment. Both ministers declined to comment on whether they would run if Mr Varadkar stood down. There is no leadership issue in Fine Gael, Mr Coveney said. Mr Harris added: And there isnt going to be an issue. Dr Matt Sadlier, chairman of the Consultant Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation, has said that it was worrying that only 600 people had expressed an interest in signing up to the new consultant contract with the HSE. The level of interest hasnt been great he told RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show. Advertisement If they want to increase the interest, they're going to have to show people who are working at weekends what the extended working week is going to be like, how many weekends will they be expected to work and for how long? What other staff will be working at the same time, what the hospital will look like? "There's no point just getting consultants to work seven days of the week if you're not going to have all the ancillary staff, the health and social care professionals, increase the nursing staff in the hospital and increase the facilities that are open at the weekends as well. Advertisement Dr Sadlier acknowledged that the hospital system could be more productive if people worked a seven-day roster. But to do that would require more staff and more resources. We've no ideological problem with moving to a seven over seven if it is done correctly. Advertisement Nobody goes into medicine thinking that they're not going to be working seven days a week. We all know that people get sick every day of the week. But it is how you structure that within the system. And yes, our system has been structured on a five over seven basis, but to move from five over to seven to seven over seven will require a number of changes, not only just the staffing levels, but also how the system runs and operates in Ireland. We've no ideological problem with moving to a seven over seven if it is done correctly, he said. On the same programme consultant Ronan Collins agreed there was no problem with the concept of a seven-day roster. The issue was if the necessary ancillary staff would also be present such as radiographers and community care. Having consultants work a seven-day roster would not necessarily make a difference, he warned. Advertisement All branches of the health service have to be working seven over seven. Advertisement Dr Collins said there were some changes that could be implemented that would improve the system and encourage junior doctors to remain in the system, such as the fact that every time a junior doctor switches post they are put back on emergency tax. That was an issue that should have been cracked by the health service before now. Dr Sadlier said that sensationalising the issue would not help. There was no resistance to the concept of the seven-day roster that needed to be broken. He cautioned that anyone signing the new contract would fear that they would be the only person working weekends. If a doctor transfers onto the new contract, they should have some sort of a letter from their management to say, you will not be the only person who'll be working every Saturday while your six or seven colleagues who haven't signed a new contract are working a Monday to Friday pattern. And I suppose that is what we will be looking for. Advertisement Dr Collins said if he was a young consultant working in Australia he would think long and hard before returning to work in Ireland given the difference in conditions. Our hospitals are not fit for purpose. Dr Collins also expressed concern at the standard of facilities for the growing older population. While the new childrens hospital was very welcome and long overdue, the majority of throughput through the hospital system was adults and increasingly older adults. Billionaire investor turned philanthropist George Soros is ceding control of his $25 billion (23 billion) empire to a younger son, Alexander Soros, according to a newspaper interview. Mr Soros business holdings include his non-profit Open Society Foundations (OSF), which is active in more than 120 countries around the world and funnels about $1.5 billion annually to groups which back human rights and promote the growth of democracies around the world. Advertisement The 37-year-old Alexander Soros told the Wall Street Journal that he is more political than his 92-year-old father, who has been a right-wing target for his backing of liberal causes such as reducing racial bias in the justice system. But he noted that the two think alike. Mr Soros said he was broadening his fathers liberal aims and embracing different causes including voting and abortion rights, as well as gender equity. Advertisement He said he aims to keep using the familys wealth to back left-leaning US politicians. Advertisement Too much is happening too fast in the world. This polycrisis, chiefly caused by the rise of AI, climate change, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is endangering democracies worldwide. Leaders must step up to respond. https://t.co/S0EExaPWfG George Soros (@georgesoros) June 6, 2023 Advertisement Alexander Soros told the Wall Street Journal that he recently met with US administration officials, senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and heads of state, including Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau, to push for issues related to the family foundation. In December, the board of OSF elected Alexander Soros as its chairman, succeeding his father. The newspaper also reported that Alexander Soros now directs political activity as president of Mr Soros super political action committee (PAC). The Wall Street Journal reported that the younger Soros is the only family member on the investment committee overseeing Soros Fund Management, which manages money for the foundation and the family. Advertisement During the interview with the newspaper, Alexander Soros expressed concern that former US president Donald Trump would return to the White House, and hinted that the Soros organisation would play a key financial role in the 2024 presidential race. Advertisement 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, he said in the interview that took place at the fund managers New York offices. Alexander Soros is the oldest of two sons from George Soros marriage with his second wife, Susan Weber, according to the Wall Street Journal. The appointment passes over George Soros elder son Jonathan Soros (52), a lawyer with a background in finance. Advertisement He had been believed to be the clear successor until a falling out and a change of heart, according to the paper. Boris Johnson has accused Rishi Sunak of talking rubbish after the British prime minister accused his predecessor of asking him to overrule the vetting committee to push through his House of Lords nominations. The rancour between former Tory leader and his successor descended into a public slanging match as Mr Sunak said his one-time ally had asked him to do something I wasnt prepared to do. Advertisement I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough, Mr Sunak said on Monday in his first comments since Mr Johnson dramatically resigned as an MP. Publicly turning on the man he used to share Downing Street with, Mr Sunak suggested Mr Johnson wanted him to ignore the recommendations of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac). Advertisement Advertisement But Mr Johnsons camp accused the man who was his chancellor of having secretly blocked the peerages of former culture secretary Nadine Dorries and other allies in his resignation list. The former UK prime minister released a statement saying: Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish. To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule Holac but simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality. Advertisement The escalating war of words came after Downing Street published Mr Johnsons resignation honours list on Friday, lacking the names of sitting MPs including Sir Alok Sharma, who was Cop26 president, and former minister Nigel Adams. Hours later Mr Johnson announced that he would stand down as an MP as the Privileges Committee investigating whether he lied to Parliament over partygate prepared to find that he had broken the rules and recommend a suspension which could trigger a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. (PA Graphics) Advertisement Mr Adams and Ms Dorries also said they were quitting the Commons, triggering three challenging by-elections for the prime minister as his party trails in the polls. On Monday morning, Mr Sunak suggested Mr Johnson wanted him to ignore Holacs recommendations or to dish out promises. Advertisement Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasnt prepared to do because I didnt think it was right, the UK prime minister said when asked after a speech at the London Tech Week conference. That was to either overrule the Holac committee or to make promises to people. Advertisement Now, I wasnt prepared to do that. I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough. Boris Johnson accused the Privileges Committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court (Jonathan Brady/PA) There have been claims that Mr Johnson reached a gentlemans agreement with Mr Sunak that he would wave through the honours list and allow the MPs to be re-vetted by Holac at a later date, so they would not have to stand down now. One Downing Street source said the Cabinet Office had made it clear to Mr Johnson that there is no re-vetting process. Mr Johnsons camp has accused his successor of breaking the deal that has now enflamed tensions rather than buying a ceasefire in the hostilities. An ally told the PA news agency: Rishi secretly blocked the peerages for Nadine and others. He refused to ask for them to undergo basic checks that could have taken only a few weeks or even days. Advertisement (PA Graphics) The prime ministers official spokesman said it is entirely untrue to say that anyone from No 10 attempted to remove or change the list approved by Holac, understand to have been finalised in February. The body, which Mr Johnson himself overruled while in No 10 over the peerage of Tory donor Peter Cruddas, has confirmed it did not support eight nominees put forward by the ex-leader. Downing Street took the decision on Saturday to declassify Holac chairman Lord Bews approved names to Mr Sunak. The letter, dated February 5th, contains the seven peerages announced on Friday, along with a redacted name of a person who took the personal decision to withdraw themselves. The Privileges Committee met on Monday to finalise and discuss the publication of its report into Mr Johnson, who has dismissed the investigation as a witch hunt. The probe is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament when he told MPs Covid rules were followed in Downing Street despite boozy parties taking place while social distancing restrictions were in place. Reports suggest the panel was set to recommend at least a 10-day suspension, reaching the threshold for a by-election to be potentially triggered in Mr Johnsons west London seat. Advertisement Mr Johnson accused the committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court. The resigning MPs are yet to formally trigger their exit from the Commons under the archaic process of being appointed to be the Steward and Bailiffs of the Chiltern Hundreds or of the Manor of Northstead. An investigation was under way on Monday into why a tanker fire collapsed a section of the US east coasts main north-south road, throwing hundreds of thousands of morning commutes into chaos and disrupting commerce for untold numbers of businesses. Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be closed in both directions for weeks at the start of the summer travel season. Advertisement Motorists should expect extensive delays and street closures, and avoid the north-east corner of the sixth-largest city in the country, transport officials said. The accident also disrupted the car route from Canada to Florida through the Boston, New York and Washington metropolitan areas. A investigator surveys the aftermath of the collapse (Matt Rourke/AP) Advertisement Pennsylvania transportation secretary Michael Carroll said the I-95 segment carries roughly 160,000 vehicles per day. Sundays fire sent plumes of black smoke into the air. The north-bound lanes collapsed and the south-bound counterparts were compromised, according to the Philadelphia fire department. Advertisement Authorities have not publicly identified the lorry owner or the driver, indicated whether the driver survived, or said what exactly fuelled the blaze. Governor Josh Shapiro signed a disaster declaration on Monday, saying it gives state agencies the ability to skip normal bidding and contracting requirements so that the road can be repaired more quickly. Advertisement The road collapsed after a tanker caught fire (Matt Rourke/AP) Mr Shapiro said Sunday that no motorists on the highway were injured or died, although videos shared on social media showed some close calls, with people driving through as flames licked upward from the fire below. Officials said the tanker contained what may have been hundreds of gallons of petrol. The fire took about an hour to get under control. Advertisement High heat from the fire or the impact of an explosion could have weakened the steel beams supporting the overpass, according to Drexel University structural engineering Professor Abi Aghayere. Crews on the scene in Philadelphia (WPVI-TV/6ABC/AP) Bridges like the one that collapsed do not typically have fire protection, like concrete casing, he added. It could have been coated in a fire-retarding paint, but even then the beams could have been weakened. Advertisement World Part of I-95 road collapses in Philadelphia follow... Read More It just gives you time, he said. The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a 212 million dollar (170 million) reconstruction project that finished four years ago, state transportation department spokesman Brad Rudolph said. The 104ft elevated section was in good condition earlier this year, with another inspection set for 2025. Robert Reeves, Michael Mick Peterson, Bill Lyons and Jessay Martin have over 11 million TikTok followers. They post daily to keep up with trends, such as singing Miley Cyrus Flowers or recreating Jenna Ortegas Wednesday dance. Theyve even hired a videographer and producer to zhuzh up their content. So far, they sound like every other influencer, but these four have a trick up their sleeve: their age. Spanning between 67 and 80, theyre a good 50 or so years older than the average TikTok user. Known as the Old Gays, theyve gained significant traction largely because theyre nothing like the usual 20-somethings dominating digital spaces. Bill Lyons, Jessay Martin, Robert Reeves and Mick Peterson (L-R) are here to prove youre never too old to have fun and that TikTok has no age limit. Credit: Ryan Yezak/Supplied Young people jumped on us, Lyons says. The kids were just so interested in our background and what weve done before, it was a real roller coaster. According to We Are Social, those aged 18 to 24 make up almost 43 per cent of TikToks total audience aged 18 and above. But the popularity of mature content creators or granfluencers is quickly dismantling the generational stereotype. While theyre not the majority demographic, granfluencers seem to have their finger on the pulse of what users enjoy. For example, Grandma Droniak, a 93-year-old TikToker who shares her dating journey, has 9.6 million followers. While Cool Grandpa has pulled in 6.3 million followers with his snappy meme-inspired videos. Public school advocates have demanded to know why the Andrews government plans to send private schools thousands of free fishing rods and tackle boxes by the end of the year, and argue there are better ways to spend taxpayer money. Trinity Grammar School, Methodist Ladies College and Caulfield Grammar are among the prestigious schools in line to each receive and distribute more than 100 government-branded fishing kits by December, according to tender documents obtained by The Age. Premier Daniel Andrews promoting fishing alongside wife Catherine (left) in October 2018. Credit: AAP The free rods and tackle boxes are part of Victorian Labors $1.5 million election commitment to provide 60,000 Little Angler kits to primary school children in every corner of the state. The Age can reveal the Andrews government hopes to distribute 95,000 free fishing kits 50 per cent more than originally promised to 1916 sites. The expected delivery deadline is Friday, December 15. The light aircraft issued a mayday alert due to engine failure during the journey over the Amazon rainforest in the southern Caqueta department, the civil aviation authority said in a statement at the time. A soldier stands in front of the wreckage of the Cessna C206 that crashed in the jungle of Solano in the Caqueta state of Colombia. Credit: AP The bodies of the three adults were found in wreckage by military searchers, including the pilot of the Avianline Charter commercial flight, two weeks after the crash. One report suggested the children had been sitting at the back of the plane, which endured less damage in the crash. With the four children unaccounted for, a mass search was launched, before the discovery of personal belongings, a feeding bottle, used nappies, half-eaten pieces of fruit and footprints in areas close to the crash site, maintaining hopes that they would be found alive. Since their rescue, the children have claimed their mother, Magdalena Mucutui Valencia, in fact survived for four days after the May 1 crash. The father of two of the youngest children, Manuel Ranoque, told local reporters the childrens mother would have told the children to go away and leave the wreckage site to survive. A feeding bottle found during the search for the four children lost in the Amazon. Credit: Colombian army The search in virgin jungle terrain We are looking for them. Dont move any further, stay near a stream or ravine. Make noise. Make smoke. We are going to save them. We are close by. Your grandmother Fatima and family are looking for you. The text was printed on thousands of bright pink leaflets in Spanish and in the childrens indigenous language, Uitoto, dropped and distributed by rescue teams in the search area. In total, 10,000 leaflets were dropped in the dense forest from helicopters at low altitude, along with 100 survival kits containing food, flares, water and whistles. Helicopter speakers also blared voice messages recorded by their grandmother to reassure the children that a search rescue operation was under way. Search operations intensified about three weeks after the crash when the military discovered an improvised shelter-like structure held together by hair elastics, with shoes and scissors also found in the vicinity. More than 160 soldiers were involved in the search, which military forces said could canvas an area of about 323 square kilometres, or 80 per cent of the area of Bogota, a city of 8 million people. Confusion over the search emerged when President Petro on May 18 claimed in a statement on Twitter that the children had been found. 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, Petro said in the now-deleted tweet. He later issued an apology, retracting the statement and saying that the military and indigenous communities were continuing their tireless search to give the country the news it is waiting for. How they survived After first surviving the deadly crash that killed their mother, the children faced harrowing conditions in some of the thickest and most untouched rainforest terrain in the ancient Amazon jungle. Jaguars, snakes and mosquitos all inhabit the area, while much of the flora, seeds and fruits are deadly. Indigenous elders said the jungle was in harvest, adding that the children would have also faced intense rainstorms. The children are members of the Huitoto ethnic group, meaning they were better equipped than most to navigate and survive the dangerous conditions. Speaking to Colombian media, the childrens aunt said the family often played a survival game together growing up. When we played, we set up like little camps, Damarys Mucutuy said. She said 13-year-old 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. Indigenous expert Alex Rufino told BBC Mundo the children were in a very dark, very dense jungle, where the largest trees in the region are. It is an area that has not been explored. The towns are small, and they are next to the river, not in the jungle, he said. The childrens maternal grandmother, Fatima Valencia, told Agence France-Presse that the eldest child, Lesly, had a warrior-like nature and always took care of her younger siblings, while their grandfather said the nine- and four-year-old brothers were very skilled at walking through the forest terrain. The rescue Almost two weeks ago, Colombian General Pedro Sanchez said his forces had a 100 per cent expectation of finding them alive. One of the four brothers is taken on a stretcher from a military aircraft that helped in the rescue. Credit: AP The commander of the Joint Command of Special Operations said some soldiers had walked more than 1600 kilometres during the search, which he said was far more challenging than searching for a needle in a haystack. Its like finding a tiny flea in a huge rug that moves in unpredictable directions ... the children are on the move, he said at the time. Colombias President, Gustavo Petro, greets a nurse tending to one of the four children at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia. Credit: Colombian Presidential Press Office When further footprints, likely to belong to 13-year-old Lesly, were discovered at the start of the month, just over three kilometres north-west of the crash site, hopes were raised again. Colombias military heralded the discovery of the children on Friday, releasing photos of a group of soldiers with the four children in the middle of the jungle. Emotional scenes broadcast on Colombian television showed Colombian Air Force soldiers giving medical attention inside a plane to the surviving children during their air transfer to Bogota, where they are now in hospital reunited with family. Im hungry and my mum is dead are among the first things the children said to rescuers, local media reported. Manuel Ranoque, father of the two youngest indigenous children who survived. Credit: AP President Petro and first lady Veronica Alcocer visited the children at the central military hospital in Bogota on Saturday, giving them gifts and meeting their relatives and doctors. Manuel Ranoque, the father of the one-year-old and four-year-old siblings, said their survival was a miracle of God. Latest News Brokers react to RBA changes What do they think of new governor, interest rates and review? Mortgage-broking firefighter goes from flames to finance Broker explains how he juggles both roles More brokerages could benefit from hiring and developing more women to play leading roles in their businesses, according to Mortgage Choice franchise owner Deslie Taylor. Taylor (pictured above) said brokerages often wanted to hire people to launch into a sales role immediately, which often appealed more to male candidates, even if those applicants only tick a few of the required boxes. She said women were more likely to succeed if they were allowed to develop through the ranks, and also often want to tick all the boxes, so they end up developing into holistic, highly professional brokers. The MFAAs Industry Intelligence Service Report 15th edition, supported by research from Comparator, revealed that womens mortgage industry participation had declined to 25.4%. Taylor said the research showed that brokerages were passing up the value that women could bring to their businesses. She said women who were developed and nurtured by a brokerage were likely to show longer-term loyalty to that business, supporting sustainable growth over the longer term. If businesses are willing to get women in, mentor them, nurture them and really build them up, they will turn into absolutely amazing sales people, Taylor said. They will be ready to run - and they will be yours for life, in my experience. Thats because they will be thankful that they have been given the opportunity. Building participation of women in broking Mortgage Choice launched its first ever women-focused broker recruitment campaign in May, which is now being delivered to the public through digital channels including social media. Growing out of the groups Aspire program, which was launched in 2020 to support women in the Mortgage Choice network, it aims to expand broader womens participation in the industry. Since Mortgage Choice launched its Aspire program, our focus has been to support and connect the women in our broker network through unique events and learning and development opportunities, said Sally Chadwick, executive manager corporate communications, events and franchise marketing. Chadwick said the new campaign was about crossing the next frontier. Were also proud to be looking beyond our own network to tackle womens representation in the broking industry, she said. Taylor said she suspected many brokerages feared a female candidate might need to take time off in future to have children, so they would be training someone who is going to leave anyway However, she said that these broker businesses would be missing out on the loyalty that came with those women who sought opportunities to develop their career in the broking industry. If you work with women in your team and build those women up and be patient during those times where they may be raising a family, you will have amazing loyal women and amazing brokers. Taylor added that women appealed to many customers making property buying and mortgage decisions, due to their ability to provide customer service with empathy, care, understanding and compassion. We are finding more and more people coming to us feel like they want that level of a bit more care. When people are making the biggest decision of life, they often want a comfort and care factor. A great career for aspirational women Taylor left banking to purchase her Mortgage Choice franchise in Ormeau on the Gold Coast 16 years ago, and remembers how overwhelming it can be to start out in a very male dominated industry. You can start to second guess yourself, and question if you are really capable of doing it. You are asking yourself, Am I good enough, Ive got children who are still young. Do I have to conform to play in the sandpit with the boys? All of those types of questions come up, she said. Taylor said she realised the answer was that she could approach being a broker in her own way, and that joining the Mortgage Choice franchise provided a good support network for doing that. Joining Mortgage Choice at the time made me feel as though I wasnt out there all on my own. It was very family-oriented, and very inclusive at the time it felt like a big warm hug. She found the franchise environment also provided strong support for growing a business as a newly self-employed person, including in areas such as marketing, compliance and team support. Taylor said that after 16 years she believed broking was a great career for women to consider. It is a career where you have the flexibility to structure your business and your time around things like family if you have the capacity to do that, she said. In my experience clients are very understanding far more than you give them credit for. As long as they know that you are working in their best interests, they will work with you. Embassy of Honduras inaugurated in Beijing Xinhua) 09:42, June 12, 2023 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras with visiting Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- 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. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2023. Chinese 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. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2023. Chinese 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. (Xinhua/Li Tao) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Latest News Brokers react to RBA changes What do they think of new governor, interest rates and review? Mortgage-broking firefighter goes from flames to finance Broker explains how he juggles both roles Despite the number of female brokers increasing a fraction every six months since early 2020, they now represent only 25.4% of the industry the lowest level since the measure has been tracked by MFAA. Pushing down the overall proportion of women in broking is the higher number of male brokers employed in the industry over recent years that and lower retention rates that continually eat into the stream of new female mortgage brokers. But just whats driving weak retention of women in broking? Read more: The odd case of female broker scarcity The latest MFAAs Opportunities for Women research cited an industry culture that is not inclusive of women as one of the top three barriers. Given that this factor had fallen out of the rankings in 2021 suggested that the positive momentum during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have already faded, as some companies possibly went back to their old ways of doing business. Financial services and mortgage broking are decades-old boys clubs, and while weve certainly seen a great deal of progress, the industry still has a way to go in creating an inclusive and supportive culture that celebrates diversity in all its forms, said Sally Chadwick, executive manager corporate communications at Mortgage Choice. Weak retention of female mortgage brokers was perplexing considering the more positive trends seen at the entry points to a broking career. Mortgage Choice and other large aggregators reported that more than half of new broker recruits last year were women. Other companies, too, reported that the number of new female recruits was increasing at twice the pace of males. In the wider financial industry, banks such as NAB has seen a 50/50 male-to-female graduate intake. Outside mortgage broking, the situation was certainly better for female finance professionals. Across the financial and insurance services sector, 53% of employees are female and 42% of management positions are held by women, Workplace Gender Equality Agency data showed. Compared to the one-in-four benchmark recorded for mortgage brokers, female representation was much higher in banks and non-banks. At OnDeck Australia, women held 38% of roles, up from 28% in mid-2022, with women filling 40% of leadership jobs. NAB has 46% female staff across the group and 37% in senior management. Thinktank has 48% female representation and 41% in management. What is clear from the sets of data is that new female intakes averaging 50% or more doesnt translate to equivalent levels as careers progress. With too many reasons for women to depart the finance sector, the bucket is emptying slightly faster than it is being filled at any given time. Encouraging women to join the industry as brokers or business owners is one thing, but we also need to focus on creating a positive experience as women build their broking careers, Chadwick said. Its crucial that aggregators increase organisational awareness of these barriers and consult the women in their own networks to understand the challenges women face and collaborate on interventions and solutions. This associated with the issue of unconscious bias, which is consistently considered the main barrier for women in the mortgage and finance broking industry, limiting greater gender diversity. The finance sector as a whole needs to be seen to be valuing women in workplace teams, said Charlene Batson, COO at OnDeck. This means providing clear opportunities for career progression, encouraging women into leadership roles, and allowing women to have opportunities to be the public face of a finance business. Use the comment section below to tell us how you felt about this. Go First Airlines lenders are seeking full control of the carrier's resolution process at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). So far the committee of creditors (CoC) has replaced the interim resolution professional (IRP) and is now also looking to replace the process and legal advisors appointed by NCLT. According to the submission made to the NCLT, Go First owes Rs 6,521 crore to its creditors. The airline also has outstanding payments to vendors, bringing the total amount owed to Rs 11,463 crore. The Economic Times reported that the Central Bank of India leads the list of creditors, with more than Rs 6,500 crore owed. Other major lenders include Bank of Baroda (Rs 1,430 crore) and Deutsche Bank (Rs 1,320 crore). The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed Go First to present a plan for resuming its services, subject to approval by the CoC. The plan had to be approved by the CoC before the aviation regulators could consider it. Abhilash Lal had been appointed as the IRP for Go First on May 9 by the NCLT and had even submitted a six-month revival plan to the aviation regulator. Lal proposed that Go First could resume operations using its 26 operational aircraft and 400 pilots. However, in the first meeting on Friday, June 9, Go First's lenders discussed the airline's revival plan and replaced the IRP with Shailendra Ajmera from EY as the resolution professional Also Read Go First airline asks NCLT to pass urgent order on insolvency plea Go First seeks interim moratorium, NCLT says no such provision under IBC Go First likely to resume flights on May 24 with fewer aircraft: Report NCLT admits Go First's insolvency plea, puts it under moratorium Get CoC approval on revival plan before we consider it: DGCA to GoFirst Sekhmet Pharmaventures, Nirma in race to acquire Glenmark's API business Vedanta's Sterlite Copper invites EoIs to 'restart' the Thoothukudi unit JSW Cement raises Rs 400 cr via sustainability-linked loan from BNP Paribas End of season sales party arrives early for Indians this year, here's why Colliers appoints Ramaiy Kapoor as MD for its data centre business in India The CoC also replaced the process advisor, and legal agency to assert control over the country's largest voluntary bankruptcy-protection case since the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was enacted. According to ET, CoC intends to replace A&M with EY as the process advisor and bring in J Sagar Associates as the legal advisor to the CoC. Trilegal, the IRP's legal advisor, will also be replaced. To avoid any conflict of interest, advisors or firms previously associated with the promoters or management are being excluded, added the report. According to the same report, since the voluntary insolvency filing by the airlines allows a moratorium on loan repayments, lenders want to ensure that they can maintain control over the process. Furthermore, lenders are concerned about delays in restarting the airline, as it could erode public trust and lead to key employees leaving for rival airlines. Before providing interim funding, banks are also seeking approval from the DGCA to ensure that the released funds are not wasted. So far, lenders have rejected requests from the airline management to release unused funds. However, ET reported that with complete control over the resolution plan and assurance from the aviation regulator, the lenders may reconsider. Hero MotoCorp on Monday said it plans to open more than 100 exclusive stores for premium models in 2023-24 at prime locations across the country to provide sensorial experience to customers. The company plans to launch a premium motorcycle model (within 150cc-450 cc) in each quarter of 2023-24, its CEO Niranjan Gupta had said last week. Hero has about 9,000 touch points, including 1,000 primary dealerships in India. Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has introduced a scheme that lets customers choose any name as their savings account number with the Chennai-based lender. IOB said the scheme is the first in the banking industry to let a customer choose his or her name or any name as an account number that can be used for all transaction purposes. The banks managing director and chief executive officer launched the scheme called My Account My Name virtually from its Central Office in Chennai. The scheme will be available at all 49 regional offices of the IOB in India. As per the scheme, the account name can be a combination of seven letters, or seven numbers, or seven alphanumeric only like AJIT007, PRADHAN, or 2424707 etc. Customers will not be required to remember their 15 digits account numbers. To begin with, the scheme is available for IOB SB HNI and IOB SB SALARY account customers. IOB said its has revamped all its saving account schemes, considering the needs of all segments of the society, including salaried class, high net worth individuals (HNI), students, pensioners, and senior citizens. The state-owned bank had revamped current account schemes on its 87th foundation day in February 2023. JSW Cement, a part of the $23 billion JSW Group, on Monday announced the signing of a Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) agreement to raise Rs 400 crore ($50 million) from BNP Paribas Singapore. This is JSW Cement's second green debt capital raised within one year taking its SLL-based green funding to Rs 800 crore ($100 million). In October last year, the company had signed another SLL agreement of Rs 400 crore with Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). With the money, JSW Cement will fund its capacity expansion in line with its long-term target of achieving 50 MTPA cement-making capacity in India. BNP Paribas acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner (MLAB) and the Sustainability Loan Coordinator for this transaction. DNV Business Assurance India (DNV) acted as the Second Party Opinion (SPO) provider. "This is our second Sustainability Linked Loan signed in the last few months. During the last eight years, we have grown our production capacity four times while reducing our carbon emission intensity by half. The SLL raised from BNP Paribas underscores our continued commitment to our ESG goals," said Parth Jindal, managing director of JSW Cement. "The new capital will enable us to fund our capacity expansion with the long-term target of achieving 50 MTPA capacity. These capacity building plans will ensure the availability of our high-quality green cement and building material products to our loyal consumers across the country," Jindal added. Sanjay Singh, chief executive officer (CEO) and head of territory at BNP Paribas India added, "As the coordinator for the sustainability loan, we collaborated closely with the JSW Cement team to develop and publish its Sustainability Linked Loan framework, and successfully laid the foundation for the said transaction, with more to follow." Also Read Does 2023 belong to the Bulls, or will the Bears reign supreme? NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts Budget proposals don't change our long-term preferences: Abhiram Eleswarapu L&T to build energy infra for world's largest green hydrogen plant at NEOM Wadia Group company took $300 million loan from Deutsche Bank: Report End of season sales party arrives early for Indians this year, here's why Colliers appoints Ramaiy Kapoor as MD for its data centre business in India Amara Raja targets 150% rise in lead acid battery sales, plans expansion Concor disinvestment plan hits roadblocks, may be delayed indefinitely BoB receives Rs 10,000 crore via Rs 2,000 note deposits, exchange JSW Cement is a green cement company with a capacity of 17 MTPA across its manufacturing units at Vijayanagar in Karnataka, Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, Salboni in West Bengal, Jajpur in Odisha, and Dolvi in Maharashtra. The company is present across the entire value chain of building materials comprising cement, concrete, and construction chemicals. JSW Cement has signed a sustainability-linked loan agreement with the domestic arm of French lender BNP Paribas to raise USD 50 million or about Rs 414 crore in debt capital. This is JSW Cement's second green debt capital taking the total sustainability-linked funding to USD 100 million now, the company said in a statement. The company plans to use the money to fund its capacity expansion in line with its long-term target of achieving 50 mtpa capacity. According to Parth Jindal, the managing director of JSW Cement, the second green loan comes within six months of availing the first such loan. He said the company has increased its production capacity four times in the past eight years, but has reduced the carbon emission intensity by half during this period and that the latest green loan underscores their continued commitment to Environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Also Read JSW Cement raises Rs 400 cr via sustainability-linked loan from BNP Paribas Does 2023 belong to the Bulls, or will the Bears reign supreme? Baroda BNP Paribas AMC collects over Rs 1,234 cr for new multi asset fund Budget proposals don't change our long-term preferences: Abhiram Eleswarapu UltraTech Cement FY23 production grows by 12.4% to 105.7 million tonnes With demand for headsets, POCO India eyes 75-80% business growth in 2023 Maruti to launch its own alternate for Innova in collaboration with Toyota Hero MotoCorp launches its popular motorcycle Passion+ at Rs 76,301 Vivo exits German market after OnePlus, OPPO due to patent dispute Mirae Asset infuses fresh capital of Rs 1,240 cr in its Indian broking arm Global consumer finance company Pepper Group on Monday said it will invest $150 million over the next four years to establish a fintech in India. The fintech, under the Pepper Money brand, will be spearheaded by former FlexiLoans co-founder Abhishek Kothari. The company aims to hire a 200+ team to deliver consumer finance products that embed a localised approach to the market. With plans to launch in the second half of 2023, Pepper Money India will introduce personal finance products to target 15 crore households in tier 2 and 3 cities, which are witnessing an increase in economic growth, the company said in a statement. "With 65 per cent of the population under 35 years of age and over 90 percent smartphone adoption between 18-35 years, India has the potential to become one of the largest markets for us in the next 5 years," said Mike Culhane, Group CEO of Pepper. "Kothari's fintech experience and deep understanding of the consumer will be instrumental in building the Pepper Money brand across India," he added. Also Read Delhi prisons order batons, pepper spray to control brawls between inmates Fintech startups in India raise $5.65 bn in 2022, 47% drop from 2021 Indian fintech start-up funding fell 47% in 2022, says Tracxn report Rajiv Jain's GQG Partners to invest another $1 bn in Adani group stocks Adani Group revives Mundra PVC project, gets credit line worth Rs 14,000 cr DVC to double power generation by 2030: Chairman Ram Naresh Singh Go First creditors seek complete control over the resolution process Sekhmet Pharmaventures, Nirma in race to acquire Glenmark's API business Vedanta's Sterlite Copper invites EoIs to 'restart' the Thoothukudi unit JSW Cement raises Rs 400 cr via sustainability-linked loan from BNP Paribas Pepper Money India will also build a strong network of strategic partnerships, including co-branded card partnerships and collaborations with co-lenders. "With Pepper Money India, our vision is to transform the experience of tier 2 and 3 consumers by localising and personalising financial products for them," said Kothari. Pepper Money has offices in India, South Korea, Australia, Spain and the UK. Pepper Group has $21 billion in assets under management (AUM) of self-generated loans via its Pepper Money brand, and a further $55 billion in AUM of third-party loans under credit management via its Pepper Advantage brand. --IANS na/ Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta's Sterlite Copper on Monday came out with an advertisement inviting expression of interest (EoI) for carrying out plant "restart activities" at its Thoothukudi unit in Tamil Nadu, that got closed more than five years ago following an order issued by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). The EoI for restart comes when the company is still awaiting the final judgement on the issue, and the court has only allowed it to do maintenance work. "We have initiated the upkeep and maintenance activities at the plant as allowed by the Supreme Court vide its order dated May 4, 2023, in coordination with the district authorities. The final hearing of the matter is scheduled in August 2023," said a company official. According to the advertisement, interested parties should be capable of employing around 4,000 people (both skilled and unskilled) in and around Thoothukudi. The scope of the EoI includes safety assessment and audit of the structures and building, repair and rectification, engaging with OEM or experts for certification, replacement of plant and machinery and commissioning of plant and machinery to achieve the designed capacity. "We also recognise that the Sterlite Copper plant following its closure for over five years requires significant restoration efforts. As an industry leader with global technology and standards, the procurement and deployment of materials and resources necessary for the restoration and restart of the plant can be a time-consuming process, spanning several months. In the context, while we await the final judgment, the expression of interest (EOI) is floated to ensure the best partners are identified as part of our preparatory measures for resource planning," the official added. In addition, the interested parties should also look at mechanical fabrication and electrification works, electrical and instrumentation works, material handling equipment, scaffolding and painting jobs, civil and associated works and repair works, among others. In early June, the district administration allowed the company to maintain the plant for operations like removing remaining gypsum and leachate handling operations, among others. This was based on a judgement by a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, Justice D Y Chandrachud, in May, allowing Sterlite Copper to carry out maintenance works. Also Read Vedanta's Q3 net profit falls 42%, announces dividend of Rs 12.5 a share Vedanta dividend: Decision on fifth payout today; check all details here Vedanta Q4 results: Net profit falls 68% to Rs 1,881 cr, revenue down 5.4% Sterlite Copper gets SC go-ahead for Thoothukudi plant maintenance Five years on, Sterlite Copper plant closure haunts Thoothukudi JSW Cement raises Rs 400 cr via sustainability-linked loan from BNP Paribas End of season sales party arrives early for Indians this year, here's why Colliers appoints Ramaiy Kapoor as MD for its data centre business in India Amara Raja targets 150% rise in lead acid battery sales, plans expansion Concor disinvestment plan hits roadblocks, may be delayed indefinitely Production at the plant has been suspended since 2018 after protests broke out against the firm's plan to double its annual capacity to 800,000 tonnes. Subsequent police firing caused the death of 13 people and injured 102. At the peak of the pandemic last April, the Supreme Court allowed the firm to produce oxygen for medical purposes. The plant was set up in 1996 and has a capacity of around 400,000 MTPA. Before its closure, the plant was catering to around 40 per cent of the country's refined copper demand. The plant facilities include a state-of-the-art rod plant, 160 mega-watts captive power plant, oxygen plant, wastewater treatment plant, sulphuric acid plant and phosphoric acid plant. Last week, a nine-member local management committee (LMC), constituted by the district authorities, the Sterlite Copper unit as a first step to removing the hazardous material evacuation works. Under the chairmanship of sub-collector Gaurav Kumar, the committee was reportedly empowered to identify the vendor for evacuation and the procurement of the materials. In April, the ministry of home affairs informed the Rajya Sabha that it was examining complaints against certain NGOs for misusing foreign funds to organise protests around the Vedanta Sterlite copper plant. During the hearing, the upkeep of the plant was supported by a lawyer appointed by the non-governmental organisations, representing nine panchayats, 13 coastal Sangams, suppliers and downstream units. Vivo has suspended the sale of its smartphones in Germany. The company confirmed the decision on its website with a banner notifying consumers that Vivo products are currently not available in Germany. The decision was originally discovered by WinFuture, but follows a decision handed down by the Mannheim Regional Court in April, with two other Chinese phone brands OnePlus and Oppo having to implement a similar suspension. As the publication notes, all three brands fall under BBK Electronics as subsidiaries, with the likes of Realme also a part of the company. The suspensions come after Nokia filed a patent dispute in the region over broadband technology, and in particular for finding that these companies were processing its 4G and 5G signals without paying for a license to do so. Nokia is said to be looking at other companies in Germany as well, so more brands may announce a freeze as they try to resolve issues with the Finnish telecommunications behemoth. Vivo intends to continue doing business in Germany in the long run, but has been forced to take the current steps in the meantime. Also Read Vivo X90 Pro review: A camera-focused phone backed by top-notch performance Year in review: Nord Buds to OPPO Enco M32, best budget earphones of 2022 OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite goes on sale with introductory offers: Details here OPPO announces offers on Reno8 T 5G phone, Enco Air3 earbuds: Details here OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro smart TV, OnePlus 81 Pro keyboard launched in India Nearly all Tata Motors vehicle dealers turn profitable after a decade Deal activity plunges 87% YoY in May to $4.6 bn in value, 45% in volume SpiceXpress partners Ekart to provide first and last-mile delivery space Singapore Airlines promotes senior exec involved with AI-Vistara merger At Wipro, future hikes to depend on upskilling, reskilling, says HR boss It is unknown whether similar conflicts will arise in other parts of the world. The Nokia lawsuit, which first surfaced in August of last year, had no impact on Oppo's business or operations in South Africa. It has also not deterred Vivo from pursuing its local plans, having launched a pair of premium mid-range phones earlier this month and hinting at the release of foldables in South Africa this year. As such, this appears to be more of a legal hiccup than the full-fledged sanctions that Chinese brands like Huawei face in the US. For now, people can still purchase Vivo devices in Germany at retail outlets, with the stock already in-market available to buy, but dont expect new offerings in the coming months while this dispute persists. The grand Silver Jubilee Year celebration by India-Russia JV entity BrahMos Aerospace culminated on a high note on Monday in the presence of the company's Founder CEO and MD Padma Bhushan Dr A.S. Pillai. Pillai addressed a gathering of BrahMos scientists, engineers and other staff members in the presence of Atul Dinkar Rane, (DG, BrahMos), DRDO and CEO and MD of BrahMos, Sanjeev K Joshi, Dy CEO, Praveen Pathak, Director, Market Promotion and Export and other esteemed officials. He said, "With the BrahMos programme, we proved to the world that India was the first country to have a supersonic cruise missile system." "India had thus broken the 'Fifth Nation Syndrome', as was once said by former President and 'Missile Man' of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the Founder and CEO of BrahMos, who played a pivotal role in the Military-Technology partnership programme between India and Russia", he added. Dwelling upon the many milestones the JV entity has achieved since its formation on February 12, 1998, followed by the maiden successful launch of supersonic BrahMos on June 12, 2001, Pillai said that the thought process in establishing a unique organisation like BrahMos was completely different. "Every challenge was accepted...We never said 'No' to any challenge," he said. Also Read Misfiring of BrahMos missile into Pak cost India Rs 24 cr: Centre tells HC India's Data Patterns develops equipment to check BrahMos missile functions India, Russia to work on developing hypersonic version of BrahMos: Report Indian Navy successfully test-fires the BrahMos supersonic missile North Korea fires missile that may have been a new type of weapon Unseasonable rain curtails FMCG demand in May; rural segment grows 2.2% Sebi to auction 61 Saradha Group property on July 17 to recover money Goldman Sachs slashes forecast for oil prices by nearly 10% on weak demand Vivo becomes third brand to exit Germany after Oppo, OnePlus; here's why Nearly all Tata Motors vehicle dealers turn profitable after a decade Referring to the current geopolitical volatility, Dr Pillai, while equating BrahMos to 'Brahmastra' of the 21st century, said, "In a democracy, only a strong Nation can advocate peace. And a powerful weapon like BrahMos gives strength to India to advocate peace in the world." He appreciated the efforts of BrahMos Aerospace in developing more advanced variants of BrahMos, including the BrahMos Next-Generation (NG) and hypersonic BrahMos. "We can work on hypersonics and can definitely prove (to the world) that we are capable here too," Dr Pillai said. BrahMos Chief Atul D Rane in his remarks said that it takes a lot of courage and fortitude and Dr. Pillai had the vision to lead the JV programme from the front...he's one of the best leaders one could have. "If BrahMos today stands on any pillar, then Dr Pillai is that pillar," Rane said. On this occasion, Dr Pillai inaugurated the BrahMos auditorium which has been dedicated to him and named 'Dr A Sivathanu Pillai' auditorium. The 'Founders Gallery section of BrahMos Museum also showcases the many awards and accolades he has received throughout his long, illustrious career as an iconic scientist of India. BrahMos work centres at Hyderabad, Nagpur and Pilani also celebrated BrahMos 'Silver Jubilee' event in a grand way. CEO and MD Atul D Rane addressed the staff in these work centres in virtual mode. Previously, BrahMos organised 'BRAHMOS Users Meet 2023' on May 31, and 'Industry Meet 2023' on June 2, to commemorate '25 Supersonic Years of Success' of the JV programme involving DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia. Deepika Warrier, chief marketing officer (CMO) of Diageo India, is moving on from her current role, an Economic Times (ET) report said. The PepsiCo veteran had joined Diageo India three years ago. Ruchira Jaitly is expected to succeed Warrier. Jaitly is currently the executive vice-president of marketing at Diageo. Warrier's journey at PepsiCO Warrier joined Diageo as its CMO in July 2020. She managed a portfolio of 22 brands for PepsiCo for nearly two decades, including eight brands with annual sales exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. She also served as MD and CEO of NourishCo, a joint venture between PepsiCo and Tata Global Beverages, in her last position with the beverage giant. Also Read Meta India partnership head Manish Chopra resigns; fourth exit in a year LIVE: MC, AAP boycott inauguration of new Parliament building on May 28 Sensex slips 347 pts on profit-taking, Nifty holds 18,500; RIL, SBI dip 2% RIL, ITC, HDFC twins lift Sensex 345 pts up; Bank Nifty hits new peak Sensex ends 194 pts lower owing to late selling; Broader indices outperform Amit Agrawal appointed UIDAI CEO, Subodh Kumar Singh named DG NTA Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath becomes 4th Indian to join 'The Giving Pledge' At Rs 29.16 cr, former TCS CEO Gopinathan earned 13% more in FY23 than FY22 Zerodha cofounder Nikhil Kamath to donate 50% of his wealth to charity Small plastic water bottles are adding to plastic problem: Nithin Kamath Warrier, who wanted to be an anthropologist or archaeologist, ended up in marketing after someone suggested she take the CAT entrance exams. Warrier kicked off her career with Britannia after completing her MBA from IIM-B. She later joined the agency business with a stint at Ogilvy. Following this assignment, she worked briefly for Gillette in Delhi before moving on to PepsiCo in 2000, where she was in charge of Frito Lays. She moved to beverage management after working on the snacks side of the business. Her PepsiCo assignment also landed her international stints in Mexico and Dubai. Jaitly's career journey Jaitly began her career as a management trainee at Hindustan Lever (now Hindustan Unilever). The demanding sales assignment took her to markets such as Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for selling the personal care products portfolio of the consumer goods major. She quickly advanced to brand activation and innovation, and was part of the team that first introduced Sunsilk's extension into hair colour in India. At PepsiCo, Jaitlys experience straddled the portfolio across beverages and snacks by managing brands like Mountain Dew and Kurkure respectively. Her career also included a stint at HMD Global leading product planning, marketing and go-to-market for the extremely competitive category of mobile devices for Nokia. The petroleum and natural gas ministry is planning to introduce incentives and ease the application process to enable more liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributorships in remote and inaccessible areas. These areas include the middle Himalayas, parts of North-East and the forests of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The government classifies any place where either Gramin or Rurban LPG distributorship cant be set up as Difficult and Special Areas or Durgam Kshetriya. Myanmar Commerce Minister, Aung Naing Oo, expressed hope on Monday that negotiations for the Indian rupee Myanmar kyat payment system for trade settlement would be finalised by the end of June, paving the way for enhanced bilateral trade between the two countries. Speaking at a session organised by EEPC India, the minister said that the Myanmar Central Bank and Indias central bank had mutually agreed to the concept paper on the rupee-kyat payment system in principle, the terms of reference and the standard operating procedures (SOP) had been negotiated to be in line with the foreign exchange policies of both countries. After concluding of negotiation between the two central banks, the rupee and kyat direct payment can be started, the minister said. I do hope that if everything goes well all the negotiations will be finalised by the end of this month." The trade between the two countries would at least double once the trade arrangement was in place, Oo said. Myanmar already has similar trading arrangements with China and Thailand. Since 2021, Myanmar faced US sanctions, which made it difficult to settle payment transactions with other countries in dollar, Oo said. To facilitate the rupee trade arrangement, RBI had chosen Punjab National Bank as the designated bank to open Rupee Vostro Account. PNB has approached two banks in Myanmar for opening of the Special Indian Rupee Vostro Account. Also Read Pine Labs partners ICICI Bank to enable Digital Rupee on PoS terminals Rupee gains on corporate investments, cheaper global oil prices Rupee at 1-month high; US data spurs bets of slower Fed rate hikes Myanmar junta launches airstrike on own village: Over 100 feared dead Kaladan project: India flags off shipment for Sittwe Port in Myanmar Exim Bank projects merchandise exports to decrease to $111.7 billion Incentives on cards to increase LPG cover in remote, inaccessible areas GDP growth for FY 2023 was 7.2%, surpassing expectations, says CEA Multi-pronged policy action needed to reignite, sustain growth: RBI Dy Guv Retail inflation cools to over two-year low in May; IIP growth recovers P K Shah, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Trade Policy & WTO and Past Chairman, EEPC India, said that the total merchandise trade between India and Myanmar had reached $1.76 billion in 2022-23 due to rising imports from Myanmar. Indias exports to Myanmar however witnessed a decline in both merchandise as well as engineering in the last few years, he noted. However, Shah said bilateral trade between India and Myanmar could rise significantly once the rupee trade settlement mechanism was established. On the Sittwe port in Myanmar, Minister Oo, said that it would be dedicated for trade with this part of the country once commercial operations start. That is the vision. The port built under a grant assistance from the government of India as part of Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project was operationalised last month. India ranks 11th in Myanmar investment inflow with an amount $775 million which is 0.84 per cent of total foreign investment in Myanmar. Adani Myanmar port sale Early May, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) had said that it had concluded the Myanmar Port sale for a consideration $30 million. The exit was in line with the guidance provided by the APSEZ board based on the recommendations made by the Risk Committee in October 2021, the company mentioned then. Asked about it, Myanmar Commerce Minister, U Aung Naing Oo, said, Adani was a very strategic investor for Myanmar. Hopefully, we will find some solution for them. Assam has registered a decline of 5.95 per cent in school enrolment, with a total of 70,95,759 students registering this year as against 75,44,956 for 2022-23, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said on Monday. According to the Student Database Management Information System (SDMIS), there has been a shortfall of 4,49,197 students compared to the previous year, he told reporters here. Officials concerned have been asked to verify and analyse the reasons behind the decline in enrolment, the minister said. Some reasons cited by the district officials include students taking admission in other private schools not registered on the UDISE portal, clearing duplicate enrolment from the database, and migration, Pegu added. Also Read Assam HS Result 2023: AHSEC 12th results are out at official website Assam CEE Result 2023 is out on official website; all you need to know Assam NMMS exam 2023 announced: Check cut-offs, scholarship, date and more Assam CEE 2023: Exam dates announced, check complete information on website No aid needed from AIUDF, AAMSU to re-design district boundaries: Assam CM REET result 2023: The heartwarming success story of Dholpur's Rekharam Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2023 result declared; see details MHT CET Result 2023 released today, here's how to check and download Delhi University's economics faculty opposes bid to drop 3 elective papers In 2021-22, school dropout rate at secondary level higher than national avg The Indian finance ministry officials will meet credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service on June 16 and pitch for a sovereign rating upgrade, two government sources told Reuters. The meeting will see participation from all government departments managing the economy, said the first source. The finance ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters mail seeking comments before office hours. Moody's rates India at the lowest investment grade of "Baa3" with a "stable" outlook. Indian insurance regulator has granted certificate of registration to Go Digit Life Insurance Limited to commence life insurance business in the country. With this the total number of life insurers have gone up to 26 in the country. According to IRDAI, this is the fourth registration granted by IRDAI in the last one year in the Life and Non-life segment. Go Digit Life is promoted by Oben Ventures LLP (promoted by Kamesh Goyal) and FAL Corporation (having Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited as its ultimate parent company). Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company has also executed definitive agreements with Axis Bank Limited and HDFC Bank Limited for the acquisition of 9.94 per cent each in the equity share capital of Go Digit Life Insurance (by way of a share subscription). Go Digit Life also announced the appointment of Srinivasan Parthasarathy as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, subject to IRDAI approval. Also Read Bajaj Allianz declares bonus worth Rs 1,201 cr for policyholders Should investors worry about the slowing AUM growth at Bajaj Finance? Bajaj Auto sales jump 7% to 331,278 units in April, exports fall 43% In a first: Bajaj Allianz set to launch surety bonds on December 19 Highway contractors to convert bank guarantees into surety bonds: Gadkari Rupee appreciates by 7 paise to 82.40 against US dollar in early trade Productivity growth critical for recovery of emerging economies: Patra FinMin to meet Moody's on June 16, to pitch for sovereign rating upgrade FY24 to be golden year for Punjab National Bank due to steady focus: MD RBI to levy penalties on banks that lose property papers of loan seekers Speaking about the approval to commence life insurance business, Parthasarathy said: "We are pleased to receive the license from the IRDAI to commence life insurance business. It marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring tech-enabled simplified life insurance products to the market." --IANS vj/ksk/ Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday instructed officials to start at least 250 Indira Canteens, which provide subsidised food, with one outlet for each ward of Bengaluru. The Congress in its manifesto had promised to rejuvenate the existing canteens and extend them throughout the state. Indira Canteens, started as a pet project of Siddaramaiah, were first introduced during his earlier term as Chief Minister between 2013-18. The Chief Minister today held a meeting with top officials regarding provision of Indira Canteen service and its management. "We have held discussions to restart the Indira Canteens. One Indira Canteen has to be opened in every ward (of Bengaluru). I have instructed to take measures to start a minimum 250 Indira Canteens in Bengaluru city," Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. He said until now the city corporation used to bear 70 per cent of the cost and government took up the remaining 30 per cent, but from now on both entities will bear 50 per cent each. Also Read FSSAI rules on incorporating millets as nutritional menu in canteens soon High-voltage campaigning for Karnataka elections to end today at 5 pm Come May 13, will BJP script history in 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections? Canadian MP slams Indira Gandhi's death celebration by Khalistan supporters City Union Bank shares crash 13.5% after Q3 earnings dip on quarterly basis Rs 4,500 crore under PMJVK lying unused with states, claim officials India tops airfare spike in APAC, West Asia study, shows research Ayodhya Ram Temple phase 1 in last lap, ground floor to be ready by Diwali India providing credit line to help economy: Egyptian supply minister 300 colleges came up in Rajasthan in last five years: CM Ashok Gehlot "In places other than Bengaluru, the government will bear 70 per cent of the cost, while remaining 30 per cent will be by local civic agencies there," Siddaramaiah said adding he has asked for a list of places where canteens have to be opened afresh. Noting that new tenders will be called, the Chief Minister said the menu will subsequently also change. Quantity, quality, cleanliness should be ensured, he pointed out. The senior politician said there will be no price revision and existing rates will continue at the canteens. "I have asked to call for a short term tender zonal wise. After the tender process, we will relaunch the programme," he said in response to a question. According to officials, officials were instructed at the meeting to visit the Indira Canteens and submit a report on the condition and functioning of the outlets. Repairs must be undertaken wherever necessary and the canteens should be in good condition, they said, adding food quality should be maintained and the prescribed menu should be followed strictly with instructions given to provide local food in north Karnataka. Instructions were also given to submit proposals for setting up new Indira Canteens at public places like colleges, hospitals, bus stands, taluk offices, etc. Officials, citing data, said there are 175 canteens in Bengaluru of which 163 are operational. The canteens provide breakfast at Rs 5, while lunch and dinner cost Rs 10 each. About 29 crore calls have been handled till now by the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) national helpline 112, officials said on Monday. An initiative under the Nirbhaya funds, the ERSS is a pan-India single number for citizens in emergencies established across states and Union Territories last year. According to Women and Child Development officials, the helpline has been made operational throughout the country and has till now handled 29 crore calls. On Nirbhaya fund, established after the brutal gang-rape of a physiotherapy intern in Delhi in 2012, the officials said, 42 projects at the cost of Rs 12,000 have been earmarked in the last nine years. Also, 25,000 officers have been trained in forensic evidence collection and analysis and 14,500 sexual assault evidence collection kits have been distributed, they said. The fast track courts established for cases including rape and sexual assault have disposed 1.6 lakh cases. Also Read Scammers target WhatsApp users with phishing calls from foreign shores Govt releases SOP for child helpline 1098, to have a 24*7 control room UK phones to get emergency alert system to warn of life-threatening events Odisha train tragedy: Bihar govt issues emergency helpline numbers Fine or imprisonment: What happens if you open emergency door of a flight? Huge fire at Madhya Pradesh building, air force choppers called in Jaishankar hails Singapore's ratification of International Solar Alliance MCD to come up with plan to make Delhi free of stray animals: Mayor Over 575 people affected due to floods in three districts of Assam G20 Development ministers pledged to focus on Global South: Jaishankar The official also said that anti-human trafficking units have been made functional in all districts and 13,550 help desks have been established, the official added. The government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on June 8 signed a $130-million loan agreement to increase agricultural productivity, improve access to irrigation and promote horticulture agribusinesses to raise farmers income in Himachal Pradesh. The signatories to the Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project were Rajat Kumar Mishra, additional secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for the government, and Takeo Konishi, country director of ADBs India Resident Mission, for ADB. Mishra said that improving subtropical horticulture in the southern areas of Himachal Pradesh will help in crop diversification, climate adaptation, and equal economic and social development across the rural areas in the state. He added that supporting horticulture value chains will boost the subsectors contribution to food security in the country. "The project builds upon a pilot financed by ADBs project readiness facility which demonstrated the subtropical horticulture production over 200 hectares and prepared the Draft Water User Association (WUA) Act and the draft state horticulture development strategy, said Konishi. The project will help increase the income of at least 15,000 farm households across seven districts of the state namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una. These households have stopped farming or have reduced their farming areas because of lack of irrigation facilities and crop damage by animals. Also Read Citi, JICA announce co-finance loan to IndusInd Bank for agriculture sector How have the home loan EMIs changed since RBI's repo rate hike in May 2022? CBI arrests Videocon Group founder Venugopal Dhoot in ICICI loan fraud case Record gold price may not bring back sheen in Muthoot, Manappuram: Analysts Loan securitisation up by a healthy 41% to Rs 1.8 trn in FY23: Icra NCMC reviews preparedness for cyclone Biparjoy, assures Guj govt of help Priyanka kickstarts MP campaign with 5 promises that delivered victory Himachal Pradesh to set up 3 high-end hotels along Kiratpur-Manali highway Evacuations begin as 'extremely severe' cyclone heads for India, Pakistan K'taka minister warns officials against delay in execution of govt schemes The project will include new irrigation schemes that will improve on-farm irrigation and water management in 6,000 hectares of farmland. It will also help farmers to enhance their access to markets of subtropical horticulture. The farmers will be organised into cluster-wide community horticulture production and marketing associations (CHPMAs) and district-wide CHPMA cooperative societies. The CHPMA apex institution, a farmer-producer company (FPC), will lead state-wide agribusiness development to ensure profitability and access to markets of subtropical horticulture. The FPC will handle business plan development, and agribusiness promotion, and it will assist CHPMAs in managing these facilities. The project will modernise public and private subtropical horticulture nursery facilities for improved plant health, and boost digital agri-technology systems for real-time farm advisories. On Sunday, June 11, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Center to invigilate the state's coastal districts' preparedness for cyclone Biparjoy. The cyclone in the Arabian Sea, which was predicted to make landfall on June 15 is now expected to move slightly to the east toward the northern Gujarat coast. Over the past six hours, Cyclone Biparjoy, which is over the east-central Arabian Sea has been moving North-Eastward at a speed of 8 mph. On Thursday, it is expected to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm and continue its North-Northeastward motion. Previously, the IMD had issued an alert in Palghar, Mumbai, and Thane. Additionally, it instructed fishermen to remain alert from June 11 to June 14. Cyclone Biparjoy: Effects Biparjoy is supposed to bring about 2-3 meter storm floods, destruction of thatched houses, harm to homes and streets, floodings, huge harm to standing crops, orchards and plantations, and disturbance of railroads, signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat, a notice from the India-based Regional Specialised Meteorological Center (RSMC) said. Also Read Cyclone Mocha likely to hit India's eastern coast next week, details here IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi, heatwaves likely to return in Bihar Cyclone 'Biparjoy' set to intensify in the next 36 hours, says IMD Glitch on metro's yellow line: The monkey business of Delhi's monkeys Cyclone Biparjoy: Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies into severe cyclonic storm Patna administration asks to shut all academic institutions till June 18 India logs 92 fresh Covid-19 cases, active infections decrease to 2,350 West Bengal rural polls: Section 144 imposed near nomination centres BSF shoots down another Pak drone near International Border in Punjab Democratisation of technology key tool to help bridge data divide: PM Modi In the meantime, as per the Southwest monsoon progress updates, it had been said that conditions are good for the storm current to advance into a few additional parts of the country in the next two days. Along and off the coasts of Saurashtra and Kutch, sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough until Wednesday evening, then high to phenomenal until Thursday noon, and then improve. Cyclone Biparjoy: Updates On Sunday evening, the cyclone was approximately 540 kilometres west of Mumbai and had already developed into an "extremely severe cyclonic storm," the second strongest category. The severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy transformed into an incredibly extreme cyclonic storm at 5.30 am Sunday. However, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it might not reach Gujarat as predicted. The cyclone will get thunderstorms and robust wind in Gujarat in the next five days as it is probably going to pass at a distance of 200-300 km from the Porbandar coast. Cyclone Biparjoy: Government on action In light of the IMD alert, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met with coastal district collectors, Army representatives, Navy, and Indian Coast Guard, and various department representatives. Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey said that authorities of different divisions have been coordinated to get ready ahead of time to mitigate the effect of the cyclone in coastal districts and establish coordination to hold casualties to the minimum. Along the coastal locations, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are being deployed. In addition, the government will establish shelter houses in each of the six districts for people who will be relocated to safer locations and live within a 5-10 km radius of the coastline. Facing flak from various quarters over the death of an 11-year-old differently abled boy in a stray dog attack in Kannur district of the state, the Kerala government on Monday blamed central legislations for not being able to effectively deal with aggressive vagrant canines. Terming the incident as "extremely unfortunate and painful", State Minister for Local Self-Governments M B Rajesh said certain provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules issued under it need to be relaxed for effectively dealing with the nuisance posed by stray canines. He claimed that it was difficult to set up and run ABC centres as per the central norms as the rules stipulate that sterilisation should be done in an AC operation theatre, the dog should be treated there for four days and be released only after the wound is healed. The minister, in a statement, further claimed that the government was taking all precautions and measures to prevent such tragic incidents and would also move the Supreme Court again seeking permission to kill stray dogs which pose a threat to human life. He said when the state had sought such a permission from the apex court earlier, not only was it denied, but because of it a huge campaign was launched against Kerala at the national level. The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions on issues relating to orders passed by various civic bodies on the culling of stray dogs that have become a menace, especially in Kerala and Mumbai. Also Read MCD mulls setting up shelters for stray dogs, 75% of canines sterilised Stray dogs, cleanliness, corruption: Delhi Dy Mayor lists AAP's priorities The Kerala Story gets 'A' certificate from censor board, 10 scenes deleted Sanctuary for stray cattle to come up in Muzaffarnagar: Sanjeev Balyan Is govt so feeble can be toppled by stray statement: Chidambaram on Soros Padma awardees from Haryana to get monthly pension of Rs 10,000: CM Khattar 'Biparjoy' on course to become cyclone with longest lifespan in Arabian Sea Rly Board posts vacancies in safety category, days after Balasore tragedy Karnataka CM orders inquiry into deaths due to drinking contaminated water 250 Indira Canteens to come up in Bengaluru city, says Karnataka CM Some NGOs and individual petitioners have moved the apex court against the decisions of some high courts to allow municipal bodies to deal with the stray dog issue as per the rules. The minister, in his statement, further said stray dog attacks were not confined to Kerala alone and were occurring in other states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also. Nevertheless, the state government's Local Self Government and Animal Husbandry departments were working together to vigorously carry out sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs in the state, the minister said. In support of his claim, Rajesh said 4,70,534 dogs were vaccinated from September 1 last year to June 11, 2023. It is to be noted that according to the figures given by him, only 32,061 (less than 15 per cent) of these were stray dogs. Furthermore, according to the data cited by him only 79,859 stray dogs were sterilised from 2016 to August 31, 2022. Additionally, 9,767 canines were sterilised between September 1 last year and March 31, 2023, he said. However, the Animal Husbandry department last year had said that according to the last census of stray dogs in the country conducted in 2019, the numbers in Kerala were close to three lakh. Rajesh also said 19 ABC centres are functioning in the state and steps were being taken to set up 24 more. "Measures were also taken to catch stray dogs and put them in shelters, but there was considerable local opposition to the establishment of stray dog shelters and ABC centres in many places," the minister said. Last September, the state government had announced the vaccination drive and also its attempts to find locations for more ABC centres in the wake of 19 deaths due to dog bites in 2022 till August end. The 11-year-old boy was found grievously injured in some bushes several hundred metres away from his home. Nihal, who suffered from autism, was missing from 5 pm on Sunday and a search party, comprising relatives, locals and the police, later found him in a grievously injured manner and took him to the hospital but his life could not be saved. Blaming the state government for the boy's death, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan alleged laxity in implementing waste disposal measures and the ABC programme as well as in providing quality vaccines. He alleged that the lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms and non-sterilisation of stray dogs for the last three years has led to an increase in their numbers. Days after protesting sunflower growers were baton charged and forcibly evicted for blocking the National Highway-44 in near Kurukshetra in Haryana in support of their demand to procure the crop under the minimum support price by the government, crowds of farmers on Monday started gathering again in support of the demand. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, who is expected to reach the protest site Pipli in Kurukshetra district, has already threatened a larger agitation than the year-long protest against the now repealed farm laws if the government did not announce a legal guarantee of the MSP for procurement of crops. As a preventive measure, the government has imposed Section 144 in Pipli, a ruling that prohibits public gatherings in a given jurisdiction. Farm leaders have also warned authorities to release their nine leaders, including Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Gurnam Singh Charuni, who were sent to custody for 14 days for blocking the national highway on June 7, otherwise a massive rally would be held on June 12. Besides charges pertaining to rioting, they are facing cases for unlawful assembly, use of criminal force to deter public servants from discharging duty and attempt to murder. The farmers have been demanding that the state government procure their sunflower crop at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal, as announced for the crop by the central government for 2022-23. Also Read Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's portfolio up 11% thus far in FY24; beats markets Unidentified caller threatens to blow up BKU leader Rakesh Tikait: Police Sunflower crop procurement picks up in Haryana, after relief to farmers Farmers agitation will intensify across country from Jan 26: Rakesh Tikait Protesting farmers give ultimatum to Haryana govt, warn of massive rally Ghaziabad building fire: Two feared dead, eight rescued, says official NIA attaches 3 properties of terror funding accused in J-K's Kupwara Jaishankar welcomes delegates at G20 Development Ministers' Meeting Hassle-free commute, RAPIDX to have UPI-enabled ticket vending machines Kerala 'a beacon of progressive ideas', says CM Vijayan at diaspora meet Supporting the cause of farmers, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Monday asked, "Is it a crime to ask for MSP now? Is it a crime to raise the voice of the farmer? Is democratic protest a crime?" "If this is a crime, then every farmer will commit this crime again and again. Khattar-Dushyant's jail will be reduced. The struggle of the farmers is not going to reduce," Surjewala tweeted. Amidst the rift between the state government and farmers, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said the government is studying the market for adequately compensating sunflower growers. While digitally releasing Rs 29.13 crore as an interim 'bharpai' (compensation) to 8,528 sunflower farmers growing the crop on 36,414 acres of land on Saturday, the Chief Minister gave a clear message that some people are trying to create confusion among the farmers claiming that his government does not care for the farmers. "I would like to clarify that despite challenges, the Centre or the state government is taking pro-farmer policies." The government has included sunflower in the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana under which farmers will be paid Rs 1,000 per quintal if produce is selling below the MSP. Kurukshetra district has the highest production of sunflower and its main procurement centre is Shahbad. Besides, the sunflower purchase centres have been set up at places of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Karnal, and Panchkula districts. Hafed has started procurement of sunflower crops for the first time and has announced to remain in the market till the procurement process is completed in the mandis. It has been procuring sunflowers at the rate of Rs 4,850 per quintal in Shahbad. With the Chief Minister giving interim relief of Rs 1,000 per quintal under the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, now the purchase of sunflower in Haryana has raised to Rs 5,800 per quintal. At present, sunflowers are being purchased in Punjab between Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,200. To pacify the farmers, the Chief Minister on Sunday announced the opening of a sunflower oil factory in Kurukshetra, which will have a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes. --IANS vg/shb/ Cases against 1.48 lakh farmers who staged agitation against the Centre's three new farm laws have still not been withdrawn contrary to the government's promise, said Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Shiv Kumar Sharma said on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the repeal of the three farm laws on November 19, 2021, after a year-long farmers' agitation on the borders of Delhi. Popularly known as "Kakkaji", Sharma is a member of the coordination committee of the SKM and the president of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, a part of the outfit. Talking to reporters here, Sharma said FIRs were lodged against 1.48 lakh farmers in different states during the farmers' agitation against the new farm laws. "The government had promised us after the end of the agitation that all these cases would be withdrawn within 30 days, but these cases are still going on. I myself and a large number of farmers are compelled to go to court for these cases, he said. Sharma termed the government's recently announced minimum support prices (MSPs) for Kharif crops as a "sham" and said farmers were being trapped in a web of MSP data. Also Read Will immerse medals in Ganga, fast unto death: Protesting wrestlers No more farm fires Scuffle between protesting wrestlers and Delhi cops: What we know so far Centre invites protesting wrestlers for talks on charges against WFI chief PT Usha calls wrestlers' protest indiscipline, who said what so far! Massive fire at Ghazipur landfill site; 13 fire tenders rushed to spot Cyclone Biparjoy: Ensure evacuation from vulnerable areas, says PM IOA appoints Retd Justice Mittal as returning officer, elections on July 4 West Bengal election panel may extend rural poll nomination date by day PM Modi's US visit will decide contour of future of India-US relationship He demanded that on the basis of the Swaminathan Commission report, the MSP on 23 commodities be increased and a law be brought in to procure them at that rate. Sharma also hit out at the Madhya Pradesh government for not making public the report of the Jain Commission set up to probe the Mandsaur firing incident. "This report has not come out yet. The government sets up a commission to investigate. But it seems that forming a commission means to wash up the matter, he said. Six farmers were killed in Mandsaur on June 6, 2017, after the police opened fire at them during a farmers' agitation. With farmers at the 'mahapanchayat' on Monday threatening agitation if sunflower is not procured at the minimum support price (MSP) in Haryana, wrestler Bajrang Punia extended support by saying they felt bad "if you were forced to block roads for your demands". Nearly 50,000 farmers from Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, besides Haryana and its neighbouring states, gathered in Pipli town and gave an ultimatum to the government that "if it doesn't listen to their demands, a big call could be taken to block the national highway again or block the government Secretariat in Kurukshetra". The sunflower growers are not happy with the relief announced on June 10 by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, saying it was an attempt to prevent the 'mahapanchayat' called by farm associations. The farmers have been demanding that the state government procure their sunflower crop at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal, as announced for the crop by the central government for 2022-23. Addressing the 'mahapanchayat', BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the government should release the farmer leaders who were arrested for blocking the national highway and ensure procurement at the MSP, or protests would be held across the country. Days after protesting, sunflower growers were baton-charged and forcibly evicted for blocking the National Highway-44 near Kurukshetra, crowds of farmers on Monday started gathering again in support of the demand. Also Read Will discuss with supporters outcome of talks held with govt: Bajrang Punia Congress Prez Kharge summoned by district court for Bajrang Dal remarks Moderna CEO criticised for earning 12,000 times of a minimum wage worker Nothing has been done so far to resolve our issues: Wrestler Bajrang Punia Fight for daughters of India, says Bajrang Punia on wrestlers' protest Fire in multi-storey building in Ghaziabad kills 2; 9 rescued: Officials AI offers new opportunities, also brings threats to privacy: Amitabh Kant Drones used in Lucknow to check power theft through air surveillance Centre releases Rs 1.18 trillion as tax devolution to state govts Online banking frauds see huge rise in Delhi post Covid-19 lockdown Tikait had already threatened a larger agitation than the year-long protest against the now repealed farm laws if the government did not announce a legal guarantee of the MSP for procurement of crops. As a preventive measure, the government has imposed Section 144 in Pipli, a ruling that prohibits public gatherings in a given jurisdiction. Farm leaders have also warned the authorities to release their nine leaders, including Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Gurnam Singh Charuni, who were sent to custody for 14 days for blocking the national highway on June 7, otherwise a massive rally would be held on June 12. Besides charges pertaining to rioting, they are facing cases for unlawful assembly, use of criminal force to deter public servants from discharging duty and attempt to murder. Supporting the cause of farmers, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday said, "Is it a crime to ask for MSP now? Is it a crime to raise the voice of the farmer? Is democratic protest a crime?" "If this is a crime, then every farmer will commit this crime again and again. Khattar-Dushyant's jail will be reduced. The struggle of the farmers is not going to reduce," Surjewala tweeted. Amidst the rift between the state government and farmers, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said the government was studying the market for adequately compensating sunflower growers. While digitally releasing Rs 29.13 crore as an interim 'bharpai' (compensation) to 8,528 sunflower farmers growing the crop on 36,414 acres of land on Saturday, the Chief Minister gave a clear message that some people are trying to create confusion among the farmers claiming that his government does not care for the farmers. "I would like to clarify that despite challenges, the Centre or the state government is taking pro-farmer policies." The government has included sunflower in the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana under which farmers will be paid Rs 1,000 per quintal if produce is selling below the MSP. Kurukshetra district has the highest production of sunflower and its main procurement centre is Shahbad. Besides, the sunflower purchase centres have been set up at places of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Karnal, and Panchkula districts. Hafed has started procurement of sunflower crops for the first time and has announced to remain in the market till the procurement process is completed in the mandis. It has been procuring sunflowers at the rate of Rs 4,850 per quintal in Shahbad. With the Chief Minister giving interim relief of Rs 1,000 per quintal under the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, now the purchase of sunflower in Haryana has raised to Rs 5,800 per quintal. At present, sunflowers are being purchased in Punjab between Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,200. To pacify the farmers, the Chief Minister on Sunday announced the opening of a sunflower oil factory in Kurukshetra, which will have a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes. --IANS vg/dpb Two women, including a senior citizen, were killed in a fire at a multi-storey building here in Uttar Pradesh, while nine others were rescued Monday morning, officials said. All the 11 people, who were trapped in the fire, belonged to the same family. The fire broke out around 5.30 am, they said. One of the deceased was 74-years-old and it is suspected that she died of asphyxiation, while the other, aged around 40, succumbed to burn injuries, a police officer, who oversaw the rescue and relief work, told PTI. "Both the women were members of the same family. They were taken to a CHC (community health centre), but did not survive. Their postmortem reports are awaited," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Loni, Rajneesh Upadhiyai said. The building belongs to a person named Satish Pal and the deceased were identified as his mother Bharto Devi and his sister Mamta, who had come to stay with them, the officer said. Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Rahul Pal said the firefighters were alerted about the incident in Lal Bagh colony of Ghaziabad district's Loni area at 6:52 am, adding that the building housed a tent and catering service on its ground floor. Also Read Open-source platform 'Home Assistant' to get new voice assistant in 2023 PM Modi at National Rozgar Mela, distributes 71,000 appointment letters PM to distribute 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted employees UP set to get its third international cricket stadium in Varanasi Efforts to arrest Atiq's wife, Ashraf's brother-in-law intensify AI offers new opportunities, also brings threats to privacy: Amitabh Kant Drones used in Lucknow to check power theft through air surveillance Centre releases Rs 1.18 trillion as tax devolution to state govts Online banking frauds see huge rise in Delhi post Covid-19 lockdown What are cyclones, and how are they classified, categorised, and named? The two women were found on the first and the second floors of the building, and were taken to the health facility, while nine others were rescued, he said. Teams were rushed to the site and two water tenders from Tronica City and one from Sahibabad were sent, Pal said. "There was a major fire in the building's ground floor where work related to the tent house business was done," he said. "Eight people were trapped in the upper part of the building. They were rescued by breaking a wall after the firefighters reached them using an external stair. When the building was further checked, a woman was found injured on the first floor and another on the second floor," Pal said. On the cause of the fire, he said it seems it broke out after a short circuit in the building's ground floor. There was no one present in the ground floor during the time of the incident, he added. Pal said a firefighter was injured in the rescue operation when an iron gate fell on him. The fire has been doused, the official said. According to police, among those rescued, six were aged below 30 (no children) and the remaining above 30. There were four women among those rescued by firefighters. The family members were asleep when the fire broke out. Some locals noticed it in the morning, they intervened and tried to help douse the growing blaze but to no avail. Eventually they alerted the local police station, ACP Upadhiyai said. Full force along with firefighters was at the spot before 7 am, and any further delay could have caused a worse tragedy, the officer added. He said the police are in the process of receiving a complaint from the building's owner over the accidental fire and further legal proceedings were being carried out. West Bengal Police on Monday filed four FIRs against some central armed force personnel in connection to the protests that Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee faced in Thakurnagar by members of the Matua community. The FIRs were filed against the personnel who were escorting Union Minister of State and BJP Lok Sabha member from Bangaon, Santanu Thakur, who reached the spot on Sunday afternoon while the protests were underway. In the FIRs, the central forces have been accused of trying to stop police personnel from performing their duties and also rescuing one accused from the police clutches. On Sunday afternoon, after Banerjee reached the residence and the temple of Matua spiritual leader Late Binapani Devi, or Boro Ma, several people from the community started showing him black flags and shouted slogans claiming that he will not be allowed to enter the shrine. The situation turned serious after Thakur reached the spot and with help of the central forces, locked the gate of the temple from inside. Reacting to the police's move, the BJP's state spokesman Samik Bhattacharya said that the police administration in the state and Trinamool Congress have turned synonymous. Also Read All educational institutions in Bengal to remain closed next week: CM TMC's Abhishek welcomes SC decision on reassigning hearings in school scam Call after polls: Abhishek Banerjee refuses to comply with ED summon TMC will not join CPM-Cong alliance in Tripura, Mamata to visit on Feb 6 BJP trying to replicate Manipur-like situation in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee India a case study for nations to create digital public infrastructure: MoS 'Not consulted over CM's presence': Kuki members to boycott peace committee 'Discretion to choose HC, trial court to file anticipatory bail plea' Why does Yogendra Yadav want his name dropped from NCERT textbooks? Option for arbitration in agreement not binding on parties: HC observation "The same police release Trinamool Congress leaders caught with illegal firearms at the nomination. On Sunday, Trinamool Congress leaders tried to take control over the Matua temple with the help of police. That was not possible because of the presence of the central armed forces. The FIRs were done as part of revenge," he said. --IANS src/ksk/ External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday said that India's G20 presidency was successful in bringing back the platform's focus on issues pertinent to the Global South, though at the same time ensuring that seriousness of Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact are not diminished. Briefing media persons after the G20 Development Ministers' meeting in Varanasi, Jaishankar said that the 'G20 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)' and 'G20 High Level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development' were unanimously approved during the meeting. "Right now, our focus is how do you address the pressing needs of the developing countries, the small island developing states, the least developed countries, those who are really teetering on the edge of an abyss," he said. "The G20 recognised today that the Global South is facing great problems that need to be responded with an action plan. This action plan was proposed by India," he added. Everybody supported this action plan and there was absolutely no politics over it, he added further. "The seven-year action plan focusses on devising bold, decisive actions on fostering data for development and digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and human-centric economic growth and sustainable finance for development," Jaishankar told reporters. Also Read Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 foreign ministers' meeting to kick off in Delhi today; all details here LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here Egyptian supply minister says no credit line has been opened with India Chandrayaan-3 to be launched between July 12 and 19, says ISRO chief Fire at Delhi's Ghazipur landfill brought under control, say officials Need to maintain utmost vigil along international borders: Amit Shah Lok Sabha Speaker hosts members from particularly vulnerable tribes --IANS ans/vd The fourth and final G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting scheduled from June 19 to 21 in Pune will be held under the theme 'Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy', especially in the context of blended learning, officials said on Monday. The EdWG event, which will be hosted by the Ministry of Education, will be followed by the meeting of education ministers from G20 countries on June 22, they said. "Outcome documents such as a compendium of best practices amongst nations in the priority areas, a report and the ministerial declaration will be presented at the ministerial meeting. As of date, 14 ministers have confirmed participation in the ministerial meeting from the following nations: UK, Italy, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Singapore, Oman, Mauritius, Japan, Bangladesh, Egypt, UAE and Netherlands," Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Murthy told reporters here. Murthy said that like the previous meetings, a seminar will be preceding the EdWG and it will be based on the priority area of 'Foundational Literacy and Numeracy'. "At the moment, countries such as Spain, Australia, Indonesia, USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China and the UK have all expressed their interest in the topic of the seminar and will be participating as panellists. As a precursor to the G20 EdWG meeting, the Department of Higher Education is organising a seminar at IISER, Pune on June 16. "The seminar will be held on the theme 'Accessible Science: Fostering collaboration'. This event will convene stakeholders across the scientific community to discuss best practices for accessible science, how accessible science can be applied across individual nations with differing local capacities, and ways to utilise science practices to support global progress," he added. Also Read Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here G20 foreign ministers' meeting to kick off in Delhi today; all details here LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Ports shut, 7,500 shifted as Gujarat braces for cyclone 'Biparjoy' IIT Guwahati establishes facilities for sustainable materials, green tech President to review graduation parade at Air Force Academy on Saturday Personal data of vaccine receivers leaked on Telegram, govt denies breach Udhampur capable of contributing to PM's start-up movement: Jitendra Singh In the run-up to the main event, a two-day National Conference on Foundation Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), "Creating the Base for Lifelong Learning", will be organised from June 17-18 at Savitribai Phule University, Pune. "The conference will help identify and discuss the best practices states are adopting in creating an environment that facilitates foundational literacy and numeracy in young learners. The objective of the conference is to reflect on two important themes - teaching learning approaches and pedagogy for FLN in the context of multilingualism and capacity building and training of teachers in blended mode," said School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar. "The experts from various fields have been invited to share their experiences and learning with the audience to identify the areas of joint initiatives, cross learning and the challenges in the implementation. Representatives from the Education Departments of all states and UTs in India, Knowledge partners of Government of India (UNESCO & UNICEF) and civil society agencies will be participating in this event," he added. On the sidelines of the meeting, an exhibition will be inaugurated on June 17 which will showcase innovative practices being adopted in education and FLN, digital initiatives, research and skill development, in particular by the states and UTs, besides other agencies in the field of education. The first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group was held in Chennai in January followed by second meet in Amritsar in March and third in Bhubaneshwar in April. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday laid the foundation stone for 5 NH projects worth Rs 2,200 crore in the Pratapgarh region and 5 NH projects at a valuation of Rs 6,215 crore in the Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement. Gadkari said that with the widening of 43 km of National Highway 330 from Pratapgarh to Sultanpur being constructed for Rs 1,290 crore, the travel time from Prayagraj to Pratapgarh via Ayodhya will be reduced. According to the statement, the road transport and highways minister said the work of construction of the proposed 14 km bypass in Pratapgarh at a cost of Rs 309 crore will also start soon. He said road safety work will be done on National Highway 31 at Rs 27 crore for street lights and bus shelters, among others. The construction of the Pratapgarh-Musafirkhana section will accelerate the development of the cement plant, gas plant, bottling plant and dairy milk factory industries, the statement said, adding that all these projects will encourage investment in Uttar Pradesh and create new employment opportunities. Gadkari said construction of a 22 km, 4-lane bypass at a cost of 1,750 crore in Deoria will be awarded in August 2023. Also Read Threat calls to Gadkari: Nagpur cops take custody of suspected caller Threat calls to Gadkari: Accused remanded in police custody till Apr 24 India all set to achieve $5 trillion economy target by FY25: Nitin Gadkari Sri Lanka, Bangladesh keen to import ethanol from India: Nitin Gadkari Union Minister Nitin Gadkari gets death threats, security tightened DPI framework future of digital governance for India: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Railways activates disaster management set-up to tackle Cyclone Biparjoy India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant lauds Goa for showcasing rich culture Ahead of polls, Rajasthan govt gears up to publicise its welfare schemes Bike taxis cannot operate in capital until Delhi govt frames a policy: SC He said the backward areas of Deoria and Gorakhpur will get benefit from these projects. The minister said connectivity with Bihar will also improve with these projects. Authorities have moved 7,500 people to safer places and put in place an elaborate evacuation plan in Gujarat as powerful Cyclone 'Biparjoy' in the Arabian Sea appears set to hit the western state on June 15 with winds gusting up to 150 kilometres per hour, officials and the IMD said on Monday. In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to ensure safe evacuation of people living in vulnerable locations in the path of the cyclone that was likely to make landfall on Thursday afternoon and will be preceded by extremely heavy rainfall. The PM chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of the Centre as well as the Gujarat government to deal with the situation arising out of the impending cyclone. 'Biparjoy' was likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday afternoon as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In May 2021, another powerful cyclone, 'Tauktae', had hit the Gujarat coast. Officials said authorities in the coastal districts of Kutch, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Morbi began evacuating people residing near the sea and had suspended fishing activities as well as hoisted warning signals at ports. "The cyclone is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port. It will hit Gujarat coast around noon on June 15. It will be preceded by winds with speeds of 135-145 kmph gusting to 150 kmph and extremely heavy rainfall," said IMD Ahmedabad centre director Manorama Mohanty. A warning has been issued for heavy rainfall for Saurashtra-Kutch and Gujarat regions during June 15-16 and fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea till June 16, she said. Around 7,500 people have been shifted to safer places, and a proper evacuation operation will begin from Tuesday for people residing in villages located within a distance of 10 kilometres from the coast in Kutch-Saurashtra districts, officials said. More than 3,000 people were evacuated from 31 villages in Porbandar, while in Devbhumi Dwarka, more than 1,500 people were shifted to safer places, they informed. Also Read Cyclone Biparjoy: Gujarat on yellow alert, landfall expected on Thursday Cyclone Mocha likely to hit India's eastern coast next week, details here Fishing curbed, evacuation along coast begins ahead of Biparjoy's landfall Cyclone 'Biparjoy' set to intensify in the next 36 hours, says IMD Cyclone Biparjoy: Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies into severe cyclonic storm Chief Secretary asks power distribution cos to address supply problem 100s attend all-faith prayer in memory of Odisha train accident victims Gadkari lays foundation stone for 10 NH projects over Rs 8,000 cr in UP DPI framework future of digital governance for India: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Railways activates disaster management set-up to tackle Cyclone Biparjoy "Some 3,000 people, especially fishermen and labourers working at a port, were shifted in Kandla. Residents of some slums near the sea have also been moved in Mandvi. Around 23,000 people residing in villages within a radius of 10 km from the coast will be moved to (makeshift) shelter homes from Tuesday," Kutch collector Amit Arora said. At the high-level meeting in New Delhi, PM Modi asked senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the state government, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. Modi directed to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking water, and restore them immediately in the event of any damage caused to them. The PM also directed that the safety of animals should be ensured and ordered the setting up of 24x7 control rooms. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 12 teams, which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters and telecom equipment, and has kept 15 teams on standby, the PMO said. In a tweet, the IMD said, "Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra and Kutch Coast: Orange Message. ESCS BIPARJOY lay at 0830 IST today, about 320km SW of Porbandar, 360km SSW of Devbhumi Dwarka, 440 km South of Jakhau Port, 440 km SSW of Naliya. To cross near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15th June as VSCS." Authorities in Kutch district imposed section 144 in the coastal areas and all schools and colleges were shut down till June 15, officials said. Meanwhile, some parts of coastal districts in south and north Gujarat such as Valsad, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar and Amreli received light rainfall on Monday morning. Teams of National and State Disaster Response Forces (NDRF and SDRF) were being kept on stand-by in affected districts and the administration was in touch with the Army, Navy and Indian Coast Guard, the officials said. In its latest bulletin issued during the day, the IMD said the cyclone moved northwards with a speed of 7 kmph and lay centred around 320 km southwest of Porbandar, 360 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 440 km south of Jakhau Port, 440 km south-southwest of Naliya and 620 km south of Karachi (Pakistan). The met department said the cyclone was very likely to move nearly northwards till the morning of June 14. The Centre has directed the state government to regulate onshore and offshore activities and mobilise evacuation from coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from districts including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi. The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar on June 15. In view of the impending cyclone, the NDRF has deployed two additional teams in Mumbai as a precautionary measure, an official said on Monday. The NDRF teams, in addition to three already deployed in the metropolis, have been stationed at Andheri and Kanjurmarg areas in the western and eastern suburbs, respectively, he said. "We have deployed two teams in addition to the three that are already available in Mumbai as a precautionary measure," the official said, adding teams of the disaster response force based in Pune have been kept on standby. He said the NDRF has also moved four teams to Gujarat to tackle the possible fallout from the cyclone in the Arabian Sea. Meanwhile, Mumbai witnessed some incidents of tree falls due to high velocity of winds since Sunday night, a civic official said. People travelling in the RAPIDX transport system will be able to use the unified payments interface (UPI) system to purchase tickets, The Times of India (TOI) reports. This makes RAPIDX the first transport network to leverage UPI technology. Commuters will be able to use UPI to buy tickets using RAPIDX ticket vending machines (TVMs). Apart from TVMs, RAPIDX will have several other ticketing options, such as commuter cards or national common mobility cards (NCMC), the report said. Commuters will have the option to generate a digital QR code from RAPIDX Connect, the all-in-one mobile application, and make ticket payments. The conventional option of going to the ticket office machine and paying for it by cash, credit/debit cards or UPI and NCMC card wallets will also be available, the newspaper reported. Elaborating on the subject, an official of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) was quoted in the report as saying, "These fast, cashless modes of ticketing will ensure a convenient journey. It will eliminate the need and hassle of carrying cash or change." How will the RAPIDX mobile application work? Also Read To maximise efficiency, RapidX will move cargo during non-peak hours Chennai metro passengers can buy tickets on WhatsApp: Here's how to book Signs of recovery: Delhi Metro regains 90% of pre-pandemic ridership levels DMRC to get over 100 cops in plainclothes to monitor, prosecute offenders ICICI Bank to offer EMI facility for UPI transactions above Rs 10,000 Kerala 'a beacon of progressive ideas', says CM Vijayan at diaspora meet Quality check: India needs to restore faith in the 'world's pharmacy' LIVE: Delhi L-G office slams Bharadwaj over remark on Yamuna cleaning Top headlines: Banga calls for new playbook, centre to review PLI scheme Revised Karnataka power tariff from June bills; forced hikes: Bescom MD The app will feature a UPI-based payment system. To use it, commuters will have to tap on the "Buy Ticket" option on the screen. Subsequently, they will select the destination they want to travel to and then choose the number of tickets they need. After that, four payment options will appear on the screen, including UPI. If a commuter chooses to pay through UPI, a QR code will be generated on the point of sale (POS) terminal of TVM. Commuters can scan that QR code using the UPI app of their choice and complete the payment. Lastly, the TVM will give the commuter a paper QR ticket to be used for the journey. Talking about the easy-to-use nature of the ticket purchasing experience, the TOI report quoted an official saying, "With a user-friendly interface, the purchase cycle not only becomes time efficient but also hassle-free." What is RAPIDX? It is India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service and has been named "RAPIDX". The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is constructing and executing the project. The trains on this system will run on Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors. The system will facilitate easy and fast urban commutes around the National Capital Region (NCR). In other words, much like the Delhi Metro connects Delhi internally, the RAPIDX will ensure unhindered urban transportation facilities around the capital, connecting Delhi with the cities and towns on its periphery. The priority section of RAPIDX The 17-km priority section with five stations - Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duahi Depot is ready and will soon begin operation. The section is part of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor. NCRTC, the nodal agency overseeing the RAPIDX project, aims to make the entire 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor operational by 2025, TOI reported. Other corridors of the RAPIDX Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat are the two other corridors of the RAPIDX network. These two corridors are intended to bring the national capital closer to its industrialised neighbouring cities and connect educational and hospitality facilities in Haryana and Rajasthan with Delhi. A massive fire erupted on the third floor of Satpura Bhawan building which houses offices of various departments of the Madhya Pradesh government in Bhopal on Monday, prompting authorities to call in fire tenders from Army, AAI and facilities of oil companies, officials and the CMO said. No casualties have been reported in the blaze which has been raging since 4 pm. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah about the fire and sought assistance for dousing it, an official said. The prime minister has assured Chouhan to provide all possible assistance from the Centre for controlling the blaze, the official said. Indian Air Force plane AN-52 and MI-15 chopper will join the dousing operation in the night and will pour water using buckets from above, according to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). On directions of Chouhan, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra and medical education minister Vishwas Sarang have reached the spot to take stock of the situation, the official said. Also Read Madhya Pradesh govt issues security alert to ensure peace, communal harmony We have PM Modi to win Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, says CM Chouhan Abundant resources, govt policies make Madhya Pradesh investors' haven Green peas growers in MP stage protest, demand fixed MSP for open market Former BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh, Makhan Singh Solanki joins Congress Jaishankar hails Singapore's ratification of International Solar Alliance MCD to come up with plan to make Delhi free of stray animals: Mayor Over 575 people affected due to floods in three districts of Assam G20 Development ministers pledged to focus on Global South: Jaishankar Egyptian supply minister says no credit line has been opened with India The fire, which has affected the third, fourth, fifth and the top sixth floor of the building and the terrace, can be seen from various areas of the city. The affected building is located on a hill in front of the state government secretariat Vallabh Bhawan. Officials said the fire has destroyed furniture and documents of several departments. Fire tenders and firefighters from the Army, Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL, Airports Authority of India, BHEL, and from Mandideep and Raisen were called in, the Chief Minister's Office said. District collector Ashish Singh said all resources have been mobilised and around 22 fire tenders and 30-40 tankers are involved in the dousing operation as of now. He said the fire spread as there are many files stored in the building and firemen can't enter due to heavy smoke. The density of the fire is very high. No casualty has been reported, Singh added. "As per prima facie information and people present at the spot informed that the blaze erupted on the third floor of the building due to a short circuit in an air conditioner and raged to other floors due to wind," said Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra. Bhopal Municipal Corporation's Fire Officer Ramesh Neel said the blaze erupted at around 4 pm. "Furniture and documents are prima facie destroyed in the fire," he said. Meanwhile, the state government has formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to probe the possible reasons behind the fire. The panel includes the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Urban Administration), Principal Secretary (PWD) and Additional Director General (Fire), the CMO said. Arera Hills police station incharge RK Singh said the blaze engulfed furniture and documents in the departments of tribal welfare and health located inside the building. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has established the NRL-Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainable Materials Translational Facility on Bioplastics at its campus to work towards the development of environment-friendly sustainable plastics. The Translational Facility on Bioplastics aims to address the environmental concerns associated with conventional plastics and develop alternative solutions. Environmental concerns associated with existing plastics have resulted in an urgent need to develop alternatives with practically identical performance properties at comparable production costs. Speaking about the recently inaugurated Translational Facility at IIT Guwahati, professor Parameswar K Iyer, Officiating Director, IIT Guwahati, said, "Such holistic technological advancement in the area of biodegradable plastics through industry support is a one-of-its-kind initiative in the country." "We are hopeful that the industries will use the available knowledge base to speed up further commercial activities in the compostable plastics sector, as the current plastic problem needs to be addressed without further delay," he added. The partnership between IIT Guwahati and NRL for establishing the CoE for Sustainable Materials Translational Facility on Bioplastics is a first-of-its-kind academic-industrial collaboration. This venture will foster R & D work and produce biodegradable plastics using waste and intermediate materials. Also Read NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts IIT Guwahati, JAM 2023 results out today: Check complete details here L&T to build energy infra for world's largest green hydrogen plant at NEOM IIT Guwahati, Bombay, European partners building water quality sensor IIT-M to develop tech to upcycle paddy waste for making supercapacitors President to review graduation parade at Air Force Academy on Saturday Personal data of vaccine receivers leaked on Telegram, govt denies breach Udhampur capable of contributing to PM's start-up movement: Jitendra Singh 1,00,000 girls 0f 11-14 age brought back to mainstream education: Report No legal bar on initiating coercive process against witness: Delhi court Speaking about the R & D work being done by IIT Guwahati in this field, Prof. Vimal Katiyar, Coordinator, NRL-Center of Excellence for Sustainable Materials, and, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Guwahati, said, "We, at IIT Guwahati, are targeting to utilize bamboo as the main raw material for production of biodegradable plastics and related products, and once adopted, it will lead to significant industrialisation in the region." "We have worked on various technologies related to compostable plastics and these technologies are open for the industries," he added. The recently established Translational Facility on Bioplastics at IIT Guwahati houses the first biodegradable plastic production pilot plant along with several processing facilities for various biodegradable plastic products such as compostable cutlery, carry bags, plastic containers, and glasses, among others, using customised film packaging line, injection moulding, cast sheet line and thermoforming products line. These facilities will help sensitise the industries throughout the country to gain initial know-how for developing commercial production facilities to cater to the need of a sustainable society. Speaking about the scope of Academic-Industry collaboration Dr Amit Kumar, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Polymers, IIT Guwahati, said, "IIT Guwahati aims to develop a highly technical workforce in the field of biodegradable plastics and has proposed multiple industry-academic collaboration ideas for the same. The newly established Translational Facility on Bioplastics will give potential industry partners an opportunity to work on targeted projects with the researchers at IIT Guwahati." IIT Guwahati is actively working towards dealing with new directions and concerns emerging from various day-to-day environmental problems. The current global emphasis on environmental sustainability has made it necessary to develop eco-friendly products using inexpensive renewable sources. The NRL-Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Materials Translational Facility on Bioplastics recently inaugurated by Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria will act as a catalyst to boost this global mission. India which has created a significant and robust innovation ecosystem, like the unified payments interface (UPI) and Aadhaar to benefit millions of its people, will help other nations build and expand their digital infrastructure, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said on Monday. Speaking at the Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit in Pune, the minister said that UPI, which is one of the world's fastest growing fintech ecosystems, was essentially a government use case of seamlessly transferring subsidies to citizens. "As the governments around the world implement DPIs, they will see the catalytic benefit of India's startup and innovation ecosystem in their local economies with partnerships. They should make India a case study on DPI," Chandrasekhar told the gathering. On the first day of the summit, the Centre signed the memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with three countries on sharing India Stack -- the successful digital solutions implemented at population scale. At the event, the government floated the concept of 'One Future Alliance' -- a voluntary initiative that aims to bring together all stakeholders to shape, architect and design the future of DPIs that can be used by all countries and all people. Chandrasekhar emphasised that it's important for governments to formally recognise that cybersecurity threats hamper innovation, trust in essential services and consumer confidence. Also Read PAN-Aadhaar link status: Are your cards already linked? Learn how to check Pan-Aadhaar link online: What happens if cards are not linked by March 31? Link PAN-Aadhaar to avoid restrictions on NPS A/C: Step-by-step guide here PAN-Aadhaar Link: A step by step guide to link two cards before deadline PAN-Aadhaar link: Last date to link these two cards extended to June 30 'Not consulted over CM's presence': Kuki members to boycott peace committee 'Discretion to choose HC, trial court to file anticipatory bail plea' Why does Yogendra Yadav want his name dropped from NCERT textbooks? Option for arbitration in agreement not binding on parties: HC observation PM Modi to hold meeting to review situation related to Cyclone Biparjoy "Cybersecurity in the digital economy is not a domestic issue but a global issue. There is certainly a global protocol that is required and this DPI partnership, this one future alliance would also be addressing issues of partnership on shaping the future of our approach towards cybersecurity," said the minister. The DPI infrastructure is accelerating even further with the advent of technologies like artificial intelligence and language models. "The move towards a global DPI framework is about addressing the fact that technology can and must be inclusive and it must empower even those who are not necessarily the developed and the advanced nations in the world," the minister emphasised. Making progress on the 'G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG)', MeitY is organising the summit in Pune from June 12-14. The summit is expected to be attended by around 300 senior delegates, including 150 foreign delegates from 46 countries. --IANS na/prw By Abdel Latif Wahba and Tarek El-Tablawy India is providing Egypt with a credit line of unspecified value, Egyptian Supply Minister Ali El-Mosilhy said, in the latest support from an ally for the North African nations troubled economy. The minister, speaking to Bloomberg News, didnt give further details on the facility. The Middle Easts most populous nation is racing to turn around an economy that was heavily exposed to the shock waves of Russias invasion of Ukraine and is a major importer of wheat and other commodities. Egypt has agreed on a $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund, while its Gulf Arab allies have pledged billions of dollars in investment. Such credit lines are typically used to import key commodities, including food. The facility could ease pressures on the economy, just as signs of progress in Egypts plan to sell state assets and a tourism rebound lead Citigroup Inc. to predict authorities will hold off a devaluation of the currency until at least September. Citi Says Egypt Bought Time to Delay Devaluation Haunting Market Also Read Egyptian president to witness Republic Day Parade as chief guest today Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witnesses Republic Day parade Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi heads to India amid investment push Egyptian Prez, 180-member military contingent to be part of Republic Day Egypt's annual headline inflation increased to 21.9% in December 2022 300 colleges came up in Rajasthan in last five years: CM Ashok Gehlot Scammers steal 1.83 cr from 11 EPF accounts using Aadhaar card details Gujarat moves 7,500 to safety as Biparjoy may make landfall on June 15 Chief Secretary asks power distribution cos to address supply problem 100s attend all-faith prayer in memory of Odisha train accident victims India and Egypt have built ever-closer ties in recent years, with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi a special guest at Indias Republic Day parade in January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely visit Egypt later in June, the Press Trust of India reported this week. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday ordered an inquiry into deaths allegedly due to drinking contaminated water recently in Koppal and Raichur district, and warned that the Chief Executive Officers of the Zilla Panchayat will be directly held responsible and suspended if such incidents happen again. The Chief Minister held a video conference with the district administration officials in the background of the drinking water problem in parts of the state. "I have asked for an inquiry to be conducted. Two people had died in Koppal and one had died in Raichur because of drinking contaminated water. I have asked for an inquiry and to find out those responsible for it," Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. Questioning officials regarding the incident during the meeting, the Chief Minister, according to his office, asked them: "what are you doing? Do not work sitting in the office. Visit the place and conduct a comprehensive study so that the disaster of polluted water does not happen again. If it happens again, you will be held responsible." He directed the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry in Koppal district and wherever problems have been to the health and life of people due to drinking polluted water. According to a statement from the Chief Minister's office, the Chief Secretary said an investigation is already underway locally, and a team will also be sent from Bengaluru to investigate. After receiving both the reports, action will be taken against the culprits, the CMO said. Also Read H3N2 influenza: Symptoms, spread, prevention, what do experts say? Contaminated drugs: USFDA uncovers failures in India's pharma factories Over 10 mn Pakistanis lack safe drinking water after 2022 floods: Unicef UN chief Guterres urges 'game-changing' commitments on clean water 26% of world lacks clean drinking water, 46% sanitation, says UN report 250 Indira Canteens to come up in Bengaluru city, says Karnataka CM Rs 4,500 crore under PMJVK lying unused with states, claim officials India tops airfare spike in APAC, West Asia study, shows research Ayodhya Ram Temple phase 1 in last lap, ground floor to be ready by Diwali India providing credit line to help economy: Egyptian supply minister The third edition of the Kigali Global Dialogue, an annual platform that brings together policymakers, academics, civil society, and the private sector from around the world to deliberate and devise solutions to critical sustainable development challenges facing the global community will take place from June 12-14, 2023. The three-day conference is co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), ORF-America, The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and The Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB). This year the Dialogue serves as an official outreach event of India's G20 Presidency and the BRICS Presidency of South Africa. Kigali Global Dialogue 2023 will bring together over 200 delegates from more than 60 countries. In the midst of compounding global crises, cooperation is the most potent tool. The world is on the brink of irreversible climatic and environmental change. The economic model, predicated on continuous expansion, is struggling to deliver for most of the world. Emerging technologies offer potential solutions but also create new challenges and risk further entrenchment of global inequities which calls for action and collaboration. The Presidency of G20 is being passed on from one emerging country to another, from Indonesia to India, Brazil, and South Africa. This opportunity provides momentum and energy to reimagine development narratives, objectives, and pathways. Also Read Post pandemic pent-up demand surge, realty space may face global headwinds BRICS countries urged to expand inter-trade instead of with other countries Amid economic crisis, Pakistan expresses interest in joining BRICS: Report BRICS members vow to combat terrorism financing, terror safe havens Govt considering registration of flats even if developers go bankrupt NGT asks Centre, Himachal to comment on Kufri's declining snowfall report Cyclone Biparjoy likely to reach Guj on Thursday, PM reviews preparedness U'khand Waqf Board asks CM to dispel fear among Muslims about their safety Climate change making travelling by planes more turbulent: Research RBI to look into companies that do not cooperate with credit rating firms The global community's issues demand urgent solutions, a rethinking of entrenched orthodoxies, and greater responsiveness to the fragility of our ecological systems. The objectives of the Kigali Dialogue are: Challenge orthodoxies and define new development narratives; Create an inclusive platform for debate and dialogue and build the partnerships required to take new ideas forward.The Dialogue is jointly Chaired by Usta Kaitesi, CEO, of the Rwanda Governance Board, and Samir Saran, President, of ORF. The Dialogue Curator is Terri B Chapman, Visiting Fellow, ORF-America. The Dialogue consists of Ministerial Addresses, Plenary Sessions, Roundtable Discussions, and over fifteen Live at Kigali Digital Studio Conversations. The Kigali Global Dialogue will also be hosting the second edition of the TechBridge Initiative, which will bring together over 20 start-ups from more than 10 countries. The KGD Start-up Bootcamp will support entrepreneurs in leveraging digital technologies for sustainable and equitable development. Conversations at this year's Dialogue are organized around five thematic pillars: Resource Equity: Panoramas Beyond Preclusion; Traverse, Transform, Transcend: Reimagining Tech and Society; Unleash: Gender-First Development; Remonetize Development: A New Global Governance Framework and Dispersed Globalization: Propositions for A New World Order Selected high-level speakers at the Dialogue include Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, India; Ambassador Anil Sooklal, BRICS Sherpa, South Africa; Jorge Quiroga, Former President of Bolivia; Auxillia Mnangagwa, First Lady, Zimbabwe; Moussa Mara, Former Prime Minister, Mali; Susan Malcorra, President, GWL Voices & Former Foreign Minister, Argentina; and Rep Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" R. Luistro, Congresswoman, Philippines. One of the Hosts, Usta Kaitesi, CEO, RGB saod, "We are pleased to welcome you to the third edition of the Kigali Global Dialogue. The KGD provides an opportunity to convene, interact and deliberate on complex contemporary and dynamic matters of development and growth. Rwanda's journey affirms the importance of dialogue, citizen-centric growth and the role of transformational leadership in confronting existential issues. The Rwanda Governance Board is delighted to co-chair the third edition of the Kigali Dialogue and it is our hope that the Rwandan spirit of the pursuit of togetherness in our diversity inspires us to enhance collaboration, cooperation and innovative engagements imperative to respond to emerging threats". Another host, Samir Saran, President, ORF: "We are delighted to be welcomed in Kigali again this year to host this important event. We are most grateful to our partners for all of their kind support in making this possible." Samir Saran continued, "It is of utmost importance to foster dialogue and create the spaces for diverse perspectives and experiences to be shared. This year we are bringing together delegates from more than 70 countries." His comment was followed by inputs from Terri Chapman, Curator, Kigali Global Dialogue and Visiting Fellow, ORF America, "One of the things that are most important about the conversations we will be having here is that they challenge entrenched orthodoxies. What we are doing isn't working. A fire broke out at Ghazipur landfill site in east Delhi on Monday, officials said. A call about the incident was received around 1.30 pm, they said. A total of 13 fire tenders were rushed to the spot along with a robotic machine to control and douse the blaze, a senior official of the Delhi Fire Service said. In March 2022, a massive fire broke out at the dumping yard of the landfill, leading to a huge cloud of smoke enveloping the region and neighbouring areas. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had last year launched a 9-point action plan to prevent incidents of fire at landfill sites. The plan involved construction of a peripheral road around the dumpsites to facilitate movement of vehicles, patrolling teams and fire tenders and a 4-metre high boundary wall with barbed wire fencing to prevent unauthorised entry into the dumpsites. Also Read Delhi LG Saxena reviews progress of legacy waste disposal at landfill sites Entire op capacity now zero-waste-to-landfill certified: Adani Green Energy Govt plans to remove all 3 landfill sites in Delhi in next 2 years: Gahlot AAP councillors will ensure landfill sites are cleared of garbage: Sisodia Sisodia misleads Delhiites by visiting Okhla landfill site: Delhi BJP Chief Cyclone Biparjoy: Ensure evacuation from vulnerable areas, says PM IOA appoints Retd Justice Mittal as returning officer, elections on July 4 West Bengal election panel may extend rural poll nomination date by day PM Modi's US visit will decide contour of future of India-US relationship Assam to get a new assembly house in August 2023: CM Himanta Biswa Under the plan, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been directed to involve an agency for segregation of waste being dumped at the landfill sites to prevent unauthorised entry of ragpickers. Perforated high-density polyethylene pipes will be installed to prevent the accumulation of the highly flammable gas and a dedicated surveillance squad will keep a strict vigil over the activities going on at the dumpsites. According to experts, organic waste dumped in a landfill produces methane when it rots. In hot weather conditions, methane catches fire spontaneously and the blaze spreads as it feeds on combustible material like textiles and plastics, they said. A Delhi court has refused to cancel the non-bailable arrest warrant issued against entrepreneur Sachin Dev Duggal in a case related to alleged laundering of Rs 60,000 crore by the Videocon Group which it had obtained from a consortium of banks to develop its oil and gas assets in Mozambique, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia and East Timor. Special Judge Rajesh Kumar Goel dismissed the application moved by Duggal, seeking cancellation of an order passed by the court on February 10, 2023 issuing the warrant against him. The application claimed Duggal was only a witness in the case. While dismissing the application, the judge said there was no legal bar on coercive action if a person, who has been summoned by a probe agency, even as a witness, fails to appear despite the service of notice or summons. "This court could not understand as to how to secure the presence of that person, if he is not appearing despite the service of summons. In that eventuality, the only option would be to go for a coercive method or process for securing the presence of a person in connection with the investigation of a serious case of money laundering, the judge said in an order passed on June 9. At this stage, it will not be appropriate to finally adjudicate and conclude that the applicant is only a witness, as the same is a matter of investigation to be done by the investigating agency, the judge said, adding if there are incriminating circumstances and evidence, the stand can change within an hour. Also Read LG S95QR 9.1.5 sound bar review: Expansive audio for cinema-like experience SC disposes plea seeking BCI nod to declare foreign law students' result Sony launches HT-S2000 5.1 channel Dolby Atmos sound bar: Price, features Dispute resolution with min court action vital for investment: Justice Shah NCLT orders initiating insolvency proceedings against Mantri Developers India brings G20 spotlight back on real issues of global south: Jaishankar G20 development ministers' conclave adopts India-backed action plan on SDGs Difficult to deal with stray dogs due to certain provisions: Kerala govt Padma awardees from Haryana to get monthly pension of Rs 10,000: CM Khattar 'Biparjoy' on course to become cyclone with longest lifespan in Arabian Sea Sometimes, a person may approach the investigating agency with a complaint alleging that a cognizable offence has been committed. At that stage, prime facie he would be the complainant and a material witness but later on, after one or two days, there are chances that he or she may be the main accused of the said offence. This all is a matter of enquiry and investigation, the judge said. The court said the applicant in the instant case is blowing hot and cold". "Sometimes he would say he is ready to join through VC (video conference)..... and at the same time he would say that since he has not been served the summons through proper channel, therefore, he is not supposed to join the investigation, the judge noted. In his application, Duggal said he was a law abiding citizen of the UK and was having deep roots in society. Duggal added he had no intention to show disrespect to Indian laws and he always cooperated with the Enforcement Department (ED). The ED opposed the application, claiming Duggal was a suspect and not a witness in the case. The ED has alleged that the Videocon Group had entered into several unexplained transactions with Duggal. A day after the Union government formed a committee to negotiate peace in violence-torn Manipur, Kuki representatives announced on Sunday that they will boycott the panel because it includes Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a report by The Hindu said. The peace committee constituted on May 10, is led by Governor Anusuiya Uike and includes 51 members, including former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists, social workers, representatives of various ethnic groups, and a few state ministers, including CM Biren Singh, MPs, MLAs, and leaders from various political parties. According to a report by The Indian Express, 25 of the 51 members named to represent the ethnic groups are from the majority Meitei community, 11 from Kuki groups, 10 from Naga communities, three from Muslim groups, and two from Nepali communities. 'Added names to the committee without consent' One of the Kuki representatives stated on Sunday that he had not been asked before being added to the committee. This is an important question as without my consent, why and how did they add my name to the peace committee, retired Indian Defence Accounts Service officer J Lhungdim told The Indian Express. Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today Manipur violence: What is SoO pact Amit Shah warned of dissolving? Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Home minister Amit Shah meets Kuki leaders; victims' kin to get Rs 10 lakh Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems 'Discretion to choose HC, trial court to file anticipatory bail plea' Why does Yogendra Yadav want his name dropped from NCERT textbooks? Option for arbitration in agreement not binding on parties: HC observation PM Modi to hold meeting to review situation related to Cyclone Biparjoy Ahead of Rath Yatra, Puri police prohibits drones near Jagannath Temple I have spoken with several Kuki representatives and they told me that their names were also added to the committee without talking to them and they are also not happy with this act," he said. He added, I believe its not going to work this way and the central government should be part of this committee, instead of leaving everything on Chief Minister N Biren Singh. 'Declared war against the Kukis' Kuki Inpi Manipur president Ajang Khongsai, who is also a member of the panel, told The Hindu that the committee includes the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a civil society group, that has declared war against the Kukis. We want peace but at this crucial juncture, when violence persists, we cannot hold talks with the government, Khongsai said. The inclusion of the chief minister in the panel was also criticised by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum. The creation of such a peace committee... by the central government must be made only after conditions of normalcy and security for Kuki-tribal villages have been secured for a certain period of time, it said in a statement. At present, more than 160 Kuki-Zo villages have been burnt and continue to be under constant attack from Meitei militants," it added. Nando Luwang, president of the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation, stated that he was unaware of his inclusion on the panel. "Will make a final decision on attending the meeting after discussing it with other members of the group," he said. L Adino Mao, the former president of the United Naga Council, the apex civil body of the Nagas in Manipur, said he learned of his appointment through social media. He added that he had "not been consulted." Manipur violence Since May 3, ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur have resulted in over 100 deaths, 300 injuries, and thousands of displaced people. On the other hand, Kuldiep Singh, the state government's security advisor, claimed on June 8 that there had been no violence in the state in the previous 48 hours. Last month, while visiting Manipur, the Union Home Minister announced the formation of the peace committee. Amit Shah also stated that a panel will be formed to investigate the violence in the state. President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said tribal people have made a lot of sacrifices to protect the motherland and its natural and cultural wealth, and urged others to learn from their example to achieve sustainable development. During an interaction with members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu urged them to prioritise education, emphasising its utmost importance. In a statement, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said the president expressed happiness at meeting representatives from all 75 PVTGs together and acknowledged that many of them had ventured out of their villages for the first time. She highlighted the government's efforts to support the PVTG community such as the provision of reserved seats in Eklavya Model Residential Schools and the National Fellowship and Overseas Scholarship Scheme. President Murmu also encouraged PVTG women to avail benefit of various schemes, including the Tribal Women Empowerment Scheme. "The president said the people of the tribal society have made a lot of sacrifices to protect the motherland and its natural and cultural wealth. To achieve the goals of sustainable development, all of us can learn from the tribal society," the statement read. Also Read Prez urges tribal women to come forward to reap benefits of govt scheme Prez Murmu pays obeisance at Ranchi temple, garlands Birsa Munda statue President Droupadi Murmu to embark on a two-day visit to Arunachal today Crucial to adopt sustainable lifestyles to achieve 2030 development: Teri Insult to Prez Murmu: AAP on PM being invited to inaugurate new Parliament 29 crore calls handled by national emergency response helpline 112 so far Huge fire at Madhya Pradesh building, air force choppers called in Jaishankar hails Singapore's ratification of International Solar Alliance MCD to come up with plan to make Delhi free of stray animals: Mayor Over 575 people affected due to floods in three districts of Assam Emphasising the significance of the Tribal Sub-Plan, the president noted that 41 ministries and departments allocate a portion of their budgets for the welfare of tribal communities, including PVTGs. She expressed happiness over the launch of the Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission aimed at fostering the development of PVTGs. President Murmu also highlighted the importance of the campaign announced in the current budget to eradicate sickle cell anaemia by 2047. She commended the recognition of talented individuals from tribal communities through conferring Padma Awards for their exceptional contributions across various fields. "It is the duty as well as the aspiration of all citizens, especially the tribal people including PVTG, to ensure their development while maintaining their identity and safeguarding their existence," the president said. India recognizes 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) who are among the most marginalized and vulnerable populations in the country. These PVTGs are identified based on specific criteria such as socioeconomic status, cultural distinctiveness, geographical isolation, and pre-agricultural level of technology. The government provides special attention and targeted welfare measures to protect their unique identities and ensure their well-being, aiming to safeguard them from exploitation. In a brief but evidently sizeable data breach, the information of hundreds of thousands of Indians who received the Covid vaccine was allegedly leaked on a Telegram channel. According to several reports, crucial information like a persons phone number registered on the CoWin portal of the Union Ministry of Health, gender, ID card information, and date of birth were leaked on Telegram. It could be retrieved from a Telegram bot by entering a persons name. According to media reports, the Telegram bot could throw up personal information of significant personalities, including Telanganas Minister of Information and Communication Technology Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (popularly known as KTR), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Member of Parliament (MP) Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and former Union Minister of Health Harsh Vardhan of the BJP. The bot was disabled after media reports, but experts said the incident left behind serious concerns as the data could be used for identity theft, phishing emails, scams, and extortion calls. The governments nodal agency The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has initiated an inquiry into the matter after the reports. Terming the data leak reports about the repository of beneficiaries vaccinated against Covid as mischievous in nature, the central government on Monday said the bot that had allegedly accessed the private data was not accessing the CoWIN database directly. The government said the bot may be showing information from previously stolen data, according to the initial report by CERT-In, the cybersecurity arm of the government. Also Read Data breach: Personal data of Covid vaccine recipients leaked on Telegram Covid-19: Bharat Biotech's nasal vaccine gets govt nod as booster shot Indian Railways denies IRCTC data breach but launches investigation CoWIN data breach a national emergency: Cyber law expert Pavan Duggal 2 years of Covid vaccination drive: More room for others in vaccine mix Udhampur capable of contributing to PM's start-up movement: Jitendra Singh 100,000 girls 0f 11-14 age brought back to mainstream education: Report No legal bar on initiating coercive process against witness: Delhi court India brings G20 spotlight back on real issues of global south: Jaishankar G20 development ministers' conclave adopts India-backed action plan on SDGs The health ministry denied the breach saying that the data cannot be shared with any bot without authenticating using a one-time password. It is clarified that all such reports are without any basis and mischievous. The CoWIN portal of the health ministry is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy All steps have been taken and are being taken to ensure the security of the data in the CoWIN portal, read a statement from the health ministry. It added that the CoWIN portal had adequate security measures with web application firewall, anti-DDoS, SSL/TLS, regular vulnerability assessment, identity and access management, etc. Minister of State for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted that it did not appear that the CoWin application or database had been directly breached and the data being shared seemed to be from an earlier breach. But the breach yet again brings to the fore the growing menace of cyber threats, especially on government websites. A few months ago, the servers of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences were hacked by cybercriminals. Although the number of people affected by the privacy breach on CoWin could not be confirmed, over 95 per cent of adult Indians have received their vaccines, according to latest data. The total vaccination stands at around 2.2 billion doses at the time of going to press. In 2021, cyber intelligence firm Cyfirma warned that hackers from China and North Korea were planning to attack CoWin servers. This left experts baffled. Kamesh Shekar, program manager at public advocacy group The Dialogue, said a breach of this scale could cause economic and privacy implications for individuals. However, as we move forward, preventing such incidents requires concrete and coordinated governance and regulatory frameworks which maps responsibilities for several players within the digital public infrastructure ecosystem, he said. According to a CloudSEK analysis, the threat actor does not have access to the entire CoWin portal or the back-end database, but there was a data breach in the past. On March 13, 2022, a threat actor on a Russian cybercrime forum advertised for compromised access on the CoWIN portal. As proof of compromise, the actor shared a screenshot of the CoWIN database portal affecting the Tamil Nadu region. We currently believe that the current incident is associated with a threat actor who has access to health workers, observed the analysis. Several independent cybersecurity experts have confirmed the possibility of a partial database breach from the CoWIN platform. But the incident has made security experts sit up and take note. There are possibilities of multiple types of issues here, like IDOR vulnerabilities and unsecured databases, among others. Both CoWIN and Aadhaar data of India are extremely sensitive and at massive risk of cyberattacks, which can wreak havoc when in the hand of nation-state adversaries of India among the normal scammers, said Himanshu Pathak, managing director, CyberX9. Experts also warn that there could be multiple copies of the leaked data and that there was no remedy to reverse the damage. The bot was a plain search facility on a database and multiple records were fetched against one thing. For instance, if you search with a persons name or their Aadhaar number, it gives out details of six people vaccinated against it. Now they have just cut this access, but data is still out there, said Anivar Aravind, executive director of the civic-tech non-profit initiative Indic Project. Senior BJP leader and former Union Cabinet Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a democratically elected leader, Rahul Gandhi was a leader in the Congress "by dynastic chant". Naqvi while speaking at a press conference in Wayanad, the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Rahul Gandhi before his disqualification, said there was huge difference between a "leader by choice" and a "leader by chance". "While Modi ji is a 'leader by democratic choice', Rahul Gandhi is a 'leader by dynastic chant'," he said. He claimed that India's global stature had grown significantly under the "dynamic leadership" of PM Modi due to his efforts to eradicate corruption, communalism and casteism to make 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. Naqvi, who is on a three-day visit to Kerala, said that every welfare scheme launched by the Centre was focused on the needy as Modi comes from a humble background and understands the pain of the common man. "Development with dignity, empowerment without discrimination is the mantra of the Modi government," he said. Also Read Freedom of speech cannot be 'armour for abuse': Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Cong unable to digest India's growing stature: Naqvi on Rahul's US remarks Policy paralysis' before 2014 eradicated under PM Modi's leadership: Naqvi India has become flagbearer of inclusiveness, says Mukhtar Naqvi 'Party full of abuses'; Naqvi targets Cong over Kharge's jibe at PM Modi Registration of homes in Hyderabad region falls 7% to 5,877 units in May PM Modi holds situation review meeting related to Cyclone Biparjoy Cyclone Biparjoy: High tides hit Guj coast, IMD issues alert for Kutch Encounter between BSF, Naxals in Chhattisgarh; Naxalite woman killed HC refuses to interfere with Railways' decision to issue IDs for disabled He went on to say that a leader becomes great not by power but by his commitment, courage and conviction to empower the nation, and under Modi's leadership people have benefited greatly from various schemes like PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana and the Swachh Bharat Mission. As part of his visit, Naqvi participated in various people contact programmes in Wayanad which included a 'Pushparchana' at Vythiri Karinthandan Smrithi Mandapam, visiting the New International IT Company at Bathery, interacting with farmers at Pulpally as well as meeting with tribals at their colony in Chethalayam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday directed officials to ensure safe evacuation of people living in vulnerable locations as cyclone Biparjoy is likely to make a landfall over the Gujarat coast on Thursday afternoon. In a high-level meeting chaired by top officials, Modi, according to a statement from the Prime Ministers Officer (PMO), directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the state government. Meanwhile, in Gujarat coast, the state authorities have evacuated around 7,500 people till Monday noon and more will be done in the coming days. In neighbouring Pakistan, which is also expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone, almost 80,000 people have been evacuated to safety, news agency PTI reported. Kandla port that handles around 22-24 vessels daily was shut since Monday morning in view of the cyclone while normal work on the Pipavav port was also stopped to minimise damage. According to a Reuters report late in the evening, Reliance Industries, which operates the world's largest refining complex in Jamnagar, suspended exports of diesel and other oil products from Sikka port. Reliance said in a letter sent to traders that it had declared a force majeure on exports from Sikka due to the storm. Reliance did not immediately reply to a request for comment to the Reuters report. Also Read Cyclone Mocha: Low pressure likely to form today, IMD issues warning Total cargo handling at APSEZ ports jump 19% in May, YTD numbers up 16% Centre to come up with policy to extend port lease beyond 30 years Cyclone 'Biparjoy' likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm today Storm chasing: Here's how Cyclone Biparjoy got its name and more IIT Guwahati establishes facilities for sustainable materials, green tech President to review graduation parade at Air Force Academy on Saturday Personal data of vaccine receivers leaked on Telegram, govt denies breach Udhampur capable of contributing to PM's start-up movement: Jitendra Singh 1,00,000 girls 0f 11-14 age brought back to mainstream education: Report The PM, meanwhile, directed the officials to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking water, and restore them immediately in the event of any damage caused to them. Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba also held a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee to review the preparedness and directed officials to keep loss of life to zero and restore infrastructure quickly in case of damage. 'Biparjoy' is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday afternoon as a very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In May 2021, another powerful cyclone, 'Tauktae', had hit the Gujarat coast. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 12 teams, which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters and telecom equipment, and has kept 15 teams on standby, the PMO said. Teams of National and State Disaster Response Forces (NDRF and SDRF) were being kept on stand-by in affected districts and the administration was in touch with the Army, Navy and Indian Coast Guard, the officials said. In view of the impending cyclone, the NDRF has deployed two additional teams in Mumbai as a precautionary measure, an official said on Monday. Mumbai also witnessed some incidents of tree falls due to high velocity of winds since Sunday night, a civic official said. The Western Railway on Monday short-terminated over 50 trains heading to coastal areas of Gujarat in view of the cyclone and is considering cancellation of several trains over the next three days, a release said. Stating that the right to live with dignity includes not being "tied down by casteism", the Delhi High Court has directed the CBSE to comply with the request of two siblings belonging to the Scheduled Caste community to update their father's surname, which he has changed due to social stigma, in their Class 10 and 12 certificates. Justice Mini Pushkarna said the denial by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in carrying out the requisite change in the certificates was "totally unjustified" and if a person wanted to not to be identified with any particular caste that may be a cause of prejudice, the same is permissible. "It is to be noted that the petitioners have every right to have an identity which gives them an honourable and respectable identity in the society.. The Right to Identity is an intrinsic part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India," the court said. In response to the petition, CBSE had said the change in the surname would entail a change in the caste of the petitioners, which could be misused. The court, however, clarified that the change in the father's surname shall not entail a change of caste of the petitioners or allow them to take advantage of any reservation or any other benefit that might be available to the updated caste/surname. The petitioner brothers told the court that their father decided to change his surname due to caste atrocities suffered by him on day to day basis, based on his surname. Also Read Right to Repair: how to access it, what it covers, and consumer benefits PM Modi liberated country from casteism, dynastic rule, appeasement: Shah Rajasthan Right to Health Act: The provisions and why doctors protested Dignity of speech has been shattered in last few days: Delhi LG V K Saxena Lack of dignity for labour main reason behind unemployment, says RSS chief Farmers still battling cases registered during protests against farm laws Massive fire at Ghazipur landfill site; 13 fire tenders rushed to spot Cyclone Biparjoy: Ensure evacuation from vulnerable areas, says PM IOA appoints Retd Justice Mittal as returning officer, elections on July 4 West Bengal election panel may extend rural poll nomination date by day The judge said the petitioner brothers have every right to have an "honourable and respectable" identity in society and if they have suffered any disadvantage on account of their surname, they were "certainly entitled to a change of their identity that gives respectability to the petitioners in the societal structure". "Therefore, the CBSE is directed forthwith to carry out the requisite changes in the 10th and 12th certificates of the petitioners to reflect the name of their father (with the changed surname)," stated the court in an order passed last month. There is no denying the fact that the Right to Life includes, within its ambit, the Right to Live with Dignity, which includes not being tied down by any casteism that a person may face on account of the caste to which such person belongs, said the court. The father of the petitioners had published a note in the newspaper informing about the change of his name, which was also published in the Gazette Notification and reflected in the various public documents including Aadhaar Card and PAN Card, it was stated in their plea. The petitioners then applied for a change of their father's name in the 10th and 12th certificates as issued by the CBSE, but their request was rejected. "Owing to the social stigma attached, the father of the petitioners changed his surname. Thus, in order to overcome the social stigma and the disadvantage faced by the petitioners on account of their surname, the petitioners applied for a change of their father's name in the Class 10th and 12th Certificates as issued by the CBSE," said the court. "Thus, if a person wants to change his or her surname, so as not to be identified with any particular caste that may be a cause of prejudice to such person in any manner, the same is permissible," it stated. The court said CBSE is at liberty to requisition any documents required for carrying out the rectification of the surname. In a first, Centre to review PLI scheme to sort out teething issues The government will hold a first-of-its-kind review and seek feedback to resolve the teething issues that beneficiaries of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme are facing. A meeting on this will be held on June 27 and it will be chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. It will have participants from all 14 ministries involved in rolling out the scheme, which aims to make India a manufacturing powerhouse, people aware of the matter told Business Standard. Read more MNC captives woo talent and biz from domestic IT services companies Global capability centres (GCCs), or captives of large multinational firms, are expanding in the country, and chipping away at the market share and talent held by domestic IT services firms. Traditionally referred to as captives or contact centres, GCCs are offshore units of large multinationals that perform designated technology operations. They emerged during the 1990s as large companies such as GE, Texas Instruments, Citigroup, and American Express began embracing this model. Read more Smartphones break into top-5 club in exports; value nearly doubled in FY23 Read more 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. Those above smartphones include various HS codes of automotive fuels that conform to certain standards (diesel, aviation, and motor gasoline) and diamonds cut or polished but not for industrial use. Also Read Who is Ajay Banga, nominated by Joe Biden to be next World Bank president? Facts to know about Ajay Banga, first Indian-American to head World Bank Top Headlines: Govt's dividend from PSBs, Meesho hints at IPO in '25 & more Top headlines: Meta layoffs, angel tax exemption, new Parliament & more Top Headlines: Govt asks P&W to supply engines, stricter Sebi norms & more Revised Karnataka power tariff from June bills; forced hikes: Bescom MD IMD issues cyclone alert in Saurashtra and Kutch coast of Gujarat Modi govt increased fertiliser subsidy for farmer 5 times: Prakash Javdekar PM Modi congratulates junior women's hockey team for lifting Asia Cup title Infant among 32 hospitalised after fire in residential building in Dharavi Seeking 'accuracy': Govt to come up with fresh logistics cost estimate soon The Centre is in the process of reaching a more accurate estimate of the cost of logistics (as a percentage of gross domestic product) by revising the methodology through which the cost is calculated. And, the new estimate may be lower than the current 14-16 per cent, Business Standard has learnt. The task force constituted for this is likely to come up with a fresh estimate in around two months. Initial indications suggest that it is likely to be lower than the current estimate, a senior planning official of the Centre said. Read more World Bank needs new playbook to boost private investment in EMs: Banga Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur has all the potential to contribute to the start-up movement promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the media on the sidelines of an event on '9 years of Seva', he claimed that 'Udhampur-Doda-Kathua' is among the most developed Parliamentary constituencies in India. It is the only constituency in the country to have three medical colleges with the best infrastructure. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is also located here making it one of the best constituencies in India with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, the Minister of State for Personnel said. Singh, who represents Udhampur constituency in Lok Sabha, said this constituency has earned its name in India and the world as the birthplace of the 'purple revolution' which has given birth to agri-tech start-ups not only in the union territory but across the country. "This Parliamentary constituency has all the potential to contribute in the start-up movement promoted by PM Narendra Modi," the minister was quoted in a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry. He said the world's highest railway bridge the Chenab Bridge and the world's longest tunnel Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee tunnel are located here, making the constituency an infrastructural marvel in the country. Also Read Over 27 passengers injured after mini-bus overturns in Jammu's Udhampur 61 injured in footbridge collapse during Baisakhi fair in J-K's Udhampur Number of startups increased 300 times in 9yrs under PM: Jitendra Singh CBI files FIR against Abhijeet Group-promoted Corporate Power for fraud Police diffuses 15kg improvised explosive device in J&K's Udhampur district 1,00,000 girls 0f 11-14 age brought back to mainstream education: Report No legal bar on initiating coercive process against witness: Delhi court India brings G20 spotlight back on real issues of global south: Jaishankar G20 development ministers' conclave adopts India-backed action plan on SDGs Difficult to deal with stray dogs due to certain provisions: Kerala govt The establishment of an Inter Modal Station (IMS) at Katra, a world-class state-of-the-art project in this constituency will not only improve the travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine but will open numerous opportunities in terms of employment, trade etc. for the people of this constituency, Singh added. Global life sciences firm Bayer on Monday said it has signed an agreement with US-based food major Cargill to empower smallholder farmers with digital solutions, including comprehensive information on market prices, weather forecasts, and pre- to post-harvest insights. Drawing upon the capabilities of innovative platforms such as Cargill's 'Digital Saathi' - a mobile-first, AI-driven service platform tailored to hyper-localised needs, and Bayer's Better Life Farming Centres that supports over 5,00,000 smallholder farmers, this strategic partnership is dedicated to improving market access for smallholder farmers, it said in a statement. "This partnership between Bayer and Cargill endeavours to connect with 3 million farmers across India within the next five years. Initially, the partnership will be implemented in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and subsequently expand to other regions," the company added. Bayer's e-commerce strategy involves expanding tailored solutions through the 'Digital Saathi' app, starting with corn farming in Karnataka and later expanding to other crops and regions. Additionally, Cargill's 'Digital Saathi' platform offers convenient crop input e-commerce and crop sell offer features, ensuring farmers have improved access to high-quality crop inputs and facilitating market linkages between farmers and aggregators through a digitally-enabled marketplace. "This integrated approach aims to enhance farmers' decision-making capabilities, streamline agricultural operations, and foster efficient and seamless connections within the agricultural ecosystem," Bayer added. Also Read Air India's Newark-Delhi flight diverted to Stockholm due to oil leak Bayer CropScience records 3.79% increase in Q4 profit at Rs 159 crore Indian soft drink market likely to see significant growth: Varun Beverages California State Senate passes brings law banning caste discrimination Earthquake of 5.6-magnitude jolts Northern California, no damage reported Raj govt to turn 1.20 lakh hectares of agri land into organic farming area Over Rs 2 trillion paid to sugarcane farmers via DBT since 2017: UP CM Studying market to adequately compensate sunflower growers: Haryana CM Gunny bag shortage hits crop procurement, says Rajasthan minister All eyes on the monsoon progress as kharif crops sowing starts slow Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head, Crop Science Division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, said: "Access to advisory, quality inputs, credit, technologies, or markets is one of the biggest enablers to unlocking smallholder value, and it lies at the very core of what this partnership is all about. We also believe that digitisation is key to this exercise...." Therefore, the company is looking at leveraging all relevant digital tools to ensure that it is able to deliver greater value to the smallholder farmers and create for them a level playing field, he added. The crucial G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting would be held in Hyderabad from June 15 to 17, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday. Talking to reporters here, he said three meetings of the agriculture working group were held earlier in Indore, Chandigarh and Varanasi. The final meeting is in Hyderabad. Besides India, 29 other countries will participate in the three-day event. G20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, USA and UK would attend. The ministers of nine guest countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Oman, Nigeria, Spain and Vietnam would also participate. "The agriculture ministers of 29 countries and high-level officers are going to participate in this meeting with Hyderabad as the venue. It will be held from 15th to 17th," he said. Besides the 29 countries, key persons from 10 international organisations would also participate in the meetings. The main agenda of the meeting includes food security, sustainable agriculture for nutritional food, agriculture development under the leadership of women, agriculture and biodiversity, and changes needed in agriculture sector to face climate change. The union tourism minister said the G20 meeting of ministers on tourism would be held in Goa on June 19, 20, 21 and 22. He said that the third G20 tourism working group meeting was successfully held recently in Srinagar despite the threat of terror groups and objections raised by Pakistan and others. A declaration on tourism, named 'Goa roadmap' would be adopted at the G20 ministers meeting, the minister said. Reddy, also minister for culture, said the final meeting of ministers on culture would be organised in Varanasi from July 24-26. Also Read Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Bayer partners Cargill to bring digital solutions, market info to farmers Raj govt to turn 1.20 lakh hectares of agri land into organic farming area Over Rs 2 trillion paid to sugarcane farmers via DBT since 2017: UP CM Studying market to adequately compensate sunflower growers: Haryana CM Gunny bag shortage hits crop procurement, says Rajasthan minister Almost 99 per cent of Tata Motors passenger vehicle (PV) dealers have turned a profit for the first time in nearly a decade, according to a report in The Economic Times. Only 43 per cent of the companys dealers were profitable in the financial year 2019-20 (FY20), Tata Motors said in a presentation last week. Tata Motors had around 1410 outlets at the end of FY23. A company dealer said it is the first time since 2012 that Tata dealers have seen such a good balance sheet. A consistent rise in sales volumes based on a year-on-year basis has led to a rise in profits for its deals. From 2012-13 to 2022-23, car and sales volumes have risen by more than 2.3 times. From 229,325 units in FY13, PV sales at Tata Motors have risen to 538,640 units in FY23. Along with volume increase, the firms focus on the profitability of its retail partners and higher contribution of models to the overall sales mix has assisted dealers in increasing their profit margins, said the dealers. The company's improved margins, target-driven incentives, focus on retail, and initiatives to improve sales manpower productivity also contributed to its success. Tata Motors' diversification into multiple electrified models, which are priced on average Rs 3-3.5 lakh higher than traditional internal combustion engine models, has increased the profit margins of its dealer partners. Also Read Tata Motors Q3 preview: What to expect from auto major's quarterly results? Tata Motors domestic sales fall 4% in April, passenger vehicle sales up 13% Tata Motors: Solid volumes, ASP may aid Q4 profit, margin expansion CNG cars could account for 25% of industry by end of decade: Tata Motors MD Tata launches Nexon EV MAX XM at Rs 16.49 lakh; to hit market by April 2023 Hyundai to utilise $5.9 bn in overseas operations' money for EV investments Maruti to launch its own alternate for Innova in collaboration with Toyota Hero MotoCorp launches its popular motorcycle Passion+ at Rs 76,301 Struggling BMW blames supply-chain issues even as luxury car sales flourish The cheapest Citroen becomes costlier by up to Rs 17,500; check details Typically, dealers are required to contribute to the cost of consumer schemes launched by the company. Tata Motors has reduced the amount that dealers are required to contribute to such schemes to a very small amount, around a quarter of a per cent. This is helping dealers to maintain their profit margins, the report said. The share of service in a Tata dealer's income is only 25 per cent, because most of the company's models are new and within warranty. This is much lower than the share of service in the income of dealers of Maruti and other manufacturers, who have many decade-old models in their portfolios. Tata Motors has been more generous than its peers in its annual bonus payouts. It pays an average of Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,200 per car, compared to the industry norm of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Dealer confidence is also high, as they expect the car market to continue its growth momentum from previous years in the current financial year. French Carmaker Citroen has announced a price hike of up to Rs 17,500 for its hatchback C3 from July 1. The price hikes are different for different variants. At present, the C3 sells at a starting price of Rs 6.16 lakh, while the range-topping variant costs Rs 8.92 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. This is the third price hike for the C3 hatchback this year, whose prices have been increased four times since it was launched, Zigwheels reported. So far, the details of variant-wise price hikes have not been shared. The same is likely to be shared on July 1. Last month in May, Citroen launched a new top-end variant of the C3 at a starting price of Rs 8.28 lakhs. The updated variant was launched with additional safety features and a new top-end Shine trim. The new top-end variant comes with a rear washer and viper, 15-inch alloy wheels and a parking camera. Citroen C3 now includes features like electrically adjustable ORVMs, a rear wash and wiper, a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, manual AC, a rear parking camera, and a rear defogger as well. Safety features include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill-hold assist, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The C3 comes with two engine options, naturally aspirated (NA) and a turbo-petrol. The NA produces 82 hp which is comparable with other cars in the segment but the turbo petrol produces a 110 hp and 190 Nm of torque, making it the best in the segment. The NA comes with a five-speed manual, whereas the turbo-petrol is mated with a six-speed manual gearbox. So far, C3 does not come with the convenience of an automatic, there is no diesel on offer either. Also Read French carmaker Citroen to launch C3 Aircross later this year: Details here Tata Motors Q3 preview: What to expect from auto major's quarterly results? As VW prepares to launch ID.4 in India, a look at world's best-selling EVs Tata Motors: Solid volumes, ASP may aid Q4 profit, margin expansion Tata Motors domestic sales fall 4% in April, passenger vehicle sales up 13% No brakes on M&M's open bookings, even as capacity addition in top gear Maruti launches Alto K10 based Tour H1 for commercial segment at Rs 4.8L Better roads, travel bug, flexible workspace drive up lifestyle SUV segment Brokerages put medal to metal on Tata Motors stock, maintain bullish stance FAME-II subsidy block: SMEV reaches out to govt for Rs 3K-crore rehab fund Launched at a competitive price of Rs 5.71 lakh for its base model, Citroen positioned C3 as a mass-market car. True to Citroen's DNA, C3 provides a smooth ride and takes small potholes and undulations within its stride in an effortless manner. However, Citroen appears to be struggling with the small network of dealerships and service centres. Moreover, in a bid to keep the prices low, Citroen has left no stone unturned in cutting costs. The cost-cutting measures are obvious with flap-type door handles and the lack of features on offer. The controls of the rear windows are also oddly placed near the gearbox. A hacking group called 'Pink Drainer' has been impersonating journalists in phishing attacks in order to compromise Discord and Twitter accounts and steal cryptocurrency. According to anti-scam platform ScamSniffer analysts, Pink Drainer was able to compromise the accounts of 1,932 victims and steal about $3 million in digital assets on the Mainnet, Arbitrum, BNB, Polygon, Optimism, and other blockchains. The threat actor was captured by ScamSniffer's on-chain monitoring bots after stealing $3,27,000 in NFTs from a single person, reports BleepingComputer. Recent targets are believed to include OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, American DJ Steve Aoki, and Starknet, among others. Moreover, the report showed that the hacking group compromises accounts through social engineering, in which threat actors impersonate journalists from popular media outlets such as Cointelegraph and Decrypt to conduct phoney interviews with victims. After gaining the trust of their victims, threat actors inform them that they must perform a KYC (know your customer) validation to prove their identity, directing them to websites used to steal Discord authentication tokens. Also Read Crypto industry wants 0.1% TDS, Sebi-like regulator in Budget 2023 Crypto wrap: Market trading flat amid regulatory crackdown on Binance Crypto wrap: Market remained in green despite rate hikes by Fed, BoE Crypto market cracks 5%, Bitcoin at 3-month low after US SEC sues Binance Cryptocurrency in 2022: What it was, what it is, and what to expect in 2023 US securities watchdog declares all-out war against crypto, files 130 cases RBI averse to crypto but is all set to float CBDC; FinMin weighs options 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 These sites impersonate malicious bots, such as the Carl verification bot, and instruct users to add bookmarks containing malicious JavaScript code by dragging them to a "Drag Me" button on the malicious page. By intercepting the two-factor authentication code or stealing Discord tokens, attackers are able to hijack accounts without knowing users' credentials or having access to two-factor authentication codes, the report said. To gain complete control of the account, the attackers installed themselves as administrators and removed all other administrators, allowing them to steal digital assets and sensitive information without being interrupted. Meanwhile, Atomic Wallet, a mobile and desktop crypto wallet allowing users to store various cryptocurrencies, has experienced a security breach and lost over $35 million in crypto assets since June 2. ZachXBT, an on-chain investigator, has been collecting transactions of funds stolen from Atomic Wallet victims and claimed that over $35 million in cryptocurrency has been stolen as a result of this compromise. --IANS shs/shb/ Also Read PTC Industries hits 10% upper circuit as arm wins Safran Aircraft order ICRA downgrades PTC Financial Services short-term rating over operations Bank stocks can slide more; stay away for now: Analysts No SVB-like scenario in India; banks are on a strong footing, say analysts Stocks to watch: Adani Ports, NMDC, HDFC Life, Apollo Hospitals, PTC Inds Go Fashion slips 5% after over 10% equity change hands on NSE Nifty, Nifty Bank eye range-bound moves; here's how to trade them Stocks to Watch today, June 12: SpiceJet, IOC, Go Fashion, BoI, Concor Stock Market Live: Sensex gives up gains, turns flat; Infy, HCL Tech up 1% Street signs: Mkts turn skittish near new highs, Index fund inflows & more Shares of PTC Industries (PTC) were locked in the upper circuit of 20 per cent, hitting a 52-week high of Rs 3,672.80 on the BSE on Monday at 09:53 am, on healthy outlook. In the past three weeks, the stock has zoomed 56 per cent after the company reported stellar financial results for the quarter ended March 2023 (Q4FY23).PTC is one of the world's leading suppliers of high-precision metal components for critical and super-critical operations across a wide range of segments including Aerospace, Defence, and Industrial.The Company has invested in well-integrated manufacturing units having manufacturing facilities in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. In addition, an expansion is underway at the recently acquired 50 acres of land by its subsidiary Aerolloy Technologies Limited (ATL) located in the Lucknow node of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor next to the Brahmos facility.Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has granted approval to Aerolloy Technologies (ATL) as a supplier of cast components for Aerospace applications. This is the first time that IAI is sourcing such cast components from India.Throughout the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), ATL signed numerous MoUs and secured development orders from prominent players in the defence and aerospace industry worldwide, emphasizing its outstanding capabilities and cutting-edge technologies. The Indian government's Make-in-India initiative and push for defence exports will continue to define the company's opportunity environment, the company said.Meanwhile, for Q4FY23, PTC's profit after tax nearly doubled to Rs 9.20 crore from Rs 4.62 crore in Q4FY22. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) margin improved 390 bps to 30.2 per cent from 26.3 per cent in the year-ago quarter. Total income grew 19 per cent year-on-year to Rs 62.69 crore from Rs 1.90 crore. Indian political observers are in a tizzy over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's reported meeting with the US assistant secretary of state for South Asia, Donald Lou, and his unconfirmed visit to the White House. Lou, after all, was accused by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan of playing a central role in an alleged US-backed conspiracy to oust his government in April 2022. What would normally be courtesy calls are being imbued with sinister motives as they come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US from July 21 to 24. The ruling party's spokespersons and pro Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday accused the AAP government of acting against Constitution for not responding to his letters, asserting that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is bound to reply to the Raj Bhavan. Hours after Purohit's remarks, Mann posted a video of the governor's address on his Twitter handle to stress that Purohit has stopped referring to the AAP-led state government as "my government" at the instance of the opposition party in the House on March 3. Mann asked the governor to explain why he had "failed" to discharge his constitutional duty by not using the word "my government" during his address. The chief minister said it is unfortunate that "in the present Central regime, selected ones are unnecessarily peeping into the affairs of the elected ones". Undue hiccups are being raised to derail the smooth functioning of the state government, alleged Mann in a statement. The "gubernatorial" Raj Bhavans are now acting as the state headquarters of the BJP which is a very dangerous trend for Indian democracy, the Aam Aadmi Party leader alleged. Also Read CBI acting lawfully, AAP does not believe in Constitution, says BJP 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Russia offers floating nuclear power plants tech to friendly nations AAP misleading people, has no faith in Constitution, alleges Delhi BJP Punjab govt won't hesitate in taking tough decisions: Kejriwal on Amritpal Allotted 150 acres for AIIMS but Centre rejected it, says Nitish Kumar Ahead of polls, Rajasthan govt gears up to publicise its welfare schemes 'Defamatory' remarks against PM: HC extends relief to Rahul till Aug 2 Priyanka kickstarts MP campaign with 5 promises that delivered victory West Bengal election panel may extend rural poll nomination date by day Earlier, speaking to reporters here, Purohit said the Mann government has not replied to his letters even after the Supreme Court's directions in this regard. "Not even a single reply to my 10 letters has been given, they are acting against Constitution," said Purohit. Referring to the Supreme Court order, the governor said as per the apex court, the state government is bound to furnish information as sought by the governor. "You know what the direction of the Supreme Court is. The SC said it is 101 per cent obligatory for the chief minister to give a reply to whatever the governor has asked. It is written in clear words (in the order)," asserted Purohit. The governor recalled that when he had sought information on some issues, the CM had said that his government was only answerable to 3 crores 'Punjabis'. In February, a row erupted between the governor and the AAP government after the former had sought certain details, including the process of selecting 36 government school principals for a training seminar in Singapore. Later, the AAP government moved to SC after accusing the governor of "refusing" to summon the assembly session. When asked that CM Mann had claimed that the Governor had refused to refer to the state government as "my government" in his address in the assembly in March, Purohit said he has no hesitation in calling the AAP-led state government, "my government". "I am the governor. All the orders are issued in my name. Why will I not say so? I have no reservation. Not only once, I say it 50 times, it is my government," he said. Later, the CM posted the video on his Twitter handle and said initially, the governor had referred to the state government as "my government" in his address. "But at the instance of the opposition, the governor started saying government only. When I told you about the Supreme Court decision that whatever is written that has to be stated, then you started saying 'my government'," said Mann in his tweet. Replying to a question on the special session called by the Punjab government on June 19 and 20, Purohit said he will give his permission, adding, "I have no problem". West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari has slammed the nomination filing procedure for the upcoming panchayat polls in the state and said that "corruption has become the major motive in Bengal." Speaking on the violence during the filing of nomination for the Panchayat elections, LoP Adhikari said, "Earlier everything was done in due procedure and time. But for the first time this year, this (nomination filing) is being done in such haste. Even the BDO Office doesn't have any idea. There was no DCR, no form. The Panchayat election process is being undertaken in such secrecy. What is the motive behind it? There can only be one motive. Corruption has become one major motive in Bengal." He further claimed that the people of Bengal have already made up their minds regarding whom to vote in the elections. "So the people of Bengal have made up their minds, it is to defeat these thieves in all the constituencies...", he said. Earlier on Sunday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista said that the deployment of central forces is necessary to conduct free and fair panchayat elections in West Bengal scheduled to be held on July 8. Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista said that BJP, Congress and some other parties are demanding the deployment of central forces. Also Read Won't answer to legal notice from non-existent 'TMC': Suvendu Adhikari Panchayat polls: Suvendu Adhikari approaches SC against Calcutta HC order TMC, BJP exchange barbs over Odisha's Balasore triple train accident Derecognise Trinamool Congress as national party: Suvendu Adhikari to EC Trinamool Congress, BJP exchange barbs on Nandigram anniversary Priyanka performs 'puja' in MP's Jabalpur, BJP calls her 'chunavi Hindu' Nadda's rally in Tripura on June 17 to mark beginning of LS poll campaign Nadda, Shah to address rallies in UP's Shravasti and Bijnor on June 27, 29 Priyanka Gandhi to kick-start Cong's MP poll campaign with Jabalpur rally Should the BJP worry about Rahul Gandhi meeting US officials? While addressing a press conference, BJP MP Raju Bista said,"We have requested central forces. We have made a request to the centre regarding that. Congress is also demanding, the High Court should also take note of this if we want free and fair elections then it is necessary. "The State Election Commission called an all-party meeting on June 13 to discuss the Panchayat elections in West Bengal. The panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held on July 8 and votes will be counted on July 11, the State Election Commission said. Earlier the West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday alleged 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. 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. BJP national President J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah will be addressing rallies in Shravasti and Bijnor on June 27 and 29, respectively, as part of the party's 'Mahasampark Abhiyan', marking the completion of nine-year rule of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Incidentally, the BJP lost both Shravasti and Bijnor to BSP's Ram Shiromani Verma and Malook Nagar, respectively in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, so far, has been organising its rallies in parliamentary seats won by its leaders -- Gautam Buddha Nagar, Firozabad, Misrikh, Gonda, Lucknow, Bahraich, Etah, Lakhimpur Kheri and Kaiserganj. Party sources said that the plan to organise rallies of Shah and Nadda during the ongoing campaign will potentially set the tone for the BJP campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. UP BJP state general secretary, Sanjay Rai said that Nadda and Shah's rallies have been tentatively lined up. Also Read Will contest 2024 polls from Kaiserganj, announces WFI chief Brij Bhushan BJP President Nadda to visit Odisha tomorrow, to address 2 public meetings BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls BJP meeting likely next month in Delhi to endorse extension of Nadda's term J P Nadda's tenure as BJP president extends till June 2024 amid elections Priyanka Gandhi to kick-start Cong's MP poll campaign with Jabalpur rally Should the BJP worry about Rahul Gandhi meeting US officials? Delhi L-G office slams Saurabh Bhardwaj over remarks on Yamuna's cleaning 'Strange' that L-G takes credit for Yamuna's improvement: Saurabh Bhardwaj Five states will go to the polls in 2023-24 ahead of the general elections "A final nod is expected from the party high command soon," he said. The BJP move to pitch Shah and Nadda in Uttar Pradesh attains significance against the backdrop of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav stepping up his party's campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Akhilesh, in fact, has been resorting to aggressive positioning while accusing the BJP dispensation in Uttar Pradesh for failing to curtail the law-and-order crisis. Rai said that the BJP has also been organising social media dialogue, conventions for the socially enlightened class, trader conference, senior worker meeting, tiffin meetings. These are apart from the rallies which the BJP has been organising in the Lok Sabha constituencies of its MPs. Choudhary said that the country has witnessed an all-round development with special emphasis on poor and deprived sections. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the 'old pattern' and made the schemes of the government poor-centric. "The leakage prevailing in the system was stopped and corruption was curbed. Today, the blessings and strong support of the people of the country is giving Modi the power to work continuously," he said. He said once again the achievements of the Modi government have to be taken to the public through a mass contact relations campaign. "Public's involvement with the programmes and the enthusiasm of the workers were telling signs that the BJP was poised to win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP," he said. --IANS amita/dpb Congress national General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is on a day-long visit to the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Monday, performed 'puja' at the banks of the Narmada river in Jabalpur, evoking a strong response from the BJP, which called her "chunavi Hindu". Priyanka was welcomed by the party's state unit chief, Kamal Nath and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha at the Jabalpur airport, where from the convoy drove towards the Gwarighat on river Narmada. The ruling BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress leaders and called them 'chunavi Hindus'. Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said she was sharing the dais with Congress leaders who make 'defamatory' remarks on women. "She (Priyanka) should have chosen another city instead of Sanskardhani (Jabalpur) of Madhya Pradesh. She should know that she is sharing stage with those who have made defamatory statements on women," Mishra said, adding that "Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is an 'chunavi' Hindu, who remembers temples, Ganga and Narmada Maiya only at the time of elections. The people of the state understand this hypocrisy of the Congress very well." Mishra also took a jibe at Priyanka and said that she had taken a dip in holy Ganga during Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and the party had won a total of four seats, and a similar result would be in Madhya Pradesh also. After the prayers on the bank of river Narmada, Priyanka will participate in mega road show in Jabalpur and later will address a gathering of party leaders and workers to mark the beginning of party's campaign for the Assembly elections due later this year.A Also Read Priyanka Gandhi to kick-start Congress' MP poll campaign on Monday Priyanka Gandhi to sound Cong poll bugle in MP next month: Party leader Karnataka Congress gears up for Priyanka Gandhi's Bengaluru convention Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit K'taka on Tuesday ahead of assembly polls They are stealing democracy: Priyanka Gandhi's jibe at BJP in Karnataka Nadda's rally in Tripura on June 17 to mark beginning of LS poll campaign Nadda, Shah to address rallies in UP's Shravasti and Bijnor on June 27, 29 Priyanka Gandhi to kick-start Cong's MP poll campaign with Jabalpur rally Should the BJP worry about Rahul Gandhi meeting US officials? Delhi L-G office slams Saurabh Bhardwaj over remarks on Yamuna's cleaning --IANS pd/dpb Since 2002, the 12th of June has been designated as World Day Against Child Labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO) established this significant day, and since then, all nations that are members of the United Nations have celebrated it. World Day Against Child Labor is a call to action that encourages individuals, groups, and governments to take decisive action against child labour and raise awareness of its negative effects. It serves as a reminder of working together to eradicate child labour and improve children's futures all over the world. World Day Against Child Labour 2023: Theme The "Week of Action against Child Labor" will be the primary theme of the 2023 World Day Against Child Labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO) intends to launch a campaign that will last for a week and aims to educate the public about the wrongdoings of child labor and motivate people to actively oppose it. The point is to energize collective activity and prepare efforts to battle child labour, emphasizing the significance of making a reality where youngsters are secured, educated and offered the chance to flourish. World Day Against Child Labour 2023: History Because it robs children of their innocence and childhood, child labour continues to be a major cause for concern, particularly in developing and underdeveloped nations. In 2002, the International Labor Organization (ILO) established June 12 as the World Day Against Child Labor to draw attention to this issue. The United Nations declared 2021 the International Year to End Child Labor in recognition of its significance. The goal of this campaign is to raise public awareness and coordinate global efforts to end child labour. Also Read International Labour Day: Celebrations, history, and all you need to know Labour Day 2023: History, Evolvement, Importance, Celebration of day Top CEOs got an average hike of 9% in 2022, workers' wages fell 3%: Oxfam World Milk Day 2023: Date, Theme, History, Everything you need to Know World environment day 2023: History, Theme, Importance, Celebration World Oceans Day 2023: Theme, History, Significance, How To Celebrate National Best Friends Day: History, Importance and Ways to Celebrate World Brain Tumor Day 2023: Theme, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment World Food Safety Day 2023: History, Importance, All you need to know Gufi Paintal, best known as Shakuni Mama in Mahabharat, passes away World Day Against Child Labour 2023: Importance In its efforts to end child labour worldwide, the World Day Against Child Labor holds great significance. This event, which takes place on June 12 each year serves as a powerful reminder that many children still live in exploitative and dangerous work environments. In addition to violating children's rights, child labor also hinders their development, well-being, and access to education. The event aims to mobilize efforts to end child labor and raise awareness of this issue. World Day Against Child Labour 2023: Quotes 1. Some girls cannot go to school because of child labour and child trafficking.": Malala Yousafzai 2. "There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. I always help in any way I can, even if it's just by signing an autograph. A child's smile is worth more than all the money in the world": Lionel Messi 3. "You can't regulate child labour. You can't regulate slavery. Some things are just wrong": Michael Moore. By Tim Culpan Apple Inc.s Vision Pro headset is an overpriced laggard with no proven market and a decade of history to show why it should fail. Which is precisely the reason its entry into the virtual-reality sector could ignite a boom among rivals fighting to improve their own devices using cheaper components and new technologies. Its rare that Apple is first to market on anything. We know it wasnt the premier laptop maker, was late to the MP3 business, and certainly didnt invent the smartphone. Yet in each case, the Cupertino-based company brought out what it envisioned was the best version of a device, one that focused heavily on user experience and needs. A key feature of its new-product strategy is to not get trapped by technological barriers, and instead plow ahead confident in the belief they can be overcome. And if not, Apple leaders have rarely been shy to pull a product or re-engineer to ensure the user experience remains the top priority. One famous example is Steve Jobss dissatisfaction with the iPhone screen mere months before launch. It was originally to be made of plastic, but a few weeks with a demo device in his pocket jangling with a set of keys revealed how easy it was to scratch. He got to work rebuilding the device around a glass panel instead. When the company suddenly switched materials its suppliers were crucial to solving the problem. Apple doesnt assemble its own products, but it does work very closely with vendors to create new chemicals, develop innovative technologies and engineer production processes. This approach means Apple has historically blazed a path forward in hardware and materials that allowed the rest of the sector to ride its coattails. Its common for suppliers to quietly tout their famous client as proof of technical prowess. Apples Powerbook G4, released 20 years ago, introduced a metal shell to the laptop market when most competitors were still using plastic. But these new materials required a whole new approach to manufacturing. So Apple worked closely with its Taiwanese supplier to develop a laser welding technique for assembling these cases. The result was a groundbreaking approach that, while initially challenging, taught the industry a new way to envision and build laptops. Within a few years, others followed, including brands such as Google, Dell, HP and Huawei. Not long after, the iPhone appeared on Apples radar. From the outset, Jobs knew that he needed to do away with a keyboard like that sported by the BlackBerry and go with a touch interface. At the time, one of the most common techniques was to lay two thin plastic sheets close to each other, but not touching. A finger press pushed one against the other, completing a circuit and identifying the location of the touch. It was slow, unresponsive and flimsy. But Taipei-based startup TPK Holding Co. had a better approach. It used a single layer that sensed changes in electrical current caused by a finger press. This new technology was far better than anything else available, but had not yet been perfected and as a result manufacturing capacity was still lacking. Two other case studies show just how influential the US company is in clearing the way for rivals to enjoy easy access to world-changing technology.Apples Powerbook G4, released 20 years ago, introduced a metal shell to the laptop market when most competitors were still using plastic. But these new materials required a whole new approach to manufacturing. So Apple worked closely with its Taiwanese supplier to develop a laser welding technique for assembling these cases. The result was a groundbreaking approach that, while initially challenging, taught the industry a new way to envision and build laptops. Within a few years, others followed, including brands such as Google, Dell, HP and Huawei.Not long after, the iPhone appeared on Apples radar. From the outset, Jobs knew that he needed to do away with a keyboard like that sported by the BlackBerry and go with a touch interface. At the time, one of the most common techniques was to lay two thin plastic sheets close to each other, but not touching. A finger press pushed one against the other, completing a circuit and identifying the location of the touch. It was slow, unresponsive and flimsy. Also Read WWDC23 highlights: Apple Vision Pro, platform updates, Macs, more announced WWDC 2023: MacBook Air 15 to MR headset, what to expect from Apple event Apple's pricey new Vision Pro headset is not something to be dismissed Apple WWDC23 to kick off with keynote on June 5: Here is event schedule Sony launches WH-CH520 on-ear wireless headphones in India at Rs 4,490 Sony launches HT-S2000 5.1 channel Dolby Atmos sound bar: Price, features LG to launch 13th Gen Intel Core-powered Gram series laptops on June 14 Realme 11 Pro series smartphones launched in India: Price, specs, unboxing Intel announces Arc Pro A60 and Pro A60M GPUs with up to 12GB video memory Open sales for OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey announced: Details here Rivals, including HTC Corp., Nokia Oyj and Research in Motion Ltd. soon got wind of this superior solution and started using it in their own devices. Within five years, TPKs sales to non-Apple clients had climbed 10-fold and surpassed that to the iPhone maker. We can expect a similar story to play out with with Vision Pro, which might best be called a mixed-reality device because it combines real and virtual worlds. HTC, Meta Platforms Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are among the companies that, until now, believed they had the best VR products. But Apple has put them back in their places. Some of this is because of the ecosystem that allows the new headset to play nicely with iPhones, iPads, AirPods and Macs. Apple has been working hard to develop its own displays for at least eight years and says it filed more than 5,000 patents related to the Vision Pro alone. This means that a lot of the technologies deployed in the device will be exclusive. But not all of them many may not even be owned by the company. Equally important for both Apple and its rivals is the $3,499 price tag that prohibits it from becoming a mass-market device, but gives a lot of room for cost shrinkage. Over time, components will get cheaper and production volume will escalate as vendors become more efficient at manufacturing. As happened for metal laptop cases and touch screens, the benefits will be shared across the entire supply chain. With Apple giving rivals a template for how a mixed-reality headset should work, and by providing vendors a guide for making the parts required, the entire industry will get the kind of boost not seen since Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone. Disclaimer: This is a Bloomberg Opinion piece, and these are the personal opinions of the writer. They do not reflect the views of www.business-standard.com or the Business Standard newspaper But a major reason the Vision Pro is widely regarded as the best, after just a few days of its highly controlled demonstration to the word, is because Apple clearly spent a lot of time and money perfecting the underlying technology. This includes the "singular piece of three-dimensionally formed laminated glass" which acts as the lens, alongside a suite of advanced sensors, as well as the miniature high-quality micro-OLED screens. The online searches for Mixed Reality (MR) skyrocketed 1,130 per cent globally on Google after Apple unveiled its MR headset Vision Pro last week, a report showed on Monday. Analysis of Google search data revealed that online interest for 'VR' rocketed 300 per cent on June 5 as Apple unveiled its new $3,499 MR headset at the Worldwide Developers Conference in California, the US, according to Digital-adoption.com. Searches for 'VR,' 'mixed reality,' and 'augmented reality' soared 300 per cent, 1,130 per cent, and 545 per cent after Apple announced its Vision Pro headset. "There has been a massive surge in AI interest this year. Apple's announcement of Vision Pro has captured audiences at the right time, when new AI technologies, like ChatGPT, have become accessible to almost anyone," a spokesperson from Digital-adoption.com commented. Also Read Apple's mixed reality headset may feature high-end screens: Report Apple's upcoming AR-MR headset may enter mass production in October Apple's upcoming MR headset may feature health, wellness experiences Mass shipment of Apple AR headsets to delay further this year, says analyst Apple may not bring major changes with iOS 17, shifts focus to AR headset Global cellular IoT connections to surpass 6 billion by 2030: Report Over 60k Android apps secretly installing adware for last 6 months Windows 11 gets new app privacy settings, glanceable VPN feature & more AI may help predict cybersickness in VR users to make tech more accessible Data breach: Personal data of Covid vaccine recipients leaked on Telegram Apple's announcement comes when online interest in AI, or artificial intelligence, is at its highest point in history. Google Trends data revealed a 619 per cent increase in 'AI' searches since 2004. This year has been a breakout year for AI, as search volume has more than doubled from 17 million in January to 42 million in May. This is partly due to the rapid growth and adoption of accessible technologies like ChatGPT and Google Bard, the report said. The new technology is described as a step in the "era of spatial computing," where "digital content blends seamlessly with your physical space." Apple's announcement has also caused spikes in users searching to 'Buy Apple stock,' which increased 1,482 per cent worldwide in the last seven days, the report said. With two ultra-high-resolution displays, Apple Vision Pro can transform any space into a personal movie theater with a screen that feels 100 feet wide and an advanced Spatial Audio system, according to the company. Apple Vision Pro also features EyeSight, that helps users stay connected with those around them. When a person approaches someone wearing Vision Pro, the device feels transparent -- letting the user see them while also displaying the user's eyes. --IANS na/ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his optimism that Pakistan, which has fulfilled "all the preconditions" of the IMF, will still be able to sign a staff-level agreement with the global lender to revive the stalled bailout programme for the cash-strapped country. Sharif's remarks came as many believe that Pakistan's chances for the revival of the current USD 6.5 billion IMF programme have almost diminished before it expires on June 30. Out of the USD 6.5 billion package, the IMF has not yet disbursed $2.6 billion to Pakistan. Addressing a ceremony here on Sunday, Sharif still appeared optimistic about that deal with the global lender and while referring to the government's plan B, said, If the agreement with the IMF is (further) delayed, then I will address you. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) signed a deal in 2019 to provide USD 6 billion to Pakistan on fulfilment of certain conditions. The plan was derailed several times and the full reimbursement is still pending due to insistence by the donor that Pakistan should complete all formalities. Pakistan has fulfilled all the preconditions and is hopeful that the agreement with the IMF will be signed during the current month, Sharif said. Also Read Pakistan PM Shehbaz ready to sacrifice political capital at IMF altar Pakistan has 'no other option' except implementing IMF deal, says Pak PM $30 billion loss to Pakistan due to floods, rains: PM Shehbaz Sharif IMF delegation to visit Pakistan next week for talks on review: Official Pakistan set to bow to IMF's demands as forex reserves drop to $3.08 bn Ukraine claims recapture of 4th village in eastern Donetsk, says officials Israel's former prime minister testifies at Netanyahu's corruption trial Shooting at California teen's birthday party leaves 1 dead, 6 wounded Samsung ex-exec tried to set up semiconductor plant in China. It was a copy Cyclone Biparjoy: Pakistan begin evacuation of low-lying coastal areas There is no need to be nervous... We have met all conditions of the IMF, removing obstacles in finalising an agreement with it, he said but added a note of hope that he had talked with the IMF chief who assured that the agreement will be signed this month. He also said that "no hurdle is now left" in signing of a staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF. If the IMF agreement is delayed, I will appeal to the people of Pakistan, he added, without elaborating. The Ukrainian government said that the army has regained three frontline villages in the separatist Donetsk region, marking one of the first victories in Kiev's counter-offensive against Russia, the media reported on Monday. Footage on social media showed Ukrainian troops celebrating in the neighbouring settlements of Blahodatne and Neskuchne, reports the BBC. In footage shared by pro-Ukrainian accounts on social media, troops could be seen raising the Ukrainian flag outside a burned out building in Blahodatne. The state border guard also published videos showing soldiers announcing that "Neskuchne of the Donetsk region is under the Ukrainian flag again", before shouting the now standard battle cry of "Glory to Ukraine". Meanwhile in a Telegram post, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar claimed that the army had also seized the village of Makarivka. Maliar also said "troops continue offensive actions" around the eastern city of Bakhmut, CNN reported. Also Read Russia says it thwarted attack in Donetsk; unclear on Kyiv counteroffensive Ukraine Conflict:11 killed from Russian missile strike in Sloviansk Russian missile strike in Ukraine's Sloviansk claims at least 8 lives Ukraine launches largest attack on Donetsk in years, says report Punish commanders: Russian fury grows over deadly strike in Donetsk One dead, several wounded in shooting at Maryland home, says police First shipment of discounted Russian crude oil arrives in Karachi: Pak PM Trump allies cite Clinton email probe to attack classified records case China to crack down on file sharing amid national security concerns: Report Bus carrying wedding guests in Australia rolls over; 10 killed, 25 injured Ukrainian forces were making progress around the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut, and on two fronts south of the city, in one case advancing as much as 1,500 meters (around a mile), according to the Deputy Defence Minister. Earlier Sunday, other Ukrainian officials reported similar progress to the northwest and southwest of the city. Russia is yet to comment on Ukraine's claim of recapturing the three villages. The start of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday after months of speculation. The three villages would be the first liberated since his comments, but not the first that Ukraine has recaptured since June 5, when pockets of its forces began to advance in the country's south. --IANS ksk/ US billionaire philanthropist George Soros has handed over the reins of his $25 billion financial and charitable empire to his son Alex, saying the latter had "earned it", the media reported. Alex, a 37-year-old who studied history at New York University and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, is the second-youngest of the 92-year-old Hungarian-born financier's five children, reports the BBC. Alex is the only family member sitting on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, which according to The Wall Street Journal says is managing the $25 billion for the family and the charitable foundation. He took over at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) as chairman in December 2022 and is also in charge of his father's "super PAC" -- a US mechanism to direct funds to political parties. In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, George Soros, whose personal fortune is valued at $6.7 billion, said his son had "earned it". George Soros is also one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party, and Alex while speaking to the Journal, said he was "more political" than his father and that he would campaign against Donald Trump's attempt to run for a second term as US President, the BBC reported. Also Read Adani crisis: BJP hits back at billionaire investor George Soros Billionaire George Soros old, rich, opinionated and dangerous: Jaishankar Adani's crisis to spark democratic revival in India, says George Soros P Chidambaram slams George Soros over 'revival of democracy' remark Musk hits out at Soros after billionaire sells his entire Tesla stake Kim Jong-un voices willingness to build stronger strategic ties with Russia Ukraine dam collapse is both quick disaster and lax ecological catastrophe Army regains 3 villages in separatist Donetsk region, says Ukrainian govt One dead, several wounded in shooting at Maryland home, says police First shipment of discounted Russian crude oil arrives in Karachi: Pak PM "We are going to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad," said Alexander. "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." He said the Open Society Foundations would pursue the same aims it had under his father including free speech, criminal justice reform, minority and refugee rights and backing liberal politicians. But he also wants to include voting rights, abortion and gender equity initiatives while pursuing a more domestic US-focused agenda. "With my background, there are a lot of ways I could have gone astray," the Guardian quoted Alex as saying to The Journal. "Instead I became a workaholic, and my life is my work." George Soros has married three times and has five children: Alex, Andrea, Gregory, Robert and Jonathan. --IANS ksk/ The last Indian journalist in China has been asked to leave, as Beijing and New Delhi eject each others reporters in a tit-for-tat row deepening a rift between the Asian economic powerhouses. Chinese authorities have instructed the Press Trust of India reporter to leave the country this month, according to a person familiar with the matter. His departure will wipe Indias media presence from the worlds second largest economy at a moment of deteriorating ties. Indian media outlets had four reporters based in China earlier this year. The Hindustan Times reporter left over the weekend, while two Indian journalists from public broadcaster Prasar Bharati and The Hindu newspaper were denied visa renewals in China in April. Chinas foreign ministry and Indias Ministry of External Affairs did not reply to requests for comment. Last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said there was one Chinese journalist left in India, who was still awaiting renewal of their visa. Earlier, New Delhi rejected visa renewal applications from two journalists from Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. Indias Foreign Ministry said earlier this month that Chinese reporters had been operating in the South Asian country without any difficulty, but this was not the case for Indian journalists in China. Both countries were in touch over the issue, it added. Also Read Asian Paints slips 3% after Q3FY23 result misses street estimates Indian journalist Rana Ayyub receives support from US Senator Patrick Leahy Journalist Siddique Kappan walks out of UP jail on bail after over 2 years If journalism falters, democracy will collapse: Justice Srikrishna Journalist Siddique Kappan gets bail after 26 months by Allahabad HC Billionaire George Soros hands over reins of $25 bn empire to son, Alex Kim Jong-un voices willingness to build stronger strategic ties with Russia Ukraine dam collapse is both quick disaster and lax ecological catastrophe Army regains 3 villages in separatist Donetsk region, says Ukrainian govt One dead, several wounded in shooting at Maryland home, says police The visa spat started a few months ago over Indian journalists hiring assistants in China to help with reporting, according to Indian officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the situation. Beijing imposed measures limiting employment to three individuals at a time who must come from a pool provided by the Chinese authorities, they said. India doesnt have a cap on hiring. Relations between Beijing and New Delhi have been tense since a deadly brawl on their shared Himalayan frontier in 2020. China has since sought to keep that dispute separate from the overall relationship and focus on trade and economic ties, but India has said relations cannot go back to normal until the border issue is resolved. The visa rejections come as India hosts the Group of Twenty and the Chinese-founded Shanghai Cooperation Dialogue meetings this year. Xi is expected to attend the G-20 leaders summit in September as China looks to build its diplomatic and political presence globally. China and the US have also been in a years-long dispute over journalist visas. After the Trump administration designated a handful of Chinese media companies as foreign missions and put caps on the number of Chinese journalists in the country, Beijing responded by revoking press credentials for reporters at US media companies. In 2020, two Australian journalists based in China fled the country as diplomatic tensions worsened between the two nations. The two men were initially banned from leaving and spent five days under consular protection until Australian diplomats could negotiate their departure. That year, Beijing accused Canberra of raiding the homes of Chinese state-media staff and seizing their property. Pakistani authorities have started evacuating people from the low-lying coastal areas in the southern Sindh province as they braced for the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy that continues to gain strength and is likely to cause heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the country. All the authorities concerned have been put on high alert after Biparjoy, which located over the Arabian Sea, turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Sunday. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the cyclone is expected to impact southern and south-eastern parts of Sindh on June 13. The cyclonic system is located at a distance of 690 km south of Karachi, Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Sunday. A top official of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that the authorities had started moving people from the low-lying coastal areas in Sindh to temporary shelters in government schools and offices as the cyclone is expected to make Keti Bandar and its adjoining area as its land-falling point in Pakistan. Keti Bandar is one of the oldest ports in Sindh. Also Read MeT issues 'Yellow' warning for thunderstorm in Assam, neighbouring states Dark clouds, gloomy weather in Delhi; thunderstorms with hail predicted Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms lash parts of Delhi-NCR; traffic woes likely Atmospheric Rivers caused 70% of floods between 1985-2020, says study Mississippi tornadoes kill 23 people, destroy buildings overnight UBS Group completes takeover of Credit Suisse to create bank titan Six injured in Houston nightclub shooting, suspects remain at large Mass shooting in town 30 miles away from US Capitol Hill, 3 dead, 3 injured Hackers impersonate crypto news journalists, steal $3 mn from 1,932 victims EAM flags supply chain disruptions, prolonged debt crisis as key challenges We are expecting the high-intensity winds, heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms and high tides to damage vulnerable structures, so we have started taking precautions and are evacuating the people at least 10 kilometres away from coastal areas, Jahanzaib Khan, the NDMA official, said. The NDMA has also issued directions that all high-rise buildings and mobile towers in Karachi must be lit up by beacon lights and big advertisement boards on poles and buildings should either be strengthened or removed altogether if they pose a threat to passing traffic and the people. In another precautionary measure, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority's airside department has also alerted the relevant officials to ensure the safety of lightweight aircraft and other electrical equipment by taking precautionary measures such as mooring of parked light aircraft or re-parking to a safer place. Sherry Rehman, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, said that the NDMA, with its provincial units, would coordinate with Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Authority, and Pakistan Coast Guards in rescue efforts and ensure the safety of people. "Biparjoy is unpredictable yet categorized as high intensity. Panic is counterproductive, but caution and planning are better than being caught unawares, the minister said. Donald Trump faces charges under the Espionage Act after the FBI found nearly 13,000 government records from the Florida resort where he was staying. Out of these 13,000 records, nearly 100 were marked as secret or top secret. He faces charges of "unauthorised possession" of national defense information. What is the Espionage Act? The Espionage Act dates back to World War 1. It was brought in to counter spying activities and thus criminalises activities that involve mishandling of classified government documents that may include sensitive information which if disclosed can pose a threat to the national security of the United States. The Act has been used previously against suspected Soviet spies. Whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg, and Edward Snowden have been among the previously accused under this Act. How does the Espionage Act apply to Trump? According to the special counsel Jack Smiths indictment, Trump deliberately withheld many documents involving military, nuclear, and intelligence secrets despite knowing that the documents were classified. Also Read Why has Donald Trump been indicted and can he run for 2024 elections? Donald Trump to appear in New York court today: What happens next? "Only crime I've committed...": Trump's first remarks following arraignment TMS Ep402: NCLAT relief to Google, T20 WPL, markets, Trump indictment Former president Donald Trump indictment sets US on uncertain course US chipmaker Broadcom set to win EU nod for $61-billion VMware deal Donald Trump shared a plan to attack 'unnamed nation': Indictment JPMorgan to pay $290 mn to Epstein's victims in class action lawsuit China records its lowest number of marriages amid demographic crisis Consumers lost $330 million to SMS scams in US in 2022, says report Trump however said that he declassified the documents using his authority as the US President. But the Espionage Act does not require any proof of whether the records were classified. The Act makes it criminal to willfully retain classified information and not return it back to the official in charge. The case on Trump is about "unauthorised possession" and not whether the documents were classified or not. Trump is yet to provide any proof to substantiate his claims of declassifying the said documents. People previously charged under the Espionage Act: Elon Musk-owned SpaceX hired a 14 years old software engineer who cleared SpaceX's technically challenging, fun interview process. Kairan Quazi becomes the youngest person to be hired by any spacecraft company. Quazi wrote a LinkedIn post on Thursday, sharing his excitement to join the coolest company on the planet. He's set to join SpaceX as a Software Engineer on the Starlink engineering team. In his LinkedIn post, he also showed gratitude to the company that did not use his age as an arbitrary and outdated proxy for maturity and ability. In a LinkedIn post he shared on Thursday, he also shared his journey where he wrote that his early access to transformational leadership began as a 9 years old. His journey begins when Las Positas College enrolled a third-grade student Kairan Quazi into a full-time mathematics A.S. degree program. After a few months, his career trajectory changed when he walked into a meeting with Lama Nachman at Intel Labs and walked out with a generative AI opportunity. In his LinkedIn post, he also thanked SpaceX for the transparent interview process, he wrote, "A huge thank you to my team at SpaceX for the most transparent, technically challenging, and FUN interview process. Colin Compton, I knew from our first conversation that I found my people. I am packing my rain boots and ready for July!" Also Read Elon Musk credits father for teaching 'physics, engineering & construction' Elon Musk begins second day of China visit after emphasizing ties Tesla chief Elon Musk threatens to sue Microsoft for using data 'illegally' Non-Tech industries to hire over 1 mn tech talent by FY28: TeamLease report SpaceX launches four astronauts from US, Russia, and UAE to space station Biden to host Nato's Stoltenberg as competition to replace him heats up China tells last Indian journalist in country to leave by this month Billionaire George Soros hands over reins of $25 bn empire to son, Alex Kim Jong-un voices willingness to build stronger strategic ties with Russia Ukraine dam collapse is both quick disaster and lax ecological catastrophe Quazi's LinkedIn bio says that his personality is fun, fearless, and driven by an intense intellectual curiosity. Santa Clara University also praised Kairan Quazi as he became the youngest graduate in Santa Clara's 172-years history. Santa Clara University also published a post on LinkedIn, and they further wrote, "During his time at SCU, Kairan actively participated in the Association for Computer Machinery and was a senior senator in the Associated Student Government. The talented 14-year-old also found himself in high demand as a tutor, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after members of the tutoring staff." The 14 years old, through social media, shared his preparation for a major job interview, and after a few months, he shared the screenshot of the job acceptance letter from SpaceX. The next step for Quazi is to move to Washington State with his mother to start work. Israel's opposition leader testified for the prosecution on Monday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption trial in Jerusalem. Yair Lapid, a former prime minister himself and a major Netanyahu rival, is testifying in one of three cases against Netanyahu. The indictment claims Netanyahu used his position of power to further Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan's interests in exhange for gifts, representing a conflict between the premier's public duties and personal friendship. Netanyahu did personal favors for Milchan, including asking US officials to extend Milchan's US resident's permit and extending Israeli regulations exempting Israeli returnees from declaring foreign income, according to the indictment. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, denies claims of wrongdoing, saying he was not acting in Milchan's personal interests and even occasionally acted against them. He says the exchanges of gifts were just friendly gestures. Milchan is expected to testify in the case in a video call from London, where he resides, sometime later this month. Also Read Israel's Netanyahu appoints a Joe Biden critic as new media advisor: Report Israeli governance group asks court to punish PM Netanyahu over legal plan Israel's designated PM Netanyahu says he has successfully formed new govt No, Israel has NOT found two cases of a new variant of coronavirus Israel hits Gaza with rockets as Netanyahu vows to extract 'heavy price' Shooting at California teen's birthday party leaves 1 dead, 6 wounded Samsung ex-exec tried to set up semiconductor plant in China. It was a copy Cyclone Biparjoy: Pakistan begin evacuation of low-lying coastal areas UBS Group completes takeover of Credit Suisse to create bank titan Six injured in Houston nightclub shooting, suspects remain at large Haaretz newspaper has reported that in 2013 Lapid, then finance minister, sought legal advice on the possibility of promoting the legislation that would have benefitted Milchan. Earlier, Lapid had reportedly said he replied, no way, to Netanyahu and Milchan about the prospects for the legislation. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. Critics say that Netanyahu is driven to weaken the courts and change the judicial system as a way to open an escape route from his trial, claims he dismisses as untrue. The corruption charges also have been at the centre of a protracted political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls five times in less than four years each vote essentially a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to rule. After losing power in 2021 to a coalition of opponents, Netanyahu returned as prime minister late last year, despite his legal problems. Under Israeli law, the prime minister has no obligation to step aside while on trial. The trial, which began in May 2020, has featured more than 40 prosecution witnesses, including some of Netanyahu's closest former confidants who turned against the premier. Witness accounts have shed light not only on the three cases but also revealed sensational details about Netanyahu's character and his family's reputation for living off the largesse of taxpayers and wealthy supporters. George Soros, a billionaire philanthropist, has decided to hand over his $25 billion financial and charitable empire to his son, Alexander Soros, according to media reports on Monday, June 12. Alexander (known as Alex) is the second youngest among his five siblings and the only family member who is on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management. According to the Wall Street Journal, this fund manages $25 billion for the charitable foundation and his family. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), George Soros stated that his son had earned the position, making the hedge fund manager go back on his previous claims that he would not make any of his children in charge of his investment and charitable organisations. Who is Alex Soros? Alex Soros was born on September 10, 1985, in New York City, United States. Soros graduated from New York University in 2009 and earned his PhD in history from University of California, Berkeley in 2018. In the same year, he attended the World Economic Forum as one of its 'Young Global Leaders. Also Read Why only George Soros? Expose all "foreign hands" French Open 2023: First time since 2004, Nadal won't play at Roland Garros 360 One Asset Management raises Rs 2,130 cr for latest private credit fund RIL, ITC, HDFC twins lift Sensex 345 pts up; Bank Nifty hits new peak Sensex slips 347 pts on profit-taking, Nifty holds 18,500; RIL, SBI dip 2% Evacuations begin as 'extremely severe' cyclone heads for India, Pakistan Singapore Airlines promotes senior exec involved with AI-Vistara merger Strengthen routine immunisation, focus on unvaccinated children: WHO New Jersey restaurant launches 'Modi ji thali' ahead of PM Modi's US trip We need global cooperation on AI, global AI safety summit soon: Rishi Sunak He served as the deputy chair of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) before taking over as chairman in December 2022. Furthermore, Soros also handles his father's 'super PAC', which is best described as a 'US mechanism to direct funds to political parties by IANS. When his new position was announced, Soros told WSJ that he was more political than his father, who had become a widely controversial figure due to his opinion regarding politics and democracy. The young Soros stated that he would continue to fund left-leaning US political candidates and was concerned about Donald Trumps 2024 campaign for the presidency. He added that while he did not believe that everyone who voted for Trump was racist or otherwise, his organisation would play an important role in the upcoming presidential race. Why is George Soros a controversial figure? George Soros is a Hungarian-American billionaire investor, philanthropist, and political activist. He was born on August 12, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary and is best known for his success as a hedge fund manager and his involvement in financial markets. He founded the Quantum Fund in 1973 and became one of the most successful investors globally. Soros is also recognised for his extensive philanthropic work through his Open Society Foundations. These foundations support various causes, including human rights, education, public health, and democracy. Soros has donated billions of dollars to organisations and initiatives around the world to promote open societies and social justice. Over the years, Soros has been a controversial figure, often targeted by right-wing conspiracy theories and criticism. Some of these conspiracy theories claim that he controls global events or governments through his financial influence. These claims have been widely discredited. Soros has been involved in political activism and has supported various progressive and liberal causes. He has advocated for democracy, human rights, and social justice, particularly in Eastern Europe and countries transitioning from authoritarian regimes. Soros has also been involved in promoting drug policy reform, criminal justice reform, and addressing climate change. At the beginning of February, the 92-year-old hedge fund tycoon had stated that Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fates are linked and stated that Modi was not a democrat . This drew a lot of criticism of Soros from India. The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called Soros an "old, rich, opinionated person sitting in New York, who still thinks that his views should determine how the entire world works." Soros had also previously accused India of trying to take away the citizenship of millions of Muslims. By Shinhye Kang A former Samsung Electronics Co. executive allegedly stole blueprints and designs to try and replicate an entire semiconductor plant in China, Korean prosecutors said, outlining a stunningly ambitious attempt to set up world-class chipmaking capabilities in the worlds No. 2 economy. Prosecutors said in a statement Monday they arrested a 65-year-old accused of stealing trade secrets from 2018 to 2019 to reproduce a chip plant in the northern city of Xian, backed by capital from a Taiwanese company they didnt identify. They didnt name the company the accused stole from, except to call it the worlds biggest memory chipmaker. Its so serious that its difficult to compare it in terms of the scale of the crime and the degree of damage with previous individual semiconductor technology leakage cases, the Suwon District Prosecutors Office in South Korea said in its statement. The case comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington, where the Biden administration has passed legislation and lobbied allies to keep advanced semiconductor capabilities out of the hands of Chinese companies. Xi Jinpings government has argued the US is unfairly trying to hold back Chinas economic development. The case also has the potential to spark tensions between Korea and Taiwan, two of the most important centers for chipmaking and US allies supportive of Washingtons efforts to contain Chinas chip ambitions. Taipei and Seoul are very sensitive to attempts by China to poach chip talent and designs from an industry central to both economies prosperity. Also Read Samsung to unveil 2023 foldables at Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul: Details here Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro: Lightweight laptop lifted by ecosystem benefits Samsung to launch Galaxy S23 smartphone in lime colour: Details here Samsung Galaxy F54 5G review: Feature-packed smartphone in midrange segment Samsung launches Galaxy A14 smartphone in India: Price, specs, and more Cyclone Biparjoy: Pakistan begin evacuation of low-lying coastal areas UBS Group completes takeover of Credit Suisse to create bank titan Six injured in Houston nightclub shooting, suspects remain at large Mass shooting in town 30 miles away from US Capitol Hill, 3 dead, 3 injured Hackers impersonate crypto news journalists, steal $3 mn from 1,932 victims Representatives for Samsung, which dominates the global market for the memory used in smartphones and computers, declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News. Its rare to find cases where companies try to replicate entire chipmaking facilities. Most intellectual property cases over the years have focused on attempts to hire away key engineers, appropriate critical designs or reverse-engineer software and components. The former executive attempted to use the stolen technologies and data to build a copy of a Samsung chip plant 1.5 kilometers away from its existing facility in Xian, prosecutors said. But the Taiwanese company, after promising to invest more than $6 billion in the new facility, failed to deliver on that investment, according to Yonhap. Instead, the executive turned to a group of Chinese investors and started producing trial products from a chip plant in Chengdu, based on the Samsung technology, the news agency reported. The person involved in the latest case worked for Samsung for 18 years before moving to another, unidentified company for about a decade. That person created several chip manufacturing companies in China and Singapore, employing capital from both Chinese and Taiwanese investors, prosecutors said. In the process, the ex-Samsung official hired more than 200 chip experts from Korea and stole valuable data worth at least 300 billion won ($233 million) from Samsung, the indictment read. Prosecutors also indicted six other individuals, who they alleged were the executives accomplices. (Updates with details on executives attempts from eighth paragraph) --With assistance from Katia Dmitrieva, Debby Wu, Peter Elstrom, Sohee Kim and Seyoon Kim. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday called for focused efforts to provide life-saving vaccines to nearly 4.6 million unvaccinated children in Southeast Asia as countries intensify efforts to equal or surpass pre-Covid vaccination coverage levels. The number of unvaccinated or zero dose children more than doubled from 2 million in 2019 to 4.6 million in the region by 2021 despite efforts by countries to maintain or restore routine childhood immunisation, said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia. "We need to urgently address gaps and challenges aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic," Singh said. She was addressing representatives of health ministries, national immunisation advisory groups and partner agencies participating in a four-day regional workshop to strengthen routine immunisation capacities post-Covid. "We need to accurately identify high-risk areas with high numbers of zero-dose children, and rapidly improve access and uptake of routine immunisation," Singh said. The catch-up immunisation activities and special campaigns being rolled out by countries must be reviewed and measures like increasing the age limit of target populations adopted where needed for filling the immunity gaps, she said. Also Read H3N2 influenza: Symptoms, spread, prevention, what do experts say? 4 patients admitted with H3N2 influenza virus in Mumbai, says BMC Centre raises alarm over increase in Covid positivity rate in some states Keep close watch on evolving etiologies: Centre issues advisory on Covid Air pollution can affect your Covid-19 vaccine efficacy, says study New Jersey restaurant launches 'Modi ji thali' ahead of PM Modi's US trip We need global cooperation on AI, global AI safety summit soon: Rishi Sunak Vivo exits German market after OnePlus, OPPO due to patent dispute New Pakistan budget will do little to allay IMF concerns: Experts US decides to rejoin UNESCO and pay back dues, to counter China influence The behavioural and social drivers of immunisation should be identified to guide focused interventions and strategies to engage communities to accelerate the demand for vaccination, she added. The regional director emphasised the need for periodic mapping of at-risk populations and for developing actionable plans to address gaps in immunisation. Noting that routine immunisation coverage in the region has been highly variable, she said several countries have maintained high childhood vaccination coverage even during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now accelerating progress. Some others where coverage declined in 2020 but stabilised in 2021 and 2022 can now reach pre-pandemic levels. However, there are also countries where coverage continues to be sub-optimal. Singh commended Timor-Leste for introducing the pneumococcal vaccine in the catch-up campaigns and Nepal for becoming the fourth country globally to introduce the typhoid conjugate vaccine in 2022. She also complimented Bangladesh for restoring immunisation services to pre-Covid levels by June 2020; India for launching an intensified vaccination drive, Mission Indradhanush; and Indonesia for completing the readiness requirements for use of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 within a record time of two weeks from the notification of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived polio outbreak in November 2022. The WHO South-East Asia region continues to be free of wild poliovirus and sustains its maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination status, she added. With persistent effort over the years, routine immunisation coverage in the region had crossed 90 per cent in 2019. The number of zero dose children declined from over 5 million in 2010 to 2 million in 2019, according to Singh. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the coverage of DPT3 (third dose of vaccine to protect against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus), which is the standard indicator to measure vaccination coverage, declined from 91 per cent in 2019 to 85 per cent in 2020 and fell further to 82 per cent in 2021, sharply increasing the number of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in a region which has the biggest birth cohort, Singh said. An annual report by the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for the UN Security Council Committee has criticized what it considers the return of Taliban to "exclusionary" policies of the late 1990s, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported. According to the report, the threat of terrorism is growing in Afghanistan. It said that there are "indications that Al-Qaida is rebuilding operational capability." The report said that the Taliban under the leadership of Hibatullah Akhundzada has "reverted to the exclusionary, Pashtun-centred, autocratic policies of the Taliban administration of the late 1990s." According to the report, the operations of Daesh's Khorasan branch have started becoming more sophisticated and lethal in Afghanistan after August 2022. The UNSC report stated that 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," TOLO News reported. The report noted that the link between the Taliban and both Al-Qaida and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains "strong and symbiotic." The report reads, "A range of terrorist groups have greater freedom of maneuver under the Taliban's de facto authorities. They are making good use of this, and the threat of terrorism is rising in both Afghanistan and the region." Torek Farhadi, a political affairs analyst, said that national discourse is necessary for various political groups to come together and find a solution for the future of Afghanistan and stressed that "otherwise, monopoly of power will remain," TOLO News reported. Meanwhile, Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, said that the UNSC report is away from the truth. Shaheen emphasised that no threat has been posed to any country from Afghanistan and that it will not happen in the future. Shaheen stressed that the decisions regarding Afghanistan should not be taken on the basis of the reports of some biased media. Also Read Threat of terrorism from Taliban rising in Afghanistan, region: UN report UN report urges Afghanistan's Taliban to end floggings, executions Terror strikes in Pakistan surged after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan UNSC unity key in wake of women's rights violations by Taliban: UN aide Taliban asks int'l community to recognise 'Islamic Emirate' of Afghanistan Pak authorities on high alert as Biparjoy likely to hit Sindh's coastline World Bank needs new playbook to boost private investment in EMs: Banga Owing creditors $3.3 bn, founders of defunct crypto fund living large Wedding bells go silent: Marriages in China slump to historic low Billionaire George Soros hands control of $25-billion empire to son Shaheen said, "We have always said that decisions and judgments about Afghanistan should not be based on the reports of some biased media in the world, but the reports about Afghanistan should be based on the ground realities and they should be corrected," as per the TOLO News report. Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, a political affairs analyst, said that the Doha agreement was first violated by the US and later Taliban was not very committed to it. Haqyar noted that the Taliban has some flaws, however, the international community was not committed regarding Afghanistan as it ought to have been. Earlier this month, US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, girls and human rights Rina Amiri said more than 2.5 million girls have been deprived of education in Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported. The US Special envoy raised her concerns at the Human Rights Council meeting. She stressed that there is an urgent need for girls' education in Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press. Amiri said, "Every single girl deserves to access quality education. Donald Trump was travelling to Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance this week on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. Trump's Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Department's first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardised national security, with Espionage Act charges carrying the prospect of a significant prison sentence. Ahead of his court date, he and his allies have been escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests. He's ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith deranged" as he repeated without any evidence his claims that he was the target of a political persecution. And even as his supporters accuse the Justice Department of being weaponised against him, he vowed Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family if Trump is elected to a second term. Trump boarded a plane in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday morning to take him to Miami. Also Read Why has Donald Trump been indicted and can he run for 2024 elections? Classified docs found at Mike Pence's residence, ex V-P says wasn't aware House Republicans demands visitor logs in Biden classified docs case US Justice Department reviews potentially classified docs at Biden center Florida Governor to kick off 2024 US Prez polls bid on Twitter with Musk Credit Suisse's Mihir Doshi to head combined UBS India business Donald Trump indictment: What is US's Espionage Act? All you need to know US chipmaker Broadcom set to win EU nod for $61-billion VMware deal Donald Trump shared a plan to attack 'unnamed nation': Indictment JPMorgan to pay $290 mn to Epstein's victims in class action lawsuit Wearing a navy suit and red tie, he gave a quick wave before stepping onboard. He's encouraged supporters to join a planned protest at the Miami courthouse Tuesday, where he will face the charges and surrender to authorities. We need strength in our country now, Trump said Sunday, speaking to longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio. And they have to go out and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out. Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty of protest to protest. We've lost everything, he went on. He also said there were no circumstances whatsoever under which he would leave the 2024 race, where he's been dominating the Republican primary. Other Trump supporters have rallied to his defense with similar language, including Kari Lake, the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona who pointedly said over the weekend that if prosecutors want to get to President Trump, they're going to have to go through me, and 75 million Americans just like me. And most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA." Trump's calls for protest echoed exhortations he made ahead of a New York court appearance last April, where he faces charges arising from hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign, though he complained that those who showed up to protest then were so far away that nobody knew about 'em, And just like in that case, he plans to address supporters in a Tuesday evening speech hours after his court date. After his court appearance, he will return to New Jersey, where he's scheduled a press event to publicly respond to the charges. He'll also be holding a private fundraiser. Trump supporters were also planning to load buses to head to Miami from other parts of Florida, raising concerns for law enforcement officials who are preparing for the potential of unrest around the courthouse. Mayor Francis Suarez was expected to announce additional details Monday about the preparations though there was little police presence near the courthouse a stark contrast to New York City where police planned for protests for weeks even though no violence ultimately happened. The Justice Department unsealed Friday an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defense information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements. The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in January 2021. The material he stored, including in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower, included material on nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign governments and a Pentagon attack plan, the indictment says. The information, if exposed, could have put at risk members of the military, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said. Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing personal aide Walt Nauta who was charged alongside Trump to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena. Some fellow Republicans have sought to press the case that Trump is being treated unfairly, citing the Justice Department's decision in 2016 to not charge Democrat Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information through a private email server she relied on as secretary of state. But those arguments overlook that FBI investigators did not find any evidence that Clinton or her aides had willfully broken laws regarding classified information or had obstructed the investigation. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, speaking Sunday on CBS News, said there was a huge difference between the two investigations but that it has to be explained to the American people. The Justice Department earlier this month informed former Vice President Mike Pence that it would not bring charges over the presence of classified documents in his Indiana home. A separate Justice Department special counsel investigation into the discovery of classified records at a home and office of President Joe Biden continues, though as in the Clinton case, no evidence of obstruction or intentional law-breaking has surfaced. Trump's own former attorney general, William Barr, offered a grim assessment of Trump's predicament, saying on Fox News that Trump had no right to hold onto such sensitive records. If even half of it is true, Barr said of the allegations, then he's toast. I mean, it's a pretty 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. SES announces today that Steve Collar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will be stepping down at the end of June 2023 to pursue other professional and personal endeavours. The search for a successor is underway and Ruy Pinto, currently Chief Technology Officer of SES, will assume the role of CEO until a permanent successor is announced. Frank Esser, Chairman of the SES Board of Directors, said, We would like to thank Steve for his significant contribution to SES over a period of more than 20 years. As CEO, Steve successfully steered SES, leaving the business in a strong position for the future with a differentiated multi-orbit capability, world-class set of customer solutions, a simplified and market-centric organisation, and a strong balance sheet set to be further strengthened from the execution of C-band clearing. The current market environment is rapidly changing, and I welcome Ruy Pinto, who leads over half of the SES workforce today and has substantial industry experience, as we address the challenges and capture further opportunities in the market. The Board has full confidence in Ruy and our managements engagement on continued strong execution as we embark on a new phase of success for SES. Steve Collar commented, It has been the greatest honour of my life to lead the incredible people at SES. SES has been the benchmark in the industry for decades and I leave the company as its leader and go back to being a huge supporter, admirer and fan and will be cheering Ruy and the Management Team on from the side-lines. With O3b mPOWER launching, the company performing well and C-band all but delivered, the future is bright, and I wish the Board and everyone at SES every success. Ruy Pinto joined SES in February 2017 and was appointed Chief Technology Officer in January 2019, driving the differentiation in multi-orbit capabilities and the cloudification of SES. Prior to SES, Ruy spent over 25 years at Inmarsat in various lead technical and managerial roles. Ruy Pinto commented, I am delighted to be leading SES and working with our teams around the world through a transition period, progressing SES into a phase where we will continue to grow on a strong value creation trajectory for our stakeholders, executing strongly, simplifying our business and optimising our cost base. Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries ~8,000 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 369 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230611161562/en/ The five-year Mathematics and Science Curriculum Enhancement Project, a collaboration between the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and Parikrma Humanity Foundation, had a significant impact on education in Bangalore. Led by Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) from the education sector, the project aimed to enhance the Mathematics and Science curriculum in Bangalore. The SIVs trained about 160 Indian educators through workshops, equipping them with new skills to create more engaging lessons for their students. A core group of 46 Indian educators were selected as Master Trainers, who subsequently trained other teachers in their communities. Collectively, about 58,700 educators and students in Karnataka benefitted from this collaboration, ensuring improved access to quality education for children in the community. Earlier in June, the SIF conducted a project evaluation to measure and analyse the impact of the project. Key findings included: Effective implementation of tools and everyday objects as teaching aids The educators are now well-versed in using educational tools and everyday objects to better aid their students understanding of abstract concepts. Examples included using a tangram set to form triangles in mathematics lessons and using real flowers to introduce plant parts in science lessons. Greater focus on process skills The focus of teaching in schools has shifted to hone how students arrive at their answers instead of the memorisation of facts. This is supported by lessons planned based on the 5E Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate), and complemented by science experiments and outdoor activities. These approaches engaged students more effectively and encouraged greater inquisitiveness in them. Improved development of critical thinking skills Beyond finding the right answers, students are guided to explore and analyse different solutions to each problem to develop critical thinking skills. Enhanced activity-based learning in groups Where passive learning in silos was the norm previously, students are now engaged through learning in groups. Through group discussions, students practice communication, collaboration and reasoning skills, and collective decision-making, which are core 21st-century competencies. Numerous edtech platforms currently available intend to provide students with knowledge and help them create successful careers. Being a part of Kapil Knowledge Hub Pvt. Ltd., TEKS Academy offers certified courses and tech-enabled learning platforms that deliver real-time experiences for students to thrive in the evolving job market. With a wide network of industry expert trainers, TEKS Academy helps students seize valuable opportunities in the industry. TEKS Academy helps in providing unparalleled career advancement: TEKS Academy recognises the power of certified skills that boost employability, facilitate career advancement, increase earning potential, and foster personal growth. There is a comprehensive range of courses offered to students that lead to exceptional job opportunities and help them move up the career ladder. TEKS Academy covers in-demand courses like Salesforce, data science, AWS+DevOps, Revit, full-stack, digital marketing, and many other certified courses. TEKS Academy's Success Story: TEKS Academy has assisted 5500+ students so far in gaining extensive knowledge and certification. Over 150+ highly qualified industry experts are onboard to provide immense knowledge and skills to the students. There are 50+ courses available both online and offline to bring about a change in the student's career. TEKS Academy Branch Locations: Ameerpet Dilshuk Nagar Hitch City The uniqueness of TEKS Academy: Outstanding learning experience: The expert trainers provide a well-tuned curriculum according to the demands of the evolving industry. Industry-aligned curriculum: The curriculum for every course is carefully crafted by analyzing the latest industry trends. Practical-oriented learning: TEKS Academy prioritize hands-on learning experiences that helps to gain experience in both theoretical and practical learning. 100% job assistance: TEKS Academy has committed to the students to provide comprehensive job assistance in fulfilling their careers. Highly recognized certification: TEKS provide certificates with lifetime validity that are widely recognized by ISO, NASSCOM, Skill India, and Skill AP to help the students embark on their successful career journey. Paid internship programs: They make their students get ready for every job opportunity by providing a paid internship program that gives them experience in real-time scenarios. Industry partnerships: TEKS has established strategic partnerships with major industries that offer excellent job opportunities for the students. Free demo and affordable pricing: They offer demo sessions of courses that allow prospective students to experience the quality of their program before enrolling. Also, the courses are affordable to ensure the accessibility of learning for all. Outstanding services of TEKS Academy: Job-Ready Skills: TEKS Academy focuses on training students along with the skills like communication skills and interview skills that help them get ready for their dream jobs. Tech-enabled learning platforms: Their tech-enabled learning platform provides a seamless and engaging learning experience that helps in their educational journey. Specialized learning programs: TEKS provides specialized learning programs in both offline and online, catering to quality and flexibility in learning. Frequent assessment and progress monitoring: They employ strict assessment of the student's progress, ensuring to provide personalized support and attention during their learning process. Commitment to student success: The TEKS Academy is dedicated to the betterment of the students by providing comprehensive support in areas like communication skills, resume preparation, and interview preparation. Deeper knowledge and interview success: Their program is designed to provide deeper knowledge that equips their students with enormous knowledge and helps them crack any interview. Empowering Rural India: The TEKS Academy conducts workshops in all the states of India to help students gain more knowledge and skills for industry jobs. Many scholarship programs have been conducted to provide aid for students who have excellent merit in their academics and require assistance for their future. Corporate trainings: The TEKS Academy has provided many corporate trainings for the employees to upgrade their skills. The corporate training is aimed primarily at technical and non-technical employees who require assistance to move ahead in their careers. Unique Learning Programs: Who thinks its a good idea that the two most powerful countries in the world I just described should spend most of their time fighting with each other? Asia Society Co-Chair John Thorton says Monday at Caixin's Asia New Vision Forum in Singapore. Photo: Caixin As more of the worlds wealth becomes concentrated in the U.S. and China, the two largest economies need to stop fighting and start rebuilding their relationship, and Asia could play a key role, said Asia Society Co-Chair John Thornton at the first Asia New Vision Forum in Singapore. In 2050, the U.S. and China are expected to account for as much as 60% of the worlds GDP, up from a combined 42% today, Thornton told the audience at the Caixin-hosted event on Monday. An image of a semiconductor wafer at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Museum of Innovation in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in April. Photo: Bloomberg (Bloomberg) Taiwans exports of chips to the U.S. rose for a 26th consecutive month in May, defying a downturn in the global semiconductor market. U.S. purchases of Taiwanese semiconductors increased 9% from a year earlier that month, while shipments to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong dropped 14.3%, according to figures from the Ministry of Finance in Taipei. Thats despite an 8% slide in overall exports of chips from Taiwan, widening from the previous months drop of 7.1%. The course BA in Archaeology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field of archaeology and its methodologies. It involves the study of human history through the analysis of material remains such as artefacts, structures, and landscapes. The program typically covers a wide range of topics including archaeological fieldwork, excavation techniques, artefact analysis, cultural heritage management, and research methodologies. Students pursuing a BA in Archaeology will have the opportunity to explore various civilizations, archaeological sites, and cultural contexts from different time periods. They will learn how to interpret archaeological evidence, reconstruct past societies, and analyse the cultural, social, and economic aspects of ancient civilizations. The coursework may include subjects such as archaeological theory, ancient civilizations, archaeological surveying, conservation and preservation techniques, laboratory analysis, and archaeological ethics. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork and excavation projects to gain practical experience in archaeological research. Throughout the program, students will develop critical thinking skills, research abilities, and a deep understanding of historical and cultural contexts. They will also acquire skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as well as proficiency in using various archaeological tools, technologies, and software. Career Scope after pursuing BA in Archaeology After pursuing a BA in Archaeology, graduates have a wide range of career opportunities in the field of archaeology and related areas. Here are some career scopes for individuals with a degree in Archaeology: Archaeological Fieldwork: Graduates can work as field archaeologists, participating in excavations and survey projects both domestically and internationally. They can contribute to the discovery, documentation, and preservation of archaeological sites and artefacts. Museum and Cultural Heritage: Graduates can work in museums, cultural heritage organisations, or archaeological research institutions. They can be involved in curating exhibits, managing collections, conducting research, and educating the public about archaeology and cultural heritage. Cultural Resource Management: Graduates can work in government agencies, consulting firms, or non-profit organisations involved in cultural resource management. They can be responsible for identifying, assessing, and preserving archaeological sites and ensuring compliance with cultural heritage regulations. Academic and Research: Graduates can pursue higher studies and research in archaeology, leading to opportunities in academia. They can become researchers, professors, or lecturers, contributing to archaeological knowledge, publishing scholarly work, and mentoring future archaeologists. Heritage Tourism and Interpretation: Graduates can work in the tourism industry, promoting and managing heritage sites, or providing interpretive services to visitors. They can develop educational programs, conduct guided tours, and engage with the public to enhance the understanding and appreciation of archaeological sites. Archaeological Conservation: Graduates can specialise in archaeological conservation and work in conservation laboratories or heritage conservation organisations. They can be involved in preserving and restoring artefacts, managing archaeological material, and implementing conservation techniques. Cultural Resource Policy and Advocacy: Graduates can work in policy-making bodies, advocacy organisations, or non-governmental organisations involved in cultural heritage preservation and policy development. They can contribute to the formulation of policies for heritage protection and raise awareness about the importance of archaeology in society. Historical Research and Documentation: Graduates can work as historical researchers or consultants, conducting archival research, analysing historical documents, and contributing to historical publications or documentary projects. Freelance and Consulting: Graduates can work as freelance archaeologists, offering their expertise for contract-based projects, research collaborations, or expert consultancy services in archaeological assessments and surveys. Education and Outreach: Graduates can work as educators, developing educational programs, conducting workshops, and delivering public lectures to promote archaeological awareness and engage communities in the study of the past. List of Top 5 Best Universities for BA in Archaeology Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Archaeology: 1. St. Xavier's College, Mumbai Establishment/About : St. Xavier's College, which was founded in 1869, has a long tradition of offering its students a top-notch education. The college is associated with the University of Mumbai and is noted for its challenging curriculum, experienced teachers, and cutting-edge facilities. A wide variety of courses, including those in the arts, sciences, business, management, and mass communication, are available at St. Xavier's College. The college's prestigious Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme draws applicants from around the nation. Rankings: St. Xavier's College Mumbai Overall ranking by NIRF is 87 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 101 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. St. Xavier's College Mumbai Arts ranking by The Week is 8 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 6 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. St. Xavier's College Mumbai Arts ranking by India Today is 19 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022. Application Start Date: The XET 2023 is going to be held on June 7, 8, and 9 for the centre in Mumbai and on June 10 and 11 for centres outside Mumbai. The Last Date to Apply for BA programs is June 2. Interested candidates may visit the official website. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 5537 annually Admission Requirements/Eligibility: St. Xavier's College Mumbai Admission 2023 is open for BA programs. Selection for admission to these programs will be based on Xavier's Entrance Test (XET) scores. Official Website: xaviers.ac 2. Rajasthan University Establishment/About : Rajasthan University, commonly known as UNIRAJ, was founded in 1947 with the primary goal of developing a holistic and knowledge-based ecosystem for students. The UGC has granted Rajasthan University Jaipur recognition, and the NAAC has awarded it with Grade "A" accreditation. 35+ departments, 15+ research centres, and 9 faculties make up the University of Rajasthan. Rankings: UNIRAJ Overall ranking by The Week is 28 out of 76 colleges in India in 2020. UNIRAJ MBA ranking by The Times Of India is 45 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. UNIRAJj Overall ranking by Center for World University Rankings is 1817 out of 2000 colleges in International in 2022. Application Start Date: Applications are now open. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 11240 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Rajasthan University UG admission to BA courses is done on the basis of merit and Class 12 marks. Official Website: uniraj.ac.in 3. Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Establishment/About : One of India's top universities is Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), often known as UniPune. It has received an 'A' grade from NAAC and UGC approval. The university is referred to as the "Oxford of the East" in popular culture. Rankings: SPPU Overall ranking by NIRF is 19 out of 200 colleges in India in 2023 and it was 25 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022. SPPU Overall ranking by The Week is 8 out of 81 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 7 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021. SPPU Mass Communications ranking by India Today is 4 out of 47 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 4 out of 47 colleges in India in 2021. SPPU Overall ranking by Outlook is 21 out of 100 colleges in India in 2019. SPPU MBA ranking by Outlook is 22 out of 32 colleges in India in 2020. Application Start Date: SPPU (UniPune) admission 2023 is open for all UG programs. The last date to apply for UG and Diploma courses is June 10. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 26090 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent for getting admission into BA. Admission to UG courses at SPPU is done on the basis of merit secured in the last qualifying examination. Official Website: unipune.ac.in 4. Calcutta University Establishment/About : The capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata, is home to the collegiate public state research university known as Calcutta University. The first multidisciplinary university with a western aesthetic in Asia is Calcutta University. Calcutta University currently has 151 colleges and 21 institutes as affiliates. The University has graduated the most students who have passed the NET, according to data. Rankings: Calcutta University Overall ranking by NIRF is 12 out of 200 colleges in India in 2023 and it was 15 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022. Calcutta University Overall ranking by The Week is 6 out of 81 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 6 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021.Calcutta University Overall ranking by Outlook is 14 out of 100 colleges in India in 2019. Calcutta University Overall ranking by QS World University is 801 out of 1400 colleges in International in 2023 and it was 1001 out of 5500 colleges in International in 2021. Application Start Date: Calcutta University admission 2023 for UG programs will begin on July 01. The last date for submission of application forms for UG programs is July 15, 2023. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 10332 for three years. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: For admission into BA, candidates must have passed 10+2. Admission to BA is done on the basis of merit in the qualifying examination. Official Website: caluniv.ac.in 5. Banaras Hindu University Establishment/About : Rankings: BHU Overall ranking by NIRF is 11 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 10 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. BHU Dental ranking by NIRF is 21 out of 40 colleges in India in 2022. BHU Overall ranking by The Week is 2 out of 81 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021. BHU Overall ranking by Financial Express is 39 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. BHU Medical ranking by India Today is 7 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. Application Start Date/ Important Dates: BHU admission 2023 will be conducted through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for UG programs. CUET UG 2023 admit cards were released on May 19, 2023. CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to June 6, 2023. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 3420 Annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: To be eligible for UG courses at BHU, candidates must have passed 10+2 level with a minimum 50% aggregate marks in the relevant disciplines. Official Website: www.bhu.ac.in Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements. Indian gov't forms committee for peace-making in violence-hit state Xinhua) 09:45, June 12, 2023 NEW DELHI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government Saturday set up a peace committee for the strife-torn state of Manipur which has been witnessing month-long violent clashes leaving nearly 100 people dead and over 300 others injured. Thousands of people have been living in relief camps after their houses were burnt in the clashes, which broke out in the first week of May in the northeastern state. The Peace Committee is to be headed by Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, and includes Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, besides state ministers and lawmakers, said an official statement issued by the federal home ministry. It further stated that the mandate of the committee will be to facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups of the state, including peaceful dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties or groups. Presently more than 10,000 security personnel of the Indian Army and the paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state to maintain peace and public order. The country's Home (Internal Security) Minister Amit Shah spent three days in the state a couple of weeks ago to take stock of the situation. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Fine Arts is an exciting and enriching undergraduate program that nurtures creativity, artistic expression, and critical thinking. This program offers students the opportunity to explore various art forms, develop technical skills, and deepen their understanding of art history and aesthetics. In this article, we will delve into the scope of a BA in Fine Arts, highlighting potential career paths and the significance of studying fine arts in today's creative industries. Additionally, we will discuss some of the best colleges offering this program and provide details about the admission process. What's the course BA in Fine Arts all about? The course BA in Fine Arts is an undergraduate program that focuses on developing students' artistic skills, creativity, and critical thinking in various forms of visual expression. It is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of art history, theory, techniques, and practical application. Throughout the program, students explore different artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, and digital art. They learn various techniques, experiment with materials, and develop their artistic style and voice. The curriculum also emphasizes the study of art history, allowing students to gain insights into different art movements, cultural contexts, and the evolution of artistic expression over time. The BA in Fine Arts program offers a combination of studio-based practice and theoretical knowledge. Students engage in hands-on projects, artistic exercises, and critiques, which help them refine their technical skills and develop a deeper understanding of artistic concepts and principles. They also learn to analyze artworks critically, articulate their ideas, and engage in artistic discussions. In addition to practical skills, the program focuses on fostering creativity, imagination, and personal expression. Students are encouraged to explore their unique artistic visions and push the boundaries of their creativity. They develop the ability to communicate their ideas, emotions, and perspectives through visual means, using art as a powerful medium of self-expression and communication. Career Scope after pursuing BA in Fine Arts After pursuing a BA in Fine Arts, graduates have a wide range of career opportunities in the field of visual arts and beyond. Here are some potential career scopes after completing a BA in Fine Arts: Fine Artist: Graduates can pursue careers as fine artists, creating and exhibiting their artworks in galleries, museums, and art shows. They can explore various mediums such as painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, photography, or digital art, and develop their unique artistic style. Art Education: Graduates can work as art educators, teaching in schools, colleges, or art institutes. They can inspire and mentor young artists, imparting knowledge and skills in various art techniques, art history, and aesthetics. Graphic Designer: Graduates can pursue careers in graphic design, creating visual content for advertising, branding, digital media, or publishing. They can utilize their artistic skills and combine them with digital tools to communicate messages effectively through visual means. Illustrator: Graduates can work as illustrators, creating artwork for books, magazines, advertising, or multimedia platforms. They can visually represent ideas, stories, or concepts using their artistic abilities and storytelling skills. Art Therapy: Graduates can explore careers in art therapy, using art as a therapeutic medium to support individuals facing emotional, mental, or behavioral challenges. They can work in healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers, or community organizations, helping individuals express themselves and achieve personal growth through art. Art Curator: Graduates can work as art curators, managing and organizing art exhibitions in galleries, museums, or cultural institutions. They can research and select artworks, develop exhibition concepts, and engage with artists and the public to create meaningful artistic experiences. Art Critic or Writer: Graduates can pursue careers as art critics or writers, contributing to publications, websites, or blogs. They can analyze and evaluate artworks, write reviews, and engage in critical discourse about the art world. Art Gallery or Museum Manager: Graduates can work in gallery or museum management, overseeing operations, organizing exhibitions, managing collections, and promoting artists' work. They can contribute to the cultural and artistic development of institutions. Creative Entrepreneurship: Graduates with an entrepreneurial spirit can start their own creative businesses. They can establish art studios, design firms, or art consultancy services, utilizing their artistic skills, knowledge, and networks to create innovative and commercially successful ventures. Art-related Fields: Graduates can also explore careers in art-related fields such as art restoration, art sales and marketing, art direction, set design, art publishing, or art consulting. List of Top 5 Best Universities for BA in Fine Arts Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Fine Arts: 1. Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Establishment/About : Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU or CSJM University), formerly known as Kanpur University, is recognised by the UGC. CSJMU is accredited with a 'B' grade by the NAAC. CSJM University has 952 affiliated colleges and a campus of 264 acres. Application Start Date: CSJMU admission 2023 is open for all UG programs. The last date for submission of application forms for direct admissions is June 15, 2023. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 25613 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Admission to CSJMU UG programs are based on Academic Merits or the Entrance exam conducted by CSJMU Official Website: csjmu.ac.in 2. J.V.Jain College Establishment/About : J.V.Jain College, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was founded in 1955 as a Public Educational Institute to provide higher education for those wishing to pursue careers in the Humanities, Science, and Commerce. J.V. Jain College is associated with CCS, Meerut, and is recognised by the prestigious NCTE, UGC, and NAAC. Application Start Date: Admission is open for UG courses. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 1743 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility Official Website: jvjaincollege.com 3. Banaras Hindu University Rankings: BHU Overall ranking by NIRF is 11 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 10 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. BHU Dental ranking by NIRF is 21 out of 40 colleges in India in 2022. BHU Overall ranking by The Week is 2 out of 81 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021. BHU Overall ranking by Financial Express is 39 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. BHU Medical ranking by India Today is 7 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. Application Start Date/ Important Dates: BHU admission 2023 will be conducted through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for UG programs. CUET UG 2023 admit cards were released on May 19, 2023. CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to June 6, 2023. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 3420 Annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: To be eligible for UG courses at BHU, candidates must have passed 10+2 level with a minimum 50% aggregate marks in the relevant disciplines. Official Website: www.bhu.ac.in 4. DY Patil College of Applied Arts and Crafts Establishment/About : DY Patil College of Applied Arts and Crafts was established in 2004 in Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra and is run by DY Patil Pratishthan Society. The College offers a BFA in Applied Arts. It is approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi and is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University. Application Start Date: Admission is open for all courses. Interested candidates can apply through the official website of the College. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 94,414 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Qualifying exam is MH-AAC-CET. Minimum 45% in Class 12 from a recognised board for General category and 40% for SC/ST candidates is required. Official Website: dypcaac.ac.in 5. University of Delhi Establishment/About : Delhi University, often known as the University of Delhi, is a public central university in Delhi, India. Delhi University, which was founded in 1922, has been accredited by the NAAC with a "A+" grade and designated by the UGC as a "Institute of Excellence." Rankings: National and international groups have ranked DU in a number of categories. In terms of global rankings, DU is ranked between 521 and 530 in the 'University' category by QS Global Rankings 2023-2024; meanwhile, DU's overall ranking by NIRF is 23 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022, while it was 19 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. The Week's overall ranking for DU in India is 3 out of 81 colleges in 2022, compared to 3 out of 79 in 2021. Application Start Date: Admission to DU's UG programmes for the class of 2023 will soon begin using the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). All UG programmes at Delhi University are accepting applications based on CUET results. The CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted in a few cities on June 1, 2, 5, and 6 and from May 21 to May 31. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 4,890/- per Sem. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The primary requirement for admission to UG programmes is completion of 10+2 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 45%. Admission to all UG programmes at DU will take place in 2023 via the NTA-conducted Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG), followed by e-counselling. Official Website: www.du.ac.in Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements. The study of political systems, theories, and practises is the main objective of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science, an undergraduate programme. It gives students a thorough understanding of political institutions, government, politics, public policy, and international relations. Here is a brief summary of the area of study, ideal colleges, and admission requirements for the BA in Political Science in India: What's the course BA in Political Science all about? Undergraduate study of political systems, theories, institutions, and policies is covered in the BA in Political Science course. It gives students a thorough understanding of political institutions, government, politics, public policy, and international relations. The programme typically consists of a mix of electives and core courses that cover a range of political science topics. Political theory, comparative politics, Indian politics, international relations, public administration, political philosophy, and political economics are only a few of the subjects covered in the course. They develop understanding of how governments operate, the dynamics of power, the function of political parties, and how political actions affect society. Students gain research, analytical, and critical thinking abilities via the programme. They get the ability to evaluate political events, comprehend how policies are affected, and comprehend political systems on a deeper level. In order to increase their understanding and improve their capacity to communicate their thoughts, students take part in discussions, debates, and research projects. Career Scope after pursuing BA in Political Science After pursuing a BA in Political Science, there are several career paths available to graduates. Here are some of the potential career scopes: Civil Services: Many graduates choose to pursue a career in the civil services, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), or other central and state government services. They can work as administrators, diplomats, or policymakers, contributing to governance and public administration. Political Analyst: Graduates can work as political analysts, providing insights and analysis on political events, policies, and trends. They can be employed by think tanks, research organisations, media houses, or political consulting firms. Research and Academia: Students can pursue higher studies in Political Science and enter the field of research or academia. They can become professors, researchers, or scholars, conducting in-depth studies on political theories, systems, and policies. Public Administration: Graduates can work in public administration, policy-making, or public service roles. They can be employed by government departments, non-profit organisations, or international development agencies, contributing to policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Journalism and Media: Political Science graduates can pursue careers in journalism and media. They can work as political journalists, reporters, analysts, or opinion writers, covering political news, conducting interviews, and offering commentary on political developments. Political Campaigning and Consulting: Graduates can work in political campaigns, assisting politicians in strategizing, managing campaigns, conducting research, and analysing public opinion. They can also work as political consultants, providing guidance on campaign strategies and public relations. International Organisations: Graduates can explore opportunities in international organisations like the United Nations (UN), World Bank, or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the field of international relations, development, or human rights. Law and Legal Services: Political Science graduates can pursue a career in law, appearing for law entrance exams and enrolling in law schools. They can become lawyers, legal advisors, or work in the field of public interest litigation. List of Top 5 Best Universities for BA in Political Science Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Political Science: 1. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), Delhi Establishment/About : Lady Shri Ram College is a public women's college. It was started in 1956 and was founded by Lala Shri Ram. It provides professional programmes such as a bachelor's degree in mass communication and English journalism. With the help of engaging and entertaining lecturers, students can discover the world of literature at this college. Rankings: LSR Overall ranking by NIRF is 5 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. LSR Arts ranking by The Week is 2 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 1 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. LSR Arts ranking by India Today is 4 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 4 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021. Application Start Date: All UG programme admission to Lady Shri Ram College for the class of 2023 will shortly begin via the Common Seat Allocation Portal (CSAS) of Delhi University. CUET scores will be used to determine admission to all UG programmes. Exam CUET UG 2023 will be conducted between May 21 and May 31, 2023. However, due to the high volume of applications, the CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been moved to June 1, 2, and 5 in several cities. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 21290. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The basic eligibility criteria for admission to these programs is 10+2 with at least 45% marks in aggregate. Admission will be based on the CUET marks followed by e-counselling. Official Website: lsr.edu.in 2. Christ (deemed-to-be-university), Bangalore Establishment/About : Christ University is a deemed-to-be-university in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Christ College, which was founded in 1969 as Christ College, was granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 2004. approximately 20,000 students attend the university, and there are approximately 800 academic members. Around 700 international students from 58 different countries attend this university. The university provides undergraduate, graduate, and research programmes that are accredited both domestically and abroad. Rankings: Christ is ranked 20-25 in the QS India rankings for the year 2020. Christ was ranked 19 in 2019. Its position among Asian institutions is 501-550. Christ University is ranked second in the general (private) university category in India Today's Best Universities Survey 2022. According to India Today MDRA Survey of Excellence National Rankings, Christ University is ranked first for BCA Programme, fourth for BBA, seventh for Commerce, seventh for Media and Social Work, and ninth for Arts. Application Start Date: Open From : 28-May-2023, Open Until : 11-June-2023, Applicants may apply online for the programme from January 2023 on the University website till the date of applications officially closing. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 75,000 INR P/A for Karnataka domicile students and 95,000 INR for students from other states students. The university provides comprehensive information on the course fees through their official website. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Minimum Eligibility will be PUC/10 +2 from across Boards ((Karnataka PUC, ISCE, CBSE, NIOS, other State Boards), and recognized bodies in India.). Candidates writing the +2 examinations in March-May 2023 may apply with their class X and XI marks. The selection process will include auditions, skill assessments, personal interview and reviewing of previous academic performance. Official Website: christuniversity.in 3. Miranda House College, Delhi Establishment/About : Miranda House, which was founded in 1948 in New Delhi, is well-known for supporting superior education for women. The institution, which is associated with DU, provides a wide range of courses in the arts and sciences. Over the past few years, Miranda House has continuously attained outstanding rankings. Rankings: Miranda House, New Delhi Overall ranking by NIRF is 1 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 1 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Miranda House, New Delhi Arts ranking by Outlook is 2 out of 115 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 120 colleges in India in 2021. Miranda House, New Delhi Arts ranking by The Week is 5 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 7 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. Miranda House, New Delhi Arts ranking by India Today is 3 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 3 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021. Application Start Date: The Common Seat Allocation Portal (CSAS) of Delhi University will soon begin accepting applications for Miranda House admissions for all UG programmes in 2023. CUET scores will be used to determine admission to all UG programmes. From May 21 to May 31, 2023, the CUET UG examination will be conducted. However, due to the high volume of applications, the CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been moved to June 1, 2, and 5 in several cities. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 14160 per annum. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Candidates who meet the requirements for all UG programmes must register on Delhi University's Admission Portal, after the CUET results are released. They must also fill out information about their selected college and programme. Qualifying applicants from the CUET UG exam must register on the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS), and seats will be assigned using the CSAS portal, in order to be considered for undergraduate admissions. Official Website: www.mirandahouse.ac.in 4. Hindu College, New Delhi Establishment/About : Hindu College, located in New Delhi, India, is a constituent college of the University of Delhi. It is one of the oldest and most well-known colleges in the nation and was established in 1899. Rankings: Hindu College, New Delhi Overall ranking by NIRF is 2 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 9 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Hindu College, New Delhi Arts ranking by The Week is 3 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 3 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019.Hindu College, New Delhi Arts ranking by India Today is 1 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 1 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021.Hindu College, New Delhi Arts ranking by Outlook is 3 out of 115 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 3 out of 120 colleges in India in 2021. Application Start Date: Hindu College admission 2023 for all UG programs will start soon through Delhi University's Common Seat Allocation Portal (CSAS). Admissions to all UG PG programs will be based on CUET scores. CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to May 31, 2023. However, CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been extended to June 1, 2, 5, and 6 in selected cities, due to the large number of applicants. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 17560 Annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Once the CUET result is out, registration process for all UG and PG programs will start on Delhi University's admission portal. Candidates will then be required to fill program and college choices for seat allocation. Seat allocation for UG courses will be done through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal. Official Website: hinducollege.ac.in 5. Madras Christian College (MCC), Chennai Establishment/About : Madras Christian College (MCC), Chennai is a 320-acre lush green campus located in Tambaram East, Chennai, India. The college was founded in 1837 as part of the University of Madras and is currently run as an independent institution. Rankings: MCC Chennai Overall ranking by NIRF is 17 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 18 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. MCC Chennai Arts ranking by The Week is 6 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 5 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. MCC Chennai Overall ranking by India Today is 6 out of 178 colleges in India in 2021 and it was 5 out of 120 colleges in India in 2020. MCC Chennai Arts ranking by India Today is 6 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 6 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021. MCC Chennai Overall ranking by Outlook is 8 out of 110 colleges in India in 2021 and it was 6 out of 124 colleges in India in 2020. MCC Chennai Arts ranking by Outlook is 5 out of 115 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 5 out of 120 colleges in India in 2021. Application Start Date: Admission is currently open. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 56156 for three years. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The MCC College Chennai admission is based on the merit of previously passed exams. On the official website, the MCC Chennai online application form 2023 for each degree is accessible. Interested candidates can visit the official website of Madras Christian College Chennai to fill out the application form. Official Website: mcc.edu.in Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology is an undergraduate program that focuses on the study of human society, social behavior, and social structures. It explores various aspects of society, including social interactions, institutions, culture, inequality, and social change. Here's an overview of the scope, best colleges, and admission details for BA in Sociology What's the course BA in Sociology all about? The course BA in Sociology is an undergraduate program that focuses on the study of human society, social behavior, and social structures. It explores the ways in which individuals and groups interact, and how social relationships, institutions, and cultures shape human behavior and beliefs. The curriculum of BA in Sociology covers a wide range of topics related to society and social dynamics. Students study concepts such as socialization, social inequality, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, social institutions (such as family, education, and religion), social change, and globalization. They learn about various sociological theories and research methods used to study and analyze social phenomena. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical applications, students develop critical thinking skills and a sociological imagination, which allows them to view social issues from a broader perspective. They learn to examine social problems, inequalities, and conflicts, and propose possible solutions or strategies for social change. The BA in Sociology program also emphasizes research skills, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students learn to conduct surveys, interviews, and observations to gather sociological data, and they learn how to analyze and interpret that data using statistical tools and sociological theories. Career Scope after pursuing BA in Sociology After pursuing a BA in Sociology, there are diverse career opportunities available across various sectors. Here are some potential career paths and scopes for individuals with a degree in Sociology: Social Services: Graduates can work in social services organizations, such as non-profit organizations, community centers, or government agencies. They may engage in activities like community development, social work, counseling, and advocacy to address social issues, provide support to individuals and communities, and promote social justice. Human Resources: Sociology graduates can pursue careers in human resources departments of organizations. They can contribute their knowledge of social dynamics and organizational behavior to areas such as recruitment, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, and organizational development. Research and Data Analysis: With their research and analytical skills, sociology graduates can work in research institutions, think tanks, or market research firms. They may conduct social research, analyze data, and provide insights on social trends, behaviors, and attitudes. Education and Academia: Graduates can pursue a career in teaching and research, working as sociology professors or researchers in educational institutions. They can contribute to the understanding of social issues, conduct research studies, and guide students in their sociological studies. Advocacy and Policy Analysis: Sociology graduates can work in advocacy organizations, policy think tanks, or government agencies, analyzing social policies, advocating for social change, and influencing policy decisions to address societal challenges and promote social equality. Public Administration: Sociology graduates can opt for careers in public administration, working in government departments or local governance bodies. They may be involved in policy-making, program evaluation, social impact assessment, and community development initiatives. Market Research and Consumer Insights: Graduates with a sociology background can work in the market research industry, analyzing consumer behavior, social trends, and market dynamics. They can contribute to understanding consumer preferences, societal influences on consumer choices, and help businesses develop effective marketing strategies. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Sociology graduates can find opportunities in NGOs that focus on various social issues such as poverty, healthcare, gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability. They can contribute to program implementation, project management, research, and advocacy. List of Top 5 Best Universities for BA in Sociology Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Sociology: 1. University of Delhi Establishment/About : Delhi University, often known as the University of Delhi, is a public central university in Delhi, India. Delhi University, which was founded in 1922, has been accredited by the NAAC with a "A+" grade and designated by the UGC as a "Institute of Excellence." Rankings: National and international groups have ranked DU in a number of categories. In terms of global rankings, DU is ranked between 521 and 530 in the 'University' category by QS Global Rankings 2023-2024; meanwhile, DU's overall ranking by NIRF is 23 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022, while it was 19 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. The Week's overall ranking for DU in India is 3 out of 81 colleges in 2022, compared to 3 out of 79 in 2021. Application Start Date: Admission to DU's UG programmes for the class of 2023 will soon begin using the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). All UG programmes at Delhi University are accepting applications based on CUET results. The CUET UG 2023 exam will be conducted in a few cities on June 1, 2, 5, and 6 and from May 21 to May 31. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 4,890/- per Sem. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The primary requirement for admission to UG programmes is completion of 10+2 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 45%. Admission to all UG programmes at DU will take place in 2023 via the NTA-conducted Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG), followed by e-counselling. Official Website: www.du.ac.in 2. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Delhi Establishment/About : Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is a central university in New Delhi. The institution was founded in 1920 and has been accredited with an 'A' grade by the NAAC and the UGC. The Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, and the Centre for Management Studies are just a few of JMI's research facilities. More than 200 programmes at the UG, PG, and research levels are available at Jamia Millia Islamia. Rankings: Jamia Millia Islamia Overall ranking by NIRF is 13 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 13 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Jamia Millia Islamia Architecture ranking by NIRF is 9 out of 30 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 10 out of 25 colleges in India in 2021. Jamia Millia Islamia Overall ranking by The Week is 8 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021 and it was 9 out of 76 colleges in India in 2020. Jamia Millia Islamia Architecture ranking by The Week is 5 out of 25 colleges in India in 2022. Application Start Date: CUET scores will be used to determine admission to all UG programmes. From May 21 to May 31, 2023, the CUET UG examination will be conducted. However, due to the high volume of applications, the CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been moved to June 1, 2, and 5 in several cities. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 7200 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The admission process is completely online for all courses. Candidates need to register on the official website of the university. Official Website: jmicoe.in 3. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi Establishment/About : Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was established on September 22, 1969. It is a public central university located in New Delhi, India. The university was named after India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a vision of establishing a world-class institution for higher education and research. Rankings: JNU Overall ranking by NIRF is 10 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 9 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. JNU Overall ranking by The Week is 1 out of 81 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 1 out of 79 colleges in India in 2021. JNU Overall ranking by QS World University is 601 out of 1400 colleges in International in 2023 and it was 1001 out of 5500 colleges in International in 2021. JNU Overall ranking by Times Higher Education is 601 out of 1799 colleges in International in 2023 and it was 601 out of 1201 colleges in India in 2022. JNU Arts ranking by Times Higher Education is 301 out of 400 colleges in International in 2020. Application Start Date: JNU admission 2023 is open for all UG programs through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). CUET UG exam 2023 exam will be conducted from May 21 to June 06, 2023. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 648. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Candidates appearing for the CUET will also have to apply separately on the official website of JNU after the CUET result declaration. Official Website: jnu.ac.in 4. Loyola College, Chennai Establishment/About : Loyola College is a private institution located in Chennai, India. It was founded in 1952. Loyola College, which is affiliated with the University of Madras, is ranked among the top five institutions in India for degree programmes in business, arts, natural sciences, and social sciences. Rankings: Loyola College ranking has been released by national agencies such as NIRF, Outlook ICare, The Week and many more. As per latest NIRF 2022 rankings, Loyola College Chennai has been ranked 4th in College Category while in 2021, the institute was ranked 3rd under College Category. Also The Week ranked Arts stream of Loyola College at 6th while science stream was ranked 4th and Commerce was ranked 5th. Loyola College Chennai has been ranked 3rd by India Today Ranking 2022 for BBA course under India's Best BBA Colleges 2022, also the institute is ranked 7th for Arts stream and 6th for Science stream. Also it is ranked 4th under India's Best BCA Colleges 2022. Application Start Date: Applications for admission are now open. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 11900 annually. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Candidates are shortlisted to the UG program on the basis of merit as well as interviews conducted by the Loyola College. Minimum eligibility for UG courses is to pass in HSC or Plus two examinations in any relevant stream from a recognized board. Selection to UG courses is done on the basis of merit in the qualifying examination followed by interview. Official Website: www.loyolacollege.edu 5. Jadavpur University, Bengal Establishment/Ranking:Jadavpur University is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and has received NAAC accreditation with a grade of 'A'. According to the NIRF 2022 Rankings, Jadavpur University is placed 4 and 11 in the categories of "University" and "Engineering," respectively. Jadavpur University is a state-level institution that was founded in 1955. At the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels, Jadavpur University's 36 departments jointly offer more than 130 courses. All of these courses are UGC-approved and are available in four disciplines: Arts, Science, Engineering & Technology, and Interdisciplinary Studies. Additionally, the university provides distance learning programmes approved by Indira Gandhi National Open University. The J.D. Birla Institute and the Institute of Business Management are two institutions that are affiliated with the university. Application Start Date: Application Process is ongoing with no such info of closing soon. Jadavpur University admission for undergraduates degrees has typically begun following the release of Class 12 results. Fee Structure: Rupees 2400 annually Admission Requirements: Merit (i.e., results at the +2 level) and entrance exam results are combined for undergraduate admission to the Faculty of Arts. Departments are free to choose their own entrance standards. Official Website: www.jaduniv.edu.in Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements. A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theology is an academic program that offers students an opportunity to delve into the study of religious beliefs, practices, and doctrines. This comprehensive degree equips students with a solid understanding of various religious traditions and provides a platform to explore questions of faith, ethics, and spirituality. In this article, we will explore the scope of a BA in Theology, highlighting potential career paths and the significance of studying theology in today's multicultural and diverse world. Additionally, we will discuss some of the best colleges offering this program and provide details about the admission process. What's the course BA in Theology all about? The course BA in Theology is an undergraduate program that focuses on the academic study of religion and religious traditions. It delves into various aspects of theology, including religious texts, doctrines, ethics, spirituality, and the history of religions. The program provides students with a deep understanding of different religious traditions, allowing them to critically analyse and interpret religious texts, rituals, and beliefs. Students explore the philosophical, cultural, and social dimensions of religion, and engage in discussions on topics such as religious ethics, comparative religion, and theology in the contemporary world. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, encouraging students to reflect on their own beliefs and engage in meaningful dialogue with others. Through coursework, research projects, and interactive discussions, students develop critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills. The BA in Theology not only offers a comprehensive understanding of religion but also fosters empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a broader perspective on the diverse religious practices and beliefs across the globe. Career Scope after pursuing BA in Theology After pursuing a BA in Theology, graduates have a range of career options that allow them to apply their knowledge and skills in various professional settings. Here are some potential career scopes after completing a BA in Theology: Religious Leadership: Graduates can pursue careers as religious leaders, such as pastors, priests, ministers, imams, or rabbis. They can serve their respective religious communities by leading worship services, providing spiritual guidance, conducting religious rituals, and offering pastoral care. Education: Graduates can work in the field of religious education, teaching theology and religious studies in schools, colleges, or seminaries. They can shape young minds, foster religious literacy, and provide a deeper understanding of different religious traditions. Counselling and Chaplaincy: With a strong foundation in theology and spirituality, graduates can work as religious counsellors or chaplains in hospitals, prisons, military settings, or universities. They can provide emotional support, guidance, and spiritual care to individuals and communities during times of difficulty or crisis. Nonprofit and Social Services: Graduates can contribute to nonprofit organisations, charities, or social service agencies that work in areas such as community development, humanitarian aid, or social justice. They can utilise their understanding of religious values and ethics to address social issues and advocate for positive change. Publishing and Media: Graduates can pursue careers in religious publishing, journalism, or media production. They can write books, articles, or blogs on religious topics, work as editors or content creators for religious publications, or contribute to religious broadcasting and media platforms. Research and Academia: Graduates can further their studies at the postgraduate level and pursue careers in research or academia. They can engage in scholarly research, contribute to theological discourse, and teach theology or religious studies at universities or seminaries. Interfaith Dialogue and Relations: Graduates can work in organisations that promote interfaith dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. They can facilitate conversations between different religious communities, promote religious tolerance, and work towards building bridges of understanding and respect. Community Outreach and Advocacy: Graduates can engage in community outreach initiatives, working with religious organisations or nonprofits to address social issues, promote peace-building, or advocate for marginalised groups based on their religious values and principles. List of Best Universities for BA in Theology Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Theology: 1. The AG Tamilnadu Bible College Establishment/About : The AG Tamilnadu Bible College, sometimes known as ATBC, was founded in 1948. It has Madurai Kamaraj University affiliation and UGC (University Grants Commission) approval. The AG Tamilnadu Bible College's campus may be found in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The Institute is accessible by both rail and road. The AG Tamilnadu Bible College's (ATBC) goal is to stand on the same scaffold as other prestigious universities while providing contributions to the nation and society that are at the pinnacle of international quality. Fee Structure: The Info is available on the official website. Admission Requirements/Eligibility/Date: The application form is accessible on the AG Tamilnadu Bible College's official website. On the official website, applicants can submit their applications. The merit list is used as the foundation for selection. Official Website: agtbc.org 2. Christ (deemed-to-be-university), Bangalore Establishment/About : Christ University is a deemed-to-be-university in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Christ College, which was founded in 1969 as Christ College, was granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 2004. approximately 20,000 students attend the university, and there are approximately 800 academic members. Around 700 international students from 58 different countries attend this university. The university provides undergraduate, graduate, and research programmes that are accredited both domestically and abroad. Rankings: Christ is ranked 20-25 in the QS India rankings for the year 2020. Christ was ranked 19 in 2019. Its position among Asian institutions is 501-550. Christ University is ranked second in the general (private) university category in India Today's Best Universities Survey 2022. According to India Today MDRA Survey of Excellence National Rankings, Christ University is ranked first for BCA Programme, fourth for BBA, seventh for Commerce, seventh for Media and Social Work, and ninth for Arts. Application Start Date: Open From : 28-May-2023, Open Until : 11-June-2023, Applicants may apply online for the programme from January 2023 on the University website till the date of applications officially closing. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 75,000 INR P/A for Karnataka domicile students and 95,000 INR for students from other states students. The university provides comprehensive information on the course fees through their official website. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Minimum Eligibility will be PUC/10 +2 from across Boards ((Karnataka PUC, ISCE, CBSE, NIOS, other State Boards), and recognized bodies in India.). Candidates writing the +2 examinations in March-May 2023 may apply with their class X and XI marks. The selection process will include auditions, skill assessments, personal interview and reviewing of previous academic performance. Official Website: christuniversity.in 3. Sam Higginbottom institution of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences (SHUATS) Establishment/About : As the first agricultural institution in India, Sam Higginbottom institution of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences (SHUATS) was founded in 1910. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in subjects like agriculture, health sciences, social sciences, and more. The top research investigations are also carried out by SHUATS in the fields of plant protection, biochemistry, soil water land engineering management, home science, food technology, dairy sciences, and agricultural sciences. Rankings: SHUATS Pharmacy ranking by NIRF is 79 out of 125 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 56 out of 101 colleges in India in 2020. Application Start Date: SHUATS Admission 2023 applications must be submitted by June 3, 2023. Fee Structure: Fee for this UG Course INR 8000 per Sem. Admission Requirements/Eligibility: For its UG programmes, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences is currently accepting applications for admission in 2023. On the basis of an entrance exam that will be held on June 7, admissions decisions will be made. On the official website, interested individuals can complete the online application form. Official Website: shuats.edu.in 4. Bethel Bible Institute, Salem Establishment/About : The visions of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band and the Bethel Agricultural Fellowship were combined to create the Bethel Bible Institute, a centre for theological study. The Friends Missionary Prayer Band's Missionary Training Centre, which had its beginnings in Tuticorin in 1971, was relocated to the Bethel site in Danish Pet in 1974. This led to a renewed focus on training pastors, missionaries, social workers, and leaders, making it an excellent location for theological studies with a mission-focused curriculum, where candidates for the ministry are sent by FMPB, NSM, BAF, ICGM, and other allied organisations. By giving students enough opportunity to engage in mission, evangelism, pastoral ministry, and social action successfully, the Institute delivers a complete education. Application Start Date: Admission is open now. Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 79998 for three years. Official Website: bethelbibleinstitute.net Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements. Working at an airport offers diverse career opportunities, ranging from flying high as a pilot to ensuring smooth operations on the ground. These jobs not only provide a thrilling environment but can also be highly rewarding in terms of salary and career growth. In this article, we will explore some of the highly paid jobs at airports in India, shedding light on their duties, minimum qualifications, and expected salaries. Every individual working at an airport plays a vital role, be it pilots, crew members, flight dispatchers, aircraft maintenance technicians, or ground staff. Each of these roles is crucial in ensuring smooth airport operations. From coordinating flights to maintaining aircraft and handling baggage transportation, every person's contribution is essential. Any delay or lapse at any point can have significant consequences for the airline and its operations. If you aspire to pursue a career in the aviation sector or have a desire to work for an airline or airport, you have come to the right place for comprehensive guidance and information. First let's talk have a look on to the different kind of jobs at airport. Here is a comprehensive list of jobs at airports in India with Salary in INR: Position Annual Salary Airport Manager 15,00,000 to 30,00,000 Air Traffic Controller 12,00,000 to 25,00,000 Pilot 10,00,000 to 35,00,000 Air Hostess 10,00,000 to 25,00,000 Flight Dispatcher 8,00,000 to 15,00,000 Ground Operations Staff 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Baggage Handler 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Ramp Agent 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Aircraft Maintenance Technician 5,00,000 to 15,00,000 Aircraft Cleaner 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Passenger Service Agent 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Security Officer 3,00,000 to 8,00,000 Immigration Officer 4,00,000 to 10,00,000 Customs Officer 8,00,000 to 20,00,000 Airline Customer Service Representative 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 Gate Agent 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Ticketing Agent 3,00,000 to 6,00,000 Flight Attendant 3,00,000 to 8,00,000 Airport Retail Sales Associate 3,00,000 to 6,00,000 Food Service Worker 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Airport Shuttle Driver 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Cargo Handler 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 Airline Administrative Support Staff 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 Airline Operations Coordinator 5,00,000 to 12,00,000 Airport Firefighter 4,00,000 to 10,00,000 Airport Engineer 8,00,000 to 18,00,000 Airline Training Instructor 6,00,000 to 15,00,000 Airport Information Desk Staff 3,00,000 to 6,00,000 Airline Sales and Marketing Representative 4,00,000 to 10,00,000 Airline Revenue Analyst 6,00,000 to 18,00,000 Airport IT Specialist 6,00,000 to 18,00,000 Here goes the breif information about the jobs at airport along with the salary you can expect. Top jobs at airport Pilot Duties: Pilots operate and fly aircraft, ensuring the safety of passengers, crew, and cargo. They follow flight plans, communicate with air traffic control, and perform pre-flight and post-flight checks. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 in Science, Degree from the recognozed Aviation School and the Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by the aviation authority. Expected Salary: The salary for a Pilot can vary significantly based on experience, type of aircraft, and employer. It can range from 10,00,000 to 50,00,000 or more per year. Airport Manager Duties: Airport Managers oversee all airport operations, including safety, security, facilities management, finance, and customer service. They ensure efficient operations and compliance with aviation regulations. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management or related field. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airport Manager can range from 6,00,000 to 30,00,000 per year or more, depending on the size and location of the airport. Air Traffic Controller Duties: Air Traffic Controllers monitor and manage the flow of air traffic, providing clearances, instructions, and guidance to pilots to ensure safe and efficient aircraft movements in the airspace and on the ground. Minimum Qualification: BTech in engineering degree in electronics, telecommunication, electrical or radio engineering. Completion of a certified Air Traffic Control training program. Expected Salary: The salary for an Air Traffic Controller can range from 8,00,000 to 18,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Immigration Officer Duties: Immigration Officers verify the passports, visas, and travel documents of passengers arriving or departing from a country. They enforce immigration laws and ensure proper entry or exit procedures. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in international studies, or other relevant field or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for an Immigration Officer can range from 5,00,000 to 18,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Customs Officer Duties: Customs Officers inspect and process goods and baggage to enforce customs regulations and prevent smuggling. They assess duties and taxes, and handle customs declarations. Mainly the custom officers recruit by the excise department on government roles. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Customs Officer can range from 4,00,000 to 12,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airport Engineer Duties: Airport Engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction, maintenance, and expansion of airport infrastructure, including runways, terminals, aprons, and taxiways. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a related field. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airport Engineer can range from 6,00,000 to 18,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airline Revenue Analyst Duties: Airline Revenue Analysts analyze revenue data, pricing structures, and market trends to optimize airline revenue. They develop pricing strategies, evaluate sales performance, and identify revenue enhancement opportunities. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or a related field. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airline Revenue Analyst can range from 6,00,000 to 18,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airport IT Specialist Duties: Airport IT Specialists manage and support information technology systems and infrastructure at airports. They ensure smooth functioning of networks, systems, and software used in airport operations. Minimum Qualification: B.Tech in Computer Science or a related field. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airport IT Specialist can range from 6,00,000 to 18,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Jobs at airports for 10+2 and specific diploma holders Next is the list of jobs for which the minimum qualification is 12th along with the 3 years diploma. Well the degree holders in the same trade can also apply for these jobs. Flight Dispatcher Duties: Flight Dispatchers plan and coordinate flight operations. They create flight plans, monitor weather conditions, calculate fuel requirements, and ensure compliance with safety regulations for each flight. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 standard examination with mathematics and physics. 3 year diploma in aviation. Then completion of a Flight Dispatcher training program is required. Expected Salary: The salary for a Flight Dispatcher can range from 5,00,000 to 15,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Aircraft Maintenance Technician Duties: Aircraft Maintenance Technicians inspect, troubleshoot, and maintain aircraft systems and components. They perform scheduled maintenance, repairs, and ensure compliance with safety standards. Minimum Qualification: 10+2, 3 year Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME). Expected Salary: The salary for an Aircraft Maintenance Technician can range from 3,00,000 to 8,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airport Retail Sales Associate Duties: Airport Retail Sales Associates work in airport shops and duty-free outlets, assisting customers with purchases, handling transactions, and maintaining store displays and inventory. Minimum Qualification: 10+2, diploma or equivalent in retail management. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airport Retail Sales Associate can range from 3,00,000 to 6,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Jobs at airports for 10+2 and specific training There are several jobs at airport which required proper training. You can enroll for the training once you beat the basic entrance test, usually conduct by airlines, airport management, etc. The certificates for these training must required DGCA's approval. Flight Attendant/Air Hostess Duties: Flight Attendants ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of passengers during flights. They provide in-flight services, including safety demonstrations, meal service, and assistance to passengers. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 in any stream. Training: Completion of a certified flight attendant/air hostess training program. Expected Salary: The salary of an air hostess/flight attendant can vary based on factors such as the airline, experience, and job location. In India, the expected salary for a flight attendant ranges from 3,00,000 to 8,00,000 per year. Additional benefits such as allowances, medical insurance, and discounts on travel may also be provided by the airline. Airport Firefighter Duties: Airport Firefighters respond to emergencies, including aircraft fires, accidents, and medical incidents. They perform firefighting, rescue operations, and provide emergency medical assistance. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 in any stream Training: Completion of a certified Firefighting training program. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airport Firefighter can range from 4,00,000 to 10,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airline Operations Coordinator Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent. Training: Aviation Management Training is required. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airline Operations Coordinator can range from 3,00,000 to 8,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Jobs at airport for Bachelor's degree holders Here is the list of the jobs at the airport which required only graduation in specific stream. Security Officer Duties: Security Officers maintain security and safety measures at airports. They screen passengers and baggage, monitor surveillance systems, and respond to security incidents or emergencies. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Security Officer can range from 3,00,000 to 8,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Ticketing Agent Duties: Ticketing Agents assist passengers with ticket purchases, changes, and upgrades. They ensure accurate ticketing, handle payment transactions, and provide information on fares and flight schedules. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Ticketing Agent can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airline Training Instructor Duties: Airline Training Instructors deliver training programs to airline staff, including pilots, flight attendants, and ground crew. They conduct training sessions, evaluate performance, and ensure compliance with regulations. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree, Relevant certifications and experience in aviation training. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airline Training Instructor can range from 6,00,000 to 15,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airline Sales and Marketing Representative Duties: Airline Sales and Marketing Representatives promote airline services, negotiate contracts with corporate clients, develop marketing strategies, and analyze market trends to increase passenger bookings. Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree in Marketing or a related field. BBA students can also apply for this. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airline Sales and Marketing Representative can range from 3,00,000 to 10,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airport Information Desk Staff Duties: Airport Information Desk Staff provide information, assistance, and guidance to passengers. They answer queries, provide directions, and handle general inquiries about airport facilities and services. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 or 3 year diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for Airport Information Desk Staff can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airport jobs for the people with 10+2 or equivalent qualification Here goes the list of jobs at airports in India, for which 10+2 or equivalent quilification is required. Ground Operations Staff Duties: Ground Operations Staff handle various tasks on the ground, such as aircraft marshaling, baggage handling, aircraft refueling, aircraft towing, and maintaining ground support equipment. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for Ground Operations Staff can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on the role and responsibilities. Baggage Handler Duties: Baggage Handlers load and unload baggage, cargo, and mail onto aircraft. They ensure proper handling, sorting, and routing of luggage, and coordinate with other airport staff to ensure efficient baggage operations. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Baggage Handler can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Ramp Agent Duties: Ramp Agents assist with aircraft turnaround operations. They guide aircraft to parking positions, perform aircraft pushback, and assist with loading and unloading of cargo, catering, and other supplies. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Ramp Agent can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Aircraft Cleaner Duties: Aircraft Cleaners clean the interior of aircraft, including seats, galleys, lavatories, and windows. They ensure cleanliness and hygiene standards are met before passengers board the aircraft. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for an Aircraft Cleaner can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Passenger Service Agent Duties: Passenger Service Agents assist passengers with check-in, ticketing, boarding, and handling customer inquiries or issues. They provide a high level of customer service and ensure smooth passenger flow. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Passenger Service Agent can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airline Customer Service Representative Duties: Airline Sales and Marketing Representatives promote airline services, negotiate contracts with corporate clients, develop marketing strategies, and analyze market trends to increase passenger bookings. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airline Customer Service Representative can range from 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Gate Agent Duties: Gate Agents facilitate the boarding process, handle seat assignments, verify passenger documents, and coordinate with ground and cabin crew for a smooth departure. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Gate Agent can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Food Service Worker Duties: Food Service Workers prepare and serve food and beverages in airport restaurants, cafes, and lounges. They handle cash transactions, maintain cleanliness, and follow food safety standards. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Food Service Worker can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airport Shuttle Driver Duties: Airport Shuttle Drivers transport passengers between airport terminals, parking areas, and other designated locations. They ensure safe and timely transportation for passengers. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Valid driver's license and commercial driving experience. Expected Salary: The salary for an Airport Shuttle Driver can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Cargo Handler Duties: Cargo Handlers load and unload cargo and freight shipments, ensuring proper handling, documentation, and security measures. They operate specialized equipment and follow cargo handling procedures. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for a Cargo Handler can range from 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Airline Administrative Support Staff Duties: Airline Administrative Support Staff assist with administrative tasks, such as data entry, filing, document preparation, and providing support to airline management and staff. Minimum Qualification: High school diploma or equivalent. Expected Salary: The salary for Airline Administrative Support Staff can range from 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 per year, depending on experience and location. Please note that the expected salaries mentioned are approximate figures and can vary based on factors such as location, experience, company policies, and industry trends. Toyota Motor Philippines has introduced one of its most important new models of the year: the all-new Wigo. As Filipinos seek to become more... In Mali, the Public Health Threat of Trachoma-Induced Blindness Is Over Fatimas world was growing darker. With each blink, her in-turned eyelashes scraped her corneas, causing excruciating pain. She pulled out her eyelashes to temporarily alleviate this pain, but her sight was failing. A Malian mother in her mid-30s, Fatima was living with trachomatous trichiasis (TT), the result of multiple trachoma infections over time. These infections create scars that force the inner eyelid to turn inward and the eyelashes to scrape the cornea. This can lead to blindness if left untreated. Two decades ago, Fatima would have lost her sight. Instead, a trained health care worker corrected each of Fatimas in-turned eyelids in less than 60 minutes. By the time she attended her two-week follow-up appointment, not only were her eyelids corrected but her corneal abrasions were almost completely gone, and she beamed with gratitude. Now, I get to look into my grandchildrens eyes, she said. Public Health, Person by Person Fatimas story has stuck with Kelly Callahan since they met in Mali in 2015. The director of the Carter Centers Trachoma Control Program, Callahan has 25 years of experience fighting neglected tropical diseases like trachoma. The condition, a bacterial infection that strikes women twice as often as men, has been endemic in Mali for years in the late 1990s, the prevalence of trachoma in children aged 1 to 9 living in endemic areas ranged from 23.1% to 46.7%. Trachoma, a bacterial infection that strikes women twice as often as men, was endemic in Mali for years. (Photo: The Carter Center) To Callahan, public health is more than percentages. Its one life. Its Fatimas life, Callahan said. Its helping one person by one person by one person. Twenty-five years after the Center launched its trachoma program, the condition is no longer a threat to Malians. On April 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Mali has eliminated the condition as a public health problem, which, according to the WHO, signifies: The prevalence of TT in adults is down to nearly zero. The prevalence of trachoma-related inflammation in children is holding steady at less than 5% without mass antibiotic distribution. The strategic and financial framework to readily manage trachoma infection is in place. The bacteria that causes trachoma Chlamydia trachomatis has not been eradicated, but no one in Mali has to lose their sight to the disease. A Long Road President Carter first visited Mali in 1998, when disparate groups vying for political control had been stoking violence for decades. The insecurity made it impossible to train healthcare workers, improve sanitation, and distribute antibiotics in areas closed to outsiders. We had to understand the belligerents, and we had to gain trust, Callahan said. Slowly, we built bridges to peace through health. Twenty-five years after the Center launched its trachoma program, the condition is no longer a threat to Malians. Above President Carter and Jim Ervin, past president of the Lions Clubs International Association, meet with General Amadou Toumani Toure (who later became President of Mali) in 1999. (Photo: The Carter Center) Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pompeo Batoni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. The love of God made manifest in the crucified Christ has been a focus of devotion and piety since the very beginning of Christianity. But particular devotion to the heart of Christ first appeared in the Middle Ages. Devotion to the Sacred Heart, as we know it today, arose in earnest in 17th-century France through the revelations received by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with the assistance of her spiritual director, the Jesuit St. Claude de la Colombiere. By the 18th century, devotion to the Sacred Heartand formal acts of consecration to the Sacred Hearthad spread across France and beyond. During the French Revolution, the Sacred Heart became an emblem of Catholic loyalists opposed to the anti-clerical, atheistic forces of the revolution. Catholic counterrevolutionaries in the Vendee wore insignia bearing the image of the Sacred Heart. In 1856, Pope Pius IX established the Feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal Church. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical, Annum Sacrum, declaring that, in the "principal church of every town and village," the faithful of the whole world should be solemnly consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Leo desired that the unified devotion of the Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus would be a powerful reminder, to the faithful themselves and the world at large, of Christ's kingship over all creationa kingship he holds both by right as the Son of God and by virtue of the terrible price he paid to redeem it. Also among the reasons given by Pope Leo for exhorting the Church to this consecration was his abiding concern over rising godlessness, particularly among Christian nations. He saw religion being increasingly excluded from public life, a "sort of wall being raised between the Church and civil society." Such disregard for the authority of sacred and divine law in public life, Leo wrote, "almost tends to the removal of the Christian faith from our midst, and, if that were possible, of the banishment of God Himself from the earth." He went on to describe a state of affairs which bears an uncanny resemblance to our own turbulent and anxious times: When men's minds are raised to such a height of insolent pride, what wonder is it that the greater part of the human race should have fallen into such disquiet of mind and be buffeted by waves so rough that no one is suffered to be free from anxiety and peril? When religion is once discarded it follows of necessity that the surest foundations of the public welfare must give way, whilst God, to inflict on His enemies the punishment they so richly deserve, has left them the prey of their own evil desires, so that they give themselves up to their passions and finally wear themselves out by excess of liberty. This is one of the great themes, perhaps the great theme, of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII. When man, in his pride, attempts to "free" himself from God, he instead becomes a slave to his passions. When man forgets God, he loses sight of himself. Pope John Paul II would sum up the Leonine position, almost a century later, "freedom which refused to be bound to the truth would fall into arbitrariness and end up submitting itself to the vilest of passions, to the point of self-destruction." It is not difficult to hear in those prescient words of Pope Leo, the echo of St. Paul's letter to the Romans. "Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever." This is the same story of prideful rebellion we discover throughout salvationfrom the stiff-necked Israelites rebelling in the desert, to the tower of Babel, to the Fall itself, when Adam and Eve were promised their disobedience would make them like gods. When man, in his pride, attempts to "free" himself from God, he instead becomes a slave to his passions. When man forgets God, he loses sight of himself. This is the story of the human race, in its exasperating simplicity and stubborn stupidity: Tempted in our pride to be like gods, we rebel against God, who created us to be like Himself. And yet, for all that, "the Son of God became man so that we might become God," in St. Athanasius' famous phrase. For this reason, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is no less worthy and important in our own day than it was in 17th-century France, or the Middle Ages, or at the foot of Calvary. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the perfect antidote to the pride in our hearts. God loves us with a human heart so that might learn to share in his divine love. "In that Sacred Heart all our hopes should be placed," Pope Leo wrote, "and from it the salvation of men is to be confidently besought." In the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we discover the humility of God that overwhelms and destroys pride. In his Sacred and Suffering Heart, our own hearts are moved to contrition. In his Sacred Heart, our own selfishness is burned away in the consuming fire of his love and mercy. In his Sacred Heart, we encounter the love that created, ordered, and sustains all things. In His Sacred Heart, we find the strength and grace to love as he loves. In his Most Sacred Heart we find refuge and peace even in the midst ofespecially in the midst ofthe trials and tribulations of the age. Holcim (Romania) awarded state grant 12 June 2023 Holcim is among five companies in Romania which have been awarded state grants for investments with systemic impact, according to IntelliNews. The grants are worth a total of RON363m (US$78.92m), of which Holcim has been allocated RON77.8m. The company has not yet revealed what the funds will be used for. Holcim (Romania) SA currently runs three plants in Romania, one grinding and two integrated, with a total cement production capacity of 6Mta. Published under Pakistan's cement industry faces significant challenges 12 June 2023 On 9 June the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released the Pakistan Economic Survey FY23, critically reviewing all sector performance, including the cement sector in 9MFY22-23 and the remaining months of FY22-23. While commenting, Topline Pakistan Research said the outgoing year was one of the worst periods in Pakistans recent economic history. Pakistans GDP growth is provisionally estimated at 0.3 per cent for FY22-23 as against the target of five per cent for FY22-23 and 6.1 per cent in FY21-22. This will be the third instance in the last 50 years when Pakistan has recorded GDP growth below one per cent. In FY08-09, GDP growth was 0. 4 per cent due the global financial crisis, while in FY-1920, it was negative 0.9 per cent as a resul of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, on a positive development, Pakistan set an estimated 3.5 per cent GDP growth target for FY23-24. Lower dispatches in March The Pakistani cement industry has faced significant challenges recently, including a decrease in demand due to the impact of floods on infrastructure and a construction slowdown caused by political uncertainty. The governments fiscal constraints and limited foreign aid have delayed rehabilitation efforts, further affecting cement demand. Additionally, the economic slowdown in global markets has resulted in lower cement exports, with countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh facing foreign exchange crises. Furthermore, the industry has also been impacted by the massive increase in prices of construction materials. As a result, the cement dispatches showed a hefty decline of 24.2 per cent in March 2023 YoY due to a massive decline in exports. Total cement dispatches stood at 3.8Mt as against 5.01Mt last year. Domestic consumption suffered a contraction of 28.7 per cent and reached 3.36Mt when compared to 4.71Mt in March 2022. Despite the challenges, there was a positive aspect with an uptick in export shipments, which surged by 48.5 per cent from 0.3Mt to 0.44Mt over the same timeframe. The launch of two developmental projects by the World Bank in Afghanistan, resulting in the construction of concrete roads and streets, has created a surge in demand for cement in Afghanistan. As a result, cement exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan have increased significantly in the last two months. North-South trends Domestic consumption in the north was recorded at 2.72Mt in March 2023 compared to 3.85Mt dispatches in the same month last year, thus showing a negative growth of 29.3 per cent. Exports from the north grew by 24.6 per cent and stood at 0.1Mt during the period as compared to 0.08Mt in the same period last year. Meanwhile, demand in the south decreased by 26.2 per cent and reached to 0.64Mt in March 2023 as compared to 0.86Mt in March 2022. At the same time, exports from the region increased by 57.4 per cent, from 0.21Mt to 0.34Mt in March 2023. Cumulative dispatches Total local dispatches during July 2022-March 2023 dipped by 15.5 per cent to 30.56Mt from 36.17Mt last year. Additionally, total exports during the same period amounted to 3.04Mt, reflecting a decline of 34.5 per cent compared to 4.64Mt in the corresponding period of the previous year due to increased production costs, higher freight charges and soaring coal prices. Dispatches in the northern region experienced a significant decline of 16.3 per cent, whereas the southern region witnessed a notable drop of 10.9 per cent in local dispatches. Exports from the north surged by 14.6 per cent, while the south witnessed a fall of 43.1 per cent during the period. Total cumulative dispatches (local and exports) declined 17.6 per cent and reached 33.6Mt during July 2022-March 2023 against 40.8Mt in the year ago corresponding period. Coal use From total coal consumption of 15.416Mt, power, brick kilns, and cement/other sectors consume 47.3, 21.5, and 31.1 per cent, respectively. Furthermore, imported coal was consumed by power plants, cement plants, and steel-making industries. During July 2022-March 2023, domestic coal production totalled at ~9.4Mt and about 6.58Mt of coal was imported. Production The cement production stood at 36.543Mt in 9MFY21-22 and slid to 31.733Mt of cement in 9MFY22-23, translating into a negative growth of -13.2 per cent YoY. FED on Cement The collection of federal excise duty (FED) during July 2022-April 2023 has recorded a growth of 9.8 per cent. The net collection stood at PKR281.2bn (US$980.2m) during July-April FY23 as against PKR256bn during the same period last year. The major revenue spinners of FED are cigarettes, cement, beverages/food, motor cars, air travel, etc. Track and Trace System To date the Track and Trace System has been implemented in the sugar, fertiliser and tobacco sectors. Phase 1 of cement sector implementation is planned to start in June 2023. Capacity utilisation and investment The total capacity of the Pakistani cement industryat the end of March 2023 reached 74.24Mt. Fixed investment loans increased substantially to PKR451.4bn in FY21-22 as compared to an increase of PKR203.5bn in FY20-21. Significant credit growth was observed for machinery import and capacity expansion. Credit demand stemmed from the textile, cement, telecommunication and power sector to expand their operations in FY21-22. Published under Auckland, New Zealand, 12 June 2023 - Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited advises that its 2023 Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held online at www.virtualmeeting.co.nz/FPH23 and in person at our East Tamaki campus in the Daniell Building, 15 Maurice Paykel Place, East Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 commencing at 2.00pm (NZST). In respect of its 2023 ASM, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited advises that the closing date for director nominations is 30 June 2023. Nominations should be addressed by mail or email to: Raelene Leonard General Counsel & Company Secretary Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited PO Box 14348 Panmure, Auckland 1741 New Zealand Email: raelene.leonard@fphcare.co.nz Notice of the ASM will be released to the NZX and ASX, along with instructions for attending the virtual meeting, at least 20 working days prior to the meeting. For more information about the company visit our website www.fphcare.com. Media & Investor Contacts: Dan Adolph Senior Communications and Investor Relations Manager daniel.adolph@fphcare.co.nz +64 22 511 4050 Hayden Brown Head of Capital Markets and Investor Relations hayden.brown@fphcare.co.nz +64 27 807 8073 Authorised by Raelene Leonard, General Counsel & Company Secretary. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Argosy refinances bank facilities Tower changes guidance, provides Q3 trading update July 19th Morning Report Third Age Health - Change of External Auditor Infratil Infrastructure Bond Offer Opens Genesis Appoints Chief Transformation & Technology Officer Chatham Rock Phosphate Private Placement Closes Mainfreight - Director and Legal Counsel Retirements Chorus full year results date July 13th Morning Report A man on Robin Drive continued to call 911 and there were eight separate calls regarding the same nonemergency within a week. An officer explained to him that the continuation of 911 calls for the same nonemergency are going to lead to his arrest for abuse of emergency services. * * * An officer saw a white Lincoln MKC with dark window tint leaving the Highland Apartments. The officer attempted to turn around and the car immediately began to accelerate. The officer activated emergency equipment but the driver did not stop. * * * A man on Mulberry Street called police about two individuals he saw on his camera system walking past his home. The man was concerned because of recent thefts in the area and wanted to have police check the surrounding area. Police didnt find anyone matching the mans description of the individuals. * * * The cashier at Circle K at 3729 Tennessee Ave. told police there was a man sleeping outside of the gas station. She said he has been told to leave multiple times but refused. The cashier wanted to trespass the man from the property. An officer spoke to the man and informed him that he was trespassed from the Circle K and had to leave. The man then left. * * * A man on Georgia Avenue told police his mountain bike had been stolen. He last saw his bike at 6:20 a.m. when he parked his vehicle, and when he came back outside around 6:25 it was gone. It is a custom made, dark red Norco mountain bike. The man believed he has put around $9,000- $10,000 into it. He does want to press charges. * * * Police responded to a 911 call on 15th Avenue and found two women in an argument. Police were told it was a misunderstanding and everything was okay. One of the women agreed to leave and left without further incident. * * * A man on Shepherd View Circle spoke to police over the phone and reported someone had entered his truck overnight. He said there was no damage, so he believes he forgot to lock it. The console had been emptied out and his wallet was gone. He then discovered there were some charges on his United Credit card: $2 at Mapco Express, $5 at McDonalds, $3 at Dollar General, and $10 at Shell. The charges didnt show the exact addresses on the bank statement, but it does say in Chattanooga. * * * A woman on Andrews Street told police she has had an ongoing issue with her neighbor. She said a service was mowing her neighbors yard and found some rubber in the yard believed to be from when a mowing service mowed the womans yard. The two have been in a long, ongoing neighborly dispute and the woman calls police to document any interaction with her neighbor. Adult Protective Services reported that there had been potential fraudulent activity in the bank account belonging to a local nursing home patient.A sexual assault from the week prior was alleged to have occurred in the Grindstone Estates neighborhood.Police assisted the fire department in the 9900 block of Pennywood Lane with a smoking outdoor power box. EPB was able to disconnect the neighborhood of power and have a crew scheduled to repair the unit.A vehicle tried to merge onto the 9400 block of Apison Pike but was unsuccessful and crashed into another vehicle.A resident reported their young child missing in the 9200 block of Homewood Circle.The child was located playing with the neighbors dog prior to police arrival.A traffic stop in the 9300 block of Lee Highway resulted in the driver being charged with driving on a revoked license.East Ridge police made contact with a Collegedale fugitive with a failure to appear warrant from traffic related charges. The fugitive was transported to the jail.A concerned citizen reported what appeared to be a domestic assault in the parking lot of Truist Bank. Officers checked the area but nothing was located.A resident of The Village at Apison Pike apartment complex called police to ask questions about their former spouse violating their bond conditions. While on scene the resident was found to have a Collegedale warrant for harassment and was arrested.A traffic stop in the 5500 block of Little Debbie Parkway led to a vehicle occupant being arrested for a Hamilton County warrant.A Collegedale fugitive was booked on a bond revocation warrant from an original traffic related offense.Night shift officers got out with two individuals that were sitting in a vehicle in front of a closed business in the 5900 block of Elementary. They stated that they were the cleaning crew but forgot their key to get inside. Both parties were checked for warrants and allowed to leave the area.Officers noticed an individual walking in the roadway near the 9300 block of Lee Highway, hitting themself and acting unusual. Contact was made and they stated that they were walking to the gas station to get cigarettes. The individual was allowed to continue on their way.Police were called to the Circle K, located in the 9300 block of Lee Highway, when the store clerk called about an individual acting strange. Officers arrived and found the individual they had just spoken with. At the request of the store clerk the individual was asked to leave the property. They did so without incident.A concerned citizen called in about a driver allegedly hanging out of a vehicle unconscious in the lot of the Circle K, located in the 5000 block of Little Debbie Parkway. Nothing was located when checked.An officer made contact with an individual walking in the 10700 block of Lee Highway. The individual was walking to get away from an altercation they had inside Bradley County. The officer gave them a ride to the Springhill Suites.An unknown 911 call came in from The Village at Apison Pike apartment complex. The area was checked but no emergencies were found.A Collegedale fugitive was transported from the Bradley County Jail to the Hamilton County Jail on a bond revocation warrant from original drug charges.A deer with chronic wasting disease was put down in the 4600 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road.A rear end crash crash was reported in the 4800 block of University Drive.An unknown 911 call came in from the 9300 block of Apison Pike. The area was checked but no emergencies were found.K9 Krino was requested to assist the sheriffs office with a vehicle drug sniff in the 6.6 mile marker of I-75.Police were called to the Pizza Hut, located in the 5900 block of Main Street, for an individual who was allegedly throwing food and yelling at customers. Officers located the individual at the Aldis grocery store, in the 5900 block of Elementary Way, and found them to be the same individual officers had made contact with the the night before at the Circle K. The individual was arrested for disorderly conduct.Southern Adventist Universitys campus security reported a suspicious person that had been on their campus sometime earlier. Security officers stated that the individual had spoke with a dean and had stated that God had told them to come there and spread the word. The area was checked for the suspicious person and no contact was made.K9 Krino was requested to assist the sheriffs office with a vehicle drug sniff at Hickory Street and Ocoee Street.A traffic stop in the 4900 block of Ooltewah Ringgold Road resulted in the drivers arrest for DUI.An officer assisted the Ooltewah Baptist Church with traffic control during their VBS program.A construction crew accidentally activated a business alarm in the 5900 block of Reagan Lane.Night shift officers assisted EPB with traffic control while they repaired downed power lines that were across the road in the area of University Drive and Camp Road. Baylor School Headmaster Chris Angel, 52, was taken into custody on Friday following an arrest on charges of operating a boat while under the influence on Nickajack Lake. Sunday morning, the president and head of school sent out an email regarding the incident. Dear Baylor Faculty, Staff and Parents, I want to make you aware of a situation that is quickly becoming public. On Friday afternoon, I was cited by Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency officials for unsafely operating a pontoon boat while with my wife and another couple. I accept full responsibility for my actions and have learned a valuable lesson from this situation; however, please know that I was not operating the boat unsafely. As I move forward through this process, I want to assure you that I understand the responsibility I have to Baylor School, our faculty, students, and families to conduct myself in a professional manner both on and off campus. While I regret the distraction this will cause for us, know that I remain committed to the values of Baylor School. I have full faith in our legal system, and I look forward to a full and fair resolution of this matter. Sincerely, Chris Angel 89 Baylor School issued the following statement: "The school was immediately advised by Mr. Angel of this incident. The school stands behind Mr. Angel and is confident that this matter will be favorably resolved. Since this is a legal matter that will be handled by the court, the school will not be issuing any further statements or comments." See Rock City Inc. has awarded its newest scholarship to a recent graduate of The Howard School, Brooklyn J. Clay. She is the first recipient of Rock Citys Larry Ammons Memorial Scholarship, created in memory of longtime Rock City partner (employee) and Howard graduate Larry Ammons who died three years ago. Ms. Clay was presented with a $2,000 check by SRC Inc. President and CEO Doug Chapin at The Howard Schools Senior Awards Day. She served as a mentor with the Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga, while also founding and managing a nonprofit organization called Gods Plan for the Poor, which teams up with the local faith community to feed the homeless. Ms. Clay plans to pursue a bachelors, masters and PhD in computer science and engineering. She wants to start a computer technology company to benefit the local community through technology education and an internship program, with employment opportunities to help reduce the homeless population. Ms. Clay says she looks forward to making waves in an industry that is largely absent of women, especially black women like herself. Her leadership qualities and dedication to service exemplify the qualities that Mr. Ammons, the namesake of the scholarship, brought to Rock City every day. Mr. Chapin told Howards graduating class how at age 14, Mr. Ammons hitchhiked up Lookout Mountain to apply for a job at Rock City where he began a career of more than 40 years. Personally, I knew Larry my entire life; I didnt have a day at Rock City until three years ago when he passed that I didnt see him, Mr. Chapin said, describing Mr. Ammons strong sense of responsibility, mentorship, passion and discipline. At Rock City, Larry made his way up to become one of the leaders of the Operations Team through his dedication and hard work. Rock Citys memorial scholarship is to be given annually to a promising Howard High School senior that is enrolled in any of Hamilton County Schools Future Ready Institutes, which are programs that offer in-depth instruction in specific career fields. The establishment of the memorial scholarship furthers Rock Citys support of The Howard Schools academics. The See Rock City Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management at The Howard School is one of 28 Future Ready Institutes offered at Hamilton County Schools. See Rock Citys FRI provides pathways in both culinary arts and hospitality and tourism management. This spring, Rock City celebrated the completion of a new commercial-grade kitchen at The Howard School, equipping students for culinary career paths upon graduation. Lon Eldridge Triple L Trio Triple L Trio Previous Next Chilling and Milling on July 4th at the Jewish Cultural Center will include an indoor, air-conditioned, chicken BBQ event featuring the music of local favorites, Triple L Trio beginning at 11:30 a.m. There will be chicken sizzling on the grill with plenty of summer sides including homemade potato salad and cole slaw, and topped off with tasty dessert treats. Vegetarian meals are available if requested by the registration deadline of June 29. Guests can mill around the venues current exhibition Jews, Blues and All That Jazz, featuring large works by Tom Farnam and smaller works by 11 area artists. The cost to attend is $15 for adults; $28 for two, $36 for a family of four, $7 for children seven to 16, and free for children under seven. Register at www.jewishchattanooga.com. Review for the Triple L Trio: The Triple L Trio is sure to keep your feet moving and your face smiling, effortlessly blending the sounds of swing, blues, with a touch of jazz and Americana. The trio features local musicians Lon Eldridge (guitar/lap steel, vocals), Lou Wamp (lap steel), and Lynn Wamp (string bass/vocals). Lon began playing guitar at the age of 13, and it quickly grew into a passion and an obsession. Lon's playing style is one of intricate fingerstyle guitar work, evoking the spirits of Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Blind Blake and countless other musical masters. Lou and Lynn Wamp perform an eclectic and spirited mix of original compositions paired with a constantly evolving setlist from folk, country, swing, jazz, and bluegrass, all to which they add their own acoustic flair. Lou was named one of the Top 20 Dobro Players by Guitar Journal magazine. The trio will delight and surprise you. The Jewish Cultural Center, funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, offers programs, classes and exhibits, social services, and a preschoolall rooted in Jewish values. The facility enables the Jewish community to raise its visibility, foster relationships, and strengthen its identity in the Chattanooga area. Located at 5461 North Terrace, the Center and its programs are open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation. Paul McCartney said he never used heroin. He explained that he was curious about the drug, and he felt grateful he didn't follow his friend's advice. Paul McCartney said many of his contemporaries used heroin, but he feels grateful that he never did. Throughout the 1960s, many musicians experimented with drugs. The Beatles were no different, writing whole albums inspired by their marijuana and LSD use. McCartney knew people who used heroin, including his own bandmate, but he never tried the drug. Looking back, he said he feels relieved he never used it. Paul McCartney | Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Paul McCartney said he learned about heroin through The Rolling Stones Brian Jones One of the first people McCartney knew who used heroin was The Rolling Stones Brian Jones. Brian was a nervous guy, very shy, quite serious and maybe into drugs a little more than he should have been, because he used to shake a bit, McCartney said in The Beatles Anthology. He was lovely, though. We knew he was on heroin. I knew about heroin but I couldnt have been very clear about it because I remember asking Robert Fraser about it. Brian Jones | Keystone/Getty Images Fraser was an art dealer who The Beatles got to know well. When McCartney asked him about heroin, he wrote it off as no big deal. I think it was he who said to me, Heroins no problem as long as you can afford it. There are millions of addicts, man, and for a second I almost thought that might just be true, McCartney said. But thank goodness something said to me, No, that doesnt sound right, so I didnt get into it. I was lucky. Paul McCartney has been arrested for drugs multiple times McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison were all arrested for drugs, but McCartney was arrested more than any of his bandmates. In 1972, after the band broke up, he was arrested for the first time for possession of cannabis in Sweden. He later got in trouble for growing marijuana on his farm in Scotland. As with his arrest in Sweden, he got off with just a fine. On a trip to Japan, though, McCartney landed himself in more severe trouble. Officials discovered half a pound of marijuana in his bag at the airport, enough to potentially land him smuggling charges. McCartney spent nine days in jail but believes his celebrity got him out of the situation. While McCartney acknowledged that his arrest in Japan was stupid, he landed in legal trouble again in 1984. On a trip to Barbados, police arrested him and his wife, Linda, for possession of cannabis. Paul McCartneys bandmate John Lennon used heroin throughout the 1960s McCartney never used heroin, but his Beatles bandmate Lennon did. Toward the end of the 1960s, Lennon began experimenting with the drug. The two of them were on heroin, McCartney said of Lennon and Yoko Ono, via Salon, and this was a fairly big shocker for us because we all thought we were far-out boys, but we kind of understood that wed never get quite that far out. Lennon and Ono said they quit the drug cold turkey in 1969, an experience that Lennon wrote a song about. How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357. In Order Make a Comment You need to login. The United States has granted General Electric permission to manufacture its F414 jet engine in India. GE will transfer technology to an Indian firm to set up a new manufacturing plant there. The engines will be used in the new Tejas Mark 2 Medium Weight Fighter. India tried to develop and manufacture an Indian engine but failed. This led to the deal with GE to build the F414 locally. Imported F414s cost ab0ut $4.8 million each, not including spare parts. The locally manufactured F414 will be cheaper and India plans to use them in future Indian developed fighters. Currently the F414 is used in the F-18E/F/G and the Swedish Gripen. The 11-ton Tejas is a delta-wing light fighter armed with a 30mm autocannon and up to six tons of bombs and missiles. This is a change for India, which has long used Russian MiG-21s and MiG-29s as well as French and British jets. The Russian jets are being phased out. The Tejas will replace older MiGs. X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: This 27-year-old guy lives all on his own, and he does have a younger brother who is 21. His brother still lives at home with their mom and dad since he cant afford to move out and get his own apartment. His brother also has been dating a 19-year-old girl for the past 4 months, and his brothers girlfriend is now pregnant. A few nights ago, his brother asked if he could come over for dinner with his girlfriend because his brother wanted to just catch up with him. He agreed, but as soon as his brother walked through the door of his home along with his girlfriend, he started having problems. His brothers girlfriend instantly began complaining about how his house smelled of steak, which was what he was cooking for dinner. His brothers girlfriend said there was no way she could eat that for dinner because it was making her sick just to smell it. I tried to suggest an alternative, but she was dead set on Chinese food and ended up sending my brother to the nearest mall in order to get her some, he explained. I thought that would be the end of it, but after going to the bathroom and coming back, I caught her throwing my unfinished steak into the garbage. I asked her whatshe was doing and said the smell was so strong she thought shed end up throwing up on the floor and she needed to get rid of it and then started spraying a perfume from her purse in my kitchen. I was beyond furious at this point and sent her back to the living room, and after my brother came back from the mall, I kicked both of them out with their Chinese food. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. A mom on TikTok named Erin Percy (@erinpercy60) shared a video displaying a basket of wrapped gifts shes sending with her daughter when she goes to college, and it has everyone feeling emotional. The various small gifts are all labeled with handwritten notes directing her daughter, Abby when she should open each present while shes attending the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Graduating from high school and heading off to college is a big change for both parent and child. So Erins heartwarming gesture is meant to make the transition from home to college as smooth as possible for Abby. The first package is marked with the words, Open me when its cold outside. The next read, Open me when you catch a cold. The third was, Open me when you need a little me time. Fourth: Open me when you need to break the ice with new people. The fifth present read, Open me when you dont have time to do the laundry, and the sixth said, Open me any day but Sunday. Then, there was Open me before midterms, Open me when you need a little jolt, and Open me when you get your first A. The note that garnered the most reactions from TikTok users was written on the last present, which stated, Open me when we say goodbye. I sobbed as I read Open me when we say goodbye,' commented one user. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Unsplash/Katie Moum Unlicensed chaplains could replace certified school counselors in public schools under a bill that has been presented in the Texas state legislature, which is a worrying development. Diverse stakeholders, like Cantor Sheri Allen, who has been aggressively advocating against the idea, have expressed grave reservations about this proposal. Cantor Sheri Allen took immediate action upon learning about the proposed legislation by sending daily emails to her state representatives and sharing news stories and opinion pieces. Her main reason is to draw attention to the possible threats this might bring to the students. Texas State Legislature Presents Bill Allowing Unlicensed Chaplains as School Counselor Replacements The bill has sparked concerns about the qualifications and expertise of unlicensed chaplains who would be responsible for providing guidance and support to students. The provision in the bill explicitly states that these chaplains are not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification, raising apprehension about their abilities. Cantor Allen expressed her viewpoint in an article shared by the Times of Israel, stating, "While individuals have the right to believe what they want, imposing those beliefs on others is not acceptable. Religion should remain within faith communities, not public schools." Despite Cantor Allen's efforts to communicate with her state representatives, the bill passed with a vote of 80 to 64. Now, Governor Gregg Abbott holds the power to either approve or veto this contentious legislation before it can become law. The governor has until mid-June to make this crucial decision. Also Read:Texas Congregants Urge Catholic Bishops to Refrain from Political Involvement, Situation Getting Worse Controversial Bill Raises Concerns about Church-State Separation and Christian Nationalism Cantor Sheri Allen, the co-founder of Congregation Makom Shelanu, perceives the recent adoption of the bill allowing unlicensed chaplains in public schools as yet another violation of the separation between church and state. An article shared by Bharat Times reveals that an increasing number of individuals, including pastors, advocates of religious freedom, and educators, share concerns about the rise of Christian nationalism in the country. The adoption of this legislation has triggered worries about government personnel potentially imposing their religious beliefs on students. Accordung to aRachel Ledger, president and CEO of American United for Separation of Church and State, an organization dedicated to promoting religious liberty, argues that such bills "encourage public officials to use state power to impose their religion on all children." Ledger also asserts that these actions reflect Christian nationalism by prioritizing Christian values within the government, which marginalizes students and others with different beliefs. Another debate surrounding the constitution has emerged due to the approval of Oklahoma's first potential Christian charter school in the United States. As reported by Christianity Daily, religious instruction will be incorporated into the online curriculum of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, operated by the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa and the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. While Christian conservatives have praised this decision, it has raised questions about using taxpayer funds for religious organizations. The decision made by the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, under Republican control, may lead to a legal dispute concerning the separation of church and state in the education system. Critics argue that this decision violates state law and erodes the boundary between religion and the state. Related Article: Texas Legislators Greenlight School Chaplains in Response to Escalating Mental Health Crisis Unsplash/Anuja Tilj This weekend's planned Western Pennsylvania Roman Catholic service to show support for the LGBTQ community has been abruptly postponed. Promotional leaflets that referred to the event as a "Pride mass" sparked objections, leading to the announcement of the cancellation. As a result of a flurry of protest emails and phone messages, some of which had threatening overtones, the local diocese requested that Sunday's mass at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh be canceled, according to reliable sources. While the demonstrations' specifics are unknown, this occurrence occurs in a larger cultural context where well-known companies like Target, Bud Light, and Starbucks have come under fire from conservatives for using Pride-themed branding. Pride Mass in Pittsburgh Sparks Controversy According to the organization's president, Kevin Hayes, the mass was conceived by Catholics for Change in Our Church and put together in cooperation with a number of LGBTQ+ outreach agencies. In the article shared in The Guardian, he said that earlier outreach programs for parishioners of color, particularly Black and Hispanic people, were analogous to the event. The proposed mass, which was meant to be an inclusive gesture during Pride Month, came under fire after independent sponsors released a flier. The flier, which was meant to advertise the event, unintentionally infuriated and confused some people, claims Pittsburgh diocese Bishop David Zubik. According to the story that was shared in Yahoo! News, in a letter to the diocese's priests, deacons, and seminarians, Bishop Zubik gave clarification on the recent incident. He claimed that although the event was promoted as a "Pride mass," the church could not support such an event for a number of reasons, including worries about people's conduct and lifestyle choices. The Bishop further underlined that misunderstandings about his alleged approbation of the mass caused some people to react negatively. He said that the language used by those who condemned the occurrence was viewed as judgmental and threatening, and some may even claim to lack in the spirit of Christian charity, which he found disappointing. Also Read: Case Dismissed: Preacher Arrested for Disorderly Conduct during Pride Event Sees Charges Dropped Unapproved 'Pride Mass' Canceled Amid Protests and Misunderstandings in Pittsburgh The church has made significant efforts to welcome persons struggling with delicate personal circumstances, Zubik continued. According to the article in Associated Press News, he highlighted that it is everyone's duty to love people who are attracted to them in the same way, but he made it clear that the church could not condone activities that go against God's will. Zubik asked that the gathering be called off due to the controversies surrounding it and expressed sorry for how things turned out. Following the event's postponement, Catholics for Change in Our Church president Kevin Hayes expressed his dissatisfaction and annoyance. The purpose of the event was to create a space where LGBTQ+ Catholics could feel welcomed and affirmed as beloved individuals in the eyes of a loving God while also being able to participate in the Eucharist, which they believed to be appropriate. He expressed regret, saying, "We are very sad and very frustrated." Given the current backlash and cancellation, it still needs to be determined if a similar event will be planned in the future. Related Article:Bishops, Child Care Facility Unite in Protest Against Government's Alleged Harassment of Church-Run Centers for Children in India Unsplash/Christian Lue When state officials launched investigations into child abuse cases involving providers of gender-affirming treatment for transgender children in a Texas neighborhood, Susan, a worried parent, felt a strong sense of unease. Elsa, Susan's 7-year-old daughter, showed maturity beyond her years and, at a young age, started expressing her real gender identification. Throughout Elsa's journey, she demands to wear clothes, takes on a new identity, and is acknowledged as a daughter by her parents. Susan and her husband had to make the difficult decision to leave their home state of Texas because they were concerned about possible family dissolution and restrictions on Elsa's future access to care. Unfortunately, their predicament is not unusual; many families across the nation are uprooting their lives in search of locations that provide better safeguards for their community in response to the introduction of anti-LGBTQ legislation. Transgender People Struggles Due to Laws According to the article in ABC News, Elsa indicated a strong desire to remain despite the difficulties, highlighting the value of the family unit. However, Susan and her husband ultimately moved to Washington, a state known for its higher acceptance of LGBTQ people and legal protections, after realizing the possible risks they faced. The Washington State LGBTQ Commission's executive director, Manny Santiago, expressed conflicting opinions regarding the circumstance. He appreciated the relief of giving these families a place to call home, but he also recognized the hardship of uprooting oneself and the sense of loss that goes along with it. LGBTQ rights have a complicated history in Florida, and recent political shifts have caused the community to express worries. According to the article in the Washington Post, Anita Bryant ran a campaign against LGBTQ protections, and the state's Johns Committee had previously targeted civil rights activists, including professors who were homosexual. Despite these hurdles, LGBT pride has been accepted in several places, including Miami Beach and Key West. The legalization of same-sex unions and the Pulse nightclub shooting, however, gave people a false sense of advancement and unification. LGBTQ advocates are disturbed by Governor Ron DeSantis' recent moves, such as signing the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Some teachers are apprehensive about incorporating LGBTQ-themed materials into their curricula because of the requirement that schools remove LGBTQ emblems. Due to the new rule, Miami-Dade County schools, which had traditionally supported LGBTQ activities, even declined to approve an annual empowerment event for LGBTQ children. LGBTQ people who were previously unaffected by these challenges in schools have become more aware as a result of this change. DeSantis' reelection and probable presidential aspirations demonstrate the rightward political trend in Florida. His legislative allies are introducing conservative legislation as concerns about LGBTQ rights rise. The LGBTQ community in Florida is beginning to understand how crucial it is to be vigilant and together in the face of continued difficulties. Also Read:California Parents Clash in Fierce Protests Over Elementary School Pride Event, Citing Concerns of Being 'Too Young' Lawsuit Filed Amid Filing a Law Believed to be Discriminatory Just by Last Month, two women were getting ready to file a lawsuit against Tennessee for not including gender-affirming healthcare in its public employee health insurance plans. According to the article shared here in Christianity Daily, the plaintiffs identified a coverage gap after their insurance company refused to pay for procedures connected to gender dysphoria. VanNess highlighted in a news conference the difficulties people with gender dysphoria encounter in getting access to quality medical care. The defendants named in the lawsuit include the state of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee, the Knox County Board of Education, and various insurance committees. The lawsuit alleges that Tennessee's health insurance regulations are discriminatory and illegal because they limit coverage for procedures except those related to "sex transformations." The purpose of the action is to contest the fact that government employees' health insurance policies do not cover care that is gender-affirming. In other Republican-dominated states, anti-transgender bills are also facing similar hurdles. Related Article:Case Dismissed: Preacher Arrested for Disorderly Conduct during Pride Event Sees Charges Dropped Friends and neighbors Stacie Marshall and Melvin and Betty Mosley chat over coffee in Marshalls farmhouse kitchen in Dirt Town Valley, Georgia. Windows frame cattle pastures in every direction as they catch up on family weddings and local farming news. A mass of cheerful daffodils rests on the table between them. On the surface, this encounter seems like any other between close friends. But a striking history sets their relationship apartBetty Mosleys great-great-grandmother was enslaved by Marshalls great-great-great-grandparents in this community 150 years ago. Marshall, 43, a mother of three and former campus minister, has been friends with the Mosleys for decades in this largely segregated corner of Northwest Georgia. Her father grew up as best friends with Melvin Mosley, and Melvin was her assistant high school principal. Stacie Marshall and the Mosleys did not know their shared painful past until it was uncovered in 2021 through a Berry College documentary called Her Name Was Hester. The filming began in 2015 and followed Marshalls discovery of her familys history and her attempts to reconcile with the descendants of those they enslaved as she learns to run her familys 300-acre cattle farm. In 2017, Marshall was clearing out the family farmhouse when she discovered an 1860 county slave schedule in a boot box. The document, which listed enslaved people as part of the federal census, confirmed what her grandfather had told her years beforethat her great-great-great-grandfather had purchased seven people, including a wet nurse named Hester. My grandparents are dead, and now all of this belongs to me, Marshall remembers thinking. She described the strange feeling of shame that came with finding her familys documents, even though she was generations removed from the slavery. Marshall first turned to the Mosleys, her spiritual mentors, as she sought to find Hesters descendants and make amends. Though she knew them well, she approached the meeting with trepidation, concerned the story would bring pain. But she found that the Mosleys welcomed the conversation. Im having to unlearn the idea that silence is protective, Marshall said. [ This article is also available in Francais. ] Article continues below Melvin Mosley, a 69-year-old principal turned pastor, spoke a prayer over Marshall that day that she calls one of the defining moments of my life. He has known and loved generations of my family, Marshall said, and that day, he prayed, Lord, break this generational racism that might exist. Years went by as Marshall and the Mosleys began leading racial reconciliation efforts in their community together. The Berry documentary continued to film their progress, and in 2021 The New York Times profiled their relationship. Two weeks later, a local historians genealogical research unlocked a stunning development: Hesters great-great-granddaughter was Betty Mosley. Image: Photography by Rita Harper for Christianity Today It was shocking, said Betty, 67. How in the world did this happen? She knew that most of her Black community had roots in slavery and sharecropping. In fact, her mother had been a sharecropper who picked cotton. But she never suspected a connection with Stacie Marshall. After hearing the news, Betty stayed up all night searching for family records. And then she called Marshall the next day to say, I just want you to know that this doesnt change the way I love you. Melvin and Betty Mosley have been working toward racial reconciliation for decades in this county of 25,000, most recently through Harmony Baptist Church, an interracial congregation that Melvin has pastored for the past two years. Harmony was founded to be a worship place for every race. But racial reconciliation hasnt always come easy to the Mosleys. In his elementary years, Melvin noticed that his Black school got the leftover books from the white school. In college, he was told by one of his professors that he didnt belong in the largely white setting. And as a young teacher, Melvin had to correct a white student who told him, My daddy told me I dont have to do what you say. Article continues below When Betty was in seventh grade in 1967, the year schools were integrated in Chattooga County, a white boy called her a racial epithet on the bus. He walked out with a black eye. Though she grew up in church, she said her faith in Christ deepened during her early years of marriage as she began to study Gods Word. Her early dreams of a big house, a nice car, and a swimming pool yielded to a deep desire to please God. Its like the hymn says, she said. You understand it better by and by. She and Melvin later participated in Race Relations Sunday, hosted annually by their home church, Oak Hill Missionary Baptist. Each year, the white church Stacie Marshall attended was invited to come worship at Oak Hill while the Mosleys Black pastor would preach at the white church, whose columns had been carved by enslaved workers. Betty is redirecting the grit that silenced a middle-school bully decades ago. Today, she focuses on reaching all races with the love of Jesus Christ. Betty and Melvin often host activities like biscuit-making classes, fish fries, and other community events in their work with Harmony Baptist Church. I dont care if they are white, Black, Mexican, or Asian, Betty said. I want them all. Thats the way its supposed to bethats the way it is in heaven. Melvin sees the potential to interrupt generational sin and build a more hopeful future. In all our families, there are generational things its up to us to break, he said. And when we break them, theyre broken forever. Image: Photography by Rita Harper for Christianity Today Both Melvin and Betty understand the challenges they face in this work, even as they rely on God as the source of all love. Love is hard, Betty said. People dont always give it back to you. But its what the Lord requires of us. Article continues below Sometimes love means pushing back against racism for the good of the community. Several years ago, a local official allowed a Confederate flag to be flown over the county courthouse. Betty and Melvin visited him and asked him to remove it. Several others protested too, and the flag eventually was taken down. Through actions like these, the Mosleys are sharing Christ with their community. Our goal is to make our town a better place to live, Betty said. As my relationship with the Lord [has grown], I want to make a difference in the world. Marshall continues to experience pushback as she shares her familys story more widely, through both the Berry College documentary and The New York Times piece that featured her relationship with the Mosleys. Though she and her husband led a campus ministry at the WinShape Foundation at Berry College for 13 years (where he still works), she walks a tightrope with some fellow Christians who regard her with suspicion and a few of the local farmers she bumps into at the Dirttown Deli. Melvin and Betty Mosley have helped guide her through this, cautioning, Youre going to see a side of [some people] that you havent seen. Marshall worried for the Mosleys too, but Melvin assured her they have been through worse. Ive been wearing this black suit my whole life, he said with a grin. But this is not a relationship defined by shared persecution. Instead, it is seen in the easy, warm way the Marshalls and Mosleys relate to one another, the good-natured ribbing, the deep family connections. Melvin performed Marshalls brothers wedding on a recent weekend, and her brother called her while the Mosleys and Marshalls were gathered in her snug kitchen. How are the honeymooners? Melvin bellowed to the phone across the room. There have been hard conversations and tears along the way. Early on, trying to make sense of her familys relationship with the people they enslaved, Marshall shared her familys narrative about Hester: that she was so close with the Marshall family that she opted to stay with them after the Civil War. But the Mosleys reframed the story for Marshall: As a penniless Black woman, where else could she have gone? Article continues below Its a gift from the Lord to walk through this relationally, to not ignore it or be in bondage to it, Marshall said, explaining that authentic repair can only come in relationship. [The Mosleys and I] keep our own relationship rooted in what our strongest bond isour Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Betty Mosley sees relationship as the ultimate route to healing racial wounds. Relationship is everything, she said. Youve got to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. She also seeks to share Gods love and ultimate reconciliation through the way she treats others. I pray over my home because I want you to feel welcome in my home. I want you to feel comfortable talking to me. I may have an opinion, but Im going to tell it to you from the perspective of the Lord. In an age of pitched debate and hot takes, the Mosleys steadfast, loving engagement stands in sharp relief. And it doesnt come without a cost. As white people, we get to choose whenever we have this conversation, Marshall said. Image: Photography by Rita Harper for Christianity Today But the Mosleys never had a choice. It helps me understand what has been required and how they have held this history the way they have. One of the Mosleys daughters told Marshall, I just want you to share the wound with us. Because its heavy, and weve had to carry it for a long time. This outlook helps Marshall respond when some paint her as a white savior: Im learning to be misunderstood. Thats a small solidarity in walking alongside her Black neighbors, she said. Its okay if people dont understand my motives. Article continues below As Marshall continues to wrestle with her familys history, she is considering how to use the additional land she will inherit to further the work of reconciliation in her community. Its a fraught topic, echoing a larger national debate around reparations. Its something Im going to be working out the rest of my life, she said, noting that reparation is about repair at its core. What does repair look like in community? In relationship? One example she offers is her father and Melvin Mosleys lifelong friendship: It has been very formative to my faith journey. The church she grew up in focused heavily on conversion and the Great Commission. But Daddy and Melvin were centered on God is going to bring who hes going to bring to himself. And if he uses me, thats wonderful. That has been profound for me, Marshall said. I am just going to be love, because I am loved. She appreciates the way Jesus went about repair during his life on earth, in effect saying, Something of harm has happened heresin. Lets repair it, and that can only be done through my death and resurrection. At its center, repair is about dying to self, she said, citing Galatians 6:2: Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. He broke bread and body so we could be reconciled to God, Marshall said. He showed how to walk out repair in human relationships. And she sees racial reconciliation as a fundamental way to express her Christian faith, referencing Matthew 18:15. Its not a chore to do this, she said. It feels like all these sermons and Scriptures living inside of me is all for this moment. This is how I can walk out my Christian faith tangibly. Article continues below Her Name Was Hester examines personal and societal repair as they relate to reparations. Black farmer Matthew Raiford says in the film, Reparations are about more than land or moneyits a conversation to have. Its not one size fits all. The films director, Brian Campbell, an associate professor of anthropology and chair of environmental science and studies at Berry, has seen the impact the film makes on viewers. A Black community organizer who saw the film at a screening in Rome, Georgia, told Campbell that it changed his perception of what reparations might look like. The film presents the idea that really spending time with your neighbor of a different background will provide opportunities for connection that you didnt anticipate, Campbell said. Engaging in genuine dialogue and conversation will lay the groundwork to move toward reconciliation. Haley Smith, Berrys director of diversity and inclusion, is creating lesson plans and discussion guides for churches, schools, and community groups. Her Name Was Hester has been screened at film festivals from Arizona to New York over the past year. Assessing reparations, Melvin Mosley said, Its the heart that has to be changed. He foresees a day when enough hearts are changed that people of color dont have to be twice as good as others to acquire jobs or secure loans, as he experienced. Everything we do today affects tomorrow. Weve got to look forward and pay it forward. Betty put it more simply: Reparations to me is that Stacie dont teach her kids to be prejudiced. To this end, the Mosley and Scoggins (Marshalls fathers side) families founded Hesters Heritage Foundation in 2021 to support Black history preservation, education, and farming initiatives. The foundation hosts groups at the farm to preserve enslaved peoples unmarked graves, conduct discussions, and advocate for the prosperity of Black farmers, who currently make up only 1 percent of farmers nationwide. Article continues below I know this land belongs to the Lord, Marshall said. I want to use it for the healing of the community. One way Hesters Heritage Foundation is paying it forward is by screening Her Name Was Hester and leading discussions with college students. They are so committed to seeing a better world, Marshall said. At a Hesters Heritage event at the farm last year, a group of Berry students gathered around to hear stories from 95-year-old Dirt Town Valley resident Clemmie Black, an educator who had taught in Chattooga County schools for decades before they were integrated. Her grandmother had been enslaved and would measure flour and sugar with her hands when baking because she couldnt read or write. Over the years, Black not only attained an education but was able to teach and influence generations in this area, sowing small seeds of hope. Marshall shares the same motivation as she works with the Mosleys to undo the racial dynamics they inherited. I just want to keep sowing good seeds alongside the Mosleys, she says in Her Name Was Hester. Marshall marvels at this improbable story that has affected so many lives over so many years and has led to two friends sharing coffee on a quiet morning. We could not have written this story, she said. It feels miraculous. Sitting in Stacie Marshalls kitchen, Betty Mosley reflects on the changes she has seen within her lifetime in Dirt Town Valley: Even though my great-great-grandmother was born a slave, I was born free. Jesus said, If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. She rests her elbows on the counter beside the bright daffodils, the first flowers to bloom at the end of winter. I am free indeed. Melissa Morgan Kelley is a journalist based in Atlanta. [ This article is also available in Francais. ] Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. For eight months, the Ukrainian city of Kherson endured Russian occupation. Nowalong with at least seven churchesit is underwater. Experts estimate that the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam, 44 miles upstream, released an amount of water equal to the Great Salt Lake. A new wave of evacuations is underway in southern Ukraine, with 25,000 people in Russian-controlled areas and 17,000 in Ukrainian-held territory advised to leave. An estimated 2,000 houses have been flooded, with 16,000 people made homeless. A lack of drinking water, electricity shortages, and floating land mines have contributed to the humanitarian and ecological disaster. The dams reservoir contributed 2,600 tons of fish to the local economy. Wheat prices have spiked, as 94 percent of Khersons irrigation system has lost its supply. And 150 tons of machine oil have been carried toward the Black Sea. But that is just the physical damage. Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI) in Kherson is a spiritual casualty. Liberated from Russian occupation last November, the seminarys riverside properties suffered a new blow with the deluge. Early in the war, TCI president Valentin Siniy evacuated west with his wife, two children, and much of the student body. Today he continues education from Ivano-Frankivsk as he oversees relief efforts over 500 miles away. CT spoke with Siniy about the state of the seminary campus, the emotional impact of the flood, and the rising challenges to faith that have led to newfound spiritual insights: What is the situation with your seminary? When the Russian military descended upon our cherished seminary, it was an emblem of knowledge and spiritual growth. They stripped it of its essence. Equipment from our printing shop vanished, books were burned, and I would say their very presence desecrated our sacred space. A friend later retrieved one of my favorite pictures: an image of Jesus crucified feet. But even after liberation, Russian missiles destroyed our buildings and sniper fire kept people away. I visited several times, but it was too dangerous to remain. Our once-vibrant campus, composed of five buildings, lay in ruins, mirroring the devastation that ravaged our nation. And just when we thought we had faced the worst, the catastrophic flooding submerged our greenhouse farm. It had been a source of sustenance and support for our students and area residentseven as it remained in occupied territory on the east bank of the Dnipro River. Now that the waters are slowly receding, our manageralso a local pastortells us that much can be repaired. But he has been threatened by the Russians, who also killed a pregnant volunteer woman while they confiscated the boats of those assisting others. The Russian government is godless and immoral; it simply destroys people. How have evangelicals been able to help? There is a lot of dirt and debris floating about. Cemeteries and cesspools have been flooded; viruses and diseases are spreading. Our volunteers are helping on the liberated west bank, and we have delivered ten pumps with another ten on their way. Unfortunately, most of the damage has been in Russian-controlled areas. Through the United World Mission-Overseas Council partnership, we are addressing the lack of drinking water by providing filters alongside dry food rations. And our churches continue to serve as refugee hubs, receiving again those displaced from their homes. How are local residents dealing with yet another tragedy? These trials have left an indelible mark on our emotions and spiritual state. War and environmental disaster have reshaped our perceptions of the world. In the face of extreme violence and suffering, our once-unwavering beliefs have undergone profound revision. Questions about the presence of God have become more prevalent, as individuals seek solace amid their pain. They yearn for a faith that transcends simplistic assertions and embraces the complexities of their reality. Faith is not a passive endeavor. It is a journey that demands deep introspection and unwavering commitment. Times of suffering force us to reevaluate our understanding of the relationship between faith and well-being. It is in these moments that the witness of Christians becomes most relevantnot through sermons alone, but through our presence and assistance to those who suffer. It is through practical acts of love and compassion that the essence of our religion is revealed. It is not easy, and some are losing their faith. What is the main issue believers struggle with? For many, their belief had been superficial. But even among believers, in the past we used to operate according to Psalm 37 where David said, I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread (v. 25). We trusted that if we lived a moral life, God would give us a prosperous life. And if we sinned, we would suffer, but we knew that weor othersdeserved it. Even with a more mature faith, we used to interpret 1 Corinthians 10 that our trials would not be more than we could bear. But my sin was not equal to this devastation, nor my sanctification proportionate to the level of suffering. My righteousness could not endure this terrible war. So many of us were left confusedeven scaredof the impact this great pain would have on our faith. I dont know how to understand these verses now; however, I do know that Jeremiah and Job came to different conclusions. Jobs righteousness was vindicated; there was no link between his suffering and sin. In this case, the pain simply comes from Russian aggression. How do you answer your fellow Ukrainians who are overwhelmed? It does not help to speak about the love of God at times like this; it is usually best just to sit in silence with them. But C. S. Lewis wrote about how suffering burns away the formalism of faith, inviting people into a deeper relationship with God. We want to be ready to help spiritually, when they are ready to inquire. And some are. Last week, I preached at a service where three young people were baptized. After the service, an older man approached me and asked how I have the strength to stand firm. I quoted from 1 Peter 1 about our inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. And while we still have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, through faith, we are shielded by Gods power (vv. 46). These verses have become a source of inspiration and solace. They speak of the hope that is bestowed upon us through our faith in God. And it reminds me that the strength to endure extreme violence and unspeakable suffering does not come from within ourselves, but emanates from Gods strength. What does shielding mean, in the face of so much loss? It was the flood that helped me think through this passage. Later in his letter, Peter connects baptism to the time of Noah, and how faith helped them escape in the ark. His family lost so much in the world, yet they were preservedtrusting in Gods promise. It is not our possessions that are shielded, as they were swept away in the floodwaters. Nor is it our emotions that are shielded, as we still go through pain. But what I have found is that God shields our hope, enabling us to trust in his sovereignty. It was by Gods word that the world was created, and one day by his word it will crumble like paper. But not one word of his promises will go unfulfilled, and in Romans 8 he tells us that all things work together for good (v. 28, ESV). Our salvation comes through his strengtheven nowas it gives us a future orientation. This is our anchor, grounding us in the present, as we await God there. Donations to Tavriski Christian Institute for refugees and reconstruction are collected here. Four months after Liberty University filed a motion to dismiss a whistleblowers lawsuit, the former dean suing the school amended his complaint with more detail about the alleged fraud he reported to authorities. He alleges that the school offered payouts to third parties and concealed the use of university funding for business expenses. According to the suit, John Markley made repeated good faith reports of disturbing violations of state and federal law at Liberty, only to be terminated from his role as administrative dean for academic operations in June 2022. Dr. Markleys position provided an eye-opening perspective on the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise that operated to maximize profits without ethics and at the expense of truth and those willing to fight for it, and to the detriment of the students, and professors, the lawsuit says. The university maintains that Markley was let go as part of a reorganization and that his allegations are without merit. Markleys original suit lists 15 improper activities he said he raised concerns about, including potentially fraudulent management of Liberty charitable organizations and corporate subsidies, the intentional misrepresentation of acceptance rates and enrollment numbers for financial gain, and a compensation scheme for LU business executives. In a public statement obtained by CT, Strelka Employment Lawwhich represents Markleysaid Liberty filed a demurrer to dismiss the case, arguing that Markleys allegations were not sufficiently specific. The Lynchburg Circuit Court filed an order for Markley to amend his complaint. The update, filed last Thursday, includes specific allegations about potentially fraudulent management of Liberty charitable organizations in the use of textbook sales, with Markley claiming various Liberty professors started nonprofit or not-for-profit enterprises to sell textbooks directly to Liberty. According to Markley, this allowed professors to make money from required book sales without paying taxes on the sales or income. Markley also questioned the academic quality and relevance of the textbooks pushed by professors in this manner, per the statement. The updated complaint also details the widespread use of payouts by Liberty to third partiesdubbed professional feeswhich Markley alleged provided special deals and kickbacks to friends of Liberty. In one instance, Markley said he reported large transactions totaling $1 million that had been suspiciously withdrawn from the Academic Affairs Budget in line with previous suspicious transactions. Finally, Markley alleged various fraud to the public and the government regarding improperly classified workers, the misrepresentation of acceptance rates and enrollment numbers, and the submission of false academic data to the Department of Education. In Court, Mr. Markleys attorney Thomas Strelka cautioned that adding heighted allegations in a public document regarding Liberty Universitys wrongdoing would likely not be in Liberty Universitys best interest, the Strelka statement says. Mr. Markley reported a multitude of illegal, unethical, and immoral activities on the part of Liberty University in the years, months, and weeks leading up to his termination. Liberty said in a statement that Markleys claims are still without merit and that the school did not learn about his communication with a federal agency until several months after he left. During his time of employment at the university, Dr. Markley expressed his opinions on certain administrative matters. His opinions were taken seriously and addressed appropriately, even when unfounded, Liberty said, using the same language as in November. While Liberty wished Dr. Markley well, we are confident that the university has treated him appropriately and look forward to vigorously defending against these unfounded claims. In January, Liberty said it would file a point-by-point refutation of Markleys allegations, beginning with the fact that he was let go from the university as a result of an administrative reorganization. Liberty included the same language in its statement last Tuesday. Liberty has already successfully challenged and dismissed the claims from the original complaint which were not legally sufficient, the statement said. This case is still working its way through the appropriate, legal processes. The amended complaint, at 15 pages, is double the length of the original lawsuit and provides more details to Markleys allegations, including timelines of each report. According to his filing, Markley began voicing concerns in 2018a decade after he started working at the university and a year after he was given a full-time position. The lawsuit says Markley acted as a whistleblower until his termination. The amended lawsuit alleges that his supervisor at the time of termination, Liberty provost Scott Hicks, referred openly to Dr. Markley as a whistle blower and referred to concerns Dr. Markley had over his contract as whistle blower stuff. Erika Cole, an attorney who advises churches and faith-based organizations on legal matters, said the complaint demonstrates the importance of workplaces having clear whistleblower policies. Whistleblower policies really began in the for-profit arena, but we are now starting to see that these kinds of policies are absolutely essential in the nonprofit arena, said Cole, who serves as a senior editorial advisor for CTs Church Law and Tax. Even in the Christian arena where we dont often think of it being most applicable. Liberty does have a whistleblower policy, approved as of November 2021. The policy includes a list of wrongful conduct that can be reported under the policy, along with the process and procedures. Individuals must not be subject to retaliation for Good Faith reporting of Wrongful Conduct, the policy reads. Cole said its crucial that employees know about any whistleblower policy, and that its purpose is part of an organizations culture. And ultimately, I always say its not just about having a policy, she said. Its about following a policy. Nathan Salsbery, executive vice president and partner at the nonprofit consulting firm CapinCrouse, agrees. Best practices for whistleblower policies often use a hotline system monitored by an independent party that reports directly to the board, as ultimate fiduciary responsibility rests with the board. As with any human institution, the fallenness of humanity is never fully eradicated even by the most effectively designed internal controls. But they can help minimize the damage, Salsbery said. The primary lesson, and this holds true for every institution, is to ensure proper policies are in place, and to regularly train the board, executive leadership, and staff on such policies so they are effectively implemented and are part of a culture of integrity and good stewardship. Neither Salsbery nor Cole commented directly on the specifics of Markleys case or complaints, but on best practices regarding whistleblowers. Tim Lee, an evangelist who serves as Libertys board chair, did not reply to a request for comment. In addition to outlining various funding schemes, the amended complaint also alleges that Markley witnessed and reported attempts to obstruct Title IX and efforts to combat sexual assault at Liberty. In July 2021, 12 women sued Liberty University for fostering an unsafe campus environment and mishandling Title IX complaints. Within months, 10 other Jane Does joined the lawsuit. Liberty settled the Jane Doe lawsuit in May 2022, announcing that it had already undertaken various initiatives to better protect women on campus. Advocates have called for an audit by an independent third party as the findings from the investigation commissioned by Libertys board in 2020 into all facets of Liberty University operations were not disclosed publicly at its conclusion. Former LU president Jerry Falwell Jr. resigned in August 2020, and the board commissioned an outside firm to investigate business operations during his presidency, including but not limited to financial, real estate, and legal matters. The findings have not been made public. Multiple stories by Politico reported on self-dealing at the multibillion-dollar university, such as construction and real estate projects going to family and friends of the Falwells. In March, two and a half years after Falwells resignation, Liberty University named Dondi E. Costin as its new president. Markleys lawsuit, which asks for $20 million in financial compensation and for reinstatement to his job, is similar to one filed in October 2021 by Scott Lamb, Libertys former spokesman. Lamb alleged that he was fired for criticizing Libertys response to sexual assault. The school said that played no role in his termination. Norman Moon, the district judge in the case, granted Libertys dismissal motion in March 2022, citing a lack of factual allegations. Lamb filed a counterclaim against Liberty last week. Were sorry to hear that. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage. Rick Warren says Saddleback Church disagrees with 'only 1 word' in SBC doctrine: men Ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans this week, Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren stressed that he agrees with all of the denominations beliefs except for its stance on women pastors. The SBC Constitution was changed in 2015 after 170yrs of Baptist cooperation. Now churches must be CLOSELY identified with our confession. NOT completely Our BF&M2000 is 4,032 words. We disagree with only 1 word: men. We're 99.9999999999% in agreement! Is that CLOSE ENOUGH? Warren tweeted on Sunday. "I'm not making this stuff up," he added on Monday. "This is the history of the SBC: After growing for 80 YEARS without any Confession of faith, Southern Baptists grew for another 90 years with a 'Consensus of Opinion' Confession which was never used to exclude churches. It was a 'Guide for Interpretation' ... the Founders never intended for our Convention to be defined or unified by a man-made compilation of doctrinal statements. The Bible itself was enough." Warrens tweet came just before he is scheduled to appear before thousands of Southern Baptists at their Annual Meeting held in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week and appeal the SBCs decision to cut ties with Saddleback Church due to the church continuing to have a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of a pastor. The move came after Pastor Andy Wood, who succeeded retiring Warren at Saddleback, listed his wife, Stacie, as a "pastor" in his biography on the prominent California megachurch's website in October 2022. And on May 7, Katie Edwards, one of the three women ordained at Saddleback in 2021, was announced as the Lake Forest campus pastor. Launched in 1980 by Warren, Saddleback Church had grown to become the second-largest Southern Baptist church in the U.S. with 57,000 members, planting numerous churches in the U.S. and four campuses overseas. Since retiring as Saddlebacks leader a year ago, Warren has openly discussed how his views on the role of women in the Church have changed over the years, often drawing criticism from more conservative leaders within the SBC. The denomination holds to the belief that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture, as outlined in its Faith and Message Statement. Earlier this month, Warren launched a website in which he addresses what he sees as challenges within the SBC and makes arguments for women pastors. In his first video, Warren said he changed his views after three years of scriptural study and now believes women can serve in any role in the church, including as pastors. He weighed in on complementarianism, the theological framework that says women have distinct roles in the family and church and are forbidden from holding certain offices in the church, and egalitarianism, which contends that Scripture does not warrant such restrictions. There are biblical alternatives to both complementarianism and egalitarianism, he said. And while both of those positions have strengths, they both, in my opinion, have unbiblical weaknesses, and they ignore important Bible verses. So actually, I'm neither. I'm neither one of them, I reject them both. Now, if you're honest, you'll have to admit that Paul often says things about women in Scripture that appeared to contradict each other. So tell me what you want to believe and I'll show you the verses you have to ignore or rationalize away. In an earlier tweet on Sunday, Warren published an open letter to Christian women apologizing for holding them back from using the spiritual gifts and leadership skills that the Holy Spirit had sovereignly placed in them. He said his biggest regret in 53 years of ministry is that he didnt do my own personal exegesis sooner on the four passages used to restrict women. Shame on me, he wrote, adding that he felt compelled to repent for his earlier teaching regarding the role of women in the church after reading over 100 books on the early church and the history of the Great Commission. Warren said he doesnt expect to win the appeal in New Orleans, nor does he expect to change the mind of any angry fundamentalist. They are responsible to God, not to me. Im doing this as an act of obedience to the Holy Spirit, he wrote. Regardless of attacks and the vote result, I want a clear conscience before my Master ... that I repented, and that this sinner did what he asked me to do. With that, I am completely content to let Him be the judge and evaluator of my life and ministry. We must live for an Audience of One. In addition to Saddleback, the SBC cut ties with four other churches due to their stance on women in church leadership: Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky; New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Georgia; and St. Timothy's Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Fern Creek Baptist Church, which has been led by the Rev. Linda Barnes Popham since 1993, also plans to appeal the decision at this weeks meeting. ... SBC messengers to vote on proposed amendment solidifying ban on women pastors in denomination Messengers attending the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting this week will have the opportunity to vote on a measure that would prevent a woman from serving as a pastor of any kind within the denomination, the SBC Executive Committee decided Monday. The measure, spearheaded by Virginia Pastor Mike Law, is a proposed amendment to the SBC constitution. If approved, it would establish a condition for churches to affiliate with the SBC: specifically, no women within the church would be permitted to hold the title of pastor. Currently, the denominations Baptist Faith & Message 2000 states that the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. In a statement last year, Chuck Kelley, Al Mohler and Richard Land, who wrote the study guide for the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession, explained that "pastor" means "one who fulfills the pastoral office and carries out the pastor's functions." "[I]t is important to understand that the word pastor was chosen precisely because of its clarity among Southern Baptists. The statement carefully affirms that both men and women are gifted for service in the church, but the role of pastor is biblically defined and is to be held only by men as qualified by Scripture," they said. Law's proposed amendment is one of many that the over 12,000 Southern Baptist voting delegates, called messengers, will vote on during the SBCs annual two-day meeting commencing on Tuesday in New Orleans. During one of its customary meetings on Monday, the SBC Executive Committee, consisting of an 86-member board of elected representatives from various states, voted to endorse the recommendation to present the amendment banning women pastors to the full convention for a vote. However, the committee explicitly recommended that the messengers vote against the amendment. The EC said that while it affirms Article VI of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, which states, While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture, it deems that our beliefs are most appropriately stated in our adopted statement of faith rather than in our constitution and therefore opposes a suggested amendment to SBC Constitution. While the messengers to the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting entrusted the Executive Committee with this motion, we recognize the significance of the matter, at this given time, and therefore believe it is prudent to place the referred motion before the entire body of messengers, while also expressing our opposition to the suggested amendment, it said. Law's campaign has garnered support from conservative leaders in the SBC, and a number of pastors have signed a letter supporting the amendment. We are fully persuaded that it is good when brothers live together in harmony (Ps. 133:1), reads the letter, in part. Unity comes from God, and we are called to keep it with the help of God (Eph. 4:3). Often that means forbearing with others who see things differently than we do. Thats the beauty of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is home to countless churches with different views on many things. At other times, however, we must follow Jude 3 and contend for the faith by reaffirming our stated convictions and doctrinal commitments. This is one of those times. Advocates of the amendment argue that it aligns with the SBC's longstanding commitment to complementarian theology, while critics have warned that such a measure could marginalize women in the SBC. The debate surrounding the role of women in the church has taken center stage within the SBC in recent months. Other decisions to be made at this year's meeting include whether or not to uphold the ouster of two churches with women pastors in lead or senior pastor roles, California megachurch Saddleback Church and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. On Tuesday, Saddleback founding Pastor Rick Warren and Fern Creek Pastor Linda Barnes Popham are expected to appeal decisions to disfellowship their churches. In a Twitter post on Sunday, Warren said he doesnt expect to win the appeal in New Orleans, nor does he expect to change the mind of any angry fundamentalist. They are responsible to God, not to me. Im doing this as an act of obedience to the Holy Spirit, he wrote. Regardless of attacks and the vote result, I want a clear conscience before my Master ... that I repented, and that this sinner did what he asked me to do. With that, I am completely content to let Him be the judge and evaluator of my life and ministry. We must live for an Audience of One. In an op-ed, Scott Aniol, executive vice president and editor-in-chief of G3 Ministries, hit back at Warren's newfound beliefs and contended that "there is nothing in the text of Scripture ... that would naturally lead to any conclusion other than that God through Paul forbade women from serving in the pastoral teaching office, and that this applies today with just as much authority as it did when he wrote it." "It requires imposing upon the text egalitarian presuppositions derived from post-feminist secular philosophy to interpret the text any differently," he wrote. "If we are willing to subject the text of Scripture to secular presuppositions, then where will we stop? Whats to stop us from subjecting the gospel to ideologies that will harm it? To affirm women pastors undermines confidence in Scripture, weakens God-ordained male leadership, and bows to the spirit of the age. And that harms our mission." Supreme Court rejects Christian schools request to uphold firing of chaplain over racism talk The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of a Colorado-based K-12 Christian school accused of wrongfully firing a Bible teacher because he addressed alleged incidents of racism at a student gathering. In an orders list released Monday morning, the Supreme Court denied without comment an appeal in the case of Faith Bible Chapel International v. Tucker, and the linked case of Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia v. Belya. Faith Bible Christian International of Arvada, which does business as Faith Christian Academy, argued in the litigation that it had the right to fire former chaplain Gregg Tucker over his remarks via the First Amendments ministerial exception. According to the ministerial exception, a church or faith-based entity can be immune from legal prosecution for deciding to fire a church employee on the basis of religious reasons. The denial of certiorari by the high court means that a lower court ruling against the Christian school by a circuit court panel, which rejected the school's claim to ministerial exception, will be allowed to stand. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which is representing Tucker and Belya, celebrated the Supreme Court rejection of both cases in a press release emailed to supporters. "Religious freedom is not a license to harm others or prevent people from seeking justice in courts of law," said President and CEO Rachel Laser in the emailed press release. "These cases are far from over, but Gregg Tucker and Father Alexander Belya now have a chance to vindicate their rights." In January 2018, chaplain and teacher Gregg Tucker led a chapel service for students on the topic of race that school officials believed was too political and faulted Tucker for how he handled the ensuing debate over the service. Tucker filed a complaint against Faith Christian, accusing the school of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Colorado law, believing that his firing had to do with his decision to talk about incidents of racism during the assembly. Although Faith Christian argued that it was exempted from prosecution via the ministerial exception, a district court ruled against their claim and then a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled 2-1 in June of last year to uphold the lower court decision. Circuit Judge David M. Ebel, a Reagan appointee, authored the majority opinion, concluding that the Christian school has not adequately developed a factual record for asserting the church autonomy defense. Faith Christian asserts that the ministerial exception protects religious employers not just from liability based on its ministers employment discrimination claims, but also from the burden of litigating such claims, and it is this protection against the burdens of litigation that will be lost without an immediate appeal, wrote Ebel. We reject that argument because Faith Christian is incorrect that the ministerial exception immunizes a religious employer from suit on employment discrimination claims. The church filed a request to have the whole 10th Circuit rehear the case. While the appeals court rejected that request in an order released last November, four of the judges said they would have granted the rehearing. Represented by the religious liberty legal group Becket Law, the church filed a petition before the Supreme Court in February, arguing that the firing of Tucker was internal dispute that was no business of the judiciary or civil authorities. The Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment categorically bar judicial inquiry and interference in religious leadership disputes, read the petition. Once Respondent admitted that he accepted the role of Chaplain and provided spiritual guidance and counseling to students, the case should have been dismissed without allowing inquiry into the churchs beliefs or its chaplaincy decisions. Christian woman praying inside church killed by armed ethnic Meitei in Manipur states Khoken village NEW DELHI A surge of ethnic violence with a growing religious component in northeastern India led to the killing on Friday of a woman in her church building and two other Christians, sources said. The attack by ethnic Meitei with automatic rifles in Manipur states Khoken village, on the boundary between Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts, killed the ethnic Kuki Christian woman in her 60s, Domkhohoi Haokip, as she prayed, according to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF). They have no regard for women and children, Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the ITLF, told Morning Star News. A woman was killed inside the church while she was praying, thats how merciless they are. Two other ethnic Kuki Christians, Jangpao Touthang and Khaimang Guite, were killed in the attack in which the armed Meitei arrived in the vehicles and uniforms of the Indian army, according to an ITLF press statement. Local people initially thought they were government soldiers combing the area to maintain order. The use of army uniforms and vehicles by the Meitei militants raised questions about how they obtained them and potential involvement of outside forces in the conflict. Two other Kuki Christian villagers, identified as Thongneh and Thangkhojang, were reportedly wounded in the assault, according to the ITLF. Long-simmering conflict between the Kuki and the majority ethnic Meitei boiled over when the Manipur High Court on April 19 directed the state government to consider a Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status, which would grant them the same privileges that minority tribes such as the Kukis have. Scheduled Tribe status gives indigenous groups recognized as historically marginalized access to reserved political seats, affirmative action and development programs. The Meitei, which make up 53% of the population of Manipur state, have not been eligible for such benefits. The April 19 directive sparked protests on May 3 by thousands opposed to Scheduled Tribes status for the Meitei, and though they were largely peaceful, incidents of arson, vandalism, and confrontations were reported in at least two places. By May 20, retaliatory attacks and clashes had resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people and displaced at least 65,000 others, mainly Kukis, according to unofficial figures. The Meitei are predominantly Hindu, and tensions with the Kukis have been aggravated by the alleged involvement of Hindu nationalist organizations, according to political commentators. They believe the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political arm, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have utilized the Meitei community to advance their agenda in the region. A commentator with area newspaper The Hills Times stated on May 11, If the sources are to be relied on, the RSS is on the mission to expand its base. It has been using the Meiteis to accomplish its task. Obviously, it is not against Meiteis expanding their residential areas. This would help the RSS to checkmate the expansion of the Christian missionaries in the region. A Kuki pastor from Manipur who moved to Delhi last year said the way violence has unfolded suggests the influence of Hindu extremist groups. The mobs after burning churches were hoisting their flag on the top of the churches, Pastor L. Kamzamang told Morning Star News. It is like they were trying to portray that they have conquered the church the religious sacred place of our worship. Hindu extremists have enticed Kuki tribal leaders by offering them various privileges, and they have tried to inculcate Meitei Hindus with Hindu nationalist philosophy, he said. The strangest thing is that they burned the churches even before they killed people, Pastor Kamzamang said. This to me has a strong religious aspect, and we can see the plan thats being developed by burning church after church. At least 317 church buildings have been destroyed in the violence since May 3, according to local sources. The unrest has claimed more than 160 lives in the state, according to unofficial estimates, with official figures on June 2 putting the figure at 98 dead and 310 people injured; a disproportionate number were Christian tribal people, local sources said. Among those killed were three Christians burned alive inside an ambulance by a Meitei mob on June 4. In Imphal Wests Iroisemba area, Meena Hangsing and her 7-year-old boy, Tonsing Hangsing, were reportedly rushing to a hospital, accompanied by a Meitei Christian neighbor, Lydia Lourembam, after he had been struck by a fragment from a stray bullet fired amid the ethnic conflict. The boys mother, a Meitei Christian married to a Kuki Christian, also suffered a hand wound from the gunfire. As their ambulance with police escort made its way through Iroisemba, a mob of hundreds reportedly surrounded the vehicle. Estimated at about 2,000 people, the mob reportedly claimed that the ambulance had previously been used to transport Kuki militants who had later attacked police. Though the mother and neighbor were Meitei, the mob, blinded by rage, engulfed the ambulance in flames, according to local media reports. ITLF spokesperson Vualzong said he suspected they were killed because they were Christians. The mother was a Meitei, and still she was burned to ashes, Vualzong told Morning Star News. She spoke the same language, so the Meitei mob that was burning them knew she was a Meitei. They killed them probably because they were Christian Meiteis and thus did not spare them. Response to attack The ITLF issued a strong condemnation of the horrific attack, urging the federal government to take swift action to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted. The group stated that the assault was yet another example of Meitei militants, separatist mobs, Hindu extremist groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, and the Meitei-centric state government undermining peace efforts. Pastor Kamzamang said the violence in Manipur has a deep, psychological impact on area Christians. A church for us is not just a place of worship but also a place of refuge, he told Morning Star News. And now that they have torn down the churches and burned them, where do the people run to? The assailants systematically targeted Kuki homes and churches in an effort to deprive them of their sense of belonging identity, he said. This will affect our morale and crush our spirit, and that is what they want to do, he said. I would call this violence more of a religious one than a political one. The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say. India ranked 11th on the Christian support organization Open Doors 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position worsened after Modi came to power. Meta uses Bible translations in effort to preserve over 4,000 languages AI team says effort supported by Christian ethicists, but 'same is not true' for Quran, other texts When it comes to Bible translations, we might be well on our way to the Gospel being preached in every tongue. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to use the Bible and other religious texts to process over 4,000 languages with the ultimate goal of preserving those languages. But why Scripture? As part of an effort to collect data for its Massively Multilingual Speech (MMS) project, the Meta Artificial Intelligence research team turned to the Bible and other religious texts to tackle the daunting prospect of gathering such data for thousands of languages, since existing speech datasets currently top out at no more than 100 languages. By turning to the Bible, which has been translated throughout the world and shared in audio recordings of those translations, researchers were able to create a dataset of New Testament readings in more than 1,100 languages that spanned an average of 32 hours of data in each language. In order to cover the 27 books and 260 chapters in the New Testament, Meta used data from Bible.com, GoTo.Bible and FaithComesByHearing.com, including original text as well as audio recordings. The Meta AI team then built on that work by using unlabeled recordings of various other Christian religious readings, and while these are primarily spoken by male speakers, Meta researchers believe the language models perform equally well for male and female voices. Researchers also held consultations with Christian ethicists, who, according to Meta, concluded that most Christians would not regard the New Testament, and translations thereof, as too sacred to be used in machine learning. They also said, however, that the same is not true for all religious texts: for example, the Quran was originally not supposed to be translated. The paper also underscored precedent for using the Bible in such a manner, citing the 2019 CMU Wilderness effort that created speech synthesis models for nearly 700 languages. The MMS project, said the team, follows a long line of research utilizing the New Testament to train and evaluate machine learning models. The research paper also noted a risk of religious training data influencing and potentially even creating bias for the language models with respect to a particular worldview, presumably linked to the Bible and Christianity. However, the Meta AI team discounted the risk, adding that the language produced by the models exhibit only little bias compared to baseline models trained on other domains. Ultimately, the project, according to researchers, is to preserve languages that could potentially go extinct in the coming years. Many of the worlds languages are in danger of disappearing, and the limitations of current speech recognition and speech generation technology will only accelerate this trend, the team said. We envision a world where technology has the opposite effect, encouraging people to keep their languages alive since they can access information and use technology by speaking in their preferred language. Despite its unprecedented ambition of scale, its not the first time AI has been used to amplify the timeless message of the Bible. In June 2020, the makers of the Christian meditation app Soultime released what was then the worlds first-ever audio version of the Bible read in its entirety by an artificial intelligence voice. The finished product featured 100 hours of audible Scripture. Developers with the company previously told The Christian Post that they evaluated a range of text-to-speech platforms but found Googles Wavenet the most natural sounding. But because the Bible text is extremely complex, the app developers had to work hard to modify the basic reading to create something that both sounded natural and was truly enjoyable to listen to. Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe there are only 2 genders, PRRI study finds The share of Americans who believe there are only two genders, as opposed to many gender identities, has increased to nearly two-thirds as issues related to LGBT ideology continue to divide the American public, a new study suggests. The Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan research organization Public Religion Research Institute released a survey on Thursday titled "The Politics of Gender, Pronouns and Public Education." The data was based on responses from 5,048 United States adults between March 9 and 23, 2023, with a margin of error of +/-1.5 percentage points. The survey measured the share of Americans who believe that there are only two genders at 65% in 2023, an increase from 59% who said the same in 2021 and 62% in 2022. Roughly 34% of Americans believe there are "many gender identities," compared to 35% in 2022 and 40% in 2021. The percentage of Americans who think that there are only two genders increased among all demographic groups except for Latter-Day Saints, where 81% believe in a gender binary as opposed to 82% two years ago, as well as black Protestants, where the share of those who believe there are only two genders decreased from 73% to 71%. PRRI CEO Melissa Deckman reacted to the findings of the research in a statement to The Christian Post, saying that the "concept that there are more than two genders is one that is still fairly new to most Americans." "In the past few years, there has been more attention drawn to the issue, especially by some conservative and religious leaders, particularly in red states. The shift may be a reflection of this larger debate as more Americans begin to sort through the issue," Deckman said. "Whether this trend continues will be something to monitor, as younger Americans and less religious Americans are generally more open to the concept of a broader understanding of gender." Deckman added that not all "people of faith" are "strongly committed to the notion of a gender binary. But the salience of the gender binary clearly matters more to Republicans, older Americans, and those who watch more conservative outlets." Overwhelming majorities of white Evangelical Protestants (92%), Republicans (90%), Hispanic Protestants (82%) and other Protestants of color (73%) believe there are only two genders, along with smaller majorities of white Catholics (69%), white mainline Protestants (67%), Hispanic Catholics (66%) and adherents to other non-Christian religions (55%). Majorities of all demographic subgroups believe there are only two genders except Democrats (44%), the religiously unaffiliated (46%) and Jews (44%). Although majorities of respondents belonging to each subgroup classified based on education level agree that there are only two genders, this feeling is more prevalent among those with a high school diploma or less (73%) and those with some level of college education (67%) than college graduates (58%) and those with postgraduate degrees (53%). Similar differences in views regarding the number of genders emerge based on generational differences. Fifty-seven percent of Generation Z Americans, defined as those born between 1995 and 2012, believe there are only two genders. That compares to 60% among millennials, defined as Americans born between 1980 and 1994; 68% among baby boomers, people born between 1946 and 1964; 69% among the silent generation, which consists of those born before 1946 and 71% among members of Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1979. The overwhelming majority of respondents who trust Fox News (91%) and conservative media (92%) believe there are only two genders compared to 65% of those who do not trust TV news and 56% of those who trust "mainstream news" outlets. Differences in responses to questions about LGBT ideology based on partisan identification, religious affiliation, age, education level and media trust materialized throughout the survey. When asked about their level of comfort upon hypothetically finding out that a friend prefers to use gender-neutral pronouns for someone who does not identify as a member of either gender, a plurality of respondents (40%) described their hypothetical reaction as either "very" or "somewhat" uncomfortable, while 35% of Americans classified themselves as "somewhat" or "very" comfortable and the remaining 23% insisted that it "doesn't matter either way." Republicans were the only group where a majority of respondents (65%) would be either "somewhat" or "very" uncomfortable if they found out one of their friends used gender-neutral pronouns. Pluralities of independents (38%), members of Generation X (44%), baby boomers (46%) and the silent generation (44%) said the same. On the other hand, a majority of Democrats (53%) along with a plurality of members of Generation Z (48%) and millennials (42%) said they would be "very" or "somewhat" comfortable if a friend told them they liked using gender-neutral pronouns. When asked how they would feel if one of their friends wanted them to use gender-specific pronouns that do not match their perception of the person's appearance, a plurality (43%) of Americans responded that they would be "very" or "somewhat" uncomfortable with doing so. Majorities of Republicans (68%) and the silent generation (51%) expressed at least some level of discomfort with the thought of having to refer to a friend based on pronouns that did not match their perception of the person's appearance, along with pluralities of independents (40%), members of Generation X (45%) and baby boomers (49%). Democrats (54%), members of Generation Z (48%) and millennials (43%) were more inclined to be comfortable with addressing a friend by a pronoun that did not align with their perceived appearance. The survey also examined Americans' feelings about what children are taught in public schools, with 49% of those surveyed agreeing that "public schools are giving students harmful information about gender and sexual orientation." That figure rises to 53% among members of Generation X, 54% among baby boomers, 57% among those who have a high school diploma or less, 59% among the silent generation, 80% among Republicans and 84% among those who most trust Fox News and those who most trust conservative media. Conversely, the level of agreement that "public schools are giving students harmful information about gender and sexual orientation" is lower among independents (46%), millennials (42%), members of Generation Z (41%), college graduates (39%), postgraduates (37%), those who most trust "mainstream news" (35%) and Democrats (25%). Similarly, a majority (53%) of Americans agree that "public schools interfere too much with parents' rights to determine what their children are taught." Stronger majorities of those who most trust conservative news (88%), those who most trust Fox News (85%), Republicans (79%), the silent generation (64%), those with a high school degree or less (62%), baby boomers (58%) and Generation X (56%) believe that public schools trample on parental rights. Smaller shares of independents (50%), millennials (48%), college graduates (42%), Generation Z (42%), those who most trust mainstream news (40%), Democrats (31%) and postgraduates (25%) believe there is an attempt by public schools to subvert parental rights. Most Americans (53%) identified the middle school years, between sixth and eighth grade, as the appropriate time for public school students to be taught "sex education that includes explanations of birth control, condoms, and other forms of contraception." The view of middle school as the most appropriate time for comprehensive sex education prevailed among Democrats (61%), independents (53%) and Republicans (46%). A substantial share of Republicans (35%), independents (29%), Americans (28%) and Democrats (20%) thought high school was the most appropriate time to teach such topics. Thirteen percent of Republicans believe it is never appropriate to teach public school students comprehensive sex education, along with 8% of Americans, 8% of independents and 5% of Democrats. Thirty-nine percent of Americans, 45% of Republicans, 39% of independents and 35% of Democrats pointed to middle school as the appropriate time to teach students "sex education that emphasizes abstaining from sex except within marriage." Twice as many Democrats (38%) as Republicans (19%) thought that schools should never discuss abstinence-only sex education with students, while roughly equal shares of Americans (30%) and independents (31%) felt the same way. Overall, 62% of Americans believe that "people spend too much time talking about their gender and pronouns" in the contemporary U.S. That figure increases to 85% among white Evangelical Protestants, 73% among the silent generation, 71% among white Catholics, 70% among those who belong to the Church of Latter-Day Saints, 70% among Hispanic Protestants, 70% among baby boomers, 67% of white mainline Protestants and 66% among Generation X. On the other hand, other Protestants of color (60%), Hispanic Catholics (55%), millennials (54%), Jews (53%), members of Generation Z (48%), other non-Christians (47%) and the religiously unaffiliated (47%) were less likely to see a societal obsession with gender and pronouns. Can we really trust the Bible? Reasons for confidence Can you really trust the Bible? In other words, why should Christians believe that the 66 books of the Bible are Gods final and authoritative revelation for the Church age? This question of the canon has been and will continue to be fiercely debated. Therefore, it is critical that Evangelical Christians have confidence in, and are able to articulate a brief defense of, the trustworthy nature of the composition of the Bible. In this article, I will explain how the 66 books of canonical Scripture comprise all of Gods final and authoritative revelation for the Church age. The two-part nature of this point is important to note. The 66 books are final in the sense that the canon is closed. There will be no more new books added. The 66 books are also the ultimate authority for the Church in this present age, that is, the only rule of faith and practice between the ascension of Jesus Christ and His second coming. Theologian Wayne Grudems answer to this question, found in his book Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, can be summed up in a single word: Obedience. Grudem argues, The precise determination of the extent of the Canon of Scripture is therefore of the utmost importance. If we are to trust and obey Gods word we must have a collection of words that we are certain are Gods own words to us.1 It is indeed of the utmost importance that Christians know with confidence they have all of the perfect law that gives freedom (James 1:25) and the same faith that has been once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3). So, first, how can we know that the 66 canonical books of the Bible comprise all of Gods final revelation for the Church age? Put another way, how can one be sure that no books are missing? Or that no books were wrongly included? From an overarching theological perspective, Christians can rest in Gods sovereignty. The God of the Bible is a God under whose watch a sparrow doesnt fall to the ground unnoticed (Matthew 10). Surely such a sovereign God could ensure that a complete copy of his life-giving written revelation would be accurately created, collected, and preserved. From the beginning of the Israelites corporate history, when God instructed His people to preserve copies of His written revelation in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 10), stretching to the final book of the Bible, in which the Apostle John records a dire warning about adding to or subtracting from Scripture (Revelation 21), God impresses upon His people both the importance and existence of an accurate record of His written revelation. From a historical perspective, one may be surprised to learn just how early and confidently the current canon took shape. Almost 500 years before Christ, it was largely understood that the Old Testament had been completed, with the additions of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. To this point, Grudem argues, Thus, after approximately 435 B.C., there were no further additions to the Old Testament canon, and that in the views of Josephus, a celebrated first-century Jewish historian, there had been no more words of God added to Scripture after about 435 B.C.2 Additionally, a list of all the canonical Old Testament books (except for Esther) was composed in A.D. 170 by Melito of Sardis, as recorded by Eusebius, an early Greek historian of Christianity.3 It is also crucial to note that Jesus Christ affirmed the Old Testament as Scripture in Luke 24 when He interpreted the Pentateuch and the Prophets as testifying to His life as the Messiah. With regard to the 27 canonical books of the New Testament, the historical record is also straightforward. Of the 27 books, 22 were written by apostles, who had the authority to write Scripture as eyewitnesses of the life of Christ. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is clear that Peter understood what Paul was writing to be Scripture at the present time since he refers to Pauls writings in the same sentence as other Scriptures (2 Peter). And less than 300 years after Peter and Pauls death, the early Christian Church had recognized the 27 books that comprise the New Testament today as complete. Grudem writes that In A.D. 367, the 39th Festal Letter of Athanasius contained an exact list of the twenty-seven New Testament books we have today Thirty years later, in A.D. 397, the Council of Carthage, representing the churches in the western part of the Mediterranean world, agreed with the eastern churches on the same list.4 Translated by B.F. Westcott, in A General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament, we can also read that the Council of Carthage decreed: It was also determined that besides the Canonical Scriptures nothing be read in the Church under the title of divine Scriptures. The Canonical Scriptures are these Of the New Testament: four books of the Gospels, one book of the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul, one epistle of the same [writer] to the Hebrews, two Epistles of the Apostle Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude, one book of the Apocalypse of John. 5 Ultimately, the early church, the eastern church, and the Protestant tradition rejected the inclusion of the seven apocryphal books that the Roman Catholics affirmed as Scripture at the Council of Trent. The apocryphal books clearly do not claim the same authority for themselves as other Old (and New) Testament books do. Further, some of the apocryphal books teach doctrines that are contrary to the weight of the rest of Scripture, such as works-based righteousness. Another more fundamental question with regards to the canon is this: Does the Church make Scripture or simply recognize Scripture? The Protestant answer to that question is and always has been a resounding Only recognize! According to 2 Timothy 3, all Scripture is God-breathed, not council-decreed. As theologian Roger Nicole puts it: The Churchs authority is at most designative, not constitutive. It may be compared to the power of the bailiff who announces: Here comes the judge.6 Next, lets consider the question of whether the 66 canonical books of the Bible are final. In other words, why should we believe that the 66 canonical books of the Bible are the authoritative revelation for the Church age? The simple answer is, Because God says so. And in this case, the simple answer is also the correct one. God, as Creator, has complete authority over creation (Genesis 1, Psalm 115). Acting with this unbounded authority, God has chosen to reveal Himself both in creation (Psalm 19), through written revelation (Exodus 32, 2 Timothy 3, Luke 24), and in His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1). While natural revelation is evident, it is not specific, neither in regard to salvation nor the life of the Church. And while He will come again, Jesus Christ currently sits in bodily form at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Therefore, the Church has been left with Gods written revelation, complete and final, to serve as its authority in this age, the Church age. Fuller Seminarys original founding statement put it well: The books which form the canon of the Old and New Testaments as originally given are plenarily inspired and free from all error in whole and in part. These books constitute the written Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.7 Conservative Evangelicals rightly understand that it is Scripture, and Scripture alone, that must serve as the authority for the Church both the specific local churches where geographically limited believers covenant together and Christs universal Church as composed by all of the saints. One of the linchpins of this authority is the doctrine of inerrancy. George Marsden, in his book Reforming Fundamentalism, explains the outworking of inerrancy on the authority of Scripture while chronicling the debates over this doctrine in the mid-20th century: God would not inspire an error, small or large. Furthermore, Jesuss use of the Old Testament implied that he regarded it as historically accurate in detail. In the end, if one said that parts of the Bible were inerrant and other parts had error, who was to decide which was which? What standard higher than the Bible itself was to be used?8 The answer is none. There is no standard higher than the Bible. Therefore, the Bible is the only authoritative revelation for the Church age. We can have this confidence today and always. 1. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 54. 2. Grudem, Systematic Theology, 56. 3. Ibid, 58. 4. Ibid, 64. 5. B.F. Westcott, A General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament (Cambridge: Macmillan and Co., 1881), 440. 6. Roger Nicole, Standing Forth: Collected Writings of Roger Nicole (Ross-shire: Christian Focus Publications, 2002), 97-98. 7. Matthew Barrett, Gods Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016),118. 8. George Marsden, Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987), 213-214. Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center. The APs institutionalized betrayal of journalism and the truth The Associated Press is an agent of pernicious deceit, and while that is not entirely new, their latest advice is a smarmy clinic in gaslighting dressed up as objectivity. As sparkly June rainbows bedazzle everything from top to bottom, reporters on the transgender beat are now formally told to not only use preferred pronouns as a matter of courtesy, as has been the case for years, but also not use the term transgenderism, which frames transgender identity as an ideology, according to the new Transgender Coverage Topical Guide from the AP. It should be noted here that the AP Style Guide is widely considered the gold standard of journalistic rules and decorum in the United States. Journalists should likewise not use phrases such as birth gender or refer to a trans-identified person as having been born a boy or girl, the AP says. Instead, sex assigned at birth is the correct phrasing because sex is usually assigned at birth by parents or attendants, sometimes inaccurately. What about those publications that dare to examine the risks of chemical puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and trans surgeries on minors? Pay no attention to opponents of youth transgender medical treatment, the AP cautions, because those outlets routinely cite widely discredited research. One wonders what the AP might now say to Sweden, England, France, Finland, and, very recently, Australia, all of which have begun backpedaling to varying degrees, or are implementing restrictions on these interventions after their health authorities and prominent hospitals have conducted scientific literature reviews and revisited the empirical evidence for these experimental practices. Indeed, with every passing day, the breadth of the ideological capture of professions and institutions is seen more clearly. The worst, in my view, is the press which, in ideal circumstances, should present information to the public in an even-handed, non-partisan manner. But with the latest AP Style Guides advice, they have further solidified their role as a protective phalanx around what many call the gender industry, which profits handsomely from these medical experiments. Or am I also not allowed to frame this as an industry either, AP? Unsurprisingly, notably missing from the APs new guide is advice on how to report on detransitioners, whose numbers continue to rise. Such people, many of whom were harmed as minors, are increasingly speaking out about the irreversible damage to their bodies and relational havoc that transgenderism wreaked on their lives. But trans activists insist that such people are extremely rare so they do not warrant any guidance from the AP, we can presume. Assaulting language like this is so egregious because it inexorably assaults epistemology how we know what we know. Journalists following the new AP guidelines on this subject do the public a tremendous disservice because it forces readers to think in murky, convoluted categories and function behind an epistemological wall of distortion. It posits that physical reality is not knowable and presents postmodern word salad and fantastical theories as neutral, brute facts. Yet it appears that because a remnant of writers will not stop asking questions about this ism that we are supposed to believe is a biologically-wired personal identity the AP is compelled to advise that even the word transgenderism is completely off-limits. This shows that the critics of the ideology are over the target. The AP seems to realize that some people have basically said: OK, fine, we wont even discuss 'trans' people at all, we will just explore what they say and debate the underlying ideas. But as soon as the ideas (the ism) are examined, the utter absurdity of gender identity ideology is exposed and its claims unravel, and thus the only fix, for those setting the rules, is to insist that discussing the ideology is also uncouth journalism. Upon reading the section of the AP guide that urged avoiding using words that convey biological meaning (like boy or girl) since sex might be inaccurately assigned, it occurred to me how similar such advice was to the tactics of gender clinicians in medical settings. A detrans man from California told me over three years ago when I interviewed him how his doctors never used biological terms for his anatomy during his appointments. The language manipulation was so extensive and deep that he genuinely believed that when the gender clinicians proposed a surgery he thought it would only entail the removal of a piece of his body that produces the testosterone. They never said testicle so he was led to think that a tiny bit of tissue, not the entire organ, would be cut out. He agreed to undergo the procedure. A few weeks later they castrated him. That language manipulation yielded miserable consequences. It was not long before he was consumed with postoperative regret and suicidal ideation. Severe health problems ensued due to hormonal dysregulation and, when he finally attempted to have sexual relations, he wound up ejaculating blood. I also thought of a father named Bill, who was profiled in the recent indie documentary Dead Name. Upon his cancer-stricken son Seans declaration that he was trans, Bill was uncertain about the risks of the gender-affirmative treatment protocol and began inquiring of the medical professionals advising Sean. Since he wasnt immediately and unquestionably ready to proceed with the medicalization, he recalled how the psychiatrist at the hospital turned around and called him an unsupportive, abusive father. Aware of how synthetic cross-sex hormones might exacerbate his sons cancer and hasten his demise, the desperate dad stresses in the film: I was just trying to keep him alive. But in the trans world, simply asking honest, life-and-death questions and expressing concern, as some determined journalists still try to do in their reporting, is abusive. Everything, it seems, is furiously inverted. Ive heard some say that the word gaslighting is being overused in this culture of constant social chaos. Be that as it may, its dictionary definition is manipulating someone using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning. Is there a more effective mode of psychological manipulation than causing someone to question their sanity and reasoning powers by telling them, now with the APs official endorsement, that a boy is a she and a girl? That all of a sudden, it turns out, some words mean the opposite of what they have always meant for all of time? That alone is crazy-making. Moreover, reasoning powers do not even exist without a common frame of reference and language with agreed-upon definitions of words. Domestic abusers that employ these and other similar tactics often explode in rage when they realize that the person on the receiving end of their manipulations is keenly aware of how they are being played. Such abusers cannot stand it when those whom they are trying to deceive and mistreat reply with a calm, resolute no. Consider that one small word my response to the latest AP Style Guide. 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. MBABANE Could the inhalation of gas from a cylinder be the cause of death for the three family members? This comes after the doctors report for the lone survivor, who was in the same room with the deceased Ndzima family member, where a husband, wife and child died, showed traces of gas inhalation. The family was found dead at their home at Mdzangwini in Fonteyn last Saturday and suspicions were that they had drunk a poisonous substance. According to some family members, the doctors report revealed that the survivor, who is also the late couples son, inhaled a certain gas. The deceased family members are Bongani and Nokuthula Nzima, who were husband and wife and their 12-year-old daughter Tiyandza, who was a pupil at St Francis Primary School. Established Bongani was a church leader for the Religious in Christ Church and had recently established a branch at Mdzangwini, where he also had a home, and was about to be ordained. He was employed as a laboratory technician at the Mbabane Clinic and his wife was employed by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. When the family members were discovered dead, there was a basin, spoons and a concoction (indayela), which was boiling in a pot on a gas stove. However, there were no cups to assume that the concoction had been consumed, as it was found still boiling inside the pot. A relative, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the outcome of the doctors report for Mcondisi Nzima, who survived, showed that he inhaled a certain gas. He said it did not state whether it was gas from the gas cylinder or another. Post-mortem The relative also mentioned that the post-mortem results revealed that they were reserved until around June 27 and 28. The post-mortem results were taken to Pretoria, South Africa for further screening to ascertain the cause of death, he said. The late Nzima family members were laid at their final resting place yesterday at their home, where over 300 people gathered, including members of their church, who came from South Africa (SA). Describing the deceased couple, speaker after speaker said they loved each other and also showed it even in death. They said Bongani loved his wife so much and took care of his family. Bongani was discovered with his wife in a hugging position, while seated on a couch and their daughter on the floor. One of the speakers who said he was Bonganis brother, described him as a prayer warrior, who loved his family and people in general. This, he said, was shown through support from people of all walks of life, who came to bid him farewell by paying their last respects to him. On the other hand, his wife too was described as loving by her colleagues at work and family. A brother to the wife said she would be remembered for her kindness and that her place would never be replaced by anyone. You have taught us nothing but goodness and showed us love when you lived and we thank you for that. May God accept you and I am convinced that you shall be received warmly by God due to your acts of compassion, he said. Loving Furthermore, he thanked his sisters late husband for loving his wife, ever since the day they met until death. From the couple, he said he realised true love existed and that through his brother-in-law who even in death showed it, leaving with his better half. He said they surrendered everything to God, as they might not have answers on what happened to the couple and their child that led to their death. The survivor and son to the deceased couple, Mcondisi, said he was still shocked, dumbfounded and in disbelief by what had befallen the family. Mum and dad, rest in peace and Tiyandza, stated Mcondisi as he broke down in tears. St Francis Primary School Head teacher Samso Mthupha said they were touched by the death of their pupil. Mthupha said teachers, parents, learners and the Ministry of Education and Training were shattered by the demise. He said they had hoped that Tiyandza would raise the flag of the school as she was one of their brilliant stars and would see her each time she was dropped-off by her parents at the school in the morning. When we received the message on Monday morning of the sad demise, everyone was left heartbroken in the manner the incident happened, he said. Mthupha sent his condolences to the Nzima family and relatives. The late wifes twin sister stated that it was not a mistake before the eyes of the Lord what had happened to the Nzima family. She said what had happened was within Gods programme as each and everyone would be called differently to meet their maker. Passing The sister stated that she was however hurt by the untimely passing of her twin, who always intervened on her behalf because she was well-spoken. Farewell my twin and mothers daughter, I will always remember you, she said. Archbishop Bheki Ndlozi from the headquarters of the church in Soweto, also described Bongani as a person who was down to earth and humble. He encouraged the family to be strong and trust God, especially because Bongani walked righteously before the Lord. Ndlozi said as the church, family and community, they were befallen by something that was very tragic. He said the death of so many people who were family members at once showed that life had no guarantee and the Word of God also showed that. There is only one guarantee in life, which is accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour of our lives and gain eternal life. Zelensky must protect religious freedom, not quash it This December, while the world prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky proposed a law to ban all religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in Russia. Zelensky justified his decision as necessary to prevent Moscow from being able to weaken Ukraine from within. He said the move would protect the nation's spiritual independence amid their bloody battle with Moscow. Concurrently, Ukraines domestic security agency [SBU] launched a counterintelligence operation against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [UOC]. The assault targeted at least eight religious sites, including monasteries. The authorities have been looking for individuals suspected of subversive activity against the state. More than 30 priests are under investigation due to the raids across the country to root out pro-Russian clerics. Though SBU claimed they were checking for weapons and searching for Russian collaborators sheltered in church buildings, no weapons were found in any of the raids. Although no actual crimes were committed, several clergy members were charged with glorifying Russia during church services. By way of background, of Ukraines 43 million people, around two-thirds identify as Eastern Orthodox Christians. In 2019 the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople permitted Ukraine to form a church independent of Moscow, named the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Nevertheless, many parishes and priests remained under the umbrella of the Moscow Patriarchate until May of this year, when the UOC formally broke ties with the Russian Orthodox Church over the invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskys ban on the religious activities of the UOC, despite its formal split from Moscow, effectively curtails the spiritual practices of millions of already beleaguered Ukrainian people. They will not be allowed to attend their church, seek prayer from their pastors, or associate with the church community they have sought comfort from their whole lives. Here in the US, Congress approved billions of dollars to support Zelensky under the guise of defending freedom and the right to self-determination for the Ukrainian people. US taxpayer dollars are being used to defend Ukraines democracy against Russia, one of the world's most ferocious superpowers, despite its potentially catastrophic consequences on America if Russia retaliates. As champions of religious freedom and the freedom of conscience, how then can the US turn a blind eye to the criminalization of an entire religious denomination? Tucker Carlson, citing Zelensky and his cabinet's efforts quoted them saying, Personal economic and restrictive sanctions will be applied to any Christian caught worshiping in unapproved ways. Based on these midnight raids of convents, his government intends to punish Christians for practicing their religious beliefs. Strangely enough, no one in the media or the government seems concerned about this dramatic turn of events. The value of religious freedom is a democratic principle we promote and defend not only at home but abroad. In the height of the fear that swept across our nation after the Islamic terror attack of 9-11, no US officials suggested banning Islam. In fact, quite the opposite occurred. The US State Department deployed many individuals like me around the Islamic world to attest that American Muslims were an integral part of society. The FBI did countless outreach events with Muslims to ensure they felt safe and protected. Until today, the US government has gone out of its way to ensure that the terrorist acts of a few Muslims do not define an entire religious group. Yet, we do not uphold Zalensky to the same standard. There are far less restrictive ways of curtailing subversive Russian activities than banning a majority religious group. Their security agency should be focused on the malfeasance of individuals, not entire communities. The criticism is not meant to discount the reality or severity of the threat posed by religious actors who use their influence to accomplish nefarious goals. It is a dilemma faced by many governments, including our own. However, the standard has always been to preserve the sanctity of worship above all else. Consider the example of when Israel retaliated against Hamas for using a mosque to shoot rockets at Israeli civilians. The United Nations, with the backing of the US, is consistently up in arms about the ways in which Israel is forced to defend itself. Despite the constant aggression from its neighbors, Israel has never banned Islam or even the faction of Islam that supports violence against its nation. Yet, in 2021 alone, UN General Assembly condemned Israel with a total of 14 resolutions compared to the five for the rest of the world combined. The hypocrisy is undeniable. We claim Ukraine's battle against Russia is a fight for democracy, but sending the army into monasteries is not promoting liberty. This latest move by our ally in Ukraine should be grounds for a loud outcry from Christians, regardless of where we stand on the political spectrum. Unfortunately, Christian members of Congress continue to back Zelensky, no matter how many Christians he arrests or churches he seizes. Doomed or sign of hope? Pope Francis' mission for peace in Ukraine is underway Sent on a papal mission for peace, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi returned from Kyiv on Tuesday amid mixed reactions from the champions and skeptics of Pope Francis' efforts to mediate in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Pope Francis sent Zuppi, who heads the Italian Bishops' Conference and has extensive experience in peace-building projects, to the Ukrainian capital June 5-6 where he met with religious and political representatives, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The objective of the mission, the Vatican said, was to listen to parties involved in order to promote a "just peace." What a "just peace" means to Kyiv and Moscow, let alone the West and other stakeholders, may be very different things, and many question whether the Vatican can wield enough influence to bring the opposing sides to any common ground. After his meeting with Zuppi, Zelenskyy wrote on the messaging app Telegram that "only united efforts, diplomatic isolation and pressure on Russia" can "bring a just peace to the Ukrainian land." For Pope Francis, bringing about peace cannot happen without dialogue between all parties involved, including Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. The pope has avoided explicitly calling out Russia as the aggressor or condemning the Kremlin for its actions in the war in hopes of keeping the door open for the Vatican to act as a negotiator. Many Ukrainians have expressed disappointment in the pope's unwillingness to take their side in the conflict, while Zelenskyy made it clear after his meeting with Zuppi that, while Ukraine "welcomes the readiness of other states and partners to find ways to peace," ultimately it will be up to Ukraine to determine the "algorithm for achieving peace." Zuppi's peace mission in Ukraine occurred shortly before the 25th anniversary of the death of another Vatican diplomat from Italy who grappled with the aftermath of the Cold War, Cardinal Agostino Casaroli. Known as the "father of Ostpolitik," he carried out the Vatican's 1970s diplomacy policy with countries in the Soviet bloc in a similar manner, aimed at not condemning communism in exchange for protection of Catholics living behind the Iron Curtain. Casaroli greatly influenced the church's international profile today. While speaking before newly minted cardinals in August of last year, Pope Francis praised Casaroli for "supporting, with wise dialogue, the new horizons of Europe after the Cold War," and warned against the political blindness that risks closing those horizons once more. A large part of how the Vatican handles its diplomatic efforts is by offering charitable support for those who are affected the most by the crisis. In Kyiv, Zuppi met with the parliamentary commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, to address the question of the many Ukrainian children who have gone missing since the onset of the war. "Russia has already abducted over 19,000 children, and those are just the cases we know of we know the Russians also deliberately change their names and birth dates so their parents cannot find them," alleged Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk on Monday. Shevchuk has been a strong advocate for Ukrainians on the ground since the beginning of the conflict, urging the international community to take Russia to task for its human rights violations in the war. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is supporting Zuppi in working toward peaceful solutions, praised the latest mission as a sign of the "additional contribution the Holy See can give toward peace," but emphasized the importance of Vatican diplomacy with Moscow as well. "The pope's idea was that of a mission that would take place in both capitals," he told reporters on Wednesday; "that solution should remain open." Zuppi expressed uncertainty about visiting Moscow or meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Orthodox Church in Russia. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Zuppi said his latest trip "was not a mediation, but a manifestation of interest, closeness, listening, so that the conflict might find paths toward peace." He dismissed all other theories about the pope's mission as "hopes or speculations." Overshadowing the trip was the unfolding destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam and the flood that followed, which some observers have described as "an ecological catastrophe." It remains unclear whether Russia or Ukraine is responsible for the incident, with both sides blaming the other. Zuppi voiced "concern" over the attack and described the ravaged city of Bucha as "the most harrowing moment of the trip." In Ukraine, where only 5% of the population is Catholic, the papal mission for peace "has no real prospect," according to Dominican Father Jaroslaw Krawiec. Speaking to Swiss news outlet Cath.ch, the Ukrainian priest said that, while the humanitarian work the church does in Ukraine is greatly appreciated, the same cannot be said for its offers to mediate a peace. "I share in the opinion by many commentators that Pope Francis, and the Holy See in general, cannot play a decisive role in this conflict," Krawiec said, adding the pope's decision "to put on the same level all the victims of the war, without truly pointing out the aggressors, hurt people." He said the pope's meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican in May had nearly no news coverage in Ukraine. Government diplomats from seven African countries hope to meet with diplomats from Russia and Ukraine later this month. With other countries stepping up to promote peace in the conflict, some question whether it makes sense for the Vatican to stubbornly offer its mediation. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said in a statement that, while there are currently no plans for a meeting in Moscow, the Kremlin "looks favorably at the Vatican efforts to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine." This is reassuring for those who believe a lasting peace is not possible without Russia having a seat at the negotiating table. "It's a sign of hope," said Mons. Paolo Pezzi, the Catholic archbishop in Moscow and president of the bishops in the Russian federation. "The visit by Cardinal Zuppi and the humanitarian efforts are two small flames that shed a little light in the pitch black. I am not a dreamer, I am aware of the challenges, but I don't care. I care about those little lights." While Pope Francis recovers at the hospital after a surgery to remove an incisional hernia, Vatican diplomacy efforts are planned to continue. "Pope Francis won't give up," Zuppi said, "so much so that he wanted this mission because he doesn't want to surrender and wishes to find anything that can bring about a path toward peace." Religion News Service Hundreds of Christians bless land for giant prayer monument Christians from all denominations have gathered on the outskirts of Birmingham to bless the land where a giant prayer monument is to be built. Construction of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is to begin soon, with completion expected in 2026. The monument is being built at Coleshill, outside Birmingham, and will stand at 169 feet tall once completed, making it what is believed to be the world's largest Christian landmark. Addressing the 'blessing of the land' ceremony, Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary of Churches Together, said, "The Eternal Wall is a monument of prayer for the whole nation. "Today, we witnessed the gathering of a broad spectrum of senior leaders and people from a wide variety of different church denominations, all coming together in prayer to bless the ground so that work can begin on this landmark. "Today was a true moment where the church stood together in unity." The monument will take the shape of an infinity loop and will host a million answered prayers from people around the world. North Warwickshire Borough Council granted planning permission for the monument in 2020 and construction of the access road started earlier this year. Some 300 people attended the blessing of the land last weekend. Founder and visionary behind the Eternal Wall, Richard Gamble, said, "The blessing of the land marks a significant step closer to reality of this global project and will ensure that the prestigious landmark is built on a sacred foundation of prayer and gratitude. "This iconic monument dedicated to the power of prayer, will showcase an infinite global database of stories answered by Jesus, making hope visible for generations to come." Pope Francis remains in hospital Pope Francis is continuing his recovery from hernia surgery in hospital. The Pope, 86, underwent surgery last Wednesday to repair the hernia and remove painful internal scarring from past surgeries. He remained in hospital on Sunday and refrained from giving his traditional public blessing on the advice of doctors. The Holy See Press Office said he instead followed Mass on TV and recited the Angelus prayer and received the Eucharist in private. The Pope is being treated at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where he had lunch with staff treating him in his private apartment. A statement from the Holy See Press Office on Sunday described his condition as stable, and said that he had undergone respiratory physiotherapy and was able to move about. "The medical staff has informed us that the post-operative recovery of Pope Francis is normal," the statement said. Uganda on the brink of massive food crisis A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Uganda amid widespread food and funding shortages, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has warned. The Christian charity, which flies humanitarian aid around the world, said that critical funding from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR to support over 1.5 million refugees in Uganda is to end by September. There are over 1.53 million refugees in Uganda and the country has received over 35,000 refugees since the start of 2023 alone because of ongoing violence in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. "Thousands of lives will be in danger across Uganda's growing refugee communities if this funding comes to an end," said Ruth Jack, country director of MAF in Uganda. She believes the funding is being diverted to assist with humanitarian needs in other countries like Ukraine, Syria and Turkey. "Food shortages are already underway, coupled with widespread uncertainty and critical social and health issues. Meanwhile, eyes are turned towards the headline crisis such as Ukraine, and many lives are being forgotten elsewhere. In Uganda, there is a disaster unfolding, and the world needs to know about it," she said. MAF flights support over 350 NGOs delivering UNHCR and WFP-funded aid programmes across remote parts of Uganda by flying personnel and freight at heavily subsidised rates each week. MAF is preparing to launch a new shuttle flight to the south-west of Uganda in September. The flights will take aid to thousands of people fleeing violence in the DRC. "People might be aware of refugees escaping South Sudan in the north. But Congolese refugees have been flooding in for years too - they often go below the radar because this is a war that has been rumbling on for such a long time," said Jack. "Perhaps the world will notice when children are facing starvation across Uganda's refugee communities." Jack said that in spite of cuts to funding, demand for MAF flights has been increasing. "We are already seeing hunger-related problems such as stunted growth in children across Uganda's refugee camps. I can hardly imagine more than one million refugees left without food or cash support," she said. "It's a very big concern and thousands of lives are in danger. MAF is very busy trying to do all we can to help vulnerable and isolated communities." MANZINI As the voter registration date draws closer, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) urges those who had decided not to partake, to reconsider. The EBC, through its Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe, was sought to establish if an extension to the voter registration dates would be applied. The question emanated from the fact that at about 3pm yesterday, the EBC had updated that 414 848 people had registered to vote. From the registered voters, 223 149 were females while 191 700 were males and the remainder of 18 449 were people with disabilities. Given this figure and that the voter registration period is expected to end on Wednesday (June 14, 2023), Bhembe was sought to establish if the EBC would consider an extension. It is worth noting that according to the Central Statistics Department, from 2017, about 625 629 are expected to be above the age of 18 in the Kingdom of Eswatini. This translates to a shortfall of about 210 781 people from the current number of people who have registered. This figure consists of people who have passed on as well. In response, Bhembe said they were targeting that all people who qualified to register should do so. He alluded to the statistics from the Central Statistics Department, of 625 629 people expected to be above the age of 18, which is minimum age for registration. The communications officer did not have a database of the number of people who had to register in order to vote in the upcoming elections; however, they had engaged the Central Statistics Department and were offered the aforementioned statistics from the 2017 national census. It is upon this census that we seek to afford all these people an opportunity to vote. It is then upon them to decide to either register or not, he said. Analysing Bhembe said the EBC could be judged by analysing if it had done its duties, which include duniversal suffrage (ensuring the right to vote for as many people who are bound by governments laws as possible, as supported by the one person, one vote principle). He said this also included that the EBC had to facilitate that every person who was expected to register and vote was given an opportunity to do so, through decentralising the service and communicate or market the general elections. Bhembe said if the discovery would be that the EBC had faltered in engaging in the above mentioned responsibilities, maybe then an extension would need to be considered. However, he said if the EBC had done all that was possible to execute its responsibilities, then it would mean the number of people who had registered were the ones who wanted to do so. Those who would have not registered after we had done all this would be those who had not wanted to register. At the moment, those who want to vote should go and register as we have three days to go and those who have a stance not to partake (elections) to reconsider, Bhembe said. He said those who were not willing to partake should reconsider, as this was a democratic process. It is worth noting that the voter registration in 664 polling stations started on May 10, 2023 and shall end on Wednesday. It is done between 8am-4pm on a daily basis. Subsequently, it shall be the inspection of the voters register at chiefdoms shall start on June 22, 2023 and end on July 12, 2023. This shall also be between 8am-4pm. This will then be followed by a two-day candidates nomination from July 22-23, 2023 at nomination centres. The nominations shall be 9am-4pm. Thereon, the primary elections would be on August 26, 2023 at polling stations. They shall be between 7am-7pm and followed by campaigning from August 27 September 27, 2023 at chiefdoms between 9am-4pm daily. The secondary elections are set for September 29, 2023 between 7am 7pm. It has been published in several instances that a number of groups were adamant that they would not partake in the general elections and encouraged their members to follow suit. MBABANE - Bring it on! SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini has challenged government to bring the evidence it purports to have that he allegedly worked with the self-proclaimed commander of the solidarity forces. The president of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) was reacting to a correspondence that was written by the office of the attorney general (AG) to his attorneys, wherein among other things, the latter stated that it was itching to produce evidence that the former supposedly worked with Kunene. In the letter, government did not mention the name save for the title commander. It is, however, common cause that, Thabo Kunene who claimed to be the commander of the solidarity forces, has been arrested and is facing 43 charges. In the letter, Mbongwa was informed that the AGs clients were desirous to present evidence that he allegedly worked with the commander when an instruction was made to teachers not to attend school. In his response, Mbongwa wondered why was he not arrested if he was working with the commander. He said the failure to arrest him was an indication that the allegation that he was allegedly working with the commander was devoid of truth and an afterthought by government. Angesabi lutfo abayiletse le evidence, ngibe ngimatelaphi mine kwayena lo commander. Umutfu losebenta na commander bebangahlala njani bangabophi, said Mbongwa. He wondered why the police were not arresting him if the allegations that he worked with the commander were true. Mbongwa further highlighted that the police knew where he resided and worked. He questioned why they were not apprehending him if the claim by the government was not far-fetched. He alleged that government was basing the allegation that he allegedly worked with the commander on a statement he made in August 2022. In August 2022, Mbongwa advised teachers to report to their respective workstations at their own peril following threats of insecurity allegedly by the commander, who instructed everyone in the country not to attend work or class. On the strength of what he termed serious threats, Mbongwa had advised teachers to practise the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2001 (No.9 of 2001) Section 18(2), which states that an employee reserves the right to remove himself or herself from danger, when such an employee had reasonable justification to believe there was imminent and serious risk to the safety and health of that employee. Commander In his response to the allegation that he was working with the self- confessed commander, Mbongwa asserted that he knew that by alleging that he worked with Kunene, government was allegedly trying to throw weight on its failure to pay him his salary, as per the court order that was issued by Industrial Court Judge Lungile Msimango. The issue between Mbongwa and government emanates from the application that was moved by former, where he is seeking the recusal of Judge Abande Dlamini from hearing his matter. Last Wednesday, Mbongwas lawyer, Senior Attorney Lucky Howe, 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. That recusal application was supposed to be filed on Thursday but that has still not happened and there has been no condonation application for late filing. On Friday, Assistant Attorney General Mbuso Simelane wrote to Howe reminding the latter of on order that he should file the recusal application on last Thursday. 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. These are allegations whose veracity is still to be tested in court after the filing of the application for condonation. 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 (interim order) had not been granted. Simelane alleged that Mbongwa was hell-bent on frustrating his very own court-instituted process. The assistant ag 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 said 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. He went on to inform Howe that the AGs clients were also desirous to present evidence that Mbongwa allegedly worked with the commander when an instruction was made to teachers not to attend school. He said when the National Commissioner of Police, William Dlamini, sought to get clarity from him and/or to warn him about such instructions; the SNAT president allegedly rebuffed the opportunity to assist the police. 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. In pics: 19th China Int'l Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen Xinhua) 10:00, June 12, 2023 Staff members in ancient costumes at China's Shaanxi booth welcome visitors during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 9, 2023. The 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off here on Wednesday, which is expected to inject new impetus into the development of the country's cultural industry. Over 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions have registered to display their distinctive products in the fair's Belt and Road International Exhibition Area. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Visitors choose products at China's Shaanxi booth during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 9, 2023. The 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off here on Wednesday, which is expected to inject new impetus into the development of the country's cultural industry. Over 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions have registered to display their distinctive products in the fair's Belt and Road International Exhibition Area. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Visitors buy products at a booth from Mali during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 9, 2023. The 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off here on Wednesday, which is expected to inject new impetus into the development of the country's cultural industry. Over 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions have registered to display their distinctive products in the fair's Belt and Road International Exhibition Area. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Visitors buy products at a booth from Nepal during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 9, 2023. The 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off here on Wednesday, which is expected to inject new impetus into the development of the country's cultural industry. Over 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions have registered to display their distinctive products in the fair's Belt and Road International Exhibition Area. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Visitors buy products at a booth from South Korea during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 9, 2023. The 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off here on Wednesday, which is expected to inject new impetus into the development of the country's cultural industry. Over 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions have registered to display their distinctive products in the fair's Belt and Road International Exhibition Area. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Visitors buy products at a booth from India during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, June 9, 2023. The 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off here on Wednesday, which is expected to inject new impetus into the development of the country's cultural industry. Over 300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions have registered to display their distinctive products in the fair's Belt and Road International Exhibition Area. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), a world-leading clean energy firm, has signed a roadmap for developing up to 1 gigawatt (GW) wind power plant in Kazakhstan, which plans to have half its energy mix from renewables by 2050. The Central Asian country is a key strategic market for Masdar, the UAEs flagship renewable energy company, which has been steadily investing in the region in recent years. The roadmap for developing the up to 1 GW wind project, with a battery energy storage system (BEES), was signed by four partners on the sidelines of the Astana International Forum. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, witnessed the signing. The signatories were: Masdar, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Investment Development Fund (KIDF) Management Company Ltd, and Samruk-Kazyna, a joint stock company sovereign wealth fund. Sustainable development Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President-Designate, said: The UAE and Masdar are proud to be supporting Kazakhstans renewable energy goals. This wind project, which will generate up to 1 GW of clean electricity to power homes and cut emissions, shows sustainable development in action. To meet the Paris Agreement goals to keep 1.5 within reach, humanity needs to take many bold steps, including tripling worldwide renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade. As proud hosts of COP28, the UAE is deeply committed to investing in and partnering with countries to boost clean energy around the world. Kazakhstan aims to become carbon neutral by 2060 and is targeting renewable electricity generation of 50% by 2050. The up to 1 GW wind farm, with BESS, is Masdars first project in the country. In addition to the roadmap, Samruk-Kazyna and Masdar signed a collaboration agreement for the project. The roadmap signing builds upon an earlier agreement secured between Masdar and its Kazakh partners during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2023. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: We aim to deliver a world-class wind plant and battery energy storage system that will support Kazakhstans energy transition and advancement of its net zero ambitions. We welcome the signing of the project roadmap which further strengthens our relationship with Kazakhstan and demonstrates our commitment to helping the Kazakh government achieve its clean energy objectives. Risk mitigation Marat Tulebaev, Chief Executive Officer of the Kazakhstan Investment Development Fund (KIDF) Management Company Ltd, said: KIDF is a government risk mitigation mechanism designed to provide comfort to foreign investors and global players like Masdar by co-investing in projects. We are pleased to note the progress of the project for the construction of up to 1GW wind farm with the first phase to be developed in the Jambyl region. This is a significant step forward in developing the joint implementation of Masdars first wind project in our country. We look forward to strengthening our partnership in the future and believe that this project meets our country's growing demand for electricity by helping to shift the energy supply model towards renewable energy sources. Nurlan Zhakupov, Chief Executive Officer of Samruk-Kazyna, said: I am glad that the Fund has now become a part of the project. Today, we consolidated this by signing a Collaboration Agreement between the Fund and Masdar, which will be the starting point for further cooperation. We also signed the Calendar Action Plan (Roadmap) between the Fund, the Ministry of Energy, KIDF and Masdar, indicating the main activities, responsible parties and deadlines. Strategic market Abundant in wind and sunshine, the Central Asian region is a strategic market for Masdar. In April 2023, Masdar reached financial close on three solar power projects in Uzbekistan with a combined capacity of around 900 MW. Once operational, the plants will generate enough electricity to power over one million homes and displace over one million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, making it the regions largest solar power program. In Azerbaijan, Masdar is developing the 230 MW Garadagh solar power plant and has signed agreements for onshore wind and solar projects, and integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects, with a total combined capacity of 4 GW. Established in 2006, Masdar is the UAEs clean energy powerhouse. It is active in more than 40 countries and has invested in a portfolio of renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of more than 20 GW. Masdar is committed to achieving at least 100 GW of total renewable energy capacity by 2030.-- TradeArabia News Service We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Islamabad, June 12 (UNI) The first batch of Russian oil has arrived at the Pakistani port of Karachi and will be unloaded on June 12, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday. "I have fulfilled another of my promises to the nation. Glad to announce that the first Russian discounted crude oil cargo has arrived in Karachi and will begin oil discharge tomorrow," Sharif said on Twitter, adding that the country is moving towards "prosperity, economic growth and energy security and affordability." The prime minister added that this was "the first-ever Russian oil cargo to Pakistan," which marked the beginning of a new relationship between Islamabad and Moscow. In late March, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russian and Pakistani companies were working on the issue of Russian oil supplies. In particular, they reached preliminary agreements on the oil price and discussed the shipment of a pilot batch of oil. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS Ive got some super exciting news to share with you. Last year, we embarked on an incredible journey with the launch of the CIO Awards Canada program. It was an absolute blast celebrating the most innovative organizations and accomplished leaders in the tech world. Witnessing the outstanding projects and teams that emerged from all corners of Canada was truly gratifying! In 2022, we had the privilege of recognizing exceptional teams that showcased the transformative power of IT in their respective organizations. Among the winners, two outstanding companies, CIBC and McCain Foods Limited, shone brightly with their transformative projects. CIBC, a leading financial institution, embarked on a journey of modernizing their stable of applications and enabling new data services, resulting in enhanced business agility. Richard Jardim, Executive Vice-President & CIO, and Bradley Fedosoff, Senior Vice-President Architecture, Data & Analytics, shared their insights and experiences, leaving attendees with valuable lessons on navigating complexity and embracing emerging technologies. Meanwhile, McCain Foods Limited, a global leader in the food industry, demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the supply chain crisis. They swiftly accelerated their cloud migration and dynamically adapted to shifting data requirements throughout their supply chain. Caroline Morissette, Vice-President of Digital & Data, Carlos Valencia, Director of Global Data Services and Platforms, Prateeksha Oza, Director of Global Digital Supply Chain, and Sandra Castaneda, Director of Integrated Supply Chain Technology Portfolio, shared their experiences and lessons learned on this challenging journey. These winning teams didnt just walk away with awards; they, among many others, became the shining stars of our events and case studies, inspiring others with their accomplishments. Their success stories continue to reverberate, driving innovation in the Canadian tech landscape. What sets the CIO Awards Canada program apart is its unwavering focus on recognizing the exceptional work happening right here in Canada. As part of Foundrys global franchise of CIO events, including the prestigious US CIO100 and CIO50 in other countries, the Canada awards hold a special place in showcasing Canadian innovation. Now, heres the thrilling partthe nominations for the 2023 CIO Awards Canada are officially open but the deadline to apply is quickly approaching on June 15, 2023. This is your golden opportunity to put forward your teams remarkable achievements and gain the recognition they truly deserve. Whether your organization has created a competitive advantage, optimized business processes, enabled growth, or enhanced customer relationships through IT, we want to hear your story. Doha, June 12 (UNI) The first day of the 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Saudi Arabia ended with the signing of 30 investment agreements worth 37.5 billion Saudi riyals ($9.9 billion), the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday. The parties signed agreements in the field of technology, renewable energy, agriculture, real estate, minerals, logistics, tourism and healthcare, the report noted. In particular, Saudi and Chinese companies, Amar Al-Oula and Zhonghuan International Group (Hong Kong), respectively, have signed a $533 million deal to set up an iron ore processing plant and produce iron pellets for smelters in Saudi Arabia. ASK Group and the China National Geological and Mining Corporation also entered into a $500 million agreement to develop, build and operate a copper mining project in the Arabian Peninsula region, the report added. The Saudi Ministry of Investment and Chinese company Human Horizons, which specializes in the development of self-driving technologies and the production of electric vehicles under the HiPhi brand signed an agreement for 21 billion Saudi riyals to establish a joint venture for research in the development, production and sale of cars, the report said. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS The four-way test is a set of guiding principles that every member of Rotary, an international service organization, can recite. The test is an adaptive process that considers everyones point of view. The process is designed to build goodwill and earn trust so a particular result is mutually beneficial, sustainable, and has scalable outcomes. As a Rotarian and the person responsible for the content at FutureIT Chicago on June 22, I couldnt help but see some commonalities in the attributes of the amazing IT leaders I have the honor to speak with and the four rules of Rotary. If you are available to attend FutureIT Chicago, you will see what I mean when impactful IT leaders share their experiences, leadership philosophies, and key recommendations that you wont hear anywhere else. Here are some sneak peeks into what will be discussed and the connections I see to the four-way test. Is it the truth? Grace Trinidad, Research Director, Future of Trust, IDC will address this first question head on. Trust is emerging as the number one factor in the acceptance of automation, in AI and ML, and in customer retention and business growth but what does it mean? Grace will provide insights into how trust has changed and what needs to be done to maintain a trustworthy business. Is it fair to all concerned? Christopher Boone from AbbVie will be talking about navigating the AI landscape and where to invest for the greatest returns. Chris will provide a strategy to define pilot projects and outcomes, how to move from pilot programs with a clear business case, and when to shut down projects while staying true to your corporate culture. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? IT staff see themselves as problem solvers. So how do you ensure that your IT team follows your rules and policies when asked to do something by a product owner without making enemies throughout the organization? Sabina Ewing from Abbott will address this and more in a candid panel discussion covering critical issues facing IT leaders in a volatile world. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Digital transformation is an evolution. Swati Shah from TransUnion will share how she guides her team and organization on that journey by focusing on customer and employee experience. This program is free for qualified attendees. Register here to spend the day with Chicagos leading lights of IT. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Dhaka, June 12 (UNI) Aiming to enhance trade, commerce, and investment between Commonwealth nations, including Bangladesh, the inaugural 'Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum' will take place in Dhaka on 13-14 September. This two-day event marks a significant step towards fostering economic collaboration within the Commonwealth, BSS reports. The Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum is going to be organised by Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) in partnership with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ZI Foundation. The Forum will offer a platform for promoting trade, investment, and economic growth. It aims to foster partnerships, promote innovation, and explore avenues for sustainable and inclusive economic development for Bangladesh. This was announced at a press conference held at a city hotel on Sunday. UNI MAZ AKS Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Brain Charity welcomes next CEO The Brain Charity has announced that Pippa Sargent is to become its next CEO in August. She will succeed Nanette Mellor, who leaves the role after nine years. She has 25 years experience working in the health, voluntary, public ad private sectors. She is the owner and director of Social Marketing Partners Ltd, a marketing consultancy, and was previously a campaign manager at Tobacco Free Futures. Sargent was national director of Campaign Against Living Miserably for four years. She said: I will be focused on leading the Brain Charity to a place where we see increased funding to provide more services, and higher visibility for the issues that are important to us, to reach more people living with neurological conditions who can benefit from our services. I also hope to ensure that all staff and volunteers are happy and supported in the brilliant work they do, with inclusivity and wellbeing key. New CEO for Women and Children First Beth Silver has been appointed Women and Children Firsts new chief executive. She replaces Mikey Rosato, who steps down after 10 years. Silver joined the charity in March 2022 as its deputy CEO. Before this, she was chair for 23rd Willesden Scouts and CEO of Maternity Worldwide for four months in 2019. She started her career as a solicitor at Hogan Lovells. On leaving the role, Rosato said: This decision has been hard to make. I love this charity. I am sure Women and Children First will deliver on its ambitions with energy, commitment, and purpose. Beth is a brilliant leader, full of ideas, initiative, and knowledge of community health. She will be an excellent champion of womens rights to survive and thrive, wherever they are in the world. St Georges Hospital charity chief steps down Amerjit Chohan will be leaving the hospital charity in mid-June after five years in post. Chohan said the experience has been a highlight of his career. He said: Its thanks to my incredible team, trustees and colleagues at St Georges that Ive had five amazing years at the charity. It has been the highlight of my career but, there is still much more that I want to do and Im keen to explore new challenges. But, first up, Im taking a break. Like many people working in the NHS, Ive not managed to have a proper holiday since before the pandemic and Im really looking forward to spending the school summer holidays with my young family. The process for a permanent CEO replacement is already underway but Starfish Search is managing the recruitment of an interim. New director at POhWER The advocacy and advice charity POhWER has appointed Vicky Hilpert as its new director of finance and resources after being appointed on an interim basis since April. The charity now has an all-female executive team. Women make up more than 79% of the total POhWER workforce. In her role, Hilpert will lead the charitys strategic business planning and budgeting process. She joined POhWER after working in several senior roles within the NHS. Chief executive Helen Moulinos said: I am thrilled to welcome Vicky permanently to POhWERs executive leadership team. Vicky brings with her experience, knowledge and insight of finance and resources. She will make a brilliant addition to our charity helping our efforts to achieve our mission of making sure everyone who wants to be heard is so. We are pleased to be welcoming her as a permanent member of our executive team. Parkinsons UK announces director Parkinsons UK has announced that Emma Cooper will become its permanent director of community and participation after she stepped into the role in an interim capacity last October. Cooper initially joined the charity in 2018 as its England director. She has experience in roles of local government and at Healthwatch. Caroline Rassell, chief executive of Parkinsons UK, said: Emma was the outstanding candidate for this role, and its always a pleasure to be able to appoint knowledgeable and passionate people from within the charity to new, more senior positions. Emma will lead a directorate who are integral to the delivery of our newly refreshed strategy, allowing us to build a community of support for the Parkinsons community - giving them the information and support that they need, enabling them to feel in control and living well with the condition, no matter where they are in their Parkinsons journey. The charity is currently recruiting for a chief finance and operations officer and recruitment for a director of people and culture is set to follow. New committee members for the National Lottery Community Fund The NLCF has announced three new England committee members whose terms are until 1 April 2027. England committee members will play a role in ensuring the funder delivers its strategic ambitions and ensures equity, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of its decision-making. Halima Khan has worked as a policymaker in national, regional and local government and at Nesta. Kamran Rashid is founder and CEO of Impact Hub Bradford CIC, a co-working space. Rashid has over 20 years experience working in the charity sector, with previous roles being at UnLtd and the Foundation for Social Entrepeuners. Karin Woodley is CEO of Cambridge House, a London-based anti-poverty charity. She has over 35 years experience in leading social action charities. sign up to receive the Civil Society daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, On Thursday night, Donald Trump once again flooded the news cycle when he announced on his Truth Social platform that he had been indicted in the federal probe into his mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. He faces seven chargesincluding false statements, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and violations of the Espionage Actand is scheduled to surrender to the authorities tomorrow. As the news broke, it quickly became all anyone could talk about, but one voice, at least, urged restraint in the absence of the full story being known: We dont get our news from Trumps Truth Social account. Lets see what the facts are when any possible indictment is released. As I have said before, no one is above the law, no matter how much they wish they were. We will have more to say when the facts are revealed. This sage advice came not from a member of the news media (well, not really; more on that in a moment), but one of Trumps rivals for the Republican presidential nomination: Chris Christie, who jumped into the race with an event in New Hampshire last week. Christie once endorsed and advised Trump, but has more recently turned on the former president, and is now billing himself as the only candidate prepared to confront Trump head-on. If Trump is the favorite to win the nomination, however, Christie is something like the opposite; recent polls have him at the bottom of the primary barrel among GOP voters. Reporting from his launch, the New York Times posed the existential question for his campaign: Who will he appeal to? One potential answer to that questionalbeit not in any electoral senseis the national news media: indeed, the same Times story noted that Christies campaign will depend heavily on media coverage and a nimbleness to travel to places where that is likeliest, while a Christie adviser acknowledged to Axios that he is planning a non-traditional campaign that is highly focused on earned media. Christie plans to earn mediaa political term for coverage that a candidate attracts for doing (ostensibly) newsworthy things, as opposed to paid advertisementsby, well, confronting Trump head-on, scratching political reporters perpetual itch for conflict and colorful quotes. If headlines in major outlets are any guide, this strategy already appears to be bearing fruit: Christie goes after Trump in presidential campaign launch, calling him a self-serving mirror hog; Trump Responds to Chris Christie Attacks With Fat Jokes; Chris Christie rips juvenile, baby Trump after former president targets him with fat jokes: Like a child. Christie perhaps has a better understanding than most of how to grab mainstream-media attention: he courted it for yearsfor better and, eventually, worseas governor of New Jersey and a perennial pre-Trump GOP presidential hope; more recently, hes doled out conflict and colorful quotes aplenty as a paid contributor at ABC News (hence my not really above). This year alone, Christie has popped up at least thirteen times on the Powerhouse Roundtable on the networks Sunday show, This Week, including several appearances since he started openly flirting with a presidential bid, a story that the roundtable also discussed in his absence. (Now that Christie is officially running, ABC has suspended its ties with him; if this seems to you like an arbitrary moment to do so, you wouldnt be the only one.) Asked once if he, like Trump, considers the mainstream press to be the enemy of the people, Christie replied that he holds reporters in higher esteem than academic pundits. At least you guys get in the arena and mix it up, he said. And Christie loves to mix it up. Christie was not the only long-shot presidential candidate earning media attention last week, at least until Trumps indictment sucked the oxygen out of the room. Mike Pence (who can probably be considered a long shot even if he is the former vice president) launched his campaign, too, and also took digs at Trump and his culpability for January 6. (The Wi-Fi password for reporters at Pences launch event was KeptHisOath!) On Wednesday, Doug Burgum, the little-known governor of North Dakota, got into the race and managed to get CNN to air a good chunk of his launch event live, even though it was the political equivalent of a bad wedding speech. And last weeks primary action wasnt confined to the Republican side of the aisle: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the conspiracy-peddling Kennedy scion running against President Biden as a Democrat, did a live Twitter event with Elon Musk and started to attract increased mainstream media coverage, tooa result, The Hill noted, of his relatively decent poll numbers, as well as his media-ready image as an heir to the famous political dynasty. (Some polls show as many as one in five Democrats backing Kennedy, though theres ample reason to be skeptical that this is all authentic support.) After years on the fringes, Politico wrote, Kennedy is suddenly knocking on the door of mainstream relevanceand all it took was mounting a longshot presidential campaign. According to the same Politico story, Biden-world is vexed about Kennedys challenge; the presidents reelection team has reportedly decided not to engage for now, but is hoping that the press will do the work of informing voters about Kennedys conspiratorial views. Even the slightest press scrutiny is his biggest problem, a staffer from Bidens 2020 campaign said. When Democrats see a candidate is anti-vaccination, antiassault weapons ban, and a quasi 2020 election denier, their first thought is that this person must be a MAGA Republican. A former White House official called Kennedys bid a distraction, adding that some could say just ignore it, which is how I would feel about it. At the same time, youve got to make sure that somebody is paying attention to it and pushing back. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Many journalists might agree that it is their job to push backnot to help Biden, but because Kennedys extreme views merit scrutiny. True enough. But theres cause to be careful here. Scrutiny of conspiratorial viewshowever well-intentionedcan serve to inadvertently amplify them; Kennedy will always have a platform independently of the mainstream press (see, for example, the Musk event), but our coverage should at least be measured and proportionate, and not elevate Kennedy into a bigger character than he otherwise might be by hyping his centrality to an election in which he remains a marginal figure. And proportionality is a good broader principle here, even when approaching candidates who dont spew conspiracies. Anyone running for president deserves scrutiny of their record; indeed, some of the early coverage of Christie and Pence has interrogated their past enabling of Trump, even as they now try to disown him. But candidates, and particularly long-shot ones, often run for attention and relevance, even if it isnt always on glowing terms. And giving it to them can redound to their advantage. Its not the medias job to decide who runs for president, of course, and at least to some extent, we need to cover the field fairly. But it strikes me that there are some caveats to these obligations. Without wishing to sound like a broken record, we really dont have to be giving the primaries, as a whole, as much coverage as we are so far out from the first votes being cast. Even if you think that we do, we could find more substantive grounds for apportioning our attention than early pollinga deeply flawed metric, not to mention a shallow oneor who gives us the juiciest quotes; we dont need to rely on a narrator as unreliable as Chris Christie to get to the truth about Donald Trump. We could also interrogate who gets to run for president in the first place: those who already have high media profiles (Christie) or lots of money (Burgum) essentially get to leverage those resources into more attention. At minimum, we should acknowledge that we are actors here, and not just passive chroniclers. We might not like it, but how we decide to parcel out our attention can end up shaping how the election plays out. We should ask, in other words: What does it mean for candidates to earn our coverage? What should it take? This brings us back to Trump, who has earned more media coverage than perhaps any other politician in American history. Very often, its been warranted; his federal indictment is clearly an example of that. Even if coverage of his legal woes is urgently necessary, though, Trump has already managed to spin some of it to his advantage, and, in its blaring wall-to-wall sensationalism, it has sometimes been excessive and gotten ahead of the facts, as Chris Christie might put it. Proportionality, ultimately, shouldnt just apply to our coverage of long shots, but to front-runners, too. Trumpor any other candidate, for that matteris never the only story in the room. In April, before officially jumping into the Republican primary, Christie sat for a breakfast interview with Mark Leibovich, of The Atlantic, and, per Leibovich, got frustrated with what he saw as the repetitiveness of the questions. You guys drive me crazy. All you want to do is talk about Trump, he said. Im sorry, I dont think hes the only topic to talk about in politics. Given the performatively anti-Trump orientation of Christies campaign, this statement seems, at minimum, lacking in self-awarenessjust as his tweet urging facts-first caution around Trumps indictment was hypocritical and self-serving; the indictment, after all, drowned out his own burgeoning media momentum. On both occasions, though, he had a point. Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. DARAGA, Philippines (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-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon volcanos crater in northeastern Albay province to 25 temporary grazing area. Theyre 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. Its 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 governments 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 worlds 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-meter (8,077-feet) volcano. A key tourist draw for its picturesque conical shape, Mayon is one of the countrys 24 active volcanoes. It last erupted violently in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of villagers. In 1814, Mayons eruption buried entire villages and reportedly left more than 1, 000 people dead. But many of Albays people have accepted the volcanos 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 Albays capital city of Legazpi. About 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) away, the volcano lay hidden in thick clouds. A resident, Violeto Peralta, caught attention when he painted an image of Mayons 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 countrys most active volcano. Were not scared of it, the 76-year-old said. Weve learned to live with it. Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Lawmakers in two states passed bills this year to require disclosure of litigation funding contracts. Business groups are pushing for similar rules in federal courts nationwide. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on May 2 signed into law Senate Bill 269, which requires parties who file lawsuits to disclose any litigation financing agreement, limits fees to 25% of the judgment or settlement and makes financers liable for any costs and fees assessed if they end up on the losing side. The Louisiana Legislature approved a similar bill, which cleared the state Senate on Tuesday and now awaits a signature by Gov. John Bel Edwards. In the meantime, the US Chamber of Commerces and other business and insurance groups are trying to persuade the US Judicial Conferences Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure to adopt a disclosure requirement for US District Courts. Some districts already require disclosure of litigation funding contracts under certain conditions. The Chamber is hoping to replace a hodgepodge of rules with a blanket disclosure requirement. Judges have a right to know whether these non-merits-related interests are driving the litigation in their courtrooms, the groups said in a May 8 letter to the judicial rules committee. And the proposed mandatory disclosure rule would effectuate that right by requiring all funding agreements to be disclosed as a matter of course. The American Property and Casualty Insurers Association is among the organizations that signed on to the Chambers letter. The organization says litigation funding leads to higher damage awards and increased settlement costs. The US Chambers Institute for Legal Reform first asked for a federal litigation funding disclosure rules in 2017, but a report by the Government Accountability Office report released in January generated renewed interest in the issue. The GAO reported that the amount of money invested in litigation funding is increasing, but there is lack of data about the number of funders, their rate of return and the amount of money available. The GAO report cited an analysis by Westfleet Advisors that said 47 active litigation funders had a total of $12.4 billion in assets and committed $2.8 billion to new litigation finance agreements in 2021. Nathan Morris, senior vice president for legal reform advocacy at the Chamber, said disclosure about Burford Capitals involvement in antitrust litigation filed by Sysco Corp. provides a cautionary tale. Burford, a publicly traded company that bills itself as the worlds largest litigation funder, in 2019 provided $140 million to fund a Sysco lawsuit that accused poultry and pork providers colluding to support high prices. Although Burford has long said that it does not intervene in the legislation it funds, the company intervened in arbitration proceedings to prevent Sysco from sharing the proceeds of its settlement agreement with its customers, the Chamber alleges. Morris said before Buford filed a motion to block the Sysco settlement, Burford Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bogart told CBS News Lesley Stahl on the 60 Minutes program that its clients are free to run their litigations as they see fit. Bogart said in an email Wednesday that his company intervened in the lawsuit only because Sysco breached its contract. The Chamber exists to create an unlevel playing field skewed in its favor, even while its members happily take hundreds of millions of dollars of litigation funding capital from Burford, Bogart said. Its hypocrisy is truly a marvel to behold, and it has lost any credibility it might have had in the past with its internal corruption and its rejection by both political parties. Morris said disclosure of litigation funding agreements would give the courts and the parties involved a better understanding about where interests lie. The Chamber has been backing litigation funding bills in statehouses across the nation. The bills introduced in Montana and Louisiana this year passed both chambers of the state legislatures by wide margins. Louisianas Senate Bill 196 would require parties to disclose litigation funding agreements within 60 days of a lawsuit being filed, but would allow redaction of the specific amount of money provided. The Louisiana bill, unlike Montanas measure, would not cap the amount that funders can charge for their service and would not make funders liable if they lose and the court awards fees and costs to the winner. Although Gov. Edwards was a trial attorney before he was elected to office, Morris said he is optimistic the governor will sign the bill. He said Edwards has approved other tort reform measures that are typically opposed by trial lawyers. Montana joins Wisconsin and West Virginia among the states that require disclosure of litigation funding agreements. The chamber also supported measures introduced in the Florida and Nevada legislatures this year that failed to pass. NEW YORK -- Billionaire George Soros, a leading philanthropist, contributor to liberal political causes and a favorite target of conservatives, is stepping aside to let his son lead the Open Society Foundations. Alexander Soros, who goes by Alex, will take the reins at Soros charitable Open Society Foundations and political action committee, a foundation spokesperson confirmed to CNN. George Soros, 92, is worth an estimated $6.7 billion according to Forbes, but his foundations are worth far more than that. He has given $32 billion to his foundation, according to its website. Soros founded the organization in 1979 with the stated goals to work for justice, democratic governance and human rights worldwide. It has given grants of $19 billion since its founding. Support of liberal causes about $1.5 billion a year -- has long made George Soros a prominent and frequent target of criticism from the right some laced with antisemitism for his political and philanthropic activities for years. The Open Society Foundations shut its offices in George Soross native Hungary after facing pressure from the countrys prime minister, Viktor Orban. More recently, George Soros became a target of Elon Musk, who compared him on Twitter to the X-Men villain Magneto. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization, the billionaire technology executive wrote. Soros hates humanity. The remarks drew the ire of the Anti-Defamation League, a civil right group that tracks and battles incidents of antisemitism, which said Musks comment will embolden extremists. Soros often is held up by the far-right, using antisemitic tropes, as the source of the worlds problems, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, tweeted. To see Elon Musk, regardless of his intent, feed this segment comparing him to a Jewish supervillain, claiming Soros hates humanity is not just distressing, its dangerous: it will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result. Alex Soros may well prove to be just as big a boogeyman for the right. In an interview Sunday with the Wall Street Journal, Alex Soros confirmed he will chair the Open Society Foundations and said he is more political than his father. He expects to be embracing some different causes with the foundation, particularly voting rights, and abortion rights. He has recently met with members of the Biden Administration, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and some heads of state, including Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to advocate for some of the issues important to the family, CNN said. Alex Soros is the second youngest of Georges five children. He was elected the foundations chair in December and serves as president of the Soros super PAC, The New York Times reported. He is the only family member on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, a private investment management firm. That will put him in charge of a philanthropic empire, funded from the billions that George Soros made five decades as he cemented his reputation as one of the most successful investors in modern history, The Times said. That was particularly true when he made more than $1 billion by betting against the British pound in 1992. BEREA, Ohio -- Christian Weekley was happily living in Michigan when she got a phone call from her father, Tom Weekley. Its time to come home, he told his daughter. That was 11 years ago. Now, Christian is president of Weekleys Mailing Service, founded by her grandparents in 1948. Christian, who has a degree in social work from Bowling Green State University, had been living in that State Up North for 26 years. My dad was getting older. He tried to sell the business at first. His health was failing, she said. Pages of a children's book are fresh off the press and waiting to be collated and bound at Weekley's Mailing Service. (Linda G. Kramer/City of Berea)Linda G. Kramer So, Christian moved back to Ohio. I got to work with Dad for four years before he passed, she said. Mom Margaret Weekley is retired and lives in Westlake. Christians move from Michigan kept the company in the family. When Christian retires, her son, Taylor, will take over, making him the fourth generation of Weekleys to shepherd a business that started on Barbara Weekleys kitchen table. My grandmother started the business and my grandfather, Virgil, did the invoices, Christian said. As clients increased and business volume grew, the Weekleys moved to a small building on Bagley Road. In 1975, Weekleys relocated to its present home just down the street at 1420 W. Bagley Road. The current building has been added on to five times, and now its 65,000 square feet includes 13,000 square feet of warehouse space, plus laser jet and ink jet printers, sorters and inserters. There is also space to the rear of the building to add another 10,000 square feet if necessary. Weekleys Mailing Service of 2023 looks nothing like the little business Barbara Weekley had in mind in 1948. Its 30 employees are busy pre-sorting customer invoices by ZIP code, inserting special add-ons to catalogs and printing colorful childrens books. Clients are both local and national. They include Medical Mutual: Weekleys has a special HIPAA certification so it can insert confidential medical invoices and notifications into envelopes. A special machine is dedicated to that task. Tiny cameras match the address on the envelope with the address on the invoice. For Sharper Image, Weekleys has applied sticky glue to several hundred thousand catalogs and attached coupons. Then mailed them out. The small, soft-cover books for young children are purchased by schools around the country. Some feature historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin. Some have a scientific theme, such as animals. Weekleys prints them, folds them and binds them. Weekleys remains very much a family-owned business. Christian said her grandparents divvied up the shares among relatives. Today, six cousins own the business and 10 own the building. Many of the employees are relatives, friends and neighbors, she said. Jerry Milton has been with Weekleys for 46 years. I started part-time when I was 17, Milton said. My vocational teacher sent me here to get a job. Milton was very good at fixing things, although Virgil Weekley had him doing simpler tasks. One day, a major piece of equipment broke down. Milton volunteered to fix it. Weekley was skeptical, but said, If you fix it, Ill hire you full-time. Milton did make the repairs and Weekley kept his word. Miltons been on the job ever since. Another valuable employee is Kim Kunimoto, the general manager. He has a bulk-mailing background and is essential to expanding the business and keeping it running smoothly, Christian said. Christian has worked to raise the companys profile. Weekleys is certified by the WBENC as a Womens Business Enterprise. Christian is chair of the Graphic Media Alliance. A 75th anniversary celebration is planned for late June, with local dignitaries invited to share in the companys success. Weekleys can be reached at weekleysmailing.com or call 440-234-4325. AKRON, Ohio A man who last month escaped from Summit County deputies but was quickly caught was has been sentenced to a maximum of more than 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Jason Conrad, 39, of Akron, will spend 18 to 25.5 years in prison for trafficking in cocaine, having weapons under disability, unlawful possession of dangerous ordinance, and escape, according to Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. Conrad was sentenced Friday by Judge Susan Baker Ross. Prosecutors say Conrad was first arrested on April 21 after being stopped by officers with the Summit County Drug Unit. A weapon and cocaine were found during a search of his home, prosecutors say. On May 30, Conrad escaped while being taken to Summa Health for a doctors appointment. The next day, officers from the U.S. Marshals Service received a tip that he was spotted traveling on a bike near Aqueduct and Market Streets. Surveillance cameras and an Ohio State Highway Patrol airplane spotted Conrad near Arlington and North Forge Streets. He was arrested after a brief foot chase on train tracks near North Arlington and East North streets. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for killing his pregnant former girlfriend and letting her body decay on his balcony while he helped her family search for her. Bennie Washington Sr., then 39, spoke to the mother of Audreonna Barnes, who was 18, nearly every day after her July 2021 disappearance and feigned heartbreak. He even drove Barnes mother around to search for her daughter, the woman said. UPDATE: An earlier version of this story misstated the bar in which the confrontation initiated, based on a police report. Police now say it began in a different establishment on West 25th Street. CLEVELAND, Ohio A nightclub patron who police say used a pink Glock to shoot at her husband on a busy Ohio City thoroughfare early Saturday morning has been charged with felonious assault. Shameka Nichols, 42, of was charged in Cleveland Municipal Court. A judge on Monday ordered her held on a $25,000 bond. Shortly after midnight, Nichols, of Cleveland, chased her husband out of Bird of Paradise, a West 25th Street nightclub, and shot at him as he ran down Market Avenue, police allege. The area is a nightlife hub, home to many bars and foot traffic, and the shooting put pedestrians at risk, authorities say. Responding officers spoke with a security guard, who said he heard commotion and saw a man fleeing from the establishment, followed by Nichols. He watched the woman draw the pink gun from her purse and fire at the man who was running, according to a police report. The guard was able to hold onto Nichols until police arrived, the report said. Nichols told responding officers the man she had chased was her husband, but theyd recently separated. He had slapped her in the face in the bar, the report stated. Nichols claimed she fired the gun because she felt threatened by him. Another security guard told police that the man slapped the [expletive] out of her across the eye, according to the report. Police recovered a spent shell casing, along with an unspent casing, on the ground. Initial efforts to locate the husband were unsuccessful. LOS ANGELES, California Rapper Lil Wayne is one of the most successful and influential musical artists of this century, yet he cant remember most of the music hes made, he revealed during a recent interview. Lil Wayne, 40, born as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., discussed his nearly three-decade career in an interview with Rolling Stone published June 10. The five-time Grammy award winner said he cant decipher between much of his past album releases. Im going to be honest with you: I dont know Tha Carter III, Tha Carter II, The Carter One from Tha Carter IV. And thats just my Gods honest truth, Wayne told Rolling Stone. You could lie, you could ask me (about) such and such song, I wouldnt even know what we talking about. So it holds no significance to me at all. When asked specifically about Tha Carter III, for which he won the 2009 Grammy award for Best Rap Album, Wayne said he wasnt even sure when the album was released. I dont even know if thats when Tha Carter III came out. Thats how much I dont know, he said. Wayne attributes his memory loss to epilepsy, which he has spoken publicly about in the past, including a hospital stay for seizures in 2013. Memory loss is a health issue commonly associated and reported with epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. I always look at it as the curse part of the gift and the curse, Wayne told Rolling Stone. I believe that (God) blessed me with this amazing mind, but would not give (me) an amazing memory to remember this amazing (expletive). Wayne, despite his epilepsy and memory loss, said he has no plans to retire anytime soon. He said he currently works on numerous songs and about 20 verses each day. He also recently completed ColleGrove 2, a sequel to his 2016 collaboration album with 2 Chainz, Rolling Stone reports. When youre an artist a real artist like myself, I was born this way, Wayne said. So I dont think that the real, true artists and pioneers, they never retire. They died doing this. CINCINNATI, Ohio The Cincinnati Zoo is quickly spreading the news about one of its slowest creatures. Zoo officials say Lightning, a Linnes two-toed sloth, gave birth last week. Zoo officials say the baby appears to be doing well as Lightnings maternal instincts kick in. This is the first sloth baby that our team has cared for, Cincinnati Zoo manager of ambassador animals Julie Grove said in a statement. We are beyond excited that the baby is finally here! Were ready to provide support to Lightning as she navigates being a mom. Its good news for the zoo after Lightning gave birth to a stillborn pup in 2021. We are monitoring mom and baby closely but remaining hands off for the most part, Grove said. Were seeing all the behaviors that we want to see! The baby, which has not yet been named, is not on public display at the moment, according to the zoo. Officials also say they might have to perform a DNA test to determine the sex of the pup. According to the zoo, Linnes two-toed sloths are not considered endangered but are becoming increasingly vulnerable because of human encroachment and activity. Related coverage on cleveland.com: Baby animals born at Cleveland and Akron zoos over the past 6 years (photos) MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina An 18-year-old man from central Ohio is facing a murder charge after police accused him of strangling a teen woman to death at a Myrtle Beach-area home. Blake William Linkous of Blue Rock, Ohio, was arrested by Horry County police last week, the Sun News reports. He is being held in jail without bond. WMBF reports Natalie Martin, 18, of Roseville, Ohio, was found unresponsive on Wednesday. Police say that Martin had been strangled, WBNS Channel 10 reports. While initial reports said Martin was found in a hotel room, the Sun News reports the incident occurred at a home. ISTANBUL An 11-year-old girl died after becoming ill during a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to New York on Sunday, officials said. After the girl fell ill, the flight crew sought any doctors onboard and the plane made an emergency landing at Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Budapest, Hungary. Once the flight landed, medical teams boarded the aircraft for further treatment but despite all efforts, (the) passenger couldnt be saved, Turkish Airlines said in a statement, according to Sky News. Family members of the girl, who has not been identified, disembarked the plane in Budapest. The flight continued its originally planned route to New York after being delayed for more than four hours, according to Today. The girls citizenship remains unclear, as Turkish Airlines said it is unable to provide personal information due to privacy laws, NBC News reports. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones and share their pain, Turkish Airlines said. PHILADELPHIA Repairing an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed Sunday in Philadelphia is expected to take months to fix, according to authorities. With regards to the complete rebuild of I-95 roadway, we expect it to take some number of months, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a news conference on Sunday evening, according to ABC News. The section of I-95 collapsed after a tanker truck caught fire underneath the overpass around 6 a.m. Sunday morning. The rising flames caused the I-95 roadway above to collapse, and it took authorities about an hour to get the fire under control, AP News reports. The tanker truck was carrying gasoline and had a capacity of 8,500 gallons, the U.S. Coast Guard said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. I found myself, you know, thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died, Shapiro said. The National Transportation Safety Board vowed to conduct an investigation into the incident. The NTSB, in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, is sending a team to conduct a safety investigation into the gasoline tanker truck fire and the collapse of the I-95 N overpass in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this morning, NTSB said in a tweet Sunday. Shapiro, meanwhile, promised the state will do all it can to repair I-95 in a safe and timely manner. Interstate 95 is a critical artery that supports our economy and plays an important role in Pennsylvanians day to day lives. My Administration is all hands on deck to repair this safely and as efficiently as possible, Shapiro said in a news release. We will rebuild and recover - and in the meantime, we will make sure people can get to where they need to go safely. COLUMBUS, OhioGov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted are pressuring state lawmakers to adopt new rules requiring kids younger than 16 to obtain parental permission before signing up for a social-media account as legislators hammer out a state budget. Under language inserted in the governors and the Ohio Senates budget plans, social-media companies and owners of similar websites would have to set up a system to verify that every Ohioan creating a new account is at least 16 years old -- such as providing a copy of a drivers license or holding a videoconference with a company employee. For Ohioans younger than 16, they would be able to create an account only if a parent or guardian gives permission to the company. After that, those parents and guardians would have the ability, when their children sign up, to set filters on how their kids can use the site or app, including limiting the amount of time they can access it and moderating the type of content they see. The proposed social-media rules in Ohio are not yet law. The version of the budget introduced last week by the Ohio Senate includes slightly different language from what DeWine proposed when he submitted his budget to the Ohio General Assembly. Among other changes, the Senates version is more narrowly tailored to apply to social-media sites: it would, for example, exempt the parental-notification law from applying to e-commerce reviews, comments on news stories, internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service provider. Under the governors and the Senate plan, Ohio courts would be required to impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each day a company fails to comply with the new requirement, with penalties increasing up to $5,000 per day and $10,000 for each day the violation continues past 60 days and 90 days, respectively. The version already passed by the Ohio House, meanwhile, leaves the social-media proposals out entirely. That means the House and Senate could be forced to hash out differences in a budget conference committee. Lawmakers have until the end of the month to hammer out a final budget proposal to send to DeWines desk. When Senate GOP spokesman John Fortney was asked if the Senate intends to keep the social-media provisions in its final budget plan and push for them in conference committee, he replied, TBA. Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer has reached out to a spokesman for House Republicans for comment. Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that social-media use among kids presents a profound risk of harm to them in ways such as increasing the likelihood of depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, poor self-esteem and body image, and other mental-health issues. A Pew Research Center survey released last year found that two-thirds of Americans age 13-17 used TikTok, 62% of them used Instagram, and 59% of them used Snapchat. Husted, speaking at a news conference with DeWine on Monday, said many social-media apps have algorithms that are designed to be addictive for children. We know that these technologies are negatively affecting our teens and adolescents, from a mental and physical point of view, Husted said. Its leading to deaths of young people. Ohio is one of a number of states that have passed or are considering laws regulating teenagers use of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. Some states social-media restrictions for minors go beyond what the DeWine administration is seeking. Earlier this year, Utah passed a law requiring anyone younger than 18 to get parental permission when creating a social-media account, ban them from accessing social media at night, and mandate that parents get full access to their kids accounts. A new California law would, among other things, require platforms that kids are likely to use to make user settings high-privacy by default. Husted said he couldnt speak for other states. We trying to lead here by starting with this, he said. Husted also said the DeWine administration heard from almost all social-media companies he declined to say which ones to ensure the proposed law was written in a way that the companies could comply with. I think they know its inevitable, Husted said. I think they know they have a problem. Rachel Holland, a spokeswoman for Meta (the parent company of Instagram and Facebook), didnt directly address Ohios proposed parental-permission rules in a statement. But she stated that Meta has developed more than 30 tools to support teens and families online, including parental supervision tools and age-appropriate protections. We refer to research, feedback from parents, teens, experts, and academics to inform our approach, and well continue evaluating proposed legislation and working with policymakers on these important issues, Holland stated. Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer has reached out to TikTok and Snapchat for comment. Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer COLUMBUS, OhioThe state of Ohio will soon offer zero-interest, forgivable loans of up to $1 million to businesses hurt by the East Palestine train derailment last February, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday. Its the first time that the state is offering direct financial assistance of this type to business owners or other residents who suffered economic losses after the Feb. 3 derailment sent toxic chemicals into the nearby air, water, and soil. The state will offer a total of $5 million worth of the loans, which were approved by the Ohio Controlling Board on Monday, according to a DeWine release. The money will come from the Controlling Boards Emergency Purposes/Contingencies Fund. The Ohio Department of Development, which will administer the loans, hasnt yet made loan applications available, though business owners interested in obtaining a loan can sign up for email notifications about when they can apply. All for-profit and non-profit businesses located within two miles of the center of East Palestine when the Feb. 3 accident occurred can apply for loans of somewhere between $10,000 and $1 million, according to the Department of Development, so long as they were in operation on Dec. 1, 2022. However, businesses cant apply for loans that exceed their gross revenue in 2022. Each business must support their loan request with evidence of economic injury related to the derailment, as well as the business annual revenue and expenses, according to the Department of Development. The state will forgive loans to businesses that use the money for employees paychecks or benefits, rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, worker protection gear related to the derailment, or replacing inventory, the Department of Developments website stated. Loan money cannot be used to pay for business owners personal residence expenses. The derailment spilled large amounts of toxic chemicals such as vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl either. Federal and state officials, fearing the vinyl chloride tanks would explode, set them afire, creating a massive plume of thick black smoke. Other chemicals got into local streams, killing fish and traveling down into the Ohio River. Since the derailment, Norfolk Southern the Atlanta-based railroad that owned and operated the train has given tens of millions of dollars in financial assistance to the East Palestine area and has established a fund to reimburse local homeowners for declines in their property values. But Norfolk Southern also has faced a cascade of lawsuits. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has sued the company in federal court, alleging violations of state and federal law and demanding payment for damage to the environment, property and finances of area residents on top of civil penalties and court costs. Until now, the state of Ohios assistance to East Palestine has come in the form of various services, such as a free medical clinic for residents who have reported suffering headaches, breathing trouble and other maladies following the derailment, said Dan Tierney, DeWines spokesman. Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio officials have acknowledged that language voters will see on the ballot explaining the effects of State Issue 1 inaccurately summarizes what the measure actually will require if its approved. The error is related to new, tougher signature gathering requirements for constitutional amendment campaigns that would be imposed if voters approve the issue at a special election in August. The ballot language describes a much more arduous standard than what the amendment language itself actually requires. Here is a quick explanation of the error, which state officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month in response to a lawsuit that seeks that the Ohio Supreme Court reject the language and order that it be rewritten. NOTE: Shortly after this article published, the Ohio Supreme Court issued an order requiring the section described in this article to be rewritten. The relevant portion incorrectly describes the minimum number of voter signatures that amendment campaigns must collect in each county to qualify for the ballot. The standard if the issue passes would apply to all 88 Ohio counties, compared to current law that requires that campaigns only meet the standard in 44 counties. The amendment, if approved, would require campaigns to collect an amount equal to at least 5% of the most recent election for governor from each of Ohios 88 counties. But what voters will see is summary language saying that campaigns must collect signatures equal to at least 5% of eligible voters from each of Ohios 88 counties. The two terms describe different concepts. The ballot summary describes a much higher bar than what the amendment would actually require. In Cuyahoga County, for example, 416,339 people voted in the 2022 election for governor. Under the amendment, anyone pursuing a ballot issue would need to gather at least 20,816 signatures in Cuyahoga County to satisfy the 5% requirement. But the ballot summary language describes a much larger set of eligible voters. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are 981,416 people age 18 and older in Cuyahoga County, so what voters will see says that backers of a constitutional amendment would need more than twice as many valid signatures than what the measure actually requires. State officials have said they made a mistake but say it isnt a material error that requires that the language be redrawn, as opponents are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to do. The lawsuit challenging the ballot language was filed by One Person One Vote, the campaign opposing State Issue 1. The lawsuit raises numerous other issues with the ballot language, which it says fails to meet a legal standard requiring that ballot language be accurate and impartial. The Ohio Constitution says ballot language summarizing an amendments effects shall properly identify the substance of the proposal to be voted upon. The group has filed a separate lawsuit challenging the procedures through which Republican state lawmakers scheduled the Aug. 8 election itself. Both cases have been fully argued, and parties now are waiting for a decision from the Ohio Supreme Court, where Republicans hold a 4-3 majority. State Issue 1, if voters approve it, would amend the state constitution to require future amendments to get a 60% supermajority in a statewide vote in a future in order to pass. Thats compared to the current 50% simple majority standard thats been in place for more than a century. It also would make it harder for potential ballot issues to qualify by tightening mandatory signature-gathering requirements for amendment campaigns. Voting yes on the issue would approve the change. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Stories that will make you laugh, cry and question everything you thought you knew. Step into a portal where LGBTQ+ folks can live authentically, free from hate and where their contributions to art and culture are celebrated. Sign up for the QueerVerse newsletter today! Protests over school recognition of Pride month turned violent for the second time over the past week in Southern California. Among these protesters are allegedly members of the white nationalist Proud Boys organization. On Jun. 2, parents of Saticoy Elementary School gathered to protest the schools Gay Pride and Rainbow Day assembly. Outside of the Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) school board meeting in Glendale, Ca. on Tuesday Jun. 7, anti-LGBTQ groups protested the boards decision to recognize June as Pride month. In both cases, counter-protesters who showed up in support of LGBTQ recognition were faced with violence by anti-LGBTQ extremists. While conservative lawmakers and activists nationwide seek to eradicate the education of gender, sexuality and race, conservative extremists are organizing on the ground to make their point very clear: LGBTQ history and events in schools are to be eliminated. Tensions over Gay Pride and Rainbow Day assembly at Saticoy Elementary School Prior to the incident at Saticoy, a neighborhood in Ventura, Ca., when the Gay Pride and Rainbow Day assembly was decided last month, unhappy parents of the school took it to Instagram to create an extremist Instagram account named Saticoy Elementary Parents to organize in protest of the assembly. Their bio says: Keep your kids home and innocent on Jun. 2. Shortly after, an unknown suspect broke into the school on May 22 and burned a small Pride flag that belonged to a trans teacher. The Pride assembly was meant to highlight diversity, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) told KTLA. Teachers had also planned to read Mary Hoffmans The Great Big Book of Families, a book that depicts gay parents and non-traditional families, in addition to adoption, foster parenting, and blended families. The teacher, who is still at Saticoy Elementary but working at another location for safety reasons, told LAist that theyve been at the school for seven years in a 30-year-long teaching career. In the meantime, theyve been taking a temporary leave in order to keep their students safe, though they are unsure if they will go back. The teacher shared their frustrations about anti-LGBTQ rhetoric theyve faces, especially regarding notions of pedophilia and groominga common talking point by anti-LGBTQ conservatives. I didnt give 30 years to the district and all the years with two masters degrees and a bachelors degree, and an AA degree and everything else that I did to get here to prey on children, said the teacher. In attendance that day was Vishal P. Singh, a Hollywood documentary filmmaker and independent journalist who focuses on social justice, police brutality and far-right extremism in Southern California. Singh, who is nonbinary, has had harassment campaigns made against them, including having their address and phone number doxed. Singh tells Reckon that at the protest, they were repeatedly shoved and hit by right-wing demonstrators, many of whom were calling me by name. A right-wing demonstrator even grabbed my neck before LAPD moved in and pulled me to a safer location, they said. At least one pro-LGBTQ+ person was left unresponsive on the ground during that brawl and received a concussion. There were no arrests on either side and no injuries on the anti-LGBTQ+ side. The current anti-LGBTQ+ political climate feels like a powder keg and Im not sure when it will blow. Singh believes that the Proud Boys, and other extremists pushback is more focused on base building, recruitment and radicalization as opposed to preventing an assembly or winning a local school board vote. A video on Twitter reveals that several people often seen with Proud Boys were present, one of them calling counter-protesters animals in the video. A few who were amongst the anti-Pride crowd were aggressive towards the police as well. Over 100 parents rallied against the assembly, and they outnumbered those who were there in support. According to ABC7, the crowd remained mostly peaceful, but AIR7 HD was overhead when some individuals appeared to get into a heated argument. A large fight, including other real-time videos can be found in this Twitter thread. Ray Jones, who goes by the name Serendipity in drag, was also on site at Saticoy last week. During the outburst, Jones, who is based in Sun Valley, witnessed an unhoused person beat nearly to death by right-wing extremists. They are currently fundraising for the victim, whose name is Percy. Violence in Glendale over school boards vote to recognize Pride month Jones also attended the gathering for the Glendale school board meeting to decide whether June will be recognized as Pride month. The board held a unanimous vote in favor of Pride month, which has happened for the past five years. This year, according to NBC Los Angeles, protestors whove taken issue with the LGBTQ curriculum and policies have been gathering outside of the board meetings for the past few weeks. According to the LAPD, While most of the protest was peaceful, a small group of individuals engaged in behavior deemed unsafe and a risk to public safety. Videos online surged, showing far-right extremists including members of Proud Boys attacking LGBTQ parents. In one video, a far-right extremist pepper sprayed a religious clergy member who was there in support of LGBTQ families. It isnt necessarily surprising, said Jones, who tells Reckon that the Los Angeles School District (LASD) and GUSD consistently vote pro-LGBTQ. What people forget is that this is a very loud minority. Because its a smaller community here, youre gonna hear these people a lot louder. Im just on a high level of alert, because you have that trauma in the back of your head, like, is that gonna happen again? In a video, Proud Boys Bryce Henson, Louie Flores, Sylvie Araujo were identified alongside a Jan. 6 insurrectionist Andy Lai at the Glendale school board meeting. One footage shows clear tensions amongst a crowd, including Proud Boy Adam Kiefer. The situation eventually grew confrontational, leading to physical fights. Despite police attempts to de-escalate the situation, at least three individuals were arrested for various charges, including unlawful use of pepper spray and willfully obstructing officers in the course of their duties, Glendale Police Department said in a statement. As violence sparks over kids curriculum, what does it all mean? According to Californias 2011 Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act, LGBTQ curricula are necessary. Also known as SB48, it amended its preexisting FAIR Actoriginally set to include women, Native Americans, Black Americans and even European Americansto include LGBTQ studies. It does, however, provide schools flexibility on how inclusion of LGBTQ curriculum is implemented. Regardless, real violence is happening as a result. One thing thats really important to say is that this is [caused by] extremist lawmakers, says Dr. Eliza Byard. She is the former Executive Director of GLSEN and current co-founder and Senior Advisor of Campaign for Our Shared Future, a nonprofit for inclusive education. Byard says that she works with Republicans who are equally horrified by whats happening. Extremist politicians are pursuing a political program of exclusion, targeting and harm, she said. To her, the harm affects children, families who are experiencing the brunt of this and the quality of education. It is clear the vast majority of parents want their children to get a good education, want them to learn empathy, and want them to adhere to basic American values of diversity and pluralism, Byard said. We cant allow the political agenda of a minority of extremists to undercut crucial benefits of every single familys child. Ultimately, Singh suggests building networks and communities, but also to not be afraid of outnumbering far-rights in the streets to remind them that their prejudice is a minority in this country. When we do that, we can close down ideological spaces of supremacist and prejudiced thinking, Byard said. You cant necessarily change the way an individual looks at an issue, but you can help build a world around a community that incentivizes love and empathy for each other. BOGOTA, Colombia The mother of four children who survived 40 days in the Amazon wilderness after their plane crashed told the children to leave her and seek help. The siblings, ages 13, 9, 4 and 1, were rescued Friday after an exhaustive search involving helicopters, more than 150 soldiers and dogs and countless volunteers in the dense jungle in Colombia. They are expected to remain for at least two weeks in a military hospital in Bogota receiving treatment. Manuel Ranoque, father of the two youngest siblings, told reporters outside the hospital Sunday that Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13, said their mother survived for four days after the May 1 plane crash. Before she died, their mom told them something like, You guys get out of here, Ranoque said, The Associated Press reported. The father added that it was difficult to get details from the children, who have not been eating well and are tired from their ordeal. Rescuers found the siblings Friday, June 9, after combing the remote area of Amazon jungle wilderness in Colombia for five weeks, tracking scattered signs of their survival that included a makeshift shelter and half-eaten fruit. Helicopters, unable to land where the children were discovered, used rescue lines to lift them some 200 feet from the jungle floor. The children, their mother and two others were traveling May 1 from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to the town of San Jose del Guaviare when the plane went down, The Washington Post reported. The pilot radioed that the Cessna single-engine propeller plane was experiencing an engine failure. Two weeks later, searchers found the wreckage and the bodies of three adults, including the childrens mother, but the siblings who are members of the Huitoto Indigenous group had left the crash site. Gen. Pedro Sanchez, commander of the Joint Command of Special Operations in Colombia, had likened the search in the dense jungle to finding a tiny flea in a huge rug that moves in unpredictable directions, he said. The children were found a little more than 2 miles from the crash site of the initial incident, the Colombian Air Force said. The siblings survived eating cassava flour that was aboard the plane and seeds. Some familiarity with the rainforests fruits is also credited with aiding their survival. The Organization of the Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon said in a statement that their survival is a sign of a knowledge and relationship with the natural environment of life, which is learned from the mothers womb and practiced from a very early age. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit by Tim Sommers Widely-respected philosopher, Tufts professor, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse of the New Atheists movement, and an External Professor for the prestigious Santa Fe Institute, Daniel Dennett recently took to the very public soap box of The Atlantic to issue a dire warning. Today, for the first time in history, thanks to artificial intelligence, it is possible for anybody to make counterfeit people who can pass for real in many of the new digital environments we have created. These counterfeit people are the most dangerous artifacts in human history, capable of destroying not just economies but human freedom itself. Before its too late (it may well be too late already) we must outlaw both the creation of counterfeit people and the passing along of counterfeit people. The penalties for either offense should be extremely severe, given that civilization itself is at risk. The most dangerous artifacts in human history? What about gunpowder, the printing press, chemical weapons, fission bombs, fusion bombs, biological weapons, machines that burn massive amounts of fossil fuels and dump carbon into the atmosphere, Adam Sandler movies, social media in general, and TicTok in particular? Before I say anything else I should say that Dennett is not only a brilliant philosopher, but also a charming, affable, and generous person. At public events he seems to make a special effort to seek out and spend time with students. I could say more, but you get the idea. Having said that, what is up with AI making very smart people lose their minds? (See also, Maciej Ceglowskis aptly titled, Superintelligence: The Idea the Eats Smart People. (Slides here.) ) I think Dennett is very, and weirdly, wrong here. Weirdly, Ill save for last, but basically this counterfeit people thing seems to be in tension with his own views. What he is very wrong about, however, I believe, is the nature of the threat. The harms he lays out are not specific to AI and, in fact, many have already happened . Further, its not clear that AI is an apocalyptic force multiplier on this front. Or so Ill argue. Why does Creating counterfeit digital people riskdestroying our civilization? I am happy that Dennett has not fallen for the AIs will either take over or destroy the world line, but destroyinghuman freedom itself might be worse. So, whats the problem? Dennett says that By allowing the most economically and politically powerful people, corporations, and governments to control our attention, these systems will control us. Counterfeit people, by distracting and confusing us and by exploiting our most irresistible fears and anxieties, will lead us into temptation and, from there, into acquiescing to our own subjugation. But, wait, what does any of that have to do with AIs or counterfeit people? Hasnt this already happened? Lets pull two issues apart. First, in terms of controlling our attention, hasnt that already occurred without AIs? This is a real, very serious problem, and AIs may make it worse, but it doesnt really hinge on AIs. If this is the problem with AIs, doesnt that mean that without the internet in general, and social media specifically, this controlling of our attention wouldnt be possible? Why pick on AIs? Blame Face-Tok-agram. Second, drop attention and read Dennett again. With AIs the most economically and politically powerful people, corporations, and governmentswill control us. What do you mean will? As a political philosopher, I have to ask, who exactly do you think has all the power right now? What new power will AI give them? (See, the previous paragraph again on attention, controlling.) To be clear, I have no idea how bad the AI misinformation/persuasion situation might get. I just think this apocalyptic thinking is radically under justified at this point and being endlessly repeated at us as what all the smart people already know. Meaning many of the smartest people on the planet are laser-focused, not on a war where one side has nukes, the rise of fascism and destabilization of American democracy, the planets ongoing and potentially apocalyptic climate changes, or persistent and devastating economic inequality across the globe, but on whether the machines they are building for profit might be dangerous. Please, stop us before we destroy the world! they shout while banking billions. (Obviously, this last bit is not Dennetts fault.) Dennett says Another pandemic is coming, this time attacking the fragile control systems in our brainsnamely, our capacity to reason with one another That seems an overly dramatic way of saying that there will be tons of AI grifting soon. Overly dramatic, especially, since theres already plenty of nonAI (and probably some AI) grifting going on right now. (Maybe, hes taking the superintelligence thing seriously and saying AIs will not just distract and persuade, but will be orders of magnitude more persuasive than ordinary people. I see little evidence for this view.) But heres the weird bit about Dennett taking this position. Dennett has this really interesting view of the mind based on the idea that there are three stances we can take in understanding something and predicting what it will do. We could use the physical stance to try to predict the behavior of, for example, a ball. Basically via geometry or the rules of physics or more informal observed-bouncing-heuristics, we can calculate where the ball will end up after we bounce it. The design stance tries to predict the behavior of, say a watch or an app on a smartphone, asking what it was made for and, therefore, how it might have been constructed, or coded, to achieve what it was designed to do, and so what it will do next. Finally, the intentional stance treats the subject as having beliefs, desires, intentions, and a certain degree of rationality. Obviously, we take the intentional stance towards other people. But Dennett says we can also profitably take the intentional stance with a computer chess program or an AI. Heres the twist. According to Dennett there is nothing to being intentional beyond it being predictive for others to take an intentional stance towards you/it. One of his earlier books was titled Consciousness Explained, but it is often referred to as Consciousness Explained Away by people who dont find this approach convincing. This view has a surprising amount of overlap with Heideggers view in Being and Time, by the way. Heidegger says we are aware at first of ourselves as conscious beings, then we become aware of objects that we use as tools, and only when objects break, or fail to function the way we want them to as tools, do we see the larger physical world that frames equipment or the ready-to-hand (his words for tools) and Dasein (us). I dont know how much of this even makes sense. Heidegger is legendarily obscure (and was a Nazi). But I think the fact that he moves in the opposite direction as Dennett is interesting. Starting from something like consciousness maybe it makes more sense, when confronted with an AI, to ask, first, is it really conscious like us? But Dennett deals away the most straightforward version of this possibility. Since theres nothing to the question of whether the AI is intentional or not except whether we can predict its behavior by taking an intentional stance towards it, why think AIs that are intentional enough are only counterfeit people? He argues that they are problematic because they fool us into taking them for intentional beings. But arent they? Or, at least, wouldnt they be, if they could consistently fool us in this way? Dennett seems to have basically a Turing-Test for intentionally, but then still wants somehow to say that some beings can pass the test while also remaining fake. Shouldnt they have failed if they are fake? Or if not, shouldnt we admit the test doesnt work. I can see a couple of ways to object. Maybe, Dennett just means by counterfeit that they dont really have a body or sensory input or something. But that doesnt seem relevant if they can present themselves as thoroughly intentional. Maybe, he just means they appear intentional, but they are not or they are not as intentional as a human being. Theres nothing contradictory in that. But that position is in tension with his current view. What I mean is that when Dennett writes that Our natural inclination to treat anything that seems to talk sensibly with us as a personadopting what I have called the intentional stance turns out to be easy to invoke and almost impossible to resist This is the first time I have ever heard him even hint that it should be resisted even though in this context it clearly works the best. Imagining predicting the behavior of even a simple AI from the design or physical stances alone. I dont know how he can can take this position except by saying that there is something more to intentionally than he has previously allowed. One well-known philosopher, David Wallace, who almost certainly knows more about Dennett (and philosophy) than I do (so keep that in mind), rejected this position in the comment thread on a well-known philosophy blog. I wont quote or paraphrase him without permission (see the thread for yourself), but Ill just say what I got out of it was two ways to distinguish counterfeit persons from regular old ones. One way is that they are weakly intentional when compared to us. We are strongly intentional. The other is that they could be intentional, but not conscious (among other things that a person might be). On the one side, to the extent that these systems dont need to be sophisticated enough to be any more than weakly intentional its hard, as I say above, to think theres a new threat. AIs are already plenty sophisticated enough to fool most people in many circumstances. If theres an apocalyptic threat from this, its already here. But to me it still feels like Monday. On the other side, if we are waiting for the true harbingers of doom in the form of strongly intentional systems, I dont think we can call those counterfeit when they arrive. If they are intentional enough, then they are as intentional as you can get since being intentional is just being the kind of being that is predictable from the intentional stance. And, as for consciousness, I dont know what Dennett thinks, but I cant see how a being can be strongly intentional and not be conscious. In fact, I thought the point of the view was to give a deflationary account of consciousness. (Wallace says thats wrong.) To finish where we started, recall Dennett says that Today, for the first time in history, thanks to artificial intelligence, it is possible for anybody to make counterfeit people who can pass for real Is that right? Anybody? According to some reports, ChatGPT costs $7000,000 a day to maintain. If your purpose is to spread misinformation and fool people online, you can hire an awful lot of help with that much money. And rich peoples ability to hire a lot of help, so far, has always been a bigger problem than any kind of technology. by Paul Braterman One month ago today, Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis appointed Martyn Iles, formerly director of the Australian Question Lobby, to the position of Chief Ministry Officer, ministry of course being Answers in Genesis core activity. Heres why that matters. Martyn Iles, a lawyer by training, was the managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) from 2018 until he was abruptly sacked by the ACL Board in February 2023. Accounts of his dismissal differ. Iles described it as a result of difference in strategy; the Board wanted to move in a more political direction, making him in his own words not the right person for that vision. I have always been a preacher first and politician second (or third). The Boards chair, however, denied that there had been any such change. Answers in Genesis (AiG) is the worlds largest Young Earth Creationist organisation. AiG has a full-time working staff of 1200 and, according to its 2021 tax declaration, assets of almost $82 million. It owns the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky as well as other major assets, and its massive outreach programme includes formal publications, Answers magazine, and an extremely active website. AiG is the property of Ken Ham, like Iles a product of Australians extreme Christian fundamentalist community. It was set up in 1994 after complex and litigious manoeuvres involving Ham and his previous associates, Creation Ministries International based mainly in Australia, and the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). ICR itself had been set up by Henry Morris, co-author of The Genesis Flood, when disputes arose among an earlier generation of Young Earth creationists. There comes a time in the life of every successful businessman (it usually is a man) when he starts to consider his legacy. Ham is now 71. The vigour of his early writing, which had attracted Henry Morris attention in the 1980s, has faded into stale repetitiousness, and his articles on the AiG website now describe themselves as produced with the help of research staff. It seemed at one time as if Bodie Hodge, his son-in-law, was his obvious heir apparent, but Hodges own writing is superficial and tedious. (Disclosure; both Ham and Hodge have attacked me by name in their writings.) Iles is now, therefore, in an extremely strong position within the organisation, for which he has excellent credentials. He is a successful organiser and money raiser, and responsible for targeted interventions in Australian electoral politics. His Youtube series The Truth of It has a major following, and as we shall see is very good at what it does. Thus we can expect him to be a major influence on AiG in its direction and messaging, and to enhance its appeal and effectiveness. He has already been announced as a key speaker in next years homeschooling conference. It is therefore a matter of some general concern that Iles is an extreme religious conservative, defines reality itself in religious terms, believes in male domination (while I was preparing this piece he told us that A word like independent is a direct assault on Gods design for women and that a good woman is Submissive to husbands. including imperfect ones), is adept at promoting an intolerant agenda in the name of freedom of speech, has (ever so obliquely) inflamed concerns about vaccines, takes the historical truth of the early chapters of Genesis for granted, and thinks abortion should be illegal because God approves of population growth, among other reasons. Worst of all, he preaches that Christians must dismiss the findings of climate change science as cultural Marxist rubbish, because Gods sustaining providence is crucial to our understanding of this world. For an example of Iles defending the indefensible, provided that the indefensible is based on religious belief, see his condemnation of Covid vaccine mandates. To see him in unrestrained conspiracy mode, watch [1] his response to the World Economic Forums concept of a Great Reset, according to which we should use the pause imposed by Covid to rethink current industrial policy and its large-scale environmental impact. This notion offends against his core belief that the planet is in Gods hands, so that WEFs concerns are fundamentally misguided. Like others, he presents the Reset concept, and the interest shown in it by governments, institutions, and major companies, as a conspiracy to do away with capitalism and democracy. Here, Iles is in lockstep with the Heartland Institute, a mouthpiece for the fossil fuel industry and for laissez-faire economics. As a sign of this conspiracy (and here I am reminded of Q-Anon) he points to the way in which the slogan Build Back Better, which occurs in the WEF literature, is echoed by politicians as diverse as Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, and Justin Trudeau, while as co-conspirators he identifies the entire climate change movement, as well as Black Lives Matter which, like other creationist writers, Iles describes as Marxist. Iles full talents are on display in his The Truth of It YouTube, Climate Totalitarianism, which I recommend to students of rhetoric. Its thousand closely argued words are a masterpiece of misdirection, false dichotomy, strawmanning and vilification of opponents positions (the word cancer occurs four times); emotional engagement with the concerned, leading to a promise of reassurance and erasing of anxiety; imposing an intellectual superstructure (which he calls hierarchies of control) on the Bible and then using this superstructure to argue that mere worldly science can be safely ignored; slyly referring to fossil fuels by another name (mineral resources) as put there by God for humanity to use; and hinting at massive totalitarian conspiracies behind climate policy. All reinforced by dramatic phrasing, intonation, and gestures. The title of the series, The Truth of It, prepares us for the message that anyone Iles disagrees with has been misleading us. The individual podcast title, Climate totalitarianism, casts the entire climate issue in terms of individual freedom versus governmental overreach, echoing his recurrent motif of a conspiracy of the powerful against the godly. And his opening sentence, Well, it looks as if in the post-pandemic world, were going to be increasingly preoccupied with climate change, describes a crisis over 50 years in the making as if it was just the next thing that they want us to worry about. Iles then gives us two examples of net zero policy in action. Firstly, the enforced shutdown of Netherlands farms, early victims of the climate juggernaut (there will be more). I can find no reference to these alleged closures; the most relevant EU document that I could find sought, on the contrary, to reduce the loss of farmland, but no matter; our sympathies have been engaged with the alleged victims of the juggernaut, as have our fears, since we may be next. Secondly, eating bugs rather than red meat. Clearly, the net zero policy is unnatural, disgusting, and destructive. Where do such misguided policies come from? From evolutionary thinking, of course. I understand why theyre getting it wrong, because they basically believe that human beings arose on this planet quite by chance, and in time proceeded to go on a destructive, and a murderous, and exploitative, and a cancerous rampage, which must now be stopped. (The word cancer, in connection with any concerns about human impact on the planet, occurs three more times in this presentation.) If only our decision-makers would pay proper attention to the Bible! There they would find (Iles gives chapter and verse) that the descendants of Adam, and the descendants of Noah, were commanded to be fruitful and multiply, that Adam and his descendants were given dominion over everything on earth, and that God promised Noah that springtime and harvest would never cease as long as the Earth endures. Those who are worried about climate change have failed to recognise the hierarchy of control, according to which the planet was created to be adequate to human needs. It is humanitys right, and indeed duty, to get to work and enjoy what has been made available, in the secure knowledge that caring for the planet as a whole is not their responsibility, but Gods. Notice here the construction of a vast theological superstructure on a narrow biblical foundation, followed by the claim that this superstructure is itself biblical. Like a judo player, Iles now uses the very force of the environmental argument as a reason for rejecting it. If I thought we were here by chance, and we were just one of the gazillions of planets and we were just very fortunate to be in the position that we are in, I would think the future was pretty uncertain, and Id get pretty nervous. Fear not. This nervousness is dispelled if we remember the hierarchy of control, and what God has promised: Genesis is quite clear that what we see in the world around us was substantially put there for human use, and enjoyment, and sustenance, including plants, water, minerals, and animals. The word minerals is the only reference in the piece to fossil fuels, but its significance will not be lost on his intended Australian primary audience. Governments pursuing environmental goals are in an extremely stressful situation, he tells us, since they are going against fundamental human nature, and must use totalitarian methods to impose their will. But this stress is unnecessary, if we remember the divinely ordained hierarchy. Humankind is steward of the planet, but God is an even greater steward, and we should listen to His word. The most alarming part of Iles sermon is what he does not say. He simply bypasses the scientific evidence that business as usual risks unacceptable damage to the environment. Implicit in his position is the acceptance that such things, if they happen, will represent the working out of Gods will. For those who see us as approaching the End Times, as I suspect Iles does, this is merely spelling out the obvious. For the rest of us, terrifying. *** Image from AiG site. I thank Dan Phelps for useful background information about AiGs empire, and the Rev Michael Roberts for helpful comments. 1] Disclosure. Life is short, so once Ive got the flavour of a presentation, I just scan the transcript. Several investment banks are urging caution as the stock market continues its rally despite a worsening economic backdrop. Morgan Stanley earlier this month predicted that European markets would decline by 10% this summer. The Wall Street bank's chief strategist even warned that there are " signs of panic buying " among investors. Then, UBS said in a report titled "Don't be fooled by the latest Tech rally" on June 6 that hedge funds have already begun selling $20 billion to $30 billion worth of global stocks. Wells Fargo's head of global market strategy has also raised the alarm by saying " markets are too complacent " at the current level. To that end, CNBC Pro screened over 3,330 large and mid-cap global equities that are part of the FTSE All-World ex-U.S. Index and identified the 13 stocks that analysts are most bearish toward. Sophisticated investors often look to make investment gains by short-selling a stock that is expected to decline. Short selling is the practice of borrowing shares and selling them with the plan to repurchase at a cheaper price and profit from the difference. It's a strategy commonly used by hedge funds. The table below shows global stocks, covered by at least 10 analysts, with no buy, overweight, or outperform ratings. Vodafone Idea India-listed Vodafone Idea is the most unloved stock in the above table. The majority of the 14 analysts covering the stock have a sell, underweight, or underperform rating on it, with the average price target pointing toward a 30% fall from current levels, according to FactSet data. The telecom operator has reported significant subscriber losses to local upstart Reliance Jio over the years, with analysts citing high pricing, lack of investment and poor strategy. Now, as rivals transition to the new 5G network standard, Vodafone Idea has been unable to raise funds for the investment needed. Vodafone Idea "continues to struggle to close the fund raise that is critical to drive 5G as well as 4G capex and repay vendor dues," said JPMorgan analyst Ankur Rudra in a note to clients on May 28. He has an underweight rating on the stock. "A fund raise remains critical to improve competitiveness as delay in 5G capex would put IDEA on the back foot with high [average revenue per user] vs. peers that have begun rolling out 5G services, in our view," Rudra added. Shares of the company have fallen by nearly 20% this year. Acer Taiwan-headquartered laptop and PC maker Acer has the biggest potential downside in the above table, with a 31% fall from current prices expected by analysts, according to targets compiled by FactSet. However, unlike Vodafone Idea, the downside risk is mainly given the stock's recent rally toward its all-time high. The company's management told investors last month that the downturn in computer sales had ended in the first quarter of this year. Morgan Stanley analysts agree and expect the company to see early signs of a pickup in new orders. "Inventory digestion will normalize by late [second quarter] for Acer, but management says visibility for 2024 is still unclear it's too early to comment," said Morgan Stanley's analyst Howard Kao in a note to clients on May 16. Kao has an equal-weight or hold rating on the stock. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. George Soros, billionaire and founder of Soros Fund Management LLC, speaks during an event on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Philanthropist billionaire George Soros confirmed that he is handing control of his $25 billion empire to his son Alex. Soros, 92, has a net worth of $6.7 billion, according to Forbes, and is the one of the top 400 richest people in the world. In 2017, he shifted $18 billion from his family office to his Open Society Foundations a group of charities that works in more than 100 countries which Alex was named chair of in December. Alex, speaking to the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive interview published over the weekend, said he is "more political" than his father and hinted at a significant financial role for the Soros organization in the U.S. elections next year. The Open Society Foundations did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment but a spokesperson did confirm the details of the interview with the Reuters news agency. Voicing his concerns on a potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the 37-year-old Soros told the Wall Street Journal: "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." The older Soros, often targeted by right-wing conspiracists, has been one of the U.S. Democratic Party's largest donors donating some $140 million to politically charged advocacy organizations and ballot initiatives in 2021. Referred to as the man who "broke the Bank of England" after he shorted the British pound in 1992, reportedly making a profit of $1 billion, George Soros left Hungary at the age of 17 to attend the London School of Economics working as a railway porter and waiter. Billionaire Elon Musk recently took to Twitter to attack Soros after his Soros Fund Management cut its stake in Tesla. Musk alleged that he "hates humanity" and that he "wants to erode the very fabric of civilization." Soros, in the WSJ article, described himself as the "go-to man when they want to blame someone." Republican Florida Governor Ron Desantis arrives to kick off his campaign for the 2024 Republican U.S. presidential nomination with an evening campaign rally at the evangelical Eternity church in West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. May 30, 2023. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is coming to New York for a private presidential campaign fundraiser that's set to be hosted by at least four Wall Street executives, including one with past ties to a firm backed by liberal billionaire George Soros, a frequent target of DeSantis and other Republicans. The event is scheduled to take place June 29 at the swanky Yale Club, according to a copy of an invitation seen by CNBC. It will be one of DeSantis' first fundraisers in the Big Apple since he officially launched his campaign for president last month. It also comes soon after Donald Trump, the frontrunner in the 2024 GOP primary, was indicted on dozens of counts in a state case in Manhattan and a federal case in Miami. New York is a lucrative fundraising hotspot for both parties. Donors in the New York metro area contributed over $680 million to their preferred political candidates during the 2022 election cycle, according to data from the nonpartisan OpenSecrets. The hosts listed on the DeSantis invitation include Paul Ardire, a partner at GoldenTree Asset Management, along with Christian Michalik, Rob Michalik and Corwynne Carruthers, who are all leaders at Kinderhook Industries, a private equity firm with at least $5 billion in assets under management, according to data from PitchBook. GoldenTree has at least $50 billion in assets under management, PitchBook says. Shortly after publication of this story, Ardire called CNBC to say that he was added to the gathering's host list by "mistake." CNBC saw two different invitations to the event showing him as a co-host. "I think it was a misunderstanding," Ardire said. "I said, 'I might be able to come to the event,'" he added. Ardire said he's not going to the event or supporting DeSantis for president because GoldenTree does not allow partners to back state-based officials for office. DeSantis is still governor of Florida and GoldenTree has an office in West Palm Beach, Fla. According to the invitation, in order to attend the DeSantis fundraiser, a co-host must raise $50,000 and attendees to the lunch must contribute $6,600, the maximum amount a donor can give that can then be split evenly between the primary campaign account and the general election account. Fox News has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Tucker Carlson, alleging that the conservative network's former star anchor breached his contract by launching a new show on Twitter, according to a source familiar with the matter. Carlson, a firebrand right-wing media personality known for spreading conspiracy theories, parted ways with Fox News in late April, days after the network agreed to pay almost $800 million to Dominion Voting Systems to avert a high-stakes defamation trial. "Fox News continues to ignore the interests of its viewers, not to mention its shareholder obligations," Harmeet Dhillon, one of Carlson's lawyers, said in a statement. "Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election. "Tucker will not be silenced by anyone," she added. The news of the cease-and-desist letter was first reported by Axios. NBC News has not seen the letter, but the source familiar with the matter confirmed that all the details in the Axios report were accurate. Top spokespeople at Fox News did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The first installment of Carlson's new show, "Tucker on Twitter," debuted June 6. In a roughly 10-minute video monologue titled "Ep. 1," he claimed without evidence that Ukraine perpetrated an attack on a large dam in Russian-occupied territory and characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in terms that the Anti-Defamation League called antisemitic. Carlson will address the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump in the next episode of the show, set to premiere Tuesday, according to his producer. Trump is slated to be arraigned in federal court in Miami on Tuesday afternoon. In a separate letter to Carlson's lawyers last week that did not expressly demand he stop posting videos on Twitter, Fox News general counsel Bernard Gugar said the former prime-time host was "in breach" of his contract with the network. The contract, signed in November 2019 and amended in February 2021, limits his ability to appear on other media outlets. In a statement, Bryan Freedman another attorney for Carlson insisted that any legal action by Fox News would infringe on the television personality's First Amendment rights. "Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds," Freedman said. "Now they want to take Tucker Carlson's right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events." The conflict between Fox News and Carlson comes at an inflection point for the conservative media ecosystem. Fox's ratings in the 8 p.m. programming block once occupied by Carlson have lagged since his exit, and the network faces competition from upstart right-wing news sources such as One America News Network (OANN) and Newsmax. Meanwhile, Twitter owner Elon Musk is attempting to present the social media service as a welcome home for other commentators. He tweeted after Carlson posted the first episode of his program that it "would be great to have shows from all parts of the political spectrum on this platform!" Carlson's ouster from Fox News shocked the overlapping worlds of politics and media. "Tucker Carlson Tonight," a cornerstone of the Fox News lineup since 2016, was one of the most-watched shows on American cable news. He established himself as one of the most influential figures in a conservative political coalition reshaped by Trump. The TV host regularly drew controversy for incendiary statements about race, immigration, LGBTQ rights and other topics. In the lead-up to the Dominion trial, Carlson's internal communications were released and showed him criticizing Trump and acknowledging that claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election were baseless. Carlson later backtracked. FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan testifies during the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce hearing on the "FY2024 Federal Trade Commission Budget," in Rayburn Building on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. The Federal Trade Commission is set to file for an injunction Monday seeking to block Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard , a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. By filing for an injunction, the FTC is seeking to stop the transaction from going through before the deal's July 18 deadline. The FTC had already sued to block the $68.7 billion acquisition, choosing to bring the case before its internal administrative law judge. Through that trial-like process, the judge would make an initial decision that could be appealed to the full commission for a vote. After that, Microsoft could appeal to a federal court should the decision not go its way. The case is set to go before the administrative law judge in August. An appeal of the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority's decision to block the merger is also scheduled to take place this summer shortly after the acquisition deadline. "We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court," Microsoft President Brad Smith said. "We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market." Shares of Microsoft and Activision were roughly flat Monday afternoon. WATCH: What the blockbuster Microsoft and Sony deals mean for the future of gaming My top 10 things to watch Monday, June 12 1. The Magnificent Seven Apple (AAPL), Nvidia (NVDA), Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META) and Tesla (TSLA) plus Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Oracle (ORCL) and Adobe (ADBE), are all going crazy Monday morning as endless attempts to capture artificial intelligence continue. 2. JPMorgan analyst Matthew Boss upgraded cruise line operator Carnival (CCL) to overweight from neutral with a price target of $16, up from $11. This is the "long on money, short on time" thesis writ large. No sign yet that spending on international travel is ending. Price targets for Royal Caribbean (RCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) raised, too. 3. Citi is really negative on the regional banks and opens a "90-day negative catalyst watch" on shares of U.S. Bancorp after reducing the firm's price target, but keeping a hold rating. This makes sense because all of these banks will be assessed heavily by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and might even have to raise capital except Wells Fargo (WFC) because it has so much. Reiterate: Buy Club name WFC here. 4. Nobody wants to leave a good party, least of all, me. But the good news is the stock market isn't a party. You don't have to leave all at once. In my Sunday column , I ran through the reasons why it's time to book some profits. 5. Tesla (TSLA): Can the electric-vehicle maker have 12 days of gains? I would take some profits here after a huge run. On Friday, I noted that investors should be mindful that Wall Street's recent gains have now pushed the stock market into overbought territory, according to the S & P 500 Short Range Oscillator . 6. Biogen (BIIB) price target raised to $360 from $350 at Oppenheimer, keeps buy rating. The firm said it expects Alzheimer's drug Leqembi, which already had accelerated approval, to receive full approval on or around its action date of July 6. We say play it more conservatively with GE Healthcare (GEHC), which is very cheap here and came down last week. 7. Francis deSouza is out at Illumina (ILMN) just weeks after activist investor Carl Icahn failed to oust the CEO from the biotech company. Viewed as positive. We think Danaher (DHR) is right if the IPO market ignites, but otherwise just hold on. We will review this and all our other Club names and more at our June Monthly Meeting on Wednesday. 8. Bank of America lifts price target for Amazon to $154 from $139, keeps a buy rating on the shares. The firm is talking about cost control says it was encouraged by recent CEO commentary that retail margins could improve beyond pre-pandemic levels but what we really need is to see cloud unit AWS grow again and I don't see it. 9. Deutsche Bank raised its price target on Micron (MU) to $65 from $55, keeps a hold rating. Analyst notes an inflection in pricing is about to occur. You do have to get ahead of trough pricing to make the biggest money, but I think that's already happening. 10 . The consumer is still strong, according to Morgan Stanley survey Sign up for my Top 10 morning thoughts on the market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. My top 10 things to watch Monday, June 12 JPMorgan Chase is prepared to pay $290 million in a settlement with victims of the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC on Monday. The settlement does not include an admission of liability by the bank, the person said. The announcement of the settlement came just hours before a judge ruled that the case in U.S. District Court in Manhattan can proceed as a class-action lawsuit. The bank did not include details about the agreement in that announcement. The person familiar with the deal requested anonymity to discuss the details of the settlement. "The parties in Jane Doe 1 v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. have informed the Court that they have reached an agreement in principle to settle the putative class action lawsuit related to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, which is subject to court approval," the bank said in a news release earlier Monday morning. "The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse," JPMorgan added. The settlement announcement comes one month after Deutsche Bank , where Epstein became a client after he was forced out by JPMorgan in 2013, settled with Epstein victims for $75 million. JPMorgan's litigation with the U.S. Virgin Islands is ongoing. Monday's settlement stems from claims filed last year by an unnamed woman, using the pseudonym Jane Doe, that the bank knowingly benefited from and facilitated Epstein's sex trafficking operation. The woman, who alleges she was raped and trafficked, sued on behalf of a "large number" of other victims of that operation. "We all now understand that Epstein's behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man," JPMorgan said in a separate statement Monday morning. "Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes," the bank said. Brad Edwards, an attorney for the lead plaintiff in the case, lauded the "enormously valuable" support the Virgin Islands provided to Epstein's victims. "We recognize the importance of the government's continued litigation against JPMorgan Chase to prevent future crimes," Edwards said in a statement. In a court opinion posted later Monday morning, Judge Jed Rakoff wrote that the plaintiffs meet the requirements to form a class-action suit. The pool of alleged victims in the case likely exceeds the 40-person threshold for class certification, the judge wrote, rebuffing JPMorgan's calculation of 32 people with viable claims. The bank restricted its tally to people who were sexually abused or trafficked by Epstein in or after 2007, Rakoff wrote. But the judge noted that several pieces of evidence including suspicious activity reports filed in relation to Epstein's accounts in 2002 suggest JPMorgan knew or should have known about the sex trafficking operation earlier. If so, the class of victims could contain "well over 100 people," Rakoff wrote. And "even if the proposed class is restricted to people who were sexually abused or trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein after JP Morgan, allegedly, either knew or should have known of Epstein's sex-trafficking venture, the class likely contains well over 40 people," Rakoff wrote. JPMorgan remains headed for an Oct. 23 trial with the U.S. Virgin Islands in its lawsuit over the bank's relationship with Epstein. JPMorgan's claims against former executive Jes Staley, who was friends with Epstein, are also active, the bank said. JPMorgan argues that Staley is responsible for any civil liability a jury might find in the Epstein case. It is also looking to claw back more than $80 million in pay from the former executive. Staley has denied knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking. "We are gratified to hear about the settlement that will provide victims of Jeffrey Epstein some compensation for JPMorgan Chase's role in facilitating Epstein's crimes against them," a spokesperson for the Virgin Islands attorney general said in a statement. "The U.S. Virgin Islands will continue to proceed with its enforcement action to ensure full accountability for JPMorgan's violations of law and prevent the bank from assisting and profiting from human trafficking in the future. The U.S Virgin Islands is committed to protecting women and girls who could otherwise become victims going forward," the spokesperson said. Amid "continued demand momentum" for the cruise industry, JPMorgan Chase is bullish on Carnival . The bank upgraded the cruise liner's shares to overweight from neutral in a Monday note. Analyst Matthew Boss also raised his price target to $16 from $11, implying more than 22% upside from Friday's close. "CCL has an opportunity to drive improved brand clarity and pricing power with increased investment in advertising (vs. historical underinvestment vs. peers) and given a smaller capacity growth profile, this provides a faster pathway for management to focus on de-levering the balance sheet," Boss wrote. He added CEO Josh Weinstein, who took over last year, emphasized during meetings with JPMorgan analysts that Carnival's business strength is more balanced compared with its historical pre-pandemic trends. Boss underscored Weinstein's comments that Carnival is "no longer riding the coattails of a post-pause pent-up." "Multi-year, CCL has six private destinations around the Caribbean (~5.5M guests per year = rest of industry in aggregate) and is leveraging its land-based assets to drive further value creation into 2H25 with a (i) meaningful expansion of Half Moon Cay by building a pier to bring larger ships and improve shoreside guest experience," said Boss. The analyst thinks Carnival's new CEO and leadership changes present a promising opportunity for growth. The company has engaged in other efforts for improvement he noted, such as retiring more than 20 ships during the Covid-19 pandemic and repositioning ship assets to more accretive brands. "On the top-line, we came away confident in current trends with all three management teams," Boss said. Shares have surged 62.4% year to date and more than 30% over the past 12 months. The stock was up 3.5% Monday during premarket trading. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Syringe with Covid-19 vaccine against the XBB Variant. Fight against virus Covid-19 Coronavirus, Vaccination and immunization. U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff on Monday said updated Covid boosters should target XBB omicron subvariants for the upcoming fall and winter vaccination campaign. The U.S. should use a monovalent vaccine targeting either XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, or XBB.2.3, collectively the dominant strains nationwide, the staff said in a briefing document. The FDA staff made the conclusion ahead of a meeting on Thursday, when a panel of external advisors to the agency will recommend a strain for new Covid shots to target later this year. There is no set date for when the vaccination campaign will begin. Vaccine manufacturers will be expected to update their shots once that strain is selected. Pfizer , Moderna and Novavax are already developing versions of their respective vaccines targeting XBB.1.5 and other circulating variants. The upcoming strain selection will be crucial to those companies' abilities to compete in the fall, when the U.S. is expected to shift vaccine distribution to the private sector. That means all three companies will start selling their updated Covid shots directly to health-care providers. The FDA staff's decision comes weeks after an advisory group to the World Health Organization recommended that Covid booster shots target XBB variants. Scientists have said XBB strains are some of the most immune-evasive subvariants to date. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference on the annual human rights report, at the US State Department in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2023. SINGAPORE Singapore renewed calls for China and the U.S. to cool tensions, warning of "great costs and hardship across the world" if these feuding global powers do not step back from the brink. The comments come as U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is reportedly preparing to visit Beijing for talks this week. The countries canceled or postponed talks after the U.S. in February shot down what it described as a surveillance balloon a claim China denies off the coast of South Carolina. China rejected U.S. defense officials' request for dialogue at a security summit in Singapore two weeks ago. "While we are now at an uncomfortable and indeed dangerous point, all of this is not an inevitability. It is still possible to step away from confrontation and conflict, and both sides must do so," Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Kiat said Monday at Caixin's Asia New Vision Forum in Singapore. "Unbridled and unchecked competition with no guardrails will generate great costs and hardship, across the world. It will be a big step backwards for all countries," he added. The rejection and postponement of talks have sparked global concern that a lack of communication between two of the world's powers may raise the risk of conflict in a moment of miscalculation. Two recent acts of aggression between U.S. and Chinese naval ships in the Taiwan Strait and military aircraft in airspace over the South China Sea underscored this possibility. "Countries in ASEAN and around the world do not wish to choose sides, as most have deep linkages with both major powers," Heng said. "It is every country's interest, especially the U.S. and China, to develop a new architecture that enables inclusive and sustainable development." A small bank based in West Virginia has positioned itself as a key figure in the online betting world, and that first-mover advantage should have staying power, according to JPMorgan. Analyst Steven Alexopoulos reiterated his overweight rating on MVB Financial , saying in a note to clients that the bank has proven itself to be a key partner for casinos and sportsbooks. "We find that the MVB team has been forming an ecosystem around the bank over the past five years serving the online gaming industry (which was legalized at the federal level in 2018). It was very clear to us that MVBs clients in the gaming industry value that MVB was committed to serving the industry from early on when other banks were either not interested or did not have specialized expertise to step in," the note said. MVB is a small bank, with about $3.6 billion in assets and a market cap of about $259 million. But the company's proactive moves in the gaming space should help it fend off competitors, according to JPMorgan. "As MVB deepens its moat by building fintechs via Edge Ventures and invests in startup companies, the company has a front row seat into how to best serve their niche clients and make them an invaluable partner in the industry," the note said. MVB Edge Ventures is a subsidiary of the bank, and it provides management oversight for the firm's tech investments. JPMorgan first initiated coverage of MVB with an overweight rating on Feb. 27 , before the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. Since Feb. 24 the trading session before JPMorgan announced it was covering the stock shares of MVB have fallen more than 18%, but that's still a better performance than the nearly 30% decline for the SPDR S & P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) . MVB saw total deposits rise during the first quarter while many other regional banks saw outflows. MVBF YTD mountain Shares of MVB Financial have performed better than many other regional bank stocks in 2023. JPMorgan has a price target of $24 per share for MVB, about 18% above where the stock closed Friday. The target was $35 per share in February. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. The upcoming results of a series of new drug trials have the potential to lift the stocks of Eli Lilly (LLY) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), according to Morgan Stanley a view we share on both Club holdings. But regardless of how the the market responds, we want to see the data demonstrate a commercial future for the medications in question. Eli Lilly Eli Lilly is expected to present full Phase-2 data on earlier-stage diabetes-and-obesity drugs at an American Diabetes Association conference on June 26, offering investors a closer look at how its next-generation drug pipeline is shaping up. If the complete Phase-2 trial data mirror the previously released interim data, Morgan Stanley believes Eli Lilly shares could trade flat to up 5%, according to a recent research note. However, the firm warns that any significant differences between the datasets including the potential for new safety or tolerability issues could cause the stock to fall as much as 5%. That data includes the trial results from an obesity drug called retatrutide. Trial participants on the highest dose of the drug lost between 22% and 24% of their body weight over 48 weeks of treatment, according to a preliminary analysis Eli Lilly released in December. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, a potential obesity blockbuster drug at the core of our investment thesis in the company, helped patients lose up to 22.5% of their body weight in a 72-week Phase-3 trial, according to data released last year . Mounjaro is currently only approved to treat Type -2 diabetes in the U.S., but Eli Lilly hopes to obtain regulatory approval to sell the drug as an obesity treatment later this year or early in 2024. LLY 1Y mountain Eli Lilly's stock performance over the past 12 months. Retatrutide is similar to Mounjaro in that both mimic two incretin hormones known as GIP and GLP-1. The key difference between the two drugs and a reason Eli Lilly believes it could prove more effective than Mounjaro is that retatrutide targets a third hormone called glucagon. The company expects retatrutide to advance to a large-scale Phase-3 study this year. Eli Lilly also is expected to present data on another weight-loss drug called orforglipron, which patients take orally instead of through an injection. Retatrutide, Mounjaro and weight-loss drug Wegovy, produced by rival Novo Nordisk (NVO), are all injectable. The Club's take: The Type-2 diabetes and weight-loss markets are essentially a duopoly right now between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. It may seem hasty to focus on two Eli Lilly weight-loss drugs when its most-advanced candidate, Mounjaro, hasn't officially scored approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for obesity yet. But this is a highly competitive space. Plus, Pfizer (PFE) and Amgen (AMGN) are both developing oral weight-loss drugs that may one day reach the market. Against this backdrop, Eli Lilly needs to remain on the top of its innovation game, which is why the data presentations at the ADA conference matter to LLY investors. Another potential catalyst looms for Eli Lilly beyond its own trial results and that's data from Novo Nordisk's Phase-3 Select study that evaluates Wegovy's ability to lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Obesity, unfortunately, can lead to many other negative health outcomes like hypertension and heart failure, so if these expensive weight-loss drugs are shown to also effectively reduce the risk of these cardiovascular events, then a stronger case can can be made for broader health-insurance coverage. That, in turn, would translate into an even larger commercial opportunity for GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro. Johnson & Johnson At some point in the second quarter, Morgan Stanley expects J & J to release Phase-2 Frontier-1 trial data on an oral treatment for psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease that affects roughly 3% of the world's population, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Morgan Stanley has previously estimated the psoriasis market to be worth roughly $20 billion. J & J's experimental drug, known as JNJ-2113, targets patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. In March, topline Frontier-1 data showed the drug met its primary endpoint. Over a 16-week period, a statistically significant number of patients on the drug saw at least a 75% improvement to areas of their skin impacted by psoriasis. JNJ 1Y mountain Johnson & Johnson's stock performance over the past 12 months. J & J shares could rise somewhere between 1% to 3% if the JNJ-2113 efficacy data is competitive and the safety data shows no issues, according to Morgan Stanley. But if the data were to fall short of expectations, the analysts don't foresee much downside to J & J shares. Notably, in 2021, the FDA required warnings about increased risks of serious heart-related events for an emerging class of therapies known as JAK inhibitors, which can be used to treat certain chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and psoriasis. However, with JNJ-2113, Morgan Stanley noted that J & J management has touted its efficacy profile "without the baggage of a JAK label." That could be an advantage for the drug, should it continue to meet expectations in trials and launch commercially down the road. Morgan Stanley currently projects a 2028 launch for JNJ-2113. The Club's take: JNJ-2113 appears to be years away from a commercial debut, given large-scale Phase-3 studies haven't started yet. As a result, the drug is unlikely to factor into J & J's goal of reaching $60 billion in pharmaceutical revenues in 2025. However, the upcoming trial results are still important to watch because investing in the competitive pharmaceutical industry requires looking out on the distant horizon. At the same time, as much as we'd prefer to focus on J & J's product pipeline especially given its consumer-health unit, Kenvue (KVUE), has officially been separated into its own standalone company there would be no bigger catalyst for JNJ stock than resolving its outstanding talc litigation claims in bankruptcy court. Since late April, those cases have mostly been paused to give J & J's subsidiary, LTL Management, time to negotiate a proposed settlement with plaintiffs, who allege J & J's baby powder and other talc products caused cancer. J & J has consistently denied those accusations. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY and JNJ. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Eli Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, US, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Eli Lilly & Co.'s shares climbed in early US trading after its experimental drug for Alzheimer's slowed the progress of the disease in a final-stage trial, paving the way for the company to apply for US approval. AJ Mast | Bloomberg | Getty Images From left, Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan, Executive Editor Marty Baron, and National Security Editor Peter Finn, applaud as investigative reporter Tom Hamburger speaks to the newsroom after The Washington Post wins two pulitzer prizes, Monday, April 16, 2018, in Washington. Washington Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan announced on Monday that he will step down from the helm of the newspaper in August. Ryan, who oversaw The Washington Post for the last nine years soon after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos acquired it, will instead lead the newly formed nonpartisan Center on Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. "Jeff is personally providing support for the planning and design phase of this new initiative and supports my decision to make this move," Ryan told Washington Post staffers in a memo on Monday. Ryan said that under his leadership, the Post transitioned from a local print newspaper to a global digital publication, and won 13 Pulitzer Prize awards. In a statement, the Washington Post said that it saw multiple years of profitability and a dramatic jump in digital subscriptions under Ryan. But the Post has not been immune to broader industry struggles. The newspaper has laid off newsroom and business employees in recent years. A wave of job cuts has hit the media industry recently, in both digital and traditional newsrooms. The industry also has been grappling with the rise of artificial intelligence, and newsrooms, including the Washington Post, have started to address such issues as safety, compensation for intellectual property, transparency, accountability and fairness. In his memo, Ryan said his career transition comes as he harbors "a deep and growing concern about the decline in civility and respectful dialogue in our political process, on social media platforms and more broadly across our society." "Many of us can recall an era when people could disagree without being disagreeable. Political leaders on opposite sides of the aisle could find common ground for the good of the country," he continued. "Today, the decline in civility has become a toxic and corrosive force that threatens our social interactions and weakens the underpinnings of our democracy. I feel a strong sense of urgency about this issue." While Ryan will remain as publisher until August, Bezos said Monday in another memo that his "longtime friend and colleague" Patty Stonesifer will join as interim CEO. Stonesifer, an Amazon board member who was the founding CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation following executive roles at Microsoft, will lead the search for a new CEO. Read Fred Ryan's memo to employees here: Subject: Message for Washington Post Colleagues Dear Washington Post Colleagues, Nine years ago, I was honored to be selected by Jeff Bezos to be Publisher and CEO of The Washington Post. Working with Jeff and the exceptional team at The Post has been an incredible experience and enormously gratifying. Together, we have accomplished one of the most extraordinary transformations in modern media history. We have evolved from a primarily local print newspaper to become a global digital publication. We've added significantly to the tremendous team of journalists, engineers and business experts and have taken The Post through multiple years of profitability. We've launched an innovative new technology platform that is powering hundreds of other news sites around the world. During this time, we have won multiple awards for exceptional journalism, including 13 Pulitzer Prizes, and we've twice been named "The World's Most Innovative Media Company" by Fast Company. As I have shared in conversations with many of you, I have a deep and growing concern about the decline in civility and respectful dialogue in our political process, on social media platforms and more broadly across our society. Many of us can recall an era when people could disagree without being disagreeable. Political leaders on opposite sides of the aisle could find common ground for the good of the country. Today, the decline in civility has become a toxic and corrosive force that threatens our social interactions and weakens the underpinnings of our democracy. I feel a strong sense of urgency about this issue. As a result, I have decided to leave my position at The Post to lead the nonpartisan Center on Public Civility that is being launched by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. Jeff is personally providing support for the planning and design phase of this new initiative and supports my decision to make this move. In order to provide advice and counsel during this transition, I have agreed to remain as Publisher of The Washington Post until August 1. Jeff will announce a new interim CEO later today. It is an exceptional individual that I hold in the highest regard. In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to spending time with all of my friends and colleagues across The Post to convey my deep appreciation for your many impressive contributions to our success. I am committed to providing my full support as the interim CEO charts the course of this transition and the bright future ahead for The Post. With my deepest appreciation to each of you, Fred. Read Jeff Bezos' memo here: Subject: Message for The Washington Post Team Dear Washington Post Team, I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Fred for his dedicated service to The Washington Post as our Publisher and CEO. Fred has led The Post through a period of innovation, journalistic excellence, and growth. His focus on the intersection of journalism and technology has been of great benefit to readers and has laid the foundation for future growth. Fred is widely respected for championing press freedom and the protection of journalists. In addition to launching the Press Freedom Partnership, he's been a relentless force in his devotion to secure the release of journalists who have been wrongly detained and an unwavering voice for accountability from those who do them harm. I'm deeply grateful to Fred for his leadership and for the friendship that we've developed over the years. I look forward to continuing to enjoy both as he works to advance civility in our nation's discourse. To ensure we don't skip a beat, Fred has agreed to remain as Publisher for the next two months, and my longtime friend and colleague Patty Stonesifer will join The Post today as interim CEO. She'll head up our leadership team, steer us through this important transition, and help me identify the Publisher/CEO who will take the Post forward into the next decade. Patty has built and led great organizations. You'll soon see for yourself why I admire her. Her skills, judgement, and character all stand out. She also understands the importance of our mission and has a deep respect for the work we do here. Please join me in thanking Fred as he prepares for his new venture and in welcoming Patty as she assumes the interim CEO role. Many thanks, Jeff Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) The country saw a total of 6,630 new COVID-19 cases during the week of June 5 to 11, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday. The tally reflects a 27% decline from the week before, the agency said. The daily average number of fresh infections was 947, including 112 in severe and critical condition. Meanwhile, 527 severe and critical patients are in hospitals, representing 11.3% of the total COVID-19 admissions nationwide. Health officials also verified five new deaths due to COVID-19. As of June 12, the country's total confirmed cases since the pandemic began is at 4.15 million, with over 4.07 million recoveries and at least 66,400 deaths. The tally of active cases is at 10,761. The DOH said more than 78 million people, or all of the target population, were vaccinated against COVID-19, including 23 million people with booster shots. Meanwhile, 7.1 million senior citizens, or 82.16% of the target A2 population, received primary vaccine doses. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) The population within the seven-kilometer radius extended danger zone of Mt. Mayon has been placed under preparedness status on Monday even though the volcanos alert status is still at Level 3. All population inside the 7-kilometer extended danger zone is placed under preparedness status meaning, evacuation will be executed anytime and should bring with them necessities in the evacuation center, read the advisory of the provincial disaster management office. The order, signed by Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman, was issued on Monday, 8 a.m. due to the increasing unrest of Mayon Volcano and to sustain zero casualty and interest of public safety. Disaster management officials down to the village level have been ordered to remain in constant readiness to implement evacuation anytime. The alert status of Mayon Volcano was placed under Level 3 on June 8, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recommending that authorities move residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone to safer grounds. A day later, the local government of Albay placed the province under a state of calamity. So far, over 12,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. When to raise Alert Level 4? Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said its very difficult to say if parameters monitored in Mayon are nearing the indicators for an Alert Level 4. Although we had an increase in sulfur dioxide two days ago, yesterday there was a decrease, almost half of the increase, Bacolcol said. Two days ago, its 1,200 tons per day, yesterday it was only around 600 tons per day. Although theres an increase of seismic activity, were not seeing an increase in the seismic energy release, he said. Minor explosions are not seen yet, the official added. In a bulletin on Monday, Phivolcs said 21 weak volcanic earthquakes and 260 rockfall events have been logged in Mayon Volcano in the past 24 hours. On Saturday, one quake and 177 rockfall events were recorded. The agency added that three dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents that lasted two to four minutes were also detected on Sunday. Lava flow activity from Mayons summit crater also occurred on Sunday at around 7:47 pm which formed two lobes of lava and shed lava debris on the gullies near the crater, the Phivolcs bulletin read. The agencys data also showed that Mayon is still inflated, meaning the ground surface, a volcanic edifice, or a subsurface magma body is swelling. We now have a new lava dome and hopefully the gases wont be trapped inside the new lava dome, Bacolcol also said. The new lava dome defined as a volcanic material thats slow moving, its very viscous, meaning less fluid pushed out the lava dome formed after the 2018 eruption and was quite evident on Saturday, he previously said. This caused several events of rockfall and pyroclastic density currents in the past few days, he added. As explained on Phivolcs website, Alert Level 4 indicates hazardous eruption imminent with the following criteria: - Intense unrest - Persistent tremor, many low frequency-type earthquakes - Sulfur dioxide emission level may show sustained increase or abrupt decrease - Intense crater glow - Incandescent lava dome, lava fountain, lava flow in the summit area. When we raise it to Level 4, we will have to extend the area, the permanent danger zone, to 8 kilometers. People living within the 8-kilometer radius should be evacuated, the Phivolcs director said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) More than 14,000 Filipinos are displaced as the country's most active volcano spews lava, according to the latest update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The volcano's alert status is still at Level 3. No confirmed death nor injury has been reported at this time. According to its 8 a.m. situational report on Monday, the NDRRMC said Mayon volcanic activities have displaced 14,376 individuals with around 3,900 affected families from 21 barangays in the province of Albay. Alert Level 3 means the volcano has an increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption and potential explosive activity can occur within weeks or even days. READ: Albay readies evacuation for extended danger zone Possible shortage of medical supplies Meanwhile, Albay Provincial Health Officer Estella Zenit is worried over the possible shortage of medical supplies under an extended evacuation period. READ: Abalos: 'Chokepoints' in place to keep Albay residents out of Mayon danger zone "Sana magkaroon ng restocking for IV fluids and medicines. We have to anticipate na baka magkaroon ng kakulangan or magkaubusan ng mga ito sa mga hospitals kung tatagal pa ang eruption ng Mayon," the health officer said. [Translation: Hopefully there will be restocking for IV fluids and medicines. We have to anticipate that there may be a shortage or we might run out of these in hospitals if the eruption of Mayon continues.] In response, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has ordered the Department of Health-Center for Health Development to restock medical supplies and deploy more medical teams in evacuation areas. "Let us help the people, the ones in the evacuation centers with all our resources and expertise," he said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Former Senator and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Rodolfo Biazon has died after a battle with pneumonia. He was 88. Biazon died on Monday, according to his son Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon It is perfectly fitting that today, Independence Day, at around 8:30am, the soldier who dedicated his life and laid it on the line in defending freedom and democracy, has been set free from the pains of this world, he said. Biazon, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2022, suffered pneumonia this year that led to the further weakening of his lungs, his son shared. The family is grateful that we were able to spend his last moments with us intimately and peacefully, the mayor added. In an earlier post on Sunday, the younger Biazon said the former lawmaker was confined at a hospital for serious pneumonia. He said his family would announce the details of the wake. Tributes pour in for Biazon Tributes were sent by former colleagues to the veteran lawmaker, with one senator saying this was a bittersweet Independence Day. I am grateful for the time that we spent in the Senate together, and I am glad we had one last chance to reconnect with him last October, when he attended the Senate reunion. He was as bright and astute as ever, and a fountain of guidance and wisdom for those of us currently in the Senate, Senate President Miguel Zubiri said. Sen. Bong Revilla also extended his condolences to Biazons family, stressing that the latter was the embodiment of a true officer and gentleman who devoted his entire life to serving the Philippines and the Filipino people. Former Sen. Franklin Drilon said: A patriot has fallen. In his lifetime, Sen Pong Biazon always stood, and fought, for what is right for our country. He fought a good fight. Sen. Risa Hontiveros noted that Biazon had always shared his opinions with the previous administration regarding Chinas aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Time and again, when he saw that our nation was in peril, he stepped out from his private life and gave us public servants clarity and a sense of direction, Hontiveros said. Tibet Story: Tibetan opera hits high notes among youngsters Xinhua) 10:01, June 12, 2023 An assistant puts Tibetan opera costumes on Dampa Phuntsok (L) in Shexing Village, Tohlung Dechen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 25, 2023. (Photo by Purbu Tsering/Xinhua) LHASA, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Standing in the middle of the stage, Dampa Phuntsok, 13, sang a melody from a centuries-old Tibetan opera. His young but vibrant voice enlivened the Dzongyab Lukhang Park at the foot of the majestic Potala Palace in Lhasa. Tibetan opera troupes across southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region often gather at the park during important festival occasions, such as the Tibetan New Year and Shoton (yogurt banquet) Festival, enjoying the celebrations and engaging in friendly competitions. They are all experts in the 600-year-old art of Tibetan opera, an interesting assortment of talking, singing, acting, dancing and literature. Regarded as a "living fossil" of Tibetan culture, the art form was included on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. Bashful but smiling, Dampa Phuntsok said that the troupe he joined was first established more than a century ago. He still remembers the first Tibetan opera he saw at the age of 8. Accompanied by his father, the little boy gazed in rapture at the actors and actresses in their colorful costumes, dressed up as deer, cattle and dogs, as well as classic human characters. "How I longed at that time to be dressed up just like them, dancing on the stage," the child recalled. From that time, the boy felt a strong bond with Tibetan opera, and would often go to watch the local troupe during rehearsals. Returning to his home in the Tohlung Dechen District of Lhasa, the regional capital, he would dress up in his grandparents' clothes and practice the moves he had learned. The troupe's senior performer, Tsering Tashi, noticed this smart and curious boy, inviting him to join in rehearsals. Since then, the child became part of the troupe. "Mom and Dad both said that I made the right choice," said Dampa Phuntsok. So far, the 13-year-old has played more than 10 roles in Tibetan operas. Dampa Dargye, the troupe's manager, said they have 29 cast members at present, the oldest of whom is 63 years old. "We are glad that the younger generation is willing to learn the Tibetan opera," the manager said, adding that Dampa Phuntsok has brought "new blood" into their "old veins." Dampa Phuntsok's new dream is to set up a Tibetan opera troupe of his own in the future, which is exactly what another child actor called Tenzin Norbu has been striving to realize. About four years ago, Tenzin Norbu, 15, established a troupe full of youngsters just like himself. He gave it a Tibetan name that translates as "Dream Youth Tibetan Opera Troupe". "Nowadays, my classmates are into pop culture, but I want to build an exchange and learning platform for Tibetan opera lovers of my age," he explained. At present, Tenzin Norbu's troupe has 24 members, with young performers ranging from a 12-year-old to college students. "A diligent child who loves the Tibetan opera is hard to find, even if you offer a thousand gold pieces as reward," quipped Tenzin Yeshe, Tenzin Norbu's teacher. However, he hopes the youngsters will get the recognition they deserve one day, giving full play to their artistic talents. This photo taken on Feb. 25, 2023 shows Dampa Phuntsok wearing Tibetan opera costumes in Shexing Village, Tohlung Dechen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo by Purbu Tsering/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is visiting Brunei Darussalam this week as president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council. A statement from her office on Monday said Duterte's three-day visit to Brunei began on June 11. On Monday, Duterte met with Brunei Crown Prince Hai Al-Muhtadee Billah before visiting schools where she observed classes. Duterte earlier said that she would visit Brunei and Singapore this month to learn best practices in education. Duterte also met with SEAMEO Regional Center for Vocational and Technical Education and Training officials on Monday afternoon to discuss strategies to further raise the quality of education in the region. The vice president will also meet with members of the Filipino community in celebration of the Philippines 125th Independence Day. The event is hosted by Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has donated 55 tons of food and medicine for families in Albay province affected by restive Mayon Volcano. UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Monday morning to deliver the humanitarian assistance. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista received the donation. Nearly 13,000 residents from eight affected towns have been evacuated from the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. Mayon Volcano has been on Alert Level 3 since Thursday noon as it is showing signs of magmatic unrest. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the current volcanic activity is already considered an eruption. Albay has been placed under a state of calamity following the raising of alert level for Mayon. The Social Welfare and Health departments have also mobilized their response to the situation. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) Ukraine has asked countries including the Philippines for assistance to recover from the collapse of its Nova Kakhovka dam, a representative from its embassy in Malaysia told CNN Philippines. We addressed every government and the Philippines government as well to get the water pumps, to get fresh water, to get filters, to get boats to evacuate people, Charge d'affaires Denys Mykhailiuk of the Ukraine Embassy in Malaysia told The Source on Monday. The next step should be the medical equipment and the easily-constructing dwellings for those who evacuated from the areas which are flooded, he added. The Russian-occupied dam, located on Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, burst on June 6 that forced over 1,400 people to flee their homes, CNN reported. It is the largest reservoir in Ukraine in terms of volume. READ: Collapse of Ukraines Nova Kakhovka dam an ecological catastrophe Mykhailiuk said the collapse of the hydropower plant has flooded 80 cities and villages and more than 20,000 people have to be evacuated. It is still unclear if the dam was deliberately attacked or the collapse was due to structural failure, with Kyiv and Moscow accusing one another over the dams destruction without providing concrete proof, CNN said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as an environmental bomb of mass destruction. While floodwaters are now subsiding, debris washed along the Dnipro river is turning the Black Sea coastline in Odesa City into a garbage dump and animal cemetery, Ukrainian authorities said. We need all the humanitarian assistance we can get immediately, Mykhailiuk said. We need the statements from the governments of the world condemning the atrocities and war crimes by the Russian federation. RELATED: Zelensky signaled Ukraines counteroffensive against Russia is underway. Heres what to expect With reports from CNN International Today is June 12, 2023 and here's what you need to know: Investigators have never found the causes of some of the largest and most destructive fires in Colorado history, including the Black Forest fire, a trend state officials hope to change with more staff. Finding the cigarettes, shell casings or other telltale signs of a fire's cause amid the ashes is tedious work that can take professionals working through inches of ground at a time with magnifying glasses and magnets to find. Key evidence can be lost or much harder to find as time passes, scenes see lots of foot or vehicle traffic, or the ground is soaked in rain or snow. So investigators need to get to the scene as soon as it's safe and get started, fire investigators said. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control's sole fire investigator, Dawn Tollis, does her best getting to the fires where local departments have asked for her help, with hard-to-solve house fires, fatal fires or catastrophic wildfires. "I work a 24/7 on call schedule. So I don't have nights. I don't have weekends. I don't have holidays. And that can be challenging," she said. Her average commute is 6 hours to many rural communities, and everywhere she goes, Jo Jo, a black Lab trained to detect petroleum products, goes along to sniff out evidence. Former President Donald Trump won the straw poll at the Western Conservative Summit on Saturday, one day after his federal indictment was unsealed. Trump received 40.3% support in the straw poll, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) received 35.8% support, talk-radio show host Larry Elder received 7.7%, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) received 5.8%. Elder and former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson were the only 2024 Presidential candidates in attendance at the summit. We need Trump back in. We owe it to him, said Peter Boddie, an attendee at the summit. All the stuff he did for us when he was in office, he got more accomplished for conservatives, more for Christians. He followed through on almost every one of his promises except when his own party, like Mitch McConnell, or somebody held it up. Trumps win in the straw poll comes one day after an indictment was unsealed showing the former president is charged with 37 felony counts related to him keeping classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago residence after he was president. 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. The Denver City Council is expected to consider a $450,000 liability claim on Monday filed by the family of the 18-year-old who bled to death in front of a Denver police officer in 2020. On Sept. 7, 2020, police responded to a complaint of shots fired when a man flagged officers down and directed them to a friend who had been shot at the Elm on Panorama apartments on East Harvard Avenue in southeast Denver. JaLonte Jones died pleading for help from former Denver police officer DeWayne Rodgers, who looked on without trying to save his life. The familys attorney, Ciara Anderson, called the case tragic, saying officers "did absolutely nothing, but interrogate" Jones. Officers are meant to protect citizens when they're called upon, Anderson told The Denver Gazette on Friday. Anderson added, Nothing is going to bring him back. Much of the theft was brazen, even simple. Fraudsters used the Social Security numbers of dead people and federal prisoners to get unemployment checks. Cheaters collected those benefits in multiple states. And federal loan applicants werent cross-checked against a Treasury Department database that would have raised red flags about sketchy borrowers. Criminals and gangs grabbed the money. But so did a U.S. soldier in Georgia, the pastors of a defunct church in Texas, a former state lawmaker in Missouri and a roofing contractor in Montana. All of it led to the greatest grift in U.S. history, with thieves plundering billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid intended to combat the worst pandemic in a century and to stabilize an economy in free fall. An Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. Combined, the loss represents 10% of the $4.2 trillion the U.S. government has so far disbursed in COVID relief aid. Denver Public Schools board member Auontai Anderson addresses the media during a press conference outside the Denver Public Schools headquarters on Friday, September 17, 2021. Anderson spoke to the media with members of the NAACP and Denver Ministerial Alliance before the school board meeting and censure vote. (Photo by Katie Klann/Denver Gazette) The 25th annual Art on the Streets, an outdoor gallery of a dozen sculptures and murals scattered throughout downtown, will be on display for the next year. The Columbia Missourian (Company or we or us or our) respects the privacy of its users (user or you) that use our website located at The Columbia Missourian, including other media forms, media channels, mobile website or mobile application related or connected thereto (collectively, the Website). The following Company privacy policy (Privacy Policy) is designed to inform you, as a user of the Website, about the types of information that Company may gather about or collect from you in connection with your use of the Website. 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Changing Personally-Identifying Information; Account Termination You may at any time review or change your Personally-Identifying Information by going to your account settings (if applicable) or contacting us using the contact information below. Upon your request, we will deactivate or delete your account and contact information from our active databases. Such information will be deactivated or deleted as soon as practicable based on your account activity and accordance with our deactivation policy and applicable law. To make this request, either go to your account settings (if applicable) or contact us as provided below. We will retain in our files some Personally-Identifying Information to prevent fraud, to troubleshoot problems, to assist with any investigations, to enforce our Terms of Use and to comply with legal requirements as is permitted by law. 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Others have similarly found the skills they needed in workers in non-security disciplines. Mike Scott, CISO of software company Immuta, says he had an auditor work on his team part time. The auditor was interested in cybersecurity work; Scott was interested in the auditors ability to introduce repeatable processes, believing that experience could be helpful to the security teams work on a security audit. I saw that this person had attention to detail and was technically minded. At the same time, I had a hard time finding people and saw this person as someone I could use to maybe take some compliance stuff off my plate, Scott adds. Scott worked with the auditors supervisor, who saw benefits in helping a top performer grow at the company. They arranged for a workplace partnership that had the employee working with security for no more than 10 hours a week for about three months. And because this role was supporting me versus the rest of the security team, I also had to make sure I had the time to commit to this individual, Scott explains. Expanding the ranks of the cybersecurity profession Others share similar stories. Jon Check, executive director of Cyber Protection Solutions at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, says he has hired law enforcement professionals in part for their tenacity and ability to work a case and track it to closure and has hired researchers for their skills in working through processes to figure out whats going on. In one specific case, he had hired a professional with a finance background who was working in the legal departments contracts division. He had the skills we were looking for: a problem-solver, someone who knew how to do team agreements, and someone always trying to learn more. He could collaborate with others outside his team, was good about knowing what the tasks were, and holding himself and others accountable for deliverables, Check says. Check created a learning path for him, listing out the certifications he would have to earn to join the security team and regularly connecting with him to track his progress over six months. Once the worker was far enough down that path, Check invited him to apply for an open position putting him through the same hiring process as other candidates and ultimately offering him a job as a security analyst. Check, Rasheed, Rader and other CISOs who have brought non-security professionals to their security departments acknowledge that this approach has its limits. Certainly, they say, many positions require workers with both proven cybersecurity expertise and experience. CISOs who need to have new hires hit the ground running on Day 1 or those with small teams and limited training budgets will probably need to hire professionals with a proven track record in the roles theyre hired for. Likewise, CISOs with limited time to recruit will likely have to stick with advertising by standard job titles and looking for candidates with conventional cybersecurity career paths; they wont have the time to deconstruct roles and upcoming projects to identify needed skills that they can then use to recruit unconventional candidates. Still, some CISOs say they have found that taking the time upfront to do that work can be just as efficient, explaining they can find and train unconventional candidates for some roles in the same time it could take to hire experienced cybersecurity pros given the fierce competition for talent. Tiller says he believes that to be true. And he speaks from experience; he has brought in workers from his companies finance, HR, IT, and legal departments to work on security projects. He borrowed workers from the marketing and communications team, using staffers to work with security to develop incident response plans and build more effective tabletop drills. And he once had a worker with telecommunications expertise join a mobile security project. In all these cases, Tiller says the arrangements were less like the usual interdepartmental collaboration and more like a split position between the workers regular job and the security work. Partner with other company departments They become part of your own team, Tiller says. So, you have to be clear about their role, the value they bring to the team, and establishing a cadence for the work. Tiller says in such instances he partners with the workers managers, getting approval for exploring whether, when, and how the workers could contribute to the security function. He says that the process also addresses logistics, including how such workers will be paid. He says identifying in-house workers with the right skills to come onto the security team, whether part-time or temporarily, is typically more economical than hiring consultants or augmenting the security team with outside contractors. Tiller says it may be more agile, too, giving the CISO the ability to pull in different skill sets at the right time. Benefits of the cybersecurity profession Lenny Zeltser, CISO of security software maker Axonius and an instructor with training organization SANS says this approach helps bring more people into a security field starving for talent. Like others, he says he focuses on the skills he needs when recruiting and hiring. I dont recall the last time that I had the simplistic approach of just using the title, he says. Consequently, he has hired workers whose background does not match the conventional cybersecurity career path. For example, he hired one worker who had tinkered in IT, had an interest in security, and had worked as a bartender experiences that demonstrated to Zeltsers mind that he could successfully multitask and work well with people. We need all types of people in cybersecurity because of the variety of challenges were solving, he wrote in a blog on his website. By allowing non-traditional practitioners to fill entry-level cybersecurity roles, organizations can increase the number of people entering the career funnel. Many of them will develop advanced expertise with the right mentorship and training. This requires adjusting job requirements for entry-level roles, reaching out to people outside the traditional talent pool, and making them feel welcome. Cycodes new Cimon monitoring tool for continuous integration and continuous delivery is designed to offer a new level of visibility into the CI/CD process, securing code against data exfiltration and other malicious activity. According to the companys announcement, Cimon short for CI Monitor is a runtime security agent that uses the enhanced Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) system to look directly into the CI pipeline, develop a baseline understanding of what normal behavior looks like, and monitor for abnormalities. The use of eBPF, according to Cycode head of security research Alex Ilgayev, provides for flexibility and visibility into the operating system. Whether its a hosted runner on GitHub or a hosted runner on CircleCI or some self-hosted runner based on containers, once you install the agent, it sees everything, he said. The idea is to prevent cyberattacks against software code bases, Ilgayev said. Attacks on build systems, dependency attacks and typosquatting where a bad actor publishes malicious software under a similar name to a widely used open source component are on the rise. Cimon would prevent those by monitoring CI/CD for expected execution outcomes at the kernel level, as well as network and file system events. Most attacks, according to Ilgayev, take one of two forms. The first is data or credential theft, with bad actors targeting tokens or environment variables or some other sensitive information within the CI build. The second is altering packages via malicious changes to dependencies in the supply chain. In my last CSO article, I detailed cybersecurity professionals opinions on the characteristics of a mature cyber-threat intelligence (CTI) program. According to ESG research, the top attributes of a mature CTI program include dissemination of reports to a broad audience, analysis of massive amounts of threat data, and CTI integration with lots of security technologies. Alas, most CTI programs are far from mature, but this may change over the next few years as most enterprise organizations bolster CTI program investment. Sixty-three percent of enterprises plan to increase CTI program spending significantly over the next 12 to 18 months, while another 34% plan to increase CTI program spending somewhat. Why all this spending? Because CTI can deliver technology and business benefits. The research reveals some of the biggest influences on CTI programs include the need to learn about threats to companies earmarked for M&A, the threat of individual hackers or cyber-adversary groups planning targeted attacks, and the need to learn about adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) so organizations can reinforce their security defenses. Why CISOs will spend more on threat intelligence CISOs clearly believe that further investments in threat intelligence programs can mitigate cyber-risks while improving threat prevention and detection. Over the next 12 to 24 moths: Thirty percent of organizations will prioritize sharing threat intelligence reports more readily with internal groups. This is a step in the right direction as threat intelligence has value beyond the security operations center (SOC) for alert enrichment. CISOs can use CTI to prioritize investments and validate security controls, while business managers can balance digital transformation initiatives with more thorough risk management decisions. CTI dissemination and consumer feedback are key phases of a mature threat intelligence lifecycle. Twenty-seven percent of organizations will prioritize investing in digital risk protection (DRP) services. As organizations expand their digital footprints, they need a better understanding of the accompanying risks. DRP services provide this visibility by monitoring things like online data leakage, brand reputation, attack surface vulnerabilities, and deep/dark web chatter around attack planning. Twenty-seven percent of organizations will prioritize integration with other security technologies. Beyond endpoints, email, and network perimeters, CISOs want CTI integration with cloud security tools, security information and event management (SIEM) and extended detection and response (XDR) solutions, and security service edge (SSE) tools like secure web gateways and cloud access service brokers (CASBs). More integration equates to blocking more indicators of compromise (IoCs) and developing a more comprehensive threat-informed defense. Twenty-seven percent of organizations will prioritize acquiring a threat intelligence platform (TIP) for threat intelligence collection, processing, analysis, and sharing. Once the exclusive domain of the largest enterprises, TIPs are slowly moving down market. I anticipate a lot of this spending will end up with service providers like Flashpoint, Mandiant, Rapid7 (Intsights), Recorded Future, Reliaquest (Digital Shadows), SOCRadar, and ZeroFox. The big brands like Cisco, CrowdStrike, IBM, Microsoft, and Palo Alto Networks will also get a fair slice of the pie. Twenty-six percent of organizations will prioritize developing a more formal program. Organizations realize they can no longer skate by on some open-source threat intelligence feeds reviewed by part-time threat analysts. Rather, they need staffing and processes to execute a full CTI lifecycle. While CISOs get their internal houses in order, most will rely on service providers, like those mentioned above, to do much of the real work. As the famous Sun Tzu quote states: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Organizations with mature CTI programs know themselves, know the enemy, and then use this knowledge to optimize cyber-risk mitigation and security defenses. You may have heard my voice on the airwaves of Spotify, SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts, but for the first and last time, Im actually writing for the Daily Emerald. I started out at the Emerald in 2020 with little more than a rudimentary knowledge of Audacity and a curiosity to learn more about podcasts. Before then, I spent my first year at the UO playing the oboe, learning Chinese and listening to Twenty Thousand Hertz. I thought journalism was a lofty industry I had no place in. Fast forward three years, and the Emerald opened a world of opportunities for me. I created my first podcast outside of school projects. I met the people behind the voices of my childhood while interning at Oregon Public Broadcasting. I helped to produce a Mandarin language podcast in Taiwan. I even went from stumbling through making podcasts to leading a desk of talented producers. Most of all, Ive found a community of passionate, empathetic and hardworking people dedicated to serving the public. Of course, I would be remiss if I didnt mention the wonderful people who have supported me over the years. Thank you to my cousin Em Chan for throwing me headfirst into the world of journalism. Thank you to Betty Ong and Vai Diep, my wonderful parents who bought my first podcast mic and tuned in at odd hours to listen to me on the radio. Thank you Ryan Nguyen for being our fearless leader during the Emeralds remote year, and for always jumping in to help me out. Thank you to my past Emerald editors Sararosa Davies and Meaghan FitzPatrick for guiding me through creating podcasts. Thank you to Donald Orr for being a steadfast mentor long after our work together ended. Thank you to Melissa Pena for keeping the oboe in my life as I dove into journalism. Finally, thank you to the friends Ive made at the Emerald this year. To Caleb Barber, Gavin Gamez, Hannarose McGuinness, Brandon Roth, Annie Smith, Alexis Weisend and Kayl Wohl, Im beyond honored to have had the privilege to work with you this year. My life is richer because you all are a part of it, and Im so incredibly proud of the work youve all put into producing vital local news. Ill be cheering for all of you as you pursue your endeavors beyond the UO. The future of journalism is unclear, but if youre all a part of it, I know it will be bright. For the last time, for the Emerald Podcast Network, Im Jamie Diep. Reviewed by Nick Cawley on September 21, 2022 Crude Oil Trading Strategies and Tips Crude oil is ranked among the most liquid commodities in the world, meaning high volumes and clear charts for oil trading. is ranked among the most liquid commodities in the world, meaning high volumes and clear charts for oil trading. Oil traders should understand how supply and demand affects the price of oil. Both fundamental and technical analysis is useful for oil trading and allows traders to gain an edge over the market. is useful for oil trading and allows traders to gain an edge over the market. Traders should follow a risk conscious crude oil trading strategy for greater consistency and efficiency. WHY TRADE CRUDE OIL AND HOW DOES CRUDE OIL TRADING WORK? Crude oil is the world economys primary energy source, making it a very popular commodity to trade. A naturally occurring fossil fuel, it can be refined into various products like gasoline (petrol), diesel, lubricants, wax and other petrochemicals. It is highly demanded, traded in volume, and extremely liquid. Oil trading therefore involves tight spreads, frequent chart patterns, and high volatility. Brent crude is the worlds benchmark for oil with almost two thirds of oil contracts traded being Brent oil. WTI is Americas benchmark oil, it is a slightly sweeter and lighter oil compared to Brent. CRUDE OIL TRADING HOURS WTI trades on CME Globex: Sunday - Friday, 6:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (with an hour break from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day) Brent trades on ICE: Sunday - Friday - 7:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CRUDE OIL TRADING BASICS: UNDERSTANDING WHAT AFFECTS PRICE MOVEMENTS When trading oil, the two major focal points are, as with many commodities, supply and demand. Whether there was an economic report like a news event or press release or tensions in the Middle East, the two factors that will be taken into consideration is how supply and demand is affected, because this will affect the price. Supply Factors Outages or maintenance in key refineries around the globe, whether its the Forties pipeline in the North Sea or the Port Arthur refinery in Texas, must be monitored because of the effect it can have on the supply of oil. War in the Middle East leads to concerns about supply. For example, when the Libyan Civil war began in 2011, prices had seen a 25% rise from in the space of a couple of months. in key refineries around the globe, whether its the Forties pipeline in the North Sea or the Port Arthur refinery in Texas, must be monitored because of the effect it can have on the supply of oil. War in the Middle East leads to concerns about supply. For example, when the Libyan Civil war began in 2011, prices had seen a 25% rise from in the space of a couple of months. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) production cuts or extensions lead to changes in the price of oil. For example, back in 2016 when the cartel had announced their decision to curb global supply by 1.9% (see chart below), the price of oil has risen from $44/bbl to as much as $80/bbl. Recommended by Warren Venketas Understanding the Core Fundamentals of Oil Trading Get My Guide WTI and Brent Crude price reaction to OPEC supply cut: Chart prepared by Warren Venketas, TradingView Oil Suppliers: Similarly, with understanding the importance of OPEC, it is also worth knowing who the top global oil suppliers are, and this information can be fond from the EIA website. Demand Factors Seasonality : Hot summers can lead to increased activity and higher oil consumption. Cold winters cause people to consume more oil products to heat their houses. : Hot summers can lead to increased activity and higher oil consumption. Cold winters cause people to consume more oil products to heat their houses. Oil Consumers: The largest consumers of oil have typically been developed nations such as the U.S. and European countries. However, in recent times there has been a surge in oil consumption in Asian countries, namely China and Japan. As such, it is important for traders to pay attention to the level of demand from these nations, alongside their economic performance. Any slowdown could affect oil prices and demand may fall. The largest consumers of oil have typically been developed nations such as the U.S. and European countries. However, in recent times there has been a surge in oil consumption in Asian countries, namely China and Japan. As such, it is important for traders to pay attention to the level of demand from these nations, alongside their economic performance. Any slowdown could affect oil prices and demand may fall. Correlation to Global Growth : The chart below shows the largely positive correlation between the price of crude oil and global growth. The Chinese and US economies being the two largest in the world are a great barometer for global growth. The chart includes their respective major stock indices which move in line with crude oil prices when the equity indices fall, the price of crude oil tends to fall and vice versa. WTI and Brent Crude positive correlation with FTSE China A50 and S&P 500 chart representation: Chart prepared by Warren Venketas, TradingView Alternative Energy: While fossil fuels such as oil and gas continue to dominate cleaner energy sources, there is an incessant push towards sustainability on a global scale. This will definitely impact crude oil prices going forward which makes this a key factor to monitor in a crude oil trading strategy. The impact of derivatives on the traditional valuations of crude oil have been thought by many to have destabilized the asset class. Simply put, the oil futures are thought to have reflected higher proportions of noise which do not reflect the fundamental data at the time. This is contentious within the investing community with some in disagreement with the above rationale, but it cannot be ignored that large speculative traders are becoming more influential with the flourishing derivative market. Want to know more about oil? Here are 8 Surprising Crude Oil Facts Every Trader Should Know ! HOW TO TRADE OIL: TOP TIPS AND STRATEGIES Expert oil traders generally follow a strategy. They will understand the fundamental factors that affect the price of oil and use a trading strategy that suits their trading style. Each trading strategy is different, risk management is an important component to consistent trading, like the effective use of leverage and avoiding top trading mistakes. A comprehensive crude oil trading strategy could include: Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Risk Management Once a trader understands the fundamental supply and demand factors that affect the price of oil, he/she can look for entries into the market using technical analysis. Then, when a buy or sell signal has been identified using technical analysis, the trader can implement the proper risk management techniques. Lets go through an example using the steps outlined above: Fundamental Analysis On the 30th of November 2017, OPEC and Russia agreed to extend an oil production cut, which lead to a decrease in supply. The basic theory of supply and demand suggests that a decrease in supply should be succeeded by an increase in demand and consequently price. This is the fundamental analysis a trader would need to incorporate into their strategy in order to identify potential buy signals in the market. WTI daily chart highlighting supply cut: Chart prepared by Warren Venketas, IG 2. Technical Analysis The next step would be to analyze the chart using technical analysis. There are a variety of technical indicators and price patterns a trader can use to look for signals to enter the market. There is no need to use many technical indicators, one that you understand well will do the job. A common yet very effective way to begin analyzing any chart is to identify the overall trend of the market. In this example, the implementation of simple price action is used to identify higher highs and higher lows which is suggestive of a preceding upward trend. This falls in line with our fundamental expectation of further upward price movement. WTI daily chart showing preceding upward trend: Chart prepared by Warren Venketas, IG Once the bullish trend has been confirmed, the next step in the trading strategy would be to recognize possible entry points. Again, there are multiple tools and techniques to locate entry points but this example uses the Commodity Channel Index (CCI) indicator which moves into oversold terrirtoy shortly after the fundamental supply cut announcement was made. An oversold signal on the CCI advocates further price appreciation and the possibility of a long (buy) entry. WTI daily chart with CCI indicator: Chart prepared by Warren Venketas, IG 3. Risk Management The final step in any trading strategy would be to employ sound risk management to every trade. At DailyFX we support the 1:2 risk-reward ratio guideline which basically means that the target level should be roughly two times more than the position stop-loss level. To manage risk, the trader could look to set a take-profit above the recent high and set a stop-loss at the recent low. In this example, a recent swing low ($49.30) has been identified as stop level which is approximately $8 away from the entry price ($57.20). There is no recent high which in this case which would allow for a target projection using basic maths. With the stop distance being roughly $8 away from entry, a 1:2 projection could seee initial resistance at the $73 level. WTI daily chart with 1:2 risk-reward ratio: Chart prepared by Warren Venketas, IG This sample trade would illustrate a positive risk to reward ratio. We researched millions of live trades in a variety of markets and discovered a positive risk to reward ratio was a key element to consistent trading. Additionally, at DailyFX, we recommend risking less than 5% of capital on all open trades. Recommended by Warren Venketas Check out our most recent Oil forecast Get My Guide ADVANCED TIPS FOR OIL TRADING Advanced traders can incorporate additional information when setting up trades. Traders sometimes look at the futures curve to forecast future demand, CFTC speculative positioning to understand the current market dynamic and can use options to take advantage of forecasted high volatility moves or to hedge current positions. Futures Curve: The shape of the futures curve is important for commodity hedges and speculators. As such, when investors analyze the curve, they look for two things, whether the market is in contango or backwardation: Contango : This is a situation in which the futures price of a commodity is above the expected spot price, as investors are willing to pay more for a commodity at some point in the future than the actual expected price. This typically signals a bearish structure. Backwardation: This is a situation when the spot price is above the forward price for a commodity. This typically signals a bullish structure. CFTC/Speculative Positioning: The Commodity Future Trading Commission Report (CFTC) is important when trading crude oil futures. It provides traders with information related to market dynamics and therefore s can be a good way to gain a sense of where oil prices are heading. Movements in the CFTC managed money net positions typically precede the move in oil prices. Trading via futures and options Buying futures and options, a trader must use the appropriate exchange for the oil benchmark he/she wants to trade. Most exchanges have criteria for who is allowed trade on them, so the majority of futures speculation is undertaken by professionals. Oil Investing Instead of trading the individual market, a trader can get exposure to oil through shares of oil companies or through energy-based exchange traded funds (ETFs). The price of oil companies and ETFs are heavily influenced by the price of oil. Major Oil/Energy ETFs: Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) United States Energy Fund (USO) KEY REPORTS EVERY OIL TRADER SHOULD FOLLOW Weekly updates on the amount of crude oil inventories in the U.S. are very important pieces of data for oil traders the release of which frequently leads to a bout of volatility. The inventory data is an important barometer for oil demand. For example, if weekly inventories are increasing, this would suggest that demand for oil is dropping, while a drop in inventories suggests that oil demand is outstripping supply. American Petroleum Institute (API): The API produces a weekly statistical report, which highlights the most important petroleum products that account for more than 80% of total refinery production, while crude oil inventories are also included. This data is typically released on Tuesday at 16:30ET/21:30 London time. Department of Energy (DoE/EIA): Much like the API report, the DoE report provides information on the supply of oil and the level of inventories of crude oil and refined products. This is announced on Wednesday at 10:30ET/15:30 London time. USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRADE CRUDE OIL Over the years, social media has become an increasingly useful platform to share ideas, pass on information and receive breaking news. This is the case for oil traders using #OOTT, which stands for the Organization of Oil Traders on Twitter. Here traders and industry leaders provide breaking news and key reports related to the oil market. A 67-year-old man has been found dead in the backyard of a home in Brisbane. Police were called to the property in Marsden, 24km south of the CBD, after reports of a serious assault at about 1am on Tuesday morning. Upon arrival, police arrested a 30-year-old man and he is assisting police with inquiries. A short time later, a 67-year-old man was located deceased in the backyard. A 60-year-old woman was also located at the home and was not physically injured. Police say the three people are known to each other. A crime scene has been declared as investigations continue. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward. By her own admission, Nicola Sturgeon is one of life's catastrophisers never fully convinced that disaster does not lurk around the next bend. In a sense, then, she has been preparing for a moment such as this all her political days. 'What drives me is the Scottish fear of failure,' she said early in her career. Much later, during the final days of her First Ministership, her sense of foreboding was no less acute despite exuding an abundance of self-belief throughout her career. 'I've got a terrible dread about tempting fate,' she said. Today, it seems, the long anticipated catastrophe is at hand. In her quarter century as an elected politician Ms Sturgeon can point to triumphs beyond the dreams of almost any other rival in Britain. JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: By her own admission, Nicola Sturgeon is one of life's catastrophisers never fully convinced that disaster does not lurk around the next bend JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: Without the surprise intervention of Alex Salmond who announced his candidacy despite promising not to she may never have led her party at all. Pictured: Salmond and Sturgeon close the SNP Conference with a kiss in 2012 JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: Her battle with the UK Government's section 35 veto of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill was, Mr Salmond commented in February, 'a hill to die on' and an unworthy one at that. Pictured: Transgender Isla Bryson at high court while on trial for raping two women She led a party that won 53 out of the 56 seats it contested in the 2015 General Election. That same year her approval ratings reached 71 per cent, higher than any other western leader, and she performed so surefootedly in the televised leaders debates that many English viewers Googled 'can I vote for the SNP?' Yet eight years later she stands humiliated, those career high points obliterated by the wreckage of her legacy as party leader and First Minister. No one could dispute that Ms Sturgeon gave her heart and soul to her party. It could even be argued that she was married to it. Yet she is today as closely associated with its current implosion as she was eight years ago with its lionisation. The fear of failure which made her work harder and prepare more thoroughly than her colleagues or rivals helped propel her to the top. But it brought downsides too. It made her controlling, occasionally aggressive, increasingly intolerant of dissent. For all that she played up her humble Scottish roots, her hardworking parents and her local comp education, there were few more high and mighty than Ms Sturgeon in her pomp. From beginning to end she had the clipped air of someone who could not conceive of being wrong. It was at Greenwood Academy, Ayrshire, that her political allegiances were established. A teacher with allegiances of his own noted her developing social conscience and presented her with an application to join the Labour party. The schoolgirl took exception to his presumptuousness. S HE remembered: 'That was the catalyst. I thought, 'stuff you, I'm going to join the SNP.' Later she would cite Margaret Thatcher as the motivation for her political colours. 'I hated everything she stood for. This was the genesis of my nationalism.' Her parents Robin and Joan were not fans either despite taking advantage of the right-to-buy policy introduced by the then Prime Minister to purchase their council house for just 8,400. She was the first member of her family to go to university studying law at Glasgow and was highly active in the SNP's student wing. Even before completing her finals in 1992 she was standing in the General Election of that year then as the youngest Scottish candidate ever to do so. JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: No one could dispute that Ms Sturgeon gave her heart and soul to her party. It could even be argued that she was married to it. Pictured: Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell in 2022 She lost by some 15,000 votes in the Labour stronghold of Glasgow Shettleston. And so, by necessity, a short-lived career outside politics began as she became a trainee at Glasgow firm McClure Naismith. 'She just was not a star,' a legal partner there would later recall. 'She didn't show any great ambition to do what we did.' There was a brief stint at a Stirling law firm, followed by a post as an adviser at the Drumchapel Law Centre in Glasgow, which was better suited to her social justice concerns. A further tilt at Westminster followed in 1997 when she stood for Glasgow Govan. But she was defeated this time by Labour's Mohammad Sarwar, father of the current Scottish Labour leader Anas. Ultimately, it would take the proportional representation built into the Holyrood election system to give her a seat in the inaugural Scottish parliament. She lost to Gordon Jackson in the first-past-the-post race in 1999 but entered the parliament as a list MSP. The result was repeated in the 2003 election. When she threw her hat in the ring to lead her party the following year, then, she was a veteran of four consecutive election defeats. While her mentor Alex Salmond had by then never lost a constituency election battle, she had never won one. Indeed, it is widely accepted that Ms Sturgeon was about to lose the party leadership election too as rival candidate Roseanna Cunningham enjoyed greater support at the time. Without the surprise intervention of Alex Salmond who announced his candidacy despite promising not to she may never have led her party at all. Instead, as his number two firstly in opposition and later in government she honed her political skills in his shadow and worked on softening her humourless image in a process which critics labelled Operation Human Being. By then the other key male figure in her political life was in place too. Ms Sturgeon and the party's chief executive Peter Murrell had known each other for years, but it was not until 2003 that they began dating and not until the following year that their romance was common knowledge even among members of their own party. JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: In opposition, Ms Sturgeon wasted no time in cementing her status as her party's second biggest figure and heir apparent Now, with Mr Salmond leading the party, Mr Murrell running it and Ms Sturgeon deputising for one and living with the other, the 'cabal' at the top of the SNP was established. It would bring electoral success but also deep-seated resentment and, a few years later, a spectacular fall out. In opposition, Ms Sturgeon wasted no time in cementing her status as her party's second biggest figure and heir apparent. It was she who tackled Labour First Minister Jack McConnell because Mr Salmond did not then have a seat in Holyrood and she proved adept at wrong-footing him. Then, following the 2007 election and her elevation to Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary, she proved an effective performer. It was she who dealt with the swine flu crisis of 2009, delivering nightly updates on TV in calm, authoritative tones and demonstrating that crises can be an opportunity for career enhancement. Back home in Dreghorn, other family members were making political moves too. Joan Sturgeon was elected as an SNP councillor for North Ayrshire in 2007. By 2012 she was the local authority's provost. Four years later, the First Minister's father Robin was getting in on the act too. He stood unsuccessfully as the SNP candidate in a 2016 council by election. Ms Sturgeon's sister Gillian is the only member of her family not to shoot for political office. Not that, in her fevered support for her elder sibling, she has been short of opinions, often perhaps less than helpful ones. The contrast with Mr Salmond nearest and dearest his wife Moira could hardly be more stark. JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: Massive fault lines opened up in her party and Ms Sturgeon was accused of misleading Holyrood over what she knew of the Salmond allegations and when. The hearing in 2021 was the closest she came to being toppled as First Minister before she fell on her sword two years later She remained resolutely detached from the political scene. For a time politics was practically the Sturgeon family business. Yet, in those first years of government when the emphasis was primarily on proving the SNP could govern, the First Minister and his deputy formed a formidable double act one that was largely responsible for their election performance of 2011 where voters rewarded their party with an overall majority and a clear shot on the independence goal. These were buoyant days for the Salmond/Sturgeon partnership. He treated her as a protegee while she was every inch the loyal second in command. Praising Mr Salmond to the skies as his deputy, Miss Sturgeon once boasted at a party conference: 'No one knows him better than I do, with the possible exception of Moira.' It turned out she knew him less well than she thought. The fall-out with Mr Salmond became one of the key themes of her time in Bute House, which began with her 'coronation' after she stood unopposed to replace him in the wake of the 2014 referendum defeat. Not that the schism was apparent straight away. The SNP may have failed to achieve its core objective but its new leader was never more popular than in those first months of 2015 when the Sturgeon slate remained relatively clean. She took office sporting a new wardrobe and a more stylish coiffure and, almost from the off, began building the case for a second independence referendum. At the time, there was belief in her party that she could deliver it. And yet, despite the 2016 Brexit vote which found the UK as a whole marginally in favour of Leave and Scotland strongly in favour of Remain, she failed to move the dial on independence sufficiently to force the UK Government into granting another referendum. And, as confidence in her ability to deliver independence eroded, so the headaches of the 'day job' multiplied. Drugs deaths spiralled, the attainment gap widened, disastrous policies such as 'Named Person' the attempt to assign every child a state guardian were challenged in court, a ferry crisis loomed... and that was before it emerged that one Alex Salmond was facing allegations of sexual harassment. He was later tried in court over a series of sexual assault charges against several women and was acquitted on them all. JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: In her political afterlife Ms Sturgeon had envisaged writing her memoirs and possibly fostering children. Others had envisaged lucrative appearances on the speaking circuit. Never, surely, did anyone imagine a political afterlife like this But the damage to the SNP was clear for all to see. Mr Salmond, who had resigned his membership as the allegations were made public, accused senior party figures of trying to put him in jail. And even if he did not name Ms Sturgeon as one of the plotters, he clearly believed her husband was among them. Massive fault lines opened up in her party and Ms Sturgeon was accused of misleading Holyrood over what she knew of the Salmond allegations and when. The hearing in 2021 was the closest she came to being toppled as First Minister before she fell on her sword two years later. It was, she insisted, largely the pandemic and her exhaustion after steering the nation through it, which prompted her to step down. Other explanations are available. Her husband's arrest by police investigating missing party funds days after she left office may be the most instructive. There was also the small matter of the 53,000 SNP members who had quit the party during Ms Sturgeon's time as First Minister and the fact the Supreme Court had ruled any SNP attempt to hold a referendum without the UK Government's consent would be illegal. It was striking that, as Ms Sturgeon's government became increasingly bogged down in a welter of 'bread and butter issues' waiting lists, the cost of living crisis, public sector strikes it was the minority appeal issue of gender reform on which she seemed most strident. Her battle with the UK Government's section 35 veto of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill was, Mr Salmond commented in February, 'a hill to die on' and an unworthy one at that. And yet, by then she surely knew her career was already over. All that remained was to concoct the cover story for her departure. It was the flimsiest of fig leaves. In her political afterlife Ms Sturgeon had envisaged writing her memoirs and possibly fostering children. Others had envisaged lucrative appearances on the speaking circuit. Never, surely, did anyone imagine a political afterlife like this. With the rail strikes showing no sign of abating, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has pledged to establish a new body, Great British Railways, to reinvigorate the broken system. It will be responsible for timetables, ticket prices, revenue collection and managing rail infrastructure. So you would imagine the Department for Transport is a hive of activity. Not a bit of it. Figures released last week show that Harpers department has spent 121,000 in the past year on IT equipment and office furniture for staff working from home. No wonder attendance in the office over the same period was a mere 62 per cent. Transport Minister Jesse Norman was unable to shed any light on it. The department is unable to provide a further breakdown related to the specific categories of equipment, he said in a written Commons answer. And what are other departments spending on working from home equipment? They conveniently dont keep centralised figures. As for office attendance, its still dismal across Whitehall. Figures released last week show that Transport Secretary Mark Harpers department has spent 121,000 in the past year on IT equipment and office furniture for staff working from home With the rail strikes showing no sign of abating, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has pledged to establish a new body, Great British Railways, to reinvigorate the broken system. The Home Office, grappling with Home Secretary Suella Bravermans flagship Stop the Boats policy currently being eviscerated by the unelected House of Lords only had a 31 per cent turnout in the last week of May. And the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs managed only 29 per cent attendance that week. Were they all working on the farm? Kellys a cut above Michael Gove says Parliamentary hairdresser Kelly Dodge deserves her OBE for services to Boris Johnsons unruly mop. The Levelling Up Secretary told the Kite Festival in Oxfordshire: Shes been responsible for more cuts than any minister. Father of the House Sir Peter Bottomley was at Londons Freemasons Hall for the memorial service of Lord Young of Graffham, the businessman who served in Margaret Thatchers Cabinet. Sir Peter Bottomley, 78, recalled a lively conversation between Lord Young and Norman Tebbit, then Tory chairman, shortly before the 1987 general election In his local newspaper column, Bottomley, 78, recalled a lively conversation between Lord Young and Norman Tebbit, then Tory chairman, shortly before the 1987 general election: When the dust had settled, Margaret Thatcher told them not to appear so often on television as they were old. Neither of them reminded her that she was older than both of them. Advertising its summer intern scheme, the Labour Party put together a group of ethnically diverse young people for a photo opportunity in Westminster. They were snapped outside a building familiar to Westminster watchers. It was none other than Tory Party HQ at Matthew Parker Street. No surprise that the photo has now been deleted. Veteran broadcaster Diddy David Hamilton recalls appearing last year on ITVs This Morning to talk about the success of Boom Radio. Asked by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby how he looked so youthful at 84, Hamilton replied: Clean living. I recommend it. Remember all heroes, Rishi During his successful trip to the White House, Rishi Sunak posted images of himself laying a remembrance wreath to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. Rishi Sunak posted images of himself laying a remembrance wreath to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944 He said: Seventy-nine years ago, British and American troops were landing on the beaches of Normandy. But around 14,000 Canadians also landed or parachuted into Normandy and suffered more than 1,000 casualties, including 359 deaths. The Spectator quotes Toronto MP Kevin Vuong: Not only was it our troops that advanced the farther inland of any Allies forces, many Canadians also made the ultimate sacrifice during the Dieppe Raid that led to the successful D-Day tactics. To think that Rishi was hailing a new era in relations with Canada when he met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month. When Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was asked what the greatest challenge for a statesman was, he famously replied: 'Events, dear boy, events.' Now we are seeing politics and No 10 once again consumed by events which have nothing whatsoever to do with the economy or the running of our public services, but are instead focused on personalities and petty grievances. When our former PM Boris Johnson told me I had been included in his resignation honours list, I was overwhelmed and immediately suffered another bout of imposter syndrome. I have always been in awe of the House of Lords. It is where the heavy lifting of scrutinising legislation takes place, while the elected chamber, the Commons, is the stage for set pieces such as Prime Minister's Questions and, of late, little else. Since Boris was removed, Parliament appears to have ground to a halt. But I am used to seeing off imposter syndrome, just as I am used to facing down the people who, over the course of my life, have told me I am not up to it. NADINE DORRIES: When our former PM Boris Johnson told me I had been included in his resignation honours list, I was overwhelmed I grew up on a Liverpool council estate and I knew what hunger pains felt like. I had to borrow shoes in order to attend school. After qualifying as a nurse, I gave ten years of my life to the NHS. Later, I ran a community school in Zambia (where my husband was working). When we returned to the UK, I raised our three children while building my own childcare business with little financial backing. We sold it a decade later to a blue-chip company where I served as a director. And then I turned to politics, which changed my life for ever. The sale of our company gave me the financial freedom to work for the Conservative Party for three years before I was elected as an MP in 2005. I served on the backbenches for 14 years. My ministerial career began when I was made a health minister during Covid and I worked my way up to become Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. In my spare time I wrote fiction and have sold almost three million books. It's true to say I've lived a different life to the majority of the peers in the Upper House, so no wonder I felt so proud when I heard I was to join them. Boris told me his honours list had been submitted and his staff said I would hear in due course. I began to allow myself to believe it would happen. I know, I know, as the reader you are probably thinking 'oh cry me a river' and I get it. But it was important to me to show that someone from my background could break the class ceiling. Once the list had been agreed with No 10, it was submitted to the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC), an independent body which undertakes the vetting of nominees (including police and HMRC checks). The list is returned to No 10 and the PM hands it straight over to the King. No sitting prime minister has ever interfered with the honours list of a former PM. It was a precedent, stretching back a century or more until last week that is. During the HOLAC process, I did not hear either from the Commission or from No 10. I and others on the list were bemused by this. Surely someone would update us, and in the case of myself and three other sitting MPs, tell us when was the right time to stand down from the Commons in order to take our place in the Lords? (This would of course trigger by-elections in our constituencies.) I made enquiries and was told that HOLAC were not allowed to advise us and that instructions would be sent to No 10, to be passed on. None of my calls to No 10 were returned. Since Boris was removed, Parliament appears to have ground to a halt (Nadine and Boris are pictured together in 2019) Then I heard from Boris: 'Stand by. Announcement of the list, imminent.' He had attended a 'secret' meeting [on June 2] with Rishi Sunak in Downing Street and it had been confirmed to him that his list was through and that I was on it. Because the list had been so delayed and the process had taken longer than six months, I learned that I had to go through 'light touch re-vetting' (each vetting is valid for six months) but it would take just days. To be honest this was the moment I began to think something odd was going on, but I told myself not to be paranoid. Last Thursday, while taking the dog for a walk as the heat of the sun faded on London's pavements, I got a call from a leading political journalist whom I respected and liked. His words chilled me. 'Nadine, I've seen the [honours] list that's being published tomorrow and your name has been removed. Did you know this?' I was stunned. I didn't believe him. I rang Boris who was in Egypt and about to give a speech. 'B******s,' he bellowed down the line. 'It's someone in No 10 who is just making mischief. Sunak told me himself that you were on it just days ago and he wouldn't lie to me. It's a wind up.' Senior officials also assured Boris that the list was to be published the following day and, yes, my name was indeed on it. Next morning, I called the Chief Whip who said all was well, he had not been informed of any change but he would make further enquiries. At 3.30pm, he called me back. My name had in fact been removed. The journalist had been right. The list was published half an hour later. I knew then my suspicions that someone was using me to play political games was true. I informed the Chief Whip I was standing down. The weekend was intense and deeply upsetting, with many theories flying around. Had I got it wrong? Was it a cock-up, or a deliberate political snub? I kept my own counsel and spoke to Boris regularly while we got to the bottom of it all. It was like unravelling a Gordian knot. I believe now that my absence from the list was deliberate. In the meeting Boris had with Rishi Sunak a meeting No 10 initially denied to journalists had taken place I was told that the PM had indeed assured Boris that he would, in keeping with convention, sign off the list returned to him from HOLAC. What he didn't say and what I understand to be true despite denials from those concerned is that his political secretary, James Forsyth, had made sure that certain names would not be on the HOLAC list. Forsyth is Rishi's best friend from school and was best man at his wedding. The two are allies stretching back years. It is my understanding that he ensured my name was not on the list by failing to pass on vital information from HOLAC to me and the other MPs on the list that we needed to agree to stand down from the Commons and join the Lords within six months, or face being left off. I knew that constitutionally it is not possible for an MP to sit in both houses, but this was the very first I'd heard of the time frame involved. In the meeting Boris had with Rishi Sunak (pictured today) I was told that the PM had indeed assured Boris that he would, in keeping with convention, sign off the list returned to him from HOLAC I also understand that it was necessary for Forsyth to instruct HOLAC to run the light re-vetting Boris had warned me about. Without this instruction and the re-vetting, HOLAC would be unable to support my nomination, effectively removing me from the list. According to my sources, Forsyth then went on to tell journalists over the weekend calling some who never hear from him, as often as four times on a sunny Sunday to stress that it was HOLAC who had 'removed me' and the other MPs. This narrative was advanced by Lord (Michael) Howard apparently briefed by No 10 on BBC One's Laura Kuenssberg show on Sunday morning. But HOLAC does not have the authority to remove anyone; it is an advisory to the PM. In a statement issued on Sunday, HOLAC said it had not supported eight nominees on the submitted list, would not comment on individuals and, after providing advice to the PM, was not involved in the appointments process. It is my belief that when Rishi Sunak told Boris Johnson he would sign off the list returned to him by HOLAC, he was using weasel words. He already knew who was and wasn't on that list because he had engineered it via his aide Forsyth. It seems that a process that has long been above corruption has been broken and the relationship between Downing St and HOLAC has been tarnished. If I'm being generous and No 10's duplicitous machinations were to avoid a by-election, they should have talked to me. We could have worked together. As it is, they now have not one but three to contest. I have never been under any illusion that breaking through the class ceiling would be a battle. I was born into poverty and clawed my way out of it to build a new life for me and my family, and then carved out a role in public service. A seat in the Lords was recognition of that and a means of continuing to give back to society. I'm not going to lie. I believe sinister forces conspired against me and have left me heartbroken but that emotion gives me all the strength I need to keep on fighting. Prior to her death, the Arizona sisters promised they would 'travel the world' A 26-year-old woman has spoken out about how she took her late sister's ashes to Las Vegas to celebrate what would have been her 21st birthday. Brianna Payne, from Arizona, lost her sister in May 2020 to accidental fentanyl poisoning. Erin, who had just turned 18, unknowingly purchased medication laced with the opioid. Having promised each other to 'travel the world together,' the 26-year-old set out on a journey to make this happen for Erin. Brianna Payne (right), 26, lost her sister, Erin (left), 18, to accidental fentanyl poisoning. Prior to her death, they promised each other that they would 'travel the world together' Brianna also took the urn to Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado Brianna said she saw 'signs' that her sister was right there with her along the way. Despite the tragic circumstances, Brianna, who runs a production studio called Buddycap, says travelling with her sister's urn was 'fun' and has revealed big plans to continue taking her to new places. The influencer, who has more than 10,000 followers on Instagram as @briipayne, is sharing her story to spread awareness about the dangers of opioids. 'The trip to Vegas was amazing,' Brianna told NeedToKnow.co.uk. 'I went for what would have been Erin's 21 birthday, April 17, and it was also my friend's 30 birthday, so I got to celebrate with her too, which helped me get through the five days I was there. 'There was even a moment where one of mine and Erin's songs came on, and my friend walked in and saw me crying she had actually walked in to ask me if there was a song I wanted to listen to, that one gave me goosebumps. 'We even got to go to the biggest Denny's in the world. Denny's was Erin's favorite. 'I even played a few slots and used the urn to press the button.' She says: 'We plan to take a trip to Washington D.C. to the DEA memorial since my sister is displayed on the wall along with others who have also lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning' Erin's ashes in a urn by a waterfall in Oregon (left) as well as 'playing the slots' in Las Vegas (right) She says: 'I know that she would appreciate it, and every time I go on a trip she sends me signs to show that she is still with me.' Pictured is Erin's urn over a skyline (left) and in front of Denny's (right) For Brianna, who wants to include her sister in all aspects of her life, taking her urn along for trips feels natural. To date, she's taken her sister to Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and more fulfilling Erin's mission to see as much of the world as possible, even after death. And the compact size of the urn makes it perfect for travelling. 'I have been doing this pretty much since she passed away,' Brianna said. 'We have been to Puerto Rico, chased waterfalls all around Oregon and Washington, Colorado and tons of other places. 'I plan to continue to do this and my main goal is to bring her to Romania with our cousin, who actually had a trip planned to Romania two months after she passed away. 'I know that she would appreciate it, and every time I go on a trip she sends me signs to show that she is still with me.' Brianna blew out the candle for Erin's 21st birthday, using the urn The 26 year-old states: 'Now, I want to use my voice and platform to help spread fentanyl awareness' Despite some people online questioning why Brianna would want to travel with her sister's urn, she says she receives a lot of support from her family. And Brianna is sure that Erin would have loved it. 'My mother loves and admires that I do this,' she said. 'We plan to take a trip to Washington D.C. to the DEA memorial since my sister is displayed on the wall along with others who have also lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning. 'My sister was the funniest person I ever knew, so having fun is the best way to cope because that is what she would want. 'Now, I want to use my voice and platform to help spread fentanyl awareness.' She said: 'My mother loves and admires that I do this.' Pictured are Brianna and Erin as children Brianna continues: 'My sister was the funniest person I ever knew, so having fun is the best way to cope because that is what she would want' Followers flocked to Brianna's social media to spread love and support After posting a video sharing Erin's story, sympathetic commenters were quick to share their condolences. 'Thank you for spreading awareness and I'm sorry for your loss,' one person wrote. Another added: 'The strength it must of took you to post this.' 'This is a tragic and terrifying thing! I'm so sorry for your loss thank you so much for spreading awareness,' a third person said. 'Wow so sorry about your sister. Thank you for spreading awareness I had no idea,' one comment read. Someone else wrote: 'Continued healing love and light.' Colin Field slowly looks me up and down, taking in my floor-length magenta gown, my drop earrings, Swarovski watch and nude heels. Without hesitation, he declares: 'Oh, you are definitely Miss Bond.' I'm flattered, who wouldn't be? However, Colin isn't complimenting me on my appearance, but is matching me to the cocktail he has decided I should drink. 'It's all about how you're dressed and what you're projecting,' he adds. 'As a bartender, it's not about you, and it's not about the cocktail. The cocktail's not going to buy itself and it's not going to drink itself. For me, it's all about the client.' And cocktails as well as people are what Colin knows best. Once dubbed the 'world's greatest bartender' by influential Forbes magazine, he's so much more than that. For almost 30 years he presided over the legendary Bar Hemingway at The Ritz hotel in Paris, before calling time last month, just shy of his 62nd birthday. The Warwickshire-born maestro has seen it all. He's mixed, shaken and stirred intoxicating concoctions for Hollywood royalty and real kings and queens, world statesmen and women, ambassadors, literary geniuses, philosophers and the glitterati in general. Iram Ramzan (right) met award-winning barman Colin Field (left) at the Maison Proust Hotel in Paris, where he made her a Miss Bond cocktail He counts model Kate Moss, Bruce Willis and Johnny Depp as his special pals. In fact, Moss was the inspiration for the Kate 76 (vodka, grapefruit juice, champagne). She wrote the preface for his book on cocktails, and he was the bartender at her wedding to her now ex-husband, musician Jamie Hince, in 2011. So what about the Miss Bond? Essence of raspberry that has been steeped in vodka for many months, and topped up with champagne before being decorated with a rose. 'It's not about garnishing the cocktail, but garnishing the person,' Colin tells me. We meet at the La Maison Proust, a new hotel in the trendy area of Le Marais in Paris, where Colin will take up a new job later this year, for two nights a week. And, unfortunately, he doesn't have all the ingredients to hand for a Miss Bond, so he whips up a bespoke alternative a concoction of gin, RinQuinQuin aperitif, and orange bitters and promises me that my Miss Bond will be waiting for me at The Ritz later. Oh, well, if you insist, Colin. 'The best cocktails have few ingredients,' he explains. 'Think of all the classics. Negroni, three. Margarita, three. Bloody Mary, two. Now try this,' he says proffering me a glass. I take a sip. It's not too strong, nor is it too sweet. 'We'll call it an Iramtini,' he says. Cheers to that! So why did he leave The Ritz? Cocktails as well as people are what Colin knows best, write Iram Ramzan 'I loved it there, but I became restless. It was a love story; a marriage. At first, the idea of some guy or girl taking over from my job, in a place they didn't create, that they hadn't suffered for it was a thorn in my side. I was like a jealous lover.' The love affair began in 1980, when he first applied to The Ritz but was turned down. A second application was similarly unsuccessful. But one day, in 1994 while he was working in a restaurant in Paris The Ritz called him to ask if it was true that he had an A-level in English literature. It was. After 'almost killing myself' trying to win every bartending contest in France, Colin was employed by The Ritz because he was a Ernest Hemingway fan. Bar Hemingway was named after the American writer who, while working as a war correspondent in France, famously persuaded French Resistance fighters to help him chase the Nazis out of his favourite bar Le Petit Bar at The Ritz during the liberation of Paris in 1944. When Colin arrived in 1994, the bar had been closed for 12 years, but was being re-opened by owner Mohamed al-Fayed to mark the 50th anniversary of the liberation. Colin remains on friendly terms with the al-Fayed family, but says it took over a decade for the proprietor to actually speak to him. 'It was in the 11th year that Mr al-Fayed first said hello to me. Then, in the 12th year he said, 'Hello Colin'. In the 15th year he asked, 'Hello Colin, how are you?' By the 16th year we were joking together.' Time for Colin to spill who are the most interesting people he has have ever served? Colin Field, bartender chef at the Hemingway bar at the Ritz in Paris 'I liked Bruce Willis. He ordered the Ritz Sidecar, which I invented. It contains Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and a cognac champagne from pre-1872. It costs 1,300 (1,115). One day Bruce asked me if I'd like one? I said, of course. 'Then he asked another bartender if he'd like one, too. He said, 'I'm sorry but I don't drink on duty.' I whacked him! I said when someone offers you a 1,300 cocktail, you just drink it!' When Pierce Brosnan stopped by, Colin had to stop himself from addressing him as Mr Bond. 'He asked me for a suggestion, so I said, 'How about something dry?' He said, 'What about a martini?' I served it to him and he said, 'That's excellent!' I felt like I'd had a small part in a Bond film!' And a one-time contender to be James Bond, the British actor Clive Owen, was another customer but Colin knew he'd never make the grade. 'I served him a dry martini and he said, 'That's far too strong.' I said to myself, 'He will never be James Bond!' ' As for Johnny Depp, Colin thinks he's the 'bee's knees'. 'I would have lunch, dinner and cocktails with him any day of the week.' And Depp's favourite tipple? A Serendipity calvados, mint, Normandy apple juice and champagne. Your order is a reflection of your personality, Colin insists. 'Whisky and coke is a peasant drink. But if someone is in a nice hotel bar they'll ask for a glass of champagne, because that's what they think they should order.' His go-to drink is a dry martini. 'But I have to be in a suit and tie if I drink that,' he jokes. His life is far removed from his origins in the market town of Rugby, Warwickshire. His father was born in South Africa and served in the RAF in Burma during World War II, while mother Renate came to England from Germany to learn English. From an early age, Colin was fascinated by all things French, and a trip to Paris aged 14 confirmed his love for the country. At 19, and with just 80 to his name, he bought a single ticket on the Magic Bus to France. His aim was to get a job within five days which he did, at a three-star hotel. He says he avoided English people for years, in order to perfect his French. He also speaks German and Italian. 'All languages are delicious but French is marvellous,' he says. He says he always wanted to be a bartender and trained at Ferrandi, an internationally recognised school of culinary arts. He went on to help create a degree for bartenders (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) with the Sorbonne University. He worked in numerous hotels and bars before joining The Ritz, and when the hotel underwent a 450 million refurbishment from 2012 to 2016, he was sent to work in luxurious bars around the world. France has been his home for 43 years and he has only returned to the UK for his parents' funerals. The only thing he misses about Blighty is Marks & Spencer 'their pork pies and shirts'. While his professional life has gone to plan, his personal life has had its ups and downs. A relationship with a dancer at the Moulin Rouge broke his heart, and on the rebound he married another Moulin Rouge dancer who hailed from Liverpool. They were together for four years. His second wife was French and they have a daughter and son Lee, 24, and Paris, 21 but their marriage failed, because 'I was really married to the job'. He was initially the sole bartender at The Ritz (although by the end he had a team of eight), and often started work at 2pm to get the bar ready for a 6.30pm opening, only getting home at 5am. In 2016, he met Marina, 35, from Ukraine. They tied the knot last September and their son, James, is now four. They couple have a townhouse in Meaux, around 25 miles east of Paris, as well as a bolthole in the country where they spent lockdown. 'It was heaven. The Ritz was closed for a year, so it gave me time to think about what I wanted, and what I wanted was to spend more time with my wife and children.' And so when he starts work at La Maison Proust, it will be on a part-time basis. He's also considering offering courses for aspiring bartenders. 'Most of them will make a cocktail that anyone can drink,' says Colin. 'That's Marks & Spencer. But I'm haute couture! I make the cocktail to fit the person right in front of me.' His replacement at The Ritz, Anne Sophie Prestail 'a Colin disciple' undoubtedly has big shoes to fill. That evening, I make my way through the plush interiors of the legendary Ritz and head for the oak-panelled Bar Hemingway. As promised, a Miss Bond is waiting for me, garnished with a large white rose and I raise a toast to Colin, the King of Cocktails. A mother-of-two who makes 'ethical' porn has revealed she would support her daughters if they wanted to go into sex work. Erika Lust, from Sweden and now based in Barcelona, began making erotic films after being left in despair by portrayal of women in mainstream porn as 'vehicles' for male sexual pleasure. The filmmaker, who employs 54 staff in the production company she runs with her husband, revealed she is often asked if she'd support her daughters if they wanted to become porn actresses. She said: 'But if they became sex workers I would like to protect them, I would like the world to be as safe as possible for them.' Lust, who was named one of the BBC's 100 Most Influential Women in 2019, argued that arguments against sex work only make it more difficult and unsafe for women in the industry. Erika Lust, an erotic filmmaker originally from Sweden but based in Barcelona, has revealed she would support her daughters, 12 and 15, if they wanted to go into sex work Erika entered the independent film industry after moving to Spain following university and shot her debut movie The Good Girl, as a side project in 2004 while taking a director's course. The movie, which explores traditional 'pizza delivery guy' cliche from the female perspective, won the prize for best short film at the International Erotic Film Festival in Barcelona. Speaking to The Times, she argued the porn films she makes are an antidote to much of the hardcore, sometimes violent films that are available on free sites. However the filmmaker expressed her concern over legislation such as the UK government's Online Safety Bill, which will require people to verify their age to access online porn. Lust believes her small business, and other independent porn sites, may not survive when the legislation passes. The 'ethical porn' director, who made her first erotic film in 2013, says she was inspired to work in the industry after being left uncomfortable when she watched her first mainstream porn film Elsewhere in the interview, Lust revealed she struggles to rent office space for her business because there is a 'huge sigma' attached to her work. When she tries to donate money from her profits to charity, the donations are often refused. She also took on the differences between how men and women in the porn industry are treated, arguing: 'Whats seen as the difference between a good girl and a bad girl? Its sex, right? But the difference between a good guy and a bad guy is not sex, its violence.' Lust's business was featured in 2017 Netflix documentary Hot Girls Wanted: Turned on, where a camera crew was invited into the production of a porn film. In the documentary, a performer named Monica asks to stop filming and is asked if she's ok by Lust. She responds to say she is in pain, which gives the impression that even so-called 'ethical' porn is damaging to female performers. However Lust hit back at the portrayal of her work in the documentary, claiming it was 'quite manipulated'. She said the pain Monica said she was experiencing was due to ovulation, rather than from sex, and that the actress had been angry at how the scene was presented in the film. Lust has long spoken out against mainstream online porn for its portrayal of women. In 2021 she told Glamour about the first time she had watched a porn film, while studying political science at Lund University. 'Instead of being a pleasurable moment, it became a struggle,' she said. 'It felt stereotyped and centred on the man's pleasure, and the women were just vehicles for him to come'. She went on to explain how she hopes her films will not only normalise sexual pleasure for women, but also shatter the view of men in pornography as 'penetrative sex machines'. Erika is perhaps best known for her XConfessions series, the first crowd-sourced project in adult cinema which launched in 2013. Each month, she chooses two personal accounts or fantasies from the many anonymous submissions she receives through her website, and then transforms them into adult movies. In 2015, a theatrical cut of XConfessions submissions was screened at Chicago International Film Festival and at Raindance Film Festival in London. She made headlines in 2021 for allowing her staff members a break time of 30 minutes per day use a private 'masturbation station' in the office. The erotic filmmaker launched the initiative after noticing that her employees were 'somewhat agitated' and 'performing with less energy' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Erika describes her work as 'sex-positive' and told FEMAIL in 2015 that her primary mission is to show both men and women as 'sexually liberated equals'. Women being in control of their sexuality, she says, and knowing exactly what they want and how they want it is incredibly empowering - an ideal that is sadly lacking from most mainstream pornography. She said: 'It's so important to make sure my films are creative, contemporary and realistic, with beautiful and relatable settings, locals and performers. 'My viewers like the realistic aspect to my films as they can see themselves in them, their partners, that guy or girl on the street, or in a bar. 'And they enjoy characters who look like they are enjoying themselves, and a story with context, a life behind them.' McDonald's has revealed the exact date its set to release its Lotus Biscoff McFlurry. UK customers will be able to get their hands on the sweet ice cream treat from June 21. But sweet toothed shoppers will have to be quick, as they'll only be available for six weeks - or until stocks run out. The dessert has been available abroad previously, but this is the first time British customers will be able to try the dish - which will cost 1.99 for a regular and 1.49 for a mini. Thomas O'Neill, Head of Marketing, McDonald's UK and Ireland said: 'We're so pleased to be launching the Lotus Biscoff McFlurry in the UK and Ireland. It's been a long-time hope to some of our McDonald's patrons and we're glad we can make this into a reality. 'We take great pride in what we offer our customers and we really do listen to what they want; spending time researching and developing all the possibilities. It's what we enjoy and it's why I am personally proud of this new menu.' McDonald's has revealed the exact date its set to release its Lotus Biscoff McFlurry. UK customers will be able to get their hands on the sweet ice cream treat from June 21. Try it early McDonalds has created the perfect opportunity to meet up with friends this summer and enjoy a McFlurry in the sun. McDonalds will be hosting a taster lunch break where free Lotus Biscoff McFlurry will be available for fans to get their hands on one. The ONLY place youll be able to try the Lotus Biscoff McFlurry before it goes on sale in restaurants. Where: Queens Stone, London SE1 9PH When: Friday 16th June 2023 Times: 11:30am 2pm How to get one: Just turn up but quick, its only until stocks last! Advertisement 'It's been a long-time hope to some of our McDonald's patrons and we're glad we can make this into a reality.' Since the news broke on Twitter, fast food fans have gone wild. 'McDonalds in France do this... Biscoff McFlurry. Let's hope it comes to the UK soon' said one.' 'The UK need to up their mcflurry game, they have Daim, Biscoff and M&M ones out here,' wrote another. 'Biscoff McFlurry coming to the UK? I will be there no matter what,' commented a third. 'Apparently Mcdonald's summer uk mcflurry is lotus biscoff? Are you kidding?' said another. McDonald's is discounting two fan favourites - but you'll have to be quick, because the offers are for one day only. For UK customers planning on treating themselves to a breakfast from the fast-food chain, the Double McMuffin is up for grabs for just 1.99 today, saving 1.60. McDonald's lovers can choose between bacon or sausage, teamed with a free range egg, a slice of cheese, carefully tucked between a freshly toasted English muffin. A staple for many, fans can also grab a Quarter Pounder with Cheese from 11am for 1.49, saving 2.90 almost 70 per cent. A staple for many, fans can also grab a Quarter Pounder with Cheese from 11am for 1.49, saving 2.90 almost 70 per cent Whether it's for lunch or dinner, the 100 per cent beef quarter-pound patty is accompanied with two slices of cheese, onions, pickles, mustard and a dollop of tomato ketchup in a sesame seed bun. Customers will be able to earn points when they purchase one of these deals by opting into MyMcDonald's Rewards. The scheme means every penny spent equals one Rewards point, so this week's offers will get you 199 points when grabbing a Double McMuffin and 149 points when picking up a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. A TikTokker has revealed three reasons you shouldn't visit the pyramids in Egypt in a tongue-in-cheek video. Carmie Sellitto, from Hampshire, who is known as @touchdalight on the platform, shared a clip of himself and his friend Millie touring the country's famous landmarks. The TikTok creator, who is best known as a YouTuber, captioned the tongue-in-cheek clip 'you need to be seriously careful if you come here'. In the video, which has garnered almost half a million views, he shows images of the exterior and interior of the pyramids. Meanwhile, a voiceover plays, detailing his three reasons why you shouldn't visit the historical constructions. In his video (pictured) TikTokker and YouTuber Carmie Sellitto (known online as @touchdalight) shares clips from his trip to Egypt Speaking in the video, Carmie says: 'Three reasons why you should never visit the pyramids in Egypt, let's go. 'First reason is the fact that you have to climb on your knees for about 30-40 minutes and it gets tiring, let me tell you, it's like an obstacle course.' Over footage of his friend climbing up a narrow walkway, and gently hitting her head on the low ceiling, he says: 'It's is also quite dangerous. Look at my friend get hit.' Outlining his second reason, he jokes: 'The second reason is the fact there's no aircon inside. 'How are you going to actually build these pyramids, but not aircon living in 2023?' In case any viewers hadn't noticed that the video was ironic, Carmie's third reason makes it totally clear. Speaking in the video, he reveals that visiting the ancient landmarks is 'so epic, you wont experience anything like it again'. Not everyone appeared to realise the tongue-in-cheek nature of the video.Some took to the comments, leaving remarks that suggested they weren't quite in on the joke. The content creator (pictured) joked that the pyramids are too hot because there is no aircon - despite it being 2023 A number of commentators did not appear to have understood that the video was tongue-in-cheek, and that the creator's comments were jokey One commentator said: 'Well they built it as a grave so maybe thats why they didnt put air con in you know coz its meant to be for the dead.' Another added: 'You are a millenium - air con, being on your knees! I do wonder whats going to happen if we suffer from a war!' And another wrote: 'You thought there was gonna be aircon in a pyramid?' Meanwhile, a further TikTok user said: '4th reason tourists should stop complaining when visiting a different country. If you want AC Watch the Pyramids on YouTube #firstworldproblems.' Another appeared to share the sentiment, asking: 'No but genuine question, what did you expect? It was INITIALLY built like that for many purposes and not tourism.' After four siblings were rescued 40 days after they were involved in a plane crash in the Colombian jungle, many are in disbelief at how they managed to survive. However, they are not the only people to have made it through treacherous conditions after being presumed dead in a horror crash. On Christmas Eve in 1971, Juliane Koepcke, who was just 17 years old at the time, was the sole survivor of LANSA Flight 508, which was travelling from Lima, Peru's capital, to Panguana. After the plane was struck by lightning and disintegrated in the air, Juliane, still strapped into her seat, fell 3,000m into the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. An intensive search operation was carried out for 10 days before it was abandoned with no sign of the flight - but 11 days later, Juliane emerged as the sole survivor after surviving alone in the raindorest and being rescued by fishermen. Juliane Koepcke was just 17 years old when she was a passenger on LANSA flight 508 from Lima, Peru, to Panguana, following her high school graduation. The plane was struck by lightning as it flew through a thunderstorm on Christmas Eve in 1971 and crashed, killing 91 people including Juliane's mother. Pictured: Juliane returning to the site in 1998 The survivor, who now lives in Germany and is a mammalogist specialising in bats, remained silent in the media for several years following her rescue, but began opening up about her story 15 years later when filmmaker Werner Herzog took her back to the Amazon Rainforest to retrace her steps in documentary Wings of Hope in 1998. Juliane Koepcke (now known by her married name, Diller), is the daughter of zoologists Maria and Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke. At the time of the crash, she and her parents were living in the Panguana region of the Amazon Rainforest, where they had set up a research station. The night before the fateful flight, Juliane and her mother had attended the pupil's high school graduation in the capital of Peru, Lima. Keen to get home for Christmas, they booked a flight on 24 December with troubled airline LANSA. The airline's safety record was so poor that Hans-Wilhelm urged them to avoid the flight, but it was the only commercial plane with seats still available. As the mother and daughter waited to board on Christmas Eve, they were sat in a packed airport which had overcrowded because of several cancelled flights the day before. Juliane, pictured as a teenager, had just graduated from high school when she boarded the flight back to Panguana, where she lived with her parents Juliana, pictured with her mother Maria, was raised by her zoologist parents in Panguana in the rainforest, where she learnt about its ecosystem Writing about her memory of the flight in Reader's Digest in 2013, Juliane recalled a fairly smooth first 30 minutes of the flight, during which passengers were served snacks. However, following an uneventful beginning, passengers soon became frantic when the aircraft flew into a thunderstorm and could see lightning flashing all around them. She recalled people screaming and crying around her as the plane was thrown around in the turbulence, with sandwich trays flying across the cabin. Meanwhile her mother, who was a nervous flyer, tried to comfort her daughter, telling her: 'Hopefully this will be alright.' Describing the moment the plane is thought to have been struck by lightning, Juliane recalled the plane going into a 'nosedive' as it fell out of the sky, with her mother saying: 'Now its all over.' As she fell through the air and towards the Amazon Rainforest, Juliane recalled losing consciousness before waking up again, still falling from the sky and upside-down. She described the vast forest beneath her as looking 'like broccoli' as she hurtled towards it. On impact, she lost consciousness again before waking up the following day at 9am (her watch was still working). She had suffered deep cuts, a broken collarbone, an eye injury and a concussion. As she came around and realised what had happened, Juliane frantically searched for her mother, despite being incredibly weak from the fall. However, Maria had died in the crash and her body was nowhere near where Juliane had ended up. For the next 11 days, Juliane survived alone in the Amazon Rainforest while she hoped to be rescued. Luckily, she had spent enough time in the forest as a child to have developed a strong knowledge of her dangerous surroundings. Juliane now lives in Munich, Germany, with her husband Erich Diller, and works as a mammalogist specialising in bats As she searched for resources to keep her going while she tried to get to safety, she found a tiny spring which she drank from - however the water source also provided hope she could find her way out of the forest, and she continued to follow it for the next few days. During her journey, Juliane resorted to drastic measures to stay alive. In 2009 she told CNN the cut on her arm had become infested with maggots and she feared she would lose her arm. 'I still wonder how so many maggots could have fitted into that little hole, it was no bigger than a one euro coin,' she recalled. After stumbling across a tank of gasoline, she poured it onto the wound to disinfect it. As she continued walking, Juliane also found bodies of other plane crash victims, many of whom were still strapped to their seats. 'I was horrified -- I didn't want to touch them but I wanted to make sure that my mother wasn't one of them. So I took a stick and knocked a shoe off one of the bodies. The toe nails had nail polish on them and I knew it could not have been my mother because she never used nail polish,' she recalled. When the stream eventually opened out into a river, Juliane was hopeful once more, but wrote of her anger and despair when she realised there wasn't a single person in sight. Desperate to get to safety, she swam through the treacherous waters, filled with reptiles, piranhas and stingrays, to try and find civilisation. Her in-depth knowledge of the Amazon taught her that the predatory creatures were unlikely to be in the centre of the river, which is where she swam. However, under the beating sun, Juliane suffered intense second-degree burns which broke her skin. With every day that passed, having consumed little more than a packet of sweets since the crash, she became weaker and weaker. After 10 days of surviving alone, Juliane found a small boat which was docked by what looked like a human trail. She described using all her strength to climb to shore and follow the trail up an incline which took hours, to reach a small shack. Still there was no one in sight, so she spent the night there, hoping to be found by humans. The following day, January 3, 1972, Juliane was finally discovered by three fishermen who found her in the shack and helped her to safety. After her rescue, Juliane learnt that she was the sole remaining survivor of the LANSA crash. A total of 91 people had been killed, including her mother Maria. She went on to help rescue teams locate the wreckage of the plane and the bodies of the victims, before relocating to her parents' native country of Germany, where she made a full recovery. In the immediate years following the crash, Juliane did not speak to the media about her ordeal. However, in 1998 filmmaker Werner Herzog made a film about her experience - a process in which she was involved. Herzog had long been interested in Juliane's story because he too was supposed to be onboard LANSA flight 508, but did not board the flight due to a last-minute change of schedule. Wings of Hope, a documentary about Juliane's incredible survival story, saw the mammalogist travel back to the Amazon for the first time and revisit the crash site. As she flew with Herzog and her husband, Erich Diller, Juliane occupied the same seat on the flight, 19F, that she had sat in years before when LANSA flight 508 crashed. She told the filmmaker how she has lost trust in pilots since the terrifying incident and 'listen[s] out for every noise' on planes now. The owners of '4 Privet Drive' say people turn up everyday to take pictures The owners of the house that was used in the Harry Potter films have said they are sick of influencers and fans turning up on their doorstep for photos 'everyday' with some even climbing their fence and knocking on their door. The home, in Bracknell, Berkshire, was used as 4 Privet Drive in the noughties films, where Harry Potter lived under the stairs with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley. Many of the film series' most famous scenes take place at the home - which is in the fictional town of Little Whinging in Surrey - meaning fans flock to get a shot outside. The homeowner, who has wishes to remain anonymous, says they find it 'bizarre' that adults come 'dressed up to recreate scenes' at the home, sometimes in floods of tears. 'You open the curtains in the morning. You don't get used to it. It's really weird. The owners of the house that was used in the Harry Potter films have said they are sick of influencers and fans turning up on their doorstep for photos 'everyday' with some even climbing their fence and knocking on their door. Influencer and Harry Potter fan Victoria Maclean is seen outside the home in Bracknell The home, in Bracknell, Berkshire, was used as 4 Privet Drive in the noughties films, where Harry Potter lived under the stairs with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley. One fan is seen outside with his business card 'Ten is the maximum we've had but people come in groups. People come in cars and it's all day and sometimes at night. The school holidays are the worst,' the owner told the Sun. The owners have even faced people knocking on the door and climbing over the fence, but said they don't mind too much and have even moved their car for a fan to take a better photo. Despite appearing in all eight films, the home was actually only used in one movie, before being recreated on a set. Fans are able to visit the set, at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter, but many chose to see the real deal instead. The owner added that it's 'quite mad' to come home from work and have people all over their drive, but they 'don't mind' because 'Harry Potter is amazing'. In the books and films, Harry, who is orphaned as a baby, is forced to live under the stairs in the house of his dreadful uncle and aunt. Daniel Radcliffe is pictured as Harry under the stairs Many of the film series' most famous scenes take place at the home - which is in the fictional town of Little Whinging in Surrey - meaning fans flock to get a shot outside The three-bedroom suburban cul-de-sac house went on sale in 2018 but failed to reach its asking price of 439,950. The owner apparently 'didn't know' the kind of attention to expect when they brought it and said that people are there 'every day'. In the books and films, Harry, who is orphaned as a baby, is forced to live under the stairs in the house of his dreadful uncle and aunt. The owners now just use the cupboard to 'keep junk' like the 'ironing board, Hoover and coats'. Neighbour Asad Shahid, 32, added to the Sun that people stand on neighbour's drives to get a shot, with vans and minibuses sometimes pulling up. The homeowner, who has wishes to remain anonymous, says they find it 'bizarre' that adults come 'dressed up to recreate scenes' at the home, sometimes in floods of tears. One fan is seen outside the home The owners have even faced people knocking on the door and climbing over the fence, but said they don't mind too much and have even moved their car for a fan to take a better photo. Harry Potter fan Johnny is seen outside the home 'Lots of tourists from all over the world. I've met people that have come from America, Japan and Germany.' Once she even spotted a replica of the flying Ford Anglia from the second film - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 'It was parked up in front of the house with the owl in the back seat. Some massive fan had bought it for his little girl and was taking some photos for her.' The owner's complaints come after Notting Hill homeowners complained of nuisance influencers flooding streets to take pictures for Instagram. Every day Farmer Road in the exclusive west-London area, home to billionaires and celebrities, is awash with young vloggers, bloggers and influencers who even bring tents to dive into for a quick outfit change in the street. The popularity of posing outside the pastel coloured houses has rocketed over the last five years, as men and women vie for social media stardom. The owner added that it's 'quite mad' to come home from work and have people all over their drive, but they 'don't mind' because 'Harry Potter is amazing'. One fan, called Tram, said she travelled an hour to see the house In August, a grandfather said posers have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to his pastel pink London home as it has become a photoshoot hotspot. Ex-fashion designer Peter Lee, 77, has multiple groups of families, influencers, and ballerinas and more, taking photographs of themselves daily outside his house near Kensington Palace in west London. He's says its popularity is racking up hefty repair bills, including thousands of pounds to replace the now-cracked tiles decorating the steps to the 2million house, for the first time in the 44 years he's lived there. Mr Lee suspects the cracks are caused by visitors performing elaborate acrobatics to get the perfect shot, many of which have been caught on his doorbell camera. The owners now just use the cupboard to 'keep junk' like the 'ironing board, Hoover and coats'. The home is pictured Fans are able to visit the set, at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter, (pictured) but many chose to see the real deal instead One girl in a neon pink two-piece that matched the house held herself up on Mr Lee's railings and did the splits in the air for the camera, after flicking her hair back and forth in front of a group of friends in the same outfits. Some stay for hours. A nearby ballet school have become regulars, taking the children's end of year pictures in ballerina dresses in front of the house. He said: 'I don't know what they're doing, blogs on their websites? 'One girl was sat out there for half a day on her own. She put her phone in the middle of the street, took photos of herself against the house and then ran back to grab the phone when a car came. 'I normally just watch them on the screen, but I had to go down and say 'did you get what you wanted? You've been out there for half the day.' The British bike shop owner who gave Prince Archie a set of wheels for his fourth birthday has revealed she and her husband have been subject to online trolling after they posted a thank-you note from the Sussexes on Instagram - but insisted they have only ever wanted to support the couple. The eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who turned four on May 6, the same day as King Charles's Coronation, received the 240 ($300) Specialized bike in pink and turquoise from Martin and Jennifer Blevins. The couple, who run the Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Shop in Montecito, where the Sussexes live in their $14.7million home, posted a thank you note on their Instagram page, which they had received from the Duke and Duchess after the gift had been received. Archie's new wheels, made by exclusive company Specialized, which sells bikes costing up to 8,700 ($11,000), is pink and turquoise and has stabilisers attached, which can be removed. Now Jennifer has revealed she and her husband received harsh criticism online after sharing online that they had given Archie the birthday present. Prince Archie (pictured with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Princess Lilibet in 2021) was gifted a new set of wheels for his fourth birthday by Jennifer and Martin Blevins of the Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Shop in Montecito. Jennifer has revealed how she and her husband chose the gift Speaking to Hello!, she said that she and Martin chose the pink and turquoise model for its gender neutrality so that Lilibet could 'grow into it' in future. Jennifer revealed the couple had considered sending Lili her own bike when she was old enough to ride, but added they are 'frugal people' and thought it was best to gift the family one sustainable gift that they can reuse. After Jennifer posted the letter Harry and Meghan wrote to her to thank her for the gift, she claimed she has been the subject of online trolling, adding that she has some idea of how Meghan herself may have felt after also becoming the victim of trolls. The couple were criticised by some who believed the bike should have gone to a less privileged child. Sussex supporters were upset that they shared the thank you letter, on Sussex headed paper but not signed by the couple, on social media. One critic wrote sarcastically: 'Too important to write their own letters'. But one supporter said: 'If youre angry a company sent a bike to a little boy on his birthday as a sweet surprise, youre the one who has the problem'. Prince Archie was gifted the pink and turquoise Specialised bike, which Jennifer says she and Martin picked out because it was 'gender neutral' Reflecting on the backlash: 'Honestly I don't even know if Harry and Meghan would accept another gift. We'll wait and see, but they might be like, 'We're done with you guys'. That would make me sad but at the same time, I hope they would know that all we've ever done is try to be supporters and be positive.' Jennifer, who appears to share a dog with Martin who is called Meghan Markle, revealed how her husband delivered the birthday gift to the Sussexes' mansion. She explained he drove to the family home and arrived at the gate with the bike, where he encountered the couple's security team. After they conducted a background check, Martin was allowed to pass through the gates and drop off the gift, plus a bouquet of flowers. Martin Blevins (pictured riding his bike with his dog, called Meghan Markle, in the sidecar) drove to the Sussexes' Montecito mansion to drop off Archie's bike The bike shop owners received a letter of thanks from the Sussexes after they gave Archie the bicycle A month later the thank you letter arrived from the couple. Last week, Jennifer told PEOPLE: 'A courier came by our little shop on Coast Village Road and he dropped off that letter. 'I was making a joke, I said, "It better be a thank you letter" and it really was. I wasn't expecting that. I had no idea.' She added that, of all the gifts they had sent to celebrities over the years, no one had sent them a personalised thank you letter before. Jennifer revealed she and Martin are thrilled with the thank you letter from the Sussexes and plan to hang it on their wall. 'I'm going to make photocopies and put them in a frame in every store,' she said. Jennifer added that, despite a deepening rift between Prince Harry and other members of the royal family, she and Martin aren't taking sides and love all the UK royals. The successful candidate will get to taste-test 24 cheese samples and 12 pizzas Food lovers have been desperately scrabbling to land a role as a taste tester after the job advert went viral on social media. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is looking to hire an on-site dairy enthusiast who is willing to try out 24 cheese samples and 12 pizzas per week. The position will pay $15 an hour and participation will entail three-hour long sessions, three times a week. And this is how you can get involved. Food lovers have been desperately scrabbling to land a role as a taste tester after the job advert went viral on social media (stock image) The University of Wisconsin-Madison is looking to hire an on-site dairy enthusiast who is willing to try out 24 cheese samples and 12 pizzas per week (stock image) The University of Wisconsin-Madison said that it is currently searching for a 'descriptive sensory panelist' The University of Wisconsin-Madison is searching for a 'descriptive sensory panelist.' The chosen 'Professional Consultant' will be a cheese-lover that is 'capable of verbally describing their sensory experience on the basis of appearance, texture, taste, and aroma attributes, for research and product development purposes,' according to the job posting. If hired, the job will entail tasting 24 cheese samples and 12 pizzas per week. According to the posting, responsibilities include: 'Describing food products and evaluating them using scales, panel discussions, entering scoring data into electronic ballots, training discussions on products, and panelist performance monitoring studies.' The position will be based on-site at the campus in Madison, Wisconsin, for the department overseeing the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences/Dairy Research. The dairy-enthusiast will be paid $15 per hour, and will participate in three-hour long sessions, three times a week. The last day to apply is June 21 and, although the position is currently temporary, there is the 'possibility of extension.' And, as soon as the job was posted online, social media went into a frenzy over the 'dream job.' And, as soon as the job advert was posted online, social media went into a frenzy over the 'dream job' One wrote: 'Now I understand those 14-year-old Olympians who train their whole life for just one moment... just one job.' Another added: 'As a native cheese-head, I would consider moving back to Wisconsin for such a position.' Even a lactose-intolerant tweeter is willing: 'With lactase each day before my shift starts, because it's a dream job, and I'm not letting my bowels ruin it.' Another commentator joked: 'I've never wanted to go back to college until now. I would major in cheese and minor in pizza.' King Charles was left perplexed this afternoon as he struggled to place one of his own childhood photos during a walkabout in Yorkshire. The King, 74, chugged into Pickering after a trip through the countryside on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. After pulling into the market town, the monarch took the time to speak with royal fans who had lined the streets to greet him. Among the crowds was a man who held a framed black-and-white portrait of King Charles with his late mother and Princess Anne when he was child. The image was taken in September 1952 on one of the family's holidays to Balmoral in Scotland. The heartwarming image shows the Queen - who was 25 at the time - sitting in between her two eldest children on a bench on the sprawling estate. Holding her daughter close, the Queen is pictured extending her other arm behind three-year-old Charles - who stares directly at the camera. While the Queen looked smart in a pleated skirt and blazer, Charles and Anne appeared to be in matching knitted jumpers and black trousers. Meanwhile, one of the Queen's corgis was pictured standing happily behind the family on a rockery. As the royal fan held the framed portrait over the barrier, it immediately caught the King' attention. After spotting his late mother in the image, Charles exclaimed: 'Oh look!' But after studying it closer, he joked to the royal fan: 'I don't seem to remember that.' Luckily, the man was on hand to remind the monarch of where and when the image had been taken. The King, 74, was in Yorkshire today when a royal fan eagerly presented him with a framed picture of him in his younger days The man who showed Charles the picture stood in the front row in a chequered shirt, holding the large picture The late Queen - who was 25 at the time - beamed as she wrapped her hands around Princess Anne's leg, as Charles sat next to his mother and a Corgi The King happily worked his way through the centre of Pickering, as people waved flags, cheered and waited their turn to shake hands with the newly-crowned monarch. He looked relaxed as he chatted with many of the hundreds of people who had gathered on both sides of Pickering's sweltering Market Place. As he worked his way up the hill, he visited some of the local shops, including a family butchers, which sells produce from the Duchy of Lancaster. Inside Birdgate Chocolatiers, he asked for some Kendal Mint Cake, which he said he remembered from going on expeditions when he was young. The royal also took the opportunity to ask groups of schoolchildren whether they had enjoyed their half-term break, as the UK is facing scorching hot temperatures. The monarch spent around 20 minutes in the sunshine meeting school children and other royal fans After viewing the footplate of the Flying Scotsman, Charles met staff and volunteers who have helped the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Flying Scotsman reach its significant milestone Today, the King took the opportunity to climb on board the footplate of Flying Scotsman as the Royal Train was pulled into a station by the famous steam locomotive. Despite wearing a light-coloured suit, the royal visitor accepted an invitation from the crew, including driver Chris Cubitt, to step on to the footplate of the 100-year-old engine to see how Flying Scotsman works. Temperatures soared in the baking sunshine and one woman in the crowd appeared to faint just after Charles passed her, falling through the barrier just a couple of metres from where he was talking to the crowd. The King turned and looked concerned for a moment as one his protection officers and his equerry moved to help her before a number of North Yorkshire Police officers stepped in. Flying Scotsman's driver, Mr Cubitt, said of Charles: 'He said he enjoyed the trip. 'He's a regular because he has been here before when he opened the station in 2000. 'He's on his way to Scarborough now through my village. 'I invited him in for tea, but he said he couldn't come.' It comes as heartwarming photos of the late Queen cradling King Charles at his Buckingham Palace Christening went up for auction last week. On Sunday Queen Camilla hosted her inaugural Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace wearing her signature bright blue no surprise there but was it a maxi dress? Was it wide-leg trousers and a matching top? Or was it good heavens, it was a jumpsuit! The cobalt-blue jumpsuit by Anna Valentine has divided opinion for many reasons, starting with the main one, which is we're not 100 per cent confident that a jumpsuit a statement, ultra-wide leg, floaty wool crepe all-in-one is quite what we were expecting on the Queen at an official engagement. While we are pretty far down the road of jumpsuit appreciation, and fully expect Amanda Holden and Amal Clooney to wear them out and about, the Queen in a jumpsuit is still slightly incongruous. It's a bit like the Theresa May leather-trousers-on-a-prime-minister moment: there's nothing wrong with the idea in principle but, here and now, it doesn't quite work. You won't find a bigger jumpsuit fan than me but still I was taken aback when I saw the pictures. You can wear a jumpsuit anywhere these days but the question is, should you. On Sunday Queen Camilla hosted her inaugural Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace wearing her signature bright blue All white: Amal Clooney in Stella McCartney for her civil marriage ceremony in 2014 Spot on: Jodie Comer wearing a Valentino all-in-one in New York last month A step ahead: Amanda Holden in Me+Em earlier this month I'd rather have seen Camilla in another of those drawstring-waist dresses in that striking blue that she and Kate are so fond of, partly because an ankle-grazing, sporty dress might have suited the occasion better, but mainly because she would have looked more herself. Less swamped. It's not that I think 75-year-old Camilla's too old to wear a jumpsuit. That's not it. I can see her walking the dogs in a navy boiler suit and trainers. I can see her rustling up supper for her children on a Sunday night in the kitchen at Highgrove wearing a Marks & Spencer viscose khaki all-in-one with some comfy wedge flip-flops. But a dressy jumpsuit like the Anna Valentine one she was wearing is, on the scale of wearable jumpsuits, right up in the high-risk, red-lights-flashing, know- your-limits-and-check-with-a-very-good-friend zone. There are jumpsuits you pull on and go and jumpsuits intended for making entrances, and the Anna Valentine number is the latter and therefore to be approached with caution. We all know what Camilla was thinking. Why don't I wear something more relaxed, something less dressy than a dress? Wouldn't it put people at ease? Wouldn't I be more comfortable? Probably, she stood in front of a long mirror and decided: 'This looks like a long dress but less formal.' Daring: Camilla in Anna Valentine on Sunday, left, and, above, last year Plain: Charlene of Monaco in Terrence Bray last year Billowing: The Countess of Wessex wears Emilia Wickstead for Royal Ascot in 2019 Very likely, she thought 'I've scored a hit with this sort of thing before [more of which in a moment] so why not again?' But what she may not have bargained for and the part that only the most seasoned jumpsuit wearer is hyper-sensitive to is the stepping out effect. With trousers, you spin around and check does my bum look big in this. With jumpsuits like this one you must also check the striding forwards look what happens when you step out, put one foot in front of the other, and what was previously a simple column becomes an all in one with swishing, swaying, voluminous legs. You can look swamped in a jumpsuit, not to put too fine a point on it, and sometimes it's less about the cut than the colour. Camilla has form when it comes to wearing smart jumpsuits. Back in 2019 she wore a navy blue one with white piped sleeves, also by Anna Valentine, on a royal tour of New Zealand. She wore it again in the summer of last year for the opening of the Commonwealth Games. On both occasions she looked as good as she has ever looked which is very good and you can see why she was tempted to try out the style again. But all-in-one fans take note in dark navy this tailored jumpsuit, with its deep vent in front, looks like a narrow kaftan-style dress worn open over an underskirt. You're not aware of the swaggery legs beneath it all blends into one elegant, slimline look. In the bright blue, however, there's no hiding place, and a dress-cum-jumpsuit becomes instantly less flattering and silhouette-narrowing as Princess Charlene at last year's Monaco grand prix and the Countess of Wessex at Ascot in 2019 found to their cost. It's one of the reasons why the midlife woman's best friend especially when it comes to trying something a bit different, or bold, or revealing is navy. Can't wait to see Camilla back in the navy one now. Ignore the doubters, she looks terrific! By Dinah van Tulleken, Daily Mail Fashion Editor A flared-leg, tailored jumpsuit in vivid cobalt blue would be a bold choice for an 'influencer' in her 20s so it's not surprising there was a sharp intake of breath when Camilla strode forth in her show-stopping outfit. I might be an outlier here, but I thought she looked terrific. Fashion often gives the impression that trends are for the young and that there are styles that women 'over a certain age' shouldn't go near. For me, Camilla at 75 proves you can wear whatever you want, whenever you want. Regal: Princess Victoria of Sweden Elegant: Queen Mathilde of Belgium That bright blue all-in-one was a refreshing choice, considerably more exciting than a predictable summer midi, especially on a woman who isn't usually thought of as someone who we look to for style inspiration. Camilla doesn't often make a grab for the limelight, but this time she definitely wanted to draw attention to herself. Perhaps this was because the creation of The Queen's Reading Room a charity set up to promote literacy in children and adults is her first major, solo achievement as Queen. That bright blue all-in-one was a refreshing choice, considerably more exciting than a predictable summer midi She went for practical, but it's also enjoyable and frivolous which is exactly what fashion should be. And it was sensible to avoid anything clingy. No danger of confusing this elegant crepe design with a catsuit: when it comes to all-in-ones, it's essential to steer clear of anything you may have worn in the 1980s. The fabulous, exaggerated flared leg elevates the look, while also being flattering. The cleverly placed darts accentuate her waist. The sleeve length is perfect (not always easy with an all-in-one). Notice the satin trim cuffs, a gloriously understated flourish. The zip collar is a fun, youthful touch. A jumpsuit bridges the gap between dressy and casual but this one is also, very definitely, a statement look. It's one the European royals have long championed from Queen Maxima of the Netherlands to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. And, if I'm honest, Camilla was probably the last of the royals I expected to look to for fashion inspiration, but I'll be keeping an eye on her from now on. Emma Weymouth turned heads this evening in a stunning 3,000 gown by Dolce & Gabbana. The Marchioness of Bath, 37, attended the exclusive cocktail party in London thrown by the Italian fashion house to celebrate the launch of their new DG Logo Bag. For the star-studded event, the mother-of-two opted for a show-stopping strapless dress by the designer. The floral frock - which had a daring thigh-high split - featured pink and white peonies on a light blue background. The designer dress is 100 per cent silk and currently retails for a cool 3,705. The Marchioness of Bath, 37, looked elegant in the strapless 3,000 Dolce & Gabbana maxi dress, which showed off her slender figure Allowing her statement dress to take centre stage on the red carpet, Emma opted for some sparkly silver stilettos. She was also pictured holding a structured mini black handbag with gold metal detailing and pink rose printed on the outside. Styling her hair straight, Emma opted for glamorous makeup - pairing her outfit with red lipstick and heavy eyeliner, reminiscent of old Hollywood. Emma smiled as she posed for photos with her friends - including celebrity stylist, Mason Smillie. Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian, 21, also attended the event with his Miles Hurley, 26, and photographer Abdel R. Abdulai. While Damian wore a slogan sweatshirt and ripped jeans, his cousin looked cool and casual in a black sleeveless hoodie. Last week, the Marchioness attended the the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Preview Party with her husband, Ceawlin Thynn, Marquess of Bath, in London. For the occasion, she donned a stunning form-hugging skirt with a 3,178 matching cropped jacket from Miu Miu that featured a plunging neckline. She smiled for the cameras alongside her friend and celebrity stylist, Mason Smillie, who donned leather trousers She opted for glamorous makeup - pairing her outfit with red lipstick and heavy eyeliner - reminiscent of old Hollywood Emma was pictured smiling at the event alongside her pals. Pictured from left to right: Damian Hurley, Mason Smillie, Miles Hurley and Abdel R. Abdulai Emma Weymouth, 37, put on a show-stopping display as her and her husband Ceawlin Thynn, Marquess of Bath, attended the artsy show in London last week The glamorous socialite rocked the all-black look with slicked back hair and a dazzling pair of earrings. Emma donned the show-stopping look with her usual confidence as she strutted her stuff in front of the Academy. Her flattering floor-length skirt included a daring slit which, paired with her plunging neckline, made for a very eye-catching get up. Her choice of accessories also matched the garment, with a black leather handbag and black Louboutin stilettos. Emma sported little jewellery, but made sure the pieces she wore popped, including a pair of diamond stud earrings. The mother-of-two added some edge to the outfit by going for a wet hair style, her black locks slicked back. The founder of Nicole Kidman's favourite hair wellness brand has spilled the secrets on how to reverse common hair problems. Dan Hodgdon, from Los Angeles, launched Vegamour at the end of 2016 and in the first year alone the business turned over US$3million (AU$4.47m). The software engineer turned beauty expert claims thousands 'take their hair for granted' and often don't start making a change until a problem is noticed. 'Most people prioritise their skin, face and body but completely forget about their scalp - though healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp,' Mr Hodgdon, 57, told FEMAIL. 'If you're not using clean products that are free from harmful ingredients, such as silicone, your scalp isn't healthy.' Today one bottle of Vegamour's best selling hair serum sells every 15 seconds and more than 3.5million bottles of that product alone have sold globally to date. Dan Hodgdon, from Los Angeles, (left) launched Vegamour at the end of 2016 and in the first year alone the business turned over $3million dollars USD / $4.47million AUD Mr Hodgdon shared a helpful list with FEMAIL of what you could be doing wrong when it comes to taking care of your locks Biggest hair mistakes people are making: Using 'toxic, dirty hair products' containing harmful ingredients, such as silicone Not using any natural products Completely neglecting the scalp by not exfoliating or conditioning Brushing your hair when it's wet Being rough when towel drying the hair Brushing hair starting from the top - always start from the ends Showering with water that's too hot Not being gentle when washing your hair and using fingernails to scratch scalp Advertisement Two of the biggest problems women face is hair loss and hair thinning, which can occur from a number of reasons including stress, pregnancy and haircare. Mr Hodgdon shared his helpful list of what you could be doing wrong when it comes to taking care of your locks. 'The best time to start taking care of your hair is before you start seeing an issue. For instance, by the time you've noticed hair shedding, you've might've lost 30 per cent of your hair,' he warned. 'What people don't realise is your hair is an extension of your scalp, which is an extension of your skin. 'Your scalp ages six times faster than the rest of your skin and it's four times more absorbent.' He continued by saying people don't think about their scalp because they don't see it and only focus on their 'money maker' - their face. 'Your genetics only make up 30 per cent of your hair health - the other 70 per cent is environmental, sunlight, stress levels, nutrition, habits, and how much sleep you get.' Vegamour prides itself in being sustainable and 100 per cent vegan, and Mr Hodgdon himself is passionate about organics Hundreds of happy customers have shared before and after photos showing how the products have helped their hair Mr Hodgdon said the number one thing that needs to change is neglecting the scalp, and encouraged customers to both exfoliate and condition their head. Using 'dirty' products containing harmful ingredients is also a surefire way to develop a 'crusty' scalp over time. And when asked how to know if your scalp if healthy or not, he said: 'If you're not using a cleanser or exfoliant, your scalp is unhealthy.' Brushing your hair incorrectly is also a huge issue and you should always start from the ends rather than the top of the head. 'Another problematic thing people do is they pull their hair back too tightly and use damaging hair ties. This can cause traction alopecia and cause a receding hairline,' he said. 'Showering with water thats too hot for too long can be harmful as it opens up the pores of your hair and can also cause your scalp to overproduce oils as well.' This financial year the brand is expected to turn over a staggering $200million dollars USD / $298million AUD At the start of June the best selling products launched into the Australian market in Sephora What's Nicole Kidman's Vegamour hair routine? 1. Scalp detox 2. Shampoo and conditioner 3. Growth scalp serum 4. Use dry shampoo during the week as needed Advertisement Before starting a business, Mr Hodgdon worked as a software engineer. For a portion of his childhood he lived in the UK with his family and assisted his dad with farm work, which taught him all about how things grow from seed to sprout. xx Flash forward, this financial year the brand is expected to turn over a staggering $200million USD dollars ($298million AUD). Mr Hodgdon says it was a massive 'pinch me' moment when the Hollywood actress reached out seeking clean hair products to use herself. 'I didn't believe it at first - I thought there's no way, it has to be a prank,' he said. She's now a brand ambassador and investor because their 'visions align'. Vegamour prides itself in being sustainable and 100 per cent vegan, and Mr Hodgdon himself is passionate about organics. At the start of June the best selling products launched into the Australian market in Sephora stores. 'I feel Forest Gump - my whole life has been this series of accidents that led me to this. It was never my plan, it kind of just happened and is something that makes me really happy,' he said. 'Customers can use our products with confidence knowing it's not causing any harm.' A doctor has revealed exactly why you should never eat in bed, grossing out thousands of his followers. Dr Sam, from Singapore, loves gross medical stories and explained eating in the bedroom makes you the perfect candidate for a German cockroach infestation. And he doesn't mean 'your house'. The TikTok famous doc explained the little roaches are attracted to the smell of earwax, and love nothing more than to live in a warm, moist environment - like the ear canal. The only other thing they need is food. And if you eat in bed then the scraps are enough. Dr Sam has revealed why he doesn't eat in bed 'The cockroaches use it as a base to do midnight runs for food,' the doctor explained. Poll Do you eat in your bed? Yes No Not after seeing this Do you eat in your bed? Yes 512 votes No 802 votes Not after seeing this 105 votes Now share your opinion He told the story of a 24-year-old man from China who had a family of ten roaches living in his ear. The young man 'had a habit of leaving unfinished food packets by his bed' the doctor explained. One night he woke up with a sharp pain in his ear. When his family took a look they were horrified to find a cockroach peeking out at them. 'It was causing a lot of discomfort because it was crawling and scratching inside,' he said. He explained the ear canal is the perfect home for bugs - especially cockroaches The doctor said it is important to never try to remove the cockroach yourself - because you could do more harm than the insect. Instead you should always have the bug or family of bugs removed by a doctor. Dr Sam added that other bugs can also make a home in your ear and that there are similar medical stories from many different countries. His post left his fans disturbed and definitely with a 'new fear unlocked'. 'I will be sleeping with earplugs from now on,' said one horrified woman. 'This inspired my fear of sleeping without a blanket over my head,' one person added. Other people said they have had bugs in their ears. 'I had a fly in my ear when I was six, it caused a lot of pain,' one woman said. Dr Sam is a GP specialising in skin care and family health. But his TikTok feed is focused on disgusting medical mysteries and 'unlocking fears'. He had to rely on a charity to get access to his vital chemotherapy medication A father-of-two in Iowa fighting one of the world's deadliest cancers was nearly left without his life-saving chemotherapy because of the national drug shortage. Ryan Dwars, 39, a special education teacher in the state's capital, had been receiving chemotherapy for his stage four pancreatic cancer since December last year. But just two days before his final four rounds of treatment and as the light at the end of the tunnel began to beckon doctors called to say they did not have enough of the chemotherapy drug left for him. Mr Dwars was using cisplatin considered the 'backbone' of chemotherapy which has been in shortage in the US since February. More than 90 percent of hospitals now have the drug in short supply and are opting for alternatives with the US having to call on China for aid. During his stage four pancreatic cancer treatment, Ryan Dwars was informed that his hospital didn't have enough of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin for him. Mr Dwars was able to get access to the medication through the charity Angels for Change but is worried he won't be able to get the drug if he needs more chemo in the future Mr Dwars has had several rounds of chemotherapy using the drugs cisplatin and gemcitabine. The drugs have eliminated one of the two tumors on his liver. He plans to start radiation therapy next week and have surgery within a year Mr Dwars, speaking to DailyMail.com alongside his wife Brooke, said: 'It is just not something that anybody should have to deal with, but especially people that are in a life or death situation.' Mrs Dwars added: 'I think it's ridiculous that we live in what everyone says is the greatest country in the world and you're being told that the treatment you're supposed to have isn't available.' The father-of-two was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021 after he began to suffer pain down his left side that radiated to his chest. After surgery to remove a tumor on his pancreas and nine rounds of chemotherapy, he went into remission in September of that year. But after going for check-ups every few months, doctors delivered the news in November last year that the cancer had returned after scans revealed two masses in his liver. He was prescribed up to 12 cycles of chemotherapy with the drug cisplatin each cycle lasting one to three weeks to treat the cancer. Early results showed the treatment was going well and the tumors were shrinking, but then in April just 48 hours before his next cycle the hospital called and said they had so little cisplatin that they were now having to ration it and his treatment was being cut. Mr Dwars said, describing the moment the treatment was cut: 'The cisplatin was working. It seemed to have fully knocked out one of my tumors. 'That was why it was so difficult to [see it cut]. Maybe I wouldn't have had strong feelings about it [if it wasn't working].' 'But the fact that it was successful, or seems to be successful, is what makes it more difficult to take.' When he was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Mr Dwars was just 36 years old. His uncle was battling the disease simultaneously, and after genetic testing. The cancer returned in November last year when he was 39 years old 'It's hard to not think of it as a death sentence,' Brooke Dwars, wife of Ryan Dwars, told DailyMail.com about her husband's cancer reaching stage IV Mr Dwars was offered replacement chemotherapy drugs, but he feared they would be much less effective against his tumors. Then, his aunt connected him to the charity Angels for Change, which is dedicated to getting medications in shortage to patients. They ensured that he could still get the drug on time and did not miss a single round of chemotherapy. From next week, Mr Dwars will now start a round of radiation and then have surgery within a year to remove the now one remaining tumor in his liver. If doctors decide he needs chemotherapy again, however, he fears he will struggle to access the drug. 'Everything is up in the air right now,' Mrs Dwars said. 'If he does the radiation, and then it seems that chemotherapy is the best option moving forward after radiation, I think we will be very leery and extremely cautious about whether there will be cisplatin to be able to give him.' While the Dwars are thankful to have access to cisplatin, they believe they should not have relied on a charity to get the medication. 'If there's a drug, whether it's a chemo drug, or Adderall, or Tylenol, if it works, people should be able to get it,' Mrs Dwars said. Mr Dwars is at higher risk of cancer because he has a mutation on his BRCA2 gene. This gene normally works to repair damaged DNA. However, mutating can increase the risk of certain cancers, such as breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. BRCA2 mutations respond to some medications better than others, and Mr Dwars' doctors believed his tumor would respond best to a combination of cisplatin and the drug gemcitabine. The National Cancer Institute estimates that just over 44 percent of pancreatic cancer patients survive more than five years if the condition is still localized to its original area. It has an average survival rate of 12 percent This shows the number of drugs in shortage by year since January 2001. There have been 47 reports so far in 2023, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists said The above graph shows the number of drugs currently in shortage according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 'The cisplatin was working. It seems to have fully knocked out one of my tumors. that's what's difficult too is to know that maybe if it wasn't making as much of an effect on and that was the drug there was a shortage of, maybe I wouldn't have as strong of feelings about it,' Mr Dwars said. 'But the fact that it was or seems to be successful makes it more difficult to take.' Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest form of the disease in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. On average, just 12.5 percent survive after five years. Stage IV is considered the 'distant' stage, meaning that is has spread to other organs in the body. Just three percent of pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed with this stage live beyond five years. NCI estimates there will be about 64,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed this year, along with more than 50,000 deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than two-thirds of pancreatic cancer patients are over the age of 65, and the average age of diagnosis is 70. Cases are on the rise as well. In the US, the disease incidence has increased by one percent every year since 2000, according to the ACS. Globally, cases have doubled since 1990, a 2019 study in The Lancet estimated. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug used by one in five cancer patients. It works by interfering with the DNA of cancer cells to trigger their death, helping to eliminate the disease from the body. It is typically administered intravenously by healthcare providers and patients can be on the treatment for weeks at a time. It treats many forms of the disease, including bladder, cervical, ovarian, lung, and breast cancers. In testicular cancer, it has a 90 percent cure rate. Including cisplatin, two dozen chemotherapy drugs are in short supply nationwide amid a national shortage of medications, forcing many doctors to opt for alternatives that may be less effective. Shortages of cisplatin in the US were sparked when India-based supplier Intas Pharmaceuticals, one of the biggest manufacturers, was shut down after failing an inspection. The inspection was named as a 'textbook example of what not to do when investigators come knocking', after the FDA shut down the plant saying it had found shredded documents and trashcans dowsed in acid at the facility. This quickly sparked a shortage, with most drug manufacturers already running near capacity being unable to take the shortfall. In an effort to combat the shortage, the FDA revealed last week that it had approved the Chinese company Qilu Pharmaceuticals to begin supplying cisplatin to the US. But for millions of Americans, help isn't on the way fast enough. 'The cisplatin was working. It seems to have fully knocked out one of my tumors,' Mr Dwars said. 'That's what's difficult too is to know that maybe if it wasn't making as much of an effect on and that was the drug there was a shortage of, maybe I wouldn't have as strong of feelings about it. 'But the fact that it was successful, or seems to be successful, is what makes it more difficult to take.' With the help of the charity Angels for Change, a volunteer organization that works to end drug shortages, Mr Dwars was able to get access to his medication. Health union will need tore-ballot its members to keep its strike action going Devastating strikes by junior doctors could last until March 2024 or beyond, a union leader has said. Dr Rob Laurenson, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee, said it will be re-balloting between June 19 and August 31 for an extended six months' mandate. If approved, that would give the union legal rights to plot NHS walk-outs until spring next year. Dr Laurenson also warned the BMA, described as militant by critics, could choose to re-ballot again during that period 'to extend our mandate further'. Asked if he is in this for the long haul, Dr Laurenson replied: 'Our members have given us a clear instruction; they would like us to pursue full pay restoration back to 2008 and thats what we intend to do in our representation of our doctors and our healthcare system.' It comes after Dr Laurenson acknowledged there will be huge disruption for patients during this weeks strike but would not apologise. More than half a million NHS appointments in England have been cancelled due to health service strikes since December, official figures show Dr Rob Laurenson, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee has said medics could continue to strike until March next year He said it is 'a real shame' junior doctors in England have to stage a 72-hour walkout from 7am on Wednesday. The committee has called for a 35 per cent hike in wages, a demand branded 'unreasonable' by Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who said there must be 'movement on both sides' of the dispute. Dr Laurenson said accepting the Governments offer would have meant 'another real-terms pay cut'. Appearing on Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, he said: 'Its a real shame that were having to call strike action again because the Governments offer, which was 5 per cent and 1,500, was nothing that began to even restore the pay erosion and in fact would have led to another real-terms pay cut. 'So unfortunately weve had to call for another three days of strike action and Im afraid that there will be some disruption in elective and outpatient care for patients, which I dont think anyone in this country can afford. 'So I dont understand why the Government wont come back to the table and wont put a credible offer to the table.' Read more: Cost of NHS strikes laid bare: Waiting list for routine ops soars to another record high - with 7.42million patients now stuck in limbo The number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment in England soared to a record 7.42million (red line) in April, figures show. More than 370,000 people in the queue for routine ops, such as hip replacements, were waiting for more than a year (yellow bars) Advertisement When asked if he wanted to do so, Dr Laurenson would not apologise to those patients who have been waiting for non-urgent appointments and procedures. He said: 'When hospital leaders say non-urgent, non-urgent might be something like non-cancer, but its still really important to each individual patient who has been waiting and often waiting for a really long time. 'I think whats really important is that the Government has failed for over a decade now to produce a credible workforce plan thats going to be able to address outpatient waiting times and weve seen over the last 10 years waiting times for appointments go up and up and up. 'Its the Governments responsibility to fund and resource a healthcare system that works for everyone in this country.' Again asked if he would apologise, he said: 'The strikes dont have to go ahead though. The Government can come to the table and the Government can give us a credible offer. 'I can understand that theres going to be an immense amount of frustration from patients and from our other colleagues when our doctors go on strike this weekend, and its going to cause an immense source of frustration for everyone. 'Myself, my family, we all rely on the NHS as well and the disruption caused is not pleasant for anyone involved. Its a disaster and its a disaster that falls primarily at the feet of Government.' The Government has been locked in a series of disputes with unions over pay and working conditions in the NHS since last year, resulting in a wave of strike action across the health service. Thousands of operations and appointments have been cancelled as a result, sending the waiting list to a record high. Royal College of GPs president said infertility was being ignored in comparison One of Britain's top GPs has criticised the public focus on menopause, saying the life stage is 'not an illness'. Professor Dame Clare Gerada suggested there was too much effort being put into 'destigmatising' the menopause, asking why there is not more attention instead on improving access to fertility treatments. She said: 'On the whole [it] is not an illness, it's just a process you go through.' She added that she had 'never considered [the menopause] to be a stigmatising process'. Perception of the menopause has undergone a radical shift in recent years, thanks in part to a Davina McCall-inspired revolution, which shifted it from an inevitability to something that could be treated. Nearly 2million women in England struggling with hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings were prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the year to March 2022. The figure is up by nearly a third on one year earlier, when 1.5million women were prescribed tablets, skin patches and gels to manage menopause symptoms. Meanwhile, nearly 8million items of HRT were dished out (blue line), up 35 per cent year-on-year. The nation was struck by a HRT shortage in 2022 A surge in interest in HRT came came after a menopause documentary by Davina McCall, 54, was broadcast in May 2021. She spoke of struggling with hot flushes from the age of 44. Pharmaceutical companies reported a spike in demand for HRT products following the release Professor Dame Clare Gerada suggested there was too much effort being put into 'destigmatising' the menopause A 2021 documentary by the television presenter about the change led to a surge of women wanting to take hormones-replacement-therapy drugs. Dame Gerada is president of the Royal College of GPs, who has worked in the same London-based NHS practice for 34 years, also admitted she regularly told her patients who were experiencing infertility to seek private help because health service waiting lists were so long. 'We are in terrible state around fertility treatment for men and women in this country,' she told an event hosted by infertility charity the Progress Educational Trust (PET) earlier this week. She added: 'Sadly, with most of my patients, I have to advise them to go privately because of waiting times on the NHS.' Infertility affects one in six couples trying to conceive and research shows it affects both men and women equally. Official NHS guidelines state women aged under 40 with infertility should be offered three cycles of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment. But a postcode lottery means just 13 per cent of areas offer this. Restrictions in different areas mean patients who are obese, smokers or whose partners have previously had children may not be eligible for treatment, depending on where they live. Recent research by PET found only half of GPs knew what treatments were officially recommended - and male GPs were less likely to refer infertile patients for IVF than female doctors. WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE? Menopause is when a woman stops having periods naturally and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. It is a normal part of ageing and usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 when a woman's levels of the sex hormone oestrogen drop. Eight in ten women will experience menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, low mood or anxiety and problems with memory. Women are advised to see their GP if their symptoms are difficult to manage. Treatments doctors can provide include hormone replacement therapy, such as tablets, skin patches and gels that replace oestrogen. Source: NHS Advertisement Dame Clare said that, in her experience, 'nobody gets three cycles'. 'It's fairly lucky if you get one cycle,' she said. 'And over the years that I've been a GP, the rules have changed so much that even I'm confused.' She claimed GPs' lack of knowledge about recommended fertility treatments was not because they were not 'sympathetic'. 'It's because society is not sympathetic, and we bring up the prevailing mood of society,' she added. 'If no one talks about it, if no one is lobbying on behalf of couples or women who are trying to have a child it gets put into the margins.' She said infertility was 'never' mentioned in meetings of NHS officials, whereas the menopause was regularly discussed. 'Why is it that we don't care about infertility enough, that we don't even talk about it?' she added. Labour MP Steve McCabe, who also spoke at the online event, said people experiencing infertility were subject to rules and decision-making which would be 'intolerable' for any other medical condition. He added: 'I would say we should see this as a significant and serious health condition and we should make sure you get the same access to treatment as you would if you had a heart condition or cancer.' Sarah Norcross, director of PET, said: 'Patients have been struggling to access NHS-funded fertility treatment for more than 20 years. Even those patients who do eventually receive treatment have their chances of IVF success jeopardised, either because of delayed NHS investigations or because they are having to save up and go private.' The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing its guidelines on fertility treatment, which were published in 2013. A revised guideline is expected in 2024. The pill reduced the positive effects of cannabis by up to 38 percent Study participants took the pill in the morning and smoked weed 3.5 hours later An experimental pill to treat cannabis use disorder has shown 'very encouraging' results in initial trials. The drug, known as AEF0117, was found to reduce marijuana's perceived positive effects, including the feeling of being 'high', by up to 38 percent by researchers at Columbia University. Marijuana use has reached record highs in young adults. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one in three high schoolers are drug users, with one in six regularly using marijuana. And 35 million Americans reported taking the drug in some form last year. Doctors have reported rising cases of a rare but fatal condition linked to significant marijuana use, which causes intense vomiting, dehydration and abdominal pain. One study estimated that people who use cannabis have a 10 percent chance of becoming addicted Marijuana can be used recreationally in 22 US states Meg Haney, the lead author of the study and director of the cannabis research laboratory at Columbia University, said the preliminary findings on the treatment were 'very encouraging'. Currently, there are no drugs to treat cannabis use disorder, which the CDC said affects up to 30 percent of weed users. Cannabis use disorder is defined as people who cannot stop using marijuana even though it is causing health and social issues such as affecting their work and relationships. One study estimated that people who use cannabis have a 10 percent chance of becoming addicted. Plus, the likelihood of developing cannabis use disorder is higher in people who started using it in adolescence. The drug was given to 29 adult men and women with cannabis use disorder, who were smoking, on average, around three grams of marijuana per day, six days a week. Participants were either given a low dose of AEF0117 of 0.06 milligrams or a higher dose of one milligram. They received either the drug or a placebo for five days. Participants took the pill at 9am each morning and smoked cannabis 3.5 hours later. They were asked questions to determine if they felt high and if they felt a good effect five times, starting 20 minutes after smoking to two hours later. Researchers found that the lower dose lowered the subjective good effects of cannabis by 19 percent. The higher amount 'significantly' reduced cannabis's positive impact by 38 percent compared to the placebo, the study paper said. It concluded: 'These data suggest that AEF0117 is a safe and potentially efficacious treatment for CUD.' Only the higher dose noticeably decreased the amount of cannabis the participants used later in the day. The drug caused no severe side effects and it did not cause withdrawal from cannabis. The pill is a compound derived from pregnenolone a hormone naturally produced in the body by the adrenal gland on top of the kidneys. AEF0117 acts in the same parts of the brain as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in cannabis, and appears to counteract the 'high'. It inhibits the CB1 receptors responsible for the addictive effects of cannabis. Ms Haney said the findings would need to be replicated in larger trials, such as a phase 2b trial that enrolls 300 participants around the US, with results due as soon as next year. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine. Several studies have also found links between cannabis and mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia in the past, though the exact cause is not clear. Marijuana can cause psychosis, impairing the way you think, make decisions, handle emotions, and interact with reality. It can also interfere with brain development in young people. But it may be that people who are schizophrenic simply use cannabis to ease their symptoms. Doctors raced to remove a foot-long stick from a man's esophagus after he was told to swallow it by 'voices in his head'. The man, 52, who was not named, came to a hospital in Guatemala about a day after ingesting the stick, complaining of intense stomach pain. A case report states that the man was diagnosed with schizophrenia which can cause hallucinations and behavior problems following the incident. Doctors found the top of the stick poking out of his esophagus or gullet with splinters digging into the tube's sides. The end of the stick was also making indentations in his lower abdomen. After an attempt to pull the stick back up through his throat failed, they removed it surgically via a hole cut in the patient's stomach. A 52-year-old man in Guatemala came to the hospital after getting a foot-long stick lodged in his gullet, or esophagus (Pictured: Scans showing the stick Doctors eventually removed the stick (left) via surgery. They said it had also left splinters in his windpipe. The stick was palpable from outside the patient (right, end of stick shown poking into patient's side) In the case report revealing the incident, the man said he had swallowed the stick after voices in his head told him to do so. He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, a mental disorder that can lead to mood, behavior and hallucinations disturbances. It was not clear where the man had found the stick or what it may have previously been used for. Doctors at Hospital Roosevelt in Guatemala City, the nation's capital, initially carried out scans to estimate the size of the stick finding that it was a foot long and about 0.8 inches wide. They also checked for damage to other organs but did not detect any to the windpipe or piercing of other organs like the liver. He was still able to breathe because the stick had descended below the opening in the esophagus that connects to the windpipe and lungs. Doctors initially attempted to remove the stick with a loop clamp. This device consists of a long, slender shaft with a wire loop at the end used to clasp onto items before pulling them out. In this patient's case, however, the strategy failed prompting them to instead opt for surgery. After sedating the patient, they made a small incision in his stomach in a procedure medically termed a gastrotomy. The stick was then slowly pulled out of his throat through his stomach. The patient suffered no long-term damage from the incident but was sent for a mental health evaluation. Writing in the case report from December, they said: 'The esophageal foreign body in the present case is the largest currently reported.' Previous incidents have included people swallowing everything from plastic bottles to spanners. The Guinness World Record for the longest object swallowed is held by American Natasha Veruschka, who swallowed a nearly two-foot sword in 2009. Doctors said this may be one of a patient's largest sticks ever swallowed. The individual was later diagnosed with schizophrenia It comes after a man in India needed to undergo lifesaving surgery after swallowing a plastic bottle. The 55-year-old from Madhya Pradesh, in the center of the country, came to the hospital complaining of severe stomach pain. After doctors spotted the bottle, they quickly performed surgery to remove it from his body. It was unclear why the individual had swallowed the bottle, but this has been linked to mental health disorders in several cases. It's news most of us will want to raise a glass to. Having the occasional drink lowers stress, which is linked to heart attack and stroke, research suggests. Women who drink up to one alcoholic beverage a day and men who consume a maximum of two, had a lower risk of cardiovascular problems than those who drank more or were teetotal. While previous research has hinted it may have a protective effect, this is the first time scientists think they have cracked the physiological cause. They found regular low amounts of alcohol leads to long-term reductions in stress signalling in the brain, which are associated with heart attack and stroke. Scientists found women who drink up to one alcoholic beverage a day and men who consume a maximum of two, had a lower risk of cardiovascular problems than those who drank more or were teetotal Experts hope it means they will be able to develop treatments to replicate alcohols protective cardiac effects without its adverse impacts, such as cancer, diabetes and obesity. Researchers studied data involving more than 50,000 Americans, before studying brain scans of 754 people, which were primarily taken for cancer surveillance. The brain imaging showed those who drink moderately had reduced stress signalling in the amygdala, the brain region associated with stress responses. When the investigators looked at these individuals history of cardiovascular events, they found fewer heart attacks and strokes in light to moderate drinkers. While its long been known that alcohol reduces the amygdalas reactivity to threatening stimuli when drinking, this is the first to indicate its longer-term neurobiological effects. Dr Ahmed Tawakol, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and senior author, said: We found that the brain changes in light to moderate drinkers explained a significant portion of the protective cardiac effects. When the amygdala is too alert and vigilant, the sympathetic nervous system is heightened, which drives up blood pressure and increases heart rate, and triggers the release of inflammatory cells. If the stress is chronic, the result is hypertension, increased inflammation, and a substantial risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The effect was particularly pronounced in people who are prone to a chronically higher stress response, with moderate drinking associated with nearly double the cardiac-protective effect in individuals with a history of anxiety compared with others. However, this effect was undone when people drank more with those who consume above the 14 recommended units a week having a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease while overall brain activity started to decrease. Writing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the authors conclude that research should focus on finding new interventions that reduce the brains stress activity. Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, at the University of Glasgow, said the findings should not be viewed as giving the green light to alcohol. He said: The issue is we know any amount of alcohol is associated with more strokes and heart failure, and with increases in cancer and deaths from cardiovascular causes. So to concentrate only on one small aspect, even if true, gives the wrong impression and the title of better heart health with light to moderate alcohol is misleading and perpetuates old myths we really need to move on from. A new test is twice as effective at detecting prostate cancer as the existing blood test that checks for the disease, according to a new study. Called Stockholm3, it involves a single blood test that looks for five proteins released from the prostate if there is cancer, including kallikrein 2, and two different measures of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The test also looks at genetic markers. The current blood test used to detect prostate cancer looks for PSA only. Levels can increase if cancer is present, but not all cancers actually raise PSA levels. Moreover, levels of PSA can rise for other reasons, such as an infection and advancing age which means the PSA blood test can wrongly reassure someone cancer is not present, and can lead to unnecessary scans and biopsies when levels are raised for reasons other than cancer. As the new test also identifies other proteins and genetic markers, it's thought that this increases the accuracy. The results of the blood test are then combined with personal data, including the person's age and family history, and also genetic markers: these are used to produce a score representing the risk of having prostate cancer that requires treatment. A new test is twice as effective at detecting prostate cancer as the existing blood test that checks for the disease, according to a new study (File image) A score of at least 11 per cent is an indicator of increased prostate cancer risk, and the patient would be referred for an MRI scan, which may then lead to a biopsy. Compared with the PSA test, Stockholm3 halves the number of unnecessary biopsies, according to new research presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Milan in March. Did you know? Breathlessness that lasts months after a Covid infection may be due to poor sleep and is not long Covid, reports The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Of more than 600 adults suffering symptoms such as breathing difficulties, tracked by researchers at Manchester University, almost two thirds also experienced disturbed sleep. They believe targeting sleep disruption by reducing anxiety and improving muscle strength could alleviate these patients' breathlessness. Advertisement The prostate is a small walnut-sized gland, located between the penis and the bladder: its role is to produce a fluid that mixes with sperm to produce semen. There are more than 50,000 new cases of prostate cancer each year in the UK and around 12,000 deaths. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, with most cases diagnosed after 50, but ethnicity and family history can play a part. Results from a four-year study in Stockholm, Sweden, involving more than 5,000 men, showed that the new test also led to a 28 per cent reduction in the cancers detected too late for treatment compared to centres using only the PSA test. Previous research showed that twice as many cancers that require treatment are found with the new test compared with a PSA test, reported the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health in 2020. So far the new test, costing around 395, is only available at a handful of private clinics. Professor Raj Persad, a consultant urologist at the private Bristol Urology Associates clinic, said: 'This test may save anxiety, stress and expense for patients in avoiding MRI and biopsy where it is not needed, and it also unearths cases which hitherto may have been missed at an early stage of cancer development. 'It is just being introduced to the UK, and will need careful evaluation before establishing its place in NHS clinical practice.' Men with the highest triglyceride levels were 4.57 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than those with the lowest (File image) Having high levels of a type of fat called triglycerides in the blood can lead to a near five-fold increase in the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, according to a recent study in the journal Frontiers in Oncology. Mainly found in meat, butter and cooking oils, triglycerides are stored in fat cells and released when needed for energy. Scientists studied health records of more than 1,700 men who had a biopsy, 720 of whom went on to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Men with the highest triglyceride levels were 4.57 times more likely to develop the disease than those with the lowest, according to researchers at the University of Ulsan in South Korea. One theory is that the fat may increase inflammation, which has been implicated in the development of cancer. People who live with long-term, near constant pain tend to have one thing in common: they want to retain hope that something, somewhere, will relieve their suffering. But all too often, hope is the one thing they can't find. Many people who are living with pain have repeatedly been tried on medication after medication and become stuck in a cycle of expectation followed by crushing disappointment when yet another drug fails to deliver. In many cases the medication may even make things worse owing to side-effects such as fatigue, brain fog or weight gain. This cycle can go on for decades. One woman whose case I reviewed had accumulated 560 clinic letters on her notes, many about the various doses and types of medication she had been tried on all of them to no avail. Last month, a study of 10,000 people by scientists at the University Hospital of North Norway, found that even light exercise can improve pain tolerance (File image) In fact, every new bit of evidence unearthed by research in recent years into chronic pain (defined as pain that lasts 12 weeks or more) and its various treatments confirms how disappointing medicines are for treating it. So last month's news that a review by a group of leading UK scientists had found little evidence to support using antidepressants to treat chronic pain should surprise no one. Antidepressants have been prescribed for chronic pain for decades, in the belief that they had a distinct action on pain quite different from the effect they have on mood. Last year, around ten million prescriptions were issued for the antidepressant amitriptyline in England at the doses used for pain. But in May, the respected Cochrane research body announced it could find 'no reliable' evidence to support the use of antidepressants for chronic pain. What's more, in 2015, an Australian study found that paracetamol doesn't work for chronic pain either. And the same has been found of stronger medications including opioids (such as codeine, morphine and fentanyl) and gabapentin, an anticonvulsant for epilepsy that at lower doses is commonly prescribed as a painkiller. All have been used for chronic pain for years but if we examine them with contemporary rigour for evidence that they work, it just isn't there. Which is bad news for the 15 million people in the UK of all ages and backgrounds living with chronic pain caused by anything from arthritis to fibromyalgia (which causes body-wide pain). We need to change this mindset that medication can cure all and to make exercise a feasible option even to older patients who may feel it's unachievable In fact, the list of drugs for which there is good evidence that they will help most people with chronic pain has now dwindled to essentially nothing. Generally speaking, pain medications are designed to interrupt the signals sent via the nerves from an injured part of your body to your brain. The idea is this medication bars the way of most of the signals, so the pain can't 'register' in the brain. Or the pain that does register is minimised. In the case of acute pain shorter-term pain, for example following an injury or operation the severity usually correlates to the size of the injury or wound. But chronic pain is different. In some cases, there is no injury and may be no obvious trigger (although, let me be clear, the pain is very real). Do I really need? THIS WEEK: Excilor Wart & Verruca 2 in 1, 19.99, superdrug.co.uk CLAIM: This has a tip on one end that uses a cooling agent to freeze the wart, and a follow-up treatment gel at the other. EXPERT VERDICT: 'Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus virus and are highly contagious,' says Dr Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist at Tarrant Street Clinic in Arundel, West Sussex. 'Verrucas are simply foot warts, but are harder to treat as they penetrate the skin more deeply. The most successful treatment tends to combine cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen) to kill the virus then applying salicylic acid, to peel off the dead skin. This product uses the same principle, but home-freezing products are far less effective than in-clinic treatments. 'Trichloroacetic acid is used here rather than salicylic acid, but will have the same effect. It's an effective wart treatment, but again at higher doses than found in at-home treatments. 'This product might work for small warts, but larger or more stubborn ones need professional treatment.' Advertisement Even if there is an obvious injury or joint damage, say because of arthritis, this may have little relation to the severity of the pain. That's because with chronic pain, other factors can make a massive difference. For example, depression, grief, anxieties about debt or family can all influence your brain chemistry, exacerbating sensations of pain. This explains why a painkiller is only going to have, at best, limited benefit on your perception of pain. I was the clinical lead for the pain guidelines published in 2021 by NICE , the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence a body that examines the effectiveness of treatments on behalf of the NHS and makes recommendations on their use. Our view was that although antidepressants might be worth prescribing, doctors need to consider the uncertainties surrounding their effectiveness. That's not to say they won't work for anyone, but they are more likely not to work than to help. This applies to pretty much every medication used for chronic pain, too. So what's the answer? In fact there is one thing that NICE says does have good evidence for treating chronic pain and should be recommended to all patients and that is exercise. Last month, a study of 10,000 people by scientists at the University Hospital of North Norway, published in the journal PLOS One, found that even light exercise can improve pain tolerance. Not only does it offer many health benefits, but for people with chronic pain it also appears to improve their pain and their quality of life. But it can sound uncaring if a doctor tells a patient who comes to them in agony to start doing more exercise. Some doctors report prescribing painkillers to desperate patients because they don't want to seem unsympathetic, even though they know it probably won't help much. But we need to change this mindset that medication can cure all and to make exercise a feasible option even to older patients who may feel it's unachievable. In Gloucestershire, where I work, we're running a pilot scheme a joint venture between the local health board and Active Gloucestershire to formulate the best approach to chronic pain. As part of the scheme, exercise instructors are running group sessions for patients of all ages with chronic pain, however much pain they are currently in and however immobile they may be. First, the instructors spend an hour with each participant, assessing all aspects of their lives and activity aims, before tailoring exercises to the individual (for some this involved gentle stretching, while for others it was regularly climbing stairs or taking frequent walks to the local shops). The exercises are then done in a group setting of mixed abilities, as this helps motivate people to work towards their aims. The evidence also suggests the advice is better received from an instructor who is helping you to help yourself, rather than a medical professional 'treating' you. The scheme is cost-effective, too: a programme of ten group sessions with an exercise instructor costs 85 per patient, compared with an outpatient appointment with a consultant, which costs the NHS around 200. More importantly, the results have been spectacular. We put more than 100 patients through the programme, and early results from a sample of those, published in the British Journal of General Practice in 2021, showed that although the aim was to improve their quality of life and function which it did for many it also actually reduced their pain. Other areas look set to increase access to similar schemes. We need to accept that there isn't a straight-forward medical cure for chronic pain and I don't think there ever will be. But there are ways to improve lives through more schemes such as the one in Gloucestershire, and helping people to access services to help with the problems that contribute directly to their pain whether that's counselling or practical help with isolation, weight management or debt management, for example. This will help people lead fuller, happier lives more than any pills would and it won't come with any side-effects. Dr Cathy Stannard, a former pain consultant and clinical lead for NICE's chronic pain guidelines, is clinical lead for pain transformation in Gloucestershire. As told to LUCY ELKINS My husband has suffered with flatulence for some time but it has worsened over the past few months. He doesn't eat excessive amounts of fruit and veg. Can you suggest any steps we could take to resolve this? Name and address supplied. We all have gas in our intestines, produced by our gut microbes breaking down food, and much of it has to be passed in moments of flatulence (passing wind anything up to 20 times day is considered normal). But you say in your longer letter that the odour is offensive. The main culprit for smelly flatulence is the gas hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs. In fact, we know from research that this particular component of wind is actually good for us. The main culprit for smelly flatulence is the gas hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs (File image) A study in the journal Nature Microbiology published last month showed that hydrogen sulphide improves the health of the intestinal lining. It's previously been found to act as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage; it also encourages greater resistance to certain infections. Despite this, it's worth noting that some foods do contain more sulphur, which is broken down into hydrogen sulphide by the bacteria in the gut and restricting those foods may, to some extent, help manage gas production. These include meat, chicken, eggs and vegetables such as cabbage, leeks, broccoli, onions and garlic. Of course, these are just the sort of foods that help feed the good bacteria in the gut, so you don't want to cut them out altogether. I suggest that it's worth bearing in mind that the embarrassing problem your husband has may actually give him some advantage in respect of his health. Perhaps, knowing this may help change your attitude to it. I have had a glaucoma test every year for 40 years. I've now been told to go every two years, because of Government cutbacks. I was advised if I want to have them yearly, I would have to pay. What do you advise? Eddie Marsh, Newbury, Berkshire. Thank you for writing in about what is such an important subject to so many people. Around half a million Britons have glaucoma, which typically leads to a slow decline first in the edges of your vision. Left untreated, this may ultimately result in blindness. The problem is that, in the early stages, vision loss is so slow as to be almost imperceptible; other characteristic symptoms such as blurred vision may not be apparent until the later stages. Around half a million Britons have glaucoma, which typically leads to a slow decline first in the edges of your vision (File image) That is why screening checking everybody with or without symptoms is so important. There are various types of glaucoma: the most common is known as silent primary open-angle glaucoma. Here, fluid in the eye (the aqueous humour) builds up, causing an increase in the pressure within the eye. We used to think this pressure caused irreversible damage to the optic nerve which sends vision signals to the brain but recent thinking is that glaucoma stems from a disorder of the optic nerve. This then damages the control of fluid in the eye. And this pressure then further damages the optic nerve, leading to a gradual loss of vision at the edges of vision which gradually closes in. (Another form, narrow-angle glaucoma, comes on quickly, causing a painful red eye and needs urgent treatment.) Although glaucoma is most common in adults over the age of 70, anyone over the age of 40 who goes for an eye test will be examined by an optician for it. This involves measuring the pressure in the eye, and checking for deterioration in the peripheral vision. Best practice is to be screened for this every two years the fact that glaucoma progresses slowly means there is nothing to be gained by testing more frequently. This is not so much a cutback as a sensible policy to ensure that, at a time of limited resources, nobody is missed out. Those at higher risk people who have a close relative with the diagnosis will be advised to have more frequent screening. If glaucoma is diagnosed then you need to be immediately referred to an ophthalmologist: after further tests, most people would then be started on regular eye drops that reduce the pressure in the eye and the potential for ongoing nerve damage. My view is that it is acceptable for you to be screened every two years. I understand you are not confident in this but if the pressure in your eyes has been stable and if there has not been a gradually increasing trend over the years, then I think you have little to fear. Write to Dr Scurr Write to Dr Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email: drmartin@dailymail.co.uk include contact details. Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. Replies should be taken in a general context. Consult your own GP with any health worries. All grief can cause complex feelings but losing someone to suicide comes with a particular sense of agonising regret, powerlessness and unanswered questions. The knowledge that a prescription drug might be the cause can only exacerbate that pain, particularly if the prescribed drugs in question are antidepressants pills that are supposed to prevent people from feeling suicidal. Tania and Ian Morgan, from Swansea, lost their 25-year-old son, Sam, when he killed himself in January 2020. They believe his death was caused by an adverse reaction to an antidepressant. 'Sam had everything going for him,' says Tania, 57, a head teacher. 'He had a steady girlfriend of six years, no financial worries and a group of fantastic friends. He was a junior trader for a financial company and had a great future ahead of him.' Sam had been taking the antidepressant citalopram for seven days prior to his death. Citalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is thought to work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Tania (left) and Ian Morgan, from Swansea, lost their 25-year-old son, Sam (right), when he killed himself in January 2020 While antidepressants can be life-changing for many, there is evidence that they can raise the risk of suicide, with experts arguing they can even make people who aren't depressed feel suicidal. A significant piece of research published in April, in the journal Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, raises doubts as to the efficacy of antidepressants, as well as adding to concerns that these pills may increase suicide. The study looked at nearly 8,000 reports from coroners' inquests in England and Wales between 2003 and 2020 where antidepressants were mentioned and found that around half of the deaths were definitively ruled to be suicides. The study author, John Read, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London, concluded: 'We do not know in how many cases the problems for which the drugs were prescribed contributed to the deaths. Nor can we tell in how many of the 7,829 cases that antidepressants contributed to the deaths. 'We can say, however, that antidepressants failed to lift the depression sufficiently to prevent these deaths.' The study was based on research by a grieving father, trying to come to terms with losing his 'happy-go-lucky son', who killed himself after taking the antidepressant drug citalopram. The father, Brian, who wishes to give only his first name, was convinced his 30-year-old son's death in 2009 was caused by an adverse reaction to the drug. Tania and Ian believe Sam's death was caused by an adverse reaction to an antidepressant 'He had everything going for him and wasn't depressed,' he told Good Health. 'He loved life. He was just a bit stressed at work and couldn't sleep.' After his son's death, Brian began studying newspaper reports of inquests in England and Wales where antidepressants were mentioned and posted them on his website AntiDepAware. His findings were then analysed by Professor Read, who concluded in his report that the figures were likely to be the tip of the iceberg, as many suicides and inquests are not reported in the media. One in six people in England (8.32 million) took antidepressants in 2021/22, a 5 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to NHS data. Not all will be taking them for depression, as antidepressants can be prescribed for many other conditions including eating disorders, mild anxiety and pain relief. Since 2004, all antidepressants have carried warnings on the information leaflet in the packet, explaining that if you have suicidal thoughts these may increase when you first start taking the medication because they take a few weeks to work. Some experts believe the wording is inadequate and misleading. David Healy, a former professor of psychiatry at the University of Wales College of Medicine, has worked as a consultant to pharmaceutical companies who make antidepressants. He has been writing to regulators and coroners in the UK for 24 years about the need for clearer warnings. 'As far back as the 1990s, it was well known among the drug companies from the clinical trials that antidepressants can directly cause even healthy people to commit suicide after they've been on the drug for a few days,' he told Good Health. 'Sam had everything going for him,' says Tania, 57, a head teacher. 'He had a steady girlfriend of six years, no financial worries and a group of fantastic friends He describes how these drugs can cause intense agitation and emotional turmoil in some 'yet calm others down'. 'This is because our serotonin systems differ,' Professor Healy says. He is routinely contacted by grieving families of people who have taken their lives and who believe that depression medication was a possible cause. Tania and Ian Morgan found Professor Healy through an internet search as they struggled to make sense of their son's death. Sam had not been depressed when he visited his doctor in January 2020. 'Over Christmas, he had a persistent cough and had been unable to revise for his financial advising exams so he went to see his GP to get a sick note for the examination board,' says Tania. 'He also mentioned that he was feeling nervous about his exams.' READ MORE: Warning over antidepressants as top experts say powerful drugs may raise risk of suicide Advertisement Sam asked the doctor if he could have some citalopram. 'He knew about it because a friend had taken it and said it helped with her anxiety,' says Tania. 'Yes, Sam was nervous about his exam but that was just normal levels of stress.' In a consultation that lasted ten minutes, Sam's GP prescribed him a 14-day course of 10mg of citalopram, the lowest dose. After Sam's death the doctor told the Morgans that he didn't want to give Sam the tablets because he didn't feel he needed them but Sam persuaded him. The GP also gave Sam the standard advice that the tablets might make him feel worse before he feels better. Sam lived at home and his parents noticed a difference after he had taken just one dose. 'There was an instant change in his mental state,' says Ian. This is what convinces the Morgans, like other bereaved families, that it was the drug, not their loved one's mental state, that made them suicidal. 'He just seemed apathetic and as if he'd given up on life,' says Ian. 'He said he felt sick and was unable to sleep. There was a greyness about him and his eyes were just dead. 'Overnight, he had gone from being chatty and cheerful to being morose and like a zombie.' Seven days after Sam had visited his GP, Ian saw his son for the last time. 'It was in the morning and I was getting ready for work,' says Ian, 58, a retail sales consultant. While antidepressants can be life-changing for many, there is evidence that they can raise the risk of suicide, with experts arguing they can even make people who aren't depressed feel suicidal (File image) 'I passed Sam's bedroom and he said he felt sick and hadn't slept so was going to take the day off. I asked if he wanted to put the heating on and he said yes.' Tania came home later that day to find her son dead, a scene that will forever haunt her. 'It was total shock and disbelief. I can't begin to describe it. I felt totally numb,' she says. 'Sam was the last person in the world to kill himself. 'Firstly, we wondered if there was something going on in his life that we didn't know about, such as financial problems or a gambling addiction but there was nothing. The only thing that had changed recently in Sam's life was that he had started taking antidepressants.' Their suspicions were confirmed when they contacted Professor Healy and showed him Sam's medical records. 'There was no reasonable explanation for why this young man ended up dead a week after beginning on this drug other than the drug had caused the problem,' says Professor Healy. The Morgans want to prevent other lives being lost. They were frustrated that at the inquest the coroner ruled a narrative verdict (which records the factual circumstances of a death only, without attributing a cause), saying that 'the effect of this medication [citalopram] on Sam is unknown' and were disappointed that the GP's legal team dismissed the link between the drug and Sam's death. However, Professor Healy believes that doctors are reluctant to speak out about the potential harms of medication because they are advised by medical insurers that it may put them at risk of litigation. This makes it hard to bring about change. 'If doctors admit that the drug caused the problem, then the MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] have to sit up and take notice and do something to warn the public by requiring drug companies to make their warnings clearer,' says Professor Healy. Professor Healy thinks that telling patients that the drugs can take weeks to work could be costing lives (File image) The Morgans agree that current warnings in the patient information leaflet, which are written by drug companies and approved by MHRA, are both misleading and not prominent enough. 'Buried in 3,000 words about citalopram there is a warning in the small print that if you already have thoughts of killing yourself then these may become worse,' says Ian. 'If Sam had known that the drugs were actually making him feel suicidal, he would probably not have continued taking them and he would still be here now.' Professor Healy adds: 'The wording needs to explicitly say that these drugs can directly cause suicide even in healthy volunteers taking them. If you feel strange or agitated, stop taking them. There will always be another antidepressant from a different class that will suit you better.' This wording should also be somewhere obvious, he suggests. Separately, Professor Healy thinks that telling patients that the drugs can take weeks to work could be costing lives for while your illness might take time to respond, patients should be warned explicitly that they should not feel worse in the interim. 'An adverse reaction to antidepressants can happen within hours,' says Professor Healy. 'People describe an agitation that they compare with being on the 55th floor of a building with flames surrounding them and it's more comfortable to jump off than endure the agony. This uncontrollable urge to kill yourself is quite unlike depression.' Professor Healy saw this at first hand when he ran a trial of the antidepressant sertraline in North Wales back in 1999. None of the 20 volunteers had any mental illness but after just a few days two of them, women in their early 30s, became suicidal. One was a doctor, the other was an administrator. Professor Healy has agreed to share extracts from their diaries, kept as part of the trial, with Good Health. One wrote after four days: 'I know with absolute clarity and certainty that I had to go through the door out to the road and wait for a car. It had to be very final. A car or a train but a car was the overwhelming image. Yes, it would be violent but that was vital and necessary.' Another volunteer wrote after ten days: 'I must admit I have nightmares, the same one [on] two consecutive nights where I'm hanging myself . . . in our bedroom.' Doctors read the diaries daily and both volunteers had to be taken off the trial for their own safety. Neither had ever felt suicidal before taking the drug and haven't since. The power of antidepressants to cause people who aren't depressed to want to harm themselves is something I have experienced personally. In 2012 I was struggling with insomnia while going through a divorce and visited my doctor for sleeping pills. Instead, he prescribed the antidepressant escitalopram, which triggered a four-day delirium during which I hallucinated about how to end my life. Admitted to a private hospital, I returned to normality after a few days once the drug wore off. Yet the doctors insisted I'd had psychotic depression, and gave me more antidepressants and also antipsychotics, triggering another adverse reaction and a year-long, drug-induced illness. One symptom of drug-induced suicidality is an agonising condition, akathisia, a movement disorder where you cannot keep still and are seized with an inexplicable acute anxiety: I suffered from this on and off for a year. Looking back, it was a miracle I didn't end my life. I completely recovered within three weeks of finally being taken off all six drugs I had been prescribed. That was ten years ago; I have been medication-free and have not had mental health problems since. My terrifying ordeal with antidepressants led me to write a book The Pill That Steals Lives and set up a website, anti depressantrisks.org. As a result, I'm contacted by many others with similar experiences. One of these was 31-year-old Tara Baker, a catering assistant from Pembrokeshire, who considers she is lucky to have survived her experience with antidepressants. Like many, she was struggling with the effects of Covid on her mental health when she went to her GP in March 2021. 'I just felt anxious about not being able to go out and the fact that my little boy was coming up to nearly two and I felt he'd missed out on so much,' she says. 'It was financial stress as well, as my husband had been made redundant. I wouldn't say I was depressed. I was just mildly anxious and I couldn't sleep properly.' Tara asked her GP for an antidepressant: 'A few of my friends were on them and I thought it would be a quick fix. 'The nurse practitioner gave me a prescription for sertraline [a type of SSRI] after just a five-minute phone consultation. Within an hour of taking the first tablet, Tara had an extreme reaction: 'I felt really shaky, was having cold sweats and my pupils were huge. 'I had these random intrusive thoughts about killing myself. It was as if a video was playing in my head. I went for a walk to calm myself down but then I just pictured myself jumping into the water.' Tara continued to take the pills because she, too, had been told that she might feel worse before she felt better. Her condition deteriorated and after three days of not sleeping or eating she contacted her GP who prescribed a tranquilliser, diazepam, and advised she keep taking the antidepressants. After a week, Tara, who had never felt suicidal before, tried to end her life. She says: 'My brain just wouldn't stop. I just felt this unbearable agony and I wanted it to go away. 'I know it sounds insane but I was convinced I was sacrificing myself to save my family so God would understand. I felt really out of it, as if I had no emotions.' Fortunately, Tara's husband came home in time and called an ambulance. The crisis team at her local hospital recognised that she had an adverse reaction to the sertraline and told her to stop taking the tablets immediately. Tara was so frightened that she asked to be sectioned but the doctors wouldn't do this. She asked the crisis team to drive her to another hospital where she admitted herself. 'I slept for 16 hours and when I woke up everything was OK but I was still shell-shocked,' she says. 'I told one of the nurses that the antidepressants had caused this and she said it couldn't be possible because sertraline takes three weeks to have any effect. 'It took me a few weeks to feel completely normal but I think that was partly because of the trauma.' It has been two years since Tara's ordeal and she thinks she had a lucky escape. 'I've still got a bit of anxiety about certain things, but I deal with it by distracting myself until it passes and by keeping myself busy.' A spokesperson for the MHRA told Good Health: Patient safety is our top priority. We have kept the safety of SSRIs under constant review ever since they were first licensed. The available data continue to show that the benefits of SSRIs in treating depression and other psychiatric illnesses outweigh the potential risks for most people. Following concerns raised by patients and families about the effectiveness of product information warnings, we have established a new independent expert group to advise the Governments statutory advisory committee, the Commission on Human Medicines. This will consider whether changes are needed to the current risk minimisation materials for SSRIs, including the patient information leaflets. The spokesperson added: Patients who have concerns should talk to their doctor and should not stop taking their antidepressant medication without their doctors advice.' For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. Go to samaritans.org for details. Ocado shares rose as analysts saw improvement in its fortunes. BNP Paribas Exane told its clients the FTSE 100 online supermarkets outlook and market sentiment are much better aligned. The broker, which also said Ocado has taken a firmer grip on managing its spending and operating costs, raised its rating to neutral and increased the target price by 3 per cent to 365p. Shares, which at one point were up as much as 10 per cent, closed 3.6 per cent, or 14p higher, at 400.6p. We do though believe that having struggled post the pandemic to grow volume and excess capacity, Ocado is entering a more settled phase, the broker added. New rating: BNP Paribas Exane said Ocado has taken a firmer grip on managing its spending and operating costs Ocado was among the lockdown winners, with its share price hitting a record 2895p in September 2020. But it has seemingly been in freefall for the past two years, falling as low as 343p last week. BNP insisted Ocado still has much to prove and warned the outlook for online grocery remains challenging to predict. The group narrowly escaped being booted out of the FTSE 100 index in the latest reshuffle. The FTSE 100 rose 0.1 per cent, or 8.33 points, to 7570.69 and the FTSE 250 gained 0.5 per cent, or 99.15 points, to 19190.81. Oil prices slid more than 4pc towards $72 a barrel amid fresh fears over the global economy. Oil major BP dropped 1.3 per cent, or 6.3p, to 462.6p and Shell lost 0.7 per cent, or 16.5p, to 2278p. In the FTSE 250, Tullow Oil slipped 2.7 per cent, or 0.7p, to 25.02p and Harbour Energy fell 2.2 per cent, or 5.6p, to 245.4p. Crest Nicholson led a rally among housebuilders after UBS raised its rating to neutral from sell and lifted the target price to 245p from 210p. Stock Watch - Futura Medical Shares in Futura Medical soared after US regulators approved the over-the-counter sale of its gel that treats erectile dysfunction. The pharma companys MED3000 product can work within ten minutes and is available to buy without prescription, offering an alternative to oral medications such as Viagra. It is already sold in the UK in Boots stores under the brand name Eroxon. The product is also available in Belgium. Shares surged 12.4 per cent, or 5.3p, to 48.2p. The investment bank said house prices have held up better than feared alongside an increase in demand. Shares added 2.2 per cent, or 5p, to 234p. But Thungela Resources sank into the red after the firm, which was spun off from the blue-chip mining giant Anglo American (down 1.7 per cent, or 40.5p, to 2416.5p) in 2021, warned of a sharp fall in coal prices and ongoing issues with South Africas state-owned operator Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). The groups profits have been affected by weaker demand from China alongside softer gas and coal prices. Shares fell 1.4 per cent, or 8.6p, to 589.4p. Croda International shares rose as the stock clawed back some of the losses made after last weeks profit warning. On Friday, the chemicals group said its profits for the year to the end of May were likely to be between 370million and 400million, short of the 440million expected by analysts. That sent shares down more than 12 per cent. But the stock recovered slightly yesterday, rising 3.2 per cent, or 168p, to 5442p. Travel stocks were in demand as Carnival enjoyed upgrades from analysts at Bank of America and JP Morgan. The brokers said there were few signs of slowing momentum at the international cruise line business. Shares soared 12.7 per cent, or 115.1p, to 1024.5p. Wizz Air added 4.3 per cent, or 117p, to 2842p after JP Morgan raised its target price to 4050p from 3750p, and holiday group Tui gained 3.6 per cent, or 20p, to 571.5p. There was less to cheer for the real estate sector, however, as Goldman Sachs issued a bleak outlook on the Central London office market. The broker lowered its ratings on property investment and development company companies Segro to neutral from buy and Great Portland Estates to sell from neutral. Shares in Segro fell 2.7 per cent, or 21.2p, to 779.4p and Great Portland Estates slid 2.4 per cent, or 11.6p, to 472.4p. Glencore has swooped on a Canadian rivals coal business in another twist to one of the sectors biggest takeover battles in decades. The FTSE 100 mining giant said it has offered to buy Teck Resourcess coal arm for cash in a move that would see it combine the business with its own coal operations. Glencore would then spin out the merged entity into a separate company within two years of the deal closing. Tecks coal arm makes coking coal used in steelmaking, while Glencores controversial thermal coal business is considered one of the worlds dirtiest fossil fuels. Glencore has been battling to buy the whole of Teck, with boss Gary Nagle having previously said buying the coal arm alone would be a distant second to a full-blown takeover. Dirty: Glencores controversial thermal coal business - which includes mines in Australia (pictured) - is considered one of the worlds dirtiest fossil fuels Teck, whose operations also include copper and zinc mines, said it was engaging with Glencores latest move but stressed it was just one of a number of proposals under consideration. Glencore previously offered to buy the entire firm for 18.3billion in a cash-and-share deal which valued the coal arm at 6.5billion. Its advances have been repeatedly rebuffed by Tecks managers, who previously branded the takeover proposal as a non-starter. But Glencore has been steadily ratcheting up the pressure, having threatened to mount a hostile takeover by taking its proposal directly to investors. Tecks leadership originally planned to split its own business in two, focusing on coal and metal mining respectively. But they U-turned in April when it failed to win support from investors, strengthening Glencores hand. Reports also emerged last month that Glencore could sweeten its bid for the entire firm in a bid to get a deal over the line. But it faces several hurdles in its pursuit of Teck, which has sparked opposition from the Canadian government and the mining industry. Any takeover would come under heavy scrutiny from officials in Ottawa, who can block deals, and recently clamped down hard on foreign investment in the mineral industry. Glencore also faces Norman Keevil, 84, a Canadian magnate whose shares in Teck give him an effective veto on any takeover. His vociferous rejection of the bid irked some investors and he has since softened his tone. Glencores plans to demerge its coal business come amid mounting criticism of the firms strategy to cut back its greenhouse gas emissions. Theres a merry-go-round of coal assets in the industry as companies dont want to be left holding what is seen as a dirty fuel, said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. Ministers will not intervene to rescue Revoluts faltering application for a UK banking licence, the Mail has been told. The payments app has been hailed by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as a shining example of Britains world-beating fintech sector. But more than three months after declaring an announcement on its banking licence was imminent, it looks no closer to being achieved. And a well-placed government source told the Mail: Not everybody who applies for the licence gets one. Ministers have no role. Revoluts application for a banking licence is being scrutinised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) an arm of the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Delays: Revolut, founded by Nik Storonsky (pictured with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt). is still waiting for a UK banking licence, three months after being told a decision was 'imminent' At the same time, Hunt has made no secret of his admiration for the firm and its founder Nik Storonsky, who was pictured alongside him at an event earlier this year. The Chancellor said last month that while regulators must remain independent it was important for them to understand their wider responsibilities for economic growth. That will be enshrined in law when the Financial Services and Markets Bill takes effect, expected within weeks. It will impose a duty on regulators to have regard to the UKs growth and international competitiveness, and report regularly on how well they are achieving that. But the Mail has been told that Revolut is not being seen in the Government as a test case for that obligation. If regulators decide they do not want to grant the firm a licence, they are likely to advise it to withdraw its application. But Revolut could decide to press ahead and, if refused, appeal the decision. The firm was bullish back in March when it said it believed a UK banking licence would be granted imminently. Those comments came as it published delayed annual results for 2021, showing a first-ever profit of 26million and revenues tripling to 636million. But things began to unravel quickly. Auditor BDO said 477million of revenues three-quarters of the total could not be verified and may have been misstated. The fallout from that revelation then appeared to have caused a split, with Revolut hitting out at misreporting of the auditors opinion, only for the Financial Times to report that some independent board members viewed that as an overreaction. Then in April, funds giant Schroders cut the valuation of its stake in Revolut from 10.1million to 5.4million, implying the company was worth about 14billion, just over half its previous valuation of around 26billion. Meanwhile, the Telegraph reported that the PRA had told the Treasury in March that it planned to reject Revoluts application but that the notice was not served and there were subsequently urgent behind-the-scenes talks to try to rescue it. The drawn-out application was all becoming too much for 38-year-old Storonsky, who told the Times last month that it was a long and tiring process while railing against tax and red tape and saying his company would never consider floating in London. And in a pot shot at regulators, he said: You wait for emails or letters for months. This is not the business environment to operate in the modern world. In another blow, Revoluts finance chief Mikko Salovaara quit for personal reasons. Martin Gilbert, the City grandee who is Revoluts chairman, was due to meet the PRA last week to try to resolve the impasse over its application. A Revolut spokesman said: We do not comment on ongoing licence applications. Take-off: Heathrow said airline traffic figures up 26% for May Heathrow passenger numbers were boosted last month by three bank holiday weekends. The airport has revealed numbers jumped by a quarter with particularly strong demand for flights between the UK and US. Bosses told investors yesterday that 6.7m passengers used the airport in May, as it benefited from the extra bank holiday weekend for the Kings coronation. Heathrow said traffic was 25.9 per cent higher than in May last year. It said 1.6m passengers flew across the Atlantic to North America, with the airport running 248 daily flights to the US. Flight numbers to the US have grown as American airlines have switched routes towards the UK and away from European and East Asian markets, which have been slower to recover after the impact of the pandemic. Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye hailed the performance of flights to the US as he shrugged off the impact of eight days of strikes on the busiest days in May. Cape York is home to one of the nation's most baffling unsolved double murder cold cases - with a blood feud, love triangle and a string of dead witnesses in the multi-million-dollar fishing industry of the Deep North. Fisherman Bevin Simmonds, 36, and his son Brad, 10, vanished without a trace 20 years ago last Monday while checking shark nets 5km from the mouth of the Coleman River on the remote wild west coast of Cape York. No bodies, no boat, no murder weapons, and no witnesses were ever found - with the pair still officially listed as missing at sea. Rival fishing clan member Michael Gater who was having a sexual affair with the missing man's wife Cathy Simmonds - and his mother Joan Betty Gater were charged and acquitted of the alleged double murders in a Cairns Supreme Court trial in 2005. No other leads or suspects have ever been found. Fisherman Bevin Simmonds (right), 36, and his son Brad, 10, vanished without a trace 20 years ago The Stan Originals documentary premieres June 18 only on Stan. Detectives believe the father and his 10-year-old boy were shot dead in a cold-blooded execution and their bodies and dinghy sunk in an act of evil that haunts locals who still practice sorcery and magic. Both formidable fishing clans work the same waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria teeming with barramundi, mackerel, crocodile and shark in a bitter family turf war akin to that of America's Hatfields and McCoys. Detectives believe the father and his 10-year-old boy (pictured) were shot dead in a cold-blooded execution Last Friday, the Stan original documentary Revealed: The Cape, premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. It will go live on Stan on June 18. The Cape is based on nearly two decades of my research, access, footage, interviews, and a podcast investigating the unsolved cold case - in what has been an agonising search for justice for the victim's families. The documentary sheds new light on the story of life and death on the lawless frontier of Cape York, one of the world's last great wildernesses. It features key witnesses who gave evidence at the trial, and dives deep into the hard-working fishing families who inhabit the mangrove-clad rivers and swamps, out beyond the edge of civilisation. Katie Simmonds, who was 12 when her father and brother disappeared without a trace, has the words 'Brad' and 'Justice' tattooed on her skin and a lifetime of heartache and regret etched into her soul. Rival fishing clan member Michael Gater (pictured) who was having a sexual affair with the missing man's wife Cathy Simmonds - and his mother Joan Betty Gater were charged and acquitted of the alleged double murders in a Cairns Supreme Court trial in 2005 'I just want to know what happened,' she told me at the family fishing camp on the Holroyd River, north of the former aboriginal mission of Pormpuraaw, 660km from Cairns. 'I just want to know where they are, where the boat was sunk, just give me the GPS co-ordinates. 'All I've got is a million miles of water to look at and no answers.' Queensland Police expect unless fresh evidence is found, or in the unlikely event the unknown killer comes forward with a confession, the case may never be solved. It is hoped the Stan documentary can somehow deliver both peace and justice. Candle left burning is believed to have caused the blaze Broke a window to escape before being helped by neighbours A nine-year-old boy believed to have been left at home on his own has escaped a terrifying house fire after Good Samaritans rushed to his aid. Emergency services were called to Rodley Avenue in Penrith in Sydney's west shortly before 6.15pm on Saturday and found a two-storey townhouse engulfed in flames. A neighbour walking past the home saw the fire and assisted the boy to get out of the burning home after the little boy smashed a front window trying to escape. A six-year-old boy, who was left home alone, narrowly survived the fire with minor cuts after breaking a window on the townhouse's ground floor and escaping the blaze Firefighters blocked the road as they worked to extinguish the blaze, however the building was destroyed (pictured) Paramedics treated the boy for lacerations before he was taken to Nepean Hospital for further treatment. NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers had been informed that the boy was the only person in the building at the time the fire broke out. The boy's mother arrived home a short time after emergency services. Residents were seen standing on the street speaking with police officers. Emergency services were called to Rodley Avenue in Penrith shortly before 6:15pm on Saturday and found a two-storey townhouse engulfed in flames Firefighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby homes but the townhouse was destroyed. The fire is being treated as not suspicious. Fire investigators and crime scene officers working to determine if a candle left burning in the kitchen was the cause. A child-at-risk notification will be submitted, police confirmed. Legal experts are speculating about how Donald Trump could fight off his indictment in Florida and potentially push the trial past the 2024 Presidential Election. The shocking 37 charges were unsealed last week - the embattled Republican frontrunner expecting to plead not guilty claims he mishandled classified papers - in a Miami court Tuesday. However, the president faces several potential avenues to beat the case, including this is an unprecedented challenge to a former commander-in-chief. Trump will only need to convince one juror to result in a mistrial, which could scupper the case altogether. The vast powers awarded the presidency mean that Special Counsel Jack Smith must prove that Trump was acting criminally by showing off documents that he previously would've been free to share as president. 'One of the big challenges Jack Smith faces is persuading every one of those 12 jurors that it could be a criminal offense for Trump to share documents that, a couple of years before, when he was president, he would have been free to share,' Rob Kelner, a defense lawyer who works in national security cases, told the Wall Street Journal. Legal experts are speculating about how former President Donald Trump could fight off his indictment in Florida and potentially pushing the trial past the 2024 Presidential Election William Devaney, a former federal prosecutor and partner at Baker McKenzie, added all Trump needs for a hung jury is 'one juror who thinks Donald Trump has been treated unfairly.' Trump's reluctance to cooperate with the investigation could actually benefit him by appearing to back his insistence that there was bias against him by the Department of Justice. The ex-president's lawyers may also attempt to diminish the very charges themselves, with the Journal citing a letter in April written by Trump's lawyers to Congressional Republicans saying this was all 'the result of haphazard records keeping and packing.' Attorneys also said they had 'absolutely no indication that President Trump knowingly possessed any of the marked documents or willfully broke any laws.' Kelner also believes the Trump team could simply argue that while it was certainly not by the book to share the classified documents, he never gave them to foreign nationals or 'hostile actors.' A separate Politico op-ed said it's very unlikely Trump's case ends before November 2024, keeping him active in the race. 'Any national security case comes with additional obstacles that make a speedy trial difficult,' wrote Renato Mariotti. People pass the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear on June 11 Boxes of potentially classified documents were discovered in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom by the DOJ 'Trump's attorneys will need to obtain clearance to review classified material, a special order will need to be entered to ensure that the material is properly protected, and there are likely going to be fights over classified material provided by the government in discovery.' Mariotti added 'the ball is in Trump's court' and he could essentially delay the trial for as long as he needs. 'The end result is that the proceedings of this unprecedented case will hover over the electoral landscape through all of next year and potentially well into the administration of the next president, whoever that is.' The 76-year-old said on Thursday 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. Trump is facing four separate counts each carrying a potential prison time of 20 years: conspiracy to obstruct justice; withholding a document or record; corruptly concealing a document or record; and concealing a document in a federal investigation. One count carries a 10-year sentence: willful retention of national defense information. The final two counts have a maximum of five years each: scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations. Trump's indictment remains under seal, but his decision to publicize it means feds could unseal it as early as Friday, ahead of next Tuesday's court appearance in Miami. 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 indictment 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.' Trump is making his first public appearances this weekend at a rally in Georgia Donald Trump supporters at the Columbus Airport, Columbus ,Georgia, 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 He is set to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday at 3pm, where the charges will be put to him. Trump denies all allegations he faces. 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 radio DJ has visited 193 countries and wanted to found his own nation San Diego DJ Randy 'R Dub!' Williams has opened his own 'country' in California A radio DJ from San Diego has created his own micronation called 'Slowjamastan' and has appointed himself 'Sultan' of the 11-acre territory in the Golden State. Randy 'R Dub' Williams has visited every UN designated country - more than 190 across the world - and has resorted to creating his own nation under his rules. 'I've seen some incredible places that many people do not get the chance to travel to What's next for me, it's to make a country of my own,' Williams told FOX 5. Like any country, the micronation has rules for residents. Outlawed actions include wearing crocs, eating string cheese by biting it instead of pulling it apart, and playing 'mumble rap' music. The micronation has not been officially recognized by the United States although Williams' Slowjamastan passport has been stamped by 16 countries. He also claims 5,000 people have signed-up to become citizens. Radio DJ Randy 'R Dub' Williams has created his own micronation called 'Slowjamastan' and has appointed himself 'Sultan' of the country found in the Golden State Like any country, the micronation has rules for residents. Outlawed actions include wearing crocs, eating string cheese by biting it, and playing 'mumble rap' music The micronation has not been officially recognized by the United States although Williams' Slowjamastan passport has been stamped by 16 countries Micronations like Slowjamastan are independent but are not formally recognized by sovereign states. There are an estimated 70 around the world. It was a micronation in Nevada called 'Republic of Molossia' that gave Williams the idea to come up with Slowjamastan. Since buying the land in 2021, the Sultan has put real elbow grease into cultivating the nation and putting it on the map. The country has a national anthem called 'Slowjamastan (I think It's Gonna Be an Awesome Place),' a 'parliament,' and a national animal - the ringtail raccoon. Slowjamastan also has its own currency - the 'duble,' which is a play on Russia's currency, the Ruble. When asked what the structure of the government is, the 'Sultan' said it's a dictatorship that's occasionally a democracy. 'We are a republic on some days, but on (other) days we have a dictatorship,' the radio DJ told FOX 5. 'I am the great leader that makes the rules, although sometimes we let the community chime in on issues that are important to the Slowjamastani,' he said. Aside from the ban on crocs and outlawing of 'mumble rap,' residents are not allowed to drive in the left lane unless actually passing another car. No citizens live in Slowjamastan but there are thousands of citizens around the world and tons who are still waiting in line. A sign outside of the Republic of Slowjamastan in Imperial County, California This is the landscape where Slowjamastan holds 11 acres in Southern California Micronations like Slowjamastan are independent but are not formally recognized by sovereign states. There are an estimated 70 around the world Williams said the name of his new country is a reference to his time as a slow-jams DJ on Magic 92.5 in Southern California. 'The sultan is the sultan of slow jams,' Williams said. 'He loves the Boys II Men, and the Usher, and the Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and Anita Baker,' the man said, speaking in third person. 'That's just kind of the tie-in we wanted the land of slow jams where people could come and just vibe out and relax,' the 'Sultan' continued. Williams said the micronation has no infrastructure but plans are in place to build solar power facilities, an armadillo farm, and a Mongolian BBQ restaurant. He said he hopes that the U.S. will recognize Slowjamastan with additional developments to the barren state and residents, of which they already have many. 'We have citizens from all over six continents,' Williams told the San Diego outlet. 'We are very proud citizens These people are proud to be a part of something new and fresh,' the 'Sultan' continued. Those who want to travel to 'The United Territories of The Sovereign Nation of The People's Republic of Slowjamastan' will need to procure a visa. Without permission, visitors are unable to come into the area and are encouraged to take a selfie with the border sign on Highway 78 in Imperial County. Williams said the micronation has no infrastructure but plans are in place to build solar power facilities, an armadillo farm, and a Mongolian BBQ restaurant A sign outside of 'Dublandia,' the capital of Slowjamastan Micronations are legal but are considered independent developments that exist as a state within a state, similar to Native American reservations. The concept of the small, self-governed countries is certainly not new. The Empire of Atlantium, a micronation founded in 1981 in a suburb of Sydney, was reported on by BBC in 2022 for the way that it came into the public eye. Founder George Cruickshank, a teenager at the time, declared the 'nation' independent from Australia and has maintained that status since. 'The idea of a sovereign nation state having complete authority over its citizens within defined borders is only a fairly recent development, and it led to all of the horrors of the 20th Century,' said Cruickshank. Cultural and Natural Heritage Day marked across China Xinhua) 10:02, June 12, 2023 Tourists experience folk dance of Li ethnic group during activities to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A child makes paper cutting works during a paper cutting competition in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng) Children demonstrate ethnic Li textile weaving during activities to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A woman demonstrates embroidery skills during activities to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Congjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Photo by Lu Zhongnan/Xinhua) A bamboo weaver demonstrates weaving techniques in Tuying Village of Changxing County, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Photo by Wu Zheng/Xinhua) A child shows a shadow puppet during activities to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Photo by Li Junsheng/Xinhua) People perform folk dance during activities to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Xiasi Ancient Town of Kaili in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 10, 2023. Saturday marks this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China, with the theme focusing on cultural relics protection and utilization, as well as cultural confidence and strength. (Photo by Zou Guangxue/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Albanian migrants who come to the UK are unlikely to be at risk in their own country or require asylum here, a cross-party group of MPs has found. Of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats in 2022, 12,301 or more than a quarter came from Albania and most claimed asylum after arriving. The Commons home affairs committee found little justification for the Home Office's acceptance of 51 per cent of Albanian asylum claims up to June 2022 a far higher proportion than elsewhere in Europe. A report by the committee said: 'Albania is a safe country, it is not at war and is a candidate country to join the EU. 'There is no clear basis for the UK to routinely accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens.' Of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats in 2022, 12,301 or more than a quarter came from Albania and most claimed asylum after arriving (file image) The surge in Channel crossings has reportedly led to a rise in crime in Britain, with 80 Albanian migrants sentenced for offences including murder, rape and kidnap in the first four months of 2023 alone. The National Crime Agency has previously revealed that a 'significant number' of Albanian Channel migrants work for drug gangs once in the UK and send hundreds of millions of pounds to Albania every year. The NCA also said Albanians were falsely claiming to be victims of trafficking to game the system and remain in the UK. The committee found that in January 2023 there were more foreign nationals from Albania in English and Welsh jails than any other country. Nine other countries, including Germany, had accepted no asylum claims from Albania. The committee wants the Home Office to explain why the UK's asylum acceptance rate is so generous, and insists 'a key driver of migration from Albania is economic'. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'This government's priority is stopping the boats. 'Last year, 28% of those who arrived by small boat to the UK were from Albania - a safe European country and NATO ally - placing further strain on our asylum system. 'We've worked closely with the Albanian Government to disrupt criminal gangs and deter illegal migration. In the five months to the end of May, Albanian small boat arrivals are down 90% on last year and we have returned 1,800 illegal migrants and foreign criminals back to Albania. Thanks to changes to our asylum system, we have gone from accepting 1 in 5 Albanian asylum claims to just 1 in 50, in line with other European countries. 'We will carefully consider the report and respond in due course.' The sister of a headteacher who killed herself after her school was downgraded by Ofsted said planned reforms to the schools inspection system do not go far enough. Ofsted has today unveiled a series of changes to pacify unions and school bosses who called for it to be revamped or permanently scrapped. Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, said the changes were 'a start' but do not 'adequately address the many problems that the system creates'. Among the changes are a planned reform of the Ofsted complaints procedure and a new way for schools to improve a poor rating more quickly if they are downgraded over safeguarding concerns. From September, Ofsted reports will also refer to 'the school' in inspector's findings rather than naming individual headteachers or staff. Headteacher Ruth Perry (pictured) killed herself in January after her school was downgraded by Ofsted Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, said the changes were 'a start' but do not 'adequately address the many problems that the system creates' But the changes fall short of those demanded by MPs and campaigners for a removal of the 'one-word' grading system which has been criticised for being too simplistic. Professor Waters said: 'I am disappointed that no mention is made about removing harmful and misleading single-word judgments. 'I can understand the need to provide clarity and simplicity for parents about an inspection, but too much is hidden or lost behind a headline judgement of just one or two words.' Ms Perry, who was headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, took her own life in January while waiting for an Ofsted report which downgraded her school to 'inadequate' - the lowest possible rating. Her heartbroken sister said the inspection had been the 'worst day of her life'. Ms Perry's death sparked criticism from unions and headteachers over the stress inspections can place on school staff. Ofsted has also announced today that schools who are found to have ineffective safeguarding but are judged to be good on all other criteria will be reinspected within three months to allow them to quickly make changes to improve an 'inadequate' grading. However, only 12 state schools have fallen into this category in the past 18 months, with just 1.3 per cent of schools currently judged ineffective for safeguarding. The inadequate grading will still be imposed on a school during the re-inspection period. Ofsted has also launched a consultation on a reform of its complaints procedure, with schools given until September to respond to the proposals. Among suggested changes are a removal of the time-consuming stage of an Ofsted complaint where the quango considers how it has handled a grievance internally before a school can take it to the independent adjudicator. Also due to be added is a new way for headteachers to query 'some minor points of clarity or factual accuracy' without raising a formal complaint before an inspection report is published. The changes fall short of those demanded by MPs and campaigners for a removal of the 'one-word' grading system Paul Whiteman (pictured), NAHT general secretary, said: 'It has taken far too long for the government and Ofsted to announce this relatively modest set of measures and school leaders remain immensely frustrated at the lack of urgency and ambition being shown' Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman (pictured) said: 'When we inspect schools our priority must always be children's education and wellbeing - but at the same time we want to make sure inspection is as positive an experience for school staff as it can be' This will be considered 'promptly' and then the school will 'not normally have a later opportunity to raise a formal complaint or challenge'. This has already been trialled at some schools. Ofsted will also give schools greater guidance on roughly when they can expect to receive an inspection, with this likely to be between a term and a years' notice depending on the last check. However, the practice of giving one day's notice of an inspection will remain. The quango has steadfastly defied calls for an end to the current system of 'one or two-word' school ratings such as 'outstanding' and 'inadequate', as it says this makes it simpler for parents. Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: 'It has taken far too long for the government and Ofsted to announce this relatively modest set of measures and school leaders remain immensely frustrated at the lack of urgency and ambition being shown.' Education secretary Gillian Keegan (pictured) said: 'Taken together, today's announcements are a really important step. I have committed to continuing our work on improving the way we inspect our schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry following her tragic death' The union leader argued the one-word judgment system will mean the inspection system will 'remain fundamentally flawed and put pressure on school leaders'. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said: 'When we inspect schools our priority must always be children's education and wellbeing - but at the same time we want to make sure inspection is as positive an experience for school staff as it can be. 'Since the sad death of Ruth Perry, there has been considerable debate around Ofsted's work and I want to reassure people that we are listening to their concerns, and thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents.' Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: 'Taken together, today's announcements are a really important step. 'I have committed to continuing our work on improving the way we inspect our schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry following her tragic death.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org Horrifying video has been captured by a driver passing over a Philadelphia Interstate as it became engulfed in flames after a tanker truck carrying gasoline exploded. Tara Hallinan was among the last of the motorists to make it safely over a section of I-95 northbound before it finally gave way, having been weakened by the fire early on Sunday. The video shows thick black smoke billowing from either side of the freeway while enormous flames are seen shooting up into the sky. After passing through the affected area, Hallinan turns around to film through the rear window of her car through which enormous black clouds of smoke can be seen. During a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said that a vehicle was trapped in the rubble and that it was possible that at least one person could still be inside. Part of the I-95 Philadelphia Interstate collapsed as a tanker truck carrying gasoline caught fire and exploded. The enormity of the blaze could be seen through the windshield of a driver From above, the devastation can be seen following the Interstate collapse Shapiro would not be drawn on whether it might be the driver of the commercial truck that sparked the massive blaze and subsequent bridge collapse. Video from the scene showed a massive concrete slab had fallen from I-95 onto the road below. Shapiro said his flight over the area showed 'just remarkable devastation.' 'I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died,' he said. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney also said that while there are no known fatalities, the situation is 'still fluid.' Authorities believe the truck was likely carrying hundreds of gallons of gasoline. The fire took about an hour to get under control. In her rear view mirror thick black clouds of smoke could be seen towering into the sky Moments are Hallinan had driven across, a massive 4-lane section of roadway collapsed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said his flight over the area showed 'just remarkable devastation' While the northbound section now has a gaping hole, the southbound overpass was closed as the blaze has now made it structurally unsound. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines caused explosions underground, he added. The crash happened on a ramp underneath northbound I-95 around 6:15am, said state Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph, and the northbound section above the fire collapsed quickly. The southbound lanes were heavily damaged, and Rudolph said these are being assessed over their safety. Shapiro said 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. Officials are seen working on the scene following the collapse of an elevated section of Interstate 95 Philadelphia Fire Department firefighters look at the scene of an interstate overpass collapse The flyover collapsed early on Sunday after a vehicle caught fire, closing the main north-south highway on the East Coast Shapiro said he had been spoken directly to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had been assured that there would be 'absolutely no delay' in getting federal funds quickly to rebuild what he called a 'critical roadway'. Shapiro said the complete rebuild of I-95 would take 'some number of months.' In the meantime, officials are looking at 'interim solutions to connect both sides of I-95 to get traffic through the area.' The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a $212 million reconstruction project that wrapped up four years ago. Thousands of tons of steel and concrete were piled atop the site of the fire, and heavy construction equipment would be required to start to remove the debris, said Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management. Thousands of tons of steel and concrete were piled atop the site of the fire The collapse now threatens to upend travel in parts of the densely populated Northeast The collapse took out four traffic lanes along an elevated section of the heavily traveled motorway, though no injuries were immediately reported Reports attributed the accident to an oil tanker that burst into flames under the bridge Officials work on the scene following the collapse of an elevated section of Interstate 95 after a tanker truck caught fire on Sunday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) 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. Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, said he was driving south toward the citys airport when he noticed thick, black smoke rising over the highway. As he passed the fire, the road beneath began to 'dip,' creating a noticeable depression that was visible in video he took of the scene, he said. He saw traffic in his rearview mirror come to a halt. Soon after, the northbound lanes of the highway crumbled. 'It was crazy timing,' Fusetti said. 'For it to buckle and collapse that quickly, its pretty remarkable.' 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. An Australian tradie who allegedly went on a naked rampage in Indonesia has shared an emotional reunion with family after spending more than a month behind bars. Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, was arrested on April 27 and accused by police of assaulting a fisherman while drunk and naked in the deeply conservative Muslim province of Aceh where alcohol is banned. Mr Risby-Jone was deported back home to Queensland and landed at Sunshine Coast Airport on Sunday afternoon after catching a connecting flight from Melbourne. Australian tradie Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, (pictured) embraced his mum after spending more than a month behind bars in Indonesia over an alleged drunken and naked rampage Mr Risby-Jones apologised and paid $25,000 compensation to the fisherman which 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 was greeted by his mother at Melbourne Airport and the two shared an emotional embrace, according to Nine News. 'Unreal,' Mr Risby-Jones said before his mother replied: 'I'm so glad you're safe'. 'It's been a long time coming and I'm feeling amazing and super happy and grateful,' Mr Risby-Jones told reporters. 'I'm very, very relieved and happy. I made a fool of myself and it was shown publicly worldwide.' Mr Risby-Jones was released from an Indonesian prison on Tuesday and then spent three nights at an immigration detention centre before returning home. He was seen smiling at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and even gave cameras a thumbs up as immigration escorted him to his flight. 'Of course I'm pretty emotional, so I'm going to feel bad about it,' Mr Risby-Jones said. Fisherman Edi Ron suffered serious leg injuries including a broken ankle and 50 stitches because of Mr Risby-Jones' actions. The fisherman had surgery for his broken bones and an infection in his leg in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. Mr RisbyJones has vowed to return to Indonesia to do more surfing, according to his lawyer Mr Risby-Jones said he apologised and paid compensation to the fisherman which 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. Mr Risby-Jones added 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.' 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. '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.' He was reportedly initially asked to pay more than $60,000 in compensation but reached a settlement with the fisherman on May 26 of $25,000. Mulvaney previously played Elder White in the National Tour of Book of Mormon The transgender influencer fell over after the mascot snuck up on her Dylan Mulvaney, 26, posed with Tony the Tiger at the Tony's Saturday night Dylan Mulvaney was in for a fright on the magenta carpet of the 76th Tony Awards in New York City when Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger snuck up on her. The transgender influencer posted a video to Instagram showing her on the carpet getting spooked by the tiger, causing her to hilariously fall over. 'That just scared the hell out of me,' Dylan said as she and photographers taking pictures could be heard laughing about the interaction. The social media star wore a black floor-length dress with gem decals made by Christian Siriano which accented her newly-debuted bleach-blond hair. Mulvaney studied musical theater in college and played Elder White on the National Tour of The Book of Mormon in 2019. Dylan Mulvaney was in for a fright on the magenta carpet of the 76th Tony Awards in New York City when Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger snuck up on her The transgender influencer posted a video to Instagram showing her on the carpet getting spooked by the tiger, causing her to hilariously fall over In other photos, Tony the Tiger offered up an arm to walk the transgender entertainer and activist down the carpet ahead of the night's biggest moments. After the scare with the Frosted Flakes mascot, Mulvaney went on to put her dress on full display in front of a leaf-heavy Tony Awards backdrop. One photo posted by the Tony's Facebook account of Mulvaney received dozens of likes and comments from those praising the TikToker. 'Stunning,' Facebook user Brenda Ashdown Whitney wrote. 'She looks so pretty!' shared Rocky Enclada. 'Love the blond hair! Gorgeous,' another person added. Mulvaney appeared at the event through a partnership with Meta, according to her Instagram post. In her video, she said she was overjoyed at the chance to attend Broadway's biggest night, especially considering her theater history. Not all were so supportive of the trans activist's presence at the event. 'She's only here because of the controversy,' one Facebook user wrote. The user is referencing the Bud Light controversy which saw the company hiring Mulvaney to do an endorsement of their beer, which triggered mass outrage. In other photos, Tony the Tiger offered up an arm to walk the transgender entertainer and activist down the carpet ahead of the night's biggest moments After the scare with the Frosted Flakes mascot, Mulvaney went on to put her dress on full display in front of a leaf-heavy Tony Awards backdrop Mulvaney debuted a new Madonna-adjacent look over the weekend in New York The company has since lost billions of dollars in market capitalization after it was boycotted by millions of consumers. In early June, 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. For the week ended May 20, Bud Light sales were down 25.7 percent, according to data from Bump Williams Consulting cited by the New York Post. 'While Bud Light loses week after week, Modelo Especial gains week after week and now Modelo outsells Bud Light on a national basis across all trade channels combined,' Bump Williams told the Post. Bud Light officials have since issued a 'half-brewed' apology for upsetting fans. Mulvaney recently talked with 'Them,' an LGBTQ+ magazine and said she will only work with brands who want to support all transgender people. 'If a brand wants to work with me so bad, then they should work with other trans people, too,' Mulvaney told the magazine. 'Its not enough to just hire me, this white, skinny trans girl. I want all the dolls getting all the brand deals,' she continued. In April, the Anheuser-Busch-owned brand became embroiled in controversy Mulvaney recently talked with ' Them ,' an LGBTQ+ magazine and said she will only work with brands who want to support all transgender people Speaking for the first time, Mulvaney said: 'No matter your gender, people will project things on to you about who you're supposed to be. And I think we equally have to tell people our actual purpose.' Mulvaney told 'Them' she prefers not to name her critics 'because it gives them the satisfaction of believing they're on my mind.' 'It shows my followers that I'm standing up for myself, but also pushes that their narrative is loud enough to matter,' she told the magazine. Boris Johnson has accused the Cabinet Office of trying to frustrate the public inquiry into the Government's Covid response. The former Prime Minister, who dramatically resigned as an MP on Friday, told the Times he feels the Cabinet Office is 'foot-dragging' and wasting 'public time and money'. It comes after it warned him not to share WhatsApp messages and notebooks with the inquiry, which is being chaired by Baroness Hallett. The Cabinet Office has gone to court to stop the release of any information it deems 'unambiguously irrelevant', and last week wrote to Mr Johnson to say releasing it on his own could raise national security concerns. The 58-year-old had offered Baroness Hallett the chance to view 'unredacted material' but faces opposition from the Cabinet Office, who he has now accused of blocking him from doing so. Boris Johnson has accused the Cabinet Office of blocking him from handing over WhatApp messages and notebooks to the Covid inquiry The former Prime Minister says the Cabinet Office is 'foot-dragging' and 'costing public time and money' Speaking to The Times, the Tory grandee claimed the Cabinet Office was refusing to return his notebooks over fears he would give them to the inquiry. Mr Johnson said: 'The Cabinet Office has blocked me from directly sharing unredacted material with the inquiry - despite my repeated attempts to do so. 'The government wants the whole matter to be decided by the courts, even though government ministers are on record saying that litigation is pointless because the government will not win. 'The Cabinet Office's foot-dragging approach to the inquiry is costing public time and money. The inquiry's work is crucial. We must explore what happened during Covid, particularly the big questions over policy decisions. 'Some other countries have already finished their investigations into these matters. We need to get on with this and the government's position is now - in my view - frustrating the inquiry's work.' It is believed the ex-PM is taking advice from lawyers on whether he can release the material without the permission of the Cabinet Office - something that could spark legal action from the Government. The publication reports the Cabinet Office wrote to the Covid inquiry saying it was 'not appropriate for the Government to have to take steps that are not consistent with the very position that it has raised in the Judicial Review'. It said it would not give 'unambiguously irrelevant material to Mr Johnson in the knowledge that he intended simply to provide it, without protection, on to the inquiry', adding that some of this 'may involve issues of national security'. But Mr Johnson hit back saying he still wanted to share the unredacted documents, claiming: 'The Cabinet Office will not return my notebooks out of fear that I will disclose them directly to the inquiry.' MailOnline has contacted the Cabinet Office for comment. Baroness Hallett (pictured), who is chairing the Covid Inquiry, has refused to back down in a Government row over access to Boris Johnson's unredacted WhatsApp messages Hundreds of formal requests for evidence have been sent out, including to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his predecessor Liz Truss Baroness Hallett had requested unedited communications and notes by Mr Johnson for use in the inquiry into the Government's response to the Covid pandemic. But this was blocked by the Cabinet Office, triggering a legal challenge expected before the High Court at the end of this month. She said she had 'declined' to bow to Cabinet Office requests to withdraw her demand, while families of those who died during the pandemic said the Government's intervention 'beggars belief'. READ MORE HERE: Half of Brits believe the government should not be allowed to use WhatsApp for official work Advertisement The first strand of the inquiry, examining resilience and preparedness for the pandemic, will start its evidence hearings on Tuesday next week, which will last until the end of July. The second strand, which will focus on Government decision-making and cover the actions of Mr Johnson among others, is due to begin in October. Hundreds of formal requests for evidence have been sent out, including to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, his predecessor Liz Truss, former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, and Covid-era health secretary Matt Hancock. The Government has already missed the deadline to hand over Mr Johnson's unredacted material, with ministers instead announcing highly unusual plans to challenge the request in the courts. At largely administrative hearing last week, Baroness Hallett said: 'I issued a notice... making it clear that, in my view, it is for the inquiry chair to decide what is relevant or potentially relevant. 'The Cabinet Office disagrees, claiming they are not obliged to disclose what they consider to be unambiguously irrelevant material. They invited me to withdraw the notice. I declined. They are now challenging my decision by way of judicial review.' Hugo Keith KC, counsel to the inquiry, said Mr Johnson was effectively circumventing the Government by offering to hand over information directly. Mr Keith said: 'The inquiry team has been liaising with his legal team.' Information Commissioner Mr Edwards separately told the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee that government departments 'shouldn't be using disappearing messages in the conduct of government business'. Asked what sanctions were available if such messages were used, Mr Edwards said: 'It's a little perilous to speculate but there are criminal sanctions for failing to maintain a record or destroying a record.' Boris Johnson could be barred from the parliamentary estate after describing a Commons inquiry into Partygate as a 'kangaroo court'. Members of the Commons privileges committee will meet this afternoon to finalise their report into allegations that he lied to Parliament over Partygate. The report could be released as soon as today, after Mr Johnson resigned as an MP on Friday saying he was the victim of a 'witch-hunt'. He quit after the committee sent him a 'warning letter' which is thought to have confirmed it will find him guilty of lying when he told MPs no Covid rules were broken at No 10 gatherings. The seven-strong committee is said to be considering fresh sanctions against him, which could include withholding the Commons pass given to most former MPs allowing them continued access to the parliamentary estate. Mr Johnson quit after the committee sent him a 'warning letter' which is thought to have confirmed it will find him guilty of lying when he told MPs no Covid rules were broken at No 10 gatherings The move could spell trouble for a number of prominent MPs, including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said the committee's proceedings 'make kangaroo courts look respectable' Former Commons Speaker John Bercow received a similar punishment following allegations of bullying. The committee is also expected to consider sanctions against supporters of Mr Johnson who have publicly criticised its proceedings. Allies of the former PM believe the committee which is led by Labour's former deputy leader Harriet Harman is biased against him. All seven who decided Mr Johnson's fate had made disparaging comments against him. The move could spell trouble for a number of prominent MPs, including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said the committee's proceedings 'make kangaroo courts look respectable'. Guto Harri, Mr Johnson's ex-communications director, said it was bizarre that the former PM could be hounded out by Miss Harman, who is a former acting Labour leader READ MORE: Lord's watchdog blocked HALF of Boris Johnson's proposed peerages as Tories feud in wake of ex-PM's shock resignation from the Commons The former Tory leader has dramatically quit the House of Commons over Partygate and a row over his peerages list Advertisement The committee includes four Tories, but writing in The Mail on Sunday yesterday, Sir Jacob said they 'ignored the politicking of the chairman and naively went along with her leadership'. In his resignation statement on Friday, Mr Johnson said it had been 'naive and trusting of me to think that these proceedings could be remotely useful or fair'. He denied lying to Parliament and said the committee had 'wilfully chosen to ignore the truth', adding: 'Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. 'This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.' A Whitehall source said his comments were likely to be an 'aggravating factor' when the committee considers its verdict. Guto Harri, Mr Johnson's ex-communications director, said it was bizarre that the former PM could be hounded out by Miss Harman, who is a former acting Labour leader. He told Sky News: 'Can you imagine any Labour supporter being happy if someone like William Hague, say, had the fate of Keir Starmer in his hands when he was caught drinking beer and having curry with friends a long way from home in lockdown? 'People will think, 'Whoa, a committee led by the former Labour leader can hound Boris out of office when police found him guilty of one minor misdemeanour worth a 50 quid fine?' At the weekend, the committee accused Mr Johnson of breaking the rules by effectively leaking its findings and questioning its integrity. 'Mr Johnson has... impugned the integrity of the House by his statement,' a spokesman said. Ministers will today be urged by MPs to press ahead with legal reforms that would protect women's rights despite fierce opposition from trans activists. A long-awaited parliamentary debate will hear fresh demands for equality laws to be rewritten on the basis of biology rather than gender identity. The proposed far-reaching change to the Equality Act 2010 would stop transgender women accessing female-only spaces including hospital wards, prisons and toilets. It is expected to be backed by equality minister Kemi Badenoch with the support of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak but has provoked a backlash from others who see it as an attack on trans rights. Last week the Prime Minister indicated he would change the law to protect women-only spaces. The legal reforms are expected to be backed by equality minister Kemi Badenoch with the support of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Speaking on his flight to Washington DC, Mr Sunak said: 'I've been very clear that when it comes to matters like this, biological sex is fundamentally important' Speaking on his flight to Washington DC, Mr Sunak said: 'I've been very clear that when it comes to matters like this, biological sex is fundamentally important. 'I've said that multiple times and with regard to the Equality Act, in particular, the Government has specifically asked for advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)... and then obviously, we will review that.' As the Mail revealed last month, staff at the EHRC tried to oust chairman Baroness Falkner over her backing for the legal clarification. Now the topic will be discussed in depth in Parliament for the first time, after a petition garnered 109,000 signatures. Today's Westminster Hall debate will examine the demand that the Government 'modify the operation of the Equality Act 2010' by specifying the terms 'sex, male, female, man & woman' mean 'biological sex' and not legal sex, which can be changed by a trans person obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate. Backbench Tory Nick Fletcher, who is planning to speak, told the Mail: 'We need to get back to being able to use plain English words like man, woman, sex, with everyone knowing exactly what we mean. 'The confusion around these words has now impacted the Equality Act and its ability to make clear provision for single-sex services and spaces. This impacts the dignity and privacy of both sexes and the safety of women and girls.' Other Tory MPs expected to speak include Miriam Cates, who has led calls for a review of inappropriate sex education lessons in schools. The debate will consider an opposing position with 138,000 signatures which states: 'The Government has previously committed to not remove legal protections for trans people... but this change would do so.' Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who will open the debate, told the Mail: 'We have to have these discussions in a civilised and rational manner.' The sunny skies seen at the start of June are set to be a distant memory as bad weather threatens the UK this week. Thundery showers and heavy rain will move northwards across the country overnight, as the Met issues yellow weather warnings for showers and thunderstorms in parts of the UK today. The warnings are in place for parts of Scotland, Ireland and some areas of England. Monday will still see sunny spells, with slow moving thundery showers developing during the day. Tuesday and Wednesday will bring warm and humid conditions for many, with plenty of sunny spells. However, the risk of thundery showers will continue. The Met has issued yellow weather warnings for showers and thunderstorms in parts of the UK today Vehicles are driven through flash flooding in the Lower Wick area of Worcester Parklife Festival is halted for over an hour as wet weather thunder and lightning puts a pause on the music The turbulent weather comes after sun-seeking Brits enjoyed temperatures of more than 30C yesterday. 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 on Saturday night, the most was only 21.8mm in Merseyside. 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. 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: The North saw heavy rain and even hail and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms 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. Frightened neighbors have said one of Portland's new city-sponsored homeless villages has become a hotbed for crime and drug dealing. Homeless people, who were previously camping out on the Peninsula Crossing Trail in Portland, were taken off the streets and introduced to the city's solution, the recently-completed Safe Rest Village. But the new village, which houses 70 people, has caused mayhem for homeowners in the vicinity, who say it's running rampant with drug dealers, loud noises and anti-social behavior. George Siebert, who can see the village from his backyard, told KATU: 'Life is pretty miserable because we live in a kind of anxiety. We are on the edge every time somebody walks by.' Frightened neighbors have said that one of Portland's new city-sponsored homeless villages has become a hotbed for crime and drug dealing The view of the new village from George Siebert's bedroom window Homeless people, who were previously camping out on the Peninsula Crossing Trail in Portland, were taken off the streets and introduced to the city's solution, the recently-completed Safe Rest Village His home, which he has lived in for 42 years, now faces the bathrooms of Portland's newest Safe Rest Village. He said he can hear people using the facilities at all times of the day. But Siebert said he and his wife have seen far worse in front of their home - including people passing by and flipping them off with profanities, people doing drugs on his property, and stealing his water. He said there are often people screaming and fighting as they make their way to and from the Safe Rest Village. It's left the homeowner scared for his life as he constantly is in fear of his car being stolen or something getting out of hand. One person on a bike putting their middle finger up at one of the homeowners George Siebert, who can see the village from his backyard, said : 'Life is pretty miserable because we live in a kind of anxiety. We are on the edge every time somebody walks by' Another local, Chrisanne Boles, said the people have started stealing cigarettes from her porch CCTV footage at night showing the groups of people causing noise and havoc for locals Locals say there's often people screaming and fighting as they make their way to and from the Safe Rest Village CCTV from nearby homes showed the anti-social behavior, at all times of the day and night, that the locals have to deal with thanks to the new housing initiative. Another local, Chrisanne Boles, said the people have started stealing cigarettes from her porch. She told KATU: 'They've stolen, I don't know how much stuff out of my yard. They're bold enough now they come up on my porch and steal cigarettes. 'The ones that are really homeless and not doing the drugs, I have compassion for them. These ones right here, I have no compassion. 'They're not trying to help themselves. I've called the cops. The cops don't do nothing, right? What can they do?' Urban Alchemy CEO Lena Miller Urban Alchemy, the non-profit group that manages Safe Rest Village, said they are 'taking immediate steps to add two more practitioners per shift to provide safety and service monitoring and engage the areas surrounding the safe sleep to determine illicit activity.' There are set to be six safe rest villages in Portland. Their CEO, Lena Miller, has also been embroiled in 'black-fishing' controversies in the past, with critics claiming that she tries to make herself more black, when she is, in fact, a white woman. Tom Karwaki, chair of the University Park Neighborhood Association, said: 'The discussion with the neighborhood was always, 'Do you want a managed camp or an unmanaged camp?' And it was the wild west with the unmanaged camp. 'It's like having a battleship literally be dropped into the water and then suddenly be expected to be in battle the next day. Not going to happen. Well, it's sort of the same thing here; it was a hard, rocky start. 'Urban Alchemy initially just focused on what's inside the fence. Now they are sending their staff around here.' It's no surprise that Portland has been dealing with a serious homeless crisis. In May, local authorities in Oregon considered calling in the National Guard to help with Portland's homeless issue - while residents reveal they now no longer walk in certain areas because of the drug and encampment problem. The Health and Human Services and Public Safety Committee met last month for an emergency meeting to deal with the crisis - with more than 5,000 estimated homeless people in the city. According to WGME, city leaders say there are more than 100 tents in the city. Democrat lawmakers in Oregon also want to decriminalize homeless camps with a law that would allow the people who live in them to sue for $1,000 if they're harassed or told to leave. The hugely-controversial bill claims 'decriminalization of rest' would allow city leaders to 'redirect' cash from law enforcement into measures that 'address the root causes of homelessness and poverty'. Speaking to DailyMail.com about the bill, one resident said: 'I think there's got to be better ways to do that. I've already signed something saying I'm against it. I don't think it's a great idea.' The author of report which concluded Britain is not institutionally racist has said the country needs to stop being driven by 'white guilt'. Dr Tony Sewell sparked fury on the Left after a report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which he led in 2021, argued many issues cannot be blamed on race alone. The publication was attacked as 'patronising' and 'historically illiterate' by opponents, after saying instead many problems are complicated, varied and linked to tradition, economics, class and other social factors. Dr Sewell, who faced personal attacks after it was published, has now said he feels 'vindicated' by the report after Boris Johnson's government took on all of its recommendations. Speaking ahead of the 75th anniversary of Windrush, the 63-year-old said while progress has been made Britain needs move past ideas like unconscious bias and deal with more important issues faced by ethnic minorities. Dr Tony Sewell, pictured, says Britain needs to stop being driven by 'white guilt' Dr Sewell, pictured, led the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which in 2021 found Britain is not institutionally racist In an interview with The Times Dr Sewell, whose parents arrived in the UK from Jamaica in the 1950s, said the country should stop being driven by 'white guilt'. He said: 'I can see it in institutions - overreach, completely irrational responses, not considering the context and the complexities of issues. 'The critical problem is, are we going to be driven by facts and data or are we going to be driven by sentiment, guilt and lobby groups? READ MORE HERE: Race tsar Tony Sewell whose report found Britain was not institutionally racist blasts Nottingham university cowards for withdrawing his honorary degree Advertisement 'It's not to say that racism isn't there, but most of those social justice issues around disparities are complex for multiple reasons. 'You've got to have the courage to unravel them and find out what the multiple causes behind it are.' In the report, which was published two years ago, the commission found that racial inequalities have narrowed in education and employment. The report hailed the UK as a 'beacon to the rest of Europe and the world' and declared the UK was not institutionally racist. Amid cries of a 'whitewash', he was branded a Government stooge and even compared to Josef Goebbels, Hitler's minister for propaganda, by a Cambridge professor. Dr Sewell said that the findings of the report and his opinion on white guilt do not mean racism doesn't exist in Britain. 'Racism persists and it's still a problem - you can see that in the police and other areas,' he said. However, he added that by dealing with things such as class, geography and family structure, you can have a big impact on the lives of ethnic minorities. The academic also said people need to avoid thinking of race as a 'unifier' and that you 'cannot see everything through the race lens alone'. He told the publication: 'It's not unconscious bias training for teachers. It's how do you support some of those families that are finding it difficult with their children, particularly boys, to engage in the schooling system?' The Race Commission, which was launched by Boris Johnson following Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, hailed the UK a 'beacon to the rest of Europe and the world' When it was published the landmark report by the Commission said racism is a 'real force' in Britain and must be tackled, while hailing the country's 'model' progress over recent decades. But it said that 'geography, family influence, socio-economic background, culture and religion have more significant impact on life chances than the existence of racism'. The report - which was criticised as an 'insult', 'whitewash' and 'disgraceful sham' by Labour MPs - said in terms of overall numbers white boys from low income families were the most disadvantaged. It also hit out at the 'casual' use of the term 'institutional racism', saying there was little evidence to support the claims. As well as condemning barbs about 'White Privilege', the report said the term 'racism' was often 'misapplied' to 'account for every observed disparity' - suggesting that firms should 'move away from' unconscious bias training. Chair Tony Sewell thanked the 'mainly young people' behind the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement for putting the focus on race, but cautioned that progress cannot be achieved by 'cleaving to a fatalistic account that insists nothing has changed'. The document said 'historic experience of racism still haunts the present' and identified a 'reluctance to acknowledge that the UK had become open and fairer'. The commission also called for more funding for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and also urged a crackdown on social media firms who fail to tackle online abuse. The vast majority of Democratic primary voters say they would like to see President Joe Biden debate fellow Democratic candidates gunning for the presidency during the 2024 election campaign. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll, suggests 80 percent of Democrats wish to see Biden take on challenger Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a series of debates. Even 72 percent of Biden supporters appeared to be in favor of the idea. The possibility such a debate will actually take place is slim-to-none with Biden showing no interest in taking part as he calculates he has little to gain from such an encounter. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has also stated that it will not sponsor any debates. The overwhelming majority of Democratic primary voters say they would like to see debates between President Joe Biden and his fellow Democratic candidates About 80% of Democrats expressed their desire to see Biden engage in debates with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pictured, who is challenging Biden's nomination Among Democrats surveyed in the recent poll, 58 percent support Biden for the nomination, while 15 percent back Kennedy Such positions are typical when a president is running for a second term in office with incumbents from both sides of the aisle tending to avoid televised debates. 'As you know, no incumbent R [Republican] or D [Democrat] have done debates,' Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, said to USA Today. In 1980, then-President Jimmy Carter did not debate Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. It is Kennedy's nephew, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 69, who is now mounting a challenge to Biden that has limited chances of success. Kennedy is an ex-environmental lawyer who has in the past promoted conspiracy theories about the safety of FDA-approved vaccines. 'The decision not to debate is ignoring the 82% of women, 84% of union households, 86% of independents, and 90% of young voters who are not only planning to vote in their state's Democratic primary or caucus next year but also would like to see a series of Democratic primary debates,' said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk's Political Research Center who carried out the poll. The feverish anticipation for a face-off is evident on social media. One user said it 'would be comedy gold,' given Biden's unconventional opponents. Others bashed a selection process that was 'rigged' and 'anti-democratic.' While Biden's nomination has not faced significant threats, the poll highlights the importance of consolidating and energizing the Democratic base. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) waves to the crowd at his 2024 campaign kick-off alongside his wife actress Cheryl Hines (right), of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame Nearly three quarters of voters want to see Biden get on stage with his long shot Democratic challengers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) is photographed as a child with his uncle, President John F. Kennedy (left) Campaign memorabilia for Robert F. Kennedy Jr is seen being sold during his campaign launch Among Democrats surveyed, 58 percent support Biden for the nomination, while 15 percent back Kennedy and 6 percent support Marianne Williamson. A further 21 percent of those responding remain undecided. Neither candidate is likely to win the Democratic nomination, with party apparatchiks rallying around Biden and trying to prevent a proper primary challenge. Biden would be 86 at the end of his second term if he wins next year's presidential contest. During the 2020 election, in the absence of an incumbent Democratic president, Biden participated in 11 debates sanctioned by the DNC throughout the primary season. A televised Democratic primary debate in 2020. No incumbent president has taken part in a primary debate in decades, even when facing a well-known challenger Biden fell at an event in Colorado earlier this month, sparking fresh concerns about his health Kennedy, meanwhile, the son of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. and well known anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has expressed disappointment that any such debates do not appear to be on the horizon. The former environmental lawyer is also being advised by ex-Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who ran for the White House himself in 2004 and 2008. Kennedy, who is pro-choice has tried to court centrist voters with promises of border security. He portrays himself as the only viable left-of-center alternative to the aging and gaffe-prone commander-in-chief. Questions about Biden's fitness for office have been raised once more after he tumbled at an Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado on June 1. Biden's loyalists have long dismissed discussions about the president's health as a baseless smear cooked up by conservatives. A Marine who restrained a New York City subway passenger until he died has given his first on-camera interview to deny he killed the man deliberately and to reject claims his actions were racist. Daniel Penny, 24, gave his thoughts on camera for the first time in a video released by his lawyers just days after an interview where he said he had a moral obligation to protect his fellow passengers. Jordan Neely, who had been struggling with mental illness, drug use and homelessness in recent years, died after being put in a chokehold by Penny, who restrained him on a train with the help of other riders. The May 1 incident was captured on video. 'I wasn't trying to choke him to death' Penny claims in the new video. He goes on to claim Neely ripped off his jacket and threatened to kill the subway passengers, saying he was willing to die himself, before Penny felt compelled to intervene. Daniel Penny, 24, gave his thoughts in a series of videos released by his lawyers just days after an interview where he said he had a moral obligation to protect his fellow passengers 'The man stumbled on, he appeared to be on drugs, the doors closed, and he ripped his jacket off and threw it down at the people sitting next to me at my left,' he added. He said he took his headphones out from listening to music as he heard Neely yelling in what he deemed a 'scary situation.' 'The three main threats that he repeated over and over again were I'm going to kill you, I'm prepared to go to jail for life and I'm willing to die,' Penny said. At a certain point, Penny felt he couldn't sit and do nothing any longer, echoing an interview he gave earlier this week where he cited a talk at school from author Elie Wiesel. 'There's a common misconception that Marines don't get scared. We're actually taught one of our core values is courage, and courage is not the absence of fear but how you handle fear,' he said. 'I was scared for myself but I looked around there was women and children, he was yelling in their faces saying these threats. I just couldn't sit still.' He argued the reporting that he was 'holding on' to Neely for 15 minutes 'is not true.' 'The whole interaction lasted less than 5 minutes. Some people say I was trying to choke him to death - which is also not true. I was trying to restrain him.' He claimed the grip he used to keep Neely restrained was 'based on the force that [Neely's] exerting.' Penny, 24, turned himself in earlier this month after the District Attorney's office announced he would be charged with second-degree manslaughter Jordan Neely, 30, is placed in a choke hold by a fellow passenger on a subway train on May 1 'You can see in the video there's a clear rise and fall of his chest, indicating that he's breathing. I'm trying to restrain him from being able to carry out the threats.' The Marine also rubbished claims his behavior was racist, saying: 'Some people say that this was about race, which is absolutely ridiculous. 'I didn't see a black man threatening passengers. I saw a man threatening passengers, a lot of whom were people of color. 'A man who restrained Mr. Neely was a person of color. 'And then a few days after the incident, I read in the papers that a woman of color came out and called me a hero.' Penny was charged with manslaughter by the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg less than two weeks later. His lawyers maintained the Long Island native acted in self-defense after being threatened by Neely. If convicted, Penny could face up to 15 years in prison. In a previous interview, Penny said that if Neely continued, 'he would have killed somebody.' Since the incident, Penny said he is too traumatized to ride on the subway. The Ex-Marine went on to tell Fox News he was inspired to join the armed forces after seeing an advert on TV. 'They were going out and helping the world, and I wanted to be a part of that.' He described his time in the service as 'awesome' and opening his mind to new perspectives, seeing parts of the world that many don't get do see thanks to his tours in Spain, Greece, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Japan. Neely, who had been struggling with mental illness, drug use and homelessness in recent years, died after being put in a chokehold by Penny (pictured), who restrained him with the help of other riders Penny also spoke about growing up around patriotism as many of his neighbors were first responders on 9/11. When his service was up, he went backpacking throughout Mexico and Central America. Once back in the US, he moved to New York City to live with his sister, teaching swimming and bussing tables to make ends meet after he enrolled in an architecture program. Speaking about the fateful day he boarded an F train to go to the gym, Penny said: 'Between stops, youre trapped on the train, and theres nowhere to go. 'You can try to move away, but you can only do so much on a packed car. 'I was scared. I looked around, and I saw older women and children, and they were terrified.' That's when Penny stepped in, holding Neely in a chokehold until the train arrived at the Broadway-Lafayette station where police found him laying motionless. His lawyer, Steven Raiser, agreed with his client's version of events telling Fox: 'Danny could have gone to the corner of the train and waited for Neely to come to him. 'But it might have been too late for the little girl that was sitting in the middle of the train that [Neely] was screaming at.' This week it was reported that a New York grand jury was hearing evidence in the case. It is not known if Penny will testify. Jordan Neely was known as a Michael Jackson impersonator in his youth Jordan Neely pictured with his aunt, Carolyn. His aunt is preparing to launch a wrongful death suit against Daniel Penny Penny also thanked those who have contributed to his legal fund through GiveSendGo. The campaign has raised over $2.83million as of Sunday night. 'I was working two jobs as a student. My family doesnt come from money so Im incredibly thankful for this fund and all the people who have supported me,' Penny said. 'Funds are being raised to pay Mr. Pennys legal fees incurred from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense,' the page reads in part. Rocker Kid Rock wrote on the page: 'Mr. Penny is a hero. Alvin Bragg is a POS. Kid Rock.' Penny's actions were also celebrated by 2024 presidential hopeful Governor Ron DeSantis. Last week, Jordan Neely's aunt, Carolyn, announced her intention to file a wrongful death suit against Penny in a letter that was sent from her attorneys, the Manhattan-based Mills & Edwards, to Penny's lawyer. 'Please be advised that this office has been retained . . . to pursue a claim for personal injuries and wrongful death. . . . Your action resulted in the death of Jordan Neely,' the letter reads in part reports the New York Post. According to the Post's report, Neely's aunt is also seeking Penny's insurance information. Penny said he often thinks of Neely's family, members of which have said that he should be charged with murder. 'Theyve been in my prayers. I feel for their loss. Like Jordan, theyre also victims of a failed system,' he told Fox. Responding to those who have called him a racist, Penny pointed out that many of those on board the train that day were minorities. 'It definitely hurts a lot. It has obviously taken a toll.' The homeowner told KTLA the coyotes had built a den in his yard The video was taken at a home in Montecito Heights, on the city's east side Doorbell footage shows the moment seven coyote pups scrapped and played together outside a home in Los Angeles to the surprise of the homeowner. Video shared with KTLA shows the pups in the driveway of a Montecito Heights home and the street along with an adult coyote who stayed nearby to the babies. The video was taken Saturday morning just after midnight and the homeowner told the Los Angeles outlet that the coyotes had built a den at the bottom of his yard. The two-minute video shared by KTLA shows the parent pup patiently waiting on the children to exit the den in the front yard, one at a time. Wildlife experts estimate the coyote population in the Los Angeles area is expansive while California is projected to have some 750,000 coyotes. Doorbell footage shows the moment seven coyote pups scrapped and played together outside a home in Los Angeles to the surprise of the homeowner One by one, the pups exit the den and join their siblings in the driveway and street. As they await their siblings, the other animals play and tussle with each other. The video ends with the group running off down the street and leaving one pup in the dust before the animal is seen chasing after the crew. The clip quickly racked up thousands of views on YouTube and hundreds of comments from users who awed at the cuteness of the brood. 'Wow that mother has a lot of work and responsibility to take care of,' one wrote. 'Suspicious activity indeed,' one YouTube commenter joked. 'Adorable. They behave so much like domestic puppies,' another added. 'Coyotes are more common than many realize - I get them on my backyard cameras 3 to 4X a week and my neighbors always say "really, I've never seen one in my yard." Get good cameras in your yard and you will,' one person shared. The wild animals are incredibly common in California and the greater Los Angeles area with sightings and run-ins often reported. Earlier this month, a coyote pup snuck into a kennel at a home outside of Sacramento to try and find its family. According to a Facebook post by Tri County Wildlife Care, the coyote tried to bond with 'a kind resident's dogs.' 'Coyotes are beneficial predators and we can coexist with them,' Tri County Wildlife Care wrote in a Facebook post. Video shared with KTLA shows the pups in the driveway of a Montecito Heights home and the street along with an adult coyote who stayed nearby to the babies The video was taken Saturday morning just after midnight and the homeowner told the Los Angeles outlet that the coyotes had built a den at the bottom of his yard One by one, the pups exit the den and join their siblings in the driveway and street 'Thanks to the kindness of this dog owner, this pup is getting a second chance at life,' the post continued. In May, at a home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills, security camera footage captured the moment a homeowner came face to face with a coyote. Mia Shoshan said her brother heard the doggie-door swing open despite both of their dogs being in his room and a commotion in the living room. 'Our cat, Lily, started meowing and screaming, she was terrified and calling for us to help,' Shoshan said in an interview with KTLA. A man and his housecat came face-to-face with a wild coyote in their own home after the animal entered the house through a doggie door in May The cat is seen in the bottom right hand corner of the screen, on top of a chair, while coming face to face with the coyote In 2022, a young girl in Woodland Hills was dragged by a coyote in a shocking incident that was also caught on camera. In the video, the family appeared to be getting out of their car when the coyote approached the girl on the lawn and began to draw her by her legs. The 2-year-old girl's father was able to chase after the coyote and the animal let her go. The girl was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Denee Benton, the star of HBO's The Gilded Age, compared Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a KKK 'grand wizard' during the Tony Awards on Sunday night. The term is historically associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), with the 'grand wizard' being the highest-ranking leader of the white supremacist organization. Benton, who hails from Orlando, was onstage presenting a special Tony Award to Jason Zembuch-Young, a teacher from Plantation, Florida. 'While I'm certain that the current grand wizard I'm sorry. Excuse me governor - of my home state of Florida will be changing the name of this following town (Planation, Florida) immediately...' the Broadway veteran stated as she pretended to slip up over the governor's name. Actor Denee Benton took aim at Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during Sunday's Tony Awards ceremony, referring to him as a 'grand wizard' She quipped DeSantis would be looking to change the name of the teacher's town, Plantation, Florida, while the New York audience (including actress Lily Rabe, second left) cheered Benton appeared to be taking aim at DeSantis' war on woke policies in schools and other public institutions, including critical race theory and lessons on transgenderism for very young school students. DeSantis' education-related law originally passed last year and restricted the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in grades Kindergarten through third. But DeSantis and other hard-liner Republicans in the Florida legislature didn't think the law went far enough. Critics have dubbed the bill the 'don't say gay' law, claiming that it could hurt gay and transgender students by keeping the discussions off limits in public school classrooms. Additionally, the new law also makes the process easier for parents to make sure books they feel are inappropriate are taken off their children's bookshelves. Benton, meanwhile, also appeared the play off the meaning of the word 'Plantation' - the town from which an award recipient was from. Benton continued: 'I am sure that he will be changing the name of this following town immediately, but we were honored to present this award to the truly incredible and life-changing Jason Zembuch Young, [for] enhancing the lives of students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida.' Her remarks received several seconds of rapturous applause from the gathered audience at the ceremony held in upper Manhattan. Benton could not help but laugh at the enthusiastic response. Benton's remarks appeared to acknowledge DeSantis' legislative push in Florida to enact racist and discriminatory policies restricting school curriculums on American history, together with other similar moves during his time in office Benton is perhaps best known for her role as Pegg Scott in The Gilded Age, seen right, with Simon Jones who plays butler, Bannister Denee Benton poses on the red carpet at the 76th Annual Tony Awards in New York on Sunday Governor DeSantis recently announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election, setting up a potential race against Donald Trump. DeSantis is a pariah on Broadway and in Hollywood over his so-called 'Don't say gay' bill, which bans the teaching of gender identity and sexuality to schoolchildren. The governor has also taken on Hollywood in his battles with Disney over special tax breaks that were given to the company in the Sunshine State. Benton gained recognition in the theater world following a with a Tony nomination in 2017 for her portrayal of Natasha in 'Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.' She has also appeared on Broadway as Eliza Hamilton in 'Hamilton' and as Cinderella in 'Into the Woods.' Donald Trump is keen to hire a new bully-boy lawyer in the mold of his notorious mentor Roy Kohn as he prepares to fight a devastating federal indictment. The New York Times reported Trump is scrambling to find legal representation following the resignation of his lawyers James Trusty and John Rowley Friday, a day after he was indicted over concealing classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Trump, who's flying back to Florida Monday, is said to be pining for another Cohn. Cohn served as Trump's lawyer and fixer during the 1980s. He was notorious for the ruthless way in which he protected his clients, who also included Nancy Reagan, and is credited with shaping Trump into the man he is today. The former president is set to appear before a Miami federal court Tuesday, where 37 federal charges will be put to him, in what his former Attorney General Bill Barr called the gravest legal threat Trump is facing. President Donald Trump faces a court date Tuesday and as he prepares to fight classified documents charges, insiders suggest he still wishes for a lawyer in the mold of mentor Roy Cohn The New York Times revealed part of the indictment included some of 'the most damning evidence' as having come from one of Trump's own attorneys, M. Evan Corcoran. Corcoran was notoriously forced to give up attorney-client privilege in the grand jury probe and Corcoran's notes, the Times claims, 'essentially gave prosecutors a road map to building their case.' But what Trump seemingly still desires is a legal mind similar to that of his former mentor Cohn, who he claims 'brutalized' on his behalf. It's been claimed since 2018 that Trump, in the crucible of his own legal difficulties, pleaded to his White House staff: 'Where's My Roy Cohn?' Cohn became Trump's lawyer and fixer in the early 80s when he was looking to escape his father's outer-boroughs empire and move into Manhattan's real estate world. The attorney was Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel and fixer during his communist and homosexual witch hunts in the '50s. Ironically Cohn was himself a deeply closeted gay man. He was a gay-baiting homophobe in public who lived a flamboyant life behind closed doors - and who ultimately died of AIDS in 1986, after lying and saying he was suffering from liver cancer. Cohn had a reputation for attacking, never apologizing, stopping at nothing to reach his goals, distracting his opponents as well as lying and cheating. 'Those are the rules of war. Donald learned that from Roy', stated Trump adviser and Cohn protege, Roger Stone. 'Donald calls me 15 to 20 times a day. He's always asking, 'What is the status of thisand that?' said Roy Cohn in a 1980 interview with Vanity Fair. They met seven years earlier in 1973 when the budding real-estate developer and his father, Fred, were in hot water with the Justice Department for housing discrimination against African-Americans. It's been claimed since 2018 that Trump, in the crucible of his own legal difficulties, pleaded to his White House staff: 'Where's My Roy Cohn?' The shocking 37 charges were unsealed last week - the embattled Republican frontrunner expecting to plead not guilty claims he mishandled classified papers - in a Miami court Tuesday. Evidence included these boxes stacked at Mar-a-Lago Cohn became Trump's lawyer and fixer in the early 80s when he was looking to escape his father's outer-boroughs empire and move into Manhattan's real estate world Cohn (pictured right) was Senator Joseph McCarthy's (pictured center) chief counsel and fixer during his communist and homosexual witch hunts in the '50s Trump approached Cohn for advice during a chance encounter at a private midtown dinner club known as 'Le Club.' Cohn's advice? 'Tell them to go to hell and fight the thing in court and let them prove you discriminated.' Cohn's first big favor to Trump happened in 1976 when he secured a 42-year-long tax abatement from the City of New York (during a time when the city was practically bankrupt) for Trump's Grand Hyatt Hotel on 42nd Street. The $400million tax abatement was orchestrated by Cohn and his favor-banking associate, Stanley Friedman, who signed off the deal on his last day as Deputy Mayor of NYC. This would become the longest-ever tax abatement granted by the city and to return the favor, Cohn made Friedman a partner in his law firm. Towards the end of Cohn's life, documentarian Matt Tyrnauer claimed Cohn and Trump's friendship began to take a back seat. Some speculate that Trump was trying to distance himself from the 'tar of illness', while others think he wanted to remove himself from Cohn's professional controversy. Trump now faces the very real possibility that his attorney Corcoran could testify in court at his trial in the indictment case. 'I always used to think that attorneys really had a very high status in life, that when you had an attorney, that attorneys can't be subpoenaed, they can't be summoned to talk,' Trump told Newsmax in March. Cohn's first big favor to Trump happened in 1976 when he secured a 42-year-long tax abatement from the City of New York (during a time when the city was practically bankrupt) for Trump's Grand Hyatt Hotel on 42nd Street Cohn had a reputation for attacking, never apologizing, stopping at nothing to reach his goals, distracting his opponents as well as lying and cheating 'They bring attorneys in as though they're, you know, witnesses to a case. It wasn't supposed to be that way,' he added. The 76-year-old said on Thursday 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. Trump is facing four separate counts, each carrying a potential prison time of 20 years: conspiracy to obstruct justice; withholding a document or record; corruptly concealing a document or record; and concealing a document in a federal investigation. One count carries a 10-year sentence: willful retention of national defense information. And the final two counts have a maximum of five years each: scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations. The news of the indictments 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 indictment 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.' Trump is making his first public appearances this weekend at a rally in Georgia Donald Trump supporters at the Columbus Airport, Columbus, Georgia, 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 He is set to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday at 3pm, where the charges will be put to him. Trump denies all allegations he faces. 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. Two men have been charged over the murder and disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, after police discovered human remains. Chloe Mitchell, who is from Ballymena, County Anrtim, was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of June 3 in the town centre. A 26-year-old man has now been charged with murder following a major search operation that resulted in the discovery of suspected human remains. Another 34-year-old man has been charged with assisting offenders, following extensive searches of the area over the past few days. The two men will appear at Ballymena Magistrate's Court this morning after forensics officers attended a flat in the James Street area of Ballymena on Sunday evening. 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 The flat in Ballymena town centre had previously been cordoned off by police, earlier in the week, before forensics officers attended on Sunday evening. PSNI previously launched a criminal investigation and arrested two men aged 26 and 34 in connection with the case. The case turned into murder investigation after police said they found suspected human remains in the town on Sunday, although no formal identification has been made yet. 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. SNP leader declines to take action against his predecessor after her arrest Humza Yousaf has been branded 'weak' after he ignored calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP following her dramatic arrest as part of a police probe into the party's finances. The First Minister today insisted there was 'no reason' to take action against his predecessor, who was released without charge after almost seven hours in custody yesterday. Mr Yousaf admitted the news of Ms Sturgeon's arrest was 'quite personally painful' for him due to their 'long-standing friendship'. But he refused to heed the calls of senior SNP colleagues and opposition parties who are demanding Ms Sturgeon's suspension. The Scottish Tories took aim at 'weak' Mr Yousaf for defying those who want to see Ms Sturgeon step away from the SNP until the police investigation is concluded. They jibed that the First Minister was unable to take action against his predecessor because he was 'hopelessly compromised' by the support of Ms Sturgeon's allies in the SNP leadership contest to succeed her. Humza Yousaf defied calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon (pictured in April) from the SNP following her dramatic arrest as part of the police probe into the party's finances The First Minister insisted there was 'no reason' to take action against his predecessor, who was released without charge after almost seven hours in custody yesterday. Former SNP leadership contender Ash Regan said Ms Sturgeon should resign her party membership following her arrest SNP MP Angus MacNeil said it was 'time for political distance until the investigation ends either way' Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East, said it would be 'the right thing' for Ms Sturgeon to resign the SNP whip in the Scottish Parliament Police probe into SNP finances - what's happened so far May 2021 Douglas Chapman resigns from his role as SNP treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job July 2021 Police Scotland confirm they are 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. August 2021 As the party's annual accounts are published, new SNP treasurer Colin Beattie acknowledges 'concern' about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than 600,000. December 2022 It emerges that Peter Murrell, the SNP chief executive, had loaned the party 100,000 in June 2021. February 2023 Nicola Sturgeon suddenly announces her resignation. She says 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. March 2023 Amid the SNP leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon, her husband Mr Murrell announces he is stepping down as the party's chief executive amid a row over the party's membership numbers. 5 April 2023 Mr Murrell is arrested and is released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day. 9 April 2023 A luxury camper van is seized by police investigating the SNP's finances, thought to be worth around 110,000. 18 April 2023 Mr Beattie is arrested and interviewed by police. He subsequently quits as SNP treasurer. May 2023 The SNP appoint AMS Accountant Group as their new auditors. Their previous auditors Johnston Carmichael stood down in September 2022. 11 June 2023 Nicola Sturgeon is arrested. She 'voluntarily' arranges with Police Scotland to be questioned. Advertisement In his first comments on Ms Sturgeon's arrest, Mr Yousaf this afternoon said he would treat her 'in the same way' he had treated the SNP's former treasurer, Colin Beattie, who was arrested as part of Police Scotland's Operation Branchform in April. He told BBC Scotland: 'I'll not suspend Nicola's membership. I'll treat her in the same way I've treated, for example, Colin Beattie. 'Those that have been released without charge I see no reason to suspend their membership.' Ms Sturgeon - who has insisted she is 'innocent of any wrongdoing' - yesterday became the third high-profile SNP figure to be detained in connection with alleged irregularities in the party's finances. Her husband Peter Murrell, the SNP's former chief executive, has also been arrested and released pending further inquiries. Asked if Ms Sturgeon should voluntarily resign her party's whip, Mr Yousaf said: 'There's no pressure on her to do so from the party or from me as leader of the SNP.' He added: 'She has been released without charge and I think it is so important that presumption of innocence is upheld.' Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross branded Mr Yousaf 'weak' for failing to take action against Ms Sturgeon and suggested the SNP were being 'inconsistent' in the treatment of the party's former leader. He told Sky News: 'Nicola Sturgeon should be suspended because she's now under police investigation. 'It's quite frankly the case that Nicola Sturgeon would have suspended Nicola Sturgeon because, when she was leader of the SNP and SNP politicians were arrested and questioned by the police, she either removed the party whip or she suspended them. 'So Humza Yousaf should do the same, be consistent with that and suspend Nicola Sturgeon. 'The fact he has come out and said he won't do that shows how weak he is as leader of the SNP.' Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said Mr Yousaf's refusal to suspend Ms Sturgeon was 'the action of a weak leader unable to stand up to the predecessor to whom he owes his job'. 'Humza Yousaf's claim that he has "no reason" to suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP is fooling no one,' Mr Hoy, an MSP for South Scotland, added. 'He knows, as everyone else does, that there's a clear precedent in his party for MPs and MSPs under investigation to be suspended until the conclusion of their case. 'And, in this instance, the police probe into the SNP's murky finances is very much ongoing. 'Several senior SNP figures have already said it's wrong for Nicola Sturgeon to receive favourable treatment by the party. 'But the reason Humza Yousaf will not follow the precedent which was set by his predecessor when she was party leader is because he's hopelessly compromised by the fact that he only won the leadership election thanks to the backing of Nicola Sturgeon and her inner circle.' Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross branded Mr Yousaf 'weak' for failing to take action against Ms Sturgeon and suggested the SNP were being 'inconsistent' Media gathered outside Ms Sturgeon's Glasgow home yesterday as she was questioned by officers After being released from custody just after 5pm last night, Ms Sturgeon - who is still an MSP - 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. '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,' she added. However, senior SNP figures have been joining other parties in calling for Ms Sturgeon to be suspended from the party. Michelle Thomson said it would be 'the right thing' for Ms Sturgeon to resign the SNP whip in the Scottish Parliament. The MSP for Falkirk East referred to how she herself - when Ms Sturgeon was party leader - had resigned the SNP whip in 2015 when police began an investigation into a fraud case, which was later dropped. Ms Thomson said the 'processes set by the SNP' under Ms Sturgeon's leadership of the party were 'clear'. 'Some eight years ago when an MP, I was required to resign the SNP whip although I was never personally under investigation and was certainly not arrested,' she added. 'After careful consideration, I feel that the right thing for the former first minister to do is resign the SNP whip. 'This is not because she doesn't deserve to be treated as innocent until proven guilty - she does - but because her values should be consistent.' Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, former SNP leadership contender Ash Regan said: 'The Government needs to be completely focused on delivering public services and delivering for the people of Scotland in these difficult times.' She said the probe into the party's finances could be a 'distraction', adding: 'I think that Nicola should perhaps consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up.' Ms Regan, speaking to Sky News later, also suggested Ms Sturgeon was causing 'damage' to the SNP with her continued membership of the party. 'The SNP has a code of conduct. One of the parts of that is members should be very careful with their conduct that they don't cause damage to the party,' she said. 'My view is Nicola should be considering whether it would be the right thing to do for her commitment to the party and also for the smooth running of the government... for her to resign her party membership.' SNP MP Angus MacNeil 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.' 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.' Police Scotland opened an investigation into the SNP's finances in July 2021 after allegations that 600,000 raised for independence campaigning had been diverted elsewhere Police opened an investigation into the SNP's 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. It later emerged former Mr Murrell Ms Sturgeon's 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 party's Edinburgh office. There was no police presence at the property in Uddingston yesterday but a police vehicle occasionally drove past the house. Members of the media were gathered outside the detached property, which appeared to be empty. Ofsted's chief inspector has insisted that scrapping one-word inspection ratings 'wouldn't solve underlying discomfort' for headteachers in failing schools following the suicide of Ruth Perry, whose sister has expressed her disgust today. Ms Perry, headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her life in January while waiting for an Ofsted report that downgraded her school to 'inadequate' the lowest possible rating. Speaking today Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman insisted they should not be scrapped, claiming that the 'whole school accountability system' is built around single-word ratings ranging from outstanding to inadequate. Ofsted has unveiled changes to the system to pacify unions and school bosses who called for it to be revamped or scrapped. It includes speeding up reinspections to between one and three months for schools such as Ms Perry's where they were failed because of safeguarding concerns. But Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, said the changes were 'a start' but do not 'adequately address the many problems that the system creates' after listening to Ms Spielman justify it on Radio 4 this morning. Her heartbroken sister said the inspection had been the 'worst day of her life' for Ruth, adding: 'Nothing she has said would have helped my sister. She didn't last three months - she lasted 54 days with that knowledge'. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman (pictured) insists one word judgments will stay despite the tragic suicide of Ruth Perry, the Reading headteacher who killed herself while waiting for the publication of a negative Ofsted report about her school Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, said the changes were 'a start' but do not 'adequately address the many problems that the system creates' Professor Waters said that her sister was forced to wait three months for the publication of the report, knowing she would go through 'public humiliation'. 'The one change that (Ofsted chief inspector) Amanda Spielman hasn't yet mentioned that would have made a significant difference to my sister is the removal of the inhumane confidentiality requirement. 'It (the draft report) says categorically that teachers must not share that information and that Ofsted would consider it a serious breach of confidentiality and take appropriate action. 'She told me, her sister, because she told me everything, but it was always couched in this dreadful 'Don't tell anyone - I'll lose my job if I get found out'. 'Even unburdening herself was a burden because she was so terrified that she would lose her job - lose her school which she had loved and led for 16 years.' Professor Waters, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, her sister had invited Ofsted to inspect her school in 2019 and chief inspector Amanda Spielman had visited. Prof Waters said: 'My sister invited Ofsted in - she volunteered the school because she thought it would be useful for their school improvement work. 'The feedback that she received from the team overseen by Amanda Spielman was glowing - it identified no failings whatsoever. They commented explicitly on the fact that staff are vigilant and safeguarding leads are tenacious. 'One of the reasons that Ruth found that inadequate judgment so devastating was precisely because she had invited Ofsted in three years before and wanted to make sure she had everything in place. 'She was given assurances that the school was functioning well and that their outstanding judgment was valid.' Since Ms Perry's death there have been calls for one-word assessments. Speaking today Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman insisted they should not be scrapped, claiming that the 'whole school accountability system' is built around single-word ratings ranging from outstanding to inadequate. Ms Spielman said: 'We could write a sentence but if the significance is the same and the consequences are the same then it wouldn't really solve that underlying discomfort (of headteachers). 'The choice is the wider accountability system which sets consequences for different overall outcomes. 'That is what drives the world's focus on those overall grades for us.' Ofsted has unveiled changes to the system to pacify unions and school bosses who called for it to be revamped or scrapped. Among the changes are a planned reform of the Ofsted complaints procedure and a new way for schools to improve a poor rating more quickly if they are downgraded over safeguarding concerns. From September, Ofsted reports will also refer to 'the school' in inspector's findings rather than naming individual headteachers or staff. But the changes fall short of those demanded by MPs and campaigners for a removal of the 'one-word' grading system which has been criticised for being too simplistic. Professor Waters said: 'I am disappointed that no mention is made about removing harmful and misleading single-word judgments. 'I can understand the need to provide clarity and simplicity for parents about an inspection, but too much is hidden or lost behind a headline judgement of just one or two words.' The changes fall short of those demanded by MPs and campaigners for a removal of the 'one-word' grading system Headteacher Ruth Perry (pictured) killed herself in January after her school was downgraded by Ofsted Her heartbroken sister said the inspection had been the 'worst day of her life'. Ms Perry's death sparked criticism from unions and headteachers over the stress inspections can place on school staff. Ofsted has also announced today that schools who are found to have ineffective safeguarding but are judged to be good on all other criteria will be reinspected within three months to allow them to quickly make changes to improve an 'inadequate' grading. However, only 12 state schools have fallen into this category in the past 18 months, with just 1.3 per cent of schools currently judged ineffective for safeguarding. The inadequate grading will still be imposed on a school during the re-inspection period. Ofsted has also launched a consultation on a reform of its complaints procedure, with schools given until September to respond to the proposals. Among suggested changes are a removal of the time-consuming stage of an Ofsted complaint where the quango considers how it has handled a grievance internally before a school can take it to the independent adjudicator. Also due to be added is a new way for headteachers to query 'some minor points of clarity or factual accuracy' without raising a formal complaint before an inspection report is published. This will be considered 'promptly' and then the school will 'not normally have a later opportunity to raise a formal complaint or challenge'. This has already been trialled at some schools. Ofsted will also give schools greater guidance on roughly when they can expect to receive an inspection, with this likely to be between a term and a years' notice depending on the last check. However, the practice of giving one day's notice of an inspection will remain. The quango has steadfastly defied calls for an end to the current system of 'one or two-word' school ratings such as 'outstanding' and 'inadequate', as it says this makes it simpler for parents. Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: 'It has taken far too long for the government and Ofsted to announce this relatively modest set of measures and school leaders remain immensely frustrated at the lack of urgency and ambition being shown.' The union leader argued the one-word judgment system will mean the inspection system will 'remain fundamentally flawed and put pressure on school leaders'. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said: 'When we inspect schools our priority must always be children's education and wellbeing - but at the same time we want to make sure inspection is as positive an experience for school staff as it can be. 'Since the sad death of Ruth Perry, there has been considerable debate around Ofsted's work and I want to reassure people that we are listening to their concerns, and thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents.' Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: 'Taken together, today's announcements are a really important step. I have committed to continuing our work on improving the way we inspect our schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry following her tragic death.' Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said today that the Ofsted changes, announced on Monday, were 'right'. 'I think that the changes that the Chief Inspector have announced today are right,' the former education secretary told Times Radio. 'I think that all of us recognise that the Ofsted process can be a testing one and all of us are aware of the particular individual case that has shone a light on inspection, but rigorous independent inspection of our schools has contributed to the improvement of education alongside the excellent work that teachers and head teachers do.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org Nicola Sturgeon was arrested and held for seven hours in a police probe involving SNP finances, insisting in an emotional statement she is innocent. Police Scotland's probe, which was opened in July 2021 and is known as Operation Branchform, centres on the spending of 660,000 in donations that had been earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning. But why exactly is the SNP being investigated and what led to Nicola Sturgeon's arrest? Read on below for a full timeline of events regarding the Scottish National Party (SNP) investigations. Ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been released following her arrest un Sunday June 11 as part of the police investigation into the SNP's finances Police Scotland said on Sunday evening that the 52-year-old had been released pending further investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP Why is the SNP being investigated? Since Nicola Sturgeon stood down as both SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister in March 2023, there have been a number of high-profile developments in the probe into the party's spending. In April 2023, just a month after she resigned, Peter Murrell - the SNP's former chief executive - was arrested before police searched the couple's Glasgow home for two days. In a shock statement on Twitter following her release on Sunday, Ms Sturgeon - who is still an MSP - said she would be back in Parliament soon, stating: 'I know beyond doubt that I am in fact 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', she added. What happened to Nicola Sturgeon? The former first minister was detained on the morning of Sunday June 11 and held in custody while she was quizzed by detectives. Police Scotland confirmed she was released under investigation at 5.24pm, after being arrested at 10.09am earlier the same day. Consequently, the current SNP leader Humza Yousaf is facing demands to suspend Nicola Sturgeon after her dramatic arrest. Mr Yousaf is being urged by senior colleagues to take action after his predecessor was subjected to around seven hours of questioning by police yesterday. Ms Sturgeon - who insisted she is 'innocent of any wrongdoing' and has been released without charge - became the third high-profile SNP figure detained in connection with alleged irregularities in the party's finances. Ms Sturgeon's arrest this morning follows the arrest of her husband, Peter Murrell - the SNP's former chief executive - in April 2023 Colin Beattie, the SNP's then treasurer, was arrested later in April 2023 and subsequently stood down from his party role What is Operation Branchform? 'Operation Branchform' is focused on how money raised in 2017 and 2019 as part of a 'referendum appeal' has been spent. Concern was first raised when SNP accounts showed there was less than 100,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, despite the 600,000 being raised from donations to the referendum appeals, sparking at least 19 criminal complaints. After the police began their probe, Ms Sturgeon's spouse of 13-years Mr Murrell - who was the SNP's chief executive for 22 years - then loaned the party 107,620, which he claimed was to assist with 'cashflow'. But serious questions were raised about the loan after the party failed to disclose it until 14 months later, breaking political finance law. Electoral Commission records show the SNP repaid 26,905 in August 2021, followed by 20,715 in October 2021 - leaving 60,000 still outstanding. Police probing SNP fraud claims seized a 110,000 luxury motorhome from ex-chief executive Peter Murrells mothers house in April 2023 SNP investigation timeline of events May 2021 Douglas Chapman resigns from his role as SNP treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job 20 June 2021 - Mr Murrell gives an interest-free loan of 107,620 to the party to 'assist with cashflow', Electoral Commission documents show. July 2021 Police Scotland confirm they are 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. August 2021 As the party's annual accounts are published, new SNP treasurer Colin Beattie acknowledges 'concern' about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than 600,000. December 2022 It emerges that Peter Murrell, the SNP chief executive, had loaned the party 100,000 in June 2021. February 2023 Nicola Sturgeon suddenly announces her resignation. She says 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. March 2023 Amid the SNP leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon, her husband Mr Murrell announces he is stepping down as the party's chief executive amid a row over the party's membership numbers. 5 April 2023 Mr Murrell is arrested and is released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day. 9 April 2023 A luxury camper van is seized by police investigating the SNP's finances, thought to be worth around 110,000. SNP leader Humza Yousaf has faced demands to suspend Sturgeon following her arrest 18 April 2023 Mr Beattie is arrested and interviewed by police. He subsequently quits as SNP treasurer. May 2023 The SNP appoint AMS Accountant Group as their new auditors. Their previous auditors Johnston Carmichael stood down in September 2022. 11 June 2023 Nicola Sturgeon is arrested. She 'voluntarily' arranges with Police Scotland to be questioned. She is released hours later under investigation, insisting she was innocent. 12 June 2023 - SNP leader Humza Yousaf faces demands to suspend Sturgeon following her arrest. In 2019, King-Thompson was arrested and jailed for scaling The Shard Reached the 73rd floor of the world's fifth tallest building before being stopped A British free climber has been arrested after being forced to abandon his bid to climb a 123-storey building in South Korea wearing just his shorts. The 24-year-old man, identified by local media as thrillseeker George King-Thompson, was caught on camera scaling the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, without any ropes today. King-Thompson, who was jailed four years ago for scaling The Shard in London, reached the 73rd floor of the the world's fifth tallest building. The Oxford native was then forced to get into a maintenance cradle by authorities and into the building where police took him into custody, a fire department official said. The police were not available for comment. A British free climber has been arrested after being forced to abandon his bid to climb a 123-storey building in South Korea wearing just his shorts The 24-year-old man, identified by local media as thrillseeker George King-Thompson, was caught on camera scaling the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, without any ropes today King-Thompson, who was jailed four years ago for scaling The Shard in London , reached the 73rd floor of the the world's fifth tallest building The Oxford native was then forced to get into a maintenance cradle by authorities and into the building where police took him into custody, a fire department official said King-Thompson had previously been jailed in London for six months for scaling The Shard in 2019 King-Thompson had previously been jailed for six months for scaling The Shard in 2019. He climbed the building from the ground floor to near the very top in just 45 minutes. London Bridge Station was briefly closed because of the incident and received a police caution after he was spotted on the side of the skyscraper at around 5am on July 8. Imposing an immediate custodial sentence, Mr Justice Murray said King-Thompson's breach of the order was 'deliberate and knowing' and that 'he would have walked past at least 10 copies' of the order during his climb. The judge added that 'iconic buildings are sometimes the targets of terrorists', and that 'information regarding ways into and around the building' could increase the risk to people living and working inside. This is not the first time that someone has tried to scale the Lotte World Tower, in 2018, the man known as the 'French Spiderman' Alain Robert also tried to conquer the Seoul building. The 60-year-old was more than half-way up the building before he was arrested by police. Three British tourists who went missing after an Egyptian diving boat caught fire have been confirmed dead, a tour operator has confirmed. Scuba Travel, who chartered the boat, announced that the three Brits who 'perished in the tragic incident' had chosen not to go diving that day, leaving them unable to evacuate the boat quickly. The fire took place off the coast of Marsa Alam yesterday morning. The tour boat company said that the three passengers were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were on board the 'Hurricane' boat for a week-long trip when the fire broke out at around 6.30am UK time. 'At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning,' the company added. Three British tourists who were reported as missing have been confirmed dead after a boat caught fire during a diving trip Scuba Travel said that due to to the severity of the blaze, 12 divers were evacuated immediately to a nearby craft, while the 14 crew members had to abandon the ship after trying to reach the missing guests. Footage on social media showed the tour boat transform into a floating inferno as its stern was engulfed by flames, producing plumes of black smoke while it was off the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea. Video showed terrified passengers 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. A spokesman for Scuba Travel confirmed to MailOnline today: 'It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident. 'Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.' In total, 26 passengers were rescued, 12 British and the other 14 thought to be Egyptian. Local 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. This is the heart-stopping moment a passengers jump from an Egyptian tourist boat engulfed by flames Other passengers could be seen dropping down from the boat into nearby crafts in a bid to escape The wrecked Egyptian diving boat was seen lying on its side as its brought to shore for an investigation Rescue services were alerted to the fire after the blaze was said to have started in the engine room because of an electrical circuit A full investigation is set to be carried out by local authorities to determine what caused the fire. The wrecked boat has been pictured lying on its side with smoke still billowing out of it on the shore as it cools down. The cruiser left Port Ghalib in the eastern city of Marsa Alam on June 6, and was meant to return yesterday. Shocking footage showed the boat's stern being ravaged with flames as black smoke erupted from the ship 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 spokesman said yesterday: 'We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.' MailOnline has contacted the Foreign Office for an updated comment. 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 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. Cops said the crew rescued suffered no injuries and were taken to shore in good health The scuba diving ship moored at Daedalus Reef in the Red Sea, Egypt, before the blaze '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.' 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. Eco-zealots caused commuter chaos once more as they blocked several key London roads with 'slow-marches' this morning - as police reveal the protests have cost 4.5million. Protesters descended on Lambeth Road in central London from 8am and were spotted near a cinema in Waterloo just minutes later. Small groups of eco-warriors gathered in Whitehall and nearby Victoria Street, where they moved from the roads by 8.30, and on Cromwell Road in Chelsea, where a meagre 20 protesters were cleared by 8.46am. Police officers issued Section 12 orders and removed the 65 demonstrators from the roads within minutes of arriving, clearing one protest less than five minutes after it started. Figures from the Metropolitan Police show that the six weeks of Just Stop Oil protests had cost the force nearly 4.5million as of last Thursday. Figures show that the six weeks of Just Stop Oil protests have cost the Met nearly 4.5million Protesters gather near Cromwell Road on Monday morning, kicking off another week of 'slow marching' protests Further protests by the Royal Albert Hall and on York Road in Waterloo were moved off the road by 10.50am and the climate group has promised more disruption. In the afternoon officers were called to High Holborn, again clearing protesters away from the traffic in less than five minutes. Officers been forced to deal with the road-blocking climate demonstrators for the equivalent of almost 13,770 shifts and 86 arrests have been made. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, said: 'In deploying the new tactics of moving slowly in front of traffic along highways, Just Stop Oil's intent has been clear on disrupting road users. 'This has caused significant impact to the public and officers have been responding as swiftly as possible once aware of the incidents.' For the 156 slow marches that have taken place, 125 Section 12 Orders have been imposed. Section 12 orders are designed to help reduce disruption and prevent criminal damage and often mean protesters are moved within minutes. A protester holding a megaphone marches slowly through central London on Monday morning Demonstrators holding banners walk slowly along the road in central London in order to hold up commuting traffic For the 156 slow marches that have taken place since April 24, 125 Section 12 Orders have been imposed Protesters took to the streets of central London to cause further commuter havoc after weeks of 'slow marches' Just six protesters marched down Victoria Street in central London and were cleared from the road by 8.30am Traffic was held up by the six orange-vested protesters, who walked slowly down Victoria Street Police figures show that the six weeks of protests have already cost the Met nearly 4.5million Further police figures show that for the 86 arrests made, 49 charges have been brought. DAC Adelekan continued: 'We know that this action has been very frustrating for the public who just want to carry on with their day-to-day business. 'We would urge the public not to intervene or take matters into their own hands, but to call the police, let us know where the incident is and we will get to the scene quickly. 'It may look like we are not responding quickly enough, however policing protests is complex and there are steps officers must take to make sure our response is lawful and appropriate. 'You can see from both the arrest and charge figures that we are taking this operation very seriously, and once a protest is deemed to have caused serious disruption or may do so, we are taking swift action to stop it.' The climate campaign group tweeted after the demonstrations began: 'The sweet sounds of the dawn chorus as Just Stop Oil supporters begin week 8 of slow marching.' Since the Just Stop Oil campaign launched in February 2022, 2,200 arrests have been made and 138 people have spent time in prison, the climate group said. Two protesters are currently serving three-year terms for their roles in demonstrations, including Marcus Decker, 34, who was jailed for scaling the Dartford Crossing bridge. Just Stop Oil has been holding 'slow marches' at least six days a week since April 24. Eco-zealots representing the group have recently disrupted high profile events like the Chelsea Flower Show, Gallagher Premiership rugby final at Twickenham and World Snooker Championship. Bologne is depicted engaging in a violin battle with Mozart in new film Chevalier He was an accomplished fencer and dancer, as well as being skilled musician Joseph Bologne was born to Senegalese maid and plantation owner in 1745 He was a man so talented that he became a favourite of the doomed Queen Marie Antoinette, and was described by the US President as the 'most accomplished man in Europe.' But Joseph Bologne, known among his contemporaries as Chevalier de Saint-Georges, certainly did not have the background expected of a member of Parisian high society. As new film Chevalier depicts, he was born to an enslaved Senegalese maid but still went on to be accomplished at fencing, shooting, dancing and, most famously, music. The violinist and composer wowed audiences with his string quartets, symphonies and stage works, before falling foul of the French Revolution and ending up being imprisoned. Bologne, portrayed by Kelvin Harrison Jr, is seen in Chevalier engaging in a violin battle with famed Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who had come to Paris as a child. Joseph Bologne, known among his contemporaries as Chevalier de Saint-Georges, certainly did not have the background expected of a member of Parisian high society Although the depiction is fictional, the pair would likely have known each other, due in part to the fact that they lived in the same ducal palace at the same time. Both men were also inhabiting the same prestigious circles in both the musical world and that of high society. Bologne was born on the archipelago of Guadeloupe on Christmas Day in 1745 to French plantation owner Georges de Bologne Saint-Georges. His mother, known as Nanon, served as a maid to Saint-Georges' wife. Bologne was educated in France and, by the age of 17, had impressed at the fencing academy he had been sent to. He also studied music, mathematics and literature, and particularly excelled in the former. After being made an officer in the King's Guard by Louis XV, he adopted the name of his father's planation, and so became known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Although fictional, the duelling violins scene in the new film does demonstrate Bologne's remarkable musical talent. Scores of people would flock to watch his violin concertos, some of which were pioneering. Some academics have even claimed that Mozart 'poached' elements of Bologne's violin composition for one of his symphonies, pointing out that it featured almost identical phrasing. John Adams, the second US President, declared him 'the most accomplished man in Europe in riding, shooting, fencing, dancing and music.' At one point, he headed up Les Concerts des Amateurs, which under his leadership became known as one of the finest orchestras in Paris. Bologne, portrayed by Kelvin Harrison Jr, is seen in Chevalier engaging in a violin battle with famed Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Joseph Prowen), who had come to Paris as a child Chevalier was released in the UK on Friday. Above: A scene from the film His performances were attended by the wife of the new King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, who received some private music lessons from the prodigy. But she did not help him when he faced his biggest crisis. In 1776, he was proposed as the music director of the prestigious Paris Opera. The prospect of him taking up the post prompted three bitter stars of the opera to complain directly to the Queen that 'their honour and delicate conscience could never allow them to submit to the orders of a mulatto.' Then, in 1779, Bologne was assaulted by six men in Paris in an attack that could have killed him. Prevented from taking up his post at the opera, Bologne turned to social change and championed the abolitionist movement. Having become a soldier during the bloody French Revolution, which began in 1789, Bologne led a regiment of mostly black troops on the republican side. However, he ended up being jailed and tortured after falling out with the new regime, which failed to outlaw slavery as promised. Bologne's performances were attended by the wife of the new King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, who received some private music lessons from the prodigy. The queen is portrayed in the film by Lucy Boynton (right) The cover for the sheet music for two of Bologne's symphonies is seen above. The works were published in 1779 An illegitimate child he had fathered with a French aristocrat also disappeared in circumstances that remain unknown to this day. Some historians believe the child was murdered by the Marquis of Montalembert, the husband of the woman he allegedly had an affair with. In later life, Bologne lived in poor health in Paris, where he became the director of a new orchestra. By then, his former champion, Marie Antoinette, had been guillotined along with her husband. Bologne died at the age of 53 in 1799 of an ulcerated bladder. He was unmarried and had no known legitimate children. The story of his life and influence now features on the music curriculum in British schools, for children aged between five and 14. Russian troops are being killed fleeing through their own defensive landmines, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has revealed, as Ukraine captured another village from Vladimir Putin's forces. Ukrainian forces are believed to have made good progress in penetrating the first line of Russian defences in some areas, while making slower progress in others, according to an MoD intelligence update over the weekend. It said over the last 48 hours, 'significant Ukrainian operations have been taking place in several sectors of eastern and southern Ukraine' - tallying with claims by Kyiv's forces that they had liberated four villages from Russian occupation. Meanwhile, the performance of Moscow's armies has been 'mixed' so far, the ministry said. 'Some units are likely conducting credible maneuver defence operations while others have pulled back in some disorder.' The MoD said it had seen an increase in 'reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields'. Ukraine has captured another village from Vladimir Putin's forces in their growing counterattack. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen of the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines pose for a photograph with the Ukrainian flag in the liberated village of Storozheve Ukrainian flags, this one in Blahodatne, have started to crop up as Kyiv launches its counterattack Ukraine has launched its much-anticipated counter attack on Saturday and started to make gains over the weekend The intelligence update corresponded with analysts who say Ukraine has launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive, with heavy fighting reported on three fronts along the 600-mile frontline separating Kyiv's and Moscow's armies. Ukrainian military officials said Monday their troops have retaken another southeastern village from Russian forces, among the first - small - successes in the new operations against Moscow's more than 15-month invasion of Ukraine. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukraine's flag was again flying over the village of Storozheve, and she predicted the liberation of 'all Ukrainian land' would the final outcome. A day earlier, Ukrainian officials said Neskuchne, Blahodatne and Makarivka - three other small villages clustered together south of the town of Velika Novosilke in the eastern Donetsk region - had also been liberated. The villages are located in the so-called 'Vremivka ledge,' a section of the front line where the Russian-controlled area protrudes into territory held by Ukraine. The area has become one of several epicenters of intense fighting. The Russian Defense Ministry hasn't confirmed the Russian retreat from the villages, but some military bloggers have acknowledged the loss of Moscow control there. Russian authorities, meanwhile, have said their troops have largely held their ground along the front line that runs through southern and eastern Ukraine. Russian troops are being killed fleeing through their own defensive landmines, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has revealed. Pictured: Devastating floods in Kherson following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine The villages which have been captured are located in the so-called 'Vremivka ledge,' a section of the front line where the Russian-controlled area protrudes into territory held by Ukraine 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 Western analysts and military officials have cautioned any effort to rid entrenched, powerfully armed and skilled Russian troops will likely take months, and the success of any Ukrainian counteroffensive is far from certain. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 'counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place' without specifying it was an all-out counteroffensive, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that the counteroffensive had started - and Ukrainian forces were taking 'significant losses.' He did not elaborate, and Ukrainian authorities have not publicly specified losses among their troops. On Sunday, as Ukraine announced the first reported gains of its new offensive, it also emerged that British tanks will play a key role in Kyiv's counter. 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. 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. Yesterday, despite Ukrainian countering, three people were killed and at least another 23 wounded as Russia shelled a rescue boat evacuating civilians from Russian-controlled territory, the Kherson region prosecutors' office said on Sunday. It marred a day in which Ukraine celebrated the recapture of three villages, the first significant gains in the new campaign. British missiles were deployed by Ukraine to destroy a suspected Russian military base on Saturday which was visited by Vladimir Putin in April Yesterday, despite Ukrainian countering, three people were killed and at least another 23 wounded as Russia shelled a rescue boat evacuating civilians (pictured) from Russian-controlled territory Ukraine announced the first reported gains of its new offensive on Sunday and has captured four villages Ukrainian servicemen of the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines stand near a destroyed military vehicle in the liberated village of Storozheve, in Dontesk region, Ukraine 'Neskuchne of the Donetsk region is under the Ukrainian flag again,' said the state border guard service. Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's army said its troops had taken the nearby village of Blahodatne. Ground forces released a video showing soldiers hoisting a Ukrainian flag over a destroyed building. Military spokesman Valeriy Shershen said in televised remarks the village sat on the border of the eastern region of Donetsk and the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, where Moscow has reported heavy Ukrainian assaults over the past week. Ukraine's forces had captured several Russian and pro-Russian troops, Shershen added. Later Sunday, deputy defence minister Ganna Malyar said Ukraine's forces had retaken a third village, Makarivka, northwest of Blahodatne. Major Ukrainian military successes in the Zaporizhzhia region could potentially enable its forces to break through the land bridge that connects Russia with the Crimean peninsula it annexed from Ukraine. This would be a major reversal for Moscow. Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine had made an unsuccessful attack Saturday night on a Russian warship in the Black Sea. The Priazovye is on patrol duties monitoring the natural gas pipelines there. The ministry said the attack, by drone boats, had been repelled and its vessel was not damaged. Ukrainian servicemen ride atop an armoured personnel carrier vehicle (APC) in the Zaporizhzhya region yesterday The civilians killed and wounded in the shelling of the rescue boat were caught in the fallout from Tuesday's destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam along the front line in the southern Kherson region. Ukrainian officials say seven people died and 35 people, including seven children, are still missing following the devastating flood unleashed by the dam's destruction. While Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, Moscow says Kyiv fired on it. 'This is the worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl so we are investigating not only a war crime but also an ecocide,' Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said after visiting the site with representatives of the International Criminal Court. A total of 450 tonnes of turbine oil have spilled into the waters of the Dnipro and the Black Sea, he added. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said 77 towns and villages had been flooded in Kherson, where five people died, and Mykolaiv, where two died, while 162,000 people were without water supplies. Zelensky said 4,000 people had been evacuated in the two regions. The civilians killed and wounded in the shelling of the rescue boat were caught in the fallout from Tuesday's destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam which has caused devastating floods Ukrainian officials say seven people died and 35 people, including seven children, are still missing following the flood unleashed by the dam's destruction A local resident walks in a flooded street after the explosion at the Kakhovka hydropower plant unleashed floodwaters in Kherson An employee at Kherson's meteorological agency, Lora Musiyan, said the level of water had dropped by 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) from its peak measurements recorded last week. In Kherson city, the largest population centre near the dam, the water has begun to subside enough to allow locals to return to assess the damage, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. 'The losses are significant. I don't even know what to do now,' said Oleksiy Gesin, surveying the scene after his grocery store was flooded to chest height. Damage to the dam may also be a problem for an upstream reservoir used to cool nearby reactors at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its experts need access to a location near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to assess 'a significant discrepancy' in water level measurements, as well as to the electrical switchyard at the thermal power plant. 'Even though the (plant) has not been producing electricity for several months now, it still needs access to water and power for cooling and other essential safety and security functions and to avoid the risk of a potential fuel meltdown and release of radioactive material,' the IAEA said in a statement. A mammoth clean-up operation awaits the small Cumbrian town of Appleby after 30,000 people descended on the village for its world-famous horse fair over the weekend. Pictures today show mattresses, empty gas canisters and mountains of rubbish strewn across the otherwise green and picturesque countryside in the north-west of England. It appears council bosses have their work cut out for them as hundreds of cardboard boxes, tents and discarded food wrappers are also seen dumped next to portable toilets. Tens of thousands of people, including at least 10,000 from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, have been gathering in Appleby-in-Westmorland since last Thursday. The six-day event is one of Europe's largest horse fairs and officially ends on Wednesday this week, although the majority of attendees are expected to begin the journey back home today. A mammoth clean-up operation awaits the small Cumbrian town of Appleby after 30,000 punters descended on the village for its eponymous horse fair over the weekend Pictures today show mattresses, empty gas canisters and mountains of rubbish strewn across the otherwise green and picturesque countryside in the north-west of England Cumbria Police issued a travel warning on Monday morning, telling motorists to 'drive with care and look out for slow-moving vehicles' to 'help ensure everyone gets home safe.' The 250-year-old event is held just outside Appleby, which has a population of around 2,500 people. Many of those living in the town left for the weekend to avoid the crowds and all but one pub closed its doors. Those who arrived amid scorching temperatures wasted no time enjoying themselves as they were seen taking their horses for a wash in the River Eden which runs through the town. Aerial photos showed fields packed with caravans as Gypsies arrived in convoys of traditional horses and carts. But one 15-year-old boy was left in a critical condition with head injuries after jumping from the back of a moving vehicle at around 6.40pm on Friday. His current condition has not yet been reported. Cumbria Police has struggled in recent years to ensure the safety of the event, and some locals have alleged Travellers were behind thefts from a local Co-op that left store staff 'badly shaken'. A horse is bathed in the River Eden amid scorching temperatures during the Horse Fair in Appleby-in-Westmorland on June 9, 2023 It appears council bosses have their work cut out for them as hundreds of cardboard boxes, tents and discarded food wrappers are also seen dumped next to portable toilets Empty gas canisters are strewn across a field in Appleby following the horse fair as thousands flocked from the town today, leaving behind a huge clean-up job What appears to be a discarded tent is left behind after the fair. Aerial photos showed fields packed with caravans as Gypsies flocked in convoys of traditional horses and carts Huge, empty tubs of mayonnaise are seen dumped in a field next to mattresses adding to the scale of the mess following the Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria Plastic fencing and empty bottles are among the thousands of pieces of trash dumped in Appleby by revellers A family can be seen leaving Appleby with their caravan amid the backdrop of a sea of rubbish Disused plastic crates and cardboard boxes are dumped on a field in Appleby The 250-year-old event is held just outside Appleby, which has a population of around 2,500 people (Pictured: Rubbish left behind on Monday) Many of those living in the town left for the weekend to avoid the crowds and all but one pub closed (Pictured: Rubbish left behind on Monday morning) A campaign group has been pleading for tougher police action amid claims that officers are being hampered by 'political correctness' (Pictured: Rubbish left behind on Monday morning) Cumbria Police issued a travel warning on Monday morning, telling motorists to 'drive with care and look out for slow-moving vehicles' to 'help ensure everyone gets home safe' (Pictured: Rubbish left behind on Monday morning) Police are investigating reports that women from the Travelling community walked out of a supermarket with three trolleys of goods on Tuesday night after using children to distract staff. A campaign group has been pleading for tougher police action amid claims that officers are being hampered by 'political correctness.' A witness told MailOnline: 'Travellers sent children into the supermarket first to run riot and distract the security guards, that are only employed during Fair time. 'They were followed by several men who started shouting and behaving aggressively toward the predominantly female staff.' Yet the event began in traditional style on Thursday with horses being washed in the River Eden and raced along the 'flashing lane' behind the main field, where potential buyers gather to haggle over them. A woman rides her horse through the River Eden during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of Travellers in Cumbria A group of women were all smiles as they dressed up for the first day of the Horse Fair A girl is thrown from her horse which was startled as she washed it in the River Eden on the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair Due to high temperatures expected over the weekend, visitors to the fair have been advised to make sure their horses get plenty of extra rest and rehydration The tradition of Gypsies and Travellers washing their horses in the River Eden (pictured at weekend) stems from the 20th century Travellers have flocked to Appleby (pictured at weekend) for the first day of one of Europe's largest horse fairs, which lasts for six days A large tent is set up on the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair, which is attended by at least 10,000 from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community Fairgoers seemed to be in good spirits as the historic event started on Thursday A boy rides a horse over a pedestrian crossing at the Appleby Horse Fair, in north-west England Fairgoers have been enjoying Thursday's warm temperatures on the first day of the fair Travellers start to arrive at the Appleby Horse Fair. The fair began in 1775, but did not become associated with the Traveller community until more than a century later By the 1900s the fair had evolved into a major Traveller event that attracted families from across the UK and Europe A family are pulled by a pony and trap on the 'flashing lane' outside Appleby on the first day of the Horse fair, which returned to its traditional early June dates this year having been pushed back to August in 2022 due to the Queen's diamond jubilee The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because of Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, which last took place in 1885 A man uses a car to exercise his horse after arriving in Appleby on Thursday, June 8 A youth rides a horse along the road in Appleby-in-Westmorland last Thursday Many attendees were sitting in traditional caravans, while others were in trailers, with their horses pulling them along. Martina Wright was watering her horse Apache at the spot in the River Eden in the centre of Appleby where the tradition has gone on for generations. Martina, 28, from Newcastle, said: 'It's going to be a great weekend, it always is but the weather this year seems to have brought more people out than ever. 'I always bring Apache down here and give him a swim in the river, he loves it and it helps keep him cool. 'You have to be careful because it drops off quite steeply into deeper water but he's a good strong horse and a good swimmer, he loves it. 'He's 18 years old and he's a wonderful horse, he won best horse of the year at Appleby four years in a row for best overall health and the safest swimmer. 'This is one of the fair's big traditions. They used to wash the horses in the river and then take them up to the flashing lane to be sold. 'These days I think people just do it for pictures to post on social media.' Bridie Gallagher, 36, arrived in Appleby from southern Ireland with her three young children and wider family earlier in the week. She said: 'I love this place, it's the highlight of the year in the Gypsy calendar and it's a chance to meet up with people you haven't seen all year. 'The atmosphere and the community is unbeatable and it's a friendly place where everyone can have a craic and enjoy themselves. 'I can't remember so many pubs being closed before and for that reason it seems a little quieter, they've tried to force everyone outside of the town. 'The Crown and Cushion pub is normally full of Travellers but this year it's closed.' Martina Wright, 28, (pictured) from Newcastle, was watering her horse Apache in the River Eden in the centre of Appleby A woman climbs out of a traditional Romany caravan during the annual horse fair in Appleby-in-Westmorland An Elvis Presley tattoo is seen on the hand of a member of the Traveller community at the fair A reveller washes her horse in the river Eden during the annual fair in Appleby-in-Westmorland RSPCA chief inspector Rob Melloy said: 'The weather plays a huge role in the fair and the forecast says it's going to be a hot one' The RSPCA has advised that horses should not be worked too hard in the hot weather Long queues are formed at the entrance of the world-famous festival in Appleby last week Travellers in an intricately-adorned horse-drawn wagon arrive at the Horse Fair last week The fair happens at a crossroads point on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there. It was once thought the fair originated from a royal charter to the borough of Appleby from King James II of England in 1685, but research has found the charter was cancelled before it was ever enacted. The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because of Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, which last took place in 1885. The 'New Fair' began in 1775 for sheep and cattle drovers and horse dealers to sell their stock. By the 1900s it had evolved into a major Traveller event that attracted families from across the UK and Europe. The Appleby Horse Fair has been a mainstay of the Gypsy calendar since the early 20th century. The tradition of Gypsies and Travellers washing their horses in the River Eden also stems from the 20th century. After the end of the Second World War, the fair received a further boost as the evolution of transport allowed Gypsies and Travellers to come from further afield with ease. The fair has survived successive attempts to close it down, including in 1967, when the local authority cited poor sanitation. Increased attendance has brought controversy as well, with homeowners in the area complaining about congestion and poor behaviour in the past. A horse that drowned in the Eden as it was being washed in 2007 triggered an investigation by the RSPCA. A man with a braided ponytail stands on a horse as he washes the animal in the River Eden He then crouched on the animal's back as the horse waded through the river Scores of caravans are adorning the fields outside Appleby, while horses have been seen out to pasture Some Travellers arrived in traditional horse drawn wagons while others came in more modern caravans The 250-year-old event is held just outside Appleby, which usually has a population of around 2,500 people Nine animal welfare charities who are all members of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) - work together at Appleby to support the protection and wellbeing of the horses at the event Nine animal welfare charities who are all members of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) - work together at Appleby to support the protection and wellbeing of the horses at the event. The NEWC advised that due to high temperatures expected at the event, visitors should 'make sure their horses get plenty of extra rest and rehydration to help them stay happy and healthy'. RSPCA chief inspector Rob Melloy said: 'The weather plays a huge role in the fair and the forecast says it's going to be a hot one. 'Just as it's important for us to drink plenty and not work too hard in hot weather, it's important for our horses. 'They need to have regular access to water, be drinking after being worked and be tied up in the shade. 'Owners may need to have more patience than normal as horses sometimes don't want to drink if they are in an overstimulating environment. 'Due to the nature of any horse fair, where animals are traded, and especially given that Appleby comes off the back of Kirkby Stephen, owners may not know how much their horse has been worked beforehand so we want to encourage people to err on the safe side and not overdo it, especially in the conditions. 'Day trippers should not be bringing their dogs to the Fair. Most people know by now that leaving a dog in a car on a hot day can be fatal but unbelievably some people still take the risk and we've had to rescue dogs at 14 of the past 15 events. 'This isn't the only danger though, we now know that exercising your dog on a hot day can be just as hazardous, so please don't put your pet or yourself in that position.' An outraged mum has demanded an apology and compensation after her 10-week-old baby boy was found bleeding with scratches across his face at a childcare centre. Rachel* claimed the centre told her it was an accident that happened while Noah* was briefly unsupervised at a branch of Only About Children in Melbourne. The Box Hill mother rushed to the childcare centre after getting the awful call and being sent photos of Noah's face, all the while thinking 'How could this happen?' Speaking through an interpreter, Rachel said 'We cried all the way along. We couldn't believe that horrible thing could happen to our boy. We couldn't accept it.' She was shocked at the sight of the images she said Only About Children sent her of her wounded baby. An outraged mum has demanded an apology and compensation after her 10-week-old baby (pictured) was found bleeding with scratches across his face at a childcare centre 'I felt a pain in the heart. I didn't even want to click the images, they were too graphic,' she told 9News. 'The explanation from the centre is this thing just happened accidentally, but we just can't accept this explanation.' She added that 'there were more than 20 scratches on Noah's face. How could this happen accidentally?' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Only About Children centre for comment. Victoria's early childhood regulator's Quality Assessment and Regulation Division has been notified about what happened to Noah. Rachel rushed to the childcare centre after getting the awful call and being sent photos of Noah's face (pictured) It said in a statement that 'The service has put in place measures to address this incident, including reviewing its procedures at nappy change times to include an additional educator at these times.' Fortunately for Noah, when Rachel brought him to Box Hill Hospital the doctors told her his scratches should heal without scarring. Rachel's emotional scarring is likely to take a lot longer to heal. *Not their real names An NYC firefighter and father-of-three drowned after jumping into the water to save his daughter who was caught up in a rough surf while she swam at the Jersey Shore. Mark Batista, of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), died on Friday morning. The 39-year-old, of Teaneck, New Jersey, reportedly went into the water at Sylvania Avenue Beach, in Avon-by-the-Sea, at around 8:30am to help his young daughter. Witnesses reported two swimmers in distress and rescuers found the girl around 10 minutes later, according to NBC News. Mr Batista was found in the water at 10am and despite efforts by emergency service to save his life, he was later pronounced dead at hospital. Mr Batista's drowning is the second to happen along New Jersey's coastline this year. Both times there were no life guards on duty. Mark Batista, of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), died on Friday morning after jumping into the water to save his daughter who was caught up in a rough surf while she swam at the Jersey Shore The 39-year-old, of Teaneck, New Jersey, reportedly went into the water at around 8:30 a.m to help his young daughter (pictured together) Witnesses reported two swimmers in distress at Sylvania Avenue Beach, in Avon-by-the-Sea (pictured), and rescuers found the girl around 10 minutes later Lifeguards are not due to start working at the beach full time until Saturday and the Monmouth County Sheriffs Office issued a statement on Facebook warning people to 'please not go in the water when there are no lifeguards on duty'. The other victim was a 15-year-old boy - who drowned in May at Sandy Hook Beach after being pulled out to sea by a rip current. During a family beach trip, Mr Batista's daughter had reportedly swum out to sea when a rip current hit and swept her further out. The name and age of the daughter has not been released but Mr Batista shared a video for her 11th birthday 10 months ago. Rushing to rescue her, Mr Batista was pulled into the water by the rip current, his friends and family said. Around eight months before his death, Mr Batista shared a photo of him and his daughter on Instagram, writing: 'I cant promise to be here the rest of your life but what I can promise is to love you for the rest of mine #mynumberonefan.' Mr Batista, who joined the New York Fire Department Emergency Medical Services in 2008, was found about 50 feet (15 meters) from the shore. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he died, WNBC reported. His daughter was also transported to the hospital and is expected to recover. Mr Batista's wife, Lenin Batista, posted a tragic tribute to her husband on Instagram. She wrote: 'Thank you everyone for your messages, I would lie if I said I read them all, but thank you very much from my heart. 'I am having the worst experience of my life, I feel lost, heartbroken and very afraid. I'm not receiving calls because truth is I don't feel ready to talk.' Mrs Batista added: 'But if I count on your prayers and I know that God's arm will not be cut off. Blessings!' In a statement, FDNY spokesperson Jim Long said the department was 'heartbroken.' He said: 'Firefighter Batista was a dedicated public servant who spent 15 years serving in the FDNY, as both an EMT and a firefighter. 'We join his family in mourning his tragic passing.' Mr Batista's drowning is the second to happen along New Jersey's coastline this year. Both times there were no life guards on duty Mr Batista's wife, Lenin Batista, posted a tragic tribute to her husband on Instagram (pictured). She wrote: 'Thank you everyone for your messages, I would lie if I said I read them all, but thank you very much from my heart Rushing to rescue his daughter, Mr Batista was pulled into the water by the rip current, his friends and family said Neighbor Dalais Sanchez told CBS News that he received the awful news from Mrs Batista. 'When I called her an hour later, we started crying,' she said. 'She says, "I lost him, I lost him. What am I gonna do? I lost him. Dalais, I lost him. It's Anthony".' Tragically, Ms Sanchez said Mr Batista was not a fan of the beach and the night before he drowned had said of his daughter: 'I promised to take her to the beach'. Veteran emergency technician, and Mr Batista's friend, Janelle Rivers, told The New York Times: 'That his wife had to watch him go into that water and not come out, it kills me. 'The life of his daughter is the result of his heroism, and that is everything a wife and mother could ever ask for.' A Government minister seen as the frontrunner to be the Tory candidate for London mayor has failed to make the shortlist to take on Sadiq Khan. Minister for London Paul Scully missed out on the final three drawn up by the party ahead of next year's election. The Sutton and Cheam MP has been in the ministerial post since 2020 and served under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. He announced his candidacy last month and was seen as the favourite for the Tory nomination. But the party last night chose three relative unknowns to run-off for the final place. Former Downing Street adviser Daniel Korski and London Assembly Member Susan Hall will battle it out with Mozammel Hossain, a barrister who did not publicly announce he was running. Minister for London Paul Scully missed out on the final three drawn up by the party ahead of next year's election. Former Downing Street adviser Daniel Korski and London Assembly Member Susan Hall (right) will battle it out with Mozammel Hossain, a barrister who did not publicly announce he was running. Daniel Korski has proposed truning traffic lights off at night and giving the mayor control over criminal prosecutions to boost burglary convictions. Wes Streeting, Labour's shadow health secretary, suggested the Tories had avoided selecting Mr Scully to go through to the next round because Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration is 'toxic' to voters. Had Mr Scully been chosen and won the election in may next year, he would probably have had to resign his seat in a by-election, something that the party might want to avoid before the next general election. He has a majority of 8,361, which puts it in the sights of the Liberal democrats, who came second in 2019. Mr Scully, seen as an ally of Boris Johnson, had said he would look to follow in the footsteps of the former prime minister in a bid to 'reach out beyond' tribal lines if he was selected. The MP for Sutton and Cheam had vowed to fight Labour mayor Mr Khan's decision to expand the ultra low emission zone (Ulez) scheme and pledged to build more housing. In a statement, Mr Scully told the PA news agency: 'While I'm disappointed by today's decision, I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to Team Scully, the many volunteers, activists, councillors, AMs and MPs across London who supported my campaign. 'Your dedication and scale of support has been incredible.' The contestants will take part in hustings from Monday until July 3 before members are given the chance to vote for their preferred candidate between July 4-18. The chosen candidate is expected to be announced on July 19. Mr Streeting said: 'There's a very simple explanation for the Conservative Party not shortlisting their Minister for London to be their London mayoral candidate: their Government is toxic. 'It's not that they have no confidence in Paul Scully, it's that they have no confidence in their own record.' Mr Korski is a former adviser to David Cameron and businessman who has seen his campaign endorsed by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove. The son of Polish refugees said he was 'delighted to have made it through to the next phase' of the selection process. Mr Khan is vying for a historic third term in City Hall at the May election. 'Our campaign is about rebuilding the London dream. I'm glad to have received such fantastic support,' he tweeted. At the weekend he told MailOnline 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. He 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. He has also suggested turning traffic lights off at night to save money and energy. Ms Hall, a former leader of Harrow Council, said she was 'honoured' to have progressed. 'I am the candidate Sadiq Khan fears the most, because I will expose him, defeat him and clean up the mess he has left behind,' she said. Mr Khan is vying for a historic third term in City Hall at the May election. Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands MP said: 'All three of these individuals have shown great commitment to fighting Sadiq Khan and to bettering London with the Conservatives.' A worker at a factory that supplied food to Nando's spat in sauce tubs and contaminated hummus dips with ring pulls and rubber gloves, a court heard. Garry Jones, 38, is accused of spiking containers of sauces and dips while working on the production line. A court heard he deliberately added fish sauce to non-fish dressings and contaminated others with sesame and chilli sauce. Jones tampered with the sauces while working at Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company in Evesham, Worcestershire, the court heard. The charge reads: 'Between October 1, 2022, and November 1, 2022, with intent to cause public alarm or injury to members of the public - contaminated or interfered with goods. Garry Jones, 38, who is accused of spiking containers of sauces and dips, is pictured outside Worcester Magistrates' Court 'Namely 24 hummus tubs with rubber gloves, plastics bags and metal ring pulls; metal ring pulls in tubs of sesame and ginger dressing, sesame miso dressing and Vietnamese chilli and ginger dressing; and poured fish sauce into dressings which should not contain fish.' Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said Jones was involved in the production of the tubs of sauces and dips at the firm which were then distributed to restaurants nationwide including the Nando's group. He said: 'Tubs began being returned to the company as contaminated leading the firm to investigate.' He added that restaurants, where the product was later served, would say 'does not contain fish' on their menus - so it would be potentially deadly if consumed by someone with an intolerance. Jones allegedly tampered with the sauces while working at Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company in Evesham, Worcestershire Mr Hambling said on one occasion Jones had been caught on CCTV poking a hole in a plastic container which he then spat into. Jones also faces a charge of burglary with intent to steal from the home of a co-worker. Mark Turnbull, defending, described the charges as 'unusual', as they were ones he had never seen before. Jones, of Evesham, entered no plea to a charge of contaminating/interfering with goods with intent. He was given conditional bail and ordered to attend Worcester Crown Court on July 12. A spokesperson from Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company said: 'We do not make any Nando's sauces. We only manufacture hummus for the restaurant chain. 'A small number of hummus tubs were contaminated with plastic and paper towel fragments. 'However, this was rapidly identified as part of our quality control processes and these products were immediately recalled and destroyed before they reached any consumers.' Whitehall office buildings are still less than a third full as civil servants continue to work from home nearly 18 months after the Government dropped the requirement. Just 29 per cent of staff at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) turned up at its Marsham Street offices in Westminster in the last week of May. And the figures were barely better at the London headquarters of the Home Office (31 per cent), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (32 per cent), HM Revenue and Customs (also 32 per cent) and Foreign Office (34 per cent). The departmental data for the week commencing May 29 must be put in the context of it being the half-term holidays for schools and the House of Commons. But average occupancy for these five departments over the whole of last month was still only at around 50 per cent for them all - ranging between 43 and 56 per cent. The findings were met with fury by the TaxPayers' Alliance, whose spokesman Conor Holohan said: 'Taxpayers resent paying for empty desks. Hard-pressed households continue to pay for vast swathes of empty offices on the Government estate. The Government should sell off unused space or get workers back behind their desks.' CIVIL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE OCCUPANCY DATA FOR MAY 2023 DEPARTMENT HQ BUILDING w/c May 1 w/c May 8 w/c May 15 w/c May 22 w/c May 29 Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall 76% 76% 80% 64% 40% Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1 Victoria Street 48% 58% 66% 58% 32% Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 100 Parliament Street 62% 60% 64% 53% 52% Department for Education Sanctuary Buildings 57% 84% 51% 66% 44% Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2 Marsham Street 58% 58% 66% 67% 29% Department for International Trade Old Admiralty Building 72% 70% 70% 72% 54% Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 2 Marsham Street 74% 71% 73% 75% 61% Department for Transport Great Minster House 65% 63% 66% 63% 38% Department for Work and Pensions Caxton House 59% 62% 66% 66% 41% Department of Health and Social Care 39 Victoria Street 70% 70% 66% 66% 60% Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office King Charles Street 52% 50% 51% 50% 34% HM Revenue and Customs 100 Parliament Street 41% 44% 50% 48% 32% HM Treasury 1 Horse Guards 63% 66% 69% 64% 52% Home Office 2 Marsham Street 54% 54% 57% 56% 31% Ministry of Defence MOD Main Building 81% 88% 92% 92% 62% Ministry of Justice 102 Petty France 64% 62% 68% 66% 41% Northern Ireland Office 1HG/Erskine House 56% 54% 69% 68% 52% Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Dover House 62% 58% 77% 78% 26% Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Gwydyr House 52% 41% 62% 66% 35% This table provided by the Cabinet Office shows the daily average staff working in the HQ building (% of staff in the office of current daily capacity) Research by MailOnline examined data collected by departments and provided to the Cabinet Office since February 2022, which shows the percentage of staff in the office of current daily capacity. The data started being collected after Boris Johnson announced on January 19, 2022 that the Government was no longer asking people to work from home, with all other 'Plan B' measures in England lifted eight days later. At that point, civil servants who had been following government guidance and working from home could then start returning to their workplaces. The data shows a general picture for these five departments that occupancy rose throughout 2022 before stabilising at around 50 per cent this year. The Foreign Office started in February 2022 with 30 per cent, but was at 47 per cent last month; the Department for Business has gone from 31 per cent to 52 per cent; and Defra started at 27 per cent but is now at 56 per cent. The Home Office has only risen slightly over the period, from 47 per cent to 50 per cent. HMRC has seen the biggest change, having started off as low as 17 per cent in February 2022, with only 11 per cent for the week commencing February 14. The figure rose to 56 per cent by October 2022 but has since fallen to 43 per cent last month. The highest attendance figure for a single week across the five departments since February 2022 was recorded at Defra, which had 77 per cent occupancy in the week commencing September 5 last year. CIVIL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE OCCUPANCY DATA SINCE FEBRUARY 2022 Department Feb-22 Mar-22 Apr-22 May-22 Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Nov-22 Dec-22 Jan-23 Feb-23 Mar-23 Apr-23 May-23 Home Office 47% 44% 45% 51% 42% 46% 49% 55% 56% 57% 46% 50% 55% 53% 52% 50% Foreign Office 30% 34% 32% 39% 34% 34% 35% 40% 43% 44% 40% 42% 46% 45% 47% 47% BEIS 31% 39% 42% 59% 47% 54% 53% 57% 66% 67% 50% 53% 63% 64% 56% 52% HMRC 17% 38% 39% 54% 45% 43% 45% 46% 56% 54% 40% 45% 51% 48% 44% 43% Defra 27% 35% 34% 50% 42% 51% 54% 61% 63% 62% 46% 56% 64% 52% 53% 56% Last year, Jacob Rees-Mogg mounted an offensive against civil servants refusing to come back into the office during his stint at Government Efficiency Minister. READ MORE Google will now make in-office work attendance a part of workers' performance reviews Advertisement He was leaving notes on empty desks in the Cabinet Office saying: 'Sorry you were out. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.' But his efforts appear to have fallen by the wayside under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's regime. In April, it was revealed that government office designs now assume just 50 per cent of staff will be in at any one time. The assumed attendance has been reduced from 66 per cent in the wake of Covid - suggesting up to half will be working from home in the future. As the Daily Mail's Andrew Pierce reported today, figures released last week show that the Department for Transport has spent 121,000 in the past year on IT equipment and office furniture for staff working from home. The report added that Transport Minister Jesse Norman could not provide a breakdown on the specific categories of equipment, and that other departments do not keep centralised figures on working from home equipment. On May 17, Jeremy Hunt warned that working from home can hit 'creativity' as he insisted going into the office should be the 'default' option. The Chancellor acknowledged video conferencing and other remote tools offer some 'exciting opportunities' including being able to 'stay in touch' with work while looking after a baby. The Home Office saw around half of staff working from home last month. Jacob Rees-Mogg took this picture in the Cabinet Office to highlight the issue of WFH civil servants last year But he said he 'worried' that firms were losing out through staff not being able to 'bounce ideas off each other' - suggesting people should be in the office unless there was a 'good reason'. Last month, Michael Gove's Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Community signed a 200,000 contract to provide desks and chairs for its WFH civil servants. The Government contract was described as providing for 'the purchase of home working equipment to be used by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) employees at their home locations'. The DLUHC plans to provide around 32 deliveries a month to the addresses of civil servants who are likely to have been recently recruited. Data from the Office for National Statistics realised in February found that 16 per cent of working adults reported working from home only and 28 per cent reported both working from home and travelling to work over the period of September 2022 to January 2023. It said workers in the highest income band, those educated to degree level or above, and those in professional occupations were most likely to report home only or hybrid working. The Cabinet Office states in its notes on Government attendance figures that the four main collection methods are wifi and/or computer log-ins associated with location; swipe pass entry data; space or desk booking system; and manual count. This data also does not count employees working in other locations such as other government buildings, other workplaces or working from home. Jacob Rees-Mogg has also been leading the charge, having left notes on empty desks in the Cabinet Office saying: 'Sorry you were out. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon' However, the Cabinet Office also states that work is underway to develop a common methodology for efficiently monitoring occupancy that provides a daily and historic trend record of office occupancy levels for a building. The data is collected weekly and reported for the time period of Monday to Friday. Sources within the Government told MailOnline that data published on desk occupancy is related to departmental headquarters only and insisted that inferences about the wider workforce should not be made based upon them. On the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero formerly part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which was split in February - everyone's contract of employment states their place of work that they are contractually obliged to attend. For most staff, their stated workplace is an office location - but the department's hybrid working policy applies to all employees. For a small number of staff with health or other circumstances such as disabilities, the department has an individual risk assessment process to manage exemptions. And on Defra, MailOnline understands the statistics reflect occupancy for Defra's Marsham Street building only, which houses only 5 per cent of Defra's total staff. A Government spokesman told MailOnline today: 'There is agreement across government on there being clear benefits from face-to-face, collaborative working and departments remain committed to having staff working in offices at pre-pandemic levels.' Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died aged 86 after being admitted to hospital with leukaemia last week. The billionaire businessman created Italy's largest media company before transforming the country's political landscape - while fending off multiple legal and sex scandals. His spokesman confirmed his death on the morning of Monday June 12. But who is Berlusconi's ex-wife Veronica Lario? How many children does the former Italian Prime Minister have? Read on below for everything you need to know about Veronica Lario. Veronica Lario was born Miriam Raffaella Bartolin and had a prominent career as an actress prior to meeting Berlusconi Berlusconi and Lario wait for President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush at the Villa Madama residence for a social dinner, in Rome June 24, 2004 Who is Veronica Lario? Veronica Lario was born Miriam Raffaella Bartolin and had a prominent career as an actress prior to meeting Berlusconi, with her most famous role coming in the 1982 murder mystery film Tenebrae. By the time Lario married Berlusconi in 1990, he was a well-known entrepreneur, with his wedding generating widespread interest from the Italian public. The pair were subsequently married for 20 years before Lario divorced Berlusconi in 2010. The divorce came after Lario, 57, said she could no longer tolerate the 77-year-old's 'consorting with minors' after spending 24 years married to the politician. The former Italian Prime Minister - who served in four different governments - finalised his divorce from Lario in 2014, leaving him free to marry a woman almost 50 years his junior. Despite being younger than some of his children, Francesca Pascale, 28, was subsequently involved in a relationship with the former AC Milan owner between 2013 and 2020. The pair were never married. How many children did Silvio Berlusconi have? Berlusconi and Lario have three children together: Barbara, born in 1984, Eleonora, born in 1986, and Luigi, born in 1988. The couple's eldest daughter, Barbara, is an advisor to the board of her father's company Fininvest and has previously served as both vice-chairwoman and CEO of AC Milan. Conversely, little is known about Eleonora or Luigi, who have stayed out of the spotlight in contrast to their father, who stirred controversy prior to his death with his criticism of Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, putting him at odds with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The billionaire, whose Forza Italia party is part of the ruling government coalition, was accused - but acquitted this year - of paying young starlets and others for 'silence and lies' about his notoriously hedonistic soirees, which he has always insisted were elegant dinners. Lario and Berlusconi were married for 20 years before she divorced the former Italian Prime Minister in 2010 Silvio also had two children from his marriage to Carla Dall'Oglio: Marina and Pier Silvio, who would both also enter into business. In 2010, Marina was the only Italian to feature in The World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes, placing 48th on the list. Since 2003, Marina has been chairwoman of Mondadori, Italy's largest magazine publisher. In 2013, 2016 and 2018, US magazine The Hollywood Reporter included Marina Berlusconi in its list of the most 20 most influential women in the television and media industry. Pier Silvio has been in a relationship with Silvia Toffanin, the former Italian model, since 2002. A charity has warned surging pollen counts could lead to a wave of hospitalisations and deaths after the Met Office issued new warnings showing pollen counts will hit 'very high' levels across Britain this week. The UK's official forecasters issued red warnings signaling pollen counts are set to rise throughout the week, with new maps showing the places that will be hardest hit by bouts of hay fever. The maps show England and Wales will be hardest hit by the 'very high' pollen counts, as it warned pollen levels will also be 'high in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Alarms were in turn raised that the high pollen counts could trigger 'life-threatening reactions' in those with lung conditions, including those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The campaigners said the 'extremely high' pollen levels could be 'deadly' and could leave those with asthma fighting to breathe. Pollen counts are set to soar to 'very high' levels across England and Wales over the coming days, the Met Office said The Met Office issued a red warning that pollen counts will be 'very high' across England and Wales this Wednesday via a new map that shows the areas that will be hardest hit The hot weather is set to see pollen counts soar across Britain over the coming days (File photo: Beachgoers enjoy the warm weather at Southend) The UK is in 'peak' pollen season with grass pollen set to cause a surge in pollen counts (File photo: Walkers enjoy a day out in Richmond Park, London) The Met Office issued red warnings for regions across England and Wales (Filed photo: A woman enjoys the warm weather in St James' Park) The Met Office issued red warnings of 'very high' pollen counts in Yorkshire and Humberside, the North West, West Midlands, Wales, East of England, South West, and London and South East England over the coming week. The UK forecasters also warned pollen counts will be high in the North East of England, Northern Ireland, and the Scottish regions of the Lothian Borders, Highlands, and Dumfries and Galloway. The Met Office warned the UK is entering 'peak' pollen season, as it noted grass pollen counts are on the rise. Lung health charity Asthma + Lung UK in turn warned the high pollen counts could pose a serious risk to those living with lung conditions, as it noted pollen is a major trigger for those living with asthma and COPD. The charity noted that almost half (47.1 per cent) of the 5 million Brits living with asthma and more than a quarter (27.4 per cent) of the 1.3 million British people living with COPD are triggered by pollen. Advice at Asthma + Lung's head of health advice, Emma Rubach, said: 'High pollen levels can be very dangerous for people with conditions like asthma, bringing on serious symptoms like wheezing and breathlessness.' 'They can prompt asthma attacks which can be terrifying, leaving them fighting to breathe. This can be deadly and around four people already die in the UK each day from an asthma attack.' The health campaigner advised those suffering from lung conditions to make sure they have their inhalers to hand, and suggested that anyone who feels their symptoms getting 'much worse' should book an appointment with their GP. The Met Office said pollen counts will remain high across Scotland and Northern Ireland (File photo: A man enjoyed the warm weather in St James' Park) Pollen counts will be 'very high' in England and Wales and high in much of Scotland and Northern Ireland (File photo: People enjoy the warm weather in St James' Park, London) A health charity warned the pollen counts could cause a wave of fatal asthma attacks (File photo: People enjoy the warm weather in Richmond Park, London) The charity said those with COPD could also suffer (File photo: Beachgoers enjoy the warm weather in Weymouth) Pollen counts are set to be 'very high' in England and Wales England and Wales are set to experience the highest pollen counts this Tuesday with levels set to remain 'high' in Scotland and Northern Ireland Three people were killed and three more wounded in a shooting last night at a house in Maryland's capital city Annapolis. Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson said that the shooting stemmed from what he described as an 'interpersonal dispute' and that there was no further threat to the public. The victims of the shooting died outside the home and it 'wasn't random', police said. Jackson said: 'It's a very active and fluid investigation. We're still trying to determine everything that occurred. 'We're still piecing it together. We have a lot more work to do.' People gather on a residential street in Annapolis, Md, where police say multiple people were shot at a home on Sunday Police stand among a crowd outside a home where multiple people were shot in Annapolis, Md, on Sunday Police respond to the scene where multiple people were shot, some fatally, in the 1000 block of Paddington Place in Annapolis He declined to elaborate on the relationship between the people involved, but said those killed ranged in age from their 20s to their 50s. He said that authorities hadn't established a firm motive for the shooting. 'It wasn't random,' Jackson said, noting that the victims 'died outside' the home. Numerous police cars were seen in the residential area where the shooting happened south of the city center and near the waterfront. Jackson said officers responded to the shooting around 8 p.m. The police department issued a news release saying that one of the wounded was flown to a trauma center. Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson speaks at a news conference about a shooting that left several dead and injured Police vehicles are seen on a residential street in Annapolis, Md., where police say multiple people were shot at a home on Sunday The police statement said that a suspect was in custody. The chief later described the person as a 'person of interest' and that no charges had been filed. The chief said that authorities have recovered a weapon. This is a breaking story, more to follow. North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has promised to 'hold hands' with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to continue strengthening relations between the two nations. In a message marking Russia's National Day, the North Korean leader gave his 'full support and solidarity' to Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. 'Justice is sure to win and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory.' Kim said in the message published by the KCNA. Kim vowed to 'holding hands firmly with the the Russian president, in conformity with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to fulfil the grand goal of building a powerful country.' the agency added. North Korea sided with Russia and its invasion of Ukraine in the early phases of the war, blaming the 'hegemonic policy' and 'high-handedness' of the US and the West. In a message marking Russia's National Day, the North Korean leader gave his 'full support and solidarity' to Putin's decision to invade Ukraine North Korea sided with Russia and its invasion of Ukraine in the early phases of the war, blaming the 'hegemonic policy' and 'high-handedness' of the US and the West In its first official statement on Russia's attack - just days after the invasion - the Foreign Ministry said that the West was guilty of 'abuse of power'. 'The root cause of the Ukraine crisis totally lies in the hegemonic policy of the U.S. and the West, which enforce themselves in high-handedness and abuse of power against other countries,' KCNA said, citing an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson. North Korea accused Washington and its allies of 'ignoring Russia's reasonable and legitimate demands' for guaranteeing legally backed security assurances. They 'systematically undercut the European security environment by pursuing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's expansion towards the east, including blatantly deploying attack weapons systems,' KCNA continued. 'The reality proves once again that as long as the U.S. unilateral and double-dealing policy that threatens a sovereign country's peace and safety exists, there will never be peace in the world.' A Scottish postman wasn't racially discriminated against by an English colleague who told him 'I can't understand you', an employment tribunal has ruled. Pete McCalam accused Royal Mail manager Alan Wiggs of being a 'little bit racist' because he repeatedly told him he couldn't understand what he was saying, while also 'screwing up his face'. After recording the conversation, the postman - who worked at a depot in England - sued Royal Mail for racism. But a tribunal in Cambridge found Mr Wiggs couldn't understand Mr McCalam because he was talking too quickly - not because of his accent. Pete McCalam accused Royal Mail manager Alan Wiggs of being a 'little bit racist' because he repeatedly told him he couldn't understand what he was saying Mr Wiggs had previously insisted he was not a bigot, despite admitting he couldn't understand some Scots like comedian Kevin Bridges. Scots postman Mr McCalam had a tendency to speak faster when he was 'irate', the tribunal heard. Although his race case was thrown out he won a separate harassment claim against Royal Mail because another manager called him while he was off sick with stress to ask why he couldn't work. The Cambridge hearing was told Mr McCalam - who represented himself - began working for the Royal Mail as a postman in October 2019. In June 2020, he was called to an 'informal' meeting because he had driven a delivery van into a homeowner's wall. He covertly recorded the meeting and asked Mr Wiggs about a previous conversation they had had. He told him: 'You know when you [slipped] in the office last week and all that stuff and you know, you making a joke about 'Oh I can't understand you, I can't understand you' and I says 'Oh a little bit racist', you don't mean any of that do you?' Mr Wiggs replied: 'Do I f***,' adding: 'Mate look, I give as good as I get.... There's a few Scots I don't understand and Kevin Bridges is one of them.' Mr McCalam agreed, saying 'there's a few Scots that I don't understand' and Mr Wiggs said he had seen comedian Bridges live, adding: 'I love him he's brilliant but by the time he's said the joke and I've got it he's onto the next one.' The tribunal heard Mr Wiggs suffered a stroke in 2016 and can struggle processing information and that Mr McCalam's speech 'increased in pace' and he was 'difficult to understand' when he became 'volatile'. The Cambridge hearing was told Mr McCalam - who represented himself - began working for the Royal Mail as a postman in October 2019 A tribunal report added: 'Mr Wiggs' unchallenged evidence was that he had previously had to ask Mr McCalam to slow his speech down because he was talking too fast. 'Mr Wiggs denied discriminating against him or harassing him on the grounds of his race as a Scot.' Employment Judge Michael Ord dismissed the race claim. Judge Ord said: 'We find as a fact that the reason why Mr Wiggs told (Mr McCalam) that he could not understand him was because (he) was speaking rapidly which created a problem for Mr Wiggs based on his medical condition. 'We find as a fact that this had happened on previous occasions and (Mr McCalam) had been asked to slow down his speech, without any problem. '(Mr McCalam) has not satisfied us on the balance of probability that Mr Wiggs screwed up his face and said several times 'I can't understand you' as an act of race discrimination.' The tribunal heard Mr McCalam was frustrated he could not drive the Royal Mail van after he smashed into a wall. He also had disputes with managers over issues related to his health and went on sick leave from July 2020 until he resigned in October 2020. While he was off, manager Robert Gould called him to say 'Can I ask what is preventing you from working at the minute, please?' Mr McCalam, who has anxiety and depression, had to repeatedly tell him that it was due to him being too stressed to work, causing him further upset. The tribunal ruled this amounted to harassment on grounds of his mental health. His other claims of race, sex, and disability discrimination failed. An 'evil' killer who knifed his estranged wife to death and stole her jewellery to buy drugs while their children were at school has been jailed for life. Quyum Miah, 41, was convicted of murdering his estranged wife after admitting theft and two counts of fraud. He swiped 40-year-old Yasmin Begum's bank card and withdrew 800 after leaving the mother-of-two to die after the March 2022 attack in her home in Bethnal Green, east London. Miah was caught when detectives uncovered CCTV evidence connecting him with the crime, Southwark Crown Court had heard. Jailing Miah for life with a minimum of 33 years Judge Sally-Ann Hales KC said she was in no doubt he murdered his wife for financial gain. Ms Begum was remembered by the Queen at a recent landmark event at Buckingham Palace to highlight such victims of what she called the 'global pandemic of violence against women'. Yasmin Begum, a mother-of-two, was stabbed to death in Bethnal Green, east London, while her children were at school Quyum Miah, 41, had a habit of stealing from his ex-wife to fund his drug habit, Southwark Crown Court heard 'There was a significant degree of planning and premeditation, the defendant had an admitted history of stealing from Ms Begum to fund his drug habit,' she said. Ms Begum was found collapsed inside her home on Globe Road on March 24, 2022, after concerned school staff knocked at her home when she failed to collect her children. Miah stabbed his wife repeatedly and took the jewellery she was wearing as well as her bank card. The couple had separated and divorce proceedings were under way. He was the key suspect and forensic analysis of CCTV and other physical evidence helped homicide detectives bring him to justice. After savagely killing his wife, Miah used her bank card to withdraw 800 in cash. Miah pawned two items of her jewellery for approximately 200 two days later. He was arrested at an address in Plaistow on March 27 and items stained with his wife's blood were found. Speaking on behalf of Yasmin's family, her brother, Atik Zaman, said earlier: 'Firstly we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the detectives who worked so tirelessly to collect the evidence that caught Yasmin's killer. 'Without their efforts, he may have gone on to put another family though this nightmare. The Met launched a murder investigation after the 40-year-old mother suffered stab wounds at home 'An evil creature was found guilty of murder, fraud and burglary. A creature that should never be allowed to walk the streets again. He choose to murder a daughter, a mother, a sister for no reason other than financial gain. 'He values life at 800 as that it what he stole. He broke into our sister's home and brutally murdered her then robbed her. We hope that he gets reminded every day of his measly existence, how evil he is, and what awaits him in the next life. 'We ask that our privacy be respected as we try to pick up the pieces and go on with our lives without Yasmin.' Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, of the Met's Specialist Crime Command, who led the led the investigation said: 'Quyum Miah is a violent coward who ambushed Yasmin in her own home and brutally attacked her - she did not stand a chance. 'Whether Miah was motivated by jealousy due to the impending divorce, or greed due to his callous actions in withdrawing cash and pawning jewellery immediately after the murder, remains unclear as he did not provide any straight answers during his police interviews. 'Instead he refused to own up to his actions, continually lying and then changing his story when concrete evidence disproved his version of events. 'Yasmin was a young mother, who was about to embark on a new chapter of her life away from Miah. However, she was denied that opportunity in the most violent of circumstances. 'Miah has rightfully been found guilty of murder and will now face the consequences of his actions. I hope his conviction provides some small solace to Yasmin's family and those who knew her. 'The length of this prison sentence reflects not only the violence that Quyum Miah inflicted that day, but also the premeditation involved in taking Yasmin's life. 'Our thoughts remain with Yasmin's family as they continue to struggle with their loss.' A dog belonging to the former Chief Nursing Officer has been reunited with her owner in a dramatic drone rescue operation - after getting trapped in a rapeseed oil field for 36 hours. Dame Yvonne Moores was losing hope in the needle-in-a-haystack search when the flying camera pinpointed pup Maisie in the shoulder-high crop in Hampshire. Mrs Moores, 81, had taken her beloved pet for a walk when the 20-month-old white labrador slipped its lead and darted into the field, before getting tangled in the thick vegetation. The pooch was only rescued after Good Samaritan Ryan Mullen used his drone to scan the field from above and spot a tiny patch of trampled grass that gave away Maisie's location and showed her curled up forlornly on the ground. 'Maisie was on a lead but escaped and ran off into one of the large fields of rape near our house,' a relieved Mrs Moores said. Dame Yvonne Moores, 81, had been walking her beloved pup Maisie when the 20-month-old dog darted into a rapeseed oil field, triggering a 36-hour hunt. Maisie is pictured, circled Good Samaritan Ryan Mullen used his drone to scan the field from above and spot a tiny patch of trampled grass where the dog was trapped. Pictured left to right: Maisie the labrador, owner Dame Yvonne Moores, drone pilot Ryan Mullen and his daughter Ivy after the rescue 'I called her back but the rape was very tall so we couldn't see her and it turned out the rape had become twisted around her lead and she was trapped right in the middle of the field. 'We would never have found her without the drone - it's just amazing what technology can do. 'She would have certainly died without social media, new technology and a wonderful family who had a drone. After a fruitless search with husband Brian, Mrs Moores - who was Chief Nursing Officer for England, Wales and Scotland from 1992 until 1999 - put out a plea on a local Facebook page for help from someone with a drone in Hordle, Hampshire. She continued: 'We tried appealing for tracker dogs but nobody would let them go into the rape 'A friend suggested appealing for someone with a drone and put out a plea on the local Facebook site. 'Within a couple of hours an amazing family offered to help - what super people my neighbours are.' When businessman Mr Mullen got a call from wife, Kate, who had seen a post in a local Facebook group, he rushed home to get his drone up in the air to help. Labrador Maisie spent 36 hours stuck in the rapeseed field. The pup is pictured looking happy following its rescue in Hordle, Hampshire Maisie's owner Mrs Moores - who was Chief Nursing Officer for England, Wales and Scotland from 1992 until 1999 - put out a plea on a local Facebook page for help from someone with a drone. Maisie is circled in the field The 20-month-old pooch looked forlorn when it was discovered trapped in the field by a drone pilot The 36-year-old went out with seven year old daughter Ivy, who was desperate to reunite the dog with its owner. 'My daughter was obsessed with finding the dog,' the father of four said. 'I went out for about half an hour, but it was really windy and the battery ran out so we had to go home, charge it and went straight back out. 'It was about 8pm and we were losing the light. 'My daughter could hear the faintest of bark, and then looking at the screen we spotted a section of the field which was trampled down.' Mr Mullen revealed the treacherous conditions Maisie had found herself in, with the search party having to stop and untangle the plant from around their legs as they waded in to retrieve her. 'I'm 5ft 11in but the rapeseed was up to my shoulders, I had to have Ivy on my shoulder,' Mr Mullen said. Drone pilot Ryan Mullen answered he plea to try and help find the missing dog. He is pictured with his daughter Ivy and his drone after the rescue Maisie the dog is pictured finally being found following a dramatic search and rescue mission 'It was fantastic to find her, absolutely brilliant to have a happy ending - 36 hours is a long time to lose a dog. 'My daughter would have been devastated if we hadn't found her, so I was more excited than anyone else.' Mrs Moores was just as delighted to see Maisie, adding: 'We had to cut our way through the rape to get to her. 'When she heard us she was barking and just over the moon to see me. 'All her long lead had puller around her neck quite tight. 'She knew how to get home as soon as we released her - hopefully the farmer doesn't tell us off for trespassing.' A British woman who was shot and wounded as her partner was killed by armed intruders breaking into their home near Mexico's Riviera Maya Caribbean coastline has been identified. Sophie Wiggins, 32, was airlifted to a hospital in the resort of Playa del Carmen with gunshot wounds after authorities received a 911 call. A man described as the expat's partner, Martin Artur Schmidt, 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. Sophie Wiggins (pictured), 32, was airlifted to a hospital in the resort of Playa del Carmen with gunshot wounds after authorities received a 911 call Her partner Martin Artur Schmidt (left), was shot dead in the incident at a jungle ranch the couple are understood to have owned in Lazaro Cardenas British expat Ms Wiggins (pictured) was shot and wounded in the terrifying incident in Mexico 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. Mr Schmidt (pictured) 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. Pictured: Playa del Carmen beach (file image) A newlywed drowned while snorkeling on his honeymoon in Hawaii - before thieves stole his possessions and rental car while responders administered CPR. Steven Phan, from South Bay, in California, was snorkeling off Kahe Point, known as Electric Beach, in Oahu during a dream vacation with wife Brittany when he disappeared underwater. Phan, 49, was pulled ashore by a speardiver and bystanders tried in vain to administer CPR. During the commotion on June 1, callous thieves snatched the couple's personal belongs, including their cell phones, wallets, money and clothing - then made off in their rental car, according to a GoFundMe page started for the family. The page, which had raised more than $20,000 by Monday morning, said: 'Steven and his wife Brittany were on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Steven Phan, from South Bay, in California , was snorkeling off Kahe Point, known as Electric Beach, in Oahu during a dream vacation with wife Brittany when he disappeared underwater. The couple married just three months earlier at a ceremony in Mexico Phan was snorkeling off Electric Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, when he disappeared underwater. He was pulled ashore and rescuers tried in vain to save him The tragedy happened at Kahe Point, known as Electric Beach, in Oahu, on June 1 'While snorkeling tragedy struck and Steven, Brittany's husband of all but 3 months, drowned. 'As If this could not be worse, all of Brittany and Steven's belongings were stolen, the thieves took their cell phones, wallets, money, clothing, they even stole their car rental.' Honolulu Police launched an investigation into the thefts. Phan and Brittany had married just three months earlier at a ceremony in Mexico. The couple's social media profiles include pictures of their ceremony, including a snap of them together on the beach. Phan said Brittany 'made me the happiest man alive'. He is believed to have worked as a manager at an Apple store in San Jose. The fundraiser added: 'The loss of Steven Phan is absolutely devastating to the Phan and Myers family and friends. 'We are all shocked, in disbelief, and heartbroken at the loss of such a great man as Steven. Steven always found a way to be a part of everyone's lives, no matter the distance. Steven was a true friend and an amazing husband, Steven will be incredibly missed by all.' Steven Phan, from South Bay, in California , was snorkeling off Kahe Point, known as Electric Beach, in Oahu during a dream vacation with wife Brittany when he disappeared underwater A fundraiser has been started to raised money for Phan's widow, Brittaney, and cover the costs of a funeral and memorial A tribute to Phan said: 'Steven always found a way to be a part of everyone's lives, no matter the distance' Shin Tamashiro, a spear fisherman who visits the spot, said the circumstances were 'unreal' and added of the thieves: 'You just question that person as a human being.' 'People, they don't have the decency, integrity, it's just morals I guess,' he told KITV. John Titchen, chief of Honolulu's Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division, added: 'It's tragic to see these circumstances like yesterday. This is a place where we have long known we need more of an ocean safety presence. 'And so any time we see a case like this before we can get set up and get in here and get established, it's heartbreaking.' Money raised through the fundraiser will cover funeral and memorial costs and support Phan's family. I-95 is going to take months to repair, sparking chaos on the major interstate that funnels 150,000 vehicles across the East Coast every day, officials have warned. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro last night said the highway was going to take 'some months' before it is running smoothly again following the overpass collapse. It comes as vehicles were already backed up on Monday morning as commuters faced long delays following the tanker explosion on Sunday morning. Meanwhile rescuers have been battling to reach a vehicle trapped in the rubble of the highway collapse, with officials saying the situation 'remains fluid'. I-95 is going to take months to repair, sparking chaos on the major interstate that funnels 150,000 vehicles across the East Coast every day, officials have warned Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said last night the major highway was going to take 'some months' before it is running smoothly again following the overpass collapse over the weekend An investigator surveys the aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed It comes as vehicles were already backed up on Monday morning as commuters faced long delays following the tanker explosion on Sunday morning Drivers began longer commutes Monday after an elevated section of Interstate 95 collapsed in Philadelphia Governor Shapiro said: 'At least one vehicle is still trapped underneath the collapsed roadway.' He added. 'We're still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse.' He continued: 'With regards to the complete rebuild of I-95 roadway, we expect that to take some number of months. 'We expect it to take that time, and we will have that specific timeline set forth once the engineers in Penn DOT have completed their review. 'To expedite this process and to cut through the red tape, tomorrow morning I plan to issue a disaster declaration allowing the commonwealth to immediately draw down federal funds and move quickly to repair and reconstruct this roadway.' Governor Shapiro said he had spoken to Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the tanker explosion. He said: 'Secretary Buttiegieg has assured me that there will be absolutely no delay in getting federal funds deployed to quickly help us build this critical artery.' A general view shows the partial collapse of Interstate 95 after a fire underneath an overpass in Philadelphia on Sunday The aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed, in Philadelphia, is pictured on Monday A investigator surveys the aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed An officer directs traffic detoured from a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia An officer directs traffic in a neighborhood near an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed Traffic stands still in a neighborhood near an elevated section of Interstate 95 that imploded Traffic stands still in a neighborhood near an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed Authorities believe the tanker was likely carrying hundreds of gallons of gasoline which sparked the inferno which took about an hour to get under control. The northbound section was left with a gaping hole while the southbound overpass was closed as the blaze made it structurally unsound. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines caused explosions underground, experts warned. The crash happened on a ramp underneath northbound I-95 around 6:15am, said state Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph. The southbound lanes were heavily damaged, and Rudolph said these were being assessed over their safety. Shapiro said it would likely take 'some number of months' to fully rebuild the roadway, over which roughly 150,000 vehicles pass daily. He said he would sign a disaster declaration on Monday, freeing up federal funds and other help. Part of the I-95 Philadelphia Interstate collapsed as a tanker truck carrying gasoline caught fire and exploded. The enormity of the blaze could be seen through the windshield of a driver From above, the devastation can be seen following the Interstate collapse Moments are Hallinan had driven across, a massive 4-lane section of roadway collapsed Shapiro said the complete rebuild of I-95 would take 'some number of months.' In the meantime, officials are looking at 'interim solutions to connect both sides of I-95 to get traffic through the area.' The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a $212million reconstruction project that wrapped up four years ago. Thousands of tons of steel and concrete were piled atop the site of the fire, and heavy construction equipment would be required to start to remove the debris, said Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management. Shapiro said 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. The collapse now threatens to upend travel in parts of the densely populated Northeast The collapse took out four traffic lanes along an elevated section of the heavily traveled motorway, though no injuries were immediately reported Officials are seen working on the scene following the collapse of an elevated section of Interstate 95 Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, said he was driving south toward the citys airport when he noticed thick, black smoke rising over the highway. As he passed the fire, the road beneath began to 'dip,' creating a noticeable depression that was visible in video he took of the scene, he said. He saw traffic in his rearview mirror come to a halt. Soon after, the northbound lanes of the highway crumbled. 'It was crazy timing,' Fusetti said. 'For it to buckle and collapse that quickly, its pretty remarkable.' 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. Attorneys for Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger have requested more time to decide whether or not they will submit an alibi as part of his defense. Kohberger is accused of murdering Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho, in November last year. Investigators say they found DNA on a knife sheath left at the scene that is a 99.99 percent match to Kohberger, who was studying criminology at a nearby university at the time of the murders. Kohberger is accused of murdering Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in Moscow, Idaho, in November last year. He is shown in court on Friday The families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle have been banned from speaking publicly about the case In May, Kohberger declined to enter a plea, which prompted the judge to enter one of not guilty on his behalf. His trial in Latah County has now been set for October. In their latest court filings, his attorneys asked the court for an extension in their decision whether or not to present an alibi. It is in response to a state law that requires attorneys to submit their intention to provide an alibi before a trial gets underway. They say the discovery involved in the case has been 'voluminous' and 'still ongoing', and that they need more time to 'wade' through the evidence before finalizing their defense strategy and notifying the court of it. Kohberger's attorneys asked for an extension before deciding whether or not they will submit an alibi as part of their defense 'Mr. Kohberger and his defense team continue to both navigate discovery disclosed by the state and investigate the charges against Mr. Kohberger. 'Compliance with IC. 19-519 is at a minimum premature as wading through the extensive information that makes up the case is incomplete. 'Compliance may tread into disclosures of protected information. The defense needs time to make this determination and consider evidentiary rules,' public defender Anne Taylor wrote. The judge has not yet ruled on whether or not to grant them an extension. The home in Moscow, Idaho, where the four students were killed in November. Police say DNA at the crime scene was a 99 percent match to Kohberger At his most recent hearing on Friday, Kohberger's attorneys argued against lifting a gag order which prevents attorneys from speaking about the case publicly. The family of one of the victims, Kaylee Goncalves, says it restricts them too. Kohberger's team also argued that he is being over-analyzed. They said the media would find away to negatively write about him using a 'blue toothbrush', and claimed the attention the case is receiving is 'grotesque'. In addition to the DNA found at the scene, police linked Kohberger to the crime through his car. A white Hyundai Elantra matching the one he drives was filmed in the vicinity of the crime scene in the hours before and after the gruesome, quadruple killings. One of the victims' housemates - who came face-to-face with the killer - also told police she recognized Kohberger's 'bushy eyebrows'. While Kohberger is yet to submit a plea or defense, he has always vowed to fight the case. JP Morgan has agreed to pay Jeffrey Epstein victims up to $290million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of one woman but the settlement rewards anyone who was victimized by Epstein, a known pedophile who killed himself in prison in 2019. The number of victims who may stand to gain from the settlement could reach 100 though it's unclear if there is a limit on the number who can come forward, or whether each is limited in how much they can receive. The bank announced the settlement on Monday without disclosing how much the it had agreed to pay to Jeffrey Epstein's victims 'The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse,' a statement released by JP Morgan on Monday morning said. David Boies, an attorney acting on behalf of Epstein victims, said: 'The historic recoveries from the banks who provided financial services to Jeffrey Epstein, speak for themselves. 'It has taken a long time, too long, but today is a great day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors, and a great day for justice.' Sigrid McCawley, another of the victims' lawyers, said: 'The settlements that have been reached are both life-changing and historic for the survivors. 'Money, which for far too long flowed with impunity between Jeffrey Epsteins global sex trafficking enterprise and Wall Streets leading banks, is decisively being used for good. 'The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking'. Brad Edwards, an attorney representing the Jane Doe who launched the case, said: 'The information and support the US Virgin Islands and its legal team provided to the survivors was enormously valuable, and we recognize the importance of the government's continued litigation against JPMorgan Chase to prevent future crimes.' Epstein is shown with former private banking chief, Jef Staley (far left), Larry Summers, Bill Gates (second right) and Boris Nikolic (far right) A spokesman for the US Virgin Islands government, which is still suing the bank over similar violations, said: 'We are gratified to hear about the settlement that will provide victims of Jeffrey Epstein some compensation for JPMorgan Chases role in facilitating Epsteins crimes against them. 'The US Virgin Islands will continue to proceed with its enforcement action to ensure full accountability for JPMorgans violations of law and prevent the bank from assisting and profiting from human trafficking in the future. 'The US Virgin Islands is committed to protecting women and girls who could otherwise become victims going forward.' Epstein was a client at the bank between 1998 and 2013 - seven years after he was arrested and convicted of using underage prostitutes in Palm Beach, Florida. Bank employees were concerned about Epstein's large cash withdrawals, some of which were used to pay underage girls in exchange for sex, but he was allowed to remain a client for years. According to depositions that were part of the lawsuit, he would regularly withdraw between $40,000 and $80,000 a month. The withdrawals rang alarm bells among compliance officials, but he explained them away by claiming they were for fuel and landing fees for his private plane. 'The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse,' a statement released by JP Morgan on Monday said The bank is still entangled in a separate lawsuit filed by the government of the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein kept a home and is said to have abused dozens of girls. Last year, the same lawyers successfully sued Deutsch Bank - which took Epstein on as a client after JP Morgan eventually cut ties with him in 2013 - over the same allegations. Deutsch Bank settled for a tentative sum of $75million and was fined $100million by New York regulators. Epstein died in custody while awaiting a sex trafficking trial. In his absence, the only person to have faced criminal prosecution over his crimes is Ghislaine Maxwell. She is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence after being convicted of facilitating the abuse. A military veteran who acted as a pallbearer for Princess Diana before becoming the Queen's personal footman died from hypothermia while sleeping rough after a mix-up which left him without emergency accommodation. Malcolm Livingstone who appeared on photos around the world as he helped carry Diana's coffin suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following a tour of Iraq and developed an alcohol problem. In November 2021 - when a government-backed pandemic scheme was in place to make sure all rough sleepers were housed - he approached a night shelter in Norfolk on two occasions. Details were sent each time to a specialist service that was meant to notify the local council but the forms were not completed and a room was not found. Mr Livingstone was issued with a sleeping bag and blanket but was found dead in a church next to the shelter two days after his second visit. Temperatures were below 1C on the night Mr Livingstone died. Malcolm Livingstone (pictured) who appeared on photos around the world as he helped carry Diana's coffin suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following a tour of Iraq and developed an alcohol problem Princess Diana's body is carried by airmen after it was brought back from Paris, to RAF Northolt (Mr Livingstone circled) Recording a narrative verdict, Norfolk assistant coroner Samantha Goward said there had been 'numerous missed opportunities' to help him. His father, Allan, 75, told the inquest in Norwich his son had been left scarred by his experience during the war in Iraq, where he served with the RAF. He added: 'Unfortunately, some time along the way he lost sight of life in general and started to seek solace in the wrong place.' Mr Livingstone went straight into the RAF after gaining three A-levels in modern languages at school and was posted to the Queen's Colour Squadron, an elite body which represents the RAF at state and ceremonial occasions. It was in this role that he was asked to join the bearer party for the repatriation of Diana, Princess of Wales' body, when it was flown from Paris to RAF Northolt in west London on August 31, 1997. He helped transfer the coffin from the Queen's Flight to a waiting hearse. He also served abroad in Kuwait, Cyprus and the Balkans. One of his last duties before leaving the RAF in 2004 was serving in Iraq in 2003, the year the country was invaded. He then joined the Royal Household where he became the Queen's personal footman. He received several promotions until he was appointed Deputy Sergeant Footman. He was responsible for managing all the household staff at Buckingham Palace and, for a time, was in charge of the Monarch's travel arrangements for domestic and overseas tours. Mr Livingstone's father, Allan, 75, told the inquest in Norwich his son had been left scarred by his experience during the war in Iraq, where he served with the RAF (Pictured: Malcolm Livingstone) In 2013 Mr Livingstone's family became aware that he was 'drinking to excess' as a result of the mental health problems from serving in Iraq although the PTSD diagnosis wasn't made until 2018 (Pictured: Mr Livingstone, back row far left, in Iraq) Mr Livingstone (pictured standing at the back of the carriage, on the right) in State Livery Mr Livingstone acted as a pallbearer for the late Princess Diana (pictured in 1996) before becoming the Queen's personal footman Mr Livingstone, third from left, is pictured carrying the coffin of Princess Diana READ MORE: Female soldier, 19, found hanged at her army barracks was upset about her brother's suicide, inquest hears Sapper Jayne Elizabeth Hill (pictured) suffered what friends described as a 'funny turn' during a night out at a pub on September 18, 2021 Advertisement But in 2013 his family became aware that he was 'drinking to excess' as a result of the mental health problems from serving in Iraq although the PTSD diagnosis wasn't made until 2018. Two years later he was dismissed from his job and soon after had a serious car accident that left him with multiple injuries. He entered private service in London and later worked in restaurants in Norfolk but was 'never quite the same', according to his family. He moved in with his father and mother Nancy, 78, in West Winch, near King's Lynn, but left in early November 2021 and began 'sofa surfing' before sleeping rough. The inquest heard that he approached King's Lynn Night Shelter (KLNS) on November 9 but was told no rooms were available. The Government's pandemic scheme, Everyone In, was in place at the time. It meant local authorities had to immediately house rough sleepers. Details were passed to Merchants Terrace, an organisation run by a housing association that provides out-of-hours homelessness triage. But a form to West Norfolk Council was not completed, although an officer did call KLNS to say no emergency accommodation was available. Mr Livingstone was told to attend the council offices the next day but failed to do so. He returned to KLNS on November 14 but Merchants Terrace again didn't inform the council. Mr Livingstone's body was found in bushes in a neighbouring churchyard on November 16. A toxicology report found no drugs or alcohol in his system. Mr Livingstone's body was found in bushes in a neighbouring churchyard on November 16 Following the inquest on Friday, Ms Goward said: 'Malcolm died as a result of hypothermia after sleeping outside when he found himself without accommodation which should have been provided under the 'Everyone In' government initiative.' Mr Livingstone senior added: 'The man was not perfect, he had demons. But here was a man, a warrior, a son, a friend who cared so much for others he forgot he was important too.' Lucy McKitterick, of KLNS, said: 'He had been courteous and helpful. He was a gentleman. 'This has become a notorious incident which has stayed with us and taught us all an important lesson.' A council spokesman added Mr Livingstone snr said while there were shortfalls in his son's care, he accepted 'everyone did their best'. He added: 'We have subsequently improved our procedures to ensure that we have a consistently high standard in our approach to helping people who are at risk of sleeping rough.' The housing association was contacted for a comment. Mr Livingstone never married or had children. His father, Allan, said his son refused promotions but was made an acting corporal in Iraq. The Albanese government has been forecast to lose its referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament with a national poll showing support for it falling below 50 per cent for the first time. The legislation aims to enshrine First Nations Peoples in the Constitution and to establish an Indigenous Voice that would advise lawmakers. But new figures released on Monday night show the No vote on 51 per cent, leading the Yes vote which has dropped to 49 per cent, down from 53 in the previous Resolve Strategic poll for Nine newspapers. The No vote is also leading in three states - Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia - as the country prepares to vote in the referendum on a date in the second half of the year still to be set. The No lead in those states could prove crucial, as the Yes vote not only has to get above 50 per cent nationally, but also needs above 50 per cent in four of the six states. The Albanese government is headed for a stunning defeat over one of the key policy proposals it brought to the 2022 federal election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon State by state voting intentions on the Indigenous Voice Queensland: 56 per cent No, 44 per cent Yes South Australia: 52 per cent No, 48 per cent Yes Western Australia: 51 per cent No, 49 per cent Yes Tasmania: 43 per cent No, 57 per cent Yes Victoria: 44 per cent No, 56 per cent Yes New South Wales: 47 per cent No, 53 per cent Yes Advertisement In Queensland, 56 per cent of voters oppose the Voice, 52 per cent of South Australians plan to vote No and 51 per cent of Western Australians are opposed. The largest Yes vote of 57 per cent was recorded in Tasmania, followed by Victoria on 56 per cent and New South Wales on 53 per cent. It is the third month in a row that the Yes vote has fallen - dropping from 58 to 49 per cent in that time - and comes just before a Senate vote on the wording of the constitutional change. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vehemently rejected calls to alter the wording of the Voice proposal. When asked in general about the proposal, the survey showed that 42 per cent of voters support the Voice and 40 per cent oppose it - with 18 per cent undecided. But in a second question that only allowed a Yes or No answer and which used the exact wording the government intends to use, 49 per cent supported it and 51 per cent were opposed. 'The No voters report being more committed in their choice than the Yes voters,' Resolve director Jim Reed said. 'This tells us that those people who have moved to No are locking in behind that choice, whereas the remaining Yes voters are wavering.' Mr Reed said that while almost all voters have now heard of the Voice referendum, just 30 per cent of them said they could confidently explain it to someone else. 'This suggests that the more people hear about the Voice the more they are voting No, and not understanding the detail is likely a part of that.' In a further blow to Mr Albanese, support for the Voice among Labor voters has fallen from 75 per cent in April to 63 per cent in June. Among Greens voters, 81 per cent said they will vote Yes, but a massive 74 per cent of Coalition voters now say they intend to vote No. Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured with his wife Kirilly) has led the Coalition's campaign against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament Indigenous activist Noel Pearson, a leading campaigner in favour of the Voice, has warned that the Yes side is falling behind because it lacks a clear message. He said the Yes campaign must shift its focus to explaining the need to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution. Mr Pearson fears that reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would ultimately fail if the referendum was defeated. 'I think that message has got to be even more prominent than the Voice. The Voice is just the means; the core of the reform is recognition,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald. Passengers aboard a Delta flight to Los Angeles suffered a double-whammy on their flight Saturday when the aircraft was first required to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, and then the plane's emergency slide was accidentally deployed. Delta flight 520 from New York to Los Angeles was diverted to Salt Lake City due to a maintenance issue, according to a Delta spokesperson. The pilot said the 26-year-old plane's backup system's temperature instrument wasn't working - the instrument is needed for icing conditions. Once on the ground, all of the plane's 168 passengers were forced to deplane while the issue was fixed. However, once the passengers were back on the plane, the emergency slide at the back of the vessel was accidentally deployed, striking a crew member in the head. The slide was reportedly deployed by mistake by the plane's catering crew. An image of the emergency slide after it was accidentally deployed. One passenger said it looked as though the plane had collapsed in on itself Shocked and confused passengers were once again made to de-board the plane. 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.' The crew member was taken to the hospital and later discharged. One passenger aboard the cursed flight, Fiona Kane, told ABC7 that the entire incident was 'super chaotic and they (the crew) didn't really tell us what happened.' 'I had no idea that it was the slide that deployed. It looked like the plane just completely collapsed.' 'All the passengers were like in a state of fear and confusion and the flight attendants didn't really know what was going on either,' she said. 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 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 re-accommodated 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 all eventually booked on another plane to Los Angeles. Passengers were given 7,500 miles in credit by the airline. An attorney representing ousted FOX News host Tucker Carlson has slammed the network's cease-and-desist letter to its former star. Carlson was suddenly ousted from his network show on April 23, with no official reason given for why the company parted with their most-watched anchor. In the aftermath, the newscaster announced he would start his own show on Twitter, releasing his first two episodes last week drawing a combined 169 million views. But FOX continued to pay Carlson, and maintains a contract that stipulates he must keep content exclusive to the network through December 31, 2024. The network has now sent Carlson a cease-and-desist letter for creating a competing Twitter series and is threatening legal action, Axios reports. Carlson's lawyers, though, have argued any legal action by FOX would be a direct violation of their client's First Amendment rights, as the newscaster is said to be looking for a way out of a $20million-a-year contract with the company. And attorney Harmeet Dhillon says Carlson 'will not be silenced.' FOX News executives have reportedly sent its former star host Tucker Carlson a cease-and-desist letter for creating a competing Twitter series FOX continues to maintain Carlson's contract through December 31, 2024. It stipulates that he must keep content exclusive to the network FOX executives had previously sent Carlson's lawyers a letter saying he was 'in breach' of the contract and threatened to sue In a statement to Axios, Dhillon said: 'FOX News continues to ignore the interests of its viewers, not to mention its shareholder obligations. 'Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, FOX is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election. 'Tucker will not be silenced by anyone... He is a singularly important voice on matters of public interest in our country, and will remain so.' After the news broke about the cease-and-desist letter, she also wrote on Twitter: 'My friend and client [Tucker Carlson] will not be silenced by the far left or by FOX News.' She went on to slam the network, asking: 'For all the members of Congress, culture warriors, 'influencers, GOP officials do you really want to air your views on a network that spits on its viewers, leaks [opposition] on its own talent, and even threatens former talent for speaking, for free, on Twitter?! You have free will!' She claimed her representation of Carlson was preventing her from appearing on the network. 'For all the friends who have been asking "Why don't we see you on FOX anymore?" This is why. 'I am passionately committed to free speech and a free flow of information necessary for a free society,' Dhillon continued. 'Until FOX stops trying to silence Tucker, it's not a place for me. And I feel for my friends working at the network, which has clearly caved into pressure from some quarter to silence. 'What you are seeing on FOX today is a censored version of the news,' she claimed. 'Keep that in mind as you make your viewing and your commenting choices.' Carlson's lawyer Harmeet Dhillon took to Twitter to slam the cease-and-desist order Carlson's lawyers have also argued the network breached the contract by suddenly canceling his show without notice and it is therefore null and void. In a separate statement last week, Carlson's other attorney, Bryan Freedman, accused network brass of engaging in hypocrisy by silencing Carlson, pointing to how the company claims to 'defend its very existence on freedom of speech grounds.' 'Now they want to take Tucker Carlson's right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events,' Freedman wrote in the letter viewed by Axios. He reportedly added: 'This evening we were made aware of Mr. Tucker Carlson's appearance on Twitter in a video that lasted over 10 minutes.' Quoting Carlson's contract, the letter continues: 'Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Mr. Carlson's 'services shall be completely exclusive to Fox.' It added Carlson's contract says he is 'prohibited from rendering services of any type whatsoever, whether 'over the internet via streaming or similar distribution, or other digital distribution whether now known or hereafter devised.' DailyMail.com has reached out to FOX News for comment. Tucker Carlson was the most-watched man on cable news until his abrupt firing in April Elon Musk warmly welcomed the first episode of the ex Fox News Anchor's show on Twitter But before FOX executives threatened legal action, Carlson's lawyers, themselves, sent a letter to network brass arguing the star newscaster should not be bound by the non-compete clause and threatening legal action against the company. It was sent by Freedman, to FOX officials Viet Dinh, the company's chief legal officer, and Irena Briganti, the head of corporate communications. It claimed that FOX employees, including 'Rupert Murdoch himself,' broke promises to Carlson 'intentionally and with reckless disregard for the truth,' Axios reported. The lawyers reportedly accused FOX executives, believed to be Dinh and Murdoch, of making 'material representations' to Carlson that were intentionally broken, constituting fraud. The letter also claimed that Fox the network broke a promise not to leak Carlson's private messages. And it alleged that FOX broke promises not to settle with Dominion Voting Systems 'in a way which would indicate wrongdoing' on the part of Carlson, and backtracked on a deal not to do anything in a settlement that would harm Carlson's reputation. The letter stated: 'These actions not only breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in the Agreement, but give rise to claims for breach of contract, and intentional and negligent misrepresentation.' Carlson claims in the letter that Briganti attempted to 'undermine, embarrass, and interfere' with Carlson's future business prospects, which he maintains would constitute another breach of his employment contract. 'Make no mistake, we intend to subpoena Ms. Briganti's cell phone records and related documents, which evidence communications with her and all media, including, but not limited to The New York Times,' the letter said. They also indicated legal action would soon be filed. Fox News must take immediate steps 'to preserve all existing documents and data' relevant to Fox's relationship with Carlson, including correspondence between top executives and several media outlets. A Fox News spokesperson said it is 'categorically false' that Carlson lost his job as part of the network's $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. Stephen Shackelford, an outside attorney for Dominion, told Axios' Dan Primack: 'Dominion did not insist on them firing Tucker Carlson as part of the settlement.' Carlson was unceremoniously ousted from his network show on April 23 , with no official reason given for why the company let their most-watched anchor go. The Murdoch family, which owns the network, is pictured here in 2014 Carlson released the first two episodes of his much anticipated 10-minute Twitter show last week. The first episode, which appeared next to a 'Tucker on Twitter' logo, had reached 199k retweets, 657k likes and 81 million views, with some saying that by the time they finished watching the number of views had already increased by a million. For comparison, 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' on Fox News, which was the most-watched cable news show, received an average of 3.1 million viewers each weeknight during the weeks leading up to his shock firing. Twitter owner Elon Musk was quick to praise the 54-year old former TV anchor: 'Would be great to have shows from all parts of the political spectrum on this platform!' he wrote while retweeting Carlson's first episode. He added he had not signed a deal with Carlson, hours after the fired Fox News host revealed he is relaunching his hit show on Twitter - with the ensuing 10-minute production boasting a visibly bare-bones budget. And when Carlson announced his plans to start a Twitter show in May, Musk emphasized that he had not struck any kind of business deal with the newscaster. A Catholic bishop's astonishing decisions to promote a clergyman with a long history of 'grooming' behaviour and invite a convicted paedophile priest to live with him have been revealed in a damning report. The probe by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) also exposes blunders in the monitoring of the suspected clergyman spanning many years, including the forgery of his signature on a key document. The diocese 'safeguarding review' follows the resignation of Robert Byrne, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, last December. It concluded Bishop Byrne's 'poor leadership' had 'undermined' the safeguarding work of others 'to the degree that people were put at potential risk'. The Bishop's promotion of Canon Michael McCoy to Dean of St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle was made despite a history spanning more than 20 years of concerns of 'inappropriate behaviour with male teenagers.' Bishop Robert Byrne (pictured) undermined safeguarding efforts in the Hexham and Newcastle diocese, a probe by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency found The diocese 'safeguarding review' follows the resignation of Robert Byrne, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, last December. Mr Byrne is pictured Canon McCoy committed suicide in 2021 four days after Northumbria Police launched an investigation into allegations of historical sexual offending made against him by a 'person under the age of 18.' The CSSA report has now revealed how concerns about Canon McCoy were reported to the church authorities in 1996, 2007 and 2010. He was supposed to sign a safeguarding 'contract' to agree formal monitoring of his behaviour but nothing was done for nine years until the blunder was discovered in 2019. It was then discovered that a church official had forged Canon McCoy's signature on the contract document to make it appear as if he had agreed to the monitoring. The report found: 'Canon McCoy displayed a clear pattern of grooming behaviour over the years. There was an abundance of warning signals which should have given rise to more stringent safeguarding measures, and that the Diocese missed opportunities to intervene to prevent or ameliorate harm.' Over the years Canon McCoy's behaviour was said to not amount to criminal offending but included lying about going on holiday with two young males and facilitating under-age drinking in local pubs. When he worked as Chaplain at a secondary school social services were told of how he invited young people to his presbytery to allow them to drink alcohol. In 2010 a report that he was 'associating inappropriately' with under 18-year-olds and offered to take one on trips abroad led to the church authorities insisting that Canon McCoy sign the 'safeguarding contract' and should be removed from his youth roles. But 'Canon McCoy was not removed from any of his roles with young people and, in effect, remained entirely unmonitored.' Canon Michael McCoy (pictured), was promoted to Dean of St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle despite a history spanning more than 20 years of concerns of 'inappropriate behaviour with male teenagers' Despite all this Bishop Byrne still appointed Canon McCoy to the senior post of Dean of St Mary's Cathedral in 2019. The report revealed he was warned personally by the outgoing Bishop of concerns about him. Other senior clergy also warned Bishop Byrne against the promotion and reiterated his worrying safeguarding history but he went ahead with the appointment. Around the time of Canon McCoy's death the church authorities were told of 'inappropriate gatherings during lockdown' at the cathedral. These had been instigated by Canon McCoy and involved a 'small group of male adults' who socialised in private quarters after services, but an internal inquiry found there was 'no sexual element to the gatherings.' The report also criticised the Bishop over his dealings with a local priest named only as Father A who was a registered sex offender following a conviction in 2014 and suspended jail sentence for making and possessing indecent images of children. Father A and Bishop Byrne were close personal friends and had known each other for three decades. He has not been named as he is being prosecuted for another alleged sexual offence and proceedings are ongoing. After becoming Bishop in 2019 he made it known that he wanted Father A 'to move in with him.' Officials advised it was inappropriate as he was a sex offender. Around the time of Canon McCoy's death the church authorities were told of 'inappropriate gatherings during lockdown' at St Marys Cathedral in Newcastle (pictured) Bishop Byrne (pictured) was also criticised over his dealings with a local priest named only as Father A who was a registered sex offender following a conviction in 2014 Despite being refused permission, the report found Father A spent 'considerable time' at the Bishop's residence and 'would stay overnight on the premises' and had his own set of keys. Bishop Byrne also tried to get Father A a job with the diocese and at a charity, but these requests were rejected. The report concluded his association with the paedophile priest 'posed an unacceptable safeguarding risk which should never have happened.' The CSSA made 12 recommendations to the diocese to improve practice. It found current safeguarding met minimum standards but there had been 'serious failures of leadership' in the past. Bishop Byrne was not available for comment. Lawyer Richard Scorer of Slater and Gordon, who has acted for many survivors of clerical sex abuse in the Catholic church, said: This is a damning report which exposes multiple failings in the diocese. However, it raises a much wider issue for the Catholic church which is the unlimited and unaccountable power of bishops. In the Catholic Church's medieval structure, the bishop is king in his own diocese and can ignore and ride roughshod over the advice of safeguarding advisors. Whenever we see scandals in the Catholic church, we typically find that a bishop has abused his power. Unless and until the Catholic church, nationally and internationally, radically reforms its structures to ensure that bishops are properly accountable, these kinds of scandals will continue to happen. In response to the report, Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon said: The diocese accepts all of the recommendations to improve safeguarding practices and to provide pastoral care and support, safety and protection to survivors. Together, we are committed to a safer safeguarding practice. Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price claims Lisa Wilkinson hasn't contacted her to personally apologise after the TV star was caught mocking her as a 'diversity pick' . Senator Price lashed Wilkinson on Friday after audio emerged of the media personality making comments about the senator and struggling to pronounce her name during a pre-interview with Brittany Higgins and her partner David Sharaz. Late on Friday the former host of The Project released a statement saying: 'I sincerely apologise to Senator Price for any offence I may have caused. 'The conversation was private and not intended to appear as it has out of context and in the public arena. 'The tenor of our conversation was about the need for real, genuine change within the Liberal party, and that too many of their female pre-selections were in unwinnable positions.' Senator Jacinta Price (pictured) has slammed Lisa Wilkinson's apology over comments claiming she was a diversity pick for parliament But Senator Price said on Monday Wilkinson still had not contacted her personally, saying instead the apology statement had been passed onto her via her staff. 'She hasn't personally made an apology to myself,' Senator Price told Sharri Markson on Sky News in her first interview since the incident on Monday. 'If she was a real woman, I'd guess she'd ring me and personally apologise.' She said the head of Paramount Australia, Beverley McGarvey, had called her to apologise on behalf of the 10 Network, but Wilkinson had not. On Friday, Senator Price took aim at Wilkinson, saying the journalist was living in an ivory tower and was far removed from real issues pertaining to Indigenous Australians. 'They're derogatory and racist comments ... what would you expect from individuals who belong to the woke,' she told 2GB. 'The Project has never been interested in the view of a conservative Indigenous woman from outback Australia. Not once has it demonstrated interest in the concerns I've raised.' Price claimed Ms Wilkinson (pictured) is still yet to contact her personally, with the apology being sent to Ms Price through her staff Wilkinson's gibes against Senator Price were made during a pre-interview session with Brittany Higgins (right), who was not heard making any comment Senator Price said what had offended her the most was Wilkinson's suggestion she was some sort of diversity pick. 'I would absolutely expect an apology from the 10 network, from Lisa Wilkinson herself. That would be the decent thing,' she said. 'Unfortunately, this woke culture allows racism to exist in plain sight.' The comments were made in a pre-interview session with Ms Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz. In a leaked part of a pre-recorded interview with Higgins, Wilkinson pointed out the coalition had 'preselected over 20 new and wonderfully diverse and strong female candidates like, and what's her name, Nam ... Nampinjumba? (sic). She's an Indigenous woman.' In response, Mr Sharaz laughed and said: 'She clearly got in. Clearly it was a safe seat.' 'That's the thing, it was - as soon as I looked at it I thought, 'Oh, you're joking',' Wilkinson said. Mr Sharaz added: 'They've been preselected in unwinnable seats.' Montoya remains hospitalized at the same facility, where another doctor gave her oxygen and intubated her Stunning footage showed the moment a 76-year-old woman came back to life after a doctor had declared her dead at a hospital in Ecuador. Bella Montoya fell ill at her home on Friday and was taken to Martin Icaza Hospital in the province of Los Rios. Her son, Gilbert Balberan, told El Universo she was admitted at 9am and was pronounced dead at 12pm after she had suffered a stroke. Montoya spent four hours inside the casket and was about to have a change of clothes at a funeral home where her viewing was going to be held when her family noticed that she showed signs of life around 8:50pm. 'My mother started to move the left hand, open her eyes, the mouth,' Balberan told the newspaper. 'She was making an effort to breathe.' Gilbert Balberan said his 76-year-old mother, Bella Montoya (pictured), was moving her mouth and arm and breathing after they opened the casket she had been in for four hours after being declared dead at a hospital in Ecuador after she had suffered a stroke Bella Montoya, who suffered from heart problems, is said to have suffered a stroke Friday hours before she was hospitalized and declared dead by a doctor at Martin Icaza Hospital in Los Rios, Ecuador The footage showed Balberan instructing a person to call 911 as he and another person placed their hands around her head and left arm. Montoya can be seen struggling to breathe and moving her jaw. Moments later, paramedics arrived and placed her body on a stretcher before rushing her to Martin Icaza Hospital, where she was placed under intensive care. 'The doctor at noon told me that my mother was dead was not at at the facility. Another one saw me and he gave her oxygen, they intubated her and took her to an (ICU) room where she is under observation,' he said. Gilbert Balberan and a man (right) placed their hands over Bella Montoya's body after they noticed she was moving after the casket was opened for family members to change her clothes prior to a viewing at a funeral home in Ecuador on Friday night Bella Montoya remains hospitalized at Martin Icaza Hospital in Los Rios, Ecuador, where a doctor declared her dead Friday afternoon. Her family discovered she was moving inside her casket prior to a viewing at funeral home Friday evening. Her son said the 76-year-old moved one of her hands, opened her eyes and was breathing Balberan explained his mother suffered from hypertension and heart problems, and reportedly had a stroke early Friday morning. Medical experts reached by El Universo believe Montoya was in a state of catalepsy. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it is 'a condition characterized by inactivity, decreased responsiveness to stimuli, and a tendency to maintain an immobile posture.' Officials at Martin Icaza Hospital had yet to address the incident as of Monday. The death certificate noted her death was caused by 'cardiorespiratory arrest due to suffering from an unspecified cerebrovascular disease.' Balberan is expected to file an incident report with the local prosecutor's office Monday and accuse Martin Icaza Hospital of negligence. Boris Johnson officially quit the Commons tonight ahead of a controversial Partygate report set to find he did mislead MPs. The former PM has written to the Treasury formally resigning - which under arcane Parliamentary process entails taking an obscure job. This afternoon he was appointed steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, bringing his time as an MP to an end. Mr Johnson has also removed 'MP' from his Twitter bio. The move comes with the Privileges Committee poised to publish the findings of its probe into claims he recklessly misled Parliament over Covid rule breaches in Downing Street. But Mr Johnson is also engaged in an extraordinary public war of words with Rishi Sunak over his resignation honours list. Mr Sunak stoked tensions this morning by launching an open attack on his predecessor, saying he had demanded he act in a way that 'wasn't right'. He said he had not been willing to overrule the House of Lords Appointments Commission by deferring peerages for Nadine Dorries, Nigel Adams and Alok Sharma until the general election, or promise to give awards in the future. 'I didn't think it was right and if people don't like that then tough,' he said. However, in a statement this afternoon Mr Johnson said: 'Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish. To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule Holac but simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality.' Ms Dorries and Mr Adams have both announced they are standing down as MPs immediately. The Privileges Committee is expected to make clear that they would have recommended a 20-day suspension. Seeing a draft version of the report was what triggered Mr Johnson to declare on Friday that he will stand down from Parliament. The group of MPs - with a Labour chair but a majority of Tory members - could also call for Mr Johnson to be barred from the parliamentary estate for questioning its integrity. Mr Sunak is struggling to quell a Tory civil war with the prospect of three by-elections looming. Along with Mr Johnson's resignation, his allies Ms Dorries and Mr Adams have also announced they are standing down with immediate effect. On a whirlwind day in British politics: The selection process for the Tories' London mayor candidate has descended into acrimony after minister Paul Scully - seen as an ally of Mr Johnson - was snubbed from the three-strong shortlist; Mr Johnson has slammed the Cabinet Office for blocking him from handing crucial WhatsApps to the Covid Inquiry in a separate row. Boris Johnson was facing a recommendation from the Commons privileges committee that he should be suspended from the House for weeks - probably meaning he would have to contest a by-election Mr Johnson has removed 'MP' from his Twitter bio this evening Michael Gove (pictured) swiped that the government is 'getting on with important things' today as the Tories face a fresh meltdown after Boris Johnson 's dramatic resignation Taking questions at the London Tech week conference, Mr Sunak said: 'Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasn't prepared to do, because I didn't think it was right.' 'That was to either overrule the Holac (House of Lords Appointments Commission) committee or to make promises to people. How do MPs resign? The arcane procedures in the Commons do not include any direct way for an MP to resign - they can only die or be expelled. As a result, anyone who wants to leave in the middle of a Parliament must use a quirky process. This involves the Treasury appointed them as Steward and Bailiff of either the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead. These posts were traditionally paid by the Crown, and whoever holds them is disqualified from sitting in the Commons. Nowadays they are are unpaid, and they alternate between MPs who want to resign. Advertisement 'Now, I wasn't prepared to do that. I didn't think it was right and if people don't like that, then tough.' Mr Sunak added: 'When I got this job, I said I was going to do things differently because I wanted to change politics, and that's what I'm doing. 'And I'm also keen to make sure that we change how our country works, and that's what I'm here talking about today: making sure that we can grow our economy, that we can maintain our leadership in the innovative industries of the future.' But an ally of Mr Johnson said: 'Rishi secretly blocked the peerages for Nadine and others. 'He refused to ask for them to undergo basic checks that could have taken only a few weeks or even days. 'That is how he kept them off the list without telling Boris Johnson.' Downing Street said it was 'entirely untrue to say that anyone from No 10 attempted to remove or change or alter Holac's list'. The PM's spokesman said 'this is a process for Holac to make a decision' adding that 'when it comes to peerages, the final list comes to the Prime Minister'. In a round of interviews this morning, Michael Gove swiped that the government is 'getting on with important things' today as the Tories face a fresh meltdown after Boris Johnson's dramatic resignation. The Levelling Up Secretary attempted to draw a line under the former PM's political career - with whom he has had a turbulent rivalry - saying Rishi Sunak is a 'better' leader and the party is 'united' behind him. Mr Gove told Times Radio, said: 'I've been a colleague of Boris's for many years, and I'm sad that it's come to this but I want to remember with admiration those things that he achieved while in office. 'But I also think now that Boris has made the decision to stand down it's important that everyone recognises that the Government is getting on with the most important things. 'I will always think of Boris with affection,' he said. 'And Boris will always want to argue his case, as he has done through his political career with individual flair and pungency. But he's now standing down as a member of Parliament. 'He's a free agent and, again, he will continue, I'm sure, to contribute in his own way.' Mr Gove told Sky News he 'wouldn't describe the committee as a ''kangaroo court'''. And he refused to say how he would vote assuming the committee's report is brought to a vote in the House of Commons. 'I'll have to read the report, like every Member of Parliament,' he said. 'Because I think all of us will have the opportunity to vote according to our judgment on this matter. 'I'll read the report, see what the recommendations are, make up my own mind.' Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams both announced their resignations last week Mr Johnson quit after the committee sent him a 'warning letter' which is thought to have confirmed it will find him guilty of lying when he told MPs no Covid rules were broken at No10 gatherings. The seven-strong committee is said to be considering fresh sanctions against him, which could include withholding the Commons pass given to most former MPs allowing them continued access to the parliamentary estate. Boris ally snubbed for Tory London mayor candidate shortlist A Government minister seen as the frontrunner to be the Tory candidate for London mayor has failed to make the shortlist to take on Sadiq Khan. Minister for London Paul Scully missed out on the final three drawn up by the party ahead of next year's election. The Sutton and Cheam MP has been in the ministerial post since 2020 and served under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. He announced his candidacy last month and was seen as the favourite for the Tory nomination. But the party last night chose three relative unknowns to run-off for the final place. Former Downing Street adviser Daniel Korski and London Assembly Member Susan Hall will battle it out with Mozammel Hossain, a barrister who did not publicly announce he was running. Advertisement Former Commons Speaker John Bercow received a similar punishment following allegations of bullying. The committee is also expected to consider sanctions against supporters of Mr Johnson who have publicly criticised its proceedings. Allies of the former PM believe the committee which is led by Labour's former deputy leader Harriet Harman is biased against him. All seven who decided Mr Johnson's fate had made disparaging comments against him. The move could spell trouble for a number of prominent MPs, including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said the committee's proceedings 'make kangaroo courts look respectable'. The committee includes four Tories, but writing in The Mail on Sunday yesterday, Sir Jacob said they 'ignored the politicking of the chairman and naively went along with her leadership'. In his resignation statement on Friday, Mr Johnson said it had been 'naive and trusting of me to think that these proceedings could be remotely useful or fair'. He denied lying to Parliament and said the committee had 'wilfully chosen to ignore the truth', adding: 'Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. 'This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.' A Whitehall source said his comments were likely to be an 'aggravating factor' when the committee considers its verdict. Guto Harri, Mr Johnson's ex-communications director, said it was bizarre that the former PM could be hounded out by Miss Harman, who is a former acting Labour leader. He told Sky News: 'Can you imagine any Labour supporter being happy if someone like William Hague, say, had the fate of Keir Starmer in his hands when he was caught drinking beer and having curry with friends a long way from home in lockdown? 'People will think, 'Whoa, a committee led by the former Labour leader can hound Boris out of office when police found him guilty of one minor misdemeanour worth a 50 quid fine?' At the weekend, the committee accused Mr Johnson of breaking the rules by effectively leaking its findings and questioning its integrity. 'Mr Johnson has... impugned the integrity of the House by his statement,' a spokesman said. Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox is to make his first attempt to win a Westminster seat by standing in Boris Johnson's former constutuency. The former Lewis actor is to run in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election triggered by the ex-PM's decision to quit Parliament over Partygate. Mr Fox is to run after agreeing a 'mutual co-operation agreement' with the Reform Party that will see it run only in Mid Bedfordshire. He previously ran to be London mayor in 2021 but finished sixth with just 47,634 votes to Sadiq Khan's 1.2million. Mr Johnson has yet to formally resign and trigger the vote, likely to be held in the middle of summer, which could signal exactly how badly the Conservatives' hopes of winning the next general election are. Labour's candidate Danny Beales is seen as having a good chance of winning the seat, and a guerilla campaign by a right-wing candidate like Mr Fox could make it easier by stealing Tory votes. Mr Fox said: 'The Reclaim Party and Reform UK offer the only genuine conservative alternative to the electorate, seeking for a smaller state, lower taxes, control of our borders and a full debate over net zero and the contentious ideologies being forced onto our children in schools.' The former Lewis actor is to run in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election triggered by the ex-PM's decision to quit Parliament over Partygate. Mr Johnson has yet to formally resign and trigger the vote, likely to be held in the middle of summer, which could signal exactly how badly the Conservatives' hopes of winning the next general election are. Labour's candidate Danny Beales is seen as having a good chance of winning the seat, and a guerilla campaign by a right-wing candidate like Mr Fox could make it easier by stealing Tory votes. Uxbridge by-election candidates so far: Laurence Fox - Reclaim Danny Beales - Labour Blaise Baquiche - Lib Dems Advertisement Reclaim already has one MP in the Commons after the defection of former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen. The North West Leicestershire MP was thrown out for drawing a comparison between Covid vaccines and the Nazi Holocaust. Reform leader Richard Tice added: 'This cooperation enables us to have extra focus on specific by-elections. We have been campaigning for some time in Mid Bedfordshire. 'Many people feel totally let down by the two main parties that are both variants of socialism: high tax, nanny state, low growth and open borders. We stand for low tax, high growth and net zero immigration.' Mr Johnson hit back at Rishi Sunak for 'talking rubbish' today as the row over honours for MPs threatened to plunge the Tories deeper into crisis. The PM stoked tensions this morning by launching an open attack on his predecessor, saying he had demanded he act in a way that 'wasn't right'. He said he had not been willing to overrule the House of Lords Appointments Commission by deferring peerages for Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams until the general election, or promise to give awards in the future. 'I didn't think it was right and if people don't like that then tough,' he said. But in a statement this afternoon Mr Johnson said: 'Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish. To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule Holac but simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality.' The clashes over the premier's long-awaited resignation honours list came as ministers dismissed criticism of the Commons privileges committee as a 'kangaroo court'. The cross-party group of MPs is finalising its report into allegations that Mr Johnson recklessly misled Parliament over Partygate. The findings are set to be released in the coming days, and are expected to make clear that they would have recommended a 20-day suspension. Seeing a draft version of the report was what triggered Mr Johnson to declare on Friday that he will stand down from Parliament. The committee - which has a Labour chair but a majority of Tory members - could also call for Mr Johnson to be barred from the parliamentary estate for questioning its integrity. Mr Sunak is struggling to quell a Tory civil war with the prospect of three by-elections looming. Along with Mr Johnson's resignation, his allies Ms Dorries and Mr Adams have also announced they are standing down with immediate effect. A woman accused of posing as a boy called George in order to trick a teenage girl into sex believed the alleged victim had discovered her true gender, she told a jury today. Georgia Bilham, 21, admitted pretending to be a young man called George Parry whenever the pair met, keeping her hood up to hide her long blonde hair even when they slept together. But giving evidence at her trial for the first time today, she insisted she believed the alleged victim saw through her disguise shortly after their first kiss. 'I think she knew that I was a girl,' she said. Bilham insisted her elaborate lies during the relationship were aimed at hiding the fact that she was Georgia Bilham - not at trying to trick her into sex while believing she was a boy. Georgia Bilham (pictured outside court today), from Alpraham, Cheshire, is charged with nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of assault by penetration, all of which she denies. She said she maintained the fiction to avoid her 'finding out that it was me' as friends and family didn't know about the relationship. Bilham who described herself as 'a bit of a tomboy' growing up - insisted she was 'straight'. But she said her mother 'wouldn't have been very happy' if she'd entered a same sex relationship. She is accused of creating a false identity on Snapchat before meeting up with the short-sighted teenager, rendering her 'essentially blind' by taking away her glasses. The girl whose identity is protected by law allegedly only learnt the truth after her mother became suspicious. As a result she began researching 'his' real identity on social media and realised 'George' was really Georgia, the trial has heard. Today Bilham denied ever having placed anything inside her underwear to mimic a penis. She admitted wearing Calvin Klein underwear during one of their encounters but insisted they had been girls' knickers. She also claimed the alleged victim sometimes had her glasses on when she was with her as 'George', and that she commented on how 'he' had had 'his' eyebrows tinted. Bilham (pictured today) told the jury at Chester Crown Court how she was 'a bit of a tomboy' growing up and that her mother used to call her 'George' Bilham, from Alpraham, Cheshire, is charged with nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of assault by penetration, all of which she denies. Today she told the jury at Chester Crown Court how she was 'a bit of a tomboy' growing up and that her mother used to call her 'George'. Dressed in a loose-fitting beige jumper and with her hair down, Bilham said she never thought about changing gender. But she 'questioned' her sexual orientation when she was about 15, she said. Bilham said she had always considered herself 'straight' but asked if it was true to say that of the time of the alleged offences, she answered: 'No.' Questioned by her barrister, Martine Snowdon, how her mother would have felt had she been in a same-sex relationship, Bilham said: 'She wouldn't have been very happy about it.' Bilham said she created the George Parry Snapchat profile when she was about 15, using a photo of a boy with spiky blond hair from someone she knew at school and saying she was from Birmingham. She did so as 'an escape' because 'I wasn't happy with myself,' she said. The pair exchanged messages and met up at around the same time, with Bilham in the guise of 'George'. But she said afterwards the alleged victim sent her a message saying she was 'weird' which she took to mean she 'thought she knew' that she was 'female'. They kept in touch online, but Bilham said it was a 'love-hate relationship' which was sometimes 'toxic'. Bilhams barrister told the court her client denies ever having done anything aimed at mimicking a penis Bilham is charged with nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of penetration, all of which she denies Several years later in 2021 they started meeting up again after Bilham passed her driving test, riding around in her mother's Ford Focus, she said. In the early hours of May 11, the court has heard Bilham crashed the car into a hedge. When police were called, the teenager heard 'George' giving officers her real name. Bilham admitted she had been 'panicking about her finding out that it was me'. 'Not that it was a girl, just that it was me,' she added. Bilham said she believed the teenager knew that she was really female from that point onwards. She admitted keeping her hood up whenever they were together but insisted her accuser would sometimes keep her glasses on including visiting a beach to walk Bilham's dog. The girl would sometimes take her glasses off when they were kissing but this was because Bilham was 'heavy-handed' and might break them. On one occasion, she said the girl said to her: 'Have you had your eyebrows done?' She said she'd had them waxed and tinted at the time. On another, Bilham said the girl touched her mouth and asked if she'd had her lips 'done'. Bilham was asked about an encounter when she allegedly stopped the girl pulling down her tracksuit bottoms and Calvin Klein boxer shorts. She admitted doing so but insisted they were girls' 'knickers' with Calvin Klein written around the waistband. She also admitted changing her voice when they spoke but again said this was to hide her identity, not her gender. The trial continues. READ MORE: NATO countries led by Poland might put troops in Ukraine These are from 25 NATO and partner countries including Japan and Sweden NATO began its biggest ever air force deployment exercise in Europe on Monday, as part of a 'show of strength' in the skies, in a defiant message to Putin. The German-led 'Air Defender 23' will include some 250 military aircrafts from 25 NATO and partner countries including Japan and Sweden, which is bidding to join the alliance. It will run until June 23. Up to 10,000 service members are to participate in the drills intended to boost interoperability and preparedness to protect against drones and cruise missiles in the case of an attack within NATO territory. US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said the move shows all world leaders, including Putin, the 'strength of this alliance'. 'The significant message we're sending is that we can defend ourselves,' Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz of the German Luftwaffe told public television. 'Air Defender' was conceived in 2018 in part as a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine four years before, though Gerhartz insisted it was 'not targeted at anyone'. Two Airbus A400M of the German Air Force fly over Wunstorf Air Base in Wunstorf, Germany, Monday, June 12 An Airbus A400M of the German Air Force with the logo of the international air force manoeuvre 'Air Defender 2023' is parked at the Wunstorf Air Base in Wunstorf, Germany A Lockheed C-130 Hercules airplane of the US Air Force flies over the Wunstorf Air Base in Wunstorf, Germany Chief of staff of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz addresses journalists during the Air Defender Exercise 2023 at the military air base He said the exercise would not 'send any flights, for example, in the direction of Kaliningrad,' the Russian enclave bordering alliance member states Poland and Lithuania. 'We are a defensive alliance and that is how this exercise is planned,' he said. The first flights began in the late morning at the Wunstorf, Jagel and Lechfeld air bases, a Luftwaffe spokesman confirmed to AFP. Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered at Wunstorf in northern Germany on Saturday against the drills, under the banner 'Practise peace - not war'. Protesters called for a 'diplomatic solution' to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire. Gutmann said the exercise would show 'beyond a shadow of a doubt the agility and the swiftness of our allied force' and was intended to send a message to countries including Russia. 'I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance, and that includes Mr Putin,' she told reporters, referring to the Russian president. 'By synchronising together, we multiply our force,' she added. Russia's war on Ukraine has galvanised the Western military alliance set up almost 75 years ago to face off against the Soviet Union. Finland and Sweden, which long kept an official veneer of neutrality to avoid conflict with Moscow, both sought membership in NATO after Russia's February 2022 invasion. Under NATO's Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The exercise includes operational and tactical-level training, primarily in Germany, but also in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia, with a total of around 2,000 flights. German Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis, German Air Force Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the German Armed Forces Bundeswehr Eva Hoegl and State Premier of Lower Saxony Stephan Weil (left to right) leave an Airbus A400M military aircraft of the German Armed Forces Bundeswehr during the Air Defender Exercise 2023 Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis (left) of the German armed forces Bundeswehr and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the German Armed Forces Bundeswehr Eva Hoegl (right) are pictured during the Air Defender Exercise 2023 A soldier stands next to an Airbus A400M airplane of the German Air Force at the Wunstorf Air Base in Wunstorf Two Airbus A400M airplanes of the German Air Force fly over the Wunstorf Air Base in Wunstorf Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis of the German armed forces Bundeswehr addresses journalists German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit pilots based at the Jagel airfield in northern Germany on Friday. General Michael Loh, director of the US Air National Guard, said NATO's duties were at an 'inflection point'. 'A great deal has changed on the strategic landscape throughout the world, especially here in Europe,' he said. The exercise will focus on 'supplementing the permanent United States presence in Europe' as well as providing training 'on a larger scale than what was usually accomplished on the continent', Loh added. He said many of the alliance pilots were working together for the first time. 'It's about fostering the old relationships that we have but also building new ones with this younger generation of airmen,' he said. Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis (left) of the German armed forces Bundeswehr and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the German Armed Forces Bundeswehr Eva Hoegl (right) stand in front of an Airbus A400M military aircraft A Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules plane of the US Air Force is pictured during the Air Defender Exercise 2023 at the military air base in Wunstorf, northern Germany An Airbus A400M airplane of the German Air Force flies over the Wunstorf Air Base Airbus A400M military aircrafts of the German Armed Forces Bundeswehr approach during the Air Defender Exercise 2023 'And so this is about now establishing what it means to go against a great power in a great power competition.' Gutmann said that while there were no plans to make 'Air Defender' a recurring exercise, she added: 'We have no desire for this to be the last.' Asked about potential disruption to civilian air transport during the exercise, Gerhartz said the planners would do 'everything in our power' to limit flight delays or cancellations. German authorities and industry groups have warned that flight schedules could be impacted, particularly at major hubs such as Frankfurt and Berlin-Brandenburg due to their proximity to drill zones. Site is shut down as investigation is launched A worker has sadly died at a mine site in Western Australia's Pilbara region. The tragic incident unfolded about 4pm on Monday at the Mineral Resources' Onslow Iron project, but the details about what exactly happened remain unclear. WA Police, along with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety have been notified of the contractor's death at the Ken's Bore site. The tragic incident unfolded about 4pm on Monday at the Mineral Resources' Onslow Iron project (pictured), but the details about what exactly happened remain unclear. Mining operations have since been suspended as an investigation gets underway. 'We are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragedy,' MinRes managing director Chris Ellison said. 'Our thoughts are with the family, friends and the whole Onslow Iron team, and our focus is on supporting them during this difficult time.' The mining firm and the contracting company say they are now working together to support those affected. 'MinRes is working with the contractor to provide care and support to the family and site team,' a statement said. 'MinRes' Employee Assistance Program service provider and senior leadership from the company have been mobilised to site.' Fresh concerns about the president's fitness for office have been raised after he tumbled at an event in Colorado earlier this month The California Governor declined to answer questions from Fox News as to whether he would run against Joe Biden California Governor Gavin Newsom has refused to rule out whether he would run against Joe Biden in next year's presidential election. In a highly combative interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, Newsom batted away the host's questions about whether he is plotting to primary the commander-in-chief. 'I can see where you are going with that and, no, I'm not answering,' the 55-year-old lawmaker said in a fiery exchange to be broadcast on the right-leaning network later on Monday (12 June). Fresh concerns have emerged about Biden's fitness for office after he tumbled at an Air Force Academy graduation ceremony earlier this month. If re-elected for a second term in November 2024, the president would leave the White House at the age of 86. Rumors have long swirled about a possible Newsom challenge, but those suggestions have faded since Biden announced his plans to run once again. Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of Newsom's predecessors, suggested that a Democratic run-off against the 80-year-old was 'a no-brainer'. So far, only no-hopers Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, and self-help author Marianne Williamson have declared an intention to stand against Biden. But Democratic party apparatchiks are rallying around the incumbent, trying to stop them from sparking a drawn-out challenge to his 2024 bid. Governor Newsom, in a rare interview with Fox News, refused to rule out a possible challenge to Joe Biden Schwarzenegger, a former governor of California himself, called a Newsom challenge against Joe Biden 'a no-brainer' The governor of the Golden State, whose term ends in 2027, also declined to directly answer Hannity's questions as to whether the commander-in-chief was suffering from cognitive decline. Newsom claimed that he was in regular touch with Biden and had seen him at work first-hand onboard Air Force One, the presidential plane. Both men also clashed over Ron DeSantis's so-called 'migrant flights' that have irked liberals nationwide. Authorities in Florida have hired private planes to boot out alleged illegals from Florida or elsewhere and dispatch them to mainly left-leaning states across the U.S. On Tuesday (June 6), officials there acknowledged they were behind two such planes that sent 36 migrants to California. They had not set foot on Floridan soil, but were moved were moved from Texas to New Mexico and then flown to Sacramento, the state capital. 'Florida's voluntary relocation is precisely that - voluntary. Through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California,' Alecia Collins, an emergency management spokesperson, said last week. Newsom called DeSantis' behavior 'a stunt' and slammed the move as 'embarrassing' and 'pathetic'. 'Out of the goodness of his heart, he just wanted to help people? Give me a break, Sean,' the California Governor angrily replied to Hannity's line of questioning. In May, DeSantis signed a law allocating up to $12 million for migrant expulsion flights. Florida funded two last year from its city of San Antonio to the pricey and luxurious Massachusetts island of Marthas Vineyard. Barack and Michelle Obama have a $12 million mansion at the celebrity hotspot destination. DeSantis has homed in on the issue of illegal migration as a key policy of his campaign, echoing Donald Trump's 2016 pledge to build a wall to stop would-be asylum-seekers breaking into the United States. Newsom astonishingly lavished praise on Trump, saying he had enjoyed a good relationship with the former president over his Covid policies. 'It was incredible. He played no politics during Covid with California played none whatsoever it's a fact,' he told Fox News. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced that his corporate lawyer wife Annabel is expecting their fourth child in November. Mr Malinauskas took to Twitter on Monday to announce the imminent arrival of the latest addition to their already busy household. 'I'm very happy to share the news that Annabel and I are expecting a baby in November,' he wrote. 'Sophie, Jack and Eliza are as excited as we are to find out whether they'll have a little brother or sister. Annabel is doing really well, in fact I don't know how she does it!' South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced that his corporate lawyer wife Annabel is expecting their fourth child in November (family pictured together) The Malinauskas kids are fairly evenly spread out, with Sophie being eight-years-old, Jack, five, and Eliza aged three. The Premier said Eliza is particularly excited that she will at last have a younger sibling. 'She's the one that's talking about it the most. The other two are excited about it too, but Eliza's very inquisitive,' Mr Malinauskas said. 'She's become a real talker in the last few months, so she's sort of asking 'baby, mummy, tummy, baby come out?'' There will be no gender reveal party, though, as the couple is not interested in finding out before the baby is born. 'We've done the surprise option the last three times so we're going to try and be consistent, so we've got no idea,' he told the Advertiser. Mr Malinauskas took to Twitter to announce the imminent arrival of the latest addition to their already busy household Mr Malinauskas said they just hope the baby is healthy baby and that his wife has a healthy pregnancy. He said going from three children to four won't be that much of a change as their home is 'pretty hectic and chaotic' anyway. Deputy Premier Susan Close will be Acting Premier when Mr Malinauskas takes paternity leave when the baby is born. Dr Close was the first of the Premier's colleagues to learn the news of the pregnancy, with the remainder of the state government Cabinet being told last week. One of his alleged victims sat in the second row furious and told DailyMail.com, 'He literally hid from cops for 16 years. How is he not a flight risk?' A bail hearing was held today where Nilo's lawyer told a judge his family has raised $500,000 cash of his $5million bail Matthew Nilo, 35, has pleaded not guilty to raping four different women when he was a college student in Boston in 2007 and 2008 New Jersey attorney Matthew Nilo's first alleged rape victim sat in the courtroom today visibly shaking with anger after his lawyer told a judge his family has raised $500,000 cash of his $5million bail and will be set free. 'That's bullsh*t,' the woman, who wished to go by Lori, told DailyMail.com. 'He literally hid from cops for 16 years. How is he not a flight risk?' Nilo, 35, charged with with three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with the intent to rape and one count of indecent assault and battery, has been locked up in a Boston jail. In an exclusive interview outside the court with DailyMail.com, Lori explained how the alleged rape sixteen years ago destroyed her life, causing her to have a mental breakdown and forcing her onto disability. Now 39, she thought her assailant would never get caught until cops recently showed up to her home with news of his imminent arrest. Matthew Nilo's alleged victim Lori spoke to DailyMail.com outside of a Boston courtroom this morning. 'He's a very evil person and he used weapons and force to violently kidnap and rape multiple women,' she said Nilo, 35, has pleaded not guilty to raping four different women when he was a college student in Boston in 2007 and 2008 Nilo is seen partying with friends during his college days in 2007. 'I recognized him from all the pictures and especially some pictures online that show him from the time (of the crimes),' Lori said 'The cops came to my house and said they had identified him and they said that he was identified by DNA - and I was just relieved,' she exclusively told DailyMail.com. 'I was in disbelief and awe because I didn't think he was going to get caught. I've been waiting for years for him to get arrested.' She turned up for his bail hearing Monday, but had no chance to confront him because he didn't have to appear in court. 'I had to show it's not forgotten about, and I'm not going to just let this go,' she said. 'And I'm going to continue to speak my mind and make him aware that this is not his city anymore. Boston belongs to us now.' 'He's a very evil person and he used weapons and force to violently kidnap and rape multiple women,' she continued. 'I can't get into the details of my case, but I was his first victim, and the charges that are brought against him for me are aggravated rape and kidnapping. Nilo, who once lived in the North End, was arrested at his home in Weehawken, New Jersey, more than 15 years after he allegedly terrorized four victims She was 23 at the time of the attack, which she said occurred at gunpoint. 'I can't say the details of the case, but he was evil,' she continued. 'I've dealt with it every day. He's literally taken 15 years of my life away from me. I've lived in fear every day of my life since.' 'And I don't know how they can let him back into the world,' she said of him being allowed to post bail. 'I think it's crazy. But that's the law in Massachusetts, I guess. I think he's just trying to make a joke of the courtroom, coming up with his bail. I don't think he cares at all. I don't think he has any remorse. I think he thought he could get away with this forever. And honestly, I thought he might.' She said Nilo was a stranger to her when he confronted her on the street, allegedly kidnapped and raped her. 'I'm out of work and I've been on disability for post-traumatic stress,' she said. 'I've had to deal with flashbacks, just like replaying what happened in my head, what I could have done differently. How come I couldn't get away fast enough. Like so many things that I wish happened that didn't. 'You'll know by the end of the trial, when the details come out, just how horrific this man acted,' she said. 'And the reason I'm so upset that he's even walking the streets is that I don't fear just for myself but any female that he's even close to that doesn't even know who he is.' Lori was astonished to learn that Nilo was recently engaged and that his fiancee showed up to his arraignment last week. 'He has everybody fooled that he is just some smart, regular guy, but he's not,' she said. 'He's a serial rapist, and not once, twice, three times, but four times in Massachusetts. And he's done damage to my soul that is irreversible.' She said she has no doubt that Milo is the one who raped her. 'I recognized him from all the pictures and especially some pictures online that show him from the time (of the crimes),' she said. Lori was astonished to learn that Nilo was recently engaged and that his fiancee showed up to his arraignment last week. 'He has everybody fooled,' she said Nilo's new fiancee Laura Griffin, 37, stayed silent and emotionless during a hearing last week His fiancee gripped the religious beads throughout the hearing but did not say anything as she exited the court Nilo will leave the jail with a GPS ankle monitor and will surrender his passport. He has been ordered to have no contact with victims and witnesses and to stay at least 1,000 feet away from scene of the crimes, Terminal Street in Charlestown. At the time of the alleged rapes, Boston Police Department issued a warning that a man was attacking women after offering them rides home. Nilo was identified to law enforcement through family members who voluntarily sent DNA samples to a genealogy database, like '23 and Me.' According to a police affidavit, a dozen FBI agents and Boston Police officers arrested Nilo at his luxury apartment complex. They lured him down to the lobby under the pretense that 'a large package had been delivered to him that did not fit in the ... lockers where the residents pick up packages.' He was with his fiancee at the time of his arrest, and immediately invoked his Miranda rights. Nilo is accused of assaulting the four women in or around Terminal Street in Charleston on August 18, 2007, November 22, 2007, August 5, 2008 and December 23, 2008. Police revisited the investigation last year, using 'forensic investigative genetic genealogy' which resulted in Nilo being placed under surveillance in New York A 23-year-old woman claims that she was approached by a man in his 20's after leaving a friend's home in the State Street area in the early hours. She said she thought she knew the man, who offered her a ride to help her look for her vehicle before driving her to Terminal Street. Nilo then allegedly told her to 'shut up' or he would kill her, claiming to have a weapon before raping her on a grassy area near railroad tracks, according to court filings. The second attack took place in November 2007, when a woman, 23, was leaving a bar on State Street after attending a high school reunion. Documents say that she got into Nilo's car, thinking it was a taxi, before giving him the address of an ATM near her apartment. She claims that the man flashed a knife at her after she told him he missed the address, driving her to Terminal Street where he ordered her out of the car before raping her. The third assault took place in August 2008, after Nilo allegedly approached a 36-year-old woman on Boston Common, promising her money if she went to Charlestown with him. When they exited the car at Terminal Street, he allegedly 'tackled her to the ground, held a gun to her back' and raped her repeatedly. Prosecutors said that all three women underwent a sexual assault examination, which yielded a DNA profile, which matched the male in each attack. The final assault took place in December 2008, where a 44-year-old woman was attacked as she was jogging in the area of Terminal Street. Court documents claim that he approached her from behind, tackled her to the ground and sexually assaulted her. The man, who was later allegedly identified as Nilo, repeatedly told her 'I have a gun' before she managed to escape by poking at his eyes while wearing a glove. Police revisited the investigation last year, using 'forensic investigative genetic genealogy' which resulted in Nilo being placed under surveillance in New York. The filing, obtained by the Boston Globe, said: 'FBI agents were able to obtain various utensils and drinking glasses they watched the defendant use at a corporate event. 'From one of the glasses the Boston Police Crime Lab obtained a male DNA profile, which was found to match the suspect profile from the three Terminal Street rapes.' The glove that the fourth woman used to poke her attacker with was also tested, with investigators 'determining that this profile was 314 times more likely to belong to Matthew Nilo than to any other male in the population.' Boston Police Department has arrested six people, including Nilo, accused of years-old rapes using a $2.5 million federal grant to re-examine 'unsolved cases that present the greatest threat to public safety.' Nilo's lawyer Joseph Cataldo claimed that he has received 'no indication' that a search warrant was obtained before they collected Nilo's DNA samples. Several photos posted to Nilo's Facebook page at the time showed him living a life full of parties and drinking with his friends In one of his old photos, he was caught peeing in a hallway. Prosecutors said that all three women underwent a sexual assault examination, which yielded a DNA profile, which matched the male in each attack Speaking outside court, he said: 'My educated guess is there are no search warrants. Obtaining DNA and analyzing it without a warrant based on probable cause, I posit that is unconstitutional.' Nilo grew up in Boston and attended Boston Latin School, before graduating in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin Madison where he studied psychology. He earned a law degree at the University of San Francisco in 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile and records posted to the New York State Unified Court System website. At the time of his arrest, Nilo was working as cyber claims counsel for Cowbell Cyber, and previously worked as a paralegal at the Law offices of Iannella and Mummolo for the two years between his bachelor's degree and when he started law school. He was then an associate at the San Francisco-based Clyde & Co and then an associate at Atheria Law in New York. Cowbell Cyber suspended Nilo when they learned of the charges, saying in a statementL 'Matthew Nilo was an employee of Cowbell and was hired in January, 2023 after passing our background check. Mr. Nilo's employment at Cowbell has been suspended pending further investigation.' Nilo has also lived in Wisconsin and New York and authorities urged anyone who thinks they may have been victimized by Nilo to contact Boston police or the FBI. Around 200 migrants were prevented from boarding smugglers' boats to cross the English Channel by French police today. Migrants, including several young children, were pictured returning inland after the French National Police stifled any hopes of them entering Britain on small boats on this occasion. At dawn, at least 180 migrants and 15 smugglers braved police patrols along the beach of Gravelines in northern France and attempted to board boats bound for Britain, only to be intercepted by police a few yards from the water's edge. Despite a provisional total of 8,380 migrant crossings this year, no vessel successfully departed this morning. The crackdown will no doubt please Westminster which has repeatedly accused Paris of not doing enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, despite French officials insisting they seek to stop them on shore. Around 200 migrants (pictured in Gravelines, northern France) were prevented from boarding smugglers' boats to cross the English Channel by French police today Migrants, including several young children, were pictured returning inland after the French National Police stifled any hopes of them entering Britain on small boats Despite a provisional total of 8,380 migrant crossings this year, no vessel successfully departed this morning Earlier this year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committed to sending Paris 478million (540million euros) to fund a new detention centre on the continent and hundreds of extra French law enforcement officers as part of a three-year high-stakes gamble to end crossings. Today, scores of migrants were pictured turning away from the water as French police patrolled the beachfront. Mothers carried babies on their shoulders and in their arms as they were turned away by local authorities and forced to abandon precarious journeys. Several members of the large group, at times being led by young boys and girls, were pictured wearing life jackets following their failed attempt to cross the Channel. Last month, a group of migrants hoping to reach Britain attacked French security forces patrolling a beach near Calais. Three members of the gendarmeries were injured after migrants pelted their vehicle with rocks until it overturned and continue their attack with the officers trapped inside. Today's clampdown comes after a total of 616 migrants crossed over into the UK on Sunday - the highest daily number so far this year. Traffickers used the weekend heatwave, low wind and calm seas to ferry people across the busy trade route in small boats crammed with around 51 people each. At dawn, at least 180 migrants and 15 smugglers braved police patrols along the beach of Gravelines in northern France and attempted to board boats bound for Britain, only to be intercepted by police a few yards from the water's edge French National Police officers drive a buggy across the the beach to prevent migrants boarding smugglers' boats on the beach of Gravelines Several members of the large group, at times being led by young boys and girls, were pictured wearing life jackets Parents carried their young children on their shoulders as they failed in a bid to cross the Channel The crackdown will no doubt please Westminster which has repeatedly accused Paris of not doing enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, despite French officials insisting they seek to stop them on shore Earlier this year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committed to sending Paris 478million (540million euros) to fund a new detention centre on the continent and hundreds of extra French law enforcement officers as part of a three-year high-stakes gamble to end crossings Today, scores of migrants were pictured turning away from the water as French police patrolled the beachfront The figure for yesterday exceeds the 497 people who arrived on Saturday, April 22, and brings the provisional total for this year to 8,380. It comes as a blow for Rishi Sunak, who claimed last month that his curbs on the boats were 'beginning to work' after a north wind in May and early June brought crossings to a near halt. However, yesterday's arrivals suggest that bad weather was the criminal gangs' key obstacle. With calm weather expected until Wednesday, it is likely that migrants will continue to make desperate attempts to reach the UK. Downing Street today reacted to the new figures by insisting that crossings 'fluctuate on any given day'. Today's clampdown comes after a total of 616 migrants crossed over into the UK on Sunday - the highest daily number so far this year The crackdown will no doubt please Westminster which has repeatedly accusing Paris of not doing enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats Today's clampdown comes after a total of 616 migrants crossed over into the UK on Sunday - the highest daily number so far this year (pictured: French Republican Security Corps) With calm weather expected until weather, it is likely that migrants will continue to make desperate attempts to reach the UK. Pictured: Migrants return inland today At dawn, at least 180 migrants and 15 smugglers braved police patrols along the beach of Gravelines in northern France Migrants return inland after being prevented from boarding smugglers' boats by French National Police on the beach of Gravelines, northern France today Mr Sunak's official spokesperson told journalists: 'Obviously we know that crossings fluctuate on any given day. 'I think that when the Prime Minister gave his update, he was talking about a five-month average 20% reduction rather than a snapshot figure. 'So we do know that number of crossings fluctuates; equally we know that, on average, the enhanced work with our French counterparts means that you are now more likely to be intercepted and stopped if you attempt to make a crossing than succeed in crossing the Channel. 'So there is a great deal of work going on which is stopping these criminal gangs in their tracks. 'But, clearly, crossings are continuing and that is because we have not been able to put in place our full plans, and obviously there is a great deal of work across Government to that end.' Number 10 also welcomed TikTok' s decision to block advertising for small boat crossings, but declined to comment on the Home Office dropping plans to place an asylum seeker accommodation barge near Liverpool. French National Police successfully prevented a group of migrants wearing lifejackets from crossing the English Channel Mothers carried babies on their shoulders and in their arms as they were turned away by local authorities and forced to abandon precarious journeys A French Republican Security Corps officer searches the dunes for migrants attempting to cross the English Channel Migrants were hiding in the dunes before attempting to board smugglers' boats bound for Britain in Gravelines, northern France, today before being intercepted by police patrols Mr Sunak's spokesperson said the PM is still confident in having enough accommodation for people arriving on small boats, given the Home Office is no longer considering using the Birkenhead area as a site for a berthing a vessel. The official said: 'I can't comment on speculation about where there may or may not be sites. 'But as the Home Office have set out, we are exploring ways to add additional capacity. 'That includes vessels like the Bibby Stockholm. Alternative accommodation sites that are being taken forward are Wethersfield in Scampton, a non-military site in Bexhill, so that will add additional capacity. 'And of course, the overarching aim is for policy to act as a deterrent rather than us be required to detain people for extended periods of time.' The lover of a sadistic prison reform manager who put her husband through a 20-year campaign of torture today appeared in court charged with witness intimidation. Sheree Spencer, 45, was jailed for four years after making her husband Richard Spencers life a living hell with daily beatings and verbal attacks that left him cowering on the floor in the foetal position. Adrian Taylor, 52, today appeared in crown court today charged with intimidating a former friend of Spencer, Caroline Grant in October last year, whom he believed may have been called to give evidence against Spencer. Hull Crown Court was told that the father-of-six allegedly threatened Ms Grant with repercussions. Dressed in a bright orange jumper and jeans, Taylor pleaded not guilty to one count of witness intimidation. Adrian Taylor arrives at Hull Magistrates Court today to face charges of witness intimidation Taylor's lover Sheree Spencer (left) was jailed for four years after making her husband Richard Spencers (right) life a living hell Taylor (pictured), who was in a relationship with Sheree Spencer, now also faces trial for allegedly trying to warn off witnesses A charge read out by the court during the brief hearing heard he allegedly intimidated Ms Grant with the potential to cause justice to be perverted or interfered with. A trial date was set for the week of October 16, 2023. Taylor, whose address was given as The Pocklington Industrial Estate in Barnby Moor, Notts, was released on conditional bail. Judge John Thackray, KC, told him: Mr Taylor, weve got a provisional trial date in October. But it might be that there could be a compromise. Theres no pressure on you but youre in good hands. Spencer, of Bubwith, East Yorkshire, was jailed for a campaign of violence and sexual humiliation against Mr Spencer in the worst case of controlling and coercive behaviour the judge had ever seen. Spencers brother, Sean McCann, is also set to go on trial after allegedly trying to warn off witnesses who might have been called to give evidence against her. Spencer made 46-year-old Richards life a living hell over the course of two decades. On one occasion she defecated on the floor and forced him to clean it up and on another she beat him with a wine bottle so badly it permanently disfigured his ear. Pictured: Richard Spencer, who was subjected to abuse from his ex-wife Spencer Spencer was jailed on February 24 following proceedings at Hull Crown Court In furious tirades she would call him tiny c***, fat boy, a pussy and dumb dumb and caused bruises and scratches that he would need to cover with make-up before going outside. In an unconnected case, McCann, 44, of Rugeley, Staffordshire, will appear at Cannock magistrates on June 12 accused of intimidating a witness Mr Spencer - on October 10 last year. No witnesses were needed because Spencer, a senior Prison Service manager who bragged of a friendship with Boris Johnson, pleaded guilty to all charges. She admitted assaults against Richard and controlling and coercive behaviour across the duration of their relationship which began in 2000 and led to marriage in 2009. They split in 2021 when Richard could no longer hide the appalling abuse he had suffered at her hands. In February this year at Hull Crown Court Spencer admitted three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour. Sentencing, Judge Kate Rayfield told Spencer: This is the worst case of controlling and coercive behaviour I have seen. She described how she had sat through two hours of video and audio recordings of Spencer hurling hateful abuse at her husband. A female Ukrainian soldier has been filmed storming Russian trenches alongside her comrades in amazing bodycam warzone footage. She is one of the Ukrainian troops fighting as part of counter attacks in the south of Bakhmut. The woman's voice can be heard 59 seconds into the clip, which was posted by the Third Separate Assault Battalion on June 11. The female soldier briefly appears on screen during the video - which shows the troops taking a Russian position with the help of armoured vehicles. It comes as the UK's Ministry of Defence revealed that Russian troops are being killed fleeing through their own defensive minefields. A female Ukrainian soldier has been filmed storming Russian trenches alongside her comrades in amazing bodycam warzone footage She is one of the Ukrainian troops fighting as part of counter attacks in the south of Bakhmut The video rewinds to show which soldier she is, before a comrade is filmed readying a weapon (pictured) and firing it In the video of the female soldier, troops are seen running through the warzone, alongside tanks, while firing their weapons. The troops move out of the open air and behind trees, before they are seen in a trench. It is at that point the female soldier is heard speaking. The video rewinds to show which soldier she is, before a comrade is filmed readying a weapon and firing it. Ukrainian forces are believed to have made good progress in penetrating the first line of Russian defences in some areas, while making slower progress in others, according to an MoD intelligence update over the weekend. It said over the last 48 hours, 'significant Ukrainian operations have been taking place in several sectors of eastern and southern Ukraine' - tallying with claims by Kyiv's forces that they had liberated four villages from Russian occupation. Meanwhile, the performance of Moscow's armies has been 'mixed' so far, the ministry said. 'Some units are likely conducting credible manoeuvre defence operations while others have pulled back in some disorder.' The MoD said it had seen an increase in 'reports of Russian casualties as they withdraw through their own minefields'. Ukrainian military officials said Monday their troops have retaken another southeastern village from Russian forces, among the first - small - successes in the new operations against Moscow's more than 15-month invasion of Ukraine. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukraine's flag was again flying over the village of Storozheve, and she predicted the liberation of 'all Ukrainian land' would the final outcome. A day earlier, Ukrainian officials said Neskuchne, Blahodatne and Makarivka - three other small villages clustered together south of the town of Velika Novosilke in the eastern Donetsk region - had also been liberated. In the video of the female soldier, troops are seen running through the warzone, alongside tanks, while firing their weapons The troops move out of the open air and behind trees, before they are seen in a trench The video rewinds to show which soldier she is, before a comrade is filmed readying a weapon and firing it The villages are located in the so-called 'Vremivka ledge,' a section of the front line where the Russian-controlled area protrudes into territory held by Ukraine. The area has become one of several epicenters of intense fighting. The Russian Defense Ministry hasn't confirmed the Russian retreat from the villages, but some military bloggers have acknowledged the loss of Moscow control there. Russian authorities, meanwhile, have said their troops have largely held their ground along the front line that runs through southern and eastern Ukraine. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that any effort to rid entrenched, powerfully armed and skilled Russian troops will likely take months, and the success of any Ukrainian counteroffensive is far from certain. Just one day after she got into an on-air argument with her co-host, The View's Alyssa Farah Griffin was spotted taking in the sights of Los Angeles. Griffin, 33, posted some photos from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel to her Instagram Sunday writing: 'Quick LA trip for much needed family time.' She was back on the air on Monday. She had earlier posted a selfie with her husband, Justin, to her Instagram Stories on Thursday, showing the two of them in casual wear at the airport. It was captioned: 'LA bound with my love.' The View's only conservative co-host had earlier got into an argument with notoriously woke Sunny Hostin over her support of former Vice President Mike Pence in the 2024 election. Some fans had threatened to boycott the show in the aftermath, demanding that Hostin be fired. They also commented on Griffin's recent Instagram posts, showing their support for the conservative while bashing Hostin. Alyssa Farah Griffin, 33, posted some pictures on Saturday of her family trip to Los Angeles after she got into an on-air argument with co-host Sunny Hostin She returned to The View on Monday following the viral dispute with Hostin Fans commented on her Instagram post expressing their support while also bashing Sunny Hostin Griffin seemed to be enjoying herself on her trip, posting pictures from the Beverly Hills Hotel. One showed the iconic lit-up neon sign in the middle of tropical and colorful flowers outside. Another showed her and her husband, along with two unknown family members, standing on the red carpet at the entrance. A spokesperson for ABC told DailyMail.com the trip had already been scheduled and was not related to the argument Griffin got into with Hostin. But shortly after she posted the pictures, fans expressed their support. 'Enjoy, you could really use it after the whipping you received from Sunny. But you [came] out on top. Class always wins,' one supporter commented. 'So sorry you were not treated with more respect from Sunny Not surprising but She needs to go,' another added, while a third wrote: 'You are an excellent addition to The View. 'Its frustrating when panelists do not allow you to finish your sentences and arguments, even as a Democrat. Stay tough!' And a fourth fan commented: 'Good for you! 'While I consider myself as an independent; I lean towards Dem. I have to say, I really like you! Sunny on the other hand.and Im typically not a mean person. But she gets on my nerves with her smirk. 'I applaud you for keeping your cool and being the bigger person! Her smirk is going to smirk her right off the show! Keep bring you!' Tensions flared between Sunny Hostin (left) and Alyssa Farah Griffin (right) on the latest episode of The View, as the co-hosts discussed Chris Christie and Mike Pence Griffin and Hostin, 54, had been discussing Chris Christie entering the presidential race and Griffin's support of former Vice President Mike Pence when they got into the fiery argument Wednesday. Griffin claimed that Christie seemed to be on a 'kamikaze' mission to take down Donald Trump rather than win the nomination for himself, praising Christie and saying his run could help rescue the party from the influence of Trump. But Hostin fired back, calling the candidate 'spineless' and 'soulless', and saying he was only running because 'he wants power'. Griffin was less convinced, asking: 'How does he get power though, entering the race knowing he can't win?' The conversation then turned to Griffin's support of Pence, with Hostin saying: ''There were people who worked for this man, so I won't make it personal, but they weren't able to say "You should vote for this man because he did A, B, C and D."' She went on to say it 'scared her' that Griffin was 'incapable of defending a man you worked for', a reference to Griffin's earlier statement that she wanted to hear Pence's kick-off speech before remarking on his campaign. Hostin continued to talk, as Griffin interjected: 'No, no no. Why don't you ask me a question? You just accused me of something, so why don't you let me answer?' But Hostin refused, saying, 'I'm going to finish what I'm going to say.' Hostin went on to list her many grievances against Pence, appearing to read off her notes, leading Griffin to interject: 'Sunny likes to make it personal with me! Are you gonna give me a chance to answer?' Hostin continued her Pence-trashing filibuster, leading Griffin to say, 'This is not what this show is about. This is Barbara Walters' legacy, let a woman speak.' The segment devolved into chaos until Whoopi Goldberg called for a commercial break. 'Sunny likes to make it personal with me! Are you gonna give me a chance to answer?' Griffin said as Hostin filibustered listing her grievances with Mike Pence The segment devolved into chaos until Goldberg called for a commercial break, declaring, 'Let's have this break and let's figure out how we're going to make this work!' In the aftermath, fans of the show took to social media to call out Hostin for not 'listening to other opinions' with some even suggesting she should be fired. Sandra Abbott felt the presenter had a 'condescending attitude' and would not listen to different opinions. 'Im not a Republican, Independent, but I like Alyssa on the view and as a political commentator on CNN. Shes a reasonable Republican.' In reply, user Nick Jordan said: 'Yes, it's time for @TheView to unload Hostin. In my opinion.' Others shared the sentiment. @alwayslistenen wrote: '#TheView needs desperately to replace #SunnyHostin. 'I am happy for her high self-esteem, but maybe she could keep it to herself for a while. 'She is not better than everyone else, smarter than everyone else, or more entitled to speak than anyone else.' Another user wrote online: 'Please do us a favor and get rid of the diva - Sunny. 'Let her get her own show where she can get listen to herself talk all day long.' Sydney institution Harry's Singapore Chilli Crab has closed its doors in Surry Hills. The popular restaurant, which opened in 1982, is closing after deciding against renewing its lease. But in good news for fans of Harry Lau's famous food, it will be reopening in Potts Point in six weeks' time. Sydney institution Harry's Singapore Chilli Crab has closed its doors in Surry Hills The restaurant was initially above Triple Ace Bar in Surry Hills before moving to its current position on Elizabeth Street. The restaurant chain's founder Mr Lau died in 2020 and his son-in-law Andy Zhan now runs the show. 'I personally built this location from scratch. I designed it perfectly. Of course I'm going to miss the place, but things have to move on and keep going,' Mr Zhan told the Daily Telegraph. 'We've been around for 43 years and our plan is to be around for 100 years. That is our target.' The restaurant chain's founder Harry Lau (right) died in 2020 The menu will change when the restaurant reopens, Mr Zhan said, but the slimmed down options will still include crab, of course. Their crab is caught fresh in Queensland and hours later is served up down in Sydney. 'Unlike lobster and fish, which can last in a tank for months, crab requires a lot of attention,' Mr Zhan said. A five-year-old girl killed in a horrifying house fire was last seen in her sister's first floor bedroom before the inferno ripped through her home, an inquest heard. Little Alysia Salisbury could not be found when the blaze broke out at her home in the small village of Pontyglasier, near Crymych, Pembrokeshire on May 27. While her two elder sisters and parents escaped the fire, Alysia was 'nowhere to be seen' when emergency services were called, an inquest at Llanelli Town Hall was told. Her body was later discovered in her elder sister's bedroom and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Speaking at the opening of the inquest into the youngster's death, the acting coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, Paul Bennett, extended his 'sincerest condolences' to Alysia's family. Little Alysia Salisbury could not be found when a blaze broke out at her home in the small village of Pontyglasier, near Crymych, Pembrokeshire on May 27 An inquest into the youngster's death revealed the five-year-old had last been seen in her elder sister's first floor bedroom before the blaze. Pictured is the aftermath of the fire The fire completely gutted the family of five's country home. Speaking after the tragedy, Alysia's heartbroken mother Tara paid tribute to her daughter, and said: 'This weekend I lost the light in my life in the most horrific way possible. 'Everything she met was lit up by her beautiful smile. In one night, everything was cruelly taken from us. Life is not fair. 'The fire has taken literally everything - our house, our possessions, the car and my beautiful little girl Lysi. It's incredible how you can lose everything in a split second.' Since the tragedy, locals have rallied to support Alysia's grieving loved ones, collecting clothes and supplies for her parents Tara and Josh and two sisters aged 10 and 12. More than 19,000 has been raised for the family. Fundraising organiser Shon Rees said: 'It is awful beyond words. Not only have they lost a lovely little girl but everything they owned has gone up in flames. 'Every stitch of clothing - they even had a borrow a phone charger to contact family. 'But people are being very generous. Everyone feels for them and are giving everything they can.' Fundraiser Beccy Eynon said donations will go towards helping Alysia's mum Tara pay for her daughter's funeral as well as going towards helping the family find a new home to live in after they lost everything in the fire. Alysia Salisbury, five, was killed when a blaze broke out in Pembrokeshire over the May bank holiday. Alysia, (pictured) hailed by her loved ones as a 'beautiful daughter and sister', died at the scene despite efforts by emergency services Drone images show the damage of the fire, which tore through the roof of the property Police are still investigating the cause of the fire. Pictured are emergency services teams at the scene of the tragedy Beccy said: 'Alysia was a sweet, happy little girl who loved animals and the great outdoors. 'She was happiest out in the rain wearing nothing but a T-shirt and shorts. She adored her two older sisters, Abigail and Jessica, and they took such good care of her.' Neighbour and Pembrokshire councillor John Davies described how he tried to console the family following the fatal fire. 'As a community, our hearts go out this local family,' the Sun reported. 'I have spoken to the parents and they are going through unimaginable pain right now and they will be for a long time to come. 'The family moved here around four years ago and although they are very private people, they have become part of our community. 'They had all been inside the house when the fire started. It is an unbelievable tragedy.' Police said despite the efforts of emergency services Alysia died at the scene on the edge of the 300-strong population village. The respected local family 'lost everything' in the blaze which claimed the life of Alysia. Villagers were rallying around to collect clothes and bedding for the heartbroken family. The inquest into the five-year-old's death was adjourned pending further reports from the police who are continuing their investigation into the fire. A post-mortem examination has been carried out and a pathologist's report is expected at a later hearing due in October. The modern version of Bonny and Clyde - a busty influencer and her boyfriend - are now under arrest after attempting to rob a person in front of a bank in Brazil. Social media influencer Karina Laino, 27, and her boyfriend, Edmilson Souza, 40, are alleged members of a small gang linked to a string of alleged robberies in the western Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Realengo and were finally apprehended Wednesday. The two were part of a crew that would target people on their way to or from the bank, officials said. Laino was known before the arrest, as she is a popular influencer on social media known for showing off her chest and posing for scantly-clad pictures. Karina Laino (left) and her boyfriend, Edmilson Souza (right), were arrested as they were allegedly about to rob a person leaving a bank in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday. The couple identified four members of their gang that was involved in a string of robberies that targeted people depositing and withdrawing money Brazilian social media influencer Karina Laino was arrested Wednesday as she and her boyfriend were about to rob a person in front of a bank in Rio de Janeiro, police said Civil Police investigators were tracking the couple's movements when they spotted their vehicle and followed them. Laino, who was armed with a gun, and Souza were spotted standing by the doors of a local bank, waiting for their next target to come out when authorities finally apprehended them. Police identified Laino as the driver in robberies in which she, her boyfriend and other gang members waited for their targets to deposit or withdraw money from the banks before robbing them. Her Hyundai HB20 was used in at least three bank robberies reported in the western Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Sulacap. In May, Laino is said to have participated in two robberies at the same bank where she and her boyfriend were arrested. Surveillance footage from an April 10 incident showed a male gang member following a man to the ATM machine and pointing his gun before running off with the victim's shoulder bag. Laino and Souza appeared before Judge Bruno Rodrigues 1st Criminal Court of the Bangu Region on Friday and identified four other members of their gang who were involved in previous robberies. The couple was placed in pre-trial detention. The four other suspects were on the run as of Monday. In an April TikTok post, Karina Laino used a filter of jail cell bars and included a caption written in Portuguese that reads: 'If being jealous and neurotic were considered crimes, I would already be arrested' Rio de Janeiro authorities said that Karina Laino's car was used in two robberies in May at the same branch where they attempted to rob a person last Wednesday Karina Laino and her boyfriend have been place in pre-trial detention after a hearing judge said the couple were a danger to society 'I consider the preventive detention of those in custody necessary to guarantee public safety due to the evident social danger of those in custody,' Rodrigues said during the hearing. He based his decision 'on the specific gravity of the crime and the risk of criminal repetition.' Laino has 63,000 followers on TikTok and 54,000 on her recently closed Instagram account. She told investigators she was the owner of a casting agency she opened in September 2022. In April, she shared of photo of herself on TikTok with a filter of a jail cell, adding a caption in Portuguese that reads: 'If being jealous and neurotic were considered crimes, I would already be arrested.' Around 400 migrants are believed to have crossed the Channel by small boat so far today. At least eight inflatable dinghies or other small boats have reportedly reached the UK today, but official figures are yet to be confirmed by the Government. This weekend saw 703 migrants intercepted by Border Force in 14 boats - an average of 50 people per vessel. On Saturday 87 asylum seekers made the crossing in two boats, while 616 migrants reached the UK in 12 boats yesterday - the highest daily number so far this year. The average of 50 migrants per boat suggests as many as 400 people may have made the perilous journey so far today. On Saturday 87 asylum seekers made the crossing in two boats, while 616 migrants reached the UK in 12 boats yesterday (pictured: migrants arriving last night) - the highest daily number so far this year Small, crammed boats were escorted by the French Navy from near Calais, Dunkirk, and Boulogne for mid-channel pick-ups by Britain's Border Force. Picture taken on Saturday One incident this afternoon saw around 50 migrants rescued from a single boat off the coast of Dungeness in Kent by an RNLI lifeboat. While weather conditions were good this morning, visibility has deteriorated as the day progresses - with thick fog hanging over the sea. Border Force catamaran Volunteer remains in the Channel, as more migrants are expected to be intercepted and brought to shore later today. According to official government figures, a total of 8,362 people have crossed the Channel in 192 boats so far this year. Traffickers used the weekend heatwave, low wind and calm seas to ferry people across the busy trade route in small boats crammed with around 51 people each. READ MORE - Driver films man trying to distract him at Calais petrol station... then catches migrants climbing on his HGV Advertisement The figure for yesterday exceeds the 497 people who arrived on Saturday, April 22, and brings the provisional total for this year to 8,380. It is a blow for Rishi Sunak, who claimed last month that his curbs on the boats were 'beginning to work' after a north wind in May and early June brought crossings to a near halt. However, yesterday's arrivals suggest that bad weather was the criminal gangs' key obstacle. Calm weather will continue in the Channel until Wednesday, when northerly winds are due. Twelve boats were detected crossing the Channel yesterday, which suggests an average of around 51 people per boat. Downing Street today reacted to the new figures by insisting that crossings 'fluctuate on any given day'. Mr Sunak's official spokesperson told journalists: 'Obviously we know that crossings fluctuate on any given day. 'I think that when the Prime Minister gave his update, he was talking about a five-month average 20% reduction rather than a snapshot figure. 'So we do know that number of crossings fluctuates; equally we know that, on average, the enhanced work with our French counterparts means that you are now more likely to be intercepted and stopped if you attempt to make a crossing than succeed in crossing the Channel. 'So there is a great deal of work going on which is stopping these criminal gangs in their tracks. 'But, clearly, crossings are continuing and that is because we have not been able to put in place our full plans, and obviously there is a great deal of work across Government to that end.' Number 10 also welcomed TikTok' s decision to block advertising for small boat crossings, but declined to comment on the Home Office dropping plans to place an asylum seeker accommodation barge near Liverpool. Mr Sunak's spokesperson said the PM is still confident in having enough accommodation for people arriving on small boats, given the Home Office is no longer considering using the Birkenhead area as a site for a berthing a vessel. The official said: 'I can't comment on speculation about where there may or may not be sites. 'But as the Home Office have set out, we are exploring ways to add additional capacity. That includes vessels like the Bibby Stockholm. Alternative accommodation sites that are being taken forward are Wethersfield in Scampton, a non-military site in Bexhill, so that will add additional capacity. 'And of course, the overarching aim is for policy to act as a deterrent rather than us be required to detain people for extended periods of time.' It comes on the day a report by a cross-party group of MPs suggested Albanian migrants to the UK are unlikely to be at risk in their own country or require asylum. Of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats in 2022, 12,301 or more than a quarter came from Albania and most claimed asylum after arriving. The Commons home affairs committee found little justification for the Home Office's acceptance of 51 per cent of Albanian asylum claims up to June 2022 a far higher proportion than elsewhere in Europe. A report by the committee said: 'Albania is a safe country, it is not at war and is a candidate country to join the EU. 'There is no clear basis for the UK to routinely accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens. 'The surge in Channel crossings has reportedly led to a rise in crime in Britain, with 80 Albanian migrants sentenced for offences including murder, rape and kidnap in the first four months of 2023 alone. A boat of migrants coming into contact with a ship in the English Channel on Saturday The National Crime Agency has previously revealed that a 'significant number' of Albanian Channel migrants work for drug gangs once in the UK and send hundreds of millions of pounds to Albania every year. The NCA also said Albanians were falsely claiming to be victims of trafficking to game the system and remain in the UK. The committee found that in January 2023 there were more foreign nationals from Albania in English and Welsh jails than any other country. Nine other countries, including Germany, had accepted no asylum claims from Albania. The committee wants the Home Office to explain why the UK's asylum acceptance rate is so generous, and insists 'a key driver of migration from Albania is economic'. 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.At the equivalent point last year, the cumulative total had just passed 10,000.Total crossings last year were 45,755. On the night Scheming Sturgeon resigned, ITV's political editor Robert Peston enthused on air that she had been 'the most impressive leader of a major political leader of the past decade'. The Scottish First Minister's victory lap included accepting equally lavish praise during farewell interviews with Lorraine Kelly and Sly News political editor Beth Rigby, who seemed to buy that she was quitting frontline politics to spend more time with her SNP chief executive husband Peter Murrell, maybe in the luxury motorhome parked outside her mother-in-law's house. For anyone with half a brain, it was obvious Sturgeon had been forced off stage by the ongoing police investigation into the missing million pounds raised by hapless party members for a second independence referendum campaign that never happened. As leader, Sturgeon was one of just three signatories on the SNP's accounts the other being her husband and the party's treasurer (both also arrested by Scottish cops). DAN WOOTTON: For anyone with half a brain, it was obvious Sturgeon had been forced off stage by the ongoing police investigation into the missing million pounds But the British mainstream broadcast media had spent two years happily turning a blind eye to the scandal of the disappearing donations that now engulfs Scotland's ruling party. They were far more interested in presenting Queen Nic as an anti-Tory/pro trans woke warrior, regularly calling out the Westminster government especially the Brexit delivering Prime Minister Boris Johnson for, er, corruption and cronyism. Oh, the irony. The only so-called 'crime' the British Bashing Corporation, ITV News, Sly News, The Guardian and Daily Mirror were prepared to doggedly pursue was the one committed by Boris, who had received a fixed penalty notice, a legal slap on the wrist, alongside Rishi Sunak, for eating a piece of cake on his birthday and attending a staff leaving do in contravention of the ludicrous Covid rules none of us should ever have been subjected to. But the media hysteria over what became known as the Partygate scandal dragged on for months, ignoring Slippery Starmer's own Beergate indiscretions, of course. The MSM, Westminster establishment and snivel service conspired to drive the non-story incessantly to the top of news agenda week after week, month after month until the Conservative party made the politically suicidal decision to dispense with their greatest electoral asset since Margaret Thatcher in order to move the conversation on. The Tories effectively gave in to a witch hunt against the democratically elected leader of the country, who won in a landslide. DAN WOOTTON: Even removing Boris from Downing Street was never going to be enough for the remoaners who believe they run our country, to hell with democracy After an anti-democratic coup against Boris' successor Liz Truss, the blob got their technocratic Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who would manage the Tories to near certain defeat at the next election. But even removing Boris from Downing Street was never going to be enough for the remoaners who believe they run our country, to hell with democracy. The kangaroo court of the Privileges Committee chaired by avowed Boris hater in chief Harriet Harman would be the final indignity endured by the man who alone stopped the biggest democratic mandate in British history, our departure from the European Union, being overturned by the political elites. And when Boris finally quit on Friday, admitting he had lost the battle but not the war, the MSM largely responsible for his downfall celebrated with unbridled glee. When announcing the departure on Sly News, the political reporter Liz Bates smiled: 'We haven't even got to the best bit he is standing down as an MP.' Alastair Campbell the Labour man who lied to take the UK into an illegal war was wheeled out with his usual hubris to slam with a straight face the dishonesty of Boris. Harman had made clear she thought Boris was guilty long before she began her investigation by retweeting a post by Campbell that read: 'They broke their own emergency laws. They lied. Repeatedly. They trashed the ministerial code.' She added her own note: 'And not just any old laws but those which were essential to protect even more people getting infected. These were laws to save lives that they broke!' Not to mention that the initial Partygate stitch up investigation was led by Sue Gray, who inexplicably is about to become Starmer's chief of staff. DAN WOOTTON: After an anti-democratic coup against Boris' successor Liz Truss, the blob got their technocratic Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who would manage the Tories to near certain defeat at the next election As our ex-PM rightly pointed out in his own excoriating statement on Friday night, the revenge of the remoaners was underway and being well and truly celebrated. By contrast, Sturgeon's arrest was greeted with the sort of horror that comes when the heroine of your story is surprisingly undermined. Even following her sensational and unprecedented arrest yesterday a truly seismic story the broadcast media had no real desire to suggest that they may have been investigating the wrong politician for the past two years. Now, I appreciate that Sturgeon has been found guilty of no crime and has forcefully denied any wrongdoing while the draconian contempt of court laws operating in Scotland make any commentary around her arrest difficult, but the contrast between the coverage given to the two protagonists could not have been clearer. The BBC News website ran a lead story complete with a stateswoman like Sturgeon smiling dressed in a pink power suit with the headline: Police release Nicola Sturgeon without charge. Underneath, a picture of a dishevelled BoJo was attached to the provocative headline: Country doesn't miss Johnson drama, says Shapps. Nothing was going to derail their narrative. The brutal defenestration of Boris Johnson by Britain's now all-conquering remoaner blob should concern you, even if you are not a fan of the former Prime Minister. Boris has countless faults I regularly criticised his lockdown policies during the Covid pandemic, for example but the lengths the Westminster establishment is going to in order to finish his political career for good are, quite frankly, chilling. DAN WOOTTON: As leader, Sturgeon was one of just three signatories on the SNP's accounts the other being her husband and the party's treasurer (both also arrested by Scottish cops) There is a suggestion the Privileges Committee could try and ban him from the parliamentary estate for life. Where on earth is the sense of proportion? At worst, Boris accidentally misled parliament about the extent of partying by Downing Street staff at Number 10 during lockdown. That doesn't compare to the consequences of how Tony Blair misled the country over Iraq, yet he faced no official sanctions from parliament. Now, the Committee is threatening to punish MPs who dare to speak out about the sham process, enveloping Westminster in official silence. These are Ministry of Truth style tactics. Boris Johnson had a right to stay in parliament, keep Fishy Rishi on his toes, and, maybe just maybe, return to give Labour a run for its money before the next election. The fact he wasn't able to do so because of a spurious witch hunt should tell you that British democracy is in crisis. Just don't expect to watch anything about this on the BBC. The grandmother of a baby girl who died after being left home alone has told an inquest she is still 'haunted' by her death. Asiah Kudi, aged 20 months, died after her mother Verphy Kudi left her home alone in a Brighton flat as she went out to celebrate her 18th birthday. Kudi returned to the flat five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes later and found Asiah dead in her cot. The girl, who was suffering from flu, had died from dehydration and starvation in December 2019. Kudi was jailed for nine years in August 2021 after admitting one count of manslaughter at Lewes Crown Court with Judge Christine Laing saying Asiah had suffered 'almost unimaginable suffering'. Asiah Kudi, aged 20 months, died after her mother Verphy Kudi left her home alone in a Brighton flat Her mother Verphy returned to the flat five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes later and found Asiah dead in her cot Today the toddler's grandmother Asia Batrane broke down in tears as she recalled the tragedy during the inquest into Asiah's death at The Freeman Centre in Brighton today It later materialised that Verphy had left Asiah home alone in the flat at least a dozen times. An inquest into Asiah's death her grandmother, Asia Batrane, broke down in tears as she recalled the tragedy. She said she had no idea her granddaughter was being left home alone and would have stepped in to help. She said: 'The idea of her being alone in the flat haunts me today. There is no question if I knew she had been left alone I would have gone to the flat picked her up and brought her home. 'When she was born everyone fell in love with her instantly. She had the most beautiful dark brown eyes. 'Even if she was doing something naughty, when I looked into her eyes I just gave in. It was impossible to be angry with her. ' She told the inquest Asiah loved feeding the ducks in the park and watching her grandmother cooking in the kitchen. Breaking down in tears Miss Batrane said: 'I avoid passing that pond now because the memories are too difficult to face.' Kudi was jailed for nine years in August 2021 after admitting one count of manslaughter at Lewes Crown Court with Judge Christine Laing saying Asiah had suffered 'almost unimaginable suffering' Mobile phone footage issued by Sussex Police showed Kudi at a concert in Elephant and Castle London Miss Batrane said Asiah was also known as Nevaeh because it meant heaven. She said: 'When Nevaeh was born my anxiety passed, there was six people in the room to welcome her into the world, this beautiful little baby, she was tiny. 'My grandmother instinct to protect her kicked in. She felt closer to me than a granddaughter and more like my own daughter. Nevaeh a peaceful baby, she only cried when she was hungry or if her nappy was dirty.' Miss Batrane said: 'I was there for many of Naveah's 'firsts'. I was there when she took her first steps. When she learned how to clap, I cried. 'On her first birthday, we made such a fuss over her. We rented out and decorated a big hall. There were three cakes and the whole family came. It was like a wedding. Everybody wore clothes to match her pink and purple dress. 'Everyone bought her cakes and toys. She was so spoiled. She made a very big impact on our family especially because she was the only little one. She really was the centre of everyone's attention. 'She was such a blessing to our whole family. She reminded us what it is to love so unconditionally. It was the biggest celebration we had for her. Nobody knew that she was not going to be here for long. 'Naveah's family, myself, her grandfather and her aunties loved her with everything we had. We are struggling with her loss. We miss her every day.' Miss Batrane said Asiah was also known as Nevaeh because it meant heaven Kudi leaving her home in Brighton on December 5 2019 Screengrab taken from CCTV issued by Sussex Police of Kudi returning to her home in Brighton after abandoning 20-month-old Asiah Miss Batrane told the inquest she was not informed of her granddaughter being left alone by her mother on several occasions before her death. She said social services were supposed to contact her if there were concerns about her daughter's behaviour. She said: 'They were supposed to contact me if they were worried about Verphy, nobody told me they needed help, no one communicated to me that Verphy was going out, no one told me Nevaeh was being left alone. I did not find Nevaeh was alone until the trial.' The inquest in Brighton was told Verphy Kudi had been bullied in secondary school and had gone missing on more than one occasion. Kudi had once gone missing from high school for seven weeks and later told her mother she was pregnant. The hearing was told social services stepped in and Kudi did spend six months in a residential children's home . Miss Batrane told the hearing she did not know the identity of the Asiah's father or how her daughter became pregnant. She said: 'I was worried about how she got pregnant and whether she would be able to take care of her baby. 'I had many conversations with her about responsibility of having having a baby. I told her it was her choice and I would support her either way. 'When she said she wanted to have a baby I decided in that that moment that whatever happened even if she wasn't able to take care of her baby because of her age I would take over and take care for the baby.' Verphy gave birth to Asiah in March 2018 when she was 16 and mother and baby were still under the care of social services. They moved one of eight flats in a supported housing unit in Brighton run by YMCA DownsLink which has staff on the premises 24 hours a day. On December 5 2019 Asiah was left alone with no food or water in her cot while her mother went out partying. Verphy Kudi travelled to London, Coventry and Solihull - more than 150 miles away - to celebrate her 18th birthday with friends. On the day her daughter died Kudi was on social media trying to sell concert tickets and attempting to launch her own modelling career. The trial heard she returned to her flat when Asiah had been home alone five days 21 hours and 58 minutes but did not call emergency services for more than two hours. In that time she was seen emptying bags into a communal bin area before going back to her flat. She eventually dialled 999 at 6.06pm and told the call handler after her daughter was 'not waking up'. She told paramedics Asiah had been sleeping all day she had given her milk and Calpol and let her sleep. Asiah - who paramedics noticed had signs of rigor mortis - was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead The trial heard that in the three months leading up to her death there were at least six other occasions she left Asiah alone in the flat - once for two whole days. Last year a safeguarding review by the Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership was published. It found found Asiah's death could not have been predicted as staff at the YMCA Downslink believed Verphy was a capable and loving parent. However the body's independent report made 17 recommendations, including bringing in a system of daily checks at YMCA Downslink. It also recommended regularly reviewing every young parent in supported accommodation, and reviewing how risks are assessed. The inquest into Asiah Kudi's death, which is expected to last five days, continues. Human smugglers are advertising their illegal border crossing services into the US in exchange for cash on TikTok, according to a bombshell new report. An extensive USA Today report details the ways in which both migrants and human smugglers are harnessing the power of social media to advise others making the journey and promote their services. Hernan Vergel, a 34-year-old migrant, has, since May 19, documented on TikTok each day of his journey to the US-Mexico border. Vergel, who started in Colombia, has been providing information about how to survive the perilous journey, including crossing Honduras without being harassed by authorities, and avoiding migration controls in Guatemala. Migrants walk across the Darien Gap from Colombia to Panama in hopes of reaching the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have risked the dangerous trek through the jungle in recent years and the flow this year is on a record pace While Vergel's audience is growing, so is the audience of professional smugglers, who have also become smart about utilizing social media to expand their client base. The USA Today report says that a 'coyote' - the Spanish slang word for smuggler - with whom they got in touch, said he runs an agency that arranges travel for illegal migrants across the US border in exchange for thousands of dollars per person. The man claims to know the safest way to get across the US border without being caught. He also charges as much as $10,000 per person, if the journey starts in Guyana. He said he maintains contacts along different routes and in multiple countries who will 'protect' migrants. He said his company uses private cars, buses, vans, and boats to his customers enduring the trek. Additionally, he said he maintains constant contact with the loved ones of the migrants. Customs and Border Protection has repeatedly warned about smugglers for hire, and the likelihood that migrants will be abandoned or lost along the way. 'Transnational criminal organizations continue to recklessly endanger the lives of individuals they smuggle for their own financial gain with no regard for human life,' the agency said in a statement. It went on: 'Smuggling organizations are abandoning migrants in remote and dangerous areas, leading to a rise in the number of rescues but also tragically a rise in the number of deaths. The terrain along the border is extreme, the summer heat is severe, and the miles of desert migrants must hike after crossing the border in many areas are unforgiving.' When questioned about his apparent lack of concern that he is using TikTok to advertise illegal activities, the smuggler said that other people use social media to promote illegal activities as well. He said that often, no one pays attention. 'Those who operate in the shadows or do their job poorly do not use social media; they use other methods to steal or kidnap migrants... our intention is precisely to find ways to prevent them from being harmed,' he said. Hernan Vergel, a 34-year-old migrant, has, since May 19, documented on TikTok each day of his journey to the US-Mexico border TikTok has become a place where migrants looking for information about how to make the journey, and smugglers advertising their services, can go to search for tips and promote their product Migrants wade through water as they cross the Darien Gap from Colombia to Panama in hopes of reaching the U.S - a record number of migrants died last fiscal year attempting to cross the border US agencies have repeatedly warned that TikTok is 'creating an environment ripe for the manipulation of information regarding migration policies at the border' Venezuelan migrants in Colombia pray before starting a journey with the intention of reaching Panama, through the Darien Gap The United Nations International Organization for Migration has also warned against the trend of smugglers and migrants posting about their illegal activities on social media, and specifically on TikTok. 'The TikTok platform is used to promote the 'services' offered by human traffickers through short videos. These videos showcase successful cases of irregular border crossings and captivating images aimed at capturing the attention of individuals seeking to migrate irregularly with the assistance of a third party,' read an IOM report that examined the use of social media platforms on US human trafficking. An estimated 2million people attempt to cross the southern border into the US every year. Many, many thousands of those people are abused and extorted by drug cartels controlling the smuggling routes in Mexico. Others don't survive the arduous journey through rivers with strong currents, jungles, and stretches of hot and dry terrain. Last year, some 853 migrants died attempting to illegally cross into the US - the highest number on record - according to data from CBP. Vergel has gained upwards of 10,000 followers eager to consume his border-crossing content Smugglers say they are not worried about advertising their illegal services on TikTok because other illegal services are frequently promoted on social media and no one pays attention Migrants wait to be processed by U.S. Border Patrol officers after crossing from Mexico to the United States, in Yuma, Arizona last month Representatives of TikTok did not reply to USA Today's multiple solicitations for comment. However, members of the platform's global safety and policy communications team told the outlet that the accounts about which they'd asked for more information had been banned. The bans will likely not stop the continual creation of these sorts of accounts. In a statement to the outlet, the Department of Homeland Security said that online platforms like TikTok have increased smugglers' access to those wishing to make the journey across the border. The platforms are 'creating an environment ripe for the manipulation of information regarding migration policies at the border,' the agency said. Rep. Mike Waltz is blasting the White House for enacting a policy of 'desperation' because it is failing to stop an increasingly hostile China as the country is taking bold actions to spy on Americans and threaten Taiwan. Waltz, R-Fla., spoke with DailyMail.com after the White House confirmed that a spy base funded by the Chinese has been established just 100 miles off the coast of Florida in Cuba. The confirmation came after the administration initially denied that there was a Chinese spy base in Cuba. But over the weekend, they backtracked and said a base had been established since 2019, and attempted to blame the former Trump administration. He called the White House's flip-flop 'par for the course,' and says he's 'not buying' the administration's strategy to deal with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), because they've been complacent in standing up to America's greatest adversary on multiple occasions. 'I don't know what the Chinese have to do...for the administration to just stop its engagement out of desperation policy,' Waltz said. Rep. Mike Waltz says he's 'not buying' the administration's strategy to deal with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) He listed a number of recent aggressive moves by the Chinese, including flying a spy balloon over the U.S., harassing military ships and now establishing a spy base 'on our doorstep.' He said Biden's pattern of meeting with adversaries instead of imposing consequences for their hostile actions is detrimental to the U.S. on the world stage, pointing out that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to China next week to meet with his counterparts. The Florida congressman also addressed reports that U.S. officials are ramping up plans to be ready to evacuate Americans from Taiwan. According to a report by The Messenger, senior U.S. officials have been preparing for at least six months to evacuate American citizens from Taiwan in the case of a Chinese attack. Waltz said in response to the report that the U.S. will have to 'fight' to get its 'nearly 80,000' Americans out of Taiwan if the CCP invades, he explained to DailyMail.com. Blinken said Monday during a joint press conference with the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that the U.S. has 'engaged governments that are considering hosting PRC bases at high levels' and 'exchanged information' with them. 'Our experts assess that our diplomatic efforts have slowed down this effort by the PRC,' he continued. However, Waltz is less than convinced. 'I think we have an adversary that can literally walk in the door with bags of cash, with deals on electrical grids, ports, road infrastructure.' He added that the Biden administration's solution is to 'give lectures' on climate change and diversity, which is not helpful to national security. 'I'm not buying their strategy,' he told DailyMail.com. Beijing's war games were launched amid Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's delicate mission to shore up her nation's dwindling diplomatic alliances in Central America and boost its U.S. support The U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba Chinese Navy missile frigate Yulin (R) and the minesweeper hunter Chibi (C) are seen docked at Changi Naval Base during the IMDEX Asia warships display in Singapore on May 4, 2023 According to a report by The Messenger , senior U.S. officials have been preparing for at least six months to evacuate American citizens from Taiwan in the case of a Chinese attack He said there are an estimated '80,000 Americans' who are living on the island, which complicates matters for a possible evacuation. 'And obviously, unlike Ukraine, they're on an island, we don't have a Poland next door.' He said part of China's plan is a 'full blockade,' so if there is a rapid escalation by China, 'I don't think we can plan on getting those Americans out.' 'We're gonna have to fight our way in through one of the largest missile arsenals the world has ever seen, and they're increasingly accurate and deadly.' Waltz said that he would recommend the Biden administration arm 'the hell' out of Taiwan, get U.S. supply chain out of China, support key allies and arm the U.S. military. 'I think we do those four things, and [Chinese President] Xi will think twice before taking that step.' He added that there shouldn't be a strong signal sent to 'get the hell out of Taiwan,' because it could trigger a collapse of their economy, an issue that President Tsai Ing-wen is concerned about. 'So we have to be careful and balanced in our messaging.' House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green told DailyMail.com that if Taiwan is preparing for the worst, 'so should the United States.' If we are at the point where the CCP is comfortable enough to carry out a brazen invasion of Taiwan despite repeated warnings from the West, then we know they will not shy away from any deliberate and outward acts of aggression towards the U.S.specifically targeting our critical infrastructure.' 'This is what China has been preparing for and working towards for more than 70 years. They are prepared to stop at nothing when it comes to weakening the U.S. and bringing us to our knees.' Green also brought up the point that since the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal went poorly, Americans can't trust the same leadership to get them safely out of Taiwan. Waltz served for 26 years in the U.S. Army and is currently a colonel in the National Guard. He sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). HPSCI members are set to have a closed door meeting with FBI Director Chris Wray Monday evening. Waltz told DailyMail.com that he expects to ask Wray about the 'abuses we've seen in the FBI,' including in Special Counsel John Durham's report released last month blasting the agency for its handling of the Trump-Russia investigation. He said he wants to ask Wray about how his FBI us handling the Trump classified documents case compared to Biden's case. The former president was indicted on 37 counts last week by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The charges are all related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents and obstruction of justice. I want to know 'why the bureau really handled what was going on with Biden with kid gloves,' including 'extensive meetings with lawyers' before they conducted a search of the sitting president's residences. That comes in contrast to the 'sirens blaring, guns drawn' when it came to the FBI's August 2022 raid of Trump's Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. 'And so justify and explain to me this duel treatment,' he said. Biden is also under investigation by Special Counsel Rob Hur for his handling of classified materials found at the Penn Biden Center and at his Delaware home. Ramaswamy says he will pardon the real estate mogul in the event that his long-shot campaign for the White House is successful Republican presidential long-shot Vivek Ramaswamy wants the U.S. government to release all exchanges between the White House and the DOJ on its classified documents case against Donald Trump. Ramaswamy filed what is known as a Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, request on Monday (June 12) demanding that officials hand over those files. The 37-year-old entrepreneur said, via a lawyer, that the ex-commander-in-chief's indictment 'raises grave concerns that DOJ is being politicized and weaponized against the political opponents of the sitting President of the United States.' Ramaswamy, seen here at the Iowa Roast and Ride event on June 3, has filed a FOIA request demanding that the U.S. government release any files related to the Trump indictment Trump has repeatedly branded the slew of lawsuits he is facing as a 'witch hunt' His legal team said they wanted to know the full details on what the White House said to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Special Counsel Jack Smith about the indictment that carries as many as 37 charges against the former president. Trump will appear in court in Miami on Tuesday (June 13) in what is the first ever federal criminal prosecution against a former U.S. president. 'Every American deserves to know,' Ramaswamy said.. 'If the captured media fails to do its job, real leaders in this country need to step up and do it instead.' The self-styled 'anti-woke' activist told CNN on Sunday he was 'even more convinced' that he should pardon the real estate mogul if he won the 2024 presidential election. In a testy exchange with the left-leaning network's Dana Bash, Ramaswamy accused the host for failing to grill the Biden administration on whether they had instructed the DOJ to go after Trump. 'The top question, actually, we should be asking is, what did Biden tell Merrick Garland? What did Merrick Garland tell Jack Smith?' Ramaswamy said, deriding the indictment as 'deeply politicized. 'This is selective prosecution. I think it's irresponsible not to have included any treatment of those facts or law in this indictment. It reeks of politicization, which is why I want to go back to the top question that the media actually should be asking,' he told the stunned CNN host. Trump faces a rap sheet of 37 counts related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents that were found at his Florida Mar-a-Lago residence. They include counts of retaining classified information, obstructing justice, and making false statements, among other alleged crimes. Bill Barr, who served as attorney general under Trump's presidency, reckons the real estate mogul could be 'toast' if the charges stand up in court Bill Barr, Trump's attorney general from February 2019 until December 2020, warned that his former boss would be 'toast' if the charge sheet stands up in court. 'I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were... and I think the counts under the Espionage Act that he willfully retained those documents are solid counts,' he said in an interview with Fox News. 'If even half of it is true, then he's toast. It's a very detailed indictment and it's very damning,' the former Trump administration official added. Joe Biden said Friday he had not spoken to Attorney General Merrick Garland about Trump's latest legal woes and had no plans to do so. 'I have not spoken to him at all and I'm not going to speak with him,' Biden said, when asked by a reporter if he would speak to the attorney general. The Code of Federal Regulations states any special counsel must have 'a reputation for integrity and impartial decision-making,' The rules also call for 'an informed understanding of the criminal law and Department of Justice policies.' The body parts of a Russian man eaten alive off a beach at an Egyptian resort have been found inside the shark that was then beaten to death 'in revenge'. Vladimir Popov, 23, was circled by the 'meat grinder' tiger shark before he was dragged underwater in Hurghada, as he screamed out: 'Papa, save me!' Holidaymakers scrambled from the water as horrified onlookers called out to Vladimir to swim away from the shark before he was mauled to death. The tiger shark was then caught and dragged to land by boat before it was clubbed to death on the beach 'in revenge'. The shark has now been dissected by specialists, who found the young man's remains inside its intestines, according to news outlet Al Arabiya. Vladimir Popov, 23, (pictured) has been named as victim of the shark attack in Hurghada Vladimir Popov was heard screaming 'papa' as he was mauled to death by a shark today in Egyptian resort Hurghada. Pictured: A still grab from a graphic video showing the attack. The shark's fin can be seen just feet away from Vladimir as he attempts to swim away from the beast Dr Mahmoud Dar, a professor at the Egyptian National Institute of Marine Sciences also revealed that the shark was female and that nothing else was found. It comes after Vladimir's distraught father, Yury, told of his horror at watching his son be mauled to death by the shark as he cried out for help. 'We went to the beach to relax,' Mr Popov, originally from Russia, told the 112 media outlet. 'My son was attacked by a shark, it all happened in seconds.' The heartbroken father said there were no family members near his son to help in the water, though initial reports said the 23-year-old's girlfriend had managed to flee the attack. 'What kind of help can you give? This meat grinder happened in 20 seconds, he was just dragged under the water,' Mr Popov said. The father said: 'This is an absolutely ridiculous coincidence, because it is a safe beach. There are ships and yachts around. It's never happened there. They usually attack on wild beaches. It's just some kind of evil fate.' Vladimir had been living with his father in Egypt for several months before the horrific attack. Mr Popov said he would cremate his son and return his ashes to their native Russia. Video shows the tiger shark being caught and dragged ashore by a boat following the attack, and it appeared to be alive before being clubbed to death. The shark was later caught and clubbed to death on the beach (pictured) Tourists watched in horror from the shore as the beast wounded Vladimir Popov before dragging him under the water Holidaymakers scrambled from the water as horrified onlookers called out to Vladimir (pictured) to swim away from the shark before he was mauled to death The Egyptian authorities confirmed the shark has been handed over for research to find out the causes of its behaviour and identify whether the animal is related to one that 'caused several previous accidents'. Video taken by horrified onlookers shows Vladimir desperately shouting 'Papa, Papa' as the predator circled him in the water before launching the attack. The 23-year-old can be seen desperately trying to swim towards the shore to no avail. His body is seen spinning in the water, and his legs are raised above the surface. 'Swim away, swim away! Quick! A shark!' people can be heard shouting in the video. Soon the splashing in the water stops, and the man's head returns to the surface. He appears to be moving around in the water again but slowly. He can be heard screaming 'Papa', pleading for help, as the water turns red. The shark's body is seen clearly at the surface at the moment, and its fin and tail are visible as it circles the victim. The shark turns around again to attack and charges at the victim before clamping its jaws around him and pulling him under water. The victim Vladimir Popov (pictured) had moved to the resort with his father several months before the attack The man's head appears above the water one last time, and the shark's body is seen writhing in the ocean as it appears to maul the body and drag it further into the depths of the water. One witness said: 'The shark's eating his remains now. There she is, eating his remains.' Another said: 'Right in front of my eyes, the shark ate the guy, the girl [the girlfriend] managed to escape. He took the blow from the shark. 'It's a terrible thing, the remains of this man are lying there.' A new video showed a distraught woman on the beach being comforted by two other woman moments after Vladimir was mauled to death. It is believed the Russian woman had been pulled out of the water after being close to the man who was killed. It is not known if she was a relative of Popov. So far Popov's father Yury is the only member of the family to speak. After witnessing the attack, it evidently took a lengthy time to find the body and bring it onshore. 'Later, the remains were found, and the body was put in a bag and taken to the morgue,' he said. A new video showed a distraught woman on the beach being comforted by two other woman moments after Vladimir was mauled to death A view of one of the beaches that have been closed after a Russian citizen was killed in a shark attack at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada, on June 9, 2023 A boat at one of the beaches that have been closed after the shark attack in Hurghada 'Children swam [in the area where the shark attacked] very often - there were children's slides,' another witness said. 'All this happened not far from a descent into the sea, next to the ladder, used by everyone who went into the water. 'At one point, the shark appeared, and immediately bit this man. Rescuers saw this and began to start the boat. He tried to swim away from the shark, but he couldn't. 'And the shark dragged the body for two hours. It constantly dragged him under the water.' Witnesses said the victim's girlfriend had been in the water at the time of the attack. Russian reports say she is safe and has returned to Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of a citizen from a shark attack. Vladimir had moved to the resort with his father at a time when many young males are moving abroad to avoid facing conscription - and likely death - as the brutal war in Ukraine continues. The family had bought a property at the British Resort in Hurghada, say reports. Other accounts said he had been staying at the four-star Elysees Dream Beach Hotel in Hurghada. IT specialist Vladimir 'loved his father very much and was just beginning to live', said a friend. He was said to be working remotely when he died, as are many young Russian men who are defying Putin. Born in sub-Arctic city Archangel, or Arkhangelsk, he had moved to Moscow before decamping to Egypt amid the war with Ukraine. His girlfriend, Anastasia, who is in her early twenties, has so far not spoken of the tragedy. One female friend said: 'Vova [Vladimir] was a good guy. 'He was only a month away from his birthday. 'Friends say that he moved there [to Egypt] with his father. 'As far as I know, he really liked living in Moscow, his whole life was there. 'Vova was a wonderful person and loved his father very much.' Oleg, who knew the deceased man, said: 'He was into music. He recorded songs.' Vladimir's girlfriend Anastasia, who is in her early twenties, has so far not spoken of the tragedy Vladimir Popov is seen with his girlfriend Anastasia There was speculation that a woman seen on the beach being conformed by two other women was his mother. But 360TV reported that she was at home in Balashikha, Moscow region. A source said: 'His mother cried all day. She screamed that she had lost her son.' The commotion was so great that a neighbour said 'we were even afraid that someone was being killed there'. Locals wanted to call the police. The 23-year-old is not the first victim to be killed by a shark at the resort. In July last year, 68-year-old Austrian Elisabeth Sauer was attacked in front of horrified onlookers at a resort in Sahl Hasheesh - 15 minutes after English speaking guests warned Egyptian lifeguards about sharks and their warnings had been laughed off. The resort is a 30-minute drive from Hurghada, where Vladimir was killed. A second woman - identified only as a Romanian national in her 40s - is thought to have been killed in a similar attack just 650ft away from where Ms Sauer died, with her badly disfigured remains found on a nearby reef the same day. Ms Sauer lost an arm and a leg in an attack that was caught on film, as onlookers tried to distract the shark and get her to safety. She reached the shore with the help of a flipper, but died a short time later. Reports at the time - from news agency AFP and Austrian news outlets - pointed to the attack being committed by a Mako shark, while local Egyptian newspapers named the animal as an Oceanic whitetip shark. Billionaire property developer Patrick Carroll has been banned from five Miami restaurants after allegedly spitting in a manager's face. Carroll, 43, is accused of screaming at the maitre d' of Japanese restaurant Hiyakawa because he had tried to stop him from following a woman who was on a date into the bathroom. Angel Weill, 25, is now suing Carroll, claiming he was left shaken and unable to eat after their run-in on April 12. Video obtained by The Real Deal shows Carroll fighting with Weill. Weill says he spat in his face during their altercation, but Carroll's reps insist it was a 'pantomime' spit. The incident came after Carroll allegedly called the manager of upmarket Italian chain Carbone a 'street n****r' during a tirade in December. Video obtained by The Real Deal shows Carroll (left) approaching another diner's table at Hiyakawa Miami. Maitre d' Miguel Angel Weill (right) was watching nearby, ready to intervene Carroll later approached Weill and - according to the lawsuit - spat in his face Carroll is shown leaving the Japanese restaurant in April. He was driven away in his chauffeured Rolls Royce During the April 12 incident at Hiyakawa, Carroll - who is worth an estimated $8.2billion - was dining with three male friends. The woman he followed was sitting at a nearby table on a date. Carroll asked Weill if he could buy the woman a drink, which the maitre d' says he politely declined to allow. As the meal progressed, Carroll - not taking no for an answer - tried to follow the woman into the restroom. Representatives for Carroll did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries. In a statement to The Real Deal, his rep claimed he showed restraint after Weill provoked him. 'Patrick showed tremendous restraint,' said spokesman Lewis Goldberg. 'He is not happy with his own behavior. But the manager issued what are known as fighting words.' The restaurant is one of Miami's hottest tickets. Only 50 covers a night are served, and staff pride themselves on guest experience. Carroll and his friends were dining at the bar while the woman and her date were at a nearby table. Video from the restaurant shows him first approach their table and introduce himself. Weill walked over to chaperone the interaction. An irate Carroll complained to his friends that Weill was 'c**kblocking him', the complaint claims. Carroll's reps claim he showed 'tremendous restraint' during the altercation in April The 43-year-old billionaire is shown with his Ukrainian model girlfriend, Alina Baikova Later, Carroll - with his leather jacket on - gesticulated in his face and appeared to spit. He is also said to have told Weill that he didn't 'give a f**k' and pointed out his '$20 shirt and $10 tie.' When restaurant owner Alvaro Perez Miranda learned of the incident, he banned Carroll from all three of his Miami eateries. Carroll was already banned from all of Major Food Group's restaurants in Miami as a result of the Carbone incident in December. In that case, Carroll is said to have disapproved of a glass of wine that was poured for one of his guests. The lawsuit claims he followed a Carbone server outside into the street and pushed him. Their altercation caught the attention of the service manager who walked over to intervene. The lawsuit describes how the service manager told him that his ongoing aggression had become a problem. In response, Carroll tried to give him cash - which he refused. According to the complaint, he then told him: 'Never in my life will I bow down to a street [n-----] like yourself.' The Daily Beast reports that Carroll also admitted to hitting his ex-wife in 2019, and that he also threatened to beat up a Colorado ski resort official. He was also reportedly sued for defamation by his ex-wife's defamation lawyer, who he'd claimed 'messed with young children', and also allegedly posted a video of his ex-wife having sex on Instagram. Carroll is also banned from Carbone Miami and the Dirty French Steakhouse. In December, he allegedly called a Carbone service manager a 'street n****r' Carroll, a father-of-three, is the founder of Carroll Org., a U.S. real estate investment company. He also co-owns S.P.A.L, an Italian soccer team that plays in Serie C, the third tier. Carroll grew up in Tampa, Florida, and moved to Atlanta after high school. He purchased his first property there with a 100 percent mortgage before 'flipping' it for profit. By the age of 27, Carroll had built his profits enough that he was able to develop and sell a 150-unit housing development. After the recession struck he bought up three property management companies and within a year his firm was overseeing 20,000 units across the US. His acquisitions were initially centered around Florida and Georgia but he later expanded into the Carolinas. More than $13.1 billion worth of real estate has been successfully acquired, developed, or sold by the company since its founding in 2004. Gilbert is best known for the book 'Eat, Pray, Love' She said that by setting it in Russia she had received backlash from Ukrainians Best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert has decided not to publish her upcoming novel 'The Snow Forest' after facing backlash for setting it in Russia. Gilbert posted a video to Twitter Monday to say that an 'outpouring' of negative reaction from Ukrainian readers within a week of the book's announcement had compelled her to call off its publication. The Snow Forest is set in remote Siberia in the mid-20th century and tells the story of a secluded family living isolated from the Soviet regime, according to a page on the Penguin Random House website that was deleted on Monday afternoon. Gilbert is the author of the novel 'City of Girls' and the memoir 'Eat, Pray, Love,' which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Javier Bardem and Julia Roberts. It sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, according to Gilbert's website, netting sales in the region of hundreds of millions of dollars. Best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert (pictured in 2020) has decided not to publish her upcoming novel The Snow Forest after facing backlash for choosing to set it in Russia The cover of Gilbert's upcoming book 'The Snow Forest,' which is set in remote Siberia tells the story of a secluded family living isolated from the Soviet regime 'Over the course of this weekend I have received an enormous, massive outpouring of reaction and responses from my Ukrainian readers expressing anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain about the fact that I would choose to release a book into the world right now - any book, no matter what the subject of it is - that is set in Russia,' said Gilbert in the short video. 'I do not want to add any harm to a group of people who have already experienced - and who are continuing to experience - grievous and extreme harm,' she said. 'I want to say that I have heard these messages, and read these messages and respect them, and as a result I am making a course correction and I am removing the book from its publication schedule,' she said. 'It is not the time for this book to be published.' The Snow Forest was due to be released in February 2024 and Gilbert said in a caption that anybody who pre-ordered the book would be refunded. Reaction to her announcement was mixed. A number of Twitter users sporting Ukrainian flags in their display names expressed gratitude over the decision. 'This! is great. Thank you,' said one. 'Your decision means a lot to your numerous Ukrainian readers and people who fight for democracy against totalitarianism,' wrote another. Another question the move, asking: 'As a fellow author I'm confused Elizabeth - would you also insist that we shouldn't watch the films of Tarkovsky or read the novels of Dostoevsky because they are Russian?' 'Eat, Pray, Love' sold more than 10 million copies worldwide netting sales in the region of hundreds of millions of dollars Gilbert noted in the video that she was working on other books and would turn her attention to those for the time being. In a similar video on her Twitter just a week prior, Gilbert seemed excited to have unveiled the new book. 'This is a novel that is going to take you into the deepest realms of the Siberian taiga and into the heart and mind of an extraordinary girl born into that world,' she said. 'A girl of great spiritual and creative talent, raised far, far, far from everything that we call normal.' DailyMail.com asked Penguin Random House subsidiary Riverhead Books to comment on who made the decision to pull the book, but officials did not respond in time for this report. Human remains have been found in the wreckage of the Interstate 95 collapse in Philadelphia. Part of the major US highway, which extends from the Maine-Canada border south to Miami, Florida, collapsed on Sunday after a tanker truck carrying an estimated 8,500 gallons of fuel caught fire. It brought traffic to a stop on the artery, on which more than 160,000 vehicles a day travel, and has now resulted in at least one fatality. Sources told Action 6 News that the driver's remains were removed from the cab of the tractor-trailer Monday morning but the victim has not been publicly identified. It is believed to be those of Nathaniel Moody, whose family members confirmed he was the driver of the tractor-trailer. Officials are now working to clear the site and allow traffic to once again move along the major north-south corridor ahead of the summer vacation rush, but the clean-up efforts may take months to complete. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned the collapse could once again snarl the country's supply chain. An officer directs traffic detoured from a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia on Monday as cars were forced to take detours because of the highway's closure The remains are believed to be those of Nathaniel Moody, whose family have identified him as the driver of a tractor-trailer that caught fire Sunday morning The tanker truck fire broke out around 6am and caused the collapse of an overpass on I-95 A general view shows the partial collapse of Interstate 95 after a fire underneath an overpass in Philadelphia on Sunday The tanker truck burst into flames at around 6am Sunday underneath the interstate near the Cottman Avenue exit. 'From what we understand the tractor trailer was trying to navigate the curve,' Michael Carroll, the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, explained. '[He] lost control of the vehicle, landed on its side and ruptured the tank and ignited the fire.' The blaze took about an hour to get under control, authorities said, but it left the highway structurally unsound. The northbound section was left with a gaping hole while the southbound overpass was closed. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines caused explosions underground, experts said. The crash happened on a ramp underneath northbound I-95 around 6:15am, said Pennsylvania Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph. The southbound lanes were heavily damaged, and Rudolph said these were being assessed for their safety. The northbound section was left with a gaping hole while the southbound overpass was closed An aerial view shows the fire and smoke near the collapsed section of the interstate Thousands of tons of steel and concrete have now been piled atop the site of the fire, but heavy construction equipment will be required to remove the debris, said Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management. To help with those efforts, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency Monday, which his office says 'allows the Commonwealth to quickly draw down federal funds and authorizes state agencies to use all available resources to expedite work and cut through red tape to rebuild I-95 as safely and efficiently as possible.' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also said on Twitter that President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse, and White House officials are in contact with Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's offices to offer assistance. Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt is also scheduled to travel to the site of the collapse to offer federal support and assistance, and the National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to investigate the fire and collapse. Contractors are pictured assessing the scene of the overpass collapse on Sunday Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 An investigator surveys the aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed But even with all this assistance, officials say it will take months to repair the interstate. In a news conference Sunday night, Shapiro said: 'We expect it to take that time, and we will have that specific timeline set forth once the engineers in Penn DOT have completed their review.' Officials now say the demolition period of the impacted portion of I-95 could be completed within five days, and are set to release a plan later in the day Monday. Carroll, the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, vowed that contractors would work around the clock to repair the damage. But he said the challenge now is for authorities to 'attack the problem in the most efficient way possible so that we can resume traffic movements on I-95' as all lanes continued to be shut down Monday between the exits for Woodhaven Road in Northeast Philadelphia and Aramingo Avenue in the Port Richmond area. It is expected to be closed off indefinitely. Government officials visited and inspected the site of the collapsed portion of the highway on Monday Drivers were forced to find an alternative route through the city on Monday as lanes remained closed on I-95 in all directions I-95 near the collapse is expected to be closed off indefinitely with no timetable on when it might reopen Buttigieg said the collapse will cause 'major disruption' ahead of the busy summer travel period. He told the annual conference of the American Council of Engineering Companies Monday the overpass failure will long affect movement of people and goods. 'This is not just about commuters,' he said at the conference in DC. 'This is also about supply chains, about 150,000 vehicles a day, and a good percentage of that is trucking. 'For both vehicle passenger traffic and for goods moving supply chains, this is going to be a major disruption in that region.' AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell also told the Philadelphia FOX News affiliate: 'This is really going to have a ripple effect throughout the region,' noting that the interstate is a major corridor for the northeast. 'It sees major traffic volume on a daily basis, not just daily commuters, but this is the road traveled by tourists, those on their summer road trips this is the artery you would take to get there. And of course, commerce tractor trailers and delivery trucks,' she said. 'This is not just a commuter challenge here, this is going to have a ripple effect throughout the region for weeks and months to come as people navigate a new normal.' A mother who illegally procured her own abortion was jailed yesterday despite a plea for leniency from medical bodies and charities. Carla Foster, 44, lied about how advanced her pregnancy was in order to obtain abortion-causing drugs. She was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant when she received the medication from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service under the 'pills by post' scheme, which was introduced during the Covid pandemic. The scheme allows medication to be supplied after a remote consultation for pregnancies of up to ten weeks. Foster, a mother of three was jailed for two years and four months at Stoke Crown Court yesterday. Carla Foster, 44, lied about how advanced her pregnancy was in order to obtain abortion-causing drugs The court heard that Foster had been having sex with two men and did not know which was the father when she became pregnant Medical professionals, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the President of the Faculty of Public Health and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence put their names to a letter asking the judge to show leniency. They argued that jailing her would deter other women from accessing their services, or from being open with doctors. The court heard that Foster had been having sex with two men and did not know which was the father when she became pregnant. She carried out internet searches from February 2020 onwards that included 'How to lose a baby at six months'. In April she searched for 'I need to have an abortion but I'm past 24 weeks'. The mother of three was jailed for two years and four months at Stoke Crown Court (file image) She spoke to a nurse practitioner at BPAS on May 6, 2020 leading the nurse to believe that she was around seven weeks pregnant. Her child, a girl, was born, not breathing, on May 11, 2020. A post mortem examination recorded cause of death as stillbirth and maternal use of abortion drugs. Foster eventually admitted a charge under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 of administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion. Mr Justice Pepperall criticised the medical bodies for writing to the court, saying it could be seen as 'special pleading by those who favour wider access to abortion'. BPAS said it was 'shocked and appalled' by the decision to jail Foster. Advertisement For the first time since they were miraculously rescued from the Colombian jungle after 40 days, four indigenous children are pictured in the hospital, on the mend, playing with stuffed animals and drawing with crayons. Exclusive photos show the siblings, Lesly, 13, Soleiny, nine, Tien Noriel, four, and baby Cristin, one, safe in their hospital beds at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia. Lesly and Soleiny Mucutuy have made touching colored drawings of Wilson the Belgian Shepherd rescue dog who went missing during the mission to save them. The siblings created the drawings with crayons as their contribution to the continued hunt for the lost canine who played a key role in finding them following the aircraft crash on May 1 that killed the children's mother, pilot and indigenous leader and left them stranded for more than a month. Exclusive photos show the four siblings, Lesly, 13, Soleiny, nine, Tien Noriel, four, and baby Cristin, one, safe in their hospital beds at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia Lesly and Soleiny Mucutuy have made touching colored drawings of Wilson the Belgian Shepherd rescue dog who went missing during the mission to save them. In Lesly's drawing, six-year-old Wilson is depicted next to a river full of fish, a tree, some yellow flowers and with the sun shining on a pathway Soleiny's drawing shows Wilson near a tree, a flower and the sun beaming. One side of the drawing has the Colombian flag and the message 'Always blessed' Belgian Shepherd Wilson played a vital role in tracking down the four children but remains missing in the Amazon rainforest The drawings were revealed when the head of the Colombian armed forces, General Helder Giraldo visited the children in the hospital. After he approached them, the elder two presented him with the drawings and the plea to give them to Wilson's handler. In Lesly's drawing, six-year-old Wilson is depicted next to a river full of fish, a tree, some yellow flowers and with the sun shining on a pathway. Soleiny's image was similar, with Wilson near a tree, a flower and the sun beaming. One side of the drawing has the Colombian flag and the message 'Always blessed'. Narciso Mucutuy, grandfather of the two elder survivors, said: 'They are making them make drawings something that they need in order to express themselves.' Rescue dog Wilson was presumed lost a few days before the siblings were found after he ran away from his handlers, until rescue teams found his footprints near those of the children. The loyal canine stayed with the children for several days before being lost once again and despite proving crucial to the search mission, which was codenamed 'Esperanza', the Spanish word for hope, has not been found. Carlos Andres Villegas, a civil defense canine guide, revealed Wilson was last seen on June 8 before he vanished in the dense jungle. 'Wilson gave us clues, he looked at us and wanted to tell us something. He came out and went back into the jungle,' Villegas said. 'The other defense canine guide who accompanied me saw Wilson about 30 meters away, where he tried to play with him. 'He tried to call him, he tried to motivate him to come so he could get closer to him so he could capture him. But he was scared and went back into the jungle and he was never seen again.' The indigenous community in the area of the jungle where the Cessna went down have dubbed Wilson a 'military warrior'. Dramatic new details of the childrens astonishing ordeal were revealed by grandfather Narciso Mucutuy on Monday evening. His account after talking to Lesly varies from one given by the father of the two younger children, Manual Ranoque appearing to suggest the childrens mother Magdalena might have died shortly after the crash and not four days later. Narciso spoke inside the hospital on video released by Colombias Ministry of Defense. He said: When she (Lesly) realized her mother was already dead, she saw the little feet of her little sister among the three dead bodies. She pulled the kid out. And then she immediately saw the others were injured then she headed to open the mothers bag, took out some clothes and started ripping them apart and starting bandaging. And my cousin was carrying three 3lbs of flour and they stayed around the airplane for four days to see if anyone would pick them up. But then after four days went by they took off. But she said she didnt know which way to go. Then after a while they started leaving tracks everywhere they would sleep in case anyone would be looking for them, it would help find them. He also revealed: When they were hearing helicopters they would hide under the large trees because they were fearful. And when members of the community and military would be looking for them she (Lesly) would see them 10 meters away and they would hide and stay still and cover the mouth of the little one so she wouldnt cry. When the indigenous members of the community were seeking them around the area, the kids would never respond because they thought if they would find them they would give them toys for hiding - and this is why they wouldnt respond to the people calling out for them. The drawings were revealed when the head of the Colombian armed forces, General Helder Giraldo visited the children in the hospital Head of the Colombian Armed Forces, General Helder Giraldo, accepts the moving drawings of missing rescue dog Wilson completed by two of the children The four indigenous children are pictured after being rescued. They were missing for six weeks in the Colombian Amazon jungle after a plane crash Soldiers of the Colombian Air Force treat one of the children rescued from the Colombian jungle during the operation on June 9 Soldiers of the Colombian Air Force and employees of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) give medical attention inside a plane to the surviving children of a Cessna 206 plane crash A soldier stands next to the wreckage of the aircraft on May 19 that crashed in the Colombian Amazon forest The four children 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 217-mile journey to the town of San Jose del Guaviare. The bodies of the pilot, the children's mother and another adult were all found at the crash site, where the plane sat almost vertical in the trees. But when the wreckage of the plane was found after weeks of hunting not only were the children not found dead alongside the adults, there was part-eaten fruit that suggested they had all survived. That sparked a huge hunt across miles of dense and remote Amazon rainforest, culminating in their rescue of Friday. 'The jungle saved them,' President Gustavo Petro said. 'They are children of the jungle, and now they are also children of Colombia.' An army helicopter had hovered above the tree canopy, before hoisting the four children on board and flying them to hospital for checks. The delighted soldiers had earlier posed for photographs with the children, who appeared emaciated. After the siblings were miraculously found, dramatic footage shows how the four children were winched into a rescue helicopter, bitten, dehydrated and malnourished but mercifully alive, and taken to safety for medical treatment. 'It is a joy for the whole country,' Petro tweeted. 'They were alone, they themselves achieved an example of total survival which will remain in history.' Colombia's First Lady Veronica Alcocer (left) and Sofia Petro (right), daughter of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, visiting one of the four Indigenous children as they receive treatment Colombian President Gustavo Petro (right) greeting a nurse while visiting the four Indigenous children who were found alive after being lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon rainforest The siblings, members of the Huitoto indigenous group, were dehydrated, malnourished and bitten by insects but are otherwise healthy, rescuers said. Their grandmother, whose voice was played from aircraft above the jungle during the search to reassure the youngsters they were being looked for, told reporters: '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.' Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez paid tribute to the various army units' 'unshakeable and tireless' work, as well as to the indigenous people who took part in the search. The children's grandfather told Noticias Caracol he was very grateful to the army for helping to find them, adding 'I want to see them'. The survival story is all the more miraculous as the jungle is home to jaguars, pumas, snakes and other predators, as well as armed groups that smuggle drugs and terrorize local populations. Elon Musk has said the Unabomber's infamous manifesto warning of the perils of technology 'might not be wrong' - after the murderer died in prison at the weekend. The Twitter boss made the comment on the day Ted Kaczynski died by suicide in his supermax prison cell at the age of 81 after nearly three decades behind bars. A former Harvard-educated mathematical prodigy, Kaczynski abandoned his academic career in 1969 to pursue a primitive lifestyle. In 1978, he launched a 17-year anti-tech attack, mailing 16 homemade bombs to people he believed were destroying the environment by creating a more technically advanced society. He might not be wrong Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2023 The Twitter tycoon made the controversial comment on the day domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski reportedly died by suicide in his supermax security prison cell In 1978, the Unabomber launched a 17-year anti-tech attack, mailing 16 homemade bombs to people he believed were destroying the environment by creating a more technically advanced society By 1995, he had murdered three people and injured 23 more, becoming the most prolific bomber in American history. While living as a recluse in a cabin without running water or electricity in Lincoln, Montana, in the 1970s, the Unabomber penned a 35,000-word manifesto named 'Industrial Society and Its Future'. In the sprawling essay, Kaczynski claimed technology has made life unfulfilling while causing widespread discontent, thus 'the Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race'. On Saturday, author Ashley St Clair tweeted this quote alongside an article about his death, to which billionaire Musk replied: 'He might not be wrong'. The social media magnate's comment comes despite him being a pioneering force in the technological world today. Just last month, Musk's company Neuralink gained FDA approval to begin human trials for brain implants. The mind-chip is being designed to help disabled and healthy people cure a range of conditions, including obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia, while also allowing for web browsing and telepathy. Musk, who purchased Twitter for $43 billion in October, has even vowed to land people on Mars within the next five to 10 years using the $3 billion (2.4 billion) Starship. However, the SpaceX boss has also joined calls for caution in development of artificial intelligence. Along with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and 1,000 other tech leaders, Musk signed an open letter via The Future of Life Institute calling for a six-month pause on the 'dangerous race' to develop AI to allow for more risk assessments to be made. Ted Kaczynski flanked by federal agents as he was led to a car from the federal courthouse in Helena, Mont., on April 4, 1996 Musk's comment comes despite him being a pioneering force in the technological world today Kaczynski is widely known now as America's most prolific bomber. During his 17-year campaign of terror, he executed a sinister plan to detonate explosives in universities and airports, which he would often mail to his victims using the postal service. Years before the September 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 1995. While the fear he spurred led The Washington Post and The New York Times to take the agonizing decision in September 1995 to publish his manifesto, it ultimately led to his undoing. Kaczynski's brother David and David's wife, Linda Patrik, recognized the bizarre belief system within the tome and tipped off the FBI. The tip led to the end of the nation's longest manhunt, and in April 1996 authorities found him in his 10-by-14 foot Montana wood cabin. Kaczynski was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole when he was finally caught in 1996. He served two decades in a federal Supermax prison in Colorado, before being transferred to a federal prison medical facility in North Carolina. The Unabomber was found dead in his cell at around 8am on Saturday in the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina. While the formal cause of death has not been disclosed, sources say that he died by suicide, according to the New York Times. John Ward, who devoted his life to hunting the brutal killers of his daughter Julie Ward in Kenya, has died without seeing them brought to justice - but his sons say they will continue his quest. Mr Ward spent three decades and more than 2million trying to solve the notorious 1988 murder in the Maasai Mara. Wildlife photographer Julie was 28 when she was raped and killed, and her body was cut up, burned and buried. In his heart-breaking quest for justice, Mr Ward made 200 trips to Kenya and uncovered evidence pointing towards her being killed by the son of then Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi and he accused the UK authorities of taking part in the cover up. Yesterday Mr Ward's son Bob announced his father had died. Tragically Miss Ward's mother Janette also died last month. Bob insisted he and his brother would 'never stop.' Wildlife photographer Julie was 28 when she was raped and killed in 1988. Now her father has died before her killers have been brought to justice John Ward spent three decades and more than 2million trying to solve the notorious 1988 murder in the Maasai Mara He added: 'After 65 years of marriage, John died within two weeks of his beloved wife Jan. They were born two weeks apart and died two weeks apart. 'Both have sadly missed the celebrations the family had planned to commemorate their 90th birthdays later this month. They will be sadly missed.' Ever since Julie's hideous murder, the couple had battled for the truth in her memory, a crusade now being continued by her younger brothers Bob and Tim. Last night Bob said: 'For 35 years, the family, led by John, have fought with the Kenyan Government and the British Government, Scotland Yard, and MI6. 'This story is nothing short of astonishing as this ordinary but driven family, led by a determined, relentless individual, showed such resilience against the authorities. John knew Julie was murdered.' Grandfather of four Mr Ward, a retired hotelier from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, travelled to Kenya, the United States, Denmark, Belgium, France, Uganda and Tanzania, in his quest. Through his seventies and eighties, he taught himself forensic science and represented himself in courts in Kenya where he was cross-examined for a record 28 days - and the UK. Yesterday Mr Ward's son Bob announced his father had died. Tragically Miss Ward's mother Janette also died last month Julie Ward (pictured) was kidnapped while on holiday in Kenya Julie had been on a six-month adventure after quitting her job with a publishing company in Bury St Edmunds to photograph animals in the Maasai Mara game reserve. When she went missing, in September 1988, Mr Ward boarded a flight to Kenya within hours to start his own search. It was his first time in Africa. He paid for five aircraft to conduct a grid search of the area where Julie was last seen and spotted her Suzuki in a gully. Her body was eventually found 10 miles away. It was John who found his daughter's jaw and lower left leg, both burned, deep in bushes. Over the years, during his tireless search, Mr Ward dug out a latrine near the scene searching for any of Julie's possessions and stored DNA evidence in his own freezer. Mr Ward became convinced that Jonathan Moi, the son of the then president, brutally raped Julie and then ordered his drunken cronies to dispose of her body. The 28-year-old wildlife photographer (right) was murdered in 1998 Julie Ward's (pictured) body was discovered cut up, burnt, and buried Julie Ward's (pictured) father spent 2 million in his bid to solve his daughter's 1998 murder Mr Ward's search repeatedly hit a brick wall. A pathologist originally said Julie had been murdered, before the report was doctored to say she had been attacked by animals. Then Mr Ward was told his daughter had been struck by lightning. He claimed the British government and MI6 had helped Kenyan officials to cover up the murder. In 2008, he used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a 2004 report compiled for Lincolnshire Police which was highly critical of the Foreign Office, the British High Commission and Scotland Yard. Asked in 2008 what drove his quest for the truth, Mr Ward said: 'Some people have said I should just let it all go and retire. 'But they have no idea what it's really like. My daughter was murdered, hacked to death, burned and thrown to the lions. 'I might have closure in some sense, but to know that her killers are still out there living their lives means I have to continue.' Mr Ward confirmed reports he had spent 2million to date trying to solve the crime and had been to Kenya 100 times. Julie War's (pictured) father made 200 trips to Kenya in his bid to solve his daughter's murder Julie Ward's (left) father died without seeing his daughter's killer brought to justice He continued: 'I don't do this all the time. I have a life outside of Julie's case. Until four years ago, I was running a business, which took up a lot of time. 'I like sailing, I belong to a dining club. I do all sorts of things with my life. 'It's just that every few months, something arrives on my door mat: a letter, a lead, a photograph, something that perhaps could take us one step closer to making Julie's killers accountable. The Met launched a new probe into Miss Ward's murder in 2010, with London detectives helping local police follow up leads, including possible DNA evidence. Scotland Yard would not be drawn on the details of the fresh investigation, pointing out that the force was merely assisting the Kenyan authorities. But it was understood officers hoped modern DNA tests on 'crime exhibits' recovered close to the location where Miss Ward's remains were discovered could have resulted in a breakthrough. Julie Ward's body was found 10 miles away from where he Suzuki car was last spotted Julie Ward's father became convinced the president of Kenya's son was responsible for his daughter's death An Argentine flight attendant is in jail for calling a bomb plot to prevent her former boyfriend from flying to Miami with his new partner. Now, she is being investigated as a suspect of in criminal group that sought to destabilize the aviation industry. Daniela Carbone was taken into custody on May 28, seven days after she made a phone call from her daughter's cellphone with a prepaid chip and claimed that there were three bombs on an Aerolineas Argentinas as it was waiting to take off from Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, officials said. 'Tell the little captain that we put three bombs on the Miami flight, to stop messing around with politics and to check the airplane because it's going to blow up in a thousand pieces,' Carbone said in the May 21 message that distorted her voice and was sent to the pilot, an airlines ticket manager and an employee who was off from work. Aerolineas Argentinas announced the 47-year-old suspect had been fired as Monday, ending a career that spanned 25 years. 'The company has more than corroborated her direct/indirect participation (involving his daughter in it) in the aforementioned bomb threat, which caused severe economic and reputational damage to the company in addition to the bad moment that it caused passengers and the crew present,' the airline said in a statement. On Sunday, it was revealed by local newspapers that Carbone was an alleged secret agent working to destabilize the airline business. Authorities discovered that her goal was to create fear and chaos among passengers and crew members. Daniela Carbone allegedly sent a message to three employees, including the pilot, at Aerolineas Airlines and said there were three bombs aboard the flight that was traveling from Argentina to Miami on May 21 Aerolineas Argentinas flight attendant Daniela Carbone reportedly was working as a secret agent for a criminal group that wanted to destabilize the aviation industry, Argentine news outlets reported Sunday Investigators learned that Carbone used her five-year relationship with her ex-boyfriend, identified by the Argentine press as Aerolineas Argentina flight attendant 'Picho,' as a coverup to earn the trust of her coworkers and put the company's flights at risk. Once Picho uncovered who Carbone really was, he proceeded to contact Argentine intelligence authorities, who apprehended Carbone and several members of the criminal enterprise, local outlets reported. DailyMail.com has been unable to identity how many suspects have been arrested since the incident. Investigators say the 47-year-old flight attendant, who was employed by the company for 25 years, was seeking revenged after her boyfriend of five years ended the relationship Passengers were removed from an Aerolineas Argentinas flight at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after a flight attendant with the company sent a message to the pilot and two other employees indicating there were three bombs on the aircraft Daniela Carbone is accused of treason, conspiracy and endangering national security Judge Federico Villena is weighing whether Carbone can be place under house arrest while she awaits the court proceedings An audio message from a conversation Carbone had with a friend revealed she was contrite about the bogus bomb plot phone call after Picho left her for a young woman. 'I spent 5 years with him being an impeccable woman, because I swear I didn't cheat on him even with my thoughts,' she said. 'When you get paid that way you are destroyed. 'Obviously I don't justify myself. I went to hell and besides that I am a (supervisor) in the international area, I was an instructor in the company. They will probably kick me out. Alright.' Carbone, who was arrested after stepping out of a flight from Miami to Ezeiza on May 28, is facing treason, conspiracy and endangering national security charges. She is being held inside in a small at Ezeiza International Airport and is not allowed visitors. Judge Federico Villena is weighing whether Carbone can be place under house arrest while she awaits the court proceedings. Prosecutors have until Tuesday to arraign her. The money was doled out under Donald Trump and Joe Biden More than $400 billion of COVID aid was lost to fraud or wasted spending under Donald Trump and Joe Biden, a new bombshell report claimed on Monday. An analysis by the Associated Press said fraudsters and criminals plundered billions of taxpayer cash set aside to fend off economic collapse during the pandemic. It estimated that $280 billion in COVID relief funding was lost to fraud, while another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. Both sums are equivalent to 10 percent of the $4.2 trillion that the U.S. government has splashed out so far on coronavirus aid. The money was set to aside to compensate businesses affected by successive COVID-19 lockdowns The tricksters, according to the AP, passed off social security numbers of dead people or federal prisoners are their own to rake in unemployment checks. They sometime even collected benefits in multiple states, the report said. Investigators accuse the U.S. government of failing to provide enough oversight during the pandemic's early stages. They also claim that they slapped too few restrictions on applicants, giving possible fraudsters easy access to money stumped up by hard-working Americans. 'Here was this sort of endless pot of money that anyone could access,' said Dan Fruchter, a top anti-fraud official at the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington. 'Folks kind of fooled themselves into thinking that it was a socially acceptable thing to do, even though it wasn't legal,' he told the AP. The U.S. government has charged more than 2,230 defendants with pandemic-related fraud crimes and is conducting thousands of investigations. Most of the looted money was swiped from three large pandemic-relief initiatives launched during the Trump administration and inherited by President Joe Biden. The progams were designed to help small businesses and unemployed workers survive the economic disaster unleashed by coronavirus. Michael Horowitz, the U.S. Justice Department inspector general investigating Covid-related fraud, recently told Congress that it was 'clearly in the tens of billions of dollars and may eventually exceed $100 billion. 'I'm hesitant to get too far out on how much it is,' he was quoted as saying by the AP. 'But clearly it's substantial and the final accounting is still at least a couple of years away.' Donald Trump signed off on more than $3 trillion in COVID-related bailout aid, according to official figures Joe Biden signed a law in August that extended the statute of limitations for fraud-related crimes Ex-president President Donald Trump signed off on emergency aid totaling $3.2 trillion, according to official figures. Joe Biden's so-called American Rescue Plan rubber-stamped spending of another $1.9 trillion. Roughly a fifth of the total $5.2 trillion has not yet to be paid out, according to the committee's most recent accounting. The pandemic meant the little-known Small Business Administration was forced to manage nearly a trillion dollars in COVID aid. In the seven decades before the pandemic struck, for example, the SBA had doled out just $67 billion in disaster loans. Officials there took over the management of the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection programs. They had to get money out the door, fast, to help struggling businesses and their employees, meaning checks were not as rigorous as before. 'If you open up the bank window and say, give me your application and just promise me you really are who you say you are, you attract a lot of fraudsters and that's what happened here,' Horowitz said. For example, between March 2020 and the end of July 2020, the agency granted 3.2 million COVID-19 economic injury disaster loans totaling $169 billion, according to an SBA inspector generals report, while at the same time implementing the huge new Paycheck Protection Program. The Biden administration in August signed legislation to allow the DOJ to prosecute after 10 years after any alleged crimes took place involving the two major programs managed by the SBA. More than 1.13 million people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A graduate at a publicly-funded community college in California used her opportunity at the podium to deliver a message advocating anti-Semitism. Jana Abulaban, 18, who identifies as a Palestinian woman, despite being born in Jordan moving to the United States at the age of 12, made her vitriolic remarks at the El Camino Community College graduation this past Friday in Torrance, California. 'I gift my graduation to all Palestinians who have lost their life and those who continue to lose their lives every day due to the oppressive apartheid state of Israel killing and torturing Palestinians as we speak,' Abulaban told the crowd. This comes just weeks after CUNY student Fatima Mousa Mohammed described the NYPD as 'fascist' and denounced 'Israeli settler colonialism.' After a barrage of public outrage and calls for the largely taxpayer-funded school to be stripped of its handouts, CUNY apologized for her remarks, labeling them 'hate speech.' Jana Abulaban, 18, pictured delivering her remarks this past Friday at El Camino College in Torrance, California El Camino Community College received around $150 million in tax money for the 2022-23 school year. There are 22,000 students enrolled at the school On Friday, El Camino posted a photo Abulaban speaking, accompanied by a quote. 'If I was told 7 years ago, as a Palestinian refugee stepping foot for the first time in this country, that one day I'll be standing on this stage I would not have believed it. I'm extremely thankful to have gotten to this point,' she said. The school did not posted any of Abulaban's quotes in which she denounced Israel. In an interview with her school's newspaper, Abulaban said that her grandmother was a Palestinian refugee in the 1950s. El Camino Community College received around $150 million in tax money for the 2022-23 school year. There are 22,000 students enrolled at the school. Former CUNY board Trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld told the New York Post that Abulaban's remarks were 'really sick.' 'Its apparent American universities are increasing the number of semi-literate and illiterate students. The jihadism in their minds doesnt come from Jews. It comes from their own,' he added. Abulaban's brother, Osaid, disagreed, telling the Post that he felt his sister's comments were 'wonderful.' 'She said what everyone wants to say but [is] not given a chance to. Showing whats going on exactly showing [Israelis] try to be the good ones all the time. But theyre actually an occupation, like she said, killing people over there,' Osaid added. Abulaban told the El Camino College Union newspaper that she is transferring to UCLA in the Fall to study psychology and hopes to go on to study law with a goal of being an lawyer for refugees. 'I realized that just because of your status youre treated differently, just because youre from a specific place,' Abulaban told the Union. She also said that despite being born in Jordan, she was not made a citizen which impacted her ability to get an education. According to the piece, Abulaban is the president of the El Camino Associated Students Organization. Among her accomplishments, she talks about being 'part of the menstrual products machines initiative. Thankfully, we were able to achieve it by the end of the fall (2022) semester.' 'I want to be part of this group thats able to create that change. Ive always been big on advocacy,' she also said. Interim Director of the Student Development Office Ricardo Gonzalez was full of praise for the student when speaking to the newspaper. 'Jana is by far one of the most integral service-based, equity-minded and innovative leaders that I have seen in this institution for a long time,' Gonzalez said. The school's former student development office director Greg Toya called Abulaban an 'outstanding leader' adding that she was 'very grounded and reliable and consistent.' Fatima Mousa Mohammed, 24, graduated from CUNY Law last month. Now, a legal group is asking the New York Supreme Court to stop her from becoming a lawyer based on her 'hate-filled', anti-Israel speech Just last week, the Lawfare Project - which offers pro-bono legal services to benefit Jewish and pro-Israel people and causes - says CUNY's apology doesn't go far enough. In a series of letters obtained by DailyMail.com, they are appealing to the New York Supreme Court to stop Mohammed from being able to become a lawyer. In order to become a lawyer, graduates must not just pass the notoriously difficult bar exam, but they must also pass certain 'character and fitness' requirements. In the eyes of The Lawfare Project, Mohammed doesn't qualify. 'It's our belief that a person who has proved themselves to be a bigot is not fit to practice law. 'You have to wonder if it had been any other minority-protected group, would this even be a question,' Benjamin Ryberg, COO of The Lawfare Project, said. 'Ms. Mohammed has a history of publicly expressing prejudiced and discriminatory views, specifically demonstrating a profound animosity towards the Jewish community. 'These views are fundamentally incompatible with the ethical obligations and principles upheld by the legal profession and leave no question that Ms. Mohammed lacks the character and fitness to practice law. 'It is essential to recognize the potential harm that an individual with such discriminatory beliefs could inflict upon the legal community and the clients we serve. 'Lawyers must be trusted to represent their clients without prejudice or bias, ensuring fair and equitable outcomes. 'Admitting Ms. Mohammed to practice law in the State of New York would risk compromising the impartiality and integrity of our justice system and betraying the trust of those who seek legal assistance,' the group argues in four letters sent to the court. Mohammed is shown at a previous, pro-Palestine rally where she railed against 'Zionist students' At 24, Mohammed moved to the US as a child from Yemeni. She spoke at her graduation ceremony of her relatives who remain there, and of her pride at the notion of soon being able to fight for causes she believes in as an attorney. Since the uproar over her commencement speech, she has said nothing publicly. Ryberg says the group is not out for blood. 'It would require more than just an apology, if she could recognize that her statements are anti-Jewish and discriminatory and agree to stop spreading this horrible rhetoric, then there is the possibility for redemption. 'We are asking the committees to take a very serious look at her record and evaluate whether they could justify a decision that she upholds their standards.' The group says it is concerned that she would wield an anti-Zionist or anti-Jewish prejudice if allowed to practice. 'I have no idea how she'd treat those people but given her demonstrated anti-Jewish bias, it's a door we don't want to open up. 'Whether she declines to represent Jewish clients, or mistreats Jewish litigants who are on the opposite side, I don't know, of course. 'But it is your sworn duty to protect the legal rights of your clients and uphold the law in general. New York City and New York State has a number of laws specifically prohibiting discrimination, so the idea that somebody would be practicing law with these beliefs on record is baffling,' he said. Neither CUNY nor the New York Bar Association has yet responded to the letters that were sent on Tuesday afternoon. In its denunciation of her speech, CUNY's board said: 'Free speech is precious, but often messy, and is vital to the foundation of higher education. 'Hate speech, however, should not be confused with free speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, our state or our nation. 'The remarks by a student-selected speaker at the CUNY Law School graduation, unfortunately, fall into the category of hate speech as they were a public expression of hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation. 'The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York condemns such hate speech.' US spy agencies are buying and selling Americans' personal data, creating a huge threat to privacy, a stunning new report revealed on Monday. The offerings on have grown from basic address history and demographic information to piles of data generated smartphone devices and apps, social-media platforms, automobiles and location trackers such as fitness watches, the Wall Street Journal reported. That detailed information can now 'cause harm to an individual's reputation, emotional well-being, or physical safety,' said a report commissioned by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. US spy agencies are buying and selling Americans' personal data with little to no regulation, a new report found It urged US intelligence agencies to develop better policies, procedures and safeguards around what is known as commercially available information, or CAI. The CAI market is loosely regulated when it comes to the buying and selling of data. The report was requested by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, a member of the Senate Intelligence panel. 'This review shows the government's existing policies have failed to provide essential safeguards for Americans' privacy, or oversight of how agencies buy and use personal data,' Wyden said in a statement. He urged President Joe Biden's administration to create guidelines around the handling of the information. 'The executive branch must exercise much stronger oversight of this practice, issue guidance to agencies about the legal status of commercial data, and provide transparency to the American people about how it interprets the law,' Wyden said. The study was the first known attempt by the U.S. government to examine comprehensively how federal agencies acquire, share and use commercially available data sets that are often compiled with minimal awareness by the public that its data is being collected and resold, the Journal reported. The sales creating huge threat to privacy new report conducted by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines found 'This review shows the government's existing policies have failed to provide essential safeguards for Americans' privacy,' said Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, who requested the report Vendors claim they strip the data of personal information like names or addresses. But privacy advocates said that information can be inferred from geolocations on phones. Browsing data can also reveal personal information. Wyden urged Congress to take action. 'If the government can buy its way around Fourth Amendment due-process, there will be few meaningful limits on government surveillance. Meanwhile, Congress needs to pass legislation to put guardrails around government purchases, to rein in private companies that collect and sell this data, and keep Americans' personal information out of the hands of our adversaries,' he said. It's little more than a buckled and corroded shell. But it happens to be the shell of a rare Ferrari, so that means this wreck is expected to sell for more than 1.2million. Also thrown in is an engine though that comes from another car. The wreck is being described, with a touch of understatement, as an 'intriguing restoration project' for a car enthusiast. The 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider caught fire after a crash while racing nearly 60 years ago. There are no wheels or interior and little trace of its red paint. It could do 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and boasted a top speed of 146mph. The car was used in track races in Europe including in the Imola Grand Prix, in Italy, the year it was made. It's little more than a buckled and corroded shell. But it happens to be the shell of a rare Ferrari, so that means this wreck is expected to sell for more than 1.2million The 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider caught fire after a crash while racing nearly 60 years ago. There are no wheels or interior and little trace of its red paint Also thrown in is an engine though that comes from another car. The wreck is being described, with a touch of understatement, as an 'intriguing restoration project' for a car enthusiast In 1958 it was exported to the United States, taking part in races there and changing hands several times. In 1963 its owner according to the listing from RM Sotheby's, a classic car seller that's part owned by Sotheby's 'replaced the original engine with an American V-8, a common practice at that time'. The listing adds: 'At some point over the following two years the Mondial was crashed and suffered fire damage.' The listing says the shell changed hands several times, 'preserved in its race-damaged condition'. It is among 20 Ferraris for sale in RM Sotheby's Lost and Found collection. Rob Myers, RM Sotheby's CEO, said: 'While a select group of Ferrari collectors knew about the existence of these extraordinary cars, the rest of the world remained unaware. 'This represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire these iconic Ferraris.' The estimate on the 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider is up to 1.27million ($1.6million) when the auction takes place in August in Monterey, California. Jeremy Hunt today set out plans to cut tax by reforming Britain's sluggish public sector. The Chancellor said improving its output was the key to boosting growth and putting the UK 'on a sustainable path to lower taxes', as he unveiling proposals for a major productivity review. The Daily Mail revealed at the weekend that Mr Hunt has warned ministers that public sector reform is now the key to cutting Britain's record tax burden. In a speech to Margaret Thatcher's favourite think-tank, Mr Hunt acknowledged that output was starting from 'a low base'. He said that while private sector output is now 1.3 per cent higher than before the pandemic, the public sector equivalent is still 5.7 per cent lower than in 2019. 'What does that tell you? Our innovators, job creators, entrepreneurs and risk-takers have bounced back but the public sector is still feelings the effects of a once-in-a lifetime pandemic,' he said. Jeremy Hunt (pictured on Monday) today set out plans to cut tax by reforming Britain's sluggish public sector 'But now, with the pandemic behind us, we need a renewed focus on public sector reform.' His comments come amid growing Tory pressure to cut taxes. In a pointed intervention at the same event, the Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said the Conservatives should be 'unapologetic about talking about building more and taxing less'. Tory grandee Sir John Redwood urged the Government this week to heed Boris Johnson's warning that taxes are too high. He called for immediate action to help win back voters in three crunch by-elections triggered by the former Prime Minister's shock resignation last week. 'We need tax cuts,' Sir John said. 'The PM needs to take action now, this day, to show those by-election voters we mean business.' In his speech to the Centre for Policy Studies tonight, Mr Hunt said slow growth, coupled with an ageing population meant that pressure on taxes was on an unsustainable path. He said forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility suggested that long-term growth was now just 1.6 per cent, while public spending was on track to grow by 2 per cent a year. 'You don't need brilliant Treasury analysts to tell you the consequence of a state growing faster than the economy: higher borrowing, higher taxes or a combination of the two,' he said. Mr Hunt warned that without action to boost growth, the OBR believed that Britain's debt mountain would double in size over the next 50 years. 'That would mean increasing annual tax revenues by 200billion... or at least doubling the basic rate of income tax and main rate of employee National Insurance. 'I reject that prospect, as does every Conservative, because that is the path to socialism less freedom, less enterprise and less prosperity.' Sir John Redwood said PM Rishi Sunak (pictured) 'needs to take action now' He said the Treasury chief secretary John Glen would now lead a major productivity review designed to boost output in public services. A rise in productivity growth of just 0.5 per cent could end the growth in the size of the state, while a further 0.5 per cent could clear the way for significant tax cuts. Mr Glen is expected to look at the potential for new IT systems, more use of artificial intelligence and a greater embrace of innovation by the public sector. The review, due to report by the Autumn Statement, will look at 'what it would take to deliver the extra 0.5 per cent'. Finding one dead king under a car park may be considered a fluke. Finding two could be seen as a very peculiar habit. Yet this may prove to be the case for historian Philippa Langley. Through a combination of meticulous research and what she calls a 'strange sensation', in 2012 Philippa famously identified the very spot in a Leicester car park beneath which lay the skeleton of the 15th-century king, Richard III. Now Philippa believes King Henry I, who was Richard's predecessor by nearly four centuries, may have met a similarly undignified fate. Using the same critical combination of research and analysis that drew her to the final resting place of the last Plantagenet king, she is convinced that Henry's earthly remains lie underneath the grey tarmac of wait for it a Ministry of Justice-owned car park at Reading Prison. Finding one dead king under a car park may be considered a fluke. Finding two could be seen as a very peculiar habit. Yet this may prove to be the case for historian Philippa Langley (pictured) Using the same critical combination of research and analysis that drew her to the final resting place of the last Plantagenet king, she is convinced that Henry's earthly remains lie underneath the grey tarmac of wait for it a Ministry of Justice-owned car park at Reading Prison (pictured) Somewhat fittingly, she believes he is buried under a parking area marked on a survey with the letter 'K'. It is one reason the 60-year-old whose dedication to finding Richard III's grave earned her an MBE and led to her efforts being portrayed in the 2022 film, The Lost King has formed the 'Hidden Abbey' project to help raise funds for the estimated 55,000 cost of a local dig at the site of the prison, which was closed in 2013 and is now awaiting redevelopment. 'There are powerful arguments for the location of the king's grave here,' she told the Mail yesterday. 'It is therefore my contention that not only do we have another king in a car park in Reading, but that K is for king.' It is a bold claim, but as we have seen, Philippa has impressive form. After becoming fascinated with Richard III in the late 1990s, she spent years trying to identify his exact burial spot, and became convinced that the site lay within a council-owned car park in Leicester. Initially unlikely as that seemed, the car park stood on the spot once occupied by the church of the Greyfriars, a 13th century monastic friary, where Richard was buried following his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Philippa's conviction was reinforced when she visited the site in 2004, and when, standing over an area labelled R for Reserved Parking she found herself shaking and came out in goosebumps. 'It had never happened before that,' she says. 'Whenever I was standing in that area, I would get the feeling.' Convinced she had identified where Richard's remains lay, in 2009 Philippa formed the Looking For Richard Project, lobbying Leicester Council to support an excavation and launching a crowdfunding mission to reach the 33,000 she needed for a dig. Finally, on August 25, 2012, the 527th anniversary of Richard's death, a trench was dug under the spot where she had been seized by her conviction eight years earlier. Hours later the remains of a skeleton were uncovered, which, following extensive genetic and anthropological testing, were finally confirmed as belonging to Richard III. It was an extraordinary feat of detective work not to mention a defining moment in the city of Leicester's history. And now Philippa believes her research may have identified the final resting spot of the only English monarch since William the Conqueror to have no definitively identifiable grave. Henry was William the Conqueror's fourth son, and despite believing he would never inherit the throne, proved a decisive and ruthless ruler once he was crowned king in 1100 two hunting accidents and a battle having seen off his older brothers. A political opportunist and hard-hearted, Henry I is famed for holding the record for the largest number of acknowledged illegitimate children born to any English king, with around 20 to 25 offspring born outside wedlock. Through a combination of meticulous research and what she calls a 'strange sensation', in 2012 Philippa famously identified the very spot in a Leicester car park beneath which lay the skeleton of the 15th century king, Richard III (pictured) Finally, on August 25, 2012, the 527th anniversary of Richard's death, a trench was dug under the spot where she had been seized by her conviction eight years earlier. Hours later the remains of a skeleton were uncovered, which, following extensive genetic and anthropological testing, were finally confirmed as belonging to Richard III (pictured) His strategy was to marry off his illegitimate daughters to various lords and princes, creating an extended family circle to promote his interests. This, however, did not mean he was averse to some medieval barbarism: in 1119, he allowed his granddaughters via one illegitimate daughter, Juliana, to be mutilated they were blinded and had the tips of their noses cut off in order to settle a political squabble. His reign was also marked by heartbreak. In 1120, 17-year-old William Adelin, Henry's only legitimate son and heir by his wife, Matilda, drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Normandy. Fifteen years later, Henry fell ill while hunting in Normandy after eating 'a surfeit of' lampreys (an ancient form of jawless fish) and died on December 1, 1135. His body was taken to Rouen, where his entrails were buried, and his embalmed corpse was returned to England. Historical records show it was interred at Reading Abbey, founded by the King 14 years earlier 'for the salvation of my soul'. And now Philippa believes her research may have identified the final resting spot of the only English monarch since William the Conqueror to have no definitively identifiable grave - Henry I (pictured) On this, historians are largely agreed yet the exact location of Henry's burial has continued to be a source of robust discussion, not least because the Abbey has gone through numerous changes since the day it was built. Largely destroyed in 1538 under Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbey was then used as both a town hall and a school until, in 1844, Reading Gaol was built on the eastern side of the site. Inmates included the playwright Oscar Wilde, who in 1895 was famously imprisoned for 'gross indecency with other male persons', and the American actor Stacy Keach, who in 1985 was sentenced to six months for cocaine smuggling. The jail was closed in 1920, but continued to be used as a borstal for young offenders before becoming a local prison in 1972, and was finally closed in 2013. Meanwhile a question mark hangs over the exact resting spot of its potentially most famous resident. In 1921, a plaque was erected over the area where the Abbey's high altar the area historical records indicate Henry I was buried once stood. Yet today, Philippa believes her calculations show the altar may have been moved at some point so historians may have been looking in the wrong place. 'We know from historic records that Henry I was buried in front of the (original) high altar at Reading Abbey, with Constance of York buried near him. Both would have been stone sarcophagus burials,' she told the Mail. 'From various reading of materials and recent experiences, it seems that the high altar may have been moved farther west within the abbey church at a later date.' Philippa's conviction led her to found the Hidden Abbey project to campaign for further investigation and, in 2016, a search by ground-penetrating radar revealed what looked to be two sarcophagus burials in the area where Philippa believes the original high altar stood in the spot she identified in the former prison car park. 'Whether these are the burials of Henry I and Constance of York naturally forms one of the many research questions for the Hidden Abbey Project,' she says. It is why following the recent 900th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey she is renewing her campaign for a localised dig to establish once and for all whether another powerful king lies interred under a parking space. It is why following the recent 900th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey (pictured) she is renewing her campaign for a localised dig to establish once and for all whether another powerful king lies interred under a parking space Historian Nigel Jones is among those who supports the idea. 'Evidence does point to the site of the old Abbey being Henry's final resting place,' he says. 'Henry was a very important king who stabilised the kingdom after the Norman conquest, and I believe that finding his tomb would be almost as important as finding that of Richard III. 'If bureaucracy and red tape can be overcome, then it might help to put Reading on the map, too.' It's a sentiment echoed by Philippa. 'If the location of the burial place of Henry I is found, the aim is to place a memorial above ground,' she says. 'It will mean that Henry is no longer England's forgotten king.' Indeed not. Instead, he will go down in history as the second king to be uncovered in a car park. Labour was accused last night of abandoning the 'law-abiding majority' by opposing curbs on eco-zealots and Channel migrants. Just Stop Oil caused yet more traffic havoc with a go-slow protest in central London on Monday. However Sir Keir Starmer's MPs voted against moves to bolster police powers to break up the disruptive demos. And it emerged on Monday that more than 600 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on Sunday, the highest daily total this year. But again Labour peers last night opposed measures to 'detain and swiftly remove' illegal arrivals. Suella Braverman yesterday launched a fresh attack on 'selfish' environmental fanatics, promising to curtail their 'dangerous' and 'deplorable' stunts. Labour was accused last night of abandoning the 'law-abiding majority' by opposing curbs on eco-zealots and Channel migrants Just Stop Oil caused yet more traffic havoc with a go-slow protest in central London on Monday. But Sir Keir Starmer's MPs voted against moves to bolster police powers to break up the disruptive demos It followed an article in the Mail in which the Home Secretary had accused Labour of going easy on activists after taking cash from Dale Vince, a tycoon who supports Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rising. She then told the Commons: 'I find it surprising and disappointing to see Labour MPs are not supporting the measures, given how important they are to the public and how damaging serious disruption can be to everyday life. 'I've been trying to think about why that would be. I wonder if it's got anything to do with the fact that the Labour Party, the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy have taken 1.5million of donations from a businessman who bankrolls Just Stop Oil? I wonder whether it's because it appears their botched environmental policies seem to be directed now by the eco-zealots?' She told Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper: 'The right honourable lady should be embarrassed that Labour is more interested in supporting Just Stop Oil than standing up for the law-abiding majority. 'The roads belong to the British people, not a selfish minority who treat them like their personal property. Their tactics are dangerous.' While insisting she would 'ferociously defend' the right to peaceful protest, she warned: 'Serious disruption, nuisance and criminality are unjustified.' In the past six weeks Just Stop Oil has carried out 156 slow marches in London, taking up 13,770 police officer shifts at a cost of 4.5million. It emerged on Monday that more than 600 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on Sunday, the highest daily total this year. But again Labour peers last night opposed measures to 'detain and swiftly remove' illegal arrival A source close to Mrs Braverman said: 'Sir Keir Starmer and his weak Labour Party are in the hands of Just Stop Oil and seemingly only interested in doing their bidding. In public they talk tough and claim to support hard-working British people but in backroom deals they've taken piles of cash from those bankrolling the eco-zealots. 'By attempting to block Conservative measures to tackle disruptive protests and to stop the small boats, Sir Keir shows his true colours.' The updated law will also set out that a traffic jam caused by a blocked road could in itself amount to 'serious disruption', allowing police to break up a protest. Current rules require 'significant delay' and 'prolonged disruption' to have been caused before police can step in. But, in a further change, that threshold will be lowered to 'more than minor' delays. Mrs Braverman said police had 'requested extra powers and have requested extra clarity in the law'. Ms Cooper responded: 'The Home Secretary is claiming today that this latest measure is about slow walking. But that's already a breach of the law. 'This is not about the seriously disruptive Just Stop Oil protests, which are rightly already against the law. Instead, what it is doing is giving the police the power to prevent any and every campaign group protesting outside a local library or swimming pool that is about to be closed because it may be a little more than minor. This makes it harder for law-abiding, peaceful campaigners who want to work with the police.' The Government won last night's Commons vote on the measures by a majority of 60. It is expected to face opposition in the House of Lords on Tuesday. Green peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb will table a 'fatal motion' designed to kill off the legislation. A best-selling author has pulled her book from publication after she received an 'enormous' backlash from Ukrainian readers for setting it in Russia. Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love, was lambasted for promoting The Snow Forest amid the ongoing war. The book was scheduled for release in February 2024, exactly two years after Russia first invaded Ukraine, but Ms Gilbert, 53, said she has decided to make a 'course correction' as she did not want to add further harm to those 'continuing to experience grievous and extreme harm'. 'Over the course of this weekend, I have received an enormous, massive outpouring of reactions and responses from my Ukrainian readers, expressing anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain, about the fact that I would choose to release a book into the world right now, any book no matter what the subject is, that is set in Russia,' she announced in a video message posted to her social media accounts yesterday. Elizabeth Gilbert (pictured), who wrote 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love, was lambasted for promoting The Snow Forest amid the ongoing war The book (pictured) was scheduled for release in February 2024, exactly two years after Russia first invaded Ukraine, but Ms Gilbert, 53, said she has decided to make a 'course correction' as she did not want to add further harm to those 'continuing to experience grievous and extreme harm' 'I want to say that I have heard these messages and read these messages, and I respect them. As a result, I'm making a course correction, and I'm removing the book from its publication schedule. 'It is not the time for this book to be published. And I do not want to add any harm to a group of people who have already experienced and who are all continuing to experience grievous and extreme harm. So that is the choice I have made.' Set in Siberia in the middle of the last century, The Snow Forest follows a group of people who decide to remove themselves from society to 'resist the soviet government and to try to defend nature against industrialisation'. Ms Gilbert, who wrote the book during the Covid pandemic, said she will now focus on her other projects and assured those who have already pre-ordered copies that they will be refunded in full. Her announcement comes after more than 500 people gave the book a one star review on Goodreads. The American author and journalist was branded 'tone deaf' after unveiling The Snow Forest on Instagram last week, with some claiming they would throw out copies of her novels. One user commented: 'Such a tone-deaf move. Really disappointed in you, Elizabeth. You must know that most of your books are translated into Ukrainian and you have a huge fan base here. Ms Gilbert, who wrote the book during the Covid pandemic, said she will now focus on her other projects and assured those who have already pre-ordered copies that they will be refunded in full 'How do you think, we should take this 'big, wonderful news' considering that we are now going through russian-made war, genocide, ecocide?' Another wrote: 'Imagine if during the Second World War someone in the USA wrote a book about 'cozy Berlin'... Totally disappointed.' A third said: 'While Russia is shelling and destroying Ukraine in 2023, writers continue to romanticize Russia? Shame!' Beloved TV chef Nigella Lawson was also criticised for sharing her excitement for the novel, with one user questioning how she can simultaneously support a book set in Russia and Ukranian chef Olia Hercules. Ms Gilbert started her career as a journalist working for titles including GQ and The New York Times. Her other novels include The Signature of All Things, Committed and Big Magic. The White House on Monday defended the decision to knock down a public report about China's plan to build a base in Cuba for electronic surveillance. National security spokesman Adm. John Kirby put down an explosive Wall Street Journal report on the base last week, calling it 'not accurate' and on Monday defended his decision based on the sensitive nature of the disclosure, even as the administration later acknowledged Beijing's plan is real. 'We were as forthcoming as we should have been given the nature of this information,' Kirby said at the White House, defending his posture under questioning by reporters. 'We just simply couldn't go into more detail even before the first story appeared,' he said. 'We were as forthcoming as we should have been,' said White House security spokesman Adm. John Kirby Kirby pushed back at a series of questions on the matter and whether the White House was as transparent as it could have been. On Thursday, he told MSNBC: 'I've seen that press report, it's not accurate. 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 also told the paper following publication that the report was 'not accurate,' adding: 'We remain confident that we are able to meet all our security commitments at home and in the region.' The report stated that China had agreed to pay Cuba several billion dollars for the station, evoking other Cold War stand-offs over the island. On Saturday, the administration confirmed the existence of a Chinese spy base on the island, which lies about 90 miles from the U.S., since 2019. It based the statement on newly declassified intelligence. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pointed to being briefed in 2021 about PRC intelligence upgrades dating to 2019 Secretary of State Antony Blinken is reportedly on the verge of a trip to Beijing On Monday, Kirby blasted those who would disclose sensitive national security administration, and defended the decision to try to tamp it down. 'Sadly, not everybody seems to take it as seriously as we do because, clearly, there's a source or sources out there that think it's somehow beneficial to put this kind of information into the public stream, and it's absolutely not,' he bristled. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said the surveillance ran back to the Trump administration, shifting the blame to Biden's predecessor who is running again in 2024 and has a court appearance scheduled in Miami Tuesday. 'When this administration took office in January 2021, we were briefed on a number of sensitive efforts by Beijing around the world to expand their overseas logistics basing collection infrastructure to allow them to project and sustain military power at a greater distance,' Blinken said. 'They were considering a number of sites around the world for that expansion, including intelligence collection facilities for intelligence collection in Cuba. In fact, based on the information we have, the PRC conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019.' Blinken reportedly plans a trip to Beijing within days, after scuttling his last visit amid the spat over the Chinese spy balloon. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre violated the Hatch Act when she when she repeatedly referred to 'mega MAGA Republicans' ahead of the 2022 midterm election, a watchdog federal agency found. The Office of Special Counsel found Jean-Pierre turn of phrase violated the law intended to prevent federal employees from using their office to influence elections. 'Because Ms. JeanPierre made the statements while acting in her official capacity, she violated the Hatch Act prohibition against using her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election,' Ana GalindoMarrone, who leads the agency's Hatch Act Unit, wrote in a June 7 letter that was first shared with NBC News. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly cites Hatch Act to decline to answer political questions Jean-Pierre repeatedly cites the Hatch Act in her briefings when she declines to answer reporters' questions about President Joe Biden's re-election campaign and when she was asked about his campaign plans for Democrats during the midterm election. 'As has been made clear throughout the administration, we take the law seriously and uphold the Hatch Act. We are reviewing this opinion,' White House spokesman Andrew Bates said. Despite finding Jean-Pierre in violation of the law, the Office of Special Counsel 'decided to close this matter without further action,' GalindoMarrone said in her letter, noting that the White House Counsel's Office 'did not at the time believe that Ms. JeanPierre's remarks were prohibited.' '[I]t is unclear whether OSC's contrary analysis regarding the use of 'MAGA Republicans' was ever conveyed to Ms. JeanPierre,' GalindoMarrone added. No discipline action will be taken, the OSC noted. In November of last year, Jean-Pierre was hit with an ethics complaint for claims she violated the Hatch Act by telling voters from the briefing room podium that they should not vote for Trump-supporting candidates. 'Unfortunately, we have seen mega MAGA Republican officials who don't believe in the rule of law,' she told reporters in her November 2nd briefing. 'They refuse to accept the results of free and fair elections, and they fan the flames of political violence through what they praise and what they refuse to condemn.' Her comments came less than a week before voters went to the polls in the November midterm election. Watchdog federal agency found Karine Jean-Pierre violated the Hatch Act when she when she repeatedly referred to 'mega MAGA Republicans' ahead of the 2022 midterm election - above voters voting in Miami in November 2022 The ethics watchdog group Protect The Public's Trust filed a complaint against Jean-Pierre with the Office of the Special Counsel, the independent federal that enforces the Hatch Act among government employees. 'While the President is not subject to the Hatch Act, Karine Jean-Pierre is and must be held accountable,' Protect The Public's Trust wrote in its complaint, where it requested a probe of the press secretary's comments. Jean-Pierre, the watchdog claims, was attempting to 'sway an election' with her comments. Michael Chamberlain, a former Trump administration official, heads the group. Trump administration officials were repeatedly found in violation of the Hatch Act. At least 13 former Trump administration officials violated the law by intermingling campaigning with their official government duties, a government investigation found in November 2021. The White House press secretary is a frequent invoker of the Hatch Act. In December, she used it to avoid answering questions about whether Biden would return campaign donations from disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried 'I am covered by the Hatch Act, which I'm happy to say over and over again, because we believe in the rule of law here,' Jean-Pierre said in response. In April, she cited the Hatch Act when she declined to comment on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announcing that he is challenging President Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. And, in January, she cited the Hatch Act when refusing to answer if Biden would serve a full four-year second term. 'So, let me just say this I'm not going to comment on the 2024 she is a candidate,' Jean-Pierre said, adding she wanted to be careful. 'And we do follow the Hatch Act, so I want to be really, really mindful here.' Armed police are hunting a man who is believed to have attacked a woman at a well-known beauty spot. Anthony Manson, 65, is understood to have gone on the run after the brutal attack, which is believed to have taken place at his caravan in a field where he lives off grid. Armed police officers have spent the day surrounding the field and searching a nearby forest in Tintern, Monmouthshire. Mr Manson is believed to be accompanied by his powerful-looking cano corso dog. At least two police vans, four other cop vehicles and an ambulance currently line the narrow valley road that runs alongside the two-acre field he bought from a local farmer for 60,000 seven years ago in Tintern, Monmouthshire. A spokesperson for Gwent Police has confirmed officers are searching for Mr Manson and have asked the public not to approach him. Anthony Manson, 65, is understood to have gone on the run after the brutal attack The drama began in the early hours of this morning after a woman wearing ripped clothing and covered in cuts and bruises claimed she had been held hostage and repeatedly attacked at the man's caravan. A local who came to her aid contacted the police who immediately launched a helicopter and flew above the site, on the side of the picturesque Angiddy Valley, backed up by armed officers.It is not known whether or not the man is holed up in his caravan or any of the buildings in his field. Locals believe he may instead have gone on the run in the sprawling Tintern Forest behind his land. A relative of the man who came to the woman's aid said: 'She was hysterical and covered in blood from cuts and bruises on her face and body, and her clothes had rips in them. 'He found her in the lane and helped her. She hadn't initially wanted him to call the police. She kept saying, "he'll kill me, he'll kill me." 'She said he'd held her hostage at the caravan for several weeks and attacked her. He was trying to kill her, she said.' Anthony's nearest neighbour, retired consultant engineer Barry Saunders, 82, said the attack sounded 'extremely out of character'. Mr Saunders said: ' I've got to know him a little over the years and I've always found him to be the most pleasant, charming man.' He does seem to have lady friends staying with him quite frequently. They come and they go. 'He lives off grid and he doesn't bother anyone. He has solar panels and his own generator and he uses water from a nearby brook to wash and cook. Armed police officers have spent the day surrounding the field and searching a nearby forest in Tintern, Monmouthshire (file image) 'I've never known him show any sign of aggression. 'I don't know a great deal about him, but I think he told me once that he was from Paraguay, or somewhere in South America, but he has no trace of a foreign accent. 'He has two Italian mastiff-type dogs and they are strong, potentially fierce dogs, but he always has them perfectly under control. 'I do know the council have sent officials, usually accompanied by the police, to his field several times because he doesn't have any consent to live there, and they always turn back because they are afraid of the dogs. 'They have also been unable to get in because he has a huge padlocked gate at the entrance and he won't come out to anybody.' A Gwent Police spokesperson said: 'We're appealing for information to find Anthony Manson, also known as Tony and Antonio. 'Our officers would like to speak to the 65-year-old in connection with a report of a serious domestic incident in the Tintern area. 'The victim is safe and accessed support from specially trained officers. 'Anthony is described as of slim build with a grey beard. He is believed to have a Cano Corso dog with him.' Leading officer Chief Superintendent Ian Roberts said: 'Our officers have been in the Tintern area since the early hours of this morning, Monday 12 June, to search a buildings in a wooded area and carry out enquiries to find Anthony. 'Specially trained firearms officers attended as a precaution to ensure the safety of everyone. 'Officers will remain in the Tintern area as the investigation progresses so please do not be alarmed. If you have any concerns or information then please stop and talk with us.' Humza Yousaf was last night branded a 'weak leader' after he rejected widespread calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon. The First Minister has ignored demands, including from within his own party, to act decisively against his predecessor after her dramatic weekend arrest. The SNP leader yesterday said he 'sees no reason' to suspend Ms Sturgeon as she was released without charge, and insisted there is 'no pressure' on her to resign from the party. But Nationalist MSP Michelle Thomson who was suspended from the SNP when Ms Sturgeon was in charge, despite never having been arrested called for her to stand aside until the police investigation concludes. Mr Yousaf said: 'I will do what is right for the values of natural justice. Nicola Sturgeon, like Colin Beattie, like Peter Murrell, was released without charge. Therefore, I see no reason for their membership to be suspended.' Humza Yousaf was last night branded a 'weak leader' after he rejected widespread calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon But Conservative MSP Craig Hoy said: 'This is the action of a weak leader unable to stand up to the predecessor to whom he owes his job.' Claiming Mr Yousaf was 'fooling no-one' the Scottish Tory Party chairman added: 'He knows that there's a clear precedent in his party for MPs and MSPs under investigation to be suspended until the conclusion of their case. 'And, in this instance, the police probe into the SNP's murky finances is very much ongoing. Several senior SNP figures have already said it's wrong for Nicola Sturgeon to receive favourable treatment from the party. 'But the reason Humza Yousaf will not follow the precedent which was set by his predecessor when she was party leader is because he's hopelessly compromised by the fact he only won the leadership election thanks to the backing of Nicola Sturgeon and her inner circle.' Ms Sturgeon's arrest on Sunday morning is a fresh blow for Mr Yousaf, as the Police Scotland Operation Branchform investigation continues to dominate his first three months as First Minister. She was released without charge pending further inquiries after seven hours of questioning and issued a statement insisting that 'I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing'. Ms Sturgeon's arrest on Sunday morning is a fresh blow for Mr Yousaf in his first three months as First Minister Ash Regan, who was one of Mr Yousaf's defeated leadership rivals, led the calls for action yesterday by telling BBC Good Morning Scotland: 'Nicola should consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up.' She said that standing aside would reaffirm her 'commitment to the principles of the party'. When asked if Mr Yousaf should suspend her if Ms Sturgeon doesn't resign, she said: 'I think he should consider it, yes.' Ms Regan also appeared to suggest the former First Minister may have broken the SNP's code of conduct, saying it states that members must 'refrain from conduct that is likely to cause damage or hinder the party's aims'. She added: 'The leadership and Humza need to really think about taking decisive action at the moment.' Among a series of Nationalist politicians urging the party to enforce its rules was Falkirk East MSP Michelle Thomson. The former Edinburgh West MP had her SNP membership automatically suspended in 2015 when she resigned the party whip in the Commons. Ms Thomson was compelled to resign after police launched an investigation into a solicitor she used for property transactions who faced allegations of mortgage fraud. The case was later dropped without charges being pressed and she was able to resume her political career at Holyrood. The MSP said: 'The processes set by the SNP under her (Ms Sturgeon's) leadership were clear. Some eight years ago when an MP I was required to resign the SNP whip although I was never under investigation, and was certainly not arrested. 'After careful consideration, I feel that the right thing for the former First Minister to do is resign the SNP whip. 'This is not because she doesn't deserve to be treated as innocent until proven guilty she does but because her values should be consistent.' SNP Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil said: '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.' Senior figures from other Scottish political parties including Tory leader Douglas Ross and his Labour counterpart Anas Sarwar also demanded that the Glasgow Southside MSP should be suspended. Ms Sturgeon's husband Mr Murrell, the ex-SNP chief executive, and the party's former treasurer, Mr Beattie, have also previously been arrested before being released without charge as part of the police probe into SNP finances. The investigation was launched in 2021 following complaints about the alleged misuse of a 660,000 fund raised for a future referendum campaign. Speaking to Moray Firth Radio during an event in Inverness yesterday, Mr Yousaf admitted Ms Sturgeon's arrest had been 'personally quite painful' given their long-standing friendship. He said it has been a 'difficult day for her and a difficult day for our party and for those that know Nicola Sturgeon'. Asked about the approach the SNP has taken to other MPs and MSPs in the past when police probes were launched, he said: 'I can't account for decisions made before I was leader of the SNP. 'You have every right to hold me to account for decisions I make as leader and I hope I've demonstrated consistency for each of those individuals that have been arrested and then released without charge. 'I've said we don't have to suspend their membership, we should let the process of justice, natural justice, take its course.' On calls for his predecessor to resign, Mr Yousaf said 'There is no pressure on her to do so from me, nor from the party. As I've said, she was released without charge and therefore I don't see any reason for her to have to suspend her membership.' Nicola Sturgeon would have suspended a fellow SNP politician if they had been arrested as she has, Douglas Ross has claimed. The Scottish Conservative leader said the former First Minister had proved she was willing to remove the whip from anyone under police investigation. He said Humza Yousaf, her successor as SNP leader, had made himself look feeble by not taking decisive action after Ms Sturgeon was arrested and quizzed in the police probe into her partys finances. Mr Ross said: What I think should have happened yesterday should have been Nicola Sturgeon being suspended by the SNP because she is now under police investigation. 'And of course Nicola Sturgeon would have suspended Nicola Sturgeon because when she was leader of the party she suspended a number of SNP politicians who were under investigation by the police. Douglas Ross said the former First Minister had proved she was willing to remove the whip from anyone under police investigation The fact that Humza Yousaf has refused to do this shows how weak he is in the role of SNP leader. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he also believed Ms Sturgeon should be suspended while the police investigation is ongoing. He said: Ultimately, thats a matter for the SNP, but if you look at previous incidents that are similar, then those individuals have been suspended. The question is for Humza Yousaf, is he strong enough to take action? Or is he too weak? Thats a decision for them. What Im more interested in is the fact that we now have an incompetent and dysfunctional SNP Government. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also accused the SNP Government of being side-tracked by the police investigation instead of focusing on governing the country. He said: Nicola Sturgeon knows better than anyone the precedent that exists within her party in relation to parliamentarians voluntarily suspending their membership or having the whip removed. One in seven Scots are on an NHS waiting list, islanders cant get the lifeline ferries they need and sewage is being dumped into our rivers. The escalating chaos at the heart of the governing party means the SNP simply arent focused on the day job and we are all paying the price. Nicola Sturgeon was arrested by Police Scotland yesterday before being released under investigation in a probe into SNP finances Former Nationalist MP Margaret Ferrier had the SNP whip removed after allegations emerged that she had breached Covid rules in 2020 by making an 800-mile round trip by train, having contracted coronavirus. Within an hour of admitting what she had done, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford removed the party whip with Ms Ferrier also suspended from the parliamentary party. At the time, Ms Sturgeon described her SNP colleagues actions as indefensible and said she could not express her own anger enough. Prince Andrew has been spotted out riding with his younger brother Edward - after it emerged he is refusing to leave his home during building works for fear he 'might never get back in'. Andrew, 63, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 59, were out and about in Windsor Great Park early this morning - with both royals dressed casually in shirts rolled up to their elbows. The pair have been seen riding together several times in recent weeks. It comes as preparations continue for Trooping the Colour on Saturday, although Andrew was not allowed to take part in last year. The Duke of York is currently locked in 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. Edward and Andrew were out and about in Windsor Great Park early this morning - with both royals dressed casually in shirts rolled up to their elbows The pair - seen today - have been seen riding together several times in recent weeks Preparations are continuing for Trooping the Colour on Saturday, although Andrew was not allowed to take part in last year 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. READ MORE - Prince Andrew 'will be banned from Order of the Garter Day procession at Windsor Castle for second year in a row' Advertisement The Mail understands some necessary works are being carried out later this summer which will include roof repairs paid for by Andrew himself. 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. The Duke of York is currently locked in a stand-off between himself and his brother King Charles Charles is keen for Prince Andrew to quit Royal Lodge as part of his plans to slim down the monarchy 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. READ MORE - All the times the York sisters have had to freeze out disgraced Andrew Advertisement 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. '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. Prince Andrew lives in the 30million mansion with just his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York Prince Andrew no longer has official duties after being forced to quit over the Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) scandal '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. Solar panels on Earth already provide us with a clean source of power, but they can be a blot on the landscape and are practically useless when it's dark. Now, scientists in California have provided a solution sending solar panels to space so they can harness the sun's power 24/7. In a world first, the researchers beamed solar energy to Earth from a spacecraft called MAPLE, which was launched to orbit in January. MAPLE is equipped with solar panels that can withstand 'the harsh environment of space', including wild temperature swings and solar radiation. 'Space solar power' a concept conjured by science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov in 1941 could potentially yield eight times more power than solar panels at any location on Earth's surface. Above the Earth there are no clouds and no day or night that could obstruct the sun's ray - making a space solar station a constant green power source The project is being led by Caltech's Space Solar Power Project (SSPP), which aims to harvest solar power in space and transmit it to the Earth's surface as a permanent source of power. What is space solar power? Space solar power is a concept for generating electricity from solar energy in space and then transmitting it to Earth. A spacecraft uses solar panels to collect solar energy. A 'power transmission system' then converts the solar energy into a form that can be transmitted to Earth, such as microwaves or lasers. Receivers on Earth then convert the transmitted energy back into electricity that can be fed into a national grid. SBSP has the potential to provide a large, reliable and clean source of energy for the world. Advertisement The experts hope it could offer a better green alternative to fossil fuels and even renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind and nuclear. 'Through the experiments we have run so far, we received confirmation that MAPLE can transmit power successfully to receivers in space,' said Ali Hajimiri, professor of electrical engineering at Caltech. 'We have also been able to program the array to direct its energy toward Earth, which we detected here at Caltech. 'We had, of course, tested it on Earth, but now we know that it can survive the trip to space and operate there.' Solar panels on Earth are made up of multiple 'solar cells' little devices that convert radiation from the sun into electricity. Solar cells have existed on Earth since the late 1800s and currently generate about 4 per cent of the worlds electricity, in addition to powering the International Space Station. But critics of the technology point out that they often don't work in a countries blighted by cloudy weather for much of the year, such as the UK. Other problems with the technology generally is these panels take up a lot of ground and can be an eyesore, often on green land that could be freed up for other uses. The Caltech team therefore developed MAPLE, short for Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment, which was launched aboard the Transporter-6 mission from Cape Canaveral on January 3. Artist's rendering of what the Caltech team's space solar power demonstrator looks like when unfolded MAPLE consists of an array of flexible lightweight microwave power transmitters driven by electronic chips built using low-cost silicon, the team say. READ MORE: UK government considering space solar power station Above the Earth there are no clouds and no day or night that obstruct the sun's rays Advertisement They need to be flexible so they can fold up into a package that can be transported in a rocket and then unfold once in orbit, much like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. MAPLE's transmitters convert the solar energy into a form that can be transmitted to Earth, such as lasers or, in this case, microwaves. The array of transmitters can beam the energy to desired locations, such as a receiving station on Earth that feeds the power into the national grid. In the world first, MAPLE's transmitted energy was detected by a receiver on the roof of a building on Caltech's campus in Pasadena, California. The received signal appeared at the 'expected time and frequency', according to the experts, and had the right change in frequency as predicted based on its travel from orbit. 'To the best of our knowledge, no one has ever demonstrated wireless energy transfer in space even with expensive rigid structures,' said Professor Hajimiri. 'We are doing it with flexible lightweight structures and with our own integrated circuits this is a first.' The academics ultimately envision a 'constellation' of spacecraft that collect sunlight, transform it into electricity, then wirelessly transmit that electricity over long distances wherever it is needed. This could be especially important for the places that currently have no access to reliable power, such as developing countries. It's unclear what will happen to the orbiting MAPLE spacecraft now, or if it will form the basis of this constellation. Photo from space of the interior of MAPLE, with the transmission array to the right and the receivers to the left Detecting power from MAPLE on the roof of the Gordon and Betty Moore Laboratory of Engineering on Caltech's campus in Pasadena, California However, the technology is not quite ready for mass-scale adoption, according to the Caltech team, as solar power generation and transmission needs to be rethought for use on a large scale in space. Solar panels are bulky and heavy, making them expensive to launch, and they need extensive wiring to transmit power. Professor Hajimiri's team is now assessing the performance of individual elements within the system a 'painstaking process' that can take up to six months. Once complete, it will allow the team to sort out irregularities and trace them back to individual units, providing insight for the next generation of the system. Caltech isn't alone in its space solar power efforts; the UK government is also looking into the feasibility of building solar power plants in space. In 2020, it commissioned new research into the concept of such solar power stations as a way to meet the Earth's growing energy needs. At first glance at these images, you'd be forgiven for mistaking them as stills from the latest science fiction blockbuster. But the images are very much real and were snapped as the world's first manned flying saucer took to the skies over Shenzhen, China this month. The futuristic vehicle looks just like a cartoon UFO, although it won't take you to another planet. Instead, the vehicle is designed to take off and touch back down on either land or water here on Earth. Incredible footage shows the flying saucer soaring over a lake in Shenzhen with a pilot on board, although it remains unclear when or if it will be ready to accept other passengers. At first glance at these images, you'd be forgiven for mistaking them as stills from the latest science fiction blockbuster But the images are very much real and were snapped as the world's first manned flying saucer took to the skies over Shenzhen, China this month #UFO? NoIt is the world's first electric vertical manned flying saucer! June 3rd, #shenzhen,South China's Guangdong Province . The world's first electric vertical manned flying saucer brought a performance. pic.twitter.com/lRCkGl4kxI Record GBA (@RecordGBA) June 6, 2023 READ MORE: How the world will look in 2050, according to experts By 2050, AI will have had a profound impact on society - possibly even taking over to become the dominant species Advertisement Chinese news site, Shenzhen Pages, shared images of the donut-shaped aircraft on Twitter this week. 'After more than three years of research and development, Shenzhen UFO Flying Saucer Technology has manufactured the world's first electric vertical take-off manned flying saucer,' it wrote. The aircraft features a six-hole ducted fan structure with 12 propeller blades, according to Shenzhen Pages. This allows it to achieve 'triple safety redundancy in terms of power supply, power motor, flight control, etc,' it added. The electric vehicle takes off and lands vertically, and can do this from either land or water, making it an amphibious aircraft. As it stands, the vehicle can fly for up to 15 minutes, reaching heights of up to 200 metres at speeds of 31mph (50km/hour). 'At present, this product is mainly used for sightseeing tourism and advertising performances and has obtained global invention patents,' Shenzhen Pages added. The news comes shortly after a Miami-based aerospace company revealed that its flying car will hit the skies in two years - but it could cost you up to $350,000. The futuristic vehicle looks just like a cartoon UFO, although it won't take you to another planet Incredible footage shows the flying saucer soaring over a lake in Shenzhen with a pilot on board, although it remains unclear when or if it will be ready to accept other passengers Doron Merdinger, CEO of Doroni Aerospace, told TMZ that his firm is testing a two-seater vehicle that looks like a hovering drone and expects deliveries not later than 2025. Merdinger likened the Doroni H1 to a flying 'roadster' designed for short trips, taking people several hundred feet into the air at speeds up to 140 miles per hour. The company recently performed the first untethered flight with its prototype, but the successful endeavor means a full-scale flying model will be ready in the next few months. The H1 is set to be certified with the Federal Aviation Administration as a Light Sport Aircraft, meaning you will only need a driver's license and 20 hours training. In a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker lived on a rocky planet called Tatooine that orbited two stars at once, providing the hero with a 'double sunset'. Now, astronomers have discovered a real-life planet, called TOI-1338 c, that goes around its own set of stars. TOI-1338 c is a gas giant that is approximately 65 times the mass of Earth and takes 215 days to orbit its sun, the experts reveal. It's the second planet to be found in this faraway solar system, following the discovery of TOI-1338 b in 2019. Both orbit their star in the solar system, called TOI-1338, which is about 4.4billion years old and located 1,300 light-years away from Earth, in the constellation Pictoris. Some exoplanets orbit two stars at once, like the planet of Tatooine in the 1977 film 'Star Wars' (pictured) An artist's impression of such a system with one star brighter than the other. As recently as the turn of the century the existence of circumbinary planets was still 'confined to science fiction', but all this changed in 2011 when the discovery of the very first circumbinary planet, Kepler-16b, was announced. An international team including experts at the universities of Birmingham, London, St Andrews and Keele have described the findings in a study. The new planet Name: TOI-1338 c (also known as BEBOP-1 c) Type: Gas giant Diameter: Unknown Mass: 65.2 x Earth Orbital period: 215 days Advertisement 'We report the detection of a gas-giant planet in orbit around both stars of an eclipsing binary star system,' they say in their paper, published today in Nature Astronomy. 'The system discussed in this paper is only the second system known to host multiple planets.' Both TOI-1338 b and TOI-1338 c are 'circumbinary planets' those that orbit two stars instead of one. As recently as the turn of the century the existence of circumbinary planets was still 'confined to science fiction', the authors say. But all this changed in 2011 when the discovery of the very first circumbinary planet, Kepler-16b, was announced. This newly-found planet, TOI-1338 c, is a gas giant, while TOI-1338 b is a 'Neptune-like ice giant, according to NASA. TOI-1338 c is further away from its star and is on a wider orbit than TOI-1338 b, which was discovered by a NASA intern in summer 2019 using the popular transit method. TOI-1338 b, discovered in 2020, is closer to its star than TOI-1338 c, which is the newly-discovered planet The transit method relies on detecting periodic dips in starlight, which indicate there's a planet that's crossing and briefly blocking its star's light. READ MORE: TOI 1338b is almost seven times larger than Earth TOI-1338 b is an M-dwarf (red dwarf) Advertisement However, circumbinary planets are hard to find in the data because the stars can eclipse each other, making planetary transits difficult to discern. Using state-of-the-art instruments installed on two telescopes located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, the authors of the study attempted to measure the mass of this first planet. Although they were not successful at doing so, their efforts were rewarded with the discovery of TOI-1338 c. '[TOI-1338 c] has an orbital period of 215 days, and a mass 65 times larger than Earth, which is about five times less than Jupiters mass,' said first author Dr Matthew Standing, who is now a researcher at The Open University. Instead of the transit method, the experts used radial velocity, also known as the wobble or Doppler method, which can detect 'wobbles' in a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. This discovery marks the first time astronomers have found a circumbinary planet using radial velocity, according to the team. Although only two planets are known in the TOI-1338 system, more might be identified in the future through similar observations as performed by the team. Twelve circumbinary solar systems are known so far, but this is only the second that hosts more than one planet, following Kepler-47, giving a total of 14. Researchers used the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the Very Large telescope facility in the remote, sparsely populated Atacama Desert in northern Chile (pictured) Kepler-47's three known planets b, d and c have orbital periods of 49.5, 187.4 and 303.2 days respectively. Its orbit places it within the 'habitable zone' the right distance for liquid water to exist on its surface. Planets orbiting two stars have to contend with the gravitational pull of two separate stars and so may be in danger of being ejected into space. But the existence of circumbinary planets also throws up the question of how they are formed in the first place. 'Planets are born in a disc of matter surrounding a young star, where mass progressively gathers into planets,' said author Dr Lalitha Sairam at the University of Birmingham. 'In the case of circumbinary geometries, the disc surrounds both stars. 'As both stars orbit one another, they act like a giant paddle that disturbs the disc close to them and prevents planet formation except for in regions that are quiet and far away from the binary.' A new species of spider has been found on a British beach - and experts predict it is likely to spread around the UK. The jumping spider, Heliophanus Kochii, is normally found in warmer parts of the world such as the Canary Islands, Morocco, Azores, France, Portugal, Israel and Azerbaijan. However, it has now turned up on Brighton Beach, in East Sussex. It is not known how the spider made it to the UK but it is possible the spotted arachnid was blown over the Channel. It was discovered lurking in the roots of yellow horned poppies by ecologist Graeme Lyons, who was monitoring insects at Black Rock, Brighton. A new species of spider has been found on a British beach - and experts predict it is likely to spread around the UK The jumping spider, Heliophanus Kochii, is normally found in warmer parts of the world such as the Canary Islands, Morocco, Azores, France, Portugal, Israel and Azerbaijan Mr Lyons said he found three spiders in one sample taken from the plants. He said: 'It was clearly a Heliophanus but not one I recognised' Mr Lyons said he found three spiders in one sample taken from the plants. He said: 'It was clearly a Heliophanus but not one I recognised. 'For a start, it had very obvious and striking black legs covered in white dots, as well as white-spotted black palps.' Initially he thought it was a very rare species that had never been seen before in Sussex. But when he got home and compared it to records, he realised the species was entirely new to the UK. Thankfully, arachnophobes need not fear the spider's bite as it is not dangerous. Mr Lyons said: 'Any questions along the likes of "is it dangerous?" can get in the sea. 'It's about 5mm long maximum and is about as dangerous as our other 40 or so jumping spiders. It is not known how the spider made it to the UK but it is possible the spotted arachnid was blown over the Channel It was discovered lurking in the roots of yellow horned poppies by ecologist Graeme Lyons, who was monitoring insects at Black Rock, Brighton The spotted jumping spider Kochii was also found in Buffalo, New York State in 2014, marking the first time a jumping spider of the genus Heliophanus of any type had been found in the western hemisphere 'It most likely ballooned across the Channel and colonised naturally, given the location. 'How cool is that? Very happy indeed to have found this!' Up to now, there have been 650 species of spider in the UK, of which only 12 bite. The spotted jumping spider Kochii was also found in Buffalo, New York State in 2014, marking the first time a jumping spider of the genus Heliophanus of any type had been found in the western hemisphere. Reddit has been hit with a worldwide outage impacting millions of users as forums 'go dark' to protest the website's increased developer fees. Issues with problems on the website and app surfaced on DownDetector, a site that monitors online outages, at 10:25 am ET - but reports dissipated about two hours later. It is unclear why Reddit was down Monday, but it occurred when more than 7,000 subreddits were switched to private in the largest user-led online protest. The movement is frustrated over price changes in developer fees, which could amount to millions of dollars for some users. The protest is set to remain for 48 hours, but some users have warned they will not revert pages to the public if Reddit does not reconsider the increased pricing plans for apps that provide access to the site. Users flocked to Twitter to inquire about a possible outage hitting Reddit, with one tweeting: 'Nice to see even Reddit itself getting in on the Reddit Blackout today.' Reddit has been hit with a worldwide outage impacting millions of users as forums 'go dark' to protest the website's increased developer fees What is Reddit? Reddit launched in 2005 as a place for users to explore different topics organized in subreddits - more than 100,000. Some popular examples are News, Movies, Funny, IAmA, Pics and LifeProTips. Users subscribe to these forums, allowing them to see new posts and interact with others shared by members. Other users can then determine the popularity of a post by either upvoting or downvoting the post. And the more upvotes push the post higher up in the subreddit. What is Blackout Day? Users have banned together in protest against Reddit's April announcement that revealed it is increasing fees starting July 1. The change will charge developers access to its application programming interface (API) for third parties with 'additional capabilities, higher usage limits, and broader usage rights.' While Reddit sees the change as a way to sustain its future, developers hit back, saying it will destroy theirs. Christian Selig, the developer of Reddit client app Apollo, said the increased pricing new pricing would cost him as much as $20 million per year, Variety reports. Apollo lets users view content from numerous sources, such as Imgur, Reddit and YouTube, in one place. Other popular apps that connect to Reddit include Reddit is Fun, Sync and ReddPlanet. Selig continued explaining that this means Apollo plans to stop operations on June 30. The social news website went down while more than 6,500 subreddits went dark in one of the largest user-driven protests due to new developer fees He tweeted about the Blackout Sunday, thanking 'the Reddit community and everyone standing up.' Twitter users Rebecca Sloane responded: 'I relied heavily on a subreddit support group during a difficult time in my life. 'For months, Apollo was the first app I opened when I woke up and the last one I closed before going to sleep.' Subreddits for gaming, with more than 37 million members, and music, with over 32 million users, have been switched to private. Thousands of other forums have joined the movement, some with more than 40 million members. What has Reddit said? Reddit CEO Steve Huffman addressed users' 'frustrations' in a Friday post to the site, laying out how the changes will work. 'Effective July 1, 2023, the rate for apps that require higher usage limits is $0.24 per 1K API calls (less than $1.00 per user/month for a typical Reddit third-party app),' Hoffman wrote. He continued: 'Reddit needs to be a self-sustaining business and to do that, we can no longer subsidize commercial entities that require large-scale data use.' While Hoffman is looking out for the future of Reddit, the move could force some app developers to shut down. Reddit's primary revenue stream has previously been its advertising sales and premium subscriptions. The company's website posted in April: 'We're working to build a more sustainable, healthy ecosystem around data on Reddit, and continuing to roll out moderator tools for Reddit native apps.' 'To ensure developers have the tools and information they need to continue to use Reddit safely, protect our users' privacy and security, and adhere to local regulations, we're making updates to the ways some can access the Reddit Data API: 'We are introducing a new premium access point for third parties who require additional capabilities, higher usage limits, and broader usage rights[...] A newly discovered supernova 21 million light years from Earth could be a beacon for alien communication. A team of astronomers led by the University of Washington has their sights set on SN 2023ixf, in the Pinwheel galaxy, which is the closest stellar explosion seen by human eyes in a decade. The theory stems from the notion that there are at least 100 within about 300 light years away and scientists are now investigating if inhabited planets surround them. If extraterrestrials observed the supernova, these civilizations could use it as an attention grabber for their communications. SN 2023ixf was detected at the National Astronomical Observatory in Gozo just four minutes after midnight on May 19 SN 2023ixf was detected at the National Astronomical Observatory in Gozo just four minutes after midnight on May 19, allowing researchers to determine it was a Type II supernova that was a star at least eight times the size of our sun. A type II supernova explosion happens when a very large star can no longer fuse atoms within its core, causing it to explode, shedding off its outer layers. Light from an exploding star can be visible for months or even years after the event. Supernovae are one of the reasons astronomers say we are all made of stardust because they leave the space around them full of heavy elements. These elements form into a young star, which may later lead to generations of new stars and planets. And because SN 2023ixf is much younger than previous supernova observations, the team at the University of Washington believes it is a prime candidate to monitor for alien radio signals, New Scientist reports. The team, led by James Davenport, uses the 'SETI ellipsoid' for this researcher, an egg-shaped space zone where alien civilizations would have had enough time to observe an astronomical event. In this case, the zone would include the 100 nearby stars. Astronomers are using the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) in North Carolina and Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Virginia to study those start and determine if habitable planets surround them. The theory stems from the notion that there are at least 100 within about 300 light years away and scientists are now investigating if inhabited planets surround them 'We intend to revisit the Ellipsoid once a month for the next few months as new stars enter the sample, and are open to synchronizing our observations with other multiwavelength facilities,' reads the study published in arXiv. Davenport admitted to New Scientist that it is unlikely he and his team will make contact with aliens but believes it is worth a shot. READ MORE: Aliens haven't contacted Earth yet because there's no sign of intelligence here, study claims In essence, they mean that we have only been sending out signals detectable from space since the 1930s, so extraterrestrials haven't had time to receive or reply to the message. Advertisement 'The worst thing to happen would be for a signal to come in and us not to notice because we didn't bother to look,' he said. Regardless, the discovery of the supernova is astounding to astronomers. It sits in the Pinwheel Galaxy, or m101, which is a giant spiral disk of stars, dust and gas that is 170,000 light-years across - nearly twice the diameter of our galaxy, the Milky Way. M101 is estimated to contain at least one trillion stars. The galaxys spiral arms are sprinkled with large regions of star-forming nebulas. These nebulas are areas of intense star formation within giant molecular hydrogen clouds. Brilliant, young clusters of hot, blue, newborn stars trace out the spiral arms. Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, who captures amazing shots of space and shares them on his Twitter account, was one of the first civilians to capture the epic event. He put together an animation with several images snapped of the Pinwheel Galaxy, showing a light blinking in the corner that was the star exploding. 'I used the color data I already had on this galaxy and stacked about 10 minutes worth of exposures to create this animation,' McCarthy tweeted. 'You can see how close the supernova is to some nebulae in the arm imagine the view from there!' McCarthy told DailyMail.com that he had been shooting the Pinwheel Galaxy for months, and the star exploded as luck had it. NASA said SN 2023ixf will likely brighten and remain visible to telescopes for months. Andy Howell, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, explained on Twitter: ' You should be able to see it with backyard telescopes, for a few months, though it will just be a point of light.' China's BDS widely applied in industries, contributes to industrial upgrading 10:13, June 12, 2023 By Sun Yahui ( People's Daily Seed drills guided by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System works in a field in Changxing village, Tarim township, Kuqa, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, April 13, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Huanhuan) China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is now applied in a wide scope of areas, from navigation to transportation, and from agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery to disaster prevention and alleviation. The Chinese navigation system provides reliable positioning services and ensures smooth operation of various sectors. According to statistics, the total number of terminal products with BDS positioning function has so far exceeded 1.2 billion units or sets in China, and the BDS has served more than 7.9 million operating vehicles, 47,000 ships, and 40,000 postal and express delivery vehicles on main lines. Meanwhile, there are more than 5 million shared bikes equipped with BDS high-precision positioning chips. Since 2020 when the last satellite of the BDS was completed and launched, it has played an important role in enabling economic and social development. The total output value of China's satellite navigation and positioning service industry reached 500.7 billion yuan ($71.3 billion) in 2022, said a white paper recently issued by the Global Navigation Satellite System and Location Based Service (GNSS & LBS) Association of China. In particular, the output value of core sectors, including integrated circuits, components, algorithm, software, navigation data, terminals and infrastructure, which are directly related to the development and application of satellite navigation technologies, hit 152.7 billion yuan, accounting for 30.5 percent of the total. The 56th satellite of the BeiDou family is launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 17, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Li Jieyi) Today, the BDS has become a part of people's everyday life. Map apps Baidu Map and Amap have announced to switch to prioritize BDS positioning. The positioning service of the BDS the two apps call now average more than 360 billion times per day. Thanks to the high-precision positioning of the BDS, it's now possible to obtain centimeter-level and real-time positioning information of vehicles. Xie Jianjia, deputy president of WeTransport, a new strategy on smart transportation launched by China's internet giant Tencent, noted that the BDS is widely applied in the transportation sector. It offers precise and reliable positioning and navigation services for vehicles in terms of autopilot, automatic parking and automatic logistics, which helps improve safety and efficiency, he added. The BDS is also powering the development of China's infrastructure and has significantly improved high-precision positioning services for natural resource, agriculture, communication, transportation and electricity industries. For instance, a geological hazard monitoring and early warning system based on the BDS is now in service in over 10 Chinese provinces including Yunnan and Sichuan. The system, which is able to remotely monitor, analyze and warn deformations, cracks and underground water level in real time at sites prone to disasters, has improved these provinces' capability in disaster warning. Coal is automatically loaded onto ships with 5G and Beidou navigation and positioning technologies in the Huanghua port, Cangzhou, north China's Hebei province. (People's Daily Online/Fu Xinchun) Besides, the application of the BDS is also vigorously promoted in the power industry. As of the end of 2022, over 2,000 BDS ground-based augmentation stations had been built and planned across China by power constructors. More than 500,000 units or sets of BDS terminal devices had been put into use, offering high-precision positioning services for drone inspections, robotic inspections at transformer substations as well as tower monitoring and inspections. So far, all vehicles in the power industry have been equipped with BDS terminals. Regions in China are promoting in-depth integration between the BDS and local economy according to their own demands to pursue economic transformation and upgrading. In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the navigation system has been used to guide infrastructure-vehicle cooperative autonomous driving and unmanned delivery, which effectively improves the efficiency of traffic and terminal-end deliveries. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to realize intelligent development of infrastructure, has applied BDS technologies in multiple engineering projects, including an offshore wind farm in Guangdong's Yangjiang and a bridge in the province's Zhanjiang. The comprehensive construction efficiency of these projects has been significantly improved thanks to these technologies. In the Yangtze River delta, the application of the BDS has made possible cross-district operation of bus services, which advances integrated regional development and fosters new areas of growth for the region. Experts believe that as China accelerates industrial digitalization, the BDS also needs to deeply integrate itself with industries to forge new production models, on top of offering time and spatial information, which is expected to create broader space for the market-oriented, industrialized and large-scale development of the BDS. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) hey dine on a delicious feast of Mediterranean delights in the hotel's 'exceptional' Anadalis Restaurant Advertisement The twinkling lights of Zante Town dance around in the distance as dusk falls on the chilled-out town of Argassi, in southern Zakynthos. Theres the calming sound of the waves below us at our seaside table in the exceptional Anadalis Restaurant, next to where were staying at the Windmill Bay Hotel. My husband and I are soaking up the tranquil holiday vibes, as our five-year-old daughter struggles to keep her eyes open after spending hours in the swimming pool. Were tucking into a delicious feast of a la carte Mediterranean delights, including gazpacho-sauteed seabass, thats served looking like works of art. Carol Driver and her family check into the Windmill Bay Hotel, which lies in the chilled-out town of Argassi on the Greek island of Zakynthos During their stay, they spend an evening dining at the hotel's 'exceptional' Anadalis Restaurant The food at Anadalis Restaurant looks like works of art, Carol reveals. 'This is Greek cuisine taken to another level - grown-up dining suitable for families,' she adds This is Greek cuisine taken to another level - grown-up dining suitable for families. Finishing the evening with a glass of local wine, we make the very easy one-minute walk back to our room, and put our little girl to bed. In seconds, shes asleep, so my husband and I enjoy a nightcap on our terrace, safe in the knowledge that shes just a few feet away from us. Were on the island nicknamed Zante - loved as the tranquil side of Greece - so long as you avoid the party strip of Laganas (unless, of course, that's what you're interested in). Its a weeklong pool holiday in a destination thats not only great for kids, but also perfect for adults too. Carol reveals that Zakynthos is 'loved as the tranquil side of Greece' - so long as you avoid the party strip of Laganas (pictured) We're here to soak up the sun, explore the island and the food and let our daughter swim to her heart's content, which she does, while making lots of new friends too. The recently renovated four-star Windmill Bay Hotel, in the quiet end of Argassi, is stylish and elegant, with apartments curved around its pool, meaning all rooms have a beautiful sea view. Our room is a ground-floor junior suite. The wonderful design mixes traditional Greek and modern styles, with brilliant whites and flashes of blues throughout. The recently renovated four-star Windmill Bay Hotel is 'stylish and elegant' Windmill Bay Hotel's apartments are curved around its pool, meaning all rooms have a beautiful sea view It's a large area, with a lounge with a mini-fridge, and a pullout sofa, where our daughter sleeps, that leads to a double bedroom, and an en suite walk-in toilet and shower room with stone basins, sea-green tiles and lovely Greek toiletries. We enter our apartment via the terrace, which has sun loungers as well as a table and chairs - and a large hot tub. With just 57 rooms, although we visit at the height of summer, the hotel doesnt feel overly busy. Indeed, the large pool, with a separate one for really little ones, is more than big enough for everyone to enjoy a swim. And if it does get crowded, there are steps from the sunbed terrace leading down directly into the sea (although theres no beach here). Guests staying at the hotel, which has just 57 rooms, can step straight from the sunbed terrace to the sea We get up early(ish) for a sumptuous buffet breakfast of every possible food item youd want to enjoy first thing - from pastries and cakes, to eggs and cereal. Then we jump into our hire car - stopping at the brilliant Tranakas bakery (hailed the best on the island) for ice lollies and baguettes for lunch - and go for a drive. Our first stop is Damianos Cave, in Agalas, which we reach after passing traditional stone houses, edging along narrow lanes and following a short trail among pine trees and olive groves. Carol pays a visit to Damianos Cave, a landmark that's said to house a 'defeated dragon', according to local legend It's worth the walk in the 30C heat - the views across the hills are incredible, and we learn about the local legend of the defeated dragon who now lives in the cave, which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Back at the top, we enjoy refreshments at a taverna, while looking out to sea - its breathtaking. We then drive to Porto Limnionas, a postcard-pretty sheltered cove with rocks at the perfect height for jumping from into the sparkling blue water. There are lots of sun-seekers dotted about on the rocks, catching the rays. Its a bit too slippery for a little one, so we seek shade in Taverna Porto Limnionas, dining al fresco on the terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea - whats not to love? The food is divine, and we soon polish off zucchini balls, Greek salad, olives, pasta and fried cheese. Delicious! Were in time for a quick swim and a chill out on the sunbeds back at our hotel, before we set off for a stroll into Argassi, which is filled with tavernas, shops, bakeries and cafes, to choose a restaurant for dinner. We really are spoiled for choice - and pick a different one every night. Above is Porto Limnionas, a postcard-pretty sheltered cove with rocks at the perfect height from which to jump into the sparkling blue water Green Frog offers dishes using locally sourced ingredients where possible, including its own virgin olive oil. The food is tremendous - we order a selection from the main menu, and our daughter tucks in happily to ricotta cheese pie, hummus with pitta breads, grilled halloumi (or squeaky cheese, as she calls it), as well as moussaka. With baklava and banana splits on the menu, there was, of course, room for dessert too. We dine outside, in a romantic setting, and there's a play area to keep the kids entertained. There's also Zorbas Greek Taverna, which is bustling and loud, filled with happy diners. The night we dine here, we discover traditional Greek food at its best. Huge portions of baked veggies, meatballs, and a veggie mezze (with vine leaves, butter beans, hummus, pitta bread, stuffed tomatoes and chips, it was enough for two). Carol admires the lights of Zante Town (pictured) in the distance while dining at the seafront Kavo restaurant in Argassi TRAVEL FACTS Jet2holidays offers seven-night package deals to Windmill Bay Hotel departing from London Stansted. Rating out of 5: **** PROS: Great pool, fantastic restaurant, walking distance to town. CONS: Need transport to get to the beach. Car hire provided by Avis. Advertisement And for the nights when you want to get dressed up, seafront Kavo is the place to go. Amelia feels very grown up wearing a maxi dress and sipping mocktails. Our table is at the water's edge, with the lights of Zante Town in the distance. We dine on smoked aubergine spread, beetroot carpaccio and avocado tzatziki, as well as burrata salad, seafood pasta and sweet potato patties. Dessert is a delicious cheesecake and traditional Greek custard pie. We also enjoy the beach at Banana Baya. It's a vast stretch of golden sand, with sunbeds to rent and a very good modern restaurant playing music and serving drinks and delicious food. As it's the height of summer, it's very busy, but we manage to find a spot close to the edge, and spend a few hours in and out of the warm water. Theres sunbed service, or we walk along the wooden slats to the restaurant, to grab drinks or snacks. For lunch, theres an ample menu of sandwiches, baguettes, salads and fruit cocktails. On our final night, we make the 25-minute drive into the capital, Zante Town. It's a buzzing port town, where very expensive boats line the marina. We head to the main city centre, which is brimming with tavernas, tourist shops, ice-cream parlours and cafes. The original town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953, but the reconstructed Venetian style is beautiful. We while away the evening, heading home when our daughter gets tired and before the town is enlivened by bar-hoppers and nightclubbers. The twinkling lights get further away as we head to our beds. Its been a wonderful holiday - and I know my daughter will be asking us (multiple times) to come again next year. Buying travel insurance in later years can be difficult, especially for those with medical conditions - but it doesnt have to be if you book with a specialist insurer. Many mainstream insurers turn their backs on older potential customers with health issues because there are fewer claims from younger, healthy clients. Yet a directory of firms willing to embrace trickier policies can be found at Money Helper (moneyhelper.org.uk). Among the firms listed are InsureCancer, which specialises in cover for terminal cancer, as well as Freedom Insurance, which has policies for liver conditions and is endorsed by the British Liver Trust. Holiday Extras Cover Limited, Paying toomuch.com and Able2Travel have medical equipment cover of as much as 3,000. And AllClear Insurance Services Limited covers kidney failure. Other specialist companies include Insurefortravelhealth.co.uk, Free Spirit, Travel Insurance 4 Medical and Saga. Buying travel insurance in later years can be difficult, especially for those with medical conditions - but it doesnt have to be if you book with a specialist insurer WHERE TO FIND A POLICY THAT SUITS YOU Cancer: insurecancer.com Kidney failure: allcleartravel.co.uk Liver disease: freedominsure.co.uk Heart conditions: staysure.co.uk Parkinsons: curainsurance.co.uk Medical equipment cover: worldwidetravelplan.co.uk Old age: saga.co.uk (no upper age limit) Advertisement A total of 28 are listed when you visit Money Helpers page Find a travel insurance provider if you have a serious medical condition or disability. InsureCancer, based in Surrey, is a leading insurer that was set up by a former Lloyds of London director, Dr Krish Shastri, in 2001 after he was asked to find insurance for someone with cancer but found sufferers were being excluded. He has pushed for medical conditions to be covered by the insurance industry, saying it is a scandal that firms dont offer policies. He says: Many companies will have a box-ticking process. But cancer is far too complex for that. Someone may have terminal cancer but live for many years. Dr Shastri, whose average customer is over 70, reckons prices on some comparison sites are ridiculously high: 19,000 for two-week cover for someone with metastatic prostate cancer in Europe? This excludes people from travel, he says. On its website which.co.uk, consumer organisation Which? also lists Best travel insurance for the over-65s. Among the providers listed are Insure and Go (insureandgo.com), Saga (saga.co.uk), AllClear (allcleartravel.co.uk), Co-op Insurance Services (coop.co.uk) and Staysure (staysure.co.uk). Experts at Which? do, however, recommend using comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com, confused.com, gocompare.com and comparethemarket.com to search for options. Another tactic is to use the find a broker service offered by the British Insurance Brokers Association (biba.org.uk). Our snapshot survey of travel insurance multi-trip policies on moneysupermarket.com found annual travel insurance policies can leap by more than 140 pc from your early 50s to your 70s. Year-round cover may not be available at all for some over 80s, although we did find policies for those with no medical conditions at Saga Travel Insurance. A directory of firms willing to embrace trickier policies can be found at Money Helper - for instance, Holiday Extras Cover Limited, Paying toomuch.com and Able2Travel have medical equipment cover of as much as 3,000 CHEAPEST MULTI-TRIP ANNUAL INSURANCE AGE 50 AGE 60 AGE 70 AGE 80 116.67 144.45 279.13 751.39 All cover to start on June 24. Medical cover on all policies is at least 10 million, with cancellation cover of up to 5,000, luggage cover of 1,000, and no excess charge for those with no medical conditions. Source: moneysupermarket.com and saga.co.uk Advertisement Our study also revealed that if you are travelling in Europe and are over 50, it may be cheaper to take out single travel policies than buy annual cover. The fear is that high insurance prices can result in some people giving up on foreign holidays as they get older, or risking travelling without insurance at all, according to over-60s campaign group Silver Voices. However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says: Insurers aim to offer competitively priced insurance to as many people as possible. It adds that while prices may be high, medical costs can be jawdroppingly expensive for the uninsured. The ABI warns that failing to declare medical conditions will invalidate policies. The organisation has a policy that if its members are unable to offer cover, they will refer people to alternative providers. Older travellers do make more frequent and higher claims on travel insurance. Industry figures show that beyond the age of 80, the percentage of claims rises rapidly, peaking at 2.5 pc of all customers over the age of 90 making claims, with an average payout of more than 3,000. So higher policy costs for the elderly are understandable. But shopping around can save a bundle. Pink Beach in Sardinia is considered on the most beautiful in the world A rare pink beach is under threat as Italian coastguards attempt to preserve it from Instagram-loving tourists. Calls to stopping swimming on Pink Beach and taking pictures have been defied by tourists. The beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, is located on the Budelli Island, off Sardinia. The colour of the sand is from the shells of the Pink Miniacina micro-organism living in sea grass. When brought to shore it mixes with the white sand making it turn pink. In 1980, a ban was introduced after visitors were caught stealing sand and sea grass which caused the colour to fade. Fabrizio Fonnesu, director of the Maddalena archipelago national park, said: 'The beach is again in danger as people arrive by boat, clamber up the beach, then post photos, which allow us to fine them up to 500. A rare pink beach is under threat as Italian coastguard attempt to preserve it from Instagram-loving tourists Calls to stopping swimming on Pink Beach and taking pictures have been defied by tourists The beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, is located on the Budelli Island, off Sardinia The colour of the sand is from the shells of the Pink Miniacina micro-organism living in sea grass. When brought to shore it mixes with the white sand making it turn pink In 1980, a ban was introduced after visitors were caught stealing sand and sea grass which caused the colour to fade Fabrizio Fonnesu, director of the Maddalena archipelago national park, said: 'The beach is again in danger as people arrive by boat, clamber up the beach, then post photos, which allow us to fine them up to 500 'At two other beaches in the park, which can be visited, a cap on numbers will be enforced this summer. 'We expect 1,200 boats to visit the park every day this summer and too many people are removing sand for souvenirs, which couples with increasingly violent storms to create erosion.' Italy are expecting a high number of tourists this summer with 127 million from home and abroad expected to visit beaches and cities. The number is expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels. It's home to a distinctive stone chasm called Song of the Sea or Zawn Pyg This breathtaking British beach is being mistaken for a tropical paradise. Nanjizal Beach, a boulder-covered stretch of sand sheltered by cliffs, lies along the Cornish coast around 10 miles (16km) from Penzance. To the one side of the beach, theres a distinctive stone chasm called Song of the Sea or Zawn Pyg - which is surrounded by rock pools. Adding to its allure, the beach is known for its turquoise waters and its waterfalls. Tripadvisor users have taken to the review platform to heap praise on the Cornish idyll. Reviewer 'TravelUK' wrote: When it's beautiful weather it looks amazing, nearly like [the] Seychelles. Reviewer 'tootusCornwall', meanwhile, weighed in with: 'This place is stunning, peaceful, tranquil and awe-inspiring. You would think you were in a tropical country the pool around the rocks was turquoise in colour.' Cornwall's breathtaking Nanjizal Beach is being mistaken for a tropical paradise To the one side of the cove, theres a distinctive stone chasm called Song of the Sea or Zawn Pyg One Tripadvisor reviewer says the Nanjizal looks 'nearly like [the] Seychelles' in sunny weather. Above is the Seychelles' Anse Source d'Argent beach The beach lies along the Cornish coast around 10 miles (16km) from Penzance A third review, left by user 'Glenn & Cameron Broughton' read: 'Gorgeous sandy bay azure waters and fantastic cliffs - what more could you want?' Travel blogger Jack Jeffs recently shared a video of the beach on TikTok that has racked up nearly 300,000 views. In it, he declares the water in the rock pools as 'crystal clear' adding: 'It's such a refreshing experience [to swim] through'. In the comments below, TikTok user Toby declared: 'I refuse to believe this is in Great Britain.' Accessing the beach, which is also known as Mill Bay, is tricky it can only be reached on foot. It lies just off the South West Coastal Path, a 630-mile coastal route that stretches from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Local guide Cornwall Beaches says: 'Due to its relative inaccessibility, Nanjizal has remained more or less untouched and never gets busy. There are an abundance of caves and interesting rock formations for those not content with taking in the view.' Nanjizal is known for its turquoise waters and its waterfalls Accessing the beach is tricky it can only be reached on foot Above are rock formations at Anse Source d'Argent beach in Seychelles This dramatic scenery clearly has a cinematic quality, as scenes from Doctor Who were filmed on the beach back in the 1960s - one scene sees a Tardis appearing on the sand. Cornwall Beaches adds that visitors are in with a chance of spotting seals off the coast during a visit. Wild ponies can also be spotted grazing nearby. To reach the beach, visitors can hike the seaside trail from nearby Lands End in the north or from Porthgwarra Beach in the south. Alternatively, they can park their cars inland in the village of Trevescan and tackle the roughly hour-long trek to the shore. A steep pathway eventually leads travellers down to the beach. Its worth noting that theres no lifeguard cover at the beach, so bathers must take extra caution while swimming. Arctic Monkeys returned to their hometown of Sheffield this weekend for two huge gigs in Hillsborough Park. But while singing fan favourite track Mardy Bum, Alex Turner forgot some of the lyrics and had to turn to the crowd for a reminder of how the song goes. The famous lyrics of the 2006 hit are: 'Now then Mardy Bum, I've seen your face and it's like looking down the barrel of a gun'. The crowd began singing along as the song began, and Alex got off to a good start as he nailed the words 'now then Mardy Bum'. The crowd then carried on with the actual lyrics while he attempted to skip straight to the second chorus, which goes: 'Oh, I'm in trouble again, aren't I? I thought as much.' Fan favourites: Arctic Monkeys returned to their hometown of Sheffield this weekend for two huge gigs in Hillsborough Park Looking around in confusion, Alex realised he wasn't singing the right words, but thankfully he was able to rely on the audience to get him back on track. He soon got back into the swing of things and gave a nod to the audience for their help. The bands frontman thrilled the crowd while making his way through a setlist which included fan favourites Snap Out of It and Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? The band are busy promoting their latest album, The Car, and are set to perform in Southampton London and Dublin before ending the UK leg of their tour in Glasgow on June 25. Arctic Monkeys made their long-awaited return to the big stage this month and have already performed in Manchester, Norwich, Sheffield and Swansea. LadBible reported that in Bristol, the band performed 21 songs and most of them were fan favourites, with only three from the new album. They wrote that they also treated fans to the first performance of My Propeller in close to a decade. They also belted out 505, Arabella, Teddy Picker, The View From The Afternoon and Fluorescent Adolescent, before ending with I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor and R U Mine?. Arctic Monkeys are set to headline Glastonbury this year along with Guns N' Roses and Elton John. Glastonbury Festival's full line-up and stage times were revealed on Monday. Awkward! But while singing fan favourite track Mardy Bum, Alex Turner forgot some of the lyrics and had to turn to the crowd for a reminder of how the song goes Idols: Alex Turner, Matthew Helders, Jamie Cook and Nick O'Malley pictured back in 2008 - the band performed fan favourites on the first night of their tour, including much-loved hit Mardy Bum The festival - which takes place from June 21-25 at Somerset's Worthy Farm, will see the likes of Queens Of The Stone Age, Skepta and The Chemical Brothers joining the already confirmed headline acts. Other artists performing at the event include Royal Blood, Caroline Polachek and Digga D, as the entire line-up has now been announced. Rock duo Royal Blood will play before Arctic Monkeys on Friday. And unknown act, The ChurnUps are also on the line-up with many believing it is the band, Pulp. Netflix pulled the plug on Bling Empire and its spin-off Bling Empire: New York earlier this year. But Leah Qin - who starred in the original show in LA - was 'not surprised' about its cancellation, blaming 'fake made-up drama' for its demise. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, the stunning 26-year-old real estate investor explained: 'Bling Empire only showed the glamour and perpetuated Asian stereotypes. This was not reality. 'Recently, there are a good amount of successful Asian movies in Hollywood. Asian Americans are amazing. Instead of the glamour and fake made-up drama, I think audiences would love to see a show about how we got to there.' Bling Empire's Leah Qin, 26, exclusively told DailyMail.com that she was 'not surprised' that the show had been canceled by Netflix Leah (with Bling cast - from left to right - Don Morris, Mimi Morris, Christine Alexandra Chiu, Gabriel Chiu, Devon Diep and Kevin Kreider) says the show 'perpetuated Asian stereotypes' 'I know that people liked season one of the show. Not so much two and season three,' Leah said about the now-canceled Netflix series Discussing Bling Empire further with DailyMail.com, Leah said: 'I know that people liked season one of the show. Not so much two and season three. I am not surprised. I am not surprised at all that the show was not renewed.' The hit show, which ran for three seasons on Netflix, was made up of an entirely Asian cast. It followed a group of super wealthy Asian Americans as they navigated their way through life. According to Leah: 'There are multiple reasons [why the show was not renewed]. I like the authentic stuff and, of course, the drama could be more real. I don't like the drama and the show was just that. 'It is a very complicated feeling for me. I do have a good expectation about what the show showcased leading Asian American lives. 'Because I grew up without money, we put a lot of sweat and effort to get where we are today. I would have loved to see a part of this. To me it is unfortunate because there were a lot of meaningful conversations that we had when we filmed. 'I enjoyed filming but how it showed up on TV was out of our control. People edited it so much that it was completely twisted.' She continued: 'Right now, there are a lot of shows that showcase flashy life. There are some that look flashy. In the real world, there are a good amount of people whose everyday life is not to show people how much money they have.' Looking back, Leah said that starring on Bling was a 'learning process.' Leah (pictured in 2022) told DailyMail.com: 'Instead of the glamour and fake made up drama, I think audiences would love to see a show about how we got to there' Sadly, Leah's co-star Anna Shay (pictured) passed away last week from a stroke aged 62 which made her 'realize that your health and your happiness are the most important things ever' DailyMail.com has contacted Netflix for comment. Sadly, Leah's co-star Anna Shay passed away last week from a stroke at age 62. Adding to Leah's turmoil, her own father also suffered a stroke earlier in the week and she is currently by his side in China. 'Anna passing made me realize that your health and your happiness are the most important things ever,' she told DailyMail.com. 'It is heart-breaking for the friends and family, but everyone is responsible for their own life. I think that Bling needed to showcase the struggle too. 'Anna was a caring lady who cared about others, but she was struggling herself and had her own stuff to deal with.' Leah said that she has already set plans in motion to fight the stereotypes - with her own reality show that shows the 'real' lives of Asians who 'struggle' to get to attain success and wealth in America. 'My own show is about entrepreneurs. They have their drama, but they are leaders. I can't tell you the cast, but I can tell you that everyone is googleable. A lot of them come from San Francisco,' she said. The self-made real estate mogul (pictured in June with other members of the cast) said: 'I enjoyed filming but how it showed up on TV was out of our control. People edited it so much' 'I think this is going to be inspiring for the audience. Right now, there are a lot of shows that showcase that show flashy life and money. There is a good amount of people whose everyday life is not like that.' Leah asked: 'Do you want to see a guy wear glasses spending the past 10 years starting a tech company? How about if this guy has a mansion and cars but as soon as he opens his mouth girls run away?' 'I grew up without money and had to struggle to survive. There is a lot more sweat and effort to get where we are today. I am going to show a part of this.' According to her IMDb, Leah created her own wealth as a a 'real estate developer who began her career in China where she worked for some of the top real estate developers in the country.' 'She later transitioned her career to the United States where she is now thriving as a business woman,' it continued. Matt Shirvington has revealed the strict boundaries he put in place for his family ahead of his first day as Sunrise co-host on Monday morning. Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Shirvo, 44, said that accepting the top job at Sunrise required him to make a few changes in his family household, plus a discussion with his author wife Jessica about the way he speaks about their three children while on-air. 'We've spoken openly about what the job means and what sort of reaction potentially you could get on air if you say the wrong thing or even drawing boundaries about speaking about the kids,' he said. 'All these little things that needed to be discussed.' The father-of-three shares daughters Sienna, 16, Winnie, 14, and son Lincoln with his wife Jessica, who he married after meeting when they were just 17 years old. Matt Shirvington has opened up about the strict boundaries he put in place for his family ahead of his first day as Sunrise co-host on Monday morning. Pictured with his wife Jessica in 2015 Shirvo also revealed he'd asked his predecessor David 'Kochie' Koch a very important question before agreeing to take the helm. 'One of the first questions I asked Kochie was 'can I lean on you for advice or direction', and he said: 'Absolutely'', Shirvo said. Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Shirvo was crowned as Kochie's successor after a three-year plan to prepare him for the top job. Shirvo had his first day as Sunrise co-host on Monday, June 12, alongside his co-host Natalie Barr (left) They revealed he will have his role made official on Monday, June 5, four days before Kochie filmed his final show as Sunrise host on Friday. Shirvo had his first day in the role on Monday, June 12, alongside his co-host Natalie Barr. The appointment follows a carefully curated training process for the popular television presenter who is widely liked by Seven's top executives and viewers. Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Shirvo was crowned as Kochie's successor after a three-year plan to prepare him for the top job. They revealed he will have his role made official on Monday, June 5, four days before Kochie filmed his final show as Sunrise host on Friday It's understood Kochie himself has given Shirvo his 'blessing'. 'David believes Matt is a great fit and thinks he will do a fantastic job,' an insider told Daily Mail Australia. 'He's been filling in for David for a few years now and has earned his stripes. Viewers like him and he is very well-regarded internally so it's a natural step up for him.' David 'Kochie' Koch, who has been the face of the top-rating morning program for 21 years, sat in the studio on Friday morning with his fellow colleagues for his final day Shirvo was earmarked for the job back in 2020 when he took part in Seven's Olympic coverage team - a role he carried well in the delayed Games in 2021 and one that inevitably earned him his 'hosting stripes'. The tears were flowing on Friday morning the minute Kochie walked on set after he hugged his colleagues who had formed a guard of honour in the studio for his final day. 'Thank you for everything. Thank you. Oh dear. Quick, I've got to [read] the news,' Kochie said as he prepared to read the news for the last time. Kochie joined Sunrise to present finance reports in 2002 and in October that year became Chris Reason's replacement when the journalist was diagnosed with cancer. Amanza Smith announced she's 'on the mend' after undergoing surgery for a blood infection that has caused her a great deal of back pain the last few weeks. The Selling Sunset star shared the update on her health situation in a video she posted on her Instagram page on Sunday. From her hospital bed, while still groggy in the moments after the operation, the real estate agent said the 'surgery went well.' 'I'm back at my room and I've already changed back into my comfy pajamas,' she shared in a slightly slurred soft tone. She added, 'I'm on the mend guys. Thank you for the well wishes. Stay tuned and I'll keep you guys updated.' Health ordeal: Selling Sunset star Amanza Smith, 46, underwent surgery after experiencing 'excruciating' back pain for several weeks, which ended up being due to a blood infection About five hours earlier in the day, the reality star posted an edited video where explained the process of how she went from first experiencing back pain to having to undergo surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 'Over a month ago and all of this started, I thought that I had a bulging disk or a slipped disc or something wrong with my lower back that was regular,' she began in the caption. 'I laid in pain in my house for several days. I cried. I took Tylenol. I went to urgent care,' the Indiana native, 46, continued. 'I didn't know what it was but after over a month of excruciating pain I finally started to get some answers.' Smith proceeded to have an MRI and a CT scan, and afterwards was told she needed to go to the hospital. 'I came to Cedar Sinai last Friday thinking that I was going to get another scan on my back and then go home. Instead, I was admitted and they immediately started testing me for things in my blood. Come to find out I had an infection in my blood that had caused, a great deal of infection to be spread to the bones of my spine and its called osteomyelitis,' she revealed. Looking at the bright side of the situation, the former model shared how she's 'in the best hospital' and that 'every doctor and every nurse has been right on top of everything to get the answers that we need to get me to where I need to be, which is better.' Smith, who has starred on the Netflix series since season two, then opened up about her treatment, revealing she went 'on antibiotics for her spine infection, which doctors 'first thought first was a tumor because on an MRI thats what it looks like.' 'But the bad kind, not the kind thats just infection,' the TV personality clarified. 'Everyone was very scared, including myself.' Serious back pain: The reality star complained about her back pain, which left her debilitated and in bed, a number of weeks ago on her Instagram page Opening up: 'I laid in pain in my house for several days. I cried. I took Tylenol. I went to urgent care,' the Indiana native explained of her situation on Instagram on Sunday Answers: 'Come to find out I had an infection in my blood that had caused, a great deal of infection to be spread to the bones of my spine and its called osteomyelitis,' Smith shared Hospitalized: After an MRI and a CT scan she ended up being admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for tests of her blood Staying strong: The reality star tried to keep a brave face while undergoing tests Scary: The Television personality went through a wide range of emotions, while also revealing that at first doctors 'first thought first was a tumor because on an MRI thats what it looks like' Blood infection testing: Smith could be seen getting poked and prodded by nurses and doctors in the clip, ahead of surgery Before she went in for surgery Sunday morning, Smith wrote, 'Be right back. Let go let God' over a selfie she posted on her Instagram Story. Surgery a 'success': From her hospital bed, while still groggy in the moments after the operation, the real estate agent said the 'surgery went well' and that she's now 'on the mend' Smith went on to share how on day 10 she had to post a quick message because she was about to go into surgery, which was geared at removing portions of the infection from her spine that werent getting any better with just antibiotics. 'Im still in pain,' she confessed, 'but I am hopeful that with the surgery my back pain will diminish.' Before she went in for surgery Sunday morning, Smith wrote, 'Be right back. Let go let God' over a selfie she posted on her Instagram Story. She also shared how she was optimistic that her 'remaining course of antibiotics will take care of the rest of the infection in my spine and I'll be back to [100%].' Showing gratitude, Smith ended by thanking everyone at 'Cedar Sinai for taking such good care of me. This, too shall pass.' Samuel L. Jackson and his glamorous wife LaTanya Richardson made a stylish pair as they hit the red carpet at the 76th Annual Tony Awards in New York City on Sunday. The Unbreakable star, 74, looked dapper as ever at the event, which was held at at United Palace Theater, wearing a dark navy tuxedo with a bowtie and a pair of reading glasses. Meanwhile his wife of 43 years wore a glamorous floor-length black coat with whimsical neon green feather sleeves. The actress, 73, accessorized with a black Dior purse and black heels for the outing and wore her tresses in a voluminous updo. Jackson was nominated for Best Actor for bringing to life August Wilson's famed play, The Piano Lesson, which was his wife's Broadway directorial debut, but lost out to Brandon Uranowitz. Glamorous pair: Samuel L. Jackson, 74, and his glamorous wife LaTanya Richardson, 73, made a stylish pair as they hit the red carpet at the Annual Tony Awards in New York City on Sunday 'Its a thrill to be nominated this honor is particularly special having been under the direction of LaTanya and getting to continue August Wilsons legacy on Broadway after first performing The Piano Lesson on stage at the Yale Repertory Theater 35 years ago,' he said in a statement about his nomination. Samuel and LaTanya have a longtime love story as they met when they both were in college back in 1970. They eventually married in 1980 and have one child, 41-year-old freelance film and television producer Zoe Jackson. Two years ago Samuel credited his wife with helping him overcome his drug addiction. He had said that, early on in their relationship, he had been found 'passed out' as a result of drug-taking and LaTanya arranged for him to be taken into a rehabilitation clinic. Jackson noted that there was one day in particular that spurred his wife to seek help for her troubled husband. The Pulp Fiction star told People in March 2022 that when his wife 'found me passed out on the floor in the house or whatever I had been out of the bachelor party or something,' she called out for professional help. 'She could have just said, you know, get out, whatever and just left me into the world, let me go and be whatever I was going to be,' he said. LaTanya admitted that she 'felt like' leaving him during the time period, but felt as if it was her religious duty to stay and help. The actor's wife recalled: 'I would have done that. I felt like doing that. But I come from a very God fearing family. So I couldn't do that.' Stylish: His wife of 43 years wore a glamorous floor-length black coat with whimsical neon green feather sleeves Lovely: The actress accessorized with a black Dior purse and black heels for the outing and wore her tresses in a voluminous updo Dapper: The Unbreakable star looked dapper as ever at the event, which was held at at United Palace Theater, wearing a dark navy tuxedo with a bowtie and a pair of reading glasses She then remarked that she felt as if she owed it to a higher power to seek help for her troubled husband. LaTanya said: 'I felt as though God has spoken to me and said, "Now, you can't leave this young man like this. So give him some help and feel like even afterwards, we'll talk about it."' After overcoming his substance abuse issues, the actor went on to become the highest-grossing actor of all time, with his films having collectively earned over $27 billion. The performer admitted that the help his wife had given him was ultimately the 'chance' to become who he was meant to be. He added: 'I was given another chance to be who I was supposed to be. Like, she always said, you know that one of these days I was gonna grow into the man that I was supposed to be. And, you know, that was an opportunity to do that.' 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. Nominated: Jackson was nominated in the Best Featured Actor/Play category for bringing to life August Wilson's famed play, The Piano Lesson, which was his wife's Broadway directorial debut Longtime pair: Samuel and LaTanya have a longtime love story as they met when they both were in college back in 1970 Inside: The duo were pictured enjoying the show inside, despite the fact that Jackson lost the Best Actor award to Brandon Uranowitz 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. 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. Robert Irwin is reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend Rorie Buckey after seven months of dating According to New Idea magazine, protective mother Terri has concerns that her lovestruck son, 19, and his smitten girlfriend, 18, will rush down the aisle too early. 'Terri feels like Robert is moving way too fast,' a source told the publication. 'Rorie's a sweetheart and it's easy to see why he is absolutely smitten, but Terri knows the stakes are high,' they added. Robert Irwin, 19, (left) is reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend Rorie Buckey, 18, after seven months of dating according to a report in New Idea. Here with mum Terri, 58 Robert's big sister Bindi is also said to have reservations about his possible marriage. The publication also claimed Robert is a 'romantic' who is hoping to emulate his mother's quick engagement to her late husband Steve after just eight months of dating in 1992. Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, are currently in a long-distance relationship, with Robert based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie is in Perth. According to New Idea magazine , protective mother Terri has concerns that her lovestruck son and his smitten girlfriend (both pictured on a date in Brisbane) will rush down the aisle too early 'Terri feels like Robert is moving way too fast,' a source told the publication The publication also claimed Robert is a 'romantic' who is hoping to emulate his mother's quick engagement to her late husband Steve after just eight months of dating in 1992. Pictured left is Robert, and right is Rorie The couple were last spotted in May at Perth Airport packing on the PDA after Robert travelled to Western Australia to spend time with his girlfriend's family. Robert and Rorie have plenty in common; both grew up in the public eye after suffering the devastating loss of a family member. Heath was at the top of his Hollywood career when he was found dead in January 2008 following an accidental prescription drug overdose. Robert's father Steve Irwin, known to the world as the 'Crocodile Hunter', died aged 44 on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray. Lin-Manuel Miranda was joined by wife Vanessa Nadal as they attended the 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater in New York City on Sunday. The songwriter and playwright, 43, wore a classy black suit for the occasion, and accessorized the outfit with a boombox. Meanwhile his wife of 13 years looked stunning and flashed her taut midriff in a black top and a matching frilly skirt with a saucy front slit. She accessorized with a red rhinestone purse in the shape of an apple and added height to her look with black platform heels. Miranda served as one of the presenters at the event. He was originally planning on writing a musical number for the show, but pulled out due to the WGA writers' strike. Dapper pair: Lin-Manuel Miranda was joined by wife Vanessa Nadal as they attended the 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater in New York City on Sunday Vanessa wore her brunette tresses slicked back into a chic bun for the night. As for glam, she opted for red lipstick, a touch of blush and black mascara. The pair were also seen posing with rapper Common, 51, who looked sharp in a black suit The couple - who are high school sweethearts - have been married since 2010. They share two sons, Sebastian, seven, and Francisco, four. 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. Classy: The songwriter and playwright, 43, wore a classy black suit for the occasion, and accessorized the outfit with a boombox Saucy: Meanwhile his wife of 13 years looked stunning and flashed her taut midriff in a black top and a matching frilly skirt with a saucy front slit Accessories: The pair showed off their unique red carpet accessories 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. 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. Looking sharp: The pair were also seen posing with rapper Common, 51, who looked sharp in a black suit '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. Hailey Bieber showcased her toned physique as she took a cold plunge in a new TikTok video shared on Sunday to help with her 'anxiety' and 'mood.' The Rhode founder, 26, who recently stunned in a sizzling campaign for her skincare brand, could be seen outdoors under the bright sunshine while standing in a tub full of icy cold water. The wife of Justin Bieber sported navy blue, drawstring bikini bottoms and a matching top before taking a brief dip. At the beginning of the 22-second reel uploaded to her 10.8 million fans and followers, the star prepared to submerge herself in the icy temperatures. After taking a deep breath, she quickly sat in the water that reached up towards her collarbone. Hailey closed her eyes as her body began to adjust to the sudden drop in temperature, and proceeded to also dunk her head under the water. Taking a cold plunge: Hailey Bieber, 26, showcased her toned physique as she took a cold plunge in a new TikTok video shared on Sunday to help with her 'anxiety' and 'mood.' Icy water: The Rhode founder sported navy blue, drawstring bikini bottoms and a matching top before taking a brief dip During the short clip, the model added text which read, '30 seconds minimum,' referencing to how long she aims to submerge herself in the cold water. The businesswoman tilted her head to the side, showing off a pair of dainty, gold-hooped earrings as she let her mind and body relax. In the caption attached to the beauty's latest TikTok video, Hailey typed out, 'back with another cold plunge series. cold plunging has helped me a lot with anxiety and overall mood,' followed by a blue heart emoji. Throughout the course of the reel, the sped up version of the track Girls Like Me Don't Cry by Thuy played in the background. The media personality has been adding the cold plunge into her wellness routine for a few years, and recently shared a separate clip of herself earlier this month enjoying the sauna and cold plunging for Wellness Wednesday. Back in 2020, the star also opened up to Vogue about getting used to cold plunges with Justin Bieber. 'My husband is much more into steam, sauna and cold plunges than I am. Guess which one of those three I really dont like? The cold plunge hurts!' Hailey added, 'But when you come out, youre like, "Woah!" I feel re-born. It is tough to do though. Justin is very disciplined and really takes care of his body, but its good that, while we do things together, we can also do things separately...' Jonathan Leary, the founder of the wellness club Remedy Place, opened up about the benefits of cold plunging while talking to Harper's Bazaar in March. Preparing: At the beginning of the 22-second reel uploaded to her 10.8 million fans and followers, the star prepared to submerge herself in the icy temperatures Adjusting: Hailey closed her eyes as her body began to adjust to the sudden drop in temperature, and proceeded to also dunk her head under the water Going under! Towards the end of the video, the star fully dunked her head under the icy cold water 'A cold plunge is the act of submerging your body in cold water (59 degrees Fahrenheit or less) for an extended period of time. Cold plunges are an incredible tool for boosting the health of the body and mind,' he stated. Other benefits from cold plunging include reducing stress, decreasing inflammation, and also assisting with injury recovery, per the outlet. Along with focusing on her overall health, Hailey has also been busy promoting a new upcoming product release for her Rhode skincare brand. She is slated to release $29 Glazing Milk on June 15, the same day her company was officially launched one year ago in 2022. On Instagram, she gave details about the new product, which is a 'ceramide facial essence' and is 'a potent, nutrient-rich complex with a milky texture to boost barrier function + provide immediate luminous hydration.' Boosting her mood: In the caption attached to the beauty's latest TikTok video, Hailey typed out, 'back with another cold plunge series. cold plunging has helped me a lot with anxiety and overall mood' Opening up: Back in 2020, the star also opened up to Vogue about getting used to cold plunges with Justin Bieber Routine: The media personality has been adding the cold plunge routine into her life for a few years, and recently shared a separate clip of herself earlier this month enjoying the sauna and cold plunging Working hard: Along with focusing on her overall health, Hailey has also been busy promoting a new upcoming product release for her Rhode skincare brand The media star additionally posed for a sizzling photo shoot to promote the product and recently uploaded behind-the-scenes content on the brand's main TikTok page. Hailey donned a white, cropped tank top and plain white underwear while pouring an extra large bottle of 'glazing milk' onto her left side. The latest product that will drop next week joins other popular selling items, such as her peptide glazing fluid and lip treatment. As the brand continues to grow, the businesswoman celebrated the launch of Rhode in the U.K. last month in May, and also in Canada earlier this year in March. Samuel L. Jackson's face became a meme on Sunday, after fans noticed his less-than-impressed reaction to losing at the 76th Annual Tony Awards. The Unbreakable star, 74, was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the event - held at United Palace Theater in New York City - for his role in The Piano Lesson, which was his wife LaTanya Richardson's Broadway directorial debut. However, when he lost to Brandon Uranowitz, 36, who starred in Leopoldstadt, fans quickly noted the apparent disappointment in his face, along with what appeared to be a slight eye-roll. 'Samuel L. Jackson does not have a good non-winner face. I'm sure his eye roll will be a meme,' one commentator wrote on Twitter. Another one shared the moment all actors were featured alongside each other on the screen, and wrote: 'Samuel L. Jackson's face is taking me out for some reason!' with a crying out laughing emoji. Not impressed: Samuel L. Jackson's face became a meme on Sunday, after fans noticed his less-than-impressed reaction to losing at the 76th Annual Tony Awards Disappointed: However, when he lost to Brandon Uranowitz, 36, who played in Leopoldstadt, fans quickly noted his apparent disappointment Nominated: The actor, 74, was nominated for the Best Actor in a Play award at the event - held at United Palace Theater in New York City - for his role in The Piano Lesson TONY AWARDS 2023: Winners at a glance Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo Best Play Leopoldstadt Best Musical Revival Parade Best Leading Actress in a Musical Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Best Leading Actress in a Play Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Best Leading Actor in a Musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Best Leading Actor in a Play Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Advertisement 'Samuel L. Jackson didn't look happy,' another added with a laughing emoji. Another fan compared his face to that of his Marvel character Nick Fury, writing, 'Samuel L. Jackson looked like Nick Fury after realizing he didn't win his category.' 'Awww Samuel L. Jackson,' someone else added, appearing to empathize with the actor's loss. However many fans also seemed to understand where Jackson's disappointment was coming from. 'I thought Samuel L. Jackson was gone win that...' a commentator wrote on Twitter. 'Samuel L. Jackson was robbed. But of course let's give it to... never mind,' another disappointed fan commented. Comments continued to pour in, with someone else adding, 'Samuel L. Jackson lost I hate it here actually.' He received more words of encouragement, with someone else adding, 'Samuel L. Jackson bodied The Piano Lesson.' Eye roll? Many also noted what appeared to be a slight eye-roll from the Unbreakable actor A meme: 'Samuel L. Jackson does not have a good non-winner face. I'm sure his eye roll will be a meme,' another commentator wrote on Twitter Funny: One person shared the moment all actors were featured alongside each other on the screen, and wrote: 'Samuel L. Jackson's face is taking me out for some reason!' Not happy: 'Samuel L. Jackson didn't look happy,' another added with a laughing emoji Nick Fury: Another fan compared his face to that of his Marvel character Nick Fury Empathetic: 'Awww Samuel L. Jackson,' someone else added, appearing to empathize with the actor's loss Understanding fans: However many fans also seemed to understand where Jackson's disappointment was coming from Robbed: 'Samuel L. Jackson was robbed. But of course let's give it to... never mind,' another disappointed fan commented Hate it: 'Samuel L. Jackson lost I hate it here actually' Bodied the role: He received more words of encouragement, with someone else adding, 'Samuel L. Jackson bodied The Piano Lesson' Uranowitz was among the first big winners of the night, as the theater world gathered together for the annual celebration of all things Broadway. He joked that his 'imposter syndrome is on fire' as he made an emotional speech to accept the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play. In his impassioned speech, Uranowitz spoke out about anti-Semitism and the 'false promise of assimilation,' both of which are explored in his play Leopoldstadt. He also addressed his parents in a teary moment. 'The only thing I've wanted in this life is to be able to repay you for the sacrifices you've made for me,' he said, addressing them in the audience. He was later pictured looking thrilled as he posed with his award backstage. Meanwhile earlier in the night Jackson was joined by his glamorous wife LaTanya Richardson as they hit the red carpet at the event. He looked dapper wearing a dark navy tuxedo with a bowtie and a pair of reading glasses. His wife of 43 years wore a glamorous floor-length black coat with whimsical neon green feather sleeves. Proud moment: In his impassioned speech, Uranowitz spoke out about anti-Semitism and the 'false promise of assimilation,' both of which are explored in his play Leopoldstadt. He also addressed his parents in a teary moment Thrilled winner: He was later pictured looking thrilled as he posed with his award backstage Awkward! At one point Samuel was pulled into host Ariana De Bose's fun, approaching him and his wife LaTanya Richardson and awkwardly getting them to stand up out of their seats The actor previously spoke about the honor of being nominated in a statement: 'Its a thrill to be nominated this honor is particularly special having been under the direction of LaTanya and getting to continue August Wilsons legacy on Broadway after first performing The Piano Lesson on stage at the Yale Repertory Theater 35 years ago.' The 1987 Pulitzer Prize winning tale is that of 'a Black family torn between legacy and ambition, the past and the future,' according to Deadline. Samuel and LaTanya have a longtime love story as they met when they both were in college back in 1970. They eventually married in 1980 and have one child, 41-year-old freelance film and television producer Zoe Jackson. 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 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 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. Stylish duo: Meanwhile earlier in the night Jackson was joined by his glamorous wife LaTanya Richardson as they hit the red carpet at the event Broadway debut: The Piano Lesson - based on August Wilson's famed play - was his wife's Broadway directorial debut The top prizes went to a trio of acclaimed shows. Kimberly Akimbo scored several awards, including the night's final honor, Best Musical. Tom Stoppard's searing historical drama Leopoldstad won Best Play, while Parade was honored with Best Musical Revival and Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog won for Best Play Revival. Kimberly Akimbo won the most Tony Awards at five, while Leopoldstadt was close behind with four awards. Jodie Comer won Best Actress in a Play for Prima Facie, a one-woman show about a defense attorney known for representing men accused of sexual assault whose convictions are shaken when she is a victim of the same crime. Victoria Clark added to the many winners from Kimberly Akimbo. She plays the lead role, a teenage girl suffering from a disease that causes her to age extraordinarily fast, making her resemble the 63-year-old theatre veteran. J. Harrison Ghee made history as one of the first two non-binary actors to win a Tony. They won for Best Actor in a Musical for the adaptation of Billy Wilder's Marilyn Monroestarring comedy Some Like It Hot, while Alex Newell became the first non-binary actor to win earlier in the evening for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked. Rounding out the lead acting winners was Will & Grace's Sean Hayes, who won Best Actor in a Play for Good Night, Oscar, a biographical drama about the pianist, actor and public intellectual Oscar Levant. Leopoldstadt traces the path of a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna caught in the crossfire of the Holocaust after escaping Eastern Europe's pogroms. It marks the fifth time Stoppard has won a Tony a record in a career lasting over five decades, It deals with similar themes of antisemitism and virulent hate as Parade, which premiered in 1998. The musical recounts the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory superintendent in Georgia who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a 13-year-old girl. Modern scholars largely believe that he was innocent, and at the time, Georgia's governor commuted his sentence to life in prison, only for a mob to kidnap him from the jail and lynch him in the murdered girl's home town. Topdog/Underdog focuses on two Black brothers struggling under the weight of racism and dwindling opportunities, before dark secrets are revealed that threaten to destroy their tenuous relationship. Comedian Sam Pang has been tapped as this year's host of the Logie Awards on Channel Seven, reports claim. According to TV Tonight, Seven bosses are keen to refresh TV's night of nights this year, and believe Pang, 49, is the man for the job. Known for his self-deprecating humour and brutal jokes, Sam has garnered huge popularity among TV and radio fans. He is a regular panelist on Channel 10's Have You Been Paying Attention? and Seven's The Front Bar, as well as a familiar voice on Melbourne radio stations Nova FM and Triple R. ' Sam made a surprise on-stage appearncve at last year's ceremony after he accepted the Logie award for Most Popular Actress on behalf of his friend Kitty Flanagan, who could not attend. Comedian Sam Pang has been tapped as this year's host of the Logie Awards on Channel Seven, reports claim After accepting the statuette, Pang likened the experience to the 1973 Oscars, when when Marlon Brando won and sent up Sacheen Littlefeather to accept his award. Sam later told the That's Enough Already podcast that he actually didn't want to go on stage to collect an award for another comedian, and only agreed to do it because he was convinced Flanagan wouldn't win. 'I did something... that s**ts me. I had to accept an award on someone's behalf,' he said. Sam made a surprise on-stage appearncve at last year's ceremony after he accepted the Logie award for Most Popular Actress on behalf of his friend Kitty Flanagan, who could not attend Sam later told the That's Enough Already podcast that he actually didn't want to go on stage to collect an award for another comedian, and only agreed to do it because he was convinced Flanagan wouldn't win '[Flanagan] was nominated for the Most Popular Actress and she didn't think she was winning. In the category there's heavy hitters like Deborah Mailman, with powerful performances then old comedy Flanagan wins!' Pang continued: 'To pick up something on someone else's behalf? I'm thinking, "F**k, what a waste of my time."' It comes after Seven confirmed the Logies will be held in Sydney this year for the first time since 1986. The awards show has been held on the Gold Coast since 2018 with support from the Queensland government, but that deal ended in 2022. The ceremony will be broadcast by Seven network on July 30. It's been eight years since Elizabeth Olsen made her debut as Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. Scarlet Witch, though the actress reveals she does not 'miss' playing the character. Olsen, 34, debuted as Scarlet Witch in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, and she would return in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, 2019's Avengers: Endgame, the 2021 TV series WandaVision and 2022's Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. While there don't appear to be any current plans for Olsen to return as Scarlett Witch, the actress revealed to The White Lotus Star Meghann Fahy in a Variety Actors on Actors interview that she is still proud of what they were able to do. When asked if she misses playing Wanda, Olsen replied, 'No, I dont. I think its been almost 10 years of playing her. And Ive loved it.' However, she added, 'And I think the reason why I am not calling (Marvel president) Kevin Feige every day with ideas is because Im really proud of what we were able to do.' Wanda: It's been eight years since Elizabeth Olsen made her debut as Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. Scarlet Witch, though the actress reveals she does not 'miss' playing the character Character: Olsen, 34, debuted as Scarlet Witch in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, and she would return in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, 2019's Avengers: Endgame, the 2021 TV series WandaVision and 2022's Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness She added that the 2021 TV series WandaVision, which reunited her with Paul Bettany's Vision, 'was a really surprising opportunity.' 'If someone were to tell me that Im fired from Marvel movies, I will feel proud of what we made,' she said. 'And I really am just trying to figure out how to load up other films and characters so it becomes less about the Marvel of it all,' Olsen added. Fahy added, 'That's such a great answer! And so honest!' It's currently unclear if she will return in the MCU, considering her character's uncertain fate from last year's Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Wanda was last seen being crushed under a massive building, sacrificing herself to destroy the Darkhold, an evil book of sorcery that corrupted her. Still, while that 'version' of Wanda was seemingly destroyed, the exploration of the 'multiverse' opens things up for different versions of Wand to appear. Feige said last year, 'There really is so much more to explore. We still havent touched on many of her core storylines from the comics.' Surprised: She added that the 2021 TV series WandaVision, which reunited her with Paul Bettany's Vision, 'was a really surprising opportunity' Fired: 'If someone were to tell me that Im fired from Marvel movies, I will feel proud of what we made,' she said 'Id work with Lizzie for another 100 years if we could. Anythings possible in the multiverse! Well have to see,' he cryptically added. Leading up to Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Olsen revealed in interviews that she was surprised they took her character in a villainous direction. 'At first I think I was nervous and conflicted, because I hadnt finished WandaVision yet, but we were almost finished,' Olsen said. 'And I was like, "Oh my god, how do I make this all work together?" We got there; I got there,' she added. 'And it became an amazing opportunity to have people be won over by this woman in WandaVision and feel for her, and then, you know, manipulate them into this film, where they get to be on her side and then feel conflicted themselves,' she said. Elon Musk appears to have weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding actress Megan Fox. The billionaire businessman, 51, said in a Tweet Sunday, 'Looking to hire a VP of Witchcraft & Propaganda,' after Fox referred to herself as a 'witch' amid a social media row with conservative commentator Robby Starbuck, who was critical of how the 37-year-old actress is raising her three sons. The tweet from the owner of Tesla and Twitter owner garnered a number of responses, including multiple mentions of Fox following her remarks. In response to one user who told the Pretoria, South Africa native that Fox is 'bad at propaganda,' Musk replied, 'Nobody is perfect.' Musk's tweets came a day after Fox furiously hit back at a 'clout chaser' who accused her of having 'forced' her sons to dress up in girls clothing. The latest: Elon Musk, 51, appears to have weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding actress Megan Fox, 37, after Fox referred to herself as a 'witch' amid a social media row with conservative commentator Robby Starbuck, 34 Details: The billionaire businessman said in a Tweet Sunday, 'Looking to hire a VP of Witchcraft & Propaganda,' after Fox referred to herself as a 'witch' amid a social media row The Transformers 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.' 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 Jennifer's Body 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.' Speaking out: In response to one user who told the Pretoria, South Africa native that Fox is 'bad at propaganda,' Musk replied, 'Nobody is perfect' '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 'Let me teach you something...': Fox fired up her Instagram and lambasted Starbuck for using 'children as leverage or social currency' Disputed: 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' 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.' Wild claim: On Thursday, the 34-year-old Republican tweeted that 'used to live in the same gated community' as the famous family and that their kids 'played at the park' 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.' Five months after confirming their engagement, Into the Woods thespian Sara Bareilles and Alaska Daily actor Joe Tippett enjoyed a glamorous date night at the 76th Annual Tony Awards, which took place at United Palace in Manhattan on Sunday. The 41-year-old Maryland native served as arm candy for the 43-year-old NoCal native, who was up for her third Tony Award nomination. Sara put on quite a sideshow in a plunging red Georges Chakra gown, which she gushed was the 'dress of my dreams' via Instastory. Bareilles's cord-sleeved creation and silver Manolo Blahnik heels were selected by stylist Savannah White. Hairstylist Jemma Muradian fastened the two-time Grammy winner's brunette mane with an ornate red-crystal headband for the awards ceremony hosted for the second time by Oscar winner Ariana DeBose. So in love! Five months after confirming their engagement, Into the Woods thespian Sara Bareilles and Alaska Daily actor Joe Tippett enjoyed a glamorous date night at the 76th Annual Tony Awards, which took place at United Palace in Manhattan on Sunday It's her big night! The 41-year-old Maryland native (L) served as arm candy for the 43-year-old NoCal native (R), who was up for her third Tony Award nomination Make-up artist Tobi Henney brought out Sara's beautiful brown eyes and applied a light red shade of lipstick on her. The Brooklyn-based couple became betrothed after a seven-year romance, which began in 2016 before co-starring in her and Jessie Nelson's Broadway musical Waitress in 2021. However, Bareilles opted to wear a three-stoned ring rather than the gold feather engagement band Joe proposed with on New Year's Eve. Tippett and the Girls5eva actress clearly have a lot of fun together as they were seen goofing around on the pink carpet's faux jungle foliage. The Spirited star shared a lengthy Instagram post all about Sara's nomination, and he said of wearing a blue tuxedo by her side: 'In honor of my love.' 'Tilly. My heart explodes for you. With love and pride and oceans of joy,' Joe gushed on Sunday. 'The opportunity to see you come alive and step into yourself as a performer has been one of the greatest privileges and thrills of my life. Most people saw the end product but I saw the process and it was beautiful. 'I know how much this community means to you and how coming from music you've always had seeds of doubt that you were just a guest but you belong here Sara. You are one of us.' The new cleavage? Sara put on quite a sideshow in a plunging red Georges Chakra gown, which she gushed was the 'dress of my dreams' via Instastory Leggy look: Bareilles's cord-sleeved creation and silver Manolo Blahnik heels were selected by stylist Savannah White Profile: Hairstylist Jemma Muradian fastened the two-time Grammy winner's brunette mane with an ornate red-crystal headband for the awards ceremony Natural look: Make-up artist Tobi Henney brought out Sara's beautiful brown eyes and applied a light red shade of lipstick on her TONY AWARDS 2023: Winners at a glance Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo Best Play Leopoldstadt Best Musical Revival Parade Best Leading Actress in a Musical Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Best Leading Actress in a Play Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Best Leading Actor in a Musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Best Leading Actor in a Play Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Advertisement Met in the theatre! The Brooklyn-based couple became betrothed after a seven-year romance, which began in 2016 before co-starring in her and Jessie Nelson's Broadway musical Waitress in 2021 Over it already? However, Bareilles opted to wear a three-stoned ring rather than the gold feather engagement band Joe proposed with on New Year's Eve Chemistry: Tippett and the Girls5eva actress clearly have a lot of fun together as they were seen goofing around on the pink carpet's faux jungle foliage The Spirited star shared a lengthy Instagram post all about Sara's nomination, and he said of wearing a blue tuxedo by her side: 'In honor of my love' Joe gushed on Sunday: 'Tilly. My heart explodes for you. With love and pride and oceans of joy...The opportunity to see you come alive and step into yourself as a performer has been one of the greatest privileges and thrills of my life' He continued: 'Most people saw the end product but I saw the process and it was beautiful. I know how much this community means to you and how coming from music you've always had seeds of doubt that you were just a guest but you belong here Sara. You are one of us' Tippett concluded: 'Whatever happens tonight I'm so proud of you. You inspire me. You educate me. You are the partner I choose. This is merely the beginning. I can't wait to see what other magic you're capable of.' Bareilles - who boasts 6.3M social media followers - wrote of her bearded beau's touching tribute: 'He is the deepest water and I will swim forever' Duet: During the CBS telecast, the three-time Emmy nominee reunited with her Into the Woods stage husband Brian d'Arcy James (L) to perform It Takes Two from Lear deBessonet's second Broadway revival of the 1987 Stephen Sondheim musical, which closed January 8 PDA! Sara and the 54-year-old 13 Reasons Why alum - as the Baker's Wife and the Baker - shared a silhouetted kiss at the end of the perky number, which also featured puppeteer Kennedy Kanagawa (L) as Milky White the Cow Better luck next time? But Bareilles and James both wound up losing the best performance by a lead in a musical trophies to Kimberly Levaco actress Victoria Clark (L) and Some Like It Hot actor J. Harrison Ghee (R), respectively Shut out! Sadly, Into the Woods lost all six of its nominations, but the cast recording did win the best musical theater album trophy at the Grammy Awards back in February 'This is a pinch me moment!' The When You Wish Upon a Star songstress will next put her mezzo-soprano pipes on display for a special performance after the Tribeca Film Festival world premiere of the film Waitress, The Musical - Live On Broadway! at the OKX Theater at BMCC TPAC on Monday The big-screen musical adaptation of the late Adrienne Shelly's 2007 indie film Waitress - featuring Sara as Jenna and Joe as Earl - will stream for free in Times Square on Monday at 7:30pm for fans who download the TSX app. 'We're back!' Since March, Bareilles has been hard at work reprising her role as nineties girl-group member Dawn in the third season of Girls5eva, which moved from Peacock to Netflix last October Tippett concluded: 'Whatever happens tonight I'm so proud of you. You inspire me. You educate me. You are the partner I choose. This is merely the beginning. I can't wait to see what other magic you're capable of.' Bareilles - who boasts 6.3M social media followers - wrote of her bearded beau's touching tribute: 'He is the deepest water and I will swim forever.' During the CBS telecast, the three-time Emmy nominee reunited with her Into the Woods stage husband Brian d'Arcy James to perform their duet It Takes Two from Lear deBessonet's second Broadway revival of the 1987 Stephen Sondheim musical, which closed January 8. Sara and the 54-year-old 13 Reasons Why alum - as the Baker's Wife and the Baker - shared a silhouetted kiss at the end of the perky number, which also featured puppeteer Kennedy Kanagawa as Milky White the Cow. But Bareilles and James both wound up losing the best performance by a lead in a musical trophies to Kimberly Levaco actress Victoria Clark and Some Like It Hot actor J. Harrison Ghee, respectively. Sadly, Into the Woods lost all six of its nominations, but the cast recording did win the best musical theater album trophy at the Grammy Awards back in February. The When You Wish Upon a Star songstress will next put her mezzo-soprano pipes on display for a special performance after the Tribeca Film Festival world premiere of the film Waitress, The Musical - Live On Broadway! at the OKX Theater at BMCC TPAC on Monday. The big-screen musical adaptation of the late Adrienne Shelly's 2007 indie film Waitress - featuring Sara as Jenna and Joe as Earl - will stream for free in Times Square on Monday at 7:30pm for fans who download the TSX app. Since March, Bareilles has been hard at work reprising her role as nineties girl-group member Dawn in the third season of Girls5eva, which moved from Peacock to Netflix last October Rebel Wilson took to Instagram to share adorable photos of her infant daughter Royce sporting a personalized pink baby bib. The 43-year-old Australian actress posted a pair of pictures on Saturday on the social media site for her roughly 11.2 million followers. 'My baby,' Rebel wrote as a caption. The lead photo showed Rebel in a brown sweater holding her baby girl who wore a bright yellow onesie along with a pink polka-dot bib that read 'Royce' in red letters. Royce looked straight into the camera while accessorizing with a headband with a bow on top as Rebel appeared in profile. Baby girl: Rebel Wilson took to Instagram to share adorable photos of her infant daughter Royce sporting a personalized pink baby bib The at-home photo included what appeared to be a portrait of Rebel in the background. The second photo showed Rebel and Royce both facing the camera with small smiles on their faces. The post was enjoyed by several celebrities, including Workaholics and Pitch Perfect star Adam Devine, 39, who wrote in the comments: 'KAUUUUTIE!!!' Lindsey Vonn, 38, also responded with a trio of red heart emojis. Paris Hilton, 42, and her younger sister Nicky Hilton, 39, both responded with smiling emojis with heart-shaped eyes. Rebel and her fiancee Ramona Agruma, 39, revealed their relationship in June 2022 and got engaged in February at Disneyland. The Bridesmaids star in November 2022 announced the birth of her daughter, Royce Lillian, born via a surrogate. Rebel and Ramona celebrated their first Mothers Day by sharing never-before-seen photos of their baby daughter. Social media: The 43-year-old Australian actress posted a pair of pictures on Saturday on the social media site for her roughly 11.2 million followers Getting married: Ramona Agruma and Rebel, shown in May in France, got engaged in February Via surrogacy: The Bridesmaids star, shown last week in New York City, in November 2022 announced the birth of her daughter, Royce Lillian, born via a surrogate Busy star: Rebel is shown last month promoting her upcoming movie and directorial debut The Deb at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France Despite being one of Hollywoods most recognised actresses, the Aussie star let her followers know she is just like everybody else and captioned the sweet pic of Royce in pink: 'Happy Mothers Day! (Just woke up at 5:30am and changed a big (poo emoji how about you?)' Rebel is set to star in and make her directorial debut in the upcoming musical comedy The Deb. The film follows high school outcast Taylah who joins her inner-city cousin Maeve to snatch the spotlight at the debutante ball. The Deb is currently in pre-production and Rebel promoted it last month at the Cannes Film Festival. One week after its shocking debut episode on HBO, The Idol returned with its second episode, which will likely prove to be just as controversial as the first. The series - which hails from creators Sam Levinson (Euphoria), The Weeknd and Reza Fahim - returned on Sunday night with Double Fantasy, which shows the mysterious Tedros (The Weeknd) character slowly starting to take over the life of music superstar Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp). The episode featured more of Jocelyn masturbating and self-harming, while still mourning the loss of her mother... which she's still clearly not over yet. In another shocking scene, Tedros is seen telling a woman to 'f***in' stretch that tiny little p***y' while sticking her fingers in her mouth. Double Fantasy also gives fans a glimpse into Tedros' day-to-day life, where he runs a cult-like management company on top of his nightclub seen in the pilot, with Tedros seen using a shock collar frequently on one of his clients. As in the pilot, fans quickly took to social media to share their thoughts on the episode, including one fan who went directly to The Weeknd's Instagram. Controversial: One week after its shocking debut episode on HBO , The Idol returned with its second episode, which will likely prove to be just as controversial as the first Tedros: Double Fantasy also gives fans a glimpse into Tedros' day-to-day life, where he runs a cult-like management company on top of his nightclub seen in the pilot, with Tedros seen using a shock collar frequently on one of his clients Dogs**t: 'The show is dogs**t my guy i love you but stick to music,' @rckkstrmade commented, which received over 900 likes The Weeknd took to Instagram on Sunday, stating, 'episode 2 drops in 1 hour with new music out the same night // tune in @streamonmax @hbo LETS GO!' One fan - @rckkstrmade - didn't pull any punches, leaving a scathing comment on The Weeknd's post. 'The show is dogs**t my guy i love you but stick to music,' @rckkstrmade commented, which received over 900 likes. Once again, the show features a bizarre masturbating scene with Jocelyn, though fully clothed, which another fan commented on. Tedros had come to Jocelyn's home with some friends, though they ultimately all went into separate parts of the house, with one scene showing Tedros ultimately watching Jocelyn masturbate, fully clothed. @shivvy tweeted, 'Are we gonna have to watch her masturbate in all 6 episodes?' adding #THEIDOL hashtag. Another scene showed Tedros at his club, telling Izaak how to writhe about while several young women are laying below him. He even uses a shock collar on Izaak, telling him, 'You're not a human, Izaak. Don't forget. You're a f***ing star.' Oh wow: Once again, the show features a bizarre masturbating scene with Jocelyn, though fully clothed, which another fan commented on Watch: @shivvy tweeted, 'Are we gonna have to watch her masturbate in all 6 episodes?' adding #THEIDOL hashtag Fully: Tedros had come to Jocelyn's home with some friends, though they ultimately all went into separate parts of the house, with one scene showing Tedros ultimately watching Jocelyn masturbate, fully clothed Unsavoury: @Gerbatov tweeted, 'Tedros is the type of guy who, if there were "unsavoury allegations" made against him, no one would question it' @Gerbatov tweeted, 'Tedros is the type of guy who, if there were "unsavoury allegations" made against him, no one would question it.' @sovietmovies tweeted, 'The Idol is just Red Shoe Diaries with a 5 episode arc and sometimes better acting. SOMETIMES.' @ChloeSmiley3 added, 'The Idol better get canned while @sum1saiditinnit added, 'The Idol is one of them shows where u can feel them actively trying to figure out wtf it is while it's shooting. Some good stuff, some bad stuff.' The entire season was reportedly roughly 80% done filming when creator Levinson reportedly fired director Amy Seimetz and proceeded to reshoot the entire series with him at the helm. @richplow added, 'The HBO with a rare miss with The Idol. This show is super a**.' Still, there were some positive reactions as well, including @megsokay, who tweeted, 'Okay. I would still give THE IDOL a B, because it is technically well done, but story-wise, derivative. However, I really do not think this show is endorsing abuse AT ALL. If anything it is using satire and horror to shine a light on the nuances of abuse. (One womans opinion!)' @andrew_balis tweeted, 'Rachel Sennott and Hank Azaria's fake Israeli accent are the only redeeming aspects of The Idol.' @onizms added, 'Kinda makes me sick knowing the script work on The Idol is disgusting, like yeah Jennie is killing it but my god you can tell even from the tl snippets of her how men wrote it from their gazes it's so... vile really.' Sometimes better: @sovietmovies tweeted, 'The Idol is just Red Shoe Diaries with a 5 episode arc and sometimes better acting. SOMETIMES' Canned: @ChloeSmiley3 added, 'The Idol better get canned Actively: @sum1saiditinnit added, 'The Idol is one of them shows where u can feel them actively trying to figure out wtf it is while it's shooting. Some good stuff, some bad stuff.' Miss: @richplow added, 'The HBO with a rare miss with The Idol. This show is super a**.' B grade: Still, there were some positive reactions as well, including @megsokay, who tweeted, 'Okay. I would still give THE IDOL a B, because it is technically well done, but story-wise, derivative. However, I really do not think this show is endorsing abuse AT ALL. If anything it is using satire and horror to shine a light on the nuances of abuse. (One womans opinion!)' Redeeming: @andrew_balis tweeted, 'Rachel Sennott and Hank Azaria's fake Israeli accent are the only redeeming aspects of The Idol.' Sick: @onizms added, 'Kinda makes me sick knowing the script work on The Idol is disgusting, like yeah Jennie is killing it but my god you can tell even from the tl snippets of her how men wrote it from their gazes it's so... vile really.' @stillcherry_ called out co-creator Sam Levinson, adding, 'Sam Levinson you evil man wtf #TheIdol.' @98WKND added, 'Everybody freaking out about The Idol on the tl wtf is going on' while @alocalweekndfan shared a meme from Dance Moms adding, 'Is Tedros just using Jocelyn or does he kinda like her I can't tell. '@lethallyfab added, 'If I were an actor who was thoroughly reamed for doing such a cartoonish accent, I simply would not attempt whatever Hank Azaria is attempting to do on #TheIdol' The episode ends with new character Chloe (Suzanne Son) singing at Jocelyn's piano, as Jocelyn, Tedros, Izaak and Leia all join her. It seems that actual song will be released tonight, with The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) tweeting a part of the lyrics - 'thats my family we dont like each other very much but Im ok with that.' When a fan asked if the song will be released, Tesfaye said, 'TONIGHT in less than 2 hours "that's my family."' It's unclear if there are plans to release other music from the show throughout the show's six-episode season. It's also unclear if HBO will renew the show for a second season or not, with the first episode debuting to an underwhelming 913K viewers for the linear broadcasts. Evil: @stillcherry_ called out co-creator Sam Levinson, adding, 'Sam Levinson you evil man wtf #TheIdol' Freaking: @98WKND added, 'Everybody freaking out about The Idol on the tl wtf is going on' Using: @alocalweekndfan shared a meme from Dance Moms adding, 'Is Tedros just using Jocelyn or does he kinda like her I can't tell' Thoroughly: @lethallyfab added, 'If I were an actor who was thoroughly reamed for doing such a cartoonish accent, I simply would not attempt whatever Hank Azaria is attempting to do on #TheIdol' Song: It seems that actual song will be released tonight, with The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) tweeting a part of the lyrics - 'thats my family we dont like each other very much but Im ok with that.' Tonight: When a fan asked if the song will be released, Tesfaye said, 'TONIGHT in less than 2 hours "that's my family."' The episode begins with Jocelyn calling in her team including record label exec Nikki (Jane Adams), co-managers Chaim (Hank Azaria) and Destiny (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), creative director Xander (Troye Sivan) and her best friend/assistant Leia (Rachel Sennott). She tells them that last night she remixed her upcoming single World Class Sinner after her unique tryst with Tedros... where he choked her before cutting an air hole at the last second. She plays the song for them but no one likes it, as Nikki blasts her for trying to change the song so close to release, though it only drives her closer to Tedros. We get a brief glimpse into his life, seeing him chatting with Jocelyn while Izaak (Moses Sumney) chats with Jocelyn's BFF Leia, who has always thought Tedros was sketchy... though it seems Izaak may be trying to woo Leia on Tedros' behalf, to get her out of the way as he digs deeper into Jocelyn's life. Tedros even casually suggests he should move in to her house, which she easily accepts, as he continues to infiltrate her life on an even deeper level. The preview teases Tedros getting closer and closer, which worries Leia, who is calling someone saying that, 'Tedros is just taking over the house.' The final shot of the preview shows Jocelyn introducing Tedros to her managers Chaim and Destiny, who says, 'Never trust a dude with a rat tail.' Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs has accepted her King's Birthday Honour for contribution to journalism, despite her fierce opposition to the monarchy. The presenter, 47, made headlines in September when she called on Britain to apologise and 'make up for' its colonisation of First Nations people, just days after the Queen's death. Yet on Monday, Jacobs willingly accepted an OAM, one of the highest honours bestowed by the monarchy. Defending her apparent backflip in a lengthy Instagram post, Jacobs explained that she was accepting the award 'from her community' rather the monarchy. 'While I'd prefer to receive such an honour from a different head of state, the Commonwealth is the system within which we operate,' she wrote. Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs, 47, (pictured) accepted her King's Honour on Monday despite her fierce opposition to the monarchy 'Before choosing to be named on the King's Birthday Honour's list, I considered all the First Nations people who've courageously taken up spaces created by the colony.' Narelda then revealed she pondered on her late father Cedric's legacy before deciding to accept her OAM. Cedric, who was a Whadjuk Noongar man and a member of the Stolen Generation, received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 1981. Defending her apparent backflip in a lengthy Instagram post, Jacobs explained that she was accepting the award 'from her community' rather the monarchy 'I thought about my dad receiving his MBE from the Queen in 1981, while fighting to have his Noongar Sovereignty recognised, fully aware of the monarch's role in dispossessing his people,' she wrote. 'I decided to take my lead from those who recognise the importance of stepping into the room in order to change it.' She then made reference to her support for The Voice to Parliament at the upcoming Australian referendum, which is a proposed body that will work with the government on laws and policies that affect Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people. 'Before choosing to be named on the King's Birthday Honour's list, I considered all the First Nations people who've courageously taken up spaces created by the colony,' she wrote 'I thought about my dad receiving his MBE from the Queen in 1981, while fighting to have his Noongar Sovereignty recognised, fully aware of the monarch's role in dispossessing his people,' she wrote It comes after Narelda sparked a heated debate on social media after she called for the monarchy to apologise for its colonisation of First Nations people following the death of Queen Elizabeth II 'In this referendum year, I'm grateful to be part of the change,' she wrote. It comes after Narelda sparked a heated debate on social media after she called for the monarchy to apologise for its colonisation of First Nations people following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Her request was met with support from some progressive Australians but also backlash from Britons who feel they do not owe First Nations people an apology for the actions of their ancestors more than 200 years ago. Following Queen Elizabeth II's death, Jacobs shared an Instagram Story from the left-wing women's website Mamamia, which read: 'I am an Aboriginal woman. Don't ask me to mourn the Queen's death' Others pointed out that Narelda is of Irish and English descent on her mother's side, making her 'as much British as she is Indigenous'. Narelda's late father Cedric was an Indigenous man, while her mother Margaret, who is white, migrated to Australia from Northern Ireland with her family. Queen Elizabeth visited Australia 16 times during her 70-year reign. In 2002, she famously watched a cultural show at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Cairns. Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history Sunday at the 76th Annual Tony Awards at New York City's United Palace Theater, becoming the first openly nonbinary performers to win acting honors at the event. Newell, 30, claimed the honors for best actor in a featured role in a musical for their efforts in the musical Shucked, becoming the first openly nonbinary performer to win at the luxe event. Later in the evening, Ghee, 33, became the second entertainer to achieve the feat, garnering the honors for leading role in a musical win for their efforts in Some Like It Hot. The respective victories come a year after Toby Marlow, a nonbinary writer and composer, took home the Tony for best original score for their efforts alongside Lucy Moss on SIX: The Musical. Newell, a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, delivered an emotional acceptance speech in claiming the win for their performance as a whiskey distiller named Lulu in Shucked. The latest: Alex Newell, 30, (L) and J. Harrison Ghee, 33, made history Sunday at the 76th Annual Tony Awards at New York City's United Palace Theater, becoming the first openly nonbinary performers to win honors at the event TONY AWARDS 2023: Winners at a glance Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo Best Play Leopoldstadt Best Musical Revival Parade Best Leading Actress in a Musical Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Best Leading Actress in a Play Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Best Leading Actor in a Musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Best Leading Actor in a Play Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Advertisement 'Thank you for seeing me, Broadway,' Newell said. 'I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts. 'And to anyone that thinks that they can't do it, Im going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to.' Newell said they had hoped to win a Tony for their whole life, and thanked their colleagues in Shucked, and their mother for unconditional love and teaching them 'what strength is.' Newell's competition in the category included their Shucked costar Kevin Cahoon, Kimberly Akimbo's Justin Cooley, Some Like It Hot's Kevin Del Aguila and Lerner & Loewe's Camelot's Jordan Donica. Ghee, accepting the honors for leading actor in a musical, spoke about their mother, in dedicating the award to people who are trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming. 'My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me; to use them to be effective in the world - to help somebody else's journey,' Ghee said in accepting the honors. They continued: 'So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give. For every trans, nonbinary gender nonconforming human who was told you couldn't be seen, this is for you.' Ghee also thanked writers Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin 'letting me lead, for letting me bring myself to the work, for letting me be representation [and] letting lives be seen - thank you for the humanity.' Newell, a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, delivered an emotional acceptance speech in claiming the win Newell said, 'To anyone that thinks that they can't do it, I'm going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to' Newell said they had hoped to win a Tony for their whole life, and thanked their colleagues in Shucked, and their mother for unconditional love and teaching them 'what strength is' Ghee spoke about their Some Like It Hot role, of one of The Tip-Tap Twins who initially identifies as a man, until emerging as Daphne. 'When I saw the script and saw the journey that I got to take, I saw an opportunity to be that representation, to be an inspiration, to be someone that could a part of people's lives in a way that they could see themselves and, and grow and learn and live and expand,' Ghee told media backstage at the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ghee said that performing in the production had been a 'wonderful' opportunity 'to walk every day and give myself the grace to grow, to give myself the space and the opportunity every day to play, to step out of my own comfort zone and to break labels and limits and boundaries for myself, first and foremost, and to hopefully be that for others.' They continued: 'People often see me and say, well, I could never wear that or I can never do that, and this whole season, I have been living in this mantra: You have to free yourself to see yourself.' Ghee had been nominated against their Some Like It Hot costar Christian Borle, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street's Josh Groban, Into the Woods' Brian d'Arcy James, Parade's Ben Platt and New York, New York's Colton Ryan. Newell and Ghee had already achieved historic feats with their nominations - being the initial openly nonbinary nominees in the categories they were nominated in. Both indicated to Tonys officials they would prefer to be nominated in the best actor categories, as the award show continues to use categories by gender. Elsewhere, the intimate, funny-sad musical Kimberly Akimbo nudged aside splashier rivals on Sunday to win the musical crown at the Tony Awards on a night when Broadway flexed its creative muscle amid the Hollywood writers' strike. Ghee, accepting the honors for leading actor in a musical, spoke about their mother, in dedicating the award to people who are trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming Said Ghee: 'My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me; to use them to be effective in the world - to help somebody else's journey' Ghee said that performing in Some Like It Hot had been a 'wonderful' opportunity 'to walk every day and give myself the grace to grow' Kimberly Akimbo, with songs by Jeanine Tesori and a book by David Lindsay-Abaire, follows a teen with a rare genetic disorder that gives her a life expectancy of 16 navigating a dysfunctional family and a high school romance. Victoria Clark, as the lead in the show, added a second Tony to her trophy case, having previously won one in 2005 for The Light in the Piazza. Producer David Stone credited the musical's writers for penning a magic trick, calling Kimberly Akimbo a 'musical comedy about the fragility of life, so healing and so profound and joyous that is almost impossible.' The musical took home a leading six awards. Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt, which explores Jewish identity with an intergenerational story, won best play, also earning wins for director Patrick Marber, featured actor Brandon Uranowitz and Brigitte Reiffenstuels costumes. The British-Czech playwright, who now has five best play Tony Awards, joked he won his first in 1968 and noted that playwrights were 'getting progressively devalued in the food chain' despite being 'the sharp ends of the inverted pyramid.' Second-time Tony Awards host Ariana DeBose opened a blank script backstage before dancing and leaping her way to open the main show with a hectic opening number that gave a jolt of electricity to what is usually an upbeat, safe and chummy night. The writers' strike left the storied awards show honoring the best of musical theater and plays without a script . Before the pre-show began, DeBose revealed to the audience the only words that would be seen on the teleprompter: 'Please wrap up.' Newell's competition in the category included their Shucked costar Kevin Cahoon, Kimberly Akimbo's Justin Cooley, Some Like It Hot's Kevin Del Aguila and Lerner & Loewe's Camelot's Jordan Donica Newell was honored for their performance as a whiskey distiller named Lulu in Shucked Ghee had been nominated against their Some Like It Hot costar Christian Borle, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street's Josh Groban, Into the Woods' Brian d'Arcy James, Parade's Ben Platt and New York, New York's Colton Ryan Ghee was seen performing alongside Adrianna Hicks at Sunday's ceremony Later in the evening, virtually out of breath after her wordless opening performance, she thanked the labor organizers for allowing a compromise. 'I'm live and unscripted. You're welcome,' she said. 'So to anyone who may have thought that last year was a bit unhinged, to them, I say, "Darlings, buckle up."' Winners demonstrated their support for the striking writers either at the podium or on the red carpet with pins. Miriam Silverman, who won the Tony for best featured actress in a play for The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, ended her speech with: 'My parents raised me to believe in the power of labor and workers being compensated and treated fairly. We stand with the WGA in solidarity!' Jodie Comer, the three-time Emmy nominated star of 'Killing Eve' won leading actress in a play for her Broadway debut, the one-woman play 'Prima Facie,' which illustrates how current laws fail terribly when it comes to sexual assault cases. Sean Hayes won lead actor in a play for Good Night, Oscar, which dramatizes a long nights journey into the scarred psyche of pianist Oscar Levant, now obscure but once a TV star. 'This has got to be the first time an Oscar won a Tony,' Hayes cracked. Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play about sibling rivalry, inequality and society's false promises, won the Tony for best play revival. She thanked director Kenny Leon and stars Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: 'They showed up to be large in a world that often does not much want the likes of us living at all.' Bonnie Milligan, who won for best featured actress in a musical for Kimberly Akimbo, also had a message to the audience: 'I want to tell everybody that doesnt maybe look like what the world is telling you what you should look like - whether youre not pretty enough, you're not fit enough, your identity is not right, who you love isnt right - that doesn't matter.' 'Cause just guess what?' she continued, brandishing her award. 'It's right, and you belong.' Many of the technical awards - for things like costumes, sound, lighting and scenic design - were handed out at a breakneck pace during a pre-show hosted by Skylar Astin and Julianne Hough, allowing winners plenty of airtime for acceptance speeches but little humor. The pre-show telecast on Pluto featured some awkwardly composed shots and some presenters slipped up on certain words. The tempo was so rapid, it ended more than 10 minutes before the main CBS broadcast was slated to start. John Kander, the 96-year-old composer behind such landmark shows as Chicago, Cabaret and The Scottsboro Boys, was honored with a special lifetime award. He thanked his parents; his husband, Albert Stephenson; and music, which 'has stayed my friend through my entire life and has promised to stick with me until the end.' Jennifer Grey handed her father, Cabaret star Joel Grey, the other lifetime achievement Tony. 'Being recognized by the theater community is such a gift because its always been, next to my children, my greatest, most enduring love,' the actor said. Echoing the there of antisemitism, Parade - a doomed musical love story set against the real backdrop of a murder and lynching in pre-World War I Georgia that won Tonys as a new musical in 1999 - won for best musical revival, with Michael Arden winning for best musical director. 'Parade tells the story of a life that was cut short at the hands of the belief that one group of people is more valuable than another and that they might be more deserving of justice,' Arden said. 'This is a belief that is the core of antisemitism, white supremacy, homophobia and transphobia and intolerance of any kind. We must come together. We must battle this.' 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 The telecast featured performances from all the nominated musicals and Will Swenson - starring on Broadway in a Neil Diamond musical - led the audience in a vigorous rendition of Sweet Caroline. Lea Michele of 'Glee' and now Funny Girl fame also performed a soaring version of Don't Rain on My Parade. It all took place at the United Palace Theatre, in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan - a new venue for the ceremony, many miles from Times Square and the theater district. 'Thank you all for coming uptown. Never in my wildest dreams, truly,' Lin-Manuel Miranda joked onstage. He, of course, wrote the musical In the Heights, set in Washington Heights. Collette Dinnigan has shuttered her eponymous homewares shop in New South Wales' Southern Highlands, barely a year after it first opened its doors. The store was located in the historic Post Office in Mittagong and sold artisan fragrances, candles and homewares. According to PS Sydney, the fashion designer set up her boutique as an 'experiment', but had struggled finding staff to man the shop and was often spotted behind the counter herself. She will continue to sell her hand-printed Belgian linen curtains, scented candles, ceramics and cushions made from her exclusive archival fabrics and antiques online. Dinnigan and her husband Bradley Cocks run luxury rental properties on the North and South coast, as well as Bowral in the Southern Highlands. Collette Dinnigan, 57, (pictured) has shuttered her eponymous homewares shop in New South Wales' Southern Highlands, barely a year after it first opened its doors The store was located in the historic Post Office in Mittagong and sold artisan fragrances, candles and homewares The designer shocked the fashion world in 2013 when she closed her Sydney, Melbourne and London stores. Dinnigan later explained that she she made the decision as her work was taking a toll on her personal life, and that she wanted to spend more time with her husband and her two children, Hunter and Estella. She previously spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the major life change, and how it altered her home life for the better. The star is married to Bradley Cocks and has two children, Hunter and Estella 'You can't do nine to five in fashion,' she revealed. 'It's all encompassing. But I can control it now. I'm able to spend school holidays with my family rather than having to be in Paris for shows.' In 2020, Dinnigan sold two of her Paddington holdings for a combined total of $4million just days after listing each property. She then purchased a $2.85million cottage in Bowral in 2022. The theatre director Michael Arden left some viewers at home baffled after a significant chunk of his acceptance speech at the 2023 Tony Awards was censored. Arden, 40, had been honored with the Best Direction of a Musical award for the acclaimed revival of Parade which also won Best Musical Revival when he gave a speech supporting the LGBTQ community and combating anti-queer hate. However, his use of the reclaimed F-word ran afoul of CBS censors, who bleeped out much more than just that word due to the Tony Awards' tape delay. 'Growing up, I was called the F-word more times than I can remember,' he said from the stage of the United Palace in Manhattans Washington Heights neighborhood. 'And all I can say is that now I'm a f***** with a Tony.' Only skilled lip readers would have been able to understand the second part of the quotation, as it was almost completely bleeped out from the television broadcast on CBS and was largely inaudible. Bleeped out: Michael Arden, who won Best Direction of a Musical at the 2023 Tony Awards for Parade, had part of his speech censored after he said 'f*****' in a speech supporting the LGBTQ community TONY AWARDS 2023: Winners at a glance Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo Best Play Leopoldstadt Best Musical Revival Parade Best Leading Actress in a Musical Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Best Leading Actress in a Play Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Best Leading Actor in a Musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Best Leading Actor in a Play Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Advertisement It's unclear if viewers watching the ceremony on Paramount+ would have experienced the same amount of censorship of his speech. No firm guidelines from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exist detailing what words cannot be uttered on broadcasts, and it is particularly complicated with slurs such as the F-word, which is sometimes used by members of the LGBTQ community to rob it of its negative connotations. Arden, who is openly gay, made it clear that he was trying to uplift the LGBTQ community earlier in his speech. 'And to our beautiful trans, nonbinary, queer youth, know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful,' he said just before the censored portion of his acceptance speech. 'Everyone in this room sees you and needs you and will fight alongside you and we will win.' It didn't take long for Arden's full sentiments to make their way to social media, though they would still have been lost to many home viewers who weren't following along. Ben Platt, best known for playing the title role in the Broadway sensation Dear Evan Hansen, was on his feet and clapping boisterously after Arden made his declaration. The actor worked with Arden closely on Parade, in which he plays the lead role. The dark musical tells the true story of Leo Frank (Platt), a Jewish factory superintendent in Georgia who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a 13-year-old girl in the 1910s. Modern scholars largely believe that Frank was innocent, and at the time, Georgia's governor commuted his sentence to life in prison after an examination of the evidence. Much of the most damning testimony from the trial was delivered by the factory's janitor, though he is now considered the most likely suspect in the murder of the teen girl. But even after Frank's sentence was changed to life imprisonment, a mob broke into the prison where he was being held and kidnapped, only to transport him to the home town of the murdered girl, where he was brutally lynched. None of the perpetrators were ever charged with Frank's murder. 'Growing up, I was called the F-word more times than I can remember,' he said while standing up against anti-LGBTQ bigotry. 'And all I can say is that now I'm a f***** with a Tony' Missing: Only skilled lip readers would have been able to understand the second part of the quotation, as it was almost completely bleeped out from the television broadcast on CBS and was largely inaudible Ripped from the headline: Arden, who is openly gay, directed Parade. The musical is about the true-life story of a Jewish factory worker who was possibly wrongly sentenced to death for murdering a teenage girl, only to be kidnapped from prison and lynched after his sentence was commuted to life in prison; seen with husband Andy Mientus On the same page: Ben Platt, who stars as the lynched factory worker, was on his feet cheering and clapping for Arden during his defiant speech The top prizes at Sunday's Tony Awards went to a quartet of acclaimed shows. Kimberly Akimbo scored several awards, including the night's final honor, Best Musical. Tom Stoppard's searing historical drama Leopoldstad won Best Play, while Parade was honored with Best Musical Revival and Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog won for Best Play Revival. Kimberly Akimbo won the most Tony Awards at five, while Leopoldstadt was close behind with four awards. Jodie Comer won Best Actress in a Play for Prima Facie, a one-woman show about a defense attorney known for representing men accused of sexual assault whose convictions are shaken when she is a victim of the same crime. Victoria Clark added to the many winners from Kimberly Akimbo. She plays the lead role, a teenage girl suffering from a disease that causes her to age extraordinarily fast, making her resemble the 63-year-old theatre veteran. J. Harrison Ghee made history as one of the first two non-binary actors to win a Tony. They won for Best Actor in a Musical for the adaptation of Billy Wilder's Marilyn Monroestarring comedy Some Like It Hot, while Alex Newell became the first non-binary actor to win earlier in the evening for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked. Rounding out the lead acting winners was Will & Grace's Sean Hayes, who won Best Actor in a Play for Good Night, Oscar, a biographical drama about the pianist, actor and public intellectual Oscar Levant. Leopoldstadt traces the path of a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna caught in the crossfire of the Holocaust after escaping Eastern Europe's pogroms. It marks the fifth time Stoppard has won a Tony a record in a career lasting over five decades, It deals with similar themes of antisemitism and virulent hate as Parade, which premiered in 1998. The musical recounts the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory superintendent in Georgia who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a 13-year-old girl. Modern scholars largely believe that he was innocent, and at the time, Georgia's governor commuted his sentence to life in prison, only for a mob to kidnap him from the jail and lynch him in the murdered girl's home town. Topdog/Underdog focuses on two Black brothers struggling under the weight of racism and dwindling opportunities, before dark secrets are revealed that threaten to destroy their tenuous relationship. This year's ceremony was the latest production to be 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 went on. Winner! Jodie Comer won Best Leading Actress in a Play at the 2023 Tony Awards for the one-woman play Prima Facie The ceremony aired on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union agreed not to picket the event. Broadway icon Lin-Manuel Miranda 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. Viewers were be entertained with plenty of performances from a variety of Tony-nominated musicals on stage. Audience members were treated to performances from the casts of Into the Woods, New York, New York, Shucked, Beautiful Noise, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and more. It also featured performances from the cast of the Lea Micheleled musical, Funny Girl. Kimberly Akimbo beat out other musicals, including Some Like It Hot, which earned 13 nominations, as well as & Juliet; New York, New York; and Shucked. Winning play Leopoldstadt was nominated with Ain't No Mo', Between Riverside And Crazy, Cost Of Living and Ham. 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. Master of ceremonies: West Side Story actress and Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose hosted this year's event from the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. She said the show featured no script in solidarity with the WGA strike '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. The 76th annual Tony Awards, held at United Palace Theater on Sunday, were not without controversy. The annual show celebrating all things Broadway received backlash after Lifetime Achievement Award winners Joel Grey, 91, and John Kander, 96, were not allowed to speak after receiving their award. The iconic duo were announced as winners and joined on stage by host Ariana DeBose and Julianne Hough. However, just as soon as they appeared they were awkwardly ushered off, all without saying a word. Grey was previously given the opportunity to make a speech as he accepted the award, however it was at the pre-show. Kander also received his award at the pre-show from New York, New York writing partner Lin-Manuel Miranda who dropped out as writer of the opening segment in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America Strike. Backlash: The 76th annual Tony Awards received backlash after Lifetime Achievement Award winners Joel Grey, 91, and John Kander, 96, were not allowed to speak onstage The pair stood on stage for a quick beat while getting a standing ovation, before the ladies walked them back out. Fans quickly took to social media to point out the situation, with one writing on Twitter, 'So why Joel Gray and John Kander not allowed to say something about their lifetime Tony awards.' 'I wanted to hear Joel Gray and John Kander speak for their lifetime achievement awards,' another added. Comments from disappointed fans continued to pour in, with someone else writing, 'Please, there is NO REASON that these aren't in the "main" show. It's infuriating.' 'Disrespectful to John Kander and Joel Gray. They are living legends. Stop pandering to people who were born since 2000.' 'Wait no recap for Joel Gray and John Kander?? Good thing they and their moment moment in Act 1,' someone else chimed in. Earlier on Sunday Grey received his award from daughter Jennifer Grey, 63, during the Tony Awards: Act One, Live Pre-Show. 'Its ultimately the people, the community all of you who have made this ride more outstanding than I could have imagined,' the actor proudly stated. No speech? The iconic duo were announced as winners and joined on stage by host Ariana DeBose and Julianne Hough Leaving without a word: However, just as soon as they appeared they were awkwardly ushered off, all without saying a word Pre-show: Grey was previously given the opportunity to make a speech as he accepted the award, however it was at the pre-show Writing partner: Meanwhile Kander received his award from New York, New York writing partner Lin-Manuel Miranda, also at the pre-show Upset: Fans quickly took to social media to point out the situation, with one writing on Twitter, 'So why Joel Gray and John Kander not allowed to say something about their lifetime Tony awards' Infuriating: 'Please, there is NO REASON that these aren't in the "main" show. It's infuriating' Unfair: 'I wanted to hear Joel Gray and John Kander speak for their lifetime achievement awards,' another added Living legends: 'Disrespectful to John Kander and Joel Gray. They are living legends. Stop pandering to people who were born since 2000' Disappointed: 'Wait no recap for Joel Gray and John Kander?? Good thing they and their moment moment in Act 1' TONY AWARDS 2023: Winners at a glance Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo Best Play Leopoldstadt Best Musical Revival Parade Best Leading Actress in a Musical Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Best Leading Actress in a Play Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Best Leading Actor in a Musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Best Leading Actor in a Play Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Advertisement Meanwhile an emotional Jennifer teared up as she watched her father accept the honor. She introduced him earlier saying, 'Hello, friends and colleagues of my dad.' The star added that it was an 'honor' to present the award to her father, who is best known for playing the Master of Ceremonies in the film and stage versions of Cabaret, which earned him an Oscar, a Tony and a Golden Globe award. She already started getting choked up before a video package was played showing footage from her father's work. After the presentation she concluded by presenting, 'your hero, my hero, Joel Grey' to the stage, earning a standing ovation. 'My daughter, my beauty, my sweetness. Seven pounds, 11 ounces, no more. No more! Thank you, darling!' Joel said. Eight years earlier, Jennifer Grey also presented her father Joel with another lifetime achievement award, and she also got teared up as well. Jennifer honored Joel with the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards in New York City back in 2015. Sweet moment: Earlier on Sunday Grey received his award from daughter Jennifer Grey, 63, during the Tony Awards: Act One, Live Pre-Show Touching: 'Its ultimately the people, the community all of you who have made this ride more outstanding than I could have imagined,' the actor proudly stated Emotional: Meanwhile an emotional Jennifer teared up as she watched her father accept the honor Cute: At one point she sweetly cuddled up to her dad Fab trio: The duo later posed with host Ariana backstage No hard feelings: They appeared to have no hard feelings about being snubbed from the main show and smiled for snaps Relaxing: They relaxed at the event sitting side by side backstage 'I didnt expect to feel like that, Jennifer said to the crowd at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, already getting choked up. She joked, 'I feel like Liza [Minnelli], all gaspy and stuff!' She started to speak again but added, Just give me a moment, sorry about that,' as the crowd broke out in applause. 'Im so inspired by my dad. By the sheer breadth of his work, his love of life,' Grey continued. 'As someone who has clung to his every move my entire life his incredible career only pales in comparison to the accomplishment of how he lives his life, his gigantic heart. This world is just markedly better for him being here,' she added. This year's ceremony was 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. The ceremony aired on CBS in an unscripted format, and the union agreed not to picket the event. Mischa Barton is currently shooting her starring role on the Neighbours reboot. And on Wednesday, The O.C. star, 37, joined her co-stars on the set of the new series in Melbourne. Mischa looked tense as she took a phone call while she crossed the road with her co-star Xavier Molyneux. She kept warm in a black and white coat and black pants as she filmed scenes. Mischa's character appeared to show off a baby bump as she chatted on the phone and held papers in her hand. Mischa Barton looked tense during a phone call as she joined her co-star Xavier Molyneux in Melbourne to film Neighbours reboot. Pictured Mischa looked tense as she took a phone call while she crossed the road for the scene Watch Mischa Barton in the iconic series, The O.C. available only on Stan. The actress wore her blonde locks loose on the day, opting for a centre part, and her makeup palette was subtle. It comes after Mischa revealed it was Neighbours veteran Kylie Minogue who inspired her to accept a role on the iconic Australian soap. The Hills: New Beginnings star admitted while she had never watched the show prior to signing on she was well aware of its significance because she is a huge Kylie fan. 'I was familiar with it, probably the same things that most people recognise about the show, like Kylie Minogue and the fun stuff,' she told the Herald Sun. She kept warm in a black and white coat and black pants as she filmed scenes. Pictured with Xavier Molyneux Mischa's character appeared to show off a baby bump as she chatted on the phone 'So when the producers approached me about the role, I thought the character of Reece Sinclair was a very good fit.' Pop princess Kylie Minogue got her start in showbusiness with her role as Charlene on Neighbours from 1986 - 1988, which helped establish her image. Mischa recently shared shared an update from the Neighbours set with fans, appearing in a video on the show's official Instagram account. She promised her character will liven up the series and bring 'drama' to the plotlines. The actress wore her blonde locks loose on the day, opting for a centre part, and her makeup palette was subtle Brian Austin Green has a happily blended family. The former Beverly Hills, 90210 star has settled down with Australian professional dancer Sharna Burgess and the pair have a son together, Zane, 11 months. The 49-year-old is also raising the three children he shares with his ex-wife Megan Fox - Noah Shannon, 10, Bodhi Ransom, nine, and Journey River, six. It all works well for the brood, who will be travelling to Australia with Brian and Sharna, 37, while she works on Dancing With The Stars. 'People were so thrilled that we were together, and the kids were the same way,' the actor tells The Daily Telegraph. Brian Austin Green (right) has a happily blended family. The former Beverly Hills, 90210 star has settled down with Australian professional dancer Sharna Burgess (left) and the pair have a son together, Zane, 11 months 'As soon as we found out that Sharna was pregnant, the kids were just so excited. They couldn't wait and were hands on through everything, trying to be as helpful as they possibly can, constantly kissing on him and holding him and talking to him.' Brian says that Sharna is a 'blessing' to his family and even gets on well with his ex-wife. 'There's no competition between her and Megan,' the actor said. The Beautiful Disaster actor has been dating Sharna since October 2020 and they welcomed their first child - son Zane - last year. Sharna and Brian were first linked back in October 2020, and have been very open about how they manage their blended family. The 49-year-old is also raising the three children he shares with his ex-wife Megan Fox - Noah Shannon, 10, Bodhi Ransom, nine, and Journey River, six. All pictured It all works well for the brood, who will be travelling to Australia with Brian and Sharna, 37, while she works on Dancing With The Stars. Pictured with Brian's kids and their son Zane Speaking on the Not So Hollywood podcast last March, the Dancing With The Stars professional said their dynamic works out well. She said: 'Honestly, the relationship is great. The reason it's great is because the focus is the kids. 'There's nothing else that needs to be considered other than making this a beautiful, healthy, whole environment for them.' The mother added: 'People try to protect kids from divorce as much as they can so that they're not affected, but the truth is they're going to be affected. 'So you can only choose that there's a positive effect or a negative effect.' Megan and Brian were married from 2010 until their divorce was finalised in 2021, and maintain a co-parenting relationship. He also shares son Kassius, 21, with his ex, Vanessa Marcil. Jennifer's Body actress Megan, 37, is engaged to rapper Machine Gun Kelly, 33. The stars were out in force for the Max Mara fashion show at Stockholm City Hall in Sweden on Sunday night. And Demi Moore was among them as she looked effortlessly chic in a high-neck beige jersey dress while posing for snaps. The actress, 60, had her youthful figure on display in the tight number which had a long sleeve design and was teamed with a gold clutch bag. She wore her very long dark tresses in a sleek style and opted for a radiant makeup look to show off her pretty features. Elsewhere Lily Collins, 34, showed off her unique sense of style in a statement structured black skirt and sheer jumper. Beauty: Demi Moore looked effortlessly chic as she attended the Max Mara fashion show in Stockholm on Sunday night Stunning: Elsewhere Lily Collins, 34, showed off her unique sense of style in a statement structured black skirt and sheer jumper She was cinched in at the waist with a large belt and boosted her height with strappy platform heels. Lily wore her hair in plaits and opted for a vamp makeup look complete with a slick of dark pink lip. Elsewhere Nicky Hilton, 39, opted for a flowing green dress which she wore with a clutch bag. Amy Adams, 48, looked sophisticated in a black jumpsuit and beige blazer which she teamed with a sleek black leather bag. Lily shared snaps from the event to her social media as she wrote: 'Last night was a midsummer night's dream. Thank you @maxmara for a beautiful Stockholm welcome!' '@maxmara really completed my Scandi dreams!' Collins was especially excited to hang out with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kathy Hilton during the cruise. '@kathyhiltonn made me laugh!' the two-time Golden Globe nominee wrote via Instastory. Chic: The actress, 60, had her youthful figure on display in the tight number which had a long sleeve design and was teamed with a gold clutch bag Glowing: She wore her very long dark tresses in a sleek style and opted for a radiant makeup look to show off her pretty features In good spirits: She beamed away as she posed for snaps in her chic dress Outfit: She was cinched in at the waist with a large belt and boosted her height with strappy platform heels Here she is: Lily wore her hair in plaits and opted for a vamp makeup look complete with a slick of dark pink lip Pretty: Elsewhere Nicky Hilton, 39, opted for a flowing green dress which she wore with a clutch bag Style: Amy Adams, 48, looked sophisticated in a black jumpsuit and beige blazer which she teamed with a sleek black leather bag FROW: Mun Ka-Young, Lili Reinhart, Demi Moore and Lily Collins attend the Max Mara Resort 2024 show Fashionista: Lili Reinhart wore a high-neck sheer grey jumper teamed with a silk black skirt Ladies: They all had a catch up as they watched the show Abs: Yoyo Cao attends the Max Mara Resort 2024 Collection Fashion Show Incredible: Molly Chiang wore a stylish black velvet dress and blue heels Figure: Camila Coelho looked great in a linen top and skirt Neutrals: Jessica Wang wore a beige dress Sparkle: For Lily's second look she wore a silver mesh maxi-dress over a white slip dress and matching peep-toe heels Arrivals: Lily made her way inside and clutched her black designer bag 'When you know my love for @bravotv, you know what this moment means to me.' Collins will next appear in Happy Clothes, Michael Selditch's documentary on Emily in Paris costume designer Patricia Field, which premieres this Thursday at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan during the Tribeca Film Festival. The brunette beauty has an upcoming role in Ti West's horror three-quel MaXXXine, and she'll produce and star in Amazon's small-screen adaptation of Lisa Lutz's 2022 novel The Accomplice. Fans can probably expect the 10-episode fourth season of Emily in Paris to premiere sometime in December on Netflix. In it, Lily portrays Chicago native Emily Cooper, who works as Savoir social media strategist despite never learning to speak or write French. They are one of Hollywood's golden couples, having been a couple for over two decades and been married for a whopping 13 years. And it seems Harrison Ford, 80, and Calista Flockhart, 58, are as in love as ever as they stepped out for a rare appearance in Santa Monica on Sunday night. The couple looked as loved-up as ever as they headed for an Italian meal with pals, after which Harrison draped an arm around the Ally McBeal star in a night out that came just days before their wedding anniversary on Thursday. Looking sensational, Calista went for a low-key ensemble comprising voluminous jeans with a black cardigan and cross-body handbag. Harrison, who unveiled Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny at Cannes last month, was proving himself to be ageless as he cut a youthful figure in a grey shirt tucked into well-fitting trousers with smart black shoes. Loved-up: It seems Harrison Ford, 80, and Calista Flockhart, 58, are as in love as ever as they stepped out for a rare appearance in Santa Monica on Sunday night Off we go: Looking sensational, Calista went for a low-key ensemble comprising voluminous jeans with a black cardigan and cross-body handbag Here he is: Harrison, who unveiled Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny at Cannes last month, was proving himself to be ageless as he cut a youthful figure in a grey shirt tucked into well-fitting trousers with smart black shoes Last month, the couple set tongues wagging when a hilarious snap showed the Oscar-nominated actor's appreciation of his stunning wife during their appearance at the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival. Prior to attending the Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny premiere, Calista posed for a stunning shot to showcase her incredible gown - however fans were distracted by the background of the shot. Twitter users soon flooded the image with comments, with admirers writing: 'This picture deserves an Oscar... It belongs in a museum... Same energy, love it.' Others meanwhile praised Harrison's lasting love and affection, writing: 'Love a man who loves his wife. I live for pics admiring their wives... Men loving their women is hot!... They always look so happy together... Sweet: The couple could not resist cosying up while chatting to their pals at the dinner 'She's amazing. Her husband of 20 years obviously loves and adores her as he should. I'm good with this image... Still absolutely besotted. This is a warm fuzzies type of picture. Very cute... The kindness and love in this shot is everything'. The couple have been a couple since 2002 after meeting at the Golden Globes. The Hollywood legend popped the question on Valentine's Day in 2009, and the couple went on to marry in June the following year in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The ceremony was presided over by Governor Bill Richardson and New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles W. Daniels. The nuptials marked the actor's third marriage, as he previously wed Mary Marquardt and Melissa Mathison in 1964 and 1983, respectively. Happy days: Last month, the couple set tongues wagging when a hilarious snap showed the Oscar-nominated actor's appreciation of his stunning wife during their appearance at the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival Hey there! Prior to attending the Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny premiere at the festival, the Ally McBeal star posed for a stunning shot to showcase her incredible gown - however fans were distracted by the background of the shot The couple have one adopted son Liam Flockhart Ford, 22. Calista adopted Liam from birth, in 2001. After their wedding in 2010 Harrison adopted Liam. Back in 2020, Harrison joked about the secret to a lasting marriage in an interview with People - simply giving the advice: 'Don't talk... nod your head'. Despite his megastar status, he also revealed his chores are another integral element of marriage success as he shed light on life at his Wyoming ranch. He said: 'Well, if my chores are done and there's nothing more pressing and the weather's good I'll go flying I love to fly up there or walk in the woods, do some work, ride my road bike or mountain bike'. When the couple first got together, Harrison said: '"I'm in love... 'Romantic love is one of the most exciting and fulfilling kinds of love and I think there is a potential for it at any stage of your life. I was not surprised that I was able to fall in love, and I wasn't surprised that I did.' Happy days: The couple are pictured in 2002 just one year after meeting and falling in love Jonnie Irwin has revealed his dying wish for his three children as they prepare to celebrate Father's Day as a family. The A Place In The Sun host, 49, is bravely battling terminal cancer after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. It has since spread to his brain. In a new interview, Jonnie reflected on the life he wants his three sons Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Corma, two, to live when he is no longer here. 'I had a tough upbringing and I've managed to do a lot in my life, despite that, but I don't want them to struggle,' he told Hello! Magazine. 'I want them to have the confidence of a public school boy, but also be streetwise lads. They're happy kids, they laugh, and are a lot of fun to have around.' Jonnie Irwin has revealed his dying wish for his three children as they prepare to celebrate Father's Day as a family The A Place In The Sun host, 49 , is bravely battling terminal cancer after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 . It has since spread to his brain Jonnie grew up in Bitteswell, Leicestershire, and attended Lutterworth Grammar School before embarking on his career as an estate agent. The presenter also spoke of why he and his wife Jessica, 40, have kept his cancer battle a secret from their children. "I keep being asked, "Are you going to tell them?" but tell them what? It would be horrible news that they'd have to get their heads around,' he said. 'And it would confuse the hell out of Rex he's got a shocking enough day coming. Let's bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible.' Jonnie said he is confident his boys will have a good upbringing and a 'softer one than if I was around'. The Escape To The Country star has continued to work throughout his cancer battle as he doesn't have critical illness cover on his insurance. Earlier this month, Jonnie issued a health update as he revealed doctors were monitoring changes in his medication to help manage his pain. The presenter has been undergoing brain therapy, which he described last week as 'brutal'. Brave fight: The presenter also spoke of why he and his wife Jessica, 40, have kept his cancer battle a secret from their children Horrible: Jonnie was given just six months to live when he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which has spread to his brain, in August 2020 (pictured with co-host Jasmine Harman) Doting dad: In a new interview, Jonnie reflected on the life he wants his three sons Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Corma, two, to live when he is no longer here Jonnie said he was keeping his fingers crossed he will be out of hospital in time for Sunday, where he was due to make an appearance at A Place In The Sun Live at Kensington Olympia. He said: 'In hospital this week monitoring a changeover in my pain management regime. 'Fingers crossed Ill be out in time to make an appearance on Sunday for this weekends @aplaceinthesunofficial LIVE event at @olympialondon in Kensington. Hope to see you there.' It comes after Jonnie revealed he had been at death's door twice and that the terrifying health scares are some of the only times he and Jessica have spoken about the harsh reality of his prognosis. In a frank interview on the OneChat podcast with AIG life, Jonnie said: 'The programme is to try and remain positive. Positive for me is burying my head in the sand a bit. 'Jess and I don't talk about it much and we've been close to death's door a few times now. Twice at least. 'Apart from those times we've not really talked about it. Financially we're slowly getting stuff in place, transferring account details and putting stuff in her name but being positive such an important factor. I do that by not talking about it too much.' In the interview, Jonnie cried as he recalled the 'brutal' day he walked home to tell his wife 'I'm not going to be here anymore'. The television presenter had been filming A Place In The Sun in Italy when he began to see 'weird gold spots' when he was driving. A crew member with him in the car was concerned at the time and took him straight to hospital where he was told he had nodules around his brain. Jonnie got a flight straight back to the U.K and went to hospital. He said: 'Within a few hours I got told I had cancer. And I was like "right". 'Then a few hours later, my good friend Rahul was sat with me when they said it is terminal cancer and I had six months to live. 'Do you ever hear the phrase it knocked the wind out of you? Nothing had ever done that to me and that it did it. 'I was just battered.' Jonnie said it was when he was hiding from photo shots and taking selfies with fans that he decided to speak out about his terminal diagnosis. He said: 'The day came when I decided I'm going to tell the world and I just thought as well I might get some money for the family. 'It's been a massive weight off my shoulders. The day I came out and told the world I have terminal cancer is the day I started living again. I started being Jonnie Irwin again. 'I actually feel alive.' Khloe Kardashian gave her son Tatum the legal surname Kardashian when he was born, but later had a change of heart. The mother-of-two, who shares the baby with her cheating ex, Tristan Thompson later changed his surname to Thompson according to TMZ. The site reports that the baby had a different first name initially but they were unable to confirm what that was. It's fair to say that Khloe's relationship with Tristan would have been strained around the time Tatum was born via surrogate. It's been well-publicised that the sportsman got another woman. Maralee Nichols, pregnant after Khloe and Tristan had decided to use the surrogate to carry Tatum. Going through it: Khloe Kardashian's son Tatum was given the legal surname Kardashian at birth - which was later changed to Thompson - and even his first name was different Troubled times: It's fair to say that Khloe's relationship with Tristan would have been strained around the time Tatum was born via surrogate after Tristan got another woman pregnant Guilty: Khloe recently opened up about failing to connect with her newborn son Tatum, three months after he was born via a surrogate on Hulu's The Kardashians Moreover, Khloe recently opened up about failing to connect with her newborn son Tatum, three months after he was born via the surrogate on Hulu's The Kardashians. While Kim was jetsetting to Milan and Kourtney and Kendall were in New York City, Khloe was back home in Los Angeles with Tatum. Her mother Kris Jenner pays her a visit early on in the third episode of The Kardashians Season 3 - entitled Everything Is My Fault! Khloe - who was awkwardly asked out on a date by Scott Disick in last week's episode - admitted to Kris, 'I feel guilty,' since she hasn't been able to 'connect' with her son yet, three months after his birth. Khloe also revealed to Kris that she has set new boundaries for her ex/baby's father Tristan Thompson, insisting she's not getting back together with him. Kris asks how Khloe feels - three months later - about the whole surrogacy process and Khloe says, 'When you compare it between True and him, it's a very different experience, the connection.' 'With True, it took me a couple of days, to be like, 'OK, this is my daughter and I was super into it,' but just days. With him, it's taking me months. I love him and I love kids, but I definitely still don't have that complete bond, but so many people say it takes time,' Khloe says. Kris adds, 'I think that for you, you've been through a lot. Your emotions are spent on trying to deal with trauma and all the stuff that you've been through and I think you have to remember that. I mean, you have to give yourself a little bit of credit. Khloe agrees but says she feels, 'guilty' because it's not the same, adding she doesn't treat him differently but she just questions herself sometimes. Kris adds that she should give herself a break because every time she comes over Khloe is, 'mother of the year, always feeding someone or entertaining someone or doting on your kids. You're the most attentive person to all of us.' Khloe adds in confession that she wishes she wasn't, 'so critical of myself because I'm very kind to everyone else, I'm just not kind to myself.' 'Being a mom is truly one of the most magical experiences ever,' Khloe adds in confession, as Kris asks to hold the baby, but Khloe warns he might throw up on her. Kris is holding the child and she starts crying as Kris adds, 'See your mom jumps up. Who is connected? Who's connected?' Earlier in the episode, Kris asked how everything is going with Tristan, as Khloe takes a breath before adding, 'We always get along great. 'Him and I have a great friendship relationship, we get along fine and for my kids, I will put anything to the side. 'What's done is done, so what would I still be holding on to something for. I don't need to 'punish him' because I'm not getting back with him.' Kris adds that she came over the other day and Tristan was there feeding their five-year-old daughter True and it was, 'really cute.' 'And if I'm not here and not around, he's here and I would rather him be here than a nanny. I mean, there are still boundaries. Like, I've definitely put my foot down around a lot of things. Like, no one is just here chilling if there are no kids involved,' Khloe tells Kris. Kris: Kris adds, 'I think that for you, you've been through a lot. Your emotions are spent on trying to deal with trauma and all the stuff that you've been through and I think you have to remember that. I mean, you have to give yourself a little bit of credit. Guilty: Khloe agrees but says she feels, 'guilty' because it's not the same, adding she doesn't treat him differently but she just questions herself sometimes Khloe adds in confession that the boundaries are important because, 'we've done this song-and-dance a handful of times already.' 'I've gotten back with him after a cheating scandal, so I don't know if Tristan is under the impression of, "Oh wow, let's just ride this out and eventually she'll get back with me." I get why he would think that. So it's my job to set boundaries that my actions show otherwise,' she says. Khloe tells Kris that they are not there just hanging out by themselves or watching TV together, adding in confession that she makes sure he knows, 'it's all about the kids.' 'I can't let those old habits just easily come into my life. It's just not what I want,' she adds in confession, while Kris says that makes her happy. The Kardashians S3 is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK. Sophie Habboo shared more snaps from her idyllic honeymoon with new husband Jamie Laing on Sunday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 29 flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy brown and white bikini in one image as she relaxed on the beach. She had her toned abs and lithe legs on display in the two piece as she showed off her tan and beamed away. Sophie completed the look with a red cap, dark shades and gold jewellery while wearing her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders. Another snap from her photo dump showed her cosying up to entrepreneur and podcaster Jamie, 34, as they wore matching sun hats. Fun in the sun: Sophie Habboo shared more snaps from her idyllic honeymoon with new husband Jamie Laing on Sunday Cute: Another snap from her photo dump showed her cosying up to entrepreneur and podcaster Jamie, 34, as they wore matching sun hats Another beach look saw Sophie don a beige halterneck bikini and white sarong as she posed on the sand. Blonde beauty Sophie wrote in the caption: 'Back in UK after the best two weeks with my @jamielaing.' After their picture-perfect wedding, the couple's honeymoon didn't get off to the best of starts, with the pair beset by flight delays, cancellations and lost luggage. The couple's first holiday spot in Panama caused a lot of grief following a nightmare 24-hour journey. Their nightmare honeymoon went from bad to worse after the visit to four different countries in one day as Jamie had his luggage lost while jetting from country to country. The disaster continued as their belongings had been sent back to their home in London rather than on to meet them in Panama. They then jetted to the Dominican Republic for the second part of the two-week honeymoon. Beauty: Another beach look saw Sophie don a beige halterneck bikini and white sarong as she posed on the sand Tanned: The former Made In Chelsea star, 29 flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy brown and white bikini in one image as she relaxed on the beach Peachy: She showed off her toned frame in the beige swimwear as she looked back at the camera Bronzed: Sophie completed the look with a red cap, dark shades and gold jewellery while wearing her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders Oh no! After their picture-perfect wedding, the couple's honeymoon didn't get off to the best of starts, with the pair beset by flight delays, cancellations and lost luggage Sophie and Jamie's relationship was well-documented throughout their time on Made In Chelsea. The pair's close friendship slowly turned to romance in mid-2019, but they were both initially hesitant to start dating in case it ruined what they had. The couple were previously best friends, before their friendship turned to romance on Made In Chelsea and they started dating four years ago. Jamie popped the question during a romantic proposal at London's Rosewood Hotel in December 2021. Danielle Lloyd ensured all eyes were on her on Monday as she relaxed at her hotel while on holiday in Dubai. The mother-of-five, 39, looked incredible in a brightly coloured red and yellow bodycon minidress. The tight-fitted outfit showcased her sensational figure and was printed with a very daring image of a naked female body. The glamour model decided to forgo shoes, as she made her way to the pool bar barefoot. The former Celebrity Big Brother star shielded her eyes from the hot sun behind a pair of oversized brown sunglasses. Eye-catching: Danielle Lloyd ensured all eyes were on her on Monday as she relaxed at her hotel while on holiday in Dubai Naughty: The mother-of-five, 39, looked incredible in a red and yellow bodycon minidress, which showcased her sensational figure and was printed with a very daring image of a naked female body Shady lady: The former Celebrity Big Brother star shielded her eyes from the hot sun behind a pair of oversized brown sunglasses Danielle completed her striking look by styling her long brunette tresses down and sporting a light palette of make-up. It comes after the model shared a glimpse into her lavish getaway last week with a jaw-dropping snap in a triangle black skimpy two-piece while at the beach. She rocked a pair of black sliders and flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed with the Dubai city skyline behind her. Danielle showcased her bronzed tan and pushed her dark tresses out of her face while holding a black hat. Captioning the stunning shot, she penned: 'Living my best life'. It comes after the former cover girl detailed her troubled past and battle with mental health issues while looking back on the downfalls of the 'hard industry'. Admitting it was 'just all too much', she opened up about the struggle while talking with Nigel Farage on GB News. Danielle has previously spoke on the battle, candidly sharing her rocky relationship with substance abuse and anxiety. She explained: 'It can take a toll, like I've had really down days, I've actually been really down, had a lot of problems and ended up in rehab. Glowing: It comes after the model shared a glimpse into her lavish getaway last week with a jaw-dropping snap in a triangle black skimpy two-piece while at the beach Explaining that she thought about suicide, Danielle continued: 'I was really depressed. 'I actually did consider taking my own life at one point or was down to feeling the stress of being in the spotlight. It was just all too much.' She later touched on going through a traumatising ordeal after a breast enhancement surgery, which led to her almost losing her life. 'I've had a lot of problems with surgery in the past, especially with my boobs. I nearly died [during surgery] and it was, it was just horrendous.' Anais Gallagher displayed her figure in a pink bandana bikini as she hit the beach near Milano Marittima in Italy on Monday. The model daughter of music star Noel, 23, was soaking up some European sunshine as she strolled along the sand. She opted for the bandana style top which had a pretty halterneck design and tie detailing and was teamed with matching briefs. The beauty accessorised her summer look with pink sliders and wore dark shades to shield her eyes from the sun. Anais wore her long blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features. Summer: Anais Gallagher displayed her figure in a pink bandana bikini as she hit the beach near Milano Marittima in Italy on Monday Out and about: The model daughter of music star Noel, 23, was soaking up some European sunshine as she strolled along the sand Beach: She opted for the bandana style top which had a pretty halterneck design and tie detailing and was teamed with matching briefs She was seen soaking up the sun on her lounger before donning a pair of green and white gingham trousers as she headed back to her hotel. It comes after her father Noel Gallagher has defended his daughter as he weighed into the nepotism row. The former Oasis rocker, 55 - who shares the model, photographer and film-maker with ex-wife Meg Mathews, 57 - told how his girl was 'good at what she does' when talking about a film she made of him. It comes after Anais herself said she would be 'tone deaf if I didn't admit how privileged my life is' as she addressed the criticism of 'nepotism babies'. 'Nepo babies', as it is often known, refers to children being given a leg-up in their industries as a result of being born into affluent or famous families. And in an interview with Dave Berry on Absolute Radio, Noel gave his opinion on the debate, revealing that while it is nice to 'keep things close to home', he acknowledges that the children have to be 'good at' what they're doing. Noel said 'It depends which way you look at it. My daughter she follows me around with a camera and she films me and all that. She did a film about the making of the album. 'I guess you want to keep things close to home, but they have to be good at what they do. Shes good at what she does. Shes not just wondering around pointing a camera going "muhh theres my dad", she is great.' Outfit: The beauty accessorised her summer look with pink sliders and wore dark shades to shield her eyes from the sun Glowing: Anais wore her long blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features The look: She was seen soaking up the sun on her lounger before donning a pair of green and white gingham trousers as she headed back to her hotel Having his say: It comes after her father Noel Gallagher has defended his daughter as he weighed into the nepotism row Proud: The former Oasis rocker, 55 - who shares the model, photographer and film-maker with ex-wife Meg Mathews, 57 - told how his girl was 'good at what she does' when talking about a film she made of him Honest: It comes after Anais herself said she would be 'tone deaf if I didn't admit how privileged my life is' as she addressed the criticism of 'nepotism babies' Common: 'Nepo babies', as it is often known, refers to children being given a leg-up in their industries as a result of being born into affluent or famous families Candid: And in an interview with Dave Berry on Absolute Radio , Noel gave his opinion on the debate, revealing that while it is nice to 'keep things close to home', he acknowledges that the children have to be 'good at' what they're doing He continued: 'Its not the worst thing in the world if you get your kids working for you, theyre cheap, do you know what I mean?... my lads are too busy scratching their balls and scouring TikTok for nonsense to worry about dad can I be your bass player or anything like that.' In November, Anais herself addressed the criticism surrounding 'nepotism babies' and admitted she is 'grateful' for the 'privilege' her upbringing has given her. She confessed she would be 'tone deaf and irresponsible' if she didn't admit the 'leg up' in life her upbringing has given her, saying it is something she will be grateful for 'until the day I die'. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she explained: 'I would be tone deaf and irresponsible if I didn't admit to how privileged my life has been and how much of a leg up my upbringing has given me. 'I'm really, really, extremely grateful for the situation my parents have been able to give me, and I'll be grateful until the day I die. 'Whether it's being able to attend university or have job opportunities, I'm incredibly grateful for everything they've given me.' Anais said she thinks there is 'justification' around hiring nepotism babies as she addressed criticism that they have access to opportunities which other people don't. Clever: In November, Anais herself addressed the criticism surrounding 'nepotism babies' and admitted she is 'grateful' for the 'privilege' her upbringing has given her Chat: Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she explained: 'I would be tone deaf and irresponsible if I didn't admit to how privileged my life has been and how much of a leg up my upbringing has given me' She added: 'I'm really, really, extremely grateful for the situation my parents have been able to give me, and I'll be grateful until the day I die' Thoughts: Anais said she thinks there is 'justification' around hiring nepotism babies as she addressed criticism that they have access to opportunities which other people don't' Strolling: She was enjoying a lovely beach day Tanning: She was topping up her glow Relaxed: She sipped on a drink while chilling on the sunbed Legendary supermodel Iman has shed light on how her late husband David Bowie helped give her the confidence to further her dazzling career. The SomaliAmerican model and actress, 67, spoke to NET-A-PORTERs digital title, PORTER about her make-up range Iman Cosmetics, which was born from her experiences in the fashion industry where people of colour were not catered to in the realm of cosmetics. After sitting in the make-up chair for a Vogue shoot, she was made to look 'grey' due to miscoloured foundation leading to her idea to launch her own collection - something David gave her the push to undertake. As well as discussing the birth of her company, Iman also revealed she was not looking to return to the runway having not attended a fashion show since 1989, as she professed: 'I dont want to go back, I want to go forward'. In an accompanying shoot to the interview, the sexagenarian looked nothing short of sensational in a slew of elegant ensembles shot for images showcasing her incredible physique and flawless modelling prowess. Incredible: Legendary supermodel Iman has shed light on how her late husband David Bowie helped give her the confidence to further her dazzling career Stunning: The SomaliAmerican model and actress, 67, spoke to Porter Magazine about her make-up range Iman Cosmetics, which was born from her experiences in the fashion industry where people of colour were not catered to in the realm of cosmetics Her love: After sitting in the make-up chair for a Vogue shoot, she was made to look 'grey' due to miscoloured foundation leading to her idea to launch her own collection - something David gave her the push to undertake (David and Iman in 1995) Promotion: Iman is seen in London's Selfridge's in 1997 promoting her cosmetics line Iman she was at university, when she was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and relocated to the US for her modeling career. While undertaking her first assignment for Vogue a year later in 1976, she first had her experience of the lack of awareness of make-up for people of colour. She recalled being asked if she had her own foundation - which she had not - and the culminating result: 'I looked gray. From then on, I went to Woolworths and would mix foundation and pigments and carried it with me to shoots... 'Me and a friend would take Polaroids and I would ask myself, how does this look, how does it translate? Even then I knew, like, this is how it was going to be. It was all those years ago that I got the idea for Iman Cosmetics.' Dazzling: Iman she was at university, when she was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and relocated to the US for her modeling career Changes: While undertaking her first assignment for Vogue a year later in 1976, she first had her experience of the lack of awareness of make-up for people of colour Stunner: She was a pioneering presence in the modelling industry After meeting David in 1990 when they were set up on a blind date by hairstylist Teddy Antolin, the couple married in 1992 up until his death in 2016. Speaking about the confidence the late rocker instilled in her, Iman went on: 'He was actually the one who gave me the confidence to do Iman Cosmetics... 'He asked, 'What are you scared of?' I didn't know if I could do it and [was worried] about failing. He said, 'What if it fails?' He was convinced I was going to regret not doing it.' She then broke boundaries with the make-up line when she launched in 1994. Read the full interview in Porter Magazine When asked if she would follow in the footsteps of a slew of other veteran models, including Linda Evangelista, Pat Cleveland and Naomi Campbell, and return to modelling, Iman seemed resolute in her feelings on the matter. She said: 'Ive never been good at doing three or four things at once. Ive worked with all the designers, but I havent been to a fashion show since 1989. I dont want to go back, I want to go forward' Iman recently reflected on her grief about David's death from cancer. She spoke to British Vogue about how she refuses to refer to him as her 'late' husband and discussed her difficulties over finding space to grieve privately. The couple had one daughter together, Alexandria Zahra Jones, 22. Speaking about how she has adjusted six years on from his death she told the publication: 'He is not my 'late husband'. He is my husband. I don't mind at all being referred to as 'David Bowie's wife'. 'But I always remind people that I existed before I met him.' Last year Iman revealed she will never remarry five years after her legendary rock star husband David lost his battle with cancer on Jan. 10 2016. Back? Speaking about the confidence the late rocker instilled in her, Iman went on: 'He was actually the one who gave me the confidence to do Iman Cosmetics' The star told PEOPLE magazine that it was 'love at first sight' when she met David on a blind date in Los Angeles years ago and still feels his presence after all this time. She said: 'David said it was love at first sight. It took me a few months but I got there.' She added: 'I knew him as David Jones, his real name, and not the rock star.' David kept his liver cancer battle mostly private, and passed away from the disease just days after turning 69 which coincided with the release of his 25th and final studio album Blackstar. Five years after his death from cancer, she created her first fragrance, Love Memoir, as a tribute to their 'epic romance.' To see the full feature with Iman read PORTER here or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android Bill Roache jumped out of a plane as he went skydiving for the first time at the age of 91 on Sunday. The Coronation Street star shared footage of his epic stunt in a pre-recorded segment, which aired during Monday's instalment of Lorraine. Bill first discussed his reasons for wanting to go on his epic adventure in the skies, explaining how others who had skydived say it's 'the best thing they've ever done in their life,' adding: 'And I'm sure I'll be joining that group.' The much-loved-actor admitted his feelings ahead of the skydive were 'all over the place,' but reassured viewers, by adding: 'one dominant one is excitement.' Bill joked that he was hoping he'd have 'a parachute on' when jumping out of the aeroplane with an instructor, as he was shown how to position his body during a grounded run-though of the skydive. Legend! On Sunday, Bill Roache, 91, jumped out of a plane as he went skydiving, and shared footage of his epic stunt in a pre-recorded segment, which aired during on Monday's Lorraine Why? Bill first discussed his reasons for wanting to go on his epic adventure in the skies, explaining how others who had skydived say it's 'the best thing they've ever done in their life Nervous: The much-loved-actor admitted his feelings ahead of the skydive were 'all over the place,' but reassured viewers, by adding: 'one dominant one is excitement' Bill zipped himself into his blue and yellow suit and fastened on a harness, while Lenny Kravitz's hit song Fly Away played in the background. Grinning widely while sat on the edge of the plane, the excited actor was inched out of the aircraft by the instructor strapped to his back. The duo then dove out of the plane into an exhilarating free-fall, spinning upside down with the wind blowing in his face, before the parachute sprung open. Bill eventually landed on the ground to rapturous applause, with the soap star overwhelmed as he admitted that his 'breath was taken away' during the 'amazing' skydive. He said: 'You can't breathe and it's quite startling. But then when the parachute opens and you see the glorious view, and that's lovely. You just slow down and you know how birds feel. It's really wonderful.' Speaking on Friday's instalment of Lorraine about his upcoming skydive, Bill insisted he doesn't want to slow down. He said: 'I'm doing a sky dive on Sunday morning for a good community cause. You shouldn't acknowledge your age. People say slow down, but if you don't use it you lose it.' Joker: He joked that he was hoping to have 'a parachute on' when jumping out of the aeroplane with an instructor, as he was shown how to position his body during a grounded run-though There they go! The actor was inched out of the aircraft by the instructor strapped to his back OMG: The duo then dove out of the plane into an exhilarating free-fall, spinning upside down with the wind blowing in his face, before the parachute sprung open Actress is gearing up for the release of her new comedy, No Hard Feelings Jennifer Lawrence has opened up about the ways becoming a mother has shifted her plans for the future as the star admitted she didn't expect to pursue a career in directing any time soon. The 32-year-old welcomed one-year-old son Cy in 2022 with husband Cooke Maroney, 38, and the No Hard Feelings star made it clear that focusing on her family was her top priority in a new interview. Speaking during an interview on Good Morning America on Monday, the Hunger Games actress explained how her hopes to direct a feature film had changed in recent years. 'I used to think that [I would direct]. Now I'm just so tired and it just looks so hard,' she stated. Family first: Jennifer Lawrence revealed how becoming a mother has shifted her plans for the future Hands on mom: The 32-year-old actress welcomed son Cy, one, in early 2022. Pictured in 2022 However, the actress is still working hard in front of the camera and behind the scenes after starring and producing her upcoming comedy, No Hard Feelings. Reflecting on her experience as a producer, she told GMA host George Stephanopoulos: 'It's good. It's busy but focused and streamlined. I don't take on anything that I can't personally read every draft of and give notes on.' The actress admitted she hadn't even been planning to get back into acting as soon as she did after giving birth, but the quality of the comedy's script pushed her to make her Hollywood comeback. 'I just had a baby and I wasn't planning on working for a long time,' she began. 'But I read the script. It was the funniest thing I had ever read.' The Silver Linings Playbook star explained that she wouldn't be jumping into the next project until the time was right as she continued to focus on her family life. She stated: 'Once you start your family, that's the greatest thing in the world. I'm just gonna try to take in every second and be present and enjoy it.' When asked if she will likely become a 'helicopter mom,' Jennifer laughed: 'Probably. I'll have to work on it.' Jennifer and Cooke, an art gallerist she married in 2019 at Belcourt Castle in Newport, Rhode Island, have never made their baby's exact date of birth public. I wasnt planning on working for a long time ... but then I just read the script and it was too funny. It was the funniest thing I had ever read. Jennifer Lawrence talks about her new comedy, #NoHardFeelings. https://t.co/RHHwPBbMw0 pic.twitter.com/XtawrXqLZ3 Good Morning America (@GMA) June 12, 2023 Back to work: The Hunger Games star admitted she doesn't expect to pursue a career in directing any time soon Switching plans: Lawrence had hadn't even been planning to get back into acting as soon as she did after giving birth. Pictured in November 2022 However, he was widely reported to have been born in February 2022. The couple named their baby after Cy Twombly, a 20th century American artist whose work influenced such names as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Julian Schnabel. She spoke touchingly about motherhood in a Vogue interview last year, reflecting on how her outlook had changed since Cy was born. 'The morning after I gave birth, I felt like my whole life had started over. Like, now is day one of my life,' she gushed. 'I just stared. I was just so in love. I also fell in love with all babies everywhere. Newborns are just so amazing.' Jennifer added: 'They're these pink, swollen, fragile little survivors. Now I love all babies. Now I hear a baby crying in a restaurant and I'm like, "Awwww, preciousssss."' The Don't Look Up actress reflected: 'My heart has stretched to a capacity that I didn't know about. I include my husband in that. And then they're both just, like, out there walking around, crossing streets.' Jennifer marveled that her baby was 'gonna drive one day. He's gonna be a stupid teenager and be behind the wheel of a car.' Happily married: Lawrence tied the knot with art gallerist Cooke Maroney at Belcourt Castle in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2019 Back to the big screen: R-rated comedy No Hard Feeling is set for release on June 23 Meanwhile, Jennifer is gearing up for the release of her raucous new comedy, in which she plays a cash-strapped woman trying to seduce a 19-year-old boy for pay. Jennifer's character Maddie finds herself in such dire financial straits that she is on the brink of losing her late mother's house. She throws herself on the mercy of a rich pair of New Age 'helicopter parents' played by Broadway stars Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick. Percy (Andrew Feldman), their geeky teenage son, is about to go to college and has been cosseted his whole life, never breaking the rules. The couple offers Maddie a car in exchange for a heavyweight favor - she must seduce Percy before he leaves for Princeton. No Hard Feelings then launches into her increasingly desperate attempts to get Percy into bed, including a nighttime skinny dipping excursion, taking him out to drink underage and even playfully trying to kidnap him. Helmed by Good Boys director Gene Stupnitsky, No Hard Feelings is set for release on June 23. Advertisement Sean Stewart and his new wife Jody Weintraub have enjoyed a mini honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos, an archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas. The Los Angeles based lovebirds were seen on a white sand beach in images shared exclusively to DailyMail.com. Jody wore a periwinkle blue string bikini that showed off her toned and tanned figure as she took selfies on the sand and in her hotel room. She added a colorful pajama top from her new husband's brand Dirty Weekend, which has become a bestseller since its launch. Sean and Jody tied the knot earlier this year in Las Vegas and, the stars told DailyMail.com exclusively in May, they are planning a big, splashy wedding with all their friends and family in Beverly Hills in September. Hot in the Bahamas: Sean Stewart and his new wife Jody Weintraub have enjoyed a mini honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos, an archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas A shore thing: The Los Angeles based lovebirds were seen on a white sand beach in images shared exclusively to DailyMail.com. Jody wore a periwinkle blue string bikini that showed off her toned and tanned figure as she took selfies on the sand During their new trip to the Turks and Caicos, Sean told DailyMail.com he was having the time of his life. 'We love to come here and unwind and just get away from it all,' he shared. 'This is a great place to reflect and look inside. And we love just walking on the beach and watching the sunset.' He and his wife took time to snorkel and sunbathe as they stayed in one of the area's top resorts. Jody also did a little bit of modeling for his brand as she showed off the pajama top. Sean is the fashion designer behind the casual brand Dirty Weekend which Scott Disick from The Kardashians is a fan of. They make hoodies and swim trunks and are soon coming out with bikinis. His partner on Dirty Weekend is Hector Marquez. The designs have a very fun Eighties Miami Vice feel with palm trees and sunsets. Bikini life: She added a colorful pajama top from her new husband's brand Dirty Weekend, which has become a bestseller since its launch Married life is good: Sean and Jody tied the knot earlier this year in Las Vegas and, the stars told DailyMail.com exclusively in May, they are planning a big, splashy wedding with all their friends and family in Beverly Hills in September 'It was so much fun creating this brand, I had a great time and there is so much more to come,' said Sean. 'I am very happy with the way things are looking and how people are reacting to the designs. 'I also love how the line is affordable so everyone can buy it, it's not just for a certain audience, it's for all.' In May he talked to DailyMail.com about his big wedding. 'We were going to throw our wedding in Spain but it became too difficult with everyone's schedules,' Sean told Dailymail.com exclusively during the Vanderpump Dogs charity gala at the Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills in mid May. 'So now we are having the wedding at Beverly Park in Beverly Hills in just a few months,' the 42-year-old added. And Sean is the son of rock star Rod Stewart; his mother is actress and model Alana Stewart. The wedding will include all their friends and family. As far as a dress, Jody - who is the daughter of Oceans 11 producer Jerry Weintraub - has not decided yet. 'I am not sure if I will wear white as I have been married before, so we will see, there are so many choices,' she told Dailymail.com. When asked if light pink - the same color of the dress she wore to the Vanderpump Dogs gala - would be good she said it was really not in the running. 'I think it will have to be a surprise for you, just wait,' she said with a wink, adding that their honeymoon would be in Bora Bora. As far as why she is the one, Sean said that they very close. Party time: They told DailyMail.com they are throwing a big, splashy wedding in Beverly Hills in September; seen at Lisa Vanderpump's dog charity event at the Maybourne hotel in Beverly Hills 'She is my best friend, we get along great,' Sean shared. And Jody added more: 'We got together like 20 years ago in Malibu, I am not sure how much he remembers, but we already had a thing, so when we met again later we had a background.' Sean said there were some strong sparks. 'Oh yeah, we had sparks big time,' he said. 'And we are very much in love.' Also at the Vanderpump Dogs gala were Paula Abdul, Kristin Chenoweth, La La Kent, Jason Kennedy, and Rebecca Romijn with husband Jerry O'Connell. Stewart shocked his family by announcing he'd married TV producer Weintraub in a 'spur-of-the-moment' ceremony in February 2023. The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas on Valentine's Day, with Sean proposing during a romantic meal and the couple making things official just hours later. The pair, who have known each other since high school, are said to have tied the knot at Little Church of the West while clad in their normal clothing. According to PEOPLE, Sean wore jeans and a YSL sweater, while the bride donned a black, cashmere jumpsuit for the ceremony. A source revealed to DailyMail.com that the couple were at Catch in Las Vegas when Sean popped the question, revealing: 'He just asked her to marry him. It was spur of the moment and no one was there except for the two of them.' It's not known exactly how long the pair have been dating, but they have known each other since their teenage years, having met through a mutual pal, producer Courtenay Semel, who has been best friends with Sean since they were children. Courtenay gushed about the union between her two close pals when contacted by DailyMail.com, saying: 'I am beyond happy for my two lifelong best friends. I knew years ago that they were meant to be. Timing is everything. They were a match made in heaven, literally.' Sean and Jody attended Courtenay's birthday party together in November - and she celebrated their union by posting a sweet clip of the couple at the celebration on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday. Jody is the daughter of late Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub and has a five-year-old son from her first marriage who is said to be a 'big fan' of Sean. A source told PEOPLE: 'They are both very family-oriented people. They both have famous families, they just get each other.' Hs work: Sean is the fashion designer behind the casual brand Dirty Weekend which Scott Disick from The Kardashians is a fan of After Sean proposed he is said to have called his mother Alana while en route to the courthouse, but Alana didn't believe that he was being serious. The insider revealed that after sending the family pictures from the occasion, Alana was left in tears and 'so so happy for him,' while 'his dad was so happy to hear the news.' The newlyweds celebrated their wedding back in Los Angeles with Sean's parents as the group headed for dinner at Nobu in Malibu. Alana was Rod's first wife, and they married in 1979, but they divorced five years later. As well as Sean, the couple share daughter Kimberly, 43. Dad: And Sean is the son of rock star Rod Stewart; his mother is actress and model Alana Stewart Eloped: The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas on Valentine's Day, with Sean proposing during a romantic meal (pictured with Rod last year) Documenting the dinner on Instagram, Alana penned: 'Congratulations to my boy @seanstewart and his beautiful bride @jody_weintraubstewart who surprised us all with a spur of the moment Las Vegas wedding. 'Im so happy for you both! #wedding #marriage #love.' Sean's rocky past has been well documented but in 2015 he insisted that he was back on the straight and narrow and would not fly off the rails. 'It's a total clean slate,' Sean told Daily Mail Australia. 'I couldn't imagine myself getting into anything that was drug-fuelled or alcohol fuelled at this point in my life you know, that's not even a blip,' he added. Advertisement Salma Hayek posed in a revealing bikini in an image shared to Instagram on Monday morning. The Frida actress put her arms up as she reclined on a the side of a yacht on the ocean while modeling a pair of black sunglasses. The 56-year-old Hollywood pinup's figure looked sensational with a trim tummy and muscular legs as well as thin, sculpted arms as she wore her famous long black locks down and wet from a dip in the water. In her caption she reminded fans to enjoy their life no matter what. 'Some people dont like grey days, but I think everyday is precious. Adore your week, No matter what it brings ' wrote the mother of one. Sun-sational! Salma Hayek posed in a revealing bikini in an image shared to Instagram on Monday morning. The Frida actress put her arms up as she reclined on a the side of a yacht on the ocean while modeling a pair of black sunglasses How the rich relax: The Hollywood pinup's figure looked sensational with a trim tummy and muscular legs as well as thin, sculpted arms as she wore her famous long black locks down and wet from a dip in the water. In her caption she reminded fans to enjoy their life no matter what. 'Some people dont like grey days, but I think everyday is precious. Adore your week, No matter what it brings ' wrote the mother of one The Hollywood icon's 24.5million followers could not get over how astonishing she looked in a skimpy string bikini with ties on the sides of the briefs. 'You lookin good! Have fun youre such an inspiration,' wrote one followers while another called her a 'queen' and several others shared fire emojis. 'Gorgeous,' gushed one fan as another quipped, 'Thought this was a throwback.' The red carpet fixture is known for showing off her ageless figure on social media. In mid April she displayed her incredible shape while in a canary yellow bikini as she climbed onto a boat with her hair slicked back from the water. Hayek has fascinated her fans for the past decade with her very youthful looks. But in January she was railed against for using a filter. She appeared more like her 2003 self than her 2023 self, which may have been with the help of some filters. Followers seemed to notice as one person asked, 'Who is that?' while another follower wrote, 'You look 25 mi chula' and someone else asked, 'HOW OLD IS SHE?????????' Later a fan added, 'You look beautiful so plz stop face tunning its getting out off hand.' Facetune is a photo editing application used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user's iOS or Android device created by Lightricks. Hayek credit her hairstylist Jennifer Yepez and makeup artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury but did not name the photographer. Haute stuff on the shore: The red carpet fixture is known for showing off her ageless figure on social media. In mid April she displayed her incredible shape while in a canary yellow bikini as she climbed onto a boat with her hair slicked back from the water Her long dark hair was worn in a ponytail that was tight and sleek. The mother-of-one had on cherry red lipstick with matching blush that was very flattering. Her lashes were long and her eyebrows were groomed as if she was ready for a magazine photo shoot. All she had on for clothing was a cream-colored bathrobe with a white belt. The actress was standing in a back yard with mature bushes. Hayek's caption read, 'Good morning!! buenos dias!! bonjour!!' Earlier this year she talked a beauty secret. The Eternals star admitted that when it comes to skincare, she had been using an ingredient usually used to treat burns victims in her native Mexico. A new look: Hayek shared a very stunning photo to her Instagram page in January And she explained that those in the US were often shocked because they had never heard of such a product. Then and now: Earlier this year she looked lovely at the Golden Globes, left, but this week she looks half her age She does not seem to age as she has a timeless look: Seen in 1998 in Hollywood She said: 'I use an ingredient called Tepezcohuite thats used in Mexico for burn victims because it completely regenerates the skin, and theres no one in the States who is using this ingredient except for us. 'Some of the ingredients, when I took them to the American labs, they were like "Oh my god! How come nobody is using this?" 'This is why I have no Botox, no peels, no fillings. Hayek last starred as Kitty Softpaws in the critically-acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. And she was also seen in Magic Mike's Last Dance. She will also star in Angelina Jolie's next directorial effort Without Blood, which is currently in post-production. The actress stars alongside Demian Bichir in the adaptation of Alessandro Baricco's novel, adapted by Jolie herself. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup may have gone for a 'no fuss' wedding at a Manhattan courthouse last week, but that didn't stop them from celebrating with some A-List guests. Marvel star Mark Ruffalo was there to witness the happy event, and shared a tender snap of the newlyweds kissing. Ruffalo celebrated with the pair along with his wife Sunrise Coigney. He posted a picture with the group, including Josh Hamilton - who was coincidentally celebrating his birthday - and his wife Lily Thorne. Naomi's gorgeous white wedding look was an Oscar de la Renta Sweetheart Water Lilly Guipure Dress, which sells for around $5,000. You may kiss the bride! Naomi Watts smooches hubby Billy Crudup in tender snap caught by Mark Ruffalo - after pair tied the knot in Manhattan It featured thick lacy floral-design straps, and its sleeveless design exposed her toned arms. The 5ft5in beauty elevated her stature, wearing a set of gold open-toe heels underneath her ankle-length skirt. She completed the semi-casual summery look with chunky cream-colored cat-eye sunglasses, and she wore her lovely blond hair in a playful, wavy bob. Billy was dressed somewhat more casually, but he still looked fairly elegant. The Watchmen actor had on a navy blue suit, and he looked dashing with his clean-shaven visage and his shaggy salt-and-pepper hair swept back dramatically. After the ceremony, Naomi shared a photo of the newlyweds celebrating with actor Mark Ruffalo and his wife Sunrise Coigney. Also pictured was Josh Hamilton - who was coincidentally celebrating his birthday - and his wife Lily Thorne Australian actor Naomi Watts, 54, married her long-term boyfriend Billy Crudup, 54, on Friday Meanwhile, Naomi's ex-boyfriend Liev Schreiber, 55, also extended his well wishes with: 'Congratulations! Gorgeous' and Billy met on the set of her 2017 Netflix series Gypsy, in which she starred as a therapist who uses an alias to develop close (and unethical) relationships with people intimately connected to her patients, while Crudup played her husband. The costars began a relationship later in 2017, a year after she had split from her partner of 11 years, the actor Liev Schreiber. The friendly exes share two children: Kai, 14, and Sasha, 15. Watts and Schreiber began their relationship in 2005, shortly after she dated the late actor Heath Ledger from 20022004. Naomi looked stunning in a $7400 white Oscar de la Renta Sweetheart Water Lilly Guipure dress Naomi and Billy looked excited ahead of their wedding ceremony on Friday She shared this sweet photo of the couple posing together after the ceremony, adding the caption: 'Hubby' Despite having ended their years-long relationship, Watts and Schreiber still attend events together to support their children, and they were even seen smiling together with their current partners in photos taken at Kai's graduation. In a 2019 interview with PorterEdit, she admitted the parents were 'doing something very differently.' 'I'm pretty proud of us, corny as that may sound. We've made it our absolute priority to be good and kind to each other and we're absolutely committed to that.' Schreiber announced earlier this year that he's expecting his first child with girlfriend Taylor Neisen, who is a model. Crudup was long infamous for the terrible timing when he ended his multi-year relationship with Weeds star Mary-Louise Parker. He separated from the actress, whom he began dating in 1996, in November of 2003, when she was seven months pregnant with their son. Tori Spelling looked sizzling hot in a black dress that was so sheer is exposed her black bra and undies. Her 56-year-old husband Dean McDermott clearly noticed her daring look as he shot her a loving glance which caused her to beam. The pair was on the red carpet at the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, Stand for Kids Gala at Universal Studios Hollywood on Saturday in Universal City, California. Most of their kids were in tow too for a united front. This comes after years of claims the power couple was on the rocks, a rumour that they dispelled over the weekend. Love is in the air: Tori Spelling looked sizzling hot in a black dress that was so sheer is exposed her black bra and undies. Her husband Dean McDermott clearly noticed her daring look as he shot her a loving glance which caused her to beam Arm in arm: The pair was on the red carpet at the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, Stand for Kids Gala at Universal Studios Hollywood on Saturday in Universal City, California Tori had on a sheer black dress with little silver dots all over them. The dress was short as it the hem came well above her knee. The sheer material showed off her low-cut bra and high-waisted undies. She had her hair partially up with bangs flowing down the side of her face. The Inn Love star added nude lipstick with pale toned makeup. Her husband had on a black blazer with black jeans and a black T-shirt that read Rebel on the front with a lightening bolt. The chef added green, gray and white sneakers. Also with them were four of their children. They have daughters Hattie, 11, and Stella, 15, and sons Finn, 11, and Liam, 16. In June 2022 it was claimed that Tori and Dean - who wed in 2006 - had split. A source has told UsWeekly they were 'going through with a trial separation.' It as shared at the time: 'She hasn't been doing social things anymore. She seems to be isolating herself. She's been so MIA that they're worried something's going on if she's having money troubles again or is depressed,' the source said. The insider also claimed Tori and her friends have not been gathering together like they once did. Happy family: Their kids were in tow too for a united front. This comes after years of claims the power couple was on the rocks, a rumour that they dispelled over the weekend Sheer style: Tori had on a sheer black dress with little silver dots all over them. The dress was short as it the hem came well above her knee. The sheer material showed off her low-cut bra and high-waisted undie Hair fall: She had her hair partially up with bangs flowing down the side of her face. The Inn Love star added nude lipstick with pal toned makeup All her pals: Ana Ortiz, Caroline Rhea, Tori, Pia Toscano and Mary Lou Belli But that seems to be old news as Tori and Dean have been seen together often in recent months. On Sunday evening they were together as well. The parents celebrated their daughter Stella's 15th birthday with a Japanese meal in Hollywood. And Dean was by Tori's side as she celebrated her 50th birthday. BFF Jennie Garth, and mother Candy Spelling at Caviar Kaspia, a French restaurant in West Hollywood. Tori was dressed for the occasion in an exquisite emerald green halter dress adorned with a delicate, circular pattern that cascaded down her legs. She rocked gold Gucci heels and wore her hair in a trendy style that saw half of it pulled up into a high ponytail and the remainder cascading down in loose ringlets. Inside the bash, a table was set with bouquets of pink peonies, miniature candles, and chic gold lamps. Adjacent to the main table, gifts wrapped up in black ribbon were placed. Tori arrived hand-in-hand with her husband, who was also sporting green like his wife. The posing continued inside the party, where the couple posed by the immaculate display. Jennie posed with the birthday girl as well, and looked fab in a glossy black halter dress that cinched into her waist. Her hair was done up into a ponytail with her bangs stylishly skimming over her done-up complexion. Jennie gave her former Beverly Hills: 90210 co-star a shout-out on social media, posting a sweet selfie taken from the bash. All together now: On Sunday evening they were together as well. The parents celebrated their daughter Stella's 15th birthday with a Japanese meal in Hollywood The same bra? She wore a sheer top over a similar black bra, adding a long pink skirt Doting parents: Tori and Stella are here joined by Dean in his same sneakers from Saturday Such a cute teen! Stella wore a white dress with white platform heels as she held a Fendi baguette purse 'Tori & Jennie or is it Donna & Kelly? Its both forever and always! Happy Birthday gorgeous. Im so glad your finally 50, I was feeling lonely without you... In my eyes we will always be these two teenagerswhich explains why whenever were together thats exactly how we act...LOL I cant wait until were in our rockers, like we always talk about, laughing & remembering (or not in my case) the good ol days. I will love you until the end of time,' she gushed in the caption. Tori's mother, Candy, also attended the festivities in a shimmering gold frock accessorized with a dazzling diamond necklace. The duo looked as happy as can be as they celebrated Tori's special day together, after overcoming a decades-long rift. Although they were previously thought to have strained relations, Tori said last October that she and Candy are in daily contact. 'We've had a good relationship but it's like next-level right now,' Tori said on Jeff Lewis Live, adding that they were 'really close.' She declared that she and her mother 'text every single day' and said that their relationship is now 'really, really good.' Their current equation is a far cry from 2009, when Candy told People magazine that she was not speaking to her daughter or son-in-law Dean McDermott. 'Ive tried to talk to her, but that doesnt work,' Candy said of her daughter. 'She may not even know why shes angry.' With her former costar: Spelling seen left at her 50th birthday party with former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jennie Garth 'Its not like were not talking, we just havent talked,' Tori shot back in People, adding: 'Theres no feud. We simply never meshed.' Tori and Dean met and began their affair while working on a Lifetime movie in 2005 - when they were both married to other people. They have since tied the knot and welcomed five children into the world together - Liam, 16, Stella, 14, Hattie, 11, Finn, 10, and Beau, six. The couple have remained together despite being buffeted by divorce rumors and reports of financial problems over the years. When Tori lost her father in 2006, she infamously inherited just $800,000 of his vast fortune estimated at $600 million. Candy, who was the executor of Aaron's estate, told the New York Times that her daughter got so little because of her extravagance. She said that Tori 'would close a store and drop $50,000 to $60,000,' insisting: 'I never did anything like that. She just went crazy.' Tori shared in her own 2013 book Spelling It Like It Is that she had been forced to learn to tighten the purse strings - but not without discomfort. She wrote: 'It's not my fault I'm an uptown girl stuck in a midtown life. I was raised in opulence. My standards are ridiculously high. We can't afford that lifestyle, but when you grow up silver spoon it's hard to go plastic.' Rock Hudson feared he was giving his Dynasty co-star Linda Evans a lethal injection when he kissed her after being diagnosed with AIDS, a new documentary reveals. The 1950s heartthrob refused to open his mouth during the scene shot in 1984 for the iconic TV series and used several kinds of mouthwash to try and disinfect himself. Despite repeated takes he did not give her the kind of passionate on-screen kiss he was known for, according to All That Heaven Allows - named after the classic film with Jane Wyman - which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Rock Hudson feared he was giving his Dynasty co-star Linda Evans a lethal injection when he kissed her after being diagnosed with AIDS, a new documentary reveals The 1950s heartthrob refused to open his mouth during the scene shot in 1984 for the iconic TV series and used several kinds of mouthwash to try and disinfect himself Evans broke down in tears in the upcoming documentary All That Heaven Allows, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last weekend. She says that only later did she realize that Hudson was protecting me as best he could, as nobody knew how AIDS was transmitted at the time In the film Evans breaks down in tears as she says that only later did she realize that Hudson was protecting me as best he could, as nobody knew how AIDS was transmitted at the time. All That Heaven, directed by Stephen Kijak, re-examines the life of Hudson, who became a matinee idol for hit films like Pillow Talk in 1959 opposite Doris Day. He was the Tom Cruise of his day but he hid a secret about his sexuality that he was unable to be open about at the time due to widespread homophobia. It was only with his AIDS diagnosis, which he made public shortly before his death in 1989 aged 59, that he tacitly acknowledged that he was gay. All That Heaven reveals the pirate diaries of Hudsons close friend George Nader who, along with Mark Miller, stayed loyal to him for decades until his death. Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS in June 1984 and Naders diaries give a searing account of how it affected his inner circle. Hudson was a swoon-worthy matinee idol in the 50's and beyond. But he hid a secret about his sexuality that he was unable to be open about at the time due to widespread homophobia. He died of AIDS in 1985 On May 31, 1984, Nader wrote: Mark called at 7am. Something (was) seriously wrong. Nancy Reagan sent photos from the dinner party with a note saying Rock must have that pimple on his neck checked. Mark insisted Rock go to the doctor immediately. The dinner party in question appears to have taken place at the White House - photos showed him posing with Nancy and Ronald Reagan, who was President at the time. One June 5 1984, Nader wrote that Miller called and said Hudson told he had AIDS and possible cancer and had just had a lymph gland removed. After being told to keep the news quiet, Nader wrote: Who the hell am I going to call? Dr Michael Gottlieb, the immunologist and pioneering AIDS researcher, told the film that after he saw Hudson he sent him to France to participate in an experimental trial of a drug which could have saved him. But despite his health problems, Hudson agreed to shoot several episodes of Dynasty, saying at the time he thought it was a great show and he wanted to be part of it. President and Nancy Reagan with Hudson at state dinner for President De La Madrid of Mexico in 1984. Nancy sent photos from the dinner with a note saying Rock must have that pimple on his neck checked His visible weight loss became the talk of the set - and the tabloids. Evans tells the documentary that Hudson looked so much thinner than she was used to when they shot their scenes, while a producer thought he had lost at least 5lbs. One of Naders diary entries from December 19 1984 said that Hudson looked bad, very bad in some of the shots because of the loss of weight. The show aired the following February and in a diary entry Nader told of his terror at watching it. On February 5th 1985, Nader wrote: Tonight: Dynasty and we get to watch Rock give Linda Evans a dose of some virus in a kissing scene.' Nader described the scene as a horror akin to watching somebody receive a possible lethal injection. He wrote: Rock returned from work the day they shot the kiss scene and said this has been the worst day of my life. I used every type of mouthwash known to man. An awful day. He said I kept my mouth closed. Evans tells the film: When we had that scene with the kiss, it didn't turn out like they wanted. Nobody knew quite what to do. I knew he could deliver that kiss. The director did it over and he did it (the same thing) consistently. In tears Evans, now 80, says: It makes me cry because I know he was protecting me. At the time I was confused. Thinking back, part of the reason I get so upset is that he was doing everything he could for me because nobody knew in those days about that. It breaks my heart, even now. After Hudsons diagnosis was made public, Evans said that people refused to work with her because they were worried she had AIDS. Friends would not even come over for dinner because they were so paranoid about catching it. As Hudsons condition worsened he went back to Paris to continue treatment, but he began to deteriorate. All That Heaven says that once it became clear he had AIDS the hospital which was treating him ordered him to leave. All That Heaven Allows, directed by Stephen Kijak, re-examines the life of Hudson, who became a matinee idol for hit films like Pillow Talk in 1959 opposite Doris Day Hudson could have continued treatment at another hospital but it would have needed the intervention of the Reagans to make it happen. Despite their friendship they refused and All That Heaven suggests it was to appease the evangelical voters who backed Reagans Presidential campaign. Lying in his hospital bed, Hudson approved his French PR to deliver a message to the media that he had AIDS. He told her: If thats what they want, go and give that to the dogs. God what a way to end a life. Hudson spent his final days at his home in Beverly Hills, but before doing so he had to spend $250,000 of his own money to charter a plane - because no airline would take him. All That Heaven Allows will be streaming on HBO on June 28th. London's Leicester Square was given a touch of A-list glamour on Monday evening as Jennifer Lawrence attended the UK premiere of new film No Hard Feelings. With heavy rainstorms drawing a line under England's recent heatwave the Oscar-winning actress could be forgiven for treading lightly after a series of high-profile red carpet stumbles. Indeed, Jennifer, 32, erred on the side of caution by ditching the heels in favour of flip-flops during a recent public appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May. But the heels were back on as she greeted fans outside Odeon Luxe, where she led the glamour on a night dedicated to her latest box-office offering - a coming-of-age comedy co-starring Matthew Broderick. Posing for waiting photographers, Jennifer looked stunning in a semi-sheer black evening gown with a cinched waist and distinctive patterned embellishments. London's Leicester Square was given a touch of A-list glamour on Monday evening as Jennifer Lawrence attended the UK premiere of new film No Hard Feelings. Unmissable: Posing for waiting photographers, Jennifer looked stunning in a semi-sheer black evening gown with a cinched waist and distinctive patterned embellishments She added to the look with a pair of elbow length evening gloves, while a black bra was visible beneath the sleeveless gown as she made her way into the central London venue. Jennifer also sported with a glamorous make-up palette, complete with smokey eye and slicked back her long blonde locks into a ponytail. She wore 10K of stunning by luxury brand Anita Ko earrings, including violet studs, huggies with a pear shaped diamond as well as a marquise centres. The actress was joined at the star-studded event by co-star Andrew Barth Feldman and the film's director Gene Stupnitsky. Both men flanked the stunner in smart suits as they beamed for the cameras and shared a joke. Joining the American stars were a whole host of famous British faces including a string of reality stars. Former Love Island contestant Chyna Mills, 24, showcased her growing baby bump on the red carpet alongside fiance Neil Jones 40. She looked gorgeous in a figure-hugging green frock as she loving cradled her belly and beamed alongside her Strictly Come Dancing beau. Chyna's dress featured a one-shoulder detail and she slipped her feet into strappy black heels, before accessorising with dainty gold jewellery. Pose: She added to the look with a pair of elbow length evening gloves, while a black bra was visible beneath the sleeveless gown as she made her way into the central London venue Glam: She also sported with a glamorous make-up palette, complete with smokey eye and slicked back her long blonde locks into a ponytail Confidence: Jennifer oozed confidence as she walked the red carpet Old hat: She made sure to show off the look from every angle Jewels: She wore 10K of stunning by luxury brand Antia Ko earrings, including violet studs, huggies with a pear shaped diamond as well as a marquise centres Sandals: Despite donning sandals for May's Cannes Film Festival (pictured) Jennifer was back in heels for the premiere MIC's Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display in a black skater dress as she arrived at premiere. The swimwear designer, 32, dressed to impress for the evening as she went braless in a backless halter neck number. She turned up the heat by adding inches to her frame in a pair of towering matching pointed toe heels. The beauty styled her long blonde tresses in a neat updo leaving two strands to frame her face. She flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed on the red carpet with her hands in the pockets of her dress. Meanwhile former islander Ellie Spence, 25, sent pulses racing in a plunging sheer black gown with very racy thigh-high split. Say cheese! Jennifer was joined at the star-studded event by co-star Andrew Barth Feldman (left) and the film's director Gene Stupnitsky (right) Pals: Both men flanked the stunner in smart suits as they beamed for the cameras and shared a joke Joker: Jennifer kept her co-star Andrew in stitched throughout the event Steady: The stunner was steady on her feet following a string of red carpet calamities, including 2013's Oscars (pictured) The outfit hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure with a sheer boned corset leaving very little to the imagination. Sweeping her blonde hair high into a stylish up do and added height to her frame with a pair of towering heels. Elsewhere on the red carpet Dancing On Ice's Vanessa Bauer, 26, ensured all eyes were on her as she slipped into a plunging red gown for the screening. Vanessa opted to go braless for the evening, and looked breathtaking as she posed for photographs in the floor-length frock. As she worked her best angles, the skating pro's footwear could not be seen, due to the extreme length of her silky dress. Keeping things simple, Vanessa styled her raven tresses into a sleek low ponytail and went without jewellery save a pair of understated earrings. Beaming: She later took to the stage to introduce the new movie Fun times: Jennifer and co-star Andrew appeared in high spirits as they spoke about their roles in the flick Expecting: Former Love Island contestant Chyna Mills, 24, showcased her growing baby bump on the red carpet alongside fiance Neil Jones 40 Glowing: She looked gorgeous in a figure-hugging green frock as she loving cradled her belly and beamed alongside her Strictly Come Dancing beau Parents: Chyna's dress featured a one-shoulder detail and she slipped her feet into strappy black heels, before accessorising with dainty gold jewellery Gorgeous: Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display in a black skater dress as she arrived at the star-studded event Dressed to impress: She turned up the heat by adding inches to her frame in a pair of towering coordinated pointed toe heels Glam: The beauty styled her blonde tresses in a neat updo leaving strands to frame her face and flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed on the red carpet with her hands in her pockets Saucy: Former Love Island star AJ Bunker slipped into a sheer gown embellished with crystals and sequins Body: She flaunted her incredible figure in the saucy number and flashed a link of lingerie beneath Leggy! Meanwhile former islander Ellie Spence, 25, sent pulses racing in a plunging sheer black gown with very racy thigh-high split Hot stuff: The outfit hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure with a sheer boned corset leaving very little to the imagination Sizzle: The outfit ensured that all the cameras fought to grab a snap Wow! DOI's Vanessa Bauer, 26, ensured all eyes were on her as she slipped into a plunging red gown for the screening Divine: Vanessa opted to go braless for the evening, and looked breathtaking as she posed for photographs in the floor-length frock Elegant: Keeping things simple, Vanessa styled her raven tresses into a sleek low ponytail and went without jewellery save a pair of understated earrings Back on? Continuing to fuel reconciliation rumours were Samie Elishi (left) and Tom Clare (right) as they both attended the event Sophie Hermann, 36, cut an elegant figure in a blue silk mini dress and looked incredible in the stunning number which boasted a dazzling bow on the front. The Made In Chelsea star toted her belongings around in a miniature which bag which had a matching silver glittering boy on the front. Sophie turned up the heat by adding a pair of dazzling eye catching chandelier earrings and applied a flawless palette of makeup. The raunchy new comedy, sees Oscar winner Jennifer play a cash-strapped woman trying to seduce a 19-year-old boy for pay. Her character Maddie finds herself in such dire financial straits that she is on the brink of losing her late mother's house. She throws herself on the mercy of a rich pair of New Age 'helicopter parents' played by Broadway stars Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick. Percy (Andrew Feldman), their geeky teenage son, is about to go to college and has been cosseted his whole life, never breaking the rules. Incredible: Sophie Hermann, 36, cut an elegant figure in a blue silk mini dress and looked incredible in the stunning number which boasted a dazzling bow on the front Stunning: Sophie turned up the heat by adding a pair of dazzling eye catching chandelier earrings and applied a flawless palette of makeup Elegant: Sophie turned up the heat by adding a pair of dazzling eye catching chandelier earrings and applied a flawless palette of makeup Stunner: Coco Lodge turned heads in a cream draped gown with gorgeous gold heels Fashion: She swept her dark locks to one side as one curl framed her face Princess: Abbie Quinnen looked ravishing in a strapless pink princess dress The couple offers Maddie a car in exchange for a heavyweight favor - she must seduce Percy before he leaves for Princeton. No Hard Feelings then launches into her increasingly desperate attempts to get Percy into bed, including a nighttime skinny dipping excursion, taking him out to drink underage and even playfully trying to kidnap him. It comes after Jennifer opened up about the ways becoming a mother has shifted her plans for the future as the star admitted she didn't expect to pursue a career in directing any time soon. The actress welcomed one-year-old son Cy in 2022 with husband Cooke Maroney, 38, and she made it clear that focusing on her family was her top priority in a new interview. Speaking during an interview on Good Morning America on Monday, the Hunger Games actress explained how her hopes to direct a feature film had changed in recent years. Back on screen: Jennifer is gearing up for the release of her raucous new comedy, in which she plays a cash-strapped woman trying to seduce a 19-year-old boy for pay (Jennifer pictured in the movie with co-star Andrew Feldman) Glam: Also a former contestant on the ITV2 series Rosie Seabrook sizzled in a busty blue gown Be careful! She risked a wardrobe malfunction plunging dress which hugged her curves Hollywood glamour: She oozed 1950s glamour with her brunette locks styled in loose curls Legs 11: TV personality Nicole O'Brien slipped into a very revealing red gown for the evening Pose: She playfully posed with one leg raised as she commanded attention in the look Sizzle: As well as a jaw-dropping split the dress also boasted a key hole detail at the stunner's ample assets Scarlet lady: Victoria Brown posed in a strapless red gown which she wore with matching heels Woman in white: Jess Impiazzi slipped into a sexy white figure-hugging frock 'I used to think that [I would direct]. Now I'm just so tired and it just looks so hard,' she stated. However, the actress is still working hard in front of the camera and behind the scenes after starring and producing her upcoming comedy. Reflecting on her experience as a producer, she told GMA host George Stephanopoulos: 'It's good. It's busy but focused and streamlined. I don't take on anything that I can't personally read every draft of and give notes on.' The actress admitted she hadn't even been planning to get back into acting as soon as she did after giving birth, but the quality of the comedy's script pushed her to make her Hollywood comeback. 'I just had a baby and I wasn't planning on working for a long time,' she began. 'But I read the script. It was the funniest thing I had ever read.' Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display in a black skater dress as she arrived at London's Odeon Luxe for the No Hard Feelings premiere on Monday. The swimwear designer, 32, dressed to impress for the evening as she went braless in a backless halter neck number. She turned up the heat by adding inches to her frame in a pair of towering coordinated pointed toe heels. The beauty styled her long blonde tresses in a neat updo leaving two strands to frame her face. She flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed on the red carpet with her hands in the pockets of her dress. Gorgeous: Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display in a black skater dress as she arrived at London's Odeon Luxe for the No Hard Feelings premiere on Monday Stunning: The swimwear designer, 32, dressed to impress for the evening as she went braless in a backless halter neck number Kimberley recently spoke about how she used to pretend to be an intern when she first started the business as nobody took her seriously. She told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business.' 'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. 'It became very successful overnight.' She explained: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice. 'No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the Intern! 'I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company. When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.' Dressed to impress: She turned up the heat by adding inches to her frame in a pair of towering coordinated pointed toe heels Vanessa Bauer attended the UK premiere of No Hard Feelings, on Monday. The Dancing On Ice star, 26, ensured all eyes were on her as she slipped into a plunging red gown for the screening at Leicester Square's Odeon Luxe. Vanessa opted to go braless for the evening, and looked breathtaking as she posed for photographs in the floor-length frock. As she worked her best angles, the skating pro's footwear could not be seen, due to the extreme length of her silky dress. Keeping things simple, Vanessa styled her raven tresses into a sleek low ponytail and went without jewellery save a pair of understated earrings. Wow! Vanessa Bauer, 26, ensured all eyes were on her as she slipped into a plunging red gown for the UK premiere of No Hard Feelings, on Monday Divine: Vanessa opted to go braless for the evening, and looked breathtaking as she posed for photographs in the floor-length frock Making a statement: As she worked her best angles, the skating pro's footwear could not be seen, due to the extreme length of her silky dress Vanessa's red carpet outing comes a month after her ex-boyfriend Joey Essex, 32, revealed he has his eye on gorgeous Hollywood actress Lily James, 34. The former TOWIE star split from DOI partner Vanessa two months after Lily and her rocker beau Michael Shuman, 37, also parted ways. He told The Sun: '[Lily is] a sort. We do follow each other on Instagram we've been following each other for a while. Before adding: 'I like seeing what she's up to. She looks good and seems like a nice girl and we're both single.' Joey also told the publication: 'If a nice, kind girl walks into my life I'd get to know her. I'd like a girlfriend but she needs to fit into my jigsaw puzzle. Joey and Vanessa went their separate ways in April, a month after finishing runners-up on Dancing On Ice. Viewers saw the couple grow close earlier this year filming the show, where they narrowly missed out on being crowned champions to Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson and his professional partner Olivia Smart. And MailOnline then exclusively revealed that the couple were no longer dating and hadn't spent any time together since the end of series. Fun with friends: Vanessa posed with her blogger pal Nas Ganev Elegant: Keeping things simple, Vanessa styled her raven tresses into a sleek low ponytail and went without jewellery save a pair of understated earrings Splitsville: Joey and Vanessa went their separate ways in April , a month after finishing runners-up on Dancing On Ice (pictured together on the show) Their separation came as Joey plans an overseas move to Dubai and is in the middle of viewing properties where he can relocate and begin a new life away from Essex. A source said: 'Joey absolutely loved his time performing with Vanessa on Dancing On Ice he will treasure those memories forever. But for now, he's focussing on work opportunities and beginning a new chapter in Dubai. 'He's definitely single and while Vanessa means a lot to him because of the experience they shared on the show, they're just friends now. 'Joey has a busy life and career and right now his main priority is his house move, which will be a massive change for him.' Zendaya was pictured making a very swift exit from an upscale restaurant in Rome on Saturday, with onlookers believing the Hollywood star was refused entry due to her revealing outfit. However a rep for the 26-year-old actress denied this was the case, claiming that they decided to go to a different restaurant because they ate there previously and wanted to try something new. A rep stated: 'There was no rejection from the restaurant because of her wardrobe. They went to the restaurant and realized that they had eaten there before and wanted to go to someplace new so they went to another restaurant. It's as simple as that.' The ab-flashing star, 26, who wowed in a black tube top and cargo pants for her laidback outing, arrived to dine at the Italian city's Terrazza Borromini - which requires a 'smart casual' style for guests - but never made it inside. The group ended up dining at a pizzeria nearby instead. The star's casual look was paired with leather brogues and a designer handbag. She wore her tresses in a wet-look sidepart and sported smoky shadow and lipgloss for the low-key look. EXCLUSIVE: Ab-flashing Zendaya is pictured making a swift exit from upscale restaurant in Rome - as rep denies that the Hollywood star was turned away because of her outfit Not today: A rep for the star said they decided to go to a different restaurant because they ate there previously and wanted to try something new Meanwhile the star's beau, actor Tom Holland, 27, was seen out and about in NYC with F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, 38. The pair stepped out after dining at Sant Ambroeus restaurant in the Big Apple. He and the Euphoria star have been romantically linked since 2017 after starring opposite one another in the Spider-Man franchise. The pair recently holidayed together for the actor's 27th biryhday. Taking to her own Instagram, Zendaya gave fans a glimpse at their idyllic trip and showed her boyfriend some love on his special day. She captured the English actor swimming in the ocean with his head dunked underwater while making a heart-sign with his hands. Another showed Tom beaming in Zendaya's direction while climbing the ocean rocks and taking in the stunning shoreline. She tagged her boyfriend in both images and also re-shared a promo poster for his upcoming Hulu miniseries The Crowded Room, which premieres June 9. Casual cool: The star's casual look was paired with leather brogues and a designer handbag Oh dear: The group looked unimpressed as they decided to change their dining plans Celeb spotted: Zendaya looked radiant as she chatted with her pals Cool: She wore her tresses in a wet-look sidepart and sported smoky shadow and lipgloss for the low-key look Looking good: The star flashed her midriff as she stepped out in the city Glow: The beauty showed off her radiant complexion as she stepped out For Tom's birthday last year, Zendaya penned a touching tribute calling him 'the one who makes me the happiest.' She included a sweet black and white photo of herself and the Cherry star embracing. They have shown affection for one another on social media since going public with their romance two years ago. Fans long suspected that Tom and Zendaya were in a relationship but their theories became fact when the pair were caught kissing in mid-2021. The lovebirds recently enjoyed time together in Venice, Italy, where they explored the Venice Canals and attended a glitzy Bulgari party. They fled the European country in mid-May and have since kept a low-profile as they continue to enjoy their time off amid the ongoing WGA Strike. Zendaya reportedly moved into Tom's $3million home in London early this year but she still has roots in LA after snapping up her first-ever house for $1.4million in 2021. The Disney Channel alum recently shared rare insight into their ultra private relationship. Off they go: The star flashed her abs as she strolled in Rome Style: The fashion icon looked sensational as she stepped out in Rome Let's go: Zendaya was seen making her way to a different restaurant Stunning: The star showed off her model frame in the casual look Sighting: Meanwhile the star's beau, actor Tom Holland, 27, was seen out and about in NYC with F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, 38 While speaking with The Sun, Zendaya admitted that she sometimes has a hard time understanding her beau's British sayings thought she 'loves' the accent. 'Like I understand the concept but what do apples and pears have to do with stairs?' she said. 'It's cute when he tells me all the different phrases but I really don't get it!' As for their home life, Zendaya admitted that Tom is the one who's in the kitchen the most. 'He is really good in the kitchen, which is fortunate as I am really accident-prone,' she confessed. 'We learnt early on that only one of us could be in the kitchen at a time, we are both control freaks so we can't be in there together.' It was revealed Tuesday that fans will get a chance to see Tom and Zendaya on screen together again for a Spider-Man sequel. Producer Amy Pascal confirmed the news to Variety while attending the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse premiere in Los Angeles. Lovebirds: He and the 26-year-old Euphoria star have been romantically linked since 2017 after starring opposite one another in the Spider-Man franchise; seen in 2021 'The happiest': For Tom's birthday last year, Zendaya penned a touching tribute calling him 'the one who makes me the happiest' Though the highly anticipated sequel has been stalled due to the writers strike, it is still very much in the works. 'Are we going to make another movie? Of course, we are,' said Amy. 'Were in the process, but the writers strike, nobody is working during the strike.' She added, 'Were all being supporters and whenever they get themselves together, well get started.' Sony boss Tom Rothman was not as direct as he was asked the same question about SM4, but only laughed, 'If I told you, Id have to kill you.' Spider Man: No Way Home came out in December 2021 and has made almost $2B. Kate Beckinsale revealed she is absolutely devastated over the death of her beloved cat, Clive, who she first brought home more than a decade ago. While announcing the tragic news of her the Persian cat, who has became a certified Instagram celebrity over the years, the 49-year-old actress explained that she didn't 'have it in' her 'to make a montage of even look at pictures of him yet.' 'Every single part of my house feels like he should be in it,' she captioned a selfie of herself cradling her adorable feline, who was wearing a pink pig-printed onesie. 'If anyone is expecting to hear from me, you may not for a bit and I'm sorry.' 'My heart is absolutely and totally broken,' she concluded. Her celebrity pals rushed to comfort her in the comment section, including Anya Taylor-Joy and Seth Rogen. Sad: Kate Beckinsale revealed she is absolutely devastated over the death of her beloved cat, Clive, who she first brought home more than a decade ago Devastated: While announcing the tragic news of her the Persian cat, who has became a certified Instagram celebrity over the years, the 49-year-old actress explained that she didn't 'have it in' her 'to make a montage of even look at pictures of him yet' Supportive: Her celebrity pals rushed to comfort her in the comment section, including Anya Taylor-Joy and Seth Rogen 'Kate [red heart broken emoji] sending you love,' the The Queen's Gambit star, 27, wrote under her friend's post, which has received 72,654 likes in less than an hour. While she did not reveal Clive's cause of death, she previously stated he was 'quite old' and is either 15 or 16. 'We got him when my daughter [Lily Sheen, now 20] was little,' she told People in 2019. 'And he usually is shaved into an odd shape, but he's a recent cancer survivor.' While speaking about Clive's personality to the outlet, the mother-of-one raved that his 'favorite things in the world are suitcases and boxes and bags.' 'If you bring home a pair of sneakers or take out bag, he's immediately inside it,' she gushed. 'So we got him this suitcase bed, and he loves it so much.' Beckinsale also stated that she prefers cats because they're 'easier' to care for than dogs. 'You don't have to walk around with a bag of poo like you do with a dog, which I hate to walk around with a bag of poo,' she mused. Clive's life of luxury was widely documented on the performer's social media, which is full of photos of him dressed in hilarious costumes, traveling on private planes and remaining by her side through thick and thin. 'Every single part of my house feels like he should be in it,' she captioned a selfie of herself cradling her adorable feline, who was wearing a pink pig-printed onesie Going offline: The star warned that 'if anyone is expecting to hear from' her that she will be unavailable for 'a bit' 'My heart is absolutely and totally broken,' she concluded Hysterical: While she did not reveal Clive's cause of death, she previously stated he was 'quite old' and is either 15 or 16 In many of her posts, featuring Clive, he could be seen wearing pink nail polish, funny hats, posing with props or even in coordinating looks with Beckinsale. In 2021, she discussed dressing up her two cats throughout quarantine during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan. 'There's a couple of cats but one of them is more keen about dressing up than the other ones so he's featured slightly more,' she said, referring to Clive. She joked: 'That's what happened to me in the pandemic...that's what took the toll.' 'We got him when my daughter [Lily Sheen, now 20] was little,' she told People in 2019. 'And he usually is shaved into an odd shape, but he's a recent cancer survivor' Her favorite pet: In many of her posts, featuring Clive, he could be seen wearing pink nail polish, funny hats, posing with props or even in coordinating looks with Beckinsale Spoiled kitty: Clive's life of luxury was widely documented on the performer's social media, which is full of photos of him dressed in hilarious costumes, traveling on private planes and remaining by her side through thick and thin Beckinsale then pointed out that it only 'takes 12 seconds' to dress her pet up, and she can find time even on a 'busy day.' Hilariously, the star said during the 'deep, deep pandemic' that she 'cat tank' from an Amazon box and Roomba. 'I bought a Roomba expressly for this purpose,' she mused. '[Clive] loves it in there! He's like, 'You finally got me a mobility scooter.' Beckinsale has another Persian cat, named Willow, and Pomeranian, Myf. Olivia Thirlby looked somber as she was seen for the first time since Juno co-star Elliot Page claimed they had sex 'all the time' as they filmed the hit 2007 movie. The Oscar-nominated star, 36, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, shocked the world when he dished on his and 36-year-old's Thirlby's romps in his new memoir Pageboy. Thirlby, who played Juno's best friend Leah in the film, failed to raise a smile as she ran errands in LA on Monday, clad in a green blouse, slate jeans and tan boots. She layered up in a black coat and went make-up free for the outing. The actress looked contemplative as she spoke on the phone while running her errands - amid the worldwide furore over Page's reveal, Olivia Thirlby looked somber as she was seen for the first time since Juno co-star Elliot Page claimed they had sex 'all the time' as they filmed the hit 2007 movie Fling:The Oscar-nominated star, 36, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020 , shocked the world when he dished on his and 36-year-old's Thirlby's romps in his new memoir Pageboy (pictured in 2007's Juno) Page said he was instantly attracted to Thirlby as he recounted their fling in Pageboy. He said: 'I was taken aback the moment I saw Olivia Thirlby. She seemed so much older, capable, and centered. 'Sexually open, far removed from where I was at the time. But the chemistry was palpable, it pulled me in.' Page - who played pregnant teen Juno MacGuff in the film - recounted how they started 'sucking face' in a hotel room after Thirlby confessed she was 'really attracted' to him - to which Page reciprocated her feelings. He wrote: 'It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful.' He added it was one of the first times someone would make him orgasm. Page said he and Thirlby began having sex 'all the time', writing: 'Her hotel room, in our trailers at work, once in a tiny, private room in a restaurant We thought we were being subtle. Being intimate with Olivia helped my shame dissipate. I didnt see a glint of it in her eyes and I wanted that done feeling wretched about who I am.' Around the time Page and Thirlby filmed Juno, the pair were slated to star as the title characters in Jack & Diane - playing two young women who fall in love -but both dropped out before production, and the cast was replaced numerous times over. Pensive: Thirlby, who played Juno's best friend Leah in the film, failed to raise a smile as she ran errands in LA on Monday, clad in a green blouse, slate jeans and tan boots Lots to think about: Thirlby, who played Juno's best friend Leah in the film, failed to raise a smile as she ran errands in LA on Monday, clad in a green blouse, slate jeans and tan boots Phone call: The actress looked contemplative as she spoke on the phone while running her errands - amid the worldwide furore over Page's reveal Call: The star spoke on the phone as she ran errands Smile: Olivia seemed to share a joke with a friend on the phone Stepping out: Olivia looked somber as she strolled in LA Tea spilled: Page wrote: 'It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful.' He added it was one of the first times someone would make him orgasm' (pictured together in 2007) Thirlby publicly came out as bisexual in 2011 - she married Jacques Pienaar in 2014 and the pair divorced due to 'irreconcilable differences' in 2021. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Thirlby for comment. This comes after Elliot revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while she was dating Max Minghella. The Oscar-nominated Juno star, 36, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, details in his memoir Pageboy how he and Kate, 40, struck up a romance as he filmed X-Men: Days of Future Past and that Kate was 'in love with two people.' Kate and Max went their separate ways in 2014 after four years of dating. She is now married to actor Jamie Bell, with whom she shares two children. In an excerpt from his memoir, obtained by People, Page writes: 'The first person I fell for after my heart was broken was Kate Mara. She had a boyfriend at the time, the lovely and talented Max Minghella.' Racy: Page recounted how they started 'sucking face' in a hotel room after Thirlby confessed she was 'really attracted' to him - to which Page reciprocated her feelings (pictured in Juno with Allison Janney) Coming out: Olivia came out as bisexual publicly in 2011 - she has been married to Jacques Pienaar since 2014 (pictured 2019) 'This was right after Id come out as gay [in 2014] and it was a time of exploration and also heartbreak. I think my relationship, or whatever you want to call it with Kate, very much encapsulates a certain dynamic that I consistently found myself in, which was falling for people that I think a lot of us do this who arent fully available. 'And the sort of safety in that and the highs and the lows and the serotonin bump, and then it goes away. And I think that is definitely a pattern in my life. 'I think the love and care that we have for each other is its very own special thing. Separate from the intimacy that I write about.' Elliot said Max was supportive of Kate exploring their relationship -which was kept a secret from the world and says Kate told him: 'I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can.' The pair played a couple in movie My Days of Mercy which premiered in 2017 and was released in 2019 - this was made after their romance. Page added that Kate has read the book and will appear at a book event in LA in June to promote it. Elliot publicly came out as a transgender man in December 2020 but revealed he began 'feeling like a boy' from the age of nine. In an extract shared by People, Elliot recalled being in a gay bar just a few months before the premiere of his breakout 2008 movie Juno. At the bar he met a woman named Paula, who unwittingly helped him address the feelings of 'shame' he had. Heartbreak: This comes after Elliot revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while she was dating Max Minghella (pictured 2017) Former couple: Kate and Max went their separate ways in 2014 after four years of dating (pictured 2014) Ex; Elliot said Max was supportive of Kate exploring their relationship -which was kept a secret from the world and says Kate told him: 'I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can' (pictured 2014) Moved on: Kate is now married to actor Jamie Bell and the pair share two children (pictured January 2023) He wrote: 'Dancing, sweat dripping down my back, down my chest. I watched Paula's hair twist and bounce as she moved effortlessly, chaotic but controlled, sensual and strong. 'I would catch her looking at me, or was it the other way around? We wanted to be caught. Deer in the headlights. Startled, but not breaking.' Having asked if he could kiss her, he continued: 'And then I did. In a queer bar. In front of everyone around us. I was coming to understand what all those poems were about, what all the fuss was. 'Everything was cold before, motionless, emotionless. Any woman I had loved hadn't loved me back, and the one who maybe had, loved me the wrong way. 'But here I was, on a dance floor with a woman who wanted to kiss me and the antagonizing, cruel voice that flooded my head whenever I felt desire was silent.' Elliot also looked at how the bar helped him address his feelings of shame. He penned: 'Shame had been drilled into my bones since I was my tiniest self, and I struggled to rid my body of that old toxic and erosive marrow. 'But there was a joy in the room, it lifted me, forced a reaction in the jaw, an uncontrolled, steady smile.' Opening up: Elliot publicly came out as a transgender man in December 2020 but revealed he began 'feeling like a boy' from the age of nine Elliot was paid 'north of $3M' to write his 288-page tell-all, which Flatiron Books will publish on June 6. The two-time Emmy-nominated producer came out as a lesbian in 2014 during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's 'Time to Thrive' conference in Las Vegas. Elliot kicks off his nine-date international book tour on June 6 at The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan, and future dates will be announced soon. It's unclear if Elliot is still dating non-binary comedian Mae Martin after the pair got matching tattoos and suited up for the 11th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala on November 5. Elliot's divorce from Canadian dancer Emma Portner was finalized in 2021 after two years of marriage. Michael Clifford has revealed he and wife Crystal Leigh are expecting their first child together. The 5 Seconds of Summer guitarist took to Instagram on Tuesday to make the announcement with a set of set pregnancy snaps. In several of the pictures, Clifford cradled Crystal's baby bump. The Quakers Hill-born music superstar revealed the expected delivery date in his post's caption. Clifford wrote, 'youre already everything baby clifford 11/11/23'. Michael Clifford has revealed he and wife Crystal Leigh are expecting their first child together. Both pictured Many of Clifford's celebrity friends took to the comments to congratulate the She Looks So Perfect hitmaker on his big news. 'Congrats guys,' wrote Twilight actor Taylor Lautner. 'Congratulations,' added Australian model Tina Louise, while even US TV network MTV chimed in with their own well-wishes. The Quakers Hill-born music superstar revealed the expected delivery date in his post's caption Clifford revealed he married Leigh in secret in 2021. The pair shared a series of stunning images from their intimate ceremony and reception with People magazine last year as they marked their one-year wedding anniversary. They also excitedly announced the news on social media, with Michael, 26, saying he 'couldn't wait any longer to make Crystal Mrs Clifford'. Clifford revealed to People last year that he secretly tied the knot with longtime partner Crystal Leigh in 2021. Pictured on their wedding day In one image, the pair pose for a selfie and proudly show off their new wedding bands. In another, former talent manager Crystal looked stunning in a white long sleeve gown with a plunging neckline and a diamante and pearl choker. Speaking to People, the pair said they tied the knot with their bridal party and groomsmen at their home in the US, but will be hosting a bigger wedding for their parents and wider family sometime soon in Bali. Speaking to People, the pair revealed they tied the knot with their bridal party and groomsmen by their side at their home in the U.S Crystal stunned on the day wearing two wedding dresses from the designer Galia Lahav, while Michael wore a suit from Yves Saint Laurent. Crystal is seen wearing a gown by the designer in a dress fitting, but not the wedding dresses she chose They will also honeymoon in Bali. They put off their lavish overseas nuptials due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but decided to keep their original January 2021 wedding date by getting married at their home in Los Angeles. Michael and Crystal hosted a lavish celebration in their backyard, with rows of tables set up underneath fairy lights and adorned with elaborate floral displays. Guests included Michael's 5SOS bandmates Luke Hemmings, bassist Calum Hood, and drummer Ashton Irwin. Guests included Michael's 5SOS bandmates Luke Hemmings, bassist Calum Hood, and drummer Ashton Irwin Crystal stunned on the day in not one, but two wedding dresses from the designer Galia Lahav, while Michael wore a suit from Yves Saint Laurent. Her first gown featured a bustier neckline and an A-line skirt with semi-sheer detailing and crystal embellishment. She then changed into a white long sleeve gown, looking every inch the blushing, and modern bride. 'We were most excited to be near our friends all together for the first time in a while due to COVID,' the pair told People. They added: 'To be officially married, even in secret, was so special for us too officially Mr. and Mrs.' 'To be officially married, even in secret, was so special for us too officially Mr. and Mrs,' they told People For food, Michael revealed they mixed classic Australian dishes with some vegan delights. 'It was definitely a random assortment of meat pies and vegan fried chicken. Turns out they go together pretty nicely,' he joked to the publication. The pair saved traditional aspects of a wedding for their Bali nuptials, including reciting their wedding vows so Crystal could share some special moments with her mother. Michael and Crystal, who live in Los Angeles, got engaged in January 2019. They first went public with their romance in 2017. Julia Fox was not shy about showing off her curves on Monday in New York. The influencer, 33, who helped pal Emily Ratajkowski celebrate her 32nd birthday, stepped out in a diaphanous sea foam green top and leggings which showcased her taut tummy, wearing very little in the way of undergarments. The model's see-through ruffled crop top put her full bosom on display. The fashionista who is known for her bold fashion choices, wore dark panties beneath the equally sheer leggings with ruffles at the seams and cutouts along the front. The Italian-born beauty wore a long denim duster over the sexy ensemble with $109.95 Steve Madden 'DALI Denim Multi Studded Point Toe' denim pumps. She wore her dark ash blonde hair long and straight, and carried a bag full of purchases from the Steve Madden store in SoHo. Curves: Julia Fox was not shy about showing off her curves Monday in New York. The influencer, 33, stepped out in a diaphanous sea foam green top and leggings which showcased her taut tummy, wearing very little in the way of undergarments Her makeup accentuated her fair complexion with a rosy cheek and a lilac lip. The Forbidden Fruit podcast host accessorized with rose colored sunglasses, long silver earrings that read SEX and a brown shoulder bag. Julia wore an even more revealing look in Cannes last month, when she modeled a custom-made see-through glass breastplate. Julia has been keeping busy working on various projects, including her upcoming book, Down The Drain. The memoir focuses on her many struggles, including an unsettled childhood in which she was left to mostly raise herself, abusive relationships and her dangerous drug addiction, as well as her recovery and single motherhood. She shares two-year-old son Valentino with ex-husband Peter Artemiev. 'Ever since I was a kid I always wanted to be a writer & after writing every single word in this book, its safe to say I AM ONE!!!!' announcing the tome on social media. The book is set for release on October 10. Bold: The model's see-through ruffled crop top put her full bosom on display. The fashionista wore dark panties beneath the equally sheer leggings and Steve Madden denim pumps Denim: The Italian-born beauty wore a long denim duster over the sexy ensemble with coordinated denim pumps. She wore her dark ash blonde hair long and straight, and carried a bag full of purchases from the Steve Madden store in SoHo New book: Julia will release her first book, Down the Drain, in October. The tome focuses on her tempestuous life, including an unsettled childhood, abusive relationships and drug addiction, as well as her recovery and single motherhood She has encouraged her social followers to pre-order the book. The actress who has been lauded for her breakout performance in the crime thriller Uncut Gems has been working a new project. She has a role in the upcoming film, The Trainer. The crime comedy boasts a large cast that includes Bella Thorne, Beverly D'Angelo, Paris Hilton, Finneas O'Connell, Lenny Kravitz, and more. The movie has not received a release date yet. Elliot Page says a male director sought to groom him for sex when he was a teenager. The Oscar-nominated star, 36, opened up about the incident in his new book Pageboy, saying he was at dinner in Toronto at the French eatery Swan on Queen West when the incident occurred. The Canadian actor, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, said the director began stroking his thigh under the table in an effort to seduce him. The Umbrella Academy said the filmmaker whispered to him, 'You have to make the move, I can't' in their effort to instigate physical intimacy. The Juno star said that the director's 'frequent texts made me feel special, as did the books he gifted me.' The latest: Elliot Page, 36, in his new book Pageboy, says a male director sought to groom him for sex when he was a teenager In a chapter in the book titled Leeches, Page said that on a previous movie he was working on, 'a crew member had done the same' in making overt sexual advances toward him. 'In between takes he would talk to me about art and films he invited me to hang out on a Saturday afternoon,' Page said in the book. 'After a walk in the rain he grabbed me, asserting we go upstairs. 'Pulling me in to his body, I could feel his hard c*** against me.' Page described another instance of sexual harassment during the time he was working on the 2005 motion picture Hard Candy at the age of 17. He said that a crew member on the dramatic thriller, who has gone on to be a director, made strong advances toward him at a wrap party for the film. 'He was funny and strange, and he was kind to me,' Page said in the book. 'We spoke about books, discussed films and obscure, depressing graphic novels. 'A glint in his eyes made me feel seen, supported. He had a sweetness even.' Page said that the crew member invited himself into Page's apartment and placed his hands on his shoulders. Candid: Page opens up about a number of sexual advances made toward him at a young age in his new book Details: The Canadian actor, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, said the director began stroking his thigh under the table in an effort to seduce him Page said that he was 'unsure what to do' and 'went stiff with a smile' amid the advances. 'He laid me down on the bed,' Page said, adding that the crew member took his pants off and said he wanted to perform oral sex on him. 'I froze,' Page said. 'After it was over, he tried to stay in the bed with me. I had thawed marginally and told him he couldn't, to get out. He slept on the couch.' Page said that on the set of a different movie, a female crew member assaulted him multiple times. Page said that the circumstances behind his life and career made him 'a perfect target' for sex predators in the industry. 'As puberty transmuted me into a character I had no interest in playing, my isolation, insecurity, and unknowing grew,' Page said. 'I desperately needed to anchor myself. In new cities, with no friends, alone in hotel rooms, it was not hard for someone to prey. I'm sure they sense that.' Elsewhere in his new memoir, Page graphically detailed 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. Page 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. '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.' Very candid: Page has graphically detailed his failed attempts to have sex with a man aged 16 - as he battled with his sexuality years before coming out as gay (pictured 2022) The star added that due to suffering a tear in his private parts during a rollerblade accident, he had this 'idea that something had happened to my vagina - causing my body to refuse entry. 'Everyone was talking about "doing it" and "hooking up" and "virginity"... and I didn't get it. Was everyone also pretending? 'I avoided sex with guys and suppressed my real, unrequited crushes. My brain could not comprehend that I simply wasn't interested, that I just didn't want to go through with it, which would be a completely appropriate feeling and response.' Page would come out as a lesbian in 2014 - and would transition from female to male six years later. Elsewhere in the book Page revealed he developed stress-induced shingles on the set of Inception in 2010 after feeling 'out of place in a cast full of cis men.' He wrote: 'Shingles communicated the stress my body felt. It popped out of my spine while filming Inception when I was twenty-two. 'Despite everyone being delightful to work with, I felt out of place. In a cast full of cis men, I did not understand the role I found myself in. Elliot said that early on in filming he would joke that he'd be 'recast with Keira Knightley.' Teen years: The Oscar-nominated star, 36, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, revealed he once dated a classmate called Kenneth and repeatedly attempted to lose his virginity to him - to no avail (pictured 2004) Fling: This comes after 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 (pictured) This comes after 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. The star said he was instantly attracted to Thirlby, now 36, who played Juno's best friend Leah in the film, as he recounted their fling in Pageboy. He said: 'I was taken aback the moment I saw Olivia Thirlby. She seemed so much older, capable, and centered. 'Sexually open, far removed from where I was at the time. But the chemistry was palpable, it pulled me in.' Page - who played pregnant teen Juno MacGuff in the film - recounted how they started 'sucking face' in a hotel room after Thirlby confessed she was 'really attracted' to him, to which Page reciprocated her feelings. He wrote: 'It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful.' He added it was one of the first times someone would make him orgasm. Page said he and Thirlby began having sex 'all the time', writing: 'Her hotel room, in our trailers at work, once in a tiny, private room in a restaurant We thought we were being subtle. Being intimate with Olivia helped my shame dissipate. I didnt see a glint of it in her eyes and I wanted that done feeling wretched about who I am.' Tea spilled: He wrote: 'It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful.' He added it was one of the first times someone would make him orgasm' (pictured together in 2007) Around the time Page and Thirlby filmed Juno, the pair were slated to star as the title characters in Jack & Diane - playing two young women who fall in love - but both dropped out before production, and the cast was replaced numerous times over. Thirlby publicly came out as bisexual in 2011 - she has been married to Jacques Pienaar since 2014. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Thirlby for comment. This comes after Elliot revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while she was dating Max Minghella. Page details in his memoir Pageboy how he and Kate, 40, struck up a romance as he filmed X-Men: Days of Future Past and that Kate was 'in love with two people.' Kate and Max went their separate ways in 2014 after four years of dating. She is now married to actor Jamie Bell, with whom she shares two children. In his memoir, Page writes: 'The first person I fell for after my heart was broken was Kate Mara. She had a boyfriend at the time, the lovely and talented Max Minghella.' Sexuality battle: Writing in his new memoir Pageboy, Page 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 (pictured 2006) Racy: Page recounted how they started 'sucking face' in a hotel room after Thirlby confessed she was 'really attracted' to him - to which Page reciprocated her feelings (pictured in Juno with Allison Janney) Coming out: Olivia came out as bisexual publicly in 2011 - she has been married to Jacques Pienaar since 2014 (pictured 2019) 'This was right after Id come out as gay [in 2014] and it was a time of exploration and also heartbreak. I think my relationship, or whatever you want to call it with Kate, very much encapsulates a certain dynamic that I consistently found myself in, which was falling for people that - I think a lot of us do this - who arent fully available. 'And the sort of safety in that and the highs and the lows and the serotonin bump, and then it goes away. And I think that is definitely a pattern in my life. 'I think the love and care that we have for each other is its very own special thing. Separate from the intimacy that I write about.' Elliot said Max was supportive of Kate exploring their relationship - which was kept a secret from the world - and says Kate told him: 'I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can.' The pair played a couple in movie My Days of Mercy which premiered in 2017 and was released in 2019 - this was made after their romance. Page added that Kate has read the book and will appear at a book event in LA in June to promote it. Elliot publicly came out as a transgender man in December 2020 but revealed he began 'feeling like a boy' from the age of nine. In the book, Elliot recalled being in a gay bar just a few months before the premiere of his breakout 2008 movie Juno. At the bar he met a woman named Paula, who unwittingly helped him address the feelings of 'shame' he had. Heartbreak: This comes after Elliot revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while she was dating Max Minghella (pictured 2017) Former couple: Kate and Max went their separate ways in 2014 after four years of dating (pictured 2014) Ex; Elliot said Max was supportive of Kate exploring their relationship -which was kept a secret from the world and says Kate told him: 'I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can' (pictured 2014) Moved on: Kate is now married to actor Jamie Bell and the pair share two children (pictured January 2023) He wrote: 'Dancing, sweat dripping down my back, down my chest. I watched Paula's hair twist and bounce as she moved effortlessly, chaotic but controlled, sensual and strong. 'I would catch her looking at me, or was it the other way around? We wanted to be caught. Deer in the headlights. Startled, but not breaking.' Having asked if he could kiss her, he continued: 'And then I did. In a queer bar. In front of everyone around us. I was coming to understand what all those poems were about, what all the fuss was. 'Everything was cold before, motionless, emotionless. Any woman I had loved hadn't loved me back, and the one who maybe had, loved me the wrong way. 'But here I was, on a dance floor with a woman who wanted to kiss me and the antagonizing, cruel voice that flooded my head whenever I felt desire was silent.' Elliot also looked at how the bar helped him address his feelings of shame. He penned: 'Shame had been drilled into my bones since I was my tiniest self, and I struggled to rid my body of that old toxic and erosive marrow. 'But there was a joy in the room, it lifted me, forced a reaction in the jaw, an uncontrolled, steady smile.' Elliot was paid 'north of $3M' to write his 288-page tell-all, which Flatiron Books will publish on June 6. The two-time Emmy-nominated producer came out as a lesbian in 2014 during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's 'Time to Thrive' conference in Las Vegas. Elliot kicks off his nine-date international book tour on June 6 at The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan, and future dates will be announced soon. It's unclear if Elliot is still dating non-binary comedian Mae Martin after the pair got matching tattoos and suited up for the 11th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala on November 5. Elliot's divorce from Canadian dancer Emma Portner was finalized in 2021 after two years of marriage. Elizabeth Hurley was nowhere in sight, but her lookalike son more than made up for her absence as Dolce & Gabbana celebrated the launch of their latest luxury accessory on Monday evening. Letting his centre-parted hair down at a cocktail party in the heart of London, model Damian Hurley appeared to be in high spirits - and in good company - while toasting the Italian brand's new DG Logo Bag. The 21-year old - Hurley's only child with the late American businessman Steve Bing - was joined by cousin Miles, 26, for a rare joint appearance on the London party circuit. Opting for a sweater bearing an image of Mary, mother of Jesus, and low-slung ripped jeans, Damian ensured he caught the eye while partying at the exclusive event. Joining his young cousin, Miles - a Dolce & Gabbana model - stood out in a hooded gym sweater and distressed jeans, teamed with a pair of blue-soled trainers. IN good company: Damian Hurley (right) appeared to be in high spirits as he attended a Dolce & Gabbana with cousin Miles (left) in London on Monday evening Close: Damian threw an arm around his older cousin as they posed for photos at the event Say cheese: (L-R) Damian Hurley, Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath,, Mason Smillie, Miles Hurley and Abdel R. Abdulai Other guests at the event included Lady Mary Charteris, Emma Weymouth and Liam Gallagher's eldest son Lennon - who arrived alongside model girlfriend Isobel Richmond. Damian has previously acted, having appeared in E! drama series The Royals alongside his mother. Since then he has focused on modelling, signing with IMG Models in 2020. In March 2018 Miles - whose mother is Hurley's sister Kate Curran - and a friend were stabbed in the back in a random attack by a stranger in Nine Elms, south west London. The model is believed to have lost four pints of blood in the attack, which saw his aunt rush home from a trip to the US to be with him. Hurley later claimed she was 'annoyed but not surprised' police were not continuing their investigation over a lack of evidence. Detectives claimed there was not enough quality DNA evidence from the street where the pair were attacked to build a full profile of a suspect. At the time, Hurley tweeted: 'My 21-year-old nephew was repeatedly stabbed in a brutal attack in London. Game of thrones: Damian posed on a gilded chair while celebrating the launch of the new DG Logo Bag. Party time: Deto Black (L) and Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath (R) were in attendance at the event on Monday evening Side by side: Liam Gallagher's eldest son Lennon arrived alongside his model girlfriend Isobel Richmond. 'The police and hospital are being fantastic. Thank you for all your messages. It is an appalling time for him and our family.' She added: 'He lost more than four pints of blood. 'A policeman was patrolling close by and administered first aid until the ambulance arrived. 'The deepest wound just missed severing his spine. By some miracle, no vital organs were damaged. We are praying that these animals are caught before they maim, or even kill, someone else. These are sad days.' Make way: Lady Mary Charteris made her presence felt at the exclusive party on Monday night Wonder-wally: Lennon kept his shades on despite being in a brightly lit event space Disney star Christy Carlson Romano has demanded a change in working conditions for child actors in an emotional new interview with Fox News Digital. Romano, 39, who rose to fame as Ren Stevens on Disney Channel series Even Stevens, a role she played from 2000-2003 - is campaigning for child actors to receive better support while at work, while reflecting on her own experiences. The actress, who also voiced the title character on animated series Kim Possible, also said she felt 'triggered' after Elle Fanning claimed she missed out on a movie role aged 16 because she was deemed 'un****able.' She said: 'I dont think things are changing in that. I think until theres any kind of changing of the fundamental infrastructure, things cant change. Because were working on outdated information on how kids are being treated on sets. 'Look, at the end of the day, these kids are union-paying members. And theyre not getting protected by the union. Theyre not getting schooled enough directly from the union. They may have little workshops here and there, but they do not have enforcers. They dont have people that are enforcing protections, and thats the biggest problem. Candid: Disney star Christy Carlson Romano has demanded a change in working conditions for child actors in an emotional new interview with Fox News Digital (pictured June 1) On screen: Romano, 39, who rose to fame as Ren Stevens on Disney Channel series Even Stevens, a role she played from 2000-2003 alongside Shia Labeaouf- is campaigning for child actors to receive better support while at work, while reflecting on her own experiences 'We have this industry that benefits off of convenience. We want it loud, fast, funny and cheap, and we need it right now, and thats how productions work. Its not just a Nickelodeon problem, or a Paramount problem or whoever it is. Its not one particular networks issue. Its an entire industry issue. 'Which is why it comes back down to either SAG or even child labor on a federal level. Thats what I have experienced. I think that thats valuable. So, if Im talking about it, Im not trying to whistle blow, its more or less me just advocating for change.' The star, who began acting on Broadway aged just 15, also weighed in on Fanning's shock claim, saying the admission 'triggered' her. The Great actress, now 25, who began her acting career aged just three, told The Hollywood Reporter's comedy actress roundtable of the 'disgusting' moment she lost the role in an unspecified family film. She said: 'I've never told this story, but I was trying out for a movie. I didnt get it. I dont even think they ever made it, but it was a father-daughter road trip comedy. 'I didnt hear from my agents because they wouldnt tell me things like this that filtration system is really important because theres probably a lot more damaging comments that they filtered but this one got to me. I was 16 years old, and a person said, 'Oh, she didnt get the father-daughter road trip comedy because shes unf***able.' " 'It's so disgusting. And I can laugh at it now, like, 'What a disgusting pig!' Romano said: 'Im so angry. I felt very triggered, I felt very helpless and hopeless in some ways because I was like, This just keeps happening. These are people I consider my community. She added that there are 'no meeting rooms for recovered child actors.' Back in 2021 Romano revealed how she spent 'millions of dollars' in a new YouTube video, titled How I Lost All My Money. While speaking about her poor financial choices in her late teens and early twenties, the actress outlined how she 'blew all' her 'Disney money' on 'crazy purchases.' 'Disgusting' The actress, who also voiced the title character on animated series Kim Possible, also said she felt 'triggered' after Elle Fanning claimed she missed out on a movie role aged 16 because she was deemed 'un****able' (Fanning pictured 2014 aged 16) She began her ten-minute video by revealing she began 'making money with Disney' at 16, which was partially protected by the Coogan Law. She explained the California Child Actor's Bill 'protects minors from their parents spending all their money' until they are legally adults. 'That's not exactly what happened to me, but I will take you on a journey to my path of financial fluency and how I made and lost millions of dollars,' Romano stated. The mother-of-two continued: 'I really regret not investing my money wisely. I didn't get a house. I didn't take any money and store it away other than the Coogan money. That money I used towards going to college at 18.' 'I left the business and I went into college and I took a lot of that money and put it towards not having student loan debt. That was smart, sure, except that I left school a year and a half in and then I had this money at my disposal,' she reflected. For a long time, she said she was 'never told how much money' and 'money didn't have a purpose' for her. 'I didn't really know what it was. I just knew that I had it and I didn't care about it. That's a problem,' she confessed. She added: 'You got to teach kids the value of each single dollar that they make, everything that they do, the energy that it brings to their life and what it takes to make that dollar. It's a relationship that you have to do it.' Fame game: The star began acting on Broadway aged just 15 (pictured 2003 with the Even Stevens cast) At 21, Romano said she 'decided to part ways' with her family for 'like a year' because she 'didn't like the way that [her] money was being managed.' 'It was a sad year for me, but it was also an interesting year. You know, I started to understand that I had a certain amount of money and that made me feel super confident,' she told viewers. When people told her she 'wasn't good enough,' the Cadet Kelly star said she would 'feel better' and more 'accepted' by purchasing 'really big ticket items.' 'I was using buying things and money as a weapon,' she shared. 'I felt like if I could just buy certain things, I would feel better or if I just lived a certain lifestyle, I would be closer to that joy of feeling accepted and a lot less alone because I felt really dumb for not knowing about my money and I never really made peace with that. Even to this day, there's nothing I can really do about the fact that money came and went.' Among her 'biggest' regrets, Romano owned up to seeing a psychic who 'managed to get a bunch of money' from her. Naomi Watts was seen smiling as she stepped out on one of her first outings as a married woman, just days after tying the knot to Billy Crudup. While walking her adorable dog, Izzy, who she adopted in 2021, around New York City, on Sunday, the 54-year-old actress sported an oversized blue and white striped button-down over a pair of black leggings. She completed her chic ensemble with a pair of oversized shades, yellow sandals, which displayed her coral pedicure, and a brown crossbody bag. The Mulholland Drive blonde locks were pulled back in a low ponytail and she opted to wear minimal makeup to show off her natural beauty. Stylish: Naomi Watts was seen smiling as she stepped out on one of her first outings as a married woman, just days after tying the knot to Billy Crudup Their sighting comes after the star shared a number of stunning wedding photos of herself posing with a white bouquet, which she revealed were purchased from a local deli, on Instagram over the weekend. The couple's celebrity friends were quick to congratulate them on the happy occasion. 'Yipeeeeeee!!!! Sending so much love,' Gwyneth Paltrow commented on Naomi's post, while Miranda Kerr added: 'Congratulations!' Naomi's ex-boyfriend Liev Schreiber, 55, who she previously dated for 11 years, also extended his well wishes by commenting: 'Congratulations!!! Gorgeous!!!' The famously secretive couple previously sparked marriage rumors after they were spotted in wedding attire in photos obtained by Page Six on Friday. Naomi first sparked rumors that she and Billy had gotten engaged earlier this year, when she debuted an enormous diamond with a tasteful marquise cut, along with a diamond-encrusted band. The star however refused to confirm the engagement chatter, even after American Today show host Hoda Kotb directly referenced it during a late April appearance on the morning talk show. Toward the end of Naomi's segment, Hoda joked that he 'eye was hurting' from the 'big glint coming from some ring over here.' Looking good! While walking her adorable dog, Izzy, who she adopted in 2021, around New York City, on Sunday, the 54-year-old actress sported an oversized blue and white striped button-down over a pair of black leggings Effortlessly cool: She completed her chic ensemble with a pair of oversized shades, yellow sandals, which displayed her coral pedicure, and a brown crossbody bag 'It just struck me, but it's beautiful,' she added. Lest there be any doubt about her implied question, Hoda's co-host Savannah Guthrie added: 'Hoda is asking if you're engaged.' But Naomi simply replied, 'So, the brain fog...' Savannah went on to compliment the ring's design, but Naomi avoided saying more about her ring, while also not outright denying that she had gotten engaged to Billy. So far, the Morning Show star has also avoided discussing the potential engagement. Newlyweds: Their sighting comes after the star shared a number of stunning wedding photos of herself posing with a white bouquet, which she revealed were purchased from a local deli, over the weekend Friendly: Naomi's ex-boyfriend Liev Schreiber, 55, who she previously dated for 11 years, also extended his well wishes by commenting: 'Congratulations!!! Gorgeous!!!' 'Hubby,' Watts captioned a selfie with her man The King Kong star appeared to have worn the ring at least as early as March, and she was spotted displaying the sparkler on the red carpet at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills. Naomi and Billy met on the set of her 2017 Netflix series Gypsy, in which she starred as a therapist who uses an alias to develop close (and unethical) relationships with people intimately connected to her patients, while Crudup played her husband. The costars began a relationship later in 2017, a year after Naomi had split from her partner of 11 years, the actor Liev Schreiber. The friendly exes share two children: Kai, 14, and Sasha, 15. Billy is father to son William Atticus Parker, 19, who he shares with ex Mary Louise Parker. All in the details: She revealed that her bouquet was from flowers assembled from a local deli He caused a huge scandal in 2003 after ditching Parker while she was seven months pregnant with Atticus, then beginning a relationship with actress Clare Danes. The pair split around two years later, amid rumors Billy had been ditched by Clare for another co-star, British actor Hugh Dancy. Clare and Hugh wed in 2009, and remain married. Since they began dating, Naomi and Billy have kept their public appearances to a minimum and have largely avoided commenting on their relationship, though Naomi has occasionally shared sweet photos of herself with her boyfriend on social media. During a past interview with PorterEdit in 2019, The Impossible actress opened up about their blended families and co-parenting together. 'We're doing things very differently.' 'I'm pretty proud of us, corny as that may sound. We've made it our absolute priority to be good and kind to each other and we're absolutely committed to that.' Sealed with a kiss! Mark Ruffalo shared a sweet snap of the couple kissing Liev announced earlier this year that he's expecting his first child with model girlfriend Taylor Neisen. Billy was long infamous for the terrible timing when he ended his multi-year relationship with Weeds star Mary-Louise Parker. He separated from the actress, who he began dating in 1996, in November of 2003, when she was seven months pregnant with their son. He subsequently began a relationship with Claire Danes that ended in 2006. Pregnant Chyna Mills hit the red carpet with her boyfriend Neil Jones at the UK premiere of new film No Hard Feelings on Monday. The former Love Island star, 24, and the Strictly Come Dancing pro, 41, recently announced they were expecting a little girl. She showed off her growing baby bump in a figure-hugging green midi dress as she loving cradled her belly. Chyna's dress featured a one-shoulder detail and she slipped her feet into strappy black heels, before accessorising with dainty gold jewellery. The influencer wore her brunette locks in a sleek ponytail and finished her glamorous look with a perfectly applied pallet of make-up. Loved-up: Pregnant Chyna Mills hit the red carpet in a stylish green gown with her boyfriend Neil Jones at the UK premiere of new film No Hard Feelings on Monday Glowing: The former Love Island star, 24, showed off her growing baby bump in a figure-hugging green midi dress as she loving cradled her belly Meanwhile, Neil looked typically stylish in a black cardigan and blazer, teamed with trousers and boots. Last week the Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones and Love Island star Chyna revealed they are having a baby girl. The couple - who started dating after the dancer slid into the reality star's DMs and got engaged in April - were joined by his fellow Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tour stars as they held a gender reveal. Dancers Dianne Buswell , Gorka Marquez , Vito Coppola, Carlo Gu, Karen Hauer, Nikita Kuzmin, Luba Mushtuk, Nancy Xu and Jowita Przystal all witnessed the moment they sliced into a cake to reveal a pink sponge. They all cheered: 'It's a girl!' Speaking to HELLO! magazine about the moment they found out the sex of the unborn tot with his 'Strictly' gang, Neil said: 'They were as thrilled as us... 'They'd been trying to guess if we were expecting a girl or a boy, and for the HELLO! shoot the girls wore pink or blue eyeshadow, depending on what they thought... 'Dianne was like, 'Your daughter will have so many (Strictly) aunties now!' Chyna and I are so happy and I can't wait to be a dad.' Chyna says she had an inkling she was having a girl because of her intense morning sickness and the fact her mother had it bad with her pregnancies with her girls. She said: 'I had horrendous morning sickness, which my mum who's had four girls tells me is a sign. My cravings have been for sweet food, too. Krispy Kreme donuts are my downfall.' Neil believes their daughter will be a model like his mum because of her long legs, while Chyna is tipping her little girl to be a dancer like daddy. He said: 'During a scan the nurse tried to get the baby to turn. When she wouldn't, the nurse joked, 'This one's quite stubborn,' and I thought, 'That's like Chyna'... Stunning: Chyna's dress featured a one-shoulder detail and she slipped her feet into strappy black heels, before accessorising with dainty gold jewellery Dapper: Neil looked typically stylish in a black cardigan and blazer, teamed with trousers and boots 'The baby even lies with her arms above her head and with her legs crossed just like her mum. Her legs are really long, so she could be a model, too.' Chyna added: 'I think she's going to be a dancer, like her dad. Whenever we play music or I watch Neil perform, she moves as if she's trying to dance. I feel she and I know everything about each other, and I talk to her all the time.' The couple have around 17 weeks until they meet the little one. Neil admitted: 'My outlook on life has changed. It's not just about me anymore I need to take care of two people.' This Account has been suspended. Alithya Group (TSE:ALYA Get Rating) had its target price upped by Cormark from C$3.85 to C$4.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Separately, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Alithya Group from C$3.00 to C$3.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Get Alithya Group alerts: Alithya Group Stock Down 5.4 % Shares of ALYA opened at C$2.43 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.09. The firm has a market cap of C$213.50 million and a P/E ratio of -12.15. Alithya Group has a 12 month low of C$1.95 and a 12 month high of C$3.54. The stocks 50 day moving average is C$2.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$2.44. About Alithya Group Alithya Group Inc provides strategy and digital technology services in Canada, the United States, and Europe. The company's business strategy services include strategic consulting, digital transformation, organizational performance, and enterprise architecture services. It also provides application services, such as digital applications DevOps, legacy systems modernization, control and software engineering, cloud infrastructure, quality assurance, and automated testing; enterprise solutions comprising enterprise resource planning, corporate performance management, customer relationship management, and human capital management; and data and analytics solutions, including business intelligence, data management, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, as well as internet of things. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alithya Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alithya Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Rating) had its price objective cut by Bank of America from $112.00 to $110.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Sunday, The Fly reports. Bank of Americas price objective indicates a potential upside of 20.19% from the companys previous close. Several other research firms have also recently commented on DUK. Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Duke Energy from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $99.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $109.00 to $97.00 in a report on Thursday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $104.77. Get Duke Energy alerts: Duke Energy Price Performance Shares of DUK traded down $0.48 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $91.52. 2,647,603 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,766,275. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $95.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $98.12. Duke Energy has a 52-week low of $83.76 and a 52-week high of $113.67. The company has a market cap of $70.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.16, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.43. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Duke Energy Duke Energy ( NYSE:DUK Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by ($0.20). The business had revenue of $7.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.26 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 8.39% and a net margin of 8.89%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.30 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Duke Energy will post 5.62 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in Duke Energy during the 1st quarter worth $40,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in Duke Energy by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 47,250 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $5,276,000 after buying an additional 581 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 29.5% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,751 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 2,223 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 447.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,260 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $141,000 after purchasing an additional 1,030 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 6,505 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $726,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.22% of the companys stock. About Duke Energy (Get Rating) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank reiterated their arm rating on shares of Sovereign Metals (LON:SVML Get Rating) in a report published on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a GBX 90 ($1.12) price objective on the stock. Sovereign Metals Price Performance Shares of SVML stock opened at GBX 24 ($0.30) on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of 113.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,200.00 and a beta of 1.07. Sovereign Metals has a one year low of GBX 20.02 ($0.25) and a one year high of GBX 31.20 ($0.39). The stocks fifty day simple moving average is GBX 23.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 24.70. Get Sovereign Metals alerts: About Sovereign Metals (Get Rating) Featured Stories Sovereign Metals Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the identification, exploration, development, and appraisal of mineral resource projects in Malawi. Its flagship project is the Kasiya rutile deposit in Malawi. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Perth, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Sovereign Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sovereign Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Yuchai International (NYSE:CYD Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock. Separately, Greenridge Global reissued a buy rating on shares of China Yuchai International in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Get China Yuchai International alerts: China Yuchai International Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of CYD stock opened at $9.60 on Thursday. The firms 50-day moving average is $7.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $8.04. China Yuchai International has a 12 month low of $6.73 and a 12 month high of $10.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. Institutional Investors Weigh In On China Yuchai International China Yuchai International Company Profile Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its stake in China Yuchai International by 69.9% during the 1st quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 31,200 shares of the companys stock worth $246,000 after buying an additional 12,831 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in China Yuchai International by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 296,320 shares of the companys stock worth $2,338,000 after buying an additional 2,602 shares during the period. Arnhold LLC increased its stake in China Yuchai International by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Arnhold LLC now owns 250,266 shares of the companys stock worth $1,975,000 after buying an additional 4,499 shares during the period. Shah Capital Management grew its holdings in China Yuchai International by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Shah Capital Management now owns 4,111,308 shares of the companys stock worth $32,438,000 after acquiring an additional 15,515 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC acquired a new position in China Yuchai International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $183,000. 19.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. (Get Rating) China Yuchai International Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the manufacture, assembly, and sale of light, medium, and heavy-duty engines for trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, construction equipment, marine, and agriculture applications. It operates through the following segments: Yuchai, HL Global Enterprises Limited (HLGE), and Corporate. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for China Yuchai International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Yuchai International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF Get Rating) and American Lithium (OTCMKTS:LIACF Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends and profitability. Profitability This table compares Cleveland-Cliffs and American Lithiums net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Cleveland-Cliffs alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cleveland-Cliffs 2.14% 8.32% 3.25% American Lithium N/A -16.28% -15.96% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Cleveland-Cliffs and American Lithium, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cleveland-Cliffs 1 6 6 0 2.38 American Lithium 0 0 1 0 3.00 Valuation & Earnings Cleveland-Cliffs currently has a consensus target price of $20.53, indicating a potential upside of 28.28%. Given Cleveland-Cliffs higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Cleveland-Cliffs is more favorable than American Lithium. This table compares Cleveland-Cliffs and American Lithiums top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Cleveland-Cliffs $22.99 billion 0.36 $1.34 billion $0.90 17.78 American Lithium N/A N/A -$18.80 million ($0.11) -17.36 Cleveland-Cliffs has higher revenue and earnings than American Lithium. American Lithium is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cleveland-Cliffs, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider and Institutional Ownership 65.3% of Cleveland-Cliffs shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of American Lithium shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.6% of Cleveland-Cliffs shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Risk & Volatility Cleveland-Cliffs has a beta of 2.21, meaning that its stock price is 121% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Lithium has a beta of 1.48, meaning that its stock price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Cleveland-Cliffs beats American Lithium on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Cleveland-Cliffs (Get Rating) Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. The company is vertically integrated from mining through iron making, steelmaking, rolling, finishing and downstream with hot and cold stamping of steel parts and components. The company was formerly known as Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. and changed its name to Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. in August 2017. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. About American Lithium (Get Rating) American Lithium Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of resource properties in the United States. It principally focuses on the TLC Claystones project covering an area of approximately 5,052 hectares located in the town of Tonopah, Nevada; and the Falchani Lithium project and the Macusani Uranium project located in Puno, Peru. The company was formerly known as Menika Mining Ltd. and changed its name to American Lithium Corp. in April 2016. American Lithium Corp. was incorporated in 1974 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Cleveland-Cliffs Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cleveland-Cliffs and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed their buy rating on shares of Aviva (LON:AV Get Rating) in a report published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. AV has been the subject of several other research reports. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 520 ($6.46) price objective on shares of Aviva in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Barclays reissued an equal weight rating and set a GBX 545 ($6.78) price objective on shares of Aviva in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Aviva from GBX 545 ($6.78) to GBX 535 ($6.65) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Berenberg Bank decreased their target price on Aviva from GBX 546 ($6.79) to GBX 532 ($6.61) and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 526 ($6.54). Get Aviva alerts: Aviva Stock Performance Shares of Aviva stock opened at GBX 400.90 ($4.98) on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 3.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.38. The firm has a market capitalization of 11.02 billion, a P/E ratio of -1,055.00, a P/E/G ratio of 8.09 and a beta of 1.03. The firms 50 day moving average is GBX 413.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 431.65. Aviva has a 52 week low of GBX 366.70 ($4.56) and a 52 week high of GBX 473.70 ($5.89). Insider Activity About Aviva In other Aviva news, insider Amanda Blanc sold 322,369 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on 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). In other news, insider Amanda Blanc sold 322,369 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated 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). Also, insider Pippa Lambert purchased 1,302 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 419 ($5.21) per share, with a total value of 5,455.38 ($6,781.92). Company 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. Read More 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. Rollins (NYSE:ROL Get Rating) is one of 59 public companies in the Personal Services industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Rollins to related companies based on the strength of its valuation, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings and institutional ownership. Institutional & Insider Ownership 39.0% of Rollins shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 41.7% of shares of all Personal Services companies are held by institutional investors. 4.7% of Rollins shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 23.8% of shares of all Personal Services companies are held by 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. Get Rollins alerts: Profitability This table compares Rollins and its competitors 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 Recommendations 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 competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Rollins and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. 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 presently has a consensus price target 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 competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Rollins has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Volatility & Risk Rollins has a beta of 0.66, meaning that its share price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Rollins competitors have a beta of 0.99, meaning that their average share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Rollins and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share 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 competitors. Rollins is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Rollins beats its competitors 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. Chemours (NYSE:CC Get Rating) had its price target boosted by Royal Bank of Canada from $36.00 to $37.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on CC. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on shares of Chemours from $27.00 to $25.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Chemours from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, May 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Chemours from $34.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Chemours from $54.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Monday, June 5th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Chemours from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $38.78. Get Chemours alerts: Chemours Stock Down 0.5 % CC stock traded down $0.15 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $31.91. The company had a trading volume of 721,659 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,177,864. Chemours has a 1 year low of $23.58 and a 1 year high of $39.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.93. The company has a market capitalization of $4.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.34, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.87. The company has a 50 day moving average of $29.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.32. Chemours Announces Dividend Chemours ( NYSE:CC Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.36. The business had revenue of $1.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.46 billion. Chemours had a net margin of 7.45% and a return on equity of 53.44%. Chemourss revenue for the quarter was down 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.46 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Chemours will post 3.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Chemourss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.26%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Matthew S. Abbott sold 8,912 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.20, for a total transaction of $304,790.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 29,869 shares in the company, valued at $1,021,519.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Mark Newman purchased 7,661 shares of Chemours stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $34.63 per share, for a total transaction of $265,300.43. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 266,955 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,244,651.65. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Matthew S. Abbott sold 8,912 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.20, for a total transaction of $304,790.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 29,869 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,021,519.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.63% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Chemours by 29.0% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 18,075,740 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $569,023,000 after purchasing an additional 4,060,250 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Chemours by 5.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,741,300 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $437,324,000 after acquiring an additional 932,063 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in Chemours by 29.0% during the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 15,256,880 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $456,791,000 after acquiring an additional 3,427,490 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Chemours by 5.8% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,618,424 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $145,388,000 after acquiring an additional 254,243 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Chemours by 9.7% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,164,475 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $94,745,000 after acquiring an additional 279,414 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.89% of the companys stock. About Chemours (Get Rating) The Chemours Co is a holding company, which engages in the provision of performance chemicals. The firm delivers solutions, which include a range of industrial and chemical products for markets including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, and general industrial. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chemours Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemours and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carters (NYSE:CRI Get Rating) and Lanvin Group (NYSE:LANV Get Rating) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, profitability and institutional ownership. Insider & Institutional Ownership 99.1% of Carters shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.0% of Lanvin Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.5% of Carters shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.7% of Lanvin Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Carter's alerts: Risk and Volatility Carters has a beta of 1.22, meaning that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lanvin Group has a beta of 0.01, meaning that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Carters 6.97% 30.11% 9.73% Lanvin Group N/A -443.09% -50.06% Analyst Recommendations This table compares Carters and Lanvin Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Carters and Lanvin Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Carters 0 2 0 0 2.00 Lanvin Group 0 1 0 0 2.00 Carters currently has a consensus price target of $77.67, indicating a potential upside of 15.75%. Lanvin Group has a consensus price target of $6.50, indicating a potential upside of 27.20%. Given Lanvin Groups higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Lanvin Group is more favorable than Carters. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Carters and Lanvin Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Carters $3.21 billion 0.79 $250.04 million $5.66 11.86 Lanvin Group $445.02 million 1.50 -$229.99 million $0.33 15.49 Carters has higher revenue and earnings than Lanvin Group. Carters is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lanvin Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Carters beats Lanvin Group on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Carters (Get Rating) Carter's, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, sources, and markets branded childrenswear under the Carter's, OshKosh, Skip Hop, Child of Mine, Just One You, Simple Joys, little planet, and other brands in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: U.S. Retail, U.S. Wholesale, and International. Its Carter's products include babies and young children products, such as bodysuits, pants, dresses, layette essentials, tops and t-shirts, multi-piece sets, sleep and play products, and sleepwear; and OshKosh brand products comprise playclothes, such as denim apparel products, overalls, core bottoms, knit tops, t-shirts, and layering pieces. The company also provides products for playtime, travel, mealtime, bath time, and home gear, as well as kid's bags under the Skip Hop brand. In addition, it offers bedding, home decor, cribs and baby furniture, diaper bags, footwear, gift sets, hair accessories, jewelry, outerwear, paper goods, socks, shoes, swimwear, and toys. The company operates wholesale locations, including department stores, national chain stores, and specialty stores, as well as retail stores. It also sells its products through its eCommerce websites, such as carters.com, oshkosh.com, and skiphop.com, as well as other international wholesale accounts and licensees. The company was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. About Lanvin Group (Get Rating) Lanvin Group Holdings Limited operates as a couture house worldwide. The company offers ready-to-wear, made to measure, footwear, leather goods, costume jewelry, accessories, eyewear, and childrenswear under the Lanvin brand name; ready-to-wear, legwear, lingerie and beachwear, and accessories under the Wolford brand; footwear under the Sergio Rossi brand name; luxury womenswear, footwear, handbags, jewelry, and leather goods under the St. John brand; and leisurewear and formalwear under the Caruso brand name. The company was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. Lanvin Group Holdings Limited is a subsidiary of Fosun International Limited. Receive News & Ratings for Carter's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carter's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB Get Rating) had its target price lowered by Citigroup from $155.00 to $150.00 in a report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports. Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on MTB. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of M&T Bank from $141.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of M&T Bank from $194.00 to $153.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Argus upgraded shares of M&T Bank from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $150.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of M&T Bank from $160.00 to $125.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of M&T Bank from $190.00 to $183.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, M&T Bank presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $163.42. Get M&T Bank alerts: M&T Bank Trading Down 1.4 % Shares of MTB traded down $1.78 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $125.14. 527,294 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,751,596. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.76 billion, a PE ratio of 9.73, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.79. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $120.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $138.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. M&T Bank has a 52 week low of $109.36 and a 52 week high of $193.42. M&T Bank Dividend Announcement M&T Bank ( NYSE:MTB Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $4.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.98 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.37 billion. M&T Bank had a return on equity of 11.97% and a net margin of 23.20%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.73 EPS. On average, analysts predict that M&T Bank will post 16.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.16%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. M&T Banks dividend payout ratio is currently 40.28%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Rudina Seseri sold 700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.40, for a total transaction of $82,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,736 shares in the company, valued at $205,542.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other M&T Bank news, Director Rudina Seseri sold 700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.40, for a total value of $82,880.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,736 shares of the companys stock, valued at $205,542.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Daryl N. Bible bought 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $120.61 per share, for a total transaction of $1,206,100.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,206,100. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.97% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On M&T Bank A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of MTB. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of M&T Bank by 35.2% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 15,153,301 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,811,880,000 after buying an additional 3,945,773 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of M&T Bank by 2.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,607,431 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,475,959,000 after buying an additional 316,266 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in M&T Bank by 0.8% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 13,106,150 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,567,102,000 after purchasing an additional 108,068 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its stake in M&T Bank by 1.1% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,994,434 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $955,894,000 after buying an additional 87,768 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its position in shares of M&T Bank by 0.7% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,985,096 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $954,778,000 after purchasing an additional 55,623 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.10% of the companys stock. About M&T Bank (Get Rating) M&T Bank Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association that offer retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. The company's Business Banking segment offers deposit, lending, cash management, and other financial services to small businesses and professionals. See Also Receive News & Ratings for M&T Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M&T Bank 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. Shareholders 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 of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This is an increase from Pipestone Energys previous dividend of $0.02. Pipestone Energy Stock Performance Shares of BKBEF traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $1.88. 400 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 26,013. Pipestone Energy has a 1-year low of $1.65 and a 1-year high of $5.00. The business has a 50 day moving average of $1.90 and a 200 day moving average of $2.09. Get Pipestone Energy alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. National Bank Financial cut their price target on shares of Pipestone Energy from C$4.00 to C$3.50 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded 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. Featured Stories 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. Chinese defense minister meets Thailand's army chief Xinhua) 10:14, June 12, 2023 BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu met with Narongphan Jitkaewtae, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, on Saturday in Beijing. Li said China stands ready to work with Thailand to implement to the letter the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and to push for more fruits of cooperation between the two militaries, especially between the two armies. Against the backdrop of the Asia-Pacific currently facing some security challenges, China is willing to jointly maintain regional stability with Thailand and ensure lasting security in the region, Li said. Narongphan expressed appreciation and firm support for the Chinese side's important role in maintaining regional security and stability, and pledged joint efforts to continue advancing the relations between the two countries and militaries. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Development Ministers Meeting of G-20, that is being held in Varanasi, via video conferencing, from New Delhi, Monday, June 12, 2023. (Photo: PTI) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the significance of the democratisation of technology in bridging the the data divide while addressing a grouping of the G20. He stressed the importance of high-quality data for effective policy-making, efficient resource allocation and improved public service delivery. Further, he called for concrete actions to promote Data for Discourse, Data for Development, and Data for Delivery in developing countries. India presented a seven-year action plan at the G20 development ministers' meeting, outlining a coordinated, integrated, and inclusive roadmap for G20 actions. This plan focused on three core agendas: fostering Data for Development and Digital Public Infrastructure, investing in women-led development, and securing globally just transitions. The Prime Minister delivered his message via video to the G20 development ministers' meeting held in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, highlighting the city's historical significance as a center of knowledge, culture, and spirituality. Modi acknowledged that technology is empowering people, making data accessible, and ensuring inclusivity, while expressing India's willingness to share its experience with partner countries. He called for increased investment in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and finding solutions to address the debt risks faced by many nations. Additionally, he emphasised the need for reforming multilateral financial institutions to expand eligibility criteria, ensuring finance accessibility for those in need. The Prime Minister acknowledged the severe impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions on developing nations, leading to disruption in food, fuel, and fertiliser supplies. In highlighting the spirit of Kashi (Varanasi), Modi encouraged G20 delegates to explore and experience the city's essence, including the Ganga Aarti and visiting Sarnath, expressing confidence that it would inspire them to achieve their desired outcomes. Regarding women's empowerment, he stressed on the significance of gender equality and women's empowerment in achieving the SDGs. India's approach extends beyond women's empowerment to women-led development, where women set the agenda and serve as agents of growth and change. He urged the adoption of a game-changing action plan for women-led development. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the meeting, highlighted the unprecedented and multiple crises faced by the world, including the pandemic, disruptions in supply chains, conflicts, and climate events. He expressed concern over the inadequate progress towards the SDGs, further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The minister also expressed disappointment over the fragmentation of international priorities, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to the SDG agenda. He emphasised the interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals and the collective interest in not cherry-picking certain goals over others. Children taking selfies with Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the classroom on Monday. (Image By Arrangement) Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the distribution of Jagananna Vidya Kanuka kits worth Rs 1,042.53 crore under the scheme that would benefit 43,10,165 students of Classes I to X in government and government-aided schools. This is the fourth consecutive year that the state government is distributing the kits to deserving students. Each kit costs Rs 2,400. Addressing a public meeting attended by the students and their parents at Krosuru in Palnadu district on Monday, the CM said the distribution was launched on the first day of reopening of schools after the summer vacation. The distribution of kits was taken up all over the state in the presence of ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs and other public representatives in a festive atmosphere. The CM said that this time, the government has come up with better-quality material in the kits, based on the feedback it received from the stakeholders. He listed out the material contained in each kit, like three pairs of uniform dress, a school bag, bilingual textbooks, notebooks, workbooks, a pair of school shoes, two pairs of socks, a belt, an English to Telugu dictionary and a school bag of larger size. The Chief Minister announced that the AP government has signed an MoU with the Educational Testing Service to train students from Classes three to nine, to improve their skills and appear for TOEFL. This apart, under this programme, select groups of English teachers would be made to attend orientation courses in the US from the current academic year. The aim, he said, was to eventually make students proficient in English language and encourage them to speak with the American accent. The CM promised efforts to link artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, data analysis, language learning module and Chat GPT with the education system in the state so that students could get an exposure to the international education system. Referring to the Nadu-Nadu programme, Jagan Mohan Reddy listed out a series of programmes taken up under it, like introduction of CBSE syllabus, making the medium of instruction as English and appointment of subject teachers even from Class III in the schools. He said that to coincide with his birthday on December 21, Class VIII students would be given pre-loaded tabs with a private online education players content. As part of promotion of digital teaching, 31,700 IFPs would be installed by that time in 33,000 schools. To promote higher education, the government is providing fee-reimbursement to the students with no cap on the number of beneficiaries in each family. So far, a sum of Rs 10,636 crore was spent on this. Under the Vasanthi Deevena, the government spent Rs 4,275 crore so far, he said. The CM said that the government was providing financial assistance upto Rs 1.25 crore each for students to pursue professional education in top universities around the world, under the Jagananna Videshi Deevana. The government had spent Rs 60,329 crore on the education sector in the last four years in AP, he said. Earlier, he visited the AP Model School and launched the digital classroom by writing All the Best on the IFP amidst thunderous applause from the students, faculty members and officials. Jagan Mohan Reddy spent some time with the students by sitting on a bench in a classroom and keenly observing the quality of school bag and other materials in the Vidya Kanuka kits. He interacted with the students and allowed both the girl and boy students to take selfie with him. The CM stood around with a beaming smile on his face. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Vittal and Jithender Reddy said, There is a procedure to change or appoint a new president in the BJP. We urge all our leaders and cadre not to be confused over the issue of change of state party president. It won't happen and we will fight the elections under the leadership of Bandi Sanjay. (Twitter) HYDERABAD: Senior leaders of the BJP, after a brainstorming session over the news of an impending change in state leadership on Sunday, hit back strongly at media reports and alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was "trying to demoralise our cadre and party by creating confusion and planting fake narratives" about a change in BJP state president. BJP leaders Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Vijayashanthi, Boora Narsaiah Goud, Vijayarama Rao, C.H. Vittal, Garikipati Mohan Rao, Ravinder Naik and other leaders met at the senior leader and former MP A.P. Jithender Reddys residence and discussed issues related to the party and the state. Afterwards, speaking to the media, the leaders said in a statement, "Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is rattled by the BJP and is therefore resorting to his usual tricks of trying to spread confusion. Media leaks are being planted to suggest we will be changing our leader, which is not the case, nor is this the procedure we follow. Media should be careful when publishing reports and after checking their veracity." Without naming any leader in their own party, the leaders also reminded their own of the BJPs values, saying, "We are a disciplined party and dont elevate people to random posts just because anyone is demanding it. We must all work hard to use the situation in the state, work unitedly and with focus to come to power." Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Vittal and Jithender Reddy said, "There is a procedure to change or appoint a new president in the BJP. We urge all our leaders and cadre not to be confused over the issue of change of state party president. It wont happen and we will fight the elections under the leadership of Bandi Sanjay." If BJP high command wanted to change the state party president, it will ascertain the views of the party from the grassroots level and all senior leaders before making an announcement, they said. Even as the party is busy doing the Jan Sampark Abhiyan outreach in Telangana, and holding a speedy membership drive from village to the state level, a section of the media is creating false propaganda at the behest of the ruling party, they alleged. "KCR is trying to create confusion among opposition parties for political benefits," Jithender Reddy said. "The BJP is gaining strength in Telangana as proven in the GHMC elections, and byelections of Dubbak, Huzurabad and Munugode. The BJP will defeat the unpopular BRS government in the coming elections." Jithender Reddy predicted an alliance between the Congress and the BRS for the coming Assembly elections, whereas the BJP will fight it alone, he said. "We have decided to launch a campaign to expose all false propaganda against the BJP and tell people the truth," he said. "BJP is a party of ideology and discipline. What ideology do the BRS or Congress have?" Vittal asked. Vishweshar Reddy said that it was sad that the media was speaking lies to help the BRS and trying to damage the prospects of the BJP. "Where is the question of BJP losing steam or popularity? The BRS is losing face and people have decided to punish it. The Congress has no credibility. Only the BJP can face, fight and defeat the KCR government," the former MP said. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at a public meeting in Gadwal. (Photo: Twitter) HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, addressing a public rally in Gadwal, which is close to Andhra Pradesh, appealed to the public to compare the two Telugu states to note the visible difference in terms of development achieved by Telangana state over the past nine years. The Chief Minister said, "Andhra Pradesh is just 25 kilometres away from here. Telangana state has 24-hour power supply. Areas located on the other side of Tungabhadra bridge (Andhra Pradesh) have no 24-hour power supply. During Telangana statehood agitation, they said Telangana state will plunge into darkness if AP is bifurcated. You can see the difference today." Rao urged people to support the BRS in the upcoming Assembly polls so they can continue to reap the benefits of development programmes like the Rythu Bandhu and Dalit Bandhu. Continuing his tirade against Congress leaders for their statements against the Dharani portal and promises to scrap it, Rao cautioned people scrapping the portal would cost them benefits, made through direct transfers. "Because of Dharani portal, you are today receiving Rythu Bandhu amount directly in your bank accounts. In the event of death of farmers for any reason, their kin are receiving `5 lakh free insurance claim directly in their bank accounts within a week. Farmers are receiving amount directly in their bank accounts after selling their foodgrains for MSP. There are no brokers to fleece farmers due to Dharani," Rao said. The Chief Minister said: "Congress leaders say they will dump Dharani into Bay of Bengal if they come to power. I ask them whether they want to dump Dharani or dump people in Bay of Bengal because dumping Dharani amounts to dumping people. I appeal to people to decide for themselves whether they want Dharani to be dumped or Congress to be dumped." Rao said that he brought in the Dharani portal after making three years of relentless efforts for the welfare of farmers and agricultural landowners. During his visit, Rao inaugurated the newly-constructed integrated district collectorate complex, district police complex and BRS district office. The Chief Minister also announced a slew of sops, including a special grant of Rs 10 lakh each to 255 gram panchayats, Rs 15 lakh each for 12 mandals, RS 50 crore for Gadwal municipality and Rs 25 crore for the remaining three municipalities. Rao said that the undivided Mahbubnagar district was bifurcated into five districts to decentralise administration and ensure speedy development. "It was possible because of the formation of Telangana state and because of our self-rule. There was not a single government medical college in the undivided Mahbubnagar district in AP. But today, it has five medical colleges in five districts," Rao said. Telangana state Congress President Revanth Reddy addressing Press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday. P.Surendra HYDERABAD: TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy on Monday accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and his family members of accepting a 30 per cent commission for legalising prohibited Bhoodan properties across 146 acres, worth Rs 1,000 crore, at Timmapur of Kandukur in Rangareddy using the Dharani portal. Revanth Reddy, retaliating to Chandrashekar Raos comments on the Congress for highlighting failures of the Dharani portal, said the Congress would "provide a double-bedroom for Chandrashekar Rao and his family at Chanchalguda jail after the Congress comes to power in the state." "When Congress was in power, thousands of acres were provided to landless people under Bhoodan. As part of this, the Congress provided 146 acres located in survey no 6/1 and others to landless at Timmapur. The same land is still shown as prohibited by the stamps and registration department portal, but it is legalised in the name of one N. Shiva Murthy, who is a follower of minister K.T. Rama Rao. K.T. Rama Rao accepted a 30 per cent commission and transferred the land to real estate businessmen through Dharani," Revanth Reddy said. He also asked Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, a Timmapur native, to respond to the scam and call for a central vigilance commission probe against the collector who transferred the prohibited land onto the Dharani portal. "Kishan Reddy wrote a letter to the government about the Timmapur lands issue when he was MLA. Later, Kishan Reddy forgot about it. I request Kishan Reddy call for an in-depth inquiry against the collector of Rangareddy to find facts in connection with the land scam," Revanth Reddy said. The TPCC chief said that they would lodge a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the district collector over the alleged irregularities done by the Chief Minister. Stating that at least 20 lakh farmers are facing problems due to the Dharani portal, Revanth Reddy said they would cancel the Dharani portal after coming to power in Telangana. He also found fault with the state government for assigning maintenance of the Dharani portal to a bankrupt company, IL&FS, for Rs 250 crore. "Later, IL&FS company sold the same to a Philippines-based company TerraCIS Technologies Ltd, which used to run the TS governments integrated land records management system, Dharani, to Makati, Philippines-based investment company Falcon SG Holding (Philippines), Inc. Falcon SG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Singapore-based Falcon Investments Pvt. Ltd. The farmer's land details are in danger after the government put it to private companies and may manipulate the data," the TPCC chief said. China deployed a reconnaissance plane over Pacific waters east of Taiwan last week that Chinese media said monitored and gathered intelligence on an exercise involving the navies of the United States, Japan, France and Canada. A Y-9 cargo aircraft variant fitted with intelligence-gathering equipment most likely monitored and collected intelligence on the exercise, Chinese state-backed Global Times reported on Sunday, citing analysts. Also Read: China's aircraft carriers play 'theatrical' role but pose little threat yet Two US aircraft carriers, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, had been operating around the geopolitically important Ryukyu Islands in the Philippine Sea since Thursday, Global Times cited a Beijing-based think tank as saying. The islands separate the East China Sea from the Philippine Sea, and dot the West Pacific between Japan and Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. On Friday, the US kicked off the exercise in the Philippine Sea, with two carrier strike groups jointly operating for the first time since June 2020, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement. The Japanese defence ministry reported the sighting of one Y-9 reconnaissance variant in the Pacific on Thursday. Military encounters between China and the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific have risen in recent years as China has grown increasingly assertive in the East and South China Seas, as well as around Taiwan. Days before the quadrilateral exercise, the coast guards of the Philippines, United States and Japan held their first trilateral exercise off the coast of a western Philippine province. 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 Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the countrys farmers, the annadata, could also be its daamardata the providers of daamar or bitumen used to surface roads. Addressing a function here after laying foundation stones of five national highway projects worth Rs 2,200 crore, the road transport and highways minister said that the government is planning a scheme to use crop stubble for preparing bitumen. "Earlier, the farmers were only 'annadata' (grain providers). Now, they have become 'urjaadata' (energy providers), and we are going to make them 'daamardata'. The 'parali' (crop residue) will be used in preparing bitumen, and my department is bringing a scheme in this regard." He also exuded confidence that under the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state's road infrastructure will be at par with that of the US in the coming times. "We want to make this country free from 'kachra' (solid waste). About 25 lakh tonnes of solid waste of Delhi has been used for the city's Ring Road. Similarly, 30 lakh tonnes solid waste of Ahmedabad has been used for Ahmedabad-Dholera road. Rubber powder of rubber tyres is being used for roads and seven per cent plastic is also used, so that environment can be protected," Gadkari said. Also Read | Farmers press for MSP for sunflower seeds, other demands in mahapanchayat in Haryana's Pipli Praising CM Adityanath, the Union minister said in the coming times, UP will become the number one state in the country. "The farmers will make progress, the youth will get jobs and UP's road infrastructure will become equivalent to that of the US," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Adityanath showered praises on Gadkari, saying, "the word 'no' does not exist in his (Gadkari's) dictionary". Adityanath described the four-lane highway connecting Pratapgarh to Ayodhya and Sultanpur, whose foundation stone was laid at the event, as "an extremely important national highway project" in view of the fact that the Ram temple will be inaugurated in Ayodhya early next year. "Next year, it will be beneficial for people travelling to Ayodhya to see the grand Ram temple. The foundation stone of the bypass of Pratapgarh is also being laid today," he said. The CM said that in 2025, a grand and divine 'Kumbh' will be organised in Prayagraj. Keeping this in mind, a foundation stone of the four-lane road project is being laid here, which will connect Pratapgarh to Prayagraj. Adityanath also said that India's prestige has gone up globally. "Foreign guests from G20 countries, who have come to Varanasi to attend a G20 event, were overwhelmed when they saw four-lane roads. Today, Kashi is connected to Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur through four-lane roads," he said. "Every citizen of India has aspirations for development. Union minister Gadkari has arrived to provide a new stream of development amid this scorching heat," the CM said. "Today, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a model of development and law and order under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Only those whose unethical activities we have stopped are questioning UP's law and order today. We would not have received investments of Rs 35 lakh crore at the Global Investors Summit if law and order had not been improved," Adityanath said. Congress on Monday demanded a visit by an all-party delegation to strife-torn Manipur as a signal to people there that the country share their anguish and pain while asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence and do a 'Manipur ki Baat' besides visiting the state. The party also asked why the PM has not visited Manipur when he has rightly visited the train accident site of Odisha's Balasore. Addressing a press conference here along with Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Bhakta Charan Das, General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the situation in Manipur where violence has started on May 3 is a "national issue" and questioned why Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal for peace has completely failed. "We have two demands. The Prime Minister has done the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat. At least he should do one 'Manipur ki Baat'. He has to break his silence on Manipur and send a message of peace and assure people of Manipur that the government would do everything to restore peace, normalcy and harmony," he said. Ramesh also demanded that an all-party delegation should be allowed to go to Manipur to visit all the affected areas and meet all stakeholders and there is "no substitute" for it. Insisting that Modi should visit Manipur, he said if he can go to Basalore, why cannot he visit Manipur. Congress General Secretary Wasnik said NDA ministers who were making a beeline of north-eastern states have not visited Manipur after violence erupted. "When the Home Minister went, it was after 25 days. The question, however, is why is the Prime Minister silent," he said. Questioning the government's strategy, he said it took 42 days to announce a peace committee. In relief camps, he claimed, essential items are not available, and wherever it is available, people have to pay through the roof. Referring to the shortage of food grains in camps, Wasnik recalled how food grains were airlifted to Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the tsunami in December 2004. He also expressed concern over looted firearms, which are yet to be returned. "The number of displaced people is more than one lakh with at least 50,000 people in 349 relief camps. The official death toll is 119. Many people are still missing and their whereabouts are not known. A number of deceased are still in the mortuary of the government hospital and their bodies not handed over to their families. The internet ban has been extended. None of the actions taken by the state government or the Union government have inspired confidence in the people of Manipur," Wasnik said. Congress Manipur in-charge Das said the state continues to burn two weeks after Shah's visit. "Violence and arson continues in all peripheral areas where the two communities affected by the ethnic violence live. There is cross-firing in multiple districts. The National Highways NH-2 and NH-37 are still blocked with a serious crisis of non-availability of essential commodities," he said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion over Central initiatives to the state, reiterating it had not received any special schemes like it did during the Congress-led UPA regime. He was responding to reporters' queries here over Shah detailing the various projects and schemes delivered by the BJP-led NDA government for Tamil Nadu during a public meeting at Vellore in the state on Sunday. "I had spoken clearly at a party functionaries event in Salem (recently). That is, no special schemes came to Tamil Nadu in the nine years of BJP rule. But I have already listed similar initiatives the state received during the (UPA) government headed by (former PM) Manmohan Singh," he said. Also Read | In swipe at Congress and DMK, Shah dubs them '2G,3G, 4G' parties These included the Chennai Metro Rail project and classical language status to Tamil among others, he recalled. Stalin said he wanted to know only about these and not the regular fund allocation being done by the Centre to Tamil Nadu, apparently referring to Shah's remarks that devolution of funds and central grants to Tamil Nadu have increased manifold during the BJP rule. Stalin alleged the Centre was giving "lesser funds" to Tamil Nadu while granting more to many other states and that he had flagged only this aspect. On establishing AIIMS in Madurai, he said the Centre had announced the hospital for Tamil Nadu and therefore "they should only do (implement) it". Responding to Shah's corruption jibe at the Congress and his party DMK, Stalin pointed out at similar allegations made in connection with the purchase of Rafale fighter aircraft and the Adani issue. Investment research firm Hindenburg Research in its January 24 report had levelled allegations of fraud, stock manipulation and money laundering against the Adani group, which the conglomerate has repeatedly denied. The TN CM added Shah had not responded to any of the questions raised by him. Responding to Stalin, BJP state president K Annamalai hit out at the DMK over matters including the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and corruption. "Please dont even talk about 2004-2014; your party was responsible for the killing of 1.5 Lakh Tamil brothers & sisters in Sri Lanka, corruption to the core is a word that perfectly suits your party's ministers who served in UPA 1 & 2," he said in a tweet. He further alleged DMK "made sure Tamil language & culture never crossed the borders of TN..." "Our PM Thiru @narendramodi avl has taken it across the whole globe. Finally, our language is getting the attention & richness it truly deserves...," he added. A massive fire that broke out at Bhopals Satpura Bhawan, which houses offices of various departments of the Madhya Pradesh government, on Monday is fully doused, an official said on Tuesday. No casualties have been reported in the blaze as people were safely evacuated before the fire spread, the official said. The fire has been brought under control on all the affected floors. Smoke is still coming out from the sixth floor and firefighters will take nearly two hours to completely bring it under control, Additional Chief Secretary Home Dr Rajesh Rajora told PTI soon after inspecting the building after coming from Delhi in the morning. Also Read: Ghaziabad: Fire in multi-storey building kills two; eight rescued A committee formed to probe the fire will begin its work from 1 pm on Tuesday. The fire has been totally brought under control. Our priority was to ensure that no loss to human lives takes place and the blaze should not spread to nearby areas and we are totally successful in it, Bhopal Collector Asheesh Singh said. He also informed that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was monitoring the situation and the fire was doused with the help of the Centre and an Army team along with many other agencies. The fire started on the third floor around 4 pm and spread to the sixth floor. As the building houses offices of various departments of the state government, it prompted authorities to call in fire tenders from the Army, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and facilities of oil companies, officials and the chief ministers office (CMO) said. The CM apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah about the fire and sought assistance in dousing it, an official said. The PM assured Chouhan of all possible assistance from the Centre for controlling the blaze, the official said. Indian Air Force plane AN-52 and an MI-15 chopper were supposed to join the firefighting operation in the night but their services were not required as the blaze was brought under control late at night itself, an official said. The fire, which affected the third, fourth, fifth and the top sixth floor of the building and the terrace could be seen from various areas of Bhopal. The affected building is located on a hill in front of the state government secretariat, Vallabh Bhawan. Officials said the fire has destroyed furniture and documents of several departments. Fire tenders and firefighters from the Army, Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL, AAI, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), and Mandideep and Raisen were called in, the CMO said. Collector Singh said 22 fire tenders and 30-40 tankers were involved in the dousing operation. As per prima facie information and people present at the spot informed that the blaze erupted on the third floor of the building due to a short circuit in an air conditioner and raged to other floors due to wind, said Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra. Bhopal Municipal Corporations Fire Officer Ramesh Neel said the blaze erupted around 4 pm. Furniture and documents are prima facie destroyed in the fire. The exact amount of loss and extent of damage to the building will be known later, the official said. Meanwhile, the state government has formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to probe the possible reasons behind the fire. The panel includes the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajora, Principal Secretary (Urban Administration) Neeraj Mandloi, Principal Secretary (PWD) Sukhbir Singh and Additional Director General (Fire), the CMO said. Arera Hills police station in-charge RK Singh said the blaze engulfed furniture and documents in the departments of tribal welfare and health located inside the building. Two women, including a senior citizen, were killed in a fire at a multi-storey building here in Uttar Pradesh, while eight others rescued on Monday morning, officials said. One of the deceased was 74 years old and it is suspected she died of asphyxiation, while the other, aged around 40, succumbed to burn injuries, a police officer who oversaw the rescue and relief work told PTI. "Both the women were members of the same family. They were taken to a CHC (community health centre) but did not survive. Their postmortem reports are awaited," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Loni, Rajneesh Upadhiyai said. Also Watch: Massive fire breaks out at factory in UP's Ghaziabad The incident was reported from the Lal Bagh colony of Ghaziabad district's Loni area at 6:52 am, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Rahul Pal said and added that the building housed a tent and catering service in its ground floor. The two women were found on the first and the second floors of the building and were taken to the health facility, while eight others were rescued, he said. Teams were rushed to the site and two fire tenders from Tronica City and one from Sahibabad were sent, Pal said. "There was a major fire in the building's ground floor where works related to the tent house business were done," he said. "There were eight persons trapped in the upper part of the building. They were rescued by breaking a wall after firefighters reached them using an external stair. When the building was further checked, a woman was found injured on the first floor and another on the second floor," Pal said. On the cause of the fire, he said it seems it broke out after a short circuit in the building's ground floor. There was no one present in the ground floor during the time of the incident, he added. Pal said a firefighter was injured in the rescue operation when an iron gate fell on him. The fire has been doused, the official said. The Delhi High Court has said the right to live with dignity includes not being tied down by casteism as it directed the CBSE to allow request of two siblings belonging to the Scheduled Caste community to update their father's surname, which he has changed due to social stigma, in their Class 10 and 12 certificates. Justice Mini Pushkarna said the denial by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in carrying out the requisite change in the certificates was "totally unjustified". "If a person wanted to not to be identified with any particular caste that may be a cause of prejudice, the same is permissible," the bench said. Also Read: Delhi HC permits Centre to release funds for Indian team for Special Olympics The court said the petitioners have every right to have an identity which gives them an honourable and respectable identity in the society. "The right to identity is an intrinsic part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India," the court said. In its contention, the CBSE said the change in the surname would entail a change in the caste of the petitioners, which could be misused. The court, however, clarified that the change in the father's surname would not entail a change of caste of the petitioners or allow them to take advantage of any reservation or any other benefit that might be available to the updated caste/surname. The petitioner brothers told the court that their father decided to change his surname due to caste atrocities suffered by him on day to day basis, based on his surname. The judge said the petitioner brothers have every right to have an "honourable and respectable" identity in society and if they have suffered any disadvantage on account of their surname, they were "certainly entitled to a change of their identity that gives respectability to the petitioners in the societal structure". It directed the CBSE to forthwith carry out the requisite changes in the 10th and 12th certificates of the petitioners to reflect the name of their father, with the changed surname. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday claimed that even BJP workers and supporters participated in the AAP's rally held here a day ago since they were unhappy with the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi. The BJP, however, claimed even AAP supporters did not attend the rally despite being allured by the ruling party in Delhi. Braving the scorching heat, thousands of people gathered for the "Maha Rally" at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital on Sunday against the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023. Also Read: At AAP rally, Arvind Kejriwal narrates story of 'uneducated' king "Several people from the BJP attended the rally against the ordinance on Sunday. The BJP people are also saying that Modiji did not do the right thing by bringing the ordinance," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. - Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 12, 2023 Responding to it, Delhi BJP tweeted, "AAP people did not come to the rally... the chairs were empty. Despite giving Rs 500, car on rent, and food, there was no one to listen to your fraud. The people know that no one has been more cunning, shameless and hypocritical than you." AAP , 500 , , , https://t.co/fbzGcgHwFP BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) June 12, 2023 The Centre on May 19 promulgated the ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the top court's May 11 verdict. Following the ordinance, Kejriwal has been reaching out to leaders of non-BJP parties to garner their support against the ordinance so that the Centre's bid to replace it through a bill is defeated when it is brought in Parliament. Kerala shines as a beacon of progressive ideas where every voice matters and the spirit of unity paves the way for a brighter future, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. Vijayan on Sunday addressed hundreds of members of the diaspora community from the state at a public event in Times Square. On Saturday, he inaugurated the American Regional Conference of the Loka Kerala Sabha, a non-resident Keralites' convention in New York. "We have made giant strides in every sector over the last six years," he said. Addressing the public event at the centre of the popular Times Square, Vijayan highlighted Keralas progressive values, social harmony and equitable growth. He outlined infrastructure development and investments in public schools and the health system and other sectors undertaken and economic growth and development achieved by his administration. He further said the state is a model of inclusive development and has emerged as an example of people-centric progress. Also Read | Opposition UDF slams Kerala CM's remarks against media, police action against scribe Compassion and social justice drive "our policies that empower marginalised communities and foster equal opportunities for all", the chief minister said. "Kerala shines as a beacon of progressive ideas where every voice matters and the spirit of unity paves the way for a brighter future," he added. Vijayan said while achieving gains for the state, he and his administration have also addressed certain areas that required focus and attention. Kerala formulated an action plan that resulted in the state achieving the prime position in the national food safety index. Vijayan noted that Kerala is the most literate state and its government schools and hospitals have been adjudged as the best in the country by several agencies, including the NITI Aayog. "We have the best law-and-order situation. All this has been made possible because communal harmony and peaceful coexistence are always ensured. That is why there has not been even a single instance of communal violence in Kerala over the last several years," he said amid cheers and applause from the audience. He called on the Malayalis present not just in the US but around the world "to continue to cooperate with us in the times to come to make your land more and more prosperous". The chief minister also pointed out that Kerala became India's first fully e-governed state in May. "It is a historic milestone in the internationally-acclaimed Kerala model of development and social progress. Through e-governance, we are championing transparency, efficiency and inclusivity. "We are harnessing technology to ensure seamless access to diverse public services of which more than 900 are now available online." Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale on Monday alleged that the data of several citizens, including politicians and journalists who took Covid vaccine, have been leaked and queried why the Centre was not aware of the incident. In a series of tweets, Gokhale, who is the spokesperson of Trinamool Congress, said: "SHOCKING: There has been a major data breach of Modi government where personal details of all vaccinated Indians including their mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked and are freely available." He cited the example of data breach of several opposition MPs, including Rajya Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien, former Union Minister P Chidambaram, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal, Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha Haribansh Narayan Singh, Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Sanjay Raut. He also said that the data of several senior journalists including Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today, Barkha Dutt of Mojo Story, Dhanya Rajendran of The News Minute, and Rahul Shivshankar of Times Now have also been breached. SHOCKING: There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked & are freely available. Some examples (1/7) Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 "The personal details of literally every Indian who got a Covid-19 vaccination are freely available on this leaked database," he said. Firing salvos at the Central government, Gokhale said: "Question is how did personal details including passport no, Aadhaar no., etc. get leaked when Modi Government claims it follows "strong data security"? Why is the Modi government including Home Ministry not aware of this leak and why haven't Indians been informed about a data breach? Who has the Modi government given access to sensitive personal data of Indians incl Aadhaar and Passport nos. which enabled this leak?" He said that this is a matter of serious national concern. "And predictably, the Minister in charge of this is Ashwini Vaishnaw who heads the Electronics, Communications, and IT portfolios in addition to Railways. How long will incompetence of Ashwini Vaishnaw be ignored by PM Modi?" Gokhale asked. His remarks come in the wake of the alleged data breach of several citizens after taking Covid vaccines. There's a small twist in the free bus travel scheme for women. The Shakti scheme will cover only about 85 per cent of the buses, not 94 per cent, as Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has claimed. Speaking at the launch on Sunday, Reddy said the scheme would cover 94% of the buses, including express ones. However, government data released on Sunday shows that women will be able to travel for free only on 18,609 of the 21,678 bus schedules. This translates to about 85% of the total bus schedules. The scheme will cost the government Rs 4,051.56 crore per year, including the cost of pass holders, the data shows. Also Read | First day, first ride: Many women thrilled by free bus travel in Karnataka The cost may go up as Road Transport Corporations (RTCs) will likely buy more buses and hire more staff. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the scheme at Vidhana Soudha and rode a bus to Majestic. He pledged to fulfil the Congress party's five poll guarantees that would cost Rs 59,000 annually. The effective cost will be "only Rs 40,000 crore per year", he added. "It's not important how much money we spend, but whom we spend it on," he said. "Free bus travel will foster social equality and benefit the poor, especially the minorities, women and deprived classes." The chief minister hoped that the scheme would go a long way towards increasing women's participation in the workforce, which currently stands at 24% nationally. "This is lower than countries like Bangladesh," he said and claimed that the percentage was 30% in 2013-14, before the BJP swept to power at the Centre. He said the five guarantees would leave no scope for corruption as they would remove middlemen. Four of these guarantees cover women, he added. He took a dig at the BJP for criticising the guarantees. "Those who waived corporate loans shouldn't talk about schemes that empower the poor," he said. Siddaramaiah took the opportunity to justify his flagship Anna Bhagya scheme, which gives BPL families 10 kg of rice for free every month. "Karnataka must become hunger-free. Well-fed people don't know what hunger is," he said. That scheme will cost Rs 10,100 crore per year, he added. On the Gruha Jyoti scheme, Siddaramaiah said households that consume up to 199.9 units of electricity won't have to pay anything. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar justified the smartcard requirement for free bus travel. "It's needed to maintain accounts," he said. Shivakumar mocked the BJP for criticising the Congress party's guarantees. "What do they have to say about the BJP government's cash assistance scheme in Madhya Pradesh," he asked. Reddy hoped that the scheme would run for at least 10 years. "We will run it for five years, return to power and continue it," he said. Three KSRTC buses to Dharmasthala, Mysuru and Kalaburagi, a BMTC electric bus and an NWKRTC bus to Belagavi were part of the launch. Five women received the smartcards as part of the launch. The first passengers were presented roses. The logo, sticker and model smartcard were also launched. 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. 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The North West Migrants Forum says school children would benefit more from hearing the voices of those with lived experience of racism rather than texts like Of Mice and Men. The novel - written by Nobel Prize winning American author John Steinbeck in 1937 - has been cast into the spotlight after Belfast student Angel Mbondiya called for it to be removed from her GCSE course due to the use of racial slurs. Angel said she didnt find Of Mice and Men appropriate for schools, adding that she believes it should be taken off the English literature programme altogether. Since making her remarks, Angels mother has revealed that a threat has been made against the schoolgirl. Steinbecks work chronicles the lives of fictional characters George Milton and Lennie Small, displaced migrant ranch workers on the hunt for jobs in California. It also features a character named Crooks, a stable-hand who befriends Lennie and faces discrimination because he is black. It is one of seven books that schools in Northern Ireland can choose from for pupils studying the course. Objecting to its continued use as an educational tool, Angel said, It's just really uncomfortable sitting in a classroom where we have to listen to racist slurs and comments. I understand the history behind it and stuff but you can learn that in history about slavery. The impact it has is that it just makes you feel weak, really. It doesn't sit right. Naomi Green is Programmes Manager with the North West Migrants Forum. She said there are many books and texts which address racism. A a better approach would be to listen to the voices of those with lived experience of it. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a great book which addresses racism powerfully without having the same impact on pupils. It is by the black American writer Mildred D Taylor and I feel that is an important point, that we hear the voice of lived experience. John Steinbeck is of course a key figure in literature but at the same time we need to consider the maturity of kids at that age and the power imbalance when there may be just one or two black children in the classroom. We need to consider the impact on them when the N word is used by a figure of authority. We also have to consider the high incidence rate of racism in society as a whole but also racial bullying in school and the failure to address it. There is also a general lack of racial literacy and consciousness in Northern Ireland. Empowering teachers and other pupils to use the N word in class may have a negative impact in this context. Steinbeck's book can highlight racism from his perspective but I think more would be achieved if we listened to and centred the voices of those with lived experience, Ms Green added. Grace Flood and Kelsie McShane are AS Level students at St Cecilias College in Derry and are long-time volunteers with the North West Migrants Forum. Grace, who is 17, said the book had come up in class conversation following Angel Mbondiyas comments. The book is taught to 14 and 15-year-olds and my fear would be that children of that age could see it as an excuse to use the N word. Teachers say they use the slur because they have to, contextually. My concern would be that pupils hearing their teacher using that word might say I can say it too but its in context. And then they use without any context at all. Kelsie McShane, who is also 17, said that as a story she enjoyed the book. But hearing the derogatory language was troubling. I loved the book and my teacher did state that they had to use the language because it was part of the book. But when they did say it, I did feel uncomfortable and was thinking Do you really have to say that? Ultimately culture cannot be erased no matter how hard you try, said the two friends. It comes down to how you teach the book, said Grace. As to whether Of Mice and Men should be banished to history, the students said there were other options. If you find pupils at that age, 13 and 14, are not mature enough to understand it then move it up to AS-Level or A-Level, suggested Grace. You dont have to take it off the list altogether and the fact that racism does exist and is present in our society should be taught because it is a serious issue. People need to learn but there are better ways to go about it. I think that it should stay but there are options and alternatives. If people want to keep it then keep it but move it up, compromise. Kelsie McShane added, I dont think it should go completely because I did enjoy analysing it. But it should be moved up if students arent mature to be taught it and understand it. When police stopped a car in Newmarket Street in Derry on June 10 they found a quantity of cocaine and a cutting agent Derry Magistrate's Court heard today. Dylan Farren (27) of Westway in Derry appeared charged with a total of 7 charges. He is charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply on June 10, being concerned in the supply of cocaine on dates between October 31 last and June 10. He was also charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis on June 10 and possessing cocaine with intent to supply on the same date. Farren is also charged with driving while unfit through drink or drugs on June 10 and being concerned in making an offer to supply cocaine on dates between October 31 last and June 10. A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. He told the court that police believed Farren was involved in the supply of illegal drugs in the city. The court heard that police stopped a car on Newmarket Street at around 6.30pm. Farren was driving and there were two other people in the vehicle. Police said that they could smell cannabis coming from the vehicle and a deal bag containing 3.5grammes of cocaine was located. Two mobile phones were seized and police believed one of them was 'covered in cocaine.' One of the passengers had a sum of money on him and police believed he was going to buy cocaine. Police also located 255 in the car as well as 50 grammes of a cutting agent. The officer said that the defendant was 'an Uber cocaine supplier' and there was a high risk of re-offending. The court heard that Farren had a drug addiction and a gambling one as messages indicated he had lost 3,000 in one day on gaming machines. Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that his client accepted his drug usages among a group of friends and other addicts. He said he had sought to deal with his issues and was willing to re-engage. The solicitor said that it would be well into next year before this case is dealt with. Deputy District Judge Sean O'Hare said there were concerns about re-offending and refused bail. Farren will appear again on June 29. The Director of the North West Migrants Forum has called for Sudanese people to be treated with the same compassion that has been shown to Ukrainian nationals. Sudan is in the grip of a war that has cost hundreds of lives and sparked a humanitarian crisis. A vigil was held outside Belfasts City Hall on Saturday to raise awareness of the worsening situation. Speaking at it, North West Migrants Forum Director Lilian Seenoi Barr said the political instability and civil unrest demanded societys attention and action. Ms Barr told those gathered, The Sudanese people have endured unimaginable hardships, from forced displacement to violence and the denial of basic human rights. I implore you to join me in calling for safe migration routes and family reunification for Sudanese refugees. The journey these individuals undertake is treacherous and filled with danger. They often fall prey to human smugglers who exploit, abuse and endanger their lives. Establishing safe migration routes is crucial to ensure their protection. In recent years the United Kingdom has opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees escaping the horrors of conflict. The UK government has forged safe routes and provided the necessary support for these refugees to rebuild their lives. We can draw inspiration from this model and adapt it to the Sudanese context, offering a lifeline to those who desperately seek refuge in the face of a humanitarian crisis and war. Family reunification is not merely a compassionate gesture, it is a fundamental human right. Our Sudanese community in Northern Ireland has displayed remarkable resilience and adaptability. "Whether they came here to work in the health service, our universities or are seeking sanctuary. They are facing daily stress hearing the news from home. Many are separated from their loved ones, causing immeasurable emotional distress. Let us learn from the successes achieved for the Ukrainian community in Northern Ireland and extend our hand to the Sudanese people who also need our compassion and support. "We must embrace our moral obligation to stand in solidarity with them, ensuring their rights are protected, their voices heard and their lives valued. North West Migrants Forum Director Lilian Seenoi Barr speaking at Saturdays vigil for Sudan outside City Hall, Belfast. Claire Hanna, SDLP MP for South Belfast, was also among the speakers at Saturdays assembly. She said the UK Government could and should be doing more to help the Norths Sudanese community. Ms Hanna added, The Sudanese community in Belfast has for years enriched our city and it is painful to see their obvious anguish at the war and suffering of their family members and friends at home in Sudan. The UK Government can and must do more to end the conflict, to create safe routes for those fleeing to safety and to support Sudanese people who are already here, including with family reunion. SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson, Mark H Durkan MLA has welcomed the installation of a Mobile Speed Indicator Device along the Maydown Road to deter speeding in the area. It follows safety concerns raised by Mr Durkan on behalf of constituents. The Foyle MLA said: Pleased that a Mobile Speed Indicator Device has been located on the Maydown Road by Derry Strabane Police & Community Safety Partnership, having lobbied for such an intervention. These devices make motorists aware of their speed and the need to slow down, in effect protecting all road users. I hope this will go some way in addressing speeding along this route. The devices are moved around different locations to maximise their effect I would advise people to get in touch and let me know where else you think one might be useful and I can make representations in that regard. The SDLP has been instrumental in the delivery of enhanced Road Safety measures in the Maydown area seeing the installation of new traffic signals, a pedestrian crossing and a reduced speed limit and will continue to push for improvements wherever required across Derry and beyond. Derry journalist Tony Connelly uncovers the astonishing story of his grandfather, a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, will air on RTE One and RTE Player tonight (Monday). Produced as part of RTEs Decade of Centenaries collection, 'Tony Connelly: A Hidden History' documentary tackles the difficult and contentious subject of the Royal Irish Constabulary - the British police force in Ireland until its disbandment in 1922. Taking a break from his usual role reporting on breaking news of the war in Ukraine or Brexit, RTEs Europe Editor Tony Connelly sets out to discover more about his paternal grandfather, Michael Connelly, who served as a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary during the War of Independence and who died before he was born. Initially armed with only a few faded photographs and a handful of family stories, Tony knows only the bare bones of his grandfathers life. He is all-too aware that the RIC - and the men who served in it - are still regarded with anger and suspicion by some. They were seen as spies for the British, siding with the enemy, and the opponents of those who would rid us of an occupying nation. Over 500 RIC men lost their lives at the hands of Republican forces, and many feel little sympathy for them, even today. Piecing together his grandfathers life from records, journals newspaper articles and other historical documents, Tony enlists the help of a group of experts, archivists, historians and in one memorable encounter the son of a man who was an active member of the IRAs Third Tipperary Brigade. This man not only writes in incredible detail about his dealings with Tonys grandfather, but also cedes that he possibly owed his life to him. From Castlegregory, the quiet village on the north coast of the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, where Michaels early policework included such cases as a man fined sixpence for allowing his two donkeys to wander on the public road, Tony follows his grandfathers trail to Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary. Michael was transferred here in 1915 after he married, placing him in one of the more militant Republican counties, just before the Rising. As the political climate around him darkens, the film follows events leading up to and throughout the War of Independence, as seen through the eyes of this young Irishman, husband, and by now, father of three. Boycotted, under attack in his barracks, seeing his colleagues murdered and narrowly avoiding his own assassination in front of his 4-year-old-son, few would argue that this was what Michael had signed up for. He survived, but the cessation of the War, disbandment of the RIC and partition of Ireland would bring yet more twists and turmoil. Left with few options, Michael Connelly took the fateful step of joining the fledgling RUC, crossing the newly established border to forge a new life with his growing family. One that was fraught with the tensions of making his way as a Catholic policeman from rural Galway in the strongly loyalist heartlands of County Antrim. This documentary is a highly personal undertaking for Tony and shows a side of him that viewers will not have seen before: his own family history is the subject, set against the backdrop of one of the more difficult chapters in Irelands revolutionary history. Tonys natural curiosity, journalistic rigour and charm allows him to broach this thorny topic. Tony Connelly: A Hidden History will air on Monday 12th June on RTE One and RTE Player at 9.35pm. ONE of three men charged with involvement in the shooting convicted drug dealer Christy Keane by the McCarthy-Dundon crime gang eight years ago has admitted facilitating the attempted murder by helping to make a car available to the gang. Noel Price, aged 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court that, "having knowledge of the existence of the McCarthy Dundon criminal organisation, he assisted in making available a vehicle to that criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission by the aforesaid organisation of the attempted murder of Mr Christy Keane or being reckless as to same." The offence occurred on an unknown date between June 27 and June 29, 2015, both dates inclusive. Price, who has an address at Kileely Road, Kileely, Limerick city appeared before the non-jury court this Monday where he replied guilty when the single charge on the indictment was put to him by the registrar. The offence comes under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Christy Keane was shot a number of times as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick where he went for an early-morning gym session in June 2015. He survived the shooting after making his escape via a nearby running track and was subsequently hospitalised in a critical condition. The convicted drug dealer was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in 2000 for possession of 240,000 worth of cannabis - at St Mary's Park in Limerick. After Noel Price entered his guilty please, Anne Marie Lawlor SC, for the State, said the injured party is someone who is not expected to furnish a Victim Impact Statement but said he could be invited to make a statement to the court. Mr Justice Alex Owens adjourned the matter to July 25 directed that Price be produced on that date. A second defendant in the case, John Costello, aged 41, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, Limerick city, was released from prison last month after he had earlier pleaded guilty to providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on 29 June, 2015. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the three-judge court, said there was a "very real humanitarian situation" in Costello's case and he would therefore give him an opportunity to turn away from crime. In that case, he imposed a sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when Costello went into prison. The judge suspended whatever portion of the sentence remains to be served for four years on condition he be of good behaviour and keep the peace. Having young people engaged in carrying out threats and intimidation is the "perfect business model for drug dealers", Deputy Ruairi O Murchu has told the Dail. The Sinn Fein TD was speaking during a recent debate on the Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity Bill 2023, colloquially known as Fagins Law, which aims to make it a criminal offence for children to be groomed or used in criminal enterprises. Deputy O Murchu said there is general support for the legislation as it will target "streetwise criminals who are only too willing to circumvent the law and to use and abuse people". He had a particular focus on drug dealers and said: "At this stage, we are talking about kids, even before they are teenagers, operating as runners, lookouts and whatever else. People have moved on from using bikes to using e-scooters for delivering drugs as part of drug-dealing enterprises. "Drug crime and drug problems are everywhere. Not a place in Ireland is untouched by cocaine addiction. "We will have to ensure we have the policing infrastructure to deal with it and we must penalise anyone grooming or using kids. "In certain deprived areas, funding and resources have been lacking and we have not made the necessary family and community interventions. "That work needs to be done. The Greentown project is being operated in some places. "We must also do whatever we can in respect of youth diversion projects. We would nearly need to put them on steroids to get to where we need to be in this regard. "If we are talking about drug debt intimidation, we will be talking about some of the characters involved. "In recent days and weeks, I have been dealing with many people. People have gone to carry out threats have themselves probably been under pressure. "They have run up debts and found themselves, through making bad choices I might add, under pressure and at the wrong end of things with these drug gangs. "It is a perfect business model for the main drug dealer. He does not have to worry about anything. He can send out somebody to do things. From his perspective, he can send out an idiot and the person concerned is under pressure. "People in this situation, in some cases, are then willing to be used and allow pressure to be put on somebody's mother or grandmother. Those are despicable scenarios. "The initiatives in this legislation are part of what we need to put in play in addressing this problem, but if we are going to be real in respect of the entirety of the problem we have organised crime, drug crime and whatever on the streets of our towns and villages, and all the rest of it, we need to be far more novel." The month of June marked the celebration of Irish environmental programme, Clean Coasts 20th anniversary where clear community spirit was exhibited by volunteers taking part in Clean-up events in Louth. Thursday 8 June also marked the global celebration of World Ocean Day, an initiative that highlights the important role the ocean has for our life and the planet. The significance of community spirit in Clean Coasts volunteers across Louth this year and years prior cannot be understated and over the past two decades, groups nationwide have tirelessly worked towards the preservation and conservation of our precious coastlines, reminding us all of the vital role we play in protecting our oceans. For this reason, to mark the milestone of their 20th anniversary, this June Clean Coasts are celebrating all the achievements of community groups and volunteers. In honour of the international day coinciding with their birth-month, Clean Coasts gifted a number of volunteers who registered for World Ocean Day in Louth free clean-up kits. Statistics indicate that the leading cause of marine litter is urban littering, making World Ocean Day a valuable opportunity for residents of non-coastal areas to address this issue at its root and prevent litter from entering waterways. The World Ocean Day organization promotes collective conservation efforts, engaging with organisations across 140 countries. With the theme "Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing," World Ocean Day 2023 emphasizes the significance of preserving marine resources for the well-being of future generations. Over 90 volunteers in Louth collected almost 550kg of litter at 9 clean-ups held both on land and by the coast by groups of all sizes, from individuals, to households, community groups, sport groups, Tidy towns, and more to prevent litter pollution at the source to ensure it does not end up in the ocean. Clean Coasts volunteers held a number of public events in Louth, including in Bellurgan Point with Cooley Peninsula Community Alert who hosted their clean-up as part of the Clean Coasts' World Ocean Day and Clean Coasts 20th Anniversary call-to-action during the June Bank Holiday weekend. The group commented that the most common items found by volunteers were sewage-related litter items, such as wet wipes and cotton bud sticks. Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager said: "Clean Coasts are thrilled to see so many groups and individuals stepping up across Ireland to help protect our ocean and celebrate Clean Coasts' 20th birthday and want to take this opportunity to thank and celebrate the efforts of all individuals and groups who have been protecting the Irish marine environment, whether they have been involved with the programme since 2003 or this is their first time joining the initiative." As part of this 20th year celebration, Clean Coasts created a special Sand Art Mural with artist Sean Corcoran from The Art Hand.: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=R0T1zXX2dsw There are more events organised by Clean Coasts groups taking place across Ireland throughout the month of June as part of the extended World Ocean Day call to action. You can find them all on Clean Coasts Eventbrite page here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/ clean-coasts-8520359924 A man charged with attacking another man who needed "emergency" heart surgery following a stabbing in Dundalk last week has been denied bail. Oisin Quinn McDonagh, 21, of Castlecross, Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was charged with assault causing harm to the male in his home on June 7. He was arrested and questioned at Dundalk Garda Station and then brought to appear before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dublin District Court on Saturday, facing objections to bail. Garda Kate Brady voiced witness interference concerns. It was alleged the injured man "received a single stab wound to the right-hand side of his chest". Paramedics were treating him when gardai arrived, and the man was then taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The contested bail hearing was told the man had to be transferred to the Mater Hospital in Dublin for "emergency surgery on the heart". The court heard he suffered internal bleeding and a laceration to his heart. Gardai obtained CCTV footage. The knife and clothing were discarded after the incident. Garda Brady said it was premeditated, and video evidence showed the clothing being bought. The court heard the alleged injured party lived near the accused, and the garda feared interference "due to the close proximity of the accused". The garda expected that the case would go forward to the Circuit Court but agreed with defence counsel Kevin McCrave that the accused had no prior convictions and enjoyed the presumption of innocence. The garda accepted the accused had mental health issues but said he was "coherent" during his interview. The alleged victim could not attend the hearing because he was still hospitalised. When questioned further, the garda said a "masked individual" carried out the assault. However, it was alleged he was "tracked" on CCTV and took off the mask. Pleading for bail, the barrister said that his client, who did not address the court, had "profound mental health difficulties" and had been treated in numerous facilities. The court heard that his mother acted as his carer, and his current medication did not have the desired effect. The defence submitted that an outright refusal of bail could result in Mr Quinn McDonagh facing a lengthy period in custody awaiting trial. Mr McCrave argued that conditions with an order to reside at a different location could address the garda objections. However, Judge Fottrell noted the intimidation concern and refused bail, given the seriousness of the charge and the possibility of witness interference. He directed medical attention for the accused, granted him legal aid, and remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. Sinn Fein has outlined a plan it says will transform child and youth mental health services out of a state of crisis. Health spokesman David Cullinane launched the partys new plan on priorities for change in child and youth mental health services at an event in Dublin on Monday. He said capital investment and accountability reforms are needed in the sector, along with planning for staff to meet the demands of the service. He said: We have set out achievable policies, grounded in reality and based on evidence, to deliver the ambitious change that is needed. Sinn Fein launch plan to transform child and youth mental health services David Cullinane TD and Mark Ward TDhttps://t.co/S7skyBX7hl@MaryLouMcDonald @davidcullinane @Wardy1916 @PatMcGorry pic.twitter.com/UsrAZFMpLD Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) June 12, 2023 Young people deserve a health service that works for them. The partys mental health spokesman Mark Ward said a Sinn Fein government would deliver a mental health service for children and young people aged up to 25 that would provide proper early intervention care. He said the vast majority of life-long mental health conditions develop by 25, but that services currently fail young people in the critical 18-25 category. Mr Ward said youth mental health services are in crisis with waiting lists for CAMHS increasing by 112% since 2020. There is also a cliff-edge in our mental health services for young people at 18. There is inconsistent continuity of care, and many young people fall out of services or never access them. These failures mean that early intervention is passing our young people by. That is unacceptable. Sinn Fein are committed to developing a Child and Youth Mental Health Service to deliver high quality care for children and young people up to the age of 25. This document today underlines our commitments to delivering real change for young people, workers, and families. A man with over 200 previous convictions was seen placing a packet down the front of his trousers as gardai approached him. Now he has been sentenced to six months as the packet turned out to contain 140 worth of cocaine. 35-year-old Damian Fitzgerald of Inniscarra Road, Fair Hill, Cork, appeared to be acting nervously when the gardai approached, Sergeant Pat Lyons said. Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to having cocaine for his own use on the occasion. Sgt Lyons said the accused had 213 previous convictions, including one for having drugs for his own use and three for having drugs for the purpose of sale or supply to others. Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said the accused was serving a lengthy sentence imposed earlier this year at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. He was jailed at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for nine years for his part in the robbery of a 93-year-old woman off Wellington Road after she had collected her pension at the post office in St. Lukes. Judge Olann Kelleher imposed the sentence of six months to run concurrently with the other sentence. Latest: The road at Dublin Hill on the northside of the city has reopened following a road traffic collision (RTC) involving a bus this morning. The Bus Eireann vehicle was heading towards Blackpool when it struck a railway bridge at the end of Dublin Hill shortly after 9am. A spokesperson for Cork City Fire Brigade told The Echo this morning that there were no passengers on board the double decker bus. We were alerted to attend a road traffic collision (RTC) involving a bus at the end of Dublin Hill. The call came in at 9.12am. Four units are currently at the scene - three from Anglesea Street and one unit from Ballyvolane. The double decker bus seems to be wedged in the railway bridge at the end of Dublin Hill, they added. Emergency services at the scene after a Bus Eireann bus collided with the crash rail at a railway bridge at Dublin Hill, Cork. Picture Denis Minihane. However, the road has now been cleared and Dublin Hill has reopened to traffic. A Garda spokesperson said no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. The road was closed with diversions in place following the incident and is now fully reopened for use, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Bus Eireann said the vehicle has been removed and the 207 route has returned to its normal service. Earlier the company said it will carry out a full investigation into the incident. Earlier: EMERGENCY services are currently at the scene of an incident at Dublin Hill on the northside of Cork city. Four units from Cork City Fire Brigade, members of An Garda Siochana and ambulance services are currently at the scene where a double decker bus is "wedged in the railway bridge" almost on its side. A spokesperson for Cork City Fire Brigade told The Echo there were no passengers on board the double decker bus. We were alerted to attend a road traffic collision (RTC) involving a bus at the end of Dublin Hill. The call came in at 9.12am. Four units are currently at the scene. Three from Anglesea Street and one unit from Ballyvolane. The double decker bus seems to be wedged in the railway bridge at the end of Dublin Hill. There were no passengers on board and the driver is injured, he said. A garda spokesperson said traffic is heavy in the area. A double decker turned on its side near the railway bridge on Dublin Hill. There were no passengers on the bus. Gardai are on the way. Traffic is heavy in the area as a result of this incident. #CorkTraffic Delays in the Blackpool area as a result of the collision at the railway bridge towards the end of Dublin Hill. pic.twitter.com/kMyvI4iF51 Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) June 12, 2023 Independent councillor Ken OFlynn has called on Cork City Council and Irish Rail to take swift action to address ongoing safety concerns related to the railway bridge in Dublin Hill before someone gets seriously injured. The situation has become untenable with regular accidents and damage causing chaos in the area. The most recent incident involving a double decker bus has demonstrated just how dangerous the situation has become," he said. A spokesperson for Bus Eireann said: "Bus Eireann can confirm that one of its city double deck vehicles struck a railway bridge at Dublin Hill in Cork city shortly after 9.00am this morning. The bus was not in service, so there were no passengers on board. Emergency services attended and the driver is currently being medically assessed. "As a result, there is a minor diversion to route 207A between Glenthorn and Merchants Quay which will not serve Dublin Hill or Blackpool village until the road reopens. Irish Rail services will continue to operate as normal. The recovery of the vehicle will take some time and we are grateful for the assistance of the emergency services. "Bus Eireann will carry out a full investigation into this incident." A spokesperson for Irish Rail said: "At Iarnrod Eireann safety is our number one priority and we work closely with local authorities in Cork and in all locations where we have restricted height bridges. All of the necessary statutory signage is in place on the approach to the bridge and we also have details of all restricted height bridges on our network available on irishrail.ie. "In this particular incident, there was a delay of 30mins to the 09:25 Cork Heuston. The bridge was inspected by our engineers and no structural damage occurred." The family of a father of three who died in hospital last week nearly two months after he suffered burns injuries in an industrial incident at a Stryker plant in Cork say that he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered. In a death notice on Rip.ie, the loved ones of John Murphy (41) of Condonstown, Watergrasshill, describe him as the loving and much much loved husband of Daniela. John was also a devoted father to Kayla, Jayden and Dylan and a beloved son" of Sean and Eileen. He is also survived by his siblings Michael, William, Tadhg, Josephine and Helena, his nieces and nephews, mother in law Bridget De Luca, extended family, colleagues and a wide circle of friends. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Meanwhile, employees of Stryker in Cork were informed of the death of their colleague at a briefing on Friday. Stryker subsequently issued a statement in which they said that they were deeply saddened" by the death of John who was a "friend to many" as well as a "valued colleague". The company extended its sympathies and thoughts to the Murphy family and to "everyone who knew John". The family of Mr Murphy, contacted the Neil Prendeville show on Cork's Red FM in the aftermath of the accident in April. On that occasion they indicated that he was a "kind, mild mannered family man" who was living a "perfect life" until tragedy struck at lunchtime on April 18 last. SIPTU representative Allen Dillon has also offered his condolences to the family and colleagues of John Murphy following his passing. He (John) has been in the thoughts of our members since the serious accident at the Stryker plant in which he and a colleague were injured. "It is with deep regret that we heard the news that his struggle for life has had such a tragic outcome. "While the circumstances of this tragedy have yet to be fully explained, as we await the outcome of an investigation by the HSA, it highlights once more the crucial importance of workplace safety. The incident occurred at the premises of the medical equipment manufacturer at Carraigtwohill in the east of the county at 1.09pm on April 18. Two men suffered burns while working on the roof when a mini explosion occurred. John Murphy was seriously injured. Three units of the Cork County Fire Service attended at the scene alongside the emergency services and members of Stryker's trained fire fighting force. Gardai were also in attendance. They had received a 999 call in relation to the incident. Stryker, which employs around 4,000 people at six locations in Cork, established a base in Cork in 1998. The US multinational medical company was named Cork company of the year in February of this year at a function in Cork City Hall. Following the accident, at the time, Stryker issued a statement in which it expressed its commitment to a "safe and healthy work environment at all of their facilities." The company is working closely with the authorities to investigate the incident. Two years ago the Irish Examiner revealed that six Stryker workers from three sites in East Cork made a protected disclosure to the HSA in 2020 in which they listed safety concerns. THERE were scenes of great celebration at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams last week, as 51 students graduated from six programmes. John Sweetnam receives his certificate from John Condon, Down Syndrome Ireland at a graduation ceremony for the Literacy and Technology programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon Family members and friends were on hand, with hundreds of guests visiting the Clash Road site over the three days of ceremonies. John Sweetnam, a graduate of the Field of Dreams Literacy and Technology programme, told The Echo he was delighted with his achievement. Dylan Kennedy receives his certificate from John Condon, Down Syndrome Ireland at a graduation ceremony for the Literacy and Technology programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon It is a great occasion, he said. We are very grateful to the staff for their hard work. I am proud to be graduating today with my classmates. Rebecca Pearson with her parents Stephen and Peg at the graduation ceremony for the Ready 2 Work programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon Khadija Bouncir, who also graduated the same programme, echoed Mr Sweetnams remarks. I am really excited to be graduating today, Ms Bouncir said. I want to say thanks to the staff, my classmates and family. James Hanley with his parents Kevin and Kay at the graduation ceremony for the Literacy and Technology programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon Debbie Kelleher, who is care co-ordinator at the Field of Dreams, said the graduation ceremony was a wonderful celebration of Down Syndrome Cork and the Field of Dreams. The students from the Literacy and Technology programme, the Field To Fork and Ready2Work programmes are graduating and receiving certification following two years of hard work, she said. Ciaran McCarthy receives his certificate from John Condon, Down Syndrome Ireland at a graduation ceremony for the Literacy and Technology programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon We are all extremely proud of their achievements on this momentous occasion and delighted to celebrate with family members and invited guests. Paul, Rena and Laura Ahern with Mairead Falvey and Liam Ahern at the graduation ceremony for the Ready 2 Work programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon These are exciting times for the Field of Dreams, not least because all students from its Ready2Work programme are featuring on the Saturday evening Angelus on RTE One, in a video of their work which will run in a prime-time TV slot over the next two years. Jennifer O' Halloran with her parents Leonard and Margaret at the graduation ceremony for the Literacy and Technology and Ready 2 Work programme at the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams, Curraheen, Cork. - Picture; David Creedon The theme for the Angelus was care of creation, and our guys are definitely caring for our environment and helping us to be sustainable, and running our farm shop too, Ms Kelleher said. TWELVE kayakers have made history by paddling through the River Lee in Cork for a full 24 hours to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). On Saturday, 12 kayakers took on the challenge of kayaking for 24 hours, raising over 8,300 so far out of a target of 10,000. The fundraising team was delighted to see over 20 kayakers, from children to adults, join them for a circumnavigation of Cork City at 8am on Saturday, finishing on Sunday morning. Organiser Anais ODonovan, who is ranked eighth in the world in freestyle kayaking, said the toughest hours were just before dawn. It was a unique challenge to raise awareness for the RNLI, she said. "The hardest hours for the whole team were from 3am to 5am. We had people on the water with us up until about midnight. Between 3am and 5am, everyones energy had dropped, but then as the sun came up again, everyones spirits began to pick up again and it was great. It was very challenging. After the circumnavigation, instructors volunteered their time to run free development clinics from rescue techniques to rolling clinics and a freestyle session. This brought out so many happy and excited kayakers who lit up the Lee Fields, said Anais. Anais started kayaking five years ago while the team of 12 has a combined experience of over 70 years in kayaking. We have a world champion in surf kayaking. The team is incredible. I thought it was one of the best experiences in my life. This has been a totally unique experience for every single team member. We would often have competitions and different events, but weve never been in our boats for more than a few hours at a time. So to actually sit in there for 24 hours, to eat food on the water, it was a big change, added Anais. Donations can be made at gofundme.com on the 24 hours on the Lee page. An Irish man who died after falling from the balcony off his apartment in Bangkok in Thailand has been named as Colm McCarthy from Cork. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the family of Mr McCarthy (45) who was originally from Douglas in the southside of the city. Colm is survived by his son Finnian, wife Wineta, his parents Michael and Catherine and his sister Emer. The death is being treated as an accident. Police in Lak Song station in Bangkok were contacted about the tragedy at 7.35am on Friday. Mr McCarthy had worked in the city as a language teacher. He fell off the balcony of his apartment which was on the 23rd floor. Douglas Hall AFC has paid tribute to Colm. In a post on Facebook they said they were "saddened" to hear of the passing of their former player. "Our deepest sympathy to parents Mick and Catherine, his sister Emer and his son. "May he rest in peace." The Bangkok Post reported that Mr McCarthy had lived in the apartment for a year. A teaching colleague posted on social media that Colm was a great guy. He will be forever remembered by our students as their great and loving teacher. Wishing you (the family) peace, comfort, courage and lots of love at this time of sorrow. A man was head-butted in Cork city centre and the single blow that caused him to fall and strike his head against the ground knocked him unconscious and resulted in catastrophic life-changing injuries. 42-year-old Alan OHalloran of 46 Greenwood Estate, Togher, Cork, was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the last two years suspended by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing serious harm to the man on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, on September 10, 2021. Defence senior counsel Tom Creed said after the plea of guilty was entered, this was a reckless rather than intentional act. It was just one blow. I would ask for a probation report to be directed on the defendant. Detective Garda Cormac Crotty confirmed under cross-examination by Mr Creed that, it appears he was provoked by information he received which was not accurate at all. Having received the incorrect information about the injured party, who was on Oliver Plunkett Street talking to another person that afternoon, Alan OHalloran approached him from the side, head-butted him and knocked him to the ground. Det Garda Crotty said the injured man, who is 49, fell helplessly to the ground as a result of the flying head-butt. The accused man said he felt an overwhelming sense of remorse and guilt. He wrote a letter of apology to the injured partys family in which he apologised for the hurt and pain caused by his outrageous action in a moment of anger. OHalloran acknowledged it was never okay to hurt another human being. He said he was ashamed and remorseful and not worthy of forgiveness, and he said he prayed every day for the victim and his family. Judge Helen Boyle said that however provoked Alan OHalloran felt with the incorrect information he had been given, his reaction was completely disproportionate and violent, and resulted in catastrophic, life-changing injuries for the victim. Det Garda Crotty read a victim impact statement on behalf of the family of the 49-year-old man who was seriously assaulted. His 73-year-old mother said they did not know what to expect at Cork University Hospital that day but arrived to find that he was undergoing a four-hour operation. He remained in a coma for the next six weeks and in hospital for the following five months. She said that he can no longer live independently and has to have everything done for him. His main pleasure now is to sit and watch television but even that is being denied to the victim as his eyesight is rapidly deteriorating, his mother said. A 61-year-old man who spent a night trying to break into two pubs and a supermarket in a desperate attempt to get alcohol has been given a two-year suspended sentence. When the man with a lifelong drink problem succeeded in breaking into one of the premises The Hawthorn Bar he took four bottles of Bulmers cider. Judge Colin Daly imposed the two-year suspended sentence on Michael OSullivan of 94 Togher Road, Cork, after he signed pleas of guilty to the charges against him at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Michael OSullivan pleaded guilty to burglary at the Hawthorn Bar at The Lough, Cork, and an attempted burglary at Cissie Youngs Bar on Bandon Road both on the same date, October 1, 2021. On the same date he attempted a burglary at Centra on Dean Roches Cross and also signed a plea of guilty to that. Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said OSullivan has poor health and long-term alcoholism. Mr Boyle said the accused co-operated totally with the gardai when arrested. He basically put his hands up to all three offences, Mr Boyle said. Before the latest three crimes, Michael OSullivan had 97 previous convictions, including 39 for burglary. Eight of those were from licensed premises, two from off-licences, 13 from shops, and eight from houses, among other locations. Garda Pat Dilworth outlined what happened on October 1, 2021. At 3am on that date, Michael OSullivan approached Cissie Youngs bar and he had a metal bar in his hand. He tried to force the door open but he was unsuccessful, Garda Dilworth said. Shortly after this, he went to Centra at Deanroches Cross and tried to open a metal shutter by force again, unsuccessfully. Shortly before 4am he made his way to The Hawthorn Bar at The Lough and he gained entry by breaking a window. He made his way inside and took four bottles of Bulmers cider, Garda Dilworth said. THE newest member of Cork City Council, in his inaugural speech in the councils historic chamber yesterday evening, pledged to support workers rights and play a part in tackling the housing crisis. Socialist Party member Brian McCarthy, 35, walked onto the council floor for the first time to a standing ovation as he was formally welcomed by Lord Mayor of Cork Deirdre Forde. In his maiden speech, Mr McCarthy, who was co-opted to fill Fiona Ryans vacant seat, paid tribute to his predecessor, who he lauded as an outspoken advocate and a tireless campaigner for workers, for women, for the LGBTQ+ community, the Travelling community, and countless others. The North-West ward councillor said he first got involved in politics 15 years ago while in college. Since then, Ive been through the recession, the years of austerity, a growing fightback that culminated in the campaign against the water charges, campaigns for marriage equality, and Repeal. Ive been on strike for decent wages, protested for climate action at COP26 and stood on the picket line with the heroic Debenhams workers, he said. Mr McCarthy was scathing in his criticism of the capitalist system and said he believes socialist transformation based on public ownership and democratic planning of the economy to meet the needs of society sustainably is the only way that we can have a future. One area he intends to focus on during his time in council is workers rights. I would encourage any workers involved in industrial action to contact me and Ill give them a voice in this chamber and whatever support I can, he said. Mr McCarthy said the housing crisis is the biggest problem facing the country at present and said more housing rallies, like the one held in Cork on Saturday, are greatly needed. Saturday was a start, but we need thousands on the street, tens of thousands. Not only that but we need a campaign against evictions to stop people being thrown out onto the streets. If youre facing eviction anywhere in the city, get in contact with me, he said. Homeless asylum seekers and social housing waiting lists are among the lead stories in Monday's newspapers. The Irish Times reports that almost 1,400 international protection applicants have been forced into homelessness this year due to a lack of State accommodation, including four unaccompanied children. A children's charity is launching a public appeal for urgent funding to keep their helpline operating, the Irish Examiner reports. Over 5,000 offers of social housing were refused in the past two years, with a variety of reasons given, the Irish Independent has revealed. The Irish Daily Mail says supermarkets face multimillion-euro fines if found guilty of profiteering by a new regulator. A US basketball mascot was treated in hospital after taking two punches from UFC fighter Conor McGregor during a skit, according to the Irish Daily Mirror. Mafia expert Professor Anna Sergi has told the Irish Daily Star how Daniel Kinahans former partner in crime, Italian Raffaele Imperiale, will turn on him. The Belfast Telegraph reports that detectives investigating Chloe Mitchells disappearance launched a murder inquiry on Sunday after suspected human remains were found in Ballymena. Two men have since been charged over the murder and disappearance of the Co Antrim woman. Boris Johnsons resignation and the arrest of former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon dominated the front pages across the UK on Monday. Calls for Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended from the SNP led the front of the Telegraph, while the Financial Times says the arrest is a hammer blow for the SNP. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Suspend Sturgeon from SNP after arrest, party told'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/eLaAMDlaX9 The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 11, 2023 Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition Monday June 12 https://t.co/Pi5VGPtygY pic.twitter.com/ea7iqbRGiR Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) June 11, 2023 The Sun and the Daily Express also reported on the arrest of Ms Sturgeon. On tomorrow's front page: Nicola Sturgeon breaks her silence following release amid SNP finances probehttps://t.co/alFnhuZ9fH pic.twitter.com/hD1Ilm7fux The Sun (@TheSun) June 11, 2023 Front page: Sturgeon arrested in SNP fraud probe #tomorrowspapertoday Boris Johnson story: https://t.co/COvZN4lhQz pic.twitter.com/6PgeeGbS31 Daily Express (@Daily_Express) June 11, 2023 The Guardian chose Boris Johnson for their main story on the front page, saying senior Tories told him to shut up and go away. Guardian front page, Monday 12 June 2023: Senior Tories tell Johnson to shut up and go away pic.twitter.com/9CFcNf9T5L The Guardian (@guardian) June 11, 2023 The Times and i had Mr Johnson and Ms Sturgeon both feature on their front pages. The Daily Mirrors front page was the tragic boat fire off the coast of Egypt that has left three British divers unaccounted for. Monday's front page: Brits missing in boat blazehttps://t.co/Qdcq8hb9yg pic.twitter.com/QXSHJu5sZ1 The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 11, 2023 The Daily Mail relays Suella Bravermans message about Keir Starmer, saying he is in the pocket of the eco-mob. And the Daily Star say a woman is convinced King Henry I is buried under a carpark in Reading. Sarah Slater A bridge in Dublin is to be renamed as Bloody Sunday Bridge in commemoration of the events at Croke Park on November 21st 1920 when 14 innocent civilians were killed by RIC/Auxiliaries/Black and Tans. For the past three years, debate and public consultation has been ongoing over changing the name from the Clonliffe Bridge/Russell Street Bridge to the new official name. However, at the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council several councillors including Social Democrat councillor Mary Callaghan whose grandfather was present at the incident. Labour councillors Joe Costello and Dermot Lacey also raised their objections to the new name asking for the vote on the new name to be deferred and reconsidered. They suggested it should be called Remembrance Bridge or 14. The councillors heard that the Central Area Committee, at its meeting of November 10th 2020, considered and adopted the motion that the Royal Canal Bridge at Russell Street, currently named Clonliffe Bridge/Russell Street Bridge, be officially renamed as Bloody Sunday Bridge along with its Irish name. The first two victims of Bloody Sunday, William Perry Robinson and Jerome OLeary, were both killed by shots fired from the bridge. Having been adopted, the motion was referred to the Arts, Culture, Leisure & Recreation Strategic Policy Committee which, at its meeting of November 30th 2020, referred the motion to the Commemorations & Naming Committee for its consideration. At its meeting of March 25th 2021 the Commemorations & Naming Committee considered the motion. Officials reported that the bridge is in the ownership of Dublin City Council and there is no record of a formal naming of this bridge. It was noted that under the Councils policy on Commemorative Naming (adopted by the Council on June 12, 2017), public consultation would be required as part of the process1 and that any recommendation to name the bridge would need to be brought before the full Council for a final decision.2 The Committee approved the motion to name the bridge and asked officials to set up a consultation process. Members of the public were invited to comment on the proposal, via the Councils online Consultation Hub, between July 8th and September 9th last year. A total of 969 comments were received via the online system with 450 (46.44%) of the comments in favour of the proposal; 513 (52.94 per cent) of the comments not in favour of the proposal. The proposal to name the bridge was considered again and in detail at the meeting of the Commemorations & Naming Committee on December 1 last year. As required under the policy, a vote was taken by members present to confirm the proposal to name the bridge, with a majority of members voting in favour. The Committee referred the motion back to the SPC requesting that it be placed before the City Council for approval. At its meeting on February 27 this year the SPC approved the motion. Both Owen Keegan, CEO and Richard Shakespeare Assistant CEO approved the naming of the bridge at tonights (Monday) meeting. Barangays in Negros Occidental, Philippines municipality under lockdown following pig deaths The mayor of Hinigaran, a municipality in Negros Occidental, the Philippines, has issued a lockdown order for two barangays in Hinigaran, where pig deaths were discovered on June 7. The movement of pigs in and out of Barangays Anahaw and Cabahug is now prohibited, following a recent announcement that seven pigs from Hinigaran tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) after being transported to Victorias City. Hinigaran mayor Nadie Arceo said the seven ASF-positive pigs originated from Barangay Anahaw in Hinigaran. The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) representative in the municipality initially cleared the pigs for sale in Victorias City, as no pig deaths had been reported in Barangay Anahaw. 'The hog raisers hid the fact that there were deaths in Anahaw,' Arceo said. In the neighboring Barangay Cabahug, there have been 16 pig deaths reported. Blood samples from the pigs in both barangays have been collected for ASF testing by the PVO. Arceo said that all pigs in Hinigaran must be slaughtered at the town's new slaughterhouse starting last week to ensure that they are healthy. - Inquirer Malaysia to float chicken, egg prices following end of subsidies Malaysia will be floating the prices of chicken and eggs from July 1 after the removal of subsidies by the end of the month. Malaysian Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) would then evaluate and control the price of the items compared to the current retail ceiling price. "KPKM will implement soft landing mechanisms to ensure that the supply of chicken and eggs can be stabilised after the subsidy ends," he said. Among the mechanisms are abolishing the ban on the export of live broiler chickens except day old chick (DOC), round chickens and chicken cuts from July 1 to enable farmers to earn income from the export market and help cash flow into Malaysia. The government will also allow imports of poultry and eggs from various recognised source countries including Thailand, China, Brazil and Denmark. Imports of eggs will only be from Thailand and Ukraine, he said. The government will also continue the round chicken stockpile programme under the Board of Farmers' Organisations (LPP). He said that as of May 7 this year, 63% of the target of 2,177 tonnes had been stored. "We will also continue the Madani Agro Sales Programme by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to market various agricultural products including eggs, with prices which are five to 10% lower than the local bazaar, especially in low-income housing areas. "As of May 8, a total of 28,078,620 eggs have been distributed through 369 Fama outlets," he said. He was responding to a question from Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) who questioned whether the ministry had conducted a comprehensive study of the impact of the policy change. - New Straits Times No authority for Sabah, Malaysia veterinary department to shut down illegal pig farm There is no existing law that empowers Veterinary Services Department of Sabah, Malaysia, to force a shutdown of an illegal pig farm located in Tamparuli. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, who is Sabah's Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry, said that legal action had already been taken against the farm, resulting in a court-imposed fine for operating without a proper license under Rule 3(1) Control of Livestock Activities (Pig) Rules 2008. The current regulations, however, do not authorise the DVS to close the farm. "I understand this may be frustrating for many and we are working tirelessly to resolve the situation,' said Dr. Kitingan. "We are aware of the limitations of existing laws and are considering necessary changes in legislation to ensure stricter control over such activities in the future. "This includes empowering the DVS (Sabah Veterinary Services Department) with the authority to close farms that fail to adhere to regulations. We also acknowledge the need for higher penalties as a deterrent for non-compliance. ' Dr. Kitingan said that DVS is coordinating with other relevant agencies to address concerns raised by those affected by the illegal pig farm. He added that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry was in discussion with other agencies, including the Environment Department, Sabah Town and Regional Planning Department and the Land and Survey Department to implement a holistic solution to the issue. He stated that he believed that a coordinated approach would be the most effective way to manage such challenges. He also urged all stakeholders to abide by the rules and regulations set out by the authorities while waiting for the construction of the Pig Farming Area (PFA) in Sabah's central Tongod district. The PFA is designed to accommodate the relocation of farms. - The Star Feature: British businesses show high interest in China's Hainan Free Trade Port Xinhua) 10:16, June 12, 2023 LONDON, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from business associations and enterprises in the United Kingdom (UK) have expressed their strong interest and unwavering confidence in China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). Speaking at a promotion conference of Hainan FTP held here on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang highlighted that building Hainan FTP is a national strategy and a great number of breakthroughs have been made. In June 2020, China released a master plan to build the whole of Hainan Island, China's southernmost province, into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century. Three years on, with a slew of favorable policies taking effect and continuous opening up, Hainan has gained a strong momentum of development and is making great strides towards becoming a free trade port with world influence. Zheng stressed that the central government will accelerate the FTP development and bring the potential of this pilot platform into full play. He called on the British business community to seize the opportunities and actively participate in the development of this new mega-port. Sherard Cowper-Coles, chair of the China-Britain Business Council, underlined that Hainan serves as the gateway to southern China and the entire nation. "Hainan is an area where there's plenty of experimentation and plenty of innovation. We hope we can now take it to a new level," he said. Cowper-Coles also reiterated the importance of trade and economic relations between the two countries. China is a major trading partner of Britain, and it is in Britain's economic interest to deepen engagement with China, he added. Giles Williams, managing director of Brooke House College, signed a memorandum of understanding with Hainan's Sanya Investment Promotion Bureau. "Hainan has such an open, engaging and warm welcoming business community. Hopefully, we will be able to establish a strong commercial link in this very supportive environment," said Williams. Official data showed the rapid development of the import and export of goods at the Hainan FTP in recent years. After exceeding 100 billion yuan (14 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, the total volume of trade in goods exceeded 200 billion yuan in 2022, with an annual growth rate of 36.8 percent. During the promotion conference, Hainan officials pledged to further open up to the world and introduced a series of policies related to tariffs, taxes, visas, and more. Amanda Unsworth, managing director of Trinity Logistics Limited, told Xinhua she has learned much more about Hainan after the conference. "The opportunity in Hainan is fantastic and I can't wait to get up there," said Unsworth. Zhang Bin, director of the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province, said: "We have seen a huge amount of conversations and exchanges following the conference, and we have received highly positive feedback from our audience. This further strengthens our confidence in the future development of the free trade port." (1 yuan = 0.14 U.S. dollar) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Former Chief Minister joins advisory board of Together UK Foundation Former chief minister Howard Quayle has been appointed as an advisor to the Together UK Foundation. The pro-union campaign group was set up by the former First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster. The group was formed last September and will lobby decision makers, putting forward a positive case for the union of the United Kingdom. In a tweet, Arlene Foster said: "We got the band back together". "Delighted that my friends from the BIC - Howard Quayle and John Le Fondre - have both joined the advisory board of the Together UK Foundation. "[We] look forward to putting forward that positive case for the union together." Ubisoft revealed a teaser trailer today for Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. The upcoming Netflix anime is based on the 2013 Blood Dragon expansion for Far Cry 3 but it appears to be at least as much of a tongue-in-cheek remix of Ubisoft IP and early 90s nostalgia. Series creator Adi Shankar (producer of Netflixs Castlevania series) introduced the trailer in a campy cyborg getup befitting the source material. Seven years ago, I got a call from Ubisoft, offering me the opportunity to adapt one of their very, very, very serious franchises into an anime, Shankar deadpanned. But instead, I came back to them with a crazy concept inspired by the mood of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. This concept used Ubisofts vast library of characters, and remixed them into one delirious anime series that would become this love letter to the 90s or at least how I remembered the 90s. The series takes place in 1992, but its an alternate universe where the US has fallen and been replaced by a nation called Eden with strong Orwellian vibes. Super-soldier Dolph Laserhawk has just been betrayed by the love of his life and locked up in Edens top security prison Supermaxx, Ubisoft explains. He must now lead a team of rebel outcasts on risky undercover missions in order to survive. Shankar describes the series as a violent, dystopian fiction in the spirit of the works of Aldous Huxley, as well as a spoof, satire, dark comedy, love story and the most philosophically conscious show youve watched in a long time. Bobbypills Studio handles the animation. Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix is scheduled to premiere worldwide on Netflix this fall. You can watch the Easter-egg-filled teaser trailer below. Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest right here! Reddit sees more than 6,000 communities 'go dark' in protest over API changes Some subreddits have said they will be protesting indefinitely. The Reddit communitys mass protest over the companys controversial API changes has started. Thousands of subreddits have gone dark, setting their communities private and making their content inaccessible to anyone not already subscribed. Some of the sites most popular subreddits, including r/Music, r/funny, r/aww and r/todayilearned each of which has millions of followers have joined the effort, along with thousands of other communities. The movement has grown significantly in the last few days following CEO Steve Huffmans AMA with users in which he defended the new policies, which will result in popular third-party apps like RIF and Apollo shutting down for good. As of last week, the number of participating subreddits was just over 3,000. But by Monday morning, the number had climbed to more than 6,200 communities, according to a Twitch stream tracking the protest. With the blackout, participating subreddits have posted brief messages alerting users that they are protesting the companys planned API changes. Most have committed to a 48-hour blackout, but at least 60 subreddits say they plan to protest indefinitely until the company walks back its changes. Many are also urging users not to browse Reddit at all. Some have also set up Discord servers to encourage subscribers to stay off of Reddit. The backlash against the companys new API policy kicked off after Christian Selig, the developer behind Reddit client app Apollo, shared that Reddits new pricing would cost him as much as $20 million a year to keep his app going. The company further angered Apollo fans by claiming that Selig had threatened the company, which the developer promptly refuted with an audio clip of a phone call with a Reddit employee. Huffman then doubled down on the criticism in his AMA last week. As the subreddit blackout begins, I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the Reddit community and everyone standing up, Selig wrote in a post on Twitter. Let's hope Reddit listens. Reddits users arent only upset about the companys treatment of Selig and Apollo, though, They are also frustrated with losing moderation and accessibility features only available via third-party apps. In a message to users, moderators of r/blind said the native Reddit app was so lacking in accessibility that a sighted user had to switch the subreddit private. If Reddit was a restaurant third party apps are franchises. We can get a burger from Reddit directly or from a franchise. The official Reddit location is at the top of a cliff. Disabled people can't get there. Reddit is charging franchise fees so high nobody else can afford to offer burgers. We, with thousands of other subreddits, have gone dark for 48 hours. We will be back on June 14. Our Discord server remains open. Thank you for understanding; app so bad, vision required to go dark Reddits moderators who are often quick to point out that they are unpaid volunteers shared similar. In many cases these apps offer superior mod tools, customization, streamlined interfaces, and other quality of life improvements that the official app does not offer, moderators wrote in an open letter. The potential loss of these services due to the pricing change would significantly impact our ability to moderate efficiently, thus negatively affecting the experience for users in our communities and for us as mods and users ourselves. For now, it doesn't seem the protest has had much effect Reddit's leadership. A company spokesperson pointed to Huffman's remarks from his recent AMA. "We respect when you and your communities take action to highlight the things you need, including, at times, going private," he wrote. "We are all responsible for ensuring Reddit provides an open accessible place for people to find community and belonging." Huffman and other executives have defended the new API policy, citing the rise of generative AI companies taking advantage of its data. Well continue to be profit-driven until profits arrive, the CEO said. The Reddit spokesperson said the company wasn't planning any policy changes. Update, June 12th, 2023, 11:03 AM ET: This story has been updated with comments from a Reddit spokesperson. 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. (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) atNorth strengthens its position as the leading data center operator in the Nordics with its third data center site in Iceland REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, has formally announced that their third Iceland data center, ICE03, is now fully operational with an initial capacity of 10 MW, following a swift 11 month build. This brings their total number of operational data centers up to six, with one additional site, FIN02, in Finland under construction. The new site is a significant milestone in the company's overarching goal to scale ahead of increasing demand for high-performance computing requirements at a time when cost-efficient sustainable infrastructure is in more demand than ever. The site is located in a highly strategic position. Iceland as a whole is ranked in the top ten markets for Data Center location and atNorth's Iceland entry recently won the `Location' category at the Tech Capital Global Awards which aims to recognize a geography for its attractiveness and investor friendly climate when dealing with digital infrastructure investors. This is an ideal location for data centers, largely due to its access to a highly skilled workforce and cool climate, which is crucial for cost-effective cooling of data center infrastructure. The country also has an energy supply run on a closed gridpowered by 100% renewable hydro and geothermal energy sources. Iceland also benefits from fully redundant connectivity and now boasts multiple undersea fiber optic cables connecting the country to the UK, Ireland, North America, and mainland Scandinavia. The ICE03 site offers expansions possibilities of up to 50MW and is located 250 km north of Reykjavik, where other data centers are predominantly located. This geographical separation offers a compelling advantage in terms of disaster recovery and enhanced security. By diversifying the location of its data centers, atNorth reinforces its commitment to ensuring the highest level of data protection and business continuity for its clients. Additionally, the town of Akureyri is a thriving technology hub and the new center will offer job opportunities to an already highly skilled workforce. Akureyri offers many benefits to businesses looking to house their data in an affordable and sustainable way. Iceland's cool climate and abundance of energy sources allow businesses to tap into an infrastructure with renewable energy and great connectivity resulting in significant cost efficiencies. ICE03's accessibility, being only 10 minutes from an international airport, presents a new joint opportunity for atNorth to deliver high precision services to European businesses as these businesses look to decarbonize and migrate IT operations cost-efficiently. "We are delighted to be expanding our presence in the Nordics once again with a third site in Iceland" said Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson, CEO, atNorth. "With six operational sites across three Nordic countries and another in development, our commitment to meet increasing demand in the industry through continued expansion is evidenced. Furthermore, our dedication to sustainable best practice supports our goal to become the service provider of choice for eco-friendly high performance infrastructure. About atNorth atNorth is a leading Pan-Nordic data center services company that offers sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable colocation and high-performance computing services across Iceland, Sweden and Finland. The company operates six data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, with a seventh site to open in Finland in 2024. With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. The tailor-made solutions enable businesses to calculate, simulate, train and visualize data workloads in an efficient, cost-optimized way. atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, and is trusted by industry-leading organizations to operate their most critical workloads. The business was founded in 2009 and acquired by Partners Group in 2022. For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. Press Contact Caroline BruntonKite Hill PR for atNorth+44 (0) 7796 274416 caroline@kitehillpr.com The following files are available for download: View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/atnorth-opens-sixth-data-center-in-the-nordics-as-expansion-continues-301847968.html Monday, June 12, 2023 A traffic cop stopped a middle-aged man on a highway for speeding one afternoon. As the officer approached his vehicle, the man recognized him. The two men happened to live in the same neighborhood in a nearby small town. A few weeks earlier, the driver had seen the officer being ticketed by another traffic cop for driving above the speed limit in their residential area. At the time of that incident, the officer was off duty and was wearing civilian clothes. Feeling aggrieved after being issued a ticket, the man protested that the officer lacked the moral authority to penalize him, given his own disregard for speed limits. The officer responded by simply pointing to his badge. His message to the man was essentially that he was acting not on the basis of moral authority, but rather on the power conferred by the badge. The moral of this story is that the policemen, judges, and others who are empowered to interpret and enforce rules in society are not necessarily any more ethical than the rest of us. We recognize their authority chiefly because they have been entrusted somehow with the important duty of maintaining public order. Ever since the signing of The Treaty of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years War in 1648, the numerous attempts to find a durable mechanism to maintain world order have largely failed. The most recent effort was the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Judging by the current global chaos, the UN has mostly been a failure also. It needs serious reform to make it more effective at dealing with global crises. Some historians have argued that Americas refusal to join the League of Nations was one of the factors that ultimately led to the organizations demise. The League had failed spectacularly in its main missionpreventing another world war. As Nazi forces were rampaging across Europe during World War II, it took Americas eventual involvement to help rescue Europe and the rest of the world from the evil forces of fascism. After the war, America committed significant resources, through the Marshall Plan, to help rebuild Europe. It then led the global effort to put in place the institutional architectures that have underpinned the existing world order. America was uniquely positioned to play this critical role because it had the requisite mightboth economic and military. In the decades since the end of World War II, America has maintained its status as the one country with the capacity to help stabilize the global ship whenever it sails through turbulent waters. Today, some people argue that China is economically and militarily strong enough to rival America on the world stage. These people want China to lead an effort to remake the global order. There are three weaknesses in this argument. First, while Chinas economic growth over the last several decades is quite impressive, its capabilities are still nowhere near Americas. According to data by Trading Economics, current U.S. GDP is estimated at $23.3 trillion, while that of China is $17.7 trillion. Although the aggregate GDP numbers appear close, the per capita figures are far more important indicators of national wealth. The same data show that adjusted for purchasing power parity, U.S. GDP per capita is currently $63,670, while Chinas is $17,603. With a lot more mouths to feed, China does not have anywhere close to the discretionary spending power that the U.S. has. Second, America earned its place at the head of the global table through those crucial contributions it made during World War II and in the decades since. If any nation wants a similar seat, it must demonstrate that it has both the capacity and the willingness to play the type of constructive role that America has played on the global stage for several decades. Mere possession of wealth and military power is not enough. Third, and perhaps most important, life is not all about money. Americas status as the beacon of hope for persecuted people around the world is unrivaled. People flee fromnot run toChina to escape political, religious, and various forms of persecution. The other superpower wannabe, Russia, recently lost tens of thousands of its best and brightest young people who packed up hurriedly and fled to other countries in desperate attempts to escape from tyranny at home. Societies must provide sanctuaries to which people trying to escape abusive relationships and other forms of violence can run to. America provides that refuge within the global village. The people around the globe who like to complain about Americas tendency to act as the worlds policeman should not just grumble. They must suggest viable alternatives, because we have to deal with the world as it is today. Driving on a highway alongside a maniac who zigzags through heavy traffic at 100 miles per hour can be a frightening experience. The sight of a police vehicle is often the only thing that can suddenly turn even the most erratic driver into a careful, law-abiding citizen. On the world stage, America has performed such patrol duties admirably for decades. It should continue to do so. As was the case with the officer who ticketed his neighbor for speeding, America has character flaws. It must certainly show some humility in its dealings with the rest of the world. But it should also constantly remind itself that it has earned the right to wear a badge, which it should confidently display on its unform. And, it should not be shy about pointing to it when the occasion demands. Monday, June 12, 2023 As the race for the White House 2024 is about to start, there are also media reports about the possible First Ladies, or first Gentlemen for that matter. Historically, the US had three types of First Ladies: Traditional: First Ladies such as Laura and Barbara Bush made it clear that they see their roles foremost as supporting their husbands. A variant of this is Jill Biden. While she is the first First Lady to still pursue a paying job on her own, she is mostly seen accompanying her husband in official events. During the campaign, she made sure Joe would respect social distancing and health protocols. I don't know how much of a support Melania Trump was to Donald Trump, but by default, I would also put her into that category. Political: The pioneer of a First Lady that took on an active political role is of course Eleanor Roosevelt. She actively campaigned for her husband. As a human rights advocate, she received a standing ovation at the United Nations. Hillary Clinton followed the same model. After two terms at the White House as First Lady, she launched her own political career. She won the election as Senator from the state of New York, ran for president twice, and served as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. Behind the scenes: There are First Ladies who play the traditional role in public, but are politically and strategically heavily involved behind the scenes. It is said that the description would match Casey DeSantis. The classic, historic example for it is of course Nancy Regan, who was compared to her husband's de facto Chief of Staff. There is this story that the official Chief of Staff hung up the phone on the First Lady; and was moved out soon thereafter. Even decades later, other people who served in the Reagan administration and who were well aware of Nancy Regan's role talk about the episode almost in disbelief. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Soon after a patient leaves First Step Resource Center, a clinic tailored to treat survivors of sexual assault, Jacqueline Towarnicki prepares the examination room in case she gets a call that someone else needs to see a sexual assault nurse examiner. (Katheryn Houghton | KFF Health News) MISSOULA, Jacqueline Towarnicki got a text as she finished her day shift at a local clinic. She had a new case, a patient covered in bruises who couldnt remember how the injuries got there. Towarnickis breath caught, a familiar feeling after four years of working night shifts as a sexual assault nurse examiner in this northwestern Montana city. You almost want to curse, Towarnicki, 38, said. Youre like, Oh, no, its happening. These nights on duty are Towarnickis second job. Shes on call once a week and a weekend a month. A survivor may need protection against sexually transmitted infections, medicine to avoid getting pregnant, or evidence collected to prosecute their attacker. Or all the above. When her phone rings, its typically in the middle of the night. Towarnicki tiptoes down the stairs of her home to avoid waking her young son, as her half-asleep husband whispers encouragement into the dark. Her breath is steady by the time she changes into the clothes she laid out close to her back door before going to bed. She grabs her nurses badge and drives to First Step Resource Center, a clinic that offers round-the-clock care for people who have been assaulted. She wants her patients to know theyre out of danger. You meet people in some of their most horrifying, darkest, terrifying times, Towarnicki said. Being with them and then seeing who they are when they leave, you dont get that doing any other job in health care. A former travel nurse who lived out of a van for years, Towarnicki is OK with the uncertainty that comes with being a sexual assault nurse examiner. Most examiners work on-call shifts in addition to full-time jobs. They often work alone and at odd hours. They can collect evidence that could be used in court, are trained to recognize and respond to trauma, and provide care to protect their patients bodies from lasting effects of sexual assault. But their numbers are few. As many as 80% of U.S. hospitals dont have sexual assault nurse examiners, often because they either cant find them or cant afford them. Nurses struggle to find time for shifts, especially when staffing shortages mean covering long hours. Sexual assault survivors may have to leave their town or even their state to see an examiner. Gaps in sexual assault care can span hundreds of miles in rural areas. A program in Glendive, Montana a town of nearly 5,000 residents 35 miles from the North Dakota border stopped taking patients for examinations this spring. It didnt have enough nurses to respond to cases. These are the same nurses working in the ER, where a heart attack patient could come in, said Teresea Olson, 56, who is the towns part-time mayor and also picked up on-call shifts. The staff was exhausted. The next closest option is 75 miles away in Miles City, adding at least an hour to the travel time for patients, some of whom already had to travel hours to reach Glendive. Nationwide, policymakers have been slow to offer training, funding, and support for the work. Some states and health facilities are trying to expand access to sexual assault response programs. Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a bill to hire a statewide sexual assault coordinator tasked with expanding training and recruiting workers. A Montana law that takes effect July 1 will create a sexual assault response network within the Montana Department of Justice. The new program aims to set standards for that care, provide in-state training, and connect examiners statewide. It will also look at telehealth to fill in gaps, following the example of hospitals in South Dakota and Colorado. Theres no national tally of where nurses have been trained to respond to sexual assaults, meaning a survivor may not know they have to travel for treatment until theyre sitting in an emergency room or police department. Sarah Wangerin, a nursing instructor with Montana State University and former examiner, said patients reeling from an attack may instead just go home. For some, leaving town isnt an option. This spring, Wangerin called county hospitals and sheriffs offices to map where sexual assault nurse examiners operate in Montana. She found only 55. More than half of the 45 counties that responded didnt have any examiners. Just seven counties reported they had nurses trained to respond to cases that involve children. Were failing people, Wangerin said. Were re-traumatizing them by not knowing what to do. First Step, in Missoula, is one of the few full-time sexual assault response programs in the state. Its operated by Providence St. Patrick Hospital but is separate from the main building. The clinics walls are adorned with drawings by kids and mountain landscapes. The staff doesnt turn on the harsh overhead fluorescent lights, choosing instead to light the space with softer lamps. The lobby includes couches and a rocking chair. There are always heated blankets and snacks on hand. First Step stands out for having nurses who stay. Kate Harrison waited roughly a year to join the clinic and is still there three years later, in part because of the staff support. The specially trained team works together so no one carries too heavy a load. While being on night shift means opening the clinic alone, staffers can debrief tough cases together. They attend group therapy for secondhand trauma. Harrison is a cardiac hospital nurse during the day, a job that sometimes feels a little too stuck to a clock. At First Step, she can shift into whatever role her patient needs for as long as they need. Once, that meant sitting for hours on a floor in the lobby of the clinic as a patient cried and talked. Another time, Harrison doubled as a DJ for a nervous patient during an exam, picking music off her cellphone. Its in the middle of the night, she just had this sexual assault happen, and we were just laughing and singing to Shaggy, Harrison said. You have this freedom and grace to do that. When the solo work is overwhelming or shes had back-to-back cases and needs a break, she knows a co-worker would be willing to help. This work can take you to the undercurrents and the underbelly of society sometimes, Harrison said. It takes a team. That includes co-workers like Towarnicki, who dropped her work hours at her day job after having her son to keep working as a sexual assault nurse examiner. That meant adding three years to her student loan repayment schedule. Now, pregnant with her second child, the work still feels worth it, she said. On a recent night, Towarnicki was alone in the clinic, clicking through photos she took of her last patient. The patient opted against filing a police report but asked Towarnicki to log all the evidence just in case. Towarnicki quietly counted out loud the number of bruises, their sizes and locations, as she took notes. She tells patients who have gaps in their memories that she cant speculate how each mark got there or give them all the answers they deserve. But as she sat in the blue light of her computer screen long after her patient left, it was hard to keep from ruminating. Totally looks like a hand mark, Towarnicki said, suddenly loud, as she shook her head. All the evidence and her patients story were sealed and locked away, just feet from a wall of thank-you cards from patients and sticky notes of encouragement among nurses. On the harder evenings, Towarnicki takes a moment to unwind with a pudding cup from the clinics snacks. Most often, she can let go of her patients story as she closes the clinic. Part of her healing is seeing the light returned to peoples eyes, seeing them be able to breathe deeper, which she said happens 19 out of 20 times. There is that one out of 20 where I go home and I am spinning, Towarnicki said. In those cases, it takes hearing her sons voice, and time to process, to pull her back. I feel like if its not hard sometimes, maybe you shouldnt be doing this work. It was a little after 11 p.m. as Towarnicki headed home, an early night. She knew her phone could go off again. Eight more hours on call. This story was produced by KFF Health News which is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. The post On the night shift with a sexual assault nurse in Montana appeared first on Daily Montanan. A-Plan Rural Insurance have set up a Rural Community blog as part of their work on social media to contribute to farmers' efforts in showcasing British farming. The blog invites farmers to give their experiences in the industry, sharing their contributions to over 120,000 followers on Instagram. Bridging the gap between farm and the consumer is something that lots of farmers are trying to do in an effort to help more people understand the reality of what goes into producing their food. Since starting the blog, A-Plan Rural have worked with a great variety of farmers from differing backgrounds and locations all over the UK. They previously spoke with Millie, a sheep farmer based in Kent, who used to work in the public services but is now a shepherdess. She was featured in the blog. Sophie Mitchell-Smith, a cattle hoof trimmer based around Manchester who works with her father, starred in it recently. The latest blogs included Rhi Pinches, a suckler beef and sheep farmer based in the Shropshire Hills, who works with her father on their family farm, and Shirley McNiven, who runs a sheep and cattle farm in Aberdeenshire. Now in A-Plan Rural's latest, they spoke with the team at Aikengall Farm, a Scottish beef and sheep farm, consisting of 7th generation farmers whose routes in agriculture began in 1864. The farm, a passionate team that care about the continuation of their family business, shared some insights into their personal journey in farming and inheriting the family farm earlier than expected as a result of a family loss. They asked the team some questions around their life as farmers, their future plans for their livestock and advice they could offer aspiring farmers. Read the full blog here. The UK government must extend its examination of food supply chains to poultry meat or risk more empty shelves, NFU Scotland has said. The union has warned that "retailer resistance" to paying farmers a fair price for chicken had driven the decline in UK production. This "severe" lack of profitability in producing poultry meat had caused a "sharp reduction" in the number of birds being reared. NFU Scotland is calling for a price increase back to the farmgate of around 20p per kilogram or "empty shelves will become a reality". It comes as the UK Government recently announced an investigation into the egg supply chain, where failure of the retailers to pay a fair price saw production fall and empty shelves. NFU Scotland said a government investigation was "urgently required" for poultry meat as "a similar picture is rapidly emerging". The union warned that failure of retailers to boost prices would "further undermine the nations fragile food security position and leave the UK more exposed to imported chicken". The gravity of the situation was discussed at the unions Poultry Working Group meeting last week, with its chair, Robert Thompson, warning that it was a 'huge concern' for the sector. At a UK level, numbers are significantly down," he said, "Some units in England are sitting empty and with the growing market uncertainty, some are moving processors to try and get a better deal. That must be a huge concern to the UK government as chicken is a success story for the UK. Poultrymeat is still one of the cheapest sources of protein, versatile and nutritious and is incredibly popular. "Our growing standards are the highest in Europe. Growers have had to be extremely efficient and adopt all new technology available. Fifty years ago, chicken was seen as a luxury but now is an ever day essential. Unfortunately, chicken is now cheaper per kilogram than it was in the 1970s and that is unsustainable." So far, the UK government has not offered chicken producers the highest level of relief available on energy costs despite repeated requests. Chicken feed prices may have eased from the extreme highs seen last year, but utilities and operation costs have soared. NFU Scotland said that retailers had left poultry rearers and processors "on very tight margins for some time, but the situation continues to worsen". Mr Thompson added: "Retailers need to step up to the mark and deliver a fair share of profitability to all parts of the chain. Retailers failed to take heed when we warned them about egg shortages. They have an opportunity to avoid repeating that mistake by delivering a fair price on chicken back to farmers. The public favoured pork products during King Charles' Coronation weekend, according to new figures, with the dairy sector also receiving a boost. Pork was the star of the celebratory period, with uplifts seen across all pork categories including sausages and burgers, Kantar figures show. Analysts at the AHDB had predicted a significant surge in sales of red meat and dairy during last month's Coronation of King Charles. According to the latest data from Kantar, sales of scotch eggs were up by 31% and sausage rolls saw a 22% uplift when compared with the average two-week period in the 48 w/e 30 April 2023. Pork pies and cooked sausages were also firm favourites, with volumes up 20% and 16% respectively as consumers opted for quick picnic products. The dairy sector was also delivered a boost, with fresh cream sales soaring by 80% as consumers indulged in desserts and the coronation quiche, which featured cream as an ingredient. Despite continued price pressures, grocery sales increased by 16% during the week of the Coronation as consumers were keen to take advantage of the additional bank holiday. Beef-based sliced cooked meats also saw an uplift, due to increased patriotism for quintessential British flavours such as roast beef and horseradish sandwiches. Charlotte Forkes-Rees, AHDB retail insight analyst, said the latest data by Kantar showed the importance of key events for the meat and dairy sectors. She said: "While the Coronation weekend didnt provide the glorious weather hoped for the anticipated street parties and outdoor celebrations, it certainly didnt put a dampener on festivities. "The nation loves to celebrate, so even ad hoc events such as the Kings Coronation provides an excellent opportunity to boost sales of both red meat and dairy. AHDB senior retail insight manager, Kim Heath added: Even adhoc events such as the Kings Coronation provides an excellent opportunity to boost sales of both red meat and dairy. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued a Scotland-wide warning of a 'very high' wildfire risk, as visitors to the countryside are being urged to exercise extreme caution. The SFRS warned that many rural and remote communities were being "hugely impacted" by wildfires due to major environmental and economic damage. The call comes as fire crews, foresters and land management partners continue to tackle a wildlife at Cannich in the Highlands, which has caused severe damage to an RSPB Scotland nature reserve. Dozens of firefighters have tackled the blaze, which began on Sunday 28 May and remains ongoing. Over the weekend, firefighters have also been tackling a wildfire at Daviot, near Inverness, which reportedly covers an area a mile long. ?? Emergency services remain in attendance at a wildfire in Daviot near Inverness. Evacuated residents are asked not to return to their homes, and people in the local area should keep their windows closed to prevent smoke inhalation. pic.twitter.com/qI8K5DByWd Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (@fire_scot) June 11, 2023 And there has also been a smaller fire in Tentsmuir Forest, north east Fife, to which fire crews from three areas responded. As well as damaging moor land and forest, wildfires also have a devastating impact on wildlife and can put farmers and landowners' property at risk. SFRS station commander, John Harvey said visitors to the countryside "must make sure that they dont increase the chance of wildfire". Wild and grass fires can start by the careless disposal of cigarettes and barbecues or campfires left unattended," he warned. They then have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land, wildlife and threaten the welfare of nearby communities. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has joined with the SFRS in urging anyone who planning to visit the countryside to "help save lives by exercising extreme caution". Simon Hodgson, FLS chief executive, added that the last few weeks had been unusual for the lack of rainfall in some parts of the country as well as the extended period of hot, sunny weather. He said the risk of wildfire in these conditions was significantly higher than normal. Do not light campfires, do not smoke and think twice before using a camping stove," he advised. "And if you really have to use a stove, make sure it is as stable as possible, is well away from any flammable material and is on a level and preferably fire resistant surface. We have all seen in the last two weeks how devastating wildfires are and how quickly they can spread. We all need to be vigilant and be aware that all it takes is one glowing ember land in the wrong place. Advice for public Rural groups have issued guidance and advice to the public to help prevent wildfires: Do not discard cigarettes. Do not start fires or use BBQs as they frequently cause wildfires. Dispose of all litter appropriately. Do not release sky lanterns. Once released, there is no control over where they end up. If anyone finds themselves in a position where they encounter a wildfire that they are unable to bring under control safely, move to a safe location up wind and call the emergency service on 999 immediately, giving an accurate location of the fire. The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) has received 200,000 of funding to provide a farming and rural learning experience for 80,000 pupils across Scotland. The Trust aims to educate and inspire thousands of children and young people on how Scottish food is produced. The new Scottish government funding will allow RHET to reach even more children, many of whom come from deprived areas. The funding aims to secure the future of rural education events for young people, covering costs such as infrastructure, bus transport, coordination and safety requirements. Since 2017, the government has given over 700,000 to RHET in order to support their programme of school farm visits and associated educational resources for schools. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Mairi Gougeon MSP, went to see for herself how funds awarded to the Scottish rural education charity. She joined over 100 P5 and P6 pupils from the Brechin schools cluster, who were meeting local farmers, growers and rural businesses running a variety of sessions. Pupils were learning about dairy and making butter, see seeds, sheaves and growing crops, grinding wheat seed into flour, and pressing oil seed rape into oil. Beekeepers demonstrated how they look after their bees as well as hedge demonstrations, and pupils got up close to John Deere machinery. RHET chairman Alistair Marshall said the initiative had an aim of getting pupils and their teachers "out into the working countryside, to get wellies on the ground and ignite their curiosity". He said: We offer all our visits, talks and events for free and this is important to us all in the RHET national network, to make food and farming fun and accessible for all. Through using event spaces creatively, we can offer more schools the chance to get hands." Mairi Gougeon added: "The programme provides an opportunity for young people to visit a farm and offers a hands-on educational experience which highlights the importance of farming and food production to our society. One of the aims of our Good Food Nation Act is to improve access to, and understanding of, the benefits of healthy local foods for everyone in Scotland. "It is clear that this ambitious project is contributing massively to this wider vision. Curly hair evolved to keep early humans cool. Curly hair kept our ancestors cool Research suggests that tightly coiled hair could have evolved in people living in Africa thousands of years ago as it helped the body conserve water by minimising the need for sweating to stay cool. The hair texture also provides a barrier against solar radiation to protect the scalp. The experts are convinced that the findings - which have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (Pnas) - could shed light on how the adaptation might have allowed human brains to increase in size. Nina Jablonski, of Penn State University in the US, explained: "Humans evolved in equatorial Africa, where the sun is overhead for much of the day, year in and year out. "Here the scalp and the top of the head receive far more constant levels of intense solar radiation as heat. We wanted to understand how that affected the evolution of our hair. "We found that tightly curled hair allowed humans to stay cool and actually conserve water." Christy Carlson Romano wants "more protection" for child stars. Christy Carlson Romano wants more protection for child stars The 39-year-old actress found fame as a teenager starring alongside Shia LaBeouf on Disney Channel sitcom 'Even Stevens' before going on to voice the title role in the action series 'Kim Possible' for the network and was left "very trigged" by recent comments made by fellow former child star Elle Fanning - who alleged she did not get a role in a film after being deemed "unf*******" at the age of 16 - and has called for "change" in regards to the way young performers are treated in the industry. She told FoxNews Digital: "I dont identify as a celebrity at all, by the way. "I think public person probably makes more sense, or now content creator. "I think that the term celebrity is so gross and outdated. And its also just extremely triggering because it adds that element of who are you and whats your relevancy and whats your value in life, and its just extremely dehumanizing in some ways. "I felt very triggered [by Elle's comments], I felt very helpless and hopeless in some ways because I was like, This just keeps happening. "These are people I consider my community. We may not know each other, and at times a lot of us are isolated from our own experience, because how are we ever going to come together and know, Oh did you actually start at four years old?' Oh yeah. Did you have a stage parent?' Oh yeah. Its like, theres no, theres no meeting rooms for recovered child actors." Christy believes current working guidance surrounding young actors are "outdated" and called for further union protection. She continued: "I dont think things are changing in that. I think until theres any kind of changing of the fundamental infrastructure, things cant change. "Because were working on outdated information on how kids are being treated on sets. "Look, at the end of the day, these kids are union-paying members. "And theyre not getting protected by the union. Theyre not getting schooled enough directly from the union. "They may have little workshops here and there, but they do not have enforcers. They dont have people that are enforcing protections, and thats the biggest problem." The 'Cadet Kelly' star went on to insist that she was not intending to be a "whistleblower" with her claims but explained that the "problem" is not exclusive to a single broadcaster and is instead an industry-wide issue. She added: "We have this industry that benefits off of convenience. We want it loud, fast, funny, and cheap, and we need it right now, and thats how productions work. Its not just a Nickelodeon problem, or a Paramount problem or whoever it is. It's not one particular network's issue. Its an entire industry issue. "Which is why it comes back down to either SAG or even child labor on a federal level. Thats what I have experienced. I think that thats valuable. So, if Im talking about it, Im not trying to whistle blow, its more or less me just advocating for change." Jodie Comer gushed that starring in 'Prima Facie' on Broadway has been her "greatest honour" as she was crowned Best Leading Actress in a Play at the Tony Awards 2023. Jodie Comer scoops first Tony Award The 'Killing Eve' star, 30, beat Jessica Chastain ('A Doll's House') to the prize for her role as lawyer Tessa, whose view of the legal system changes after she is sexually assaulted. In an emotional speech on stage at the United Palace Theatre in Manhattan on Sunday night (11.06.23), Jodie said: "This has been my greatest honour, and it continues to be these three weeks left." On her character, she told reporters backstage: "For me, the distinction is that shes in control of the whole narrative and the execution of telling the story, and I was really moved by that. "And that's why I think it resonates so deeply with people: that youre experiencing every moment with her." The inspiring role has seen Jodie receive messages from survivors of abuse. She shared: "The letters we get on a weekly basis from hundreds of women, saying very clearly what this play has done for them. "We see firsthand the effect this play is having. Not every job is like this, and we just savour every second." Jessica Hecht ('Summer, 1976') and Audra McDonald ('Ohio State Murders') were also nominated for the prize. Jodie previously performed the show in London's West End and won a Laurence Olivier Award for the role earlier this year. Taylor Swift made a generous donation to a food bank in Detroit, Michigan. Taylor Swift is making a difference in local communities on her tour The Grammy winner has been donating to food poverty charities in cities on her 'Eras Tour', and her latest was to the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, as she played two nights at Detroit's Ford Field on Friday (09.06.23) and Saturday (10.06.23). Quoting the 'Shake It Off' hitmaker, the food bank wrote on Facebook: "No matter what happens in life, be good to people." The post added; "These words ring true today with Taylor's surprise donation to Gleaners during her #TSTheErasTour stop in #Detroit. "Thank you for making an impact and empowering kids and families with nutritious food!" In a statement to local press, Kristin Sokul, a representative for Gleaners, said: Taylor Swifts support of food banks across the country comes at such a critical time for so many emergency food providers when resources are down, and need is up. Her generosity goes beyond dollars for meals. "The space in her heart will empower households across Southeast Michigan to live happier, healthier lives and elevate the important issue of food security so others who have the ability to help can be inspired by her example. The entire Gleaners team is so grateful for this incredible gift." The generous sum was not disclosed. Earlier on the tour, Taylor donated enough money to make 125,000 meals for food bank users in Tampa Bay, Florida. The pop megastar completed three nights at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, and Feeding Tampa Bay hailed Taylor a "hero" for helping them feed food-insecure people in West Central Florida. The non-profit tweeted: "Thank you @taylorswift for being a HERO and supporting Feeding Tampa Bays mission to end hunger by 2025! "Your generosity will place over 125,000 meals on tables!" The 33-year-old musician kicked off 'The Eras' trek in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, and it was revealed that she made a surprise donation to the Arizona Food Bank Network as part of a commitment to make a positive impact in the communities during her tour. Terri Shoemaker, Vice President of External Relations at the Arizona Food Bank Network, told Azcentral.com: "It's not every day that you get a call from someone who works in PR for Taylor Swift, so we were dubious at first, but happily, it turned out to be absolutely real. "Donations like this from very high-profile people like Taylor Swift help denote that hunger is still a problem in the U.S. It's here and it's a problem across the country. The recognition of that is so important and so is just setting an example of how to support organisations in the community ... " Bosses at the Three Square food bank, which helps struggling families in Nevada, revealed it had also had a donation from the musician. Seasonally-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 0.1 per cent in the euro area and increased by 0.1 per cent in the European Union (EU) in the first quarter (Q1) this year compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by EU statistical office Eurostat. It increased by 1 per cent year on year (YoY) in both the zones during Q1. In Q4 2022, GDP had decreased by 0.1 per cent in the euro area and by 0.2 per cent in the EU, an Eurostat release said. Poland (3.8 per cent) recorded the highest increase in GDP compared to the previous quarter, followed by Luxembourg (2 per cent) and Portugal (1.6 per cent). The highest decreases were observed in Ireland (minus 4.6 per cent), Lithuania (minus 2.1 per cent) and the Netherlands (minus 0.7 per cent). The first-quarter seasonally-adjusted GDP decreased by 0.1 per cent in the euro area and increased by 0.1 per cent in the EU compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by Eurostat. It increased by 1 per cent year on year in both the zones during Q1. Employment rose by 1.6 per cent YoY in both the zones in the quarter. The number of employed persons increased by 0.6 per cent in the euro area and by 0.5 per cent in the EU in Q1 2023 compared with the previous quarter. In Q4 2022, employment had increased by 0.3 per cent in both the euro area and the EU. Employment increased by 1.6 per cent YoY in both the zones in Q1 2023. Hours worked increased by 0.6 per cent in the euro area and by 0.7 per cent in the EU in Q1 2023 compared with the previous quarter. The figure increased by 2 per cent YoY in the euro area and by 1.9 YoY in the EU. In Q1 this year, Estonia (4.4 per cent), Malta (2.9 per cent) and Ireland (1.6 per cent) recorded the highest growth of employment in persons compared with the previous quarter. The highest decline of employment was recorded in Lithuania (minus 1.5 per cent), Romania (minus 1.1 per cent) and Greece (minus 0.3 per cent). Based on seasonally-adjusted figures, Eurostat estimates that in Q1 2023, 216.1 million people were employed in the EU, of which 168.2 million were in the euro area. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) In a surprising turn of events, Noyonika embarks on a path she has long forsaken stepping back into the courtroom. After an extended absence, she bravely confronts the scrutiny of her peers and the public as she strives to attain justice, not only for her own sake but also for the well-being of her family. Directed by Suparn Verma, The Trial serves as an Indian adaptation of the acclaimed American series, The Good Wife, where the lead role is portrayed by Julianna Margulies. The show made its debut in 2009 and spanned seven seasons, concluding in 2016. In The Trial, Kajol takes on the role of a housewife who resolutely returns to her career as a lawyer following her husband's incarceration due to a scandal. The series also boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Jisshu Sengupta, Sheeba Chaddha, and Kubbra Sait, among other notable actors. The Trial will be available on the OTT platform on July 14. In a surprising turn of events, Noyonika embarks on a path she has long forsaken stepping back into the courtroom. After an extended absence, she bravely confronts the scrutiny of her peers and the public as she strives to attain justice, not only for her own sake but also for the well-being of her family.Directed by Suparn Verma, The Trial serves as an Indian adaptation of the acclaimed American series, The Good Wife, where the lead role is portrayed by Julianna Margulies. The show made its debut in 2009 and spanned seven seasons, concluding in 2016.In The Trial, Kajol takes on the role of a housewife who resolutely returns to her career as a lawyer following her husband's incarceration due to a scandal. The series also boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Jisshu Sengupta, Sheeba Chaddha, and Kubbra Sait, among other notable actors.The Trial will be available on the OTT platform on July 14. See Also: Ajay Devgn joins Kajol and the team for the trailer launch of The Trial The trailer for Kajol's new web series The Trial - Pyaar Kanoon Dhokha was released on Monday. The series marks Kajol's OTT debut.Check out the trailer here:The series marks Kajol's OTT debut. In the series, Kajol plays Noyonika Sengupta, a housewife who starts practising law again when her husband's public scandal puts him in prison.The two minute trailer showcases Noyonika's husband played by actor Jisshu Sengupta, an additional judge, being arrested for accepting sexual favours as bribes to change verdicts. Noyonika is seen slapping her husband for cheating on her. The video shows Kajol as a good dutiful wife and a mother of two. Kriti Sanon As Janaki In Adipurush: Bollywood's leading actress Kriti Sanon is currently gearing up for the biggest release of the year with the film Adipurush. The excitement around the film and her character Janaki is palpable and the actress too is looking forward to the film's release. Today, Kriti shares a beautiful picture of herself depicting the role of Sita Maa and her mother Geeta Ma. She wrote, "My Janaki and my jaan.. ". Check it out here. Currently, the entire nation is awaiting the release of Kriti Sanon's Adipurush and she is being hailed as the best choice for Janaki. Her grace, magnificent aura, and tall demeanor fit her for the character. With every asset being dropped, the excitement around the film is off the charts. The film is set to release in theaters on June 16. Meanwhile, on the professional front, along with Adipurush, the actress will also be seen in 'The Crew' and an untitled next with Shahid Kapoor. Kriti has also turned producer for a digital film, in which she will also be featuring. Talking about it, Kriti told Pinkvilla, "I would just want to say that find your passion, I always say that. Today, whether I am acting, it's something that came from passion. When you are passionate about something, you will do it well and if you make your passion your career, you will never feel like you are working and I think that is very important. Today, whether I am an actor or an entrepreneur, it's all come from passion." Popular small screen actress Sangeetha has recently filed a complaint, alleging that her sandals were stolen from her residence. Sangeetha is currently appearing in the television serial Anandaragam and resides in KK Nagar, Chennai. She is known for her roles in films such as Vijay's Master and R.J. Balaji's Veetla Visesam, and Paris Jayaraj. The actress is also an active presence on social media, often sharing workout videos from her gym sessions. Sangeetha, recognized for her work in the small screen industry, discovered that her sandals were missing from her doorstep. Concerned about this incident, she reviewed the CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the culprits responsible. The footage revealed individuals on expensive motorcycles observing her locked house before casually pushing aside the sandals and absconding with them. She stated that the alleged culprits would have gone to her house to steal something expensive, and since they couldn't find anything, they would've probably stolen her luxury footwear. Nevertheless, this revelation has come has an unexpected one. In response to the incident, Sangeetha released the CCTV footage publicly, showcasing the theft of her sandals. While the motive behind the act remains unclear, Sangeetha believes that as the thieves did not find any other valuable items, they chose to take the sandals. This incident has prompted heightened caution among residents in her apartment complex. Wary of the safety of her elderly mother and children residing with her, Sangeetha promptly lodged a complaint at the KK Nagar Police Station in Chennai. She has also taken to social media to raise awareness about the incident and urged others to remain vigilant. The police authorities will investigate the matter based on Sangeetha's complaint and the evidence provided through the CCTV footage. Their efforts will aim to identify the individuals responsible for the theft and bring them to justice. In a recent development, popular actor Vinod Babu has dismissed the rumors surrounding his departure from the ongoing serial Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum on Vijay TV. The actor, who plays a pivotal role in the series alongside Pavitra Janani, addressed the speculation and assured fans that he will continue to be a part of the show. The serial has been capturing the attention of viewers with its thrilling storyline, particularly as the plot takes an exciting turn, leaving the lead characters stranded on a remote island. However, rumors began circulating yesterday that Vinod Babu had decided to withdraw from the series, leaving fans shocked and eager for clarification. Setting the record straight, Vinod Babu himself came forward to debunk the false news, affirming his commitment to the show. He stated, "I want to clarify that the news of my departure from 'Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum' is completely false. I am not going anywhere. I only briefly took up an acting opportunity in a short film, but my focus remains on this serial. I will continue to be a part of TVET." The clarification from the actor came as a relief to fans, who had expressed their concerns and disappointment upon hearing the initial news. Social media platforms were flooded with messages of support, expressing relief and appreciation for Vinod Babu's commitment to the popular serial. Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum has garnered a loyal fan base, who have been captivated by the gripping narrative and the chemistry between Vinod Babu and Pavitra Janani. The series' unique storyline, which currently revolves around the protagonists' predicament on the deserted island, has kept viewers on the edge of their seats. With Vinod Babu's reassurance that he will continue to be a part of the serial, fans can now look forward to the further development of the plot and the unfolding of the characters' fate. The actor's clarification puts an end to the unnecessary speculation, ensuring that the show's dedicated audience can continue to enjoy the captivating drama. Thendral Vandhu Ennai Thodum airs on Vijay TV, attracting a wide audience of enthusiastic fans. The serial's popularity is expected to soar even higher with this recent news, as viewers eagerly anticipate the forthcoming episodes and the exciting twists and turns that lie ahead. As the serial continues to keep its viewers engrossed, the talented cast, including Vinod Babu and Pavitra Janani, will undoubtedly bring their best performances to entertain the audience and further contribute to the success of the show. Khatron Ke Khiladi 13: Love or hate but you cannot debate that Shiv Thakare was the star of Bigg Boss 16. He not only became the first runner-up of Salman Khan's reality show but also earned a significant fan following. SHIV THAKARE ON ISSUES BETWEEN MANDALI MEMBERS Shiv Thakare formed a group called Mandali in Bigg Boss 16, which consisted of Sajid Khan, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Sumbul Touqeer, MC Stan and Abdu Rozik. The Mandali members always took a stand for each other in nominations or fights with fellow contestants. After the show got over, the six celebs got busy with their respective projects. However, they continued to meet each other at regular intervals. As they didn't share pictures on social media, fans wondered if things are fine among the six Bigg Boss 16 stars. SAJID KHAN ON SHIV THAKARE'S NEW MANDALI' Shiv Thakare made it clear that he often meets his Mandali friends but doesn't share photos with them. As he jetted off to Cape Town for the shoot of Khatron Ke Khiladi 13, speculations became rife that he was forming his own Mandali in the show. His photos with Daisy Shah, Arjit Taneja, Anjum Fakih sparked rumours of him having a new Mandali in Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. Sajid Khan, who was a mentor to Shiv in Bigg Boss 16 house came out in his support and defended him. The Bollywood filmmaker called it a 'good thing', mentioning that celebrities become closer when they shoot for a reality show with a unit for 40-50 days. He stated that the Mandali members are still in touch with each other, stating that he is also in contact with the five BB 16 stars. "Once the shoot is over, everyone gets busy in their lives and no one knows what the rest of the members are doing. But, we kept in touch and I am in contact with everybody," Sajid Khan told Tellychakkar. Interestingly, Shiv Thakare's Bigg Boss 16 arch rival Archana Gautam is also participating in Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. When asked who will win KKK 13, Sajid Khan shared an interesting answer. The 100 Percent director said the TRPs would decide the winner of Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 as the contestants look promising in the new season. Lavanya Tripathi & Varun Tejs Engagement Photo Credit: Twitter Lavanya Tripathi and Varun Tej are now officially the newest couple in the Tollywood film industry. The lovebirds made it official by exchanging diamond rings with their families and friends at Nagababu's house in Hyderabad on June 9. Earlier, there were several rumors about Varun Tej and Lavanya Tripathi dating. They both remained tight-lipped until the engagement day. After the ceremony, they shared portraits from their magical intimate event on their respective social media handles. Megastar Chiranjeevi with his wife and two daughters, Ram Charan with his pregnant wife Upasana, Allu Arjun with his wife Sneha Reddy, Pawan Kalyan, Sai Dharam Tej, Vaisshnav Tej, and others attended the home ceremony that was full of warmth and smiles. Fans Search Lavanya Tripathi's CASTE Online While things were happy from either side, enthusiastic fans of the actor, actress, and mega family have been frantically looking up the internet to find out Lavanya Tripathi's caste. For the Telugu-speaking people, caste is a phenomenon that is bigger than their lives and the whole existence of humans. In the past, when Badminton player PV Sindhu won the Olympic medal, people googled her caste. Meanwhile, actress-producer Niharika Konidela, who was in the news recently for getting separated from her husband Chaitanya Jonnalagadda took to her social media handles to shower her affection on her brother and his to-be-wife. By posting a picture of her along with the engaged couple, Niharika wrote, "Been waiting for this day foreverrrr now! @varunkonidela7 Welcome to the family, Vadina @itsmelavanya, (Sic)." Varun Tej's Work Front The tallest actor will be seen in Gandeevadhari Arjuna, a stylish action thriller. Lavanya Tripathi also has a Tamil release titled Thanal, which is in the post-production phase. There is no official confirmation from Lavanya Tripathi as yet but in all likelihood, the Happy Birthday actress might quit acting hereafter, owing to the new and happy phase that she has entered personally. 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - 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 markets in Australia are closed on Monday in observance of the queen's birthday; they will re-open on Tuesday. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Chinook Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with two high-value, late-stage assets in development for IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a rare, progressive chronic kidney disease Agreed deal to include atrasentan, an oral endothelin A receptor antagonist, in Phase 3 development for IgAN, and zigakibart, an anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody, entering Phase 3 for IgAN Up to USD 3.5bn transaction (includes USD 40 cash / share plus contingent value right of up to USD 4 cash / share) approved by Novartis and Chinook Boards, expected to close in the second half of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions Basel, June 12, 2023 - Novartis today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Chinook Therapeutics, a Seattle, WA, based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with two high-value, late-stage medicines in development for rare, severe chronic kidney diseases. The agreed deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is fully in line with Novartis strategy to focus on innovative medicines and will significantly expand its renal portfolio, complementing the existing pipeline. "IgA Nephropathy is a devastating disease mostly affecting young adults and potentially leading to dialysis or kidney transplantation. We are excited by this unique opportunity to address one of society's most challenging healthcare issues, with the potential to bring additional much-needed treatment options to patients." said Vas Narasimhan, M.D., CEO of Novartis. "We look forward to closing the deal, to a smooth transition for Chinook employees and to welcoming them to Novartis". Chinook's pipeline includes two late-stage assets in clinical development to treat Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN), a progressive, rare kidney disease that mostly affects young adults and currently lacks targeted treatment options. As many as 3 in 10 patients progress to kidney failure and dialysis within 10 years1,2. Atrasentan, an oral endothelin A receptor antagonist (ERA), currently in Phase 3 development for IgAN with pivotal readout expected in Q4 2023, has shown significant reductions in proteinuria. Atrasentan is also in early-stage development for other rare kidney diseases. Zigakibart (BION-1301) is a subcutaneously administered anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody; a Phase 3 trial in IgAN is expected to start in Q3 2023. Chinook has deep expertise in modeling and understanding kidney disease and a promising early pipeline to address a number of severe renal conditions. Transaction Details Under the agreed deal, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of both companies, Novartis will acquire Chinook for a total value of up to USD 3.5bn with the transaction being in the form of a merger of Chinook and a newly formed Novartis subsidiary. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, holders of Chinook common stock would receive USD 3.2bn (USD 40.00 per share) in cash upon closing, plus a contingent value right with a value of up to USD 0.3bn (USD 4.00 per share), payable in cash upon the achievement of certain regulatory milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of Chinook's stockholders and receipt of regulatory approvals. Until the deal closes, Chinook will continue to operate as a separate and independent company. About IgAN IgAN is a progressive, rare kidney disease that mostly affects young adults and currently lacks targeted treatment options. In IgAN, autoimmune reaction to an abnormal form of IgA results in formation of immune complexes that deposit in the kidney. These immune complexes trigger inflammation and kidney damage leading to progressive loss of renal function3. In the U.S., IgAN affects up to 21 people per million per year4-6, with higher incidence in Asian populations. IgAN is the most common cause of kidney failure in Caucasian young adults7. With increasing damage to the kidneys, proteinuria (protein in the urine) and hematuria (blood in the urine) can occur8,9. IgAN patients with higher levels of protein in their urine ( =1 g/day) are at higher risk of disease progression, with about 30% progressing to kidney failure within 10 years1,2. Availability of new treatments targeting different disease pathways are transforming the treatment landscape for patients with IgAN and offer the prospect that patients with IgAN do not develop end stage kidney disease in their lifetime10. Atrasentan and zigakibart Atrasentan has demonstrated a significant reduction in proteinuria versus baseline in a Phase 2 study, with good tolerability, including liver safety profile. Zigakibart is a targeted biologic therapy with the potential to address the root cause of IgAN, the production of abnormal galactose-deficient IgA, and preserve kidney function. Interim Phase 1/2 data showed an impressive reduction in proteinuria versus baseline. As a targeted therapy, zigakibart is expected to have a better tolerability profile than broader-acting lymphocyte-depleting therapies. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plan," "may," "could," "would," "expect," "look forward," "investigational," "pipeline," "to acquire," "development," "to include," "progress," "expected," "continue," "opportunity," "to address," "commitment," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for atresentan or zigakibart, the acquisition of Chinook Therapeutics, or regarding potential future revenues from atresentan or zigakibart. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that atresentan or zigakibart will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee expected benefits or synergies from this transaction will be achieved in the expected timeframe, or at all, nor can there be any guarantee that atresentan or zigakibart will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding atresentan or zigakibart or the transaction described in this press release could be affected by, among other things, expected revenues, cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the proposed transaction might not be realized within the expected time frames or at all and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to employee retention, might be greater than expected; the requisite regulatory approvals and clearances for the proposed transaction may be delayed or may not be obtained (or may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction); the requisite approval of Chinook's stockholders may be delayed or may not be obtained, the other closing conditions to the proposed transaction may be delayed or may not be obtained, or the merger agreement may be terminated; business disruption may occur following or in connection with the proposed merger; Novartis or Chinook's businesses may experience disruptions due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, other business partners or governmental entities; the possibility that the proposed transaction is more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities as a result of the proposed merger or otherwise; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed merger between Novartis and Chinook, Novartis and Chinook intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a preliminary and definitive proxy statement to be filed by Chinook. The definitive proxy statement and proxy card will be delivered to the stockholders of Chinook in advance of the special meeting relating to the proposed merger. CHINOOK'S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF NOVARTIS AND CHINOOK WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and such other documents containing important information about Novartis and Chinook, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Novartis and Chinook make available free of charge at the Novartis website and Chinook's website, respectively (in the "Investors" section), copies of materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC. The contents of the websites referenced above are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into the proxy statement. Participants in the Solicitation This press release does not constitute a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. Novartis, Chinook and their respective directors, executive officers and certain employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Chinook in connection with the proposed merger. Information regarding the special interests of these directors and executive officers in the proposed merger will be included in the definitive proxy statement referred to above. Security holders may also obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of the Novartis directors and executive officers in the Novartis Annual Report on Form 20-F and Form 20-F/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which were filed with the SEC on February 1, 2023, and May 15, 2023, respectively. Security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Chinook's directors and executive officers in Chinook's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2023, and its definitive proxy statement for the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023. To the extent the holdings of Chinook's securities by Chinook's directors and executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Chinook's definitive proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed merger will be included in the definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed merger when it is filed with the SEC. These documents (when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov), Novartis website at https://www.novartis.com (https://www.novartis.com) and Chinook's website at https://www.chinooktx.com (https://www.chinooktx.com). The contents of the websites referenced above are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into the proxy statement. About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We deliver high-value medicines that alleviate society's greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. About 103,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work together to bring Novartis products to nearly 800 million people around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com (https://www.novartis.com) Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at https://twitter.com/novartisnews (https://twitter.com/novartisnews) For Novartis multimedia content, please visit https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library (https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library) For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com (mailto:media.relations@novartis.com) References Nam, K.H., Kie, J.H., Lee, M.J., Chang, T.I., Kang, E.W., Kim, D.W., Lim, B.J., Park, J.T., Kwon, Y.E., Kim, Y.L. and Park, K.S., 2014. Optimal proteinuria target for renoprotection in patients with IgA nephropathy.PLoS One, 9(7), p.e101935. Sevillano, A.M., Gutierrez, E., Yuste, C., Cavero, T., Merida, E., Rodriguez, P., Garcia, A., Morales, E., Fernandez, C., Martinez, M.A. and Moreno, J.A., 2017. Remission of hematuria improves renal survival in IgA nephropathy. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 28(10), pp.3089-3099. Lai KN, et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2016;2:16001 Fischer EJ, et al. 2009; Clin Nephrol;72:163?169 Swaminathan S. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2006;1:483-487 Sim JJ et al. Am J Kidney Dis 2016;68:533?544; 6. Zaza G. Am J Nephrol 2013;37:255-263 Nair R, Walker PD. Kidney Int 2006;69:1455-83. Nolin, L. and Courteau, M., 1999. Management of IgA nephropathy: evidence-based ecommendations. Kidney International, 55, pp.S56-S62.doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.1999.07008.x. PMID: 10369196. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. IgA nephropathy. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/iga-nephropathy (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/iga-nephropathy) [Accessed August 2021] Haresh Selvaskandan, Guillermo Gonzalez-Martin, Jonathan Barratt & Chee Kay Cheung (2022) IgA nephropathy: an overview of drug treatments in clinical trials, Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 31:12, 1321-1338 Partners Group / Key word(s): Investment Partners Group to acquire a leading biogas and biomethane Platform in Germany 12.06.2023 / 08:00 CET/CEST Baar-Zug, Switzerland; 12 June 2023 The Platform has a 60 MW portfolio of 35 biogas plants and 10 biomethane plants The Platform benefits from strong infrastructure characteristics such as high barriers to entry, visible cashflows, and a well-invested asset base The production of biogas and biomethane is a next-generation infrastructure theme that is set to play a critical role in Europe's energy transition and make a contribution to the achievement of net zero decarbonization goals Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, has agreed, on behalf of its clients, to acquire a leading biogas and biomethane energy platform in Germany ("the Platform"), from Energiedenker Group. The Platform operates a 60 MW portfolio of 35 biogas plants and 10 biomethane plants across northeast Germany. Biogas is produced through bacteria digesting feedstock, such as crops, food waste or agricultural waste, and can be used as clean fuel to generate electricity that is sold into the grid under the German EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act), similar to other renewable power generation technologies. The carbon dioxide in biogas can also be filtered out to create biomethane, a separate substance that is sold as a full substitute to natural gas. The Platform has strong infrastructure characteristics and benefits from a large asset base with high barriers to entry, visible cash flows, and long-term contracts. The production of biogas and biomethane is a next-generation infrastructure theme in Europe that is experiencing multiple tailwinds, including regulatory support for clean energy sources, industrial decarbonization goals, and a heightened focus on energy independence. Within Europe, Germany has the largest biogas and biomethane markets, as well as ambitious production targets. Following a rebrand, Partners Group will work with management on several value creation initiatives, including building out the Platform's project pipeline, developing innovative ancillary service lines, and strengthening its contract management capabilities. David Daum, Managing Director, Co-Head Private Infrastructure Europe, Partners Group, says: "We are investing in an infrastructure platform that is benefitting from tailwinds driving the transition of biogas and biomethane from peripheral fuels into mainstream energy sources. The cyclical nature of renewables combined with the phase out of fossil fuels will likely increase demand for baseload power as well as flexible electricity generation. Biogas and biomethane are ideal alternative fuel sources as established natural gas infrastructure can be used without requiring any additional capex. We look forward to working with the management team on our value creation plan." Kevin Gilhawley, Member of Management, Private Infrastructure Europe, adds: "The Platform has established operations and is cash-generating. Through our thematic research, we have built strong conviction in the growth potential of biomethane as an alternative fuel and in capturing and commercializing carbon dioxide. Additionally, only a fraction of Germany's biogas and biomethane plants are ready to use other sources of feedstock, providing further opportunities for us to create value by expanding the inputs that can be accepted." Partners Group's Private Infrastructure business has USD 21 billion in assets under management globally. It has made over 170 infrastructure investments in 20 countries. About Partners Group Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 195 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group seeks to generate superior returns through capitalizing on thematic growth trends and transforming attractive businesses and assets into market leaders. The firm is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create sustainable returns with lasting, positive impact for all its stakeholders. With over USD 135 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2022, Partners Group provides an innovative range of bespoke client solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,800 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter . Partners Group media relations contact Henry Weston Phone: +44 207 575 2593 Email: henry.weston@partnersgroup.com End of Media Release June 12, 2023, Oslo, Norway: Reference is made to the contract award announced March 22, 2023. PGS was during the weekend informed by the client that it will terminate the contract. Ramform Titan was contracted to commence mobilization for the 3D exploration survey in June with acquisition to complete in August. Following successful completion of an acquisition campaign in Namibia late May, Ramform Titan was steaming to the survey area in South America when the notice of termination was received. PGS is in dialog with the client relating to compensation and/or alternative work for the vessel. The dialog with the client is constructive and the aim is to minimize any financial impact on PGS. It is however a risk that the vessel will be idle for up to 2-3 months. FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35 *** PGS ASA and its subsidiaries. *** The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2022. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect. --END-- Bagsvrd, Denmark, 12 June 2023 - Novo Nordisk today announced plans to invest 15.9 billion Danish kroner starting in 20231 to expand an existing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production facility in Denmark for the future portfolio within serious chronic diseases. The investment comes as Novo Nordisk marks the 100th anniversary of its founding in Denmark, where 21,000-plus employees - approximately half of the company's global workforce2 - still work today. The majority of these employees work at various production sites. The investment in Hillerd, Denmark will create additional production capacity and increase Novo Nordisk's ability to meet future market demands and be a key enabler for Novo Nordisk to develop its future clinical late-phase product portfolio. "This important investment will ensure the continuous development of our late-phase pipeline into deliveries of important medicines for treatments to patients worldwide," said Henrik Wulff, executive vice president of Product Supply, Quality & IT. "The investment announced today confirms Hillerd and Denmark as cornerstones in our global footprint, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Danish Government and Parliament for their continued focus on ensuring good and stable infrastructure and supplies - allowing us to continue to expand our production capacity to the benefit of patients living with serious chronic diseases. The new facility - which will be approximately 65,000m2 - will be designed as a multi-product facility, with maximum flexibility to accommodate new processes and displaying state-of-the-art technology and working environment. As a future-proof and cost-effective facility, the construction will focus on delivering the highest quality to patients worldwide in an efficient and environmentally sustainable way. This will be done by designing optimal and compact process flows allowing a substantial reduction of water and energy consumption3. Construction is underway and the facility is expected to start producing API by early 2029. This project is expected to create 340 new jobs when construction is completed, and the facility is fully equipped. Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 57,100 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com,Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Contacts for further information Media: Ambre James-Brown +45 3079 9289 abmo@novonordisk.com (mailto:abmo@novonordisk.com) Natalia Salomao Abrahao (US) +1 848 304 1027 niaa@novonordisk.com (mailto:niaa@novonordisk.com) Investors: Daniel Muusmann Bohsen +45 3075 2175 dabo@novonordisk.com (mailto:dabo@novonordisk.com) Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode +45 3075 5956 jrde@novonordisk.com (mailto:jrde@novonordisk.com) David Heiberg Landsted +45 3077 6915 dhel@novonordisk.com (mailto:dhel@novonordisk.com) Mark Joseph Root (US) +1 848 213 3219 mjhr@novonordisk.com (mailto:mjhr@novonordisk.com) 1 A portion of this investment is included in the DKK 25 billion capital expenditure announced in connection with Novo Nordisk full year results in February 2023. The additional amount will be invested through the next six years. 2 21.000 full-time positions in Denmark in 2022, representing 40% of all positions globally 3 Internal calculations show that production in the future facility will reduce water consumption with more than 40% and energy consumption with more than 1/3 compared to similar API processes in other facilities. Attachment Press contact: Antara Nandy Tel.:+ 91 967 451 5119 E-mail:antara.nandy@capgemini.com More than eight out of ten organizations see open innovation as critical for addressing sustainability challenges London, Paris, and New York set to be the top three cities for open innovation labs in the next two years Paris, June 12, 2023 -Three quarters (75%) of organizations state that open innovation1is critical to addressing complex challenges in today's business landscape. According toCapgemini Research Institute's latest report, 'The Power of Open Minds - How open innovation offers benefits for all',71% of organizations say that they plan to increase their investment in open innovation practices in the next two years, while 28% intendto maintain their investment at itscurrent level. Open innovation widely recognized as critical in solving key business challenges Navigating today's complex business ecosystem requires a collaborative approach and an ecosystem of partners. The report finds that businesses adopt open innovation in order to improve existing offerings and develop new ones, create new business models, and ensure more efficient spending in R&D. The report also finds that 83% of organizations see open innovation as a critical success factor for addressing sustainability goals. However, this is a recent trend for companies, with over two thirds (68%) of them only starting to focus on open innovation for sustainability purposes in the past two years. Those that have leveraged open innovation are already reaping benefits - with 63% citing improvements in environmental sustainability indicators2 and 55% citing improvements in social sustainability indicators3 because of their open innovation initiatives. In addition, the report finds that over 60% of organizations are experiencing improved operational efficiency, increased agility, and stronger revenue thanks to open innovation. Over half (55%) also report that it has led to increased speed of innovation, and 62% say it has led to greater employee agility and adaptability. Startups and other partners are moresatisfied with the outcomes of open innovation than large organizations Three-quarters of startups, academics, and non-profits view open innovation outcomes as positive as compared to 53% of large organizations. The research also shows that large organizations have been unable to leverage new sources of innovation effectively. They say they are able to derive better outcomes when working with traditional partners such as customers and suppliers, rather than non-traditional partners such as universities, industry consortiums, companies in other industries, government bodies and non-profits. Those that are taking a bolder approach to innovation and are willing to apply open innovation practices to potentially riskier or new business areas are reaping benefits. The reports finds that only 22% of organizations have described their outcomes from open innovation as "good" or "excellent". These "leaders" are also more willing to collaborate with innovation partners such as startups and other non-traditional partners. "As businesses make the dual transition towards a digital and sustainable economy, nurturing a culture of open innovation is a critical success factor for organizations," said Pascal Brier, Chief Innovation Officer at Capgemini and Member of the Group Executive Committee. "The research shows that although companies see open innovation as pivotal for sustainability and continue to step up investments in open innovation, many are still not satisfied with its current outcomes. To address this, large companies need to expand their ecosystem to incorporate a more varied set of partners that will enable a bolder approach to innovation in order to see greater business value in the long run." Three of the top five cities where organizations plan to invest in Open Innovation Labs are in Europe The report finds that organizations are adopting a variety of approaches to engage in open innovation - such as corporate accelerators and incubators, corporate venture capital, crowdsourcing, and open innovation labs. Amongst these, 71% of the organizations surveyed plan to increase investment in open innovation in the next two years. New York emerged as the top ranked city for investment in open innovation labs, today and in the next two years, followed by London. Paris is expected to move up 3 ranks, reaching the third spot, overtaking San Francisco (set to become number four in the next 2 years). Overall, three of the top five cities where organizations plan to focus investments in open innovation labs in the next two years are in Europe (these include London, Paris and Berlin). Organizations are diversifying their geographical approach to open innovation labs over the next two years, with Boston, Melbourne, Toronto, Beijing, and the Guangdong-Honk Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), all set to rise in the rankings. The report also finds that quality of life/ city infrastructure, access to technology partners, and to customers and suppliers are the primary factors for companies when deciding which locations to invest in open innovation labs. Methodology For this report, the Capgemini Research Institute conducted a quantitative survey of 2,000 senior executives (director level and above) from 1,000 large organizations (with annual revenue of over USD 1 billion each) that have ongoing open innovation initiatives. Two respondents from each organization were surveyed - one from the innovation function (or equivalent) and one from a business function (including R&D/product development, strategy, marketing, technology/IT, supply chain, sustainability, operations, and sales). The organizations came from a range of sectors, including automotive, consumer products, retail, manufacturing, financial services, energy and utilities, telecom and technology, and life sciences and healthcare. In addition, the Institute also surveyed 500 startups, academics, and non-profit entities that have worked on open innovation projects with large organizations (i.e., organizations with annual revenue of over USD 1 billion). All respondents were based in 12 countries across North America, Europe, and APAC: US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, India, Singapore, Australia and Japan. The Institute also interviewed 32 senior industry executives and experts. About Capgemini Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of nearly 360,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong 55-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering and platforms. The Group reported in 2022 global revenues of 22 billion. Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com About the Capgemini Research Institute The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini's in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts. Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/ 1 This research defines open innovation as the practice of collaborating with external entities such as startups, universities, other corporations, non-profits, etc., to co-create new value, rather than relying only on internal knowledge and resources. 2 Examples of environmental sustainability indicators include reduced emissions, waste, pollution. 3 Examples of social sustainability indicators include improved transparency across supply chain, fairer working conditions. Attachments 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. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Energy infrastructure company Petrofac Ltd (PFC.L, POFCF.PK, POFCY.PK) announced on Monday that it has entered into a definitive agreement with STEP Polymers SPA, a unit of Sonatrach, to design and build a petrochemical complex in the Arzew Industrial Zone, Algeria. The $1.5 billion project will be delivered along with its joint venture partner China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering Corp., and Petrofac's share will be valued at over $1 billion. On May 18, Petrofac had announced that the joint venture received conditional award from STEP Polymers for the engineering, procurement and construction or EPC contract for the petrochemical plant. On Friday, shares of Petrofac closed at 74 pence up 1.23% or 0.90 pence on the London Stock Exchange. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. AMSTERDAM, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tenpay Global, Tencent Financial Technology's cross-border payment business, shared how Chinese fintech companies are innovating to make cross-border remittances as easy as sending messages, and unveiled its "1+1+1 " model at Money 20/20 Europe, the world's leading fintech industry show. This collaborative model aims to build an open global payment network and harness Chinese innovation to drive borderless payment. Royal Chen, Vice President of Tencent Financial Technology, put forward an innovative concept of the "1+1+1 "model to build an open global payment network. The first "1" represents the Weixin ecosystem. Tencent assists individuals and businesses to connect globally by tapping into Weixin users in and abroad, combining with Tencent's expertise in technology, risk management, compliance, and big data. The second "1" represents its global payment partners. Tencent aims to establish an interconnected global payment network by connecting with major global financial institutions and partners. The third "1" is to serve as an overseas lifestyle services platform, encompassing various global business use cases such as cross-border e-commerce platforms. Through the "1+1+1" model, open collaboration and interconnection are fostered to build a secure, compliant, convenient and efficient digital connection within the global payment network. This comprehensive approach aims to meet the cross-border needs of global Chinese communities or Chinese companies, he said. Tencent Financial Technology launched its cross-border remittance service in Hong Kong SAR back in 2016 and has steadily expanded the service into a one-stop cross-border remittance platform, We Remit, that connects to major remittance institutions around the world. We Remit addresses common pain points in overseas remittance like complex services, slow transfers, and high handling fees, enabling overseas workers to conveniently send wages and support to their families. The service has expanded to meet more user demands, such as improving the experience for Chinese students in paying overseas tuition. We Remit aspires to make cross-border remittances as easy as sending a message, while ensuring security and compliance. Through Tenpay Global Remittance Services, which is an innovative remittance solution, global fintech institutions can connect with Weixin's open ecosystem, reducing cross-border remittance costs and enhancing efficiency. Tencent Financial Technology has partnered with over 20 leading global remittance institutions, linking remittance users in more than 50 countries and regions with more than 1.3 billion Weixin and WeChat users. We Remit, together with the exclusive ShareLink feature on Weixin, enables overseas Chinese to effortlessly notify recipients with one click after each remittance. Recipients in China can easily receive funds through familiar Weixin messages, monitor remittance status, and choose to receive funds using Weixin Wallet or bank cards linked to Weixin Pay. With the acceleration of global e-commerce and rapid digitalisation of global trade, Tencent Financial Technology has established in-depth collaboration with leading e-commerce platforms around the world to launch embedded financial solutions for sellers to collect payments, the first of its kind in the industry. Tenpay Global Business, a cross-border payment platform for enterprises, offers one-stop solutions including global funds collection, payment and foreign exchange for global enterprises such as cross-border e-commerce sellers, export or import e-commerce platforms and online travel merchants. Supported by its complete business qualifications across regions, robust security measures, risk control and operational systems, Tenpay Global Business has established strong partnerships with leading e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North America, to offer a one-stop cross-border payment solution that empowers Chinese cross-border e-commerce sellers to reach global audiences. Royal Chen added that Tencent Financial Technology will continue to embrace innovative technologies and AI risk control capabilities to improve user experience surrounding lifestyle services and cross-border payment while joining hands with key partners globally in an open, diverse and in-depth manner. Tencent Financial Technology will continue to cover more use cases, connecting China and the world to drive the development of cross-border payment and inclusive finance. Media Contact:Lydia Guo, Director, Global Communications, Tencent. Email: lydiaxyguo@tencent.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098592/Tenpay_Global_at_Money2020.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tencent-financial-technology-shares-its-111--model-at-money-2020-europe-building-an-open-global-payment-network-connecting-cross-border-life-services-digitally-301848041.html Entries for the Simon Wiesenthal Prize 2023 can still be submitted until 30 June 2023. VIENNA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism installed at the Austrian Parliament has announced the third edition of the Simon Wiesenthal Prize. The prize has a total endowment of 30,000 euros and pays tribute to individuals and organisations from Austria and abroad who have demonstrated special civic engagement to combat antisemitism and educate the public about the Holocaust. The Simon Wiesenthal Prize 2023 will be awarded in the categories "civic engagement to combat antisemitism" and "civic engagement to educate the public about the Holocaust". Each category is endowed with prize money of 7,500 euros. The Main Prize endowed with 15,000 euros is awarded for outstanding civic engagement to combat antisemitism and/or to educate the public about the Holocaust,. The submission period is open until 30 June 2023. Entries can be submitted using the online application form. Individuals and groups can be nominated or enter themselves for the prize - anyone can participate, regardless of citizenship. The prize is aimed at a wide range of people - dedicated individuals, regional initiatives, school pupils and many others. Grassroots initiatives are also eligible to enter. Special consideration will be given to projects, initiatives and achievements that create fresh impetus, set an example for others and appear capable of having a lasting impact on the present and the future. You can find more details on the procedure and the terms and conditions for entering in the guidelines. The prizewinners are chosen by the Board of Trustees of the National Fund from a shortlist drawn up by the Simon Wiesenthal Prize Jury. The Jury is chaired by Katharina von Schnurbein, Antisemitism Commissioner of the European Commission since December 2015. Its five other members are Monika Schwarz-Friesel, full professor at the Institute for Language and Communication at the Technical University of Berlin, Brigitte Bailer, lecturer in Contemporary History at the University of Vienna, Barbara Stelzl-Marx, university professor for European Contemporary History at the Karl Franzens University of Graz, as well as Ariel Muzicant, who was appointed as representative by Simon Wiesenthal's family, and Jewish Community President Oskar Deutsch. In 2021, 284 entries for the prize were received from 31 countries around the globe. The winners of the Main Prize were the contemporary eyewitnesses Lily Ebert (Great Britain), Zwi Nigal (Israel), Karl Pfeifer (Austria) and Liliana Segre (Italy). The prizes for the two individual categories were won by the Jewish Forum for Democracy and Against Anti-Semitism (Germany) and the Austrian Research Agency for Post-War Justice (Austria). In 2022, 263 entries were submitted, originating from 33 different countries. The winners were Zikaron BaSalon (Israel), Waltraut Barton (Austria) and Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi (Israel). Special tribute was also paid to the contemporary eyewitnesses Wanda Albinska (Poland), Lucia Heilman (Austria), Tswi Herschel (Israel) and Jackie Young (Great Britain). The Simon Wiesenthal Prize is awarded in a ceremony held at the Austrian Parliament, which will take place in March 2024. Idea and Background The idea of establishing a prize for special civic engagement to combat antisemitism and educate the public about the Holocaust first took shape on a trip to Israel made by National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka in July 2018, during which he met Simon Wiesenthal's granddaughter, Racheli Kreisberg. "Simon Wiesenthal did everything within his power to hunt down the perpetrators of the Holocaust and bring them before the courts", said National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka in praise of Simon Wiesenthal's achievements. "His motive was not vengeance, but a clear inner conviction to justice and the rule of law. When a republic has established itself as a constitutional state for the second time, then it is up to that republic to see to it that the rule of law under which it exists is enforced", said National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka. In November 2018, with the backing of the Wiesenthal family, the proposal was made to name this prize after Simon Wiesenthal, who had dedicated his life to raising awareness of the Holocaust: "Particularly in this day and age, when racism and antisemitism in our society are on the rise and Holocaust denial is once again becoming more widespread, Austria's decision to establish a Simon Wiesenthal Prize is a very significant one," explained Paulinka Kreisberg, daughter of Simon Wiesenthal. The prize was entirely in the spirit of her father. He had fought antisemitism and campaigned for the memory of the Holocaust's victims. Simon Wiesenthal would have been honoured that the prize bears his name, his daughter emphasised. Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005) had an unparalleled impact around the globe on dealing with Nazi crimes. From the day of his liberation from Mauthausen concentration camp, he made it his life's work to foster remembrance of the victims of Nazi terror, to name the perpetrators of Nazi crimes and to hold them accountable. The prize honours the memory of the architect, publicist and writer Simon Wiesenthal. Enquiries: National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism Parliament, Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, 1017 Vienna Tel. +1 408 12 63 E: presse@nationalfonds.org W: www.nationalfonds.org View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/simon-wiesenthal-prize-for-civic-engagement-to-combat-antisemitism-and-educate-the-public-about-the-holocaust-301848086.html SHANGHAI, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An "At Jing'an, @ future"-themed financial and trade promotion conference was held by Shanghai's Jing'an District in London recently to provide investors with new opportunities in its high-standard opening up, according to Jing'an Office of Financial Services. On June 2, Wang Hua, head of the Jing'an District government introduced on the conference the general situation, industrial layout and business environment of Jing'an to experts and investors in the financial and business community of the UK. Jing'an District, which takes all the time services to businesses as one of its core responsibilities, boasts over 300 office buildings, more than 70 industrial parks and nearly 4.7 million square meters of grade A office areas that can offer excellent industry development space for companies. The district government also launched 24-hour responding services for custom clearance of goods, entry and exit of employees and cross-border investment and financing of companies in the district. As a district where chambers of commerce, industrial organizations and economic and investment promotion institutions of many foreign nations gather, Jiang'an always serves as a characteristic, practical and rewarding cooperation and communication platform for multinational companies (MNCs). Currently, Jing'an District has attracted many industry-leading global enterprises to establish businesses there, including the Christie's Auction (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Burberry (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd., AstraZeneca Global China R&D Center, Schroder BOCOM Wealth Management Co., Ltd., and Baillie Gifford Investment Management (Shanghai) Limited. With Nanjing West Road business circle construction in full swing and construction of its global asset management center building beside Suzhou River on agenda, Jing'an District is crafting an international industrial and ecological circle that vigorously supports development of MNCs, asset management companies and other commercial, trade and finance businesses as well. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/shanghais-jingan-district-convenes-promotion-conference-in-london-to-boost-multi-field-inv-cooperation-301848093.html Odessa, TX - Reyna Law Firm (432-232-5183) has announced upgrades to its personal injury law services, tailored to meet the needs of truck accident victims in the local area. Odessa, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - The status of Texas as an at-fault state means that those responsible for truck or other vehicular accidents are held to account for the damage or bodily harm they've caused. With the announcement, Reyna Law Firm looks to provide Odessa-area clients with legal representation to recover compensation. For more information see https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/odessa Reyna Law Firm Launches Odessa Truck Accident Attorney, Personal Injury Services To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/169219_ddc8d7d274c87a93_001full.jpg Reyna Law Firm's updated services are designed to help victims of truck collisions pursue rightful compensatory amounts. Often examining precedents set by prior cases, the firm's attorneys can offer advice on the available course of action and next steps to take. Where Texas trucking accidents are concerned, personal injury laws will come into effect in lieu of a specific regulation pertaining solely to truck crashes. A personal injury attorney can help navigate proceedings with a specific outcome in mind, says the firm. "Injury law is based on numerous different principles, enabling you to sue someone when they are negligent. If you can successfully illustrate that the defendant was responsible for the injuries you have sustained, you may be able to pursue a claim against him or her," explains JR Rayna, Founder and lead attorney at Reyna Law Firm. In order to prove that the truck driver or the trucking company should take the majority of the blame for the accident, Reyna Law Firm will gather pertinent evidence. From witness statements to medical records and more, the firm looks to collect vital documents that present an accurate portrayal of events as they occurred. The targeted result, as noted by Reyna Law Firm, is a fair reimbursement sum - which is often needed to pay for immediate and ongoing medical care as well as physical therapy. The firm also negotiates with trucking company insurance companies while evaluating settlement presentations and, if needed, taking proceedings to court. Consultations in regard to truck crashes or other accidents - ranging from oil field disasters to construction site mishaps - can be scheduled with Reyna Law Firm both online and via telephone. Interested parties in Odessa and nearby can find further details about Reyna Law Firm and its complete range of services at https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/ Contact Info: Name: James Lewis Email: james@jreynalawfirm.com Organization: Reyna Law Firm Odessa Address: 301 North Muskingum Avenue STE. A, Odessa, Texas 79761, United States Website: https://www.reynainjurylaw.com/odessa To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169219 Pet King Brands Announces Prestigious Sponsorship of Oklahoma Summer Classic Five-Day Event AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Pet King Brands. Inc., the maker of veterinarian-recommended pet health brands, including ZYMOX Dermatology and Oratene Brushless Oral Care, is excited to announce its celebrated sponsorship of the Oklahoma Summer Classic Dog Show 2023, marking the start of the summer dog show season. "As the first major show of the summer for the dog fancy, this show promises to be a record-setting five-day event with various competitive dog sports, including Barn Hunt, Fast Cat, Obedience, Rally, Scent Work, UpDog, and Weight Pull," said Debra Decker, Director of Marketing, Pet King Brands. "We look forward to seeing all the attendees, handlers, and their dogs in person." In addition to sponsoring most of the competitive dog sports, Pet King Brand is proud to support the Top Dog Challenge with over $7,000 in cash, prizes, giveaways, and neck sashes for the victorious canines. Participants in nine events accumulate points based on their performance, with bonuses awarded to those who achieve new titles. The top three results from each participant contribute to the total points. Touted as the event 'where dogs come to play,' this five-day dog show cluster will take place at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds from 8 am to 5 pm, starting on June 28 and concluding on July 2. Admission and parking are free, ensuring an affordable and enjoyable summer experience for the entire family. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the Pet King Brand booth during the show for samples, selfies, and to discover antibiotic-free solutions for common canine ear, skin, and oral conditions. The booth showcases products powered by the patented LP3 Enzyme System, the cornerstone of all ZYMOX and Oratene products. Mark your calendars, spread the word to friends and family, and prepare to cheer on your favorite dogs to victory. To learn more about entering or attending the Oklahoma Summer Classic, visit OklahomaSummerClassic.com. For detailed information about Pet King Brand's complete line of enzymatic pet health products and where to purchase them, visit zymox.com. About Pet King Brands Pet King Brands, the maker of ZYMOX Ear and Skin products, Oratene Brushless Oral Care, Equine Defense, and ZYLAFEN, is a leader in veterinarian-approved pet products made in the USA. Focused on the health and wellness of small and large animals of all ages, the products utilize the Power of the LP3 Enzyme System and have been Resolving Ear, Skin, and Oral Conditions for Over 25 Years. Led by President and Founder Pamela Bosco, who first introduced ZYMOX in 1998 with the help of her bioscientist brother, Michael Pellico, Pet King Brands has revolutionized the way people care for animals' ears, skin, and mouth, offering solutions that are gentle to the animal, easy to administer and free of harsh chemicals and antibiotics. Contact Information Debra Decker Director of Marketing ddecker@petkingbrands.com 8177139200 Related Files xlaw1pl.pdf SOURCE: Pet King Brands View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760516/Pet-King-Brands-Kicks-Off-Summer-Dog-Show-Season-in-Oklahoma CHISINAU, Moldova, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Moldova's dynamic and growing wine industry played a key role in the second edition of the European Political Summit, held on June 1st. Over 500 international journalists joined 47 delegates from across Europe at the magnificent Mimi Castle in Bulboaca - a Moldovan winery connecting beauty, authenticity, and taste. The EPC debate on the most pertinent issues facing the continent today was hosted by a non-EU country for the first time - a clear validation of Moldova's growing economic and strategic importance and orientation to the EU integration. During the summit, visitors were taken on a whirlwind tour of the nation's vitally important wine industry: Moldova is now the 14th largest wine exporter in the world, contributing around 3% to GDP. Indeed, it is the country with the most grapevines per capita, as Jancis Robinson MW observed in a Financial Times article entitled: 'Moldova navigates the politics of winemaking'. "Moldova has many natural advantages as a wine producer," said Robinson. "Furthermore, many Moldovan vineyards can boast of two similarities with fashionable Burgundy: latitude and limestone." Moldovan wines have also won 5,014 international awards over the past decade, and the momentum keeps growing. But for some visitors, Moldova's indigenous grape varieties and unique terroirs were a gem waiting to be discovered. Wine of Moldova (a national wine brand) was therefore delighted to organise a special event exclusively for accredited journalists. Entitled "Taste Moldova - Meet our local producers!," the program showcased Moldova's high-quality wine, tourism, and agricultural products. Each journalist received a registration kit, which included a selection of Moldovan wines to savour and experience firsthand. Wine of Moldova also relished the opportunity to share its strategic vision for the industry's future sustainable development. This year, the promotional body launched a #10yearsofwinerevolution campaign, designed to highlight how - and why - the country's wine industry is adapting to compete on the world stage. Its key stakeholders, meanwhile, are planning to raise $500 million over the next five years, investing significant capital in land and equipment. Moldova is also committed to becoming a world-class tourism destination, with a growing number of wineries offering authentic experiences that emulate the best of Napa, Stellenbosch, and Mendoza. Indigenous varieties, new-wave producers, a historic winemaking culture: Moldova is already preparing for the next major international event as an opportunity to present its exceptional wines to the world. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098892/Wine_of_Moldova_2023.mp4 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/european-political-summit-highlights-ongoing-revolution-in-moldovan-wine-301848221.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / What is the business case for sustainability? It's a question I've been asked for 30 years, so finally I finally distilled the economic benefits into the "10 Rs of Return on Regeneration (Figure 1). Let me make each one clear by using an example. Figure 1: The 10 Rs of Return of Regeneration Risk Risk is lower, especially due to better supply chain and stakeholder management. Reputation Reputationimproves, thus also increasing the intangible asset of brand equity. Resilience Resilience is built, especially the ability to anticipate and survive system shocks such as climate disruption, pandemics, or social unrest. Resource efficiency Resource efficiency increases, thus saving costs through less water, energy, and waste. Regulation Regulation is anticipated, therefore allowing early adaptation and avoiding of fines and penalties. Recruitment and retention Recruitment and retention of talent improves, especially attracting and retaining the younger generation of employees. Revenues Revenues are boosted, especially because markets for ethical, responsible, and regenerative products are among the fastest-growing markets. Returns Returns are higher, with better access to finance and better long-term financial performance. Research and development Research and development are stimulated, especially since regeneration opportunities require innovation to deliver. Reason for being Reason for being is clarified, because regeneration provides a powerful purpose for organizations. Risk is lower. The costs of growing the business will be lower without costly delays due to protests by angry activists or unhappy suppliers. Moving to a circular economy may also decrease potential disruption of resource supplies. Risk is the reason why 11 major shipping banks signed the Poseidon Principles, committing to assess the carbon intensity of their shipping investments and to incorporate climate goals into shipping vessels that they fund. Reputation improves. The reason that Tesla is valued so highly by the market (and by its customers) is because it has gained a reputation for innovative solutions that will accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. Sustainable Brands has, since 2006, tapped into this understanding, bringing together companies that see social and environmental challenges as an essential driver of brand innovation, value creation, and positive impact. Resilience is built. Companies like Interface have done better during economic recessions because of savings from their sustainability programs, their innovation culture, and strong employee commitment. This is why Randstad worked with Antwerp Management School to develop the Future Resilience Index, with 10 factors to assess individual, organizational, and societal resilience. Resource efficiencyincreases. The Excess Materials Exchange among companies like Schiphol Airport, Philips, and Sodexo discovered 64 million in financial value creation. According to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), savings of between 30 and 50 percent can be achieved by investing in no- and low-cost water-reduction techniques and technologies. A company with an annual turnover of 2 million could save up to 20,000 per year. Regulation is anticipated. Eighteen countries have already committed to ban sales of new diesel and gasoline cars and move to 100 percent zero-emission vehicles, with Norway leading with a ban from 2025. In the EU the Plastics Strategy caught many producers and retailers off guard with its rapid ban of single-use plastics and its declaration that by 2030 all plastic packaging placed on the EU market must either be reusable or recyclable. Recruitment and retentionof talent improves. A Deloitte survey finds that 42 percent of Millennials and Gen Z are choosing relationships with companies whose core business has positive social or environmental impacts, while 38 percent are lessening ties with companies with a perceived negative impact.[i] In addition, research shows that sustainable and responsible companies also boost employee motivation, productivity, loyalty, and satisfaction. Revenues are boosted. Sustainability-marketed products grew more than seven times faster than other products in 2015-2019,[ii] with plant-based foods expected to grow annually at 11.9 percent from 2020-2027.[iii] Returns are higher. Analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence and Morningstar shows that investments that are screened on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are less risky and outperform the market in both the short and long term.[iv] Research and development are stimulated. The Business Commission on Sustainable Development estimates that meeting the SDGs will unlock $12 trillion in new market value,[v] while Accenture estimates that the circular economy is a $4.5 trillion opportunity.[vi] Reason for being is clarified. When Paul Polman was CEO of Unilever, around 1.7 million people applied to work at the company every year. Polman believes this had a lot to do with its inspiring Sustainable Living Plan. Similarly, IKEA is using its "People & Planet Positive" sustainability strategy to drive innovation, transform their business, shape their investments, and unleash new business opportunities. Source: Extract from Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy, by Wayne Visser (Fast Company Press, 2022) Endnotes: [i] Deloitte, 2019 Deloitte Millennial Survey, Report, 2019. [ii] New York University and IRI, "2020 CSB Sustainable Market Share Index, Report by the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and IRI, 2020. [iii] Meticulous Research, Plant Based Food Market-Global Forecast to 2027, 2020. [iv] S&P Global Market Intelligence, "ESG Funds Beat Out S&P 500 in 1st Year of COVID-19; How 1 Fund Shot to the Top," April 6, 2021. [v] BSDC, Better Business, Better World, Report by Business & Sustainable Development Commission 2017. [vi] P. Lacy and J. Rutqvist, Waste to Wealth: The Circular Economy Advantage (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015). View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CSR International on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CSR International Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/csr-international Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CSR International View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760664/The-Business-Case-for-Regeneration Growth driven by innovation 90 years of innovation Regulatory News: Vetoquinol (Paris:VETO): Ever since the company was founded in 1933, innovation has been a major component of Vetoquinol's development strategy. Far from limiting itself to finding new active ingredients or new medicines, Research and Development (R&D) has also focused on extending the uses, target species and distribution areas of existing products. Over the years, innovation has enabled the company to focus on strong therapeutic areas and targeted species to make optimal use of its resources. Vetoquinol invests over 30 million every year in R&D. This investment enables us to conduct ambitious research programs aimed at bringing therapeutic innovation. R&D focuses on the development of breakthrough innovations, as well as incremental innovations and the evolution of existing products. These product innovations, coupled with digital technology and the diagnostics offered by Vetoquinol, enable us to respond differently and better to the expectations of breeders, pet owners and veterinarians. In this way, Vetoquinol strives to offer its customers full fledge solutions that meet their needs by integrating the essential elements required for a result that satisfies their expectations. Innovation on all fronts Vetoquinol's R&D department develops numerous initiatives to broaden, support or complement the company's activities. Partnerships with private and public bodies to initiate ground-breaking innovation projects. Regular publications in recognized scientific journals, patent filings, applications for Marketing Authorizations (MA) and the development of a network of scientific experts. Anticipating regulatory changes in the field of veterinary drugs and customer behavior. The aim of these initiatives is to provide the best possible service to veterinary customers, breeders and pet owners. A strong presence in France Vetoquinol's R&D is mainly located in France, with the center of expertise and scientific excellence based at the company's headquarters in the east of France in Lure (Franche-Comte). Today, Vetoquinol's R&D department employs nearly 180 people, including some 60 scientific managers and 100 researchers, to respond to current animal health issues. The primary role of R&D is to develop drugs for registration in the countries where Vetoquinol operates or distributes its products. That's why Vetoquinol has product development units all over the world (France, United States, Poland, Brazil), which contribute to the company's reputation. ABOUT VETOQUINOL Vetoquinol is a leading global animal health company that supplies drugs and non-medicinal products for the farm animals (cattle and pigs) and pet (dogs and cats) markets. As an independent pure player, Vetoquinol designs, develops and sells veterinary drugs and non-medicinal products in Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region. Since its foundation in 1933, Vetoquinol has pursued a strategy combining innovation with geographical diversification. The Group's hybrid growth is driven by the reinforcement of its product portfolio coupled with acquisitions in high potential growth markets. Vetoquinol employed more than 2,500 people as of December 31st, 2022. Vetoquinol has been listed on Euronext Paris since 2006 (symbol: VETO). The Vetoquinol share is eligible for the French PEA and PEA-PME personal equity plans. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612202136/en/ Contacts: VETOQUINOL Group Communications Officer Resika Narain-Menigot resika.narain-menigot@vetoquinol.com KEIMA COMMUNICATION Press Relations Charles-Edouard Aubry Tel.: +33 (0)6 09 09 48 32 charles-edouard.aubry@keima.fr Investors Relations Emmanuel Dovergne Tel.: +33 (0)6 76 94 40 87 emmanuel.dovergne@keima.fr Information on the total number of voting rights and shares Ghent, BELGIUM, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press Release - Regulated information Biotalys NV) (the "Company" or "Biotalys"), an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for crop and food protection, today announced the closing of its previously announced private placement of 1,135,257 new shares (being approximately 3.67% of the Company's shares outstanding prior to the transaction) at an issue price of EUR 6.166 per share. The proceeds of the private placement were EUR 7 million. The new shares will be listed on Euronext Brussels on 15 June 2023. These new shares will have the same rights and benefits as, and rank pari passu in all respects with, the existing and outstanding shares of Biotalys at the moment of their issuance. Information on the total number of voting rights and shares In view hereof, and in accordance with article 15 of the Belgian Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of major shareholdings (the "Belgian Act"), the outstanding share capital and outstanding voting securities of the Company can be summarised as follows: Share capital: EUR 46,198,455.95 Total number of securities carrying voting rights: 32,094,711 (all ordinary shares) Total number of voting rights (= denominator): 32,094,711 (all relating to ordinary shares) Number of rights to subscribe for securities carrying voting rights not yet issued: 2,162,109 "ESOP Warrants", entitling their holders to subscribe for a total number of 2,162,109 profit certificates which will, if and when issued, automatically convert into a total number of maximum 1,081,052 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) 866,390 "ESOP IV Warrants", entitling their holders to subscribe for a total number of maximum 866.390 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares). 13,786 share units, awarded in aggregate to the independent directors of the Company in the framework of its remuneration policy. Each share unit contains the obligation - subject to vesting of all share units - to subscribe to one new share of the Company at an issue price of one EUR per share-unit. Cash settlement is possible. The conditions of the share units are described in the remuneration policy of the Company. The Company has no outstanding convertible bonds or non-voting shares. Pursuant to the Belgian Act, a notification to the Company and the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) is required by all natural and legal persons in each case where the percentage of voting rights attached to the securities held by such persons in the Company reaches, exceeds or falls below the threshold of 5%, 10%, and every subsequent multiple of 5%, of the total number of voting rights in the Company. About Biotalys Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology. For further information, please contact: Toon Musschoot, Head of IR & Communication T: +32 (0)9 274 54 00 E: Toon.Musschoot@biotalys.com Important notices This announcement is for informational purposes only and is directed only at persons who are located outside the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy shares or any other security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which, or to any persons to whom, such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state or local securities laws. Accordingly, the shares are being offered and sold (i) in the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and (ii) in "offshore transactions" to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. There is no assurance that the offering will be completed or, if completed, as to the terms on which it will be completed. This announcement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the shares in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the "EEA") is or will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the shares. The expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded) any implementing measure in each relevant Member State of the EEA. This announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons in Member States of the EEA who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation, or such other investors as shall not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of Article 3.1 of the Prospectus Regulation. This announcement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the shares in the UK is or will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish an Offering Circular for offers of the shares. The expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act ("EUWA"). This announcement is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons who are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the " Financial Promotion Order"), (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iv) any persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended)) in connection with the issue or sale of any shares may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The investments to which this announcement relates are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents. The offer, sale and admission to trading of the shares will be made pursuant to an exception under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers or admissions to trading of securities. This press release does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation or an offer to the public. The distribution of this press release into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the laws of any such jurisdiction. Attachments Clark Staff, a leading Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, is proud to announce the appointment of Arnold Valencia as the new Vice President of Client Development. Known for his dedication towards philanthropy and job creation in the Philippines, Valencia's appointment signals an exciting new era for the company. ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Previously involved in companies where he was both founder and CEO, Valencia brings a wealth of experience and an innovative approach to his new role. With a robust history of consulting clients on how to leverage remote staffing, Valencia has a longstanding relationship with Clark Staff, as an outsourcing consultant and reseller of its services for five years before joining as the VP of Client Development. Arnold Valencia Valencia's extensive professional journey includes founding his own remote staffing company, which he considers a passion project driven by a desire to help others. Now, he brings that same drive and commitment to Clark Staff. "Arnold Valencia doesn't just bring a distinguished professional background to Clark Staff, he brings a commitment to social responsibility and an unwavering dedication to job creation that aligns perfectly with our company's core values," says Zack Williamson, CEO and co-founder of Clark Staff. He added, "His appointment as VP of Client Development is not just a win for our company, but a win for the larger community that will benefit from his leadership and vision." Valencia's appointment comes as part of Clark Staff's ongoing commitment to enhancing client services while also contributing to the broader community. However, his focus extends far beyond his successful professional journey. Valencia is recognized for his dedication to community enrichment and his ongoing commitment to creating job opportunities in the Philippine workforce. "I've always wanted to contribute to the Philippines in a substantial way, beyond just charity work," Valencia explains. "Being named VP of Client Development at Clark Staff allows me to do just that. My goal is to create more jobs for our local workforce while continuing to provide our clients with strategic insights on leveraging remote staffing to their benefit." Clark Staff is an American-owned and operated, full-service BPO company located in St. Petersburg, Florida with locations in the Philippines, India, and the country of Georgia. Clark Staff offers a wide range of service solutions to companies of any size and industry. For more information, visit https://clarkstaff.com. ## Contact Information Zack Williamson CEO, Clark Staff zack@clarkstaff.com Kenneth Pangan Marketing Manager, Clark Staff kenneth@clarkoutsourcing.com +63952325817 SOURCE: Clark Staff View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760570/Driving-Change-in-BPO-Philanthropist-and-Innovator-Arnold-Valencia-Steps-Into-Role-as-VP-of-Client-Development-at-Clark-Staff MIDLAND, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Dow (NYSE:DOW) received 5 awards in the annual U.S. Customer Experience Awards for 2023. USCXA, hosted by Awards International in partnership with the Customer Experience Professionals Association, celebrates America's most outstanding customer experience initiatives and honors companies who have demonstrated exemplary service and customer-centricity. Dow was recognized in all its nomination categories among 46 U.S. companies and over 100 entries. Dow won the overall award for top-scoring entry and a Gold Award for its Digital Transformation, as well as Gold Awards for Best use of Insight & Feedback, and Best Measurement in CX, and a Silver Award for Best B2B Customer Experience. "It's been a 7-year journey of unlearning old ways of doing things and relearning new ways that put customers central to how we design experiences," said Dan Futter, Chief Commercial Officer at Dow. "We are humbled to receive these prestigious awards. They bear testament to the vision and commitment of our people to build an intentionally customer-centric system of services and behaviors, and to the entire Dow community who turn up every day trying to make it easier, more enjoyable and more effective for our customers to do business with us. We would also like to congratulate the many outstanding companies that applied for and were recognized with awards this year. They are truly inspiring!" "These recognitions are thanks to many Dow people who had a hand in designing, building and then enhancing our CX best practices, from the early days of our journey until today," said Riccardo Porta, director of customer experience at Dow. "Receiving external recognition for our CX efforts and results is an important milestone, one that gives us confidence we are on the right path towards achieving our ambition to be the most customer-centric materials science company in the world." About Dow Dow (NYSE:DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance leadership to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,800 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $57 billion in 2022. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DOW on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: DOW Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dow Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: DOW View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760725/Dow-Recognized-with-Overall-Winner-3-Golds-1-Silver-at-USCX-Awards NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / The Rise Conference is currently one of the world's most elite events for entrepreneurs. The conference will bring together over a dozen of the world's most successful business leaders, entertainers and entrepreneurs, who will share the same tips, tricks and strategies they use to get massive results. The event has only one goal: to enable all attendees to break through their ceiling and reach the next level both in business and in life. Undoubtedly, the event will be absolutely life-changing for everyone who attends. So, if you're serious about growth and want to scale in 2023, you need to be in that room. This year, the conference will be held in Tampa, Florida, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During three explosive days, all attendees will be able to connect with the most sought-after entrepreneurs in the world, gaining new insights, mastering their skills, and leveling up the way they do business and life. Some of the top speakers of the event will be Vick Tipnes, entrepreneur, author and host of the conference; Rick Ross, rap superstar and entrepreneur; Grant Cardone, CEO of Cardone Enterprises; Nick Sarnicola, founder of the health and wellness direct sales company ViSalus; and Tim Grover, trainer of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Albert Shakhnazarov , founder of Axe Elite , a tech-enabled telecommunication marketing organization that has been in business for over a decade, and many others, will also participate in The Rise Conference. He will participate in a panel where he will share, alongside other top level entrepreneurs, the strategies needed to build and scale a business to eight figures. Born in a refugee camp in Moscow, Russia, Shakhnazarov's early years were marked by intense struggle and hardship. His family, seeking refuge from political persecution in Azerbaijan, endured a harrowing journey through refugee camps, motels, and dire living conditions. Today, his company Axe Elite is recognized as one of the top-producing partners for multi-billion-dollar telecommunication giants. The business is empowering people to create a culture where limitations are non-existent, with dozens of agents and fully renovated headquarters. At The Rise Conference, Shakhnazarov will share key insights for success, as well as his incredible testimony and experience on how to succeed in today's society. Without a doubt, this is an amazing chance for attendees to connect with experts-in-the-field and gain invaluable insight from those who have built lucrative careers out of starting and scaling successful companies. The event is designed for high-achievers, entrepreneurs and innovators from every industry. So, if you're one of them this is your signal to attend The Rise Conference and accelerate your growth. Reserve your seat here today! About The Rise Conference: It is currently one of the world's most elite events for entrepreneurs. The conference will bring together over a dozen of the world's most successful business leaders, entertainers and entrepreneurs, who will share the same tips, tricks and strategies they use to get massive results. Contact: Paula Henderson 561-768-4444 phendersonnews@gmail.com SOURCE: The Rise Conference View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760726/Top-Entrepreneurs-Unite-at-Rise-Conference-2023-to-Share-Strategies-for-Explosive-Business-Growth-Featuring-Vick-Tipnes-Grant-Cardone-Tim-Grover-Nick-Sarnicola-and-Axe-Elite-Founder-Albert-Shakhnazarov NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Zimtu Capital Corp. (TSXv:ZC)(FSE:ZCT1) (the "Company" or "Zimtu Capital") announces the retirement of its President, CEO & Director David Hodge, effective June 14th, 2023 at 2:00PM PST. Mr. Hodge's career in the public venture capital markets has spanned over 3 decades. Mr. Hodge became President & CEO of Zimtu Capital Corp. in 1999 and has created and financed multiple publicly listed companies in a variety of fields over the years. Zimtu would also like to announce the appointment of Mr. Sean Charland to President & CEO effective June 14th, 2023, at 2:00PM PST. Mr. Charland is a seasoned communications professional with experience in raising capital and marketing resource exploration companies. His network of contacts within the financial community extends across North America and Europe. Dave Hodge states: "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Zimtu Capital and its shareholders for their support throughout my tenure as President and CEO. It has been an incredible journey over the past three decades, and I am proud of the numerous publicly listed companies we have created and financed together. As I embark on this new chapter of retirement, I am pleased to announce that I will still be involved with Zimtu Capital in a less formal capacity, continuing to contribute my expertise and insights. I will also maintain my office for the next three years, ensuring a seamless transition and supporting the Company's ongoing success. Thank you once again for the privilege of serving as President and CEO, and I look forward to witnessing Zimtu Capital's continued growth under the leadership of Mr. Sean Charland." Sean Charland states, "I would like to thank Dave for his unwavering commitment to our shareholders to create value and to offer investors a unique opportunity to grow with the company through its holdings. I look forward to continuing to build on the Zimtu Business model for years to come." If you are interested in attending Mr. David Hodge's retirement event hosted by Zimtu Capital, please contact us at (604)-681-1568 or info@zimtu.com. Please note this event will be held downtown Vancouver & virtually on Zoom for those who cannot attend in-person. About Zimtu Capital Corp. Zimtu Capital Corp. is a public investment issuer that aspires to achieve long-term capital appreciation for its shareholders. Zimtu Capital companies may operate in the fields of mineral exploration, mining, technology, life sciences or investment. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ZC" and Frankfurt under symbol "ZCT1". For more information, please visit https://www.zimtu.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors ZIMTU CAPITAL CORP. "Sean Charland" Sean Charland Director Phone: 604.681.1568 NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which include any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking statements in this press release include the intended use of proceeds and that the Company aspires to achieve long-term capital appreciation for its shareholders. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed, implied by or projected in the forward-looking information or statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company or the businesses of the companies that the Company has invested in, including, without limitation, the natural resource exploration industry; changes in commodity prices as the Company has investments in natural resource exploration issuers; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; geopolitical risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors which may affect the Company's operations, investments, markets, products and share price; that the Company may not complete a further tranche of the Private Placement on terms favorable to the Company or at all; that the Exchange may not approve a further tranche of the Private Placement; and that the proceeds of the Private Placement may not be used as stated in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. SOURCE: Zimtu Capital Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760731/Zimtu-Capital-Announces-Retirement-of-Long-Standing-President-CEO-and-Appointment-of-New-President-CEO NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Tinisha Roberts, Senior Manager for Corporate Staff Groups, Performance & Analysis, is one of our many IP team members who we owe thanks for their military service. Tinisha has worked for more than two decades with IP, and served for 12 years, ending her service as Staff Sergeant (E-6). Tinisha says: "My military experience armed me with many skills related to managing people, dealing with conflict and managerial courage...I encourage veterans starting with IP to continue to tap into their military learnings and bring them forward where they are applicable. The leadership and training they bring to any job will help them support their team in reaching goals with structure and a 'can do' attitude." Stephanie Tindall, HR Business Partner for NAC, is one of our many IP team members who we owe thanks for their military service. Stephanie served four years in the Army in Air Defence Intelligence / S3 Operations Management Deployment Readiness. Stephanie says: "My military experience helped me learn humility in leadership, agility to make decisions and a team winning mindset," said Stephanie. "And for those currently transitioning to civilian life, remember to be patient with yourself. Comradery is hard to find outside of your brothers and sisters in arms but those at IP will be your new family to build and grow with." About International Paper International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting InternationalPaper.com. About International Paper - EMEA In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and pulp, employing approximately 4,200 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Pulp production is centered in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include Kraft linerboard and recycled containerboard, as well as pulp. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: International Paper Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: International Paper Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760730/International-Paper-Celebrates-Military-Appreciation-Month-2023 Appraisal innovator helped launch today's Appraisal Management Company industry TROY, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Dart Appraisal, a nationwide appraisal management company (AMC), is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. In a marketplace where most providers were established following the real estate crash of 2008, Dart Appraisal is proud to have been providing full-service appraisal management solutions since 1993. "Very early on, I realized how much pressure was put on appraisers if they did not have a referee," said Darton Case, Founder and CEO of Dart Appraisal. "I believed that an appraisal management company should create transparency between the lender and appraiser, cultivating a process that brings out the best in both parties." The company grew from mainly operating in Michigan to a nationwide business by 1998. Dart Appraisal employs thousands of independent contractor appraisers across the country, providing its lender clients with county-level coverage in every state. It remains an independently owned and operated company. "We are incredibly proud of this milestone anniversary," said Michael Dresden, President of Dart Appraisal. "Thirty years is something to celebrate in any industry, but even more so in the AMC space where less than 10% of our direct competitors were even established as AMCs before the 2008 real estate crash. Our longevity is a testament not only to our company's integrity, but also the quality of our appraiser panel, top-notch technology, and excellent customer service." "When we started this company 30 years ago, I wanted to provide our customers, team members and appraisers with an experience that was, above anything, reliable and consistent," said Case. "That vision remains the same for the next 30 years and beyond, and I want to thank everyone who has been a part of our company, whether as an employee, client, or appraiser. The past 30 years have been some of the most rewarding years of my life, and I am looking forward to what we'll accomplish in the years to come." Contact Information Lon Bollenbacher VP, Marketing lbollenbacher@dartappraisal.com SOURCE: Dart Appraisal View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760727/Dart-Appraisal-Celebrates-30th-Anniversary Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - Austin Gold Corp. (NYSE American: AUST) ("Austin" or the "Company") announces that the Company, as manager of the Kelly Creek joint venture through its wholly-owned subsidiary Austin American Corporation, has given notice that it will terminate certain leases and claim holdings within the Kelly Creek Project, representing approximately 60% of the original claim holdings. Austin and Pediment Gold LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nevada Exploration Inc., are party to an Exploration and Option to Enter Joint Venture Agreement, with amendments, on the Kelly Creek Project. The Company believes that the dropped claims no longer fit the Company's objectives. Robert M. Hatch, the Qualified Person for Austin Gold as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. About Austin Gold Corp. Austin Gold is a gold exploration company focused on gold targets and making district-scale gold discoveries in the southwestern United States. Austin Gold has three projects in Nevada. The Kelly Creek Project is located on the Battle Mountain-Eureka (Cortez) gold trend in Humboldt County, the Lone Mountain Project is on the Independence-Jerritt Canyon gold trend in Elko County, and the Miller Project is on the Carlin gold trend in Elko County. Collectively, these Nevada properties comprise approximately 76.2 km2 of unpatented and patented mining claims and mineral tenure. In Oregon, the Stockade Mountain Project consists of approximately 21.5 km2 of unpatented mining claims situated in a geological environment that appears the same as the nearby Grassy Mountain Deposit that is being permitted for underground mining. For further information, please contact: Darcy A. Higgs, Corporate Secretary 604-644-6580 darcy.higgs@austin.gold Website: www.austin.gold Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, the Company's expectations, strategies and plans for the Kelly Creek Project, including the Company's planned expenditures and exploration activities. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169631 LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / StrikeX is thrilled to announce the successful completion of an investment and strategic partnership with CMC Markets, an award-winning* FTSE 250 financial services provider. CMC Markets has acquired a 33% stake in StrikeX Technologies, with two of its senior executives being welcomed to the StrikeX board, bringing with them a wealth of expertise and experience. This is a significant milestone for both companies and the digital asset industry as a whole. By combining StrikeX's expertise in tokenisation and self-custody technologies with CMC Markets' extensive experience in financial services, both companies are now well-positioned to transform the way people and businesses invest in digital assets. StrikeX & CMC Markets partnership Joe Jowett, StrikeX CEO and Co-Founder, expressed his excitement for the deal and the potential it holds, saying: "Our partnership with CMC Markets will bolster our position as early frontrunners in this dynamic and fast-moving industry, whilst validating our long-term vision and strategy. We strive to pioneer the delivery of traditional financial instruments, such as equities, commodities and bonds to the blockchain, whilst guaranteeing security, compliance, and ease of access via intuitive, secure, and user-friendly products. We are excited by the opportunity this partnership brings and we look forward to sharing more updates as we continue to grow and innovate." Lord Cruddas, CMC's founder and CEO, added: "This is a major strategic investment in the growing Web 3.0 technology space of which StrikeX Technologies gives us access to the very best technology and advancements. StrikeX is a brilliant, young, dynamic company, with a very talented team that has its finger on the pulse of fast-moving technologies. We are all very excited about working together as we continue to diversify our business with the latest technology, products and wallet settlement." *?1 Platform Technology Forex Brokers 2022 *Best White Label Provider B2B Global Forex Awards 2023 *?1 Web platform Forex Broker Awards 2023 CMC Markets Plc ("CMC"), whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker CMCX (LEI: 213800VB75KAZBFH5U07), was established in 1989 and is now one of the world's leading online financial trading businesses. The Group serves retail and institutional clients through regulated offices and branches in 12 countries, with a significant presence in the UK, Australia, Germany, and Singapore. CMC offers an award-winning, online, and mobile trading platform, enabling clients to trade up to 10,000 financial instruments across shares, indices, foreign currencies, commodities, and treasuries through contracts for difference ("CFDs"), financial spread bets (in the UK and Ireland only) and, in Australia, access stockbroking services. More information is available at https://www.cmcmarkets.com/group/. StrikeX Technologies was founded in early 2021 and is developing a suite of user-centric and innovative blockchain solutions, from web3-enabled software to pioneering advancements in tokenisation technology. Learn more about StrikeX and its subsidiaries at ?https://strikex.com and ?https://tradestrike.io. Contact Information Joe Jowett CEO & Co-Founder press@strikex.com SOURCE: StrikeX Technologies Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760764/FTSE-250-CMC-Markets-Invests-in-StrikeX-Technologies-Cementing-Strategic-Partnership-to-Revolutionise-the-Digital-Asset-Industry VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Condor Resources Inc. - ("Condor" or the "Company") (TSXV:CN) is pleased advise it has applied to the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines (the "MEM") for the primary environmental permit required to initiate a drill program at Cobreorco. The Declaracion de Impacto Ambiental, or "DIA", seeks approval for up to forty drill platforms. Submission for the DIA is the culmination of months of work, and includes environmental studies, archeological studies, and other data and matters required by the permitting regulations. Processing and approval by the MEM is expected to take several months. The 50 sq km Cobreorco Porphyry-Skarn Project in south central Peru was acquired by staking, is royalty free, and 100% owned by Condor. It is located in the province of Andahuaylas in the department of Apurimac, in the prolific Eocene-Oligocene aged Andahuaylas-Yauri porphyry copper belt. This region is influenced by the Abancay deflection, and is home to the Las Bambas, Huaquira, Constancia, Tintaya and Antapaccay deposits. At Cobreorco, numerous porphyry and skarn related copper-gold occurrences are exposed in outcrop, and geo-physical surveys completed by Condor support the potential for discovery of copper and skarn related deposits within the main 2 sq km area of interest. For more information on the Cobreorco project, please refer to our news release of August 11, 2022. https://condorresources.com/news/2022/condor-updates-on-the-cobreorco-copper-gold-project/ Condor is an active explorer focused exclusively on Peru, supplemented by a project generator and royalty model designed to generate exploration capital whilst minimizing shareholder dilution. Our objective in advancing our portfolio of projects is the discovery of a major new precious metals or base metals deposit in Peru. Project acquisition and exploration activities are managed by the Company's Lima based exploration team. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Lyle Davis, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information please contactthe Company at 1-866-642-5707, or by email at info@condorresources.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Condor Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/760771/Condor-Submits-Drill-Permit-Application-for-the-Cobreorco-Copper-Gold-Project Corporate presentation and management webcast available for replay on website Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - OBSIDIAN ENERGY LTD. (TSX: OBE) (NYSE American: OBE) ("Obsidian Energy", the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") is pleased to announce that at our annual and special meeting of shareholders held on June 12, 2023, Obsidian Energy's shareholders approved all resolutions outlined in the Notice of 2023 Annual and Special Meeting and Management Proxy Circular dated May 1, 2023 (the "Information Circular"), which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on Obsidian Energy's website at www.obsidianenergy.com. Appointment of Auditor By resolution passed by show of hands, KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, was appointed as auditor of the Issuer for the ensuing year. Election of Directors By resolutions passed by ballot vote, the following seven nominees proposed by management were elected as directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed: Votes For Percent Votes Withheld Percent Shani Bosman 25,818,199 82.24% 5,576,628 17.76% John Brydson 24,111,821 76.80% 7,283,006 23.20% Raymond D. Crossley 23,547,340 75.00% 7,847,487 25.00% Michael J. Faust 25,830,772 82.28% 5,564,055 17.72% Edward H. Kernaghan 25,634,192 81.65% 5,760,635 18.35% Stephen Loukas 25,419,608 80.97% 5,975,219 19.03% Gordon Ritchie 26,326,905 83.86% 5,067,922 16.14% Non-Binding Advisory Vote on the Corporation's Approach to Executive Compensation By resolution passed by ballot vote, an advisory resolution was passed to approve the Company's approach to executive compensation as outlined in the Information Circular. The results of the ballot were as follows: Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent 20,852,095 66.42% 10,542,733 33.58% Approval of Unallocated Options Pursuant to the Stock Option Plan By resolution passed by ballot vote, all unallocated options to acquire common shares under the stock option plan until July 12, 2026, was approved. The results of the ballot were as follows: Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent 17,387,941 55.38% 14,006,885 44.62% Approval of Unallocated Units Pursuant to the Restricted and Performance Share Unit Plan By resolution passed by ballot vote, all unallocated options to acquire common shares under the restricted and performance share unit plan, until July 12, 2026 was approved. The results of the ballot were as follows: Votes For Percent Votes Against Percent 21,972,915 69.99% 9,422,001 30.01% CORPORATE PRESENTATION AND WEBCAST Today, Obsidian Energy's management team held a webcast presentation live on the Internet (the "Presentation") for investors, shareholders and stakeholders to discuss the Company's strategy, assets, value and plans for the future. The corporate presentation has been posted to our website, and the full webcast Presentation is available for replay either through our website or directly at the webcast portal. CONTACT OBSIDIAN ENERGY Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3 Phone: 403-777-2500 Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707 Website: www.obsidianenergy.com; Investor Relations: Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633 E-mail: investor.relations@obsidianenergy.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169634 Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - Magna Mining Inc. (TSXV: NICU) ("Magna" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its Annual & Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on June 9th. Each of the matters is described in greater detail in the Notice of Annual & Special Meeting of Shareholders and the accompanying Management Information Circular dated May 11th, 2023 (the "Circular"). At the Meeting, the shareholders approved the election of Jason Jessup, Carl DeLuca, John Seaman, Vernon Baker and Jonathan Goodman, each as listed in the Circular. Derrick Weyrauch decided to not stand for re-election as a director of the Company. As a result, Magna elected five directors to the board. All other resolutions at the Meeting were approved by shareholders including (i) the appointment of auditors, (ii) the reconfirmation and approval of the stock option plan of the Company, (iii) the reconfirmation and approval of the amended and restated restricted share unit plan of the Company (the "Amended RSU Plan"), (iv) the confirmation and approval of restricted share units under the Amended RSU Plan, and (v) the approval of the amended and restated investor rights agreements between the Company and Hawke's Point Holdings II Ltd, as described in the Circular. About Magna Mining Inc. Magna Mining is an exploration and development company focused on nickel, copper and PGM projects in the Sudbury Region of Ontario, Canada. The Company's flagship assets are the past producing Shakespeare and Crean Hill Mines. The Shakespeare Mine is a feasibility stage project which has major permits for the construction of a 4,500 tonne per day open pit mine, processing plant and tailings storage facility and is surrounded by a contiguous 180km2 prospective land package. Crean Hill is a past producing nickel, copper and PGM mine with a technical report dated August 2022. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.magnamining.com). For further information, please contact: Jason Jessup Chief Executive Officer or Paul Fowler, CFA Senior Vice President Email: info@magnamining.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169674 ZURICH, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sygnum announces the upcoming expansion of its regulated operations in Singapore following the in-principle approval of its Major Payment Institution Licence (MPIL) application. Expanded Singapore offering* includes regulated crypto brokerage service Marks latest expansion of Sygnum Singapore's regulated activities following the three-part Capital Markets Licence (CMSL) extension granted in 2022 Sygnum Singapore further leverages the group's regulated banking infrastructure, product portfolio and digital asset technology expertise Strengthens Sygnum's market position as a digital asset service provider in Singapore and South-East Asia The MPIL will activate the launch of Sygnum Singapore's regulated crypto brokerage service. The platform, featuring a seamless fiat-digital asset gateway and trade execution for a range of cryptocurrencies, offers competitive spreads, deep liquidity and fast trade settlements in addition to live balance updates and quotes and a choice of trading and vault wallets. All Sygnum clients are assigned a dedicated Relationship Manager to provide personal service and support. It is through these partnerships that clients will be able to conveniently access and benefit from Sygnum's expanded regulated services. Gerald Goh, Sygnum Co-Founder and CEO Singapore, says "This in-principle approval of our Major Payment Institution Licence by the MAS is a milestone in our strategic growth plans for Sygnum Singapore and South-East Asia. Like Switzerland, Singapore has a progressive, robust regulatory framework that provides investors the clarity and confidence to invest in digital assets - and Future Finance - with complete trust." The in-principle approval of Sygnum's MPIL application further strengthens Sygnum's position as a leading regulated digital asset service provider in Singapore and across the region. Sygnum Singapore's early mover market position was established in 2019 with its first CMSL . This pioneering reputation was underlined by the three-part CMSL extension granted in 2022 that saw the launch of corporate finance advisory, capital market products and asset and security token custodial services. *Expanded offering will be available to accredited and institutional investors when all preconditions to granting the MPIL are fulfilled. About Sygnum Sygnum is the world's first digital asset bank, founded on Swiss and Singapore heritage. We empower professional and institutional investors, banks, corporates and DLT foundations to invest in the digital asset economy with complete trust. Our team enables this via personal, expert service and secure, convenient access to our integrated portfolio of crypto banking, asset management, tokenisation and B2B banking services. Sygnum is a licenced Swiss bank and is also regulated in the established global financial hubs of Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg. We believe that the future has heritage. Our diverse crypto-native team of banking, investment and digital asset technology professionals are building a trusted, regulated bridge between the traditional and digital asset economies that we call Future Finance. To learn more about how Sygnum is shaping this trusted digital asset ecosystem, please visit www.sygnum.com Sygnum Bank AG Uetlibergstrasse 134a 8045 Zurich Switzerland Disclaimer This document was prepared by Sygnum Bank AG. This document may contain forward looking statements and may be subject to change. The opinions expressed herein are those of Sygnum Bank AG, its affiliates, and partners at the time of writing. The document is for informational purposes only and contains general material. It is for use by the recipient only. It does not constitute any advice or recommendation, an offer or invitation by or on behalf of Sygnum Bank AG to purchase or sell assets or securities. It is not intended to be used as a general guide to investing, and should be used for informational purposes only. When making an investment decision, you should either conduct your own research and analysis or seek advice from an expert to make a calculated decision. The information and analyses contained in this document have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable. However, Sygnum Bank AG makes no representation as to its reliability or completeness and disclaims all liability for losses arising from the use of this information. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2099115/4082316/Sygnum_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sygnum-singapore-receives-in-principle-approval-of-major-payment-institution-licence-from-the-mas-301848492.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - MTB Metals Corp. (TSXV: MTB) (OTCQB: MBYMF) (FSE: E8H) ("MTB" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has closed the second and final tranche of the non-brokered private placements for Flow Through and Non-Flow Through Units, as announced on May 4th. The two tranches total to $2,031,991. The funds will be used primarily for exploration on MTB's Telegraph property in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Lawrence Roulston, CEO, stated: "We are grateful for the strong support for this financing, which raised more than the initial target. MTB is now well funded for work on the Telegraph copper-gold porphyry. The geological team are now preparing for the field season, which will focus on drilling on the Dok Trend." Flow Through Offering MTB raised gross proceeds of $1,531,389 from the sale of 11,779,918 flow through units (the "FT Units"). Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "FT Warrant"). The price of each FT Unit is $0.13. Each FT Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.18 for a period of 24 months, expiring on May 26, 2025 for the first tranche and on June 12, 2025 for the second tranche. Non-Flow through Offering In addition, MTB also closed a non-brokered private placement of 4,171,684 units ("Units") at $0.12 per Unit for gross proceeds of $500,602. Each Unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.18 for a period of 36 months, expiring on May 26, 2026 for the first tranche and on June 12, 2026 for the second tranche. A total of $133,034 finder's fees were paid in cash and the Company also issued 1,045,804 finder's warrants. Each finder's warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.12 for a period of 36 months, expiring on May 26, 2026 for the first tranche and on June 12, 2026 for the second tranche. All securities are subject to a four month hold period expiring on September 27, 2023 for the first tranche and on October 13, 2023 for the second tranche. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used to incur resource exploration expenses which will constitute "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction. About MTB MTB has six active projects spanning 670 square kilometres (67,587 hectares) in the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia. With the focus on the Telegraph project, discussions are now underway leading to joint ventures and/or spinouts of other projects. Telegraph is located in the vicinity of 4 world-class porphyry deposits being advanced by major mining companies: Galore (Teck / Newmont), Schaft (Teck), Saddle (Newmont) and the operating Red Chris copper-gold mine (Newcrest / Imperial Metals). Field work by MTB on its 310 square kilometre property, together with earlier results, provides compelling evidence for the presence of one or more porphyrys similar to others in the area. The American Creek project is centered on the historic Mountain Boy silver mine. The project is road accessible and 20 km from the deep-water port of Stewart. There are multiple silver, gold and copper occurrences on the property, including a 2006 drill hole that encountered 5 kgs of silver over 5 metres. Red Cliff is a past producing gold and copper mine in which the Company holds a 35% interest. On the BA property, 182 drill holes have outlined a substantial zone of silver-lead-zinc mineralization located 4 km from the highway. Several targets with high-grade silver potential remain to be tested. Surprise Creek, to the north, hosts the same prospective stratigraphy. On the Theia project, work by MTB and previous explorers has outlined a silver bearing mineralized trend 500 metres long, highlighted by a 2020 grab sample that returned 39 kg per tonne silver (1,100 ounces per ton). Two other zones on the property produced copper values over 5%. Southmore is in the midst of some of the largest deposits in the Golden Triangle. It was explored in the 1980s through the early 1990s and was overlooked until MTB consolidated the property and carried out airborne geophysics and field work which confirmed several zones of gold and copper, with values up to 20% copper and 35 g/t gold. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Lawrence Roulston President & CEO For further information, contact: Caroline Klukowski info@mountainboyminerals.ca NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169688 Kyber Knight Capital, a San Francisco, CA-based new venture capital firm focused on pre-seed and seed investments in early stage technology startups, launched with a $120M inaugural fund. Investors included: Alphabet, Inc. Chairman John Hennessy; Bain Consultings global head Manny Maceda; former Dreamworks Animation President Chris DeFaria; former President and CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard Meg Whitman; former MGM Chairman and CEO Gary Barber; previous Warner Brothers Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara, former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Michael Eisner, Joe Gebbia of Airbnb, Michael Mente of Revolve, PayPals David Sacks, Zyngas Mark Pincus. Kyber Knight is also supported by institutional investors including McKinsey, the Smithsonian Museum Endowment and a major California pension fund, among others. Co-founded by Sunny Dhillon and Linus Liang, Kyber Knight focuses on pre-seed and seed investing in companies that are building across commerce, AI, and labor. Ccompanies and founders will access to influential executives that can help them establish a framework of scalable success. The team also includes David Bloom, who has worked with the co-founders for five years and leads the built world and labor automation focuses, and Ary Vaidya, who leads the AI and commerce focuses at the fund. The firm has already invested in 12 soon-to-launch companies. Investments range from robotics and automation in traditional manufacturing and construction to sales enablement, e-commerce and AI technology. Kyber Knight plans to invest in approximately 40 to 50 companies with its debut fund. FinSMEs 12/06/2023 PartnerSlate, a San Francisco, CA-based online marketplace connecting food brands and contract manufacturers, raised $4M in funding. The round was led by Supply Change Capital. Other investors included Cleveland Ave, ResilienceVC, Pacific Fin Capital, Mentors fund, Newlin VC, and the MBA fund. The company intends to use the funds to expand project management features to help expedite projects through production and to invest in sales and marketing. Founded in 2021 by Matt Suggs and Vince Tseng, PartnerSlate is a provider of a platform that connects brands and manufacturers in the food and beverage industry. Its project marketplace, PartnerMatch, helps supply and demand stakeholders find partners and collaborate more effectively in the multi-trillion-dollar global CPG market. CPG brands that list in the marketplace get matched to nearly 6,000 co-mans in PartnerSlates database, the largest and most accurate of its kind in North America. Co-mans are able to search marketplace listings to find projects with requirements matching their specific equipment, capabilities, risk appetite and capacity. PartnerSlate has already connected over $1 billion dollars worth of food and beverage projects to co-mans in 2023. FinSMEs 12/06/2023 A number of government organisations like HSSC, SECR, and HPSC have recently announced recruitment for various positions in their organisations. Some have already started their online application process for the same. Hence, this could be an excellent opportunity to find your dream job if you have been looking for the right position. The jobs you can apply for this week are listed below. EMRS Recruitment to be done for 38,480 Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), that comes under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has released the notification for recruitment in Eklavya Model Residential Schools ( EMRS). It has released 38,480 vacancies for 23 positions in several Teaching and Non-Teaching staff. Once the application process is open, candidates can submit their applications through tribal.nic.in. The rules and guidelines notification is currently accessible on the organisations website. The online applications will be released soon. HSSC Recruitment for Group D Posts 13,536 Vacancies The online application process for the Haryana Common Eligibility Test (CET) has been started by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC). Candidates have until 26 June to submit their application forms via the official website at hssc.gov.in. HSSC aims to fulfil the Group D posts in various Haryana departments, corporations, commissions, boards, and other organisations. It has released 13,536 vacancies for the same. Recruitment will be done on the basis of the Haryana CET exam score. The candidate needs to have passed Class 10 to become eligible for the exam. SECR Recruitment for 772 Apprentice Vacancies The South East Central Railway ( SECR) has started the online application process for the recruitment of apprentices for various roles. It has released a total of 772 vacancies for the same. The last date for submitting the applications is 7 July. The candidates must have passed Class 10 with a minimum aggregate score of 50 percent. The age of the applicant should be between 15 to 24 years as of 6 June, 2023. JPSC Recruitment for Food Safety Officer Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) will be starting the online application process for the recruitment of Food Safety Officers ( FSO) on 15 June. It has released a total vacancy of 50 FSO positions. Candidates can apply from the official website of JPSC jpsc.gov.in. The last date to fill out the registration form is 14 July. The selection process for the recruitment will include a written exam followed by an interview, document verification and a medical examination. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. According to the independent, Prince Archie received a special surprise on his fourth birthday in May, a thank you note from his parents the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has revealed. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles son Prince Archie received a special surprise on his fourth birthday in May, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed. Archie turned four years old on 6 May, the same day of his grandfather King Charles IIIs coronation. For Archies birthday, a local bike shop in Montecito, California, gifted the couples child his very own bicycle. The owners of Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Shop in Montecito shared the sweet thank you letter they received from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Instagram. On behalf of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, please accept their sincere thanks for the thoughtful gift you sent to Prince Archie for his fourth birthday, read the letter. The bike has brought much joy, and is most appreciated by the family. They asked that I convey their gratitude at the lovely surprise, it said. The note was signed by Harrison Colcord, who works for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Bike shop owner Jennifer Blevins explained how her British-born partner Martin wanted to give Archie one of their childrens bikes for his fourth birthday. He went and got some birthday balloons, and he got some flowers for Meghan and a birthday card, and he said: Okay, Im gonna bike over and take it to their house, she told People. Security outside Harry and Meghans house asked whether the bike shop owner had received an invitation from the couple to which he replied, Im just a British business in town that wanted to give Archie a gift. He was then allowed to leave the flowers, card, balloons, and bike for Archie after they performed a background check, the report claimed. Jennifer Blevins said, I wasnt expecting that. I had no idea. It was so thoughtful because, you know, they took the time to write something personal and not just a generic thank you. Rift in Harry and Meghnas marriage On the personal front, all is not well in Harry and Meghans marriage. Looks like Harry and Meghans marriage is going through a rough phase. According to GeoTv report, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be heading in different directions five years after their marriage, according to an article published on the fifth wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In fact, according to sources, Prince Harry has a separate room to get away from Meghan Markle. As per reports a royal commentators believe all is not well in the Sussexs marriage. When we take a look at the changes in Harry and Meghans lives since the beginning of their relationship, Meghan has become a global figure and one of the most recognisable people in the world. While this may have caused issues for other couples, Harry and Meghan appear to be stronger than ever. The fact they have managed to overcome certain challenges and show genuine emotion proves they are clearly meant to be. I definitely believe they are in it for the long haul. I do think they will last the course of time, Darren Stanton said. Harry and Meghan have had to overcome a number of hurdles and Meghan was very much like Princess Diana as she was new on the scene and had to get to know the Royal Family, the expert said. In terms of their development over the years, the couple have been through a lot in order to get where they are today. Their relationship started off being seemingly smooth sailing and there were no challenges. Meghan was very much like Princess Diana as she was new on the scene and had to get to know the Royal family. However, despite having challenges since then, the couple have only got stronger over the years. In terms of confidence, I would say that Meghan is very much the stronger personality, Darren Stanton said. But, having said that, shes the one who has had the normal upbringing. She obviously had to work hard to become a professional actor, facing lots of rejection and hardships, especially in her professional life, the expert explained. (With added inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In the opening episode of Pataal Lok (2020), a fine social drama from India, respected and popular English TV journalist Sanjeev Mehra (Neeraj Kabi), observes a horde of photographers and videographers chasing him down and replies to his friend asking who these people are. They are us, he says. His reaction mirrors that of many that worked in broadcast news in its formative years. A presence of plenty in reporting and bringing the news to people was a sudden phenomenon that blossomed exponentially. And survival became key to success. Journalism has lent itself to enduring stories in Hindi cinema like New Delhi Times (1986), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) and Peepli Live (2010). Off late, the medias breathlessly competitive nature has made for engaging stories on OTT. What doesnt make it to the news bulletin anymore- the ethical question- makes it to long-form storytelling. It is not unusual for news to be manufactured on desktops and deafening debates by popular news anchors shape opinion into fact. In a polarised news atmosphere, anything that drives viewership or hits online, takes centerstage. As the space for objective news reportage keeps getting squeezed, OTT shows have reflected this transition of the Indian journalist effectively. Scoop on Netflix is the latest addition to a sordid and painful chapter from recent Indian journalism. Based on the travails of Jigna Vora, the Asian Age deputy bureau chief and crime reporter who was arrested on charges of conspiring to murder fellow journalist J Dey, this fictionalised account turns the lens on trials by media. With a layered approach to this story, its biggest victory is in showing the insensitive and hungry nature of Indian media when it chases a juicy story. No one pauses to consider the implications of such a story on the life of another, a fellow media person, because the job doesnt require one to keep ethical judgement in place. Based on Voras book, Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison (2019), this series has taken a non-judgmental approach with subtle socio-political commentary on the treatment that news networks gave her. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who plays the editor Imran Siddiqui. defending his imprisoned reporter to near- perfection explains his characters part. Siddiqui acts as the moral backbone who resigns as competitive news cultures take over but continues to fight for the truth. Hansal Mehtas simple point (for my character) is that he should look human. I developed the character as he had written it The shows political standpoint is communicated through Imran Siddiqui. His point of view in the series is actually basic because those are the general principles of journalism. I personally dont agree that being ethically flexible works, say in business, or in any other profession. In the series, Imran says that if a doctor becomes unethical you could lose lives. If journalism becomes unethical then you can lose an entire populace. Mehta has shown the crucial role that a conscientious journalist plays in his previous super hit show, Scam 1992 (2020). His research includes talking to reporters, photo journalists and editors across beats and cities, and capturing those experiences in the middle of a big news cycle. The manipulative role of broadcast news has provided material for different filmmaking approaches. Vinay Waikul has directed The Broken News (2022) on Zee5. Drawing from the loud, nation-wants-to-know rallying cry of a popular and controversial broadcast news editor, this show adapts Press (2018) by Mike Bartlett to an Indian context. Sonali Bendre and Jaideep Ahlawat play star broadcast editors and anchors on two ends of the spectrum here, as the space for facts-based reporting shrinks. Waikul, an avid news watcher, explains his process of creating this series. Id say we drew largely from the general shift in Indian TV news..a multitude of influences merged, present context being just one of them. Anyone who follows news is aware of this extremely visible shift. Our characters are a composite of many people- past and present, mixed with our own ideas of what it should be and what it has become We met a lot of people (in the media) to understand how they think and operate. All that goes into making news sensational, or the sheer need for journalism to survive has inspired filmmakers to draw from contemporary reality. In the Malayalam film Naradan (2022), a self-obsessed and over-ambitious news editor crosses over to criminal territory to get high ratings. In the upcoming series Crime Beat by Sudhir Mishra, starring Saqib Saleem and Rahul Bhatt, the mind-boggling corruption around CommonWealth Games (2010) drives the plot. The hyper-competitive and inhuman side of Indian media has found myriad representations on OTT. If the media continues to pander to rapid popularity driving measures, its moral responsibility might remain just a line in a media school textbook. The popularity of these shows should serve as a wake-up call. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dailymail reported that King Charles is said to be sad, bewildered and increasingly frustrated over Prince Harrys behaviour, according to an insider. Prince Harry 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 Kings upcoming birthday celebrations, to which it is believed he has not been invited. Harry 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 sons actions. 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 Lilibets 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 Harrys claims and has either denied or not admitted that articles about Harry being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity. Harry and Meghan were prostituting their titles to make money We have seen how Harry and Meghan were prostituting their titles to make money. Even as they turned their noses up on royal tradition, both Meghan and Harry always wanted to carry their title of princess and prince and even the tradition of hereditary privileges. According to reports as Harry put it, they always wanted their kids to have their birth rights to be Prince and he has done everything in his power. Harry and Meghan has made a lot of money through the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan and Harrys controversial memoir Spare. They knew that they wouldnt have made this money has they been members of the royal family. It is very demeaning that Harry and Meghna are prostituting their titles to make more money. Meghan the mastermind behind Harrys Spare The proof of his claim comes from Prince Harrys acknowledgment to his beloved wife in Spare. It talks of Meghan Markle being Prince Harrys logical, physical, emotional and spiritual inspiration. Royal biographer Tom Bower suggested that the Duchess of Sussex is the driving force behind the controversial memoir, titled Spare. Meghan Markle has been cited as Prince Harrys role model. Tom Bower added, His book is really Meghans. Meghan is the person who has dictated this agenda. Meghan Markle has been an agent of destruction, a royal biographer said following the leaking of Prince Harrys memoir Spare which will be officially released on January 10. The royal biographer, Tom Bower also said that Meghan Markle had constantly sought platforms to speak before meeting Prince Harry. She wanted to be Angelina Jolie; a celebrity and a famous influencer. But she was irrelevant. Being with Harry gave her that opportunity and she played him from the start. Harry was groomed by Meghan. Her wedding guests were all Hollywood, not family, which shows her agenda. She always wanted to go back to Hollywood, the biographer said. It is true that Meghan Markle has been an agent of destruction and she understood Harrys vulnerability. Meghan an agent of destruction Meghan Markle has been an agent of destruction, a royal biographer had earlier sad following the leaking of Prince Harrys memoir Spare . The royal biographer, Tom Bower also said that Meghan Markle had constantly sought platforms to speak before meeting Prince Harry. She wanted to be Angelina Jolie; a celebrity and a famous influencer. But she was irrelevant. Being with Harry gave her that opportunity and she played him from the start. Harry was groomed by Meghan. Her wedding guests were all Hollywood, not family, which shows her agenda. She always wanted to go back to Hollywood, the biographer said. It is true that Meghan Markle has been an agent of destruction and she understood Harrys vulnerability. According to reports, Harry has said to have landed in California on Thursday evening, meaning that he will have left Britain around lunchtime on the same day with the same dash he took after King Charless 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. Meanwhile, 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. (With added inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged Maha Rally at Delhis Ramlila Maidan Sunday (11 June) against the Centres ordinance on control of services in the National Capital. Addressing the gathering, Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal warned similar ordinances will be brought in other states. There will be a dictatorship in Delhi and the LG (Lieutenant Governor) is supreme. People can vote for whoever they want, but the Centre will run Delhi, he told the rally. Dont think that this is happening only to Delhi. I have heard they are planning to bring a similar ordinance for the rest of the country as well. An ordinance like the one for Delhi is like the declaration of dictatorship. It will be brought in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kejriwal was quoted as saying by Indian Express. After the AAP leaders barbs, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) retaliated by calling the Delhi chief minister corrupt and useless. So, why is the AAP-led Delhi government up in arms against the Central government over the services ordinance? We explain. What does the Centres ordinance say? Days after the Supreme Court granted the power to the Delhi government to administer civil services in the National Capital in early May, the BJP-led Centre introduced an ordinance apparently nullifying the order. The apex courts verdict had limited the power of the Lieutenant Governor over services related to three areas such as public order, police and land. However, the President promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 on 19 May. Under the ordinance, a permanent National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) will be set up, with the Delhi chief minister as chairperson, and Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary as the other members. This authority will make recommendations to the LG an arm of the Centre regarding transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. According to The Hindu, the NCCSA will have the authority to take decisions on transfers, postings, disciplinary proceedings, prosecution sanctions, vigilance issues, etc of civil service officers working in all Delhi government departments, except public order, police and land. The Centre stated that the aim of the ordinance is to provide for a comprehensive scheme of administration of services which balances the local and domestic interests of the people of Delhi with the democratic will of the entire nation reflected through the President of India. Who takes the final decision? Here is how the ordinance reverses the Supreme Courts 11 May ruling which vested the power to control the civil services with the Delhi government. In a unanimous verdict, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had said: If a democratically elected government is not provided with the power to control the officers posted within its domain, then the principle underlying the triple-chain of collective responsibility would become redundant. That is to say, if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature as well as the public is diluted. With the ordinance, the Centre puts the LG back in the drivers seat over the decision regarding services. This was previously done by the BJP-led Central government through a Union home ministry notification in 2015 and has since been an apple of discord between the Centre and the AAP government in Delhi. According to the recent ordinance, the decision on transfers, posting, etc, of bureaucrats can be taken through a majority of votes by the NCCSA members present and voting. Simply put, Chief Secretary and Home Secretary could potentially make a decision, even if the chief minister is not present at the meeting, provided the official quorum is met, as per India Today. If there is a difference of opinion, the LG will take the final call. In case the LG disagrees with the recommendation, they would be empowered to return the recommendation to the Authority for reconsideration. The Lieutenant Governor, before passing appropriate orders on such recommendation, may ask for any relevant material regarding the Group A officers, including the officers of the All India Services and DANICS, serving in the affairs of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), India Today cited the ordinance as saying. Still, if the difference of opinion persists, then the decision of the Lieutenant Governor shall be final. ALSO READ: Why Arvind Kejriwals big administrative reshuffle has Delhis bureaucracy concerned What will AAP do now? Calling the ordinance unconstitutional and a case of contempt of court, the AAP said in May it plans to challenge the Centres decision in the Supreme Court. As per The Hindu, if the ordinance is challenged, the Central government would have to prove the extraordinary or emergent situation that called for the promulgation of the ordinance just days after the apex court settled the control of services case. Meanwhile, the NDA government in the Centre will have to introduce a bill before the Parliament to ratify the ordinance and amend the GNCTD Act, noted India Today. Over the last month, Kejriwal has met several non-BJP chief ministers and leaders to garner support against what the AAP has termed the dictatorial ordinance in Rajya Sabha. He has met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav. However, the AAP has so far been unable to get the Congress on board to support it in Parliament over the ordinance. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As Gujarat gears up for Cyclone Biparjoy, Maharashtras Mumbai is already feeling the storms effects. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Biparjoy turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Sunday (11 June) and is likely to make landfall between Kutch in Gujarat and Pakistans Karachi on 15 June. The cyclone is expected to advance northward till the 14 June morning, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15 June as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph, the IMD said in its bulletin today (12 June). The cyclone has changed path and is expected to be heading towards the northern Gujarat coast instead of the previously predicted Pakistan coastline, noted Indian Express. How has Gujarat been preparing for Cyclone Biparjoy? How has the storm impacted Maharashtra? Lets take a closer look. Gujarat braces for Cyclone Biparjoy National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, along with Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, are being stationed along the coastal areas in Gujarat, reported PTI. On Saturday, an NDRF team was deployed at a beach near Jarod village in Vadodara. Teams have been deployed to ensure that no casualties are reported. All the villages along the coastline have been put on alert, and nearby beaches and temples have been shut. The cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall between Mandvi Beach and Karachi Beach, Kutch collector Amit Arora told PTI. The authorities have also started evacuation from the vulnerable areas. We started evacuating people living in huts and kutcha houses Till Sunday evening, approximately 1,100 people have been evacuated, Ashok Sharma, District Collector of Devbhumi Dwarka, was quoted as saying by Indian Express. The government will also set up temporary shelters in the six coastal districts of Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi and Kutch. As per Indian Express, 18 buildings in the Morbi district have been converted into cyclone shelters to accommodate 3,500 people. Popular sea beaches like Tithal Beach in Valsad, Chowpaty in Porbandar, Shivrajpur near Dwarka, and Mandvi in Kutch district have also been closed to tourists. The IMD has urged fishers to return from the sea and suspend all fishing operations till 15 June. #WATCH | Navsari, Gujarat: Effect of cyclone Biparjoy seen as strong winds & high tides hit Gujarat coast. pic.twitter.com/4QOIh5kZMz ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 According to News18, senior Gujarat Cabinet ministers have been deputed to oversee advance planning and disaster management. They will also provide guidance and support to the authorities in these coastal districts. Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Center on Sunday to assess the preparedness of coastal districts. He also held a video conference with all the officials of the areas that are likely to be affected. Due to the cyclone, the state government has delayed its annual ceremonial school enrolment drive Shala Praveshotsav in Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi and Kutch, as per an Indian Express report. ALSO READ: Weather report: Delayed monsoon to keep east India under heat, cyclone Biparjoy may bring rains in Rajasthan Impact on Gujarat The cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea is likely to cause some damage to thatched and pucca houses, standing crops, plantations, and orchards, as well as uproot power and communication poles, according to the IMD. Railways, powerlines and signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat could also be affected. The cyclone is predicted to bring rains in Kutch, Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts. The intensity of rainfall would increase with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely 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 15 June, Indias weather agency said in its bulletin today. Sea conditions along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts will likely remain rough to very rough till 14 June, and high to phenomenal on 15 June, the IMD added. Yellow alert for Mumbai As per The Times of India (TOI), the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and its neighbouring cities Thane and Palghar for Monday, predicting gusty winds at isolated places. Mumbai witnessed strong winds over the weekend with several flights getting delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather. Many passengers had to wait for hours on Sunday night as Mumbai airport plunged into chaos. Utter chaos @AkasaAir at Mumbai Airport. Flight to Bangalore is twice delayed and gate changed FIVE times. Making people look jokers and run around the airport with luggage! Beyond ridiculous! Such shame! 8.15 new take off time and boarding yet to begin! Ppl furious now! pic.twitter.com/C4KolqJPRo Boris DSouza (@boris_dsouza) June 11, 2023 Inclement weather conditions and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport, in addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests, as we make all effort to minimise the disruptions, Air India wrote in a tweet. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Inclement weather conditions and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport, in addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights. We regret the inconvenience caused Air India (@airindia) June 11, 2023 Responding to a Twitter user about flight delays at Mumbai airport, Indigo said: The agony as flight delays are equally troublesome for us. It is only under extremely uncontrollable situations were compelled to make such changes in the schedule. We look forward to your kind understanding. Strong winds in Mumbai also impacted the air quality and visibility due to dust particles, reported Hindustan Times. #WATCH | Maharashtra: High tidal waves witnessed in Mumbai as cyclone #Biparjoy intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. (visuals from Gateway of India) pic.twitter.com/UrnR0sahtE ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 The financial capital of India is also seeing high tidal waves due to the cyclone. According to the IMD, the districts of Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane, Palghar and Kolhapur are forecasted to report thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph at isolated places during the next three-four days. Light to moderate rain is also likely on the cards in parts of Mumbai till 15 June. With inputs from Reuters Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In 1993, Jurassic Park helped inspire nine-year-old Stephen Brusatte to become a palaeontologist. So Brusatte was thrilled to advise the producers of last years Jurassic World: Dominion on what scientists had learned about dinosaurs since he was a child. He was especially happy to see one of the most important discoveries make it to the screen: dinosaurs that sported feathers. But judging from the emails he has been receiving, some moviegoers did not share his excitement. A lot of people thought it was made up, said Brusatte, a professor at the University of Edinburgh. They thought it was filmmakers trying to do something crazy. Far from crazy, feathered dinosaurs have become a well-established fact, thanks largely to a trove of remarkable fossils that were unearthed in northeast China since the mid-1990s. Now Brusatte and other palaeontologists are trying to determine exactly how feathered dinosaurs achieved powered flight and became the birds that fly overhead today an evolutionary mystery that stretches more than 150 million years. The first big clue to the origin of birds came in 1861, when quarry workers in Solnhofen, Germany, found a spectacular fossil of a 145-million-year-old bird that came to be called Archaeopteryx. It had feathered wings like living birds, but also had traits found in reptiles, such as teeth, claws and a long bony tail. Charles Darwin, who had published On the Origin of Species two years earlier, was delighted. Archaeopteryx looked like what Darwin would have predicted if birds had evolved from reptilian ancestors. It is a grand case for me, he told a friend. Grand as it might have been, Archaeopteryx did not close the case. It did not, for example, reveal which group of reptiles gave rise to birds, nor did it track how those ancestors evolved wings from nothing. In the 1970s, John Ostrom, a palaeontologist at Yale University, identified similarities in the skeletons of birds and ground-running dinosaurs called theropods, a group that includes the Velociraptor and the Tyrannosaurus rex. But no theropod fossils preserved wings, let alone feathers. Without more evidence, Ostrom and other palaeontologists argued fiercely about the origin of birds for decades. In 1996, Pei-ji Chen, a palaeontologist from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology in China, came to a palaeontology meeting at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he handed a packet of photographs to Ostrom. The pictures showed a fossil of a dinosaur with a fringe of what looked like rudimentary feathers. Ostrom was so astonished he had to sit down. The 125-million-year-old fossil, now known as Sinosauropteryx prima, came from the Liaoning Province of northeastern China. It was exquisitely preserved in a Pompeii-like blanket of ash. Since then, a steady stream of feathered dinosaur fossils has emerged from the region. There are many thousands of feathered dinosaurs now, Brusatte said. Theropods, dinosaurs with feathers As more fossils emerged, palaeontologists realised that theropods were not the only dinosaurs with feathers. Other species had simple versions, which looked more like wires than the complex network of interlocking filaments found in bird feathers today. Palaeontologists now suspect that the ancestor of all dinosaurs had feathers. And recent discoveries hint that feathers preceded dinosaurs. The closest relatives of dinosaurs were pterosaurs, which flew like bats with membranes stretching from their hands to their sides. It turned out they had simple feathers, too. The first simple feathers may have originally served as insulation. The largest dinosaurs may have been able to use the large volume of their bodies to retain heat, which is why they appear to have lost feathers just as elephants have lost most of their hair. In theropods, on the other hand, more elaborate feathers evolved. Some resembled fuzzy down. Others evolved complex feathers that could form sheets the first wings. Theropods could not use their early wings to fly. Some horse-size species sported wings the size of laptop screens. Brusatte speculated that dinosaurs used these more elaborate feathers as displays during courtship. By 160 million years ago, theropods had exploded into a bizarre menagerie of feathered forms. Julia Clarke, a palaeontologist at the University of Texas, and her colleagues have studied fossils discovered in Hebei Province in China of a stunning and bizarre species called Caihong juji. Fossilised pigments in the feathers suggest that its body was black, while its head and shoulders were an iridescent rainbow. Its hard to figure out how Caihong juji used its feathers. Modern birds have asymmetrical feathers on their wings, which help steer the flow of air to generate lift. But Caihong juji had asymmetrical feathers only on its tail. Theropods may have initially used their feathers to generate lift as they ran. That ability might have allowed them to climb slopes faster, or even scale the sides of trees. Feathered dinosaurs like Caihong juji lacked the muscles for powered flight like birds, but they might have jumped and glided in ways scientists have yet to figure out. These organisms are just weird, and I think they defy our logic, said Jingmai OConnor, a palaeontologist at the Field Museum in Chicago. Evolution of birds Feathered dinosaurs were more than just intermediates on the path to birds as we know them. They survived for tens of millions of years. They were clearly good at whatever they were doing, Clarke said. Archaeopteryx belonged to one branch of the dinosaur tree that later adapted to fly longer distances. But palaeontologists are still split over just how well it could fly. While Archaeopteryx had asymmetrical feathers on its wings, it did not have a sternum that could anchor powerful flight muscles. Later, roughly 130 million years ago, early birds split into two major branches, both of which evolved independently into powered flyers. The lineage that led to all living birds is known as the ornithuromorphs. But it was the other branch, called the enantiornithines, that dominated the skies for tens of millions of years. On a superficial level, enantiornithines look a lot like birds today. But OConnor and her colleagues are uncovering a lot of strange biology within them. Living birds, for example, are typically born without feathers or just a downy fuzz, and then grow their feathers across their whole body. They gradually moult feathers as adults so that they never lose the coat that keeps their bodies warm. But enantiornithine birds seem to have developed feathers in a radically different way, as OConnor and her colleagues argued in a recent study. They hatched with bare bodies but with fully feathered wings. As they matured, they grew plumage on their bodies. But as adults, they moulted their body feathers all at once. Until their new feathers grew in, they had to survive without their insulating plumage. This lineage of birds survived until 66 million years ago when an asteroid struck the Earth. Roughly three-quarters of all species on the planet were wiped out, including all feathered dinosaurs except the ornithuromorphs. OConnor and other palaeontologists are investigating why those birds survived when all other feathered reptiles vanished. The debris from the impact caused widespread wildfires, followed by darkness and a plunge in temperatures. Terrestrial ecosystems collapsed. Feathered dinosaurs that ate leaves or small animals might have starved. But birds had evolved beaks that allowed them to eat the vast quantities of seeds buried in the ground. OConnor thinks other factors may have also been at play. After thriving for 70 million years or more, enantiornithines may have suddenly become vulnerable in the cold weather after the asteroid when they moulted all their feathers at once. You throw them in an impact winter, where now global temperatures have decreased and theres resource scarcity, its just going to push them over the edge, OConnor said. Carl Zimmer, c.2023 The New York Times Company Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On Monday, claims of a massive data breach from the CoWin app emerged. Reports claimed that a bot on the messaging app Telegram shared details of individuals who used the CoWin app to register for COVID-19 vaccinations. The Centre responded to the reports by vowing to look into the matter. So, has data from CoWin been leaked on Telegram? Lets take a closer look: What happened? The newspaper Malayala Manorama first reported that the Telegram bot leaked the data. According to India Today, the bot when given a phone number responded with the name, address, Aadhaar number, passport number, voter ID, date of birth and place of vaccination. If a particular number was used to register for vaccinations for an entire family, the bot would provide all the available details, as per India Today. According to Mint, Opposition leaders including TMCs Saket Gokhale highlighted this fact on social media. Gokhale tweeted: There are several Opposition leaders which include: 1. Rajya Sabha MP & TMC Leader Derek OBrien 2. Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram 3. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh & K.C. Venugopal@derekobrienmp @PChidambaram_IN @Jairam_Ramesh @kcvenugopalmp (2/7) pic.twitter.com/JnD5EKhPBO Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 Firstpost could not independently verify these reports. The Indian Express earlier in the day reported that a probe is on to determine the source of the alleged leak. We have certainly taken cognisance of the issue and have initiated a probe into the root cause and whether the data is coming from CoWIN or some other source, a senior official from the Electronics and IT Ministry told Indian Express. The information is being examined right now, sources told India Today. CoWIN does not collect the date of birth or address of the individual. According to CNBC, the admin of the Telegram group has now taken the bot offline. The message on the group reads Aadhaar and number search mode is not available right now, according to Indian Express. Cybersecurity experts told CNBC that the bot was giving out sensitive information. What does the Centre say? According to News18, the Centre has called such reports without any basis and mischievous in nature. The Co-WIN portal of Health Ministry is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy. Furthermore, security measures are in place on Co-WIN portal, with Web Application Firewall, Anti-DDoS, SSL/TLS, regular vulnerability assessment, Identity & Access Management etc. Only OTP authentication-based access of data is provided. All steps have been taken and are being taken to ensure security of the data in the CoWIN portal, the ministry said. The government added that the data of the vaccinated cannot be shared with any bot without using an OTP. Only Year of Birth (YOB) is captured for adult vaccination but it seems that on media posts it has been claimed that BOT also BOT mentioned the date of Birth (DOB), the government said, as per Moneycontrol. It added that there is no provision to capture the address of the beneficiary. Government officials told CNBC TV-18 they found discrepancies in data leak of the screenshots of the CoWIN app. Meanwhile, on Monday, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said it does not appear that the CoWin app or database has been directly breached. He added that Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) immediately responded and reviewed the matter. With ref to some Alleged Cowin data breaches reported on social media, @IndianCERT has immdtly responded n reviewed this A Telegram Bot was throwing up Cowin app details upon entry of phone numbers The data being accessed by bot from a threat actor database, which seems to Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@Rajeev_GoI) June 12, 2023 The data being accessed by bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from past. It does not appear that CoWin app or database has been directly breached, the minister said. In 2021, it was alleged that the personal data of more than 150 million Indians was leaked online. The health ministry at the time denied the allegations. In January 2022, National Health Authority CEO RS Sharma declared that CoWin has state-of-the-art security infrastructure and has never faced a security breach. #CoWIN has state-of-the-art security infrastructure and has never faced a security breach. Data of our citizens on CoWIN is absolutely #safe and #secure. Any news about data leaks from CoWIN holds no merit. Dr. RS Sharma (@rssharma3) January 21, 2022 But Supreme Court lawyer and cybersecurity expert Dr Pavan Duggal told News18 there is no such thing as foolproof security. If any entity says we are 100 per cent safe, that is not accurate. But we have to find the loopholes which could potentially be misused by cybercriminals, Dugal 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. Taiwan is facing its own reckoning with the #Me Too movement all thanks to a Netflix show. The series the Wave Makers a political drama about a team of campaign managers ahead of a Taiwanese presidential election has caught the public imagination and resulted in dozens of #Me Too accusations being made against rich and powerful in Taipei. Lets take a closer look: What happened? It was a sexual harassment plotline on the show that resulted in the outpouring of allegations. According to the China Project, the plotline sees a young worker Zhang Yajing harassed by her colleague. Her senior Weng Wenfang vows to get justice despite a higher-up blithely dismissing her concerns. We cant just let this go, Weng tells Zhang. Many things cant be dealt with like this. If they are, people will slowly die. We will die. It was those very words that kicked off the #Me Too storm in Taiwan on 31 May. A former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) worker on Facebook wrote about how she was sexually assaulted in September 2022 in a car after a campaign film shoot. When the worker approached the director of the partys women department, she was asked why she didnt leave the car. According to Focus Taiwan, the woman was pressured not to file a complaint against her assailant. I also thought I could let this go, she wrote, but recently when I watched the show, I was overwhelmed and cried until I almost died the person upholding womens rights failed to become my Weng Wenfang, so I will become my own Weng Wenfang, the worker wrote. According to CNN, the Facebook post found much support online. DPP chairman William Lai, who is also a candidate for president, apologised. The party official in question was quickly suspended and later resigned. A torrent of allegations According to CNN, dozens including a writer of Wave Makers have spoken up about their own experiences with sexual harassment. Among those named are exiled Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, Chinese dissident poet Bei Ling, United Daily News chairman Wang Chien-jung, professor and writer Chen Fang-ming, according to The News Lens International. Two people have made accusations agaist Wang, according to The China Project. One man has accused him of attempted rape, as per CNN. One of the accusers took to Facebook to say he came forward after being inspired by other victims. Wang Dans position and political friends are members of the independence movement and the DPP. I call on everyone to choose their allies carefully. If you ignore someones hurtful actions just because you have similar positions, is that not collusion? the man wrote on Facebook last week. As per Global Voices.org, Wang has claimed the accusations are politically motivated. The man has filed a legal complaint against Wang. Meanwhile, Chien Li-ying, who co-wrote the Wave Makers script, on 3 June wrote a social media post accusing Bei of sexually harassing her, as per The China Project. Though Bei denied the story, Chien says five others have reached out to her and spoken of similar experiences. Cases have been popping up in all walks of life recently, and you can see why it resonates, Chien told CNN. There had been so many incidents like this, but they couldnt be discussed or told. Chien told CNN victims are urged to let it go in view of the so-called bigger picture. The victims are prone to self-censor, because they are afraid what they say would spoil the bigger cause, she said. It seems like the issue of sexual harassment and assault has been suppressed all along as if weve been swallowing it for a bigger political cause and sacrificing ourselves for the sake of the bigger picture, she said. Politicians havent been spared either. According to The International, Presidential Office Adviser Yao Chih-fa and former Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Kaohsiung Hong Chih-kun of the DPP have also been named as well as several Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) politicians including legislator Fu Kun-chi. President Tsai Ing-wen on 2 June June apologised for the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints, following a recent spate of allegations by former party staffers. As a former party chairperson, I should bear full responsibility, Tsai said via social media. I would like to sincerely apologize to the victims [of sexual harassment] and the public. Tsai on 8 June yet again apologised after claims of sexual harassment were made against senior staff in her party. This came just hours after her national policy adviser Yan Chih-fa was accused of sexually harassing an employee of a Tsai support group in 2018. Yan withdrew a defamation lawsuit he had filed against the complainant and resigned from his position, as per The Guardian. Our society as a whole must educate ourselves again. People in sexual harassment incidents are victims, Tsai wrote in a Facebook post. Kang Ting-yu, an associate professor specializing in gender and media studies at Taiwans National Chengchi University, told CNN the victims were inspired by the show. I know of multiple cases where they explicitly said they were inspired by the show, she said. But experts say Taiwan has never really reckoned with #Me Too. The Guardian quoted Chen Chao-ju, a law professor at National Taiwan University, as saying that in Taiwan #MeToo has become a symbol of anti-sexual violence activism, but it has yet to produce a crystallising effect and recharge the anti-sexual violence movement stories are told in private, with victims in the dark and perpetrators enjoying impunity. Professor Chen Mei-hua of the sociology department at National Sun Yat-sen University told The Guardian the accusers were unlikely to win in legal proceedings. Most cases happened many years ago, and most women do not have any evidence or witnesses, she said. It is almost impossible for victims to win the lawsuit. 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. Four Indigenous children escaped an Amazon plane crash. They wandered alone in the forest for 40 days before being found alive by Colombian soldiers. Officials in the South American country confirmed their rescue on Friday, giving a happy climax to a drama filled with highs and lows as rescuers desperately combed the rainforest for the children. As the children receive treatment at a military hospital in Bogota, everyone wonders how they survived in the jungle for so long. Lets take a closer look. The survival of the children Lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon, the siblings, aged 13, nine, four and one, 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 mothers womb, according to the National Organisation of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (OPIAC). The kids are members of the Huitoto Indigenous group. The four siblings survived a small plane crash on 1 May 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 were travelling with their mother from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare when the plane went down. The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and the children when the pilot declared an emergency due to engine failure. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later and a search for survivors began. 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 Organisation of Colombia (ONIC), told AFP. Ranoque, the father of the youngest child, said the rescue shows how as an Indigenous population, we are trained to search in the middle of the jungle. We proved to the world that we found the plane we found the children, he added. Some Indigenous community members burned incense as part of a ceremony outside the Bogota military hospital Sunday to give thanks for the rescue of the kids. Luis Acosta, the coordinator of the Indigenous guard that was part of the search in the Amazon, said the children were found as part of what he called a combination of ancestral wisdom and Western wisdom between a military technique and a traditional technique. 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 favour 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. Miracle: Four Children Found Alive 40 Days After Plane Crash In Remote Jungle After a plane crash which unfortunately caused the death of all adults on the flight, four children were rescued after 40 days in the jungle of Columbia. They were transported to a hospital to be Gray Wolf (@graywolf442) June 12, 2023 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. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Pakistan is facing an economic and political crisis and when the neighbouring nation is in trouble, it creates tension in India. There are growing concerns once again that its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may increase terror activities in India. The spy agency is reportedly planning to escalate the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. New groups are being formed and logistics support is being provided to some new players in the Union Territory, according to a paper published by India-based think tank Usanas Foundation. In the latest game plan, Pakistans ISI has changed its strategy, engaging women and juveniles to carry weapons and messages in Jammu and Kashmir. The use of women and children According to Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla, General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps, there is a significant decline in the use of traditional means of communication by terrorists. He said the new threat is that women and juveniles are being used to carry messages, drugs and weapons. He also added that the forces need to be cautious as people sitting across the Line of Control (LoC) are busy scheming and planning to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere. 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 out on this, Lt Gen Aujla told PTI. Asked if it means that terror groups have stopped using mobile communication, the army officer said the Techint (technical intelligence) signatures have reduced considerably. Also, many Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who acted as conduits for them have been picked up. Therefore, now women, girls and juveniles have been roped in as an alternative to mainly carry messages, the top army officer in the valley said. As part of the deradicalisation strategy, the army, with the cooperation of the Union Territory administration, has undertaken a series of initiatives one of which is the Sahi Rasta (right path) programme that has in recent times proved to be a game changer in the right earnest. We have come a long way in ensuring peace and stability in Kashmir, but I will be naive to claim an early victory as we feel that every gain needs to be cemented before achieving lasting peace in the Union territory, he said. Without naming Pakistan, Lt Gen Aujla said the challenge is that the neighbouring country has not given up on its intent and is repeatedly creating trouble on both sides of Pir Panjal. The latest infiltration bid in the Machil sector of north Kashmir is a testimony of blatant indulgence. Security agencies on alert The army general stressed that all security agencies, including those from the Union Territory administration, were well geared up to thwart any nefarious designs of the adversary. The propensity of infiltration along the Line of Control in Kashmir may have shown some decrease but there have been some attempts in South of Pir Panjal as well as neighbouring Punjab. We need to be cautious and not let our guard down at any cost. National security is our prime responsibility. We will leave no stone unturned to maintain it, he said. We are cognizant of the likely threats from across and accordingly ensure to the best of our abilities that the current peace and normalcy achieved through collective efforts is not put at risk by inimical elements, he said. The invisible form of terrorism is a cause of concern He said the mounting pressure and actionable intelligence-based operations have kept the terrorists on their toes and a majority of them have either migrated out of the valley or have been lying low. The invisible form of terrorism is a cause of concern and we are jointly working towards weeding out this phenomenon, the officer said. It is difficult to give the exact number of terrorists either local or foreign but to my estimates, it is definitely at its lowest since the past 33 years, he added. The terror attacks and encounters between terrorists and security forces have witnessed a decline in Kashmir this year which reflects a positive sign and augurs well towards peace and normalcy in all spheres and domains, he said. The officer said there is a perceptible shift in the sentiments of the local population towards violence which is highly commendable and the challenge for us is to sustain it in the coming times. The need of the hour is to strengthen the confidence of the population in the security forces and the relevant government machinery, he said. After all, if we have been able to reach this point, it is thanks to the cooperation of the people, Lt Gen Aujla said. Based on the changing security environment, we have also amended our methodology and given in for more people-friendly operations, the officer said. I am optimistic that collectively we will be successful in ushering a new normal of peace in Kashmir in the days to come, he said. Lt Gen Aujla complimented the synergy between all security forces in ensuring an incident-free G-20 meeting held recently 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. He unleashed terror in the United States for 17 years from a dingy shack in rural Montana. His bombing campaign killed three people and left 23 injured. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spent years chasing him and he earned the moniker of the Unabomber. Now Theodore Ted Kaczynski, one of the most dreaded domestic terrorists in the US, is dead. He was 81 and reportedly died by suicide. 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 am on Saturday. Emergency responders performed CPR and revived him before he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later Saturday morning, reports The Associated Press. Before being transferred to the prison medical facility, Kaczynski was held in the supermax prison in Colorados Florence since May 1998 after he was sentenced to four life sentences and 30 years for a dreadful terror campaign that the US on edge. He confessed to committing 16 bombings from 1978 to 1995, which left several victims maimed. We take a look at the life of Kaczynski, his reign of terror and how he was arrested. Who was Ted Kaczynski? Born in Chicago on 22 May 1942, he was one of two children of working-class Polish-American parents. He was a loner but very bright and graduated from school at 15. He won a scholarship to Harvard University, where he studied mathematics. After he graduated in 1962, he went on to earn a masters and doctorate degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan. At 25, he became the youngest assistant professor in the history of the University of California, Berkley, where he taught undergraduate geometry and calculus for two years before he resigned in 1969 without providing a reason. Kaczynski moved back with his parents in Chicago and lived with them until 1971 before he moved to the woods near Lincoln, Montana. He built himself a tar-paper cabin, which served as the base of his bombing campaign. How did Kaczynski become the Unabomber? He wasnt exactly gregarious, but he was extremely articulate, Dale Eickelman, Kaczynskis friend in his early high school years, told the Daily Southtown newspaper in Chicago after Kaczynskis arrest. I remember Ted was very good at chemistry I remember Ted had the know-how of putting together things like batteries, wire leads, potassium nitrate and whatever, and creating explosions at the age of 12 and 13, Eickelman added. He channelled all that talent to become a terrorist. Kaczynski made homemade bombs and started targeting people in 1978. He sent some of them via mail using the US postal service and he hand-delivered some. The bombers first victim was Buckley Crist, a professor of engineering at Northwestern University. He found a package in the parking lot of his office building and realised something was amiss when he saw that it listed the return address as his. The professor altered campus security and the bomb exploded when a security guard opened the package, leaving him with a hand injury. In the next seven years, Kaczynski sent nine handmade pipe bombs to people including workers at United Airlines and American Airlines and various academic administrators, according to History.com. In 1979, he placed a bomb in the cargo hold of an American Airlines plane that gave off smoke during a domestic flight, forcing an emergency landing at Dulles International Airport near Washington. This caught the attention of the FBI and the agents would spend years trying to nab a perpetrator who left no solid clues and made no demands. They dubbed the case UNABOM, for University and Airline Bombings and Kaczynski became infamous as the Unabomber. In December 1985, he sent a bomb to Hugh Scrutton, a computer store owner in Sacramento, California and that was the first causality of his attacks. Then for six years, between 1987 and 1993, Kaczynski stopped the attacks and no bombs were sent, further confusing investigators. But when resumed the terror activity, his bombs became more sophisticated. He killed a New Jersey advertising executive Thomas Mosser, who had worked on improving the public image of oil major Exxon, with a mail bomb in 1994 and similarly, murdered, Gilbert Brent Murray, head of a California timber industry lobbying group, with a mail bomb the next year. In all, the Unabomber set off 17 bombs, injuring around 25 people, some of whom lost vision, hearing or fingers, reports Reuters. But why did Kaczynski go rogue? It is not exactly known why a math genius started making bombs and attacking people. Some say it could be his participation in an infamous Harvard experiment. At the university, he was subject to an experiment by Harvard psychologist Henry A Murray that was backed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The study was reportedly part of the CIA programme named Project MK-Ultra inspired by the use of mind-control techniques on US prisoners of war in Korea by the Soviet Union, China and North Korea, according to a report in The Washington Post. A document made public by the CIA in 2018 revealed that the programme sought to understand how to control minds by using drugs like LSD at times. However, there was no evidence that these were used on Kaczynski. The experiment, which also involved mock investigations in which participants beliefs were belittled, is said to have affected Kaczynski. According to a report in Reuters, psychologists subjected volunteer students, including Kaczynski, to hours of extreme verbal and emotional abuse as part of an attempt to measure how people handled stress. The experiment, now regarded as unethical, lasted three years. Others have cited a period in Kaczynskis childhood when he spent long periods in isolation due to a severe outbreak of hives. When he lived in the cabin in Lincoln, the destruction of surrounding forests for development left him upset. How was the Unabomber arrested? The FBI began an investigation into the UNABOMB case in 1979. More than 150 investigators spent years tracing the lives of the victims, recovering bomb components and searching for other forensic clues, reports The New York Times (NYT). They were confident that the suspect was raised in Chicago and lived in the Salt Lake City and San Fransisco areas but could not figure out who was it. They were not even sure of their gender. In 1995, he sent letters to The New York Times and The Washington Post demanding that they publish a 3,500-word essay written by him on the perils of industrialisation. The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race, the essay began. Kaczynski detailed how modernisation has destabilized society, subjected humans to indignities and inflicted severe damage on the natural world. This essay was published by the newspapers later in 1995 after consulting with the FBI. The investigators hoped that readers could help identify the author. The move paid off when the bombers younger brother David, recognised phrases and topics in the essay and told police he believed it was written by Ted. And finally, the Unabomber was arrested in 1996 from the shack in Montana. They also recovered 40,000 handwritten journal pages with information on bomb-making experiments and descriptions of his crimes and a live bomb. In January 1998, Kaczynski pleaded guilty in Sacramento, California, as part of a deal that ensured he would not get the death sentence. Later that year, he was sentenced to four life sentences plus 30 years in prison, according to the NYT. 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. Age is just a number. 14-year-old Kairan Quazi proved it time and again! He is all set to join Elon Musks SpaceX as a software engineer after becoming Santa Clara Universitys youngest graduate in its 172-year history. Quazi is the youngest employee that SpaceX has ever taken on, having successfully completed the fun and technically challenging interview procedure. He updated his resume on LinkedIn and announced his new adventure with SpaceX. He declared he would be a part of the Starlink engineering team, which he referred to as the coolest company on the planet. The smart 14-year-old referred to SpaceX as one of those rare companies that did not use his age as an arbitrary and outdated standard for judging aptitude and maturity. SpaceX offers a satellite internet service called Starlink. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kairan Quazi (@thepythonkairan) Also read: Worlds most powerful rocket, made by Elon Musks SpaceX, to make its maiden orbital flight next week Who is Kairan Quazi? Based in San Francisco, Quazi is a Santa Clara University (SCU) School of Engineering alum. According to the LA Times, Quazis incredible journey began when he first began speaking in full sentences at the age of two. Just a few months after her son was born, Quazis mother Jullia reportedly noticed his intense temperament, reported Seattle Times. For example, if she was reading to him and stopped, Kairan would have a tantrum that could only be calmed by listening to NPR. By age two, he was speaking in complete sentences, and his doctors realised his intellectual and emotional intelligence were off the charts. Quazi, who was just nine years old, felt that the third-grade curriculum was too easy given his advanced understanding. A few months later, Kairan Quazi remarked in a LinkedIn post, I walked into a meeting with Lama Nachman at Intel Labs and walked out with a generative AI opportunity that would shift my career trajectory. In the post, he claimed that Lama understood that exceptional circumstances required exceptional access to powerful mentors and demanding opportunities. The one CEO who said yesone door openingchanged everything in a sea of nos from Silicon Valleys highest-profile companies. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kairan Quazi (@thepythonkairan) Engineering with a mission is not just a catchphrase, Quazi learned it at Santa Clara Universitys School of Engineering. According to News18, he believes that the demands of a student who is radically accelerated intimately resonate with a culture of rigour, collaboration, accountability, and impact. According to LinkedIn, the young prodigy spent four months as a machine learning intern at cyber intelligence company Blackbird.AI in 2022, where he assisted the team in developing an anomaly detection statistical learning pipeline to identify manipulated social media information. Quazi enjoys reading science fiction tales by Philip K Dick, playing video games like the Assassins Creed series, and watching documentaries by journalist Michael Lewis, who has focused on financial crises. The young genius intends to move with his mother from Pleasanton, California, to Redmond, Washington, in order to begin working for SpaceX, according to Wion News. The 14-year-old used Instagram earlier this year to document his preparations for a major job interview. He posted a screenshot of the employment acceptance letter from SpaceX after a few weeks had passed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kairan Quazi (@thepythonkairan) According to News18, thanking his teachers, Quazi said, To my mentors and friends Lama Nachman (Intel Labs), Naushad UzZaman (BLACKBIRD.AI), and Nam Ling and Ahmed Amer (Santa Clara University) I am forever grateful that you recognized my value, trusted my abilities, and invested in my growth. I am excited to carry these cultural lessons into my career. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In the upcoming days, Reddit might only be a faint memory of what it once was. According to the website Reddark, thousands of Reddit groups, sometimes referred to as subreddits, are going dark to oppose proposed API changes that would essentially kill off many third-party applications, including Apollo and rif is fun for Reddit. Reddit, which calls itself the front page of the internet, is among the top 20 most visited sites and has an estimated 430 million active users every month. A subreddit is a specific Reddit community where users assemble to post and comment on discussion threads about a certain topic or issue. During the protest, thousands of subreddits will have their private mode activated for 48 hours by their moderators. These channels will only be accessible to community members who have been given the moderators approval. The pages will not be available to anybody else. Some subreddits have declared that they will stay inactive up until the proposed modifications are changed or abandoned. What is an API? The current web is thought to have its foundation in application programming interfaces (APIs), according to Al Jazeera. In a nutshell, they enable two programmes to speak to one another, enabling developers to access data and create new features and functionality. Reddit, like all other digital firms Google, Facebook, and Twitter, has a public API that programmers may sign up for and use after accepting certain terms and restrictions. What are the changes? The company said on 18 April that it was revising its API conditions to include charging developers for API access; the modification will go into effect on 1 July 2023. Reddit made its choice only a few months after Twitter announced it was suspending all third-party apps and requiring users to use its official app and website. It should be noted here that the social news site offers an enormous volume of text from numerous communities, making it useful for creating AI (artificial intelligence) language models like ChatGPT and Bard. Third-party application developers are well-represented on the platform. Beyond the capabilities and customisations offered by the official Reddit app or website, these apps give users access to additional functionality. Reddits CEO and co-founder Steve Huffman stated that more than any other place on the internet, Reddit is a home for authentic conversation in an interview with the New York Times from April. Crawling Reddit, generating value and not returning any of that value to our users is something we have a problem with, he added. Less than 100 queries per minute apps will continue to be free under the new rules. According to Huffman, these make up more than 90 per cent of the existing apps. Higher API request volumes from third-party apps will incur a $0.24 (~Rs 20) per 1,000 request fee. Why is it happening? The well-liked iPhone and iPad app Apollo, which is renowned for its sleek user interface and personalised themes, is among the most well-known third-party apps to shut down. According to Indian Express, Christian Selig, the creator of the Apollo app for iOS developed for Reddit, announced a week ago on the r/apolloapp forum that he had spoken with Reddit and learned that the app would have to pay Reddit $20 million (~Rs 1.64 billion) year to continue operating the way it does. Apollo made seven billion requests last month, which would put it at about 1.7 million dollars per month, or 20 million US dollars per year. Even if I only kept subscription users, the average Apollo user uses 344 requests per day, which would cost $2.50 (~Rs 206) per month, which is over double what the subscription currently costs, so Id be in the red every month, wrote Selig in the post. Selig additionally contrasted Imgur, a website that hosts images and media, with the $12,000 (~Rs 9.89 lakh) fee for every 50 million queries. He claimed that for the same 50 million API calls, he only pays Imgur $166 (~Rs 13,686). Other well-known apps, such as Reddit is Fun, Sync, and Reddplant, have also declared their closure as a result of the costs. The modifications were defended by Huffman, who goes by u/spez, in a hectic Ask Me Anything open forum on Friday in response to user outrage. He declared, Reddit needs to be a self-sustaining business and to do that, we can no longer subsidise commercial entities that require large-scale data use. Despite strong criticism, Huffman affirmed the business had no intentions to reverse the upcoming API modifications. Why is there a protest? Reddit depends more than any other site on moderators because of its community- and anonymity-focused user experience. Tens of thousands of unpaid moderators, often known as mods, are used by the website in addition to a few paid administrators to maintain its functionality, as per BBC In a manner, Reddit pays them back for the time they invest by providing a community forum where they can talk and learn more about the topics that interest them. BREAKING: ~40% of Reddit is going dark for 48 hours. Heres whats going on pic.twitter.com/mfJoPVhF5k Aakash Gupta Product Growth Guy (@aakashg0) June 12, 2023 But many of the moderators who oversee the subreddits have been offended by Reddits activities, which many of them view as greedy. The moderators of about 3,500 subreddits want to make those subs private between 12 and 14 June in protest of the social networks measures, making them inaccessible to visitors. According to BBC, totalling 3,489 subreddits, the blackout will affect five of the ten most popular communities on the website, r/gaming, r/aww, r/music, r/todayilearned, and r/pics, each of which has a membership of more than 30 million. A moderator of a major subreddit told the British outlet, If it was a single subreddit going private, Reddit may intervene. This is a completely volunteer position, we dont receive any financial compensation, and despite that, we do like to take it quite seriously. If its almost the entire website, would they destroy what theyve built up in all these communities, just to push through this highly unpopular change that both the mods and users of Reddit are overwhelmingly against? With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday will chair a meeting with ministers of Disaster Management of the States and Union Territories. The day-long meeting will also be attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla along with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Considering challenges before India in disaster management, the meeting is learnt to keep the focus on preparedness to deal with the next phase of these challenges. The meeting is learnt to be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis holistic approach towards disaster management to make it relief-centric, early warning-centric, proactive and early preparedness-based. The Home Minister has said that earlier the country had only a relief-centric approach towards disaster management which did not involve minimizing the loss of life and property, but this approach changed after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. Ministry of Home Affairs has fixed targets for every five years and every year till 2047, for which it is working with full readiness. Last year, the Home Minister also chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Disaster Management at Kevadiya in Gujarat. The Members of Parliament who attended the meeting of the committee were NK Premachandran, Kunwar Danish Ali, Professor (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria, Shri CM Ramesh, Rajendra Agarwal, Locket Chatterjee, Vijay Kumar Hansdak, Neeraj Shekhar, PP Choudhary, KC Ramamurthy, Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania, K Ravindra Kumar and K Gorantia Madhav. (With inputs from ANI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A 38-year-old man was stabbed multiple times with a pair of scissors allegedly by an inebriated person who was asked not to smoke cigarettes inside a barber shop in southwest Delhis Kishangarh village. The incident took place on Sunday, while the accused has been arrested. Abhay Kumar had gone for a haircut when Mohit Mahlawat (22), the landlords son, entered the barber shop. He was intoxicated and was smoking a cigarette. Kumar asked him to smoke outside the shop, which sparked a quarrel between the two, a senior police official said. In a fit of rage, Mahlawat stabbed Kumar multiple times with a pair of scissors kept in the shop. Kumar sustained nine injuries all over his body, including four on his chest, he said. The victim was rushed to a hospital and his condition was now stated to be stable, the official added. Based on the victims statement, a case has been registered under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Kishangarh police station and the accused was arrested, he added. (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. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday extended warm greetings to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the government and the people of the Russian Federation on their National Day. Warm Greetings to FM Sergey Lavrov and the Government and people of the Russian Federation on their National Day. Look forward to our continued cooperation under our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, tweeted EAM Jaishankar. The India -Russia relationship has a long history of cooperation. Since the signing of the Declaration on the India-Russia Partnership in October 2000, India-Russia ties have acquired an enhanced level of cooperation in terms of politics, security, defence trade, etc. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic triggered difficulties, the two countries held the inaugural two plus two meeting and the 21st annual summit last year. On 1 April, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visited India, held talks with EAM Jaishankar, and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His visit took place amid Russias invasion of Ukraine. During his meeting with PM Modi, the Russian FM briefed PM Modi on the situation in Ukraine. In that meeting with the visiting Russian Foreign Minister, PM Modi had reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence in Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of violence, and conveyed Indias readiness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts, the MEA said. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Four Additional Oath Keepers Sentenced for Seditious Conspiracy Related to U.S. Capitol Breach Four members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced this week on seditious conspiracy and other charges for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election. Roberto Minuta, 39, of Prosper, Texas, was sentenced June 1 to 54 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Edward Vallejo, 64, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on June 1 to 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release, including the first 12 months to be served on home confinement. David Moerschel, 45, of Punta Gorda, Florida, was sentenced on June 2 to 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Joseph Hackett, 53, of Sarasota, Florida, was sentenced on June 2 to 42 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. The four defendants were found guilty of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to prevent Members of Congress from discharging their official duties on Jan. 23, following a seven-week trial. Hackett was also found guilty of destruction of evidence. According to the evidence, in the months leading up to Jan. 6, the defendants and their co-conspirators plotted to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by amassing an armed quick reaction force on the outskirts of the District of Columbia. Beginning in late December 2020, via encrypted and private communications applications, the defendants and various co-conspirators coordinated and planned to travel to Washington, D.C., on or around Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the certification of the electoral college vote. The defendants made plans to bring weapons to the area to support the operation. The co-conspirators then traveled across the country to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area in early January 2021, with paramilitary gear and supplies including firearms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, and radio equipment. The defendants conspired through a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates to participate in the conspiracy; organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons, and supplies including knives, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection and radio equipment to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with co-conspirators and others. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Departments National Security and Criminal Divisions. Valuable assistance was provided by numerous U.S. Attorneys Offices across the country. The case is being investigated by the FBIs Washington Field Office, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the FBIs New York, Dallas, Tampa and Phoenix Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Secret Service. In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. This story has been published on: 2023-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Lets see how this play staged by the US will end 10:19, June 12, 2023 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times US double standards.Illustration:Liu Rui/GT The rumor made up by the Wall Street Journal that China would spend billions of dollars to build an "electronic eavesdropping facility" in Cuba is still fermenting in the US. This has been enough to confirm the previous assumptions of many people, including us, that there is a direct and close relationship with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's reported China visit. It is obvious that some people in the US want to spoil the possible visit again, and the White House's subsequent performance is not so much refuting the rumor, but a rumor-style explanation. It wanted to extract itself from the rumor, and at the same time, it did not forget to add some newsy elements to it. It makes people feel that the role played by the US government in this matter is not simple. If there hadn't been a round of hype about the "balloon incident" in the US in February, the current show might have a little more novelty. The US side has always directed and acted by itself, and this time the screenwriter has added some new exciting elements, but the script as a whole is still old-fashioned and crappy. The more serious the actors pretend to be on stage, the more ridiculous they appear. Every detail makes people feel absurd. The rumor itself this time is too absurd to be analyzed with professional knowledge. Normal people think it is impossible when they hear it. There are two main feelings from the Chinese people: One is that Americans are really good at acting, and the second is that let it perform, while we are not interested at all. Some US officials most want to see China prove its innocence in a panic, but people can never prove what they have not done. If we don't join the show, we won't be led by them. Their performance with ulterior motives will become a de facto international shame. To be honest, it is necessary for the Chinese, who are regarded as a key target audience by the US, to maintain such a sense of sobriety and detachment. The US media reported that Blinken will visit China on June 18, but China has neither confirmed nor denied it. To some extent, this is a kind of prejudgment and prevention of US uncertainty. It can be said that this time the US broke out rumors related to China at a special moment, which is within our expectations. The US is very good at playing this game. On the one hand, it talks about improving relations, and on the other hand, it creates tension. In the past two years, anything that might promote the easing of China-US relations has not gone smoothly. It has always encountered all kinds of strange stumbling blocks in the US. The ups and downs surrounding Blinken's visit to China in the US is a new example. With so many incidents like this, we have come to understand they are not interludes, or accidents, to China-US relations, but rather organized and precise attacks by certain political forces in the US. When Chinese people have a more comprehensive understanding and psychological preparation for American political integrity, they will have stronger immunity and resistance to US' breaches of promises, flip-flopping, or hypocrisy. This will allow us to completely abandon our illusions about the US and focus our main efforts on doing our own things well. Interestingly, it is precisely at this moment that the US is starting to complain about China's coldness toward it, which in turn shows that we are doing the right thing and need to continue this mentality and attitude toward the US until it shows enough sincerity. We are not afraid to speculate with the greatest malice about some American radical politicians. This is a conclusion made based on the experience of Chinese people dealing with the US in recent years, as well as a kind of sobriety and rationality. The US has staged one show after another, but it's actually the same old faces taking turns on stage. For example, this time it's Senator Marco Rubio that is jumping the highest again, and these few lawmakers in the US Congress are always "anti-China" and will strike at anything Chinese. As for the White House, one of the main characters, it exhibits a certain complexity and versatility. The White House has a motive to exploit and manipulate this incident to create an issue before Blinken's visit to China, ensuring that it takes the initiative against China without losing control. This is a common tactic of the US. Let's see what kind of tricks Washington will come up with in the next few days. We might as well remain steadfast in the face of change. Since the US has repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen high-level communication with China, whether Blinken will visit China is a litmus test of US' sincerity and political maneuvering ability. Not only the Chinese people, but also the whole world are watching how the show Americans are playing will end. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Days after a case religious conversion through an online gaming application was uncovered by Uttar Pradesh police, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said that the government for the first time has come up with a framework to address the menace. Talking to reporters, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said, For the first time we have prepared a framework regarding online gaming, in that we will not allow three types of games in the country. Games that involve betting or can be harmful to the user and that involves a factor of addiction will be banned in the country. #WATCH | For the first time we have prepared a framework regarding online gaming, in that we will not allow 3 types of games in the country. Games that involve betting or can be harmful to the user and that involves a factor of addiction will be banned in the country: Union pic.twitter.com/XUdeHQM2ho ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 The Uttar Pradesh Police had recently uncovered a conversion racket in which teenagers were allegedly being targeted through an online gaming application Fortnite and were enticed to convert their religion. The accused, identified as Shahnawaz Maksood Khan, a resident of Mumbra, used the digital name Baddo and allegedly targetted children who played Fortnite. The 23-year-old Khan was arrested from Alibaug, said police officials on Sunday. Khans name came up during an interrogation of a person who was picked up from Ghaziabad on Thursday, said a police officer. Ghaziabad police then alerted Mumbra police regarding the religious conversion racket by Khan, which was being operated through an online game, said the officer. According to the police, Khan along with his family was on the run for the last few days and his house in Mumbra was also found to be locked. DCP Ganesh Gawade from Mumbra said, Based on technical intelligence, we traced him at Alibaugs cottage and arrested him. Further investigation is on. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Union Minister for Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has announced that India is set to ban three kinds of games in the country. Although Minister Chandrasekhar did not refer to it while speaking to the press, the announcement comes at the heel of the exposure of a massive conversion racket that was using online games as a platform to cajole kids into converting. Popularly known as the Gaming Conversion Racket, the scandal involves Shahnawaz Khan, who is the main accused, and Abdul Rehman, a maulvi at a mosque in Ghaziabad using Fortnite a popular RPG and Discord. The two perpetrators would prey upon children in online gaming lobbies and get them to convert to a certain religion Government of India bans three kinds of games Chandrasekhar informed ANI that the government has already developed a plan for the upcoming regulations. He outlined three specific game categories that are set to be prohibited. The minister said, For the first time we have prepared a framework regarding online gaming, in that we will not allow 3 types of games in the country. Games that involve betting or can be harmful to the user and that involve a factor of addiction will be banned in the country. Nevertheless, he did not disclose the criteria that will determine the classification of games within each of the mentioned categories. He asserted that the subsequent types of games will face a ban in India games that involve betting, games can be harmful to the user, and games that involve a factor of addiction. Formation of SROs The minister stated that self-regulatory organisations, responsible for approving games that comply with regulations, need to be established within 90 days from the date the regulations are announced. During this interim period, while waiting for the formation of SROs, the government will assume the responsibility of determining which games are permissible and which are not. Which Games Are Possibly Getting Banned With discussions around a complete and robust framework to decide which games will be allowed and which ones wont, there is a very good possibility that games like BGMI, Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, and other similar games in India may get banned yet again. Along with this, several betting apps, even if they were able to get classified as games of skill, will also get banned. The three classifications that Minister Chandrasekhar spoke of are actually too broad to make any sort of a guess, even an educated one. However, one thing is for sure in the next couple of months, some of the most downloaded applications from Google Play Store and Apple App Store will cease to exist. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar on Monday announced a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to each recipient of the Padma award in the state. All Padma awardees will be given Rs 10,000 per month as a pension in the state. Their travel in govt buses will be free, CM Khattar said. Earlier today Haryana CM Khattar interacted with the public in Ward number 16 of his Assembly constituency Karnal. Earlier, in January, the Central government had announced a total of 106 Padma Awards across categories. The categories included art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service, among others. The Padma awards are conferred in three categories Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards are given in various disciplines and fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually in March-April every year. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that in India, digitalisation has brought revolutionary change and the country is willing to share its experience with partner countries. Addressing the G20 Development Ministers Meeting via video message, the Prime Minister said, One of the important issues before you is the growing data divide. High-quality data is critical for meaningful policy-making, efficient resource allocation, and effective public service delivery. Democratisation of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change. Technology is being used as a tool to empower people, make data accessible, and ensure inclusivity. India is willing to share its experience with partner countries, he added. The G20 Development Minsters meeting is taking place in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In his address, PM Modi also highlighted the significance of Kashi, saying that it has been the centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries while it also has the essence of Indias diverse heritage serving as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country. Development core issue for Global South The Prime Minister of India said that the countries of Global South were severely impacted by the disruptions created by the global Covid pandemic. He urged the members of the G20 group to send a strong message to the world that it has an action plan to achieve the Sustainable Development goals. My remarks at the G20 Development Ministers Meeting. @g20org https://t.co/x8ky51QwqB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2023 "Development is a core issue for the Global South. The countries of Global South were severely impacted by the disruptions created by the global Covid pandemic. And, the food, fuel, and fertiliser crises because of geo-political tensions have delivered another blow. In such circumstances, the decisions you make carry great significance for humanity as a whole," PM Modi said. "I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this," the Indian Prime Minister said. PM Modi went on to say that the efforts of G20 members "must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair, and sustainable." "We should increase investment in fulfilling the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and find solutions to address the debt risks faced by many countries. Multilateral financial institutions should be reformed to expand the eligibility criteria, ensuring that finance is accessible to those in need." he said. The Prime Minister said that India has made efforts to improve people's life in more than hundred Aspirational Districts, which were pockets of under-development. "Our experience shows that they have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country," the PM said. "I urge the G20 Development Ministers to study this model of development. It may be relevant as you work towards accelerating Agenda 2030," PM Modi said. PM Modi urges for game-changing Action Plan for Women-led Development During his address, PM Modi urged the G20 Development Ministers to adopt a "game-changing" Action Plan for Women-led Development. "Gender equality and women's empowerment are crucial to achieve the SDGs. In India, we are not limited to women's empowerment. Ours is a women-led development. Women are setting the agenda for development and are also the agents of growth and change. I urge you to adopt a game-changing Action Plan for Women-led Development," the PM said. Before concluding his address, the Prime Minister urged the dignitaries to not spend all their time in meeting rooms and encouraged them to explore and experience the spirit of Kashi. I am confident that experiencing the Ganga Aarti and visiting Sarnath will inspire you to achieve your desired results, the PM said. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. More heart wrenching details are coming to fore from Mumbai murder case where 32-year-old Saraswati Vaidya was allegedly killed and chopped into pieces by her live-in partner Manoj Sane. During the investigation, police found out that the 56-year-old accused took pictures of the body and did rampant Google searches to find out how to dispose it. Cut hair and kept on kitchens platform The police have found out that Vaidya had four sisters. Among them, three have recorded their statements during which they requested cops to make a strong case against Sane that he gets the strictest punishment. One of the sisters got emotional after seeing a photograph of Vaidyas long hair that Sane had cut and kept on the kitchen platform in their flat. Police said that she recalled Vaidya used to love her long hair. Butchered body with electric wood cutter As per reports, after murdering Vaidya, Sane went to a local hardware shop to buy an electric wood cutter (tree cutter) with the help of which he chopped off her body parts. The chain of the saw had come off when the heinous crime was being committed after which he took it for repair to the same shop from where he had purchased it. No one at the shop could get the clue of what work the machine was used by Sane as he had cleaned the cutter rigorously before taking it for repair. Bought Nilgiri oil to get rid of stench As per the police, Sane also searched on Google about the ways to avoid foul smell that emit from a dead body. Relying on one of his searches, he bought five bottles of Nilgiri oil from a shop in his area. Sane-Vaidya were husband and wife The sisters of the victim told the cops that Vaidya and Sane were not live-in partners, but were husband and wife. They said that the marriage was allegedly kept a secret because of their age gap. They got married in a temple, DCP Jayant Bajbale said. They did not inform many people about the marriage because of their age difference, the DCP said. Also Read: Mumbai live-in partner murder: Saraswati told orphanage living with very rich uncle The senior police officer also said the DNA of the remains of Saraswatis body will be matched with the three sisters. Last week, a worker at the orphanage where Vaidya grew up said that she had told them that she was living in Mumbai with his rich uncle. During questioning after arrest, Sane told police that Vaidya was like his daughter and he had no physical relationship with him. He has not yet admitted to having killed Vaidya. Sane had, however, said he was trying to get rid of the body which he had chopped into pieces, boiled and roasted as well as fed to dogs. 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. While UP police are busy investigating the Ghaziabad Gaming Jihad case, another case with a similar storyline has surfaced in Delhis Turkman Gate area where a night shelter executive was repeatedly forced to convert to Islam by one Mohammad Kalim. Delhi Police arrested the accused on Saturday following an FIR Sandeep Sagar, the caretaker of Turkman Gate shelter, who accused Kalim of using radical Islamic videos from YouTube to instil doubt in his victims faith. Sources in Delhi police have claimed that Kalim used modus operandi similar to the Ghaziabad Gaming Jihad suspect who coerced Hindus into renouncing their faith while using gaming app Fortnite. He allegedly compelled Hindu youths to recite religious verses before starting their work. According to an FIR filed in Kalims case, it has been alleged that he tried to bribe Sandeep Sagar, the victim, by promising him a monthly payment of Rs one lakh, assistance in securing a government job, and arranging his marriage if he agreed to convert to Islam. Sagar, who had served as a caretaker at the Night Shelter at Delhi Gate for four years, was coerced by Kalim into embracing Islam. The FIR states, 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 apologized and I forgave him. Sagar claims that he had complained about Kalims suspicious behaviour towards him was made to withdraw complaint after Kalims promises that he genuinely believes in Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. However, it appears that Kalim did not mend his ways, prompting Sagar to request a transfer to Turkman Gate Night Shelter. At this new location, Sagar encountered two individuals named Feroz and Zeeshan, who also resided at the night shelter. Mohammed Kalim would frequently visit the shelter to meet with them, and the trio would collect money for the Madrasa. Sagar alleges that Kalim once again subjected him to watching specific YouTube videos, denigrating Hinduism and highlighting its supposed flaws. He claimed that Kalim insisted Hinduism had no significant virtues. Moreover, Kalim tempted Sagar with promises of arranging his marriage, offering a monthly sum of one lakh rupees, and securing a government job if he complied with his demands. Further allegations emerged as Sagar discovered that Kalim had coerced two Hindu youths, Sujit Kumar and Vicky Sharma, into converting to Islam. Kalim reportedly exploited their religious beliefs, pointing out perceived flaws in Hinduism, and made persistent efforts to make him his prey. Sagar also claimed that Kalim recently succeeded in converting a Hindu youth named Sanjeet Kumar, who now goes by the name Abbas. These disturbing revelations shed light on the persistent nature of Kalims activities and the alleged impact he has had on vulnerable individuals seeking shelter at the night shelter. Sandeep Saagar, the victim, made further allegations in the FIR stating that Mohd Kalim has filed a false case against him in Kamla Market as a means to exert pressure. The victim asserts that Kalim has made derogatory remarks about his religion, causing offense to his religious sentiments, and persistently attempted to lure him into converting to Islam. Frustrated by these actions, the victim expresses his inability to tolerate them any longer and urges the authorities to take appropriate legal action. Kalim, a B.Tech Graduate The police have confirmed that Kalim, a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science, has been arrested in connection with the case. They further stated that additional arrests are likely as a special team continues to investigate the matter. Following Sandeep Sagars complaint, a preliminary inquiry was conducted by the police, which yielded prima facie evidence supporting the allegations. Consequently, an FIR was registered at the Chandni Mahal Police Station under sections 153-A and 295-A of the Indian Penal Code. Kalim was apprehended on Saturday and subsequently produced before the court, where he has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. 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 days after Maharashtra Chief Minister said that his government has taken serious note of death threat to senior leader and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Mumbai police official on Monday said that it has arrested a man from Pune in the case. The official said the accused has been identified as Sagar Barve, who works in the data feeding and analytics section of a private firm. The Mumbai Crime Branch, which was probing the case, brought Barve to Mumbai. He was presented in court and has been remanded in police custody till Tuesday, PTI quoted the official as saying. On 9 June, NCP had claimed that their party chief Sharad Pawar has received a death threat on social media and appealed to party workers to maintain peace at all costs. A delegation of NCP workers led by Pawars daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule met Mumbai police chief Vivek Phansalkar demanding action. I received a message on WhatsApp for Pawar Sahab. He has been threatened through a website. So, I have come to the Police demanding justice. I urge Maharashtra Home Minister and Union Home Minister. Such actions are low-level politics and this should stop.., said Sule. #WATCH | Mumbai | I received a message on WhatsApp for Pawar Sahab. He has been threatened through a website. So, I have come to the Police demanding justice. I urge Maharashtra Home Minister and Union Home Minister. Such actions are low-level politics and this should stop.., pic.twitter.com/C7zwuJlzQq ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2023 The NCP leaders told the police that 82-year-old Pawar received a message on social media that read he will meet the same fate as (Narendra) Dabholkar soon. Narendra Dabholkar, who fought against superstitious beliefs, was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants during his morning walk in Pune on 20 August, 2013. Sule submitted printouts of the screenshots of the death threat to the police. Reacting to the development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde had on Friday said that the government has taken serious note of the death threat received by senior leader Sharad Pawar on Twitter, adding that he has personally spoken to senior police officers and given them instructions for investigation. Sharad Pawar is a senior leader and we all respect him. His safety will be fully taken care of. Instructions have been given to the police to increase security if necessary, said the Maharashtra Chief Minister. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A toy drone landed within the premises of Amritsar central jail during early hours of Monday. This occurrence prompted the deployment of paramilitary forces and central jail staff, who initiated a search operation. Given the suspicion of a possible attack by gangsters or terrorists, the Punjab Police were also placed on high alert. Officials from the city police swiftly arrived at the jail and implemented measures to seal off both the entrance and exit points. Subsequently, at approximately 2am, the staff discovered the toy drone. Police teams conducted searches in the vicinity and determined that the drone had been operated by two children. It appears that the drone went out of control and inadvertently landed in the jail, triggering alarm bells. The father of the children has been taken into custody by the police for questioning, and it is probable that a case will be filed against him. As of now, both the police and jail authorities have chosen to remain tight-lipped regarding the incident. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Monday said that Uniform Civil Code is a Suraksha Kavach for respect and safety of all religions and people should welcome the proposed legislation rather than getting jittery about it. Uniform Civil Code should be developed as one nation, one people and one law. We have assured in all questions that it is not anti-muslim or anti-Islamic. It is a Suraksha Kavach for the respect and safety of all religions We must not get jittery and welcome it, said the RSS leader while addressing the media in Bhopal. #WATCH | Bhopal, MP: Uniform Civil Code should be developed as one nation, one people & one law. We have assured in all questions that it is not anti-muslim or anti-Islamic. It is a Suraksha Kavach for the respect & safety of all religionsWe must not get jittery & welcome pic.twitter.com/IISula7JlK ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 12, 2023 The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) calls for the formulation of one law for India, which would be applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution, which lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. The issue has been at the center of political narrative and debate for over a century and a priority agenda for the BJP which has been pushing for the legislation in Parliament. The saffron party was the first to promise the implementation of UCC if it comes to power and the issue was part of its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto. Talking about love jihad, Kumar said that the RSS condemns the fraud and violence in the name of love. If you hide your identity from your partner is it love or cheating? Today love is being maligned. India was, is and will remain the land of love. Murder and conversion are happening in the name of love and people have called it love jihad. We condemn fraud and violence in the name of love, said Kumar. #WATCH | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | If you hide your identity from your partner is it love or cheating? Today love is being maligned. India was, is and will remain the land of love. Murder and conversion are happening in the name of love and people have called it love jihad. We pic.twitter.com/dBPXsfCzld ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 12, 2023 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. Allegedly, Praising Yogi-Modi in UPs Mirzapur cost a man his life. A Muslim man, who was hired as a transporter by the deceaseds family to ferry guests to a marriage venue, reportedly got infuriated in the middle of a political debate, pushed the victim out of his car and later mowed him down, killing the latter. According to the reports, the accused immediately fled the spot, after which the family of the deceased and villagers blocked the Mirzapur-Prayagraj highway, staging a massive protest with the body. The protesters were pacified after three hours when police assured them of swift inquiry and arrest in the case. In UP a MusIim driver pushed a teacher Rajesh Dubey out of the car, dragged him for 200 meters & kiIIed him by ramming the car on his chest just because he refused to abuse Modi-Yogi pic.twitter.com/fvyrREhn08 Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) June 12, 2023 The incident occurred in the Vindhyachal police station area of Mirzapur at around 8 AM on Monday. The deceased Rajesh Dhar, 52, was identified as the grooms uncle. He was a resident of Kolahi village of Mirzapur. As per reports, marriage procession of Rajeshdhars brother Rakeshdhar Dubeys son had come to Mirzapur on June 11. According to reports, after the marriage, Rajeshdhar, along with his friends, including former Mahokhar village sarpanch Dhirendra Pandey, boarded the suspects car to return home. Eyewitnesses revealed that the occupants in the car started a political debate in which Rajeshdhar was praising CM Yogi. Rajeshdhar was specifically praising the Yogi-led BJP government for building high quality roads in UP, specially the one they were driving on. Dhirendra Pandey told the media that Rajeshdhar was all praises for CM Yogi Adityanath, that he had curbed crime. Pandey also quoted Rajeshdhar has having praised PM Modi for housing, toilets and gas. After quietly listening to Rajeshs arguments for some time, driver Amjad allegedly got infuriated and allegedly started abusing Yogi-Modi, according to local reports based on eyewitness accounts. This led to a serious bickering between the two. Amjad first dropped Dhirendra Pandey near Mahokhar, and later Rajeshdhar near his house. According to reports, Rajesh was walking towards his home when Amjad allegedly crushed him under his car and fled the spot. As soon as the information about the incident was received, the family members and relatives reached the spot and demanded registration of a murder case. Following protests, ADM Shiv Pratap Shukla and SP City Shrikant Prajapati reached the spot and assured everyone of inquiry. In the matter, SP City Shrikant Prajapati revealed that a case on the basis of a complaint by Rajeshs brother was lodged. Efforts are being made to arrest the accused person. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A Pakistani drone was recovered by the Border Security Force on the outskirts of Shaidpur Kalan village in Amritsar district of Punjab. The recovered drone is a Quadcopter of model DJI Matrice 300 RTK series, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Punjab Frontier, BSF said. As per DJI, Matrice 300 RTK is a commercial drone that offers up to 55 minutes of flight time, has advanced AI capabilities, six directional sensing and positioning among other features. Based on specific intelligence inputs, 01 Pakistani drone, in broken condition has been recovered by alert by alert troops of BSF in Amritsar, an official statement of the BSF said. The latest incident comes just a couple of days after BSF and Punjab Police recovered 5.5 kg heroine dropped by a drone that came from the Pakistan side of the international border (IB). The drone entered the Indian territory in the Amritsar sector on Saturday. As per a BSF spokesperson troops deployed at the border reported violation of the Indian violation by a drone that came from the Pakistan side. The spokesperson further said that the troops heard the sound of something having fallen in a farming field in depth area near the Rai village of Amritsar district. Search was initiated during which a big packet suspected to be contraband, wrapped in a yellow colour adhesive tape along with a hook attached with the packet was recovered. Last week witnessed a total of four such incident in the Amritsar sector. The BSF in collaboration with Punjab Police intercepted a drone and after that recovered 5 kg heroin from the same village. On Thursday, a drone was shot down near Bhaini Rajputana village. With inputs from ANI Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A scuffle broke out between warkaris devotees of Lord Vitthal and police during a procession in Maharashtras Pune district on Sunday, with the opposition parties claiming that police lathicharged warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action into the incident. #WATCH | Maharashtra: A scuffle broke out between warkaris (Lord Vitthal followers) and police during a procession in the Pune district yesterday Some local youths tried to forcibly enter the Palkhi procession, leading to an altercation with the police. No lathi charge or force pic.twitter.com/0GNkpGTzSs ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023 Refuting the Opposition claims, Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner, said, Some local youths tried to forcibly enter the Palkhi procession, leading to an altercation with the police. No lathi charge or force was used by the police against them. The incident took place 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. Police had made elaborate arrangements and held meetings with temple trustees to prevent any untoward incident, said Choubey. 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. The issue took a political turn with opposition NCP and Congress claiming that police lathicharged warkaris. Citing the atmosphere of tension and violence prevailing in the state, NCP demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis if he cannot handle the law and order. 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. She said warkaris have played the role of the guide (to society) through their simple and easy teachings. 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. Maharashtra opposition leader Ajit Pawar said the lathicharge incident was painful. Such an incident never happened in the history of Pandharpur wari (pilgrimage). This incident could have been avoided by proper planning but it didnt happen. Prima facie, the mismanagement has led to this incident. I condemn the lathicharge by police and the government in strong words, he tweeted. He said Maharashtra has the glorious tradition of Ashadhi pilgrimage and the departure of the palanquin of Sant Dnyaneshwar for Pandharpur symbolises the glory of the states spirituality and devotional tradition. 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. 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. Yet another major step is being taken to boost the India-US strategic relations. The two sides have cleared the decks for co-producing the GE-F414 fighter aircraft engine in India. It will go on-board Indias indigenous LCA Tejas Mk II and other future fighters. The formal signing is likely during Indian PM Modis US visit later this month. It is expected to involve 100 percent transfer of technology (ToT). The United States contingent at this years Aero India 2023 was one of the largest ever. For the first time a fifth-generation aircraft had not only been brought to an Indian airshow but also performed the flying display. The U.S. defence sales in the last over a decade have mostly been in the military aviation sector. Having already sold transport aircraft and helicopters, the pitch now is to push an American fighter and other technologies and components into the Indian defence ecosystem. Complexities of an aero-engine The aircraft engine is one of the most complex systems on-board. It has to operate efficiently from sea level to near stratosphere levels, under changing atmospheric pressure. The aircraft operate from zero speed to many times the speed of sound. The fighter aircraft are subjected to very high g forces, and aerobatic maneuvers including negative g flight. The aircraft engine compressor and turbines operate at many thousand revolutions per minute (RPM). The engine turbine temperatures cross 2,000 degree centigrade. All this requires very special design and materials. The engine life could be a few thousand hours of operation. More often the aircraft engine costs nearly one-third the total cost of the aircraft. The aircraft engine is much more complex than the rocket engines that launch satellites into space. Engine for LCA Indias Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO) Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has been struggling to make aero-engine for nearly four decades. The home-grown Kaveri engine which was to power the LCA had to be delinked from the aircraft because of developmental delays and technology hurdles. Finally the American GE F404-GE-IN20 was selected to power the LCA Mk 1 and Mk 1A. Later it was decided to have the more powerful GE F414 INS6 engine for LCA Mk II. This may also power the initial Indian fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Top aero engine manufacturers There are just a handful of aircraft engine manufacturers in the world. The top four engine manufacturers are GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, & Safran. GE and Safran of France have a joint venture (JV) called CFM International. Pratt & Whitney also has a JV called International Aero Engines with Japanese Aeroengine Corporation and MTU Aero Engines of Germany. Pratt & Whitney and General Electric have a JV, Engine Alliance selling a range of engines for large airliners like Airbus 380. There are others like Honeywell Aerospace which make smaller engines for regional/executive jets and UAVs. Most engine manufacturers make engines for both civil and military aircraft. Russia makes both fighter and large transport aircraft engines, but depends on Western companies for their airliner engines. China has been trying to reverse engineer Russian jet engines, but they continue to face hurdles. They too use Western engines for their civil aircraft. India has been manufacturing and overhauling Russian and Western fighter engines under license agreements. Criticality of aero-engine technology for India Over the last few decades, India has mastered designing and building aero-structures for both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. India is also manufacturing airborne radars, avionics and weapons. The aero-engine being much more complex and despite years of licensed production, India has not been able to successfully design one of its own. The handful of manufacturers keep their cards very close to the chest and are unwilling to share technologies that they have acquired after years of research and investment. The only easy way to get these is through JV. Such engine JVs are normally between geo-strategic friends and involve political capital investment. To what level will the technology be actually transferred would emerge after the fine-print is read. US-India strategic congruence and Quad connection The US interests to contain competitor and possible rival China brought India into USAs Indo-Pacific strategy. India, a long-term friend of now weakened Russia, needed US cooperation on global security matters; support for inclusion of India in United Nations Security Council (UNSC); and admission into multilateral export control regimes like Nuclear Suppliers Group, MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group. Post 2000, the USA became more open to selling high-end military equipment to India. In 2016, India and USA signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and India was declared a major defence partner of the USA. In September 2018 India and USA signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), thus increasing interoperability between militaries. The agreement allows India to procure and transfer specialized equipment for encrypted communications for US origin military platforms, thus improving operational efficiency. Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement, the last of the key foundational agreements was signed in 2020. India is an important member of Quad now. All the four partners have regular summit level and 2+2 minister level meetings. There are military logistics agreements between all, and they all take part in regular military exercises. Among the increasing cooperation in defence, aviation has seen the fastest results. US military aircraft in India IAF acquired the Lockheed Martin (LM) C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft in 2008 for special operations under US governments Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Indian Navy received the Boeing P-8I Poseidon for maritime surveillance, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles. In 2009, the IAF inducted three specially equipped Boeing 737 Business Jet (BBJ) for VVIP duties. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift military transport aircraft were inducted next. Two custom-made B-777 were procured to replace the older Air India B-747 jumbo jets for VVIP duties. Boeing Apache Longbow AH-64E attack helicopters, and Boeing CH-47 D/F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters formed the rotary-wing purchases. In June 2017, the US State Department approved the sale of 22 General Atomics MQ-9 Guardian/Predator-B long-range unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) drones to India. Two have been on lease with the Indian Navy since 2020. The case for procuring 10 each for the three armed forces is under processing. There is a possibility that a contract may be inked during the Indian PMs forthcoming visit. Boeing presence in India Boeing has been a major player in Indias commercial aviation sector, and Air India has recently announced a huge airliner order. Boeing also has a significant presence in aforesaid military aircraft. Boeings F-18 Super hornet is vying for IAF (114 fighter program) and Indian Navys (57 carrier aircraft) contracts. A public-private partnership brings together Boeing, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Mahindras global scale, manufacturing and supply chain expertise. HAL has been the single-source producer of 757 over-wing exit doors. HAL has also manufactured the 777 up-lock boxes, F/A-18 gun bay doors, F/A-18 wire harnesses, P-8I weapons bay doors, and P-8I identification friend-or-foe transponders. BEL is also on contract to provide F/A-18 cockpit panels. Boeing has invested in research and engineering centres at Bengaluru and Chennai with over 3,000 engineers. Boeings JV with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is for aerospace and defence manufacturing including unmanned aerial systems. TASL is already manufacturing aero-structures for CH-47 Chinook and Apache helicopters, including for global customers. Dynamatic Technologies (DTL) and Boeing have a plant to manufacture critical parts for Chinook helicopters, including ramp and pylons. Dynamatic Technologies and Tata Advanced Materials Limited (TAML) are making P-8I electric power sub-systems. Also, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL), Hyderabad based Avantel Ltd have delivered sub-systems for P-8I. Along with TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd Boeing is manufacturing floor beams for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. TAL also makes ground support equipment for the C-17. Hyderabad-based Cyient currently provides design support on the 747-8 Freighter and some 787 variants. Lockheed Martin pushing big in India LM is the worlds biggest arms manufacturer, and manufacturer of top fighter aircraft like the F-16, F-22 and F-35. Their JV with TASL makes a large number of aero-structures and precision components for the C-130J airlifter and the S-92 helicopter for deliveries to customers around the world. LM F-21 aircraft (advanced version of F-16) is a contender for IAFs Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program. 2250 F-16s are still flying globally. TASL has been chosen to produce the F-16s in India. Meanwhile, F-16 wings are being manufactured and exported from the Hyderabad facility. 24 Sikorsky multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters are under induction with the Indian Navy. Additionally, LM has signed MoUs with many Indian start-ups to boost Indias aerospace and defence industry. General Electric (GE) GE is an American multinational that operates in aviation, healthcare, renewable energy, and transportation, among many others. GEs presence in India dates back to 1902 when they installed Indias first hydropower plant. GE Aviation is the worlds leading producer of large and small engines for commercial, military, business and general aircraft. GEs aircraft engines power all the LCA variants. GEs CFM56 engines power the Indian Navys P-8I. Some of GE systems are deployed on various Indian platforms including the Hawk Mk 132, SEPECAT Jaguar, P-8I, C130J and HJT-36 Sitara. GE has joined with Tata group to make LEAP engines in India. Military exercises and interoperability The Indian and US armies regularly conduct exercise Yudh-Abhyas. USA, India, Japan, and some other navies participate in the annual exercise Malabar. Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) covers the broad expanse of the Indo-Pacific. Cope India series of joint air exercises began in 2004. IAF participates in Red-Flag advanced air-combat training exercises in the US, and gets exposure to NATO-like air environment. The USA had great presence in the recent Pitch Black air-exercise in Australia where many countries fielded F-35s. All these exercises support interoperability. Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) The India US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) began in 2012. DTTI supports and strengthens Indias defence industrial base, including exploring new areas of technological development. Among the ambitious projects identified was to share jet-engine technology. Focus is to support Indian start-ups and US-based research labs to work together on cutting edge defence technologies. Also explore possibilities for joint development with export potential. Cooperation in the field of space technology is also of interest. Defence trade authorization and management The United States has designated India as Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) country that allows purchase of cutting-edge sensitive technologies from the USA. It brings India at par with the USs closest allies and partners such as NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia. India will thus receive license-free access to the wide range of dual-use technologies, with some export restrictions. This will also benefit US manufacturers. The US-India Business Council (USIBC) was formed in 1975. Aerospace & Defence are a major area of their engagement today. Bilateral defence trade which was near zero in 2008, was estimated to be around $22 billion by the end of 2022. The India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) in Washington is the top official-level meeting mechanism between India and the US on defence issues, which comprehensively reviews and guides all aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. They monitor defence cooperation, technology, trade, and military-to-military engagements under different working groups. Defence partnerships: The way ahead India and the USA are the largest functioning democracies. There is very high people-to-people engagement with Indians occupying very high positions in most American corporations. The Indian diaspora has popularised Indian food, culture and festivals. Military-to-military engagements are on the rise and so is defence cooperation. Being a significant global power, India would like to maintain strategic autonomy. India will continue to be dependent on Russian military supplies for some more time. The USA is conscious of the ground realities. Having already got into Indias transport and maritime aircraft, and helicopter sales ecosystem, the US is now keen to sell fighter aircraft. India also needs to get out of the huge Russian military systems basket, including aircraft. In the long-term India must induct more Indian platforms, and endeavour to have 30 per cent Russian, 30 per cent Western and 40 per cent Indian aircraft fleets by 2040. 114 foreign fighters may be one of the last major foreign aircraft purchases. India must take US support to make high-end airborne platforms in India. Aircraft engines are one such area. India must link the fighter aircraft selection to both Make-in-India and transfer of important technologies. The USA has also been pushing for the Boeing KC-46 Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA). They are trying to strengthen the case that they will offer both flying boom and probe and drogue refuelling options, that are today required for Indias diverse fleets. The General Atomics Predator drones deal is expected to be inked soon, albeit with reduced numbers. India is today in an enviable position where the Russians, Americans and Europeans are wooing her to be a geo-strategic partner, and also trying to get into its defence systems market. The US needs India to counter-balance China, dominate the Indian Ocean, and act as a democratic pillar. The future sees greater defence cooperation between the two largest and powerful democracies. The writer is Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be embarking on his eighth visit to the United States on 20 June, 2023. It is a testament to the dynamism of this partnership and the critical importance that India attaches to its ties with the US that over the last nine years since he assumed office, Prime Minister Modi has travelled most often to the United States. Prime Minister Modi has been invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for his first Official State Visit to the United States. State visits to the US are infrequent. In addition, Prime Minister Modi has been invited to Address the Joint Session of the US Congress on 22 June, 2023. He last addressed the US Congress in June 2016. He is the only Indian leader and one of the very few world leaders to have been invited to address the US Congress more than once. The last Indian leader to travel to the US for an Official State Visit was Manmohan Singh in 2009. Singh also addressed the US Congress in 2005. The invitation to Prime Minister Modi for the official State visit as also to address the US Congress demonstrates the importance that the United States and President Biden accord to their partnership with India and the role that Prime Minister Modi has played in bringing it to this level. The visit is expected to strengthen the shared commitment of the two countries to a free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and their shared resolve to elevate their strategic technology partnership, including in defense, critical and emerging technologies, clean energy and space. Evolution of the partnership President Bill Clinton deserves full credit for launching the bilateral ties on an upward trajectory during his visit to India in March, 2000. All other Presidents after Clinton including George W Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and currently Joe Biden have also worked assiduously to make the partnership grow at a rapid pace. In India also all Prime Ministers including AB Vajpayee, Dr Manmohan Singh and currently PM Narendra Modi have contributed sedulously to the expansion of bilateral partnership. Much of the credit for the unexceptional rise in bilateral ties would go to PM Modi because of the steadfast leadership he has displayed in overcoming the hesitations of history and registering a quantum jump in bilateral relations. Bipartisan support exists in both the countries among the political leadership, parliamentarians, business community and common people for ever stronger relations between the two countries. This has made the bilateral relationship the most consequential for India in these volatile and uncertain times. Current state of play The upward momentum of bilateral relations during President Trumps tenure was given a further shot in the arm during President Bidens current term from January 2021. The advent of President Bidens term has witnessed extremely warm, cordial and friendly interactions between him and Prime Minister Modi. The personal warmth, respect and rapport between the two leaders has been visible during their meetings over the last several months including at Hiroshima for the G7 and Quad Summits (May, 2023); in Bali at the G20 Summit (November 2022); at the G7 Summit in Elmau, Germany (June 2022); at the G20 Summit in Italy in October 2021, and many more. Also, notwithstanding the fact that Biden has been actively engaged with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, he has not taken his eyes off the Indo-Pacific. Five Summit level interactions among the Quad (Australia, Japan, India, USA) leaders have taken place over 25 monthstwo in virtual format (April, 2021 and March, 2022) and three in in-person mode. The in-person meetings took place in Washington DC in September 2021 in Tokyo in May 2022 and in Hiroshima in May 2023. This extraordinary attention to the Quad conclusively demonstrates the resolve of the leaders of the four countries to strengthen their partnership to effectively push back against Chinas growing expansionism, and to ensure that the Quad emerges as a force for global good. Today there is a convergence not only of values but also of interests between India and the US. Some issues that bring the two countries together encompass the fight against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan; Chinas expansionism and increasing belligerence; defence cooperation and intelligence-exchange; US interest in Indias large and expanding domestic market; presence of a large and influential Indian diaspora in the US; Indias need for infusion of capital and technology for its rapid economic growth etc. As of date the two countries have more than 60 bilateral Dialogue mechanisms encompassing renewable energy, climate change, IT, innovation, healthcare, agriculture, cyber security and more. The US has emerged as the second largest supplier of defence equipment to India. The countries are coming out of the shadows of engaging in a mere buyer-seller relationship in defence supplies. India does more defence exercises with the US than with any other partner. The Malabar exercises between India, US, Japan and Australia bring the four Quad partners together in their endeavor to balance China and promote peace and security. Some concrete developments Recent months have witnessed a huge fillip to the bilateral partnership in technology and innovation through several meetings, visits and interactions at senior levels. All these decisions will seamlessly integrate into outcomes of Prime Minister Modis forthcoming visit. The US-India CEO Forum was soft-launched in November 2022. The key priorities include increasing supply chain resilience; enhancing energy security and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, advancing inclusive digital trade and facilitating post-pandemic economic recovery especially for small businesses. The Initiative on Critical and Emergent Technologies (iCET) was mooted during the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo in May 2022. This was intended to elevate and expand the bilateral strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation. It was taken forward in discussions between NSA Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan during the formers visit to the US in January 2023. iCET is designed to forge closer linkages between government, academia and industry in areas such as AI, quantum computing, 5G/6G, biotech, space and semiconductors. The iCET is expected to focus on removing barriers in technology transfers and co-production particularly in telecommunication and semiconductor chip supply chains. In another major push to bilateral ties, the two countries announced a bilateral MOU in March 2023 to establish a Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership. At the inaugural meeting of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue (IUSSTD) held in the US in early June 2023, the two sides focused on ways in which both governments can facilitate the development and trade of technologies in critical domains such as semiconductors, space, telecom, quantum, AI, defence, bio-tech and others. A recent significant development was the visit by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in early June 2023. This was his second visit to India after the first one in March 2021. Far-reaching discussions took place particularly on the transfer of technology and joint production of GE-F414 turbofan engines in the 98 Kilonewton thrust class in India by the US-based General Electric (GE) and Indian defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics. These engines will be used in the made-in-India Tejas Mark-2 fighter jets. This will be a game changer if the agreement for this TOT is finalised as the US has not shared this technology with any other country except with the UK, its closest partner. Discussions on transfer of technology by US firms to India have been held for a long time. The Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) in 2014 proved to be a damp squib. The circumstances today both bilaterally and geo-politically are strikingly different from what existed in 2014. Cautious optimism hence prevails that this landmark deal will be inked during Prime Minister Modis visit. Some snags When relations between any two countries are so wide-ranging and comprehensive, it is but natural that there will be a few areas of disagreement. That is true in the case of India-US ties as well. The US, as well as several western nations, are unhappy that India has not unambiguously condemned Russia for its attack against Ukraine and continues to buy increasing quantities of oil and fertilizers from it. India has spoken out unequivocally in favor of UN principles, and sanctity of territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries as enshrined in the UN Charter. India has squarely condemned the destruction of vital, civilian infrastructure in the conflict. India has clarified that its oil imports from Russia are a mere fraction of what the European countries import from Russia. Moreover, the huge increase in global price of energy is unsustainable for India as it imports 85% of its requirement of oil. The US had issued a number of statements immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 calling for India to reduce its military ties with Russia, forego Russian oil and vote alongside western countries at the UN. India did none of them. In recent months, the US has given up on those demands. Ahead of his forthcoming visit to Delhi, the US NSA Jake Sullivan said that the U.S. should be prepared to meet India (and other countries not joining the sanctions) rather than debate them. Sullivan stated that although India had not joined the sanctions, the U.S.-India partnership has never been stronger in terms of technology, defence cooperation and people-to-people ties. India has voiced its dissatisfaction with the US decision to provide Pakistan with a grant of $450 million for upgrade of its F-16 fleet. The US argument that this assistance is being provided to Pakistan to fight terrorism has failed to cut any ice with India. In addition, the chaotic manner of the withdrawal of the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, the uncalled for recent visit by the US Ambassador in Pakistan to the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and addressing it as Azad Jammu-Kashmir has riled India. India has clearly communicated its unhappiness on all these issues to the US. Conclusion In spite of some differences between them, both India and the US recognise that the areas of convergence between them are far greater than the issues that separate them. The challenge before the leadership of the two countries is to focus, build upon and expand the areas of convergence while continuing to have honest conversations on differences that separate them. In his interaction with President Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo in May 2022, Prime Minister Modi termed the bilateral relations as a Partnership of Trust. President Biden said that he would like to make US relations with India among the closest we have on earth. Responding to a question during his appearance at the Aspen Security Forum meeting, Kurt Campbell, the White House Asia coordinator, on 9 December 2022 said: India is the most important bilateral relationship for the United States in the 21st century. With strong and visionary leadership in the two countries, India-US bilateral ties can be expected to scale even greater heights in the years to come. Prime Minister Modis significant visit to the US can be expected to play a vital and decisive role in achieving this objective. The writer is executive council member, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, president, Institute of Global Studies, Distinguished Fellow, Ananta Aspen Centre, and former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia. The views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Six Swiss police officers appeared in a court on Monday, facing charges related to the death of a Black man who suffered a fatal heart attack after being restrained during an arrest. The case has drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd in the United States, according to one lawyer. The officers, all of whom are white, are accused of homicide through negligence in relation to the 2018 death of Mike Ben Peter, a 39-year-old Nigerian man, in Lausanne. They maintain their innocence and claim that other factors caused his death. Their legal representatives have rejected any parallels with Floyds case, where an officer knelt on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis in 2020. What happened? According to the indictment, the officers initially noticed Ben Peter during a drug patrol when he was found in possession of a bag containing marijuana. The indictment stated that Ben Peter did not comply with the polices requests, leading the officers to use pepper spray, knee kicks to the ribs and crotch, in an attempt to subdue and handcuff him. As per the indictment, Ben Peter continued to resist while being held face-down by multiple officers for three minutes until they realized he was unconscious. The indictment further revealed that Ben Peter later died due to a heart attack with multiple contributing factors. These factors included being held on his stomach, subjected to stress, and his obesity. The aftermath Ben Peters death has sparked protests from activists who accuse the Swiss police of institutional racism, an allegation denied by the police force. During the trials opening, the judge acknowledged the sensitivity of the case and urged those present, including Ben Peters widow and brother, to remain calm. Simon Ntah, the lawyer representing Ben Peters family, argued in court that considering the death as accidental would be an insult to intelligence. He drew a comparison between the position in which Ben Peter was held and the circumstances surrounding George Floyds death, claiming that it had ultimately led to a heart attack. Ntah further highlighted that Ben Peter was one of four Black men who had died during police interventions in the Vaud canton since 2016. As evidence, he presented a photo of an officer, with his face obscured, giving a thumbs-up gesture next to graffiti that read RIP MIKE. The defence lawyer, Juliette Perrin, rejected the comparison to Floyds case, while two other defence lawyers raised doubts about the credibility of witnesses who described the arrest. One lawyer, Odile Pelet, argued that one witness had poor eyesight and observed the incident from a high balcony, making them unreliable. If convicted, each officer faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. However, their names cannot be disclosed at this stage of the proceedings due to Swiss privacy laws. In a report last year, a group of U.N. experts highlighted systemic racism in Switzerland and expressed serious concerns about the excessive use of force and the expectation of impunity by police. This case was cited as an example in the report. A government-commissioned study acknowledged the structural nature of the problem and acknowledged that the measures taken so far have been insufficient. (With inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A lower than expected economic recovery after sudden lifting of zero-Covid policy has soured the sentiments of investors in China, prompting them to look for alternative options in stock markets of India, Japan and South Korea. Disappointment from Chinas reopening have pushed investors to lookout for alternative options for their money and they are now seeing possibilities in markets of their near neighbours. Investor sentiment on China has weakened further, and in our view is around rock-bottom levels weve only seen a few times over the past decade, a report by CNBC quoted Goldman Sachs Chief Asia-Pacific Economist Andrew Tilton as saying in a research note. Focus returns towards India Tilton further said amid China weakness, investors have looked elsewhere in the region for opportunities. The economist further said Japan is in the limelight while India has also returned to focus in recent months. Whats attracting Chinese investors to India? Tilton said, Clients increasingly ask about Indias potential to benefit from greater investment amid supply chain reconfiguration. Goldman Sachs said it is generally positive in the medium term as it cited that Indias continued monetary policies, credit conditions, and prospects for attracting foreign direct investment. Why Japanese stocks are luring Chinese investors? As per Morgan Stanleys global mid-year outlook report, Japanese stocks are predicted to outperform their global peers. Japan is our most preferred region, with improving ROE [Return-on-Equity] and a superior EPS [earnings per share] outlook, Chief Investment Officer Mike Wilson said. Foreign investors have been driving the Japanese stocks, pushing the Nikkei to the highest levels seen since 1990. The Japans finance minister in its latest data highlighted that overseas investors continued to build on their Japanese equity positions as domestic investors remain the net buyers of foreign bonds. According to a report by Reuters, in the week ending June 2, foreign investors bought a net 342.18 billion Japanese yen ($2.45 billion) of stocks, totalling around 6.65 trillion yen of net purchases of Japanese shares this year. As per the report, foreign investors had sold a net 1.73 trillion yen approximately during the same period last year. The outlook report by Morgan Stanley also mentioned that Japan [is] looking even more attractive, while we hold a preference for EM [emerging markets] versus the US and EU. South Koreas tech stock lures Chinese investors A report by UBS Global Wealth Management said that the low price-to-book ration of South Korean technology stocks are making it an attractive alternative to more expensive tech segments. Price-to-book ratio is an important metric used by investors to gauge the value of a stock. For the unversed, Korean technology stocks make up roughly half of the Kospi 200 index and therefore, are most preferred status on the sector and its market. Goldman Sachs too is confident in the South Korean market and expects more overseas investment ahead. We are relatively bullish on Korea both because we are less concerned about broader domestic spillovers from housing sector weakness and more optimistic about foreign portfolio inflows, Goldmans Tilton said. As per data from Korea Financial Investment Association, the countrys money market fund (MMF) reported a record high in May end. A report by CNBC said that the total MMF assets under management stood at 172.7 trillion South Korean won ($134 billion), or a 22 per cent rise since the end of September last year. Change in stock markets As per report by CNBC, Indias Nifty 50 index rallied nearly 7 per cent so far this quarter and pared all of its losses from its March low. South Koreas Kospi index rose 18 per cent year-to-date, while the Nikkei 225 is in bull market territory, up by over 23 per cent year-to-date. On the contrary, the CSI 300 index, which measures the largest companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen dropped 5.29 per cent quarter-to-date. It erased all gains registered earlier in the year, when stocks rallied on reopening momentum. The Hang Seng index also touched bear market territory in May and is down nearly 2 per cent, Refinitiv data showed. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Amid financial instability in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his optimism that Pakistan, which has fulfilled all the preconditions of the IMF, will still be able to sign a staff-level agreement with the global lender to revive the stalled bailout programme for the cash-strapped country. Sharifs remarks came as many believe that Pakistans chances for the revival of the current USD 6.5 billion IMF programme have almost diminished before it expires on June 30. Out of the USD 6.5 billion package, the IMF has not yet disbursed $2.6 billion to Pakistan. Addressing a ceremony in Lahore on Sunday, Sharif still appeared optimistic about that deal with the global lender and while referring to the governments plan B, said, If the agreement with the IMF is (further) delayed, then I will address you. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) signed a deal in 2019 to provide USD 6 billion to Pakistan on fulfilment of certain conditions. The plan was derailed several times and the full reimbursement is still pending due to insistence by the donor that Pakistan should complete all formalities. Pakistan has fulfilled all the preconditions and is hopeful that the agreement with the IMF will be signed during the current month, Sharif said. There is no need to be nervous We have met all conditions of the IMF, removing obstacles in finalising an agreement with it, he said but added a note of hope that he had talked with the IMF chief who assured that the agreement will be signed this month. He also said that no hurdle is now left in signing of a staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF. If the IMF agreement is delayed, I will appeal to the people of Pakistan, he added, without elaborating. Sharif blamed the previous government for the current economic crisis, saying that former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government violated the agreement with the IMF. The PTI government had all its focus on sending the opposition to prisons, he added. He said that the fascist regime of the PTI which came into power due to rigged 2018 elections put all development projects on halt. All Chinese projects were cancelled and no development was made during the PTIs four-year term. (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. The Ministry of Investment in Saudi Arabia has recently entered into a significant partnership with Human Horizons, a prominent Chinese electric car manufacturer, through a $5.6 billion agreement. The collaboration aims to encompass various aspects such as the development, production, and distribution of vehicles. According to a statement released by the Saudi state news agency, this deal accounts for more than half of the total investments, surpassing $10 billion, that were secured during the Arab-China business conference held in Riyadh on Sunday. These investments span a wide range of sectors, including technology, renewable energy, agriculture, real estate, metals, tourism, and healthcare, among others. Although the relationship between Saudi Arabia, known as the worlds primary oil exporter, and China has traditionally been centred around energy ties, there is now a concerted effort to increase investments in non-oil industries as part of the kingdoms diversification agenda. One crucial aspect of Saudi Arabias plan is to foster the growth of a domestic electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing industry. Human Horizons, well-known for producing electric vehicles under the HiPhi brand in China, plays a vital role in this endeavour. The Saudi statement further highlighted that Chinese foreign direct investment in Arab markets reached a significant milestone of $23 billion in 2021, with $3.5 billion specifically invested in Saudi Arabia. In line with its expansion strategy, Human Horizons announced in March that it intends to introduce its high-end HiPhi brand to certain European markets this year, aiming to extend its presence beyond China. Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Arab markets stood at $23 billion in 2021, of which $3.5 billion in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi statement 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. A new claim has surfaced which says that scientists in the Chinese city of Wuhan were instrumental in working alongside the countrys military to combine the worlds most fatal viruses when the COVID pandemic began. A latest report doing the rounds states that Chinese scientists were running the secret project at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The revelations came while investigators were examining intercepted communications and scientific research. No information since it was covert operation with military A report by The Sunday Times claimed that US investigators believe that one of the reasons there has been no published information on the work is because it was done in collaboration with Chinese military researchers. The report claimed to have examined hundreds of documents which included confidential reports, scientific papers and correspondence which brought to light the fact that Wuhan was engaged in several risky experiments of the coronaviruses it had collected from bat caves in southern China. Lab leak theory While originally it was believed that the coronavirus outbreak was a natural phenomenon, the lab leak theory has gained credibility in recent years with even the FBI backing it. As per various reports, the COVID-19 originated at Wuhan city of China in early December 2019, going on to rapidly spread with confirmed cases in almost every country across the world, turning into one of the biggest pandemics in history. New type of virus As per The Sunday Times report, the Wuhan lab stopped making its findings public in 2016, after researchers discovered a new type of coronavirus in a mineshaft in Mojiang in Yunnan province where people had died from symptoms that were akin to that of Sars. However, fatalities were not reported. In an interaction with the newspaper, an investigator told that around that time the trail of papers started to go dark, and they believe that is when the classified programmed kicked in. According to the investigator, the reason Mojiang was covered up was due to military secrecy related to [the armys] pursuit of dual-use capabilities in virological biological weapons and vaccines. US investigators are of the opinion that the classified programmed was made to make the mineshaft viruses more infectious to humans and may have led to the creation of COVID-19. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. China has asked last Indian journalist to leave the country this month as Beijing and New Delhi eject each others reporters in a tit-for-tat row deepening a rift between the Asian economic powerhouses, according to a report. According to a Bloomberg report, citing a person familiar with the matter, Chinese authorities have instructed the Press Trust of India reporter to leave the country, wiping Indias media presence from the worlds second largest economy at a moment of deteriorating ties. Indian media outlets had four reporters based in China earlier this year. The Hindustan Times reporter left over the weekend, while two journalists from public broadcaster Prasar Bharati and The Hindu newspaper were denied visa renewals in China in April. According to the report, Chinas foreign ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs did not reply to requests for comment. Last month, Wall Street Journal reported that India and China are virtually wiping out media access to each other by ejecting each others journalists. The report, quoting people in the know, said that New Delhi had denied visa renewals to the last two remaining Chinese state media journalists in the country, from state-run Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. Following their visa expiration, the two scribes have left India and with this, there are now no remaining Chinese state media reporters in India a first since at least the 1980s. Blame game Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accused India of being unfair to its journalists since 2017 while India said earlier this month that Chinese reporters had been operating in the country without any difficulty, but this was not the case for Indian journalists in China. In her statement last month, she said that India had without reason shortened the validity period of Chinese journalists visas to between one and three months. Also, in 2020, New Delhi had refused to approve applications for Chinese reporters to be permanently based in India. What I can tell you is that for a long time Chinese media reporters have suffered unfair and discriminatory treatment in India, she said during a regular press briefing. Faced with this long-term unreasonable suppression by the Indian side, China has no choice but to take appropriate countermeasures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese media, Mao added. However, it is important to note here that China also expelled Indian journalists from their soil. Last month, reporters from The Hindu and New Delhis state-owned public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, who were travelling outside China were barred from returning. Moreover, a Hindustan Times reporter was told in May that his press credentials were being invalidated. The visa spat The visa spat started a few months ago over Indian journalists hiring assistants in China to help with reporting, according to Indian officials familiar with the matter. Beijing imposed measures limiting employment to three individuals at a time who must come from a pool provided by the Chinese authorities, they said. India doesnt have a cap on hiring. Relations between Beijing and New Delhi have been tense since Galwan brawl on the Himalayan frontier in 2020. The visa rejections come as India hosts the G20 and the Chinese-founded Shanghai Cooperation Dialogue meetings this year. Xi is expected to attend the G-20 leaders summit in September as China looks to build its diplomatic and political presence globally. 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. American financier George Soros, 92, and his son Alexander, 37, said in an interview that was published on Sunday that George is handing over leadership of his multi-billion dollar foundation to Alexander. According to Wall Street Journal, the Hungarian-born father said that his son, the second youngest of five children, had earned it. George Soros, who is despised by conservatives and is frequently the subject of anti-Semitic plots, founded the Open Society Foundations (OSF) with the money he made as a financier in the 1970s and 1980s. The OSF supports a wide range of causes and NGOs around the world, from liberal public policy initiatives to good-governance and democracy-building programmes. He has also been one of the biggest Democratic Party donors in the United States. Alexander, who goes by Alex, told the Wall Street Journal he is more political than his father, and that one of his top aims would be to push back against a possible second term by former president Donald Trump. 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, he said. Under his direction, the younger Soros said the OSF will continue down a similar path his father charted, pushing free speech, criminal justice reform, minority and refugee rights and backing liberal politicians. But he also wants to embrace voting rights, abortion and gender equity initiatives. The board of OSF had quietly elected Alex Soros as its chairman in December, the Wall Street Journal reported, adding that he is also the president of his fathers super PAC a type of organization in the United States that can spend unlimited amounts of money on politics. An OSF spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that Alex is Chair of the Open Society Foundations, without any further details on the timing of the change. The US newspaper also said he is the sole family member on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, the firm that oversees family and foundation money. Some $125 million has been set aside for the super PAC over the coming years, while most of the $25 billion in the Soros Management Fund will be directed toward the OSF, the Wall Street Journal reported. More focused on domestic politics than the elder Soros, Alex is already focused on helping Democrats increase their appeal with Latino voters and improve Black voter turnout. Our side has to be better about being more patriotic and inclusive, the 37-year-old said. Just because someone votes Trump doesnt mean theyre lost or racist. 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. There is a perfectly valid reason why Elon Musks Tesla is the most valuable car company out there. With a market cap of over $760 billion (as of 12 June 2023) Tesla is miles ahead of Toyota Motor Corp, which ranks second at approximately $200 billion. Whether you are a fan of Elon Musk and Tesla or not, you have to agree that Tesla has been monumental in making EVs cool and influencing the global adoption of EVs. More than that, though the fact remains, that under Musk, Tesla has been making some pretty good cars, and properly implemented, well-thought-out features. Teslas Bioweapon Defense Mode During the worst wildfire season Canada has seen in over a decade several cities in the east coast of US were engulfed in dusty red smoke that made cities like New York look like they were the setting for the next Mad Max film, Tesla owners had a reason to thank Musk for the way he envisions Tesla cars. Last week numerous Tesla drivers in the eastern US took action in response to the air quality red alerts by activating their vehicles Bioweapon Defense Mode function. They enthusiastically shared their positive experiences with this feature on Tesla CEO Elon Musks social network. The Bioweapon Defense feature, with its ominous name, enhances the HEPA filtration system in the Tesla and puts it into overdrive mode. This in turn enables Tesla users to breathe fresh air instead of constantly recirculating the air inside the car. This feature proved especially beneficial as it protected them from inhaling the smoke caused by the ongoing wildfires that have been spreading southward from Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario for almost a week. When Tesla initially added this feature to their cars, many people in the US dismissed it as a novelty feature. Had Tesla been operational in the Indian subcontinent, or had the feature been released in any Indian car, people in India would surely have appreciated this feature. HEPA Filters What is it and what do they do? Elon Musk revealed that cars such as the Model S and Model X are big enough that Tesla could fit in HEPA filters that are normally used by hospitals in their air filtration systems. The smaller Model 3 and Model Y are also capable of great levels of filtration, but they have been packaged in such a way that they could not use the same filters. For those who are unaware, HEPA filters are a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It stands for high-efficiency particulate air (filter). This type of filter has the ability to potentially remove a minimum of 99.97 per cent of dust, pollen, mould, bacteria, and other airborne particles measuring 0.3 microns in size. The specification of 0.3 microns represents the most challenging scenario, where particles of this size are the most difficult to capture (referred to as the most penetrating particle size, or MPPS). Furthermore, the HEPA filter demonstrates even higher efficiency in trapping particles larger than 0.3 microns. By using the worst-case particle size, the filter has an efficiency rating of 99.97 per cent or higher for all particle sizes. Tesla promotes the exceptional feature of its vehicles on its website, emphasizing that Bioweapon Defense Mode is not just a marketing claim, but a genuine capability. According to Tesla, sitting inside one of their cars equipped with this feature would provide actual protection against a bio attack of military-grade severity. Upgrading a Tesla Model S manufactured between 2012 and 2020 with HEPA air filtration and the Bioweapon Defense Mode feature incurs a cost of $500. OEM Air Purifiers in Indian Cars Thanks to the pandemic, the Indian car market saw carmakers start offering custom-made OEM air purifiers. What they meant by custom-made, was that they would take generic car purifiers that are available on Amazon for Rs 3000-5000, slap their own sticker on it, triple or sometimes even quadruple the price, and offer it as an optional extra. Showrooms, on the other hand, wouldnt sell you a car unless you bought their essential add-on kits and with it, these air purifiers. Had these air purifiers been functional to some degree, were pretty sure that no one would have complained, the docile creatures that Indian customers are. The problem is, they dont work, ever. Also, whats the point of purifying air, once it already is inside the cabin of the car? Shouldnt that be done while passing the air into the cabin? The ones that do work, come from reputable manufacturers and cost a lot. And although they have their limitations, most Indian car buyers wouldnt bat an eyelid in adding it as an option to their cars, given that 39 Indian cities are listed among the worlds 50 most polluted. The Air Filtration System that we get in Indian Cars Right off the bat, the Air Filtration System that we get in cars in India, even at the top end, can only be described as inadequate at best. In budget-segment cars, by which we mean cars that cost around 17-25 lakhs, the air filtration system is a very basic filter and a mesh. In cars that cost around 10-15 lakhs, some car makers only use mesh as a filter. Go down the fiscal food chain a little more, and youll see the filter quality degrade even more sometimes, it is absent altogether. Instead of focusing on novelty features that are genuinely of no use like having a personal AI based assistant that cant even place a call when required to, or heads-up displays or the worst feature of them all, social media integrations, how about we have features that are actually useful? Like a proper air filtration system, preferably with HEPA filters? And while youre at it, also throw in a good dashcam, will you? Were pretty sure that most Indian car buyers will go for these options. 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 university professor who lived underwater for 100 days at a scuba diving resort in the Florida Keys awoke on Friday and faced the daylight for the first time since 1 March. Throughout his stay at Jules Undersea Lodge, which is buried beneath 30 feet (9.14 metre) of water in a Key Largo lagoon, Dr Joseph Dituri established a new record for the longest period of time spent underwater without depressurisation. The dive adventurer and medical researcher broke the previous record, which had been set at the same lodge in 2014 by two Tennessee professors, in 73 days, two hours, and 34 minutes. Dituri, a biological engineering-trained teacher at the University of South Florida who also goes by the nickname Dr Deep Sea, was a retired US Navy officer. Dituri was listed as the world title holder on the Guinness World Records website last month after staying 74 days underwater. Guinness will be contacted to verify Dituris 100-day milestone. Dituri claimed that the record was never the main focus. According to him, it was about increasing tolerance for the undersea world and for a secluded, cramped habitat. The foundation orchestrated Dituris endeavour, Project Neptune 100. The interior of the lodge is adjusted to fit the higher pressure encountered underwater, like a submarine that employs technology to maintain its internal pressure close to that found at the surface. After Dituri spent 74 days underwater last month, Guinness World Records named him as the current record holder on its website. He performed regular tests and measurements and tracked how his body changed in response to the increasing pressure while he was submerged. He added that he had cut his cholesterol, lessened body inflammation, and enhanced his sleep cycle. The professor hosted over 60 guests at the habitat, taught a USF course, and collaborated online with thousands of students from 12 different nations. The interaction with approximately 5,000 kids and their interest in maintaining, protecting, and revitalising the marine environment is what Dituri found to be the most rewarding aspect of the project. At the World Severe Medical Conference in Scotland in November, Dituri intends to share research from Project Neptune 100. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. After securing a pledge from 75 food companies to cut prices on hundreds of products, Frances Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said shoppers in the country should pay less for their food from next month. The companies, which together make 80 per cent of what the French eat, could face financial sanctions if they dont follow through, Le Maire said. The government is furious that supermarket prices have hit record levels in recent months even though the costs of many raw materials used by food producers have been declining. Improved harvest prospects have helped push the United Nations index of world food commodity prices to a two-year low. The finance minister has previously threatened to claw back what he described as undue profits from food companies with special taxes if they did not pass on their own lower costs to consumers already struggling with high energy bills. As soon as July, prices of certain products will go down, Le Maire told BFM TV on Friday, after meeting food industry representatives a day earlier. There will be checks and there will be sanctions for those who dont abide by the rules. Le Maire said pasta, poultry and vegetable oil were among products on which prices will be cut. The costs of beef, pork and milk would not be affected by the move, he said. (With inputs from Reuters) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A restaurant in New Jersey has come up with a unique thali as a mark of respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his planned visit to the United States this month. The restaurants owner, Shripad Kulkarni, said that the thali has been expressly created to meet the needs of the local Indian community, reported ANI. The thali has been named Modi JI Thali by Kulkarni, an Indian-born man who owns the restaurant. The thali includes dishes like Khichdi, Sarso Ka Saag and Rasgulla. In a video shared by ANI, Kulkarni is seen explaining the Modi Ji Thali in depth. The vibrant thali contains delectable delicacies from all around India, like idli, dhokla, chaach, rasgulla, papad, among others. The idli that was present on the plate were of different colours Saffron, White and Green. The tri-colour symbolised the national flag of India. The owner of this New Jersey-based Indian Restaurant further mentioned that many customers had previously tasted this unique thali. A number of diners, who are also seen in the video, expressed their admiration for the cuisine and noted how famous the thali is among the Indian population. However, the cost of the thali is not disclosed yet. Notably, US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have invited Prime Minister Modi to visit the country from 21-24 June. It will be his first official state visit to the nations capital, Washington. The last official state visit to the US by an Indian leader was made by former prime minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh in November 2009. According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs last week, US President Biden and the First Lady will host PM Modi at a state dinner in the White House during the visit. As per the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, this visit by the Indian PM will enhance the two nations shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has committed to hold hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen strategic collaboration on their common goal of establishing a powerful country, state media KCNA reported on Monday. In a greeting to Putin on Russias National Day, Kim made the commitment, justifying Putins choice to attack Ukraine and expressing his full support and solidarity. Justice is sure to win and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory, Reuters quoted Kim as saying in the message published by KCNA. Kim called for closer strategic cooperation with Moscow, holding hands firmly with the Russian president, in conformity with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to fulfil the grand goal of building a powerful country, it added. North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming the hegemonic policy and high-handedness of the United States and the West. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A leading think tank has claimed that number of operational nuclear weapons in the arsenals of the major military powers is on the rise, with China seeing the largest increase in battle-ready warheads. According to The Guardian report, citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), there are now said to be an estimated 12,512 warheads globally, of which 9,576 are in military stockpiles ready for potential use, up 86 on a year ago. The think tank suggested that 60 of the new battle-ready nuclear warheads were held by China, while the other new weapons are attributed to Russia (12), Pakistan (five), North Korea (five) and India (four), added the report. The third-largest nuclear power in the world, China is thought to have raised the number of warheads on its arsenal from 350 in January 2022 to 410 in January 2023. That arsenal is anticipated to continue expanding, but according to Sipri, it wont outpace those of the US and Russia. The rise brings to an end the period of gradual decline that followed the end of the cold war. The increase in battle-fit nuclear weapons comes despite a the UNs five permanent security council members the US, Russia, China, the UK and France saying in a statement in 2021 that nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. According to the report, Russia and the US alone possess almost 90 per cent of all the nuclear weapons globally. In addition to their usable nuclear weapons, the two powers each hold more than 1,000 warheads previously retired from military service, which they are gradually dismantling. 3,844 warheads deployed with missiles and aircraft Of the total of 12,512 warheads in the world, which includes those that are retired and awaiting dismantlement, Sipri estimates that 3,844 are deployed with missiles and aircraft. Around 2,000 of those nearly all of which belong to Russia or the US are kept in a state of high operational alert, meaning that they are fitted to missiles or held at airbases hosting nuclear bombers, The Guardian reported. Citing Sipri, the report said that the full picture is difficult to judge as a number of countries, including Russia, the US and the UK, have reduced their level of transparency since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The report adds that China has never declared the size of its nuclear arsenal and that many of its assessments rely on data from the US Department of Defense (DOD). In 2021, commercial satellite imagery revealed that China had started construction of hundreds of new missile silos across the north of its territory. China has started a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal. It is increasingly difficult to square this trend with Chinas declared aim of having only the minimum nuclear forces needed to maintain its national security, The Guardian quoted Hans M Kristensen, an associate senior fellow with Sipris weapons of mass destruction programme, as saying. The next greatest nuclear powers are France (290) and the UK (225), and after announcing two years ago that it was expanding its limit from 225 to 260 warheads, the UK is poised to increase its operational arsenal. The US suspended its bilateral strategic stability dialogue with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin announced it was suspending its participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting the strategic nuclear forces of the two cold war foes. Meanwhile, Russias government has increasingly spoken of the risk of nuclear war since its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. Putin has said that he has put Russias nuclear deterrent on high alert. He also said in the immediate wake of his invasion that the consequences for those who stood in his countrys way would be such as you have never seen in your entire history. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is working towards improving the companys financial performance and has implemented strict measures to achieve this goal. At the start of this year, Zuckerberg declared 2023 as the year of efficiency and expressed the companys focus on becoming stronger and more agile during an internal meeting. However, the year of efficiency did not bring positive news for Meta employees. In March, the tech giant announced the termination of 10,000 employees, following the termination of 11,000 jobs in the previous year. Mark Zuckerberg is a terrible boss, say Meta employees Recently, an internal survey conducted by Meta revealed that the majority of employees are dissatisfied with Zuckerbergs leadership style. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, only 26 per cent of employees expressed confidence in his leadership. Also read: Meta employees call out Mark Zuckerberg for paying fat bonuses to execs during mass layoffs This marks a decline of 5 per cent compared to a previous survey conducted in October 2022. The latest survey was conducted prior to the companys recent round of layoffs in May. Additionally, 43 per cent of employees stated that they feel valued at the company. Low morale among Meta employees The report also highlights that the mass layoffs at Meta have negatively impacted employee morale. Last month, the company carried out another round of layoffs. Although the initial announcement in March mentioned 10,000 layoffs, only 4,000 employees were let go at that time. The remaining 6,000 employees were informed about their termination in May. Also read: Meta planning another round of layoffs after firing 11,000 people last year, may fire thousands again Employees affected by the layoffs took to LinkedIn to share their experiences. One employee mentioned receiving the layoff notification at 4:30 am and expressed the anxiety and anticipation leading up to that moment. Layoffs had nothing to do with performance Another employee revealed that despite receiving excellent performance reviews, she was still laid off. Many employees echoed the sentiment that the layoffs were not based on performance. Also read: Unfortunately, this did not play out the way I expected: Mark Zuckerberg as Facebook parent Meta cuts 11,000 jobs In a recent company-wide meeting, Mark Zuckerberg expressed his desire for Meta to achieve more stability and less bureaucracy. According to a report from The Washington Post, the CEO stated his intention to lead Meta to a scrappier place. He acknowledged that the process of restructuring, layoffs, and implementing changes is challenging, and emphasized that the goal is not to return to the exact previous state but rather to transform the company into a more agile and dynamic organization. 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 Finance Minister Ishaq Dar hinted at the governments Plan B, apparently writing off the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. It is working immediately next month on rescheduling the bilateral external debt of over USD 27 billion, Dawn reported. Addressing the post-budget news conference, Dar ruled out any talks about restructuring external debt with multilateral agencies or Paris Club as it is not a dignified thing to do. He said that Pakistan will not bother multi-laterals, adding that rescheduling Paris Club [loan] is not on our menu, as per the Dawn report. Ishaq Dar expected little from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) beyond disbursements under the delayed ninth IMF review which would have released USD 1.1 billion instalments. He said, There is no chance for the 10th review meaning that the current IMF programme of USD 6.5 billion will conclude at around USD 5.1 billion without the remaining 10th and 11th reviews for USD 1.4 billion funds. In response to a question regarding debt rescheduling with bilateral partners like China, Dar did not name any country. However, he said that this was something the government intended to begin working on early in the next fiscal year after the budget is passed, as per the Dawn report. (With inputs from ANI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A middle-aged Chinese woman, who narrowly escaped death while ascending Mount Everest, allegedly refused to give her Sherpa guide a rescue charge of $10,000 (Rs 8.2 lakh). According to South China Morning Post, the story has garnered widespread attention in China, prompting criticisms on social media. However, the Chinese mountain climbers who helped her asked people to show tolerance for the woman. The climbers ended up paying the rescue fee on her behalf, a Chinese news portal reported. On the evening of 18 May, the Sherpa guide, who was not named in the report, discovered the woman named Liu in an unconscious state near the summit of Mount Everest while escorting another mountain climber Fan Jiangtao. Liu belonged to the Hunan province in Central China. Jiangtao agreed to help her at the cost of abandoning his goal of reaching the summit. However, due to the harsh conditions, the two men could only move Liu 200 metres before they ran out of energy. Then, Jiangtao went in search of assistance and bumped into Xie Ruxiang, a fellow member of the Hunan Provincial Mountain Climbing Association. Ruxiang gave up his goal too of reaching the summit in exchange for helping with the rescue. Ruxiang claimed that his sherpa guide was the strongest among them but he was reluctant to help in this rescue operation. He was offered a reward of $10,000 after which he agreed to help the mountain climbers. After this, the men worked together. The sherpa guide of Ruxiang carried her on his back while Jiangtao and Ruxiang took turns in keeping her legs elevated to increase her blood flow. They successfully reached the base camp, where she received treatment for several days and recovered. As per the report, Liu successfully ascended the mountain and while returning, she started facing problems. After the rescue operation, when the Sherpa guide inquired about his fee, Liu refused to pay the full amount. The Chinese woman said that she would pay only $4,000 for the rescue fee instead of $10,000. Jiangtao told the Chinese media outlet that each of them paid the guide a tip of $1,800 while Liu paid only $1,500. Jiangtao, who paid the remaining rescue fee, was angered by the whole incident. He said that he had been preparing for Mt Everest visit for 40 days and spent Rs 46 lakh. Jiangtao felt that the woman was ungrateful, reported SCMP. Liu received vicious internet trolling for her actions. However, the other two climbers urged others to cease mistreating her and exhibit tolerance instead. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Days after a report suggested that Cuba has agreed to allow China to construct a surveillance facility on the island, China on Monday said the allegations were false and it denounced the US government and media for releasing what it called inconsistent information. A Biden administration official said on Saturday China had been spying from Cuba for some time and it had upgraded its intelligence collection facilities there in 2019. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that a new spying effort was underway on the island, citing US officials. China will pay Cuba several billion dollars to be able to construct the facility, the journal said, citing unnamed US officials. On the alleged spy activities of China in Cuba, this is a piece of false information, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, told a regular press conference. Over the past two days, we have seen the U.S. government and media releasing a great deal of inconsistent information on the so-called allegation This is a display of the self-contradictory USA, Wang said. The allegation about Cuba comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares to visit China this week. The top U.S. diplomat scrapped a planned trip to Beijing in February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States. Wang also said he had no information on Blinkens visit, which would be the first to China by a US secretary of state in five years. Cubas Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio dismissed the Journal report, calling it a US fabrication meant to justify a decades-old US economic embargo against the island nation. He said Cuba rejects all foreign military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. The spokesperson for the White House National Security Council on Thursday said the Journal report was not accurate but added that Washington had real concerns about Chinas relationship with Cuba and had been closely monitoring it. Wang said the US has no chance of driving a wedge between China and Cuba. We are sincere friends, he said. Strained relations The Journal report came amid strained relations between Washington and Beijing over a range of issues that include US support for self-ruled Taiwan, which China says it is determined to reunite with the mainland. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pushed a rapid expansion of the countrys security presence around the world, aiming to match the broad presence of the US military on all the continents. A base in Cuba, which lies 90 miles (150 kilometers) off the southern tip of Florida, would present the most direct challenge yet to the continental United States. The Soviet Union had electronic spying facilities in communist Cuba to monitor the United States. But in 1962 when Moscow moved to base nuclear missiles on Cuba, the US declared a quarantine of the island in a crisis that threatened to bring the two superpowers to war, until Moscow backed down. Washington then removed its nuclear-capable missiles from Turkey, which the Soviets viewed as a threat to them. China sent what the US called a high-altitude surveillance balloon across the United States earlier this year. It floated from west to east above sensitive military installations before it was shot down just off the east coast by a US fighter jet. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In yet another case of manhandling of video bloggers, a Dutch vlogger Pedro Mota was manhandled on a busy road in the Chickpet area of Bengaluru while the YouTuber was going about recording a vlog on the streets. A police case has been registered against one Navab Hayath Sharif after a complaint was lodged about misbehaving with foreigner under Karnataka Police Act Section 92, Laxman B Nimbargi, DCP, West Division, Bengaluru said. According to Bengaluru Police, action has been taken against Navab Hayath Sharif. The accused rounded up. Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated, Bengaluru City Police said in a tweet. Karnataka: Bengaluru Police has arrested the accused Nawab Hayath Sharif under Section 92 for assaulting a Dutch vlogger. Seems like he had objection against the vlogger greeting everyone with 'Namaste'. pic.twitter.com/8JHKdESZnW Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) June 12, 2023 Earlier this year, a video had gone viral on Twitter showing a Japanese vlogger allegedly being harassed on the streets of Delhi during Holi. The celebrations took a horrifying turn when the 22-year-old vlogger was egged, slapped, and allegedly harassed by a group of boys in Delhi. In April this year, Jodhpur Police had arrested a 25-year-old man for flashing at a South Korean tourist in the city. The 28-year-old victim had recorded the harassment on her phone and posted it on her vlog. The police had swung into action after the video had come to their notice. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. All very fair questions. Unfortunately, we know nothing about the compartment crusader. His name, his methods and his motivation are all a mystery. All we know is that he started in Ibiza and ended up in the overhead compartment. Digital India Bill proposed by Rajeev Chandrasekhar will ban 11 types of content News oi -Carlsen Martin The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar recently announced plans to censor certain types of content from the internet. The Chandrasekhar claims that the new bill will be intended to combat cybercrime worldwide. Chandrasekhar told NDTV that consultations on the Digital India Bill will begin this month and the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill will be presented in parliament soon. What type of content will the bill outlaw? The bill is expected to tackle a wide range of safety concerns on the internet, combating child sexual abuse material, religious incitement material, misinformation on social media, and platforms patent violation material. Chandrasekhar said, "There are 11 things that we don't want on social media - child sexual abuse material, religious incitement material, patent violation material, misinformation, and things like that." The full list of issues mentioned in the bill include pornography, content harmful for children, copyright infringement, misleading content, impersonation, content deemed against India's unity and integrity, computer malware, banned online games, and anything illegal. Problems of the Past Chandrasekhar blamed the previous UPA government for the challenges faced by current BJP government. He claimed that the issues stemmed from the amendments to the IT Act in 2008 that granted immunity to big tech and social media companies. "We inherited a toxic internet system in 2014," he said. While all the above-mentioned issues are already present in the last update of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code), the new bill will give the government the ability to hold platforms accountable for hosting such content. According to Chandrasekhar, the Digital India Bill is a part of the government's efforts to make the internet open and safe and to protect the digital citizen. The minister also stressed the role platforms will play in executing this new initiative; "It is the responsibility of the online platform to keep its platform safe and trusted for the digital citizens." 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 Realme GT Neo 5 Pro Specs Leaked: 144Hz OLED Display, SD8 G2 SoC, 16GB RAM, Tipped News oi -Alap Naik Desai Realme could launch another model under the Realme GT Neo 5 series. Dubbed the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro, the smartphone would be positioned above the Realme GT Neo 5 and the Realme GT Neo 5 SE. The Realme GT Neo 5 Pro recently surfaced on the MIIT certification database. Now, the key specifications and hardware information have leaked online. Let's check out the upcoming premium Android smartphone from Realme. Realme GT Neo 5 Pro Leaked Specifications, Features Realme GT Neo 5 Pro appears to have two models, which suggests the brand may launch one of the variants in China, while the other would be destined for international markets, including India. According to the latest leak, the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro will feature a 6.74-inch OLED panel sourced from the Tianma brand. The display would have a 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and a 2160Hz PWM dimming. Realme has reportedly embedded the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset inside the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro. The next-gen powerful chipset is tipped to be paired with 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Buyers could get the option between 256GB and 512GB of internal storage. Previous reports about the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro indicated the smartphone will feature a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 50MP primary camera with Sony IMX890 sensor and OIS support. The latest leak claims the main camera will have a new fusion algorithm, presumably aimed at improving shot quality. There's no information about the battery embedded inside the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro. However, the latest leak claims the smartphone would support 100W wired fast charging. Realme GT Neo 5 Pro Expected Launch, Availability Realme hasn't announced the launch date of the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro yet. The brand is reportedly gearing up for the launch of the Realme GT Neo 6 SE smartphone. Previous reports suggest Realme might launch the Realme GT Neo 5 Pro in the third quarter of the current year. As the smartphone appears to be powered by Qualcomm's flagship chipset, the smartphone may start at 49,999, suggest some rumors. Best Mobiles in India Indictment Against Trump 'Very, Very Damning,' Former Attorney General Says By Ken Bredemeier June 11, 2023 William Barr, former U.S. President Donald Trump's 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 Trump's 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, Trump's attorney general in 2019 and 2020, told the "Fox News Sunday" show. "This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a a victim of a witch hunt a is ridiculous." 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 wouldn't 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 Barr's 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 Trump's staunchest defenders, Senator Lindsey Graham, told ABC's "This Week" show that while some of the charges brought against Trump were filed under the country's 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 country's top diplomat. "It's 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 CNN's "State of the Union" show that the indictment against Trump was a "total affront to the rule of law" and accepted Trump's 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 Trump's 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. "I'll 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address JEF deploys its Headquarters to Iceland Government of Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs June 01, 2023 The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) led by the United Kingdom with the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and the Netherlands will exercise the deployment of its London-based headquarters to Iceland in June. Iceland joined JEF in April 2021 and this is the first JEF deployment to take place in Iceland. The main purpose of the exercise is to train HQ deployment and demonstrate and project JEF capability, develop an understanding of Iceland and its environment, develop the response options and exercise various hybrid scenarios. Around 250 people will participate in the exercise from JEF headquarters, participant nations and other allied nations. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Defence Division of the Icelandic Coast Guard are responsible for the planning and the host nation's support on behalf of Iceland. "We have been expanding and deepening collaboration with our neighbouring countries on security and defence, and the JEF cooperation is an integral part of that. In this way, we can better ensure a rapid and flexible response in a potential crisis," says Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, Minister for Foreign Affairs. JEF is a group of like-minded Northern European countries cooperating on security and defence with a focus on the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea Region. The JEF combines the strengths of ten nations by planning, training, and operating together continuously, and is intended to support other multinational defence cooperation, including NATO. The participating countries also hold regular and effective security political consultations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Slovak and German Ministries of Defence sign gift agreement for MANTIS air defence systems Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 08.06.2023 During their meeting at the SVK Ministry of Defence (MOD) today, the Slovak National Director for Defence Capabilities, Dalibor Pavolka, and his German counterpart, Thomas Frankenberger, have signed a gift agreement under which the Federal Republic of Germany will donate two MANTIS very short range air defence (VSHORAD) systems to Slovakia to bolster the country's air defences on its eastern border with Ukraine, which is otherwise protected by national and Allied GBAD capabilities. According to Defence Minister Martin Sklenar, the first of the two systems will be supplied to Slovakia within a matter of weeks, with the exact delivery date still to be confirmed by the German side. Slovakia will get the MANTIS systems for free and permanently, building on the correct SVK-DEU relationship, expert talks, and the Alliance's common goal - to beef up NATO's eastern defences, of which Slovakia forms part. In his statement, Defence Minister Martin Sklenar said: "The gifting of the MANTIS systems to the Slovak Armed Forces comes as an outcome of Allies' positive reflection on our responsible partnership and long-term tireless engagement to the benefit of national and collective security." In the words of National Director for Defence Capabilities Dalibor Pavolka, the MANTIS air defence systems will give a boost to SVK GBAD's firepower and capability to defend our defence infrastructure facilities against airborne threats. Each of the two MANTIS systems consists of six automatic weapon stations (optionally available with up to eight guns), two sensor units, and a command post. The package from Germany also includes 3 MANTIS surveillance radars with a range of up to 100km and specialist training for SVK soldiers. Currently, 44 SVK servicemen and women are in Germany being trained on the MANTIS system by the Bundeswehr on Todendorf Military Training Area (MTA). On completion of this training, the service personnel will deploy to eastern Slovakia to operate the MANTIS systems in defence of the state. The Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System (MANTIS) system is a stationary, fully automated weapon station designed to keep up round-the-clock air defence cover for military installations, detecting, tracking and destroying incoming cruise missiles, rockets, artillery and mortar shells, and drones. Germany originally developed MANTIS to protect the Bundeswehr's forward-operating bases in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan After the meeting with the heads of government of the CIS and EAEU countries, Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a separate conversation. June 9, 2023 17:30 Sochi President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, We meet regularly, and I am very happy to have this opportunity to talk once again on the sidelines of today's event about the current situation on a bilateral plane and on the regional aspects that we discussed in such detail during our previous meeting in Moscow. I am very happy to see you. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan: Thank you, Mr Putin. To begin with, I would like to congratulate you on the upcoming holiday - Russia Day - and wish well-being to the Russian Federation. Yes, indeed, we meet regularly and discuss a broad range of issues. Today, we will also discuss both bilateral and regional matters. I believe that today we will also review the situation in the Russian peacekeeper zone of responsibility in Nagorno-Karabakh. Unfortunately, the humanitarian situation remains difficult there. Nagorno-Karabakh has had no gas or electricity for months. The situation in the Lachin corridor remains strained. By the way, I must emphasise that food is now delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh with the help of the Russian peacekeepers, but this is a limited amount of food. Overall, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh continues, and this is also a very important issue. I am sure we will discuss it today. Vladimir Putin: Certainly. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about developments in Kosovo 9 June 2023 18:08 1148-09-06-2023 Question: It seems that, fortunately, tensions in Kosovo have somewhat eased in recent days. Is this so? What can you say about the developments in that region? What could facilitate a resumption of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina? Maria Zakharova: Indeed, we have seen some stabilisation in the north of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. The outbreak of violence unleashed by Pristina under a NATO shield has abated, but the root causes of the escalation have not been eliminated, and the West has not drawn the right conclusions. Mediators from Washington and Brussels perked up, trying to avoid a new round of tension in the region. As before, they are set on achieving this exclusively at Serbia's expense. Pretending to condemn the Kosovo "authorities" for inciting the conflict and imposing some makeshift "sanctions" on them, they are trying to force another obviously flawed finale on Belgrade. In return, they are offering Serbia economic assistance, an influx of investment, and wider military cooperation. There is no doubt that behind these promises, there are plans to pull Serbia away from Russia and other traditional partners, to force it to disrupt its strategic partnership with our country. The West wants Belgrade to persuade the Kosovo Serbs to take part in the re-election of the heads of the northern communities and return to the regional institutions without any preconditions, that is, taking the US and EU's word for it when they say Serbia's interests will finally be taken into account. Of course, those vague promises of Western support do not guarantee the withdrawal of Pristina's special forces from non-Albanian areas, much less the creation of the Community of Serb Municipalities of Kosovo (CCMC). Meanwhile, these are the key prerequisites for a resumption of dialogue, which is impossible in a situation where Serbs suffer severe persecution in Kosovo and have to fight for physical survival. The Americans' studied frown at the Kosovo "leadership" is clearly not enough. Decisive steps are needed to steer the negotiation process in a business-like vein, where the parties would work to achieve solutions within the international legal framework. Instead, the "prime minister," Albin Kurti, is being allowed to go further and further beyond the limits of balanced behaviour. He stages public sessions of self-hypnosis, chanting a ridiculous slogan about Kosovo being the most democratic state in the Western Balkans and using the term "fascist militia," which stigmatises local Serbs, likening them to Italian Blackshirts squads that served Benito Mussolini. We see this as a clumsy attempt to put a label on the Serbs that primarily refers to the Albanians themselves, when they formed the Albanian Fascist Militia based in Tirana during the Italian occupation of 1939-1943. We call on the West to stop its destructive policy in the Kosovo settlement and stop playing up to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina in their ambition to turn the province into an ethnically pure territory. There is no alternative to UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Any substitution of this cornerstone document is fraught with a deepening of the crisis with unpredictable consequences for security in the Balkans. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Aviation Battalion Welcomed to Kosovo by KFOR's Regional Command-East By Sgt. 1st Class Herschel Talley June 10, 2023 CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO -- Kosovo Force Regional Command-East's Aviation Battalion (Task Force Yellow Hammer) held a casing of the colors ceremony, during which authority was transferred from Task Force Yellow Hammer to Task Force Rogue, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, on Jun. 8, 2023. The 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment, Alabama Army National Guard (Task Force Yellow Hammer), relinquished responsibility to the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Rhode Island Army National Guard (Task Force Rogue). Col. Chris Mabis, the commander of Regional Command-East, thanked Task Force Yellow Hammer for supporting Regional Command-East with the team they brought to Kosovo. "Everyone in Task Force Aviation played their part and did a phenomenal job," Mabis said. During the ceremony, Task Force Yellow Hammer cased their unit's flag, signifying the end of their nine-month mission in Kosovo. Task Force Rogue then unfurled their unit's colors, representing the beginning of their support of KFOR's mission. "Sgt. Maj. and I can confidently stand up, in front of you, and say we are ready to assume the mission and we're very proud to be standing in front of this formation," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey A. Sills, commander of Task Force Rogue. During their nine months in Kosovo, Task Force Yellow Hammer supported every major training event and operation from rappelling, air assault lanes, sling loading resupplies and real-world medical evacuation missions. Col. David G. Goodall, commander of Task Force Yellow Hammer, wished the best of luck to Sills and all of Task Force Rogue, and thanked Task Force Yellow Hammer for rising to every occasion. "You provided key capabilities to the Regional Command East Commander and your actions had major impacts on the major events here in Kosovo," Goodall said. "It's been tremendously fulfilling watching you learn, grow and execute this mission," Goodall continued. "Every single one of you should be proud to have added your personal contributions to what the Task Force Yellow Hammer has done here." KFOR RC-East comprises ten contributing NATO partner nations. Its mission is to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo, as mandated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strong unity in the fight against ISIS Government of Norway News story | Date: 10/06/2023 'Much of the world's attention is currently focused on Russia's war in Ukraine. But all the while, violent extremism and terrorism are continuing to hamper development, and are spreading fear and uncertainty to more and more areas of sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan. It is therefore important to reaffirm our strong unity and support for the fight against ISIS, as we did at the meeting of the global coalition against ISIS today,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt. The coalition's military efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that ISIL no longer has control over territory in Iraq and Syria, but ISIL still has the capacity to carry out terrorist attacks in these countries. The emergence of ISIL-affiliated terrorist groups in sub-Saharan Africa and increased activity by the Islamic State Khorasam Province (ISKP) in and around Afghanistan also give cause for concern. 'ISKP's resurgence in Afghanistan and the expansion of ISIL's networks show how vital it is to keep up the fight against ISIL,' Ms Huitfeldt said. The discussions at the meeting also focused on the need for stabilisation efforts in order to prevent ISIL from gaining new breeding grounds in Syria and Iraq. The conflict in Syria has been going on for 12 years, and the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly critical. Norway is one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the country, and has provided over NOK 18 billion in humanitarian support over the last 11 years. At the meeting, Ms Huitfeldt confirmed that Norway would continue to provide stabilisation support and humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict in Syria and its neighbouring countries. This year, Norway will be providing close to NOK 1.7 billion in support to Syria and neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon, which are hosting millions of Syrian refugees. 'Young people are a particularly vulnerable target group for ISIL propaganda and recruitment. Children and young people need education and hope for the future. We are increasing our support for activities, education and vocational training for young people in northwestern Syria by NOK 50 million for this year and next. We will also maintain our support for efforts to combat violent extremism and enhance the resilience of local communities in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions,' Ms Huitfeldt said. Norway has participated in the global coalition against ISIL since 2014. Some 30 Norwegian soldiers and officers are currently deployed in Iraq and 10 are deployed in Jordan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen must not become a forgotten crisis Government of Norway News story | Date: 10/06/2023 Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt visited Yemen for the first time on 9 June. The Foreign Minister met Yemen's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the temporary capital of Aden. The evening before, Ms Huitfeldt met the President of Yemen in Riyadh. 'Yemen must not become a forgotten crisis. The protracted armed conflict has claimed an enormous number of lives and is the main reason why two out of three Yemenis are currently living in extreme poverty. There is now hope for a peaceful solution to the conflict. It is therefore vital to come to the country to show our clear support for the Government's efforts to find a political solution and not least our support for the people Yemen,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt. As a result of the brutal conflict, some 4 million Yemenis are internally displaced. Ms Huitfeldt visited the newly established Oteira refugee camp outside Aden, where the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is carrying out projects to provide protection and improve living conditions and access to sanitation, clean water and education. People living in the camp have fled the hostilities in Houthi-controlled areas in the north and west of the country. Many have also had to leave their homes due to flooding. Yemen is one of the countries in the world that is most vulnerable to climate change. Moreover, tens of thousands of migrants arrive in Yemen every month from other parts of Africa. 'Meeting the internally displaced Yemeni people in the Oteira camp made a deep impression on me. They are fighting a daily battle to secure enough to eat, to feel safe, and to build a dignified life for themselves and their children. The UN, Norwegian Refugee Council and other humanitarian organisations are providing invaluable support to the country's hard-pressed population,' said Ms Huitfeldt. After eight years of war, the humanitarian needs in the country are immense. Out of a population of 34 million, 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Two out of three are living in extreme poverty. 'While the world's attention has largely been focused on the war in Ukraine, we must not forget the ongoing crises and human suffering in other countries, like Yemen. The UN's humanitarian appeal is severely underfunded. Norway is providing NOK 275 million to humanitarian efforts in Yemen this year, an increase of 25 million from 2022,' said Ms Huitfeldt. The war in Yemen has lasted for eight years. Talks are now under way between the Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia about a ceasefire, and there are hopes that this could lay the foundation for an UN-led peace process between the parties in Yemen. 'A permanent ceasefire and a political solution that promotes stability and development is essential to improve the lives of the Yemeni people. Norway fully supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to achieve this,' said the Foreign Minister. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trafficking in the Sahel: Muzzling the illicit arms trade 10 June 2023 - Shoppers in Mali's Gao, Timbuktu, and Menaka regions 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. In this feature, part of a series exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel, UN News focuses on the illegal arms trade that is fuelling conflict and terrorism. In the Sahel, home to 300 million people, it's a buyer's market for guns. Insurgency and banditry plague the region, rooted in, among other things, endemic intercommunal tensions, clashes between farmers and herders, a spread of violent religious extremism, and competition over such scarce resources as water and arable land amid extreme climate shocks. "Non-State groups are fighting among themselves for supremacy, pushing States to the margin, and causing untold misery to millions of people who had to flee their communities to seek safety," Giovanie Biha, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), told the UN Security Council, presenting the Secretary-General's report on the region. 'We bought more rifles' Behind the chaos and misery simmers a thriving illicit arms trade. Many arms trafficking hubs in the Sahel rim borders or transportation routes where multiple criminal activities take place, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Illegal markets - often hidden in plain sight in towns and villages along strategic corridors - lay unhampered by the presence of authorities. All the groups involved in clashes are now dealing with firearms and ammunition, according to a recent UNODC report on firearms trafficking. As the numbers of group members multiply, so too do business opportunities for traffickers. The report tracks cases with a view to better understand the phenomenon and its drivers. When Nigerian authorities asked a suspect how his group had spent the $100,000 ransom paid to free the schoolgirls they had kidnapped, he said "we bought more rifles", according to the report. Cascade of consequences A cascade of consequences spilled across the region over the past decade, destabilizing nations and spreading a tide of trafficked weapons into villages, towns, and cities. In Nigeria, Boko Haram expanded its area of control and spidered into Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. In the first of the Trafficking in the Sahel features, we described the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya as a pivotal moment. Tuareg soldiers serving in the Libyan army looted weapons, returning to Mali, where a series of rebellions created a dangerous, chaotic security vacuum. Extremist groups captured Malian military and police bases, adding fresh stockades of weapons to their expanding arsenals. The Liptako-Gourma transborder area became a battlefield and bartering ground for a burgeoning illegal arms trade. The chronic violence has killed thousands and displaced more than two million Sahelians, as of December 2022. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused further disruptions, said Mar Dieye, who heads the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS). "Soldiers are selling their guns to get food, and this will add fuel to fire," he told UN News. "This is extremely serious, and we are calling for all international actors to scale up their support." African-tailored terrorism Against this backdrop sits the ever-present threat of terrorism, according the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee's Executive Directorate (CTED). In a bid to appeal to local audiences, Islamic State (ISIL) affiliates have, since 2017, attempted to "Africanize" references and languages, using African literature to justify the terrorist group's views, CTED said in its report ISIL in Africa: Key Trends and Developments. Currently, the Lake Chad Basin and Central Sahel have emerged as epicentres and incubators of terrorism and violent extremism, authorities warned. In the background, the illicit weapons trade perpetuates the chaos. The UNODC report showed that flows of illegal arms from Libya since 2019 have expanded to include newly manufactured assault rifles. Partners against crime Reflecting this sinister trend, weapons seizures increased by 105 per cent between 2017 and 2021, and sting operations continue, said Amado Philip de Andres, UNODC's regional representative for West and Central Africa. Joint investigations and cross-border cooperation are a winning combination, he said. One such operation crushed a terrorist network's firearms supply route in December, and new partnerships are flourishing, including Niger's military cooperation agreements with Benin and Burkina Faso. To fight terrorism and violent extremism, concerned nations in the region launched the Accra Initiative in 2017, deploying joint operations, initiating confidence-building efforts in hotspot areas, and calling for operationalizing a multinational joint task force comprising 10,000 soldiers. For its part, the UN and the region's countries work to strengthen the resilience of border communities and facilitate the return of displaced persons. Traction in advancing the African Union's ground-breaking Silencing the Guns initiative is also under way, with a UN task force supporting an annual amnesty month and lending technical assistance on small arms control. To build on these successes, UNODC recommended that Sahel countries reinforce efforts to collect data on firearms trafficking to improve understanding of and stop national and transnational flows. But, political and operational support of partners remains essential to stabilize the region, said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa. "Decisive progress in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism, and organized crime in the Sahel must be made desperately," she said. "Without significant gains, it will become increasingly difficult to reverse the security trajectory in the Sahel and the continued expansion of insecurity to coastal countries in West Africa." 'We are all Burkinabes' The backlash of the illicit arms trade is felt strongest on the ground. In the village of Bolle, Burkina Faso, a fragile security landscape crumbled frighteningly in 2019, when fierce fighting among heavily armed groups along the Malian border drove more than 100,000 people into the area to seek safety. Sahelians like Chief Diambendi Madiega have worked together to welcome as many as they could. "The concern I had was how to take care of the displaced people," he said, upon receiving a UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, award in 2021 for hosting more than 2,500 people. "The responsibility is mine," he explained. "Anything I can to do help them, I will. I am happy for what this community has done. This shows that we are all Burkinabes." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan Begins 24-Hour Cease-Fire By VOA News June 10, 2023 The two warring factions in Sudan entered into a cease-fire 6 a.m. Saturday, local time. There are apprehensions that the 24-hour deal will collapse before it ends; a number of other truces have already failed. U.S. and Saudi mediators have warned they may pull out of mediation efforts if Saturday's cease-fire collapses. "A one-day truce is much less than we aspire for," Khartoum North resident Mahmud Bashir told Agence France-Presse. "We look forward to an end to this damned war." The hourslong deal opens the opportunity for humanitarian assistance. Fighting erupted in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, and surrounding locations, in mid-April, between two rival generals - Abdel Fattah al-Burhan from Sudan's army and Burhan's former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Da, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has also spread elsewhere. Close to 2,000 people have been killed in the fighting, while nearly 2 million have been displaced. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 9 Killed in Militant Attack of Beachfront Hotel in Somalia By Abdulaziz Osman June 10, 2023 The Somalia government says an attack launched Friday by al-Shabab militants on a Mogadishu hotel has ended. State media report that security forces successfully neutralized the militants who stormed the Pearl Beach hotel on Friday evening and rescued a large number of civilians. Somalia police said nine people were killed and 10 others injured in the attack. In a statement, Somali Police Command said those killed were six civilians and three security forces. The police also said that 84 people, including children, women and the elderly, were rescued from the scene of the attack. Somalia security forces had engaged in ongoing efforts to neutralize al-Shabab militants who launched the attack at the beachfront hotel. Witnesses told VOA's Somali Service that the assault began with at least two explosions outside the Pearl Beach Hotel, followed by gunmen storming the hotel. Gunfire was heard with an unknown number of people trapped inside the building, witnesses said, while others managed to escape through the back doors and windows. "Special elite forces gained access to the entry into the upper floors of the hotel," one witness told VOA Somali. Al-Shabab group, affiliated with al-Qaida, has claimed responsibility for the attack. "The mujahideen managed to enter the Pearl Beach hotel and are still fully in control" the group said in a statement. The hotel at the center of the attack is near Lido Beach, a popular destination for politicians and members of the Somali diaspora visiting the capital city. This incident occurred during a period of relative calm for Mogadishu after the government in mid-April deployed newly trained military police in and around the city. However, violence by the group has wreaked havoc in other parts of the country. In a separate incident on Friday, at least 27 people including children were killed and more than 50 were injured in a massive blast from unexploded ordinance in the village of Muraale, located between Qoryooley and Jannaale districts. "Some individuals had retrieved unexploded explosives from a nearby field and used it for fire to cook food, but tragically, the device exploded, resulting in the deaths of 27 people, including children, mother, father, and youths," Abdirahman Yusuf Abdinur, the mayor of Jannaale, told Somalia state media agency. Earlier on Friday, Somalia announced its readiness to take over security responsibilities from the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in the country, with 2,000 AU troops set to leave Somalia by the end of June, in line with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670. Somalia's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it has recruited enough security forces who will assume control of the security responsibilities currently handled by the outgoing AU troops. The AU peace mission is expected to fully exit Somalia by December 31, 2024. This story originated in VOA's Somali Service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-Kosovo Diplomatic Spat Casts Shadow on Bilateral Relations By Keida Kostreci, Jovana Djurovic June 10, 2023 The United States and Kosovo are continuing to engage in an unusual public spat, after the staunch U.S. ally's prime minister, Albin Kurti, resisted calls to take steps that the West says are necessary to de-escalate ethnic tensions in the country's north. Tensions flared last week as ethnic Albanian mayors entered municipal buildings with the backing of police, despite having won with only 3.5 percent of the vote in local elections that ethnic Serbs boycotted. U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar and EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak visited Kosovo and Serbia this week, where they asked the leaders of the two countries to de-escalate, hold quick new elections in northern Kosovo and resume their dialogue. It's unclear if they will be able to persuade the two sides. Escobar has called Kurti inflexible and uncooperative, and Kurti complained that Washington and Brussels are biased in favor of Serbia. What's at stake is a deal between Kosovo and Serbia aimed at normalizing relations, but so far no concrete steps have been taken. On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill was blunt in an interview with VOA's Serbian Service, saying Washington has a problem with Kurti. "He's not willing to comply, and I think we have some very fundamental issues with him on whether we can count on him as a partner," he said. Kurti fired back, complaining in an interview with The Associated Press of bias against his country from the United States and the European Union and tolerance of what he calls Serbia's authoritarian regime. "Behaving well with an autocrat doesn't make him behave better. On the contrary," he told AP. Hill confirmed a view that many who have followed the Western Balkans and U.S. engagement with Kosovo share these days. "I don't think I've ever seen such a deep division, really ... what we have going right now between Pristina and Washington," he said. US approach debated While analysts agree that the situation is dangerous, they have different opinions on the United States' open criticism of Kurti. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow with the Hudson Institute, said the biggest concern for him has been the way the Biden administration has handled the situation, calling Escobar's approach "almost reckless." "I understand this desire to put pressure on both sides by the U.S. government, but it seems like right now the pressure is disproportionately on Kosovo. ... And I think this is unhealthy," he told VOA Albanian in an interview. But Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the criticism is justified. "He [Kurti] has taken actions of late that I deem to be needlessly provocative, including ... using armed guards to seat ethnic Albanian mayors that were elected with less than 4 percent of the vote. These are not helpful maneuvers," he told VOA Albanian. Kupchan said the United States and the EU still need to maintain an even-handed approach, considering that "Serbia has been a difficult player on these issues from the very beginning, that Serbia likely advised Serbs in the north not to participate in the recent elections." "So, whereas I do think that the criticism of Kurti is justified, the pressure needs to stay on both Pristina and Belgrade if we're going to see progress toward normalization and implementation of the agreements, including some form of Serb self-management in Kosovo," he said. The U.S. and the EU have asked Serbia to withdraw troops that it sent to the border with Kosovo and to urge protesters to be calm. But observers notice that there has not been a calling out of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, like there has been with Kurti. Coffey said the West is trying to appease Serbia, and Vucic is trying to have it both ways. "He wants to pretend like he is going to get closer to the West and be a productive member of the Euro-Atlantic community, but all the while he is very cozy with Moscow, very cozy with the Kremlin. And Serbia, under his leadership, remains Russia's main foothold in the Balkans," he said, adding that this undermines U.S. interests in the region. When visiting Pristina, special envoy Escobar made sure to distinguish in his remarks between sharp disagreements with the Kosovo government and the overall relationship with the country as a whole. Kupchan said the unique relationship between Kosovo and the United States has not changed. "By making public statements of this sort, I think the United States is, as I said, trying to create a situation in which there is political public pressure on Kurti to take a different line, and in which I think the United States is also sending a message to Serbs, to Serbia, to the Serbian government, that it is an even-handed player," he said. Many disputes The tensions over local elections are just the latest in a long list of disagreements between Kosovo and Serbia over what each country needs to do to make progress toward normalizing ties, a process spearheaded by the EU with strong support from the U.S. Kupchan said Western leaders' frustration stems from the fact that they thought normalization was within reach, and the parties don't seem to be taking advantage of the opportunity. "This is, in my mind, the best opportunity that we've seen really in a very long time, perhaps even since the initial independence of Kosovo in 2008," he said. The issue of self-management of Serbs in northern Kosovo is essentially the Achilles' heel in this process. Visiting the region, Escobar repeated that Kosovo needs to establish an Association of Serb Municipalities if it wants to move closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions. Kosovo officials have resisted, talking about more autonomy for Serbs but stopping short of committing to a concrete plan. "That seems to be the key sticking point here. It is also, in my mind, the key that would lead to a breakthrough in which the Serb majority that lives north of the river would feel that they have a voice in the institutions, the governance of Kosovo, and that they may then be more comfortable integrating into the country," Kupchan said. He added that the question is not whether Kosovo has a right to be frustrated, considering that "Belgrade has been sustaining parallel structures and has been manipulating the population inside Kosovo." In his view, the main question facing Kosovo is, "What is the best course for the government to take to get to a satisfactory, stable, durable peace in which Serbia forms a normal relationship with Kosovo, and ultimately all the countries of the world, including Serbia, recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state?" Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence that it declared in 2008, and that came almost a decade after U.S.-led NATO forces intervened to stop ethnic cleansing by the Serbian regime at the time. Keida Kostreci reported from Washington. Jovana Djurovic reported from Belgrade. Ivana Konstantinovic contributed. Some information came from The Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid Worsen Amid Sudan's Raging Combat By Lisa Schlein June 10, 2023 Whether Sudan's warring parties stick to the latest U.S.-Saudi Arabian-brokered cease-fire agreement remains an open question. What is not in doubt is that Saturday's 24-hour truce has capped another murderous week of intense fighting in which civilians were the main victims. Since fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted April 15, Sudan's Federal Ministry of Health says nearly 800 people have been killed and 5,800 wounded. The U.N. refugee agency said Friday 1.42 million people have become internally displaced and nearly half a million have crossed borders as refugees. This past week alone, fighting between Sudan's rival factions in and around the capital, Khartoum, has taken a heavy toll on civilian lives. Attacks against a busy livestock market, residential areas and a refugee center reportedly killed dozens of people. While people are dying from shelling and gunfire, the lack of humanitarian aid and a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation are compounding their misery. Jeremy Laurence, UNHCR spokesman, said Friday his office has received concerning reports of conflict-related sexual violence. "Since the fighting began, our office has received credible reports of 12 incidents of sexual violence related to the conflict against at least 37 womenalthough the number could be far higher. "In at least three incidents, the victims were young girls. In one case, 18 to 20 women were reportedly raped." Laurence said growing reports of apparent enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention were another cause for concern. He said that journalists were at heightened risk "amid a rise in online hate speech and disinformation." "Our office has learnt of a list circulating on social media accusing certain journalists of being supporters of the RSF. We have observed comments on Facebook calling for the killing of the journalists on the list," he said. Alfonso Verdu Perez, the outgoing head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Khartoum, said Friday he was present when the conflict began in mid-April and since has witnessed the heavy toll combat and violence have taken on the civilian infrastructure of the densely populated city. "Electricity and water levels have been severely damaged. We fear outbreaks of diseases because many residents have had no choice but to use unsafe drinking water from the river, from the Nile and other sources. At the same time, food and fuel prices have skyrocketed and the situation has been made worse for many people by the fact that they cannot even access their money in their banks." Perez said the situation in Darfur was equally worrying. He said robberies and looting were on the rise, power stations and markets have been looted. He said more than 200 people reportedly were killed in the town of El Geneina in western Darfur in just a few days early last month. He warned that this flare-up of violence could easily escalate and worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the region. "Health care may collapse at any moment, despite the best efforts of Sudanese doctors and nurses who have continued working in extremely difficult conditions caring for the wounded and providing other essential health care services to communities." The Red Cross official said conditions in Khartoum were no better, saying that only an estimated 20% of the city's health facilities were still functioning. Those facilities, he said, were facing severe shortages of water, power, food, and essential medical supplies were running low. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden, Stoltenberg to Meet Amid Jockeying for NATO Chief's Successor By Patsy Widakuswara June 10, 2023 U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Monday as jockeying to secure his successor intensifies. While the White House says the official agenda for the meeting is to discuss the alliance's July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the issue of who will be next at NATO's helm during this difficult period in its 74-year history will no doubt be front and center, as the alliance faces Russia's war in Ukraine. "The administration has not settled on a candidate for the next secretary-general, and we are not able to comment on deliberations," a senior U.S. government official told VOA Saturday. "The secretary-general has done a superb job and particularly at an unbelievably critical time in history." Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, is the longest-serving NATO chief in a generation and has had his tenure extended three times since taking the job in 2014. In February, his spokesperson said he would leave office when his current term ends in October. Stoltenberg is widely credited for managing rocky transatlantic relations between former U.S. President Donald Trump and European allies over defense spending; the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in August 2021; and the alliance's response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. His preference about his successor carries weight and Biden is expected to consult with him. "A lot of people will look to him to say, 'Who do you think is the best to follow up your leadership?" Andrew Hyde, senior fellow at the Stimson Center, told VOA. Whoever succeeds Stoltenberg will face the daunting challenge of shepherding the security of 1 billion people in 31 countries and growing. He or she must manage the tough balancing act of supporting Ukraine militarily while preventing the conflict from bleeding into the territory of a NATO member, which would trigger the alliance's Article 5 principle of collective defense and potentially lead to World War III. Consensus based A U.S. general is traditionally the Supreme Allied Commander Europe but the post of NATO chief has always been assumed by a European, even though there's nothing in the alliance's charter that requires it. There's no formal process and candidates don't announce that they're running for the post. Selection is done through consensus, achieved mostly through quiet and informal diplomatic channels. As the biggest donor, the U.S. plays a key role the reason why two contenders have visited the Oval Office recently. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen met with Biden at the White House on Monday. She is seen as a front-runner; however, her candidacy would mean a third successive secretary-general from a Nordic country. Another potential hurdle is that Denmark has long failed to meet the 2% minimum requirement in military spending for member states. In December, her government launched a plan to meet NATO's target by 2030, and it recently ramped up military aid to Ukraine. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Washington days after Frederiksen, with a broad agenda that includes lobbying for his defense secretary, Ben Wallace. Britain, supplier of more military assistance to Ukraine than any other country after the United States, has clout. And as one of the first defense ministers to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, Wallace is well-known among the alliance. However, out of 13 chiefs in NATO's history, three were British. Biden was noncommittal when asked whether it was time for another one. "Maybe. That remains to be seen," he said Thursday during a joint news conference with Sunak. All who have filled the post since 1952 were male. Time for a woman? There is a sense that it's time the alliance selects a female leader, Hyde said. With the Russian war raging, "there's also a feeling it should be somebody from Eastern Europe," he added. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and her Lithuanian counterpart, Ingrida Simonyte, meet both requirements. However, some observers argue that a leader from one of the Baltic countries, which are usually hawkish on Russia, could be perceived as a provocation by Moscow. Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of Germany have been floated as potential candidates. So has Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, although her Ukrainian heritage may prove to be a complication. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been mentioned as another contender. And there's always the possibility that the allies might prevail on Stoltenberg to extend his tenure yet again. The issue of who will be the next NATO secretary-general is expected to be settled by July, when the group's leaders meet in Vilnius. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam's accusation of sovereignty infringement 'unacceptable': Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 06/11/2023 12:05 PM Taipei, June 11 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday rejected as "unacceptable" Vietnam's accusation that a recent drill Taiwan conducted in a Taipei-controlled island in the disputed South China Sea has violated Hanoi's sovereignty. In a statement, MOFA said it has learned that Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang claimed on June 8 that a round of live-fire drills conducted by Taiwan in the waters surrounding Taiping Island a day earlier was a "serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over the islands." The spokeswoman also noted that the drill caused tensions and complicated the situation in the disputed region, according to MOFA. In response, MOFA said in its statement that Vietnam's accusation is "totally unacceptable." The government of the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan, retains all rights over South China Sea islands and their relevant waters, in accordance with international law and the law of the sea, MOFA underlined. "Taiping Island is indisputably the territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has the authority to exercise all the rights of a sovereign state over Taiping Island and its relevant waters," the statement said. Citing President Tsai Ing-wen's () 2016 principles concerning the South China Sea disputes, MOFA said Tsai calls for peaceful resolution over the issues for peace and stability in the region while upholding equality and shared prosperity. Taiping, also known as Itu Aba, the largest of the naturally occurring Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, ), lies 1,600 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung and is administered as part of the special municipality's Cijin District. The island is also claimed by Vietnam, China and the Philippines. Taiwan has control over the island, which is occupied by Taiwanese coast guard personnel trained by the Marine Corps, with drills regularly held there. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Montenegro's Europe Now Movement Expected To Come First In Snap Vote, Polling Shows By RFE/RL's Balkan Service June 11, 2023 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 pre-vote 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 Milo Djukanovic, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), lost a presidential election in April and stepped down after three decades in power. Montenegro is sharply divided among citizens 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 pro-European Movement Europe Now (PES) party 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 Serb nationalist, pro-Russia 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 additional reporting by Reuters and dpa. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-parliamentary- elections-change-stability/32454313.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement Issued by 156th Session of GCC Ministerial Council Saudi Press Agency Riyadh, June 11, 2023, SPA -- The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held its 156th session on Sunday, 22nd of Dhul Qi'dah 1444H (June 11, 2023), at the headquarters of the General Secretariat, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, with the participation of the Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Shaikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Secretary General of the GCC Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi. The meeting issued the following statement: The Ministerial Council praised the success of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's hosting of several important international and regional events, including the Kingdom's hosting of the 32nd Arab Summit on May 19, 2023, in Jeddah, and its positive results, stressing the importance of solidifying Arab unity and everything that would provide Conditions that achieve stability, prosperity and a promising future for the Arab peoples and future generations. The Council also praised the Kingdom's efforts in bringing points of view closer, strengthening unity, stopping bloodshed, and achieving a truce on a number of local and international issues. The Ministerial Council commended the progress achieved by the GCC countries within the framework of their space programmes, the efforts of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of outer space exploration, and the positive impact of this on the development of knowledge, scientific research and practical applications. The Ministerial Council reviewed developments in the joint Gulf action, and developments in regional and international political issues, as follows: Strengthening Joint Gulf Action: 1. The Ministerial Council was briefed on the efforts exerted by the committees working within the framework of the Cooperation Council to implement the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with respect to the promotion of joint Gulf action, which was adopted by the Supreme Council at its 36th session in December 2015, and directed the prompt completion of its implementation. 2. The Council reviewed the process of integration among the GCC countries, and stressed the continuity of achieving more coordination, integration and interdependence in all fields, in order to achieve the aspirations of the GCC citizens, the completion of the requirements for finalising the Customs Union, and the application of full equality in treatment between the citizens of the GCC countries in the fields of the GCC Common Market. 3. The Council approved the foreign action plan in the field of human rights (2023-2026). Combatting Terrorism: 4.The Ministerial Council welcomed the results of the ministerial meeting of the International Coalition to Defeat Daesh, which was held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on June 8, 2023, and affirmed the commitment of the Council countries to continue their efforts within the Coalition, and to support international and regional efforts against all terrorist organisations. 5. The Council affirmed its firm positions and decisions towards terrorism, whatever its source, and its rejection of all its forms, motives and justifications, and to work to dry up its sources of financing. The Ministerial Council condemned all terrorist acts, stressing the sanctity of harming civilians and civilian facilities such as schools, places of worship and hospitals, and affirming the importance of international and regional coordination to confront terrorist groups and sectarian militias that threaten security and stability. 6. The Council welcomed the results of the GCC-European Conference on Combating Extremist Ideology, which was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat on June 6-7, 2023, in which the GCC states, the European Union and several centres specialised in studying this phenomenon and addressing its repercussions participated. 7. The Council reviewed the results of the workshop organised by the State of Qatar on Islamophobia in the world, on May 29, 2023, in Doha, to study this phenomenon. The Council emphasised that tolerance and coexistence among nations and peoples are among the most important principles and values upon which relations between countries and societies are based. Iranian Occupation of the Three Islands of the United Arab Emirates: 8.The Ministerial Council affirmed the GCC's firm positions and decisions rejecting Iran's continued occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates; the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, stressing support for the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over its three islands, territorial waters, airspace, continental shelf, and economic zone, as an indivisible part from the territory of the United Arab Emirates, and considering that any practices or actions carried out by Iran on the three islands are null, void and have no effect on the right of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over its three islands. The Ministerial Council called on Iran to respond to the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or resorting to the International Court of Justice. The Palestinian Cause: 9. The Ministerial Council affirmed its firm positions on the centrality of the Palestinian Cause, its support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Al Quds as its capital, and the guarantee of refugee rights, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions, stressing the need to double the efforts of the international community to resolve the conflict, in a way that fulfils all the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people. 10. The Council commended the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the League of Arab States and the European Union, to revive the Arab Peace Initiative and confront Israeli violations. 11. The Council condemned the repeated incursions by Israeli officials and settlers into the courtyards of the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque, in a serious violation of international law and the historical and legal status quo in Al Quds and its sanctities, a violation of the sanctity of the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque and a provocation of the feelings of Muslims. 12. The Ministerial Council called on the international community to intervene to stop the targeting of the Palestinian presence in the city of Al Quds, the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in East Al Quds, attempts to change its legal character, demographic composition, and arrangements for Islamic holy places, and the attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty over them in clear violation of the international law, international resolutions, and the existing concluded agreements. The Council stressed the need to stop unilateral measures on the part of Israel. 13. The Council condemned Israel's continued construction of settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories, and rejected any tendency to annex settlements to Israel or impose Israeli sovereignty over them, in clear violation of international legitimacy resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution No. 2334, calling on the international community to put pressure on the Israeli authorities to reverse its settlement decisions. 14. The Council praised the diplomatic efforts exerted by the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt to reach a cease-fire between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. 15. The Council praised the efforts of the United Arab Emirates, through its membership in the Security Council, in following up on the developments of the Palestinian cause in the Security Council and supporting the request for the State of Palestine to obtain full membership in the United Nations. 16. The Ministerial Council praised the generous assistance provided by the GCC countries to support the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and called on the international community to continue supporting it to continue its mission until the return of the Palestinian refugees. Iran 17. The Ministerial Council reiterated the decisions of the Respected Supreme Council during its 43rd session in December 2022, with respect to relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the basic foundations for strengthening relations with it, through full commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect, international norms, laws and covenants, and not Interfering in internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means and direct dialogue, and not using or threatening to the use of force, and everything that guarantees the preservation of the foundations of security, stability and peace in the region. 18. The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of Iran's commitment not to exceed the rate of uranium enrichment required for peaceful uses, and the need to fulfil its obligations and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Council also affirmed the GCC countries' readiness to cooperate and deal effectively with this file, and stressed the need for their participation in all regional and international negotiations, discussions and meetings in this regard, and that the negotiations include, in addition to the Iranian nuclear programme, all security issues and concerns of the GCC states, in a way that contributes to achieving common goals and interests in a framework of respect for sovereignty, good neighbourliness policies, and adherence to United Nations resolutions and international legitimacy to ensure strengthening regional and international security and stability. 19. The Council stressed the importance of preserving maritime security and waterways in the region, and addressing everything that might threaten the shipping lanes, international trade, and oil installations in the GCC states. Yemen 20. The Ministerial Council affirmed its full support for the Presidential Leadership Council in achieving security and stability in Yemen, and its efforts to reach a political solution, in accordance with the GCC initiative and its Executive Mechanism, the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue Conference (NDC) and the Security Council Resolution 2216, in a way that preserves brotherly Yemen's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and independence. 21. The Council welcomed the sincere efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and the existing communications with all Yemeni parties to revive the political process, which leads to achieving a comprehensive and sustainable political solution in Yemen, and the results of the meetings that took place in Sana'a on April 8-13, 2023, and the accompanying positive atmosphere, to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people, and reach a ceasefire. 22. The Ministerial Council renewed its support for the efforts of the United Nations led by its Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and the efforts of the US Special Envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, to reach a political solution in accordance with the three terms of reference, and praised the Yemeni government's adherence to renewing the humanitarian truce announced by the United Nations in Yemen, calling for international pressure on the Houthis to lift the siege on the city of Taiz and open humanitarian crossings therein, as stipulated in the United Nations armistice. The Council appreciated the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy to renew the armistice in line with the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced in March 2021, to end the crisis in Yemen, cease fire and reach a comprehensive political solution, calling on the United Nations Special Envoy to take a firm stance towards the Houthi practices, which contradict these efforts. 23. The Council welcomed the decisions of the League of Arab States Council at the summit level (the 32nd regular session) and the Jeddah Declaration of May 19, 2023, which reaffirmed support for everything that guarantees the security and stability of the Republic of Yemen and achieves the aspirations of the brotherly Yemeni people. 24. The Council welcomed the inauguration President Rashad Mohammed Al Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, in the interim capital Aden, of a package of developmental and vital projects and programmes implemented by the Saudi Programme for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY), including the inauguration of the rehabilitation and operation of Aden General Hospital and the establishment of a heart centre project, to contribute to supporting the capabilities of the health sector in Aden Governorate and its environs, after it was equipped with 2187 medical devices and equipment, with a capacity of 270 beds, and the inauguration of the first and second phases of the Aden International Airport Rehabilitation Project, and laying the foundation stone for the third phase of the Project, with the aim of improving the airport and the quality of services provided to passengers and operating airlines, in addition to the opening of four modern model schools, among 31 other schools distributed in various Yemeni governorates, within the framework of 52 development projects and initiatives in the education sector. 25. In continuation of the previous grants provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia totalling USD 4.2 billion, the Ministerial Council commended the fourth instalment of the Saudi oil derivatives grant provided through the SDRPY to the Republic of Yemen, in quantities amounting to 30,000 metric tonnes, whose total quantities amounted to 150,000 metric tonnes of diesel and 100,000 metric tonnes of mazut in the period from November 2022 to April 2023, in order to meet the need of power plants in the Yemeni governorates to operate more than 70,000 power plants throughout the Republic of Yemen, which contributed to economic stability, strengthening the budget of the Yemeni government, raising the purchasing power of the Yemeni citizen, and ensuring the activation of the self-operation of power plants in Yemen. The United Arab Emirates provided Yemen with aid amounting to USD7 billion from 2015 to 2023, in the areas of health, energy generation and supply, support for public programmes, social services, government and civil society, judicial and legal development, transportation and storage, as well as relief and food aid. 26. The Ministerial Council praised the achievements of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), the development projects implemented by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Programme for Yemen, the humanitarian support provided by the Office for the Coordination of Relief and Humanitarian Aid provided by the Cooperation Council to the Republic of Yemen, and the humanitarian and development assistance provided by all the GCC member states to Yemen. Moreover, the Ministerial Council valued the efforts of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (MASAM) to clear Yemeni lands of mines, which, since its launch in June 2018, was able to remove around 400,000 mines, ammunition and explosive devices that were randomly planted by the Houthi militia. 27. The Ministerial Council condemned the continued foreign interference in the internal affairs of Yemen, and the smuggling of military experts and weapons to the Houthi terrorist militia in clear violation of Security Council Resolutions 2216, 2231 and 2624, noting the US Navy's announcement of seizing a shipment of drugs on board an Iranian ship in the international corridor in the Sea of Oman, where it found 4,330 pounds of heroin on board a fishing boat departing from the port of Shah Bahar in Iran, and the US Coast Guard's seizure of USD30 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin from a fishing boat that departed from the same port on May 8, 2023, and the confiscation of an estimated value of USD80 million worth of heroin on May 10, 2023. The Ministerial Council also noted to the announcement of the security services in Al Mahra Governorate on May 18, 2023, confiscating modern communication equipment that was on its way to the Houthi militia, including 11 supply and organization of communication network stations Cabin (PAELTA) with a power of Am63, in addition to 181 boxes containing electrical power transformers for communication cabins, ad eight pieces of electrical tools belonging to the transformers. 28. The Ministerial Council urged the United Nations to start implementing its operational plan to deal with the floating storage and offloading unit (FSO) Safer, and not to delay in order to avoid any emergency that may occur and result in oil leakage from the unit. The Ministerial Council also stressed the importance of including effective response procedures compatible with the best international practices to transfer the oil from Safer to an alternative tanker, praising the contributions of the GCC countries in financing this process, including the USD2 million contribution of the State of Kuwait for the benefit of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to address the issue of the Safer tanker. Iraq 29. The Ministerial Council affirmed its firm positions and decisions towards brotherly Iraq, and its support for the existing efforts to combat terrorism and achieve security and stability in the country, stressing the importance of protecting the safety and territorial integrity of Iraq, its full sovereignty, Arab-Islamic identity, social fabric and national unity. The Ministerial Council also stressed its support to confront terrorist groups and armed militias in order to ensure state sovereignty and law enforcement. 30. The Ministerial Council praised the positive and growing partnership between the Cooperation Council and Iraq and welcomed the inauguration of the electrical interconnection project to link Iraq to the electricity grids in the GCC countries, on June 8, 2023, in the city of Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This project represents one of the important steps to achieve greater integration and interdependence between Iraq and the GCC states, in a way that serves their common interests and paves the way for more cooperation in the future. 31. The Ministerial Council condemned the repeated external assaults against the Republic of Iraq, which threaten its security and stability. The Council underlined the need to respect Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing that the Council members states stand united by brotherly Iraq. 32. The Ministerial Council underscored the importance of Iraq's commitment to the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and non-violation of international resolutions and agreements, in particular Security Council Resolution No. 833, regarding the demarcation of the borders between the two countries and the agreement regulating maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah, concluded between the two countries and deposited with the United Nations, and the Council called on the Republic of Iraq to complete Demarcation of the maritime borders with the State of Kuwait beyond the mark 162, expressing his categorical rejection of any violation affecting the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and preserving its right to respond in accordance with legal channels. 33. The Ministerial Council reiterated its support for Security Council Resolution No. 2107 (2013), regarding the transfer of the file of prisoners and missing persons, Kuwaiti property and the national archive to the United Nations Mission (UNAMI), expressing its aspiration that Iraq will continue cooperation to ensure progress in all files, and calling on Iraq and the United Nations to produce maximum efforts in order to reach a solution towards these files. Syria 34. The Ministerial Council affirmed its firm positions towards preserving the territorial integrity of the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic, respecting its independence and sovereignty over its lands, rejecting regional interference in its internal affairs, and supporting a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions. The Council expressed its support for the efforts of the Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen in this regard, and backing for the endeavours exerted to provide care for Syrian refugees and displaced persons and work to ensure their safe return to their cities and villages, in accordance with international standards. 35. The Council stressed the importance of continuing and supporting all efforts aimed at helping Syria overcome its crisis, and the need to take practical and effective steps to gradually resolve the Syrian crisis. In this context, the Council welcomed the Arab League's ministerial decision to allow the Syrian government delegations to attend the meetings of the League's Council and its affiliated organisations and agencies. The Council also welcomed the Arab efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria in a step-by-step manner as agreed upon during the Amman Consultative Meeting of the Arab Ministerial Contact Group on Syria on May 1, 2023. 36. The Council stressed the importance of continuing all efforts to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people, and welcomed the call of the Secretary General of the United Nations to renew the mandate of the Security Council to extend the mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid across borders for a period of 12 months. Lebanon 37. The Ministerial Council stressed the GCC's firm commitment to stand with the brotherly Lebanese people and its continued support for Lebanon's sovereignty, security and stability, and for the Lebanese Armed Forces that protect its borders and resist the threats of extremist and terrorist groups. The Ministerial Council highlighted the importance of implementing comprehensive structural reforms that ensure that Lebanon overcomes its political and economic crisis and that it does not become a launching pad for terrorism, drug smuggling, or other criminal activities that threaten the security and stability of the region, stressing the importance of extending the Lebanese government's control over all Lebanese territories, including the implementation of the provisions of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Taif Agreement, in order for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so there will be no weapons except with the approval of the Lebanese government, and there will be no authority other than its authority, and Lebanon will not be a starting point for any actions targeting the security and stability of the region. 38. The Supreme Council called on all Lebanese parties to respect the constitutional deadlines and the Lebanese people's aspirations to elect a president for the country in accordance with the Lebanese constitution, in addition to their prospects for stability, progress and prosperity, praising the efforts of Lebanon's friends and partners to restore confidence and enhance cooperation between Lebanon and the GCC countries, and their support for the role of the Lebanese army and internal security forces in safeguarding security. Sudan 39. The Ministerial Council affirmed the positions and decisions of the Cooperation Council regarding safeguarding the security, safety and stability of Sudan, protecting the cohesion of the state and its institutions and preventing its collapse, supporting Sudan in confronting the developments and repercussions of the current crisis, stressing the need for calm, prioritising the language of dialogue and uniting ranks, alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people, and preventing any external interference in its affairs that fuels the conflict and threatens regional peace and security. 40. The Ministerial Council praised the tireless diplomatic efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America towards enabling the Sudanese political forces and parties to calm down, give preference to the language of dialogue, reconcile divergent views in order to reach an agreement that spares the brotherly Sudanese people the scourge of wars and conflicts, meets their aspirations, and contributes to strengthening the country's security, stability and prosperity in all fields. 41. The Ministerial Council condemned the recent raids and vandalism against several diplomatic missions and their buildings in Sudan, including the missions of the GCC member states, stressing the need to respect international agreements and diplomatic norms that guarantee the sanctity and safety of the headquarters of diplomatic missions and their employees. 42. The Ministerial Council praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its pivotal role in evacuating nationals of the GCC, brotherly and friendly countries. The Ministerial Council commended the necessary relief supplies provided by the United Arab Emirates, which amounted to 1,630 tons of food and medical aid which were transported through 22 aircraft and a ship, hailing the allocation of $52.5 million to support those affected by the conflict in Sudan and internally displaced persons and Sudanese refugees in Chad. The UAE also contributed to the evacuation of a group of nationals of brotherly and friendly countries. The Ministerial Council also valued all the humanitarian aid and support provided by the GCC countries to the brotherly Sudanese people, to evacuate civilians and meet their urgent humanitarian needs. The Ministerial Council urged the international community to extend humanitarian backing to the Sudanese people. Libya 43. The Supreme Council reiterated its firm positions and decisions regarding the Libyan crisis, underlining its keenness to preserve the interests of the brotherly Libyan people to achieve security, stability and development in Libya, to guarantee its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, to stop interference in its internal affairs, and for the exit of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territory, 44. The Ministerial Council reiterated its support for the efforts of the United Nations Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily to reach a political solution, hold elections and unify state institutions in order to meet the aspirations of the Libyan people and to lay the foundations for security and stability. 45. The Ministerial Council welcomed the consensus reached by the 6+6 joint committee, which was formed by the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State, during its meetings in the Kingdom of Morocco on June 6-7, 2023, on the laws regulating the election of the Head of State and members of the parliament, considering it as a positive and constructive step towards holding presidential and parliamentary elections. Afghanistan 46. The Ministerial Council emphasised the importance of restoring security and stability in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and reaching a consensual political solution that takes into account the interests of all components of the Afghan people, in a way that achieves the aspirations of the brotherly Afghan people, and benefits regional and international peace and security, and calls on the de-facto authority to implement its obligations to ensure women's right to education and work, to protect minorities, and to ensure that Afghan lands are not used by any terrorist groups, or Afghan lands are exploited for the export of narcotics. 47. The Ministerial Council lauded the continued humanitarian assistance provided by the GCC countries to Afghanistan and called on the international community to continue extending assistance to the Afghan people. The Russian-Ukrainian Crisis 48. The Ministerial Council reaffirmed the position of the GCC on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, which is stemmed from the principles of international law and the charter of the United Nations, and the preservation of the international system, based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and non-use or threat of force. 49. The Ministerial Council affirmed its support for mediation efforts to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, a cease-fire, a political solution to the crisis, giving priority to the language of dialogue, and settling the conflict through negotiations. 50. The Ministerial Council commended the humanitarian assistance provided by the GCC countries to Ukraine. 51. The Ministerial Council welcomed the extension of the agreement to export grains from Russia and Ukraine across the Black Sea for a period of 60 days until the end of July 17, 2023, expressing its backing for the continuation of the implementation of this agreement to facilitate the export of grains and all foodstuffs, in addition to humanitarian supplies to contribute to providing food security for the affected countries. Strategic Partnerships and Negotiations 52. The Ministerial Council praised the results of the partnership meeting between the Cooperation Council and the Arab Republic of Egypt, which was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council on June 5, 2023, stressing the importance of moving forward in strengthening this partnership and integration between the two sides in all fields. 53. The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of implementing the outcomes of the joint GCC-US ministerial meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the GCC on June 7, 2023, which underscored the importance of bolstering the strategic partnership between the GCC and the United States of America. 54. The Ministerial Council reviewed a report on the progress of free trade negotiations with other countries and groups and the development made in this field. --SPA 20:46 LOCAL TIME 17:46 GMT 0048 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Rebuke UN Over Claims of Internal Rifts, Terror Links By Ayaz Gul June 11, 2023 Taliban leaders in Afghanistan pushed back Sunday against a new United Nations assessment that they face internal power struggles and maintain a strong link with international terrorist groups. In a statement, chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denounced as baseless and "full of prejudice" the report that the U.N. Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team released earlier this month. It said that under reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban had "reverted to the exclusionary, Pashtun-centered, autocratic policies" of their previous rule in Kabul from 1996-2001. The Taliban come from the majority ethnic Pashtun Afghans and their critics say other ethnicities lack representation in their administration. The assessment said that "some dissent is apparent within the Taliban leadership," but the authority of Akhundzada was increasing, and "cohesion" in Taliban ranks would likely be maintained over the next one to two years. The Taliban chief has been "proudly resistant to external pressure to moderate his policies," and other leaders in his administration could not "influence policy sustainability." The report noted "little prospect of change in the near to medium term." Mujahid rejected the U.N. allegations, saying the Taliban make all decisions in line with "Islamic Sharia guidelines." He said the report's authors "deliberately distorted the facts" or lacked access to the information. "Rumors of disagreement between the leaders of the Islamic Emirate, in particular, are a continuation of the propaganda of the past twenty years," Mujahid stated, using the official title of the Taliban government. Akhundzada is based in the southern city of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second largest, and rarely leaves what is known as the birthplace of the Taliban. The report described him as "reclusive and elusive." Through several decrees, the Taliban chief has imposed sweeping restrictions on Afghan women, barring most of them from work, public spaces, and university education. He has also banned teenage girls nationwide from attending schools beyond the sixth grade. The Taliban recently also instructed international charities to cease all educational activities for Afghan children, a move the U.N. denounced as another "horrendous step backward" for the people of Afghanistan. Akhundzada has rejected international criticism of his government and calls for removing curbs on women as interfering in Afghan matters. The report cited an unnamed U.N. Security Council member as saying the "reclusive and elusive" Taliban chief suffers from kidney problems and survived two spells of COVID-19 infection, weakening his respiratory system. Last month, Akhundzada reportedly held a secret meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani in Kandahar. Neither side confirmed the interaction that reportedly took place on May 12 and focused on the need to lift bans on women and promote Kabul's engagement with the global community. The talks would have marked the first time the Taliban chief is known to have had with a foreign leader. Rise in terrorism The U.N. report alleged that terrorists had "greater freedom of maneuver" in Afghanistan since the Taliban reclaimed control in August 2021 after waging a deadly insurgency against the United States-led NATO forces for almost two decades. It added that the Taliban's link "remains strong and symbiotic" with terrorist groups such as al-Qaida and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. "There are indications that al-Qaida is rebuilding operational capability, that TTP is launching attacks into Pakistan with support from the Taliban, that groups of foreign terrorist fighters are projecting threats across Afghanistan's borders, and that the operations of ISIL-K are becoming more sophisticated and lethal," the report said using an acronym for Islamic State's regional affiliate, Islamic State-Khorasan. Mujahid said the Taliban are not allowing anyone to use Afghan territory against other countries. "The Islamic Emirate emphasizes that 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 and raises doubts about the independence and impartiality of the United Nations." Authorities in neighboring Pakistan have repeatedly complained about a rise in TTP-led cross-border attacks, saying the leadership of the so-called Pakistani Taliban is directing terrorism against the country from Afghan sanctuaries. The violence has killed hundreds of Pakistanis, mostly security forces. The latest TTP attack occurred in North Waziristan, a volatile remote district on the Afghan border, killing three soldiers and three militants, according to a military statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Russo-Ukraine War - 11 June 2023 - Day 473 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 the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam on 06 June 2023 has almost certainly severely disrupted the occupied Crimean Peninsula's primary source of fresh water, the North Crimean Canal (NCC). 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. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that tonight, the Russian occupiers launched another massive airstrike against Ukraine, using Iranian strike UAVs of the "Shahed-131/136" type. In total, Russian forces carried out 25x air strikes. They also launched about 30x MLRS on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine. Russia is concentrating its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes, heavy battles are raging on. During the day, 19x combat clashes took place. Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly. There are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings. The Republic of Belarus continues to support the armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, training of Russia's units continues on its training grounds. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain a military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. Russians carried out airstrikes on Bilopylla, Sumy Oblast, and Kolontaiy, Kharkiv Oblast. They shelled Seredyna-Buda, Fotovizh, Oleksandrivka in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Ivashki, Veterinarne, Strelecha, Ternova, Staritsa, Hatishche, Vovchans'k, Krugle, Budarki, Buzovo, Chugunivka, Ambarne in the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian forces carried out an airstrike in the Berestovo area of the Kharkiv Oblast. Kam'ianka, Figolivka, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kislivka, Tabaivka, Berestov in the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivs'ke in the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by artillery and mortars. Lyman axis: the Russian occupiers carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Bilogorivka. They carried out airstrikes on the settlements of Nevs'ke in Luhansk, as well as Ivanivka and Torske in Donetsk Oblast. Nevs'ke, Novoselivs'ke, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'ians'ke and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire. Bakhmut axis: Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the Torets'k area of the Donetsk Oblast. Rozdolivka, Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Ivanovs'ke, Bila Hora, Druzhba, Torets'k, Zalizne, Severinye in Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery. Avdiivka axis: the Russian forces carried out offensive operations near Avdiivka, albeit without success, and launched airstrikes there. They shelled the areas of Orlivka, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka and Nevels'ke of the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled all 12x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. The Russian forces shelled Krasnohorivka, Hostroy, Georgiivka, Mar'inka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast. Shakhtars'k axis: the Russian forces conducted airstrikes in Zolota Niva, Blagodatne, and Neskuchne of the Donetsk Oblast. They shelled Vodyane and Vugledar in the Donetsk Oblast. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes in the Novoberyslav and Kozatskoght areas of the Kherson Oblast. They shelled Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil' of the Donetsk Oblast; Olhivs'ke, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipilske, Biloghirya, Mali Shcherbaki, Stepove and Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Ochakiv, Mykolaiv Oblast. Recently, among the mobilized personnel of the Russian forces, a depressed mood has been noted due to a lack of understanding of the tasks and goals of the so-called "special military operation". Also, the morale of the Russian occupiers is affected by the uncertainty of the terms of involvement in hostilities and stay in the armed forces. The Russian Federation continues to suffer significant losses in manpower. In particular, due to unsuccessful assault operations and attempts to improve their tactical position on the Bakhmut axis, many airborne troops were lost. The defense industry of the Russian Federation is being influenced under 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, the deterioration of the level of provision of the Russian occupiers' units with weapons and military equipment is noted. Ukrainian Air Force conducted 6x strikes on Russian manpower concentrations. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2x control points, 2x artillery units at firing positions and theRussian forces' radar station. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the AFU continued unsuccessful attempts at offensive actions in South Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions. In the area of Vremevka, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation have hit manpower and hardware concentration areas of the 1st Separate Brigade of the President of Ukraine, the 110th Brigade of Territorial Defence, the 72nd Mechanised and 1st Tank Brigades of the AFU near Novodonetskoye, Neskuchnoye, Storozhevoye and Oktyabr state farm (Donetsk People's Republic). In Zaporozhye direction, decisive and competent actions of the defending units, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have repelled three enemy attacks close to Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka and Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region). A column of armoured vehicles of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade advancing in a southern direction has been hit near Lukyanovskoye (Zaporozhye region). Total losses of the AFU were over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 11 tanks, including three Leopard tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one UK-manufactured Stormer surface-to-air missile system, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system. In Donetsk direction, the most active combat operations took place close to Maryinka and Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The Yug Group of Forces successfully repelled eight attacks by the units of the 110th mechanised, 1st tank, 59th motorised infantry and 79th airborne assault brigades of the AFU forward Novobakhmutovka, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaiskoye and Maryinka. No incursion into Russian defence has been allowed. The enemy losses were up to 310 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, three pick-up trucks, two Msta-B howitzers, and one D-30 howitzer. Ammunition depots of the 63rd Motorised Infantry Brigade and the 53rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed close to Krasnoye and Lastochkino (Donetsk People's Republic). In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, as well as artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware close to Krasnoye, Pervoye, Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Tabayevka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Artyomovka (Lugansk People's Republic). One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Novomlynsk. The enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two pickup trucks, Polish-manufactured Krab and U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery systems, as well as one D-20 howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces have hit enemy units near Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Terny (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forest. The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Torskoye. The enemy losses were over 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two D-30 howitzers and one D-20 howitzer. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 30 Ukrainian servicemen, one Osa-AKM surface-to-air missile system combat vehicle, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one Msta-B howitzer. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 91 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 109 areas. One command post of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade has been hit near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region). A signal node of 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Kirovo (Zaporozhye region). The headquarters of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, as well as command and observation posts of the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 15th Brigade of Operative Purpose have been hit close to Rai-Aleksandrovka, Predtechino (Donetsk People's Republic) and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region) Air defence facilities have shot down one Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Osokorovka (Kherson region). Five HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and one HARM anti-radar missile have been intercepted. In addition, eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Kremenets, Lipovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Sladkovodnoye, Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye Region), Olshany, Kolomyichikha, Chervonaya Dibrova and Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic). In total, 442 airplanes, 238 helicopters, 4,571 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 9,900 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,122 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,084 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,885 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Honduran president arrives in Beijing as China-Honduras ties usher in new era Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi Published: Jun 10, 2023 08:50 PM Honduran President Xiomara Castro arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at around 7:50 pm on Saturday. She is currently on a six-day state visit to China, marking the first visit to the country by a Honduran president. The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) welcomed the Honduran president at the airport. The visit comes less than three months after the two countries established diplomatic ties following Honduras' decision to sever the so-called "diplomatic relations" with China's Taiwan region and came soon after the opening of China's Embassy in Honduras. The Global Times has learned that the Honduran Embassy in China is expected to hold an opening ceremony during Castro's visit to Beijing. Additionally, a China-Honduras trade and investment forum will be held during the delegation's visit to facilitate discussions and connections between enterprises from both countries. A number of Honduran officials such as Foreign Minister of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina, Honduras Minister of Economic Development Fredis Cerrato, as well as a delegation of Honduran entrepreneurs representing sectors such as telecommunications, energy, tobacco, coffee, and other agricultural products is accompanying the president's visit. Before arriving in Beijing, Castro had already carried out a series of visit schedules in Shanghai, including a visit to the headquarters of the New Development Bank of the BRICS and a meeting with the bank's president, Dilma Rousseff. Castro also officially proposed Honduras' application to join the bank. The Global Times learned that Castro also visited Huawei's research center in Shanghai. Chinese experts said Castro's visit to China is a significant moment since the two countries established diplomatic relations on March 26 and will inject new impetus to the fast-developing bilateral relations, which have already yielded early results and will bring about more benefits to the people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Honduran president requests entry into New Development Bank of BRICS Global Times By Wang Jiamei Published: Jun 10, 2023 07:51 PM President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento formally requested the country's admission to the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) after she visited the headquarters of the bank in Shanghai on Saturday. She also visited a Huawei research center on the same day, highlighting pragmatic cooperation during her trip to China. In addition to promoting political consensus, pragmatic cooperation in the economic and trade fields can also help create a solid foundation for China-Honduras relations so as to ensure that bilateral relations can go further, experts noted. "We believe that we can have all the possibilities here to find mechanisms that allow us to develop our economy, as well as find permanent allies that allow us to give a different quality of life to our peoples," Castro said at the NDB, a multilateral development bank established by BRICS countries, according to an EFE report. During a meeting with Dilma Rousseff, the president of the NDB, Castro formally requested to join the bank, Castro's office said in a tweet. It also added that a technical commission from the Honduran government will start the process in the next few days. Also on Saturday, Castro visited a Huawei Shanghai Research Center. She toured an exhibition hall that displays cutting-edge digital technologies and experienced firsthand the application of new technology in real-world scenarios, according to a statement Huawei sent to the Global Times on Saturday. According to the statement, the president held in-depth discussions with Dr Liang Hua, Huawei's chairman of board, on areas where they can collaborate, such as information and communications technology (ICT), inclusive connectivity, digital transformation of industries like healthcare and education, green development, as well as talent cultivation. "[Huawei] is very important for the president to seek technological cooperation for Honduras," Honduran foreign minister Eduardo Enrique Reina told thepaper.cn, a Shanghai-based media outlet, noting that they hold the expectation of deepening bilateral relations through the visit as China has a record of very strong participation in the international organization and in the world economy. The president's visits to both the NDB and Huawei were an indication of the Honduran government's high interests and eagerness to develop economic and trade relations with China, said Sun Yanfeng, director of Latin American research at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. They want more support from multilateral financial institutions like the NDB for financing, especially in areas such as infrastructure, and also hope to promote their country's development through scientific and technological cooperation, Sun told the Global Times on Saturday. Like many Latin American countries, Honduras also faces development challenges. The pursuit of technological cooperation will be crucial for Honduras to improve its industrial structure to find new growth momentum for its economy and people, Sun noted. Castro is currently on a six-day official visit to China, which will run until June 14, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The first state visit to China by a Honduran president came just less than three months after the two countries established diplomatic ties following Honduras' decision to sever the so-called "diplomatic relations" with China's Taiwan region and came soon after the opening of China's Embassy in Honduras. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Arab League Visits China's Xinjiang Region, Rejects Uyghur Genocide By Kasim Kashgar June 10, 2023 China is using a recent visit by an Arab League delegation to Xinjiang to highlight what it says is support of its policies in the region. Experts, however, say the praise that Beijing has reportedly received from diplomats and officials who took part in the trip is nothing more than "Chinese propaganda" and an attempt to whitewash human rights violations there. China's treatment of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang is a major source of international concern. Western countries have raised allegations of forced labor, religious persecution and some, including the United States, have classified what is happening in Xinjiang as genocide, an accusation Beijing denies. State media reports and remarks from Chinese officials about the delegation's visit have portrayed the trip as an outright rejection of what it called Western "accusations of ethnic genocide." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that during the Xinjiang visit from May 30-June 2, members of the Arab League delegation expressed their appreciation for China's efforts in Xinjiang and praised the region's development and stability. "During their trip, the delegation traveled to Urumqi and Kashgar, where they visited mosques, Islamic institutes, local enterprises, old towns and an exhibition on counterterrorism and de-radicalization, performed prayers in mosques with the locals and got a firsthand experience of their happy life," Wang said at a press briefing in Beijing earlier this week. "Arab countries have commended the care that Muslims in Xinjiang and people of other ethnic minority groups have received and expressed their firm support for China's effort to promote Xinjiang's development and ensure its stability." According to Wang, Arab countries have always held a just position on Xinjiang. "What the Arab League delegation has seen with their own eyes in Xinjiang once again shows that truth will always prevail, and those who seek to smear China by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues will not have their way," Wang said. The Arab League, founded in 1945, is a confederation of 22 Arab nations aiming to improve coordination on common interests. Its charter promotes cooperation, renounces violence, and mediates disputes, but lacks enforcement mechanisms. Critics point out that the apparent endorsement of China's policies by the Arab League delegation is at odds with the findings and conclusions of the U.N. human rights office, which has highlighted serious human rights violations in Xinjiang. In a post on Twitter, Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow and director in China studies at the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, called the visit a "terrible betrayal." Last year, the U.N. human rights office released an assessment of the human rights situation in Xinjiang, concluding that China's actions against Uyghurs and other minority groups may amount to crimes against humanity. The assessment highlighted various human rights violations taking place in Xinjiang, including arbitrary detention, forced labor, cultural assimilation, surveillance, and restrictions on religious and linguistic freedoms. According to Abdulhakim Idris, director of the Washington-based Center for Uyghur Studies, the Arab League delegation's visit and support of China's actions in Xinjiang is part of a Chinese propaganda campaign to conceal its mistreatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. "This visit is the last example of the Chinese Communist Regime's propaganda efforts to hide the Uyghur Genocide in East Turkistan from the world public opinion," Idris told VOA in an email, using the name East Turkistan, Uyghurs' preferred name for the region. Chinese media outlets Xinhua and the Global Times reported that the delegation's visit to Xinjiang contradicted Western media portrayals. The Chinese reports said that the Arab League delegation praised China's achievements in Xinjiang in upholding human rights, particularly highlighting China's "anti-terrorism" efforts in the region. "The group visited a number of locations in Xinjiang and said that the region does not match what is portrayed by Western media, and it boasts harmony and stability, a rapidly growing economy and a colorful and prosperous culture, with residents living and working in peace and contentment," Xinhua said. The visit garnered attention primarily from Chinese state media outlets such as China Daily, China Central Television, Xinhua and the Global Times. Chinese embassies and diplomats shared excerpts from those reports on Twitter. The Arab League did not mention the visit on its website or social media platforms. However, Idris said the statements made by the delegation should be considered in the context of economic and diplomatic ties between their countries and China. "Today, China has made many countries from both the Arab world and the Muslim regions dependent on it, both economically and diplomatically," Idris said. These countries are unable to respond as expected in terms of human rights and democracy due to their economic reliance on China. Instead, they favor the explanations provided by the Chinese government, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Main battle tanks fire at night China Military Online) 13:27, June 12, 2023 Soldiers assigned to an artillery element of a brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army maneuver a main battle tank to the battlefield at twilight during a round-the-clock live-fire training exercise in late May, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wan Zhiqi) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Honduras inaugurates embassy in Beijing as China-Honduras ties usher in new era Global Times By Chen Qingqing, Bai Yunyi and Zhang Changyue Published: Jun 11, 2023 09:11 PM Honduras officially inaugurated its embassy in Beijing on Sunday, less than three months after China-Honduras diplomatic relations were established. The move was seen by diplomats and analysts as being of great significance to ushering in a new era of bilateral ties. Diplomats and officials from both sides hailed the significant progress made in such a short period of time, which has a demonstrative effect for other Central and Latin American countries. At around 11 am on Sunday, the inauguration ceremony of the Honduran Embassy in China was held at the Jianguomen Diplomatic Residence Compound in Beijing. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina attended the ceremony. The opening ceremony commenced with the playing of the national anthems of both China and Honduras. Both Qin and Reina gave speeches and jointly unveiled the plaque for the Honduran Embassy. Qin, on behalf of the Chinese government, extended hearty congratulations, saying that two months ago, China and Honduras officially established diplomatic relations on the basis of the one-China principle, fulfilling the long-standing aspiration of both peoples and ushering in a new era of China-Honduran relations. In the past two months, both sides have firmly fulfilled their commitments to establishing diplomatic ties, resulting in a robust start to bilateral relations. The rapid development of China-Honduran relations fully demonstrates that adherence to the one-China principle is in line with international justice, the general trend, and the will of the people. The inauguration ceremony was held during a six-day state visit by Honduran President Xiomara Castro to China, which was the first visit to the country by a Honduran president. "President Castro's state visit to China is of milestone significance. The historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Castro will surely lead bilateral relations to new heights and realize new developments," Qin said at the inauguration ceremony. Establishing diplomatic relations with China has ushered in a new era in Honduras' relations with the world, opening a door for us to a great nation of prosperity and development, Reina said during the inauguration ceremony. "Honduras will firmly adhere to the one-China principle. We believe that China-Honduras relations will certainly continue to strengthen, bearing abundant fruit to benefit the peoples of both countries," Reina noted. Demonstrative effect In an exclusive interview with the Global Times following the ceremony, Reina said the two countries are expected to sign on Monday 19 memorandums and documents addressing cooperation including a Belt and Road memorandum. Michel Campbell, Nicaragua's Ambassador to China, told the Global Times on Sunday that it is a matter of great pride and joy that China has welcomed another embassy from a Central American country. As a country that established diplomatic relations with China one year ago, Nicaragua appreciates the brave decision taken by the president of Honduras to recognize the one-China principle, Campbell said. The Nicaraguan envoy also expressed his belief that more countries from Central America and the Caribbean will make the correct decision, jointly promoting cooperation between the region and China. As Honduras is a very important country in Latin America, the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Honduras has a demonstrative effect on promoting China's relations with countries in Latin America, an important battlefield for the DPP authorities in Taiwan island to expand their "international space," Wu Hongying, former director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Sunday. It's believed that more countries in the region will choose to follow the historic trend, Wu said. Pragmatic cooperation Before arriving in Beijing on Saturday, Castro had already carried out a series of activities in Shanghai, including a visit to the headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS and a meeting with the bank's president Dilma Rousseff. She also formally requested the country's admission to the NDB on Saturday, and visited a Huawei research center in Shanghai, highlighting pragmatic cooperation during her trip to China. During a high-level entrepreneurs' exchange meeting between China and Honduras held in Beijing on Sunday, Fredis Cerrato, Honduran Minister of Economic Development, told the Global Times that nine Honduran exporters had signed agreements on exporting coffee and shrimp to China, and more products from Honduras will be exported to the Chinese market including tobacco and melon in the future. "The first phase of cooperation is focused on agriculture, and we'll see more cooperation in other areas such as energy, telecommunication, infrastructure and tourism," Cerrato said. Chinese experts believed that Honduras is working eagerly to enhance trade, investment, as well as infrastructure construction cooperation with China amid the sluggish global economy and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Signing a Belt and Road memorandum is another strategic decision made by the Honduran leaders, which could inject momentum into the bilateral cooperation, especially when there are specific projects and funds under the initiative," Wu said. When asked about the "debt trap" narrative in the Western media in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative and whether it would create or exacerbate Honduras' debt crisis, Cerrato said the initiative is beneficial to both sides. "All the decisions we make are aimed at improving the living conditions of our people." As of now, 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries have signed cooperation documents with China for the joint construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, according to media reports. Under the initiative, China has played a key role in aiding infrastructure construction in the region, and the economic and social development of the region has also injected new momentum into China-Latin America relations. "It's believed that cooperation between China and Honduras will achieve mutual benefits and win-win results on the basis of equality and reciprocal benefit. Therefore, the future of China-Honduras relations is promising and worth looking forward to," Wu said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Honduras inaugurates embassy in China, serving as bridge to facilitate bilateral exchanges Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi Published: Jun 11, 2023 11:07 AM Updated: Jun 11, 2023 11:25 AM Honduras officially inaugurated its embassy in Beijing, the capital of China, on Sunday within three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras. The Central American country severed so-called "diplomatic" relations with the Taiwan island on March 25. Around 11 am on Sunday, the inauguration ceremony of the Honduran Embassy in China was held at the Jianguomen Diplomatic Residence Compound in Beijing. Both Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina attended the ceremony. The opening ceremony commenced with the playing of the national anthems of China and Honduras. Both Qin and Reina gave speeches and jointly unveiled the plaque for the embassy. Honduran President Xiomara Castro earlier announced the naming of Salvador Enrique Moncada, a famous pharmacologist and medical researcher, as the first ambassador of Honduras to China. The inauguration of the Honduran Embassy in China holds great significance, Honduras reiterates that it upholds the one-China principle and is looking forward to cooperating with China in trade, the Belt and Road and Global Development Initiatives, Honduran Foreign Minister Reina told at the inauguration ceremony. Qin said at the ceremony that since the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Honduras, the two countries have enhanced exchanges and all-level interactions have been underway with nearly 20 cooperation deals finalised. "The facts have proven that upholding the one-China principle is the general trend and the will of the people," Qin said, noting that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras is in line with the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries. The inauguration ceremony was held during a six-day state visit by Castro to China, which also marks the first visit to the country by a Honduran president. China officially inaugurated its embassy in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras on June 5 (local time) less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras following Foreign Minister of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina's visit of Beijing in March. On March 26, China and Honduras signed a Joint CommuniquA on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras. The two countries decided to mutually recognize and establish ambassador-level diplomatic relations from the day the communiquA was signed. Honduras has become the 182nd country to establish diplomatic relations with China. The establishment of diplomatic relations is the first step, and China and Honduras now are taking the second step of setting up embassies and appointing ambassadors to move toward the third step - comprehensive cooperation, Jiang Shixue, professor at the Center for Latin American Studies at Shanghai University, told the Global Times. "The visit by President Castro will surely vigorously promote the relationship between the two countries toward the third step." Castro started her visit to China from Shanghai, where she visited the headquarters of the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) and a Huawei research center on Saturday, indicating to Honduran government's elevated interests and eagerness to develop economic and trade relations with China, some Chinese experts said. They believed that the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries could serve as a ballast-stone role in the bilateral relations. In terms of infrastructure, energy, road construction and other areas, Honduras is expected to benefit from China's investment. The country has expressed its willingness to join the Belt and Road Initiative and sign a free trade agreement with China, which is also beneficial to the development of bilateral economic and trade ties, Jiang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA deploys new-type recon aircraft as US, Japanese carriers hold drills east of Taiwan island Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Jun 11, 2023 09:24 PM The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed a new-type reconnaissance aircraft to monitor and gather intelligence on an ongoing naval exercise jointly conducted by the US, Japan, France and Canada in Pacific waters to the east of the island of Taiwan, experts said on Sunday. Two US Navy carrier strike groups featuring the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan operated with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter carrier JS Izumo and surface units from Canada and France in the Philippine Sea on Friday in an integrated at-sea exercise involving more than 12,000 sailors from the four countries, the US 7th Fleet said in a press release on Saturday. The joint drill was monitored by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank, which said on Friday that the two US carriers had been operating in waters around the Ryukyu Islands in the Philippine Sea since Thursday. This sea region, located to the east of the island of Taiwan, is of key strategic value in the Taiwan question, because from there, the PLA could surround the island and deny foreign military interference attempts, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday. Also, if foreign interference forces manage to control this region, they can provide support to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, the expert said. Coinciding with the quadrilateral joint exercise, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff confirmed that it spotted a PLA Y-9 reconnaissance plane operating over the West Pacific on Thursday, saying in a press release that this Y-9 reconnaissance plane was different from previously spotted models, making it the first time this type of aircraft had been confirmed. The defense authority on the island of Taiwan said on Friday in a press release that it spotted 37 PLA aircraft and five PLA vessels around the island of Taiwan over the previous day. Among them, 26 J-11 and J-16 fighter jets, four H-6 bombers, two YU-20 aerial tankers, two Y-9 communications countermeasures aircraft and a WZ-7 reconnaissance drone flew to the southeastern side of the island, supported by two KJ-500 early warning aircraft. Based on the overlapping flight paths and locations, the PLA reconnaissance aircraft had likely tracked, monitored and gathered intelligence on the quadrilateral joint exercise, and the PLA bombers might carry out mock target training, analysts said. In addition to aviation forces, the PLA previously sent aircraft carrier groups to this region for far-sea exercises several times, while its Rocket Force can also target hostile vessels with anti-ship ballistic missiles, observers said. External forces should stop provoking China by using the Taiwan question and stirring up tensions in the region, experts said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exclusive: Honduras, China to sign 19 cooperation documents including BRI memorandum on Monday: Honduran diplomat Global Times By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi Published: Jun 11, 2023 02:52 PM In just 77 days after the establishment of Honduras-China diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have seen tremendous development, and have been growing like "a robust tree" benefiting the people of both sides. The two countries are expected to sign on Monday 19 memorandums and documents addressing cooperation including the Belt and Road memorandum, Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Sunday. "This is my second visit to China, and this time we were able to visit Shanghai. I believe what we are doing is very important," Reina told the Global Times as Honduras officially inaugurated its embassy in Beijing on Sunday. The inauguration of the Honduran Embassy in China holds great significance, and Honduras reiterates that it upholds the one-China principle and is looking forward to cooperating with China in trade and business, Belt and Road and Global Development Initiatives, the Honduran diplomat said during the embassy inauguration ceremony. We will sign 19 memorandums and documents including one memorandum about the cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative, reflecting the positive progress of the bilateral relations. And significant results will be achieved during this visit, Reina told the Global Times. The inauguration ceremony was held during a six-day state visit by Honduran President Xiomara Castro to China, which also marks the first visit to the country by a Honduran president. Reina also attended the inauguration of the Chinese Embassy in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, on June 5 (local time), and he said he believes that with the presence of each embassy, there will be new opportunities and capabilities to enhance the cooperation between the two countries. "I think we are working very fast and very strong in the strain of our relation with China. And it's very important for us to recognize the importance of principle of one-and-sole China. I think that is very important to deepen this relationship between the two countries," he said. From this visit, a lot of important decisions will be made by the top leaders of the two countries that will take the Honduras-China relations into a new era, and also the signing of several documents will improve the opportunity for cooperation between the two sides, Reina said. The cooperation between the two sides will cover various areas including trade, cultural exchanges and education. China's is learning more about Honduras, while Honduras is learning more about China, Reina noted. Reina also revealed that in early July, a Chinese deputy minister of commerce is expected to visit Honduras to promote the signing of a free trade agreement. President of Honduras Xiomara Castro formally requested the country's admission to the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) after she visited the headquarters of the bank in Shanghai on Saturday. She also visited a Huawei research center on the same day, highlighting pragmatic cooperation during her trip to China. Reina also noted that Honduras hopes to be part of the BRICS. "I think there's a new opportunity for financial issues that Honduras will be seen as a new opportunity for projects in development, in either in the social or economic way" that will improve the people's livelihoods, Reina said. When it comes to the influence of the US on Honduras and other Central American countries amid the tense US-China rivalry, the Honduran foreign minister said the decision of Honduras to recognize the one-China principle is a sovereign decision. "We don't see that this is an issue that will come or have any problem that we maintain good relations with the US and we will strengthen and come together for our future relations with China," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Decisive factors for China's long-term economic growth lie in sufficient manpower rather than total amount of population: demographers Global Times By Liu Caiyu Published: Jun 11, 2023 10:23 PM There's nothing to worry about China's drop in population as the decisive factors for the country's long-term economic growth lie in how to boost and take advantage of sufficient manpower rather than the total size of the population, leading Chinese demographers said one day ahead of Chinese Population Day, which falls on June 11. Anxiety in society has emerged since data showed that the country's population in 2022 fell for the first time since 1962, and there are strong voices downplaying China's future economic growth prospects. One popular opinion in the academic community is that the country's demographic dividend will end, which comes with a significant decrease in economic growth prospects. These misunderstandings confuse population size and human resources, Li Daokui, director of Tsinghua University's Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking (ACCEPT), said during a seminar held by the China Population Association over the weekend. Li explained the core factors that impact economic development of one country or one region are not the total amount of people or of young people but the amount of population who are active, healthy, skilled and eager to engage in economic activities. By the end of 2022, the Chinese mainland population was 1.41175 billion, a decrease of 850,000 over that at the end of 2021, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed. With the continuous improvement of China's average life expectancy and average education level, taking the total working-age population in the traditional sense as the measurement of effective labor supply can no longer accurately reflect the current situation of human resources in society, Li told the seminar. Manpower resources refer to the labor force that is capable of engaging in production and driving economic development. Human resources can be considered as the sum of social labor time reserves taking into account the quality of the population, and the total human resources is the equivalent of the healthy and educated population, according to Li. The focus of China's harvest of its demographic dividend has been transformed from the population number and population structural advantages since the reform and opening-up, to the second centennial goal of the new era with more emphasis on the improvement of population quality based on capital population opportunities and human capital dividends, according to Yuan Xin, deputy head of the China Population Association and a demographer from Nankai University in Tianjin. Since the reform and opening-up, China's population quality has seen earth-shaking changes and the accumulation of human capital is increasingly abundant, which will be the main power source of high-quality economic development in the future, Yuan told the Global Times on Sunday, dismissing voices claiming the country's demographic dividend has disappeared. China has built the world's largest higher education system, Yuan said, and he listed several figures for the Global Times. He said that the total accumulative number of people who have received higher education has reached 240 million, accounting for 17 percent of the total population, that is, roughly one in six people in the country has a college degree, Yuan said. Data from China's annual college entrance examinations, or gaokao, which concluded on Saturday this year nationwide, also indicated that more and more Chinese youth are receiving higher education, and this will provide more high-quality human resources for economic and social development, Yuan noted. A record 12.91 million candidates applied for this year's gaokao, marking an increase of 980,000 from 2022. Since 2018, the number of applicants for gaokao has increased each year, according to figures released by the Ministry of Education. At the Sunday seminar, Chinese demographers also highlighted the urgency of addressing possible long-term problems caused by population declines so as to prompt the high-quality development of the population. They recommended taking more measures to release the nation's fertility potential and stimulate people's fertility motivation. Explaining why the Chinese young generation has lower fertility willingness, Yuan - who also attended the seminar - said lives of most young people are centered on self-development and self-pleasure, rather than on having children. Young people pursue their own development and happiness, and if having children will hinder their development and enjoyment of life, they will choose not to have children or even not to marry. The related discussions about how Yuan interprets fertility have become a heated topic on Chinese social media on the Chinese Population Day. Some netizens were displeased by the term "self-centered" and argued that the main cause for reluctance to give birth is the high pressure of raising a child. As a method to boost the fertility rate, various localities have introduced support measures from the beginning of this year, such as issuing maternity allowances and childcare subsidies, and strengthening housing security support. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Honduras opens embassy in China after breaking ties with Taiwan Iran Press TV Sunday, 11 June 2023 11:33 AM Honduras opened its embassy in Beijing on Sunday, according to the Chinese state media, after it severed diplomatic ties with Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) earlier this year. The two countries foreign ministers opened the embassy as Honduran President Xiomara Castro started her state visit to China after establishing formal diplomatic relations in March. This was in a diplomatic exchange of the inauguration of China's Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras capital. Honduran President Castro has arrived in China on Friday, starting what is called by both sides a "historic visit," during which she is to meet with her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. She is the first Honduran President to pay a state visit to China. 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, Castro's office tweeted Saturday. "We are delighted to visit China and will travel with the President to several cities so that we can strengthen our bilateral relations, fostering an everlasting China-Honduras friendship," Hector Zelaya, Castro' secretary said in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) ahead of the visit. Honduras' agricultural exports to the Chinese market, extending China's investment in Honduras, and collaborative endeavors under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), forging paths towards shared development and connectivity between the two countries are the issues discussed in Castro's visit to Beijing. "China looks forward to working with Honduras and taking this visit as an opportunity to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation, enhance friendship, and promote the steady and sustained development of the bilateral relations," said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. Tegucigalpa in March ended its decades-long relationship with Chinese Taipei and officially established diplomatic ties with Beijing, becoming the latest in a string of countries to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Beijing promotes the globally-accepted "one China" principle in its international relations. According to the principle, Chinese Taipei is subject to Chinese sovereignty and Beijing is the sole representative of all China. China prohibits its own diplomatic partners from having formal ties with Taipei and now Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations with only 13 countries, mostly poor and developing countries in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Attorney general of Honduras, Manuel Antonio Diaz, said that no country can ignore China's status and role in the global economy, finance and trade. According to Chinese Customs statistics, trade between China and Honduras reached $1.589 billion in 2022. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Greetings to Russian President Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, June 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on Monday. He in the message offered warm congratulations on behalf of the government of the DPRK and its people to the president and the government of the Russian Federation and the friendly Russian people on their national day. The message appreciated that the strong and wise Russian people have made proud history and culture for a long time since they took their deep roots in their vast land, and covered a proud path of development, demonstrating the dignity and might of a powerful country. It said that thanks to the correct decision and guidance of the Russian president, the struggle of the Russian people to foil the hostile forces' escalating threats and challenges to deprive Russia of its sovereignty, security and peaceful life has entered a new decisive phase. Justice is sure to win and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory, the tradition peculiar to them, the message stressed. It noted that the people of the DPRK are extending full support and solidarity to the Russian people in their all-out struggle for implementing the sacred cause to preserve the sovereign rights, development and interests of their country against the imperialists' high-handed and arbitrary practices and to realize the international justice. The message said that the DPRK-Russia friendship, which has weathered all trials of history generation after generation and century after century, is a precious strategic asset common to the two countries and it is the fixed stand of the DPRK government to ceaselessly develop the good neighborly and cooperative relations, as required by the new era. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un in his message affirmed his willingness to strive for closer strategic cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, holding hands firmly with the Russian president, in conformity with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to fulfill the grand goal of building a powerful country and reliably defend global peace and security. The message sincerely wished the Russian president good health and bigger success in his responsible work, and the friendly Russian people constant prosperity, development and victory. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Special Briefing by Secretary (West) on President's visit to Serbia (June 08, 2023) India - Ministry of External Affairs June 09, 2023 Shri Rajesh Uike, JS(XP): Good evening, everyone. I welcome you all to this special media briefing on the ongoing visit of Honorable President to Serbia. And for that, I have the pleasure to introduce you sitting on dais with me, Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, Press Secretary to the President, Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Ambassador of India to Serbia and Shri Arun Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (Central Europe). Going forward, now I would like to request Secretary (West) to brief on the visit. Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West): Thank you. Good afternoon. Namaskar. I will read out a media statement and thereafter we will be open to a few questions. I begin reading the media statement. As you know, Honorable Rashtrapati ji is paying a state visit to Serbia. She is accompanied by Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Honorable Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Shrimati Ramadevi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and a high-level official delegation. Yesterday, Rashtrapati ji arrived at noon from Suriname after completing her first leg of the visit. This is her first visit to Europe. This is also the first Presidential visit from either side after the creation of Serbia. Earlier, the last President from India to visit Serbia in the erstwhile Yugoslavia was in the year 1972, almost 51 years ago. On arrival, Rashtrapati ji was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honor at the airport. President paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Belgrade on arrival. Later in the afternoon, she addressed a gathering of Indian diaspora and friends of India. She underlined that both India and Serbia are ancient lands and the relationship has been defined in the context of the Non-Aligned Movement. In recent years, both sides have shared understanding of each other's core interests. Serbia has been a valuable partner in India's sustainable development program. As India emerges as a leading power, her role will enhance on issues related to climate change, counter terrorism, connectivity, maritime security, financial inclusion, food and energy security. Rashtrapati ji appreciated and admired the contribution of the diaspora and friends of India and underscored their positive contribution towards strengthening India-Serbia relationship. One interesting aspect of yesterday's community event was that unlike in several other places, there were probably more friends of India than the Indian community in the hall and that is possibly because of her long-standing affinity with this part of the world. And on the other hand, the Indian community is at its incipient state here and we believe that in the coming few years, you will find more Indian professionals here, students, entrepreneurs, etc. Coming to today's events, it was a packed day of official engagements which started with the Guard of Honor at the Serbia Palace followed by restricted level talks, delegation level talks, Joint address to the media and a business event. There was also a call on by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Dr. Vladimir Orlic on Rashtrapati ji and a few minutes back, we have just returned after Rashtrapati ji laid a wreath at the 'Monument to the Unknown Hero' atop Mount Avala. During the interactions this morning, both Presidents reiterated old commitments and resolved to explore new areas of cooperation for further strengthening bilateral relations. During delegation level talks, President Vucic was joined by the Ministers of Defence, Agriculture, Culture, Health, Mining and Energy, Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Trade and Tourism and Youth, which means eight members of the cabinet were present today for the delegation level talks. Each participating Minister briefed about the potential in their respective sectors. At the outset, President Vucic expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in the tragic train accident in Odisha. During the bilateral interactions, both leaders reiterated their principle stand on the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. President Vucic described Serbia's relationship with India as fraternal. He termed India as a time-tested friendly country and told our President to consider Serbia as a second motherland. President Vucic identified six major areas of cooperation. These included defense and military tech cooperation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, industrial cooperation, information technology, including AI, cultural cooperation, including film production and cinematography. I may add here that during the forenoon interactions, cooperation in the field of culture, particularly in cinema, films, tourism came up repeatedly. Serbia sees the potential of attracting Indian filmmakers for shooting post-production and as we...during the visit itself, there is a high profile Indian film crew shooting in this country. That was a fact well appreciated and discussions continued on the positive advantages of collaborating in the space of cinema because of its relationship with tourism and also building business relations as countries get familiar with each other. We were also told that Serbia offers very attractive concessions for filming in Serbia. For instance, it was mentioned that about 20%-25% cash back facility is given by the Serbian government to film units shooting in this country. President Vucic also emphasized that it was his desire to establish direct air linkages between Belgrade and Delhi. Describing his own personal experience as a youth, he appreciated the sincerity and work ethos of Indians. On direct air connectivity, Rashtrapati Ji shared with President Vucic that India no longer had a national flag carrier but the fact that President Vucic mentioned several concessions or subsidies which Serbia was willing to offer Indian airlines if they operated a direct flight between India and Serbia, I think that point was well taken and Rashtrapati Ji assured President Vucic that the Indian airlines, private airlines would be informed about these facilities and concessions that Serbia was offering to our private civil aviation sector. Recalling his visit to India in 2017 as then Prime Minister of Serbia, President Vucic appreciated personal commitment and leadership for further extending India-Serbia relations. Rashtrapatii Ji also thanked the Serbian government for issuing a special postal stamp for commemorating 75 years of India's independence. Adding to the list of President Vucic, she highlighted the unprecedented change that India is going through and called for cooperation in new areas like science and technology, machinery equipment, start-ups, clean and renewable energy. Rashtrapatii Ji also identified skilled and semi-skilled manpower from India as having the potential to fill in a vital gap in human resources in Serbia. The spiritual heritage of India as well as yoga and Ayurveda also came up repeatedly in the conversation because these Indian contributions, both yoga and Ayurveda are popular in Serbia and do not require an introduction. Both Presidents thereafter addressed the media jointly. They addressed a business event which was attended by over 100 entrepreneurs, also participated and organised by three of our major chambers from India, ASOCHAM, FICCI and CII. During the business event, both Presidents agreed to set a target for bilateral trade from the present 320 million euros to a billion euros by the end of the decade. Prime Minister Ana Brnabic hosted a luncheon in honor of Rashtrapatii Ji and her delegation during which discussions revolved around potential cooperation in various sectors including agricultural, IT, artificial intelligence, cyber security, tourism, higher education, film productions, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. In the afternoon, the Speaker of National Assembly, Dr. Vladimir Orlic called on the President. Soon after this press conference, we will be heading for the banquet being hosted by President Vucic in honor of Rashtrapatii Ji. I will conclude my media statement here and we will be open for some questions. Thank you. Kamna: Namaste sir. I am Kamna from ANI, my question is what is the outcome and significance of this visit? Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Ambassador of India to Serbia: You know the fact that this was the first ever visit of a Head of State to Serbia, itself sends a very strong message that we value Serbia's friendship and we reiterated our desire to further strengthen it. Serbia has been supporting us at various regional and international platforms. So we wanted to recognize Serbia's consistent support to issues of interest to us. Then of course trade and investment is something which is of key interest to us. Serbia could be...and President Vucic himself said it many times that Serbia could be India's gateway to Europe. Serbia having the Member status, Serbia has a preferential access to the EU market. They also have preferential trading arrangements with Turkey, CIS countries, Russia and several others. And they also offer very attractive package of incentives and subsidies for foreign businesses who want to set up base here. And the land prices, the cost of labor is about 25%-30% cheaper than Europe. So we also see great value in encouraging our businesses to come and set up production facilities here to get it to markets around Serbia. And the fact that a business delegation was assembled at a very short notice again sends that message that the Government of India is encouraging Indian businesses to come and look for opportunities. So in terms of objectives, one was to reaffirm the long-standing partnership. When a visit at the level of Head of State takes place, it sends a very strong signal of our continuing commitment to nurturing that historic friendship which exists between our two countries. Second was to look at new areas which need fresh attention, trade and investment. Then also in the area of defense, technology sharing, co-production, again Serbia has strength in niche areas and I think we already have an increasing list of Indian companies coming here to either buy the ingredients they need for their production at home and in turn Serbian companies are buying defense-related material from India. So that again could be a win-win situation for companies from both sides. People to people contacts, cultural ties, again as the Secretary (West) said, the presence of a very large number of Serbian friends of India. So her address to them was a recognition of the contribution they have made. So when the President of India comes and recognizes their thing, I think there can't be a greater encouragement than that. So it was cementing their existing goodwill, reiterating our continuing commitment and to open new areas of cooperation for Indian businesses. So those were the kind of positive highlights and outcomes. And President Vucic at each stage has, even his address to the Serbian business, he spoke about the huge gains that their business can make by forging partnerships with India. I think they understand India's rise as a global economic power and rising political power. So they also see great merit and great value in building up a long-term partnership. So I think that visit sends a very strong signal about that. Speaker: Sir I am Manjulina from DD news. Sir jaise ki aapne[Inaudible] Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Ambassador of India to Serbia: Dekhiye 2017 mai jab Rastrapati Vucic India gaye the, uske baad agar aap dekhain toh pichle paanch saal bade sustained high level contacts rahain hain. Hamare External Affairs Minister ki yahan visit hui, inke Foreign Minister wahan gaye. Do baar ja chuke hain inke Foreign Minister. Hamare Speaker yahan aaye the IPU conference ke liye. Inke Interior Minister gaye the (inaudible) ek conference ke liye gaye the..lekin India gaye the. Abhi ek defense delegation Aero-India ke liye gaya tha. Toh sustained contacts to rahe hain lekin Rashtrapati ji ki level ki jo visit hain...jaise meine bataya, woh ek bada strong signal deta hain. Aur I think visit overdue thi, last year bhi visit plan hui thi lekin last minute pe kuch karan visit ko cancel kiya gaya toh ek hamari commitment thi jo is visit se fulfil hui hain ki hamare Rashtrapati ji yahan aayenge. Serbia ka ek apan mahatva hain is region mai, sabse badi country hain lekin koi aisa conflict of interest nahi hain ki baki Balkan mei... Croatia mai visit ho chuki hain Rashtrapati ji ki aur Balkan mai apni ek open Balkan policy hain jisko yeh sab support karte hai ki, aapas mai hum log economical-political exchanges badhayain. Aur hamari videsh neeti ke hisab se hamara hamesha raha hain ki regional development honi chahiye, region mai countries ko cooperate karna chahiye, agar koi differences hain usko aap negotiations resolve karain. Toh I think Rashtrapati ki visit sirf Serbia ke liye hi nahi pure ek region ke liye hain ki India engaged hain is region mai aur ye jitne bhi countries hain ye hamare purane partners rahain hain aur sabke sath relationship ki apni ek ehmiyat hain. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Look, when President Vucic visited India in 2017, after that, if you see, there have been sustained high-level contacts over the past five years. Our External Affairs Ministers visited their country, and their Foreign Minister visited ours. Their Foreign Minister has visited twice. Our Speaker came here for the IPU conference. Their Interior Minister (inaudible) went for a conference, but he visited India. Recently, a defense delegation went for Aero-India. So, sustained contacts have been maintained, but a visit at the level of the President sends a strong signal. And I think the visit was overdue. It was planned last year, but it was canceled at the last minute for some reason. So, it was our commitment that has been fulfilled with this visit that our President will come here. Serbia has its importance in this region, being the largest country. But there is no conflict of interest that in the rest of the Balkan region... Croatia, where the President has already visited, and in the Balkans, they have a open Balkan policy, which all these countries support, that to enhance their economical-political exchanges. And according to our foreign policy, it has always been our stance that there should be regional development, countries in the region should cooperate, and if there are any differences, they should be resolved through negotiations. So, I think the President's visit is not just for Serbia but for the whole region, to show that India is engaged in this region, and all these countries are our old partners, and each relationship has its own importance. Speaker: [Inaudible] visa free entry ke liye...Is there any discussion on that? Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Ambassador of India to Serbia: Secretary (West) ne jo aapko briefing di ki yeh bar bar ye issue aaya ki contacts badhne chahiye, business to business, people to people contacts, Indian workers contribute kar sakte hain. Toh ispe Rashtrapati Vucic ne bhi, Pradhan Mantri Brnabic ne bhi kaha ki contacts banane ke liye efficient visa regime hona chahiye. Visa regime abhi ek transition mai hain. 2017 mai Rashtrapati Vucic ne jab ye bharat gaye the inhone ailaan kiya tha ki hum visa free kar rahain hain, aur woh system chalta raha lekin phir EU pressure mai, EU ne inpe restrictions lagayi ki iska durupayog ho raha hain, jo log visa free hai... sirf India nahi kai countries ke sath tha...ki kuch log aa ke isko transit use kar rahain hain. Inhone kafi usko resist kiya, baki countries pe kar diya tha, India ke sath inhone continue kiya. Lekin I think ek particular stage pe woh pressure unaviodable tha. Ab ek naya efficient system lane ki jarurat pe woh bhi mante hain lekin uske liye abhi inhone ek naya jo...aaj inhone hamain bataya meeting mai ki woh e-visa ka ek policy le ke aa rahain hain. Aur kuch naye chizain jaise businessman ho toh unke liye agar Chambers support karain toh unke liye aap visa regime dijiye. Toh realization to puri hain inke liye aur usko jab aap system mai implement karte hain aapko changes karne padte hain, manpower lani padti hai, toh I think they are committed to do that. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate Translation] As Secretary (West) said in his briefing that repeatedly the issue of the need to increase contacts, business-to-business and people-to-people contacts was emphasized, Indian workers can also contribute. So both President Vucic and Prime Minister Brnabic mentioned that an efficient visa regime should be in place to facilitate these contacts. The visa regime is currently in transition. When President Vucic visited India in 2017, he announced that they were introducing visa-free travel, and that system continued. However, under pressure from the EU, restrictions were imposed because it was being misused by the visa free people...and it was not only for India but for other countries too...that some people are using it as transit point. President Vucic resisted this pressure and continued the visa-free regime with India while implementing restrictions with other countries. But I believe that at a certain stage, the pressure became unavoidable. They recognize the need to establish a new efficient system, and in the meeting, they informed us that they are bringing a new e-visa policy. They also mentioned some new things like if there are businessmen supported by Chambers, specific visa regimes can be provided for them. So, there is full realization in them, and when you implement it in the system, changes need to be made, manpower needs to be deployed. So, I think they are committed to do that. Himani Rana: I am Himani Rana from All India Radio. So different areas of cooperation were discussed and one amongst them was yoga and Ayurveda. So considering that Ayurveda is already a recognized system of medicine here, so what steps do you foresee so that what impact it will have on Ayurveda professionals back in India? Will it open up some opportunities here? Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Ambassador of India to Serbia: You know Ayurveda is a recognized system of medicine but I think this country needs more Ayurveda practitioners. There are very few practitioners. So, in fact the President also offered that we could assist them in setting up a University, you know, University level education in the field of Ayurveda so that, you know, more people can learn about it and then practice it. So that itself would help in spreading more knowledge about Ayurveda. And once there are more practitioners, it would open the door for...the medicines to come in, the registration of Ayurvedic medicines from India. So it's a process, I think, which ideally should begin with, you know, starting some kind of faculty so that you at least have trained practitioners. Right now, to the best of my knowledge, we only have two or three Ayurveda practitioners and they are in great demand. So I think eventually they also realize, Serbia itself has an important kind of history of systems of medicine and so I think and with increasing pressure on the health system, they also spoke about, you know, they need Indian generic medicines, affordable healthcare, affordable medicines. And Ayurveda itself as an alternate system is all towards making the health system more accessible in Serbia, more affordable for people. So I think it's a good beginning and we've left some ideas with them and they seem very keen to take those forward. Speaker: Sir, as the President of Serbia has talked in his speech about the digital capabilities of India and the latter's growth in the IT sector. So, is there any specific outcomes, we can see in this business delegation, thier meetings or visit? Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Ambassador of India to Serbia: I think in the lunch with the Prime Minister, she in fact made an offer...the IT Minister was there. She said the IT Minister should go with the delegation of Serbian IT companies and go and meet the Indian counterparts and learn, you know, the practices we are adopting, not only business to business but also in terms of digitization, Government's own programs to promote digitization. In my past meetings also, I think they want India to be the topmost partner in the field of ICT. They really admire our achievements in that sector. In fact, last time when I met the President, he himself made that offer that he would send the IT Minister first, followed by a visit by the Prime Minister herself, focusing entirely on, you know, IT cooperation, AI, digitalization. So I think they recognize our strengths, they want to learn from the Indian experience. And even in other areas as the Secretary said, there were eight Ministers present. There was a kind of broad spectrum cooperation they are looking at with India. And it was agreed that for each sector, concerned Ministries, concerned Ministers should meet and, you know, take this forward. So IT would probably remain on the top of that list. Speaker: Sir one last question. As you talked about the countries...[Inaudible] Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West): You know the reference to the eight Ministers in the conversation and I may add that the eight Ministers were also present in the Prime Minister's luncheon. So the conversation focused on cooperation in the defense sector, agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, energy transition, infrastructure. So these are the main...pharmaceuticals particularly. So these are the areas in which there is more potential seen and more exchange of delegations would be required. And during the course of conversation, we also learnt that TAFE, the tractor company which we all thought was an Indian company to begin with, was actually a Serbian or a Yugoslavian company to begin with, which took root in India and then was invited back to buy out the original company which the Indian company did. So these are strands from the past which reflect wonderful and glorious association in the past. A trip like this reinvents the relationship. It is all too easy to suggest that India is changing but for foreign countries and leadership to appreciate the change, I think you need face-to-face interactions, you need visits and we have used this occasion, this visit as a platform to convey to our friends in Serbia how dramatically India is changing by the day, not just socio-economically but the pace of infrastructure development, our trading profile. Not many would have realized that we are already a country with $1.6 billion of trade in goods and services and that we want to achieve a $2 trillion trade turnover in both goods and services by the end of this decade. And several small windows have opened up in the conversations. Ambassador has mentioned IT, artificial intelligence and it is a two-way street. We also have a lot to learn from Serbia, the cold chain, the food processing, fruit processing particularly, their expertise in berries, strawberries, mulberries, raspberries, apples...I mean they have begun selling apples, I think that was repeatedly mentioned that we are an important market for Serbian apples. So all these conversations, particularly in AI, IT, cyber security, cold chain for food processing are examples where we will have exchange of delegations...defense cooperation, I think tie-ups there is extremely important. So all in all a bouquet of opportunities open up from a visit like this plus it was a long overdue visit and we were only paying in a certain way a debt to the relationship and after Prime Minister Vucic, then Prime Minister visited in 2017, he referred to that visit a number of times during the conversation. It was time that we repaid the visit and we hope this will trigger a more regular exchange of visits at the highest levels apart from a regular flow of delegations in the areas we have mentioned in the conversation. Speaker: [Inaudible] Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West): We have suggested to the Serbian side on how self-reliant we want to be in the defense sector and how the defense sector is open for FDIs, it is almost 100% from G2G and company to company, I think 75%. So we have shared the numbers, the projects, we have encouraged defense delegations to come from Serbia. They have expressed interest in artillery and ammunition and gunpowder manufacturing, so these were early suggestions of where cooperation can take place. Shri Rajesh Uike, JS(XP): Okay. So as I see there is are no more questions, so Sir with your permission now I conclude this special media briefing and the visit. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister holds telephone conversation with President of the Republic of South Africa India - Ministry of External Affairs June 10, 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with His Excellency Mr. Matemela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa. The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation, which is anchored in historic and strong people-to-people ties. Prime Minister thanked the South African President for the relocation of 12 Cheetahs to India earlier this year. They also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in BRICS in the context of South Africa's chairmanship this year. President Ramaphosa briefed PM on the African Leaders' Peace Initiative. Noting that India was supportive of all initiatives aimed at ensuring durable peace and stability in Ukraine, PM reiterated India's consistent call for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. President Ramaphosa conveyed his full support to India's initiatives as part of its ongoing G20 Presidency and that he looked forward to his visit to India. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch. New Delhi June 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COMBINED OPERATIONS OF INS VIKRAMADITYA AND INS VIKRANT India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence The 'Sky' is the Limit: Showcasing Indian Navy's Multi-Aircraft Carrier Force Posted On: 10 JUN 2023 1:11PM by PIB Delhi Indian Ocean - The Indian Navy showcased its formidable maritime capabilities with a spectacular display of multi-carrier operations and the coordinated deployment of more than 35 aircraft in the Arabian Sea. This demonstration of naval prowess underscores India's commitment to safeguarding its national interests, maintaining regional stability, and fostering cooperative partnerships in the maritime domain. It also marks a significant milestone in Indian Navy's pursuit of enhancing maritime security and power-projection in the Indian Ocean, and beyond. The exercise involved seamless integration of two Aircraft Carriers INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant- along with a diverse fleet of ships, submarines and aircraft, showcasing India's technological expertise in the maritime domain. INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, centre-pieces of the exercise, serve as 'floating sovereign airfields', providing a launch platform for a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, MH60R, Kamov, Sea King, Chetak and ALH helicopters. These mobile bases can be positioned anywhere, allowing for increased mission flexibility, timely response to emerging threats and sustained air operations to safeguard our national interests across the globe. In addition, they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our 'collective' security needs in the Region. The successful demonstration of two-carrier battle group operations serves as a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority. As India continues to strengthen its security apparatus, significance of Aircraft Carriers will remain paramount in shaping the nation's defence strategy and promoting regional stability. VM/PS 85/23 (Release ID: 1931254) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM meets Iranian diplomat released from Belgian detention IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has met with Asadollah Asadi, the former Iranian diplomat who returned home last month after five years of detention in Belgium. The meeting took place at the Iranian Foreign Ministry building in the capital Tehran on Saturday. The foreign minister held talks with Asadi two weeks after his arrival in Iran on May 26. Asadi, who served as the third counselor at Iran's Embassy in Austria's capital Vienna, was arrested by Belgian police in June 2018. He was accused of plotting an attack against the anti-Iran Mujahedin-e Khalq (MKO) terrorist organization, a claim that has been strongly rejected by the former diplomat and Iranian authorities. Iran had repeatedly condemned the violation of Asadi's diplomatic immunity and made every effort to secure his release in negotiations with Belgian authorities. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US won't be dominant power in new world order: Iran's top general IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri has reiterated that the world is on the cusp of a new order, in which the United State will no longer be the dominant power while emerging powers such as Iran will have a more active role. "The world is on the brink of a new order, where America is no longer at the top of the global power hierarchy, and the Zionist regime is also on a path of weakening," General Baqeri told a gathering of senior defense officials on Saturday. He cited the failure of the US military adventurism in the region, including most notably its withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan, as a sign of decline of the United States on the global stage. "Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran, with divine assistance, is gaining strength and utilizing its capacities for a leap forward in all areas," he noted. Gen. Baqeri also hailed the successful mission of the 86th flotilla of the Iranian Navy, which ended its historic round-the-world voyage last month and returned to Iran's territorial waters after sailing some 65,000 kilometers on the high seas. "In this voyage, the Islamic Republic of Iran's message of power, peace, and friendship was conveyed to all continents and across oceans, demonstrating the power and geographically influential development of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he stated. **2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Higher purity uranium enrichment aimed at sanctions removal: AEOI chief IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami has said that the country's nuclear activities are under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA), and the Islamic Republic's move to enrich uranium at higher purity levels is aimed at the removal of sanctions. Eslami made the comments in an interview with Iran's Ettelaat newspaper, which was published in its Saturday edition in Tehran. He said that the Islamic Republic is making steps within the framework of its national goals, and its activities remain under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition, he added, Iran remains committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the NPT, as well as the Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA. However, Eslamic noted, the Islamic Republic's move to enrich uranium at a 60-percent purity level is aimed at the removal of the anti-Iran sanctions. He added that the move has been taken in accordance with the Strategic Action Plan to Lift Sanctions and Protect the Iranian Nation's Interests. That's a law the Iranian Parliament approved in December 2020 as part of measures in response to the sanctions the United States imposed following its withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "They refused to implement the JCPOA, which they had signed, and withdrew from it. They even did not allow others to work with the Islamic Republic. When we faced such a behavior, Majlis (the Iranian Parliament) ratified a law to convince them to lift the sanctions," the official explained. He was referring to the 2018 US pullout from the JCPOA and its pressure on the remaining Western parties to the deal to not compensate for Washington's withdrawal. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Some $2.7 billion of Iraq's debt to Iran released: Businessman IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The head of the Iran-Iraq joint Chamber of Commerce has announced that some $2.7 billion of Iraq's debt to Iran which had remained frozen in a bank account in the Arab country because of US sanctions have been released. Yahya Al-e Eshaq told IRNA on Saturday that a portion of the released assets will be allocated to cover the the needs of Iranian pilgrims during the ongoing hajj season in Saudi Arabia and the rest will be used for imports of essential goods. Al-e Eshaq said the exact figure of the released assets and the way they will be expended had yet to be confirmed by the Central Bank of Iran. He highlighted the significant impact that the repatriation of the funds would have on the markets. "On the one hand, it fulfills the needs of the central bank, and on the other hand, the purchased essential goods will soon enter the country," he noted. **2050**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'No undeclared nuclear material in Iran; IAEA's assertion based on Israeli lies' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's permanent mission to the UN offices in Vienna says there is no undeclared nuclear material in the country, saying the International Atomic Energy Agency's assertion is based on "fabricated information" provided by the Israeli regime. "As it was explained on many occasions to the Agency, there is no undeclared nuclear material in Iran, and the Agency's assertion is merely based on false and fabricated information provided by illegitimate Israeli regime with a longstanding background of stringing chains of lies," the Iranian mission said in an explanatory note to the IAEA published on Saturday. It said in light of further cooperation with the IAEA, Tehran has exhausted all of its efforts to discover the origin of uranium particles found in Iran. "Given the fact that Iran could not yet find any technical reasons for the presence of uranium particles, it would reasonably imply that possibly external elements, such as sabotage and malicious acts, have been involved in the contamination," the mission asserted. The following is the full text of the note provided by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: Following the Report of the Director General, entitled: "NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran" (GOV/2023/26, 31 May 2023), the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Vienna would like to share its comments and observations on the report as follows: A. General comments: 1. The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined, as has also shown so far, to comply with its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (INFCIRC/214) and it has done its utmost to enable the Agency to continue its verification activities in Iran, which is unique in the Agency's verification system. 2. On the issue related to the so-called three locations, it should be highlighted that the origin of the issue goes back to the fabricated information provided to the Agency by an ill-intended third party, namely the Israeli regime, which does not accept to have a single commitment under any WMD instruments, including in particular the NPT, and repeatedly threatens to attack Iran's nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes, contrary to the numerous IAEA and UNGA resolutions. B. Comments on the report, Background: 3. Paragraph 2 of the report states that: "The Agency is seeking explanations from Iran... at three undeclared locations ..." is contrary to Paragraph 18 of the report which reads: "... The Agency at this time has no additional questions on the depleted uranium particles detected in 'Marivan' or on the location, and the matter is no longer outstanding at this stage." Therefore, the number of locations is no longer 3. This is also the case for paras.4 and 7 of the report. a As explained frequently by the Islamic Republic of Iran (e.g.: INFCIRC/996 dated 7 June 2022 and INFCIRC/967 dated 3 December 2021), there has not been any undeclared location which is required to be declared under the CSA. Iran's nuclear activities remain peaceful under the Agency's full-scope safeguards. Therefore, there is no legal basis for expressing "deep concern" by the Director General. a The mere finding of natural uranium particles in environmental samples at a location cannot be considered as an indication that a quantity of nuclear material had been presented at that location. a As it was explained on many occasions to the Agency, there is no undeclared nuclear material in Iran, and the Agency's assertion is merely based on false and fabricated information provided by illegitimate Israeli regime with a longstanding background of stringing chains of lies. a In light of further cooperation with the Agency, Iran has exhausted all its efforts so as to discover the origin of such particles. Iran has explained its assumptions about the probable causes of the presence of uranium particles. Given the fact that Iran could not yet find any technical reasons for the presence of uranium particles, it would reasonably imply that possibly external elements, such as sabotage and malicious acts, have been involved in the contamination. 4. The report further states in paragraph 3 and related footnote, "... unless and until Iran provided technically credible explanations for the presence of the aforementioned uranium particles at the three undeclared locations in Iran and informed the Agency of the current location(s) of the nuclear material and/or of the contaminated equipment, the Agency would not be able to confirm the correctness and completeness of Iran's declarations under its Safeguards Agreement." It should be noted that: a The mere presence of a few uranium particles at the claimed locations could not be considered as presence of nuclear material or contaminated equipment. It should be noted that the Agency has not provided Iran with any authentic supporting documents for its claim. a As explained by the Islamic Republic of Iran in numerous occasions, there has never been any undeclared location which is required to be declared under the CSA. Furthermore, based on our intensive investigations into the background of activities carried out in two remaining locations has not yet been found. There has not been any nuclear activity or storage in these locations. Therefore, as yet no technical explanation concerning the origin of reported particles were found, however, the possibility of presence of such particles by the sabotage acts cannot be excluded. 5. The Agency's claim in footnote 7 that "... some of the containers stored at Turquzabad were dismantled at the location, others were removed from Turquzabad intact in 2018 and moved to an unknown location ..." is not based on authentic information and evidence. Turquzabad is actually an industrial place encompassing various kinds of warehouses and depots for storing detergents, chemicals, foodstuffs, fabrics & textiles, vehicle tires and parts, tubes & joints and some industrial scraps. Movement of containers in and out of such an area is a usual activity; therefore, the claim of containers removal cannot be considered a ground for such an allegation. Despite the lack of solid and authentic documents, Iran granted, on a voluntary basis, complementary access to the locations for the Agency. This clearly indicates Iran's willingness to address any possible ambiguity along with its full transparency. 6. Regarding paragraph 7 of the report which states: "... This increase of knowledge of Iran's nuclear-related activities and the resolution of the outstanding safeguards issues is indispensable for the Agency to be able to provide credible assurances of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme". It should be noted that: a Iran's nuclear-related activities, such as the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors, and bellows, heavy water, and UOC, are entirely out of scope of the CSA. Any measure in this regard is voluntary and related to commitments under the JCPOA. a According to the CSA, there is no link between the assurances of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme and the increasing of knowledge of Iran's nuclear-related activities. Therefore, the Agency's statement about the "increase of knowledge of Iran's nuclear-related activities... to be able to provide credible assurances of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme" has no legal basis and cannot be accepted. C. Comments on the report, Implementation of the Joint Statement of 4 March 2023: 7. The Agency's report states in paragraph 12of the report"...the Agency verified at the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) the dissolution of 302.7 kg of natural uranium, as declared by Iran, in the form of solid waste and items of uranium metal transferred from the Jaber Ibn Hayan Multipurpose Laboratory (JHL). The Agency identified a discrepancy that needs to be resolved in the amount of nuclear material it had verified compared to the amount declared by Iran". It should be noted that: a The uranium metal received at the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) from the JHL, has been frequently reported to the Agency by the operator and verified by the Agency since 2003, for which the relevant 90(a) and 90(b) statements have also been subsequently provided by the Agency stating its satisfaction. Furthermore, this material has been under the Agency's continuous C/S measures since 2003 while it was retained at the JHL facility and it was still sealed while it was transferred to the UCF. Furthermore, there has not been any activity performed on this material that may change its status. a Although the transferring, dissolving, and processing of the concerned material has been in the presence of the Agency inspectors, they have taken volume and density data of the dissolved material, but after completion of activities, they raised a doubt on measurement using an imprecise, nonconventional method that is not expressed in the facility's Safeguards Approach with a reversed calculation based on U-236 isotopes to estimate dissolved material. Since the base of this measurement has not been accurate (there is a large difference between measures in 2003 and 2022) and is associated with high errors, this method of reveres calculation has not been accepted by the operator instead of the direct measurement that has been performed in the presence of the Agency inspectors. a Therefore, the operator declaration on March 2022, for the uranium content in the four UNH batches before their blending (total 109.847 kg U), which was verified at the same time by the Agency inspectors, has been taken as the basis for the accountancy reports of the UCF facility, and there is no need for any correction on the nuclear material accounting records and reports. 8. On 'Marivan/ Abadeh' and the allegations about explosive experiments with protective shielding in preparation for the use of neutron detectors Iran maintains its position as referred in its explanatory note, and takes positive note of conclusion made by the DG that "the Agency at this time has no additional questions on the depleted uranium particles detected at 'Marivan' or on the location, and the matter is no longer outstanding at this stage." Furthermore, it should be emphasized that other allegations which are not CSA matter are not accepted and completely rejected. In this regard following explanation should be noted: a The Agency has referred to safeguards-relevant information available to it related to the 'Marivan /Abadeh' as supporting documents about this location, which refer to only two unauthentic images from an unknown location that cannot be referenced as evidence, because they are easily producible, forgeable and prepareable. a Recall as it has been said many times that protecting shielding for the use of neutron detectors has principally no safeguards ground (based on article 2.8 and 69 of the CSA) and the Agency's questions were not based on authentic information relevant to the purpose of safeguards for its request of access to the location, the Islamic Republic of Iran based on goodwill voluntarily granted access to the Agency and provided explanations regarding complete history, usage and even the application of bunkers which does not mean that it has been accepted as a safeguards issue. a Despite this extensive cooperation, the Agency has considered the information received from Iran as inconsistent with the said alleged documents, just by reliance on some unauthentic and fabricated documents and then running into fallacious and invalid conclusion upon its own assumptions. a The Agency's claim that "Iran conducted explosive experiments with protective shielding in preparation for the use of neutron detectors and nuclear materials" is a baseless accusation without any authentic supporting evidence. This conclusion is absolutely false, unrealistic and biased. Furthermore, surprisingly without providing any authentic evidence the Agency report (GOV/2022/26 para 13) which says "... may have planned to use nuclear material ... outdoor testing of conventional explosive ..." had changed to "... planned to use and store nuclear material at ....for explosive testing." (in the Agency's report (GOV/2023/9, Para. 4) and finally has changed to "explosive experiments with protected shielding in preparation for the use of neutron detectors and nuclear material". This inconsistency in the DG's report shows that this allegation has no technical basis and cannot be accepted. 9. The Agency's report states in paragraph 23 "... As part of this process, the Agency expects to be able to start to address, without further delay, access to data recordings and the gaps in the recordings'". It should be noted that: a As a principle, implementation of further verification and monitoring activities at workshops in Esfahan where centrifuge rotor tubes and bellows are manufactured, are entirely remained in scope of JCPOA on a voluntary basis and is out of obligations under the CSA. a Morover, all transparency measures under the JCPOA have been ceased by a law passed by the Parliament entitled "Strategic Action to Remove Sanctions and Protect the Interests of the Iranian Nation", in response to illegal unilateral withdrawal as well as outright violation of the JCPOA by the US. a According to aforementioned facts, the Agency's request to access to the data recorded by the cameras during period between February 2021 and June 2022 as well as those data recorded since 2-3 May 2023 currently are not subjected to the Joint Statement. D. Comments on the report, Modified Code 3.1: 10. Regarding the implementation of modified Code 3.1 of the subsidiary Arrangements, it should be reminded that acceptance of implementation of modified code 3.1 was among those transparency and confidence building measures, reflected in paragraph 65 of the JCPOA. Following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and failure of the E3/EU to fulfill any of their commitments within the JCPOA, Iran in response ceased all transparency measures beyond its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Based on this fact, implementation of modified code 3.1 was suspended. Therefore, the Agency's reference to Article 39 of the CSA has no legal basis. E. Comments on the report, Summary: 11. The Agency's report states in paragraph 28 "the remaining outstanding safeguards issues stem from Iran's obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement between Iran and the Agency and need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful". It should be noted that: a Since the Agency has not presented authentic documents to Iran concerning its claim on "undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities", Iran did not oblige itself to consider unauthentic and fabricated documents as CSA basis to respond the Agency's requests. However, Iran voluntarily granted access and provided information and clarification to the Agency on these locations. a It is regrettable that the Agency considers all fabricated documents and fake information provided by the Israeli regime as authentic, and concluded that "...need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful". Such statement undermines impartiality of the Agency and is far from the professional approach need to be taken by the Agency. F. Conclusion: 1. The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far rendered its full cooperation under the CSA to the Agency. It has to be re-emphasized that all Iran's nuclear material and activities have been completely declared and verified by the Agency. 2. The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly expects that the Agency conduct its reporting on verification activities in Iran based on the principals of impartiality, professionalism and objectivity. 3. The Agency should not disregard the possibility of involvement of Iran's staunch enemies in providing false and fabricated information and committing various sabotage acts. 4. The verification activities related to the JCPOA such as production and inventory of centrifuges, centrifuge rotor tubes and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate (UOC) are not under the CSA scope. Therefore, linking the assurances of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and resolution of the alleged issues to such information are baseless and unacceptable. 5. While all Iran's nuclear material and activities have been under Agency's strict verification and monitoring activities coupled with Iran's cooperation and voluntary transparency measures, questioning the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear program has no justification. 6. The Islamic Republic of Iran, once again, stresses that the current extensive level of its cooperation with the Agency has not been achieved easily, just to be diminished by short-sighted political interests. Accordingly, all including the Agency and the Member States, have the responsibility to show wisdom in addressing such issues in a diligent manner in order to avoid distorting the bigger picture on cooperation between Iran and the Agency. **9417**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian foreign minister lauds diplomat's steadfastness during illegal imprisonment in Belgium Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 10:45 PM Iran's foreign minister has lauded the steadfastness and firm resolve of an Iranian diplomat, who was recently released after spending about five years in Belgian and German prisons on false "terror-related" charges. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a Saturday meeting at the Iranian Foreign Ministry with Assadollah Assadi, who returned home after years of illegal imprisonment. In June 2018, Belgian authorities said the country's police had intercepted a car carrying homemade explosives, claiming that the Iranian diplomat handed the material to two people in Belgium. He was accused of plotting an attack against the anti-Iran Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MKO) terrorist cult, a claim that has been strongly rejected by Iranian authorities. A Belgian court then sentenced the diplomat, who served as the third counselor at Iran's Embassy in Vienna, to 20 years in prison. According to legal experts, the case was based on sham and unsubstantiated charges and smacked of political propaganda against the Islamic Republic. Throughout his plight, Iran invariably protested and condemned the violation of Assadi's diplomatic immunity and tried hard to secure his freedom. Earlier this year, an agreement was reached through Oman's mediation to release Assadi following negotiations between Amir-Abdollahian and his Belgium counterpart. Speaking to Assadi, Amir-Abdollahian welcomed his return to the country "with his head held high," while hailing his perseverance, patience, and dignified conduct during his illegal imprisonment. "Following illegal imprisonment and [leveling of] baseless accusations against our country's diplomat and blatant violation of the Vienna Convention, the Islamic Republic of Iran's government, diplomatic apparatus and the Judiciary did all in their power and took logical and categorical positions and steps. Fortunately, today, we see that these efforts have been fruitful and [we] witness your presence in the country," Iran's top diplomat said. For his part, Assadi offered a brief account of his incarceration first in Germany and then in Belgian prisons, expressing his gratitude towards the Iranian officials for their diligent and effective efforts at security his freedom. The diplomat, meanwhile, said the efforts made by the Iranian government, diplomatic apparatus and the Judiciary, helped "thwart Zionists' and terrorists' plots, which were aimed at achieving their illegitimate goals." Amir-Abdollahian also reacted to Assadi's release through a Twitter post, saying the jailed diplomat has been finally reunited with his friends and colleagues at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. "I am happy with his return, but signs of suffering and imprisonment on his frail and weakened body were very hurtful," Iran's top diplomat said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address High-level uranium enrichment aimed at sanctions removal: Iran nuclear chief Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 7:20 PM Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami says the purpose of enriching uranium to a high level of purity was the removal of anti-Iran sanctions. Speaking in an interview with Tehran-based Ettelaat newspaper published on Saturday, Eslami added that a December 2020 parliamentary law -- dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions -- was also passed with the same purpose. He said the AEOI is enriching uranium to the purity level of 60% in accordance with the parliamentary law for different purposes, including the production of radiopharmaceuticals and detectors. "We used 60% enriched uranium in the production of fuel plates and especially raw materials for the production of radiopharmaceuticals such as molybdenum," the Iranian nuclear chief emphasized. Back in December, the AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said Iran's enrichment of uranium had officially reached the purity level of 60 percent in accordance with the parliamentary law seeking to accelerate the development of the Iranian nuclear program. Under the parliament's law, the Iranian administration is required to restrict the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) inspections and accelerate the development of the country's nuclear program beyond the limits set under the 2015 nuclear agreement, such as ending the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Eslami further pointed to claims that Iran's nuclear program pursues military purposes and said the AEOI's main goal is to implement the parliamentary law which is aimed at convincing or obliging the opposite sides to "reduce the cruel economic sanctions against Iran." The Iranian nuclear chief added that the AEOI is carrying out its activities based on national objectives and the IAEA rules, emphasizing that the country's nuclear work is under the UN nuclear agency's surveillance. He criticized the JCPOA parties for failing to remain committed to the agreement, saying, "They did not even allow others to work with the Islamic Republic." Asked whether the recent agreements between Iran and the IAEA contradict the nation's parliamentary law, Eslami said the agency insists that its cooperation with Tehran hinge on the implementation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the IAEA Safeguards Agreements. "We are fully coordinated and committed to these two axes emphasized by the agency and have had no inconsistencies according to the [IAEA] inspections," he emphasized. He noted that the UN Security Council has also authorized the IAEA to carry out special supervision and set limitations on Iran's nuclear activities under the Resolution 2231, which endorses the JCPOA. According to the law of strategic action, when none of the JCPOA signatories fulfill their obligations, "it is natural that we do not fulfill them either", Eslami pointed out. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran warns EU against unconstructive behavior in sanctions-removal talks Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 2:06 PM Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi says the parties to negotiations to remove anti-Iran sanctions must avoid politicized and unconstructive behavior. In a 90-minute phone conversation with his French counterpart Emanuel Macron on Saturday, Raeisi said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly verified Tehran's full compliance with its legal commitments as per the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He said certain European countries' miscalculation in dealing with the Iranian nation is rooted in being caught in the trap of false information spread by terrorist, separatist and opposition groups. The Iranian president placed a premium on avoiding interference in the domestic affairs of countries and respecting the principle of national sovereignty. Iran showed to the world the peaceful nature of its nuclear program by signing the JCPOA, with six states, namely the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China. However, Washington's unilateral withdrawal in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo. Negotiations started in the Austrian capital city of Vienna in April 2021, with the intention of removing anti-Iran sanctions and examining the United States' seriousness in rejoining the accord. The talks, however, have been stalled since August 2022 due to Washington's insistence on not removing all the sanctions and its failure to offer necessary guarantees that it will not abandon the deal again. In a statement at a session of the IAEA's Board of Governors on June 7, Iran's permanent representative at the United Nations office in Vienna Mohsen Naziri Asl urged the European governments to avoid "provocative and unconstructive attitudes" towards the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear program and work towards the resolution of disputes. Raeisi and Macron also exchanged views on ways to improve relations and the latest developments in the region. On the conflict in Ukraine, the Iranian president said Tehran was against war and believed diplomacy would be the best solution. Macron, for his part, said Paris was keen to boost engagement with Tehran and called for the continuation of the talks between the two sides. The French president said the sanctions-removal talks should continue until the sides reach a conclusion. He said Iran is a part of the solution to the crisis in Ukraine and called for Tehran's greater role in this regard. Earlier in the day, Mohammad Jamshidi, the Iranian president's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, said in a post on Twitter that the Iranian and French presidents agreed on a roadmap for further engagement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tehran urges IAEA to act professionally, steer clear of Israeli lies on Iran's nuclear program Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 11:21 AM Iran's mission to the Vienna-based organizations has highlighted the Islamic Republic's full commitment to its nuclear obligations, calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to act professionally instead of relying on "fabricated information" provided by the Israeli regime. In an explanatory note to the IAEA dated June 5, the mission said the Islamic Republic is determined to continue its compliance with its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA). Iran has done its utmost to enable the Agency to continue its verification activities in Iran, which is unique in the Agency's verification system, the statement read. It came after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi sent a report entitled "NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran" to the IAEA's Board of Governors, repeating the old allegations against Iran's nuclear program. The statement also pointed to the so-called "undetected" locations claimed in Grossi's report, saying there has not been any undeclared location that is required to be declared under the CSA as Iran's nuclear activities remain peaceful under the agency's full-scope safeguards. "On the issue related to the so-called three locations, it should be highlighted that the origin of the issue goes back to the fabricated information provided to the Agency by an ill-intended third party, namely the Israeli regime," the mission said. The statement stressed that the allegations were made as Israel declines to have a single commitment under any weapons of mass destruction (WMD) instruments, including in particular the NPT, and repeatedly threatens to attack Iran's nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. The Iranian mission to the Vienna-based organizations said it is "regrettable" that the IAEA considers all fabricated documents and fake information provided by the Israeli regime as authentic. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far rendered its full cooperation under the CSA to the Agency and it has to be re-emphasized that all Iran's nuclear material and activities have been completely declared and verified by the Agency," it said. "The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly expects that the Agency conduct its reporting on verification activities in Iran based on the principals of impartiality, professionalism and objectivity." The statement also stressed that the agency should not disregard the possibility of involvement of Iran's staunch enemies in providing false and fabricated information and committing various sabotage acts. "While all Iran's nuclear material and activities have been under the Agency's strict verification and monitoring activities coupled with Iran's cooperation and voluntary transparency measures, questioning the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear program has no justification," the mission noted. Iran and the IAEA agreed in March to take steps aimed at facilitating enhanced cooperation and expediting the resolution of outstanding safeguards issues. The two sides are currently in a dispute triggered by the agency's Israeli-influenced accusations against Tehran's peaceful nuclear activities. Tehran has strongly rejected claims about the existence of undeclared nuclear activities or material in the country, urging the IAEA to act professionally and refrain from making unfounded allegations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's SEPAM to replace SWIFT in trade transactions: ACU chief IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 11, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The secretary general of the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) says Iran's financial messaging system SEPAM will replace SWIFT, a dollar-based international system, in trade exchanges between ACU members beginning next month. Farhad Morsali said that Iran's SEPAM has been accepted by ACU members as an internal financial messaging system, according to a Saturday report by Fars News Agency. He said it will take six months for the union's own messaging system to be ready, and in the meantime, the members should replace SWIFT with SEPAM, for which Iran will charge a fee. Iran unveiled SEPAM in October 2013 as an alternative to SWIFT, a Belgium-based financial messaging system that is being gradually abandoned by countries because of its sheer reliance on transactions that are based on the US dollar. Last month, central bank governors of ACU member states decided at a summit in Tehran to create an internal financial messaging system to replace SWIFT in banking transactions between members of the bloc. The decision was in line with the efforts made by ACU members to reduce the domination of the US dollar in global trade. Iran's CBI governor Mohammad-Reza Farzin said on May 24 that the bloc will diversify the basket of currencies it accepts for payment settlements to help the global de-dollarization bid. **9417**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Supreme Leader: Enemy using nuclear allegations to hamper Iran's progress IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 11, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the enemy uses the allegation that Iran is developing nuclear weapons as an excuse to hamper Iran's progress. During a meeting with a group of nuclear experts and officials in Tehran on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the enemies have created a nuclear challenge for Iran for 20 years because they know that progress in the nuclear industry is the key to Iran's scientific progress. This is a lie and they know it, said Ayatollah Khamenei, adding that "we do not want to go toward [nuclear] weapons based on our Islamic principles, and if it was not for this, they could not stop it, as they could not stop our nuclear progress so far." He argued that the nuclear industry is important in terms of the progress and capabilities of the country in technical, economic, health, and other fields, as it gives prestige to the country and makes life better for the people. The nuclear industry "is important for this reason as well as in terms of the global and international political weight of the country," he said. "The third dimension is the spirit of national self-confidence," the Supreme Leader noted. "This job of yours is exactly the opposite of the enemy's movement. That is, it injects the spirit of hope, the spirit of self-confidence in the nation." The Supreme Leader said that parties opposing Iran's nuclear activities are untruthful when it comes to abiding by their promises. He said governments negotiating with Iran or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have made various promises over the years, but they have failed to abide by their commitments. We found out over the past 20 years who was trustworthy and who was not, the Supreme Leader said. Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran should seek to use its nuclear know-how to boost different aspects of people's lives, adding that nuclear technology can be fruitful for many industries, including healthcare, agriculture, environment, and desalination. He said Iranian authorities should seek to commercialize nuclear services and products so that Iran's economy benefits from the sale of nuclear products and services in international markets. Ayatollah Khamenei said that Iran is now producing 1,000 megawatts of nuclear power, adding that the country should seek to reach a target of 20,000 MW in electricity generation through nuclear technology. The Supreme Leader said, noting that it is both economical and environment-friendly for Iran to rely on nuclear power for a significant part of its electricity demand. Ayatollah Khamenei also called on the AEOI to work on low-capacity nuclear power plants, a policy that he said has been pursued in other countries. Earlier on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei toured an exhibition on Iran's nuclear achievements in Tehran. The exhibition was held in Imam Khomeini Hussainia to showcase the achievements of Iranian scientists in the field of nuclear technology. Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami and a number of directors and personnel of the organization accompanied the Supreme Leader on the visit. During the visit, Eslami provided Ayatollah Khamenei with a brief report about the latest achievements of the AEOI in the field of nuclear science. 4208**7129**9417**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Enemies' opposition to Iran's nuclear program due to opposition to strong Iran: Supreme Leader ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 11 June 2023 / 17:21 Tehran (ISNA) - In a meeting with a group of scientists, experts and officials of Iran's nuclear industry, which took place on Sunday in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described this industry as the key to the country's progress in various sectors. In this exhibition, the most important achievements made by experts and researchers of nuclear technology were put on display in the fields of agriculture, medicine and the health sector, industry, the environment, water and the construction of power plants. Ayatollah Khamenei sincerely thanked the scientists, officials and those active in the nuclear industry. He described the exhibition as fantastic, pleasing and promising. "People should be introduced to the various dimensions of these developments and the effects they have on people's live," he said. In explaining the threefold importance of the nuclear industry, he considered this industry to be "honoring" for the country on a global scale in terms of progress and the development of capabilities. He also pointed out the fundamental impact that nuclear achievements have had in the development of people's lives. In this regard, he underlined that the nuclear industry is the counterpoint to the enemies' efforts to show that the country has no future. "The nuclear industry revives the spirit of hope and national self-confidence in our society. It shows people, especially the youth, that it is possible to enter grand arenas and conquer them," he stated. Referring to the strategic and at the same time "objective and tangible" importance of the nuclear industry, Ayatollah Khamenei considered it as one of the fundamental components of Iran's power and credibility. "Whoever loves Iran and the Islamic Republic, and whoever wants this country to make progress and become strong, must give credit and importance to scientific research and industrial activities in the nuclear field." The Leader of the Islamic Revolution further emphasized that the West's claim about "the fear of nuclear weapons production in Iran" is a lie, adding that the US intelligence community has acknowledged the fact several times, including in recent months, that there is no sign of Iran moving towards the production of nuclear weapons. Ayatollah Khamenei clarified that the production of weapons of mass destruction are against Islamic beliefs and practices. "If this Islamic belief did not exist and if we had wanted to build nuclear weapons, we would have done so and the enemies know that they could not have done anything to stop us," he added. The Leader considered "opposition to the progress of the Iranian nation" as the real reason for the enemies' attachment to Iran's nuclear industry. "This industry is the key to the country and the nation's significant progress in various sectors. At the same time, the enemies are afraid that other nations might follow the path and the forward-looking mindset of the Iranian nation." End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Raeisi vows support for Iran's nuclear industry Iran Press TV Sunday, 11 June 2023 6:26 PM President Ebrahim Raeisi says his administration will continue supporting the nuclear industry within the framework of Iran's national interests. Addressing a cabinet session on Sunday, Raeisi said the nuclear industry is among driving industries in the country. He hailed grand achievements made by young Iranian scientists in this sector. "In line with serving national interests, the administration considers itself duty-bound to support the nuclear industry," he declared. Pointing to a visit earlier in the day by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to an exhibition of Iran's latest achievements in the nuclear industry, the president said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) would continue the path towards further success based on the Leader's guidelines. After a 1.5-hour visit to the exhibition, Ayatollah Khamenei met with a group of nuclear experts and officials in Tehran. The Leader said Iranian nuclear authorities and activists have over the past years set up vital infrastructure for the country's nuclear industry. "You may want to reach agreements in some fields. Nothing is wrong with [reaching] agreements, but the infrastructure must remain intact. They must not be harmed. They are the fruit of others' endeavors," the Leader stated. Meanwhile, Head of the AEOI Mohammad Eslami said efforts to sustain and grow the power of Iran's nuclear industry remains high on the organization's agenda. Speaking during the Leader's meeting with Iranian nuclear experts, Eslami said the AEOI seeks to speed up the progress and effectiveness of the nuclear achievements in improving the country's economy and people's lives. It would also try to counter the enemies' propaganda and their bids to limit Iran's nuclear activities, he said. "Despite the threats of ill-wishers, our scientists continue their constant efforts to advance the [nuclear] industry." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi source confirms plan to pay $2.76 bn of Iran's debts Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 4:40 PM A source in the Iraqi foreign ministry has confirmed the Arab country will pay $2.76 billion worth its energy debts to Iran as part of a recent understanding with US authorities. A Saturday report by Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed official in the Iraqi foreign ministry as saying that Baghdad had received a sanctions waiver from the United States to be able to make payments to settle part of heavy arrears it owes to Tehran for imports of natural gas and electricity. The "senior official" said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had given the clearance for the payment to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of a conference in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Al-Sahhaf also confirmed in a short statement that Hussein had made progress "regarding financial dues between Iraq and Iran during his discussion with his American counterpart in Riyadh". Iraq relies on imports from Iran for a major part of its gas and electricity demand. However, US sanctions on Iran have made it difficult for Iraq to pay for imports leading Iran to regularly cut gas flows. A senior Iranian businessman who watches over trade between Iran and Iraq said earlier on Saturday that some $2.7 billion worth of Iran's frozen funds in Iraq had been released. Yahya Al-e Eshaq, who chairs Iran-Iraq joint chamber of commerce, said the funds will be used for imports of basic goods into Iran as well as for payments related to Iranian pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia to attend this year's hajj ceremony. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq releases $2.7bn of Iran's frozen assets: Official Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 2:03 PM Chairman of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Es'haq says the Arab country has released $2.7 billion worth of Iranian funds in gas export money owed by the Baghdad government. Al-e Es'haq stated on Saturday that a part of Iran's frozen assets in Iraq has been earmarked for the provision of funds needed by Iranian Hajj pilgrims. Another portion has been used to pay for the provision of basic commodities, the senior Iranian trade official said. He said the release of Iran's money in Iraq will have a positive impact on markets as it will meet the demands of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and ensure the purchase of staples needed in the country. As a matter of fact, Al-e Es'haq said, this development can significantly help stabilize the foreign exchange market and the provision of basic goods in the country.. Earlier this year, the chairman of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce said the debt Iraq owes to Iran for import of energy will be paid within the next few months. "We have found several solutions to receive our debt from the Central Bank of Iraq, so, Iraq's outstanding payments to Iran will be cleared gradually within the next three to five months," Al-e Es'haq said on April 11. US sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump under the so-called maximum pressure campaign have prevented Iran from accessing a huge amount of its assets in foreign banks. Iran's frozen assets in Iraq amount to approximately $7 billion, according to Iranian officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zionist regime to set up arms manufacturing plants in Morocco IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist regime plans to set up two branches of its arms manufacturing industry in Morocco in an apparent attempts to destabilize North Africa region. Shai Cohen, the chairperson of the communications bureau of the Zionist regime in Morocco, has announced that Elbit Systems aerospace and defense company intends to set up two facilities in the African country, according to a Saturday report by samanews.ps. Cohen said that one of the two plants will be set up in Casablanca port city, without providing more details. The development occurs at a time of growing ties between Morocco and the Zionist regime which experts believe would negatively affect the security in the North Africa region. 4208**9417**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japanese Defense Ministry Extends Order to Destroy North Korean Missiles in Case of Threat Sputnik News 20230611 TOKYO (Sputnik) - 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. "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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar Junta Scaling Up Air War on Resistance By Zsombor Peter June 11, 2023 Myanmar's 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 we've ever seen in Burma," said David Eubank, head of the Free Burma Rangers, a Christian aid group at work in the country's east for the past 30 years, using another name for Myanmar. "It is an all-out onslaught. There hasn't been a day that's gone by that we've been here that there hasn't been a bombing somewhere," he told VOA from Karenni state, in Myanmar's 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 military's 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 Myanmar's 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 junta's 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 they're struggling militarily, and so they have to rely on air power more. That's 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. "They've tried to use ... dump trucks because they have the heavy back, but there just aren't enough of those to go around. And so they're 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 we've 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 there's 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, it's 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]." The frequency and consistency with which the airstrikes are hitting civilian targets has charities, rights groups and analysts convinced they're expressly in the junta's 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.... They'd burn a church in one village and they wouldn't burn a church in another. They'd destroy a clinic in one place and maybe not in the other. But since the coup, I believe completely it's a policy," he said. More of the same The military's 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 junta's main arms suppliers, are fighter jets, attack helicopters and the spare parts to keep them flying. "It just affirms ... that they can't 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 Moscow's war in Ukraine. In any case, Arnold said he believes the junta's air war simply won't 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, there's 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 it's in itself not enough to fundamentally compensate for the lack of ground control." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani Prime Minister Says 1st Batch of Russian Oil Delivered to Pakistan Sputnik News 20230611 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In late March, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russian and Pakistani companies were working on the issue of Russian oil supplies. In particular, they reached preliminary agreements on the oil price and discussed the shipment of a pilot batch of oil. The first batch of Russian oil has arrived at the Pakistani port of Karachi and will be unloaded on June 12, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday. "I have fulfilled another of my promises to the nation. Glad to announce that the first Russian discounted crude oil cargo has arrived in Karachi and will begin oil discharge tomorrow," Sharif said on Twitter, adding that the country is moving towards "prosperity, economic growth and energy security and affordability." The prime minister added that this was "the first-ever Russian oil cargo to Pakistan," which marked the beginning of a new relationship between Islamabad and Moscow. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Difficulties in relations with South Korea not caused by China: FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Jun 10, 2023 12:22 AM The current difficulties and challenges in China-South Korea relations were not caused by China, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday, while urging South Korea to adhere to the one-China principle and handle Taiwan-related issues in a prudent way. According to the Yonhap News Agency, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming had a meeting on June 8 with Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party. During the meeting, Ambassador Xing commented on China-South Korea relations and stressed that the current bilateral relations face considerable difficulties, but the responsibility does not lie with China. The ruling People Power Party later criticized Ambassador Xing's remarks. It is part of Ambassador Xing's job to have extensive engagement with the South Korean government, political parties and people from all walks of life, as well as to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest and share China's position and concerns, Wang said at a routine press conference on Friday. Relevant parties in South Korea should put this into perspective and focus on how to face up to problems and realize the stability and growth of China-South Korea relations, Wang noted. According to media reports, a Chinese official reportedly conveyed "Four Noes" to the South Korean government during a recent visit to South Korea. But a senior official in the South Korean presidential office reportedly dismissed the notion entirely on Wednesday, claiming that such a conversation never took place. When asked for comments on this issue, Wang noted that in the recent China-South Korea diplomatic consultations at the director-general level, China has clearly and explicitly stated its position and concerns. "The South Korean side is fully aware of this. It should have an in-depth understanding of the crux of the problem, take it seriously and work with China for the sound and steady growth of China-South Korea relations," Wang stressed. When asked whether Chinese officials had warned South Korean officials that if Seoul crosses Beijing's red line on the Taiwan question and engages in military coordination with Tokyo and Washington, China will suspend high-level diplomatic engagements and cancel cooperation on policies related to North Korea as media reports claimed, Wang reiterated that "the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. It is at the core of China's core interests. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese." The 1992 joint communiquA on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the South Korea explicitly states that the Republic of Korea recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and respects China's position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China, Wang said, urging South Korea to act on the spirit of the joint communiquA, adhere to the one-China principle and handle Taiwan-related issues in a prudent way. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Tsahkna bans Patriarch Kirill from entering Estonia Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 09.06.2023 Today, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna reimposed the Magnitsky list, which bans 58 people from entering Estonia, including the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill and nine people who persecuted and imprisoned human rights advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza. Tsahkna said the entry bans were imposed on these people because they are complicit in or accessories to grave human rights violations. "Patriarch Kirill is one of the greatest adherents and proponents of Putin's ideology," the foreign minister said. "It was about time he was blacklisted. He has justified and abetted the war against Ukraine." Tsahkna said that the people who support Russia's abhorrent acts in Ukraine are not welcome in Estonia. "I call on all countries to impose entry bans on all supporters and perpetrators of Russia's crimes." As early as April las year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the role of Patriarch Kirill in Russia's war against Ukraine, and the NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers has appealed to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to hold Patriarch Kirill personally accountable for aiding, abetting and assisting the war against Ukraine. Entry bans were also imposed on nine individuals who persecuted and imprisoned Kara-Murza and who are not yet subject to EU sanctions, and on individuals linked to the death of Sergei Magnitsky. "It is Estonia's position that the persecutors and imprisoners of Kara-Murza must be added to the global human rights sanctions regime," Tsahkna said. "We will continue to work towards the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners in Russia and holding the organisers of repressions to account." The list was reviewed because the entry ban imposed with an order of the government of Estonia expired but there is no data indicating accountability for any of the individuals listed. "We also updated the list of people who have committed or supported grave human rights violations who are not welcome in Estonia," Tsahkna said. Additional information Communication Department press@mfa.ee NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iceland suspends embassy operations in Moscow Government of Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs June 09, 2023 The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland has decided to suspend operations of the Embassy of Iceland in Moscow from August 1st. Today, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian Ambassador to inform him of this decision. Furthermore, Iceland has requested that Russia limit the operations of its Embassy in ReykjavAk, in line with article 11 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and that the level of diplomatic representation be lowered. "This is not an easy decision as Iceland has enjoyed rich relations with the people of Russia since our independence in 1944. However, the current situation simply does not make it viable for the small foreign service of Iceland to operate an embassy in Russia. I hope that conditions will someday allow for us to have normal and fruitful relations with Russia, but that depends on decisions taken by the Kremlin," said Foreign Minister GylfadAttir. Iceland operates eighteen bilateral embassies in foreign capitals, prioritizing their location in line with the extent of economic, political and cultural ties or development cooperation. At the moment, commercial, cultural or political relations with Russia are at an all-time low. Hence, maintaining operations of the embassy of Iceland in Moscow is no longer justifiable. Iceland has been operating an embassy in Moscow since 1944, except between 1951-1953, when there was no trade between the countries. The Soviet Union did not have an ambassador in ReykjavAk from 1948-1954. A decision to suspend the operations of the Embassy of Iceland in Moscow does not constitute a severance of diplomatic relations. As soon as conditions permit, Iceland will prioritize the resumption of operations of the Embassy of Iceland in Moscow. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry statement on Russia sending notifications to states-parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) 9 June 2023 14:29 1145-09-06-2023 Federal Law No. 179-FZ On Denunciation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe by the Russian Federation, adopted on May 29, 2023, took effect on June 9. Russia sent notifications as prescribed by this treaty, also known as the CFE, to the treaty's depositary (the Netherlands) and other states-parties via their embassies in Moscow and through delegations in the Joint Consultative Group on the CFE in Vienna. Russia notified the states-parties of its decision to withdraw from the CFE within 150 days of the notice, or at midnight on November 7, 2023. The notices specify that the Russian Federation considers it necessary to completely withdraw from the CFE due to the exceptional circumstances associated with the treaty that jeopardise Russia's supreme interests. Specifically, these circumstances include: - New countries joining NATO without joining the CFE or transferring from the eastern group of the CFE signatories to the western group, and the deployment of older NATO members' conventional arms on the territories of the new members, resulting in multiple bypassing or exceeding the group ceilings under the CFE. - Non-compliance by the CFE states-parties that are also members of NATO with the political commitments to accelerating ratification of the Agreement on Adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, undertaken in Istanbul on November 19, 1999, and to lowering the levels envisaged by the agreement. - Other actions by certain CFE states-parties that run counter to the goals of the treaty, in particular, actions concerning the transfer of conventional arms. Due to Russia's withdrawal from the CFE, two other associated legally binding documents will cease to be in force for the Russian Federation, of which all the states-parties have been notified. The documents include the Budapest Agreement on Maximum Levels of Holdings of Conventional Arms and Equipment for the Members of the Warsaw Treaty of November 3, 1990, and the Flank Document Agreement of May 31, 1996. The former was designed to determine the levels of conventional arms for each member of the then-effective Warsaw Pact and level change mechanisms while the latter prescribed a temporary solution to the issue of flank restrictions that resulted from the dissolution of the USSR. Upon receiving Russia's notice, the CFE depositary is to convene a conference of the states-parties to discuss issues connected with Russia's withdrawal from the CFE, as specified in the treaty (or within 21 days). At the conference, Russia's representative will present our firm stance based on the Federal Law On Denunciation of the CFE Treaty and will once again publicly convey Russia's point of view to the NATO countries and the global community, which is that the collective West, with its destructive actions, has made it impossible for us to be part of the CFE. As a reminder, the treaty was signed in 1990 between the members of the Warsaw Treaty and the NATO countries, to establish a balance of forces between the members of these military and political unions at lowered levels, and to restrict the deployment of their conventional weapons along the contact line. However, subsequent events - dissolution of the Warsaw Treaty and the Soviet Union, new conflicts on our territory and the consequential expansion of NATO to the east - prompted the adaptation of the CFE to the new circumstances. At Russia's insistence, the Agreement on Adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was signed on November 19, 1999, in Istanbul, to never commence due to the destructive position of the Western countries that declined its ratification and continued bypassing the restrictions under the initial CFE by expanding the alliance. In these conditions, Russia suspended the implementation of its CFE obligations in 2007 but left the door open for reviving conventional arms control in Europe. The Western countries have had more than enough time to show common sense - and yet, they chose confrontation with Russia, which was reflected in NATO's new strategic concept, among other things, not to mention the entirety of their hostile actions against our country, including the pumping of weapons and military equipment to the Kiev regime. As emphasised in Russia's notices, a safe and stable balance of conventional arms in the north of Europe has been seriously undermined by the recent accession to NATO of Finland, a non-CFE country that borders Russian territory which is regulated by the CFE, and the prospects of deploying conventional arms of third countries in Finland, along with the ongoing accession of Sweden, also not a CFE member. These steps were the last straw that prompted the Russian Federation to finally exit the treaty. During the ratification of the Agreement on Adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe in 2004, the State Duma issued a statement to the effect that, in the event of exceptional circumstances that may threaten the highest interests of the Russian Federation, the state will take political, diplomatic and other measures to eliminate such circumstances as stipulated by the Federal Law On International Treaties of the Russian Federation that affect the CFE regime and the Adapted CFE Treaty. It is clear that, in today's conditions, the CFE has definitely become a vestige of the past. Our opponents should not have any illusions about Russia returning to the CFE compliance. Obviously, it is time to take the steps recommended by our lawmakers, as evidenced by the unanimous vote in favour of the Federal Law On Denunciation of the CFE Treaty in both houses of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The Russian Foreign Ministry will take the necessary actions to fully comply with the law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government of Canada orders seizure of Russian-registered cargo aircraft at Toronto Pearson Airport Global Affairs Canada News release June 10, 2023 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that the Government of Canada had ordered the seizure of a Russian-registered cargo aircraft currently grounded at Toronto Pearson Airport, pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act. The targeted Russian aircraft, an Antonov 124, is believed to be owned by a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Airlines LLC and Volga-Dnepr Group, two entities against which Canada recently imposed sanctions due to their complicity in President Putin's war of choice. The seizure of the asset was made possible by the new asset seizure and forfeiture authorities under Canada's autonomous sanctions regimes put forward in Budget 2022 and is in direct response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. The seizure of this important asset is the first step of the Government of Canada's action under the asset seizure and forfeiture regime and is designed to put additional pressure on Russia to stop its illegal war against Ukraine by straining its economic system and limiting resources that fuel the war. This is the first physical asset seized by the Government of Canada under this regime, and second overall seized and restrained under the Special Economic Measures Act. The Government of Canada will seize the asset and manage it in accordance with federal legislation. Should the asset ultimately be forfeited to the Crown, Canada will work with the Government of Ukraine on options to redistribute this asset to compensate victims of human rights abuses, restore international peace and security, or rebuild Ukraine. By authorizing the seizure of the Antonov 124, Canada reaffirms that impunity is not an option for those who have profited from Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. Quotes "Today, Canada is sending a clear message to the Russian regime that there will be nowhere left to hide for those who support and profit from the Kremlin's war of aggression. Canada has been there to support Ukraine's fight for freedom since day one and we will continue to be there through their victory to aid in their reconstruction efforts." - MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs "Our Government is unwavering in our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and against Russia's illegal invasion. From the beginning we have stood on the side of the Ukrainian people, and implemented a NOTAM against all Russian-owned and operated flights into Canada. Today, we are demonstrating that Russia's actions continue to have consequences. We stand with Ukraine and will take any and all necessary actions, including this seizure, to put pressure on President Putin" - Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport Quick facts Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Canada and its G7 and other allies jointly decided to take additional steps to isolate Russia from the international financial system and impose consequences for its actions. Canada made amendments to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. The amendments, which entered into force in June 2022, provide the authorities for the Government to seize, forfeit, dispose and redistribute assets belonging to sanctioned individuals and entities. The aircraft, the largest cargo aircraft, is the second asset that Canada has seized/restrained under the Special Economic Measures Act. In December 2022, an order-in-council was announced to restrain US$26 million from Granite Capital Holdings Ltd., a company believed to be owned by Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations. Global Affairs Canada will work with Public Services and Procurement Canada's Seized Property Management Directorate to evaluate the condition of the asset and manage it through the seizure and forfeiture process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Warsaw Official: Reports Implicating Poland In Nord Stream Sabotage Are Consistent With Russian Propaganda By RFE/RL June 10, 2023 A Polish government official said news reports suggesting a link between Poland and explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea last year echo Russian propaganda. Stanislaw Zaryn, deputy to Poland's minister coordinator of special services, said on Twitter on June 10 that the "Russian apparatus of influence" consistently uses information about Ukrainian or Polish involvement in the destruction of the pipelines to create the impression that Warsaw and Kyiv were behind the incident. Zaryn made the comment in a series of tweets that also said the Russians "create more and more events shaped according to a logically coherent sequence, but based on untrue premises or a lie." He added that Russian disinformation "continues to try to divide Poles and Ukrainians." A Wall Street Journal report earlier on June 10 said German investigators are examining evidence suggesting a sabotage team used Poland as an operating base to damage the pipelines. The report said investigators have fully reconstructed the two-week voyage of the Andromeda, a 15-meter white pleasure yacht suspected of being involved in the sabotage of the pipelines. The Journal cited people familiar with the voyage as indicating that the sabotage crew placed deep-sea explosives on Nord Stream 1 before setting the vessel on a course toward Poland. It added that Germany was trying to match DNA samples found on the vessel "to at least one Ukrainian soldier." Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipes, were built by Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to pump natural gas to Germany. The destruction of the pipelines occurred about seven months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that the United States had learned of a Ukrainian plan to attack the pipelines three months before they were damaged by the underwater explosions. German media in March identified the possible involvement of a yacht from a Poland-based company owned by Ukrainian citizens in the attack and said investigators had searched the yacht on suspicions that "the vessel in question may have been used to transport explosive devices." German media said some of the people who chartered the yacht may have shown Ukrainian passports for identification and reported that an unnamed Western intelligence agency communicated to European security agencies that a Ukrainian commando group was responsible. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the explosions. Russia has also denied it was behind the blasts. U.S. officials called the blasts sabotage, and European authorities later said that the sophistication of the incident -- in particular the depths at which the explosives would have been placed -- pointed to a state actor with access to complex diving equipment and detonators. Sweden and Denmark have been leading the investigation into the explosions, which occurred on September 26 inside the boundaries of their economic zone. Both countries said the incident was deliberate but have yet to determine who was responsible. A report by a consortium of Nordic news organization May 3 said Russian naval ships were repeatedly in the vicinity of the Nord Stream pipelines prior to the blast. The ships included a Russian naval research vessel called the Sibiryakov, as well as a tugboat, and a third Russian naval ship. The tugboat, called SB-123, reportedly arrived on September 21, five days before the explosion, and remained there for the entire evening and night before sailing back toward Russia. That vessel had been previously identified by the German news site T-Online as one of six vessels suspected of being involved in the explosions. The Nordic broadcasters' report said the ships had turned off their transmitters -- GPS-like devices that many ships around the world use to broadcast their locations. Prior to that report, Finnish and Danish media published accounts based on marine tracking data that cast suspicion on a Greek-flagged oil and chemical tanker. The ship drifted within 500 meters of the site of the explosions before sailing to Tallinn on September 14 and then on to St. Petersburg. The Athens-based owner of the tanker confirmed to RFE/RL that the ship drifted near the site but said it had been awaiting voyage orders. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nord-stream- sabotage-investigation--poland-clues/32453173.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address West has zero chance to bring Russia to its knees: Russian senator Iran Press TV Sunday, 11 June 2023 2:27 PM A top Russian senator says the West has a zero chance to bring the country to its knees amid the Ukraine war, which has been sponsored by the United States and its allies. Chairwoman of the Federation Council (the upper house of Russia's parliament) Valentina Matviyenko said on Sunday that fifteen months after "the start of the special military operation, it is perfectly clear that there are zero chances to crush our country and bring it to its knees." "Russia's victory in the conflict around Ukraine is inevitable," the senator said. Matviyenko said Russia has managed within the shortest time possible to adapt the state, society and the economy to new realities, "without deteriorating the quality of people's life, without any flip-flopping in the public and political sphere, without even the slightest restrictions of citizens' rights and freedoms." Matviyenko said Russian authorities were fully aware that they "will have to face new serious challenges and we need to address them fully prepared, which will, undoubtedly, require a new quality of interaction between the authorities and society." The war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022, with the US-led NATO's eastward expansion blamed for it. The West accuses Russia of fighting a war of aggression against Ukraine while Moscow says the United States and NATO are fighting a proxy war against the country in Ukraine. Since the onset of the conflict, the United States and its European allies have unleashed an array of unprecedented sanctions against Russia and poured a huge number of advanced weapons into Ukraine to help its military fend off Russian troops, despite repeated warnings by the Kremlin that such measures will only prolong the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the West of seeking to divide the Russian Federation and "open up" new war fronts. "The goal of the partitioning of the Russian Federation has been already openly declared by many political scientists and politicians," Lavrov said last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin also said earlier this month that certain "ill-wishers" are attempting to destabilize his country. "Today, we will also be addressing these issues in terms of ensuring Russia's security, in this case, domestic political security," Putin said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wagner Chief Refuses To Obey Decree In Latest Spat With Russian Defense Minister By Current Time June 11, 2023 Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the notorious Wagner mercenary group, said he will not obey a new Russian Defense Ministry decree obliging all volunteer formations to sign a contract directly with the ministry in his latest spat with the nation's military leadership. The decree, signed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and posted on the agency's website, did not specify if all volunteer groups are required to sign contracts with the ministry or just some. Russia has more than 40 volunteer formations, with Wagner being the most prominent. Wagner will not sign "any contracts with Shoigu," Prigozhin said on June 11 in response to the new decree as he berated the minister's leadership. He said Wagner, which has played a major role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, already coordinates its actions with the military. Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said the purpose of the decree was to give volunteer formations legal status and that volunteers can continue to sign contacts with mercenary groups as long as they sign with the ministry. "The conclusion of contracts by citizens with the state is, first of all, the extension of social protection and support measures established by the state to them, as well as to their family members," Pankov explained. Pankov did not state why the ministry decided now - more than 15 months after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - to force volunteers to sign contracts directly with the state. The decree does come amid a growing public fight between Prigozhin and Shoigu as Russia's invasion falters. Prigozhin, who may have political aspirations, has slammed Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov for Russia's poor performance in the war. The 62-year-old businessman and close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated those criticisms as he refused to obey the new decree. "Unfortunately, most military units do not have such efficiency [as Wagner], and precisely because Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations," Prigozhin said. The Defense Ministry did not immediately reply to Prigozhin's comments. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-prigozhin- shoigu-feud-decree-ukraine/32454350.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taipei Claims 24 Chinese Military Jets Detected Near Taiwan Strait on Sunday Sputnik News 20230611 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five workers dead as blast rips through rocket factory in Turkish capital Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 9:35 AM The Turkish National Defense Ministry says at least five workers lost their lives when an explosion ripped through a rocket and explosives factory in the country's capital city of Ankara. "An explosion occurred at the MKE Rocket and Explosives Factory in the Elmadag district of Ankara. As a result of the explosion, five of our workers have been martyred," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. It added that judicial and administrative investigations have been launched into the incident. The facility where the early morning blast took place is reportedly owned by Turkey's Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE). The factory operates to meet the rocket and explosive needs of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Interior. Firefighters and ambulances were dispatched to the factory after the blast. Ankara governor Vasip Sahin told reporters there were no more workers trapped, waiting to be rescued, or hospitalized. He added that the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction, according to the local CNN TArk television news network. The state-run TRT Haber television news channel described the condition of some of those injured in the explosion as serious. They were transferred to nearby hospitals by ambulances to receive medical treatment. Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc stated that a judicial and administrative investigation has been launched regarding the explosion that hit the Machinery and Chemical Industry (MKE) Rocket and Explosive Factory in ElmadaAY. "I wish God's mercy on our workers who were martyred in the explosion... I wish patience be bestowed upon their relatives by God. The necessary judicial and administrative investigations have been launched to clarify the incident," Tunc said in a statement published on his social media account. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Support for fuel transportation of the Ukrainian army Government of Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs May 23, 2023 The Government of Iceland has responded swiftly to Ukraine's request for increased capacity for fuel transportation, by purchasing ten fuel trucks for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two of which were delivered in the past week. Transportation of fuel is critical to the defense capabilities and mobility of the Ukrainian armed forces in the face of Russian aggression. Therefore, Ukraine has requested its friends and allies to assist in providing such vehicles. Iceland has responded to this request by purchasing ten used oil trucks from an European supplier. Two trucks were delivered last week and the rest will be delivered in the coming weeks. "Since the beginning of the invasion, our emphasis has been on supporting Ukraine according to their wishes and needs and our capabilities. We do not provide the Ukrainian army with weapons or other military equipment. We can, however, contribute by providing fuel trucks, of which there is a noticeable shortage, and we can do this swiftly when such a need arises," says Foreign Minister ThArdAs KolbrAn ReykfjArd GylfadAttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland. The total cost of the trucks, their procurement and delivery is 400,000 euros. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Joly announces additional sanctions to protect Ukrainian culture from destruction by Russia Global Affairs Canada News release June 10, 2023 - Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions against 24 individuals and 17 entities in Ukraine as part of the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations. These new measures are in direct response to Russia's attempts to destroy Ukraine's cultural sites, institutions and identity. In addition to the extensive damage and complete destruction of a number of Ukraine's cultural sites, thousands of Ukrainian cultural artifacts have been found missing or reportedly stolen by Russian forces in the temporarily occupied territories since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and prior to that during the attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014. In its effort to erase Ukraine's identity, Russia reportedly illegally exported artifacts from Ukraine, and damaged cultural heritage sites. With today's announcement, Canada is sanctioning persons connected to Russia's theft of Ukrainian cultural objects to counter the Kremlin's efforts to "Russify" Ukraine's culture. The list of individuals being sanctioned includes Ukrainians who work at museums and other cultural centres who collaborate with Russia. It also includes newly created entities in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, such as the so-called ministries of education and culture, as well as individuals and entities related to private military companies that originated in Ukraine and are fighting for Russia. As Russia tries to forcefully impose its culture and education on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, these sanctions will impose further costs on so-called authorities in areas of Ukraine illegally occupied by Russian forces in order to protect Ukrainian culture and identity. With these sanctions, Canada reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine against Russia's war of aggression while continuing to increase pressure on Russia and Ukrainians who collaborate with Russian administrations in Ukraine until they put an end to these unjustifiable attacks. Quotes "Canada will not let Russia strip Ukraine of its cultural heritage and will do everything in its power to end the Kremlin's war on Ukrainian identity. These intentional and targeted attacks on Ukraine's cultural property cannot remain unpunished." - MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Quick facts Since Russia's illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,500 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus,Ukraine and Moldova. Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada's allies and partners. Since January 2022, Canada has committed more than $8 billion to financial, military, humanitarian, development and immigration assistance for Ukraine. In response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,000 additional individuals and entities from and in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. In 2022 Canada provided $4.8 million to UNESCO to protect Ukraine's cultural and heritage sites. The total number of stolen artifacts is not yet known, but Ukrainian prosecutors and museum administrators have reported that Russia stole more than 15,000 pieces of fine art and one-of-a-kind artifacts while retreating from the Kherson region and surrounding areas. Two thousand artworks were also reportedly stolen from museums in temporarily occupied Mariupol. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister visits Kyiv, Ukraine Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau June 10, 2023 Kyiv, Ukraine Slava Ukraini - as Canadians say these words, we pledge to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today visited Kyiv, Ukraine. He was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland. During his visit, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada's ongoing solidarity and unwavering support for Ukraine and its people as they continue to fight Russia's brutal invasion while facing unconscionable Russian strikes on civilian targets. Earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau visited Saint Michael's Square to lay a wreath at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine and pay tribute to the thousands of Ukrainians who have been killed, and the millions displaced. The Prime Minister also addressed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the country's parliament, and visited the Lisova Poliana Veterans Mental Health Rehabilitation Center to meet with soldiers. In the wake of escalating strikes on civilian targets, and as Ukraine continues to stand strong, the Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, held a bilateral meeting. Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy reaffirmed the two countries' partnership with a Canada and Ukraine Joint Declaration. While in Ukraine, the Prime Minister also met with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal. Today, the Prime Minister announced additional measures and investments to continue supporting Ukraine, including: Military Assistance for Ukraine: Canada is committed to respond to Russia's ongoing illegal and unprovoked invasion by continuing to provide immediate military support to Ukraine such as: $500 millionin new funding for military assistance to support Ukraine's capacity to respond to Russian aggression. Operation UNIFIER will be extended to 2026, providing significant capacity for the Canadian Armed Forces to respond to urgent Ukraine training needs. Canada will contribute to multinational efforts to train pilots, and maintain and support Ukraine's F-16s, leveraging Canadian expertise in these areas. Canada will also be contributing to the Leopard 2 tank maintenance centre in Poland. Canada will provide 288 AIM-7 missiles to be repurposed in the United States for use in air defence systems, which will support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its skies. From existing funding, Canada will provide 10,000 rounds of 105mm ammunition to Ukrainian Armed Forces. Canada has already delivered 78 vehicles to Ukraine and the next 122 Roshel vehicles will be delivered in the coming weeks. Canada is committed to respond to Russia's ongoing illegal and unprovoked invasion by continuing to provide immediate military support to Ukraine such as: Sanctions and economic measures: Building on Canada's leading work on seizure of assets from those responsible for, and benefitting from, Russia's acts of aggression, Canada is committed to imposing additional sanctions. Canada was the first in the G7 to pass legislation allowing us to pursue the seizure and forfeiture of sanctioned Russian assets. As part of our world-leading efforts, Canada is seizing an Antonov 124 cargo aircraft, previously operated by Russian carrier Volga-Dnepr and beginning the judicial phase of the forfeiture process. In direct response to Russia's attempts to destroy Ukraine's cultural sites, institutions, and identity, Canada is imposing new sanctions against 24 individuals and 17 entities in Ukraine as part of the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations. Building on Canada's leading work on seizure of assets from those responsible for, and benefitting from, Russia's acts of aggression, Canada is committed to imposing additional sanctions. Humanitarian Assistance Response to the breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam: The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam illustrates once more the devastating price borne by civilians for Russia's invasion. Canada is allocating $10 million in new funding for immediate response to the catastrophe and redirecting $37.5 million in previously earmarked funds for Ukraine to support organizations responding to the needs of people in flood-affected regions. Canada is also committed to providing additional resources for post-flood reconstruction. The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam illustrates once more the devastating price borne by civilians for Russia's invasion. Canada is allocating $10 million in new funding for immediate response to the catastrophe and redirecting $37.5 million in previously earmarked funds for Ukraine to support organizations responding to the needs of people in flood-affected regions. Canada is also committed to providing additional resources for post-flood reconstruction. Mental Health: To respond to the lasting mental health toll of the war on Ukrainian citizens, Canada is funding projects to support mental health initiatives in Ukraine. This includes: Civil Society and Volunteer-Based Psychological Resource Group: Canada will allocate approximately $64,000 to support individuals in the Dnipro region facing mental health challenges. Education for Resilience: Canada will allocate approximately $52,000 to support teachers and children in war-affected regions of Ukraine through educational courses and mentorship. War trauma: Canada will allocate approximately $50,000 towards the "Healing of war traumas for the local leaders of communities in Ukraine" educational programme. Phoenix NeuroRoom - Psychosocial Support: Canada will allocate over $99,500 to help medical personnel in the Kharkiv region cope with traumatic war experiences. To respond to the lasting mental health toll of the war on Ukrainian citizens, Canada is funding projects to support mental health initiatives in Ukraine. This includes: The investments announced today build on Canada's commitment of over $8 billion in funding towards financial, military, humanitarian, development, and immigration assistance to Ukraine. In addition, Budget 2023 extends a $2.45 billion loan to the Government of Ukraine for this year, with the aim to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. Canada is committed to continue working closely with NATO Allies, EU, and G7 partners, as well as the broader international community to coordinate its response measures and support for Ukraine, and hold President Putin and those complicit in his unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war, accountable. Canada has strongly condemned Russia's brutal invasion bilaterally, as well as at the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), NATO, and other multilateral forums, and will continue to do so. Canada will always stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians as they fight authoritarianism and continue to defend their freedoms, independence, and democracy. Quotes "At this pivotal moment, we reaffirm that Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Today, I have met brave women and men who are fighting for their country, for their lives, and for the very values that people in democracies around the globe hold dear. In the face of the atrocities of Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war, Ukrainians' strength and bravery is a beacon to the world. I would like to thank President Zelenskyy for the unwavering example he sets for us all. Today, Canada committed to further military assistance, sanctions, and humanitarian support for Ukraine. Again, we send out this message - Canada will stand by the people of Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "In fighting for their lives and their sovereignty, the brave people of Ukraine are also fighting Canada's fight - the fight for democracy. Putin thought that Kyiv would fall in a week, and that the world's democracies would be weak and divided. He was gravely wrong. The historic resistance of the Ukrainian people has inspired the world, and Canada will be by Ukraine's side until they are victorious." The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Quick Facts The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced that the Ukraine Goods Remission Order will be extended until June 9, 2024, to ensure the continued tariff-free import of Ukrainian goods to Canada, including steel and in-quota supply-managed goods. Since Russia's illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,500 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada's allies and partners. Between 2015 and 2023, the Canadian Armed Forces trained more than 36,000 members of the Security Forces of Ukraine as part of Operation UNIFIER. Since February 2022, Canada has committed to over $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. This includes eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks, one armoured recovery vehicle, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more. Since Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Canada has welcomed more than 139,000 Ukrainians. Canada is helping Ukrainian families find a safe, temporary home and has put in place support services for their arrival. This includes temporary financial assistance and access to federally funded settlement services, such as language training and employment-related services. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry's Secretary General Jonatan Vseviov in Washington: Ukraine's future is in NATO Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10.06.2023 Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov and his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts met with US President Joe Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to discuss NATO's upcoming summit in Vilnius and European security. At the meeting with Sullivan, Vseviov underlined that Estonia's aim at NATO's Vilnius summit is to give Ukraine a clear roadmap for joining the Alliance. "In addition to full political and practical support to Ukraine, we must move forward with the issue of NATO membership, because it is the only sufficient security guarantee for Ukraine in the future," Vseviov said. He said Ukraine's membership was the foundation for the security of Europe as a whole because grey areas in Russia's neighbourhood did not work. "The NATO summit must also highlight the continued threat posed by Russia and unequivocally condemn the aggression," Vseviov said. They also discussed the continued reinforcement of NATO's deterrence and defence posture, increasing defence spending and Sweden's accession into NATO. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says Ukraine's counteroffensive in East, South 'unsuccessful' Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 5:15 PM Russia has called Ukraine's counteroffensive against its forces "unsuccessful," but Ukrainian forces claimed they have made advances against the Russian troops. The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday that in the past 24 hours, Ukraine's forces launched attacks in the south of Donetsk and in Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in the area of the eastern city of Bakhmut, but their attempts failed to recapture any territory. Ukrainian forces, however, claimed they have advanced by about a mile at some parts of the front line in the area on Saturday. Col. Serhiy Cherevaty, the spokesman for the eastern military command, said the Ukrainian military had engaged Russian forces on six occasions near Bakhmut over the past 24 hours. Cherevaty did not specify where Ukraine had pressed forward. But the Russian defense ministry said it successfully repelled all assaults but did not comment on the situation around Bakhmut though. Counteroffensive underway: Zelensky Speaking in the capital, after holding talks with the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that counteroffensive operations were underway, but told reporters that he would not say what stage they were at. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine: at which stage I will not talk in detail," Zelensky said. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Friday that Ukrainian forces had certainly begun their expected counteroffensive, but that every attempted advance had failed, at a heavy cost in casualties. In response, Zelensky said, "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." The Ukrainian president said he was in daily touch with military commanders and "everyone is positive now -- tell that to Putin!" Zelensky's remarks followed an overnight Russian strike in the southern city of Odesa. Ukraine's air force said that the overnight attack in Odesa lasted six hours and involved eight land-based missiles and 35 drones It also claimed that air defense units had managed to shoot down 20 drones and two cruise missiles. Russia also hit an airfield in the central region of Poltava early on Saturday. The local governor said the attack involved ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones. He said it caused damage to airfield infrastructure and equipment. Fighting has also escalated in recent days in the key southern Zaporizhzhia region, said Russian officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canadian PM promises more aid for Ukraine on surprise visit to Kiev Iran Press TV Saturday, 10 June 2023 2:55 PM Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during an unannounced visit to the capital Kiev to show Ottawa's support for the war against Russia. Trudeau arrived in Kiev along with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, on Saturday. The leader of the NATO country also met a group of Ukrainian soldiers who received training in Canada. Canada has been one of Kiev's key allies since Russia launched its military campaign against Ukraine in February last year. It has provided Kiev with significant military assistance, trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. Trudeau said his government is committing another $500 million to help Ukraine's military, including by sending more weapons. He said Canada will be part of multinational efforts to train Ukrainian fighter pilots and join a team of countries helping to maintain tanks while providing hundreds more missiles and additional rounds of ammunition. The Canadian prime minister also announced more sanctions on 24 individuals and 17 entities for alleged support of Russia's war in Ukraine. Last month Canada announced it would provide Ukraine with additional 43 AIM-9 missiles. And in January this year, Canada purchased National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and associated munitions to donate to Ukraine, at a total cost of $406 million. The United States will deliver the system on Canada's behalf. A NASAMS is a short to medium-range ground-based air defense system that protects against drone, missile, and aircraft attacks, with a high success rate. This is the second time that Trudeau has made an unannounced visit to Kiev since the war began. He last traveled to Ukraine in May 2022, when he reopened his nation's embassy months after the start of the war. The Canadian leader's latest trip to the country was planned under a strict news blackout. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Military Reports Heavy Clashes In East As Zelenskiy Says Counteroffensive Actions Under Way By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 10, 2023 The Ukrainian military said Russian forces on June 10 focused their main efforts on the full occupation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian counteroffensive actions were under way. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said 28 combat clashes took place during the day, and the Ukrainian Air Force made 15 strikes on the concentration points of the Russian Army. Ukrainian rocket and artillery fire struck two control points, five areas of troop concentrations, weapons, and military equipment, one artillery unit in a firing position, and four other "important objects of the occupiers," the summary states. In addition, the enemy carried out 66 air strikes 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 evening update. The report said Ukrainian 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." RFE/RL cannot independently confirm the battlefield claims. Zelenskiy said earlier that Ukrainian counteroffensive operations were under way but declined to divulge details. Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Zelenskiy told reporters to pass on to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine's generals are "all in a positive mood." Later on June 10 in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy cited the eastern and southern fronts, where fighting is heaviest. "Thank you to all those who hold their positions and those who advance," he said. Earlier on June 10 a UN official warned of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the demise this week of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River. Floodwaters receded slightly in some parts of southern Ukraine but surged in others early in the day as rescue efforts continued and Ukraine's nuclear energy agency put the last operating reactor at Europe's largest nuclear plant into "cold shutdown" as a safety precaution after the breach of the dam. Ukraine's Enerhoatom nuclear energy agency said it had put the last of six reactors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant into "cold shutdown" two days earlier to counter the danger from the flooding and decline of water levels at the nearby Kakhovka reservoir. Cold shutdown is when control rods are introduced into a reactor's core to prevent the nuclear fission reactions that normally generate power. More than 10,000 residents of a region downstream from the major southern city of Kherson were said to have been cut off from the rest of Ukraine as flooding extended to the Inhulets River, a tributary of the Dnieper. The head of the regional military administration in the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram that 35 settlements have been flooded on the right bank of the Dnieper, and 3,763 houses are under water. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported that at least 27 people were missing in flooded areas of Kherson. The breach of the Kakhovka dam early this month is feared to be one of Europe's biggest environmental and industrial disasters in decades. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has said it intercepted telephone communications between Russian military personnel that "confirm" Russia's involvement in the destruction of the dam, which has been under Russian control since early in the invasion, but Moscow continues to deny responsibility. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Current Time, Reuters, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-flood- evacuations-fighting-offensive-bombings/32453168.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trudeau Pledges More Military Aid To Ukraine In Second Surprise Visit To Kyiv By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 10, 2023 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged more military aid to Kyiv on June 10 during an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital and denounced the destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine. Trudeau announced a new package of military aid worth C$500 million ($375 million) and said Canada will take part in a multinational effort to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. Canada also will supply 287 additional air defense missiles to the Ukrainian military and 10,000 155-millimeter projectiles, the prime minister said. Canada has already provided billions of dollars in aid, including C$1 billion ($750 million), he said, adding that the people of Ukraine "can count on the fact that Canada will continue its political, financial, humanitarian, and military support as long as necessary." Trudeau, whose surprise visit to Kyiv was his second since the start of the war in February 2022, told a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Canada was seizing a Russian-owned Antonov cargo aircraft that landed in Canada last year and starting the process of forfeiting the aircraft to Ukraine. Zelenskiy said during the press conference that Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive was under way but declined to give any details. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in response to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim on June 9 that Ukrainian forces had begun their counteroffensive. He also listed Ukraine's top military officers by name, saying they all are "in a positive mood," telling reporters to "pass that on to Putin." He added: "It's interesting what Putin said about our counteroffensive. It is important that Russia always feels this.... They do not have long left, in my opinion." In his comments about the collapse of the Kakhovka dam, Trudeau stopped short of blaming Russia, citing the ongoing investigation. "I know there are investigators and there are a lot of questions and intelligence being analyzed on what exactly happened to have this dam collapse," he said. "But there is no doubt in my mind that absent Russia's invasion of last February, that dam would still be standing today." Zelenskiy's office said he and Trudeau adopted a declaration noting that Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Canada, which is home to many Ukrainian emigrants, has been one of Kyiv's key allies since the Russian invasion. In addition to providing Ukraine with significant military aid, it has trained more than 36,000 soldiers and adopted sanctions against Moscow. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-canada-trudeau- visit-support/32453327.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine to Receive Action Plan on NATO Membership at Vilnius Summit Sputnik News 20230610 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine will receive an action plan on achieving NATO membership at the upcoming Vilnius summit of the alliance, and the country will manage to join the bloc within two years after the end of the current conflict, Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Saturday, citing Deputy Defense Ministry Volodymyr Gavrilov. "In his comments, Volodymyr Gavrilov noted that at the summit in July, NATO countries "will agree on a certain procedure for our accession, which will be formalized," the ministry said on Telegram. Gavrilov also said that despite the consensus decision-making and the veto power of NATO members, there will be no "great problems" for Ukraine's accession, adding that the country "will get what it wants in a certain format." "Already now, at the summit in Vilnius, Ukraine should understand that after the war, say, within a year or two, after certain procedures are carried out, we will become members of NATO," he was quoted as saying by the Defense Ministry on Telegram. In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was clear that Ukraine would not join NATO until the conflict was over, but the country hoped to receive an invitation from its Western allies to join the alliance as soon as possible. Last month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine would eventually join the bloc as all NATO members supported its ambitions. However, the idea was rejected by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In September 2022, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would apply for accelerated NATO membership. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation, recalling that Kiev's orientation toward the alliance was one of the reasons for the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine last year. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK to provide A16 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine The FCDO is to provide A16 million to address widespread needs in Ukraine, including to support those affected by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. 10 June 2023 In recognition of growing needs FCDO to provide A16 million to enable aid partners to help civilians, including 32,000 people directly affected by flooding, as well as at the frontlines and displaced communities. UK funding will assist aid organisations with their response and includes A10 million to the Red Cross Movement, A5 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and A1m to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). To bolster rescue efforts and manage impact of ongoing flooding the FCDO is sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine. The UK has today (10 June) set out an additional A16m in humanitarian support as Ukraine deals with the aftermath of flooding caused by the destruction of Nova Kakhova dam, which has affected 42,000 people in the Kherson area, and continuing Russian attacks. This builds on our existing humanitarian support of A220 million which is allowing partners, such as the Ukraine Red Cross, to help evacuate civilians affected by the flooding. Alongside this the UK-led Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine has already delivered two specialist rescue boats, search and rescue equipment, and trauma medicine to Kherson to assist the ongoing rescue operations by the State Emergency Services. The additional A16 million is given in recognition of mounting needs across Ukraine, including in the areas affected by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. Funding will support aid organisations in the area who are currently assisting people affected by the flooding with rapid response equipment, shelter and essential supplies, as well as in areas affected by fighting and communities who have been displaced. Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, this funding will help to respond to the ongoing impacts from flooding, including waterborne infectious diseases, loss of livelihoods and risks from landmines. The funding will consist of A10 million of support to the Red Cross Movement, A5 million to OCHA and A1m to IOM. The UK is also providing a package of rescue boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to help State Emergency Services of Ukraine responders deal with the ongoing impact of the flooding. Equipment is expected to start arriving in Ukraine by next week. Today's announcement comes as water levels in Kherson continue to rise, with flooding spreading to other towns along the Dnipro River. The UK has moved quickly to bolster its support to Ukraine as it deals with severe flooding from the dam, which is expected to last for weeks and leave many in need of food, water and basic supplies. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary James Cleverly said: Flooding from the destruction of Kakhovka dam is having an untold impact on over 32,000 people living in Kherson, and thousands more in the surrounding area. The UK is leading the way in providing support to those desperately in need. Our funding is playing a vital role in helping Ukrainian services and aid organisations evacuate people and get help to those in need. We will continue to stand by Ukraine in dealing with this terrible incident. This aid package is part of the UK's total support for Ukraine which so far totals A1.5billion in economic and humanitarian support, which has paid for the delivery of more than 11 million medical items as well as food supplies, ambulances, shelter kits. Earlier this week the Foreign Secretary visited Ukraine to highlight the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine and its recovery. During his time there he met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and discussed how best the UK will continue to support Ukraine against Russia's aggression. The UK is also set to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference later this month, which will bring together governments and industry leaders to develop a concerted multi-sector plan to help Ukraine to recover from Russia's illegal invasion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian sense of international relations is that we should always take care of each other - address of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine 10 June 2023 - 18:53 Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health! A summary of this day. The first is negotiations with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. Weapons and ammunition. There is a defense package, in particular, the important 155mm. The coalition of modern fighters and the training of our pilots have the visible progress. The movement towards NATO - in this regard, there is also a result today. I am personally grateful to the Prime Minister and to all Canadians for their unwavering and unequivocal support for our freedom. The consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP were discussed in detail. Canada is among those who can help us recover from this disaster. We understand each other in the steps that are needed. And they are needed very quickly. Of course, we will not stay away from the disaster Canada is facing now. Massive wildfires, colossal environmental losses, and threats to people... Ukraine is ready to help extinguish fires if Canada needs such international assistance. Our Ukrainian sense of international relations is precisely in the fact that we should always take care of each other when support is needed. And really help. I am sure it will become global principles. Mutual action, mutual support, mutual strength. Now, unfortunately, we see that at some levels in the world, there is simply a shameful indifference to the ecocide and human tragedy caused by the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. When international organizations that are supposed to protect life on a global scale do not have time to organize and send a rescue mission to the occupied territory even in a week when some world players do not dare to come out even with clear and strong statements that would condemn this new Russian war crime, terrorists are simply fueled by this weakness of the world, this indifference - it encourages them. And we have to overcome this. And we will overcome. We are pressing and encouraging so that international organizations and international support come to the part of Kherson region where the occupiers are now. As of now, over 3,000 people have already been evacuated in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. But again, it is only a free territory under our control. In the occupied territory, it is only possible to help people in some areas - Russian terrorists are doing everything to make the victims of the disaster as many as possible. Russian shelling continues - even at evacuation points. Russia does not provide any real help to the people in the flooded areas - not for the sake of propaganda, but for the sake of the people... The Russian state and the Russian leadership should bear separate, fair and strict responsibility for all this. And international organizations should operate in our areas, which we have not yet de-occupied. Every life is important - all of Kherson region, all of the south. Every city and village. We will do everything possible and impossible so that help comes to all our people. I thank each of our rescuers, military and police, local communities, and international organizations currently operating in Kherson region and Mykolaiv region, all our volunteers - each and every one who helps save people, animals, and life in general in the disaster zone... I thank the journalists, who spread the truth and tell the world the stories of people who have suffered. I'm thankful to everyone who helps people after the strikes of Russian missiles and Iranian Shahed drones. Odesa... My condolences to the relatives of those whose lives were taken last night by Russian terror... More than 20 were wounded. Everyone gets help. As every day, thanks go to our soldiers. To everyone who is on the front line, in positions, at combat posts, and on combat missions. Who destroys the enemy on land and protects our sky. I thank everyone who is taking a stand and who is moving forward. Khortytsia, Tavria - thank you to each of our heroes! Every effort to quickly restore peace to our entire state, every city, every village, every corner of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Declaration by Ukraine and Canada President of Ukraine 10 June 2023 - 15:21 At their meeting in Kyiv on 10 June 2023, the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada adopted the following declaration. 1. The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine has shown remarkable determination in exercising its inherent right to self-defence against this unprovoked and unjustified invasion. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. 2. Canada remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Canada commends the determination and courage of the Ukrainian people and armed forces in defence of their independence. Their resolve and valour on democracy's front line are not only safeguarding the security of Europe in the face of Russia's violent expansionism, but also bolstering the rules-based international system and demonstrating that no matter how brutal the foe, might does not make right. 3. As they do so, the people of Ukraine can count on Canada to continue its political, financial, humanitarian and military support for as long as it takes - individually and through international cooperation within the G7, NATO, the United Nations and any other forum where Canada can bring its weight to bear. 4. Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $8 billion in wide-ranging assistance to Ukraine. Canada is providing unprecedented military support, including tanks, air-defence systems and artillery, and continues to develop new assistance measures based on Ukraine's needs. 5. Beyond military assistance, Canada has provided Ukraine with civilian assistance, including financial, humanitarian and emergency support ranging from economic assistance to contributions to demining efforts to save civilian lives. In several areas Canada has led the way, such as by issuing the world's first Ukraine Sovereignty Bonds. 6. Canada supports Ukraine's initiative for a just and sustainable peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and commends the key principles of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Canada is providing significant contributions under several points identified in the Formula, including nuclear safety, food security, accountability and ecological safety. Looking forward, Canada will continue to focus its support on Ukraine's greatest needs, with a particular focus on those outlined in the Formula. Canada stands ready to cooperate with Ukraine and with others to ensure as wide an international participation as possible in pursuing the Peace Formula's objectives, including through an upcoming Global Peace Summit and any other appropriate diplomatic initiatives. 7. Ukraine and Canada recognize that Russia's war has had significant and wide-ranging consequences outside Ukraine, including worsened global energy and food crises. These effects have been felt most acutely by the most vulnerable. Ukraine and Canada commit to continuing to work to alleviate these consequences, including through engagement with partners in the Global South. The two countries also reiterate the crucial role of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in helping to relieve global hunger, and the need to ensure its continued and unhindered operation. Canada commends Ukraine's ongoing efforts both to implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative and to contribute to global food security through other projects, such as the Grain from Ukraine initiative. 8. Ukraine and Canada are united in their determination to fight against impunity, and underline their firm commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocity crimes committed in Russia's war of aggression. Canada supports international efforts in this regard and is a member of the Core Group studying options to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression, for which broad international support is essential. Ukraine and Canada also reiterate their support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which are a step toward accountability, and have taken note of the court's arrest warrants. Canada was among the countries that first referred Russia's actions in Ukraine to the Court in March 2022, and has sent a team of investigators to support its important work. 9. Ukraine and Canada agree on the need to increase our collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression. Furthermore, they agree on the need to strengthen efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions and to prevent and counter circumvention in and by third countries. 10. Ukraine and Canada will continue to work together with others to develop mechanisms to provide compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by the Russian aggression. Canada was the first country to launch a process to seize and pursue the forfeiture of assets belonging to sanctioned individuals or organizations, with a view to ultimately using the proceeds to support the reconstruction of Ukraine and compensate the victims of Russia's illegal and unjustifiable invasion. Canada also joined the Council of Europe's Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine as a founding associate member on May 17, 2023. Canada will continue to explore appropriate options for the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation. 11. Canada, together with international organizations and international partners, is committed to participate in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. Already now, it is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country, based on a transparent and inclusive national reconstruction architecture supported by key reforms based on democratic principles. Engaging all relevant partners, including the private sector as well as national and international organizations and financial institutions, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine. 12. In the NATO framework, Canada recalls that Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements. Canada continues to focus on immediate support to bolster Ukraine's capacity to defend itself. Canada fully supports the NATO-Ukraine Council as a venue to further increase and expand ongoing cooperation to help fulfil Ukraine's path towards the Euro-Atlantic family, consistent with the Bucharest Declaration. Canada supports Ukraine to become a NATO member as soon as conditions allow for it. Ukraine and Canada look forward to addressing these issues at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023. 13. On December 2, 1991, Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine's independence. More than 30 years later, Canada continues to stand with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their independence, democracy and freedom. Signed in duplicate in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 10, 2023 in the English language. For Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy For Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Optimistic but Mum on Counteroffensive By VOA News June 10, 2023 Latest developments: During an unannounced visit to Kyiv Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged new military aid for Ukraine. "We will be there with (you) as much as it takes, for as long as it takes," he said as Ukraine ramps up against Russian forces. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday he planned to speak with Russia President Vladimir Putin by phone soon to urge him to withdraw Russia's troops from Ukraine. "It's not reasonable to force Ukraine to approve and accept the raid that Putin has perpetrated and that parts of Ukraine become Russian just like that," he said. He added he would work to ensure that NATO does not get drawn into the war. 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. Earlier this week, The Washington Post reported that the U.S. had learned of a Ukrainian plan to attack the pipelines three months before the explosions. It is not yet determined who was responsible for the attack. The Ukrainian counteroffensive is under way, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, while remaining mum on military advances. The Ukrainian president exuded optimism in referencing his top generals on the war front. "They are all in a positive mood, pass that on to Putin," he said smiling during a news conference in Kyiv alongside visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Russia says Ukraine is carrying a big offensive push this week, but that Kyiv's forces failed to breach Russian defenses and also sustained heavy casualties. The British Defense Ministry said Saturday that Ukraine has conducted significant operations in the last 48 hours in the 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. Meanwhile, Russia's air force, the ministry said, has been "unusually active" in southern Ukraine, but it "remains unclear" whether the airstrikes have been effective." Intense fighting is being reported on Ukraine's front lines, however, independent media have not been able to ascertain whether Ukraine was penetrating Russian defenses. Trudeau - Ukraine aid During his impromptu visit in Kyiv, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau announced new military aid for Ukraine. "We will provide 500 million dollars in new funding," he said during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. "We will be there with (you) as much as it takes, for as long as it takes," he said, sitting across from the Ukrainian leader. As one of the largest Ukrainian diasporas in the world and a NATO member, Canada has supplied military and financial assistance to Ukraine and supports its bid for membership into the North Atlantic Alliance. Zelenskyy thanked Trudeau and the Canadian people for their commitment to the people of Ukraine. New $2.1 billion U.S. assistance package to Ukraine The Pentagon announced Friday, a new $2.1 billion assistance package for Ukraine that it said includes critical air defense and ammunition capabilities. The package includes Hawk air defense systems and missiles, 105 mm and 203 mm artillery rounds, Puma unmanned aerial systems, laser-guided rocket system munitions and support for training and maintenance, the Defense Department said in a statement. According to the department, since the beginning of the Russian offensive, the U.S. has committed more than $40.4 billion is security assistance to Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress have provided more than $75 billion in humanitarian, financial and military support to Ukraine. Russia- grain deal Russia could still walk out of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Deal on July 17, when the agreement expires, if its demands are not met, said Russia's 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 (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT international payment system. Kakhovka dam explosion An "extraordinary" 700,000 people need drinking water after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, said U.N. aid chief Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths. Griffiths 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. Griffiths told The Associated Press Friday, that "this is a viral problem," noting "the truth is this is only the beginning of seeing the consequences of this act." Clear signals of an explosion occurred at the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine early Tuesday morning, the Norwegian seismic research foundation Norsar said. Earlier Friday, a U.S. official told The New York Times that American spy satellites equipped with infrared sensors detected an explosion at the Kakhovka dam just before it collapsed Tuesday and unleashed a torrent of floodwater into the surrounding areas. The Associated Press flew a drone over the dam Wednesday and reported that there are no signs of an attack from above "no scorch marks or shrapnel scars" visible on buildings above the flooding that would be "typical of a bombardment" that Russia claims Ukraine carried out. Russians and Ukrainians have traded blame for the destruction of the vast Soviet-era dam, which is under Russian control. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine announces counteroffensive under US' pressure Global Times West sending of weapons 'symbolic gesture' only fuels tension By Zhao Yusha Published: Jun 11, 2023 08:32 PM Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday confirmed that Ukrainian counteroffensive had begun. The announcement, which comes as fatigue over the conflict begins to overwhelm all parties involved, is seen by Chinese experts partly as an answer to pressure from Western countries, which are counting on the counterattack to boost already failing domestic support. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are being taken in Ukraine," Zelensky said at a news conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "At what stage, I will not disclose in detail." Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces fired rockets and artillery that hit four Russian command centers, six areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, three ammunition depots and five enemy artillery units in firing positions, Ukraine's military said. However, the claim could not be verified. On the Russian side, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said at a press conference on Saturday, "Over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's armed forces pushed ahead with failed attempts to conduct offensive operations in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas, as well as near the town of Artyomovsk," TASS reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the armed forces of Ukraine sustained heavy losses during the counteroffensive. He described it as a tragedy, adding that the current Kiev regime bears full responsibility for it. Chinese experts interviewed by the Global Times noted the announcement of Ukraine's counterattack came at a time when anxiety is growing in Western countries, especially the US, as little sign of victory is seen on the Ukrainian side on the battlefield. With the conflict now dragging on for 15 months, the US and some European countries urgently need positive progress to convince their domestic public and political forces to continue pouring in military and financial assistance to Ukraine, and to show that their assistance is wise, right and necessary, said Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University. A piece published by US media outlet Politico on June 8 said that the White House is anxiously watching Ukraine's counteroffensive, as senior US officials are convinced that future support for the Ukraine war a and US President Joe Biden's global reputation a hinges on its success. Succeed and Western military and economic aid will flow. Stumble or fail to meet expectations, and that support will likely dry up, according to Politico. Before Zelensky confirmed the counterattack, the Pentagon announced on Friday that it will provide an additional $2.1 billion in long-term weapons aid for Ukraine. The new assistance package will include funding for more Patriot missile battery munitions, Hawk air defense systems and missiles, and small Puma drones that can be launched by hand. The advanced weapons sent to Ukraine by the Western countries won't play a substantial role in turning the tables, as long as Ukraine cannot control the air and lacks field air defense capacity, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. Russia's Defense Ministry uploaded a video showing Russian forces wiping out the Ukrainian army's foreign armor, including German-made Leopard tanks. Russia recently launched a massive army recruitment drive and deployed large numbers of drones to help its special military operation in Ukraine, which Qian said has greatly enhanced the density and precision of Russia's battlefield information perception. Qian said Russia's move was aimed at offsetting the technology advantage held by the US and NATO, and that the latest developments from both Russia and Ukraine signal that the conflict won't end in the near future. Chinese experts called on the West to stop fanning the flames of the conflict and pressure Ukraine on the battlefield, which will only cost more soldiers' lives. They believed that China's plan for promoting peace, which seeks to persuade both parties, and even multiple parties involved in the conflict, to engage in negotiations, is the only way out. As Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed on Saturday, rescue workers in southern Ukraine searched fetid waters for survivors of flooding from the burst Kakhovka dam last week. The destruction of the dam unleashed a mighty torrent of water that has torn through dozens of townships and villages across southern Ukraine, leaving thousands homeless and ruining more than 1 million acres of once rich farmland. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed serious concern about the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and its humanitarian, economic and ecological impact. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Under the current circumstances, it is hoped that all parties can commit to a political settlement of the crisis and work together to alleviate the situation, said Wang. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 165 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 55/2023 Vienna, Austria 11 Jun 2023 Experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) need access to a location near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to clarify the reason for a significant discrepancy between different measurements of the height of the reservoir that is supplying water to cool the facility's six reactors and spent fuel storage, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. The level of the Kakhovka reservoir has been dropping rapidly since the downstream dam was severely damaged five days ago, but the ZNPP reported over the weekend that it had been stable for about a day as measured at the inlet of the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) where water is pumped into a channel for use at the nearby nuclear power plant. By 9am local time today, the water level by the ZTPP was estimated at 11.27 metres, down from nearly 17 metres before the dam was breached, according to data received by the IAEA experts at the ZNPP site. However, the height is reportedly continuing to fall elsewhere in the huge reservoir, causing a possible difference of about two metres compared with the level reported by the ZTPP. The height of the water level is a key parameter for the continued operability of the water pumps. "It is possible that this discrepancy in the measured levels is caused by an isolated body of water separated from the larger body of the reservoir. But we will only be able to know when we gain access to the thermal power plant," Director General Grossi said. At the current height of the reservoir by the ZTPP, the water pumps continue to be operable. At the moment, however, they are not continuously being operated as both the ZTPP channel and the large cooling pond near the ZNPP are full, holding sufficient water reserves for several months of cooling requirements. The ZNPP cooling pond and the ZTPP discharge channel are both integral to continuing to supply cooling water and the Director General stressed again that maintaining their integrity is vital for the safety of the plant. "The thermal power plant plays a key role for the safety and security of the nuclear power plant a few kilometres away. I fully expect that our experts will be able to go there very soon to independently assess the situation. I will also personally raise this important matter with the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant," he added. The Director General - who will travel to Kyiv and the ZNPP next week - reiterated that the IAEA also requires access to the electrical switchyard of the ZTPP. The ZTPP switchyard has in the past been used to provide back-up power to the ZNPP, but its last 330 kV line is still not available after being disconnected more than three months ago. Europe's largest nuclear power plant now relies entirely on its sole remaining 750 kV power line for off-site electricity, which has been cut repeatedly since the military conflict began in February 2022. Even though the ZNPP has not been producing electricity for several months now, it still needs access to water and power for cooling and other essential safety and security functions and to avoid the risk of a potential fuel meltdown and release of radioactive material. At the ZNPP itself, five reactors are in cold shutdown, while the sixth - unit 5 - remains in hot shutdown to produce steam to support processes that contribute to safety on the site. The plant is considering the possibility of installing an independent steam boiler that would allow also unit 5 to be put in cold shutdown while still meeting the need for steam supply to the site. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netherlands sends aid supplies to flooded region in Ukraine Government of the Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs News item | 11-06-2023 This news item contains information from Thursday 8 June. The Royal Lifesaving Federation of the Netherlands is now providing 22 rescue boats. The Netherlands is sending aid supplies and lifesaving equipment to the region of Ukraine affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. For now, the equipment being sent consists of approximately 20 boats and at least 15 water pumps, 180 lifejackets and 50 wading suits made available by the Dutch water authorities and the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM). In addition, the Royal Lifesaving Federation of the Netherlands is providing at least 12 rescue boats. The supplies will be dispatched to Ukraine as quickly as possible. The ministries and parties involved are still working out the details of how the supplies will be transported. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher announced the aid on Thursday. According to initial estimates, the cost of providing it will be at least a500,000. Ms Schreinemacher said: 'We are doing everything in our power to help Ukraine with this as well. What has happened is devastating. I am grateful to the water authorities, the KNRM and the Royal Lifesaving Federation of the Netherlands for their rapid assistance. In the days ahead we will examine what else we can do for the affected region.' NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia repels Ukrainian attack on its warship in Black Sea: Moscow Iran Press TV Sunday, 11 June 2023 5:20 PM Russia says it has repelled a mass attack by Ukrainian high-speed marine drones on its aircraft carrier that was guarding gas pipelines in the Black Sea. The Russian defense ministry said in a statement on Sunday, "Ukraine's armed forces made an unsuccessful attempt to attack The Black Sea Fleet's Priazovye ship." 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 ministry said. The battleship continues to perform its tasks, it added. The Priazovye, according to Russian sources, is armed with two automatic naval, AK-306 rotary cannons and surface-to-air missile launchers. According to the ministry, a remotely piloted US military aircraft, known as the RQ-4 Global Hawk, was conducting reconnaissance in the Black Sea at the time of the attack. German-made Leopard tanks, US Bradley vehicles targeted In a separate statement, the ministry said its forces had destroyed at least seven German-made Leopard tanks and five US-made Bradley vehicles over 48 hours while repelling Ukrainian attacks. The military destroyed a column of armored vehicles of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in the Zaporizhzhia region, it said. "During the past day, the armed forces of Ukraine continued unsuccessful attempts of offensive actions in the Donetsk, southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia directions," it said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his military was engaged in "counter-offensive and defensive operations." His forces also claimed they have advanced by about a mile at some parts of the front line in the area on Saturday. The Russian defense ministry, however, said later in the day that Ukraine's forces launched attacks in the south of Donetsk and in Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in the area of the eastern city of Bakhmut, but their attempts failed to recapture any territory. The ministry published several videos and pictures over recent days showing numerous strikes on Ukrainian-manned armored vehicles and tanks from Ka-52 attack helicopters and drones. In footage released by the ministry on Saturday, drones were shown striking tanks in the Zaporizhzhia region where Kiev's forces have so far focused their counteroffensive. Ukraine's president said last month that his country needed to wait for more Western armored vehicles to arrive before launching the counter-offensive. He has been on a diplomatic push to maintain Western support, seeking more military aid and weapons, which is key for Ukraine to succeed. The West accuses Russia of fighting a war of aggression against Ukraine while Moscow says the United States and NATO are fighting a proxy war against the country in Ukraine. Since the onset of the conflict, the United States and its European allies have unleashed an array of unprecedented sanctions against Russia and poured numerous batches of advanced weapons into Ukraine to help its military fend off the Russian troops, despite repeated warnings by the Kremlin that such measures will only prolong the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Says It Retook Two Villages As Counteroffensive Gathers Steam By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 11, 2023 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 Blagodatne 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. 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 Ukraine's 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 cutoff and encircle Russian forces to the west. Ukraine's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-heavy- fighting-russia-donbas-counteroffensive/32454060.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Kherson Region Faces 'Ecological Catastrophe' Amid Ongoing Fighting By Aleksander Palikot June 11, 2023 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 Mykhailo 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 Boyarskiy's 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. The flooding of areas in the lower Dnieper below the destroyed Nova Kakhovka dam and the drying of the areas above it, as well as the contamination of the Black Sea, will put entire ecosystems of flora and fauna at risk of irreversible loss, he said. According to Moysiyenko, more than 19 endangered species listed in the Red Data Book and dozens of species protected by the Berne Convention will disappear from these places forever. Hundreds of species and hundreds of thousands of animals and plants will be affected, and in the case of some endemic species, as much as 20 percent of the world population could be extinct, he said. The environmental disaster will affect territories that have never been under water, such as the Oleshky Sands National Nature Park, Europe's biggest desert, and destabilize places such as the UNESCO-protected Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. "This is an international ecological catastrophe, and as long as the fighting goes on, not much can be done for the environment," Moysiyenko said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-flooding- kherson-ecological-catastrophe-kakhovka/32454438.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Ukrainian Cities Obliterated In Russia's Self-Proclaimed 'Liberation' By Donbas.Realities, Svitlana Kuzmenko, Carl Schreck June 11, 2023 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 Russia's 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 Russia-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 city's 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 Russia-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 Russia-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 Ukraine's east, it featured a strong industrial base with dozens of enterprises operating there. The city's 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 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 Russia's 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. It's a pity, it's 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 Ukraine's Donbas region, underpinned economically by industries unusual for the region: It had rock salt and sparkling wine. Bakhmut's distance from the demarcation line with Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory allowed the city to continue to develop in the eight years after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and the Moscow-fomented Donbas war erupted in 2014. But after Putin's 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)a 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 Russia's 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.a aBy 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 city's 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 Mariupol's 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 city's 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 Russia's 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. City authorities had written "deti" -- children in Russian -- in large letters on the ground in front and behind the theater in hopes of deterring a strike. An Associated Press investigation found evidence that some 600 people were killed. According to UN estimates, around 90 percent of high-rise residential buildings and about 60 percent of private houses in Mariupol were destroyed or damaged during the siege of the city, which Russia occupied in May 2022. aAdapted from the original Ukrainian by RFE/RL's Carl Schreck, who contributed reporting. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-destroyed-cities- russia-war/32454453.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Tourists Avoid Crimea Once Again As War Takes Toll On Local Economy By Current Time June 11, 2023 Russian tourists are expected to skip Crimea for the second year in a row as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine takes its toll on the Black Sea peninsula's economy. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and then pumped billions of dollars into the peninsula to upgrade its infrastructure. At the same time, Russian citizens and businesses invested in Crimean real estate, building vacation homes and hotels for tourists. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has turned Crimea into a target for Ukrainian forces, upending the peninsula's decades-old reputation as an attractive summer beach destination. Russia was forced to close the airspace over Crimea to commercial planes following the invasion. Ukraine's bombing of a Russian air base on Crimea in August 2022 sent a cloud of black smoke into the sky and tourists fleeing back to Russia. Ukraine also struck the road and rail bridge connecting Russia and Crimea and sunk a Russian battleship off the Crimean coast. Ukraine has vowed to retake Crimea from Russia. According to the hotel booking website Ostrovok.ru., Crimea accounts for just 1 percent of 2023 summer bookings by Russian tourists, down from 19 percent in 2021, the summer prior to Russia's invasion. Crimea accounted for 3 percent of bookings last year. Sangadzhi Tarbayev, chairman of the Russian parliament's Committee on Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure Development, said that Crimean hotels have lost at least 40 percent of their clients. The short summer season accounts for the lion's share of income for many Crimean businesses and residents. The drop in tourists has already forced hotels and restaurants to slash prices. Russia's budget, already under pressure from surging war costs and a fall in energy prices, will pick up the tab to avoid mass layoffs on the peninsula. Moscow has set aside 2.5 billion rubles ($30 million) to compensate Crimean companies who do not lay off people, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, said. He put the number of tourism workers in Crimea at 30,000. Hotels that do not open will also be compensated by Moscow, he said. Many military experts do not expect Russia's war in Ukraine to end this year, potentially setting Crimea up for another dismal tourism season in 2024. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/crimea-tourism- economy-ukraine-war-russia/32454419.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Returns 94 Soldiers From Ukrainian Captivity - Defense Ministry Sputnik News 20230611 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Seeing No Foundation for Peace Talks With Ukraine Sputnik News 20230611 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Accession to NATO to be Decided After Conflict Ends - Italian Foreign Minister Sputnik News 20230611 ROME (Sputnik) - 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. "But in the meantime, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, we will determine the path for Ukraine's accession... Meanwhile, we are moving toward a permanent NATO-Ukraine Council. This is an important step because it involves Kiev in making international decisions," Tajani said as quoted by Italian newspaper, before leaving to the United States on Sunday. 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. "We don't send F-16s simply because we don't have them, and for the same reason we can't do flight training on those planes. Our package includes military supplies, uniforms, (bulletproof) vests, ammunition," Tajani said, answering the question regarding Italy's aid to Ukraine. 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It is very important that representatives of international justice have seen with their own eyes the consequences of the Russian act of terrorism at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 11 June 2023 - 21:31 Dear Ukrainians! Today we managed to return 95 more of our people from Russian captivity, 31 of them are defenders of Mariupol. Most of them are privates and sergeants, two officers. The Armed Forces, the National Guard, the border guards. I am grateful to our team involved in the exchanges: Budanov, Yermak, Malyuk, Lubinets. Thank you for this result. Well done, guys! We have to get every Ukrainian man and woman out of Russian captivity. We are also continuing our rescue operation in the south of Ukraine, and we have managed to evacuate about 4,000 people. Dozens of towns and villages remain flooded, with the worst situation still in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region. Again and again, we thank our people: the military, police, and rescuers. I would also like to thank volunteers, doctors, local authorities - everyone who is helping to rescue people after the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant disaster, and especially those who are helping to get people out, including those from the occupied territories. It is extremely difficult and dangerous, and it is a special kind of heroism. Thank you for every life saved! Russian terrorists continue to shell evacuation routes, evacuation points, boats that take people away... Today, as a result of one of these attacks, three people were killed, my condolences to their families and friends... Ten more people were injured, including two police officers. 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... Even beasts are more moral than you, Russian state. These days, representatives of the International Criminal Court visited Kherson region. On the very first day after the disaster, the Prosecutor General sent a request to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the disaster, and the work has already begun. It is very important that the representatives of international justice have seen the consequences of this Russian act of terrorism with their own eyes and heard for themselves that Russian terror continues. And it continues with the most cynical and brutal shelling of the flooded territory, the evacuation area... We are already facilitating and will continue to facilitate the most independent and objective investigation by the International Criminal Court. All our law enforcement and other institutions are involved in this process to the fullest extent possible. We provide 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. Full and fair accountability for Russian terrorists and the terrorist state itself is a prerequisite for preventing such evil from happening again in the world. Today, our state has taken another sanctions step. Against those who serve the evil that the Russian state has become. Against those who helped to destroy freedom in Russia and play a key role in the repressions on the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and in Russia itself. 178 of these individuals were added to our sanctions lists at the request of the Security Service of Ukraine. And we will do everything to make sure that each and every one of these accomplices of the Russian dictatorship is held accountable for everything they have done against people and freedom. For every broken destiny and every criminal decision that helped Russia turn into a terrorist state. And one more thing. Of course, I am grateful to our warriors for this day. To each of our combat brigades, each of our units. The Khortytsia and Tavria operational and strategic groups of troops - all those who are now in combat, all those who are in positions, all those who are helping... I thank you! Thank you for every step, for every battle, for every destroyed occupier! Glory to our heroes! Glory to all who defend the life of Ukraine and Ukrainians! We will win! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Presidential Office hosts briefing for UAE delegation on security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine President of Ukraine 11 June 2023 - 12:17 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. Roman 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 our country. Mariam Almheiri and the members of the delegation were also briefed about 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," he said. Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets told Mariam Almheiri about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the human rights situation as a result of Russian aggression. He emphasized that a large number of Ukrainians were forced to flee abroad, and there are a lot of internally displaced persons in Ukraine today. 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. Dmytro 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, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, informed about the process of exchanging prisoners of war and the problems that arise on this way due to the position of the aggressor state. He also expressed gratitude to the UAE for their role in conducting certain exchanges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak met with the delegation of the UAE headed by the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Head of the Office of International Affairs under the President of the UAE President of Ukraine 11 June 2023 - 10:15 On the instructions of the President of Ukraine, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak met with a delegation of the United Arab Emirates headed by Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, Head of the Office of International Affairs under the President of the UAE Mariam Almheiri, who is on a visit to our country. The meeting was focused on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the possibility of the Emirates joining the implementation of its individual points, in particular, on ensuring food, radiation and nuclear security and preventing ecocide. The parties also touched upon the issue of further expansion of Ukrainian-Emirati cooperation, in particular in the trade, economic and investment spheres. Andriy Yermak thanked Mariam Almheiri for the assistance that the UAE has already provided and continues to provide to our country. "We have very cordial relations that are only getting stronger. It is very important that you can personally see the struggle of Ukrainians and feel how strong our people are," he said. The Head of the President's Office emphasized that Ukraine is confident of its victory, which will be a victory not only for our country and its people, but also for the entire civilized community, justice and international law. Andriy Yermak drew attention to the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the act of terrorism committed by the Russian Federation at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, spoke about the urgent needs of Ukraine and called on the UAE to join the efforts of the international community to eliminate the consequences of this man-made disaster. During the visit of the United Arab Emirates delegation, an agreement was also reached that the UAE would help Ukraine create a sovereign wealth fund. This will involve the experience and expertise of one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, ADQ, and their consultants, Contango. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Russia Accused of Shelling Evacuees in Flooded Kherson By VOA News June 11, 2023 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 ministry's 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 region's 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 city's military administration, Svitlana Linnyk. "I don't yet know whether the delivery of drinking water and food will be organized." 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 Russia's 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 Ukraine's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Confirms Start of Counteroffensive By VOA News June 11, 2023 Latest developments: The British Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update on Russia's 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, Ukraine's 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 what's 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 Russia's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dublin, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Online Healthcare Market: Insights & Forecast with Potential Impact of COVID- 19)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. China online healthcare market is forecasted to reach US$426.39 billion in 2027, experiencing growth at a CAGR of 36.89% during the period spanning from 2023 to 2027. The competitive landscape of the market, along with the company profiles of leading players (Alibaba Group Holding Limited, WeDoctor, Ltd., Miao Health, DXY.cn, JD.com, Inc., and Ping An Good Doctor) are also presented in detail. Growth in China online healthcare market is supported by factors such as aging population, rising health expenditure, support from Chinese government, technical innovations and rising internet penetration. However, the market growth is expected to be restrained by lack of motivation and lack of confidence trust of patients in online health care services. China online healthcare market by type can be segmented as follows: online pharmacy, digital healthcare infrastructure, online enterprise service, online consultation, online consumer healthcare and others. In 2022, the dominant share of China online healthcare market was being held by online pharmacy, followed by digital healthcare infrastructure. China's online pharmaceutical sales (including prescription and OTC pharmaceuticals) are likely to record a strong growth, outpacing the entire pharmaceutical market. China online pharmacy market can be segmented as follows: medical devices, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, nutrition products, prescription and other. In 2022, the dominant share of China online pharmacy market was being held by medical devices, followed by over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, driven by fewer restrictions from the authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic has largely accelerated the development of online healthcare China. The first quarter of 2020 witnessed rapid surge in both new registered users and daily consultations on major online healthcare platforms. Key Target Audience Internet Enterprises/ E-commerce Companies Hospitals Internet Hospitals Consumers Pharmaceutical Companies Investment Banks Government Bodies & Regulating Authorities Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 70 Forecast Period 2023 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $121.43 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $426.39 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 36.9% Regions Covered China Key Topics Covered: 1. Market Overview 1.1 Online Healthcare 1.1.1 Online Healthcare- Introduction 1.2 Benefits of Online Healthcare 1.3 Types of Online Healthcare Services 1.4 Value Chain Analysis 1.5 Advantages of Online Healthcare 1.6 Disadvantages of Online Healthcare 2. Impact of COVID-19 2.1 Impact of COVID-19 on China Online Healthcare Market 2.2 Increase in Online Healthcare Users 2.3 Increased Online Pharmaceutical Sales 2.4 Surge in Demand for Health Supplements 2.5 Favorable Policies 2.6 Post-COVID Scenario 3. China Market Analysis 3.1 China Online Healthcare Market by Value 3.2 China Online Healthcare Market Forecast by Value 3.3 China Online Healthcare Market Penetration 3.4 China Online Healthcare Market Penetration Forecast 3.5 China Online Healthcare Market by Type 3.5.1 China Online Pharmacy Healthcare Market Forecast by Value 3.5.2 China Digital Healthcare Infrastructure Healthcare Market Forecast by Value 3.5.3 China Online Enterprise Service Healthcare Market Forecast by Value 3.5.4 China Online Consultation Healthcare Market Forecast by Value 3.5.5 China Online Consumer Healthcare Market Forecast by Value 3.6 China Online Healthcare Market by Region 3.7 China Online Pharmacy Market by Segment 3.7.1 China Online Medical Devices Market Forecast by Value 3.7.2 China Online Medical Devices Market Penetration 3.7.3 China Online Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs Market Forecast by Value 3.7.4 China Online Nutrition Products Market Forecast by Value 3.7.5 China Online Nutrition Products Market Penetration 3.7.6 China Online Prescription Market Forecast by Value 3.7.7 China Online Prescription Market Penetration 3.8 China Internet Hospital by Number 3.9 China Internet Hospital by Initiator 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Growth Drivers 4.1.1 Aging Population 4.1.2 Growing Internet Penetration 4.1.3 Rising Health Expenditure 4.1.4 Growing Need to Provide Better Management for Chronic Diseases 4.1.5 Insurance & Membership Products 4.1.6 Growing Health Awareness 4.1.7 Support from Chinese Government 4.2 Key Trends & Developments 4.2.1 Increased Use Of Online Healthcare Services Among Millennial 4.2.2 Technological Innovations 4.2.3 Increasing Investments from Internet Companies 4.2.4 Popularization of Internet Hospitals 4.3 Challenges 4.3.1 Lack of Motivation 4.3.2 Lack of Confidence 5. Company Profiles 5.1 China Market 5.1.1 Online Pharmacies Market Share - Key Players 6. Company Profiles 6.1 JD.com, Inc. 6.1.1 Business Overview 6.2 Alibaba Group Holding Limited 6.3 Ping An Good Doctor 6.4 WeDoctor 6.5 Miao Health 6.6 DXY.cn For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a7b8fg About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Victorys exploration team finalizes expansion of Smokey Lithium to fortify its interests upon preliminary analysis of its recently completed drill program The additional Smokey Lithium staked ground will expand the property by 100 claims, totalling 2066 acres The decision was made to stake lode claims for this new ground, providing the Company with additional acres for grassroots exploration in an area where recent drilling has discovered a thick sequence of claystone from surface to a depth of >500 feet in the recently completed drilling VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Victory Battery Metals (CSE: VR) (FWB: VR6) (OTC: VRCFF) (Victory or the Company) is excited to announce that the Company initiated expansion plans for its Smokey Lithium, Nevada property upon preliminary analysis of sequentially delivered drill program data, and that its exploration team continues to analyze the overall drill program findings. Smokey Lithium is in a prolific lithium region that is highly competitive and we have acted prudently at this time to respond to preliminary analysis of the recently completed drill program, as sequential information was delivered from the lab, to expand the Smokey Lithium property with 100 new lode claims, which will increase the property by 2066 acres to a total 5691 acres, said Victory President and CEO, Mr. Mark Ireton. The Company continues to analyze its overall results from all exploration activities, including its most recent drill results combined with 2022 drilling, field mapping, surface sampling, and Tromino passive seismic studies, to develop the most complete picture for ongoing exploration plans at Smokey Lithium. The project area and surrounding lands show strong lithium mineralization with the Esmeralda Formation at surface. When combined with the highly encouraging results from Victorys first round drilling (completed in 2022) the project area is highly prospective. Figure 1: Map of Smokey Lithium Location in Prolific Lithium Region About Smokey Lithium, Nevada Victorys Smokey Lithium project is a clay lithium property that lies approximately 20 miles north of Clayton Valley, to the west of American Lithiums flagship lithium project. Smokey Lithium is located northwest of Cypress Clayton Valley Lithium Project and to the southwest of American Lithium Corporation's Tonopah Lithium Claims Property in southwest Nevada. Esmeralda County Nevada is a prolific region for lithium clay deposits, (Noram, Cypress, American Lithium, Spearmint, Enertopia, and Jindalee). The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bob Marvin (PGeo), who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. For further information, please contact: Mark Ireton, President Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653) E-mail: Info@VictoryBatteryMetals.com About Victory Battery Metals VICTORY BATTERY METALS (CSE: VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The Company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. Attachment Canadian Mens Health Foundation encourages men to park far away for Move for Your Mental Health month VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This Fathers Day, the Canadian Mens Health Foundation (CMHF) is encouraging dads to do something they already love to dopark far away. June marks CMHFs annual Move for Your Mental Health month, as well as international Mens Health Month. Theres nothing more dad than parking far away, so CMHF is challenging men across Canada to #ParkLikeADad and snag the worst spots for the best mental health. While their kids might not love it, CMHF Champions Tommy Europe, Toby Hargrave and others across the nation have already taken to social media to show us just how far away they can park. I'm a dad, and I love to park in the farthest spot in the lot. The extra steps and mental health boost make it even more worthwhile, says Trevor Linden, CMHF Champion. This Fathers Day, join me in parking far away wherever you go. More than 8 in 10 Canadian men (81 per cent) surveyed believe physical activity has a positive effect on their mental health, based on new data from TELUS Healths Mental Health Index TM. Yet, Canada's most recent Adult Report Card tells us 88 per cent of adults are too sedentary. The bottom line is any extra movement counts towards improving your health, says TC Carling, CMHF President & CEO. Whether youre taking the stairs or parking farther away, Move for Your Mental Health is about motivating all men and their families to find simple ways to get more movement into your day. This Fathers Day and throughout the month of June, CMHF is encouraging men to post a photo or video showing just how far away they can park using #ParkLikeADad and tagging @menshealthfdn. Visit menshealthfoundation.ca to access Move for Your Mental Health workouts from Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness, influential conversations on the Dont Change Much Podcast with guests like NHLs Chris Pronger and Olympian Simon Whitfield, and simple tips to increase daily activity. Move for Your Mental Health is supported in part by the Province of BC, the Government of Canada, as well as generous donors and partners. For media inquiries: pr@menshealthfoundation.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83c04636-20c7-4b28-a27c-a412f51a0e59 MUNICH, Germany, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TWAICE, the leading provider of battery analytics software, announced that VERBUND, Austrias leading energy company and one of the largest producers of hydropower in Europe, successfully used the TWAICE Digital Commissioning software with the utilitys energy storage systems. Developed in response to the challenges that come with commissioning a battery energy storage system (BESS), this new product in the TWAICE software suite enables VERBUND to reduce the risk and optimize the operational efficiency of its energy storage system. The TWAICE software, requiring only an online connection of the storage, provided a comprehensive audit of the storage systems just as VERBUND installed them. The Digital Commissioning software identified and analyzed key performance indicators, facilitating the detection of anomalies and easing the deployment process. TWAICEs software highlights anomalies within energy storage systems and helps to identify weak cells, temperature spikes, and cooling system deficiencies that might be missed in a traditional commissioning process. This is made possible by the vast amount of data that TWAICE analyzes, which would be unattainable with on-site analysis. "We are thrilled with VERBUNDs success in employing our Digital Commissioning software," said Stephan Rohr, co-founder and managing director of TWAICE. "Our Digital Commissioning tool not only confirmed its capacity to de-risk the deployment of energy storage systems, but it also provided critical insights that will be essential as VERBUND scales up. VERBUND has proven to be a valuable customer as one of the first users of our Digital Commissioning suite, and we look forward to overseeing future applications of our software." Martin Wagner, Managing Director of VERBUND Energy4Business, noted that, "TWAICE Digital Commissioning helps us to overcome the challenges posed by an increasingly heterogeneous system integrator landscape and ever larger battery energy storage systems. Battery analytics software like TWAICEs is a must-have for baselining performance at beginning of life and identifying deficiencies before operation starts." VERBUNDs plans for large-scale energy storage deployment led the utility to collaborate with TWAICE, with the utilitys clean energy goals including adding a total of 1 GW of battery storage capacity by 2030. TWAICEs background in battery analytics software and the promise of the new Digital Commissioning suite appealed to VERBUNDs desire to have as seamless a deployment of battery storage as possible. With the Digital Commissioning software, VERBUNDs engineers can better manage the complex and cost-intensive commissioning processes for energy storage, helping avoid missed deadlines and making it easier to obtain standardized, comparable data across different systems. To learn more about TWAICEs Digital Commissioning software and their other battery analytics products, visit https://www.twaice.com/. Readers can also download a comprehensive case study on the VERBUND project here. About TWAICE: TWAICE provides predictive analytics software for companies working with batteries addressing key concerns throughout the entire lifecycle. Customers using TWAICE de-risk their battery business and outperform their peers by increasing battery performance and lifetime. Uniquely combining deep battery knowledge and artificial intelligence on a scalable analytics platform, TWAICE generates actionable insights at every step of the battery lifecycle. In addition to enabling TWAICE products, the analytics platform is a launchpad for customer and partner solutions, leveraging an entire ecosystem of market leaders. TWAICE is committed to increasing the lifetime, efficiency, safety, and sustainability of the products that power the economy of tomorrow. About VERBUND VERBUND is Austria's leading energy company and one of the largest producers of electricity from hydropower in Europe. The company generates around 96 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower. VERBUND trades in electricity in 12 countries and, in 2022, achieved a consolidated result of around 1,700 million and EBITDA of around 3,160 million with around 3,700 employees. With subsidiaries and partners, VERBUND is active in everything from electricity generation and transport to international trading and sales. VERBUND has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1988, 51% of the share capital is owned by the Republic of Austria. VERBUND is the decisive player for the success of the energy turnaround in Austria. The challenges that lie ahead require a cohesive orientation of the entire company, which VERBUND is driving forward with Mission V. Mission V is a long-term and comprehensive transformation program and stands for the will to confront the climate crisis as a force for change. This program is based on the VERBUND Strategy 2030 with its three thrusts: The strengthening of the integrated home market, the expansion of renewable energies in Europe and the establishment as a European hydrogen player. With Mission V, VERBUND is accelerating the achievement of its strategic goals 2030 and ensuring their implementation. Further information: www.verbund.com Media Contacts Justin Williams Trevi Communications for TWAICE Email: justin@trevicomm.com Phone: +1 (978) 539-7157 Martha Salaquarda Head of Marketing & Communication, VERBUND Energy4Business GmbH Email: martha.salaquarda@verbund.com Phone: +43 664 828 7594 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c489cf67-608d-418e-8354-0c058d7a164f VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Central 1 today announced the latest deployments from its innovation hub, Forge Community. DUCA, a credit union participant that joined the collaborative platform last year, launched a new profit-share rewards program for their more than 92,000 members. Credit union First West, in partnership with fintech thirdstream, collaborated to release a faster, more streamlined account origination experience. We welcomed several new fintechs and credit unions to Forge Community this year and its exciting to see the ecosystem thriving with innovation, said Erick Wong, Central 1s Chief Product Officer. This platform is where developers, industry experts, fintechs, credit unions and other financial institutions can find collaborative opportunities to drive innovation and deliver exceptional member and client experiences. DUCAs new profit share rewards program, Do More Profit Sharing, lets members earn and use rewards to buy better rates on GICs, term products, fixed loans or fixed mortgages, or convert the rewards to cash. Critical to the launch of the program was making it easy for DUCA members to track and use their rewards online. DUCA built and deployed a variety of user-interface plugins on Forge Community to provide their members with secure and easy-to-navigate online access to their rewards balance, calculators and a process to submit redemption requests. The First West and thirdstream deployment was a collaborative effort to streamline account origination for members and clients of First West divisions Envision Financial, Island Savings Valley First and Enderby & District Financial. This release enables new savings accounts with enhanced account opening experiences for chequing accounts, term deposits, registered products and personal loans. With this, thirdstreams deposit and loans onboarding capabilities are now available to the entire Central 1 member and client base who can leverage their Forge digital Banking Platform seamlessly with thirdstreams retail and commercial deposit solutions, as well as credit card and consumer lending experiences. Quotes: Aron Rogers, Chief Technology Officer, DUCA. The experience in Forge Community was fantastic. We leveraged the Central 1 platform for its scalability to cost effectively and efficiently extend a new rewards program across our membership. We look forward to future innovation in the Forge Community space, alongside Central 1 and fellow ecosystem leaders. Darrell Jaggers, Chief Transformation Officer at First West Credit Union Collaboration is the backbone of the credit union system and being able to better leverage our fintech partners through Forge Community is a really powerful way for us to build innovative solutions for our members. Were excited to roll out this enhancement to provide greater flexibility to our members and will continue to work towards simplifying our account opening journey through this partnership. Keith Ginter, CEO, thirdstream Bringing together account opening services for existing members on the Forge Community Platform provides financial institutions with a path to continuing growth. Our team is constantly working to enhance the consumer experiences, working with financial institutions to deliver to the needs of consumers. About Forge Community Forge Community is Central 1s innovation hub where fintech, credit union and other financial institution developers can collaborate, create and deploy new digital solutions. With Community, Central 1 members and clients gain access to a cost-effective innovation platform and a suite of fintechs. Fintechs join Forge Community as a gateway to potential partnerships with Central 1s 190 member financial institutions with four million customers across Canada. For more information, visit Forge Community About Central 1 Central 1 Credit Union (Central 1) cooperatively empowers credit unions and other financial institutions who deliver banking choice to Canadians. With assets of $11.9 billion as of December 31, 2022, Central 1 provides critical services at scale to enable a thriving credit union system. We do this by collaborating with our clients, developing strategies, products, and services to support the financial well-being of their more than 5 million diverse customers in communities across Canada. For more information, visit central1.com. Media Contacts Tricia Weagant, Vice President, Communications and Marketing Central 1 T: 905 282-8414 E: t.weagant@central1.com Yuan Li, Senior Communication Specialist Central 1 E: yuan.li@central1.com Owings Mills, MD, United States, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SABBATH, the latest production from Journey Films founder and award-winning filmmaker Martin Doblmeier, is rolling out to public TV stations nationwide beginning this month. The two-hour film was released on June 1 and is currently available to view online and using the PBS App. (Local broadcast schedules vary, check local listings for airdates and times.) In the film, Doblmeier explores the religious, secular, psychological, and sociological implications of a weekly day of rest for what he describes as a profoundly burned-out world. SABBATH delves into the history and traditions of an ancient concept rooted in the biblical story of creation and explores the observances potential to serve as a remedy for what ails the modern world whether it takes the form of a 24-hour religious observance or a secular respite from the nonstop pace of life. Additional information about the program and a suite of educational materials are available at journeyfilms.com/sabbath. Our world now runs 24/7 with little distinction given to the day or the hour. What the practice of sabbath challenges us to do is set aside time for the sacred, to set sacred time apart from ordinary time, and do it regularly, says Doblmeier. It has been a practice across the ages, and it's needed now more than ever. Told as a collection of short stories, SABBATH weaves together the practices of several different faith traditions to paint a broad picture of the subject throughout history and in contemporary life. Viewers follow Doblmeier from coast to coast as he explores sabbath beliefs and practices; gains insights from scholars, monks, theologians, clergy, farmers, physicians, and other practitioners; and discovers the profound beauty of the practice across traditions, the principles of justice that undergird it, and the potential it offers for healing a stressed-out world. SABBATH is produced by Journey Films and presented nationally by Maryland Public Television (MPT). The film is distributed by American Public Television. # # # About Maryland Public Television Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate, offering entertaining, informative, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy Awards. MPTs commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPTs year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org. About Journey Films Journey Films was founded in 1983 by award-winning filmmaker Martin Doblmeier as a television and film production company specializing in religion, faith, and spirituality. Journey Films has produced more than 30 documentary films that have aired on PBS, ABC, NBC, the BBC, and on broadcast outlets around the world, including BONHOEFFER, BACKS AGAINST THE WALL: The Howard Thurman Story, REVOLUTION OF THE HEART: The Dorothy Day Story, and SPIRITUAL AUDACITY: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story. Journeys films have been translated into more than a dozen languages. In all, Journey Films has won three regional Emmy Awards, eight Gabriel Awards for the nations best film on a topic of religion, three Gold Awards at the US International Film and Television Festival, the Sun Valley Film Festival, and many others. About Martin Doblmeier Doblmeier holds degrees in Religious Studies, Broadcast Journalism, and three honorary degrees in Fine Arts and Humane Letters. Since 1984 he has produced and directed more than 30 films focused on religion, faith, and spirituality. Doblmeier combines a lifelong interest in religion with a passion for storytelling. Over the years he has traveled on location to more than forty countries to profile numerous religious leaders, spiritual communities, heads of state, and Nobel Laureates. His films explore how belief can lead individuals to extraordinary acts, how spirituality creates and sustains communities, and how faith is lived in extraordinary ways. Attachments BETHESDA, Md., June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthy Directions , a leading health and wellness company, has announced a new partnership with Meijer , a family-owned regional retailer, credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept and recently honored as the "Retailer of the Year" by Progressive Grocer magazine. Health-conscious customers can now purchase three supplement formulas from Healthy Directions' new Doctors Preferred brand in many of Meijers supercenters throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. This collaboration brings together two respected industry leaders, renowned for their innovation, commitment to quality, and community involvement. "Our Doctors Preferred supplement line epitomizes the forefront of doctor-formulated products in our portfolio. We are delighted to collaborate directly with Meijer, offering their shoppers cost-effective, premium solutions that are both effective and meticulously crafted to meet advanced scientific and quality benchmarks," said Ben Teicher, president of Healthy Directions. This partnership signifies a pivotal stride in Healthy Directions' robust multichannel expansion strategy. Each Doctors Preferred supplement is designed to enhance quality of life, delivering tangible and impactful results that can be experienced every single day. The first three products launched at Meijer in May of this year address some of the most common health concerns most Americans face including: Doctors Preferred Omega Q Plus : Cardiologist-formulated combination of omega-3s, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), Crominex-3, L-carnitine, and B vitamins providing advanced, all-in-one support for heart health; and recommended for all adults, including statin drug users. Doctors Preferred Focal Point Plus : Powerful and fast-acting nutrient trio that enhances mental accuracy within just one hour; providing improved focus, attention, immediate word recall, and support for short-term memory and overall stress management. Doctors Preferred Sleep Answer : Safe, non-habit-forming combination of melatonin and calming herbs providing eight benefits in one capsule including enhancing the ability to quickly achieve a restful, deeper sleep, while waking up refreshed. Each Doctors Preferred formula follows an industry-leading Triple Testing Program that includes careful screening of all raw materials for identity, quality, purity, and potency; inspection and testing of each batch during production; and independent laboratory testing to verify purity and potency. Healthy Directions is pleased to partner with Meijer on its launch of Doctors Preferred supplements, which involves utilizing its wide range of marketing channels to enhance visibility and foster substantial sales growth. Learn more about Healthy Directions Doctors Preferred at www.doctorspreferred.com . About Healthy Directions: Healthy Directions LLC, a subsidiary of Wellful LLC , is a leading provider of premier doctor-formulated nutritional supplements and skincare products dedicated to providing people with a better path to better health. For 30 years, Healthy Directions has provided expert guidance and advanced nutritional supplements from some of Americas most knowledgeable and highly respected integrative and alternative health doctors, including Dr. Julian Whitaker; Dr. David Williams; Dr. Stephen Sinatra; Dr. Drew Sinatra; Dr. Briana Sinatra; Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, Dr. Rudrani Banik, Dr. Ken Redcross and Dr. Joseph Pergolizzi, Jr. For more information, visit: www.healthydirections.com/about- us , www.doctorspreferred.com and www.wellful.com . About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 262 supercenters, neighborhood markets, Meijer Grocery and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves and proudly donates more than 6% of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. The retailer's other primary pillars of giving include Diversity & Inclusion, local giving, sustainability, and health and wellness. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com . Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer . Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d4032a6-3e12-43a3-8b2a-2f8f5d834471 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b850e799-d152-4805-9b1b-c60c02f0363c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc1697b4-cb66-43cc-94df-17ce087bc978 Dallas, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickeys Barbecue Pit is celebrating pit boss dads on Fathers Day with their Legit. Texas. Barbecue. options for any size gathering. Show the grill master in your family just how much you appreciate them with a full spread of slow smoked barbecue on Fathers Day, June 18th. The Texas-style barbecue brand will be offering their delicious pit-smoked barbecue pack options in store, online at dickeys.com, or on the Dickeys App. Whether you prefer a backyard barbecue, a day at the lake or a relaxing meal indoors to beat the heat, Dickeys has options for celebrating your dad gathering of any size: Picnic Pack (starting at $35.90) one choice of meat, two large sides and four slices of Texas toast. Feeds two to three. one choice of meat, two large sides and four slices of Texas toast. Feeds two to three. Family Pack (starting at $61.60) two choices of meat, three large sides and six slices of Texas toast. Feeds four to six. two choices of meat, three large sides and six slices of Texas toast. Feeds four to six. XL Pack (starting at $84) three choices of meat, four large sides, eight slices of Texas toast. Feeds six to eight. three choices of meat, four large sides, eight slices of Texas toast. Feeds six to eight. BYB Wings & Ribs Party Pack (starting at $134.40) - A combination of 18 ribs and 24 wings, mac & cheese, coleslaw, bread, and barbecue sauce with ranch dressing. A combination of 18 ribs and 24 wings, mac & cheese, coleslaw, bread, and barbecue sauce with ranch dressing. BYB Original Party Pack (starting at $140) Enjoy two lbs. of pulled pork, 2 lbs. of chopped brisket, large coleslaw, large barbecue beans, large potato salad, bread, relish and sauce. Feeds 10-12. At Dickeys were thrilled to let dad sit back and relax this Fathers Day and let Dickeys do the cooking, says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO Dickeys Barbecue Pit, Inc. Our multiple pack options can feed groups of all sizes and show dad just how much hes appreciated. Want to make it a Fathers Day catering? Beginning June 15th, Dickeys is holding a catering contest offering their catering guests an opportunity to submit their valid catering receipts for a chance to win cash back. Additionally, any guest ordering catering prior to June 18th will have the chance to receive up to 20% off their catering order at participating stores. Also, dont forget that Kids Eat Free every Sunday in-store at Dickeys with a minimum adult purchase of $12.00. To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. To learn more about Dickeys Virtual Concepts follow: Wing Boss on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok , Trailer Birds on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok and Big Deal Burger on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue has 550 locations across the United States and eight other countries. Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. # # # Attachment NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newcore Gold Ltd. ("Newcore" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NCAU, OTCQX: NCAUF) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (as defined below), whereby the Company intends to raise up to $5,000,000 through an offering of up to 33,333,333 units of the Company (the "Units") to be priced at $0.15 per Unit (the "Offering"). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.20 per Common Share for a period of 12 months following the completion of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund exploration and development activities at the Companys 100% owned Enchi Gold Project in Ghana, as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes. Finders fees may be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about June 28, 2023, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Offering is being made to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI- 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person. "U.S. person" and "United States" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com and on the Companys website at newcoregold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. About Newcore Gold Ltd. Newcore Gold is advancing its Enchi Gold Project located in Ghana, Africas largest gold producer(1). Newcore Gold offers investors a unique combination of top-tier leadership, who are aligned with shareholders through their 24% equity ownership, and prime district scale exploration opportunities. Enchis 216 km2 land package covers 40 kilometres of Ghanas prolific Bibiani Shear Zone, a gold belt which hosts several 5 million-ounce gold deposits, including the Chirano mine 50 kilometers to the north. Newcores vision is to build a responsive, creative and powerful gold enterprise that maximizes returns for shareholders. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Newcore Gold Ltd. Luke Alexander President, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Mal Karwowska | Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations +1 604 484 4399 info@newcoregold.com www.newcoregold.com (1) Source: Production volumes for 2021 as sourced from the World Gold Council Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements that contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the likelihood of the completion of the Offering, the use of proceeds from sales from the Offering, the closing of the Offering and the ability to obtain the necessary regulatory authorizations and approvals, statements about the estimation of mineral resources; results of our ongoing drill campaign, magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; and future exploration prospects. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. The assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Newcore. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of Newcore believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Newcore cannot provide any assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Newcore to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of Newcores business; Newcores formative stage of development; Newcores financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold and other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, unusual or unexpected geological formations); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Newcore disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Dieppe, June 12, 2023 - Colibri Resource Corp. (TSXV: CBI) (OTC Pink: CRUCF) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has been informed by its joint venture partner Agnico Eagle Mining that the Pitaya Gold Project located in the Caborca Gold Belt has been sold to a third party. Colibri signed an agreement with Agnico Eagle Mining in 2019 whereby it agreed to sell its proportional 23% interest in the non-core project to Agnico or another buyer for a minimum of $500,000 USD. In 2020, Colibri was advanced $300,000 USD from Agnico Eagle Mining which was secured by Colibri's ownership of the joint venture company. Colibri will receive net proceeds of $500,000 USD from the sale less the outstanding loan principal and interest owed. Proceeds of the transaction will add non dilutive capital to the Company treasury and also improve the Company balance sheet by zeroing out the corresponding debt liability. The Pitaya Gold Project is located immediately east of Fresnillo Plc's Tajitos gold project (indicated and inferred resource of 1.1 million ounces of gold) and is approximately 17 km south of Colibri's EP Gold Project. The EP Project shares similar types of mineralization, alteration, and geology to the Pitaya as well as other known regional gold deposits/mines such as Noche Buena (8km SW of EP), La Herradura (25km west of EP), El Chanate (62km SE of EP), and La Choya (31km NNW of EP). The highly prospective EP Project is comprised of 4,766 hectares, is one of only a few significant sized claim sets not owned by Fresnillo who holds in excess of 200,000 hectares in the district. ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION: Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company holds six high potential precious metal projects which have planned exploration programs planned for calendar 2023. For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. For information contact: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, rongoguen@colibriresource.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169595 CALGARY, June 12, 2023 - San Lorenzo Gold Corp. ("San Lorenzo" or the "Company") (TSXV:SLG) - or - (OTC:SNLGF) is pleased to provide the following corporate update pertaining to its flagship Salvadora property. The Porphyry Target Zone (Caballo Meurto) On Oct 5 and 17, 2022 San Lorenzo released assay results from the third drilling campaign conducted on its Salvadora property - located within the Andean mega porphyry belt of Chile. The third drilling program involved the drilling of 10 holes - 7 holes into the Caballo Meurto porphyry target located approximately in the middle of the property and 3 additional holes into the Arco de Oro epithermal vein system located within the southern and western property boundaries. Of significance was the drilling of hole SAL 03-22 into the Caballo Meurto porphyry target - a discovery hole. Hole SAL 03-22 encountered the phyllic-potassic alteration zone within the porphyry system which is where the economic grades of gold and copper are encountered in the Andean mega porphyry belt and is similar in nature to the El Salvador deposit (and mine) located approximately 15 kilometers north of the Salvadora property. Hole SAL 03-22 was mineralized throughout and encountered 112 meters grading 1.44 grams/tonne gold which is significantly higher than a great number of the world's largest porphyry deposits (2004 - Cooke, Holdings and Walshe). The assay values are summarized in the table 1 below (NR issued Oct 17, 2022): Table 1: SAL 03-22 Assay Results Hole # Sector Intercept From(m) To (m) Width (m) Cu % Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Eqv Au g/t Eqv SAL-03-22 CMZ A 171.0 197.0 26.0 0.15 0.13 0.4 0.24 0.34 B 233.0 515.3 282.3 0.10 0.66 0.6 0.57 0.81 including 308.0 420.0 112.0 0.14 1.44 0.8 1.17 1.67 356.0 392.0 36.0 0.27 3.7 1.1 2.91 4.15 Figure 1 below provides drill locations under the 2016, 2018 and 2022 drill campaigns as well as IP line locations - all on the Caballo Meurto porphyry target of the Salvadora property: Click Image To View Full Size Regarding the drill results achieved during the 2022 drill campaign on the Caballo Meurto porphyry target, Terry Walker VP Exploration commented: 'The discovery hole cut a gold-copper bearing porphyry alteration system. Importantly, it encountered phyllic-potassic alteration matching typical massive gold - copper porphyry deposits found in the Andean Mega Porphyry Copper Belt of Chile - most of which are included on the list of the largest deposits in the world" (2004 - Cooke, Holdings and Walshe). This discovery hole needs to be followed up with a program of further drilling designed to step out from the discovery hole - enabling San Lorenzo to begin to determine the size and scope of the porphyry system". Mr. Walker continued: "the results achieved in the discovery hole are reflected by strong geochemical surface anomalies where soil analysis has returned anomalous copper and gold values of 300 - 900 ppm Cu and 0,01 - 0.039 ppm Au". All of the other 6 holes drilled into the Caballo Meurto porphyry system were to the east and north of the discovery hole to test an IP anomaly that had yet to be penetrated. While all holes were mineralized, they were on the flank of the system encountering mainly propylitic alteration with the IP results having responded to elevated pyrite values. Porphyritic deposits in the L. Eocene to Oligocene Andean belt within Chile include the nearby El Salvador deposit and mine which commenced production in 1959 and has produced over 13 billion pounds of copper and over 3.1 million ounces of gold(1) and also includes the Escondida Mine (32Mt @ 1.15% Cu, .5Mt @ .19g/t Au (2005)). 1) source: Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile - "Codelco". The Arco De Oro Epithermal Vein Target Zone ("the other zone of interest") The 2022 drill campaign also included the drilling of 3 holes on the epithermal vein system located on the Salvadora property. Historically, San Lorenzo conducted 2 drilling campaigns on that system, referred to as the Arco De Oro trend. Drilling in the first two drilling campaigns were shallow holes (to maximum depths of 100 meters) that followed trends indicated by surface artisanal mining that was carried out historically. Management of San Lorenzo has always been of the view that the epithermal vein systems located on Salvadora are indicators of the proximity of a "classic porphyry deposit" - the intrusive which generated the porphyry system having been the source of the high-grade veining established in the first two drilling campaigns. As a result, management decided to test the Arco de Oro zone at a much deeper depth to establish the continuity of the system - hence the drilling of the 3 holes into the Arco de Oro zone in the 2022 campaign. The table below provides the assay results received from those 3 holes during the 2022 drill campaign (NR issued Oct 5, 2022): It is important to note that hole SAL 04-22 encountered significant intercepts at depths exceeding 300 meters - indicating that the intercepts obtained at shallower depths would seem to continue to significant depth - meaning significant tonnage potential. Management is of the view that over 300 meters of strike length has been established by drilling on the Arco de Oro trend and it appears that the system continues to depths of at least 300 meters. Commenting on the results of the 3 holes drilled into the Arco de Oro zone, Terry Walker commented: "within the confines of NI 43-101, it is impossible to state that the vein system extends down to over 300 meters all along the entire 3 kilometers of strike length that has been confirmed with drilling and surface mapping and sampling so far. However, it behooves management to conduct more confirmatory drilling at depths of 300 - 400 meters along strike, or to even deeper perhaps, to confirm the extent of the Arco de Oro vein systems at depth and along strike. With what we know so far, the value within the Arco de Oro system is significant indeed". Additional Zones IP surveys have identified two additional zones of interest, the CMS Zone that lies to the SE of Cabballo Meurto and the Cerra Blanco zone which lies to the east of the Caballo Meurto zone. IP Chargeability anomalies together with visible alteration at surface make these interesting additional targets. However, management has decided to focus its efforts on the Cabello Meurto porphyry target and the Arco de Oro epithermal vein systems for the time being. Readers are invited to visit San Lorenzo Gold's website for more information and specifics including an overview of a typical porphyry structure showing El Salvador at www.sanlorenzogold.com. About San Lorenzo Gold San Lorenzo Gold is in the business of exploring for and advancing mineral properties. The Company currently has three 100% owned properties in Chile: Salvadora, Nancagua and Punta Alta. The Salvadora property is being explored for large scale copper-gold porphyry targets and high-grade epithermal gold-silver-copper vein systems, Nancagua is a high grade mesothermal gold-silver prospect and Punta Alta is a copper - gold porphyry prospect with related disseminated and vein style copper-gold-silver-cobalt mineralization. For further information, please contact: Gordon Aldcorn, VP Corporate Development Email: galdcorn@sanlorenzogold.ca Ph: 403-618-6507 Or: Terence Walker, VP Exploration Email: twalker@goldenrock.cl Or: Al Kroontje, CEO Email: al@slgold.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the control of San Lorenzo. All statements included herein other than statements of historical fact, including statements pertaining to the completion of a private placement, are forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information involves various risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the TSX Venture Exchange does not approve the private placement. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, San Lorenzo does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States Total mineralized drill intercept is 43.40 meters at approximately 400 meters depth (see table below), June 12, 2023 - Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:AVU) is pleased to provide new assay results from the Sesmarias massive sulfide target area, Alvalade JV Project, Portugal. The program is a joint venture between Avrupa Minerals ("AVU" or "Company") and Minas de Aguas Tenidas, S.A. ("Sandfire MATSA" or "MATSA"). Avrupa continues to operate the project through the JV entity PorMining Lda., and MATSA continues to fund the exploration work. Previously, through the JV, during 2020-2021, the Company drilled 17 diamond drill holes, totaling 8,900 meters, on six different fences along a strike length of 400 meters in the Sesmarias North Zone. The JV returned to drilling at Sesmarias in mid-April, targeting the Central Zone, where Avrupa drilled the high-grade discovery hole, SES002, in 2014 (see February 27, 2014 News Release). Follow-up drilling in the immediate discovery area at that time unsuccessfully targeted shallow extensions of the mineralization seen in SES002 at a depth of about 150 meters. Armed with a significantly upgraded targeting model constructed after a total of 46 holes and nearly 20,000 meters of drilling at Sesmarias since 2014, the JV geological team aimed deeper to 400 meters depth to attempt to locate further high-grade mineralization. Results from SES23-047 are: 26.95 meters of 2.18% copper; 2.58% lead; 5.60% zinc; and 88.2 g/t silver from 393.80 to 420.75 meters depth, within a wider interval of: 43.40 meters of 1.51% copper; 2.15% lead; 4.78% zinc; and 64.1 g/t silver from 392.80 to 436.20 meters depth. At this time, with only one drill hole in the new zone, the true thickness of the massive sulfide mineralization is unknown. The drill hole intercepted at least part of the eastern limb of the target mineralized syncline, and possibly part of the hinge of the syncline. Further drilling is clearly necessary to search for both extension and shape of the mineral body. We are currently drilling a follow-up hole, collared approximately 150 meters southeast of SES23-047, with five more holes planned, also funded by the JV partner. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals commented, "We are truly excited about the SES23-047 results. The entire team effort putting together a coherent targeting model led to this initial success in the Sesmarias Central Zone, which we hope will continue with follow-up drilling. Previous JV drilling demonstrated the potential for significant thicknesses of massive sulfide mineralization, and we recognized the potential for higher grade mineralization as we moved south towards the Central Zone, perhaps the center of the mineral system. We now recognize that the SES002 lens should be part of the new discovery lens, separated by faulting. Perseverance, continued creative thinking, and strong financial support led to a real success that shows possibilities for further follow-up success." The following summary cross section demonstrates the potential for further mineralization on this section line, in the middle of the Central Zone. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1. SES23-047 cross section showing previous drilling and discovery hole SES002. The mineralized syncline seen here is a continuation from the previously-reported, more northerly sections that show development of an eastern overturned limb, a western normal limb, and development of a robust hinge zone. Further drilling is warranted to develop a potential high grade central zone to the developing system. Potential for further higher-grade mineralization lies from the present 650S section to the 350S section, north of the present drilling, and possibly for another 300 to 400 meters to the south of the 650S section. We are presently drilling at SES23-048, collared approximately 150 SE of SES23-047, on the 800S section. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2. Simplified, schematic diagram of Sesmarias massive sulfide "lenses", actually the limbs of the synclinal mineralization. Note that the Central Zone appears to be open and untested for at least 300 meters in either direction from the 650S section. Presently drilling on the 800S section line at SES23-048. Results and information for SES21-044, Section 350S, may be found in the January 25, 2022 News Release. Results and information for SES026, located approximately 350 meters SE of SES23-047 on the 1000S section, may be found in the March 11, 2019 News Release. Notes on analytical methods and quality control. The JV analyzed the mineralized material at two different laboratories, as the table below demonstrates. For certified, NI43-101 - acceptable assay results, we selected the ME-MS61 method performed by ALS Global at their Seville sample preparation facility and Loughrea, Ireland analytical laboratory. For in-house reasons and desire to have overnight results, we authorized preliminary analytical procedures at the non-certified, MATSA laboratory facilities at the Aguas Tenidas Mine. Click Image To View Full Size Table 1. Fully accredited, NI 43-101 compliant, certified analytical results from ALS Global laboratory highlighted in yellow. Overnight analytical results from MATSA mine lab at Aguas Tenidas, Spain. For technical reasons, at the depth of the Sesmarias mineral intersection, drillers had reduced core size to NQ (47.6 mm diameter). Project personnel collected oriented drill core twice daily from the drill rig and delivered the boxes directly to the Project core storage facilities in Grandola, Portugal. Here, after geological and geotechnical review of the core, a Project geologist measured and marked the core for sampling, with sample length averaging one meter depending on visual factors such as change in texture, style of mineralization, and/or host rock type. Project employees systematically and methodically halved the core, utilizing an electric core saw, and then placed one half of the split material for each sample length into separate, numbered, plastic sample bags. In order to get fast, first-hand results, Project personnel transported the core samples to partner Sandfire MATSA's Aguas Tenidas Mine laboratory in Almonaster la Real, Spain for preliminary, non-certified analytical information. After acquiring the preliminary results, Project personnel carried the sample pulps (-80 mesh material used for metals' digestion) to the ALS Global ("ALS") sample preparation facility in Seville, Spain. ALS directly shipped the pulp material to their main European analytical laboratory located in Loughrea, Ireland. At the analytical laboratory, we requested the samples to be analyzed via the lab's ME-MS61 technique which uses a four-acid, near-total metals' extraction method, followed by analysis using the industry-standard technique of inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). At all times, prior to submission of the samples to ALS Global, Project or Sandfire MATSA personnel maintained supervision, oversight, and custody of the samples. In addition to ALS Global in-house quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) for all work orders, the Project conducted its own normal, internal QA/QC from results generated by the systematic inclusion of certified reference materials, blank samples and field duplicate samples. Project personnel reviewed and evaluated the analytical results from the quality control samples in the SES23-047 work orders, and confirmed that these results conform to industry best practice standards. Minas de Aguas Tenidas, S.A. (Sandfire MATSA) is a modern mining company which owns and operates the MATSA Mining Operations in the Huelva province of Spain. With a processing plant located to the north of the Iberian Pyrite Belt that sources ore from three underground mines, Aguas Tenidas and Magdalena Mines in Almonaster la Real and the Sotiel Mine in Calanas, Sandfire MATSA produces copper, zinc and lead mineral concentrates that are sold from the port of Huelva. Sandfire MATSA also holds an extensive portfolio of exploration tenements in both Portugal and Spain. Sandfire MATSA is a wholly owned company of Sandfire Resources Ltd., a mining and exploration company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: SFR). Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybrid prospect generator business model. The Company holds one 100%-owned license in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, presently optioned to Sandfire MATSA in an earn-in joint venture agreement. The Company now holds one 100%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova gold prospect in Kosovo, and is actively advancing four prospects in central Finland through its in-process acquisition of Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its project generation work in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, presently including Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues to seek and develop other opportunities around Europe. For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com. On behalf of the Board, "Paul W. Kuhn" Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. June 12 - Timmins, Ontario - Melkior Resources Inc. ("Melkior" or the "Company") (TSXV:MKR) (OTC:MKRIF) is pleased to announce it has closed a first tranche of a non-brokered flow-through and non-flow-through private placement (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds of C$659,266, subject to final TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") approval. $298,000 of the financing was provided by two directors of the Company. The Company expects to close a second tranche of flow-through shares at a price of $0.24 per common share in the amount of $150,000 by July 15th. The Company issued 2,663,609 common shares at a price of $0.24 per common share, with each such share issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)(the "Tax Act"). The Company issued 100,000 common shares at a price of $0.20 per common share, with each such share issued as a "non-flow-through share". Participation by insiders of the Company in the Private Placement constitutes a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101, Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Because the Company's shares trade only on the TSX-V, the issuance of the securities is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and exempt from the minority approval requirements of Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.7(b) of MI 61-101. Proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to conduct further exploration on the Company's mineral properties. The Company did not issue finders' fees on this first tranche closing. A Finder's fee may be paid on gross proceeds of the second financing tranche, as permitted by securities laws. All securities issued under the Private Placement will have a hold period of four months and a day from closing. About Melkior Resources Melkior Resources is an exploration stage resource company in world-class mining jurisdictions with a strong partner. Melkior's flagship Carscallen Project is being advanced by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. through an option agreement pursuant to which Agnico Eagle has the option (but not the obligation) to acquire up to a 75% interest to the Carscallen Project by spending $110 million on the Carscallen Project over a 10-year period. See the Company's news release dated September 28, 2020 for more information. Melkior, under 100% ownership, is focused on advancing its Genex, Val D'Or, White Lake and Maseres Projects. Agnico Eagle also owns approximately 6% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Company. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jonathon Deluce, CEO For more information, please contact: Melkior Resources Inc. E-mail: info@melkior.com Tel: 226-271-5170 The reader is invited to visit Melkior's web site www.melkior.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Highlights: Altan Rio enters option agreement to acquire Hakes Find project, 10km from Southern Cross township in the central portion of the Southern Cross Greenstone Belt. An advanced gold prospect in the northwest has seen: Small historical mining operations. Significant previous exploration with multiple high-grade drill intersections that have previously been reported as non-JORC compliant mineral resource. Positive preliminary grab sampling at the advanced Hakes Find prospect including a 10 g/t result. Hakes Find within 30km of third-party processing facility. Upon execution of the agreement to acquire the project, Altan Rio will pay the vendor $A100,000 cash and $A175,000 in shares, plus a 1.5% royalty on the first 23,000 ounces of gold produced. Perth, June 12, 2023 - Altan Rio Minerals Ltd., (TSXV: AMO) ("Altan Rio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company has entered into an option agreement to acquire the Hakes Find gold project, located 10km from the Southern Cross township within the Yilgarn Mineral Field, Western Australia. The Hakes Find tenement area (P77/4607) covers ~1.7km2 and lies within the central portion of the Southern Cross Greenstone Belt, a prolific gold producing region responsible for well in excess of 12 million ounces. The tenement area can be directly accessed by the well-graded Southern Cross Marvel Loch Road. Commenting on the agreement, Altan Rio Chairman and Interim CEO, Graeme Sloan said: "The option agreement for Hakes Find is an exciting acquisition for Altan Rio and could be a potential near-term producing asset. Drilling by previous explorers has intersected high grade gold mineralisation beneath historical mining operations at Hakes Find prospect and will be the target of follow up work. Results from a preliminary grab sampling program recently undertaken by the Company have been very promising and validates the potential of this project. Our next step is to undertake further desktop studies with the aim to define the mineralised envelope along strike and at depth and I look forward to updating the market as we progress this work." Figure 1: Location of Hakes Find Project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8288/169626_f8c70b1cd482eb06_001full.jpg Historical exploration1 Numerous old workings and prospecting pits are scattered throughout the tenement area, accruing since gold was first discovered within the Southern Cross district in the 1880's. A small historical mining operation - Hakes Find - lies within the tenement area and was subject to underground workings down to the water table at ~30 metres depth. Subsequently a small open cut excavation was completed over the old underground mine. Since the 1960's, several drill programs have been conducted across the tenement area by previous owners. The most recent drilling campaigns were conducted in the 1990's by then-owner Finders Gold NL mainly at Hakes Find, which they called their Devlin's Reward prospect. Based on results from their drilling programs, Finders Gold NL estimated a non-JORC compliant mineral resource for Hakes Find in 1995. According to Finders Gold NL, a more coherent central zone was interpreted to hold better potential for eventual economic exploitation with preliminary scoping work suggesting a lower waste to ore stripping ratio compared to the entire gold deposit. Results of metallurgical test work undertaken by Finders Gold NL on drill samples from the Hakes Find deposit indicated sulphide mineralisation may be amenable to processing through a conventional CIP/CIL treatment plant. Recent work Altan Rio has recently undertaken preliminary grab sampling from the face of the pit wall and along strike at Hakes Find (see Figure 2) which has returned significant assay results including: SX029 2.2 g/t SX030 1.8 g/t SX032 10.0 g/t SX033 4.0 g/t Figure 2: Location of grab samples from face of pit wall at Hakes Find To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8288/169626_f8c70b1cd482eb06_002full.jpg Transaction Altan Rio has entered an exclusive six-month option to buy agreement with the vendor for $A25,000 and a six-month extension to the agreement for additional $A25,000. Upon execution of the agreement to acquire the project, the Company will pay vendor $A100,000 cash and $A175,000 in Altan Rio shares plus a 1.5% royalty on the first 23,000 ounces of gold produced from the tenement. On behalf of Altan Rio Minerals Ltd. For more information contact: Graeme Sloan Director / Interim CEO Email: gs@altanrio.com +61 9322 1788 Josh Conner Chief Operating Officer Email: josh.conner@altanrio.com +61 9322 1788 Media David Tasker Chapter One Advisors Email: dtasker@chapteroneadvisors.com.au +61 433 112 936 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Altan Rio to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements, and Altan Rio undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Qualified Person Mr. Neal Leggo, a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG) and an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for the preparation of the technical content regarding the Southern Cross North Project contained in this document. Mr. Leggo is a Principal Geological Consultant with Indeport Pty Ltd. Mr Leggo has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release. QA/QC procedures for the reported grab sampling include Certified Reference Materials and/or Intertek Genalysis in-house controls, blanks and replicates are analysed with each batch of samples at Intertek Genalysis 544 Bickley Road, Maddington WA 6109. 1 Finders Gold NL, 1998. Hakes Find Project, Annual Report for the Period from 1 November 1992 to 31 December 1997 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169626 VANCOUVER, June 12, 2023 - Newcore Gold Ltd. ("Newcore" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NCAU, OTCQX: NCAUF) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (as defined below), whereby the Company intends to raise up to $5,000,000 through an offering of up to 33,333,333 units of the Company (the "Units") to be priced at $0.15 per Unit (the "Offering"). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.20 per Common Share for a period of 12 months following the completion of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund exploration and development activities at the Company's 100% owned Enchi Gold Project in Ghana, as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes. Finder's fees may be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about June 28, 2023, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Offering is being made to purchasers' resident in Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI- 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. person. "U.S. person" and "United States" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at newcoregold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. About Newcore Gold Ltd. Newcore Gold is advancing its Enchi Gold Project located in Ghana, Africa's largest gold producer(1). Newcore Gold offers investors a unique combination of top-tier leadership, who are aligned with shareholders through their 24% equity ownership, and prime district scale exploration opportunities. Enchi's 216 km2 land package covers 40 kilometres of Ghana's prolific Bibiani Shear Zone, a gold belt which hosts several 5 million-ounce gold deposits, including the Chirano mine 50 kilometers to the north. Newcore's vision is to build a responsive, creative and powerful gold enterprise that maximizes returns for shareholders. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Newcore Gold Ltd. Luke Alexander President, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Mal Karwowska | Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations +1 604 484 4399 info@newcoregold.com www.newcoregold.com (1) Source: Production volumes for 2021 as sourced from the World Gold Council Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements that contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the likelihood of the completion of the Offering, the use of proceeds from sales from the Offering, the closing of the Offering and the ability to obtain the necessary regulatory authorizations and approvals, statements about the estimation of mineral resources; results of our ongoing drill campaign, magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; and future exploration prospects. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. The assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Newcore. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of Newcore believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Newcore cannot provide any assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Newcore to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of Newcore's business; Newcore's formative stage of development; Newcore's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold and other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, unusual or unexpected geological formations); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Newcore disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Binotto called Audi F1 chiefs clowns? Mattia Binotto reportedly rejected an offer to become team boss at Audi's new works Formula 1 project. Mattia Binotto, Abu Dhabi GP 2022 Ferrari Mattia Binotto reportedly rejected an offer to become team boss at Audi's new works Formula 1 project. Former McLaren boss Andreas Seidl is now the CEO at Sauber - which will transition to the works Audi outfit in F1 by 2026. But rumours suggest Italian Binotto, the ousted Ferrari team boss, was given a tour of Audi's Neuberg headquarters recently. And according to Business F1 magazine, he was not impressed. "He was somewhat disappointed by what he saw at Audi," the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport also reports. "So much so that in some private messages he sensationally said that some of the characters he met in that meeting were 'clowns'." (GMM) FIA, F1 chiefs admit cars are too heavy FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admit that Formula 1 cars are too heavy. Sergio Perez, Spanish GP 2023 Red Bull FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admit that Formula 1 cars are too heavy. The minimum car-plus-driver weight has skyrocketed with the move to hybrid power units from around 600kg in 2010 to almost 800kg in 2023. "Also the bigger wheels, they're quite a bit heavier as well," world champion Max Verstappen said. "So that for me goes in the wrong direction. "When you jump back in an old car, you definitely feel the difference in how agile an old car was. Before 2010 they were even lighter, right? "But I don't know what we can do about turning it around," he added. A good step in the right direction, however, is that the FIA is at least acknowledging that it is a problem. "We need a lighter car," Ben Sulayem told motorsport-total.com. "It will be difficult to achieve, but everyone wants it. "I come from motorsport where lighter cars are safer and don't use as much fuel. So I'm applying pressure because I come from rallying, where there's nothing worse than having a heavy car," the FIA president added. The heavy electric elements of the power unit regulations are only ramping up for 2026 and beyond, but Domenicali agrees with the FIA chief that it's a good opportunity to try to lower the minimum weight. "One of the points that is discussed again and again is the weight," said the Italian, who admits that heavy cars are "not really in the nature of Formula 1". (GMM) Honduras opens embassy in China (People's Daily App) 14:05, June 12, 2023 Honduras opened its first embassy in China on Sunday, two months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Eduardo Enrique Reina attended the inauguration ceremony. The Central American country severed so-called "diplomatic" relations with China's Taiwan region on March 25 and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on March 26. (Video source: CCTV) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Hard to know how good Piastri is says Ricciardo Daniel Ricciardo says it's "hard to know" just how good his McLaren successor and compatriot Oscar Piastri is faring in his race seat. Oscar Piastri, Monaco GP 2023 McLaren Daniel Ricciardo says it's "hard to know" just how good his McLaren successor and compatriot Oscar Piastri is faring in his race seat. The 33-year-old Australian lost his seat for 2023 despite having a year to run on his contract, off the back of a fallow period with Woking-based McLaren. The team's new star is the Mark Webber-managed 22-year-old Piastri. "It's always tough when looking at a team that is not performing where they want to be," Ricciardo told total-motorsport.com. "Lando (Norris) is the reference, but it's hard to know whether twelfth place is good or not. Saudi was a good sign for Oscar, but since then - sure - Lando's had a bit of an edge. "But it's still early in Oscars' career so you can't probably expect too much from him yet. I think he's hit the ground running. He had a good first lap in Miami. So I think he's been carrying himself pretty well," Ricciardo added. Ricciardo is keeping his toe in the Formula 1 waters with a Red Bull reserve and ambassadorial role, and even doing some commentary on the side. "I think that's the beauty of where I'm at now in my career, where I've done it for 10 years," he said. "I'm a bit more mature, and yes - we all have a bit of pride and a bit of an ego. "But I recognise that that's not going to help me. So I've been able to get past that and have some accountability on my front. "Maybe it wasn't the best for me, but I also probably wasn't the best version of myself. So I'm happy that chapter's done, and now I'm just eyes forward." (GMM) Marko wonders if Netflix series necessary It may eventually not be "necessary" for Formula 1 to cooperate with producers of the officially-sanctioned Netflix series Drive to Survive. Dr Helmut Marko, Austrian GP 2022 Red Bull It may eventually not be "necessary" for Formula 1 to cooperate with producers of the officially-sanctioned Netflix series Drive to Survive. That is the view of Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, who admits that the series has coincided with a huge leap in popularity for the sport. "The number of spectators in Formula 1 is increasing drastically," he told motorsport-magazin.com. "We're talking about an increase in the range of 20 percent." However, he admits that many insiders understand very well that the way Netflix puts the documentary together means that it has "nothing to do with reality". "It was the breakthrough for Formula 1 in America and as long as the number of viewers and the interest are there, you can discuss whether it makes sense or is necessary," said the 80-year-old Austrian. "But the interest is what prevails - and as long as people want that, why shouldn't they have it?" Marko speculates that the Netflix audience is attracted to Drive to Survive because F1 is a "fascinating" counterpoint to many other aspects of modern life. "It probably depends on this anti-mood - with the prohibition and denigration of everything that is fun," said the former F1 driver. (GMM) Political reasons behind Schumacher rejection says Tost Franz Tost admits "political reasons" were behind Mick Schumacher's failed candidature to race for Alpha Tauri in 2023. Mick Schumacher, Mexican GP 2022 Haas F1 Team / LAT Franz Tost admits "political reasons" were behind Mick Schumacher's failed candidature to race for Alpha Tauri in 2023. Haas refugee Schumacher, 24, kept his Formula 1 dream alive for this year with a Mercedes reserve seat, but Alpha Tauri boss Tost admits he wanted Mick to replace the departing Pierre Gasly. "Until Monza it was completely unclear who would be our next driver," Tost, who will hand over his role to Laurent Mekies for 2024, told formel1.de. "And then, logically, I thought of Mick Schumacher," said the Austrian, who has close historical ties with Mick's uncle Ralf Schumacher. "It was clear that Schumacher did not have a seat for 2023, so when I saw that we would have a spot available, I wanted to have him," Tost added. "It was quite a chaotic situation at the time because we had already committed to continuing with our drivers from 2022 but then suddenly Gasly was transferred to Alpine. "I really argued for Schumacher then," he said. But he admits that his proposal was "rejected" when it reached the desk of Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko - with "political reasons" also in the mix. "We're driving with Nyck de Vries now and there's actually nothing more to discuss," he said. As for the Tost-Schumacher link, Marko said Alpha Tauri is a team for Red Bull's junior drivers and not "for personal reasons". However, Tost says German Schumacher is "much better than he is currently perceived by the outside world". But also good, the Alpha Tauri boss insists, is Dutchman de Vries. "He's a good driver too," said Tost. "He is now our driver and then the discussion is over." (GMM) Former minister woos investors in agric Severious Kle-Dery Business News Jun - 12 - 2023 , 17:11 The immediate past Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has invited investors from the international community in the agricultural value chain to take advantage of the opportunities created in the sector by the government. Ghana is ready to receive your investment in this era of our agricultural transformation, he told the guests at the 2023 African investors council forum in Turkey last Tuesday. The forum, organised by the African Investors Council Forum, was on the theme, Agricultural development and investment opportunities in Africa (Ghana as a case study). African unity The theme sought to promote investment in African agriculture as a means to promote economic development on the continent. Dr Akoto stated that the African Unions Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) presented the continent with impressive opportunities for deepening intra-African trade and for advancing the prosperity of the continent overall. I want to challenge all African governments, the private sector and all of us here with a stake in the economic development of Africa to explore a new strategy to unlock the wealth of the continent for the direct benefit of the people of the continent in a meaningful and sustainable way. It is time we stop perceiving Africa as a potential investment destination, but as an actual investment choice for regional trade and foreign direct investments. It is time to create more mutually beneficial opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration with the African continent, Dr Akoto said. Collaboration He admitted that there was a need for more collaboration and political will of all the international actors to provide a level playing field in global trade, making it fairer and mutually rewarding. Such collaboration is what we are discussing today in Turkey, spearheaded by the African Investors Council, he added. Dr Akoto, who is a flagbearer hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stressed that it was imperative for each African State to emphasise the rapid growth of the agricultural sector, which relied more on internally generated resources, supplemented by foreign investment. I strongly believe agriculture can lift Africa out of poverty and assure not only food and nutrition security but also generate the necessary foreign exchange and domestic revenue for the development of the other sectors of our economies, including Industry, health, education and Infrastructure in the medium to long term, the former minister added. He said globally, there was an emerging economic order which was evident from the current economic challenges confronting the world. Food, renewable energy, water and big data will drive this new order; and I believe that Africa has the potential to lead this new order by strengthening all sectors of its economy and transforming agriculture sustainably to feed and enrich its people while contributing to the food and nutrition needs of the 9.7 billion people globally by 2050, Dr Akoto further added. He noted with concern that Africa was plagued with the difficulty in transforming its agricultural sector into a driver of sustainable development, food security and improved livelihoods, and I admit that Africa has not done enough. Over 200 million Africans continue to struggle with food insecurity. This issue has been further deepened by COVID-19, the effects of climate change on agricultural production, political unrest across the continent, macroeconomic instability and the raging debt crisis that many African governments are facing, he said. Dr Akoto, however, said despite those obstacles, the agricultural sector offered immense and significant opportunities to transform Africa's economy from a net importer of food to a provider of food to the rest of the world. Investment He told the gathering that Ghanas dream of using agriculture as the driver for economic development could be traced as far back as the 1920s, yet there has been an inadequate commitment to a full agricultural transformation that yields the needed significant results to lift the country from its economic woes. Dr Akoto, however, said over the last six years, the government laid the foundations for Ghanas economic transformation through agriculture. I am confident that if the foundations laid are built upon, they will lead to a thriving sustainable agriculture to bring about prosperity for all, he further said. The former minister explained that the sector ministry made significant investments in farm inputs to increase agricultural productivity which raised incomes of farmers, and achieved national food security. Planting for Food and Jobs To this end, the ministry instituted the widely touted Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme. The government invested GH2.6 billion as a subsidy to procure and distribute 1.4 million MT of fertiliser and 93,192 MT of improved seeds to over 1.7 million farmers from 2017 to 2021. This investment generated farm output worth GH47.5 billion at the farm gate. This is a huge economic rate of return on public expenditure under the Planting For Food and Jobs programme, he touted. Dickens Hyson Thunde Celebrating the legacy of a hero World Vision Ghana Opinion Jun - 12 - 2023 , 14:55 Dickens Thunde will be retiring from World Vision after over 30 years of working as a development professional and working as National Director for World Vision Ghana from 2017 to 2023. Dickens was a blessing to World Vision Ghana; Dickens raised Ghana's flag high during the 2023 Triennial Council Meeting, the first in West Africa. Achievements Dickens' human-centred and result-focused policies addressed a wide range of challenges, including staff welfare, staff retention, capacity building, structural development, programming, and implementation. All of this improved administration efficiency, resource mobilization, staff effectiveness, delivery and productivity. This strategically positioned and enabled World Vision Ghana to win the top-performing national office award two consecutive times, under his leadership. Furthermore, World Vision Ghana received recognition from the government of Ghana for its contributions to the fight against COVID-19 at the 2023 National Awards Ceremony. In 2021, World Vision Ghana won the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development Award through its Unlock Literacy Project and the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF), Millennium Excellence Award, for Urban and Rural Development. In addition, World Vision Ghana also won the Best HR Management in the NGO Sector Award for the second year running at the 2021 Awards. Going further and touching lives with World Vision Ministry World Vision has reached more than 2 million children with water, sanitation, and hygiene services, education, food, nutrition, and health security interventions. Through the Let the Children Come Project, WVG trained and built childrens capacity to advocate for issues affecting them. This support has made them more self-reliant and develop the skills they need to become leaders in their communities. WVG interventions have positively impacted thousands of children, families, and communities. This has allowed them to reach their potential. Before becoming National Director of World Vision Ghana, Dickens held similar positions at World Vision Kenya and Malawi. He also provided strategic leadership support to World Vision Ethiopia and World Vision Tanzania. Dickens spent his professional career creating an environment where children thrive, families grow, and communities develop. He can best be remembered professionally for his Efficiency, Agility, Grace, Love, Execution, and Speed (EAGLES) strategic framework, his spiritual upliftment and humility. World Vision Ghana will forever remember Dickens for his exemplary leadership. June, the sixth month! Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion Jun - 12 - 2023 , 00:01 The sixth month of the year June, touted by its June-borns as the greatest month, has varied experiences in many Ghanaian families, and evokes varying emotions. It is a month of births, and it is a month of deaths. It is a month of joy, and it is a month of sorrow! Memory Sunday 4th June 2023 was the 44th anniversary of the insurrection/mutiny/ revolution of 4th June 1979. As I watched the celebration on TV, my mind went into memory lane. Having been told that, Ghanaians have short memories, the protagonists believe that, Ghanaians who saw/experienced the atrocities of June 1979 have forgotten. To them, Ghanaians have forgotten that, Generals/Colonels were executed, Judges were abducted and murdered, Businessmen/women were declared thieves and hounded, and Makola women brutalised! Revolutionaries therefore celebrate the violence of the period oblivious of the pain of victims relatives. Sadly, many who saw /suffered the atrocities have been silent, probably because of the potential of violence, which the revolutionaries brag about as their trademark/monopoly. They therefore do not come out openly to educate Ghanaians on what happened. However, Ghanaians have not forgotten the chants of let the blood flow by university students of the time who are todays elderly/old men and women. For anyone who did not experience the violence/deaths of the period, it is easy to reduce 1979/1981 to a mere academic exercise where people display theoretical mental dexterity. However, for victims/anyone who saw it, 4th June 1979 and its aftermath were traumatic/tragic. 4th June 1979 It started as a mutiny by soldiers of the 5th Battalion (Bn) of Infantry at Arakan Barracks, Accra. Earlier, on 15th May 1979, Flt Lt Rawlings, attempted taking over the country by attacking the Recce Regiment where he hoped to commandeer armoured vehicles of the Regiment. Led by our Commanding Officer of the Armoured Recce Regiment Maj Abubakar Sulemana, the attempt was foiled. After being arrested, Rawlings was charged with treason. In a dramatic twist during his trial, he endeared himself to Ghanaians when he told the court that, the men he used for his May 15th attempt were innocent, and that he alone was responsible for what happened. With the corruption/economic malaise in Ghana, Rawlings bold statement resonated with Ghanaians. Events Early on Monday, 4th June 1979, firing started at the 5 Bn of Infantry, Arakan Barracks. The murky situation suggested a mutiny in the offing. As day broke, it was established that, the mutiny was led by a L/Cpl Tasiri. What their grievance was however was not clear. Needing an officer to lead them to the Broadcasting House to announce their take-over of the state, Tasiri approached a captain who refused to be part of the mutiny. The mutineers then decided to release from the Military Intelligence Cell Rawlings who was facing trial for treason for his 15th May 1979 attempted coup. Believing he was going to be killed, Rawlings doggedly refused to come out. Forced out by the mutineers, he sustained a deep cut in his palm from the cells metal door which he had clung to, hence the bandaged hand in subsequent days. Out of the cell, he was driven to the Broadcasting House to announce the take-over of the country by young officers and Other Ranks. Casualties The immediate enemy was the Recce Regiment which had foiled Rawlings earlier attempt. When mortars were fired at the Recce Regiment Square, the first round that landed killed a young soldier instantly. Later during the day, Maj Gen NA Odartey-Wellington, the Army Commander was killed-in-action by the mutineers at the Nima Police Station. Also killed were Colonel Joseph Enninful, the president of the Court Martial which was trying Rawlings, and Mrs Enninful. To the shock of the whole nation on 16th June 1979, Gen IK Acheampong a former Head of State and the Maj Gen EK Utuka, the Border Guards commander were executed by firing squad after a kangaroo court of young officers and some academics found them guilty of corruption. As if the bloodshed was not enough, on 26th June 1979, five other Generals and a Colonel were executed. They were Lt Gen AA Afrifa (Rtd) a former Head of State, Maj Gen FWK Akuffo a former head of State, Maj Gen REA Kotei the CDS, Air-Vice-Marshal Boakye the Air Force Commander, Rear Admiral Joy Amedume the Navy Commander and Col Roger Felli the Minister for Foreign Affairs. But for the threat of intervention by some foreign countries, Ghana was on the path of Menguistu-type Ethiopian-revolution in which many Ghanaians had been earmarked for execution. The three months which followed till power was handed over to President Limann in September 1979, saw many summary executions. Aftermath Many Ghanaians who did not die were traumatized for life. Some promising military officers had to flee Ghana. Shakespeare said unnatural deeds breed unnatural troubles! While many of the revolutionaries who killed died unnatural deaths in what Buddhism/Hinduism call the Law of Karma, those alive defend their revolution, or maintain a discreet silence, or have become very religious. Ironically, having sentenced Generals to death for taking bank loans they were servicing, some individuals have become rich from the spoils of the revolution. Disrespect for authority and indiscipline at the time are the legacy left behind. A senior colleague I served with in the Sinai Desert, Egypt in 1975-76 as UN peacekeepers with the United-Nations-Emergency-Force (UNEF) 2s favorite saying was, if someone takes you for a fool, make him aware that, you are not as foolish as he thinks. You have only chosen to look so for the sake of peace. But it will not last forever! For those who revel in the belief that, Ghanaians have short memories, and bask in the glory of monopoly of violence, remember that Ghanaian families still grieve over relatives they lost. To potential young future adventurists, the history of British Colonel Oliver Cromwell who executed King Charles 1 in 1649, only to be posthumously executed in 1661 is well-documented and studied! Posthumous execution is the ceremonial mutilation of a dead body as punishment. It shows that even in death, one cannot escape justice! As Shakespeares Mark Antony said in Julius Caesar, the evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones! May the souls of all victims of June 4th 1979/31st December 1981 rest in peace. Never again should such blood-thirstiness happen in Ghana! Leadership, lead! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP! The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya and Council Chairman, Family Health University College, Accra He was not in prison cells when I talked to him. That would have meant a trip to the Upper East; for it was into a cell at Bawku he was bundled on the orders of Chairman Rawlings, on December 10, 1991. John Akparibo Ndebugre was released on December 18, 1991 having spent nine days in a Bawku cells for his indifference to the national anthem of Ghana, at a durbar of chiefs. That charge would be ironical for anybody who knows Ndebugres political past. 1982, PNDC Secretary for Northern Region. Same year, appointed Upper Regional Secretary; 1984, Secretary for Agriculture, and later posted to PNDC Secretariat. He resigned in October 1985, and in 1987 and was detained for a period of eight months by security forces. Certainly a man you want to talk to. At least you would want to know the secret behind his non-responsiveness to anthems so you could borrow his we no go stand up when the need arises. And is it surprising for somebody who has resigned from a we no go sit down government to adopt a we no go stand up attitude. As for national anthems, I am glad our obligation to them stops at standing up when they are being played, and does not extend to singing also. There would have been mass arrests. To date, it is not clear how many anthems Ghana has, how many versions of each, and what the words exactly are. Watch closely the lips of players at the Africa cup tournament in Senegal when their national anthem is being played. Many pretend they are singing the silent version. But Ndebugres arrest on the issue of the anthem can hardly be seen in isolation. Against a background of his current political leanings, the strong anti-PNDC sentiments he advocates either on his own or as part of the stance of the Movement for Freedom and Justice, the issue may assume deeper significance. I asked Nde if differences between him and the PNDC Government were such that he had to swing to movements opposed to Rawlings. But Ndebugre is not sure he is in a completely opposite camp. I wont say they are opposite camps; because when I left in 1985, and even before then I was already working with elements within Kwame Nkrumah Revolutionary Guard. We were working long before the 31st December Revolution; and while I was Secretary, I was still in contact with them, and we were discussing problems confronting the Government and the way the Rawlings regime was unable to ultimately address them. It was just then that I resigned, I was free now to join whatever group espousing principles I shared, he said in earnest, frowning. But I sensed it might be significant to touch on the kind of rapport he had with the man who ordered his arrest in Bawku. Was he close to the Chairman while he served in the PNDC? Not as close as others thought. I am not too sure I will describe him as a friend; I just worked with him, and in working with him we worked closely together. He respected my opinion, and there were lots of things that he wanted to discuss with me before he did them. Because we worked so closely it created the impression that we were very good friends; but I will not describe him as a friend, for I never, for instance, shared a bottle of beer with him in his office. Of course, in the early days, anytime we worked so hard we got tired, he ordered some kenkey or some yoke gari and we ate together, but I wont say he was my pal. Even if it is not a question of love turned sour, the fact remained that the two are currently not the best of friends political adversaries if you like. But under what circumstances would political rivals clash on the same durbar grounds? Did Ndebugre anticipate Rawlings visit to Bawku, and plan a fitting confrontation that weekend? A coincidence, he said. The Kusasi people in the Bawku area where I come from, were celebrating what they call the Samanpiid Festival, a harvest festival. I am very closely associated with that festival. The festival used to be celebrated in households, but when I was the Regional Secretary, I thought we should try and upgrade it, so we now have one that is performed by the paramount chief on behalf of the whole area. Because of that I have been monitoring the progress of the festival. We started it in 1983. I have not been attending it, for financial reasons, but this time I thought of attending it. Indeed, I did not know the Chairman was going to be there. It was when I got to Tamale that I heard he will be at the festival. That was the night before the festival, and I had to get there on time to be at the festival What went on in your mind when you heard the Chairman was coming to the festival? What struck me was eh. there is likely to be a problem. The problem I envisaged was different. The paramount chief happens to have some respect for me, and has some respect for the Chairman also. I knew the chief would want to promote some peace between me and Rawlings. But I was not sure the Chairman or I were in the right frame of mind to engage in peace talks.especially me, since I have no personal grudge against him, but I belong to organisations that have principled positions against the Governments policies. So I was uneasy, for I thought I would find myself being compelled to take a position that may contradict the position of my groups. For if he had said I should have a chat with him, I dont think I would have refused. Had the paramount chief tried this earlier? Yes when I was released after my first arrest in 1988, and I travelled home, he was very desirous that the Chairman and I should meet and patch our differences. But I explained to him I have no personal differences; the point is there are policies I dont agree with; and you dont need to love or hate somebody before you disagree with him. Whether the two liked it or not, opportunities prevailed for them to meet eyeball to eyeball. The Chairman was a guest of honour at the Bawku festival and Ndebugre was sitting in close proximity with the chief. But was John Ndebugre part of the official entourage to the Bawku chief to justify such proximity? I was not a part of the entourage. The whole thing arose out of the seating arrangement. The chief was sitting almost directly opposite the official canopy where the Chairman sat, and we formed a large cirlce. The chief was sitting there with his elders and people, including those considered of high standing in the area; so they gave me a seat in the front row. This conspicious position Ndebugre occupied was to play a part in the unfolding drama. Shortly after that, the Chairman arrived, and everybody got up on his feet including myself. The Chairman walked straight to the Paramount Chief, the Bawku Naba; and he shook his hand. He started shaking people anti-clockwise around the circle. When he came to me, he did not shake my hand; he did not shake about three or four others to my right, but then continued. He then proceeded to sit down. Did this omission prepare the ground for what was to follow? In any case, was Ndebugre aware that the Head of State sometimes does not shake every outstrecthed hand, for reasons of sheer practicality? I asked. No, that was not the case in this one. Nde looked convinced from the withdrawn smile originally playing on one side of his lips. In that kind of situation, there is often a stampede but there was no such stampede, not where I was standing. We were standing in a neat line and he just passed me. But was Nde disappointed in the handshake that never came? Was he anxious for it? No, I am normally not anxious to shake hands with anybody. Were you disturbed? No, except that it showed. The manner in which he ignored me showed that there was likely to be trouble. Do you think he probably did not want to create an incident? I dont see how he could have created an incident by shaking hands with me. Later everybody was seated. Then came the national anthem to which everybody was supposed to stand. Did Ndebugre get up too? Click this link for Part 2 Ndebugre and Rawlings on the day 'Nde' was arrested over the national anthem [Part 2] - Occasional Kwatriot Rejoinder: Bank of Ghana responds to Ahumah Ocanseys allegations Daily Graphic Opinion Jun - 12 - 2023 , 08:24 Bank of Ghanas attention has been drawn to a publication in the Friday, 9th June 2023 edition of the Daily Graphic and authored by Ahumah Ocansey, under the caption Misapplication of Money Laundering Act by Ghanaian banks. In this publication, the writer sought to impugn the integrity of the banking system by serving a public notice to the Chief Justice and the Ghana Bar Association to the effect that information available to him suggests subterranean, pervasive and conscious misapplication of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2000 (Act 749) by Ghanaian banks, including the Bank of Ghana, resulting in the seizure of enormous monies remitted to Ghanaians from outside. The writer went further to explain with a scenario that a person opens an account with a bank without proper due diligence, however, when large sums of money are remitted into the account, then the bank seizes the money under the guise of anti-money laundering laws and eventually appropriates the said money as income and distributes it among its directors. Anti-money laundering The Bank of Ghana, based on the submissions of the writer, is tempted to conclude that it seems the writer is not familiar with the anti-money laundering laws and the procedures, including processes governing the laws. Firstly, banks have no right to seize monies of customers remitted through them to their customers. Banks can only file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the regulator of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) activities in the country. When after due diligence they become suspicious the transactions might breach the provisions in the money laundering laws; and on receipt of the STR, the FIC may administratively freeze the accounts for one week for preliminary investigations and subsequently, when they believe further investigations are needed to be conducted, obtain a court order for a longer period (possibly one year, renewable) and then transfer the case to an investigative body such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for further investigations. Where the transaction is investigated and the customer is found culpable, then the customer is arraigned before court for prosecution and possible conviction and confiscation of assets. Financial Action Task Force Secondly, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2000 (Act 749) that the writer copiously referred to in his article has been repealed by the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044). Regulations and guidelines thereto have since been prepared to govern the law in conformity with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations. FATF is the world body that sets the standards for the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing regimes in countries. The Bank of Ghana wishes to state for the record that, to the best of its knowledge, all cases that have come to its notice involving monies purported to have been transferred to customers which appear fraudulent have been reported to the security agencies, including EOCO for investigation and possible prosecution, and confiscation of assets. The Bank of Ghana will want to take the opportunity to assure the public that as a Competent Authority, it conducts effective Anti-Money Laundering off-site and on-site examinations on its regulated institutions and applies sanctions to the institutions proportionate to the level of breaches. The Bank of Ghana has also opened channels for redress of customer complaints in case they are not happy with the services of the regulated institutions. Given the foregoing, it is apparent that it will be very difficult for banks or any of the regulated institutions to misappropriate foreign transfers into customers accounts. The FATF recognises and refers to Lawyers, Accountants and other professionals, who perform services on behalf of their clients in executing transactions as gatekeepers as they will have to contend with managing the risks of the transactions of their clients. The Bank of Ghana will therefore want to urge these gatekeepers and indeed the general public to familiarise themselves with the Anti-Money Laundering laws, procedures and processes for them not to be taken advantage of by miscreants in society. Romania recalls Kenya ambassador after he compared Africans to monkeys International News Jun - 11 - 2023 , 16:21 Romania has recalled its ambassador to Kenya and apologised after he compared Africans to monkeys. Dragos Tigau made the comments during a meeting at a UN building in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, on April 26. According to the AFP news agency, Mr Tigau said "the African group has joined us" when he saw a monkey outside a window. Mr Tigau's behaviour was first made public on Thursday by Kenyan foreign affairs official Kamau Macharia. On Twitter Mr Macharia said he was left "appalled and disgusted" by the incident, and claimed that attempts were made to cover up Mr Tigau's behaviour. African diplomats on Friday demanded a public apology, according to Kenya's Standard newspaper, insisting that a private apology was not enough. On Saturday, Romania announced that it had only been informed of the incident this week and had now begun "a procedure to recall its ambassador". "We deeply regret this situation and offer our apologies to all those who have been affected," the statement from Romania's foreign affairs ministry read. "Any behaviours or comments of a racist nature are completely unacceptable," it added, saying it hoped it would not affect its ties with African countries. Romania mainly engages with African nations through its membership of the European Union, but it has bilateral trade deals with Egypt among others. The Kenyan government has not commented on the decision to recall Mr Tigau. Romanian media have criticised his behaviour, and say this is not the first time the country has been embarrassed by insults dished out by diplomats. In 2014, Romania's ambassador to Armenia was recalled after making anti-Semitic jokes about Jewish bosses and questioning the morality of same-sex relationships. The following year, Bucharest apologised after invitations to a reception at its Paris embassy accidentally included unflattering descriptions of some guests - labelling them "ghastly" and "undesirable" among other things. At Akropong School for the Blind . . .Female students sensitised to menstrual cup usage Haruna Yussif Wunpini Education Jun - 12 - 2023 , 12:31 Female pupils and students of the Akropong School for the Blind in the Akuapem North Municipality in the Eastern Region have been taken through how to use a menstrual cup. The cup is a device to contain menstrual flow which can be emptied and reused during menstruation period. It is fast replacing menstrual pad but many females do not know how to properly use it. The exercise was organised in the school last Friday by Hope of Africa Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with financial support from OXFAM. It was part of activities the NGO earmarked for this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day. Presentation At the event, the foundation presented packs of disposable and reusable sanitary pads to the girls in the school to enable them to stay in class whenever they are having their periods. The girls were then taken through the use of the new menstrual cup. Educating the pupils and students, the Programmes Manager of the foundation, Vincentia Koranteng Asante, said the choice of the school was because the pupils and students were "special people" and should be guided on the proper usage of the menstrual cup. Giving the history of the celebration of the menstrual hygiene day, Ms Asante stated that it started in 2014 by an NGO, WASH United. That initiative, she indicated, was to sensitise girls and young females to menstruation and how to hygienically deal with it. The Programmes Manager said it was also to educate them on how to take care of themselves when using the menstrual cup in such a way that they would not be infected with diseases during menstruation. Ms Asante stressed the need for the government to remove taxes on sanitary pad to lessen financial burdens faced by adolescent girls during their menstrual periods. She said the essence was to do away with stigmatisation and some norms associated with menstruation. Norms A Gender Advisor of Oxfam Ghana, Thelma Hayford, called for myths around menstruation to be fully addressed, saying that menstruation was normal for girls. She appealed to boys to support their girls in school during their menstrual period. The Senior Housemistress of the school, Christine Soboh, who received the items on behalf of the school, thanked the foundation for the gesture and promised to distribute it to the girls in the school to serve the intended purpose. Air Vice Marshall Bekoe inducted Chief of Air Staff Emmanuel Bonney Jun - 12 - 2023 , 05:31 Air Vice Marshall (AVM), Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe, has been inducted into office as the 21st Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Air Force. Prior to his appointment early this year, he was the Air Officer Special Duties at the Jubilee House and was responsible to the Chief of Staff at the Presidency on all matters relating to the presidential aircraft. AVM Bekoe has a rich flying experience and holds an Airline Transport Licence. He flies the presidential aircraft and has flown five presidents in succession. Personalities In attendance at the event held yesterday at the Garrison Methodist Presbyterian Church at Burma Camp in Accra were the Ministers of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul; Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, and the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante. The others are serving and retired serving officers, past and present service chiefs, the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Kwame Asuah Takyi; the Chief Fire Officer, Julius A Kuunuor, traditional rulers, members of clergy, family members and friends. The rest were the Member of Parliament for Achiase, Kofi Marfo; the MP for Korle Klottey, Dr Zanetor Rawlings, and the MP for Akyim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah. AVM Bekoe, who takes over from AVM Frank Hanson, was inducted into office by the Director General of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces, Rev. Commodore Paul Adjei-Djan. Trust In his address, AVM Bekoe was grateful to the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and the government for the appointment and the trust reposed in him. AVM Bekoe, who has served the Ghana Air Force in various capacities, among other things, said he would work tirelessly with dedication to duty in the execution of his work, and that his doors would be open 24/7. He said his leadership style would be an all-inclusive one and that his vision for the Ghana Air Force would be to have a smart air force capable of defending the country and its territorial air space against threats. The strategy then, AVM Bekoe said, was to build the capacity of the air force and promised to instill discipline as well as be fair and firm. Recognition The Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, who was the Guest of Honour, said the appointment of AVM Bekoe was in recognition of his dedication to duty to the Ghana Armed Forces and the country. He implored all to see his appointment as ordained by God, adding that throughout his career, he had demonstrated decisive, strong and impactful leadership with courage and a high sense of loyalty. In a sermon on the theme: The Faithful God is our Centre of Gravity, the Director of Air Force Religious Affairs, Apostle Col. Benjamin G. Kumi-Woode, said the Lord God Almighty was a formidable, enduring and an impregnable centre of gravity to all who trusted and put their confidence in Him. Kumasi Club: Court dismisses Owusu Nyarkos defamation claim Kwadwo Baffoe Donko Jun - 12 - 2023 , 10:09 The Court of Appeal in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region last Friday affirmed that some members of Kumasi Club did not defame Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko when they referred to him as a quack and fake medical doctor. The court, consequently, upheld the decision of the Kumasi High Court, which dismissed the defamation suit filed against six trustees of the club by its former Chairman, Mr Nyarko. The appellate court maintained that Mr Nyarko, though a General Nurse, portrayed himself as a medical doctor and as such the High Court was right in dismissing his defamation application. The three-member panel presided over by Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah was unanimous in their decision and, accordingly, dismissed the first two grounds of the application. The court, however, set aside the cost of GH100,000 awarded to each of the defendants and reviewed it to GH20,000 each. According to the judges, the court took into consideration all the proceedings of the High Court and those who attended the court and believed that the GH100,000 was on the high side. The court also awarded a cost of GH20,000 against the applicant. In April last year, the Kumasi High Court slapped Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko with a GH600,000 cost for failing in a defamation suit against six members of the club. That was after the court had dismissed the defamation application brought against the defendants by the plaintiff. The defendants were Kwame Brenya, Norman Owusu Barnie, Henry Asumadu, Kofi Owusu Ansah, Andy Arhin and Kojo Sarpong. The High Court held that evidence on record showed that Mr Nyarko was not a medical doctor but had presented himself as such to the Kumasi Club. It was, therefore, the considered view of the court that the defendants were justified in calling him those names and, therefore, no case of defamation had been made. A man could not complain that his character or reputation had been injured if what was said about him was true or substantially true, the court said. Some of the defendants and their lawyer, Kennedy Kwarteng after the ruling last Friday Appeal Not satisfied with the ruling, Mr Nyarko appealed against the decision of the High Court at the Court of Appeal and prayed the court to review the cost awarded against him as it was excessive. It was his belief that the decision of the High Court was against the weight of the evidence and that the court erred in law and on the face of the admissions when it held that the actions of the defendants did not constitute defamation. Defamation On May 26, 2020, Mr Nyarko dragged the six members to the Kumasi High Court for defamation. He accused the six of raining insults on him on the clubs official WhatsApp platform by calling him a fake doctor, quack, dishonest and criminal. However, in its ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the High Court and added that it had reviewed all the proceedings and was of the view that the defendants/respondents were justified in referring to Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko as a quack doctor because he had always held himself out to members of the Kumasi Club that he was a medical doctor when he was not. He was rather a General Nurse parading as a qualified medical doctor. So if the defendants/respondents refer to him as a fake and quack ... they are justified, the court held. Mempeasem chief says he did not stand to observe national anthem because he felt 'weak' Enoch Darfah Frimpong Jun - 12 - 2023 , 16:02 The chief of Mempeasem in Accra, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw has apologised for not standing up to observe the national anthem at last Friday's Green Ghana event at the University of Ghana campus. According to Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, he felt "weak" and was not feeling well on that day, and hence his inability to stand for the national anthem. In a statement issued Monday, July 12, 2023, in reaction to media reports on the incident in relation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's directive for the chief to stand up, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw said he immediately apologised through the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey last Friday at the event grounds. He explained that his medical condition prevented him from standing up for the national anthem last Friday. GREEN GHANA: Was President Akufo-Addo's reaction related to chiefs refusal to stand for national anthem [VIDEO & PHOTOS] https://t.co/C5Z9dgTUHR pic.twitter.com/GqLvyrAOwD GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) June 11, 2023 What happened? A viral video of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo telling the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey to put the chief of Mempeasem in Accra, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, and his elders to order during last Friday's national tree planting exercise dubbed Green Ghana Day has sparked conversations. During the national anthem, the president spotted the chief of Mempeasem in Accra, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, and his elders seated. The president directed the Greater Accra Regional Minister to quickly call them to order. The event was at the University of Ghana campus, where dignitaries gathered to grace the Green Ghana Day initiative on Friday, June 9, 2023. Graphic Online's presidential correspondent, Donald Ato Dapatem reported that the unusual act of not standing up during the national anthem caught the attention of most of the people at the grounds, including President Akufo-Addo, who was the special guest. Immediately President Akufo-Addo, entered the grounds, as has become routine with his attendance at durbars around the country, he went round to exchange pleasantries with the people, including some school children holding placards about the need to plant and nurture trees and the chiefs before taking his seat. After that, President Akufo-Addo climbed the dais, which was directly opposite where Nii Ampaw and his elders were seated. The MC, Kafui Dey, announced that all should stand up for the Ghana Armed Forces Central Band that was seated right beside Nii Ampaw and his elders, to play the national anthem. It was observed that throughout the duration of the anthem, Nii Ampaw and his elders did not get up. Everybody at the grounds, including the primary school pupils, who were shouting in excitement because they had seen the President, kept mute and stood up. Shortly after the anthem had ended, the President directed the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to inquire from the chief and his elders why they refused to get up. The huge framed Regional Minister, jumped from the dais, briskly dashed to where the chief and his elders were seated and had a word with them. After this incident, the chief and his elders were getting up at the least announcement. Graphic Online observed that the chief and his elders stood up when the second national anthem was played to mark the end of the programme. Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw's explanation The chief of Mempeasem in his explanation in the statement issued Monday said he had arrived at the event earlier in the day and had been waiting for long and therefore was feeling weak. "... I will like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand to observe of the national anthem. No patriotic son of the land will do so, let alone a chief, more so in the presence of the president and other distinguished guests." "I did not stand up to observe the national anthem because I felt weak. Even though I was not well and was on medication, I endeavoured to attend the programme because I share the vision of the President for the Green Ghana Day initiative. I was hoping everything will go as planned so I could retire home in time to continue with my recuperation. "Unfortunately for me, the programme commenced rather late, I had been sitting for a considerable period of time and thus, felt weak from the efforts of the medication and my ill health, by the time the national anthem was being observed, which was why I was unable to stand on my feet to observe it." "...I immediately apologised through the Regional Minister to the President. After that, even though I was still not feeling well, I did my best to stand on my feet for the opening prayer and subsequently, the second observation of the national anthem at the end of the programme in reverence to the President and all the distinguished guests. This is contrary to the erroneous impression being created in some circles that I sat throughout the programme. "I wish to assure the president and the good people of Ghana, that I am law abiding citizen of this country and also as a chief, it is incumbent on me at all times to uphold the sovereignty of this nation as enshrined in the national anthem. "I will like therefore [to state that], but for my temporary incapacitation, I will never refuse to willfully properly observe something as important as the national anthem. I am therefore by this communication, unreservedly apologising, and also encouraging all Ghanaians to exercise restraint with their reactions, especially as directed to the number gentleman of the land. "The president is the custodian of our sovereignty and thus, it is his duty at all times to be zealous in defending same. I wish to thank all Ghanaians for their concern for our forward march and wish mother Ghana peace and prosperity. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make it great and strong." Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh World Day Against Child Labour: CHRAJ calls for review of social protection policies in Ghana Getrude Ankah Nyavi Jun - 12 - 2023 , 13:00 The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has urged the government to review the various social protection policies in Ghana. CHRAJ has also called for need to increase resource allocation to aid in the effective implementation of poverty alleviation initiatives as well as reduce cost opportunities to primary and secondary school enrolment and retention. According to the commission, insufficient resource allocation by government has impeded the effective implementation of some of the social protection policies such as the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), the School Feeding Programme and the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy intended to help alleviate poverty and encourage the enrolment and retention of children in schools. In a statement marking this year's World Day Against Child Labour, CHRAJ noted that investing in resources will ensure all children especially from households with limited or declining household incomes, the equal opportunity to access quality education and be protected from physical and psychological abuse. This years theme is Social Justice for all. End Child Labour. The commission further called on government and relevant ministries, departments and agencies to work assiduously towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 target to eliminate the worst forms of child labour including the recruitment and use of child soldiers, as well as to end all forms of child labour by 2025. The statement signed by the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr. Joseph Whitall, said "The government of Ghana is entreated to ratify the UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography to help protect children from commercial sexual exploitation; which is categorized as a worst form of child labour", he added. "There is the urgent need to prevent the occurrence of child labour, as it deprives affected children especially from poor households the equal opportunity at education for better future and to prevent intergenerational poverty. No matter the social background of children, none of them deserve to be left behind in child labour and its associated human rights abuse". Attached below is the full copy the statement: Governments must prioritise gender in energy transition - International summit advocates Doreen Andoh Jun - 12 - 2023 , 16:44 This years International Gender Summit has ended in Accra with a call on governments, particularly in Africa, to shape the energy transition pathways and processes to prioritise its impact on women. Policy frameworks and targets created must also recognise the needs of all citizens. This is very critical to ensuring inclusive and sustainable development, because all work together to move the world towards a sustainable future that works for all of us, panellists at the summit agreed. This year's summit, the 23rd globally and the fourth to be held in Africa, focused on mainstreaming gender, particularly women in Africas energy transition pathways and the green new deal. Summit The Gender Summit was established in 2011 to facilitate a dialogue on gender equality issues in science. The two-day summit in Accra, on the theme: "Africa's energy transition pathways and vision of the Green New Deal through a gender lens," was convened by a not-for-profit organisation, Portia Limited UK, and hosted by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana. The participants included policymakers, researchers, scientists, energy experts and stakeholders from around the world, including representatives from the European Union and ECOWAS. Making women inclusive In an address, the Global Chief Executive Officer of AIMS, Lydie Hakizimana, said the Gender Summit-Africa '23 provided preliminary steps to ensure that women were part of determining Africa's vision of the Green New Deal (GND) and the process of transitioning swiftly to sustainable energy, which is yet to be clearly defined. She defined gender mainstreaming to mean the needs and experiences and priorities of both men and women being considered in all policies and decision-making processes. She said mainstreaming gender in the energy transitions pathways would ensure that policies and financial planning instruments were inclusive. This is very critical to ensuring inclusive and sustainable development, because all work together to move the world towards a sustainable future that works for all of us. The worrying concern is that in the context of UN Sustainable Development Agenda the goals closely connected to the aims of GND, namely SDGs 7 (energy), 9 (industry and innovation),12 (responsible consumption)and 13 (climate action) are silent' on gender in that they have no gender targets and no gender indicators, she said. Climate change and women Ms Hakizimana said research showed that environmental degradation caused by climate change had gender-specific impacts and that low-carbon transitions and climate mitigation efforts could involve power struggles and processes of exacerbating vulnerability, and critically, that the "greening" of energy systems might not make them any fairer, inclusive or just, without recognition of and specific interventions to address gender concerns. The Managing Director of Portia Ltd, UK, Dr Elizabeth Pollitzer, said the summit was a platform for dialogue among stakeholders as it was aimed at reaching consensus where improvements to science knowledge and science practice were needed to ensure that gender equality in research and innovation was the norm and so as to embed gender as a primary dimension of quality. Ghanas pathway Contributing to a panel discussion on High Level Panel: Strategies and partnerships for sustainable green transition in Africa, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapah, said government in drafting its national energy transition, was prioritising the positive impact it would have on women and the youth. It had, thus, formulated a policy that seeks to mainstream energy-related gender concerns and align them with wider health and safety as well as environmental standards, by inculcating cleaner technologies and cleaner fuel for cooking. That would ensure that the 30.5 million hours used by women and youth to gather wood fuel would be saved. Cleaner fuel for cooking In his submission, Mr Krapah explained that apart from the policy, government had also introduced a cylinder recirculation programme, which had the free distribution of cylinders to encourage the use of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking in place of wood fuels. We have a policy to distribute 500,000 of them and so far, we have distributed over 400,000 of them across the country to introduce women more and more to cleaner fuels and technologies for cooking, he said. Other panellists included the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of the Political Section European Union Delegation to Ghana, Pieter Smidt Van Gelder and the Director for ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, Monka Sandra Oualte. Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, said the issue was an economic one and that the country was prioritising gender in energy transition as an opportunity to do social restitution as far as women were concerned. LGBTQ+ does not have space in Ghanas culture Islamic group Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Jun - 12 - 2023 , 09:25 An organisation with the objective to protect the morality of Islam, Ghanaian cultural values and the wellbeing of future generations, has called on the entire citizenry to push for the immediate passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, into law. If passed, it said, the bill would provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values thereby forbidding and criminalising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) and related activities and provide protection and support for victims of LGBTQ. The organisation, Agbadzena Muslim Youth Movement, said homosexuality and its related ideologies did not have any space in the nations culture or ethnic groups across the 16 regions and as such would be unfair to impose a foreign ideology onto a group of people who despised it. It is inconsistent with the democratic principles of sovereign states of which Ghana is one of them. It is against natural rule of justice and this release will send a very strong signal to the leadership of our beloved country to support the decision of passing this pending Bill on the anti LGBTQI+ 2021 into law, it said at a press conference held in Accra last Saturday. As part of the event, organised in collaboration with the Concerned Citizens of Ghana, there was an open forum which brought together Islamic and Christian leaders to sensitise the community, particularly children, to the ills in engaging in such acts. Commitment, ungodly The spokesperson of the movement, Abubakar Alhassan, said the group would do everything legally possible to ensure the passage of the Bill. The District Youth Leader of the Church of Pentecost (COP) in Kotobabi, Joseph K. Frimpong, urged people to desist from engaging in such acts because God had professed curses and destruction on any nation that would do so and quoted Genesis chapter 19, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah to buttress his point. When you look at this, you will realise that it is something that God does not accept and Leviticus attests to it that people who engage in it, are not forgiven. So our generation will not disappoint God, he added. For his part, the spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, said the National Chief Imam fully supported the passage of the Bill into law because based on the doctrines of Islam, any activity related to the LGBTQ was completely abominable. He commended the movement and personalities such as the Speaker of the Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, for publicly supporting the Bill, adding that even though there were some very rich and powerful entities pushing the ideology through concepts such as education and human rights, they continued to stand their grounds. The Greater Accra Mushie Chief, Is-Hak Sulleman Naaba Sigirie I, said if all activities of LGBTQI+ were not clamped down with stiffer sanctions to deter people from practising it, the group would organise all faith-based institutions to demonstrate against people or institutions giving support or working with LGBTQI+ community. We are calling on all well-meaning Ghanaians to use their media to advocate against the activities of LGBTQI+. And to all those pushing or practising these acts, if your father and mother hadn't given birth to you, will you be alive today? He questioned. Make a will to protect assets Daily Graphic Jun - 12 - 2023 , 09:55 The Senior Legal and Governance Manager at the Enterprise Group PLC, Cynthia Apeadu, has charged every adult Ghanaian to endeavour to have a will in order to avoid squabbles and disputes that occur in the event of death. That, she said, was because A Will is a document which expresses your intention of how to disburse your personally acquired properties and assets. Thus, it is imperative you write a will to state clearly how your properties and affairs should be distributed and managed. She made the statement during a panel discussion on The Tomorrow Today Webinar, a monthly financial advisory series organised by Enterprise Trustees. Webinar The webinar, held on the topic Succession Planning - Wills, Beneficiary Nomination & Management, highlighted the importance of writing a will and nominating beneficiaries. Ms Apeadu said Without a will, the Intestate-Succession-Act-1985 (PNDCL 111) will kick in and the law only gives room to some specified persons, including spouse, children and surviving parents. Perhaps those may not be the only people you intend to bequeath your assets to, she said, adding that Having a will gives you the power to decide who gets what. So, in simple terms, without a will, the intestate succession law will decide what happens to your assets after an individual's demise. This can be a tedious, lengthy and expensive process, compared to a will which allows surviving beneficiaries faster and easier access to your assets. Essence For his part, the Head of Consumer Experience at Enterprise Trustees, Nana Asante Amoako, explained the essence of adding beneficiaries to ones financial products/policies such as Pension Accounts. He clarified during his submission that beneficiaries were people or entities that had been legally designated to receive the benefits from ones financial products or accounts. Thus, recording those names allowed the executors to better distribute the funds and assets accordingly without any constraint. Nana Amoako explained that by the Ghana Pensions Law, Act 766 A will cannot determine the beneficiaries on ones pension funds benefits, that is why the administrators of your pensions accounts require nomination of beneficiaries Battles It is estimated that about 80 per cent of people in Ghana died without a will, leaving their families and loved ones sometimes in prolonged battles over their properties and assets. Enterprise Trustees, organisers of The Tomorrow Today webinar series, is the Pensions Management subsidiary of Enterprise Group Plc. Malaria boosted COVID-19 resistance - Research establishes Augustina Tawiah & Diana Mensah Jun - 12 - 2023 , 07:59 The prevalence of malaria in Africa played a major role to lower the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the devastation on other continents. That was the conclusion of a research conducted by scientists at the University of Ghana, Legon. According to the findings, COVID-19 and malaria had similar symptoms, with the majority of the people being asymptomatic (without clinical symptoms). The study also discovered that the high exposure to malaria parasites created clinical immunity for their tolerance which was acquired after repeated infections. The tolerance that is acquired through bombardment with malaria parasites, the study revealed, helps in the fight against other pathogens that have similar mechanism of the disease such as COVID-19. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs of the university, Professor Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare, disclosed the findings of the research study at his inaugural lecture at the university last Thursday. Prof. Awandare, who led a team to conduct the research, was speaking on the topic: How our immune system acquires tolerance to malaria and helped us survive COVID-19. The lecture formed an essential component of the universitys programme for the academic year and every academic who rose to the rank of a professor in his or her career at the university was expected to deliver an inaugural lecture. It offers the university the opportunity to recognise and showcase the academic achievement of its faculty and also enables professors to share their research with colleagues within and outside the university, while celebrating an important milestone with family and friends. Malaria is not such a curse. Data indicates that malaria-induced tolerance to inflammatory stimulation protected us from severe COVID-19 and death, he said. Citing a series of research which the team conducted to arrive at their conclusion, Prof. Awandare, who is also the founding director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), said evidence from the research established that the immune system learnt how to tolerate malaria parasites after repeated infections by inhibiting the cells from responding to further stimulation. Further, he said the work, which extended to COVID-19, showed that the immune cell reprogramming that was acquired from living in a malaria-endemic area protected Ghanaians and, for that matter, Africa against the development of severe disease during infections by the SARS-CoV-2. These findings, he said, contributed to a better understanding of the global dynamics of COVID-19 infections and mortality. The coronavirus disease originated from Wuhan, China, in early December 2019. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, the first such designation since declaring H1N1 influenza a pandemic in 2009. Quoting the WHO, Prof. Awandare said as of May 31, 2023, confirmed cases of the disease globally was 767,364,883 as against 9,532,788 recorded for Africa and 171,653 for Ghana. On the other hand, the number of confirmed deaths globally was 6,938,353, while that of Africa and Ghana were 176,371 and 1,462 respectively. While acknowledging that the figures recorded for Africa and Ghana could be higher than the official figures, he said, the research disputed various theories that had been cited as the reasons for Africas low figures, including the fact that the weather of Africa made it difficult for the disease to survive among Africans. He said the research work was done in Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana where over 20,000 people were tested. While calling on Africa to be ready for the next pandemic, Prof. Awandare said COVID-19 showed that Africa had scientists who could be counted on. He, therefore, called for the building of scientific capacity and support for institutions such as the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) so they could train more people and come up with more scientific works. Prof. Awandares profile The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, described Prof. Awandare as a professor of biochemistry born in Bolga in 1974. He completed his O-Level at the Notre Dame Seminary Secondary School in Navrongo and A- Level at the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Legon, while obtaining his BSc and MPhil in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana. He also obtained his PhD in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Prof. Awandare has worked as a research assistant at the Immunology Unit of NMIMR, the University of Ghana, and the Unite dImmunologie Moleculaire des Parasites, Institut Pasteur, Paris. He was appointed lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry of the university in 2002 and later became the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs in December 2021. He has expertise in cell and molecular biology, immunology and genetics and has done a lot of research works with the majority being on malaria. Man pleads guilty to illegally shipping firearms from US to Ghana Graphic.com.gh Jun - 12 - 2023 , 00:05 A Columbia man has pleaded guilty to illegally shipping firearms out of the US via the Port of Baltimore, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. Eric Nana Kofi Ampong Coker, age 41, of Columbia, Maryland, last week pleaded guilty to the illegal export of firearms. According to his guilty plea, since 2017 Eric Nana Kofi Ampong Coker has purchased at least 81 firearms from three separate Maryland Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) and in 2019 received Regulated Firearms Collector status through the Maryland State Police, which waived the restriction on the number of firearms he could purchase during a 30-day period. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled Ampong Coker's sentencing for 2 p.m. on September 6, 2023, state staff said In 2019, he obtained a Regulated Firearms Collector status through the Maryland State Police, which waived the restriction on the number of firearms he could purchase during a 30-day period, state staff said. During the course of their investigation into the illegal exportation of firearms, investigators learned that, prior to 2021, Coker had a history of shipping vehicles to Ghana, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. In May 2021, federal agents surveilled Coker as he retrieved firearms purchased from one of the licensees. They then watched him visit a variety of locations, including a business that packaged and shipped items from the Port of Baltimore, state staff said. A shipping vehicle was seen leaving the location on May 27, 2021, state staff said. Two days later, on May 29, 2021, Coker was searched as he was headed to Ghana from Detroit, Michigan. Law enforcement officials seized from his luggage foam cutouts used for packaging and securing firearms in gun cases, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. The following month, Homeland Security Investigations officers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents identified a shipping container scheduled to depart the Port of Baltimore for Tema, Ghana, state staff said. Among the listed contents in the container was a 2018 Toyota Corolla that was registered to Coker. That list did not mention any firearms, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. That month, federal agents searched the contents of the shipping container, state staff said. They found a grey suitcase in the trunk of the Toyota Corolla. Inside the lining of the suitcase, the agents found five 9-millimeter handguns that had been purchased by Coker, state staff said. During the course of their investigation, law enforcement officers tracked down another shipping container containing vehicles associated with Coker that was bound for Ghana, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. That container was loaded and shipped from the Port of Baltimore in May 2021, state staff said. It was intercepted at sea on June 14, 2021, and returned to Baltimore on August 20, 2021, without being off-loaded in Ghana or any other port along the way, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. Federal agents searched the container on August 25, 2021, and found six 9-millimeter handguns and 16 9-millimeter pistol magazines in vehicles associated Coker, state staff said. Coker admitted to investigators that all of the firearms and magazines were identified on the U.S. Department of Commerce Control List, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. He also admitted that he had not obtained the required license or written approval to export the weapons to Ghana, state staff said. Coker faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for illegally exporting firearms, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled Coker's sentencing for 2 p.m. on September 6, 2023, state staff said. Eric Nana Kofi Ampong Coker's guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Stephen Maloney, Director of Field Operations for the Baltimore Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). NEIP votes GH40m for innovation hubs Donald Ato Dapatem Jun - 12 - 2023 , 04:43 The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has provided GH40 million to 30 entrepreneurship and innovation hubs across the country. The grant programme is to support the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem by building the capacities of entrepreneurship hubs to bring up the quality of their services to international standards. The selected hubs, which received up to GH2 million, will be supported to run programmes that would benefit firms and startups within various communities in the country. The Chief Executive of NEIP, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, disclosed the details to the Daily Graphic when he signed the agreement with the various hubs at a ceremony in Accra last Friday. This is a grant programme to support the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem by building the capacities of entrepreneurship hubs to bring the quality of their services up to international standards, he added. Dubbed Hubs Acceleration Grant Programme, the ceremony was witnessed by officials from the World Bank Country office, the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) of the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP), the Project Consultants from Deloitte and the Ghana Hubs Network. Mr Nkansah explained that the latest grant was under component three of the governments GETP, which was being supported by the World Bank. He added that the support was aimed at addressing the limited development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and an ecosystem for supporting entrepreneurship. That, he explained, included early-stage financing to strengthen a growth model conducive to economic transformation to attract higher levels of investment as well as enhance productivity and growth of the economy. The beneficiaries would be provided with technical assistance and capacity-building to address gaps identified during a benchmarking exercise. Selection Mr Nkansah noted that the beneficiaries were selected based on factors such as being legally registered in Ghana, being 100 per cent Ghanaian owned, must have operated as an Enterprise Support Organisation in the country for at least three years. For other selection criteria, the beneficiary hubs must have core expertise in entrepreneurship support and business acceleration, must be able to present a qualified and competent team of business development experts, mentors, trainers and must be able to demonstrate standard business practices such as good corporate governance, bookkeeping, accounting and so on. Hubs Network The President of the Ghana Hubs Network, Josiah Eyison, commended the role NEIP had played since 2017 to enhance the capacities of hubs in the ecosystem. He said although the money was a grant, the hubs would work hard to pay back in the form of innovation, employment and overall improvement in the economy. The GEPT Component Three Specialist, Alhaji Mahmoud Tahir, advised the hubs to make conscious efforts to utilise the funds by making a great positive impact on the economy. He charged the hub beneficiaries to adopt modern corporate governance practices in running their businesses. The Coordinator of the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU), Franklin Ashiadey, commended the hubs and advised them to take advantage of the opportunity to create legacies. He also encouraged them to create the space for ideation and to move those ideas to the market. The Lead Consultant of the project, Francis Opoku Mensah, advised the hubs to pay back the grant in kind through employment, creation and nurturing of innovative ideas to benefit the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. Stop indiscriminate tree felling - New Juaben Omanhene charges public Haruna Yussif Wunpini Jun - 12 - 2023 , 12:15 The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, has asked the public, especially illegal miners who cut down trees indiscriminately in forests in the Eastern Region, to desist from doing so. He said apart from destroying the ecology of the area, cutting down the trees would also hasten climate change associated with numerous negative impacts on human habitation. Daasebre Kwaku Boateng made the call at the regional launch of the Green Ghana Project in Koforidua in the New Juaben North Municipality in the Eastern Region last Friday. Seedlings The initiative was to plant and nurture 600,000 tree seedlings of various species ranging from ornamental trees to cash crops, shrubs and fruits, among others. He warned that it was dangerous to continuously cut down trees indiscriminately in the forests. Dasebre Kwaku Boateng said if Ghanaians had for a long time protected the forest by not cutting down the trees, the people would not have been experiencing the negative effects of the weather or climate change. He said although one could not totally abstain from cutting down trees due to their uses in the construction industry, it was necessary to do so sustainably by planting new ones to replace them. Preservation Daasebre Boateng lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his effort to preserve the country's forests. The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, said the Green Ghana Initiative was instituted as part of measures to curb the incessant degradation of the forests for years without any conscious effort to replace them. Human activities such as illegal mining and illegal logging, he indicated, had impacted negatively on the vegetation. The regional minister said it had, therefore, become imperative for the government to adopt the necessary measures to restore the lost forest cover. Mr Acheampong asked traditional rulers, community members, farmers, teachers, students, churches, Muslim communities and other religious and identifiable groups to collect seedlings from designated points to be planted. The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben North, Comfort Asante, and her counterpart in New Juaben South, Isaac Appaw-Gyasi, appealed to residents of the area to take the responsibility for the survival of the tree seedlings planted. TB Programme makes inroads in case detection Doreen Andoh Jun - 12 - 2023 , 08:06 The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and its partners have made inroads in finding increased number of tuberculosis (TB) cases, an important milestone towards fighting the pandemic. Case detection went up by 20 per cent from 13,278 in 2021 to 16,650 cases in 2022. The stepping up of efforts at finding TB cases to facilitate treatment of patients is due to the high incidence and death rate in the country. The GHS data shows that the highly infectious TB claims 30 lives and infects 125 people daily in the country although the disease is preventable and treatment is for free. At a media sensitisation workshop on TB in Accra last Saturday, the Manager of the National TB Programme, Dr Adusi-Poku, said although testing was key to controlling the spread, access to diagnostic services was a major challenge for the programme. Equipment He said the first line of diagnostic test was the equipment called Genexpert which was available in 168 out of the 216 districts in the country. World Health Organisation data shows that out of the estimated 45,000 new TB cases in Ghana, only 13,600 (30 per cent) were diagnosed on time and put on treatment. This means that 70 per cent of TB cases were not detected, thus they are excluded from accessing any life-saving medication. The workshop was organised by non-governmental organisations in health: the Hope for Future Generation, Stop TB Ghana partnership and led by the GHS to enhance risk communication. Dr Adusi-Poku said although very deadly if detected or the treatment schedule was followed through, the infection was not a death sentence. He said people could avoid TB-related deaths and other complications by getting screened regularly at health facilities to ensure that they took their medications religiously. He said people who were tested and were free from the infection should prioritise safety protocols to reduce their risk of getting infected because the treatment had some unpleasant side effects for some people. But he was quick to add that the side effects could be nothing compared to complications of untreated TB and dying from the condition. Explaining the mode of transmission to enable people to reduce their risk of exposure to the bacteria, Dr Adusi-Poku said TB was an airborne disease because the TB bacterium was an aerosol that dissolved in the atmosphere. It is spread when an infected person releases the bacterium into the air through coughing, sneezing, speaking, singing, or laughing, among others, and other people also breathed in the infected air. However, repeated exposure to the germs is usually necessary before a person will become infected. It is not likely to be transmitted through personal items such as clothing, bedding, a drinking glass, eating utensils, handshake, toilet or other items that a person with TB has touched. Adequate ventilation is the most important measure to prevent the transmission of TB, he said. Dr Adusi-Poku said that considering the mode of transmission, people should ensure proper ventilation in their places of abode and avoid places where ventilation was poor. He said people could also use the face mask, particularly the N95, in poorly ventilated places and in other high exposure risk areas. We should also adhere to cough and other hygienic etiquette such as coughing into the elbows. He said on prevention, the country was vaccinating babies and it protects them up to age 10. Adult vaccination is also under consideration, he said. Symptoms Dr Adusi-Poku said people could have the infection but not develop TB, while others could be asymptomatic but still transmit it to others. He said people exposed to the bacterium could incubate it from six months to 10 years depending on the immunity. In children, symptoms may include fever, unintended weight loss, poor growth, sweating at night, cough and in adolescents, it includes cough that lasts longer than three weeks; pain in the chest, blood in their sputum; weakness and fatigue, swollen glands, unintended weight loss, decrease in appetite; fever and chills or night sweats The symptoms of TB may resemble other lung conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis, he said. 2024 elections: Lets improve NPP fortunes in Oti Region National Youth Organiser Daily Graphic Politics Jun - 12 - 2023 , 11:35 The National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Salam Mustapha, has charged the party's youth wing in the Oti Region to work harder to better the fortunes of the NPP in the region in the 2024 general election. Currently, out of the eight seats in the region, the NPP has none, having lost the only seat they won in 2016 to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2020. Agenda 50-50 Addressing the Oti regional youth wing and TESCON conference in Kete-Krachi, Mr Mustapha said the youth must work hard to deliver at least 50 per cent (four) of the parliamentary seats in the region to the party. He also charged them to improve the fortunes of the party in the presidential election by securing 50 per cent of the votes in the 2024 general election. The conference, organised by the youth wing of the party in the region, was to train and orient members and energise the base of the party towards a resounding victory in 2024. Mr Mustapha said the Oti Region had witnessed massive development since the NPP assumed power in 2017. He said the number of recently tarred roads in the region indicated that it (Oti) had received its fair share of development and that it must reward the party by voting for its candidates in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. "I am extremely excited about the massive development the Oti Region has witnessed under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. It is now time for the good people of the Oti Region, especially the youth, to reward the NPP by voting for us in 2024 to break the 8 and do more for the region," he said. "The energy, zeal and fire-in-belly we saw on the ground have left us with a reinforced and indelible belief that victory will be ours in 2024. We are proud elephants. I can state without any fear of contradiction that, indeed, the NPP is on its way to making history as the first party to win elections three consecutive times with the support of each and every one of us seated here. We are breaking the 8 by the Grace of God, he said. Mr Mustapha added: "I was here about two months ago. Most of the roads were filled with dust. I am here today and almost all have been tarred. This is an indication that only an NPP government can solve our developmental needs for us. "We have superior ideas and policy initiatives than the NDC. I am not disappointed that Ghanaians are complaining because of the current economic difficulties. It is because they hold us in high esteem," he stated. GNA NPP revises timelines; flagbearer aspirants to be vetted July 3rd to 6th Graphic.com.gh Politics Jun - 12 - 2023 , 15:51 The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has revised the timelines for the upcoming internal elections to elect a flagbearer and parliamentary nominations for constituencies the party do not have sitting members of parliament. The vetting for prospective presidential aspirants (flagbearers) will now be from July 3rd to 6th, 2023. The vetting committee will submit it's report to the National Council through the General Secretary on July 10th. The change in the timelines is following the announcement by the Electoral Commission and the party's preparation towards the Assin North by-election.. In a press statement dated Monday, June 12 and issued by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP said the national congress for the Special Electoral College, which will select five candidates to contest in the November 4th presidential primary will be held on August 26th. A study led by Norwegian climate center CICERO has found that the global warming effect of leaked hydrogen is almost 12 times stronger than that of CO 2 . The open-access paper is published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment. Unlike exhaust from burning coal and gas that contains CO 2 , burning hydrogen emits only water vapor and oxygen. Rather, it is the leaking of hydrogen from production, transportation and usage that adds to global warming. Hydrogen is not a greenhouse gas, but its chemical reactions in the atmosphere affect greenhouse gases such as methane, ozone, and stratospheric water vapor. In this way, emissions of hydrogen can cause global warming, despite its lack of direct radiative properties. The main changes in the radiative forcing due to 1 Tg flux of hydrogen; methane (green bars), ozone (yellow), stratospheric water vapor (purple), and aerosols (red). Sand et al. The study was led by Dr Maria Sand, a senior scientist at CICERO, and her colleagues with collaborators from the UK, France, and the US, and was funded by the Research Council of Norway with contributions from five hydrogen industry partners. The climate effects of hydrogen have been an under-researched topic. However, a few papers based on single model studies confirm our estimated global warming potential (GWP100) of 11.6. We used five different atmospheric chemistry models and investigated changes in atmospheric methane, ozone and stratospheric water vapor. Hydrogen interacts with various biogeochemical processes. In our estimates, we have included soil uptake, photochemical production of hydrogen, the lifetimes of hydrogen and methane, and the interactions between hydrogen and methane. Dr Sand The GWP100 of hydrogen. Sand et al. The study is the most comprehensive assessment of the climate effect of hydrogen to date. A global warming potential of 11.6 is significant, and our study clearly shows the importance of reducing hydrogen leaks. We lack the technology to monitor and detect hydrogen leaks at the scale needed, but new technology is being developed as the industry adapts. Dr Sand Resources Introduction The world's best selling foldable smartphone form factor is the flip style. Oppo has joined the fray on the global scale this year with the international launch of the Find N2 Flip - a device that's very obviously meant to compete head-on with Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip4, the latest iteration in the world's best selling foldable line. If you're having any doubts, just look at them - the Find N2 Flip is so similar-looking to its Samsung-made counterpart that even their purple colorways are almost identical. With all that in mind, we decided to review both of these long-term, but there won't be two separate long-term reviews - they're just so similar to each other that we thought a better option would be to create our first ever comparative long-term review. So it's the Galaxy Z Flip4 vs. Find N2 Flip all the way. We'll go through all the usual sections, focusing on the same things we usually do in long-term reviews - it's just that, in this case, there will be two phones to talk about instead of one, and we'll let you know how they directly compare in each area, as well as which one 'wins' a specific category in our subjective view. There will be no 'final score' however, as the point isn't to say one of these is better than the other - they both have their strengths and weaknesses, and we want to stress which those are so that, if you're looking to purchase a device in this form factor, you can make an informed decision. It's been fun alternating between the Galaxy Z Flip4 (which from now on we'll refer to as "Flip4") and the Find N2 Flip ("N2 Flip" from now on, for our sanity's sake), and even using them side by side at times, just to get a better feeling of how they are similar and how they are different. Quick spoiler: they are indeed very close in some areas, but also perhaps surprisingly far from each other in some important ways. We'll get to all of that in the next few pages of this review, so why don't you join us? Motorists and residents are advised to drive cautiously through the construction zones, observe all posted speed limit and construction signs, and carefully heed flaggers (when present). Alternate routes and/or adjusting drive times when feasible are encouraged. Road construction updates from Monday to Sunday: Route 5 and Portion of Route 12, Reconstruction and Widening (Route 2A to Naval Magazine/Route 12) Santa Rita Construction activities will continue along Route 5 from Route 2A to Plumeria Street with intermittent lane closures. Motorists are advised to slow down while driving through this area. Route 14B (Ypao Road) Reconstruction and Widening (Route 14 to Carmen Memorial Dr), Phase 1 Cliffside Tamuning There is a full road closure between Congressman Palting Loop and Pale San Vitores Road for the construction of a new retaining wall and widening of Ypao Road. Motorists will have to take alternate routes. Route 14 Resurfacing from Route 1 to Route 14B Tamuning From Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., motorists are advised that there will be lane shifts and intermittent lane closures along ET Calvo Memorial Parkway and Route 14 (Chalan San Antonio) from Route 1 to Great National Insurance Underwriters (East Espiritu Street). The contractor will also continue surveying along Route 14. Flaggers will be present to assist surveyors. On Saturday between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., motorists are advised that there will be lane shifts and intermittent lane closures as the contractor will continue repairs in front of the ITC building entrance and at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 14 (Chalan San Antonio). There will also be lane shifts and intermittent lane closures along Route 14 (Pale San Vitores Road) from Archbishop Felixberto Flores Circle to the Hilton Hotel. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes. Islandwide Safety Improvements on Primary Roads (Striping and Marking), Route 8 Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., temporary lane shifts, and intermittent closures will occur at the following intersections, weather permitting: Monday to Tuesday - Route 8 / Chalan Santo Papa Intersection Tuesday to Friday - Route 8 / General Admiral Sherman Intersection Road safety reminder of the week: Traffic signal lights (flashing/not working) Flashing red light is the same as a STOP sign. Come to a complete stop at the intersection before proceeding. Flashing yellow light means "SLOW DOWN" and proceed with caution. Slow down and be alert before entering the intersection. Yield to any pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicles in the intersection. You do not need to stop for a flashing yellow traffic signal light. Traffic signal light not working (Blackout) When the traffic signal lights are not working properly, whether flashing red or no lights are showing, treat the intersection as if it is controlled by a STOP sign in all directions. This means that all traffic must come to a complete stop prior to proceeding, obeying the rules for a STOP sign. Haiti - Insecurity : The residence of the former President of the Senate looted and burned On the night of Friday June 9, the private residence in Tabarre 70 of former Senate President Carl Murat Cantave in Tabarre 70 was the target of an attack by heavily armed bandits who looted and then set fire to the house before fleeing with 2 vehicles that were there. The town's firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, while Cantave was saved by an armored vehicle from the National Police of Haiti (PNH), which quickly arrived on the scene. "Heavily armed bandits broke into my private residence, they searched it, robbed it and set it on fire while taking away my 2 cars [...] I saw death in front [...]" declared the former senator from Artibonite. It seems that this attack is the work of members of the "Kraze barye" gang led by Vitelhomme Innocent. TB/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Justice "Don Kato" heared The former senator of the department of the West Antonio Cheramy alias "Don Kato", was heared within the framework by the examining magistrate Walter Wesser Voltaire. On the sidelines of this hearing. Antonio Cheramy criticized those who use this case for political purposes. ADIH celebrates National Children's Day "On this second Sunday of June, declared National Day of the Haitian Child, the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) celebrates our children, these little beings filled with love and innocence, called to build the future of our country. Let's commit to providing them with a safe environment, guaranteeing their right to quality education and protecting them from all forms of violence and exploitation. Together, let's build a Haiti where every child can grow, flourish and contribute fully to the development of our Nation." See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39759-icihaiti-education-national-children-s-day-message-from-minister-manigat.html 3rd Edition of the Fashion Week The 3rd Edition of Cap-Haitien Fashion Week will take place from August 8 to 15, 2023, in Cap-Haitien around the theme "Haiti, its colors and its history" On the program : Master class, conferences, photo shoot, exhibitions, fashion shows, dance choreographies. Pignon : Inter-school Genius Winner The Ecole Nationale 3e A.F. won the 2nd Edition of Inter-school Genius of Pignon in the North department (organized by IDEAL Inter-school Engineering) by beating Notre-Dame du Bon Secours College in the final (315 points against 230). Port-de-Paix : Airport map available The Town Hall of Port-de-Paix would like to inform the general public and the diaspora from all over the world that the plan of Port-de-Paix airport is available, this plan was produced by the technicians of the Authority National Airport (AAN) via the Planning and Engineering Department. The FAES delivers aid to disaster victims The Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) delivered last week to the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) 500 bags of rice of 50 kg and 200 boxes of beans of 24 units. This food aid is intended for people affected by the municipality of Leogane following the bad weather of June 2nd and 3rd, 2023. HL/ HaitiLibre Owen Gingerich, Ph.D. '62, takes a seat on his "rocket cart"a dolly with a steering stick in front, a straight-backed chair amidship, and a big fire-extinguisher mounted at back. Donning a crash helmet and an aviator's scarf for the trip, he reaches behind him and turns on the extinguisher, which releases a propulsive jet of carbon dioxide. The cart begins to move across the floor of the Science Center lecture hall. Gingerich picks up speed until he is accelerating furiously with a look of terror on his face toward a side door, which flies open just in time and out he goes. Assistants in the wings drop "a big sack full of pipes," he explains, which make a huge clatter off stage. Gingerich is demonstrating Newton's third law, that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Of course, students in his Core curriculum course, "The Astronomical Perspective"the longest-running course under the same management at Harvardlove his teaching methods. What they don't know is that Gingerich is deep into a pattern of compulsive behavior that has him jetting around the world, from Uppsala to Melbourne, Moscow to Beijing, hundreds of thousands of miles in search of "the book that nobody read." Copernicus looks over the shoulder of Gingerich, who has spent decades chasing the great one's work and has now chronicled the hunt in a sprightly book. The hunter's passport, along with evidence, discovered in his office, of a fondness for gastropods. Portrait and photographs of shells by Jim Harrison. Photomontage by Bartek Malysa Gingerich retired from teaching at the end of 1999 and took his farewell ride on the rocket cart at a reunion of former teaching fellows the next spring. But he is still obsessed by the book, as he has been for more than 30 years. It is the revolutionary work of Polish astronomer and cleric Nicolaus Copernicus, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri sex, literally "Six Books on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres." Copernicus died soon after the book came off the press in 1543, but his magnum opus went on essentially to ignite the scientific revolution. It is usually referred to in the short form, De revolutionibus, and "Day revoluty-OWN-ibus" is a good approximation of its proper pronunciation, says Gingerich. Its title page reminds him of an optometrist's chart: NICOLAUS CO PERNICUS OF TORUN ABOUT THE REVEOLUTIONS OF the Heavenly Spheres in Six Books. Copernicus argued against the conventional wisdom, promulgated by Claudius Ptolemy in Alexandria around A.D. 150, that the earth was fixed at the middle of the universe. He proposed instead that what could be observed of planetary motion could be explained if the sun was immovable in the middle, with the earth and other planets going around it, the modern understanding of the solar system. But what about Holy Writ, in particular the passage from Joshua in which he commands the sun to stand still and the Lord listens and the sun does stand still in the middle of the sky for almost an entire day? An anonymous notice on the back of Copernicus's title page, addressed "To the Readers Concerning the Hypotheses in this Book," soothingly explains, says Gingerich, that "the ideas are merely hypothetical constructions for predicting the positions of planets and should not be assumed true or even probable." This advice to readers was written by Andreas Osiander, a theologian who finished the proofreading of Copernicus's book at the press in Nuremberg. The disclaimer may have done the trick, for the Catholic church withheld its condemnation of heliocentrism for many decades. It was left to the German astronomer Johannes Kepler to publish, in 1596, what Gingerich calls "an unabashedly heliocentric treatise." Galileo Galilei was also a believer in a sun-centered universe and came to famous confrontation with the Catholic church on its home ground by declaring such things as "the Bible teaches how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go." Wilhelm Schickard annotated his copy of the first edition and drew a triquetrum, an instrument Copernicus describes. University of Basel Library. Thomas Digges, the first Copernican in England, wrote on the title page of his copy of the second edition, "The common opinion errs." University of Geneva Library. In a minuscule hand, Michael Maestlin, a teacher of Kepler's, wrote in his first edition, concerning its anonymous advice to readers, "Now I am certain that this letter is by Andreas Osiander." Municipal Library, Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Photographs courtesy of Owen Gingerich The novelist Arthur Koestler, in his 1959 best-selling history of early astronomy, The Sleepwalkers, called Copernicus's De revolutionibus, despite its earth-moving significance in the history of science, "the book that nobody read" and "an all time worst seller." Was Koestler right? How could one know? On a Saturday evening in October 1970, Gingerich and historian of science Jerry Ravetz rendezvoused in York, England. They were both on the committee to plan the Copernican Quinquecentennial in 1973, the five-hundredth anniversary of the great one's birth. They tried to make a list of likely readers of De revolutionibus. Georg Joachim Rheticus, Copernicus's only disciple, surely would have been one. So would Erasmus Reinhold, the top mathematical astronomer in Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century and the astronomy professor at Wittenberg. Proofreader Osiander was by definition a reader. Kepler; Michael Maestlin, Kepler's teacher at the University of Tubingen; and Tycho Brahe, the sixteenth-century Danish astronomer and instrument builder made the list. But it was a short list, nine names. Gingerich and Ravetz abandoned the effort and turned to admiring York's cathedral. Then Gingerich went to Edinburgh. At the Royal Observatory, among a fabulous collection of rare astronomy books kept in two enormous steel cupboards, he came upon a first edition of De revolutionibus that was thoroughly annotated in the margins from beginning to end. (The margins of books of the period are wide, Gingerich believes, partly to provide space for annotations, which were typically in ink.) Not only had this copy of the book been read, it had been read closely. By whom? Could it have been one of the nine men on the list made earlier? That would be too great a coincidence; there had to be at least 100 extant copies of the first edition, Gingerich reasoned (wrongly). But on the blind-stamped, pigskin binding, he found the date 1543 and the initials ER. Erasmus Reinhold? "I seized a pencil and paper to make a rubbing of the dim impression," Gingerich recalls, "and to my dismay found not two, but three, initials: E.R.S." Poof went his hypothesis, he thought, but no. After a little study back in Cambridge, he soon discovered that E, R, and S were just the right initials for Erasmus Reinholdus Salveldiensis, "for in the sixteenth century a man's birthplacein this case Saalfeldwas a part of his formal designation." Gingerich obtained samples of Reinhold's handwriting, and indeed the annotations in the book were in his hand. Gingerich was to become adept not only at reading Renaissance Latin annotations, but at identifying the handwriting of a host of early modern astronomers. This second edition's annotator in multicolor was Herwart von Hohenburg, a chancellor of Bavaria with an interest in astronomy. National Library of Russia, Moscow. The title page of the copy that launched Gingerich's odyssey: the first edition, annotated by Erasmus Reinhold, at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh. Joachim Rheticus presented this first edition to Canon Georg Donder of the Frauenburg Cathedral, where Copernicus had been a canon. Uppsala University Library. Photographs courtesy of Owen Gingerich Reinhold marked numerous errors throughout. Curiously, he had little to say, in the margins, about the hot-stuff heliocentric proposition advanced in the early, cosmological chapters, but commented enthusiastically on the dense and technical secondary matter in the rest of Copernicus's 400-page tome. If one copy of the book could yield such insights into the way a sixteenth-century astronomer reacted to "the most revolutionary scientific advance in more than a millennium," Gingerich asked himself, what would more copies of the book reveal? He set out on a quest that he describes as a "dogged, adventurous, almost quixotic 30-year pursuit." The Edinburgh find "inaugurated my obsession to survey every surviving copy of Copernicus's book." After 10 years, Gingerich knew that Koestler was dead wrong. After 30, he could extensively document the book's impact on sixteenth-century scholars. The marginalia have much to say about how knowledge spread. They give evidence of what Gingerich calls the "invisible college," a network of tutorial and mentor relationships among astronomers that transcended institutional boundaries. His 400-page reference work, An Annotated Census of Copernicus' De Revolutionibus, published in 2002, meticulously describes each of the 276 copies of the first edition and 325 of the second, a reprint of 1566, that he had examined. Since the census appeared, one more copy of the first edition has surfaced and five more of the second. Now a senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge and research professor of astronomy and of the history of science at Harvard, Gingerich in the 1960s was a young astrophysicist publishing research papers with titles such as "Eleven-digit regular sexagesimals and their reciprocals" and beavering away with the observatory's computer on studies of solar spectra: "I was calculating the temperature and pressure in the outermost layers of the sun's atmosphere, maybe the outer 100 kilometers." In 1971, with three others, he produced a paper on that research, "The Harvard-Smithsonian Reference Atmosphere." "We included so many detailed tables of what was going on that nobody bothered to update the work. The study hung around for a long time and has had more than 500 literature citations," says Gingerich. "That was the last of the astrophysical papers I published." In the decade before he became fully entangled in Copernicus, Gingerich "entered the magic circle of Johannes Kepler," the man who "forged the Copernican system as we know it" and is the hero of Koestler's The Sleepwalkers. Gingerich began lining out papers about Kepler: "Kepler as a Copernican" (1971), "Johannes Kepler and the Rudolphine Tables" (1971), "Johannes Kepler and the new astronomy" (1972). Kepler's quadricentennial came in 1971, two years before the Copernican quinquecentennial, which would greatly absorb Gingerich's time. "I sometimes say, with considerable truth," he says, "that my career in astrophysics was derailed by anniversaries." Later he adds, "I think the insights I have been bringing to the nature of science are more perceptive than anything I might have discovered by computing stellar atmospheres." About his Copernican derailment, Gingerich now tells all. In January, Walker and Company will publish The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Masterpiece of Nicolaus Copernicus. Gingerich the raconteur has produced a lively amalgam of scholarly detective story, Renaissance science history, academic memoir, and confessional. This reader of the manuscript, with not a jot of previous interest in Copernicus, found the book an unexpected delight and was sorry to come to the end of it. Gingerich could dine out on these stories for another three decades. He begins chapter one in court, where he affirms to tell the truth. He is appearing as an expert witness to testify in the trial of a former seminary student accused of nicking a copy of De revolutionibus. Because Gingerich has seen every known copy of the book, he is able to identify this one as the stolen copy of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Guilty as charged. Note to the deceitful: if you mean to steal, forge, or in any way interfere with an old book, pick a different title. In explicating his guess about how many copies of the book were printed, he devotes much of a chapter to exploring how an early print shop worked and making a calculation, for starters, of how many copies the printer, Johannes Petreius, could have printed in the time allotted. Bottom line: print runs of 400 to 500 copies of the first edition, 500 to 550 of the second. If those estimates are correct, more than half the copies printed have survived. He takes us to a 2001 Sotheby's auction in New York City where one of only about 20 copies of De revolutionibus remaining in private hands is on the block. "The auction had been under way barely half an hour when lot 34 flashed on the screen," he writes. "I set my stop watch. Did the bidding start at $100,000 or $200,000? I was too excited to remember, but the auctioneers say it was $150,000. I was later sorry that I hadn't registered for one of the numbered bidding paddles so that I could have made the first offer, even though I would have had to mortgage the house to back it up." The hammer price is $675,000; with Sotheby's fee on top of that, the anonymous telephone bidder is out about $750,000. Brace yourselves, book collectors: Gingerich writes that there are several of you impatiently waiting to spend a million dollars on a problem-free first edition Copernicus in an original sixteenth-century binding, preferably a copy with a known provenance and clear title. Gingerich is agreeably digressive throughout his book. While telling of Copernicus's reluctance to publish his manuscript, for instance, he writes that one of the master's fears was that his ideas about the mobility of the earth would lead to his being hissed off the stage, and Gingerich offers this etymological aside: "That is precisely how he expressed it in the dedication that he eventually wrote to Pope Paul III. Copernicus uses the word explodendum, which means being hissed or clapped off the stage. The Oxford English Dictionary confirms that this is also the original but now obsolete meaning of the English word explode, which did not pick up the modern definition of 'to blow up with a loud noise' until around 1700. Shakespeare never used the word despite its theatrical connotation, but his contemporary Kepler did...." Gingerich has packed his book with details, the preoccupation and passion of collectors. "I just assume there is such a thing as a collecting gene," he says. If so, he has it and it shapes his work. It also shapes his three-room suite of offices at the observatory, jammed with books, pictures, and the occasional seashell. Gingerich began collecting as a boyrocks. He moved on to postage stamps of the United States and Canada. Thence to rare astronomy books, "a lovely vice." He began reading booksellers' catalogs long before he had enough money to buy anything. At the Observatory in his undergraduate days, as a summer helper to Harlow Shapley, "who was then probably the most famous astronomer in America," says Gingerich, he noticed a lot of old books on the shelves relating to French astronomer and comet hunter Charles Messier's Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters. "Many amateur astronomers were collectors of the nebulae and clusters in the sense of trying to find and see them all," he observes. In a bookseller's catalog, he noticed a volume of the Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences for 1771, realized that that was the volume in which Messier had published the first installment of his catalog, and bought it, his first rare astronomy book, for $11. He now specializes in ephemerides, books that give day-by-day positions of the planets. "For a lover of numbers," he writes, "these old volumes with their columns of digits have a compelling beauty, but this is essentially an eccentric's view." He does not have the world's largest collection of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century ephemerides, but only the second largest. The Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris has the first. Gingerich also collects seashellsgastropods, single-shelled mollusksand in this he is joined by his wife, Miriam, who has been his companion as well on many book-hunting field trips. They have shells of about 1,500 species and harbor a particular interest in the Fusinus genus: spindle shells. There are roughly 150 species of spindle shell, and they have about 75. They're "working on" the genus and may someday make a scholarly contribution to its meager taxonomic literature. The Gingerichs might also be said to collect the stamps of passport officials. They did an immense amount of traveling for Copernicus, but also absorbed an especially heavy barrage of stamps in the summer of 2002 when they spent six weeks in Africa on two tours, with the professor lecturing on the history of science and on astronomy. (A total eclipse of the sun was on one program; Gingerich has seen 12.) The couple are just back from Polynesia, where he lectured on Captain Cook and the transits of Venus. Copernicus's library, University of Uppsala. At Yale's Beinecke Library, Gingerich examines what he calls, because of its annotations by Johannes Praetorius, the most important first edition in the United States. Photographs courtesy of Owen Gingerich and Charles Eames Gingerich is a Mennonite. That affiliation led to his first trip across the seaand to Poland, no less, Copernicus's hauntswhen he was barely 16. A year after World War II, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration sent thousands of horses to eastern Europe. The Brethren, one of the traditional peace churches, had a "Heifers for Relief" project, and cut a deal with the United Nations. If the UN would provide ships for the heifers, they would round up cowboys to escort the horses. Gingerich's father, at that time a history professor at a small Mennonite college in Kansas, was the supervisor of the trip and the main recruiter of the cowboys. The SS Stephen R. Mallory left Newport News in June 1946, with 847 horses on board, destined for farm duty in Poland, and 32 cowboys. Gingerich keeps his Merchant Marine seaman's card in a drawer of his desk. He was born in Washington, Iowa, in 1930, and his family moved to central Kansas when he was 11. In 1947 his father took a teaching position at Goshen College in Indiana. Owen went directly to Goshen College and never graduated from high school. "Maybe," he says, "if The Book Nobody Read makes me famous, the Newton, Kansas, high school will award me an honorary degree." Gingerich is a trustee of the John Templeton Foundation, an organization with roughly a $1-billion endowment that is much concerned with the interface of science and religion. He travels widely to speak on that topic. He has given a lecture in about 40 different venues entitled "Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmogony and Biblical Creation." "I call this my pro-Christian, anti-creationism lecture," he says. He spoke at a conference on "Science and Religion: Are They Compatible?" in Atlanta in 2001, jointly sponsored by the publisher of the Skeptical Inquirer and the Council for Secular Humanism. "I said I was plainly Daniel in the lion's den as their token theist. There was a nervous laugh that rippled across the audience when I said that, so I socked it to 'em." Throughout most of the twentieth century, Gingerich says, the eleventh commandment for Mennonites was "Thou shalt not think about evolution." But he has been asked by the Mennonite publishing house to write a book on evolution for their constituency, and he hopes to write it, as well as a biography of Harlow Shapley. "I know exactly how I'm going to start the evolution book," he says, "with the six-fingered dwarfism of the Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This is a genetic defect that produces six fingers on both hands, among a whole set of other obnoxious debilitations. There are about 70 known cases, and every case can be traced back genealogically through both the mother and the father to an Amish couple that came to America in 1750." Where is the God in that story? "You have to understand not that God is reaching in and creating the mutations, but that the universe is set up so that it will work this way. It has interesting theological ramifications, and I would try to outline what some of those are for the theologians to think about." Christopher Reed is executive editor of this magazine. BANNER ELK, NC The community is invited to the 19th Annual Kirkin O the Tartans worship service at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church on Sunday, June 25, at 11 a.m. Kirk is Scottish for church. On this day, the congregation celebrates the churchs Scottish heritage by participating in this Scottish-American tradition. This blessing of the tartans honor both local and church heritage since it was the Scots who brought the Presbyterian Church to America. At the beginning of worship, the bagpiper begins the processional with Highland Cathedral as the beadle delivers the Bible to the front of the sanctuary. The color guard delivers the US flag and the flag of St. Andrews. Next, dozens of tartan bearers of many Scottish clans unfurl their banners and process down the aisles as the piper continues. At the end of the service, bearers receive the official Blessing O The Tartans and recess from the church. For anyone interested in carrying a tartan banner, call the church office at 828-898-5406 with your contact information and tartan name. The church has access to many tartans, if needed. Participants should arrive at the church by 10:30 a.m. Banner Elk Presbyterian Church is located at 420 College Drive, adjacent to Lees-McRae College. For more information, go to http://www.BannerElkPresbyterian.org. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket Unemployment in Kanta-Hame and Ostrobothnia, for example, is already lower than in Uusimaa, the most populous region of Finland. OP FINANCIAL GROUP has published its first-ever region-specific economic forecast , highlighting that regional differences in the unemployment situation have narrowed considerably in the past decade. Regional differences in the unemployment rate are currently fairly small, with the majority of regions falling within two percentage points of each other. The financial services provider said unemployment has decreased notably in regions with high unemployment and increased in regions with low unemployment and strong economic growth as people move to them due to the positive economic situation. Labour markets are expected to stay relatively strong despite the fact that regional economic growth is to fall short of the levels of recent years. OP Financial Group estimates that the gross domestic product will decline this year across regions before stabilising if not resuming growth next year. An examination of the ratio of job seekers to job openings indicates that labour markets are very tight in a number of reasons. North Ostrobothnia has only a single job seeker for each opening, compared to the national average of three. In Uusimaa, the ratio of job seekers to openings is higher than the average at just below four per cent and higher than in, for example, Kainuu and Lapland. Labour shortage is thereby affecting almost the entire country, the forecast reads. Reijo Heiskanen, the chief economist at OP Financial Group, stated to Helsingin Sanomat last week that the figures indicate that there is no surplus labour in weaker regions. For example, in Southern Savonia the labour shortage is worse than in Uusimaa even though population growth is sluggish, he pointed out. In other words, theres no surplus labour reserve that you could draw on to find labour for new investments. Either we have to get more people to the country or labour productivity has to increase faster than before. OP Financial Group highlighted in its forecast that regional differences in economic growth rates have correlated strongly with demographic development throughout the 2000s. Gross domestic product has grown in regions with an increasing population but declined in regions with a declining population. Uusimaa, which accounts for over 39 per cent of the gross domestic product of Finland, is forecast to see its gross domestic product decline by 0.1 per cent in 2023 and increase by 0.8 per cent in 2024. Heiskanen told Helsingin Sanomat that the weakish growth may be attributable to the size of the regional service sector. Services are increasingly important for the economy, already accounting for a third of exports and over half of value added, he highlighted. Finland falling behind its peer countries in service productivity according to several studies is therefore a worrying finding. What happens to productivity in the service sector is absolutely critical for Finland, said Heiskanen. Aleksi Teivainen HT Virta beat Saara Hyrkko by a vote of 2,760 to 1,941 in the leadership election held as part of the party conference in Seinajoki, marking the culmination of critical self-reflection the party began after a dismal showing in the parliamentary elections a loss of 136,400 votes and 7 of its 21 seats. THE GREEN LEAGUE on Saturday elected Sofia Virta , a 32-year-old second-term Member of the Parliament from Southwest Finland, as its new chairperson. She told Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday that the Green League should raise its profile on issues not related to the climate and environment. We wont be talking any less about the climate and environment, but alongside well have to offer green solutions [to other issues], she commented in an interview with the daily newspaper on Saturday. Virta outlined in her keynote speech the next day that the party should offer a liberal, non-divisive and reform-oriented alternative that can take the country forward to the right-wing government that is being formed at the House of the Estates by the National Coalition, Finns Party, Swedish Peoples Party and Christian Democrats. [We] have the courage to reform the economy in a sustainable way and a will to build a strong welfare society where everyone can truly become anything and where everyone has an opportunity to be accepted as who they are, she stated according to Helsingin Sanomat. We wont be compromising on our values, but well operate responsibly and in a way that invokes confidence even when someone is trying to create divisions. Virta said the Green League will work to ensure Finland holds on to its climate objectives and does its utmost to accelerate the green transition. Itd be foolishness to make any other kind of decisions. We have in our hands an opportunity thats critically important for the entire planets ability to respond to the climate crisis and, at the same time, the greatest opportunity in the history of Finnish economy to ensure the economy is on a sustainable footing going forward, she viewed. If you dont use all means possible to promote this objective at the House of the Estates, well do our best from the opposition to release the handbrake on both the climate and this countrys economy. The newly elected chairperson also addressed the internal situation of the Green League, which slumped to its worst result in parliamentary elections since the 1990s. In four years time, this team will be back bigger and more influential. Well take back the seats we lost. In ten years time, were seeking to have a green prime minister in this country, she declared. We cant afford to fail as a party, but we have every opportunity to succeed. The Green League replaced virtually its entire leadership last weekend in Seinajoki. Bella Forsgren, Silja Keranen and Oras Tynkkynen were elected as deputy chairpersons, while Anna Moring was elected as the party secretary. The party also decided to support the presidential bid of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens). Haavisto last week announced he is joining the race as the candidate of a constituency association. Aleksi Teivainen HT IN two days time it will be the feast day of St Barnabas. His feast day is always kept by the Christian Church worldwide on June 11. St Barnabass feast day is always in my mind as I was a curate of Rotherham Parish Church in 1957, six miles from what was then a heavy steel industry part of Sheffield. In my day, the town of Rotherham was at the extreme edge of the six miles of heavy steel production but now the vast steelworks no longer exists and the whole area is now a vast retail project. After some long time as a curate, my vicar made me priest-in-charge of the dual purpose church and community centre on the new Broom Valley estate. Clearly it would be a real missionary task and rightly. That dual purpose church was given the dedication of St Barnabas who did a lot of missonary work during his ministry. But, very importantly, I wonder what you all know about the life and work of St Barnabas. A few weeks ago I read this in a national paper: Life isnt about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning to dance in the rain. Its not the tough moments, its how you respond to those tough moments that really counts. Yes, I am reminded that there were tough moments on that new housing estate and being responsible for that dual purpose church, it was going to be a missionary job! The expert historians suggest that St Barnabas was a first century apostle and that he dates from the year 417 . His name means son of consolation. St Barnabas was an early Christian Disciple but not amongst the 12 great apostles. Perhaps what is important for all of us today, is to try to remember the Collect for his feast day. The Collect puts in front of us three vital and serious matters: 1 It is more blessed to give. 2. To be generous in our judgements. 3. To be unselfish in our service. But what do we know about the ministry of St Barnabas and what he did during his lifetime? Well, he introduced St Paul to the other disciples and Paul and Barnabas were later sent to Antioch and undertook the first missionary journey, which began in Cyprus. We are told that he attended the Council of Jerusalem and supported the Gentile Christians. Later, Barnabas and Paul quarrelled and went their own ways. Barnabas returned to Cyprus and we learn that he evangelised the island. St Paul, in his letters to Galatia and Corinth, seemed to suggest that Barnabas might have had a much wider missionary task and historians suggest that he might have been Milans first Bishop. In the UK there were 13 ancient churches dedicated to his name and there are certainly a few modern ones too, including my former church in Rotherham. But St Barnabass true fame is the very prominent missionary part he took in the development of the infant Christian church. So, on Sunday, as we keep the feast day of St Barnabas, what should you remember about him? Well, no better than what is written in the Acts of the Apostles [ II. V 24] that St Barnabas was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Thats what we can remember as we all get on with living in the 21st century and in the days when we have a new godly King and give great thanks for the duty of our late wonderful Christian Queen, whose life over 70 years was lived fully in the same Christian faith as St Barnabas. A SCHOOL in Caversham has won an award for putting childrens rights at the heart of what it does. The Heights Primary School in Upper Woodcote Road received the silver UNICEF accreditation for for being a rights respecting school after being assessed by a professional adviser. Teacher Elena Cook said: We have focused on teaching human rights within the curriculum and on topics such as global justice. The pupils have been putting this into practice by learning about the schools ethos and the importance of morals, such as anti-discrimination. They have also been campaigning on behalf of various charities, fundraising for Jeans for Genes Week, local food banks and the people of Ukraine. The pupils also lobbied teachers for improvements within the school grounds, getting approval and funding for a permanent canopy and benches. Pupil Lara Fox, 10, said: We have put so much effort into working towards the silver award so now we have it, it is very exciting. Brodie Gilkerson, seven, said: We have done a lot for charity this year. We raised money and we made a charity box for things that would help people in Ukraine. Rowan McLaren, 10, said: I like how we have added small stuff to our school. In the playground, we now have more space to play as all our belongings are put away. We also have people who are selected monitors for lost property. In recognition of the award, the children were visited by Councillor Isobel Ballsdon, who represents Caversham Heights on Reading Borough Council, the education authority. She spoke to the school council about the importance of rights. Cllr Ballsdon said: The council helps protect children and ensures they get a school place, which every child should have the right to, and as a good as an education as possible. The school will now begin working towards the gold award, which is the third and final stage of the schools respecting rights award scheme. WE are about to hold Henleys Great Big Green Week, the biggest week-long green festival Henley has seen, which starts tomorrow (Saturday). At the last count, about 95 organisations and individuals are involved in staging this week of events. It is very heartening to see how the community can work so well together. Spot the Bees in 23 is the name given to the family treasure hunt around Henleys green shop windows searching for fabulous bees which have all been knitted or crocheted by members of HoT (Henley-on-Thames) WI. They are also responsible for the intricate works of art topping two pillar boxes in the town. If you spot one of these bees in a shop window, go inside and ask the staff for a token. If you manage to collect 15 tokens you can exchange them at the tourist information office at the town hall for a free packet of wildflower seeds, so you can attract your own bees and butterflies. At the end of the week the names of the families who have taken part will be put into a draw for some lovely family prizes donated by some of our retailers. Thanks to all the retailers who have joined in the hunt this year and to the town manager Paul Carey for his help getting this off the ground. Henleys Great Big Green Fair at the town hall tomorrow will be a treat with 22 different stalls all with a connection to Henley and our environment. There are too many to list here but you might like a taster: Thames 21, a group which is using volunteers to check the water quality on the Henley reach of the river with a view to applying for bathing water status. If you missed the training day for sampling water, come along and talk to them. Did you know that it is possible to make your own clothes from wool grown within a few miles of Henley? Come and chat to Carol as she spins or have a go at felt-making. Some children might remember making cardboard beetles at last years fair. Well, this year we will be making moths out of recycled maps and other papers. Keep your eyes open and see if you can spot some very big moths hanging around the town hall. Lots of local schoolchildren and The Henley Colleges Pathways group were involved in Greener Henleys Environmental Science Challenge this year about hedgerows. Please come and see their amazing work displayed in the gallery at the fair. Dont forget to call at the Gillotts School eco-committee stall to learn some secrets of using very old books. For the keen-eyed visitors you could catch a glimpse of David Attenborough helping out on the Greener Henley stall. The Berkshire Bat Group has kindly crossed the border to show us the tremendous work it has been doing. Perhaps this will inspire you to put up a bat box of your own or even start a local group. Wouldnt that be fantastic? The Henley Toad Patrol is a good example of the community coming together to conserve our local wildlife. Can you guess how many toads, frogs and newts they helped across Marlow Road this year? You will be able to learn more about conservation at the Wildlife Trusts stand, where there will be a treasure hunt for children. We promise that there will be something at the Great Big Green Fair that will interest you and the best thing is it wont cost you a penny. Plus you should go away feeling inspired and enriched. A special thanks to the town council staff who have made this possible, especially Cath Adams, the deputy town clerk, who has helped us enormously, giving up her own time to do so. Dont forget to visit the library next week, where there will be a display of more of the interesting and inspiring work on hedgerows from some of our primary schools. Also look out for some contributions from The Henley College Pathways team of conservation work experience students. Creativity has been helped along by the poets of the town and craft groups which meet at the library, the 60-Plus Club and the Henley Manor care home. Space doesnt allow me to include details of everything that is happening so for more information, please visit https://greenerhenley.org.uk Diana Barnett When it comes to finding crypto investments, you would want to find a coin with great user engagement in its community. Polkadot (DOT), Cardano (ADA), and the rising star DogeMiyagi (MIYAGI) highlight the significance of user feedback and community interaction in refining their products and enhancing the overall user experience. The question is, how does each project facilitate continued user engagement while offering exciting rewards and opportunities for altcoin enthusiasts? Investors Find Enhanced Creativity And Web3 Adoption In Polkadot Polkadot is one of the best players in the crypto space, particularly in the realm of NFTs. 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DogeMiyagi: Website: https://dogemiyagi.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Dogemiyagi_ Telegram: https://t.me/dogemiyagi Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/ editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/ subscribe to the contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein. The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice. Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, has put out a Twitter thread that is winning hearts on the internet. In the thread, Gupta explains five things about money she would want her child to learn first. Radhika Gupta (Image courtesy: Bloomberg) (1.) It does have a real purpose: Money, according to Gupta, helps people live their dreams, makes little and big things in life easier, adds comfort, and brings moments of joy both for individuals and for those who care for them. (2.) Money cannot define you: People must, however, not let money affect their self-worth and confidence, how they are, and how they behave with others. (3.) Gratitude, most important money attitude': In a family, for example, if members from each generation have more money than their respective previous generations, then this is because each generation worked hard to earn that much. One must, therefore, use they what they have, and create opportunities others never had. (4.) Greed takes you down: A person must know how much money is enough and never take shortcut towards it. This is because finance, despite being one of the best-paying industries, is also where individuals fall hard because of greed. (5.) Your parents earned a living managing money: People must, however, focus on managing their biggest asset talent and learn to read, write, think, fall, rise, dream, create and build. Who is Radhika Gupta? Gupta was born to a diplomat father and was, therefore, moving to a new country 'every three years.' She lived in New York, Nigeria and even Pakistan. Her first job was in the United States, with McKinsey, and which came after seven rejections, which, in her own words, almost drove her to suicide before a friend's intervention prevented her from taking the drastic step. In fact, she appeared for the McKinsey interview later that day and bagged the job. In 2008, Gupta, then 25, survived that year's global financial crisis, but with the itch to do something new, resigned from McKinsey, moved to India, and opened her own asset management firm with her husband and a friend. The firm was eventually acquired by Edelweiss; years later, at 33, she became Edelweiss' CEO, and was among the youngest CEOs in the country. She is also a Vice Chair at the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) and holds World Economic Forum's (WEF) recognition as a Young Global Leader. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Over 5.7 lakh women passengers availed Karnataka government's flagship scheme Shakti Yojane on its first day, announced the transport department of the southern state. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar launched the scheme on Sunday, which provides free bus travel for women across Karnataka. Karnataka govt launched Shakti scheme on Sunday. (Twitter/Siddaramaiah) Also Read - Karnataka: Women praise Congress governments Shakti scheme According to the transport department, on the first day of Shakti scheme, a total of 5,71,023 women passengers travelled for free in the state-run ordinary buses between 1 pm to 12 am in the midnight. In Bengaluru Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses alone, over 2 lakh women passengers travelled and availed the benefit of free bus travel. On the first day, all four road transportation corporations in Karnataka combinedly valued 5.7 lakh free tickets cost as Rs. 1,40,22,878. More women are expected to use the Shakti scheme and the Karnataka government already urged the female passengers to apply for Shakti smart cards. On Sunday, CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar took on the role of a bus conductor and issued free tickets to women passengers at the Majestic bus station to those travelling from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala. 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 Rs. 4,051.56 crore annually. A teacher and a staff of the education department were killed and two others injured when their car collided with a mini bus near Jakkanamakki in Udupi district on Sunday, police said. Two killed in car-mini bus collision in Karnataka's Udupi district. The deceased have been identified as Subbanna Ganiga, first grade assistant at the office of the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) and Soma Shekhar, physical education teacher at Indira Nagar School in Udupi. Police said the occupants of the car were returning from Channagiri after attending a marriage function when a private bus on its way to Agumbe from Udupi collided with their vehicle. All the four persons in the car were taken to hospital by local people. Subbanna Ganiga and Soma Shekhar died on the way to the hospital, while two others including the car driver were shifted to Manipal hospital. The condition of the two injured persons, Sudarashan, a teacher and driver Sathish, are stated to be critical. A case has been registered at the Hebri police station. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With its eyes set on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday appointed two-time MLA Budh Ram as the state working president of its Punjab unit and six other office-bearers to rev up its organisational set-up in the state. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday appointed two-time MLA Budh Ram as the state working president of its Punjab unit. (HT file photo) The appointment of Budh Ram was announced by AAP national general secretary, organisation, Dr Sandeep Pathak. Also read: Punjab fertiliser traders blame manufacturers for biz losses Budh Ram, known as Masterji in party circles, is the MLA from Budhlada reserved assembly constituency of Mansa district, which he won in 2017 and 2022. He was earlier appointed the head of the 22-member state core committee set up by the AAP in March 2018 to run the affairs of the state unit after the party faced rebellion by several of its legislators in the previous assembly. Among the other new office-bearers announced by the party are four state vice-presidents and one state general secretary. Batala MLA Amansher Singh Sherry Kasli, Urmar legislator Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, Muktsar MLA Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar and his Khanna counterpart Tarunpreet Singh Sond have been named state vice-presidents, according to a joint announcement made by Dr Pathak, and chief minister and state unit president Bhagwant Mann. Party leader Jagroop Singh Sekhwan, who actively campaigned for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, has been made the state general secretary, while Dharamkot MLA Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose has been appointed the state president of the partys youth wing. AAP state chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said the organisational set-up has been reconstituted to strengthen the party and accelerate its activities in the state. It is a mix of experience and youth and will work well for the party, he said. The 2024 parliamentary elections are crucial for the AAP in Punjab, which is the second state besides Delhi where it is power. The partys lone Lok Sabha MP, Sushil Kumar Rinku, is from the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Navneet Sharma A senior assistant editor, Navneet Sharma leads the Punjab bureau for Hindustan Times. He writes on politics, public affairs, civil services and the energy sector. ...view detail Farmers blocked traffic on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway (National Highway 44) on Monday after holding a mahapanchayat at Pipli grain market in Kurukshetra district to press for minimum support price for sunflower seeds. Traffic came to a standstill in Kurukshetra on the arterial Delhi-Chandigarh highway on Monday after protesting farmers descended on NH-44 in support of their demands. The farmers had gathered earlier to hold a mahapanchayat at Pipli grain market over their demand for MSP for sunflower seeds. (HT Photo) The MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat, called by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) faction, was held near NH-44 and participants gathered on the highway in the afternoon, forcing Haryana Police to divert traffic from other routes. Also read: We have two demands...: Farmers protest over sunflower MSP Officials said traffic from Delhi has been diverted at Sector 2/3 at Kurukshetra and commuters can travel via Brahmasarovar, Kurukshetra University Gate Number 3 and take NH-152 D to reach their destinations. Similarly, commuters heading from Chandigarh to Delhi have been advised to avoid the Aman Hotel flyover and turn left below the flyover for Saha and travel via Dosarka, Adhoya, Babain, Ladwa, Indri and Karnal before returning to NH-44 for their onward journey to the national capital. Kurukshetra deputy commissioner Shantanu Sharma said that the administration had called farmer leaders for talks but they were adamant about their demands and later blocked the highway. We are taking up their issues with the higher authorities so that traffic movement can be restored, he said. At the mahapanchayat, farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana said the local administration had assured them of a meeting with chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss their demands. But now they say the chief minister has left Karnal. Because of this, the local committee which had organised the mahapanchayat decided to block NH-44 till our demands are met, Mathana said. The chief minister was at Karnal to attend a Jan Samvaad, his outreach programme, on Monday morning. On Saturday, he had released 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflowers grown on 36,414 acres. The farmers are demanding that the state government procure sunflowers at an MSP of 6,400 per quintal. Under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana -- price difference payment scheme -- the state government is giving 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crop sold below the MSP. On June 6, farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni blocked NH-44 near Shahbad, demanding that the government procure sunflower seeds at minimum support price. Police had used water cannons and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. Later, nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were arrested on various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who attended the mahapanchayat on Monday, said the government should procure sunflower seeds on MSP and the farmer leaders arrested in Shahbad should be released. 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 Police cracked the murder case of a Nepalese man with the arrest of his friend and roommate. The investigation revealed that the deceased had been strangled to death after a dispute of over 700. The accused told police that he had a verbal spat with the victim, Uday Bahadur, 48, over 700 while they were drinking liquor together on June 2 (iStock) The accused, who has been identified as Shankar Bahadur, 35, of Alamgir, who is also a Nepalese national, later dumped the body at an isolated area in Sarinh. During questioning, the accused told police that he had a verbal spat with the victim, Uday Bahadur, 48, over 700 while they were drinking liquor together on June 2. He alleged that Uday had first attacked him, but he managed to overpower him and eventually strangled him to death. Sharing further details, inspector Paramdeep Singh, station house officer at the Dehlon police station, said police had recovered the unidentified semi-decomposed body on June 7 from Sarinh. Police sent the body to Civil hospital for the postmortem and made an announcement in surrounding areas for the identification. Meanwhile, Narinder Bahadur of Sherpur, the deceaseds nephew, had contacted the police about his uncle having gone missing on June 2. Later, Narinder Bahadur identified the body. The inspector added that police rounded up his roommate Shankar Bahadur for questioning after the postmortem report suggested that the man was strangled to death. During questioning, Bahadur confessed his crime. The accused told police that he had borrowed 700 from Uday Bahadur. On June 2, when they were consuming liquor, Uday Bahadur forced him to return his money. They indulged in a verbal spat. Later, he strangled Uday Bahadur to death and dumped the body at an isolated place, the inspector said. A case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused at Dehlon police station. robert@hindustantimes.com Akshay Anand, the in-charge of the yoga programme at PGIMER, outlined three significant components of the programme that define this initiative. (HT File) Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is ready to roll out a programme of yoga sessions specifically designed for doctors, nursing staff, para-medical staff and attendants of patients on June 21. To mark the occasion of the ninth International Yoga Day, a specialised yoga centre will also be inaugurated at Zakir Hall. Akshay Anand, the in-charge of the yoga programme at PGIMER, outlined three significant components of the programme that define this initiative. He also highlighted its three key features starting with the implementation of an evidence-based integration of yoga. This therapy follows a structured approach based on scientific evidence, ensuring its effectiveness and safety. The second feature involves providing yoga training delivered by accredited trainers certified by the government of India. The third feature places emphasis on prioritising the well-being of health care workers as the primary focus, followed by patients. PGIMER has been granted a sum of one crore rupees from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund by MP Kirron Kher to bolster yoga research and empower its initiatives said Anand. Notably, PGIMER has become the pioneering institute in India to receive MPLAD funding specifically designated for yoga. Vivek Lal, director PGIMER said, Its a big step forward. We will utilize the services to provide yoga to the caregivers and attendants who are with patients admitted in our premises. Furthermore, the initiative will extend its benefits to residents and other staff members as well. The daily yoga sessions or therapy provided will be completely free of cost. These sessions will take place from Monday to Friday, encompassing a total of five sessions.The first session, specifically targeting neck and back pain, will be conducted from 11:00 am to 11:30 am. The second, third and fourth sessions will be general sessions open to all participants. These sessions will be held from 1 pm to 1.30 pm, 4.30 pm to 5 pm, and 5 pm to 5.30 pm, respectively. The final session will be exclusively for doctors and faculty members, taking place from 7 pm to 7.30 pm. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A snow avalanche occurred in the mountains behind Kedarnath shrine at around 8.56am on Monday although it was not as massive as the one that occurred on June 8 in the area, said officials. A snow avalanche occurred in the mountains behind Kedarnath shrine at around 8:56 am on Monday. (HT Photo) A massive snow avalanche had hit the mountains around the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand on Thursday, but the fresh avalanche was not that big compared to the earlier one, said Anand Shukla, temple priest at Kedarnath sharing the pictures of the avalanche he took while he was on his way to the shrine to attend to the devotees. A similar snow avalanche on June 4, en route to Hemkund Sahib, the revered Sikh shrine which was opened for devotees on May 20, had resulted in the death of one pilgrim while five of them were rescued by a team of State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF). Earlier this year also, snow avalanches/glacier breakages have been reported in the higher Himalayan valleys. On May 3, Kuber glacier broke off on the 16-km Kedarnath Dham trek route, 3 km ahead of the Kedarnath shrine. SDRF personnel rescued four Nepalese porters who were trapped in the glacier breakage area. On May 4, again a glacier broke off at Bhairav Padav, nearly 3 km ahead of the shrine in Rudraprayag district. On May 7, a glacier broke off in Darma Valley of Pithoragarh district blocking the road in the area. On April 30, a snow avalanche triggered by overnight rain and a fresh spell of snow was reported near snow-clad Neelkanth peak in Chamoli district. The pilgrims at Badrinath shrine captured the moment on their mobile phones as the loose snow drifted down into the ravine without causing any loss of life and property as it was far away from the habitation. Located at a height of nearly 3,500 meters above sea level, the Kedarnath temple is located near the Mandakini River in the Rudraprayag district. The 16 trek for Kedarnath Dham starts from Gauri Kund. According to tradition, the shrine was built by Pandavas and revived by Adi Shankaracharya. The shrine was the worst affected area during the 2013 flash floods, with Kedarnath town suffering extensive damages. In Uttarakhand, there are over 1000 glaciers. These glaciers, coupled with extreme local weather events and changes in terrain, can lead to lake outbursts, or lake formation due to the rockfall or landslides in the valleys or on slopes. According to experts, only around 10 or so glaciers are being monitored. The ones that are being studied include Gangotri Glacier, Chorabari glacier, Dunagiri glacier, Dokriyani glacier and Pindari glaciers. One major reason is the location of these glaciers in remote snowy areas and lack of enough funding for their regular monitoring, which requires the setting of observatories, sensors and other equipment in the valleys downstream, apart from regular ground surveys. How glaciers can lead to devastating flash floods downstream can be understood from the fact they can hold large quantum of water in their crevices and cavities and due to blockage by debris or moraine formation at their snouts. On February 7 2021, there was breakage of a glacier in Chamoli district, which led to a flash flood and created havoc downstream, killing 204 people. Two persons were arrested under the anti-conversion law in Uttarakhands Udham Singh Nagar, police said. A case in this regard was registered under sections 3 and 5 of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act 2018. (Representative file image) The accused were identified as Vikas Kumar, and Ankit Kumar, both residents of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. A case in this regard was registered under sections 3 and 5 of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act 2018 at Kichha police station. Also Read: Explainer: Anti-conversion laws According to police, a former gram pradhan alleged in his complaint that some unidentified people on June 7 lured people to convert in Sonera Bengali Colony of Kichha. The religious conversations were happening in the area for the last three days from a rented accommodation, he alleged. Dhirendra Kumar, Kichha police station in-charge, said, On the complaint of a gram pradhan, we registered the case on Saturday and arrested the two on the same day. It has been alleged that these men were luring people to convert. Our investigation into the matter is underway. On November 30 last year, Uttarakhand assembly had passed an amendment bill titled Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act 2022 to strengthen the anti-conversion law in the state. A Delhi court on Monday refused to grant transit remand of two alleged operatives of the banned terrorist outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) to Punjab police, saying the application was belated. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Isha Singh noted the accused were to be produced before the court concerned in Punjab on Monday on a production warrant it had issued earlier. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Isha Singh noted the accused were to be produced before the court concerned in Punjab on Monday on a production warrant it had issued earlier. The judge said the application was filed today at 11.55 am and, even if the application to take the accused to Punjab was allowed, it would not be possible to produce them in the court before 5 pm. If the accused had to be produced before the court concerned in Jagraon, Punjab, the investigating officer should have filed the application in time... This application is belated, the judge said. The accused- Amritpal Singh, alias Ammy, and Amrik Singh, allegedly associated with Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Dhalla, are currently in judicial custody in a case lodged by the NIA. Punjab Police had sought their transit remand in a case of extortion registered at Jagraon Sadar police station at Ludhiana. Punjab Police had registered a case under sections related to extortion, Arms Act and the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in January 2023. They were arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here by the NIA under anti-terror law UAPA after their deportation from Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on May 19 for their alleged involvement in recruiting young men for KTF. They were also accused of smuggling, procuring arms and ammunition, and raising funds for the organisation. On June 6, the court had remanded the two in judicial custody. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi high court on Monday granted six weeks interim bail on medical grounds to businessman Sameer Mahendru in a money laundering case arising out of alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22. The judge also noted that Mahendru has on two previous occasions been granted interim bail on medical grounds by the trial court. (Representative photo) Every person has a right to get himself adequately and effectively treated. The exercise of discretion of the grant of bail is not to be exercised only as a last resort; rather freedom is a cherished fundamental right, justice Chandra Dhari Singh said while directing that Mahendru be released forthwith, and that he shall surrender before the trial court on July 25. .this court finds that the petitioner is suffering from life-threatening diseases warranting immediate medical attention and post-operative care. This court is of the opinion that in view of the aforesaid discussion, the petitioners case satisfies the test of the proviso to Section 45(1) of the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002), the court said. The judge also noted that Mahendru has on two previous occasions been granted interim bail on medical grounds by the trial court on February 28, and on April 18 and there is nothing on record to show that the liberty granted to the petitioner has been misused by him. Granting him interim bail for a personal bond of 10 lakh and two sureties of like amount, the court asked Mahendru to not leave the limits of the hospital and his house, and under no circumstances, leave the country. That he shall not destroy or tamper with the evidence of this case and shall not influence any witness of the case, and shall not make any attempts to contact any co-accused. That he shall not indulge in any criminal activities or commission of any offence of whatsoever nature and he shall not abuse the interim bail granted to him for any purposes, the court said in its 31-page judgment. According to the prosecution, the accused was one of the major beneficiaries of the alleged irregularities in the excise policy as he was not only running an alcoholic beverage manufacturing unit but was also given a wholesale licence, along with some retail licences in the name of his relatives. Because of the alleged irregularities and violations, Mahendru made around 50 crore, the prosecution has claimed. The ED has registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR) against Mahendru under the relevant provisions of the PMLA. A 38-year-old man was allegedly stabbed at least nine times with a pair of scissors inside a salon in southwest Delhis Vasant Kunj following an argument over smoking on Sunday afternoon, police said. Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Manoj C said that around 2pm on Sunday, the victim Abhay Kumar, a resident of Kishangarh village in Vasant Kunj, had gone to a salon nearby for a haircut. (Representational Image) The man suffered four stab wounds on his chest, the police said, adding that a case of attempt to murder was registered against the suspect who was later arrested. Also read: Mumbai murder: Porn sites notes; online tips for body disposal. What cops found from Manoj Sane Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Manoj C said that around 2pm on Sunday, the victim Abhay Kumar, a resident of Kishangarh village in Vasant Kunj, had gone to a salon nearby for a haircut. Kumar was getting the haircut when the suspect Mohit Mahlawat alias Manu, 22, arrived. Mahlawat, whose father owns the salon, was under the influence of alcohol and started smoking a cigarette inside the shop. Saying that he was allergic to cigarette smoke, Kumar asked Mahlawat to go smoke outside. Being the landlords son, Mahlawat took offence at Kumars remarks. An altercation broke out between them during which, Mahlawat picked up a pair of scissors from the shop and assaulted Kumar. Kumar suffered injuries at nine places over his body, including four in the chest, said DCP Manoj. The police said that the attacker left the shop after the incident. Three salon employees were present during the stabbing. The police were informed about the matter and the injured man was admitted to a nearby hospital. A police team visited the hospital and recorded Kumars statement. Accordingly, a case of attempt to murder was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 307 at Kishangarh police station. Also read: Sidhu Moose Wala killing accused's twin brother arrested for plotting Dera follower's murder We arrested Mahlawat on Sunday and booked him. Further probe is on, the DCP said, adding that the victims condition is currently stable. Kumar works for a private company while Mahlawat is unemployed, the police said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Monday brought the operation of bike taxis in the Capital to a halt, staying Delhi high court orders that permitted aggregators to ply two-wheelers as taxis until the state government notifies pertinent regulations. The Delhi government in February banned all such operators from offering any bike-taxi services in the Capital under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and also warned that riders found violating the rules will be fined up to 10,000 and even face suspension of licence for a minimum of three years. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo) In our opinion, an interim order staying the whole-scale operation of a statutory regime till the finalisation of policy was unwarranted and we stay both the impugned orders passed by the Delhi high court, said a bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal while disposing of the appeal by the Aam Aadmi Party government. The bench, in its order, refrained from commenting on the merits of the arguments raised by Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltds Rapido and Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, both of which offer two-wheeler services, noting that it is for the high court to finally decide all contentions after hearing parties, and that it was currently concerned only with the interim orders passed in May. The bench granted liberty to the parties to approach the Delhi high court for early hearing. The Delhi government in February banned all such operators from offering any bike-taxi services in the Capital under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and also warned that riders found violating the rules will be fined up to 10,000 and even face suspension of licence for a minimum of three years. On May 26, the high court ruled that no coercive action should be taken against two bike taxi aggregators and its riders till the Delhi government notifies the necessary regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act. The interim order was to continue till August 22, when the high court is expected to take up the matter next. Staying the Delhi high court orders on Monday, the Supreme Court bench also recorded the statement of senior advocate Manish Vashisht, appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, who said that the policy governing the licencing regime of aggregators would be in place by the end of July. The Delhi government pointed out that allowing private motorcycles to ply as taxis is in contravention of the Motor Vehicles Act and that the high court order did not specify the reasons while protecting the aggregators for the time being. At the request of the senior counsels Neeraj Kishan Kaul and Siddharth Bhatnagar, representing Uber and Rapido, the bench also recorded in its order that that once the pertinent notification was in place, the Delhi government would deal with the applications of the aggregators in a time-bound manner, till guidelines governing grant of licences to such aggregators are notified. During the proceedings, the Union government, represented through additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain, submitted that the Centres 2020 guidelines allow private two wheelers to be plied as transport vehicles if the aggregators comply with the norms. However, following the ASGs request, the question as to whether the Motor Vehicles Act permits private owner of a two-wheeler to ply his vehicle commercially through an aggregator was left to be finally decided by the high court. On June 9, the Court had sought the Centres stand on allowing bike-taxi aggregators to operate in Delhi after Uber and Rapido claimed that they should be allowed to operate under the 2020 guidelines of the central government. The aggregators further pointed out that since the Delhi government did not have any regulatory regime in place, they were required to comply only with the Centres guidelines. Also read: Electric push in draft Delhi policy for app-based cabs; bike taxis During the proceedings on Monday, ASJ Jain clarified that the Centres 2020 guidelines were subject to the statutory regime that could be put in place by states as public transport is a subject within the jurisdiction of state legislature. Appearing for the aggregators, senior counsel Kaul and Bhatnagar, on their part, contended that 2004 and 2020 guidelines by the central government allow both four and two-wheelers to operate as taxis. They also complained about the loss of livelihood of thousands of people if bike-taxis were to be stopped just because the Delhi government failed to come out with necessary regulations in the last four years. A 17-year-old boy was stabbed and injured at a park in Gautampuri near northeast Delhis New Usmanpur on Sunday evening by a group of three boys over a personal enmity, police said. The injured teenager lives with his mother and brother in Gautampuri. His father died around seven years back. (HT Photo) Police said the prime suspect, who is the victims classmate and aged around 17, was apprehended while efforts are on to nab the other two. Meanwhile, the condition of the injured boy was stable, and he was out of danger. A case of voluntarily causing hurt using a dangerous weapon and threatening was registered at the New Usmanpur police station. Initial probe has revealed that the attack happened over a quarrel between the teenagers at school, said deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Joy Tirkey. DCP Tirkey said that information was received around 9.30pm on Sunday regarding the admission of a 17 year-old boy at Shahdaras Jag Pravesh Chandra hospital. The teenager, who was injured on the left side of his chest, was given medical attention and his condition is safe, added Tirkey. The injured teenager lives with his mother and brother in Gautampuri. His father died around seven years back. Apart from studies, the teenager also worked at a LED lamp manufacturing unit in northeast Delhi, said his uncle. According to his uncle, the teenager had returned home from work around 6pm on Sunday, when he received a call from his friend asking him to meet him at the park near Gautampuri water tank. Around 9pm, a policeman informed on phone that my nephew was hurt in an accident. We went to the hospital and learnt that he was in fact stabbed, said the uncle. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Unidentified suspects have been booked for allegedly attempting to extort money from an advocate, Gurugram police said on Monday. Police said the suspects tried to extort money by sending the victim a morphed video showing him interacting with a naked woman. (Photo for representation) Police said the suspects tried to extort money by sending the victim a morphed video showing him interacting with a woman. According to police, the incident took place at about 9.30pm on Sunday when the victim, aged about 38 years, was working with his father, a retired judicial officer, in their office at home. Investigators said the victim was in a state of shock and fell unconscious on receiving a video call and then some videos and pictures on WhatsApp. Police said the retired judicial officer immediately sought medical assistance to stabilise his son. Police said the family members soon realised that he had fallen victim to a sextortion racket as he had received messages from two different WhatsApp numbers on which the unidentified suspects were threatening him to pay money or they will leak the morphed videos and pictures. On the a complaint by the father of the victim, an FIR against unidentified suspects was registered under Section 292 (circulating obscene item) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions from the Information Technology (IT) Act at Sector 17/18 police station on Sunday night, said police. Subhash Boken, public relations officer of Gurugram police, said they are trying to track the suspects. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya on Monday hit out at the ruling Trinamool Congress over the upcoming panchayat elections. The BJP leader alleged that TMC MLAs are stopping BJP candidates from filing nomination for the election. BJP's West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya hit out at state election commissioner Rajiva Sinha, calling him an 'acolyte' of Mamata Banerjee. Malviya alleged that instance of violence are on the rise due to connivance of the West Bengal police. He also claimed that the movement of BJP MPs and MLAs are being restricted. What is Mamata Banerjee so scared of? he tweeted. The BJP leader hit out at the newly-appointed Bengal poll panel chief Rajiva Sinha, calling him a known acolyte of chief minister Mamata Banerjee who wines and dines with her family. "Despite claims of being prepared to conduct Panchayat polls, the WB EC has fallen woefully short of expectation. Did Sinha make those assurances as a spokesperson of TMC? he added. Malviya alleged the Bengal Police is behaving like a TMC cadre, adding that the ruling party is paranoid because the BJP is leading the nomination process despite violence and intimidation. Bengal panchayat polls The panchayat polls will be held in a single phase on July 8 and the results will be tentatively announced on July 11. According to state election commissioner Rajive Sinha, 20 districts in Bengal have three-tier panchayats and the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong have two-tier bodies. The filing of nomination has already commenced and will end on June 15. It has to be done between 11 am and 3 pm except on Sundays and holidays. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on June 17 and last day for withdrawal is June 20. No campaigning will be allowed between 10 pm and 8 am. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A partly smoked bidi was found in the breakfast prepared for girls in the mess of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language Universitys Rani Laxmibai hostel, here, on Monday. As the photographs went viral on social media, the university constituted a five-member committee to investigate the issue. The bidi discovered in an idli in the mess of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language Universitys Rani Laxmibai hostel, in Lucknow, on Monday (Sourced) After spotting the partly smoked bidi in an idli, the girl students refused to eat and went to take their exam without having breakfast. Insiders say that there have been complaints about the quality of food being served in the mess. Vice-chancellor Prof NB Singh said, There has been no complaint from the girls. We came to know about it through social media. The matter will be probed, and the guilty will be punished. University registrar, Ajay Krishna Yadav said, On the direction of the vice-chancellor, a five-member probe committee was formed under Tanvir Khadija, dean, students welfare. The committee has been given three days to submit its report. Based on the findings, the university will take action against the guilty. Proctor Neeraj Shukla said, Now that the vice-chancellor has formed a committee, it will be too early to jump to conclusions about what happened. Lets wait for the findings of the committee. The quality of food in hostels of universities has been an issue frequently. Last month, a cockroach was found in the food served in the mess of a Lucknow University hostel. An undergraduate law student at Homi J Bhabha Hostel spotted it on the serving spoon and reported the matter to the mess owner. Recently, moss in the tank used to supply drinking water to students at Lucknow University was seen. The students took pictures and uploaded them to social media that went viral. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 23-year-old man has been accused of killing the paramour of his mother after intoxicating him, hitting him with a stone and mutilating his private parts, stated a police press note on Monday. An FIR under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was also lodged at Mahanagar police station on the complaint of the victims brother Bindhu Mishra. (FOR REPRESENTATION) The incident came to light when a body was found at Banda (Dam) near PAC 35 battalion on May 23 morning. The deceased was identified by the family as Siddhart Kumar Mishra, 34, a resident of Daliganj Lucknow, police said. The accused has been identified as Anupam Tiwari, 23, a resident of Madiyaon who works as a security guard in the Chinhat area. He was arrested by Lucknow police on Monday, said police. An FIR under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was also lodged at Mahanagar police station on the complaint of the victims brother Bindhu Mishra. On May 22 evening, Anupam and the victim had alcohol, and then he took Siddhart to a banda at Rahim Nagar and killed him there under the influence of alcohol, according to police. The accused first hit the victim with a stone on his head, then mutilated his private parts with a knife, said DCP central Aparna Rajat Kaushik. The accused killed Siddhart as the victim had an alleged relationship with his mother, added DCP. During the investigation, the accused revealed that before murdering the victim he watched the movie Drishyam as many as 21 times to learn ways to save himself from being caught, police said. The identification of the victim was difficult as he was not using any mobile phone. The details were collected with the help of field unit police, informed DCP. The items used in the murder have also been recovered from the victim. The accused will be produced before the court, said the police press note. Fatehpur Sikri police in Agra district on Monday arrested two of the three accused of the alleged gangrape of a minor girl on Sunday night. The crime was committed in a village under Fatehpur Sikri police area. Two police teams have left for Rajasthan to nab the third accused involved in the crime. (For Representation) Police at Fatehpur Sikri police station on Monday morning received a complaint by the father of the teenager girl. He named three youths from village for the alleged gang rape with her daughter. Swinging into action, police nabbed two of them within two hours, said Rajeev Sirohi, assistant commissioner of police, Achhnera circle, Agra. A case has been registered under section 376D (gangrape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code beside relevant section of POCSO Act at Fatehpur Sikri police station, he added. The two arrested accused include Saddam, a local, and Sohail, a resident of a village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. The third accused Moin, who is still at large, is a resident of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Two police teams have left for Rajasthan to nab him, the ACP said. The Uttar Pradesh (UP) BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary met the partys senior cadre in Lucknow over a luncheon meet, on Monday. Chaudhary and others shared tiffin (packed homemade food) while discussing ways to ensure continued engagement across generations. UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and other party leaders at a tiffin meeting in Lucknow on Monday (HT Photo) Such programmes called tiffin meetings are being held in each assembly segment, where senior leaders bring home-made food packed in tiffins and share it, a move aimed at better bonding of the partys cadre, especially ones who had roughed it out when the BJP was yet to gain a firm political foothold. We want to create policies factoring in views of the senior cadre. Thats because, today, if the BJP is powerful, much of the credit should go to the generation of senior cadre who contributed their experience and expertise to ensure the partys rise, UP BJP chief said at the tiffin meet. Through such novel meets the BJP leadership is also subtly sending out a message to its cadre that it values the partys old guard and their contributions, a move timed to guard against alienating the old guard and ensuring coordination between old and new cadres, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when the BJP will again look to UP for hat-trick of wins at the Centre. Today the party has been winning virtually everywhere. For the first time the BJP won in 196 Nagar Palikas. We have fulfilled commitments made by the party, including Ram Temple, abrogation of Article 370. That is why people have been supporting us. In 2012 assembly elections, the party got 17% votes in UP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls these went up to 41%, and in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, despite opposition unity, the party won 51% vote, the UP BJP chief said. Governor Anandiben Patel who is also the chancellor of the state universities, asked all the varsity authorities to prepare for the upcoming International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21 and make a strong claim to create a world record. Governor Anandiben Patel. (File) She further asked the universities to include different types of Yoga like Jalayog (Yoga in water), malkhamb, Yoga with dance, and Yoga with music in their event while making them theme based. In view of Yoga Day, many universities of the state have started Yoga Pakhwada, while the remaining other universities are preparing to organise Yoga Week from June 14 to 21. This year various programmes like poster competition, debate competition, essay writing, rangoli competition, Yoga training, and awareness towards Yoga have started in universities for Yoga Day being organised on the theme of Har Ghar Aangan Yoga. Governor directed the universities to involve a large number of students in each and every activity of the Yoga event. She asked them to form a council of students to connect with the preparations for the Yoga event and make them participate. She said that every university should organise Yoga practice in its adopted villages, at anganwadi centres and also for pregnant women and ailing people under the guidance of trained Yoga teachers. She said that medical universities should organise different types of Yoga which are beneficial for different diseases. The governor asked universities to organise Yoga Day at places like martyrs memorials, historical heritage sites, Sangam Sthal, Ganga Ghats. She said that local public representatives should also be invited to the event and students should be given an opportunity to perform Yoga with the public representative in every event. She also instructed boatmen to connect with Yoga practice. Meanwhile, the University of Lucknow is all set to celebrate the 9th International Yoga Day with a series of events and activities, guided by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. The faculty of yoga and alternative medicine at the LU has already organised various engaging activities as a part of the International Yoga Day celebrations. Looking ahead, LU has planned a diverse range of activities for the upcoming days. On June 13, special Yoga sessions will be organised for international students, followed by an energising session of Musical Yoga. On June 14, Yoga sessions tailored for pregnant women will take place, while on June 15, Geriatric Yoga sessions will cater to the needs of the elderly. Furthermore, on June 18, an exciting Yoga session in water is scheduled, offering a unique experience to the participants. The grand culmination of the International Yoga Day celebrations will take place on June 21, with the participation of approximately 3,000 students at the main campus and another 1,000 students at the second campus of the LU. Moreover, in colleges associated with LU across five districts, namely Rae Bareli, Lakhimpur, Lucknow, Hardoi, and Sitapur, more than one lakh students will join in performing Yoga simultaneously. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 26-year-old man allegedly killed his neighbour, covered his body in a bedsheet and concealed it in his house in Dharavi area of central Mumbai, police said on Monday. The accused, who worked as a food delivery agent, has been arrested under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. (HT Photo) The murder came to light on Sunday when some people in the neighbourhood went to collect maintenance charges from the accused and noticed a foul smell emanating from a house in Sethwadi locality of Dharavi, an official from Shahu Nagar police said. The police were subsequently informed and the victim's decomposed body was found covered in a bedsheet in the victim's own house, he said. A probe revealed that the accused had invited the victim for a drink on Friday night and allegedly attacked him following an argument and killed him on the spot, the official said. The accused roamed around casually in the neighbourhood since the crime, before the police laid a trap and nabbed him, the official said. The accused, who worked as a food delivery agent, has been arrested under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW Accused Vijay Yadav, who shot down Sanjeev Jeeva inside the Lucknow court on June 7, has said that one Aslam from Nepal gave him 20 lakh to eliminate the dreaded gangster. Vijay Yadav, who allegedly shot down Sanjeev Jeeva inside the Lucknow court on June 7. Yadav further disclosed that Aslam got Jeeva killed to avenge his brother Ateefs insult. Jeeva had allegedly insulted Ateef, who is currently lodged in the Lucknow prison, by forcibly pulling his bread. Yadav also revealed that he met Aslam in Nepal. In the leaked viral video of his confession, Yadav is seen wearing an oxygen mask. At present, he is undergoing treatment at Lucknow prisons jail. To recall, Yadav shot down Sanjeev Maheshwari (alias Sanjeev Jeeva) inside the SC/ST courtroom in the district court campus on June 7. Before he could flee the crime scene, lawyers present inside the courtroom apprehended Yadav and thrashed him. Later, Yadav was taken into custody, shifted to KGMU trauma centre. Subsequently, Yadav was shifted to the hospital of the district prison. Is SIT probe being compromised? The selective release of the interrogation videos of Vijay Yadav has put a question mark on the ongoing SIT probe in the Sanjeev Maheswari murder case. Following the murder, the state government had ordered an SIT probe in the sensational killing. Who has leaked selective videos of the interrogation, asked a senior cop. The video seems to be of the time when the assailant was undergoing treatment at the KGMU trauma centre. Senior police officials remain tight-lipped on the source of the leaked clip. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A woman leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam was found near the National Highway-17 in the states Goalpara district, police said. Jonali Nath was the District Secretary of the BJP in Goalpara. (HT | Sourced image) The family of the deceased, Jonali Nath, alleged that it was a planned murder, but police said they are probing the case from all angles. Nath was the District Secretary of the BJP in Goalpara. Her body was found in Krishnai Salpar area on Sunday midnight. According to police, her family members said she had left for Islampur around 4:30pm on Sunday for some personal work. At around 7pm when her husband tried to call, the phone was not reachable. The family members later informed the police about it and her body was found around 12am. Also Read: Couple found murdered in Pathankot village The family members alleged that there were several marks of injuries on Jonalis body. This shows that she was brutally murdered, and the miscreants dumped her body after the killing, family members told media persons on Monday. An investigation has been launched by the Goalpara Police. According to officials aware of the matter, two suspects have been detained. Condoling the incident, BJP leader Ashok Singhal called for a probe into it. A thorough investigation into the incident will be done to ensure justice is served. We are committed to uncovering the truth behind this unfortunate event, he wrote on his official Twitter account. Assam minister Bimal Borah also expressed his condolences over the tragic incident. Deeply anguished and shocked upon hearing the devastating news about the untimely and tragic demise of Jonali Nath, the Goalpara District secretary of @BJP4Assam. The individuals responsible for this atrocious act will face the consequences and justice will be served. I extend my sincerest sympathies to the grieving family, relatives, and well-wishers during this difficult time, he wrote on his official Twitter account. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW A red alert has been sounded in the Lakhimpur Kheri-based Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) and patrolling has been intensified within its confines after the Uttarakhand forest department shared inputs about poaching activities along state borders. The Dudhwa National Park was declared as a tiger reserve in 1987. (Representational photo) Poachers groups are active on the southern end of Corbett Tiger Reserve, particularly areas that we share with Uttar Pradesh. I request the parts of Uttar Pradesh forest close to Corbett Tiger Reserve be also put under surveillance and with joint operation of the two states, we can stop any unwanted element in forest area, chief wildlife warden Uttarakhand, Dr Samir Sinha, wrote to additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF), project tiger, Uttar Pradesh, Sunil Chaudhary. Following the intel, forest officials in several districts were put on alert -- including Bareilly, Meerut, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Bijnor. Besides, search operations are ongoing and the use of gadgets -- including metal detectors, infrared camera, smart cages, drone camera, camera traps and M-STrIPES -- has been increased. M-STrIPES uses Global Positioning System (GPS), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), and remote sensing to collect information from the field, and to provide inferences that allow tiger reserve managers to better manage their wildlife resources. U.P. and Uttarakhand share land boundary in Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareli, and Pilibhit. Forest staff of the two states are now conducting joint operations to nab any poacher/unwanted person in the forest area. Since the border areas in forest between the two states are not marked as wild animals move from one place to another and they should not find any hinderance in movement, hence, the border remains porous both for animals and humans, said a senior forest official. Search operations are being conducted day and night by different teams. Officials of two states are in conversation to ensure that no unidentified man passes through and no item such as big boxes go unchecked. A protected area established in 1977, the Dudhwa National Park was declared as a tiger reserve in 1987. The area is found to have a significant population of Bengal tigers. The reserve is habitat to a diverse range of wildlife -- including tigers, leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and over 450 species of birds. Over 60 people fell ill after consuming food at a wedding function in Bihars Aurangabad district late on Sunday prompting the administration to rush a nine-member medical team to the village today. The community health centre was jam-packed with the affected people and several children and adults were made to lie on the floor (Representative Image) The incident occurred at Manjhauli village under the jurisdiction of Pouthu police station in Rafiganj block. Rafiganj block development officer (BDO) Upendra Das said, Hundreds of people had dinner and nearly 60 guests fell ill. They have been undergoing treatment in the Community Health Centre (CHC), Rafiganj. Four of them identified asMunsi Paswan, Amit Kumar, Bikram Kumar and Suresh Paswan-- have been referred to Aurangabad sadar hospital in serious condition. The CHC was jam-packed with the affected people and several children and adults were made to lie on the floor. Dr A K Keshri of the CHC said that around 60 people are receiving treatment in the hospital. According to the preliminary report, these people have been affected by food poisoning, he said. District magistrate Suharsh Bhagat said, People were treated in CHC because of some kind of food contamination and the situation is under control. No one is stated to be seriously ill. Suspecting a case of food poisoning, food department has collected food samples that will be sent for examination. The district medical officer has been directed to investigate and submit a detailed report, he added. Earlier on Friday night 250 people including 150 women and 50 children were hospitalised due to food poisoning in Banka district. The incident occurred at Chhira village under Surya police station after people consumed mutton- rice in a feast. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Avinash Kumar Avinash, a senior correspondent, reports on crime, railways, defence and social sector, with specialisation in police, home department and other investigation agencies. ...view detail A 50-year-old woman passenger, travelling in an auto rickshaw died after a tree fell on the vehicle in Pune on Monday, said police officials. The damaged roof of the autorickhaw after a tree fall incident at Sahakarnagar claimed a woman passengers life on Monday. (HT PHOTO) The incident occurred on Monday at around 4:40 pm near Muktangan School in Sahakar Nagar area of Pune city. Deceased has been identified as Lila Kakade, 50, a resident of Jambhulwadi area. According to fire brigade officials, other co-passengers in the auto rickshaw were identified as Namrata Sachin Pol (46), Kamal Adikame (69) and Mina Purushottam Pol (61) and one minor. According to police officials, the auto driver was ferrying four passengers from Dhankawadi and was heading towards the city as they had to attend the palkhi procession. When the driver neared Muktangan School in Sahakar Nagar, a tree fell on the vehicle. Three other passengers have sustained minor injuries. Immediately after the incident, local residents rushed for help and informed the police and fire brigade authorities. A team of fire brigade officials rushed to the spot and the tree was removed and the woman was extricated, but she died on the spot, said officials. Fire brigade officers rescued all other passengers including the auto driver and arranged an ambulance for further medical help. It took over one hour for the fire brigade personnel to clear off the fallen tree trunks to make way for traffic. Jairam Paygude, senior police inspector at Dattawadi police station said, Passengers were on their way to attend Palkhi procession when the tree fell on the vehicle. The body has been sent to Sassoon General Hospital for post-mortem and a case of accidental death will be registered after completion of all due process. Fireman Shailesh Gore said, We received a call at around 4:54 pm. Our team rushed to the spot to help with evacuation. The tree was completely rotten and hence it collapsed suddenly. It is important that residents inform the municipal corporation regarding rotten trees in their premises. Local resident and Youth Congress General Secretary Amit Bagul said, Pune Municipal Corporation should take review of such trees and take necessary steps regarding it. There are two- three such rotten trees in Manogat apartments but no one is taking care of it. Civic body only gives permission for tree cutting but the actual cost of tree cutting is to be borne by housing societies. Hence, many trees in many societies are not cut or chopped on time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 38-year-old resident of Kagal, a town in Kolhapur district, was arrested for allegedly posting a contentious social media status regarding Tipu Sultan. The post, which quickly went viral, triggered a tense situation in the area on Monday, prompting authorities to take swift action and increase police presence. A 38-year-old resident of Kagal, a town in Kolhapur district, was arrested for allegedly posting a contentious social media status regarding Tipu Sultan (HT FILE PHOTO) The arrested individual, identified as Farukh Yasin Asalkar, runs a fire crackers shop. According to Kagal police, the status allegedly contained remarks about Tipu Sultans historical significance. Several community members reported the post to the police, claiming it incited communal disharmony and hurt sentiments. In response to the growing tension, the local police initiated an investigation into the matter and swiftly apprehended Farukh at his residence. Ishwar Omase, senior police inspector at Kagal police station said, We acted promptly as the incident could have potential to disturb communal harmony and peace in our region. The individual responsible for the offensive post has been taken into custody, and we assure that appropriate action will be taken . However, Hindu outfits in the Kagal called Bandh on Monday as a result of which some of the shops in the locality remain closed. Workers of the Hindu Outfits have gathered and shouted slogans of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jay. Following the arrest, additional security measures were put in place in Kagal to prevent any untoward incidents. Police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order, and community leaders were engaged in an effort to restore calm and promote dialogue among the concerned parties. Local authorities have urged residents to exercise restraint and not indulge in any provocative actions or statements that could further escalate tensions. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the Chemist Association Pune District (CAPD) and allopathic medication makers in the Pune district that 14 fixed-dose combination drugs (FDC) will no longer be manufactured, sold, or distributed. The Union health ministry banned these 14 FDCs earlier this month, citing there is no therapeutic basis for these drugs and that they may pose a danger to humans. The FDA has notified the Chemist Association in Pune district that 14 fixed-dose combination drugs (FDC) will no longer be manufactured, sold, or distributed. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) Following the central governments notification issued on June 3, the FDA issued a letter dated June 6 to CAPD and Allopathic Drug Manufacturers in the Pune region (Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, and Kolhapur) in this regard. Dinesh Khivensara, assistant commissioner of FDA, Pune region, informed that these medicines will not be sold in the country. These medicines were used to treat coughs, colds, and respiratory infections, and the majority of them are available over the counter. Both the sales and manufacturing have been asked to be stopped immediately. We will undertake surprise inspections to find if the drugs are still in circulation and sold. If the order is not followed, action will be taken under the Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1940, he said. An FDC contains two or more active ingredients in a fixed dose ratio. The decision was made in response to the expert committees and the Drugs Technical Advisory Boards recommendations. The expert committee said that there is no therapeutic justification for these FDCs and involve risk to human beings. The banned FDCs are part of 344 fixed-dose combinations prohibited for sale by the Union Health Ministry in 2016. However, the government order was challenged by 15 manufacturers in court. Vivek Tapkir, vice president, CAPD, said, the sale of these banned drugs has been stopped by all chemists. Some of us have received notification from a few manufacturers to return the banned drug. Few of these prohibited medications are in high demand, particularly codeine cough syrup. We have currently set aside the existing supply of these prohibited pharmaceuticals and labelled them as not for sale. We have asked our association members to return the stock of these drugs to the distributors. Dr Sanjay Patil, chairman, Hospital Board of India (HBI), Pune chapter, said, if the doctors and hospitals dont get the supply of the banned drugs, they will automatically stop prescribing them. As this FDC includes drugs used for common cold and fever there is a need to create awareness among the doctors. Doctors must exercise caution while writing prescriptions. We will conduct an awareness session for the banned drugs among the doctors. It is always good to be aware of the banned drugs, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Following the clashes over controversial status on social media, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Hasan Mushrif appealed Muslim families not to view Aurangzeb as an icon. Following the clashes over controversial status on social media, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Hasan Mushrif appealed Muslim families not to view Aurangzeb as an icon. (HT PHOTO) Emphasising the need for unity among Hindustani Muslims, Mushrif on Monday said that Aurangzeb, known for his hostile relationship with 17th century king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, should be viewed as an adversary of the Indian Muslim community. Mushrif highlighted Chhatrapati Shivajis inclusive approach during his reign, explaining that the 17th century Kings rule encompassed Muslim Sardars, Vatandars, and other individuals from the Muslim community who served in prominent positions within his administration. Mushrif urged the Muslim community to remain vigilant against any attempts to incite communal violence or spread social hatred. Mushrif said, Indian Muslims should be cautious from falling prey to divisive agendas. Seniors and parents need to monitor and guide younger generations within the Muslim community to prevent any involvement in activities that promote disharmony. Aurangzebs legacy cannot be claimed by the Hindustani Muslims. I urge the community to focus on unity and a shared vision for progress. Even as the Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC) equitable water project is running behind deadline, it has again started the process of request for proposal (RFP) for the 34 villages merged within its civic limits. PMC equitable water project is running behind deadline, it has again started the process of request for proposal (RFP) for the 34 villages merged within its civic limits. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) PMC is forced to issue a new request due to lack of cooperation and affordability from the previous contractor. The civic body has sought proposals for the design review, supervision, and project management consultancy for the remaining work of implementing an equitable water supply system in the newly merged villages. The state government took the decision to merge 23 villages within the PMC limits in 2021, and 17 villages were already added to its jurisdiction in 2017. The mergers increased the citys population to over 50 lakh. The residents of merged villages claim that the civic body has failed to provide basic facilities such as drinking water, sewage and roads. Most of the merged villages are dependent on tanker water. Last year, PMC awarded a tender worth 1,300 crore to a company based in Madhya Pradesh for the design, execution, and operation and maintenance (O&M) of the project. The contract included a four-year period for the design and execution phase, followed by five years of operation and maintenance. However, the contractor only managed to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for five out of the 34 villages Bavdhan, Sus, Mhalunge, Lohegaon, and Wagholi. Aniruddha Pawaskar, chief superintendent engineer, PMC water supply department, said, The previous contractor failed to meet our terms and conditions. We have floated tender again for the project. To meet the water demand of 34 merged villages included in the projects population over a 30-year plan, PMC requires 10 thousand million per cubic feet (TMC) of water. We have written to the state water resource department requesting 5 TMC of water from Mulshi dam and awaiting their reply. Currently, we are managing to provide water from the existing quota, a water supply department official said on condition of anonymity. Prasana Joshi, executive engineer, water supply department, said, We have floated tender for laying pipelines and constructing water tanks in Bavdhan, Sus, and Mahalunge at an estimated cost of 110 crore. Additionally, we have made estimates for Lohegaon and Wagholi areas. We have not paid the previous contractor and asked him to submit all reports and work. Out of 34 villages, Wagholi, Sus, Baner, Balewadi, Mhalunge and Narhe are the most urbanised areas with more than 1,000 housing societies. Some of the housing societies are spending around 80 per cent of maintenance charges on water. Pune: A Marathi newspaper journalist escaped attack by unidentified persons for the second time within 15 days, police officials said on Monday. The assault, believed to be over personal enmity, involved gunfire and a threat to life. A Marathi newspaper journalist escaped attack by unidentified persons for the second time within 15 days, police officials said on Monday. ((PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) According to the Swargate police, the incident happened near Hotel Atithi on Satara Road when the victim Harshad Kataria was on his way home on Sunday night. Two unidentified persons on bike approached him and opened fire at Katariya. The journalist escaped without injuries and the attackers fled. Police officials said Katariya narrowly escaped a threat of chilli powder being thrown into his eyes while walking on the street 15 days back. Later, Katariya filed a police complaint. Sources from the police department reveal that Katariya had lodged a complaint with the Pune Municipal Corporation regarding unauthorised construction by several individuals, leading to disputes involving his ancestral property. Ashok Indulkar, senior inspector, Swargate police station said, As per claim made by the journalist, two persons fired bullet rounds towards him and we are probing the case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON National Testing Agency has issued provisional answer keys of NEET UG 2023 for Manipur candidates whose exam was postponed and held on June 6. The agency has displayed scanned images of OMR sheets and recorded responses along with answer keys on neet.nta.nic.in. Manipur NEET 2023 answer key out on neet.nta.nic.in, result likely soon (HT Photo) Manipur NEET aspirants have been asked to challenge the answer key, if required, till 4 pm today, June 12. NEET answer key for other candidates were issued earlier this month and the feedback window is over. After the closure of the feedback facility for Manipur aspirants, NTA is expected to announce NEET 2023 results. Candidates can check their scores on neet.nta.nic.in and ntaresults.nic.in, when available. NEET 2023 result live updates. NTA has informed that scanned image of OMR sheets has also been sent to registered email addresses of candidates. While challenging the answer key or OMR sheet, a non-refundable fee of 200 per question will be applicable, it said. NEET UG 2023 took place on May 7 across the country and abroad, except for Manipur where the exam had to be delayed due to the law and order situation in the state. NEST 2023: Admit cards for the National Entrance Screening Test or NEST 2023 have been released. Candidates who have applied for the exam can go to nestexam.in and download it. NEST 2023 admit cards out on nestexam.in, direct link here The entrance exam will be held on June 24, 2023 and NEST 2023 result will be announced on July 10. Ahead of the exam, exam conducting authorities have posted mock tests on the exam website. Candidates can take it to get familiar with the nature of the examination. NEST is held for admission to National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS). A key change has been introduced to the exam policy this year. As per the modification, the NEST merit list this year will be prepared using candidates' score in the best three out of the total four subjects and this will be applicable for both NISER and CEBS institutes. It was different in NEST 2022. Last year, scores of all four subjects were considered for preparing the NISER merit list. It was actor Vani Tripathi Tikoos character, Sheetals engagement scene in Chalte Chalte, when she asks her fiance about Raj and Priyas (Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji) married life, and the film shows a flashback into their love story. Vani Tripathi gets nostalgic on 20 years of Chalte Chalte Thats one reason the film was very special for me because Ive never played a central character before. In Chalte Chalte, the whole story of SRK and Rani was being narrated to the Sheetal, the character that I played, says Vani, recalling how being on set felt more like being at home. It was my second film with (director) Aziz Mirza and SRK, as I made my debut with Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000). So, except Rani, most of the actors were people I had worked with before or we had done theatre together, adds the actor as the film completes two decades of its release. The actor takes a trip down memory lane and recounts many fun moments while shooting. Lunch time used to be one big party everyday on set. I remember Shah Rukh Khan would keep the entire unit like a family. He was also producing the film, and he goes that extra mile to make people comfortable. He always used to ask the actors, How are you doing today? Do you need something? Did you eat enough food? Did you get enough sleep last week? Hed often say, This is the least I can do. It was this bond and compassion that made the film so special, says Vani. Ask if Chalte Chalte was a breakthrough in her acting career, Vani calls it her growth period in the Hindi film industry. She elaborates, I had already done Dushman (1998) and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, so Chalte Chalte was a different role for me. It helped in shaping my career further in so many ways. Not just career, it helped in shaping my life because the film was so realistic about relationships and married couples in urban cities when they are trying to be aspirational. Stating that it feels like Chalte Chalte happened just yesterday, the actor-turned-politician says, I still get calls and messages from people whenever they are watching the film. It was so beautiful, deep, and realistic. It can be redefined two decades later, again, and I hope someday somebody thinks of making a sequel to it. Actor Allu Arjun, who is currently busy with the shoot of upcoming Telugu film Pushpa: The Rule, took out time to attend the wedding of filmmaker Madhu Mantena with author and yoga guru Ira Trivedi. At the wedding reception, pictures of Allu Arjun sharing a candid moment with Hrithik Roshan have gone viral. Actor Aamir Khan can also be seen in the pictures. Also read: Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi are now married. Check out first pics from the ceremony Allu Arjun and Hrithik Roshan at Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedis' reception. Allu Arjun hugs Hrithik Roshan On Sunday, Madhu and Ira had a traditional wedding ceremony in Mumbai in the presence of their closest friends and family. In one of the pictures, Arjun can be seen shaking hand and hugging Hrithik, while Aamir Khan looks on. Reactions to Allu Arjun and Hrithik Roshan's pics Reacting to the picture, Arjuns fans expressed their excitement and described the moment as coming together of Indias best dancers. One Twitter user wrote, Wow. Indias best dancers in a single frame (sic). Another one wrote, Frame worthy moment. Need them together in a film or song (sic). Sharing their photos together, a fan tweeted about Allu Arjun, Hrithik Roshan, and Aamir Khan, Icons of Indian cinema in one frame. Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi's reception On Saturday, Madhu and Ira hosted a mehendi ceremony in Mumbai. It was attended by Rajkummar Rao and actor-wife Patralekha, Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan. Allu Arjun was also part of the same event. Hrithik was also joined by actor-girlfriend Saba Azad. Madhu Mantena's previous relationship Known for producing films such as Ghajini, Ugly and Queen among others, Madhu was previously married to fashion designer Masaba but they got divorced in 2019. Before Masaba, he was in a relationship with actress Nandana Sen. Arjun's upcoming project Meanwhile, Arjun is expected to resume shooting of Pushpa 2 in a few days. The project went on the floors last November. The second part will focus on the face-off between Allu Arjun and Fahadh Faasil, who was introduced as the prime antagonist towards the end of the first part. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, who plays the character Srivalli. Originally shot in Telugu, the first part of Pushpa was dubbed and released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Its the first film for Allu Arjun to have a simultaneous release in five languages. The film saw Arjun play the role of a lorry driver who smuggles red sandalwood and eventually becomes a key player of the syndicate. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Interview: Palestinian president's visit to China to strengthen bilateral ties: official Xinhua) 16:06, June 12, 2023 RAMALLAH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' state visit to China will lay the foundation for consolidating bilateral relations, a senior Palestinian official said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, said China and Palestine are "friends closer than brothers." Zaki said that China and Palestine have always supported each other in their core interests. He said China firmly supports the cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and supports establishing an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on 1967 borders. He said Palestine appreciated China's call for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestine issue at the United Nations and other levels and that Abbas' visit would strengthen bilateral ties. Speaking of the first China-Arab States Summit held last year, Zaki said it was a milestone in the history of China-Arab relations and would guide the direction for developing China-Arab relations in the new era. "I am very pleased to see that China has been more involved in Middle East affairs after the China-Arab States Summit last year," said the Palestinian official, noting that the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia resulted from the China-proposed Global Security Initiative. He said that the rapprochement signaled a change in the political landscape in the Middle East and raised awareness of unity and independence among regional countries. Zaki said Western countries, led by the United States, have destabilized the region. "Iraq, Libya and Syria were destroyed by them, and Sudan is now facing fragmentation." According to Zaki, the United States has consistently shown bias and double standards on the Palestine issue, hindering progress toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Anusha Dandekar took to her Instagram to share her health update after surgery. The former VJ, actor shared that she recently went through surgery for a lump in her ovary, and said doctors found a few more lumps during the process. She added that her recovery journey has been 'pretty intense.' (Also read: Anusha Dandekar's latest pic in little black dress reminds internet of Kylie Jenner) Anusha Dandekar has shared post about undergoing a lump removal surgery. Anusha's Instagram post Anusha took to Instagram to post a makeup-free selfie and penned a detailed caption to open up about her health update. "Just popping in to say hello" she began. "Quick story: went through a surgery for a lump in my ovary, the recovery has been pretty intense and also Im really lucky all was okay found a few more lumps while they were there, again super lucky everything Is great now" Anusha's advice to girls Anusha then shared how it is extremely important for girls to have a consistent, yearly checkup with their gynaecologist for their own health and safety. She continued, "Just wanted to tell all the girls that are here reading this, to make sure you visit your Gynaecologist once a year without fail to stay ahead of your health and safety, Ive been doing that since I was 17 and thats how I can be so grateful Im recovering well today. Thankyou to @drshwetaraje and her incredible team @womens.hospital for making me feel so safe and comfortable. Thankyou for everyone that came to the hospital and called and msgd constantly, you know who you are and Im forever grateful to have you in my life. (red heart emoticon) Anusha then concluded by expressing her gratitude and also sharing that the recovery process is still underway. "Still have a few weeks of full recovery ahead of me but it felt so good to walk outside today! Grateful beyond. (folded hands emoticon) Love you, Anusha xoxo." Reactions to Anusha's post Many reacted to Anusha's health update and added to the comments. Actor Jennifer Winget said, "Sending lots of love baby! (red heart emoticons)" Rhea Chakraborty commented with heart emoticons. A well-wisher wrote, "Take care. Speedy recovery n lots of love." Another comment read, "Happy recovery. Sending you lots of love and strength." Anusha Dandekar started her career in the industry as an anchor. She has hosted several shows, including MTV Dance Crew, MTV Teen Diva and India's Next Top Model. She has the Marathi film Baap Manus lined up for release on June 16. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi is among Bollywood favourite shoot locations, but there is a growing sentiment among line producers that the Capital might be losing its shoot-friendly tag, thanks to the escalating costs. At the moment, Akshay Kumar and Ananya Panday are shooting their upcoming project C Sankaran Nair biopic in the national capital Shooting in Delhi has become too expensive, from hotels to historical places. At the moment, only big banners and makers are coming to the shoot for their projects. When it comes to other projects, they are looking at Uttar Pradesh, Haryana or Punjab, says line producer Navmeet Singh. If we look back at the shoot schedule of the last few months, it shows that several projects such as Ranveer Singhs Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Ranbir Kapoors Animal, second season of Pataal Lok, Sara Ali Khans Murder Mubarak, Rohit Shettys Indian Police Force, Vikrant Masseys 12th Fail and Kartik Aaryans Shehzada were shot in Delhi. Not to forget that Akshay Kumar and Ananya Panday are presently stationed in the city to film their upcoming project C Sankaran Nair biopic. Point this out, and line producers mentions that they are all backed by big makers, who have the money to push forward the budget. Explaining the changing scenario, line producer Ravi Sarin, who has been working for the last 20 years, mentions, We dont have many shoots lined up in the coming six month period. The situation is really grim as many line producers are changing their line as well. Revealing that filmmakers and production units have started to now prefer Uttar Pradesh or Punjab over Delhi, Sarin adds, In the future, the number of shoots in Delhi will only reduce because it is so expensive. The cost has increased more than 50 percent in the last few years. I cant name, but I know several makers in the industry who have asked their writers to not write stories around Delhi. Almost 60 percent of shooting has stopped, and the 40 percent will also stop in the next few years. According to line producers, if one has to shoot at Delhi airport for four hours, one needs to pay 10 lakh, for shooting in Delhi metro for one to two hours they need to pay 3 lakh, and in NDMC area around 4 lakh which used to be around 25,000 few years back. In case, a sequence needs to be shot in a train then the makers need to pay 10 lakh which they claim used to be around 4 lakh. When it comes to historical places, they mention that the price has gone up from 5,000 to 1 lakh. For shooting in the MCD area, the makers need to pay around 90,000 when it used to be free earlier, and shooting in a college in Delhi University area is around 2-2.5 lakh per day. The budget just escalates if one decides to shoot in Delhi, which is why makers dont prefer coming. If they come, they shoot some scenes in the city and move to adjoining areas such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad. Delhi is definitely losing the status of shoot friendly state, which as a ripple effect impacts the line producers as well, mentions location manager Javed Khan. To this, another line producer Tarun Jain adds, It is not just government charges, even the people quote really high prices when they get to know that Bollywood is involved. For instance, there is a house in Old Delhi. The owner used to charge 25,000, but now quotes anything between 5 lakh. It has become really expensive as people ask moolah money. Sometimes, people change the cost as soon as it is finalised. The makers are heading to UP, Madhya Pradesh because the locations are cheaper and they give bulk permissions. The market in Delhi is becoming weak. Manpower is cheap but not the locations. At the moment, only big projects can afford to come and shoot, says line producer Tarun Jain, mentioning that the Delhi governments new filming policy with subsidies to be decided based on a point system is not helpful. The points are decided taking into account location, branding of the location, involvement of local artistes in the film crew and support staff, expenses during pre-production, production and post-production of the film in Delhi. Delhi needs to be price efficient if they want to remain a shooting friendly state. They have made a single-window cleaner, but what about the cost,asks Sarin. Meanwhile, the government sources dismiss such claims, saying the shootings are happening in a steady way with big names coming to the city. Last financial year, the revenue of NDMC area from the shoot was 1.5 crore, which reflects that it is not the right perception, adds the source. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Naseeruddin Shah had recently said that Sindhi language was no longer spoken in Pakistan. His 'ill informed' statement was criticised by social media users, especially the Sindhi-speaking population of Pakistan. Now, the veteran actor has issued an apology to 'the entire Sindhi-speaking population of Pakistan'. In his latest Facebook post, Naseeruddin Shah said the Sindhi-speakers 'seem to have been deeply offended by his mistaken opinion'. Also read: Naseeruddin Shah apologises for 'Sindhi no longer spoken in Pakistan' statement, Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui reacts Naseeruddin Shah at an event. The actor is in news for a recent interview, where he talked about languages spoken in Pakistan. (File Photo) Naseeruddin Shah's apology Recently, Naseeruddin Shah found himself at the centre of 'unnecessary controversy' following his claims that Sindhi was not spoken in Pakistan anymore. On Sunday, he took to his official Facebook page, and wrote, OK OK I apologise to the entire Sindhi speaking population of Pakistan who I seem to have deeply offended by my mistaken opinion. I admit I was ill informed but is it necessary to crucify me for that? Let him who is free from as Jesus said. Actually Im quite enjoying being called ignorant and pretend intellectual after many years of being mistaken for an intelligent person. Its quite a change! Naseeruddin Shah's recent Facebook post. Naseeruddin's post about Sindhi language 'controversy' This is not the first time Naseeruddin Shah has reacted to being slammed for his statement about Sindhi language. A few days ago, Naseeruddin had responded to the recent backlash to his remarks on the Sindhi and Marathi languages. In his Facebook post on June 8, he had acknowledged his misstatements and had written, "Two completely unnecessary controversies seem to have erupted. over things Ive said recently. One regarding my mis-statement about the Sindhi language in Pakistan. I was in error there." He also also clarified his remarks about the relationship between Marathi and Farsi languages in the same Facebook post. Naseeruddin Shah had earlier also issued a statement on his recent comments on Sindhi and Marathi languages. What he had said about Sindhi language During recent promotions of his web series Taj: Divided By Blood season 2, Naseeruddin talked about various languages that are spoken in Pakistan. The actor claimed Sindhi is no longer spoken in Pakistan. He had said during an interview with Tried and Refused Productions' YouTube channel, They have Balochi, they have Bari, they have Siraiki and they have Pushto. Sindhi is, of course, no longer spoken in Pakistan. Reactions to his comment Naseeruddin Shah's statement did not sit well with Pakistanis, who corrected the veteran actor and said it was one of the widely-spoken languages in Pakistan. Naseeruddin was called 'ignorant' by many on social media. Pakistani actor Mansha Pasha had tweeted, "As a proud Sindhi, who speaks the language within her household, I beg to differ." Pakistani actor Yasir Nawaz shared a video of himself lip-synching to a Sindhi song. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Actor Sushmita Sen's daughter Renee Sen recently took to Instagram to share a series of photos from her grandparents' brand new home. Renee Sen, who is also an actor, posted photos of herself, Sushmita, as well as her grandparents Shubeer Sen and Subhra Sen. The photos give a glimpse of the interiors of the newly-decorated apartment as well as the 'griha pravesh (house-warming)' puja that was performed by Sushmita and her family. Also read: Sushmita Sen's sister-in-law Charu Asopa reveals actor didn't tell family about heart attack Sushmita Sen with daughter Renee Sen at the new house. Renee poses with Sushmita and family at 'griha pravesh' Sushmita Sen's parents Shubeer and Subhra recently moved into a new home and marked the occasion with a special puja in which Renee Sen and other close ones participated. Sharing their photos, Renee wrote in her caption, "Griha pravesh at my nanas (heart emoji) @akanshakhanna making sure I look cute." Renee hugged Sushmita in one of the pictures. She also posed with her grandparents as they got their pictures taken in different parts of the home, giving a glimpse of the modern interiors. Beige and grey interiors The neutral foundation of the home grey and beige walls, cabinets and furnishings was brightened with velvet armchairs and sofas, as well as rugs, in shades of pink. The use of dark colours, however, was limited, as the rest of the house had a beige and grey colour scheme. From the dining chairs to the main seating in the living room, grey and beige appeared to be go-to shades in the decor. When a home has a spectacular view not only the city skyline, but also the adjoining forest area floor-to-ceiling windows are a must. With massive glass windows and doors, there is abundant light in the apartment. In some of photos Renee posted, the living room was glowing thanks to the sunlight. Sushmita's upcoming projects She will be seen in Aarya 3 and Taali. The shooting for Disney+ Hotstar series Aarya 3 was halted after Sushmita Sen suffered a heart attack earlier this year. However, the actor was recently spotted in Rajasthan for the shoot. Taali is the biopic of transgender activist Gauri Sawant and has Sushmita in the lead role. Last year, Sushmita posted the first look from the show, and mentioned in her Instagram post that she was proud and privileged to bring Gauri Sawants story to the screen. Marathi filmmaker Ravi Jadhav will helm the series. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Sunny Leone took to Instagram on Sunday to share the perfect family picture. The actor posed with husband Daniel Weber and their three kids before heading to filmmaker Krishna Bhatt's wedding reception in Mumbai. (Also read: Sunny Leone on constant chatter about her past and how she dealt with it) Sunny Leone poses with her adorable family: husband Daniel Weber and kids Nisha, Noah and Asher. Sunny's perfect family photo In the cute photo, Sunny is seen in a beautiful blue outfit halter neck top and embellished lehenga. She wore large diamond earrings and twinned with husband Daniel, who also wore a blue sherwani with a silk kurta. Their daughter Nisha looked cute in a yellow-pink lehenga. She tied her hair just like her mum in a half-up do. Sunny's sons Noah and Asher also looked adorable in their matching green kurta-pyjamas. Sharing the photo, Sunny captioned it, Our first family trip to a wedding!! So exciting! @dirrty99. Sunny also shared her solo photos as she posed in her outfit at home. Fans love Sunny's family pic Fans of Sunny Leone loved seeing the family all dressed up. One person commented, So cute family. Another wrote, Beautiful family picture. A person said, Such a beautiful family. God bless u all. Live together forever. Praising Nisha, one person commented, The little girl is beautiful. About Sunny and her family Sunny and Daniel got married in 2011. They adopted Nisha from Latur in Maharashtra in 2017 and welcomed their sons through surrogacy in 2018. Recently, Sunny attended Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of her film Kennedy at the prestigious film festival along with director Anurag Kashyap and actor Rahul Bhat. The film premiered during the midnight screening at the Cannes 2023. Reportedly, the film received a 7-minute-long standing ovation. The film revolves around an insomniac ex-cop, long thought to be dead, but still operating for the corrupt system, and looking for redemption. Kennedy is amongst the only two films from India this year to be the official selections at the festival this year. Taking to Instagram, Sunny shared a note of appreciation for her husband and wrote, "God sent you @dirrty99 into my life at my lowest moment. In that moment you literally saved my life and have been by my side since. 15yrs of togetherness! Without you this moment in @festivaldecannes would never have happened. Your continuous fight to propel me forward and help me follow my dreams is truly selflessness to another level. I love you and thank you!" SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Tamannaah Bhatia finally confirmed her relationship with actor Vijay Varma. She admitted that everything between them began on the sets of Lust Stories 2. The anthology film stars them together for the first time and has has been directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, Konkona Sensharma, R Balki, and Sujoy Ghosh. Also read: Gulshan Devaiah on dating reports of Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia: 'Kuch toh hai Tamannaah Bhatia confirmed her relationship with Vijay Varma. Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma were rumoured to be together for quite some time after a video of them allegedly kissing at a New Year Party in Goa surfaced. While they maintained silence about their equation, they were often seen out and about together in Mumbai. Talking to Hindustan Times, she had said earlier, "We have done a film together. Such rumours keep going around. Clarifying all of them is just not necessary. I have nothing more to say about it. This time, she revealed she is indeed dating Vijay. During an interview with Film Companion, Tamannaah said, I don't think you can get attracted to someone just because they are your co-star. I have had so many co-stars. I think if one has to fall for someone, feel something for someone its definitely more personal, its nothing to do with what they do for a living, I mean that's not the reason why this would happen. Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma's love story When the journalist asked her if things changed for her and Vijay on the sets of Lust Stories 2, Tamannaah accepted and said, Yes. Describing Vijay, she added, He is someone I really look up to. He is someone with whom I bonded very very organically. He is someone who came to me with all his guard down. Then, it became very easy for me to put all my guard down. With high achieving women, we have this problem, that we think we have to work hard for everything. When something is so simple and you don't have to walk on eggshells to just be yourself because I think in India we also have this that a woman has to change her entire life for someone. If you have to find a partner you might have to physically move or do so many things that serve that persons understanding but I was like I have created a world for myself and here theres a person who actually understood that world without me doing anything. He's a person who I care about deeply and yeah, hes my happy place. Talking about Tamannaah and Vijay, previously actor Gulshan Devaiah had told HT, Kuch toh hai. Kya hai exactly pata nahi (Something is there but what is it I dont know). They do look like they have very good chemistry. I'm sure that means something. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hold onto your paws, because the Paw Patrol is back and ready for their biggest adventure yet! In Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, the lovable pups are getting a power-packed upgrade, and they're not alone. The star-studded trailer dropped on Monday, giving fans a sneak peek into the action-packed world of Adventure City. Kim Kardashian and daughter North West.(Getty Images via AFP) Kim Kardashian as Delores: Sassy and Fabulous! Kim Kardashian is bringing her star power to the big screen as she reprises her role as Delores, the sassy white poodle. With an eye-roll and a witty remark, Delores adds a touch of glam to the canine crew. "Ugh, you've got to be kidding me," she scoffs, perfectly capturing her diva personality. North West as Mini: A Fearless Pomeranian on a Wrecking Ball! Not to be outdone by her famous mom, North West steals the show as Mini, a courageous Pomeranian. In a thrilling scene, Mini fearlessly rides atop a wrecking ball alongside Nano, voiced by the talented Alan Kim from Minari. Together, they fight crime as members of the Junior Patrollers, showing that bravery runs in the family. A Meteoric Twist and Superpowers Unleashed! Adventure City is in for a wild ride when a magical meteor crash-lands, granting the Paw Patrol pups extraordinary superpowers. Skye, the smallest member of the team, finally sees her dreams come true as her newfound abilities become a force to be reckoned with. But trouble brews as their archrival Humdinger, voiced by Ron Pardo, joins forces with the meteor-obsessed mad scientist Victoria Vance to steal the powers and become supervillains. It's a Battle for Adventure City's Future! With Adventure City's fate hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pups must rise to the challenge and stop the supervillains before it's too late. Skye, led by the talented McKenna Grace, learns that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference. Get ready for heart-pounding action, heroic rescues, and life lessons that will inspire audiences of all ages. A Star-Studded Cast Lights Up the Screen! Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie is not just about our furry friends. The film boasts an impressive lineup of voice talents, including Marsai Martin, Chris Rock, Lil Rel Howery, James Marsden, Serena Williams, and Kristen Bell, to name just a few. And keep an eye out for a special cameo from Saint West, Kim and Kanye's 7-year-old son, whose role remains a mystery, adding an extra sprinkle of excitement. A Personal Touch and a Paw Patrol Affair! When the first Paw Patrol movie premiered in 2021, Kim Kardashian made it a truly unforgettable experience for her kids and their closest friends. She organized a private screening at a movie theater, complete with special treats, Paw Patrol toys, and life-sized stuffed animals of her character. Sharing her excitement with her little ones, Kim expressed how much she did it for them and their love for Paw Patrol. Talk about a superstar mom! Get Ready for the Mighty Paw Patrol! Mark your calendars, because Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie hits theaters on September 29. Join Skye, Delores, Mini, and the rest of the heroic team as they embark on an epic adventure to save Adventure City. Also read | Kim Kardashian spills the beans on her new mystery man in the latest episode of The Kardashians. Can you take a guess?.. Kanye West celebrated his 46th birthday recently with surprise party, as per reports. The rapper, also known as Ye, was surrounded by friends and loved ones, including his and ex-wife Kim Kardashian's eldest daughter, North West, and his new 'wife' Bianca Censori. In photos of North and Bianca that have surfaced online, the two walked hand in hand as they arrived at Kanye West's birthday bash. Also read: Kanye West, wife Bianca Censori grab attention in equally 'bizarre' looks for church service Kanye West celebrated his birthday with wife Bianca Censori and daughter North West. Bianca Censori and North West's photos As they walked hand in hand, Bianca Censori and North West were captured by paparazzi outside Kanye West's birthday bash venue. They were surrounded by a few members of the rapper's team in the videos and photos that are being widely shared online. There was no sign of Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian or any of their other children at the event. For Kanye West's birthday party, which was held in Los Angeles on Saturday, Bianca chose a long black coat with black boots, while North was in a grey sweatshirt and black shorts paired with black boots. Who is Bianca Censori, Kanye's 'wife' Kanye West and Bianca Censori, a Yeezy architectural designer, 'got married' in a non-legally binding ceremony in January, as per a 2023 Page Six report. Bianca in a recent TikTok video also confirmed her marriage to Kanye. According to her LinkedIn profile, Bianca has worked for Yeezy since 2020. As per another recent report by The US Sun, a source was quoted as having said about her marriage with Kanye, Things are going well for them in their marriage. They both seem extremely well-suited and happy together. Kanye West and Bianca Censori's 'bizarre' looks Days before his birthday, Kanye West and Bianca Censori were spotted in unique black outfits as they headed to church in Los Angeles. The rapper and Bianca's church outfits were termed 'bizarre' by social media users. Kanye wore a black T-shirt, which had 'Polizei', German word for police written on the back in white. The T-shirt also featured huge shoulder pads. He also wore a matching pair of black leggings. Meanwhile, Bianca had her entire head, neck, arms, and hands covered in a black see-through outfit. Around her shoulders, her dress featured a large piece of fabric shaped like a bucket. Along with her black outfit, she wore matching high-heeled boots. Reacting to their looks shared by a news portal on Instagram, a person wrote, "This is not weird anymore, or funny. It is actually worrying. And it is not about the outfit, is their whole dynamic or performance or whatever you wanna call this." A person also said, This is just bizarre. So weird, both of them look equally strange! Kanye's previous relationships Kanye was earlier married to entrepreneur and reality TV personality Kim Kardashian. Kanye and Kim shares four children North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm. They wed in 2014 in a lavish European ceremony. Kim filed for divorce in 2021. The divorce was finalised in 2022. Kanye had been linked to multiple women since Kim and his divorce proceedings began, including model Irina Shayk, actor Julia Fox and model Chaney Jones. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Korean actor Park Soo Ryun died after a fatal accident, as per reports. She was 29. The actor was best known for appearing in several musicals such as The Days We Loved and Siddhartha. Reportedly, she died just a day before her performance in Jeju Island. Also read: Moonbins sister Moon Sua remembers him fondly with old video Park Soo Ryun was declared brain dead after an accident. Park Soo Ryun's death According to a report of OSEN, on Saturday actor Park Soo Ryn fell down a flight of stairs while returning to her home. She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her brain dead after resuscitating her. In honour of the actor, her family has decided to donate her organs. Park Soo Ryuns mother shared, as per Soompi, Only her brain is unconscious, and her heart is still beating. There must be someone who desperately needs [organs]. As her mother and father, we will be able to live comforted [by the thought that her heart] has gone to someone and is beating. Who was Park Soo Ryun? Park Soo Ryun debuted in 2018 with the musical Il Tenore and went on to appear in more musicals, including Finding Mr Destiny, The Days We Loved, and Siddhartha. She also appeared in a supporting role in BLACKPINK's Jisoo and Jung Hae In's Snowdrop. In the K-drama, Park Soo Ryun played the role of one of the detained university students who were later released by authorities later. Talking about her role in Snowdrop, Park Soo Ryun had uploaded photos of herself from the sets. One of them featured her with June Hae In and read, Jung Hae In sunbaenim (senior), although my role was very small, thank you for staying until the very end (of our scenes) and taking care of each university student! I hope to meet you on another project. She also shared a photo with Jisoo and the rest of the cast. Meanwhile, Park Soo Ryun's mortuary has been prepared in Suwon Hospital, Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Centre's funeral hall reportedly. The funeral will start at 4 PM KST on Monday and will be extended till Tuesday morning. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Anupamaa actor Rupali Ganguly is not just a popular face on screen but also has a massive fan following among people from all walks of life, thanks to her 'Aapko Kya' monologue from the show. The actor says her character is very relatable. Rupali however, doesn't let the success get to her head and believes it simply makes her capable enough to focus on causes close to her heart. But she does have a regret of not being able to give much time to her son. (Also read: Exclusive | World Environment Day: Rupali Ganguly says she asks for a bucket for baths even at hotels) Rupali Ganguly calls her husband supportive for choosing to take early retirement from work and taking care of their son. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Rupali opened up about why her character of Anupamaa is ruling households and claims there are real women like her in every house. She also opened up about her husband's support in her being a working mom. What do you think has led your character to become an iconic one on TV? Excellent writing, excellent vision towards the character is what has made it a household name. Anupamaa is the story of every woman. You'll find one Anupamaa in every household. I think the city dwellers are more emancipated. We believe in the liberation of women and everything. But the fact remains that 80% of India still believes in the patriarchy system. And I am no one to condone it. I think every woman identifies with it because there's Anupamaa, Baa and Vanraj in every house. All these characters are so real and that is why it is so relatable. Anupamaa is not perfect and I don't think anybody in this world is perfect. So the imperfections of Anupama as well as her vulnerability is what connected to the audience. Anupamaa struck a chord with the audience because of Rajesh's fantastic vision and his team of writers and executors, his directors, his DOP, everybody who kind of made that vision believable. And I thank God that he chose me to play the character, his protagonist, and gave me the opportunity not only to showcase my talent but he also took a huge risk with casting a 42-year-old protagonist for the role of a 42-year-old. Television mein generally hota hai ki younger ladkia ma ban jati hain aur 25-26 saal mein aapka 20-25 sal ka beta dikha diya jata hai (generally what happens in TV industry is young girls are made mothers of sons aged 20-25). So Rajan kept the timelines and the age lines very real and I think that is what predominantly connected. I think a lot of blessings are behind the show's success, also of the pets that Rajesh Shahi allows on the sets and how they are taken care of. All from Janhvi Kapoor to Vidya Balan have recreated your famous Anupamaa dialogue 'Aapko Kya'. I'm thankful to all these phenomenal names and actors who are recreating the reels. And the credit for that line probably would go to the writer. Sab kuch ek sath mein hota hai tab jaake koi cheez popular hoti hai (when everything comes together, then only something like this becomes popular). How does it feel to be ruling the small screen all over again? God has been so kind that he has given me an opportunity at this stage of my life, to again come back to what I love doing -- acting, and that too on the medium that I love. Television is the medium that made me, gave me the recognition that actors crave to find. Television gives ample opportunities to every actor to showcase their talent. I'm so grateful to God, Rajan Shahi and to Star Plus for believing in me. And of course my husband who's a rock star. He encouraged me to go out when I was in two minds about whether I should take it when my child was just 6.5 years old. Without him, I'm nothing. You have once again become a popular face on the small screen with Anupamaa. Has life changed after the show's success? How do you measure success? For me, success is the fact that I wake up every morning and have work to look forward to and do some fantastic scenes, perform some excellent written dialogues and visualized scenes. If life has changed after success, well, there are a lot of positives. I have the convenience of supporting a lot of causes like animal related causes and a lot of other causes that I believe in. You recently said your husband took early retirement to take care of your son. The only drawback is that I get to spend less time with my child. I go to work every day with guilt and but nevertheless I'm blessed that I have a spouse who's there. He's proved it to the world that it does not have to be a mother who needs to do so. It is not always the husband who has to go out and work and run after his dreams. And the normal patriarchy that we have is that a man will go out to achieve his goals and can make his dreams come true while the woman sits at home and takes care of home. He has broken that typical mindset despite being so successful, he has chosen to be at home and take care of our child. He doesn't need me to go out there and work. But he still respects the fact that I have talent and really thinks that I should showcase it. The Centre on Monday said the CoWin portal of health ministry is completely safe with safeguards for data privacy, rejecting media reports that the data of all vaccinated Indians had been leaked online. Through Cowin portal, India was able to monitor the administration of 2.2 billion doses of the Covid vaccine. (Reuters) Referring to media reports which claimed that the data of beneficiaries who received Covid-19 vaccination in the country, the government said they were without any basis and mischievous in nature. The government said certain posts on Twitter had claimed that using a Telegram bot, the personal data of individuals who were vaccinated is being accessed. It is reported that the Bot has been able to pull individual data by simply passing the mobile number or Aadhaar number of a beneficiary. ALSO READ: TMCs Saket Gokhale alleges data breach of senior politicians, others on CoWin Reiterating that the portal is safe, the government said more security measures are in place on it with Web Application Firewall, Anti-DDoS, SSL/TLS, regular vulnerability assessment, Identity & Access Management etc. Only OTP authentication-based access of data is provided. All steps have been taken and are being taken to ensure security of the data in the CoWIN portal, the government added. The CoWin portal was developed and is owned and managed by the health ministry. An empowered group on vaccine administration (EGVAC) was formed for steering the development of the portal and for taking decisions on policy issues. Former CEO National Health Authority (NHA), chaired EGVAC which also included members from MoHFW and MeitY. The government said that the CoWin data access is available at three levels, i.e beneficiary dashboard, authorised user and API based access. The government made it cleared that without an OTP, the vaccinated beneficiaries' data cannot be shared to any Bot. Only Year of Birth (YOB) is captured for adult vaccination but it seems that on media posts it has been claimed that BOT also BOT mentioned date of Birth (DOB). There is no provision to capture address of beneficiary, the government statement added. The Centre also clarified that there are no application programming interface (API) where data can be pulled without an OTP. There are some APIs which have been shared with third parties such as ICMR for sharing data. It is reported that one such API has a feature of sharing the data by calling using just a mobile number of Aadhaar. However, even this API is very specific and the requests are only accepted from a trusted API which has been white-listed by the Co-WIN application, the government added. The health ministry has requested the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to look into this issue and submit a report. In addition, an internal exercise has been initiated to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. CERT-In in its initial report has pointed out that backend database for Telegram bot was not directly accessing the APIs of CoWIN database. 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 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday hit out at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after she offered prayers at the Narmada River ahead of the rally in Jabalpur. Sharing a video of Gandhi Madhya Pradesh BJP wrote on Twitter, "This is the difference between hypocrisy and faith. Priyanka Gandhi doesn't know that aarti is first offered to God and then humans take it. That is why they are called electoral Hindus. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with party leader Kamal Nath performs Narmada Pooja at Gwarighat in Jabalpur on Monday.(ANI) In another tweet, the BJP also claimed that Priyanka made a Brahmin touch her feet after the puja which is against the Hindu tradition. Priyanka Gandhi in Jabalpur The Congress general secretary arrived in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in the BJP-ruled state. She travelled to Gwari Ghat from the airport and offered prayers to 'Maa Narmada', before she addressed a public meeting in the city. During the rally, Priyanka Gandhi lashed out at the Madhya Pradesh government and highlighted several issues including unemployment, paper leak cases, and farmers' compensation among others. They (BJP) come here and make announcements, but do not fulfil them. They talk about double engine and triple engine. They used to say the same in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka but the public has shown them that they should stop talking about the double engine and start working, said Gandhi. Whatever promises our party made, we have fulfilled them in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh. Look at the condition of the Congress-ruled states and you will realise. When the Congress government came to power in Madhya Pradesh, a lot of work and development were carried out, she added. Experts said the controversy involving the possible leak of CoWIN data underscores the urgent need for a data protection bill that will protect citizens from such exposure and ensure accountability of institutions. The government has denied the reports calling them mischievous and without any basis. (REUTERS) Their comments came on a day when reports and screenshots showed an automated account on the messaging application Telegram disclosed the name, date of birth, identity document type and number, and location of last vaccination linked with a mobile phone number sent to it. The government denied any direct breach of the CoWIN platform. Also read: CoWIN vaccine database in the eye of a leak storm Founder of Cybersaathi and Supreme Court lawyer NS Nappinai said irrespective of the correctness of the news reports, the very issue raised of data protection for digital data in the hands of government agencies highlights the urgency for Indias personal data protection legislation. More importantly, that health data and other documents that contain personal information such as Aadhaar or PAN Card or driving license should carry higher levels of reasonable security measures is also spotlighted with this data breach, she said. The data protection bill has undergone several changes since it was first floated in 2017. It was set to introduced in the last monsoon session of Parliament, but was scrapped and a new draft was put up in December 2022. The government has since held several rounds of consultations on the same but is yet to introduce the final bill. This is not the first time that data stored by the application is said to have been leaked. The government, meanwhile, denied the reports calling them mischievous and without any basis. Public policy director at Internet Freedom Foundation, Prateek Waghre, said that the reported leak represents a massive breach of citizen trust and privacy. It is worth noting that CoWIN was released without a privacy policy, and did not have one until directed by the Delhi High Court to do so in 2021, he said. It is disappointing to note that citizen data appears to not have been safeguarded potentially exposing a large number of citizens to privacy harms. Calls by civil society to follow to data minimalist approach were also not heeded. Also read: China military, Wuhan scientists made Covid? Big revelations in shocking report Independent researcher Srinivas Kodali added that this is probably the largest data breach with almost every adult Indians data being leaked. It (CoWIN) is clearly not secure with (reports of) the lastest breach and any past assurances Government of India mentioned were mere words with no actions, he said. Ideally there has to be an audit done and establish the point of this breach, security and privacy of citizens has been taken very lightly by this government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting as cyclone 'Biparjoy' off the west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan this week. A big tree falls on a car at Thane's Vasant Vihar after strong winds in the wake of cyclone Biparjoy. (Praful Gangurde/HT photo) The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 km per hour, gusting up to 150 km per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday. Nearly a dozen districts in coastal Gujarat would be affected by heavy rainfall and gusting winds, although some of the districts are sparsely populated, which would limit the damage, said a weather office official told news agency Reuters. Two of the country's biggest ports - Mundra and Kandla - are in the Gulf of Kutch, while the Jamnagar refinery, the world's biggest oil refinery complex owned by Reliance Industries, is based in Saurashtra. Gujarat and parts of Pakistan to be affected by cyclone 'Biparjoy': 1. The IMD has advised fishing communities to halt operations and the evacuation of people from the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat. 2. The Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited, in a stock exchange filing on Monday, said operations at its Pipavav Port had been suspended since late evening on Saturday due to "prevailing severe weather conditions". 3. Seven teams of India's National Disaster Response Force or NDRF and 12 teams of State Disaster Response Force or SDRF have been deployed in the districts likely to be affected by the storm, chief minister Bhupendra Patel said in a tweet. 4. The Centre has directed the Gujarat government to regulate onshore and offshore activities and mobilise evacuation from coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from districts including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi. 5. The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar on June 15. A few places in other districts of Saurashtra region close to the coast will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, while isolated places in north Gujarat districts will also receive heavy rainfall, the IMD added. 6. In neighbouring Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority or NDMA said instructions are being given to take precautionary measures in southern and southeastern parts of the country that are likely to be affected. 7. The NDMA said the cyclone is expected to impact southern and south-eastern parts of Sindh on June 13. Officials from the Sindh provincial government also said they are preparing to evacuate people from three districts likely to be affected. Sindh is the second most populated province in the country. 8. The NDMA has also issued directions that all high-rise buildings and mobile towers in Karachi must be lit up by beacon lights and big advertisement boards on poles and buildings should either be strengthened or removed altogether if they pose a threat to passing traffic and the people. 9. In another precautionary measure, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authoritys airside department has also alerted the relevant officials to ensure the safety of lightweight aircraft and other electrical equipment by taking precautionary measures such as mooring of parked light aircraft or re-parking to a safer place. 10. A 1998 cyclone killed at least 4,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Gujarat. (With inputs from Reuters, PTI, ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Cyclone Biparjoy has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the east central Arabian Sea, raising concerns for the coastal communities along Gujarat. The storm is expected to make landfall on the Kutch coast on June 15, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). High tide waves on the Arabian Sea in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP) The coastal areas of Gomti Ghat in Dwarka and Mumbai, Maharashtra are already witnessing high tides and gusty winds as the cyclone approaches. Here are some tips shared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and IMD to stay safe: Before the cyclone: Ensure the house is well-maintained and free of loose tiles, sharp objects, doors and windows. Keep some wooden boards ready or paper strips to cover glass windows and prevent splinters flying into the house. Clear branches or trees near the house that may cause damage. Anchor or store in a closed room removable objects that may fly under strong winds such as loose tin sheets, bricks, and dustbins Dont fall for rumours and misinformation about the storm. Keep yourself and others informed with official updates from radio and verified authorities. Do not panic. Keep monitoring the warnings and stay alert for the next 24 hours Ensure your cellphone is fully charged. Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches, enough dry cells and extra batteries for transistors. Secure your documents and valuables in water-proof packaging. Demolish condemned buildings If you are in one of the evacuation areas, move your valuable articles to upper floors to minimise flood damage Be sure that a window or door of your house can be opened on the side opposite the one facing the wind. Keep handy an emergency kit with essential items, including medicines and special food for kids/elders for safety and survival. Stock up on plenty of non-perishable food and safely-stored water. Seek shelter at a safe location if your house is not strong enough to withstand a cyclone. If your house is built on high ground, take shelter in the safe part of the house. However, if asked to evacuate, move your valuables to upper floors Fishermen should have a radio set with extra batteries, keep boats tied up in a safe place and stay away from the sea. Keep animals untied to ensure their safety. During and after the cyclone: Switch off all the electrical mains, gas supply Keep all the doors and windows shut Drink boiled/chlorinated water to avoid any infection Be wary of broken electric poles and wires and other sharp objects If you are at a shelter, stay there until the authorities concerned say that it is safe to venture outside or return home. Get vaccinated against diseases as soon as possible. If you have to drive, do it carefully. Clear debris from your premises immediately. The losses should be reported to the appropriate authorities. Donts Dont leave shelters until informed by the rescue personnel. Do not enter dilapidated buildings which are prone to collapsing anytime Dont go near low lying beaches or other locations which may be swept by high tides or storm waves. Do not venture out even when the winds appear to calm down. This is due to a lull in the wind and rain lasting for half an hour or so if the centre of the cyclone is passing directly over your house. But, immediately after, very strong winds will blow from the opposite direction. 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 Cyclone Biparjoy, expected to cross the Gujarat coast on June 15, is on course to become the cyclone with the longest lifespan in the Arabian Sea, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. High tides crash at the seafront at Colaba, Mumbai as an after-effect of the forming of the cyclone.(PTI) It will also be the third cyclone to hit the western state in June since 1965, the meteorological office said. "Based on data from 1965 to 2022 for the month of June, 13 cyclones developed over the Arabian Sea. Of these, two crossed the Gujarat coast, one Maharashtra, one Pakistan coast, three Oman-Yemen coasts and six weakened over the sea," the IMD said. Before 2023, only two cyclones crossed the Gujarat coast in June. One was a severe cyclone in 1996 and the other was an extremely severe cyclonic storm in 1998, it said. The life period of Cyclone Biparjoy, which developed over the southeast Arabian Sea at 5.30 am on June 6, is about seven days and 12 hours so far. The extremely severe Cyclone Kyarr of 2019 over the Arabian Sea had a life of 9 days and 15 hours. It developed over the east-central Arabian Sea, had multiple recurvatures and weakened over the southwest Arabian Sea. READ | As Gujarat gears up for cyclone Biparjoy's landfall, dos and don'ts to stay safe The very severe cyclonic storm Gaja of 2018 over the southeast Bay of Bengal had a life span of 9 days and 15 hours. It crossed the southern peninsular region, emerged into the Arabian Sea and weakened there, the IMD said. Cyclone Biparjoy is predicted to cross Saurashtra and Kutch and the adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) 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. According to meteorologists, Cyclone Biparjoy underwent rapid intensification in the initial days and has sustained its strength due to an unusually warm 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 completely suspending 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 disruption in the functioning of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress MP Karti Chidamabaram on Monday demanded answers from union Information Technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after reports that private details of 'all' vaccinated Indians stored on the government's CoWIN platform had been hacked and leaked online. Chidamabaram accused the government of ignoring privacy issues and tweeted: In its 'Digital India' frenzy, Government of India has woefully ignored citizen privacy. Personal data of every single Indian who got COVID-19 vaccination is publicly available. Including my own data. Who let this happen? Why is Government of India sitting on a data protection law? Congress MP Karti Chidambaram (File Photo) Earlier today, in a lengthy Twitter thread, Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale shared screenshots of an unidentified Telegram account allegedly sharing personal information of political leaders and journalists, including Chidambaram's father and ex-union minister P Chidambaram, as well as those of union health ministry secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Haribansh Narayan Singh and Gokhale's colleague Derek O'Brien. Gokhale also alleged that details of journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, Dhanya Rajendran and Rahul Shivshankar were exposed in the 'major data breach'. "There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi government where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, passport numbers, Voter ID, details of family members, etc. have been leaked and are freely available." "This is a matter of national concern," Gokhale tweeted. Hindustan Times could not independently verify Gokhale's claims. National Health Authority chief Ram Sewak Sharma and the ministry of electronics and information technology are yet to comment on the allegations of data leak. As of noon on Monday, the developers of the Telegram bot that pulled sensitive private information from the leaked Co-WIN database was disabled. The developers of the bot, according to messages on a Telegram group seen by HT, took the step after Malayalam news site Manorama broke the story and replied probably yes when asked if the service will be restored. The copy will be updated as and when the response by the ministry of health will be made available. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi high court justices Jasmeet Singh and Vikas Mahajan sat beyond their regular working hours on Monday to ensure the timely hearing of urgent cases, Bar and Bench reported. Justice Jasmeet Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan.(Live Law) The Delhi HC traditionally observes a summer break, during which regular court proceedings are suspended. However, a vacation bench comprising a select group of judges is designated to address urgent matters that require immediate attention. Justices Jasmeet Singh and Vikas Mahajan were among the judges assigned to the vacation bench this year. The day began with justice Singh and justice Mahajan convening as a division bench at approximately 10:30am. Together, they deliberated on a range of cases. However, at around 3:30pm, the judges split and presided over separate single-judge benches to expedite the proceedings. While justice Mahajan concluded the day's proceedings at around 9:20pm, Justice Singh remained on the bench until 9:50pm. During this time, Justice Mahajan effectively dealt with 50 cases, while Justice Singh attended to 48 matters. In a commendable gesture, Justice Mahajan expressed his willingness to sit on Tuesday, despite it not being a working day for the high court, to address the pending matters that could not be heard on the same day. Lawyers appearing before the judges greatly appreciated this gesture, recognizing the judges' commitment to justice. One such instance occurred when senior advocate Mohit Mathur, also the president of the Delhi high court bar association (DHCBA), was presenting a case before Justice Mahajan at around 9pm. In an appreciative gesture, Mathur suggested that the judge should take a break and have dinner, and resume hearing the remaining matters the next day. Responding to this suggestion, the court agreed to take up the remaining 15 matters on Tuesday, ensuring that no case would be left unheard. Throughout the day, the judges tackled various types of cases, including those related to demolition of property, anticipatory bail matters, pleas for suspension of Look Out Circulars (LOCs), copyright infringement cases, and a batch of petitions concerning Haj Group Organisers (HGOs). This is not the first time that Justice Singh is holding Court beyond the normal working hours. Even in June 2021, he had held court till around 11pm. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday pitched for democratisation of technology to bridge the data divide, and told G20 delegates that India is willing to share its experience with partner countries as digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Development Ministers Meeting of G-20 that is being held in Varanasi via video message, from New Delhi, Monday, June 12, 2023.(PTI) Speaking to G20 development ministers through a video address, Modi also batted for reforms in multilateral financial institutions to expand their eligibility criteria to ensure that finance is accessible to those in need. He underlined the growing data divide and said high quality data is critical to meaningful policy-making and efficient public delivery. "In India digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change. Technology is being used as a tool to empower people," he said. Modi spoke about his government's work to boost development in over 100 aspirational districts, a reference to underdeveloped areas. Experience has shown that these districts have emerged as a catalyst for the country's growth and urged the delegates to study the model as they may find it relevant. Noting that development is a core issue for the Global South, he said these countries were severely impacted by the disruptions created by the global Covid pandemic. And, the food, fuel, and fertilizer crises because of geo-political tensions have delivered another blow, he added. "In such circumstances, the decisions you make carry great significance for humanity as a whole. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this," he said. Describing Varanasi, where the meeting is taking place, as the oldest living city of the mother of democracy, the prime minister said it is a fitting location for the G20 development ministers' meeting. "Kashi has been a centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries. It has the essence of India's diverse heritage and serves as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country," he said. Protesting farmers led by the Samukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have given the Haryana government an ultimatum to accept their two demands: procurement of sunflower seeds at the minimum support price (MSP) and the release of arrested farmers, or the protest and blockade will continue. Farmers have blocked NH 44 at Pipli.(HT photos) What is the demand of protesting farmers? The protesting farmers said that the state government was not buying sunflower seeds at MSP, forcing them to sell their output to private purchasers for roughly 4,000 per quintal instead of 6,400. However, this is not the only issue! Since the farm laws protest, Haryana and Punjab have seen many farmers protest off late. They have backed the protesting wrestlers, and the SKM (Non-political), a breakaway faction of the SKM, has been protesting against the Punjab government outside the office of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited in support of their power supply demands for many days. BJP cries protest politically motivated The Bharatiya Janata Party claims that the protest is politically motivated. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar chastised farmer union leaders and accused them of playing politics. To address the worries, the Khattar administration has offered farmers with interim assistance of 1,000 per quintal, totalling 29.13 million distributed to 8,528 sunflower seed growers. This takes the current price per quintal to 5,800, however, farmers' unions are calling for a raise to 6,400 under the MSP scheme. Separately, Khattar announced the creation of a sunflower seed oil factory in Shahabad, with an annual capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes of sunflower oil. Congress says it supports farmers The opposition Congress is supporting the farmers' protest. Deepender Hooda, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the party, said that the government had not been purchasing sunflower seeds at the MSP, leaving farmers with no choice but to sell their produce to private buyers at significantly lower rates. The government kept giving dates on the date of starting the procurement and then it was said that it would be taken under the Bhavantar scheme. Even if it is assumed that the farmer will get 1000 in the Bhavantar scheme, even then the farmer would suffer a loss of Rs. 1900-2200 per quintal, he said. JJP finds it hard to balance The BJP's coalition partner in the Haryana government, Jannayak Janta Party is trying to maintain a delicate balance. JJP's Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ishwar Singh said that the gap between the current selling price of sunflower seeds (approximately 5,800 per quintal) and the MSP was causing financial losses for farmers. The JJP party urges, Singh said, the government to provide maximum assistance to farmers and consider additional relief measures beyond the interim 'bharpai' of 1,000. Singh, however, also called for a more flexible approach from both the farmers and the government to reach a resolution. Notably, the party's MLA Ram Karan Kala has stepped down as Sugarfed chairman in protest against lathi-charge on farmers. Eyes on polls! Haryana is gearing up for both assembly and Lok Sabha elections next year, and all political parties are vying to gain an advantage on the farmers' issue. In the previous assembly elections held in 2019, the BJP and JJP formed a post-poll alliance to establish the government. Currently, the BJP holds 41 out of the 90 seats in the Legislative Assembly, including a victory in the Adampur by-poll last year. The JJP secured 10 seats, while the Congress managed to win only 31 seats. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP swept all 10 seats in Haryana. However, the JJP has added an element of excitement by stating that no decision has been made yet regarding an alliance with the BJP for the upcoming elections in Haryana. (Inputs from agencies) A 22-year-old man was shot dead in Manipurs Churachandpur district on Monday as the area witnessed fresh bout of ethnic violence that has claimed over 100 lives in the state since May 3, officials familiar with the matter said. The incident took place around 2.35 pm when the victim came to meet his friends in the nearby Loklakphai village (Representative photo) Police have identified the victim as Muansang, a resident of Chandrapurs Songtal village who belongs to the Kuki tribe. The incident took place around 2.35 pm when the victim came to meet his friends in the nearby Loklakphai village and he was shot at by unidentified people. Muansang left his village due to relaxation of curfew hours during the day. He was waiting for his friends near the banks of the Tuitha river when someone shot at him from across the river... It is unclear who fired the shot... His autopsy is yet to be conducted but it looks like he has one bullet wound. His body is at the district hospital, an officer familiar with the investigation said on condition of anonymity. At least 106 people have died and another 40,000 displaced in the ethnic violence between the tribal Kukis, who mostly reside in the hill districts, and the Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley. On June 9, the Central Bureau of Investigation re-registered six FIRs and set up a Special Investigation Team to look into criminal conspiracy in connection with the violence. Meanwhile, Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a conglomerate of Kuki groups in Churachandpur district, has alleged that Maunsang died in a targeted attack on a day when governor Anusuiya Uikey visited relief camps in the district. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Union government on Sunday rolled out a major infrastructure development plan at Cochin Port, part of a 7,500 crore push to modernise fishing and sea harbours funded partly by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana-Blue Revolution programme. Visuals from the event on Sunday. (Twitter Photo) Union fisheries minister Parshottam Rupala and shipping and ports minister Sarbananda Sonowal jointly laid the foundation stone on Sunday at Cochin for the 170 crore first-phase modernisation project to be overseen by the Cochin Port Authority. The project aims to make Cochin a global hub of fish trade. Indias 7,500km coastline has 200 ports, 12 of which are classified as critical to the economy, including Cochin. The countrys main ports fall under the Centres jurisdiction, while the rest come under the domain of states. After modernization of Cochin port, the export of fish and fish products is estimated to be worth 1,500 crore annually, Sonowal told HT. The overall project is funded through grants from Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Sagarmala scheme of the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, aside from investments from a public-private partnership. Modernisation of ports could boost maritime cargo with an average annual growth of 16% until 2020-26, according to World Bank projections. India is one of the major producers of fish globally, ranking second in aquaculture output. The country aims to achieve 1 lakh crore worth of exports from fisheries sector by 2024-25, Rupala said in a statement. The projects first stage includes construction of four air-conditioned auction halls, fish dressing units and a few ancillary units. Funding will also go into building internal roads, state-of-the art loading and unloading platforms, waste management plant, dredging operations and fishing equipment. Four auction halls with mechanical retrieval and conveyance will increase the capacity of the fishing harbour by 415 tonnes of fish per day, the projects details state. Under the modernisation drive, 700 fishing boats operating from Cochin fishing harbour will get new technologies. The project will support livelihoods of about 10,000 fishers and indirect livelihoods of about 30,000 fishers across the value chain, the project document states. The Blue Revolution scheme aids coastal states in developing sustainable fisheries infrastructure, envisaging an investment of 20,050 crore for five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. The port sector faces numerous challenges. It needs to meet growing demand as well as compete with the larger and more efficient ports in the region, such as Colombo, Singapore, Port Rashid/Jebel Ali, Khor-Fakkan and Salalah, a 2021 World Bank assessment said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Farmers from Haryana and Punjab blocked National Highway 44 (Delhi-Chandigarh) as part of protests over demands the government offer MSP, or minimum support price, in its procurement of their harvest of sunflower seeds. After the mahapanchayat the farmers started marching towards the highway. (Twitter/ANI) The farmers have said they are unhappy with the state's offer of 29.13 crore (distributed among 8,528 farmers) as interim relief under a scheme that pays a fixed amount - 1,000 per quintal - for produce sold below MSP. READ | Farmers block Delhi-Chandigarh highway, traffic diverted at Kurukshetra Farmers (also from Uttar Pradesh) have said they are being forced to sell their crops to private buyers at 4,000 per quintal when the MSP is 6,400. In visuals circulated online hundreds of farmers streamed onto the national highway near Kurukshetra in Haryana waving flags and holding placards. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has denied reports the highway has been blocked; "We are not blocking the highway. It is not right... highways should not be blocked," he told reporters. "We have only two demands - release farmers detained and start purchasing sunflower seeds at MSP. We are ready to hold discussions with the government." However, one video shows a chain of tractors parked across a road blocking traffic and another shows dozens of farmers marching down a road in large numbers making it almost impossible for traffic to pass. A third shows tractors and farmers gathered at a major intersection and the crowd forces traffic to stack up behind them. According to ANI, traffic on parts of NH44 was diverted because of the protests. Wrestlers' support farmers Significantly, present at a mahapanchayat (or meeting) of the farmers in Kurukshetra was Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is leading his fellow athlete's battle against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh. READ | Tikait's 'message' on wrestlers' protest: 'Arrest Brij Bhushan or else' Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj, has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by seven female wrestlers but remains both a Member of Parliament and the head of the WFI. June 6 farmers protest Farmers also protested last week - and blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh highway then too, and that protest turned violent after police unleashed water cannons and lathi-charged the protesters in a bid to 'control' the situation. Police sources told ANI they took action because 'this is a National Highway... the protest was blocking the way of many people. Following protocols... we asked them to leave... situation now peaceful (and) some people detained'. READ | Protesting farmers block NH-44 in Haryana over sunflower seeds row Nine Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) leaders, including chief Gurnam Singh Charuni, were later arrested on various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly. Tikait today was referring to them when he demanded the authorities release detained farmers. CM Khattar slams some farmers Haryana chief minister ML Khattar has hit out at some farmer unions for instigating protests; he accused them of 'playing politics', claiming that a few farmers crossed state borders to sell their millet crop at higher prices despite his government having procured it at MSP. With input from agencies SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Monday accused the country's security forces of raiding houses and breaking doors. He took to Twitter to slam Pakistan's security forces and alleged that they were vandalising the house and robbing it. Women are abused, harassed and threatened and if the person is not there then their boys, fathers and even servants are picked up and jailed, Khan said. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan(Reuters) Khan further alleged that his sisters, driver and cook were picked up by the police. My sisters, driver and cook Rahim were picked up when the police couldnt find her son. Both were jailed where they were packed like sardines. Rahim suffered breathing problems and since his release he has been on the ventilator fighting for his life. Clearly those who are responsible for this reign of terror feel they are above law. He added that he never imagined that such grave violations would happen in Pakistan. While this policy might have temporarily spread fear amongst the people, its only a matter of time before this seething hatred comes out in the open, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief said. Upset because army no longer supports him: Bilawal Bhutto The development comes a day after Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Saturday Khan was not upset because of the army's interference in Politics, but rather because the Pakistan Army was no longer supporting him. Bhutto told Al-Jazeera, Khan's problem with the Pakistan Army began in April of last year when it declared that it would not get involved in politics and would not take sides More than half of our history has been covered by military rule. My party, the Pakistan Peoples Party, has challenged each and every single dictatorship in Pakistan's history. Bhutto also spoke about how the Pakistanis were disappointed by Khan urging his supporters to attack army installations last month. He said, The Corp Commander House in Lahore, the GHQ [General Headquarters] in Rawalpindi and many military installations [were targeted]. Such an attack has never been carried out by any political party in the history of Pakistan and now those who were involved in these attacks on our military installations must face the consequences of the law of the land. Army trying to destroy my party: Imran Khan Khan last week alleged that the Pakistan Army and the country's intelligence agency ISI of destroying his party PTI saying that there was no doubt that he would be tried in military court and sent to jail. Speaking about those behind the crackdown, Khan said, It is completely the establishment. Establishment obviously means the military establishment, because they are really now openly - I mean, it's not even hidden now - they're just out in the open. Last month, several military buildings and army property were ransacked amid violent protests which took place after Khan was briefly arrested. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Indian Army on Sunday put out a statement saying it got in touch with the police administration, which assured proper investigation into the alleged molestation of a jawan's wife by more than 40 people in Tamil Nadu. The incident came to light after the army jawan, posted in Kashmir, released a video message pleading for police action against the alleged attackers of his wife. The Indian Army jawan's wife at a hospital. The Tamil Nadu Police, however, has refuted the claims by the army personnel that his wife was stripped half-naked and beaten continuously by men in the state, officials familiar with the matter told HT. Top points on alleged attack on Indian army jawan's wife 1. The jawan's wife on Sunday alleged that she was attacked and molested by more than 40 people and also verbally abused. More than 40 people attacked me. They verbally abused me using obscene language. They also touched me inappropriately. They are not letting our family live in peace. They are threatening me, she said in Vellore on Sunday. 2. The police said the case is of a dispute over a land lease between the soldiers wife and some men. The police also said the department has given protection to her. Initial investigations show no one attacked her or insulted her or her mother, said a statement from the police, adding that the video posted by the soldier appears to be exaggerated. 3. The havildar from Thiruvannamalai district had recorded a video on June 10, speaking in Tamil, that went viral on social media after a retired army officer Colonel N Thiagarajan shared it on Twitter. 4. The Superintendent of Police, Thiruvannamalai, Karthikeyan said an FIR was registered under relevant sections on a complaint lodged by the jawan. "Based on a complaint by the jawan, an FIR was filed under relevant sections. Two of the accused -- Ramu and Hariprasad -- have already been arrested," the SP said. 5. The army said it accords high priority to the well-being of families, who stay away from the soldiers deployed in field areas. "An Indian Army soldier in uniform gave a statement fearing for the safety of his family. Army has already contacted the #Police authorities who have assured all help post-investigation," the Indian Army's Northern Command tweeted. 4. Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai said he has spoken to the jawan. "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 in a hospital in Vellore. TN BJP will stand with her & our Havildars family in getting justice for her," he added. (With inputs from Divya Chandrababu in Chennai) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One of the sisters of Saraswati Vaidya, who was allegedly killed and chopped into multiple pieces by 56-year-old live-in partner Manoj Sane in Mumbai's Mira Road, got emotional after seeing a photograph of Vaidya's long hair that the accused had cut and kept on the kitchen's platform of their flat. The sister said Vaidya loved her long hair, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police said. Manoj Sane allegedly killed Saraswati Vaidya and chopped her body into multiple pieces. (File) The police have found out that Vaidya had four sisters. Three of them recorded their statements with the police. They are very angry with the accused, Manoj Sane, and requested the cops to make such a strong case that he gets the strictest punishment, news agency ANI reported. Manoj Sane Google searched In the latest development, police revealed that Sane had taken pictures of the body after committing the murder. Sane also did many Google searches to find out how to dispose of the body. According to a senior officer of the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate, Sane is repeatedly changing his statement during interrogation. However, the police have done cross-verifications of many of his statements. On June 4, after the murder, the accused had bought an electric wood cutter (chainsaw) from a local hardware shop, which he used in chopping down the body parts. The chain of this woodcutter had come off during use, after that he took it to for repair at the same shop from where he had bought it. Brought five bottles of Nilgiri oil As Sane has cleaned the woodcutter completely no one got any clue of what work he was using the machine. The accused searched on Google to gather information about what should be done to avoid the foul smell coming from a body and brought five bottles of Nilgiri oil from a shop in his area. Police will be sending DNA samples of Vaidya and her close relatives to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on Monday. As the accused has accepted that he married Vaidya at a temple in Borivali police are trying to verify the location of the temple and the priest who got them married. Along with this, the police will be looking for any other witnesses of their marriage. It has come to light that the couple had hidden their marriage from their acquaintances because of their age difference. Sane had been staying with Vaidya in the rental flat in the Akashganga building in the Mira Road area over the past three years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The National Investigation Agency on Monday attached 17 properties belonging to Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, accused of financing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, in connection with a Hurriyat terror funding case in which Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) commander Yasin Malik is serving life imprisonment. According to NIA, the case pertains to terror activities in J&K by Pakistan's ISI-backed organisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) etc Besides Malik, 17 others including Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin were chargesheeted in the case registered by the agency on May 30, 2017. Malik was convicted in all the charges against him and sentenced to life imprisonment in May last year. According to NIA, the case pertains to terror activities in J&K by Pakistan's ISI-backed organisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) etc. These outfits were spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the valley by promoting and conducting attacks on civilians and security forces. As per NIA, 17 properties belonging to Watali in Handwara area of Kupwara in Kashmir have been attached by the agency on orders by special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act today. The agency said these banned terror groups were using the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities in Kashmir valley. Investigations revealed that the secessionists, arraigned as accused in the case, including the APHC, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of instigating the general public to create a surcharged atmosphere in the Kashmir valley and to resort to violence also. Watali had been sending the funds raised by him from various sources to the Hurriyat leaders to promote the secession of Jammu & Kashmir from the Union of India, the probe agency statement added. According to NIA, Watali was a hawala conduit and was receiving money from Saeed, a US-designated terrorist. The JuD chief had masterminded the 2001 Parliament attacks and the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks. He had received foreign remittances into bank account running into crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources. Besides, Watali had received foreign remittances in his Proprietorship Firm named M/s Trisson International, Srinagar and unexplained remittances were also found in his NRE Bank accounts. The NIA said Zahoor Watali had shown the sale of a plot of land measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by Watalis company, M/s Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt. Ltd. to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case. However, the NIA investigations found that neither Watali nor his above-mentioned company was the owner of this plot of land in the revenue records. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nitin Agarwal, a Kerala cadre Indian Police Service officer of the 1989 batch, will take charge as the new Director General of the Border Security Force, ending a five-month vacancy of the BSF's top post. A notification from the Appointments Committee of the union cabinet on Sunday said Agarwal had been appointed 'from date of joining post and up to July 31, 2026, his date of superannuation, or till further orders, whichever is earlier', news agency PTI said. Nitin Agarwal is currently posted as the Additional DG of operations at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters.(Twitter/ @thewittynoise) Also Read| Man arrested for impersonation during BSF recruitment exam in Gurugram Agarwal replaces Pankaj Kumar Singh, who retired on December 31. Central Reserve Police Force DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen led BSF in an additional capacity since Singh's retirement. Agarwal is expected to take charge on June 14 after the BSF's bi-annual, four-day border talks end with its Bangladeshi counterpart, the Border Guard Bangladesh. The talks are taking place in Delhi. Who is Nitin Agarwal? Agarwal is currently Additional DG (Operations) at the CRPF's HQ in Delhi. He was promoted to ADG in 2014 while serving with the ITBP, or Indo Tibetan Border Police. According to his LinkedIn profile, Agarwal completed his B. Tech (1983-1987) and M. Tech (1987-1989) in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. Agarwal has also served in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), another border-guarding force reporting to the union home ministry and has worked in various capacities in his cadre state of Kerala. In the initial stages of his professional journey, Agarwal served as an Assistant Engineer at the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers. Salary Following his promotion and the recent order, Agarwal has been placed at Level-16 of the Pay Matrix, which entitles him to an increased salary in his new position, reported Live Mint. As per the 7th Pay Commission Pay Matrix, the salary range for Level 16 falls between 2,05,400 and 2,24,400. In addition to the salary, Agarwal will also be entitled to various perks and allowances associated with his new role. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The deadline for filing nominations for the July 8 panchayat polls in West Bengal can be extended by a day to June 16 but the election schedule cannot be changed, the state election commission (SEC) told the Calcutta high court on Monday. A worker ties banners outside BDO office in Serampore (ANI) A division bench headed by chief justice TS Sivagnanam, which was hearing separate petitions filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari and state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for extension of dates for filing nominations, suggested that the polling may be held on July 14 and filing of nomination can take place between June 15 and 21. The scrutiny of nominations may take place on June 23 and deadline for withdrawing nomination may be extended to June 26, the bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, suggested. Senior lawyer Jayanta Mitra, appearing for the SEC, however, cited Section 46 of the West Bengal Panchayat Elections Act, 2003, which allows the poll panel to extend the last date of nomination by one day, if the commission is satisfied that there is reasonable apprehension of prevention/obstruction to the intending candidates from making nominations. June 17 is date of scrutiny and June 18 is date for withdrawal. What I submit is that a one-day extension will not disturb this process, Mitra told the court. Lawyer Koustav Bagchi, who represented Chowdhury, said: The court suggested that the SEC should give the matter a thought and reserved its order. Adhikari, the leader of opposition in state assembly, said, We will move another petition before the chief justice. On June 9, the petitioners moved the court demanding extension of dates and deployment of central paramilitary forces in view of the clashes that started hours after the schedule for the three-tier zilla parishads, panchayat samitis and gram panchayats elections was announced on June 8. Prima facie, we are of the view that the time limit fixed in the notification is inadequate, the high court said on June 9. Amid reports of political clashes over nominations in various districts, the SEC on Sunday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banning assembly of four or more people, within a kilometre of nomination centres. On Monday, the SEC passed another order saying those who withdraw nominations for the three-tier panchayat polls will have to cite adequate reasons. Meanwhile, CPI(M), BJP and Indian Secular Front (ISF) alleged that their candidates were attacked and intimidated by workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in East Burdwan, Bankura, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Birbhum districts in the south Bengal. Soma Das, a CPI(M) district committee leader in North 24 Parganas, suffered head injury at Minakhan. TMC workers blocked our Minakhan office for hours to prevent CPI(M) candidates from going to the block development office to file their nominations, she alleged. Several of our party workers were injured when they attacked us and ransacked at least one dozen motorcycles. The BJP alleged that its workers were attacked at Sonamukhi in Bankura district. BJP leader and Bishnupur MP Saumitra Khan blocked the Sonamukhi highway in protest. The ruling TMC rejected the allegations of violence perpetrated by its workers. These incidents are a fallout of infighting in the opposition parties. We have urged our workers not to fall for any provocation, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said. We welcome everyone to file nomination. If they face any problem, we will help them. The real issue is that opposition parties dont have candidates to field. A peace committee constituted by the Centre to broker amity between the warring Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur run into rough weather on Monday after prominent civil society organisations from both sides refused to be a part of the process. A view of damaged houses and shops seen following fresh violence that occurred in several areas of Manipur on Monday. (ANI) Also read: Kuki group reiterates demand for peace in Manipur, condemns including CM N Biren Singh in panel Kuki Inpi, the apex body of Kuki tribes in Manipur, objected to the inclusion of its president Ajang Khongsai, in the peace committee and said it was done without prior consultation and information. Kuki Inpi Manipur senses no rationale to pursue for peace solely with individuals who have engineered the ethnic cleansing against our peace, Kuki Inpi said in a statement, accusing chief minister N Biren Singh, who is a Meitei, of orchestrating communal attacks. On the other side, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a conglomerate of five civil society groups from Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, also refused to be part of the process, saying that its convener Jeetendra Ningomba was included as a member without his consent. COCOMI will not take part in the peace committee unless our demand for controlling narco-terrorism aggression (by Kuki groups) is met. There should be some normalcy and violence should end for peace committee to function, Ningomba told journalists in Imphal. The developments came even as one more person was shot dead in Churachandpur, pushing the toll in the ethnic clashes that broke out five weeks ago to 106. Since May 3, Manipur has been roiled by ethnic clashes that have claimed at least 106 lives, injured more than 300 people, displaced nearly 40,000, and damaged close to 2,000 houses. On Saturday, the Centre constituted the peace committee headed by governor Anasuiya Uikey, and also comprising chief minister N Biren Singh, ministers, lawmakers and leaders from various parties, former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists, social workers and representatives of different ethnic groups. The peace panel was first announced by Union home minister Amit Shah as part of a raft of measures to tamp down tensions on June 1. But almost immediately, the peace process ran into trouble. On Sunday, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) -- a conglomerate of Kuki groups in Churachandpur district said that while they wanted peace, they couldnt overlook attacks by Meitei groups on Kuki settlements. ITLF strongly reiterates the need for normalcy to prevail before the constitution of any peace committee in the region, a statement by the group said, stressing that Presidents Rule should be imposed in the state. ITLF also blamed chief minister Singh for the escalation in violence and condemned his inclusion in the peace panel. The standoff over the peace committee is yet another reminder that despite some easing of tensions, anger and distrust continued to simmer and drive wedges between various communities. Therefore, the government must urgently consider confidence-building measures to bridge the trust deficit between communities, while dispassionately prosecuting all elements trying to ratchet up violence and hatred. The committee is mandated to facilitate peace among various ethnic groups and negotiate between the communities. The committee should strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups, a government statement stated. On Monday, Uikey visited relief camps in Churachandpur district and met those displaced in the ongoing violence. She offered support on behalf of the state government for those affected and urged all to work for peace. Later in the day, Singh announced in Imphal plans to build around 4,000 prefabricated houses to accommodate the displaced people. The houses, which will have two bedrooms, one washroom, a common kitchen and common dining hall, could be assembled within 15 days once the necessary construction materials are arrived in the state. he said. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma -- who visited Manipur on Saturday and held talks with Singh, lawmakers and several Meitei groups -- met representatives of Kuki militant groups who are signatories of the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement with Centre and Manipur government. Sarma, who is also convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) -- a Bharatiya Janata Party-led platform of regional parties of the Northeast, met two representatives each of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF) -- the two umbrella organisations of the 25 Kuki militant groups who signed the SoO deal on Sunday at Guwahati. Sarma told us that Meitei groups in Imphal have agreed to broker a peace deal. We also reiterated our commitment to peace unless we are attacked first. He informed that there would be more deployment of security personnel in Manipur in the next few days to put an end to violence. Once that happens, we will withdraw our volunteers from the ground, Seilen Haokip, KNO spokesperson, said. Also read: After three days of fragile peace, fresh attack hits Manipur Clashes between the Kukis and Meiteis first erupted on May 3 during a protest against a court-ordered tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the latter. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders.The authorities clamped a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utpal Parashar Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times. ...view detail Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the government's preparedness for Cyclone Biparjoy which has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the east central Arabian Sea. During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed about the situation of the cyclone and the measures taken by the government. The prime minister directed the senior officials to take measures to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the state Government. He also directed them to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water etc. are restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them. He also directed that the safety of animals should also be ensured. He further directed for 24*7 functioning of control rooms, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. PM Modi reviews preparedness for Cyclone Biparjoy The cyclone has been moving northwards at a speed of five kilometres per hour, and is centred approximately 340 kms southwest of Gujarat's Porbandar. It is expected to make landfall on the Kutch coast on June 15 as per India Meteorological Department. The fishing activities along Gujarat's southern and northern coasts have been suspended as the authorities begun the evacuation of people in districts by the sea in view of the cyclone. ALSO READ: How Gujarat, Pakistan are bracing for cyclone Biparjoy. Details on preparation According to officials in coastal Dwarka, around 1,300 people have been shifted to safe places so far. Section 144 has been imposed in coastal areas of Kutch district as the local administration is working to evacuate people from areas close to sea in the Saurashtra-Kutch regions. ALSO READ: How climate change made Arabian Sea conducive for severe cyclones The warning signals have been placed along the coasts for fishermen who have been advised not to venture into the sea till June 15. On the other hand, the fishermen out at sea have been advised to return to the coast. The Centre has asked the Gujarat government to regulare onshore and offshore activities and mobilise evacuation from coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from districts including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A restaurant in New Jersey has curated a special thali in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to the United States, news agency ANI reported. The 'Modi ji thali', prepared by chef Shripad Kulkarni, consists of Khichdi, rasgulla, sarson ka saag, Kashmiri dum aloo, idli, dhokla, chaach, and papad, among other dishes. The Modi ji Thali comprises dishes as diverse as sarson ka saag and idli. (ANI) According to Kulkarni, the items were added as per the demands of the Indian diaspora living there. In a video, shared by ANI, Mr Kulkarni can be seen showcasing the colourful thali and sharing more details about the special offering. The restaurant owner also reportedly plans to launch a second 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," he added. The thali also pays tribute to 2023 being declared as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations after a recommendation from the Indian government in 2019. PM Modi, on his first state visit to the US, will be hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a dinner on June 22. He is set to become the first Indian PM to address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. PM Modi is not a stranger to thalis centred around him. Last year, ahead of PM Modi's birthday on September 17, a Delhi-based restaurant launched a Thali named 56 inch Narendra Modi Thali. ARDOR 2.1, a restaurant in Connaught Place, launched the thali with 56 items, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian option. Indian Americans are planning to welcome him with an 'India Unity Day' march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, organisers announced. On June 21, several top Indian-Americans will join join PM Modi on the north lawns of the UN complex in New York, where he will lead the International Yoga Day event. On June 22, more than seven thousand Indian Americans are planning to gather at the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden and the First Lady will welcome the PM amidst a 21-gun salute. PM Modi will also address the heads 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pregnant women should chant 'Sunderkand' and read epics like Ramayana to have mentally and physically sound babies, Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said on Sunday. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan(ANI/File) Soundararajan, who is also a gynaecologist and fetal therapist, made the remarks while launching 'Garbha Sanskar' programme of an RSS-linked body. Under the 'Garbha Sanskar' programme developed by Samvardhinee Nyas, doctors associated with the organisation will provide a mix of scientific and traditional prescriptions to expectant mothers so that they give birth to sanskari and deshbhakt babies. These prescriptions will include reading of religious texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, chanting of Sanskrit mantras and practice of yoga. The process will start from the pre-conception to delivery stage and continue till a baby attains two years of age. Family members of the expectant mothers will also be guided during the programme, according to the 'Garbha Sanskar' module launched virtually. Samvardhinee Nyas is a wing of Rashtra Sevika Sangh, a women's organisation that parallels the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Addressing the virtual launch event, Soundararajan appreciated the efforts of the Samvardhinee Nyas in developing 'Garbha Sanskar' programme module and said implementation of this scientific and holistic approach towards pregnancy will definitely yield positive results. In villages, we have seen expectant mothers reading Ramayana, Mahabharata and other epics as well as good stories. Particularly in Tamil Nadu, there is a belief that pregnant ladies should learn Sunderkandam of Kamba Ramayana, she said. Chanting of "Sunderkand" during pregnancy will be very good for the babies, she added. "Sunderkand" is a chapter in Hindu epic "Ramayana", which depicts the adventures of Lord Hanuman and his selflessness, strength, and devotion to Lord Rama. Soundararajan, who is also Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, noted the scientific approach towards pregnancy is to prevent the complications during the period but holistic approach towards pregnancy would help pregnant women give birth to healthy and sound babies. Practice of yoga during pregnancy will take care of physical and mental wellbeing of both the expectant mother and the baby in the womb and eventually help in normal delivery, she said, highlighting the significance of motherhood and the importance of the 'Garbha Sanskar'. Addressing the event, Leena Gahane, co-head of the intellectual wing of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, appreciated the launch of 'Garbha Sanskar' module on the occasion of 350th death anniversary of Jijabai ji and hoped that its implementation will bring next generation with qualities like Shivaji Maharaj. Jijabai, referred to as Rajmata, was the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire. The 'Garbha Sanskar' programme will be implemented across the country by the doctors associated with the Samvardhinee Nyas, according to a senior functionary of the organisation. For this, we have divided the country into five regions and in each of the five regions will have a team of 10 doctors who will implement the programme. Each of these doctors will start with taking up 20 cases of pregnancy in their respective regions, the Samvardhinee Nyas functionary told PTI on Saturday. An eight-member central team has been formulated to guide and oversee the implementation of the 'Garbha Sanskar' programme. The central team comprises ayurvedic, homeopathy and allopathy doctors and a subject expert, she had said while sharing details about the programme. New Delhi/Lucknow The construction of the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is expected to be completed by the end of the year, temple authorities said on Monday, adding that the inauguration of the grand structure may take place in January next year on a date that is yet to be finalised. Construction work of Ram temple underway, in Ayodhya (ANI) The statement came even as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust which is overseeing the construction of the temple said that it sent an invitation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opening ceremony, suggesting three auspicious dates for the event. The three auspicious dates shortlisted after consulting astrologers are likely between January 17 and 24, said people aware of the matter. The trust did not disclose the specific dates to the media. The trust had committed to the devotees that the ground floor will be completed by December 2023. It is hoped that the commitment will be fulfilled accordingly for the devotees would have the opportunity to have darshan (visit) of Ram Lala sometime from January 2024, said Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee. According to a functionary aware of the details, the construction work on the ground floor is nearly complete. The civil works are over and finishing touches are now being given, we expect the ground floor that has the sanctum sanctorum with the idol of Ram Lala to be completely ready for inauguration by the end of this year. The formal pran pratishtha of the idol will be carried out in January, the functionary said, requesting anonymity. The construction started in August 2020 and is being monitored daily by senior functionaries. It was recently reviewed by a team led by Misra and included members from the engineering teams of Larsen and Toubro, Tata Tata Consulting Engineers and the trust. A letter signed by (trust chairman) Mahant Nritya Gopal Das has been sent to PM Narendra Modi, inviting him for the pran pratishtha (idol consecration) of Ram Lalla at the garbha griha (sanctum-sanctorum) of the Ram temple, said Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, the designated successor of Mahant Nritya Gopal. According to the functionary cited above, after the completion of the temples foundation, raft and plinth, work related to the placement of stone procured from mines in the Bansi Paharpur area of Rajasthan is in full swing. Apart from the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum), the temple has five mandaps gudh mandap, rang mandap, nritya mandap, prathana mandap and kirtan mandap. The dome size of the five mandaps are 34 feet wide and 32 feet long, and the height from courtyard ranges between 69 feet to 111 feet, the functionary said. The temples foundation was laid in an elaborate ceremony presided over by Modi on August 5, 2020. As per the details provided by the construction committee, the temple is 380 feet in length, 250 feet in width and 161 feet high from the courtyard. The sanctum sanctorum is spread over 20 feet. There will be 46 teakwood doors of the temple and the door of the sanctum sanctorum will be gilded with gold. This process will begin by the end of June, the functionary quoted above said. The construction work on infrastructure buildings is also in full swing and expected to be complete by October 2023. The ancient Kuber Tila with Shiva temple and the proposed Jatayu idol will also attract devotees once completed, the functionary added. The Trust is planning to organise a mega Ayodhya pran pratishtha between January 17 and 24, said people aware of the developments. During the event, the idol of Ram Lalla will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum and, thereafter, the temple will be opened for devotees. On May 31, the board of trustees of the trust decided to send the invite to Modi for the ceremony. Reports and screenshots by journalists and opposition politicians on Monday purported to show unauthorised access into a government database , possibly the Covid-19 vaccine booking service CoWIN, with sensitive personal information tied to any mobile phone number becoming available. PREMIUM At risk may be personally identifiable information (PII) of millions of people, since the data appeared to include identity documents details of people who signed up to get Covid-19 vaccines. (File Photo) At risk may be personally identifiable information (PII) of millions of people, since the data appeared to include identity documents details of people who signed up to get Covid-19 vaccines which can be booked only via the digital service. Also read: Centre says CoWin portal completely safe, dubs reports of leak mischievous What exactly happened The screenshots showed responses from an automated, or bot, account on the messaging application Telegram. If someone fed the bot a phone number, it would be throw back PII such as full name, date of birth, identity document type and number, and the location of last Covid-19 vaccination associated with the mobile number. For instance, according to screenshots shared by Trinamool Congresss Saket Gokhale, this included the former Congress leader P Chidambarams birthday and Aadhaar card number, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivanshs passport number and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Rauts Aadhaar number. The screenshots -- the unredacted versions of some were seen by HT also carried details that purported to show where these people would have had their latest Covid-19 vaccine doses. To be sure, to access this data, one would need to have the mobile phone number of a target. What kind of security was meant to stop this? CoWIN registration data is protected via an OTP-based authentication protocol. In a normal scenario, a CoWIN user is able to see their registration details and book a slot only when they have authenticated using an OTP sent to their mobile numbers. The junior minister for technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said the data appeared to come from a database compiled by a threat actor via previous breaches and that the CoWIN database was untouched. In a separate statement, the Union health ministry, which handles the CoWIN service, said one-time passwords are required for people to pull the sort of data that the Telegram bot appeared to retrieve. Did the threat actors explain? Yes, according to messages exchanged in a linked Telegram chat group, the developer of the bot indicated that they had indeed accessed the CoWIN database, but via a complicated back-door that while not exactly breaking protocol of the vaccination service leveraged a flaw in an unrelated government service that allowed them to successfully authenticate themselves. At the heart of this is a computing protocol known as application programming interface, or an API, which lets one application, or programme, communicate with another. For instance, the weather application on your phone communicates via an API with an actual weather service, such as the India Meteorological Department. In this case, the developer said they used details from a protected health ministry service that recorded details of auxiliary nurses and midwives, or ANMs, and used information from there to authenticate themselves successfully with CoWINs API. The health ministry statement, however, said the Telegram bot was not communicating directly with the CoWIN API. Is the breach ongoing? The developer pulled the bot down shortly after the first reports about it emerged on Monday morning. After initially claiming the service will be brought back, the developer appeared to have had a rethink. It is likely that the group was monitored and Indias Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-IN) plugged the flaws that allowed for the unauthorised access to take place. What are the implications?There is no guarantee that no other malicious actor would have figured out the same vulnerabilities to launch a similar operation. It was also not clear whether this particular person or group behind the bot mined the PII data. Also read: TMCs Saket Gokhale alleges data breach of senior politicians, others on CoWin PII such as identity document details, when paired with key details such a mobile number, can help scammers and hackers launch attacks for identity theft and gain access to bank accounts and digital services like email and photo repositories. Such attacks if successful on people working in sensitive jobs or those who otherwise are in an influential position (such a s a politician or a celebrity) could involve a graver risk. The governments next steps The health ministry said it has requested CERT-In to look into this issue and submit a report. In addition, an internal exercise has been initiated to review the existing security measures of CoWIN, it said in the statement. Sensitive personal information, including details of identity documents such as Aadhaar and passports, of those who took or signed up for Covid-19 vaccines was freely accessible for an unknown duration, according to reports and screenshots shared by those who found the illicit service on Monday, prompting criticism from experts and Opposition leaders even as the government denied a breach had taken place. The backbone of the Covid-19 vaccine delivery system has been CoWIN, the IT platform modified for implementation of the national immunisation programme. (SHUTTERSTOCK.) Also read: Centre says CoWin portal completely safe, dubs reports of leak mischievous First reported by a Malayalam news website, The Fourth, the data leak was being enabled through an automated account on the messaging application Telegram. The account, technically a bot, responded with the name, date of birth, identity document type and number, and location of last vaccination linked with a mobile phone number sent to it. It is clarified that all such reports are without any basis and mischievous in nature. CoWIN portal of health ministry is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy, the Union health ministry, which maintains the service, said in a statement. In a separate rebuttal in a tweet, Union minister of state for electronics and technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said it does not appear that CoWIN app or database has been directly breached, and said that the data being accessed seems to have been populated with data stolen previously. The incident is a reminder of how more needs to be done for data privacy of Indian citizens. Keeping aside the nature and scale of the data compromise, it must be remembered that India does not yet have legal protections in place for privacy, and there are no guardrails for those handling such information or accountability for those jeopardising such sensitive data. Until India brings in a robust, citizen-focussed data protection law, the threat of unmitigated harms such as hacking, identity theft and bank frauds remains high. Screenshots, including those unredacted, seen by HT indicated that sensitive information was accessed. The Telegram bot was offered by an unknown developer or group of developers, which pulled down the service in the morning when the first new reports broke. According to messages exchanged by the developer and a number of other users on a linked group chat, the developers said they found a circuitous and illicit route to secure a legitimate way to send queries to the CoWIN database that resulted in a successful response. According to reports, the leaked data includes Aadhaar card numbers, along with gender, date of birth and vaccination centre of senior politicians such as Rajya Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress leader Derek OBrien, former Union ministers P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh, and Congress leader KC Venugopal. They also include details of health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, deputy chairman Rajya Sabha Haribansh Narayan Singh, Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Abhishek Singhvi, and Sanjay Raut, Tranimools Saket Gokhale said with redacted screenshots. The Union health ministry has asked the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to look into the reports of the data breach issue and submit a report, according to a statement. The ministry has also initiated an internal exercise to review the existing security measures of CoWIN, the ministry said. Ostensibly referring to some of the screenshots, the health ministry said only year of birth is captured for adult vaccination but it seems that on media posts it has been claimed that BOT also mentioned date of birth. There is no provision to capture address of beneficiary, said the statement. Also read: Covid lockdowns to blame? Marriages in China slump to historic low A senior government official, who asked not to be named, said the CoWIN portal is safe. Further investigation is being conducted by the experts concerned, and we will know more on it once the report is submitted. This is not the first that there has been a reported breach of CoWIN data. Last year in January, there were reports of CoWIN data being leaked, prompting the health ministry to issue a clarification. National Health Authority chief Ram Sewak Sharma, who heads the CoWIN portal, did not respond to requests for a comment. Experts said the controversy underscores the urgent need for a data protection bill that will protect citizens from such exposure and ensure accountability of institutions. Founder of Cybersaathi and Supreme Court lawyer NS Nappinai said irrespective of the correctness of the news reports, the very issue raised of data protection for digital data in the hands of government agencies highlights the urgency for Indias personal data protection legislation. More importantly, that health data and other documents that contain personal information such as Aadhaar or PAN Card or driving license should carry higher levels of reasonable security measures is also spotlighted with this data breach, she said. 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 The Union government and its institutions continue to give an undue and unfair advantage to Hindi over other Indian languages, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin said on Monday, as he strongly opposed a recent circular issued by a public sector insurance company for Hindi implementation. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said the Centre and its institutions continue to give an unfair advantage to Hindi over other languages (PTI) Also read: Will resist attempt to replace Tamil with Hindi in our land: MK Stalin Stalin, who is also the president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), called for immediate withdrawal of the circular issued by The New India Assurance Company Ltd, a government of India undertaking. While each and every citizen of India is contributing to its development, the Union Government and its institutions continue to give an undue and unfair advantage to Hindi, over other Indian languages in every possible way, Stalin tweeted, sharing a copy of the circular. Also, they are intent on spending their valuable resources on imposing Hindi down our throats, rather than for public welfare. In its circular, dated April 3, the Mumbai-headquartered insurance company directed all its department in-charges to comply with guidelines issued by the Centre to ensure implementation of official languages in all offices. The company listed out 31 guidelines for Hindi implementation as part of the annual programme issued by the Union home ministrys department of official languages. In the circular, the insurance company asked all its department in-charges to ensure one Hindi workshop every quarter with mandatory participation of at least 20 employees. Publish Hindi in house magazine of your region regularly, one of the guidelines read. Ensure the purchase of Hindi books and maintain the Hindi Library in the regional officer in an orderly manner. The circular also directed all offices to ensure 100% compliance of Section 3(3) of the Official Language Act, 1963, which designates English and Hindi for use for official purposes of the Union government. Stalin described the circular, written in Hindi and English, as disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speakers of India and non-Hindi speaking employees of the company, and sought an apology from the firms chairperson Neerja Kapur. Gone are the days of non-Hindi speaking citizens of India tolerating the second-class treatment meted out to them, despite their contribution in propelling Indias growth with their hard work and talent, Stalin said. Tamil Nadu and DMK will do everything under our power to stop Hindi imposition, as we have always strived in our history. We will remove the undeserving special status that Hindi enjoys everywhere in the Union Government, like Railways, Postal Department, Banking and Parliament that affects us and our people on a day-to-day basis. He further said: We pay taxes, contribute to the progress and believe in our rich heritage and this nations diversity. Our languages deserve to be treated equally. We will resist any attempt to replace Tamil with Hindi in our land. In a reply to Stalins tweet on Monday, the public sector firm said: New India Assurance specifically mentioned under point 25 that all advertisements and press releases to be published in newspapers in English, Hindi and Regional languages as done by other Public Sector Organisation of India. We respect all regional languages. While, the state BJP president K Annamalai reacted to the incident said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the past nine year, has done many welfare developments for Tamil language and the people of Tamil Nadu. In the last nine years, Honble Prime Minister has done many welfare programs for the development of Tamil language, Tamils, Tamil Nadu women, youth and students. Not only that, our Prime Minister is proud of taking Tamil language all over the world, Annamalai tweeted. Also read: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin attacks Centre after RBI withdraws 2000 notes This is not the first time Stalin has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of Hindi imposition. In March this year, the Tamil Nadu chief minister slammed the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) over its directive to use the term Dahi (Hindi for curd) on packaging of curd, with the regional name within brackets after the Hindi one. Stalin had termed the directive as unabashed Hindi imposition. Later, the FSSAI rolled back its directive. Hyderabad: The police in Telanganas Vikarabad district on Monday intensified a probe into the alleged murder of a 19-year-old trainee nurse, whose body was found in a pond in a suspicious condition on Sunday. Hyderabad: Police on Monday intensified a probe into the alleged murder of a 19-year-old trainee nurse, whose body was found in a pond in a suspicious condition on Sunday (Representational Image) Parigi inspector of police Venkataramaiah said a few suspects from the village, apart from the girls father and brother-in-law, who had beaten her up on Saturday night, were taken into custody for questioning. We are hopeful of cracking the mystery behind the murder shortly, he said. The trainee nurse, Sirisha, who was working at a private hospital in Vikarabad had left her residence at Kallapur village of Parigi block, had left her house on Saturday night after her father Jangaiah and brother-in-law Anil had beaten her for not cooking food. When she did not return even after midnight, the family members lodged a complaint with the Parigi police. On Sunday afternoon, the police traced her body in a pond, about a kilometre away from the village. There were multiple injuries on her head and limbs. It appears the eyes were gouged using a sharp weapon. We also suspect she was strangled to death, the inspector said, adding that more details would be known after obtaining the autopsy report. The body was handed over to the family members after autopsy on Sunday and the last rites were performed on Monday. Quoting the family members, the police said Sirisha had been taking care of her ailing mother at a private hospital in Hyderabad for the past few days, while Jangaiah along with his son had been staying at the village. Since there was nobody to take care of household work, including cooking, Jangaiah asked her to come back to the village, the police said. On Saturday night, Sirisha refused to cook food for her father and also her brother-in-law Anil who came to their house in the village. Enraged at her resistance, Jangaiah and Anil beat her. Upset with them, she left the place and did not return, the police said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday alleged that the countrys Covid-19 vaccination tracking platform CoWin has been breached with details of senior political leaders available on social media application Telegram. TheTMC national spokesperson shared the screenshots of the breach on his official Twitter account. (Representative file image) TMC national spokesperson Saket Gokhale shared the screenshots of the breach on his official Twitter account. There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked & are freely available, Gokhale posted on his official Twitter account. Also Read: India to offer digital health tech to world as universal public goods: Lav Agarwal This is a matter of national concern, he further wrote. According to screenshots shared by Gokhale, the leaked date includes Aadhaar card numbers, along with gender, date of birth and vaccination centre of senior leaders including Rajya Sabha MP and TMC leader Derek OBrien, former union minister P Chidambaram, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal. In another set of screenshots Gokhale shared, the leaked data also included details of health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, deputy chairman Rajya Sabha Haribansh Narayan Singh, Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Sanjay Raut. HT is yet to independently verify the data leak as alleged by the TMC spokesperson. National Health Authority chief Ram Sewak Sharma and the ministry of electronics and information technology are yet to comment on the allegations of data leak. As of noon on Monday, the developers of the Telegram bot that pulled sensitive private information from the leaked Co-Win database was disabled. Officials familiar with the matter confirmed that the bot has been deleted, and whenever such a report emerges, a thorough audit is conducted to check database access. The copy will be updated as and when the response by the ministry of electronics and information technology will be made available. Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin hit out at the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led central government over alleged Hindi imposition while opposing a circular issued by public sector insurance company, The New India Assurance. Posting copies of the circular, Stalin described it as a disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speakers of India. (MK Stalin | Facebook) While each and every citizen of India is contributing to its development, the union government and its institutions continue to give an undue and unfair advantage to Hindi, over other Indian languages in every possible way, Stalin posted from his official Twitter account. Also, they are intent on spending their valuable resources on imposing Hindi down our throats, rather than for public welfare, he wrote. Also Read: TNs Stalin vows support to AAP over Centre ordinance Stalin called out the unjust circular issued by the Mumbai-headquartered New India Assurance calling for its withdrawal and an apology from chairperson Neerja Kapur. Latest in this list is the unjust circular issued by New India Assurance. It must be withdrawn with immediate effect and its chairperson Neerja Kapur needs to apologise for the disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speakers of India and non-Hindi speaking employees of New India Assurance, he further wrote. Posting copies of the circular, Stalin described it as a disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speakers of India and non-Hindi speaking employees of the company. Gone are the days of non-Hindi speaking citizens of India tolerating the second-class treatment meted out to them, despite their contribution in propelling Indias growth with their hard work and talent, Stalin said. Tamil Nadu and DMK will do everything under our power to #StopHindiImposition, as we have always strived in our history We will remove the undeserving special status that Hindi enjoys everywhere in the Union Government, like Railways, Postal Department, Banking and Parliament that affects us and our people on a day-to-day basis, Stalin added in his post. Stalin added that all the languages deserve to be treated equally. We pay our taxes, contribute to the progress, and believe in our rich heritage and this nations diversity. Our languages deserve to be treated equally. We will resist any attempt to replace Tamil with Hindi in our land, he wrote. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hyderabad: A day after Union home minister Amit Shah accused Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of indulging in scams, rackets and corruption in the last four years, the ruling YSR Congress party on Monday shot back at the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, saying he had fallen in the trap of Telugu Desam Party. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said he would fight the upcoming state assembly elections single-handedly. (ANI) While Jagan reacted cautiously saying he did not enjoy the support of the BJP or any other party and would fight the next elections single-handedly, his senior colleague and former MP Y V Subba Reddy came down heavily on Shah for parroting the words of the TDP. At a public meeting held on Sunday night, the Union home minister alleged that the Jagan government had done nothing for the state in the last four years, except indulging in corruption, scams and rackets. The Jagan government claims to be pro-poor but Andhra Pradesh stands at third place in the country in terms of farmer suicides. The chief minister should be ashamed of this, Shah said, alleging that the YSRCP leaders had swindled the funds given by the Modi government to the state. Indirectly reacting to Shahs comments, Jagan said at a public meeting held at Krosuru in Palnadu district that he did not bank on the support of any other political party. The people of the state alone are my strength and confidence. Unlike the TDP, I dont enjoy the support of other political parties. You are my courage and confidence. Unlike the TDP which enjoys the support of the gang of thieves and other political parties, I dont enjoy the support of the BJP or any political party. But I dont fear as I have your support and the blessing of God, Jagan said. However, his senior colleague and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board chairman Y V Subba Reddy alleged that the top leadership of the BJP had fallen into the trap of the TDP. It is atrocious on the part of Shah to parrot the words of certain turncoats, who defected from the TDP to the BJP. It is unfortunate that the Union home minster had made wild allegations against the Jagan government, which was sincerely striving for the uplift of the poor, Subba Reddy said, while speaking to reporters at Visakhapatnam. Alleging that the BJP had its share in the corruption indulged in by the previous TDP government between 2014 and 2019, the YSRCP leader said it would have been better had Shah explained to the people what the Narendra Modi government had given to Andhra Pradesh for its development. He has not uttered a single word about the privatisation of Visakhapatnam steel plant. How can he ask for 20 MP seats from Andhra Pradesh? Subba Reddy asked. TDP spokesman and former MLC Parchuri Ashok Babu said Jagans statement clearly showed his insecurity feeling. Every word of Jagan indicates that he is scared of an impending defeat in the next elections. In order to cover up his insecurity feeling, he is slinging mud at Chandrababu Naidu, he said. The TDP leader asked why Jagan was afraid of making a direct attack on the BJP and pull up the Centre for not granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh. He had met top BJP leaders several times in the recent past. Why doesnt he disclose what had transpired between him and them? he asked. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON At a museum in Geneva, Hugh Nini and his husband Neal Treadwell posed in front of their collection of photographs of men in love, including one taken around 1900 in which two men hold a sign reading "Not married but willing to be". "Our mind reels at what might have been going through their heads at the time," said Nini, who with Treadwell has collected photographs of men in love for more than two decades. Visitors attend the preview of the Loving exhibition, which shows photographs of men in love spanning from 1850s to 1950s from a collection of Hugh Nine hugs Neal Treadwell at the Rath Museum in Geneva. (REUTERS) In 2020, the US couple published "Loving", a volume with hundreds of snapshots and portraits of displays of love between men taken between the 1850s and 1950s. The identity of the vast majority of the men, some of whom can be seen embracing, kissing or resting in bed, remains unknown. A portion of their collection is being put on display for the first time starting Thursday at Geneva's Musee Rath, which hosts the Musee d'Art et d'Histoire's temporary exhibitions. Nini and Treadwell first unearthed the photographs at flea markets and family archives, and later online and at auctions. (Also Read | Pride Month 2023: How to navigate conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity with children) "I think that they wanted to have something to remember themselves by," Treadwell said of the subjects photographed, which include many men in the military. "A lot of the photographs were pristine, so you know that they've been hidden somewhere, tucked in a book or in a drawer." The photographs, which were taken when male partnerships were often illegal, come from countries including the United States and Germany. Aside from those taken in photo booths, the individuals who took the photographs are unknown. "What we've discovered through this collection is that just like today, these men, these couples had friends, allies and family who supported them," Nini said. 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. Researchers discovered a gene mutation that causes a common type of hypertension (high blood pressure) (Shutterstock) 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) Quick and easy to make, smoothies in summer can be a great choice for a nourishing and delicious breakfast. Seasonal fruits are in abundance in summer and combined with the power of milk, smoothies can provide the right dose of nutrients at the start of the day. Having smoothies can also help boost your consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, all the nutrient-dense foods that are tricky to accommodate in a single meal. In summer, smoothies with their high water content can help keep one hydrated and cool. High fibre content in smoothies also makes sure your digestive system remains in track. The versatile smoothies can be customised as per your taste preferences. You can experiment with different combinations of fruits, vegetables, yogurt, nut butter etc to create delicious and nutritious blends. (Also read: 4 refreshing iced tea recipes to beat the summer heat) The versatile smoothies can be customised as per your taste preferences. You can experiment with different combinations of fruits, vegetables, yogurt, nut butter etc to create delicious and nutritious blends.(Pixabay) From picturesque landscapes to music havens, these lesser-known places in the United States of America offer unique experiences for every kind of traveler. So, get ready to rejuvenate yourself and embark on an unforgettable journey as we unveil 12 extraordinary destinations from coast to coast! 12 unexpected destinations in America that will leave you spellbound.(Pexels) 1] Ojai, California: Spiritual Southern California In the mystical town of Ojai, nestled in a picturesque valley, you'll find vintage shops, rejuvenating spas, and a vibrant art scene. Experience the allure of this 4.3-square-mile haven surrounded by rolling mountains. Immerse yourself in the spiritual side of Ojai and discover its charming mom-and-pop shops. Who knows, you might even encounter the fabled "Ojai vortex"! 2] The Shoals, Alabama: Music Buff's Paradise The Shoals, Alabama Uncover the birthplace of blues in the hidden gem known as The Shoals. This quartet of neighboring communities boasts a rich musical heritage. From the legendary W.C. Handy to the iconic studios that drew world-renowned artists, The Shoals is a must-visit for any music lover. Walk in the footsteps of legends and let the soulful rhythm of this place captivate you. 3] Daufuskie Island, South Carolina: Unplug and Chill Escape to Daufuskie Island, a tranquil oasis away from the bustling world. This secluded sea island offers untouched beaches, serene woodlands, and a glimpse into Lowcountry history. With limited access by ferry, Daufuskie Island ensures peace and relaxation. Embrace the island's relaxed vibe and let your worries melt away on its shores. 4] Duluth, Minnesota: Quintessential Midwestern Outdoors For nature enthusiasts seeking untouched Midwestern beauty, Duluth is a paradise. Immerse yourself in the pristine wilderness, from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to the shores of Lake Superior. Engage in thrilling adventures like paddleboarding, kayaking, or hiking. Afterward, discover the city's vibrant food scene and warm hospitality. 5] Juneau, Alaska: Remote and Gorge Journey to Juneau, the capital city you can only reach by air or water. With its breathtaking landscapes, Alaska's second-largest city offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventures and local charm. Indulge in fresh seafood, explore the Alaskan wilderness, and mingle with the friendly locals. Juneau is a hidden gem that promises an unforgettable experience. 6] Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Idyllic charm Lancaster, Pennsylvania Prepare to be surprised by the idyllic charm of Lancaster. Beyond its Amish lifestyle, you'll find a vibrant downtown bursting with cultural foods, trendy cocktail bars, and a thriving art scene. Embrace the fusion of German roots, diverse community, and hipster atmosphere. Lancaster might just be the new Brooklyn, with a unique twist. 7] Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Old-School New England Step back in time to the old-school charm of Portsmouth. Stroll along cobblestone streets, admire 17th-century brick buildings, and soak in the historic working seaport atmosphere. Discover hidden gems in antique stores, dine at cozy restaurants, and unwind at sidewalk cafes. Portsmouth encapsulates the essence of New England in a way that will transport you to a bygone era. 8] Seneca Lake, New York: Wine, Wine, and Wine Indulge your senses in the Finger Lakes region, with Seneca Lake as its crown jewel. Surrounded by 44 wineries, this breathtaking lake offers not only scenic beauty but also a plethora of wines to delight your palate. Explore the vineyards, sip on award-winning wines, and let the beauty of Seneca Lake leave you in awe. 9] Medora, North Dakota: Low-Key Americana Step into the Old West in the charming town of Medora. With its weathered wood-fronted buildings and rugged wilderness, this North Dakota gem offers an authentic Americana experience. Discover the striking Badlands, visit the national park, and immerse yourself in the town's rich history. Medora welcomes you with open arms and promises a journey back in time. 10] Kansas City, Missouri: Underrated Music Hot Spot Unleash your inner music aficionado in the heart of Kansas City. This underrated destination boasts a self-sustaining independent music scene that rivals larger cities. Lose yourself in the historic jazz district, attend music festivals dedicated to discovery, and explore the vibrant local music culture. Kansas City is where rhythm and melody flourish. 11] Whitefish, Montana: Hallmark Christmas Movie, With More Mountains Discover the hidden gem of Whitefish, a town nestled amidst majestic mountains and a glistening lake. This picturesque destination offers the perfect backdrop for your peaceful retreat. Immerse yourself in the town's warm charm, support its sustainable practices, and enjoy the great outdoors to your heart's content. Whitefish is like a scene from a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life. 12] Fayetteville, Arkansas: Outdoorsy Awesomeness Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville, a vibrant city embraced by the beauty of the Ozark Mountains, invites you to experience nature at its finest. With a thriving craft beer scene, delectable cuisine, and an abundance of street art, this destination has it all. Discover its breathtaking hills, explore the serene lakes, and immerse yourself in the natural wonders that make Fayetteville a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. (Source : Fifty Grande) Also read | How much does having a wedding in The US cost in 2023? Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee seems to have ceded the responsibility to unite the opposition to her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar. While the robust Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already launched its election campaign for the upcoming assembly polls later this year and the general elections in 2024, the Bihar CM is still struggling to mollify the egos of regional satraps, which has proved to be a major stumbling block in the formation of a unified political force against the BJP. PREMIUM Bihar CM Nitish Kumar (fourth from left) with RJD's Tejaswi Yadav (second from left), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Karnataka government headed by Siddaramaiah (fifth from right), last month. (ANI) The opposition parties have diverse and regional interests. If there is any commonality that binds them, it is their desperation to protect the turf in their own states, not only from the BJP but also from each other, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress have shown in Delhi. Many, like the TMC or the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra are splinter groups of the Congress and would be wary of the latters efforts to regain political space by eating into their share. Nitish Kumar, however, wants the inclusion of Congress for the sustainability and stability of the new opposition front. After all, the Congress recently won the state assembly elections in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh and has governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. AAP, another opposition party with heft, rules Punjab and Delhi even as others like TMC, TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi now known as Bharat Rashtra Samithi), Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) head one state each. Nitish has been travelling across states meeting his counterparts, besides the presidents of regional parties in the past few months. He has met his counterparts K Chandrashekhar Rao in Telangana, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, Hemant Soren in Jharkhand, Naveen Patnaik in Odisha and Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi. He also met party presidents, Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress) Sharad Pawar (NCP) Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) and Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh. Incidentally, Nitish heads a seven-party coalition in his state, which counts the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal as its members. A similar effort to cobble together an opposition platform came to naught in 2019 just before the general elections despite his hectic efforts. Despite that, he is out to construct a political coalition again. Mamata tasked Nitish with creating the JP (Jayaprakash Narayan) movement of the mid-1970s and urged him to convene an all-party meeting in Bihar. The meeting which was supposed to take place on June 12 had to be cancelled due to the prior engagements of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin. The opposition meeting to be held on June 12 has been postponed. Heads of all political parties were supposed to come to the meeting, and it would not be right if any other representative came. So, weve asked the Congress party that the head of the party should come, he said on the sidelines of an event. The new date has now been fixed for June 23. Interestingly, on Nitish's insistence that the heads of political parties should attend the meeting, a galaxy of opposition leaders will land in Patna on the 23rd. They include Kharge as well as former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, as well as the CMs of West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Communist leaders D Raja (CPI) and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) are also expected. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati (UP) has not given her consent as yet. One major contentious issue to hammer out will be the role of the Congress. However, it's a beginning that has activated the BJP to regroup the National Democratic Alliance built in May 1998, and which started shrinking after 2014's grand victory of Narendra Modi. The JP movement The movement started by firebrand socialist leader Jayprakash Narayan began in Bihar with students opposing the policies of the state government in 1974. Thereafter, the movement had reached colleges and campuses across the country. JP was the one whose call for total revolution against the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi resulted in a pan-India public movement that opposed the Emergency that was declared on June 25, 1975. Leaders courted arrest, and people across political ideologies banded together. JP garnered the support of the masses before gathering the political class. JP did not bother about who would join his bandwagon. Instead, he launched a public movement. Nitish, however, finds himself in a Catch-22 situation as the issues of price rise, unemployment, vindictive politics, investigations by Central agencies against opposition leaders and their incarceration arent cutting it as issues for the public to get behind. The parties keen for opposition unity are largely focused on the removal of PM Narendra Modi, who thanks to the campaign that the BJP runs, dwarfs other opposition leaders. If anything it is the fear for survival in Indian politics that is perhaps a stronger propellent for the opposition parties, as they fear Modis return will bring an end to internal democracy and establish electoral autocracy. While the BJP already has a plan in place to ensure victory in the 2024 general elections, many regional parties are on a see-saw, as they have to protect their political territory in their states and make a mark in the national arena. Since they manage the latter singularly, a national front is a must. The United Progressive Alliance was built by Sonia Gandhi after the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. The UPA with allies in the north and the south ruled the country for a decade, till 2014. However, led by the Congress, its revival may not be acceptable to many political parties. Besides Nitish, Mamata and K Chandrashekhar Rao have also tried their hands at knitting opposition unity. But their signals have been mixed. KCR has opposed Congresss entry as it has to face the electorate in Telangana later this year. U.P, the biggest hurdle But it is Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state with 80 Lok Sabha seats, that is the biggest hurdle in opposition unity at the Centre. The Samajwadi Party (SP) leads the opposition space with its arch-rival, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) closely behind. The SP had won five Lok Sabha Seats and polled 17.96% votes while the BSP had bagged 10 seats and polled 19.26% votes in the 2019 parliamentary elections. They had forged an uncomfortable alliance for the polls, which, on paper, looked like a winning formula. However, the SP leaders feel the BSP played into the BJPs hands and sabotaged the party's prospects. Though there is no confirmation or denial, the signals that emanate from the BSP quarter indicate the party's growing rapport with the BJP in the state. However, in the 2022 assembly elections for 403 seats, the SP won 111 seats polling 32.06% votes while the BSP could win just one seat polling 12.88% votes. The Congress tally shrunk to one seat and 6.31% votes in 2019 and two seats and 2.33% votes in the 2022 state assembly elections. The Congress, which has ruled the country for decades and has representation across the country, would like to be the key player in the Lok Sabha elections in which its stakes are higher than those of the regional parties. Then, there are smaller groups like the Rashtriya Lok Dal, whose influence is restricted to West UP. Furthermore, in a caste conscious society, the political parties have to build coalitions of castes to build their winning combinations. Why will bringing them under one banner be a herculean task? This is simply because an alliance experiment among three parties the SP-Congress in the 2017 assembly elections and SP-BSP in 2019 general elections not only failed to yield results, but also created a huge trust deficit among the parties. Second, their vote banks overlap. Lets take the crucial vote bank of 19% Muslims. The SP wants to retain it and the BSP is keen to share it, if not snatch it from the SP. The Congress is desperate to regain it (Muslims used to be their hardcore supporters). In other words, the revival of the Congress would weaken both the SP and the BSP. Another traditional vote bank of the Congress, the 21% Dalit population shifted to the BSP after Mayawati became chief minister for the first time in 1995. Once again, while the BSP is struggling to retain it, the SP is on a poaching spree and the Congress is desperate to win it back. And then the division of the 80-seat Lok Sabha will be contentious. The fact is opposition unity can become a reality if Nitish has a formula to crack it. This explains why the BJP isnt too worried, as this is not an easy task. BJP leader Chandramohan said their strength is the charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the dedication of their booth presidents. On the other hand, the SP, BSP and the RLD combine have represented a large section of the electorate in UP. Over the course of many years, the matter of UFOs has been primarily associated with conjecture, theories of conspiracy, and the realm of science fiction. Nevertheless, in recent times, individuals of credibility and seriousness have begun to address the topic in a more scholarly manner. the Milky Way galaxy star cluster.(AFP) On Sunday, a video was circulated depicting a non-human entity appearing briefly and blinking. The footage revealed a distinct form featuring two large eyes, aligning with the caller's previous description. The caller reported, There's like an 8-foot person beside it and another one is inside and it has big eyes and it's looking at usand it's still there. In the latest video, three men and a woman can be seen attempting to record a so-called the non-human creature. Notably, one of them is armed with a gun. All of them appeared visibly frightened by the presence of this non-human entity inside their truck. There has been no official statement by the A video footage accessed by a local news entity, News Now shows one officer walking into the backyard to investigate and captures a witnesses telling the police, I dont believe in it but what I saw right now, I do believe in it. You guys seem like legit scared so I dont blame you, an officer is heard replying. However, without any concrete evidence Metro police has closed the case with no concrete answers. Meanwhile, in an interview with News Nations, David Charles Grusch, a highly decorated former combat officer in Afghanistan and a veteran of both the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), boldly has claimed, "We are not alone." Grusch, who joined the UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) field in 2019, held a prominent role as a co-leader of the UAP portfolio for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, in April 2023, he made the decision to resign from his position. During the interview, David Charles Grusch explicitly stated, "These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it space-craft if you will. Non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed." He further mentioned that initially, he was skeptical at first. Having a background in physics and working as an intelligence officer, he approached this matter with a strong inclination towards scientific knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the intelligence field. However, numerous senior former intelligence officers, some of whom he had known throughout his entire career, approached him and confided in him about their involvement in a program. They disclosed the name of the program, which was unfamiliar to him. They provided him with oral testimony, documents, and other evidence to support their claims that there was indeed a program that the UAP Task Force was not aware of. David highlighted, They shut the door in my face. They denied me access to these programs. Following this, he claims to have experienced reprisals and retaliations from higher authorities. In response to these actions, the whistleblower reported the situation to the intelligence community inspector general and subsequently filed a formal whistleblower complaint. Extensive classified information regarding covert programs, allegedly involving the retrieval of intact and partially intact crafts of non-human origin, has been provided by the whistleblower to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General. As a result, Congress has initiated hearings to investigate the nature of these unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and assess the potential threats they may pose. Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, Scott Bray, proclaims If UAP do indeed represent a potential threat to our security, then the capabilities, systems, processes and sources we use to observe and study or analyze these phenomena need to be classified at appropriate levels. At least 13 people were stabbed, shot or struck by fleeing cars at a huge Syracuse street party where hundreds of people were gathered on Sunday, June 11. Partgoers were gathered on the 100 block of Davis Street in the citys west side. Syracuse police spokesman Lt. Matthew Malinowski confirmed in a press release that gunfire erupted at 12:22 am. It is still unclear whether the stabbings and car accidents took place before or after the gunshots rang out (Getty Images) Police arrived to find a massive gathering in the street in the area of Davis Street and Massena Street, and discover that multiple people had been either hit by fleeing vehicles, stabbed, or shot. All the victims belong in the age group of 17 to 25. Police said the 13 victims "were either located at the scene or an area hospital," according to Fox News. Among the victims is a woman, 20, who was shot on the right hip. A 22-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the hip and midsection, while a man, 20, was shot on the forearm. A 23-year-old woman was found with laceration to the hand, while another woman, 19, suffered one to the head. Apart from them, a 25-year-old woman suffered several lacerations to the leg and arm. A boy, 17, had a laceration to his hand. A 24-year-old woman suffered A 24-year-old after being hit by a vehicle, following which she fell to the ground. Another 23-year-old woman who was struck by a fleeing car suffered abrasions to the side and foot. Another woman, 22, was hit by a vehicle, as a result of which she suffered abrasions to the midsection. It is still unclear whether the stabbings and car accidents took place before or after the gunshots rang out. "The investigation is very active and ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Syracuse Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (315) 442-5222," Malinowski said. Police have yet to confirm whether arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile confirmed that the crowd gathered for the party included high schoolers, recent high school graduates and college students who had come home from the summer, according to New York Post. No permit had been issued for the party. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The global nuclear weapons stockpile is at an all-time high, a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) revealed estimating that there are 12,512 nuclear warheads in the world, up 86 from a year ago. Of these 9,756 are military stockpiles, ready for use at any moment while the number of deployed warheads- 3,844- was also up from the 3,732 warheads, a year ago. Chinese president Xi Jinping(AFP) Among nuclear powers, Russia and the US make up almost 90 per cent of the nuclear warhead arsenal. Moscow leads the chart with 4,489 warheads while Washington has 3,708 warheads. Both countries have more than 1,000 warheads, previously retired from military service. We are approaching, or maybe have already reached, the end of a long period of the number of nuclear weapons worldwide declining, Sipri director Dan Smith said. The numbers are estimated as nearly every country has reduced their level of transparency with respect to nuclear warheads information, the report said. China holds 60 of the new warheads- increasing its stockpile from 350 to 410 warheads within a year. China has started a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal. It is increasingly difficult to square this trend with Chinas declared aim of having only the minimum nuclear forces needed to maintain its national security," Hans M Kristensen, an associate senior fellow with Sipris weapons of mass destruction programme told The Guardian. After 30 years of the number of nuclear warheads coming down, the process has come to an end now and the trend reversed, the thinktank observed. 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 Sunday night's Tony Awards took an unexpected turn when Denee Benton, a prominent Broadway actress, compared Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a Ku Klux Klan leader during her onstage presentation. As she presented the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, Benton, a Florida native, made the controversial remark that sparked outrage and applause from the left-leaning crowd. Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at an event held by the Never Back Down PAC in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, June 10, 2023. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman via AP)(AP) Benton, known for her roles in hit Broadway shows like "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812" and "Hamilton," used the moment to deliver a political attack on DeSantis, drawing attention to his controversial policies and actions. Her comments were made without the assistance of a script, as the Tony Awards proceeded amid an ongoing writers' strike. While introducing the award winner, Benton took a jab at the Republican governor, saying, "And while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard Im sorry, excuse me, governor of my home state of Florida I'm sure that he will be changing the name of the following town immediately." The mention of Plantation, Florida, prompted cheers and applause from the audience. DeSantis, who recently announced his presidential bid, has not yet responded to Benton's remarks on his social media channels. His tenure as governor has been marked by controversy and opposition, particularly from civil rights advocates. In 2019, he signed the highly criticized "Don't Say Gay" bill, and he retaliated against Walt Disney Co. when the company expressed criticism by eliminating a special tax district around Walt Disney World. The NAACP previously issued a travel advisory for Florida, citing concerns about DeSantis's policies and their impact on marginalized communities. The advisory claimed that the state is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. It accused Florida of devaluing their contributions and challenges. This is not the first time the Tony Awards have become a platform for personal political attacks. In 2018, Robert De Niro famously yelled "F--- Trump!" during his onstage appearance, receiving thunderous applause. DeSantis has consistently waded into the culture wars, particularly regarding education and parental rights. He recently signed SB 266, which restricts state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public universities and grants more authority to university presidents over hiring practices. The bill aligns with his fight against what he perceives as "woke" influences in education. With his presidential campaign underway, DeSantis has pledged to continue his battle against the so-called "war on woke." As for Benton, her Tony Awards remarks have undoubtedly added fuel to the fiery political discourse surrounding DeSantis and his policies, further highlighting the deep divisions within the country. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued an order to local authorities banning suicides as data showed numbers skyrocketing, according to government officials who spoke to Radio Free Asia. The exact figures were not revealed as a shroud of secrecy covers Pyongyang's data. But South Korean intelligence intelligence estimated in May that suicides in North Korea had increased by about 40% from the previous year. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (AP) In the directive, Kim Jong Un called suicide an "act of treason against socialism" stating that local government officials would be held jointly accountable for failing to prevent people from killing themselves in their jurisdiction, the report claimed. The order was also mentioned in a series of emergency meetings in North Korean provinces, an official from the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told Radio Free Asia. Moreover, data on the number of suicides was provided as well as examples of entire families killing themselves was given, the official claimed adding that those who attended the meeting were shocked by the disclosure of suicide notes that criticized the country and the social system. Another official from Ryanggang told Radio Free Asia that suicide was effecting the community more than starvation. "Despite the suicide-prevention policy ratified by the General Secretary, the officials were not able to come up with an appropriate solution. Most of the suicides were caused by severe poverty and starvation, so no one can come up with a countermeasure right now," the official said. According to 2019 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 8.2 suicides for every 100,000 people in North Korea. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Milan: Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister who reshaped Italys political and cultural landscape while fending off multiple legal and sex scandals, has died aged 86, his spokesman confirmed on Monday. Silvio Berlusconi comes out of a voting booth before casting his ballot at a polling station in Milan, Italy, on September 25, 2022. (AP) The billionaire media mogul was admitted to a Milan hospital on Friday for what aides said were pre-planned tests related to his leukaemia. His admission came just three weeks after he was discharged following a six-week stay at Milans San Raffaele hospital, during which time doctors revealed he had a rare type of blood cancer. Berlusconi had suffered ill health for years, from heart surgery in 2016 to a 2020 hospitalisation for coronavirus. Despite being re-elected to the Senate last year, he was rarely seen in public. But he remained the official head of his right-wing Forza Italia party, a junior and occasionally troublesome partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis coalition government. Berlusconi led Italy three times between 1994 and 2011, for a total of nine years, wooing voters with a promise of economic success only to be forced out as a debt crisis gripped his country. But his influence extended well beyond politics, thanks to his extensive TV, newspaper and sporting interests, while his playboy antics kept him in the headlines even in his final years. He is survived by his 33-year-old girlfriend, Marta Fascina, two ex-wives and five children, some of whom help run his empire, recently estimated to be worth some $7 billion. While it is too soon for details of his funeral, Berlusconi built a Pharaoh-inspired marble mausoleum at his villa in Arcore, near Milan, to house his family and friends when they die. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Swedish climate activist publicly criticised Russian president's unprovoked full-scale invasion in Ukraine and the effect it has had on the environment as last week the Kakhovka dam was destroyed by an explosion, prompting an uncontrolled rush of water that broke the banks of the Dnipro river in southern Ukraine. Flooding from the breached dam resulted in draining of Ukraines largest drinking water reservoir. Greta Thunberg: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is seen.(AFP) The climate activist tweeted, This ecocide as a continuation of Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine is yet another atrocity which leaves the world lost for words. Our eyes are once again on Russia who must be held accountable for their crimes. Read more: Last Indian journalist in China asked to leave this month Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian terrorists of destroying the dam, while Moscow said that it was a Kyiv-instructed sabotage. It was planned in advance and purposefully by the Kyiv regime for military purposes as part of the so-called 'counteroffensive' of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian defence ministry said in a statement. Responding to Greta Thunberg's tweet, Zelensky wrote, Thank you for your position and for upholding the truth @GretaThunberg! Russia must be held accountable for all its evil against people, life and nature! On her 251st week of Friday school strikes for climate, Greta Thunberg graduated from her school announcing that she will no longer be able to school strike for the climate" while reassuring her followers that she will continue to protest on Fridays, even though its not technically school striking We simply have no other option than to do everything we possibly can. The fight has only just begun," Greta Thunberg added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US president Joe Biden will skip an event on his public schedule to undergo his second root canal procedure in two days as he reported dental pain, the White House said. The US president reported dental pain on Sunday, prompting an examination and a root canal that day, his physician informed as per news agency Reuters. US president Joe Biden seen in Washington, DC.(AFP) But as Joe Biden experienced more pain this morning, which his physician Kevin O'Connor had said was anticipated, his medical team planned to "complete the president's root canal today, at the White House." Owing to this, the White House canceled Joe Biden's appearance at an event on Monday morning celebrating college athletes. More details about Joe Biden's schedule will be announced later, the White House said in a statement. Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and host a reception for chiefs of mission but it remained unclear whether those events would still take place. 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 It has been reported that King Charles III was sad and bewildered by the legal actions his son Prince Harry launched against a British newspaper group. Charles also reportedly claimed he was saddened by the attacks Harry continuously launched on the UKs institutions. Prince Harry and King Charles ((Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / POOL / AFP, REUTERS/Toby Melville) Harry is, at present, entangled in a lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers. He alleged that the newspaper group used illegal phone hacking to publish various stories about him between 1996 and 2011. Last week, Harrys 55-page witness statement was released. He said in the statement that in his opinion, the state of the press and government in England was at rock bottom, according to The Sunday Times. A source close to the palace has now revealed to the news outlet that Charles was distressed about Harrys continued acquisitions against his royal kin. 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, the source reportedly said. Harry did not meet Charles or his brother, Prince William, when he recently visited the UK to testify in his case. It was reported that he was not even invited to his fathers 75th birthday parade to be held later this week. A palace insider claimed that Harry has not provided any definitive evidence that journalists at the newspaper group used phone hacking practices. 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, the source, who is close to the prince, said. 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 s**t government, the source added. King Charles was praised for being more approachable than the late Queen Elizabeth in a new survey conducted by former Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft. Many felt sorry for the monarch as his private life had in fact been anything but private, the survey showed. The respondents also believed that King Charles had a hard act to follow as late Queen Elizabeth won worldwide respect and admiration in a way that the new monarch would simply be unable to match, the report stated. King Charles III is seen. (Reuters) Despite the familiarity of the Queen, many realised that they actually knew more about King Charles than they did about his mother: 'weve watched him grow up', as several observed. They talked about his active interest in areas including conservation and the environment, farming, architecture, his stewardship of the Duchy Estate and work to spread opportunity through the Princes Trust, the survey said. The survey also conducted 44 focus groups with people of different backgrounds in the UK and in eight of the so-called "Commonwealth realms": Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. People had sympathy for King Charles over his turbulent personal life saying, "I thought it was really sad that he didnt have time to actually grieve. Then people are slagging him off for getting irritated with a pen. The man was just exhausted and in mourning for his mother." A commentator from England said, The Queen was able to grow into the role and there was a bit of mystique, because there were just newspapers, not 24/7 social media, so things could be kept under wraps while another from Northern Ireland said, "The Queen was more of a seen-and-not-heard sort of person. Because I grew up with Charles and because he was Prince of Wales, hes more approachable and I suppose more tangible." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The last Indian journalist in China has been asked to leave, as Beijing and New Delhi eject each others reporters in a tit-for-tat row deepening a rift between the Asian economic powerhouses. Chinese authorities have instructed the Press Trust of India reporter to leave the country this month, according to a person familiar with the matter. (Bloomberg) Chinese authorities have instructed the Press Trust of India reporter to leave the country this month, according to a person familiar with the matter. His departure will wipe Indias media presence from the worlds second largest economy at a moment of deteriorating ties. Indian media outlets had four reporters based in China earlier this year. The Hindustan Times reporter left over the weekend, while two Indian journalists from public broadcaster Prasar Bharati and The Hindu newspaper were denied visa renewals in China in April. Chinas foreign ministry and Indias Ministry of External Affairs did not reply to requests for comment. Last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said there was one Chinese journalist left in India, who was still awaiting renewal of their visa. Earlier, New Delhi rejected visa renewal applications from two journalists from Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. Indias Foreign Ministry said earlier this month that Chinese reporters had been operating in the South Asian country without any difficulty, but this was not the case for Indian journalists in China. Both countries were in touch over the issue, it added. The visa spat started a few months ago over Indian journalists hiring assistants in China to help with reporting, according to Indian officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the situation. Beijing imposed measures limiting employment to three individuals at a time who must come from a pool provided by the Chinese authorities, they said. India doesnt have a cap on hiring. Relations between Beijing and New Delhi have been tense since a deadly brawl on their shared Himalayan frontier in 2020. China has since sought to keep that dispute separate from the overall relationship and focus on trade and economic ties, but India has said relations cannot go back to normal until the border issue is resolved. The visa rejections come as India hosts the Group of Twenty and the Chinese-founded Shanghai Cooperation Dialogue meetings this year. Xi is expected to attend the G-20 leaders summit in September as China looks to build its diplomatic and political presence globally. China and the US have also been in a years-long dispute over journalist visas. After the Trump administration designated a handful of Chinese media companies as foreign missions and put caps on the number of Chinese journalists in the country, Beijing responded by revoking press credentials for reporters at US media companies. In 2020, two Australian journalists based in China fled the country as diplomatic tensions worsened between the two nations. The two men were initially banned from leaving and spent five days under consular protection until Australian diplomats could negotiate their departure. That year, Beijing accused Canberra of raiding the homes of Chinese state-media staff and seizing their property. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jocelyn Chia, a stand-up comedian, performed a routine at the Comedy Cellar in Manhattan during the spring. This routine had been a consistent part of her sets for over a year and focused on the historical tension between Singapore, her hometown, and neighboring Malaysia. Jocelyn Chia, a stand-up comedian. (tweeter ) However, when Chia and the comedy club shared a clip from her 7th April performance on TikTok and Instagram this week, it triggered a strong negative reaction. The 89-second video featured Chia engaging in banter with an audience member who identified himself as Malaysian who was furious over Chia making a remark about the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in 2014.The fate of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has never been definitively determined, although occasional findings of debris, suspected to be associated with the aircraft, have been made. She began by implying that since Singapore and Malaysia separated in 1965, Singapore had progressed to become a first-world country, while insinuating that Malaysia had stayed as a "developing" nation. Following that, she targeted Malaysian airplanes by suggesting their inability to fly before making what many interpreted as a reference to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. "Singapore says "why haven't you visited me in 40 years?" and you're (Malaysia) like yeah, I tried, but you know, my airplanes cannot fly!, she said. With a humorous tone, she quipped, "What? Malaysia Airlines going missing not funny, huh?" eliciting laughter from the audience, and concluded with her punchline, Some jokes don't land. Chia's social media accounts were inundated with comments from angry Malaysians expressing their discontent. TikTok even removed a clip of her joke, deeming it as "hateful behavior" and a violation of their community guidelines. The Minister for Foreign Affairs in Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan, tweeted condemning Chia's remarks and issuing an apology on behalf of her "horrendous comments." In a tweet, he made it clear that her views did not represent the sentiments of Singaporeans. Chia mentioned that the Malaysian audience often approached her after her shows to express their enjoyment of her performance, indicating that they did not take offense to her jokes. The joke has sparked significant controversy in both Malaysia and Singapore, gaining widespread attention after it went viral online in recent days. In Malaysia, the youth wing of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), one of the country's largest political parties, organized a march to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday to protest what they perceive as an insult. Meanwhile, Singapore has distanced itself from Chia, who, according to her website, is originally from the city-state in Asia. The Singaporean authorities have offered apologies to Malaysia in light of the incident. Singapore's High Commissioner, Vanu Gopala Menon, made a statement to Malaysia emphasizing that The Singapore Government does not condone words or actions that cause harm or hurt to others and Chia, who is no longer Singaporean. He further emphasized(Chia) does not in any way reflect our views. Menon expressed that Chia's joke contained "gratuitously offensive comments" and offered a sincere apology to all Malaysians for the hurtful nature of her remarks. After seeing such criticism, she says Im in no way canceled in America, in any sense of the word, she said. Now people want to come see me. 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. Despite facing criticism, Chia stated that she has not faced any form of cancellation in the United States and, in fact, has seen an increase in interest from people wanting to attend her shows. She maintained her stance on the joke but acknowledged that presenting it as a standalone clip outside of the comedy club context was a risky decision upon reflection. Chia highlighted that Singaporeans and Malaysians have historically shared a friendly rivalry, which was the basis of her joke. She emphasized that she holds no grudge against Malaysia and explained that it is a common practice for comedians to engage in light-hearted "roasting" of their live audience. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said that theres a certain sense of urgency and responsibility to seize AI-driven tech opportunity to help Britain become the best country in tech business as he spoke at the London Tech Week 2023 UKs biggest tech conference. Talking about his goal to improve the UK visa process, Rishi Sunak said that the country has to act quickly to retain its position as one of the worlds tech capitals. Investing in newer technologies including AI, quantum, synthetic biology, and semiconductors is one of his priorities to grow the UKs economy, he said. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the London Technology Week.(AP) I believe the UK can achieve this goal because we start from a position of strength. Weve created 134 unicorns in the last decade third in the world, behind only the US and China. Were one of the most digitally literate societies in the world, with a higher percentage of STEM graduates than the US and 4 of the worlds top 10 universities, Rishi Sunak said. Its this government thats building the most pro-investment tax regime, thats increasing public R&D investment to record levels and thats making our visa system for international talent one of the most competitive in the world. Were overhauling our listing rules to make it easier for companies to raise public funding, and changing our pensions rules to unlock new private capital," he added. I created a new department focused on science, innovation, and technology with a mission to do things differently - from bringing in world-leading experts to taking more risks in support of innovation.And when the moment came, it was this government that acted to rescue Silicon Valley Bank," the UK PM continued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry revealed that he feared he would be "ousted from the royals" over rumours that Major James Hewitt was his father. This comes as the Duke of Sussex made a series of shock claims during the phone hacking trial against the Mirror Group papers. Prince Harry reflected on his his life during his teens and 20s talking about his struggles at school, his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy and media scrutiny. Prince Harry and King Charles.(AFP) As the judge told Prince Harry he cannot discuss evidence with anyone, Prince Harry joked, Not my children, my lord? I may well be Facetiming them. But in his submission, he struck a sombre note as he talked about his fears over rumours that King Charles was not his father. I feared that my biological father was James Hewitt which could oust me from the royal family, Prince Harry said, adding that he hadn't realised until he was 30 years old that Major Hewitt only met his mother Princess Diana after Prince Harry was born. At the time, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born. This timeline is something I only learnt of in around 2014," he said, continuing that the rumours were "very damaging and very real to me". "They were hurtful, mean and cruel," he said, adding that he feared they would put "doubt in the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the Royal Family". During the trial, Prince Harry said that he struggled at school saying that he was labelled "the thicko, the cheat, the underage drinker, the 'irresponsible drug taker'" during his teenage years. I thought that I may as well do the crime, so to speak. Eton had a zero drugs policy in place, and I was extremely worried I was going to be expelled, he said before launching an attack at the UK government which he claimed was at "rock bottom". Democracy fails when the government is not held accountable, he asserted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince William and Kate Middleton did not choose to go to a royal family favourite hotel ahead of King Charles' coronation. Instead, the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly chose to stay at a bed and breakfast which a royal expert said was a great decision. The couple headed to Wales shortly before King Charles IIIs official crowning as rather than booking accommodations somewhere with royal family ties, they wanted to stay at a local place. Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales is seen. (Reuters) William and Kate stayed at a bed and breakfast for two days during two days of public appearances and spent their time ordering pizza for locals and abseiling with mountain rescue workers. The couple have made multiple visits to Wales since becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales. Royal expert Jennie Bond said that the couples bed and breakfast visit hinted at the future. This is a really great decision by Prince William to support the local economy and is exactly what a forward-thinking and progressive future king should do, Jennie Bond told OK! Magazine. Gestures like this show that William and Catherine plan to do things differently to keep the monarchy in tune with modern society. And, vitally, keeps William in touch with ordinary people who are struggling with everyday problems," Jennie Bond said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry alleged that press intrusion led to his split from ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, a Zimbabwean businesswoman whom he dated from 2004 to 2011, during the second day of questioning in his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for alleged phone hacking. Prince Harry blamed the prying eyes of the tabloids for their breakup saying in his witness statement, Our relationship was long distance for the majority of the time we were together, with Chelsy and I often living in different countries, so we relied on communicating by phone a lot." Britain's Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy attend the friendly international rugby union match between England and Australia at Twickenham in London on November 7, 2009. (File) We, naturally, spoke about all types of personal matters, including all aspects of our relationship and this was often through voicemail, he said, adding, As my girlfriend, I trusted Chelsy with the most private of information and visa versa. Prince Harry accused MGN of blagging the couples flight details and hotel bookings as well as intercepting their voicemails. We were never on our own and able to enjoy each others company away from the prying eyes of the tabloids. This put a huge amount of unnecessary stress and strain on our relationship," Prince Harry said. At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately trying to ruin it using whatever unlawful means at their disposal," he continued. Heres everything you need to know about Chelsy Davy: Chelsy Davy is a businesswoman hailing from Zimbabwe. She was born in the African nation and grew up on her familys game reserve. She spent her teenage years in UK attending boarding school at Cheltenham College, before later moving to Stowe School. She then received a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Cape Town in 2006 and a law degree from the University of Leeds in 2009. Chelsy Davy and Prince Harry dated on and off for seven years, between 2004 and 2011. They met in Cape Town in 2004 during his gap year. After meeting, the pair began dating and she took on a degree in law at the University of Leeds. Chelsy Davy was also seen at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where Prince Harry completed 44 weeks of training in 2005. She was reported to have met Queen Elizabeth at a society wedding during the time the couple dated. She was also invited to the then-Prince Charless 60th birthday. In Prince Harrys tell-all memoir Spare, the royal wrote that he warmed to Chelsy Davy because she seemed wholly unconcerned with appearances or royalty. Unlike so many girls I met, she wasnt visibly fitting herself for a crown the moment she shook my hand. She seemed immune to that common affliction sometimes called throne syndrome, Prince Harry wrote. In 2017, Chelsy Davy talked about the press attention she received while with Prince Harry saying, It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldnt cope. I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Andrew, the controversial royal figure, is refusing to leave his Windsor home, Royal Lodge, during roof repairs, fearing the possibility of permanent eviction. Despite concerns about the logistical challenges of staying in the house during renovations, Andrew is determined to remain in his residence, raising eyebrows and creating a farcical situation within the royal family. Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York.(AFP) The prince, who shares the property with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, reportedly paid for the roof repairs himself. However, Andrew's apprehension stems from his worry that he won't be able to afford the maintenance costs of Royal Lodge once his annual allowance of 249,000 ($311,000) from his brother, King Charles, is cut. A source revealed to the Daily Mail, "It's become farcical. Andrew has roof repairs scheduled later this summer which will take several months to complete, and he has been advised that staying in the house during those renovations could prove problematic. But he is reluctant to leave." In a twist of fate, Andrew believed that he could stay in the property because his name was on the lease with the Crown Estate, rather than being tied to the royal family. However, the saga of Andrew and Royal Lodge has been an ongoing topic of discussion for months. The rumored plan is for King Charles to relocate Andrew to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, currently occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, once their lease expires in July. As part of this royal property shuffle, Prince William and Kate Middleton have reportedly been lined up to move into the grandeur of the 30-bedroom, grade II listed Royal Lodge, a significant upgrade from their current residence, the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Windsor. Insiders close to the royals previously speculated that Andrew would eventually yield and vacate Royal Lodge, suggesting that his public statements about not leaving were merely strategic moves to secure a better deal. A friend of King Charles shared with The Daily Beast, "In the end, Andrew will play ball. The house is far too big and expensive for him to run without the king's support and goodwill. The speculation is that he is 'on maneuvers' and trying to get a better deal." A confidant of Prince William dismissed the notion that Andrew could cling to Royal Lodge, emphasizing that the house's upkeep is exorbitant and beyond Andrew's financial means. The friend quipped, "It's a hugely expensive house to run, and he doesn't have any money, so if they want him out, he'll have to go." Contrary to the media's portrayal, sources reveal that Prince William and Kate Middleton are not pressuring Andrew to leave and are content with their current residence in Adelaide Cottage. The couple remains uninvolved in the tense standoff over Royal Lodge, leaving the final decision to be determined by the royal powers that be. Also read | Prince William's video taking a dig at Prince Harry and Meghan after Prince Archie's birth resurfaces amid royal rift The fate of Prince Andrew's occupancy of Royal Lodge hangs in the balance, with the ongoing roof repairs serving as a metaphorical storm cloud above his head. As the situation unfolds, royal watchers eagerly anticipate the resolution of this regal conundrum and the eventual outcome of the property shuffle within the Windsor walls. Trooping Colour, the official ceremony to celebrate the British monarch's birthday, will take place next week on June 17. As Prince William is actively preparing to take part in the military parade, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are in for another disappointment. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not been invited to the parade, Dail Mail reported. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen. (AP) The event is marked every year in mid-June on the second Saturday of the month to celebrate the birthday of the reigning monarch. For Prince Harry, this will be the first time he has not been invited to this celebration. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II had invited the Sussexes to attend the ceremony. What is Trooping The Colour? Trooping The Colour has been an official celebration since 1748 and began during the reign of King George II of Hanover to commemorate the sovereign's birthday. Its name is a reference to the parade of line infantry battalions, trooping around their colors and the ceremony has been held every year since 1820. This comes as Prince Harry was in the UK recently for the phone hacking trial that he and several other prominent figures brought against Mirror Group Newspapers. It was reported that he did not meet his father King Charles or brother Prince William during his visit to his home country. "I'm afraid it's a reflection of the state of relations at the moment" a source told the Daily Mail on Prince Harry not being sent out an invitation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The head of Wagner Group hit back at the Russian defense ministry as the spat between the country's military and mercenary organizations in Ukraine widens. The Russian defense ministry said "volunteer formations" would need to sign contracts with Moscow by July 1, sanctioned by defense minister Sergei Shoigu. The move is designed to increase the effectiveness of the Russian armed forces, the ministry said in a statement. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian president Vladimir Putin.(Reuters) The decree will likely target paramilitaries like Wagner Group- that plays a crucial role in Russian operations in eastern Ukraine especially Bakhmut. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin- previously nicknamed Putin's chef"- has been engaged in a long-running dispute with the Russian defense ministry and Moscow's military commanders. Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has become a vocal critic of the Russian establishment said, "Those orders and decrees that Shoigu forms, they apply to employees of the Ministry of Defense and to military personnel. The Wagner Group "will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," he continued adding that the mercenary organisation "coordinates its action" with the Russian military and "has the deepest experience" with a "highly effective structure." "Shoigu cannot manage military formations," Yevgeny Prigozhin added. Earlier, he had accused Shoigu and Russia's top commander general Valery Gerasimov of "high treason" by denying the group the resources it needed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Millions of Chinese soldiers are "needed" to fight in Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Russian state TV host Olga Skabeyeva said as Kyiv launched its long-awaited counteroffensive. China has been a major ally to the Russian president after he launched his "special military operation" on Ukraine last February. Russian president Vladimir Putin is seen. (Reuters) As Russia's military grapples with Ukraine's latest attempt, Olga Skabeyeva, host of the Russian TV program 60 Minutes, offered one solution to bolster the country's military. Calling for millions of Chinese troops to join the Russia-Ukraine war, Olga Skabeyeva pointed to the recent battles in Russia's Belgorod region where Vladimir Putin's forces reportedly struggled. "Don't dismiss two or three million Chinese soldiers. That's what is needed now. I look at Belgorod region and think how much we lack a Chinese people's liberation army," she said. Video of her remarks was translated and posted to Twitter by Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs. China has not indicated that it plans to send troops into Russia but Beijing and Moscow have deepened their ties since the beginning of the war. In April, Vladimir Putin highlighted military cooperation with China during a meeting in Moscow. "We are working actively through our military departments, regularly exchange useful information, work together in the field of military-technical cooperation, and hold joint exercises," Vladimir Putin said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former commander of separatist forces in Ukraine's Donbas region Igor Girkin condemned Russian president Vladimir Putin comparing him to an Egyptian mummy. Igor Girkin, also known as Strelkov, who rose to prominence after 2014, has repeatedly condemns the Russian military and Putin for how they are conducting Ukraine's invasion. Russian president Vladimir Putin.(AFP) In a video tweeted by Ukrainian internal affairs adviser, Anton Gerashchenko, Igor Girkin appeared to read out a question about whether the Russian president was able to break his promise not to kill Zelensky. Smirking, the blogger said that "based on Putin's behavior, the question that I have is, is there Putin at all?" How is it possible, the supreme-commander-in-chief withdrew himself from the war? People from his inner circle are openly fighting among themselves and undermining the stability of the front with their actions, but he does not react in any way, Igor Girkin said. "And where is he anyway?" he asked, saying that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov always insists "that something is being reported to him." Well, you can also report to mummies, he added saying "a mummy lies" and "the mummy is silent," concluding that "the outcome is clear." "This is what the behavior of the supreme commander-in-chief looks like in our country," he said. This comes as Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive had started but Kyiv did not reach their aims in any area of combat. Meanwhile, Ukraine's forces said that they had made advances on parts of the frontline near Bakhmut. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An overpass on one of America's busiest highways collapsed early Sunday after a tanker crossing underneath burst into flames, Pennsylvania's governor said, predicting it will take months to fully restore the "critical artery." Firefighters work at a collapsed portion of Interstate 95, caused by a large vehicle fire, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 2023.(AFP) Governor Josh Shapiro said at an afternoon press briefing that surprisingly no one traveling along Interstate 95 above the blaze had been injured, but that authorities were working to "identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire" below. With roughly 160,000 vehicles per day passing through that section of highway in northeastern Philadelphia, according to the state's transportation secretary, the collapse is likely to lead to major traffic delays just as the summer holiday season gets underway. Interstate 95 (I-95) connects major cities along the US East Coast from Maine to southern Florida. Shapiro said that the northbound side of the road had completely collapsed in the fire, while the southbound lanes had been deemed structurally unsound. A "complete rebuild" is expected to take a "number of months," he said. "This is a major artery for people and goods, and the closure will have significant impacts on the city and region," US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on Twitter, adding that his office will "be there with support throughout the process of I-95 returning to normal." Shapiro said he will sign a disaster declaration on Monday to help free up funds for the repairs. Local media reported that Philadelphia police as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were looking for the driver of the vehicle associated with the fire, whose whereabouts are unknown. An ATF spokesman told AFP that its Philadelphia field division "is supporting the investigation" and referred additional inquiries to the fire department. The fire department declined to comment. 'Remarkable devastation' The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation and been in touch with local authorities to offer assistance. Television images showed flames and billowing smoke coming from the crumbled section of I-95 in the northeastern city's Tacony neighborhood, with parts of the elevated roadway having fallen onto the lanes below. Shapiro told the press conference he had taken an aerial survey of the damage, describing it as "remarkable devastation." "I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died," he said. The fire started around 6:20 am (1020 GMT), he said, when Sunday traffic is typically light, though videos showed drivers on the highway trying to navigate the unfolding disaster in real time. Residents told local media outlets that they heard several explosions, which Battalion Chief Derek Bowmer of the Philadelphia Fire Department said earlier in the day were coming from underground, caused by runoff from the truck. Authorities said they were rushing to increase capacity on public transit in the area to help commuters, and evaluating different options for longer-term detours around the collapsed section. That portion of I-95 runs nearby the Delaware River, but local officials said the wreckage did not pose any environmental threats to the water. "I hope it's clear to everyone to here that every agency -- local, state and federal -- are working together to address this," said Shapiro. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian PM who bounced back from sex scandals and corruption allegations, dies at 86, news agency AFP reported quoting Italian media. He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan after he was admitted on Friday for what aides said were pre-planned tests related to his leukemia just three weeks after he was discharged following a six-week stay at the hospital. Former Italian PM and leader of the right-wing party Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi.(AFP) Doctors had then revealed that he had a rare type of blood cancer. But the former Italian premier suffered ill health for years- heart surgery in 2016 to a 2020 hospitalisation for coronavirus. Silvio Berlusconi's death leaves a "huge void" because he was a great man, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Twitter, adding, I loved him very much. Farewell Silvio. Silvio Berlusconi remained the official head of his right-wing Forza Italia party, a junior partner in Italy prime minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition government. He became the prime minister of Italy three times between 1994 and 2011, for a total of nine years. He is survived by his 33-year-old girlfriend Marta Fascina, two ex-wives and five children. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The link between Afghanistans Taliban regime and al-Qaeda remains strong and symbiotic and the setup in Kabul has not delivered on counter-terrorism provisions under the Doha Agreement signed with the US, according to a new UN report. The reports of the UN sanctions monitoring team is based on inputs and reports from UN member states. (File image) The report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN Security Council states that al-Qaeda is rebuilding operational capability and that groups of foreign terrorist fighters are projecting threat across Afghanistans borders. The report also highlights reports of serious differences between the Taliban leadership based in Kandahar and ministers in Kabul. In a statement issued on Sunday, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid described the UN report issued on June 5 as biased and far from reality, and especially pushed back against the reported differences and disagreement between the Taliban leadership. He also claimed the accusation that Afghanistan has become a safe haven for terrorists as baseless propaganda. Also Read: Over 2.5 million girls deprived of education in Afghanistan: US special envoy The reports of the UN sanctions monitoring team is based on inputs and reports from UN member states, including countries located in the neighbourhood. The latest report repeats concerns that have been part of similar reports submitted by sanctions monitoring teams since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. The link between the Taliban and both Al-Qaida 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 new report stated. While the Afghan Taliban have sought to reduce the profile of these terror groups and conducted operations against the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIL-K or ISKP), 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, the report said. 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 added. The report was silent on the presence of fighters from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on Afghan soil which has figured in other recent reports from UN sanctions monitoring teams but said the presence of foreign terrorist fighters harboured by the Taliban has become an increasing security threat to many neighbouring countries. People familiar with the matter said hundreds of LeT and JeM fighters are still in Afghanistan. They also described JeM as a more potent threat to Indian interests across the region. The anxiety about foreign fighters 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, according to the report. The report said, that single event speaks volumes as to the credibility of Taliban commitments to break with terrorist groups as stated in the Doha Agreement. The report provides considerable details of reported differences between the Talibans supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who is based in Kandahar, and leaders in Kabul such as acting interior minister and leader of the Haqqani Network, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and the acting first deputy prime minister, Mullah Baradar. Leaders such as Baradar, who back efforts for the Taliban to gain international recognition and to expand foreign aid, are becoming increasingly frustrated with the centralisation of power in Kandahar and over key policy decisions, such as the ban on girls education, the report said. These political differences surfaced on February 16 with a speech by Sirajuddin Haqqani criticising Hibatullah and similar comments were made by acting defence minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqub Omari. Since Sirajuddins speech, Hibatullah further heightened his own security in Kandahar [and already] limited access to Hibatullah has become even more tightly controlled, the report said. Although the Taliban remain cohesive, the existence of divisions within the Taliban has created preconditions for the weakening of the de facto regime. At the same time, ongoing struggles for power among various factional leaders are further destabilising the situation, to the point where an outbreak of armed conflict between rival factions is a manifest risk, according to the report. Member States judged that Taliban unity is likely to prevail, some predicting for at least 1224 months. States in the region were concerned about the risk of a return to civil war should current Taliban policies continue, it added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Deciding to settle in a new city is always a scary thought. Leaving the familiarity of your city and shifting to a new place can be tough as your happiness ends up depending on the kindness of strangers. The new place could make you happy but it might also make you miss home if the city ends up being one of the world's unfriendliest. Petrifying, right? Dark clouds above India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) In a recent ranking of the Community Spirit Index, the names of the top friendliest cities in the world and the unfriendliest ones have been revealed. The lists have been prepared with 53 cities from different corners of the world and 6 metrics have been considered for the ranking. Lets find out which are these cities! Most friendly cities in the world Toronto and Sydney are the No. 1 friendliest cities as per Preply which prepared the Community Spirit Index that solely focuses on different global cities and how non-natives find these places to be. Both Toronto and Sydney have scored a friendliness score of 7.97 out of 10. The top 10 friendliest cities in the world are: Toronto Sydney Edinburgh Manchester New York Montreal Melbourne San Francisco Dublin Copenhagen Mumbai and Delhi among the worlds least friendly cities Accra in Ghana was ranked as the least friendly city in the world for non-natives, with a friendliness score of just 3.12 out of 10. Marrakech in Morocco ranks at 2 as the second least friendly city in the world with a score of 3.69, followed by Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Rio de Janeiro, and Delhi. Mumbai has 3.91 per cent friendly staff while Delhi has 3.27 per cent, according to the index. Mumbai scored 3.78 for happiness while Delhi was at 4.01. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON London: Artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, a topic that has been much debated, is poised to see decisive progress in the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, while inaugurating the tenth edition of the London Tech Week on Monday, said the UK will take the lead in regulating AI. This is one of the three big missions Sunak listed, including focus on researching and building AI safeguards as well as deploying AI solutions including a 900 million investment in compute technology and 2.5 billion in quantum. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) speaks during the London Technology Week at the QEII Centre in London, on Monday. (AP) AI doesnt respect traditional national borders. So, we need global cooperation between nations and labs, said Sunak. The UK will also host the first-ever summit on global AI safety, later this year. I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home, but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation, Sunak added. AI companies are already making the first moves towards safeguards and regulation. AI will play a critical role in shaping the future of our economy and society, said Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder, Google Deepmind. This definitive call for global regulation for AI comes at a time when more and more consumer-facing products as well asenterprise solutions relyon machine learning and generative AI. For consumers, the most exciting development has been the rise in AI chatbots, which now see millions of active users globally examples include OpenAIs ChatGPT, Microsofts Bing AI chatbot with Googles Bard being the latest arrival. AI is one of the big themes at this years London Tech Week, alongside virtual reality, augmented reality, climate tech, and fintech. India will play a big role, something the UK too would require, in the formation of AI regulations globally. The official figures peg the import of tech from India at 20.8 billion at the end of Q4 2022, an increase of 35%, or 5.4 billion, compared with 2021. An illustration of the interest in AI, is the fact that Bing AI chatbot clocked 100 million users within the first week, when Microsoft released it earlier this year. Realising the potential of world-leading digital hubs like the UK and India, we can together create a culture of innovation, pave the way for next generation of technological advancement and global challenges together, Harjinder Kang, UKs Trade Commissioner for South Asia, told HT. It is history that Sunak is taking inspiration from, referencing a letter written by Charles Babbage in the 1830s to the then Chancellor, thanking him for funding the difference engine, which is how the journey of the modern computers started. Sunak hopes AI companies and the academia will work together to develop AI standards and safeguards. Were going to do cutting edge safety research here in the UK, he said. The estimated investment earmarked for an AI task force is 100 million. Even within Europe, UK attracts more tech investment than France and Germany combined, a position the country wants to leverage. Were dedicating more funding to AI safety than any other government, said Sunak. AI companies are already making progress, with confirmation that AI companies Frontier Labs, Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic, will give priority access to models for research and safety purposes, for evaluations and to better understand the risks of these systems. Now it is essential for both the public and private sectors to tackle this monumental challenge, said Joanna Shields, CEO of Benevolent AI, talking about the need for regulation as well as safeguards for AI. Any and all regulation, as well as the development of safeguards for AI, will cover not just chatbots but the larger generative AI space, including text to image tools, including the likes of Midjourney, Stability Diffusion and the recently announced Adobe Firefly integration within the popular Photoshop tool. According to the latest estimates by Precedence Research, the generative AI market will be worth $118.06 billion globally, by the year 2032. This, up from an estimated $13.71 billion in 2023 However, generative AI-based solutions have been in the focus lately, for allowing users the tools to create fake images. Further pushing the case for regulation have also been the struggles of conversational AI, which often generates misinformation as part of search results. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishal Mathur Vishal Mathur is Technology Editor for Hindustan Times. When not making sense of technology, he often searches for an elusive analog space in a digital world. ...view detail The United States is planning to rejoin UNESCO from July this year, the body announced. The move marks an end of more than ten years of Washington's dispute with the UN cultural agency following which US left UNESCO in 2018. US president Joe Biden speaks during a visit.(AP) "It is a strong act of confidence in UNESCO and in multilateralism," UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said. US deputy secretary of state for management and resources Richard Verma submitted a letter last week to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay formalizing the plan to rejoin. Additionally, the US will also pay more than $600 million in back dues. Officials said that the decision to return is motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO policymaking with respect to artificial intelligence and technology education around the world, Associated Press reported. The US and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. Both countries lost their voting rights in 2013 and the Donald Trump administration decided in 2017 to withdraw from the agency altogether the following year. The US decision to come back is the result of five years of work, during which we calmed tensions, notably on the Middle East, improved our response to contemporary challenges, resumed major initiatives on the ground and modernized the functioning of the organization, Audrey Azoulay told The Associated Press as she met Democrats and Republicans in Washington to explain those efforts. The Joe Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears- part of the full debt of $619 million- a big chunk of the agency's $534 million annual operating budget. Before leaving, the US contributed 22% of UNESCO's overall funding. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Billionaire investor and liberal donor George Soros has handed over his multi-billion-dollar foundation to his son, Alexander Soros, who will now run his fathers philanthropic enterprise. Back in 1992, the now 92-year-old financier notably made $1 billion after betting against the British pound and breaking the Bank of England. He had previously claimed he does not wish to hand over his Open Society Foundations (OSF) to any of his five children. George Soros has handed over his multi-billion-dollar foundation to his son Alexander (alexsoros/Instagram) George, however, has now named Alexander as chairman of ISF. Hes earned it, George said. Alexander, 37, said he was more political than his father and revealed his plans to continue to donate family money to left-leaning US political candidates, according to Wall Street Journal. We are going to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad,Alexander said. 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 married thrice and has five children Alexander, Andrea, Gregory, Robert and Jonathan. Alexander was raised in Katonah, New York. He went on to attend King Low Heywood Thomas in Stamford, Connecticut, and graduated from New York University in 2009. In 2018, he graduated with a PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley. Alexanders first major contribution to the Jewish Funds for Justice helped him establish himself as a philanthropist. He later also donated $200,000 to the Jewish Council for Education and Research. He established the Alexander Soros Foundation in 2012, which promotes social justice and human rights. The organization notably funded the first-ever national statistical study of domestic workers Home Economics: The Invisible and Unregulated World of Domestic Work. Alexander had been deputy chair of OSF since 2017. The foundation directs about $1.5 billion every year to groups including those that back human rights. Alexander is part of the investment committee of the foundation, which is an overseer of Soros Fund Management. With my background, there are a lot of ways I could have gone astray, said Alexander. Instead I became a workaholic, and my life is my work. US president Joe Biden is set to undergo a dental root canal at the White House his doctor said, after which his planned schedule was cleared. Joe Biden's physician Kevin C. O'Connor said in a statement that the president was "experiencing further discomfort" from a partially treated premolar tooth in his lower right jaw. US President Kamala Harris and Vice President (AP) The White House said Joe Biden will undergo a root canal this morning at the White House but "will not be put under anesthesia and the 25th amendment will not be invoked." This means that while Joe Biden will remain conscious and able to perform his duties, without giving temporary presidential powers to vice president Kamala Harris. The procedure appeared to be unplanned, news agency AFP reported as the US president canceled a scheduled appearance at an event celebrating university athletes less than an hour before it began. Joe Biden was also set to meet NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg later today but it remained unclear whether the meeting would go ahead. Joe Biden's health is under scrutiny as he runs for a second term in 2024. He would be 86 by the time he left office if he wins re-election. The team "was able to perform an examination, to include X-rays, in the White House Dental Operatory. They determined that endodontic treatment (root canal) was most appropriate. Initial root canal procedure was performed at the time, with a plan for specialized endodontal follow up in the near future," his physician said, adding, that Joe Biden tolerated the procedure well. There were no complications. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels across 18 brands, announces the opening of voco Ma Belle Danang - the first voco hotel in Vietnam and 50th opening globally, in partnership with Tuyet Lien Son Co Ltd. Danang is one of the largest cities in Vietnam, known for its sandy beaches and showcases history, traditional and modern culture. Located on Vo Nguyen Giap Street and surrounded by the iconic attractions of downtown Danang, voco Ma Belle Danang is a 27-storey hotel within IHG's premium collection, offering spectacular views of the coastline and cityscape, and is just steps from the soft sands of My Khe Beach. Designed by Vietnam-based design studio, dwp, the hotel interior depicts a sense of femininity - curved walls and a combination of teal, yellow and grey colour palette, create a sense of fluidity and sophistication. Upon entering the lobby, a spiral sculpture takes centre stage and handpicked artworks are thoughtfully placed throughout the space, much akin to a gallery setup. The rooms and suites comprise of timber, teal and grey finishes accentuated with bright pops of voco hotels' signature yellow through upholstery and artwork, offering tranquillity, perfect for unwinding. Guests are welcome to 'come on in' and are greeted with a locally-inspired welcome treat (a voco signature hallmark) - complimentary mango macarons and a swift check-in. 'Me time' beckons in guestrooms, featuring signature voco hotels' touches that show, step by step, the brand is working towards a more sustainable future, such as indulgent beds with pillow- and duvet-fillings made from 100 percent recycled materials and refillable bathroom bulk amenities from Apotheke, a plant-based organic skincare company introduced in Vietnam for the first time. Outstanding dining experiences offer a taste of the 'voco life' at the hotel's three dynamic restaurants and bars, including Lyla, the hotel's all day dining restaurant, and the Lobby Lounge. The rooftop pool, and Ciela Skybar and Dining offer sundown aficionados breathtaking views of the Danang seafront and accord an upbeat vibe for that perfect Instagrammable moment. Additional amenities for guests include a luxurious spa, 24-hour gym as well as over 521sqm of flexible meeting and social event space. voco Ma Belle Danang's prime location allows guests access to the most popular spots in Central Vietnam. My Khe Beach, a haven for daytime relaxation and water sports, stretches out in front of the hotel, while popular attractions nearby include Man Thai, a traditional fishing village at the foot of the Son Tra Peninsula, Linh Ung Pagoda which houses Vietnam's tallest Buddha statue, and the famed Golden Bridge. The hotel is the latest addition to more than 6,000 hotels within the IHG One Rewards loyalty programme. Centred around guests, the best-in-class loyalty programme offers richer benefits at 18 leading hotel brands and more ways to be rewarded than ever before, all powered by leading technology through the new IHG One Rewards mobile app. Hotel website Globetrotting! The Latest Profile of the Internationally Traveling American Summer is upon us, and you may have seen some of the headlines around the expected surge of American travelers heading to Europe for vacation. NPR reported that the U.S. State Department is seeing record numbers of passport applications, and Allianz Partners anticipates that this summer will see a 55 percent increase compared to last years season in the number of Americans traveling to Europe, with Italian destinations at the top of the list of European destinations. Considering that, according to Reuters, airlines were already seeing a boom in online searches for transatlantic flights to Europe in early spring, its clear that American travelers cant get enough of overseas destinations in 2023. So, who exactly are these Americans traveling abroad in droves this year? The Destination Analysts team got curious and decided to delve into a profile of U.S. travelers who say they are very likely to travel outside of the U.S. in the next 12 months - what we will refer to as American International Travelers. What we found was a mix of the expected and the unexpected. Starting with the expected, American International Travelers are significantly wealthier than the average American traveler. In fact, this past month, they reported an average household income of $109,910 compared to the $82,872 reported by total American travelers. On average, they have 20.2 days available for vacation in the next year, 4.3 days more than the typical American traveler. Furthermore, 29.8 percent reported to having more than 30 days available for leisure travel. They are more likely to be married (+12.2pp), have completed a graduate degree (+12.8pp), and be employed full - time (+6.0pp), indicating a higher level of overall security in terms of finances and lifestyle. Financially, their optimism about their personal finances runs high. American International Travelers are +12.3 percentage points more likely than the average American traveler to say they are better off financially now compared to a year ago (41.4% vs. 29.1%), and they also have a sunnier prediction about their household finances one year from now, with 51.4 percent saying they expect to be better off (vs. 46.3% of the average American traveler). This optimism spills over into their attitudes toward leisure travel spending; over half (55.6%) say that now is a good time to spend on travel, while only 30.7 percent of total American travelers felt the same (Fig. 1). Moreover, they are planning to spend more than double the amount reported by total American travelers when it comes to leisure travel in the next year ($8,444 vs. $4,082). They also are more inclined to spend more on travel compared to a year ago, with more than half (53.2%) expecting to spend more on leisure travel this year (vs. 33.2% of total American travelers). This financial optimism also means that high travel prices are less of a deterrent to them, and fears of a recession are less likely to impact their spending habits. Despite their expectations for a U.S. economic recession in the next six months matching those of the general traveler population, only half (51.7%) said they are being careful with their money as a result ( - 8.1pp compared to total American travelers). In fact, only 37.4 percent said that prices have kept them from traveling in the past month, compared to 45.3 percent of total American travelers. So, where is all this financial optimism and wherewithal taking them? When asked which foreign destinations they most want to visit in the next 12 months, Italy was the top written - in response, unsurprisingly, followed by Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. In terms of when they are planning to travel for the rest of 2023, while the largest share of American International Travelers have leisure trips planned for June and July, they are also more likely to have trips planned for the shoulder seasons compared to the average American traveler, with over one - third reporting a trip planned for October (34.4%), and one - fourth reporting a trip in November (26.5%) and/or December (25.1%) (Fig. 2). This aligns with psychographic data for American International Travelers, who are more likely to say they like to travel off the beaten path (+10.1pp), and they prefer destinations that are not necessarily popular with other people (+8.1pp), indicating a general desire to avoid heaving crowds of other tourists. Given their overall financial health, perhaps it is unsurprising that over half (53.2%) of American International Travelers are likely to stay in a five - star luxury hotel property in the next 12 months (+22.6pp compared to total American travelers) (Fig. 3). Similarly, they say it is important to have at least one luxury travel experience on a leisure trip (63.1% vs. 48.5% of total American travelers.) What is surprising, however, is that despite this inclination towards luxury and their openness to spending more on leisure travel in the coming year, Americans International Travelers love a good travel deal and place a lot of value on travel reward programs. Two - thirds agree that searching for travel discounts and deals is fun (64.9% vs. 51.1%) (Fig. 4). They also are much more likely to agree that they take pride in finding a great travel deal (81.7% vs. 69.6%). Nearly three - fourths (73.9%) say that travel reward programs are important or extremely important to how they plan their leisure travels, +22.5pp more than the average American traveler. So, while they are generally more open to purchasing leisure travel than most American travelers, travel deals and opportunities to use their travel reward points can be a key factor in where American International Travelers ultimately decide to go. This article originally appeared on Destination Analysts. 2023 "My Story of Chinese Hanzi" international competition kicks off People's Daily Online) 13:21, June 12, 2023 The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Embodying peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, the Silk Road Spirit has become a valuable asset to humanity. The 2023 "My Story of Chinese Hanzi" international competition kicked off worldwide on June 12, 2023. The event is hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and organized by People's Daily Online. The theme of this year's competition is "" (Homeland). We invite people from all over the world to participate in the event and share stories of exchanges and mutual learning, as well as understanding, friendship and affinity among civilizations. Your stories will contribute to the shared vision of building a beautiful world. Participate in this exchange activity, and let the world hear your stories of Chinese Hanzi! Who can participate in the competition? 1. Foreign nationals who work, live or study in China and neither they nor their parents speak Chinese as their mother tongue. If they are of Chinese descent, they must be at least third-generation immigrants. 2. Foreign nationals residing overseas who are also non-native speakers of Chinese. Please note: Finalists who made it to the last rounds in previous editions of the competition will be ineligible to proceed to the semi-finals and finals of this year's competition. How will the competition be held? The competition will be held online and offline. It consists of an online preliminary round, online semi-finals and offline finals. Schedule The online preliminary round will take place in June. The online preliminary round includes two parts: 1. Contestants will first answer questions online. Upon completing the questions, they will be directed to a new page where they should write out their favorite Chinese character. Following this, a poster image showcasing their handwritten Chinese character will be generated for contestants to share on WeChat. 2. Contestants must send a one-minute self-introduction video. Special Note: We request all contestants submit their one-minute self-introduction video, along with an image of the poster showing their handwritten Chinese character, via email to [email protected] Please ensure your submissions reach us by July 12. Your email's subject line should be formatted as follows: "your name + your mobile phone number." The video file should meet the following criteria: Format: MP4 Quality: 1080p Orientation: Landscape Duration: Not exceeding one minute In your self-introduction video, feel free to share any personal connections and experiences you've had with Chinese Hanzi. The top 40 contestants, who achieve the highest total scores in the preliminary round, will advance to the semi-finals. The online semi-finals will be held between July and early August. In the second round, contestants will participate in a video conversation where they will each take turns speaking on the spot. Once our panel of expert judges evaluates and scores the performances, the top 10 contestants with the highest scores will advance to the finals. The competition will also invite second-round contestants to submit short videos, recorded in their native language, where they will share their experiences and feelings about China. These videos will be reviewed and shared on the multilingual platforms of People's Daily Online. The offline finals will be held between late August and September. At the finals, the finalists will each deliver a seven-minute speech. Judges will evaluate and score the speeches based on several criteria: the core message conveyed in their stories, their expressiveness, their proficiency in the Chinese language, and the effectiveness of their speeches in promoting cross-cultural understanding. These scores will be used to determine the ultimate champion and distribute various other awards. Awards Grand Award (presented to one contestant) First Prize (presented to two contestants) Second Prize (presented to three contestants) Third Prize (presented to four contestants) There will be a Special Award specifically for the champion of the overseas competition zone. Each winner will receive a certificate, a souvenir and a cash prize that could be as high as 10,000 yuan (about $1,403). (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Sun and clouds mixed. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High 82F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Pittsfield Board of Health Considers Looking Into Housing as Public Health Issue PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Board of Health is down two members and, when fully staffed, would like to tackle housing conditions as a public health issue. On Wednesday June 7, the panel discussed its path forward in finding new recruits and in areas of effort. Members recognized recent discussions about the city's deteriorating housing stock and code noncompliance as an important item to address. "If people lose this housing or if people are displaced, there are so few opportunities right now to access other housing because it's so incredibly expensive," said board member Brad Gordon, the executive director and staff attorney for Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority. "We've seen increases over the last three years that range from 25 to 75 percent rental increases. It's dramatic so we've really got to maximize our existing stock, a lot of which is substandard just because I think it's about 70 percent of our housing stock was built prior to 1980." Chair Bobbie Orsi reacted to data that Gordon sent out pertaining to the issue. "Some of the wage and the housing costs are just so mismatched," she said. This has been a prevalent issue in Pittsfield, with the city last year allocating $500,000 in America Rescue Plan Acts funds to establish an Affordable Housing Trust. The board is welcome to a new member with experience in real estate management to provide insight into the issue. Member Dr. Jeffrey Leppo said it always seems like a bad thing when the city has to tear down a building as opposed to having it addressed before it gets to that point. He cited a discussion at the last BOH meeting about city houses going downhill and complaints about apartments. "It sounds like those would obviously impact public health and we should try to be more proactive and it would be good to have people who want to help on that," Leppo said. "So I kind of count on the housing folks to maybe give us some suggestions around when we need to send letters or when we need to support processes that are moving forward but I think we're all very willing to do that." Mount Greylock School Committee Approves Contracts, Looks to Lanesborough Town Meeting WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee last week unanimously approved three-year contracts with the district's three collective bargaining units. The votes, which came after an hour-long executive session to discuss the final terms, were contingent on ratification by the district's teachers, support staff and cafeteria workers. Pending that ratification, no details of the contracts, which run through fiscal year 2026, were discussed during open session. But on Monday, Superintendent Jason McCandless said the financial terms in the deals were not unanticipated. "The contracts approved are all accounted for within the budget which will hopefully be finalized by Lanesborough tomorrow evening," McCandless wrote in reply to an email seeking comment. The two-town district each spring sends an appropriation to member towns Lanesborough and Williamstown for approval at each community's annual town meeting. Williamstown approved its expenditure last month. Lanesborough's annual town meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the elementary school. Last Thursday, prior to the School Committee's votes, McCandless praised the negotiators on both sides of the table who have been working on the agreements every week since January. "One thing we were trying to accomplish is to have every single person who works in the district feel valued and respected every two weeks when they receive their pay statement," McCandless said on behalf of the committee. "That can only be done in an environment where people are willing to look out for the people they work alongside every day in the school. In 24 years of being a public school administrator, I've never seen anything quite like this. "It wasn't always easy, but I think we got outcomes that make us a more equitable district." The FY24 spending plan will not be the only issue to go before attendees at Lanesboroguh's town meeting on Tuesday. Voters also will be asked to approve the creation of the district's first ever stabilization fund (Article 9) and to allow the district to borrow up to $800,000 toward building a new track and field on the west side of the Mount Greylock Regional School campus (Article 8). Both those measures passed at Williamstown's annual town meeting. Last Thursday, the School Committee discussed how its members have helped spread the word to explain both requests to voters in the town. "Curtis [Elfenbein] and I have visited the Post Office and the transfer station and the library and stood outside and chatted with people," School Committee chair and Lanesborough resident Christina Conry said. "I believe Ursula [Maloy] was able to attend the big tag sale the town has for its scholarship fund. We've been trying to get the word out on our end. "Lanesborough doesn't have the same community center to grab a ton of people all at once, so it's been challenging in that way. Then there's social media and all those groups as well." At several points during Thursday's meeting, Conry took the opportunity to encourage attendance at the annual town meeting in her community In other business on Thursday, McCandless reported on a video conference for superintendents throughout the commonwealth hosted by the commissioner of education on cell phones in schools. McCandless said a recent story in the Boston Globe may have led some people to believe the commonwealth was looking to institute a statewide ban. "A couple of hundred of us heard right from the commissioner's mouth that that is a very unlikely outcome," McCandless said. "As we saw through the pandemic and have seen for years and years, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education values local control in the same way the rest of the commonwealth's government values local control." McCandless said DESE is soliciting input from public school districts about approaches they have used to address potential abuse of cell phones in the schools. He cited teachers at Mount Greylock who use a "low tech" solution of requiring students to deposit their phones in a pocket at the front of the classroom when they enter and pick them up as they leave. "I think there's an opportunity here as we've been doing since cell phones became more ubiquitous in schools to try to approach this in a very respectful, very thoughtful, educational way, rather than a simple ban or buying a device that takes away all functionality of a mobile phone," McCandless said. "Speaking as somebody who was the superintendent, once upon a time, of all three of my childrens' school sometimes things happen from a safety perspective or a family perspective that, to some degree, it would feel disrespectful to both our students and the people in homes supporting them to take such a broad brush approach as to simply say, 'No.' " Also on Thursday, the School Committee reached a significant milestone with its vote to execute general obligation bonds to provide the final financing for the middle-high school addition/renovation project. "That was the final vote of the Mount Greylock Regional School building project ever the final of maybe thousands that have happened," Business Administrator Joe Bergeron mentioned after the vote. "It's remarkable how much blood, sweat and tears it takes to construct a building." Carolyn Greene took the opportunity to recognize two of the many volunteers who helped bring the project to fruition: Mark Schiek and Paula Consolini, who co-chaired the district's School Building Committee. podcasts Enterprise of the Future How does the modern enterprise transition into the future? Finding the intersection of IT investment and business value is key as is a well-conceived strategy for navigating the journey. Join us for an engaging look into how technology drives outcomes with applications, data and AI and impacts digital transformation at every level. The experts at Kyndryl will lead the way. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A British man was taken into custody after he attempted to scale the worlds fifth tallest building without harness on Monday. The man, identified by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper as George King-Thompson, managed to climb half-way up the building to the 73rd floor before South Korean authorities forced him to abandon his attempt to reach the top of 123-storey Lotte World Tower in Seoul. Wearing a pair of shorts, the 24-year-old man made his way up the landmark skyscraper for more than an hour as police and fire crews gathered below. Mr King-Thompson reached the 73rd floor where authorities forced him to get into a maintenance cradle and enter the building, a fire department official said, adding that police took him into custody for questioning. Police were not immediately available for comment. In 2019, Mr King-Thompson was reportedly arrested and eventually sentenced to six months in prison after a civil lawsuit for climbing the Shard building in London. But instead of curbing his desire to climb, those long months intensified it. I made a list of all the buildings in prison, he told The Independent in an interview in 2020. Agbar was one of them, he said, referring to 144m tower in Barcelona. Its mystical, like Id gone to a different dimension, he said of his experience of scaling the Agbar Tower. Its an almost unintelligible sensation, when youre solely free. The climb itself, he says, was the perfect challenge, not as logistically exhausting as the Shard, but still a war between myself and the building, my body and my mind. In all, it took him around just 20 minutes to scale it, moving constantly for the first 100m to avoid losing momentum, using the corners of window panes to keep stable. He said the fear was intoxicating, an unsurpassable adrenaline rush, which gave fuel to every strained sinew. And after safely making his descent, and briefly being taken to a police station for questioning, the euphoria took hold. Ive never felt so content, he says. Which is very unusual for me. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} India on Monday sought to allay fears that the personal data of hundreds of millions of citizens who signed up on a government portal to book their Covid-19 vaccines had been breached, after reports that a Telegram bot was distributing the information online. The administrators of the bot claimed that it had access to data from the governments official vaccine portal CoWin, which was mandatory for people to book their first, second and booster Covid shots after it was launched by the Narendra Modi administration in January 2021. It boasts over a billion users in India, including foreign nationals. Multiple news outlets reported on Monday that sensitive personal information such as private contact numbers, passport numbers, dates of birth and national ID numbers known as Aadhaar were available on the Telegram channel if a user typed in a phone number registered with CoWin. Earlier reports said the channel was also distributing private medical information exclusive to CoWin such as when and where people received their vaccinations, but this was no longer the case when the Telegram channel was reviewed by The Independent. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, federal junior minister for electronics and technology, said the governments computer emergency response team immediately responded and reviewed the so-called leak and said it does not appear that CoWin app or database has been directly breached. He confirmed that the bot appeared to be sharing genuine private data, but suggested this came from an earlier breach and not one involving CoWin. The data being accessed by bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from the past. It does not appear that the Cowin app or database has been directly breached. National Data Governance policy has been finalised that will create a common framework of Data storage, Access and Security standards across all of govt(sic), said Mr Chandrasekhar. CoWin portal of health ministry is completely safe with safeguards for data privacy... Only OTP authentication-based access of data is provided, a statement from the federal health ministry also said. Officials provided no information on when or where the prior breach might have taken place, or how many people were affected. Data security experts said that, if confirmed, a breach involving the kinds of numbers of users on the CoWin platform would be unprecedented in India. This is the first of its kind data leak targeting families in India and the magnitude of this leak is huge. It is worth noting that while other previous leaks in India only shared the last 4 digits of the 12 digit Aadhaar number, this bot gives out all 12 digits of your unique ID to anyone requesting it, privacy and data protection activist Anivar Aravind told The Independent. It is also concerning because CoWin as a web portal was also engaged in other large-scale projects, including one for a federal health identification number for the Indian population, said Mr Aravind, who is also a petitioner against data collection for the official Aarogya Setu app, used during the pandemic for tracking Covid contacts. Apart from potentially hundreds of millions of regular citizens, the users whose data could be accessed on the Telegram bot included prominent politicians, bureaucrats and journalists. The data breach included senior opposition leaders such as the Congress partys P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh, Trinamool Congresss Derek OBrien, and the state of Telanganas information and communication technology minister Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), according to news outlets which verified the leaked data with these individuals. The bot first came to light on Sunday when a Kerala-based news portal named The Fourth News was able to access the details of the most senior official heading the panel overseeing CoWin. Data relating to the Modi administrations former health minister Harsh Vardhan and minister for culture Meenakshi Lekhi were also accessed, reported The News Minute. The bot was taken down on Monday morning after the first reports of the data breach surfaced, and did not provide the option to search mobile phone numbers and Aadhaar numbers after 8.50am. The CoWin website says India has given out more than 2.2 billion Covid vaccine doses, of which just 5.2 million were administered outside of the CoWin online system. There are more than 1.1 billion Covid vaccine recipients registered in India, according to the website, though this figure includes those who signed up offline. The head of the CoWin oversight panel, RS Sharma, said in January last year that the app boasts state-of-the-art security infrastructure and has never faced a security breach. News that the United Arab Emirates, this year hosting the United Nations Cop28, has extended Syrian dictator and war criminal Bashar al-Assad an invitation to the annual climate summit has shocked the world, but not me. Amnesty International has described the decision as a sick joke; Human Rights Watch has branded it outrageous. The UK cannot be seen to be legitimising it. The anger is to be expected. Assads brutal repression of Syria has resulted in one of the bloodiest civil wars in modern history. His reign of terror is marked by torture, disappearances and even chemical weapons attacks against his own people. Hundreds of thousands have died at the hands of his murderous government forces, the vast majority of them civilians. 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 red carpet at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night (11 June) was awash with some of the biggest names on Broadway, as stars turned up in their finery. The annual ceremony has been recognising the biggest achievements in theatre since 1947. This year, the show was hosted by Ariana DeBose, who made a statement when she opened the show by referring to a blank script due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike in pursuit of a fair deal. Meanwhile, the two biggest awards of the night were clinched by Leopoldstadt for Best New Play and Kimberly Akimbo was named Best New Musical. You can see the full list of Tony Awards winners here. Yet among the dozens of actors, musicians and performers who strutted down the red carpet, only a few truly dazzled with their outstanding sartorial choices. Here are our six favourite looks from the 2023 Tony Awards. Lupita Nyongo Lupita Nyongos striking look became a talking point among fans watching the awards show. Lupita Nyong'o attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star wore a metallic custom-made breastplate moulded over her own chest. The silver breastplate, which was created by Pakistani artist Misha Japanwala, covered the front of Nyongos entire torso, from her neck to her waist. The actor wore a black velvet suit jacket and trousers over the piece and accessorised with a Venezia box clutch by The Bella Rosa Collection, along with large diamond earrings and geometric silver rings. It wasnt just her outfit that turned heads. Nyongo also sported an intricate henna tattoo on her shaved scalp by artist Sabeen Marghboob Lupita Nyong'o visits the Zacapa XO x Baccarat Speakeasy at the 76th Annual Tony Awards on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Zacapa Rum) Sharing her look on Instagram, Nyongo wrote: Honoured, humbled, strengthened and energised to don this breastplate created by @mishajapanwala, which she cast and moulded of my body. Dylan Mulvaney Dylan Mulvaney attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) Comedian and TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney debuted a dramatically different hairstyle at this years Tony Awards. The transgender rights activist swapped her usually dark brunette hairstyle for platinum tresses, which were styled as wavy strands framing her face. She wore a sparkly black off-the-shoulder dress with a corset-style waist and a full skirt by Christian Siriano. Dylan Mulvaney attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) Mulvaney first showed off her new hair in an Instagram post on Friday (9 June) and last night was the first time she wore it out at a public event. J Harrison Ghee J Harrison Ghee attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Some Like It Hot star J Harrison Ghee made history at this years Tony Awards when they became one of the first openly non-binary actors to win an award. Ghee made a splash on the red carpet in a bright blue structured gown with a plunging neckline and off-the-shoulder collar. They wore matching blue opera gloves, as well as a layered choker around their neck and dangling earrings, as well as a large diamond ring on their left pinky finger. On social media, fans described Ghees dress as gorgeous, with one person writing: This is a fabulous outfit J Harrison Ghee got on, we love when winners dress to win. J Harrison Ghee attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) The 32-year-old won Best Lead Actor in a Musical for their dual role in Some Like It Hot and dedicated their award to every trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming human who was ever told you couldnt be seen. They continued: People often see me and say, Well, I could never wear that or I can never do that and this whole season, I have been living in this mantra: You have to free yourself to see yourself. Jessica Chastain Jessica Chastain attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Jessica Chastain was a bright ray of sunshine as she walked down the red carpet in a bold yellow Gucci down with a matching cape. The A Dolls House stars stunning dress featured a sweetheart neckline and a bodice that cinched in at her waist. The skirt fell in straight, tiny ruffles, while her cape swept dramatically across the floor as she walked. Chastain kept her red hair off her face in a sleek ponytail and wore a large chain necklace with an oversized glittering pendant. Jessica Chastain attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) She was nominated for Best Actress (Play) alongside Jodi Comer (Prima Facie), Jessica Hecht (Summer, 1976) and Audra McDonald (Ohio State Murders). Comer emerged victorious at the end of the night. A Dolls House was also nominated for a number of awards, including best play revival, best supporting actor for Arian Moayed, and best direction for Jamie Lloyd. Alex Newell Alongside Harrison Ghee, Alex Newell also became one of the first openly non-binary actors to clinch a Tony Award last night. Alex Newell attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Newell won Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for their part in the 2022 musical Shucked. The 30-year-old star was dressed to the nines for the evening in a sparkly gold off-the-shoulder gown with a corset waist and draped floor-length skirt. In their acceptance speech, Newell thanked the crew, cast and creative team behind Shucked and their mother for loving me unconditionally. Alex Newell accepts the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) They added: Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer nonbinary fat Black lil baby from Massachusetts. To anyone that thinks they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face [and say] that you can do anything you put your mind to. Stephanie Hsu The Everything Everywhere All At Once star brought goth glam to the Tony Awards in a beautifully structured black off-the-shoulder gown by Markarian. Stephanie Hsu attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images) The structured dress featured puff sleeves and a fitted bodice, with a voluminous skirt. Hsu kept her jewellery simple by wearing dangling pearl earrings that stood out against her jet-black hair. Stephanie Hsu attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards at United Palace Theater on June 11, 2023 (Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro) Although Hsu is best known for her role in the Oscar-winning film, as she starred alongside Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, she has regularly appeared in Broadway musicals including Be More Chill and Spongebob Squarepants The Musical. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The dinner rotation is an unspoken, yet essential schedule. Most of us have five or six reliable recipes tucked away in our back pockets, ready to be pulled out at a moments notice. Sometimes this means cooking the same dishes week in, week out. Venturing outside this routine should be an exciting prospect. Maybe youve been inspired by a travel documentary or a new cookbook caught your eye. It doesnt look that hard, right? But hunting down the right ingredients can feel like a minefield when you dont really know what youre looking for or even where to find them. Shopping well is crucial for success in the kitchen. God only knows the number of times Ive come home with the wrong thing or given up because I was overwhelmed by the supermarket aisles. What if I end up wasting money on a new meal that turns out catastrophic? Some cuisines are more daunting than others. Japanese food has such a reputation for perfection that the idea of making anything other than a katsu at home terrifies me. But it wouldnt be so scary if I had a real-life expert to walk me through the supermarket shelves, show me what to look for and demonstrate that I could indeed be churning out beautiful sushi, delicious broths and other Japanese dishes from my humble kitchen. Enter: cookbook author and teacher, Atsuko Ikeda, who has offered to take me to an Asian cash and carry to teach me how to shop for Japanese ingredients. We meet at Tazaki, a major distributor of Asian ingredients in the UK that has a warehouse in North Greenwich. It was previously owned by SeeWoo but was acquired by Tazaki last year and is currently in the process of revamping stock. However, it still carries just about everything you need to get started on a Japanese culinary adventure. Ikeda, who has authored three cookbooks on Japanese small plates, comfort food and sushi, is a frequent visitor. We begin by perusing the fresh ingredients, like daikon (white winter radish), whole lotus root and mustard greens. The whole lotus root can be sliced thinly and fried to make crispy lotus chips, while the snow-white daikon can be grated into sauce or cubed and added to soups. But were starting simpler. Ikeda picks up shimeji mushrooms, small round cap fungi with medium-length stems that grow from a single base. These have an earthier flavour and are denser in texture than regular button or chestnut mushrooms, which means they retain their size and shape a little better. Spring onions, avocado and carrots also make it into the basket, common vegetables that can be found in any supermarket. Making sushi at home is easier than you might think (Kate Ng) We move onto carbs and delve into the rice section. As Ikeda is teaching me how to make sushi later, she explains that it is made with Japanese short-grain rice; it has a more glutinous, starchy texture than long-grain rice, which is more popular in the UK. This starchy quality of short-grain rice makes it stickier, an essential feature to make sure sushi rolls and nigiri bites dont fall apart. A trusted brand for most Japanese ingredients, including sushi rice, is Yutaka, which can be found almost anywhere Ive seen it stocked in my local fishmonger. Plenty of other brands abound, with some supermarkets even providing their own brand products, but Ikedas recommendation goes straight into my basket. She points out a variety of noodles, and were talking much more than udon. There are bouncy shirataki noodles, almost transparent noodles made from konjac yam that can be eaten hot or cold. You can purchase frozen ramen noodles if youre experimenting with making your own ramen, but Ikeda winks as she tells me she usually just goes to her favourite ramen shop when shes craving it. Soba noodles, which can be bought dried, are perfect for the summer when tossed into a cold peanut sauce with an assortment of vegetables. The list goes on and on, but Ikeda reassures me that most noodles are versatile and it mainly depends on what type of texture youre going for rather than flavour. Try out different types of miso to better understand their myriad textures and flavours (Kate Ng) Next is the condiments aisle, where miso resides (can miso be considered a condiment? Im not so sure). Miso is, of course, a must-have staple. Ikeda points out three types: white miso, sweet rice miso and barley miso. Later, when we taste them, Im surprised to learn how vastly different they taste from one another. The white miso, which is the most common type used in recipes, has a slight tang and a savouriness that makes your mouth water, while the barley has a deeper, maltier flavour that is mcuh more comforting. I highly recommend buying different types to taste for yourself. Ikeda also introduces me to yuzugosho, a spicy, tart condiment containing the yuzu fruit and fiery green chillies. It brought a tear to my eye, both from the heat and delicious flavour. Ikeda also teaches me that most commercial wasabi contains more horseradish than wasabi, so buyer beware: if youre seeking the real deal, you may have to be prepared to shell out more money than you initially think. Some brands are 100 per cent horseradish, marketed as wasabi, so checking the label is essential. The same goes for mirin, a Japanese sweet rice wine which varies in alcohol content. A good rule of thumb is that the cheaper the mirin, the lower the alcohol content. Soy sauce is another staple for most Asian cuisines, but there are differences. Ikeda prefers to use tamari soy sauce, which is thicker and, I find, not as intensely salty as the soy sauce you usually get in tiny fish-shaped plastic bottles from takeaways. At home, Im a Kikkoman soy sauce fan, but Ikeda recommends Yutakas organic tamari soy sauce for a more mellow, sweeter flavour. Fishmongers are your best friends when it comes to choosing the best cut of fish for sushi (Kate Ng) In terms of proteins, it depends on what dish you want. Were focused on fish, particularly sushi-grade salmon, which you can buy from Tazaki or most fishmongers. This is where Im especially nervous, because its easy to get the cut wrong. However, knowledgeable fishmongers are your best friends when it comes to choosing the cut, so ask plenty of questions. Ikeda shows me how to slice the salmon for different types of sushi rolls and nigiri, as well as how to steam the fish in a baking parchment parcel, slathered in miso and accompanied by the shimeji mushrooms wed purchased earlier. You can also add fish roe or masago caviar to your Japanese dishes. The bright orange spheres add a unique saltiness and a satisfying texture to sushi, but can also be used to top rice dishes or stirred through Japanese-inspired pastas. A reliable brand is Elsinore, which can be found in Waitrose. I still find the idea of making sushi daunting, but the supermarket aisles no longer feel so intimidating now that I have a clearer idea of what to look for. It reminds me of how fun it is to try something new in the kitchen and, armed with cookbooks from the experts, the delicious results will keep me coming back for more. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joining the Dent family in 1985, our microwave had somewhat of a bad start. It arrived, fresh out the box from Comet, in the midst of an argument. My mam had not greenlit the purchase of this cumbersome stainless-steel cube, with a vivid orange door, that Dad and I were loading onto her already packed kitchen worktop. She did not share our enthusiasm for this magical, space-age item wed seen on BBCs Tomorrows World and knew would take our snacking into the future. She was mainly outraged at the whopping 100 sum Id cajoled Dad into spending. I dont trust it, said Mam, reeling off a list of concerns, including microwaved innards, catastrophic explosions and partially cooked food giving us rampant salmonella. The truth was a little less exciting: I remember us loading the first maris piper inside, pricked all over with a fork, blasting it on HIGH for seven minutes, hoping for a crisp, fluffy jacket spud, only to find a rock-hard lump with a thin, waxy skin that hissed and spat from the holes. See? Useless! said Mam. My dad and I were sheepish. But as the weeks went on, Mams attitude to the microwave softened. For a start, it was saving her a fortune on gas as we almost stopped using the hobs for tinned spaghetti, soup, baked beans, tinned custard. Plus, the defrost button meant we now had access to all those mystery items shed deep-frozen months back. Potato became a thing of joy as we discovered micro-mash (real potato, already peeled, mashed and frozen). Mam and Dad worked, so now my brother Dave and I could rush home from school and warm up glamorous microwave meals wed begged Mam for on the big Friday shop. Macaroni cheese in a plastic tray! Microwave chips in a box! We learned how to heat food thoroughly, stopping halfway to give it a stir, before lazing on the couch, watching Miami Vice with our microwave chicken chow mein, feeling like we were fully living the dream. Nowadays, I try to limit my intake of such shiny-packeted E-number-filled joys; but still, I cant live without my small, sleek, silver microwave. Life is too short to use a pan for frozen peas or spaghetti hoops; and how would I live without a quick 800W blast to thaw and separate veggie sausages before hurling them in the air fryer, or to defrost frozen mince before whipping up a quick chilli? Some foodie types are snobbish about the microwave; I see it as a loyal friend who has had my back for over 30 years Watts on the menu? Make the most of your microwave to conjure up clever meals that save on time and energy use. These ingenious recipes are from Ocadolife. Easy perfect rice with smoked trout and broad beans If you have trouble boiling rice on the hob, youre going to love this method (Ocado) If you have trouble boiling rice on the hob, youre going to love this method. Its super-easy and yields flawless results every time. Here, its teamed with a summery combination of pink fish, vibrant herbs and a zingy dressing. Serves: 4 Hands-on time: 15 mins | Total time: 20 mins, plus standing (based on an 800W microwave at full power) Ingredients, available from Ocado: 250g basmati rice, rinsed 500ml hot vegetable stock 300g frozen broad beans Zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon, plus extra wedges for squeezing 1 garlic clove, crushed or grated 2 tbsp olive oil handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped Small bunch of dill, roughly chopped 2 x 100g packs M&S Scottish Loch Trout Flakes Method: 1. Put the rice in a large microwave-safe bowl. Pour the stock over the rice; stir well. Cover (if using microwave-safe wrap, pierce to let the steam escape); sit the bowl on a microwave-safe plate to catch drips and microwave for 12 mins. Remove; leave to stand, covered, for 10 mins. 2. Meanwhile, put the broad beans in another microwave-safe bowl with a few splashes of water, cover with a microwave-safe plate and blast for 2 mins. Remove, tip into a colander and refresh under cold running water until cooled; drain well. 3. Stir the broad beans into the rice, with the lemon zest and juice, garlic, olive oil, most of the herbs and plenty of seasoning. Fold through the trout. Divide between 4 plates and scatter over the remaining herbs. Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing. Per serving: 428cals, 1 veg portion, 10g fat (2g saturated), 22g protein, 59g carbs, 2g sugar, 7g fi bre, 1.7g salt Saucy supper silky aubergine and courgette noodles Say goodbye to spongy aubergines and hello to beautifully soft flesh (Ocado) Microwaving cooks food from the inside out, so you can say goodbye to spongy aubergines and hello to beautifully soft flesh that soaks up the marinade as it cooks. Serves: 4 Hands-on/total time: 20 mins (based on an 800W microwave at full power) Ingredients available from Ocado: 2 aubergines, each cut lengthways into 8 pieces 100g egg noodles 1 large courgette, peeled into ribbons Large handful of coriander, roughly chopped 1 red chilli, sliced 1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted For the marinade: 4 tbsp soy sauce 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar 1 tbsp sesame oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed or grated 3cm piece ginger, grated 1 tbsp miso paste 1 tsp caster sugar Method: 1. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add the aubergine; toss to coat. Cover (if using microwave-safe wrap, pierce a couple of times to let the steam escape); microwave for 12 mins, stirring halfway, until cooked through. 2. Meanwhile, put the noodles in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to stand for 3 mins or until tender. Put the courgette ribbons into a sieve, then drain the noodles over them the residual heat will soften the courgette slightly. 3. Divide the noodles and courgette between 4 plates. Top with the aubergines, spooning over any remaining sauce. Scatter over the coriander and chilli, sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately. Cover leftovers and chill for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave until piping hot. Per serving: 357cals, 1 veg portion, 5g fat (1g saturated), 13g protein, 60g carbs, 9g sugar, 9g fibre, 3.4g salt, 1.37 per portion Smoky bean chilli with cornbread and crispy bacon Bacon in the microwave is almost too good to be true (Ocado) With no frying odours or splattered grease, bacon in the microwave is almost too good to be true especially teamed with this delicious chilli and cheesy cornbread. Serves: 4 Hands-on time: 20 mins | Total time: 30 mins (based on an 800W microwave at full power) Ingredients available from Ocado: Six rashers dry-cured smoked streaky bacon For the cornbread: 2 tbsp unsalted butter, plus extra for spreading (optional) 5 tbsp plain flour 5 tbsp fine cornmeal or polenta 1 tsp baking powder 1 tbsp caster sugar 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten 6 tbsp natural yoghurt 1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional) 50g cheddar, finely grated For the chilli: 150g soffritto mix (we used Cook With M&S Frozen Soffritto Base, defrosted) 1 garlic clove, crushed or grated 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tbsp olive oil 2 x 400g tins mixed beans, drained (splash of liquid reserved) 350g passata To serve (optional): Soured cream Handful of coriander, leaves picked 2 salad onions, chopped Method: 1. For the cornbread, put 1tbsp butter into each of 2 large mugs (preferably straight-sided). Microwave for 20 secs or until melted. Carefully swirl the butter around in the mugs so it greases the sides, then tip the excess out into a mixing bowl. Set the mugs aside. 2. Add the remaining cornbread ingredients to the bowl, reserving a little of the grated cheese. Season well, then stir until combined. 3. Divide the mixture equally between the 2 mugs and sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Microwave them separately for 1-2 mins or until risen and springy. Run a knife around the edge of the cornbread to loosen; turn out onto a wire rack to cool. 4. For the chilli, put the soffritto, garlic, spices, oregano and oil into a large microwave-safe bowl. Cook for 3 mins, stirring halfway. 5. Add the beans (and a splash of liquid), passata and seasoning to the bowl; stir well. Cover (if using microwave-safe wrap, pierce a couple of times to let the steam escape), and cook for 5 mins, stirring halfway. Leave to stand while you cook the bacon. 6. Put 2 sheets of kitchen towel on a microwave-safe plate and lay the bacon in a single layer. Cover with another sheet of kitchen towel. Microwave for 1 min, then check to see if its crisp and starting to curl. If not, continue cooking in 20-sec bursts, being careful not to burn it. Break into shards. 7. Uncover the chilli (open it away from you to avoid the steam) and ladle into bowls. Top with a dollop of soured cream, the coriander and salad onions (if using), and the bacon. Serve with the cornbread, buttered if you like, for scooping. Leftover chilli will keep covered and chilled for 3 days. The cornbread is best eaten on the day of cooking. Per serving: 613cals, 2 veg portions, 29g fat (12g saturated), 30g protein, 54g carbs, 10g sugar, 9g fi bre, 2g salt, 1.60 per portion Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A representative for Jamie Foxx has shut down conspiracy theories that the actors recent hospitalisation was due to the Covid-19 vaccine leaving him partially paralyzed and blind. In a statement to NBC News, Foxxs representatives called the claims completely inaccurate. The conspiracy theory began on 30 May, when Hollywood gossip columnist AJ Benza made the unsubstantiated claim on Ask Dr Drew, hosted by reality TV host Dr Drew Pinsky. During the podcast episode, Benza alleged that Foxx was forced to get the Covid-19 vaccine while he was working on a film, citing a source in the room with Foxx when he was hospitalised. Benza claimed Foxx developed a blood clot in the brain after receiving the vaccine, which caused him at that point to be partially paralyzed and blind. Despite Foxxs representatives refuting Benzas claims, it hasnt stopped far-right commentators from spreading the anti-vaccination conspiracy theory on the internet. Political commentator Candace Owens peddled the theory on her YouTube-based podcast, where she has 1.67m subscribers, on 6 June. In the video, titled Whats Going On With Jamie Foxx?, Owens suggested there may be some veracity to Benzas claim because nobody in Foxxs family had denied it at the time. Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk also weighed in on the claim, tweeting on 1 June that he was infuriated a decent person like Jamie Foxx fell victim to Big Pharma because a movie set is still dumb enough to mandate their cash cow clot shot. Theres been much speculation surrounding Jamie Foxxs health after the 55-year-old actor was hospitalised in April following a medical complication. On 12 April, his daughter Corinne Foxx shared in a social media statement that the Django Unchained star experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers, she said. The family asks for privacy during this time. Foxx was filming the forthcoming Netflix film Back in Action in Georgia when he was taken to a medical facility. Many rumours soon emerged about Foxxs health. While most reports suggested that the actor was recovering, one source told Radar that his friends and family were hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. On 3 May, Jamie Foxx broke his silence on social media when he thanked fans for their support. Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed [prayer, heart and fox emoji], the actor shared on his Instagram Story. Meanwhile, his daughter Corinne later rebuked claims that his family were preparing for the worst and revealed that the actor had been out of the hospital for weeks. Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating, she shared on her Instagram on 12 May. In fact, she continued, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyones prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too! 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 }} Hilarie Burton has been applauded by fans for being an ally after revealing that she and her children attended their neighbourhoods first Pride celebration, and that she would be blocking any bigots who posted anti-LGBTQ+ comments on her Instagram. The One Tree Hill star, 40, who shares son Augustus, 13, and daughter George, five, with husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, opened up about attending the amazing celebration hosted by the Rhinebeck Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Rhinebeck, New York, on Instagram on Sunday. Took my kids to our towns FIRST #pride celebration, hosted by our warm and welcoming Rhinebeck Episcopal Church of the Messiah! Burton captioned an album of photos from the outing on Instagram. First of all, the party was amazing! The dance floor was a multigenerational melting pot of joy and love. In the post, which showed Burton wearing a rainbow flag ring and a pin that read: You are safe with me, the actress then wrote that shed loved seeing all of my sons friends run around with this whole supportive group of adults encouraging them to stand up for whats right, before noting that its not enough just to celebrate love this year. We are fighting for the civil rights of our friends and neighbours and cherished loved ones, she continued. In the emotional post, Burton also expressed her happiness that the church she and her family began attending back when [her] son was in diapers was the one leading the charge in our town. Huge thank you to Rhinebeck Episcopal Church of the Messiah and the organisers of this event, she wrote. Burton then took the opportunity to share a reminder to the LGBTQ+ community that they are deserving of vocal and consistent support, not just this month but year round. To all of our LGBTQIA+ fam, you are deserving of vocal and consistent support, not just this month but year round. You deserve freedom to find your bliss. Sending you big ol hugs, Burton wrote, along with multiple rainbow emojis. The Walking Dead star concluded the post noting that she would not tolerate anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric on her Instagram, and would be blocking anyone who broke her rule. PS - I block bigots. No questions asked. No trash allowed on my page. Xoxox, she wrote. In addition to photos of herself and her children from the Pride event, Burton also included a screenshot of a tweet from Claire Willet, who wrote: For Pride Month this year, can straight people focus less on love is love and more on queer and trans people are in danger. Burtons post has since been met with an outpouring of appreciative messages from her fans, with many praising the actress for proudly showing her support for the LGBTQ+ community amid a rise in dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ policies and legislation in parts of the nation. This made me cry. Im so happy with the way you are raising your kids. Sending love, one person wrote, while another said: As a queer woman it means a lot that youre in our corner especially with everything happening in terms of queer rights being stripped away so thank you for showing your support. Thanks for being a true ally, from the mom of a trans daughter, someone else wrote. Busy Philipps also responded to the post, writing: So much love for this!! 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 }} Kanye Wests daughter North has been seen holding hands with the rappers new wife Bianca Censori, suggesting the pair are getting along well. Architectural designer Censori, 27, has been romantically linked with West who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021 since January, two months after his divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalised. The pair are rumoured to have married in a non-legally binding ceremony earlier this year. Censori is credited as the head designer for Yeezy, Wests fashion brand. In photos obtained by Page Six, Censori and Wests eldest daughter North were seen smiling as they arrived at a private party for the rappers birthday on Saturday night (10 June). North, nine, who the Flashing Lights rapper shares with ex-wife Kardashian, wore a grey jumper and shorts, also appearing to wear red paint on her face. Censori had her hair styled in a pixie cut, wearing a black leather trench coat with matching heeled boots. In another video clip taken on the night of Wests birthday, North is seen holding a large camera, filming her father as he raps his song Off The Grid with Censori standing nearby. Last month, Censori said in a viral TikTok video that she is married when content creator @gratefulboynuee asked for her number on camera. West and Censori have been spotted together on several occasions and were seen attending a church service with two of Wests children Chicago, five, and Psalm, four last week (4 June), with their outfits sparking confusion among fans. His two youngest children were pictured accompanying church choir members while wearing white robes and hoods that covered their faces. In season three of Hulus The Kardashians, which premiered on 25 May, Kardashian opened up about the emotional turmoil she experienced while going through her very public divorce from the rapper. Theres been a lot going on with Kanye right now, the SKIMS founder told cameras in her confessional. I think at this point, I just assume everything I text Kanye is gonna be put on the internet. West had previously shared screenshots of his text messages with Kardashian, in which they appeared to disagree over their childrens schooling. He has also publicly lashed out at Kardashians mother, Kris Jenner, over her parenting skills. Dont let Kris make you do Playboy like she made [Kylie] and Kim do, he posted back in September. Last year, West sparked backlash after he shared a number of antisemitic comments and conspiracy theories on social media and in interviews. Following his remarks, the rapper was dropped by a number of brands including Balenciaga, Adidas, and Gap. Kim Kardashian was prompted to issue a statement about Yes antisemitic remarks, in which she condemned hate speech and called for the hateful rhetoric to end. Hate speech is never OK or excusable, Kardashian tweeted. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end. Kardashian also said in the latest season of the reality show that Wests behaviour would be damaging for their four children North, nine, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four. I have to sit here and not say anything, ever, because I know one day my kids will appreciate that, she said. And I know that is the best thing for them. 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 }} Russian president Vladimir Putin described Silvio Berlusconi as a dear friend in a gushing tribute following the death of the former Italian prime minister on Monday. Berlusconi, 86, died at a Milan hospital after suffering from leukaemia and developing a lung infection. The former Italian prime minister amassed a fortune after founding Italys largest media company and served as head of the Italian government three times between 1994 and 2011. The Russian president said he was saddened by the death of his dear friend Silvio Berlusconi. For me, Silvio was a cherished person, a true friend, president Putin said in a message posted on Telegram. He praised what he described as the 86-year-olds wisdom and balanced, forward-looking decisions. During each of our meetings I was literally charged with his incredible life energy, optimism and sense of humor, the Russain president continued. His passing is an irreparable loss and a great sorrow. The message continued: In Russia, Silvio Berlusconi will be remembered as a consistent and principled supporter of strengthening friendly relations between our countries. Berlusconi and the Russian president frequently visited each other and exchanged lavish gifts. Silvio Berlusconi on his private jet flying from Rome to Milan in 1987 (Getty) In April 2022, the former Italian prime minister said he was deeply disappointed by Putins invasion of Ukraine, but later blamed the war on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky after leaked recordings emerged in which Berlusconi described receiving 20 bottles of vodka from Putin for his 86th birthday. I responded with bottles of Lambrusco [wine] and an equally sweet letter, Berlusconi said in the recording. Berlusconis last few years as prime minister were marred by allegations of corruption and tales of bunga bunga sex parties at his lavish villa outside Milan. He was previously accused of unlawful sex with 17-year-old nightclub dancer known only as Ruby the Heartstealer but he was acquitted on appeal in 2014, after several women testified that his bung bunga parties were merely elegant dinners. The tycoon was convicted of tax fraud in 2012 and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, later shortened to one year of community service. In 2019 he staged an unlikely political comeback by winning a seat in the European parliament. 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 }} Foreign officials have expressed discomfort when Scottish ministers discuss independence during international visits, Alister Jack has said. The Scottish Secretary appeared before Westminsters Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday to discuss how the UK Government promotes Scotland abroad. However, he again defended the decision by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to instruct UK officials to ensure Westminster representatives were present for talks between Scottish ministers and overseas governments. A row has erupted between the two Governments, with Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson branding the comments misleading. Mr Jack told MPs that one example of the blatant breaches came from former first minister Nicola Sturgeon who discussed constitutional issues with US deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Washington in 2022. He told the committee that the foreign representative had personally told him they were not comfortable with Holyrood ministers raising the issue of separation or Scotlands re-entry to the European Union. He said: Consuls of foreign countries have made this point to me directly that they find it uncomfortable when the Scottish Government raise separation, independence or other constitutional foreign affairs issues with them because they would no more want, if the French or the Spanish consul or ambassador would no more want to have to organise a meeting, or expect to organise a meeting with, say, the separatists in Catalonia or Corsica with UK Government ministers, nor would they expect us to meet with separatists from other countries. They understand that we are one state the United Kingdom and it puts them in an invidious position and it is not appreciated. He told Scottish Tory leader and Moray MP Douglas Ross that he had been trying to de-escalate the tension with the Scottish Government, however, had received a lot of push back on it and no acknowledgement of these blatant breaches. We cant work together constructively when theres someone in the room talking about independence or re-joining the EU or other approaches to foreign affairs - where we disagree Alister Jack, Scottish Secretary Im trying to de-escalate it by working with the Foreign Secretary on the clear parameters whereby we can all work together constructively, he added. But we cant work together constructively when theres someone in the room talking about independence or re-joining the EU or other approaches to foreign affairs where we disagree. If we can all just stick to our brief and deal with things in the devolved space then we can all get on better together, rather than having this unnecessary tension. Other breaches, he said, came from Mr Robertson, who discussed Erasmus and Brexit with a French EU minister in Paris, and former minister Ivan McKee who discussed Scotland rejoining the EU during a Poland visit. During the meeting, the Scottish Secretary was joined by Scotland Office minister Lord Offord and Foreign Office under-secretary David Rutley. A spokesperson for the SNP responded: Scotlands wannabe governor general Alister Jack can perhaps convince himself that he represents the people of Scotland but he serves in a Tory government which Scotland did not vote for, imposing upon Scotland a Brexit we overwhelmingly rejected. Our excellent record of attracting overseas investment, our leadership on climate change and our promotion of Scotland as an energy powerhouse all demonstrate the value of Scottish Government international engagement. The reality is simply that the Tories are determined to ignore the views of people in Scotland and are trying to silence the Scottish Government whatever the cost. They are demonstrating they have no interest in working in partnership but want to exert ever tightening Westminster control. With independence, we can get rid of these unelected Tory governments for good, and work in a partnership of equals with our neighbours on these islands and our friends across Europe and the world. 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 }} Three missing Britons who were on a diving boat that burst into flames in the Red Sea off Egypt have died. A spokesman for Scuba Travel confirmed the deaths, saying that its guests perished when a medium-sized scuba diving boat called Hurricane went up in flames off the resort town of Marsa Alam on Sunday. A spokesman for Scuba Travel said, in a statement to Sky News: It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time. The three passengers were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were on a weeks stay on board the Hurricane dive boat when the fire broke out at around 8:30am local time (6:30am UK time). The statement added: At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning. A nearby craft was used to evacuate 12 divers and the 14 crew members also had to abandon ship after trying to reach the missing guests, according to Scuba Travel. Egyptian authorities had earlier said that following an initial examination of the vessel it was found that an electrical short circuit in the boats engine room sparked the blaze. A search party was launched to find the remaining three British tourists, whose identities were not been revealed. 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} One of Scotlands leading paediatric doctors said she still does not know what happened at a multi-million pound super hospital to cause infections in a childrens ward. Professor Brenda Gibson, a consultant paediatric haematologist, gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry on Monday, which is investigating a series of contamination issues at the 840 million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Scottish ministers announced the inquiry in the wake of deaths linked to infections at the hospital, including that of 10-year-old Millie Main, who was being treated for cancer at the childrens hospital that is part of the same campus. But on Monday, Professor Gibson, lead of the Schiehallion haemato-oncology unit, said: There are two versions of whats happened. There is a real environmental problem (and) theres no environmental problem at all. I still dont know which is true. You cant reassure or tell somebody not to worry about something if you dont know what the root cause is or what the problem truly is. Professor Brenda Gibson All I can say is we have had our 11 million refurbishment and we now have what is said to be the best ventilation system that money can buy and we have got water that is coming out of a post-filter tap which has no bacteria in it. The professor told inquiry chairman Lord Brodie that she had tried to get explanations for what the issues were at the hospital from the most senior management at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Alastair Duncan KC, the inquirys senior counsel, asked her if she had ever had an answer to what was happening from the very highest level. She replied: No. Contamination issues have been linked with water quality and ventilation systems in the super-hospital, which opened in April 2015. The inquiry heard patients in the ward had been moved because of concerns, and then had to be moved again because issues persisted. During her day-long evidence session, the professor said: For all of how awful this has been, I do think we are a great team. I built the unit and Im very proud of each and every one of them whos worked in it and, you know, has survived this. As Churchill said, when you find yourself walking in hell keep walking. And thats what we did. We did our best and we just want everybody to appreciate that we did do our best, and that we did try endlessly to bring attention to the concerns we had to those above us. The toll it had on families had been considerable, she said. And there had also been an impact on staff, she added. Some people have described themselves as destroyed, she told the inquiry. You cant reassure or tell somebody not to worry about something if you dont know what the root cause is or what the problem truly is. So it was very difficult trying to be reassuring and honest and supportive at the same time. And I think as a team we did question what we were doing all of the time, was it right what we were doing, but we did all of this in the background of actually being told on the one hand there was a problem, and on one hand there was no problem. The inquiry heard there was an enormous amount of stress suffered by the staff, and she had never seen a toll taken on staff like it. She said: One has to recognise that the biggest toll was taken by the parents, and I would never say anything that sounded as if I didnt recognise that because I do, but the strain on some of them, particularly nursing staff, was huge. The professor told the inquiry that the responsibility for providing a safe environment for patients lies with the health board. The unit had been based at Yorkhill in the city, and plans were drawn up for it to be moved. Professor Gibson said there had been very limited consultation. Professor Gibson told the hearing she had no involvement with ventilation or water systems, and her departments involvement was purely in deciding how we would allocate the space. Upon moving into the hospital, the inquiry heard, there were sewage leaks, cladding issues, and windows falling out. The inquiry also heard there were issues with temperature, blinds, televisions not working, and also issues with the smell of a nearby sewage treatment works. Professor Gibson is the lead clinician for the haematology and oncology service based in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. The inquiry is also examining problems that led to the delay in the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. It continues on Tuesday. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have arrested and charged two men over the disappearance and murder of County Antrim woman Chloe Mitchell, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said in a statement. A 26-year-old man has been charged with murder, and a 34-year-old man was charged with assisting in an offence. Both men are due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates Court on Monday morning. Detectives investigating the disappearance of Mitchell launched a murder inquiry on Sunday after suspected human remains were found in Ballymena. Ms Mitchell, 21, was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of 3 June in Ballymena town centre in Northern Ireland. Sadly, today detectives have recovered suspected human remains in Ballymena, and while there has been no formal identification, we have now launched a murder inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who was a high-risk, missing person, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Millar, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, had earlier said. Our thoughts this evening are very much with Chloes family and we have specialist officers providing them with support at this heart-breaking time. A 26-year-old man was arrested on Thursday in connection with the police investigation and he was being questioned on Sunday, with officers securing a 36-hour extension to his detention. The 34-year-old man was detained in the Ballymena area on Saturday. Forensic officers attended a flat in the James Street area of Ballymena on Sunday evening. The property had been cordoned off by police earlier in the week. The discovery came after extensive searches across Ballymena over recent days. Members of the Community Rescue Service (CRS) assisted police in the major search operation in Ballymena. In a statement on Sunday night, the volunteer-based organisation said: "The CRS would like to thank the people of Ballymena, those who live and work in the Harryville area and especially Chloes family and friends for their exceptional support during our operations." 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 }} A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with two counts of attempted murder following an incident at a private school in Devon. The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared before Exeter Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon charged with three offences relating to alleged assaults at Blundells School in Tiverton on June 9. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder relating to two youths, who cannot be named, and one of grievous bodily harm with intent against Henry Roffe-Silvester, a member of staff at the school. District Judge Stuart Smith remanded the boy in custody following the hearing, in which the court was sitting as a youth court. The judge told him: Your case is going to be sent to the Crown Court at Exeter. You will appear at the Crown Court tomorrow. I am going to remand you to youth detention accommodation overnight. Sonia Croft appeared for the prosecution during the hearing, while Michaela Rose represented the boy. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, then nodded when the judge asked if he had understood proceedings. The boy will next appear before Exeter Crown Court on June 13. 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 has been sentenced to more than two years in jail for obtaining drugs to have an abortion after the legal cut-off in what has been described as a tragic case. Carla Foster, 44, got hold of the abortion pills under the governments pills by post initiative that was rolled out in the wake of the Covid crisis and is still in operation now for unwanted pregnancies up to 10 weeks. Doctors concluded she was 32 to 34 weeks pregnant at the time. The court heard Foster, who already had three children before she became pregnant again in 2019, had lied to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) during a telephone consultation about how far along her pregnancy was so she could obtain the pills. Following the sentencing, abortion providers, campaigners and politicians fiercely criticised the decision to jail the mother as they called for abortion care in the UK to be immediately decriminalised. Despite receiving a letter from healthcare professionals asking him not to imprison Foster, justice Edward Pepperall imposed a 28-month sentence. Signatories to the letter included the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives. Justice Pepperall said Foster felt very deep and genuine remorse, was racked with guilt and still had nightmares over her actions. But he said his role as judge is to apply the law as provided by parliament and clarified by the Court of Appeal, adding that it is a matter for parliament and not for the courts. Discussing the letter, he said: If the medical profession considers that judges are wrong to imprison women who procure a late abortion outside the 24-week limit then it should lobby Parliament to change that law and not judges who are charged with the duty of applying the law. The judge said it would have been better if the letter, which he described as inappropriate, had not been written at all. Foster will carry out half her sentence in prison and the remaining time under licence. Having a medical abortion involves taking two tablets but can only be carried out up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy in the UK, while surgical abortions can be performed up to 23 weeks and six days into a pregnancy. Prosecuting, barrister Mr Robert Price said the woman had lied to BPAS about how pregnant she was, so they sent the tablets to her. He added: She said she had not seen a doctor about her pregnancy because she was embarrassed. While the baby was not full term, she was approaching that stage of development. Multiple and prolonged internet searches showed a level of planning. The taking of the drugs was a planned and deliberate act in which her intention could only have been to procure an abortion. The prosecution said the woman made a number of internet searches during lockdown between February and May 2020, including how to hide a pregnancy bump, how to have an abortion without going to the doctor and how to lose a baby at six months. Foster was initially charged with child destruction and pleaded not guilty but later pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion, which was accepted by the prosecution. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Justice Pepperall said the case was made more tragic because the woman did not plead guilty earlier, adding that he may have been able to consider suspending the jail sentence if she had. Abortions are still deemed a criminal act in England, Scotland, and Wales under the 1967 Abortion Act. The 1861 legislation means any woman who ends a pregnancy without obtaining legal permission from two doctors, who must agree that continuing with it would be a risk to the womans physical or mental health, can face up to life imprisonment. Any medical professional who delivers an abortion out of the terms of the act can face criminal punishment. Abortion providers, charities, medical bodies and MPs have spent years demanding that abortion is decriminalised in the UK. In a statement released after the sentencing, Clare Murphy, the chief executive of BPAS, said: We are shocked and appalled by the decision. No woman can ever go through this again. In their sentencing remarks, the judge made it that women will only be protected from prosecution if MPs bring forward legal change. There has never been a clearer mandate for parliamentary action, and the need has never been so urgent. Dr Sarah Salkeld, of abortion provider MSI Reproductive Choices, told The Independent: This has been an incredibly distressing case for everyone involved. It is neither a compassionate nor a proportionate response to send someone to prison for ending their pregnancy. Nor is it in the public interest. Mandu Reid, leader of the Womens Equality Party, told The Independent she was devastated for the woman at the centre of this case and absolutely furious at the system. Ms Reid added: This sentence is a human rights violation. No one should ever be criminalised or deprived of their liberty for accessing healthcare. This conviction serves absolutely no one not the woman, not her children, not the public interest. Labour MP Stella Creasy, who is an outspoken campaigner for abortion rights, tweeted: This case reveals bitter truth, contrary to what some claim, abortion is not legal in England and you can be prosecuted for having one. No other healthcare procedure has such a status. No other patient group would be treated this way. Its time to change [the] law and trust women. Ms Creasy, who is the MP for Walthamstow, argued it was a hangover from another era that abortion legislation is not founded on healthcare considerations, but first and foremost criminal sanctions. A march, calling for legal reform over the issue, has been arranged for Saturday. Additional reporting by Press Association Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A charity has warned people with lung conditions that very high pollen levels this week could lead to hospitalisations and deaths. The Met Office has shared a red warning for hay fever sufferers, showing that pollen counts will rise throughout the week. Its map shows the UK areas that will be hardest hit with very high pollen levels. England and Wales will be the worst off, but levels will also be high in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Asthma + Lung UK, a charity focusing on lung health, has warned that such high pollen levels could pose a serious risk to people with lung conditions. In particular, it shared how pollen can be a major trigger for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. Campaigners have said that the very high pollen levels could be deadly to asthma sufferers as it may leave them struggling to breath. Nearly half (47.1 per cent) of the five million people in Britain who have asthma and more than a quarter of COPD sufferers are triggered by pollen, according to the charity. The Met Office has issued red, amber and yellow warnings for pollen levels across the UK this week (Picture: Met Office/OpenMapTiles) (Met Office/OpenMapTiles/OpenStreetMap) The Met Offices red warnings cover most areas of England including Yorkshire and Humberside, the North West, the West Midlands, London the East of England and the South East and South West. It also covers Wales. Pollen levels will also be high in the North East of England and parts of Scotland including the Highlands, Dumfries and Galloway and the Lothian Borders, as well as Northern Ireland. Emma Rubach, Asthma + Lungs head of health advice, told the Mail: High pollen levels can be very dangerous for people with conditions like asthma, bringing on serious symptoms like wheezing and breathlessness. Hay fever can trigger people with COPD or asthma (Getty Images) They can prompt asthma attacks which can be terrifying, leaving them fighting to breathe. This can be deadly and around four people already die in the UK each day from an asthma attack. The charity has advised anyone who does have asthma or COPD to carry their inhaler wherever they go and to book a doctors appointment if they feel their symptoms getting much worse. It comes as very warm weather is set to continue across the majority of the UK this week after temperatures hit highs of 32C on Sunday, the hottest day of the year so far. This weekend saw the hottest day of 2023 so far with temperatures reaching 32C (PA) Temperatures went above 30C over the weekend in parts of the UK for the first time since August 2022, the Met Office said. However, large parts of the UK face warnings for thunderstorms with lightning strikes and torrential downpours forecast on Monday. The Independent has contacted Asthma + Lung UK for a comment. 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 }} Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence. After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect. Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest updates But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner who denies any connection to the missing youngster is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort. Madeleine McCann went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007 (PA) However, on Monday, police activity was spotted at a reservoir some 30 miles from the Praia da Luz resort, in what was soon reported to be international authorities gearing up for a major new search this week based on leads suggesting Brueckner made repeated trips to the area which he dubbed his little slice of paradise. The fresh search at the reservoir one of six in the Algarve is the first in Portugal since 2014, and comes as the Metropolitan Police were granted a further 110,000 by the Home Office to fund their search for Madeleine, who would turn 20 this month. It brings the total amount spent on the search for the Leicestershire-born girl, codenamed Operation Grange, to just shy of 13.1m since 2011, and is significantly less than the more than 300,000 approved by the Home Office the year prior. While the costs incurred by German and Portuguese authorities are unknown, Lisbons then-attorney general Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said in 2012 that the search for Madeleine had been the most expensive in the countrys history. As they began their fresh search near the Arade reservoir on Tuesday, police combed the waterways banks with the help of sniffer dogs, rakes and pickaxes, with emergency service divers spotted on a rigid-hull inflatable boat. Further along the banks of the reservoir, emergency services and officials from Portugal, Germany and the UK were seen holding briefings near blue police tents. Four teams of officers from the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria are involved in the operation, along with at least 20 of their German counterparts, Portuguese news outlet SIC said. A no-fly zone has been put in place over the water and media and other onlookers are being kept a mile back from the site of the search. Police used pickaxes and divers in their search on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images) The reservoir was previously searched in 2008, at the height of efforts to find Madeleine, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it, claiming to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleines body was there. Earlier this month, Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann posted a short statement on their Find Madeleine Campaign website to mark the anniversary of her disappearance. They said: Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction. Still missing still very much missed. It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel. The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} More than 600 migrants have crossed the English Channel in a new daily record this year, days after Rishi Sunak claimed his plan to stop the boats was working. Figures released by the Home Office show that 616 people arrived in 12 boats on Sunday, bringing the total so far this year to around 8,400. At the same point last year, the total had just passed 10,000, and last Monday the prime minister hailed the reduction as proof that our approach is working. But Border Force sources told The Independent crossings had been suppressed by weeks of rough seas in the Channel, and experts said much of the reduction had resulted from a drop in Albanian migrants rather than an overall change. Afghans are now the most common nationality arriving in small boats, following the collapse in the number of refugees resettled directly from the country following the Talibans takeover in 2021. There were no recorded small boat crossings between 28 May and Saturday, when 154 people made the journey as winds dropped and the sea calmed for the first time in a fortnight. Last Monday, the prime minister hailed progress on his pledge to stop the boats, saying that the drop in overall numbers by that point showed our approach is working. This wont be solved overnight, and people will continue to come this summer, which is why its so important that we change the law, he added. I said I would stop the boats and I meant it. Stephen Kinnock, Labours shadow immigration minister, said Mr Sunak needed to stop the boast and start stopping the boats. The prime minister got over excited and declared victory in 'stopping the boats' - despite 10,000 asylum seekers crossing the Channel this year, he added. With the weather improving and the number of crossings increasing, Rishi Sunak needs to roll up his sleeves and start doing the hard graft, rather than ploughing on with the headline-chasing, government-by-gimmick approach which landed him in this mess in the first place. Rishi Sunak says he 'will not rest' until small boats are stopped In response to the figures, the prime ministers spokesperson claimed crossings fluctuate on any given day and Mr Sunak had been speaking about a five-month average. The enhanced work with our French counterparts means that you are now more likely to be intercepted and stopped if you attempt to make a crossing than succeed in crossing the Channel, he added on Monday. But, clearly, crossings are continuing and that is because we have not been able to put in place our full plans, and obviously there is a great deal of work across government to that end. But on the same day, Home Office submissions to the Court of Appeal said its operational plans are based on scenarios of up to 56,000 small boat arrivals in 2023, which would be a new record and a rise of over a fifth on 2022. The disclosure was made as part of an ongoing legal battle over Suella Bravermans attempt to transform former military bases into asylum accommodation, using a planning bypass for emergencies. Experts had cautioned that it was too early to say whether small boat crossings were on course for an overall reduction this year, and if government policy or other factors were behind any changes. Dr Peter William Walsh, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said periods of calm weather over the summer would be the main test. Its impossible to know the extent to which the decline is driven by a fall in Albanian arrivals, he added. It could be that the governments deterrent policy is having an effect, but it is currently not possible to disentangle the governments policy changes from the range of other factors that influence irregular arrivals. (Data: Home Office) Lucy Moreton, of the ISU union which represents Border Force staff, said there was some evidence that the French are becoming much more effective in deterring crossings. There are also an increased number of attempts being aborted and returning to French soil when a vessel has failed, she added. However, crossings are continuing and planning continues to anticipate a similar number to last year. The government has claimed that its new Illegal Migration Bill, which aims to see all small boat migrants detained and deported without consideration of asylum or trafficking claims, will deter crossings. But a parliamentary report published on Sunday said the provisions could lead to asylum seekers taking more dangerous routes to the UK, benefit people smugglers and worsen trafficking. An inquiry by the cross-party joint committee on human rights said the government had not provided any evidence backing claims the bill would deter Channel crossings, and that many of its provisions were unlawful. The government has not yet published an official assessment for the law, which has already been approved by the House of Commons and is being considered by the Lords. During a debate last week, 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. A Home Office spokesperson said: The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system. Our priority is to stop this illegal trade, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers. 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 }} Actress Nikki Sanderson has told the High Court she is not an object as part of her claim against the Mirrors publisher over alleged unlawful information-gathering. Former Coronation Street star Ms Sanderson, 39, is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles The Daily and Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities. Ms Sanderson, who played Candice Stowe in the ITV soap between 1999 and 2005, is set to finish her evidence on Monday afternoon after entering the witness box on Friday. The former Coronation Street actress arrived at the Rolls Buildings in central London for her phone hacking trial (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire) The actress is bringing her claim in relation to 37 articles published in Mirror titles between 1999 and 2009. MGN has previously denied that 35 of the 37 articles involved phone hacking or unlawful information-gathering, with one article being not admitted. During the second day of her evidence, Ms Sanderson was taken through several of the articles by MGNs barrister, along with some examples of similar stories in non-MGN publications. One of these stories, a short piece in the Daily Mirror from May 2005, showed Ms Sanderson and her then-boyfriend Danny Young on a beach together, which MGN say came from a photography agency. Ms Sanderson described the photo as unflattering, adding: I just dont understand how they knew I was talking about going on holiday with my friends. The actress, who has played Maxine Minniver in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks since 2012, was then taken to a front-page photoshoot she starred in with the mens magazine Maxim in August 2005. Andrew Green KC, for MGN, noted that Ms Sanderson was in lingerie. Ms Sanderson replied: Ive chosen to do it, Ive got control on the day, Ive consented to it. The barrister later said: You took the view that this sort of article was good for your career. This sort of article is something I consented to, the actress replied. I should have consent over my own life and own image, who I see. Ms Sanderson later told the court that she is within my rights to make her choices. She continued: Im not public property, Im not a commodity, Im not an object, Im still a human. I have the right to choose what Im doing. Ms Sanderson added that having done interviews and photoshoots doesnt mean that the illegal activity against me is okay. She denied that an article was trivial and said it felt as though she was being watched and followed (Lucy North/PA Wire) The court later heard that one of the articles described Ms Sanderson as having an argument near the Coronation Street set. Mr Green said: It says you were fuming there is a reference to an onlooker. This appears to be reporting something someone had seen rather than being gathered from voicemail messages. However, Ms Sanderson said she would not have had a row outside of the set, where she could be seen by the public. She added: I just dont feel like that would have happened. The actress later denied a suggestion that another article was utterly trivial. To you it might seem trivial, to me its like I was being watched and followed, she said. In a witness statement prepared for the trial, Ms Sanderson said that MGN journalists abused her when she was a child. Questioned about this on Monday, Ms Sanderson said this related to the abuse of power towards me as a child. In its trial defence, the publisher says Ms Sandersons claim is brought too late but unreservedly apologises over four payments made to private investigators which it admits are evidence of instructions to unlawfully obtain her private information. Mr Green told the court on Friday that the evidence in Ms Sandersons case is weak and the publisher does not accept that it establishes a case of voicemail interception and does not show systemic hacking of her phone. Ms Sandersons case is one of four representative claims being heard in London, alongside similar claims brought by the Duke of Sussex, Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A British man arrested while climbing the worlds fifth-tallest skyscraper in South Korea without a harness planned to parachute off the top then evade police and escape the country by plane. George King-Thompson, 24, was arrested in Seoul on Monday after climbing the 123-storey, 1,820ft (555m) Lotte World Tower an ascent he dreamt of while in prison for scaling the Shard in London, according to a statement shared by his sponsor. The 24-year-old, from Oxford, was wearing a parachute and planned to jump from the top of the building but reached the 72nd floor before being detained. After years of dreaming and months of planning, Mr King-Thompson was then going to evade Korean authorities and catch a flight out of the country to escape arrest. This is the most exhilarating stunt Ive ever done, Mr King-Thompson said in the statement shared by Riot E-liquid, the vape brand that sponsors him. The climb is fraught with danger, and if I pull it off, I have to get out of the country asap to avoid arrest. According to his sponsor, Mr King-Thompson dreamed of performing the stunt while in Pentonville Prison for three months as punishment for scaling the Shard in July 2019. In August 2021, the same year he was released from prison, Mr King-Thompson climbed the 23-storey Unex Tower in Stratford, east London, without ropes, nine days after doing the same at the neighbouring Stratosphere Tower. Footage shared on Monday showed the climber in shorts scaling the tower in South Korea as 90 emergency, police and other personnel were dispatched to the scene, according to the local fire service. 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 }} Hugh Callaghan, one of the six men wrongly jailed for the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, has sung at his own funeral, a priest has said. Mr Callaghan, alongside Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny and Billy Power, was wrongly convicted of murdering 21 people when two explosions ripped apart the Tavern in the Town and Mulberry Bush pubs in Birmingham in 1974. The group were convicted in 1975 and jailed for life. They were freed after more than 16 years, when the Court of Appeal in 1991 ruled their convictions were unsafe. About 200 people attended Mr Callaghans funeral at The Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Dominic church in Homerton, east London, on Monday, where he was a much-loved member of the congregation, parish priest the Rev Patrick Allsop said. Father Allsop said he was a major figure in the community partly because he had a magnificent voice. He could sing unaccompanied with complete accuracy. The most extraordinary thing is that he did a studio recording of his party piece, which is the great Irish song Danny Boy and that was played as he was carried out of the church. I think its the first time the deceased has sung himself out of a funeral mass. Mr Callaghan also serenaded the ward in hospital shortly before he died, where he was being treated for a chest infection. Mr Callaghan, who was 93, recovered from the chest infection but died from a heart attack on May 27, Father Allsop said. He moved to London in 1991 after he was released from prison and began to attend the east London church. Irish musicians performed during the funeral and the London Irish Choir attended the service, Father Allsop added. Father Allsop said: After he had been released after 16 years in prison he was sort of unsettled as to where he would feel happy and comfortable. But he eventually decided that the Irish community in London were the people he wanted to be with. 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 }} Politicians must be careful in how they speak about trans people to prevent them being targeted in an inappropriate way, a minister has said. Minister for women Maria Caulfield urged MPs to be mindful of their language as they debated a petition from 110,000 people calling for the Equality Act to be clarified so the terms man and woman legally mean biological sex and not sex as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate. It was considered alongside a rival petition, which has almost 139,000 signatures, and says the proposed change would remove legal protections for trans people, an already marginalised group. Ms Caulfield told the Westminster Hall debate: We do have to be careful that we are making assumptions that one of the reasons that women want single sex space is because they feel of a predatory nature of trans people. That isnt the case. For the vast majority of women, they just want to be with other women. But we do need to be mindful of our language and tone so that trans communities do not feel they are being given labels or targeted in an inappropriate way. We do need to be mindful of our language and tone so that trans communities do not feel they are being given labels or targeted in an inappropriate way Maria Caulfield Earlier in the debate, Conservative MP Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) said: Whilst academic elites cave in to aggressive misogynistic trans activism, ordinary women are frightened to go to hospital. Ordinary men fear for the safety of their daughters in public toilets. Ordinary children are subjected to a psychological experiment which they are told they can choose their gender, and ordinary toddlers are used to satisfy the sexual fetish of adult men dressed as eroticised women. Understanding the difference between male and female underpins society, safety and security. We must clarify the Equality Act to give ordinary people the certainty that our laws can be trusted to protect women and children, and that sex means sex. SNP MP Hannah Bardell responded: I feel it incumbent upon me to make a point of order on the fact that trans people are being characterised as predators. That is deeply undemocratic and deeply worrying in this debate, and that is not what this debate is about, and for the Member to be using language like that and terms like that is unparliamentary. But Ms Cates replied: I was making the point that the vast majority of sexual predation happens by men of women and children, and those are the rules that society has evolved to protect against. Ahead of the debate, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said biological sex is fundamentally important, but Ms Caulfield said the Government had not yet finished considering whether to make changes to the Equality Act. After being asked to investigate changes to the Act, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in April said that while it found no straightforward balance, the change could bring greater legal clarity in eight areas including hospital wards and sport. Ms Caulfield told MPs said: I know that Members in this Chamber today will be eager to hear updates and reassurances and the timeline around our next steps, but these issues under discussion today are complex and we need to be proceeding carefully and respectfully, because as we have heard in the Chamber there are a wide number of people who would be affected by any change. I hope that Members will agree it is only right and proper that we take timely consideration of the advice that we have been given before coming to any conclusions. Conservative former minister Tim Loughton gave his backing to calls for the Act to be amended, claiming it was about clarification, not change. He said: There is currently confusion about how the Equality Act operates in relation to sex that is jeopardising provision of single sex and separate sex services allowed for by the act. On sport, he said: Its not fair on women and girls whove spent years training in their sport only to have it snatched away by competing against somebody who is biologically different. Labours Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Kemptown) meanwhile backed calls to leave the Act as it is. He said: People are complex and thats why flexibility in the law, the current law as it stands, is important. Actually, by defining it too much, what you suddenly do is assume that everyone lives in these easy binary boxes. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} One of Scotlands leading doctors has said she did not sign off on plans for a childrens ward, telling an inquiry they were promised a like-for-like unit they never got. Professor Brenda Gibson, a consultant paediatric haematologist, gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry on Monday, which is investigating a series of contamination issues at the 840 million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Scottish ministers announced the inquiry in the wake of deaths linked to infections at the hospital, including that of 10-year-old Millie Main, who was being treated for cancer at the childrens hospital that is part of the same campus. The inquiry is also examining problems that led to the delay in the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. Professor Gibson told Alister Duncan KC, the inquirys senior counsel, that she she did not sign off on plans because they had not got the hospital they were promised. The professor, lead of the Schiehallion childrens cancer unit, told the 11 million inquiry that the responsibility for providing a safe environment for patients lies with the health board. The unit had been based at Yorkhill in the city, and plans were drawn up for it to be moved. Prof Gibson said there had been very limited consultation. All that I remember we had as choices was there was a floor plan, and that was to be our space, and we were not to have any more space than that, the inquiry heard. We had been promised a like-for-like unit in a flagship hospital and it certainly wasn't a like-for-like unit Professor Brenda Gibson We could do anything related to that space, but if it didnt meet our needs, it couldnt be extended. So we just had to make the most of that space and we opted to maximise the number of patient cubicles. It meant at the new hospital, she told the inquiry, they had to sacrifice much of what had been at the old unit in order to fit patients to avoid them being sent to other wards and, as a result lost office space, parent accommodation, a staff room, a seminar room, and pharmacy accommodation. I, as the lead, was asked to sign off the plan and I didnt do it. Well, I didnt do it to the best of my knowledge. I certainly held out for a very long time, she said. I think it was signed off by a senior nurse, a managerial nurse. Thats my understanding. And, the inquiry heard: We had been promised a like-for-like unit in a flagship hospital and it certainly wasnt a like-for-like unit. Contamination issues have been linked with water quality and ventilation systems in the super-hospital, which opened in April 2015. Prof Gibson told the hearing, which is being overseen by inquiry chairman Lord Brodie, she had no involvement with ventilation or water systems, and their involvement was purely in deciding how we would allocate the space. During the hearing, Prof Gibson said it was the view of clinicians that they were responsible for providing chemotherapy or any other form of care within national or international protocols or guidelines, and to do that with a well-trained workforce within a holistic manner. She added: The responsibility for providing a safe environment for that treatment to be delivered lies, within our view, with the health board led by the chief executive. The responsibility for deciding is a place safe or not safe, lies with control of infection. Upon moving into the hospital, the inquiry heard, there were sewage leaks, cladding issues, and windows falling out. The inquiry also heard there were issues with temperature, blinds, televisions not working, and also issues with the smell of a nearby sewage treatment works. Prof Gibson is the lead clinician for the haematology and oncology service based in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. The inquiry continues. 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 }} Cooperation between Labour and the Liberal Democrats could be key to defeating Rishi Sunaks Conservatives in a slate of upcoming by-elections, a top political scientist has said. Sir John Curtice said tactical voting would be crucial in the seats up for grabs after Boris Johnson and two other Tory MPs quit the Commons. Mr Sunak is facing three difficult electoral tests in Mr Johnson's former West London seat of Uxbridge and West Ruislip, as well as in the constituencies of Mid-Bedfordshire and Selby and Ainsty. These contests were triggered after MPs Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams, both allies for the former PM, follow him out of the door after a row over whether they would get seats in the House of Lords. Writing in The Independent Sir John, a highly respected professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, suggested that all seats were potentially within grasp of opposition parties under the right conditions. But he said previous experience of by-elections showed that in that Mid-Bedforshire especially, opposition prospects could hang on whether Labour decided to mount a serious campaign or leave the Lib Dems to hoover up tactical votes. The Liberal Democrats would need as much as a 24-point swing to take the seat from the Conservatives. But that is less than the 34% swing the party secured in North Shropshire and the 30% swing in Tiverton & Honiton, he said, referencing two recent by-election upsets pulled off by Sir Ed Daveys party. However, one key ingredient of those Liberal Democrat successes was the partys ability to persuade Labour voters to cast an anti-Conservative tactical vote in their favour in both instances the Labour vote fell heavily. That squeeze was seemingly aided by Labours apparent decision not to mount much of a campaign in the seat, a decision that was reciprocated by the Liberal Democrats in the Wakefield by-election where Labour emerged victors. Boris Johnsons Uxbridge seat essential for Labour, says Prof John Curtice (N/A) Sir John questioned whether Labour would be willing to take this approach this time around given the wider political context of a looming general election. The top political scientist said that in Uxbridge and West Ruislip, Labour would have the best change of beating the Conservatives and that victory would seem not just a desirable but an essential target for Sir Keir Starmer were he on course to win a general election. In Selby, Sir John said Labour has previously enjoyed enjoyed significant support there in the past though it would need an 18 per cent swing against the Tories to win. Tory peer Lord Hayward told The Independent the byelections will be serious challenge for the Tories to win. Its very difficult for a government to win byelections, even if they have large majorities. The elections expert warned Sir Keir Starmer that the contests are also a big challenge for Labour. They have to do well to prove they are ready to get the votes they need in some very different constituencies. Despite the prospect of awkward campaigns ahead, Lord Hayward said Mr Sunak would be relieved to have Mr Johnson and some of his staunchest supporters gone. Rishi Sunak will be relieved to see Boris gone, says top Tory pollster (AFP/Getty) Despite the short-term, problematic by-elections, Rishi avoids longer-term problems. Boris is big personality he still enormous potential to cause problems. But on balance, its cleaner for Rishi to have Boris and those allies outside parliament The senior Tory figure added: I think Rishi Sunak has dodged a bullet. If Boris had fought the byelection, it would have been mayhem a really divisive thing for the party, with some going to campaign for him and others not supporting. What would Rishi have done? No date has yet been set for the by-elections, with the timing reliant on when the government choses to move the writ in parliament. But the votes are expected within three to four weeks. Opposition parties have however wasted no time in starting their campaigns, with senior Labour figures including campaign coordinator Shabana Mahmood hitting the doorsteps in Uxbridge and West Ruislip over the weekend. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed meanwhile meanwhile travelled to Mid Bedfordshire on Monday to declare the constituency a close race between his outfit and an out of touch Tory Party. Speaking on Monday communities secretary Michael Gove said by-elections are always challenging, but added: Elections are part of political life. Close Moment MPs vote in favour of Partygate report finding Johnson misled parliament Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Tory civil war has grown more fractious as Zac Goldsmith hit out at misleading No 10 briefing over his scathing resignation, insisting that Rishi Sunak was wrong to claim he had refused to apologise over his Partygate comments. The outgoing environment minister claimed he was happy to apologise for remarks labelled disturbing by the privileges committee in their report alleging interference from 10 Tories during their investigation which found that Boris Johnson repeatedly lied to parliament. As he sought to get back on the front foot at a No 10 briefing outlining his plans for NHS reforms, Mr Sunak insisted the Tory peer had resigned after taking a different course when asked to apologise for his incompatible remarks despite No 10 insisting just hours earlier that he had the PMs confidence. But Lord Goldsmith opened up a new front of criticism for Mr Sunak as he countered the PMs claims of his refusal to apologise on Friday, insisting the Sunak governments lethargy on climate meant his resignation had been a long time coming. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The row between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak today descended into a open warfare as the former PM accused his successor of talking rubbish about the resignation honours list saga. Mr Johnson hit back at the prime minister after Mr Sunak accused his one-time ally of asking him to do something I wasnt prepared to do by bending the rules on peerages. In his first public comments since Mr Johnson quit as MP, a defiant Mr Sunak claimed Mr Johnson asked him to either overrule the committee which vets peerages - known as Holac - or make promises to people on the issue. Mr Sunak claimed he was not prepared to do that because he didnt think it was right. Ramping up his message, he added: If people dont like that, then tough. But Mr Johnson responded hours later, saying that all Mr Sunak needed to do was ask Holac to renew their vetting. He said in a statement: Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish. To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule Holac - but simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality. Mr Johnson and his allies blame Downing Street for some of his key Tory allies - including Nadine Dorries, Alok Sharma and Nigel Evans - failing to appear on the former prime ministers resignation honours list. As well as Mr Johnson, the saga prompted the resignation of Ms Dorries and Ms Adams, triggering three challenging by-elections for the Prime Minister as his party trails in the polls. Speaking at the London Tech Week conference, Mr Sunak said: Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasnt prepared to do because I didnt think it was right. That was to either overrule the Holac (House of Lords Appointments Commission) committee or to make promises to people. Now, I wasnt prepared to do that. I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough. When I got this job I said I was going to do things differently because I wanted to change politics and thats what Im doing. After Mr Sunaks comments, an ally of Mr Johnson fired back by accusing Mr Sunak of having secretly blocked a handful of peerages. Downing Street later said Mr Sunak does not regret the comments he made at the event. A spokesman said: He was asked a direct question. He gave a clear answer. There have been claims that Mr Johnson reached a gentlemans agreement with Mr Sunak that he would wave through the honours list and allow the MPs to be re-vetted by Holac at a later date so they would not have to stand down now. But Mr Johnsons camp has accused his successor of breaking the deal that has now enflamed tensions. Government figures have insisted neither Mr Sunak nor Downing Street removed names from Mr Johnsons peerages submission. Michael Gove stressed on Monday that the appropriate procedure and the correct precedent was followed. Meanwhile Downing Street said it is is entirely untrue that Rishi Sunak or members of his No 10 team removed names from Boris Johnsons peerages submission. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the appropriate procedure and the correct precedent was followed (PA Wire) Asked if anyone in No 10 spoke to the House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) before it made its redactions to Mr Johnsons list, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: It is entirely untrue to say that anyone from No 10 attempted to remove or change or alter Holacs list. The official noted that this is a process for Holac to make a decision and said that when it comes to peerages, the final list comes to the Prime Minister. Asked whether Mr Sunak broke a deal with his predecessor under which he would have waved through the honours list as has been suggested by Mr Johnsons camp the spokesman pointed to the Prime Ministers comments on Monday morning, when he said Mr Johnson asked him to do something I wasnt prepared to do by overruling Holac. Holac, which Mr Johnson himself overruled while in No 10 over the peerage of Tory donor Peter Cruddas, has confirmed it did not support eight nominees put forward by the ex-leader. On Saturday, Downing Street took the decision on Saturday to declassify Holac chairman Lord Bews approved names to Mr Sunak. The letter, dated February 5, contains the seven peerages announced on Friday, along with a redacted name of a person who took the personal decision to withdraw themselves. The row came as the Privileges Committee met to conclude its inquiry into whether the former prime minister misled Parliament over No 10 lockdown parties. MPs have pledged to continue the investigation process despite Mr Johnsons Commons exit amid accusations of a witch hunt. But Downing Street has backed the committee, insisting is is doing exactly what Parliament asked. The prime ministers spokesman said: This is a properly set-up committee that the House has voted to carry out their work The government will in no way traduce or criticise the work of the committee. The panel is set to meet in Westminster on Monday with a view to deciding when to publish its report. There has been speculation that the seven-person committee, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, could release its findings in a matter of days. The probe is thought to have ruled that Mr Johnson lied to Parliament when he told MPs Covid rules were followed in Downing Street despite boozy parties taking place while social distancing restrictions were in place. Mr Johnson accused the committee of bias and likened it to a kangaroo court. The Privileges Committee, in response, said Mr Johnson impugned the integrity of the House with his attack. Meanwhile, as the row between Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak intensified, the former prime minister lashed out at the government for foot-dragging with an attempt to stop his unredacted WhatsApp messages being released to the Covid inquiry. The former prime minister said the governments judicial review against the inquiry is wasting public time and money and frustrating the inquirys work. The Cabinet Office has launched a High Court challenge against inquiry chairwoman Baroness Halletts request for the wholesale handover of Mr Johnsons messages and notebooks from the pandemic. The Cabinet Office says some of the information requested by the inquiry does not relate to the Governments handling of coronavirus and is unambiguously irrelevant. But Baroness Hallett, a former judge, has said she should be able to decide what is relevant. Mr Johnson has offered to bypass the Cabinet Office and give information straight to Baroness Hallett to review. He told The Times: The Cabinet Office has blocked me from directly sharing unredacted material with the inquiry despite my repeated attempts to do so. The government wants the whole matter to be decided by the courts, even though government ministers are on record saying that litigation is pointless because the government will not win. The Cabinet Offices foot-dragging approach to the inquiry is costing public time and money. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson has accused Rishi Sunak of talking rubbish over his House of Lords nominations as the increasingly bitter feud between the prime minister and his predecessor descended into open warfare. The astonishing clash came as the former Tory leader faces the final reckoning of his political career after a Commons committee finalised its Partygate report expected to find that the former PM deliberately lied to parliament about lockdown parties. Senior Tories expect the damning privileges committee findings to finish off any hopes of a comeback, telling The Independent that it would mark the end of the circus. However, Mr Johnson threatened just that on Monday, telling The Express newspaper: As the great Arnold Schwarzenegger said, Ill be back. The rancour between Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson descended into a public slanging match on Monday when the PM claimed the former Tory leader has asked him to bend the rules over peerages something I was not prepared to do. But a furious Mr Johnson hit back, saying: Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish adding that he had asked the PM to make sure the Lords authorities renew their vetting. As the extraordinary row deepened, No 10 warned against any attempt to traduce the privileges committee after Johnson allies branded it a kangaroo court and compared it to an episode of Black Mirror. A source close to the privileges committee told The Independent they expected to find that Mr Johnson deliberately lied to parliament over Partygate and that MPs will make clear the length of the suspension they would have recommended, had he not quit the Commons. The committee had reportedly been ready to punish Mr Johnson with a suspension of 20 days. But he is now expected to avoid the embarrassing sanction likely to have sparked a by-election because he is standing down as the MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip. One senior Tory MP told The Independent they expected the report to be harsh and cement Mr Johnsons unpopularity with the public, adding: I think the public are completely fed up with him, as is the party. This is the end of Boris. This is the end of the circus. Thank goodness. Boris Johnson accuses Rishi Sunak of talking rubbish (PA Archive) Another senior Tory said they expected the report to be the end of his political career. Theres only a dozen or so whod like him back, and thats it, said the MP. Despite Mr Johnsons dramatic decision to resign his Uxbridge seat rather than face a widely expected suspension, allies have suggested he could still find another seat to run in at the next general election. Jacob Rees-Mogg warned Tory HQ that any attempt to block Mr Johnson if he seeks another seat could plunge the party into civil war. Fellow loyalist James Duddridge MP said he would put a fiver on him coming back maybe even before the next election. Claire Bullivant, chief executive of the Conservative Democratic Organisation, told The Independent: This is far from game over for Boris. Whether Boris stands again elsewhere before the next election or comes back later, who knows I just know theyre so fearful of him that theyre now trying to ban him for life from parliament. Mr Johnson still faces the prospect of a permanent ban from parliament. If there is a debate on the privileges committee report next week, Labour is reportedly considering a motion to make sure the ex-Tory leader is handed a lifetime suspension. Ms Bullivant said: They know he would beat Starmer, thats why. This whole kangaroo court is like a Black Mirror episode. Boris comeback unlikely say top Tories despite claims by allies (PA Wire) One Johnson ally told The Independent the former PM had been harshly treated by the privileges committee. But they said it would be a bit odd if he was to seek another seat too soon saying CCHQ and Mr Sunak would not stand for it. Sunak wouldnt want him sitting behind him on the green benches, they added. Tory peer Lord Hayward told The Independent: He still hasnt accepted he is not coming back. But every time he lashes out, he damages himself and gets even further away from coming back its very unlikely he will be able to make a comeback now. In his first public comments since Mr Johnson quit as an MP, a defiant Mr Sunak claimed Mr Johnson asked him to either overrule the House of Lords appointments commission which vets peerages or make promises to people on the issue. Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasnt prepared to do because I didnt think it was right. That was to either overrule the Holac committee or to make promises to people, the PM said at the London Tech Week conference. But Mr Johnson denied that he had asked Mr Sunak to bend the rules. Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish, he said in a statement. To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule Holac but simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality. Michael Gove says Johnsons parliamentary career has ended (PA Wire) Former Tory leader Michael Howard also a former Holac member suggested Mr Johnson was lying about his recent conversation with Mr Sunak. Not only was he not telling the truth this afternoon, he must have known he wasnt telling the truth, he told LBC. Fellow Tory leader William Hague also condemned M Johnson and his camp in his latest Times column saying cries of witch-hunt against the privileges committee were highly inaccurate and insulting. Lord Hague attacked Mr Johnsons sadly irredeemable flaws, saying: The most serious of those has been a tendency to damage the institutions around him. Even as he bolts out of the door, Boris pulls out a few bricks from the wall of another vital institution, parliament. The saga over peerages has prompted the immediate resignation of two of those put forward, Mr Johnsons allies Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams triggering three challenging by-elections for the PM as his party trails in the polls. Mr Johnson wrote to the chancellor to formally resign as the MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip, a source close to the former PM confirmed. The three quitting MPs will be appointed to the ceremonial roles of the Chiltern Hundreds or Manor of Northstead while waiting for by-elections to be held. Recommended Blow for British businesses as EU rules out renegotiating Brexit trade deal for years Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said Mr Johnsons parliamentary career had ended, but acknowledged his former ally was unlikely to step back quietly. Boris will always want to argue his case, as he has done throughout his political career, with individual flair and pungency, he told Times Radio. Senior Tory MP Jake Berry, a friend of Mr Johnsons, told reporters: The establishment has seen Boris out the door. But the ex-Tory chairman declined to say if he would like to see his friend standing at the next election, saying he looked forward to campaigning with my friend Rishi. 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 }} Humza Yousaf has said that he sees no reason to suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the SNP following her arrest on Sunday. The former first minister was interviewed as a suspect for almost seven hours by detectives investigating allegations of financial misconduct at the Scottish National Party. After questioning she was released without charge pending further investigation but a number of figures both within and outside the party have called for her to be suspended. Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down from her role as party and government leader in April, said in a statement on Sunday night that she was innocent of any wrongdoing. Asked about the calls to suspend his predecessor, SNP leader Mr Yousaf said he would do what I believe is right to the values of natural justice. He noted that other SNP figures, former treasurer Colin Beattie and Ms Sturgeons husband Peter Murrell, who were arrested had not been suspended. Nicola Sturgeon, like Colin Beattie, like Peter Murrell, was released without charge. Therefore, I see no reason for their membership to be suspended, Mr Yousaf said. Opposition parties have seized on the decision. Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said that the lack of action by Ms Yousaf shows that he is a weak leader, while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar questioned whether the first minister was strong enough to take action. The arrests are part of Operation Branchform, Police Scotland's investigation into claims that 600,000 in donations for an independence campaign was misspent by Scotland's governing party. Calls for action against Ms Sturgeon also came from within the SNP, which she led for eight years. SNP MSP Michelle Thomson said that in 2015 she herself had been required to resign the SNP whip although I was never personally under investigation and was certainly not arrested. She added: After careful consideration, I feel the right thing for the former first minister to do is to resign the SNP whip. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 15 May 2023 Viewing assistant and History of Art student Emma Scarr Hall takes a closer look at @Pink Roses (1923) by Scottish Colourist artist Leslie Hunter which is estimated at 60,000-80,000 in the forthcoming Bonhams Scottish Art Sale in Edinburgh PA Meanwhile, former leadership candidate Ash Regan said that Ms Sturgeon should consider voluntarily resigning her SNP membership until this can be cleared up as a growing number of party figures speak out. I think he should consider it, Ms Regan told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, when asked if Mr Humza should suspend his former boss. I think that the leadership and Humza need to really think about taking decisive action at the moment, she added. It follows SNP MP Angus MacNeils call for Ms Sturgeons suspension, tweeting: This soap-opera has gone far enough, Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less! When asked about previous instances of the SNP suspending elected representatives while investigations took place, Mr Yousaf said he could only account for decisions taken by him, and not those of previous leaders. Speaking to Moray Firth Radio on Monday, Mr Yousaf also spoke about how the arrest had impacted him saying it was personally quite painful. Ive spoken about my longstanding friendship with Nicola Sturgeon over many years and I know that it's been a difficult day for her and a difficult day for our party and for those that know Nicola Sturgeon, as I have done for well over 15 years, he said. What I will say is that Ive got to separate that out from the role as first minister, and that role as first minister makes it incumbent on me to make sure I dont intervene or comment on a live police investigation. The first minister said, however, he has not spoken to Ms Sturgeon and that when they do speak they do not discuss the police investigation. 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 }} Visitors to the Tate Modern will have a rare opportunity to see works by artists including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and David Hockney in a new exhibition exploring the relationship between painting and photography. The new display, titled Capturing the Moment, opens to the public on Tuesday June 13. On show are pieces such as Warhols iconic silkscreen prints and paintings by Picasso and Francis Bacon, alongside images captured by acclaimed photographers. The Tate Modern says that the exhibit will unfold as an open-ended conversation between some of the greatest painters and photographers of recent generations and consider how the brush and the lens have been used to capture moments in time. Capturing the Moment will begin with some of the most renowned expressive painters of the post-war period and will also show how the influence runs in the opposite direction, with a series of strikingly painterly photographs, the museum explains. The exhibition came about in collaboration with the YAEGO foundation, which was founded by Taiwanese collector, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Pierre Chen in 1999. The Tate Modern added: The exhibition will be a rare opportunity to see extraordinary works from the YAGEO Foundation Collection, including paintings by Francis Bacon, Gerhard Richter and Peter Doig and photographs by Thomas Struth, Andreas Gursky and Hiroshi Sugimoto. Shown in dialogue with many recent additions to Tates collection including works by Lorna Simpson, John Currin, Laura Owens, Michael Armitage and Louise Lawler. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Colombian mother, whose children miraculously survived 40 days in the Amazon jungle, was alive for four days after a plane crash, a latest testimony revealed. The four children were found alive by authorities on Friday, over a month after the small plane crashed in the jungle after going off the radar on 1 May. The children survived by eating cassava flour, authorities said. The siblings, aged 13, 9, 4 and 1, are undergoing treatment at the military hospital in Bogota, Colombia, but have started detailing their ordeal. Manuel Ranoque, father of the two youngest children, told reporters outside the hospital on Sunday that the oldest of the four siblings 13-year-old Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy had described to him how their mother was alive for about four days after the plane crashed. Mr Ranoque said before she died, the mother likely would have told them: Go away, apparently asking them to leave the wreckage site to survive. Authorities have not said anything about this version yet but details of what happened to the youngsters, and what they did, have been emerging gradually. 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, 10 June 2023. The children survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and had been the subject of an intense search in the jungle. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) This handout picture released by the Colombian Presidency shows members of the Colombian Army checking 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 in Bogota. (Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get) One of the four Indigenous children who were found alive after being lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon forest following a plane crash, is stretchered out of a plane upon landing at the CATAM military base in Bogota on 10 June 2023. (AFP via Getty Images) The youngest child, Cristin, turned a year old while the siblings were roaming alone in the jungle. The children were malnourished but fully conscious and lucid when found, the authorities said at the time. Henry Guerrero, an Indigenous man who was part of the search group, told reporters that the children were found with two small bags containing some clothes, a towel, a flashlight, two cellphones, a music box and a soda bottle. He said they used the bottle to collect water in the jungle, and he added that after they were rescued the youngsters complained of being hungry. They wanted to eat rice pudding, they wanted to eat bread, he said. Fidencio Valencia, a childs uncle, told the media outlet Noticias Caracol that the children were starting to talk and one of them said they hid in tree trunks to protect themselves in a jungle area filled with snakes, animals and mosquitoes. He said they were exhausted. Colombia's first lady Veronica Alcocer (L) and Sofia Petro (R), daughter of Colombian president Gustavo Petro, visiting one of the four Indigenous children. (Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get) In this photo released by Colombia's Armed Forces Press Office, 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. (AP) They at least are already eating, a little, but they are eating, he said after visiting them. The children were travelling with their mother from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to the town of San Jose del Guaviare when the plane went down. The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and four children when the pilot declared an emergency due to engine failure. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later and a search for survivors began, which closed after the children were found on Friday. Additional reporting by agencies Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in the California city of Antioch are investigating a mass shooting at a birthday party that left an 18-year-old woman dead and six wounded. The shooting occurred just before 1am on Sunday after uninvited guests showed up to the birthday of a 19-year-old male on the 3300 block of Sunset Lane, the Antioch Police Department said in a statement. The gunfire sparked panic among partygoers who fled in multiple directions, with many victims driving themselves to the hospital, police said. The suspects made off in a vehicle before police arrived. An 18-year-old woman, who has not been identified, was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said. The party host told NBC Bay Area that they had attempted life saving measures on the victim while on the phone to 911. He claimed that the ambulance took too long to arrive. The other victims ranging in age from 18 to 20 were treated for non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Police did not release any information about what led to the shooting, or a possible motive. Police in Antioch, California, are searching for suspects in a mass shooting at a 19th birthday party early on Sunday morning (NBC Bay Area) There have been 290 mass shootings resulting in four or more people being shot already in the United States in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. In April, four teenagers died and 32 were wounded when gunfire erupted at a 16th birthday party in Alabama. Several young children were also among the victims in a mass shooting that claimed eight lives at a Texas outlet mall in May. Detectives with the Antioch Police Departments Investigations Bureau are interviewing numerous witnesses and residents in the area and are working to identify suspects or persons-of-interest. Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe told NBC Bay Area that his heart went out to the victims. Antioch is a city of about 115,000 residents located 45 miles northeast of San Francisco. 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 }} Accused killer Bryan Kohberger has asked a judge for more time to decide whether to offer an alibi for the murders of four University of Idaho students. The 28-year-old criminology PhD student filed a motion in Latah County Court on Friday saying that his legal team needs more time due to the wealth of evidence in the high-profile case. The evidence so far handed over by state prosecutors includes thousands of pages of discovery, thousands of photographs, hundreds of hours of recordings, further many gigabytes of electronic phone record and social media data, the court documents state. This voluminous discovery process is still ongoing so to decide whether or not to submit a formal alibi would be at a minimum, premature as wading through the extensive information that makes up the case is incomplete. The defense needs time to make this determination and consider evidentiary rules, the filing states. Under Idaho law, defendants have 10 days to provide a written statement about where they claim to have been at the time of the alleged crime and offering information about any witnesses who can support their claim. On 23 May one day after he was arraigned on four murder charges Latah County Prosecutors Office put in a demand for Mr Kohbergers notice of alibi. Now, Mr Kohbergers attorneys are asking for an extension to the timeframe or, failing that, for a hearing for them to present their arguments. Judge John Judge is yet to issue a ruling on the motion. Bryan Kohberger enters court for a motion hearing regarding a gag order (AP) Mr Kohberger is scheduled to stand trial on 2 October for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Etham Chapin, 20, after he was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of first-degree murder and one burglary charge. Mr Kohberger is accused of breaking into an off-campus student home on King Road in the early hours of 13 November and stabbing the four students to death with a large, military-style knife. Two other female roommates lived with the three women at the property and were home at the time of the massacre but survived. One of the survivors Dylan Mortensen came face to face with the masked killer, dressed in head-to-toe black and with bushy eyebrows, as he left the home in the aftermath of the murders, according to the criminal affidavit. For more than six weeks, the college town of Moscow was plunged into fear as the accused killer remained at large with no arrests made and no suspects named. Then, on 30 December, law enforcement suddenly swooped on Mr Kohbergers family home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania and arrested him for the quadruple murders. The motive remains unknown and it is still unclear what connection the WSU PhD student had to the University of Idaho students if any prior to the murders. However, the affidavit, released in January, revealed that Mr Kohbergers DNA was found on a knife sheath left behind at the scene of the murders. It also revealed that his white Hyundai Elantra was caught on surveillance footage close to the crime scene. New details have emerged since about what was found during an initial search of his apartment in Pullman and a rental storage unit. The court documents show that two items found in his apartment a mattress cover on the bed and an uncased pillow tested positive for blood. The documents do not reveal who the blood belongs to. Investigators also seized a string of other items from his home including possible human and animal hair strands, a disposable glove and a computer. Meanwhile, the murder weapon a fixed-blade knife has still never been found. As a criminal justice PhD student at WSU, Mr Kohberger lived just 15 minutes from the victims over the Idaho-Washington border in Pullman. He had moved there from Pennsylvania and began his studies there that summer, having just completed his first semester before his arrest. Before this, he studied criminology at DeSales University first as an undergraduate and then finishing his graduate studies in June 2022. While there, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who interviewed the BTK serial killer and co-wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer with him. He also carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime. He is facing life in prison or the death penalty for the murders that have rocked the small college town of Moscow and hit headlines around the globe. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prosecutors in Minnesota have laid out disturbing details of the months leading up to missing mother Madeline Kingsburys murder in a criminal complaint against her former partner. The remains of 26-year-old Kingsbury were found last week on the side of a highway, more than two months after she vanished from her home in Winona. Her childrens father and former partner Adam Fravel, 29, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Mr Fravel had denied any involvement in the disappearance, even issuing a public statement decrying those accusations and pleading for Kingsburys safe return. But a criminal complaint recently filed by prosecutors alleges Kingsbury was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Mr Fravel. According to the filing, Mr Fravel choked Kingsbury on at least one occasion and told her that if she did not listen up, she would end up like Gabby Petito - the young vlogger strangled by her fiance on a road trip in 2021. Mr Fravels warning unfolded in front of the former couples two children, prosecutors allege. Winona police first interviewed Mr Fravel following Kingsburys 31 March disappearance. A friend of the slain mother told police that she was concerned about Kingsburys safety because she was not answering her door or her phone after dropping off her two children at school. The friend noted that Kingsbury and Mr Fravel, who had a seven-year on-and-off relationship, were having issues. Mr Fravel told police that he and Kingsbury drove back to her home together after dropping the kids off and he then borrowed her dark blue minivan to go to work. Mr Fravel also told investigators that he and Kingsbury were in the process of separating and both planned to move out of their home. He also said that Kingsbury was in a relationship with someone else, but didnt know how long they had been together. The alleged murderer was confronted by investigators about remarks he had allegedly made to Kingsbury in reference to the murder of Petito, who investigators determined was choked to death by her partner Brian Laundrie in August 2021. Madeline Kingsbury went missing on 31 March. Her remains were found on 7 June (Megan Kingsbury/Facebook) Mr Fravel allegedly admitted that he was infatuated with the highly-publicised case and had told Kingsbury she would end up like Petito. A friend of Kingsbury also told police that she was on a video call with the mother-of-two sometime in 2020 or 2021 when Mr Fravel walked into the room. Mr Fravel then allegedly struck Kingsbury in the face before fleeing the room when he realised he was being observed on the video call. The friend told investigators that there were several times during video calls that she observed bruises on Madelines face, the complaint alleged, per KIMT3. When the friend inquired about the bruises, Madeline would cover them with her sweater. Law enforcement learned through phone records that Kingsbury and Mr Fravel discussed an incident in which he allegedly put his hands around her throat and pushed her down in front of the children. Not okay with it all but especially with them there, Kingsbury texted Mr Fravel in September 2021. ...You do that again without asking me and you can go somewhere else. Mr Fravel replied: Youll adjust. Adam Favrel has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Madeline Kingsbury (Adam Favrel/Winona PD) Kingsburys remains were discovered on 7 June after law enforcement conducted searches near an area that had been maintained by one or more members of the Fravel family. Kingsbury was located next to a gravel road approximately one mile from the highway. Her body was wrapped in a grey bed sheet that was closed with Gorilla Tape. Her head and neck were also wrapped in a knotted towel. According to the criminal complaint, the tape found at the crime scene matched the type seized from Kingsbury and Mr Fravels home. One of the mattresses at the home was missing bedding and had pillows on top with casings of the same colour and fabric as the bedsheet used to wrap Kingsbury. Before the devastating discovery last week, massive efforts had been launched with thousands of volunteers helping authorities comb through more than 120,000 acres. Nearly two weeks into the search efforts, Mr Fravel released a statement on 12 April proclaiming his innocence after finding himself subject to suspicion. Mr Fravel said that law enforcement had advised him against attending press conferences or assisting in search efforts due to safety concerns, adding: My non-attendance and silence has been inferred by many as a sign of apathy, or worse. That could not be further from the truth. I want Maddi home and for her to be able to be with our two children. God Bless the Kingsbury family and please bring her home safely. Prosecutors revealed in a criminal complaint that Kingsbury was a victim of domestic violence (Winona Police) At the time of Kingsburys murder, she and Mr Fravel were engaged in a legal battle for the custody of their two children, aged five and two. Her family issued a statement thanking volunteers for their help and support these pasts months. Although we have now found her, our battle does not stop here; its now time to seek justice and hold those responsible for her passing accountable, the statement read. Madeline had her whole life ahead of her and it would have been a happy, beautiful life. Instead, her children are left motherless due to someone elses actions. His next court hearing is scheduled for 20 July. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The horror mass shooting that left three men dead and three others injured at a home in Annapolis, Maryland, began with an argument over a parked car, it has been revealed. Police were called to reports of a shooting at around 8pm local time on Sunday at the 1000 block of Paddington Place, Annapolis Police said. Officers arrived on the scene to find six victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Three of the victims Mario Mireles Ruiz, 27, Christian Segovia, 25, and Nicholas Mireles, 55 were pronounced dead at the scene. The three other victims were taken to Shock Trauma Units and were expected to survive. A suspect Charles Robert Smith, 43 surrendered to police on the scene and has since been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and assault. Now, new details have emerged about the mass shooting, revealing what exactly turned a birthday party into a deadly attack. Court documents allege that the incident unfolded when Mr Smiths mother Shirley Smith was unhappy with a car parked blocking her driveway. Ms Smith called a local parking enforcement employee to complain about the vehicle, prompting Ruiz to go to speak to Ms Smith. Mr Smith and Ruiz then got into a verbal argument that then became physical, the charging documents state. At that point, Mr Smith then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Ruiz multiple times. Charles Robert Smith, 43, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and assault (Annapolis Police Department) Mr Smith then allegedly shot and killed Ruizs friend Segovia. According to the court documents, Mr Smith then went back inside the house and retrieved a rifle, which he used to fire out of the window at other people who had rushed to render aid to the two victims. The gunfire struck Mireles, killing him. All three victims bodies were found outside while police seized a semiautomatic handgun and a rifle at the scene. Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson said in a press conference on Sunday that the shooting was not random. This was an interpersonal dispute so I want to assure the community there is no public safety threat, Mr Jackson said. Mr Jackson said the shooting was unusual for the area of Annapolis where it occurred. Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley expressed sadness and frustration at the shooting during the press conference. Tonight was an example of, yet again, senseless violence, Mr Buckley said. He added: People trying to resolve issues with guns it is the most ridiculous thing we can do as a society. We have to do things to stop this. Police on the scene of the shooting (AP) Mr Smith is being held without bond while investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the shooting was a hate crime. Last week, seven people were shot and two died after a high school graduation ceremony in Virginia after an individual opened gunfire in a crowd of people. Police in Virginia said they believed the suspected shooter knew one of the victims and had a dispute. Last month, five people including a nine-year-old child were killed in Texas after neighbours got into a verbal argument over a noise complaint. So far in the United States, there have been 290 mass shootings this year, according to Gun Violence Archive. Annapolis police are asking anyone with information to submit it via their direct tip line, 410-280-2583, or via Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-2587. 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 }} Conservative Mississippi is tough territory for Democrats, but the party sees an unusual opportunity this year to unseat first-term Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. They're 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. 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. 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 governor's race this year, joining Kentucky and Louisiana. All are places that historically have supported Republicans for statewide office, though Kentucky's 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. That's 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 governor's 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 Presley's 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. 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 Presley's style has been winning over donors. At an event Presley attended in New Jersey with Murphy, they exceeded their fundraising goal. 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 Presley's 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. 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 governor's race because he said Hood never asked him to. But Thompson endorsed Presley at the outset of this year's 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. 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. 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 }} In 1998, Jeffrey Epstein purchased Little Saint James in the US Virgin Islands and began trafficking girls as young as 14 into sexual servitude at the secluded island. The same year, he opened his first account with JPMorgan Chase, the start of a lucrative partnership for the Wall Street giant that would continue for years after the late financier had been red flagged by the bank as a child sex offender. To keep his illicit sex-trafficking scheme running, Epstein needed access to large amounts of cash to pay off recruiters and attempt to silence victims. JPMorgan is alleged to have pulled the levers through which Epstein paid his network of enablers, according to a lawsuit filed by the US Virgin Islands (USVI) Attorney General in a US court in December. The lawsuit claims that JPMorgan concealed wire and cash transactions that were part of a criminal enterprise whose currency was vulnerable and desperate women and girls, groomed and recruited over decades by Epstein and his chief lieutenant Ghislaine Maxwell. In separate lawsuits, several survivors of Epsteins abuse sued JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank accusing them of actively enabling his abuse. On 12 June, a JPMorgan spokesperson said the bank had agreed in principle to reach a settlement with the survivors. Lawyers for the accusers said the settlement is worth $290m. The sprawling US Virgin Islands legal action is still pending, and a jury trial has been scheduled for October. It has already drawn in some of the worlds wealthiest individuals including billionaire JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk, Googles co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. All have denied any involvement in Epsteins offending. JPMorgan has rejected allegations of complicity and tried to shift blame for Epsteins crimes onto high ranking USVI officials. Their lawyers have claimed in court that the USVI shielded him from accountability while reaping the benefits of his wealth. JPMorgan has also sued former top executive Jes Staley, alleging he hid Epsteins abuse and trafficking to keep the financier as a client. Mr Staley has previously denied wrongdoing, and said he is being scapegoated by the bank. Heres what to know about the lawsuit and the powerful figures it has entangled. The time has come The legal action began in November, when two women who said they had been preyed on by Epstein filed lawsuits against JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank for allegedly ignoring warning signs. According to the lawsuit taken against JPMorgan, one woman, a former ballet dancer, was sexually abused by Epstein and his friends from 2006 to 2013. She alleged large sums of money were withdrawn from JPMorgan to pay her and other victims in cash for sex acts. A separate suit taken against Deutsche Bank alleged that it was complicit in aiding an Epstein victim to be trafficked for sex between 2003 and 2018. Jeffery Epsteins estate on Little Saint James Island in the U. S. Virgin Islands in 2019. (Associated Press) The time has come for the real enablers to be held responsible, especially his wealthy friends and the financial institutions that played an integral role, their attorney Brad Edwards told the Wall Street Journal. In May, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay the victims $75m to settle the lawsuit. Mr Edwards said in a statement at the time it was believed to be the largest sex trafficking settlement with a bank in US history. The settlement will allow dozens of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein to finally attempt to restore their faith in our system knowing that all individuals and entities who facilitated Epsteins sex-trafficking operation will finally be held accountable, Mr Edwards firm said. The settlement agreed to by JPMorgan this week is even larger at $290m, according to Mr Edwards. A settlement of this size finally acknowledges the magnitude of the suffering of Epsteins victims, the degree to which our system is broken, and the extent of Epsteins influence to corrupt our system, he said, per the Wall Street Journal. Under the Bank Secrecy Act, financial institutions are required to monitor and report suspicious activity related to illegal activities such as human-trafficking. More than close-up view In late November, Epsteins estate agreed to pay $105m to the US Virgin Islands to settle a three-year lawsuit that claimed the late paedophile had used his private island in the archipelago for sex-trafficking. The then-attorney general Denise George had accused Epstein of deceiving authorities into granting tax breaks to his financial advisory company Southern Trust Company. Then in late December, Ms George filed a suit against JPMorgan in New York alleging the bank and senior executives had a more than close-up view of Epsteins sex-trafficking. Within days, Ms George was removed from her post by USVI governor Albert Bryan, a spokesperson told The Independent at the time. Officials refused to provide an explanation, but did nothing to quell reports that the governor had been blindsided by the JPMorgan lawsuit. Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein in a photo taken at the British royal familys estate at Balmoral in the 1990s (PA Media) Any concerns that Ms Georges removal as AG might see the lawsuit withdrawn were soon extinguished. The USVI quietly began issuing subpoenas for the banks top executives and other powerful, peripheral figures. In February, newly unsealed passages of the lawsuit alleged that former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley had exchanged more than 1,000 emails from his work account with Epstein between 2008 and 2012. They included an exchange which the USVI claimed referred to Epstein procuring young women to Mr Staley while he was visiting London. Epstein asked the bank exec if he needed anything while in England, to which Mr Staley allegedly answered yes. Mr Staley later responded that was fun, and, Say hi to Snow White, according to the documents. Mr Staley also allegedly wrote to Epstein while he was incarcerated in Florida for underage sex offences from the financiers private island Little Saint James in 2009. So when all hell breaks (loose), and the world is crumbling, I will come here, and be at peace, Mr Staley allegedly wrote. Presently, Im in the hot tub with a glass of white wine. This is an amazing place. Truly amazing. Next time, were here together. I owe you much. And I deeply appreciate our friendship. I have few so profound. A month later in the fall of 2009, Mr Staley is alleged to have sent Epstein another email saying: I realise the danger in sending this email. But it was great to be able, today, to give you, in New York City, a long heartfelt, hug. According to the lawsuit, Epstein responded with a photo of a young woman, which was redacted from the filing. Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley has said he is being scapegoated by JPMorgan (2019 Invision) Mr Staley left JPMorgan in 2013 and later became CEO of Barclays Bank before resigning in November 2021 amid investigations into the banks dealings with Epstein. He has expressed regret for befriending Epstein. In March, JPMorgan sued Mr Staley for allegedly concealing Epsteins sex trafficking to keep him as a client. The bank said he should bear the cost of any financial penalty. In response, Mr Staley accused the bank of slanderous attacks and said he was being made the fall guy for its own oversight failures. He asked the court to severe the lawsuit from the JPMorgan lawsuits in a letter to the court in April. The allegations against him are slanderous, and the potential damages are astronomical, his attorney Brendan Sullivan wrote. Last month, US District Judge Jed Rakoff ruled that JPMorgans lawsuit against Mr Staley could move ahead. The Independent has sought comment from Mr Staleys legal team. Red flags raised In March, the scope of the USVI lawsuit broadened significantly as subpoenas were issued to Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Hyatt Hotels executive chairman Thomas Pritzker and real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman. JPMorgans head of asset and wealth management, Mary Erdoes, sat for a deposition that month with the USVIs attorneys. According to a court filing, Ms Erdoes admitted under oath that she knew in 2006 that Epstein had been accused of paying cash to have underage girls and young women brought to his home, seven years before the bank cut ties with him. A source familiar with the matter told The Independent at the time that Ms Erdoes had read about the accusations in news reports. Epstein had been convicted of procuring underage prostitutes in 2008 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. But it took another two years for the bank to flag Epsteins status as a sex offender, and he remained as a JPMorgan client until 2013, where his accounts were worth hundreds of million of dollars. The filing claimed that JPMorgan executives had wrestled internally with whether to continue to work with Epstein after accusations of abuse and trafficking young girls first emerged. Epstein was red-flagged by JPMorgan after he was convicted of soliciting underage children for sex (New York State Division of Criminal Justice/EPA) JPMorgans Rapid Response Team raised red flags as early as 2006 that Epstein was making cash withdrawals of between $40,000 and $80,000 several times each month, totalling over $750,000 per year. According to a transcript of her deposition, Ms Erdoes said JPMorgan dropped Epstein as a client when it realised that the large withdrawals were for actual cash. Had the firm believed he was engaged in an ongoing sex trafficking operation, Epstein would not have been retained as a client, a JPMorgan spokesperson has said previously. The civil complaint further alleged that JPMorgan had obstructed federal law enforcement agencies from pursuing Epstein. The suit also stated that Epsteins former confidante Ghislaine Maxwell was flagged by the bank in 2011 after trying to open an account for a personal recruitment consulting business. A JPMorgan executive testified at Maxwells sex-trafficking trial in 2021 that Epstein had wired tens of millions of dollars to her since the 1990s. Never met Jeff Epstein When JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was quizzed under oath by USVI attorneys in late May, he said he did not recall ever hearing about Epstein or his sexual misconduct until after his arrest in 2019. Mr Dimon, a Wall Street power player who has expressed an interest in running for president, said he first heard about Epstein when the story blew wide open. According to a transcript of the video deposition, Mr Dimon was confronted with an email from Epsteins former assistant suggesting the pair were scheduled to meet as far back as 2010. He replied emphatically that he had never had an appointment, never met, or never known Jeff Epstein. I have no idea what theyre referring to here, he said. Mr Dimon conceded that the banks relationship with Epstein had been a disaster. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said he had never heard of Epstein prior to his arrest in 2019 (Associated Press) In June, it emerged that survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking ring had written to Mr Dimon and Ms Erdoes begging them to admit what they knew about the paedophiles offending. Haley Robson, who was a high school student when she was recruited by Epstein, wrote to the JPMorgan CEO saying: Dear Jamie Dimon. I cannot begin to explain how Epstein has consumed my life. I cannot make you see, force you to feel or even request that you show compassion to all the survivors. I dont understand how so many people, colleagues, knew what was going on, or had evidence and information that could have helped us, and chose not to speak up, she wrote, in a letter obtained by the Daily Beast. She went on to reference a smear campaign by Epsteins attorneys against the victims after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from young girls in 2008. Haley Robson wrote to Jamie Dimon to ask the bank to take responsibility for Epsteins offending (Netflix) Why did we all get picked apart publicly when the reality is you and many more knew something and didnt speak up? she asked. If you are a good human you will just admit to making a mistake and be the first to try to do what is right to end this chapter on a positive note for all of us. Another survivor, Courtney Wild, wrote to JPMorgan executive Mary Erdoes last month asking her to support the victims quest for justice, the Daily Beast reported. Ms Wild wrote that she believed JPMorgan was Epsteins right hand man in allowing him to become the most abusive sex offender in history. Yet, rather than acknowledging a wrong doing, accepting responsibility, making an apology to all of us, and doing what is right, I understand that JPMorgan has unleashed an army of lawyers to torture the victims who brought the cases and put them through even more pain and suffering, she wrote. Does nobody at JPMorgan have a conscience? A settlement deal was reached in principle with the victims, JPMorgan confirmed in a statement to The Independent on Monday. We all now understand that Epsteins behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man, a spokesperson said. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes. Billionaires row In a court filing in May, the USVIs attorneys revealed they had tried to issue a subpoena to the Twitter owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk for documents related to the case. The Virgin Islands claimed that Epstein may have referred or tried to refer Mr Musk to JPMorgan as a client. It sought records of communications with Epstein and JPMorgan and all documents reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex. Responding on Twitter, Mr Musk called the subpoena idiotic on so many levels, adding: That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever. Elon Musk has said a subpoena by USVI lawyers is idiotic (Associated Press) Mr Musk said he had severed Teslas relationship with JPMorgan more than a decade ago. USVI attorneys have also issued similar subpoenas for Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the billionaire co-founders of Google, seeking records containing any communications between them and Epstein related to sex trafficking. The Independent has attempted to contact Mr Brin and Mr Page for comment. The banks attorneys claim that Epstein touted his connections to high net-worth individuals to maintain in good standing with JPMorgan. The Independent has attempted to contact Mr Pritzker, the Hyatt Hotels executive chairman, and real estate mogul Mr Zuckerman. Bill Gates Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was linked to Epstein through various philanthropic causes, and visited his Manhattan townhouse three times, the New York Times revealed in 2019. Mr Gates has repeatedly expressed regret over the connection. In May, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Epstein had tried to blackmail the billionaire in 2017 after learning about an affair he was having with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova. Court filings alleged that Epstein blackmailed Mr Gates after he failed to convince the worlds fourth richest man to join a multibillion-dollar charity fund that he attempted to set up with JPMorgan. The latest fallout from the USVI lawsuit added weight to longstanding speculation that Epstein may have been extorting his powerful network of friends. He was married to Melinda French Gates at the time of the affair. They divorced after 21 years of marriage in 2021. In an interview with CBS Mornings the next year, Ms French Gates described Epstein as evil personified. Epstein backed USVI political campaigns In court filings in May, JPMorgan accused the islands and senior officials of enabling Epstein to commit his crimes. Lawyers for the bank claimed high ranking USVI officials had been bought off by Epstein and actively worked with him while reaping the benefits of his wealth. He gave them money, advice, influence, and favors. In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him, they wrote. JPMorgan also claimed that Epstein had bankrolled a USVI officials political campaign who later awarded him tax breaks. They claimed that the primary conduit for spreading money and influence throughout the USVI government was former First Lady Cecile de Jongh, the wife of Governor John de Jongh, who ruled from 2007 to 2015. The lawyers said officials were lenient with requirements that he register as a sex offender, doing inspections of his residence that were cursory at best. The Independent has contacted a spokesperson for the USVI governor. 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 }} US billionaire philanthropist George Soros is ceding control of his $25bn empire to his younger son Alexander Soros. The 37-year-old, who goes by Alex, is taking over from his father to lead the Open Society Foundation one of the wealthiest philanthropic institutions in the world. George Soros, 92, said his son earned it in an interview with the Walls Street Journal. The elder Soros, who was born in Hungry, is a billionaire investor, philanthropist, and political activist, which has made him the subject of controversy and criticism from conservative and right-wing groups for backing liberal causes. Mr Soros one of the largest donors to the US Democratic Party got the title of "the man who broke the Bank of England after he made a large bet against the British pound in 1992 to make $1bn. Alex, who is the second-youngest of Georges five children, told the outlet that he is more political than his father while noting that the two think alike on several topics. He said he would like to broaden the foundations priorities from his fathers liberal aims to include voting and abortion rights as well as gender equity. Alex raised concerns about the prospect of Donald Trumps return to the White House and suggested that the Soros organisation would play a significant role in the 2024 presidential elections. 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, he told WSJ. Philanthropist Alex Soros attends 2013 Gordon Parks Foundation Awards at The Plaza Hotel (Getty Images) He said speech on college campuses and elsewhere has become restricted in America, in contrast to the belief of some on the Left. I have some differences with my generation in regard to free speech and other things I grew up watching Bill Maher before bed, after all, he said, referring to well-known TV personality and political commentator who is an advocate for the First Amendment. He said he recently met with Biden administration officials, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and heads of state, including Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau, to push for issues related to the family foundation. In December, he was elected chairman for the board of OSF, succeeding his father. He also directs political activity as president of Soross super PAC, a mechanism to fund political parties. Alex is the only family member on the investment committee overseeing Soros Fund Management, which manages money for the foundation and the family. He is the oldest of two sons from George Soross marriage with his second wife, Susan Weber, according to WSJ. The appointment passes over George Soross first-born Jonathan Soros, 52, a lawyer with a background in finance. He was believed to be the clear successor until a falling out and a change of heart, according to the paper. Alex was considered an unlikely choice to run the billions of dollars of empire because of his extravagant social lifestyle. 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 }} Donald Trump has now been arrested and formally charged with a string of federal charges relating to the storage of classified national defence documents dating from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. The 45th president of the United States appeared in federal court in Miami on 13 June where he pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts. Should he ultimately be convicted, he could face a maximum combined sentence of 100 years in prison. His resort home was raided by the FBI in August 2022 as part of a hunt for search papers and other government records that should never have left the White House when his presidency ended in January 2021, a dramatic move that came as a surprise to the general public. However, legal filings have since shown that the investigation into possible violations of the Espionage Act that triggered that unprecedented action was months in the making. The documents made clear that Trump had ample opportunity to return the material the government requested and then subpoenaed and revealed the sheer quantity of highly-sensitive documents he was keeping at the club. A 49-page, 37-count indictment unsealed on 9 June revealed Mr Trump allegedly showed highly-classified documents to unauthorised persons on two separate occasions. Here is a timeline of notable developments in the case so far. 20 January 2021 Then-president Donald Trump left the White House for Florida ahead of President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration. According to the General Services Administration (GSA), members of Trump's transition team were responsible for packing items into boxes, putting boxes on pallets and shrink-wrapping those pallets so they could be transported. Prior to shipping, GSA said it required the outgoing transition team to certify in writing that the items being shipped were required to wind down the Office of the Former President and would be utilised as the Office transitioned to its new location in Florida. GSA did not examine the contents of the boxes and had no knowledge of the contents prior to shipping, according to an agency spokesperson. GSA was also not responsible for the former presidents personal belongings, which were transported by a private moving company. May 2021 After the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) realised that documents from Trumps presidency were missing from the material that it received as he left office, the agency requested the records from Trump on or about 6 May 2021. December 2021 NARA continued to make requests for records it believed to be missing for several months. Around late December 2021, a Trump representative informed the agency that an additional 12 boxes of records that should have been turned over had been found at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago club and residence and were ready to be retrieved. 18 January 2022 NARA received 15 boxes of presidential records that had been stored at Mar-a-Lago 14 of which, it would later be revealed, contained classified documents. The documents were found mixed in with an assortment of other material, including newspapers, magazines, photos and personal correspondence. In total, the boxes were found to contain 184 documents with classified markings, including 67 marked confidential, 92 secret and 25 top secret. Agents who inspected the boxes also found special markings suggesting they included information from highly sensitive human sources or the collection of electronic signals authorised by a court under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. 9 February 2022 The special agent in charge of NARAs Office of the Inspector General sent a referral to the Justice Department (DOJ) via email after a preliminary review of the boxes revealed numerous classified documents. Of most significant concern," they wrote, according to a heavily-redacted affidavit released last week, was that highly classified records were unfoldered, intermixed with other records, and otherwise unproperly [sic] identified." After an initial review of the NARA referral, the FBI opened a criminal investigation into the matter. 10 February 2022 Trump's Save America PAC released a statement insisting the return of the documents had been as routine and no big deal. Trump insisted the papers were given easily and without conflict and on a very friendly basis and added: It was a great honor to work with NARA to help formally preserve the Trump Legacy. 18 February 2022 NARA revealed in a letter to a congressional oversight committee that classified information was found in the 15 recovered boxes and confirmed the Justice Department referral. Trumps Save America PAC released another statement insisting: The National Archives did not find anything but "were given, upon request, Presidential Records in an ordinary and routine process to ensure the preservation of my legacy and in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. 12 April 2022 NARA informed Trump of its intent to provide the documents to the FBI, at the request of the Justice Department. A Trump representative requested an extension until 29 April. Donald Trump has continued to protest his innocence throughout the affair (AP) 29 April 2022 The Justice Department sent a letter to Trumps lawyers seeking immediate access to the material citing important national security interest. Access to the materials is not only necessary for purposes of our ongoing criminal investigation, but the Executive Branch must also conduct an assessment of the potential damage resulting from the apparent manner in which these materials were stored and transported and take any necessary remedial steps, the department wrote. Trump's lawyers requested an additional extension. 10 May 2022 NARA informed Trumps lawyers that it will provide the FBI access to the records as soon as 12 May. 11 May 2022 The Justice Department issued a subpoena for additional records. 3 June 2022 Three FBI agents and a DOJ attorney went to Mar-a-Lago to collect additional material offered by a Trump attorney in response to the subpoena. They were given a single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape, containing the documents, according to a 30 August filing. That envelope, it was later found, contained 38 documents with classification markings, including five documents marked confidential, 16 marked secret and 17 marked top secret. During the visit, the filing said: Counsel for the former President offered no explanation as to why boxes of government records, including 38 documents with classification markings, remained at the Premises nearly five months after the production of the Fifteen Boxes and nearly one-and-a-half years after the end of the Administration. Trumps lawyers also told investigators that all of the records that had come from the White House were stored in one location a Mar-a-Lago storage room. Investigators were permitted to visit the room, but were explicitly prohibited from opening or looking inside any of the boxes, they reported, giving no opportunity for the government to confirm that no documents with classification markings remained. The Justice Department was also given a signed certification letter stating that a diligent search had been completed and that no documents remained. 8 June 2022 The Justice Department sent a letter to Trumps lawyer requesting that the storage room be secured and that all of the boxes that were moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago (along with any other items in that room) be preserved in that room in their current condition until farther notice. 5 August 2022 The Justice Department filed an application for a search and seizure warrant of Mar-a-Lago, citing probable cause" that additional presidential records and records containing classified information remained in various parts of the club. There is also probable cause to believe that evidence of obstruction would be found, read a heavily-redacted copy of the affidavit laying out the FBIs rationale for the search. The Justice Department also revealed in the 30 August filing that it had found evidence that government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room and that efforts were likely taken to obstruct the governments investigation. US magistrate judge Bruce Reinhart in South Florida approved the application that same day. 8 August 2022 The FBI executed the search at Mar-a-Lago, seizing 36 items of evidence, including boxes and containers holding more than 100 classified records, an order pardoning Trump ally Roger Stone and information about the President of France. Agents found classified documents both in the storage room as well as in the former presidents office including three classified documents found not in boxes, but in office desks. They included items so sensitive that, In some instances, even the FBI counterintelligence personnel and DOJ attorneys conducting the review required additional clearances before they were permitted to review certain documents. That the FBI, in a matter of hours, recovered twice as many documents with classification markings as the diligent search that the former Presidents counsel and other representatives had weeks to perform calls into serious question the representations made in the 3 June certification and casts doubt on the extent of cooperation in this matter, the Justice Department wrote. Trump and his allies, meanwhile, cast the search as a weaponisation of the criminal justice system aimed at damaging him politically as he prepares for another potential White House run. Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida (AP) 12 August 2022 Judge Reinhart unsealed the warrant that authorized the FBI to search Mar-a-Lago, which details that federal agents were investigating potential violations of three federal laws, including the Espionage Act. 26 August 2022 A highly redacted version of the affidavit laying out the FBIs rationale for searching Mar-a-Lago was released. 30 August 2022 The Justice Department responded to Trump's request for a special master in a filing that included new details about the investigation, including an assertion that classified documents were likely concealed and removed from a storage room at Mar-a-Lago as part of an effort to obstruct the probe. It included a photograph of some the material found at the club, including cover pages of paperclip-bound documents some marked as TOP SECRET//SCI with bright yellow borders and one marked as SECRET//SCI with a rust-colored border splayed out on a carpet at Mar-a-Lago. Terrible the way the FBI, during the Raid of Mar-a-Lago, threw documents haphazardly all over the floor (perhaps pretending it was me that did it!), and then started taking pictures of them for the public to see, Trump responded. Thought they wanted them kept Secret? 6 September 2022 US district judge Aileen Cannon grants Trumps request for a special master over DOJ objections, an action that delays the investigation. Senior US district judge Raymond Dearie of Brooklyn is later named to run that third-party review. 15 September 2022 The Justice Department seeks to access the classified materials taken in the search. Cannon rejects the bid, but the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals later allows DOJ to review the documents. 16 November 2022 Trump announces he will run for the Republican nomination in the 2024 US presidential election. 22 November 2022 US attorney general Merrick Garland appoints US special counsel Jack Smith to preside over criminal matters relating to Trump, including the classified documents investigation. Trump addressing his supporters (AFP/Getty) 1 December 2022 A federal appeals court reverses Cannons appointment of a special master in the case, finding she lacked the authority to appoint one. The ruling gives the Justice Department access to all materials seized in the search of Trumps property. 7 December 2022 At least two classified records are found during a further search of Trumps properties, a source says. December 2022 Trump lawyer Tim Parlatore appears before a federal grand jury in Washington to describe efforts to search Trump properties for any remaining government documents. 24 March 2023 Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran appears before a federal grand jury in Washington after a federal judge finds Smiths team made a sufficient showing that Trump may have deceived his attorneys in furtherance of a crime. 17 May 2023 Parlatore confirms he has left Trumps legal team. He later says on CNN that he exited over disagreements with others over handling of the probe, claiming Trump aide Boris Epshteyn prevented attorneys from properly defending the former president. A Trump spokesperson denies the claims. 8 June 2023 Trump fumes on Truth Social that he has been indicted over the case, insisting: I am an innocent man. The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, he seethed in a separate post. 9 June 2023 The 37-count indictment against Mr Trump is unsealed, revealing he allegedly showed classified documents to unauthorised individuals on two separate occasions. The charges include: willful retention of national defence information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations. 12 June 2023 Mr Trump traveled to Miami to spend the night at his Doral resort ahead of his arraignment the following day. 13 June 2023 Mr Trump surrendered to authorities in Miami to formally face charges. He was arrested and arraigned in federal court where he entered a not guilty plea. Following his court appearance, he flew back to his Bedminster golf club where he gave a post-arraignment speech railing against the charges, President Joe Biden and Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. Additional reporting by agencies Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} JPMorgan Chase has reached a tentative settlement with some of Jeffrey Epsteins victims, following a slew of embarrassing revelations about the late paedophiles ties to the bank and its executives. In a joint statement on Monday morning, first reported by theNew York Times, the bank and the victims lawyers announced that the two parties had reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuit brought last November by women who were abused by Epstein when they were teenagers and young women. JPMorgan is reportedly prepared to pay $290m to settle the lawsuit, according to documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. The agreement was in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epsteins terrible abuse, according to the joint statement. In November, an unidentified woman filed a lawsuit against Americas largest bank on behalf of multiple victims who were sexually abused by wealthy financier Epstein over a 15-year period. The lawsuit alleges that JPMorgan was complict in the abuse by ignoring repeated warning signs that Epstein was sex trafficking the teenagers and young women and continuing to do business with him even after he was convicted of procuring an underage girl for prostitution in 2008. In a now widely-condemned sweetheart plea deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to one charge and was sentenced to just 18 months in prison most of which he served out of prison in a work-release program. On his release, he was ordered to register as a sex offender. The suit claims that the bank ignored the red flags that Epstein was continuing to traffic victims because it valued him as one of its extremely wealthy clients who in turn opened doors to accessing other wealthy clientele. Instead, JPMorgan provided Epstein with large amounts of cash from 1998 through August 2013 even though it knew about his sex trafficking practices, the suit claims. The settlement comes just two weeks after JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon claimed in a videotaped deposition that he had never heard of Epstein or his crimes until he was arrested on new charges in 2019. Mr Dimon insisted under oath that it was only when the story blew wide open that he learned what the client had done. He was arrested, and all the stories came out about all the people he knows. And the reason I remember that is I was surprised that I didnt know about it before, he said. The CEO also denied that he had a meeting planned with Epstein in 2010 after being confronted with a document pointing to such an event. Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 (New York State Sex Offender Registry) JPMorgan is still facing a separate lawsuit brought by the US Virgin Islands accusing the bank of allowing Epstein to set up and run a sex-trafficking operation from Epsteins private Caribbean island Little St James. The suit alleges that the banks Rapid Response Team did spot and flag suspicious withdrawals of up to $80,000 at a time as far back as 2006 but continued to do business with him. The bank denies the allegations in the suit and instead has accused the US territory of enjoying a cosy relationship with Epstein, including giving the paedophile major tax breaks. Epstein who was a JPMorgan client from 1998 through 2013 was found dead in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled suicide. His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking at a high-profile trial in New York in December 2021 and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. 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 54-year-old man has died after eating raw oysters purchased from a seafood stand in Missouri, health officials say. The oysters were believed to have already been contaminated with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria when they arrived at the Fruit Stand & Seafood in Manchester, St Louis. St Louis County Public health issued an alert for the public to dispose of all oysters purchased at the business. Vibrio vulnificus bacteria causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to St Louis County officials, the unidentified man fell ill after eating oysters bought at the stand some time in the past week. He was taken to St Claire Hospital where he died on Thursday. The Department of Health and Senior Services were notified the next day, and are investigating the death. They said the Fruit Stand & Seafood was cooperating with the investigation and there was no evidence to suggest the business did anything to contaminate them. Health officials are trying to determine where the oysters came from. A man has died after eating raw oysters from a St Louis food stand (Getty Images) According to the CDC, Vibrio vulnificus bacteria causes no obvious changes to the look, smell or taste of contaminated oysters. Vibrio bacteria inhabit coastal waters where oysters live, and cases are more prevalent during summer months, the CDC says. The most common side effects are diarrhea and vomiting, while more serious cases can see bloodstream infections, severe blistering skin lesions and require limb amputations. A scientific study published in Nature earlier this year found that cases of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria were likely to increase around areas such as New York due to warming water caused by climate change. The projected expansion of V. vulnificus wound infections stresses the need for increased individual and public health awareness in these areas, the reports authors wrote. Last year, two people died from Vibrio bacteria after consuming uncooked oysters in Florida. 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 major travel and shipping corridor in the northeastern US will face major disruptions after a vehicle fire caused parts of I-95 in Philadelphia to crumble. Government officials in Pennsylvania and the US Department of Transportation are scrambling to respond to the catastrophic collapse of an overpass. The highway is a major thoroughfare for both individual travel and shipping in the region, and may cause significant disruption to both due to the severity of the collapse. At noon on Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in response to the collapse. Here's everything we know about the I-95 highway overpass collapse. Tanker truck fire spews black smoke into the sky Emergency dispatchers received calls of a massive vehicle firing burning beneath a portion of I-95 where it overpasses a ramp to Cottman Avenue around 6.20am on Sunday. Drivers reported seeing huge black plumes of smoke rising from beneath the highway as they rode past. Section of Philadelphia highway collapses after vehicle was on fire First responders found the fire originated from a truck hauling 8,500 gallons of 87-octane fuel to a local Wawa gas station. It is still unclear how the fire started. The intense heat mixed with the immense weight of the concrete of the highway apparently weakened the structural integrity of the overpass, causing a portion to collapse down onto the ramp and the truck below. Mark Fusetti was driving south on I-95 on the way to pick up his son from the airport when he saw the smoke rising from below the highways. He said he initially thought the smoke was cause by a brushfire, according to CNN. I-95-Collapse He began filming and recorded himself and other drivers going over a "dip" in the highway he compared it to the feeling of driving over a curb and only later realised what he felt was the concrete collapsing beneath him. I realised what happened when I looked in my rearview mirror. I see 95 all of the cars stopping and then I learned, shortly after that the road had just collapsed and what was really going on, Mr Fusetti told CNNs Jim Acosta on Sunday. Sierra Jones, a resident of the Tacony neighborhood on Philadelphia, said the fire smelled "like burning plastic mixed with, like, if you're standing right behind a car and it's blowing fumes in your face," according to ABC6. All lanes of the highway were shut down due to the fire and collapse. Rescue crews rush to find survivors in rubble First responders were tasked with trying to stop the fire while also searching for possible victims on and beneath the overpass. Because the highway collapsed onto the burning truck leaving thousands of tons of steel and concrete in its wake their first major hurdle was actually reaching the seat of the fire in order to extinguish the flames. After hours of work and searching the debris, first responders found no evidence that any motorists were killed during the collapse. Initially it was unclear what happened to the truck driver, but ABC6 reported on Monday that crews had located human remains beneath the rubble they believe may be the driver. Officials have not positively identified the human remains. However, the truck driver's family identified him as Nathaniel Moody. He has not been seen since the accident. Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Getty) Traffic along the affected sections of I-95 which services more than 160,000 motorists daily was re-routed to detours as crews began the process of clearing the rubble and investigating the site. The city's public transportation service, SEPTA, was immediately cleared to increase its capacity to help service commuters in the city whose daily drives will be impacted by the route's closure. In order to accommodate travel through the city and region following the I-95 collapse, SEPTA will provide added capacity and Service. on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Lines, the agency said in a statement. The governor conducted a fly-over of the site, describing it as "remarkable devastation" and noting that it was incredible that more people did not die. I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died, he said. That statement was made prior to the discovery of the human remains that may belong to the driver of the truck that burned. The Coast Guard was also deployed to contain a sheen that was reported in the Delaware River following the fire. Coast Guard Ensign Josh Ledoux said it did not appear that any of the material was spreading further into the environment, and later determined the sheen was only spotted in a cove near the river, but not in the river. "As far as waterways go, it's being contained, and it seems like things are under control," Mr Ledoux told ABC6. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Sunday that Joe Biden had been briefed on the collapse and had been in contact with both the governor's and mayor's offices. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team to investigate the incident. This screen grab from video provided by WPVI-TV/6ABC shows the collapsed section of I-95 with fire trucks on the scene in Philadelphia, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP) (WPVI-TV/6ABC) Fears highway rebuild could take months Due to the extent of the damage, the governor said rebuilding the highway would likely take months. "We expect that to take some number of months. We expect it to take that time," Mr Shapiro said. "And we will have that specific timeline set forth once the engineers and PennDOT have completed their review to expedite this process and to cut through the red tape." Mr Shapiro said he had spoken with DOT head Pete Buttigieg and was assured that there would be "absolutely no delay" in securing federal funds to begin rebuilding the "critical roadway" as safely and as efficiently as possible. Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt traveled to the region Monday to survey the damage and offer support in the clean-up and rebuild effort. "The I-95 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and FHWA has offered support and assistance to state and local officials to help them safely reopen this section of I-95 as quickly as possible," an agency spokesperson said in a statement. Tumar Alexander, the managing director for the City of Philadelphia, said the collapse will have a "significant impact to this community for a while," according to CNN, noting that the corridor "will be impacted for a long time." The corridor services numerous industrial businesses, port facilities, and manufacturing plants in the surrounding area. Those industries are whats going to feel the brunt of the disruption probably due to surface street delays and potentially diversions for shipments coming in and out, Kristen Scudder, the city's planning commission freight program manager told the network. She warned that diversions could also cause a ripple effect in the area's supply chain, potentially spiking shipping and inventory storage costs. Ms Scudder said that while there would likely be some initial congestion among regular city traffic, she anticipates drivers will become familiar with new routes and that corridor clogging should subside over time. 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 }} Tucker Carlson has insisted he will not be silenced after Fox News sent a cease-and-desist letter ordering him to stop releasing shows on Twitter. The rightwing network has been locked in a bitter contractual despite with its former primetime anchor since he left in the aftermath of the $787m Dominion Voting Systems payout in April. Last week, Foxs attorneys wrote to Carlson demanding he stop posting Tucker on Twitter videos, whose first two episodes attracted a combined 169 million views. In a statement to Axios, Carlons lawyer Harmeet Dhillon said: Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election. Tucker will not be silenced by anyone... He is a singularly important voice on matters of public interest in our country, and will remain so, Mr Dhillon added. He told Axios that Fox News continued to ignore the interests of its viewers, not to mention its shareholder obligations. Carlon remains under contract at Fox until the end of 2024, and continues to draw his rumoured $25m annual salary. In May, he accused Fox of breaching the terms of the contract by claiming that Fox leaked his private communications and settled with Dominion in a way that harmed his reputation and future business prospects. Fox has denied the claims and maintains that Carlsons firing was not linked to the Dominion settlement, which came after the network was sued for pushing lies about the 2020 presidential election. In his first Tucker on Twitter show released last week, Carlson described Ukraines Jewish president Volodymyr Zelensky as sweaty and rat-like, in comments widely interpreted to be anti-semitic. The monologue also focused on conspiracies about UFOs, the assassination of John F Kennedy and Jeffrey Epsteins death. In his second clip, Carlson echoed Kremlin propaganda by claiming that it was obvious Ukrainian forces were responsible for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Carlsons producer Justin Wells said on Twitter that the next episode will be released on Tuesday where he will respond to Donald Trumps indictment. Axios reported that several big names are being lined up as guests. Twitter owner Elon Musk has previously said the social media platform does not have a content deal with Carlson. Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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 }} 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 }} Donald Trump is now the subject of two criminal cases after being arrested over a state case in New York and a federal case in Miami at a time when he is hot on the trail for another stint in the White House. On 13 June, the former president was arraigned in a Miami federal courthouse where he pleaded not guilty to all 37 federal charges over his handling of classified documents, including national defence information, after leaving the White House. Mr Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury on 8 June less than a year after the Department of Justice found a cache of secret papers at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The DoJ later unsealed a 49-page, 37-count indictment accusing Mr Trump of showed highly-classified information to unauthorised persons on two separate occasions - among many other allegations. Less than two months before this, he became the first former or current president to face criminal charges on 30 March when a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict him on criminal charges over the hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 presidential election. He pleaded not guilty in that case to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal an alleged scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about him. And less than one month ago, a Manhattan federal jury found on 9 May that Mr Trump sexually abused Elle magazine columnist E Jean Carroll in a dressing room in Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman department store in the 1990s. Ms Carroll, 79, sued the former president for raping her and then destroying her reputation when he accused of lying about the encounter, claiming that she was not his type. Now that Mr Trump has not one but two indictments on top of his loss in Ms Carrolls case, what does his political future look like? Can Trump still run for president? In short, yes. There are no restrictions in the US Constitution preventing anyone indicted or convicted of a crime, or even currently serving prison time, from running for or winning the presidency. Even if Mr Trump were to be tried and convicted in one of the so-called quick trials he has repeatedly cheered Chinas government for operating in cases of drug offences, he could still run the entirety of his presidential campaign from a prison cell. What is far less clear is what would happen were he to win in that scenario. Just as there are no restrictions in the Constitution on a person running while under indictment, there is no explanation for what should occur in the event that they win. There is nothing in the document that would automatically grant Mr Trump a reprieve from prison time, save for the likelihood that any charges brought by federal authorities, were they still being litigated at the point when he assumed the presidency for a second time, would be dropped due to the Justice Departments refusal to prosecute a sitting president. In Ms Carrolls case, Mr Trump did not face any jail time because it was a civil trial. State-level charges like the ones being filed by Mr Bragg in the Manhattan case are far trickier and would fall outside of Mr Trumps prospective presidential pardon power were they to conclude in a conviction. Were conviction on state charges to occur alongside a Trump election victory, it would likely lead to a massive legal fight to determine whether there was a way for the former president to worm his way out of serving time. If Mr Trump was unable to avoid that outcome, it would almost certainly lead to his impeachment (for a historic third time) or removal via the 25th Amendment, which allows the Cabinet to remove a president who is unable to perform their duties. There are many duties and trappings of the presidency that he would simply be unable to fulfill from a prison cell, the viewing of classified materials to name just one. Any potential conviction of Mr Trump is still a long way off and little more than a distant possibility. But the conversations he has started with his bid for the presidency, despite facing two indictments and multiple criminal investigations, have already pushed parts of theoretical US constitutional law into a much realer place than many experts ever believed they would live to see. This story was updated on 14 June 2023 to reflect new developments Close Chris Christie lays into Trump at 2024 campaign launch 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 New Jersey governor and 2024 presidential candidate Chris Christie appeared before Americans on Monday night in a town hall hosted by CNN. During the event, Mr Christie tore into Donald Trump, accusing the former president of vanity run amok. The conduct in there is awful, Mr Christie said of the former presidents recent indictment. The former New Jersey governor also claimed that Mr Trump who he compared to Voldemort wanted to blame him for supposedly being the Patient Zero of a Covid-19 superspreader event, when the two men contracted the virus in 2020. In reality, he says Mr Trump sought his assurance that he would not blame him for infecting those present at a debate preparation session where Mr Trump had not told attendees that he had tested positive for the virus that morning. Less than a week ago, Mr Christie officially entered the already-packed race for the Republican nomination joining Mr Trump, former vice president Mike Pence, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and more. Thus far, the former New Jersey official is polling well behind the rest of the Republican frontrunners, barely cracking one per cent support. 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 is welcoming outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to the White House for talks on Monday as the competition to find his successor to lead the military alliance heats up. Stoltenberg, who has led the NATO since 2014 and has had his tenure extended three times, said earlier this year he would move on when his current time expires at the end of September. The jockeying to replace him is intensifying as leaders of the 31-member military alliance are set to meet next month for their annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Last week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the case for U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace directly to Biden. The U.S. president also met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, another potential contender. Asked about the NATO job at a news conference with Sunak by his side, Biden called Wallace very qualified but noted that the conversation among NATO leaders to find a consensus pick to replace Stoltenberg was ongoing. Biden's opinion carries enormous weight as the U.S. spends more than any other member in the alliance on defense. Frederiksen sought to play down her candidacy after she met with Biden last week. She declined to say whether she discussed the coming vacancy with him, telling reporters that she did not want to go further in these speculations about NATO. The alliance has never had a female secretary-general. A British government official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said ahead of Sunak's visit that the British leader wants to be sure the next secretary general carries on Stoltenbergs good work of modernization but also understands the importance of defense spending at this critical time. Denmark has lagged behind NATOs target for members to spend 2% of gross domestic product on military budgets by 2030. But the centrist government announced late last month that it would look to invest some 143 billion kroner ($20.6 billion) in the countrys defense over the next decade, citing a serious threat picture. Biden and Stoltenberg are also expected to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and efforts to persuade fellow NATO member Turkey to back off blocking Sweden from joining the military alliance. Sweden and Finland, both historically unaligned militarily, jointly sought NATO membership after being rattled by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially blocked both countries from joining the alliance before agreeing to membership for Finland while continuing to object to Sweden. In public comments since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reelected last month, Biden has spoken with a measure of certainty that Sweden will soon join the alliance. It will happen. I promise you, Biden said of Sweden's NAT0 ascension earlier this month. Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have both expressed hope that Sweden will be brought into the NATO fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12. 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 }} MSNBC host Joe Scarborough launched a furious rant at Republicans who are still backing Donald Trump after he was federally indicted, saying they are narrowing down their base to insurrections, weirdos and freaks. On Mondays episode of Morning Joe, Mr Scarborough passionately condemned Trump-allied Republicans who have remained loyal to the former president, despite his indictment on 37 counts related to the retention of classified documents last week. If they want to harbor a fugitive, politically, that like stole nuclear secrets, good luck youre going to lose even more in 2024, Mr Scarborough said. Several allies of Mr Trump including Representatives Matt Gaetz (R - Florida), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R - Georgia), Elise Stefanik (R - New York), Andy Biggs (R - Arizona) and Senator Marco Rubio (R - Florida) all came to the former presidents defence when he was indicted last week. Many of them claimed the indictment was an attempt to discredit Mr Trumps 2024 presidential campaign as they downplayed the severity of the allegations. But Mr Scarborough said their efforts to defend the former president were hurting their party more than helping. A lot of them are still too stupid to realize theyre just giving up 2024 by doing it, he said. The Morning Joe host cited a poll from YouGov and CBS that indicated 80 per cent of Americans believe it was a national security risk that Mr Trump allegedly kept military documents at his home in Mar-a-Lago. Mr Scarborough argued that if the polls numbers are true, Mr Trumps loyal defenders will end up pushing away Republican voters. You keep narrowing down your base until you have insurrectionists, weirdos and freaks, Mr Scarborough said. Raising his voice to a shout, he continued: Everybody, look, youre freaking out about whats going on. Look at that number. That is us people who actually give a damn about a president of the United States who steals nuclear secrets and then lies about it to the FBI when the FBI tries to retrieve nuclear secrets. The indictment, which was unsealed on Friday (10 June) alleged that the former president had kept 31 documents containing information related to US national security among the many boxes of material that he allegedly refused to give the National Archives when he left office. Some of those documents contained top secret information related to US nuclear weaponry and the nuclear capabilities of a foreign country. 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 official John Bolton says he thinks that former president Donald Trump likely kept documents because he thought they were cool or might be a souvenir from his presidency. Mr Bolton, who worked as Mr Trumps national security adviser, told CNN that Mr Trump did not think about the sensitivity of the documents, The Daily Mail reported. And so I think a lot of these documents, he may have just thought were cool, a lot of them he thought might be souvenirs. A lot of them he thought might be useful to him later. I can't answer the question until iI see the document, he said. Mr Bolton said he did not know which documents Mr Trump took but he was familiar with which types of documents were placed before the former president. And they did go to absolute, the most important secrets that the United States has directly affecting national security directly affecting the lives that lives and safety of our service members and our civilian population, he said. Mr Bolton said the indictment could spell trouble for Mr Trump. If he has anything like what the complaint what the indictment alleges, and of course, the government will have to prove it, then he has committed very serious crimes. Mr Bolton had read the indictment as someone who had served in the Justice Department earlier in his career and said the charges were serious. Because not only is it powerful, it's very narrowly tailored, he said. They didn't throw everything up against the wall to see what would stick. This really is a rifle shot. And I think it should be the end of Donald Trump's political career. Mr Trump announced that he was indicted on Thursday evening and is set to appear in a federal court in Miami tomorrow by 3pm EST. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald 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. 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. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It was anticipated that a federal investigation into Donald Trumps retention of top-secret documents months after he left the White House would result in charges in Washington DC. But the damning 37-count indictment, with more than two dozen counts of illegally withholding classified documents under the Espionage Act, was filed on 8 June in US District Court in Florida, his primary residence and the location of his notorious Mar-a-Lago resort property, where mounds of boxes with sensitive government documents were discovered by federal law enforcement. Photographs in an unsealed indictment released on 9 June showed stacks of them on a ballroom stage and gilded bathroom with a chandelier. Interviews with witnesses and transcripts of conversations in the sweeping indictment appear to show a depth of coordination among Mr Trump, his aides and attorneys to bring them to the property and, later, conceal them from law enforcement. So it makes sense that prosecutors would charge him and his associate Walt Nauta in Florida. But determining the venue for a case against the former president, or any defendant, isnt necessarily a straightforward one. It really could make a huge difference. The jury pool is different. The judges are different, according to former assistant US Attorney Andrew Weissmann, speaking to MSNBC. Also, DC is a location where the court is very used to dealing with classified information. Theres an expertise there. So in terms of speed, getting this case to trial, the venue matters, he added. The Republican former president also has repeatedly rejected charges and investigations against him in several jurisdiction as political witch hunts, pointing to the Democratic majorities in New York City where was found liable for sexual abuse, hit with a $250m lawsuit from the state attorney general, and criminally charged with more than 30 counts of falsifying business records and Atlanta, where his efforts to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential election are expected to result in charges this summer. Mr Trump won the state of Florida in 2016 and 2020, though he lost the county of Miami-Dade, where he is facing a federal indictment. A form attached to the indictment also noted that the case was filed in the West Palm Beach court division, suggesting that a prospective jury pool may be drawn from there. Voters in Palm Beach County have reliably voted for Democratic presidential candidates, but Republican Governor Ron DeSantis won 51 per cent of the county vote last year. Mr DeSantis Mr Trumps rival for the 2024 Republican nomination for president said in a statement after news of the indictment that he will bring accountability to the [US Department of Justice], excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all but stopped short of saying he would do anything to intervene. The fact that this is being charged in Florida is enormously significant, according to CNN legal analyst Elie Honig. Legally, I think its the right move by [the Justice Department], because theyre going to avoid a messy question about venue. Subpoenas may have been issued from Washington DC, but courts have upheld that the venue must be tied to where the unlawful conduct was committed. Florida may ultimately be less advantageous for federal prosecutors and the Justice Department in a case dealing with classified documents and the aftermath of a presidential administration, typically the purview of Washington courts, but the state is a legally a less risky venue at this juncture, according to Mr Weissmann and Ryan Goodman. An aerial view of Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate on 10 August, 2022, days after a federal law enforcement search of the property (AP) Whatever legal and factual arguments might support venue in Washington DC, the consequences of getting that calculus wrong, is an unknown variable that will counsel in favor of caution on the part of the [Justice Department], they wrote. Prosecutors also likely do not want to risk spending the first year fighting over venue, former federal prosecutor Randall D Eliason told The Washington Post. For now, Mr Trumps case will be handled by a federal judge he appointed to the bench in 2020 and who already has delivered controversial rulings in the investigation that were rejected by an appeals court. US District Judge Aileen Cannon is scheduled to preside over his federal court case in Miami. Last year, Judge Cannon appointed a special master to review materials seized by federal law enforcement and restricted the FBI from using those documents as part of the investigation until she completed a review, effectively freezing the Justice Department probe. News crews camp out in front of a federal court building in Miami anticipating Donald Trumps arrival after a federal indictment was unsealed on 9 June (Getty Images) That order was ultimately thrown out entirely by a three-judge panel at a federal appeals court, which sharply criticised the judges actions and stressed that a court cannot simply write a rule that allows any subject of a search warrant to block government investigations after the execution of the warrant or write a rule that allows only former presidents to do so. If she does not recuse herself from the case and she remains a trial judge, she could play a potentially critical role in the cases development, including whether to set a trial before or after presidential primary elections and the general election in 2024, as Mr Trump seeks the Republican nomination for president. He already is scheduled to return to Manhattan Criminal Court on 25 March days after voting begins in primary states. A trial in a fraud lawsuit targeting Mr Trump, his adult children and his business entities is slated to begin in October. 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 }} Insurrections, election deniers, a man dressed as Uncle Sam and an individual with a pig head impaled on a stick all appeared outside the Miami courthouse to either protest, celebrate, or just experience former President Donald Trump becoming the first former commander-in-chief to be placed under arrest on federal charges. One protester was tackled to the ground and arrested after running out in front of Mr Trumps motorcade as he left the court. Miami Police briefly blocked off a plaza in front of the courthouse on Tuesday morning. The authorities moved members of the public and the media across the street from the court as a suspicious package was investigated. The all-clear was given shortly after 11.30am on Tuesday. According to Nicole Ninsalata of WSVN, a bomb squad responded to the sidewalk outside the courthouse, where a flatscreen TV with yellow wires coming out of the back was spotted. Two men were spotted hanging the TV, which said, f*** the communist controlled news media. The TV was later investigated because nobody claimed it, according to the Miami New Times. Protesters and supporters of Mr Trump began clashing ahead of the arraignment with video emerging of arguments where police stepped in. As Mr Trump arrived in Florida on Monday night, footage shared on Twitter appeared to show Trump supporters confronting a man holding anti-Trump signs. Chaos erupted on Tuesday after a protester jumped in front of Mr Trumps motorcade as he left the federal courthouse after pleading not guilty to the 37 counts against him. In an interview with The Independent before the incident took place, the protester identified himself as Domenic Santana. Protester Dominic Santana is detained by Miami Police officers after attempting to rush former President Donald Trump's motorcade (Getty Images) Dominic Santana of Miami is detained by Miami police after trying to block former President Donald Trump's motorcade (Getty Images) Miami Police officers control a crowd after detaining protester Dominic Santana, who attempted to rush former President Donald Trump's motorcade (Getty Images) Speaking about why he was at the court, he said: Hopefully, someday he has to be locked up. He should have been locked up a long, long time ago. Hes gotten away with it. Hes the master of spin, either graduate from New York School of Rats and he has a masters degree and he knows how to spin it. Hes going to spin it on this one. Its political. Its because Im running for president that theyre accusing me. He has his case made up. He doesnt need lawyers to defend him. He already knows the spin. Before the election, Oh, if I lose its because of fraud. That day he lost Oh, fraud, fraud fraud. His Attorney General There was no fraud. Youre fired, the next day. Come on. Enough is enough, Mr Santana added. Footage from the scene appeared to show Mr Santana being tackled to the ground and arrested. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Santana told the Sun Sentinel that supporters of Mr Trump came for me. They were calling me a communist. Trump is a rat who graduated from the school of rats. He should have been locked up a long, long time ago. Mr Santana is a Cuban-American retiree, according to the Palm Beach Post. He said he came to the court to confront Mr Trumps cult-like following. These charges are just the beginning of his lies. On Monday evening, police separated Mr Santana from the crowd following a confrontation with supporters of the former president. Mr Santana, who lives in Miami, showed up at the courthouse the next day in the same old-school prison outfit and carrying his Lock him up sign. He should have been locked up a long time ago, he reiterated, according to the Miami New Times. Ahead of the arraignment, former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon appeared to be worried about anti-Trump protesters during his programme on Real Americas Voice, a rightwing broadcaster. If youre asking for trouble, you let these two groups get together because the Never Trump, the anti-Trump and Antifa, BLM, are violent people, he claimed. And theyre always there to get in peoples faces. Theyre always there to try to pick fights. And Im just an observer here anchoring in Washington DC, but I gotta tell you, Im not enthusiastic about what Im seeing down there on the crowd control. I think that were just asking for problems and what we dont want today are problems. Miami Police investigate a suspicious item near the media area outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned later in the day on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Getty Images) Miami Police investigate a suspicious item near the media area outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned later in the day on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Getty Images) This thing we want to get in and out of, and I hope the Miami authorities and others do the job that the NYPD does, he added in reference to Mr Trumps arraignment earlier this year in a separate case. On Tuesday, supporters of Mr Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were seen outside the courthouse in a shouting match over Covid-19 vaccines and Mr Trumps response to the pandemic. Osmany Estrada garnered plenty of attention as his pig head baked in the 100-degree Florida sun. Im here to have fun, he told reporters, footage tweeted by Freedom News showed. When questioned about the pig head, he said: Whats wrong with the pig head hes happy, look at that! He pointed at the head with an American flag sticking out of its mouth, impaled at the end of a wooden pole, noting that the head was a reference to Lord of the Flies. When asked if he supported Mr Trump, he said, Im here to have fun, Im here to celebrate American democracy. Osmany Estrada (L) holds a pigs head as he and Gregg Donovan gather outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse (Getty Images) Election denier and 2022 Arizona GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake also appeared outside the Miami courthouse. Speaking to Real Americas Voice, she regurgitated many of Mr Trumps talking points. We need to show President Trump that we've got his back, he has had our back since he came down that escalator almost eight years to the date, she said. They have thrown everything at him ... impeachment hoax number one impeachment hoax number two, Russiagate. It's really just an effort to continue to disparage the one man who was standing up for we the people, she added. We need a president who's gonna stand up for the people he's not owned by the donor class. He's not owned by the lobbyists. He's not owned by the establishment. He is working for us. And we're here to support him and tell him we know what this is it's another witch hunt. We know he's an innocent man. Trump lawyer Alina Habba chose instead to focus on President Joe Biden being found to have had classified documents at his home and office, a case legal experts have said is vastly different from that of Mr Trump and is unlikely to lead to legal action. Joe Biden himself retained possession of classified documents but has not been prosecuted. And none of them came into possession of those documents while they were president. None of them were president, who, as the head and sole member of the executive branch, has the power to summarily declassify documents, she said. The decision to pursue charges against President Trump, while turning a blind eye to others, is emblematic of the corruption that we have here. We are at a turning point in our nation's history. The targeted prosecution of a leading political opponent is the type of thing you see in dictatorships, like Cuba, and Venezuela. It is commonplace there for rival candidates to be prosecuted, persecuted, and put into jail. What is being done to President Trump should terrify all citizens of this country. These are not the ideals that our democracy is founded upon. This is not our America. Comedian Jason Scoop showed up to do his impression of the former president. Election denier and Trump supporter Laura Loomer, a far-right commentator, claimed the legal action against Mr Trump came at this time because hes stronger than ever, according to the Miami New Times. Trump supporters and protesters clashed, and the chant Trump is a d***, could subsequently be heard. One man baselessly called President Joe Biden a paedophile, possibly in reference to the Qanon conspiracy theory. GOP presidential Vivek Ramaswamy spoke outside the court, slamming the indictment and saying that he would pardon Mr Trump if he becomes president. Proud Boy associate and MAGA rapper Forgiato Blow called the legal proceedings against Mr Trump a witch hunt. A man named Xavier, who appeared to have clashed with Trump supporters the previous evening, prompting police to step in, showed up with a sign on Tuesday saying Trump f***** half of America, and a hat stating f*** Ron DeSantis. Far-right agitator Anthime Gionet, who goes under the name Baked Alaska, was also spotted outside the court. He was charged after he livestreamed his presence at the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021 insurrection. One Trump supporter appeared on Fox Business saying that Hunter Biden, started the war on Ukraine five years ago. The largely peaceful protests came after Miami officials assured the public that they would have everything under control ahead of Mr Trumps court appearance. Speaking at a press conference at Miami police headquarters on Tuesday morning, Mayor Francis Suarez said the city was enacting plans to make sure that everyone has a right to peacefully express themselves and exercise their constitutional rights in an obviously peaceful manner. Miami Police on bicycles cordon off an area due to a suspicious device near the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse (Getty Images) In our city, we obviously believe in the Constitution and believe that people should have the right to express themselves. But we also believe in law and order. And we know that and we hope that tomorrow will be peaceful. We encourage people to be peaceful in demonstrating how they feel. And were going to have the adequate forces necessary to ensure that, he said at the time. Mr Suarez, who is rumoured to be planning to enter the 2024 Republican presidential primary himself, declined to criticise the ex-presidents rhetoric and said he has not spoken to Mr Trump to ask him to retract his calls for protest, despite the former presidents history of inciting violence. I have not spoken to him. I dont have his phone number, he said. Mr Suarez appeared to compare the events of January 6 and the potential violence that could ensue on Tuesday to the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in the summer of 2020. He said city and state law enforcement officials handled those protests without incident and called the response to those events a model for how to deal with those protests in the country. We did things not to create unnecessary confrontations. We gave people a space to express themselves without unnecessarily creating confrontations. In that moment, in that particular case, we had a curfew that we implemented. We had a variety of different resources that we used, that I thought were different than other cities in America, and they allowed us to deescalate without creating incidents, he said. Vocal Trump opponent Nabine Seiler holds a sign that reads "Trump Indicted Again" outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse (Getty Images) I have full faith and confidence that our department will have the right action plan and will have the right resources in place. In the right place to make sure that there are no incidents, he said. But Mr Suarez repeatedly declined to address concerns about the possibility that the same violent extremist groups that responded to Mr Trumps call for protests in 2021 would again come to support him on Tuesday. He also told reporters there would be no effort to separate protesters and counterprotesters and said law enforcement would not be erecting any hardened barrier around the courthouse because thats what freedom of speech is. Because the courthouse is a federal facility, Department of Homeland Security personnel there began to take some precautions for potential protests on Monday. A Trump supporter shows his support in front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse before the arraignment of former President Donald Trump in Miami, Florida on June 13, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) Trump supporters show their support in front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse before the arraignment of former President Donald Trump in Miami, Florida on June 13, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) Outside the building where Mr Trump was later arraigned, marked police vehicles belonging to the Federal Protective could be seen parked strategically in areas not already rendered inaccessible to cars with concrete bollards and other preexisting vehicle barriers, blocking a path from the street onto courthouse property. Groups of FPS officers, some leading explosive detection dogs, could be seen congregating in areas where shade from trees could shield them from the hot Florida sun. Around 10.30am, other officers began positioning moveable barriers and stretching police tape to cordon off a wide swath of the courthouse lawn from public access in preparation for possible demonstrations by Mr Trumps supporters, should any heed the twice-impeached, twice-indicted ex-presidents call for protests on the day of his arraignment. One FPS officer who asked not to be identified told The Independent that he and his colleagues were hopeful that the crowd would remain peaceful, but said they were aware that things could go south quickly. Were prepared for anything but were hoping there wont be any trouble, he said. 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 federal indictment against former president Donald Trump has now been unsealed - revealing a stunning laundry list of 37 counts. The 49-page, 37-count indictment was unsealed on Friday after Mr Trump released a series of social media posts revealing that he has been indicted by a grand jury under the supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith. The indictment details the charges against Mr Trump and Walt Nauta, a former US Navy noncommissioned officer who left government service to work for Mr Trump after his term ended in January 2021. Those charges include willful retention of national defense secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing documents, conealing documents in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and making false statements. Mr Trump will surrender, face arrest, and be formally charged at an arraignment in US District Court in Miami next week. A potential sentence, if convicted, could include decades in prison. Read the indictment in full: 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 }} A GOP senator used a bit of alternative history to paint the Justice Departments decision to prosecute Donald Trump as improper and politically motivated on Sunday. Ron Johnson was speaking on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures with host Maria Bartiromo when he made the claim that the twice-impeached former Republican president had, in fact, decided against directing the Justice Department to prosecute Hillary Clinton, the opponent he famously vowed to lock up countless times on the campaign trail. "[President Gerald] Ford decided it was best for America to not pursue prosecution against [President Richard] Nixon. President Trump pretty much made the same decision, decided not to pursue any kind of prosecution of Hillary Clinton, said Mr Johnson. Joe Biden could have made the same decision. He didn't, added the senator. There were a couple of important issues with Mr Johnsons assertion, however. Number one, Mr Ford did not direct the Justice Department to end a criminal investigation into his predecessor; instead, he pardoned Mr Nixon for any crimes he committed while in office, making a prosecution moot. Mr Trump hardly extended that same gesture to Ms Clinton. In fact, the Department of Justice closed the investigation into the Democratic secretary of State on two separate occasions, both before Mr Trump ever took office. The final end to that probe occurred two days before Mr Trumps 2016 election victory, after the FBI had made the controversial decision to reopen the investigation with just days to go in the race. Mr Johnsons apparent assertion that Mr Biden should consider pardoning Mr Trump for crimes he may have committed is the latest in an emerging line of half-hearted defences of the former president by Republicans aligned with the partys establishment. Others, like Ohios new senator, JD Vance, have rejected the idea that any crimes could have been committed at all. Those more forceful arguments align more closely with the former presidents own; Mr Trump has loudly insisted that he is not guilty of the numerous allegations levied against him in the DoJs indictment, including witness tampering and violations of the Espionage Act. He also faces a separate set of criminal charges in New York stemming from a scheme to pay hush money to an adult film star, Stormy Daniels. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case. 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 }} Sen. Tim Scott is rolling out endorsements from more than 140 current and former elected officials from his home state of South Carolina, aiming to make a show of force in the first-in-the-South presidential primary state. The backing comes as Scott and other presidential contenders aim to carry on with their campaigns as much of the political world parses the indictment of GOP front-runner Donald Trump on dozens of federal charges. The list of supporters, shared with The Associated Press ahead of an official announcement on Monday, includes state Sen. Shane Massey, the current Republican leader of South Carolina's Senate, who called Scott the authentic conservative leader we need in the White House right now. Daniel Rickenmann, elected in 2021 as the first Republican-aligned mayor of South Carolina's capital city of Columbia in decades, lauded Scott's career, which he said had been spent focusing on people back home and supporting local government to solve real problems." Scott also lists the official endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, whose 1st District congressional seat Scott won twice before he was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2011 by then-Gov. Nikki Haley now among Scott's rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The list also includes 28 other current state lawmakers, including Rep. Bruce Bannister, chairman of the powerful state House Ways and Means Committee, as well as former lawmakers including longtime House Speaker Bobby Harrell, 16 mayors of cities and towns across the state and dozens of county-level officials. Scott said he was honored to receive the endorsements of former colleagues and friends." He previously was endorsed by several Senate colleagues, including John Thune and Mike Rounds, both of South Dakota. Thune spoke at Scott's launch event last month in North Charleston. The South Carolina endorsements of Scott come as Republicans aim to navigate the campaign amid Trump's unprecedented indictment on dozens of federal charges related to his handling of classified documents. Slated to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday, Trump spent the weekend blasting the case against him as ridiculous and baseless during appearances at GOP conventions in Georgia and North Carolina. Scott, who campaigns later this week in Iowa, is among the 2024 Republican hopefuls who have joined Trump in criticizing the case against him. Along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Scott has decried the weaponization of the Department of Justice in making its allegations against the former president. Haley called for an end to vendetta politics, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has pledged to pardon Trump if he's elected. Ramaswamy said the federal case was part of an affront to every citizen and called it hypocritical for the DOJ to selectively prosecute Trump but not President Joe Biden over his own classified documents case. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the federal indictment marked a sad day for our country and reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A vengeful Donald Trump swore that hed get even with Joe Biden on Monday as he boarded a private jet to Miami where he is set to face his second criminal indictment this year. The ex-president ranted on Truth Social that he planned to use the power of the federal government, should he be elected to the presidency in 2024, to personally target Mr Bidens family. I WILL APPOINT A REAL SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO GO AFTER THE MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE USA, JOE BIDEN, THE ENTIRE BIDEN CRIME FAMILY, & ALL OTHERS INVOLVED WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR ELECTIONS, BORDERS, & COUNTRY ITSELF! fumed Mr Trump in an all-caps rant posted around noon. It was a stunning declaration that throws the future of Americas justice system into question as such a move would wholly eliminate the independence and integrity of the Department of Justice, should he be successful. Mr Trump has been indicted on 37 criminal counts related to his handling of presidential records in the wake of his departure from the White House in January 2021. He separately faces 34 counts brought by prosecutors in New York related to a hush money scheme set up during his 2016 campaign for president. He has loudly protested both investigations and declared his innocence; meanwhile, the Department of Justices indictment last week coincided with the release of several images purporting to show presidential records including potentially classified materials stored in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago. Separately, the hush money scheme for which he now faces charges in New York was well-documented by journalists as well as his own former body man and fixer, Michael Cohen, who was a key player in the arrangement. The former president has long claimed to be innocent of all the various charges against him, and has pointed to the now-shuttered investigation into whether his 2016 campaign conspired with Russia as evidence of a supposed greater campaign by US law enforcement agencies to stop him from becoming president once again. He has also long alleged that President Joe Bidens family members are guilty of the same kind of corrupt dealings that his own family has been accused of taking part in by their political rivals. Republicans in the House have launched investigations aimed at uncovering that supposed criminal activity, but as of yet definitive proof of criminal behaviour or unsavoury dealings has yet to be found. The Justice Department is thought to be investigating Mr Bidens son Hunter for a handful of tax law violations, as well as for potentially having made a false statement while in the process of purchasing a firearm, though he is not thought to be under suspicion by authorities of corrupt or illegal foreign dealings, as Republicans have alleged. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trumps classified documents case is attracting criticism ahead of his court appearance in Miami given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago. Unless she chooses to recuse herself, Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, will be placed in charge of the timing and progression of the criminal case as well as rulings on motions brought by the defence and prosecution. If the former president is then convicted, she would also be tasked with handing down a sentence to the very man who nominated her to that position. Mr Trump is charged with 37 felony counts related to the mishandling of presidential records, including highly-sensitive national defence information, since his departure from the White House in January 2021. He has so far insisted that he he is an innocent man in angry statements and postings to Truth Social, alleging that he is the victim of rabid wolves and the weaponisation of the justice system by the corrupt Joe Biden administration, even as the indictment revealed photos of boxes of files stacked high in the glitzy ballrooms and bathrooms of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. Angela Noble, the courts chief clerk, has insisted that normal procedures were followed in assigning Judge Cannon and magistrate judge Bruce Reinhart to the case after their names appeared on Thursdays summons. However, Judge Cannon has already come under fire for delivering rulings widely considered favourable to Mr Trump over the course of the investigation into the classified documents. After the FBI executed a search warrant in August 2022 to enter Mar-a-Lago and search for classified documents, lawyers for Mr Trump filed a complaint arguing that the search had been illegitimate and unconstitutional. Judge Cannon subsequently issued an order prohibiting the US government from further review and use of any of the materials seized from Mar-a-Lago for criminal investigative purposes. The ruling attracted concern in legal circles as an unprecedented instance of a federal judge assuming the authority to halt a pre-indictment criminal investigation into a suspect. Her ruling was later reversed by the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Judge Cannon also last year sided with Mr Trumps request that an independent special master be appointed to review the documents before they could be examined by the Justice Department, a decision that was branded deeply flawed by Mr Trumps own former attorney general Bill Barr. After appointing special master Raymond Dearie, Judge Cannon then overruled a number of his procedural proposals and sided with Mr Trumps attorneys on several key points. The appeals court ruled that Judge Cannon had improperly exercised equitable jurisdiction and directed her to stand down from the case. US district judge Aileen Cannon (Southern District of Florida/Wikimedia Commons) Slate legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern called that decision one of the most humiliating appellate smackdowns in recent history, a total demolition of literally every action that Cannon had taken from the outset of the case, also labelling the judge a venal mediocrity. He also suggested that the total lack of principle and evident incapacity to experience shame was likely to prove beneficial to Mr Trump once again this summer. Judge Cannon is of American-Cuban descent and was born in Cali, Colombia, in 1981. She was raised in Miami where she attended the Ransom Everglades School, then Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and then the University of Michigan Law School. She clerked for an appellate judge in Iowa for one year after graduating, then worked for the corporate law firm Gibson Dunn in Washington DC, from 2009 to 2012 and then as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, based out of Fort Pierce, from 2013 to 2020. Following her nomination by Mr Trump, she was confirmed as a federal judge by the US Senate in November 2020 in the dying days of his one-term administration. Her appointment to the bench came just 12 years after she first qualified to practice law, the minimum experience the American Bar Association requires nominees to have. Judge Cannon is a registered Republican, has been a member of the conservative Federalist Society since 2005 and reportedly donated $100 to Florida governor Ron DeSantiss gubernatorial election campaign in 2018. 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 popularity of Donald Trump rose among Americans despite him becoming the first president to be indicted twice, while Joe Bidens favourability marked a decline, according to a latest poll The poll suggested that the ex-president was consolidating more and more support from the people who believe his federal indictment was politically motivated at a time when he is running for the White House and is considered as the front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Mr Trump emerged as the favourable choice of 31 per cent of people, marking a six per cent rise from April, a poll by ABC News and Ipsos conducted after his second indictment suggested. Mr Bidens popularity was tied with Mr Trump, with 31 per cent of people finding him a favourable choice. His ratings marked a decline of three per cent, hitting an all time low since 2020, in what was the worst indication for the president who launched his re-election bid for 2024 elections. The survey was conducted on 9-10 June with 910 people interviewed on a range of questions, including their view on criminal charges brought against the former president. Mr Trump was continuing to consolidate support even after his first indictment in New York in alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and his latest in the classified documents case. A federal grand jury indicted the former president on 8 June on charges stemming from his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information. The 49-page indictment was unsealed on Friday (9 June), revealing 37 counts against the ex-president. 2024 hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images) His favourability correlated with how people felt about charges bought against him. Around 47 per cent of people said the charges against Mr Trump were politically motivated, compared to 37 per cent who did not see politics behind the indictments. At the same time, more people wanted Mr Trump to be charged and held accountable for federal felonies than those who believe he should not be. Nearly half 48 per cent of Americans said Mr Trump should have been charged in the cases while 35 per cent voted against it. In his first public address since the Department of Justice unsealed its indictment, Mr Trump called the charges ridiculous and baseless returning to the campaign trail. This is a political hit job. Republicans are treated far different at the Justice Department than Democrats, Mr Trump claimed at a state GOP convention in Columbus. Theyre cheating, theyre crooked, theyre corrupt these criminals cannot be rewarded, they must be defeated. 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 }} Law enforcement agencies and extremism researchers are closely monitoring online threats and escalating rhetoric surrounding Donald Trumps arraignment as the former president formally faces federal criminal charges in a sweeping indictment connected to his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property. Mr Trump continues to deny wrongdoing, casting the multiple investigations and lawsuits involving him, his campaign or business empire as a hoax, a fraud or a politically motivated hit job against him or his agenda, while using apocalyptic rhetoric and furious social media posts to draw support to his 2024 campaign fund and legal efforts. On Truth Social, the former president sent a barrage of posts and videos declaring his innocence and urging his followers to face his political enemies. On 9 June, he wrote: SEE YOU IN MIAMI ON TUESDAY!!! Our country has to protest, he said on The Roger Stone Show on 11 June. He also shared a meme with a caption reading THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS WAR. On pro-Trump message board Patriots.win, formerly The Donald, a site that was central to organising riots on January 6, supporters have declared war, said protests could make Waco look like a tea party, and said that this is what the Second Amendment was made for. I used to laugh when my mom said that she was afraid if she registered Republican she may be arrested one day. Im not laughing any more, one user wrote. Just buying more ammo. Speaking at a Republican event in Georgia on 9 June, failed Republican candidate for Arizona governor Kari Lake suggested that armed Americans would stop Mr Trumps prosecution. If you want to get to President Trump, youre going to have to go through me and 75 million Americans just like me, she said. And Im going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA Thats not a threat, thats a public service announcement. Department of Homeland Security police place tape off an area in front of the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr federal courthouse in Miami on 12 June (Getty Images) Republican US Rep Andy Biggs of Arizona said on his congressional Twitter account that we have now reached a war phase. Eye for an eye, he said. His office later said that his comment was a call for congressional Republicans to use their procedural tools to counter the Lefts weaponization of our federal law enforcement apparatus. Republican US Rep Clay Higgins of Louisiana also posted a cryptic message on Twitter, suggesting that people should prepare for civil disturbance. This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this, Mr Biggs said on 9 June following news of Mr Trumps indictment. rPOTUS if online shorthand for real president of the United States. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges, added Mr Higgins,making an apparent reference to military-scale maps and Rock steady calm. That is all, he wrote. The following day, his account appeared to admit to exploiting press outlets by using incendiary rhetoric to help amplify his message, then called for peace and told his followers to let Trump handle this. Patriots, weve manipulated the MSM to establish deep commo, now copy this do NOT trip the wire theyve laid for you. Maintain your family. Live your life. Know your bridges. Hold, he wrote on 10 June. Let Trump handle Trump, hes got this. We use the Constitution as our only weapon. Peace. Hold, he added. The involvement of members of Congress, prominent political figures, and Trump himself in promoting, inciting, and even hinting at violence is a risk factor for acts of political violence, according to extremism researcher Caroline Orr. Far-right activist and failed congressional candidate Laura Loomer also announced plans on social media for a peaceful rally at the federal courthouse and asked demonstrators to bring pro-Trump apparel, bullhorns and love for the former president. She also shared an image of Mr Trumps SEE YOU IN MIAMI post and added an image of the court, the courts address and the caption ALL HANDS ON DECK and Trump Document Hoax Rally. Ms Loomer and other supporters also promoted a flag waving demonstration outside Trump National Doral on 12 June. Authorities will be closely monitoring both events; a Miami-Dade Homeland Security Bureau issued an advisory including Ms Loomers promotion of the flag waving event. On Telegram, a Florida chapter of the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys called on supporters to rally outside the federal courthouse and to bring a banner supporting Trump. After the former president told his Truth Social followers SEE YOU IN MIAMI on 13 June, the Proud Boys group shared the post, adding YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. The group reacted similarly to Mr Trumps stand back and stand by message to the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate. Law enforcement are aware of the messages, according to an advisory viewed by The Washington Post. At least one person convicted for their roles in connection with the attack on the Capitol will join the protests. Baked Alaska a white nationalist livestreamer who was convicted on a count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building after he filmed himself for more than 30 minutes inside the halls of Congress on January 6 suggested on a recent stream that he plans to join protests in Miami. Homeland Securitys current nationwide advisory as of 24 May notes that lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the US, echoing similar language in the National Terrorism Advisory System that have been in place for several years as federal agencies monitor a rise in far-right violence. Those threats could include violent extremist messaging and online calls for violence, motivated by perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues, according to the advisory. Potential target could include critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement. Before Mr Trumps arraignment in a criminal court in New York City in April, news of the charges and his demands for his followers to protest outside the courthouse were met with an immediate increase in violent online rhetoric and expressed threats toward government and law enforcement targets perceived as participating in a political persecution of the former president, as well as more general calls for civil war, according to coalition of federal law enforcement agencies monitoring such threats. And across far-right social media accounts and message boards, his messages and his ongoing, bogus narrative of his political persecution appeared to be the evidence his followers needed to support long-running conspiracy theories that Democratic officials and President Joe Bidens administration have weaponised the federal government against him. Only a few dozen of his supporters ultimately showed up in Manhattan, outnumbered by reporters and news crews there to capture the historic arraignment. Unlike the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, which was organised openly across social media platforms, discussion of protesting Mr Trumps first indictment largely revolved around denouncing the investigations and Democratic officials. In the New York case, prominent QAnon influencers and Trump loyalists including figures who were once central to the Stop the Steal effort that fuelled the crowds before the riot in the halls of Congress two years ago expressed some sceptism over the former presidents demands, or refused to participate in his defence at all. Others claimed that the whole thing was a deep state or false flag setup intended to lure his supporters to their own arrest. At a rally in Georgia on 10 June, Mr Trump once again sought to portray himself as well as his supporters as the victims of a Democratic regime while rejecting the seriousness of the crimes he now faces. Theyve launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people, he said. Theyre coming after you. Outside the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr federal courthouse in downtown Miami on 12 June, marked police vehicles belonging to the Federal Protective Service could be seen parked strategically in areas not already rendered inaccessible to cars with concrete bollards and other preexisting vehicle barriers, blocking a path from the street onto courthouse property. Groups of FPS officers, some leading explosive detection dogs, could be seen congregating in areas where shade from trees could shield them from the hot Florida sun. Around 10.30am, other officers began positioning moveable barriers and stretching police tape to cordon off a wide swath of the courthouse lawn from public access in preparation for possible demonstrations by Mr Trumps supporters, should any heed the twice-impeached, twice-indicted ex-presidents call for protests on the day of his arraignment. Were prepared for anything but were hoping there wont be any trouble, one FPS officer who asked not to be identified told The Independent. Additional reporting by Andrew Feinberg Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has now become the first current or former president to be arrested on federal charges in the history of America. On Tuesday 13 June, the former president was arrested and arraigned on 37 counts in a federal indictment stemming from the US Department of Justice investigation into his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property. Federal prosecutors charged the former president with willful retention of national defense secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing documents, concealing documents in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and making false statements. Thirty-one counts relate to each document alleged in his possession, five counts relate to Mr Trump concealing them, and two counts relate to false statements. A potential sentence, if convicted, could include decades in prison. Mr Trump surrendered to authorities at Miami federal court where he was arrested and formally charged. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and flew straight back to New Jersey to deliver a speech at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey where he launched into his usual unsubstantiated narrative that he is the victim of political persecution and lashed out at President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Jack Smith. The federal indictment was unsealed on 9 June. An investigation from special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed to lead the Justice Departments probe into the former presidents alleged mishandling of documents after leaving the White House, has been looking into whether Mr Trump and his lawyers falsely certified that he returned classified records to the government, or whether he concealed them, illegally, and lied to his legal team. Federal prosecutors are expected to present compelling evidence that the former president knowingly and deliberately misled his attorneys about his retention of sensitive documents after leaving the White House in January 2021 after losing his re-election bid. Among the mounds of documents in his possession when they were collected by FBI agents were 102 classified documents 27 were in his office, 75 were in storage, and 17 top secret-designated documents were among them, according to prosecutors. Several included nuclear weapons capabilities of the US and foreign nations, potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack, according to the indictment. The indictment states that Mr Trumps possession could put at risk the national security of the United States. Willful retention of national security information The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination is charged with violations under the Espionage Act, which the Justice Department invoked against now-former National Security Agency translator Reality Winner while Mr Trump was president in 2018. Julian Assange and Daniel Hale also were charged under the Espionage Act in 2019. Mr Trump now faces 31 counts under that same charge. One of the six sections under the Espionage Act, Section 793, prohibits gathering, transmitting or losing any information respecting the national defence. Counts one through 31 in Mr Trumps federal indictment include individual documents in his possession from 20 January 2021 until 6 August 2022 or 3 June 2022. The documents include documents designated secret and top secret, related to White House intelligence briefings, foreign military activity, communication with foreign leaders, foreign military impacts on US interests, and communications with a foreign leader. At least one document concerns US nuclear weaponry Another involves nuclear capabilities for a foreign government. The use of Section 793, which does not make reference to classified information, is understood to be a strategic decision by prosecutors that has been made to short-circuit the former presidents ability to claim that he used his authority as president to declassify documents he removed from the White House and kept at his Florida property long after his term expired on 20 January 2021. That section of US criminal law is written in a way that could encompass Mr Trumps conduct even if he was authorised to possess the information as president. It states that anyone who lawfully having possession of, access to, control over, or being entrusted with any document relating to the national defence and willfully transmits such information in any way can face a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Obstructing justice, conspiracy and withholding records The former president and Walt Nauta did knowingly combine, conspire, confederate and agree to withhold documents under Section 1512 under Title 18 of US code, according to the indictment. The statute includes a broad prohibition against tampering with a witness, victim or informant involved in a federal investigation. According to prosecutors, Mr Trump conspired to conceal documents from a grand jury and federal officials, by suggesting that his attorneys make false statements to authorities, by moving boxes of documents to hide from attorneys, by suggesting that documents be hidden or destroyed, and falsely certifying that classified documents were produced to authorities when, in fact, they had not. The statute applies to matters before Congress as well as federal agencies and civil and criminal judicial proceedings, including grand jury proceedings. A conviction includes a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In a case before a jury, federal prosecutors must prove whether Mr Trump knowingly retained documents under the National Archives and Records Administrations custody, and willfully defied the Justice Departments subpoena for classified documents in his possession. A conviction includes a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. An additional charge of conspiracy, which would need to include another person in order to commit a crime, could carry a sentence of five years. False statements and representations Mr Trump faces additional charges for making false statements, or allowing his legal team to make false statements, for allegedly lying to law enforcement about the documents in his possession. That could include an additional five-year sentence, if convicted. According to the indictment, the former president made a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement when he swore to a grand jury investigation and federal law enforcement probe that he provided all documents as requested. A federal indictment against Mr Trump arrives days after a last-ditch attempt by his legal team to convince Justice Department officials against charging him. Investigators launched a probe early last year after officials with the National Archives and Records Administration discovered more than 100 documents bearing classification markings while reviewing 15 boxes retrieved from Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago home. US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Mr Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor at The Hague, as special counsel to lead the probe. An indictment serves as a formal accusation, among a prosecutors first steps before a case can be brought to trial. Grand jurors heard evidence and testimony brought forward from prosecutors and witnesses they chose to present. In a trial, a jury will hear from defence attorneys. Following Mr Trumps formal indictment, prosecutors will share evidence with his legal team who likely begin motions to dismiss the case. Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting 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 }} With less than two years remaining until US voters will decide who will serve as president of the United States from January 2025 to January 2029, former Republican government officials are starting to jockey for position in the coming fight for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, while at least two Democrats challenging President Joe Biden in a Democratic primary. As the campaign takes shape, here are the names you need to know. Joe Biden Mr Biden is the current president of the United States and is now officially gunning for a second term, having announced his reelection bid in a video message on Tuesday 25 April. Mr Biden, 80, is the oldest person to ever serve as president and his lacklustre approval ratings fuelled speculation that he might stand down so a younger candidate could take up the Democratic Party mantle. But the Democrats better-than-expected results in the 2022 midterms appeared to put new wind in Mr Bidens sails before he officially announced his 2024 run Joe Biden (AP) Donald Trump Mr Trump, 77, officially filed paperwork with the FEC to declare himself a candidate in the 2024 election on 15 November. Mr Trump is the only US president to face two separate impeachment trials one after fomenting a violent attack on the US Capitol in hopes of remaining in power despite losing the 2020 election to Mr Biden. He announced his candidacy at the same Palm Beach, Florida, location where FBI agents had conducted a search for stolen classified documents just three months earlier. Donald Trump (AP) The ex-real estate developer-turned-television-presenter-turned-politician is hoping he can become the first ex-US chief executive to reclaim the White House since Grover Cleveland. Mr Trump faces a series of obstacles on what was once assumed to be a smooth glide path to the GOP nomination, including several of his former top aides and at least one governor he once endorsed. Marianne Williamson The self-help author and former spiritual adviser to television mogul Oprah Winfrey, who participated in several Democratic primary debates during the 2020 election, has said she will enter the 2024 race to challenge Mr Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. In an interview with Northwestern Universitys Medill News Service, Ms Williamson, 71, confirmed her intention to run next year. I wouldnt be running for president if I didnt believe I could contribute to harnessing the collective sensibility that I feel is our greatest hope at this time, she said. Marianne Williamson (AP) During her aborted 2020 presidential run, she garnered a measure of notoriety for making statements widely considered bizarre, such as a vow to make then-New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern the first head of government she would call as president, and an assertion that she would win the election by "harness[ing] love for political purposes" against Mr Trump. Nikki Haley Former South Carolina governor Ms Haley spent two years as Mr Trumps ambassador to the United Nations and during that time garnered some media attention for her sauve ability to avoid engaging with the controversies that engulfed Mr Trumps administration while remaining in his good graces. Although the former governor turned diplomat previously pledged not to throw her hat into the ring for 2024 if Mr Trump was still running, she appears to have thrown that non-campaign promise away. Nikki Haley (AP) On 15 February, Ms Haley, 51, announced that she would enter the race. In a video released by her campaign, she even went so far as to take a veiled swipe at Mr Trump by noting that seven out of the last eight presidential elections have seen the GOP candidate lose the popular vote. She also said it is time for a new generation of leadership who will rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border and strengthen our country, our pride and our purpose. Mike Pence Former vice president Mr Pence officially entered the 2024 presidential race on 7 June after much speculation that he would try to take on his former boss Mr Trump. Today our party and our country need a leader that will appeal, as Lincoln said, to the better angels of our nature, Mr Pence said in his campaign kickoff speech in Iowa. Mr Pence, 64, was once Mr Trumps steadfast right-hand man until he made the decision not to unlawfully hijack Congress certification of Electoral College votes to keep Mr Trump in office in 2020. Since then, a rift has been driven between Mr Pence and Mr Trump though Mr Pence continues to not publicly criticse Mr Trump in the same way other anti-Trump Republicans have. Mike Pence (AP) Mr Pence has made it clear that he would not do things the way the ex-president did during their four years in office together but still promote the traditional conservative values he holds. In his speech, Mr Pence said: We could revive our economy, and put our nation back on a path to a balanced budget, defend our liberties and give America a new beginning for life. Mr Pence began building his 2024 campaign operation by bringing on former Ben Sasse spokesperson Ali Kjergaard to his Advancing American Freedom nonprofit. Ms Kjergaard joins other former Pence White House mainstays, including his former chief of staff, Marc Short, and his former press secretary, Devin OMalley. Although the ex-vice president has a recognisable stature in the GOP, he will likely face an uphill climb to convince voters that he not Mr Trump is the best choice. Ron DeSantis The current governor of Florida announced his campaign on 24 May after months of speculation by many in the GOP that he would be the perfect successor to Mr Trump. Ron DeSantis (AP) His campaign kickoff suffered a slew of technical errors when it launched in a Twitter Spaces event with CEO Elon Musk. Mr DeSantis, 44, is a former Florida congressman who won his 2018 gubernatorial campaign after receiving a coveted endorsement from Mr Trump. He is viewed by Republican pundits as a worthy avatar of the current anti-woke GOP and his star has been on the rise in conservative circles since he made a show of ending any and all pandemic-related restrictions and mandates in the Sunshine State. When Mr DeSantis took the stage at his 2022 election victory party, supporters even chanted two more years in a nod to his potential status as a GOP presidential contender. Tim Scott South Carolina Senator Mr Scott officially entered the race for Republican presidential nominee on Friday 19 May after filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. Mr Scott, 57, became the first Black senator to represent a state that had been part of the Confederacy during the American Civil War and the first Black Republican since Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke when he was elected in 2013. The then-freshman GOP senator retained the seat hed been appointed to in a 2014 special election and was reelected easily in 2016 and 2022 with at least 60 per cent of the vote in both elections. Tim Scott (AP) He has long been considered a rising star in the Republican Party, and was given the honour of delivering the partys response to President Joe Bidens inaugural address to Congress in 2021. Mr Scott reportedly plans to begin airing TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire in the final week of May, a commitment of $5.5 million that follows his formation of an exploratory committee in April. He would start a bid with more campaign dollars than any of his 2024 rivals roughly $22 million that he can automatically convert from his US Senate campaign account to a presidential campaign. The figure is the most any candidate in history has had when beginning a campaign for president, according to the FEC. Vivek Ramaswamy Mr Ramaswamy, a wealthy biotechnology entrepreneur and conservative activist, announced his intention to compete in the 2024 Republican primary during an appearance on Tucker Carlsons eponymous Fox News programme (before Mr Carlsons acrimonious departure from the network). Vivek Ramaswamy (AP) Mr Ramaswamy, 37, is a Yale Law School graduate. He has become somewhat of a celebrity in right-wing circles for his denunciations of stakeholder capitalism, big tech censorship and critical race theory. Last year, he founded Strive Asset Management, an anti-woke investment firm opposed to businesses that use environmental, social and corporate governance practices. Robert F Kennedy Jr Mr Kennedy Jr, a lawyer, vaccine-sceptic and the son of US Senator Robert F Kennedy, filed candidacy papers with the FEC on 5 April 2023. The filing places the 69-year-old as the second long-shot Democratic candidate to challenge President Biden, behind Ms Williamson. Robert F Kennedy Jr (AP) While he intends to run as a Democrat, Mr Kennedy Jr has ties to former president Mr Trump. In 2017, he was tapped by the then-president-elect to oversee a presidential panel to review vaccine safety and science - despite having repeatedly expressed scepticism about vaccines. He continued pushing those beliefs through the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Kennedy Jrs father, the late New York Senator Robert F Kennedy Sr, was a candidate in the 1968 presidential election before he was assassinated. Chris Christie Mr Christie, the pugnacious ex-New Jersey governor and ally-turned-critic of Mr Trump, entered the 2024 Republican presidential primary to directly challenge the man he endorsed after failing to gain traction in the GOP field nearly eight years ago. In a town hall at St Anselm College in New Hampshire on 6 June, Mr Christie, 60, announced his campaign by positioning himself as a moderate-conservative alternative to Mr Trump who he referred to as a self-consumed, self-serving, mirror hog. Chris Christie (Getty Images) Mr Christie twice endorsed Mr Trump for president in 2016 and 2020 but turned on him after Mr Trump refused to concede and ultimately encouraged the January 6th riot. The former New Jersey governor has been outspoken about his disdain for Mr Trump and is making it very clear in his 2024 campaign that he plans to take him on head first. Larry Elder Mr Elder, a former attorney, and current conservative talk radio host, announced on Thursday 20 April on Tucker Carlson Tonight, just like Mr Ramaswamy, that he would be running for president in 2024. The right-wing candidate said that he felt a moral, religious, and a patriotic duty to join the race for president. He named policing, crime and government overreach as areas of concern. Larry Elder (AP) Weve incentivised women to marry the government, Mr Elder, 71, told Tucker Carlson. Weve incentivised men to abandon their financial and moral responsibility. And if I do nothing else in this race, but focus people on those two issues I would perform this service to my country. Prior to his announcement, Mr Elder had been the host of the popular conservative radio programme The Larry Elder Show on KABC since 1993. He left in April 2022. Mr Elder has some political experience as he unsuccessfully ran to replace California governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. Ryan Binkley Pastor and businessman Mr Binkley announced his entrance into the 2024 race on May 9 the latest long-shot contender to challenge Mr Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. We have to be unified, Mr Binkley, 55, said at a recent event. We have to be in this place, because if were in a time of uncertainty, what its going to take is faith in God and faith in each other to get us through, and its not time for us to back down. Its time for us to believe. Ryan Binkley (The Way to Freedom) Mr Binkley has said he is absolutely confident that he could take on Mr Trump, despite having little name recognition and no experience holding elected office. Asa Hutchinson The former governor of Arkansas formally announced his campaign for president on Wednesday 26 April. In Bentonville, Arkansas, Mr Hutchinson, 72, told supporters he is optimistic about the future of the US and hopes to carry out the same conservative values to the White House that he did as governor. In this campaign for president, I stand alone in terms of my experience, record and leadership, Mr Hutchinson said. Asa Hutchinson (AP) Before becoming governor, Mr Hutchinson was a representative for Arkansas, an administrator for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and transportation security of the US Department of Homeland Security under former president George W Bush. Mr Hutchinson discussed the economy, crime and border security during his campaign kick-off speech. Doug Burgum Mr Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, said he too would be running for the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election on 7 June. The virtually unknown governor was a software entrepreneur before he was elected to his gubernatorial position in 2016. In a preview video released the day before his announcement, Mr Burgum, 66, called himself a new leader for a changing economy, indicating his campaign would focus on kitchen-table issues. Doug Burgum (AP ) But Mr Burgum has dipped his toe into some of the contemporary social issues that many Americans are concerned about when looking at a new candidate. Mr Burgum is anti-abortion having signed a near-total abortion ban in North Dakota and anti-transgender having signed eight anti-transgender laws. Francis Suarez Mr Suarez, the mayor of Miami, filed paperwork with the FEC, throwing his hat in the ring of an already packed Republican nomination race, on 14 June. Mr Suarez, 45, is a Cuban-American who has made a name for himself in Miami, and Florida, as a tough-on-crime conservative. But outside of the state, hes largely unknown. Francis Suarez (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Some may remember Mr Suarez as one of the first people to contract Covid-19 in Miami-Dade County in March 2020. He documented his progression with the illness to help others understand it better. Despite his relative obscurity, Mr Suarez is confident that being the only Hispanic candidate, as of now, gives him a lot of credibility, according to Associated Press. Will Hurd Mr Hurd, 45, a former CIA officer and representative for Texas, announced his bid for the Republican nomination on Thursday, 22 June. I believe the Republican Party can be the party of the future, not the past, Mr Hurd said to CBS Mornings during his campaign launch. Like Mr Christie, Mr Hurd has positioned himself as a moderate alternative to the field of GOP candidates while remaining critical of Mr Trump. Will Hurd speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kick-off in West Des Moines, Iowa (REUTERS) The former Texas rep served in the US House for six years before leaving in 2021. He was the only Black Republican in the chamber during his final two terms. While in Congress, Mr Hurds district was one of the most competitive in Texas. It included parts of San Antonio and El Paso as well as included most of the Texas border with Mexico. He gained a reputation as a bipartisan dealmaker, once spending two days in a car with Democrat Beto ORourke in 2017 driving from San Antonio to Washington when a snowstorm cancelled the flights. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Radio New Zealand, the countrys public service radio station, issued an apology after it was found that one of its journalists edited reports on the Russia-Ukraine war to add pro-Kremlin garbage. The taxpayer-funded RNZ said it has so far found 16 stories that were found altered to include Russian propaganda and were published during more than a period of one year. Paul Thompson, the chief executive of RNZ, said he was gutted and shocked with the discovery of edited stories, pledging to get to the bottom of it. It is so disappointing, Im gutted, its painful, he said. We have to get to the bottom of how it happened. Its so disappointing that this pro-Kremlin garbage has ended up in our stories, Thompson told Nine to Noon. Its inexcusable. He said they have already reviewed 250 stories and the ones that were found inappropriately edited had been corrected along with an editorial note. They would be reviewing thousands more, he added. The public service radio station launched an investigation into the scandal, commissioning an external review of the organisations editing processes. RNZ said a digital journalist has been placed on leave pending the result of an employment investigation and does not have access to their system. The journalist, who was not named, acknowledged publishing several stories with pro-Russia slant since joining the broadcaster. I subbed several stories that way over the past number of years, in fact, since I started [at] Radio New Zealand, they told the Checkpoint show in a statement, according to NZ Herald. And I have done that for five years and no one has tapped me on the shoulder and no body told me I was doing anything wrong. Thompson called it a breach in their editorial policy and an audit has revealed it was isolated to one area. RNZ, which began as a radio broadcaster, has grown to become a multimedia organisation, and its website ranks among the nations most viewed news sites. Stories attributed to the Reuters wire service or the BBC were edited to include sentences and paragraphs of pro-Kremlin narratives such as "Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum", and that "neo-Nazis had created a threat" to Russias borders, among others. New Zealands minister for broadcasting, Willie Jackson, said the breach was a major issue and unprecedented for RNZ after he was briefed on the matter. Some of the articles dating back to April 2022 showed changes to including the word coup to describe the Maidan revolution, a series of deadly clashes between protesters and forces leading to the ousting of authoritarian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. The stories were also changed to add references to a new pro-Western government. RNZ said it will now add another layer of editing to wires stories. Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark tweeted that she expected better from the public broadcaster. Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing, she wrote. Accountability? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Russian man has died after being mauled by a tiger shark off one of Egypts Red Sea resorts, with disturbing video taken from the beach appearing to show him screaming papa as the attack unfolded. The 23-year-old Russian national had gone swimming in the waters off his resort near the city of Hurghada when a shark emerged underwater and grabbed him. The attack forced the Egyptian authorities to close off a 74-kilometre (46-mile) stretch of the coastline, announcing it will remain off limits until Sunday. Officials from the Russian Consulate in Hurghada identified the man as a Russian citizen. He has been name locally as Vladimir Popov. His dad has since spoken of watching the attack from the shore. We went to the beach to relax, Mr Popov, originally from Russia, told the 112 media outlet. My son was attacked by a shark, it all happened in seconds. What kind of help can you give? This meat grinder happened in 20 seconds, he was just dragged under the water. He added: This is an absolutely ridiculous coincidence, because it is a safe beach. There are ships and yachts around. Its never happened there. They usually attack on wild beaches. Its just some kind of evil fate. A nearly minute-long video appearing to be of the brutal shark attack shows the man being suddenly pulled down into the water, only for him to resurface and desperately fight off the shark when suddenly the water around him goes red. He also screams out papa and cries out loudly as the shark repeatedly circles and comes back in to attack. Later in the video a witness is heard saying it is eating his remains now as a small ship sails in the distance. The environment ministry in Egypt later said it had caught the shark and was examining it in a laboratory to try to determine the reasons for the rare attack. Images shared on social media showed the body of the bloodied shark lying on a sheet on land. Shark attacks are rare in the Red Sea coastal regions. In 2022, two fatal attacks were seen in Hurghada within days, killing an Austrian and a Romanian tourist. Tiger sharks are a large species that resides in tropical and temperate waters and are among the sharks most cited by the International Shark Attack File for unprovoked attacks on humans. 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 }} Ukraine claims to have recaptured four villages from Russia in what would be the first territorial gains of its long-awaited counteroffensive. About a week after Ukrainian forces began advancing at various points along the frontline, Kyiv said it liberated three villages on Sunday in the southeast of the country. Unverified footage showed Kyivs forces hoisting the Ukrainian flag at a building in the village of Blahodatne in Donetsk region and posing with their units flag in the adjacent village of Neskuchne. Then on Monday a photo shared by Ukraines deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar showed soldiers hoisting the countrys yellow and blue flag at what she claimed was the village of Storozheve in Donetsk, as she thanked the 35th Separate Brigades of Marines for liberating the settlement. The four villages in Donetsk captured by Ukrainian troops, over Sunday and Monday (DataWrapper/ The Independent) Ukraine also claims to have recaptured Makarivka, the next village to the south of Blahodatne, and advanced between 300m and 1,500m at two points on the southern front, Ms Maliar said in a statement. Storozheve is located between Blahodatne and Neskuchne. No positions were lost in the directions where our forces are on the defensive, Ms Maliar added. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukrainian counteroffensive and defensive operations were taking place. And Russian president Vladimir Putin appeared to confirm on Friday that a Ukrainian military push was well underway, while claiming it had failed to breach his forces defensive lines and suffered significant losses. Kyiv has kept information of its counteroffensive secret and urged Ukrainians not to disclose any information that could compromise the operation. The video from Blahodatne showed Ukrainian troops inside a heavily damaged building as the sound of artillery rumbled in the distance. Were kicking the enemy out from our native lands. Its the warmest feeling there is. Ukraine is going to win, Ukraine above everything, an unidentified soldier said in the video on Facebook. Ukrainian forces claim to liberate a village near Blahodatne, Donetsk (Reuters) Russia said at least twice this week that it had repelled Ukrainian attacks close by the nearby settlement of Velyka Novosilka. The occupied southeast is seen as a likely priority for Kyivs forces that may aim to sever Russias land bridge to the annexed peninsula of Crimea and split Russian forces in half. Makarikva is around 90km (56 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. A building heavily damaged by a Russian military strike in the Kharkiv region on Sunday (Reuters) Russia has built vast fortifications across occupied territory to prepare for a Ukrainian counterattack using thousands of troops trained and equipped by the West. In her statement, Ms Maliar also said Ukrainian forces were continuing assault operations in the east near the devastated city of Bakhmut and had advanced 250m (820ft) near the Berkhivka Reservoir. Russia said it captured the city of Bakhmut last month after the bloodiest and longest battle of the war, but Kyiv has said it has been regaining ground on the flanks of the city. 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. Children stand on top of a burned out Russian tank in St Michaels Square in Kyiv (AP) In other developments, the Ukranian president said on Sunday that work has already started on an investigation by the International Criminal Court of the breach of the Kakhovka dam. Representatives of the International Criminal Court have visited Kherson region in recent days, Mr Zelensksy said in his nightly video address. On the very first day after the disaster, the general prosecutors office sent a corresponding request to the International Criminal Court concerning an investigation of this disaster and the work has already begun. Mr Zelensky said it was important that international legal experts saw the aftermath of the disaster, including incidents of shelling of flooded areas. Officials said three people were killed on Sunday in Russian shelling of boats carrying evacuees. The president said Ukrainian rescue teams had evacuated about 4,000 residents from affected zones, including areas on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River. 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 }} Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals the Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case. Follow all the latest updates on the Independents live blog German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on May 3, 2007. Christian Brueckner is serving seven years behind bars in Germany (Reuters) Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the bed of her holiday apartment while her parents and family friends dined 180 feet away. Her two-year-old twin siblings were also in the apartment she went missing from. Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since. The Metropolitan Police took over the investigation, Operation Grange, in 2011 but they hit dead ends. There has not been another significant suspect in the case since 2007 until Brueckner. Who is Christian Brueckner? German prisoner Christian Brueckner is a prolific burglar and has been previously convicted for sex crimes against young girls. He was born in Germany in 1976 and moved to Portugal in his late teens. It is believed he lived there between 1995 and 2007 working in the food industry. Brueckner is described as being about 6ft tall, slim and white with short blond hair. Brueckner had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz (PA Archive) What are the accusations against him? Brueckner was declared a prime suspect in the case of the disappearance of Madeleine by Portuguese police in April 2022. Already in prison in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman, he has now also been charged with multiple sex offences which are alleged to have taken place between 2000 and 2007. Police in Germany claim to have concrete evidence that the British girl is dead though this has not been proven. A spokesperson from the Braunschweig prosecutors office previously said: The accused is the same person against whom charges were brought in connection with the disappearance of the then three-year-old British girl Madeleine Beth McCann. Specifically, the accused is charged with three offences of aggravated rape and two offences of sexual abuse of children. The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann continues. The charges mentioned do not relate to the McCann case. But in May German police claim to have found new evidence linked to Madeleine inside a van belonging to Brueckner. Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since her disappearance (PA Wire) How was he identified as a suspect? Brueckner had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz the Algarve resort where the McCanns were holidaying at the time Madeleine vanished. German prosecutors say telecomms data shows Brueckner received a phone call on 3 May 2007 near the Praia da Luz holiday apartment from which the three-year-old went missing, but he reportedly claims to have been miles from the scene with a young German woman. Brueckner, who has always denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance, insists he drove the woman, who was on holiday with her parents, to the airport in Faro for her return flight home the following day. They were stopped and photographed at a police roadblock, according to Sky News. When Portuguese police named Brueckner an arguido a formal suspect on 21 April last year, it was the first time they had identified an official suspect since 2007. Back then, they named Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann as suspects but both were later cleared. Brueckner is the first significant suspect in the case since 2007 (PA Media) Why is he in prison in Germany? In April 2022, Brueckner was jailed in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in the same resort - Praia da Luz - as where Madeleine went missing. Police in Germany, who are treating the case as a murder enquiry, believe Brueckner planned to rob the holiday apartment but moved on to a sexual motive. It is believed he has a total of 17 convictions including burglary as he steals from hotels and holiday let apartments. Other cases Brueckner has been linked to Brueckner has also been linked to other disappearances of children, including a boy, six, in Portugal in 2000, a five-year-old girl in Germany in 2015 and a number of others. In 2020, he was being investigated over the rape and murder of Tristan Brubach, a 15-year-old boy from Germany. Belgian authorities have also linked him to the murder of teenager Carola Titze, 16. She went missing while on holiday in De Haan, Belgium on July 5, 1996 and her body was discovered among sand dunes severely mutilated on July 11. Other cases believed to be linked to Brueckner include that of Inga Gehrike who went missing from Saxony-Anhalt in Germany on May 2, 2015, Rene Hasee, six, who vanished while on a family holiday in Aljezur, Portugal on June 21, 1996 and Jair Soares who disappeared in August 1995. Peggy Knoblochs case has also been linked to Brueckner after she went missing in May 2001. Close Holes up to 2ft deep were dug up in the reservoir search, in the hope of unearthing clothing fibres, local media reported For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police officers who scoured a reservoir in Portugal in the search for Madeleine McCann have warned against hope as they hit a fresh roadblock in their investigation. A large section of the Barragem do Arade reservoir was cordoned off in May, about 30 miles from where three-year-old Madeleine went missing in Praia da Luz 16 years ago. It is believed that the main suspect in the case, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, regularly visited the reservoirs peninsula and had described it as a little slice of paradise. But detectives searching the reservoir have now said there is no compelling evidence Madeleine is there. Holes up to 2ft deep were dug up in the reservoir search, in the hope of unearthing clothing fibres, local media reported. But despite initial hope, German public prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told newspaper Bild: Please dont expect too much. This comes after a former friend of Brueckner, Helge Busching, claimed that the jailed paedophile had told him she didnt scream during a conversation about the missing three-year-old. He told Bild he revealed the crucial information to Scotland Yard in 2008 but was ignored. 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 }} Six police officers face homicide charges in a Swiss court case that opened on Monday following the 2018 death of a 39-year-old Black man. Nigerian national Mike Ben Peter died from a heart attack after he was pinned, face-down, for several minutes during his arrest, in a case echoing the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the United States. Unlike in the George Floyd case, where his final moments were captured in a video that was shared across the globe and sparked worldwide protest, there is no footage of the incident leading to Ben Peters death. While in the US, officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in 2021 based on cellphone footage showing him kneeling on Floyds neck, Ben Peters death in 2018 received little attention beyond the western Swiss city where it occurred, which saw a small-scale demonstration, reported France 24. The officers, whose identities remained undisclosed due to Swiss privacy laws, face charges of "homicide by neglect" in the case before a Lausanne criminal court. They all contest the charges and will seek acquittal, their lawyers said. The case is one of four where Black men have died during police interventions in Vaud canton since 2016. They have sparked protests and calls for reforms. A group of UN experts said last year that Switzerland has systemic racism issues in a report that raised serious concerns about "excessive use of force and the expectation of impunity by police" and cited this case. A government-mandated study released since then admitted the problem was structural and said measures had so far been insufficient. Simon Ntah, the lawyer for the family, said he was not hopeful for a ruling against the officers, who face a maximum prison sentence of three years. Bridget Efe (L), the wife of Mike Ben Peter, a 39-year-old Nigerian who died in Lausanne in March 2018, his brother (2R) and lawyer Simon Ntah (R) arrive at the criminal court at the opening of the trial of six policemen accused of homicide charges for his death, in Renens on 12 June 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) "As long as there isnt a mechanism for independent investigations against the police we are stuck with the same problems," he said, complaining about how the same public prosecutor who works with police on other criminal cases is placed in charge of cases like this one. The public prosecutors office declined to comment. The indictment showed that Ben Peter drew the attention of officers during a Lausanne drug patrol after he collected a bag later shown to contain marijuana. He did not comply with police requests and the officers used pepper spray and knee kicks to the ribs and crotch to handcuff him on the ground, it showed. He continued to struggle as he was held face-down by several officers for three minutes, it said, until they noticed he appeared unconscious. Ben Peter was later pronounced dead after a heart attack with multiple causes, the indictment said, including the fact that he was held on his stomach and subjected to stress but also his obesity. Additional reporting by agencies Russia is using scorched-earth tactics to devastate Ukraine and deal a blow to global food security, Khersons governor has said, after the destruction of a key dam in the southern region heralded the worst ecological disaster in Europes recent history. Speaking to The Independent, Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces were also heavily shelling Kherson and its evacuation routes, resulting in the hospitalisation of rescue workers, police officers and medics who had raced to help those worst affected by the disaster. Kyiv accused Moscow of deliberately blowing up the Kakhovka dam last week to prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing in the southern Kherson region. The dam, located in the Kherson region, has been under Russian occupation control since the early days of the war, which began in February 2022. Moscow has blamed the destruction of the dam on Ukraine. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine has reported regaining further ground from invading Russian forces along the eastern and southern fronts in early July as its counteroffensive continues, following on from the liberation of a number of frontline villages in June. Offering an update from the frontlines on Monday 10 July, the Ukrainian military said its troops have so far retaken more than 65 square miles on the southern front and 9.26 square miles around the eastern city of Bakhmut since the counteroffensive effort commenced. Ukraines deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that heavy fighting raged in two areas of the southeast. We are consolidating our gains in those areas, she wrote. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to US network ABC News ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania, said: All of us, we want to do it faster because every day means new losses of Ukrainians. We are advancing. We are not stuck. We would all love to see the counteroffensive accomplished in a shorter period of time. But there is reality. Today, the initiative is on our side. Ukrainian military analyst Denys Popovych meanwhile reported that Ukrainian forces had taken important positions near Klishchiivka, a village lying on heights to the south of Bakhmut. This will allow for artillery control of Klishchiivka itself and of parts of Bakhmut and supply routes, he told Ukraine's NV Radio. Just as [Russian mercenary group] Wagner surrounded the city, so will we. For its part, Russias Defence Ministry said brutal fighting had persisted in that area, with combat made difficult not only by the daily intensity of fire and battle, but also by topography. The line of contact runs between two hills. Pro-Moscow Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also took to Telegram to claim that his Akhmat unit had been deployed to the region. A week earlier, Ukraine had said its soldiers had made steady advances in the Lyman, Avdiivka and Mariinka directions of Donetsk in the Donbas as Russias under-pressure defence minister Sergei Shoigu moved to deny that the short-lived rebellion by the aforementioned Wagner Group, which saw them occupy Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow in protest on 24 June, had had any impact on its operations in Ukraine. Following months of speculation about when the Ukrainian counteroffensive might begin, unverified photographs and video began to appear on social media on Sunday 11 June showing its soldiers holding aloft their countrys blue and yellow flag in triumph above the eastern villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka in Donetsk, suggesting they had been recaptured from occupying enemy troops. The Ukrainian national flag is seen flying in the newly-liberated village Neskuchne in Donetsk (Oleksandr Ratushniak/Reuters) Ms Maliar posted one such photo from Storozheve and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it and subsequently reported that Ukraine had won back three more villages in Zaporizhzhia Lobkove, Levadne and Novodarivk and made fresh advances near Bakhmut, on the Toretsk front in the east and towards the port city of Berdyansk. The enemy is doing everything to hold on to the positions it has seized, Ms Maliar wrote on Telegram two days later. She added that Russian forces had air support and were showering Ukrainian troops with intense artillery fire and that the latter were encountering continuous minefields which are combined with anti-tank ditches. All this is combined with constant counterattacks by enemy units on armoured vehicles and the massive use of ATGMs [anti-tank guided missiles] and kamikaze drones, Ms Mailer reported. A team of Reuters journalists subsequently visited Neskuchne, observing that no building had been left unscarred by the fighting, noting three Russian corpses lying in the road and writing: The hamlet was silent except for birdsong and the crump of artillery fire in the distance. Since then, two more villages have been added to the list, bringing the reported total to nine. Kyiv has imposed a strict silence on its armed forces to avoid compromising an operation it hopes will retake swathes of land and eventually threaten the land bridge Russia has established for use in supplying the occupied Crimea. In practical terms, the advance represented by the retaking of the villages amounts to only modest gains: Makarivka, for instance, is around three miles short of the frontline and 56 miles from the southern rim of the aforementioned bridge over the Sea of Azov. But the symbolic value of Ukraines most rapid progression forward for seven months, after an arduous winter, is obvious, a timely boost to national morale for a beleaguered nation still reeling from the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam, allegedly brought down after being mined by Russian soldiers, flooding neighbouring towns for miles around and leaving the regions farmland swamped, its crops ruined and livestock drowned. As the pushback continues, Ukraine is banking on the huge amount of weaponry, training and intelligence it has received from the West, combined with its own battlefield resolve, tactical nous and the motivation of driving an invader from its own land, to give it the edge in the conflict. The country also knows it may have to show significant progress over the summer to ensure its international allies demonstrate the same level of commitment in future. But so far the response has been positive, with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg telling US president Joe Biden recently: The Ukrainians are making progress, making advances. Its still early days, but what we do know is that the more land that Ukrainians are able to liberate, the stronger hand they will have at the negotiating table. The US has responded by announcing that it will begin supplying Ukraine with cluster bombs for very careful use on its own territory against Russian forces, despite previously criticising Russias use of such munitions and the opposition of other nations, 100 of whom signed a 2008 treaty in Oslo, Norway, objecting to their deployment in warzones. Moscow has largely refrained from officially acknowledging any Ukrainian advances, insisting that it has consistently repelled attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on opposition forces. A map showing several of the villages liberated from Russian occupation by the Ukrainian military (The Independent/Datawrapper) Unverified footage circulated on social media by pro-Russia accounts has meanwhile shown destroyed American and German armoured vehicles, clearly intended to undermine allied faith in the Ukrainian cause. It is unquestionably too early to draw conclusions about the fate of the counteroffensive from these early skirmishes, which may be more about testing Russian defences than staking out major land gains. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine was 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. Ben Hodges, a former commander of US forces in Europe, told the Center for European Policy Analysis that the main attack, when it came, would be expected to feature several hundred tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The offensive has clearly started, but not I think the main attack, he said. When we see large, armoured formations join the assault, then I think well know the main attack has really begun. That tallies with Ms Mailars recent comments on domestic television, when she told the nation the main events of the attack remain ahead of us, adding: The main blow is still to come. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraines ground forces, similarly told The Guardian: I want to say that our main force has not been engaged in fighting yet, and we are now searching, probing for weak places in the enemy defences. Everything is still ahead. 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 }} Twitter is refusing to stand by a $1 billion contract with Google to use its cloud hosting services, according to reports. Elon Musks company is in the process of moving away from Google Cloud before the contract expires on 30 June, Platformer reported, leaving the social media firms trust and safety teams in peril. The move appears to be part of radical cost-cutting measures that have been underway since Mr Musks takeover of Twitter in October 2022, which has already seen thousands of employees laid off and a reduction in infrastructure spending. The deal with Google Cloud relates to hosting services, which include protecting accounts and fighting spam on Twitter. The effort to move to a different platform is reportedly running behind schedule, which could potentially impact Twitters ability to detect and remove spam and child sexual abuse material. Twitter did not respond to a request for comment the companys PR team was effectively eliminated during the lay-offs while Google is also yet to respond. A separate report from The Information last month claimed that Twitter also delayed payments to Amazon Web Services. The latest issues come after internal documents revealed that Twitters advertising revenue is down by more than half since Mr Musks takeover. The companys main revenue stream was initially hit by advertisers withdrawing over concerns related to the direction of the platform and its leadership, though Mr Musk claimed in April that almost all advertisers have come back or said they are going to come back. Twitters valuation since Mr Musk bought the company for $44 billion has dropped to around $15 billion, according to estimates from investment firm Fidelity. Newly-appointed Twitter chief executive Linda Yaccarino, who took over from Mr Musk last week, has been tasked with improving relationships with advertisers, while Mr Musk focuses on overseeing product, software and sysops as the firms chief technology officer. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 15,000 passengers have had their journey plans wrecked after easyJet cancelled more than 100 flights in 24 hours to and from its main base, London Gatwick. Britains biggest budget airline is blaming thunderstorms on Sunday at the Sussex airport for the cancellations. However, other carriers at Gatwick have grounded far fewer flights. Gatwick is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, and therefore especially susceptible to weather-related disruption. The easyJet cancellations on Sunday included two flights to and from Cyprus, departures and arrivals serving various Greek islands and links to other distant destinations such as Antalya in Turkey and the Canary Islands. More than 60 flights were grounded on Sunday by the carrier. British Airways made a handful of cancellations. Many flights were severely delayed, including a wait of more than six hours on easyJet from Gatwick to Paris CDG and to Barcelona. The longest delay is believed to have been on Tui: more than eight hours on a Larnaca flight. It was due to take off just after 9am but eventually left at 5.30pm. In the early hours of Monday morning, passengers on dozens more flights due to depart started receiving notifications that their flights were grounded. They include multiple flights to the Canary Islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, as well as links to Chania in Crete and Dalaman in Turkey. Passengers reported chaos at Gatwick on Sunday night (Jayne Thompson) Some passengers were offered alternative flights only on Thursday. Under European air passengers rights rules, travellers are entitled to be flown on the same day if another airline has seats available. But bookings on all carriers are very heavy. A spokesperson for easyJet said: Thunderstorms in the Gatwick area, which restricted the number of arrivals and departures on Sunday 11 June, unfortunately resulted in disruption at London Gatwick airport, including some diversions and cancellations, which is having a knock-on impact this morning as a number of aircraft are out of position. We are doing all possible to minimise the impact on our customers, providing those on cancelled flights with options to rebook or receive a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required. The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is easyJets highest priority and while this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused. Even reaching Gatwick is proving difficult due to urgent track repairs on the main line from London Victoria. The Gatwick Express has been suspended, but other trains are available. Passengers are told: Services running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Were thrilled to be joined in the studio by bestselling author Naoise Dolan to discuss her latest book, The Happy Couple. The young Irish author shot to critical acclaim following her hit debut novel, Exciting Times, in 2020, leading to many earmarking her as the next Sally Rooney. We talk with Naoise about being labelled a literary it girl, navigating fame as a writer, as well as the loves of her life. Check out Love Lives on Independent TV and all major podcast platforms, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Michael Gove paid tribute to Boris Johnson as he steps down as an MP, praising the former prime minister for his record on Covid and Ukraine. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the cabinet minister suggested the UK should be grateful to Mr Johnson. All of us will want to be grateful for what he did during the Covid pandemic, when he initiated the vaccine task force... and was responsible for the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, Mr Gove said. We should be grateful for that, grateful also for the staunch support that he gave to Ukraine. Watch the moment former GOP president Donald Trump departs Bedminster for Florida ahead of his arraignment. The former GOP president is set to travel to Miami on Monday, 12 June, ahead of his arraignment on 37 charges over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. He is due to appear in Miami federal court on Tuesday, following the unsealing of his indictment on Friday. Prosecutors are expected to charge Mr Trump with willful retention of national defence secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing documents in a federal investigation and making false statements. 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 }} Right-wing populists claim to speak for the people. But they dont actually listen to the public. Instead, they define their followers as the only people worth listening to and they then feed their followers lies and conspiracy theories. Democratic norms and laws are abandoned in favor of a pseudo-mystical belief that right-wing populist leaders are a personal embodiment of the popular will. Over the weekend, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham provided an unusually straightforward demonstration of how right-wing populism justifies itself. As everyone who follows the news is aware, former president Donald Trump was indicted on 37 charges last week, including violations of the Espionage Act, after he allegedly took secret documents from the White House. Graham went on ABCs This Week to defend Trump. Under questioning from host George Stephanopoulos, Graham declined to justify Trumps behavior and admitted Trumps actions hoarding secret documents, defying a government subpoena were wrong. But he still endorsed Trump for president. When pressed to explain why, he said, Most Republicans believe we live in a country where Hillary Clinton did very similar things, and nothing happened to her. Clinton did not in fact do very similar things. As Secretary of State, she used a private email account in violation of federal rules, not federal laws. She appears to have done so for convenience and out of carelessness. After extensive investigation, there was no evidence that she deliberately mishandled information. Trump, in contrast, is alleged to have kept classified documents in his shower, and appears to have deliberately hidden boxes from his own lawyers, as well as from the FBI. Theres no comparison. Graham, though, isnt arguing that there is a comparison. Hes arguing that Republicans believe there is a comparison. Graham is making a populist argument. And in doing so, he shows how right-wing populist arguments are built on lies and bad faith. In the first place, Republican beliefs in Clintons iniquity arent a spontaneous reflection of folk-wisdom. Right-wing media and GOP leaders have spent some three decades vilifying Clinton. Theyve devoted the past eight years, in particular, to claiming that her use of a private email account was one of the most important scandals ever in the history of the country. As Voxs Ian Millhiser says, the mainstream press buttressed the right by covering the issue with an Ahab-like obsession. In addition, when Clinton was exonerated again in 2019, most outlets buried the story. So, yes, a lot of people and especially Republicans believe Clinton violated the law in egregious ways, even though all the evidence, and repeated investigations, shows that she did not. Graham, though, thinks that the beliefs, cultivated by Republican leaders and news media, should be prioritized over facts. If the public believes that Clinton and Trump did the same thing, and Clinton was not prosecuted, then Trump should not be prosecuted either. GOP leaders provide their followers with talking points. Then, when their followers parrot those talking points, the GOP says that they are speaking for the public, and that their views should therefore prevail. Grahams populist argument also relies on framing Republicans as the one true public. Their beliefs are presented as being determinative, and as mattering more than everyone elses. But Republicans arent everyone, and are not even a majority or plurality of the public. In 2020, 46% of US adults identified as Democrats; only 43% identified as Republicans. More, solid pluralities of Americans believe Trump should be charged with crimes in the classified document case. The belief that only Republican voices should count is central to Trumpian populism. Trump has repeatedly, obsessively insisted that votes for his opponents are illegitimate or that they dont count. In 2020, he baselessly claimed that voters in heavily Black areas like Philadelphia had cast ballots illegally and should be disregarded and disenfranchised. Even when he won the presidential election in 2016, he insisted that millions of people...voted illegally for his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Graham is working from the same playbook. (White) Republican opinion is the authentic voice of the people, and should take precedence over the majority, and even over facts. Republican politicians, like Trump, channel and are validated by that true populist energy. The media, the legal system, and the country as a whole should bow to them. Trump, for Graham, is not answerable to the law, nor to democratic institutions, nor even to the polity as a whole. He can be judged only by his followers and loyalists, who are the only legitimate public voices. Graham is implicitly arguing for a system in which a charismatic leader draws legitimacy from a narrow, imagined, exclusionary public, defined by right-wing commitments, whiteness, and the incessant drumbeat of propaganda. Theres a word for that form of government. It isnt democracy. For British observers at any rate, Silvio Berlusconi held the dubious distinction of being the only person to have been publicly admonished, if indirectly, by Queen Elizabeth II. At the G20 summit in London, we find Her Majesty sandwiched between the then prime minister Gordon Brown and President Lula of Brazil for the usual family photo. As the famous video online shows, when its done they all get up, and the irrepressible Italian premier starts trying to get the attention of the American president, yelling: Mr Obama, Mr Obama! This triggers the Queen to turn round, sigh, and raise her arms in mock frustration, before saying, vaguely in his direction: What is it? Why does he have to shout? Berlusconis other dubious distinction is that he served as a kind of prototype for Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, and for the deeply corrosive brand of nationalist populism that has overtaken so many of the Western democracies in recent years even those, like America and Britain, that fancied themselves immune to being infected by it. Though you can go too far in such tempting analogies, it was a bit like how Mussolini was the first to develop and practice the methods of fascism, which in turn spread across much of Europe and the wider world in the ensuing decades. Arch rival Davy was dropped by NTMA in 2021 Primary dealers in Irish government bonds help manage billions of euro of activity each year and being added to the list puts Goodbody in line for a share in the lucrative fees generated as well as enhancing its prestige as a market player. Under the primary dealer system firms are tasked with buying and selling government debt, including ensuring there is a market when investors want to trade. NTMA criteria for primary dealers require management depth and experience, dealing capability, a marketing strategy, and wide distribution to a global investor base. Goodbody, owned by AIB, will be the first Irish owned primary dealer since arch rival Davy was dropped by the NTMA in 2021. Davy was cut in the wake of its high profile Central Bank fine and reprimand over a 2014 bond trading scandal. The NTMA said it expects that adding Goodbody as a primary dealer will add to the depth and liquidity of the market and further enhance the profile of Irish Government bonds for investors. With Goodbody the total number of primary dealers rises to 15. The rest are a mix of European and US investment banks and brokerages with only two based in Ireland: Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland and Barclays Bank Ireland. Sinead Mahon, Head of investment Banking, Goodbody said: We are proud to have been recognised as a primary dealer which broadens our capability and overall debt capital markets offering for our domestic and international client base and is testament to the experience of our fixed income team. It further enhances our position as a leading Irish investment firm and will support our ambitious growth plans. AIB, headed by CEO Colin Hunt, bought Goodbody in 2021 following a number of failed efforts to sell the brokerage to Chinese investors. The 138m deal returned Irelands oldest stockbroker to the control of a bank that had sold it in the wake of the financial crisis and boosted AIBs ability to generate fee income in order to cut dependence on the interest margin generated from lending and savings. PEOPLE who worked in the UK have been given two more years to apply for a special concession to top up their state pension from the British government. The British government has announced that the deadline for people to plug the gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record to boost their UK state pension has been extended to April 2025. People who worked in Britain can normally fill in gaps in their NI record over the previous six years. However, as part of the transitional arrangements to the new UK state pension in 2016, people have been able to make voluntary contributions to fill up any gaps in their NI record between April 2006 and April 2016. The deadline for making these additional payments was originally April this year. That was extended to July 31 this year. It has now pushed the deadline onto April 5, 2025. This means there is now bigger opportunity for these people to add up to 16 extra years to their UK pension. Opting for the special top-up could be hugely beneficial, allowing people to get a much higher pension from Britain in addition to any pensions they are due to get from this country, according to Frank Buckley of USP Financial, an Offaly-based firm that specialises in helping returned immigrants secure their UK state pension entitlements. He said that, under the UK system, people were normally allowed pay for a maximum of six historic years missing from their national insurance (NI) record there. NI is the equivalent of PRSI here. They are missing because they did not work in the UK in those years because they left the country, Mr Buckley said. The cost of filling one years gap is currently 907.40 (1,057), said experts in pensions company Canada Life in the UK. The additional benefit is currently around 303 (353) a year. Canada Life said people would need to live around three years to get their money back. Mr Buckley explained that the opportunity to top up a UK pension comes about after the introduction of what was called the New State Pension. Under the old state pension, people required 30 qualifying years on their NI record to secure the full standard rate which is currently 141.85 (160.82) per week. This is increasing to 156.20 per week from mid-April. With the new pension, people are now required to have 35 qualifying years on their NI record to reach the full standard rate of 185.15 per week. This is increasing to 203.85 from mid-April. Anybody whose qualifying years straddles pre and post-April 2016 will have a hybrid state pension entitlement consisting of the old and the new state pensions. When it made the changes, the British government introduced a concession allowing a wider window for paying historic years to encourage people to maximise their NI records. This means people can currently pay for a maximum of 16 historical years (2006/07 to 2021/22) missing from their NI record. Normally you can pay for a maximum of only six years. He said he supported a ban on Huawei equipment in European networks Ireland should invest in more cybersecurity to develop a closer relationship with the US, according to the American ambassador for cyberspace and digital policy. Speaking to the Irish Independent today, Nathaniel Fick said that mutual confidence requires more focus on systems to tackle cyber risks. If Ireland and the United States are going to have a close relationship with full information-sharing on intelligence, mutual co-investment and technology partnerships on cutting edge aspects of our digital economy, then we have to have some mutual confidence in our cybersecurity environments, he said. So broadly speaking, I think that for national security reasons, or trade reasons and for human rights reasons, when you think about cybersecurity, like-minded partners and allies ought to be investing more and collaborating more. Ireland has one of the lowest cybersecurity investment budgets in the European Union, despite a recent increase in the budget of the National Cybersecurity Centre. Ireland was left almost defenceless against a major cybersecurity attack in 2021, which cost over 100m and affected over 100,000 people. Asked whether the presence of so many major US tech multinationals based in Ireland represented an additional acute risk to cybersecurity, Mr Fick said that risk federates across relationships. We, globally, are connecting more than a billion devices to the Internet every quarter. That trend is accelerating. The answer is always that more security is better than less. Mr Fick also said that he was sympathetic to a mandatory ban on Huawei equipment in Irish and European telecoms networks, as is reportedly being considered by the European Commission. Last week, the Financial Times reported that officials in the European Commission are growing frustrated by the slow pace of restriction on Huawei equipment across Europe, despite recommendations against using the kit from European authorities. Ireland is currently considering recommendations against using some Chinese-made equipment and services, including Huawei and TikTok, in Irish state networks. As a government official in a democratic society, I treat the words mandatory ban with an enormous degree of seriousness, he said. In the case of Huawei and the Peoples Republic of China, however, I do believe that we have seen ample evidence all over the world of the reality that the PRC government's relationship with Huawei is such that Huawei commits to sharing information flowing across Huawei networks with the government when asked. That is not true of the Swedish government and Ericsson, nor is it true of the Finnish government and Nokia. And it's not true of the South Korean government and Samsung. So for national security reasons, for the innovation economy and for human rights reasons, I think there is accumulating evidence that suggests we should be very sceptical of Huawei or ZTE and any other Chinese telecommunications provider. And I believe that we're going to see governments across Europe, the United States and other like-minded partners around the world increasingly enact policies that recognise that. Mr Fick said that the US and Europe had already ceded their advantage in telecoms, a key infrastructural technology. We in the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea had what felt like an unassailable advantage in telecommunications technology, not just through companies like Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung, but Alcatel Lucent and Motorola and Bell Labs. We basically lost a big piece of this incredibly vibrant global ecosystem. And the companies that remain are now fighting against Huawei to deploy trusted infrastructure as opposed to infrastructure that is beholden to a government [China]. Mr Fick said that there were other key technologies such as artificial intelligence that should not be allowed to be ceded away from western countries. He said that he was concerned that Europe could regulate away innovation in AI. The global competitive landscape in AI has not yet been developed, he said. I think we will have a richer, healthier ecosystem for the long haul if we have world leading artificial intelligence companies that are based not only in the United States, but also in places like most of Europe, where there is strong rule of law, strong shared values and a commitment to rights-respecting technology development. But that requires not regulating away the innovation. It requires a very deft touch in striking the right degree of governance engagement without too much of it. I have a concern that the impulses of some European political leaders will create a scenario where all of the global leading AI companies will now be American. Mr Fick, a former US marine officer, was the CEO of cybersecurity software company Endgame before becoming a venture capitalist with Bessemer Venture Partners. In 2022, he was appointed as head of the US State Department's Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. Jodie Comer accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for Prima Facie at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Jodie Comer said she felt overwhelmed after winning her first Tony award for her performance in Prima Facie. The Killing Eve star paid tribute to her character and writer Suzie Miller as she collected the prize for best leading actress in a play. The award is Comers first Tony nomination and win, and comes following her Broadway debut in Millers one-woman production, which follows a British defence lawyer who ends up in the witness box. The 76th annual event, which celebrates the best in Broadway theatre, saw success for several British names, including Sir Tom Stoppard, whose play Leopoldstadt scooped one of the nights top prizes best play. The 2023 Tonys took place on Sunday in New York and was hosted by Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose. Jodie Comer accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Opening the show, DeBose told audiences to buckle up after warning them that the show would be completely unscripted, amid the ongoing Hollywood writers strike. The strike, involving over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had previously threatened to derail the show. The WGA previously agreed to a waiver for the show, so that its members would not picket the event and allow the broadcast on US network CBS to go ahead. 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 We dont have a script you guys. I am live and unscripted. Youre welcome, DeBose said. So to anyone who may have thought that last year was a bit unhinged. To them I say darlings, buckle up. Comer fended off competition from Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain in her category, as well as Jessica Hecht and Audra McDonald. Speaking about her character, she said: This woman in this play has been my greatest teacher and I have to thank Suzie Miller for that, who wrote this magnificent piece. Jodie Comer accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for Prima Facie at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theatre in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Without her writing that (I) would not be here so this feels just as much Suzies as it is mine. The actress went on to thank members of her production team and apologised to her friends and family for being absent in the past year. To every person who feels represented by Tessa, this has been my greatest honour, she said, quickly adding and it continues to be theres three weeks left! Comers win comes after a recent matinee performance of Prima Facie was halted after approximately 10 minutes, after the actress experienced difficulty breathing due to poor air in New York caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. Host Ariana DeBose, third right, performs at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theatre in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) The play had received four Tony nominations, including for best scenic design, best lighting design and best sound in a play, but lost out in all three categories to Life Of Pi. The awards were accepted by British creatives Tim Hatley and Andrzej Goulding, Tim Lutkin and Carolyn Downing respectively. Goulding and Downing both gave shout outs to Sheffield Theatres in the UK, where their play had its world premiere. Veteran playwright Sir Tom said he was teeming with emotion as he accepted the best play award. I feel very proud and grateful. Thank you so much, he said. But listen, I actually won a Tony Award in 1968, so I knew about not having scripts. 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 Im teeming with emotions that a chat-box wouldnt begin to understand. Naturally, they include gratitude and pride in the Leopoldstadt ensemble. Elsewhere, the nights other top prize of best musical went to Kimberly Akimbo, with Sean Hayes winning best leading actor in a play. Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical was awarded to J Harrison Ghee, while Victoria Clark claimed the award in the equivalent female category. Hollywood star Samuel L Jackson lost out in the category for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play to Brandon Uranowitz. Sir Tom Stoppard, center, and members of the company of Leopoldstadt accept the award for best play at the 76th annual Tony Awards (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Lifetime Achievement In The Theatre awards were also presented to actor Joel Grey and composer John Kander. Accepting the accolade, Kander said: This is a very big deal. When your own community honours you its very humbling and a little bit scary, he said. I am grateful to music which has invaded me early on from the time I was a baby, and stayed my friend, through my entire life, and has promised to stick with me to the end. Grey, who won a Tony and an Oscar for his performance in Cabaret, was presented with his award by his daughter, actress Jennifer Grey, who described him as her hero. Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Barry Humphries and Dame Angela Lansbury all featured in the Tonys 2023 in memoriam section. The section was accompanied by a performance by Joaquina Kalukango, last years leading actress in a musical winner, who sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from Phantom Of The Opera. '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 Sowing sunflower and corn at the Hranat farm in Podil district, Odesa Region, southern Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Yulii Zozulia / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images) The subsidies that Poland has given to its farmers in response to a surge in grain exports from Ukraine are not in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, Ukraine's Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka said on Monday. The Polish government approved 10 billion zlotys ($2.4 billion) in aid for Polish agriculture earlier this year to help its farmers compete with a glut of grains from Ukraine that had built up in Poland and other eastern European countries. "These subsidies go far beyond what is allowed by WTO rules. (They) may be a minor development but can be a source of (trade) disturbances around the globe," Kachka told an International Grains Council (IGC) conference in London. Poland has been one of the strongest supporters of Kyiv following Russia's February 2022 invasion, however the grains issue has caused tension for the Polish government, which relies on support from rural constituencies. Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia became alternative transit routes for Ukrainian grain to help offset slowed exports via the country's Black Sea ports after the invasion. Bottlenecks then trapped millions of tons of grains in the countries, pushing down prices for local farmers and prompting their respective governments to unilaterally introduce import bans on Ukrainian food products. The European Union (EU) on May 2 reached a deal allowing the five countries to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, while allowing transit for export elsewhere, including to other EU countries. The European Commission, which oversees EU trade policy, says the bans will be phased out by mid-September, by which time it expects improvements in getting grain out of Ukraine and through the transit countries. "We see no actual negative impact on the domestic markets of these states and we are working intensively with the EU on how to ensure the smooth operation of all trade routes," said Kachka. He added that the trade disturbances caused by the war "lead to assumptions, speculations and unjust trading practices (when) in reality trade is a key factor that can stabilize markets". The EU liberalised all imports from Ukraine for an initial 12 months from June 2022 to help Kyiv's efforts to fend off Russia's invasion. Last month it agreed to extend the tariff suspension for a further year. John Murphy died in hospital last week nearly two months after he suffered injuries in an industrial accident in Cork A FATHER-of-three who died two months after an industrial accident in Cork was hailed as a beloved father, husband, son and brother. John Murphy (41) of Condonstown, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, died in hospital almost two months after suffering horrific burn injuries in an industrial accident at the Stryker plant in east Cork. Two workers were injured in the accident which involved an apparent explosion and fire on the roof of the Anngrove plant on April 18. Both men were rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) by paramedics while units of the Cork fire brigade attended the scene. Mr Murphy, from north Cork, underwent emergency surgery for critical injuries and was placed on life support. He remained on life support over the past two months but died last Friday. A second worker injured in the incident was discharged from CUH after the accident with non-life threatening injuries. Mr Murphy's family paid a moving tribute to him in a notice on RIP.ie. He was described as sadly missed, lovingly remembered and a much loved husband of Daniela, devoted father of Kayla, Jayden and Dylan, beloved son of Sean and Eileen and dear brother of Michael, William, Tadhg, Josephine and Helena. Mr Murphy's funeral arrangements will be confirmed later. SIPTU paid tribute to Mr Murphy and are now engaged in talks with Stryker over safety matters at the plant. Separate investigations are under way into the circumstances of the accident both by the US company and by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). An inquest by the Cork Coroner's Office is expected to be staged next year. Stryker issued a statement in which they said they were deeply saddened by Mr Murphy's death. They said he was a friend to many and a valued colleague. SIPTU official Allen Dillon said everyone extended their sympathies to the Murphy family and Mr Murphy's work colleagues. He (John) has been in the thoughts of our members since the serious accident at the Stryker plant in which he and a colleague were injured, he said. It is with deep regret that we heard the news that his struggle for life has had such a tragic outcome. While the circumstances of this tragedy have yet to be fully explained, as we await the outcome of an investigation by the HSA, it highlights once more the crucial importance of workplace safety. The incident on April 18 occurred at lunchtime and apparently involved a small explosion and resultant fire on a plant roof. Three units of the Cork County Fire Service attended the scene alongside the emergency services and members of Stryker's special in-house fire fighting unit. Gardai were also in attendance in a support role. US multinational Stryker employs around 4,000 people at six locations in Ireland, having established a Cork base in 1998. A pleasure boat captain who claimed he had a "God-given right" to take his craft out onto the Liffey has been cleared on appeal of being drunk while erratically sailing in Dublin Port's shipping lane six years ago. Brian Stacey (50), of Derry Drive, Crumlin, and co-defendant Ronan Stephens (46), from Captain's Road in Crumlin, Dublin, were handed three-month jail sentences, with the final month suspended in each case, and fined 1,000 in January 2020. They were also ordered to complete alcohol awareness courses after their six-day Dublin District Court hearing. The pleasure boat was seized and later destroyed. However, the two friends were released after they lodged an appeal to overturn the verdict and sentences, which came before the Circuit Court. It had been delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Judge Geoffrey Shannon noted that the case was listed for mention today but the State consented to Mr Stacey's appeal being allowed. Defence counsel John Griffin said the order was that Mr Stacey's appeal had been allowed, and the co-defendant's appeal was adjourned until a later date for hearing. Mr Stacey's original District Court trial had been told that a Dublin Fire Brigade, a tugboat, an RNLI lifeboat, and gardai had to get involved in dealing with the incident on the Liffey and the shipping lane in the morning of June 1, 2017. The sailors on the Peja, a small 26-foot quarter-tonne yacht, allegedly refused to get out of the shipping lane and delayed the approach of the Corinthian, a 90-metre 4,000-tonne cruise liner, the non-jury District Court trial had heard. Gardai were also brought out on the water to help deal with the situation but allegedly were told to f*** off. The court had heard that Mr Stacey, the yacht skipper, insisted it was his "God-given right" to sail on the Liffey while his co-accused stripped off when the boat came in at Sir John Rogerson Quay, where he was arrested. They faced charges under the Maritime Safety Act. They denied careless sailing, operating a vessel while intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at the shipping lane. In their defence, they claimed during their trial that there was no alcohol on board, just bottled water, and they were not breathalysed. Witnesses claimed the small boat was zig-zagging on the shipping lane fairway of the port. Mr Stacey had told his District Court trial that he was "fuming" because he thought the other boats were trying to destroy his pleasure craft. He said he had been sailing for 10 years and agreed best practice would have been to make radio contact with the harbour master earlier that morning. However, they did not answer the designated radio channel, he claimed. He denied using profanities and told the court: "I told them it was my God-given right to sail down the Liffey if I feel like it." He said he was not the sort of person that cursed. "It was our God-given right to operate on the water," he testified. Leaving Cert geography students who kept themselves abreast of current developments were rewarded in todays papers. The higher level paper included preliminary data from Census 2022 , while ordinary level candidates had questions on topics including the June 2022 earthquake in Afghanistan, a new solar farm in Wicklow and the Dublin Port draft development plan 2022. Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI ) subject representative Edmond Hussey described the higher level paper as fair, balanced, topical and used clear concise language. Any reports I have heard back from students are resoundingly positive, said Mr Hussey, who is head of geography at Christian Brothers College, Sidney Place, Cork. Marie Kennedy of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) and Firhouse Community College, Dublin said both papers were fair, with questions that were wide ranging and covering a range of skills. There were a lot of smiling and relieved students coming out of the exam centres today, she said Leslie Aslin of the Institute of Education, Dublin, described higher level as a brilliant paper that offered no barriers or excuses for not getting a fair and honest grade. In a comment on the physical geography section, she said the first two parts were simply wonderful, but the mention of Isostasy in part c might have troubled a weaker student. This was repeated in the regional geography question two straightforward requests followed by a left-field twist. But even with this in mind, everyone should be happy with this paper. The abundance of choice meant that the students could navigate by their strengths. Mr Hussey said in regional geography, students can sometimes be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of topics to be covered, but on this paper, there was there was a superb selection of fair questions. John Coyle of the Studyclix website said, like other sections, regional geography at higher level brought no shocks and gave a fair spread of topics across Irish, European and continental regions. Mr Coyle, a teacher at Sacred Heart Secondary School, Westport, Co Mayo, said a question on primary economic activities in an Irish region was effectively the same as one on agriculture in an Irish region from the 2022 paper, so this may have caught some students by surprise In Section 3, which deals with economic activities and the human environment, , Mr Hussey said the choice in the human elective section was excellent, although he noted Q11A (ii) where candidates were asked to explain briefly one reason why people seek asylum. While contemporary, Mr Hussey said the student may have been expecting more on the international migration theme considering current developments in Ireland. He said Section 4 had plenty of options for the well-prepared, but some may have struggled with the global interdependence questions. The much anticipated question on global environmental issues has not been asked in two years. Q13 and Q14 required a broad knowledge of several topics if the candidate is to be successful. Mr Hussey said that the ordinary-level exam contained no surprises, and also made good use of photos. He praised the paper for the skills-based questions which gives stronger candidates a chance to shine. Mr Coyle, of Studyclix, described the ordinary level questions as fair and well laid out in the main. Many of the questions mirrored the higher-level paper with questions pitched very well to accommodate those taking the ordinary level paper. Fears of breach of privacy, but others say cameras in Mountmellick help them feel safer Fiona and Pawel Glusiec from Mountmellick expressed concern about privacy issues. Photo: Steve Humphreys CCTV cameras on the streets in Mountmellick, Co Laois. Photo: Steve Humphreys Everywhere we go, everything we do, we are being watched not least in Mountmellick. The Laois town has a recent population of 4,069, and more CCTV cameras than any town in the country. There are between 30 and 40 community CCTV cameras in Mountmellick about one for every 90 people. To put this in perspective, the north-east inner-city area of Dublin has 44, for a population of 54,816. The figures only refer to community CCTV schemes surveillance projects run by county councils who act as data controllers and do not include private CCTV cameras which might be owned by businesses or individuals. The cameras were installed when garda numbers were in decline, said Laois Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy Bracken. Mr Bracken was involved in the installation of the Mountmellick CCTV scheme, alongside colleagues and a former neighbourhood watch group. There is no suggestion of unlawful filming by the council. The cameras were installed when guard numbers were getting lower and lower. Lots of organising and fundraising was carried out. The cameras act as a deterrent, Mr Bracken said. We applied for 48 cameras and we got funding, but we had to scale it back. There are 10 sites and, on each bank, three to four cameras. Crime isnt too bad, you have incidents. I wouldnt want the impression that Mountmellick is crime-ridden. The cameras pick up on the main roads. If you are breaking no law, I dont think its an issue. It makes older people feel safer, he said. The Department of Justice provided funding of 1m per year for three years for the community schemes. Mountmellick local James Strong. Photo: Steve Humphreys Gardai have access to these cameras to reduce the incidence of crime, anti-social behaviour, public disorder and general fear of crime. But the Data Protection Commission (DPC) has clamped down on some of these schemes across the country. The DPC has conducted inspections in seven local authorities: Kildare, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Waterford, Kerry and South Dublin county councils. Between them, these authorities have more than 1,000 CCTV cameras now in operation. Each of the local authorities inspected had a unique approach to how it conducted surveillance on citizens, the DPC said. Kildare County Council was fined 50,000 in January over its CCTV use with some cameras switched off. Among the reasons cited include incorrect signage, absence of authorisation from the Garda Commissioner, excessive data collection and lack of guidelines on access to footage. Meanwhile, Tony Delaney of the DPC described illegal surveillance by Limerick council as shocking in its use of technology to monitor citizens. The council was fined 110,000 and 60 cameras were taken down in 2022 after 40 issues were found, including infringement of GDPR rules relating to automatic number plate recognition and drones. Fiona and Pawel Glusiec from Mountmellick expressed concern about privacy issues. Photo: Steve Humphreys Many of the cameras being installed across Ireland, including in Mountmellick, are Hikvision artificial intelligence cameras. Control of Hikvision is in the hands of the CETC (China Electronics Technology Group Corporation), a Chinese state company that develops military software. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) called for Hikvision to be removed from Leinster House last month, raising urgent concerns over spying by China. The cameras were installed throughout the parliamentary precinct several years ago. On This Day in History - June 12th In many countries around the world such as Denmark, the UK, Australia and the US Hikvision cameras are being banned. In 2021, the European Parliament removed Hikvision cameras. Local authorities in Britain have taken them down this year. The Welsh police and government turned off Hikvision in February. In Italy, Hikvision cameras in Romes Fiumicino airport were found to be sending data 11,000 times an hour to China, after an investigation by state network, RAI. The Chinese Embassy has said concerns about a national security risk posed by CCTV cameras are a conspiracy theory. Mr Bracken was not aware of the Hikvision connection to Mountmellick. Thats the first Ive heard of that. I dont know if they should be taken down now, he said. Former Justice Minister and Mountmellick native, Charlie Flanagan, introduced the community CCTV schemes. But he also previously raised concerns about CCTV surveillance in government buildings. Julie Molloy said cameras made her feel safer. Photo: Steve Humphreys I sought further information on Hikvision cameras in Leinster House. I raised concerns about cameras going in without consent. I asked for a report on it, I queried where exactly they are. I still havent got that information. I wasnt aware of the type of cameras in Mountmellick. Im not aware of manufacturers or specification. Im sure there was a tender process, I expect the terms and conditions were in accordance with the law, Mr Flanagan said. Even on the way to Mountmellick from Dublin, there are eight Hikvision CCTV cameras which monitor the M50 eFlow toll gantry. These cameras support facial detection, but this feature has been disabled, according to Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Kris Shrishak, the artificial intelligence expert for the ICCL, said: These cameras can be easily updated to activate facial recognition technology. In some cases, its only a matter of pressing a button. News In 90 - June 12th The cameras are all over the country. If the minister for justice wants to allow facial recognition, it is mass surveillance. Every person is a licence plate. There is a push for facial recognition in public which the ICCL is opposed to. Facial recognition technology in public spaces is an attack on freedom, Mr Shrishak said. On Mountmellick main street, Pawel and Fiona Glusiec were buying groceries. I see the security side for protecting property. But it could end up like China. You have constant recording and record keeping, said Pawel. Fiona added: Thats a shocking number of cameras. Its such a breach of privacy. It makes you wonder what future our kids will grow up in. CCTV cameras in Mountmellick But local woman Julie Molloy said the CCTV made her feel safer. I wouldnt go walking at night. Certainly not after the pubs close. Theres no visible gardai. Cameras are the alternative, she said. And resident James Strong said: I think its probably a good thing. Theres vandalism. Cars get broken into. Unless somebody is doing something illegal, it shouldnt bother you. Referring to the Community CCTV schemes, the Department of Justice said: Systems must be authorised by the Garda Commissioner, approved by the local Joint Policing Committee and have support of the local authority. Installers are selected following a tendering process; they must be approved by the Private Security Authority. Farmer who killed aunt is a social pariah since verdict, say locals Michael Scott was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter of Chrissie Treacy and said he is confident he wont be jailed Michael Scott was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of his 76-year-old aunt Chrissie Treacy at her home in Co Galway in 2018; (inset) Ms Treacy's funeral in Portumna. Eavan Murray Mon 12 Jun 2023 at 03:30 An IRA terrorist who murdered a man in Northern Ireland and fired a shot-gun into the face of another man in the Republic is being considered for parole in this jurisdiction while authorities in the North want him to be extradited to serve a life sentence, the High Court has heard. Robert Duffy (50) was convicted in 1996 of the murder of John Gibson in Belfast in October 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after just four years under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in July 2000. On March 10, 2007, he attempted to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk, Co Louth, by firing a shotgun into Mr O'Neill's face at point-blank range. He was sentenced to life imprisonment having pleaded guilty to that offence. It has emerged recently that Duffy is being considered for parole, prompting the Northern Irish authorities to seek to have him extradited so he can be returned to prison for breaching the terms of his release by attempting to murder Mr O'Neill. Among the terms of his release under the GFA was that he must not be a danger to the public. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at High Court hearings relating to Duffy's extradition has heard that he has engaged with the parole board while in prison and is being considered for temporary release. She said a report from 2021 states that he has engaged well with probation services, is a trusted prisoner, is considered at a "moderate to low risk of reoffending" and no longer affiliates with any paramilitary organisation. He was being held at the low security Shelton Abbey prison but is now on remand in Wheatfield as a result of the extradition proceedings. Ms Justice Biggs today dismissed objections to Duffy's extradition to Northern Ireland but said she would not order his extradition at this time. She added that if the parole board decides to release Duffy, he will be entitled to bail with regard to the High Court extradition proceedings. Ms Justice Biggs said she doesn't want the extradition proceedings before her to be a bar to Duffy being released by the parole board. She said the parole board is expected to make a decision on Duffy's release this month or next. If Duffy is released by the parole board, Ms Justice Biggs said the Minister for Justice should be ready to apply to the High Court to have Duffy extradited to Northern Ireland. She noted that the Northern Irish authorities have given assurances that Duffy will be free to apply for release to the Sentence Review Commission once he has been returned to prison in Northern Ireland. Duffy had objected to his extradition to Northern Ireland but Ms Justice Biggs dismissed all grounds of objection. One in three find it acceptable to buy fake goods if the original price is too high. Photo: Stephen Hamilton Irish consumers are among the biggest buyers of counterfeit goods, according to a new EU survey. Half of Irish people aged between 15 and 24 years believe it is acceptable to buy fake goods if the price for the genuine product is too high. New research by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has highlighted that the majority of Europeans are concerned that counterfeiting supports criminals and ruins businesses and jobs. However, Irish consumers are more likely to buy counterfeits. Some 19pc of people here have intentionally bought fake goods, compared to 24pc in Bulgaria, 20pc in Spain, 19pc in Luxembourg, 18pc in Romania and 8pc in Finland. Most Europeans who took part in the survey were worried about the illegal activity. Some 83pc believe counterfeiting supports unethical behaviour and two-thirds see it as a threat to health, safety and to the environment. However, one in three still find it acceptable to buy fake goods if the original price is too high. Around 13pc said they had bought counterfeit goods intentionally in the past year. Only 6pc of those aged 55 to 64 bought counterfeits in the last 12 months. A lower price on original products remains the most mentioned reason (43pc) to stop buying fakes. The risk of bad experiences (bad quality products for 27pc of people, safety risks for 25pc, and punishment for 21pc) is also a key driver to stop consumers from buying fakes. Uncertainty regarding authenticity is also an increasing concern. Almost four in 10 Europeans (39pc) have wondered whether they have bought a counterfeit, while half of young people (52pc) stated the same, 41pc also wondered whether a source accessed was legal or not. In terms of piracy, 82pc of Europeans believe obtaining digital content through illegal sources entails a risk of harmful practices, such as scams or inappropriate content for children. Europeans are generally opposed to the use of pirated content with 80pc saying they prefer to use legal sources to access online content if an affordable option is available. However, a large majority (65pc) consider it acceptable to pirate when content is not available on their subscription. Rainfall welcomed by farmers and Uisce Eireann after dry spell depleted water levels Brothers Cooper and Kalvin Sharlott made the most of the sunny weather yesterday during a trip to Portmarnock Beach, Co Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren Ireland faces five days of hot and humid conditions with a constant risk of thunderstorms as temperatures could soar to 28C by midweek. Unlike the three-week warm spell delivered by the Azores High, Irelands weather will be dominated by an easterly airflow over the coming week. That means nights will be uncomfortably hot and humid. Daytime temperatures will soar to the mid-20s and beyond, with a risk of thunderstorms and heavy showers. The showers are a god-send for farmers and Uisce Eireann. The water agency has been carefully monitoring reservoirs and water-system levels which have dramatically declined due to the extended dry spell. Uisce Eireann said it is too early to determine if the anticipated rainfall will be significant enough to dramatically increase water reserves in reservoirs. There are no plans, as yet, for hosepipe bans, but some areas have experienced overnight water restrictions including reduced pressure. Met Eireann warned that the UV and pollen indexes will be high. Allergy sufferers are advised to take precautions while anyone working outdoors is urged to wear a hat and apply sunscreen. Ireland's 7-day weather forecast (8th of June - 14th of June) The bad news for holidaymakers and day trippers is that Irelands weather will become increasingly unsettled later in June and into July, with no indication of a repeat spell of extended dry weather. Met Eireann said the early indications are that Ireland could be in for above-average temperatures from mid-June into July, but it may be accompanied by relatively high rainfall levels. Major events like the Cork Summer Show next weekend should enjoy near-ideal conditions, albeit with the risk of the odd shower. Met Eireann said that while Ireland wont rival the UK, where temperatures could exceed 30C this week, we are in for another warm week. Today will be another warm and humid day as scattered showers push into Leinster early on, extending westwards across the country through the afternoon and evening, a spokesperson said. Some of the showers will be heavy and thundery with the potential for spot flooding, especially later in the day and with maximum temperatures of 20C to 25C. This evening will prove very humid, with temperatures not dropping below 14C and many areas experiencing overnight conditions of up to 17C. Emile Van Wyk pictured with dog Nala at Dunlaoghaire , Co Dublin The spokesperson added: It will be very warm tomorrow, with sunny spells and some heavy showers or thunderstorms breaking out, especially in the midlands and the west. The highest temperatures will be 23C to 27C. It will again prove very warm on Wednesday, with hazy sunshine and a few heavy showers or thunderstorms developing in the afternoon and highest temperatures of 24C to 27C. There will be little change for Thursday and Friday, with very warm conditions by day as top temperatures range from 24C to 27C. It will be slightly less warm in coastal parts due to sea breezes. Ordinary Level Paper 2 described as brilliant The difference in students reaction to todays Leaving Cert maths higher level Paper 2, and Fridays Paper 1, was like night and day, said teacher Niall Duddy, an Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject representative. They were happy overall, said Mr Duddy of Presentation College, Athenry, Co Galway. There was general agreement among teachers that the second paper was better. Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) maths spokesperson, Brendan OSullivan said students would have been happier. They would have been able to recognise the content and do something with it. Normally, you expect Paper 2 to be harder but, this year, it was the other way around, said Mr OSullivan of Davis College, Mallow, Co Cork. Stephen Begley of the Studyclix website said after a rocky start for many with Paper 1, Paper 2 saw a fair, doable and well-set exam giving students lots of opportunity to showcase their knowledge. Mr Begley, who also teaches at Dundalk Grammar School, Co Louth, said the paper made a U-turn on the challenge posed to students on Friday. Those who prepared the usual Paper 2 topics would have certainly been very content. Overall, the examiner offered the students a good deal of choice in a very decent set of questions. While of course elements of challenge appeared in parts, much of the paper was encouraging, straightforward and very fair, he said. Mr Begley said: The usual suspects of probability, statistics, trigonometry, coordinate geometry and geometry appeared in well-guided and well-prompted questions. Students will certainly feel a weight lifted off their shoulders after what was a very fair paper. Louise Boylan of The Institute of Education in Dublin said Paper 2 was much more in line with that with which students are familiar. The paper covered a broad spread of material, some of which was intermingled, but a prepared student would have been able to apply the topics they studied, she said. Leaving Cert Analysis 2023 - Maths Paper 2 (Higher) Nonetheless, Ms Boylan said it was challenging with some dauntingly text-heavy questions. She said it was clear that the exam-setters are emphasising the need for a firm critical approach and so their questions are more creative than in previous years. "There was a requirement for interpretation and comprehension in order to piece out the right approach for how to proceed, she said. Many students will find this a cause for pause. However, well-scaffolded questions meant that a stumble in an early part didnt rule out the later sections. Mr Duddy and Ms Boylan noted the blurring of topics that were traditionally associated with either Paper 1 or Paper 2. Mr Duddy said, in keeping with recent trends calculus appeared on Paper 2, while it was normally associated with Paper1. This kind of thing is well flagged and well prepared students would have bene able to deal with that, he said. Ms Boylan noted that Part A of Paper 2 made heavy use of algebra, a topic that is most closely associated with Paper 1. In other comments, Ms Boylan said the latter stages of the paper increased in complexity, in particular, Q10. She described it as "tricky as the construction asked was not one of the 21 they would have pre-prepared. Again, this is the examiner looking for a particular critical approach to the subjects and its methods, she said. Ordinary level Meanwhile, Leaving Cert maths ordinary level candidates were welcomed back after the weekend with a brilliant Paper 2, even if it had a topic that hasnt appeared for years, according to teacher Jean Kelly. Ms Kelly, of The Institute of Education, Dublin, described it as very fair, with plenty of opportunities for all students to earn valuable marks, while those looking for the O1 will have a chance to distinguish themselves. She said every expected topic appeared and questions had lots of helpful clarifications to avoid confusion or needless barriers. Ms Kelly said a general trend for the whole paper was that the examiner was very good at clarifying what they wanted either through clear directions or helpful explanations of potentially tricky terms. They really wanted to test your grasp of the concepts, not your reading comprehension. But, it wasnt without few surprises or twists thrown in, she said. Pointing to the blurring of demarcation between Paper 1 and Paper 2, she said today saw the Paper 2 debut of simultaneous equations of the line and circle. She noted that parallelogram construction appeared after only turning up once previously in the last 25-30 years, but that shock was well managed by the paper, which offered guidance on how to approach the question. She said question 7s use of gradient likely caused some to worry but, as always, a pause, a breath and look at all that they gave you would reveal a very manageable question. If you followed their steps and kept your wits about you, things fell into place. Ms Kelly said students looking for marks will have loved Q8, particularly parts A and B. Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) maths spokesperson Brendan OSullivan said Paper 2 was not as time intensive as Fridays Paper 1. That would have given students more comfort, they would have had more control, said OSullivan of Davis College, Mallow, Co Cork. Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject representative, Niall Duddy, of Presentation College, Athenry, Co Galway, said students he met were reasonably happy. A well-prepared student should have been ok. Last week, the 'Irish Independent' noticed no free period products were available in any of the bathrooms in the complex. Photo: Getty Images Calls are being made for the Houses of the Oireachtas to keep promises in providing free sanitary products throughout Leinster House. Concerns have been raised by the lack of free period products throughout the complex, with dispensers in mens and womens bathrooms often empty. Last week, the Irish Independent observed that no free period products were available in any of the bathrooms. The only dispenser which had tampons and pads available requested two 1 coins for each product. After queries from this newspaper to the Houses of the Oireachtas, the dispensers which sell or provide products for free were fully stocked the following day. In 2019, a cross-party motion which called for free sanitary products in all public buildings passed the Dail after it was brought forward by the Womens Caucus. A forum on a Family Friendly and Inclusive Parliament in 2021, presented to Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, recommended that free period products and sanitary bins should be made available in all toilets in the parliamentary complex. A spokeswoman for the Oireachtas said that in response to the motion and report, free period products have been available in a selection of bathrooms across the Leinster House complex for some time now. The locations are primarily aimed at visitors which often include school groups but also are available to the wider community. This measure furthers the aim of creating a more inclusive parliament and is of benefit to the entire community of staff and visitors. We aim to provide a choice of either free or paid products in a selection of facilities focused mainly on visitor areas. Fianna Fail senator Lisa Chambers said there is no need for vending machines which sell products in the bathrooms as the need for coins to pay is ridiculous. You might get caught short and forget to bring something with you on a particular day its definitely a good initiative to put products in and I dont think we need to over complicate it. We should do what we said wed do a very simple concept, just put in some baskets like other public places do and put some sanitary products in. She said it is not an issue of resourcing but rather has been put on the long finger. Women are so used to bringing their own products that its probably not a massive priority. Obviously, period poverty probably isnt a massive issue in the Houses of the Oireachtas. But thats besides the point. If we said we were going to do something, we should do it. Its about leading by example and if a small coffee shop can manage it, so can we. Plan International Ireland, a leading girls rights organisation, said institutions should live up to their promises by making period products free. The unaffordability of period products for many women and girls is a major contributory factor to period injustice in Ireland, said Paul OBrien, CEO of Plan. A man who carried out a shocking, brutal and cowardly sexual assault on a woman walking her dog in a Cork park has been jailed for six years. Vadim Veste (28), of Clancy Street, Fermoy, Co Cork, a dual Moldovan-Romanian national, pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to aggravated sexual assault of the woman, who is aged in her 50s, at St Colman's Park in Fermoy, Co Cork, on November 7, 2021. At a previous sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, the court heard Veste travelled to Ireland just 18 days after being released from prison where he had served a sentence for the rape of a minor. He served a three-year prison sentence for the rape of the 14-year-old girl who was known to him in Eastern Europe in July 2016. He was released from custody on December 11, 2020, and travelled to Ireland to stay with his mother on December 29. Sentencing Veste today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said it was a shocking, brutal and cowardly sexual assault which was violent, degrading and humiliating and left the woman with nasty injuries. He said the attack had been on an unsuspecting woman and noted Vestes history of serious sexual offending. He said the woman had been out walking her dog on a dark evening around 6pm when she was pulled forcibly to the ground. He said Veste used a hat as a gag to prevent the woman crying out and used his knees to hold her down by her shoulders. He touched her vagina outside of her underwear. It was a terrifying experience, the judge said before he added that the woman was walking alone in a dark and unlit park but it was a park she was familiar with and she felt entirely safe. He said the woman believed she was going to be raped and murdered. The judge commented on the womans bravery in fighting back against Veste, scratching his face and neck, biting and kicking him. She also screamed, which drew the attention of two young Polish men who had been jogging nearby and who came to her assistance. Mr Justice McDermott noted that Vestes DNA was later found under the womans fingernails. He said he saw photos of what he described as the shocking injuries sustained by the woman and he added the impact of such an attack should never be underestimated. It had a terrible effect on her at the time and subsequently, the judge said, adding that it generated fear not only that evening but also led to a fear that persists. He said it impacted her safety and contentment in doing the most simplest of things like going for a walk with her dog and said it had seeped into her sense of security. The judge said the consideration of CCTV footage from the local area led to the arrest of Veste. He said Veste initially suggested that he had a row with the woman about her dog. Mr Justice McDermott said he had to consider the fact that Veste had a previous conviction for the rape of a 14-year-old. He said the evidence from that conviction was that the relationship had been consensual and that Veste had been six years older than the girl. The rape occurred when he forced the girl to have sex without her consent. Mr Justice McDermott said the aggravating features in the current case included the random and predatory nature of the attack and the fact that the woman was attacked from behind when she was alone in the dark. He set a headline sentence of nine years before he took into account the mitigating features in the case including an expression of remorse from the man. However, the judge said a report from the Probation Service raised a serious concern as he believed it showed a lack of insight and acceptance of what he has done in relation to the sexual element of the offence. The judge said Veste clearly needs to have his offending addressed and said he also seems to have a particular attitude towards women. He sentenced Veste to six years and six months in prison before he suspended the final six months for two years on strict conditions including that he attend for any treatment as deemed appropriate by the Probation Service. Mr Justice McDermott also ordered that the man not approach the victim or her family and ordered that he have no unsupervised access to children. He placed him under a six-year post release supervision order for the protection of society and to prevent future offending. Helplines: If you have been affected by the contents of this article, click here for more information. 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. A bypass of Adare village is crucial to help with the smooth running of the Ryder Cup, which is due to be held at Adare Manor (pictured) in 2027 A legal move has cleared the way for a major new road network which will shorten travel times between Dublin and Kerry by more than an hour. Three High Court objections to the 450m plan for west Limerick were withdrawn. David Leahy, executive engineer in charge of the project said: "This is great news. We can now move on with the project." He said it was difficult to say if the new road network will be completed in time for the 2027 Ryder Cue to be held at Adare Manor. The new network will provide for a 15.6km dual carriageway linking Foynes to the new M21 at Rathkeale and a 17.5km motorway from Rathkeale to Attyflinn near Patrickwell on the Limerick/Cork M20. A bypass for Adare is included in the design for this section. The huge project will provide for a motorway crossing of the River Maigue, about 2km north of Adare. It is estimated that it will will cut travel times between Dublin and Kerry by over an hour. Adare has become a major traffic bottleneck, with over 14,000 vehicles estimated to move through the narrow main street of the heritage village each day. The new road network has been ordered by the EU to improve connectivity with the Port of Foynes which has been designated a maritime hub by Brussels. Rathkeale where a motorway will be built to link the M21 to the Limerick/Cork M20 near Patrickswell. Mr Leahy said the court decision will enable them to commence work on preliminary work such as moving electricity and gas connections. It is now hoped that the work can be competed in time for the Ryder Cup which is expected to draw over 100,000 visitors to west Limerick. With the event attracting worldwide TV coverage, the Government wants to ensure that it showcases Ireland internationally and a modern traffic system will be central to that strategy. Members of Women of Honour group Diane Byrne, Yvonne O'Rourke, Honor Murphy and Roslyn O'Callaghan before a meeting with the Tanaiste at Government Buildings last month. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos A full tribunal of inquiry into the Defence Forces is the only option for the Women of Honour group. Speaking before a key meeting with the Taoiseach, the group who prompted an independent review of the Defence Forces said there are times when they feel they are just not being listened to. The group is due to meet with Leo Varadkar this evening to express their concerns that the proposed model for a statutory inquiry into issues within the Defence Forces is too limited and too private. The Women of Honour group is advocating for a wide-ranging public tribunal. There has been far too much secrecy and concealment. Thats the commonality with all of the victims and the issues so far. We need something that has that full public transparency and clearness so that there is no doubt, and there is complete faith in what is happening here. Anything less than that just is not going to get that buy-in from people. So there is no option at this point. It has to be a tribunal of inquiry, Diane Byrne, a member of the group told reporters. The meeting is the groups first with Leo Varadkar but is their second with the office of the Taoiseach. They will also meet with Tanaiste Micheal Martin last Wednesday as part of attempts by the Government to keep a constructive dialogue open. Ms Byrne said that while a tribunal may take longer, the preference of Women of Honour was that it was done right. She said that Women of Honour was not against compromise, but the group has concerns that issues within the Defence Forces would continue to linger and fester for decades if the Government does not create a broad inquiry that people have faith in. To do this and to do this right, we need to have terms of reference that are sufficiently broad to deal with all of the issues. The ones that have been put forward to us by Government just dont do that, Ms Byrne said. Weve consistently argued our point, and there are times when we feel like were just not being listened to. At this point, the Defence Forces is on its knees. There is a huge number of people leaving. The morale is very, very low. If they want to salvage and revive the Defence Forces without the toxicity, they need to look at every single problem that is there and all of the abuses that have happened if we only look at a small proportion of it, this is never going to change, she said. Women of Honour, which includes current and former members of the Defence Forces, went public with allegations of bullying and sexual harassment within the Irish military in 2021. It has since been credited as the catalyst for the Government setting up an independent review group last year to examine the culture within the Irish Defence Forces. The work of the Independent Review Group (IRG) led to the Government committing to setting up a statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces. But the Women of Honour group has repeatedly raised concerns about the proposed terms of reference for the planned public inquiry. The group has argued that a public tribunal is the only way to properly examine the broad and serious complaints that have been made about the Defence Forces. While the Women of Honour group was initially brought together over concerns about gender equality and sexual harassment within the Defence Forces, the group said that it is been approached by a wide range of people serving and retired, family members and civilians who have all raised concerns about much broader issues within the Defence Forces. A number of weeks ago, Women of Honour drafted and shared its own proposed terms of reference for such an inquiry with the Government. They were published by the group over the weekend. A key issue for the group is ensuring that a statutory inquiry would define abuse as including issues like emotional abuse, discrimination, nepotism, career obstruction, passive aggression and intimidation as well as bullying, harassment, sexual assault or abuse and physical torture. As well as an inquiry to establish the extent of the abuse experienced by those within the Defence Forces, the Women of Honour also wants the public probe to find out to what extent the Department of Defence was aware of the allegations. Fathers Day 2023 gift guide: 15 thoughtful gifts from Irish brands to give your dad Ditch the socks, ties and aftershave whatever your budget, weve got you covered with our round-up of best buys from local businesses Don't go for the typical Father's Day presents this year. Photo: Picture posed/Getty Images Meadhbh McGrath Mon 12 Jun 2023 at 03:30 Michael Collins seen here on his high nelly on St Patrick Street, Cork. Most of his cycling, however, was done in Dublin Mairin Quills letter (Collins statue proposal not in tune with the city, Irish Independent, Letters, June 10) gave various reasons why a statue of Michael Collins on his bike should not go on display in Corks Grand Parade. Seeing as this great patriot did the majority of his cycling around the streets of Dublin, why not transfer this statue to any street in the capital where I am sure it would find the respect it deserves? George OGorman Inchicore, Dublin Pupils deserve second chance at grossly unfair maths paper AS an experienced maths teacher, I believe Maths Paper 1 Higher Level in this years Leaving Cert was far too difficult for the majority of students and would have totally upset the confidence of students facing into their remaining exams. While one expects the paper to be challenging, the level of difficulty far exceeded even college maths exams and would not have rewarded high-achieving students who diligently put in the work and practised several years past papers. Adjusting the marking scheme to align with the bell curve will not allay the fears of students and balance out what was a grossly unfair paper. Most of those students never even sat a state exam before, and also had to contend with limited tuition and higher teacher absenteeism during Covid times. We need to encourage more students to study higher-level maths in order to increase the shortage of students in Stem subjects such as engineering and computer science. May I suggest students are given a second Maths Paper 1 to resit and their best result from both Paper 1s awarded. Carmel ODonoghue Roscrea, Co Tipperary A long and winding railroad from Ennis to Connolly I recently decided to take a day trip by train from Ennis to Dublin. Arriving promptly for the 7am outward journey we finally, some five hours and 10 minutes later, arrived in Dublin at 12.10pm. Our return journey wasnt much better, taking us four hours and 20 minutes, leaving us with very little time to do anything in the city. I wrote to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan about our journey, but alas, heard nothing. Needless to say I took my car on my next journey. So much for public transport. Patricia Greene Feakle, Co Clare James Joyce was never a man for excuses, sexual or otherwise Eric Conways personal views of James Joyce and his position on sexual propriety or otherwise are his right to express (Nothing modern about Joyces age-old excuses, Irish Independent, Letters, June 10), but I fear he has misinterpreted my letter. Not having read Edna OBriens biography of James Joyce, I cannot comment on it. I have however, read biographies by: Herbert Gorman; Peter Costello; CP Curran and Richard Ellman. Ellman alone mentions two brief flirtations Joyce had. The first was with a young student, Amelia Popper in Trieste, the second was correspondence with Marthe Fleischmann. Joyce and Nora Barnacle were officially married in 1931 in a London Registry Office, solely for legal reasons regarding copyright issues in the event of his death. I dont recall ever reading that Joyce tried to rationalise his sexual behaviour by the time-honoured tactic of theyre all at it. To claim the real reason Joyce gave up the Catholic faith is Edna OBriens description of him as grumpy, broke and unfaithful makes little sense. Joyce recognised the gifts of God given to each and every human being, and the personal responsibility this represents for each individual. We answer for our wrongs directly to God, not through a Catholic bishop who has been buried with his feet towards his flock, who when resurrected on the last day will lead his diocese to heaven. In regard to traditional Christian teaching on marriage, when Boris Johnson married his wife Carrie in the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Westminster, some parishioners queried the validity of the marriage when Johnson had a living spouse from a previous marriage. The reply: We [the RC church] do not recognise the validity of Church of England marriages. What then is a Christian church? Declan Foley Melbourne Talk show the perfect way for Boris Johnson to worm his way back Mark my words, Boris Johnson will in the very near future assume the role he was born for a TV chat show host. The British public will be won over by this lovable rogue, whose charm and acerbic wit will succinctly paper over the fact that he has failed utterly to do anything other than destroy the British economy and with it cause no little damage to Irelands. Eamon Kearney Ayrfield Road, Dublin Wexford based Niall Kehoe started coding at the age of eight and developed his own apps when he was 10. Now the Enniscorthy teenager has made it into the world's top tech college, Stanford University, on a full scholarship. Adrian caught up with Niall on a visit to San Jose, California, where Stanford's main campus is. They discuss his journey getting into Stanford, what life there is really like, and what plans he might have next. In 1907, a theft at Dublin Castle ended up becoming a global story when the precious Irish Crown Jewels went missing. The Indo Daily hears more about the theft that even used Scotland Yard, psychics and the author of Sherlock Holmes to try and locate the precious stones. The theft of the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle in 1907 was one of the worlds most notorious heists of all time. The story made the news headlines across the globe. Presented by King William IV to Ireland in 1831, the collection contained 394 precious stones which were taken from the English Crown Jewels to create the set including the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick. The hunt for the thieves grabbed the nations attention with aristocrats being accused of the theft right through to the use of psychics and even Sherlock Holmes author to help solve the story of who stole the Irish Crown Jewels. Presenter Siobhan Maguire is joined by Sunday Independent columnist, Sarah Caden, who dons her detective hat to look back on the mysterious missing jewels. Councillor Danielle Twomey - All fire-fighters are asking for is a fair salary for a difficult job Mallow Fire Station (above) will be closed on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday, with cover provided from Charleville, if there is an escalation of industrial action by retained fire-fighters. Charleville Fire Station will then close on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with cover provided from M allow and Kanturk. CORK County councillors have called on Government Ministers to take immediate action to prevent the escalation of industrial action being taken by retained fire-fighters in relation of pay and conditions. The issue was raised at Mondays full meeting of the local authority in motions tabled by Cllrs Danielle Twomey (SF) and Ian Doyle (FF), that received the full backing of their council colleagues. Last week the around 2,000 SIPTU members working as retained fire-fighters at more than 200 fire stations across the country began a week of work-to rule industrial action, which the union said was being taken to ensure the implementation of a Governmental report to resolve what it said was a recruitment and retention crises that threatens to collapse this essential and life-saving community resource. The twin motions came up for discussion just hours before the action was due to escalate at midnight on Monday, resulting in the temporary closure of stations manned by retained fire-fighters on selected days this week across Cork County. In her motion Cllr Twomey called on the Ministers for Local Government and Public Expenditure, Darragh OBrien and Paschal Donohoe, to provide the funding necessary to sustain and enhance the (retained) service now for future generations. Cllr Twomey said the current pay rate for a retained fire-fighters, which she said equated to 99 cents per-hour, did not reflect their commitment to the communities they serve. The role of a retained fire-fighter must no longer be seen as a hobby, but a professional role that deserves decent pay and a decent work/life balance. All they are asking for is a fair salary for a difficult job, the very least they should be entitled to, said Cllr Twomey. She called on the local authority to write to the Ministers on behalf of its members imploring to do what needs to be done to give these people what they deserve. There must be engagement with the union and relevant bodies to avoid an escalation of industrial action and a financial package brought forward giving better pay and condition for current and future members of the service, said Cllr Twomey. Cllr Doyle said it was clear that, despite continuing efforts by the council to recruit new retained fire-fighters, pay and working conditions continued to be a major stumbling block. In many instances, retained fire-fighters are the first responders at the scene of an emergency and it is incredible that their pay does not reflect that, said Cllr Doyle. He pointed out that unless immediate action was taken to prevent the escalation of industrial action as of midnight on Monday the Mallow and Kanturk fire stations would be closed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with cover from Charleville. The Charleville station would then be closed on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with cover provided from Mallow and Kanturk. This situation will be mirrored at first stations in areas across the county . This is a very serious situation and the fire-fighters operating these stations do not want to be in this position. I cannot emphasise how much the county depends on retained fire-fighters, so I am urging the Ministers involved to find a speedy resolution to this issue in order to maintain the vital service these fire-fighters provide to our communities, he added. Cllr Gearoid Murphy (FG) said it was clear that the level of commitment to the job fell far above what retained fire-fighters are currently paid. Cllr Liam Madden (FG) pointed out that over the last five-years 222 retained fire-fighter had retired and further 495 had left the service. People need to ask why they are leaving the service in these numbers? Talks must take place immediately to resolve this issue to avoid the serious implications of an all-out strike, said Cllr Madden. Cllr Cathal Rasmussen (Lab) said one of the main reasons his brother-in-law had recently left the service was because he was unable to get time off because of staff shortages. At the end of the day to get more people into the service wages and conditions must improve. We have been able to find millions of Euros overt h past 18-months to give to communities and organisations. Surely our retained fire-fighters deserve a lot better than the treatment they have been getting, said Cllr Rasmussen. I am appealing to the Ministers to get this sorted now, he added. The Mayor of Cork County, Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) requested the council officials write to the Ministers immediately following Mondays meeting, given the midnight deadline for the escalation of industrial action by fire-fighters. Meanwhile, the chief executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, moved to reassure the public that a code of practise is in place to ensure that all emergency calls involving a life-threatening situation would be responded to around the clock. Stephen Daly, commercial manager, North Cork Creameries and Michael Conway, Tesco Ireland. The Kanturk-based creamery has signed a deal with Tesco that will see their award-winning or Real Irish Butter stocked at the retail giants 123 Irish stores. THE producers of a multi award-winning butter made in the heart of the Duhallow region using only locally soured ingredients have struck a lucrative deal with retail giant Tesco that will see it stocked in more than 120 of their Irish stores. The agreement Tesco will see Or-Real Irish Butter available in their 123 Irish stores bringing the number of outlets now stocking the brand across the country to more than 350. Produced by the farmer-owned North Cork Creameries independent cooperative in Kanturk, Or Irish Butter is made using the traditional method of slow churning, with the only addition being a touch of salt. They work closely with farmers located close to the creamery whose families have been supplying milk form certified grass-fed cows to the cooperative for generations. This ensures they have full control over the quality of the milk that goes into their butter. Having already won a prestigious Two-Star Great Taste Award Or (the Irish for gold) lived up to its name by winning the gold awards in the butter category at the prestigious 2022 Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards and in the same category at Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. Or been receiving rave reviews from the public and food critics alike, with one of the great Taste 2022 Award judges describing the butter as being deliciously creamy with just the right amount and balance of salt, with another saying, the subtle salting created a lasting deliciousness and enhanced the rich, creaminess of the butter. North Cork Creameries is one of the regions most successful business, employing more than 120 local people and supporting more than 250 farming families across North Cork, Kerry and Limerick, in the process making a significant contribution to the local economy. North Cork Creameries CEO, Pat Sheahan, said the quality of their Or Butter was reflected in the number of awards it has won. We launched Or Real Irish Butter in October 2021, using almost a century of experience in turning the best local milk into the highest quality butter. We thrive on tradition, generations of farming families have been supplying milk for our butter and we still use traditional methods but to modern standards, said Mr Sheahan. It has proved to be a huge hit with customers and were delighted to work with Tesco and see Or-Real Irish Butter stocked in all of their stores nationwide, said Mr Sheahan. Or-Real Irish Butter is a member of Love Irish Food, the body that safeguards the future of food and drink manufacturing in Ireland. Its executive director, Kieran Rumley, said the importance of supporting Irish food producers like North Cork Creameries has never been more important By supporting Irish brands, we can make a real difference to businesses and the economy as well as protecting and growing Irish jobs, said Mr Rumley. 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. Dubliners may be voting on whether or not they want a directly elected Mayor by next June. The vote is expected to be held on the same day as the local and European elections next year between June 6th and 9th 2024. Cabinet has agreed to refer the report of the Citizens Assembly on local government in Dublin to the Oireachtas joint committee on housing for consideration. The Dublin Citizens Assembly was established in February 2022 to examine proposals for the type of directly-elected mayor and local government best suited for Dublin. The Assembly met on five occasions between April and October and produced a report on its recommendations. The Oireachtas committee will now give advice on the wording of a plebiscite and its recommendations of the Citizens Assembly report. The Assembly had 80 members, including an independent Chairperson, 67 randomly-selected members of the public living in Dublin City and County, and 12 Councillors selected from across the four local authorities. The Dublin Citizens Assembly has recommended a range of powers to be transferred to the new mayor including housing, homelessness, planning, transport, healthcare, childcare and more, which should be transferred to the directly elected mayor within five years of establishment. The Assembly recommendations also include transferring power for Further, Higher Education and Skills to the directly-elected Mayor and local government between five and 10 years following the establishment of the mayors office. The term of office is recommended to be five years with a two-term limit. Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe welcomed the indication from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that Dubliners will be asked next year whether they want a directly elected mayor. I understand that such a vote could be held on the same day as the local and European elections in June of next year, which I welcome, said Deputy McAuliffe. "Dubliners are increasingly becoming frustrated that when it comes to major decisions impacting on their lives in their city, they find that those for whom they voted for, do not have the power to make or rescind a decision.'' The former Lord Mayor said a directly elected mayor would enable the people of Dublin to have a greater say over how services and infrastructure are delivered and how the city develops. Not only would it provide strong, decisive leadership but also bring forward accountability. Map of new Bus Connect W Orbital to launch in June A new bus route connecting Lucan to Tallaght and Blanchardstown will start operating later this month across Dublin. The new W Orbital routes W4, W61 and W61 Routes will launch on June 25 as part of Bus Connects and will be operated by Go-Ahead on behalf of TFI. The three new high frequency buses routes across west and south-west Dublin will be introduced in phases and increase capacity and bus frequency to meet demand. The new routes will run, on average, every 15-30 minutes on weekdays and every 30-60 minutes on both Saturday and Sunday. The W4 route will serve The Square in Tallaght, Grange Castle Business Park, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Route W61 will serve Hazelhatch Station, Celbridge Main Street, Salesian College, Maynooth Station and Maynooth Community College. Route W62 will serve Newcastle, Saggart, Greenogue Industrial Estate, Citywest Road and The Square Tallaght. Map of new Bus Connect W Orbital to launch in June As part of the network redesign, TFI will join routes W61 and W62 as soon as road network improvements are available in the Hazelhatch area. The new routes will provide interchange options along the TFI network via the C Spine, G Spine, N Orbital, Local and Luas. The new route follows the latest G-Spine addition launched in October last year connecting West Dublin to the city centre. The new routes will be introduced to meet increasing demand for public transport in Dublin City. Earlier this year Dublin Bus routes to west Dublin were suspended for four months following drivers being threatened with violence, attacks and vandalism. Trade unions representing the drivers said it was not tenable for them to risk life and limb, driving buses into estates in west Tallaght, to be attacked and assaulted. Full Dublin Bus services resumed to west Tallaght in April following extensive engagement between Dublin Bus and our trade unions and consultations with local resident representatives, political representatives, and An Garda Siochana. Valerie Tangey from Killarney has been living in New York for the past 19 years and she sent us in this photo of the smoke last Wednesday. Stephanie O'Callaghan from Killarney took this photo last Wednesday June 7 in mid-Manhattan. "The sky was very yellow and it appeared really dark at 2 pm that day. It was crazy. I stayed indoors that entire day as advised," Stephanie said. Donnchadh Costello, a Killorglin native who is working in Manhattan every day, sent us in this photo of him masked up with the sun shrouded in smoke and the Empire State Building in the background. A photo from Susan Farrelly that was taken at 1:30pm in the afternoon last Wednesday. Before and after shots of the view that Mar Fitzgerald and her husband, Tralee native Jonathan can typically see from their living room in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan. The left photo was taken on Friday with the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River and New Jersey visible while the right photo was taken last Wednesday, June 7 with Mar saying that there "nearly zero visibility" on Wednesday. A photo of Port Newark's container terminal just south of the Hudson in New York City that was taken and sent in by Darragh ORegan from Irremore, Listowel who is now working at Liebherr container cranes full time out there. Ballyheigues Don ONeill and his husband Pascal masked up while taking a walk in Central Park as smoke from wilfdfires in Canada engulf the city and other parts of the east coast. Thanks to the wildfires raging across Canada last week, a thick haze of smoke descended upon across New York City's iconic skyline last week, transforming the city into something akin to a scene from the 2017 film Blade Runner 2049. We put out the call this week for members of the Kerry diaspora in NYC to send us in their photos and looking at what was sent in, youd almost be forgiven when looking at the photos for thinking that Ryan Goslings character from Blade Runner, Officer K, is about to emerge from the orange haze. Such was the thickness of smoke, city and state officials scrambled to mount a response to the poor air quality, calling news conferences, issuing health advisories to stay indoors as well as handing out masks. The quality of air became so bad over the few days that the city quickly had some of the worst air pollution in the world. Wednesday was the worst day here, the afternoon got really bad. It was much better by Friday and today its fine. On Wednesday, you could taste the smoke and it was surreal and crazy, Valerie Tangey, a Killarney native who has been living in NYC for 19 years told The Kerryman. Another Killarney local, Stephanie OCallaghan told us that the sky was very yellow and it appeared really dark at 2 pm that day. It was crazy. I stayed indoors that entire day as advised. Finally, Mar Fitzgerald and her husband, Tralee native Jonathan who are living in the West Village of Manhattan said that there was nearly zero visibility last Wednesday. See all the photos in the gallery above. Tralee based poet Victoria Kennefick's poem 'Guest Room' appeared on the English Paper Two Leaving Cert last week; the poem is from her collection called 'Eat or We Both Starve'. An award winning poet based right here in Kerry said this week that it was an honour to have her poem appear as the 2023 unseen poem on the higher level English paper 2 exam. Victoria Kennefick, who originally hails from Shanagarry in East Cork but who is now a proud Kerry blow in living in Tralee, told The Kerryman this week that she has been inundated with messages from students, friends and family after her poem Guest Room from her book Eat Or We Both Starve made its Leaving Cert debut last week. It is [a bit surreal]. It was very exciting, I got a message from a friend of mine who had invigilated the exam and she had just finished collecting the papers and so she was free to text me and so she sent me a picture of it. That was the beginning of just a flurry of messages from all of my former teaching colleagues which was very lovely, she said. "Then later on my Instagram, I was just getting message after message from students from all over the country. It was all very exciting and a very unexpected thing to happen, she continued. Going on, Victoria said that as a country because it was something that the majority of us had to go through, that we are all very much tuned into the Leaving Cert each and every June when it rolls around. I think its because everybody goes through it and that weve all shared in that moment, it [having the poem appear] does feel like a huge honour and privilege for me to be able to share even a tiny it of the journey of these Leaving Cert students. It really is an honour, she said. The fact that 50,000 people were reading my poem simultaneously is kind of overwhelming too," she laughed. As for the students responses, Victoria said that they could not have been nicer and that it was lovely to see that her work had sparked a poetry debate amongst young people. "They [the students] have been so, so lovely and responsive and interested in it [the poem]. My favourite comment was this one student messaged me and it just said boss poem which is probably the best compliment Ive ever received, she laughed, adding I had a few slay queen too so I was very amused. A lot of them [students] actually contacted me afterwards because they were having debates with their friends about the meaning of the poem and they all different interpretations and they wanted to know who was right. Of course, I said that all their interpretations were right. Its wonderful to think that it [the poem] encouraged those conversations, she said. Finally, Victoria said that a few people had been in contact about getting tips on how to start writing their own poetry on the back of this which she said is the biggest win of all. Kenneth Coffey from Tralee with the money he raised for Crumlin Children's Hospital. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan. The Childrens Hospital Ireland in Crumlin is to receive a cheque for just over 5,000 thanks to the efforts of Tralee man Kenneth Coffey who raised the money as part of a 200km cycle from Tralee to Limerick in April. Kenneth wanted the charity cycle to coincide with the first anniversary of his fathers passing on April 2, 2022. The late Thomas inspired his son to get training and to complete the task, while Crumlin was chosen based on the experiences of Kenneths friends whose own children attended the hospital. Kenneth put in weeks of training at Oliver Coffey's Gym in Tralee before setting off at 2am on April 2 for Limerick City. In the weeks before and after the cycle, Kenneth called on friends, neighbours and strangers to donate towards helping the hospital in its efforts to care for sick children. Kenneth proudly showed off the check at Olivers gym last Saturday - the place where Oliver had kindly let Kenneth prepare and train for the cycle free of charge. Kenneth said the dual motivation of honouring his fathers memory and raising funds for such a good cause made the cycle easier to overcome whenever he hit flat spots during the testing trek. Im really grateful to everyone who helped me raise this money. The work they do in this hospital deserves so much gratitude, Kenneth said. I also want to thank Oliver for the use of the gym, and to my friends and family for the personal support. My father was a huge part of my life and to be able to remember him on his anniversary, while doing something positive for Crumlin, is very pleasing, he said. Former One Direction star stuns adoring young fans with cupla focal at historic Meath venue 80,000 fans flocked to the iconic Meath venue for the first concert at the site since Metallica played in 2019. The former One Direction member brought his Love on Tour show to the Boyne Valley, and his fans soaked up every minute of his energetic performance. Supported by acts such as Wet Leg and Inhaler, the gig saw a new generation being introduced to Slane concerts according to Lord Henry Mountcharles who spoke before the gig. Making a brief appearance following a recent hospital stay, Henry said he was looking forward to the day ahead. His son Alex Conyngham shared a drink and a chat with members of the media in the castles drawing room. Alex regaled those present with funny stories of previous Slane concerts, from Mick Jagger taking and crashing young Alexs toy tractor to having a blazing argument with Madonnas manager who wanted to ride a horse around the concert field, bringing a complete halt to the building of the stage. All ended well and Madonnas Texan manager and Alex shared a bottle of whiskey at the after party that night. When asked about who hed love to see play Slane in the future Alex said hed have Oasis back in a heartbeat if they ever reform. ACDC would also be on his wish list. The Slane Whiskey distillery was a hive of activity from early morning as early visitors to the concert gathered for some VIP treatment. The atmosphere continued to build all day as concert goers from all over Ireland and beyond made their way to the picturesque Meath village. U2s Bono and his wife Ali Hewson watched on from the castle as their son Elijah played with his band Inhaler. A brief spell of rain in the afternoon didnt dampen spirits and as if the Gods were on Harrys team, the clouds parted and blue skies were visible on the southern side of the Boyne as Harry and his band were due on stage. Opening up with Daydreaming from his Harrys House album, the 29-year-old English performer thrilled the mostly young audience, many of whom had arrived hours ahead of the show to get a prime viewing location. Pink cowboy hats and feather boas were the fashion accessories of choice among Harrys fans on the day. As the night became warmer Harry turned up the temperature in the second half of the show by playing all his big hits. Late Night Talking, Watermelon Sugar High and As It Was had the crowd bouncing and singing along. Signing off with another cupla focal, Harry said Slan leat, agus go neiri an bothar leat, all perfectly pronounced, perhaps former bandmate Niall Horan has been giving him some lessons. The road did indeed rise to meet the concert goers as they climbed the hill to exit the venue and make their way back to the thousands of cars and busses waiting to take everyone to the four corners of Ireland. Over all it was a brilliant performance from Harry and a superb event from everyone in Slane. Heres looking forward to Slane 24. Dundalk Scenenheard Who would have thought that a chance meeting in a factory in Ard Easmuinn back in the mid seventies would lead to a huge gathering of family and friends in a pub in Castlebellingham last week. The lady in question was Anne Goddard originally from The Row in Castlebellingham was back in P.J. Byrnes to celebrate her 70th birthday after spending most of her adult life in Sydney in Australia. Originally Anne Farrell worked in the Qulaq factory on the Ard Easmuinn Road and met up with Keith Goddard from Sydney who was over working for a short time. Romance blossomed in their short period together before Keith had to return to Australia. But it didnt take long for him to send over a one way ticket to his love and she departed Castlebellingham to start a brand new life with the man of her dreams. The couple married, had two children, Louise and Justine in Sydney but never forgot about Annes roots and have regularly returned home with her family on holiday. So it was with a look of complete shock on her face when she entered the lounge in Byrnes on Wednesday evening, thinking she was going out for a quiet drink, only to find a huge collection of family and friends all ready to celebrate her 70th birthday. I wasnt too long in the door when I caught up with her friend Noeleen Andrews from the village who told me one of her best friends was there with her daughter Louise who was with husband John OHare and kids Finn, Grace, daughter Justine, who was with Michael Lillico and kids Conor and Lily who had already been to France, before returning home for the party. Noeleen went on to say she too had followed Anne to Australia, got married to husband Jim Andrews and lived there for 32 years before returning home. She was delighted to see her best friend Anne and her family home and assured me it was going to be a rather special night of celebrations for them all. After this I headed over for a word with Marian Conlon from Castlebellingham who was with Angela Woods and David Kay from Lurgangreen who were happy to be there and said Angela and Anne actually share the same birthday too! Not too far away I then got talking to Eithne and Irvine Ross from Castlebellingham who told me they had both grown up with Anne and Noeleen and were looking forward to a lovely night with all their friends. I then made my way over for a chat with Larry Reynolds from Kilsaran who was having a word with Michael Lillico from Sydney who was with Justine and told me they were so happy to be there and said it was going to be a cracking night although he did mention jokingly that Keith can be a bit of handful! Larry told me his wife Terese used to live beside Anne when they were growing up and spent time together in Australia and both wanted to wish Anne a very happy birthday. Heading for an adjacent table I got a word with Sean Marley from Castlebellingham who told me that he lived next door to Anne growing up which was literally across from the Byrnes bar and wanted to wish the birthday girl a very happy 70th. Next I got a quick word with son-in-law John OHare from Sydney who was chatting to Patricia OReilly originally from Skreen in County Meath but now from Sydney and Audrey Strada originally from Castlebellingham now resident in Sydney who were all home and ready to make it a real night to remember with Anne. Making my way to another table I had the pleasure of meeting up with Mary Byrne from Dromiskin who was with husband Vincent who have been friends of Anne for years and were there with son Nial Byrne from Dromiskin his partner Shao Lian Kang and kids Adam and Maeve who all wanted to wish Anne a very happy birthday and were expecting a more than lively night of celebrations. After this I headed over for a word with Peadar and Mary Reynolds from Annagassan who told me they had spent 11 years in Sydney living beside Keith and Anne and were looking forward to making sure they had a wonderful time while they were home. Not too far away I met up with Martin and Hestor Quinn from Dromiskin with their daughter Sarah who told me theyve known the couple for years and Hestors late father George Connolly was Annes godfather and family friend so they were delighted to be there for sure a great party. Making my way through the huge crowd I caught up with Michael and Nora Neasy from Castlebellingham who told me they had been on holidays in Sydney a couple of time and always met up with Anne, Keith and family and were happy to be there to celebrate with them on the night. Next I headed over to grandkids Conor and Lily who told me this was their second visit to Castlebellingham and were having a great time. After this I headed for a table where I got a word with Dorothy Sharkey from Dromiskin who was sitting with Irvine, Eithne and Maura Sharkey from Dundalk Road who told me theyd all gone to school with Anne while she lived here and even remember her working in Dorothys aunt Rose Jamesons shop too! Making my way over to another table I caught up with Irene and Bernard OHare from Mullacrew who have been family friends for years and wanted to wish Anne all the best on her big night. Beside them I met George Marley from Castlebellingham who told me he too was a neighbour of Annes back in the day and he was sitting with another neighbour from the other side, Bridie Kenny from Terenure who both looking forward to a good celebration with their friend and her extended family. Not too far away was Georges wife Margaret Marley who was with Ann Reynolds from Annagassan who said she too had been a friend and neighbour of Annes before she left in the seventies and both ladies were up for making the best of Annes birthday celebrations. After this I got a quick chat with Therese McDonnell from Williamstown who said it was a lovely night and wanted to wish Anne all the best on her big night and her holiday home. Finally, before I departed I met up with Clare Byrne from Dromiskin who was with parents Jim and Gemma and Blathnait and Michael Byrne all from Dromiskin who wanted to make sure Anne had a great night and hoped she had a very happy 70th birthday while she was home. We all know that having a cuppa with a friend can make problems seem smaller and now the mental health and suicide prevention charity SOSAD has launched a campaign Breaking the Silence over a Cuppa to encourage people to chat about mental health over a cuppa during the month of June. They charity is asking people to put on the kettle, be it at home or in the workplace, and to break down the stigma around talking about mental health. Since 2007, SOSAD has worked to raise awareness and help prevent suicide in Ireland. They have worked tirelessly in local communities to help those in need feel supported and know they are not alone on their journey. SOSAD, which has offices in Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Cavan and Laois, offers support and services for people who are struggling with suicidal ideation, self-harming, depression, bereavement, stress and anxiety, or if you simply need to talk. Last year SOSAD provided 17,837 one on one counselling sessions which is up from the 2021 figure of 15,965. This figure reflects one-to-one counselling only and does not include phone support, the messaging service, or any group work. Mental health is a pressing issue in Ireland, with high rates of suicide and mental illness affecting many individuals and communities. Carol Murphy SOSAD General Manager said. We need to break the stigma around our mental health. The Irish are great for solving their problems over a cuppa and a chat so please support us in this very simple but effective campaign SOSAD works to provide care and support to those in need throughout our communities. They believe in suicide prevention through early intervention, and offer a number of free, professional services to those in need. If someone is feeling suicidal, depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, are struggling with self-harm or have been bereaved by suicide, they are there to offer support. These supports include free professional counselling to those in need. Counselling is available to those age 16 or older, and they help people with a wide range of life challenges. They also offer crisis support for people who feel that they can no longer cope with their problems, who can call into their offices which are open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday. The 24 hour helpline number 1800 901 909 is available seven days a week. It is manned by trained volunteers who can listen, give information on other services, or even just have a chat in an understanding and non-judgmental space. The SOSAD messaging support service is online daily from 8pm to 12am. and is accessible through their website during these times. Individuals, community groups and organisations can take part in Breaking the Silence Over A Cuppa by registering to host a tea / coffee break and receive a SOSAD pack. by emailing fundraiserlouth@sosadireland.ie The visit of Minister of State Jack Chambers to Sligo County Council last Friday to discuss the N17 has been described as extremely disappointing by one councillor. Minister Chambers met with councillors and officials in the wake of Minister for Transport Eamon Ryans trip to the same council recently where he stated there would be no money for the N17 upgrade for many years, effectively putting a halt to the project. The meeting (with Minister of State Jack Chambers) was extremely disappointing, said Cllr Declan Bree. Taking into consideration that he had travelled to Sligo and had specifically requested all 18 councillors and senior officials to meet with him regarding the N17 Roads Project, there was a sense of optimism in advance of the meeting. Given the fact that he is also Junior Minister in the Department of Transport added to the raised hopes. Some people were of the opinion that he had spoken with the Senior Minister Eamon Ryan before travelling to Sligo, and had managed to convince Minister Ryan to change his attitude and commit to supporting the N17 Project. However, it would appear that Eamon Ryan is not for changing and that he is sticking to his announcement that there will be no funding for the N17 Road Project for many years. I and other councillors pointed out that the N17 Project was included in the Governments National Development Plan for Ireland 2040. It was also pointed out by engineers that the sum the Council was seeking to advance the project over the next five years was extremely modest. Unfortunately the Junior Minister could tell us nothing, only to repeat that the project was included in the National Development Plan and that no decision would be made regarding Department budgets until later in the year. He clearly was not in a position to contradict the statement by Eamon Ryan that no funding would be made available for the project for many years. Council roads staff told the meeting that in order to progress the project from Phase 2 Option Selection, to Phase 4 Planning, it is projected that allocations of 2.5million would be required for 2024, 3.0million for 2025, 1.2million for 2026 and 1million for both 2027 and 2028. That is a total sum of less than 8.7 million over a five year period. Taking into consideration that the annual budget of the Department of Transport each year is approximately 3.5 billion, the funding required over five years to advance the N17 project to the Planning phase can only be described as a pittance. Despite this the Junior Minister was unable to give us even the slightest commitment on funding. Given the tiny amount of funding required it should now be clear that Eamon Ryan and the Greens have no interest in Sligo and the West and they have no interest in sustainable and balanced regional development. They dont want the N17 road upgraded and they dont want the Western Rail Corridor linking Sligo to Galway. Their only interest is in providing funding for a bicycle track/greenway linking Collooney with Bellaghy and I believe they want that bicycle track/greenway built on top of the existing rail corridor, so as to prevent the rail link being reopened. I can only assume that the Junior Minister did his best, but it is clear that Eamon Ryan and the Greens are not for turning. It also appears that Fine Geal and Fianna at a national level are not prepared to challenge Minister Ryan. said Cllr Bree Families gathered on Ballymoney Beach recently to seek out the many natural treasures of the Wexford coastline at an event organised as part of National Biodiversity Week. Organised by Coastwatch in collaboration with Ballymoney community the group, the event aimed to give young people an insight into shore nature through a series of workshops and a fun-filled treasure hunt. Blessed with sunshine and the mildest breeze, teams set out to find and photograph pollinators, identify plants growing in the splash-zone and measure the impressive height of the yellow Sea radish, which was buzzing with bees. They collected washed-up seaweeds and looked for fossils. Then volunteers were sought to free the rare, protected Moores Horsetail which only occurs in a handful of sites in North Wexford and South Wicklow and is being overwhelmed by brambles. A treasure hunt brought out the competitive streak in many, while it also offered an opportunity for the children to learn from Karin Dubsky a marine scientist who doubles up as the coordinator of Coastwatch and Ballymoney EIP science officer. Later in the day, children from third class in Tara Hill national school who had written stories based on the wildlife in and around the Ballymoney stream were honoured. Principal Arlene Murphy received a big thank you for encouraging the children to participate. She had been provided with night time film footage of wildlife, from where the stream rises on Joe Roches farm on Tara Hill down to Ballymoney beach. Badgers, foxes, bats, loads of birds and rabbits had been captured on fixed cameras set up by David OCallaghan as part of the EIP project. All the children who entered the competition received a certificate and a mug with their name. "The judges found it very hard to choose winners from the wealth of creative stories. All will be put up on the groups website, said Paul Dubsky, chair of Ballymoney Community group. Anna Whelan won the first prize for her story The Otters escape. The second prize went to Romy Gregan for her story Hoppie the Bunny, while third prize went to Charlie Kavanagh-Byrne for his story The Rabbit. A beautiful detailed drawing of animal night life beside the Ballymoney stream won Lucie Donovan the top prize in the art category. After refreshments, the final challenge was to learn from Japanese Coastwatcher Maya Fujiwara how to make Origami frogs from flower paper. Frogs have been in decline. Taking home a beautiful paper frog, Karin reminded of the live frog needs food rich wetlands, even tiny pond, a bit of species rich grass or uncut lawn and of course, no spraying. For over a year, the Ballymoney Community Group ran an EIP project focused on the local stream catchment. Saturday provided an opportunity to recognise the local youths who had contributed most in meitheals, improving the stream floodplain, planting willow and flag irises, testing water and looking for stream life. Wildlife books and paints were presented to Manus Flynn, his younger brother Aonghus, Lucie Donovan and Hugh Manigo. Two years after it was first launched in Wexford the able-disabled (A-D) caller campaign has been endorsed by Minister of State for Equality and Disability, Anne Rabbitte. The A-D Caller campaign allows those with disabilities to identify themselves as an able-disabled caller when making phone calls to businesses, the person on the other line then identifies them as a priority call requiring extra patience and understanding. Founded by Caroline Flanagan the campaign has since developed to include role models from across Wexford, individuals who use the service and can testify to its effectiveness. After spreading the word into counties Wicklow and Cork and bringing hundreds of Wexford businesses on board, the A-D caller role models travelled to Leinster House where they met with Minister Rabbitte to discuss their work to date. Weve been trying to meet with her for the past two years, said Caroline. Then I met John Roche (former mayor of Wexford) at the volunteer expo and told him about the A-D Caller Campaign and he loved the idea and asked me to come on his radio show. I brought two of the role models with me and we discussed the project and told him we really wanted to meet Anne Rabbitte, and John said he could arrange that for us. True to his word, John got the wheels rolling and within hours Caroline had received a call from Minister Rabbittes office confirming an appointment. This time she brought a lot more of the role models, enough to ensure the message they wanted to get across was received loud and clear. We just thought this is our big chance to do something now, Caroline continued. We organised a fundraiser, a street collection, and brought 14 of the role models up to Dublin, stopping on the way to collect the lads from Wicklow. Upon arrival Caroline and the crew were met at the gates of Leinster House by both John and New Ross councillor Michael Sheehan who advised not to expect an overly lengthy meeting. We were told to expect a half-hour, so I got the lads to tell some of their stories. And the minister was very engaging with the lads, she really was, she went to everyone individually and introduced herself and listened to what they had to say. She was saying shed come back to us, that shed have to think about it before agreeing to anything, but I was telling her we had to get something done today. We were tried of people making promises and never hearing anything back. Through Carolines determination and the engaging, often impactful, stories of the role models, the meeting went over time, ran for an additional hour, as Minister Rabbitte digested all the information. She listened to everyone, was interested in what they had to say, didnt interrupt, and gave them time to speak. One of our role models, Kevin Murphy, spoke of how passionate he is about having his independence and how he wants to live his life his own way, which is why he joined the campaign. He feels that by being part of the AD-caller campaign he is not just doing something for himself but for his entire community. In response Minister Rabbitte said this was an equality and inclusivity issue and how every voice has a right to be heard. She then said she was going to fully endorse the initiative and that we could arrange another meeting to put together a management plan. The minister wants to help us roll out the programme to all government state bodies, the social welfare, and so on. Having received their endorsement and completed their task, Caroline and the role models took to the streets of Dublin to celebrate their achievements, engaging in an impromptu dance session with some local buskers. Now back in Wexford the focus turns to expanding this campaign as far as it can go. Itll be a few months before we go up again, but in the meantime were urging Co Wexford to get behind us, said Caroline. This is going to be a huge project and it all started in this county, so we went to get everyone in Wexford talking about it. We want it to become nationwide, to be as well known as 999, to have everyone know what to do if a person with a disability calls them, to be extra patient. "One of our role models suffered a car crash in 2006 and has brain injuries as a result so its important to note that this is a facility which can touch everyones life, it may not be something you need or youd consider today but that might not always be the case. A joint operation by the crews of Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay RNLI saw nine people rescued from their yacht after it broke its rudder off the Wexford coast. Kilmore Quay RNLIs volunteer crew was requested to launch its all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney, by the Irish Coast Guard at 8.40 p.m. on Wednesday evening (June 7), the lifeboat, under Coxswain Eugene Kehoe and with six crew members on board, immediately launched and made its way to the scene. The yacht had been taking part in the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Yacht Race and a second yacht, also taking part in the race, stood by with the stricken vessel until the lifeboat arrived. The Rosslare Harbour volunteer crew was subsequently requested to launch its all-weather Severn class lifeboat Donald and Barbara Broadhead, by the Irish Coast Guard at 9.25 p.m. Its lifeboat, under Coxswain Micheal Ferguson and with five crew members on board, made its way to the scene, arriving at 9.55 p.m. where a towline had been established to the yacht by the Kilmore Quay crew. Given the location of the vessel and the conditions at the time, it was decided that the safest option was to tow the vessel to Rosslare Harbour. The towline was secured to the Rosslare Harbour lifeboat at 10.40 p.m. and the yacht was safely berthed in Rosslare Harbour at 11.50 p.m.. All nine crew on board the yacht were wearing a flotation device and were unharmed. Speaking following the call out, Tony Kehoe, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said, We were delighted to work with our colleagues at Kilmore Quay RNLI to bring these nine sailors to safety. We would like to commend the sailors for going to sea prepared and for wearing proper flotation devices and having good communication equipment when at sea, that is always the right thing to do. As we continue to enjoy some good weather, we would encourage anyone planning a trip to the coast or an activity at sea to go prepared. Always check weather and tide times, always carry a mean of communication such as a VHF radio or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device. Let someone on the shore know where you are going and when you are due back. Should you get into difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call out were Coxswain Eugene Kehoe, Mechanic Philip Walsh and crew members Aidan Bates, Declan Roche, Trevor Devereux, Sean Furlong and Dermot Kavanagh. The Rosslare RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call out were Coxswain, Micheal Ferguson, Mechanic, Keith Morris and crew members, Peter Carr, Paul McCormack, Stephen Breen and Conor Barry. Emergency services rushed to the scene of another crash at a notorious Wexford junction this morning, this time involving a school bus with over 20 children on board. The collision between the bus and a car happened just before 8.30 a.m. this morning on the main N25 road at Larkins Cross. While the National Ambulance Service quickly dispatched two ambulances to the scene, along with units from the Fire Service and An Garda Siochana, thankfully it appears that nobody was seriously hurt. Paramedics assessed the drivers of the bus and car and the children at the roadside and there was no need for anybody to be hospitalised as a result of the incident. There were, however, significant tailbacks while the scene was cleared during rush hour traffic. The junction at Larkins Cross has been the subject of intense debate in recent times, with many local elected reps branding it a death trap. Director of Services at Wexford County Council Eamonn Hore said that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had no intention of putting a long-sought roundabout at the N25 junction, despite the protestations of councillors and locals. Arklow Children will have the chance to explore Irelands ancient past when the School of Irish Archaeologys Mobile Viking House Excavation Workshop, The Big Dig, comes to town on Sunday, June 18. Organised in collaboration with Wicklow County Council as part of Medieval Arklow 2023, the Abbey Car Park (beside Abbey Park/Cemetery) will host The Big Dig, a replica Viking House workshop and excavation designed around children aged five to 12 years. The innovative product allows children to explore the Viking world through a simulated and controlled archaeology dig, allowing them to experience what it is like to be an archaeologist by learning how to excavate the remains of a Viking house. They will have an opportunity to dig for Viking treasures and artefacts dating back over 1000 years and to learn about our Viking ancestors through the eyes of real archaeologists! A School of Irish Archaeology spokesperson said: We ensure this educational and one-of-a-kind experience wont leave your children disappointed. We guarantee it will leave them wanting to know much more about the work of archaeologists and who our ancient ancestors were! The Big Dig will be stationed at the Abbey Car Park in Arklow on Sunday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 3.45 p.m. Free tickets for walks ins are available on the day but are limited. To book your ticket contact bookings@sia.ie. Email info@sia.ie for more info. A trainee nurse and mother-of-two who had been forced to sleep in her car in Bray while searching for a home, has said the coverage of her plight in the Bray People newspaper has helped her secure a place to live with her children. Lauren Masterson (40) has been homeless since March, when she was forced to give up a rented property in Kildare that she could no longer afford. She has since been mainly sleeping in her car, while working 14-hour shifts as an intern in a mental health institute in Dublin, completing a Mental Health Nurse degree at UCD, and trying to be a mother to her children aged 14 and seven, who have been living with a relative. Laurens ordeal began last August, when her marriage broke down after having to leave the home she and her husband rented in Greystones, due to the property being sold. Lauren and her children bounced from place to place, each time the rent becoming more unaffordable and further away from their life in Greystones, until finally in March the options dried up. Determined to remain strong, Lauren became well-known on Facebook forums, posting regular pleas for a home. She received much-needed mental support from these, but no home, so she decided to share her story with the Bray People. Three weeks later, she has been moved in to emergency accommodation in Wicklow town. The week after the article [in the Bray People] I got offered the emergency accommodation in Wicklow town and I know it was due to the article, because when they made contact they used the surname that was in the article, but Im registered with them under my maiden name, she said. So it was definitely down to the media attention. She added: I am just delighted to have a bed to sleep in and a wardrobe to hang my clothes in and have my children with me. I feel very grateful for it. The coverage of Laurens desperate situation was so wide-reaching that it got the attention of Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who raised it at Leaders Questions the following week, and said: Another family in Bray are also homeless. The mother, Lauren, is a nurse. She now lives in a car because she cannot find anywhere remotely affordable to rent. She has had to send her two children to live with relatives because she cannot find a home for them. Can the Taoiseach imagine how heartbroken that mother felt as she was forced to make that decision and how confused the children must be? In a Facebook post on the Bray Open Forum last weekend, Lauren, who is originally from Loughlinstown in Dublin, said she now looks forward to being a normal mother and extended her thanks to the support she was given in the community. Hi all, just wanted to say thank you all so much for the support over the past, despite being linked in with homeless services, mental health services, and local TDs over the last few months its actually here where I received the most help and support. Their way of dealing with me was giving me a sedative so sleeping in a car was tolerable. The media attention my posts on here garnered seem to have done the trick though and I was offered emergency accommodation, which I am extremely grateful for and am looking forward to being a normal mother living with her kids and not living out of a suitcase anymore. It's sad that I had to go so far to get help from services and bodies whose purpose is to help people. The real help came from the community on Bray open forum and I want to say a massive thank you to all of you that tagged me and messaged me with support and information. I'd most likely still be getting fobbed off if it wasn't for here. I really am grateful for the support through what has been an absolute nightmare! Thanks all. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has been accused of blatant discrimination and ignoring pharmacies in County Wicklow and across Ireland by leaving them in the dark over their future funding. The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), representing community-based pharmacies nationwide, has said the sector is rapidly losing faith in the Minister and his departments ability to use pharmacies appropriately. Pharmacists are now campaigning for meaningful engagement to begin without delay. They say Wicklow pharmacies are under severe strain as a 14-year pharmacy pay freeze impacts patient care, with increasing numbers of pharmacies facing reduced hours and closure at weekends. There are 50 pharmacies across Wicklow supporting over 570 jobs. Derek Reilly, interim Secretary General of the Irish Pharmacy Union said: We are reaching the point where the future viability of many pharmacies is coming into question. Minister Donnelly is legally obliged to review pharmacy services and funding by the end of June 2023. Despite this deadline, there has been zero engagement from the Minister. The majority of pharmacies are small and family-owned businesses, they rely on state income. It is incredulous that less than a month before the Minister must decide on their future he has not engaged with the sector in any way. The IPU has accused the Minister of discriminating against the pharmacy profession. Mr Reilly said: Community pharmacy is now the only healthcare sector that has had no pay restoration since the financial crisis. There is no reason for this blatant discrimination, and it needs to change. Despite being ignored by the Minister, community pharmacies have consistently delivered, and they continue to provide a first-class service to patients. The accessibility of the pharmacy sector papers over the numerous cracks in the healthcare system. Nowhere was this more evident than during the Covid pandemic when pharmacists stood up to the plate with the delivery of vaccines. But patience is wearing thin over the lack of respect and as a result, many pharmacists may not engage in new schemes or pharmacy services. This would be a grossly missed opportunity if not addressed. Mr Reilly outlined that in 2009, pharmacies were paid an average dispensing fee of 6.00, but that this was cut during the recession and has never been restored despite costs being significantly higher. The IPU is calling for the introduction of a flat fee model of care being reimbursed at 6.50 per medicine. He added: The unfortunate reality is that we are seeing an increasing number of pharmacies reducing hours and closing at weekends. Patients are experiencing longer wait times for prescription medicines to be dispensed. This government has been warned that this would happen but sadly continue to sleepwalk into a major crisis. Re-iterating the IPUs request to meet with Minister Donnelly, Mr Reilly concluded: The IPU and our members will meet the Minister at any place at any time. After years of being taken for granted, we expect this basic courtesy to be extended to a sector that has consistently delivered. Wicklow County Archives will host the Virtual Treasury Roadshow, a chance to see the history of Wicklow and its people through the lens of this exciting new online resource, at the library in Wicklow town on Thursday, June 15. Speakers will include Ciaran Wallace, Deputy Director of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, Brian Gurrin, Virtual Record Treasury Research Fellow and Catherine Wright, Archivist, Wicklow County Council. In June 1922 the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed in the battle of the Four Courts, the opening engagement of the Civil War. In a single afternoon, seven centuries of Irish history went up in flames. The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an all-island and international research programme working to digitally reconstruct, as far as possible, these lost archives. By tracking down copies and transcripts in libraries and archives around Ireland and overseas, tens of thousands of documents relating to every corner of Ireland have been recovered, making them available online free of charge. Cllr Tommy Annesley, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council, said: I look forward to welcoming The Virtual Record Treasury Roadshow to Wicklow, which is the first stop on its national tour. We are very proud that Wicklow County Archives is a participating partner in this important project which has virtually reassembled the Irish archives lost in the fire of the Public Records Office in 1922. Our County Archives has contributed digital versions of the Wicklow Grand Jury records to the Virtual Record Treasury and I look forward to learning about the other Wicklow treasures restored and made available by the Virtual Record Treasury in Wicklow Library on the 15th of June. Ms Emer OGorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council added: The Virtual Record Treasury Roadshow highlights the value of archives to everyone, having reassembled 700 years of Irish archives lost during the Civil War. Indeed, archival sources and especially local authority archives have featured strongly in Decade of Centenaries programmes, which have brought local stories and experiences to life. We are very proud of the collections in our own Wicklow County Archives and look forward to a continuing collaboration between Wicklow and the Virtual Record Treasury project. Attendance is free and all are welcome. Booking is required by contacting: Wicklow County Archives - email archives@wicklowcoco.ie; Tel 0404-6702 Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted she was innocent last night after being arrested and held for more than seven hours as part of a police probe into the fate of funds raised for the Scottish National Party (SNP) . Ukrainian servicemen assist an injured civilian who had came under fire from Russian forces while trying to flee by boat from the Russian-occupied east bank of a flooded Dnieper River. Photo: AP Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. Image copyright: Michael Gunther/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International New Delhi/IBNS: Ramayana is a common thread that binds India and South East Asian nations, such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. New Delhi based Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is hosting a two day International Seminar on Ramayana in South East Asia on June 13 and 14 this year. According to the organisers, the seminar will focus on how Ramayana has been understood, and interpreted by the South East Asian countries. There are various versions of the epic; research has revealed how the legend travelled via maritime trade through the ages to seven different countries, thus facilitating a cultural bond between these countries. The Ramayana continues to be told and retold in the form of dance, drama, music, puppet and shadow theatre and it has reflected the different natural environments, customs and culture of the countries in its unique way. Academicians, scholars and professionals from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia and India, will be exploring the grand epic as interpreted in their own countries. To reinforce the social, cultural and multidimensional bridge between Indo-ASEAN nations, the seminar will also include series of lectures followed by cultural programmes on Ramayana (by Mudra Dance Group from Kolkata, India and by Prince Buppha Devi Dance Schoool, Cambodia) and an art exhibition (Ram Darbar by Virasat Art). What: International Seminar on Ramayana in South East Asia Where: Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi When: June 13 and 14, 2023; 11am onwards Kolkata/IBNS: Kolkata-based non-profit organisation UNMISH has taken such a huge step towards improving the lives of specially-abled children and young adults through a spectacular initiative in its 8th edition of POORNAM. This year in 2023 with the special goal of empowering children, UNMISH is providing opportunities for skill development and employment by helping these young adults become independent and self-reliant members of society. UNMISH's Founder and Director Nita Diwan conceptualises events every year with the specific goal of empowering these children. Renowned actor Prosenjit Chatterjee and other notable personalities from different walks of life were present to encourage and support the young participants. The presence of such personalities not only adds credibility to the event but also helps to raise awareness about the cause that the organization is working towards. Overall, the event was a resounding success and had the support of the wider community. US Consulate General, Kolkata (India) Melinda Pavek was also present to encourage the children. She commented at the event, "It's great to see such kind of interesting games and these games are helping children be physically active and developing themselves. I am thrilled to be here and the initiative that has taken UNMISH." An art exhibition was also created by their vocational unit, UDAAN, as part of the programme, further enhancing this revolutionary event. The efforts were made by the entire team of UNMISH, along with their Founder and Director Nita Diwan, to ensure that the participants and guests had a memorable experience. Nita Diwan, the Founder, Director of UNMISH, commented, "Every imperfection is a perfection. We should look beyond disabilities and focus on an individual's strengths and potential. We have been conducting this unique event for the last 7 years and the objective of this initiative is to make the special children realise their own potential and feel valued and appreciated by the outside world. Image: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Instagram page Jabalpur/UNI: Though the beat of electoral war drums is still akin to distant thunder in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is leaving absolutely nothing to chance and has girded up its loins to charge headlong into enemy lines. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will blow the bugle on Monday at a public meeting in this city the largest one of Mahakoshal region. According to the partys state unit sources, the visiting leader will arrive at Jabalpur Airport at 1030 hrs. Ten minutes later, she shall proceed to Gwarighat to offer worship to the Narmada, which is Madhya Pradeshs lifeline. At 11:15 am, Priyanka will leave for the Martyrs Memorial where her address is scheduled to commence at 11:25 am. She will depart from the venue at 1:25 pm, reach a helipad five minutes later, return to the airport at 1:35 pm and then fly back to the national capital. Image Credit: Facebook/Sharad Pawar Pune/UNI: A 34-year-old IT Engineer who threatened NCP President Sharad Pawar on social media has been arrested from Pune. The accused identified as Sagar Barve was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch from Pune. Sagar, an IT engineer, was produced to local court who remanded police custody to bravery. Mumbai Crime Branch succeeded in arresting the person who threatened Sharad Pawar soon. The Mumbai Crime Branch had registered a case at Lokmanya Tilak Marg Police Station since the day of incidents and various teams were formed to Nab the culprit. Now police are investigating to find out why he took such a step and used social media to threaten the NCP Supremo pawar. When Pawar received the death threats, the NCP workers had become aggressive across the state. A NCP delegation led by party MP and daughter of sharad pawar Supriya Sule met the Mumbai Police Commissioner. The party workers had demanded that action should be taken immediately against the Twitter handle that threatened to kill Sharad Pawar. Swinging into action, Mumbai Police started their investigation and finally the crime branch succeeded in arresting the accused from pune. Accused Barve is working in the information technology sector and police suspect that he created both the accounts. Meanwhile, Politics Maharashtra has an account on this Facebook in the name 'Narmadabai Patvardhan'. In the post on it, a threat was addressed to Pawar that 'you will soon become Dabholkar'. While the content that used offensive language against pawar from a Twitter handle of one Saurabh Pimpalkar. Now police are inquiring about both posts from Barve. Image: ANI screensgrabs New Delhi: Farmers once again took to protest as many of them from Haryana blocked the national highway to Delhi in Kurukshetra on Monday over the demand for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sunflower seeds by the Haryana government. Farmers blocked the road with their tractors after a mahapanchayat in Pipli village in the region, trashing the relief announced by the Chief Minister. Traffic has been diverted on the Delhi-Chandigarh route, said reports. Farm leaders from Haryana, Punjab, UP and other neighboring states had gathered at the Pipli grain market for the 'MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao' mahapanchayat to press their demand, reported NDTV. Image: ANI screensgrabs Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had on Saturday digitally released 29.13 crore as interim 'bharpai (relief)' to 8,528 farmers for sunflower grown on 36,414 acres under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY) -- price difference payment scheme, the report said. Image: Pixabay Mumbai: Four people died and as many seriously injured after their car rammed into the divider near Khambale Shivar in Sinnar taluka on the Nashik stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway in the early hours of Monday. According to police, the incident occurred when the Toyota Innova car was on its way to Shirdi from Mumbai. Prima facie, a tyre burst leading to the vehicle going out of control and ramming into the divider. The deceased have been identified as Razzaq Ahmed Sheikh (55), Sattar Sheikh Lala Sheikh (65), Sultana Sattar Sheikh (50), who died on the spot, and Faiyaz Dagubhai Sheikh (40), who succumbed to injuries in a nearby hospital. While four other occupants of the car received serious injuries and were hospitalised in Shirdi. A case has been registered and police concerned are probing the incident further, the official added. (With UNI inputs) Representative Image from File: PIB New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting today to review the preparedness of Ministries/Agencies of Centre as well as Gujarat to deal with the situation arising out of the impending Cyclone Biparjoy. Prime Minister directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the State Government and to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as Power, Telecommunications, health, drinking water etc. and are restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them. He also directed that the safety of animals should also be ensured. He further directed for 24*7 functioning of control rooms. During the meeting, India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra & Kutch between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including extremely heavy falls in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka & Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi & Junagarh districts of Gujarat on 14-15 June. IMD informed that it has been issuing regular bulletins since the onset of the cyclonic system on 6th June with the latest forecast to all the States and agencies concerned. It was also informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reviewing the situation 24*7 and is in touch with the State Government and the Central Agencies concerned. NDRF has pre-positioned 12 teams, which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment etc. and has kept 15 teams on standby. Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and Engineer task force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the coast. Disaster Relief teams (DRTs) and Medical Teams (MTs) of Army, Navy and Coast Guard are on standby. PM was also briefed about measures taken by Government of Gujarat to deal with the cyclone. Review meetings with the district administration have been held at the level of Chief Minister and the entire state administration machinery is geared up to meet any exigency situation. Also, Cabinet Secretary and Home Secretary are in continuous touch with the Chief Secretary of Gujarat and Central Ministries/ Agencies concerned. The meeting was attended by the Home Minister, Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officers. PIB New Delhi: The 12th edition of joint military exercise Ex Ekuverin between the Indian Army & the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from June 11 to 24. Ekuverin meaning Friends is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives. A platoon strength contingent from Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force will be participating in 14 days long exercise. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism Operations under the UN mandate and carry out joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations. The focus is to share best practices, enhance coordination and cooperation between both the forces at tactical level. The 11th edition of the exercise was held in Maldives in December 2021. The defence cooperation between the two countries extends from joint exercises to assisting Maldives with defence training and equipment requirements. Both the nations have very close and friendly relations in economic, cultural and military cooperation. Ex Ekuverin will assist in further bolstering of these ties between the two nations. In an exciting development for tourism enthusiasts, the Punjab government has announced plans to organize a series of heritage fairs and festivals throughout the year across various regions of the state. The objective behind this initiative is to showcase Punjabs rich heritage and culture to a wider audience. The announcement was made by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Anmol Gagan Mann, during a press conference held earlier today. The initiative, titled Rangla Punjab, is expected to invigorate the tourism sector and attract a larger number of visitors to the state. A total of 22 fairs will be organized throughout the year, commencing with the Dhiyan Festival in Sangrur from August 18 to 20. Mann further disclosed that several prominent festivals, including the Maghi Festival in Muktsar, Basant Festival in Ferozepur, Kapurthala Heritage Festival, Kila Raipur Rural Olympics, Baisakhi fair in Bathinda, Patiala Heritage Festival, and Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib, will be part of the extravaganza. Among the lineup of festivals, the Inqlab Festival in Khatkar Kalan will take place in September, showcasing the rich culture and cuisine of the Malwa region. Additionally, the Punjab Handicraft Festival in Fazilka, the Equestrian Fair in Jalandhar in November, the Military Literature event in Chandigarh, the Rivers Fair in Pathankot, and the Sufi Festival in Malerkotla are set to enthrall visitors. The government has allocated a budget of Rs 65 crore for organizing these festivals, demonstrating its commitment to promoting Punjabs vibrant cultural heritage. To kick-start the year with grandeur, the Rangla Punjab festival will take place in January, centered in the holy city of Amritsar. This festival promises to showcase every facet of Punjabi culture, featuring participation from esteemed novelists and poets. Given that Amritsar attracts the highest number of foreign tourists, this event will undoubtedly captivate visitors and leave a lasting impression. With the governments proactive approach and the introduction of the Rangla Punjab initiative, Punjab is all set to become a premier destination for cultural enthusiasts and tourists seeking an immersive experience. By celebrating its diverse heritage through these fairs and festivals, Punjab aims to highlight the essence of its glorious past and create unforgettable memories for all those who choose to explore its vibrant tapestry of culture and traditions. (Text and Image Credit: Khalsavox.com) Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain/Wikipedia Creative Commons Milan: Former Italian Prime Minister and billionaire media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi, who was hospitalized in Milan's San Raffaele hospital for scheduled follow-up tests for a blood condition last week, died aged 86, the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported on Monday. Berlusconi's hospitalization last week was not associated with any "critical" phenomena and that his health status was not worrying. Silvio Berlusconi, who was once mired in sex scandals and allegations of corruption, had a lung infection in April and his ailment was in consequence of an undisclosed case of chronic leukemia (blood cancer), said media reports. Reacting to the news of his demise, Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto tweeted that Berlusconi's absence has left a "huge void". "An era is over... Farewell Silvio," Crosetto posted, adding that he "loved" Berlusconi "very much", according to BBC. Creative Commons/Wikipedia He had led a centre-right coalition since 1994, when he entered politics and formed his Forza Italia party. He was a media tycoon and served as Prime Minister of Italy in four governments from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1994 to 2013; a member of the Senate of the Republic from 2022 to 2023, and previously from March to November 2013; and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2023, and previously from 1999 to 2001. With a net worth of US$6.8 billion as of June 2023, Berlusconi was the third-wealthiest person in Italy. On 1 Aug 2013, Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud by the Supreme Court of Cassation. His four-year prison sentence was confirmed, and he was banned from holding public office for two years. Aged 76, he was exempted from direct imprisonment, and instead served his sentence by doing unpaid community service Silvio Berluscon was accused and initially convicted of paying a 17-year-old Moroccan Karima El Mahroug, also known by the stage name Ruby Rubacuori (Italian for "Ruby the Heartstealer"), for sexual services between Feb and May 2010 when she was under the age of 18; he was found not guilty on appeal. Pixabay Lakki Marwat: At least one policeman died during an exchange of fire with unidentified assailants in Shahbazkhel area of Pakistan on Thursday, media reports said on Monday. An official told Dawn News a team of Shahbazkhel police post had set up a picket on the Bannu-DI Khan section of the Indus Highway after receiving information that six armed motorcyclists believed to be terrorists were seen roaming in the town. The official said the cops took positions after seeing masked men on three motorcycles coming from Darra Pezu side. As the cops moved towards them, the armed motorcyclists opened fire, triggering an exchange of fire, he added. The official said during exchange of fire, a constable, namely Zikrya, was martyred. Police gave them a chase but they disappeared in the forest taking cover of night, the official said. Body of the martyred constable was later shifted to the police lines. Pixabay Armed attackers gunned down the brother-in-law of a former provincial minister as well as a senior police officer on Saturday, media reports said on Monday. Abdul Qayyum Buledi was shot dead by men riding a motorcycle while he was sitting outside his home, reports Dawn News. Qayyum Buledi died on the spot after receiving multiple bullet injuries, a Levies official told the newspaper. He was brother-in-law of Zahoor Buledi, an ex-finance minister of Balochistan. The body was shifted to a nearby hospital. Image: Unsplash Firoz Koah: A child was killed, and two others were injured as a mine left over from past wars went off in Afghanistan's western Ghor province on Monday, an official said. Earlier in the day, a group of children found a toy-like device in Ponba Ghalmen area of Firoz Koah city, the capital of Ghor province, and began playing with it. But the device suddenly exploded, killing the child on the spot and injuring two others, provincial administration spokesman Mawlawi Abdul Wahid Hamas said. The injured children have been taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, Hamas added. A similar blast claimed the lives of three children and injured another in Afghanistan's eastern Wardak province two weeks ago. (With UNI inputs) With Western lenders pulling out of the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) and other state-owned entities have stepped in to finance the remaining $3 billion necessary to complete it, NTV Kenya reported. The 1445 km long project from the Ugandan oilfields of Lake Albert is expected to transport 216,000 barrels upon completion. After reaching the port of Tanga, in Tanzania, in the Indian Ocean, it will then be shipped to international markets. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) owns a 20% stake in the Standard Bank of South Africa and is cooperating with it to act as financial advisors and debt arrangers for EACOP, the news portal reported. Although French oil major Total Energies holds 62% of the stake in the pipeline, Uganda National Oil Company and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation have a respective 15% stake each, with the remaining 8% in the hands of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), which has already started drilling at the Kingfisher Oilfield at Lake Albert, while Total Energies is operating the other oilfield at Tilanga in western Uganda. It has signed deals with the China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Company to construct the Tilanga drilling facilities. The pipeline is being supplied by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering. Chinese infrastructure projects have not typically had a happy outcome in the recent past. After heavily indebted countries feared their international credit rating would be damaged, China lent to African countries through shell companies, such as a $1.5 billion loan to Zambia from Chinese banks that did not appear on the accounts of the public for years, reports the news portal. As questions arise as to how exactly these massive loans will be repaid in the future, we can take a look at existing actions taken to assess Chinas future tactics. In a series of years-long digital intrusions, Kenya has faced cyber-attacks from Chinese hackers attempting to infiltrate key ministries and State institutions to keep abreast of its lending status and debt repayment intentions. Several reports show that 35% of BRI infrastructure projects are plagued by corruption scandals, labor violations, environmental hazards, and public protests, the news portal added. Many people have also raised concerns about such infrastructure projects being used for espionage after the 2018 scandal of the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia being bugged by China. Image and Text: Khalsavox.com The Canadian governments silence on the issue of Khalistan separatism is raising eyebrows worldwide. This complex dance of politics, largely driven by the influence of a handful of individuals in the Sikh diaspora, is not only endangering Canadas own national interests but also risking its economic future. Recently, the city of Brampton hosted a parade featuring a disturbing tableau depicting the assassination of the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This event starkly highlighted the burgeoning influence of Khalistan separatists in Canada, a phenomenon that has been growing since the tragic incident of the Air India flight 182 in 1985. The fact that Canadian politicians have allowed such separatist voices to grow louder is a dangerous game of appeasement, which seeks to secure votes at the expense of broader national interests. Despite the outspoken opposition to separatist ideologies from certain Canadian politicians, like Chandra Arya, the road to a comprehensive resolution remains long and arduous. Several Canadian politicians have been accused of bowing to Khalistan separatists to secure electoral victories. This strategy, though potentially fruitful in the short term, threatens Canadas long-term interests by undermining the potential for deep ties with India, one of the worlds largest economies. Jody Thomas, Canadas National Security Advisor, recently accused India of interference, a claim that arguably was an attempt to appeal to a certain voter base. However, pandering to extremists and separatists could backfire and damage Canadas reputation on the global stage. With the Canadian economy already struggling, a strategic partnership with India could open avenues for increased trade, potential partnerships in the manufacturing sector, and access to a pool of skilled workers, which could address the labour and skill shortage that is currently crippling the Canadian economy. Canada had in fact earlier identified India as a critical partner in their Indo-Pacific strategy. However, this potential economic boon is being overshadowed by vote-bank politics. The appeasement of Khalistan separatists, in an effort to secure electoral victories, threatens to strain the relationship between Canada and India. As a result, Canada could miss out on a valuable economic opportunity that could help turn around its economic downturn. India has maintained strong trade and business ties with Canada, as evidenced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus request for Covid vaccines from India in 2021. However, the increasing influence of Khalistan separatists in Canada and the associated political appeasement could strain this relationship. The Sikh diaspora, comprising 2.1 percent of Canadas total population, plays a significant role in Canadian society and politics. Notably, Jagmeet Singh, a Canadian Sikh, is the head of the Canadian Left-leaning New Democratic Party. The potential influence of this community on the political landscape is significant, but it also raises the risk of manipulation by extremists who advocate for separatist causes, such as Khalistan. While vote-seeking politics might deliver short-term electoral gains, they threaten to isolate Canada internationally, damage its national interests, and disrupt the potential for economic growth through stronger ties with India. The Canadian government must therefore tread carefully, ensuring that it does not compromise its future for the sake of short-term political gains. (Image and Text Credit: Khalsavox.com) Image: Facebook/Justin Trudeau Ottawa/IBNS: During his suprise visit to Kyiv on Saturday, Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $500 million more in Canadian military aid as Ukraine has stepped up its long-anticipated counteroffensive to drive Russias army out of occupied eastern and southern regions of the battered country. Accompanied on the trip by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau, earlier in the day, met with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Canada has committed over $8 billion in funding assistance to Ukraine since last year, said Trudeau, including over $1 billion in military aid, since the start of the Russian invasion early in 2022. Offering no details on how the new funding would be spent, Trudeau indicated Canada would also extend its military training mission, known as Operation Unifier, until 2026 and offered to help train Ukrainian pilots, along with other countries, on the F-16 fighter aircraft. Counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway, Zelenskyy said at a news conference alongside Trudeau, asserting his top commanders were positive as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line. I am in touch with our commanders in different directions every day, he added, citing the names of five of Ukraines top military leaders. Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin. On Saturday, Canada also committed $10 million in humanitarian aid and promised to redirect previously announced $37 million toward helping Ukraine manage and recover from the effects of the breach. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) Chief operating officer, Air Peace, Toyin Olajide, says Hadi Sirika, former minister of aviation lied about some claims he made about the national carrier during his interview with Arise Television. Sirika, had on Sunday made claims that Air Peace suspended its Dubai flights due to lack of capacity, adding that the airline had lost $19m after leasing two Boeing 777 aircraft on a monthly lease fee of $250,000. The former minister claimed that the two aircraft were leased before Air Peace was ready to fly. In response to this, Olajide said in a statement that this is a blatant lie as we have three and not two Boeing 777 aircraft which were never leased or rented, but were purchased outrightly by the airline. Air peace never incurred such a loss, we never paid rentals contrary to his lies. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) can attest to the purchase and ownership of the Aircraft by Air peace. The statement that the airline stopped flying to Dubai because it lacks capacity was also debunked as another stark lie. Olajide clarified that Air Peace never stopped the Dubai operations because of lack of capacity, and that it commenced operations into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in July, 2019, but in October 2022, the UAE Government announced a total visa ban on Nigerians. READ ALSO: Nigeria Air Fraud: Sirika Deviating From Subject Matter, Knows I Followed Due Process Rep. Nnaji Neither Emirates nor Air Peace is operating the Nigerian/UAE route since the ban. The persisting non-issuance of visas and the accompanying inconveniences necessitated the suspension of our Dubai operations from November 22, 2022 till date. For the former minister to ascribe the suspension to lack of capacity is not only shocking but also shows how keen he is to disparage an airline that has defied all the commercial odds and hostile environment placed on its path to continue to serve our nation proudly. How could an airline that placed a firm order for 13 brand new E2-195 aircraft, a firm order of 15 Boeing 737 Max 8 & Max 10, with over 30 aircraft already in its existing fleet be accused of lacking in capacity? How can an Airline that stood up for the entire nation during the Covid-19 outbreak, and embarked on rescue operations worldwide, evacuating Nigerians from far away China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, UK and South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdowns be accused of lacking capacity?, Olajide said. She implored the general public to disregard the comments made by the former minister of Aviation against Air Peace during the Arise TV Interview. We take serious exception to a situation where Airpeace is being misrepresented in the public sphere, causing wrong perceptions about our brand, she added. Former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubus fluidity of thought in his maiden Democracy Day address to Nigerians as President. Tinubu in his June 12 address acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, and vowed his administration will reward their sacrifices with massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities that will improve their quality of life. Nonetheless, Omokri, opined that compared to Tinubus predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, he has established a significant improvement in his first two weeks in office. Giving his stance on Twitter on Monday, he tweeted: Very commendable speech by President Tinubu. Although Waziri Atiku is my choice and would have done better, I, however, must concede that the President was eloquent, displayed fluidity of thought, and had command of the issues. READ ALSO: Our Democracy Is Deeply Troubled Peter Obi To Nigerians Other than the treatment meted out to CBN Governor Emefiele, I cannot fault the Presidents first two weeks in office. This speech, in which he acknowledged the pains Nigerians are facing and his promise to alleviate the pains, the sustenance of subsidy removal, deft negotiations with the Nigerian Labour Congress, his accessibility and open door policy, balanced appointments of Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, increasing the retirement age of judges, taking charge of the leadership selection process of the 10th National Assembly, signing significant bills into law, and making progress towards a single exchange rate, has established that he is a significant improvement on Buhari. Nevertheless, I fully support Waziri Atiku Abubakars petition at the Presidential Election Petition Court, and I am very hopeful that he will emerge victorious. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed that gunmen killed one person and abducted three others, including two community leaders in the Ningi Local Government Area of the state. The spokesman of the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the development on Monday in Bauchi. He said that the gunmen attacked a community known as Balma, killing one person and abducting three others, including two community leaders, on Saturday night. READ ALSO: Bandits Kill 25 Farmers, Abduct Several Others In Niger Wakil said the two community leaders were a village head in Balma community and a ward head in the Bakutumbu community. The spokesman said that the command had on Sunday received a report from its Balma outpost that gunmen had attacked the village. They shot sporadically and took away the village head, Alhaji Hussaini Saleh, who is 48 years old, he said. Wakil said that the village head was abducted alongside one Idris Mai Unguwa and another man named Yau Gandu Maliya, who is 45 years old. He said, One Haruna Jibrin was, however, shot in the head by the gunmen. When the police received the distress call, a team was drafted to the scene, they rescued the victim and rushed him to General Hospital, Ningi where he was receiving treatment but was later confirmed dead. At present, the police in Ningi Division are combing the bush, trying to see how they can rescue the two abducted community leaders alive. The spokesman appealed to citizens to always provide information on suspicious movements of people to security agencies for immediate action. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has kicked against what it called a sponsored surgery by the Department of State Services (DSS) for its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group in a statement on Sunday warned that no surgery should be done on its leader while in custody. It described the move as another desperate attempt by the federal government to further incapacitate the activist. IPOB had alerted the government on several occasions about the deteriorating health of its leader who is standing trial for alleged treasonable felony at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The statement read: This is a sequel to the deteriorating health condition of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the proposed ear surgery by the Nigeria Government and DSS medical team. READ MORE: DSS Denies Medical Team Access To Nnamdi Kanu Lawyer IPOB completely rejects any ill-conceived surgery on our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, who has been illegally and unconstitutionally detained in a DSS dungeon for two years without charge. We reiterate that he should be released to his personal physicians who will perform the prescribed ear surgery on him. We want to draw the attention of IPOB Worldwide, all lovers of freedom and lovers of Biafra to the dangerous plans to neutralise Mazi Nnamdi Kanu through ear surgery by the enemies on the DSS medical team. Its obvious that DSS has intentions to eliminate our leader through this ill-conceived ear surgery. Thats why they refused to allow Mazi Nnamdi Kanu access to his personal and trusted physicians. Therefore, we reject any DSS or Nigerian Government sponsored-surgery on our leader while he is still being detained illegally in solitary confinement. Its true that our leader requires urgent ear surgery from the injury the Nigeria Agents inflicted on him when he was kidnapped and tortured in Kenya. However, such surgery will not take place while he is still inside the DSS dungeon. What will happen if he develops any medical complications during or after the surgery in the detention facilities? Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be unconditionally released as the courts ordered or released on medical grounds to attend to his health. President Bola Tinubu, has hailed the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. In his maiden Democracy Day address to Nigerians on Monday, President Tinubu described Abiola as the symbol of democracy and the custodian of the sacred mandate that was annulled by the late Gen Sani Abacha. Tinubu, who acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, said his administration will reward their sacrifices with massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities that will improve their quality of life. He said: For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal. READ MORE: June 12 Democracy Day To Be A Low-Key Affair Akume It is about the rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated. Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has assured Nigerians that they will enjoy democracy dividends under President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration. The Surulere representative in his June 12 message, stated that being one of those who fought for civilian rule, Tinubu will not disappoint the people. Congratulating Nigerians for their unwavering support for the nations democracy as they mark this years Democracy Day he said: It is a unique milestone in the democratic journey with the election of President Tinubu, a thoroughbred democrat, who is noted for his tenacious defence of democracy. READ ALSO: Democracy Day Speech: Tinubu Displayed Command Of Issues, Hes A Significant Improvement On Buhari Reno Omokri Gbajabiamila said his joy stems from the fact that Nigerians are set to appreciate the true meaning of democracy because Tinubu is a product of democracy. He further described the countrys leader as someone who understands and appreciates the tenets of democracy and the value it brings to the table of the populace. President Tinubu will not shy away from bringing to bear the dividends of democracy Nigerians have been yearning for, he added. Appreciating Nigerians for continuing to support civilian dispensation by building its processes without wavering since 1999, he urged them to remain united amid socio-economic and political challenges, and requested prayers for leaders on Gods guidance and wisdom. The Niger State Government has ordered the demolition of a Police Station built on the main water pipeline from the Chanchaga water works in a bid to ensure uninterrupted water supply to residents of Minna and its environs. During a visit to the police high command in Abuja by the Niger State Governor, Muhammad Bago, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Akali Baba also gave his approval to relocate the station from its current location. Recall Bago had on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration speech ordered the demolition of the structure for standing on a major water supply pipeline. READ ALSO: Bandits Kill 25 Farmers, Abduct Several Others In Niger It was gathered that the station has been sitting on a major water supply pipeline for over a decade and could obstruct the state governments new policy to improve water reticulation. To that effect, a bigger structure has already been provided to host the police station in the area by the state government. Speaking on the issue, Governor Bago confirmed that the IGP has given the go-ahead to relocate the police station to enable the Niger State government to carry on with its plans to ensure adequate water supply to the people. He said, We have discussed with the IGP on very relevant issues, including the police station issue in Chanchaga and he has given his nod. He is in tandem with our change policy and we will carry out this Thursday. We are calling on the people to stop construction of houses and other property on public utility channels, including water pipelines and electricity high tension lines. Furthermore, he noted, Those who have their structures obstructing such facilities in various locations should immediately relocate their property because the state government will no longer tolerate acts of sabotage on its utility facilities in the state. A Nigerian Airforce female Master Warrant Officer George, serving at 651 Base Services Group, was found dead on Sunday. It was gathered that the Air Force personnel was found unresponsive at her residence at Block T5 Flat 8 in Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja, Lagos, after she hanged herself inside her room at about 1400hrs on 10 June 2023. READ MORE: Ogun Student Commits Suicide After Losing School Fees To Online Betting It was said that she was pronounced dead by three Air Provosts who came with another team of personnel to evacuate the body to the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital. According to a military signal obtained by SaharaReporters said, Master Warrant Officer George a female Personnel of the Nigerian Air Force serving at 651 Base Services Group Resident at Block T5 Flat 8 in Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja reported to have committed suicide inside her room at about 1400hrs on 10 Jun 23. Efforts are ongoing by 3 Air Provosts to evacuate her to 661NAFH, while further investigation will continue. This is for your awareness. My people, depression is real. Please do not allow 9ija Wahala lead you to early grave. As Nigerians prepares for another annual celebration of Democracy Day across the nation, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 polls, Peter Obi has joined Nigerians to celebrate the special day. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Nigeria will celebrate Democracy Day on June 12, in commemoration of the annulled presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola. According to Obi, Nigerians should use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues of a truly democratic nation. Read the full statement below: Today is June 12, June 12 marked in our dear country as Democracy Day . It is a historic day that deserves to be celebrated. On that day in 1993, we the people of Nigeria stated our unreserved preference for true democracy. Though under military rule, we freely chose a transparent voting method. Our votes reflected our true choice as a people. Our choice on that day defied divisions of ethnicity, religion and region. It is these qualities that added up to make June 12 special in our search for true democracy. Our collective choice of late Chief M. K.O AbIola as a worthy leader for nation was saluted by Nigerians and governments and peoples across the world. Therefore, June 12 underpins our long collective journey to nationhood as a true democracy. Adamawa State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects including a police inspector and vigilante members over the brutal murder of two women who were accused of witchcraft in Roma community, in Song Local Government Area of the state. Spokesperson of the command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, June 11, 2023, said the women were stripped naked and beaten mercilessly by a mob. According to the PPRO, the suspects were arrested after a video of the mob action went viral on social media. READ ALSO: Edo Man Kills Pregnant Wife, Father-In-Law Places Bounty On Suspect Adamawa State Police Command came across an unfortunate video which has gone viral in some section of the media especially social media where an Inspector of Police and some members of Vigilantes attached to Dumne Divisional Police Headquarters, were sighted maltreating and assaulting three (3) women in an unprofessional manner at Roma community, Dumne Development Area in Song Local Government Area, the statement read. The women were stripped naked and beaten mercilessly by the mob over the allegation of witchcraft as a result of which two of them were brutally murdered. The Commissioner of Police, *CP Afolabi Babatola* who expressed shock over the unprofessional conduct displayed by the said Inspector, Ahmed Suleiman as well as Vigilante members as watched in the viral video. Irked by the unfortunate incident, the Commissioner of Police, immediately, deployed the Deputy Commissioner of Police who arrested those seen maltreating and assaulting the women. Equally, the CP has ordered for a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote cause(s) of this condemnable incident as well as ensure speedy dispensation of justice. The CP assured that any act of indiscipline and lawlessness will not be tolerated under his watch as those found guilty of this heinous crime against humanity will surely be brought to book. See photos below: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has alerted Nigerians on the outbreak of Anthrax in some neighboring countries within the West African sub-region. The ministry strongly advised Nigerians to desist from the consumption of hides (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat as they pose serious risk until the situation is brought under control. A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of ministry, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, said the outbreak was first recorded in northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo putting the whole sub-region at risk. READ MORE: NILEST Proposes Ban Of Ponmo Consumption In Nigeria The disease which has claimed some lives, is a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man, that is a zoonotic disease. Anthrax spores are naturally found in the soil and commonly affect domestic and wild animals. People can get infected with Anthrax spores if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. However, Anthrax is not a contagious disease and so, one cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person. Signs of anthrax are flu- like symptoms such as cough, fever, muscle aches and if not diagnosed and treated early, lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death, the statement read in part. Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has accused the lawmaker who branded launch of Nigeria Air as fraud of demanding five percent shares of the national carrier from him as bribe. Recall that last week, during a hearing by the House of Representatives, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, declared the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud. A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community, the committee had said. Nnaji also had picked holes in the project, criticising the Federal Government for what he described as poor handling. But in an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, Sirika said the lawmaker approached him and asked for five percent shares of the airline for him and his people. On the issue of Hon Nnaji who called Nigeria Air launch a fraud, I will respond now. I will say exactly what I told him in private when we spoke. READ ALSO: Nigeria Air Unveiling Like A Naming Ceremony Without Child Being Born Investor Describes Process As Whitewash Hon Nnaji asked me that I should give him 5 percent of Nigeria Air to carry him along with his people. I said to him at that time, Honourable, a bidding process has taken place, and some people won. So, I think you should go to those people and ask for the 5 percent. When asked to clarify if the lawmaker indeed asked for bribe for himself and other legislators, Sirika said, Lets be fair, Hon Nnaji didnt say other members. He said he wants it for himself and his people. His people could be his family, could be members and it could be leadership. I dont know, but he insisted on 5%. I said that he should relax and approach the owners. Thats exactly what I told him. The former Minister also criticised Nnaji and the aviation committee for conducting what translated to a predetermined hearing. I was a member of the House of Reps 20 years ago, and 10 years ago, I was a Senator. I know the workings of the National Assembly. He [Nnaji] called for public hearing. And right under the public hearing, he just turned the paper and read the riot act. The practice in the National Assembly is that after hearing people and the complain, you now go and sit down as a committee, discuss the issues, raise them, approach the whole house of reps and take position of the house plus leadership and come back and make your findings known, but not immediately you just read the riot Act out. It means is predetermined. Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has reacted to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 polls, Peter Obi, over his Democracy Day message to Nigerians. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA reported that Obi joined Nigerians to celebrate Democracy Day in commemoration of the annulled presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola. Obi stated that June 12 underpins our long collective journey to nationhood as a true democracy despite the nations democracy being deeply troubled while Nigerias destiny remains uncertain and precarious. According to the former Anambra State governor, Nigerians should use the commemoration of June 12 as an occasion to return to the true virtues of a truly democratic nation. READ MORE: Our Democracy Is Deeply Troubled Peter Obi To Nigerians Obi added that, the collective choice of late Chief M. K.O Abiola as a worthy leader for the nation was saluted by Nigerians and governments and peoples across the world. Reacting in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle on Monday, Sowore said June 12 has now become National Opportunists Day for people like Obi who allegedly worked for the late Sani Abacha. The AAC flagbearer said Obi, who openly confessed that he worked for Abacha clearing the Tin Can Island port while the late dictator was busy assassinating June 12 protagonists, is also using June 12 for cruise. He wrote: June 12 has now become National Opportunists Day A @peterobi who openly confessed that he worked for General Abacha clearing the Tin Can Island port while Abacha was busy assassinating June 12 protagonists is also using June 12 for cruise. wonders shall not cease! #Revolutionnow. Muktar Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, the leading contenders in the 10th National Assembly speakership race, have stepped down and endorsed Tajudeen Abbas, the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The disclosure was made in a statement by the Tajudeen Abbas-Benjamin Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office on Sunday. According to the statement, Abbas secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones and is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House on Tuesday. READ ALSO: Youre Not Speaker Yet, Consultation Needs To Be Done Adamu Tells Abbas It is pertinent to mention that the so-called G7 no longer exists as key members of the forum, such as Rep Ado Doguwa, Rep Muktar Betara, Rep Yusuf Gagdi, Rep Makki Yalleman and Rep Raheem Olawuyi, among others have since dropped their speakership ambitions and declared support for the Abbas-Kalu ticket, the statement explained. It added, It is worthy to note that Betara and Gagdi announced that they stepped down for Abbas on Sunday, June 11, 2023, after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Meanwhile the National Coalition of All Progressive Congress Support Groups in the 19 Northern States has called on the elected members of the 10th National Assembly and Nigerians to support Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives respectively. National president of the support groups, Maina Gimba made the call while reading a text of a weekend press conference, jointly signed by the Chairman Organizing Committee, Comrade Mohammed Sani Dikko, the Programme Consultant, Prince Elijah Jibrin, Hajia Ladi Abdullahi Kafanchan , women representative, youth representative, Sagir Umar and the Adviser, Mallam Yakubu. The groups expressed optimistic that Hon. Abbas will deliver if given the opportunity, adding that choice of Abbas is for national unity and progress. We in touch with our elected members from various geo-political zones to solicit for their support to ensure Tajudeen Abbas becomes the next Speaker. He is one of the most experienced hands in the green chamber. His contribution on the floor have been noteworthy, and his leadership of various committee under his purview has also been top-notch. Hon Tajudeen Abbas is a bridge-builder who understands the strategic importance of representatives in Nigerias socio-economic development. The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the residents of the State are yet to enjoy the dividends of democracy despite the sacrifices of June 12. The opposition party in a statement on Sunday through its Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode urged the people to be resilient and remain hopeful that the best is on the way. The state is yet to enjoy real dividends of democracy, which the late Chief MKO Abiola and the June 12, 1993, elections stood for, it read. Amode furthered that the residents deserve more than they are experiencing under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). READ ALSO: Nigerias Democracy In Bondage, Governing Elite Must Stop Influencing Elections Atiku The spokesperson said Lagos is blessed with both natural and human resources but has little or nothing to show for it. This is a state that ought to set the pace for others in education, health and other infrastructure based on her huge income, he said. According to Amode, in comparison with other megacities across the world, the authorities have failed to lift Lagos to an enviable level. He further promised that once the PDP takes over power, the people would enjoy their wealth as whatever is realised would be used for the development. Philly playwright James Ijames attends the 76th Annual Tony Awards in New York City. His play "Fat Ham" had five nominations but lost in all five categories. Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Read more It was a bittersweet night for Fat Ham. Philadelphia playwright James Ijames Black queer reworking of Hamlet premiered at the Wilma Theater and quickly became a critical darling. It arrived to the 2023 Tony Awards with five nominations and a Pulitzer in hand. Fat Ham lost in all five categories, including best play and best direction of a play. Still, it was a glamorous night for Fat Ham, the Wilma, and Phillys theater scene overall. Ijames play catapulted the citys regional theater community to a national stage, a rare spotlight. The Wilma was the first independent Philly theater to earn Tony recognition for a new, original play; the theater is also a coproducer of the Broadway run. Fat Ham was an underdog in the Tony competition not surprising for Philly especially in the major categories, where Broadway legend Tom Stoppards Leopoldstadt, which follows the tragic journey of a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna before, during, and after the Holocaust, was favored to win. Ahead of the awards ceremony, there was a lot of buzz for the possibility of a Fat Ham upset for best play, but Tony voters opted for Stoppard over Ijames. Advertisement Fat Ham came in with five nominations: Best play, best direction of a play, best featured actress in a play, best lighting design for a play, and best costume design for a play. In lighting design, Bradley King lost to Life of Pis Tim Lutkin. In costume design, Dominique Fawn Hill lost to Leopoldstadts Brigitte Reiffenstuel. Nikki Crawford, who played the protagonist Juicys mother, Tedra, on Broadway, lost the acting Tony to Miriam Silverman of Lorraine Hansberrys The Sign in Sidney Brunsteins Window. Fat Ham director Saheem Ali lost the Tony for best direction of a play to Leopoldstadts Patrick Marber. Despite the losses, Fat Ham will be staged across the country next season, including in Philadelphia finally! The premiere was a filmed production during the pandemic, so this will be the first time Philly audiences can see the show at a local theater. It will run at the Wilma Nov. 24 through Dec. 17. Another Tony nominee we kept our eyes on was Margate native Micaela Diamond, who costars in Parade with Ben Platt. Diamond was nominated for leading actress in a musical but lost to Victoria Clark of Kimberly Akimbo. Diamond and Platt performed the musicals This Is Not Over Yet on stage. Though Diamond didnt snag the actress award, Parade won both best revival and best direction of a musical. Note: Chef Elise Black resigned shortly after the restaurants opening. College buddies Fred Beebe and Gabe Guerrero are in the opening days of Post Haste, their chill Kensington cocktail bar with an ambitious mission. Sustainability is the key. Everything, from the bar fixings, wines, beers, and spirits, to chef Elise Blacks food, is sourced from the Eastern United States, and 95% of furniture and design details were repurposed or recycled. In fact, even the barroom itself was upcycled; several years ago, a previous owner transformed an old-time shot-and-a-beer at 2519 Frankford Ave. into a stylish bar called Ward 31 that may or may not have ever opened. Beebe and Guerrero kept the homey look, including a fireplace. Post Haste has 70 seats and 16 at the bar. Advertisement Black, last a sous chef at Fork (and previously chef de partie at Fiorella and sous chef at Royal Boucherie), is going with lots of vegetarian (and vegan-izable) dishes, such as vignole and heirloom polenta with asparagus, snap peas, English peas, and caramelized green garlic; rich, colorful radish rillettes; and a clever cutlet sliced cabbage, panfried and served with honey dijonnaise. Theres also chicken liver mousse atop a Belgian waffle, dayboat scallop crudo, and oysters. The menu is here. Beebe, whose past includes Momofuku Ssam, Sunday in Brooklyn, and Guerrero, formerly with Starr at The Dandelion and El Vez, had the idea for something like Post Haste about 20 years ago when they met at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. They ran a small on-campus eatery together that was 95% local and 98% organic, Beebe said. As they moved on with their careers, the restaurant industry moved toward sustainability and intentional sourcing. Bars? Not so much. A lot of the kitchens focus on it, like Were using these fresh tomatoes from Farmer Jerrys right down the road, Beebe said. And then, what do you order from the bar? You order something with rum from the islands, sugar from it just shows up Domino. Who knows? They do. They are mindful of everything that goes into the cocktails. The ginger, for example, comes from farmer Zuohong Ed Yin of Queens Farm in Chester County, whom they met at Head House Farmers Market. The limes and other citrus come from Bhumi Growers in Bordentown. In developing this concept, we wanted to go by Slow Food rules, which is within 150 miles, Guerrero said. But theres a lot of fun stuff thats like 200 miles. And then we started thinking about liquor, and I was like, Oh, theres a lot of Pennsylvania liquor, Beebe said. But do you know how far Pittsburgh is? As he considered wines from the Finger Lakes and whiskey from Kentucky, the borders stretched. They decided to source everything served from the kitchen and the bar from east of the Mississippi. (Wait. How about sugar? There is a beet-sugar cooperative in the Midwest.) Blacks kitchen and Beebes bar are working closely. The asparagus tips and ends from the roast asparagus dish will create an umami infusion for a drink. The unused part of strawberries become a syrup. The cocktail menu includes riffs on classics such as a Cosmo called All The Cosmos that uses Pine Barrens cranberry, kumquat superjuice, lemongrass syrup, with Hidden Still Vodka and Faccia Brutto Aperitivo. There are also more experimental drinks like Sippin the Tea, inspired by a Thai iced tea, which has Charleston black tea, condensed oat milk with Appalachian allspice, cardamom leaves, pandan, turmeric, Penn 1681 Vodka, and Lockhouse Amaro. The menu also has zero-proof selections. Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Many Philadelphia households living close to the federal poverty level have a window unit but most worry about paying the bills associated with running it. Read more As wildfire smoke from Canada polluted the air around Philadelphia last week, officials asked residents to stay indoors to protect their health. Even in the fairly nice spring weather, staying indoors can become uncomfortable for people who cant afford to run their air-conditioning unit all day. But during a heat wave, it can become an unhealthy danger and even deadly. A new report suggests that a large number of low-income Philadelphians worry about paying the bills to keep their homes cool during the summer months. One recommended solution: expanding an energy assistance grant program that Pennsylvania currently opens only in the winter. The problem may affect more people as climate change makes the summers hotter in a city where some low-income neighborhoods are hot spots. READ MORE: Two heat-related deaths reported in Philly as extreme temperatures are set to end (Published 2022) Advertisement The report includes the survey responses of 113 residents in low-income neighborhoods of North and West Philadelphia, who were asked between November 2022 and April 2023 about their summer energy use. Esperanza, a faith-based organization serving North Philadelphias Hispanic community, and Community Legal Services, a legal aid agency, carried out the survey. The survey shows that nearly all respondents had an air-conditioning unit most commonly a window unit. Still, three out of four residents responding said they cannot afford their energy bills in the summer. Nearly all said that they limit the use of the AC to keep costs down. In community listening sessions, residents said that they had to choose which bill to pay in the summer months. Some people were going without food to pay for their energy bills to cool their houses, said Jamile Tellez Lieberman, Esperanzas senior vice president for community engagement, research, and health equity. Esperanzas work is centered around Hunting Park, one of the citys hottest neighborhoods, where the median household income is $27,000. Half of the neighborhoods residents are Black and 42% are Hispanic. Summer heat can be uncomfortable without air-conditioning, but heat only becomes a health problem during periods of excessively high temperatures, known as heat waves. Conditions can become especially worrisome in heat islands, or urban areas with higher daytime temperatures that do not cool off much at night. The burden of cooling bills during the summer months worries Tellez Lieberman, especially when it comes to vulnerable populations like seniors. READ MORE: How Phillys heat emergency poses medical risks (Published 2022) During extremely hot weather when temperatures climb above 95 degrees Fahrenheit for three consecutive days the city will open cooling centers. But for many seniors and people with disabilities, that is not an accessible solution. Its not feasible to expect them to come out and jump on a bus that has air-conditioning or go down to the public library, which by the way we dont have one up here, Tellez Lieberman said. Every year, about 700 people die of heat-related illnesses in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Assistance only in heating The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, provides cash grants using federal dollars to assist households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level with their heating and cooling bills. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services disbursed $300 to $1,000 grants in the winter months. Pennsylvania is unique among its neighbors, because it doesnt have a cooling program, said Lydia Gottesfeld, managing attorney of the CLS health and independence unit. The CLS and Esperanza report includes a call to action for the state to extend LIHEAP to the summer months. Currently, at least 30 states accept applications for assistance in both winter and summer. READ MORE: Hefty heating bills leave some Philadelphians aghast The nonprofit advocacy groups also want the Department of Human Services to streamline its application process and improve information about LIHEAP in languages other than English. The state currently receives about $200 million a year from the federal government for LIHEAP, according to the report. New Jersey, New York, and Ohio are among the states that supplement the federal funding, Gottesfeld said, so people can still access the support during hot summer months. Pennsylvania historically did not, though the General Assembly has sometimes provided funds on a temporary basis. Police surrounded Rickia Young's vehicle, bashing the windows and pulling her from the driver's seat during civil unrest after the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. in October 2020. Read more A Philadelphia judge on Monday found a former city police officer not guilty on all charges in connection with the beating of a 28-year-old mother during civil unrest in October 2020 an incident that attracted national attention when a group of officers pulled the woman from her car and separated her from her toddler for several hours. Municipal Court Judge Francis W. McCloskey Jr. said at the conclusion of a one-day bench trial that prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to show that then-Officer Darren Kardos struck Rickia Young during the chaotic incident. The episode was captured on video, which was played for the judge, but it also involved scores of other officers who were never charged, and Young did not testify something the judge said was a significant hurdle in proving that Kardos hit her, or acted in a manner that amounted to a crime. There is no on-scene identifying witness, McCloskey said in describing why he cleared Kardos of charges including simple assault and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors had argued that Kardos crossed the line as he and the other officers sought to regain control of the area around 52nd and Chestnut Streets on Oct. 27, 2020. Protests had erupted there hours after other officers nearby fatally shot 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man who relatives said was experiencing a mental health crisis and had lunged toward police while wielding a knife. Advertisement Assistant District Attorney Joshua Barnett acknowledged that those demonstrations had become dangerous, with some people looting stores or throwing bricks and trash at police. A sergeant was also injured after being run over by a car. Still, Barnett said, that doesnt justify the defendant going crazy on [Youngs] car, which officers encountered while it was stationary. Barnett said Kardos had turned Young into a target even though she did nothing to warrant being pulled from the vehicle or beaten. Kardos attorney, Coley O. Reynolds, however, said none of the videos prosecutors presented showed Kardos striking Young with his baton. And even if they had, he said, prosecutors did not prove that Kardos actions were criminal, given the dangerous conditions officers were facing on the street. It is clear that the actions of Officer Kardos were reasonable, Reynolds said. Kardos declined to comment afterward, but Reynolds said the verdict had vindicated him. Were just really happy, Reynolds said, adding that Kardos, who was fired over the incident, would now seek to get his job back. The District Attorneys Office declined to comment after the verdict. Attempts to reach Young for comment Monday were not successful. One of her attorneys, Riley H. Ross III, called the verdict disappointing. Kardos was the only officer to face charges over the beating of Young, who said she was driving to pick up her teenage nephew around 2 a.m. when she inadvertently got caught between police and people protesting in the area. After officers pulled her from her car, they separated Young from her toddler, a decision that drew widespread criticism. Young said she was badly bruised in the incident and her 2-year-old was traumatized. Her 16-year-old nephew, who was also in the car, suffered injuries to his hand, she said. The city later agreed to pay her $2 million after negotiating with her lawyers. Young also sued the National Fraternal Order of Police, which, days after the episode, posted a picture on social media of officers holding her 2-year-old boy with a caption that said in part: This child was lost during the violent riots in Philadelphia. The posts were later deleted over what the union called conflicting accounts of the circumstances. The incident happened hours after officers shot Wallace in West Philadelphia. As police responded to swelling unrest, a group of officers encountered Youngs SUV on Chestnut Street. Video showed them surrounding the car, bashing in the windows, pulling Young and a passenger out of the vehicle, appearing to striking them, and then removing a 2-year-old from the backseat. Prosecutors said Kardos used his metal baton to bash in Youngs windows, and then pulled her out of the car by her hair, after which officers struck her with fists and batons. Young said she had been driving to pick up her nephew at a friends house when she encountered a police barricade. After being pulled from her car and beaten, she said, she was detained in a police van, driven to Police Headquarters, then taken to the hospital and handcuffed to the bed. She was never charged. Her toddler, meanwhile, was found by her mother hours later with police in a cruiser near the Department of Human Services offices in Center City. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said afterward that the officers involved had terrorized Young, and Mayor Jim Kenney called the officers actions absolutely appalling. But several of Kardos former colleagues who testified at Mondays trial said the situation they encountered on the street that night was extremely tense and dangerous, and several said they were worried that people might seek to drive cars through crowds of police. They said they approached Youngs SUV shortly after a pickup truck had sped through a crowd of police, only narrowly avoiding a collision with people on the street. Despite the fact that several officers were called to testify against Kardos, many filled the courtroom as the verdict was read. Shortly after McCloskey issued his decision, some of them applauded and cheered, drawing a quick rebuke from the judge. A view of the collapsed portion of I-95 near the Cottman Avenue exit in Northeast Philadelphia on Sunday. Read more An elevated section of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia collapsed early Sunday after a tanker truck carrying gasoline burst into flames beneath it, severing the main expressway on the East Coast and causing travel chaos in the region that will be felt for some time. Four northbound lanes fell onto Cottman Avenue in the citys Tacony neighborhood after steel girders supporting the roadway were weakened in the searing fire, officials said. The interstate was closed in both directions between Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Avenue. Standing within view of the collapsed and charred section of roadway Sunday night, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would issue a disaster declaration Monday morning, a step that will allow Pennsylvania to receive federal aid. Remarkable devastation, Shapiro said, describing his view of the scene from a helicopter. I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died. Advertisement Both he and Mayor Jim Kenney spoke to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who personally assured them that we will have the resources we need, Shapiro said. READ MORE: What commuters can do after the I-95 shutdown Nobody thought it would be easy. Officials predicted it would take months for a complete repair. And at least for awhile, commuting in and around the city could be a world of pain, they said, though in the hybrid-work era Mondays and Fridays tend to have lighter traffic. Oh Christ, its going to be a mess. This traffics going to kill the summer, said Michael McFadden, who lives a few blocks away in Tacony and walked up to the scene with his wife, Lisa, to see what they could see. PennDot is recommending detours, and SEPTA planned to initially add cars to some already scheduled Regional Rail trains, and to suspend parking fees at stations and is preparing for more riders on the Market-Frankford Line and bus routes. Leslie S. Richards, CEO of the transit agency, asked for patience: It is going to take longer than normal to get to work tomorrow. The Philadelphia Fire Department said it responded to the blaze beneath I-95 about 6:30 a.m. Sunday; crews declared it under control at 7:30 a.m. Authorities have not determined what caused the truck to catch fire and have disclosed no information on the driver. No injuries or deaths have been reported, though Kenney said Sunday night we understand the situation remains fluid. Shapiro said at least one vehicle remained trapped in the rubble. Were still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire, he said. The fire called to mind the conflagration of March 1996, when an illegal tire dump under I-95 caught fire, melting guard rails and buckling the pavement. The highway was closed for several weeks and partial closures lasted for six months. Seven teenagers were charged with arson and the dumps owner was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay $3 million toward repairs. Late Sunday afternoon, the National Transportation Safety Board announced it was sending a team to investigate the gasoline tanker fire and I-95 collapse, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police. Fire caused 30 U.S. bridge failures from 1980 to 2012 roughly one per year according to an analysis by University of Buffalo engineers. Of the 30 bridges that failed due to fire, 13 were made of steel, like the one that collapsed Sunday on I-95. Concrete bridges tend to be more fire-resistant, but they are not immune, and accounted for five of those 30 failures. (The rest were wood.) The tanker had a capacity of 8,500 gallons, but it was not immediately clear how full it was when it caught fire and spilled its cargo, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Most of the gasoline remained on land, Coast Guard officials said, but a slight sheen was visible on the nearby Delaware River, and the agency deployed floating booms. Neighbors from the blocks around the fire gathered at the police line on Cottman Avenue to get a glimpse of the scene. Dawn Heller, who lives nearby, walked down after getting an alert on her Citizen app. I couldnt understand what happened I had to come see for myself, she said. Sierra Jones woke up to a barrage of text messages from friends asking if she was OK and then heard several muffled explosions. (Some people reported seeing manhole covers flying up in the air.) Its mind-blowing, Jones said. Jones uses I-95 to get to her job as a massage therapist in Yardley and is unsure how shell do that now she expects that traffic will clog her neighborhood like never before as people take alternate routes while the highway is closed. I guess Ill just take the train, she said. City health officials said that the tanker truck fire had no impact on air quality, surely a relief after a week of hazardous smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the city. The Water Department said that the gasoline spill had no effect on the citys drinking water. The 103-foot section of elevated roadway was not on the states list of bridges with structural concerns, said Brad Rudolph, a spokesperson for PennDot. It had been upgraded within the last 10 years as part of the massive 95 Revive reconstruction of the interstate, he said. The agencys engineers believe the southbound section opposite the collapsed piece was compromised in the fire and is not structurally sound to carry cars, Shapiro said. PennDot officials are looking at temporary solutions that would link I-95 together again in a few weeks while the sections are being repaired and rebuilt, he added. Exposed steel girders like those that supported the collapsed I-95 bridge are more susceptible to heat than if they had been made from steel-reinforced concrete, said Amir Farnam, an associate professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at Drexel University. Steel melts at temperatures above 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the alloy used, but the metal starts to fail at temperatures well below that, Farnam said it loses about 20% of its strength at 750 degrees, and about half of its strength at 1,000 degrees. When you have a fire like this, the yield strength of the steel decreases drastically, and it fails, Farnam said. That doesnt mean the bridge had a design flaw, he said. Given the tight space constraints, steel girders likely were the appropriate design choice, he said. Concrete is usually used to sheath steel in buildings for fireproofing. Staff writers Rob Tornoe and Nick Vadala contributed to this report. Henry, a Marine in Combined Action Program CAP 3-3-6, pictured here in Vietnam. For more than 50 years, John Suzadail has been trying to find this Marine, who saved his life. Read more Sometimes John Suzadail daydreams that he has already found Henry. Henrys wife opens the door and directs him to a bar down the street. There he is bartending, or sitting with a drink. Its been 53 years; both men are in their 70s now, creaky with pain from the war and old age. You remember me? Suzadail asks. In the apparition, he hugs Henry, tears running down his cheeks. Then the daydream dissolves, and Suzadail, 73, is still searching for the man who saved his life. Henry was the only Black Marine in an otherwise mostly white unit, Suzadail said, and the first Black person with whom he ever interacted. (Suzadail grew up in a small, mostly white town in Tamaqua, 90 miles north of Philly, where he still lives today.) Advertisement The two served together in Vietnam, in Combined Action Program CAP 3-3-6, stationed with about seven other Marines in the bush near the village of Tam Bao. They spent much of their time crawling through underbrush, on land honeycombed with enemy bunkers, according to an on-the-ground report that Suzadails mother clipped from the local paper. The unit bathed only when the men found a stream they could dip their helmets into, Suzadail said; if they immersed themselves fully in water, the leeches would swarm. During the short three and a half months Suzadail was with the unit as a medic, he didnt get to know Henry well he doesnt even know his last name. The only thing he thinks he remembers is that he was from the Philly area, and even that he cant say for sure. He believes Henry was just about his age. Because of Suzadails post-traumatic stress disorder, much of the details of his time in Vietnam are lost to him, except for strikingly vivid memories of the day he was wounded. That was May 15, 1970. Suzadail, Henry, and the others set out to uncover a Viet Cong bunker they had spotted several weeks earlier. It was a misty day, cooler than usual; Suzadail offered to walk point, leading the patrol, because he knew where the bunker was. He traded with a Marine already in the lead, Steven Merrell, and began to scan the woods for danger. Then he felt a tug at his leg. He had tripped a wire connected to a grenade. I went to scream and it went off, Suzadail said. The blast lifted him toward the sky; his legs felt like balloons. He spotted two Viet Cong soldiers in the forest and thought he saw a bullet tear toward him. Then Henry scrambled to his side. Henry, along with a South Vietnamese soldier who had been working with the unit, knelt beside Suzadail and patched him as quickly as he could, Suzadail said. The two rushed him to a medical evacuation helicopter, screaming along the way that Merrell had fallen and couldnt be revived. They lifted Suzadail into the helicopter, placing Merrells corpse beside him. Rapidly losing blood, Suzadail began to go into shock. In his dreams he often finds himself back on that helicopter, checking in vain for Merrells pulse, the door open and the chopper tipping sideways. For years I blamed his death on me, he said of Merrell. They had switched places just 5 minutes earlier. The last time Suzadail saw Henry was when he lifted him into the helicopter. In the decades since returning home, Suzadail married and got a job at the post office, where he worked for 24 years. The VA diagnosed him with PTSD (They gave me a psychiatric test and I flunked it royal, he said) and he has gone to group therapy and reconnected with some of the other men he served with. Through them he tracked down two photos of Henry in Vietnam, one of him shirtless, bent over a tin can for cooking; the other of him in T-shirt and cap, mouth slightly open in surprise. Over the years Suzadail has scoured casualty lists and Vietnam buddy finder sites, and visited comrades graves in Idaho and Mississippi. Still, he hasnt found Henry. A spokeswoman for the Marine Corps told The Inquirer it would be extremely difficult to locate Henry without a last name, since the Marines archives are not organized by unit. Unsure where else to turn, Suzadail posted two photos of Henry on Facebook eight years ago. Every May he reposts, hoping for new leads. Been trying to find this Marine for a long time, he wrote. If you know Henry please contact me. Finding Henry wouldnt exactly bring closure, or even relief as Suzadail has gotten older, the pain in his legs has intensified; its a rare day when he doesnt think of Vietnam now. But he wants to submit Henrys information for a combat award. I want to thank him, Suzadail said. I never got to thank him. If you know who Henry might be, please write to zgreenberg@inquirer.com. Sen. John Fetterman questions Jared Bernstein, nominated to be chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, during a confirmation hearing by the Senate Committee of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at the U.S. Capitol in April. Read more For once, the optimists were right. After all the doomsaying about America defaulting on its debt and plunging the world into depression, after all the dubiously legal, one weird trick ideas to avoid it, we solved it in the same way we always have: by Congress and the president compromising on legislation and getting it passed. In the end, serious people on both sides of the aisle stood firm where they could, bent a little where they had to, and struck a deal. The far-right of the Republican caucus didnt like it, and neither did the far-left of the Democratic Party, but there in the squishy middle we found enough responsible men and women to keep the country going. Neither partys leader got everything he wanted, but in the end, Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden both got what they could live with. They put the country above their own vision of what a perfect bill would look like and maintained Americas credit and with it, the financial stability of the world economy. The system worked. Advertisement Plenty of people in political office still oppose the deal. From the right, Texas Rep. Chip Roy one of the members who opposed McCarthys speakership bid in January said that not one Republican should vote for this deal not one. And from the left, California Rep. Ro Khanna said the agreement is not a deal that upholds progressive values. It increases spending for defense and limits the pot of money for everything else. The my-way-or-the-highway caucus has Democrats and Republicans in it, but thankfully not enough to sink the entire economy. READ MORE: Debt ceiling deal is a hollow victory | Editorial The compromise bill passed by comfortable margins, but got a thumbs-down from 46 Democrats and 71 Republicans in the House. Four Democrats joined 31 Republicans in the Senate to vote against it as well. The divide between Pennsylvanias senators, in particular, shows the split between one Democrat who will compromise for the greater good and one who would let it all burn rather than moderate his principles. Sen. Bob Casey followed the lead of Biden and his party leadership in voting to pass the bill. Thats not too surprising: Without ever deviating very far from the partys mainstream, Caseys temperament over the years has made him appear moderate, and in this case, voting for the debt ceiling bill was both the centrist thing to do and the thing Democratic Party leaders wanted. This bipartisan bill protects Pennsylvanians jobs and hard-earned savings, and the full faith and credit of the United States, Casey said. American families pay their bills and so should their government. On the other hand, we have Sen. John Fetterman, who joined the three other irreconcilable Dems in voting down the measure. Why go against a president of his own party? In a statement, Fetterman explained his objection stemmed from new restrictions on food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), added by Republicans who wished to reduce deficit spending. I did not agree to these SNAP restrictions, and I wont give Republicans an opening to try and take food from more food insecure Americans in Farm Bill negotiations later this year, Fetterman said. The SNAP restrictions in question gradually raised the maximum age for work requirements so that childless adults between ages 50 and 54 who are not homeless or veterans would now have to work or be in job training for 20 hours a week in order to receive food assistance, just as those under 50 currently do. Fetterman, 53, thinks people his age shouldnt have to work at all for their benefits: Fine, but is it worth bankrupting a nation? And it isnt even a real objection Fetterman said that if his vote mattered for final passage of the bill, he would have been for it. His performance was purely theatrical. Here we see the difference between a workhorse and a show horse. Show horses go on TV and attract fanatical followings. We all know what a show horse in Congress is theyre most of the members weve heard of because they spend their time in front of a camera: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Fetterman on the left, Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz on the right. They dont accomplish much because theyre not interested in building a coalition or working with others. Since these extreme voices are often showcased by the media, ordinary voters believe that the country is much worse off than it actually is. Its easy to stand on principle when you rely on others to get the hard work done. Those others, whose names are less well known to cable news viewers, also arrive in Washington with principles. (No one runs for office thinking, I cant wait to compromise!) But most know that in our system of government where the House, the Senate, and the president must agree before a law is passed getting some part of what you and your constituents want is worth giving way on something else. Its easy to stand on principle when you rely on others to get the hard work done. Being a workhorse is more difficult, but starting with principle, moving to compromise, and getting something done is what most Americans want from our elected leaders. This debt ceiling deal is a pleasant reminder that not everyone in Congress is a bomb-throwing camera hog. Some of them, thankfully, want to make things work. An excavator removes debris Monday from the site of the collapsed portion of I-95 on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. Repairing the highway is expected to take months. Read more Add the I-95 bridge collapse to the string of disasters that have shaken the region, coming just days after smoke from Canadian wildfires made for unsafe air quality and the chemical spill in March that prompted a warning that sent residents scrambling for bottled water. On Sunday, a tanker truck carrying gasoline burst into flames beneath an elevated section of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia. The fire melted the steel girders supporting the roadway, prompting four northbound lanes to fall onto Cottman Avenue and forcing the interstate to close in both directions between Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Avenue. The accident caused traffic jams and delays that could continue all summer. Gov. Josh Shapiro said it was likely to take some number of months to fully repair the collapsed structure. He added that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials are exploring temporary solutions to reconnect I-95 within a few weeks. READ MORE: The I-95 bridge was not designed to withstand fire. Few bridges are. Advertisement Investigators determined the southbound bridge will need to be demolished. Crews planned to begin work on that Monday and work around the clock. That is a good start. This is a dire crisis that demands daily leadership and teamwork to ensure an expedited and safe rebuilding. Indeed, other countries have shown it can be done. While every project is different, China replaced a section of a bridge overpass in 43 hours back in 2015. Last year, India built a 46-mile stretch of road in five days. Closer to home, a part of Interstate 85 in Atlanta collapsed because of a fire in 2017. Crews completed the repairs in 44 days. So mountains can be moved and quickly. It was a welcome sign to see city, state, and federal leaders working together after the collapse. Shapiro issued a disaster declaration for the ruined section of I-95 that will allow the state to access federal funds for repairs. U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle spoke with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and representatives from the Biden administration and toured the accident scene with the head of the Federal Highway Administration. Boyle planned to explore legislative routes to ensure there is enough funding. The Philadelphia-area representative struck the right tone when he said, Weve gotta get it fixed as soon as humanly possible. Thats exactly what residents who are often frustrated by the inability of government to act want to hear. That same sense of urgency is needed to see the repairs through quickly and safely. READ MORE: What commuters can do after the I-95 shutdown I-95 is a major transportation artery for the region and the Northeast corridor. Around 160,000 vehicles travel the highway each day, making it one of the busiest roads in the commonwealth, according to Mike Carroll, Pennsylvanias transportation secretary. The highway closure disrupted many morning commutes. SEPTA added train cars to the Trenton, West Trenton, and Fox Chase Regional Rail lines to handle additional riders; the transit agency also allowed free parking at the Frankford Transportation Center, Fern Rock, Fox Chase, and Torresdale. This is an opportunity for SEPTA to win over customers by providing safe, clean, and friendly service. It is also a reminder of how a Roosevelt Boulevard subway could provide a better transportation solution for many residents in the Northeast. For now, the focus must be on swiftly restoring I-95. This is an opportunity for the Biden, Shapiro, and Kenney administrations to show they can work together to get things done pronto. Gov. Josh Shapiro arrives for a press conference with other officials near the collapsed section of I-95 in Philadelphia on Sunday. Read more HARRISBURG Pennsylvania lawmakers are already negotiating a deal to extend Gov. Josh Shapiros emergency declaration over I-95 bridge collapse in Northeast Philadelphia. Governor-issued declarations expire in 21 days, but both sides of the I-95 corridor will need significant repairs, said State Rep. Ed Neilson (D., Philadelphia), who chairs the House Transportation committee. That would be our part: To make certain the governors declaration does not expire, Neilson said after a committee meeting in Harrisburg on Monday. Shapiro issued the disaster declaration just before noon on Monday so the state could begin accessing federal funds. The move also made $7 million of state funds immediately available for reconstruction of the I-95 bridge. Emergency declarations are necessary so the state can access emergency funding from the state and federal governments. But a constitutional amendment requires the state House and Senate to approve concurrent resolutions to continue any emergency declaration and, thus, access to emergency funds. Pennsylvania voters in 2021 approved the change to the state constitution, which mandates legislative approval to extend any emergency declarations after 21 days, following former Gov. Tom Wolfs business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Now lawmakers are required to approve and issue an extension every 21 days for any governor-issued emergency declaration. State lawmakers will break for summer recess next month, and wont return to legislating until early fall well past the 21-day expiration date. Neilson said Democratic and Republican legislative leaders are negotiating what an extension will look like, and the length of that extension. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) said he was unaware of any conversations about extending the declaration, but said he would be open to Shapiros recommendation. This is why we have emergency declarations, Pittman said. Senate and House Republicans were critical of Wolfs usage of the COVID-19 emergency declaration as going against the intended purpose of a disaster declaration, allowing him to act without legislative oversight. He vetoed several bills whenever the General Assembly tried to change Wolfs restrictions. Lawmakers then passed the constitutional amendment so he could no override their efforts. In a new release, Suncorp group chief executive Steve Johnston said: Our response outlines why we continue to believe there to be no real commercial likelihood of any alternative transaction such as a merger with any other mid-tier bank, and why the proposed transaction with ANZ is in the best interests of our customers, shareholders, employees, and communities. I think everyone in this room has probably experienced rate increase in their property rates over time, Yaworsky said during the hearing. It is not fun. It is painful. Its not fun to approve those rates, but weve all had to make the best decisions we can as we go forward. PWSC has been a trusted name in homebuilder warranties since the mid-1990s, and I'm proud of the work we've done in the past few years to continue that tradition, Gordy said. We've maintained our core values and expertise while modernizing our approach and minimizing risk for our customers. Paul has been instrumental in everything we've done, so I have full confidence that the company is in excellent hands. Negotiating with cybercriminals Demands may be increasing in size, but, according to Crocker, this can be a negotiation tactic from malicious actors; by going in with a $1 million price tag, they may be looking to knock this down substantially, for example to $500,000, and in doing so obtain more funds than had they gone in with a lower figure. If the bottle is made out of stainless steel, theres the potential that an employee in the factory may cut themselves on the raw material during the manufacturing process. If you have to put those products on a truck for transport, there is a chance that it may get involved in a fender bender. When it comes to attracting and retaining members of Generation Z, theres one thing I wish insurers knew: Theyre selling themselves and their industry way too short. Too often, people say they fell into insurance. Not only does this paint a negative picture of the industry, it also misrepresents the truth. Today, college students are choosing a career in insurance and theyre doing it enthusiastically. A graduating senior at St. Marys University studying finance and risk management, I am one of those next generation workers. Students often take one of three paths toward an insurance career. Some follow family members into the industry. Others hear about an open role in insurance and apply at the last minute. The third group learns about insurance through industry organizations and decides to pursue a career in the field. I was in the latter group. When I started at St. Marys, I wasnt sure what I wanted to study. But I already knew the insurance industry had a good reputation, with quality people, job security and upward mobility. Later, I learned about the St. Marys chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the organization dedicated to promoting student interest in insurance and risk management. I was so inspired by what I learned that, within three days, I declared finance and risk management as my major and I never looked back. My connections with Gamma Iota Sigma now run deep, and I have been proud to serve two years as president of the St. Marys chapter. What Gen Z Expects There are many stories about what Gen Z and Millennials want from employers and these stories range from spot-on to way off the mark. Its true Gen Z wants to work for companies that give back. We care deeply about leaving a positive impact on society, and organizations that clearly demonstrate their commitment to worthwhile causes draw our attention and interest. Yet, we want to know that our contributions matter and will be rewarded. We also dont want to stop learning when we leave the classroom, and want to continually challenge ourselves intellectually. We want to have roles that grow with that knowledge. Few members of Gen Z want to be siloed into one role for our entire career. Instead, we want to apply our skillsets across a broad range of settings, and were drawn to companies that allow us to do so. We also crave well-rounded work experiences. Its not true that we never want to go into the office or that we prefer to work remotely. While we value the flexibility of a hybrid work environment, we also have a deep desire for in-person mentorship and training. Thats why I urge managers, mentors and even executives to prioritize spending at least some time in the office working with and teaching the next generation of talent. Well all benefit if you do so. How to Recruit Gen Z In my view, successful recruitment starts when company representatives arrive on campus and support school events and programming before, during and after recruitment season. This helps build a rapport with students that companies can leverage to attract new talent. And the industry needs to recruit more talent than just those who have already expressed interest or are studying insurance or risk management. If we can help students see insurance careers as meaningful, lucrative, stable, and purpose-driven, we will see a greater excitement and success in bringing them to the industry. I also encourage firms to partner with organizations like Gamma Iota Sigma. Companies who consistently attended Gamma Iota Sigma conferences were those I recognized most as a student, prompting me to apply with them. Ive heard other students say the same. One of the defining characteristics of my generation is its resiliency. We had a front-row seat to the Great Recession. We went to school, virtually and in person, during a global pandemic. In the face of these unprecedented challenges, weve adapted, and we will remain resilient in the workplace. While many of us dont know what our long-term career path will hold me included we share a desire to define our careers by the people well help and the causes well support. The more opportunities insurance organizations give us to do that, the more satisfied well be with a career in insurance. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Two apologetic lawyers responding to an angry judge in Manhattan federal court blamed ChatGPT last 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. Fake Cases 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he will issue a disaster declaration after a portion of heavily traveled Interstate 95 in Philadelphia collapsed on Sunday morning due to an apparent tanker truck fire. Shapiro said the declaration will allow the state to gain immediate access to federal funds and move quickly to begin the repair and reconstruction process, which he said could take a number of months. Preliminary reports indicate a commercial truck carrying a petroleum-based product was the source of the fire, Shapiro said. The vehicle fire occurred on a ramp under I-95 in northeast Philadelphia and caused a portion of the northside highway to completely collapse. It also compromised the integrity of the southbound side such that it is not structurally sound to carry any traffic, the state reported. The interstate is closed in both directions. Interstate 95 is a critical artery that supports our economy and plays an important role in Pennsylvanians day to day lives. My Administration is all hands on deck to repair this safely and as efficiently as possible, said Shapiro. We will rebuild and recover and in the meantime, we will make sure people can get to where they need to go safely. State and city officials have created detours and are working on a umber of alternative routes and methods to ensure drivers can safely get to where they need to go. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SSPTA), the areas public transit agency, said it is adding additional capacity and service on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Lines. Additional trains were added to the Trenton line in time for Mondays commute. U.S. Transportation Secretary Peter Buttigieg said he has been in touch with Shapiro to offer federal assistance. Topics Pennsylvania A Guyana Appellate Court judge on Thursday temporarily stayed a lower courts order requiring Exxon Mobil Guyana and partners in offshore oil production to provide an unlimited guarantee to cover potential oil spills. The stay lifts a cloud over oil production at the nations first offshore oil platform. Exxon had said that if the stay was not granted it could halt output at the facility, costing the partners on the project $350 million per month in lost revenue. The judge said the group, which includes Hess Corp. and Chinas CNOOC, must provide a $2 billion guarantee in 10 days, or else his stay would be lifted. Exxon recently agreed to provide the $2 billion in affiliate guarantees for the offshore operation that goes beyond the original environmental liability coverage, it told the court. Justice Rishi Persaud said during the hearing that a damning picture of revenue loss and devastating consequences in the event of a permit suspension had led him to grant the stay. A lower court had found in a case brought by residents that the consortium was in breach of insurance obligations for its first offshore oil project. Exxon and the nations government which receives royalties from the project and a share of profits appealed that ruling, arguing there was sufficient protection. The company welcomed the decision, which a spokesperson said was in the interest of all parties involved. It is a matter of national significance, particularly for thousands of Guyanese workers and hundreds of local businesses who rely on the oil and gas industry, the spokesperson said. An attorney for the nations Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which opposed the lower courts finding that Exxon breached its permit requirement, welcomed the stay. The agency will seek a full hearing before the appeals court to have the initial ruling dismissed, he said. The concept of an unlimited guarantee is one that is oppressive and, in my humble view, unlawful, Sanjeev Datadin told Reuters. Related: (Reporting by Kiana Wilburg, additional reporting by Sabrina Valle; Editing by Marianna Parraga and Jan Harvey) Topics Energy Oil Gas Russia is still not satisfied with how a Black Sea grain deal is being implemented, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Saturday after meeting senior U.N. trade officials a day earlier, the TASS news agency reported. Russia has threatened to walk away from the grain deal on July 17 if demands to improve its own food and fertilizer exports are not met. The deal, struck in July last year, facilitates the safe navigation of grain, foodstuffs and fertilizers including ammonia for export to global markets. We cannot be satisfied with how this memorandum is being implemented, Vershinin was quoted as saying. Barriers to our exports remain. Ukraine, Russia Sign Deal to Reopen Grain Export Ports While War Continues to Rage Russia agreed to a two-month extension of the deal last month but has said the initiative will cease unless an agreement aimed at overcoming obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer exports is fulfilled. The demands set out 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. Transit of ammonia, an important part of nitrogen-based fertilizers, was halted via the pipeline after Russia sent its troops to Ukraine last year. Russias demands to improve its grain and fertilizer exports include the reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT international payment system. While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments. Russias foreign ministry said in a statement that U.N. representatives attention was drawn to obstacles facing Russian agricultural producers and suppliers. (They) are still forced to overcome numerous restrictions and barriers provoked by illegal anti-Russian sanctions associated with bank payments, delivery and insurance of goods, on their own and at high costs, which negatively affects prices and physical availability of goods, it said. Russias ambassador to Turkey said on Friday that despite ongoing consultations with the United Nations on the grain deal, there are no grounds to extend it, the RIA news agency reported. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Helen Popper and Andrew Cawthorne) Photograph: A boat with Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. officials heads to the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, to check if the grain shipment is in accordance with a crucial agreement signed in July 2022 by Moscow and Kyiv, at an inspection area in the Black Sea off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Topics Russia ST. LOUIS (AP) The Archdiocese of St. Louis will pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was sexually abused as a child by a priest who previously spent 12 years in prison for abusing another boy, an attorney for the victim said Friday. The plaintiff was an altar boy at Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Missouri. The suit alleged he was abused by the Rev. Gary Wolken starting in 1993, when the boy was in fourth grade, and continuing through 1995. The lawsuit said the plaintiff repressed memories until he was an adult. The mans lawsuit, which did not use his name, was filed in 2018. His attorney, Rebecca Randles, said the settlement was reached this week. We applaud our client who has been very brave in facing down the Archdiocese of St. Louis in a case that was very hard-fought and difficult from an emotional and legal standpoint, Randles said. The archdiocese didnt immediately respond to messages Friday but said in a statement to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it hopes the settlement provides some comfort for the victim and his family. We continue to pray for all victims of sexual abuse, that they may find comfort and healing. Please keep all those who are exploited in your prayers, especially children and vulnerable adults, the statement read. Wolken is now 57. He was sentenced to prison in 2003 for sexually abusing another St. Louis-area boy from 1997 to 2000. He was in prison from 2003 to 2015. The archdiocese removed Wolken from ministry in 2002. In 2004, the archdiocese paid nearly $1.7 million to settle a lawsuit claiming that church leaders could have intervened to prevent the abuse but didnt. Long ago, church staff knew Fr. Gary Wolken was a predator but did almost nothing to stop him and protect kids, David Clohessy of SNAP, or the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to pay $290 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it knowingly benefited from former client Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking, according to a person familiar with the matter. The agreement in principle would settle a proposed class action filed by an unnamed Epstein victim late last year, JPMorgan said in a statement Monday. The bank makes no admissions of liability, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. We all now understand that Epsteins behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man, the New York-based bank said. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes. The deal with the victim identified only as Jane Doe doesnt end JPMorgans legal headache over its ties to Epstein. Its still facing a lawsuit by the US Virgin Islands, where the financier had a private retreat where he brought several of his victims. The bank is also litigating its own case against former private-banking head Jes Staley, who JPMorgan says should be held responsible for damages it incurs over its Epstein ties. Taken together or individually, the historic recoveries from the banks who provided financial services to Jeffrey Epstein speak for themselves, said David Boies, one of the attorneys for Doe. It has taken a long time too long but today is a great day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors, and a great day for justice. Doe filed her proposed class action against JPMorgan, where Epstein was a client from 1998 to 2013, in November. US District Judge Jed Rakoff on Monday ruled that the case could go forward as a class action on behalf of all women who were sexually abused or trafficked by Epstein during the time he maintained accounts at JPMorgan. A different Doe plaintiff represented by the same lawyers also sued Deutsche Bank AG. The German bank, which became Epsteins main financial institution after JPMorgan cut ties with him in 2013, agreed to settle its Doe suit in May for $75 million. The USVI filed its suit against JPMorgan weeks later. Both Doe and the USVI accused the bank of turning a blind eye to signs Epstein was using his accounts to traffic young women, including paying settlements to victims and transporting them between his properties. Epstein allegedly moved hundreds of millions of dollars through at least 55 accounts. Though neither suit named Staley as a defendant, both alleged that he knew about Epsteins sex-trafficking and argued that his knowledge should be imputed to JPMorgan. JPMorgan has denied knowing about Epsteins crimes and has questioned whether the conduct allegedly witnessed by Staley fell under the legal definition of sex-trafficking. Epstein died in jail in 2019 facing sex-trafficking charges, with his death ruled a suicide. But in March, the bank took the dramatic step of suing Staley via a so-called third-party complaint. JPMorgan accused him of misleading it into maintaining Epstein as a client and also said it believed Staley was the unidentified financial executive who raped Doe at Epsteins house, according to her suit. Doe later said it was Staley but accused JPMorgan of raising the issue to intimidate her. Staley, who was deposed by the other parties this weekend, has denied the allegations by JPMorgan, Doe and the USVI. We are gratified to hear about the settlement that will provide victims of Jeffrey Epstein some compensation for JPMorgan Chases role in facilitating Epsteins crimes against them, a spokesman for the US Virgin Islands Attorney General said. The territory will continue with its case against the bank to prevent it from assisting and profiting from human trafficking in the future, he said. Photo: JPMorgans headquarters in New York. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Democrats on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee launched an investigation on Friday into major insurers support of new fossil fuel projects, on the heels of an industry retreat from areas prone to climate risks. American International Group, Travelers Companies, Chubb, Berkshire Hathaway, Liberty Mutual, Starr and State Farm are under the committees scanner. The companies were pressed for disclosures on how they evaluate climate-related risks and price insurance policies on fossil fuel projects. By underwriting and investing in new and expanded fossil fuel projects, U.S. insurers are helping Big Oil bring us closer to the worst runaway climate scenarios, the Committees chairman Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said. Some insurers have started to dial back coverage in disaster-prone areas, citing increasing costs of claims. Late last month, State Farm said it would stop selling new insurance policies to homeowners in wildfire-prone California. The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The insurers were also asked if they have clear policies to obtain consent from indigenous communities before underwriting or investing in projects that disproportionately impact such groups. Besides Senator Whitehouse, Senators Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders are part of the group that launched the investigation. The companies were asked to provide information by June 16 and supporting documents by June 23. Topics Carriers Politics New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The family of an Illinois woman killed in a 2022 crash while she and two children were parasailing in the Florida Keys filed a second lawsuit connected to her death this week and reflected on the tragic end to a family vacation about a year ago. Supraja Alaparthi, 33, was killed after being dragged across the water and slamming into a bridge last June while strapped into a parasail. Her husband, Srinivasrao Alaparthi, told reporters Thursday that his family has taken the last year one day at a time but misses her dearly. I cant help but think that if the people we trusted had done their jobs, my wife would still be with us today, he said. We trusted these companies, but they let us down in the worst possible way. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigated the crash last year and found the boat captain cut the line holding Alaparthi and the two boys because the parasail was dragging in high winds from a sudden summer storm. Her husband, daughter and other horrified family members watched from the boat as they were dragged across the water and struck a bridge, attorneys said Thursday at a news conference in Chicago. It came days after filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the captain, a crew member and a Florida resort company that owns the marina where the boat was based. The family last year sued the boat company. That case is still pending. An attorney representing the company did not immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday. Im a life-long Florida resident and our state can do better for people that come from out of state to enjoy our waters, our boats, our sun, attorney Pedro Echarte said, calling for more required training and closer transparency and enforcement around existing standards. Online court records did not list attorneys representing the captain, crew members and resort company named in the suit. The two boys on the parasail with Alaparthi were both hurt; the lawsuits did not specify their injuries but described them as severe and permanent. Srinivasrao Alaparthi told reporters that his son and nephew are doing better physically but still dealing with emotional trauma tied to the crash. According to the familys attorneys, the Alaparthis, their two children and extended family members were visiting the Keys from their home in Elk Grove Village outside Chicago when they booked the parasailing trip. The lawyer said family members told employees they would come back the next day if the weather prevented parasailing but were reassured it would be OK. The boat captain, Daniel Gavin Couch, was charged by Florida authorities in September with manslaughter in the crash. The Florida public defenders office representing Couch in the criminal case declined Thursday to comment on that case, which is still pending. It was not clear what insurance the captain and boat company had before the accident. Top photo: This photo released by the Alaparthi family shows Supraja Alaparthi, 33, center, with her son and nephew as they prepare to parasail just before the crash in June 2022. (Alaparthi Family via AP) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Florida A Salt Lake City man who says his job offer to become an Alaska State Trooper was rescinded after he disclosed he was HIV positive filed a lawsuit in state court Thursday to get his position on the statewide police force and to prevent others from suffering similar alleged discrimination. The lawsuit was filed electronically by Anchorage civil rights attorney Caitlin Shortell on behalf of a man only identified as John Doe, whose HIV is undetectable and untransmissible. There are no reservations about his ability to do the duties of the job, and he is completely fit, Shortell said, adding he can work without accommodations. Doe seeks to challenge the constitutionality of the Alaska State Troopers rescission of a job offer based on his being a person who lives with HIV, in light of medical advancements that render HIV status irrelevant to a persons ability to meet the criteria for entry and service at Alaska State Troopers in any capacity, the lawsuit states. It alleges violations of civil rights laws, the state and U.S. constitutions and the Alaska Human Rights Act. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the lawsuit, which, as of Thursday morning, had not yet appeared online. Named as defendants are James Cockrell, the head of the troopers; the state of Alaska; the troopers, and Beacon Occupational Health and Safety, the troopers outside vendor. Emails seeking comment sent to the state attorney generals office and the troopers were not immediately returned. Aris Brimanis, the operations manager for Beacon in Anchorage, said the company did not have immediate comment. According to the lawsuit, Doe wanted to be a law enforcement officer since his childhood, where he volunteered at the California Highway Patrol Academy and was an explorer with the local sheriffs office during high school. He was working as a flight attendant when he applied to be a trooper in April 2020. Six months later, he was offered a conditional offer of employment, the lawsuit said, detailing how he completed the required written exam, two physical ability tests, passed a background test and an oral board interview. Doe also passed the written psychological test and interview, and then had to take a polygraph and medical exam as part of the conditions for employment, according to the suit. At the medical exam, Doe disclosed his disability status as a person living with HIV, the lawsuit said. He also provided to Beacons nurse practitioner recent lab results and a note from his doctor saying he was able to perform all functions of a trooper without reasonable accommodation. However, the nurse practitioner noted on paperwork that Doe may require an accommodation. The lawsuit said the practitioner initially wrote no to a question if she had any reservations about the candidates ability to perform the duties of the job, but then crossed that out and wrote error, noting the guidelines for a law enforcement officer. Doe argues the guidelines were out-of-date and didnt reflect advances in medicine for those with HIV. The next day, during a polygraph test, he was asked if he took medication, the lawsuit said. He said yes, but noted he felt this was a prohibited medical inquiry and he had provided medical information to the nurse. He told the examiner he wasnt comfortable disclosing his medical condition when asked what the medication was for. Doe then disclosed his HIV status to the examiner when told the interview process could be stopped if he refused, according to the court documents. That polygraph was deemed inconclusive. He took another the following day, which he passed with no questions about his medical condition, the lawsuit said. Doe said troopers later rescinded his conditional job offer, telling him there were better qualified applicants even though he already had received the conditional offer and, of the initial 245 applicants, Doe said he was one of the 10 finalists. Doe said he was told other applicants had prior military experience and others had already been living in Alaska. Neither is a condition for employment, according to the lawsuit. Half of the 10 finalists offered jobs didnt live in Alaska, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit argues these reasons were nothing more than a false pretext for unconstitutional discrimination based on Does HIV status. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Talent Embers from a smoldering scrap wood fire outside a home days earlier and a sparking power line caused a Colorado wildfire fanned by high winds that destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and left two people dead, authorities said. The Dec. 30, 2021, blaze in heavily populated suburbs between Denver and Boulder caused $2 billion in damage, making it the most destructive in Colorado history. Two people were also found dead after what was known as the Marshall Fire. The inferno erupted following months of drought amid a winter nearly devoid of snow and fed on bone-dry grassland surrounding fast-growing development in the area near the Rocky Mountain foothills. It spread rapidly in winds that gusted up to 100 mph in places. There is no evidence to support criminal charges against anyone for the fire, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said at a news conference. The scrap wood fire buried by residents Dec. 24 and OKd by firefighters who stopped by that day to investigate was one cause when the powerful winds uncovered the buried embers six days later, Sheriff Curtis Johnson said at the news conference. A loose Xcel Energy power line caused a separate fire less than half a mile (away around the same time, Johnson said. The two fires combined to cause the massively destructive blaze. Experts say similar events will become more common as climate change warms the planet and suburbs grow in fire-prone areas. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Colorado 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. Its 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 states 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 wont 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 shes 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 states 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 whats 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 governments 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 thats 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. From 2011 through 2021, Our Childrens Trust brought in contributions of more than $20 million, growing from four employees to a team of more than 40 attorneys and other workers and about 200 volunteers, according to tax filings and the groups website. Founder Julia Olson said securing the trials in Montana and Oregon marked a huge step forward for the group. It will change the future of the planet if courts will start declaring the conduct of government unconstitutional, she said. While Montanas Constitution requires the state to maintain and improve a clean environment, the Montana Environmental Policy Act, originally passed in 1971 and amended several times since, requires state agencies to balance the environment with resource development. Lawmakers revised the policy this year to say environmental reviews may not look at greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts unless the federal government makes carbon dioxide a regulated pollutant. A key question for the trial will be how forcefully the state contests established science on human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, said Jonathan Adler, environmental law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. If the state doesnt deny that science, the trial will deal with the question of whether courts can tell governments to address climate change. Im skeptical about that, Adler said. It really pushes the boundaries of what courts are capable of and effective at addressing. To Gibson-Snyder, now a student at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, the court system became the only avenue to make change as a 16-year-old. Since then, Ive become maybe a bit disillusioned, she said. The question is not only can we create sustainable policy, its how can we dismantle the policy thats actively harming Montana? ___ Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Associated Press writer Drew Costley contributed from Washington, D.C. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Oregon Source: Streetwise Reports June 12, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) First Tellurium Corp.'s geophysics work at its flagship Deer Horn project in British Columbia this summer will help the company develop targets for a drilling campaign. First Tellurium Corp. (FTEL:CSE) is conducting geophysics work at its flagship Deer Horn project in British Columbia this summer to help develop targets for a drilling campaign. The project is known to have the only positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for a tellurium (Te) project in North America. The company said it had engaged Dias Geophysical of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to conduct the induced polarization (IP) geophysical testing, which is following up on rock sampling, channel sampling, and prospecting done in 2022. That work identified a possible 1.1-kilometer extension of a 2.4-kilometer gold-silver-tellurium vein system, First Tellurium said. "There is obvious porphyry and abundant associated sulfide mineralization on surface at Deer Horn," said First Tellurium consultant and Qualified Person Dr. Lee Groat. "The geophysical data from IP is needed to obtain subsurface information, such as the location of bodies of sulfide mineralization. This will help us direct the summer drill campaign and determine locations, directions, angles, and depths of drill holes." Tellurium is one of the least common elements on the planet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Most rocks contain an average of about three parts per billion, making it eight times less abundant than gold. Its use as a semiconductor in solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panels has increased. It's also used in thermoelectric applications, lithium batteries, vulcanizing rubber, tinting glass, and manufacturing rewritable CDs and DVDs. Both the U.S. and Canada are trying to reduce dependence on China for such critical metals. U.S. President Joe Biden has banned solar panels coming from a Chinese company that uses forced labor. First Tellurium Chairman Tony Fogarassy attended OECD's 2023 Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in Paris as part of First Tellurium's outreach on critical minerals. "We know there's a looming, massive shortage of critical minerals needed for batteries, electric vehicles, solar power - any technology related to climate change and carbon reduction," Fogarassy said. "Canada is seen as a prime future supplier of critical minerals due to its stable political and economic structure, and also its world-leading knowledge about exploration and mining." Geophysics, Soil Samples to Add Drill Targets At the same time as the IP survey, Groat and a team of University of British Columbia graduate students will also be conducting a property-wide soil sampling program at Deer Horn as a significant amount of ground is now open that was once covered in glaciers, the company noted. Drill targets from the IP survey will augment additional drill targets identified in the PEA as "infill and tightly spaced step-out diamond drilling focused both on upgrading and expanding the existing resource," First Tellurium said. The company is also sending a team to meet with First Nations groups on the property to discuss the work program. The team will include Groat, Fogarassy, and Phil McLean, owner of Canadian Remote Drilling, which will conduct the drilling campaign. Deer Horn's PEA was calculated on 450 meters of the original 2.4-kilometer gold-silver-tellurium vein system. "Our Deer Horn project also contains significant showings of silver and copper, both essential green metals, along with the critical metals bismuth and tungsten," President and Chief Executive Officer Tyrone Docherty said. In addition, the company's Klondike Tellurium Project in Colorado is considered America's top Te exploration project and was previously owned by First Solar as a potential source of raw Te for its solar panels, Docherty said. The Catalyst: A 'Huge 2023' for the Company? FTEL could "have a huge 2023" if the United States supported tellurium mining this year, wrote asset manager Chen Lin, author of the What's Chen Buying? What's Chen Selling? newsletter. The stock has been a quarterly pick of his several times in the past year. The U.S. military is providing US$250 million for critical metals projects, including tellurium, and Canada's federal 2023 budget earmarked CA$1.5 billion for a critical minerals infrastructure fund. "We will hit the jackpot as FTEL is the only pure play in tellurium," Chen wrote. First Tellurium has registered as a federal lobbyist to make sure they don't lose out on any opportunities. Deer Horn was named by First Solar Inc. (FSLR:NYSE) as a world-class Te project. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-10739] "There's a very decent chance tellurium will breakout this year because First Solar is using 60% to 70% of worldwide production to make a solar panel," Chen wrote. "Their production has grown rapidly." First Solar plans to double its solar panel manufacturing capacity and spend US$1.36 billion to lessen China's dominance of the market, according to S&P Global. Technical analyst Clive Maund rated First Tellurium as an immediate Buy in March. Ownership and Share Structure According to the company, 11% of First Tellurium is owned by management and insiders. Docherty owns 10.6% or 7.7 million shares, Director Josef Anthony Steve Fogarassy has 1.38% or 1 million shares, and Director Lyle Allen Schwabe has 0.73% or 0.53 million shares. There are no institutional investors, and the rest is retail. The company has a market cap of CA$9.4 million, with about 73 million shares outstanding and 63.4 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.25 and CA$0.085. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Two landlords have been found to have discriminated against their respective tenants on the grounds of housing assistance by the Workplace Relations Commission. One of these landlords, Martin Murray has been ordered to pay 12,500 in compensation after discriminating against a tenant in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Renter, Dorinda Walsh said she was left anxious and fearing homelessness after her landlord, Mr Murray "continually refused to complete her HAP Application Form," despite being legally obliged to do so. The single mother told the tribunal that she was served with an eviction notice just 11 days after she contacted the WRC detailing Mr Murray's refusal to fill out the necessary HAP Application. Ms Walsh - who lived in the 1,250 per month Dublin city apartment for more than two years - said the delay left her having to "beg and borrow," from friends and neighbours to cover rent, with her Threshold representative, Fiona McGrattan estimating Ms Walsh suffered a loss of around 6,000 due to Mr Murray's inaction. Having previously received a rent supplement, Dublin City Council informed Ms Walsh that she was no longer eligible in August 2022 and would have to instead claim HAP. However, Mr Murray told the tenant that it was "unfortunate," that her rent supplement had been withdrawn and that he would only honour the terms of the initial contract. After informing him that he was legally obliged to transfer to HAP, Ms Walsh received no further reply from her landlord. After a month, Ms Walsh contacted Mr Murray again, this time with an Equal Status Act complaint form. Ms McGrattan, the renter's Threshold representative said the landlord went on to call the tenant "confrontational" about the situation which was "extremely stressful" for him. He added that he never refused HAP and that he would accept it once he received independent verification from Dublin City Council, despite both Ms Walsh and Ms McGrattan both telling him he was legally obliged to accept HAP. Ms Walsh also added that she felt it was "no coincidence," that she was served an eviction notice just a few days later, along with an attempted rent increase by Mr Murray. The tenant said she was left with "nowhere to turn," telling the tribunal that the situation led her to cry herself to sleep with her 18-month-old baby, adding that she also experienced weight loss and panic attacks as a result. Mr Murray told the commission that he was "very generous" to Ms Walsh, and that the rent he charged for the two-bedroom apartment was not the market price for the property. He also stated that he has suffered stress because he has been accused of discrimination and bullying. He said that he will not rent the property out again. In her findings, adjudicator, Elizabeth Spelman said there as "no evidence" that Ms Walsh was confrontational, and that a prima facie case of discrimination was established by the tenant. Taking into account the financial and further effects of the discrimination, Ms Spelman ordered Mr Murray to pay 12,500 to the complainant. In another case, landlord, Anna O'Reilly was ordered to pay 7,000 after discriminating against her tenant, Mariana Gabor. Detailing the incident, Ms Gabor, who lived in the house with her partner and three children, applied for HAP on medical grounds for her son. Initially, Ms O'Reilly said she would accept the HAP, but following this, texted her tenant that she was "still working on that," and that she was waiting for tax clearance and additional documents to come through. Following this, Ms O'Reilly sent further correspondence, telling Ms Gabor that "Unfortunately, we cannot meet the condition on the HAP for now. So sorry about that. Thanks. Having reached out to Threshold, a representative spoke to Ms O'Reilly on Ms Gabor's behalf, who Ms O'Reilly told that the tenant should seek a landlord who was in a position to accept the HAP scheme. Some time later, Ms O'Reilly came back to say she would now comply with the HAP scheme but was looking to end the tenancy. The tribunal heard that Ms Gabor had to borrow money from friends and family to cover rent before she received HAP more than seven months after she requested it, and that the uncertainty of her living situation caused a lot of stress for her, with the delay costing her 4,165. Ms O'Reilly told the tribunal that when she was asked to complete the HAP form, she realised that she had to meet a number of requirements such as a valuation and BER certificate, with the delay in paying the property tax resulting in her not being able to get a tax-free certificate. The landlord added that her and her husband considered selling the property to pay the tax, and that they had to borrow money to become eligible landlords under the HAP scheme. She told the tribunal that she was happy with the family as tenants and would never discriminate against anyone. Finding that Ms Gabor was discriminated against, adjudication officer, John Harraghy ordered Ms O'Reilly to pay 7,000 inclusive of the seven months HAP payments of 4,165. Milk processors have been warned that farmers cannot afford any further cuts to price this month. Irish Farmers' Association dairy chairman Stephen Arthur said that the current price paid to farmers is "not sustainable", and that processors "must do everything they can to support milk price during peak months". Mr Arthur was speaking ahead of prices for May milk supplies being announced in the coming days. After historic highs in 2022, milk prices began to decline with January supplies, and farmers have experienced a reduction in milk price by up to 20c per litre in just the space of a number of months. "The Ornua PPI for May equates to 36.7c per litre excluding the Ornua Value Payment which is estimated to be worth 2.18c per lire. Markets are recovering," Mr Arthur said. Statistics from the CSO for April 2023 show a considerable reduction in peak milk supply with volumes back 3.3% compared to 2022 and 3.9% compared to 2021. Mr Arthur said this is indicative of the long wet spring that will have a further financial impact on farmers. "We know that the global market for dairy commodities is challenging but it is recovering. We need all processors to support milk price and deliver for their suppliers in their time of need," he added. Rita Duffys passion for politics has always been at the heart of her artistic practice, and is very much to the fore in Persistent Illusion, her first solo exhibition at the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork. It is perhaps a sign of the times that her new paintings and drawings are more concerned with global politics than with the local conflict that fuelled her early work as an artist growing up in Belfast in the Troubles. As Duffy sees, the whole world is in peril. The one issue we all need to address is climate change, she says. Featured in the exhibition is a recent triptych of large paintings titled Epiphany, Belfast to Byzantium and Ornithopter, along with a series of drawings inspired by the foibles of Donald Trump and what she describes as the experience of Americas psychosis dancing naked on TV. Duffy has spent a great deal of time in America. I went there first as a student, working illegally in New York, and it was fantastic. Since then, Ive exhibited and lectured there a lot. Its changed so much, and for the worse. Theres a sense there now that the unfinished Civil War is about to explode. Theres this underlying and unexamined attitude to race and identity, and white people in particular have a huge fear of blacks. What gets me is theres so much weaponry. I was showing at the Mattress Factory Museum in Pittsburgh, and you could buy an AK47 across the counter in a store just down the street. I dont know, its like were watching an empire founded on greed and abuse come to an end. Rita Duffy. Picture: Alan Lewis Duffys drawings the suite of ten is called The Emperor Has No Clothes - were acquired by the National Collection, and are now in the possession of the Crawford Art Gallery. Their completion inspired her to commence work on the triptych of paintings. I did one at my studio at the Old Courthouse in Ballyconnell, near where I live in Co Cavan; another on Achill Island; and the third while on a production residency at the beautiful studios in the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin. Epiphany features a Trump-like character with a machine-gun on the back of a covered wagon of the kind used by the pioneers in America. Before him is a scene of mayhem, with whites whooping it up on the left, and terrified black people cowering on the right. Its about people going to another country and claiming it as their own, says Duffy. As has happened in America. Belfast to Byzantium features a ship with its side exposed to reveal it is full of people. The upper decks are reserved for whites, while the blacks are packed in below. Beneath them, human hands wave wretchedly from the water, seeking help that simply is not there. The ship is the same shape as the Titanic, with the iceberg behind it, but the painting is based on reports of fires in Greece, of people being evacuated and corralled on a passenger ship. Belfast to Byzantium, Rita Duffy. The third painting, Ornithopter, is inspired by the evacuation of Kabul in Afghanistan, when more than 123,000 people were airlifted to safety after the Taliban seized the city. I was struck by all these images of people clinging to the planes at Kabul Airport, desperate to escape, says the artist. For Duffy, growing up in the 1960s and 70s as part of a Catholic family in Stranmillis, a Protestant community in Belfast, political conflict was unavoidable. We lived just by the Ulster Museum, she says. I took two buses to school, through the battlegrounds of West Belfast. I was fortunate enough to be educated by liberal nuns in a girls grammar school. Its not fashionable to say anything good about the nuns these days, but they very supportive. The same order did great work in Africa. Ornithopter, Rita Duffy. Duffys mother came from Co Offaly. She was taught all her subjects through Irish in school. And yet, when she moved a few miles up the road to Belfast, the Irish language was seen as a threat. She changed her name from Maire Duffy to Moira Duff so she could get a job in Queens. Duff was the Scottish version of the name, so that was more acceptable. Thats how bad it was at the time. She knitted us all Aran sweaters. On 11th July every year, wed all pile into the car in our Aran sweaters to take our two-week holiday in Offaly. The sweaters were to remind our neighbours in Belfast of our Irishness. I think of that as her subversive stitching. Duffys father worked in the aircraft factory. His own father had died in the Battle of the Somme, but after wed lived in the same house for 35 or 40 years, he got the inevitable phone call telling us to move. Lots of dark and shitty things happened in Northern Ireland it was neighbours made the call. She credits him with fostering her interest in art. He was very creative. Youd wonder, is it the genes? Then again, I was a highly sensitive child in a world of conflict. Poets, dancers and artists do seem to pop out in situations like that. Duffy studied Fine Art at the University of Ulster, where, she says, the tutors were mostly English and didnt care what was going on in Northern Ireland. On graduating, she broke ground making large-scale paintings that engaged head-on with the Troubles. I always thought art should reflect whats going on in society, she says. I wanted to change and reinvent the world, and I knew art can be threatening to those in power. Duffy acknowledges that the Northern Ireland of today bears little resemblance to the one she grew up in. She welcomes the changes, but sounds a note of caution. Theres still a lot of work to be done, she says. The Peace Process has yet to work its way down as far as it should. Poor Catholics and poor Protestants are still divided by walls that shouldnt be there. Britain refuses to accept that Catholics and Protestants are not the issue in Northern Ireland, it goes deeper than that. And the Unionists still havent come to grips with the notion that they no longer own the province of Ulster. She is not very hopeful for America. She worries that Joe Biden may be too advanced in years to be re-elected president in 2025, and that the Democrats might not find a more suitable candidate. Democracy is so shallow in America, she says. You have to be big and tall, a John Wayne-type, to be President. And you must have hair; nobody bald would ever get elected. We know this for certain: at least one international headline act at at least one of this summers crop of Irish music festivals will bound onstage, in Laois or Waterford or Wicklow or wherever the festival is happening, and shout Helloooooo Dublinnn! into the mic. This is normally greeted by a few hoots and boos of derision amongst the crowd. But did you ever stop to think about why it happens? Some of these tour-sick musicians only have the faintest idea of what country they are in, not to mention getting to grips with the geography of a tiny country like Ireland. They probably have to get straight back on a plane after their performance to jet off to another place they will never really get to experience, to replicate the same performance all over again. For Yann Tiersen, big tours just dont make sense any more, not least because of their environmental impacts. And the Breton multi-instrumentalist and composer, probably best known for the soundtrack to 2001 French hit film Amelie, has done some big tours in his day. Years ago I did a solo piano tour and on paper I was very excited about it. I was playing Sydney Opera House, the Berlin Philharmonic, Tiersen says. Then he chuckles: And that was the saddest tour of my life. I was just alone in the dressing room after the gigs, and then moving to the next venue. And I thought, I dont want to do this anymore. The tour Tiersen and his wife Emilie, who performs under the stage name QUINQUIS, are embarking on is the absolute antithesis to this large-scale, disconnected style of touring. This June until September, aboard their yacht Ninnog, the Tiersens plus two other crew and their six-year-old son will tour Ireland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Liverpool and Wales under sail-power, stopping to play gigs in several large venues and many smaller far-flung ones. Designed to be both ecologically and culturally in tune with their environs, the tour, titled Celtic Circuitry and Faroe Frequencies, boasts a manifesto translated into all the Celtic languages of the places they will visit on their tour. That is really important for us, Tiersen says. We are raising our son in the Breton language and I think that honouring native languages is really important. Yann Tiersen's yacht, the Ninnog. Tiersen is speaking from his home on the island of Ushant in Brittany, the southernmost point of the Celtic sea, where he is making final preparations to set sail on the tour. Sailing is unpredictable and this tour is at the mercy of the wind and good weather. Is there a part of the journey hes most nervous about? I guess crossing to the Faroes will be big, and also going back, from the Faroes to Shetland as well, he says. We dont want to take risks. We will try to be safe. There is far more work and far more risk involved in organising this tour, but its just pleasure, actually. Its more work, but its not boring. The idea for a sail-powered tour came about when Tiersen and his wife began touring again after Covid, he explains. It became crystal clear when we started touring again after Covid lockdowns: we went to tour the US. Because youre playing big venues, you hire a big bus and you have a big team and then its a vicious cycle, for nothing except to fit the machinery. Aboard the Ninnog, named for a medieval Breton proto-feminist saint, the Tiersens have stripped back their equipment and touring costs and therefore the pressure to perform in big-earning venues. We have our home with us and we dont need hotels, Tiersen says. Actually, all we need is wind and food, and we can even fish when we want to. There is no economic pressure. And my job is to make music and to share it with people, not to make money. Thats not the life I choose. Instead, aside from a few fixed dates beginning in Cork, Ninnog will stop and play wherever the Tiersens can reach and are invited; theyre open to invitations to pop-up gigs and these have already begun to materialise. In Ireland, our first stop was Baltimore, but then people from Cape Clear contacted us and so I think we will play there if the wind permits it, Tiersen says. Thats really what the tour is about too, just sharing with people. Im not really a fan of the stage; Im really embarrassed by it coming between me and the audience. I just want to have fun and meet people and share music with them. Meaningful happiness does not sit at the bottom of a wallet, behind the wheel of a car, or in a newly redecorated kitchen. These moments of happiness are fleeting and difficult to sustain. Its challenging for us to ascertain what will continue to make us happy or how long those moments of happiness will last. However, we are capable of finding the silver linings in everyday life which will help to create happiness in a more meaningful way. Happiness is, however, quite subjective as everyone has a different understanding of what will make them happy. Happiness is a personal and individual experience, says Mary McHugh, CEO and founder of counsellingonline.ie, which means that what makes one person happy may not have the same effect on someone else. Each person has their own unique combination of factors that contribute to their happiness. By recognising and giving importance to these factors, individuals can work towards cultivating greater happiness in their lives. Happiness has been shown to improve our relationships with others and with ourselves, contributing to overall better psychological wellbeing. While some of us are more predisposed towards happiness than others, happiness does not come as natural to some and so they may attempt to buy into a manufactured happiness. But as McHugh says, happiness is a multibillion-dollar industry which targets us all as we seek out happiness, but money will never produce long-term influential happiness. Happiness is possible for us all, she says, but it takes a lot of work for some, reframing how they see things, taking responsibility for what is happening in their lives and a willingness to change things if they do not fit or make us unhappy. Happiness is an innate feeling within us and comes from our relationships and our experiences and how we feel about ourselves. We can make it, but it comes from deep compassionate work with yourself. Dr Dean McDonnell, lecturer of Psychology at Southeast Technological University We may consider the effect life events can have on our happiness levels, but we often find that some semblance of happiness can occur even after traumatic or difficult events as we choose to synthesise a level of happiness within us. We have also often questioned the effect social media has on our emotional wellbeing and happiness levels. However, Dr Dean McDonnell, lecturer of Psychology at Southeast Technological University, has researched this idea, along with his colleagues. Social media is a tool for communication, and there are lots of different types of social media, and lots of different ways social media is used, says McDonnell. Myself and colleagues in the Psychological Society of Ireland, the British Psychological Society, and the American Psychological Association sought to answer this exact question in a paper last year and concluded that screen media plays little role in mental health concerns. In particular, there was no evidence that screen media contribute to suicidal ideation or other mental health outcomes. This result was also true when investigating smartphones or social media specifically." Because of the subjective nature of happiness, understanding it is a little more complicated than rating happiness on a scale. If one persons happiness level sits at a five and another persons falls at a seven, how can we measure happiness as we report on our experience? Happiness means something different to everyone so, in psychology, we try to factor and control for these things as much as possible. There are lots of different types of happiness to try to consider, says McDonnell. We use a range of methods like questionnaires or can measure the production of neurochemicals. Happiness can be formed through natural and synthetic means suggesting that our happiness levels are based not only on our psychological experience of life, but also the science behind the neurochemicals that impact our happiness levels. All forms of happiness are technically manufactured naturally by a balance of neurochemicals produced by our body, says McDonnell who is the membership secretary for the Psychological Society of Ireland. We can't truly measure something as subjective as happiness, but we can get close we think! Everything we experience will influence the production of neurochemicals, some of which are called dopamine, serotonin, and cortisol. In very simplistic terms, if we experience something stressful, our body will produce more of some neurochemicals, such as cortisol, which may make us feel more anxious. McHugh believes that we can, without a doubt, synthesis happiness. Sometimes it may take an extreme event in our lives for us to begin to look at things differently, from a different viewpoint and begin to make the changes in our lives that move us towards a more positive way of seeing and being, she says. Synthesising happiness means bringing together different things that make us happy. We can do this by doing things that make us feel good. Engaging in activities that bring us joy, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing our interests. Thinking positively and focusing on the good things in our lives and being grateful for them, even when things are challenging. Balancing our own happiness and relationships and taking care of ourselves, spending time with friends and family, because both personal fulfillment and social connections are important for happiness. Finding meaning and purpose by pursuing goals that are important to us and helping others. By combining and bringing together these different elements, we can create a happier and more fulfilling life. What brings you happiness? What is happiness, anyway? Podcaster, Blindboy Boatclub, says: I dont believe in happiness as a fixed state that can be attained, because suffering is an inevitable facet of being alive. Pursuing the illusion of happiness is endless and meaningless. We also confuse happiness with pleasure. I prefer instead to pursue meaning, I pursue meaning in whatever I do. Meaning can incorporate states of joy, frustration, and conflict. But so long as there is a purpose to it, then I have meaning. Happiness is a fleeting thing. But you can have meaning all day long. Amanda Cassidy, whose debut thriller, Breaking, is shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association, New Blood Dagger Award, and second novel, The Returned, is out this summer, has an optimistic expectation out of this life". She believes that the ratio of bad things to good things that happen will always lean more heavily towards happiness. But Ive learnt that life takes place in the spaces between the peaks and troughs. I dont chase happiness or seek it out, I just live. And when it comes my way, I grab it with both hands and appreciate its fleeting warmth." For me, happiness is extremely connected to nature in light and sounds. Its between the pages of a book, its building worlds in my head. Its exploring new pockets of the world with my family. I feel so privileged to live to experience life in all its brutal magnificence. Ive learnt that even if happiness seems out of reach, it always comes back around. I want to live a hundred lives in one. Thats probably why I write. Child sex abuse is not a historic scandal but an ongoing crisis in Irish society, the countrys specialist charity treating abused children has said. Children at Risk Ireland (Cari) says families affected are silenced because of the awfulness of the crime, the privacy needs of the child, and shame and stigma. Cari is today launching a public appeal for urgent funding to keep their helpline operating, which they say provides a crisis service to parents, some of whom have to wait up to three years before they can access therapy at the charity. Cari CEO and clinical officer Emer ONeill said the 85,000 they need to raise will only keep the helpline comprising two staff working 9am-5pm Monday to Friday going, and does not include the funds needed to expand it to a 24/7 helpline. People talk about child sexual abuse as a historic scandal, because when they hear stories about it, its adults that have been abused as children, Ms ONeill said. But we know its not historic. Children and families are crying out for urgent support. She said parents cant do this publicly, as they want to protect their childs privacy. They dont want to come out and say my child has been abused. They dont want their child to be defined by it. Ms ONeill said the parents feel a sense of shame and guilt. Whats the whole idea of being a parent? Its about protecting your child and when you feel you havent protected your child you blame yourself, you dont want people to know. They are silenced. Cari CEO and clinical officer Emer ONeill says parents cant appeal for help publicly: 'They dont want to come out and say my child has been abused. They dont want their child to be defined by it.' File picture: cari.ie Ms ONeill said they currently have 57 children receiving therapy, along with 55 parents, but that a further 204 children are on their waiting list, waiting for years. Thats over 200 individual children, from all over the country, she said. We have parents waiting three years on our waiting list. Speaking from Cari's main office in Limerick, Ms ONeill said this was why their helpline was so crucial for families, adding that they receive more than 1,000 calls a year. The helpline provides that crisis part of our service, she said. Each call to the helpline can take 45 minutes. That shows the impact for parents to have their child tell them someone has touched them or done something to them. Their whole world is turned upside down. They are overwhelmed. There is the anger, the upset, the disbelief and the fear the fear their child can get through life. She said the child can sometimes self-harm or have suicidal thoughts or develop an eating disorder. Theres the anxiety and we know trauma attacks the body, Ms ONeill said. The child might not go to school, they are disassociated, disconnected from their senses. She said the calls, like the therapy, are taken at their pace, adding: Thats where the helpline is really important. We reassure people, we dont want to rush them, we want to give them the time to speak, to allow them to cry. We stay with them. We also tell them about the system, how to report. Ms ONeill said the helpline offers advice appointments (AAs) and parent support and the helpline can offer a call-back service every six weeks. Parents are key, we need to make sure parents are getting what they need to support a child before they see us. You can reach the Cari helpline on 0818 924567. And visit cari.ie to learn more about Caris services as well as its Helpline Appeal for donations. Graphic content warning Cari has released details of some of the messages it has received, in a bid to highlight the importance of its service. Readers are warned that they may find the details disturbing. Mother phones: My 12-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by another group of teens in the bathroom of a burger bar. I need help; Mother phones: Whilst putting my 6-year-old son to bed last night he told me that he does not like the games his Uncle plays with him and that he does not like it when he asks him to touch his pee pee; Teacher phones: At break time yesterday I walked into the bathroom and found two 5-year-olds in a state of undress. One was asking the other to kiss his private parts. They both said it was a game they had been playing for a while; Mother phones: My 8-year-old son has been abused online and I dont know what to do. The perpetrator got him to take videos and photographs of him touching himself sexually and send them to him; Father phones: The police have just contacted me and my wife and informed us that our 15-year-old daughter was raped last year. This has all come out because she was being cyberbullied online and the school found out and reported it; Mother phones to say that she walked into the sitting room and overheard her 5-year-old son telling his teddy bear that he was going to f**k him; Father phones: My neighbour called to the house last night and informed me and my wife that our 13-year-old son got their 3-year-old daughter alone and put his hands down her pants and put his fingers up her bum; Mother phones: Last year my 3-year-old daughter said that her Father was sexually abusing her. We reported to the Gardai and she had an assessment. The assessment has come back inconclusive and now I am terrified he is going to try and get access to her." You can reach the Cari helpline on 0818 924567. And visit cari.ie to learn more about Caris services as well as its Helpline Appeal for donations. A Northern Ireland museum has secured the first French impressionist painting in a public collection in the region. The rare landscape by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), LAllee Au Bois, has been acquired by National Museums NI and is on display at the Ulster Museum. Renoir was one of the leaders of impressionism in Paris during the 1870s and 1880s. At that time impressionist painters were creating an entirely new style of painting using fragmented brush strokes to evoke the changing colours and myriad qualities of light. LAllee Au Bois was painted in a wood near Paris around 1874-1880. Renoirs delicate brushstrokes are described as combining to give the viewer the sense of entering a woodland where a light breeze gently rustles the leaves and grasses in the heat of a summers afternoon. Anne Stewart, senior curator of art at National Museums NI, said the acquisition is a significant moment for Northern Ireland. More than 100 years after his death, Renoir remains a renowned impressionist artist and his revolutionary landscapes are celebrated worldwide, she said. Acquisitions reflect a time and a place, and in the case of this exquisite impressionist painting, the beauty of a light-filled wood suggests escape, well-being, healing, and security. We are delighted to welcome a Renoir into the national collection and offer the Northern Ireland public the opportunity to experience the beauty of French impressionism by such a renowned artist. LAllee Au Bois was allocated to the Ulster Museum as an acceptance in lieu from the estate of Sheran, Lady Hornby, in memory of her uncle, Major Victor Cazalet (1896-1943). The Acceptance in Lieu Scheme, administered by the Arts Council, enables inheritance tax, which would be payable on the basis of the value of a deceased persons estate, to be paid by transferring ownership of significant objects to the nation. It is a key initiative for the charities and museums as they look to enhance and develop their collections Helen Birchenough, chairwoman of the acceptance in lieu panel, said she hoped this example will encourage others to use the scheme. I am delighted that LAllee Au Bois by Pierre-Auguste Renoir has been acquired by Ulster Museum through the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme, in a hybrid agreement with funding from the Department for Communities (for Northern Ireland), the Art Fund, The Esme Mitchell Trust and the Friends of Ulster Museum, she said. The painting will be a wonderful addition to the collection at Ulster Museum which had no previous examples of paintings by the French impressionists. I hope that this example will encourage others to use the scheme and continue to support our national collections. Jenny Waldman, director of the Art Fund, said the painting will be enjoyed by the Northern Ireland public for many generations. Renoirs exquisite sun-dappled Parisian woodland is a brilliant addition to National Museums NIs important collection. Im delighted weve been able to support this acquisition, which is the first Impressionist painting to enter a public collection in Northern Ireland and will be enjoyed by the public for many generations, she said. Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of National Museums NI added: Art remains central to our offering here at Ulster Museum, and its incredibly important to us to continue enhancing our collection so audiences have access to masterpieces such as this. Art has different meaning to different people, and can be a medium to promote understanding of the world past and present. For more information visit ulstermuseum.org. Leaving Cert maths this morning proved to be much more approachable after a stressful start on Friday afternoon with paper 1, while an open-ended question about a brown bread sandwich has drawn the ire of science teachers. The State exams continued this Monday morning with Leaving Cert maths and Junior Cycle science. Maths paper 1, examined on Friday evening, proved to be a very difficult exam experience for many students across the country, with many parents commenting over the weekend about the stress it caused their children. The State Examinations Commission needs to look at this this and think about the fact that its the last exam on a Friday and its a very long weekend for students and parents to be worried, said Brendan OSullivan, subject spokesperson with the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI). Were not saying that everything has to be familiar and route, but at least keep in mind there are people here who didnt have the experience of the Junior Cycle exam. Itll be the same next year so try and bring those candidates with you. Were almost expecting there to be some issue always with maths, and it doesnt have to be that way. Traditionally, the higher level maths paper 2 would be less popular with students than paper 1, he added. "But this year that trend is reversed. Id say both levels will be much happier with paper 2 than they were with paper 1 this time around, Mr. OSullivan added. The higher-level paper was much more approachable than what we would have had last Friday. There was a nice start to the questions, which would have calmed the nerves after Friday evening. The ordinary level paper also wasnt as intense in terms of work and time pressure, they had a bit more of an easier chore in terms of getting through the paper today. His message to students: Dont panic. Students can often fixate on the fact they didnt answer questions correctly, he added. "But it was the same all over the country. Everyone focuses on themselves, so everyone only hears their own story. It will be the same across the country, everyone would have found that paper challenging. When the final picture comes out, it will be no better or no worse than any other year. The frowns were "very much turned upside down after paper 2, according to Niall Duddy, subject representative with the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI). The SEC is continuing to blur the lines between paper 1 and paper 2, he added. Calculus appeared on this years paper 2, which is a new departure. "Differentiation also appeared on paper 2, which is usually a paper 1 topic. Students he spoke to so far on Monday much preferred paper 2, he added. "I know that when these things tend to happen in the past, if the first paper is tricky, the second one tend to be much more straightforward. This was no different. Studyclix subject spokesperson Stephen Begley said students were given a decent selection of questions on the ordinary level maths paper 2. The short questions were mostly direct and concise and covered a single topic each. The long questions had some very nice parts, though maintained a balance of challenge throughout. These context heavy questions were very clear and direct in what they were asking students to do. Meanwhile, Junior Cycle science saw a mixed reaction from teachers, who were all united however by a question about digestion. Shane Curran, a subject representative with the ASTI, said the common-level paper included a few challenging questions to push the higher ability students. There was only two calculations on it, which I was a bit surprised about. I thought there would be more. Other than that, there were good graph questions, good experiments. However, one question that gave students almost a full page to write about digestion, prompted by a boy biting off a piece of brown bread sandwich, was too open-ended. Michael McGrath, a fellow ASTI subject representative, also took issue with this question. "They arent used to writing script like that. It hasnt appeared like that, almost a full page of blank lines to fill in what happens after you eat a sandwich. That is tough for an average student. Theyll wonder if the answer wants gastric juice in the stomach, or what happens with the pancreas. Its open ended. Overall, the paper was tough enough, he added. "Good for high achieving students, but the weaker student will find it challenging. Studyclix subject spokesperson Liam Hennelly agreed this question on digestion may have thrown students. They were given 22 lines to do an extended piece of writing by describing the processes involved from when bread is put into the mouth to when cells use the energy in the carbohydrate. A former male model has been jailed for four years for raping a fellow college student. A Central Criminal Court jury found Utseoritselaju Uwatse (25) of Avonmore Road, Raheen, Limerick, guilty of a single count of rape in March this year. The offence took place on April 20, 2018. He has no previous convictions. The injured party, Danielle Lyons, waived her anonymity in order to name Uwatse. Detective Garda McGrath told Conor Devally, SC, prosecuting, that on the night in question, a group of college students gathered for drinks in Cratloe Student Village to celebrate two birthdays before going into Limerick city for a night out. Det. Gda McGrath said one of the members of the group was Danielle Lyons, who said in her evidence that the group went to Smyth's pub and then onto Molloys late bar in Limerick. Here she met Uwatse, whom she knew socially. CCTV footage of Uwatse and Ms Lyons hugging was shown to the court, and then Ms Lyons returned to socialising with her group of friends. Ms Lyons and another friend left the pub and returned to the student village, where a number of parties were taking place in different apartments. The court heard that at one stage, Uwatse picked Ms Lyons up and carried her into a bedroom and lay her on the bed, where she remembered him removing her shoes before falling asleep. She woke early the following morning, and her clothes did not feel right, and she could feel pressure in her private parts. Ms Lyons told the court that Uwatse was beside her, and he asked her if she was on the pill. She found this question unusual, and he then told her that they had sex and that the condom had broken. She realised she had not consented to this and became upset. The court heard that Uwatse left the apartment, and gardai were called. He was arrested and questioned in June 2018 and told gardai that the sex had been consensual. Reading her victim impact statement to the court, Ms Lyons said: I dont think there are any words that would convey the damage that you have done, and: The woman who is here today is broken down. She also said: I felt guilty for the heaviness I brought to my friends and family. Det. Gda McGrath agreed with Seamus Clarke, SC, defending, that his client was born in Nigeria and moved to Ireland as a child. He said that at the time of the offence, his client was 20 years of age. The garda agreed with counsel that Uwatse had enjoyed success as a model and was involved in athletics when he was younger. Sentencing Sentencing Uwatse on Monday, Mr Justice Paul Burns said rape was a serious crime and he agreed that Uwatse deserved a headline sentence of between seven and 10 years. He noted Uwatse had had a promising future ahead of him before this offence, and noted he has no previous convictions. He said he hoped that Ms Lyons, with the support of her family and friends, would be able to put the matter behind her as best as she could. Mr Clarke said his client was living and working in the UK and was about to board a flight to Milan for a modelling job when he became aware that the gardai wished to speak with him. He said Uwatse surrendered himself to the UK police and returned to Ireland for questioning. Counsel said that both of Uwatses biological parents and his stepmother now all live in Nigeria, his sibling lives in the United States, and he has no family in this country. He said his client has no previous convictions, has a good work ethic and was polite and co-operative with gardai. He asked the court to be as lenient as possible and that his client is sorry for the hurt that he had caused. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. A judge has told an estranged married couple, who own in excess of 500,000 in cryptocurrency and additional gold and silver bullion reserves, that they are probably going to bankrupt each other and ye will end up with nothing. At the family law court, Judge Alec Gabbett told the two they need to dial it down as it appears the two will fight to the death at this point. He said: I have rarely come across a case as emotive as this and I have never seen two people as emotionally charged as the two of you in court. The husband told the court that the couple have 1.3m in assets frozen in a European country. The two separated a number of years ago and have been engaged in various legal battles in different countries concerning their divorce. Judge Gabbett said: This case is a monster. It is a monster. Ye have created a monster between the two of ye and I am apportioning the blame equally in that sense. Judge Gabbett said the couple were two highly intelligent, well-educated people but told the man: You are totally and utterly deluded in some ways in relation to some aspects of this and that concerns you could lose your very good job. Safety order The wife was seeking a safety order and Judge Gabbett has granted the woman a safety order for three years against her estranged husband. Judge Gabbett said: "I am very concerned about her welfare and the childs welfare in a situation where there is no protection of some sort. He said there were no allegations of physical violence against the man in the case. The judge told the man: You are coming up with all sorts of schemes to bring her down and that is the part that worries me the most. I am granting a safety order for three years that covers your child. The wife said the couple had been early investors in crypto currency. She said: We had amassed quite a large amount of money. The husband said all the investment was made with his salary. Asked by Judge Gabbett how much crypto currency is involved, the woman said: We are talking about in excess of 500,000. The woman said the crypto currency investment involved 6.6 Bitcoin, which she said alone was currently worth probably 250,000. She said: There is a colossal amount of Dogecoin which were worthless when we bought it but are now worth also in the hundreds of thousands of euro. There is Bitcoin cash, there is Litecoin all of these have considerable value there is 70,000 to 80,000 in Litecoin. In addition, I had considerable investment in gold and silver bullion that were being held physically in a vault in Switzerland. That vault has been frozen to me because of his activities. Both the man and woman made claims and counter-claims that each other had put the crypto currency beyond the reach of each other pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings. The woman said: "I am forced to fight legal battles in three countries with no resources. Judge Gabbett said it would be for another judge to decide who gets what in the divorce settlement. The woman told the court: I am not here because I enjoy being here. I am here because I am in genuine fear. I am genuine fear for myself, I am genuine fear for my child. I never thought I would live without a penny." The woman said she never thought she would have to install security cameras at her home. The man said he had never harassed his ex-wife and agreed his case was that his ex-wife should not be frightened of him because there was nothing to be frightened of. The woman made allegations of constant gaslighting, coercion, isolation, financial control by her ex-husband and in evidence he denied all these allegations. Judge Gabbett ordered that the man have access to the couples child while in Ireland. Customs Officers and gardai carried out a joint investigation which resulted in catching a 49-year-old man Cork man with a 700,000 stash of cannabis at a storehouse on Bandon Road in Cork. Now he has been jailed for five years. Judge Colin Daly imposed a sentence of six years with the last year suspended in the case against Eugene Barrett, with an address at an apartment at Smithgrove Terrace on Middle Glanmire Road, Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. He affirmed a signed plea of guilty to the charge against him possession of 700,000 worth of cannabis herb at Ardrostig, Bandon Road, Cork, for sale or supply to others at a time when the street value of the drugs exceeded 13,000, the threshold figure for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years unless the judge finds there are exceptional circumstances. Det Garda Eoin OToole testified a large consignment of cannabis was first located at a holding unit in Spain. It consisted of 35kg of cannabis with a street value of 700,000. From the time of the interception of the drugs in Spain, a joint operation was set up in Cork City between customs officers and gardai. Judge Daly said in terms of the gravity of the offence that the accused man was involved in in the supply and distribution of a very significant amount of drugs and that his culpability was high. The judge said he was also taking into consideration the harm caused to society by a drug enterprise such as this. The five-year jail term was backdated to the date the crime was detected on September 29, 2022. Gardai objected to bail being granted to the accused at that time and Barrett was remanded in custody since that date. A week-long series of events is being planned in West Cork to remember the 225th anniversary of the only battle fought in Munster during the United Irishmen rebellion. If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading A special call has gone out to find relatives of those who fought or of blacksmiths who made their famous pikes. The events will begin on June 19, the exact day in 1798 when United Irishmen, under the command of Tadhg O Donnabhain Asna, ambushed a group of Westmeath Militia Crown Forces just north of Shannonvale, near Clonakilty. The militia were attacked at what became known as The Battle of the Big Cross and the commemoration events are being organised by Duchas Clonakilty Heritage. Organising committee spokesman Cionnaith O Suilleabhain said they were hoping people would dress up as Croppies at the events and bring along replica pikes to add to the occasion. At 8pm on June 19, a wreath-laying commemoration will be held at Asna Square followed by a wreath-laying at nearby Old Town Hall/Markethouse, McCurtain Hill, where the bodies of dead United Irishmen were dumped after the battle. The following day, again at 8pm, there will be a wreath-laying at Desmond's Ballymacowen Forge site, followed by wreath-laying at Tadhg an Asna's homestead, Lackanalooha. After that, there will be a lecture on the battle and related items by Tim Crowley at the Michael Collins Centre. Participants are asked to assemble at Phairs car park, Shannonvale village on June 21 to march to nearby Big Cross Monument itself for a wreath-laying ceremony. Mr O Suilleabhain said from 12pm3pm on June 24 people will be able to assemble for "a walk and talk" around local sites associated with the battle. This will include visits to The Pike, The Big Cross battle site, Tadhg O Donnabhain Asnas homestead at Lackanalooha and his grave at Ballintemple Cemetery. Full details of all events can be found here. An 11-year-old girl from a British family has been shot dead in France while her father is seriously injured, according to reports. A neighbour is said to have shot at the girl on Saturday evening in a hamlet near the city of Quimper in the western province of Brittany. Her eight-year-old sister was left in shock, local media reported. The UK Foreign Office is providing assistance to her family. A spokesperson said: We are providing consular assistance to a British family following a shooting in France and are in contact with the local authorities. The suspect, who is a 71-year-old Dutch national, has been arrested, according to local prosecutors. Carine Halley, the state prosecutor in Quimper, said the child was dead and her father, who is about 40-years-old, was seriously injured when police arrived, The Times reported. Ms Halley said he was taken to hospital in a critical condition and initial evidence suggests the suspect suddenly emerged armed with a gun and fired several times towards the victims, the newspaper reported. He is reported to have then shut himself in his house with his wife. The Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie tactical unit was called to the scene and a negotiator persuaded the neighbour and his wife to give themselves up before they were arrested, the prosecutor reportedly said. A local resident told French media that the younger child raised the alarm, running to neighbours shouting: My sister is dead, my sister is dead. The Times said the family-of-four are believed to have lived in their current home for about four or five years and that the two girls were born in France. Marguerite Bleuzen, the mayor of the nearby village of Plonevez-du-Faou, is reported to have said the family were well-known and came to the village fete. A Vatican court convicted two environmental activists of aggravated damage on Monday and ordered them to pay more than 28,000 euros (24,000) in restitution after they glued their hands to the base of an ancient statue in the Vatican Museums to draw attention to climate change. The two members of the Last Generation environmental activist group, Guido Viero and Ester Goffi, also received a nine-month suspended sentence and were fined 1,620 euros (1,400) each. A third activist on trial with them, Laura Zorzini, was fined 120 euros (103). The trial followed at protest on August 18 in the Vatican Museums, during which Viero and Goffi glued their hands to the base of the Laocoon statue, one of the most important ancient works in the collection, believed to date from the 1st century B.C. The statue of Laocoon in the Vatican (Alamy/PA) They hung up a banner reading Last Generation: No Gas And No Carbon, as Zorzini filmed them. Their action was part of a wave of Last Generation and related activist protests around Europe that have targeted museums and other cultural institutions, tied up traffic for days and otherwise caused disruptions in a bid to draw attention to what the activists say is the failure of governments to take action to fight climate change. In closing arguments, the lawyer for the Vatican City State accused the defendants of exploiting Pope Franciss known concern for the environmental cause by causing inestimable damage to a piece of the worlds artistic and cultural patrimony. Lawyer Floriana Gigli said Viero and Goffi knew their protest would damage the artwork, citing their decision to glue their hands to the base, not the statue itself, and yet never expressed regret at the damage caused. None of the defendants was in the Vatican criminal tribunal for the verdicts. During a hearing on May 24, Viero and Goffi told the court they never intended to damage the statue, but also strongly defended their cause. Last Generation activists protested at the Vatican (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) Viero told the court he felt an obligation as a father and grandfather to draw attention to Italys failure to halt global warming. Goffi, for her part, recalled she had brought a glue solvent in her bag, but Vatican restorers used a different acetone-based substance to unglue their hands. Vatican prosecutor Catia Summaria had sought a sentence of two years and a fine of 3,000 euros (2,600) each for Viero and Goffi and a sentence of one month for Zorzini. But she said if the court decided on suspended sentences, the defendants should be ordered to repay the full cost of the damage to the statue. Ms Gigli said the actual cost was impossible to estimate given the statue is a priceless artwork and is permanently damaged. She asked the court for an appraisal to come up with a figure, saying the restoration work alone had cost 3,148 euros (2,700). In the end, the court quantified the restitution owed to the Vatican City State at 28,148 euros (24,220). During the previous hearing, the head of the Vatican Museums marble restoration laboratory, Guy Devreux, said the damage to the base was ultimately less than he had anticipated but was nevertheless permanent. He said the marble base of the statute was absolutely to be considered an integral part of the work. Last Generation has said it targeted the Laocoon statue, which is believed to have been carved in Rhodes in 40-30 B.C, because of the symbolic story behind it. According to legend and the Vatican Museums own website, Laocoon warned his fellow Trojans against accepting the wooden horse left by the Greeks during the Trojan War. The group said the climate crisis is a modern-day warning being unheeded by political leaders. An investigation was under way on Monday into why a tanker fire collapsed a section of the US east coasts main north-south road, throwing hundreds of thousands of morning commutes into chaos and disrupting commerce for untold numbers of businesses. Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be closed in both directions for weeks at the start of the summer travel season. Motorists should expect extensive delays and street closures, and avoid the north-east corner of the sixth-largest city in the country, transport officials said. The accident also disrupted the car route from Canada to Florida through the Boston, New York and Washington metropolitan areas. A investigator surveys the aftermath of the collapse (Matt Rourke/AP) Pennsylvania transportation secretary Michael Carroll said the I-95 segment carries roughly 160,000 vehicles per day. Sundays fire sent plumes of black smoke into the air. The north-bound lanes collapsed and the south-bound counterparts were compromised, according to the Philadelphia fire department. Authorities have not publicly identified the lorry owner or the driver, indicated whether the driver survived, or said what exactly fuelled the blaze. Governor Josh Shapiro signed a disaster declaration on Monday, saying it gives state agencies the ability to skip normal bidding and contracting requirements so that the road can be repaired more quickly. The road collapsed after a tanker caught fire (Matt Rourke/AP) Mr Shapiro said Sunday that no motorists on the highway were injured or died, although videos shared on social media showed some close calls, with people driving through as flames licked upward from the fire below. Officials said the tanker contained what may have been hundreds of gallons of petrol. The fire took about an hour to get under control. High heat from the fire or the impact of an explosion could have weakened the steel beams supporting the overpass, according to Drexel University structural engineering Professor Abi Aghayere. Crews on the scene in Philadelphia (WPVI-TV/6ABC/AP) Bridges like the one that collapsed do not typically have fire protection, like concrete casing, he added. It could have been coated in a fire-retarding paint, but even then the beams could have been weakened. It just gives you time, he said. The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a 212 million dollar (170 million) reconstruction project that finished four years ago, state transportation department spokesman Brad Rudolph said. The 104ft elevated section was in good condition earlier this year, with another inspection set for 2025. Shunned by foreign governments around the world, Myanmars junta is desperate to promote ties with a handful of countries, led by China and Russia its key arms suppliers. Testament to that fact is the Myanmar Air Force (MAF), which is mainly armed by China and Russia. It comes as no surprise, then, to see the air force bombing villages with Chinese-made A-5 fighter jets and the upgraded K-8W, which is assembled jointly by Chinese technicians and the Myanmar militarys ordnance factory. The A-5 is normally equipped with China-made 250 kg thermobaric bombs while the K-8W uses 250 kg low-drag bombs. When [the Myanmar military] buys aircraft from China, it cant buy aircraft alone. It has to buy the set of bombs and rockets used along with the aircraft, explained an air force defector. Since the February 2021 coup, the regime has mainly used K-8Ws to bomb ethnic revolutionary organizations and Peoples Defense Forces. One notable example of a junta air attack involving K-8Ws was the raid on ANang Pa village in Kachin States Hpakant Township in October last year. Dozens of people, many of whom were civilians, were killed and more than 100 injured in the aerial attack, which targeted a concert held by the Kachin Independence Army. The air force, which has carried out numerous attacks on non-military targets including schools, healthcare facilities and displacement camps, is also using aircraft and rockets purchased from Russia, according to MAF defectors. International sanctions forced the MAF to rely on Chinese weapons until the early 2000s. But frustrated over the quality of China-made aircraft, it began looking for other suppliers. In 2015 and 2016, the military purchased Yak-130 fighter jets and weapon systems from Russia in deals brokered by crony arms dealer U Tay Za. The Yak-130s were commissioned into service in 2018 at Tada-U airbase in Mandalay. The MAF has also purchased MI-35 and MI-29 helicopter gunships from Russia. The Yak-130 was used for training only until the military coup in 2021. Since then, it has become one of the regimes main weapons in its struggle to contain resistance to military rule. [The military] can use Yak-130s widely because it purchased bombs with the aircraft and can continue to buy bombs from Russia, said the MAF defector. The Yak-130 uses Russia-made guided KAB-500 bombs. In April, a Yak-130 jet dropped KAB-500 bombs and a 100500 kg thermobaric bomb on Pazi Gyi village in Sagaing Regions Kantbalu Township, massacring around 175 civilians. The bombing marked the militarys deadliest attack since seizing power in 2021. After reviewing photos and video of victims at the attack scene, Human Rights Watch concluded the strike was conducted with a thermobaric bomb designed to inflict maximum casualties and damage over a wide area. This type of weapon is often called a vapor-cloud or fuel-air explosive (FAE) bomb because it uses oxygen from the air to generate a high-temperature explosion. The latest assault by junta troops on resistance-defended Moebye Town in southern Shan State saw both sides suffer heavy casualties on Sunday, according to rescue workers and resistance groups. Junta forces launched an artillery bombardment at around 11 am before soldiers stormed the town, which lies on the border with the resistance stronghold of Kayah State. The regime troops were engaged by combined resistance forces comprising the Moebye Peoples Defence Force (MBPDF), Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) Battalion 3, and the Urban Revolution Front (URF). The resistance groups said four of the defenders were killed in the clash, two from the KNDF and one each from the MBPDF and URF. An MBPDF spokesperson said at least 20 junta troops were killed on Sunday. The Irrawaddy was not able to verify the casualty figures independently. When we saw junta troops approaching, we warned the townsfolk to stay indoors and keep away from the battleground and nearby roads, said the spokesperson. A member of the Moebye Rescue Team confirmed that both sides suffered heavy casualties in Sundays fighting but could not give a death toll. No civilians were killed, she said. Sundays clash came after junta troops slaughtered at least five civilians during two days of raids in Moebye on June 8 and 9. Two brothers were shot dead by regime soldiers on Thursday while two sisters and their father met the same fate a day later. Sources said the two female victims were reportedly raped before being killed. Around 13 people were also detained by junta troops during the raids. Military tensions remain high, and though there were no clashes in the town today, we can still we hear gunshots and explosions nearby, said a 34-year-old male resident on Monday. He said residents fear the regime will use airstrikes to attack the town after suffering heavy casualties. Clashes between junta troops and Moebye PDF Battalion-2 in the neighbouring village of Khaung Ei in Hpekon Township also killed two snipers from MBPDF Battalion 2 on June 10. A Buddhist monk who runs a refuge for thousands of homeless people has drawn criticism for suggesting that detained civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should leave politics and cooperate with the military regime to achieve peace in Myanmar. Buddhist monk U Ottamathara, the head of Thabawa (Nature) Meditation Center in Thanlyin Township on the outskirts of Yangon, visited National League for Democracy (NLD) patron U Tin Oo at his house on Thursday. The meditation center posted a video of the meeting on its Facebook page on Friday. In the video, U Ottamathara says tensions are running high in the Myanmar military over Aung San Suu Kyis refusal to give up politics. Suu Kyi is the key person for peace in Myanmar given her influence over the majority of the population, said the monk. For the sake of people and peace, if she says something is white, not many people will say it is black, the monk told U Tin Oo. The monk said he would like to meet Suu Kyi in person to explain that the situation could either improve or worsen depending on her actions. U Tin Oo, 96, gave a murmured response that could not be deciphered from the clip. The monks meeting with NLDs patron came after junta National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) chairman Lieutenant-General Yar Pyae and retired Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo met Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw Prison, where she is being held, on May 27 and June 4. The military regime is fighting a multi-front war across the country comprising daily clashes with ethnic armed organizations and resistance groups collectively known as the Peoples Defense Force, which operates as the armed wing of the civilian National Unity Government. U Ottamathara has also held several rounds of talks with junta representatives led by Lt-Gen Win Bo Shein and Lt-Gen Min Naing of the NSPNC, according to Thabawa Meditation Centers Facebook page. The monk has opened meditation centers in Thailands Mae Sot and Chiang Mai, with the stated purpose of helping countless Myanmar people who have fled the fighting and turmoil that followed the February 2021 coup. Thai police raided the Mae Sot Thabawa meditation center in August last year and discovered it was harboring Myanmar intelligence officers. The officers were sent by the junta to gather information on Myanmar citizens who oppose military rule, according to Thai media reports. U Ottamathara denied harboring intelligence officials. Political observers believe Thabawa Meditation Center may have ties with the juntas military intelligence chief Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo. They speculate that U Ottamathara met U Tin Oo on orders from the junta. This is a move by the Myanmar military to create discord as it wants to halt the uprising by taking advantage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The conflicts will stop if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks out. This way, she would be regarded the mother of peace but unable to engage in politics, and Myanmars military could do as it pleases, one observer remarked. However, since it is the militarys involvement in politics that has plunged Myanmar into crisis, it should be the one to abandon politics for peace to prevail in Myanmar, the observer added. Other observers point out that Suu Kyi retains the backing of most Myanmar people and cannot be left out of any push for genuine peace. Writing on Facebook, veteran democracy activist Ko Mya Aye said: We cant ignore the fact that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is trusted and supported by the majority of Myanmars people. The wishes of the people must be heeded. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be excluded if solutions are to be sought for Myanmars political problems. Buddhist monk Sayadaw Min Thu Nya said Thabawa Sayadaw is turning a blind eye to the juntas violations instead of seeking to stop them as required by Buddhist morality. He has witnessed killings, rape, arson, looting and theft by Min Aung Hlaing and his associates. He has not asked them to stop doing those things. What he should be doing is asking for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to be released. But he is now trying to deceive people into thinking that problems will be solved if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi retires from politics, he said. More than 3,000 civilians from eight villages in Sagaing Regions Salingyi Township have fled their homes since Myanmar junta troops began torching civilian homes on Friday evening, after local resistance forces attacked a police station in Nyaung Pin Gyi Village. Union Liberation Front and the Buffalo Peoples Defense Force (Loikaw) fighters torched the police station and killed a dozen regime forces in the attack. The Myanmar military responded with a 30-minute airstrike using an Mi-35 attack helicopter. After the airstrike, more than 100 regime troops stationed at Letpadaung copper mine raided the village and set homes near the police station aflame. Nyaung Pin Gyi is on the bank of Chindwin River near the copper mine, which is operated by the military and the Chinese company Wanbao. Following the dual air and ground attacks, thousands of civilians began fleeing their homes. They have been finding shelter in monasteries and with relatives in other villages, according to the local youth charity Anyar Pyit Taking Htaung Lay Myar. A spokesperson for the charity said villagers started fleeing as soon as the Peoples Defense Forces attacked the police station and had no time to take clothes and food with them. Some of the children are sick, so urgent medical and food aid is needed, she told The Irrawaddy. Regime troops continued setting homes aflame in Nyaung Pin Gyi village on the weekend and did the same in nearby Htan Taw village, according to the charity. On Sunday, local residents said the body of resistance fighter Ko Myat Thu Lin, also known as Ko Bant Gyi, was found near the village. He had also been a member of the Salingyi Peoples administration. Ko Myat Thu Lin, who was in his forties, was arrested by regime troops on May 31 near Nyaung Pin Gyi village. He was transferred to Monywa interrogation center on June 3, according to Salingyi Information, a group that shares information about junta atrocities in the area. His body was found after 11 days of detention. His body had knife wounds and other signs of torture. Junta troops also planted a land mine near his body and a resistance fighter was injured by it while trying to retrieve Ko Myat Thu Lins body, Salingyi Information said. The youth charity said arson attacks on Nyaung Pin Gyi village continued on Monday morning but the extent of the damage was not yet known. For the fourth day, they torched houses in Nyaung Pin Gyi and nearby villages, the charitys spokesperson said. Union Liberation Front spokesperson Ko At said many of the more than 1,000 homes in Nyaung Pin Gyi village had been destroyed by regime arson attacks. There have been no clashes since the attack on the police station, but regime troops have stationed themselves in Nyaung Pin Gyi village and conducted raids around it, he added. Salingyi is a resistance stronghold bordering Yinmarbin Township. Junta troops have frequently used arson attacks to destroy villages in Sagaing Region in an apparent attempt to reduce the strength of the growing resistance they face. Monday, Jun 12th, 2023 (11:15 am) - Score 2,064 The Government has revealed some new details about their previously announced trial (here) to deliver high-speed broadband via Satellite ISP solutions to Shetland. At the same time, theyve also launched a new Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Telecoms Diversification with Australia. In case anybody has forgotten. The Government set aside 8m to help deliver high-speed broadband for up to 35,000 of the UKs most remote properties (i.e. those unable to get gigabit-capable connections). At the time they could only confirm that this would involve OneWebs Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network via partners BT and Clarus. Back then, the Gov also stated that the trials would take place somewhere in the Shetland Islands and on Lundy Island, near the north Devon coast. These trials build on OneWebs community broadband trials to sites in remote locations such as Canada, Greenland, and soon to British territories in the South Atlantic. The good news is that the Government has today revealed some more details on the Shetland trial and a few other developments. But due to a meeting, I cant do a proper summary this morning, thus Ill just have to paste the key bits of their announcement. Papa Stour connected to high-speed satellite broadband The island of Papa Stour in the Shetland Islands, one of the most remote communities anywhere in the UK, will see its digital infrastructure transformed in a matter of days as part of government plans to ensure universal access to fast, reliable broadband coverage. Clarus Networks Group starts work on installing a specialist Kymeta flat panel today which, when finished later this week, will link to OneWebs constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to beam high-speed, reliable broadband connections to the island from space. The panels installation marks its first commercial roll-out in Europe and forms part of the governments Alpha Trial programme launched in December to test the capability and viability of low orbit satellites to deliver high-speed connectivity to communities in very hard to reach areas. Broadband connectivity will be beamed down to the Scottish islands rugged coastline via OneWebs satellite network, delivering life-changing digital accessibility, made possible by British-born science and technology innovation, and effective collaboration between central and local government. Boosting connectivity and innovation with Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme The Minister also announced the launch of the Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP). Helping local authorities to deploy advanced digital infrastructure such as smart lampposts, SIPP will support the ambition set out in the governments recently published Wireless Infrastructure Strategy for people, business and public services across the UK to realise the full benefits of 5G and other advanced wireless connectivity from economic to environmental growth. The initiative, a joint programme between DSIT and the Department for Transport (DfT), will provide up to 1.5 million in funding for 6 local authority-led pilots, which will be matched by smart service providers working with the participating local authorities, to procure and test innovative smart multi-purpose columns or lampposts. Smart multi-purpose columns or lamp posts are street furniture that have the capacity to deliver a range of smart services, including improved mobile network connectivity, public Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging, public safety and environmental monitoring. Investing in this technology can help bring cost savings to a local authority and increase connectivity for local communities. The announcement is also a significant step towards achieving the governments levelling up priorities and fostering widespread access to the benefits of good connectivity in communities across the UK. UK and Australia Memorandum of Understanding on Telecoms Diversification Minister Whittingdale today announced a Memorandum of Understanding on Telecoms Diversification between the UK and Australia. Telecoms supply chains are global and working together with international partners is a critical piece of the governments approach to achieving ambitions on telecoms diversification reducing the global reliance on just a number of vendors to provide equipment for building 5G and future telecoms technologies networks and attracting new entrants to the UK market. The MoU cements the strong foundations that already exist between the UK and Australia and will see the 2 countries strengthen cooperation on telecoms diversification, particularly the development of open and interoperable solutions such as open RAN, a kit which allows providers to mix and match solutions from multiple vendors enabling much more vendor diversity in the telecoms ecosystem. UPDATE 13th June 2023 @ 4:13pm The Edinburgh-based Clarus Networks Group has today confirmed to us that theyll officially switch-on the trial network in Papa Stour tomorrow, which will then distribute the broadband capacity from OneWebs satellite network out to the islands primary school building via a WiFi link. At its peak in the 19th century, Papa Stours population was around 380 people, supported by a strong fishing sector. However, the population has dwindled since, and the island is now a permanent home to just 7 people. Presently, there are no children living on the island, but it is hoped the fast connection will allow the school building to act as a connection hub for the islanders. The switch-on also marks Europes first commercial deployment of a new satellite comms panel, the Kymeta Hawk u8 terminal, which is flat and compact compared to previous domed antennas. Monday, Jun 12th, 2023 (10:17 am) - Score 576 Broadband network builder and UK ISP Zzoomm has today announced that the first customers in the Cheshire town of Congleton are now able to connect to their new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) infrastructure, which follows only a year after the build itself (here) was first announced. The operator, which aspires to cover 1 million premises across 85 UK towns by the end of 2025 (mostly in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Wiltshire, West Yorkshire and Cheshire), states that theyve invested 6.25m from their funding pot to build the new network in Congleton. Once completed, the local fibre should reach 12,500 properties. NOTE: 100m from 100m debt facility via an international banking consortium ( Zzoomm is fuelled by an equity investment offrom Oaktree Capital here ) and adebt facility via an international banking consortium ( here ). Customers who take the residential service typically pay from 29.95 per month for an unlimited 150Mbps (symmetric speed) package on a 12-month term with an included router, which goes up to just 64.95 if you want their top 2Gbps tier (or 39.95 for 900Mbps+). Most of their packages also discount the price for the first 3 months of service. However, they will face some local competition, since Openreach has already deployed their own gigabit-capable full fibre network across most of the town. But the good news is that, for now, that appears to be their only large-scale gigabit competitor in the town and so there should be enough space for both to compete. 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. Site Navigation Home Books by Jo - online ordering What's New About Jo Photos Political Buttons Search Links Contact Jo Jo's online articles by topic: -- The Feminist Movement -- Feminist Articles by Joreen -- 4th Int'l Women's Conference (Beijing) -- Women in Society -- On Students and Scholars -- Women, Law and Public Policy -- Women's Political History -- Women at Political Party Conventions -- A Woman for President? -- Columns for Senior Women Web -- Social Movements -- The Civil Rights Movement -- Social Protest in the Sixties -- Political Parties -- Reporting on the Right -- War -- Reviews -- Cranston Campaign Diary (1984) THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS by Jo Freeman aka Joreen The earliest version of this article was given as a talk at a conference called by the Southern Female Rights Union, held in Beulah, Mississippi in May 1970. It was written up for Notes from the Third Year (1971), but the editors did not use it. It was then submitted to several movement publications, but only one asked permission to publish it; others did so without permission. The first official place of publication was in Vol. 2, No. 1 of The Second Wave (1972). This early version in movement publications was authored by Joreen. Different versions were published in the Berkeley Journal of Sociology , Vol. 17, 1972-73, pp. 151-165, and Ms. magazine, July 1973, pp. 76-78, 86-89, authored by Jo Freeman. This piece spread all over the world. Numerous people have edited, reprinted, cut, and translated "Tyranny" for magazines, books and web sites, usually without the permission or knowledge of the author. The version below is a blend of the three cited here. During the years in which the women's liberation movement has been taking shape, a great emphasis has been placed on what are called leaderless, structureless groups as the main -- if not sole -- organizational form of the movement. The source of this idea was a natural reaction against the over-structured society in which most of us found ourselves, and the inevitable control this gave others over our lives, and the continual elitism of the Left and similar groups among those who were supposedly fighting this overstructuredness. The idea of "structurelessness," however, has moved from a healthy counter to those tendencies to becoming a goddess in its own right. The idea is as little examined as the term is much used, but it has become an intrinsic and unquestioned part of women's liberation ideology. For the early development of the movement this did not much matter. It early defined its main goal, and its main method, as consciousness-raising, and the "structureless" rap group was an excellent means to this end. The looseness and informality of it encouraged participation in discussion, and its often supportive atmosphere elicited personal insight. If nothing more concrete than personal insight ever resulted from these groups, that did not much matter, because their purpose did not really extend beyond this. The basic problems didn't appear until individual rap groups exhausted the virtues of consciousness-raising and decided they wanted to do something more specific. At this point they usually foundered because most groups were unwilling to change their structure when they changed their tasks. Women had thoroughly accepted the idea of "structurelessness" without realizing the limitations of its uses. People would try to use the "structureless" group and the informal conference for purposes for which they were unsuitable out of a blind belief that no other means could possibly be anything but oppressive. If the movement is to grow beyond these elementary stages of development, it will have to disabuse itself of some of its prejudices about organization and structure. There is nothing inherently bad about either of these. They can be and often are misused, but to reject them out of hand because they are misused is to deny ourselves the necessary tools to further development. We need to understand why "structurelessness" does not work. FORMAL AND INFORMAL STRUCTURES Contrary to what we would like to believe, there is no such thing as a structureless group. Any group of people of whatever nature that comes together for any length of time for any purpose will inevitably structure itself in some fashion. The structure may be flexible; it may vary over time; it may evenly or unevenly distribute tasks, power and resources over the members of the group. But it will be formed regardless of the abilities, personalities, or intentions of the people involved. The very fact that we are individuals, with different talents, predispositions, and backgrounds makes this inevitable. Only if we refused to relate or interact on any basis whatsoever could we approximate structurelessness -- and that is not the nature of a human group. This means that to strive for a structureless group is as useful, and as deceptive, as to aim at an "objective" news story, "value-free" social science, or a "free" economy. A "laissez faire" group is about as realistic as a "laissez faire" society; the idea becomes a smokescreen for the strong or the lucky to establish unquestioned hegemony over others. This hegemony can be so easily established because the idea of "structurelessness" does not prevent the formation of informal structures, only formal ones. Similarly "laissez faire" philosophy did not prevent the economically powerful from establishing control over wages, prices, and distribution of goods; it only prevented the government from doing so. Thus structurelessness becomes a way of masking power, and within the women's movement is usually most strongly advocated by those who are the most powerful (whether they are conscious of their power or not). As long as the structure of the group is informal, the rules of how decisions are made are known only to a few and awareness of power is limited to those who know the rules. Those who do not know the rules and are not chosen for initiation must remain in confusion, or suffer from paranoid delusions that something is happening of which they are not quite aware. For everyone to have the opportunity to be involved in a given group and to participate in its activities the structure must be explicit, not implicit. The rules of decision-making must be open and available to everyone, and this can happen only if they are formalized. This is not to say that formalization of a structure of a group will destroy the informal structure. It usually doesn't. But it does hinder the informal structure from having predominant control and make available some means of attacking it if the people involved are not at least responsible to the needs of the group at large. "Structurelessness" is organizationally impossible. We cannot decide whether to have a structured or structureless group, only whether or not to have a formally structured one. Therefore the word will not be used any longer except to refer to the idea it represents. Unstructured will refer to those groups which have not been deliberately structured in a particular manner. Structured will refer to those which have. A Structured group always has formal structure, and may also have an informal, or covert, structure. It is this informal structure, particularly in Unstructured groups, which forms the basis for elites. THE NATURE OF ELITISM "Elitist" is probably the most abused word in the women's liberation movement. It is used as frequently, and for the same reasons, as "pinko" was used in the fifties. It is rarely used correctly. Within the movement it commonly refers to individuals, though the personal characteristics and activities of those to whom it is directed may differ widely: An individual, as an individual can never be an elitist, because the only proper application of the term "elite" is to groups. Any individual, regardless of how well-known that person may be, can never be an elite. Correctly, an elite refers to a small group of people who have power over a larger group of which they are part, usually without direct responsibility to that larger group, and often without their knowledge or consent. A person becomes an elitist by being part of, or advocating the rule by, such a small group, whether or not that individual is well known or not known at all. Notoriety is not a definition of an elitist. The most insidious elites are usually run by people not known to the larger public at all. Intelligent elitists are usually smart enough not to allow themselves to become well known; when they become known, they are watched, and the mask over their power is no longer firmly lodged. Elites are not conspiracies. Very seldom does a small group of people get together and deliberately try to take over a larger group for its own ends. Elites are nothing more, and nothing less, than groups of friends who also happen to participate in the same political activities. They would probably maintain their friendship whether or not they were involved in political activities; they would probably be involved in political activities whether or not they maintained their friendships. It is the coincidence of these two phenomena which creates elites in any group and makes them so difficult to break. These friendship groups function as networks of communication outside any regular channels for such communication that may have been set up by a group. If no channels are set up, they function as the only networks of communication. Because people are friends, because they usually share the same values and orientations, because they talk to each other socially and consult with each other when common decisions have to be made, the people involved in these networks have more power in the group than those who don't. And it is a rare group that does not establish some informal networks of communication through the friends that are made in it. Some groups, depending on their size, may have more than one such informal communications network. Networks may even overlap. When only one such network exists, it is the elite of an otherwise Unstructured group, whether the participants in it want to be elitists or not. If it is the only such network in a Structured group it may or may not be an elite depending on its composition and the nature of the formal Structure. If there are two or more such networks of friends, they may compete for power within the group, thus forming factions, or one may deliberately opt out of the competition, leaving the other as the elite. In a Structured group, two or more such friendship networks usually compete with each other for formal power. This is often the healthiest situation, as the other members are in a position to arbitrate between the two competitors for power and thus to make demands on those to whom they give their temporary allegiance. The inevitably elitist and exclusive nature of informal communication networks of friends is neither a new phenomenon characteristic of the women's movement nor a phenomenon new to women. Such informal relationships have excluded women for centuries from participating in integrated groups of which they were a part. In any profession or organization these networks have created the "locker room" mentality and the "old school" ties which have effectively prevented women as a group (as well as some men individually) from having equal access to the sources of power or social reward. Much of the energy of past women's movements has been directed to having the structures of decision-making and the selection processes formalized so that the exclusion of women could be confronted directly. As we well know, these efforts have not prevented the informal male-only networks from discriminating against women, but they have made it more difficult. Because elites are informal does not mean they are invisible. At any small group meeting anyone with a sharp eye and an acute ear can tell who is influencing whom. The members of a friendship group will relate more to each other than to other people. They listen more attentively, and interrupt less; they repeat each other's points and give in amiably; they tend to ignore or grapple with the "outs" whose approval is not necessary for making a decision. But it is necessary for the "outs" to stay on good terms with the "ins." Of course the lines are not as sharp as I have drawn them. They are nuances of interaction, not prewritten scripts. But they are discernible, and they do have their effect. Once one knows with whom it is important to check before a decision is made, and whose approval is the stamp of acceptance, one knows who is running things. Since movement groups have made no concrete decisions about who shall exercise power within them, many different criteria are used around the country. Most criteria are along the lines of traditional female characteristics. For instance, in the early days of the movement, marriage was usually a prerequisite for participation in the informal elite. As women have been traditionally taught, married women relate primarily to each other, and look upon single women as too threatening to have as close friends. In many cities, this criterion was further refined to include only those women married to New Left men. This standard had more than tradition behind it, however, because New Left men often had access to resources needed by the movement -- such as mailing lists, printing presses, contacts, and information -- and women were used to getting what they needed through men rather than independently. As the movement has charged through time, marriage has become a less universal criterion for effective participation, but all informal elites establish standards by which only women who possess certain material or personal characteristics may join. They frequently include: middle-class background (despite all the rhetoric about relating to the working class); being married; not being married but living with someone; being or pretending to be a lesbian; being between the ages of twenty and thirty; being college educated or at least having some college background; being "hip"; not being too "hip"; holding a certain political line or identification as a "radical"; having children or at least liking them; not having children; having certain "feminine" personality characteristics such as being "nice"; dressing right (whether in the traditional style or the antitraditional style); etc. There are also some characteristics which will almost always tag one as a "deviant" who should not be related to. They include: being too old; working full time, particularly if one is actively committed to a "career"; not being "nice"; and being avowedly single (i.e., neither actively heterosexual nor homosexual). Other criteria could be included, but they all have common themes. The characteristics prerequisite for participating in the informal elites of the movement, and thus for exercising power, concern one's background, personality, or allocation of time. They do not include one's competence, dedication to feminism, talents, or potential contribution to the movement. The former are the criteria one usually uses in determining one's friends. The latter are what any movement or organization has to use if it is going to be politically effective. The criteria of participation may differ from group to group, but the means of becoming a member of the informal elite if one meets those criteria art pretty much the same. The only main difference depends on whether one is in a group from the beginning, or joins it after it has begun. If involved from the beginning it is important to have as many of one's personal friends as possible also join. If no one knows anyone else very well, then one must deliberately form friendships with a select number and establish the informal interaction patterns crucial to the creation of an informal structure. Once the informal patterns are formed they act to maintain themselves, and one of the most successful tactics of maintenance is to continuously recruit new people who "fit in." One joins such an elite much the same way one pledges a sorority. If perceived as a potential addition, one is "rushed" by the members of the informal structure and eventually either dropped or initiated. If the sorority is not politically aware enough to actively engage in this process itself it can be started by the outsider pretty much the same way one joins any private club. Find a sponsor, i.e., pick some member of the elite who appears to be well respected within it, and actively cultivate that person's friendship. Eventually, she will most likely bring you into the inner circle. All of these procedures take time. So if one works full time or has a similar major commitment, it is usually impossible to join simply because there are not enough hours left to go to all the meetings and cultivate the personal relationship necessary to have a voice in the decision-making. That is why formal structures of decision making are a boon to the overworked person. Having an established process for decision-making ensures that everyone can participate in it to some extent. Although this dissection of the process of elite formation within small groups has been critical in perspective, it is not made in the belief that these informal structures are inevitably bad -- merely inevitable. All groups create informal structures as a result of interaction patterns among the members of the group. Such informal structures can do very useful things But only Unstructured groups are totally governed by them. When informal elites are combined with a myth of "structurelessness," there can be no attempt to put limits on the use of power. It becomes capricious. This has two potentially negative consequences of which we should be aware. The first is that the informal structure of decision-making will be much like a sorority -- one in which people listen to others because they like them and not because they say significant things. As long as the movement does not do significant things this does not much matter. But if its development is not to be arrested at this preliminary stage, it will have to alter this trend. The second is that informal structures have no obligation to be responsible to the group at large. Their power was not given to them; it cannot be taken away. Their influence is not based on what they do for the group; therefore they cannot be directly influenced by the group. This does not necessarily make informal structures irresponsible. Those who are concerned with maintaining their influence will usually try to be responsible. The group simply cannot compel such responsibility; it is dependent on the interests of the elite. THE "STAR" SYSTEM The idea of "structurelessness" has created the "star" system. We live in a society which expects political groups to make decisions and to select people to articulate those decisions to the public at large. The press and the public do not know how to listen seriously to individual women as women; they want to know how the group feels. Only three techniques have ever been developed for establishing mass group opinion: the vote or referendum, the public opinion survey questionnaire, and the selection of group spokespeople at an appropriate meeting. The women's liberation movement has used none of these to communicate with the public. Neither the movement as a whole nor most of the multitudinous groups within it have established a means of explaining their position on various issues. But the public is conditioned to look for spokespeople. While it has consciously not chosen spokespeople, the movement has thrown up many women who have caught the public eye for varying reasons. These women represent no particular group or established opinion; they know this and usually say so. But because there are no official spokespeople nor any decision-making body that the press can query when it wants to know the movement's position on a subject, these women are perceived as the spokespeople. Thus, whether they want to or not, whether the movement likes it or not, women of public note are put in the role of spokespeople by default. This is one main source of the ire that is often felt toward the women who are labeled "stars." Because they were not selected by the women in the movement to represent the movement's views, they are resented when the press presumes that they speak for the movement. But as long as the movement does not select its own spokeswomen, such women will be placed in that role by the press and the public, regardless of their own desires. This has several negative consequences for both the movement and the women labeled "stars." First, because the movement didn't put them in the role of spokesperson, the movement cannot remove them. The press put them there and only the press can choose not to listen. The press will continue to look to "stars" as spokeswomen as long as it has no official alternatives to go to for authoritative statements from the movement. The movement has no control in the selection of its representatives to the public as long as it believes that it should have no representatives at all. Second, women put in this position often find themselves viciously attacked by their sisters. This achieves nothing for the movement and is painfully destructive to the individuals involved. Such attacks only result in either the woman leaving the movement entirely-often bitterly alienated -- or in her ceasing to feel responsible to her "sisters." She may maintain some loyalty to the movement, vaguely defined, but she is no longer susceptible to pressures from other women in it. One cannot feel responsible to people who have been the source of such pain without being a masochist, and these women are usually too strong to bow to that kind of personal pressure. Thus the backlash to the "star" system in effect encourages the very kind of individualistic nonresponsibility that the movement condemns. By purging a sister as a "star," the movement loses whatever control it may have had over the person who then becomes free to commit all of the individualistic sins of which she has been accused. POLITICAL IMPOTENCE Unstructured groups may be very effective in getting women to talk about their lives; they aren't very good for getting things done. It is when people get tired of "just talking" and want to do something more that the groups flounder, unless they change the nature of their operation. Occasionally, the developed informal structure of the group coincides with an available need that the group can fill in such a way as to give the appearance that an Unstructured group "works." That is, the group has fortuitously developed precisely the kind of structure best suited for engaging in a particular project. While working in this kind of group is a very heady experience, it is also rare and very hard to replicate. There are almost inevitably four conditions found in such a group; 1) It is task oriented. Its function is very narrow and very specific, like putting on a conference or putting out a newspaper. It is the task that basically structures the group. The task determines what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. It provides a guide by which people can judge their actions and make plans for future activity. 2) It is relatively small and homogeneous. Homogeneity is necessary to insure that participants have a "common language" for interaction. People from widely different backgrounds may provide richness to a consciousness-raising group where each can learn from the others' experience, but too great a diversity among members of a task-oriented group means only that they continually misunderstand each other. Such diverse people interpret words and actions differently. They have different expectations about each other's behavior and judge the results according to different criteria. If everyone knows everyone else well enough to understand the nuances, these can be accommodated. Usually, they only lead to confusion and endless hours spent straightening out conflicts no one ever thought would arise. 3) There is a high degree of communication. Information must be passed on to everyone, opinions checked, work divided up, and participation assured in the relevant decisions. This is only possible if the group is small and people practically live together for the most crucial phases of the task. Needless to say, the number of interactions necessary to involve everybody increases geometrically with the number of participants. This inevitably limits group participants to about five, or excludes some from some of the decisions. Successful groups can be as large as 10 or 15, but only when they are in fact composed of several smaller subgroups which perform specific parts of the task, and whose members overlap with each other so that knowledge of what the different subgroups are doing can be passed around easily. 4) There is a low degree of skill specialization. Not everyone has to be able to do everything, but everything must be able to be done by more than one person. Thus no one is indispensable. To a certain extent, people become interchangeable parts. While these conditions can occur serendipitously in small groups, this is not possible in large ones. Consequently, because the larger movement in most cities is as unstructured as individual rap groups, it is not too much more effective than the separate groups at specific tasks. The informal structure is rarely together enough or in touch enough with the people to be able to operate effectively. So the movement generates much motion and few results. Unfortunately, the consequences of all this motion are not as innocuous as the results' and their victim is the movement itself. Some groups have formed themselves into local action projects if they do not involve many people and work on a small scale. But this form restricts movement activity to the local level; it cannot be done on the regional or national. Also, to function well the groups must usually pare themselves down to that informal group of friends who were running things in the first place. This excludes many women from participating. As long as the only way women can participate in the movement is through membership in a small group, the nongregarious are at a distinct disadvantage. As long as friendship groups are the main means of organizational activity, elitism becomes institutionalized. For those groups which cannot find a local project to which to devote themselves, the mere act of staying together becomes the reason for their staying together. When a group has no specific task (and consciousness raising is a task), the people in it turn their energies to controlling others in the group. This is not done so much out of a malicious desire to manipulate others (though sometimes it is) as out of a lack of anything better to do with their talents. Able people with time on their hands and a need to justify their coming together put their efforts into personal control, and spend their time criticizing the personalities of the other members in the group. Infighting and personal power games rule the day. When a group is involved in a task, people learn to get along with others as they are and to subsume personal dislikes for the sake of the larger goal. There are limits placed on the compulsion to remold every person in our image of what they should be. The end of consciousness-raising leaves people with no place to go, and the lack of structure leaves them with no way of getting there. The women the movement either turn in on themselves and their sisters or seek other alternatives of action. There are few that are available. Some women just "do their own thing." This can lead to a great deal of individual creativity, much of which is useful for the movement, but it is not a viable alternative for most women and certainly does not foster a spirit of cooperative group effort. Other women drift out of the movement entirely because they don't want to develop an individual project and they have found no way of discovering, joining, or starting group projects that interest them. Many turn to other political organizations to give them the kind of structured, effective activity that they have not been able to find in the women's movement. Those political organizations which see women's liberation as only one of many issues to which women should devote their time thus find the movement a vast recruiting ground for new members. There is no need for such organizations to "infiltrate" (though this is not precluded). The desire for meaningful political activity generated in women by their becoming part of the women's liberation movement is sufficient to make them eager to join other organizations when the movement itself provides no outlets for their new ideas and energies. Those women who join other political organizations while remaining within the women's liberation movement, or who join women's liberation while remaining in other political organizations, in turn become the framework for new informal structures. These friendship networks are based upon their common nonfeminist politics rather than the characteristics discussed earlier, but operate in much the same way. Because these women share common values, ideas, and political orientations, they too become informal, unplanned, unselected, unresponsible elites -- whether they intend to be so or not. These new informal elites are often perceived as threats by the old informal elites previously developed within different movement groups. This is a correct perception. Such politically oriented networks are rarely willing to be merely "sororities" as many of the old ones were, and want to proselytize their political as well as their feminist ideas. This is only natural, but its implications for women's liberation have never been adequately discussed. The old elites are rarely willing to bring such differences of opinion out into the open because it would involve exposing the nature of the informal structure of the group. Many of these informal elites have been hiding under the banner of "anti-elitism" and "structurelessness." To effectively counter the competition from another informal structure, they would have to become "public," and this possibility is fraught with many dangerous implications. Thus, to maintain its own power, it is easier to rationalize the exclusion of the members of the other informal structure by such means as "red-baiting," "reformist-baiting," "lesbian-baiting," or "straight-baiting." The only other alternative is to formally structure the group in such a way that the original power structure is institutionalized. This is not always possible. If the informal elites have been well structured and have exercised a fair amount of power in the past, such a task is feasible. These groups have a history of being somewhat politically effective in the past, as the tightness of the informal structure has proven an adequate substitute for a formal structure. Becoming Structured does not alter their operation much, though the institutionalization of the power structure does open it to formal challenge. It is those groups which are in greatest need of structure that are often least capable of creating it. Their informal structures have not been too well formed and adherence to the ideology of "structurelessness" makes them reluctant to change tactics. The more Unstructured a group is, the more lacking it is in informal structures, and the more it adheres to an ideology of "structurelessness," the more vulnerable it is to being taken over by a group of political comrades. Since the movement at large is just as Unstructured as most of its constituent groups, it is similarly susceptible to indirect influence. But the phenomenon manifests itself differently. On a local level most groups can operate autonomously; but the only groups that can organize a national activity are nationally organized groups. Thus, it is often the Structured feminist organizations that provide national direction for feminist activities, and this direction is determined by the priorities of those organizations. Such groups as NOW, WEAL, and some leftist women's caucuses are simply the only organizations capable of mounting a national campaign. The multitude of Unstructured women's liberation groups can choose to support or not support the national campaigns, but are incapable of mounting their own. Thus their members become the troops under the leadership of the Structured organizations. The avowedly Unstructured groups have no way of drawing upon the movement's vast resources to support its priorities. It doesn't even have a way of deciding what they are. The more unstructured a movement it, the less control it has over the directions in which it develops and the political actions in which it engages. This does not mean that its ideas do not spread. Given a certain amount of interest by the media and the appropriateness of social conditions, the ideas will still be diffused widely. But diffusion of ideas does not mean they are implemented; it only means they are talked about. Insofar as they can be applied individually they may be acted on; insofar as they require coordinated political power to be implemented, they will not be. As long as the women's liberation movement stays dedicated to a form of organization which stresses small, inactive discussion groups among friends, the worst problems of Unstructuredness will not be felt. But this style of organization has its limits; it is politically inefficacious, exclusive, and discriminatory against those women who are not or cannot be tied into the friendship networks. Those who do not fit into what already exists because of class, race, occupation, education, parental or marital status, personality, etc., will inevitably be discouraged from trying to participate. Those who do fit in will develop vested interests in maintaining things as they are. The informal groups' vested interests will be sustained by the informal structures which exist, and the movement will have no way of determining who shall exercise power within it. If the movement continues deliberately to not select who shall exercise power, it does not thereby abolish power. All it does is abdicate the right to demand that those who do exercise power and influence be responsible for it. If the movement continues to keep power as diffuse as possible because it knows it cannot demand responsibility from those who have it, it does prevent any group or person from totally dominating. But it simultaneously insures that the movement is as ineffective as possible. Some middle ground between domination and ineffectiveness can and must be found. These problems are coming to a head at this time because the nature of the movement is necessarily changing. Consciousness-raising as the main function of the women's liberation movement is becoming obsolete. Due to the intense press publicity of the last two years and the numerous overground books and articles now being circulated, women's liberation has become a household word. Its issues are discussed and informal rap groups are formed by people who have no explicit connection with any movement group. The movement must go on to other tasks. It now needs to establish its priorities, articulate its goals, and pursue its objectives in a coordinated fashion. To do this it must get organized -- locally, regionally, and nationally. PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURING Once the movement no longer clings tenaciously to the ideology of "structurelessness," it is free to develop those forms of organization best suited to its healthy functioning. This does not mean that we should go to the other extreme and blindly imitate the traditional forms of organization. But neither should we blindly reject them all. Some of the traditional techniques will prove useful, albeit not perfect; some will give us insights into what we should and should not do to obtain certain ends with minimal costs to the individuals in the movement. Mostly, we will have to experiment with different kinds of structuring and develop a variety of techniques to use for different situations. The Lot System is one such idea which has emerged from the movement. It is not applicable to all situations, but is useful in some. Other ideas for structuring are needed. But before we can proceed to experiment intelligently, we must accept the idea that there is nothing inherently bad about structure itself -- only its excess use. Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Tomorrow Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Reddit Email 28 Shares By Yasmin Moll, University of Michigan | Jada Pinkett Smiths new Netflix documentary series on Cleopatra aims to spotlight powerful African queens. We dont often get to see or hear stories about Black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them, the Hollywood star and producer told a Netflix interviewer. The show casts a biracial Black British actress as the famed queen, whose race has stirred debate for decades. Cleopatra descended from an ancient Greek-Macedonian ruling dynasty known as the Ptolemies, but some speculate that her mother may have been an Indigenous Egyptian. In the trailer, Black classics scholar Shelley Haley recalls her grandmother telling her, I dont care what they tell you in school, Cleopatra was Black. These ideas provoked commentary and even outrage in Egypt, Cleopatras birthplace. Some of the reactions have been unabashedly racist, mocking the actresss curly hair and skin color. Egyptian archaeologists like Monica Hanna have criticized this racism. Yet they also caution that projecting modern American racial categories onto Egypts ancient past is inaccurate. At worst, critics argue, U.S. discussions about Cleopatras identity overlook Egyptians entirely. In Western media, she is commonly depicted as white most famously, perhaps, by screen icon Elizabeth Taylor. Yet claims by American Afrocentrists that current-day Egyptians are descendants of Arab invaders also ignore the complicated histories that characterize this diverse part of the world. Some U.S. scholars counter that ultimately what matters is to recognize Cleopatra as culturally Black, representing a long history of oppressing Black women. Portraying Cleopatra with a Black actress was a political act, as the shows director put it. Ironically, however, the show misses an opportunity to educate both American and Egyptian audiences about the unambiguously Black queens of ancient Nubia, a civilization whose history is intertwined with Egypts. As an anthropologist of Egypt who has Nubian heritage, I research how the stories of these queens continue to inspire Nubians, who creatively retell them for new generations today. The one-eyed queen Nubians in modern Egypt once lived mainly along the Nile but lost their villages when the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s. Today, members of the minority group live alongside other Egyptians all over the country, as well as in a resettlement district near the southern city of Aswan. Growing up in Cairos Nubian community, we children didnt hear about Cleopatra, but about Amanirenas: a warrior queen who ruled the Kingdom of Kush during the first century B.C.E. Queens in that ancient kingdom, encompassing what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan, were referred to as kandake the root of the English name Candace. Like Cleopatra, Amanirenas knew Roman generals up close. But while Cleopatra romanced them strategically Amanirenas fought them. She led an army up the Nile about 25 B.C.E. to wage battle against Roman conquerors encroaching on her kingdom. My own favorite part of this story of Indigenous struggle against foreign imperialism involves what can only be characterized as a power move. After beating back the invading Romans, Queen Amanirenas brought back the bronze head of a statue of the emperor Augustus and had it buried under a temple doorway. Each time they entered the temple, her people could literally walk over a symbol of Roman power. That colorful tidbit illustrates those queens determination to defend their autonomy and territory. Amanirenas personally engaged in combat and earned the moniker the one-eyed queen, according to an ancient chronicler of the Roman Empire named Strabo. The kandakes were also spiritual leaders and patrons of the arts, and they supported the construction of grand monuments and temples, including pyramids. Interwoven cultures and histories When people today say Nubia, they are often referring to the Kingdom of Kush, one of several empires that emerged in ancient Nubia. Archaeologists have recently started to bring Kush to broader public attention, arguing that its achievements deserve as much attention as ancient Egypts. Indeed, those two civilizations are entwined. Kushite royals adapted many Egyptian cultural and religious practices to their own ends. Whats more, a Kushite dynasty ruled Egypt itself for close to a century. Contemporary Nubian heritage reflects that historical complexity and richness. While their traditions and languages remain distinctive, Nubians have been intermarrying with other communities in Egypt for generations. Nubians like my mother are proudly Egyptian, yet hurtful stereotypes persist. Today, some Black Americans embrace Cleopatra as a powerful symbol of Black pride. But the idea of ancient Nubia as a powerful African civilization also plays a symbolic role in contemporary Black culture, inspiring images in everything from cosmetics to comics. Egyptian voices Researchers do argue about Cleopatras heritage. U.S. conversations about her, however, sometimes reveal more about Western racial politics than about Egyptian history. In the 19th century, for example, Western interest in ancient Egypt took off amid colonization a fascination called Egyptomania. Americans fixation with the ancient civilization reflected their own cultures anxieties about race in the decades after slavery was abolished, as scholar Scott Trafton has argued. A century later, a 1990s advertisement for a pale-colored doll of queen Nefertiti sparked debate in the U.S. about how to represent her race. Nefertitis bust one of the most famous artifacts from ancient Egypt is on display at a German museum. Egypt has called for the artifacts return for close to a hundred years, to no avail. Even Hitler took a personal interest in the bust, declaring that he will not renounce the queens head, according to archaeologist Joyce Tyldesley. Even today, contemporary Egyptian perspectives are almost absent in Western depictions of ancient Egypt. Only one Egyptian scholar is interviewed in the new Netflix series four episodes, as he himself notes, and he is employed not by an Egyptian university, but by a British one. For many Egyptians, this lack of representation rehashes troubling colonial dynamics about who is considered an expert about their past. The Netflix series was made and produced without the involvement of the owners of this history, argues the Egyptian journalist Sara Khorshed in a review of the series. To be sure, there is anti-Black bias in Egyptian culture, and some of the social media reaction has been slur-filled and racist. Educating people about the stories of Nubian queens like Amarinenas might be a way to encourage a more inclusive understanding of who is Egyptian. Yet I believe Egyptians frustrations about portrayals of Cleopatra also reflect long-standing concerns that their own understandings of their past are not taken seriously. That includes Black Egyptians, like my mother. When I asked her if she planned to see the Cleopatra series, she shrugged. She already knows that queens story well from its many portrayals on screen, whether in Hollywood films or Egyptian ones. I will wait for the series on Amanirenas, she said. Yasmin Moll, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Featured Image: Jewelry of the kandake Amanishakheto from a pyramid at Meroe. Einsamer Schutze/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Reddit 72 Email 206 Shares Belfast (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Like any other toddler in the world, two and a half years old Palestinian toddler Mohammed Altamimi was with his father in the car at their home entrance in the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh. All was normal until the Israeli army opened fire at their car. Both were injured but Mohammed was more seriously wounded than his father, since he was hit in the head. He died a few days later in hospital. Just as when the Israeli army killed Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh last year, their spokesman initially blamed Mohammeds killing on Palestinian crossfire. Villagers, however, confirmed that the Israeli soldiers were the only ones who were shooting. Then the Israeli army changed its narrative to say that it had opened an investigation into the killing. Later it admitted that both of them were hit by Israeli fire. This tactic seems to be common when there is media interest in such crimes. It starts with denial, then gradually the story changes. By the time they admit that the Israeli army was behind the killing, the media attention has turned elsewhere and the truth becomes another victim of the 24-hour news cycle. Even the Office of Palestinian Affairs of the US State Department tweeted a mild rebuke of the Israeli occupation army, saying, We express our condolences to the family of Mohammed Al-Tamimi. We urge Israel to evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties, and we call on Israeli and Palestinian leadership to take responsible actions to end the conflict. The US wont do anything practical about the killing, but it is rare for Washington to go even this far in criticizing Tel Aviv. Palestinian 2-year-old kid Mohammed al-Tamimi succumbs to his wounds sustained earlier in lsraeli gunfire near Ramallah. The little boy and his father were shot a couple of days ago near Nabi Saleh village by lsraeli occupation forces and were admitted into hospital since then. pic.twitter.com/y3rGIuCv5y TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) June 5, 2023 Even in the cases where Israel accepts responsibility, the Israeli army and legal system seldom take action to hold those responsible to account. According to the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, between the years 2017 and 2021, the Israeli military law enforcement system received 1260 complaints. Only 248 criminal investigations were opened and 11 led to indictments filed against soldiers of which only three involved killing Palestinians which means soldiers were prosecuted only in 0.87 percent of all cases. This impunity encourages the Israeli soldiers to act recklessly when they deal with the Palestinians. It is no wonder why the number of Palestinian children who got killed by Israelis keeps rising. According to Defence Children International Palestine (DCIP), 2,267 Palestinian children have been killed by the Israelis since the year 2000, which is about 100 children a year or 2 children every week. They should not be seen as just numbers, all of them had their own story, dreams, life, ambition and loved ones whose lives are devastated by their loss. Having grown up in occupied Palestine, I experienced the violence of Israeli soldiers when I was 17 alongside two friends aged 16 and 15. As we were handcuffed and blindfolded, we were beaten and kicked on the testicles. Despite that treatment, we were the luckier ones. Many other Palestinian children were killed by the Israeli army and settlers including my 16-year-old classmate who was shot by an Israeli driver of a fuel tank truck on his way home from school. Our right to education was also denied as Israel closed sour schools for long periods and Palestinian universities were closed for 3 years 1988-1991 while Israeli schools and universities were kept open. Once again, another evidence of apartheid system. Furthermore, a report by the DCIP, titled Arbitrary by Default, and based on 766 statements given by Palestinian children who were detained by Israel forces between 2016 and 2022 found that most of them were denied their basic human rights, inasmuch as they were subjected to physical torture and were not informed of their rights. Additionally, 97 percent of them were interrogated without their parents presence. Like the rest of the Palestinians, they were all subjected to the Israeli military law which denies them a fair trial. They were also prosecuted in a military court system that is not impartial. The report concluded that Israeli forces and authorities systemic non-observance of the obligatory and absolute prohibition against torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment constitutes arbitrary detention. That Israel applies its military law only on the Palestinians, while law-breaking Israeli squatters who live in illegal Israeli settlements in the same occupied West Bank are subject to the Israeli civil law, is a manifestation of a racist apartheid state. Al Jazeera English: Palestinian toddler funeral: Two-year-old shot & killed by Israeli forces Moreover, research conducted by Save the Children charity investigating the impact of the Israeli occupation and blockade on the mental health of Palestinian children in Gaza showed that they are in a constant state of fear, worry, sadness and grief. They struggle to sleep or concentrate. Bed wetting is another common problem. They also expressed feelings of nervousness, anxiety, stress and anger. Things they disliked included violence, death, nightmares, poverty, war and the occupation including the blockade. Asked what makes them feel better, they said they would like to experience feelings like courage, joy, strength, calmness, safety, security, love and optimism. But mainly they want to enjoy their lives and to pursue their dreams like other children around the world. As demonstrated above, Palestinian children continue to suffer under the Israeli occupation. With every atrocity committed by Israel, leaders of the EU, US and UK keep regurgitating the same victim-blaming cliche of Israels right to defend itself. Surely a Palestinian toddler did not pose any threat to nuclear-armed Israel. This hypocritical policy only means that more children will suffer. Western politicians who constantly defend Israels inhumane treatment of the Palestinians have the blood of Mohammed Altamimi and other children on their hands. Governments that pretend to support the Palestinians in order to gain popularity, without doing anything tangible to ease their suffering, are also hypocrites. TORONTO, June 12, 2023 /CNW/ - As part of its strategic transformation to become a leading North American vertically integrated lithium producer, Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of three veteran executives to its leadership team, a key milestone as the Company executes on an ambitious growth plan. Scott Monteith will assume control as interim Chief Executive Officer Jim Jaques will serve as the Company's inaugural Chief Administrative Officer Jan Holland will join the Board of Directors "These appointments, and others to come, underscore the arrival of Avalon 2.0," Zeeshan Syed, Avalon President, said. "The commitment of our new leadership team is clear: reorient the Company towards full vertical integration of the lithium production cycle, and help establish Ontario, and Canada more broadly, as a strategic fulcrum in North America's clean energy transition." All appointments are effective immediately, as the Company initiates a new growth phase consisting of transformational developments to be announced in the weeks and months ahead. Avalon also announces that, following a long and successful tenure with the Company, former President and CEO Donald Bubar has decided to step down from the board of directors. Avalon would like to thank him for his years of service. "We're assembling a new execution-focused team of deeply experienced professionals aligned around transforming Avalon into a world-class lithium producer, and in turn, helping ensure the path to a clean energy future runs through Canada," Mr. Monteith said. New Strategic Vision Avalon Advanced Materials' new strategic goals are focused on both organic growth of its lithium portfolio, consisting of a suite of critical-mineral mining projects across Canada, as well as developing new related opportunities. The Company's mission is to vertically integrate lithium processing within Ontario, positioning the province as an integral part of the North American supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. In the weeks ahead, Mr. Monteith and the leadership team expect to implement key steps in their Phase 1 strategy, including: Advance production and capitalization for the Separation Rapids project in northwestern Ontario Establish a best-in-class lithium-hydroxide facility in Thunder Bay, Ont. Identify non-core assets that fall outside the scope of the Company's focus on the first two business objectives "I'm tremendously excited about the opportunity set I see before us. Avalon has a new mission we're starting to share with investors and Canada's broader capital markets community," Mr. Monteith said. Mr. Syed added: "Under our new leadership team, Avalon sees and understands what's required to make Ontario and Canada leaders in this critically important space, and to establish Avalon's position within it. We are putting the pieces in place to achieve our vision." About the New Leadership Team Members Mr. Monteith is an experienced clean-tech executive and entrepreneur with a successful track record of moving inventions from ideation to commercial success. Mr. Monteith has extensive experience in the areas of marketing, manufacturing, technology transfer, technology licensing, new product development, patent management, corporate development, international business, M&A, investing, government affairs, board governance and strategic planning. Mr. Monteith is currently the Chair of Monteco Ltd., Cable House Capital Corp. and Imtex Membranes Corp. In the newly created role of Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Jaques will report to the CEO and be responsible for the Company's overall administration, marketing, corporate communications, human resources and information technology. A former marketing and sales executive with Bell Canada Inc., Mr. Jaques spent part of his career in senior leadership positions at both Merrill Lynch and Citibank (Australia). For the past several years, he has been a management consultant based in Toronto, working with both public and private sector organizations to help them drive revenue growth, new product innovation, strategic partnerships and secure growth capital financing. Mr. Holland brings 35 years of experience in building and reorganizing businesses across an array of Canadian industries, from aerospace to financial services. For the past decade, he has been Chair and CEO of a leading Canadian aerospace parts manufacturer, transforming its business operations through a multi-phase revitalization and enabling expansion into new markets. Mr. Holland has been a Founding Partner or Director with multiple financial services firms, including Tricycle Asset Management and BMO Nesbitt Burns, respectively, raising a combined $2 billion in assets under management by pioneering innovative offerings, such as managed futures products and structured notes. His knowledge of capital markets and wealth of experience will be valued contributions to Avalon's new strategic direction. About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company aimed at vertically integrating North America's lithium supply chain. The company is currently focusing on developing its Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario while continuing to advance other projects, including its 100%-owned Lilypad Spodumene-Cesium-Tantalum Project located near Fort Hope, Ontario. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. For investor relations and media inquiries, please e-mail the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or phone Zeeshan Syed, President, at (647) 300-4706. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, project work plans, new strategic goals and related opportunities, that the Company's mission is to vertically integrate lithium processing within Ontario, and that in the weeks ahead Mr. Monteith and the leadership team expect to implement key steps in their Phase 1 strategy. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - Aranjin Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARJN) ("Aranjin Resources" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to $1,000,000 (the "Private Placement") through the sale of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.02 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable for one common share at a price of $0.05 per share for a period of 24 months from closing. The proceeds of the Private Placement will primarily be used to fund the ongoing exploration program at the Victory Nickel Discovery where an active exploration program is currently underway. The Company also plans to complete a deep drill hole on the Bayan Undur Copper Project mining licences. The Private Placement is anticipated to close on or about June 22, 2023, or such later date as the Company may determine. The closing is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance pursuant to applicable securities laws. The Company is also pleased to announce that it plans to pursue a dual listing of its common shares on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX"). The Company's focus is on Mongolia and it believes that a listing of its common shares on the ASX will assist with historical liquidity and valuation issues. It will also serve as a better venue for trading for its Asian based shareholders. Ali Haji will be stepping down as CEO of the Company as it looks to trim its executive team and Board. The Board wishes to thank him for his contributions. Matthew Wood will continue in his role as Executive Chairman of the Company. Exploration work at the Sharga Copper Project is on hold pending resolution of the licence dispute with MRPAM. A Notice of Intent to submit a Claim to Arbitration was filed with the Government of Mongolia on May 25, 2023. Matthew Wood, Executive Chairman of Aranjin Resources Ltd commented, "We are excited to announce this private placement and we look forward to an active summer of exploration in Mongolia at our nickel and copper projects. With approximately 50% of our shareholders now based in Asian time zones, the Company has decided to pursue a dual listing on the ASX in 2023." On behalf of the Board Matthew Wood Executive Chairman Aranjin Resources Ltd. +976 7732 1914 NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CALGARY, ALBERTA TheNewswire - June 12, 2023 Lithium Chile Inc. (Lithium Chile or the Company) (TSXV:LITH) (OTC:LTMCF) is pleased to announce the results of an updated 43-101 resource report at the Salar de Arizaro. The Company reports that its diamond drill hole, ARDDH-05, added 671,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) for a current project total, indicated and inferred resource of 3,323,000 tonnes of LCE. RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS: Diamond drill hole ARDDH-05 added 169,000 indicated tonnes of LCE and 502,000 inferred tonnes of LCE, for a total of 671,000 tonnes of LCE. The highest lithium grades on the Arizaro property to date, ARDDH-05 recorded grades of 584 mg/l. Identifier Resource Category Increase since Dec. 2022 (NI 43-101) General Location Notes ARDDH-05 Indicated 169,000 tonnes LCE equivalent Indicated Resource from 110 to 210 m bls based on the well completion and sample results above the cut-off grade ARDDH-05 Inferred 502,000 tonnes LCE equivalent Assuming high grade (516 mg/L average) from 210 to 424 m bls; Inferred to west corresponds to Argento-02 Inferred Resource Calculations for ARDDH-05, Salar de Arizaro (note: tonnages are rounded to the nearest thousand and a 200 mg/L cut-off grade was assumed) The addition of ARDDH-05 to the Companys 43-101 resource report increased the Companys total estimated LCE resource by 28%, to a total of 3,323,000 tonnes of LCE. Total estimated LCE resource for the Salar de Arizaro project is 1,530,000 tonnes LCE of indicated resource and 1,793,000 tonnes of LCE of inferred resource. OTHER DRILLING HIGHLIGHTS: Production hole ARGENTO-03 has completed aquifer testing; an updated resource will be announced once the data is evaluated and summarized. Diamond drill hole ARDDH-04 was only completed to 280-metres due to the wet, porous sands encountered at a depth of 210-metres; however over 70-metres of brine-bearing aquifer was identified with sample grades as high as 297 mg/l. Diamond drill hole ARDDH-06, which was drilled near ARDDH-04, has been completed to a depth of 457-metres with a 177-metre-thick brine-bearing aquifer encountered from 280 to 457 metres. ARDDH-06 has been tested using both packers and Hydrasleave depth-specific sampling with results forthcoming. OTHER ARGENTINIAN DEVELOPMENTS: Lithium Chile has recently moved its temporary camp that had been established on the Salar de Arizaro to a permanent location on the Western flank just off the Salar, on claims owned by the Company. The camp is designed as a permanent site that will house not only the exploration team but eventually the employees for the planned DLE production facility. The plans are to construct an initial 25,000 tonne a year lithium carbonate plant adjacent to the permanent camp on claims owned by Lithium Chile. Moving the Companys Arizaro project into a production phase will be a significant step forward for Lithium Chile. In conjunction with the establishment of the permanent camp and the design for the Companys processing lithium carbonate plant, all the data has been collected for the baseline Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The data is currently being correlated and it is anticipated that the EIS will be filed early in July. Steve Cochrane President and CEO comments I am extremely pleased on how our Arizaro project is developing. The fact that we have nearly 700,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent from one hole up to 584 mg/l is outstanding and bodes well for the potential to double those resources when the results from hole ARGENTO-03 and ARDDH-06 are known. At over 3.3 million metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and growing, our Salar de Arizaro is quickly becoming a world class lithium brine deposit. CHILEAN DEVELOPMENTS: Lithium Chile continues to advance its exploration program on its 35,500-hectare, Salar de Llamara property. The Companys drilling contractor has encountered a two-week delay on their current drill program and now anticipate mobilizing our rig the week of June 19th. Community approvals have been received and all permits have been applied for. The TEM geophysical data has been processed with four drill locations identified and secured. QUALIFIED PERSON, QA/QC STATEMENTS: Michael Rosko, MS, PG, of Montgomery and Associates (M&A) of Santiago, Chile, is a registered geologist (CPG) in Arizona, California and Texas, a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME No. 4064687), and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Rosko has extensive experience in salar environments and has been a qualified person on many lithium brine projects. Mr. Rosko and M&A are completely independent of Lithium Chile. Mr. Rosko has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. ABOUT LITHIUM CHILE: Lithium Chile is advancing a lithium property portfolio consisting of 111,978 hectares in Chile and 20,800 hectares in Argentina. The Company will be filing an updated NI 43-101 report with an indicated and inferred resource of 3,323,000 tonnes of LCE from its Salar de Arizaro, Argentina project. The Phase 2 development program on the Salar de Arizaro is underway with results to be included in an updated NI 43-101 report which will be filed on SEDAR when completed. Lithium Chile also owns 4 properties, totaling 21,329 hectares, that are prospective for gold, silver and copper. Exploration efforts are continuing on Lithium Chiles Carmona gold/silver/copper property which lies in the heart of the Chilean mega porphyry gold/ silver/copper belt. Lithium Chiles common shares are listed on the TSX-V under the symbol LITH and on the OTC-QB under the symbol LTMCF. To find out more about Lithium Chile Inc., please contact Steven Cochrane, President and CEO via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Michelle DeCecco, Vice President and COO, via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expected", "anticipated", "aims to", "plans to" or "intends to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and factors that may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, factors and assumptions with respect to: the general stability of the economic and political environment in which the Company operates and the timely receipt of required regulatory approvals. You are cautioned that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Although Lithium Chile believes that the assumptions and factors on which such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Lithium Chile can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct or that any of the events anticipated by such forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits Lithium Chile will derive therefrom. Lithium Chile does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. TORONTO, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talisker Resources Ltd. (Talisker or the Company) (TSX:TSK | OTCQX:TSKFF) is pleased to announce it has entered into a royalty agreement with Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. (Sprott) in relation to the Companys 100% owned Bralorne Gold Project (the Project). Under the terms of the agreement, Sprott will pay the Company up to US$31,250,000 for a net smelter returns royalty (the Royalty) covering all minerals produced from the Project (the Royalty Transaction). Highlights of the Royalty Transaction include: A maximum of US$31,250,000, with a minimum consideration of US$18,750,000, payable as to: an initial grant of a 1.12% Royalty for a draw of US$7,000,000 for drilling, detailed engineering and working capital; a further 1.88% Royalty for a subsequent draw of US$11,750,000 on, among other things, the signing of a toll milling agreement for mobilization, site infrastructure, resource conversion drilling and working capital; and up to a further 2% Royalty, to a maximum of a 5% Royalty, for US$12,500,000 available as needed for site infrastructure, mine start-up capital and working capital; An option, exercisable solely at the discretion of the Company until December 31, 2028, to repurchase 50% of the Royalty (as more particularly described below); The residual Royalty will be reduced by an additional 50% for no additional consideration following 1.5 million ounces of gold production; and Closing of the initial 1.12% Royalty is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur mid-June 2023. Terry Harbort, President and CEO of Talisker, stated, This non-dilutive funding package delivers a major catalyst to Talisker, providing the necessary capital for the pathway to long-term production at Bralorne. The flexible deal provides the necessary upfront funds for infill drilling and development while protecting the Projects considerable resource and exploration upside with buyback and capping optionality. Following on from our strong resource statement earlier in the year, we look forward to advancing Bralorne to the next stage. Michael Harrison, Managing Partner, Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. commented, As a permitted high-grade Canadian asset with known metallurgy and exceptional grade and vein continuity, we are pleased to partner with Talisker and provide assistance in re-igniting Bralorne as British Columbias largest historic gold producer. Buyback The Company will have a right, to be satisfied in cash or in shares (subject to a 4.9% ownership limit, calculated at the time of the buyback), at the Companys sole discretion (and subject to prior approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX)), to repurchase a 50% interest of the Royalty for a price that is equal to half of the then-paid Purchase Price multiplied by the multiplier, as follows: On of before Multiplier Based on Minimum 3% Royalty Based on Maximum 5% Royalty December 31, 2024 1.20 US$11,250,000 US$18,750,000 December 31, 2025 1.25 US$11,718,750 US$19,531,250 December 31, 2026 1.30 US$12,187,500 US$20,312,500 December 31, 2027 1.35 US$12,656,250 US$21,093,750 December 31, 2028 1.40 US$13,125,000 US$21,875,000 Production Target There is an amount payable under the Royalty by the Company if quarterly production targets of 17,500 ounces for each of the quarters ending September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2026 are not achieved. Participation Right The Company has granted a five year pre-emptive right (subject to rights previously granted to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.) to participate up to a maximum of 40%, or US$40,000,000, in any proposed grant, sale or issuance to any third party of a stream, royalty or similar transaction based on future production from the Project. Closing The Royalty Transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, the issuance of any common shares of the Company in connection with the Royalty Transaction will require the prior approval of the TSX. Talisker is providing an opportunity for shareholders and other interested parties to participate in a Webinar to be held at 2 pm ET on Thursday, June 15, 2023. To register, please click on the following link - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DjYiGWRwQ1G7RS6B9aOY8g For further information, please contact: About Talisker Resources Ltd. Talisker (taliskerresources.com) is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Taliskers projects include the Bralorne Gold Complex and the Ladner Gold Project, both advanced stage projects with significant exploration potential from historical high-grade producing gold mines, as well as its Spences Bridge Project where the Company holds ~85% of the emerging Spences Bridge Gold Belt, and several other early-stage Greenfields projects. With its properties comprising 291,392 hectares over 487 claims, three leases and 197 crown grant claims, Talisker is a dominant exploration player in south-central British Columbia. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include statements regarding the Royalty Transaction, including the expected closing date. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Taliskers current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Talisker. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Taliskers management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, title and environmental risks and risks relating to the failure to receive all requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Talisker is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Highlights: Altan Rio enters option agreement to acquire Hakes Find project, 10km from Southern Cross township in the central portion of the Southern Cross Greenstone Belt. An advanced gold prospect in the northwest has seen: Small historical mining operations. Significant previous exploration with multiple high-grade drill intersections that have previously been reported as non-JORC compliant mineral resource. Positive preliminary grab sampling at the advanced Hakes Find prospect including a 10 g/t result. Hakes Find within 30km of third-party processing facility. Upon execution of the agreement to acquire the project, Altan Rio will pay the vendor $A100,000 cash and $A175,000 in shares, plus a 1.5% royalty on the first 23,000 ounces of gold produced. Perth, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - Altan Rio Minerals Limited, (TSXV: AMO) ("Altan Rio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company has entered into an option agreement to acquire the Hakes Find gold project, located 10km from the Southern Cross township within the Yilgarn Mineral Field, Western Australia. The Hakes Find tenement area (P77/4607) covers ~1.7km2 and lies within the central portion of the Southern Cross Greenstone Belt, a prolific gold producing region responsible for well in excess of 12 million ounces. The tenement area can be directly accessed by the well-graded Southern Cross Marvel Loch Road. Commenting on the agreement, Altan Rio Chairman and Interim CEO, Graeme Sloan said: "The option agreement for Hakes Find is an exciting acquisition for Altan Rio and could be a potential near-term producing asset. Drilling by previous explorers has intersected high grade gold mineralisation beneath historical mining operations at Hakes Find prospect and will be the target of follow up work. Results from a preliminary grab sampling program recently undertaken by the Company have been very promising and validates the potential of this project. Our next step is to undertake further desktop studies with the aim to define the mineralised envelope along strike and at depth and I look forward to updating the market as we progress this work." Figure 1: Location of Hakes Find Project Historical exploration1 Numerous old workings and prospecting pits are scattered throughout the tenement area, accruing since gold was first discovered within the Southern Cross district in the 1880's. A small historical mining operation Hakes Find lies within the tenement area and was subject to underground workings down to the water table at ~30 metres depth. Subsequently a small open cut excavation was completed over the old underground mine. Since the 1960's, several drill programs have been conducted across the tenement area by previous owners. The most recent drilling campaigns were conducted in the 1990's by then-owner Finders Gold NL mainly at Hakes Find, which they called their Devlin's Reward prospect. Based on results from their drilling programs, Finders Gold NL estimated a non-JORC compliant mineral resource for Hakes Find in 1995. According to Finders Gold NL, a more coherent central zone was interpreted to hold better potential for eventual economic exploitation with preliminary scoping work suggesting a lower waste to ore stripping ratio compared to the entire gold deposit. Results of metallurgical test work undertaken by Finders Gold NL on drill samples from the Hakes Find deposit indicated sulphide mineralisation may be amenable to processing through a conventional CIP/CIL treatment plant. Recent work Altan Rio has recently undertaken preliminary grab sampling from the face of the pit wall and along strike at Hakes Find (see Figure 2) which has returned significant assay results including: SX029 2.2 g/t SX030 1.8 g/t SX032 10.0 g/t SX033 4.0 g/t Figure 2: Location of grab samples from face of pit wall at Hakes Find Transaction Altan Rio has entered an exclusive six-month option to buy agreement with the vendor for $A25,000 and a six-month extension to the agreement for additional $A25,000. Upon execution of the agreement to acquire the project, the Company will pay vendor $A100,000 cash and $A175,000 in Altan Rio shares plus a 1.5% royalty on the first 23,000 ounces of gold produced from the tenement. On behalf of Altan Rio Minerals Limited For more information contact: Graeme Sloan Director / Interim CEO Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +61 9322 1788 Josh Conner Chief Operating Officer Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +61 9322 1788 Media David Tasker Chapter One Advisors Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +61 433 112 936 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Altan Rio to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements, and Altan Rio undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Qualified Person Mr. Neal Leggo, a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG) and an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for the preparation of the technical content regarding the Southern Cross North Project contained in this document. Mr. Leggo is a Principal Geological Consultant with Indeport Pty Ltd. Mr Leggo has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release. QA/QC procedures for the reported grab sampling include Certified Reference Materials and/or Intertek Genalysis in-house controls, blanks and replicates are analysed with each batch of samples at Intertek Genalysis 544 Bickley Road, Maddington WA 6109. 1 Finders Gold NL, 1998. Hakes Find Project, Annual Report for the Period from 1 November 1992 to 31 December 1997 DALLAS, June 12, 2023 /CNW/ - enCore Energy Corp. ("enCore" or the "Company") (NYSE American: EU) (TSXV: EU) announced today the release of its first Annual Report, now available on its website at https://encoreuranium.com/investors/annual-report/. enCore has made solid progress to work towards 2023 domestic uranium production as essential fuel for clean, reliable and secure energy in the United States. This year's Annual Report focuses on the Company's objectives, business plan, the nuclear industry, and the fast-paced progress the Company has made throughout 2022 and into 2023. enCore is focused on becoming the leading domestic producer of uranium in the United States. The Company will utilize the proven in-situ recovery technology (ISR) to provide fuel for the generation of clean, reliable and carbon-free energy. enCore's goal is to establish an annual production rate of 3 million pounds U 3 O 8 per year by the end of 2026 and 5 million pounds U 3 O 8 per year by the end of 2028. About enCore Energy Corp. enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Company, is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable domestic nuclear energy by becoming the next United States uranium producer in 2023. enCore solely utilizes In-Situ Recovery (ISR) for uranium extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy. In-Situ Recovery extracts uranium in a non-invasive process using natural groundwater and oxygen, coupled with a proven ion exchange process, to recover the uranium. Uranium production is planned at enCore's licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant in 2023, and at its licensed and past-producing South Texas Alta Mesa Processing Plant in 2024. Future projects in enCore's production pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming, along with significant uranium resource endowments in New Mexico providing long term opportunities. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore diligently works to realize value from other owned assets, including our proprietary uranium database that includes technical information from many past producing companies, from our various non-core assets, and by leveraging our ISR expertise in researching opportunities that support the use of this technology as applied to other metals. enCore is also committed to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments. www.encoreuranium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information contained in this news release, including: any information relating to the Company being a leading uranium company; and any other statements regarding future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects; may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws and regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "expects", "is expected", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken) should be considered forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of enCore to implement its business strategies; and other risks. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation exploration and development risks, changes in commodity prices, access to skilled mining personnel, the results of exploration and development activities; production risks; uninsured risks; regulatory risks; defects in title; the availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations; risks posed by the economic and political environments in which the Company operates and intends to operate; increased competition; assumptions regarding market trends and the expected demand and desires for the Company's products and proposed products; reliance on industry equipment manufacturers, suppliers and others; the failure to adequately protect intellectual property; the failure to adequately manage future growth; adverse market conditions, the failure to satisfy ongoing regulatory requirements and factors relating to forward looking statements listed above which include risks as disclosed in the Company's annual information form filings. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the various securities commissions which are available online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. According to Hefei Customs, Anhui Province has seen a continuing positive trend in imports and exports so far. The total value of goods imports and exports in Anhui reached 313.86 billion yuan (about US$3.93 billion) in the first five months of this year, an increase of 5.5% compared to the same period last year. Among them, exports amounted to 208.92 billion yuan (about US$29.24 billion), an increase of 20%. Thanks to a set of actions such as overseas market expansion group tours, Anhui's foreign trade orders are growing steadily since the beginning of this year, demonstrating strong resilience despite pressure from manifold spheres. Statistics show that Anhui's total value of foreign trade in the first five months surpassed the national growth rate of 4.7% by 0.8 percentage points; Its export growth rate during this period was 11.9 percentage points higher than the national average. In May, the province's imports and exports amounted to 66.39 billion yuan, an increase of 3.9%. Among them, exports reached 44.2 billion yuan, an increase of 15%. In the same month, Anhui Province ranked 11th, 9th, and 12th in the country in terms of import and export, export, and import respectively. The ability to maintain stable growth in foreign trade results from the effective implementation of comprehensive economic policies and follow-up measures, as well as the continuous optimization of the foreign trade structure. Nowadays, the stable operation of foreign trade is also benefiting from emerging formats and models such as cross-border e-commerce and market procurement trade. In the first five months of this year, Anhui Province's import and export of general trade achieved 230.81 billion yuan, an increase of 8.5%; bonded logistics import and export went up 0.4% to 25.64 billion yuan; market procurement trade exports saw a surge of 121.5%, reaching 2.79 billion yuan. Exports of high-tech and high-value-added products have maintained rapid growth, highlighting the continuous improvement of the competitiveness of the province's export products. In the first five months, the export of electromechanical products from Anhui totaled 141.29 billion yuan, an increase of 31%, accounting for 67.6% of the total export value. Among them, automobile and auto parts exports stood at 24.32 billion yuan and 13 billion yuan respectively, with increases of 187.5% and 88.1% respectively; household appliances exports attained 13.67 billion yuan, an increase of 1.7%. Promoting relationships with other countries and regions has provided important guarantees for Anhui's foreign trade. In the first five months, the province's imports and exports to the European Union and Russia amounted to 43.18 billion yuan and 17.76 billion yuan, respectively, with increases of 5.9% and 308.1% respectively. During the same period, imports and exports with BRI countries reached 103.79 billion yuan, an increase of 28.7%. In addition, private enterprises have grown rapidly, and the vitality of trade entities continues to be stimulated. In the first five months of this year, the import and export of private enterprises in Anhui Province stood at 156.03 billion yuan, an increase of 0.1%, accounting for nearly half of the total import and export. Total mineralized drill intercept is 43.40 meters at approximately 400 meters depth (see table below), though the true thickness is not known at this early stage; Sesmarias discovery hole in 2014, SES002, intersected 7.95 meters of 2.21% copper, 3.05% lead, 4.82% zinc, and 89.8 g/t silver at approximately 150 meters depth, but subsequent shallow follow-up drilling at that time failed to intersect further shallow mineralization; Follow-up drilling, funded by earn-in partner Sandfire MATSA, is underway, with 6 additional holes planned. Vancouver, BC TheNewswire - June 12, 2023 Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:AVU) is pleased to provide new assay results from the Sesmarias massive sulfide target area, Alvalade JV Project, Portugal. The program is a joint venture between Avrupa Minerals (AVU or Company) and Minas de Aguas Tenidas, S.A. (Sandfire MATSA or MATSA). Avrupa continues to operate the project through the JV entity PorMining Lda., and MATSA continues to fund the exploration work. Previously, through the JV, during 2020-2021, the Company drilled 17 diamond drill holes, totaling 8,900 meters, on six different fences along a strike length of 400 meters in the Sesmarias North Zone. The JV returned to drilling at Sesmarias in mid-April, targeting the Central Zone, where Avrupa drilled the high-grade discovery hole, SES002, in 2014 (see February 27, 2014 News Release). Follow-up drilling in the immediate discovery area at that time unsuccessfully targeted shallow extensions of the mineralization seen in SES002 at a depth of about 150 meters. Armed with a significantly upgraded targeting model constructed after a total of 46 holes and nearly 20,000 meters of drilling at Sesmarias since 2014, the JV geological team aimed deeper to 400 meters depth to attempt to locate further high-grade mineralization. Results from SES23-047 are: 26.95 meters of 2.18% copper; 2.58% lead; 5.60% zinc; and 88.2 g/t silver from 393.80 to 420.75 meters depth, within a wider interval of: 43.40 meters of 1.51% copper; 2.15% lead; 4.78% zinc; and 64.1 g/t silver from 392.80 to 436.20 meters depth. At this time, with only one drill hole in the new zone, the true thickness of the massive sulfide mineralization is unknown. The drill hole intercepted at least part of the eastern limb of the target mineralized syncline, and possibly part of the hinge of the syncline. Further drilling is clearly necessary to search for both extension and shape of the mineral body. We are currently drilling a follow-up hole, collared approximately 150 meters southeast of SES23-047, with five more holes planned, also funded by the JV partner. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals commented, We are truly excited about the SES23-047 results. The entire team effort putting together a coherent targeting model led to this initial success in the Sesmarias Central Zone, which we hope will continue with follow-up drilling. Previous JV drilling demonstrated the potential for significant thicknesses of massive sulfide mineralization, and we recognized the potential for higher grade mineralization as we moved south towards the Central Zone, perhaps the center of the mineral system. We now recognize that the SES002 lens should be part of the new discovery lens, separated by faulting. Perseverance, continued creative thinking, and strong financial support led to a real success that shows possibilities for further follow-up success. The following summary cross section demonstrates the potential for further mineralization on this section line, in the middle of the Central Zone. Figure 1. SES23-047 cross section showing previous drilling and discovery hole SES002. The mineralized syncline seen here is a continuation from the previously-reported, more northerly sections that show development of an eastern overturned limb, a western normal limb, and development of a robust hinge zone. Further drilling is warranted to develop a potential high grade central zone to the developing system. Potential for further higher-grade mineralization lies from the present 650S section to the 350S section, north of the present drilling, and possibly for another 300 to 400 meters to the south of the 650S section. We are presently drilling at SES23-048, collared approximately 150 SE of SES23-047, on the 800S section. Figure 2. Simplified, schematic diagram of Sesmarias massive sulfide lenses, actually the limbs of the synclinal mineralization. Note that the Central Zone appears to be open and untested for at least 300 meters in either direction from the 650S section. Presently drilling on the 800S section line at SES23-048. Results and information for SES21-044, Section 350S, may be found in the January 25, 2022 News Release. Results and information for SES026, located approximately 350 meters SE of SES23-047 on the 1000S section, may be found in the March 11, 2019 News Release. Notes on analytical methods and quality control. The JV analyzed the mineralized material at two different laboratories, as the table below demonstrates. For certified, NI43-101 acceptable assay results, we selected the ME-MS61 method performed by ALS Global at their Seville sample preparation facility and Loughrea, Ireland analytical laboratory. For in-house reasons and desire to have overnight results, we authorized preliminary analytical procedures at the non-certified, MATSA laboratory facilities at the Aguas Tenidas Mine. Table 1. Fully accredited, NI 43-101 compliant, certified analytical results from ALS Global laboratory highlighted in yellow. Overnight analytical results from MATSA mine lab at Aguas Tenidas, Spain. For technical reasons, at the depth of the Sesmarias mineral intersection, drillers had reduced core size to NQ (47.6 mm diameter). Project personnel collected oriented drill core twice daily from the drill rig and delivered the boxes directly to the Project core storage facilities in Grandola, Portugal. Here, after geological and geotechnical review of the core, a Project geologist measured and marked the core for sampling, with sample length averaging one meter depending on visual factors such as change in texture, style of mineralization, and/or host rock type. Project employees systematically and methodically halved the core, utilizing an electric core saw, and then placed one half of the split material for each sample length into separate, numbered, plastic sample bags. In order to get fast, first-hand results, Project personnel transported the core samples to partner Sandfire MATSAs Aguas Tenidas Mine laboratory in Almonaster la Real, Spain for preliminary, non-certified analytical information. After acquiring the preliminary results, Project personnel carried the sample pulps (-80 mesh material used for metals digestion) to the ALS Global (ALS) sample preparation facility in Seville, Spain. ALS directly shipped the pulp material to their main European analytical laboratory located in Loughrea, Ireland. At the analytical laboratory, we requested the samples to be analyzed via the labs ME-MS61 technique which uses a four-acid, near-total metals extraction method, followed by analysis using the industry-standard technique of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). At all times, prior to submission of the samples to ALS Global, Project or Sandfire MATSA personnel maintained supervision, oversight, and custody of the samples. In addition to ALS Global in-house quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) for all work orders, the Project conducted its own normal, internal QA/QC from results generated by the systematic inclusion of certified reference materials, blank samples and field duplicate samples. Project personnel reviewed and evaluated the analytical results from the quality control samples in the SES23-047 work orders, and confirmed that these results conform to industry best practice standards. Minas de Aguas Tenidas, S.A. (Sandfire MATSA) is a modern mining company which owns and operates the MATSA Mining Operations in the Huelva province of Spain. With a processing plant located to the north of the Iberian Pyrite Belt that sources ore from three underground mines, Aguas Tenidas and Magdalena Mines in Almonaster la Real and the Sotiel Mine in Calanas, Sandfire MATSA produces copper, zinc and lead mineral concentrates that are sold from the port of Huelva. Sandfire MATSA also holds an extensive portfolio of exploration tenements in both Portugal and Spain. Sandfire MATSA is a wholly owned company of Sandfire Resources Ltd, a mining and exploration company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: SFR). Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybrid prospect generator business model. The Company holds one 100%-owned license in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, presently optioned to Sandfire MATSA in an earn-in joint venture agreement. The Company now holds one 100%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova gold prospect in Kosovo, and is actively advancing four prospects in central Finland through its in-process acquisition of Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its project generation work in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, presently including Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues to seek and develop other opportunities around Europe. For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com. On behalf of the Board, "Paul W. Kuhn Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Thirty five people, including seven children, were missing in southern Ukraine on Sunday following a devastating flood prosecutors called the "worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl." The Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam along the front line in the Kherson region was destroyed on June 6, 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 the structure. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said that 77 towns and villages had been flooded in the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv. Klymenko said that in the Kherson region 35 people were missing, including seven children. As a result of the flood, five people died in the region of Kherson and one person was dead in the region of Mykolaiv, he said. A total of 3,700 people have been evacuated from their homes in the two regions, the minister added in a statement. In the city of Kherson, the largest population centre near the dam, the water began to subside and locals began to return to their homes to assess the damage, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Ukrainian rescuers in orange boats continued their efforts to evacuate people from the city's most affected areas and nearby islands. An employee at Kherson's meteorological agency, Lora Musiyan, said the level of water dropped by 1.7 meters from the peak measurements recorded earlier this week. Oleksiy Gesin visited his grocery store in central Kherson for the first time in six days. Armed with a shovel and wearing rubber boots and a jacket, he cleared up debris in pouring rain. He said he sustained "significant" losses. "The water in the store was up to my chest," he told AFP, adding that food will have to be thrown away. - 'Very complicated' - Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin and representatives of the International Criminal Court visited the region of Kherson, his office said. "This is the worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl so we are investigating not only a war crime but also an ecocide," Kostin was quoted as saying in a statement. "The situation is very complicated," he added. He noted that a number of "dangerous" facilities including at least three cemeteries, oil storage terminals and garbage dumps have been flooded. A total of 450 tonnes of turbine oil have spilled into the waters of the Dnipro and the Black Sea, he said. More than 170 prosecutors have been investigating the breach of the dam. "Our colleagues from the International Criminal Court are also with us," he said. 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. After months of building expectations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that a counteroffensive against Russian forces was underway but refused to provide any details. Ukraine's ground forces said in a statement on Sunday 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 hoisting a Ukrainian flag over a destroyed building. Another military spokesman, Valeriy Shershen, said in televised remarks that the retaken village was located on the border of the eastern 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. Big Ukrainian military successes in the Zaporizhzhia region could potentially enable its forces to break through the land bridge that connects Russia with the Crimean peninsula it annexed from Ukraine. This would be a major reversal for Moscow. Ukraine has largely been silent on the offensive, but Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Kyiv's fightback had already begun but was already failing. Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Saturday that Kyiv's forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four front-line areas. - 'Worst since Chernobyl' - Kyiv reported the first gain of the long-awaited offensive as thirty five people, including seven children, were still missing in southern Ukraine following a devastating flood prosecutors called the "worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl." 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 the structure. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said that 77 towns and villages had been flooded in the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv. Klymenko said that in the Kherson region 35 people were missing, including seven children. As a result of the flood, five people died in the region of Kherson and one person was dead in the region of Mykolaiv, he said. A total of 3,700 people have been evacuated from their homes in the two regions, the minister added. In the city of Kherson, the largest population centre near the dam, the water began to subside and locals began to return to their homes to assess the damage, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Ukrainian rescuers in orange boats continued their efforts to evacuate people from the city's most affected areas and nearby islands. An employee at Kherson's meteorological agency, Lora Musiyan, said the level of water dropped by 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) from the peak measurements recorded this week. Oleksiy Gesin visited his grocery store in central Kherson for the first time in six days. Armed with a shovel and wearing rubber boots and a jacket, he cleared up debris in pouring rain. He said he sustained "significant" losses. "The water in the store was up to my chest," he told AFP, adding that food will have to be thrown away. - 'Very complicated' - Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin and representatives of the International Criminal Court visited the region of Kherson, his office said. "This is the worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl so we are investigating not only a war crime but also an ecocide," Kostin was quoted as saying in a statement. "The situation is very complicated," he added. He noted that a number of "dangerous" facilities including at least three cemeteries, oil storage terminals and garbage dumps have been flooded. A total of 450 tonnes of turbine oil have spilled into the waters of the Dnipro and the Black Sea, he said. More than 170 prosecutors have been investigating the breach of the dam. "Our colleagues from the International Criminal Court are also with us," he said. On May 12, 2023, the Court of Cassation made up for its faux-pas of November 24, 2021, when it ruled that crimes against humanity committed by Bashar al-Assad's regime could not be punished in France because they were not punishable under Syrian law. Sensitive to the outcry provoked by this decision, which surprisingly saw the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs join NGOs and the public prosecutor's office join opposition to the ruling led by the International Federation for Human Rights, a plenary session of the Court of Cassation overturned the courts own November 2021 decision. It finally gives the green light to the resumption of proceedings initiated by the national anti-terrorist prosecutor's office against Syrians living in France and suspected of having taken part in the regime's crimes. Legal stop-go for over a century To appreciate the subtleties of this legal stop-go affecting the role of national courts in judging international crimes, it is useful to take a broad look at the tentative development of international criminal law over more than a century. Traditionally, criminal law has been regarded as territorial in application. Each State legislates on what it intends to punish, and prosecutes, in principle, offences committed on its own territory. It is true that, from the end of the 19th century onwards, "international crimes" were defined by international conventions, dealing essentially with what could no longer be tolerated in the conduct of war, and leading to the gradual development of international humanitarian law. But without international courts to apply them, repression remained essentially a dead letter. For example, the Treaty of Versailles of 1918 provided for the indictment of German Emperor Wilhelm II before an international criminal court, but this court never saw the light of day. The creation of international tribunals has therefore long been the ideal pursued by campaigners for a peaceful world governed by the rule of law. After the Second World War, the creation of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals was supposed to be followed by that of an international criminal court, provided for in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention of Genocide. But the Cold War was to have its way, and, as in 1918, this project remained a dead letter. The old dream of universal justice to enforce a global legal order guaranteeing peace and human rights thus faded in the post-war years, until it was reborn in a much more timid form in the years following the fall of the Berlin Wall, which saw the successive births of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 1993, for Rwanda in 1994 and, finally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 1998. Complementary" justice It was more timid because, right from their conception, these three tribunals were seen not as the expression of a global justice system with supremacy over States, but as part of a cooperation mechanism between this nascent international justice system and national justice systems. Created by the UN Security Council, the first two international criminal tribunals (the "ICTs") were intended to try only those most responsible for the wars in the former Yugoslavia and the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. States were expected to prosecute lesser perpetrators themselves. For this reason, two laws passed in 1995 and 1996 gave French courts jurisdiction to try the perpetrators of crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda who were found on French soil. Their mere presence on French soil makes French justice competent to prosecute them. It is on this basis that several perpetrators of the Tutsi genocide have already been tried in France. Created by treaty, the ICC is also intended to judge only the most serious international crimes, and the preamble to its Statute emphasizes that "it is the duty of every State to submit to its criminal jurisdiction the perpetrators of international crimes". Its Statute goes even further than those of the two International Criminal Tribunals, since it gives priority to those States with primary responsibility for prosecuting international crimes, with the ICC itself intervening only when no state does so. In other words, the ICC is only intended to complement the national courts, which have primary responsibility. So when in 2006 French Justice Minister Pascal Clement tabled a bill "adapting criminal law to the institution of the International Criminal Court", observers were eager to read how France intended to take its place in this new international legal order based on cooperation between international and national courts. The answer was simple: France would do nothing. The bill prepared by the Ministry of Justice did indeed include international crimes in the French penal code, but it did not contain a single line authorizing French courts to try such cases, unless they involved French nationals or took place in France. Universal jurisdiction under lock and key For two years, the French Coalition for the ICC, bringing together some 40 NGOs, trade unions and Bar associations, tried to raise awareness among political parties and members of parliament so that France would play an active role in this nascent international judicial cooperation system, designed to ensure that the most serious crimes do not go unpunished. In the spring of 2008 when this bill, initially totally silent on opening up French courts to universal jurisdiction, was finally placed on the agenda, all parliamentary groups (except the UMP, then in power) voted in favour of amendments introducing universal jurisdiction, tabled in particular by senators Robert Badinter (Socialist) and Pierre Fauchon (centrist). Sensing that the Senate was on the verge of tipping, Justice Minister at the time Rachida Dati and the UMP rapporteur Patrice Gelard calculated that they could accept these amendments while at the same time trying to empty them of their substance. Four draconian conditions, denounced by NGOs, were thus laid down for perpetrators of international crimes to be prosecuted in France: - that they have made France their "habitual residence". Despite Badinter's efforts to have this condition of habitual residence replaced by a condition of mere presence in France, such as already existed for the crime of torture or within the framework of cooperation with the ICTY and ICTR, the majority followed the rapporteur and the government; - prosecutions should be initiated by the public prosecutor and not the victims; - that the acts be punishable under the law of the State where they were committed. This is the principle of double incrimination at the heart of the case that has just been arbitrated by the Court of Cassation; - finally, that the ICC declines jurisdiction. This condition gives priority to the ICC whereas the ICC Statute, on the contrary, gives priority to national courts. The bill was passed by the Senate in 2008. It was adopted by the National Assembly (lower house) in 2010 with the same terms, and the new article [689-11] entered the French penal code. Continuity of governance Numerous initiatives have been taken since 2010 in an attempt to reverse this vote and amend the law. Socialist Francois Hollande pledged to do so during his 2012 election campaign, but this promise was forgotten, despite a bill proposed by Socialist Senator Jean-Pierre Sueur, which was unanimously adopted by the Senate but never placed on the agenda of the National Assembly. Continuity of governance goes beyond majorities. In 2019, however, the vote on a justice law removed the fourth constraint (replaced by a simple check that the person about to be prosecuted is not already being prosecuted by an international tribunal or another country), as well as the double criminality condition, but only for genocide. It was therefore maintained for crimes against humanity. This condition was seized on by the lawyer of a Syrian army reservist, arrested in France on suspicion of having taken part in the repression of demonstrations and arrest of civilians. As NGOs had feared, the Court of Cassation ruled on November 24, 2021 that the charges against him should be dropped, as Syrian law does not punish crimes against humanity. Court of Cassation relaxes two constraints A year and a half later, the Court of Cassation reversed its decision, finally opting for a flexible interpretation of double criminality. In essence, it held that crimes against humanity are not punishable as such in Syria, but that acts which are qualified as crimes against humanity under French law because they were committed in execution of a concerted plan are also punishable under Syrian law as ordinary offences (murder, rape, torture): "It should therefore be noted that the condition of double criminality (...) does not imply that the criminal characterization of the acts is identical in the two legislations, but only requires that they be criminalized by both". In a second case, also decided on May 12, the Court of Cassation ruled on the condition of habitual residence. The suspect, also Syrian, sought to have the prosecution quashed on grounds that he was actually living in Turkey with his family, had only come to France to study for a time, and was therefore not ordinarily resident there. The Court of Cassation opted for a flexible interpretation of this condition, stressing that "habitual" residence is not necessarily permanent, nor even "principal" residence. It even accepted that it is possible to have a habitual residence in France while living mainly abroad, the aim of this criterion being merely to ensure a "sufficient" connection to France, which would be lacking in the case of a mere presence for a few hours on French territory. These two rulings were therefore greeted with relief by those in favour of a more aggressive assertion of France's universal jurisdiction. Obstacles now removed? If we add to this the removal of the fourth constraint (relating to the ICC) by the 2019 law, should we consider that the obstacles erected in the way of universal jurisdiction have now been removed? No, because several anomalies remain. Even if neutralized by the courts recent interpretation, the double criminality condition remains questionable in principle. International crimes are said to be international precisely because they undermine universal values. To make their prosecution subject to the condition that they can be prosecuted by the State that committed them or allowed them to be committed is cynical relativism denying recognition of the universality of values it is intended to protect. Since the Court of Cassation has now rendered this condition practically useless, why maintain it in law when it runs head-on against our international commitments? This is why, as soon as the May 12 rulings had been handed down, several MPs from the Renaissance presidential majority group reintroduced on May 23 a bill designed purely and simply to remove what remains of the constraints put in place 15 years ago. As for the habitual residence requirement, while the traditional criterion for universal jurisdiction is mere presence, rationally it remains unjustified, even if relaxed by the May 12, 2023 case law. Should we accept that, for the same crime, a Serb or a Rwandan should be liable to prosecution as soon as he sets foot in France [as a result of the 1995 and 1996 laws cited above], while we should let a Syrian or a Liberian come and go with impunity as long as they don't settle down for longer? Finally, the impossibility for victims to initiate prosecutions due to the monopoly of the public prosecutor's office, whereas victims of the slightest offence normally have this right, undoubtedly responds to the concern to reconcile justice and diplomacy by relying on the public prosecutor's office to initiate prosecutions only with discernment. But it undermines another human right: the right of victims to have access to a judge. Supremacy of Realpolitik over law This last barrier masks a discreet struggle by French diplomats to ensure the supremacy of Realpolitik over the law, even when it comes to massacres and genocides: through the intermediary of the public prosecutor's office, the State intends to reserve a margin of discretion over the appropriateness of prosecutions, and resists with all its might the idea that, when it comes to international crimes, there is an obligation to prosecute the perpetrators. This French activism was again in evidence at the end of May in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, where a conference was held to negotiate a draft treaty on international mutual legal assistance, known as the MLA (Mutual Legal Assistance) or, more officially, the "Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes". Even if France does not admit it, it is often considered that the obligation to ensure prosecution of perpetrators of international crimes is an unwritten obligation, based on international custom. It is based on the principle aut dedere, aut judicare -- either extradite, or prosecute or in other words, either acquire universal jurisdiction to prosecute suspects oneself, or hand them over to a State or international tribunal to do so. The MLA Convention - which States will be asked to sign in The Hague in 2024 - now formally lays down this obligation. French and British diplomats have tried in vain to have it amended and make prosecution optional. But the text adopted on May 26 stipulates that States are obliged to exercise jurisdiction over the perpetrator of an international crime whenever he or she is present on their territory. France and the UK have only obtained the right to formulate a reservation on this point, for a renewable period of three years. Has the countdown to the end of the French exception begun? The ball is now in Parliament's court with the Renaissance group's proposed law which, some 20 years late, would bring French law into line with this principle. But will it be put on the agenda this time? Recommended reading Crucial hearing for universal jurisdiction in France The Teck Resources logo is seen on a podium before the company's special meeting of shareholders, in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Swiss company Glencore says it has made an offer to buy the steelmaking coal business of Teck Resources Ltd.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Concern is rising about the shortage of health care workers in the U.S. As Senator Bernie Sanders told the media, We dont have enough doctors. We dont have enough nurses. We dont have enough psychologists or counselors for addiction. We dont have enough pharmacists. He should have added, We dont have enough dental health workers. Because study after study shows that oral health is integral to overall health. Research links poor oral health with heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications, pneumonia, etc. However, dental health has long been treated as a luxury. For instance, some 76.5 million Americans have no dental insurance. Even those with insurance may not have access to oral health care, as evidenced by 70 million Americans who live in oral health professional deserts, with no nearby dental providers and services. In times of economic downturns, states often cut Medicaid dental health benefits for adults. But dental health is not a luxury: It is a basic health need, associated with positive health outcomes. And American oral health could easily be improved effectively and affordably: more dental therapists. Dental therapists, similar to physician assistants in medicine, provide patients with preventive and routine care, like cavity fillings, tooth removal, and oral health education. There is variation in training for dental therapists due to different training requirements in states, but for certain areas of practice where the scope overlaps with dentists, dental therapists must demonstrate similar competencies as dentists. First introduced in New Zealand about a century ago, dental therapists now practice in more than 50 countries. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium introduced dental therapists to Alaskas tribal communities in 2004 to address chronic dentist shortages. The results were so impressive that the program quickly expanded. Now, more than 40,000 Alaska Native people living in rural communities have much-needed access to dental care. As of March 2023, more than a dozen states had passed legislation allowing some form of dental therapy practice statewide or within Native communities. One study noted that while dentistrys workforce is overwhelmingly white and affluent, dental therapists often come from the underrepresented communities they serve, making dental therapy a compelling strategy for addressing structural racism. This tremendous potential for diversity creates the opportunity for dental therapists to offer culturally competent care. In addition, dental therapists expand access to care. For instance, in Alaskas Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, dental therapists were associated with providing more preventive care and fewer extractions. Reports by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry attest that dental therapists shorten wait times for patients and travel time for appointments. Research also shows that dental therapists have and continue to improve access to care. Dental therapists are a relatively cost-effective alternative, especially for providing care for low-income and Medicaid-enrolled patients. Dental therapy offers a simple, affordable solution to a serious oral health crisis. However, in the early years after dental therapists were first introduced in the U.S., organized dentistry resisted this new type of provider. In more recent years, attitudes of dentists seem to be changing as dentists become more familiar of this emerging workforce model, and more dentists are making dental therapists a part of the care team. There are several reasons why more providers like including dental therapists in their care team. First, many dental therapists work primarily in rural settings and other areas with a shortage of dentists, supporting the desperate need for better oral health care access. Indeed, some states limit dental therapists to practice in underserved areas. Further, dental therapists can support dentists, not undermine them: one safety-net organization in Minnesota with dental therapists on their dental team, found that patients reported shorter wait times, allowed patients to have more of their oral health needs met in a single visit, and improved patients sense of having a regular dental provider. Dentists not only accepted the role of dental therapists, but in fact, found dental therapists provided high-quality work, allowing dentists to work more effectively. Moreover, dental therapy offers an affordable, proven model to promote health equity, by providing greater access to oral health. Dental therapists have been able to collaborate closely with dentists and dental hygienists and have become integral parts of a system of care. In addition to the safety net, dental therapists can also work in private practices. One Minnesota study found that after dental therapists joined the practices, dentists performed fewer basic restorative and preventive procedures which freed them up to take on more complex dental procedures. Furthermore, there is substantial overlap in the tasks performed by dental therapists and dental hygienists, creating opportunities for movement between roles: from a dental hygienist to a dental therapist. Several states, including New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida, have either adopted or are considering legislation to authorize or expand dental therapy. But we need much more. Dental therapists are an emerging profession and research has shown, and continues to show, that they can positively impact access to care. Federal, state, and community stakeholders need to recognize dental therapists significant contribution to improving access to oral health care and increasing health equity. Statewide oral health coalitions should explore introducing dental therapists in their state to improve access to care. Policymakers need to introduce and pass legislation to allow dental therapists to operate wherever access to oral health services is limited. Adopting and expanding dental therapy is an evidence-based solution that can improve health equity while boosting our nations overall healthbecause oral health is an integral part of overall health. Theekshana Fernando is a research scientist. 1 Shares Share Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join us in this insightful episode as we welcome Peter Grinspoon, an internal medicine physician specializing in medical cannabis. Peter enlightens us on the current landscape of medical cannabis, focusing on its potential benefits for patients. We delve into the challenges doctors face in staying informed about cannabis research and the crucial role of unbiased reporting. Moreover, we explore the need for reform in the medical communitys approach to cannabis, while also discussing the importance of responsible prescribing and identifying patients who may not be suitable candidates. Tune in to this thought-provoking conversation that uncovers the intersection of health care, patient advocacy, and a progressive understanding of medical cannabis. Peter Grinspoon is an internal medicine physician. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, Cannabis is ground zero in the fight for racial justice in America. The Podcast by KevinMD is brought to you by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. Ambient intelligence augments human capabilities to make our lives easier. The applications are many, especially in health care. Ambient clinical intelligence is offsetting the most pressing challenges in health care today, such as burnout, physician shortages, physician and patient dissatisfaction, and underperforming financial outcomes, by applying the technology to clinical documentation. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, utilizes artificial intelligence and natural language processing to automatically document care. It securely listens to and captures the natural, clinician-patient encounter conversation unobtrusively, and turns that conversation into a clinical note for the clinicians review and signature directly in the electronic health record. You just talk naturally, and DAX does the rest. DAX is being used by thousands of physicians across 30 different specialties nationwide. It has already won the Silver Stevie award in the health care technology category and was ranked #1 for improving clinician experience in KLASs top 20 emerging solutions. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/rCGEdT Powered by CMEfy. Police say they have suspended 13 of their officers following the manner in which they handled people found at a rehabilitation centre in Kawempe hosted at the residence of Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga. Last week, police raided the home of Sheikh Kamoga in Tula, Kawempe division, Kampala. In a video circulating on social media, policemen are seen kicking, and slapping youths who were found at the said home. Police say Sheik Kamoga was training the youth in Sharia Law at Tula Rehabilitation cente. Lawyers from Uganda Muslim Lawyers Association (UMLAS) have since condemned the brutal acts and threatened to petition the Uganda Human Right Council over the matter. While addressing journalists during a weekly press brief at their headquarters in Naguru, police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said 13 of their officers have been suspended and are facing the Police Professional Standards Unit over the brutal acts. He has reassured the Muslim community of safety, allaying concerns that the force is targeting the group. Enanga meanwhile says a probe into the detention of the 45 youth found at the rehabilitation centre is still ongoing and that Sheikh Kamoga has been summoned. He says so far, only 17 of the 45 youth have successfully been reunited with their relatives. Authorities in Ethiopia have repatriated 80 Ugandans who were fleeced of their money with a promise to meet Jesus. The leader of the team, Pastor Simon Opolot has been on the joint security teams wanted list for duping believers attached to Christ Disciples Church in Soroti, Eastern Uganda to sell their property and prepare to meet Jesus. According to security, Opolot said he had received a vision that Jesus was going to pick a few people to go to heaven and that those to be chosen had to be in Ethiopia. Internal Affairs ministry spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi says when the group arrived in Ethiopia, they revealed that they were there to meet Jesus on a journey to heaven. Mundeyi explains that Ethiopian authorities then decided to gather all the people who were arriving in separate groups, confined them in one place, and later contacted their Ugandan counterparts who processed documentation for the repatriation. The returnees have said pastor Opolot convinced them to fast for 40 days so that they can meet Jesus on the 41st day. The condition was that to meet Jesus, they needed to be in Ethiopia, and according to him, the world would immediately end, Mundeyi said,. This comes weeks after over 150 people died when a self-styled pastor, Paul Makenzie in Kenya convinced his followers to fast to death in order to go to heaven. The Parliamentary Forum on Labour, Decent Employment and Productivity is calling for an independent workers ministry to address the challenges faced by domestic and migrant workers. Currently, workers issues are handled by the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development. Speaking to the media at Parliament, the vice chairperson of the Forum also one of the workers MPs, Margaret Rwabushaija noted that there are many laws that need to be streamlined to address the challenges faced by Ugandan workers both within the country and abroad. It would be better if they separated these ministries. It is too loaded. Much as we have specific ministers of state, there is time when you see that there is a need because you can not be a master of all, Rwobushaija said. She also noted the need for laws that will guide new trends in the labour industry, especially those going abroad for work. Meanwhile, the chairperson of the forum, Roland Ndyomugyenyi who is also Rukiga county MP, has urged President Museveni to appoint a new Labour minister following the death of the former minister Charles Engola last month. Bukanga North Member of Parliament, Nathan Byanyima is proposing a reform that stops MPs from being appointed to ministerial positions. The Ugandan legal framework currently provides for a Member of Parliament to double as a minister at the appointment of the president. According to Byanyima this is the only reform that will ensure effective service delivery as the opposition renews calls for constitutional and electoral reforms. Byanyima argues that the joining of the legislature and the executive compromises effective performance of the said arms of government. I dont want Members of Parliament to be ministers because I want a person who will put the map of Uganda on his desk and pin it there. Let us hire intelligent people outside there who are not Members of Parliament and do the job for us, Byanyima said. According to parliament, an MP is the political representative of the voters to a parliament while a minister is a politician who holds a significant public office in a national or regional government. Ministers make up a Cabinet and MPs, a Parliament. Above: A bombed building in Kyiv Its hard to think of two more different settings than peaceful Gowran and todays war-torn Ukraine, but a brave local man has swapped one for the other, in recent days. Jim Harding has travelled from Kilkenny to Kyiv, bringing with him four wheel drive vehicles and medical aid for the people of Ukraine. Amid air-raid warning sirens, and surrounded by bullet-riddled buildings and vehicles, Jim sends home pictures and videos from a country, and people, he has come to love. The pictures alone are heartbreaking, but also starkly show the daily reality for people in Ukraine, continuing 15 months after their homeland was invaded. Back home in Gowran, children are looking forward to summer holidays, playing with friends, summer camps. In Kyiv Jim visits what, from the distance, looks like a pile of rusty, old vehicles. But he explains these vehicles were destroyed in the battle for Irpin bridge, where the Russian assault was stopped before it reached Kyiv. If you look closely, some of the rusty heaps contain contrasting cuddly toys and colourful dolls - they were placed in the cars where children died. ABOVE: A pile of burned out cars following the battle for Irpin Bridge. BELOW: Toys are placed in the remains of war damaged cars in which children died. One of the videos Jim sent home, last week, showed school children running to a bomb shelter, their frightened cries mingling with the background warning siren. Another video shows Jim walking through a building beside Irpin bridge - the walls pockmarked by missiles and the roof broken apart with craters. He saw roads north of Kyiv that are totally cut up from all the armoured vehicles that have travelled them. He described how the bad condition meant a lot of very slow driving with a lot of manoeuvring to avoid huge holes in the road, which remain irreparable in case of another assault from this direction. Anyone travelling the main roads to Lviv, Kyiv etc would think this was a very prosperous country, but a few miles into the countryside quickly dispels this opinion and reveals a very, very poor country but with a people who are stunningly generous and welcoming, he said. Cars are old and worn out. Tractors and farm machinery are old and with multiple repairs. A far cry from the John Deere models hauling broken down enemy tanks into UAF (Ukrainian Armed Forces) bases on our television screens last year. An interesting observation for anyone thinking these people do not need help would be the fact that we were able to get a normally 250 per night (hotel) on Kyivs main square, less than 200 metres from the Presidents Palace, for as little as 35 per night. In short, anyone who can in any way help these people has a moral and humanitarian obligation to do so. If they want or are brave enough to have their minds changed by truth let them put their hands in their pockets to pay their way and travel with us on the next convoy, which we will make as soon as funds allow, Jim said. Jim, and members of his travelling group, left their city-centre hotel in Kyiv to stay in the countryside, after a night of air raid warnings. Some of the group stayed and the next night witnessed what they described as a heavy attack. On the journey to Kyiv the group stayed in the city of Lviv. Jim said the city seemed very normal, with people going about their business, despite it being lightly bombed. The hope and strength of the Ukrainian people is also on display in Jims photographic record. A field of Ukrainian flags in a city square, water fountains spraying happily into the sunshine, families and friends going about their daily lives, meeting for meals. Click NEXT to continue reading and see more photographs. Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher visited Kilkenny City on Friday, meeting with businesses, farm organisations and local people to hear about the challenges they are facing and to bring a European perspective to the conversation. Local TD John McGuinness, as well as local councillors Andrew McGuinness, Pat Fitzpatrick and Joe Malone, joined the Fianna Fail MEP throughout the visit. The visit to Kilkenny City was really interesting and informative," said Mr Kelleher, following the visit. "I started with a visit to Tirlans Abbey Quarter office to brief them on the ongoing discussions in Europe regarding a number of agri and agri-related legislative files and proposals. Companies like Tirlan are both major economic drivers and major employers in counties like Kilkenny. What is decided in Brussels has a major impact on their operations. Deputy McGuinness then organised a meeting with Kilkenny IFA and other farm organisations where we discussed the Nitrates Directive Derogation, the Industrial Emissions Directive, future proposals on animal transport, and the Nature Restoration Law. Farmers are at the forefront of protecting and restoring our biodiversity already. We need to work with them on any new plans to ensure their full implementation. We were then shown around the Global Technology Operations Centre in McDonagh Junction operated by UPMC by their Irish Managing Director Eamonn Fitzgerald. This brilliant, innovative healthcare company is assisting in meeting Irelands healthcare targets and providing some top-class local employment in Kilkenny City. Thanks to the Fianna Fail team in Kilkenny City for inviting me and for introducing me to their friends and colleagues. Cities like Kilkenny are the beating heart of rural Ireland, and Im confident it will continue to thrive and prosper." The victims of a suspected double murder in Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday were a seven-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, police said. Officers were called to a car wash on Campbell Road just after 2pm following reports of an assault involving a man and a woman. A man in his 40s was taken to hospital by paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service and has since been released. Police then went to a home on Flax Street to arrest a 49-year-old woman and found the children injured and unresponsive inside. Despite the efforts of paramedics, both children, who have not been named, died at the scene, police said. The woman, who was known to the children, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hannan, of Staffordshire Police, said: Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the children. I cannot image the pain and shock they are feeling. We also understand the concern felt locally around this incident and the speculation around what has happened. We can now confirm that the two people who lost their lives are an 11-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl. Our priority was to inform the family before confirming the ages of the children. They are currently being supported by specially trained officers. The woman arrested is known to the children. We dont believe there to be any wider threat to the public at this time. Our focus remains on finding out more about what happened yesterday and supporting the family at this deeply distressing and tragic time. Detectives have appealed for any information and are particularly interested in any CCTV or dashcam footage from the area of Flax Street and Campbell Road between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Sunday, and to hear from anyone in the area at the time. This Saturday, (June 17), will be an historic day in Freshford village when the 12th century Shrine of St. Lachtains Arm will be on display at St. Lachtains Church of Ireland. Last year the community in Freshford commemorated the 1400th anniversary of the death of St. Lachtain and celebrated more than 1400 years of worship in the parish with a year long festival of events. It was hoped to have the shrine as the centrepiece of that celebration. That did not work out but the committee members at Ionad Lachtain Church, Arts and Heritage Centre are thrilled to have the shrine on display as the highlight of Feile Lachtain 2023. The relics of St. Lachtains right arm were kept at the church of Kilnamartra in Co. Cork following his death. At the beginning of the 12th century a bronze reliquary was made to house the relics. Its manufacture can be dated to the years 1118-1121. Following the Reformation, ownership of the shrine passed from lay hands to church hands and back again. It eventually ended up in the collection of Sir Andrew Fountaine of Norfolk Hall in England. At an exhibition in London in 1829 it was described as an object of Egyptian descent. After its Irish provenance was correctly established, the shrine was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1853 in Dublin. The Fountaine Collection was auctioned in 1884 and the shrine returned to the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin and was then placed in the National Museum. In that respect, unlike the Elgin Marbles, it is perhaps one of the first artefacts to be repatriated to Ireland from Britain. In recent years St. Lachtains Arm has formed part of the Treasures of Ireland exhibition at the National Museum. It is highly regarded as one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical metalwork from medieval Ireland. This is a momentous occasion for the parish of Freshford and indeed for county Kilkenny as it is the first time an artefact has been loaned out to the community under a new loans policy adopted by the National Museum. Public viewing will be from 10am on Saturday until 5pm at St. Lachtains Church of Ireland. There will be a break for an official welcome ceremony between noon and 1pm. This will begin with an ecumenical blessing by Monsignor Kieron Kennedy, P.P., and Rev. Stephen Farrell, Rector of Freshford and Dean of Ossory. Speakers will include Minister Malcolm Noonan, T.D., Dr. Lynn Scarff, Director of the National Museum and Dr. Griffin Murray of UCC, the acknowledged expert on the shrine. The committee at Ionad Lachtain is extremely grateful to Dr. Scarff and her colleagues at the National Museum for facilitating this historic display of the shrine. They also acknowledge the assistance of Kilkenny Archaeological Society in making arrangements and especially the work of Mr. Pat Nolan, former president of the society. The display is also taking place with the assistance of Kilkenny Co. Council. Strengths Out of all cryptocurrencies monitored by CoinMarketCap, Terra Classic performed best over the past week with a 16.15% increase. Digital asset firm BitGo Holdings announced an agreement to acquire the parent company of Prime Trust, a crypto custodian for the Binance.U.S. trading platform, according to Bloomberg. Despite the recent filings by the U.S. SEC alleging certain tokens as securities, the value locked on DeFi applications operating on those tokens' blockchains has remained mostly stable, as reported by Bloomberg. Weaknesses Among the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, Sui was the worst performer of the week, declining by 20.61%. Bloomberg reported that the SEC has accused Binance and its CEO CZ of mishandling customer funds, misleading investors and regulators, and violating securities rules. The allegations were detailed in a 136-page complaint filed on Monday in a U.S. federal court in Washington. Liquidity on one of the most prominent crypto exchanges, Binance.US, has declined following significant regulatory actions by U.S. officials. According to data reported by Kaiko via Bloomberg, the Bitcoin bid-ask spread on Binance.US has dramatically worsened. Opportunities Bloomberg reported that Hivemind Capital Partners, a digital-asset investment firm founded by former Citigroup executive Matt Zhang, is launching a $300 million fund to invest in crypto tokens. This move is happening despite a U.S. regulatory crackdown that has dampened investor sentiment in the sector. New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has agreed to return $550,000 in donations it received from FTX shortly before the crypto exchange's collapse in November, according to Bloomberg. The Ethereum blockchains daily average gas fee is approaching a two-month low after last months memecoin trading frenzy caused a surge in costs, as reported by Bloomberg. Threats Reginald Fowler, a former minority owner of the NFLs Minnesota Vikings, has been sentenced to over six years in prison, ordered to forfeit $740 million, and pay $53 million in restitution after admitting he helped cryptocurrency exchanges evade money-laundering rules, according to Bloomberg. The SEC has filed a lawsuit against Coinbase Global in a New York federal court, alleging that the crypto firm violated its rules for years. The regulator claimed in a 101-page complaint that Coinbase evaded regulations by allowing users to trade multiple crypto tokens that were actually unregistered securities, as reported by Bloomberg. Cryptocurrencies experienced a broad decline after the US SEC accused Binance Holdings of mishandling funds and deceiving regulators, according to Bloomberg. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. Strengths The most robust performing precious metal for the week was silver, gaining 2.6%. G Mining Ventures has signed a binding agreement with CEMIG to supply the Tocantinzinho Project with cost-effective renewable energy. The fixed energy pricing, applicable between 2024 and 2026, will cover the commissioning, ramp-up, and initial production years at Tocantinzinho. Commercial production is expected to begin in H2/2024, resulting in a 25% reduction in electricity costs. After a modest 2022, the junior and intermediate producers we cover have started the year strongly. Year-to-date, junior producers have risen 8% while intermediates have surged 15%, outperforming the senior producers who are flat for the year, and spot gold, which has risen 7%. On a P/NAV basis, intermediates now trade at a premium to the seniors (0.72x NAV vs. 0.65x for seniors), whereas junior producers trail at 0.52x NAV. Notably, junior producers are projected to generate a 23% sustaining free cash flow (FCF) yield in 2024. At Evolution Mining, Ernest Henry capital expenditure is expected to be between $450-500 million, in line with consensus. The mine life extends to 2040, surpassing consensus expectations. The resource update in September is likely to reveal additional potential to be incorporated into the September 2025 feasibility study. The life extension of the Mungari mine also exceeded expectations, with construction set to be completed by March 2026. Weaknesses The weakest performing precious metal for the week was palladium, falling 6.2%. Argonaut announced a delay in first production at Magino, which has been postponed to mid-June (previously expected in late May). Despite the delay, wet commissioning activities are well underway. Zijin Mining's Colombia gold mine, a significant producer in the Andean country, has halted 60% of operations due to recent attacks against workers, allegedly by illegal miners associated with a major crime gang. Following two attacks within two weeks, the company has prioritized worker safety. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso invoked the "Muerte Cruzada," dissolving the national assembly and allowing him to rule by decree under the supervision of Ecuador's Constitutional Court. National elections will now be held in August, followed by a second round in October, with the new authorities serving until May 2025. Notably, neither President Lasso nor his party will seek re-election. Opportunities Petra, currently holding 75% of Williamson with the remaining 25% owned by the Government of Tanzania (GoT), will now share equal ownership with Taifa, each holding 37.5%. Post-ratification of two existing agreements, Petra will retain a 31.5% stake in Williamson, with Taifa holding an equivalent 31.5% and GoT owning the remaining 37%. Eldorado announced a C$81.5 million strategic equity investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) along with a concurrent C$135 million bought deal financing. With this funding and a 680M project debt facility, the company gains added balance sheet flexibility. The World Gold Council's sixth annual central bank gold reserves survey reveals that among the 57 central bank respondents, 24% anticipate increasing gold reserves over the next 12 months, demonstrating a robust outlook for gold. Threats Strong end-market demand has resulted in high prevailing prices, some diamond producers were (briefly) realizing >50% like-for-like price increases in 2022. Diamond demand is driven by the US at it is 50% of global consumer demand (China is only 14% of demand). As the Fed pivots following a series of rate hikes, there is the risk that diamond fundamentals weaken as U.S. consumer confidence weakens and discretionary spending falls. Bank of America downgraded Royal Gold, a precious metals royalty and streaming company, from Neutral to Underperform and lowered their target to $130 per share (down from $149). The price objective is based on a 2.25x net asset value (NAV) multiple, which is lower due to heightened operational and execution concerns around significant assets in Royal Gold's portfolio. This concern was especially directed towards Mount Milligan, which constitutes 21% of NAV and is owned by Centerra Gold, where 2023 gold production guidance was recently tempered. According to a Financial Times report, the Mexican mining industry is threatened by sweeping new regulations. The modifications in the mining code make it difficult for companies to secure mineral concessions and could instigate a wave of lawsuits by Canadian miners with investments in Mexico. The new legislation mandates all mining exploration activities to be conducted by the Mexican Geological Service, a state-run agency with insufficient funding. This could severely hamper exploration efforts. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified its ongoing dispute with cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, reaching new heights of contention. On March 22nd, the regulatory body issued a Wells notice to Coinbase, signaling its intent to pursue legal action against the largest U.S.-based crypto exchange for alleged securities law violations. In response to this development, Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, sought to assuage concerns among investors and the crypto community in a blog post. Grewal revealed that the allegations are primarily aimed at the companys staking service, Coinbase Earn, and its offerings, Coinbase Prime and Coinbase Wallet. In late April, in a written and video statement, Grewal got together with Coinbase CEO and founder Brian Armstrong to respond to the Wells Notice. In the video, the CEO said, "A Wells Noticeat this stage, when there's not a clear rulebookis not constructive, and it's not good for America." Coinbase argues that any enforcement action would be without merit and pose significant risks to the current regulatory model. This legal battle between Coinbase and the SEC highlights the challenges of regulating the cryptocurrency market, which is still in its early stages and lacks clear guidelines from regulators. Why SEC Issued Well Notice to Coinbase The legal dispute between Coinbase and SEC is on whether cryptocurrencies are securities and if they should be regulated as such. Coinbase is seeking to gain regulatory clarity for trading digital assets. SEC Chair Gary Gensler has repeatedly claimed that, in his view, most digital assets are securities. This sharply contrasts Armstrong's claims that cryptocurrencies listed on the Coinbase exchange are not securities. He says not all cryptos assets are securities, as some are commodities. This is because there are many types of crypto, including stablecoins and artwork crypto, that are commodities as well. Stablecoins, for instance, are designed to offer less volatility like we commonly see in crypto assets. Stablecoins are also pegged to exchanged-traded commodities or fiat currency, even though they are based on blockchain technology. They offer a good solution to investors who want to invest in crypto but who also want to invest in something more stable. Coinbase received a Wells notice from the SEC alleging the exchange violates securities laws. In his recent response to the SECs Wells notice, Armstrong said, "The staffs enforcement action would fail on merits because Coinbase does not list, clear, or effect trading in securities." In a blog post that announced Armstrong's response to SEC, Grewal writes, "Coinbase is the same company that we were when the SEC allowed us to become public two years ago, we didn't list securities then, and we still dont." In the written submission to SEC, Coinbase clarifies aspects of their business that are subject to the Wells notice. In the letter, Coinbase argues that Coinbase Wallet is not a broker, as the SEC staff alleged in their notice, and that it is a software tool incapable of performing the customary activities that would be required for the Commission to prove that Wallet is a broker. It also says Coinbase Staking Services isnt a securities offering. The SEC Staff contends that Coinbases staking services constitute an unregistered securities offering in violation of Sections 5(a) and (c) of the Securities Act. According to Coinbase, securities must satisfy the prongs of the Howey test for an investment contract, and their stacking services do not. The four prongs or elements that Howey requires to satisfy a transaction investment contract as security are an investment of money, a common enterprise, reasonable expectation of profit, and profit derived from the work of others. According to Coinbase, their stacking service fails all four of these. Coinbase is Preparing to Defend Itself Against SEC In a video statement in response to the recent Wells notice issued by the SEC targeting Coinbase, Armstrong emphasized the rationale behind registering his company in the United States, citing a strong belief in the country's commitment to the rule of law and recognizing its significance in the global marketplace. Armstrong further expressed his concern regarding the absence of clear regulations and specific guidelines governing cryptocurrencies, arguing that this lack of regulatory clarity adversely affects investors, the industry, and, ultimately, the United States. Armstrong pointed out that since starting Coinbase eleven years ago, he has proactively worked with regulators and is committed to working with them to make the industry safe. He closed his remark before handing over to Coinbase CLO Grewal that the Wells notice wasnt constructive and they are prepared to defend their position in court. In a video shared on social media just before Armstrong's response to the Security and exchange commission was made public, Gensler, SEC chair, reiterated his view that crypto exchanges must register as regulated entities in the U.S., saying "Crypto markets suffer from a lack of regulatory compliance. It's not a lack of regulatory clarity." While agreeing with Armstrong, Coinbase's chief legal officer, Grewal, expressed an unambiguous stance that the company "will defend itself vigorously" against the SEC if the commission moves ahead with the Wells notice. Amicable Solution In the blog post announcing Coinbases response to SEC, Grewal said their exchange doesnt list any securities. However, theyd like to in the future, but the SEC has still not complied with the law by providing companies like Coinbase with a way to register to be able to do that. And in the video, Armstrong expresses willingness to work with the SEC to create a framework and regulated marketplace for crypto securities to be traded in the U.S. In the response, the Coinbase executive said, "Coinbase has never wanted to litigate with the Commission. The Commission should not want to litigate either. Litigation will put the Commissions own actions on trial and erode public trust cultivated over decades." As the SEC and Coinbase gear up for a legal showdown, this dispute will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the future of the cryptocurrency market and the regulation of digital assets. The legal dispute between Coinbase and the SEC shows the need for greater regulatory clarity in the crypto industry. While the sector has seen rapid growth over the years, it is still relatively new. The lack of clear guidelines from regulatory bodies such as the SEC has led to confusion and uncertainty for businesses and investors. As the conflict between Coinbase and the SEC persists, it is uncertain how the regulatory framework for digital assets will develop in the United States and globally. In their blog post, Coinbase said they would continue to ask Congress for legislation and the SEC for rulemaking so that regulatory clarity isnt left to the courts. Recent Development In April, Coinbase initiated a lawsuit seeking the court's intervention to compel the SEC to clarify its position on previously submitted petitions publicly. On May 4th, Grewal, Coinbase's chief legal officer, announced a significant development in the ongoing legal battle, stating that the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has responded to the complaint against the SEC. The court issued a text-only order instructing the SEC to respond to Coinbase's writ of mandamus within ten days. However, the SEC countered Coinbase's claims in a recent court filing, dismissing them as groundless. The filing argued that Coinbase's request for expedited or alternative regulatory action does not warrant extraordinary court intervention. The SEC's legal representatives firmly advised dismissing the petition, citing the agency's ongoing engagement in other rulemaking and enforcement matters. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Mark Cuban, the billionaire tech investor and cohost of Shark Tank, has joined the chorus of market participants and industry experts criticizing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for refusing to provide crypto firms with a clear process for registration. This is an SEC WEB PAGE about the howey test and tokens that often conflicts with what SEC Enforcement has said publicly, Cuban wrote in a tweet on Sunday. It's worth a read to get more clarity on what may or may not be a security. Cuban shared a link to a 13-page SEC document entitled Framework for Investment Contract Analysis of Digital Assets, which purports to offer guidance on how to determine whether or not a digital asset would qualify as a security in the eyes of the Commission. In this guidance, we provide a framework for analyzing whether a digital asset is an investment contract and whether offers and sales of a digital asset are securities transactions, the document reads, before going through the three key prongs of the Howey test as they relate to crypto. The first prong of the Howey test is typically satisfied in an offer and sale of a digital asset because the digital asset is purchased or otherwise acquired in exchange for value, whether in the form of real (or fiat) currency, another digital asset, or other type of consideration, they write. Courts generally have analyzed a common enterprise as a distinct element of an investment contract, they say about the second criteria. In evaluating digital assets, we have found that a common enterprise typically exists. The rest of the document is devoted to analyzing the various factors for determining whether or not the third element of the Howey test, Reasonable Expectation of Profits Derived from Efforts of Others, applies to a particular digital asset. Cuban said the document, and the analysis it contains, are of limited value for U.S. crypto firms who want to become regulated. Unfortunately none of the elements presented in this page are part of the registration process, he wrote. Which makes it near impossible to know, with or without an army of securities lawyers, what is or is not a security in the crypto universe. Cuban also linked to another tweet he posted on June 9 contrasting the SECs careful and constructive flagging of stock loans as an area in need of clarification with the regulation-by-enforcement approach the Commission has taken to digital assets. Here is the SEC calling the stock loan industry opague [sic] and requiring transparency, he wrote. Note, they are not calling stock loans a security as they are trying to do with the loaning of crypto assets. Nor are they suing the Stock Loan Departments of brokers/banks. They are going through a comments process. Cuban said the SEC should adopt the same approach in their dealings with crypto firms and token offerings. I think their difference in approach is emblematic of their intent for one industry vs another, he wrote. He also tagged Brian Armstrong, the Coinbase CEO whose exchange was charged by the SEC on June 6 and who has insisted that they have made every effort to register and Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, who issued a scathing attack on the regulator following the action against Coinbase. The SEC has failed to provide a path for digital asset exchanges to register, and even worse has failed to provide adequate legal guidance on what differentiates a security from a commodity, Lummis tweeted at the time. The SEC's continued reliance on regulation by enforcement continues to harm consumers. Real consumer protection requires creating a robust legal framework that exchanges can comply with, not pushing the industry offshore or into the shadows. Cuban has been a staunch supporter of Bitcoin and the crypto community in recent years. In a December appearance on comedian Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, he stuck up for Bitcoin, which had lost much of its value since the market peak in late 2021, while denigrating gold as an investment. I want Bitcoin to go down a lot further so I can buy some more, he said on the podcast. If you have gold, you're dumb as f**k. Cuban said that although gold is a store of value, it is neither a safe nor a protected asset. Gold is a store of value, and so is Bitcoin, he said. If everything went to hell in a handbasket and you had a gold bar, you know what would happen? Someone would beat the f**k out of you or kill you and take your gold bar. It's useless. Cuban added that bitcoin is also protected on a digital ledger, and noted that gold itself is basically a digital asset, as few investors own the physical metal. Cuban has himself been caught up in the legal and regulatory actions targeting the U.S. crypto industry. On August 10, 2022, Cuban was named in a class-action lawsuit alongside the bankrupt crypto brokerage Voyager Digital which alleges that he helped operate what amounts to a Ponzi scheme. The lawsuit claimed that Cuban played a crucial role in promoting the Voyager platform and misrepresented the firm on numerous occasions, at one point saying the platform was as close to risk-free as you are going to get in the crypto universe. Voyage filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2022. NEW YORK, June 12 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley (MS.N) CEO James Gorman said the bank could look for more deals in asset management. "I could see us doing deals in asset management and being quite geographically agnostic", he said during an investment conference in New York. Gorman said the succession process is ongoing, referring to the three internal candidates, and that the specific business areas each candidate runs should not be seen as defining the choice. LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - PrivatBank's $4.2 billion lawsuit against its former owners began in a London court on Monday, with Ukraine's largest lender accusing them of "fraud on an epic scale" which pushed the bank towards nationalisation. Ihor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov are being sued for allegedly misappropriating nearly $2 billion through "sham" loans and supply agreements between 2013 and 2014. PrivatBank, which is seeking about $4.2 billion including interest, has pursued Kolomoisky and Bogolyubov in the English courts since 2017, the year after it was nationalised as part of a clean-up of Ukraine's finance system. Kolomoisky and Bogolyubov both deny any wrongdoing and say there was no misappropriation from PrivatBank. They also argue that PrivatBank has no evidence they had any knowledge of or involvement in any misappropriation. But PrivatBank's lawyers told the High Court in London on Monday the first day of a trial which is expected to take 14 weeks that the pair are not giving evidence in their defence because they have no answer to the fraud allegations. "Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov have absented themselves and their associates from this trial because they know perfectly well that if they had attended to give evidence, any explanations ... would have been exposed as incredible," PrivatBank's lawyer Andrew Hunter said. "They would have been revealed to be the people the bank say they really are, and that is fraudsters, money launderers and liars." Kolomoisky's lawyer Mark Howard said in court filings that PrivatBank's case is bound to fail because the loans at the centre of the lawsuit have almost entirely been repaid. "The bank has simply not suffered the loss for which it claims damages," he added. Bogolyubov's lawyer Clare Montgomery argued in court filings that "no funds were in fact misappropriated from the bank". She said it was "implausible" that Bogolyubov knew about the alleged misappropriation when there was no direct evidence. TINOS, June 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The shipping industry emits 2.9% of the world's greenhouse gases. It has also largely escaped taxation because what happens on the high seas is not in the jurisdiction of any single government. These two facts represent an opportunity. If the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) - the United Nations body which regulates shipping - taxed carbon emissions, it would encourage shippers to go green faster. The body could then channel the money raised, perhaps $100 billion a year, to poorer countries to help them cope with climate change. The shipping industrys tax-free status is already facing challenges. The European Union has agreed that from next year all ships will have to buy permits for their emissions within the EU, and half of what they spew out while travelling between the bloc and other countries. The time is ripe to push for a global levy. This will be one of the ideas on the agenda at French President Emmanuel Macrons summit on a new global financial pact in Paris later this month. The IMO, which has the power to impose a tax, will then meet in early July. Although its unlikely to agree to a levy, it could set a timetable to introduce one. POLLUTER PAYS The shipping industry uses fossil fuels to power its boats. Although there are alternatives, mostly based on green hydrogen, these are two to three times the price of hydrocarbon-based fuels, so many shipowners dont see the point in using them. That said, industry leaders such as container giant Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) are moving into green shipping. The Danish companys first vessel capable of running on clean fuels will arrive next month. Part of Maersks motivation is that many customers, particularly in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, want to cut emissions in their supply chains and are prepared to pay a premium for greener transport. A tax on the industrys fossil fuels would bring the cost of clean and dirty combustibles into line, accelerating the energy transition. Though this would push up the cost of traded goods around the world, Maersk estimates it would only add a few cents to the price of a pair of sneakers. Its true that countries which send their products long distances would be at a disadvantage to those which are closer to their customers, says Tristan Smith, a shipping and energy expert at University College London. But the proceeds from the tax could be used to manage this issue. $100 BILLION ANNUAL POT International shipping emits about 740 million tonnes in greenhouse gases (GHGs) each year. A group of Pacific nations led by the Marshall Islands is proposing that a levy starts at $100 a tonne and then ratchets upwards to make dirty fuels roughly as expensive as cleaner ones. Such a tax could raise as much as $100 billion a year in the medium term - although the sum would eventually fall if the tax was successful in getting shippers to switch away from hydrocarbons. This potentially large sum is attracting the attention of people outside the shipping industry, especially those focused on climate change. Rich countries have made various promises to help poor nations meet the costs of transitioning to a zero-carbon economy, but have so far struggled to find enough money to do the job. An annual pot of up to $100 billion from shipping is one of the few practical large new sources of funding. Thats why its on the agenda for Macrons summit. Although this meeting will not have the power to impose a tax, it could build momentum for one. The group led by the Marshall Islands is arguing that the majority of the funds from a shipping tax should go to countries especially vulnerable to climate change. They could invest the cash in areas such as rolling out green energy and building flood defences. The Marshall Islands wants another chunk of money to go to developing countries to help them build green shipping industries so they can keep up with rich countries which would otherwise decarbonise their fleets faster. The cash could help poorer countries invest in innovations such as clean-fuel ships and green hydrogen. The IMO could channel the proceeds of a tax through existing institutions, such as the UNs Green Climate Fund and the World Bank. Not everybody agrees. For example, the International Chamber of Shipping, a trade body, is proposing the bulk of the money raised from a levy should go back to shippers to subsidise their green transition. Given the industrys success in evading taxes for decades, it may yet find a way to hang onto a big chunk of the money from a levy. But it would be better if revenue went to those who suffer from pollution than those who are responsible for it. NO TIME TO WASTE The IMO's environment committee is expected to introduce a more ambitious strategy for curbing GHG emissions in July, according to a spokesperson. This is likely to set tougher targets and a rule to cut the GHG intensity of the fuel ships use. There will also be a discussion on economic incentives to curb emissions. The Marshall Islands and its allies want the IMO to agree to a levy that will take effect from 2025. UCLs Smith, a close observer of IMO negotiations, says this is unlikely because theres not yet sufficient consensus. However, he believes the environment committee might set a later timetable for introducing a tax. Other observers think it could settle on the EUs proposal for a start date of 2027. The IMO normally moves slowly, because it likes agreement among the governments which are its members. But it doesnt have to. It can take decisions on the basis of a majority vote. It can also enforce its will. If a country refused to apply an agreed tax, the international shipping industry would effectively be unable to operate from its ports. The IMO has shown that it can move fast when theres an emergency. For example, it mandated improvements in maritime security barely a year after Al Qaeda flew planes into New Yorks World Trade Center in 2001, because of fears that the group could use ships to mount similar attacks. Climate change is also an emergency. The sooner the IMO gets cracking, the better. (Corrects shipping emissions data and calculation of tax proceeds in paragraph nine. The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.) Follow @Hugodixon on Twitter (The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are their own.) LONDON, June 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Carmakers are in a race to lock in battery metals like lithium. For shareholders, the risk is that they tie up capital in expensive supply deals, or mines in far-flung locations with poor governance. Stellantis's investment in a London-based special purpose acquisition company deal looks like a neat fix to those challenges. Investing in London SPACs isn't a surefire bet. The sector has an uneven record, tainted by dogs like Nat Rothschild's Vallar a decade ago. ACG Acquisition , created by former EN+ Group boss Artem Volynets, at least came to market last year, after the recent SPAC boom had peaked. Rather than buy unprofitable tech startups, it wants to roll up metals for the energy transition, like nickel, which is expected to see a sevenfold increase in demand over 20 years. In a complex deal, halfway between an IPO and a SPAC takeover, it will buy the Serrote and Santa Rita mines in east Brazil for $1.1 billion. Besides the original SPAC investors, the bulk of that will likely come from a public offering, and new anchor investors like Stellantis. Glencore's Teck coal approach sends two signals China IPOs are uncoupling from Wall Street too Brookfield gets some M&A help from Gulf friends UBS's state aid is a disaster insurance policy Xavier Niel offers risky alternative for sick GAM (Editing by George Hay and Oliver Taslic) ZURICH, June 12 (Reuters) - Swiss financial regulator FINMA has specified the central elements of its regulatory requirements for the merged UBS (UBSG.S) and Credit Suisse, it said on Monday. The regulator also said it "welcomes UBS's strategic focus, which foresees a rapid reduction of risk in investment banking," in a statement after UBS formally completed its emergency takeover of its stricken rival. FINMA said it would continue to supervise the merged bank 'very closely' during the integration process. "The legal consummation of the merger between UBS Group and Credit Suisse Group marks the end of a phase of great uncertainty," FINMA said in a statement. "This creates clarity and stability." The regulator said one of the most pressing goals for the new merged bank was to quickly reduce the risk of the former Credit Suisse investment bank, but was confident this could be achieved. "Following the completion of the transaction, the merged bank has the necessary capital and liquidity resources to carry out these risk reduction activities quickly and decisively and to successfully complete the integration," FINMA said. Switzerland's largest bank became even bigger on Monday after it announced it has completed its acquisition of Credit Suisse (CSGN.S), following a government-backed rescue earlier this year. The combined bank has a balance sheet of $1.6 trillion and oversees $5 trillion of assets, giving UBS overnight a leading position in key markets it would otherwise need years to grow in size and reach. UBS has said the combined bank will be the will "undisputed leader in Switzerland." The mega-bank will employ 120,000 worldwide, although it has already announced it will in the future be cutting jobs to take advantage of synergies and reduce costs. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - On Monday, Talisker Resources (TSX: TSK) announced that it has entered into a royalty agreement with Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty in relation to the companys 100% owned Bralorne gold project in B.C., Canada. The company said that under the terms of the agreement, Sprott will pay Talisker up to US$31,250,000 for a net smelter returns royalty covering all minerals produced from the project. The three historic mines of the Bralorne mine complex, Bralorne, Pioneer and King produced a total of 4.2Moz at an average recovered grade of 17.7g/t. Production closed in 1971 due to subdued gold price. On average, production at the Pioneer and Bralorne produced 2,300 ounces per vertical metre mined. Inaugural mineral resource estimate for the Bralorne gold project includes 117,000 tonnes with an average grade of 8.9 g/t Au for 33,000 ounces of gold in the indicated category, and 8.0 million tonnes at 6.3. g/t Au for 1.6 million ounces of gold in the inferred category. President and CEO Terry Harbort stated, This non-dilutive funding package delivers a major catalyst to Talisker, providing the necessary capital for the pathway to long-term production at Bralorne. The flexible deal provides the necessary upfront funds for infill drilling and development while protecting the projects considerable resource and exploration upside with buyback and capping optionality. Talisker is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Taliskers projects include the Bralorne gold complex and the Ladner gold project, both advanced stage projects, as well as its Spences Bridge project and several other early-stage greenfields projects. HONG KONG, June 12 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) Asia Pacific co-head of wealth management, Amy Lo, has expanded her role to spend more time on key clients after the Swiss bank completed its takeover of Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) on Monday, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Lo retains primary responsibility for Hong Kong, North Asia and Greater China, including onshore entities, but will now serve as chair of global wealth management Asia, focusing on key clients, strategic growth opportunities and regulatory management in the region, the memo said. Jin Yee Young, who previously led the Asia Pacific wealth business at Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Credit Suisse before that, will join UBS from June 29 as Lo's co-head of the Asia Pacific business. Benjamin Cavalli will be head of the Asia Pacific wealth management team on strategic clients from July 3. August Hatecke, the former co-head alongside Lo, will lead the bank's global wealth management business in Switzerland, the memo said. UBS confirmed the memo details with Reuters. Separately, the bank's Asia Pacific asset management (AM) head Raymond Yin will continue leading the business, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. Credit Suisse's Asia AM head Huang Min will become China sales head for UBS AM, the source added. UBS did not respond immediately to a Reuters query on Yin and Huang's positions. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 83F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. COLUMBIA - A defendant accused of hazing Danny Santulli at the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity at MU pleaded guilty to supplying alcohol to a minor Monday morning as part of a plea deal. Samuel Gandhi, 22, was sentenced to one year in jail for the misdemeanor charge of supplying alcohol to a minor. His sentence was suspended as part of the plea deal. Gandhi will serve 15 days of shock detention in the Boone County Jail and two years of unsupervised probation. He must perform 100 hours of community service, as well as participate in a victim impact panel and complete an in-person drug and alcohol education program. Gandhi was originally charged with hazing life endangerment, a class D felony, in connection to the 2021 October fraternity party that left Santulli with brain injuries. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. JUST NOW: Samuel Gandhi, a former University of Missouri fraternity member, has pleaded guilty in hazing case of Danny Santulli. @KOMUnews pic.twitter.com/Ek8sWc6GmN Tia Maggio (@TiaMaggioTV) June 12, 2023 Gandhi is the fourth defendant in this case to plead guilty, after Harrison Reichman, Alec Wetzler and Thomas Shultz. Reichman pleaded guilty to supplying alcohol to a minor, Wetzler pleaded guilty to supplying alcohol to a minor and purchasing or possessing alcohol by a minor a misdemeanor and Shultz pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge. A total of 11 men were charged in the case. Three defendants, Ryan Delanty, Samuel Lane and Samuel Morrison, will each face a jury trial in December. Two other defendants, John O'Neill and Benjamin Parres, will each face a jury trial in January 2024. CALLAWAY COUNTY The state began taking steps to remove Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism from office on Friday. The Missouri Department of Public Safety suspended Chism's peace officer license, according to a complaint filed on June 9. Following the complaint, the Callaway County prosecuting attorney filed a petition Friday to remove Chism from elected office. Judge Brouck Jacobs issued an emergency temporary order prohibiting Chism from acting as sheriff. Chism was arrested in Moberly in October 2022 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He pleaded not guilty to DWI and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. A jury trial is set for 9 a.m. Aug. 10. In the months following his arrest, Chism allegedly showed up to work multiple times under the influence of alcohol, according to the complaint filed with the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission. The petition includes a seven-page affidavit, detailing 10 witness accounts of Chism's alleged behavior while on duty and in uniform. Witnesses include sheriff's office staff, staff members at Westminster College, an elected Callaway County official and Callaway County chief deputy Darryl Maylee. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Maylee is now serving as interim sheriff. In his affidavit, Maylee said he received between 25 and 30 complaints about Chism. Maylee said he confronted Chism twice about the claims, in which Chism denied. In March, Maylee said he found Chism asleep in his patrol vehicle outside of the sheriff's office, according to the complaint. Maylee said Chism smelled of alcohol and believed Chism was intoxicated. Later the same day, a judge noticed Chism smelled of alcohol and had glossy eyes. Chism reportedly admitted that he had consumed vodka that morning, but denied that he was intoxicated. A empty pint-sized bottle of vodka was found in Chism's desk, according to the complaint. It also says Chism was seen buying alcohol while on duty and in uniform, and that Chism did not deny the allegations. Online court records show the case has been sent to the Missouri Supreme Court for a non-13th Circuit Court judge. No hearings have been scheduled in the case. Authorities are investigating after a bus crashed Sunday in the Australian state of New South Wales and left multiple people dead. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of B&M European Value Retail (OTCMKTS:BMRRY Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Friday, The Fly reports. Separately, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded B&M European Value Retail from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $472.50. Get B&M European Value Retail alerts: B&M European Value Retail Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of OTCMKTS:BMRRY opened at $26.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.49, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The business has a 50 day moving average of $24.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $22.78. B&M European Value Retail has a 12-month low of $12.74 and a 12-month high of $27.09. B&M European Value Retail Company Profile B&M European Value Retail SA operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of 701 stores under the B&M brand, and 311 stores under the Heron Foods and B&M Express brands in the United Kingdom; and 107 stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides employment and property management services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for B&M European Value Retail Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for B&M European Value Retail and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold (TSE:ELD Get Rating) (NYSE:EGO) had its target price reduced by BMO Capital Markets from C$18.00 to C$17.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. National Bankshares set a C$17.00 target price on Eldorado Gold and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus lowered 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 research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, National Bank Financial upgraded Eldorado Gold from a sector perform spec overwgt rating to an outperform spec overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Eldorado Gold Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of ELD stock opened at C$13.04 on Friday. Eldorado Gold has a 12-month low of C$6.87 and a 12-month high of C$16.40. The company has a current ratio of 2.92, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.71. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$14.54 and its 200-day moving average price is C$12.96. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 56.20 and a beta of 1.34. 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. Shares of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the nine ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $118.80. Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. TheStreet upgraded Garmin from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Garmin in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Garmin from $91.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Barclays lifted their target price on Garmin from $101.00 to $106.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Tigress Financial reiterated a strong-buy rating and issued a $165.00 price objective on shares of Garmin in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Get Garmin alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Garmin Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in GRMN. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Garmin by 0.7% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,791,804 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $1,428,861,000 after purchasing an additional 115,941 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Garmin by 1.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,034,948 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $1,517,327,000 after purchasing an additional 239,988 shares during the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Garmin by 3.1% in the first quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 6,943,506 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $700,739,000 after acquiring an additional 209,373 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in Garmin by 5.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,798,228 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $545,971,000 after purchasing an additional 355,087 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Garmin by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,433,511 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $345,772,000 after acquiring an additional 70,082 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.29% of the companys stock. Garmin Price Performance NYSE GRMN opened at $105.34 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $20.15 billion, a PE ratio of 21.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.94. Garmin has a 1-year low of $76.37 and a 1-year high of $108.32. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $101.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $99.20. Garmin (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.09 billion. Garmin had a return on equity of 15.98% and a net margin of 19.94%. The businesss revenue was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.11 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Garmin will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year. Garmin Company Profile (Get Rating) Garmin Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of navigation, communications and information devices, most of which are enabled by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. It operates through the following segments: Marine, Outdoor, Fitness, Auto OEM, Consumer Auto, and Aviation. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Garmin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Garmin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Get Rating) (TSE:ITH) in a report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock. International Tower Hill Mines Price Performance NYSEAMERICAN THM opened at $0.43 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.81 million, a PE ratio of -21.50 and a beta of 0.70. International Tower Hill Mines has a fifty-two week low of $0.38 and a fifty-two week high of $0.75. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $0.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $0.53. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: Institutional Trading of International Tower Hill Mines An institutional investor recently raised its position in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Get Rating) (TSE:ITH) by 187.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 140,462 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. 55.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. International Tower Hill Mines Company Profile International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. is a mineral exploration company, which engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. It holds the right to acquire interest in an advanced stage exploration project in Alaska, known as the Livengood Gold Project. The company was founded by Jeffrey A. Read More Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Leju (NYSE:LEJU Get Rating) in a report released on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the financial services providers stock. Leju Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:LEJU traded up $0.14 on Friday, reaching $1.91. The companys stock had a trading volume of 46,380 shares, compared to its average volume of 168,742. Leju has a 52-week low of $1.03 and a 52-week high of $9.84. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $1.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.54. Get Leju alerts: Leju Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Articles Leju Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of online-to-offline real estate services. It offers electronic commerce, online advertising, and listing services on new residential property sales. The company was founded on November 20, 2013 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Receive News & Ratings for Leju Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Leju and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued their neutral rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. LLOY has been the topic of several other reports. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Berenberg Bank reissued a hold rating and set a GBX 58 ($0.72) target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.87) price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Lloyds Banking Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 68.88 ($0.86). Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance Shares of LLOY opened at GBX 45.27 ($0.56) on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of 29.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 565.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.22. The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 47.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 48.25. Lloyds Banking Group has a 1 year low of GBX 38.51 ($0.48) and a 1 year high of GBX 54.33 ($0.68). Insider Transactions at Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile In related news, insider Charlie Nunn acquired 285,316 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 48 ($0.60) per share, for a total transaction of 136,951.68 ($170,253.21). 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. (Get Rating) Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Get Rating) had its target price lifted by Loop Capital from $125.00 to $138.00 in a research note released on Friday, The Fly reports. A number of other research firms have also commented on OC. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $90.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $102.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $85.00 to $105.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Owens Corning has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $108.92. Get Owens Corning alerts: Owens Corning Stock Up 1.0 % NYSE:OC traded up $1.24 on Friday, reaching $119.39. The stock had a trading volume of 305,883 shares, compared to its average volume of 870,184. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. Owens Corning has a 12-month low of $72.97 and a 12-month high of $119.40. The company has a 50-day moving average of $104.98 and a 200 day moving average of $97.30. The stock has a market cap of $10.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.42. Insider Activity Owens Corning ( NYSE:OC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $2.77 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.22 by $0.55. The company had revenue of $2.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.22 billion. Owens Corning had a net margin of 13.54% and a return on equity of 26.06%. Owens Cornings revenue was down 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.84 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Owens Corning will post 10.52 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, EVP Paula Russell sold 2,000 shares of Owens Corning stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total transaction of $190,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,342 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,312,490. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Owens Corning news, EVP Paula Russell sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total value of $190,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,342 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,312,490. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Daniel T. Smith sold 3,670 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.11, for a total transaction of $389,423.70. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,811 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,967,115.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 23,570 shares of company stock worth $2,472,993. Corporate insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of OC. US Bancorp DE boosted its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 4.0% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,502 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $595,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 9.3% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 2,606 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $238,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 24.9% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 13,517 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,237,000 after buying an additional 2,693 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 10.8% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 19,987 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,888,000 after buying an additional 1,952 shares during the period. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 245.2% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,649 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 2,592 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.59% of the companys stock. Owens Corning Company Profile (Get Rating) Owens Corning engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. It operates through the following segments: Composites, Insulation, and Roofing. The Composites segment manufactures, fabricates, and sells glass reinforcements in the form of fiber, and includes vertically integrated downstream activities. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Owens Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Owens Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC lessened its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Get Rating) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,176 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 256 shares during the period. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $1,408,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Miller Investment Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $16,055,000. First Manhattan Co. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 21.0% during the 3rd quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 1,026 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $169,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the period. Capital Analysts LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 88.7% during the 4th quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 402 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 214.6% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 17,172 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,994,000 after acquiring an additional 11,714 shares during the period. Finally, USAdvisors Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 35.1% during the 4th quarter. USAdvisors Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,935 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,430,000 after acquiring an additional 3,621 shares during the period. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA IWM traded up $0.77 during trading on Monday, hitting $185.80. The stock had a trading volume of 26,373,504 shares, compared to its average volume of 29,414,521. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $176.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $180.37. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a twelve month low of $162.50 and a twelve month high of $201.99. iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed their overweight rating on shares of Shell (LON:SHEL Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. UBS Group set a GBX 2,750 ($34.19) target price on shares of Shell in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 3,000 ($37.29) target price on shares of Shell in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 2,900 ($36.05) price target on shares of Shell in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a GBX 3,300 ($41.02) price objective on shares of Shell in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of Shell from GBX 2,987 ($37.13) to GBX 2,854 ($35.48) in a report on Thursday, March 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Shell has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 2,875.82 ($35.75). Get Shell alerts: Shell Price Performance LON SHEL opened at GBX 2,294.50 ($28.52) on Thursday. Shell has a 52 week low of GBX 1,908.60 ($23.73) and a 52 week high of GBX 2,613.50 ($32.49). The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.54. The stock has a market cap of 156.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 476.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 2,385.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 2,389.43. Shell Dividend Announcement Shell Company Profile The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a yield of 0.99%. Shells dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 1,929.46%. (Get Rating) Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Shell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victoria Gold (TSE:VGCX Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by HC Wainwright from C$21.00 to C$20.00 in a research note released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. HC Wainwright currently has a buy rating on the stock. Separately, CIBC upped their price target on Victoria Gold from C$10.50 to C$11.50 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Get Victoria Gold alerts: Victoria Gold Price Performance Shares of TSE VGCX opened at C$8.19 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of C$544.88 million, a PE ratio of 25.59 and a beta of 1.64. Victoria Gold has a fifty-two week low of C$6.56 and a fifty-two week high of C$14.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.29, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 1.83. The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$9.53 and a 200-day moving average of C$8.90. Victoria Gold Company Profile Victoria Gold Corp. acquires, operates, explores, and develops mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its flagship property is 100% owned Dublin Gulch property, which hosts the Eagle and Olive-Shamrock Gold deposit covering an area of approximately 555 square kilometers located in central Yukon, Canada. Read More 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. Shore Capital reiterated their house stock rating on shares of Wynnstay Group (LON:WYN Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Wynnstay Group Trading Up 3.8 % Shares of WYN opened at GBX 475 ($5.91) on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of 107.11 million, a P/E ratio of 586.42 and a beta of 0.66. Wynnstay Group has a one year low of GBX 416.55 ($5.18) and a one year high of GBX 658 ($8.18). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.77. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 440.43 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 514.38. Get Wynnstay Group alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Wynnstay Group news, insider B Paul Roberts sold 2,188 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 437 ($5.43), for a total transaction of 9,561.56 ($11,886.57). 25.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wynnstay Group Company Profile Wynnstay Group Plc manufactures and supplies agricultural products in the United Kingdom. It operates through Agriculture and Specialist Agricultural Merchanting segments. The Agriculture segment offers animal nutrition products to the agricultural market; and seeds, fertilizers, and agro-chemicals to arable and grassland farmers, as well as markets grains. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wynnstay Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wynnstay Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. By Hippolyte Fofack CAIRO In early March, French President Emmanuel Macron visited four African states Gabon, Angola, Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the resource-rich Gulf of Guinea. The trip, his 18th to Africa, was aimed at countering China and Russia's charm offensive on the continent: both countries are bolstering their presence in places once considered part of France's sphere of influence pre carre francais. Before embarking on the tour, Macron candidly admitted that France was in a "period of transition" with its African partners, as it worked to develop relationships built on more than just security. But he was quick to add that none of France's six military bases on the continent would be shut down as part of this rebalancing, underscoring the challenges that African countries face in disentangling economic growth and development objectives from security concerns, to which they have long been subordinated. Macron's insistence on the need to maintain France's military presence in Africa (albeit with a smaller footprint) contrasts sharply with the views of young Africans, who are increasingly opposed to foreign military presence on the continent. Strangely enough, the French agree more with Africans than with their own president: a recent poll by the French Institute of Public Opinion (Ifop) found that 55 percent of the French favor closing their country's military bases in Africa. The relationship between France and Africa exemplifies Benjamin Disraeli's assertion in 1863: "Colonies do not cease to be colonies because they are independent." The resilience of the French colonial umbilical cord is evident in several domains of development and statecraft, including security, economic and monetary policy, and foreign policy. The war in Ukraine is a case in point. When, in March 2022, 25 of Africa's 54 countries either abstained or did not submit a vote on the United Nations' resolution condemning Russia's invasion, Macron criticized their "hypocrisy." Since then, France and other Western powers have deployed immense financial and diplomatic resources to support Ukraine, in stark contrast to the crisis in the Sahel. For more than a decade, terrorist groups have been destabilizing the region, laying waste to countless communities. Yet this issue has received scant attention globally, and the West has been unable to respond effectively. Besides demonstrating the lopsided global response to conflicts in Europe, the Ukraine crisis has also highlighted the imbalance between France's dealings with Russia and its engagement with former colonies. In 2021, French foreign direct investment in Russia was more than $3 billion, dwarfing its total FDI in former African colonies, estimated at a paltry $268 million. Even more interesting is the composition of these investments: France's FDI in Russia has a strong manufacturing component, which is highly labor-intensive and better at delivering inclusive growth than natural-resource extraction, the main focus of such inflows to Africa. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2018, Macron boasted that "French enterprises employ 106,000 Russian citizens." Before divesting from the sanctioned country, French automaker Renault alone employed 45,000 Russians. While Renault helped create thousands of jobs in Russia, streets in France's former African colonies are congested with imported cars a major source of these countries' external imbalances. This excessive reliance on imports increases the region's vulnerability to global volatility, exports jobs, and, in some economies, has generated unemployment rates above 20 percent, which only fuels the northward migration that European states have been seeking to curb. On the other hand, many African countries possess the raw materials needed to manufacture cars, including the electric vehicles that will be crucial in the fight against climate change. Equally damaging is the CFA franc, which, unlike sterling and escudo, for example, persists as one of the most visible relics of colonialism. Established in 1945, the French-backed currency is pegged to the euro and still used in two monetary zones in West and Central Africa. Macron attempted to reform the system in late 2019, announcing the replacement of the CFA franc with the "eco" in eight countries (although it has yet to be adopted). But even with this change, France's guarantee continues to undermine monetary sovereignty and the currency's peg with the euro continues to undercut competitiveness and industrialization. These adverse effects of the colonial development model of resource extraction have impeded diversification and left Africa's real economy with the short end of the globalization stick. Although Africa accounts for around 17 percent of the world's population, it accounts for only 3 percent of world exports in a rapidly changing global economic environment where trade has been largely driven by manufactured goods with increasing technological content. The social costs are immense. The French multinational Orano (formerly Areva), for example, has been extracting Nigerien uranium for decades while receiving a range of tax breaks and benefits. This arrangement with its former colony has positioned France as one of the main uranium exporters and a global leader in nuclear energy, mitigating its exposure to shortages stemming from Europe's restrictions on imports of Russian hydrocarbons. Yet Niger remains one of the world's most impoverished countries less than 20 percent of its population has access to electricity. Albert Sarraut, the Colonial Minister for France from 1920-24 and 1932-33, best captured the intent of the imperial economy: "Economically, a colonial possession means to the home country simply a privileged market whence it will draw the raw materials it needs, dumping its own manufactures in return." Even today, more than 80 percent of African countries remain dependent on primary commodities and suffer disproportionately from recurrent balance-of-payments crises that undermine fiscal and debt sustainability. In an increasingly competitive geopolitical environment, Macron's ambition to redefine France's role in Africa is to be welcomed. But any such effort must decouple security concerns from development goals and transcend neocolonial dynamics. In a world where technological innovation is accelerating and the divide between developed and developing countries is widening, African countries are seeking meaningful integration into the global economy. If the French fail to facilitate this process, plenty of other geopolitical actors are waiting in the wings. Hippolyte Fofack is chief economist and director of research at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). slide 2 of 6 TNX poses at the showcase commemorating the release of their third mini-album "BOYHOOD," held at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul on the 7th. "So, has TWICE just toppled BLACKPINK off their American pedestal?" This question rippled through the Twitterverse following a tweet from SoFi Stadium, which sparked off a fervent debate comparing the popularity of the two reigning K-pop girl groups in the United States. TWICE Soaring Stardom SoFi Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the U.S., drew attention when they posted a tweet about TWICE's upcoming concert in Los Angeles. This concert made TWICE the first female group to perform at the stadium, adding another feather to their already-decorated cap. The performance was an instant sell-out, indicating the group's immense popularity. Comments from fans flooded in, reflecting the soaring enthusiasm for the group. "Wow, they're really pulling it off. We need to do this again next year," exclaimed one fan, embodying the euphoria around the event. In Case You Missed It: (G)I-DLE Miyeon Weight Struggles, Self-Perception: 'I thought I could eat everything with my looks' Another fan, in awe of the group's success, stated, "TWICE is simply phenomenal. They have an incredible track record of hit songs. They're doing amazingly well." The TWICE vs BLACKPINK Debate As TWICE's star continues to rise, fans can't help but compare their success to BLACKPINK's. One fan, reflecting on this rivalry, wondered, "Does this mean TWICE is now more popular than BLACKPINK in the States? This is impressive." In Case You Missed It: AOA Kwon Mina Controversial Comeback - Is She Seeking Revenge? Even those who aren't necessarily TWICE enthusiasts chimed in, expressing pride in the group's achievements. Despite some controversy over their performance skills, TWICE has proven their international appeal. Many are anticipating a thrilling concert given TWICE's repertoire of hit songs, reinforcing the belief that the group's popularity is on an upward trajectory. Analyzing the Popularity Contest 2019 saw BLACKPINK etching their name in history by topping the Billboard 200 chart with their Born Pink album a first for any band in the U.S. However, TWICE's recent achievements suggest they might be giving BLACKPINK a run for their money. Both groups have seen meteoric success since their debuts, amassing passionate fans globally. The question of popularity, however, remains subjective and varies based on individual preferences. A Battle of Record-Breaking Feats In 2022, TWICE was crowned as the world's top K-pop act, surpassing even BTS. Their significant fan base in Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea contributed to a staggering 823 million viewership. Moreover, their EPs and special albums have sold over 1.2 million copies within 19 months of their debut, highlighting their domestic and international success. In comparison to BLACKPINK's ranking, TWICE enjoys higher popularity in South Korea and Japan, asserting their dominance in the industry. They have also surpassed previous records, becoming the highest-selling K-pop girl group of all time. In Case You Missed It: Third-Gen Idol Stuns with Jaw-Dropping Body Proportions and Unreal Tallness While both TWICE and BLACKPINK have been instrumental in spreading the Korean Wave, their strengths lie in different areas. They are celebrated for their vocal, dance, and rap skills, making it difficult to determine a clear winner. Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more K-pop news and lists. Cassidy Jones wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. A forum has been held in China's Huangshan to discuss new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation among RCEP members. The RCEP agreement is now in effect for all its 15 members as the world's largest free trade pact came into force for the Philippines on June 2, marking a new stage for the trade bloc of the world's largest population and trade volumes. Produced by Xinhua Global Service PRNewswire Hyderabad (Telangana)/ Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India]/ Berlin [Germany], June 12: Azista BST Aerospace, envisioning mass manufacturing of satellites built in India for the global market, will launch its first satellite ABA First Runner (AFR), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 13th June 2023, 02:49 AM IST as part of the Transporter 8 Mission. Also Read | Ireland's Harry Tector, Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong Clinch ICC Player of the Month Awards for May 2023. Azista BST Aerospace has created a state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot facility capable of supporting the production of 2 satellites per week. The first satellite, AFR, is an 80kg satellite built on a modular bus platform and hosts a wide-swath optical remote sensing payload with both panchromatic & multispectral imaging capabilities. AFR represents the first satellite of its size and performance built by the private space industry in India, capable of supporting various critical applications for civilian and defense purposes. Azista BST Aerospace is committed to India's drive towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. Managing Director Srinivas Reddy Male said, "The launch of AFR marks an exciting beginning to support the realization of satellite constellations for various applications. Our factory in Ahmedabad is already geared up to produce 10 of these satellites in 2024. We are grateful for the support from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Indian National Space Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), and the Indian Space Association (ISpA) to help us achieve this major milestone." Also Read | The Idol Episode 2: From Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknds Graphic Sex Scene to Displaying Self-Harm Scars, 5 Scenes From Sam Levinsons HBO Show That Will Shock the Viewers!. Director Sunil Indurti stated, "Azista BST Aerospace invites researchers and organizations interested in exploring the use of fresh satellite data for various geospatial applications to get in touch with us and take advantage of this exciting opportunity." Azista BST Aerospace is already in the process of realizing the next set of satellites to demonstrate its capabilities with versatile payloads with its modular satellite buses. Several of these satellites will be launched within the next 12-24 months to establish space heritage and solidify vertically integrated production capabilities from India. Azista BST Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (ABA) is a joint venture between Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH. ABA owns and operates a factory in Ahmedabad, India, for manufacturing small satellites in India for the global market. ABA's installed annual production capacity of 100 microsatellites makes it the largest satellite manufacturing facility in India. The company operates a 50,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art infrastructure to develop and manufacture highly reliable space systems. For further information, partnership opportunities, or media inquiries, please contact:Bharath Simha Reddy P,Business Development Manager,Azista BST Aerospace Pvt Ltd.bharath.pappula@azistaindustries.com+91 89779 27765 (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) PRNewswire Chandigarh [India], June 12: "Chandigarh University has set new benchmarks of quality higher education by featuring among the World's Top Universities," said former President of India Ram Nath Kovind, who addressed the annual Convocation 2023 at Chandigarh University, Gharuan on Friday. Also Read | Germany: BioNTech COVID Vaccine Damages Trial Begins. More than 1,400 students were awarded undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD degrees during the annual convocation out of which 45% are women. Further, 22 girls out of 35 have been conferred Gold Medals. 21 girls out of the total 35 have received their doctorate degrees. Former President Ram Nath Kovind was the chief guest for the occasion, who awarded the degrees and Gold Medals to the achievers. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chandigarh University Chancellor, Dr. (Prof.) R S Bawa, Pro-Chancellor Chandigarh University; and Dr. Manpreet Singh Manna, Vice Chancellor Chandigarh University, were also present on this auspicious occasion. Also Read | ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule: India to Have Matches at Nine Venues, Know Tentative Fixture Dates for CWC Tournament. While addressing the gathering at the annual convocation, former President Ram Nath Kovind said, "Chandigarh University has built a good reputation as one of the premier institutions of India within a short span of 11 years, owing to which it has been ranked among the Top Universities of the World. Through the years, the university has been a hub of research and innovation by inculcating the spirit to participate, indulge, and innovate among its students. With more than 703 patents filed in a year, Chandigarh University has been ranked 1st in India by the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs, Trademarks and Geographical Indications, Government of India." Adding to his convocation address, he said, "Educated youth is the biggest strength which will fuel the progress of India in Amrit Kaal, and the New Education Policy introduced after 34 years aims to prepare the Indian youth for the world of tomorrow. As you graduate today, you are not only being conferred a degree, but you are also bestowed with new expectations, and responsibilities to contribute towards the society and the nation." He further said that India is moving towards women empowerment and women leadership, which is an indicator of its bright future. "The educated girls will strengthen the journey of our India's progress and play a vital role in making it a Global Knowledge Hub," he said. Former President Ram Nath Kovind further said, "While it is said that India is slowly moving towards becoming the 'Vishwa Guru', when we look at it inclusively over the years, India is already a superpower. It has showcased its increasing power to the world through several bold decisions such as the development of COVID vaccination and deportation of Indians during the Russia-Ukraine war." He also stated that G-20 Summit being hosted by India is further proof of India's growing power and is a great opportunity for the nation to highlight its inclusive growth and development to the world. "The world now has faith in the leadership of India. And Ajaypal Singh Banga taking over as the President of the World Bank is clear proof. It is for the first time ever that an Indian has been given this position, which is a matter of pride for the entire nation and its citizens," said Former President Ram Nath Kovind throwing light on how India is gaining importance in the global arena. While addressing the convocation, Satnam Singh Sandhu, chancellor of Chandigarh University (CU), congratulated the graduates who received their degrees during the convocation. He said that Convocation is the most unique and decorated occasion in everyone's life. He added, "As the students graduating today step into the new phase of professionalism, it is expected from them that they realize their responsibility as the youth of the nation and contribute to its development. India is a nation where no matter what background you come from, you can reach the top positions of the country through your hardwork and determination." Talking about the recent rankings, Satnam Singh Sandhu, said that Chandigarh University aims at providing a world-class education to students and has been successfully doing it for years. "Chandigarh University performed remarkably well on various parameters and attained the 27th rank in the top universities of India in the recently released NIRF Rankings 2023. The University has been ranked 15th in Architecture at an All-India level, ranked 34th in the field of Pharmacy, 36th for offering quality education in Management, and 38th in Engineering. The overall rank of the university in these rankings is 45th," he said. Sandhu further stated that Chandigarh University made a stellar debut in QS World University Subject Rankings in 2023 and it ranked 1st in India in the field of Hospitality Management, 11th in India in the field of Engineering and Technology, Computer Science & Information Systems, ranked 12th in the field of Mechanical Engineering, and 16th in India in the field of Business and Management Studies. "It was the youngest university in the world to make a debut in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2023. Placed 2nd amongst the Private Universities from India, and 21st amongst all the Indian Universities (Government + Private) in QS World University Rankings 2022," he added. Meanwhile, Chandigarh University Pro-Chancellor Dr. (Prof.) R S Bawa congratulated the passing-out students and wished them luck in their future endeavors. He said, "Chandigarh University provides a suitable academic environment to nurture its students into capable individuals, who can take the responsibility of nation-building and take it towards development through their talent, hard work, and dedication." Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an autonomous educational institution approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website: https://www.cuchd.in/ (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) How DogeMiyagi's unique brand narrative puts it up there with the likes of Bicoin and Ethereum ATK New Delhi [India], June 12: Brands are constantly vying for attention and investor engagement in the crypto world. In this comparative analysis, we delve into the unique brand narrative of DogeMiyagi and its impact on the crypto market. Also Read | Sunny Leone XXX-Tra Hot Bikini Photos and Videos From Maldives Trip: From Tie-Dye Prints to High-Waist, Sunnys Sexy Swimsuit Looks Are To Kill For. By contrasting this storytelling approach with the giants of the industry, Bitcoin and Ethereum, we will explore how DogeMiyagi captivates and retains investors, while driving brand awareness and traffic towards its innovative meme token. Join us on this journey to uncover the power of camaraderie and the indomitable spirit of the DogeMiyagi community. DogeMiyagi - Unleashing the Power of Memetic Cryptocurrency Also Read | Samsung Confirms Its Unpacked Event To Be Held in Seoul in July, To Witness New Galaxy Z Fold5, Z Flip5 Unveiling. DogeMiyagi, a captivating new meme token, sets itself apart from the crowd by drawing inspiration from the legendary martial arts master. This innovative approach intertwines humor and community spirit, instantly captivating crypto enthusiasts worldwide. The token's unique brand narrative builds a connection with investors, allowing them to embrace the light-heartedness and inclusive nature of the DogeMiyagi community. Through its captivating story, DogeMiyagi fuels a sense of belonging and camaraderie, engaging investors on a personal level. Bitcoin and Ethereum - The Leaders of Cryptocurrency Bitcoin and Ethereum, the leading forces in the crypto market, have established themselves as household names. While their narratives focus on technological advancements and financial revolution, DogeMiyagi takes a different path. Bitcoin's brand revolves around the vision of decentralized currency and financial sovereignty, resonating with early adopters. Ethereum, on the other hand, highlights its smart contract capabilities, fostering a thriving ecosystem for decentralized applications. However, both Bitcoin and Ethereum lack the comical and community-driven approach that defines DogeMiyagi's brand. The Power of DogeMiyagi's Brand Narrative DogeMiyagi's brand narrative has garnered significant attention and loyalty from investors. The token harnesses the power of humor and camaraderie, allowing investors to embrace the playful side of the crypto market. The brand's captivating story, combined with its generous referral program, incentivizes investors to spread the word about DogeMiyagi. With every purchase made using a referral code, investors earn a 10 per cent commission, strengthening the sense of community and engagement. Additionally, DogeMiyagi's roadmap includes the initiation of NFT designs in Phase 4, further expanding its creative appeal and captivating its community. The Triumph of DogeMiyagi in the Crypto Market In a deep sea of cryptocurrencies, DogeMiyagi stands out as a true game-changer. Its unique brand narrative, rooted in camaraderie and humor, differentiates it from the more serious and technical narratives of Bitcoin and Ethereum. By combining an engaging story with a generous referral program and the promise of future creative endeavors like NFT designs, DogeMiyagi has managed to build a dedicated community and drive traffic towards its brand. Its innovative approach has propelled DogeMiyagi to the forefront of the crypto market, captivating investors and leaving a lasting impression. As you dive deeper into the world of cryptocurrency, make sure to explore the captivating world of DogeMiyagi. Join our community, embrace the spirit of camaraderie, and experience the unique blend of creativity and humor that sets us apart. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of this unstoppable force in the crypto-verse. Visit their website to learn more and embark on this thrilling journey today! Website: https://dogemiyagi.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Dogemiyagi_ Telegram: https://t.me/dogemiyagi (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) How Dogetti's Presale is gaining more attention than established coins such as Filecoin and XRP ATK New Delhi [India], June 12: Investors are constantly on the lookout for the next big opportunity in crypto. Dogetti (DETI), a rising meme coin, has caught the attention of crypto enthusiasts with its unique approach and strong community engagement. In this article, we will compare and analyze Dogetti in relation to two other prominent players in the industry, XRP and Filecoin (FIL). By delving into the similarities and differences, we aim to provide readers looking for the next big crypto investment with valuable insights and updates on the crypto market. Also Read | Sunny Leone XXX-Tra Hot Bikini Photos and Videos From Maldives Trip: From Tie-Dye Prints to High-Waist, Sunnys Sexy Swimsuit Looks Are To Kill For. Dogetti - Building a Memorable Brand and Rewarding CommunityDogetti (DETI) stands out from the crowd by embracing a distinctive branding strategy inspired by mafia-themed books and films. Instead of referring to its community as just that, Dogetti has created a sense of togetherness by branding it as "The Family." This branding choice aims to give users and buyers a feeling of being a part of something unique and special, fostering a firm sense of belonging. The core goal of the Dogetti project is to increase the overall net worth of every member belonging to "The Family". To achieve this, Dogetti implements a 2% reflection protocol, rewarding holders regularly. This unique feature sets Dogetti apart from other cryptocurrencies and attracts investors seeking both potential value appreciation and active community participation. Also Read | Samsung Confirms Its Unpacked Event To Be Held in Seoul in July, To Witness New Galaxy Z Fold5, Z Flip5 Unveiling. XRP - The Path to Mainstream AdoptionXRP, also known as Ripple, has gained recognition for its mission to revolutionize cross-border payments. Unlike Dogetti's meme coin approach, XRP aims to be a practical solution for financial institutions, facilitating fast and low-cost international transactions. With its focus on mainstream adoption, XRP has established partnerships with numerous banks and financial entities worldwide. The utility of XRP lies in its ability to bridge different currencies, reducing transaction costs and settlement times. Through its RippleNet platform, XRP offers a scalable and efficient solution for global remittances. Investors in XRP are betting on its potential to transform traditional banking systems, making it an attractive option for those looking to revolutionize the financial industry. Filecoin - Decentralized Storage and Data RetrievalFilecoin (FIL) takes a different approach in the crypto world, addressing the growing need for secure and decentralized storage solutions. By utilizing blockchain technology, Filecoin allows users to store and retrieve data in a distributed network, leveraging the unused storage capacity of participants. This decentralized storage model offers increased security, reliability, and cost efficiency compared to traditional centralized storage providers. The Filecoin network incentivizes users to contribute their storage capacity by rewarding them with Filecoin tokens. These tokens can be exchanged or used to access storage services within the network. Filecoin's unique value proposition lies in its ability to disrupt the centralized cloud storage market, giving individuals and businesses greater control over their data. Dogetti stands out with its strong community focus and unique branding approach. By fostering a sense of belonging through "The Family," Dogetti aims to create a loyal and engaged investor base. The implementation of the 2% reflection protocol ensures regular rewards for holders, incentivizing long-term commitment and growth. While XRP targets mainstream adoption and aims to revolutionize cross-border payments, Filecoin addresses the need for secure and decentralized storage solutions. Each cryptocurrency offers distinct value propositions and attracts investors with different objectives. For those seeking a meme coin investment with utility and an engaged community, Dogetti presents an appealing option. Its innovative branding, reward system, and the ambition to help every member of "The Family" increase their net worth set it apart in the crypto market. Check out Dogetti (DETI): Presale: https://dogetti.io/how-to-buy Website: https://dogetti.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/Dogetti Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Dogetti_ (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) VMPL Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], June 12: In collaboration with Kyndryl, REVA University has launched a global AI Hackathon to detect plastic in water bodies. The challenge of the hackathon is to detect, classify, and segment the plastics in a river body from a set of drone images. The participants have to propose a viable and architecturally sound AI solution with actionable insights where the stakeholders, like the government and local support groups, can take preventive or proactive measures to clean up the rivers based on the density and movement of plastic. The solution must help curtail the plastic menace choking our water bodies. Also Read | ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule: India to Have Matches at Nine Venues, Know Tentative Fixture Dates for CWC Tournament. As per a UN SDG report in 2021, more than 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the world's rivers and oceans, making up 85 per cent of marine litter. Marine species ingest or get entangled in plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death. This plastic pollution today threatens food safety and quality, human health and accelerates climate change. There is an urgent need to explore new ways to address marine plastic pollution, and this hackathon will help in building technology-enabled sustainable solutions to achieve it. To develop a prototype, the top entries will be mentored by senior industry leaders from Kyndryl and RACE, REVA University. The top three best solutions will receive attractive prizes ranging from INR 3 lakhs to other prizes and swags. Also Read | Apple Expected To Open Applications for Vision Pro Developer Kit in July 2023. Dr P. Shyama Raju, Chancellor of REVA University, while launching the hackathon, said, "Higher education institutions like ours have a significant role in educating the community on the effective achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations. We have dedicated the year 2023 towards aligning all our academic and other activities towards various SDGs. This hackathon, aligning towards SDG 14, "Life under Water", is an excellent initiative to bring awareness amongst the AI community and the public about the plastic menace. Through this hackathon, I look forward to ingenious and plausible solutions from AI experts to reduce the plastic menace on our water bodies." Naveen Kamat, Vice President and CTO, Data and AI Services at Kyndryl India, said, "At Kyndryl, we have set ourselves an ambitious goal to achieve carbon net zero by 2040, thereby contributing to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud to work with REVA University on this hackathon that aims to develop Vision AI-based solutions for plastic waste detection. The event will help to drive thought leadership and visibility for innovative prototypes that can contribute to help solve on-ground issues of local communities." During the launch event, Harish Shenoy, Director of Plastic Fischer India, spoke about the work they have been doing to clean up the rivers. He said that the Plastic Fischer team is working in Varanasi, Kanpur, Trivandrum and Mangalore to stop plastics in the rivers to prevent them from leaking into the oceans. "To be able to scale this impact worldwide, we need tools to help us identify how to create more impact in the most efficient way. I believe the resources created from this Hackathon by Kyndryl and REVA University will help us in our collective fight against marine plastics," he said. Dr. J B Simha, Chief Mentor - AI, RACE, REVA University and CTO, ABIBA Systems, highlighted the need and know-how of building AI-based solutions to detect plastic in water bodies. He stated that the hackers need to try on a few techniques like automated annotations and spatiotemporal modelling with deep learning. AI developers, architects, Data scientists, ML engineers, programmers, freelancers, students, etc., can participate in the hackathon. They must have experience with object detection models and frameworks, such as YOLO, TensorFlow Object Detection API, or OpenCV. Check the link here to learn more about the Hackathon and participate. https://race.reva.edu.in/hackathon-on-plastic-free-rivers REVA University is a top-ranked private university in Bangalore, offering 100 plus undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in 10 plus faculty, including Engineering and Technology, Management, Science, Legal Studies, Architecture and more. The University's sprawling green campus, with state-of-the-art infrastructure, caters to the learning needs of 16000 plus students. To learn more about REVA University, please visit the website https://www.reva.edu.in/. REVA Academy Corporate Excellence-RACE, an initiative of REVA University, hosts this hackathon. RACE offers a range of specialised, techno-functional programs in emerging technologies, custom-designed to suit the needs of working professionals to fast-track their careers. To know more about RACE programs, follow this link https://race.reva.edu.in. Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) is the world's largest IT infrastructure services provider, serving thousands of enterprise customers in over 60 countries. The company designs, builds, manages and modernises the complex, mission-critical information systems that the world depends on daily.For more information, visit www.kyndryl.com and https://race.reva.edu.in/hackathon-on-plastic-free-rivers (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a meeting with ministers of Disaster Management of the states and Union Territories on Tuesday. The day-long meeting will also be attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla along with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Wife Ties Husband on Tree on Pretext of Taking Selfie, Sets Him on Fire After Pouring Kerosene Oil in Muzaffarpur. Considering challenges before India in disaster management, the meeting is learnt to keep the focus on preparedness to deal with the next phase of these challenges. The meeting is learnt to be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's holistic approach towards disaster management to make it relief-centric, early warning-centric, proactive and early preparedness-based. Also Read | Germany: BioNTech COVID Vaccine Damages Trial Begins. The Home Minister has said that earlier the country had only a relief-centric approach towards disaster management which did not involve minimizing the loss of life and property, but this approach changed after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. Ministry of Home Affairs has fixed targets for every five years and every year till 2047, for which it is working with full readiness. Last year, the Home Minister also chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on "Disaster Management" at Kevadiya in Gujarat. The Members of Parliament who attended the meeting of the committee were NK Premachandran, Kunwar Danish Ali, Professor (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria, Shri CM Ramesh, Rajendra Agarwal, Locket Chatterjee, Vijay Kumar Hansdak, Neeraj Shekhar, PP Choudhary, KC Ramamurthy, Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania, K Ravindra Kumar and K Gorantia Madhav. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday refused to grant transit remand of two alleged operatives of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Amritpaland Amrik Singh to Punjab police stating that the application is belated. The two accused are currently in judicial custody in an NIA case. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh To Celebrate Yoga Week From June 15 to 21, Combined Yoga Practice at Tourist Destinations. The accused are allegedly associated with Canada-based terrorist Arshdeep Dhalla. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Isha Singh noted that the accused persons were to be produced before the concerned Court today in Punjab on a production warrant issued. Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy Likely To Make Landfall in Gujarat on June 15, PM Narendra Modi Reviews Preparedness (Watch Video). Court said that the application has been filed today at 11:55 AM and it would take 5-6 hours to reach Ludhiana. "Even if the application to carry the accused persons to Punjab is allowed it would be possible to produce the accused the before the court before 5 PM. This application is belated," the court noted. "If the above-mentioned had to be produced before the concerned court in Jagraon, Punjab, the IO should have filed the application in time," the judge said.Punjab police had sought their transit remand in a case of extortion registered at the police Jagraon Sadar, District Ludhiana, Punjab. Earlier Punjab police had registered a case under sections related to extortion, the Arms Act, and UAPA in January 2023. On June 6, the Court remanded two accused Amritpal Singh alias Ammy and Amrik Singh in judicial custody after NIA. They were arrested under UAPA after deportation from Manila Philipines on May 19 at the IGI Airport. Special judge Shailendra Malik had remanded both the accused persons in judicial custody till July 4. NIA has interrogated them in connection with the alleged involvement in the recruitment of youth for KTF and also involvement in the smuggling and procurement of Arms and Ammunition and raising funds for the organization. The accused had non-bailable arrest warrants issued against them by the NIA Court in a case related to the unlawful and violent activities of banned organizations in India. They also have several criminal cases registered against them in Punjab. NIA registered a suo moto case on 20th August last year under various sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. According to NIA they are allegedly associated with Arshdeep Dhalla and involved in recruitment of youth for KTF and smuggling and procuring of arms and ammunition. They were both hailing from Punjab, were nabbed in an early morning operation by the NIA, whose team was waiting at the airport for their flight to land, the agency said. "The two are 'wanted' close associates of Canada-based 'listed terrorist' Arsh Dhalla on Friday when they arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) from Manila, Philippines, where they have been living," the agency said in a Press release.The duo, identified as Amritpal Singh alias Ammy and Amrik Singh, both hailing from Punjab, were nabbed in an early morning operation by the NIA, whose team was waiting at the Airport for their flight to land. NIA investigations have revealed that the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for the banned terrorist organization Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and also smuggle arms, ammunition, and explosives for it from across the border.The accused had been working for individual designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dhalla to promote violent criminal activities of the KTF in India, NIA. In association with another notorious wanted accused Manpreet Singh alias Peeta, they had been involved in smuggling weapons from Pakistan and recruitment of youth to carry out acts of violence and terror in the country at the behest of the KTF. They were also part of an extortion racket for raising funds for the banned outfit. The accused used to identify extortion targets, including businessmen, and then threaten them into parting with huge amounts. In case the identified targets refused, their homes and other premises would be fired at by the accused's India-based associates. The arrests were part of NIA's continuous crackdown on individual terrorists and terrorist outfits engaged in a criminal conspiracy to smuggle terrorist hardware, such as arms, ammunition, explosives, etc, and raise funds for carrying out terrorist acts on Indian soil. Further investigations in the case are in progress, the agency 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) Imphal (Manipur) [India], June 12 (ANI): Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey on Monday visited different relief centres in Churachandpur and interacted with the affected people; and later held a meeting with CSOs leaders at Headquarters 27 Sector Assam Rifles, Tuibong. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3, as clashes were witnessed during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe. Also Read | Drowning at Juhu Beach: Six People Drown at Mumbai Beach, BMC Says Two Rescued; Search Operation Launched for Four Missing. In view of the violence, the Governor stressed the return to normalcy; welfare measures for displaced persons with special care for children, women and elderly; provisions of education and medical facilities for children in relief camps. Speaking to the media after the meeting with CSO leaders, Anusuiya Uikey said, "The Government is making concerted efforts to facilitate the return of peace and normalcy in the State. Adequate numbers of Central security forces were deployed in various parts of the State to ensure peace and security." "The Central Government is also seriously pursuing matters pertaining to education, judicial enquiry and relief and rehabilitation. A peace committee with the chairmanship of the Governor herself is also formed," she said. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Hijab Row: Three Including Principal of Ganga Jamna School Arrested After Hindu Girls Allegedly Forced To Wear Headscarf. The Governor also added that as promised by the Union Home Minister, Rs 101.75 crore has been sanctioned for relief and rehabilitation. Most of the promises made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah are being fulfilled and the rest will soon be realised at the earliest. Conveying her wish for the restoration of peace and normalcy at the earliest, Anusuiya Uikey appealed to the concerned leaders to reconcile and make way for peace through dialogue. She promised to come back to visit other relief centres. The Governor visited relief centres at Churachandpur College, Salt-Brook School and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School. She assured the inmates that the Government would look after their needs. During her visit to relief camps, the Governor instructed the District Administration and concerned departments to work closely towards providing special care to children, women, and elderly in relief camps. Deputy Commissioner Sharath Arroju, IGP Kabib K, and SP Karthik Maladi were also present during the meeting with CSO leaders. On her way back to Imphal, the Governor stopped at Moirang and visited three relief camps opened at Moirang College and Chingu Thangjing Guest House in the Bishnupur district. Governor first visited the relief camp at Moirang College where she enquired about the grievances of the affected people. She interacted with the displaced people and all their complaints and grievances were also heard. The Governor assured them to extend all possible help and directed the Deputy Commissioner to provide all essential needs to the people. The Governor directed the district administration to provide all requirements including food, clothes and consumable items for all including children in the camp. Later, the Governor went to the relief camp opened at Chingu Thangjing Guest House in Moirang and met with the violence-affected people there. A meeting was held there and CSOs submitted memoranda to the Governor and urged to take appropriate steps to restore peace and normalcy in the State. The Governor interacted with the displaced people and assured them to extend all possible help to them. Later, speaking to the people there, Governor said, "All our efforts have been made to restore peace and normalcy in the State." "Around 40,000 Central forces have been deployed and assisting the State administration in bringing peace and normalcy," she added. She continued that the incidents that erupted between the two communities leading to the loss of valuable lives and destruction of properties shocked everyone including herself. The Governor stated that she has already informed the President of India Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation and steps have been taken up to bring the situation under control with the deployment of security forces in the vulnerable areas. Stating that after the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the State, various initiatives for restoring peace have been initiated with the institution of a Judicial Commission, formation of State level Peace Committee etc. The Governor said, "Discussions with the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DGP and top-ranking officers of Central forces have also been done to work out plans for maintaining law and order and for restoration of peace and normalcy." The Governor also met Central teams on relief and education for the displaced people and children. Helicopter services have also been started for people in Moreh and Churachandpur and medical teams have been sent. While mentioning the Centre's plan for providing relief and rehabilitation to the violence-affected people, the Governor said, "Rs 101.75 crore have been sanctioned and relief and resettlement for the displaced people will be arranged. State-level Peace Committee formed by the Centre will meet this week to chalk out various plans for restoring peace and normalcy in the State." Appealing to all stakeholders including CSOs, clubs, organisations and the media fraternity to contribute and support the peace plan, the Governor said, "Violence will not help any community and therefore all have to cooperate and work for bringing peace and normalcy in the State." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 12 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan talked to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought help of the Air Force to douse the fire that broke out at Satpura Bhawan in the state capital on Monday evening. According to CMO, the Defence Minister has directed the Air Force and following his instructions, AN 32 aircraft and MI 15 helicopter will reach Bhopal tonight. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Hijab Row: Three Including Principal of Ganga Jamna School Arrested After Hindu Girls Allegedly Forced To Wear Headscarf. AN 52 aircraft and MI 15 helicopter will try to extinguish the fire by pouring water from the top of the building. Bhopal airport will remain open through the night. The fire broke out on the third floor of the building but later it spread up to the sixth floor of the building. The continuous efforts are being made to douse the fire. Also Read | Big Step: EAM S Jaishankar Hails Singapore's Ratification of International Solar Alliance. CM Chouhan also announced a committee to find out the preliminary causes of the fire. The committee includes Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home Rajesh Rajoura, Principal Secretary (PS) Urban Neeraj Mandloi, Principal Secretary (PS) PWD (Public works Department) Sukhbir Singh and Additional Director General of Police (ADG) fire. After finding the preliminary cause in the investigation, the committee will hand over the report to CM Chouhan. Chief Minister Chouhan also talked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the phone and informed about the fire incident in Satpura Bhawan. He also sought necessary help from the home minister. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday attached 17 properties of the financier of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, in the Hurriyat terror funding case in which Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) commander Yasin Malik is currently undergoing life imprisonment.The 17 properties belonging to Watali in the Handwara area of Kupwara in Kashmir have been attached by the NIA on orders by the Special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act today. Besides Malik, 17 others, including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and top Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Mohd Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, top Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, were charge-sheeted in the case, which had been registered suo moto by the NIA on May 30, 2017. Malik was convicted of all the various charges against him, and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine, in the case in May 2022.The case relates to terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out by proscribed ISI-backed organisations, such as LeT, JKLF and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). "These outfits were spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the valley by promoting and conducting attacks on civilians and security forces," said the NIA.These banned terrorist groups were using the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which was formed in 1993, as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities in Kashmir. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Hijab Row: Three Including Principal of Ganga Jamna School Arrested After Hindu Girls Allegedly Forced To Wear Headscarf. "Investigations in the case have revealed that the secessionists, arraigned as accused in the case, including the APHC, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of instigating the general public to create a surcharged atmosphere in the Kashmir valley and to resort to violence also," said the NIA. As per the NIA, Watali had been sending the funds raised by him from various sources to the Hurriyat leaders to promote the secessionism of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India.NIA investigations have revealed that "Watali was a hawala conduit, who was receiving money from Hafiz Saeed, a 'Specially Designated Global terrorist' of the United States and a 'listed global terrorist' of the UN." Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Planning 'Bigger Role' for Priyanka Gandhi Ahead of Polls. "Hafiz Saeed had masterminded the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He had received foreign remittances into a Bank account running into crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources. Besides, he had received foreign remittances in his Proprietorship Firm named M/s 'Trisson International', Srinagar and unexplained remittances were also found in his NRE Bank accounts," said the anti-terror agency."Watali had shown the sale of a plot of land measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by Watali's company, M/s 'Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt. Ltd.' to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case," added the agency. However, the NIA investigations found that neither Watali nor his Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt Ltd was the owner of this plot of land in the revenue records. Watali is presently facing trial before the Special NIA Court in New Delhi. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Stating that the right to live with dignity includes not being "tied down by casteism", the Delhi High Court has directed the CBSE to comply with the request of two siblings belonging to the Scheduled Caste community to update their father's surname, which he has changed due to social stigma, in their Class 10 and 12 certificates. Justice Mini Pushkarna said the denial by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in carrying out the requisite change in the certificates was "totally unjustified" and if a person wanted to not to be identified with any particular caste that may be a cause of prejudice, the same is permissible. Also Read | No Honking Day: Mumbai To Observe on 'No Honking Day' June 14 To Curb Noise Pollution. "It is to be noted that the petitioners have every right to have an identity which gives them an honourable and respectable identity in the society.. The Right to Identity is an intrinsic part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India," the court said. In response to the petition, CBSE had said the change in the surname would entail a change in the caste of the petitioners, which could be misused. Also Read | CoWIN Data Leaked? COVID-19 Vaccination App or Its Database Not Breached Directly, Clarifies Centre After Reports Said Telegram Bot Sharing Private Details of Vaccinated Indians. The court, however, clarified that the change in the father's surname shall not entail a change of caste of the petitioners or allow them to take advantage of any reservation or any other benefit that might be available to the updated caste/surname. The petitioner brothers told the court that their father decided to change his surname due to caste atrocities suffered by him on day to day basis, based on his surname. The judge said the petitioner brothers have every right to have an "honourable and respectable" identity in society and if they have suffered any disadvantage on account of their surname, they were "certainly entitled to a change of their identity that gives respectability to the petitioners in the societal structure". "Therefore, the CBSE is directed forthwith to carry out the requisite changes in the 10th and 12th certificates of the petitioners to reflect the name of their father (with the changed surname)," stated the court in an order passed last month. There is no denying the fact that the Right to Life includes, within its ambit, the Right to Live with Dignity, which includes not being tied down by any casteism that a person may face on account of the caste to which such person belongs, said the court. The father of the petitioners had published a note in the newspaper informing about the change of his name, which was also published in the Gazette Notification and reflected in the various public documents including Aadhaar Card and PAN Card, it was stated in their plea. The petitioners then applied for a change of their father's name in the 10th and 12th certificates as issued by the CBSE, but their request was rejected. "Owing to the social stigma attached, the father of the petitioners changed his surname. Thus, in order to overcome the social stigma and the disadvantage faced by the petitioners on account of their surname, the petitioners applied for a change of their father's name in the Class 10th and 12th Certificates as issued by the CBSE," said the court. "Thus, if a person wants to change his or her surname, so as not to be identified with any particular caste that may be a cause of prejudice to such person in any manner, the same is permissible," it stated. The court said CBSE is at liberty to requisition any documents required for carrying out the rectification of the surname. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) The Reserve Bank of India on Monday said Equitas Holdings Ltd has surrendered its NBFC licence, and accordingly its registration has been cancelled. The RBI, in the exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has therefore cancelled its CoR (certificate of registration), the central bank said in a statement. Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy on Course To Become Cyclone With Longest Lifespan in Arabian Sea, Says IMD. As the company does not hold public funds therefore it may have voluntarily surrendered its certificate of registration, it added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, June 12 (PTI) Pakistan police on Monday booked two journalists, an anchorperson and an army officer-turned-Youtuber for "abetting mutiny" and inciting attacks on sensitive military installations and government buildings across the country last month following the high-profile arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in a corruption case. In the FIR registered on Monday, the complainant, who identified himself as Muhammad Aslam, told the police that on May 9 he saw around 25 people sharing screenshots and messages of journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, as well as army-officer-turned-YouTuber Adil Raja and anchorperson Syed Haider Raza Mehdi. Also Read | US Boat Capsize: Tour Boat Carrying 36 People Onboard Capsizes in Lockport Cave in New York. They were inciting people to attack military installations, spread terrorism and create chaos in the country, he said in the FIR registered in the Ramna Police Station here in the federal capital. In the FIR, Aslam said that he checked the social media accounts of these four men after the incident. Also Read | Pakistan Cops Click Selfies With Terrorist's Dead Body, Make TikTok Video After Tying His Body With Armoured Truck in Peshawar. After looking into their social media profiles, it was confirmed that all these people, under a planned conspiracy and mutual agreement, are aiding anti-state agencies, defaming the military and attempting to create mutiny in the army, he claimed. He alleged that the quartet wanted to weaken the army and increase terrorism in the country. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. Workers from his party -- the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -- allegedly vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved. Law enforcement agencies have arrested over 10,000 workers of Khan's Pakistan party across Pakistan, 4,000 of them from Punjab province. The Punjab Home Department has constituted 10 different joint investigation teams to probe into the attacks and violent protests on May 9, which the army dubbed "Black Day". Khan, 70, the chairman of PTI, is facing more than 100 cases across the country. Meanwhile, Pakistan's National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the perpetrators of the May 9 violence be booked under the stringent Army Act. The resolution -- presented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif -- was approved by a majority vote in the lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly's official handle tweeted. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, June 12: On the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States from June 21 to June 24. In a historic gesture, Prime Minister Modi will address a joint session of the United States Congress on June 22. The invitation to deliver such a historic speech was extended by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, demonstrating bipartisan support and respect for Prime Minister Modi in the United States. He would be the first Indian Prime Minister to address a joint session of the United States Congress twice. 'Modi Ji' Thali in United States Video: New Jersey Restaurant Launches Special Thali Ahead of Indian PM Narendra Modi's State Visit to US; View Mouth-Watering Dishes. The invitation letter from the President and First Lady praised PM Modi's last historic address seven years ago, which helped cement the connection between the two countries. The White House emphasised in its message that it was an occasion to reaffirm the two countries' deep and close alliance. PM Modi expressed his thanks for the privilege and stated that he was looking forward to addressing the joint session. In his message, PM Modi reiterated the pride in having a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US founded on the principles of democratic values, close people-to-people ties and a staunch commitment to global peace and prosperity. Kurt Campbell, the US administration's top official for the Indo-Pacific region, states that this visit may help consecrate the relationship with India as the most important for the USA in the world. Hailing India for playing a critical role globally, he mentions that a number of business and investment groups are looking at India for new investment opportunities to diversify the global supply chains. With the US universities looking to train more engineers and technology specialists, Campbell stated that the US wants more such opportunities to open up for Indians. Indian diaspora in the US is also eagerly awaiting PM Modi's arrival. An 'India Unity March' will be organised in 20 different cities in the US on June 18 to welcome PM Modi. Highlighting India's growth and development in the past nine years, a grand cultural event will be organised in front of the White House on June 21. The preparation for this visit is already underway with strategic visits of the USA's Secretary of Defence and National Security Advisor to India prior to PM Modi's US visit. Lloyd J. Austin, Secretary of Defence, visited India on June 4-5 to fortify defence partnerships and advance partnerships in critical domains. In his meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, views were exchanged on a range of regional security issues. The US also reiterated its commitment to collaborating closely on the issues pertaining to the Indo-Pacific. A new roadmap to US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation has been concluded which will expedite technology cooperation and co-production in fields like land mobility systems, air combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, undersea domain and munitions. With this, a set of proposals is also to be formulated to help India gain access to cutting-edge technologies that will boost India's defence modernization plan. In this regard, a new initiative called India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation was also appreciated by the two leaders. In their discussions, the rising importance of defence innovation and cooperation in emerging domains like space, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity also came up. The launch of the Advanced Domains Defence Dialogue was appreciated by the two counterparts and a further commitment to expand bilateral defence cooperation was emphasised. 'Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai' Chants in US Video: Indian-American Community Excited to Welcome PM Narendra Modi in United States, Says He Has Transformed India in 10 Years. During the discussion, the collaboration between the US and Indian companies, investors, start-up accelerators, and academic research institutions was emphasised which have also committed to strengthening operational collaboration across all military services, with an eye to supporting India's leading role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific. In his meeting with Indian NSA Ajit Doval, perspectives on shared security in the Indian Ocean Region and the scope for greater maritime collaboration also came up. India's leadership in the QUAD Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA), aimed at providing cutting-edge domain awareness capability to countries across the Indo-Pacific region was welcomed by Secretary Lloyd J. Austin. The Secretary of Defence's visit will be followed by the visit of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on June 13 to chart out the security agenda for the two global leaders during PM Modi's visit to the US. NSA Sullivan will be finalizing the GE-414 engine details, sharing counter-cyber threat technologies, and fine-tuning the position of the two countries on the Russia-Ukraine war. The visit of PM Modi to the US is nothing short of historic. It will propel the two nations to forge greater cooperation in a world that is witnessing great geopolitical flux, growth of traditional and non-traditional threats, and issues of common concern. The invitation is an overture by the US acknowledging India's growing global stature and the critical role India is placed to play in world affairs. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], June 12 (ANI/TPS): The United Nations was supposed to convene a meeting with Jewish leaders and global antisemitism envoys next week in Cordoba, Spain to unveil its plan to combat antisemitism. It has postponed that meeting, amid stark disagreement over the contents of the draft plan. That document, which the United Nations circulated two weeks ago, is "deeply flawed and generated much criticism," Rabbi Andrew Baker, director of international Jewish affairs at the American Jewish Committee, told the Tazpit Press Service. "It was clear that nothing would be agreed at Cordoba." Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy: Pakistani Authorities Begin Evacuation of Low-Lying Coastal Areas in Sindh. Miguel Moratinos, high representative for the U.N. alliance of civilizations and U.N. focal point to monitor antisemitism and enhance a system-wide response, sent a letter to would-be meeting participants on June 9. "After very careful consideration and aiming to ensure the action plan is inclusive and benefits from the inputs of all stakeholders, I would like to allow more time for further work and finalization of the plan during summer 2023," he wrote. Also Read | Russia National Day 2023 Wishes: EAM S Jaishankar Extends Greetings to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, People of Country. The meeting, which was slated for June 20 and 21, is postponed until September, with no exact date set yet. Moratinos' office did not respond to a request for comment from TPS on Sunday. The draft plan, a confidential copy of which was reviewed by TPS, gives equal weight and mention to competing antisemitism definitions--the widely-accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition, as well as the Nexus definition and Jerusalem Declaration. The Nexus definition states, in part, that "paying disproportionate attention to Israel and treating Israel differently than other countries is not prima facie proof of antisemitism," while the Jerusalem Declaration states, in part, that "singling out Israel as uniquely colonial or apartheid, and saying that Israel has no right to exist, are not, 'in and of themselves,' antisemitic." The draft plan seen by TPS states that antisemitism includes "accusations that Israeli policies or actions are 'Nazi,'" and notes that "Increasingly, there have been attempts or calls to delegitimize the right of Israel to exist, including calls for its destruction." Member states are asked to formulate an acceptable antisemitism definition in the draft plan, without the United Nations taking a position. In recent weeks, anti-Israel groups had written to the international body, asking it not to adopt the IHRA definition. "The existence of controversy over the definition should not defeat the purpose and significance of this action plan," the draft states, and "as with other forms of hatred and intolerance, definitions change over time." Terrorism, too, lacks an internationally agreed definition, the draft plan notes. "That did not, however, stop governments nor international bodies, including the United Nations, from launching policies and frameworks to prevent and counter terrorism," it continues. David Michaels, director of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs at B'nai B'rith International, told TPS that the United Nations should adopt the IHRA definition and "incorporate the action plan already authored by the U.N.'s last special rapporteur on religious freedom, Ahmed Shaheed." Shaheed had presented a milestone antisemitism report to the U.N. General Assembly in 2020, and an action plan to combat antisemitism in 2022. "It is also obviously vital that U.N. leaders speak out when individuals within the U.N. system express sentiment that crosses the line," and also that the international body not support those who misrepresent the IHRA definition by claiming that it stifles legitimate debate about Israel, said Michaels. "At the same time, no initiative to fight antisemitism would be a serious one if it doesn't honestly address prevalent contemporary forms, including virulent anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist hatred," he added. The draft plan recommends a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism and includes bias training, a global campaign to deconstruct stereotypes of Jews and a number of recommendations to U.N. member states, such as investing in antisemitism and Holocaust education and designating special envoys on the topic. No recommendation is required. The postponement "will allow more time for preparation," Michaels told TPS. "We all want to ensure that this event--and any work to heighten efforts against antisemitism--is as meaningful and impactful as possible." "It remains so important that Jewish organizations and experts specializing in antisemitism have a central role in informing the direction of U.N. engagement in combating it," he added. A schedule for what was to be next week's meetings in Cordoba, which TPS viewed, listed "Consultations on the United Nations draft action plan on monitoring antisemitism and enhancing a system-wide response." Moratinos never consulted with nor sought input from Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, nor from the Israeli Foreign Ministry during the plan's formulation, which has been three years in the making, an Israeli diplomatic source told TPS, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Foreign Ministry, but not Erdan, was invited to the Cordoba meeting. The ministry had not responded prior to the postponement, the diplomatic source said. Erdan and Moratinos appear to have a strained relationship, based on past comments and the lack of communication between their offices. International Jewish leaders, and former and current Israeli officials, have said for decades that the United Nations suffers from antisemitism and an anti-Israel bias. The international body has not adopted a definition of antisemitism, and it often criticizes Israel and favours Palestinians. Some U.N. employees have glorified Nazis and sympathized with terror groups. "Israel and the Jewish people are integrated in the essence, in the soul of the U.N. So, how is the U.N. going to be antisemitic?" he told TPS in February. "I have to tell you, the U.N. is not antisemitic." Israel's mission to the United Nations and Jewish groups have faulted Moratinos specifically, and other U.N. officials for failing to condemn antisemitic comments from Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the Palestinians, as well as members of the U.N. Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry. In a recent interview with TPS, Hillel Neuer, executive director of U.N. Watch, referred to the United Nations "pathological discrimination and delegitimization of Israel." (ANI/TPS) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Every year, the International Day of Yoga is celebrated worldwide on June 21. The day dedicated to Yoga was established in 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The first International Day of Yoga was observed around the world on June 21, 2015. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the date of June 21 in his UN address in 2014 as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India and has emerged as one of the most trusted means to boost physical and mental well-being. International Yoga Day 2023: Easy Yoga Asanas With Names and Pictures for Beginners To Follow a Healthy Routine. International Day of Yoga 2023 Date and Theme International Day of Yoga 2023 will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 21. This year's global theme of Yoga Day is "Yoga for One World" and domestic theme is "Har Ghar Aangan Yoga", which means yoga in the courtyard of every house. International Day of Yoga History In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his UN address 2014, suggested an annual Day of Yoga on June 21. This date was chosen as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares great significance in several parts of the world. After this initial proposal, the UN adopted the draft resolution, entitled Day of Yoga, in the same year, following which the delegation of India convened the consultations. Yoga With Beer: Group Performs Yoga Asanas While Drinking Beer in Denmark, Viral Video Evokes Mixed Reactions From Netizens. On December 11, 2014, India's Permanent Representative, Asoke Mukherji, introduced the draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly. The draft text received support from 177 Member States who sponsored the text that was adopted without a vote. This initiative found support from many global leaders, and a total of 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution. A year later, the first International Day of Yoga was observed around the world on June 21, 2015. International Day of Yoga Significance The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. Today, Yoga is practised in various forms around the world and is getting more popular with each passing year. Yoga is not just about exercise but a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature as it provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and strikes a balance between all aspects of life. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between humans and nature, and a holistic approach to health and well-being. In 2015, the Reserve Bank of India issued a 10 rupees commemorative coin to mark the International Day of Yoga. In April 2017, UN Postal Administration (UNPA) issued ten stamps of Asanas on a single sheet to mark International Day of Yoga. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2023 05:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Responding to the allegations made by Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale on COVID-19 data being leaked, the Government of India on Monday issued a statement. In its response, the Centre said that the Co-WIN portal of the Health Ministry is completely safe with safeguards for data privacy. "All reports of data breach are without any basis and mischievous in nature," the government said. The government also said that the Health Ministry has requested CERT-In to look into this issue and submit a report. The development comes after the TMC leader alleged that the data of several citizens, including politicians and journalists who took the COVID-19 vaccine, has been leaked. COVID-19 Vaccine Data Leaked? Trinamool Congress Leader Saket Gokhale Claims Data Breach of Several Politicians, Journos Who Took COVID-19 Vaccine. Co-WIN Portal of Health Ministry Is Completely Safe Co-WIN portal of Health Ministry is completely safe with safeguards for data privacy. All reports of data breach are without any basis and mischievous in nature. Health Ministry has requested CERT-In to look into this issue & submit a report: Government of India pic.twitter.com/hXbTpl3FNU ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) New Delhi, June 12: Microsoft announced its AI-powered chatbot, Bing in February this year. It comes with features like image generation capabilities. Now, you can now talk to Bing on your desktop. Previously, you could only talk to Bing on your phone using the Bing mobile app. Additionally, the company has added improved conversation skills. Microsoft claims that Bing has been improved. It can now have more natural conversations with users. You can ask it more complex questions and get more detailed answers. LinkedIn Introduces AI Copy Suggestion Feature for Ad Creatives. The image generation feature allows users to use Bing to generate images based on text descriptions. This is a great way to get creative ideas or to see what something might look like before you buy it. On the other hand, the desktop support allows you to talk to Bing on your desktop as well as your smartphone. It also supports text-to-speech answers. The AI chatbot responds to your questions in its own voice. How To Use Bing Voice Chat on Desktop Open the Bing search engine on your desktop. Click on the microphone icon in the Bing Chatbox. Now, Bing will say 'I'm listening' Next, speak your question or query into the microphone. Wait for Bing to process your question and respond. Bing voice chat is currently available in English, Japanese, French, German, and Mandarin. Microsoft says that support for more languages is on the way. Bing voice chat is a convenient way to interact with the search engine. Here are some examples of how you can use Bing voice chat: Get the weather forecast: "What's the weather going to be like today?" Create a to-do list: "Add 'grocery shopping' to my to-do list." Search for information: "What's the capital of France?" Ask for directions: "How do I get to the nearest coffee shop?" Set a reminder: "Remind me to pick up milk on my way home from work." To get better results, speak clearly and slowly. Alao, avoid background noise.If Bing doesn't understand your question, try rephrasing it. You can also type your question into the Bing Chatbox if you prefer. ChatGPT Can Answer Public Health Questions Pertaining to People Who Are Sexually Assaulted and Suicidal, Suggests Study. "We know many of you love using voice input for a chat on Mobile. Its now also available on a desktop by clicking on the microphone icon in the Bing Chatbox. We currently support English, Japanese, French, German, and Mandarin, with more languages on the way. Try asking Bing Chat, How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?," Microsoft said in a blog post. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2023 10:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 9 June the Colombian government and the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) guerrilla group signed a bilateral ceasefire agreement. End of preview - This article contains approximately 577 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 11 June Argentinas right-of-centre opposition coalition Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) outperformed the Partido Justicialista (PJ, Peronists), the mainstay in the ruling left-of-centre Frente de Todos (FdT) coalition led by President Alberto Fernandez, in three of the four provincial-level elections held. Analysis: The JxC has had a very slow start to the electoral swing that culminates in presidential and legislative elections on 22 October. It will take some heart from these results, which saw it end Peronist dominance in the central province of San Luis and perform strongly in the western province of Mendoza and the north-eastern province of Corrientes. The PJ won a thumping victory, however, in the gubernatorial elections in the north-western province of Tucuman. The JxC triumphed in the gubernatorial election in San Luis, held by the PJ since 1983, albeit only because of an acrimonious split between the Rodriguez Saa family, the local potentates, which makes it difficult to read too much into the results in terms of potential influence at a national level. Claudio Poggi , a former PJ governor (2011-2015) won election standing on a ticket for the Union Civica Radical (UCR) and Propuesta Republicana (PRO), the main two parties within the JxC, supported by Senator Adolfo Rodriguez Saa against the provincial justice minister, Jorge Fernandez , who was backed by his brother, Alberto Rodriguez Saa , the incumbent governor. , a former PJ governor (2011-2015) won election standing on a ticket for the Union Civica Radical (UCR) and Propuesta Republicana (PRO), the main two parties within the JxC, supported by Senator against the provincial justice minister, , who was backed by his brother, , the incumbent governor. The JxC also won the primary elections in Mendoza, putting it in pole position to retain the governorship. Alfredo Cornejo , a UCR legislator and former governor of Mendoza (2015-2019), won 43% of the vote, well ahead of his rivals. Finally, the JxC won the legislative elections in Corrientes decisively, winning a majority in both the provincial lower chamber of congress and the senate. , a UCR legislator and former governor of Mendoza (2015-2019), won 43% of the vote, well ahead of his rivals. Finally, the JxC won the legislative elections in Corrientes decisively, winning a majority in both the provincial lower chamber of congress and the senate. In Tucuman, the incumbent deputy governor, Osvaldo Jaldo, won the gubernatorial elections, with some 56% of the vote for the FdT, with the JxCs Roberto Sanchez on 34%. Looking Ahead: Presidential aspirants swept around the country trying to capitalise on the success of provincial candidates to boost their own cause just two weeks before the deadline for registration for presidential candidates. Following Amanda Nunes' retirement announcement after her victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289, Julianna Pena expressed her dissatisfaction on social media, according to Bleacher Report. I scared you so bad into retirement. Personally, Congratulations. Professionally, wtf was that? #UFC289 Julianna Pena (@VenezuelanVixen) June 11, 2023 Julianna Pena and Nunes were initially set to headline the event, but Pena withdrew due to fractured ribs sustained in training. Pena shocked UFC fans when she defeated Nunes by submission at UFC 269 in December 2021, ending Nunes' six-year winning streak. Nunes then reclaimed the UFC women's bantamweight title by defeating Pena in July 2022, setting up a highly anticipated rematch. However, Pena's rib injury prevented the rubber match from happening, leaving spectators wondering what could have transpired. Nunes mentioned that if Pena had been her opponent that night, she wouldn't retire, as she wanted to face someone she had not fought before. While Nunes turned 35 last month and may reconsider her retirement, she intends to step away from the UFC. UFC president Dana White expressed his desire for Nunes to stay, but for now, Nunes is determined to focus on her training facility in Florida. She aims to help other aspiring fighters achieve their MMA goals and produce future female champions. READ NEXT: MMA Star Nate Diaz Wanted by New Orleans Police Amanda Nunes Retires Amanda Nunes (23-5) solidified her status as the top female fighter in the world with a dominant performance at UFC 289. In the main event, Nunes faced Irene Aldana (14-7) and emerged victorious by unanimous decision, per SI. Throughout the fight, Nunes controlled the pace and showcased her superior skills. While Aldana landed a solid shot in the first round, she struggled to mount any significant offense. Opting for a passive approach, Aldana's strategy proved ineffective against Nunes, who delivered powerful strikes and executed six takedowns. Following the fight, Nunes announced that she was retiring from the sport. Her decision to hang up her gloves marks the end of an era for female fighters in the UFC. Nunes leaves a remarkable legacy as the bantamweight and featherweight champion, and her departure is a significant loss for the organization and the sport. Amanda Nunes Leaves as the Best Female Fighter in UFC Amanda Nunes, the reigning UFC champion in multiple weight divisions, affirmed her belief that she will always be the true champion in her weight classes, regardless of future competition, MMA Fighting noted. Nunes expressed her satisfaction with her accomplishments and announced her retirement following her recent victory. During the post-fight press conference, Nunes proudly stated that she would keep her belt at home and referred to any future champions as merely pretending to hold the title. "That's going to be the fake one. It's going to be fake forever. Whoever gets the belt now, it's going to be just, like, pretending to have it. So I'm gone. I'm good. I did everything, all is taken care of in my life." She thanked the UFC for caring for her throughout her career and stated her intention to remain involved in the sport. Nunes leaves behind an impressive legacy in the UFC. Over her six-year reign, she defeated top contenders such as Irene Aldana, Julianna Pena, Germaine de Randamie, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Ronda Rousey, and Miesha Tate, among others. With Amanda Nunes' string of victories, Nunes solidified her claim as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history. READ MORE: Brittney Griner Harassed in Dallas Airport This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Amanda Nunes Octagon Interview | UFC 289 - RETIREMENT FIGHT - From UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship Champaign Police have launched an investigation into two separate Illinois shootings that occurred during the early hours of Sunday morning, according to WAND. Authorities have stated that there is no evidence to suggest a connection between the two incidents. The first Illinois shooting occurred at approximately 1:26 a.m. on the 100 Block of S. Neil Street. Upon responding to reports of gunfire and injuries, police discovered a 21-year-old female victim who had been shot in the arm. Fortunately, her injuries were not life-threatening. Additionally, a 21-year-old male victim was found at the scene with a stab wound to his back, deemed critical and potentially life-threatening. Later, at around 3:35 a.m., another incident unfolded on the 1000 Block of N. Sixth Street. This involved a shooting that resulted in injuries and multiple car accidents. Upon arrival, officers encountered several victims who had sustained gunshot wounds and immediately began providing first aid until the arrival of medical personnel. Concurrently, additional victims arrived at a local hospital seeking treatment. Overall, six individuals were injured in this second incident, with four victims suffering gunshot wounds and two injured in car accidents. READ NEXT: Chicago Shooting at a Memorial Gathering Authorities Arrest 2 Suspects on S. Neil Street Incident Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the early morning incident involving a stabbing and gunshot on S. Neil Street in Champaign, Illinois, according to WCIA. The police investigation has shed light on the sequence of events, revealing that the altercation initially erupted inside a local establishment before spilling out onto the street. Authorities have identified Sergio Sosa, a 23-year-old resident of Rantoul, as a key participant in the altercation. According to police, Sosa allegedly brandished a knife during the fight, stabbing the male victim. On Sunday, June 11, law enforcement confirmed that Sosa had been apprehended and is now facing Aggravated Battery charges. Additionally, Junior Molinero, a 22-year-old from Arthur, has been implicated by authorities as another individual involved in the incident. He has been arrested on allegations of Mob Action, as stated by the police. Shooting Incident on N. Sixth Street The aftermath of a chaotic incident that unfolded early in the morning near Douglass Park left authorities scrambling to clean up the scene and attend to the injured, The New Gazette. The disturbing events resulted in six individuals being hospitalized, numerous automobiles being destroyed, and the area in disarray. As daylight broke, crime scene tape draped over a Douglass Park marquee near Eureka Street while tow trucks arrived to remove damaged vehicles. Authorities provided details on what transpired, explaining that a large crowd had gathered for an impromptu gathering when an unidentified lone gunman began firing shots. The ensuing panic led to multiple automobile accidents as people attempted to flee the area, resulting in additional injuries. The impact of the incident was widespread, with reports of a house being targeted by gunfire and other parked cars being damaged in the ensuing crashes. The victims affected by this unfortunate Illinois shooting include: A 17-year-old male who suffered a headshot wound and is currently in critical condition at a local hospital. A 29-year-old man was shot in the leg and is in stable condition after receiving medical attention at a local hospital. A 27-year-old man from Urbana sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, with his condition listed as serious after being transported to a local hospital. A 23-year-old man from Urbana suffered an abrasion to his ear and is currently in stable condition at a local hospital. A 22-year-old female was involved in a car crash and is in critical but stable condition after being taken to a nearby hospital. A 23-year-old woman was also injured in a car accident, with her condition currently deemed life-threatening after being admitted to a local hospital. READ MORE: Wisconsin Teen Found Dead This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Father says Champaign shooting like losing both his sons to gun violence - From WCIA News remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Two men on a cleaning crew are accused of swiping $28,000 worth of gift cards from a FedEx facility in Northampton County, troopers said. Segundo Morocho, 38, and Carlos Fra Caisa Yupangue, 22, both of Allentown, were arrested in May and face felony charges, including theft and receiving stolen property, court records show. Both men are free after each posted 10% of $25,000 bail, records show. Messages left for their defense attorneys were not immediately returned Monday. Pennsylvania State Police officials with the Bethlehem barracks said in April members of the cleaning crew took a bag with Walmart gift cards worth $28,281 at the FedEx campus on Willowbrook Road in Allen Township. The gift cards were used to buy $8,128 worth of goods and Morocho and Yupangue were identified as suspects, troopers said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. UPDATE: Fifteen Allentown residents were displaced on Sunday evening following a group of fires that damaged their four homes in the 500 block of North Fountain Street, Allentown Fire Department Captain John Christopher told lehighvallelive.com. The 15 displaced residents lived in three of the now charred or smokey structures, he said. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an emergency declaration on Monday to aid in the response to the partial collapse of a section of I-95 in Philadelphia. By issuing the 21-day declaration, it authorizes the state to quickly draw down federal funds, makes $7 million of state funds immediately available and waives bidding and contracting procedures to expedite the roads reconstruction. The emergency remains in place unless extended by the legislature and key lawmakers said talks are already underway to grant an extension to the constitutionally set 21-day declaration to avoid having to call the House and Senate into session during their summer break. House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, said he anticipated a resolution to that effect to be drafted before the end of the week. At 6:20 a.m. Sunday, a tanker truck carrying flammable petroleum-based cargo caught fire near the Route 73/Cottman Avenue ramp in Northeast Philadelphia, near the Bucks County line, causing an elevated section of I-95 to collapse. Both sides of the interstate sustained damage and were closed. My administration is in regular contact with our federal partners, who have pledged their complete support and assistance as we create alternative routes and rebuild I-95, Shapiro said in a statement announcing the emergency declaration. My administration is all hands on deck to repair I-95 as safely and as efficiently as possible. Neilson opened the House Transportation Committees meeting on Monday with an update on the situation. Neilson said he lives an exit away from where the incident occurred and was thankful it happened on a weekend day when traffic is lighter than on a weekday. This has severely disrupted a major artery in the entire region, Neilson said. I couldnt tell you the impact its going to have on the entire southeast. With both lanes down and having to temporarily divert traffic around that section of I-95 is going to be tough, said Rep. Kerry Benninghoff of Centre County, the ranking Republican on the committee. Its imperative for us to reallocate money where we have to, Benninghoff said, but added neither he nor Neilson anticipate this will cause funding already earmarked for road and bridge projects elsewhere in the state to be impacted. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria County, said the information he received about the damage suggests a complete overhaul of that section will be required. He said some additional resources may be required to help SEPTA put more cars in service and increase capacity to accommodate commuters finding alternate means to travel around that area. Already, the House and Senate are looking at imposing a fee on electric vehicles to help fund road and bridge projects since they do not pay the gas tax. Additionally, both chambers are looking at legislation to limit the funding used to support state police operations that is in the states Motor License Fund that pays for transportation infrastructure projects. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. By Mike Schlossberg One in five Americans actively suffer from some sort of mental illness. Is that person you, or someone you love? Ive been a state representative for over a decade and suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life. As someone who lives with mental illness, I wish I had known at a much younger age how many others were also in pain. Ive spent my career trying to be as loud as possible about these challenges and reflect these words with actions. Throughout Pennsylvania, people are in pain. More importantly, they cant find a way to remedy that agony even if they want to. Simply put, there arent enough therapists. Suicidal children have to wait in loud, crowded emergency rooms because of a lack of beds. Too many communities -- rural and urban -- lack the equipment and technology to properly give therapy over the Internet. We ask too much of our police and corrections officers, demanding that they manage mental illness without giving them the tools, resources or supports to do so. This lack of support makes all of us less safe. House Democrats -- working in a bipartisan way -- are changing this lack of investment with real action. We fought for the inclusion of $100 million in mental health funding in the budget. Recently the House of Representatives approved a report from the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Commission, a group of experts with widely varying perspectives and opinions on the best way to address our mental health challenges. That legislation, with the funding increase, passed by a massive vote of 173-30, with all Democrats and a majority of Republicans voting yes. It speaks volumes to the severity of this issue that there was such widespread agreement. This bill would invest tens of millions of dollars in recruiting therapists, social workers and employees up and down the mental health employment spectrum. It would invest real money in our jails and prisons, reducing recidivism, keeping our population and corrections officers safe, and ensuring that individuals who are serving time have a chance at rehabilitation. It would also budget money for more hospital beds, walk-in centers, tools for police officers, and additional collaboration between physical and behavioral health. However, this is just the tip of the spear when it comes to addressing mental illness. Gov. Josh Shapiros budget calls for an additional $100 million for our schools to deal explicitly with mental illness, something that we all know is desperately needed, particularly given the rise of mental illness among kids. This years budget proposal creates a permanent funding stream for the 988 suicide prevention hotline and text line, enabling people in crisis to get the help they need. It also partially restores the devastating cuts to county mental health offices of over a decade ago, ensuring that people who need the most help have access to it. These efforts arent a panacea. They wont solve every problem. But, like everything we do in government, its a step toward addressing a major problem. Id also add this: Investments in mental health are about more than just providing help to those who need it. It is a statement of values. By passing this legislation, the General Assembly is telling people with mental illness this: Your pain matters. It is real, valid and worthy of treatment. For too long, mental health has been a secondary consideration. However, if the pandemic taught us anything, its that these issues cannot be ignored. They must be addressed comprehensively, compassionately and courageously. Now is the time to act. Pennsylvania state Rep. Mike Schlossberg serves the 132nd District in Lehigh County. He is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus UPDATE: Prosecutor IDs man who drowned while trying to swim across the Delaware River A Phillipsburg man trying to swim across the Delaware River drowned Sunday in the water between Easton and Phillipsburg, the Warren County prosecutor confirmed. The man was with a large group of people on the New Jersey side of the river when he said he wanted to swim to the Pennsylvania side, Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer said. The man made it to the middle of the river when he called out for help, went under and did not resurface, Pfeiffer said. Emergency personnel were called at about 2:42 p.m. for a possible drowning in the river near McKeen Street. Crews from the Phillipsburg and Easton fire departments and Pennsylvania Water Rescue Station 72 were dispatched to search the water. Pfeiffer said a private boater located the body, which was submerged in seven feet of water, Pfeiffer said. Pennsylvania Water Rescue removed the body and it was turned over to the Warren County medical examiner. The identity of the person will be released after notification to their family, Pfeiffer said, adding prosecutors do not suspect any foul play in the mans death. Phillipsburg police are investigating the incident; the department referred questions to Pfeiffers office. Police are looking for possible witnesses. Anyone who may have seen something should call Phillipsburg police at 908-835-2002 or the Warren County prosecutors office at 908-475-6275. Officials have repeatedly warned people to wear to U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while swimming, floating, fishing, or boating in the Delaware River, citing the rivers strong and swift current and varying depths. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Researchers at the School of Business, Maynooth University, have received Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) funding for an innovative citizen engagement project to harness business and community participation in the green energy transition. SFIs National Challenge Fund has awarded the researchers 250,000 to advance this innovative project, with a further two researchers to join the team as a result of this funding. The team aims to drive change towards green energy and climate action by bringing the local community into the research process, making their needs central to the project, and facilitating knowledge sharing with key MU academics, particularly in the area of renewable and smart energy systems. Over the next 18 months, the researchers will work with local organisations to identify and address their energy transition needs, creating a suite of tools and resources, including a targeted micro-credential course. The MU project is one of 47 competing in the National Challenge Fund receiving initial funding totaling more than 13 million to work on solutions to major environmental and societal issues. Commenting on the ambitious goals of the project, Prof Fabiano Pallonetto, School of Business and lead researcher said: We are delighted that our project RENEW has been selected by SFI for funding. We see huge potential for our local community to show leadership in the green energy transition. Our aim is to work closely with the local community, and together explore how Maynooth and Kildare can become an active node of the electrical grid through the co-creation of smart energy management systems. Dr Amy Fahy, School of Business and co-lead on the project, noted the unique methods employed by the project that involve the community: This is a perfect example of engaged research at Maynooth University. We are taking a community first approach, addressing the research needs of our local community of Kildare, and creating a process where we can build tools and resources that specifically address community needs, while also providing us with valuable knowledge that can be shared both nationally and internationally. Speaking at the launch of the National Challenge Fund, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD said: These teams have presented ingenious ideas and committed their talents to working for the benefit of the people of Ireland. We see examples in the news most days of why Ireland needs to work at the green transition and digital transformation and ensure that our innovation and research prepare the country for the future. In fact, the solutions being worked on in all eight challenges in the National Challenge Fund have the potential not just to improve life here in Ireland, but across Europe and around the world. The National Challenge Fund is supported by the EUs Recovery and Resilience Facility. Boortmalt, the world's leading malting company, is announcing the launch of an innovative application that empowers beekeepers and farmers to collaborate in safeguarding the well-being of bees during treatment periods in agricultural fields. This novel solution will help enhance the life cycle of bees by ensuring their safety when farming activities require the use of certain treatments. The BEE SAFE app allows beekeepers to geolocate their hives, providing real-time data on their precise locations. Through the application, farmers can access this information and inform nearby beekeepers about upcoming treatment periods in their fields. This valuable exchange of information enables beekeepers to take necessary precautions such as temporarily closing their hives, thus safeguarding the well-being of their bees. Launching the app, Tom Bryan, Boortmalts Regional Agronomy Manager UK and Ireland said, Bees play a vital role in pollinating crops, contributing to food security, and biodiversity. Recognising the critical importance of protecting bee populations, Boortmalt developed the BEE SAFE app to enable beekeepers and farmers share information. By sharing information and promoting collaboration, we can contribute to the preservation of these vital pollinators and ensure the sustainability of our food systems." Louis Bolger, Chairman of the Kildare Bee Keepers Association, welcomed the new app, Bees are part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival. However, bee populations have been declining globally over recent decades due to several factors including the use of pesticides. I welcome the BEE SAFE app which will make a real difference to the preservation of these vital pollinators. I would like to thank Boortmalt for launching this initiative and call on other agri-bodies to follow Boortmalts lead and play their part in protecting all pollinators and their habitats." Boortmalt has a strong vision on sustainability and in line with this the group promote the continuous improvement of farming methodologies through local sourcing programs that are environmentally sound and beneficial to local communities. Boortmalt's commitment to sustainability and responsible agricultural practices is further exemplified by its efforts to support bee health. By leveraging technology and facilitating collaboration, the company is driving positive change in the agriculture sector and promoting a more bee-friendly environment. Boormalth is the world's leading malting company with the group present on 5 continents with 27 malting plants. Boortmalts expertise is widely acknowledged by brewers, distillers, and food industries, who rely on the supply of top-quality barley malts. Kildare County Council is to seek financial support from a state body to defend an action in the High Court. Irelands two largest homebuilders, Cairn Homes plc and Glenveagh Properties plc are seeking a judicial review in the High Court relating to the new Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029. The developers argue that the CDP will reduce the number of homes which can be built in the county to just 9,144. They contend that The current plan, now coming to an end, allowed for 22,272 homes to be built in the last six years and this represents a reduction of 59% on the number of new homes that can be permitted under the new plan at a time of an unprecedented housing crisis. The move follows a similar development in October of last year when, Glenveagh and Cairn submitted an application for a Judicial Review of the Wicklow County Development Plan 20222028, on broadly similar grounds. The developers argue that the reduction in the number of new homes that could be delivered across all types including social, affordable and private arises in part from a reliance on out-of-date Census data from 2016 and follows the adoption of the National Planning Framework (NPF) in 2019. As a consequence, Glenveagh and Cairn claim the plan has materially underestimated Kildares population growth and its current and future housing needs. Cllr Naoise O Cearuil told a Kildare County Council meeting that the Office of the Planning Regulator would bas asked to fund at least part of the costs because it concerns an issue outside our control. He said a considerable amount of work had gone into the plan and the costs should be split or paid entirely by the OPR> KCC official Amy Granville said that there were five judicial reviews over the County Meath plan. She said KCC would talk to the OPR about the costs but she was not in a position to say what the bill might come to. Ms Granville indicated that a similar action has been taken against Wicklow County Council and this is likely to be heard two to three months before Kildares case. She said the case concerns the methodology used to define housing supply targets. Monaghan native Emmett McAviney will take on the gruelling challenge of running 700KM from Malin Head in Co Donegal to Mizen Head in Co Cork. The run is expected to take place over a 10-day period between June 28 and July 7. The route covers 12 counties: Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Monaghan, Cavan, Meath, Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork. Emmet will be stopping off in Rathangan GAA Club at 10am, Kildangan GAA Club at 2pm and Grangenolvin GAA Club at 6pm on Sunday July 2. Speaking about why he is taking on the challenge, Emmet said Barnardos do such good work with families across Ireland that people dont realise. I know there are thousands of families across Ireland who are struggling. No matter how tough the run is going to be, there are so many families in Ireland that know the real meaning of tough when they struggle every day to provide for their children." When it comes to his training regime, the 48-year-old father of three, now living in Kilkenny, said Training involved running at least 5 days a week, sometimes twice a day. I would try get at least three long runs (over 25Km) done during the week. On a Saturday I would try and include the Kilkenny Park Run and with the beautiful backdrop of Kilkenny Castle, it has to be one of the best park runs in Ireland." Emmets route will include stops at almost 30 GAA clubs over the 10 days and he is asking for support from club members to complete part of the distance of this mammoth challenge with him and cheer him on. Barnardos Director of Fundraising, Mary Gamble said, Emmet is taking on such a huge challenge running 700KM all in aid of Barnardos. We are incredibly grateful and will be cheering him every step of the way. All funds raised by Emmet will go towards helping vulnerable children across the country and ensuring they will have a better quality of life. Because childhood lasts a lifetime. The run is sponsored by Healthwatch Ireland and Cruinn Diagnostics. To track Emmets progress, you can follow him on Facebook Malin to Mizen Run for Barnardos | Facebook and for those who wish to donate to Emmets run can do so here. iDonate.ie | Support Emmet McAviney's Fundraising Page Two women living in Kildare have been awarded prestigious Fulbright scholarships to enable them to study in US institutions for 12 months. Jessica O'Neill is a graduate of Law from Trinity College Dublin. As a Fulbright Awardee, Jessica will be attending Harvard Law School to undertake an LL.M. focusing on constitutional and regulatory law. Jessica has a keen interest in the right to privacy, which she plans to develop at Harvard. Susan Boyle is a drinks researcher and playwright. Her PhD research at the Technological University, Dublin is in Beverage Studies. As a Fulbright-Creative Ireland Museum Fellowship Smithsonian Awardee at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, Washington DC, Susan will investigate the impact of European immigrants on pre-prohibition brewing and distilling in the United States. The Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Ireland Mike Clausen are delighted to announce 37 Fulbright Irish Awardees for 2023-2024. Recipients were presented with Awards at a ceremony in the U.S. Ambassadors Residence last night. Academics, professionals, students and Irish speakers will attend 17 leading U.S. institutions to research, study, teach and collaborate with experts in their fields from August 2023 to August 2024. The Fulbright bilateral exchange program is known for selecting outstanding candidates from across the island of Ireland to study and work with U.S. Institutions across all disciplines ranging from health, science, technology and business to the arts and culture. As the Fulbright Awardees forge ahead on these exciting opportunities, the breadth of their U.S. engagement is diverse and impressive. Awardees will travel to 17 states across the USA embedding themselves in institutions ranging from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Poets House New York and The University of Hawaii to The Smithsonian Institution in Washington and East Los Angeles College, the largest community college in California. Fulbright Irish Scholars, Students, and Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) will also engage with U.S. society and share their knowledge and expertise when they return home. In a year that saw Irish American President Biden visit Ireland, when ties between Ireland and the U.S. have increased, the 37 Irish awardees will head to the U.S. to exchange ideas and knowledge and serve as cultural ambassadors. By doing so they strengthen connections between the U.S. and Ireland to foster much needed understanding and empathy in todays increasingly polarised world. The next round of applications for Fulbright Irish Awards will open on 28 th August 2023. Interested candidates should visit www.fulbright.ie for more information. Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and at the Department of Education, Thomas Byrne TD said The warmth of the relationship between Ireland and the United States is underpinned by our shared history and common values. The Fulbright Commission and the Fulbrighters, past and present, are a testament to the best traditions of academic and cultural exchange, and have an outstanding record in representing Ireland. The Government of Ireland is proud to support this programme, which plays an essential role in building transatlantic understanding and fostering extraordinary academic links, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. My sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Irish Fulbright Awardees of 2023-2024. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has been accused of ignoring pharmacies in County Leitrim and across Ireland by leaving them in the dark over their future funding. There are 15 pharmacies across the County, supporting over 130 jobs. Local pharmacies are under severe strain as a 14-year pay freeze impacts on patient care as an increasing number of pharmacies face reduced hours and closing at weekends. The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has said the sector is rapidly losing faith in the Minister and his departments ability to use pharmacies appropriately and is now campaigning for meaningful engagement. Outlining the issues faced by Irelands pharmacies, Derek Reilly, interim Secretary General of the IPU, said that while costs increase dramatically, the fees received for doing vital healthcare work are lower now than in 2009. Minister Donnelly is legally obliged to review pharmacy services and funding by the end of June 2023. Despite this deadline, there has been zero engagement from the Minister. Mr Reilly explains that most pharmacies are small and family-owned businesses, relying on state income. Community Pharmacy is now the only healthcare sector that has had no pay restoration since the financial crisis. There is no reason for this blatant discrimination, and it needs to change, he said. Goodwill among pharmacies has been eroded, according to the IPU. Despite being ignored by the Minister, community pharmacies have consistently delivered, they continue to provide a first-class service to patients. The accessibility of the pharmacy sector papers over the numerous cracks in the healthcare system. Nowhere was this more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic when pharmacists stood up to the plate with the delivery of vaccines, said Reilly. But patience is wearing thin over the lack of respect, and as a result, many pharmacists may not engage in new schemes or pharmacy services. This would be a grossly missed opportunity if not addressed. In 2009, pharmacies were paid an average dispensing fee of 6.00. That was cut during the recession and has never been restored despite costs being significantly higher. The IPU is calling for the introduction of a flat fee model of care being reimbursed at 6.50 per medicine. But above all else, right now, we are calling on the Minister for Health to engage with community pharmacies to discuss fees before the June 30 deadline. Mr Reilly said that patients are experiencing longer wait times for dispensing prescription medicines. This government has been warned that this would happen but sadly continues to sleepwalk into a major crisis, he added. The IPU is urging Minister Donnelly to end the uncertainty and bring forward meaningful proposals for the future of the pharmacy sector. Re-iterating the IPUs request to meet with Minister Donnelly, Derek Reilly said, The IPU and our members will meet the Minister at any place at any time. After years of being taken for granted, we expect this basic courtesy to be extended to a sector that has consistently delivered. Alain Touraine was four years my junior, so he could not have belonged to the generation of the French Resistance. A student at the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS), he was deeply influenced by Georges Friedmann's work on factory workers. He left his studies at the ENS to go and work in factories, to get an insider's view of the working class. Friedmann advised him to finish his studies and join France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), where he could study the working world and conditions. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Alain Touraine, a leading French sociologist, has died So it was that Alain Touraine joined the CNRS the same year I did, in 1951, to focus on his primary preoccupation. The mandarins of sociology soon adopted him. Still, he remained independent of them, as he did in May '68, when he fully understood the student and popular revolts and their aftermath. Earlier, in the early 1960s, when Unesco set up a school of social sciences for all Latin American students in Santiago de Chile, he was invited to attend at Friedmann's instigation, as was I. We met in Santiago. I was mainly a teacher, and he was primarily a researcher into the working conditions of Chilean miners. We both fell in love with Chile at first sight and, more broadly, with Latin America, of which he became one of the best sociological and human experts. We shared this passion throughout our lives. In Santiago, he married the delightful Adriana, the mother of his children, who tragically died of illness. I experienced a similar grief with the loss of Edwige, a shared suffering that brought us closer together. We both found consoling salvation, he with Simonetta and I with Sabah. An abundant body of work After 1968, he became interested in social movements everything that tends to transform our society including trade union movements, popular movements, feminist movements, whose historical importance he understood, and environmental movements. While most sociologists work on issues that do not change and repeat themselves identically, he was one of the few who, on the contrary, was passionate about everything mobile, dynamic, innovative, and creative. His extensive body of work bears witness to this perspective and passion. His book La Sociologie de l'Action ("The Sociology of Action") demonstrates this. We were linked not only by shared ideas but by a fraternity which, for me, included enormous esteem for his loyalty and rigor. He always showed a noble and rigorous stature in an environment with a lot of pettiness and ambition. While increasingly tired from the age of 90, he never ceased to write and work on human subjectivity, a topic ignored by sociologists. He had quite rightly discovered that these objective movements in society involved a strong and intense subjectivity in their protagonists and that this dimension of the human subject ignored by all supposedly objectivist science was crucial. You have 16.36% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Libya no longer makes the headlines of international media. With its apparent stability, unclear internal fractures, and the many crises unfolding elsewhere, the country of Tripoli and Benghazi no longer sparks interest. As recent Tripolitania (West) incidents illustrate, it is not exactly peaceful. Nor is it war. There is no sign of a head-on clash between two politico-military coalitions encouraged from abroad, as was the case during the civil war of summer 2014 or the "Battle of Tripoli" in 2019-2020. Neither war nor peace: Libya lives in a semi-obscure world of hybrids, precarious arrangements, and shaky compromises. The situation is not chaotic enough to urgently convene an international summit, but too fragile not to worry. A large oil and gas company is near where foreign armed forces (the Turks in the West and Wagner's Russian paramilitaries in the East and South) are entrenched. At the same time, Sudan and the Sahel are ablaze on its borders, which is hardly reassuring. The risk of relapse could be neutralized by an institutional framework perceived as legitimate by the population. Nonetheless, such a framework is lacking. Yet everyone is comfortable with this account, including the international community, tempted to see the current fog as a stopgap measure in the light of past convulsions. After all, the ceasefire signed in October 2020 between the rival camps of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (East) still holds. And oil is flowing again since the reopening last year of hydrocarbon processing sites, which had been closed two and a half years before by the forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Cyrenaica's "strong man." Oil revenues have helped dilute tensions, specifically resentment in eastern Libya at the redistribution of the windfall traditionally deemed too favorable to the West. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes 'Erdogan is pursuing his mission to put Turkey back on the great map of the world and give Turks back their pride' Deceptive These tensions are a thing of the past. It is now time to do business and bring together once antagonistic interests. The deals struck between Haftar and his family in Benghazi, on the one hand, and Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, the head of the national unity government in Tripoli, on the other, perfectly illustrates this harmony through business dealings. In other words, the East-West divide, the all-too-convenient key to reading the Libyan conflict, has lost its relevance. It has been beaten to a pulp by the prevailing transactional frenzy. The tug-of-war has now shifted to within each camp. The foreign sponsor front offers the same impression of a lull. The earlier schism between the Turkey-Qatar tandem, Tripolitania's sponsor, and the United Arab Emirates-Saudi Arabia-Egypt axis, Cyrenaica's mentor, has partially subsided, reducing external fuel for the conflict. Everyone is opening up their strategic investments. The Turks, already established in western Libya, are beginning to gain an economic foothold in the east. And the Emiratis, familiar with the East, are opening up to the West. These new transversal links are eroding the belligerent logic of blocs. You have 46.22% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. LIMERICK Chamber has called on government to drive the delivery of affordable housing. As part of its pre-budget submission, the largest business representative group in the region has also called for investment in capital in capital projects to support economic opportunities in the near future. Chief among this is the exploitation of offshore wind supplies from the Atlantic coast. The submission is entitled 'Our people, Our Place our Future'. Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan said: A shortage of skilled workers coupled with a drought of affordable housing is creating the perfect storm for employers, inhibiting attraction and retention of workers and impacting on employees quality of life. She says employers are concerned about their capacity to house workers. While government focus on social housing targets has been understandable and justified we are calling for an equal emphasis to be placed on affordable housing delivery, she added. Chamber economist Sean Golden added: The challenge for government in Budget 2024 is to balance doing enough to address the current cost environment while also addressing key infrastructural gaps and providing a return for tax payers in the form of wrap around supports. Budget day is in October. IT WILL soon be the end of an era for a high fashion clothing business which has been styling those near and far for over half a century in the heart of Limerick city. Billy Higgins who runs the eponymous business on Sarsfield Street in the city will be retiring sometime in the near future, meaning the doors to his long-established store will be closing for the final time. It is not known when exactly Mr Higgins plans to close the business, but he believes that this Christmas will mark the store's last festive season in operation. Billy Higgins Clothing has been styling the population in high fashion for decades and, according to Mr Higgins, it is approaching the time when he must close the doors as he has been working in the store for 50 years. Theres no other reason to the retirement only that I am 65 years of age, Mr Higgins said. Im at this 50 years and I just need a bit of time to spend with my kids and enjoy whatever life I have left. Even though Mr Higgins will be ceasing operations he continues to be out the door with business from clients. Were so busy with weddings and suits and our regular customers. Were established 67 years but I am just burnt out from it at this stage, Mr Higgins explained. Billy Higgins Clothing is located at 8 Sarsfield Street and is currently listed for sale on Daft.ie. It is a four-storey over basement level building which has been one of the pride and joys of Mr Higgins time while running the business. The date in which Mr Higgins will be retiring will depend on when a sale agreement is reached for the property which is listed for 700,000. Its all predicated by who buys the building, they might decide to apply for planning permission which could take up to 12 months, then they may allow us to remain on until such a time when they are ready to move. I just couldnt call the date being honest but Id imagine itll be within the next six to eight months, Mr Higgins added. THE PLANNED 450m Foynes to Limerick road has got the green light to proceed to the next stage of delivery, Limerick Live has learned. The Limerick City and County Council project, which dates back to 2014, was approved by An Bord Pleanala in August 2022. This approval was subsequently challenged by three separate judicial reviews in the High Court. It is understood these proceedings have now been withdrawn. The 35km stretch of road, including 17kms of motorway, includes a bypass of several towns and villages. Minister for State Niall Collins said it is "huge news" for the region. "Its importance cannot be understated. It hugely improves our connectivity and our competitiveness. It links the port of Foynes - which is one of the most significant ports in Ireland to the motorway network. This is also in parallel with the upgrade of the railway line. It is a double boost for the region," said Mr Collins. It also raises hopes that the Adare bypass could be completed in time for the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor in 2027. "It is quite possible that the contract for the construction of the road may be subdivided into a number of stages in terms of breaking it down it into parts so the Adare bypass section could be one contract. It may afford an opportunity for the early delivery of it in time for the Ryder Cup 2027. "It is is really, really positive news because road projects are so important in terms of our competitiveness, our connectivity and bringing added value to the region because Limerick and the Mid-West has been outperforming other regions. We see that with the amount of foreign direct investment. Foynes is going to be a major hub for the development of offshore wind energy which has unlimited potential," he said. The project can now progress to the next stage of delivery. "What will happen now is the CPOs (compulsory purchase orders) and tendering process from contractors. It is at a time as well when we see some unspent funds in the National Development Plan. The public finances are healthy so the project won't be delayed due to funding issues. I hope it is expedited as quickly as possible," said Mr Collins. LIMERICK Chamber has called for the "immediate start" to the capital works for the 450m Limerick to Foynes Road including the Adare Bypass. The works were approved by An Bord Pleanala in August of 2022 and had been stalled due to judicial review proceedings. Following discussions between Limerick City and County Council and the three applicants, these proceedings have now been withdrawn from the High Court. Limerick Chamber is now calling for the immediate start to works given the strategic nature of Foynes Port and also the Ryder Cup in 2027 to be held in Adare. Dee Ryan, CEO of Limerick Chamber, said the Limerick to Foynes road holds immense significance for the upcoming Ryder Cup in Adare in 2027. "As a prestigious international sporting event, the Ryder Cup attracts a large influx of participants, spectators, and media from around the world and will give the region a chance to shine on the world stage. The construction of the bypass and wider N69 road serves as a vital link connecting key parts of the region. "The roads improved accessibility and enhanced infrastructure will ensure smooth and efficient transportation for players, officials, and visitors alike. It will significantly reduce travel times, alleviate congestion, and enhance the overall event experience," said Ms Ryan, CEO of the largest business representative body in the Mid-West. She said the seamless connectivity offered by the Limerick to Foynes Road will not only make it easier for participants to access the tournament venue but also facilitate the exploration of the surrounding region, including its hotels, restaurants, and attractions which will be key for local business. "Limerick Chamber would now like to see works begin on the project as a matter of urgency and we look forward to keeping businesses updated on the progress through Limerick Chambers strategic development pipeline," said Ms Ryan. Miriam OConnor, president of Limerick Chamber, said the Limerick to Foynes Road represents a pivotal moment for businesses in our region. "This infrastructure development holds immense importance as it addresses crucial transportation challenges and unlocks a multitude of opportunities for the region. The road acts as a lifeline for businesses, facilitating smooth and efficient movement of goods, services, and employees. "When completed, the N69 project will provide a safer link for Shannon Foynes Port to the national road network and given the significant potential for offshore renewable energy along the West coast and into the Shannon Estuary it will provide the region with a competitive edge. The Chamber would now like to see works begin on the project so the region can continue to attract investment, encourage job creation, and foster a vibrant business ecosystem," said Ms O'Connor. Limerick City and County Council welcomed the withdrawal of objections as "it permits the proposed project to progress to the next stage of delivery and ultimately to connect the core port of Foynes to the motorway network near Limerick". "The proposed road is vital for the strategic development and expansion of Shannon Foynes Port, for West Limerick and the Mid-West Region in general and will be implemented as expeditiously as possible," said a council spokesperson. The road is comprised of the construction of approximately 15.6km of dual carriageway from Foynes to Rathkeale (with approximately 1.9km of single carriageway road between Ballyclogh and Askeaton) along with the construction of approximately 17.5Km of motorway to connect Rathkeale to the existing Motorway network at Attyflin (N21/N20/M20 junction). "This project will include a bypass of Adare, which will run to the north of the village, and it will remove in the region of 70 80% of the traffic currently passing through the village (circa 17,000 vehicles/day). The proposed road is vital to improve safety and remove traffic delays. There will also be a new heavy goods vehicle service area near Foynes. "Limerick City and County Council is very conscious that approximately 200 landholdings (including nine dwelling houses and approximately 105 farms) are impacted by the proposed road. Limerick City and County Council will be contacting all impacted landholders and householders over the next few weeks. Limerick City and County Council will continue to work closely with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deliver the project as expeditiously as possible," said the spokesperson. PRE-TAX profits at the County Limerick-based bloodstock business co-owned by well-known businessman, Denis Brosnan increase by 5% last year to 381,656. New accounts filed by Mr Brosnans Epona Bloodstock Ltd show its pre-tax profit increased after revenues went up by 29%, from 3.06million to 3.94million, in the 12 months to the end of June 2022. The pre-tax profit of 381,656 last year followed pre-tax profits of 363,857 in the prior year. Epona Bloodstock is the firm that operates the 270 acre Croom House Stud farm in west Limerick. Croom House is the property of the former Kerry Group chief executive Denis Brosnan who, along with Joan Brosnan, purchased the house and lands in 1986, restored the stables and yards and brought their own thoroughbred horses onto the property. The bulk of the firms revenues were generated from bloodstock sales at 3.19million compared to 2.5m under that heading in 2021. Last year, Croom House Stud put forward top quality yearlings for sale at Deauville, Doncaster, Goffs, Tattersalls Ireland and Tattersalls UK. The rest of the firms revenues last year were made up of 228,307 in livestock; 451,488 in administration services and 62,753 in the keeping of mares. The figures show that 3.28m of revenues were generated in the UK with 658,424 in Ireland. The profits last year take account of non-cash depreciation costs of 126,100. Numbers employed by the firm last year, increased by one to 13 and staff costs last year increased from 551,829 to 620,539. The firm last year received 50,050 in Government wage supports and this followed 146,310 received under the same heading in 2021. A note states that during the financial year, the company received government assistance to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19. At the end of June last year, the company had shareholder funds of 3.48m that included 3.47m in accumulated profits. The companys cash funds decreased sharply from 611,231 to 155,463 The accounts disclose that the book value of the firm's livestock and bloodstock increased from 4.6 million to 4.9m last year. The firm also has financial assets of 140,001 and tangible assets of 146,108. The accounts signed off on June 8 - also show that Mr Brosnan has provided a personal guarantee to the company not exceeding 5million. According to the Croom House Stud website, 30 broodmares are kept, owned by Denis and Joan Brosnan or by Epona Bloodstock at the stud. The website states that the the rich limestone land makes it possible to keep mares, yearlings and other followers outside in sheltered paddocks for most of the year with minimal time spent in stables. It adds: This has enabled Croom House to produce strong tough horses with great bone who have made their mark on racetracks throughout the world over the past twenty years. Directors on the board of Epona Bloodstock are listed as Denis Brosnan, Joan Brosnan, Paul Brosnan and Mary Brosnan. Fears of artificial intelligence (AI) have haunted humanity since the very beginning of the computer age. Hitherto these fears focused on machines using physical means to kill, enslave or replace people. But over the past couple of years new AI tools have emerged that threaten the survival of human civilisation from an unexpected direction. AI has gained some remarkable abilities to manipulate and generate language, whether with words, sounds or images. AI has thereby hacked the operating system of our civilisation. Language is the stuff almost all human culture is made of. Human rights, for example, arent inscribed in our DNA. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by telling stories and writing laws. Gods arent physical realities. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by inventing myths and writing scriptures. Money, too, is a cultural artefact. Banknotes are just colourful pieces of paper, and at present more than 90% of money is not even banknotesit is just digital information in computers. What gives money value is the stories that bankers, finance ministers and cryptocurrency gurus tell us about it. Sam Bankman-Fried, Elizabeth Holmes and Bernie Madoff were not particularly good at creating real value, but they were all extremely capable storytellers. What would happen once a non-human intelligence becomes better than the average human at telling stories, composing melodies, drawing images, and writing laws and scriptures? When people think about ChatGPT and other new AI tools, they are often drawn to examples like school children using AI to write their essays. What will happen to the school system when kids do that? But this kind of question misses the big picture. Forget about school essays. Think of the next American presidential race in 2024, and try to imagine the impact of AI tools that can be made to mass-produce political content, fake-news stories and scriptures for new cults. In recent years the QAnon cult has coalesced around anonymous online messages, known as Q drops". Followers collected, revered and interpreted these Q drops as a sacred text. While to the best of our knowledge all previous Q drops were composed by humans, and bots merely helped disseminate them, in future we might see the first cults in history whose revered texts were written by a non-human intelligence. Religions throughout history have claimed a non-human source for their holy books. Soon that might be a reality. On a more prosaic level, we might soon find ourselves conducting lengthy online discussions about abortion, climate change or the Russian invasion of Ukraine with entities that we think are humansbut are actually AI. The catch is that it is utterly pointless for us to spend time trying to change the declared opinions of an AI bot, while the AI could hone its messages so precisely that it stands a good chance of influencing us. Through its mastery of language, AI could even form intimate relationships with people, and use the power of intimacy to change our opinions and worldviews. Although there is no indication that AI has any consciousness or feelings of its own, to foster fake intimacy with humans it is enough if the AI can make them feel emotionally attached to it. In June 2022 Blake Lemoine, a Google engineer, publicly claimed that the AI chatbot LaMDA, on which he was working, had become sentient. The controversial claim cost him his job. The most interesting thing about this episode was not Mr Lemoines claim, which was probably false. Rather, it was his willingness to risk his lucrative job for the sake of the AI chatbot. If AI can influence people to risk their jobs for it, what else could it induce them to do? In a political battle for minds and hearts, intimacy is the most efficient weapon, and AI has just gained the ability to mass-produce intimate relationships with millions of people. We all know that over the past decade social media has become a battleground for controlling human attention. With the new generation of AI, the battlefront is shifting from attention to intimacy. What will happen to human society and human psychology as AI fights AI in a battle to fake intimate relationships with us, which can then be used to convince us to vote for particular politicians or buy particular products? Even without creating fake intimacy", the new AI tools would have an immense influence on our opinions and worldviews. People may come to use a single AI adviser as a one-stop, all-knowing oracle. No wonder Google is terrified. Why bother searching, when I can just ask the oracle? The news and advertising industries should also be terrified. Why read a newspaper when I can just ask the oracle to tell me the latest news? And whats the purpose of advertisements, when I can just ask the oracle to tell me what to buy? And even these scenarios dont really capture the big picture. What we are talking about is potentially the end of human history. Not the end of history, just the end of its human-dominated part. History is the interaction between biology and culture; between our biological needs and desires for things like food and sex, and our cultural creations like religions and laws. History is the process through which laws and religions shape food and sex. What will happen to the course of history when AI takes over culture, and begins producing stories, melodies, laws and religions? Previous tools like the printing press and radio helped spread the cultural ideas of humans, but they never created new cultural ideas of their own. AI is fundamentally different. AI can create completely new ideas, completely new culture. At first, AI will probably imitate the human prototypes that it was trained on in its infancy. But with each passing year, AI culture will boldly go where no human has gone before. For millennia human beings have lived inside the dreams of other humans. In the coming decades we might find ourselves living inside the dreams of an alien intelligence. Fear of AI has haunted humankind for only the past few decades. But for thousands of years humans have been haunted by a much deeper fear. We have always appreciated the power of stories and images to manipulate our minds and to create illusions. Consequently, since ancient times humans have feared being trapped in a world of illusions. In the 17th century Rene Descartes feared that perhaps a malicious demon was trapping him inside a world of illusions, creating everything he saw and heard. In ancient Greece Plato told the famous Allegory of the Cave, in which a group of people are chained inside a cave all their lives, facing a blank wall. A screen. On that screen they see projected various shadows. The prisoners mistake the illusions they see there for reality. In ancient India Buddhist and Hindu sages pointed out that all humans lived trapped inside Mayathe world of illusions. What we normally take to be reality is often just fictions in our own minds. People may wage entire wars, killing others and willing to be killed themselves, because of their belief in this or that illusion. The AI revolution is bringing us face to face with Descartes demon, with Platos cave, with the Maya. If we are not careful, we might be trapped behind a curtain of illusions, which we could not tear awayor even realise is there. Of course, the new power of AI could be used for good purposes as well. I wont dwell on this, because the people who develop AI talk about it enough. The job of historians and philosophers like myself is to point out the dangers. But certainly, AI can help us in countless ways, from finding new cures for cancer to discovering solutions to the ecological crisis. The question we face is how to make sure the new AI tools are used for good rather than for ill. To do that, we first need to appreciate the true capabilities of these tools. Since 1945 we have known that nuclear technology could generate cheap energy for the benefit of humansbut could also physically destroy human civilisation. We therefore reshaped the entire international order to protect humanity, and to make sure nuclear technology was used primarily for good. We now have to grapple with a new weapon of mass destruction that can annihilate our mental and social world. We can still regulate the new AI tools, but we must act quickly. Whereas nukes cannot invent more powerful nukes, AI can make exponentially more powerful AI. The first crucial step is to demand rigorous safety checks before powerful AI tools are released into the public domain. Just as a pharmaceutical company cannot release new drugs before testing both their short-term and long-term side-effects, so tech companies shouldnt release new AI tools before they are made safe. We need an equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration for new technology, and we need it yesterday. Wont slowing down public deployments of AI cause democracies to lag behind more ruthless authoritarian regimes? Just the opposite. Unregulated AI deployments would create social chaos, which would benefit autocrats and ruin democracies. Democracy is a conversation, and conversations rely on language. When AI hacks language, it could destroy our ability to have meaningful conversations, thereby destroying democracy. We have just encountered an alien intelligence, here on Earth. We dont know much about it, except that it might destroy our civilisation. We should put a halt to the irresponsible deployment of AI tools in the public sphere, and regulate AI before it regulates us. And the first regulation I would suggest is to make it mandatory for AI to disclose that it is an AI. If I am having a conversation with someone, and I cannot tell whether it is a human or an AIthats the end of democracy. This text has been generated by a human. Or has it? Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher and author of Sapiens", Homo Deus" and the childrens series Unstoppable Us". He is a lecturer in the Hebrew University of Jerusalems history department and co-founder of Sapienship, a social-impact company. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Best Agrolife Limited (BAL), one of the major players in the Indian agrochemical industry, announced on Friday that it has received the registration for the indigenous manufacturing of the product Trifloxystrobin 10% + Difenoconazole 12.5% + Sulphur 3% Sc under section 9 (3) FIM. With this Best Agrolife Limited (BAL) will become the first Indian agrochemical company to manufacture Trifloxystrobin 10% + Difenoconazole 12.5% + Sulphur 3% Sc in India. BAL informed that the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC) granted the crucial registration to one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries Seedlings India Pvt Ltd in the 447th meeting. This registration was much awaited by our company. Over the years BAL has created a niche for itself in the industry of being a farmer-centric company. This will be our patented product and we are confident that just like our other specialized combination products including our patented novel combination Ronfen that drove the growth in FY23 this new introduction will also revolutionize the Indian agriculture sector and will further strengthen our position in the crop care segment," said Mr Vimal Kumar,MD, Best Agrolife Ltd. "BAL is all set to launch this product in July with the brand name Tricolor and it will be our patented product. The company has already launched Propaquizafop and Amytrn with the brand name Propique and Amito respectively in the first quarter of FY24. All these products will help us in maintaining the goal of 30% growth and 20% EBITDA margin in the current financial year. We will continue to increase the market share of these products every year to ensure higher benefits,"said Mr Vimal Kumar. A new approach and logical combination of Trifloxystrobin and Difenoconazole is a broad-spectrum fungicide with Prophylactic, curative and eradicative action. Sulphur acts as a catalyst and increases the efficacy of active ingredients by 3 times. This combination effectively controls several crop diseases like Sheath blight, Powdery Mildew, Scab, and Alternaria in Rice, Tomato, Grapes, Chilli, Wheat, Mango, and Apple. The company has conducted several demonstrations and trials for this combination in the fields and have got amazing results. It is noteworthy that BAL reported robust annual results for the full financial year 2022-23. The company delivered strong revenue from the operations of Rs. 1,746 cr. which is a robust growth of 44% over FY22. The Board recommended a dividend of 30% (i.e. Rs.3 per share), which is 50 % jump over last year. About BAL Best Agrolife Limited is listed among the top 15 agrochemical companies in India. It is a research-based company focused on bringing world-class and cost-effective crop solutions in the form of novel agrochemical formulations to the agricultural industry to improve crop productivity. Currently, BAL has 7,000 MTPA and 30,000 MTPA technicals and formulation manufacturing capacity, respectively, through three of its manufacturing plants in Gajraula, Greater Noida, and Jammu & Kashmir. BAL currently has more than 5200 distributors in India. It retains an impressive portfolio of 400+ formulations and more than 100+ technical manufacturing licenses. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner on Saturday revealed that the emergency takeover of the bank by UBS is scheduled to conclude on Monday, 12 June, as stated in an internal memo reported by Bloomberg News. In the memo, Koerner expressed his anticipation for a new and promising future as the takeover reaches its final stage. UBS AG is set to impose strict restrictions on Credit Suisse Group AG bankers as part of the final steps in their impending takeover, according to the Financial Times. The list of restrictions, consisting of nearly two dozen "red lines," aims to minimize risk for UBS. One notable restriction is a ban on Credit Suisse bankers acquiring new clients from high-risk countries. Additionally, Credit Suisse staff will need approval from UBS managers before launching new products, and loans backed by high-value assets such as yachts, ships, and real estate exceeding $60 million will require permission, reported FT. Credit Suisse Chief Koerner communicated in a memo to employees that the UBS takeover is expected to close on Monday, as seen by Bloomberg News. However, both Credit Suisse and UBS declined to comment on the memo. The acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS is poised to create a formidable European banking powerhouse. This marks the end of a challenging period for the industry, as Credit Suisse faced significant difficulties. Credit Suisse shareholders will receive one UBS share for every 22.8 outstanding shares they hold, as part of the agreed-upon deal between the two banks. The transaction, which received support from the Swiss government to avert the potential failure of the smaller bank, will have far-reaching implications for the global wealth management industry. It will create a megabank that surpasses all other Swiss lenders and is twice the size of the nation's economy. In another significant development, UBS recently reached an agreement with the Swiss government to cover potential losses of 9 billion francs ($9.9 billion) arising from the rescue of Credit Suisse. To allow for the integration of financial statements, UBS mentioned the possibility of postponing the release of its second-quarter results from the original date of July 25. The Financial Times reported that earnings might not be published until the end of August. Prior to the deal, UBS employed 74,000 individuals. If all of Credit Suisse's employees were to be absorbedalthough this is unlikely due to overlap and ongoing cuts at the bankUBS's total workforce would increase to 120,000. This agreement serves as a crucial final hurdle before the completion of the historic takeover. (With inputs from Bloomberg) BLS International Ltd is vying for international visa contracts worth $2 billion, as governments worldwide are looking to make the visa landscape more competitive by including more companies, Shikhar Aggarwal, joint managing director, BLS, said. The Delhi-based immigration and visa services firm was established in 2007 and manages consular services for various governments such as that of Spain, and has set its sights on direct competition with the industry giant, VFS Global. In the last two years the firm has secured several contracts that were under the purview of VFS, it claimed. It has recently won a contract from Germany to oversee visa management operations in the US and Mexico.In 2023, BLS inked several deals such as electronic visa-on- arrival applications from 17 countries, such as for Thailand from India, for Poland in Manila-Cebu, and South Africa (Thailand), as well as from the US for Germany. Due to bandwidth limitations, many European countries, such as Spain which we manage , have seen a surge in visa application world wide, including India. Several countries are also keen to have more competitors in visa business," he added. To cash in on this opportunity, it is actively vying for visa contracts worth $2 billion.Last year we processed 70,000 visas in India and saw an increase of 15% in ancillary services like mobile biometrics, at home or office, besides postal application services," Aggarwal said. With an estimated 15-20% growth over the previous year, BLS aims to process the same number of tourist applications as it did in 2019 by 2023-end. However, despite the rising competition, customer dissatisfaction with visa service providers is prevalent among customers. Online platforms are replete with complaints from users in India and around the world, criticizing BLS as well as VFS for poor time management at centres and for forcing them to buy ancillary services such as lounges or biometrics. The challenge is compounded by the inability of many embassies to expand capacity amid the surge in post-pandemic demand. The visa operators are also found wanting as the ground staff at visa centres worldwide are inadequately trained. According to a Mint report, BLS clocked over twofold rise in its consolidated net profit in Q4 to 76.73 crore compared to 35.20 crore a year earlier. Moreover, the companys net profit rose by 84% to 204.27 crore in FY23, surpassing the previous years 111.2 crore. Despite strong financials, its visa application volumes have not fully rebounded and stood at 75% of pre-pandemic levels. Around 80% of BLS business stems from visa consular services, wherein India contributes 10-15%, and China and Russia, accounting for 25% which is yet to return. It was recently awarded a contract to offer visa and legalisation services in Senegal starting July in six countries under the jurisdiction of the Italian embassy in Dakar. Bengaluru: In the last week of April, Wipro Ltd, Indias fourth largest IT services company, convened a board meeting to discuss its fourth-quarter results. For Thierry Delaporte, this meet was unlike anything he had participated in since taking over as the chief executive officer (CEO) in July 2020. The eight-member board was concerned, to put it mildly, at Wipros waning growth and profitabilitythe boss was questioned on the underperformance. Delaportes response, according to two executives privy to the discussions, was far from assuring. Before he took over in 2020, Wipro struggled to grow, Delaporte reasoned. Under his watch, Wipro added about $2.9 billion in incremental revenue. View Full Image Graphic: Mint Delaporte did make a valid argument: Wipro expanded its revenue by only about $3 billion between April 2011 and mid-2020. Many would have dubbed this underperformance as the lost decade for the company. But about $850 million of the $2.9 billion incremental revenue that Wipro added under Delaporte came from four acquisitions; the firm spent $1.9 billion on these purchases. Wipros sequential revenue growth has lagged behind its larger peers, including Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), Infosys Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd in three of the last five quarters. Worse, the company expects revenue to contract in the April-June quarter, making executives and analysts wonder how much worse it could get for the company. Delaportes initial bravado has fizzled out. Soon after he took over, he had outlined that Wipro will catch up with HCL Tech in revenue. In analyst calls over the last three quarters, Delaporte has underlined macroeconomic challenges as a worry even as both TCS and Infosys have posted better numbers. This has made some analysts question if the global uncertainty is being used as a kitchen sink by Wipro to hide the companys internal problems. A bigger headache is profitability. At 15.7%, Wipros operating margin is just 40 basis points better than Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., which has the lowest profitability among the big five IT services firms. Cognizant expects its cost-cutting measures to shore up profitability. Wipro has not outlined any measures related to profitability. Over the last three years, the earnings before interest and tax, or Ebit, margins, have shrunk 350 basis points, the highest among all large IT services firms. Wipro has always enjoyed higher profitability than Cognizant and the firms profitability falling below the New Jersey-headquartered company will be a seminal moment. And it could further impact the share price. At 395.70 a share at the end of Monday, 12 June, Wipros share prices have fallen off the cliff after it touched a high of 715.35 in December 2021. Mint could not ascertain if beyond the financials, the other more challenging issue was discussed by the board: many senior and mid-level executives are questioning the companys new culture. Nonetheless, an immediate change of the guard looks remote as of now. Wipro did not respond to a detailed questionnaire. The company only said it does not comment on speculation or rumours". Mint spoke with 14 current and former executives over the last month-and-a-half to piece together this account, one that shows how the three years of Delaportes reign has pushed Wipro to a position from where Rishad Premji, the companys chairman, will find it a herculean task to revive the company his grandfather founded in 1945. So, how did Wipro reach this low point, after it reported a 27%-dollar revenue growth in the year ended March 2021, the fastest among all its peers? Before we answer that, we need to step back into the circumstances that brought Delaporte to the helm. Second choice CEO On 31 January 2020, Wipro announced that Abidali Neemuchwala, its CEO at that time, had decided to step down due to family commitments". In reality, he was asked by Rishad Premji to step down. Rishad, who had taken over as the executive chairman from his father, Azim Premji, in July 2019, was worried about the deteriorating performance of the company and wanted a new leader to steer the ship. Neemuchwala agreed to stay on until a successor could be found, according to two executives privy to the discussions. The executives did not want to be identified on account of the private nature of the discussions. Egon Zehnder, the famed Swiss executive search firm, was entrusted with the job of helping Wipro find its next boss. After eight weeks of deliberations and interviews, Wipro zeroed in on a candidate by the first week of April. Omar Abbosh, who had bid adieu to Accenture Plc. after a three-decade stint, was the chosen one. An employment contract was drafted and the offer letter was mailed to Abbosh. But an unexpected twist awaited. Wipro was not the only company wooing Abbosh; software giant Microsoft Corp., too, was interested. At the last hour, Abbosh declined to take up the Wipro assignment. Instead, he agreed to join the Seattle- headquartered company. This was a jolt for Wipro. The covid-19 pandemic had resulted in country-wide lockdowns, which only allowed for virtual discussions. The companys board went into a huddle again, evaluating other candidates shortlisted for the post. Finally, the second-best candidate was entrusted to lead the companyThierry Delaporte, the former chief operating officer of French IT giant Capgemini SE. On 29 May, Wipro announced that Delaporte will be the CEO effective 6 July. An email sent to Egon Zehnder and Abbosh seeking comment went unanswered. New vs Old Delaporte hardly spoke at length during the first three months of his stint. Almost all his replies to approvals and updates on emails had a one-word reply: Perfect". Many of the executives who reported to the CEO joked if this was the only English word the Frenchman knew. The CEO was doing what an external leader does. That is listening and getting to know the organization," said a former senior executive. He left Wipro within a year of Delaporte taking over. Things started to change in October 2020. Discussions over a new organizational structure had begun and murmurs grewhundreds of senior leaders could be terminated. Starting December and over the next 18 months, at least a third of the 750 executives, ranked general manager and above, were let go by the company, according to three executives. The underlying philosophy of this restructuring exercise? Old troops cannot be relied upon to execute and make the firm future-ready. Everybody who had been with the company for a few years came across as pariahs. Something likeif you have been with the company for some timeyou are at fault," said another executive who left the company in the second half of 2021. Many of the replacements drew salaries that were two or three times the renumeration paid to the earlier executives," said a third executive, who quit earlier this year. Salary expenses to these lateral hires are one big reason behind the fall in profitability," said an executive at the companys human resources (HR) department. But remember, these were the pandemic months. Enterprises, globally, pivoted to the digital, leading to a fight for talent. This was also the time of The Great Resignation. When there is more demand than supply, it is natural for salaries to shoot up. Even so, there was a related cause of heartburn in some departments. The lateral hires were rewarded with promotions while those in the finance and HR teams were overlooked. Non-billable people could not be accommodated, the company reasoned. The finance team is one that has seen a high churn. Many client partners, including those at the (companys) largest clients like Citibank and Lloyds Bank, have all moved out," said an executive. Culture clashes Yet another reason behind this exodus is Delaportes style of workingclearly, the company is taking time to adjust to the new reality. At least a dozen senior executives pointed to checks from the CEOs office they thought were unnecessary. If a function head submits a presentation along with the growth projections and the budgets, the CEOs office in Paris starts checking on the presentation. They speak about these numbers with other team members of the leader (the function head)," said an executive cited above. A current executive Mint spoke to said that Anand Padmanabhan, a former president at Wipro, wasnt treated well. Popularly known as AP, Padmanabhan was instrumental in Wipro winning its only mega dealan outsourcing deal worth more than $1 billion in total contract valuein the last three years. In December 2020, the company won a multi-year contract from German retailer Metro AG. According to two executives, Padmanabhan led a team that worked on the contract even before Delaporte had joined the company. He quit the company in April 2021 after differences with the CEO became irreconcilable. Padmanabhan declined to talk about his stint at Wipro. Meanwhile, even after three years since his appointment, Delaporte continues to be stationed out of Paris and has not relocated to the USthe largest market for Wipro. Remember, the company had mentioned that within a year of the CEOs appointment, he would move to the US. But he is still operating out of his hometown. No one appears to be asking this question," another executive said. At least half a dozen people executives rue the fact that a new culture of fear and distrust now prevails across every rank and file. The five values which Wipro prides itself upon include being respectful, being responsive, always communicating transparently, demonstrating stewardship and building trust," said an executive quoted above. Look, how executives get promoted. Selected people can travel business class even when they are not entitled to. People are scared to raise or ask tough questions in town halls," he said. Delaporte, meanwhile, has been selling Wipro shares. He has sold almost four times the shares in three years that Salil Parekh, his former colleague at Capgemini and the current boss of Infosys, sold in six years, according to an analysis by Mint(see graphic). The current boss has sold more shares than any other CEO in the past. If the CEO himself is selling shares, then what is the message to investors?" asked an executive quoted earlier. Rishads silence So, what explains the chairmans silence? For now, Rishad Premji has given complete autonomy to the CEO. He does not want to come across as his dad, who, out of curiosity, used to get himself involved in business affairs, something the media saw as interfering," said an executive. But Wipro runs a bigger risk if the chairman continues to be silent, according to two other executivesthe Premji family owns nearly 73% shares in the company and the Azim Premji Foundation, the philanthropic arm, gets the dividend income from 67% of shares. One of the executives quoted earlier said it wont be easy for Wipro to bounce back considering that the company doesnt have a strong bench strength of senior leaders who know the business well enough. Seven of Wipros 11-member executive committee board members are new faces who joined in the last three years. Two of the high-profile exits in the last six months include Angan Guha, who oversaw a third of the total business and Rajan Kohli, who steered about 60% of the revenue. Delaporte is the seventh CEO at Wipro since the turn of the century. Infosys, too, has had the same number of bosses in the last 23 years. While Infosys did have its share of problems with CEO transitions, Wipro, clearly, has had more trouble. One wonders why Wipro is jinxed and cannot get the right leader," said a Mumbai-based analyst at a foreign brokerage. They have tried everything in the last two decades, from getting an American Indian (Vivek Paul) to the promoter (Azim Premji) to a co-CEO model (Suresh Vaswani and Girish Paranjpe) to getting a loyalist (T.K. Kurien) to even someone from TCS (Abidali Neemuchwala)," he added. Only Vivek Paul and T.K. Kurien managed to complete their full five-year terms. Will Delaporte manage to complete his (July 2025)? All eyes will be on Rishad Premji. Facebook's parent company Meta is facing heat from human rights group for allegedly using an algorithm that targets users with companies' job advertisements based on historical gender stereotype. The four complaints by the human rights groups in Europe, comes years after Meta pledged to crack down on the gender discrimination issue worldwide. The allegations against Facebook were brought about based on research conducted by nonprofit organistaion Global Witness. The research was reported by media outlet CNN. In the report it was stated that Facebook's ad platform often targets users with job postings based on historical gender stereotypes. Job advertisements for mechanic positions, for example, were overwhelmingly shown to male users, while ads for preschool teachers were shown mostly to women users, according to data Global Witness obtained from Facebook's Ad Manager platform. Additional research that was reported in the CNN article shows that the gender discriminatory job ad was not just limited to Europe, but was a 'global issue'. "Our concern is that Facebook is exacerbating the biases that we live with in society and actually marring opportunities for progress and equity in the workplace," Naomi Hirst, who leads Global Witness' campaign strategy on digital threats to democracy told media outlet CNN. Global Witness filed the complaints against Meta and Facebook in France and Netherlands. The organisation have urged agencies to look into suspected human rights violations. If Meta is found guilty of adhering to gender discriminatory job ads algorithm, the company could face fines, sanctions or pressure to make further changes to its product. The research showed that in France, 93% of the users shown a preschool teacher job ad and 86% of those shown a psychologist job ad were women, while women comprised just 25% of users shown a pilot job ad and 6% of those shown a mechanic job ad, according to Facebook's ad manager platform. Facebook has faced various claims of discrimination, including in its delivery of job advertisements, over the past decade. In 2019, as part of an agreement to settle multiple lawsuits in the United States, the platform promised to make changes to prevent biased delivery of housing, credit and employment ads based on protected characteristics, such as gender and race. Efforts to address those disparities included removing the option for advertisers to target employment ads based on gender, but this latest research suggests that change is being undermined by Facebook's own algorithm, according to the human rights groups. With more than 2 billion daily active users around the world, Facebook can be a key source for helping users find job openings. The platform's business model relies on its algorithm's careful targeting of advertisements to the users it thinks are most likely to click on them so that ad buyers see returns from their spending on the platform. But Global Witness' research suggests that this results in job ads being targeted to users based on gender stereotypes. In some cases, human rights advocates say, the biases that appear to be shown by Facebook's ad system may exacerbate other disparities. The Punjab & Sind Bank's Board on Monday approved the raising of capital up to 750 crore through bonds in one or more tranches, as per a regulatory filing. The bank said the fund raising of 750 crore will be through Base-III compliant additional Tier-I bonds in one or more tranches within a period of one year. Board of the Bank in its meeting held today i.e. on li11 June, 2023 has approved raising or capital up to an amount of Rs.750 crore through issuance of Base-Ill compliant Additional Tier-I Bonds or Tier-I I Bonds in one or more tranches within a period of 12 months," said Punjab & Sind Bank in its regulatory filing. Punjab & Sind Bank posted double-digit growth of 32.03% YoY in net profit to 456.99 crore in Q4FY23. On the contrary, the bank's net interest income (NII) dipped by 1.97% YoY and sharply by 15.05% QoQ to 683.78 crore in the quarter. In Q4FY23, the bank's provision and contingencies loss narrowed steeply to 57.12 crore as against 131.56 crore in Q4FY22 and 207.46 crore in Q3FY23. Gross non-performing assets (GNPA) came in at 6.97% in Q4FY23 as against 12.17% in Q4FY22 and 8.36% in Q3FY23. Net NPA stood at 1.84% in the quarter under review, compared to 2.74% in Q4FY22 and 2.02% in Q3FY23. In its financial report, Punjab & Sind Bank revealed that it surpasses the targets in Priority Sector Advance which stands at 54.99% and Agriculture Advance at 20.67% of ANBC, as on March 2023, against the regulatory target of 40% and 18% respectively. Additionally, credit to micro enterprises stands at 14.31 % of ANBC as of March 31, 2023, against the regulatory target of 7.50%. The company's scrip ended 0.47 per cent to 31.95 on BSE. New Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), the Indian subsidiary of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp., is addressing supply chain challenges to resume bookings for premium models of its hybrid multi-purpose vehicle Innova Hycross, amid exorbitant waiting periods of up to 18 months for the top two models introduced in December. In July, Maruti Suzuki is set to unveil its own version of the Innova Hycross, produced by Toyota at its Bidadi manufacturing unit, furthering their global alliance in India, with a diverse lineup of hybrid vehicles. Under this arrangement, Toyota offers powerful hybrid technology, while Suzuki contributes with mild hybrid tech. Although TKM has no immediate plan to reopen bookings for ZX and ZX (O) variants of the Hycross, a senior company official said production is up nearly 33% at its Bidadi factory in Karnataka, where it produces all versions of MPVs Innova & Fortuner. Despite adding capacity for 30,000 units to the existing 100,000 units of the two models, TKM faces persistent waiting periods for strong hybrid vehicles, such as the Hycross and Urban Cruiser Hyryder, said dealers Mint spoke with. While availability of top trims has slightly improved, the supply of lower-end models has suffered, keeping the order backlog unchanged. The Innova brand, comprising the Crysta and Hycross, has a 35% share in the companys overall sales in India. Bookings for Innova Hycross highest variants were suspended in early April. Toyota recorded its highest domestic wholesales of the past decade in FY23 to 174,000 units, up 41% over FY22. Besides, in May, TKM clocked its highest-ever retail volumes of 20,410 units in a month. Toyotas alliance with Suzuki has reached a critical phase in India, with both companies collaborating on developing and producing self-charging strong hybrid technologies for various models. TKM produces the Grand Vitara hybrid for Suzuki (Hyryder), and Suzuki makes the Glanza hatchback (re-badged Baleno) for Toyota Kirloskar. TKM will also manufacture the Innova-based 7- seater MPV that Maruti Suzuki plans to launch in the Indian market. The two firms have seen initial success with their self-charging strong hybrids for Toyota, and smart or mild hybrids with Maruti Suzuki. Suzuki is known for small and mid-sized PVs, and manufacturing competitiveness. We have an entire range of electrified tech to give customers more fuel efficient vehicles," said Atul Sood, vice president, sales and strategic marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. Thats a strong endeavour and commitment we have for the Indian market through this collaboration, while we also work mass localization of electrified components moving forward. So thats the key objective," Sood added. We had supply related changes which led us to temporary halt bookings for top two grades, we are working towards resolving so we can work towards restoration in due course of time. We are working towards resolving supply-related issues for these two trims. With the Hycross we see orders for the strong hybrid variants account for bookings in excess of 80% for the Innova HyCross, and about 70% for the Hyryder cumulative what we have sold till now. However, the new grades, the gasoline one for Hyryder, the traction has been improving even for that variant. And the gasoline grade for HyCross is also seeing good take off. If daily usage is not very high, customers are finding a lot of value in the gasoline variants too. However, we do expect self-charging strong hybrids to continue to form a majority of our sales", Sood told Mint. Demand for us has been robust across models. But we are also getting indications of a global economic slowdown and the geopolitical tensions going on which could have an impact on supply chains and increase in material costs, but we continue to monitor this on a regular basis. We will observe the market very closely, with respect to impact of rate changes etc. But till date, considering our pending pipeline, we are definitely optimistic about our growth this year", Sood added. Hungarian-born American investor George Soros is handing over control of his $25 billion empire to his 37-year-old son Alexander Soros. The elder Soros confirmed the news in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. He also admitted that he was unwilling to hand over the reins of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) to any of his five children, but added that 'Alex' had earned it. According to the Wall Street Journal, Alexander Soros is the eldest of two sons from George Soros' marriage to Susan Weber, his second wife. He was appointed chairman of the Open Society Foundations in December last year and will also direct the organisation's political activities as president of Soros' super PAC. Alexander Soros has been a target of hatred from right-wing groups because of his support for causes such as reducing bias in the justice system. The 37-year-old noted that while he and George Soros "think alike", he is even 'more political' than his father. Alex has recently met with many officials in the Biden administration and other world leaders, such as Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on issues related to the family foundation. "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," Alexander Soros told WSJ Interestingly, George Soros bypassed his elder and heir apparent Jonathan Soros (52) as the head of the Open Society Foundations after a 'falling-out and change of heart'. George Soros had gained popularity in India after he said in February this year that the Adani-Hindenburg crisis would lead to a 'democratic revival in India'. The statement by Soros earned him criticism from all quarters of Indian society including the opposition and government. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: In a move to boost agricultural productivity and horticulture agribusinesses, the central government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 8 June signed a loan agreement worth $130 million, the finance ministry said in a statement on Monday. The deal aims to increase farmers income and improve access to irrigation in Himachal Pradesh. The signing ceremony for the Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project was attended by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, representing the Government of India, and Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADBs India Resident Mission. After signing the loan agreement, Rajat Kumar Mishra, additional secretary at the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, underscored the importance of developing subtropical horticulture in the southern regions of Himachal Pradesh, which have traditionally relied on temperate horticulture in the north. He said that the venture will open up opportunities for crop diversification, climate adaptation, and socio-economic development across rural areas of the state. Furthermore, supporting horticulture value chains will play a pivotal role in advancing the nations development agenda and ensuring food security. The project builds upon a pilot financed by ADBs project readiness facility which demonstrated the subtropical horticulture production over 200 hectare and prepared the draft water user association (WUA) act and the draft state horticulture development strategy," said Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADBs India Resident Mission. According to the ministry, the project interventions will help increase the income and resilience to the effects of climate change of at least 15,000 farm households across seven districts in the state - Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una. These households have stopped farming or have reduced their farming areas because of a lack of irrigation facilities and crop damage by wild and stray animals, it added. The project will improve on-farm irrigation and water management in about 6,000 hectare of farmland by rehabilitating or building new irrigation schemes and strengthening the capacity of WUAs for micro irrigation management through joint efforts from the states Jal Shakti Vibhag (Water Resources Department) and Department of Horticulture (DOH)," the ministry said. Additionally, the project aims to establish an ecosystem that enables farmers to access subtropical horticulture markets seamlessly. To facilitate this, farmers will be organized into cluster-wide community horticulture production and marketing associations (CHPMAs), as well as district-wide CHPMA cooperative societies. Overseeing these efforts will be a farmer producer company (FPC), acting as the apex institution for state-wide agribusiness development. The FPC will handle business plan development; agribusiness promotion; and designing value-addition facilities such as sorting and packaging facilities, and storage and collection centres. It will also assist CHPMAs in managing these facilities. Furthermore, the project will modernize both public and private subtropical horticulture nursery facilities to ensure healthier plants. It will also enhance beneficiary farmers access to information and communication technologies, as well as other digital agri-technology systems. These measures will enable real-time farm advisories and improve the management of CHPMAs. Biodiesel fans will be keenly awaiting an announcement this week by the US Environmental Protection Agency on how much of the renewable product must be blended into the nations fuel supply. Meanwhile, European natural gas traders will be watching to see if the biggest weekly surge since August can be sustained. Here are five charts to consider in global commodity markets . Natural Gas View Full Image Graphic: Mint Gas prices in Europe had their first weekly gain since March as hotter weather forecasts signaled stronger demand than previously expected amid signs of budding competition from Asia for the heating and power-generation fuel. Benchmark Dutch front-month gas surged 35% last week, the most since August. That pushed the US dollar equivalent futures contract to a premium over the Japan-Korea Marker, the Asian benchmark, for the first time since mid-May. Both Europe and Asia compete for liquefied natural gas shipments from the US and the Middle East. Renewables View Full Image Graphic: Mint Renewable diesel production is taking off in the US with capacity on track to reach about 385,000 barrels per day by 2025 more than double where things stood at the end of 2022, according to Energy Information Administration data. Generous federal incentives have helped drive the surge in production of the green fuel made from crops and animal fat that can be substituted for petroleum-based diesel. The EPA is set to decide this week how much biomass-based diesel it should mandate be mixed into the countrys fuel supply in 2023, 2024 and 2025, amid concern that proposed targets lowballed potential production. Agriculture View Full Image Graphic: Mint The US corn belt will be a major focus for markets with the release of crop conditions on Monday and the weekly drought report on Thursday. Corn crops experiencing moderate to intense drought have been steadily increasing to 45% of the total. That compares with just 19% for the same time a year ago. The US Department of Agriculture last week refrained from changing its estimates for domestic corn yields, despite the dry weather. That will leave traders guessing about the state of the harvest until the next estimate is published in July. Corn for December delivery is down 13% this year in Chicago. Metals View Full Image Graphic: Mint Cobalt will surely be in focus this week as the Democratic Republic of Congo the worlds largest producer of the key battery ingredient hosts a mining conference. The price of the metal used in electric-car batteries and electronics has fallen almost 30% this year to $13.90 a pound, according to Fastmarkets data, amid lackluster global demand and rising supply from new No. 2 producer Indonesia. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is forecasting softness for battery metals including cobalt, lithium and nickel in the second half of 2023 amid an oversupply. Oil View Full Image Graphic: Mint The flip-flop nature of oil trading continues, with futures coming off a second weekly decline after advancing for the same amount of time in a constant struggle for sustained momentum. Despite shocks from surprise production cuts by both OPEC and Saudi Arabia, futures have slumped about 13% this year amid ongoing concerns over economic growth and a slower-than-expected recovery in China. Oil traders will be closely watching monthly reports this week from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Tuesday and the International Energy Agency on Wednesday for clues on the trajectory for supply and demand, which may weigh further on prices. The annual report of Tata Consultancy Services ( TCS ) for the financial year 2022-23 highlighted the company stood strong in the last financial year despite challenging times due to the weakening macro environment. Analysts and brokerage firms believe the IT behemoth is well-positioned to withstand the pressure going ahead. Brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Finacial Services is positive about the IT major given its size, order book and exposure to long-duration orders and portfolio. The brokerage firm has a 'buy' call on the stock with a target price of 3,860, implying a 20 per cent upside potential in the stock and 25 times FY25E earnings per share (EPS). TCS stock, along with its sectoral index BSE IT, has disappointed investors in the last one year. While the equity barometer Sensex is up 13 per cent, TCS is down 4 per cent and the BSE IT index is down 5 per cent in the last one year. The stock has underperformed the benchmark index even in the short term. In the last three months, TCS stock has fallen 4 per cent and the BSE IT index is down 3 per cent while the Sensex is up 5 per cent in that period. The road ahead may be bumpy if decision-making and conservation of cash continue from clients. However, emerging trends in some areas cush as cloud transformation and rapidly growing penetration of AI (artificial intelligence) offer some hope. Highlighting TCS' annual report for FY23 (AR23), Motilal Oswal said that the analysis of TCS AR23 not only shows the widespread adoption of digital technologies in customer-facing operations but also the increasing penetration of AI and automation in middle and back-office operations. Apart from the demand for driving operational efficiency and optimising costs, cloud transformation remained a high-priority area for enterprises in FY23, Motilal said. Despite demonstrating strong resilience, TCS anticipates the possibility of moderate full-year revenue growth in FY24 if instances of delayed decision-making and cash conservation from clients reoccur, the brokerage firm added. As Motilal Oswal pointed out, TCS reported constant currency (CC) revenue growth of 13.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in FY23, led by retail and consumer and communications segments (up 19.7 per cent YoY and 14 per cent YoY). "Despite the challenging demand for banking in the second half of FY23, the BFSI (nearly 32 per cent of revenues) vertical grew in double-digits (up 11.8 per cent YoY CC) in FY23. North America and the UK which collectively contribute 70 per cent to the companys revenues, exceeded consolidated level growth. It grew 15.3 per cent and 15 per cent YoY CC, respectively," Motilal Oswal observed. Moreover, TCS was unable to recover the intensity of the wage hike through the year, Motilal Oswal pointed out, which led to a 120-bp YoY decline in the margin at 24.1 per cent. This was majorly attributed to backfilling and retention expenses (accounted for 140 bps drag), which were partly offset by cost optimisation and the Indian rupee depreciation, said the brokerage firm. On a segmental basis, major margin dilution has come from the manufacturing segment at 27.5 per cent (down 260 bps YoY). This was followed by retail and life science, which were down 200 bps YoY each, at 25.7 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively. The subcontracting expenses as a percentage of revenue stood at 9.2 per cent (up 40 bps YoY). The uptick is partly attributed to the elevated attrition (at 20.1 per cent), leading to a higher dependency on outsourcing for immediate execution, Motilal Oswal added. "The company has identified several margin levers that are expected to come into effect in FY24: (1) reduction in subcontracting expenses (2) improvement in utilisation (3) pyramid rationalisation, and (4) currency support," said the brokerage firm. TCS' cash conversion remained strong; while pre-tax OCF/EBITDA (operating cash flow/earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) came in at 94.5 per cent, FCF/PAT (free cash flow/profit after tax) stood at 92.2 per cent. The company generated ROE (return on equity) and ROCE (return on capital employed) of 47 per cent and 41 per cent in FY23 versus 44 per cent and 37 per cent in FY22. Net cash and cash equivalent stood at 47,500 crore, translating to 4.1 per cent of the market cap, Motilal Oswal observed. On the front of operating metrics, TCS saw a net addition of over 22,000 employees while the gross hiring of freshers stood at 44,000 in FY23. TCS exited FY23 with an overall deal total contract value of $34.1 billion, Motilal Observed. Given TCSs size, order book and exposure to long-duration orders and portfolio, it is well positioned to withstand the weakening macro environment and ride on the anticipated industry growth. Owing to its steadfast market leadership position and best-in-class execution, the company has been able to maintain its industry-leading margin and demonstrate superior return ratios," Motilal Oswal said. Read all market-related news here Brokerage firm Kotak Institutional Equities has an 'add' call on TCS stock with a target price of 3,320. "TCS is well-positioned to benefit from clients' cloud migration journeys. The slowdown in discretionary spending will hurt, but the impact will be partially offset through participation in vendor consolidation and cost take-out-based large/mega-deals, where TCS will take a prudent approach to margins," said Kotak Securities. Kotak underscored that TCS has a balanced portfolio of services between run and change budgets, in line with clients IT budgets. "It has good capabilities in both discretionary and cost take-out programs and can cater to both spectrums of demand. The company is well-positioned to benefit from higher emphasis on cost take-outs and focus of enterprises on complex transformations involving operating model change and core modernisation," Kotak said. However, the brokerage firm added the company is not immune to a weak discretionary demand environment and uncertainty/delays in decision-making. The brokerage firm pointed out that the stock price has barely corrected in the last 3-4 months despite the deterioration in the demand environment while continuing to trade at premium multiples. As a result, further upside from current levels can be limited to an extent unless the demand environment changes (better discretionary demand or greater focus on cost take-outs leading to more large/mega deals). Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of the brokerage firms. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES More Information Franklin Templeton India mutual fund will repay an amount of 178.06 crore to investors of Franklin India Short Term Income Plan (FISTIP), and Franklin India Credit Risk Fund (FICRF), according to a report in Moneycontrol. SBI Mutual Fund will disburse the payments electronically to all eligible unitholders starting June 14, the report stated. In April 2020, Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund announced the winding of six debt schemes-- Franklin India Low Duration, Franklin India Dynamic Accrual, Franklin India Credit Risk, Franklin India Short Term Income Plan, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund, and Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund. In November 2020, capital markets regulator Sebi issued a show-cause notice to the company following its April 2020 decision to wind up six debt schemes having 25,000 crore of assets under management (AUM) from 3 lakh investors, citing liquidity challenges because of the pandemic. The company was asked to pay 5 crore as a penalty, return over 450 crore collected as 22-month investment management and advisory fees, and was banned from launching new debt schemes for alleged irregularities in running the six debt schemes. Inflow in equity mutual funds hit 6-month low in May In other news, the inflow in equity mutual funds plunged to 3,240 crore in May, data released by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) showed on Friday. Amfi CEO N Venkatesh said that the industry has seen an uptick even in the midst of volatile markets. Going by the data, equity mutual funds attracted 3,240 crore in May, much lower than 6,480 crore inflow seen in April and 20,534 crore in March. Inflow in May was the lowest since November 2022, when equity mutual funds witnessed an infusion of 2,258 crore. However, SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) inflows are back above the 14,000 crore mark and reached an all-time high of 14,749 crore last month, after a brief dip to 13,728 crore in April, with investors continuing their disciplined investing that started more than two years ago. Many people tend to overlook the importance of a will in financial planning, considering it the least prioritized document. Any individual can draft a will that outlines how they would like their assets to be distributed after their deaths. Having a will can simplify the inheritance process for family members of the deceased and spares them from lengthy and costlier legal procedures. Where a will exists, an appointed executor oversees the asset distribution, making the process smoother. Nowadays, digital will services are available, which make writing and saving a will much easier, unless there are complexities like cross-border transfers or family businesses. Yet, there are certain guidelines for drafting a will that many people are not aware of. Rishabh Shroff, co-partner and head-private client at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, addresses some of the frequently asked questions on succession planning in an interview with Mint. Edited excerpts: What are the most basic requirements of drawing up a will? As per the Indian succession law, the fundamental requirement is to have a will that is signed and witnessed by two individuals who are present when the testator or testatrix signs it. Apart from this, there are no other specific legal formalities for creating a will. Additionally, there is no strict requirement regarding the format in which the will should be written. It is completely open to you to craft your will as you may choose to do. What is the purpose of registering a will? Registered wills are not very common in practice, accounting for a handful of cases compared to unregistered wills. Registration serves only to authenticate the signatures of the individuals who sign the will and is used to ensure a will is a genuine one, and not forged or fake. It does not provide any comment on the contents of the will. From a practical or legal perspective, registration is not mandatory but it can give absolute certainty that the will was made by a person of sound mind and eliminates the possibility of future challenges to its authenticity. Should an executors name be mentioned in the will? An executor is an individual appointed by the person creating a will (referred to as the testator) to carry out the instructions and wishes stated in the will after their death. It is highly recommended to include the name of the executor in your will. This individual can be your surviving spouse, eldest child, youngest child, best friend, or anyone you choose. Should the executor be present when writing a will? There is no formal legal requirement in that regard. However, say, if you have appointed your best friend as the executor, it is crucial to have a discussion with them about the existence of the will, its physical location, and, to some extent, the general details of your assets. This ensures that the executor is not caught off guard and ensures a smoother execution of the succession plan. View Full Image Mint Can a beneficiary be the witness? Although it is technically possible, it is strongly discouraged. There have been numerous cases and legal precedents questioning the implicit conflict of interest that arises when a beneficiary serves as a witness to a will, particularly when such a beneficiary is given a higher share of assets as per the will. This situation may raise concerns about bias or undue influence. Are there any rules that an executor cannot be a witness? It is advisable to maintain separation between the various parties involved. In the market practice, it is often recommended to have a doctor serve as one of the witnesses. This helps address one of the primary grounds for challenging a will. By having a doctor certify your sound mind and body on the day you sign the will, and the physician act as a witness, this major challenge can be mitigated. The second witness can be a lawyer. This way, we can have an entirely independent set of witnesses. Is it necessary to mention the guardian of a minor child in the will? While the default guardian would typically be the surviving spouse after ones death, it is advisable to have a clear plan in case both parents die. The guardian could be a grandparent, a surviving sibling, or someone else trusted by the family. It is important to clearly specify these names in the will to avoid any ambiguity. Are witnesses required to review the contents of the will? No Is it necessary to mention the current value of assets in the will? No, it is not required as the value of assets tends to fluctuate over time. However, it is advisable to provide an itemized list of your assets as of the date when the will is made. The valuation of assets becomes relevant during the probate process, which varies depending on the court where the filing takes place. Between a will and a relinquishment deed from other legal heirs, which is the better option? It is generally preferable to have clarity in the will itself regarding the distribution of property, rather than relying on a relinquishment deed later. A relinquishment deed becomes necessary when the property has been passed on through the will or intestate succession to more than one individual and one of the heirs decides to give up their rights in the property. This can potentially involve tax implications, stamp duty requirements, and procedural complexities. To simplify matters and minimize expenses, it is advisable to clearly outline the distribution of assets in the will, avoiding the need for a relinquishment deed after the individuals passing. What succession law would be applicable in the case of inter-faith marriages? In the event of interfaith marriages, such as a union between a Hindu and a Muslim, the applicable succession law in India would be the Indian Succession Act. Can we revoke or amend the will? This situation is actually quite common. People may create a will at a certain point in their lives when their family is young or small, and it serves their needs at that time. However, as circumstances change with major life events, the family often chooses to either create a new will to replace the old one or make an amendment known as a codicil. A codicil allows for specific clauses in the existing will to be modified, such as changing the beneficiary of a property. There is no definitive answer regarding how often it should be done. The key is to revisit and update the will whenever significant life events occur or when changes to the estate are made. Are there any special rules applicable if legal heirs are NRIs? If the legal heirs are non-resident Indians (NRIs), specific rules come into play under the Indian Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999. FEMA imposes certain limitations on the transfer of assets, including restrictions on the amount of cash that can be taken out of India and regulations governing the transfer of shares (in any business) between NRIs and residents. So, these rules have to be complied with during the succession. Can someone abroad prepare a will for his/her Indian properties? Indeed, it is quite common. When individuals reside in countries such as the US or UK, they often possess two categories of assets. Firstly, they may have assets located in the country they reside in, including a local bank account, properties, and more. Secondly, they may possess assets in India, which could consist of self-acquired assets or inherited assets from their extended family. In such cases, it is advisable for individuals to prepare two separate wills. One will pertain to their global assets outside of India, while the other will specifically address their Indian assets. These two wills operate concurrently. The Indian will must comply with Indian laws. What is a letter of administration? In the absence of a will, either because the person died without one or the will is deemed invalid, the family can apply for a letter of administration. This document operates similarly to a will, but instead of the will dictating the distribution of property, it follows the letter of law. For instance, in the case of Hindus, the property would pass to the class one heirs as determined by the law under the Hindu Succession Act. Can a registered will be challenged too? Absolutely possible, a registered will can still be subject to challenges. In fact, this is a common aspect of many disputes in India. However, the advantage of a registered will lies in the fact that its authenticity is not called into question. Whilst registration does not prevent challenges, it does help to mitigate challenges. At what point does establishing a private trust become cost-effective? We commonly observe that a trust is used among business families when the assets include not only liquid wealth, residential properties, and real estate assets, but also an operating family business and other significant assets. Setting up trust during the persons lifetime ensures transfer in a cost-effective manner. In addition to a will for assets like immoveable property, a trust would be highly advisable for their business assets such as shares in their family business. The structure also offers a certain level of protection against bankruptcy and creditors at the time of implementation. If you gift a property in your name to a trust, there would be a requirement to pay stamp duty depending on the property location. What are the points to note when writing a digital will? Nikhil Varghese: For the will to be legally valid in India, it has to printed on a plain paper and requires the signature of the testator along with at least two witnesses is mandatory. Digital signature is not valid for wills currently in India, currently. Before initiating the online will-making process, gather all the necessary information, including identification proof and address proof. Choose a reliable online will provider who can facilitate review and edit the will periodically. Can a Muslim write a will? Bidan Chandran: A Muslim can certainly execute a will, however, he cannot give away more the 1/3 of the property. Rest 2/3 of his property will devolve according to his personal law. What is a probate and when is it mandatory? A probate is a copy of will that is certified under the seal of a court of competent jurisdiction.This helps the executor to distribute the estate as mentioned in the will. As per the Indian Succession Act and the Hindu Succession Act, a probate is required for wills signed in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, as well as for assets located in these places. Additionally, depending on specific circumstances, other state laws may come into effect and may specify how a voluntary probate can be filed e.g. in Delhi. In practice, it is generally advisable to obtain a probate, especially when dealing with real estate properties that have been inherited through succession. Having probate provides certainty of titles and is particularly important for high-value assets such as flats, apartments, agricultural land, and similar properties. It helps provide a clean title. Is there any time limit to obtain a probate? The process of obtaining probate typically takes place after the person who made the will has died. While there is no strict timeline prescribed by law for filing a probate, it is good to initiate the process as soon as possible after the individuals death. In terms of market practice and the perspective of some judges, a common guideline is to file for probate within approximately seven years of the persons demise. Can a housing society demand a probate order? When it comes to transferring the ownership of a society flat to a legal heir such as a spouse or children, it is common for housing societies to request a probate order issued by the court. This requirement varies from society to society but is particularly prevalent in Mumbai. Can future property buyers insist on a probate? For high-value properties acquired several decades ago, it is not uncommon for sophisticated buyers to seek additional assurance regarding the propertys ownership. This may involve inquiries into the propertys acquisition, the chain of title, and the manner in which it has been passed down. This is to mitigate potential future claims. What is a settlement deed? In situations where siblings or other family members are engaged in a legal dispute or family conflict that is being adjudicated in court, families often choose a more practical approach to resolve the matter. They opt to settle the dispute by mutually agreeing on the division of assets, and the legal document that formalizes this agreement is known as a settlement deed. This practice is quite common, primarily due to the lengthy duration of family dispute resolution in Indian courts. Is an affidavit, no-objection certificate (NOC), and newspaper advertisement required for a succession of immovable property? To ensure a clean title, one common practice is for the executor to publish an advertisement in the local newspaper where the property is located. This advertisement notifies the public about the transfer of the property and provides an opportunity for any potential objections or claims to be raised. This step helps mitigate the risk of future litigation. A few banks mandate that a nominee obtain an indemnity bond signed by all legal heirs to transfer the financial assets of the deceased Typically, if the nomination has been done properly and well in advance of any succession event, it is considered sufficient for the transfer of assets. While it is not a common practice in most cases, some banks may require an indemnity bond signed by all legal heirs, especially when a larger family is involved, before transferring the amount to the nominee. If a legal heir submits the required documents to the bank before the nominee approaches, will the bank transfer the money to the former? The bank would typically wait for the nominee to come forward. The bank would prefer to engage with the nominee regarding the transfer of the assets, but ultimately, the decision on how the property should flow would be determined between the nominee and the legal heir. (Nikhil Varghese is co-founder of Yellow, a digital will & estate planning app, and Bidan Chandran is senior advisor at law firm MV Kini.) A Biden administration official has said that 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. The US 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 official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. 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 US 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 China planned to pay a cash-strapped Cuba billions of dollars as part of the negotiations. 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. Earlier, the White House called the report inaccurate. In an interview with MSNBC, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, I've seen that press report, it's not accurate." 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 US intelligence community had determined Chinese spying from Cuba has been an ongoing" matter and is not a new development," the administration official said. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio has 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. 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 as reported by Associated Press. Chinese officials looked at sites spanning 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 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. 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-wen's stopover in the US 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. Meawhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to China next week as the Biden administration pushes to improve ties that hit a new low in February after a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down over US airspace. U.S. officials said that Blinken expects to be in Beijing on June 18 for meetings with senior Chinese officials, including with Foreign Minister Qin Gang and possibly President Xi Jinping. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the State Department nor the Chinese foreign ministry has yet confirmed the trip. The visit, which was agreed between Xi and President Joe Biden last year at a meeting in Bali, had been initially planned for February but was postponed after the spy balloon incident. (With inputs from Associated Press) China has asked the last Indian journalist in the country to leave the nation as Beijing and New Delhi continue to eject each other's reporters in the deepening media rift. According to reported sources familiar with the matter, China has asked a reporter from the Press Trust of India to leave the country, wiping India's media presence in the country amid the deteriorating ties. Earlier this year, Indian media outlets had a contingent of four reporters stationed in China. The Hindustan Times reporter recently departed over the weekend, and two Indian journalists from Prasar Bharati and The Hindu newspaper were denied visa renewal back in April. Last month, Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, disclosed that there was one remaining Chinese journalist in India, patiently awaiting the renewal of their visa. Previously, New Delhi had declined the visa renewal requests of two journalists from Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. India has, however, said that while Chinese reporters have been operating without much difficulty, the same could not be said about the Indian journalists in China. Both countries were in touch over the issue, it added. The media rift between the two countries began when some Indian journalists reportedly hired some assistants to help them with reporting. Beijing imposed measures limiting employment to three individuals at a time who must come from a pool provided by the Chinese authorities, they said. India doesnt have a cap on hiring. The rejection of visas to the Chinese journalists have come at a time when India is hosting G20 and SCO meetings this year. (With Bloomberg inputs) Four Indigenous children managed to endure an Amazon plane crash that claimed the lives of three adults. For 40 arduous days, these courageous youngsters braved the unforgiving jungle until they were ultimately discovered by Colombian soldiers in their search-and-rescue mission. The Huitoto children, aged 13, 9, and 4 years with 11 months, are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital after their rescue on Friday. "When the plane crashed, they relied on the farina, and it became their lifeline," shared the childrens uncle, Fidencio Valencia with reporters outside the hospital. Their survival was initially sustained by farina, a cassava flour commonly consumed in the Amazon region, salvaged from the wreckage. As their supplies depleted, the children resorted to consuming seeds to sustain themselves until their eventual rescue. The timing proved to be on their side as the bountiful jungle harvest provided an additional source of nourishment, enabling them to subsist on fruits amidst their weakened state. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, said the youngsters were also able to eat fruit because the jungle was in the harvest." President Gustavo Petro called the children an example of survival" and added that their saga will remain in history." The search efforts, initiated two weeks after the crash, bore fruit on May 16 when a team located the wreckage in a dense rainforest patch, recovering the bodies of the deceased adults. However, the whereabouts of the young survivors remained unknown. Driven by the belief that the children might still be alive, Colombia's army intensified the pursuit by deploying 150 soldiers and dogs, where mist and thick foliage hampered visibility. Joined by numerous volunteers from Indigenous tribes, the collaborative search effort proved instrumental in locating the resilient children. Damaris Mucutuy, an aunt of the children, reassured the public that despite dehydration and insect bites, the young survivors were in stable condition and had been provided with mental health services. During their time in the jungle, the children formed a bond with a rescue dog named Wilson, brought along by the soldiers. Tragically, the canine companion disappeared, prompting ongoing efforts to locate the beloved Belgian Shepherd. As the search progressed, promising clues emerged, strengthening the belief that the children had indeed endured their ordeal. Footprints, a baby bottle, diapers, and partially consumed fruit-bearing human bites all served as clues. President Petro acknowledged the jungle's role as their savior, proclaiming that the children were now not only children of the forest but also children of Colombia. Claims of a massive data breach emerged on Monday with the government later promising to look into the matter. The purported breach has affected all Indian citizens - including high-profile political leaders - who had uploaded their information on the CoWIN vaccination portal. The leaked data is reportedly available on social media platform Telegram and can now be accessed by any user. According to a report by The Fourth News, personal information of Indian citizens, including their Aadhaar card, and PAN card details are available on messaging platform Telegram. The development was also flagged by Opposition leaders including TMC's Saket Gokhale who tweeted his interactions with the Telegram chatbot. The report said that when a mobile number registered with the CoWIN portal is entered, the Telegram bot discloses the number of the ID card used for vaccination along with gender, birth year, and name of the vaccination centre, and his/her doses. With this massive data breach, the Aadhaar card, voter ID, and PAN card numbers of Indian citizens are accessible to anyone on Telegram. Mint could not independently verify this report. In the latest update, the developers of the Telegram bot that exposed the sensitive information from the leaked Co-WIN database are disabled now. The developers of the bot took the step after Manorama broke the story. Officials told Hindustan Times, Livemint's sister organisation that whenever such a report emerges a thorough audit is conducted to check database access. In another development, the Centre has also responded to the news report. Government officials told CNBC TV-18, they have found "discrepancies in data leak of the screenshots of the CoWIN app". Government officials have also rejected the hacking of the CoWIN app but added they are probing if there was any unauthorised access to the CoWIN app. According to the Malayalam daily, the secretary of the Union Health Ministry Rajesh Bhushan was among the victims of the data leak. The report claimed that when Bhushan's number was entered, details including the final four letters of the Aadhaar number and Date of Birth were revealed along with similar details of his wife Ritu Khanduri, Uttarakhand MLA from Kotdwar. Apart from these leaders, personal details of Ram Sewak Sharma, chairman of CoWin high power panel, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, and Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi have been leaked. In 2021, reports emerged that CoWIN portal got hacked, and resulted in the sale of the database of 15 crore people. However, cyber security researchers denied the claim. In fact, in January this year, RS Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority vouched for the CoWIN portal. He tweeted, "CoWIN has state-of-the-art security infrastructure and has never faced a security breach. Data of our citizens is absolutely "safe" and "secure". Any news about data leaks from CoWIN holds no merit". Claims The Central government is planning to ban three types of games in the country, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said. On the issue of religious conversion through online gaming, Chandrasekhar said that the Centre has prepared the framework regarding online gaming. The government "will not allow games that involve betting or can be harmful to the user and that involves a factor of addiction", the cabinet minister said. The minister said self-regulatory organisations - the bodies that will approve permissible games - have to be formed within 90 days from the date the regulations were notified. "In the interim, in the next 90 days, as we wait for SROs, the government will make a decision on what is permissible or not permissible," he said. The MoS for Electronics and IT also mentioned that the government will regulate artificial intelligence or any other technology from the perspective of harm it can inflict on users. Allaying fear of job loss from the development of AI, the minister said there will be no threat to jobs from artificial intelligence in the next few years, but it may happen after 5-7 years. "Our approach towards AI or any regulation is that we will regulate it through the prism of user harm. This is a new philosophy, which has started since 2014 that we will protect digital nagriks. We will not allow platforms harming digital nagriks. If they operate here, then they will mitigate user harm," Chandrasekhar said. The minister said there is a "massive leap" in the electronics manufacturing sector in the country. "We are manufacturing 100 per cent mobiles in the country unlike importing eighty per cent of the product in the past," he said, adding "Last year, we exported mobile phones worth over 1 lakh crore". Chandrasekhar said that India under Prime Minister Modi is becoming a "global trusted partner" for manufacturing. New Delhi: External Affairs minister S Jaishankar is set to chair the G20 development ministers meeting, scheduled to take place during 11-13 June in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, the ministry of external affairs said in a statement. The meeting, under the G20 India presidency, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a special video address. According to the ministry, the Varanasi meeting comes at a critical time as the world is facing mounting developmental challenges, exacerbated by economic slowdown, debt distress, climate change impacts, pollution and biodiversity loss, increasing poverty and inequality, food and energy insecurity, cost-of-living crisis, global supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts and tensions. The G20 development ministerial meeting aims to collectively agree on actions to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote synergies between the development, environment, and climate agendas, while avoiding trade-offs that hinder progress for developing countries. This meeting follows the Voice of the Global South Summit hosted by India in January 2023 and the decisions made at the Varanasi meeting will contribute to the United Nations SDG Summit scheduled for September in New York," the ministry said. The development ministers meeting was preceded by the fourth and final Development Working Group (DWG) meeting, held from June 6 to 9 in Delhi, it added. The meeting will feature two main sessions: Multilateralism: Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs" and Green Development: A LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach." Building on the work of previous G20 presidencies, the DWG has focused on enhancing the G20s contribution to accelerating progress towards the SDGs and strengthening the G20s long-term vision, including efforts to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic growth. A total of 200 delegates are expected to attend the meeting. Cultural programmes, exhibitions and excursions have also been organized to provide the delegates a glimpse into the rich culture and traditions of Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world. The Kerala Police used water cannons to disperse protesters amid furore over former SFI leader K Vidya's allegedly fake experience certificate. Visuals shared online showed members of the Kerala Students' Union scattering and the pressurised water streams bore down on them. Controversy erupted earlier this month after the Kasargod native was accused of forging an experience certificate in the name of Maharaja's College to secure a guest faculty appointment at another college. Vidya was charged with non-bailable offences after the principal of Maharajas college filed a police complaint. Vidya however contends that a false case has been filed to settle politicial scores. She had earlier moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. The matter is slated to be heard on June 20. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged G20 development ministers, meeting in Varanasi, to evolve blueprints for sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030 and for women-led development. In a virtual address, Modi said development is a core issue for the Global South. Countries of the Global South were severely impacted by the disruption created by the covid-19 pandemic and subsequently by the food, fuel and fertilizer crisis arising from geopolitical tensions. Modi said in such circumstances, the decisions made by G20 development ministers carried great significance to humanity as a whole. I strongly believe it is our collective responsibility not to let sustainable development goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this," Modi said. The efforts must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair and sustainable, Modi said. We should increase investment in fulfilling the SDGs and find solutions to address the debt risk faced by many countries," he said. Gender equality and womens empowerment are crucial to achieving the SDGs, Modi told the ministers. In India, we are not limited to womens empowerment. Ours is a women-led development. Women are setting the agenda for development and are also the agents of growth and change. I urge you to adopt a game-changing action plan for women-led development," Modi told the leaders. He also said that multilateral financial institutions should be reformed to ensure that finance is accessible to those in need. Modi highlighted the efforts India made to develop its most backward districts. In India, we have made efforts to improve the lives of people in more than 100 districts which were pockets of under-development. Our experience shows that they have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country. I urge the G20 development ministers to study this model of development," Modi said. Modi also said that one of the important issues before the leaders is the growing data divide. High-quality data is critical for meaningful policymaking, efficient resource allocation and effective public service delivery, he said. Democratization of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalization has brought about a revolutionary change, he said. Technology is being used to empower people," the Prime Minister said, adding that India was willing to share its experience with partner countries. I hope your discussions result in tangible action to promote data for discourse, data for development and data for delivery in developing countries," he said. India also released a new 7-year Action Plan on SDGs at the Varanasi meeting. The action plan focuses on three core agenda points: harnessing data and digital technologies for development, securing just transitions and investing in women-led development. The new plan, which follows up on the 2016 Action Plan, has been released at a time of setbacks in achieving SDGs globally. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar said in his address that progress on the 2016 plan had faced challenges as political momentum withered and international priorities fragmented. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gireesh Chandra Prasad Gireesh has over 22 years of experience in business journalism covering diverse aspects of the economy, including finance, taxation, energy, aviation, corporate and bankruptcy laws, accounting and auditing. Read more from this author The National Investigation Agency has shared footage from a recent vandalism attempt, asking the populace to help identify the miscreants. The incident took place earlier this year at the Indian High Commission in London. Pro-Khalistani protestors had pulled down the national flag as they agitated outside the High Commission complex on March 19. CCTV footage of the attack by anti-national elements on High Commission of India London, which happened on 19.03.2023 is uploaded above. All the members of public are requested to provide any information regarding the persons seen in the footage to the NIA in public interest," the probe body urged. The NIA said that information could be shared via WhatsApp on +91 7290009373. The identity of the informant shall be kept secret," it assured. The NIA website currently features five security camera videos totaling nearly two hours of footage from various angles. The probe agency had taken over the case from the Special Cell of the Delhi Police last month. Pro-Khalistani protestors had tried to vandalise the High Commission earlier this month and managed to pull down the national flag. The agitations - which also broke out in San Francisco and other cities - came soon after the Punjab Police launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh. Officials spokesperson of the agency posted links to five videos of the incident that occurred on March 19 on its Twitter handle and urged the people to provide any information regarding the persons seen in the footage to the NIA. (With inputs from agencies) Indian Americans are eagerly preparing to extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will visit the United States from June 21 to June 24. Thousands of expatriate Indians will gather in Washington during his visit. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden invited PM Modi to the US . With this visit, PM Modi will become the first Indian PM to address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. This will serve as a reminder of the historic significance of the relationship between the US and India, according to a report published by ANI. A group of Indian Americans is planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Minister's 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 during his visit. Speaking to ANI, Adapa Prasad, President of Overseas Friends of BJP-USA said, At the Freedom Plaza, the community has planned to showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from West to East." Prasad said that it is India's diverse cultural show and growth story. The community has roughly 25 programs representing Kashmir to Kerala and Maharashtra to the northeast with 160 artists participating." The Indian American community feels that they are part of this historic story. They're proud that this momentous occasion is happening. That too when India became the fifth largest economy and the third largest, so the community itself is very proud about their country of origin," he added. Over 7,000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden the First Lady would welcome Prime Minister Modi amidst a 21-gun salute on June 22. "India was known as an underdeveloped country. All that has changed in the last ten years. Thanks a lot to Shri Modiji who has transformed India not only with the IT generation but by rising high above all the expectations of people in terms of infrastructure development, in terms of financial independence given to all the markets," said Premkumar Swaminathan who hails from Tamil Nadu in India. Srilkeha Reddy Palle a resident of Virginia said, I think it is crucial for us to understand kind of the importance of Modiji speaking on the stage. A lot of global leaders have spoken separately in the Union House of Representatives. They have spoken for state dinners and all of that. But, somebody addressing the state of the joint session is something very very unusual.". I just want to express our gratitude to the Prime Minister for the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir. And I'm sure together we will be working together with Modiji for resolving all the issues with regard to Kashmiri Hindus' resettlement safely back in Kashmir," Mohan Sapru, a member of the Kashmiri Hindu diaspora in Washington told ANI. 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. Several top Indian Americans have expressed their excitement to join Prime Minister Modi on the north lawns of the UN complex in New York, on June 21, where he will lead the International Yoga Day event soon after arriving in the country. (With ANI inputs) Netflix's upcoming film "The Archies ," directed by Zoya Akhtar, has started unveiling its promotional material ahead of its release in 2023. Based on the popular Archie Comics franchise, the film stars Mihir Ahuja, Khushi Kapoor, and introduces Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan. The film also features Dot, Agastya Nanda, Yuvraj Menda, and Vedang Raina, offering a "musical experience bursting with youth, rebellion, friendships, first loves, and everything young adult, promising to appeal to every generation." Netflix's highly-anticipated film "The Archies," based on the iconic comic and set in the fictional town of Riverdale in the 60s, is generating mixed reactions online. With the release of its new poster, the internet appears to be divided, with some trolling the film while others express anticipation for what could be a captivating watch. Based on the popular Archie Comics franchise, the film stars Mihir Ahuja, Khushi Kapoor, and introduces Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan. Get ready to hold your breath because #TheArchies are about to unleash their magic! tweeted Netflix India. Elon Musk-led SpaceX recently hired a 14-year-old to join its Starlink engineering team. Kairan Quazi successfully cleared the company's technically challenging, fun interview process ahead of his graduation from Santa Clara University's School of Engineering. He will soon create history as the youngest graduate from the college before assuming his role as SpaceX's youngest ever employee. Next stop: SpaceX! 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 wrote in a LinkedIn post last week. The 14-year-old had taken to the social media earlier this year to indicate that he was prepping for a major job interview. Weeks later, he shared a screenshot of his job acceptance letter from SpaceX. After getting his bachelors degree Quazi will be moving to Washington state with his mother to start work. Quazi's LinkedIn bio assures that his personality is fun, fearless, and driven by an intense intellectual curiosity. His bright nature had first emerged mere months after birth, and he was speaking in full sentences by the age of two. His first day of preschool took place during the Arab Spring uprising and was marked by a protest march of sorts. He got up and declared that school was boring. And then, he got all of his friends in the classroom to start marching, chanting: Free Egypt, democracy now. He was 2. We were dumbfounded," his mother Julia told Mercury News recently. Since then, his achievements have only become more extraordinary. Quazi qualified as profoundly gifted," with an IQ above the 99.9th percentile of the general population. And while he may have made his preschool classmates cry after revealing that Syrias Bashar al-Assad was wielding chemical weapons, his parents assert that Quazi is also incredibly socially attuned. Quazi started at Las Positas college in Livermore at the age of 10 and soon secured an internship at Intel Labs as an AI research co-op fellow. He had transferred to Santa Clara by the age of 11 to focus on computer science and engineering. 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. 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. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has broached the possibility of a nuclear deal with the West amid stalled talks with the US. Tehran said on Monday that it had continued indirect negotiations with the United States through the Sultanate of Oman. Officials however insist that a deal would only be possible if the countrys atomic industry remained untouched". "There is nothing wrong with the agreement (with the West), but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry should not be touched," reports quoted Khamenei as saying. He however reiterated the denial of moves towards acquiring a nuclear weapon. The remarks came mere days after both countries refuted claims that they were close to reaching an interim deal to replace the 2015 accord. Iran's nuclear programme has long been the subject of scrutiny from Western powers with sanctions crippling the country's economy over the years. The deal inked in 2015 had granted Tehran some much needed relief with sanctions being lifted in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. The United States under President Donald Trump however pulled out of the agreement in 2018. While efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have so far failed to yield results, a foreign ministry spokesperson insisted on Monday that the diplomatic process had bever been stopped. Nasser Kanani also noted that the talks "were not secret". We welcome the efforts of Omani officials and we exchanged messages with the other party through this mediator over the lifting of US sanctions" he added. Iran and its arch-nemesis the United States have also been involved in Oman-mediated talks over a possible prisoner swap. Kanani on Monday said a prisoner exchange could be agreed "in the near future", provided that Washington exhibits "the same level of seriousness" as Tehran. (With inputs from agencies) To settle a lawsuit by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay about $290 million, an official privy to the matter said on Monday, resolving a large part of litigation over the bank's relationship with the disgraced financier. In a joint statement released on Monday, the leading American financial institution announced its intention to reach a preliminary settlement in the class action lawsuit. While JPMorgan did not admit to any wrongdoing in the case, but it did say that any association with Jeffrey Epstein was a mistake. The lawsuit has mentioned that Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of girls and women was flagged to JPMorgan but it ignored" the warnings. WOULDN'T HAVE CONTINUED TO DO BUSINESS WITH HIM In a statement, JPMorgan said, Any association with him (Epstein) was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes." Apart from the victims, JPMorgan is also facing a lawsuit by the government of the US Virgin Islands where Jeffrey Epstein owned two. Jeffrey Epstein is accused of abusing his victims in his mansions. Jeffrey Epstein was JPMorgan's client from 1998 until 2013 when he was dropped, seven years after his arrest on prostitution charges. JPMorgan also took legal action against its former executive Jes Staley who has been accused of hiding what he knew about Jeffrey Epstein. In his defence, Jes Staley has said that he regrets befriending Jeffrey Epstein but has denied knowing about the racket. Deutsche Bank, where Epstein was a client from 2013 to 2018, last month agreed to pay $75 million to settle a similar lawsuit by women who said they were trafficked by Epstein. "The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking," Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for the woman known as Jane Doe 1 who sued JPMorgan, said in a statement. (With Reuters inputs) A Las Vegas-area family has claimed that they saw non-human creatures" on May 1 after a mysterious crash in their backyard following a green flash in the sky, CNN reported. The incident comes after a former intelligence official-turned-whistleblower claimed that the US government has possession of "intact and partially intact" alien vehicles. The family soon made a 911 call, following which the cops rushed to the spot to investigate, the CNN report said. The family told the dispatcher that large creatures were in his backyard. "They're not human. 100 percent they're not human," the caller told the 911 dispatcher in an audio recording. "I swear to god it's not a joke. It's actually real," reported fox news. "We just see in the corner of our eye something fall down from the sky, and it was with lights, and when it hit down there was like a big impact, and we felt like an energy? And then we hear a lot of footsteps near us. And then - we have, like, big- big equipment, and we see there's a, there's like an eight-foot person beside it and another one's inside, and it has big eyes and it's looking at us" the caller added. A "tall, skinny alien creature with greenish color" ..."I looked at it in the eyes, and my body just froze like having sleep paralysis," a witness, said. "He had a weird-looking face, big feet and big shiny eyes and a big mouth. The Las Vegas Police has recently released officers' body camera footage that showed something streaking low across the sky. An officer corroborated the witness's account, claiming that their partner had also observed something falling from the sky. At least 21 people across eastern California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah reported seeing the glowing, green light, according to the American Meteor Society. However, Las Vegas Police did not find anything after searching the family's backyard and case was closed. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has passed away at the age of 86 after battling serious health issues that led to his hospitalisation in recent months. He was first hospitalised in 2020 for a lung infection after contracting COVID-19, reported Wion news. Health struggles and demise Having held significant political power in Rome, Berlusconi's health had deteriorated significantly in the later stages of his life. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with chronic leukemia and was admitted to Milan's San Raffaele Hospital, where he ultimately passed away on Monday morning, according to reports. Flamboyant persona and political legacy Despite his career being marred by scandals, particularly the infamous 'bunga-bunga' sex parties, Berlusconi, also known as "Il Cavaliere" (The Knight), remained a flamboyant and influential figure in Italian politics. Berlusconi's death comes a month after he delivered his first public address since his hospitalisation. Just a month before his death, Berlusconi addressed his Forza Italia party members through a pre-recorded video message. He expressed his readiness to return to work and emphasised his commitment to the party's objectives and the fight for freedom. The video was filmed after doctors and relatives prevented him from leaving the hospital to attend the party's convention in Milan. Rise to power and media influence Born in 1936 to a middle-class family, Berlusconi's journey to power is a tale that could inspire many, despite his unconventional choices in life. As the owner of the broadcasting company Mediaset, he entered the media industry in 1973 by establishing TeleMilano, a small cable television company. Over time, this venture grew, leading to the creation of Canale 5 and eventually positioning him as a media mogul with Mediaset, which also fueled his political aspirations. Berlusconi founded Forza Italia, a center-right party, in 1994 with the aim of defeating the "communists." His party introduced a populist style of politics in Italy, propelling him to the upper ranks of the political establishment. Former US president Donald Trump is set to appear in a federal court in Miami on Tuesday to make his initial appearance on the charges under the Espionage Act for the unlawful retention of sensitive national defense records In all, the former US president faces 37 criminal counts, 31 of which relate to secret or top secret classified documents. He is also charged with obstructing justice, conspiracy, concealment and false statements. What is the Espionage Act? The Espionage Act was first passed in 1917 during World War I as a way to stifle dissent against the war and spying efforts, which prohibited disclosing national defense information that could harm the US. In 1918 and 1921 it also carried amendments that outlawed writing or utter[ing]" any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" against the United States. Over the years, this law has been used as a legal tool by the US administration to prosecute people ranging from suspected Soviet spies to famous whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, and Edward Snowden, a former intelligence consultant who leaked classified National Security Agency records to reveal the existence of a domestic surveillance program. Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder, was also charged under the Espionage Act. He is fighting extradition to the United States. How does the espionage act apply to Trump? Special Counsel Jack Smith of The Department of Justice filed charges against Donald Trump after the FBI searched the Florida resort where the former president lived in August 2022. The search located about 13,000 government records, about 100 of which were marked as secret or top secret. The prosecutors say the former president improperly retained 337 classified records. Trump rejected the claim, arguing that he declassified the records in question and that his broad presidential powers gave him the authority to disclose or declassify materials. Neither Trump nor his attorneys have provided any evidence to suggest that the said documents were ever declassified. Prosecutors have charged Trump with violating a section in the Espionage Act which applies to someone who has "unauthorized possession" of national defense information. What will prosecutors have to prove to a jury? To obtain a conviction against the former president, the government will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he willfully retained the material and failed to turn it over to the government. The government is likely to put all the evidences of the steps it took to get the records returned. This includes a year-long effort by the US National Archives and Records Administration, which repeatedly reached out to Trump through his attorneys to request that he return missing records. Even after the Justice Department tried to retrieve the remaining records with a subpoena, Trump only handed over an additional 38 pages marked as classified. It took a court-approved search warrant before the FBI was able to retrieve the bulk of the records that remained. The government will also present evidence from Trump's own attorney. The indictment alleges that the former president tried to get his own attorney to lie to the government about the existence of the records. He even asked the attorney to destroy or hide the documents. What is the punishment for violating the Espionage Act? The penalty for being convicted of espionage under the Espionage Act is a fine of $10,000 or less and imprisonment for twenty years or less. Both the fine and the prison sentence could be imposed in conjunction as well. Amartya Sen, the eminent philosopher-economist, invokes an old distinction between niti and nyay in his 2009 classic, The Idea of Justice (Allen Lane). Both relate to justice. Among several uses of the term niti, important ones include organizational propriety and behavioural correctness. In contrast, the second term, nyay, encompasses a comprehensive concept of realized justice. Thus, the roles of institutions, organizations, laws and rules have to be assessed from this broad, inclusive perspective of nyay. Indeed, as Sen emphasizes, the aim of justice is not just achieving some perfectly just society (such as one without inequality), but preventing severe injustice. While this is an ambitious agenda for empirical research, our present analysis has a modest objective. We rely on a distinction between procedural and substantive justice. While procedural justice is associated with fair and impartial decision procedures, substantive justice is associated with whether the statutes, case law and unwritten legal principles are morally justified (the freedom to pursue any religion, for example). However, there have been blatant violations of constitutional provisions under both the United Progressive Alliance and Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, resulting in denial of justice to millions of people. Our objective here is to conduct a comparative analysis of denial of procedural and substantive justice under these two regimes, and to highlight an exacerbation of social tensions and conflicts that may imperil social stability. The Constitution of India provides for a single integrated judicial system with the Supreme Court at the apex, high courts at the middle (state) level and district courts at the lower level. The Chief Justice and judges of the top and high courts are appointed by the President under clause (1) of Article 217, while district judges are appointed by the state governor in consultation with high courts. We, however, lump high court and district court judges under the lower judiciary as they appear vulnerable to state government interference, as observed in trends suggestive of a state-government-judiciary-police nexus. Denial of procedural justice is reflected in Indias huge share of under-trial prisoners. This has been a long-standing problem. According to a 21 January 2013 report of the Asian Human Rights Committee, there was a backlog of about 20 million cases in trial courts, 4.1 million cases in high courts and 49,000 cases in the Supreme Court. In 2013, a year before the UPA completed a decade in power, the AHRC estimated that cases took 10-15 years to go through the court system. Further, according to Transparency International (2011), 45% of people who had come in contact with the Indian judiciary between July 2009 and July 2010 had paid a bribe to someone in the system. The most common reason was to speed things up". Fixed rates were reported for a quick divorce, bail and other procedures. The AHRC report of April 2013 said that for every 2 in official court fees, at least 1,000 is spent in bribes to bring a petition to court. Under the NDA regime, denials of justice require a broader lens of scrutiny. Two striking features of the BJP-led NDA regime are centralization and the pursuit of Hindutva ideology. The Central government relies heavily on constitutional authorities such as governors to impose New Delhis diktats on states, reducing their autonomy, even if welcomed by BJP-run states. As for ideology, what requires examination are consequences of bias-fanning by various agents for the rights of minorities, especially Muslims and lower-caste Hindus. According to statistics provided by the National Judicial Data Grid, as of 12 April 2017, there were 24,186,566 pending cases in Indias district courts, of which 2,317,448 (9.58 %) had been pending for over ten years, and 3,975,717 (16.44 %) had been pending for 5-10 years. In 2016, Freedom Houses report for India stated that the lower levels of the judiciary in particular have been rife with corruption". Meanwhile, the GAN Business Anti-Corruption Portal reports that in India, [t]here is a high risk of corruption when dealing with Indias judiciary, especially at the lower court levels. Bribes and irregular payments are often exchanged in return for favourable court decisions" (GAN Integrity 2017). Secularism was dealt a blow by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which, together with a proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC), would put many Muslims across the country at risk of disenfranchisement. It provides a pathway to citizenship for non-Muslims from neighbouring countries, but has no remedy for Muslims caught paperless in NRC processes of identifying Indian citizens. This gap led to violent clashes between anti-CAA/NRC protestors and the police. Despite constitutional guarantees, several BJP-ruled states have passed anti-conversion laws over the years, which make it harder for a person to change ones religion. A case in point is the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020. Popularly known as the love jihad law, it was approved by the state cabinet and received the state governors assent on 28 November 2020, making it enforceable. The law makes religious conversion a cognizable and non-bailable offence in UP, with its weight falling mostly on Muslims. The case of justice and its potential denial that is currently in the countrys focus involves famed Indian wrestlers and allegations of sexual violations against a member of the ruling party. This is in the news, as it should be, but there are countless other cases that also need attention. Both niti and nyay need to be met fully, and it is clear that along with old challenges of judicial capacity, we have new ones as well. It is important that denial of justice does not worsen, get more painful or sharpen social fissures. It is well understood that a societys stability depends crucially on how well the judiciary works and justice is served. Vani S. Kulkarni, Veena S. Kulkarni & Raghav Gaiha are, respectively, research affiliate at the department of sociology, University Of Pennsylvania; associate professor, department of sociology, criminology and geography, Arkansas State University; and research affiliate, Population Aging Research Centre, University of Pennsylvania. Indian firms have been expanding their operations globally across varied sectors and Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is no exception. Investment in India's SaaS ecosystem, the second largest in the world only behind the United States according to a report by Bain & Company, had reached an all-time high of $5 billion in 2022. The report also predicts that Indian SaaS companies will collectively reach $35 billion in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and capture 8% of the global SaaS market in the next five years. As SaaS firms increasingly find the product market fit with customers in India, the industry is now looking at the neighbouring regions particularly Southeast Asia for further scale-up. The size of the SaaS market in Southeast Asia is projected to be $3.4 billion in 2027, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.73% from 2023-2027 making it lucrative for Indian companies. Mint spoke to industry leaders in the SaaS space to understand the opportunities Southeast Asia has to offer and the companies strategy to gain market dominance in the region. India SaaS firms GTM strategy "The success of Southeast Asian businesses in a wide range of industries from eCommerce to platform solutions and fintech have inspired a generation of local organisations to establish themselves as digital native businesses, which creates a strong demand for cloud solutions," Praval Singh, VP - Marketing & Customer Experience at Zoho Corp said. Each market is unique, and therefore product localisation is a priority. We focus on ensuring all our offerings are fully operational in the main languages used in the region. Most of Zoho's top products like Zoho CRM, Zoho Workplace, Zoho Mail, etc., include support for the main Southeast Asian languages like Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Bahasa, Khmer, Lao, and Burmese," he adds. The Indian SaaS heavyweight Zoho Corp has long championed the idea of transnational localism" which it defines as a growth approach where the firm expands by establishing local roots while staying globally connected. The firm currently has a local office in Singapore and Jakarta. Kapil Makhija, CEO of supply-chain based SaaS tech platform Unicommerce says, we have enhanced our SaaS platform to address some of the most complicated processes including returns management and managing exchange workflows among others and this wealth of experience and learning directly translates into an advantage for us as we further expand into SEA." Unicommerce has local offices in four countries of Southeast Asia which includes Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. Also read: India's SaaS industry bets on rural talent for further scale-up Southeast Asias tryst with India SaaS SaaS leaders say the response in the Southeast Asian countries for Indian tech offerings has been highly positive and enthusiastic. We are working with 20 companies in SEA. In a short span, we have achieved an annual run rate of 4 mn transactions (as of April 23) which reaffirms our belief in the immense potential of the region," Kapil adds. Sparsh Gupta, CEO of Wingify says the companys flagship VWO, a digital tech optimisation platform is witnessing solid response in the region. SEA contributes to around 14% of VWO's overall business but this has been growing really fast. Since January 2021, VWO's revenue from SEA has increased by almost 41%. So while VWO's business has grown overall across regions, the rate at which SEA has grown for us is much higher," he adds. Hiring trends and further expansions We are bullish on hiring local talent and I think each market has its unique challenges. Hiring talent in Singapore is extremely expensive and it's competitive considering the high demand for SaaS talent. While hiring in the Philippines and Indonesia, we have to look deeper to find candidates with a detailed understanding of the SaaS ecosystem," Unicommerces Kapil Makhija says. SaaS players who are currently on a mission to gain a foothold in the thriving Southeast Asian market also find greater potential in other geographies. Just like Southeast Asia, the Middle East region has been undergoing significant digital transformation, countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain have been actively investing in diversifying their economies and promoting innovation-driven sectors," Makhija adds. The Middle-eastern countries too have been implementing policies and initiatives to promote digital transformation, smart cities and knowledge-based economies. Wingify on the other hand is selectively hiring in the SEA region and eyes APAC and Latin America as the regions embrace digital transformation, anticipating a remarkable surge in demand for AB testing across various industries. The cause is believed to be multifactorial, but doctors presume that the cause has something to do with a circadian element. Credit : Unsplash Houston and Harris County officials collected a record number of 1,446 firearms at their fourth gun buyback event Saturday. Combined with the numbers from previous events, Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted, the total tally of collections has surpassed 4,200. By Houston Police's count, they collected 275 revolvers, 490 semi-automatic handguns, 228 shotguns, 265 hunting rifles, and 188 semi-automatic rifles. Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis was at NRG Stadium to help host the event. "Thanks to everyone stepping up to help with this initiative, which is part of a broader, coordinated effort to reduce gun violence," he tweeted. Local officials held their first buyback in July 2022 as part of the crime reduction initiative, One Safe Houston, according to Houston Public Media's Ashley Brown. It allows gun owners to surrender their firearms in exchange for gift cards valued at $50 to $200. With the exception of "ghost guns"self-assembled or untraceable gunsthe city accepts these weapons without question, per previous reporting. "The gun buyback program is completely anonymous... no personal information will be transcribed by HPD officers, nor will any warrants or records be checked by them," Mayor Turner said during a press conference in May. Gun buyback programs have been around in the U.S. since the 1960s, reported Chip Brownlee with The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom that exclusively covers gun violence. They're typically used to recover illegal firearms and reduce the number of guns in circulation. But there is little evidence of their effectiveness in reducing homicides or shootings. Amanda Charbonneau, a researcher with the RAND Corporation who looked into the subject, told Brownlee that the lack of data is because gun buybacks are difficult to study. Even under the assumption of optimal implementation, only a tiny fraction of guns in a given community are going to be turned into gun buyback programs, Charbonneau told Brownlee. And standard statistical methods may not be able to measure their impact, she added. Millions of guns are in circulation in the U.S. and worldwide, per Brownlee's reporting, and buybacks typically only take in a few hundred at a time. What's more, people who do participate in these buybacks are less likely to be involved in gun violence, or they may have more at home that they're not willing to give up. And so you still have a flow of firearms through a community. If you think of it as a supply-side intervention, the supply is barely affected," Charbonneau said. That's not to say gun buybacks are a waste. Charbonneau wrote in her research that policymakers and advocacy groups could create more change by tailoring these programs to better suit the needs of the community. That could mean offering different kinds of incentives or additional services. A 2019 meta-analysis from Current Trauma Supports also suggested that gun buybacks would be more effective if used with other safety strategies. "Aside from providing a way to remove firearms from the community, buybacks can offer education about firearm safety and safe storage and engage the public about firearm safety. However, buybacks likely will need to be implemented with an array of other measures in order to comprehensively address this complex issue," researchers wrote. On June 9, the 2023 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum launched in Tunxi District, Huangshan City. This is another important international event held in Huangshan, following the "Foreign Ministers' Reception Hall" and the "1+6" Roundtable. This beautiful and ambitious city, which is rising and catching up, has once again been thrust into the spotlight on the world stage. Since last year, Huangshan City has hosted a number of global exhibitions and conferences, such as the International Cultural and Creative Industry Development Forum and the World Creative Economy Summit. It has successfully held over 100 major events, including the Conference on Huizhou Studies, the Xin'an Medical Science Development Conference, the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo, and the Anhui Cuisine Carnival. Huangshan has become the most beautiful window to showcase China to the world. This international event not only promotes the city's development, enhances its international influence, and advances high-quality development, but also provides a good opportunity to connect with global resources and learn from advanced experiences. Huangshan City will continue to polish its "International Reception Room" brand, actively leverage the advantages of its two top IP brands, "Huangshan" and "Huizhou", embrace internationalization with a more open attitude, support major investment initiatives, facilitate cultural exchanges, and build strong brands. Huangshan City will speed up the development of an eco-friendly, world-class leisure and vacation destination with international appeal. Authorities responded to a boater operating a cabin cruiser with two weed-eater motors, allegedly involved in collisions with two other boats in the marina. This July, four nursing students and two staff from St Angelas College will visit Uganda to embark on a number of humanitarian community engagement activities there. This international programme will give General Nursing and Intellectual Disability Nursing students a unique opportunity and a chance to work on projects that will improve the lives of many who have been neglected by their government and in some cases society and their own families. Projects will include carrying out general health and vision assessments, administration of essential medication and providing eyeglasses as required. The team will also be delivering nutrition and health workshops to health care workers as well as identifying the needs for an inclusive school based in Entebbe. In collaboration with Carlow University (Pittsburgh), St. Angelas will join US students and faculty for a busy 14-day programme that will see them visit many rural sites where communities live with limited means to basic needs. In addition, St. Angelas have now established a partnership with Bright Kids Uganda (NGO), and founding director, Dr Victoria Nalongo Namusisi. As well as being an influential community leader, Victoria has recently received the African Humanitarian Award 2023. Uganda programme co-ordinator, Sean Kelly, explains working on the ground and directly with those who often struggle to survive will be something our students havent experienced before but were confident they will take from it, a perspective and sense of gratitude for what we take for granted here at home, and this will stay with them as they move forward in their nursing careers. Its really important that were not simply going there to fix things and then leave again - what we want to see is the start of new practices and ideas that Ugandans will be empowered with to continue long after were gone and having a trusted community leader like Victoria makes this possible. In Ugandan society, giving birth to a child with a disability is considered a curse and a burden so children are often abandoned, sometimes just left on the street. Thanks to Bright Kids Uganda, there is now a haven where they can be cared for. Also included in the itinerary is a visit to the site of a new health clinic which has come about thanks to the drilling of a new clean water well in the area that St. Angelas contributed to back in 2017. Head of School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies, Dr Edel McSharry, will also be joining the team. Community engagement of any kind is at the heart of what we do and to be able to experience this on a global scale will enhance our students and indeed my own learning. This project will help us to begin to understand the life and health challenges these communitys face which can only improve our cultural sensitivity and communication for our future practice. Dr McSharry continues as nurses, we can bring our professional knowledge but perhaps more importantly in these settings, our practical and valuable health promoting skills. Nursing students Emily Kelly (Sligo), Sorcha Higgins (Longford), Erin Russell (Mayo) and Eabha Heffron (Clare), together with Sean and Edel, have been gathering donations and fundraising for the various projects there and know that any amount goes a long way over there. If you would like to make a donation of any size, you can do so a number of ways and youll find more details at www.stangelas.ie/uganda2023 A man found guilty of a number of sexual assault charges was jailed for five years and six months following a recent sitting of Longford Circuit Court. Michael King (52) of 10 Warren View, Boyle, Roscommon, was found guilty at Roscommon Circuit Court earlier in the year of 12 separate sexual assault charges on various dates between December 2004 and September 2005. Those included six counts of kissing, one count of putting the victim's hand on his knee, two counts of touching her inappropriately, two counts of putting her hand on him and one count of performing oral sex on her. The victim in the case waived her right to anonymity. Addressing Longford Circuit Court in his sentencing hearing Mr King expressed his regret for the anguish and upset he caused Tara Kelly, who was a teenager at the time of the offences. The defendant also apologised to Ms Kelly's parents and family. Mr King said: It was never my intention to hurt you. I'm so sorry for the pain you have been feeling over the years, he said. Letters read out by various members of Mr King's family expressed shock at his offending and sorrow at the distress caused to Ms Kelly. Counsel for the defendant, Dara Foynes SC, asked Judge Kenneth Connolly not to send her client to prison. Ms Foynes explained that Mr King was sick with worry about how it would affect his six children. Counsel said she did not want to diminish Tara's suffering, but outlined ways in which the incident impacted on the lives of the King family. She said the defendant had lost the companionship of his wife, his job and his social standing. Ms Foynes continued: He has blighted the life of his six children, blighted the relationship between two families. The barrister pointed out that a probation report determined the defendant was a low risk of reoffending. Prosecution counsel, Shane Geraghty BL, indicated that the maximum sentence in respect of each count on the indictment was 14 years imprisonment. In his summation Judge Connolly referenced the close knit nature of the families prior to the offending. The judge spoke of the sheer radius of destruction, the effects of Mr King's offending are far reaching. Judge Connolly said the sinister and selfish act of Mr King had destroyed many lives, particularly for Tara Kelly and the wider Kelly family, as well as the King family. This is something you will have to live with. The judge highlighted the disparity in age, the victim 16 and the perpetrator 33 at the time. Judge Connolly said the jury in the trial had rejected the defence stance that it was a consensual romance. He said the abuse escalated quite significantly, from kissing and touching to much more serious acts. The judge set the headline sentence at seven and a half years in custody, but reduced that to six and a half with mitigation. Judge Connolly said he would suspend one year of that for a period of three years with the defendant having to keep the peace, remain on the sex offender register and comply with all probation services recommendations and have no unsolicited contact with Tara Kelly. The defendant will serve five years and six months in prison for the offences. Food, Wine, & Dining, Local News By Long Island Published: June 12 2023 A new fast-casual chicken spot is set to open today in Deer Park called Rubys Coop, a new enterprise from Justin Aronoff, the owner of gourmet butcher shops Center Cuts in Roslyn. A new fast-casual chicken spot is set to open today in Deer Park called Rubys Coop, a new enterprise from Justin Aronoff, the owner of gourmet butcher shops Center Cuts in Roslyn and Mattituck and Curated, a gourmet butcher and grocery store he recently opened in Wainscott. This is a different direction for both meat choice and concept for Aronoff, who deals with a lot of beef in his other spots. The focus here is almost pure poultry and the menu is filled with chicken offerings from the classic to the unique. The classic chicken sandwich is fried to crispy perfection and comes with their coop sauce and pickles ($9.99). Koreatown has soy honey garlic dipped with sesame ssamjang, pear kimchi, and bibb lettuce ($11.99) and the Viet-Nashville is made with their our own special blend of fiery hot dry seasoning, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, roasted peanuts and jalapeno mayo ($11.99). They also offer smash burgers with cheese, caramelized onions, mac sauce and pickles ($6.99 for single, $9.99 for double). Want something vegetarian? Theyve also got the deep fried impossible burger with their country slaw, gravy and pickles ($11.99). Rubys Coop is also serving up chicken family-style with large buckets that come with a choice of sides. Ryan Weber, the 31-year-old manager of the restaurant who had previously been in charge at Michelin-style restaurants in New York City, said that coming up with a name the place emerged from a lot of trial and error. Ruby, it seems, is one of the pet dogs of the investor. And coop, of course, is a chicken house. The name was actually somewhat challenging as we inquired for numerous other names that were already taken due to trademark/IP as the brand was being created, he said. But they eventually settled on the name and a simple, bright style for their new chicken restaurant. Weber says he and Aronoff met through a mutual friend. While the restaurant hasnt had its grand opening, theyve only had a soft opening and family and friends to try it out, the idea to expand Ruby Coop is already on the mind of Weber. We want to get this place perfect and build amazing procedures, he said. The hope and the goal is to run with it. Rubys Coop is open Monday-Thursday from 11am to 9am, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 10pm and Sunday 1:30am to 8:30pm. Location: 528 Commack Road, Deer Park. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: June 12 2023 Employee Gabriel DeWitt Wilson was convicted of killing 49-year-old manager Ray Wishropp and attempting to murder two other workers in May. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a former supermarket employee was sentenced today to 50 years to life in prison for the murder of a supervisor and attempted murder of two other coworkers at a West Hempstead Stop and Shop store in April 2021. Gabriel DeWitt Wilson, 33, of Hempstead, was convicted by a jury on May 3, 2023, of one count of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony), two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony), two counts of Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony), and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendant was acquitted of two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. He was sentenced today before Judge Helene Gugerty to 50 years to life in prison. Gabriel Wilson intended to cause death and destruction when he entered a West Hempstead Stop and Shop with a semi-automatic gun on April 20, 2021, said DA Donnelly. Wilson methodically entered office after office on the second floor of the grocery store, shooting his coworkers without hesitation. Sadly, 49-year-old Ray Wishropp was shot directly in the chest at point-blank range and killed, while two other employees were seriously injured, but escaped. This defendant showed no contrition or remorse since he was apprehended or throughout the duration of his trial. I am pleased that this very dangerous individual will now likely spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. We hope that this sentence provides some measure of justice for Rays family, friends, and coworkers still mourning his tragic loss. DA Donnelly said that, according to the trial testimony, on April 20, 2021, at approximately 11:19 a.m., Wilson, an employee of the Stop and Shop Grocery Store at 50 Cherry Valley Avenue in West Hempstead, entered the store and went to the second floor, where the manager offices were located. The defendant was not scheduled to work at that time. Wilson then entered the store managers office where he shot one victim in the face and twice in the chest area. He then shot a female manager, hitting her in the shoulder, with the bullet exiting her back. Wilson then entered a second office where he fired multiple rounds and struck 49-year-old Ray Wishropp in the chest and leg. Wishropp was pronounced dead at the scene. The defendant was arrested at approximately 3:50 p.m. in Hempstead by members of the Nassau County Police Departments Bureau of Special Operations and the Hempstead Police Department. An up-armored vehicle is flipped in a Haqqani Network IED attack. The Haqqani Network promoted suicide bombings, IED attacks, and ambushes that targeted Coalition and Afghan forces throughout eastern Afghanistan in a video that was recently released on Voice of Jihad, the official news outlet of the Afghan Taliban. One of the suicide bombers likely was a Uigher from China. The video, which is titled Caravan of Heroes and was published on April 5, was produced by Manba al Jihad Studio, the media arm of the Haqqani Network, a subgroup of the Taliban that is closely linked to al Qaeda. Manba al Jihad Studio has released other Haqqani Network productions on Voice of Jihad in the past, including a video of a Haqqani training camp in 2011, a video that detailed the 2012 suicide assault on Forward Operating Base Salerno, and the confirmation of the death of Badruddin Haqqani in 2013. The video includes footage from al Qaeda propaganda. One piece of footage shows a convoy of jihadists in Afghanistan, and banners used by both al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Taliban claimed that the video clearly lifts the veil and exposes enemy lies which claim that IEDs only cause civilian casualties and do not cause fatalities to their soldiers. The Taliban are sensitive about yearly United Nations reports that routinely place the deaths of about 80 percent of civilian casualties at the feet of the Taliban. The bulk of the lengthy, 61 minute and 55 second video focuses on ambushes and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in the provinces of Kunar, Laghman, Wardak, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, and Ghazni. The IED attacks targeted both mounted and dismounted troops. IED clearance teams were targeted heavily; IED clearance vehicles as well as individuals attempting to disarm IEDs are struck multiple times. Afghan police and military personnel in armored and unarmored vehicles are also heavily targeted. The Haqqani IED teams often select lightly armored vehicles in police and military convoys. The blasts are often so massive that up-armored vehicles are sent careening through the air. The jihadist cameramen routinely record the aftermath of the attacks to capture the recovery operations. In one instance, the jihadists opened fire on a military ambulance as Afghan troops were loading a casualty from the attack. The video ends with two suicide attacks against military bases in Wardak and Paktika. A suicide bomber who was identified as Fadhil Shaheen drove a small van into a base in Wardak. Another suicide bomber, identified as Jabir al Turkistani, drove a large truck packed with explosives into a base in the mountains in Pakitka. The massive detonation of the second attack is captured on video. Jabir al Turkistani is likely a foreigner from Central Asia, possibly from China, as the al Turkistani nom de guerre is often used by Chinese Uighers. The suicide bombers were likely directed by Qari Zakir, who is also known as Abdul Rauf. Zakir serves as the Haqqani Networks director of suicide operations in Afghanistan. The US government added Qari Zakir to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists in November 2012. [See LWJ report, US adds Haqqani Network suicide operations chief to list of global terrorists.] The Haqqani Network has actively recruited foreign fighters to carry out attacks in Afghanistan in the past. In 2012, Mullah Sangeen Zadran, the Talibans shadow governor for Paktika who also was a senior military commander in the Haqqani Network, called on Turks and Kurds to wage jihad in Afghanistan. [See LWJ report, Senior Haqqani Network leader again calls on Turks, Kurds to wage jihad in Afghanistan.] The Haqqani Network was listed by the US as a terrorist organization in 2012. More than a dozen Haqqani Network leaders have been listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists; most of them have been directly tied to al Qaeda. In October 2010, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the Haqqani network was part of an unholy syndicate of terrorist groups working together Al Qaeda, the Haqqani network, the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban and groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. A success for one is a success for all, Gates said. [See Threat Matrix report, Gates: A success for one is a success for all.] Haqqani Network video: Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Yesterday, Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in East Africa, launched a suicide assault on a popular hotel in Mogadishu which left at least five people dead. According to local reporting, a team of five Shabaab gunmen dressed in Somali military uniforms, stormed the SYL Hotel yesterday night. Somali security forces then responded, prompting a nearly eight hour battle for control over the hotel. At least five people, including two members of the security forces and three civilians, were killed in the attack. Somali officials reported that all five gunmen were also killed. Shabaab quickly claimed credit for the assault. In a statement released online, the jihadist group alleged that the eight hour long siege resulted in more than 25 apostate fatalities among them senior officials, military and police officers, presidential guards, government employees, and secret intelligence agents. It goes on to claim that more than half [of the fatalities] were inflicted upon the Turkish-trained apostate militia. The SYL Hotel, which sits near the presidential palace, is a popular hotel among Somali officials. It is also commonly targeted by Shabaab. In Feb. 2016, the hotel was hit by an assault utilizing a suicide bombing. Almost a year earlier, Shabaab claimed credit for a bombing at the hotel that killed three people. The attack took place as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a delegation were at the hotel. Targeting hotels has been a common tactic for Shabaab for the past several years. Just this year, it has assaulted the Maka al Mukamara hotel in Mogadishu and the Asasey Hotel in the southern Somali city of Kismayo. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Several members of Al Qaeda are serving as leaders and key functionaries within the Talibans government, which it calls the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Among them are two provincial governors, the Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Intelligence, and a training director in the Ministry of Defense. The details of the Al Qaeda leaders working in the Taliban government were disclosed by the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which issued its latest report on Afghanistan on June 9. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team assessed that the relationship between the Taliban and Al Qaeda remained close and symbiotic, with Al Qaeda viewing Taliban-administered Afghanistan a safe haven, while Al Qaeda provides support for the Taliban regime. This assessment jibes with continued reporting from FDDs Long War Journal, which has maintained that ties between the Taliban and Al Qaeda have only strengthened since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal in Aug. 2021. The presence of Al Qaeda leaders in government and administrative positions is far from surprising. The Taliban began integrating members of foreign terrorist groups within its shadow governance and military in the early 2010s. The U.S. military began identifying and targeting what it called dual hatted Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders and facilitators, as well as members from groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. These dual hatted operatives were often appointed to district level administrative and military positions, however some have held high level positions within the Taliban, such as Fazeel-a-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen al Peshwari (a.k.a. Sheikh Mohammed Aminullah), who commanded the Talibans Peshwar Regional Military Council, and Qari Zia Rahman, who commanded regional forces in northeastern Afghanistan. Many leaders of the Haqqani Network, including its leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, who serves as one of two deputy Taliban emirs as well as the interior minister, are considered dual hatted leaders with intricate and long-standing ties to Al Qaeda. Key dual hatted leaders serving in the Taliban government The UN report identified two dual hatted leaders serving as governors, Qari Ehsanullah Baryal and Hafiz Muhammad Agha Hakeem. Additionally, Taj Mir Jawad was identified the Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Intelligence. The report referred to the three leaders as affiliated with Al Qaeda, however they meet the definition of a dual hatted Taliban and Al Qaeda leader. Baryal, who currently serves as the governor of Kapisa province, is a well-known dual hatter. He is a notorious Taliban military commander who organized attacks in and around the capital of Kabul, including deadly attacks on U.S. soldiers and civilians. He was a senior leader of what used to be known as the Kabul Attack Network. The U.S. military previously described Baryal as an Al Qaeda-associated Taliban leader. Baryal regularly received cash from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Qods Force to execute his attacks. In July 2013, the U.S. Armys National Ground Intelligence Center [NGIC] described Baryal as the Talibans Northern Zone Commander, and noted that as the Parwan, Kapisa, and Panjshir North Zone Commander, he facilitated attacks in these provinces as well as attacks in Kabul City. [See LWJ report, Taliban appoints Kabul Attack Network commander as provincial governor.] Hakeem, who currently serves as the Talibans governor of Nuristan province, is a key associate of Qari Zakir, the Haqqani Networks former chief of suicide operations. Zakir was arguably a leader of Al Qaeda. Zakir is thought to have been killed alongside Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden and a rising star in Al Qaeda, in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistans Kurram tribal agency in September 2019. Hakeem was also a key leader who helped form Badri Lashkar 313, a special forces wing of the Talibans army. Badri Lashkar 313 has been responsible for some of the groups key battlefield successes during the takeover of Afghanistan, and has also conducted complex suicide operations. The Haqqani Network and Al Qaeda are believed to have played a key role in the formation of Badri Lashkar 313. Jawad, the current Deputy Director of General Directorate of Intelligence, was the other co-leader of the Kabul Attack Network. Jawad was identified by the U.S. military as a Haqqani Network leader and targeted in strikes more than a decade ago. The UN also noted that other Al Qaeda members have received appointments and advisory roles in the Taliban security and administrative structures, including an unnamed training director of the de facto Ministry of Defense At the Ministry of Defense, training was based on Al Qaeda manuals, which were openly being used at Ministry facilities. The Taliban is also providing Al Qaeda members with monthly welfare payments and Afghan passports and tazkiras (national identity cards). The Ministry of Interior, which is controlled by Sirajuddin Haqqani, issues the passports and identity cards. The UN report noted that Al Qaeda views Afghanistan as a safe haven. Given the Talibans integration of Al Qaeda leaders and members within its government and military, and the Talibans reciprocal support, it is clear that the relationship has only deepened after the withdrawal of U.S. forces and collapse of the Afghan government. Correction: Hafiz Hakeem was originally identified as a protege of Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir. He served under Qari Zakir. The article was updated to reflect this. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Somalias large counter-offensive against Shabaab is currently stalled and its much touted next phase continues to be delayed. In response, Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in East Africa, seeks to gain the initiative against the nearly year-long offensive against it. A brazen hotel siege and targeted assassinations in Mogadishu, in addition to a series of major raids against military bases around the country, demonstrate Shabaabs lasting capabilities and desire to seize the gap in the Somali governments offensive delays. Over the weekend, the Somali capital was rocked by a succession of explosions and gunfire as Shabaab both raided a popular hotel and targeted a local official within the city. On Friday, the jihadi group stormed the Pearl Beach Hotel in Mogadishus Lido Beach. Starting with a suicide car bomb, an assault team then entered the fray, seizing the hotel and taking various hostages. Somali security forces were able to end the siege several hours later, though at least nine people were killed by Shabaab during the assault. The hotel siege, a tragically common occurrence in Mogadishu, was the first since Nov. 2022, when Shabaab raided the Villa Rays Hotel just meters from the presidential palace. However, in February 2023, it also laid siege to the private residence of a senior military official in Mogadishu, which was also hosting members of the Macawisley (or local clan militias that fight against Shabaab). And on Sunday, Shabaab attempted to assassinate a senior police officer in Mogadishu with a remote-detonated explosive attached to his vehicle. That explosion came just a week after a similar explosion in the city targeted a Somali government official and his assistant. Targeted assassinations via improvised explosive devices (IED) is a historically-favored tactic of the jihadi group, particularly in Mogadishu. That two similar devices were detonated within a week of each other shows that Shabaabs urban hit squads in Mogadishu remain active. The weekend violence in Mogadishu also comes after a series of major assaults on military bases across Somalia. Late last week, Shabaab mounted a raid on an Ethiopian military base in the border town of Doolow in the southern Gedo Region. For its part, Shabaab claimed it killed and wounded over 200 Ethiopian troops, though Ethiopia has vehemently denied this assertion. Ethiopia maintains its forces successfully repelled the assault, though admitted that Shabaab did launch two suicide car bombs at its base. Shabaab has yet to provide any visual evidence for its claims, as of the time of publishing. Though the number of those killed and wounded is more than likely greatly exaggerated, Shabaab has nevertheless been more accurate regarding two other major assaults in recent weeks. For instance, on May 30, it overran a Somali military base near the town of Masagaway in the central Galguduud Region. Somali officials initially denied the jihadi groups claims, though photos and videos subsequently released by Shabaab seemingly confirmed more of its side of the story. Likewise, on May 26, Shabaaab overran a Ugandan military base in Buulo Mareer, Lower Shabelle, killing at least 54 Ugandan troops and representing one of the deadliest to have ever hit the Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF) contingent in Somalia. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), of which the UPDF contingent is a member, initially denied the base being overran. Subsequent photos and a long-form video released by Shabaab again painted a vastly different picture. It is certainly possible and indeed would be highly welcomed that the Ethiopian troops did in fact repel Shabaabs recent assault on its forces. However, both ATMIS and its Somali partners must learn that providing easily refutable talking points in communiques only harms their legitimacy and only helps in Shabaabs propaganda empire. The successive assaults, raids, and targeted assassinations, however, only show that Shabaab is taking advantage of slowed offensive operations to regroup, reconsolidate, and refocus its forces. Though operations have certainly stalled in Somalias center, periodic operations have still taken place elsewhere, with Somali security forces announcing a new operation in Lower Shabelle yesterday. However, the periodic announced operations, particularly like yesterdays in Lower Shabelle, are largely temporary in nature and do not provide the necessary sustained pressure on Shabaab. Moreover, the Somali government continues to delay the actual beginning of the so-called Phase Two of the counter-Shabaab offensives, which are supposed to take place in Somalias southern states of Jubaland and South-West State. Militias loyal to Jubaland state have previously conducted anti-Shabaab operations in recent months, though these appear to not be part of the planned Phase Two. Though Somalia benefited from clan hostility against Shabaab during the offensives first phase in central Somalia, it is also unclear how well it can benefit from anti-Shabaab clan sentiment in Somalias south, where Shabaab has based much of its governance and social services. For its part, Jubaland has so far rejected overtures from the federal government to replicate the clan model it utilized in Somalias center though the rejection was largely based on intra-Somali political rivalries than any sense of futility regarding Shabaabs strong relations with the southern clans. The delays and slowing down of sustained operations elsewhere has had a drastic impact on the overall fight against Shabaab. In order to prevent the al Qaeda branch from continuing its regrouping efforts, Somalia must effectively begin its so-called Phase Two of its offensive operations in southern Somalia, while also not taking its eye off of the countrys center, wherein Shabaab may look to reconsolidate with any potential relapse in security efforts. Until then, the fight against what the U.S. military describes as the largest and most deadly al Qaeda network in the world remains far from over. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. (Alliance News) - Petrofac Ltd on Monday said it signed a definitive engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Sonatrach Spa subsidiary, STEP Polymers SPA, for the construction of a petrochemical complex in the Arzew industrial zone in Algeria. Petrofac is a London-headquartered company which designs, builds, manages and maintains energy infrastructure and has its core markets in the Middle East and North Africa region. Sonatrach is Algeria's national state-owned oil company. Petrofac said it will deliver the USD1.5 billion project with its joint venture partner China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering Corp, with Petrofac's share worth over USD1 billion. Petrofac Chief Executive Officer Tareq Kawash said: "Broadening Petrofac's portfolio within the petrochemical sector, this contract builds on our 25-year track record of safely delivering strategically significant energy infrastructure in Algeria, while developing local workforces." Petrofac shares were 1.0% lower at 73.30 pence each on Monday morning in London. By Tom Budszus, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Download Image: Web At the inaugural Lycoming College Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference, Spanish major and biology minor Jeovannee Castillo 23 won the award for best research by a Lycoming College student for his paper, The Cause and Cycle of Child Labor in Mexico. Castillos presentation covered both his impressive research into the subject, as well as his own firsthand experiences having lived and worked as a youth in Mexico. Born in California and raised in Pennsylvania, Castillo initially lived what he believed to be a perfect life. His family didnt have much, but he and his two younger siblings were happy. All of that changed when he turned nine. During his familys yearly trip to Mexico to visit their extended family, Castillos undocumented parents were captured by border patrol. Despite the fact that he and his siblings were documented American citizens, the entire family was eventually deported to Mexico. Castillo and his family spent several months at the border, unsure of what to do and where to go. In the meantime, their landlord in America sold everything they had left behind, including all their possessions and vehicles, and pocketed the money. Eventually they moved to stay with Castillos grandparents, where the kids were enrolled in a local Mexican school. According to Castillo, adjusting to Mexican school was the hardest part of living there. He described the education system as abysmal with instructors who were uninterested in teaching and a total lack of a culture of learning. To make matters worse, Castillo faced discrimination from other students for being too American. Even though he was one of the schools top students, the stress and broken system were so much that he wanted to drop out after two years. Then Castillo was given a choice; either continue school or drop out to work and save up money to return to the United States for his education. Castillo chose to leave school, and would spend the next several years working odd jobs. He worked in a tortilleria, a small shop that makes tortillas, sold ice cream out of a truck with his grandfather and candy in front of their house, and labored in avocado fields, which Castillo notes was the worst job, with harsh conditions and hours spent in the fields without much rest. After three years of saving, and with assistance from his family, Castillo had enough to travel back to America at the age of fifteen. Once back in Pennsylvania, Castillo moved in with his cousin, and started attending high school. Yet again, Castillo faced discrimination and bullies, this time for being Mexican, but he also found a much richer education. Initially he was very shy, but he excelled at school once presented with teachers who cared about his learning. In his senior year, his English class was assigned a final paper about any topic they wanted, and Castillo chose his experiences being deported to Mexico. He hoped to call attention to this under-discussed problem and analyze why it happened. He concluded that child labor worked like a sick cycle in Mexico, perpetuated by a lacking education system and economic necessity. Young people much like himself hated the poor school system, so they took the first chance they had to get out, which went hand-in-hand with the majority of families in rural Mexico in need of extra income in order to survive. These two circumstances feed into each other, making the discontinuation of the cycle an extremely difficult conundrum. He tied the paper together with research hed done, his own experiences, and how he saw his siblings live like those statistics in Mexico. After reading his paper, Castillos teacher promised to help him get the college education he wanted, but never thought he would have. Through the connections he made and his academic achievements, Castillo was accepted into Lycoming College with a full tuition scholarship. He said that once he came to Lycoming, he really felt like he found a community he belonged to. He spent his first three years here taking as many classes and joining as many clubs as he could, hoping to experience a little bit of everything. He dedicated his final year to preparation for grad school at Simmons University in Boston, Mass., where hell study to be a family nurse practitioner (FNP). However, he doesnt look forward to leaving Lycoming. Looking back and cherishing all the moments Ive had here is happy and sad at the same time, said Castillo. "I never really knew what homesickness was until I got to Lycoming and had to leave. I could not be more grateful to have spent the best 4 years of my life surrounded by such amazing people at this amazing institution which has become my home." After becoming an FNP, Castillo plans to have a permanent job in the United States, but will periodically make trips back to his community in Mexico to provide free medical care, hoping to help people who cannot afford to help themselves. LIVONIA, MICH. Madonna University hosted another Missing in Michigan, May 25, event in an effort to raise awareness of missing persons in Michigan. Members of local law enforcement were on hand to answer questions about missing persons cases and to take tips on old or new cases. The event was organized by Officer Sarah Krebs of the Michigan State Police, and Jessica Zarate, Madonna forensic science assistant professor. In the morning, some 60 law enforcement officers went through missing persons training, and family members of missing loved ones held a private session to share tips and ask questions about their cases. The afternoon session was open to the public and gave family members an opportunity to share their stories. Alexis Theeck decided to pursue forensic science at Madonna after her uncle, Kevin Graves, went missing in 2018 from the Electric Forest concert, on the west side of the state. Theeck wants to use her degree to "help get more resources to search for missing persons and to bring awareness to each case," she said. "I want to help families get answers that we haven't been able to get." The family has purchased a billboard right outside the Electric Forest concert venue in Rothbury for this year's event, hoping that someone will see it and provide information about Kevin Graves' whereabouts. Zarate and several students who helped put on the event are pictured in front of the backdrop that hold photos of many loved ones who went missing in Michigan, some as long ago as 1969. 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. BEKO, renowned for its advanced technology and innovative home appliances in Europe, is now making its mark in the Philippines. With a strong commitment to delivering top-notch products, the brand is introducing the same level of European technology to Filipino households, revolutionizing the way people experience everyday tasks. Speaking to Manila Standard Life during its trade launch held at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel Manila, a Beko executive said that their business has grown exponentially since introducing the brand to the market and having a local ambassador to introduce their products. Our sales increased 114 percent. Right now, we have partnered with influencers in amplifying all our efforts with Judy Ann Santos. We believe she is the perfect product endorser for the brand, Bekos country director in the Philippines Gurhan Gunal said alluding to TV host and actress Judy Ann who was introduced last year as their celebrity endorser. Gurhan Gunal, Country Manager of Beko Philippines Beko Philippines is entering a new phase of business in its journey to bring the European brand to a sustainable lifestyle for Filipino customers. In celebration of its third year of operations, Beko announces its goal of being the number one European brand in the Philippine market in the next five years. We are very happy to be holding this trade launch for our dealers and stakeholders as we share that Beko will be a bigger and better brand in the Philippines in 2023 and beyond, said Gunal who also presented the companys business development plans of Expand, Grow, Connectivity, and Sustainability for the Philippines along with the brands hero technologies at the anniversary trade launch. This is the heart and reason why this year, Beko will be made available soon in other appliance stores nationwide as it continues to expand its distribution to other retail channels. To further grow brand awareness and visibility they also announced the renewal of their brand ambassadorship with Judy Ann alongside digital and traditional media investments. As one of the leading manufacturers of home appliances, Beko promotes the Live Like a Pro lifestyle and inspires Filipinos to experience a more convenient way of living through European-style product lines. They stated that Beko Pilipinas Corporation is the exclusive distributor of Hitachi Major Domestic Appliances as part of their brand portfolio. Beko PH and APAC Executives Beko appliances are made smart, relevant, and designed to easily support Filipino families. With the HomeWhiz function, you can easily connect to your Beko appliances with the use of your smartphones. As part of Bekos global sustainability effort, Beko Philippines announces its partnership with Plastic Credit Exchange, which serves a global ecosystem of carefully vetted partners that recover, process, and recycle plastic waste with programs that improve livelihood, scale up social impact, and reduce the flow of plastic pollution into nature. The partnership is in line with Extended Producer Responsibility Law, which holds companies responsible for the plastic packaging they use throughout the lifecycle of their products. Showcasing hero technologies As Beko marked its third year in the Philippines, the appliance brand held a grand trade launch for its dealers at the Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom with the theme Empowered to Live Like A Pro. During the whole-day event, guests, including media and dealers, got to experience Bekos range of appliances. They also got tips from a chef and an interior designer on how to manage their homes like a pro. Beko Philippines showcased its hero technologies, such as HarvestFresh, ProSmart Inverter Technology, Steam Cure, Hygiene+, AeroPerfect TM, and many others. These technologies help you live like a pro. Among the products displayed that day were cookers. The HII64205F2MT is a 60x50cm built-in induction hob with four Cooking Zones and two 2 Flexizone, nine cooking levels, and a glass burner plate. Meanwhile, the BBIS14300XCSE 60x60cm. multifunction built-in oven with six cooking functions, including Steam Aid feature for moist and even cooking. Dyeun Zapanta, Marketing Head of Beko Philippines There were also refrigerators, one of the appliances which Beko is famous for. The GNO480E40HFGBPH is a 16.6cf inverter multi-door refrigerator with Neofrost Triple Cooling Technology, HarvestFresh, Prosmart Inverter Compressor, in sleek black glass door finish. Also featured is the Hitachi Refrigerator R-WB640VG0-1 GBK with Vacuum Technology with Platinum Catalyst, Inverter X Dual-fan Cooling with Eco-thermo sensor. Other appliances include the CEG7302B, a bean-to-cup espresso machine, and the BSEOG180/181 2Hp air-conditioner with Go Clean Technology, MicroClean TM Filter, Gold Guard, ZoneFollow, 4D Auto Swing, and HomeWhiz. Beko appliances are available at 1st Megasaver, Abenson, All Home, Ansons, Appliance Centrum, Asian Home Appliance, Automatic Centre, BHF, Echo Electrical, Fair N Square, Gloria Bazaar, Great World, Hat, J Marketing, Lazada, Magic Appliance, Manhattan Appliance, Mikes Department Store, NB Marketing, Pricewise, RS David, Our Builders, Robinsons Appliance, Savers, Shopee, SM Appliance, Solidmark, SVC & Plusign, United Motoliance, and Western Appliance. For more information about Beko in the Philippines, go to http://beko.ph or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph and their Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/bekoph/. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has prevented from leaving three prospective Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) believed to be victims of a human trafficking syndicate. In another preemptive move, the bureau also denied the entry of two foreign-registered sex offenders (RSO) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the three Filipino passengers were denied departure at the countrys premier airport as they were about to leave for the Middle East. Members of the BIs travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) decided to offload the passengers from their flights after they admitted the real purpose of the travel during secondary inspection, Tansingco said. They all initially alleged they were traveling as tourists and one of them even pretended to be a nanny for the 16-year-old boy who is her supposed companion in her trip, the BI chief added. The drama however, easily collapsed as the purported nanny later confessed that she was not a tourist, but would be traveling to Syria to work as a domestic helper. Another passenger claimed she was going for a vacation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but later admitted she was going to Lebanon where she had previously worked as a household help. The third passenger presented a fake Saudi Arabian, visa but eventually surrendered her United Arab Emirates (UAE) visa, and divulged she was going to Dubai to work as a maid. The three rejected passengers were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for investigation Meanwhile, BI agents denied the entry for two registered sex offenders (RSO) who were deemed a threat to public morals. They were identified as Donell English and Brandon Todd Killen, both American nationals, were found to have criminal records as sex offenders. Sex offenders pose a significant risk to society, and the Bureau remains steadfast in its efforts to prevent their entry into the country, the BI said. A total of 75 RSOs were prevented from entering the country from January to May this year. This sends a clear message that the Philippines is committed to upholding its values, safeguarding public morals, and protecting its citizens from potential threats. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Following the spectacular sellout success of its November 2023 Asia/Australia shows, internationally acclaimed British rock band Coldplay has revealed its highly-anticipated return to the Philippines. The band confirmed its upcoming concert as part of its Music of the Spheres world tour. Presented by Live Nation, Coldplays performance in the country is set to take place at the Philippine Arena on January 19, 2024. This will mark Coldplays return to the Philippines after its A Head Full of Dreams concert tour in 2017. British rock band Coldplay is set to perform at the worlds largest indoor arena, the Philippine Arena, on January 19, 2024 Get ready to experience a technicolor spectacle as Coldplay returns to Philippines! Be prepared to sing your favorite anthems from this amazing band who performs a crafted-to-perfection show, while championing sustainability, Live Nation wrote in a social media post adding that there will be a pre-sale on June 19, while general sale happens on June 20. In addition to the groups stop in the Philippines, the four-member band will also be thrilling fans in Thailand (Feb. 3) and Singapore (Jan. 23, 24, 26, and 27). Coldplay is composed of four membersChris Martin (lead vocalist and pianist), Will Champion (drummer), Jonny Buckland (lead guitarist), and Guy Berryman (bassist) Coldplay has also confirmed it will make a limited number of Infinity Tickets available for the shows at a later date. Infinity Tickets are released for every Coldplay show to make the Music of the Spheres World Tour accessible to fans for an affordable price. They will cost the equivalent of $20 per ticket. They are restricted to a maximum of two tickets per purchaser, and must be bought in pairs (which will be located next to each other). The band has also revealed its support acts for Tokyo (Yoasobi), Kaohsiung (Accusefive), Kuala Lumpur (Bunga), and Jakarta (Rahmani Astrini). The band last performed in the Philippines in April 2017 for its A Head Full of Dreams concert tour DHL is the official logistics partner of the Music of the Spheres World Tour, supporting the band in its mission to cut the tours direct emissions by 50 percent. Fans can register for access to the ticket presale at signup.coldplay.com now. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Smoke from a large fire filled a Boston neighborhood Sunday after a three-story house was consumed by flames, leaving 25 residents displaced and five people injured, including two firefighters, fire officials said. The 2-alarm fire started at around 7:10 a.m. on the back porches of 571 Cummins Highway, the Boston Fire Department tweeted, as thick black smoke filled the neighborhood. At around 7:30 p.m., the fire was knocked down but the buildings back porches had collapsed, a subsequent tweet read. An aggressive interior and exterior attack helped to prevent the fire from spreading to the surrounding buildings, officials shared on Twitter, including photos. Boston Deputy Fire Chief Brian Tully said three residents and two firefighters were injured. All were taken by Boston EMS officials and had minor injuries. Tully added that 25 residents were displaced and would receive help from Red Cross Massachusetts to house them. It is a good thing that everybody got out because if this was like in the dead of night it could have been a lot worse, said Tully according to Boston 25 News. Read more: Two arrested after shots fired in Worcester early Sunday By around 8:37 p.m., fire crews were still in the area to monitor for any hot spots, Boston fire officials said. The department said its Fire Investigation Unit was looking into what might have caused the fire. Celebrity chefs Nick DiGiovanni and Gordon Ramsay recently defeated the Guinness World Record weight requirement for the worlds largest beef wellington, and received over 1.9 million views on Youtube for doing so. Following Gordons personal recipe, the chefs cooked a 56.79 pound dish in Boston, which is 20 times the standard size for a beef wellington of 3.13 pounds, according to a press release from Guinness World Record. The weight limit for the world record was 44 pounds. The dish required backup. Giovannis friends, Max the Meat Guy, Guga Foods, and The Golden Balance, along with a team from Boston, helped to perfect the beef wellington, which Ramsay is famous for. When DiGiovanni asked Ramsay on how to perfect a beef wellington, Ramsay said, First of all weve got to get that sear, no color, no flavor. The team broke up allowing Gordon to work on his homemade sauce and the remaining team to work on the beef wellington itself. One of the first steps was to make the crepes that would be used to wrap up the beef wellington, preventing any leakage from the dish and to keep that golden brown look on the outside. In order to bound the meat together, Guga Foods and Max the Meat Guy had to use meat glue which required them to wear hazmat suits and gas masks since exposure to the glue can lead to health issues. I get scared every single time I have to use it, said Guga. If you breathe it in, it can literally make your lungs stick together, said Max the Meat Guy The two members delicately dusted the meat glue onto the beef, and continued to layer the pieces on top of one another. Then they used butcher string to keep it all together while the meat set in the fridge. After wrapping the meat in plastic, the meat was immersed in warm water, a method known as sous vide. The meat was meant to cook overnight for ten hours. However, when DiGiovanni checked on the beef at around 5 a.m. the next morning, he found the water to be cold and the water heater off, since a fuse was blown. DiGiovanni decided to blast the water heater in hopes that the meat would be fully cooked in time. A few hours later, three of the members gently cut the plastic wrapping off of it just like a little baby, a little meat baby, said Max the Meat Guy. After fully unwrapping the meat, it came out as the perfect medium rare. The next task was to prepare the meat so it could be torched by patting it down to make it as dry as possible and removing all the string that was holding the meat together. The team then painted the meat with a layer of mustard. While the layer of mustard was being worked on, DiGiovanni and Guga Foods wrapped the meat in a layer of prosciutto and duxelles which is a mixture of shallots, mushrooms, garlic and thyme. After, they wrapped the meat in the puff pastry and crepes, with a lattice pattern and then painted it in egg wash before placing the dish in a walk in oven. Aside from cutting it open and feeding it to Gordon, this is definitely the scariest part of this challenge, said DiGiovanni. Two hours later, the team took the beef wellington out and found it to be a perfect golden brown. World's largest beef wellington made by Gordon Ramsay, Nick DiGiovanni, and their team. (Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records)Guinness World Records Nick DiGiovanni, Max the Meat Guy, Guga Foods, and The Golden Balance stand behind the world's largest beef wellington. (Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records) Before finding out whether the two chefs were titled with the world record, Ramsay ate a slice of the beef wellington accompanied by his homemade sauce. That is delicious, he exclaimed. Guinness World Records Adjudicator Andrew Glass provided the results and acknowledged their success of beating the record, which motivated Ramsay to pick Glass up and swing him around on his shoulders, and then congratulate DiGiovanni. This is DiGiovannis eighth record for Guinness World Record, since he began attempting titles in 2021. Currently, DiGiovanni holds the record for the largest cake pop and largest roll of sushi, and has also set records for the largest donation of turkey in 24 hours and the fastest time to fillet a 10 pound fish, which is a record previously held by his partner on this task, Gordon. DiGiovanni has completed a lot of these tasks with his friend Lynn Davis, commonly known as Lynja, including visiting the most fast food restaurants in 24 hours. This summer, Ramsay plans to open his second Boston restaurant called Gordon Ramsay Burger, and is opening New Englands first Hells Kitchen at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. A Brockton man who Boston police believe shot an officer during an attempted robbery on Friday is expected to appear in a Roxbury court on Monday. John Lazare, 23, is facing several charges including assault and battery with a firearm, armed robbery, and assault with a dangerous weapon, Boston 25 News reported. Lazare was robbing a pizza delivery driver at around 9:15 p.m. at 44 Cedric St. on Friday, CBS News Boston reported. The unidentified officer saw the robbery and recognized Lazare from the description of a suspect who also robbed a delivery driver on Wednesday. After the officer approached Lazare, the suspect shot him multiple times then fled to the roof of a nearby building, according to CBS News. Massachusetts State Police responded to assist. Read more: Two arrested after shots fired in Worcester early Sunday The officer was brought to Boston Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, state police said. People should not be feeling comfortable shooting at the police, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said during a press conference on Saturday, according to WBZ News Radio. They shouldnt feel comfortable shooting at anyone. Boston police and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office are investigating the shooting. Hayden also spoke with Cox on Saturday. Were happy to know that hes okay, Hayden said about the injured officer, Channel 7 reported. Lazare will be arraigned in Roxbury District Court on Monday, CBS News Boston said. A Brockton man who Boston police believe shot an officer during an attempted robbery on Friday was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing following his court appearance on Monday, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said. John Lazare, 23, was charged with armed robbery, assault and battery with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm), carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and receiving stolen property, Haydens office said. After police received surveillance video of Lazare robbing a pizza delivery driver at gunpoint outside of 44 Cedric St. on June 7, where Lazare paid the driver $100 then demanded $120 back at gunpoint, an officer on Friday saw a similar robbery in progress with another pizza delivery driver, Haydens office said. After the officer approached Lazare, he shot the officer multiple times, wounding him in the leg and back, Haydens office said. Responding officers later found Lazare on a rooftop before he jumped off, landing in an alleyway and injuring his leg. A 9mm shell casing was found inside the main entrance next to a silver and black firearm. The firearm, a Smith and Wesson 9mm had one round in the chamber and 10 rounds in the magazine, Haydens office said. The officer was brought to Boston Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, state police said. NBC 10 Boston reported that the officer, who has not been identified, was released from the hospital late Sunday night. Boston police and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office are investigating the shooting. Any shooting of a police officer is of immense concern to all of us in law enforcement and society. The fact that this officer once worked as an investigator in our office makes it hit particularly close to home. I am relieved his injuries are not life-threatening and I commend his bravery along with the other officers who were injured in this horrific incident, Hayden said in a statement. Lazares dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 23, WCVB said. Manhattan attorney and Boston native Matthew Nilo was released following his appearance in court on Monday after he was charged in connection with the sexual assault of four women in Charlestown 15 years ago, WCVB reported. Nilo, 35, pleaded not guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to rape and one count of indecent assault and battery. Nilos attorney agreed to conditions that includes bail of $500,000 and requires Nilo to wear a GPS tracker, surrender his passport, have no contact with the victims and stay 1,000 feet away from Terminal Street in Charlestown unless accompanied by his attorney, WCVB reported. On May 30, Nilo was arrested in his Weehawken, New Jersey, home in connection with several rapes in Charlestown in 2007 and 2008, the FBI said in a joint announcement with Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden last month. Boston police said Nilo sexually assaulted four women in the Terminal Street area in Charlestown on Aug. 18, 2007, Nov. 22, 2007, Aug. 5, 2008 and Dec. 23, 2008. Cox said all of the cases were DNA connected, according to The Boston Globe. The FBI said it used investigative genetic genealogy to help identify the person believed responsible. This combines traditional DNA analysis with publicly available genealogy research and historical records to identify potential leads and suspects in a case, Joseph Bonavolonta, FBI Bostons special agent in charge, said, according to NBC Boston. The FBI also obtained utensils and drinking glasses officials say Nilo used at a corporate event, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum said to WCVB. From one of the glasses, the Boston Police Crime Lab was able to obtain a male DNA profile, which is found to match the suspect profile from the three Terminal Street rapes, she told the news outlet. After being stabbed 58 times in a matter of seconds, Amanda Dabrowski was alert and talking. Four hours later, she was dead. The former employee of Bristol Myers Squibb in Danvers had been meeting with members of a book club at OConnors Restaurant & Bar in Worcester on July 3, 2019, when she got up to use the restroom at the popular Irish restaurant and pub. Authorities say as she returned, she encountered Carlos Asencio, a former coworker she had briefly dated, who confronted her, pulled out two knives and stabbed her repeatedly. In Worcester Superior Court Monday, where Asencio is on trial facing a murder charge, witnesses testified to hearing a scream that evening that caused them to rush to where it was coming from. Several people, including former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray who had been dining at the restaurant with his wife, rushed to pull Asencio to the ground and disarm him, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Asencio was acting out a months-long revenge plot. But new details revealed in court Monday showed Dabrowski was conscious and talking after the stabbing and would die four hours later after being taken to an area hospital. Miss Dabrowski was talking, she was alert, she was conscious, she was suffering, Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Scanlon said during her opening statement on Monday. Witnesses at the scene that night also testified Dabrowski was alert and talking in the moments after the stabbing. James Salsman, who testified during Mondays trial, said he had applied his belt to an open stab wound in Dabrowskis arm and that Dabrowski said hes not supposed to be here. MassLive previously reported Asencio was a suspect in an attack on Dabrowski at her apartment in Ayer on Easter of that year in which she fought off a masked intruder, at one point grabbing a kitchen knife and ultimately pushing the assailant out a window before he ran off. Authorities say Asencio drove to Canada where he boarded a flight to Cancun, Mexico. That was the last Dabrowski knew of his whereabouts. But in 2019 a Worcester couple told MassLive they had encountered Asencio on the streets of Worcester about two weeks before the stabbing and invited him to stay with them at the abandoned warehouse in which they were living. On Monday, authorities said Asencio during that time purchased a car on Craigslist and drove to Dabrowskis parents home, where he duct taped a cell phone to her car and later used it to track her to OConnors. Three days to track her vehicle. Four months to get revenge. Six minutes of walking through that restaurant to find her, Scanlon said during opening statements. It took only 15 seconds to inflict wounds that were fatal. Scanlon said Dabrowski was alert and talking even when emergency personnel put her in the ambulance. But it was on the ride to the hospital she lost consciousness, Scanlon said. About four hours after the stabbing, Dabrowski was pronounced dead. Jurors during the first day of Asencios trial heard from several witnesses attesting to the details of the stabbing at OConnors and Asencios subsequent booking. It is unclear whether jurors will hear about the attack on Dabrowski in Ayer earlier that year or details on how Asencio returned to the U.S. Neither were mentioned during opening statements or testimony on Monday morning. The defense said it plans to show that Asencio was having a psychotic episode when he stabbed and killed Dabrowski and is therefore not criminally responsible. An ice cream company that sells its products in stores such as Stop & Shop and Whole Foods is to return $60,000 to investors who were sold unregistered percentage interests and will need to pay a fine of $50,000. Thomas K. Schmidt is the founder and sole manager of Snows Acquisition, LLC, which does business as Barts and Snows Ice Cream and is based in Greenfield. The company admitted to facts spelled out in a consent order filed by Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvins Securities Division, according to Galvins office. That order says Schmidt sold $225,000 in percentage interests to family and friends since he bought the company back in 2016, according to Galvins office. Schmidt was reportedly not licensed to sell securities in Massachusetts and none of the percentage interests were registered with the Securities Division. Although Schmidt has to return $60,000 to investors, it will not make them whole, Galvin said. Unfortunately, due to the financial situation of this business, these investors will be able to recoup only a portion of the money they invested, he said in a prepared statement. Galvin said Schmidt also admitted to using the companys business account to write nearly $25,000 in checks to himself as the businesss manager. The three checks Schmidt received in 2019 from Snows each totaled $5,586.76, according to court documents. Barts and Snows Ice Cream Company is a small business that has between eight and 10 employees who oversee everything within the company such as sales and marketing, production, distribution and human resources. Throughout New England, Barts and Snows ice cream has been sold at stores such as Stop & Shop, Big Y World Class Market and Whole Foods Market. Their ice cream is also sold at Scoop Shop in Greenfield. I strongly encourage anyone considering an investment to contact my Securities Division and check on its legitimacy, even if the person selling the investment is someone they know personally, said Galvin. Arlington Public Schools have been delayed an hour Monday morning due to a bear sighting, school officials said. The superintendents office confirmed to MassLive the one-hour delay was due to a bear sighting but did not specify where the bear was seen. The delay impacts all schools in the district. Arlington Police said a bear was spotted near Paul Revere Road and Park Avenue. There was also a sighting near Scituate Street. ... officers are in the area of all schools at this time & the ACO is working with the Environmental Police attempting to locate, police said. They are asking people to report any sightings to police dispatch at 781-643-1212. Where black bears live in Massachusetts has been expanding. However, they dont often reach Arlington. The statewide population of bears is estimated to be over 4,500 animals and is growing and expanding eastward, the states website explains. Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires. However, young males and some breeding females are living in other eastern Massachusetts communities, the website states. Dispersing young bears and wandering males often find themselves east of Route 495, according to the website. The state advises residents to make lots of noise if they see a black bear. The bear will usually leave accompanied by its young. Habituated bears may ignore minor harassment, the website states. If you continue to see bears, check your property and remove any potential food sources. Allen Corson didnt realize hed been stabbed. The adrenalin of trying to subdue a man attacking a woman, and the chaotic aftermath combined to drive any idea of pain out of his head, he testified Monday. He said he didnt realize hed been injured until a bystander pointed it out to him: Excuse me, youve been stabbed. Corson and several others testified Monday about their attempts to subdue Carlos Asencio, charged with murder in the July 3, 2019 death of Amanda Dabrowski and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for the injury to Corson. Asencios trial began Monday. Allen Corson testifies regarding a stab wound he said he received while trying to help Amanda Dabrowski the night she died on July 3, 2019.Dave Thompson Corson testified he had been hiking with friends that day, before going out to dinner at OConnors Restaurant & Bar in Worcester. When he first heard Dabrowskis scream, he assumed as others also testified that perhaps a young child was unhappy. When he went to investigate and saw what appeared to be a man assaulting a woman, Corson said he leaped into action, locking Asencios arms behind his back. He said he didnt know at what time during the incident he sustained the injury. Read More: Amanda Dabrowski was alert and talking after being stabbed 58 times Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Tim Murray, who formerly served as mayor of Worcester and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, testified he also joined the struggle. I heard a horrific scream, he said. It kind of continued, and I jumped up. Murray testified Asencio had a knife in his hand, which Murray described as six or seven inches long. Former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray testifies at the murder trial for Carlos Asencio. Murray testified he helped to subdue Asencio after Asencio stabbed Amanda Dabrowski on July 3, 2019 at O'Connor's Restaurant.Dave Thompson Richard Dion and Noah Dion, the father and brother, respectively, of a server at the restaurant, both testified then helped to tackle and hold Asencio on the ground. Multiple witnesses testified they heard Asencio say words to the effect of just kill me now multiple times. James Salsman, another patron at the restaurant, testified Dabrowski was conscious, alert, speaking after the attack. Salsman said he attempted to use his belt as a tourniquet on Dabrowskis arm when he saw a very large gash, and eventually a woman who identified herself as a nurse took over lifesaving efforts. Jurors watched 15 minutes of surveillance video from the restaurant, showing the incident, and also heard testimony from Richard Contreras and Lydia Willey, a then-homeless couple who said they tried to help Asencio find resources and shelter in June and July of 2019. Willey initially didnt recognize Asencio in the courtroom due to his change in appearance. Asencio, who wore his hair cropped closely Monday, with a dress shirt and die, in 2019 had wild, curly hair, a little facial hair, and was very thin, according to Willey. She and Contreras testified they met Asencio in June, though they didnt know his last name. Contreras said he was listed in his phone as Bus Carlos. Willey said Asencio told the two parts of his story, claiming he had lost everything after some sort of infidelity involving his girlfriend and a coworker, with Asencio eventually telling the couple he had pulled a gun in one incident, but claimed he only did so to try to extricate himself from the situation. The stories kind of changed a little. We knew that we did not know the whole story, Willey said. We really only wanted to help this person. Lydia Willey testifies Monday at the murder trial for Carlos Asencio, accused of killing Amanda Dabrowski in July of 2019.Dave Thompson Contreras referenced a text message he received from Asencio in June of 2019 that stated 100% my life may be over, but at least Ill be able to help someone on the way out. Willey recalled carrying a backpack for Asencio that she found strangely heavy, but didnt examine at the time. On July 3, she said, Asencio told the two he was going to the Mustard Seed meal kitchen while the two took a nap, and that when he returned, with a single loaf of bread, he seemed giddy, telling them he had been invited to dinner at OConnors by a friend, making a to-do about what he should wear. It was the first time that he had shown really any outward signs of happiness, Willey testified, adding Asencio answered in the affirmative when she asked him if it were about a girl. When the two found out later that night about the stabbing from a live video on Facebook showing Asencio being pulled from OConnors Willey testified she searched through one of Asencios bags, finding a handwritten note, binoculars and duck tape, which she found suspicious. She also said she later found that the bag she had been carrying contained drain cleaner, glass bottles filled with fluids with pieces of cloth hanging from them and screws. If you were packing a bag to be homeless, this isnt necessarily something you would bring, she said. Asencios attorney, Robert Griffin, questioned the couple regarding their impressions of Asencios mental health. Both mentioned he at times seemed depressed and they were concerned he could be suicidal. Contreras testified that Asencio told him once that he might be schizophrenic. Griffin has made Asencios mental health central to his defense, arguing Asencios mental health problems show a lack of criminal responsibility. Beth Dabrowski, Amanda Dabrowskis mother, testified first Monday morning, telling the jury her daughter was a beautiful, compassionate, intelligent young woman, who she would see every week. Her daughter mentioned to her once that she was in a relationship with Asencio. Dimitrios Apizidos, a plumber who was doing some work at Bristol Myers Squibb where Dabrowski worked, testified that he went on dates with Dabrowski one or a few times, but that he decided not to pursue a relationship because he didnt want to cause issues in the workplace. Asencio once confronted Apizidos, he said, asking if he had taken Dabrowski on a date. I said I did, but I told him I wasnt going any further with it, Apizidos said. He asked me if she mentioned she had a boyfriend. I said no. He said Asencio seemed heartbroken at the time. Worcester police officers also testified Monday regarding their response to OConnors and the aftermath, booking and fingerprinting Asencio, who one officer said told him he was from Chechnya. Jurors watched the video of officers booking Asencio, during which is seen leaving a voice message telling his parents I probably wont be able to see you for a long time. Im in Worcester prison right now, mentioning hell probably have a public defender as a lawyer. Testimony resumes tomorrow, with the jury expected to take a viewing trip to OConnors. A Holyoke man was sentenced after he was found guilty of raping a child. On June 1, a Hampden County Superior Court judge sentenced Hector Heredia-Alamo of Holyoke to 13-15 years in state prison, according to the Hampden County District Attorneys Office. A jury found Heredia-Alamo guilty of the following charges on May 23: rape of a child, indecent assault and two counts of battery on a child under 14. Officials from the Hampden County District Attorneys Special Victims Unit began investigating Heredia-Alamo after the Holyoke Police Department received a report of a sexual assault of a child in October 2020. Officials said Heredia-Alamo, who is in his 50s, knew the victim and abused him or her several times for about two years. The last reported incident was witnessed by the victims younger sibling who informed other family members about the abuse, officials said. Both the victim and the sibling testified about the abuse at Heredia-Alamos trial. Acts of violence on children will be met with our most diligent efforts and the full force of the law. We will do all that we can within the law to protect this communitys children and punish those who seek to hurt them, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said. I thank the Holyoke Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Eileen Sears and the members of the Special Victims Unit for their skillful work and steadfast effort to secure justice and protect the vulnerable. HOLYOKE Ward 2 City Councilor Wilmer E. Puello-Mota turned down a plea offer Monday in his Rhode Island criminal case. The state of Rhode Islands charges against him possession of child pornography and later forgery, counterfeiting and obstruction of the judicial system now move toward trial. A trial calendar meeting will take place July 25, according to court records updated Monday. The states last and best offer was a sentence of five years with two years to serve in prison and three years of post-release supervision on the possession of child pornography charge, said Brian Hodge, director of communications for the office of Rhode Island Attorney General. The maximum sentence under Rhode Island law is up to five years in prison. Hodge said the sentences for forgery, counterfeiting and obstruction of the judicial system would have been concurrent under the proposed plea agreement. Puello-Mota, who remains free on bail, declined to comment Monday. His attorney, John M. Cicilline, didnt return calls left Monday morning seeking comment. Puello-Mota, 27, is serving as Holyokes Ward 2 city councilor at a salary of $10,000 a year, having successfully sued for reinstatement to office, after councilors tried to boot him for missing three months of meetings while in a Rhode Island jail for violating his bail in the case. Puello-Mota has not pulled papers to run for reelection, according to city clerk Brenna Murphy McGee. Prosecutors in Rhode Island charged Puello-Mota with possession of child pornography in January 2021. Police in Warwick, Rhode Island, discovered sexually explicit images of an underage girl on his phone while investigating Puello-Motas report of a stolen handgun. Puello-Mota told police that a girl to whom he promised to pay $1,000 allowed a group of men into a hotel room who stole his wallet, keys, $1,000 and a safe that contained a 9 mm Beretta handgun and two, 10-round magazines. The girl, who was 17, said she met Puello-Mota online and he became her sugar daddy, sending her money through Venmo. She would send him explicit videos in return. Puello-Mota told law enforcement that he thought the girl was 22, only learning later she was 17. In 2022, Rhode Island prosecutors further charged Puello-Mota with forgery, counterfeiting and obstruction of the judicial system. Puello-Mota, then a technical sergeant with the Massachusetts Air National Guards 104th Fighter Wing, allegedly told his one of his commanders that the charges in Rhode Island were not real and that he was instead participating in a university study. As a result, he is accused of forging a memo that said he was being considered for deployment with the guard, should the case against him in Rhode Island resolve in his favor. Prosecutors said Puello-Mota had someone pose as Maj. Samuel Bath, commander of the 104th Security Forces Squadron, during a 12-minute call with Special Assistant Attorney General Arthur DeFelice in an effort to get favorable treatment. DeFelice said he learned later that he had not spoken with Barth. Puello-Mota has since been separated from the Air National Guard, a unit spokesman said last month. Following the May 2022 arrest, Puello-Mota spent 90 days in custody in Rhode Island, through the middle of August last year. The City Council tried to expel him. But he sued and a judge ruled the council had no legal basis to kick him off because he had not been convicted. In November 2022, Rhode Island prosecutors filed a bail violation after Puello-Mota attended a Halloween party at the Morgan School in Holyoke in violation of Puello-Motas bail restrictions instructing him to stay away from juveniles. In November, the Attorney Generals office wanted him held without bail. But the court instead allowed Puello-Mota to admit he had violated a condition of his bail by having contact with juveniles, and then turned to the issue of the appropriate sentence for the bail violation. The Attorney Generals Office asked the court to impose a sentence of 60 days to serve on the bail violation. Over this objection, the court released the defendant on personal recognizance, the same bail previously set in the child pornography case. Drivers began longer commutes Monday after an elevated section of Interstate 95 collapsed in Philadelphia a day earlier following damage caused by a tanker truck carrying flammable cargo catching fire. Sundays fire closed a heavily traveled segment of the East Coasts main north-south highway indefinitely. Newscasts warned of traffic nightmares and gave advice on detours, urging drivers to take more time to travel. This is really going to have a ripple effect throughout the region, AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell said Monday. She advised people to avoid peak travel times. Tidwell also anticipated that drivers will incur additional costs more gasoline, more wear and tear on their cars, additional tolls, in terms of leaving Pennsylvania into New Jersey and then back into Pennsylvania. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority said it was operating three extra morning and late afternoon trains on its Trenton, New Jersey, line, and adding capacity to regularly scheduled lines during peak hours to help support the city and regions travel needs following the collapse. Transportation officials warned of extensive delays and street closures and urged drivers to avoid the area in the citys northeast corner. Officials said the tanker contained a petroleum product that may have been hundreds of gallons of gasoline. The fire took about an hour to get under control. The northbound lanes of I-95 were gone and the southbound lanes were compromised by heat from the fire, said Derek Bowmer, battalion chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines caused explosions underground, he added. Some kind of crash happened on a ramp underneath northbound I-95 around 6:15 a.m., said state Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph, and the northbound section above the fire collapsed quickly. The southbound lanes were heavily damaged, and we are assessing that now, Rudolph said. Gov. Josh Shapiro, who said Sunday evening he planned to issue a disaster declaration Monday to speed federal funds, said at least one vehicle was still trapped beneath the collapsed roadway. Were still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse, he said. There were no reports of injuries. A massive concrete slab fell from I-95 onto the road below. Shapiro said his flight over the area showed just remarkable devastation. I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died, he said. Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, said he was driving south toward the citys airport when he noticed thick, black smoke rising over the highway. As he passed the fire, the road beneath began to dip, creating a noticeable depression that was visible in video he took of the scene, he said. He saw traffic in his rearview mirror come to a halt. Soon after, the northbound lanes of the highway crumbled. It was crazy timing, Fusetti said. For it to buckle and collapse that quickly, its pretty remarkable. The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a $212 million reconstruction project that wrapped up four years ago, Rudolph said. There was no immediate time frame for reopening the highway, but officials would consider a fill-in situation or a temporary structure to accelerate the effort, he said. Motorists were sent on a 43-mile (69-kilometer) detour, which was going better than it would do on a weekday, Rudolph said. The fact that the collapse happened on a Sunday helped ease congestion, but he expected traffic to back up significantly on all the detour areas. Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Michael Carroll said the I-95 segment carries roughly 160,000 vehicles per day and was likely the busiest interstate in Pennsylvania. Shapiro said he had been spoken directly to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had been assured that there would be absolutely no delay in getting federal funds quickly to rebuild what he called a critical roadway as safely and efficiently as possible. But Shapiro he said the complete rebuild of I-95 would take some number of months, and in the meantime officials were looking at interim solutions to connect both sides of I-95 to get traffic through the area. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a Twitter post that President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and that White House officials were in contact with Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenneys offices to offer assistance. Buttigieg, in a social media post, called it a major artery for people and goods and said the closure would have significant impacts on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to investigate the fire and collapse. Most drivers traveling the I-95 corridor between Delaware and New York City use the New Jersey Turnpike rather than the segment of interstate where the collapse occurred. Until 2018, drivers did not have a direct highway connection between I-95 in Pennsylvania and I-95 in New Jersey. They had to use a few miles of surface roads, with traffic lights, to get from one to the other. Officials were also concerned about the environmental effects of runoff into the nearby Delaware River. After a sheen was seen in the Delaware River near the collapse site, the Coast Guard deployed a boom to contain the material. Ensign Josh Ledoux said the tanker had a capacity of 8,500 gallons (32,176 liters), but the contents did not appear to be spreading into the environment. Thousands of tons of steel and concrete were piled atop the site of the fire, and heavy construction equipment would be required to start to remove the debris, said Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphias Office of Emergency Management. The fire was strikingly similar to another blaze in Philadelphia in March 1996, when an illegal tire dump under I-95 caught fire, melting guard rails and buckling the pavement. Lawmakers intend to schedule this years mandatory sales tax holiday for the weekend of Aug. 12-13, Senate President Karen Spilka said Monday. With a Thursday deadline to set the dates approaching, Spilka told reporters the Legislature intends to select the second weekend in August to suspend the states 6.25 percent sales tax on most retail sales of less than $2,500. We will be doing a sales tax holiday August 12th, 13th, that weekend, the Ashland Democrat said. Setting the date requires the adoption of a resolution in both branches. House Speaker Ron Mariano, who was with Spilka as she made her declaration, did not take issue publicly with the dates declared by the Senate leader. And while Spilka said she know[s] people look forward to the weekend that business leaders view as a major boon, there appears to be little interest among Beacon Hill Democrats in expanding the annual sales tax holiday beyond one weekend in August, the requirement under a 2018 law. No, were not there yet, Spilka replied Monday when asked about offering a longer break from the levy. But we will be doing the weekend. Gov. Maura Healey, who has pitched permanent tax relief measures as a necessary step to reduce the cost of living in Massachusetts and make the Bay State more competitive among its peers, was noncommittal about whether she would put her political muscle behind a sales tax holiday expansion. Some Republicans, including her predecessor, unsuccessfully pursued that idea. Asked whether she viewed a lengthier suspension of the 6.25 percent sales tax as a way to boost competitiveness, Healey instead pivoted to the pitch that she regularly uses to explain why she thinks people should stay in or move to Massachusetts. Theres a lot we need to do and continue to do to be competitive, Healey said. We talked about tax relief, we talked about housing and the importance of working to reduce housing costs, child care costs and the like. But theres so many reasons why people should stay in Massachusetts, should come to Massachusetts. When we look at, you know, access to education, access to health care, access to reproductive health care, protection of civil rights, protection of voting rights, protection of LGBTQ rights all of these things are really important to a lot of people, including a lot of employers. The 2018 grand bargain law that raised the minimum wage, outlined a state paid family and medical leave program, and phased out time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and holidays instructed Beacon Hill to temporarily lift the sales tax one weekend each August. As part of that law, retailers backed away from their plans to put on the statewide ballot a proposal to roll the sales tax back to 5 percent, the rate it was at for years before the Legislature in 2009 raised it as part of a budget-balancing package. Lawmakers have until June 15 to agree to a date, and if they fail to do so, the revenue commissioner has until July 1 to do so. Both branches gaveled out Monday without advancing any resolution scheduling the sales tax holiday, and they do not plan to return until Thursday, which is the deadline for action. The dates Spilka announced Monday line up with the request from Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst, who said the second weekend in August strikes the right balance between the summertime slow period and the flurry of the back-to-school shopping season. Hurst estimated that the annual sales tax holiday weekend generates roughly half a billion dollars in sales for Massachusetts businesses. We have some members that its their biggest weekend the entire year. Others say its comparable to either Black Friday weekend or a weekend in December. It literally brings people out to shop when they otherwise would not be spending dollars, he said in an interview Monday. The Senate on Thursday plans to take up a nearly $590 million tax relief bill that combines expanded breaks for renters, seniors, caregivers and low-income families with new credits aimed at incentivizing housing development and an increase to the estate tax threshold. Unlike the tax relief proposal Healey filed in the spring and the bill the House approved in April, which would eventually rise to nearly $1 billion and $1.1 billion in annual impact, respectively, the measure Senate Democrats rolled out does not make any cuts to the states short-term capital gains tax rate. Business leaders have sought to reduce that rate, arguing that Massachusetts is an outlier for taxing short- and long-term capital gains at different rates, while progressive activists have slammed it as an unnecessary giveaway to wealthy traders. Healey on Monday declined to say if that specific policy would be a dealbreaker for her. Asked if she would sign a tax relief bill that omits a short-term capital gains cut, Healey replied, Im heartened by both bills and well just see what comes out of conference committee. But obviously, the team and I, the lieutenant governor and I, are here and ready to work and collaborate on this and other issues. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Elspeth B. Cypher is set to hang up her robe after serving the commonwealth for more than two decades. On Monday, Cypher informed Gov. Maura Healey that shell step down from her position on Jan. 12, 2024. Former Gov. Charlie Baker swore her in as an associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court on March 31, 2017, according to state officials. She is set to join Boston Colleges law school as a Huber Distinguished Visiting Professor, the institution wrote in a press release. I have been privileged to have served the Commonwealth as an appellate justice for over 23 years, Cypher wrote in a statement. I have been humbled and honored by Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito for nominating me to the Supreme Judicial Court and by the Governors Council for approving the nomination. I am also deeply grateful to Governor Cellucci and Lt. Governor Swift for entrusting me with the position of associate justice on the Appeals Court. Cypher, 64, hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and chose to study law in Boston. She received her bachelors degree from Emerson College in 1980 and her juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1986, where she served on the Suffolk University Law Review, officials stated. In 1986, Cypher worked as an associate at the Boston law firm of Grayer, Brown and Dilday up until 1988 when she became a Bristol County assistant district attorney from 1993 to 2000. As an assistant district attorney, she was chief of the appellate division and argued numerous cases before the Supreme Judicial Court and the Appeals Court. On Dec. 27, 2000, former Gov. Paul Cellucci appointed her to the Massachusetts Appeals Court as an associate justice. Justice Cypher has brought her keen knowledge of the law and the constitution to the appellate courts for over two decades, serving on the Supreme Judicial Court for the past six years, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd wrote in a statement. She has been an exceptional friend and colleague and an active role model to the many people who count her as a mentor. We are deeply grateful for her service to the people of the Commonwealth. A moose was euthanized near Bradley International Airport on Friday after it breached an airport fence and officials deemed the animal a public safety concern, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. On Friday, June 9, DEEP received a report that a moose was seen near Bradley in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and had breached an outer perimeter fence. Officials from DEEP, along with Environmental Connecticut Police and the CT Wildlife Division, chose to kill the animal out of an abundance of caution to protect the airport environment, along with vehicles traveling on the Route 20 highway nearby, a spokesperson from the department said. DEEP stated the animal was creating a highly dangerous situation as it had broken into the perimeter fence of the airport, and was moving near roads and highways with lots of vehicles. The department stated it does not like to euthanize animals and we do not take these kinds of decisions lightly. Both DEEP and airport staff are authorized to euthanize a moose if deemed necessary, the spokesperson added. DEEP provided a statement as to why they did not instead tranquilize and move the animal. Tranquilization of large animals is complicated and risky for the animal and for people, especially in warmer weather, the spokesperson stated. Tranquilizers dont take effect immediately, and during that time, the animal may run into roads, or other very dangerous public safety situations, putting both the animal and people at risk of injury or death. DEEP added that at this time of year, young moose are dispersing in search of their own territories and may travel long distances, and there have been several instances this year of young moose sightings. What keeps people who are consumed by anger from acting violently? In a civilized society, a key constraint is the belief that violence, apart from self-protection, is unjustified, ugly and will be punished. Our legal system keeps violence in check. Laws spell out consequences. That, sadly, may not be enough today. We are troubled by things prominent and influential people are saying in the wake of the indictment of former President Donald J. Trump on charges he illegally kept classified national security files, obstructed attempts by the government to get them back and made false statements. The indictment, by the way, is something William P. Barr, Trumps own former attorney general, called very, very damning in a Fox News appearance Sunday. They may not intend to incite violence, but the heat of this Republican rhetoric could, over time, melt away inhibitions that keep people from hurting others. Kari Lake, who ran unsuccessfully last year for governor of Arizona, just reminded Republicans at a Georgia convention that the former presidents loyalists own guns. If you want to get to President Trump, you are going to have go through me, and you are going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me, Lake said. And Im going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the N.R.A. Thats not a threat, thats a public service announcement. Former President Donald Trump watches in July 2022 as Kari Lake speaks at a rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)Getty Images That is not public service. And Lake wasnt alone signaling the possibility of violence. A fellow Republican in her home state, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, posted the words Eye for an eye on Twitter. A survey of recent political rhetoric by The New York Times found those and similar comments. This. Means. War, an outlet known as The Gateway Pundit posted. As the newspaper noted, similarly heated language surfaced after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, Trumps home and resort, in connection with the probe of classified documents. Days later a man with a semiautomatic rifle died in a shootout after he tried to get into an FBI field office in Ohio. In an Instagram post, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is engaged to Trumps eldest son, posted a photo of the former president with the words, RETRIBUTION IS COMING. No one is more vocal than the defendant himself, or as apt to heighten tensions. In Georgia on Sunday, Trump said hes engaged in an epic struggle to rescue our country from the sinister forces within who hate it. Not surprisingly, security will be tight Tuesday in Miami, when Trump arrives to face the new criminal charges. The risk of political violence rises when invective lands atop misinformation. This week, a letter-writer to The Republican suggested America has become a banana republic in which the current candidate for president directed his justice department to arrest his most probable opponent . That is not an accurate description of why a special counsel investigated Trump, or why a grand jury made up of 23 randomly chosen Florida residents decided to indict him. But believing so makes people all the more ready to go to war. Over the previous ten years, the non-muscle invasive bladder cancer therapeutics market increased at a CAGR of 20.4%, reaching a value of US$ 2.2 billion in 2022. By the end of 2033, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% and reach US$ 9.8 billion. The Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Therapeutics market is experiencing a remarkable surge in growth, fueled by significant advancements in treatment options for patients battling bladder cancer. NMIBC, a prevalent form of bladder cancer, has historically posed challenges in terms of treatment and disease management. However, recent developments in therapeutic approaches have transformed the landscape, providing renewed hope for patients and healthcare professionals. Request the sample copy of report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/32011 This positive trajectory in NMIBC therapeutics can be attributed to pioneering research and development efforts aimed at addressing the unmet medical needs in this field. Scientists and medical experts have been working tirelessly to develop innovative solutions that specifically target NMIBC, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life. These breakthroughs encompass novel drug therapies, immunotherapies, and minimally invasive surgical techniques, all of which have the potential to revolutionize the treatment paradigm for bladder cancer. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of bladder cancer worldwide has fueled the demand for effective NMIBC therapeutics, making it a pressing global health concern. The rise in incidence rates and the recognition of early-stage bladder cancer have emphasized the urgent need for improved treatment options. As a result, the NMIBC therapeutics market is projected to experience substantial growth in the coming years, offering significant opportunities for both established players and new entrants to make a meaningful impact on patient care. For In-Depth Competitive Analysis, Buy Now @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/32011 Moving forward, it is crucial for stakeholders across the healthcare industry to continue supporting research and development efforts in NMIBC therapeutics. By fostering collaboration between academia, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies, we can accelerate the progress and delivery of innovative treatments. Ultimately, these advancements have the potential to transform the lives of millions of individuals affected by bladder cancer, giving them renewed hope and an improved chance at a better future. Companies Covered in This Report Pfizer Inc. Merck KGaA AstraZeneca PLC Roche Holding AG (Genentech) Astellas Pharma Inc. J&J (Janssen Biotech) Cipla Inc. Amneal Pharma Bristol Myers Squibb Co. Dr. Reddys Laboratories, Inc. Gilead Sciences Inc. Endo Pharma UroGen Pharma, Inc. Teva Pharmaceuticals (Actavis) Hikma Pharmaceuticals Incyte Request For Report Customization @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/request-customization/32011 Key Segments of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Therapeutics Industry Cancer Grade: Low-grade Bladder Cancer High-grade Bladder Cancer Drug Type: Immunotherapy Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Avelumab Nivolumab Pembrolizumab Others Chemotherapy Mitomycin C Docetaxel Paclitaxel Cisplatin Others Targeted Therapy Erdafitinib Enfortumab Vedotin-ejfv Sacituzumab Govitecan Others Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Specialty Pharmacies Online Pharmacies Region: North America Latin America Europe South Asia East Asia Oceania Middle East & Africa Some other Trending Reports Home Infusion Therapy Market https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/home-infusion-therapy-market.asp Lysosomal Storage Diseases Market https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/lysosomal-storage-diseases-market.asp Hepatitis C Treatment Market https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/hepatitis-c-treatment-market.asp Sterile Injectable Drugs Market https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/sterile-injectable-drugs-market.asp About us: Persistence Market Research is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. Persistence Market Research boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs. Contact us: Persistence Market Research Address 305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007 United States U.S. Ph. +1-646-568-7751 USA-Canada Toll-free +1 800-961-0353 Sales sales@persistencemarketresearch.com by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, June 12, 2023 One of the most ironic and surprising developments of my career covering advertising and media has been the rise of consumers as media -- what we used to call "UGC," or user-generated content, but which nowadays is usually referred to as the "creator economy." We can argue about where the line delineating professional from non-professional media content begins and ends, but at least one expert source has put some dimensions around it when it comes to share of ad spending -- GroupM -- and in its just-released midyear ad forecast update, it provides a fascinating analysis of the share going to user-generated content. While it's still a minority, it is approaching the share of ad spending being allocated to all professionally generated media content. In fact, GroupM found that the share of ad spending going toward UGC has grown 2.5 times in the past six years, while the share going to professional content has fallen almost in half. advertisement advertisement The only other source to expand and the one that currently dominates the market is "other," which GroupM Global President of Business Intelligence Kate Scott-Dawkins describes as media platforms not explicitly related to content, such as search, retail, out-of-home and non-social digital media. I find the share shift noteworthy, because during much of the early years of UGC there was lots of debate on Madison Avenue -- especially in the trade press -- about whether UGC would ever be a viable place to advertise. "Of course, theres a question as to the amount of content on these platforms that could be considered 'professional'," Scott-Dawkins writes in the report, noting: "Some content creators have formed sizable media companies with significant revenue streams outside of traditional TV distribution deals. And a recent U.K. report from Ofcom noted that some teens avoid posting their own content because of the high bar set by influencers. If the content on these platforms is professional in quality and influence (in some cases), and younger generations are spending more time consuming TikTok than TF1, whats keeping advertising dollars from shifting more substantially into UGC?" The biggest potential game-changer in the category -- as well as many others -- likely will be AI, which already is accelerating the amount of synthetic, non-human-generated content appearing on social media, and elsewhere (even as "news sites"). "The disruptor in this space is the recent public availability of AI-generated text and images that enable individuals, media outlets or even bots to quickly and easily produce content that could overwhelm UGC platforms and the open web and make discoverability and verifiability of content even more challenging," Scott-Dawkins cautions. "Already, any given piece of content may result in claims that it has been written by generative AI, and on the flip side, some posts have circulated widely before being identified as AI-generated, as in the case of the photo of the pope in a puffer jacket. A new category of advertising services companies to identify AI-generated content and images will undoubtedly emerge. The added difficulty for advertisers to ensure brand suitability or the potential reputational cost of reacting to issues surrounding deep fakes could delay a further share shift of advertising revenue away from professional, curated creators and distributors." by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, June 11, 2023 Take that, drag haters. Amid stepped-up attacks on drag performances and growing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, H&M is the latest brand to look for novel ways to celebrate Pride. The company staged the ticketed performance, with two hours of drag performances, at the Brooklyn Bowl, winning the official title of Most People Attending a Drag Brunch. The 412-person attendance beat the former record of 338. Proceeds from the event went to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, which supports Black trans people. Drag queens Dragon Sisters, Vena Cava, Victoria Holiday, Serena Tea, Mo'Riah and Janelle No.5 all performed. The Swedish-based retailer is also celebrating Pride by continuing the "My Chosen Family" campaign, which it introduced last year. That effort marks the critical role non-biological families play in the lives of the LGBTQ community and will appear in themed floats in this year's Pride parades in New York and Los Angeles. (H&M is an official sponsor.) advertisement advertisement It's also featuring a collection of artwork from LGBTQIA+ artists at its stores in Brooklyn's trendy Williamsburg section. The installation includes a print-on-demand shop to let people create custom pieces featuring the artists. While Pride events around the country are still happening, there is a growing sense of concern and heightened security measures. H&M cited the increasing number of threats against drag, with more than 160 protests and attacks since the beginning of 2022, according to GLAAD. Those include the firebombing of a donut shop in Tulsa and an armed protest in San Antonio. In many cases, GLAAD says, members of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers have attended. Meanwhile, Pride Live keeps announcing performers and speakers for the upcoming Stonewall Day 2023 with corporate partners Google, Hudson Yards and Equinox Hotel NY. Scheduled for June 23 at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, the event will includes headliner Christina Aguilera and performances from Johnny Manuel, Kellen Stancil, and BETTY. Speakers include Chelsea Clinton, Alok Vaid-Menon, Raquel Willis, Dale Soules, Valentina Sampaio and Julie J. The event will live-stream on YouTube. Pride Live also hopes to set some records and says its goal is to gather as large and diverse a crowd as possible. It's setting aside 200 tickets that will be donated to local LGBTQ+ youth groups. Much of the event will focus on fundraising and awareness of the upcoming opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, scheduled for June 28, 2024. The center commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots and will be the first LGBTQ+ visitor center within the National Park System. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, June 11, 2023 Bing users on desktop can now talk to the chatbot and it will rely audibly. Microsoft has rolled out voice support for the search engine's chatbot on the Edge browser for desktop. It is based on generative artificial intelligence (GAI). We know many of you love using voice input for chat on mobile, Microsoft wrote in a post. Its now also available on desktop by clicking on the microphone icon in the Bing Chat box. The feature, powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 technology, initially became available on Bing's AI chatbot for its mobile apps. English, Japanese, French, German and Mandarin are supported, but Microsoft said more languages are on the way. The chatbot also supports text-to-speech answers and can respond to your questions with its own voice. advertisement advertisement Despite all the buzz around chatbots, there is a long way to go in educating people using the internet. On the unofficial half-birthday of ChatGPT, CivicScience data shows 46% of U.S. adults still have not heard of the technology. Less than 10% have used it, although that is almost twice the number seen in January. Of those with an opinion of ChatGPT, 74% of people believe it will be pose a strong threat to internet-related jobs. Some 57% of younger adults feel the same way. The move comes as Microsoft retires Cortana, the companys virtual assistant. Earlier this year, Microsoft quietly announced the end of support for Cortana in Windows 10 and Windows 11, pushing users toward the new Bing powered by GAI, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Windows Copilot and other products. by Steven Rosenbaum , Featured Contributor, June 12, 2023 New York was covered in a thick fog of smoke from the fires burning in Canada. It seemed likely that the gathering at the Rockefeller Foundation conference center would be canceled. But the entryway was full of people, masks on -- but there. It was an unusual gathering, convened by Eric Adams, New York City Mayor, and titled NYCs Role in the National Crisis of Social Media and Youth Mental Health. In a packed room, a mix of city and government officials, academics, business leaders, and social media researchers shared the singular concern: how to address the devastating impact social media was having on our kids. As New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan opened the conversation, he didnt pull any punches. We also have to contend with the reality that social platforms are designed to foster addiction. Some of the world's most talented engineers are dedicated to keeping you, and young people, on social media as much as possible, and it works. You could hear the concern in his voice as he said, Answers will not be easy to come by, not least because social media companies will limit our access to information and lobby to remain unregulated. In fact, the only other industry that I can think of that is so unregulated is the gun industry. Just think about that for a minute. advertisement advertisement Comparing social media to guns, and equating the damage they cause, was a powerful analogy. Arriving just three minutes late, Mayor Adams bounded to the stage. The smoke in the city was certainly taking some of his attention, but he wasnt about to miss the event. Adams' concerns about social media have him raising the alarm. Those of us who are lovers of Greek mythology: I believe that this is to be the great war in the Trojan Horse. The device that was supposed to be used for communication has turned into a device that is being used in a very destructive way, said Adams. The social media companies are well aware of the algorithms that attract you and lure you into what they're doing. Profit cannot be [prioritized] over public safety and health. The day went on with three more panels and then an afternoon of working groups meant to find solutions. I have such a unique perspective because of what it has done to my family, because I intimately understand what it means to be a mom who sees their child completely 100% addicted, and seeing these racist oppressive algorithms literally spiral him out of control, said Jameila Meme Styles, the founder of wemeasure.org, a research and data activism organization. We're talking about the data-fication of our lives. We're talking about the commodification of our lives. How did this happen? It goes back to the internets earliest days, said Professor Nicholas B. Allen of the Center for Digital Mental Health at the University of Oregon. "Its the original sin of the Internet," he noted. The people expected to get stuff for free and then as a result of getting stuff for free, they had to monetize it somehow because it's not free to deliver the service. And so then they say, okay, we'll target you with advertising, and so now we're collecting data. What it does is motivate the design of products that are engaging or addictive. We really need to be focused on legislation... [to] get business incentives aligned with wellbeing and health incentives. But perhaps the most exciting conversations in the room happened because students were invited to participate A group of 15 young people from Teens Against Guns kept the conversation honest. Raziya Palmer, a 10th grader at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts in Manhattan, shared how COVID and social media took her down a dark path. Being isolated and not having anyone to talk to only left social media. It didnt really boost my morale. It just made me more addicted, and at the end I felt even more depressed. Palmer said adults dont always understand what shes facing. I wish adults could be a tad more patient with seeing how their children react to certain things, and try to figure out what is [causing] that reaction. Is this just teenage hormones, is it just being disrespectful, or is this because of what theyre looking at online? Sitting down and talking to your children is one of the biggest ways to help them. The discussion was wide-ranging, exploring key legal developments, public health strategies, key legislation, and the current state of research. In the end, there were ideas about ways to create safety nets and make sure New Yorks public infrastructure is attentive to the growing dangers that teens are facing from social media. On June 11 at the Motor City Pride parade, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order establishing Michigans LGBTQ+ Commission. The commission will address issues facing Michigans LGTBQ+ community, including health, safety, and economic opportunity, with the goal of making the state a place where anyone can build a bright future. As we celebrate Pride, we must continue taking action to ensure that everyone has the freedom to be who they are in Michigan, said Whitmer. Thats why I am establishing the LGBTQ+ Commission to focus on health, safety, economic opportunity, and talent retention for the LGBTQ+ community. This issue is personal for me, and I will fight like hell to bring more diverse voices into the decision-making process so we can build a brighter future for every Michigander. While other states are engaged in the business of bigotry, Michigan is standing up for the LGBTQ+ community. During Pride month and throughout the year, we must work together to make Michigan a welcoming beacon of opportunity where everyone can succeed and be themselves, no matter who they are, said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. This first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ Commission will work to end discrimination and inequality against LGBTQ+ Michiganders and attract members of the LGBTQ+ community to Michigan by ensuring our state is a safe place for everyone to thrive. Our vision for Michigan is expansive enough for everyone, and Governor Whitmer and I will continue using every tool in our toolbox to build a Michigan where everyone can envision a bright future for themselves. LGBTQ+ Commission The LGBTQ+ Commission will advise the governor and the director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity on policy matters impacting Michigans LGBTQ+ community and its members, including eradicating and preventing discrimination against the community and its members and addressing other forms of inequality. The Commission will look at ways of improving and protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Michigans LGBTQ+ community and promoting LGBTQ+ culture, history, and economic contributions to Michigan through coordinated efforts and advocacy across state government. Additionally, the Commission will look at ways to attract potential future residents from the LGBTQ+ community by ensuring that Michigan is a safe place where its members and their families can thrive. The governor will appoint individuals that represent the interests of a diverse range of communities and perspectives. "This is what recognition feels like, and this is what representative government looks and acts like. After years of state leaders ignoring LGBTQ+ pride, suppressing our rights and policy needs, and raining on our parades, the rainbows are out and shining bright in Michigan now," said Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). "From finally achieving a decades-long fight of securing basic rights for LGBTQ+ residents, to formally and emphatically recognizing and embracing Pride Month, to establishing this new commission that gives us not just a seat at the tablebut our own tablein state government, our policies are at last becoming as vibrant as our people. This commission will enable LGBTQ+ Michiganders to raise concerns, share ideas, and establish goals to continue making Michigan a welcoming state for all residents, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity." LGBTQ+ Michiganders face unique obstacles, from health disparities to harassment, and I applaud Governor Whitmer for acknowledging that and addressing it with this commission," said Representative Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia). The establishment of an LGBTQ+ Commission signifies a major milestone in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and ensuring that the voices of our community are heard at the highest levels of government, said Representative Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield). This bold initiative demonstrates Michigan's dedication to cultivating a more inclusive and welcoming state, where every individual can live authentically and without fear of discrimination. "This year is historic as our Democratic trifecta and the largest LGBTQ+ caucus in Michigan history are in charge and ushering in real progress, said Representative Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing). I continue to be grateful and unsurprised by Governor Whitmer's commitment to achieving equality. I support the Governor's commission and look forward to continuing the good work." I am excited by the opportunity for Michigans LGBTQ+ community to have a dedicated space to advise the Executive Branch on policies, programs, and projects that will most benefit LGBTQ+ Michiganders from West Bloomfield to Wyoming and beyond, said Representative Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield. Governor Whitmers initiative to form the commission is consistent with her record as the most pro-equality governor in Michigan history, and I am so grateful for her leadership. This year, Michigan has become the most pro-LGBTQ+ it has ever been, said Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). Establishing the LGBTQ+ Commission is a huge accomplishment in our state. This commission will advocate on behalf of LGBTQ+ Michiganders. Im so proud to celebrate with the most LGBTQ+ friendly Governor weve ever had and to make clear to all, that we love you! "The governors executive order creating the LGBTQ+ Commission is a win for economic development, said Representative Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park). Inclusivity ignites innovation, and Michigan's success hinges on attracting, embracing, and empowering the best and the brightest talent." - It is inspiring to see public recognition and support from Michigans leaders and elected officials on issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community through the creation of a statewide LGBTQ+ Commission, particularly at a time when our community continues to face a record-breaking wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric across our country, said Gwen Stembridge (she/her), Advocacy Campaign Manager for The Trevor Project. Michigans statewide LGBTQ+ Commission will play a critical role in ensuring state policies are inclusive and address the unique needs of all LGBTQ+ Michiganders like legislation that was recently signed codifying LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections into law and a bill currently being considered that would ban the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. Gretchen Whitmer has been and continues to be a champion for LGBTQ+ Michiganders. From her first days in office when she prohibited the use of state funds for so-called conversion therapy to signing into law a bipartisan amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act earlier this year, the Governor has relentlessly led Michigan toward progress, said Kelley Robinson, President, Human Rights Campaign. This commission is just another example of her and our elected officials commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. Today, Equality Michigan applauds Governor Gretchen Whitmer for establishing an LGBTQ+ Commission. Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has taken repeated action to protect Michigan's LGBTQ+ community, said Erin Knott, Executive Director, Equality Michigan. In addition to issuing a proclamation marking June as Pride Month, Whitmer was the first governor in Michigan to fly the Pride Flag. From protecting minors from conversion therapy to strengthening protections against discrimination in state employment through executive actions, as well as signing Senate Bill 4 reaffirming civil rights protections for sexual orientation and expanding coverage to include gender identity, Governor Whitmer has proven herself to be a staunch ally and fierce protector of LGBTQ+ Michiganders." Read the executive order at https://tinyurl.com/3a7ffj6h. Governor Whitmers Actions to Protect the LGBTQ+ Community Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has taken action to protect and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Submittted photo/MDHHS The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is taking a 10 foot by 10 foot inflatable colon across the state to promote colorectal cancer screening knowledge and awareness among the LGBTQIA+ and HIV+ communities. In Michigan, 29.5% of the LGBTQIA+ population are due for colorectal cancer screenings according to the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. MDHHS is working towards improving the rates of colorectal cancer screening in this community, as early detection leads to better outcomes. Photo provided Midland County Jail A Detroit man who fled Midland County Sheriff's deputies on July 9, 2022 before striking a patrol car, was sentenced Thursday to three months in jail and ordered to pay for damages. Kevin Chatman, 22, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree fleeing and eluding and felonious assault. A charge of assault/resist/obstructing police was dismissed. Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Carras also sentenced Chatman to two years probation for the three felonies and ordered him to pay $3,650 in restitution for the damage to the patrol car. Boaters were stranded for eight hours on the hull of their capsized fishing boat off the coast of Oregon, officials said. They were rescued thanks to the captains float plan telling a friend or family member where youre going and when they should expect you to return, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release. The captains wife notified rescuers at the Columbia River Coast Guard station at 7:30 p.m. that her husband hadnt made it back to the marina by the time he told her to expect him Wednesday, June 7, officials said in the release. The last time someone had contact with the boaters was about 3 p.m. when a friend had called the captain, she told officials. Rescuers narrowed down a search area based on cell phone forensics. Dispatchers coordinated a rescue boat crew and an air crew, and confirmed with local police that the captains truck and trailer were still at the boat ramp, officials said. The air crew found the boat off the coast of Nesika Beach with the men sitting on the overturned hull of the 26-foot commercial fishing boat just after 11 p.m., officials said. They were not wearing life jackets. The helicopter crew directed the rescue boat crew to their location and brought them aboard at 11:30 p.m. The boaters showed signs of hypothermia and rescuers gave them blankets and water, officials said. They made it back to the Chetco River Coast Guard station at 2 a.m., where EMS responders treated and released them. In total, they had spent almost eight full hours sitting on top of the capsized boats hull, officials said. This case highlights the importance of creating a float plan, Lt. Michael Jeffko, the command duty officer for Sector Columbia River, said in the news release. 2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Angry veterans in Hamburg, New York, say it's not which flag was hoisted on the flagpole in front of Town Hall earlier this month, but which flag was taken down to make room for it. The town Coalition for Equity and Inclusion raised the Pride flag below the American flag June 2 as part of the observance of Pride Month. A POW/MIA flag was taken down, upsetting some veterans including a Vietnam War vet charged with harassing the town supervisor and prompting calls for a demonstration at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Town Hall to support veterans, prisoners of war and those missing or killed in action, as well as object to the actions of Supervisor Randy Hoak, whom they blame for the incident. Amy Owczarczak, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1419, said on Facebook that her VFW post is not organizing the gathering Saturday, but several veterans in the post and outside groups are organizing it. "I do not tolerate hate against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. Anyone within the post, whether it be a member or a guest will abide by our standards. Otherwise, they will be asked to leave," Owczarczak said in the social media post. Hoak told The Buffalo News this week the POW/MIA flag was frayed and tattered, and needed to be replaced. Veterans who are upset said that was not made clear before or on June 2, and if they had known, they would have presented a new one to the town the same day. A transgender veteran who attended the Pride flag raising said she is the one who discovered the POW/MIA flag was tattered, and feels responsible for the controversy. She said on a Facebook video shot immediately after the flag-raising that the flag was damaged and would go back up. "I'm the one who said it needed to be taken down because the flag was tattered, I was helping to take the flag down," said Diana Patton, a former U.S. Navy hull technician. Patton told The Buffalo News this week she had served in color guards in the Navy and for an American Legion post. She said the POW/MIA flag is very important to her, because her grandfather was a POW three times during World War II. And the Pride flag means just as much to her because she said veterans served and fought for others to have the freedom to express who they are. "The POW/MIA flag should not be used in this manner, same thing with the Pride flag," Patton said. "Neither one is supposed to be political." It isn't just a flag that has been frayed. Some veterans are angry over what they see as the supervisor's cavalier attitude toward them and the flag. John Grotke, commander of Post 527 American Legion, called Hoak a "classless buffoon" in a letter he sent to the supervisor. "He can call me a classless buffoon," Hoak said this week, "and I still want to talk to his organization about how we can build a better Hamburg, a more patriotic Hamburg, how we can educate this next generation on the importance of our veterans, our veterans organizations and respect for the flag." He said the town had no intention of removing the POW/MIA flag, even temporarily. Upset veterans said there were mounts on the pole for only two flags until Monday. Hoak said the town had the equipment to add a third flag last week, but did not add it before Monday because there were only two flags. That's when a new POW/MIA flag was hoisted, in the second position beneath the American flag, with the Pride flag underneath both. Flying interest climbs Grotke said he presented the town with the POW/MIA flag last year, and hoped the town would install an additional pole for other flags. Hoak said the POW/MIA flag was hoisted last July after the Pride flag was taken down at the end of Pride Month. The POW/MIA flag also was taken down last November, when a flag commemorating Native American Month was raised. Grotke said at the annual Memorial Day ceremony he asked Hoak what his intentions were for the Pride flag, and was told it would be raised under the American flag. "I said, 'Don't you think there are better options available,'" Grotke recalled. "It means so much to us veterans, the POW/MIA flag. It means more than anything imaginable," he said. Congress in 1990 officially recognized the black-and-white silhouette flag and designated it as the symbol of the nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Tensions mount On June 2, Gerald Welsted, a former commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1417, was driving past Town Hall. He noticed people in front of the flagpole, and that the POW/MIA flag was missing. Hoak said Welsted expressed his concerns with "great profanity," and he walked the veteran away from the group, which included high school students. "When I was able to get him to the perimeter of the gathering was when he expressed his frustration with slapping my forearm," Hoak said. Welsted would not talk with a reporter this week, said his friend and fellow Vietnam veteran Russ Deveso, who told The News it would be difficult for him to imagine a circumstance when Welsted would hit someone. "All veterans take an oath to defend the flag," Deveso said. "That POW/MIA flag is just as important as the American flag." "This has kind of been a nightmare, and it shouldn't have been," Deveso added. Hoak said he called police, and Welsted was charged with harassment. The town received an application for a permit for the Saturday demonstration from Hamburg Lakeshore Overseas Veterans, and the event has been promoted on the Facebook pages of the Constitutional Coalition of Western New York, which says it is a "gathering place for patriots and protectors of the Constitution," and the 1791 Society, a local gun rights group. The supervisor, a Democrat elected in 2021, said his family has a rich military tradition and respect for service. He said he would continue to march and advocate for veterans at the town and state level. Hoak said his office is looking into improved local property tax exemptions for seniors and veterans, and the town plans to install a parking spot reserved for Purple Heart recipients later this summer. The town got a lot of pushback over the missing POW/MIA flag last weekend, he said, but the tone and tenor of phone calls to his office changed starting Monday, when all three flags were hoisted on the pole. "They understand," Hoak said, "and they're glad that the POW/MIA flag is back up." ___ (c)2023 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at www.buffalonews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Read the original article on Business Insider. The U.S. military is reportedly planning to take extra steps to test the quality of the generic drugs it buys for service members and their families. To do that, the Department of Defense is talking with Valisure, a lab that specializes in checking the quality of pharmaceuticals, Bloomberg's Anna Edney and Riley Griffin reported. Valisure has a track record of sniffing out problems with medicines as well as contamination in consumer products like shampoos and sunscreen. The quality of the U.S. drug supply has been in focus in recent years. Crucial medicines were recalled due to contamination with potentially cancer-causing ingredients, and common pills like antibiotics to ADHD medicines have seen shortages. Bloomberg reported in May that the White House has assembled a team to tackle shortages and quality issues with generic medications. A spokesperson for Valisure said no program has been launched and declined to comment on a relationship with the Department of Defense. The DOD didn't respond to Insider's request for comment. A lab with a track record of finding problems In an interview, Valisure CEO David Light said his company's track record of finding problems in generic drugs shows that more testing is needed. At the same time, he said that individuals should keep taking their prescriptions "Overall we have safe and effective medications in the U.S.," Light told Insider. "But it is troublesome. It is something to be thoughtful about." The US Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating medications to ensure they are safe and effective. The agency oversees both new, experimental drugs that are looking to get approved for the first time, as well as generic drugs that may have been on the market for decades. The FDA sets and enforces rules for the factories that manufacture drugs and conducts inspections. "Protecting patients is the highest priority of the FDA and Americans can be confident in the quality of the products the FDA approves," FDA spokesperson Jeremy Kahn said in an emailed statement. "The FDA continues to work to build a safe, secure and agile drug supply chain so that American patients have the medications they need medications that have been carefully reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness and quality." A call for more transparency on FDA inspections and drug manufacturing Mike Ganio, the senior director for pharmacy practice and quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, said the FDA does a good job of making sure the US drug supply is safe and works. ASHP represents pharmacists who work in hospitals and outpatient clinics and accredits pharmacist training programs. "I have family who take generic drugs, I take generic drugs," he said, adding, "I don't get concerned and I don't tell them to be concerned." Still, he said the FDA should release information on their inspections and other findings more quickly, and with less information redacted. He also said there's a need for more transparency on who is manufacturing the pharmaceutical ingredients that go into different pills. Two adventure-seeking septuagenarians set out early Saturday on a 7,000-mile round trip from Cambria to the Arctic Ocean. Jay Burbank of Cambria, California, and South Carolina resident Charlie Enxuto will travel about 1,400 of those miles on the graveled Dempster Highway, driving a 1931 Model A Ford, a slant-window town sedan converted to look like a U.S. Army Air Corps General's staff car from World War II. The men are 77 and 75 years old, respectively. For the rest of the trip, from Cambria to Prince George, British Columbia, and back, the men will tow the antique auto in a 14-foot car hauler behind a Cadillac SUV. The trailer also will provide a place to mount a Cascadia Vehicles rooftop tent for camping and room to carry filled fuel cans. The back-up supplies aren't optional. "There are long gaps without gas stations" on the way to the edge of the continent at Tuktoyaktuk in the Canadian Northwest Territories, explained Burbank, who owns the vehicles. "The Model A gets about 15 mpg with a 10-gallon tank," he said, "and the Caddy gets about 15 mpg with a 25-gallon tank." Man Known for Travels in Antique Vehicles Burbank has lots of experience doing other long, international drives in the 1931 Ford now known as Military Maxi and another, smaller Model A. Since taking a 2001 trek through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy, he's done antique car tours, runs and rides along the West and East coasts of the United States as well as 18 foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada and Australia. About 700 to 800 signatures from U.S. military veterans adorn the 1931 Model A Ford town car that Jay Burbank converted to look like a World War II general s staff car. (Kathe Tanner/Sacramento Bee photo) Why travel from California's Central Coast to the edge of the Arctic Ocean, partly in an antique auto? "For the beauty, the people and the adventure, doing something other people think is impossible," Burbank said, "and to honor military veterans." The idea started with a challenge, he said. While on a Model A trip in Utah, Burbank told a man from Canada that "Someday, I'd like to do the Alcan Highway in Alaska," the Cambria man recalled. "Do you want to do an ordinary road like that or have an adventure?" the Canadian asked, referring to the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, above the Arctic Circle. While Burbank's wife of 57 years, Pat Burbank, often accompanies her husband on his antique auto trips, she's bowing out of this jaunt. "The short answer is no," she said. "It's a guys' trip. They're going to be camping in bear country, and nobody's told me for sure that bears can't climb a ladder" to a car-top tent. Jay Burbank said he and Enxuto plan to protect themselves with a large supply of bear repellent spray and loud sound-emitting devices designed to repel aggressive wildlife. He's also taking a protective screen to keep gravel and rocks away from Military Maxi's engine and windscreen. Trip to Arctic Circle Is Tribute to Veterans Burbank is an Air Force veteran who served two tours in Guam and Okinawa. He met Enxuto, who was in the U.S. Army, in 2007 on a small ship cruise of the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. The two immediately bonded over their shared passions for photography and travel. Enxuto has accompanied Burbank on previous Model A adventures, starting in 2008 on a voyage that went from Cambria to Vancouver, British Columbia, across Canada and then to Mackinac Island, Michigan. In 2019, Burbank repainted and outfitted his Model A so he could participate in a recreation of a military convoy a century earlier from Washington D.C. to San Francisco on a route now known as the Lincoln Highway. On that trip, Tully, the son of a veteran, told Burbank how his father was wounded during the invasion of Iwo Jima and how the injured man played dead for two days as he lay on the black sand beach, hearing fellow Marines being killed. "I was so moved by the story that I asked Tully to sign Military Maxi" with a Sharpie pen in honor of his father's memory," Burbank said. Since then, Burbank's car has been autographed by or on behalf of 700 to 800 veterans. He's lost count of how many names are there. After names fill up a section of the vehicle's exterior, Burbank puts a clear coat on it to preserve the signatures and protect them from sun and rain. He plans to collect a lot more names on the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, which is dedicated to U.S. and Canadian veterans, especially those who served during wartime. Maggie Cox is an organizer with Honor Flight Central Coast California, which takes veterans on free Tour of Honor trips to Washington, D.C. "Jay is one of those amazing veterans who is still giving his time and heart in service to others," Cox said. "He's working on the Maxi project and raising funds, driving (Maxi) to Calabasas to honor a 97-year-old WWII vet, then bringing his special spirit on our trip to D.C. He is someone special." Burbank went to Calabasas because the man hadn't been able to attend a pre-flight luncheon at which all the other Honor Flight vets signed Maxi. "He was so excited. His blue eyes were just sparkling," Burbank said of the man. "The car does such neat things to people," Burbank said. Trip Has Special Meaning In addition to honoring veterans, the trip will serve as a fundraiser. Burbank and Enxuto are collecting donations for scholarships given annually by Cambria's American Legion Post No. 432 to students at the town's Leffingwell High School.. The men hope to raise enough for an endowment that would fund at least four $1,000 scholarships per year for Leffingwell grads. The continuation high school, which celebrated the Class of 2023 in a graduation ceremony on May 31?, serves the needs of alternative education students in Cambria, San Simeon and Cayucos, according to its website." That cause has special significance for Burbank. As a child and adolescent in the 1960s, Burbank dealt with undiagnosed dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He never graduated from high school, he said, and as a young man, he found it hard to concentrate or make friends. With guidance, determination and grit, he began to bloom. In the military, Burbank developed skills as an aircraft mechanic working on Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. He went on to become a master wood crafter, metalsmith, photographer and warmly effective communicator. In Cambria and as part of American Legion Post No. 432, he and his wife found a welcoming community and many devoted friends. The retired couple devote their time now to giving back to that community and veterans. To donate to the scholarship fund, go to legionpost432.com. 2023 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Two Republican presidential contenders took aim at the Army's recent move to rename military bases that for decades honored Confederates who waged war against the U.S., saying that as president they would return to those rebel namesakes. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence promised to restore Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to Fort Bragg. The base was renamed this month, scrubbing the name of a Confederate general widely considered among the least successful military leaders in the conflict. The renaming of nine Army bases was ordered by Congress in 2021 and approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as part of a process to remove Confederate tributes. Fort Liberty was the only Army installation not renamed after Medal of Honor recipients, war heroes or highly respected figures such as Vietnam veteran Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia. Read Next: It's Not a Light Tank: Army Unveils New Armored Combat Vehicle "It's an iconic name and iconic base, and we're not gonna let political correctness run amok in North Carolina," DeSantis, who was referencing Fort Bragg, told a crowd at the North Carolina Republican Party convention Friday. DeSantis trails former President Donald Trump in the polls -- about 22% of voters support him, according to FiveThirtyEight's compilation of national polling data -- but he remains ahead of other GOP hopefuls. The Florida governor has used cultural grievances as a key pillar of his campaign, often chiding the military. He has repeatedly accused the services of being "woke," a term used by the political right to criticize Democrats and the political left for having a preoccupation with social justice issues, such as civil rights. Pence also vowed to restore Fort Liberty to its previous name. The former vice president is a longshot candidate with about 5% support, according to national polls, and faces an uphill battle with Trump's base and GOP voters who want a new party leader. "We will end the political correctness in the hallways of the Pentagon, and North Carolina will once again be home to Fort Bragg," he said Saturday at the North Carolina Republican event in Greensboro. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, were at Fort Liberty on Friday where he signed an executive order that aims to boost job opportunities for military and veteran spouses. On June 2, the Army renamed Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty. The base is considered among the Army's most high-profile installations, serving as the home of the 82nd Airborne Division that is set to deploy at a moment's notice. The base is also home to the service's Special Forces and secretive Delta Force. That renaming is part of a Pentagon-wide effort to scrub namesakes honoring Confederates. The service is halfway through the renaming process of the nine designated bases. The next base being renamed is Fort Polk, Louisiana, on Tuesday to Fort Johnson. The new name will honor Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a soldier in the first Black unit in the Army to engage in combat in World War I. While wounded, he prevented a fellow soldier from being captured by enemy Germans. In that battle, Johnson repelled an enemy advance using hand-to-hand combat, killing at least one German with a knife. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2015. He was among the first Americans to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Bronze palm, a prestigious French military award for valor, in 1918. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: Army Avoids War Hero Names as Fort Bragg Instead Becomes Fort Liberty This column was written by Military.com reporter Adrian Bonenberger, who trained Ukrainian units for the counteroffensive from March to May. The video is grainy. It cuts from shot to shot of distant armor driving in single file across a field, hitting mines and getting struck by artillery. Watching it, my stomach twisted into a knot. As I understood it, the video had been recorded by Russian drones. It claimed to prove that the Ukrainian counteroffensive for which so many had such high hopes was foundering. A failed counteroffensive was bad enough. But there was another reason I viewed the video with trepidation. The accompanying description claimed that one of the units involved in the fighting was Ukraine's 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade -- that dozens of vehicles had been destroyed. Russia had claimed as many as 1,500 Ukrainian troops were killed in the early part of the counteroffensive. For two weeks at the end of April and beginning of May, I helped train elements of the 31st's reconnaissance battalion. They expected to be at the front of the counteroffensive. Read Next: Biggest Troop Pay Raise in 2 Decades on Track in House Defense Bill The brigade, fitted out with a variety of U.S.-supplied equipment including MaxxPro mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicles, or MRAPs, was created this year. Its purpose was to take part in Ukraine's counteroffensive. My portion was a company that was itself part of a reconnaissance battalion. The soldiers were to be among the first on the attack in its sector. When they arrived in the training area where I was living with and training elements of another Ukrainian unit at the end of April, the soldiers of the 31st had already received individual training with weapons and equipment. Some had been soldiers years before. Many were in their 40s, or older. About a dozen appeared to be in their late 50s. As a unit, the 31st was not prepared to fight when we started training. Placed on the back foot by Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraine has been locked in a bitter struggle with Russia's military ever since. The initiative has swung back and forth between Ukraine and Russia, with Russia seizing large swaths of territory at the outset, and Ukraine returning a good portion of the land to its control over the course of the summer and autumn of 2022. Most recently, Ukraine pulled back from the city of Bakhmut, a strategically inconsequential but symbolically significant battle in which tens of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians lost their lives. Long awaited and hoped-for, a major operation by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, involving at least a dozen units and tens of thousands of soldiers, is currently unfolding in the country's north, east and southeast. Hopes are high that the military can liberate more territory. But that depends on how effective the brigades are in taking and holding territory. Ukraine's MoD has issued cryptic and contradictory messages on social media, with some saying that the counteroffensive is happening, others that it began a week or more earlier, and others still that it has yet to begin in earnest. That early video of the fighting that showed the battlefield -- and potentially attacks on the 31st -- was shared on June 5 via Telegram by Russians, and subsequently shared on Twitter. It showed Ukrainian armored vehicles driving across a field targeted by what appeared to be artillery and mines. Russia claimed to have destroyed a number of vehicles, and that the remainder had been driven back. Wondering whether the units were from the 31st, or could have been, I reached out to sources in Ukraine. One of them confirmed that the unit engaged was, in fact, the unit that I had trained, reconnaissance soldiers with the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade. On June 6, the source claimed that the unit had lost one MRAP in the engagement and that fighting was ongoing. In war, both sides tend to claim that the enemy is exaggerating its casualties. I was relieved to hear that the unit had suffered less than I feared at first. But more heavy fighting was still ahead for them, and the other brigades taking part in the counteroffensive. When I was training them, I was not sure where the 31st would go. In late April or early May, Bakhmut still seemed as though it could be a possible destination. I had some indication that the recon elements might be used for more than finding the enemy in maneuver war. I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not. It's always better to use soldiers according to the tasks they're trained for. Training units at the squad and platoon level in urban movement, and close-quarters battle, or CQB, I had the impression some of them might be used to assault, instead of to reconnoiter. CQB is a very difficult skill to master -- perhaps the most difficult, alongside those dealing with trench lines or bunkers. A week of training is not sufficient to do anything more than familiarization with the principles. Elite units in the U.S. dedicate much of their time and energy to training for specific CQB scenarios, constructing replicas of buildings they expect to encounter, and training on them with live-fire rounds for weeks. This unit, elements of a reconnaissance battalion, expected to be entering villages and possibly larger urban areas, and wanted to know how to clear buildings safely if necessary. They were also not thrilled about using MRAPs in reconnaissance, and had concerns about the vehicle's survivability and tall profile. By the time we finished training together -- I left on May 11 -- the battalion was capable of carrying out missions at the squad level, and had some experience as platoons. It was learning company- and battalion-level logistics and coordination, things that are not simple to perform for seasoned groups, and challenging under the best circumstances. In the ensuing two weeks, before they moved forward to their positions and began the counteroffensive, they continued to make progress. When I left, it was with a sense of worry for the Ukrainians who would soon be at the front of Russian guns, mixed with admiration for their commitment to victory and stoic attitude. There was no question that the unit had come much closer to being capable of offensive operations than when it started. The offensive is finally underway, and it looks as though the new units that were mustered mere months ago are making progress against Russia's defensive lines. -- Adrian Bonenberger, an Army veteran and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, reports for Military.com. You can reach him at Adrian.bonenberger@monster.com. Related: Ukraine Claims Recapture of 4th Village in Eastern Donetsk as Counteroffensive Operations Roll On A Pentagon watchdog agency has found that military personnel struggled to properly account for some of the security aid that the Biden administration has sent to Ukraine, but noted that there was no evidence of theft or loss. Defense Department "personnel did not have the required accountability of the thousands of defense items that they received and transferred," the department's inspector general wrote in a report released Monday. The oversight agency noted that, in three of five aid shipments it observed at a Polish air base, "DoD personnel did not fully implement their standard operating procedures to account for defense items and could not confirm the quantities of defense items received against the quantity of items shipped." Read Next: Biggest Troop Pay Raise in 2 Decades on Track in House Defense Bill Investigators cited military personnel for not filling out all the necessary forms or fully counting all the items that were being transferred to Ukrainian officials. Also, the services and agencies providing the aid often failed to provide the necessary information, and commanders did not offer the necessary training to personnel who lacked experience working in logistics. The result was personnel making educated guesses or partial counts of shipments. According to the report, one shipment that contained "thousands of small arms, night vision optic devices, and various types of cold weather gear" arrived without a manifest, in turn forcing Defense Department personnel to open crates in an effort to find out what was being shipped. "But even then, the personnel could not verify whether the number of items they identified represented the true number shipped," investigators said. In two separate shipments of M777 howitzers, the manifests lacked the right information, complicating verification -- though investigators did concede that the issue was less significant "because of the small quantity, large size, and ease of identifying and accounting for the M777." In other instances when items were shipped without paperwork, military members would delay them in places like Dover Air Force Base, the report found. Military.com reached out to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for a comment on the findings but was directed back to the inspector general's office. The report recommended that William LaPlante, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, provide more guidance to the agencies shipping aid to ensure requirements are being met and that the personnel receiving and transferring these defense items in Poland get more training. The latter suggestion was met with pushback from staff at the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, who argued that the training had to come from the combatant commander. Congressional concern over accounting for gear and equipment meant for Ukraine became pronounced in February, and lawmakers pushed for the inspector general to look into the issue. Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters in February that the department took "accountability of U.S. assistance to Ukraine very seriously" and added that there is "an active and proactive whole-of-government system ... to prevent the illicit diversion of weapons into Eastern Europe." Ryder stressed that "to this date we have not seen any evidence of any type of widespread diversion of any of the assistance that we've provided." The watchdog report noted that they "did not find any evidence of loss, theft, or diversion of defense items being provided to Ukraine" and that the issues they uncovered only increase the risk of "providing more or less equipment than authorized." Conversely, investigators also praised the efforts of the military in moving the amount of equipment that has been offered as fast as it has. They noted that the base in Poland was able to sustain its operation pace by rotating two teams of personnel in 24-hour shifts, while crews at Dover were offloading and transferring aid equipment "within 1 to 2 hours of the aircraft's arrival." As of February, the U.S. has provided approximately $31.7 billion worth of defense items to Ukraine. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Pentagon Quickly Abandons System Meant to Modernize Official Travel Nearly two years after the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan and thousands of Afghan allies were left behind, a veterans-led organization and the State Department renewed their agreement to work together to continue relocating Afghans through 2024. The renewed agreement indicates that the relocation work is far from over -- but also, the organization's leader said, that the Biden administration is committed to seeing it through to the end. "To me, it's a message that they're in this for the long haul," Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and president of #AfghanEvac, an umbrella organization for hundreds of nongovernmental groups that helped with the evacuation, told Military.com on Monday. "They're not trying to make this go away." Read Next: GOP Hopefuls Vow to Scrap Fort Liberty, Return to Confederate Namesake Fort Bragg VanDiver also expressed hope that the public accolades from top officials would reinvigorate the veterans and other volunteers who have been "breaking themselves" trying to help their Afghan allies. VanDiver was speaking ahead of a Monday afternoon ceremony at the National Museum of American Diplomacy in Washington, D.C., where he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a memorandum of understanding that extends the #AfghanEvac coalition's partnership with the State Department through December 2024. The Biden administration has weathered criticism from across the political spectrum that it failed to plan for a worst-case scenario as the U.S. military withdrew from America's longest war, leading to a scramble to evacuate as many vulnerable Afghans as possible after the Taliban overran Kabul. While the 2021 evacuation airlifted tens of thousands of Afghans out, thousands more who helped the U.S. military during the war were estimated to be left behind. During the evacuation, veterans of the war rushed to navigate their interpreters and other Afghans who helped the U.S. military onto evacuation flights. Those veterans have continued their efforts for the Afghans left behind, with VanDiver saying Monday they are still inundated daily with pleas from Afghans looking to make their way to the U.S. Since the withdrawal ended in August 2021, more than 24,000 Afghans have been relocated to the U.S. or other countries, Blinken said Monday. During Monday's ceremony, the State Department credited the partnership with #AfghanEvac for several improvements in relocation efforts, including streamlining the process to apply for what's known as a Special Immigrant Visa and creating a pathway to reunify families that were separated during the evacuation. "Many of you are veterans," Blinken told the coalition members at the ceremony. "This wasn't a question of whether you would help, but how. You've risen to the challenge with incredible integrity and persistence at every step along the way. And quite honestly, it's your expertise, it's your ideas, it's your local networks that have made all the difference." While Monday was a celebration of accomplishments, VanDiver also stressed that much remains to be done. He called on administration officials to further speed up relocations and streamline the Special Immigrant Visa process, as well as provide more resources for the resettlement agencies helping Afghans find new homes. Most importantly, VanDiver said Afghans need less uncertainty about their future. That in part means Congress passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that would give Afghan evacuees legal residency in the U.S. that stalled last year because of some GOP opposition. "We need to see it reintroduced," he told Military.com. "It's really hard for somebody who doesn't live in Washington, D.C., or doesn't work in these halls of power to believe that Congress is doing anything because they're not seeing things happen. I know that there's a bipartisan effort, people working every day to do it. But we want to see, we want to hear from Congress, we want to hear from people that care about this, that the work is ongoing and Afghans matter and they're going to handle it." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: One Year Later, Troops and Veterans Involved in Afghanistan Exit Grapple with Mental Scars The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Today's Marine Corps has come a long way from its humble origins in a Philadelphia tavern in 1775. First established as a landing force for the Navy, Marines fought to secure the independence of our nation in the Revolutionary War. The Marine Corps has gone on to safeguard our freedom in every clime and place and in every war our nation has fought since then. Many have heard of battles in places like Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, Chosin, Khe Sanh, Fallujah and Marjah. Since those early days, Marine Corps capabilities have evolved in ways our founders could have never imagined, and our Marine Corps today is an integrated air-ground team, capable of rapidly deploying to any conflict or crisis in the world. However, one thing has remained constant: the men and women of the Marine Corps. Always faithful, they have been our nation's finest examples of honor, courage and commitment for nearly 250 years. Right now, Congress has the opportunity to help Americans honor the Marine Corps legacy of bravery and selfless service on a national scale, in a way that won't cost taxpayers a single cent. A bipartisan group of Marine veterans serving in Congress -- Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Reps. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Jack Bergman, R-Mich. -- introduced "The 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act" to instruct the Treasury Department to issue more than one million coins in 2025. As the number of veterans in our country, and serving in our Congress, has gotten smaller over time, preservation of our Marine Corps story is more important than ever. The creation of this coin will support the understanding and appreciation of a very special part of our nation's history. We have a world-class example of how powerful a commemorative coin can be for creating the resources needed to tell America's story through the eyes of Marines. A coin minted in 2005 for the 230th anniversary of the Marine Corps was one of the most popular in U.S. Mint history. The revenue that coin produced helped fund the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Since its opening, millions of Marines, Marine Corps families, grateful Americans and visitors from around the world have experienced the museum. They have stood mere inches from the iconic American flag raised over Iwo Jima, felt a jolting blast of cold air as they walked through the immersive Chosin Reservoir exhibit, and smelled gunpowder in the air as they watched a reenactment of the Battle of Belleau Wood. These visits have conveyed the Corps' rich history and created indelible memories for the visitors, in part made possible by the revenue of the commemorative coin. However, until now, the museum experience has largely been restricted to only those who could visit the physical building. In honor of the Marine Corps' first 250 years of service, we want to expand beyond the museum walls to reach members of the Marine Corps community and grateful citizens across the nation. The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, which led the campaign to build the museum, is prepared to produce traveling exhibits and virtual programming that will make the museum experience more accessible to all. The commemorative coin will give every American an opportunity to show their support for the Marine Corps. All proceeds raised from the coin sales, after the initial cost of designing and issuing the coin are paid for, will be used specifically to support the educational, historical and cultural programs of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Center. Currently, the bill resides in committee in both the House and the Senate. At least 67 Senate cosponsors and 290 House cosponsors must be secured before a floor vote can be scheduled. Time is pressing. I strongly urge every member of Congress to consider taking action in support of this cost-free legislation to preserve and share the Marine Corps' legacy and honor every American who has earned the title "Marine." -- James W. Lukeman is a retired Marine Corps major general, and president and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. LUDINGTON, MI - The iconic Budweiser Clydesdale horses appeared four times in Northern Michigan over the weekend. Making stops in Manistee and Ludington, the eight-horse Clydesdale team paraded the streets as crowds looked on in awe of the massive horses adorned in custom harnesses pulling a restored turn-of-the-century red, white and gold beer wagon. On Friday, the team was in Ludington for the Love Ludington Street Party, a celebration of the citys 150th anniversary. A crowd followed the parade back to The Lake House where three 50-foot trailers were waiting for the horses and equipment. Onlookers watched as a team of about 20 people unhitched the horses, removed their harnesses and led them into the trailers. The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance during the Love Ludington Street Party on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Ludington, Mich. After a parade around town, they were unhitched and led back into the 50-foot trailers at The Lake House.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Heres 5 things to know about the Budweiser Clydesdales: How it started: The first Budweiser Clydesdale team had six horses and was purchased in commemoration of the repeal of prohibition on beer in April 1933. A second team was quickly purchased and both teams began touring the country. The teams were soon expanded to eight horses each. What it takes to be a Budweiser Clydesdale: Clydesdales must meet specific requirements to be part of the Budweiser hitch. They must be at least 18 hands high, geldings at least 4 years old, with a bay coat, four white stockings, a blaze of white on the face, a black mane and a black tail. They must weigh 1,800 to 2,300 pounds. What they wear: Each horse is tailor-fitted with a handcrafted collar and harness made of solid brass and patent leather stitched with pure linen thread. The suit weighs about 130 pounds. Their horseshoes are about 20 inches long and weigh about five pounds each. How much they eat and drink: Each hitch horse consumes five to six gallons of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay, and 30 gallons of water per day. How they travel: Three 50-foot trailers with air-cushioned suspension and thick rubber flooring are used to transport 10 Clydesdales plus the beer wagon and other equipment. The team stops every night at local stables. The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance during the Love Ludington Street Party on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Ludington, Mich. After a parade around town, they were unhitched and led back into the 50-foot trailers at The Lake House.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com The events this past weekend were coordinated by Ludington Beverage Co., an Anheuser-Busch and craft beer wholesaler, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary of serving West Michigan. The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance during the Love Ludington Street Party on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Ludington, Mich. After a parade around town, they were unhitched and led back into the 50-foot trailers at The Lake House.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance during the Love Ludington Street Party on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Ludington, Mich. After a parade around town, they were unhitched and led back into the 50-foot trailers at The Lake House.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance during the Love Ludington Street Party on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Ludington, Mich. After a parade around town, they were unhitched and led back into the 50-foot trailers at The Lake House.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com The famous Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance during the Love Ludington Street Party on Friday, June 9, 2023, in Ludington, Mich. After a parade around town, they were unhitched and led back into the 50-foot trailers at The Lake House.Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com READ MORE: Group reservations for 2024 now open at historic Sleeping Bear Inn Taylor Swift in Detroit: One of the most awe-inspiring concerts weve ever seen Check your extra change: This 1999 state quarter is now worth up to $10,000 EAST LANSING, MI-- A Michigan native who went from playing empty bars in East Lansing to sell-out shows around the world is taking a step back from the music scene. Grant Kwiecinski, known by his stage name GRiZ, is a DJ and electronic music producer who is best known for playing saxophone during his sets, announced in social media posts this month that he will be playing his last show for the foreseeable future. In October of this year Im going to play my last show for the foreseeable future and will be taking a good amount of time off from touring and the GRiZ project, Kwiecinski said in his statement. The 33-year-old from Southfield graduated from Birmingham Groves High School and then attended Michigan State University for several years before he dropped out to focus on a music career in Colorado. Over the years, GRiZ has hosted the 12 Days of GRiZMAS, an annual charity program focused on raising funds for increasing access to music education for Detroits youth. In the post, he said GRiZMAS will be put on hold for at least the next two years. RELATED: Michigan musician headlining Electric Forest calls out decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Im following my guy instincts so for now, Im not going to put a hard time limit length on the break, his statement said. According to GRiZs website, the future funk artist is planning a curated weekend of shows in Flagstaff, Arizona called URSA Major on Sept. 22-24. Ursa Major will feature live music, workshops, art, craft vending, and a chance to gather and celebrate as a community at the Pepsi Amphitheater and campground. GRiZs last appearance listed on his website is at Same Same But Different Festival in Lake Paris, California the following week. While Kwiecinski takes a step back to focus on himself and relationships with family and friends, he said he plans to spend more time at his place in Michigan. I also got myself a spot in Michigan which Im excited to, in time, move back to for parts of the year, his statement read. Also on MLive: Grand Havens first-ever Pride celebration draws thousands Taylor Swifts surprise songs from both of her huge Ford Field Detroit concerts Michigan towns with the fastest growing home prices Illegal Agents of the PRC Government Charged for PRC-Directed Bribery Scheme A federal court in the Southern District of New York today unsealed a complaint charging two individuals with acting and conspiring to act in the United States as unregistered agents of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), conspiring to bribe and bribing a public official, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the complaint, John Chen, aka Chen Jun, 70, a Los Angeles resident and former citizen of the PRC, and Lin Feng, a Los Angeles resident and PRC citizen, allegedly participated in a PRC Government-directed scheme targeting U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong a spiritual practice banned in the PRC. Chen and Feng were arrested today in the Central District of California. The Chinese government has yet again attempted, and failed, to target critics of the PRC here in the United States, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. We allege the defendants in this case attempted to bribe someone they thought was an IRS agent in order to further the Chinese governments campaign of transnational repression in the United States. But the individual they attempted to bribe was in fact an undercover law enforcement agent, and both defendants were arrested this morning. The Justice Department will continue to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute efforts by the PRC government to silence its critics and extend the reaches of its regime onto U.S. soil. We will never stop working to defend the rights to which every person in the United States is entitled. The Department of Justice continues to expose the Chinese governments brazen attempts to perpetrate transnational repression, this time through attempted bribery, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. As highlighted by todays arrests and charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, we will not tolerate efforts by the PRC or any foreign government to intimidate, harass, or undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all who live in the United States. Chinas government has once again shown its disregard for the rule of law and international norms, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. The FBI will not tolerate CCP repression its efforts to threaten, harass, and intimidate people here in the United States. We will continue to confront the Chinese governments efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country.No other nation poses as severe a threat to the democratic values of the United States as the government of the Peoples Republic of China, said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. The FBI will not stand by as the PRC attempts to weaponize our institutions and programs and attack the rights of those on U.S. soil. Any attempt to repress or harass individuals runs directly counter to the ideals our nation was founded upon, and it simply will not be tolerated. The FBI and our partners remain committed to confronting the illegal conduct of the PRC government that threatens our national security and freedom. John Chen and Lin Feng allegedly waged a campaign at the behest of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China to influence a U.S. Government official in order to further the PRC Governments repression of practitioners of Falun Gong, said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. Efforts to manipulate and use the arms of the U.S. Government to carry out the PRC Governments autocratic aims are as shocking as they are insidious. My office will work vigorously to protect against malign foreign influences. The complaint alleges that from at least approximately January 2023 to May 2023, Chen and Feng worked inside the United States at the direction of the PRC government, including an identified PRC government official (PRC Official-1), to further the PRC governments campaign to repress and harass Falun Gong practitioners. The PRC Government has designated the Falun Gong as one of the five poisons, or one of the top five threats to its rule. In China, Falun Gong adherents face a range of repressive and punitive measures from the PRC government, including imprisonment and torture. As part of the PRC governments campaign against the Falun Gong, Chen and Feng allegedly engaged in a PRC government-directed scheme to manipulate the IRSs Whistleblower Program in an effort to strip the tax-exempt status of an entity run and maintained by Falun Gong practitioners (Entity-1). After Chen filed a defective whistleblower complaint with the IRS (the Chen Whistleblower Complaint), Chen and Feng paid $5,000 in cash bribes, and promised to pay substantially more, to a purported IRS agent who was in fact an undercover officer (Agent-1), in exchange for Agent-1s assistance in advancing the complaint. Neither Chen nor Feng notified the Attorney General that they were acting as agents of the PRC government in the United States. In the course of the scheme, Chen, on a recorded call, explicitly noted that the purpose of paying these bribes, which were directed and funded by the PRC government, was to carry out the PRC governments aim of toppl[ing] . . . the Falun Gong. During a call intercepted pursuant to a judicially authorized wiretap, Chen and Feng discussed receiving direction on the bribery scheme from PRC Official-1, deleting instructions received from PRC Official-1 in order to evade detection, and alert[ing] and sound[ing] the alarm to PRC Official-1 if Chen and Fengs meetings to bribe Agent-1 did not go as planned. Chen and Feng also discussed that PRC Official-1 was the PRC Government official in charge of the bribery scheme targeting the Falun Gong. As part of this scheme, Chen and Feng allegedly met with Agent-1 in Newburgh, New York, on May 14. During the meeting, Chen gave Agent-1 a $1,000 cash bribe as an initial, partial bribe payment. Chen further offered to pay Agent-1 a total of $50,000 for opening an audit of Entity-1, as well as 60% of any whistleblower award from the IRS if the Chen Whistleblower Complaint were successful. On May 18, Feng paid Agent-1 a $4,000 cash bribe at John F. Kennedy International Airport as an additional partial bribe payment in furtherance of the scheme. Chen allegedly obtained funding from the PRC government to make bribe payments during his trips to the PRC in the course of the scheme. Chen and Feng are each charged with (1) one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General and to bribe a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (2) one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; (3) one count of bribing a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and (4) one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The FBI New York and Los Angeles Field Offices and Counterintelligence Division are investigating the case with valuable assistance provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah, Qais Ghafary, Michael D. Lockard, and Kathryn Wheelock for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Christina A. Clark of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This story has been published on: 2023-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By MICHAEL R. SISAK AND MIKE BALSAMO AND JAKE OFFENHARTZ undefined 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 a 1985 attack, Kaczynski mailed a bomb to prominent University of Michigan psychology professor James V. McConnell, a leading figure in behaviorism. The blast wounded graduate assistant Nicklaus Suino and damaged McConnells hearing, according to MLive files. Kaczynski earned masters and doctoral degrees in mathematics from U-M in Ann Arbor in the 1960s. He later sought to donate his writings to the university, but a federal court ordered they be sold, with proceeds going to compensate 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. ___ Balsamo reported from Miami. ANN ARBOR, MI - The Unabomber Theodore Ted Kaczynskis ties to University of Michigan are part of popular culture, from true crime shows to Netflix documentaries to a mention of it in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. Kaczynski, who killed three people and injured 23 others through bombs sent in the mail over 17 years, died Saturday, June 10 in a federal prison medical center in Butner, North Carolina. He was 81. While also educated at Harvard University and a professor at University of California-Berkeley, the Chicago-born mathematics genius started his science career at the Ann Arbor-based university. Here are five connections he has to the university. He earned his masters and doctoral degrees at University of Michigan After graduating with a bachelors in mathematics from Harvard in 1962, Kaczynski enrolled at University of Michigan. He earned his masters degree in 1964 and his doctorate in 1967, both in mathematics. He chose the university over Berkeley and University of Chicago since he was offered a graduate instructor position with an annual salary of $2,310 (or $22,188 in 2023), according to a 2006 Michigan Daily article. He lived at 300 Prescott in East Quad Residence Hall, the article states. READ MORE: Unabomber Ted Kaczynski died by suicide in prison medical center His 1967 thesis Boundary Functions was so well-praised that one of his math professors George Piranian could not figure it out, according to a 1996 Seattle Times article. It is not enough to say he was smart, Piranian said in 1996. He thought the University of Michigan had wretchedly low standards Kaczynski sent a letter to The Michigan Daily in 2006, describing his experience at the Ann Arbor university. He found the grading standards quite low. The fact that I not only passed my courses (except one physics course) but got quite a few As, shows how wretchedly low the standards were at Michigan, he wrote. Kaczynski received an F in physics, as well as 12 As and five Bs, according to the document he sent to The Michigan Daily. He characterized faculty as uninterested and unenthusiastic, partially blaming them for his decline. Sloppy, careless, poorly organized teaching can destroy the morale of many students, Kaczynski wrote. He later moved to a house on 524 S. Forest Ave, where he mostly kept to himself. My memories of the University of Michigan are NOT pleasant, Kaczynski wrote in the letter. I spent five years there. These were the most miserable years of my life (except for the first year and the last year). His brother David Kaczynski said in a 2016 Nightline interview that his brothers delusions started during his time in Ann Arbor. He was having delusions that people were laughing about him or making fun of him, or plotting against him, he said in the interview. FILE - In this April 4, 1996 file photo, Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, is escorted into the federal courthouse in Helena, Mont. Harvard alumni attending their 50th class reunion are getting updates on classmates _ including Kaczynski, who graduated in 1962. In an alumni directory, he lists his occupation as prisoner and under awards lists eight life sentences.(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)AP Some of his victims were University of Michigan faculty Kaczynski attacked businessmen, random civilians and academics with homemade bombs from his Montana cabin from 1978 to 1995. Two of his victims were University of Michigan faculty: graduate assistant Nicklaus Suino and psychology professor James V. McConnell, a leading figure in behaviorism. In the 1985 attack at McConnells home, the blast wounded Suino and damaged McConnells hearing, according to MLive files. A 1996 study in the American Psychological Association theorized that Kaczynski targeted McConnell due to the latters research into behavior modification and planarian learning, or the transfer of memories from one organism to another through DNA. He tried to donate his writings to University of Michigan Kaczynski tried to donate his writings found in his Montana cabin to the universitys Joseph A. Labadie Collection, an archive devoted to radical protest. His collection is known as Kaczynskiana. A 2004 federal court ruling said Kaczynski had no right to donate his writings and that the government possesses the writings on behalf of his victims. The papers were sold with proceeds compensating his victims. The university collection is very popular. According to The New York Times: Julie Herrada, the collections curator, declined to describe the people so intrigued by Mr. Kaczynski that they visit the library to look through his archive. She said just one thing: Nobody seems crazy. The universitys Hatcher Graduate Library reached an exclusive agreement in 1999 to receive Kaczynskis prison correspondence, which he provided at no charge. The university received a 5-foot stack of letters from people around the world and his responses. Good Will Hunting mentions University of Michigan In the Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting, a psychologist played by Robin Williams argues with a mathematician played by Stellan Skarsgard. In the argument, Kaczynskis ties to the university are mentioned. Williams describes how a genius without proper direction can lead to dangerous results. In the 1960s, a young man graduated from the University of Michigan, Williams says. Did some brilliant work in mathematics. Specifically bounded harmonic functions. Then he was at Berkeley, assistant professor, showed amazing professor. Then he moved to Montana, and he blew the competition away. So who was he, Skarsgard responds. Ted Kaczynski, says Williams. Never heard of him, says Skarsgard. Williams then yells to a Boston bartender: Hey Jimmy, whos Ted Kaczynski? Unabomber, the bartender responds. Kaczynski died by suicide, four people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on June 12. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Does kissing at this University of Michigan arch really lead to marriage? It did for this couple Pup Patty at Grizzly Peak in Ann Arbor will wag your dogs tail Anti-Semitic threats, COVID-19 conspiracies led to this University of Michigan workers downfall ANN ARBOR, MI -- One person suffered minor injuries after driving a car into an Ann Arbor house. Ann Arbor fire crews were called to the 2300 block of Yost Boulevard around 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, for a car that had crashed into a house. Investigation revealed a 73-year-old Ann Arbor woman had been driving westbound on Darrow Drive when she struck another vehicle before hitting a stop sign and crashing into the house. The driver of another vehicle, a 78-year-old woman, was not injured. The car crashed through an exterior wall and into a room of the house, according to photos from the Ann Arbor Fire Department. The 73-year-old driver was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital with minor injuries. She was the only occupant of the vehicle. No one was home at the time by a very fortuitous outcome, wrote an official from the Ann Arbor Fire Department in a social media statement. An uninjured dog was located by firefighters inside the home. In addition to the damage to the wall, the crash caused a gas leak and burst water pipe. The area has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, making crashes like this quite unique, a fire official wrote on social media. The crash remains an active investigation. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor in the crash, police said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: 20-acre forest outside Ann Arbor to be protected by citys greenbelt New kitchen will help Jewish Family Services care for refugees in Washtenaw County U.S. 23 shutdowns coming between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti for construction GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Just one community in Genesee County has increased its population since 2020 while the number of people living in other cities, townships and villages decreased, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data. Population estimates from the federal agency showed no drastic changes within most communities in the county from 2020 until 2022, but Fenton Township brought in 202 more people than it lost in those two years. The city of Flint suffered the biggest loss of residents in the county, dropping from 81,268 people in April 2020 to 79,854 by July 2022. Overall, Michigan lost an estimated 43,000 residents during that same period, according to the census estimates, with about 40% of cities, townships and villages registering population declines during that period. About 48% of communities grew during that same time, including Fenton Township, which reached an estimated population of 17,048 residents in 2022. The city of Lindens population during the two-year period remained unchanged, staying at 4,145, and several other areas came close to maintaining the same number of residents. In Mundy Township, the population dropped by just 34 people to 15,264, Davison Township lost 31 to end at 20,414, Grand Blanc Township lost just 62 to finish at 39,789, and Gaines Township lost only 25 to end at 6,639. Fenton Townships 2022 census numbers continued to reflect that areas steady population growth. The townships population has risen from 15,552 in 2010 to 17,048 in 2022, an increase of more than 10 percent. In 2022, nearly 93 percent of homes in the township were occupied by owners and the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $283,700 from 2017-2021, according to census figures. This particular township is ... blessed to have three phenomenal school districts (Lake Fenton, Linden and Fenton) within its boundaries, said county Commissioner Shaun Shumaker, R-Fenton Twp. You have the ability to live close to two very unique downtown districts with the city of Fenton and the city of Linden, both (of which) do a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere that engages people of all ages with a variety of events. And for commuters, there is easy access to two major expressways, Shumaker said in a message to MLive-The Flint Journal. Fenton Township is also a highly conservative area and has historically elected leadership that is as well. Fenton Township Supervisor Vince Lorraine said the growth of his community has been planned and well managed -- something thats easy to say, but hard to do. In January, Lorraine was among county officials who kicked off a project to expand access to public water in the region, calling the $23.5-million Southern Lakes Water Initiative the most significant expansion of the countys water distribution system since it was started in the 1970s. It takes great planning, and I (work with) a great board, Lorraine said. We are building for future generations as much as today. Schools, public safety, location and a culture of lake living all have contributed to the townships growth, which includes 600 home sites that are currently in development, the supervisor said. The attributes of the area have also attracted new visitors and the township is currently conducting a survey of residents on the topic of short-term rentals such as those listed on Airbnb. Officials want to hear residents opinions on the effect of short-term rentals on the areas quality of life. Its also surveying residents for input on a township master plan update that will be used to guide future policy decisions and development over the next 10 to 15 years. Read more at The Flint Journal: See which Michigan towns grew, shrunk in 2022 New census update estimates Flints population has dropped below 80,000 Genesee County breaks ground on largest water system expansion since 1970s Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. FLINT, MI -- Mayor Sheldon Neeley has proclaimed June as Pride Month in Flint -- for this year and the additional three years remaining in his term of office. The city announced the action, issued by way of a proclamation, on Monday, June 12, but a city spokeswoman said there are no plans to fly a flag representing LGBTQ pride on city property. Two years ago, Genesee County officials agreed to fly a rainbow flag symbolizing LGBTQ pride during the month of June but later adopted a resolution to refrain from flying any flag other than those representing the county, the state of Michigan, and the United States after a contentious debate. Neeleys proclamation says the city supports civil rights, freedom, and equality for all people, including many citizens of diverse LGBTQ+ identities. It recognizes June 28 as the 54th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a 1969 uprising by young gays, lesbians and transgender people in New York City, who clashed with police near a bar called the Stonewall Inn -- an event seen as a catalyst in expanding LGBT activism. The proclamation says there is still work to be done to combat discrimination and prejudice toward the LGBQT+ community, especially in the workplace, housing and healthcare across the United States and recognizes that LGBTQ+ youth are more susceptible to suicide, homelessness, bullying and violence. Neeleys four-year recognition of Pride Month expresses the innate human value and equal protection by law of the LGBTQ+ community in the city of Flint, the proclamation says. In addition to the city, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider a resolution on Wednesday, June 14, to designate June as Pride Month throughout the county. Read more at The Flint Journal: Genesee County gets out of the business of flying issue-oriented flags M-57 bridge work means lane closures, traffic shifts starting June 12 Woman expelled from Flint council meeting claims First Amendment violation in lawsuit Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. FLINT, MI Two months after pleading no contest to more than 180 felony charges, an accused serial rapist facing charges for allegedly assaulting more than a dozen victims dating back to 2008 learned he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Mark W. Latchana on Monday, June 12, sentenced Gilbert Benny Conway of Flint to a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 50 years in prison for 187 counts, many of which were first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and gross indecency charges. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Simulating a fully interactive town, students learn how to become bankers, investors, workers, voters and citizens in their community JA Biztown. The Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes has been working on the vision for the Tom Fox Family JA BizTown Student Facility since 2008, constructing a building that is set up like a city, teaching students about becoming consumers and producers in a local economy. JA BizTown is in the Huizenga Family JA Free Enterprise Center, 4090 Lake Dr. SE, where Junior Achievement holds educational programs and company operations. A ribbon cutting was held earlier this month for the facility that connects the classroom experience with real-world application. The town simulates the day-to-day functions of a thriving community, 5th and 6th grade students become both producers and consumers, teaching students about concepts like financial responsibility, community and economic building, career readiness, business management and operations, and collaboration and team building, according to a news release. The physical town setup has jobs for every student, teaching them about interviewing and specific roles within a town, including governmental structures such as city government, learning the importance of voting and how decisions are made in a community. In Biztown, there is a city hall, bank, hospital, restaurants, retail and manufacturing, among other entities for the students to interact. Over 10,000 students from across West Michigan will participate in this capstone experience each year. Junior Achievements mission is to educate and inspire young people to succeed in a global economy, President and CEO of JA of the Michigan Great Lakes Bill Coderre said. We do that by envisioning a world where the young people have both the skill set and the mindset to build thriving communities. Before they can be successful on the global stage, we have to prepare them to build local thriving communities here in West Michigan, then in Michigan and in the US, then in a global economy. We empower students to own their own economic success. BizTown consists of 12 in-class teacher-led sessions prior to the simulation and one in-class session following the simulation, with a culminating 45 hour visit to a hands-on simulated community, according to the website. JA BizTown is set up like a town where students can learn how to be part of a thriving community. (Photo provided to MLive by Haley Smith). The family of Tom Fox, of Fox Jewelers, were one of the biggest donors supporting the new initiative, giving Junior Achievement a $1 million grant. Over $15 million was raised to construct the building, using the funds to design the interior, purchase the land and renovate and add to the building to bring the programs and curriculums to life. Some of the lessons include teaching them about checkbooks, credit cards, creating a resume and filling out a job application. Once they arrive at BizTown, they receive the job they applied for, knowing how to act in a job setting due to their previous lessons. What were doing is while were prepping them for their one-day, culminating experience, were also showing the students the relevancy of what theyre learning in school to the real world, Coderre said. Students are trying out their jobs at the radio station at JA BizTown student facility. Photo credit to Haley Smith. Coderre hesitated to call the program a simulation, immediately thinking of something electronic and cold, but he said BizTown feels real, creating an experience that he has seen children interact with in a meaningful way since they began piloting the program after this past spring break. Students will say things like, I didnt realize how hard my parents worked, Coderre said. Weve had teachers tell us that this is the most impactful educational experience theyve seen their kids participate in their lifetime as a teacher. According to Junior Achievement, following participation in this new learning experience, students will be able to: Discuss the roles they play as citizens, workers, and consumers in their community and relate those roles to the free enterprise system. Discuss the importance of citizen rights and responsibilities in a community. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the free enterprise system. Build money management skills through a practical knowledge of economic concepts and banking practices. Develop an understanding of basic business practices and responsibilities. Display the soft skills necessary for successful participation in the world of work. The Junior Achievement curriculum encompasses skills from kindergarten to 12th grade. All schools are eligible for this experience and the curriculum. Coderre said the educators that they see on a regular basis are the ones trying to find the cutting-edge educational experiences for their students in West Michigan. We want to be able to show them that there are wonderful jobs and careers in our community, and so this is an opportunity for our business community to showcase their organization to the students, Coderre said. Building the talent pipeline is important for the vitality of our West Michigan community. Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes hopes to continue this legacy by working on their next student facility for middle schoolers, the JA Finance Park, which is set to open next November. It will be constructed like a mall, each store modeling a life decision. This will include learning about life conflicts such as housing, investments, savings and budgeting. Coderre believes that they inspire kids by believing in them and their ability to start a good career and history of economic success from what they are learning now, equipping them with tools to be successful. Coderre said he has seen this pipeline for the last 70 years JA has worked with West Michigan educators. BizTown recently completed its last session of the school year. Officials are looking forward to opening for their first full school year for the 2023-24 academic year. The goal is to create a priority in lifelong learning and success in West Michigan. We look to inspire students to have that knowledge of what theyre learning and the importance of it to their future success, Coderre said. We want to inspire them to want to do well long term. We want them to become productive members of our West Michigan community. More on MLive: Outdoor music, movies coming to Studio Park this summer Guide to Miss Michigan 2023, featuring the 24 candidates This boardwalk trail skims the water at Hollands Lake Macatawa JACKSON COUNTY, MI Comfort food inside a convenience store, businesses finally opening inside the Old Irish Mill and the settlement of a lawsuit involving a popular burger restaurant are just some of the latest business news happening in Jackson County. Heres some recent business news you might have missed. Youll find a deep-fried Philly cheesesteak inside a Jackson convenience store Flavorz is cooking unique, comfort food in the back of a Jackson convenience store. Rae Klavon has been running Flavorz inside Home Town Convenience since 2022 Flavorz tries to stand out from other restaurants, and offers different foods Jackson does not have, Klavon said. One of these unique dishes is their Deep Fried Philly Cheesesteak, which comes with shaved ribeye, onions, green peppers, mushrooms and American cheese, all deep fried in pastry. Klavon came up with the idea after she came home from a trip to Chicago and tried to recreate a recipe she saw there. Read the full story here. At last! Old Irish Mill opens with first 2 tenants and more on the way After almost nine years of setbacks and delays, parts of the Old Irish Mill are at last open to the public. Daniel Ross, owner of TransPharm PreClinical Solutions bought the former Ford Motor Co. plant at 221 Mill St. in Brooklyn in 2014, with plans to turn it into an attraction. A marijuana dispensary and the Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce have finally moved into the historic building. These are just two businesses for the Old Irish Mill. The 30,000 square-foot facility will also have an event space, microbrewery, a demonstration kitchen, storage space and a cafe called Sams Dam Cafe on the first floor. The second floor will have an Irish pub and restaurant. Parking lots will be added, along with a farmers market across the street. Read the full story here. Whats that Jackson? A new restaurant is coming to downtown A new bistro is making its way to downtown Jackson later this summer. Owner Jessica Tobin and general manager Emma Stark are opening Murphys Bistro in the former Economy Art & Framing building at 145 W. Michigan Ave. They came up with the idea as a way to offer more quick-service meals, as compared to other restaurants downtown. The bistro will act as more of a deli. The menu is still being crafted, but people can expect to find sandwiches, rotating soups, salads and other healthier lunch items, Tobin said. Some breakfast items will also be available, such as bagels, yogurt parfaits and avocado toast. Read the full story here. Hungry for a smash burger? Try this Jackson food truck Smash & Dash Smash Burgers has a different take on traditional hamburgers. The food truck was started by Chad Farquhar after he decided to quit his job last September and embark on a new career in the food industry. Smash & Dash Smash Burgers specialty is the Smash Bacon Mac N Jam Burger. The burger comes with two patties topped with American cheese, bacon, macaroni and cheese and bacon jam. Farquhar even makes the bacon jam himself. Read the full story here. In-N-Out Burger lawsuit against Doll n Burgers reaches settlement A lawsuit claiming a burger restaurant with locations in Jackson and Tecumseh looks too much like In-N-Out Burger has been settled and dismissed. In-N-Out Burger, a large regional chain headquartered in California, filed the civil suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 2020 against locally-based Doll n Burgers, for trade dress infringement, which occurs when a company looks so similar to another company it could cause confusion. In September 2022, both parties went through mediation and mutually agreed to dismiss all claims and counterclaims. Terms of the settlement were not released. In-N-Out Burger and Doll n Burgers officials did not respond to several requests for comment. However, court records show each party will bear its own costs and attorney fees as part of the settlement. Read the full story here. Herbs for wellness and gentle care can now be found at this downtown Marshall store Jenn Ziegler-Sherman, with help from her husband Zach Sherman, celebrated the official grand opening of the herbal apothecary called The Wilderness Maven at 211 E. Michigan Ave. in early June. Ziegler-Sherman has been running an herbal business since 2014, selling mainly at farmers markets and on Etsy. However, after the couple moved to Rives Township in northern Jackson County in 2022, Ziegler-Sherman decided to open a brick-and-mortar store. The Wilderness Maven sells items like formulated herb tinctures, elixirs and a range of tea blends that can support sleep aid, relaxation or digestion. One of her products is the Elderberry Rosehip Elixir, which Ziegler-Sherman said can help boost the immune system. Read the full story here. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. More Jackson Citizen Patriot business news: Alro Steel celebrates 75 years, will Chick-fil-A come to town and more Jackson County business news New store coming downtown, restaurant features Thai food and other Jackson County business news Try a great smoked pork chop, a new flea market is coming and other business news in Jackson County Five Guys is coming, Party City is closing and other business news in Jackson County KALAMAZOO, MI -- In the first year after The Kalamazoo Promise launched, district enrollment increased by 1,000 students. The increase didnt stop there. The Promise program gives free tuition to colleges within the state to students enrolled at Kalamazoo Public Schools, starting with the Class of 2006. As Promise leaders hoped, its given families a reason to send their kids to KPS. While other districts in Kalamazoo County and in Michigan have seen dwindling enrollments in recent years, Kalamazoos continues to rise. While there have been shortfalls of The Kalamazoo Promise, its been unquestionably successful in one area -- growing the school district. Reversing a downward spiral Excluding KPS, public school enrollment in Kalamazoo County -- including the other eight districts and the five charter schools -- has dropped by 12% since fall 2005. Statewide, public school enrollment dropped 16% from fall 2005 to fall 2022. Battle Creek, Jackson, Grand Rapids and Lansing have all seen enrollment decline between 30% and 50% in that span. KPS enrollment peaked in 2019 at 12,880 students, 20% higher than when the Promise was first announced. This school year, KPS had 12,300 students. Parents absolutely do not want to miss out on (free college), said Kevan Hess, a real estate agent in Kalamazoo. So (The Promise) has really helped ... enrollments are way up. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Part of the KPS increase is because of new families coming to the district. But a large chunk is due to families who live in the district sending their kids to the district -- which is not a given in other urban districts. Census data shows shows about 84% of public school students who live in the KPS boundaries are enrolled in KPS. That compares to 62% in Lansing, 54% in Grand Rapids, 53% in Jackson and 47% in Battle Creek. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Prior to The Promise, KPS was in a downward spiral of enrollment decline, said then-Deputy Superintendent Gary Start. In 1995, the district had around 12,200 students. By fall 2005, it was about 10,200. Significant budget cuts were necessary to balance the budget because of enrollment loss, Start said. Budget cuts gave families with the resources to leave more reasons to do so. Most families who left prior to The Promise were white, according to the W.E. Upjohn Institute. With them, they took valuable financial investment, as many Black and Hispanic students in the district are economically disadvantaged. It was pretty clear that unless something dramatic changed, the district would become a very small percentage (of non-Hispanic whites) in a 10-year period, said Tim Bartik, senior economist at the W. E. Upjohn Institute. The Promise was the something dramatic the district needed, he said. RELATED: 17 years later, The Kalamazoo Promise has changed lives. But it hasnt been a cure-all. The program launched a new era for KPS, Start said. The district grew and remained racially diverse, per the W.E. Upjohn Institute. Financial stability made the district a happier place to be, Start said. Its not a positive place to work when youre constantly having to downsize. After The Promise, it was just a completely different, more positive organization, Start said. More homeowners doesnt mean the district became racially gentrified. Its still as demographically diverse as it was in 2005, according to the Upjohn Institute. But the district does have a stronger middle class base than it would have had without The Promise. That strong middle class has allowed the district to pass millages to fund building improvements, experts said. Prior to The Promise, the district hadnt built a new school almost 40 years. The district has also been able to invest more into at-risk students, usually those who are economically disadvantaged, according to the Upjohn Institute. Low-income students often have higher achievement rates in economically diverse schools, said Michelle Miller-Adams, senior researcher at the Upjohn Institute. Its hard to serve poor kids, because they bring a lot of issues to school that are not just education related, Miller-Adams said. Omarr and Leona Carter with their children. From the left: Zjanice, Zjane, Leona, Cameron, Omarr, Emmanuel, Zjade and Zjalyn. The Carters moved to Kalamazoo from Seattle in 2006 because of The Kalamazoo Promise. Their five older children were Promise recipients and Zjane is still attending Kalamazoo Public Schools. (Steele Candy Photography) A Kalamazoo migration Families from near and far have migrated to Kalamazoo to take advantage of The Promise. Leona Carter and her husband Omarr were living in Seattle when The Promise was announced. They had already planned to move when a friend mentioned The Promise from a report they saw on TV. We thought about it, did some research and found out that actually is a move for us, Carter said. Within seven months, they sold their house in Seattle and bought a new one in Kalamazoos Arcadia neighborhood. Since then, five of their six kids have used The Promise scholarship and their youngest, a high school senior, will use it in the future. We didnt have to take out a bunch of loans or anything like that, Carter said. Its been literally life-changing for us, and our kids would not have the availability or the finances to go to college without The Promise. The desire to take advantage of the Promise is reflected in the districts housing market. Homes in the $200,000 to $400,000 range are tough to find in district boundaries because people come from out of state, said Hess, the realtor. Theres also high demand below $100,000, he said. Weve seen that for the past 17 years since it started, Hess said. Hess, himself a 2005 Promise graduate who attended Western Michigan University, made sure the house he bought with his wife was inside the district borders. That way, their son, who is in kindergarten, can eventually take advantage of The Promise. Kalamazoo Promise graduates Alonzo and Taijah Wilson pose for a portrait with their kids, Alonzo Wilson lll, 5, and Ace Wilson, 1, in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, June 2, 2023. (Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com)Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com For Alonzo Wilson, The Promise is the reason he chose to stay in Kalamazoo. After Wilson graduated from KPS in 2009, he left for the University of Michigan on a Promise scholarship, assuming his life in Kalamazoo was in the rearview mirror. Im thinking, Im going to get my degree and Im out, he said. Now 31, he and wife Taijah Coleman Wilson -- a Kalamazoo Central graduate who used her Promise scholarship to attend WMU -- are still here. The Promise shows people here are investing in the community, and thats what we like to see, said Alonzo, a project controls engineer for CMS Group. Want more Kalamazoo news? Our 3@3 newsletter rounds up Kalamazoos top stories every weekday at 3 p.m. Enter your email to get our free newsletter: For some families, the impact of The Promise can be tracked through generations. Sue Larsen was a KPS elementary music teacher when The Promise was announced. Her husband, Scott Thornburg, was a WMU music professor and an accomplished trumpet player. They have three children. Scott stopped answering the phone if the Canadian Brass called or if there was an audition at a major orchestra. He said to me, Were here for 12 years, no matter what, Larsen said. Two of Larsens three children used The Promise at WMU. The other received a Heyl Scholarship at Kalamazoo College. Those who used The Promise still live in Kalamazoo within a mile of their parents. Larsens daughter now has two children of her own, who attend Northglade Elementary School in KPS. Without The Promise, I dont know that our lives would have gone the same way, Larsen said. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. MORE ON MLIVE Free tuition will be game-changer, surprised Battle Creek students say Kalamazoo schools community condemns gun violence after student killed 17 years later, The Kalamazoo Promise has changed lives. But it hasnt been a cure-all. MUSKEGON, MI The 2023 Miss Michigan contestants took part in a welcome party Monday at The Deck, a restaurant and bar on the beach in Muskegon at Pere Marquette Park. The new event kicked off this weeks activities. The Miss Michigan scholarship program returns to the Frauenthal Theater stage in downtown Muskegon at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 15 for its first night of competition. The winner will be named on Saturday, June 17. Officials announced Monday, June 12 that 23 instead of 24 women are now vying for the crown, after one candidate had to withdraw for a job opportunity. Related: Guide to Miss Michigan 2023, featuring the 24 candidates Miss Michigan Board Member Christopher Schram told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle that contestant No. 20, Miss Oakland County Layla Cypher, of Oxford, started her dream job in (Washington) DC today. We are so proud of her because thats what this program is all about, Miss Michigan State Executive Director Paula DeWall said, noting she wont be replaced. She got a wonderful opportunity. Our goal is to empower women and with the skills they learn through the program they enhance their interview and resume-writing skills. All 23 contestants attended the event at The Deck, 1601 Beach St., from noon to 2 p.m. They ate lunch and took photos on the beach, including a group picture that will be sold at a luncheon on Saturday. DeWall said they loved the venue and appreciated the restaurant providing heaters on a chilly day. The 2023 Outstanding Teen competition takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, also at the Frauenthal, 425 W. Western Ave. The winner will be crowned at the end of the evening. Before the final night of competition on Friday, June 16, the Miss Michigan contestants will be at Aquastar Cruises, 560 Mart St., for a cruise on Muskegon Lake, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. More from MLive: Miss Michigan returns home to Muskegons Frauenthal Center for 2023 competition Miss Michigan 2022 wears the crown as a woman of science Beach season arrives in Muskegon with The Decks reopening, adventure run Michigan Republican Party chair Kristina Karamo harshly rebuked the campaign arm of her party in the Michigan House Monday, calling it horrific the House Republican Campaign Committee named former Gov. Rick Snyder and donor Bill Parfet, a real estate mogul, to lead the caucuss fundraising efforts. Read more: Rick Snyder to lead fundraising for Michigan House Republicans 2024 campaign Karamo said in an interview it was disturbing that these are the folks that they want to lean on to take back the House, because both Snyder and Parfet, relatively moderate conservatives, had notably broken with their party in the recent past. Snyder in 2020 publicly endorsed then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden in that presidential election, calling then-President Donald Trump a bully who lacks a moral compass. In 2022 Parfet joined a coalition called Republicans for Whitmer to support Gov. Gretchen Whitmers reelection. In a statement Parfet had said Whitmer has a proven track record of compromise, understands the issues, and like us, is committed to a great future. Karamo said the party has been fielding a lot of very angry calls about it. How do you think the average Republican voter feels that they have a group of a group of Republicans leaning on a guy who endorsed Joe Biden, a guy who endorsed Gretchen Whitmer, to help them in their efforts? Karamo said. Republican voters are very upset. The House Republican Campaign Committee declined to respond to Karamos statements. Karamo said correcting ill-advised ideological inclusivity is why shes leading Michigan Republicans today. People are tired of the squishy, wishy-washy Republicans, she said. Theyre just not dealing with it anymore. Karamo said Biden is destroying our country, while Whitmer is relying on the Chinese Communist Party to help rebuild our economy. As chair Karamo has appeared at government meetings to decry a $2.4 billion battery plant being planned outside Big Rapids because Gotion, the company receiving taxpayer incentives for the project, has Chinese ownership. Latest: Gotion pauses step of Chinese-linked plant to convince Michigan locals After the Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon lost to Whitmer by nearly 11 percentage points last November, the partys prior leadership laid blame at the feet of their top candidates for rhetoric and views that led to an exodus of the partys largest donors. You can have all the money in the world, if the voters arent going to turn out for your candidates it wont mean a hill of beans, Karamo said. Karamo led a wave of hardline, America First delegates to win control of the party a few months later, and has claimed a mandate to reclaim the party for true Republicans. She said people are excited to see a change where youll have a Republican Party that actually honors the will of the base and especially with the populist movement. Jason Roe, a Republican consultant and one-time executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, rebutted Karamos argument, saying fundraising in the party is at a historic low and I dont know how we can tell Republicans that maybe arent the most conservative that theyre not welcome. If were going to broaden the party, we should broaden it with people that can help in the cause of getting the state House majority back, Roe said. Gov. Snyder and Bill Parfet have been very significant leaders on some of the most conservative reforms in Michigan in recent years, particularly right-to-work. Theyve been very successful fundraisers and Republicans could use their help. Democrats are in full control of state government for the first time 40 years, but thanks to a quirk of the state Constitution, theyll require some Republican votes in the legislature to ensure budget is enacted by Oct. 1 when the next fiscal year begins. It allows Republican leaders to bake some of their own priorities into the budget through negotiations, but if Republicans cant get what theyre after at the bargaining table, Karamo thinks legislative they should absolutely be willing to shut down state government to force Democrats hand. I dont think it should be placed on the Republicans like were trying to shut down the government, maybe the Democrats shouldnt be robbing the people of Michigan, she said. Read more on MLive: Michigan GOP plans internal caucuses to pick most presidential primary delegates State of emergency declared for LGBTQ people in U.S. 3 ways lawmakers are taking action after Nassar, Anderson sexual abuse Early in-person voting among historic changes to how Michiganders vote Race-based hair discrimination ban heads to Michigan governor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced a first-of-its-kind statewide commission to tackle issues facing LGBTQ Michiganders. Alongside Democratic state officials like Attorney General Dana Nessel and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Whitmer signed an executive order establishing Michigans LGBTQ Commission at Motor City Pride in Detroit on Sunday, June 11. While Pride is a time for celebrating the achievements and legacy of the LGBTQ community, Whitmer said in a statement that steps need to be taken to ensure that everyone has the freedom to be who they are in Michigan. While other states are engaged in the business of bigotry, Michigan is standing up for the LGBTQ+ community, Whitmer said. Related: This Pride month, major Michigan brands face a minefield The new commission comes just months after the state passed legislation amending the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for LGBTQ Michiganders. Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, who championed the expansion of the civil rights act for years, said the commission will build on decades of work to secure rights for LGBTQ residents. This is what recognition feels like, and this is what representative government looks and acts like, Moss said. After years of state leaders ignoring LGBTQ+ pride, suppressing our rights and policy needs, and raining on our parades, the rainbows are out and shining bright in Michigan now. The LGBTQ+ Commission will focus on issues related to health, safety, economic opportunity and talent retention for the LGBTQ community in Michigan. Commissioners will advise the governor and the director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity on matters impacting LGBTQ residents, including approaches to eradicate and prevent discrimination against Michigans LGBTQ+ community and its members, as well as to address other forms of inequality, the executive order states. Just last week, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ people across the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history. Related: State of emergency declared for LGBTQ people in U.S. The move comes as the activist organization documented more than 76 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law in 2023, more than double the amount signed last year; 2022 was previously considered the worst year on record for anti-LGBTQ legislation. Gwen Stembridge, advocacy campaign manager for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ suicide prevention, said she believes the commission will play a critical role in ensuring state policy is inclusive and addresses the unique needs of LGBTQ Michiganders. It is inspiring to see public recognition and support from Michigans leaders and elected officials on issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community through the creation of a statewide LGBTQ+ commission, particularly at a time when our community continues to face a record-breaking wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric across our country, Stembridge said. The commission will be comprised of representatives from: the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, who will serve as chair; the Michigan Department of Education; the Michigan Department of Civil Rights; and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The governor is also tasked with appointing individuals from a diverse range of communities, including a medical professional who provides care to LGBTQ people, a caregiver of a LGBTQ child and members of the LGBTQ community itself. Read more from MLive: Texting and driving law changes, Trump indicted: Your guide to Michigan politics Mackinac Islands school needs more students but theres nowhere to live Trumps federal indictment brings less Michigan reaction than first As climate warms, Michigan can expect more smoke and unsafe air Michigan Republicans leaders are seeking to award more than two-thirds of their 2024 delegates, who will vote to select the next Republican nominee for president, through a closed caucus instead of the open primary election Michigan has long held. The move will both head off a potential penalty from the Republican National Committee after Democrats moved the states presidential primary election to Feb. 27, which would violate RNC rules and cut Michigan delegates, and make the partys decision-making more insular, a long-sought goal of the Michigan Republican Partys hardline faction. Under the plan Michigan voters will assign 16 of Michigans 55 Republican national convention delegates through the states primary election, while the remaining 39 will be assigned at congressional district caucus meetings where only chosen party members can vote choosing three delegates for each of Michigans 13 U.S. House districts. What we have is a beautiful hybrid model to ensure that we protect the voice of Republicans voting in the primary next year, Michigan Republican Party chair Kristina Karamo said in an interview. Any type of information claiming that were stealing the votes of Republican voters in Michigan or robbing them of their votes are just flat out lies. Selecting delegates solely through a Feb. 27 primary could result in the RNC reducing Michigans delegates from 55 to 12, according to the national committees bylaws. I did initially petition the RNC back in February of this year to be granted a waiver, that way we wouldnt receive the penalty, that way we could have a primary, and they said they couldnt because it would violate their rules, she said. She said the party has been working hand-in-hand with national Republican officials and called the planned arrangement a happy medium between completely closing the primary to voters and diluting Michigans representation at the national convention. Karamo emphasized primary voters would have control over 16 delegates under the partys proposal, more than if they faced an RNC penalty. Michigans open primary system allows voters to choose which primary theyd like to vote in regardless of their party affiliation, provided they only select candidates from one party on their primary ballot. Under the partys plan, representatives would be selected from county conventions to attend the congressional district caucuses, according to a copy of the resolution obtained by MLive. Then on March 2 each congressional district would assign their three chosen delegates to a presidential candidate through a winner-take-all vote, Karamo said. Dan Wholihan, the chair of the 7th congressional district caucus, called it the best realistic plan available given our circumstances. There is still a major unknown about the fate of Michigans next presidential primary namely whether the date will ultimately change in time. Under Michigans constitution, laws not granted immediate effect arent enacted until 90 days after the legislature formally concludes its business for the year. Moving the primary date to Feb. 27 would make Michigan the fifth state in Democrats presidential primary lineup, but there are complications. It would require the legislature to adjourn remarkably early November at the latest and Democrats have yet to confirm what they intend to do. The plan is a win for Republican activists who have long complained open primaries have allowed outsiders to meddle in what they assert should be a partisan process. Mark Forton, chair of the Macomb County Republican Party and a staunch Karamo supporter, previously told MLive the open primary system has been our main problem in gubernatorial elections as well as presidential primaries. Whats happened in Michigan, I believe, is that ... Democrats come in to our side and they vote for who they want to see as the Republican, Forton said. If (that candidate) wins the governorship, thats why we always wind up with liberal Republican governors. Karamo acknowledged the contingent of the party that wants a caucus only approach came away happy, but our primary concern was making sure that we protect our delegates strength. That definitely predicated all of this because we really dont have a choice, she said. As chair I would be completely completely derelict in my duty to hope and pray that Democrats dont end the legislative session early. Since 2020, activists have moved to purge the party of those seen as too moderate, as thousands of new precinct delegates voted in February to elect Kristina Karamo chair, ushering in a new chapter for the party. The full story: Conspiracies and a Holocaust meme mark the dawn of Karamos Michigan Republican Party Karamo had sharp criticism for Republicans who thought the party should stick to an open primary and hope for the best. She declined to name them. As a Republican, am I really gonna expect the Democrat legislators to do me a solid? she said. Thats just kind of stupid, to put it in laymans terms. Read more on MLive: Amid wildfire smoke, Michigan leaders signal support for new clean energy standard Gov. Whitmer creates commission to address issues facing LGBTQ Michiganders Holding phones while driving in Michigan illegal after Whitmer signs road safety law Schools are short staffed. Michigans retiree waiting period isnt helping. Trumps federal indictment brings less Michigan reaction than first Simon Edvinsson one day soon could be paired with Moritz Seider to form the Detroit Red Wings top defense pairing for many years. Theyre big, theyre mobile, they move the puck. And they form an ideal match as a right (Seider) and left (Edvinsson) shot. Pairing righties and lefties isnt imperative, but its preferred. Among the five defensemen penciled in for next seasons lineup (Seider, Jake Walman, Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta and likely Edvinsson), Seider is the lone right shooter. Albert Johansson, who could push for a roster spot following a solid season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, shoots left. The Red Wings essentially need a replacement for Filip Hronek, a right-shooter who was traded to Vancouver at the deadline. Neither of their two right-shooting defense prospects, Antti Tuomisto and Seth Barton, will be NHL-ready next season. Righty Gustav Lindstrom, a frequent healthy scratch, is not expected to be re-signed. General manager Steve Yzermans offseason shopping list includes acquiring a right-shot defenseman or two to balance the blue line. He could trade one of his many draft picks for one, or he could fill the void through free agency. Its a thin free-agent market, but here is a look at 10 right-shooting defensemen scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, with age and 2022-23 cap hit: Connor Clifton, Boston (28, $1 million): He had a career year (five goals, 23 points, plus-20 in 78 games) but struggled in the playoff series against Florida and played in only three games. The Bruins are going to lose several players due to their cap crunch. Matt Dumba, Minnesota (28, $6 million): Hes coming off his worst season with career lows in goals (four), points (14) and plus-minus rating (minus-8). But hell be in demand as a right-shooter under 30 who logs more than 20 minutes a game. The Wild likely wont have the cap space to re-sign him. Radko Gudas, Florida (33, $2.5 million): An abrasive third-pair defender who has a career plus-73 rating. He was selected in the third round in Yzermans first draft with the Lightning in 2010. The Red Wings need to be harder to play against. Travis Hamonic, Ottawa (32, $3 million): Veteran shutdown defender picked up 21 points, his highest total since 2015-16. He doesnt average 20 minutes a game anymore but would be a solid second- or third-pair option. He seems to want to re-sign with the Senators. Justin Holl, Toronto (31, $2 million): A good penalty-killer who has averaged more than 20 minutes a game the past three seasons, he struggled in the playoffs and likely is on his way out. Has decent size (6-3, 197) but doesnt play a physical game. Erik Johnson, Colorado (35, $6 million): The 2006 No. 1 overall pick has been plagued by injuries throughout his career but isnt ready to retire. Hed need to take a pay cut to remain with the Avalanche, or sign with any team. John Klingberg, Minnesota (30, $7 million): Not as productive as he was earlier in his career with Dallas. But, if the price and term are right, his offensive ability could complement Maatta on the Red Wings second pairing and he could also man the point on the second power-play unit. Scott Mayfield, N.Y. Islanders (30, $1.45 million): The big, defensive defenseman (6-5, 220) had career highs in goals (six) and points (24) and averaged a career-high 21:01. But like some others on the list, he wouldnt fill the Red Wings need for a point man on their second power-play unit. Luke Schenn, Toronto (33, $850,000): Well-traveled veteran of 933 games equaled a career-high with 22 points but hes a stay-at-home defender who hopes he found a home during his second stint with the Leafs, who drafted him fifth overall in 2008. Kevin Shattenkirk, Anaheim (34, $3.9 million): The Ducks are thin on defense and might be inclined to re-sign this veteran who inked a three-year deal with them after winning the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020. More: Red Wings have interest in a couple of their own unrestricted free agents Okomfo Kolege, the hilarious Kumawood actor known for his regular fetish priest roles, has shared insights into his relationship with his father. The father ran away when Kolege's mother, who was then a trader, faced financial difficulties, the actor revealed. Along with his three siblings, Kolege had to stay with relatives while his mother travelled to Abidjan and other places to earn money for their upbringing. My mother was a trader who frequently travelled to Abidjan and other places, and as a result, we had to live with other people, including our relatives and my mother's friends. "My father is still alive, but you know, when difficulties arise, men tend to run away and leave the burden on the woman. He abandoned us with our mother," Kolege said. In an interview with Deloris Frimpong Manso on "The Delay Show," on Sunday, June 11, Kolege revealed that his father has resurfaced and is now expecting him to cater to his needs. However, the actor is torn between his mother's wishes and his father's expectations. To him, the mother has threatened that he will seize to be her son the moment he will start taking care of the absentee father. "When he calls, he tends to claim that it was not his fault, and I respond by telling him that I am also a man. So if he has anything to say, he should sort it out with my mother. She carries a lot of pain, and she has threatened to disown me if I even attempt to reach out to him, he stated. Despite the difficult situation, Kolege remains hopeful that a resolution can be reached. But I hope things will be resolved. Watch him share the story in the interview below; Ghanaian dancehall sensation, Emmanuel Andrews Sammini, popularly known as Samini has announced his highly anticipated return to the music scene after successfully completing his degree course at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). The renowned artist, known for his energetic performances and captivating voice, has announced his return to music after dedicating four years to his academic pursuits. Samini, who recently completed his degree in project management from GIMPA, also served as the Student Representative Council (SRC) president during his time at the institution. The achievement he holds significant also fulfils a promise he made to his mother. Taking to Twitter to share his excitement, Samini expressed a deep sense of pride and joy in announcing the completion of his studies. He wrote, Ive finished the school and I cant believe it. #TGBTG . Grand #graduation loading. #akyesaaaaaaaaaa. Thanks to all my mates [email protected] who reminded me of my promise to myself BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. YOU CAN DO IT. BACK TO THE MUSIC. Ready? Having previously been recognized on a global scale, including winning the BET award for Best International Act: Africa in 2010, Samini is poised to once again captivate audiences with his signature sound and unique style. Fans and music enthusiasts have eagerly awaited his return and are elated by the news of his comeback. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has frowned on the abuse of incumbency. According to Mr Kyerematen, his stand against the use of state resources for political campaign was one of the key factors that led to his resignation from his previous position as the Minister of Trade and Industry. During the official launch of the Alan Cash Donation Platform, which aims to support his bid to lead the NPP in the 024 elections, he expressed his commitment to establishing a government that truly serves the people. He emphasized the importance of partnering with individuals who share his vision for retaining power by soliciting funds. He firmly stated, "If you're involved in politics, it's not solely about money, but money does play a role. I will not utilize government resources for political purposes. So, when I decided to run for President, I resigned in order to gather funds for my political campaign." Currently, a total of 10 individuals have obtained nomination forms to compete in the NPP flagbearer race scheduled for November 2023. Notable persons who have picked nomination forms include Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana, John Alan Kyerematen, the former Minister of Trade and Industry, and Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin North Central. Other candidates vying for the position include Joe Ghartey, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, former General Secretary of the NPP Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, and former Member of Parliament for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh. The flagbearer election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 4, 2023. 12.06.2023 LISTEN Residents of Egyambra and Miemia, a suburb of Ahanta West Municipal in the Western Region bemoan the deteriorating nature of their roads. Rubber farming and fishing are the major economic activities of the residents. The current state of the road has been affecting the socio-economic activities in the area. The road has been left to erode. Residents resort to the use of motorbikes as their means of transportation during rainy season. Residents who are uncomfortable travelling on a motorbike to Anyano would have to walk about 10 kilometers to use a canoe to cross the estuary without live jackets to join a vehicle at Princes Town in order to continue the journey. Canoes sometimes get drown resulting in loss of lives. The road is riddled with deep potholes resulting in frequent breakdown of vehicles and endangering lives and properties. Motorists travel at a snail's pace to ensure the safety of passengers. Prior to the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections, the twin community decided to boycott the elections over the poor nature of their road. The immediate past Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs who doubles as the MP, Hon Ebenezer Kojo Kum lured them to vote for him with an assurance of doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the road is done within the shortest possible time. At the last zonal rally of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Ahanta Abura, the MP told party faithfuls from the area that all documentation on the 16.30 Kilometer stretch from Ayano to Egyambra and Miemia feeder road had been concluded. "The most interesting aspect of it is that the project is been funded by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). The contractor will be paid part of the contract sum for mobilisation,'' MP said. The 16.30 km feeder road stretch is being executed by MESSR PARK-SIDE LIMITED under the supervision of the Department of Feeder Roads. The contractor brought in some equipment and started grading works but ceased work after the 2020 elections. Some residents attribute the abandoning of the project to MP's current ill-health. The MP has been bedridden for about twoyears. Earlier this year, he resigned as the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs many believed the resignation was as a result of his health condition. ''I wish the MP would resign for by-election to take place so that construction of our road would commence," a resident said. "Am tempted to conclude that he was only interested in our votes. Why is the contractor not on site," another resident quizzed. The deteriorating road has been their major concern and call the government to immediately fix it. 11.06.2023 LISTEN Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice president of the Republic of Ghana, has announced that issues regarding birth and death registration have been rectified. He indicated that the issue of fake names and birth certificates has been successfully addressed by digitization. We have fixed the problem of fake names, birth certificates, bureaucracy, and corruption at the birth and deaths registry so what we have done is to digitalize the processes at the births and deaths and link their systems with the Ghana Health Service and the NIA for the Ghana card to be issued, the Vice President stated during an address at the NPP International Women's Conference in the United Kingdom. He however indicated that from next month, all newborn babies will be issued a Ghana card. So next month by the Grace of God, I am happy to announce, I have not yet announced in Ghana but the integration of the database of the NIA, the Ghana Health Service, and 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 there, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia announced. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia left Accra for the United Kingdom to attend the 8th UK-Ghana Business Council meeting (UKGBC) and the 3rd edition of the Ghana Investment and Opportunities Summit (GHIOS). The two-day Summit is being organised by the Ghana High Commission in the UK, in collaboration with the Ghana Investments Promotion Centre (GIPC). The Summit under the theme: Mobilising for Ghana Beyond Aid, is expected to showcase Ghana as one of the best investment destinations in Africa and help Government attract strategic and development funds and investments for key projects. Mr. Evans Kusi Boadum, the Chief Executive for Sunyani West Municipality has urged residents in the area and the entire citizenry to embrace the Green Ghana Project initiated by government aimed at restoring the Countrys depleted forest. This years celebration marks the third edition of the Green Ghana Day which was celebrated under the theme "Our Forests, Our Health. Speaking about the tree planting exercise the MCE said that the Green Ghana project is committed to helping deal with the effects of climate change and to take necessary actions to protect against environmental destruction. Mr. Kusi Boadum indicated that trees are essential in the daily lives of humans, hence the need for all to participate to ensure that trees are planted, nurtured and make sure it grows to enhance the move to reclaim degraded lands. He disclosed that there are over 1,250 species of trees to be planted in the Municipality. The trees were planted at the Municipal Assembly block, the Agenda III hospital site, around Odomase AstroTurf and other principal areas in the Municipality. Earlier, the MCE joined staff of the Sunyani District Forestry Commission to observe the day at the Morton Forest at Chiraa-Tetehkrom. The Morton Forest currently boost of about 503,320 different species and a target of 160,000 to be planted this year. Mr. Francis Brobbey, Sunyani District Manager of the Forestry Commission urged residents to actively participate in the national tree planting exercise. He said free seedlings are available at the offices of the Forest Commission to facilitate participation for all those eager to contribute to the reforestation efforts. The Northern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Yakubu Abdul Majeed has admonished Journalists in Ghana especially those in the region to at all times adhere to the guiding principles and code of ethics of the profession. According to Mr. Majeed, journalism just like any other profession has its own ethics and guiding principles that seek to ensure due diligence in the works of practitioners, but lamented that "most practitioners threw that to the dogs" and instead of being watchdogs, have become "guide dogs" for their her paymasters, which was against professionalism. Mr. Majeed made the call at a 3-day training workshop on data analysis and population issues for selected journalists in Tamale. The 3-day workshop held Monday, June 5 to Wednesday, June 7, 2023, was organized by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in collaboration with the UNFPA, and attended by journalists from the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and the Bono regions. The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)'s code of ethics demands journalists to at all times uphold and defend the principles of media freedom and independence, report the truth at all times, uphold the public interest and the right of the public to be informed, make adequate inquiries and cross-checks facts, makes and verifies the source of every piece of information, recognizes the publics right to fair, unbiased, accurate, balanced, and comprehensive information, and places accuracy above speed in all their publications. However, in recent times, most journalists, have ignored these guiding principles in their line of work, thereby engaging in unacceptable working ethics and unprofessionalism. The training was therefore organized to help awakened journalists to their core responsibilities and the need to uphold and apply their code of ethics. "Like I always put it, as Journalists, let us always adhere to the ethics and guiding principles of our profession," Mr. Majeed said. "Some of the stations have thrown the ethics of the profession to the dog, they use their medium to no what pleases them without due regard to the code of ethics and standards of journalism," Mr. Majeed noted. The 3-day training was also aimed at improving journalists' understanding of the mandate and work of the GSS as well as the UNFPA and how to analyze and interpret data for effective communication. The GJA Chairman who was presenting on the topic "Media Landscape in Northern Ghana" also tasked Media practitioners in the region to make sure they always give the audiences varied content on their various platforms so that the public would be well informed. "Despite the multiplicity of the media in this part of the country, listeners do not still get the varied content needed," Mr. Majeed said. "It is very common to see two or more media houses airing almost the same program at the same time,"he added. They were exposed to topics such as evidence base reporting, Ghana National Population Policy and implications for Ghana Population Growth, Population dynamics and population communication, and report on media scan on population issues, among others. The Executive Director of Ewura Foundation, a non profit organization in the Northern region, Ewurama Attoh has called upon Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to take the lead in promoting menstrual health within their respective districts. The executive director's appeal involves the establishment of pad banks in schools, which would ensure easy access to sanitary pads for girls in rural communities. Miss Ewurama, stressed the importance of establishing pad banks in schools, stating that the policy would enhance menstrual education in rural areas. Miss Ewurama was speaking at Damonkun Yili R/C in the Sagnarigu Municipal of the Northern Region to mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day. During the event, the Ewura Foundation donated sanitary pads to the school girls and provided them with comprehensive education on their proper usage. Madam Ruby Sharifatu Braimah, at Janjori Kukuo Health Centre offered valuable advice to the female students, urging them to understand their bodies and be prepared for menstruation. She strongly discouraged the improper disposal of used pads, highlighting the environmental impact. "Instead of throwing or burning them, which can harm the environment, it is best to dig a deep hole and bury the used pads, she stated. Shamsia Alhassan, a third-year student at the school, extended her heartfelt appreciation to the Ewura Foundation for their generous donation and comprehensive menstrual education. She emphasized the timeliness of the foundation's visit, as many of the students were encountering difficulties in managing their periods. Shamsia conveyed her thanks, stating, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ewura Foundation for educating us and providing us with pads. This support has come at the perfect moment, as we are unable to afford sanitary pads due to their current high prices." Germany will build six submarines for the Indian Navy in its largest weapons deal with the South Asian nation in 42 years. It makes Germany the latest Western nation to nibble at India's vast arms import market as supplies of Russian weapons dry up. On Wednesday, Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock signed a memorandum of understanding with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems of Germany, a collaboration that German defence minister Boris Pistorius hailed as a lighthouse project. The final accord on the 4.8 billion-euro deal is likely to be ready by the end of 2023, officials said. The non-nuclear submarines will be built under Delhi's "Make in India" initiative, which is designed to reduce costly military imports by India, the world's largest weapons buyer. Some experts put the worth of the project to build six subs with significant local content for India's navy at 7 billion euros. German inroads The Indian navy has 16 conventional submarines, 11 of them over 20 years old, as well as one nuclear-powered sub leased from long-time ally Russia. A fully armed Russian-built submarine exploded and sank at its Mumbai mooring in 2013, killing 18 crew members. India's plans to lease another Russian nuclear vessel could be delayed beyond the planned 2025 delivery date because of the war in Ukraine. We have thus sent a very important signal a milestone, one could say, for a new flagship project, Pistorius said at the Mumbai signing ceremony, calling it a key step for India and the Indian-German strategic partnership. Pistorius, the first German defence minister to visit India in eight years, argued that Russia's war on Ukraine has had a dramatic impact on Germany's defence policy. He urged Delhi to embrace Berlin as a strategic ally like Australia and Japan, and to bolster military trade. We call it 'Zeitenwende', a decisive turning point. And right now, we are working on a law finalising Germany's first ever national security strategy that will guide arms exports as an instrument of security policy, he said, winding up an Asian tour. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who visited Delhi in February, unveiled his Zeitenwende policy four days after Russia attacked Ukraine. It promised massive funding to ramp up capacity of the country's under-financed armed forces. In Mumbai, ThyssenKrupp said the submarine deal opened prospects for deeper cooperation with the Indian navy, which has nine new projects worth billions in hand as part of its plans to counter China's clout in the Indian Ocean region. With this, ThyssenKrupp is proactively striving to contribute to Germany's strategic cooperation with India, added the conglomerate, which in 2005 acquired German shipbuilder Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, HDW. Russia sidelined India signed a four-submarine contract with HDW in 1981, but charges of kickbacks mired the deal. Delhi ultimately slammed the brakes on major military deals with Germany, while its arms trade with Russia grew following the Soviet Union's breakup a decade later. But in March, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said Russia's share of Indian arms imports slipped from 62 percent to 45 percent between 2017 and 2022. The think tank said that France, which recently sold 36 Rafale jets worth 8 billion euros to India, became its second-largest hardware supplier, accounting for 29 percent of Delhi's imports. Nudged into third position by France, the United States notched up 11 percent of total weapons sales to India, according to SIPRI's annual Trends in International Arms Transfers report. Russia's invasion of Ukraine will probably put additional constraints on Russia's ability to export arms, as it is likely to prioritise the production of arms for its own military over those for export, it said. International sanctions on Russia that bottled up India's payments in rupee, as well as the South Asian currency's fluctuations against the American dollar, also caused supply disruptions, experts say. Delhi continues to import deeply discounted Russian oil despite the US-led sanctions on Moscow. Deputy National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu Bempah said the fate of the late former NPP Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Adamu Sakande won't be different from the embattled National Democratic Congress (NDC) deposed Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson. In a recent statement, Mr Owusu Bempah claimed that the NDC was behind the conviction and imprisonment of Mr Sakande, who was removed from Parliament and later charged with perjury and forgery. He stated that Mr Quayson, who is currently facing similar charges will suffer the sins of his party. "The rod that was handed [to the] NDC for Adamu Sakende's back is ready for Gyakye Quayson," the statement read in part. He criticized the opposition NDC for ignoring the Supreme Court's ruling by selecting Mr Quayson as its candidate for the upcoming June 27 by-election. "The NDC has succeeded in serving Gyakye Quayson with the same poison chalice that they served Adamu Sakende," Owusu Bempah added. The NPP Deputy Communications Director urged the public to read the 35-page Supreme Court judgment on the Quayson case, paying close attention to the arguments and legal references. The outspoken communicator believes that anyone who examines the details of the case will agree that Mr. Gyakye Quayson's allegiance is not subjective. He added that his dual citizenship makes him ineligible for Parliament. "How wicked can the NDC be? That the NDC has lost political decency is not in doubt. The only question is the reason for this widespread affliction, ranging from a lack of understanding of contemporary politics to wilfully ignoring and cheering it on," he argued. He emphasized that the people of Assin North are well aware of Mr Quayson's legal troubles and will not vote for a candidate who may end up in jail. "They have already been denied parliamentary representation for almost two years. They won't make another decision that's likely to complicate matters," Bempah emphasized. Read his full statement below; The rod that was handed NDC for Adamu Sakende's back is ready for Gyakye Quayson The blind spot afflicting the NDC, for which Gyakye Quayson is paying the price for, has long been obvious. And it feels that the NDC isn't even paying attention to basic detail, especially the Supreme Court ruling. I have read the entire 35 page judgement of the Supreme Court on the Gyakye Quayson saga. Everybody must endeavour to read it so as not to be fed by NDC's premeditated noise. And while you're at it reading, pay particular attention to the arguments, particularly with reference to the procedures of renunciation of a Canadian citizenship as argued by the 3rd defendant, the Attorney General. And then delve into the quotation provided which is captured on the opening lines of a Canadian passport about allegiance and also the Australian case (Re Gallagher (2018) that was cited. My attention also caught Articles 94 (2)a, of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which provides nearly the same definition of allegiance as contained in section 44 (i) of Australian constitution. I also noted reference to section 9 (3) of the Canadian citizen act which clearly provides guideline procedures for renunciation until the point where a minister issues a certificate to confirm same. If after all the simulations and reading you still believe that Gyakye Quayson's allegiance is SUBJECTIVE and that judges cannot determine a persons allegiance based on their citizenship status, then you probably are far gone with the wind. Again, I discovered in the judgement that article 94 (2)a, actually explains how a person can be deemed to have an allegiance to another country. This is the big elephant in the room. It is clearly spelt out in unambiguous terms. And instead of the NDC rebuilding trust with the Assin-North constituents with a new candidate, they have taken the unusual step of once more selecting Gyakye Quayson for the forthcoming by-elections. Yes, the NDC has succeeded in serving Gyakye Quayson with the same poison chalice that they served Adamu Sakende. Specifically, the stain of Adamu Sakende can't be eradicated. The same reason for which Sakende went to jailed, is the very stain on Gyakye Quayson's cloth. In actual fact, the NDC have shepherded the man to the slaughter house while he awaits the verdict on the criminal charges against him. How wicked can the NDC be? That the NDC has lost the political decency is not in doubt. The only question is the reason for this widespread affliction, ranging from a lack of understanding of contemporary politics to wilfully ignoring and cheering it on. If its hard to get your head around just how far the rot has spread in the NDC, this should give you an idea. As for Gyakye Quayson, his predicament is a rare mea culpa, but the words could almost sum up his political career. Too often he didnt look, he didnt see or he didnt hear. He didnt treat his electoral viability with the due diligence that is a pre-requisite for a holder of dual citizenship. The man is indeed unfit to represent the people of Assin-North. He is a man who lied about his citizenship and forged an official document. He was found wanting and culpable, and the Supreme Court declared him as persona non grata as far as Parliament is concerned. The people of Assin-North know this and they know better. They won't vote for a candidate likely to end up in jail. They have already been denied parlimentary representation for almost two years. They won't make another decision that's likely to complicate matters. I shall be back Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah (Deputy Communications Director, NPP) Ms Joseline Adjoa Enchill, a registered general nurse at International Maritime Hospital (IMaH), has advised aspiring nurses to examine the background of the academic institution they desire to enlist in and the programmes that most suit their needs. Since Ms Enchill noted that the majority of hospitals and private practises preferred hiring Registered Nurses with degree certificates, even if acquiring a diploma certificate will take less time, both private and public businesses prefer recruiting nurses with better qualifications. Some aspiring nurses may decide to complete a two-year certificate curriculum rather than spend four years earning an undergraduate degree before starting their employment. "By following these routes, you can become a nurse more quickly, but you won't have the same level of power as a registered nurse," she added. Ms. Enchill's stated at the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office weekly initiative "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility," which aims to promote health-related communication and provide a platform for the dissemination of health information in order to influence individual health choices through improved health literacy. The Tema Regional Office of the Ghana News Agency developed the public health advocacy platform "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" to examine the components of four different health communication strategies: informing, instructing, convincing, and advocating. She underlined the importance of educating the general people about completing any educational requirements imposed by your state and enrolling in a nursing school that has received accreditation. "Like any other career option, being a Registered Nurse includes enrolling in an accredited nursing curriculum and satisfying any academic requirements imposed by the state. "The procedure of becoming a registered nurse is protracted," she stated. She noted that a four-year nursing programme typically includes classroom, clinical rotations, and on-the-job training. She claimed that there were also quick nursing courses accessible at universities and online for people looking to upgrade their credentials and earn more money. The IMaH Nurse cautioned people against accepting cash in exchange for posting, pointing out how some rogues were coming up with sinister strategies to deceive people. Ms Enchill recognised that there was a bribery issue in the nursing sector, but she noted that since nurses were cleared and posted systematically, qualified nurses looking for jobs shouldn't fall for these scams. According to Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency Tema, "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" is a component of a collaborative effort to provide a conduit for disseminating health information. According to the speaker's review of the existing research, the public can be made more sensitive by increasing awareness of a health issue, increasing the level of knowledge accessible on the subject, and making the issue or topic more visible. In order to educate the public, Mr. Ameyibor asked administrators of conventional and social media to spend some time finding medical experts, saying that "the education we offer today through our media platform may save a life tomorrow." -CDA Consult || Contributor The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) in the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS) has inspired students of the university to be innovative and proactive leaders and entrepreneurs in solving the worlds problems. Hundreds of students of the university were inspired at a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summit organized by the local NUGS at the UBIDS campus, Wa which brought together entrepreneurs, motivational speakers, and political and academic professionals. Madam Maria Johana Yuorpor, an Industrial and Organizational psychologist and a Business Development consultant, addressing the scores of students at the summit, urged them to be innovative in thinking and creating solutions to the problems they find in their schools, communities and localities. She told the students that to be an entrepreneur one has to start with the individual identifying what they like and are passionate about, and then consciously developing ideas around what could be done to help society while making earnings out of it. Madam Yuorpor, who was also the CEO of Mara Foods and Mara Closet, dovetailing into her entrepreneurial journey, impressed upon the students to be curious in asking questions and seeking networks and healthy relations with colleagues and mentors. To network, I usually say you have to DIE. Taking it from the bottom, the E stands for Exchanging ideas with people, I stands for Interacting with people, and D stands Developing yourself once you are networked, she theorized. She added that networking and building relations with people was closely linked to volunteering for courses that promote societal wellbeing. She said volunteerism connects people with like interests and builds valuable life skills and relationships. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North, Mr Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini also urged the students to do self-introspections and explore their interests and passions as he believed the biggest solutions the world was awaiting lay next to their interests and passions. Dare to take calculated risks, be unafraid to fail and remain unrepentantly optimistic. That way, you could be the next entrepreneur or the next leader or the next my own word leaderpreneur. You could just be the one the world is waiting for to revolutionize agriculture, to revolutionize health or education as we know it now. It could be one of you in this room or many of you. So do not be afraid to ignite that spirit of leadership and entrepreneurship within you and step up to create a better tomorrow for all, he encouraged. Mr Suhuyini, however, admonished that becoming a leader or an entrepreneur does not come easy without dedication and sacrifices, but he further warned it was even more perilous not to strive to become any. It will be worse for you if you do not strive in this life to be a leader in whatever field you find yourself or an entrepreneur or both, he admonished. He urged the students to keep their hopes alive and be guided by them, as he posited that purposeful pursuit of their hopes and dreams would make them equal to those who have 'ways and means. On the journey of life, you will need people, people will need you but remember, no one owes you anything, he stressed. Some students who participated in the summit expressed their happiness about the knowledge and skills they were impacted with and said they were inspired to venture into leadership and entrepreneurship trajectories. I have learnt that you have to know yourself, your capabilities, how you want things to be done in your own way, and what you want to be. You dont just have to depend on jobs to be able to reach your goals, Miss Muniratu Osman, a participant said. This is a program I have never attended in my life. It has impacted a great deal in my life, it has woken up my feeling, if I may say, to dare to be great, said Bijobin Laari, another participant. The summit was on the theme: Igniting the Spirit of Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Pram Pram and anti-LGBTQ+ advocate, Samuel Nartey George has stood on his ground against the practice, calling it a "mental disorder" and "moral depravity. He has urged Africans to resist the practice and protect their culture from what he sees as a threat to traditional values. In a tweet on Sunday, June 11, Sam George expressed his concerns about the LGBTQ+ movement, indicating that the practice will destroy generations unborn if left to gain roots. "They want us to openly embrace this mental disorder and moral depravity for our children as being g woke and liberated? We need to awaken our African wokeness folks!" read his post. Sam George is a leader of a 36-page long private-member bill that is awaiting approval in Ghana's Parliament. The bill aims to "provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values; proscribe LGBTQ+ and related activities; proscribe propaganda of, advocacy for or promotion of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities; provide for the protection of and support for children, persons who are victims or accused of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities and other persons; and related matters." The bill includes provisions for imprisonment for persons engaging in same-sex intercourse, producing, procuring, or distributing material promoting LGBT+ activities, and public displays of amorous relations between people of the same sex or with someone who has undergone gender reassignment or cross-dresses. It also seeks to ban trans healthcare, LGBT+ associations, and sponsoring LGBT+ groups and prohibits same-sex marriage, marriage to people who have undergone gender reassignment, and teaching children about LGBT+ activities or more than the gender binary. Meanwhile, the advocacy and the proposed bill have sparked controversy and condemnation from LGBTQ+ rights advocates who see it as discriminatory and a violation of basic human rights. LGBTQ+ activists have also expressed concern about the impact that such a bill could have on the safety and well-being of Ghana's LGBTQ+ community. Member of Parliament (MP) of Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak has alleged that governments Gold for Oil (Gold4Oil) programme is not being implemented with good intentions. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in November 2023 announced the Gold for Oil policy at a time when the country was struggling to raise foreign exchange to import oil. The demand for foreign exchange by oil importers in the face of dwindling foreign exchange reserves results in the depreciation of the cedi and increases in the cost of living with higher prices for fuel, transportation, utilities, etc. To address this challenge, Government is negotiating a new policy regime where our gold (rather than our US dollar reserves) will be used to buy oil products. The barter of sustainably mined gold for oil is one of the most important economic policy changes in Ghana since independence, the Vice President announced in a post on Facebook. Dr. Bawumia added, If we implement it as envisioned, it will fundamentally change our balance of payments and significantly reduce the persistent depreciation of our currency with its associated increases in fuel, electricity, water, transport, and food prices. This is because the exchange rate (spot or forward) will no longer directly enter the formula for the determination of fuel or utility prices since all the domestic sellers of fuel will no longer need foreign exchange to import oil products. Today, Dr. Clement Apaak who has not been impressed with the Gold4Oil initiative has hit out at government. According to him, the initiative has been set out to ensure that illegally-mined gold by party and government officials including staff at the presidency can be traded. When party/gov't officials, including staff at the Presidency are involved in illegal mining, why won't Ghana be tops. Gold4Oil is a conduit to get a ready market for illegally mined gold, hence the refusal to bring the scheme to Parliament. Gold Mafia, the Builsa South MP said. His comment comes after a report that Ghana has overtaken South Africa to become the leading producer of gold. Do you think Ghanaians are still politically unenlightened in this modern era of technological advancement? Most voters are now wise and they know the political lies you people keep telling us just to get our votes to come and also continue from where the other party has ended with the stealing. Tell me, how many people have the NDC and NPP governments sent to jail since the country came back to democratic rule? Bring out the number and let us juxtapose the political thievery that occurred since then and the number of people who have gone to jail for those crimes they committed against the state. This is where you will see that the two major political parties are just taking us for granted. They only use the fight against corruption and galamsey to secure our votes and go back to engage in these crimes. Before JJ, may his soul rest in peace, left office and JAK took over, the mantra was that " When we come to office we will jail all those corrupt officials under the NDC 1 regime. Ghanaians were made to understand the system was too corrupt and that those who were behind it were the government officials. We were told how Rawlings and the wife made money from the state and that they would bring it all back. Indeed, we were made to believe that the NPP knew where the money JJ and his wife stole was kept. They knew the banks and the account numbers etc, etc. But when Kuffour came to office, tell us how many people he jailed and even if those he jailed, if they spent their full jail terms. We never knew they knew nothing or they comprised what they knew to also come and steal. Have you ever asked yourself why so many professionals are quitting their jobs in pursuit of politics and it is either the NDC or NPP they want to join? Your guess is as good as mine. The duopoly, thus NDC and NPP have strategized to compromise their stances on the fight against these two menaces that have become a national blemish. That's why they treat each other with golden gloves whenever one is in government. As stated earlier, the Kuffour administration also started looting the state property and embezzling funds, left, right, centre, back, front, middle, up and down. It means looting was done in all the areas you can think of. Then, the NDC 2 under Mills, may his soul rest in peace, started campaigning and telling Ghanaians about what we know of the system already and we were only looking forward to seeing something done about it. That's the pervasive corruption in society. The Mills administration while in opposition also vowed to deal with all the corrupt officials of the then-Kuffour government. Ask yourself again, how many of those people have served or serving any jail terms? The commonest and of course, the most massive political corruption I can think of is the "[email protected]" celebration and how my main man, Wereko Brooby and others chopped the money like anything and nothing happened to anybody. When Mills came, he was even like a Catholic priest who believes in God's punishment of the wicked. He was like a preacher man in church and that wasn't the best because he was too good to be a president for a country that is full of political charlatans. Because of his nature, all those who embezzled funds went away with impunity. Mills' time was cut short by his sudden demise. But I don't want to believe he was only gathering material facts to jail anybody. That man was too soft for that. Others even inferred that his sluggish nature incurred the wrath of JJ who didn't like it at all. Unfortunately, the two are late now and when they meet in heaven or hell, they will sort it out as old friends as they were. Furthermore, the NPP who were then again in opposition started singing loudly about how they have figured out corrupt officials within the Mills' administration and how they planned to deal with them. What got many Ghanaians impressively disappointed was the first-class corruption the JM administration was tagged with. Corruption became synonymous with JM. Even today, the word corruption can't be mentioned by the NPP without the name JM. Yet, the man is innocently and happily roaming about without any single charge of corruption against him not to talk about any of any cases initiated against him. If JM and his numerous appointees who were accused of many corrupt-related acts are not being jailed, then it means someone told a lie just to get votes from the unsuspecting ordinary people. Again, many of JM's appointees were and are still accused of corruption. But we are yet to see or hear any of them have been sent to jail for involving in any of the alleged crimes. Yes! I'm aware of the many ongoing trials but where will that take us to? I even call it a waste of State resources to pursue these cases in court. For me, it's like throwing away more money to chase what has been embezzled. Just think about how many times the court has sat on Woyome's case without results. And the like of them are one and many. Now, after the NPP and Nana have failed to jail a single soul under the JM administration, the NDC has started the slogan again, which to me is mumbo-jumbo if not a display of stupidity. Do you think the Ghanaian voter is dumb or what? Until we start to see corrupt officials rotting in jails for their involvement in corrupt acts, nobody will take any of the two political parties seriously. They are like the two ears of the same horse; one on the right and the other, on the left but they belong to the same horse. Political armed robbers they both are! There are three key issues if any politician comes to campaign about, she or he won't get my vote. These are; Galamasey, corruption, and IMF. These three things are diseases that have affected the country and they are highly incurable. Therefore, no matter how much any political party talks about the above issues, the problems remain hanging on our necks. It's either we don't have the political will to fight against these issues or we simply can't do anything about them. Finally, it must be realised that the fight against corruption, galamasey, and going to IMF can't be won by either the NDC or the NPP. All they know is to engage in political rhetoric every four years just to win power and renege on the promises they made to the ordinary citizens; who continue to live in abject poverty while the political class continue to enjoy taxpayers' money at the expense of the poor in the country. To break this political curse, we need a third force of political party and that can't be no other than the old and trusted CPP that founded the country. Our people say If you don't know the beginning of a basket, it will be near impossible to tell how the weaver crafted it and how to patch it up when it begins to spoil. But the CPP began the basket( development of the country) hence once it's spoiling or not already spoiled, it's only the CPP that can amend it and bring back political rejuvenation to revamp the wobbling economic situation in the country. The youth must rethink the future of this country and join the CPP to rescue the perishing economy from the shackles of the NPP and NDC. The Tamale Technical University branch of the Dagbon Student's Association (DASA) has commended one of Ndan Ya-Naa's spouses, Her Majesty Gaziya Asana for giving a facelift to the Yendi Municipal fire station. Until the major refurbishing, the fire station has been in a deplorable condition and deteriorating each day since its establishment in the late 90s. The station is the main facility serving the people along the Eastern corridor enclave of the Northern region. Some of the challenges faced by the facility included inadequate office space, air conditioners, washrooms and cracks on the facility walls, likely on the part of the management of the facility. Speaking at the DASA palace, the Dagomba Chief of the University, Naa Nurudeen Ibrahim expressed delight in the Queen mother's gesture, stating that such a move tells the true story and the identity of the Dagbon people. I doff my hat for the Queen for giving new life to our gallant service personnel in the Yendi Municipal, the Queen has proven to the world that our mothers and sisters here in the north are determined and agents of change in society, her support has added value and dignity to Dagbon Queen mothers and the skin of the lion king, am so proud of her, may she and the king live long to touch many lives, he stated. Chief Nurudeen who is the Executive Director of the Dagbon Advocacy Network said the philanthropic work of the Queen Mother is legendary and needs to be supported by well-being of Ghanaians from home and abroad. He appealed to other queen mothers and traditional rulers in the kingdom to emulate the good work of the Queen, this he believed will fast-track the development of the north. Our mother and Queen has set the pace, am appealing to other well meaning individuals to take up the challenge and do more, payment of school fees here in the north is a very big challenge especially members of my palace, so at least someone can also come in and support us in that regard, sometimes I beg from outside to help others make part payment of their fees, he stated. Chief Nurudeen advised young ladies in Dagbon to live a responsible lifestyle to become role models and helpful to their societies. He further appealed to her Majesty and other corporate entities to consider the Tamale Technical Institute (TTI) for their future project and programmes. The refurbished Yendi Fire Station includes a newly constructed crew-room, washrooms with water closets, extension of an appliance bay, floor tiled, painting of the facility and installed Air-conditioners at some offices. The facility has since been handed over to the Municipal Chief Fire Officer through the Northern regional commander, ACFOI James Nkrah. 12.06.2023 LISTEN It has been discussed time and again that Myanmar has given only words of hope for a logical solution to the Rohingya crisis, but nothing has been done. Apart from this, Rohingyas will be repatriated in stages - such assurance was given to Bangladesh. But it never saw the light of day. According to the news published recently in the newspaper, the Rohingyas have gathered in different camps of Cox's Bazar to demand return to their oppressed homeland Myanmar. At that time, they also alleged that there is a conspiracy against repatriation. According to information, at least 13 shelter camps sheltered in Ukhia and Teknaf of Cox's Bazar, Rohingyas formed a human chain and took part in the rally around 10 am on Thursday. In this case, the concerned parties need to be taken into consideration, the Rohingyas held this rally in the middle of the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar and the visit of the representatives of the two countries and various measures. We want to say that when the Rohingya leaders complain that one side of the talks between the two countries is conspiring to stop repatriation - it is the duty of those concerned to take this matter into consideration and take initiatives subject to monitoring the situation. Apart from this, the speakers in the rally said that they desperately want to return to their country and go to their home. On the other hand, the Rohingya leaders also called for the success of the ongoing talks between the two countries for repatriation. We think that the things said by the Rohingya leader in the rally should be looked into, and effective initiatives should be continued taking into account the overall situation regarding repatriation. Note that Bangladesh sent a list of 888,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar in 2018 for the purpose of repatriating Rohingya. Then a return list of 68,000 Rohingyas was sent by Myanmar. In January 2022, 1,140 people were initially selected from that list for family-based repatriation as part of a pilot project. Of these, Myanmar agreed to repatriate 711 Rohingyas, but objected to the remaining 429. When the repatriation issue was largely overshadowed after China's last attempt to repatriate the Rohingyas failed nearly five and a half years ago, many assumed there would be no progress on repatriating the Rohingya to Myanmar. However, in April of this year, the third phase of the initiative was suddenly started again with the mediation of China. A tripartite meeting between Bangladesh, Myanmar and China was also held in Kunming, China. In addition, in April, a Myanmar delegation came to Cox's Bazar and returned after interviewing the remaining 429 Rohingyas on the previous list. After that, a delegation of Rohingya also returned to the country after observing the situation in Rakhine. It was only then that the Rohingya repatriation gained momentum. We think that when the Rohingyas rallied between the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on repatriation and the visit of the representatives of the two countries and various measures, and the Rohingya leaders are saying that one side of the talks between the two countries is conspiring to stop the repatriation - then the situation should be monitored keeping this in mind. At the same time, taking into account the overall situation regarding repatriation, appropriate initiatives should be continued. Above all, we want to say, how long the Rohingyas will have to bear the pressure in Bangladesh, which is populated by more than 170 million Bangladeshi citizens - this question is not unreasonable. Giving asylum to Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds does not mean that they have to be kept forever. It is now a big burden for Bangladesh. Bangladesh wants them to be taken back with full rights as citizens under fair and beautiful management. As a result, it is our hope that the necessary initiatives will continue to make the Rohingya repatriation, which has become a burden for Bangladesh, successful and the repatriation process will see the light of day. The Rohingyas from Rakhine took refuge in Bangladesh about six years ago after being persecuted, tortured and killed by the Myanmar government. Showing humanity, the Bangladesh government sheltered the Rohingyas in Ukhia and Teknaf. It also arranges their living in cooperation with various international organizations. The United States and influential countries including the United Nations have imposed various sanctions, starting from the condemnation of the Myanmar government, in protest against the persecution and expulsion of the Rohingya. The Myanmar government did not pay much attention to these. No sincere interest has been shown in taking back the Rohingyas. The Government of Bangladesh has held discussions with the Government of Myanmar in many ways. That didn't work much either. We have always said that if China takes the initiative sincerely, then the return of Rohingyas to their country can be much easier. If India joins it, it will get more momentum. In the beginning, China did not show much interest in this matter, but now its activity is being noticed, which is hopeful. Has adopted a lot of silence. Did not give any statement other than some diplomatic talk. In 2017, when Myanmar's army started a crackdown on the Rohingyas, about seven and a half million Rohingyas took refuge in Bangladesh. This number is now around ten lakh. At that time there was a storm of uproar and condemnation around the world. The Myanmar military junta has been sued at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for killing and torturing the Rohingya and at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide. China acted as a mediator in the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. In January 2022, the initiative to start the repatriation of Rohingya was taken through his intervention. Then a list of 8 lakh Rohingyas from Bangladesh was sent to Myanmar for repatriation. Out of this, 1140 Rohingyas were included in the first phase under the pilot project. Myanmar agrees to repatriate 711 Rohingya. Myanmar had objections to the remaining 429. Following the demands of the Bangladesh government, a delegation from Myanmar visited Teknaf in March this year to collect data on 429 Rohingyas as well as 51 children born to their families. A delegation of 20 Rohingyas was shown the situation in Rakhine on May 5 to gain their trust. It can be said that a slow process of Rohingya repatriation is going on. At one time, the expelled Rohingyas refused to return to their country considering their security. Hopefully, now the Rohingyas want to return to their country. Last Thursday morning, hundreds of Rohingya men and women formed a human chain at the Kutupalong shelter camp in Ukhia by the 'Go Home' campaign to return to their country. Besides, they campaigned to return to the country in various camps. The Rohingya leaders in the human chain raised four demands, including citizenship, resettlement in their ancestral homes in Rakhine, freedom of movement and the return of looted assets and lands. This interest of Rohingyas to return to their country is very positive. Needless to say, no matter how many facilities are offered abroad, everyone wants to return home at some point. Citizens want to move freely. They are realizing that the Rohingyas are a burden for Bangladesh. Bangladesh has to get enough momentum to support them. Not only population growth, economic pressure, social problems, law and order also created a kind of risk. As a neighbor, Bangladesh has good relations with Myanmar. The two countries are related in various bilateral matters starting from trade. Among them, the Rohingya repatriation issue is thorny. Myanmar has created this problem. Bangladesh has nothing to do with it. Rather, it has become a crisis for him. As a result, it is important to solve this problem quickly. Bangladesh needs to take faster, more dynamic and stronger diplomatic initiatives to repatriate Rohingyas. In this regard, effective steps should be taken in order for China to be more active. If the international community, including China, cooperates effectively and wholeheartedly, it will not take much time to resolve the complications related to the repatriation of the Rohingyas. In order to make the return of the Rohingyas easy and smooth, it should be ensured that they get citizenship and other privileges and rights in their own country as per their demands. Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have demanded that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu resign from office. The CNPP and the CSOs issued a 14-day ultimatum to Prof. Yakubu to step aside or they will galvanised all democratic and legal means to force him to do so. In a statement jointly signed by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and the National Secretary of the Coalition, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they explained that the INEC Chairman, who failed to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) it procured despite billions of naira wasted on the 2023 general elections is not worthy of remaining in office and must not be allowed to continue to waste the nation's resources in conduct of future elections. According to the statement issued in Abuja, the CNPP and the CSOs said that they are equally disturbed that INEC under Prof. Yakubu has equally constituted itself into an obstruction to justice in the electioneering process in Nigeria by becoming a partisan umpire and opposing petitioners who are in the various tribunals to seek justice after being allegedly rigged out in the elections. They also accused the INEC Chairman of inflating about N105.25 billion spent on acquiring BVAS machines for the 2023 polls, saying that despite having been severally accused of manipulating the February 25 presidential election results, counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, recently aligned with the position of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election to object to the presentation of subpoenaed witnesses who were INEC ad-hoc staff during the 2023 presidential election in the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We recall that at the resumption of proceedings on Atikus petition last Thursday in Abuja, one of the witnesses, Egwuma Friday from Kubwa area of Abuja entered the witness box and prayed the court to admit his witness statement, but all respondents in the petition, including INEC, raised objections to stop the witness from testifying. This is the same INEC that has been accused of manipulating election results by deliberately refusing to transmit polling units results as promised real-time. From mere allegations, a staff of INEC, Abedemi Joseph on Friday told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that they were instructed by the commission under Prof. Yakubu, their employer, not to give copies of election results to political party agents who declined to sign the results. It's now becoming more obvious that, until INEC Chairman exited from the commission, rebuilding confidence in the electoral body will be impossible due to the now battered image of the commission in the eyes of the electorates. More so, INEC under Prof. Yakubu took four years to mislead Nigerians by creating false impression that uploading of the election results to the BVAS real-time was the only way to go for the countrys electoral system. Contrary to expectations, INEC made it impossible for electoral officers to upload the results of the presidential election real-time from the polling units, which may have created room for the upload of manipulated election results. We note that the former Minister of Transportation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had revealed that a member of the camp of the presidential candidate of his party, now President Bola Tinubu, nominated the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu, for his reappointment for a second term. In the words of Amaechi, 'There are those of us who opposed the reappointment of Yakubu Mahmood. The person who nominated him is a member of Tinubus camp. So what are you expecting?' So, how can anyone convince Nigerians that such a character remain in office as INEC Chairman for a single day, not to even think of allowing him to conduct another election in the country? We equally call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), other anti-graft agencies, as well as the Department Of State Services (DSS) to immediately commence investigation of INECs N105.25 billion budgetted for acquiring 200,000 units of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the budget has been found to have surpassed the estimated market cost by a whopping 30.4 percent, yet Nigeria lost the anticipated benefits, and for constituting himself into a national security risk as his continued stay in office could trigger violence in the country. According our findings as corroborated by the media, the BVAS machines, which were deploy during the now controversial 2023 general elections, EMP2920 Biometric tablets, were manufactured and supplied by Shenzhen Emperor Technology at an inflated unit cost of $795 (N366,089.55 at the rate of N460.47/$) as against the Amazon price, where the device sells under a different name SecuMind Tablet Biometric CX2920. Why should the INEC Chairman remain in office after wasting 34.51 percent of the total sum of N355 billion budgeted for the 2023 polls on the procurement of biometric devices that never worked? In a sane clime, such an official who failed woefully to conduct an acceptable general elections after receiving all he asked for should have long resigned. We, therefore, demand the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman within 14 days. At the expiration of the ultimatum, all democratic and legal means possible would be deployed to force him to quit the office. All the CNPP organs at the state level and the civil society groups under the CNCSOs across the country are being mobilised for appropriate action in event that Prof. Yakubu remains in office after two weeks from today. It is on record that the CNPP and the CSOs fully backed INEC in the build up to the 2023 general elections and insisted that all that the commission required should be made available to it since INEC Chairman had assured of conducting a free, fair and credible elections. The same promise to do what is right was made by the INEC Chairman at the CHATHAM House before the elections and today, the world is seeing Nigeria as a mockery among the comity of nations, especially with the testimonies emanating from the election petition courts where INEC staff are indicting the commission under Prof. Yakubu. Therefore, if the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who followed the instructions of former President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign the naira to ensure that illicit funds were not deployed for 2023 elections, could be ordered to step aside from office, why should Prof. Yakubu, who has done more harm to the psyche of Nigerian electorates than any past Chairman of the commission in Nigerias history, remain in office? Prof Yakubu dashed the hopes Nigerians in a credible 2023 electoral system, raising voter apathy to the highest level in the country, and for us, it's time up for Prof Mahmood Yakubu to quit the stage as INEC Chairman. Enough is enough, the statement concluded. Residents of Ejura in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality of the Ashanti Region are counting the blessings of their Divisional Chief of Ejura Traditional area Barima Osei Hwedie II on his first eight years of leadership. The residents have thus described the numerous developmental projects by Ejurahene and the traditional council as unparalleled. The residents, who were reminiscing about the first eight years of rule by Barimah Osei Hwedie II, said the chief has performed way beyond their expectations adding that they were amazed by the chief's quest to unite all people within the Ejura enclave. According to them, the enlisted achievements of Barima Osei Hwedie II since his enstoolment as the chief of Ejura in 2015 are worthy of acknowledgement as in less than eight years, he has an unbeatable record of achievement. In an exclusive interview with this reporter on Saturday, June 10, 2023 the residents recounted how the chief has hugely impacted their living with landmark developments. Peace and Unity in Ejura Some residents lauded Ejurahene for his commitment to peace and unity in the area. They noted that Barima Osei Hwedie II has done very well to end fratricidal conflicts which used to be a bane to the development of Ejura. They noted that the leadership style of Ejurahene has brought a massive sense of belongingness among all factions, including ethnic, social and political groups serving as a beacon of unity and progressive development in the area. Infrastructure Development Speaking on some of the tall lists of development projects by the Ejura Traditional Area led by Barimah Osei Hwedie II, the residents said the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality through the chief has a seven-bedroom apartment for doctors working at the Ejura Government Hospital, released a 20 acre land for construction of a district hospital under the Agenda 111 project. The chief again led the construction of a wall around Ejura Government Hospital, provided boreholes to over ten communities, and construction of a six-unit classroom block for Ejura Anglican basic school. The chief in less than eight years has also constructed an ultra-modern Divisional Police Headquarters, donated over 600 acres of land to the Ghana Prisons Service, facilitated the construction of a military base at Ejura by providing free land and houses to government, provision of a seven-bedroom apartment for officials of the Ghana National Fire Service GNFS among others. Barimah Osei Hwedie II has also paid fees for many tertiary students while securing jobs for hundreds of youth in the municipality While they couldn't list all the unprecedented works by the chief, the residents said all the projects mentioned are evidence based and are readily available in the communities. Former President, John Dramani Mahama has argued that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has a lot of work to do if it wants to return to power. According to him, this is largely because the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is determined to hold onto power and will shed the blood of Ghanaians to make that happen. We have no intention of taking the mandate of the people of Ghana for granted. We know we are going against an incumbent government that has proven that it is prepared to shed the blood of its citizens to hang on to power, as they amply showed at the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and the 2020 elections. And then there is an Electoral Commission whose neutrality in this electoral contest is questionable, John Dramani Mahama alleged over the weekend. The former President was speaking to the European chapters of the NDC in Amsterdam for a three-day Conference. The leader of the opposition party insists that with this in mind, the NDC must start work immediately and convince Ghanaians. The former President reiterated that the NDC is committed to operating a lean government that will not repeat the mistakes of NPP's extravagance. Nothing in our historical record compares to the level of economic mismanagement that the NPP has superintended. The NDC believes in substantive offerings, carefully considered, and curated to stand the test of time while comprehensively resolving some of our most complex problems, John Dramani Mahama shared. An anticorruption activist or journalist must be a man of the highest integrity himself! He cannot be a government agent under any excuse! Martin Amidu ADOLPH TETTEH ADJEI v ANAS AREMEYAW ANAS Adolph Tetteh Adjei obtained judgment in the High Court, Land Division, Accra against Anas Aremeyaw Anas in an action in which he claimed a declaration of title to a specified piece or parcel of land situate at East La Dadekotopon in the Greater Accra Region; damages for trespass; recovery of possession; and perpetual injunction restraining him from interfering with or disturbing the plaintiffs peaceful occupation and possession of the piece of land. This is the second judgment this year confirming that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is and has always been a criminally oriented person operating under the subterfuge of an anti-corruption crusader. The judgment of Mr. Justice Kwame Gyamfi Osei in the case of Adolph Tetteh Adjei v Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Suit No. LD/0256/2017, High Court, Accra, 4 May 2023 (Unreported) was so thorough and analytical in terms of both the claim of Mr. Adjei, the plaintiff, and the counterclaim of Mr. Anas, the 1st Defendant, before coming to the finding and decision that: The Plaintiff has shown that his derivative title is grounded on solid and valid titles of his said grantors. His title is equally supported by exhibits the 1st Defendants witness brought to this court (See page 25 of the unreported certified judgment). On the counterclaim of Anas, the 1st Defendant, alleging fraud against the Plaintiff and his grantors, the High Court found that: The 1st Defendant thereby failed woefully to prove that the parties to the Consent Judgment dated 12th July 2001 and the settlors of the Trust dated 10th April 2002 took over the land of Tawiah Tsinaiatse fraudulently. (See page 44 of the unreported certified judgment). The Court found further that: The issue of fraud in my view is a figment of the 1st Defendants and DW1s imagination and it was purposefully raised to avoid the agreement aforesaid (See pages 44-55 of the certified judgment thereof) What brings the integrity of the 1st Defendant Anas Aremeyaw Anas into question is the analysis and determination by the Court that: From the evidence of the Plaintiff was in possession of the land until the 1st Defendant blazingly entered same and started construction day and night with the help of the Police and land guards. The structure he erected on the land is clearly unauthorized. Any prudent purchaser is required to do due diligence before acquisition but in this case 1st Defendant from the evidence did none. He entered the land and erected a sign post on the land with the inscription TIGER EYE, KEEP OFF. When an application was brought to join TIGER EYE PI to this suit, he resisted claiming the said entity has no interest in the land. His claim to the disputed land has no basis in law and in fact. (See pages 48 of the unreported certified judgment thereof). Anas Aremeyaw Anas has presented himself and his Tiger Eye PI both locally and internationally as a journalist and lawyer who has dedicated himself through the instrumentality of Tiger Eye PI to fighting corruption, and corruption-related offences by public officers and other breaches of the criminal law generally to engender moral rectitude in society. After presenting himself to society as a moral and legal crusader against crime generally and in particular, corruption and fraud in the broadest sense (Dr Jekyll), Anas Aremeyaw Anas cannot in the same breath arrogate to himself the right to be above the law by indulging in the commission of similar offences or breaches of the civil law which in substance constitute corrupt and fraudulent behaviour as the case of Adolph Tetteh v Anas Aremeyaw Anas demonstrate is the true character of Anas Aremeyaw Anas (as Mr. Hyde). An anti-corruption crusader who engages in the fight against corruption, fraud, smuggling and theft offences of all forms must obey all the rules binding on institutional law enforcement officers under the Constitution and laws of Ghana. An anti-corruption crusader loses the honour of being a crusader when he abuses the trust the public and the law enforcement institutions have placed on him to literally steal lands with the assistance of the Ghana Police and land guards, from the rightful owners who have genuinely acquired title to them. In the case of Anas Aremeyaw Anas who holds himself out both as a journalist and a lawyer, the ethical obligations placed on him by both professions do not permit him to blazingly enter on to Adolph Adjeis land and start construction day and night with the help of the Police and land guards. Anas Aremeyaw Anas as a lawyer and a founding partner with William Kissi Agyebeng (now the Special Prosecutor) of Cromwell Gray LLP has no excuse for behaving in the manner the court found against him: Any prudent purchaser is required to do due diligence before acquisition but in this case 1st Defendant from the evidence did none. The fact that Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the true personification of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the Ghanaian and international anti-corruption scamming scene, .entered the land and erected a sign post on the land with the inscription TIGER EYE, KEEP OFF, but When an application was brought to join TIGER EYE PI to this suit, he resisted claiming the said entity has no interest in the land confirms the true dubious character and person of an anti- corruption entrepreneur whose sole object in presenting himself as an anti-corruption crusader is to use that popular rhetorical description to line his pockets with gold and silver. Anas Aremeyaw Anas started his anti-corruption entrepreneurship double faced Saint and Satan criminal behaviour using the name Tiger Eye PI which existed only on a webpage without being registered with the Registrar of Companies or Registrar of Business Names in Ghana. Anas Aremeyaw Anas started operating under the name of Tiger Eye PI also in blazing breach of the prohibition of the Police Service (Private Security Organizations) Regulations, 1992 (L.I. 1571). The unlawfulness of Tiger Eye PIs anti-corruption entrepreneurial enterprise led this writer to write about Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI on 10 November 2015 as follows: There is no entity existing under the Constitution and laws of Ghana known as Tiger Eye or Tiger Eye PI. It only exists in a webpage created by the alleged CEO as a dummy with which the international and Ghanaian public has been conned for financial gain all these years. Any letter signed in the name of Tiger Eye or Tiger Eye PI is a fraud on the public. Once a criminal, always a criminal, no matter what disguises one wears to facilitate the commission of those crimes and other breaches of the law, whether criminal or in the form of breaches of the law of civil obligations, justice eventually catches up with such persons. Mr. Justice Kwame Gyamfi Oseis judgment on Anas counterclaim for fraud against Adjei is an indictment upon the criminal conduct of Anas. The Court concluded by declaring the Plaintiff as the owner of the disputed land; awarded GH60,000.00 general damages for trespass against the 1st Defendant; granted the plaintiff possession of the disputed land, and perpetually restraining the 1st Defendant from entering, carrying out any construction works or interfering with the disputed land; awarded cost of GH40,000 against the 1st Defendant; and dismissed the entire counterclaim of the 1st Defendant. By the judgment of the High Court, Anas Aremeyaw Anas rather than Adolph Adjei epitomizes fraud and fraudulent behaviour in the case. The charge of fraud made against Adjei turned against Anas as the person who was being fraudulent to dispossess the legal owner of the piece or parcel of land of his ownership and possession by the criminal abusive use of the Ghana Police and land guards. Mr. Justice Kwame Gyamfi Osei adopted and referred to an opinion of Taylor JSC on fraud in civil cases which aptly fits the character of Anas rather than Adjei: In my opinion a charge of fraud in law can be taken to be properly made against a party who knowingly or recklessly whether by conduct or words, uses unfair, wrongful or unlawful means to obtain a material advantage to the detriment of another party. It is an insidious form of corruption and it is therefore a charge involving moral obloquy. Bluntly put without equivocation, it is a species of dishonest conduct.... Anas knowingly used unfair, wrongful, and unlawful means to obtain ownership and possession of Adolph Tetteh Adjeis land to his detriment. Anass conduct against Adjei is, therefore, an insidious form of corruption and it is therefore a charge involving moral obloquy. Bluntly put without equivocation, it is a species of dishonest conduct................ This major premise depicting the character of Anas in this case allows one to conclude that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is not only an anti-corruption entrepreneur, but also a con man who uses the purported crusade against corruption to expropriate land from law abiding citizens their lawfully acquired properties. ANAS v AGYAPONG, 15 MARCH 2023 The chickens have come home to roost for Anas Aremeyaw Anas: just on 15 March 2023 the High Court, Accra, (president over by Mr. Justice Eric Baah, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge), after hearing a defamation action brought by Anas Aremeyaw Anas against Kennedy Agyapong and considering the evidence adduced at the trial concluded against Anas Aremeyaw Anas that: In all honesty, the plot by plaintiff and his group in exhibit KOA4 has nothing to do with journalism. It was a scheme for grabbing power by the back door and satisfying plaintiffs insatiable taste for power, publicity, fame, awards, and rewards. Since the president is an embodiment of the soul of the nation, any unwarranted plot out of nothing to entrap him to destroy his reputation and undermine his authority is reproachable. The attacks of defendant on plaintiff on that ground deserves commendation and not condemnation [page 61]. I hold in respect of exhibits KOA3 and KOA4, that any statements based on them were justified and passed the test of fair comment. In the result, the court finds established the defence of justification and fair comment in relation to the statements of defendant based on exhibits KOA1, KOA2, KOA3 and KOA4. Since those statements were justified, they could not have actually defamed the plaintiff [pages 62]. One can safely conclude based on these two cases that Anas Aremeyaw Anass modus operandi is neither that of a journalist nor a lawyer. Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI are nothing but a scheme for grabbing power by the back door and satisfying plaintiffs insatiable taste for power, publicity, fame, awards, and rewards. This is precisely what Anas Aremeyaw Anas tried to do against Adolph Adjei with the erected a sign post on the land with the inscription TIGER EYE, KEEP OFF and in the same breath When an application was brought to join TIGER EYE PI to this suit, he resisted claiming the said entity has no interest in the land as the Court found. REPUBLIC v KWESI NYANTEKYI - 18 MAY 2023 The behaviour of Anas Aremeyaw Anas in the case of the Republic v Kwesi Nyantakyi also demonstrates the sense of superiority and entitlement he thinks he has acquired as an anti- corruption entrepreneur and a covert government agent that permits him to be unequal before the Constitution and laws of Ghana. The Supreme Court in a certiorari application quashed the ruling of the High Court permitting Anas Aremeyaw Anas to give evidence for the prosecution while masked and hiding his true identity from the accused persons and their lawyers. The basic principle of law which Anas as the founding partner with William Kissi Agyebeng of Cromwell Gray LLP know all too well is that the accused must confront his accuser at a public trial. As a result of the ruling of the Supreme Court in the certiorari application, the High Court decided on a further application by the Republic to use its discretion to allow the accused and his lawyers to meet and physically see the face and identify the voice of the prosecutions witness who happens to be Anas Aremeyaw Anas in the judges chambers before he gives his evidence and is cross-examined masked in open court to satisfy the requirements of a fair public trial with the accused confronting his accuser. After all, anybody could be masked and presented at the trial as the prosecution witness claiming to be Anas Aremeyaw Anas with the accused having no means of knowing the true physical face or voice identity of the witness. Because Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI had previously been groomed by state institutions as lords whose bidding the state institutions will do, Anas and his cohorts were shocked that a Court of law was applying the Constitution and the rules of Court to ensure that the accused and their lawyers are certain that the masked prosecution witness with the voice they are hearing and examining in open court is indeed the person and voice of the prosecution witness called Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI were entitled to refuse to testify in the case since the trial is not an exercise involving servitude, but of persons voluntarily assisting the court by giving evidence for the attainment of justice. Cromwell Gray LLP, Tiger Eye PI and Anas Aremeyaw Anas know that the law will rather have nine guilty persons go free than one innocent person to be convicted to satisfy an anti-corruption entrepreneur who has no respect for the law and considers himself above it. The arrogance contained in the following statement issued by Tiger Eye PI on behalf of Anas Aremeyaw Anas is palpable and shows what political collusion and collaboration with an entity which started off as an unregistered and unlawful entity existing only on a webpage can do to the respect for the judicial process of a country: 3. Anass request for the protection of his identity stems from his role as an undercover agent and the real and elevated risk that revealing his identity to the accused person will severely compromise his physical security and personal safety. 6. As much as Anas is willing and ready to testify for the prosecution, doing so under the condition specified by the court, presents a clear and present danger to his security and safety, especially because of the issues chronicled above. 7. Under these circumstances, prudence requires that he declines the invitation to endanger his life and accordingly declines the invitation to reveal his identity to the accused person in the judges chamber or any other place. Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI have fed fat on the unlawful liberties extended to them in the past by the Ghana Police and other state institutions such that he, a journalist and a lawyer, can cause Tiger Eye PI to tell the Supreme Court of Ghana and the High Court that they must be at the beck and call of Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI, do what Anas says even when the court determines that the protection of his identity and the integrity of the prosecutorial process is better served by him presenting himself to his accusers in chambers instead of to the public in open Court. The Supreme Court and the High Court could not have been unmindful of and made their determinations without weighing the dangers pointed out by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI against the constitutional requirements of a fair trial when the decisions of the Courts were made. A journalist and/or a lawyer is expected to act with due diffidence to the Constitution, the laws and respect for the Courts of Ghana that is why the following statements by Tiger Eye PI insinuating political motives to the very court which had earlier upheld his application and been overruled by the Supreme Court smacks of a deliberate effort to bring the reputation and integrity of the court into opprobrium: 9. Tiger Eyes position is further buttressed by the unrelenting, coordinated, and well- financed media and other campaigns by private and State actors to undermine its operations and the Anas principle, which stand in their way of amassing corruption and social injustice. 10. Nevertheless, Tiger Eye shall remain unwavering and relentless in its fight against corruption and societal ills. Anas remains in high spirit and is grateful to the good people of Ghana for their support and protection. By tagging the above statements to Anas Aremeyaw Anas voluntary decision not to assist the prosecution in presenting evidence in his possession at the trial, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI were clearly making insinuations at the integrity of the judicial process. Certainly, the Courts are state actors and their decision cannot be said to deliberately made to undermine the operations of Tiger Eye PI and the so-called Anas principle which is criminal behaviour disguised as anti-corruption crusading. The attitude of Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI in the above statement vindicates the finding by Mr. Justice Eric Baah, JA, when he said in Anas Aremeyaw Anas v Kennedy Agyapong that: In all honesty, the plot by plaintiff and his group in exhibit KOA4 has nothing to do with journalism. It was a scheme for grabbing power by the back door and satisfying plaintiffs insatiable taste for power, publicity, fame, awards, and rewards. The alert citizen will recall that in or around January or February 2010 Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his colleague tried to bribe and corrupt one Daniel Ibrahim Bepoh to allow them to smuggle cocoa to the Ivory Coast. Mr. Bepoh arrested them and handed them over to the Ghana Police for investigation and prosecution. The Ghana Police Service set Anas free apparently on the grounds that he was acting covertly as a state agent for and on behalf of the Cocoa Board. The Cocoa Board, and other state institutions, including the Ghana Police Service had no constitutional authority to use undercover agents against citizens of Ghana by entrapping them for purposes of prosecuting them. There was, therefore, no constitutional and legal reason for not prosecuting Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his colleague for bribery and corruption in Mr. Bepohs complaint unless Tiger Eye PI, that existed only on a webpage was a covert state agency which the law proscribed. Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI took advantage of the complicity of unrelenting, coordinated, and well-financed media and other campaigns by private and State actors to promote its unlawful operations and the unconstitutional Anas principle in 2010, but today they see everything wrong with courts of law protecting the human rights and freedoms of the citizens against unjust encroachments by them. CONCLUSIONS The second High Court judgment this year in Adjei v Anas confirms that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is and has always been a criminally oriented person operating under the subterfuge of an anti-corruption crusader. It has been demonstrated hereinbefore that the fact that Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the true personification of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the Ghanaian and international anti-corruption scamming scene, .entered the land and erected a sign post on the land with the inscription TIGER EYE, KEEP OFF, but When an application was brought to join TIGER EYE PI to this suit, he resisted claiming the said entity has no interest in the land confirms the true dubious character and person of an anti-corruption entrepreneur whose sole object in presenting himself as an anti-corruption crusader is to use that popular rhetorical description to line his pockets with gold and silver. One can safely conclude based on these two cases of Adjei v Anas, and Anas v Agyapong that Anas Aremeyaw Anas modus operandi is neither that of a journalist nor a lawyer. Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI are nothing but a scheme for grabbing power by the back door and satisfying plaintiffs insatiable taste for power, publicity, fame, awards, and rewards. The behaviour of Anas Aremeyaw Anas in the case of the Republic v Kwesi Nyantakyi also demonstrates the sense of superiority and entitlement he thinks he has acquired as an anti- corruption entrepreneur and a covert government agent that permits him to be unequal before the Constitution and laws of Ghana. A journalist and/or a lawyer is expected to act with due diffidence to the Constitution, the laws, and respect for the Courts of Ghana that is why the statements by Tiger Eye PI insinuating political motives to the very Court which had earlier upheld his application and been overruled by the Supreme Court smacks of a deliberate effort to bring the reputation and integrity of the court into opprobrium. Every day for thief man one day for master, so the saying goes. The Courts have spoken and exposed the true Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The chickens have at long last come home to roost and to vindicate the contention of this writer since 2014 that Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI are nothing but a scamming entity on the anti-corruption land scape of Ghana parading as anti-corruption crusaders. Martin A. B. K. Amidu 11 June 2023 South-South leaders on Friday called on Senators-Elect to better understand what is at stake and to have an enhanced commitment to work for the victory of Senator Godswill Akpabio. Nigerians are looking to Senator Godswill Akpabio for leadership. They are looking to him for strength. The former Akwa Ibom State governor is in a unique position in his political career, with a unique set of experiences and insights for this moment in history. He has the skills and experiences to bring about meaningful change in the country. The leaders also described Akpabio as a genuine patriot. We need a tested, seasoned, wise, strong, courageous, steady hand on the throttle. We need an experienced leader to have a firm hand on the controls. That is why we need Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President. The leaders under the aegis of the South-South Front (SSF) praised Akpabio for serving remarkably during his first term in the National Assembly. In a statement by the Chairman SSF, Chief John Harry, the leaders urged Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu and others to throw in the towel. Senator Godswill Akpabio has become a force of nature in the countrys ruling party. His persistent and gritty determination projected confidence. He is the favourite. You can feel it in the country. The prominent South-South leaders applauded Akpabio for growing stronger in the face of obstacles and opposition, setting the Niger Delta on a better course for the future. Senator Godswill Akpabio took the job of leading the Niger Delta through one of the most trying and difficult periods of change the region has known. He will move the Senate in a new direction and help to shape Nigerias future for the better. The leaders also praised Akpabio for his understanding of issues and flexibility in thought. Senator Godswill Akpabio is a thoughtful person, a man of sound judgement. As minister, he made a positive difference in a lot of ways. As governor, the list of his accomplishments is pretty solid. The statement underscored credibility, integrity, Akpabios personality, and personal history. The statement also emphasised faith, strength, composure, leadership and guidance. Senator Godswill Akpabio is engaging, has a great sense of humour and is a strongly devoted family man. Akpabio, a sincerely pleasant man with a bright smile and a winsome personality, is expected to be the countrys next senate president. Credit: Henry Ovie 12.06.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has described as worrying the alarming rate at which the vegetative cover meant to conserve the Barekese Dam is being destroyed. Currently, about half of the 42.4 square kilometer vegetative land mass serving as a buffer zone for the Dam has encroached. This development poses a serious threat to the Dam as it has a high propensity to alter the hydrologic cycle, Dr. Hanson Mensah-Akutteh, the GWCL Regional Chief Manager, Ashanti Production, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The Barekese Reservoir, constructed across the Offin River, provides about 80 per cent of the total public pipe-borne water supplied to the Kumasi Metropolis and other parts of the Ashanti Region. In recent years, the catchment area of the Dam has seen an increase in all manner of unsupervised human activities, resulting in a significant depletion of the forest cover. They include farming, real estate development, illegal mining, solid and liquid waste disposal, uncontrolled use of fertilizers and pesticides. Aside from the environmental consequences of the harmful practices, the GWCL said they could also lead to an increased cost of water treatment and production. In no time, we will not have the river at all, which means the reservoir is going to be defunct, and the treatment can cease. That is the alarming situation we are in now, and it is better we stop, Dr. Mensah-Akutteh cautioned. He said in a bid to conserve the water body, the Company had commenced an aggressive reforestation campaign, taking advantage of the Greening Ghana project to plant as many trees as possible. The 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day, he said, saw the authorities planting 10, 000 tree seedlings of varied species. The exercise brought on board some stakeholders such as the Forestry Commission (FC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Commission, Atwima Nwabiagya North Assembly and educational institutions. Dr. Mensah-Akutteh lauded the Nana Akufo-Addo-led Administration for initiating the Greening Ghana project, saying the authorities were committed to implementing it at their own level to help save the Barekese Dam. He warned farmers, real estate developers and sand winners to stay off the catchment area of the reservoir, saying the GWCL had teamed up with the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to deal with encroachers. We have given them two months ultimatum to vacate the land or face the full rigours of the law. GNA The new Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has officially taken over office today, Monday, June 12. At the Jubilee House early today, the President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo swore into office the new Chief Justice at a brief ceremony. According to the President, he has no doubt that the new Chief Justice will do a fantastic job just like her predecessors. President Akufo-Addo at the swearing-in ceremony said Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo will be a dependable and trustworthy partner to ensure that the judiciary and executive work harmoniously to entrench the rule of law in Ghana. Speaking after she was sworn in as Chief Justice, she pledged to show commitment towards the delivery of the mandate of her office. Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo indicated that she is aware she stands on tall shoulders [of predecessors] and will give her best. The new Chief Justice has risen to the top position after serving at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, where she was appointed in 2019 by President Akufo-Addo. She has over 19 years of experience and could serve as the countrys Chief Justice for 10 years. Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has become the third female Chief Justice in the history of the country, joining an enviable list that has Justice Georgina Theodore Woode and Sophia Akuffo as the pacesetters. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured new Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo that he will be a dependable and trustworthy partner to ensure that the judiciary and executive work harmoniously to entrench the rule of law in Ghana. President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence that Justice Torkornoos over 19 years of experience will come to bear as she takes over from Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboa as Ghanas 15th Chief Justice. The President was speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Jubilee House on Monday, June 12. He said the appointment of Justice Torkornoo was not particularly a difficult one to take as she had shown from her career a full grasp of the intricacies of the countrys judicial system. She has served at the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, where she was appointed in 2019 by President Akufo-Addo. Justice Torkornoo will be the third female Chief Justice in the history of the country after Justice Georgina Theodore Woode and Sophia Akuffo. I am well aware that I stand on tall shoulders, she remarked in her acceptance speech. -3news.com Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has admonished Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng to go after anyone culpable in the countrys illegal mining (galamsey) menace regardless of their political affiliation. This he believes is the sure way for the Special Prosecutor to win the trust of the public. Prof. Gyampo is one of the many Ghanaians who criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor when it was reported last week that former Minister of Environment Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng had been arrested without any charges. Addressing issues raised by critics in an interview with Joy News on the News File programme on Saturday, Lawyer Kissi Agyebeng denied the allegation that his office has set out to victimise Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. He argued that despite the fact that the former chairman of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining is highly respected, the OSP could not put aside its work. In the interview, Kissi Agyebeng said as the conscience and soul of Ghana, he doesnt consecrate saints. Reacting to the responses by the Special Prosecutor, Prof. Ransford Gyampo refuted that argument, insisting that the Special Prosecutor cannot walk in the shadows of a partisan appointee and still describe himself as the conscience and soul of the country. Such a dependent Special Prosecutor, cannot arrogate to himself the role of an Independent Public Prosecutor. You cannot walk in the shadows of a partisan appointee and still describe yourself as the conscience and soul of the nation, Prof. Ransford Gyampo said. Prof. Ransford Gyampo advises Kissi Agyebeng never to shield any political appointee in his quest to help the fight against galamsey. The Political Science lecturer believes if the Special Prosecutor can do this over a period of time, he will surely win the hearts of all Ghanaians. Below is the statement from Prof. Ransford Gyampo. I have been pondering over the responses of the Special Prosecutor on Newsfile over the weekend. Though I initially thought the interview brought out some useful information, reflecting on the responses again in more sobriety, makes me a bit worried. Kissi Agyabeng says he doesnt consecrate saints, and that he is the conscience and soul of Ghana. Not consecrating saints can be interpreted to mean every suspect is a criminal ab initio. But in his own law that he studied, there is a principle that, all are innocent or consecrated saints until proven guilty. So, where from this new alien legal maxim being propounded and must we allow Kissi Agyabeng to impose it on us as a people? Even though he admits and applauds the achievements and contributions of Prof Frimpong Boateng to Ghana, some of his comments surreptitiously rubbishes such heroic contributions. We must guillotine this attitude of ingratitude and prevent it from festering, else no one will die for Ghana, like the Special Prosecutor wants us to believe hes currently doing, but which I honestly doubt. Kissis claim that he, an individual, and a mortal human being, who isnt a saint himself, is the conscience and soul of Ghana, sounds religiously and politically blasphemous and problematic, as he suddenly attempts to play God in Ghana. Per his own enabling act, he walks in the shadows of the Attorney General who is a partisan appointee. He can be directed and dictated to, by the Attorney General in the conduct of his work. Such a dependent Special Prosecutor, cannot arrogate to himself the role of an Independent Public Prosecutor. You cannot walk in the shadows of a partisan appointee and still describe yourself as the conscience and soul of the nation. Even the Citizen Vigilante, Martin Amidu, in spite of all that he did prior to his appointment and during his appointment as Special Prosecutor, never described himself as the conscience and soul of the nation. It may be possible for someone or an institution to emerge one day, as the soul and conscience of the nation. But even if this may be possible, trust for such institutions created by partisan executive presidents in Ghana, can only be built over time, not at once, as aptly argued by Kofi Bentil on Newsfile over the weekend. If politicians have succeeded in bastardizing and making even constitutionally created independent institutions nearly dependent, even to the point of ordering their staff to submit their CVs to them for scrutiny, then Kissi Agyabeng cannot force Ghanaians to trust him all of a sudden as being independent. Back in school, he wasnt a tough person. But of course, he may have built his psyche and grown to become a strong willed person over the years, and this may be a positive attribute required to head the office he occupies. But granted this, mere talk, and display of a certain body language (that I do not want to describe as arrogance), cannot suddenly force all Ghanaians to believe that the Special Prosecutor is independent. Let him truly go after all who are culpable in this galamsey menace; let him look into the faces of his friends and political appointees and refuse to favor them in his quest to help the fight against galamsey; and let him do these over a period of time, and he will surely win the hearts of all Ghanaians. Yaw Gyampo A31, Prabiw PAV Ansah Street Saltpond Suro Nipa House Kubease Larteh-Akuapim A video with muted audio portrays President Akufo-Addo furiously ordering the Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Henri Quartey with unpresidential body language. This incident happened to have taken place during the Green Ghana Day occasion held on the campus of Legon last week Friday. The publicly wild gesticulations from the President as captured on camera in such a well-attended function were worrying and unsightly scenes. The reported source of Nana Akufo-Addos fury emanated from the Chief, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, and elders of Mempeasem who did not get up in honor of the national anthem while it was being sung. If indeed this were what transpired during the occasion, one would have thought the President should have calmly spoken to the Regional Minister standing close by him to convey his displeasure to the Chief and elders in question instead of wild gesticulations. Even when exuberant teenagers err in their actions or inactions, the adults do not often yell at them and take higher grounds. Rather, the elderly use their wealth of experience to advise them. It is thus hugely baffling to see how the President responded to that prevailing situation involving our traditional authorities in public. I have a few questions. Does this mean that President Akufo-Addo spontaneously responds to unpleasant emotional stimuli in this manner? Is it not also the case that the raging galamsey operations destroying forests, farms, and water bodies are defeating the aims of this Green Ghana Project? Has this possibly angered the Chief and his elders to fail to stand up for the national anthem in a silent protest on the Green Ghana Day or was it just a mishap? The Presidents body language during that occasion was quite TROUBLING and UNPRESIDENTIAL since it was done in the public glare. GHANAIANS GENERALLY REVERE OUR CHIEFS AND THIS CULTURE SHOULD BE CONTINUED INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE. I am tempted to believe that the President serves as a role model to many and the unfortunate video of him rebuking the traditional authority in circulation in the media space was invariably depressing and unpresidential, to say the least. Let us see less of such instances of Mr. President before his tenure gets to a close in 2024. As often said, a memorable legacy or a good name is better than riches. Dr. John-Baptist Naah, a Research Associate, and a Citizen but not a Spectator expresses his views. France's Minister for Education has ordered all middle schools to hold an hour-long session on the scourge of bullying on social media, after two teenage victims took their own lives. The government has said the fight against bullying will be an "absolute priority" for the start of the 2023 academic year. Education Minister Pap Ndiaye, who recently promised to step up the fight against cyberbullying in French schools, announced the awareness-raising sessions on Sunday. "This hour will be an opportunity to show how social media can exacerbate the phenomenon of bullying", he said, underlining everyone had a responsibility in how such media was used. Recent surveys suggest 10 percent of schoolkids in France are bullied at school, most often through social media. Some 3.4 million pupils in France's 7,000 middle schools are concerned by the anti-cyberbullying session. The Education Ministry's initiative comes after two teenagers took their own lives. Lucas, 13, hanged himself in January in eastern France. Prosecutors said he had been bullied at school for several months due to his homosexuality. His mother told French media at the time that homophobic bullying had "triggered" his suicide. The four secondary school pupils prosecuted over Lucas's suicide in January were found guilty of bullying on 5 June, but the juvenile court did not find a causal link between these acts and the 13-year-old's suicide. Last month, 13-year-old Lindsay from northern France, also took her own life. She left a letter saying she had received insults and threats on social media from morning to night. Her parents accused her school of ignoring their many complaints. After meeting Lindsay's parents last week, Pap Ndiaye referred to a "collective failure", calling for social media networks to do more to police threats published on their platforms. 'Communications exercise' The main headteachers' union, SNPDEN-Unsa, said the Education Ministry had given them insufficient time to organise the sessions and said it "smacked of improvisation". The message has been "poorly received", said Bruno Bobkiezicz, the union's secretary general. "It doesn't send out a good signal when this ministry is continually improvising. The signal is 'do it this week, it's the moment'. But it feels like a communications exercise.. and suggests we hadn't done anything beforehand." Acknowledging that the Education Ministry still had "some way to go" on the issue, Ndiaye has promised extra resources to fight bullying in schools. An special adviser will be appointed in each school at the start of the new academic year, the ministry said in a statement online. The ministry will also increase funding for associations that manage the 3018 and 3020 helplines pupils in difficulty can call. From September, the pHARe anti-bullying programme, aimed at detecting cases in middle schools before they get out of hand, will be extended to high schools. Ndiaye also said it would be no longer be up to the victim of bullying to change schools, but the perpetrator. It will also be mandatory to trigger disciplinary proceedings against perpetrators. In November 2021, parliament agreed to criminalise school bullying. In severe cases, students or staff can face up to 10 years in prison. The law was adopted in February 2022. The Context The founder of Perez Chapel International, the Archbishop Agyinasare recently incurred the wrath of the chief and people of Nogokpo of the Ketu South Municipality when he referred to the town as the demonic headquarters in the Volta region. Preaching in his mega church during a Supernatural Empowerment Summit the preacher inferred in his sermon that a near tragic event in Nogokpo was an attack from witches and wizards. In his words, immediately we go to Nogokpo, Bishop Yaw Adus four-wheel drive, the tyre came out from under the car. The inference was that witches and wizards from Nogokpo had caused this to happen after he asked one of his bishops to preach against during a church service in an adjoining town. Im not surprised at this characterisation of Nogokpo, a town associated with the Zakadza Shrine and the volta region at large as a spiritual powerhouse in the rhetoric of a Pentecostal Charismatic preacher. Pentecostal Charismatic Christians demonise Other religions, including Christian groups who do not subscribe to Pentecostalised Christianity. It was however a pleasant surprise that apart from using social media platforms such as Facebook, the Chief, elders and people of Nogokpo held a press conference, refuted the demonic tag and called on the pastor to apologize or face their wrath. Nogokpo and the Togbui Zakadza Shrine Nogokpo (stay in peace in the Ewe language) is a small coastal town fringed with coconut trees on a beautiful sandy coastline that stretches from Aflao to Blekusu. Nogokpo is however not famous because of its pristine coastline and hospitable people, but because of the Togbui Zakadza Shrine, even though there are other famous shrines in proximity such as the Nyigbla shrine of Afife, and the Adzima shrine of Klikor. Zakadza, means night crocodile, a combination of the Ewe and Fon languages of Ghana and Benin respectively. It is held that Togbui Saba on his return from a spiritual journey to Dahomey (now Benin) brought Togbui Zakadza to Agbozume and eventually settled in Nogokpo. Togbui Zakadzai is a deity that is believed by the people who venerate him to be a powerful god of thunder of Yewe cult, like Thor, the hammer-wielding god in Germanic paganism associated with thunder or the powerful Shango, the legendary fourth king of the ancient kingdom of Oyo, whose power is imaged by thunder. In southeastern Eweland generally the deity associated with Yeve cult is called So, the God of thunder. So, is believed to resides in the sky, and communicates through thunder and lightning and as such is also referred to as Dadagbe, Totobli, Tohono and Dzidegbe. These terms describe sounds derived from thunder. In Ewe cosmology, Togbui Zakadza is a manifestation of So. with historical ties to shango of the Yoruba and the Dahomean hevioso. Further, Zakadza is believed to be So or Yeve (God) of justice who dislikes evil and strike dishonest people in society. In reference to the nature of So or thunder Gods in south-eastern Eweland, Geoffrey Parrinder writes. The god So is believed to strike down the impious and to destroy the trees which witches use for their meeting in the night. Those people who are struck by lightening are not allowed normal burial, the god has taken them, and their corpses are appropriated by the priests...So is not only an angry god casting down his axes on wicked people; it is also said that he owns the heavens, sends heat and rain, and gives fertility to men and to do their crops. 1961: 31-32) In African religions generally, the Supreme Being (God) is both transcendent and immanent. Zakadza is a manifestation of Yeve, God. The Yeve cult like all pre-colonial African religions use spirituality as social regulatory mechanisms. Yeve cult among others regulates society in relation to morality, marriage, justice, death, economics, and education. These shrines observe annual festivals of ritual ceremonies. The rites observed at the Zakadza shrine for example has serious religious underpinnings meant to regulate infractions that can threaten the collective existence of the people. The rites are geared toward achieving the foremost goal of life preservation in the communities of South-eastern Ewe land and even beyond. Before African societies became subjects of European colonialism, their religious specialists and spiritual philosophies functioned as checks and balances in systems of governance. Religious specialists or elders with spiritual authority formed a counter-balance to rulersThey mediated the rights and claims of various groups, ensuring that power was not abused in whatever terms it was understood locally. Colonialism disrupted the regulatory function of religion as Europeans introduced Western systems of governance which separated the secular from the religious and attempted to relegate religion to the private sphere. The introduction of Western bureaucratic administration did not eradicate the belief in a religious cosmology. Rather than disenchant new forms of enchantment emerged. Many places such as Nogokpo are thriving despite the strong assault of Colonialism, globalisation, modernisation and Pentecostalisation of Christianisation on indigenous religio-cultural beliefs and practices. There is in fact a renaissance of African religions in the broader context of religious revivals in Africa. There is a noticeable interest in reviving indigenous spiritualities among Africans, both in Africa and in the diaspora. As the effectiveness of state institutions continue to decline, African spirituality is gradually emerging as a public force outside the formal sphere. Despite this revival, colonialism and perceptions of Western missionaries have had lasting impacts on how Africans, many of whom are now Pentecostalised Christians perceive African Indigenous spirituality. The civilising project of European colonialism and Western missionaries contributed to the demonisation of African religious beliefs and practices. In Translating the Devil: Religion and Modernity Among the Ewe in Ghana, Birgit Meyer places the diabolisation of Ewe religion in historical perspective and show how local gods became evil spirits and got incorporated into Christian belief as demons. Through translation, German Piestist missionaries denounced Ewe religious beliefs as paganism and the work of the devil. Ewe religion had no concept of evil spirits. Spirits could be both benevolent or malevolent (good and bad). The demonisation of Ewe and African religions continue to receive attention particularly by Pentecostal Charismatic Christians who see themselves in a perpetual spiritual warfare with witches and wizards. Pentecostal Charismatic Christianity has thrived on the strong belief in mystical causality in African cosmology and preachers such as Agyin Asare who pay more attention to the devil, witches and wizards stand much closer to those adherents of Zakadza in Nogokpo, than to missionary Christianity. In essence both Zakadza and Agyin Asare are more interested in ridding society off evil spirits including witches and wizards. Pentecostalism's increasing popularity thus stems from the fact that it ties into historically generated local understandings of Christianity. Spiritual warfare and deliverance services are common among African pastors which are in themselves creative responses to the forces of globalisation by drawing on the bible and African worldview of spiritual causality. Behind this complex process of contextualisation is a form of dualism. By presenting the Holy Spirit as a good and more powerful spirit, Pentecostal dualism allows its adherents to maintain their indigenous spiritual cosmology and even ritual engagement with traditional spirits through Christian spiritual warfare and exorcism. Agyin Asare and Togbui Zakadzas shrine have many things in common, because they both hold a holistic worldview of the universe with no clear demarcation between the visible and invisible world. Also, Agyinasare and Togbui Zakadza are both negotiating the challenging remnants of Western Christianisation as well as the angst and discontents of modernity by drawing on the same worldview but applying slightly different spiritual rhetoric. While Pentecostal Charismatic Christians see the religious practices of indigenous religious practitioners as demonic their emphasis on deliverance and spiritual warfare places them closer to African religions than Western Christianity. Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity in Africa is an African religion and this might well be a misudnerstanding among siblings. The Way Forward The contemporary clashes between Christianity and African Indigenous religions are not new, they began with missionary Christianity. The contemporary revival of African religions means that diabolisation will be challenged and more confrontations such as is currently happening between Zakadza Shrine in Nogokpo and Archbishop AgyinAsare are bound to increase. There is the need for a robust interfaith dialogue. Unfortunately, Pentecostal Charismatic churches have not been the greatest of interfaith dialoguers. The Pentecostal academician, Tony Richie, has described the religious interactions in Pentecostalism as one that takes the form of self-centered psychosis that alienates itself from any realities of divine presence beyond its own borders which has often resulted in ostracizing itself, while demonizing Other religions. Ghana and for that matter Africa is a religious plural continent and Pentecostal Christians are called upon to develop their exclusivity in a way that respects and not denigrate Other faiths. This calls for a robust Pentecostal Charismatic theology of religions Again, Pentecostal-Charismatic Christians see the world through the lens of good and evil spirits, God and Satan, good and bad. This dualistic worldview has had a negative effect of overspiritualisation of the world at the expense of rigor and rationality. Richie points out that they recognizes that diabolical or demonic forces often deign to use religionany religion, all religionsfor perverse purposes. To correct this, the Pentecostal Charismatic preachers such as Agyinasare ought to commit to learning about the religious Other, most optimally by dialoguing with them and not condemning them from his pulpit. Archbishop Agyinasare, please preach Christ and him crucified and leave the results to God. There is no need for role playing and showboating before God. When I worked for the Great Commission Movement of Ghana as a young evangelist, we had a simple axiom that reads, Preach the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God. Rev Dr Kwame Ahaligah On June 13, 2023, the 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated. President Tinubu Use Political Warfare Against Yari as the Senate elects the Senate president. The inauguration of the 10th Senate on June 13 will be a historic session, with religious, ethnic, and geopolitical feelings currently flowing from the camp of former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, thereby interjecting the senate presidency inauguration vote. Despite the current Muslim-Muslim ethos and image of the presidency, Senator elect Yari seems unconcerned about the outrage about the upcoming government's lack of religious balance. Despite the endorsement of Vice President Kashim Shettima and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the support of the party's national working committee for Akpabio, Yari remains steadfast in his refusal to give way to Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs and the aspiring senate president of the 10th Senate. Tinubu or Shettima must engage in political warfare, which entails taking aggressive actions to obtain a comparative edge or influence against Yari and his likes, because politics is an emotional and social conflict. Tinubu and the APC must maintain their position on who would succeed outgoing Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who is earning a seat in the future Senate despite not participating in his party's primary elections. And, while the true winner of the Yobe North senatorial district primary in Yobe State, Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina, did not find justice in the supreme court, Senator Rochas Okorocha mocked Lawan for returning to the senate without first participating in his party's primary elections. Mockery like this inspires rational people to believe that the Supreme Court will soon overrule itself or reverse this awful decision and enable Machina to take the seat he won. Returning to Yari and his allies, President Tinubu and the APC organization must vehemently oppose Yari and make every effort to create a Nigeria where, in the words of Vice President Shettima, "we are with a Muslim president and a Muslim vice-president in a multiethnic, multireligious polity (nation)." And now, Yari, a Muslim, wants to lead the Senate and become the third power in the nation. This is the height of national insanity for the democratic development of our multicultural society. President Tinubu, as a person who has been exposed to democratic ideas of fairness and equality as evidenced by your American background, do not allow the unusual talk that Nigeria's Islamic religious leadership, through a trio type Muslim presidential/vice presidential and senate presidential outline is about a possible political "jihad" against Christians across the country. If Yari wins the election with predominantly Islamic northern political support, a political confrontation may erupt that, if not handled wisely, will swiftly morph into an unwinnable national situation for you. Make every effort, Mr. President, to avert this political upheaval. The political elite may continue to consider Nigerians as idle, disinterested, or afraid to respond for psychological and societal reasons, but not for long. Mr. President, you are aware that all is not well around your leadership at this time, so do something to bridge the political chasm that could worsen if Yari is allowed to get in, which could be seen as part of the political persecution and repression of Christians in Nigeria to the point of complete exclusion, raising widespread fear and a collective reaction that will be detrimental to you as the president and the already fragile nation. If the perception of Islamic supremacy is allowed to pervade Nigerian society, the people may be willing to confront the fear. Now, Mr. President, go hit back and restore some balance to the Senate Presidency on June 13th. Best regards, Mr. President. AFA group, a US-based non-profitable organization has donated a mechanized borehole to new Amakom cluster of schools in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region. The donation is to help pupils and teachers to have access to portable drinking water which will facilitate teaching, and learning and enhance quality education in the school. Portable drinking water was a serious challenge to teachers and pupils in the school, therefore, the school relied on other alternatives hence the need for the donation. Representing AFA group for the commissioning of the project, Mr Frank Bediako told the media that the donation was made after identifying the challenge of the school and promising to support. The group, however, also took the opportunity to interact with over 250 students who are reading various programs at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The above students are beneficiaries of the group's scholarship scheme awarded to brilliant but needy students. Hullede Foundation, a subsidiary of AFA group is responsible for the award scheme. The entire pupil of Amakom cluster of schools, Assembly Member of the area, Nananom, among others graced the occasion. On his part, Nana Amofa, Amakom Gyaasehene was grateful to AFA Group for the water project and indicated that water they say is life. He however appealed to old students and other philanthropists to come to the aid of the school to ensure quality education. Nana Amofa cautioned wee smokers to stop invading the school's compound to engage in their bad behaviour. He thanked AFA group for the kind gesture and assured the group of equitable use and maintenance of the facility. Today, I post an article below, written by my colleague, Nancy Spannaus, creator of the website: americansystemnow.com It is urgent that all citizens of every nation read in full: President John F Kennedys Speech at American University, June 10, 1963 . The world is approaching a new danger of expanding wars, that could lead to nuclear destruction. Tragically, today, and in recent decades, the United States, is no longer led by great Presidents, statesmen, and strategic thinkers. In the U.S., we have no elected officials from either party with the qualities of leadership to navigate the world through our present crisis. There are not even any poor lilliputian sized imitations of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, or John F Kennedy to steer the U.S. in these troubled waters. The current President Joe Biden, and his Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, are infected by the diseased world outlook known as geopolitics. This geopolitical zero-sum doctrine dictates to the mindless, that the U.S. must remain on top, while all other superpowers must remain underneath. The so called rules based order is driving the U.S. closer and closer into confrontation with Russia. President Biden, and U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, have foolishly declared China our number one enemy, and are preparing for a future war with China, of which there is no cause. Absent from the mental constraints of geopolitics is any positive notion of a shared-common interest of mankind. We dont need rules, we need principles, which articulate the common aims of development that are in the self-interest of every nation. Today, on the 60th anniversary of this profound speech, let us reflect on the words of our beloved, departed president, John Kennedy, as he spoke to the nation and the world in a time of crisis, with the passion of reason, not of war. JFK Delivers a Vital Message By Nancy Spannaus, June 5, 2023 Nuclear powers must avert those confrontations which bring an adversary to a choice of either a humiliating retreat or a nuclear war. June 4, 2023When President John F. Kennedy took the podium at the commencement address of American University on June 10, 1963, he was about to deliver one of the most consequential speeches of his presidency. He had a vital message to deliver, both to the Soviet Union and to the American people. President Kennedy speaks at American University June 10, 1963 Kennedys central topic was peace, world peace. Having experienced the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with the Soviet Union called the Cuban Missile crisis (November 1962), the President was more committed than ever to finding an alternative to war. He had, of course, not abandoned his lifelong, and often strident, opposition to communism and its expansion. But, as an avid student of history, a combat veteran, and an experienced strategist, he had concluded that a new approach to the super-power conflict was needed. I believe that Kennedys message is coherent with the best of the American System tradition, especially that of Abraham Lincoln and his lead general Ulysses Grant. While totally dedicated to defense of their nation, both understood the need for understanding and respecting the perspective of the enemy, and creating a peace that would benefit all sides in the conflict. (cf., the Gettysburg address) His approach also sharply contrasts with that of our government today. I urge you to read the full American University speech and ponder it. Then send it to your congressmen; send it to the President; repost its message wherever you can. Demand our elected representatives read it: it is their duty to do so. In the post below, I highlight some of the key elements of Kennedys June 10 speech, all of which challenge what has become accepted policy today. It should be noted, as well, that as a result of this speech, the Soviet leadership changed its policy toward talks on nuclear arms control, agreeing to discussions which ultimately resulted in the signing of a treaty a few months later. Examine Your Attitudes The core of Kennedys speech called on Americans to re-examine their attitudes on three key issues: the possibility of peace, the Soviet Union, and the cold war itself. On the first, the President took aim at the view that world peace is impossible, and war is inevitable. The following paragraph is exemplary: We need not accept that view. Our problems are manmadetherefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Mans reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvableand we believe they can do it again. He proceeded to outline an approach characterized by practical steps, what he called the process of peace. A statue in devastated Stalingrad after Nazi bombing. Next, Kennedy called for people to examine their attitudes toward the Soviet Union. I quote a key section: As Americans, we find communism profoundly repugnant as a negation of personal freedom and dignity. But we can still hail the Russian people for their many achievementsin science and space, in economic and industrial growth, in culture and in acts of courage. Among the many traits the peoples of our two countries have in common, none is stronger than our mutual abhorrence of war. Almost unique, among the major world powers, we have never been at war with each other. And no nation in the history of battle ever suffered more than the Soviet Union suffered in the course of the Second World War. At least 20 million lost their lives. Countless millions of homes and farms were burned or sacked. A third of the nations territory, including nearly two thirds of its industrial base, was turned into a wastelanda loss equivalent to the devastation of this country east of Chicago. The President went on to say that it is both the United States and the Soviet Union which would suffer the greatest devastation if war broke out between them. And both sides would benefit from the establishment of peace. He concludes this section thus: So, let us not be blind to our differences-but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our childrens future. And we are all mortal. An image of Hiroshima after the nuclear bombing, a small foretaste of what nuclear devastation would look like today. Finally, Kennedy urged Americans to re-evaluate their attitude toward the cold war. The two relevant paragraphs go as follows: Let us reexamine our attitude toward the cold war, remembering that we are not engaged in a debate, seeking to pile up debating points. We are not here distributing blame or pointing the finger of judgment. We must deal with the world as it is, and not as it might have been had the history of the last 18 years been different. We must, therefore, persevere in the search for peace in the hope that constructive changes within the Communist bloc might bring within reach solutions which now seem beyond us. We must conduct our affairs in such a way that it becomes in the Communists interest to agree on a genuine peace. Above all, while defending our own vital interests, nuclear powers must avert those confrontations which bring an adversary to a choice of either a humiliating retreat or a nuclear war. To adopt that kind of course in the nuclear age would be evidence only of the bankruptcy of our policy-or of a collective death-wish for the world. (emphasis added) Will anybody listen? There is no evidence that large numbers of the American people, or policymakers for that matter, carried out the re-evaluation that President Kennedy demanded. There was no popular upsurge demanding arms control or other such negotiations. But with Kennedy in the Presidency, it was nonetheless possible for some progress to be made. Today, however, with the exception of a recent ad by the Eisenhower Media Network in the New York Times, there is very little prominent dissent from the prevailing line in both political parties that demands precisely the humiliating retreat which Kennedy warned against. Any legitimacy to Russias concern about NATO expansion, for example, to its borders is denied. A memorial of Lincolns Gettysburg address, erected on the battlefield in 1912. JFK echoes Lincolns approach to the enemy. One wonders what our Washington policy analysts would have to say to Kennedys argument. Times have changed, they would obviously say. Yes, indeed, they have. Among other things, it is the United States and its military allies deploying offensive nuclear weaponry at the border of Russia, not the Soviets doing the same in our backyard. But contrary to a prevalent line today. Russia is still a pre-eminent nuclear power with the ability to wipe us, and many other nations, off the face of the earth. Should any sane person be crowing that the fact that Russia has not gone nuclear means its wielding empty threats? Sixty years after President Kennedys American University speech, its time we re-evaluate our attitudes once again. Read in full: President John F Kennedys Speech at American University, June 10, 1963 Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 30 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, and consultant on Africa. He is also the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com. Mr. Freemans stated personal mission is; to eliminate poverty and hunger in Africa by applying the scientific economic principles of Alexander Hamilton St Francis College of Education has held its first congregation for the Bachelor of Education programme during which 357 professional teachers graduated. Out of the total number of graduates, 32 obtained first class, 225 received second class upper, 88 had second class lower and 12 got third class. Miss Erica Ama Tiokpoe was adjudged the overall best student. The congregation was held under the theme Embracing change and lifelong learning for Teachers, through the use of I.C.T. for development." The principal of the college, Dr. Adwoa Kwegyiriba said, the Bachelor of Education programme was designed with the vision to produce competent and compassionate educators who will become agents of positive change in the field of education. She said it is an undeniable fact that science and technology serve as critical tools for societal growth and development and in light of that, management and the Gender Unit of the College have started the women in STEM Movement. "The objective of the movement is to sensitize and inspire female STEM trainees to become innovative and effective problem solvers, as well as to empower them to be creative and to encourage more girls to enroll in STEM education. She appealed to the Ministry of Education to provide the college with a STEM facility," she stated. The Chairman of the Governing Council of the college, Rev. Father Prof. Michael P.K Okyerefo said ICT prepares teachers to meet the challenges of the teaching-learning task of the modern age. He encouraged the graduating students to embrace technology as a tool to leapfrog the traditional way of teaching to current teaching techniques. On his part, the Minister of Railway Development and Member of Parliament for Hohoe. Hon. John-Peter Amewu urged the appropriate stakeholders to work towards making the college a full-fledged university of education. He reiterated his support for the proposed merger of St Francis and St. Therasa Colleges of Education into a university. Mr. Amewu advised the graduands to apply what they have learned persistently and with a commitment to bring positive change to society. As part of the ceremony, a computer laboratory with 50 new computers was commissioned and a new signage was also unveiled. Government Statistician, Samuel Kobina Annim 12.06.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has issued a press release to mark the 2023 World Day Against Child Labour. In its release, the GSS revealed that 153,773 children aged 5 to 17 years are engaged in economic activity in the country. More worrying is that although there is free education in the country up to the Senior High School level, these children have never attended school. Out of the number, 37,963 children were 5 to 9 years. In all, 94,748 children aged 5 to 17 years engaged in economic activity were also attending school during the 2021 Population and Housing Census. Eight in every ten (81.3%) children aged 5 to 9 years who were engaged in economic activity lived in six regions Northern (19,727), Oti (14,875), North East (8,073), Upper West (7,071), Savannah (6,525), and Upper East (5,851). Nkwanta North (9,707), Krachi Nchumuru (7,598) and Nanumba North Municipal (7,598) had the highest number of children 5 to 14 years engaged in economic activities. These three districts had 21,726 children representing 10.8 per cent of all children 5 to 14 years engaged in economic The population of children engaged in economic activities in the Nkwanta North, Krachi Nchumuru and Nanumba North Municipal districts exceed that of the Bono (3,635), Ahafo (3,261), Western North (2,088), Western (4,179) and Central (4,834) regions combined. In all, 30 out of the 261 districts had more than 10 per cent of children 5 to 14 years engaged in economic activity. The district with the highest percentage was Krachi Nchumuru, where one in every three children (34.8%) was engaged in economic activity. This years World Day Against Child Labour is being commemorated under the theme Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!. Below is the release from the Ghana Statistical Service: Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH Get Rating) had its price objective upped by UBS Group from $93.00 to $97.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Sunday, The Fly reports. UBS Groups target price would indicate a potential upside of 11.79% from the companys current price. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America upped their price target on Cardinal Health from $85.00 to $91.00 in a research report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Cardinal Health from $88.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Barclays upped their price target on Cardinal Health from $80.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Friday. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Cardinal Health from $90.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, TheStreet raised Cardinal Health from a d+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $87.29. Get Cardinal Health alerts: Cardinal Health Trading Up 1.7 % Cardinal Health stock traded up $1.44 during trading on Friday, hitting $86.77. 3,026,176 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,147,662. The businesss 50 day moving average is $82.43 and its 200 day moving average is $78.66. Cardinal Health has a 52 week low of $49.70 and a 52 week high of $87.13. The company has a market capitalization of $22.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.87, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.76. Institutional Trading of Cardinal Health Cardinal Health ( NYSE:CAH Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.48 by $0.26. Cardinal Health had a negative return on equity of 81.55% and a net margin of 0.23%. The business had revenue of $50.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.63 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.45 earnings per share. Cardinal Healths revenue was up 12.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Cardinal Health will post 5.71 EPS for the current year. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new position in shares of Cardinal Health during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,732,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Cardinal Health during the 3rd quarter valued at about $887,000. Comerica Bank grew its position in Cardinal Health by 27.1% during the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 95,801 shares of the companys stock worth $7,321,000 after acquiring an additional 20,450 shares during the last quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd grew its position in Cardinal Health by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 89,751 shares of the companys stock worth $6,899,000 after acquiring an additional 10,900 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC grew its position in Cardinal Health by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 261,843 shares of the companys stock worth $8,670,000 after acquiring an additional 49,496 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.93% of the companys stock. About Cardinal Health (Get Rating) Cardinal Health, Inc operates as an integrated healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Cardinal Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cardinal Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine (NYSE:CVR Get Rating) in a research note issued on Sunday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock. Chicago Rivet & Machine Stock Performance About Chicago Rivet & Machine (Get Rating) Chicago Rivet & Machine Co operates in the fastener industry in North America. The company operates in two segments, Fasteners and Assembly Equipment. The Fastener segment manufactures and sells rivets, cold-formed fasteners and parts, and screw machine products. The Assembly Equipment segment manufactures and sells automatic rivet setting machines and assembly equipment, as well as parts and tools for related machines. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Chicago Rivet & Machine Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chicago Rivet & Machine and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coca-Cola HBC (OTCMKTS:CCHGY Get Rating) and Reeds (NYSE:REED Get Rating) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, dividends, risk and profitability. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Coca-Cola HBC and Reeds, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Coca-Cola HBC alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Coca-Cola HBC 0 0 0 0 N/A Reeds 0 0 0 0 N/A Volatility & Risk Profitability Coca-Cola HBC has a beta of 1.2, suggesting that its stock price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Reeds has a beta of 1.58, suggesting that its stock price is 58% more volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Coca-Cola HBC and Reeds net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Coca-Cola HBC N/A N/A N/A Reeds -35.75% -1,582.74% -64.66% Insider and Institutional Ownership 35.8% of Reeds shares are held by institutional investors. 29.9% of Reeds shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Coca-Cola HBC and Reeds revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Coca-Cola HBC $9.69 billion 1.13 $437.67 million N/A N/A Reeds $53.04 million 0.16 -$20.06 million ($8.19) -0.39 Coca-Cola HBC has higher revenue and earnings than Reeds. Summary Coca-Cola HBC beats Reeds on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Coca-Cola HBC (Get Rating) Coca-Cola HBC AG engages in the production, sale and distribution of non-alcoholic and ready-to-drink beverages. It operates through the following segments: Established Markets, Developing Markets, and Emerging Markets. The Established Markets segment consists of Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Switzerland. The Developing Markets segment includes Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The Emerging Markets segment comprises of Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, and Ukraine. The company was founded on September 19, 2012 and is headquartered in Steinhausen, Switzerland. About Reeds (Get Rating) Reed's, Inc. engages in the manufacture and distribution of natural beverages in the United States. The company offers Reed's craft ginger beer; Reed's real ginger ales; Reed's Mules; Reed's Hard Ginger Ale; Reed's ready to drink products; and Virgil's handcrafted sodas. It sells its products to natural food and gourmet retailers, grocery store chains, mass merchants, club stores, convenience and drug stores, liquor stores, industrial cafeterias, and on-premise bars and restaurants, as well as directly to consumers through www.drinkreeds.com. The company was formerly known as Original Beverage Corporation and changed its name to Reed's, Inc. in 2001. Reed's, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola HBC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola HBC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. ARGO has been the topic of several other research reports. Raymond James lowered Argo Group International from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Compass Point lowered Argo Group International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $30.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Argo Group International from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. Get Argo Group International alerts: Argo Group International Price Performance Shares of NYSE ARGO traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $29.48. 231,695 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 570,977. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The company has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a PE ratio of -4.72 and a beta of 1.03. Argo Group International has a one year low of $19.00 and a one year high of $40.59. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $29.33. Institutional Trading of Argo Group International Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.31) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by ($1.11). Argo Group International had a negative net margin of 9.98% and a positive return on equity of 0.06%. The firm had revenue of $419.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $461.90 million. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Argo Group International will post 2.85 EPS for the current year. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in shares of Argo Group International by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 22,288 shares of the companys stock worth $822,000 after buying an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Argo Group International by 50.0% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,680 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 560 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in shares of Argo Group International by 17.3% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 4,760 shares of the companys stock worth $123,000 after buying an additional 701 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in shares of Argo Group International by 334.7% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 926 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 713 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mutual of America Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Argo Group International by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 89,965 shares of the companys stock worth $1,733,000 after buying an additional 743 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.92% of the companys stock. Argo Group International Company Profile (Get Rating) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of underwriting property and casualty insurance and reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Operations, International Operations, and Run-off Lines. The U.S. Operations segment include distribution through retail, wholesale, and managing general brokers/agents in the specialty insurance market. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Argo Group International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Argo Group International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co. (NYSE:BAH Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, May 26th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of 0.47 per share by the business services provider on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Booz Allen Hamilton has raised its dividend by an average of 21.5% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 12 years. Booz Allen Hamilton has a dividend payout ratio of 34.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Booz Allen Hamilton to earn $5.44 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 34.6%. Get Booz Allen Hamilton alerts: Booz Allen Hamilton Price Performance NYSE BAH traded down $0.09 on Monday, reaching $103.42. The company had a trading volume of 65,537 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,054,533. The firms 50 day moving average price is $96.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $97.37. Booz Allen Hamilton has a 12 month low of $79.85 and a 12 month high of $112.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.53 billion, a PE ratio of 51.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79. Insider Activity at Booz Allen Hamilton Booz Allen Hamilton ( NYSE:BAH Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 26th. The business services provider reported $1.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.92 by $0.09. Booz Allen Hamilton had a net margin of 2.94% and a return on equity of 53.60%. The business had revenue of $2.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.39 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.86 earnings per share. Booz Allen Hamiltons quarterly revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Booz Allen Hamilton will post 4.93 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, EVP Elizabeth M. Thompson sold 27,925 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.00, for a total transaction of $2,764,575.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 20,474 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,026,926. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Susan L. Penfield sold 22,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.78, for a total transaction of $2,277,628.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,793 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,994,738.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Elizabeth M. Thompson sold 27,925 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.00, for a total value of $2,764,575.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,474 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,026,926. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Booz Allen Hamilton Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in Booz Allen Hamilton during the first quarter worth $244,000. Prelude Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Booz Allen Hamilton in the 3rd quarter valued at about $243,000. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Booz Allen Hamilton in the 1st quarter worth about $237,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in Booz Allen Hamilton during the 4th quarter worth approximately $215,000. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in the first quarter valued at approximately $212,000. 90.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analysts Set New Price Targets BAH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America boosted their target price on Booz Allen Hamilton from $105.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. 51job reissued a maintains rating on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $107.00 to $108.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Booz Allen Hamilton from $115.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $108.00. Booz Allen Hamilton Company Profile (Get Rating) Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. engages in the provision of management and technology consulting services. It offers analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber expertise. The company was founded by Edwin Booz in 1914 and is headquartered in McLean, VA. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Booz Allen Hamilton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Booz Allen Hamilton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. (NYSE:CDAY Get Rating) CEO Leagh Erin Turner sold 6,000 shares of Ceridian HCM stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.26, for a total transaction of $397,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 245,201 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,247,018.26. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Leagh Erin Turner also recently made the following trade(s): Get Ceridian HCM alerts: On Thursday, April 6th, Leagh Erin Turner sold 6,000 shares of Ceridian HCM stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.11, for a total transaction of $408,660.00. Ceridian HCM Price Performance NYSE:CDAY traded up $0.49 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $63.93. 102,275 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,302,825. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $63.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.31. Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. has a 1-year low of $43.23 and a 1-year high of $79.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.07. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Ceridian HCM ( NYSE:CDAY Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $370.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $360.77 million. Ceridian HCM had a negative return on equity of 0.02% and a negative net margin of 2.73%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. will post 0.35 EPS for the current year. CDAY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on Ceridian HCM from $105.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Ceridian HCM from $75.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Barclays cut their target price on Ceridian HCM from $74.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, DA Davidson cut their target price on Ceridian HCM from $86.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ceridian HCM has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $78.79. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ceridian HCM Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Ceridian HCM in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Ceridian HCM in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Ceridian HCM in the 1st quarter worth about $41,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new position in Ceridian HCM in the 4th quarter worth about $49,000. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in Ceridian HCM by 40.7% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 781 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. About Ceridian HCM (Get Rating) Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc engages in the development of human capital management software. It offers Dayforce, Powerpay, and Bureau products and services. The Dayforce provides human resources (HR), payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management functionality. Powerpay is a cloud HR and payroll solution for the Canadian small business market, through both direct sales and established partner channels. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ceridian HCM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ceridian HCM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dollarama (TSE:DOL Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by Stifel Nicolaus from C$94.00 to C$96.00 in a research note released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. National Bankshares lifted their price objective on shares of Dollarama from C$92.00 to C$93.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Dollarama from C$95.00 to C$98.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, May 25th. CIBC upped their target price on Dollarama from C$84.00 to C$89.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Dollarama from C$93.00 to C$95.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Desjardins reissued a buy rating on shares of Dollarama in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Dollarama currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$92.55. Get Dollarama alerts: Dollarama Price Performance TSE:DOL opened at C$83.03 on Thursday. Dollarama has a 12 month low of C$70.12 and a 12 month high of C$85.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 14,849.75. The businesss 50-day moving average is C$83.27 and its 200 day moving average is C$81.15. The company has a market capitalization of C$23.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.73. Dollarama Announces Dividend Dollarama ( TSE:DOL Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 7th. The company reported C$0.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.58 by C$0.05. Dollarama had a net margin of 15.87% and a return on equity of 2,563.29%. The business had revenue of C$1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.24 billion. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Dollarama will post 3.5383283 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a $0.071 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.34%. Dollaramas payout ratio is currently 10.14%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Senior Officer Johanne Choiniere sold 8,482 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.63, for a total transaction of C$683,862.10. 3.97% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. 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. See Also 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. Citigroup cut shares of Fibra Terrafina (OTCMKTS:CBAOF Get Rating) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports. Fibra Terrafina Stock Performance CBAOF stock opened at $1.80 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $1.81 and its 200-day moving average is $1.67. Fibra Terrafina has a twelve month low of $1.23 and a twelve month high of $1.93. Get Fibra Terrafina alerts: Fibra Terrafina Company Profile (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. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Golden Star Resources (NYSE:GSS Get Rating) in a research report released on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. Golden Star Resources Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:GSS traded up $0.01 during trading on Friday, reaching $3.90. 2,443,100 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 777,956. Golden Star Resources has a 12 month low of $2.04 and a 12 month high of $4.04. Get Golden Star Resources alerts: Golden Star Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Stories Golden Star is an established gold mining company that owns and operates the Wassa underground mine in Ghana, West Africa. Listed on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Ghanaian Stock Exchange, Golden Star is focused on delivering strong margins and free cash flow. Since winning the PDAC 2018 Environmental and Social Responsibility Award, Golden Star has remained committed to leaving a positive and sustainable legacy in its areas of operation. Receive News & Ratings for Golden Star Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Golden Star Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE:GTN.A Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Friday, May 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.08 per share on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Gray Television Stock Down 0.6 % NYSE:GTN.A traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $8.31. The companys stock had a trading volume of 106 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,781. The company has a market cap of $791.44 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.22. Gray Television has a one year low of $7.40 and a one year high of $19.50. The businesss 50-day moving average is $8.22 and its 200-day moving average is $9.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.98, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.27. Get Gray Television alerts: Gray Television Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Stories Gray Television, Inc, a television broadcast company, owns and operates television stations and digital assets in the United States. As of February 28, 2019, it owned and operated television stations in 91 television markets broadcasting approximately 400 program streams, including approximately 150 channels affiliated with the CBS Network, the NBC Network, the ABC Network, and the FOX Network. Receive News & Ratings for Gray Television Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gray Television and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Equities researchers at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL Get Rating) in a research report issued on Saturday. The firm set a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on GHL. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Greenhill & Co., Inc. from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, May 22nd. TheStreet downgraded Greenhill & Co., Inc. from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Greenhill & Co., Inc. from $9.50 to $8.50 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, JMP Securities downgraded Greenhill & Co., Inc. from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Greenhill & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.38. Get Greenhill & Co. Inc. alerts: Greenhill & Co., Inc. Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of GHL opened at $14.60 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $267.49 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -21.47 and a beta of 1.15. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $5.64 and a 52-week high of $14.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.09, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $9.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.41. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greenhill & Co., Inc. Greenhill & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:GHL Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The financial services provider reported ($1.27) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $49.68 million for the quarter. Greenhill & Co., Inc. had a negative return on equity of 13.14% and a negative net margin of 3.02%. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GHL. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky acquired a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 69.0% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,859 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 1,576 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 139.0% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,456 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 2,010 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP acquired a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $62,000. 74.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Greenhill & Co., Inc. Company Profile (Get Rating) Greenhill & Co, Inc is an independent investment bank, which engages in the provision of financial and strategic advice. It specializes in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, and capital raising. The company was founded by Robert F. Greenhill in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greif (NYSE:GEF Get Rating) had its price target raised by Stifel Nicolaus from $85.00 to $94.00 in a research note released on Friday, The Fly reports. Several other research firms also recently weighed in on GEF. StockNews.com raised Greif from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, May 27th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Greif from $66.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Greif from $67.00 to $69.00 in a report on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two 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 target price of $73.00. Get Greif alerts: Greif Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE GEF traded up $0.33 during trading on Friday, reaching $71.81. 37,158 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 169,609. The stock has a market cap of $3.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.58. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $62.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $65.95. Greif has a 1 year low of $57.10 and a 1 year high of $74.22. Greif Dividend Announcement Greif ( NYSE:GEF Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 8th. The industrial products company reported $1.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.45. The company had revenue of $1.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.42 billion. Greif had a return on equity of 22.73% and a net margin of 7.76%. Greifs revenue for the quarter was down 21.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.41 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Greif will post 5.4 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. Greifs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.77%. Insider Buying and Selling at Greif In other Greif news, CFO Lawrence A. Hilsheimer acquired 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $69.45 per share, for a total transaction of $208,350.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 101,892 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,076,399.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Greif news, CFO Lawrence A. Hilsheimer acquired 3,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $69.40 per share, for a total transaction of $249,840.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 108,992 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,564,044.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Lawrence A. Hilsheimer acquired 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $69.45 per share, for a total transaction of $208,350.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 101,892 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,076,399.40. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 6,709 shares of company stock worth $465,954. 7.60% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Greif by 59.9% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 491 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 184 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of Greif by 90.7% in the 1st quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 473 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. First Manhattan CO. LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Greif in the 1st quarter worth $38,000. Spire Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Greif by 48.9% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 700 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 230 shares during the period. Finally, Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new position in shares of Greif in the 4th quarter worth $67,000. 47.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Greif Company Profile (Get Rating) Greif, Inc engages in the production of industrial packaging products and services. It operates through the following segments: Global Industrial Packaging, Paper Packaging & Services, and Land Management. The Global Industrial Packaging segment involves the production of industrial packaging products, such as steel, fiber & plastic drums, rigid & flexible intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, transit protection products, water bottles, and remanufactured & reconditioned industrial containers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Greif Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greif and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated their buy rating on shares of Crest Nicholson (LON:CRST Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a GBX 334 ($4.15) price target on the stock. Several other research firms also recently issued reports on CRST. Barclays reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a GBX 245 ($3.05) price objective on shares of Crest Nicholson in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Crest Nicholson from GBX 210 ($2.61) to GBX 180 ($2.24) and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Liberum Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Crest Nicholson in a report on Monday, February 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 244.14 ($3.04). Get Crest Nicholson alerts: Crest Nicholson Trading Down 1.1 % CRST opened at GBX 229 ($2.85) on Thursday. Crest Nicholson has a twelve month low of GBX 170.50 ($2.12) and a twelve month high of GBX 293.60 ($3.65). The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 249.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 239.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 3.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.44. The stock has a market capitalization of 588.35 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,290.00, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.92. Crest Nicholson Cuts Dividend About Crest Nicholson The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 21st will be issued a GBX 5.50 ($0.07) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 21st. This represents a yield of 2.21%. Crest Nicholsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17,000.00%. (Get Rating) Crest Nicholson Holdings plc builds residential homes in the United Kingdom. The company develops and sells apartments, houses, and commercial properties. It serves first-time buyers, families, and investors. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Chertsey, the United Kingdom. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Crest Nicholson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crest Nicholson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lundin Gold (TSE:LUG Get Rating) had its target price boosted by CIBC from C$20.00 to C$21.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Scotiabank increased their target price on Lundin Gold from C$15.00 to C$16.50 in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Haywood Securities downgraded Lundin Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price objective on Lundin Gold from C$20.00 to C$21.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. National Bankshares reduced their target price on Lundin Gold from C$21.00 to C$20.50 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Lundin Gold from C$20.00 to C$21.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$18.00. Get Lundin Gold alerts: Lundin Gold Stock Performance Shares of LUG stock opened at C$16.31 on Thursday. Lundin Gold has a 52 week low of C$7.80 and a 52 week high of C$19.42. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$17.29 and a 200-day moving average price of C$15.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.02. The firm has a market capitalization of C$3.87 billion, a PE ratio of 28.12 and a beta of 1.12. Lundin Gold Cuts Dividend Lundin Gold ( TSE:LUG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported C$0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.34 by C$0.04. The company had revenue of C$347.17 million for the quarter. Lundin Gold had a return on equity of 11.76% and a net margin of 11.90%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Lundin Gold will post 1.3248062 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 27th will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 12th. Lundin Golds dividend payout ratio is presently 93.10%. Lundin Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Lundin Gold Inc operates as a mining company in Canada. The company holds interests in 27 metallic mineral concessions and three construction material concessions covering an area of approximately 64,270 hectares located in Southeast Ecuador. It primary holds interests in the Fruta del Norte gold project comprising seven concessions covering an area of approximately 5,566 hectares located near the city of Loja in Ecuador. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lundin Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lundin Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:PB Get Rating) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the twelve ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $73.73. A number of equities analysts recently commented on PB shares. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on Prosperity Bancshares from $83.00 to $71.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. DA Davidson raised Prosperity Bancshares from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $79.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, March 13th. Wolfe Research upgraded Prosperity Bancshares from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded Prosperity Bancshares from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $76.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Raymond James cut their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $85.00 to $70.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Get Prosperity Bancshares alerts: Prosperity Bancshares Stock Performance Shares of Prosperity Bancshares stock traded up $0.31 during trading on Monday, hitting $61.20. 112,724 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 715,612. The stocks fifty day moving average is $60.21 and its 200 day moving average is $67.54. The stock has a market cap of $5.77 billion, a PE ratio of 10.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.96. Prosperity Bancshares has a 12 month low of $55.95 and a 12 month high of $78.76. Prosperity Bancshares Dividend Announcement Prosperity Bancshares ( NYSE:PB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.04. Prosperity Bancshares had a net margin of 39.87% and a return on equity of 7.93%. The company had revenue of $365.58 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $285.02 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.33 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Prosperity Bancshares will post 5.37 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.59%. Prosperity Bancsharess payout ratio is 38.13%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director L. Jack Lord acquired 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $62.04 per share, for a total transaction of $310,200.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 33,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,055,075. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 4.20% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Prosperity Bancshares A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares in the third quarter worth approximately $883,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 357,739 shares of the banks stock valued at $26,000,000 after purchasing an additional 2,421 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 18.6% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 2,629 shares of the banks stock valued at $191,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System bought a new position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $521,000. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 20,070 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,459,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares during the period. 81.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Prosperity Bancshares Company Profile (Get Rating) Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Prosperity Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prosperity Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shore Capital reiterated their buy rating on shares of Tesco (LON:TSCO Get Rating) in a research report released on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. TSCO has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Tesco to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from GBX 260 ($3.23) to GBX 310 ($3.85) in a research note on Monday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Tesco from GBX 290 ($3.61) to GBX 270 ($3.36) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently 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 Thursday. Tesco has a one year low of GBX 194.35 ($2.42) and a one year high of GBX 285.30 ($3.55). The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 270.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 252.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 123.29, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.72. The firm has a market cap of 18.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,619.00, a PEG ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.64. Tesco Increases Dividend About Tesco The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be issued a GBX 7.05 ($0.09) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.63%. This is a boost from Tescos previous dividend of $3.85. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Tescos payout ratio is presently 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. Featured 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. CSFB upgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Rating) (NYSE:TD) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report report published on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has C$88.00 price objective on the stock, up from their prior price objective of C$85.00. Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Barclays reduced their price target on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$83.00 to C$81.00 in a report on Friday, May 26th. National Bankshares reduced their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$94.00 to C$90.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 26th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$85.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. CIBC cut their price objective on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$97.00 to C$94.00 in a report on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$88.00 to C$85.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Toronto-Dominion Bank has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$93.43. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Price Performance Shares of TD opened at C$79.12 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of C$145.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.83, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a 50-day moving average of C$80.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$85.48. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a one year low of C$76.32 and a one year high of C$94.05. Toronto-Dominion Bank Announces Dividend Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 10th will be given a dividend of $0.96 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 7th. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.85%. Toronto-Dominion Banks payout ratio is presently 47.70%. (Get Rating) The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking segments. The company offers personal deposits, such as checking, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Why would you choose digital banking? That's the fundamental question every banker needs to ask himself. Why would a customer stop visiting the bank branch and, instead, switch to the mobile app for most of his banking needs? For the sake of convenience, of course. Well, that's the obvious answer, no doubt, because digital transactions saves you from long queues, time constraints, and money, while making the entire process faster and smoother. All these combined, digital banking offers a better experience - at least thats the idea. But what's happening in reality? Customers often find themselves at the receiving end of frequent digital outages and transaction failures. Such instances have been recurring and, on many occasions, go unreported. In February and April this year, customers of HDFC Bank and State Bank of India (SBI) had complained about digital outages. In March, Bloomberg reported that DBS Bank restored its digital banking services after a 10-hour delay. Let us be clear, digital outages aren't only about these banks. The problem is much larger than it seems. Similar digital outages are happening with other lenders as well that largely go unnoticed by the mainstream media. Typically, only what happens with big banks get noticed. That doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist elsewhere. Is the RBI aware about this problem? Of course, they are. In fact, the central bank has been cautioning banks about this problem and insisting for more investments in technology. Back in 2011, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das asked banks to make more investments for building robust IT platforms and technologies for operational purposes as well as for fortifying public confidence in digital banking. But often these calls from the regulator are ignored - unless there is a direct penal action on the specific entity. What is the route cause of such technology outages? If we leave out the technicalities, experts have, time and again, cited that banks have to strengthen the fundamental technology platforms to handle the large customer volumes and new services. These platforms were built years ago when banks had lesser number of customer volumes to handle and lesser products to flash across the screen. But, that changed over years. Banks kept on adding new services and products on the existing foundations, while on the other side, number of new digital customers spiralled. That explains the frequent failures. This apathy in correcting the problems cannot continue. If the digital shift has to happen in the way banks expect and, as the regulator sees, banks need to invest more money in strengthening their digital foundations and ensure that adequate preparations are done to ensure a smooth experience for the end-user. A recent report from an RBI panel on customer service standards has emphasised the importance for banks to ensure golden standards in customer care. The panel has also recommended penalties for deficient customer services. There is a clear message from the RBI to banks that customer service is not a charity but a duty that every bank is bound to comply. The earliest banks get the message, the better. Banking Central is a weekly column that keeps a close watch and connects the dots about the sector's most important events for readers. [content][quote]Big Story[/quote][title]MiCA Unleashed: Revolutionizing Europes Crypto Landscape with Cutting-Edge Regulations[/title][body] The European Union (EU) has launched a landmark legal initiative targeting the realm of cryptocurrency. The Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation was officially inscribed in the Official Journal of the European Union on June 9, setting the stage for its enactment by the end of 2024. > MiCA, which was ratified on May 31, was initially tabled in 2020 with the goal of instituting a harmonized regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency assets across EU member countries. > Although MiCA legally takes effect within a 20-day timeframe, the actual application of the rules commences on December 30, 2024. > Notably, certain provisions will be brought into play six months in advance, on June 30, 2024. Details here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Vitalik Buterin and Sandeep Nailwal[/quote][title]Crypto Titans Channeling $100 Million to Fortify Indias Medical Frontlines[/title][body] Ethereum's very own co-creator, Vitalik Buterin, is joining forces with Indias Crypto Relief and Polygon's Sandeep Nailwal to channel an astounding $100 million toward the critical cause of COVID-19 research and the enhancement of medical infrastructure in India. > In an alliance where brilliance meets benevolence, Buterin and Nailwal will be the custodians of a whopping $90 million in USD Coin (USDC) from Crypto Relief. > Adding to this generous bounty, Buterin is personally contributing $10 million from his own reserves to augment the initiative. Together, the duo will spearhead the distribution of these funds. > Nailwal shed light on the transactional framework through a Twitter post in January 2022, elucidating that Crypto Relief will be transferring the funds to Buterin to keep their operations within the legal boundaries in India. More here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]OKX Ignites Success[/quote][title]Analyzing the $258 Million Token Burn and Its Impact on OKB Prices[/title][body] Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has executed a monumental move by annihilating more than $258 million worth of its native tokens, OKB, in a three-month period between March and May. > This strategized action sent the OKB tokens on an upward trajectory, while the broader cryptocurrency market showed minimal fluctuations. > OKX revealed in its freshly released buyback and burn report on Friday, In this round, the total number of OKB bought back and burned from the secondary market was 5,497,312.77 OKB. > Following the burns completion revelation, OKBs price experienced a hike, moving from $44 to $45. In the past day, the tokens have seen a 1.4% ascent. Continue here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Experts Speak Out[/quote][title]Navigating the SEC's Crypto Storm[/title][body] The crypto industry is navigating through a tempest as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) tightens its grip, recently launching legal actions against major crypto exchanges Coinbase and Binance. > The SEC alleges that these platforms have been dealing in unregistered securities, adding tension to an already highly scrutinized market. > Against this backdrop, industry heavyweights have weighed in on the unfolding scenario, highlighting that regulatory challenges also bring about new opportunities and shed light on the risks of the staking model. > Experts also say Bitcoin's Lightning Network is a viable alternative and that there is a need for clarity and consistency in the regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies. Full report here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Robinhood Takes Swift Action[/quote][title]Delists Solana, Polygon, and Cardano Amid SEC Crackdown[/title][body] In a strategic maneuver to align with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions escalating oversight of cryptocurrency trading platforms, the financial technology company Robinhood has made the executive decision to withdraw support for three cryptocurrencies - Solana (SOL), Polygon (MATIC), and Cardano (ADA). > The deadline for the halt in support is set for June 27 at 6:59 p.m. ET. > Users holding these cryptocurrencies on Robinhood have until this specified cut-off time to transfer their holdings; failing which, Robinhood will liquidate the assets at the prevailing market rates and credit the proceeds to the user's account. > Robinhood was quick to reassure its customers through a statement issued on Friday, emphasizing that this decision only affects the mentioned cryptocurrencies and that all other digital assets continue to be secure on its platform. More here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Cardano, Solana Strike Back[/quote][title]Slam SEC With Thunderous Denial[/title][body] IOG, the company behind the development of Cardano and Solana Foundation, have swiftly rebutted claims by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggesting that Cardano's native token, ADA, could be classified as a security. > This comes in the wake of the SEC's legal action against prominent cryptocurrency exchanges Binance and Coinbase earlier this week, wherein ADA was enumerated among other crypto tokens that the SEC considers as securities. > In a robust statement released on Friday, IOG was unequivocal in its stance, asserting, Under no circumstances is ADA a security under U.S. securities laws. It never has been. > The company also emphasized the importance of understanding the mechanisms of decentralized blockchains as a crucial aspect of formulating judicious regulations. Details here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Crypto Regulation[/quote][title]US House Sets Sights on Stablecoin Regulation: Unraveling the New Bipartisan Bill[/title][body] > In a groundbreaking move, the US House Financial Services Committee has unveiled a bipartisan draft bill addressing stablecoins, as part of a broader effort to shed light on the regulation of the digital asset landscape. > The hearing titled, The Future of Digital Assets: Providing Clarity for the Digital Asset Ecosystem, is set for June 13. > This draft legislation, which is the third iteration, amalgamates elements from both the Republican and Democratic sides of the committee. > The core objective is to lay down regulatory parameters for payment stablecoins among other concerns. > The bill outlines the roles and responsibilities of primary Federal payment stablecoin regulators which include the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the National Credit Union Administration. More here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Crypto.com[/quote][title]Crypto.com's Retail App Stands Firm as Institutional Services Halt in the U.S.[/title][body] Crypto.com, the renowned Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange, has declared its decision to suspend services for institutional clients in the United States beginning June 21. > The suspension is attributed to subdued demand among institutional clients, which has been further exacerbated by the prevailing challenges in the market. > In a statement released by Crypto.com, it was emphasized that institutional clients were informed well in advance regarding the suspension. > "The platforms institutional users were given advance notice of the decision to suspend the service," the statement read. Nonetheless, the exchanges retail mobile application and platform continue to be fully functional for users in the United States. Continue here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Russian Duo[/quote][title]Russian Duo Charged in Pivotal Mt. Gox Hack and Illicit Operation of BTC-e Crypto Exchange[/title][body] The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed charges against two Russian nationals, Alexey Bilyuchenko, 43, and Aleksandr Verner, 29, for their alleged involvement in the infamous 2011 hack of the Mt. Gox cryptocurrency exchange and the subsequent operation of the shadowy cryptocurrency exchange, BTC-e. > The charges allege that Bilyuchenko and Verner conspired to launder a staggering 647,000 bitcoins, which they purportedly stole from Mt. Gox. > In addition to this, Bilyuchenko is charged with conspiring with Alexander Vinnik to operate BTC-e from 2011 to 2017. > Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division emphasized the significance of this development, stating, This announcement marks an important milestone in two major cryptocurrency investigations. Continue reading.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Former SEC Veteran Sounds Alarm[/quote][title]Urges Immediate Exit from Crypto Platforms[/title][body] John Reed Stark, who has an extensive 19-year history as an attorney within the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and also served as the chief of the SEC's Office of Internet Enforcement, has issued a stern warning urging people to "exit crypto platforms immediately." > He also emphasized that Cryptocurrency trading platforms in the U.S. are now facing an onslaught of regulatory and legal enforcement, and this is just the beginning. > Stark further clarified the reasoning behind his stance. He pointed out that cryptocurrency trading platforms generally lack registration with the SEC. > He believes this is synonymous with an absence of regulatory oversight, which in turn results in a drastic deficiency in consumer protection measures. Details here.[/body][/content] [content][quote]TaxBit[/quote][title]TaxBit's Major Shake-Up: 40% Workforce Cut and Leadership Change[/title][body] TaxBit, a startup focusing on cryptocurrency taxation and regulatory compliance, has reportedly parted ways with nearly 40% of its workforce, amounting to 80 employees. > This recent development, corroborated through a spokesperson from TaxBit and sources in the know, comes in the wake of an earlier downsizing in December where 15% of the staff were laid off. > Notably, TaxBit had reached the coveted unicorn status after securing a substantial $130 million in a Series B investment round. > This funding round drew support from prominent venture capital firms such as Insight Partners, IVP, Tiger Global, Paradigm, 9Yards Capital, Sapphire Ventures, Madrona Venture Group, and Anthony Pompliano. Continue reading.[/body][/content] [content][quote]Weekend Woes[/quote][title]SEC Pressure Triggers Steep Decline in Altcoins[/title][body] Crypto markets faced a tumultuous weekend as smaller cryptocurrencies took a nosedive, fueling widespread unease among investors. > This comes on the heels of an increasingly stringent regulatory atmosphere spearheaded by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). > Altcoins, a term for cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin, witnessed a steep fall, with Cardanos ADA losing up to 25% of its value during the weekend. > It managed to recover marginally from this low. Other cryptocurrencies such as Solanas SOL, Polygons MATIC, and Avalanches AVAX also saw substantial losses, recording a decrease in double-digit percentages. > Bitcoin, which is the behemoth of the cryptocurrency world, did not remain untouched. It experienced a 3% reduction in value. Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, was not spared either. It dropped by 5.6%, reaching its lowest point since the end of March. > The weekend's sharp decline in the cryptocurrency market has been linked to intensifying actions by the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the sector, which have been escalating in recent days. > This regulatory clampdown has been a major cause for concern among investors.[/body][/content] The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 12 eased norms for Indian airlines to operate flights to a new international destination, at a time when local carriers IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and Akasa Air are looking to expand their international footprint. In a statement, DGCA mentioned that they conduct an assessment of the preparedness of Indian airline operators before permitting their operations to a new foreign destination. The checklist for assessing a new destination has been pruned from 33 points to just 10 in a bid to make it easier for them to spread their network to hitherto unserved places. This systemic reform comes at a time when the Indian carriers are poised to expand their international footprint," the DGCA said in a notification. ALSO READ: Airbus to offer DGCA-approved drone pilot training courses in India Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, and Akasa Air are all looking to expand their international operations. IndiGo is looking to start direct flights to six new destinations in Africa and Central Asia in August, while Air India is looking to increase flights to Europe, West Asia, and the US. Similarly, Akasa Air is also looking to start international operations in December 2023. 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 Maharashtra Seamless surged over 5 percent in the morning trade to hit a 52-week high of Rs 498 on June 12 after the DP Jindal group company said it was debt free, as it prepaid loans of Rs 234 crore. The company funded the payment from its internal accruals, given its high order book and strong liquidity position, Maharashtra Seamless said in an exchange filing. This is the second time in eight months that the company prepaid long-term loans. At 10.52 am, shares of Maharashtra Seamless were trading 1.5 percent higher at Rs 480 on the National Stock Exchange. Volumes were also high, as six lakh shares changed hands on the exchanges against the one-month daily traded average of five lakh shares. Follow our live blog for all the market action The company ended FY23 with a bang, posting its highest-ever revenue, net profit as well dispatches. On an annual basis, revenue grew 42 percent from the previous year and the net profit 12 percent. In Q4, revenue shot up 16 percent on year, while net profit surged 172 percent. The company's order book grew to Rs 2,063 crore. "We expect margins to remain steady based on current trend of seamless pipes prices. This is because our order book is supported by back-to-back booking of raw materials, leading to locking-in of margins and negating the impact of fluctuating raw material prices," the management said during the earnings call. 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. 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 In just two sessions when India Energy Exchange (IEX) faced the onslaught from bears, active mutual fund scheme were left with a paper loss of Rs 342 crore as the value of their holdings dropped sharply. The shares were hammered after after the government came out with a directive to speed up the consultation process and finalise the implementation of market coupling. This will be a big negative for IEX, said analysts. As of April-end, for which the data is available, mutual funds held Rs 1,948 crore worth of IEX shares as of June 7, whose value came down to Rs 1,606 crore as of June 9 after the stocks fell 8 percent and 10 percent in two days, respectively. The biggest loser seems to be Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, which held the stock in eight of its schemes, losing Rs 176 crore worth of value half of the value lost by the all mutual funds. This was followed by a loss of Rs 118 crore for Parag Parikh Mutual Fund. Both these asset managers lost about Rs 300 crore. PGIM Mutual Fund, losing Rs 23 crore in two days, completed the top three. Please note that this data does not include any buying or selling that mutual fund companies may have done in June. It is also not clear if any mutual fund managers have offloaded any stake in IEX in the last two days. We could not immediately reach these mutual fund managers. IEX is one of the three and largest energy exchange in India providing a nationwide, automated trading platform for physical delivery of electricity, renewable energy certificates and energy saving certificates. The exchange helps in price discovery of electricity, and acts as price determiner. The introduction of a full-fledged market coupler implies an independent third-party will collate all buy or sell bids and derive a uniform market price across all exchanges. Thus, it will take away the moat of IEX, which is determing the price of power, said Subhadip Mitra, an analyst with Nuvama. With rices uniform across exchange, HPX and PXIL the other two exchanges will likely grab market share from the leader. Management view IEX has already lost a chunk of the market pie with the share down to 89-90 percent last year from 94-95 percent earlier thanks to the incentives provided by competitor exchanges. Also read: IEX investors have reason to worry even without market coupling The IEX company management told CNBC TV-18 that it fails to understand why different exchanges within India needed to be coupled and the interpretation of market coupling is also not accurate. There is still time for implementation. Power market regulation insists that price discovery will happen at power exchange only. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) will do stakeholder consultation, and the process will be long drawn. It has to decide if they want to proceed with implementation. CERC will issue a consultation paper and give our comments, they said. As of 11.30 am, IEX shares traded at Rs 124.75, up 1.75 percent. Riding on the buoyant outlook for the healthcare sector, leading life insurance firms tanked up on stakes in the sector stocks including Mankind Pharma, Rainbow Children's Medicare and Star Health in May. Healthcare stocks were popular choices for inclusion in the portfolios of insurance houses, not only through stake increases but also as fresh entrants. All verticals of the vast sector that encompasses pharma, hospitals and diagnostics are on the cusp of a strong growth turnaround, according to experts. The five life insurance firms ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Kotak Life Insurance, Tata AIA Life Insurance, HDFC Life Insurance and SBI Life Insurance added at least one healthcare stock to their portfolios in May, as per Nuvama Research's Insurance Portfolio Analyser. A bit of healthcare for everyone With sentiment for healthcare-related stocks on the rise, insurance houses took notice of the opportunities. While easing headwinds and strong domestic market growth are aiding pharma companies, capacity, network and product expansion are expected to do wonders for hospitals and diagnostics majors. On top of that, the reasonable valuations of the segment in a market that is struggling with expensive pricing are a bonus. Recently, in an interaction with CNBC-TV18, S Naren, Chief Investment Officer of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company expressed interest in the pharmaceutical sector, saying it offered a rare opportunity as it was on the verge of recovering from the bottom of the cycle. Laurus Labs, a drug maker and Star Health & Allied Insurance Co, a direct beneficiary of the growing healthcare sector, were two of the three new entrants in ICICI Prudential's portfolio. According to Nuvama's report, SBI Life Insurance added Mankind Pharma to its portfolio while HDFC Life raised its stake in Rainbow Children's Medicare for Rs 156 crore and raised its stake in Max Healthcare. Tata AIA Life Insurance added Alembic Pharma to its portfolio. According to the report, Kotak Life Insurance raised its stake in Mankind Pharma for Rs 81 crore while reducing its holding in Apollo Hospitals by Rs 65 crore. Poly Medicure was a new entrant to Kotak Life Insurance's portfolio in May. Life insurers deploy the premium collected from policyholders in different investments for returns. Sector allocation tops weightage in Nifty 100 Given the positive tailwinds for the sector, life insurers have assigned higher weightage to pharma and healthcare as against the sectors weightage in the Nifty 100 index. While pharma and healthcare have a weightage of 3.4 percent in the Nifty 100, four of the five leading life insurance houses have allocated a higher percentage of their holdings to the sector, according to the report. Apart from ICICI Prudential, which has 3.3 percent of its investments allocated to pharma and healthcare, three other insurance houses have gone heavy on the sector. Also Read: Riches to rags: How the pharma growth story faltered over the decade? As per the Nuvama report, the pharma and healthcare holdings of SBI Life stand at 4.3 percent, HDFC Life at 6.4 percent, Tata AIA at 5.2 percent and Kotak Life at 5.1 percent of their total allocations. After being on the sidelines of investor interest over the past several years, the influx of institutional money coming to the sector is seen as a blessing by industry experts. Hospital stocks in the small-cap segment are also seen as a clear favourite within the sector. Narayana Hrudayalaya and Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) are a part of the top ten small-cap holdings of the five insurance houses. Investments in Narayana Hrudayalaya worth Rs 376 crore form 0.3 percent of the total assets under management of the five leading life insurers while KIMS enjoys holdings worth Rs 218 crore or 0.1 percent of their total AUM, Nuvama's report reveals. These five houses make up over 75 percent of life insurance AUMs in India. 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. Lenders to the cash-strapped Go First airlines are open to providing new loans to the airline in order to revive its operations once a clear resolution plan is in place, people aware of the development said. Moneycontrol on June 1 exclusively reported that Go First had approached its lenders for fresh loans of up to Rs 225 crore. After the appointment of a new resolution professional (RP) last week, the lenders are waiting for a resolution plan after which they may lend fresh loans to Go First airline, people quoted above said. Also read: MC Exclusive: Wadia Group approaches lenders for funds to restart Go First operations The committee or creditors (CoC) appointed a new RP. We want to revive the company and now with the appointment of a new RP, we are looking at a faster resolution plan," said a person aware of the development. On June 9, the CoC appointed Shailendra Ajmera, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services at Ernst & Young (EY) as the RP in the airline's insolvency case. Ajmeras selection is pending with the National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT) approval. GoFirst owes Rs 6,521 crore to lenders, including Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Deutsche Bank and IDBI Bank, according to the airlines filing. Central Bank of India had the highest exposure of Rs 1,987 crore, followed by Bank of Baroda at Rs 1,430 crore, Deutsche Bank at Rs 1,320 crore and IDBI Bank at Rs 58 crore, Acuite Ratings and Research said in a January 19 report. Moneycontrol earlier reported that lenders to the airlines have adopted a wait-and-watch approach before deciding to provide the airline with additional funds. Insolvency process On May 2, the Wadia group-owned airline requested voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings as well as an interim moratorium on financial obligations due to liabilities of Rs 11,463 crore. The airline filed for voluntary insolvency in the NCLT in New Delhi on May 10 under Section 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Section 10 of the IBC deals with the initiation of the corporate insolvency resolution process by corporate applicants that have defaulted on loans. The NCLT admitted Go Firsts petition, granting it bankruptcy protection and disallowing lessors from repossessing the carriers aircraft. Also read: Go First CoC appoints Shailendra Ajmera as resolution professional: Report The low-cost carrier had said its financial crisis was sparked by "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines that grounded about half its 54 Airbus A320neos. The US engine maker, a part of Raytheon Technologies, has called the claims without evidence. In its application, Go First blamed Pratt & Whitney saying it had refused to comply with an award issued by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) in favour of the airline. The aircraft lessors challenged the NCLTs order at the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on the ground that they were not given an opportunity to put forth their case at the NCLT and also alleged that the airline was trying to hold on to assets that it did not own. According to the lessors, the leases with the airline were terminated days before the NCLT order on May 10. They argued at the tribunal that the moratorium should therefore not apply to them. However, on May 22, the NCLAT upheld the order of the NCLT and directed the lessors to move an appropriate application at the NCLT regarding the status of their aircraft. Also read: MC explains: One month on, what is the status of Go First insolvency case? The appellate tribunal also granted liberty to the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to move an application at the NCLT with respect to the claims of both parties relating to the aircraft in question. While the lessors have not challenged this order at the Supreme Court as yet, Go First has filed a caveat in anticipation of the appeal. On June 9, the airline further extended the suspension of its flight operations till June 14 even as it expressed hope that it would soon be able to resume bookings. The cash-starved airlines had previously suspended operations until June 12. #1. Derivatives trading smashes record as retail investors flock to options despite warnings Options volumes of the Nifty and Bank Nifty hit a record 5.65 billion contracts in May as Bank Nifty hit a new high and the Nifty traded near its record during the month. The jump in index options volumes drove total derivatives trading, including futures, to a record 5.75 billion contracts in May. Index options contributed 98 percent of derivatives volumes as individual investors bet heavily on these instruments. Why its important: Retail investors have flocked to options despite regulatory warnings. Such investments are risky as option values decay and sellers charge a fee to cushion likely losses. #2. Government to review production-linked incentives to smoothen teething problems The central government for the first time will hold a review and seek feedback to resolve teething issues that beneficiaries of the production-linked incentive scheme are facing. A meeting chaired by trade minister Piyush Goyal will be held on June 27 that will have participants from all 14 ministries involved in rolling out the incentives, along with key beneficiaries of the scheme. Why its important: The production-linked incentives to businesses aim to make India a manufacturing powerhouse. The scheme is facing implementation challenges that need to be smoothened. #3. Lenders to Go First airline replace key bankruptcy resolution professionals Lenders of bankrupt Go First are seeking to take full control of the airlines resolution process at the National Company Law Tribunal by replacing key bankruptcy-related officials appointed by the company. The committee of creditors has replaced the firm-appointed interim resolution professional, process advisor and legal agency to control the country's biggest voluntary bankruptcy-protection case since the bankruptcy code came into force. Why its important: The creditors were naturally apprehensive continuing with the professionals appointed by the bankrupt carrier as they would like to avoid any conflict of interest that might hurt their interests. #4. State-backed infrastructure financier to introduce takeout funding and ease exits The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development, Indias newest state-backed infrastructure financier, plans to introduce takeout financing products to help fund projects and allow timely exits for commercial lenders. Takeout financing helps extend loan repayment periods as new lenders take over or refinance project loans, facilitating the removal of the assets from the books of financing banks within a prefixed period to avoid asset-liability mismatches. Why its important: The infra financier does everything that a commercial bank does other than giving out long-tenure loans of up to 30 years. Innovative funding products will give it an extra edge for borrowers to avoid asset-liability mismatches. #5. Sekhmet, Nirma lead race to buy Glenmark Life Sciences that makes raw material for drugs Sekhmet Pharmaventures is competing with the Nirma Group to acquire Glenmark Life Sciences, an 82.85 percent subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals as promoter Glenn Saldanha looks to deleverage. Sekhmet is an active pharma ingredient platform backed by private equity groups PAG, CX Partners and Samara Capital. GLS is also an API developer and manufacturer. ChrysCapital, another homegrown fund, is also evaluating the opportunity. Bindings bids are expected by end of June. Why its important: India imports a third of its API requirements and is incentivizing businesses to reduce that dependence. The local market for the raw material that power medicines is expected to grow rapidly. #6. Insurance regulator wants all cover seekers to have unique digital ABHA IDs The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has directed insurers to create Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs, the 14-digit unique Id numbers to be issued to all Indian citizens, for both new insurance seekers and existing policyholders. The insurance regulator and the National Health Authority have been trying to hasten the creation of the IDs and have explored quicker claim processing by adopting the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission framework. Why its important: ABHA will enable citizens to authenticate, access, and manage health records digitally and facilitate hospital and doctor appointments, helping patients to avoid queues for registration. #7. BAM Digital Realty to establish second data center campus in Mumbai BAM Digital Realty, a joint venture of Digital Realty and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, will build a data center campus in Mumbai. Its second data center will come up on a 2.15-acre plot in Chandivali. The company may invest Rs 2,000-2,500 crore to create a campus designed for 35-40 MW of energy. Earlier this year, BAM announced its first facility in Chennai designed for a maximum capacity of 100 MW. Why its important: As digitisation gathers pace in India, companies are pouring in billions of dollars to set up data centers. About 5,000 MW of data center capacity is expected to be added in the next six years that requires investments of nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crore. #8. Value of smartphone exports doubles in 2022-23, now among top five items Smartphones made in India have catapulted into the league of five most exported commodities by value, based on their harmonized system codes in 2022-23, up from the ninth rank in the preceding financial year. Exports of smartphones nearly doubled, hitting Rs 88,726 crore in the year ended March 31, caasording to commerce ministry data analyzed by the Indian Cellular & Electronics Association of India. Why its important: Indias wants to replace Vietnam and become the second largest manufacturing exporter of mobile phones in the world after China. It has launched a production-linked incentive to achieve its target. #9. Multinationals woo talent from local software firms to man offshore units in India Global capability centers, or captives of large multinational firms, are expanding in India. They are chipping away at the market share and talent held by domestic IT services firms. Referred to as captives, these centers are offshore units of large multinationals that perform designated technology operations. IT service providers commanded some 65 percent of the market with the rest held by these captive centers. Why its important: The captive centers are increasingly capturing the outsourcing market, providing additional employment opportunities to professionals, and becoming a worry for local IT companies. #10. Government plans to launch app to show real-time availability of EV charging points The central government is planning a master app that will show real-time availability of electric vehicle charging slots nearby on a map. Niti Aayog, the governments think tank, held a stakeholder meeting on June 7 with companies operating public EV chargers to discuss the app as well as possible plans for a beta version in the next few weeks. The project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank and the app will be owned and operated by the Indian government. Why its important: The app would ease range anxiety and boost adoption of electric vehicles in India. Users can discover the nearest available charging station and book a slot in advance. The introduction of the proposed fee caps for mutual fund schemes may potentially drive the profits of asset management companies (AMCs) down 30 percent. Larger AMCs may face an even greater impact, with profits taking up to a 50 percent dent. Lower fees imposed on larger funds could discourage consolidation and merger and acquisition (M&A) activities within the sector. "Ceteris paribus, the impact on profit from change in equity-linked TER could be 30 percent of profit. This should rise as select debt funds that get higher TER than new caps (like credit funds, duration funds) are included and arbitrage funds slip into losses. The impact on profits is also divergent (1) Top-5 funds should see 50 percent fall in profit, (2) Next-5 a 17 percent fall, (3) Next-10 a 37 percent rise, (4) Next-10 a 28 percent fall and (5) others (below #30) a 25 percent rise," a Jefferies report said. According to recent calculations by Jefferies, proposed fee caps on equity-linked assets under management (AUMs) of mutual funds could result in a 30 basis point (bps) decrease in equity fees for large asset management companies (AMCs). Conversely, smaller AMCs with AUMs below $10 billion may experience an increase of approximately 10 bps. This divergence in fees, ranging from 60 to 100 bps, could potentially lead to a loss of market share for small AMCs, with larger ones benefiting. Sebi has recently proposed a uniform total expense ratio (TER) across mutual fund schemes, in an effort to bring greater transparency in the costs charged to unitholders. "The norms will have much higher impact on Top-5 MFs and enable 20 MFs to draw additional blended yields on equity-oriented AUMs. This reflects a large equity-oriented AUM-base of Top-5 players that have more than 50 percent share in the sector. We also believe that less than Rs1 trillion worth of arbitrage fund segment may need to be wound down as MF's will incur loss on them due to inability to recover transaction costs," the Jefferies report said. "We estimate a big divergence in impact as (1) Top-5 funds should see 30bps fall in TER, (2) Next-5 a 10bps fall, (3) Next-10 a 12bps rise, (4) Next-10 a 4bps fall and (5) others (below #30) a 11bps rise. While smaller MFs should gain higher TER, we believe that risk of disruption exists if larger MFs aggressively advertise their 60-100bps lower TERs to gain market share in AUMs to offset revenue impact," the Jefferies report added. Assets under management are already under pressure since the start of the year amid various factors such as the government's alterations in the tax structure for debt funds, increasing competition, and removal of long term indexation benefit. Year-to-date, Aditya Birla Asset fell 18 percent, HDFC AMC 11 percent, UTI AMC 17 percent, and Nippon Life fell 1.7 percent. The new proposed changes are part of Sebi's plan to improve transparency and pass the benefit of larger scale to investors. The market regulator has also sought to improve linkage of charges/ TER with fund-performance. Jefferies expects that the AMCs have the potential to mitigate the impact of fee caps by sharing the burden with various stakeholders in their value chain, including distributors, stock brokers, and RTA partners, among others. By distributing the impact across the value chain, AMCs can reduce the overall financial strain on themselves. In addition, adjusting fee caps for arbitrage funds, creating headroom for securities transaction tax (STT), and balancing total expense ratios (TERs) can also help lower the impact of the proposed fee caps. These measures aim to provide some flexibility and alleviate the financial pressures faced by AMCs, the report adds. Ola's founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal will kick off meeting with investors as it plans to take Ola Electric public. The Ola founder will travel to Singapore, United States and United Kingdom over the next two weeks to meeting investors, including BlackRock, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, and mutual funds such as T Rowe Price, Reuters had reported citing sources who declined to be named. Ola Electric could raise up to $1 billion via the IPO route likely by the end of this year or early 2024. Moneycontrol had earlier reported that Ola Electric has engaged investment banks Kotak Mahindra Capital and Goldman Sachs for an initial public offering (IPO) in early 2024. The electric mobility startup, which claims to be market leader in the electric two-wheeler space, aims to go public before the subsidies for electric vehicles end. No specific timelines have been finalised as yet but the target is to launch the IPO before the elections next year, the reported quoted a person privy with details. Aggarwal is likely to apprise investors of Ola Electric's plans and its growth prospects. Ola competes with names like TVS Motors, Ather Energy and Hero Electric in India's fast expanding EV scooter space. 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 Franklin Templeton India mutual fund will repay an amount of Rs 178.06 crore to investors of two of its wound-up debt schemes, starting June 14 across two of its schemes. The fund house announced that it will pay off Rs 39.27 crore to investors of Franklin India Short Term Income Plan (FISTIP). It will also pay 138.79 crore to investors of Franklin India Credit Risk Fund (FICRF). The fund announced that the payment will be made electronically to all eligible unitholders by SBI MF. After this payout, Franklin Templeton would have paid a cumulative amount to the tune of Rs 27109.34 crore. All the six schemes have paid more than 100 percent of the schemes' assets under management at the time of winding it up. While some of Franklin Templeton's exposures have defaulted on their debt obligations, several of its exposures continued to service the debt repayments and there were also securities that were sold at a profit. This has led to the cash distribution being over 100 percent. Additionally, after this week's payout, Franklin Templeton mutual fund pays off all the debts of- and extinguishes units in- five of six debt funds. Only one scheme- FISTIP- would remain. In April 2020, Franklin Templeton India Mutual Fund shocked investors when it abruptly wound up six debt funds. On April 23, 2020, the fund house announced that it was winding up the six debt schemes Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund (FIUBF), Franklin India Low Duration Fund (FILDF), Franklin India Short Term Income Plan (FISTIP), Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund (FIIOF), Franklin India Credit Risk Fund (FICRF) and Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund (FIDAF). While the fund house has paid off all its unit holders of almost all the schemes, it continues to pay off as it recovers money that is stuck in securities earlier marked down to zero. In his June 8, 2023, monetary policy meeting address, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das announced that the central bank is giving its go-ahead to banks for issuing RuPay forex cards. This, he said, will help expand the payment options for Indians travelling abroad. These forex cards will be the latest addition to the existing bouquet of RuPay debit cards, credit cards, and prepaid cards. Heres an FAQ on what RuPay cards are, and the answers. What is RuPay? The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) developed Rupay, a card payment network. NPCI was incorporated in 2008 to operate retail payment and settlement systems in India. It is backed by the RBI and the Indian Banks Association (IBA). RuPay was launched in March 2012 and has since been promoted by the government as Indias homegrown card network. Globally, Visa and Mastercard are the two most widely used card payment networks. Then there are others, such as American Express, Diners Club International (owned by Discover Financial Services), and JCB (formerly Japan Credit Bureau). In the same way, RuPay is Indias indigenously developed card payment network, but with much smaller acceptance globally. As with Visa and Mastercard cards, RuPay cards are not issued by RuPay itself but by banks. RuPays network helps the transaction go through. Today, you have RuPay debit cards, RuPay credit cards, and RuPay prepaid cards. Next in line are RuPay forex cards. Are RuPay cards widely used? According to RBI data, RuPay cards dominate the debit card segment in India. As of January-end 2022, there were over 651 million RuPay debit cards, accounting for a 65 percent share of the total debit cards issued. However, their share in the credit card segment was less than 3 percent. If we go by NPCI statistics, RuPay card transactions totalled Rs 2,446 billion in value in 2022-23. The number of transactions stood at 1,263 million in 2022-23. Their high share of debit cards has been aided by the bank accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMDJY). PMDJY is a financial inclusion scheme launched by the government in 2014 under which one can open a zero-balance basic savings bank account. PMDJY account holders are, by default, offered a RuPay debit card. However, in terms of the value of transactions, RuPay cards likely have a much lower market share, say experts. How to get a RuPay debit or credit card? More than 1,100 banks, including public sector banks (PSBs), private sector banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), and cooperative banks, offer RuPay cards, according to the RuPay website. Now, public and private sector banks offer Visa and Mastercard cards. So, which of these cards (debit or credit) is a bank likely to offer you? Sumanta Mandal, the founder of TechnoFino, a platform that reviews debit and credit cards, says, "Many public sector banks are issuing RuPay debit cards to their customers. In the case of private sector banks, you will have to request the bank for a RuPay card as this card is not offered by default." According to Kashif Ansari, Assistant Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University, its not so much a question of private versus public sector banks as the kind of bank account (premium versus basic) that determines what card a bank will offer you. "If you go for a premium savings bank account that requires a minimum average balance of, say, Rs 10 lakh, then even a public sector bank is unlikely to offer a RuPay card to you. However, there are public sector banks such as Bank of Baroda, for example, that tend to offer RuPay cards to most of their customers," adds Ansari. Should you go for a RuPay debit or credit card? The answer to that depends on what you are looking for. First of all, if you are interested mainly in reward points, then a credit card (and not a debit card) will be more useful. In this case, as Mandal points out, a Visa or Mastercard credit card is likely to offer you a better credit card rewards programme compared to a RuPay credit card. Note that, as with other credit cards, RuPay credit cards too come in different variants: Classic, Platinum, and Select. Ansari highlights one use case for RuPay credit cards for those living in Tier 2 and 3 cities and in Tier 1 (in the case of smaller merchants). "In places where merchants may not have a POS (point of sale) machine needed for card transactions, you can instead make payments via UPI linked to your RuPay credit card. "Select RuPay credit cards offered by banks such as Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, etc. can be linked to UPI, something thats not possible with any of the Visa or Mastercard credit cards," adds Ansari. As for debit cards, Mandal feels that the RuPay Select debit card can be a good choice as it offers some very good benefits at a reasonable cost (fees vary across banks). The benefits include complementary preventive health check-ups, spa services, etc., and more importantly, personal accident insurance and permanent disability cover of up to Rs 10 lakh. Other debit cards do not offer such benefits. When asked why one should go for a RuPay card (debit or credit), Ansari said that, while it may not make sense for someone with only one or two cards to opt for a RuPay card, it can be a useful option for someone holding multiple cards. This, according to him, is because of the cash-backs and other offers that RuPay cards offer. For example, under an ongoing offer (until August 15, 2023), RuPay JCB debit and credit cardholders will receive 40 percent cashback (subject to an upper limit) on purchases made at retail stores in the UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, and Spain. Also read: e-RUPI vouchers get a boost from RBI monetary policy What are the drawbacks of RuPay cards? The biggest drawback of RuPay cards is perhaps their lower acceptance ratio for transactions outside India. Unlike Visa and Mastercard cards, which are accepted worldwide, international payments via RuPay cards have a lower chance of being accepted. Mandal, however, points out that RuPays tie-ups with JCB Co. and Discover Financial Services have helped improve its acceptability internationally. Such tie-ups ensure that RuPay cards get accepted overseas at ATMs and POSs and for e-commerce transactions wherever JCB and Diners Club cards are accepted. As pointed out in an RBI report on Benchmarking Indias Payment Systems, dated July 2022, these co-branded cards are accepted in over 195 countries. The report further points out that NPCI has entered into arrangements with Bhutan and Singapore to accept RuPay cards without co-branding with other international card schemes. This is to boost the demand for RuPay cards among the residents of these countries. As the acceptability of RuPay cards for international transactions improves, their popularity and usage are also expected to get a leg up. Also read: American credit card users owe nearly $1 trillion: Heres how to avoid their mistakes After Elon Musk issued a warning that the commercial real estate market is melting down fast, Robert Kiyosaki, an American entrepreneur, businessman and author of Rich Dad Poor Dad a personal finance book about investing in different asset classes warned that the real estate market is on the verge of a crash that will be worse than the 2008 financial crisis. Should the Indian real estate market be worried? Real estate experts say that while the Indian real estate market has its own specific dynamics, the US does influence the uptake of Grade A commercial real estate in India and even the IT/ITeS jobs situation here, which has a direct bearing on residential sales in India. Last month, Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, had taken to Twitter, a platform he owns, to express alarm. "Commercial real estate is rapidly deteriorating. Next up: home values," he had tweeted. Musk also argued that the damage caused to real estate portfolios has been otherwise minor but can become a serious issue in the forthcoming months as customers cancel their leases, decline to renew them or go bankrupt. In addition, the billionaire also stated that the prices of houses were quite likely to decline given that some Americans were unable to afford to pay as much for homes due to higher mortgage costs. Also Read: US commercial real estate to be in meltdown, warns Elon Musk Kiyosaki has been quoted by the American media as saying that 2023 will see a worse economic downturn than the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2008, because of an imploding commercial real estate market. Greatest Real Estate crash ever. 2008 was the GFC. 2023 will make the 2008 GFC look like nothing. In 2019 Office Towers in San Francisco were hot. In 2023 same buildings have lost 70 percent of their value. What will cities do with office buildings? Homes for the homeless. Get [gold, silver, Bitcoin]. Currently, the Indian economy is stronger than most developed nations. Real estate markets vary significantly across regions, and national or global predictions do not reflect the situation in every market. The concerns raised by Elon Musk and Robert Kiyosaki are about the US property market and doubtlessly reflect the situation there, given the dynamics of demand and supply in the US market. The Indian real estate market has its own specific dynamics, said Prashant Thakur, Senior Director & Head, Research, at ANAROCK Group. The US does influence the uptake of Grade A commercial real estate in India, and the performance of its economy, which prompts monetary policies over there, does have a bearing on the Indian stock market and even the IT/ITeS jobs situation here. To that extent, what happens in the US can have some correlation to overall housing appetite in India, he said. India follows its own piper However, there is no other correlation. In terms of both housing and commercial office, both countries have their own individualistic property markets, with their own unique demand and supply dynamics. Oversupply in one country has no ripple effect on the supply of another country. The Indian market follows its own piper, he said. Housing developers here are carefully calibrating their supply, not only in terms of numbers but also configurations and quality. ANAROCK data indicates that Q1 2023-end saw housing inventory in India's top 7 cities reduced to 20 months from 42 months in 2018. This is the lowest inventory overhang in the last five years; in Q4 2020, it was the highest, at 55 months, across the top seven cities. Also Read: Gross office leasing activity across seven markets down by 8.7% q-o-q: JLL analysis According to Samantak Das, chief economist and head of research and REIS or Real Estate Intelligence Service, India, JLL, residential real estate is driven by domestic demand and supply and has an indirect relationship with the global economy because of the dependence on earnings of those employed in the IT and ITeS sectors. It should be noted that the contribution of the overall services sector is as high as 55 percent of the GDP. But that contribution is dependent on the volume of business from the US. In this respect, we may see some impact on overall volumes in residential sales. We may witness moderation in terms of sales growth if US challenges persist and there is a limited expansion in terms of employment in India. To that extent, the residential segment may get impacted. But having said that, domestic consumption for residential real estate remains strong, he said. As far as commercial leasing is concerned, there may be a further slowdown in this segment if the global headwinds persist. Overall, we are cautiously optimistic about the Indian real estate market. But if we were to compare the present situation with that of the 2008 economic meltdown, the situation is very different today. We also have enough experience to handle such shocks, said Das. Commercial segment may see some impact Experts agree that there may be a link between demand for residential and commercial in India and global headwinds. But residential demand is largely domestic. The rate pause may lead to a further boost in residential sales. It is the commercial real estate segment where the office occupier profile is largely IT/ITeS, with clients based in the Western markets. If these clients cut down on their budgets and reduce their space, there will be some impact, said Vivek Rathi, Director of Research, Knight Frank India. Having said that, the Indian office market continues to perform better. This can be gauged by the fact that REITS in the US had their worst year in 2022, with values going down by almost half; in India, REIT values have been largely steady and annuity income or yield continues to be around 6-7 percent per annum. Also Read: Operational office stock offers REIT-worthy assets valued at over $61 billion for future listing That has been a comforting factor. Most organisations have also adopted a work-from-office or hybrid arrangement; some have increased their flex space take-up to maintain agility in their portfolio, giving them an opportunity to scale up or down, depending on the business, he said. Bengaluru-based real estate developer Shriram Properties Ltd (SPL) plans to develop 5.4 million square feet (msf) with an estimated sales value of Rs 2,800 crore in FY23-24. SPL is looking at pre-selling 4.8 msf for about Rs 2,330. This investment will see about 11 launches across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, including three stuck assets in Bengaluru, SPL Managing Director M Murali told Moneycontrol. "The guidance we provided last year was a presales volume of 4.25 to 4.5 msf in FY 22-23, and we achieved 4.02 msf. For the current year we have set a confident target of 4.8 msf," he added. In FY22-23, SPL's profit after tax (PAT) jumped from Rs 18 crore (in FY21-22) to Rs 68 crore. The company is planning to increase its construction spend from Rs 500 crore (in FY21-22) to Rs 753 crore in FY23-24. This fiscal, close to 67 percent of the projects will be developed jointly (along with other developers/landowners). Projects breakup The first two launches will take place in Bengaluru in Q1. Bengaluru comprised about 62 percent of SPLs launches last year, while Chennai comprised 22 percent, and Kolkata 16 percent. About four projects with a development potential of 2.9 msf will be launched in Chennai, while six projects with a development potential of 1.6 msf will be launched in Bengaluru, and another project will be launched in Kolkata. While the company is looking at north, south and east Bengaluru, in Chennai the new launches will be in the southern, south-eastern, and western parts of the city. In Kolkata, SPL is only looking at Uttarpara towards the north of the city. "The average rate will be about Rs 6,000 per square foot for 1,200-1,300 sq ft apartments. About 57 percent of the launches will be in the mid-market segment, 21 percent in plotted development, 8 percent in the luxury segment, and the rest in the affordable range," Murali said. The company also plans to foray into Pune for residential launches by the end of this financial year. In Bengaluru, the construction of a villament project is currently underway in Sarjapura. With a development potential of 6 lakh sq ft, phase 1 of the project will be completed by March 2024, and each unit will be priced at Rs 1.6-1.7 crore. Delayed projects In October last year, Shriram Properties and ASK Property Fund agreed to establish an investment platform for the acquisition of residential real estate projects, especially stuck real estate assets. "We have already deployed Rs 125 crore to acquire stressed assets and we intend to deploy another Rs 190 crore to acquire more stuck assets (in Bengaluru) within the next few months, said Mr Murali. Union minister for electronics and information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said OpenAI chief Sam Altman is not the last word on Indias artificial intelligence aspirations and there will be many areas where he will not agree with the founder of the immensely popular ChatGPT chatbot. A controversy erupted after Altman said during an event in Delhi that it would very hard for a small startup to develop foundational artificial intelligence (AI) models. Sam Altman is a bright man who certainly has done a lot of work in OpenAI. And he has to be respected for his work. But we should not consider him anything other than an important man in AI. He's certainly not going to be the last word on what India's aspirations for AI are going to be. He certainly doesn't have an understanding of India's capabilities in AI, Chandrasekhar Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview last week. We will take Sam Altman's comments with the respect that it deserves. But to assume that everything he says or does is exactly what Indian startups are going to do is to miss the point. I think there are many areas that Sam Altman and I are never going to agree on, the minister said. During the event, Altman was asked whether an Indian startup with $10 million in funding and a few engineers could build a foundational large language model (LLM) in AI. The OpenAI founder said that the chances were hopeless. In response, Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani tweeted, OpenAI founder Sam Altman said its pretty hopeless for Indian companies to try and compete with them. Dear @sama, From one CEO to another..CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. This stoked a controversy as Indian techies took Altmans comment as an affront to their capabilities. However, the OpenAI chief later clarified that his response was quoted out of context. "This is really taken out of context! 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," he tweeted over the weekend. "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." The minister told Moneycontrol the government was keen on supporting the development of AI capability by Indian startups and the broader tech ecosystem in the country and this might mean partnering with OpenAI itself. Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, which runs IndiGo, the countrys largest airline by market share, are up over 30 percent from March lows, and analysts believe they can gain even more altitude. According to Bloomberg, the stock has 21 buy, 3 hold and 2 sell calls on it with target prices pegged as high as Rs 2,700 while its current market price is Rs 2,415. The optimism comes against the backdrop of periodic selling of shares held by promoter Rakesh Gangwal and his family, with another 5-8 percent offloading likely on July 15. The Gangwal family has been steadily reducing stake ever since rift erupted between the co-founders - Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia. A better outlook on jet fuel prices, healthy traffic and robust prospects for international air travel are some factors that have analysts upbeat. Mutual funds have also been raising stake - from holding 6.23 percent stake in December 2022 to 8.58 percent by May 2023. As per data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo's market share grew from 56.8 percent in March to 57.5 percent in April, while those of SpiceJet and Go First declined from 6.4 percent and 6.9 percent in March to 5.8 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively, in April. Go First's loss is IndiGo's gains On May 2, Go First filed for voluntary bankruptcy with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and blamed the situation on Pratt & Whitney for supplying faulty engines. Since then, IndiGo shares have rallied 10 percent. A likely duopolistic industry structure dominated by IndiGo and Air India bodes well for the stock, according to Nuvama Institutional Equities. The market disruption caused by Go Air's shutdown could benefit airfares, especially amid the recent strong traffic trends, said analysts. Also Read: Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Will GoAirs manoeuvre end in a safe landing? In FY23, domestic passenger traffic was around 13.60 crore, over 60 percent higher year-on-year (on a low base), and only short by around 4 percent compared to pre-Covid levels of 14.15 crore in FY20. In the capacity-constrained but demand-overshoot environment, analysts at CLSA believe IndiGo will have stronger yields as well as increasing leverage with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of engines and planes. Higher yields IndiGo's yields, a metric for profitability, rose 10.2 percent year-on-year to Rs 4.85 per kilometre in the March quarter. Yields are expected to be even higher in Q1FY24 driven by increase in capacities and gradual replacement of ceos (current engine option) with the neo or new engine option family which is about 20 percent more fuel efficient, according to Nuvama Institutional Equities. A fleet size of 350 in FY24 will help yields further, it added. The brokerage has pegged yields at Rs 5.30 per kilometre in FY24. International expansion IndiGo recently announced it is adding six international destinations starting July, which is another key trigger, as per analysts. The airline will launch flights to Nairobi and Jakarta from Mumbai in late July or early August. It will also connect Delhi to Tbilisi and Almaty with thrice-a-week flights and Tashkent and Baku with four times-a-week flights from August. "With Central Asia and former Soviet countries, this takes the airline towards a blue ocean strategy. IndiGo is known to stimulate the market after its entry, by a mix of low cost, disciplined operations and network effect," according to aviation analyst Ameya Joshi. Near-term uncertainties ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices fell 7 percent sequentially in Q4FY23 as crude oil prices declined. This helped IndiGo post a quarterly profit of Rs 919 crore against a net loss of Rs 1,680 crore in the year-ago period. But last week, Saudi Arabia decided to cut crude production by 1 million barrels per day from July, which has kept crude prices firm. High fuel costs and foreign exchange volatility dragged the company to losses in two of the last four quarters. Hence, analysts are keenly monitoring the crude price trajectory. Also Read: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers elected as next chief of IATA's board of governors On technical levels, too, the stock does not show a lot of promise. "If the stock can maintain its position above Rs 2,280-2,260, it is expected to advance to the Rs 2,450-2,500 range," according to Viraj Vyas, technical and derivatives analyst at financial service company Ashika Group. According to Milan Vaishnav of Gemstone Equity Research, "The levels of Rs 2,485 is the intermediate top; the stock is expected to consolidate and retrace with further rallies coming in only above Rs 2,485-2,500 levels." "Investors can book partial profits at current levels and trail their stop-loss to Rs 2,300, below which they must exit all positions. Re-entry can be done only above Rs 2,500," he added. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. 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 Shares of PI Industries gained after the chemicals manufacturer's exports jumped 43 percent to Rs 6.45 crore in May 2023, compared with Rs 4.52 crore in the same month last year. Exports have surged to Rs 11 crore so far, up 16 percent in Q1FY24 compared with Q4FY23. Japan's Kumiai, PI Industries' largest customer, reported a 23.2 percent YoY growth in agrochemical revenue for Nov 2022-April 2023 fuelled by strong Pyroxasulfone sales, both of which are positive for PI Industries, said brokerage firm Equirus. PI Industries manufactures agrochemicals such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. It also offers R&D, custom synthesis and distribution services. Follow our live blog for all the market news here At 1:46 pm, PI Industries was trading at Rs 3,741 per share, up 3.3 percent from the previous day's close on the NSE. Its competitor, SRF, nosedived after its exports shrunk 19 percent to Rs 5.1 crore in May 2023 compared with Rs 6.3 crore in May 2022. Exports have slumped to Rs 10.7 crore so far, down 15 percent in Q1FY24 compared with Q4FY23. SRF is a multi-business chemicals conglomerate and its portfolio covers fluorochemical, speciality chemicals, packaging films, textile films, coated, and laminated fabrics. At 1:46 pm, SRF was trading at Rs 2,343 a share, down 3.6 percent from the previous day's close on the NSE. The presence of Chinese chemicals in the market has caused a fall in the chemical prices in the market, analysts tracking the sector said. Given the headwinds, the outlook for the upcoming quarters looks weak. A fall in demand is expected to linger on through most of H1FY24. 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. 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 UBS Group AG has picked Credit Suisse Group AGs India head for the last 17 years to helm the combined businesses of the Swiss lenders in the country as their merger formally closed. Mihir Doshi, managing director and country chief executive of Credit Suisse since 2006, will take over as the head of the combined business from July 1, a spokesperson for the lender said on Monday. Doshis appointment would signal continuity and assuage concerns among Credit Suisse employees in the country regarding changes that are likely to be made post-takeover, including redundancies. The biggest merger in banking since the 2008 financial crisis, which created a global wealth-management titan, was concluded on Monday, almost three months after the Swiss government brokered the deal. Matthais Schacke, the UBS country head and chief digital & information officer, will lead the group operations and technology office of the combined entity in India, the spokesperson said. UBS will retain Credit Suisses global banking and markets businesses in the country, according to a person, who declined to be identified. All Credit Suisse executives in India have been retained in the new structure, the person said. The UBS spokesperson declined to comment on business plans and redundancies. 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 India completed the data collection for the exhaustive survey of the Andaman offshore area last week and is moving closer to beginning exploration activities in the region after the government opened up the once "no-go" areas for exploration, officials in the know told Moneycontrol. The survey of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), backed by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), has acquired over 22,000 line kilometres (LKM) of two-dimensional (2D) data in the region. The government of India has taken several measures to support exploration in the Andamans, such as opening up acreages and encouraging foreign players to invest in the area, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, told Moneycontrol on the sidelines of an event recently. "We had to make changes. Most of our sedimentary basins were not open for exploration because somewhere Coast Guard had a problem, somewhere DRDO had a problem. We have opened up that space now," said Puri. ALSO READ: Govt taking strenuous steps to scale up oil exploration, production: Oil Minister Puri The government plans to fund the drilling of a few exploratory wells in the region. Separately, two state run-companies, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL), have completed surveys and initiated exploratory activities for their blocks in the region. Sushma Rawat, Director (Exploration), ONGC, told Moneycontrol that the 2D data collection for the DGH-backed survey of the EEZ was completed last week and the data will be processed soon. "This is the first time it is being called island exploration; there have been phases of it over the years. Andaman is seeing a renewal of exploration activities, which is good," said Rawat. The DGH had earlier said that the new data along with the legacy data will be made available through the National Data Repository, which is being upgraded to cloud-based virtual data rooms so that investors can access it. Whats at stake? According to the DGH, Andamans is a Category II basin, which implies that the basin has sub-commercial discovery in place. The basin has an area of 225,918 square kilometres with 18,074 sq km shallow water area and 207,844 sq km deepwater area. "The Andaman basin has a total hydrocarbon in place of 72 MMTOE (metric million tonnes of oil equivalent), out of which 2 MMTOE have been discovered and this is now entirely sub-commercial in place. The remaining 70 MMTOE, nearly 97 percent of the total in place is the potential to be explored and discovered," DGH said in its India Hydrocarbon Outlook 2022-23. In terms of awarded acreage that is now active in the Andamans basin, 23,245 sq km are under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). DGH said in the report that in the upcoming Offshore Mega Open Acreage Licensing (OALP) Round IX, there is an opportunity for 53,099 sq km prospective areas in back-arc regions that are carved into four blocks, all located in ultra deepwater. ONGC in Andaman ONGC has completed the survey for the two blocks it has in the Andamans from the sixth round of OALP. "We are in the process of finalising the location for the minimum work programme. We will be taking up drilling one well in each block," Rawat said. Rawat said that ONGC is keen to look at more blocks in the Andamans when they come up for bidding. "We are waiting for the ninth round to come up. DGH has earmarked the offshore blocks. As of now, ONGC has two blocks in the Andamans offshore deepwater from the OALP sixth round," she said. OIL in Andaman The basins in Andaman are expected to be sitting on large reserves of hydrocarbons. India is pushing for oil and gas exploration activities in the Andaman basin as the government focuses on domestic production for energy security. Similarly, OIL said it submitted the survey involving the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of 22,500 LKM of 2D broadband seismic data in the Andaman-Nicobar basin to DGH on March 31, 2023. Manas Kumar Sharma, Director (Exploration and Development), OIL, told Moneycontrol that talks are ongoing with foreign companies for exploration activities in the Andamans. He said OIL has not yet started drilling in the Andamans and the company is mobilising the services for commencement of drilling. OIL has identified three potential drilling locations in the Andaman-Nicobar basin blocks, the company said. "The final decision regarding bidding on these blocks has not yet been taken. We are evaluating the prospectivity of the offered blocks, and necessary due diligence is ongoing," Sharma commented with regard to OALP Round IX. Who else is interested? The basins in the Andamans are expected to contain large reserves of hydrocarbons. India is pushing for oil and gas exploration activities in the Andaman basin as the government focuses on domestic production for energy security, and this has attracted the attention of international players as well. While foreign players such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and TotalEnergies are understood to be keen on exploration in this area and have initiated talks with state-run companies for potential partnerships, the companies await clearances from the government. Queries sent to these companies remained unanswered. Exploration activities in the Andamans have been long delayed, awaiting clearances from DRDO, space agencies, the Coast Guard, and other agencies. Minister Puri said, "You need to make data available, and you need a change in the mindset. Earlier, people would not come for exploration. Now, we are incentivising exploration. You don't even need to spend your own money. If you have the expertise, we are willing to incentivise it." Puri said global oil giants that are in exploration have tied up with Indian entities, and all of them are at different stages. At some places, resources have been allocated, and they are at fairly advanced stages, he added. The article, Fewer flights, higher fares: Should DGCA make airlines fly more? (Moneycontrol May 30, 2023) triggered a series of news stories in print media and debates on TV news channels highlighting the ordeal of passengers who had or were being forced to pay exorbitant fares for air travel. The consequent public outrage prompted Union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia to convene a meeting of airlines representatives to take stock of the situation. Describing the fares as abnormal, Scindia asked airlines to self-monitor the spot fares, which had for economy class travel touched Rs 30,000-40,000 or even more, for certain sectors on certain days, as against the usual fare band of Rs 5,000-8,000. A significant contributing factor airlines not operating the number of flights that they themselves had offered to fly daily for getting DGCAs approval for summer schedule wasnt acted upon for remedial action. A solution to the issue of high air fares has thus remained largely elusive though spot fares have undoubtedly declined marginally, which can be described as a temporary phenomenon. The demand has also cooled down as many prospective travellers have stopped looking at travel options in the current period due to unaffordable fares. Huge Daily Flight Deficit In April, ten domestic airlines collectively operated 20,494 flights per week or 2,927 flights per day as against the approved 22,915 weekly flights or 3,273 flights per day. Average daily deficit? 346 flights! This is no small number. Interestingly, in the pre-COVID months, airlines were operating over 3,000 flights daily and flying at least 25,000 less passengers. More passengers chasing fewer seats these days is thus a harsh reality. Let us also not forget that this data analysis is of April when Go First airline was still operating. It is an unfortunate aspect that while the civil aviation ministry and regulatory agency, the DGCA, recognise the impact of reduction in number of flights on air fares like in the case of Go Firsts unilateral action of suspending flights, the same officials arent inclined to understand that operating fewer flights than committed in summer schedule also amounts to reduced availability of flights and thereby having a distinct bearing on increase in air fares. Only if the aviation ministry officials recognise this reality can corrective action like forcing airlines to maintain adequate services as per approved flight schedules be initiated. What is the rationale of seeking DGCAs prior approval for flight schedules if the final decision to operate the number of flights is left to airlines convenience when demand exists and is on the rise? The correlation between compliance percentage number of flights actually operated against number approved by DGCA vis-a-vis load factor achieved by an airline is also clearly evident. Lower the compliance rate higher the load factor registered by an airline. SpiceJet, which operated only 1,194 of the approved 2,240 flights (53.31 percent), recorded a load factor of 91.57 percent the highest amongst all airlines. On the contrary, Akasa airline, which operated 755 as against 751 approved flights (103.21 percent) had a load factor of 86.53 percent the lowest in the industry. Grounded Aircraft Theory Debunked The lack of understanding among aviation experts invited on TV debates or quoted in print media was also evident. Many of the experts reasoned the operation of fewer flights by some airlines due to grounded aircraft not being available for flying. This wasnt a factually correct assessment as any industry person, who has worked for an airline, will aver. Airlines factor in availability of aircraft and operating crew, maintenance time needed for servicing aircraft, etc, before submitting their flight schedules to DGCA for approval. What has grounded aircraft (some of them grounded even two years ago) then got to do with the operation of fewer flights? One simply cant give credence to this thought process. If any proof was indeed needed to debunk this theory the performance of Indigo airlines provides the clinching proof. Most people in the industry are privy to information that due to engine related issues Indigo has about 30 aircraft on ground. Did this impact Indigos compliance? No. Indigo operated 11,375 out of the approved 11,465 flights (99.22 percent), with a load factor of 87.46 percent, just above Akasa but less than all other airlines. While the above analysis is based on April 2023 performance data, which is in public domain, the ministry of civil aviation and DGCA will certainly be able to access and analyse the May 2023 data, before it is released for public consumption, to confirm the pattern. The exercise will come in handy for arriving at a logical conclusion that operating fewer than approved flights have a bearing on air fares; there is an incentive for airlines to operate fewer flights for attaining higher load factors (at extraordinarily high fares) - as established above; and that DGCA ought to be monitoring actual flight operations vis-a-vis approval granted, so that fares remain stable and affordable, and not see an astronomical surge like we witnessed in the past fortnight. Adequate seat capacity will always be the best bet for ensuring fare stability. Since airlines are in commercial business it is they who should be made to stretch their resources rather than a passenger, who often has no option but to pay high fares for travel at short notice, even when fares have in a way become unaffordable. Jitender Bhargava is former executive director of Air India and author of The Descent of Air India. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. The war in Ukraine has entered another crucial phase. There are reports indicating that finally Ukraine has started its much talked about counteroffensive. The Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the offensive and claimed that Ukrainian military has suffered far heavier casualties than the classic three-to-one ratio often expected during an offensive. Now Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also confirmed that counteroffensive actions are underway. Many western reports indicate that Ukrainian forces faced stiff resistance and suffered losses. Despite saying that the counteroffensive attempts that have been made so far failed, President Putin has not downplayed the challenge and acknowledged that the offensive potential of Kiev's regime is still there. No Decisive Gains Since June 4, Ukraine has conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four sectors (Bakhmut, Luhansk Oblast near Bilohorivka, Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border and western Zaporizhzhia Oblast) with different outcomes. So far, Ukrainian frontal attacks against well prepared Russian defensive positions have not been very successful. Some reports show damaged Ukrainian military equipment provided by the West. But things may change as this is just the beginning of the counteroffensive. In the meanwhile, Russian missile and drone strikes on many Ukrainian cities continue. Moscow will also start deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in July 2023. The United States says that Iran is also helping Russia in building a drone factory near Moscow for the Ukraine war. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Iran to stop supplying drones to Moscow as they create serious security and humanitarian consequences. Earlier, thousands of people were evacuated when the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam on Dnipro River in Kherson region was damaged. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the damage. The dam provided cooling water to Europes largest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia. It is also one of the main sources of water to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Facing flooding threats, the last operating reactor of the Zaporizhzhia plant has also been shut down. Five of the six reactors were already under cold shutdown. Wests Commitment To Ukraine After fifteen months, it is becoming clear that a decisive victory by either side is unlikely. Limited gains by either side will also not change the broader geopolitical scenario. However, apart from immediate military support to Ukraine, the Western endgame is not very clear. Through counteroffensive, no one expects that Ukraine will achieve all its objectives, which means liberating all areas occupied by Russia. But if Ukraine struggles in this counteroffensive, it will impact Western strategy towards Ukraine. Although the west would like a strategic defeat of Russia, many in Europe may not like to commit themselves for a multi-year war support. They are now hoping for some Ukrainian military gains to destabilise Putins war calculations. So, results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive propped up by western military equipment, training and intelligence support could lead to some clarity about their endgame. Recently at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin mentioned that there is uncertainty in war but "our goal has been to provide them [Ukrainians] with the capability so that they have an opportunity to be successful". Despite all the military support to Ukraine, NATO membership is still out of question at the moment. The forthcoming NATO summit at Vilnius in July may discuss some security arrangements for Ukraine. Despite the membership rhetoric, however, most western leaders are likely to talk about arms deliveries and security assurances rather than security guarantees. Diplomacy Offers Hope Although it is too early to conclude anything, the counteroffensive may not radically change the existing stalemate. Still, results of the counteroffensive may allow some renewed diplomatic activities. The German chancellor Olaf Scholz has already indicated that he plans to talk to President Putin soon so that the conflict can be prevented from escalating. But he asserts that borders in Europe must not be moved by force and negotiations are possible only after withdrawals of Russian troops from Ukraine. To end the war, an African peace delegation consisting of diplomats from Uganda, South Africa, Congo, Senegal, Zambia and Egypt will be visiting Russia and Ukraine soon. Both China and India have supported this initiative. Despite not naming and condemning Russia, so far New Delhi has managed its ties with the US and European powers reasonably well. However, the Ukraine war has already overshadowed some key G20 meetings and may upset the main summit in September. Any diplomatic move towards resolving the Ukraine conflict in the coming weeks may help India in finding an acceptable language for the G20 summit communique. Gulshan Sachdeva is Professor at the Centre for European Studies and Coordinator, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Alexander Soros, son of billionaire investor George Soros, is all set to run Open Society Foundation. The 92-year-old billionaire investor had previously claimed he did not wish to hand over his Open Society Foundations (OSF) to any of his five children but has recently changed his mind. Addressing the hand over to Alexander, Soros said, Hes earned it. Alexander's plans The 37 year old founder of Bend the Arc Jewish Action stated that he was more political than his father. He also revealed his plans to continue to donate family money to left-leaning US political candidates, a report by the Wall Street Journal said. We are going to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad,Alexander said. Also Read: Billionaire George Soros hands control of empire to son Alex Education and Parentage Alexander has four siblings Andrea, Gregory, Robert, and Jonathan, and was raised in Katonah, New York. He is George's son from his second marriage with Susan Weber. Alexander is an alumnus of King Low Heywood Thomas in Stamford, Connecticut. Soros graduated from New York University in 2009. He also holds a PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley. Philanthropy Career The new OSF Chair's contribution to the Jewish Funds for Justice established him as a philanthropist. Later, he went on to donate a sum of $200,000 to the Jewish Council for Education and Research. He is also known for establishing the Alexander Soros Foundation in 2012, aimed at promoting social justice and human rights. Alexander has held the position of the deputy chair of OSF since 2017, according to the World Economic Forum website. He has also contributed to publications such as the New York Times, Reuters, The Guardian, the New York Daily News, and Politico. The State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday told the Calcutta High Court that it can extend the last date of filing nominations for panchayat polls in West Bengal by a day to June 16. After hearing petitions of opposition leaders for an extension of the date for filing nominations and deployment of central forces for the July 8 polls, the court had on June 9 observed that the time given for filing papers is prima facie inadequate. SEC counsel Jayanta Mitra, who submitted a report before the division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam on Monday, said the last date for filing nominations could be extended to June 16, stating that six days were given for the purpose on previous occasions too. The high court had directed the SEC to file a report in the form of an affidavit on the petitions by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari for extension of dates as also for deployment of central forces. Adhikari's counsel S Guru Krishnakumar told the court that the poll notification was issued within a day of the new commissioner taking charge, questioning what kind of consultation could have taken place with the state government on such short notice. He said the rules provide that the state government shall in consultation with the SEC decide the dates for the election. Submitting there are over 73,000 seats where elections are to be held, he said only four hours each day have been provided for such a huge exercise. Mitra told the court that over 10,000 nominations have so far been filed. The chief justice said the confidence of the electorate should not be shaken and they must be able to exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner and that the SEC has powers to ensure that. On a prayer by the petitioners for the deployment of central forces for the polls, the bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, asked whether the number of policemen in the state force was adequate. Hearing in the matter will continue in the afternoon session, the court said. The government on June 12 said that claims of data breach from the CoWIN portal are baseless and mischievous in nature. "CoWIN portal of the Health Ministry is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy. Furthermore, various security measures are in place on the CoWIN portal. Only OTP authentication-based access to data is provided. All steps have been taken and are being taken to ensure the security of the data in the CoWIN portal," said a press release. In a tweet, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the matter had been reviewed by nodal cybersecurity body CERT-IN. According to him, the data that was being accessed by the bot was from a threat actor database that was populated with previously breached/stolen data from the past. He maintained that it does not appear that the CoWIN app or database has been directly breached. Regarding claims of a Telegram BOT accessing users personal data, the government clarified that without OTP vaccinated beneficiaries data cannot be shared with any BOT. Only Year of Birth (YOB) is captured for adult vaccination but it seems that on media posts it has been claimed that BOT also BOT mentioned the date of Birth (DOB), the release said. There is no provision to capture the address of the beneficiary, it added. The development team of CoWIN has confirmed that there are no public APIs where data can be pulled without an OTP. In addition to the above, there are some APIs which have been shared with third parties such as ICMR for sharing data. It is reported that one such API has a feature of sharing the data by calling using just a mobile number of Aadhaar. However, even this API is very specific and the requests are only accepted from a trusted API which has been white-listed by the Co-WIN application, the release said. In addition, an internal exercise has been initiated to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. CERT-In in its initial report has pointed out that the backend database for the Telegram bot was not directly accessing the APIs of the CoWIN database. Earlier in the day, an official from MeiTY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), has confirmed the alleged breach of data on the CoWIN platform and told Moneycontrol that a team from the CERT-IN (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) has initiated an investigation into the matter. The bot in question, which was publishing this information has been disabled, an official said. S Gopalakrishnan, CEO of the National Health Authority refused to comment on a query from Moneycontrol in the matter. First reported by the Malayalam Manorama newspaper, which independently verified the leak, the personal information of every citizen, who used the app can be seen using a Telegram bot where you simply need to enter the phone number to see the details. Reportedly, the Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan was one of the victims, along with several prominent names such as CoWIN Chairman Ram Sewak Sharma, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi, journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt, and more. The Supreme Court on June 12 vacated the Delhi High Court's order that stayed the transport department's notice to stop bike taxis. The case was heard by a vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal. As a consequence of this order, bike taxis can no longer operate in Delhi. According to the apex court, since Delhi government is currently formulating a policy for granting licenses to taxi aggregators, the High Court's stay on the notification banning bike taxis in the capital, was not required at this point in time. Delhi Government also told the court that the policy is likely to be implemented by the end of July. The Supreme Court has also given the aggregators a liberty to request the Delhi High Court to hear their cases early. On May 26, the Delhi High Court had stayed the notice issued by the Delhi transport department to stop bike taxi services. The division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna also directed the transport department to not take any coercive steps against Rapido and Uber till a policy is framed. In February this year, the transport department issued a public notice to aggregators like Uber, Rapido, and Ola to stop operating their bike taxi services effective immediately. It has been brought to the notice that two-wheelers having non-transport (private) registration mark/numbers are being used to carry passengers on hire which is a purely commercial operation and a violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, the transport department said in the notice. 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the United States on a four-day trip and ahead of his visit, a New York-based has restaurant introduced a special thali dedicated to him. The restaurant is owned by an Indian-origin man named Shripad Kulkarni, who can be seen sharing the details of the thali- named "Modi ji thali"- that has items such as "khichdi", "rasgulla", "sarson ka saag" and "kashmiri dum aloo", among others. #WATCH | A New Jersey-based restaurant launches 'Modi Ji' Thali for PM Narendra Modi's upcoming State Visit to the US. Restaurant owner Shripad Kulkarni gives details on the Thali. pic.twitter.com/XpOEtx9EDg ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023 While the price is not yet known, Kulkarni said that the thali had already been tried by many at his restaurant and had become extremely popular with the Indian community. This is not the first time that a thali has been launched ahead of an occasion concerning PM Modi. Prior to his birthday in 2022, a restaurant in Delhi had introduced a thali which had 56 items and offered the customer the choice to opt for veg and non-veg food. PM Modi is visiting the United States from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden and will be hosted by them at a state dinner at the White House, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. This will be PM Modi's first state visit to Washington. Also read: Japan's ambassador shares video of wife gorging on spicy Indian food. PM Modi says, 'Keep it coming' 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 June 12, 2023 Ukraine SitRep: Destruction Of Its Third Army - Issues To Negotiate Another Ukrainian attack got bogged down in a minefield. bigger Losses: 3 Finnish Leopard 2R with mine clearing equipment 1 German Bergepanzer III recovery tank (based on the Leopard 2 chassis) with mine clearing equipment 2 German Leopard 2M6 2 U.S. M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles 1 U.S. MaxxPro armored transport vehicle 1 U.S. HMMWV armored transport vehicle 1 unidentified vehicle This follows other significant recent losses. The total replacement cost of the above vehicles at present value is about $60-70 million. During the spring and summer of 2022 the Russian forces destroyed the regular Ukrainian pre-war army. It was replaced with Soviet era material from east European states and Ukrainian draftees. By the beginning of this year that second army had also been destroyed. What we currently witness is the demilitarization of Ukraine's third army. As I detailed back in January: The stocks of two complete armies have by now been destroyed in Ukraine. The resources for a smaller third one will be delivered in the next rounds of 'western' equipment deliveries during the next months. Russia will dully destroy Ukraine's third army just as it has destroyed the first and second one. It is doubtful that the 'West' has enough material left to provide Ukraine with a fourth one. That then leaves only two options. Send in 'western' armies with the equipment they still have or declare victory and go home. I do not sense any appetite in the U.S. or Europe to send their soldiers into Ukraine. It is quite obvious that their fates would be no different from the Ukrainian ones. That leaves negotiations as the only option. There will be a lot of hesitation as the price Russia will ask for to stop the war will be high: For starters, will Russia insist on securing the rights to all territory east of the Dnieper River and on a special status for Odessa? I think so. Odessa would no longer be ruled by Ukraine. I also would expect Russia to demand (non-negotiable) the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of 42 Russian speaking Ukrainians in 2014 who sought refuge in the Trade Unions House. I also would expect that Russia will demand the dismantling of NATO Aegis missile systems in Poland and Romania and a ban on U.S. or NATO troops being posted in countries that share a border with Ukraine. In light of Russias stated goal of de-nazification I would not be surprised if Russia demands the laws of Ukraine be changed and that Nazi-affiliated parties and symbols be banned. I believe that Russia will want all historic Russian regions, at least those which Lenin and Khrushchev for whatever reasons gave to Ukraine, back under Russian control. Russia will also demand the lifting of all sanctions against it. The West is failing to grasp the reality that Russia believes it is winning the war in Ukraine and that it is not suffering economic or political damage at home. And, when you factor in the international arena, the war has proven to be a boon for Russias efforts to help create a new international financial/trade system that circumvents Washingtons control. In other words, Russia has little incentive to entertain negotiations that would require Russian concessions. It will still need some time for the 'western' public to move from swallowing 'Ukraine is wining' propaganda towards acknowledging reality. It unfortunately will also still take more Ukrainian and Russian losses. But I strongly believe, maybe too wishfully, that the end of the war is now coming into sight. Posted by b on June 12, 2023 at 14:47 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Drilling activity continued to slump across the board, though the decline appears to have slowed. Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said Friday its US rig count, which it has released weekly since 1944, dipped by one rig following last weeks 15-rig plunge to 695 rigs, the lowest level since April 2022. The count is 38 rigs below the 733 reported last June. The number of rigs drilling for oil rose one to 556, still down 24 rigs from the 580 seeking crude oil last year. The number of rigs drilling for natural gas fell two rigs to 135, the lowest number since March 2022. Texas recorded the steepest decline among producing states, falling six rigs to 347 nine fewer than the 356 rigs active across the state a year earlier. New Mexico added one rig for 108. Louisiana (1), Oklahoma (1), Utah (1) and Wyoming (2) joined Texas in seeing declines while Colorado (1) was the only other producing state to see an increase. The Permian Basin lost two rigs to see 346 rigs at work across the region, still one more than the 345 reported last year. Eddy County, New Mexico, remains the most active county in the Permian with 55 rigs, down one. Lea County, New Mexico, is close behind with 52 rigs, up two for the week. Martin County gained a rig to have 42 rigs while Reeves County fell one rig to 34 for the week. Midland County added two rigs to see 33 at work within county lines. Loving County had 25, down one. Ward County reported 18 rigs for a second week, Reagan County 14 rigs for a third consecutive week and Andrews County saw 13 rigs for a second week. Enverus Foundations, part of the energy-focused Software as a Service firm Enverus, said its US rig count reached as high as 750 during the week ended June 7, down by nine from the previous weeks peak. The count is down 4%, or 33 rigs, in the last month and down 9% year over year. Rig counts were a mixed bag in major plays. The Permian gained five rigs for a total of 336, and the Gulf Coast had a one-rig bump to 82. On the flip side, the Anadarko Basin fell by five rigs to 54, and the Appalachian Basin shed two for a total of 53. Both the DJ and Williston basins were flat at 16 and 37 rigs. Midland businesses continue to navigate concerns ranging from a lack of labor to a need for capital, among other concerns. But business owners are also looking ahead, and those visited by the Midland Development Corps Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator Sammi Steele said they want to see more distribution centers nearby. They told her Midland should take advantage of its centralized location and Midland International Airport to attract distribution centers, which would help make supplies more affordable. Distribution centers are something we are targeting, Sara Harris, MDC executive director, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Midlands central location and the planned extension of Interstate 14 and Interstate 27 will only emphasize that. James Beauchamp, president of the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance, told the Reporter-Telegram by email that a big part of the partnership between MOTRAN and MDC has been improving the areas transportation infrastructure both locally and by improving regional and national connections. Distribution centers add value to our community but tend not to be a huge impact on employment in tight labor markets like ours, so they are a good fit, he wrote. The near completion of North Loop 250 that was made possible with leveraging by MDC and the Texas Department of Transportation, a South Loop by Midland County and work underway to expand and improve Interstate 20 means we are making great strides in local mobility. Continued improvements, including the development of the La Entrada al Pacifico providing access to Mexican markets, access to the west and east coasts via direct connections on I-20 and close access to I-10, as well as, designations of I-14 providing access across the south and to the East Coast and I-27, providing improved access north-south, puts us literally in the middle of North American with great access to anywhere, Beauchamp wrote. That infrastructure is complemented by a great airport with capacity for freight and access to the heart of the Union Pacific East-West line from Long Beach to Dallas, he added. Pride Marianas and the CNMI Small Business Development Center hosted Care Fair at NMC's As Terlaje Campus on June 9, 2023. The Guam Judicial Center is seen Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Hagatna. The Judiciary of Guam is returning to normal operations. GTA employee Jesse Blas, left, assists Therese Naputi during the Manamko' Mobile Workshop at the Inalahan Senior Center on May 15, 2023. Journal-Courier VIRGINIA The Cass County Board is scheduled to meet in regular session at 7 p.m. today at 100 E. Springfield St. Among the items on the agenda are: Presidenta Dina Boluarte se reunio con los titulares del @BancoMundial, Ajay Banga, y del @el_BID , Ilan Goldfajn, con quienes se ratifico el compromiso de seguir trabajando en conjunto en el impulso de proyectos en salud, educacion, vivienda, transporte, y agua y saneamiento. pic.twitter.com/vPxB3zWoqC 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. President Joe Biden View Photo President Biden spoke at the Pride Celebration held over the weekend at the White House. Biden was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Hello, hello, hello. (Applause.) You know, I was a lucky guy kid. I had a dad and a mom who who understood that we meant what we said in our that sounds corny in our were the most unique nation in the world. Were the only nation that is founded on an idea not geography, not religion, and not ethnicity that all men and women are created equal, endowed by their Creator, et cetera. Ill never forget, I was going down to get an application, when I was in high school, to be a lifeguard in the city pool. And my dad was driving me down on his way to work going to drop me off. And Wilmington, Delaware, is the corporate capital of the world. It was anyway. And (laughter) but all kidding aside, theres a place called Rodney Square. And the DuPont Building was there. The Hercules building was there all these major corporations. And I was getting out of the car to go into the in the city hall. And there were these two well-dressed men standing on a corner. The light changed. They kissed each other and went in different directions. One went to the DuPont Building; one went to the Hercules building. And I had never seen that before. I looked at my dad. He looked back at me. He said, Its simple. They love each other. Its simple. (Applause.) And to me, its that simple. Its that straightforward. Scarlet, thank you for introducing me and the and for the hope and optimism you and your family represent for our entire country. And to all to all of you: Happy Pride Month. (Applause.) Happy Pride year. Happy Pride life. (Applause.) Were joined today by leaders across our administration, which has more proud staff at every level than any administration in American history. (Applause.) Our Secretary of tap- of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. (Applause.) And we have the first and second transgender Americans to the be confirmed by the United States Senate in history: Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Admiral Rachel Levine (applause) and Undersecretary of Defense Shawn Skelly. (Applause.) And, by the way by the way, I am proud that back home in Delaware the first transgender state legislator in American history, Sarah McBride. (Applause.) I also want to thank two people who couldnt be here but who made this possible: My dear friend Tim Gill and his husband Scott Miller (applause) who is doing a terrific job as my Ambassador to Switzerland. (Applause.) And its wonderful to welcome all of you to the and over a thousand Americans from all across the country. Were gathered here today to honor the extraordinary and Im not being solicitous the extraordinary courage and contributions of the LGBTQ community, to celebrate their legacy and their progress. And we welcome to the largest Pride Month celebration ever held at the White House. But just the beginning. (Applause.) Jill and I, Kamala and Doug, the entire administration are doing everything we can to advance equality for the LGBTQ community in our nation the entire nation. As Commander-in-Chief, I was proud to have ended the ban on transgester [sic] Americans transgender Americans serving in the United States military. (Applause.) I signed historic executive orders strengthening civil rights protections for Hes running from me; I dont know where he is going. (Laughter.) Do that again, man. Youre a sprinter. I can you can (laughter) I dont know if hes running to something or from something. I dont know. (Laughter.) But look, we provide we put protections for housing, employment, healthcare, education, and the justice system. Were combatting dangerous and cruel practices of conversion therapy. (Applause.) Were launching a new national strategy to end HIV epidemic by 2030. By 2030. (Applause.) Were working with communities to treat and contain the M-pox outbreak. Were ending the disgraceful practice of banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood. (Applause.) Making human rights for LGBTQ people around the world not just here, around the world a top priority for my foreign policy, including a review of our engagement with Uganda following its recent anti-gay law the most extreme in the world. (Applause.) And last December, we felt such pride here on the South Lawn when I signed the historic Respect for Marriage Act. (Applause.) It protects the marriage of same-sex and inter-racial couples. But for all the progress weve made, we know we know a real change and real challenges still remain. When a person can be married in the morning and thrown out of a restaurant for being gay in the afternoon, something is still very wrong in America. (Applause.) Thats why the Congress must pass and send me the Equality Act (applause) to codify protections for LGBT community. Joining us today are survivors of the Club Q and Pulse the shootings that took place who remind us why we must fully implement the significant gun law that we passed the most significant in 30 years that I signed. But its not done yet. We have to ban assault weapons. (Applause.) You know, and when families across the country face excruciating decisions to relocate to a different state to protect their child from dangerous anti-LGBTQ laws, we have to act. We have to act as a nation. We need to push back against the hundreds of callous and cynical bills and laws introduced in states targeting transgender children, terrifying families, and criminalizing doctors and nurses. These bills and laws attack the most basic values and freedoms we have as Americans thats not hyperbole; thats a fact: the right to be yourself, the right to make your own health decisions, the right to raise your own children. (Applause.) I recognize, for a lot of folks across this country, maybe its not you, your kid, your family member going through whatever our transgender child and family is going through. But I think we all agree, if it were you, youd want the space to figure it out with your family and your doctor not being told by anybody. (Applause.) Look, I think we can all agree: No one no one should have to fear for their safety in this country. No one should be singled out or demonized or made to feel less than anyone else. There are some things we should never question or put at risk: your life, safety, your dignity. They can never be put at risk, and they are still. You know, too many people in the LGBT community are worried and afraid about their future and their safety. So today, I want to send a message to the entire community, especially to transgender children: You are loved. (Applause.) You are heard. (Applause.) You are understood. (Applause.) And you belong! (Applause.) And as Ive made clear, including in my State of the Union Address, your President and my entire administration has your back. (Applause.) We see who you are: made in the image of God, deserving of dignity, respect, and support. Two days ago, I announced a series of new initiatives were taking to protect the LGBT communi- Q community. First, ensuring your physical safety. Whether youre organizing a Pride parade, running a small business, or just trying to focus at school, you should have you shouldnt have to deal with bomb threats, harassment, and violent attacks. Thats why the Department of Homeland Security, with the support of the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, is launching a safety partnership thats going to provide critical training and support to the community; dedicated resources to better protect festivals, marches, community centers, and businesses; to better protect health healthcare providers serving the community; and help folks report hate crimes. Second, were taking to civil were take taking on these civil rights violations, because thats what they are. An example for example, were addressing how the growing threat to book bans may violate the federal civil rights laws when they target LGBTQ students or students of color and create hostile classroom environments. Third, were investing in the future of LGBTQ kids. Last year, we launched a nationwide crisis hotline for the LGBTQ youth who are feeling isolated and overwhelmed. If you need help, if youre worried, if youre just concerned not sure what to do, you need somebody to talk to, you can now pick up the phone and call 988 and talk to a counselor who can give you help. (Applause.) And dont hesitate to call. This year, were committing more mental health resources and new funding for programs that help families support and affirm their kids, a new federal initiative to address the LGBQ homelessness, new proposed regulations requiring states to protect LGBTQ kids in foster care, and so much more. Let me close with this. I know its hot out there, and youre probably, When is the man going to finish? (Laughter.) (The President pretends to throw the microphone.) (Laughter and applause.) Let me close with what I see today. AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you. Well, let me close with what I see today at the White House, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart. I see families who testified in state capitols against laws stripping them of their freedom. I see students who are leading walkouts and protests of hateful bills like Dont Say Gay. In all of you and this is not hyperbole in all of you what I see is courage. I mean it sincerely from the bottom of my I see courage. Courage. And those who were in the generation before you who stepped up, its even more courage. They worried not only for their lives, they worried for their jobs. They worried for whether or not they could even be in- involved at all in the community. Imagine what it took 40 years ago to stand up and say, Im gay. What would have happened? (Applause.) No, I mean, people who had to fear for their lives just acknowledging it just acknowledging it. We all talk about courage. Well, I see more courage on this lawn than Ive seen in any time in the recent past. (Applause.) But the thing about yall is: You not only are about courage. You generate so much hope for people. Hope and light. You enrich every part of American life: educators, entertainers, entrepreneurs, athletes, actors, artists, scientists, scholars, diplomats, doctors, service members, veterans, and so much more. (Applause.) As I said I mean this; I swear to God youre some of the most youre some of the bravest and most inspiring people Ive ever known. And Ive known a lot of good folks. You set an example for the nation and, quite frankly, for the world. You know, we all move forward when we move together with your joy, with your pride lighting the way. So today, let us proudly remember who we are: the United States of America. (Applause.) And there is nothing, nothing beyond Americas capacity when we decide to do it together, as youre doing today. We shall get better every single year. (Applause.) Happy Pride. (Applause.) Enjoy the celebration. And in just a few minutes, Jills going to come back out and introduce a performer who embodies joy of this community. God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. (Applause.) The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. CAL Fire logo View Photo San Andreas, CAThe California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit is set to carry out a hazardous fuel reduction burn near the intersection of Highway 49 and Pool Station Road, adjacent to the community of San Andreas in Calaveras County. The burn will take place on June 12 and 13. The burn units encompass approximately 130 acres of land consisting of annual grasses, oak woodland, and scattered chaparral species. This area is part of the Performing Animal Welfare Societys (PAWS) Vegetation Management Program (VMP), and PAWS utilizes the adjacent areas as a sanctuary for abused, injured, and abandoned captive wildlife. By conducting this burn, CAL FIRE aims to create a defensible area of reduced vegetation between Highway 12 and the community of San Andreas, mitigating the risk of damaging wildfires to both the wildlife sanctuary and the nearby residential subdivisions. Aside from reducing vegetation, the PAWS VMP Burn will also aid in the control of noxious weeds, including yellow star thistle. Furthermore, it will provide an opportunity for firefighters to undergo training on live fire, utilizing various techniques. The burn operation started at 9:00 a.m. and continues until 5:00 p.m. on both days. As a result, members of the public may observe smoke or fire in the vicinity of Highway 49 and Pool Station Road intersection, as well as in the community of San Andreas. To ensure the containment of the fire, control lines and established roadways will be employed to prevent its spread beyond the designated burn unit. Firefighters will remain at the scene until all hotspots are extinguished. CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit will be working in collaboration with the San Andreas Fire Protection District and the Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District to facilitate the burn operation. " " Hey dude, where are your socks? How can emperor penguins stand around on ice for months at a time without their feet freezing? Flickr (CC BY-2.0) How long could you stand on Antarctic ice before your bare feet froze solid? A minute, maybe two? If you're an emperor penguin, you can do it for two months, and in wind chills as low as -75 degrees Fahrenheit (-59.4 degrees Celsius). Those naked bird feet may look positively frigid, but their special circulation acts as a kind of antifreeze to keep them just warm enough that they don't freeze. Penguins legs and feet have evolved to lose as little heat as possible. Penguin feet hold onto heat by restricting blood flow in really cold weather, keeping foot temperature just above freezing. Penguin legs work like a heat exchange system; blood vessels to and from the feet are very narrow and woven closely together, cooling the blood from the body on the way to the feet and heating the blood as it returns to the body. Feet get cool blood so there's less heat to lose, while the body stays toasty. Advertisement This special ability is part of how penguins keep their eggs warm until they hatch. Male emperor penguins incubate a single egg on top of their feet for two months in the dark of winter while females are out feeding at sea. They also cover the egg with a flap of warm belly skin called a brood pouch to keep it out of the elements. Nurturing doesn't stop there for these dedicated dads. If females haven't returned with food by the time the chicks hatch, male emperors feed their babies for a few days on a kind of "milk" made from special cells inside their throats. Humans have the ability to restrict blood flow to their extremities in cold weather too, although not as dramatically as penguins. Your hands get whiter during freezing weather because there's less blood in them it's been redirected to the core of your body to make sure vital organs stay warm. Now That's Interesting After blood vessels in your hands and feet constrict due to cold, they can sometimes dilate again and warm your extremities back up. Constricting and dilating repeats in an irregular cycle called the hunting response the body is "hunting" for equilibrium in the skin's temperature. Encouraging News: Endangered Vaquitas Hanging On in Gulf of California, Expedition Finds Eco Watch Cote dIllusion The Baffler Cosmic Luck: NASAs Apollo 11 Moon Quarantine Broke Down New York Times Climate/Environment I know there are a million people sharing temperature anomaly charts and maps lately, but theres a good reason for that. This is totally bonkers and people who look at this stuff routinely cant believe their eyes. Something very weird is happening. pic.twitter.com/vZ9eKEs22b Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) June 10, 2023 Water #COVID-19 China? New Not-So-Cold War Bitter at US Snub, Kosovo Leader Signals Hard Line Amid Flareup Bloomberg South of the Border Syraqistan 2024 Healthcare Why Does Research Focus on Treating Depression Rather Than Preventing It? Mad in America B-a-a-a-a-d Banks UBS Completes Credit Suisse Takeover to Create Bank Titan Bloomberg Imperial Collapse Watch US Military is NOT PREPARED For What Is Coming | Scott Ritter Exclusive Interview Our Famously Free Press Jonathan Swifts Lilliputian Reasoning Consortium New Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. (As delivered) Good morning, it's always a pleasure to come back albeit virtually to my alma mater, the University Politehnica from Bucharest, the university that for me in my younger years, and it's still with me here at NATO as I run the innovation at our great Alliance, congratulations for the organizers. That's a very great initiative. And I'm happy that Christina, [inaudible], and the US Ambassador to Bucharest, are also participating to this opening session. We do live in a very dangerous, interconnected and fast-paced world, where threats to our security come from near and from far, in the real world and the digital one. They come from many directions on land, sea, in the air, in cyberspace, and increasingly from space. So NATO is adapting, and always changing to an environment that is evolving. And we have in our DNA, the perpetual adaptation to be ready for any situation, be it positive, or sometimes more dangerous, our 31 Allies and soon 32 when Sweden will be joining, work hand in hand to keep our 1 billion people safe anywhere, in Bucharest, in Canada, in the Baltic countries and all over the great transatlantic family of nations that we represent. We do this including in space. Because space is becoming more crowded, more promising, also more dangerous, and indeed more unpredictable. Space technology is progressing very, very fast. Hundreds of new satellites are launched every year. And the global space economy is worth hundreds of billions of euros. And I encourage countries like Romania and Allies that don't have the same capacity, like the bigger Allies to invest also in the space economy because this is something that will bear benefits and bring dividends, to our economy, to our security and to our wellbeing. We also know that competition in space is fierce, and is becoming fiercer every day. This has implications for our economy, but also for our security. We see what happens in the war in Ukraine. On the one hand, commercial space actors like Starlink, and others support Ukraine greatly by providing timely intelligence and facilities and communications on the ground. On the other hand, we have witnessed how disruptive counter space assets can be, within an hour of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, the ViaSat satellite was forced offline, affecting communications for Ukraine's police, military, intelligence services and for the economy. Space assets are not only essential for our way of life, ensuring everything from mobile phones to banking services to weather forecasts. They are also essential for our military operations to navigate, track forces, gather intelligence, and detect missile launchers. And precisely because they are so essential, they're also vulnerable. Potential adversaries are investing technologies that could restrict our access and freedom to operate in space, or degrade our space capabilities with all the consequences that that will have on our security and our economy. Just two years ago, Russia blew up one of its own satellites, unleashing a giant cloud of space debris in the process. So we must make our space assets more resilient. Many of you in the private sector build, operate and maintain our satellites and space assets. We at NATO can help protect them. We are working to make satellites tougher to approach and also less susceptible to lasers and jamming. Individual Allies are setting up National Space commands. And NATO has established a dedicated space centre, an Allied command in Ramstein. We also have as NATO Allies, we are still the home of the largest space technology ecosystem in the world. But we are being challenged. Our competitors are investing heavily in advanced space technologies, to maintain our lead and keep space safe, we have to accelerate innovation and sharpen our technological edge. And this is not a job for NATO alone. It is something we must do together. Security also in space is a shared responsibility. And that is why NATO is cooperating ever more closely with the drivers of innovation in the private sector, think tanks, academics, and yes, university students. You all have a part to play to preserve peace and protect our values and space is becoming an integral part of our struggle. You may not think of NATO as a big player in the global innovation ecosystem where space belongs to. But as chair of the NATO Innovation Board, which coordinates innovation efforts within the entire organisation, I can tell you how much effort we're putting into this. Innovation is very much at the heart of what NATO does. In fact, NATO is at the forefront of innovation, especially in the defence and security sector, we have the formidable advantage of bringing together nations across Europe and North America, we have an abundance of the finest scientific researchers, amazing creative startups, and world class academic institutions. And the Politehnica University is a great example of that. And we have something that our competitors do not have, free and open societies where talent can thrive. And people can be as creative and as free as they want. So we clearly have the resources to set a space of technological developments, not merely to keep up. What NATO needs to do is tap into that rich seam of innovation in big and smaller nations alike. To help us do that last year, we launched a new initiative called the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, DIANA. And the idea behind DIANA, is to bring together the very best innovators we have on both sides of the Atlantic to help solve critical defence and security challenges. Romania hosts two DIANA test centers, including one the International Center of Excellence in artificial intelligence, the very Politehnica University. So basically, if you have an idea that you could enhance our defense and security, we can give you the opportunity to test it in more than 100 test centers and accelerators across the greater Alliance that NATO represents. And it has potential, your idea, your startup, we can help you to make it commercially viable. I challenge all of you to put your brains together and come up with groundbreaking innovations to make our world safer and better. Because the future is in your hands. Think big. The sky is not the limit, space is. And from my home country of Romania, I encourage all of you, all of us to make much better room for the engineering and technological talent that we have in the country. And the same thing goes for other countries in all parts of Europe, invest in this very promising part of the economy. The economic model of the future has space included into this. Other countries, smaller countries like the United Arab Emirates, they have their, you know, moonshot initiatives. I think that Romania has the potential. And I think that Dumitru Prunariu and the specialised agencies, the Romanian government, universities, like Politehnica, entrepreneurs, I think, would have a room for more innovation and more success, and all the spillover effect over a new economic model that Romania deserves, and it's so much. So keep it up. I'm sorry, I was not able to be with you in person. But I'm always in my heart and my spirit together with my alma mater Universitatea Politehnica Bucharest. Good luck and keep me posted. Biden sanctions Iranian tech company for censorship while pushing domestic censorship on U.S. citizens Even as the United States government continues to censor its own citizens, the Biden regime's Treasury Department recently imposed sanctions on an Iranian tech firm for helping the leaders of Iran to censor its citizens. Aravan Cloud and its co-founders Pouya Pirhosseinloo and Farhad Fatemi, as well as the company's United Arab Emirates-based affiliate, have all been sanctioned "for their roles in facilitating the Iranian regime's censorship of the Internet in Iran," announced the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "The United States is committed to holding accountable those who seek to undermine freedom of expression and suppress dissent, and to call out regimes who deny their citizens this right," added Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also chimed in with praise for the sanctions, stating that he believes they are a valid part of the Biden regime's "multi-pronged strategy to support and preserve the free flow of information to the Iranian people in the face of the Iranian regime's unprecedented campaign of Internet disruptions and censorship." (Related: All those new jobs that fake president Joe Biden keeps bragging about all went to foreigners, and primarily illegal aliens.) How can the Biden regime condemn and sanction free speech violations abroad while encouraging and fueling censorship here at home? All of this rhetoric is simply mind-boggling in light of the many revelations that have burst forth as of late to show that the Biden regime is not only staying quiet about domestic censorship activities, but is actually contributing to and even driving that censorship here on U.S. soil. "These sanctions send a message to international partners that the U.S. government will nakedly exploit legacy free speech principles by which it itself no longer abides," criticized Mike Benz, a former State Department official and executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online. "Our government is leading the crusade to censor the internet, while sanctioning other countries for censoring their own internet. This is an 'open society for thee, closed society for me.'" Benz went on to say in a statement to Just the News that there is "an incredible myopia right now in the Biden foreign policy establishment" as the regime continues to use antiquated free speech talking points from 2016 "as if the last seven years of U.S. domestic speech crackdown went unnoticed by the international community." "It hasn't," he continued. The Biden regime's Censorship Industrial Complex is so vast that Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, testified to the House Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee in March about a lawsuit they filed last year together against it. "The Biden administration has led the largest speech censorship operation in recent American history," Schmitt testified, adding that "since taking office, President Biden and his team have labored to suppress viewpoints with which they disagree. And in so doing, they have infringed upon the individual freedoms of millions of Americans." Landry added in his testimony that he and Schmitt gathered "overwhelming evidence" that paints a clear picture "of collusion and conspiracy between the federal government and social media platforms to censor speech." House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is also working to stop the government from colluding with Big Tech to censor Americans with legislation that would ban such practices from continuing. Back in March, the GOP-led House passed the bill, called the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, which would "include a prohibition on federal employees using their official authority to influence or coerce a private sector internet platform to censor lawful speech." Is there anything the Biden regime won't censor? Find out more at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: JustTheNews.com NaturalNews.com YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. The new batch of trolleybuses bought by the city of Yerevan has already been delivered, a city official in charge of electric transport said Monday. The entire batch of fifteen trolleybuses has arrived in Yerevan, Yerevan Electric Transport CJSC Director Sargis Bejanyan said at a meeting in City Hall. Authorities are planning to buy another batch of 15 trolleybuses. German Nutrition Society: Only ONE sausage per month to stop global warming The official nutrition body in Germany has updated its meat guidelines to drastically cut the amounts that it thinks everyday Germans should consume. After previously recommending a reduction to no more than 600 grams of meat per week per person the average person in Germany today consumes 763 grams of meat per week the German Nutrition Society (DGE) now wants each German person to consume no more than 10 grams per day, or 70 grams per week, of meat, which amounts to just one sausage per month, per person. Why the sudden change, you might be asking? According to the group, it is now having to take into account "climate change" factors in addition to just nutrition standards, hence the massive reduction. German media headlines state that the DGE "is no longer just concerned with health reasons" for making its recommendations, but is now taking into account "global warming" and other "woke" factors as well. "The background to the planned meat reform is something completely different: in the future, environmental factors such as 'sustainability' will also be taken into account in the recommendations," one sub-headline on the subject reads. (Related: Global warming ended 12 years ago, according to scientists.) Germans: You DON'T have to abide by the DGE's recommendations against meat According to the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, even just halving the amount of meat Germans consume every day would bring the country one percentage point closer to its climate goals. This is a misnomer, of course, as the energy sector is what is producing the most carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In a statement, Heike Harstick, general manager of the meat association, expressed disgust over the proposal, warning that many Germans are already malnourished and in need of more food, not less. "Even in Germany, many people are already undersupplied with certain nutrients such as iron or vitamin B12," she said to BILD. "If the new nutritional recommendations presented by the DGE were to remain and such a drastic reduction in animal-based foods recommended, the deficiency would increase," she added, further noting that the new planned reference values are "in no way scientifically proven." The good news for Germans is that DGE's recommendations are not legally binding, but are rather just that: recommendations. People can choose for themselves how much meat they want to eat, and the DGE has no power, thankfully, to stop them. What the DGE could try to do, though, is limit certifications strictly to restaurants that comply with its recommendations. The DGE, after all, is the body responsible for issuing certifications, which serve as a stamp of approval that a food establishment is safe and clean. "Indeed, it awards certificates to canteens," one report explains about the DGE's duties. "Those that do not have it are almost considered unhealthy. Will the nutrition authority continue to issue certifications to canteens that offer meat beyond the recommended quota?" Back in December, the new nutritional strategy proposed by the German Minister of Agriculture Cem Ozdemir, entitled "The Pathway to the Federal Government's Nutrition Strategy," was adopted by his cabinet and slated for approval by the end of this year. Expectedly, many people are upset about the proposal and scoffing at its recommendations. Who does the German government think it is trying to regulate how much meat people consume anyway? "I do not know whether vegetarians or greens are more evangelical and intolerant," one commenter wrote in ridicule of all this anti-meat madness. "I would go with climate fanatics," responded another. "They think they're saving the entire world." The latest news about the government's anti-meat push can be found at GreenTyranny.news. Sources for this article include: WattsUpWithThat.com NaturalNews.com Heavy rains compel hundreds of illegal migrants to try to FORCE their way across border into Brownsville, Texas Hundreds of migrants encamped in makeshift tent cities in the northeastern Mexican town of Matamoros attempted to force their way across the border as heavy rains swept away their encampments Heavy rains have been sweeping through much of South Texas and northern Mexico for the past few weeks now, swelling the Rio Grande River along the border and endangering the lives of the thousands of Central and South American people attempting to cross the border after the expiration of asylum restrictions known as Title 42. (Related: OPEN SESAME: Biden administration opens border to millions of ILLEGALS by lifting Title 42.) The most recent chaotic scenes that occurred were caught on camera, showing groups of migrant attempting to barge through the metal gates of one of the Gateway International Bridges on Monday, June 5. In one video, dozens of illegals were seen running through the pedestrian side of the bridge as a Mexican border agent extended his hands out to try to stop people from moving. This border agent was knocked to the ground and the group of migrants continued trying to force their way across the bridge and into Brownsville, Texas. These immigrants, mostly from Venezuela, El Salvador and Honduras, were able to reach the end of the bridge where they encountered American Border Patrol agents. Forced attempt to cross border prompts shutdown of Gateway International Bridge The attempt by illegals to force their way through the bridge without the proper documentation to enter the U.S. prompted the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to shut down the bridge for the second time within a week. In a statement, the CBP stated that its Office of Field Operations temporarily ceased operations on the bridge for around three hours as border agents attempted to bring order back to the border crossing. "We made this decision informed by operational considerations, including information regarding groups congregating in the immediate vicinity of the bridge," the CBP said. The CBP once again shut down the bridge on Tuesday, June 6, , forcing wait times for vehicles with the proper documentation to cross to surge by up to two hours. The situation remained precarious throughout the week, and officers from the Brownsville Police Department were called in by the CBP for backup. "If we see that they're being overtaken, then we're going to do whatever we can to help them push people back," said Brownsville police spokesperson Martin Sandoval. "But we're not going to do anything until we receive the world from border patrol, this is their scene." Sandoval added that the CBP only asked the Brownsville police to aid them at the Gateway International Bridge. The CBP noted that many large groups keep trying to cross without having the proper paperwork to enter the country. Many are also not making appointments to meet with CBP officials through the CBP One app, which could grant lawful entry into the United States. Follow Migrants.news for more news about illegal immigrants coming to America. Watch this video from InfoWars as Alex Jones discusses the hell unleashed upon the United States by the tsunami of illegals crossing the border. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: 24 Republican governors pledge to support Texas in securing US-Mexico border. BORDER DEFENSE: America protects US-Mexico border with barbed wire and verbal warnings. Five illegal migrants on FBI's terrorist watchlist ARRESTED shortly after Title 42 expired. Counterterrorism analyst urges border states to shut down ILLEGAL ALIEN INVASION facilitated by the federal government. PLANNED OCCUPATION: Biden regime ensuring that illegal migrants released into American interior will never come back for asylum hearing. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NBCNews.com KRGV.com Brighteon.com Regulators STILL allowing toxic BIOSLUDGE to be dumped all over food crops, polluting them with PFAS forever chemicals The great state of Maine is the first and only state in the United States to ban the spread of toxic biosludge on farms, but there are still many other states where the poisonous compounds are being dumped indiscriminately all over food crops, effectively polluting them with PFAS "forever" chemicals. Maine and Michigan are the only two states where PFAS testing is required, while the other 48 refuse to test for PFAS. The result is PFAS contamination all throughout the food supply, and even inside people's bodies. The state of Virginia, for instance, actually increased the amount of sludge permitted to be dumped on farmland with no PFAS testing. Similarly, Alabama continues to reject pleas by residents and environmental groups to test for the deadly chemicals. Other similar such fights are breaking out in states like Georgia and Oklahoma as well, even as regulators ignore the fears and concerns being expressed by public health advocates about how biosludge benefits nobody except the waste management industry and the pockets it greases. "We're in an absolute mess, and the government knows we're in a mess, but it seems like they don't know what to do," said Julie Lay, an Alabama agricultural worker who is organizing residents in her state to fight back against the spread of biosludge. "It's terrible," she added. (Related: Be sure to check out the film "Biosludged" from BrighteonFilms.com to learn more.) Don't eat food from biosludged fields if you can avoid it know your farmer In case you are unfamiliar with biosludge, it is the byproduct left over from the water treatment process when flushed toilet water, as well as industrial waste discharge, is separated from solids. According to the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, biosludge is "the most pollutant-rich manmade substance on Earth." There is currently no known way to remove PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," from water. This class of toxins continues to be used in consumer products, though, helping them to resist water, stains, and heat damage. It turns out that PFAS forever chemicals easily move from biosludge straight into soil, food crops, cattle, and water sources. Testing both in Michigan and Maine found that there is widespread PFAS contamination in crop fields as a result of biosludge and the toxic substances are also being found in foods such as beef, drinking water, and even farmers' blood. While Michigan has not yet gone as far as Maine to ban biosludge, its various officials and environmental groups are pursuing justice against contaminated farms, including one that was forced to shut down for safety reasons. Michigan recently enacted a plan that aims to determine risk factors for the highest levels of contamination. The same plan prohibits some wastewater treatment facilities from selling biosludge, as well as forces polluters to stop discharging PFAS into sewers. Conversely, Virginia is forging ahead with expanding its biosludge program. Last July, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued approval for a permit request by waste management giant Synagro to spread biosludge across nearly 5,400 acres of farmland in King William County, located to the north of Richmond. According to Tyla Matteson, chair of the York River Group of the Sierra Club, the request was preceded in 2013 by a permit allowing the company to spread biosludge on 7,155 acres in the same county, where the DEQ is now considering another permit request to add an additional 1,900 acres to that total. Roughly 80 local residents and environmental groups have demanded a public hearing concerning this Synagro permit, but the company is refusing, as are state regulators who claim Synagro is complying with all state and federal laws. More related news about the scourge of biosludge across America can be found at Biosludge.news. Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com Biosludged.com Anti-white SPLC lumps Moms for Liberty movement in with KKK as a hate group At least a dozen parental rights organizations have been labeled as "hate groups" by the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which sees no difference between Christianity and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). In light of all the transgender madness going on these days, including drag queen performances and other LGBT indoctrination going on at public schools, libraries, and other places where children go, advocacy groups like Moms for Liberty are popping up all over the place to fight the onslaught. And the SPLC is taking aim at them by labeling them "hate groups" on its infamous "hate map." Moms for Liberty, a Florida-based child advocacy group, found itself on the SPLC's hate map along with 11 other parental rights organizations, including several out of Virginia. With the new inclusion of these groups, there are now 1,225 organizations across America that the SPLC considers to be "hate groups." The SPLC has a whole subcategory of hate groups called "antigovernment extremist groups" where these parental groups have found themselves. It is apparently an "antigovernment" stance these days to oppose the transgender mutilation of children and the abolition of biological sex, natural gender roles, parenting, and anything else not found at a "pride" parade. "Schools, especially, have been on the receiving end of ramped-up and coordinated hard-right attacks, frequently through the guise of 'parents' rights' groups," the SPLC wrote in a report about why it chose to categorize these groups as such. "These groups were, in part, spurred by the right-wing backlash to COVID-19 public safety measures in schools. But they have grown into an anti-student inclusion movement that targets any inclusive curriculum that contains discussions of race, discrimination and LGBTQ identities." (Related: Did you know that the SPLC works hand in hand with ANTIFA to terrorize conservatives, Christians, and other left-wing targets?) One of the biggest hate groups in America today is the SPLC The SPLC singled out Moms for Liberty because it considers the group to be at the "forefront of this mobilization." The SPLC warns that members of Moms for Liberty "can be spotted at school board meetings across the country wearing shirts and carrying signs that declare, 'We do NOT CO-PARENT with the GOVERNMENT.'" Founded in 2021 to fight "for the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government," Moms for Liberty came to be in response to various school administrations' response to the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "pandemic." After witnessing forced school closures, forced masking, and remote learning being pushed on children, resulting in their being terrorized and in some cases developing mental illness Moms for Liberty decided to take up the cause of fighting for children's rights so nothing like this ever happens again. The group, which now boasts over 100,000 members, is also at the forefront of stopping public school employees from destroying children's innocence through forced LGBT curriculum, including exposure to graphic materials that teach them how to "transition" into "another gender," among other gross perversions. "The best way to get plugged in and to know what to look for is to visit MomsForLiberty.org look for your local chapter," explained Tina Descovich, the co-founder of Moms for Liberty, in an interview last year. "If there's not a chapter, you can click another link and ... start a chapter." At the end of this month, President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are slated to speak at Moms for Liberty's annual summit in Philadelphia. If you live in the area or are interested in traveling there to attend, you can learn more at the Moms for Liberty website. More related news coverage about the SPLC and other anti-white hate groups can be found at Libtards.news. Sources for this article include: DailySignal.com NaturalNews.com Top 7 COVID SCANDALS of nightmarish proportion Anyone who so much brings up the topic of depopulation immediately sounds like a conspiracy theorist, but it takes no more than a glance at history to see that governments around the world, especially ones with tyrannical leaders, engage in mass genocide in order to gain power and remain in power for long periods of time. Some plot to "cleanse" their own country of citizens who are a drain on the economy, or so they would have everyone else believe. Others just murder every dissident so that their own evil ways are never uncovered for the remaining populace to see. Many evil leaders simply wipe out millions or billions of their own in the name of "nationalism." Today, the plandemic is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction, but it's not the virus that killed and maimed billions of people, it's the political leaders, tech gurus, and billionaires who "weaponized" it. Keep reading. There are bloodthirsty, psychopathic billionaires, tech gurus, and political leaders around the world who are currently in cahoots to reduce the world's population by several billion humans and take control of every aspect of life, including healthcare, food, fuel, weapons, land, and all forms of communication. These people are, according to a recent article by Juan Carlos, the "architects of the most horrific genocides, systematic murders, blockades, brutal wars, and policy reforms history has ever recorded." This is no conspiracy theory. In fact, those who deny this is happening right now are the conspiracy theorists, who ignore obvious truths, data, and realities that are right before all of our eyes. Wake up, or you too will wind up choking to death on a ventilator or an abused political prisoner with no trial in sight. Even worse, you could wind up a "casualty" of the plandemics (yes, that's plural), like a few billion other folks. Top 7 COVID scandals that have created a powerful tyranny and cabal of communist leaders around the world who are murdering and silencing billions The following seven scandals are of epic proportion and are being felt around the world, as billions of innocent people are being sickened, maimed, imprisoned, silenced, and killed either by planned pandemics or the control-tripping "mandates" put in place by tyrannical leaders, tech gurus, and billionaires. #1. Gain of function virus(es) created as depopulation weapon - engineered by mad scientists to wipe out the "weak" and elderly, plus to catapult mandatory "vaccination" with deadly prions that drive disease and disorder. Make no mistake, there will be more released to "rinse and repeat" the madness and genocide of round one, a.k.a. Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). #2. The mass cover-up of the initial pandemic outbreak - Political leaders, mass media, and tech gurus colluded to silence, censor, and cover up any real news about the widespread outbreak of COVID-19. This would set the stage for the tyranny of what would seem-to-be-warranted lockdowns, mask mandates, and the coming "vaccines" that were the real genocidal weapons of mass destruction. #3. Lockdowns were a multi-faceted disaster - designed and implemented to inflict mass damage to people's physical and mental health, destroy the economy, starve the poor, and eviscerate civil liberties and health freedoms. #4. Mandatory masking was a "scientific" scam - masking caused bacterial infections of the mouth, throat and lungs that helped create billions of false-positive PCR tests so the world would think nearly everybody had Covid-19. Plus, masking helped install communism as it takes away human uniqueness, limits communication, and causes oxygen deprivation that lowers cognitive function. #5. "Vaccinations" for COVID are vascular-clotting prions that drive disease, disorder, and mass death. One thing is for sure, the "safe and effective" mantra of vaccines was blown out of the water with the Fauci Flu jabs. No "vaccine" has ever been more disastrous, harmful, and deadly than the Wuhan stabs. Billions of humans are now suffering from vascular clots, myocarditis, pericarditis, turbo cancer, or are already DEAD from the spike protein gene mutation injections. #6. Mass censorship has never been more blatant and brutal - Free speech in America has been all but eliminated as the Biden-Obama-Soros Regime and the cabal of tech gurus, working in tandem with Big Pharma, are silencing (and imprisoning) people for speaking the truth about the plandemic and the stolen elections. All big media, social media, Google, YouTube, hospitals, public schools, and corporate workplaces are under strict control by the genocidal elites. #6. Fake News is 100% captured - Sure, fake news is fake news, but now it's 100 percent fake, as everything MSM is pre-scripted to propagate the narratives that the pandemic was not planned, that the communists in Washington, D.C. won the election fair and square, and that sending billions of dollars and all of our weapons and ammo to Ukraine is justified. #7. Big Tech and Social Media Giants censor all debates and free speech - the false narratives will never be challenged again on social media, as the head gurus are all in on the depopulation agenda and the plandemic(s). Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on more weapons of mass destruction (viruses, lockdowns, masks and forced "vaccines") coming to the nation in which you reside. Sources include: Pandemic.news BillRiceJr.substack.com NaturalNews.com ReadJuanCarlos.com Unlabeled GMO salad greens coming to a grocery store near you An agricultural biotechnology company called Pairwise has created a new genetically engineered (GMO) salad green blend called "Conscious Greens Purple Power Baby Greens Blend" that constitutes the first CRISPR-edited "food" item available to consumers in the United States. CRISPR, which stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat, was used to edit the DNA of mustard greens, removing a key gene that gives them their pungent flavor. Set to first be rolled out at restaurants in the St. Louis and Springfield areas of Missouri, as well as in Massachusetts and the Minneapolis St. Paul area, Conscious Greens Purple Power Baby Greens Blend will eventually be sold at grocery stores all across the United States, starting with the Pacific Northwest. According to company co-founder and CEO Tom Adams, mustard greens are a nutrient-dense source of vitamins and minerals, but their bitter flavor makes them unpalatable to many people. As a fix, Pairwise "basically created a new category of salad," he says, by genetically modifying the DNA of mustard greens. (Related: Mad scientists are also trying to grow mRNA "vaccines" in GMO salad greens so people get "vaccinated" with spike protein bioweapons every time they eat.) Founded in 2017, Pairwise had successfully raised $90 million by 2021, and another $25 million since. All that cash will allow the company "to bring new varieties of fruits and vegetables to market." In other words, Conscious Greens Purple Power Baby Greens Blend is just the beginning. Pairwise is planning to unleash a host of new GMO produce items that will slowly begin to take over all the natural and organic fruits and vegetables sold at American grocery stores. Back in 2022, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital announced that using CRISPR in human cell lines increases the risk of large rearrangements of DNA. Consequently, the risk of cancer increases dramatically when used in that manner. Amazingly, U.S. regulators do not consider gene-edited foods to be genetically modified, even though they are. As a result, none of the CRISPR produce items coming down the pipeline from Pairwise have to be labeled meaning you and your family will not even know you are eating them. The company describes itself as a "pioneering food startup," using careful language to try to disguise its true biotechnology roots. Here is how Pairwise describes its gene-edited greens: "A mix of colorful Superfood leafy greens with a unique, fresh flavor and up to double the nutrition of romaine. Using CRISPR technologies to improve taste and nutrition in produce, Conscious Greens are field-grown Superfood greens that eat like lettuce, offering a versatile new option for chefs and salad lovers alike." Notice that there is no mention of altered DNA or genetic engineering this is intentional. Pairwise clearly hopes to conceal the ugly truth behind its products and make them seem tastier and even healthier than the real thing. Pairwise is already said to be developing blackberries with no seeds seeds are very nutritious, by the way and cherries without pits meaning you will not be able to reproduce them yourself by planting the leftover seed. Another "benefit" to CRISPR foods at least for Pairwise is that the end products last a lot longer than real foods do. They also resist certain bacteria and viruses, much like other GMOs are designed to do. DNA is critical, by the way, for governing gene activation in a life form. Tampering with it can produce many unexpected consequences as the God-designed DNA that was originally there becomes foreign and unpredictable, rendering it toxic in the case of food. The latest news about the GMO takeover of the food supply can be found at Frankenfood.news. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com WHO announces launch of digital health certification network will this become the prophesied Mark of the Beast? On Monday, United Nations (UN) World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus officially announced the launch of his globalist body's long-awaited "global digital health certification network," which in many ways looks like it could be part of the prophesied Mark of the Beast. The purpose of this new WHO network is to track and limit the movement of people all around the world based on their obedience to government orders, especially during a "public health emergency" like the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). When the next "pandemic" is launched, the WHO will be ready and waiting with this new network to control everything. It seems as though the WHO's plan is to use this new network to oversee all buying and selling, i.e., commerce and the economy, during the next contrived global event, whatever that might be. Only those who can show digital proof of having obeyed the government's dictates, whether that be to get another "vaccine" or to receive some kind of electronic microchip implant, will be allowed to live. "Never before in the history of the world has this taken place," writes Leo Hohmann about what already took place during covid, and how next time it will be even worse. "It was unprecedented, and yet so few Christian leaders called it out for what it was." "What happened in 2020 and 2021 with vaccine passports was just a dry run for an expanded digitized ID program that will be global in scope ... Those who don't submit will be singled out as the enemies of the system and therefore a danger to humanity." (Related: YouTube launched a similar "certification" protocol for videos that contain any type of medical information all content must align with WHO dictates, the Google-owned video streaming platform now says, or else they will be removed.) Is this the envisioned new age, or will something else come along to tear it all down as a Great Deception while implementing the real New World Order? According to Ghebreyesus, the new system is just the "first building block" of a system that, when complete, will control everything on the planet or at least that is the intent. In Hohmann's view, the makings of what we already know about it look a whole lot like the "evil system ... coming out of Europe, the revived Roman Empire spelled out in the book of Daniel." "It's all being done to 'help people move around' during the next pandemic, which sounds like it has already been scheduled," Hohmann explains. "Can you believe this?" "Thank you, European Union, for your 'excellent certification system that you have transferred to us,' a contribution to the world that we could not live without. This is 'a global public good,' this monster says. 'Soon after we will expand this infrastructure by incorporating other use, such as a digitized international certificate of vaccination, routine immunization cards, and international patient summaries.'" These are Ghebreyesus' exact words, by the way, as he stated them in announcing the new system at its official unveiling. He repeatedly emphasized and stressed the word international to make it clear that this is a global effort, not just an isolated-to-Europe kind of thing. The corporate-controlled media is of course spinning it all as "good" news, arguing that this new "landmark digital health partnership," to quote one misleading source, only aims "to strengthen global health security." It could be that this is all just a decoy, and that the real Mark of the Beast will come alongside a new and different order that tears this existing one down and replaces it with "freedom" and "liberty" as a Great Deception disguise. What do you think? More related news about what seems to be coming down the pike and its prophetic relevance can be found at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: LeoHohmann.com NaturalNews.com Weather forecasts reported that the Northeast and Midwest could likely experience rainy conditions due to a developing storm, helping improve the air quality. Parts of the United States suffered from poor air quality due to the wildfires in Canada. Nature World News (NWN) recently reported that the worst air quality unfolded in New York City (NYC) and parts of the Northeast. Poor air quality in the Northeast and Midwest The BBC reported that about 100 million people in North America are affected by the poor air quality in the region, adding that New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. recorded it. The report added that officials advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and exposure to unhealthy smoke. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the report explained that Canadian wildfires could likely bring unhealthy air quality conditions in parts of the Midwest, Mild-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and the Northeast. There could be a chance of rainfall in parts of Central Montana, western South Dakota and Central Montana. Furthermore, t understand more about the air quality index for this week, Americans could visit the NWS here. Rainy conditions and improved air quality In the latest forecast, AccuWeather explained that a brewing storm could likely unleash beneficial rain in the Midwest and Northeast. The forecast said the rainy conditions could help improve the poor air quality conditions in the Northeast and Midwest. Also Read: Southern California Weather Forecast: Delayed Summer Warmth Likely Due to Cool Air During the late week, AccuWeather's outlook showed that rain and thunderstorms could unfold in Seattle, Billings, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville and Miami. Potential showers could be likely in Boston, New York and Washington. On the weekend, there could be a slight chance of weather change. The forecast said that possible rain and thunderstorms could be possible in Billings, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Memphis, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville and Miami. As some parts of the Northeast experienced dry conditions and troublesome air quality, the rainy conditions could provide relief next week. Next week, the developing storm could help bring beneficial rain in Chicago, Nashville, New York and Montreal. However, Americans could still notice the warmer conditions on Monday in Portland, Boston, New York City and Virginia Beach. From Monday night to Wednesday, the forecast explained that rounds of heavy thunderstorms could unfold in Oklahoma City, Dallas and Little Rock. A hotter outlook could become possible in San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. Although the weather is expected to bring relief in the Northeast and Midwest, it is best that homeowners and motorists should keep updated with the weather. Older adults, people with medical conditions or at risk of poor air quality should stay home as possible. The challenging air quality could likely cause unhealthy conditions. Closing your doors and windows would also be helpful to prevent them from entering your house. Related Article: New York City Weather: Worst Air Quality Emerge in City as Unhealthy Smoke Unfolds in Northeast For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News. A robot death machine was created by students from a university in Pittsburgh to hunt, scrape off, and squash the eggs of invasive spotted lanternflies. Invasive Spotted Lanternflies The spotted lanternfly may appear harmless, but since being unintentionally imported to the nation over ten years ago, these voracious insects have been known to demolish harvests and caused over half a billion dollars in damages to a variety of fruit trees. Students at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University have created an alternate strategy in the shape of a robot death machine. The current major concept is to introduce many species of wasps into the mid-Atlantic habitat to hunt and consume the lanternflies. Robot Death Machine vs Eggs Its name is TartanPest, and it employs a variety of tools and components to autonomously locate and eliminate lanternfly egg masses. It begins with a set of cameras for traversal and an electric tractor for mobility. Additionally, this computer vision is continually looking for egg masses that might contain up to 50 lanternfly eggs. A robot arm with a rotating brush attachment moves in for the kill once it locates a mass on a tree, rock, or even a rusty metal surface, cleaning the eggs off the surface. Spotted lanternflies are now concentrated in the eastern part of the country, but they are expected to spread over the entire country, according to Carolyn Alex, a TartanPest team undergraduate researcher. She said that future savings will increase if this issue is invested in today. To find the egg masses, certain deep-learning algorithms that were trained using a big-picture data set are in use. Although the robot may function autonomously, it still needs a person nearby to address any problems as they emerge. Therefore, it's probably not the most effective method of getting rid of spotted lanternflies; however, it is still a step towards eradicating an invasive species, Engadget reported. Robotics Challenge The team created the robot death machine as part of the 2023 Farm Robotics Challenge by Farm_ng, therefore it is currently only a prototype design. Farm-ng and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources have teamed up to bring about good change in the American food chain. The challenge is a robotics competition accessible to groups of graduates and undergraduates alike from US universities and community colleges that want to develop creative ways to use a Farm-ng robot to carry out and automate a necessary task, as per Farm_ng. Also Read: NYC Pest Control Project for Invasive Species Kills Woodpecker Instead Fighting Off Invasive Spotted Lanternflies Invasive species or their egg spawn should be squashed right once, but the US Department of Agriculture encourages reporting occurrences as well. The USDA advised checking outside goods, especially those that would be brought within, for spotted lanternfly egg masses as locals are getting ready for winter vacations. Scrape any egg masses into a plastic bag with a zipper and add hand sanitizer before zipping the bag up and throwing it away appropriately. Additionally, it's crucial to check trees and plants for this pest, especially around twilight and at night when the insects prefer to congregate in swarms on plant stems or trunks. Check for egg masses on bricks, stones, trees-especially the tree of heaven-and other flat surfaces. Related Article: Invasive Lanternfly Continues Spread in New York, Might Take Down Grape and Wine Industry Ancient animals like giant elephants and other megafauna once roamed the Earth and thrived as a population millions of years ago. However, these giant animals disappeared for exact reasons yet to be determined. For a long time, scientists have thought that the ancient megafauna extinction was caused by the arrival of humans, along with their butchering and hunting techniques, as previously thought. Now, a new study led by scientists from Germany and Spain found the said extinction event was not caused by humans, pointing out that climate change and new environmental conditions were responsible for their demise. The scientific team involved in the new research determined the ancient megafauna were already decreasing in numbers millions of years even before humans emerged 100,000 years ago. The findings are still subject to confirmation or further research but hold promising evidence. It also challenges existing theories that we have ancient giant animals and how the mighty creatures that existed for millions of years suddenly disappeared. If natural factors caused their extinction, scientists hypothesized its reoccurrence is not far from reality. Ancient Megafauna Extinction In the new study published on the journal Science on Thursday, June 8, co-author Faysal Bibi from the Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity and the research team described how African and Arabian megafauna were wiped out by climate change, a phenomenon that apparently occurred long before Homo Sapiens evolved and learned to hunt. The team proposed that the major driver for the extinction is still at large. However, all evidence suggested that it was not caused by humans or our ancient ancestors. One of the most evident factors is that the extinction, especially for large species, started way ahead of our time, according to Bibi, who told Newsweek. Also Read: Researchers Examine Megafauna Bones From Papua New Guinea Using New Tools to Unlock Their Fascinating History New Environmental Conditions Although there are still large animals existing today such as elephants and whales, the researchers discovered the ancient megafauna in their study went extinct at around 4 million years ago. They cited environmental factors like long-term cooling or decrease in global temperatures and expansion of tropical grasslands that triggered the extinction. In other parts of the globe, the North American megafauna extinction by the end of the Pleistocene was caused by several reasons, including human overhunting. However, a 2021 study published in the journal Nature Communications also supported the theory that climate change and not human population growth caused the late Quaternary megafauna extinctions in North America. Prehistoric Climate Change Even before modern meteorological equipment and forecasting tools, Earth had undergone multiple instances of climate change and shifts, which also led to several Ice Age phenomena. It also shows that such events occur even without the presence of anthropogenic greenhouse gases that we see today. It is for this reason that some scientists have linked prehistoric climate change with the extinction of giant mammals, who survived after the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs and other living organisms 66 million years ago. Related Article: North America's Megafauna Likely Went Extinct Because of Climate Change YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine's military command said on Monday its forces were engaged in heavy battles in frontline hot spots, after pushing back Russian forces from several villages in the opening phase of the 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, Reuters reported citing Ukraine's armed forces general staff. Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar posted on Monday a photo showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag at what she said was the village of Storozheve in Donetsk, and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it. On Sunday, Ukraine said its troops had made advances on three villages in Donetsk: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Storozheve is located between Blahodatne and Neskuchne. Both sides have said their forces had inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on their enemy over the past week. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine had failed to breach Russian defenses, while the Russian defense ministry said it had destroyed several Leopard battle tanks and other equipment that Ukraine had received from the West. The Russian Defense Ministry said it has repelled 8 attacks and that its defense lines were not breached. According to reports, a prisoner swap has also taken place, with Russia releasing 95 Ukrainian troops and Ukraine releasing 94 Russian troops. Inspirational art in Holt school chapel Around 100 students from Gresham's Prep and Senior Schools have created a new spatial art installation in the school Chapel. The installation features 1000 metres of multihued ribbons cascading from the rafters which fill the space with a riot of colour: like streams of light connecting heaven and earth. The different coloured ribbons contained in the piece are intended to reflect both the summer sunsets which come streaming through the West Window in Chapel and the stained-glass depiction of the Holy Spirit contained in the Chapel's East Window. The work was completed just before the Whitsun half term break, and was inspired by a former pupil of the school, the poet W H Auden who died fifty years ago this year. Auden famously converted to Christianity in his 30s and many of his later poems reflect on spiritual and theological themes. Greshams students wrote words from one of these poems Whitsunday in Kirchstetten on each piece of ribbon. Auden had a holiday home in Kirchstetten in Austria and is buried in the parish churchyard. School Chaplain Rev Jack Branford said, "The students have done a wonderful job creating this stunning spectacle. It seems to lift people's spirits and make them smile as they walk into Chapel." The images are courtesy of Greshams School. Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk? If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. Tony Rothe, 12/06/2023 YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Exports from Armenia to Russia grew 187% in 2022, with most of the figure comprising re-exports, Finance Minister of Armenia Vahe Hovhannisyan said Monday. In 2022 we had a 187% growth in exports compared to 2021 towards Russia. Re-exports make up most of it. The exports of Armenian-made products contributed by 47 percentage points, Hovhannisyan told lawmakers at the Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Committee during debates on approving the 2022 state budget report. Tourism grew 90,2%. A growth in financial transfers in 2022 also contributed to dram valuation, he added. As a result, a 12,6% economic growth was recorded, although we had predicted 11%, while the target in 2022 was 7% in line with the government program. As a result, the nominal GDP comprises around 8,5 trillion drams, which is 1,5 trillion more compared to the 2021 factual figure, the minister said. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Sixteen Indian sailors who got detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria nine months back finally returned home on Saturday. The sailors faced accusations of oil theft by the Nigerian authorities, underwent trials and when finally 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, 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 was allowed to remain on board the ship with provision of regular food, instead of being taken to a detention centre. They were allowed periodic contact with their families. NEW DELHI: Sixteen Indian sailors who got detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria nine months back finally returned home on Saturday. The sailors faced accusations of oil theft by the Nigerian authorities, underwent trials and when finally 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, 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 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 centre. They were allowed periodic contact with their families. By PTI JABALPUR: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday kickstarted her party's campaign for the year-end Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh with a rally in Jabalpur where she accused the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of being mired in corruption and failing to provide jobs. She cited alleged corruption in Vyapam and ration distribution and said 225 "scams" had taken place in the 220 months of Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the state. "In the last three years, only 21 government jobs were provided in the state by the BJP government. When this figure was brought to my notice, I got it checked three times from my office and found it is a fact," she said. Gandhi said the Chouhan government had not even spared gods, referring to winds on May 28 damaging six idols in the Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor, the first phase of which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year. The 900-metre corridor at the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple is being built at a cost of Rs 856 crore and the first phase expenditure is Rs 351 crore. Mocking the BJP's "double-engine government" poll talk, Gandhi said, "We have seen a lot of double and triple-engine governments, but people of Himachal and Karnataka have given a befitting reply in the polls." "Double engine government" is a term used by the BJP to claim having a ruling dispensation of the party in the state and Centre was beneficial to people in terms of development. Taking a jibe at Congressman-turned-BJP leader and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gandhi, without taking his name, said some leaders in Madhya Pradesh had abandoned the party's ideology for the sake of power. MLAs loyal to Scindia had quit the Congress in March 2020, bringing down the Kamal Nath government and paving the way for Chouhan to return to power. JABALPUR: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday kickstarted her party's campaign for the year-end Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh with a rally in Jabalpur where she accused the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of being mired in corruption and failing to provide jobs. She cited alleged corruption in Vyapam and ration distribution and said 225 "scams" had taken place in the 220 months of Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the state. "In the last three years, only 21 government jobs were provided in the state by the BJP government. When this figure was brought to my notice, I got it checked three times from my office and found it is a fact," she said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gandhi said the Chouhan government had not even spared gods, referring to winds on May 28 damaging six idols in the Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor, the first phase of which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year. The 900-metre corridor at the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple is being built at a cost of Rs 856 crore and the first phase expenditure is Rs 351 crore. Mocking the BJP's "double-engine government" poll talk, Gandhi said, "We have seen a lot of double and triple-engine governments, but people of Himachal and Karnataka have given a befitting reply in the polls." "Double engine government" is a term used by the BJP to claim having a ruling dispensation of the party in the state and Centre was beneficial to people in terms of development. Taking a jibe at Congressman-turned-BJP leader and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gandhi, without taking his name, said some leaders in Madhya Pradesh had abandoned the party's ideology for the sake of power. MLAs loyal to Scindia had quit the Congress in March 2020, bringing down the Kamal Nath government and paving the way for Chouhan to return to power. By PTI KOLKATA: Several incidents of clashes were reported from different parts of West Bengal on Monday, as unidentified miscreants allegedly attacked opposition candidates while they were on their way to file nomination papers for the panchayat polls, a senior official said. The clashes were reported in Daspur (Paschim Medinipur), Kakdwip (South 24 Parganas), Raninagar (Murshidabad), Saktinagar and Barshul (both in Purba Bardhaman) and Minakhan (North 24 Parganas), he said. The ruling Trinamool Congress accused the opposition parties of forming an "unholy nexus" to delay the elections and tarnish the state's image due to fear of defeat. Opposition BJP, Congress, and CPI(M), on the other hand, alleged that their candidates have been prevented by TMC activists from submitting nomination papers in various districts and argued that without the deployment of central forces, it is impossible to have peaceful and fair elections in the state. A CPI(M) party office at Minakhan in Basirhat subdivision was "vandalised" and the candidate was "assaulted" by the miscreants when he was going to file his nomination, the official said. In another incident at Sonamukhi in Bankura district, BJP MLA Dibakar Gharami was allegedly attacked by unidentified people as he was heading to the nomination centre. "Several such incidents of clashes have been reported, and we have sought details in this regard from the DMs and SPs," the senior State Election Commission (SEC) official told PTI. The development comes on a day the SEC directed all district magistrates and superintendents of police to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CRPC in a one-km radius of all nomination centres. The orders, which were issued on Sunday, will be in force till Thursday. The panchayat polls are scheduled to be held on July 8. The SEC official said over 10,000 nomination papers have been filed so far. Meanwhile, the SEC on Monday told the Calcutta High Court that it can extend the last date of filing nominations for the panchayat polls by a day to June 16. After hearing petitions of opposition leaders for an extension of the date for filing nominations and deployment of central forces for the July 8 polls, the court had on June 9 observed that the time given for filing papers is prima facie inadequate. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "The fact is that the opposition, the BJP, CPI (M), and the Congress -- were trying to delay the panchayat polls out of the fear of defeat and their inability to put up candidates in all seats. We challenge them to publish the list of their candidates for all seats." Mocking the opposition for complaining about lack of time to file nominations, Ghosh said, "If they can't find candidates, we will provide them with one. The unholy nexus of the BJP, Congress and the CPI(M) is trying to malign the state by disturbing the peaceful law and order situation in the state." "The SEC is working like a frontal organisation of the TMC. With the deployment of central forces, free and fair elections are not possible in West Bengal. The TMC wants to turn this panchayat election into a farce, just like 2018," BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said. In the 2018 rural polls, the TMC won 90 per cent of the Panchayat seats in the state and all 22 Zila Parishads. However, these elections were marred by widespread violence and malpractices, with the opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in many seats. State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the people of West Bengal can cast their votes only if central forces are deployed. "The TMC just wants to loot the public mandate, and the SEC and the state police are just working as its frontal organisations," he said. In 2013, the panchayat polls were held with central forces stationed at every polling booth in the state. Despite their deployment, the TMC, which had been in power for two years then, won over 85 per cent of the seats, with the opposition alleging malpractices. CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim said, "We strongly condemn the terror tactics adopted by the TMC to derail the democratic process by unleashing violence on opposition candidates filing nominations for the upcoming panchayat elections." Elections will be held for nearly 75,000 seats in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system on July 8. The nomination process, which began on Friday, would continue till June 15, SEC had announced last week. KOLKATA: Several incidents of clashes were reported from different parts of West Bengal on Monday, as unidentified miscreants allegedly attacked opposition candidates while they were on their way to file nomination papers for the panchayat polls, a senior official said. The clashes were reported in Daspur (Paschim Medinipur), Kakdwip (South 24 Parganas), Raninagar (Murshidabad), Saktinagar and Barshul (both in Purba Bardhaman) and Minakhan (North 24 Parganas), he said. The ruling Trinamool Congress accused the opposition parties of forming an "unholy nexus" to delay the elections and tarnish the state's image due to fear of defeat.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Opposition BJP, Congress, and CPI(M), on the other hand, alleged that their candidates have been prevented by TMC activists from submitting nomination papers in various districts and argued that without the deployment of central forces, it is impossible to have peaceful and fair elections in the state. A CPI(M) party office at Minakhan in Basirhat subdivision was "vandalised" and the candidate was "assaulted" by the miscreants when he was going to file his nomination, the official said. In another incident at Sonamukhi in Bankura district, BJP MLA Dibakar Gharami was allegedly attacked by unidentified people as he was heading to the nomination centre. "Several such incidents of clashes have been reported, and we have sought details in this regard from the DMs and SPs," the senior State Election Commission (SEC) official told PTI. The development comes on a day the SEC directed all district magistrates and superintendents of police to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CRPC in a one-km radius of all nomination centres. The orders, which were issued on Sunday, will be in force till Thursday. The panchayat polls are scheduled to be held on July 8. The SEC official said over 10,000 nomination papers have been filed so far. Meanwhile, the SEC on Monday told the Calcutta High Court that it can extend the last date of filing nominations for the panchayat polls by a day to June 16. After hearing petitions of opposition leaders for an extension of the date for filing nominations and deployment of central forces for the July 8 polls, the court had on June 9 observed that the time given for filing papers is prima facie inadequate. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "The fact is that the opposition, the BJP, CPI (M), and the Congress -- were trying to delay the panchayat polls out of the fear of defeat and their inability to put up candidates in all seats. We challenge them to publish the list of their candidates for all seats." Mocking the opposition for complaining about lack of time to file nominations, Ghosh said, "If they can't find candidates, we will provide them with one. The unholy nexus of the BJP, Congress and the CPI(M) is trying to malign the state by disturbing the peaceful law and order situation in the state." "The SEC is working like a frontal organisation of the TMC. With the deployment of central forces, free and fair elections are not possible in West Bengal. The TMC wants to turn this panchayat election into a farce, just like 2018," BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said. In the 2018 rural polls, the TMC won 90 per cent of the Panchayat seats in the state and all 22 Zila Parishads. However, these elections were marred by widespread violence and malpractices, with the opposition alleging they were prevented from filing nominations in many seats. State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the people of West Bengal can cast their votes only if central forces are deployed. "The TMC just wants to loot the public mandate, and the SEC and the state police are just working as its frontal organisations," he said. In 2013, the panchayat polls were held with central forces stationed at every polling booth in the state. Despite their deployment, the TMC, which had been in power for two years then, won over 85 per cent of the seats, with the opposition alleging malpractices. CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim said, "We strongly condemn the terror tactics adopted by the TMC to derail the democratic process by unleashing violence on opposition candidates filing nominations for the upcoming panchayat elections." Elections will be held for nearly 75,000 seats in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system on July 8. The nomination process, which began on Friday, would continue till June 15, SEC had announced last week. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to testify at the parliamentary select committee probing the causes and course of the 2020 Second Karabakh War. The commission said it sent a formal invitation to Pashinyan to attend a session on June 20 at 10:00. PM Pashinyan has agreed to participate, the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs said in a statement on Monday. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon officials to break the shackles of hierarchy and end silos to enhance service delivery. Inaugurating the first National Training Conclave in Delhi, he highlighted the importance of capacity building and turning challenges into opportunities. Over 1,500 participants drawn from training and research institutes across the country attended the event. In his speech, Modi emphasised the need for officials to go the extra mile to ensure better service. He said just like the Army has built impeccable credibility in the eyes of the public, officials must inculcate peoples trust in the government system. The PM also highlighted the importance of service orientation of government work, ownership in realising the aspirations of common people and the zeal to improve the system, among other things. Sharing his experience as Gujarat's chief minister and now as the prime minister, Modi said the government faces no shortage of talented, dedicated and experienced people. Dwelling on the vertical and horizontal silos, he urged officials to seek out those with experience regardless of hierarchy to ensure better outcomes. Later, taking to Twitter, the PM said the conclave was scheduled as a part of the governments efforts to learn and serve better. According to an official statement, 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. The conclave is yet another step in this direction, it added. The conclave had eight-panel discussions over various issues related to capacity building. Officials from central and state government departments, local bodies, as well as experts from the private sector took part in the deliberations. NEW DELHI: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon officials to break the shackles of hierarchy and end silos to enhance service delivery. Inaugurating the first National Training Conclave in Delhi, he highlighted the importance of capacity building and turning challenges into opportunities. Over 1,500 participants drawn from training and research institutes across the country attended the event. In his speech, Modi emphasised the need for officials to go the extra mile to ensure better service. He said just like the Army has built impeccable credibility in the eyes of the public, officials must inculcate peoples trust in the government system. The PM also highlighted the importance of service orientation of government work, ownership in realising the aspirations of common people and the zeal to improve the system, among other things. Sharing his experience as Gujarat's chief minister and now as the prime minister, Modi said the government faces no shortage of talented, dedicated and experienced people.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Dwelling on the vertical and horizontal silos, he urged officials to seek out those with experience regardless of hierarchy to ensure better outcomes. Later, taking to Twitter, the PM said the conclave was scheduled as a part of the governments efforts to learn and serve better. According to an official statement, 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. The conclave is yet another step in this direction, it added. The conclave had eight-panel discussions over various issues related to capacity building. Officials from central and state government departments, local bodies, as well as experts from the private sector took part in the deliberations. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Health Ministry has asked the IT Ministry to look into CoWIN portal data leaks after reports of the same circulated. According to Government sources, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) will examine the issue. "We are finding the cause of this breach. We have informed the IT Ministry and CERT-In will examine it," a top Health Ministry official told TNIE. According to media reports, data and personal information of citizens who registered on the CoWIN app for covid vaccination are easily available on the Telegram app. A bot on a Telegram group was providing details like names, dates of birth, and phone numbers besides other information like passport or Aadhar number of individuals registered on the CoWIN portal. This is not the first time that the data breach has been reported because of the CoWIN portal. In June 2021, a hacker group named Dark Leak Market reportedly gained access to the database of nearly 15 crore Indians registered on the portal for getting Covid jabs. NEW DELHI: Health Ministry has asked the IT Ministry to look into CoWIN portal data leaks after reports of the same circulated. According to Government sources, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) will examine the issue. "We are finding the cause of this breach. We have informed the IT Ministry and CERT-In will examine it," a top Health Ministry official told TNIE. According to media reports, data and personal information of citizens who registered on the CoWIN app for covid vaccination are easily available on the Telegram app.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A bot on a Telegram group was providing details like names, dates of birth, and phone numbers besides other information like passport or Aadhar number of individuals registered on the CoWIN portal. This is not the first time that the data breach has been reported because of the CoWIN portal. In June 2021, a hacker group named Dark Leak Market reportedly gained access to the database of nearly 15 crore Indians registered on the portal for getting Covid jabs. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Around 70 representatives of persecuted minority groups from more than a dozen countries including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mongolia have held closed-door deliberations in Dharamshala on the theme China and the Changing Global Order: Prospects and Challenges. The delegates, including representatives of Chinas Uyghurs community, also met His Highness Dalai Lama on Saturday, sources said. There was a three-day event organised by the Tibet Policy Institute on the premises of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah and these delegates spoke about the atrocities inflicted upon the minorities in China and how the dissenters could get together to return to a democratic process, Tibet Policy Institute said in a statement The delegates were shown a video documentary on Uyghurs and Tibetans, titled A shared agenda for national survival and justice. The delegates deliberated on how they could get their issues noticed by the international community, which is fixated on the circumstances created by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For the past 63 years that we have been under exile, we have learnt to govern under a democratic process despite facing stiff opposition from China. All the groups here have major challenges from the Chinese government and their policies on minorities and we want to resolve this without the use of any violence. But we need to be united in order to bring about reform, said SikyongPempa Tsering from the Central Tibetian Administration, while addressing the delegates. Tsering told the gathering that the persecuted minorities must make every effort to convince the international community that although Russia may be the short-term threat, the longterm threat would come from China with its vast trade and infrastructure network. We have to reach out to the European Union, which needs to realise that the immediate threat may be Russia but the long-term threat is China which has expanded its trade network with them and soon it will become difficult for them to tame the dragon, Tsering said. The delegates were also urged to detail the situation of the minority groups in their regions. According to sources, there was a detailed discussion about setting up a Tibetian language or Tibetian History and Literature Broadcasting in Taiwan. NEW DELHI: Around 70 representatives of persecuted minority groups from more than a dozen countries including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mongolia have held closed-door deliberations in Dharamshala on the theme China and the Changing Global Order: Prospects and Challenges. The delegates, including representatives of Chinas Uyghurs community, also met His Highness Dalai Lama on Saturday, sources said. There was a three-day event organised by the Tibet Policy Institute on the premises of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah and these delegates spoke about the atrocities inflicted upon the minorities in China and how the dissenters could get together to return to a democratic process, Tibet Policy Institute said in a statementgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The delegates were shown a video documentary on Uyghurs and Tibetans, titled A shared agenda for national survival and justice. The delegates deliberated on how they could get their issues noticed by the international community, which is fixated on the circumstances created by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For the past 63 years that we have been under exile, we have learnt to govern under a democratic process despite facing stiff opposition from China. All the groups here have major challenges from the Chinese government and their policies on minorities and we want to resolve this without the use of any violence. But we need to be united in order to bring about reform, said SikyongPempa Tsering from the Central Tibetian Administration, while addressing the delegates. Tsering told the gathering that the persecuted minorities must make every effort to convince the international community that although Russia may be the short-term threat, the longterm threat would come from China with its vast trade and infrastructure network. We have to reach out to the European Union, which needs to realise that the immediate threat may be Russia but the long-term threat is China which has expanded its trade network with them and soon it will become difficult for them to tame the dragon, Tsering said. The delegates were also urged to detail the situation of the minority groups in their regions. According to sources, there was a detailed discussion about setting up a Tibetian language or Tibetian History and Literature Broadcasting in Taiwan. Express News Service NEW DELHI: Describing reports of the CoWIN data leak as "mischievous" and "without any basis," the government on Monday claimed that the data collected by the portal was "completely safe." However, the centre ordered a probe from the CERT-IN (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) to look into the alleged data leak following reports that the personal information of people, including some opposition leaders and bureaucrats, have been breached from the CoWIN portal, Indias Covid-19 vaccination tracking platform. As opposition targeted the government, Union Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in a tweet said a Telegram Bot was throwing up Cowin app details upon entry of phone numbers. The data being accessed by a bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from past. He also said that it does not appear that the Cowin app or database has been directly breached. National Data Governance policy has been finalised to create a common framework of Data storage, Access and Security standards across all of govt. Highlighting that the CoWIN portal is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy, the Union Health Ministry said, It is clarified that all such reports are without any basis and mischievous in nature. The ministry said that certain posts on the social media platform Twitter have claimed using Telegram (online messenger application) BOT, the personal data of individuals vaccinated is being accessed. It is reported that the BOT has been able to pull individual data by simply passing the mobile number or Aadhaar number of a beneficiary, it said. The ministry said security measures are in place on the CoWIN portal, with Web Application Firewall, Anti-DDoS, SSL/TLS, regular vulnerability assessment, Identity & Access Management etc. Only OTP authentication-based access of data is provided. All steps have been taken and are being taken to ensure the security of the data in the CoWIN portal. The ministry requested CERT-In to look into the issue and submit a report. In addition, an internal exercise has been initiated to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. CERT-In, in its initial report, has pointed out that the backend database for the Telegram bot was not directly accessing the APIs of the CoWIN database, it said. The ministry also said that CoWIN only collects their year of birth and that there is no provision to capture a persons address on the portal. In a tweet, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Saket Gokhale shared screenshots of the alleged data breach. He said the leaked data included details of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Haribansh Narayan Singh; Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan; Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and KC Venugopal; Rajya Sabha MPs Derek OBrien, Sushmita Dev and Sanjay Raut. SHOCKING: There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked & are freely available. Some examples (1/7) Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 However, the Telegram account which shared the personal details has been inactive since morning. This is not the first time CoWIN has come under the scanner for being vulnerable to data breaches. Such a breach was also reported in 2022. The government had denied it then and had said it was "safe and secure." Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said the personal information of all Indian citizens, who were registered on the portal, had been leaked, including Aadhaar, Pan card, and mobile numbers. "The Modi government has compromised the security and privacy of Indians! This is criminal negligence." In a statement, the CPI-M demanded a thorough investigation. "This is of serious concern and an infringement of the right to privacy, which the Supreme Court declared as a fundamental right of all Indians." The CoWIN portal - a comprehensive cloud-based IT solution for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccination in India is owned and operated by the union health ministry. It has details of over 100 individuals, including over four crore children between the age of 12-14 and over 37 crore people over the age of 45. NEW DELHI: Describing reports of the CoWIN data leak as "mischievous" and "without any basis," the government on Monday claimed that the data collected by the portal was "completely safe." However, the centre ordered a probe from the CERT-IN (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) to look into the alleged data leak following reports that the personal information of people, including some opposition leaders and bureaucrats, have been breached from the CoWIN portal, Indias Covid-19 vaccination tracking platform. As opposition targeted the government, Union Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in a tweet said a Telegram Bot was throwing up Cowin app details upon entry of phone numbers. The data being accessed by a bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from past. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He also said that it does not appear that the Cowin app or database has been directly breached. National Data Governance policy has been finalised to create a common framework of Data storage, Access and Security standards across all of govt. Highlighting that the CoWIN portal is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy, the Union Health Ministry said, It is clarified that all such reports are without any basis and mischievous in nature. The ministry said that certain posts on the social media platform Twitter have claimed using Telegram (online messenger application) BOT, the personal data of individuals vaccinated is being accessed. It is reported that the BOT has been able to pull individual data by simply passing the mobile number or Aadhaar number of a beneficiary, it said. The ministry said security measures are in place on the CoWIN portal, with Web Application Firewall, Anti-DDoS, SSL/TLS, regular vulnerability assessment, Identity & Access Management etc. Only OTP authentication-based access of data is provided. All steps have been taken and are being taken to ensure the security of the data in the CoWIN portal. The ministry requested CERT-In to look into the issue and submit a report. In addition, an internal exercise has been initiated to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. CERT-In, in its initial report, has pointed out that the backend database for the Telegram bot was not directly accessing the APIs of the CoWIN database, it said. The ministry also said that CoWIN only collects their year of birth and that there is no provision to capture a persons address on the portal. In a tweet, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Saket Gokhale shared screenshots of the alleged data breach. He said the leaked data included details of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Haribansh Narayan Singh; Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan; Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and KC Venugopal; Rajya Sabha MPs Derek OBrien, Sushmita Dev and Sanjay Raut. SHOCKING: There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked & are freely available. Some examples (1/7) Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 However, the Telegram account which shared the personal details has been inactive since morning. This is not the first time CoWIN has come under the scanner for being vulnerable to data breaches. Such a breach was also reported in 2022. The government had denied it then and had said it was "safe and secure." Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said the personal information of all Indian citizens, who were registered on the portal, had been leaked, including Aadhaar, Pan card, and mobile numbers. "The Modi government has compromised the security and privacy of Indians! This is criminal negligence." In a statement, the CPI-M demanded a thorough investigation. "This is of serious concern and an infringement of the right to privacy, which the Supreme Court declared as a fundamental right of all Indians." The CoWIN portal - a comprehensive cloud-based IT solution for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccination in India is owned and operated by the union health ministry. It has details of over 100 individuals, including over four crore children between the age of 12-14 and over 37 crore people over the age of 45. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: In Varanasi to preside over the G-20 meeting of development ministers, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, on Sunday, claimed that in crisis, India and its leadership has always been trusted. Wherever there is any crisis, we can trust our country, Jaishankar said while addressing a seminar on Indian Foreign Policy Objectives and features at the Gandhi Adhyayan Peeth Auditorium on the eve of the G-20 meeting which commenced formally with a Sunday dinner in PM Modis parliamentary constituency Varanasi. The EAM said that not just Indians but even people from over 100 developing nations had trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and that he would find a solution whenever there was a crisis. Earlier on Sunday morning, Jaishankar had breakfast at Dalit booth president Sujata Dhusias residence which he later wrote about on Twitter, The breakfast was delicious. From today onwards, we are having G-20 programs in Varanasi; there will be discussions on food security, grains, fertilisers & millet. The G-20 Development Ministers Meeting under the Indian presidency is scheduled to be held from June 12-13 in Varanasi. The meeting will have a video address by the PM on Monday. 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. Jaishankar held meetings with various dignitaries on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting. He also met Australian development minister Pat Conroy on Sunday. While talking about Indias foreign policy achievements and rescue operations carried out in various countries to bring home stranded Indians, he said, You will remember Indians stranded in Ukraine were brought back through Operation Ganga. Residents in Sudan were also brought home through Operation Kaveri. Countrymen were brought from Ukraine by 90 flights. There was an earthquake in Nepal, and then there was a storm in Myanmar. Similarly, the rescue operation we did in Turkiye after the massive earthquake. G-20 meet in Varanasi amid mounting issues The G-20 Development Ministers Meeting under the Indian presidency is scheduled to be held from June 12-13 in Varanasi. The meeting will have a video address by the PM on Monday. 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, among others. LUCKNOW: In Varanasi to preside over the G-20 meeting of development ministers, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, on Sunday, claimed that in crisis, India and its leadership has always been trusted. Wherever there is any crisis, we can trust our country, Jaishankar said while addressing a seminar on Indian Foreign Policy Objectives and features at the Gandhi Adhyayan Peeth Auditorium on the eve of the G-20 meeting which commenced formally with a Sunday dinner in PM Modis parliamentary constituency Varanasi. The EAM said that not just Indians but even people from over 100 developing nations had trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and that he would find a solution whenever there was a crisis. Earlier on Sunday morning, Jaishankar had breakfast at Dalit booth president Sujata Dhusias residence which he later wrote about on Twitter, The breakfast was delicious. From today onwards, we are having G-20 programs in Varanasi; there will be discussions on food security, grains, fertilisers & millet.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The G-20 Development Ministers Meeting under the Indian presidency is scheduled to be held from June 12-13 in Varanasi. The meeting will have a video address by the PM on Monday. 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. Jaishankar held meetings with various dignitaries on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting. He also met Australian development minister Pat Conroy on Sunday. While talking about Indias foreign policy achievements and rescue operations carried out in various countries to bring home stranded Indians, he said, You will remember Indians stranded in Ukraine were brought back through Operation Ganga. Residents in Sudan were also brought home through Operation Kaveri. Countrymen were brought from Ukraine by 90 flights. There was an earthquake in Nepal, and then there was a storm in Myanmar. Similarly, the rescue operation we did in Turkiye after the massive earthquake. G-20 meet in Varanasi amid mounting issues The G-20 Development Ministers Meeting under the Indian presidency is scheduled to be held from June 12-13 in Varanasi. The meeting will have a video address by the PM on Monday. 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, among others. By PTI MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday sought the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) response on the bail plea of activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad Maoist links case. A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and S G Dige said it would hear Navlakha's plea on June 28. The bench also directed the activist's lawyers to ensure all dates in relation to the case are placed on record correctly, as his bail plea was heard twice by the special NIA court. In April this year, the special court had refused Navlakha bail noting that there was prima facie evidence to show that the activist was an active member of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). In his appeal filed in the high court, Navlakha said the special court had erred while refusing him bail. The Supreme Court in November last year permitted the activist, who was arrested in August 2018, to be placed under house arrest. He is presently residing in Navi Mumbai in neighbouring Thane district. This is Navlakha's second round of appeals in the high court seeking regular bail. The activist had earlier moved the high court after the special NIA court had rejected his regular bail plea in September last year. The NIA had then opposed Navlakha's bail plea, claiming that he had been introduced to a Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General for his recruitment, which shows his nexus with the organisation. The high court had, however, opined that the reasoning in the order of the special court was cryptic and did not contain an analysis of the evidence relied upon by the prosecution. In view of this, the high court had ruled that the bail application requires a fresh hearing by the special court, and had remanded the case back to the court. It had also directed the special judge to conclude the hearing within four weeks. Accordingly, Navlakha had moved the special court for rehearing his case for regular bail. The special court had then reheard the plea on the same pleadings and rejected the bail plea prompting the present appeal. The case against Navlakha relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claim triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima War Memorial there. MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday sought the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) response on the bail plea of activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad Maoist links case. A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and S G Dige said it would hear Navlakha's plea on June 28. The bench also directed the activist's lawyers to ensure all dates in relation to the case are placed on record correctly, as his bail plea was heard twice by the special NIA court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In April this year, the special court had refused Navlakha bail noting that there was prima facie evidence to show that the activist was an active member of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). In his appeal filed in the high court, Navlakha said the special court had erred while refusing him bail. The Supreme Court in November last year permitted the activist, who was arrested in August 2018, to be placed under house arrest. He is presently residing in Navi Mumbai in neighbouring Thane district. This is Navlakha's second round of appeals in the high court seeking regular bail. The activist had earlier moved the high court after the special NIA court had rejected his regular bail plea in September last year. The NIA had then opposed Navlakha's bail plea, claiming that he had been introduced to a Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General for his recruitment, which shows his nexus with the organisation. The high court had, however, opined that the reasoning in the order of the special court was cryptic and did not contain an analysis of the evidence relied upon by the prosecution. In view of this, the high court had ruled that the bail application requires a fresh hearing by the special court, and had remanded the case back to the court. It had also directed the special judge to conclude the hearing within four weeks. Accordingly, Navlakha had moved the special court for rehearing his case for regular bail. The special court had then reheard the plea on the same pleadings and rejected the bail plea prompting the present appeal. The case against Navlakha relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claim triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima War Memorial there. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: As India celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark 75 glorious years of independence, tribals living in the remote Maoist-affected Bijapur district of Bastar, about 380 km south of Raipur have received their very first identity cards. As many as 233 tribals of distantly located Gampur village got their voter ID cards issued for the first time. It was not an easy task for the Bijapur administration that reached out to inhabitants of Gampur, that are not only illiterate but also do not have a mobile phone or an Aadhaar card. After being enrolled in the voters' list, the Gampur villagers can now exercise their right to franchise. We are trying to reach out to such habitats in Maoist strongholds by organising camps at convenient places like local weekly haat bazaar, where the villagers turn up in good numbers in groups, Rajendra Katara, Bijapur collector told this newspaper. The administration got their voter IDs issued by the Election Commission prepared for the tribals settled in the Maoist epicentre so that they can vote in the upcoming Assembly polls due later this year in Chhattisgarh. Besides the voter ID cards, the villagers were also issued Aadhaar, ration, Ayushman and labour cards. According to the Bijapur district administration, there are still such tribal villages where people do not have voter ID cards. It can be due to missing identity proof or the looming influence of left-wing extremists. The administration plans to reach out to them as well. The efforts to enrol them continue despite the challenge of Maoists calls for a poll boycott. Officials in Bijapur admitted that over 40 per cent of the district remains under the sway of the left-wing extremists, consequently, any programme or plan needs implied consent from Maoists. The local tribes often cover 20-25 km to reach a camp in remote Bastar. Gampur tribals from Bijapur had to attend the camp at Kirandul in the adjoining Dantewada district. RAIPUR: As India celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark 75 glorious years of independence, tribals living in the remote Maoist-affected Bijapur district of Bastar, about 380 km south of Raipur have received their very first identity cards. As many as 233 tribals of distantly located Gampur village got their voter ID cards issued for the first time. It was not an easy task for the Bijapur administration that reached out to inhabitants of Gampur, that are not only illiterate but also do not have a mobile phone or an Aadhaar card. After being enrolled in the voters' list, the Gampur villagers can now exercise their right to franchise. We are trying to reach out to such habitats in Maoist strongholds by organising camps at convenient places like local weekly haat bazaar, where the villagers turn up in good numbers in groups, Rajendra Katara, Bijapur collector told this newspaper.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The administration got their voter IDs issued by the Election Commission prepared for the tribals settled in the Maoist epicentre so that they can vote in the upcoming Assembly polls due later this year in Chhattisgarh. Besides the voter ID cards, the villagers were also issued Aadhaar, ration, Ayushman and labour cards. According to the Bijapur district administration, there are still such tribal villages where people do not have voter ID cards. It can be due to missing identity proof or the looming influence of left-wing extremists. The administration plans to reach out to them as well. The efforts to enrol them continue despite the challenge of Maoists calls for a poll boycott. Officials in Bijapur admitted that over 40 per cent of the district remains under the sway of the left-wing extremists, consequently, any programme or plan needs implied consent from Maoists. The local tribes often cover 20-25 km to reach a camp in remote Bastar. Gampur tribals from Bijapur had to attend the camp at Kirandul in the adjoining Dantewada district. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Janata Dal (United) president and MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said on Sunday that two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti would also attend the proposed meeting of Opposition parties in Patna on June 23. Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a 'Milan Samaroh', Singh said that senior leaders of 18 political parties have confirmed to attend the meeting to chalk out a strategy against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "In all, leaders of 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. He said chief ministers of five states Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi and Tamil Nadu will be present at the meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The meeting will also see the participation of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. In addition, former Chief Ministers of some states, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray would also attend the meeting. The 18 parties that have already consented to attend the meeting include Congress, RJD, JD(U), TMC, CPI, CPM, CPI-ML, SP, DMK, NCP, National Conference, PDP, AAP, HAM, Indian National Lok Dal, Shiv Sena (UBT) and JMM. It will be the first meeting of non-BJP parties to dwell upon forging a broader unity among Opposition parties to oust the BJP from power at the centre. Former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad talked to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over the phone on Saturday and invited him to the meeting. Lalu is camping in Patna to monitor the preparations for the proposed meeting. On Sunday, he told a select group of journalists that preparations for the Opposition parties meeting in the state capital were complete. It will be a historic meeting against the BJP, he said. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12. However, it was deferred as some leaders had expressed their inability to attend the meeting on that day due to their busy schedules on that day. Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin had requested to defer the date of the meeting. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were also not available on that day. Last week, Nitish claimed that leaders of all Opposition parties have confirmed to attend the meeting. PATNA: Janata Dal (United) president and MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said on Sunday that two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti would also attend the proposed meeting of Opposition parties in Patna on June 23. Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a 'Milan Samaroh', Singh said that senior leaders of 18 political parties have confirmed to attend the meeting to chalk out a strategy against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "In all, leaders of 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said chief ministers of five states Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Delhi and Tamil Nadu will be present at the meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The meeting will also see the participation of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. In addition, former Chief Ministers of some states, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray would also attend the meeting. The 18 parties that have already consented to attend the meeting include Congress, RJD, JD(U), TMC, CPI, CPM, CPI-ML, SP, DMK, NCP, National Conference, PDP, AAP, HAM, Indian National Lok Dal, Shiv Sena (UBT) and JMM. It will be the first meeting of non-BJP parties to dwell upon forging a broader unity among Opposition parties to oust the BJP from power at the centre. Former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad talked to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over the phone on Saturday and invited him to the meeting. Lalu is camping in Patna to monitor the preparations for the proposed meeting. On Sunday, he told a select group of journalists that preparations for the Opposition parties meeting in the state capital were complete. It will be a historic meeting against the BJP, he said. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12. However, it was deferred as some leaders had expressed their inability to attend the meeting on that day due to their busy schedules on that day. Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin had requested to defer the date of the meeting. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were also not available on that day. Last week, Nitish claimed that leaders of all Opposition parties have confirmed to attend the meeting. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Union minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take concrete steps for the repatriation of all illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingya Muslims from the state. The Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department made the remark while replying to a query during his interaction with a group of students in Begusarai, his constituency in Bihar. The BJPs firebrand leader said that all foreign infiltrators should be repatriated from the state. He maintained that the BJP would take steps for the repatriation of Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims if his party formed the government in the state after the next assembly elections if the Nitish government failed to do so. Singh said the Bangladeshi insurgents should not be viewed from the prism of vote bank politics as the country was already bearing the burden of a huge population. Nitish should identify all insurgents and should take steps for their repatriation from the state. BJP will take necessary measures for it if it forms the government in the state, he added. Earlier, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary had asserted that all Bangladeshi insurgents would be thrown out of Bihar after identifying them. The BJP keeps alleging that the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region of the state, bordering Nepal, has a substantial population of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi infiltrators. On Friday, Giriraj had stoked a controversy when he described Nathuram Godse as saput (son) of Bharat Mata. The minister had said that Godse was born in this country and was not an invader like Babur or Aurangzeb. PATNA: Union minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take concrete steps for the repatriation of all illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingya Muslims from the state. The Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department made the remark while replying to a query during his interaction with a group of students in Begusarai, his constituency in Bihar. The BJPs firebrand leader said that all foreign infiltrators should be repatriated from the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He maintained that the BJP would take steps for the repatriation of Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims if his party formed the government in the state after the next assembly elections if the Nitish government failed to do so. Singh said the Bangladeshi insurgents should not be viewed from the prism of vote bank politics as the country was already bearing the burden of a huge population. Nitish should identify all insurgents and should take steps for their repatriation from the state. BJP will take necessary measures for it if it forms the government in the state, he added. Earlier, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary had asserted that all Bangladeshi insurgents would be thrown out of Bihar after identifying them. The BJP keeps alleging that the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region of the state, bordering Nepal, has a substantial population of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi infiltrators. On Friday, Giriraj had stoked a controversy when he described Nathuram Godse as saput (son) of Bharat Mata. The minister had said that Godse was born in this country and was not an invader like Babur or Aurangzeb. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. An Armenian national has been taken into custody by law enforcement officials shortly after arriving at Zvartnots airport in Yerevan from Rome for allegedly trying to smuggle over 120 packages of hashish in his gastrointestinal tract. After conducting an x-ray screening at the airport, authorities determined that the suspect needs medical examination at a hospital. The suspect was taken to a hospital where a tomography exam showed packages in the stomach and colon. The substances were removed by medical personnel. The State Revenue Committee said the drug mule was carrying 110 packages containing hashish and another 16 ruptured packages with the same substance. The total weight of the substance was 652 grams. A criminal investigation is underway. By Express News Service BHOPAL: A major inferno possibly triggered by an electric short circuit in an air conditioner on Monday afternoon, reportedly gutted entire property on four floors of the multi-storied Satpura Bhawan one of the buildings housing various government offices in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal. The fire which originated from the third floor of the government building housing the regional office of the tribal welfare department, soon spread to the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors, gutting property (including important government files) in the office of the health department. According to a senior Bhopal Police officer, the fire spread fast from the third floor to the upper floors, as the raging inferno came in contact with air conditioners and some gas cylinders, triggering multiple blasts on multiple floors. However, human casualty or injury was averted, as the building was evacuated in time. With the available fire tenders and fire brigade personnel, falling short before the raging inferno in the building (located close to the state secretariat or Vallabh Bhawan), firefighters and tenders were pressed into service from areas adjoining Bhopal. Fire brigade vehicles have been pressed into service from all around, including those from Airport and industrial town Mandidip in the adjoining Raisen district. While fire has been doused from third to fifth floors, it remains to spread on the sixth floor four hours after it was triggered, a police officer told this newspaper. While the MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan kept monitoring the progress of the firefighting operations, the opposition Congress smelt a rat in the inferno. Former union minister and ex-state Congress president Arun Yadav and former MP minister PC Sharma tweeted, While our leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the government over scams while launching the partys poll campaign in Jabalpur, back in Bhopal, the major inferno gutted all major government files. Have files related to major scams been burnt to ashes in the fire as part of some conspiracy. This fire is indicating change about to happen in MP. BHOPAL: A major inferno possibly triggered by an electric short circuit in an air conditioner on Monday afternoon, reportedly gutted entire property on four floors of the multi-storied Satpura Bhawan one of the buildings housing various government offices in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal. The fire which originated from the third floor of the government building housing the regional office of the tribal welfare department, soon spread to the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors, gutting property (including important government files) in the office of the health department. According to a senior Bhopal Police officer, the fire spread fast from the third floor to the upper floors, as the raging inferno came in contact with air conditioners and some gas cylinders, triggering multiple blasts on multiple floors.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, human casualty or injury was averted, as the building was evacuated in time. With the available fire tenders and fire brigade personnel, falling short before the raging inferno in the building (located close to the state secretariat or Vallabh Bhawan), firefighters and tenders were pressed into service from areas adjoining Bhopal. Fire brigade vehicles have been pressed into service from all around, including those from Airport and industrial town Mandidip in the adjoining Raisen district. While fire has been doused from third to fifth floors, it remains to spread on the sixth floor four hours after it was triggered, a police officer told this newspaper. While the MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan kept monitoring the progress of the firefighting operations, the opposition Congress smelt a rat in the inferno. Former union minister and ex-state Congress president Arun Yadav and former MP minister PC Sharma tweeted, While our leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the government over scams while launching the partys poll campaign in Jabalpur, back in Bhopal, the major inferno gutted all major government files. Have files related to major scams been burnt to ashes in the fire as part of some conspiracy. This fire is indicating change about to happen in MP. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: As the last Indian journalist prepares to leave China, the Chinese allege that their last journalist in India hasnt got a visa renewal. Since the past few weeks, both nations have indulged in a war of words accusing each other of unfair treatment to their journalists as a result of which there is no representation of media in both countries. "Chinese journalists in India have no difficulties in reporting. However, Indian journalists in China have been operating with difficulties such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or journalists. Foreign media in India can freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus. Indian journalists in China also face restrictions while getting access and travelling locally within China, said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. India hopes that Chinese authorities facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists in working and reporting from China and the two sides remain in touch regarding this issue. Interestingly, India says that it will permit Chinese journalists (like any other from G20 countries) to attend the G20 Summit in September. "We have been holding G20 meetings which have been attended by foreign journalists. The journalists have to register and get accredited and visas are thereafter issued. We will be doing the same for journalists for the upcoming G20 Summit in September, said Bagchi adding that foreign journalists, including Chinese, have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without limitations or difficulties in reporting. Meanwhile, the Chinese have a different story to tell. To begin with, they say that the only Indian journalist in Beijing is working and living normally whereas he was told in March that his visa would not be renewed after it expired in June. "The Indian side hasnt renewed the visa of the last Chinese journalist in the country. Whereas one Indian journalist continues to live and work in China, said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin. However, in March this year, the journalist was told that his visa (which is expiring this month) would not be renewed. China has alleged that their journalists were not given visas to work in India and the ones who did manage got it for a month or fifteen days. "Some Chinese journalists got valid visas for less than one month, or 15 days or seven consecutive times during their five-year posting in India. As a result, many received visas with expiration dates around the corner, and their residence permits, bank cars, driving licenses, and phone cards were always in an expired state and could not be renewed. Even worse, some Chinese journalists could not apply for local bank cards for four and a half years in their five years of stationing in India, Wenbin added. "Media outlets are important bridges for mutual understanding and friendly relations. China stands ready to maintain communication with India under the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. We hope India will work in the same direction as China, take concrete steps and effectively review and approve visas for Chinese journalists as soon as possible, scrap undue restrictions on Chinese journalists, and create conditions for resuming normal exchange between Chinese and Indian media, Wenbin added. NEW DELHI: As the last Indian journalist prepares to leave China, the Chinese allege that their last journalist in India hasnt got a visa renewal. Since the past few weeks, both nations have indulged in a war of words accusing each other of unfair treatment to their journalists as a result of which there is no representation of media in both countries. "Chinese journalists in India have no difficulties in reporting. However, Indian journalists in China have been operating with difficulties such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or journalists. Foreign media in India can freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus. Indian journalists in China also face restrictions while getting access and travelling locally within China, said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. India hopes that Chinese authorities facilitate the continued presence of Indian journalists in working and reporting from China and the two sides remain in touch regarding this issue.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Interestingly, India says that it will permit Chinese journalists (like any other from G20 countries) to attend the G20 Summit in September. "We have been holding G20 meetings which have been attended by foreign journalists. The journalists have to register and get accredited and visas are thereafter issued. We will be doing the same for journalists for the upcoming G20 Summit in September, said Bagchi adding that foreign journalists, including Chinese, have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without limitations or difficulties in reporting. Meanwhile, the Chinese have a different story to tell. To begin with, they say that the only Indian journalist in Beijing is working and living normally whereas he was told in March that his visa would not be renewed after it expired in June. "The Indian side hasnt renewed the visa of the last Chinese journalist in the country. Whereas one Indian journalist continues to live and work in China, said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin. However, in March this year, the journalist was told that his visa (which is expiring this month) would not be renewed. China has alleged that their journalists were not given visas to work in India and the ones who did manage got it for a month or fifteen days. "Some Chinese journalists got valid visas for less than one month, or 15 days or seven consecutive times during their five-year posting in India. As a result, many received visas with expiration dates around the corner, and their residence permits, bank cars, driving licenses, and phone cards were always in an expired state and could not be renewed. Even worse, some Chinese journalists could not apply for local bank cards for four and a half years in their five years of stationing in India, Wenbin added. "Media outlets are important bridges for mutual understanding and friendly relations. China stands ready to maintain communication with India under the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. We hope India will work in the same direction as China, take concrete steps and effectively review and approve visas for Chinese journalists as soon as possible, scrap undue restrictions on Chinese journalists, and create conditions for resuming normal exchange between Chinese and Indian media, Wenbin added. By ANI MUMBAI: The Mumbai Crime Branch have arrested a 34-year-old man from Pune for allegedly issuing death threats on social media to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. "The accused has been identified as Sagar Barve and he works in an IT company," officials said on Sunday. He was presented in a court from where he has been sent to judicial custody till June 13, they said. As per the police, the accused had created two fake social media accounts for sending death threats to the NCP supremo. "Mumbai crime branch arrested a 34-year-old man from Pune in connection with a threat call to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The accused has been identified as Sagar Barve. The police produced him in a court today where the court has sent him to police custody till Tuesday," Mumbai Police said. Supriya Sule said on May 9, alleged receiving a threat message, directed at her father on WhatsApp. Labelling the threat as 'low-level politics', she added that this should stop. "I received a message on WhatsApp for Pawar Sahab. He was threatened through a website. So, I have come to the Police demanding justice. I urge Maharashtra Home Minister and Union Home Minister to act. Such actions represent low-level politics and should stop," Sule told reporters earlier in the week. She added that if justice isn't done in such cases, the Centre and State Home departments will be held responsible. "The police have been informed. The Home Department also needs to intervene in this matter. Politics should be set aside in such cases," Sule added. The NCP leaders told the police that Pawar received a message on Facebook that he will "meet the same fate as Narendra Dabholkar (a rationalist who was shot dead in 2013)." The Mumbai Police had registered a case against two people in connection with the anonymous death threat to Pawar, under sections 153(A), 504 and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Reacting over the alleged threats, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had directed the police to beef up security for the former CM Sharad Pawar. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had also said that although there are ideological differences with the NCP, issuing threats to a prominent Opposition leader won't be tolerated. MUMBAI: The Mumbai Crime Branch have arrested a 34-year-old man from Pune for allegedly issuing death threats on social media to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. "The accused has been identified as Sagar Barve and he works in an IT company," officials said on Sunday. He was presented in a court from where he has been sent to judicial custody till June 13, they said. As per the police, the accused had created two fake social media accounts for sending death threats to the NCP supremo.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Mumbai crime branch arrested a 34-year-old man from Pune in connection with a threat call to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The accused has been identified as Sagar Barve. The police produced him in a court today where the court has sent him to police custody till Tuesday," Mumbai Police said. Supriya Sule said on May 9, alleged receiving a threat message, directed at her father on WhatsApp. Labelling the threat as 'low-level politics', she added that this should stop. "I received a message on WhatsApp for Pawar Sahab. He was threatened through a website. So, I have come to the Police demanding justice. I urge Maharashtra Home Minister and Union Home Minister to act. Such actions represent low-level politics and should stop," Sule told reporters earlier in the week. She added that if justice isn't done in such cases, the Centre and State Home departments will be held responsible. "The police have been informed. The Home Department also needs to intervene in this matter. Politics should be set aside in such cases," Sule added. The NCP leaders told the police that Pawar received a message on Facebook that he will "meet the same fate as Narendra Dabholkar (a rationalist who was shot dead in 2013)." The Mumbai Police had registered a case against two people in connection with the anonymous death threat to Pawar, under sections 153(A), 504 and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Reacting over the alleged threats, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had directed the police to beef up security for the former CM Sharad Pawar. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had also said that although there are ideological differences with the NCP, issuing threats to a prominent Opposition leader won't be tolerated. Anup Verma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday returned to the sacred stage of Ramlila Maidan to launch a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government over its ordinance aimed at curtailing the city governments powers by controlling services, warning other Opposition parties that similar ordinances will be brought to other states as well. His Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was formed at the same venue in November 2012. The AAP supremo said that while they were in Delhi 12 years ago to fight corruption, they are now back to oust a dictator. Twelve years ago, we were here to fight against corruption. This is a sacred stage. We are back here today to oust a dictator from the country. This is a movement to end dictatorship, to bring back democracy, Kejriwal said while calling the ordinance an insult to the people of Delhi. Addressing a massive crowd at a Maha Rally, Kejriwal said, There will be a dictatorship in Delhi where the Lieutenant-Governor is supreme. People can vote for whoever they want, but the Centre will run Delhi. The Supreme Court said that democracy, as well as the will of the people, is supreme. The elected government, irrespective of the party, should have the right to work. Should the Prime Minister adhere to the ruling? Modi Ji said he does not adhere to anyone. He (PM Modi) passed an ordinance, Kejriwal said. I want to tell the people of Delhi that they are not alone in this fight. The people across the country and their leaders are standing in solidarity with you. Over 140 crore people across the country stand with you. This includes the people of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, etc. ...I have received information that this is only the first weapon that BJP plans to use to bring changes to the Constitution that will go on to overthrow democratic institutions. Such ordinances can tomorrow be issued in Rajasthan, Punjab and Maharashtra. So, it needs to be stopped now, he said. NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday returned to the sacred stage of Ramlila Maidan to launch a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government over its ordinance aimed at curtailing the city governments powers by controlling services, warning other Opposition parties that similar ordinances will be brought to other states as well. His Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was formed at the same venue in November 2012. The AAP supremo said that while they were in Delhi 12 years ago to fight corruption, they are now back to oust a dictator. Twelve years ago, we were here to fight against corruption. This is a sacred stage. We are back here today to oust a dictator from the country. This is a movement to end dictatorship, to bring back democracy, Kejriwal said while calling the ordinance an insult to the people of Delhi. Addressing a massive crowd at a Maha Rally, Kejriwal said, There will be a dictatorship in Delhi where the Lieutenant-Governor is supreme. People can vote for whoever they want, but the Centre will run Delhi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Supreme Court said that democracy, as well as the will of the people, is supreme. The elected government, irrespective of the party, should have the right to work. Should the Prime Minister adhere to the ruling? Modi Ji said he does not adhere to anyone. He (PM Modi) passed an ordinance, Kejriwal said. I want to tell the people of Delhi that they are not alone in this fight. The people across the country and their leaders are standing in solidarity with you. Over 140 crore people across the country stand with you. This includes the people of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, etc. ...I have received information that this is only the first weapon that BJP plans to use to bring changes to the Constitution that will go on to overthrow democratic institutions. Such ordinances can tomorrow be issued in Rajasthan, Punjab and Maharashtra. So, it needs to be stopped now, he said. Amit Mukherjee By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With the cyclonic storm Biparjoy intensifying further and assuming an extremely severe form after having recurved towards Gujarat with winds reaching a velocity of about 150 km an hour, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met on Monday and reviewed the preparedness of the Government of Gujarat, central ministries and other agencies as the cyclonic system is approaching the Indian coastline for landfall on June 15. During the meeting held under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) briefed the Committee that the current status of cyclonic storm Biparjoy over east-central Arabian Sea is extremely severe. It is very likely to move nearly northward till the morning of June 14, then move north-northeast-wards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 with wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph, the IMD director said. Intensifying over a period of ten days in the Arabian Sea, Biparjoy is one of the longest-lasting cyclones to impact India in recent decades. With prolonged stay over the sea, a cyclonic formation accumulates more moisture thereby making its nature more destructive when it makes landfall, sources in the IMD said. Besides IMD chief, the meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, Union Home Secretary, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, secretaries of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Power, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Department of Fisheries, DG Telecom, Member Secretary NDMA, CISC IDS,DG IMD, DG NDRF, DG Coast Guard and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Villagers leave Jakhau village during evacuation ahead of cyclone Biparjoys landfall, in Kutch district. (Photo | PTI) The Chief Secretary of Gujarat also apprised the Committee of the preparatory measures being taken to protect the population in the expected path of the cyclonic storm and measures being taken by the local administration. Sources in the NCMC said that Fishermen have been advised not to venture out into the sea and those at sea have been called back to safety. A total of 21,000 boats have been parked so far. A list of all vulnerable villages has been prepared for evacuation purposes. Adequate shelters, power supply, medicine, and emergency services are being kept in readiness and 10 teams of SDRF are being deployed, NCMC sources said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already deployed 12 teams and 3 additional teams are kept in readiness in Gujarat. In addition, 15 teams, - 5 Teams each at Arrakonam (Tamil Nadu), Mundli (Odisha) and Bathinda (Punjab) are kept alert for airlifting on short notice. Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircrafts have been kept ready on standby. A police personnel stands guard at the desserted Dabhari beach ahead of cyclone Biparjoy's landfall in Kutch, in Surat. (Photo | PTI) An adequate number of teams and assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are being deployed to assist the State of Gujarat in their preparedness, rescue, and restoration efforts, an MCMC official said adding regular alerts and advisories are being sent to maritime boards and all stakeholders by DG, Shipping. Also, as part of preparedness offshore Oil fields are being monitored along with the important installations along the coastline of Gujarat and all major ports including Kandla and Mundra have been put on alert. NEW DELHI: With the cyclonic storm Biparjoy intensifying further and assuming an extremely severe form after having recurved towards Gujarat with winds reaching a velocity of about 150 km an hour, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met on Monday and reviewed the preparedness of the Government of Gujarat, central ministries and other agencies as the cyclonic system is approaching the Indian coastline for landfall on June 15. During the meeting held under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) briefed the Committee that the current status of cyclonic storm Biparjoy over east-central Arabian Sea is extremely severe. It is very likely to move nearly northward till the morning of June 14, then move north-northeast-wards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 with wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph, the IMD director said. Intensifying over a period of ten days in the Arabian Sea, Biparjoy is one of the longest-lasting cyclones to impact India in recent decades. With prolonged stay over the sea, a cyclonic formation accumulates more moisture thereby making its nature more destructive when it makes landfall, sources in the IMD said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Besides IMD chief, the meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, Union Home Secretary, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, secretaries of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Power, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Department of Fisheries, DG Telecom, Member Secretary NDMA, CISC IDS,DG IMD, DG NDRF, DG Coast Guard and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Villagers leave Jakhau village during evacuation ahead of cyclone Biparjoys landfall, in Kutch district. (Photo | PTI) The Chief Secretary of Gujarat also apprised the Committee of the preparatory measures being taken to protect the population in the expected path of the cyclonic storm and measures being taken by the local administration. Sources in the NCMC said that Fishermen have been advised not to venture out into the sea and those at sea have been called back to safety. A total of 21,000 boats have been parked so far. A list of all vulnerable villages has been prepared for evacuation purposes. Adequate shelters, power supply, medicine, and emergency services are being kept in readiness and 10 teams of SDRF are being deployed, NCMC sources said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already deployed 12 teams and 3 additional teams are kept in readiness in Gujarat. In addition, 15 teams, - 5 Teams each at Arrakonam (Tamil Nadu), Mundli (Odisha) and Bathinda (Punjab) are kept alert for airlifting on short notice. Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircrafts have been kept ready on standby. A police personnel stands guard at the desserted Dabhari beach ahead of cyclone Biparjoy's landfall in Kutch, in Surat. (Photo | PTI) An adequate number of teams and assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are being deployed to assist the State of Gujarat in their preparedness, rescue, and restoration efforts, an MCMC official said adding regular alerts and advisories are being sent to maritime boards and all stakeholders by DG, Shipping. Also, as part of preparedness offshore Oil fields are being monitored along with the important installations along the coastline of Gujarat and all major ports including Kandla and Mundra have been put on alert. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The nuclear-armed states are increasing the number of operational nuclear weapons, the think-tank SIPRI has stated in its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2023 released on Monday added that China's nuclear arsenal increased in the last one year and it could potentially have at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either the USA or Russia by the turn of the decade. SIPRI's press release estimates that the size of China's nuclear arsenal "increased from 350 warheads in January 2022 to 410 in January 2023, and it is expected to keep growing." It went on to observe that "depending on how it decides to structure its forces, China could potentially have at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either the USA or Russia by the turn of the decade." "China has started a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal," says Hans M Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). "It is increasingly difficult to square this trend with China's declared aim of having only the minimum nuclear forces needed to maintain its national security." ALSO READ | India's nuclear-policy shifts from Pakistan to China India and Pakistan too appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals, and both countries introduced and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery system in 2022. "While Pakistan remains the main focus of India's nuclear deterrent, India (also) appears to be placing growing emphasis on longer-range weapons, including those capable of reaching targets across China," said the report. As per SIPRI, there are nine nuclear-armed states -- the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel -- and they continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals and many of them deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2022. Israel, which does not publicly acknowledge possessing nuclear weapons, is also believed to be modernizing its nuclear arsenal, says SIPRI. Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12512 warheads in January 2023, about 9576 were in military stockpiles for potential use -- 86 more than in January 2022. Of those, an estimated 3844 warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft, and around 2000, nearly all of which belonged to Russia or the USA, were kept in a state of high operational alert, meaning that they were fitted to missiles or held at airbases hosting nuclear bombers. Russia and the USA together possess almost 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. The sizes of their respective nuclear arsenals (i.e. usable warheads) seem to have remained relatively stable in 2022, although transparency regarding nuclear forces declined in both countries in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In addition to their usable nuclear weapons, Russia and the USA each hold more than 1000 warheads previously retired from military service, which they are gradually dismantling. Although the UK is not thought to have increased its nuclear weapon arsenal in 2022, the warhead stockpile is expected to grow in the future as a result of the British government's announcement in 2021 that it was raising its limit from 225 to 260 warheads. In 2022, France continued its programmes to develop a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and a new air-launched cruise missile, as well as to refurbish and upgrade existing systems. Factbox: India's nuclear triad India is working towards maintaining its credible minimum deterrence. India carried out a successful flight test of its new-generation ballistic missile, 'Agni Prime', on Wednesday. In the pursuit to develop a nuclear triad, India carried out a successful user-training launch of INS Arihant in October 2022. INS Arihant is an indigenous SSBN (subsurface ballistic nuclear) submarine. The Army and the Air force had acquired the capabilities to execute nuclear attacks much earlier. The INS Arihant is the first of the four Arihant class attack submarines developed indigenously and is seen as an important component of India's nuclear triad. The submarine is of 6,000-tonne displacement with a length of 110 metres and a breadth of 11 metres. These submarines are designed to carry K4 and K15 SLBMs. The SSBN programme is a key element of India's nuclear deterrence capability in its pursuit for "A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India's policy to have 'Credible Minimum Deterrence' that underpins its 'No First Use' commitment", the Indian Ministry of Defence said then. A nuclear triad is a three-layered military force structure that consists of nuclear bombs and missiles that can be launched through land, water and air. The land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers are the components of the triad. The aim with the nuclear triad is to deter the enemy from initiating a first-strike attack as the reactionary second strike, would lead to an unbearable damage and cost to the attacking country. INS Arihant was inducted in August 2016. The second in the class, INS Arighat, was launched in November 2021. NEW DELHI: The nuclear-armed states are increasing the number of operational nuclear weapons, the think-tank SIPRI has stated in its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2023 released on Monday added that China's nuclear arsenal increased in the last one year and it could potentially have at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either the USA or Russia by the turn of the decade. SIPRI's press release estimates that the size of China's nuclear arsenal "increased from 350 warheads in January 2022 to 410 in January 2023, and it is expected to keep growing."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It went on to observe that "depending on how it decides to structure its forces, China could potentially have at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either the USA or Russia by the turn of the decade." "China has started a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal," says Hans M Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). "It is increasingly difficult to square this trend with China's declared aim of having only the minimum nuclear forces needed to maintain its national security." ALSO READ | India's nuclear-policy shifts from Pakistan to China India and Pakistan too appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals, and both countries introduced and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery system in 2022. "While Pakistan remains the main focus of India's nuclear deterrent, India (also) appears to be placing growing emphasis on longer-range weapons, including those capable of reaching targets across China," said the report. As per SIPRI, there are nine nuclear-armed states -- the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel -- and they continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals and many of them deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2022. Israel, which does not publicly acknowledge possessing nuclear weapons, is also believed to be modernizing its nuclear arsenal, says SIPRI. Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12512 warheads in January 2023, about 9576 were in military stockpiles for potential use -- 86 more than in January 2022. Of those, an estimated 3844 warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft, and around 2000, nearly all of which belonged to Russia or the USA, were kept in a state of high operational alert, meaning that they were fitted to missiles or held at airbases hosting nuclear bombers. Russia and the USA together possess almost 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. The sizes of their respective nuclear arsenals (i.e. usable warheads) seem to have remained relatively stable in 2022, although transparency regarding nuclear forces declined in both countries in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In addition to their usable nuclear weapons, Russia and the USA each hold more than 1000 warheads previously retired from military service, which they are gradually dismantling. Although the UK is not thought to have increased its nuclear weapon arsenal in 2022, the warhead stockpile is expected to grow in the future as a result of the British government's announcement in 2021 that it was raising its limit from 225 to 260 warheads. In 2022, France continued its programmes to develop a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and a new air-launched cruise missile, as well as to refurbish and upgrade existing systems. Factbox: India's nuclear triad India is working towards maintaining its credible minimum deterrence. India carried out a successful flight test of its new-generation ballistic missile, 'Agni Prime', on Wednesday. In the pursuit to develop a nuclear triad, India carried out a successful user-training launch of INS Arihant in October 2022. INS Arihant is an indigenous SSBN (subsurface ballistic nuclear) submarine. The Army and the Air force had acquired the capabilities to execute nuclear attacks much earlier. The INS Arihant is the first of the four Arihant class attack submarines developed indigenously and is seen as an important component of India's nuclear triad. The submarine is of 6,000-tonne displacement with a length of 110 metres and a breadth of 11 metres. These submarines are designed to carry K4 and K15 SLBMs. The SSBN programme is a key element of India's nuclear deterrence capability in its pursuit for "A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India's policy to have 'Credible Minimum Deterrence' that underpins its 'No First Use' commitment", the Indian Ministry of Defence said then. A nuclear triad is a three-layered military force structure that consists of nuclear bombs and missiles that can be launched through land, water and air. The land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers are the components of the triad. The aim with the nuclear triad is to deter the enemy from initiating a first-strike attack as the reactionary second strike, would lead to an unbearable damage and cost to the attacking country. INS Arihant was inducted in August 2016. The second in the class, INS Arighat, was launched in November 2021. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Nearly 1 lakh girls, who had dropped out of school due to various reasons, have now been brought back to schools, officials said Monday. The Union Women and Child Development ministry officials said in 2013-14, states and union territories had put the figure at 1.14 crore, but it came down to five lakh in 2020-21, to 3.8 lakh in 2021-22 and finally to about one lakh in July last year. The drop in the number of girls in the age group of 11-14 years shows that many fake beneficiaries and wrong entries have been removed, officials added. "These one lakh girls have since been brought back to the mainstream education and then the scheme (for adolescent girls) was revised," a senior official, who did not wish to be named, said. These steps were taken after the ministry last year launched a nationwide campaign Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav. The aim of the campaign was to bring back out-of-school adolescent girls in this age group into the education system. The Scheme for Adolescent Girls in the age group of 11-14 years have been discontinued and a revised scheme has been introduced and subsumed under the Saksham Anganwadi (SAG) and Poshan 2.0 Mission. In the revised SAG which covers girls in the 14-18 age group in aspirational and northeast region districts, as many as 22.40 lakh adolescent girls have been identified. "Out of 22 lakh, Aadhaar seeding of 19 lakh has been done, the official said. The Poshan Tracker which monitors and tracks activities of identified anganwadi centres on real-time basis has 9.38 crore Aadhaar-seeded beneficiaries out of a total of 10.06 crore. The official also said that 10 lakh anganwadi centres have been geo-tagged and the work is on for the remaining centres. An age-appropriate take-home ration is being designed for children up to six years of group and a proposal has been sent to the finance ministry. Meanwhile, Women and Child Development Ministry officials said malnutrition figures remain inconsistent. Under the National Family Health Survey-5, 7.7 per cent of children were shown to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and 19.3% of children under SAM and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) cumulatively. However, WCD Ministry data from Poshan Tracker shows that only 2.27 per cent children suffer from SAM and 7.06 per cent from SAM and MAM. The government is also carrying out the Aadhaar-seeding of migrant workers so that they can avail the benefits of the Anganwadi scheme throughout the country. "Till now, 57,000 migrant workers have started benefiting from it. This is an indication that within states and between states coordination has increased, the official said. "We identified 2 lakh anganwadis to make them 'saksham' and we have to make them so by 2025-26. In the first year of 2022-23, we had an aim to do 40,000. We managed to make 41,000 saksham anganwadi and the number would be 81,000 by year-end, the official added. Under the programme to upgrade mini-anganwadi to full-fledged anganwadi, the official said 1.60 lakh mini anganwadis have been identified for upgrade. NEW DELHI: Nearly 1 lakh girls, who had dropped out of school due to various reasons, have now been brought back to schools, officials said Monday. The Union Women and Child Development ministry officials said in 2013-14, states and union territories had put the figure at 1.14 crore, but it came down to five lakh in 2020-21, to 3.8 lakh in 2021-22 and finally to about one lakh in July last year. The drop in the number of girls in the age group of 11-14 years shows that many fake beneficiaries and wrong entries have been removed, officials added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "These one lakh girls have since been brought back to the mainstream education and then the scheme (for adolescent girls) was revised," a senior official, who did not wish to be named, said. These steps were taken after the ministry last year launched a nationwide campaign Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav. The aim of the campaign was to bring back out-of-school adolescent girls in this age group into the education system. The Scheme for Adolescent Girls in the age group of 11-14 years have been discontinued and a revised scheme has been introduced and subsumed under the Saksham Anganwadi (SAG) and Poshan 2.0 Mission. In the revised SAG which covers girls in the 14-18 age group in aspirational and northeast region districts, as many as 22.40 lakh adolescent girls have been identified. "Out of 22 lakh, Aadhaar seeding of 19 lakh has been done, the official said. The Poshan Tracker which monitors and tracks activities of identified anganwadi centres on real-time basis has 9.38 crore Aadhaar-seeded beneficiaries out of a total of 10.06 crore. The official also said that 10 lakh anganwadi centres have been geo-tagged and the work is on for the remaining centres. An age-appropriate take-home ration is being designed for children up to six years of group and a proposal has been sent to the finance ministry. Meanwhile, Women and Child Development Ministry officials said malnutrition figures remain inconsistent. Under the National Family Health Survey-5, 7.7 per cent of children were shown to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and 19.3% of children under SAM and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) cumulatively. However, WCD Ministry data from Poshan Tracker shows that only 2.27 per cent children suffer from SAM and 7.06 per cent from SAM and MAM. The government is also carrying out the Aadhaar-seeding of migrant workers so that they can avail the benefits of the Anganwadi scheme throughout the country. "Till now, 57,000 migrant workers have started benefiting from it. This is an indication that within states and between states coordination has increased, the official said. "We identified 2 lakh anganwadis to make them 'saksham' and we have to make them so by 2025-26. In the first year of 2022-23, we had an aim to do 40,000. We managed to make 41,000 saksham anganwadi and the number would be 81,000 by year-end, the official added. Under the programme to upgrade mini-anganwadi to full-fledged anganwadi, the official said 1.60 lakh mini anganwadis have been identified for upgrade. Shahid Faridi By Express News Service Pawar Play All eyes on cornered Ajits next move Supriya Sule, the newly-appointed working president of the Nationalist Congress Party, had predicted two earthquakes in Maharashtra politics. They have occurred - the resignation of Sharad Pawar as NCP chief and its subsequent withdrawal, and the appointment of Supriya and Praful Patel as the partys second-in-command after Pawar. Observers of Maharashtra politics are now waiting for the third earthquake the next move by Ajit Pawar, the powerful nephew of Sharad Pawar. In the latest round of party appointments, Sharad Pawar has anointed Supriya as his political heir. The new arrangements have left Ajit completely sidelined. He had been arguably the most popular and powerful NCP leader after the party patriarch. No other than Sharad Pawar had groomed him and helped him scale such heights. But he fell out with his uncle on the issue of joining the Maharashtra government with the BJP. The BJP fears continuing with the Sena faction of chief minister Eknath Shinde may hurt it in the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections because of its unpopularity. It has, therefore, been trying to rope in the NCP. Ajit is keen to join the government. But Supriya is not. Sharad Pawar has spoken his mind through the party reshuffle, which is read as an exercise to ring-fence NCP MLAs against a possible poaching attempt by Ajit. All eyes are now on Ajits next move. Desert Storm BJP turns to raje after Karnataka defeat Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje is likely to be catapulted into a position of prominence by the BJP leadership. Sources said a decision to this effect had been taken when party president J P Nadda met home minister Amit Shah and general secretary K L Santosh last week. The top leadership of the BJP feels that one of the reasons for its defeat in Karnataka was the sidelining of its popular state leader B S Yediyurappa. The party does not want to repeat its mistake in Rajasthan. According to sources, Vasundhara may get the post of campaign committee chief. She had earlier been denied the posts of legislature party leader and state president. There are reports that the party had earlier dissociated itself from her district-level outreach programmes. But that was before the Karnataka results came in. The defeat has made the BJP realise that it cannot hope to win state elections merely on the strength of the Prime Ministers popularity. Local leaders are critical for winning state elections. After Nadda met with Shah and Santosh, Vasundhara was called to Delhi. She had a long meeting with Santosh. The two will meet again later this week, and a decision about her role in the next election may be taken. The party had been toying with the idea of leadership change in Rajasthan, where Vasundhara has been a dominant figure. Many leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Railways and MEITY minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were considered as possible faces for the upcoming election. But Karnataka seems to have changed the partys plan. Pawar Play All eyes on cornered Ajits next move Supriya Sule, the newly-appointed working president of the Nationalist Congress Party, had predicted two earthquakes in Maharashtra politics. They have occurred - the resignation of Sharad Pawar as NCP chief and its subsequent withdrawal, and the appointment of Supriya and Praful Patel as the partys second-in-command after Pawar. Observers of Maharashtra politics are now waiting for the third earthquake the next move by Ajit Pawar, the powerful nephew of Sharad Pawar. In the latest round of party appointments, Sharad Pawar has anointed Supriya as his political heir.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The new arrangements have left Ajit completely sidelined. He had been arguably the most popular and powerful NCP leader after the party patriarch. No other than Sharad Pawar had groomed him and helped him scale such heights. But he fell out with his uncle on the issue of joining the Maharashtra government with the BJP. The BJP fears continuing with the Sena faction of chief minister Eknath Shinde may hurt it in the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections because of its unpopularity. It has, therefore, been trying to rope in the NCP. Ajit is keen to join the government. But Supriya is not. Sharad Pawar has spoken his mind through the party reshuffle, which is read as an exercise to ring-fence NCP MLAs against a possible poaching attempt by Ajit. All eyes are now on Ajits next move. Desert Storm BJP turns to raje after Karnataka defeat Former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje is likely to be catapulted into a position of prominence by the BJP leadership. Sources said a decision to this effect had been taken when party president J P Nadda met home minister Amit Shah and general secretary K L Santosh last week. The top leadership of the BJP feels that one of the reasons for its defeat in Karnataka was the sidelining of its popular state leader B S Yediyurappa. The party does not want to repeat its mistake in Rajasthan. According to sources, Vasundhara may get the post of campaign committee chief. She had earlier been denied the posts of legislature party leader and state president. There are reports that the party had earlier dissociated itself from her district-level outreach programmes. But that was before the Karnataka results came in. The defeat has made the BJP realise that it cannot hope to win state elections merely on the strength of the Prime Ministers popularity. Local leaders are critical for winning state elections. After Nadda met with Shah and Santosh, Vasundhara was called to Delhi. She had a long meeting with Santosh. The two will meet again later this week, and a decision about her role in the next election may be taken. The party had been toying with the idea of leadership change in Rajasthan, where Vasundhara has been a dominant figure. Many leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Railways and MEITY minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were considered as possible faces for the upcoming election. But Karnataka seems to have changed the partys plan. By Express News Service The University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC - NET) is a standardised common exam that takes place twice a year. The test determines whether a person is eligible for the post of assistant professor and also grants Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to candidates aspiring for research. In 2013, the UGC announced that the candidates who qualify for this exam shall be eligible for a private college lectureship job and can use this score in their recruitment application for advertised posts in varied disciplines like management, finance, research and development and so on. With time, the NET has metamorphosed into a touchstone to check a students ability to teach at a university level, but there are key questions about the exam becoming more impalpable with time. Establishing efficacy Dr Rimi B Chatterjee, Professor at the Department of English, Jadavpur University (JU), West Bengal, calls UGC NET, an exam quite derivative of the West, hinting that the idea of NET examinations was taken from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) that was introduced in 1936, in the United States that accords admission to masters and doctoral degree programmes to the students. Dr Rimi states, Such exams eventually go out of fashion in the colonial mainland but few are still latching on to it. The redundancy shows when it doesnt measure anything useful. A lot of students come to JU for admission into PhD programmes but their research proposals are not in tune with their NET scores as advertised. Professor Mani RSS, Vice-President, Institutional Development at ITM Group of Institutions and a career counsellor, takes the examination to be a measure or a starting point It tests those who at least have the ability to represent the knowledge gathered in a certain domain as accurately as possible. Dr Sami Anand, Head of Department of the Training and Placement, School of CSE & IT, Lovely Professional University, too says that the exam is not the only benchmark to test a students academic prowess. Prof Mani adds that achieving a great score would not conveniently lead to the conclusion that a student is a good teacher or a researcher, Ability to teach includes presentation skills, ability to tackle questions asked by students and a lot more. Scope for evolution? The post-pandemic time marked a change in the education sector as the medium of instruction was lopsided by the intervention of technology. The approach to various disciplines of study too witnessed a change but what about these examinations, could they also evolve with time? Toshiba Shukla, a UGC-NET mentor and an academician approvingly states that the pattern of the examination has changed in terms of examining a students conceptual clarity. But there is consensus among experts regarding the change that should be incorporated into the examination. Prof Mani says, UGC NET could consider a practicum as a part of the selection process, where, those who want to build a career in teaching should demonstrate their ability to teach both in offline and online modes, plus in hybrid mode too. The exam, a pursuit for jobs? Many candidates appear for the examination to qualify for the position of an assistant professor and be able to teach at universities and take up different jobs under the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), but does this exam guarantee a job and give leverage to your academic career? On this, Dr Anand says that the weightage of UGC-NET is rated high when it comes to jobs with PSUs and more. But UGC-Net is not the end of it all. Dr Manzoor Hussain states that even if UGC-NET is a common test for recruitment, there are other examinations conducted by states public service commissions where the candidate can appear, denoting the other opportunities that are available for aspirants. Toshiba Shukla calls the scenario of employment dynamic. She adds, The probability of getting a job depends on the number of vacancies available in a university. But sometimes even with enough experience or valid scores, finding a job can seem challenging. Kurchika Nath brings our attention to the plight of aspirants and scholars. She states, With the mass production of PhDs as a result of the increasing number of NET and JRF scholars, there are two kinds of academic employment that people seek, some go for college teaching to escape the publish or perish culture. Others, who choose to pursue research, seek to find employment in institutes that focus primarily on research with funds allocated for the same. She also draws attention to the factor of unemployment that is becoming common with the PhD degree holders. Having said that, there are still students who are struggling to get into good PhD programmes or seeking a job. Unemployment is not uncommon among scholars with a PhD degree. The exam, an MCQ Maze? Dr Rimi, who herself hasnt been able to crack it, talks about the hidden trauma of the multiple-choice question (MCQ) pattern where you have to produce and retain knowledge in chunks of information. Prof Mani talks about an alternative way to the exam and asserts, The efficacy can improve if we integrate more depth and for this, a blended pattern including MCQs, short answers and comprehensive passages can be integrated. Dr M Manzoor Hussain, Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad says, even though students must prepare for the exam format which exists, Weightage should be given to demo classes by participant where they exhibit their teaching skills and one can look for the research and publication history of the candidate. Dr Hussain states that there are various processes to go through even after passing the exam so one must prepare accordingly Lovely Majumdar (Inputs from Harsha Tallapragada) The UGC-NET is an established parameter set to scrutinise a persons ability to teach and carry on with their fundamental research. But does this exam validate what it seeks to establish? Lets hear it from the experts and students The University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC - NET) is a standardised common exam that takes place twice a year. The test determines whether a person is eligible for the post of assistant professor and also grants Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to candidates aspiring for research. In 2013, the UGC announced that the candidates who qualify for this exam shall be eligible for a private college lectureship job and can use this score in their recruitment application for advertised posts in varied disciplines like management, finance, research and development and so on. With time, the NET has metamorphosed into a touchstone to check a students ability to teach at a university level, but there are key questions about the exam becoming more impalpable with time.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Establishing efficacy Dr Rimi B Chatterjee, Professor at the Department of English, Jadavpur University (JU), West Bengal, calls UGC NET, an exam quite derivative of the West, hinting that the idea of NET examinations was taken from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) that was introduced in 1936, in the United States that accords admission to masters and doctoral degree programmes to the students. Dr Rimi states, Such exams eventually go out of fashion in the colonial mainland but few are still latching on to it. The redundancy shows when it doesnt measure anything useful. A lot of students come to JU for admission into PhD programmes but their research proposals are not in tune with their NET scores as advertised. Professor Mani RSS, Vice-President, Institutional Development at ITM Group of Institutions and a career counsellor, takes the examination to be a measure or a starting point It tests those who at least have the ability to represent the knowledge gathered in a certain domain as accurately as possible. Dr Sami Anand, Head of Department of the Training and Placement, School of CSE & IT, Lovely Professional University, too says that the exam is not the only benchmark to test a students academic prowess. Prof Mani adds that achieving a great score would not conveniently lead to the conclusion that a student is a good teacher or a researcher, Ability to teach includes presentation skills, ability to tackle questions asked by students and a lot more. Scope for evolution? The post-pandemic time marked a change in the education sector as the medium of instruction was lopsided by the intervention of technology. The approach to various disciplines of study too witnessed a change but what about these examinations, could they also evolve with time? Toshiba Shukla, a UGC-NET mentor and an academician approvingly states that the pattern of the examination has changed in terms of examining a students conceptual clarity. But there is consensus among experts regarding the change that should be incorporated into the examination. Prof Mani says, UGC NET could consider a practicum as a part of the selection process, where, those who want to build a career in teaching should demonstrate their ability to teach both in offline and online modes, plus in hybrid mode too. The exam, a pursuit for jobs? Many candidates appear for the examination to qualify for the position of an assistant professor and be able to teach at universities and take up different jobs under the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), but does this exam guarantee a job and give leverage to your academic career? On this, Dr Anand says that the weightage of UGC-NET is rated high when it comes to jobs with PSUs and more. But UGC-Net is not the end of it all. Dr Manzoor Hussain states that even if UGC-NET is a common test for recruitment, there are other examinations conducted by states public service commissions where the candidate can appear, denoting the other opportunities that are available for aspirants. Toshiba Shukla calls the scenario of employment dynamic. She adds, The probability of getting a job depends on the number of vacancies available in a university. But sometimes even with enough experience or valid scores, finding a job can seem challenging. Kurchika Nath brings our attention to the plight of aspirants and scholars. She states, With the mass production of PhDs as a result of the increasing number of NET and JRF scholars, there are two kinds of academic employment that people seek, some go for college teaching to escape the publish or perish culture. Others, who choose to pursue research, seek to find employment in institutes that focus primarily on research with funds allocated for the same. She also draws attention to the factor of unemployment that is becoming common with the PhD degree holders. Having said that, there are still students who are struggling to get into good PhD programmes or seeking a job. Unemployment is not uncommon among scholars with a PhD degree. The exam, an MCQ Maze? Dr Rimi, who herself hasnt been able to crack it, talks about the hidden trauma of the multiple-choice question (MCQ) pattern where you have to produce and retain knowledge in chunks of information. Prof Mani talks about an alternative way to the exam and asserts, The efficacy can improve if we integrate more depth and for this, a blended pattern including MCQs, short answers and comprehensive passages can be integrated. Dr M Manzoor Hussain, Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad says, even though students must prepare for the exam format which exists, Weightage should be given to demo classes by participant where they exhibit their teaching skills and one can look for the research and publication history of the candidate. Dr Hussain states that there are various processes to go through even after passing the exam so one must prepare accordingly Lovely Majumdar (Inputs from Harsha Tallapragada) The UGC-NET is an established parameter set to scrutinise a persons ability to teach and carry on with their fundamental research. But does this exam validate what it seeks to establish? Lets hear it from the experts and students By PTI THANE: A court in Maharashtra's Thane granted the Uttar Pradesh police transit remand of Shahnawaz Khan to take him to Ghaziabad where he is accused of illegal conversion of youths through an online gaming app, an official said. Khan, who hails from Thane's Mumbra township, was arrested from a relative's place in Alibag in Raigad district on Sunday, the official said. "He is being taken to Ghaziabad from Thane by road," the police official said. A senior official in Ghaziabad said a team had gone to Thane on a four-wheeler to bring Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo. Ghaziabad Commissioner of Police Ajay Mishra told PTI the police team is trying to get air tickets to bring him. The Ghaziabad Police will be joined by the Anti-Terrorist Squad and other investigating agencies to probe Khan's alleged connection with Pakistan and other countries and also investigate his source of funding for allegedly converting Hindu boys through a gaming app, Mishra said. He said police will also probe how many minors have been "trapped" by him and converted to Islam. "What is the motive behind conversion? Baddo's connections with anti-social groups would also be scrutinized," Mishra said. Data from his laptop and mobile phone which he might have deleted would be retrieved, the Commissioner of Police said. According to the Thane police, 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 the cleric and Khan had unlawfully converted his son, who recently passed the class 12 board exam, to Islam. As per the complainant, his son came in contact with Khan through an online gaming app and frequently spoke to him, following which he got inclined towards adopting Islam. THANE: A court in Maharashtra's Thane granted the Uttar Pradesh police transit remand of Shahnawaz Khan to take him to Ghaziabad where he is accused of illegal conversion of youths through an online gaming app, an official said. Khan, who hails from Thane's Mumbra township, was arrested from a relative's place in Alibag in Raigad district on Sunday, the official said. "He is being taken to Ghaziabad from Thane by road," the police official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A senior official in Ghaziabad said a team had gone to Thane on a four-wheeler to bring Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo. Ghaziabad Commissioner of Police Ajay Mishra told PTI the police team is trying to get air tickets to bring him. The Ghaziabad Police will be joined by the Anti-Terrorist Squad and other investigating agencies to probe Khan's alleged connection with Pakistan and other countries and also investigate his source of funding for allegedly converting Hindu boys through a gaming app, Mishra said. He said police will also probe how many minors have been "trapped" by him and converted to Islam. "What is the motive behind conversion? Baddo's connections with anti-social groups would also be scrutinized," Mishra said. Data from his laptop and mobile phone which he might have deleted would be retrieved, the Commissioner of Police said. According to the Thane police, 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 the cleric and Khan had unlawfully converted his son, who recently passed the class 12 board exam, to Islam. As per the complainant, his son came in contact with Khan through an online gaming app and frequently spoke to him, following which he got inclined towards adopting Islam. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani military units opened fire at Armenian military positions near Sotk at 14:15, June 12, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement. The Azerbaijani forces used small arms and mortars in the shooting, the ministry added. The Armenian side did not suffer casualties. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Law reforms in the last 300 years of Indian history have been a continuous process and the Indian Law Commission, which was constituted in 1955, has played a major role in this regard. Tasked with the identification of laws that are not in harmony with the present climate and are no longer needed, the Law Commission aims to play a key role in maintaining satisfactory standards of the quality of laws. Steered by the 'best legal minds' ever since its inception, the commission has been riddled with problems. The fact that only 32.85 per cent of recommendations submitted by the Law Commission by way of 277 reports have been implemented gives us a fair idea of its failure to play an imperative role in influencing the Indian legislative landscape. The first Law Commission gave a report titled, Liability of the State in Torts; in 1956 and recommended enacting comprehensive legislation. A bill was introduced in 1965, which was reintroduced in 1967, but it got lapsed in 1970 due to the resolution of the Parliament. The 22nd Law Commission recently recommended retaining the colonial sedition law, but the Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, in the wake of Opposition backlash, said recommendations in the report were persuasive and not binding. Most of the recommendations are kept in cold storage. According to the Department of Legal Affairs, 16 reports were not accepted by the government. Over 100 reports are pending and information has been collected with regard to 52 reports. The Madras High Court in K Pushpavanam vs The Union of India on August 17, 2021, said: When an advisory body established by executive order for the purpose of making recommendations after analysing the issues thoroughly, inviting inputs from various stakeholders, including the public and after discussing and analysing all the inputs make a recommendation regarding a particular issue, it is the bounden duty of the Government either to act upon the recommendation or to take a decision to accept or to reject. It is very unfortunate that most of the recommendations are not acted upon. If such is the attitude of the government, it would make one think that there is no necessity for any law commission. After completion of the 21st Law Commission in 2018, the notification of the 22nd Law Commission was made after a period of 17 months and the appointment of members in 2022 not only added to the woes but also affected the progress of the law-making process in the country. In the backdrop of limited influence which the Commission enjoys, the need of the hour is to reengineer this agency to strengthen its functioning. This can be done by establishing accountability mechanisms for the Commission, appointing non-executive persons to maintain its independence and re-working its composition in such a manner that it comprises not only members from the legal fraternity but also members who belong to allied fields such as economics, sociology and political science. Matter of fact Only 32.85 per cent of recommendations submitted by way of 277 reports have been implemented Over 16 reports were not accepted by the government Over 100 reports are pending It is very unfortunate that most of the recommendations are not acted upon. It would make one think that there is no necessity for any law commission: Madras HC Recommendations only persuasive and not binding: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal NEW DELHI: Law reforms in the last 300 years of Indian history have been a continuous process and the Indian Law Commission, which was constituted in 1955, has played a major role in this regard. Tasked with the identification of laws that are not in harmony with the present climate and are no longer needed, the Law Commission aims to play a key role in maintaining satisfactory standards of the quality of laws. Steered by the 'best legal minds' ever since its inception, the commission has been riddled with problems.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The fact that only 32.85 per cent of recommendations submitted by the Law Commission by way of 277 reports have been implemented gives us a fair idea of its failure to play an imperative role in influencing the Indian legislative landscape. The first Law Commission gave a report titled, Liability of the State in Torts; in 1956 and recommended enacting comprehensive legislation. A bill was introduced in 1965, which was reintroduced in 1967, but it got lapsed in 1970 due to the resolution of the Parliament. The 22nd Law Commission recently recommended retaining the colonial sedition law, but the Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, in the wake of Opposition backlash, said recommendations in the report were persuasive and not binding. Most of the recommendations are kept in cold storage. According to the Department of Legal Affairs, 16 reports were not accepted by the government. Over 100 reports are pending and information has been collected with regard to 52 reports. The Madras High Court in K Pushpavanam vs The Union of India on August 17, 2021, said: When an advisory body established by executive order for the purpose of making recommendations after analysing the issues thoroughly, inviting inputs from various stakeholders, including the public and after discussing and analysing all the inputs make a recommendation regarding a particular issue, it is the bounden duty of the Government either to act upon the recommendation or to take a decision to accept or to reject. It is very unfortunate that most of the recommendations are not acted upon. If such is the attitude of the government, it would make one think that there is no necessity for any law commission. After completion of the 21st Law Commission in 2018, the notification of the 22nd Law Commission was made after a period of 17 months and the appointment of members in 2022 not only added to the woes but also affected the progress of the law-making process in the country. In the backdrop of limited influence which the Commission enjoys, the need of the hour is to reengineer this agency to strengthen its functioning. This can be done by establishing accountability mechanisms for the Commission, appointing non-executive persons to maintain its independence and re-working its composition in such a manner that it comprises not only members from the legal fraternity but also members who belong to allied fields such as economics, sociology and political science. Matter of fact Only 32.85 per cent of recommendations submitted by way of 277 reports have been implemented Over 16 reports were not accepted by the government Over 100 reports are pending It is very unfortunate that most of the recommendations are not acted upon. It would make one think that there is no necessity for any law commission: Madras HC Recommendations only persuasive and not binding: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal By Express News Service SALEM: Tamil Nadu is facing a financial crisis because the AIADMK government agreed to all regulations brought by the Union government, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Sunday. Speaking in a public meeting after unveiling a statue of former chief minister M Karunanidhi at Anna Park, Stalin said, We are facing a financial crisis due to the signing of the UDAY scheme. There is a crisis because of which the power tariff needs to be changed at regular intervals. However, we are taking measures so as not to affect people. The ruling DMK has brought down the revenue deficit while initiating new schemes. It has not shied away from implementing new ventures citing the fund crunch, Stalin added. Talking about his recent trip to Japan and Singapore, Stalin said, Contracts worth Rs 3,000 crore have been signed through this trip. Most of the companies we met expressed interest in participating in the Global Investors Meet (GIM) to be held in Chennai in January 2024. But even this is vilified by a group that wants to ruin Tamil Nadu. They only know how to vilify. They do not know how to create anything but only know how to destroy. That is what they are doing. I dont have time to answer them. Later, speaking at an event where he inaugurated several welfare projects and distributed assistance to beneficiaries, Stalin said, Salem is intertwined with the life of former DMK chief M Karunanidhi. His birth centenary has begun and it is only befitting that the first statue to mark the celebrations was unveiled here. Announcing the governments plans for the development of Salem, Stalin said, We are working to doing more than the present regime. The foundation stone has been laid for mini Tidel park works in Salem at an estimate of Rs 29.5 crore. A multi-storey manufacturing centre is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 24.55 crore for silver anklet manufacturers. Construction of a textile park at an estimated cost of Rs 880 crore will be started soon. Similarly, 331 new project works have been initiated. This government has always been proactive in the development of the Salem district. Following this, Stalin inaugurated completed projects worth Rs 1,367 crore and laid the foundation stone for new projects worth Rs 236 crore. He also provided welfare assistance worth Rs 170 crore to 50,202 beneficiaries. Ministers Duraimurugan, KN Nehru, MRK Panneerselvam, S Regupathy, M Mathiventhan and MLA R Rajendran were present. On Monday, the chief minister will release Cauvery water from the Mettur dam for delta irrigation. Stalin wishes Lalu Prasad his 76th birthday Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday extended greetings to RJD national president and former chief minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav on his 76th birthday. In his message, Stalin said, Be it reservation for Backward Classes or raising voice for caste census or upholding secularism, the consistent stand of Lalu Prasad makes him an unflinching warrior of social justice. CM congratulates Praful Patel, Supriya Sule Chennai: CM MK Stalin congratulated former union minister Praful Patel and Supriya Sule for being appointed as working presidents of NCP. In a message, Stalin said, Hearty congratulations to Tmt Supriya Sule and Thiru Praful Patel on being appointed as working presidents of NCP. Your efforts for your partys growth and rich parliamentary interventions make it a well-deserved promotion. SALEM: Tamil Nadu is facing a financial crisis because the AIADMK government agreed to all regulations brought by the Union government, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Sunday. Speaking in a public meeting after unveiling a statue of former chief minister M Karunanidhi at Anna Park, Stalin said, We are facing a financial crisis due to the signing of the UDAY scheme. There is a crisis because of which the power tariff needs to be changed at regular intervals. However, we are taking measures so as not to affect people. The ruling DMK has brought down the revenue deficit while initiating new schemes. It has not shied away from implementing new ventures citing the fund crunch, Stalin added. Talking about his recent trip to Japan and Singapore, Stalin said, Contracts worth Rs 3,000 crore have been signed through this trip. Most of the companies we met expressed interest in participating in the Global Investors Meet (GIM) to be held in Chennai in January 2024. But even this is vilified by a group that wants to ruin Tamil Nadu. They only know how to vilify. They do not know how to create anything but only know how to destroy. That is what they are doing. I dont have time to answer them. Later, speaking at an event where he inaugurated several welfare projects and distributed assistance to beneficiaries, Stalin said, Salem is intertwined with the life of former DMK chief M Karunanidhi. His birth centenary has begun and it is only befitting that the first statue to mark the celebrations was unveiled here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Announcing the governments plans for the development of Salem, Stalin said, We are working to doing more than the present regime. The foundation stone has been laid for mini Tidel park works in Salem at an estimate of Rs 29.5 crore. A multi-storey manufacturing centre is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 24.55 crore for silver anklet manufacturers. Construction of a textile park at an estimated cost of Rs 880 crore will be started soon. Similarly, 331 new project works have been initiated. This government has always been proactive in the development of the Salem district. Following this, Stalin inaugurated completed projects worth Rs 1,367 crore and laid the foundation stone for new projects worth Rs 236 crore. He also provided welfare assistance worth Rs 170 crore to 50,202 beneficiaries. Ministers Duraimurugan, KN Nehru, MRK Panneerselvam, S Regupathy, M Mathiventhan and MLA R Rajendran were present. On Monday, the chief minister will release Cauvery water from the Mettur dam for delta irrigation. Stalin wishes Lalu Prasad his 76th birthday Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday extended greetings to RJD national president and former chief minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav on his 76th birthday. In his message, Stalin said, Be it reservation for Backward Classes or raising voice for caste census or upholding secularism, the consistent stand of Lalu Prasad makes him an unflinching warrior of social justice. CM congratulates Praful Patel, Supriya Sule Chennai: CM MK Stalin congratulated former union minister Praful Patel and Supriya Sule for being appointed as working presidents of NCP. In a message, Stalin said, Hearty congratulations to Tmt Supriya Sule and Thiru Praful Patel on being appointed as working presidents of NCP. Your efforts for your partys growth and rich parliamentary interventions make it a well-deserved promotion. By ANI OTTAWA: Canadian Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has come out in support of Indian students facing deportation from Canada and put the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for it. Urging the government to stop the deportations, he urged the government to "prosecute fraudsters" and "let honest students stay and work and contribute to Canada." "The Trudeau government failed to protect international students from crooked scam artists. Now, Trudeau is punishing the victims by deporting the students--even those that acted in good faith & have been working & paying taxes here for years. Prosecute fraudsters. Stop the deportations. Let honest students stay, work & contribute to Canada," Poilievre, the leader of the official Opposition in Canada wrote on Twitter. Poilievre also posted pictures from his meeting with families of students facing deportation. The Trudeau government failed to protect international students from crooked scam artists. Now, Trudeau is punishing the victims by deporting the studentseven those that acted in good faith & have been working & paying taxes here for years. Prosecute fraudsters. Stop the pic.twitter.com/LSbxPEgXqx Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) June 12, 2023 A section of 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. 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. Jaishankar on June 8 while addressing a press conference in New Delhi had said that India will continue to press the case of Indian students stating that is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith and action should be taken against the culpable parties who misled them. "For some time now, there is this case of students, who the Canadians say, did not study in the college in which they should have and when they applied for a work permit, they got into difficulties. From the very start, we have taken up this case and our point is, the students studied in good faith. If there were 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," Jaishankar told reporters. According to sources, some Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters and while according to some media reports some 700 students are protesting their deportation, the actual number is much less than that being reported. 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. 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 visas 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. Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also on Friday wrote letters to the Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Canada High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay to solve the issue of 700 students who are facing deportation from Canada. OTTAWA: Canadian Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has come out in support of Indian students facing deportation from Canada and put the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for it. Urging the government to stop the deportations, he urged the government to "prosecute fraudsters" and "let honest students stay and work and contribute to Canada." "The Trudeau government failed to protect international students from crooked scam artists. Now, Trudeau is punishing the victims by deporting the students--even those that acted in good faith & have been working & paying taxes here for years. Prosecute fraudsters. Stop the deportations. Let honest students stay, work & contribute to Canada," Poilievre, the leader of the official Opposition in Canada wrote on Twitter.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Poilievre also posted pictures from his meeting with families of students facing deportation. The Trudeau government failed to protect international students from crooked scam artists. Now, Trudeau is punishing the victims by deporting the studentseven those that acted in good faith & have been working & paying taxes here for years. Prosecute fraudsters. Stop the pic.twitter.com/LSbxPEgXqx Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) June 12, 2023 A section of 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. 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. Jaishankar on June 8 while addressing a press conference in New Delhi had said that India will continue to press the case of Indian students stating that is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith and action should be taken against the culpable parties who misled them. "For some time now, there is this case of students, who the Canadians say, did not study in the college in which they should have and when they applied for a work permit, they got into difficulties. From the very start, we have taken up this case and our point is, the students studied in good faith. If there were 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," Jaishankar told reporters. According to sources, some Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters and while according to some media reports some 700 students are protesting their deportation, the actual number is much less than that being reported. 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. 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 visas 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. Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also on Friday wrote letters to the Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Canada High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay to solve the issue of 700 students who are facing deportation from Canada. General Manoj Pande meets Himachal Governor, discusses security matters Shimla, June 11: Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande met Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhawan on Saturday as part of a courtesy call. General Manoj Pande meets Himachal Governor, discusses security matters 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.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Effects of Neanderthal DNA that are still present in modern humans New York, June 11: Recent research has shown that one to four percent of the genomes of contemporary humans, whose ancestors left Africa, contain Neanderthal DNA; nonetheless, it has remained unclear how much of those genes are still actively impacting human characteristics. Effects of Neanderthal DNA that are still present in modern humans A multi-institutional research team led by Cornell University has created a new set of computational genetic tools to examine the genetic impacts of 50,000-year-old interbreeding between humans of non-African descent and Neanderthals. (The study applies exclusively to descendants of people who came from Africa before Neanderthals died out, and in particular, those of European descent.)In a study published in eLife, the researchers reported that some Neanderthal genes are responsible for certain traits in modern humans, including several with a significant influence on the immune system. Overall, however, the study shows that modern human genes are winning out over successive generations."Interestingly, we found that several of the identified genes involved in modern human immune, metabolic and developmental systems might have influenced human evolution after the ancestors' migration out of Africa," said study co-lead author April (Xinzhu) Wei, an assistant professor of computational biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. "We have made our custom software available for free download and use by anyone interested in further research."Using a vast dataset from the UK Biobank consisting of genetic and trait information of nearly 300,000 Brits of non-African ancestry, the researchers analyzed more than 235,000 genetic variants likely to have originated from Neanderthals. They found that 4,303 of those differences in DNA are playing a substantial role in modern humans and influencing 47 distinct genetic traits, such as how fast someone can burn calories or a person's natural immune resistance to certain diseases.Unlike previous studies that could not fully exclude genes from modern human variants, the new study leveraged more precise statistical methods to focus on the variants attributable to Neanderthal genes.While the study used a dataset of almost exclusively white individuals living in the United Kingdom, the new computational methods developed by the team could offer a path forward in gleaning evolutionary insights from other large databases to delve deeper into archaic humans' genetic influences on modern humans."For scientists studying human evolution interested in understanding how interbreeding with archaic humans tens of thousands of years ago still shapes the biology of many present-day humans, this study can fill in some of those blanks," said senior investigator Sriram Sankararaman, an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. "More broadly, our findings can also provide new insights for evolutionary biologists looking at how the echoes of these types of events may have both beneficial and detrimental consequences."ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Assam CM Sarma holds meeting with officials, reviews flood preparedness Guwahati, June 11: In view of the onset of the Monsoon and the possibility of rain-induced flood across the state, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday held a video conference with the DCs and other senior officers of the state administration to put in place all necessary steps and ramp up flood preparedness and response system. In a video conference from his office chamber in Janata Bhawan in Guwahati today, Chief Minister Sarma said, With the monsoon setting in, in the state, all the government departments including NHAI, NHIDC, NDRF and SDRF should become alert to negotiate with the flood and reach out to the affected people. The Chief Minister asked the Principal Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Gyanendra Dev Tripathi to take steps for prepositioning of NDRF and SDRF personnel in vulnerable districts especially in Dima Hasao. Assam CM Sarma holds meeting with officials, reviews flood preparedness He also asked ASDMA to activate risk communication and early warning systems to warn the people against the potential threats of flood. In the event of flood water submerging the low-lying habitable areas, the Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to set up relief camps and streamline relief distribution in even the relief distribution centres.He asked the DC to take all necessary steps to visit the embankment breach areas of the last year to do the vulnerability mapping and take precautionary measures accordingly.He also asked the DCs to make the geo bags available in adequate numbers in the vulnerable areas. He asked the DCs to assess the available stock of food materials and the availability of buffer stock and fodder stock in their respective districts.Moreover, referring to the damage caused to the embankment in the Cachar district last year which caused a catastrophic flood in the district with a very widespread impact in Silchar town and its adjoining areas, the Chief Minister asked the DCs to have a vigil and if required area domination to avert any unscrupulous elements causing harms to embankments which might lead to large scale flood. While taking stock of the availability of doctors and medicines to address any medical issues in flood-affected areas, the Chief Minister asked the DCs to hold meetings and prepare a contingency plan for their respective districts.CM Sarma also asked the DCs to keep doctors and nurses in the relief camps to attend to any medical emergency of the camp inmates. The Chief Minister asked DC Kamrup (Metro) to have constant surveillance on 382 landslide-prone areas of the district and take remedial steps if required in case of heavy and continuous rain.He also asked GMC Commissioner Megha Nidhi Dahal to clean drains across the city on a regular basis to avert siltation or garbage causing any blockage on the movement of water.The Chief Minister also took stock of the working condition of the water suction pumps deployed in several areas of the city. During the conference, CM Sarma asked all the DCs to fill up the holes dug up for construction purposes on a priority basis.Moreover, if any hole cannot be filled up because of the nature of construction purposes, the holes should be bamboo barricaded with red ribbon clung around barricades to avert any accidents.Taking a serious look at the latest road accidents that took place due to dug-up holes on the roads, Chief Minister Sarma asked the DCs to allot phone numbers with a request to the residents of the district to inform the administration about the existence of any uncovered holes on the road.CM Sarma also asked PWD, NHAI, and NHIDCL to see the road conditions in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, especially along the stretch of the roads which lead to Hill districts and Barak Valley districts and take contingency measures.He said, "State government is available on a 24X7 basis to address the issues and concerns of the citizens."ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Uttarakhand CM Dhami interacts with school students, NCC cadets in Uttarkashi Uttarkashi, June 11: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday interacted with school students and NCC cadets at LNV, Uttarkashi. Uttarakhand CM Dhami interacts with school students, NCC cadets in Uttarkashi On this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the beautification of Shaurya Sthal, Uttarkashi and the installation of tin sets. He said that the construction work of the waiting hall will be done at Shaurya Sthal.During a conversation with the school students on the topic 'How to develop border villages' the expansion of basic facilities like health, education, and communication in border areas was also discussedThe chief minister also interacted with and met representatives of women's self-help groups, ex-servicemen organizations, local public representatives, trade boards, bar associations and other organizations.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the development of border villages is being taken up on priority. "There is a plan to develop villages located in marginal areas under Vibrant Village", he said.He said that the state government is also connecting the youth towards self-employment along with government jobs in the state. "More and more homestays will be opened in border regions to increase tourism activities. Work is also being done on these policies to provide employment to the local people there", he said.The CM added that work is being done to empower women under the Lakhpati Didi scheme. "In Uttarakhand, the government is paying special attention to education and medicine. Lakhs of people are getting free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He said that at present the Char Dham Yatra is in full swing. Char Dham Yatra is the lifeline of Uttarakhand. This provides employment to lakhs of people", he said.CM Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central and State Governments are taking every issue of soldiers and ex-servicemen with seriousness and priority."Today the central government is standing shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the army has become more powerful, powerful and resourceful", he added.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that work is being done to connect the famous religious places of Uttarakhand with the ropeway under Parvat Mala Mission in which Yamunotri Dham is also included. "Work will also be done to connect the Varnavat mountain with the ropeway. In order to increase apple cultivation in border valleys like Harshil under the Apple Mission, the State Government has increased the provision of funds in the Apple Mission from 6 crores to 35 crores. Due to this more and more farmers will get benefit from it", the CM said.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the leadership of PM Modi, work is being done to promote Sanatan culture."Continuous work is going on to make major religious places grand and divine. Today, the construction work of the Ram temple is going on under the leadership of PM Modi. A network of all-round roads is being laid to connect the Char Dhams. In the coming time, work is being done on whether the Char Dham Yatra should run from the Vikas Nagar Purola area as well", he said.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launches governments flagship scheme Shakti Bengaluru, June 11: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday asserted that women too should take part equally in the progress of the state. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launches government's flagship scheme Shakti 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.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride Month in Vadodara, takes out rally Vadodara, June 11: Pride Month is celebrated in June when people of all sexual orientations participate in parades to display their orientation. From dressing up in colourful attire to dancing to the tunes of Bollywood dance numbers, Vadodara's Pride Rally was an excellent opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to come forward and reach out to a larger section of society. LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride Month in Vadodara, takes out rally Despite education and awareness, society is hesitant to accept people with different sexual orientations. However, with these events, they also proudly present themselves in front of society without any hesitation.Due to this, Vadodara's Pride Rally was organized by Lakshya Trust, an organization working for the LGBTQ+ community. In which a large number of people from the LGBTQ+ community participated. Manvendra Singh Gohil, the founder of Lakshya Trust, was also present during the rally.He demanded to give equal rights to the community. He said, "We are citizens of this country and should be given equal rights like others. We have to face many issues. We get fired. We are kicked out of the house. It is tough for us to get an education. In terms of health also somewhere we are not equally treated. So, we want our rights."Pride Month honours all individuals who took part in the Stonewall Riots, a string of gay liberation demonstrations that took place in 1969. On June 28, 1969, police invaded the well-known bar The Stonewall Inn in New York City. The Stonewall riots lasted for days and started a protracted battle for the rights of the LGTBQ community. The discussion surrounding Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which sparked rallies across the nation, is linked to Pride Month in India.ANI11 June 2023 Shared Recently! YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. On June 12, President of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Arayik Harutyunyan sent a congratulatory message to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day. Below is the letter as published by Harutyunyans office. "Honorable Vladimir Vladimirovich, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and the Russian people on Russia Day. The long-standing friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples, as well as the strategic and allied relations between the Armenian and Russian states, have forged a significant history and hold an immense potential for further development. Artsakh, as an important entity in the South Caucasus, has had and continues to have its own place within these relations. One of the indicators of that importance is the signing of the 2020 war ceasefire through active mediation and guarantees of Russia. Therefore, we highly value the role of Russia and your personal contribution in halting the bloodshed in 2020, thereby preventing further large-scale aggressions and tragedies in Artsakh. The people of Artsakh have welcomed the presence of Russian peacekeepers, considering them a strong assurance of a free and dignified life in their homeland. Now, as Azerbaijan persists in its efforts to dismantle the fragile security of Artsakh and the region, undermining the Russian guarantees through ongoing blockade and threats to Artsakh, we remain confident that by aligning our strategic interests and combining our efforts, our two nations will succeed in establishing a stable and dignified regional environment for all parties involved." Modis visit a major milestone: USISPF Chairman 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. Modi's visit a major milestone: USISPF Chairman "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.IANS11 June 2023 Shared Recently! Shakti Yojana: Karnataka Women say they could use savings in better ways Bengaluru, June 11: After the launch of Shakti Yojana, a government scheme of free bus travel for women across Karnataka, many women said that they could use the savings arising out of availing of the scheme in better ways. Shakti Yojana: Karnataka Women say they could use savings in better ways "Shakti Yojana" was launched by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday. The free travel for women across Karnataka in the ordinary buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was part of the Congress manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly elections."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 at Maharani College.She was happy to travel with the Chief Minister after he launched "Shakti Yojana", one of the 5 guarantee schemes of the Karnataka Government.She feels that this would ease her parents' financial burden. Her parents are construction labours.Similarly, Sarala, a domestic help, travels to Hebbal from Ganganagar every day for work. 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 when she said, the free travel scheme makes her happy.Shashikala, studying at 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 them to buy something that supports her education, she feels.Ambika, who does a small job near Mysore Bank Circle, will be able to save Rs. 40 a day. She feels these savings will help her be a little more generous to spend on groceries, veggies etc.Nandini, the 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 explained.The women on the first trip were treated with roses and sweets along with the tickets.After the grand function on the Grandsteps of Vidhanasoudha, Chief Minister travelled in the BMTC bus to Kempegowda Bus Station, where he launched the "Shakti" scheme for KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC buses.ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Assam Governor launches International Journal of Advanced Robotic and Innovative Surgery Guwahati, June 11: Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria released the first issue of the International Journal of Advanced Robotic and Innovative Surgery in Guwahati on Sunday. The journal is an official publication of the Association of Robotic and Innovative Surgeons. Assam Governor launches International Journal of Advanced Robotic and Innovative Surgery The journal is said to be the crucial platform to bring the best work in the field of advanced robotic and innovative surgery to the medical world and beyond.Speaking at the launching function, the Governor said, "India has established itself as a frontrunner in the healthcare sector, receiving global recognition for its commendable work. From the recent achievements in vaccine production and global market penetration to the worldwide acknowledgment of our healthcare technology, India is now on the verge of becoming a premier healthcare destination and a hub of healthcare innovation.""This remarkable progress is primarily attributed to the invaluable contributions of eminent clinicians and researchers in India. With the growing scope of cutting-edge research in the country, we are confident that investments will pour in for medical research impacting human life," Governor Gulab Chand Kataria added.Kataria also said that he is happy to witness how technology is bridging the gap in ensuring reach and access to the healthcare delivery system in the country.The Governor however said that everybody must remember that the ultimate victory lies in achieving equitable healthcare services for all. This can only be accomplished through a collaborative approach involving the government, and private sector, and the seamless integration of emerging technologies.He said that he is impressed by the advantages of robotic surgery and pleased to know that the procedure of advanced robotic and innovative surgery has come to Guwahati which will enable patients to receive state-of-the-art robotic surgery.Governor Kataria lauding the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has played a pivotal role in shaping India's response to the critical health hazards like the COVID pandemic that shook the world. Through strategic planning and effective implementation, India has emerged as a key player in vaccine production.Not only has the nation successfully met its own vaccination needs, but it has also extended a helping hand to numerous countries, providing them with much-needed vaccines. This exemplifies India's commitment to global health and showcases its ability to tackle challenges on a grand scale.The Governor also said that he personally feels that the researchers and clinicians, despite their outstanding work in the field need to publish more, be it in national or international publications.The Governor underlined the need for medical journals in today's world and said that these journals serve as a repository of valuable knowledge, providing a platform for researchers and clinicians to share their findings, advancements, and breakthroughs. India, with its commendable work in the healthcare sector, has a wealth of research outputs that deserve recognition on an international level.By publishing medical journals, Indian researchers and clinicians can contribute to the global body of knowledge, fostering collaboration, and facilitating the exchange of ideas. This not only elevates the status of Indian healthcare professionals but also promotes innovation and drives advancements in the field, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide. With India's rapid progress in healthcare and its commitment to achieving health for all, the need for robust medical journals has become all the more crucial than ever before.The Governor appreciated Dr. Subhash Khanna, for his role to bridge the gap in evidence-based journaling and for encouraging healthcare professionals to publish this journal of international standards.He also congratulated Dr. Subhash Khanna and other members who established the first international journal of robotic surgery.ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Lebanon announces end of cholera outbreak Beirut, June 12: Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health has announced the end of the cholera outbreak in Lebanon as the country has not recorded any cases since the end of February. Lebanon announces end of cholera outbreak "More than 12 weeks have passed since the last confirmed case was recorded in Lebanon," the Health Ministry was quoted by the National News Agency as saying on Sunday.The Ministry said it will continue to monitor acute watery diarrhoea through active surveillance and will intensify awareness campaigns against the disease, Xinhua news agency reported.A total of 671 confirmed cholera cases were reported in Lebanon in the latest round of break that started on October 6, 2022.In November 2022, the Ministry received more than 6,00,000 doses of cholera vaccines from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision. These vaccines were distributed to target refugees and host communities in hotspot areas and regions affected by the outbreak, covering nearly 90 per cent of the vaccination needs.IANS12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Teaser of Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhans 72 Hoorain out in 10 languages Mumbai, June 11: The much-anticipated movie, '72 Hoorain', has been the talk of the town ever since its first look was released. Now, the makers of the film have unveiled the teaser in 10 more languages after an overwhelming response to the first teaser. Teaser of Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan's '72 Hoorain' out in 10 languages From English, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu to Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Kashmiri, and Assamese, the teaser of '72 Hoorain' will be available in all 10 languages for audiences in every nook and corner of the country.Director Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan said in a statement, "With the release of the teaser in 10 languages, the team aims to reach every part of Bharat. The movie is not intended to offend any sentiments but rather to expose the harsh reality. In the spirit of revealing these truths, 72 Hoorain will serve as a powerful catalyst for change."He said he believed that launching the teaser in multiple languages will enable people of various regions, especially the interior areas to Tier 1 cities, to grasp the movie's intent.Producer Gulab Singh Tanwar said, "It's not a doddle to back up a project that is so sensitive. The idea behind 72 Hoorain was to portray the brutality of the process of terrorism and convert gullible people into gruesome humans. Now that the movie is all set for its release, it becomes extremely important to make people understand the intent behind it, and that's why we are releasing the teaser in 10 different languages."Co-producer Ashoke Pandit said he wants the teaser to reach out to people across the country. He said, "We thank the people of our country for the massive response to the first look of our movie, #72Hoorain. Taking a step ahead, we have now decided to reach out to the audience in various languages. I am sure you will love the teaser and respond to it exactly the way you did earlier."'72 Hoorain', which stars Pavan Malhotra and Ameer Bashir in lead roles, is all set for a theatrical release on July 7.ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Researchers reveal how blood biomarkers, genomics predict common disease risk Glasgow, June 11: It is possible to target individuals with chronic illness risk factors with preventative interventions before they get ill. Researchers reveal how blood biomarkers, genomics predict common disease risk Research presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics suggested that combining blood biomarkers with genomic information produces more accurate, cost-effective results than polygenic risk scores, which use genomic information alone to assess the risk of developing diseases.Dr Jeffrey Barrett, Chief Scientific Officer, Nightingale Health, Helsinki, Finland, will describe how his team measured over 200 biomarkers in blood samples from 300,000 participants in the UK Biobank, and 200,000 in the Estonian biobank. "This is the biggest dataset of its kind that has ever been collected," he says. The researchers used machine learning to build predictive models for individuals' future risks of nine common diseases, based on their genetic information and the biomarkers that they measured. The diseases studied were ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer's and other dementias, depression, liver disease, and colon cancer.These are the top sources of "disability adjusted life years" in the European region, according to the WHO, and thus the biggest sources of suffering and health care costs, and the most important in terms of prevention."We found that in all the diseases, both genetics and biomarkers could provide useful information about disease risk, even ten years into the future. And the blood biomarkers provided better prediction in nearly all cases - for example, the 10% of individuals with the highest risk of lung cancer based on the biomarkers had four times the risk of an average person, whereas the top 10% based on genetics had only 1.8 times the risk," said Dr Barrett. "And for liver disease the same numbers are 10 times and two times respectively."The team also found that the prediction using blood biomarkers was sometimes even stronger for near-term risk (for example in two or four years), which they believe may reflect direct links between some of what the biomarkers measure and the pre-symptomatic phase of the disease. At a time when healthcare systems are running out of money, in large part because ageing populations have increasing levels of lifestyle diseases like the ones studied, they believe that their work shows how easy-to-measure blood tests can be used in population preventive health. "It means that it is relatively easy to find the individuals at greatest risk of many diseases and offer them ways to reduce their risk, keeping them healthier and at the same time reducing the financial burden on healthcare systems," said Dr Barrett."I was surprised by the breadth of the applicability of our approach - the way in which the data capture many core metabolic functions in one blood test could provide so much information across different areas of human health. We were able to show that our predictions were highly consistent across multiple biobanks, whereas many other studies have access to just one. This suggests that these biomarker scores are not a narrow research finding, and could be used effectively in general practice," Dr Barrett concluded.ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Cause, cure identified for common type of high blood pressure: Study London, June 11: One out of every twenty persons with hypertension has a small benign nodule as the root cause. Aldosterone, a hormone that the nodule generates, regulates the body's salt levels. A gene mutation found in some of these nodules that causes a significant, sporadic overproduction of the hormone is the new finding. Cause, cure identified for common type of high blood pressure: Study Today's gene variation was found to have a number of issues, which makes it challenging for clinicians to correctly diagnose certain people with hypertension. First, the variation interferes with the ability of cells in the body to communicate with one another and signal when to cease producing aldosterone by affecting a protein called CADM1. Doctors also have a problem with aldosterone's erratic secretion throughout the day, which at its peak contributes to hypertension and salt excess. Unless they take blood tests at multiple times of the day, persons with the gene mutation might avoid detection due to this variability.The researchers also learned that unilateral adrenalectomy, or the removal of just one of the two adrenal glands, might treat this particular kind of hypertension. After removal, severe hypertension that had been resistant to several pharmacological treatments vanished, and after numerous years of monitoring later, no further therapy was necessary.Fewer than 1 per cent 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 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 by drugs. Previous research by the group at Queen Mary discovered that in 5-10 per cent 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 the blood pressure. Patients with excessive aldosterone levels in the blood are resistant to treatment with the commonly used drugs for hypertension, and 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 ""In 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."ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! George Soros hands over reins of $25bn empire to son Washington, June 12: US billionaire philanthropist George Soros has handed over the reins of his $25 billion financial and charitable empire to his son Alex, saying the latter had earned it, the media reported. George Soros hands over reins of $25bn empire to son Alex, a 37-year-old who studied history at New York University and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, is the second-youngest of the 92-year-old Hungarian-born financier's five children, reports the BBC.Alex is the only family member sitting on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, which according to The Wall Street Journal says is managing the $25 billion for the family and the charitable foundation.He took over at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) as chairman in December 2022 and is also in charge of his father's "super PAC" -- a US mechanism to direct funds to political parties.In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, George Soros, whose personal fortune is valued at $6.7 billion, said his son had "earned it".George Soros is also one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party, and Alex while speaking to the Journal, said he was "more political" than his father and that he would campaign against Donald Trump's attempt to run for a second term as US President, the BBC reported."We are going to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad," said Alexander."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."He said the Open Society Foundations would pursue the same aims it had under his father including free speech, criminal justice reform, minority and refugee rights and backing liberal politicians.But he also wants to include voting rights, abortion and gender equity initiatives while pursuing a more domestic US-focused agenda."With my background, there are a lot of ways I could have gone astray," the Guardian quoted Alex as saying to The Journal."Instead I became a workaholic, and my life is my work."George Soros has married three times and has five children Alex, Andrea, Gregory, Robert and Jonathan.IANS12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Jaishankar, G20 delegates experience Varanasi culture, attend Ganga Aarti at Varanasis Dashashwamedh Ghat Varanasi, June 11: Dressed in traditional attire, delegates to the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took part in the Ganga Arti ritual at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on Sunday evening. Jaishankar, G20 delegates experience Varanasi culture, attend Ganga Aarti at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat Earlier, they were welcomed in a traditional way at Namo Ghat. Seeing the cultural artists dance, the delegates also shook a leg. Following this, they boarded the cruise vessel and reached Dashashmaved Ghat. During the Aarti, there was a special Shankhnaad for the guests.G20 Development Ministers' meeting has started in Varanasi. A new roadmap for the development of global agriculture in 20 developing countries of the world including India will be prepared in Varanasi.Agricultural scientists from all nations will brainstorm on the issues of agriculture, agricultural education, research etc. in the G20 meeting.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 delighted 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.ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel starrer Gadar 2 teaser out now Mumbai, June 12: Makers of the upcoming period action film 'Gadar 2' on Monday unveiled the official teaser. Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel starrer 'Gadar 2' teaser out now Taking to Instagram, actor Sunny Deol dropped the teaser which he captioned, "Tara Singh is back! #Gadar2Teaser is officially out now! #Gadar2 In Cinemas on 11th August."Helmed by Anil Sharma, the film stars Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma in the lead roles and is all set to hit the theatres on August 11.Before releasing the official teaser online, the makers of the film attached the teaser with 'Gadar Ek Prem Katha' which was re-released in the theatres on June 9.The teaser of 'Gadar 2,' hints that the story begins right from where the story ended in 'Gadar Ek Prem Katha' and the fans could also hear a sad version of the song 'Ghar Aaja Pardesi'.Talking about the film, actor Sunny Deol said, "Gadar 2 carries forward the legacy of its iconic first part. It's a blessing to be able to bring back one of India's most loved family film. At its heart the film would always be an inspiring epic story of love, courage and patriotism. Hope the world welcomes Tara and Sakina again with open arms."Adding to this actor Ameesha Patel said, "Gadar Ek Prem Katha was re-released on my birthday and my biggest gift was the love we received from our fans. We felt how strongly the film has been engraved in the hearts of the audiences. The teaser of Gadar 2 starts a new chapter in the story of Tara and Sakeena and we truly hope we fulfill the expectations of our fans, once again."Director Anil Sharma said, "The teaser of Gadar 2 was to hint to the audiences that Tara, Sakeena and Jeete are back to win hearts once again, we thought it was the best way to thank our fans for keeping the legacy of the film alive in their hearts, even after 22 years."The film's portrayal of the partition of India and its impact on people's lives struck a chord with the audience. The epic tale of patriotism, love and sacrifice of Tara and Sakeena broke multiple records back in 2001 and now the makers are all set to entertain the audiences with the second instalment of the film.'Gadar 2' will be having a big Bollywood clash with Akshay Kumar's 'OMG 2' and Ranbir Kapoor's 'Animal'.ANI12 June 2023 Shared Recently! YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Servicemembers of the Homeland Defender military service option who successfully passed the qualification exams and were appointed to positions in the Peacekeeping Brigade received the blue beret of peacekeepers in a ceremony on Monday. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan visited the Peacekeeping Brigade headquarters to personally hand over the blue berets to the servicemembers in an induction ceremony. Papikyan said that the new servicemembers who joined the peacekeeping brigade will assume the responsible mission with honor because they will represent Armenia in their mission deployments abroad. Attaching importance to the qualification process in the military, Papikyan emphasized that the procedure must be continuous, serving as one of the important measures for developing the army as part of reforms. After presenting the blue berets, Minister Papikyan also awarded Private Nver Chavishyan with a symbolic gift as the first servicemember in the Homeland Defender program to have garnered the highest score in the qualification exams. To mark Women in Engineering Day, Editor Jeff D'Alessio asked 47 high-achievers with connections to one of higher eds most highly decorated colleges of engineering to give us the first word that comes to mind when they think about how far women have come, how much ground there remains to make up or any other view of the topic of the day. Prom-goers, classic car enthusiasts and random passersby using former gas station as a backdrop. 'I wanted to bring it back to where it used to be in time' Coal-ash pits, foreground and background right, are shown in 2013 near the former Vermilion Power Station, background left, which Dynegy Midwest Generation LLC closed in 2011, near the Middle Fork River upstream from Kickapoo State Recreation Area near Oakwood. 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. YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan and Armenias Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan had an online discussion with representatives of the Armenian Bar Association of America, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh. During the meeting, information was provided on the fact-finding activities carried out by the Human Rights Defenders institutions regarding human rights violations in Artsakh and border communities of Armenia as a result of the crimes committed by Azerbaijan, as well as information on the work carried out on the international platforms regarding the humanitarian conditions created in Artsakh under the ongoing blockade and existing problems. Representatives of the Armenian Bar Association presented the Associations work aimed at raising international awareness on human rights violations in Armenia and Artsakh and ensuring international engagement. The necessity of using legal instruments for the protection of human rights and ensuring the continuity of effective partnership was mutually emphasized. It is believed that the cash found (in McKowns car) is from the fruits of illegal narcotics activity, and that there is reason to believe the defendant has access to other large amounts of U.S. currency derived from the same illicit activities, said State's Attorney Julia Rietz. 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. Genetic counselling is essential when dealing with individuals who are affected by, or at risk of, inherited disease. Although it is known to be useful in helping patients cope with test results and deal with uncertainty, there have been very few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of its effectiveness. Dr Andrada Ciuca, a post-doctoral researcher at Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, will tell the annual conference today (Sunday 11 June) that the results of the first RCT of genetic counselling in familial colorectal cancer (fCRC) show that it provided significant improvements in patients' feelings of empowerment, as well as other states of mind such as depression and emotional distress. Genetic counselling involves the process of helping individuals and families affected by or at risk of genetic disorders to understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of the genetic contribution to their disease. In recent years, with the advent of genomic medicine, such counselling has taken on a new importance. The researchers recruited 82 individuals who were at risk for various types of fCRC from a Romanian oncology clinic, and randomized them to either standard care or standard care plus genetic counselling. Their average age was 44.81 years old, and 52.4% of the participants were female. They saw a significant effect on empowerment and depression scores in the group that received genetic counselling as compared to the control group, and further analysis showed that the counselling group also had improvements in knowledge, anxiety, and emotional distress. We found that lower emotional distress benefited more in terms of empowerment. Empowerment is particularly important for these patients, since not only does it help them feel they can make real, informed choices, but it also aids their ability to manage their feelings and make plans for the future. An interesting finding was that the more anxiety decreased after their counselling session, the greater the impact was on their empowerment. This highlights the importance of addressing emotional distress during genetic counselling." Dr Andrada Ciuca, post-doctoral researcher at Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania The researchers hope that their results will inform further investigations in genetic counselling, as well as clinical practice. Since it is a fairly young discipline, building a robust evidence base of its effectiveness is important, they say. In the meantime, their study should underline the need for more support for the further development of genetic counselling from healthcare systems and policy makers. "Because genetic counselling is relatively new, it is perhaps unsurprising that there are so few RCTs of its use in inherited cancers. There have been trials looking at different counselling strategies in fCRC, but this is the first to look at the effect of counselling vs. no counselling. However, there is a strong evidence-based ethos in our discipline, and I would expect that more trials for other conditions will follow," Dr Ciuca will conclude. Professor Alexandre Reymond, chair of the conference, said: "We should empower patients to make informed choices. This is only possible if we are fully committed to help them understand the medical information we provide." Many people throughout the world continue to debate whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was deserving of the intensive and extensive efforts made by the government and private sectors alike to develop population-wide vaccines and vaccination programs. A new study posted on the medRxiv* preprint server examines hospitalization and mortality rates from COVID-19 before and after the rollout of the vaccine in England. Study: Estimating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination against COVID-19 hospitalisation and death: a cohort study based on the 2021 Census, England. Image Credit: Looker Studio / Shutterstock.com *Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. About the study Early in December 2020, the COVID-19 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech was rolled out in the United Kingdom, followed by the Moderna mRNA and Oxford/AstraZeneca adenovirus vector vaccine ChAdOx1-S. Clinical trials on each of these vaccines showed high vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing symptomatic and severe COVID-19. In the current study, researchers examine population-level data from the 2021 Census in England that, comprised over 580,000 individuals 16 years or older. The data of individuals who had received one, two, or three doses of the vaccine were examined and stratified by the time since each dose. The primary outcome of this study was to assess the likelihood of hospitalization for vaccinated participants after each exposure and at different time points following each dose using unvaccinated participants as controls. VE against hospitalization One dose of the COVID-19 vaccine reduced the likelihood of hospitalization by 52%, whereas two doses increased VE to 56%. VE against COVID-19 hospitalization was negative three or more months after the first dose, irrespective of age; however, it was highest in those between 30-64 years and 65-79 years of age after the second dose. Following the third booster dose, VE peaked in the 65-79 years age group at about 88%. After three doses, the risk of hospitalization declined by almost 78%. The protection offered by a full primary course and third booster dose declined to about 68% at three or more months from the third dose. The greatest reduction in VE at this point was in those between 30-64 years of age. VE against mortality The risk of mortality declined by almost 60% after one vaccine dose. A notable exception is in those over the age of 80, who exhibited almost zero VE with one dose. Protection rose to 90% overall after the second dose; however, it remained lower in those over 80 years old as compared to the high VE in individuals aged 30-79 years. The highest VE of 93% was observed after the booster dose; however, those between 16-29 years exhibited a VE of 71%. Moreover, VE declined at three or more months from the second and third doses but remained high except in the 16-29 years age group, where it waned substantially. VE by variant During the Omicron wave, the COVID-19 vaccine better protected individuals against hospitalization than previous reports; however, VE against mortality declined. Moreover, VE against hospitalization was higher after the second dose than for either the first or third dose during the Omicron wave. However, VE declined at both three to six months and further reduced to about 40% over six months from the second dose. After the third dose, protection against hospitalization declined from 80% before the onset of the Omicron wave to 55% thereafter. However, the reduction of VE by 23% that was observed three months after the third dose pre-Omicron did not occur during the Omicron wave. Protection against COVID-19 mortality declined after the first, second, and third vaccine doses during the Omicron-dominant period. In fact, the first dose did not confer significant protection, whereas VE against mortality declined to about 50% over six months after the second dose. VE by vaccine type Overall, mRNA vaccines performed better than other COVID-19 vaccines; however, the population protected in each case varied. The mRNA vaccines showed waning VE against hospitalization at three months or more from the booster dose, whereas both vaccine types exhibited waning VE against mortality three months or more following the second dose. Confounding factors Confounding factors likely affected the calculation of VE against mortality due to non-COVID-19 causes. Some possible causes of error could be the administration of vector-based vaccines to the most frail and at-risk patients and the vaccination of healthy individuals with more effective vaccines. The follow-up in this study began in late March 2021, whereas the vaccination campaign began on December 8, 2022. Thus, the oldest individuals in this study were likely frailer or lacked access to vaccination sites at the beginning of the campaign. This affected their chances of developing severe or fatal COVID-19 after the first dose. Frailty biases likely explain the lower VE after the first and second doses, as these were probably older and sicker people whose vaccination was delayed due to health concerns. Similarly, younger and healthy people are likelier to have received the booster doses later. As a result, the three to six and over six-month follow-up after the booster dose will be biased towards high-risk individuals. These findings indicate that health status is a significant confounding factor after adjusting for other factors. Given the inconsistency of the decrease across the breakdowns, we cannot say there is strong evidence of waning protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation. For VE against COVID-19 mortality, we do see consistent decreases across the various breakdowns. This could indicate waning of protection. What are the implications? The vaccine effectiveness estimates show increased protection with number of doses and a high level of protection against both COVID-19 hospitalisation and mortality for the third/booster dose. For the first time, the current study adjusted for socioeconomic and health status variables using data from the 2021 Census, thereby improving the accuracy of real-world VE estimation. Nevertheless, residual confounding by health status is observable, which should be factored into any VE estimation tool in future studies. *Important notice: medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. A human or animal's microbiome -; the collection of often beneficial microorganisms, including as bacteria and fungi, that live on or within a host organism -; can play an important role in the host's overall immune response, but it is unclear how vaccines against harmful pathogens impact the microbiome. A new study led by researchers at Penn State found that a new vaccine against the deadly chytrid fungus in frogs can shift the composition of the microbiome, making frogs more resilient to future exposure to the fungus. The study, published June 12 in a special issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, suggests that the microbiome response could be an important, overlooked part of vaccine efficacy. The microorganisms that make up an animal's microbiome can often help defend against pathogens, for example by producing beneficial substances or by competing against the pathogens for space or nutrients. But what happens to your microbiome when you get a vaccine, like a COVID vaccine, a flu shot, or a live-attenuated vaccine like the yellow fever vaccine? In this study, we used frogs as a model system to start exploring this question." Gui Becker, associate professor of biology at Penn State and leader of the research team Frogs and other amphibians are threatened by the chytrid fungus, which has led to extinctions of some species and severe population declines in hundreds of others across several continents. In susceptible species, the fungus causes a sometimes-lethal skin disease. "Chytrid is one of the worst, if not the worst, pathogen for wildlife conservation in recent history, and there is a critical need to develop tools to control its spread," said Becker, who is also a member of the One Health Microbiome Center and the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State. "We found that, in some cases, vaccines can induce a protective shift in the microbiome, which suggests that carefully manipulating the microbiome could be used as part of a broader strategy to help amphibians, and perhaps other vertebrates, deal with emerging pathogens." The researchers applied a vaccine, in this case a non-lethal dosage of a metabolic product created by the chytrid fungus to tadpoles. After five weeks, they observed how the composition of the microbiome had changed, identifying individual species of bacteria and their relative proportions. The researchers also cultured each species of bacteria in the lab and tested whether bacteria-specific products facilitated, inhibited, or had no effect on chytrid growth, adding to and comparing results with a large database of this information. "Increasing the concentration and duration of exposure to the chytrid product prophylaxis significantly shifted the composition of the microbiome so that there was a higher proportion of bacteria producing anti-chytrid substances," said Samantha Siomko, a master's student in the Becker Lab at the University of Alabama at the time of the research and first author of the paper. "This protective shift suggests that, if an animal were exposed to the same fungus again, its microbiome would be better capable of fighting the pathogen." Previous attempts to induce a protective change in the microbiome have relied on adding one or multiple species of bacteria known to make potent antifungal metabolites, i.e. probiotics. However, according to the researchers, the bacteria must compete with other species in the microbiome and is not always successful at establishing itself as a permanent member of the microbiome. "These frogs have hundreds of bacteria species on their skin that they pick up from their environment, and the composition changes regularly, including with season," said Becker. "Attempting to manipulate the community, for example by adding a bacterial probiotic, is challenging, because the dynamics in the community are so complex and unpredictable. Our results are promising because we have essentially manipulated the entire bacterial community in a direction that is more effective against fighting the fungal pathogen without adding a living thing that needs to compete for resources to survive." Notably, the overall number of species -; the diversity -; within the microbiome was not impacted, only the composition and relative proportions of species. The researchers believe this is positive, as declines in the diversity of the frog microbiome can often lead to illness or death, and it is generally accepted that maintaining a diverse microbiome allows the community of bacteria and microbe species to respond to threats more dynamically and with higher functional redundancy. The researchers suggest that this adaptive shift in the microbiome composition, which they call the "microbiome memory," could play an important role in vaccine efficacy. In addition to understanding the mechanisms behind the shift, the research team hopes to study the idea of microbiome memory in adult frogs as well as other vertebrate species in the future. "Our collaborative team implemented a prophylaxis technique that relied on metabolic product derived from the chytrid fungus," said Becker. "It's possible that vaccines based on mRNA or live cells -; like those often used to protect against bacterial or viral infections -; may differently affect the microbiome, and we are excited to explore this possibility." In addition to Becker and Siomko, the research team includes Teagan McMahon -; who developed the prophylaxis method-;at the University of Connecticut; Sasha Greenspan, Wesley Neely, and Stanislava Chtarbanova at the University of Alabama; Douglas Woodhams at the University of Massachusetts; and K. M. Barnett at Emory University. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, The University of Alabama and The University of Tampa. Chronic exposure to low levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic through commonly used household items, air, water, soil and food is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. This scientific statement reviews evidence linking chronic exposure to low or moderate levels of three contaminant metals -; lead, cadmium and arsenic -; to cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease. It highlights clinical and public health implications. Traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease do not currently include environmental toxins. The field of environmental cardiology identifies exposure to pollutants including contaminant metals as modifiable risks for cardiovascular disease. Large population studies indicate that even low-level exposure to contaminant metals is near-universal and contributes to the burden of cardiovascular disease, especially heart attacks, stroke, disease of the arteries to the legs and premature death from cardiac causes." Gervasio A. Lamas, MD, FAHA, chair of the statement writing group and chairman of medicine and chief of the Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida "These metals interfere with essential biological functions and affect most populations on a global scale," said vice chair of the statement writing group Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD, professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the director of the Columbia University Northern Plains Superfund Research Program in New York City. "After exposure, lead and cadmium accumulate in the body and remain in bones and organs for decades. In the U.S. alone, one large study suggested that more than 450,000 deaths annually could be attributed to lead exposure." Where are people exposed to contaminant metals? Exposure to contaminant metals most often occurs involuntarily, through activities of daily living. Lead may be found in a variety of items such as paint in old homes (lead paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978), tobacco products, second-hand smoke, contaminated foods (ground water and some pottery, ceramics and kitchenware are sources of lead contamination in food), water pipes, spices, cosmetics, electronics and industrial emissions. Cigarette smoking is a source of both lead and cadmium. Cadmium is found in nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, plastic, ceramics and glassware, and construction products. Industrially produced fertilizers use phosphate rock that is naturally rich in cadmium, which then contaminates root vegetables and leafy green plants (including tobacco). Arsenic exposure is primarily through groundwater, which affects drinking water, soil and food grown in contaminated soil. Notably, arsenic builds up in rice more than other food crops. While exposure and risk occur across diverse populations regardless of socioeconomic level, some people experience greater exposure to toxic metals, according to the statement. Risk of exposure is higher for people who live closer to major roadways, industrial sources and hazardous waste sites; reside in older houses; or in areas where environmental regulations are poorly enforced and responses to community complaints are inadequate. "This is a global issue in which lower-income communities are disproportionately exposed to toxic metals through contaminated air, water and soil," said Lamas, who is also a professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. "Addressing metal exposure in these populations may provide a strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease disparities and advance environmental justice." What are the cardiovascular risks of contaminant metals? The scientific statement outlines global epidemiologic research confirming that lead, cadmium and arsenic are associated with premature death, due in large part to increased cardiovascular disease risk. The global research includes: A 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement recognized exposure to toxic metals as a non-conventional risk factor for peripheral artery disease. A 2018 review published in the British Medical Journal assessed 37 studies representing nearly 350,000 people from more than a dozen countries. The review reported that higher urine levels of arsenic and blood levels of lead and cadmium were associated with 15%-85% higher risk for stroke and heart disease. One study in China have found that higher levels of lead in the blood were associated with carotid plaque in people with Type 2 diabetes. Another found that cadmium and arsenic were associated with a higher rate of heart disease and ischemic stroke. In Spain, a general population study found that cadmium in urine was associated with increased rates of newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease. What can be done about metals in the environment? Monitoring environmental metal levels and testing for metal in individuals are key steps to implement appropriate public health initiatives, the writing group suggests. Lead levels in children with symptoms of exposure are monitored by health professionals using blood tests. However, there are no monitoring guidelines or exposure limits established for contaminant metals in adults other than those required for specific types of work. Future research is needed to establish if such testing may be an effective strategy to identify and protect people at risk of cardiovascular disease. The statement authors note that decreasing metal exposure in tobacco, protecting community water systems and wells, and minimizing metal contamination in air, food and soil are all examples of public health measures that may reduce exposure to metals. "Cardiovascular health may be improved with a multi-pronged approach that recognizes environmental cardiology and includes environmental monitoring and biomonitoring of contaminant metals; controlling for sources of exposure; and developing clinical interventions that remove metals or weaken their effects on the body," Navas-Acien said. While there is currently no standard medical therapy to counteract the vascular impact of contaminant metals, there is research in progress to address the potential for treating individuals for exposure. Some research is assessing the effect of chelating agents, which are medications that can remove contaminant metals, especially lead and cadmium, from the body. The chelating agent binds to metals so they can be excreted. In addition, the statement suggests research is needed to investigate nutritional supplements that may reduce the effects of contaminant metals and accelerate excretion. Supplements that have shown potential based on small trials include folate and N-acetyl cysteine. This scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association's Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; the Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; and the Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease. American Heart Association scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association's official clinical practice recommendations. Additional members of the statement writing committee are Aruni Bhatnagar, PhD, FAHA; Miranda R. Jones, PhD; Koren K. Mann, PhD; Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, FAHA; Maria Tellez-Plaza, MD,PhD; and Francisco Ujueta, MD, MS. Authors' disclosures are listed in the manuscript. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers, and the Association's overall financial information are available here. A new Biothreats Radar capable of scanning biological risks that pose a threat to the public will be key to the UK's fight and preparation for future pandemics, the Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has announced today (Monday 12 June). The Radar will be led by the Government's National Situation Centre and will bring together data from across government, existing independent advisory committees and wider expert groups who analyze biological risks and trends. It will centralize the data and actively monitor this information to provide decision makers with a comprehensive picture of known and developing biological threats. This forms part of a new Biological Security Strategy published by the Government today to strengthen the UK's defenses against infectious diseases, biological attacks and antibiotic resistance. The major new Strategy sets out clear actions on biosecurity, building upon the framework set out by the Government in 2018, and has been updated to reflect lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic. It outlines how the Government will tackle a wide range of threats head on - from bioterrorism to animal and plant diseases - by 2030. The Government is investing heavily in biological security, with spending now more than 1.5 billion each year. This funding underpins critical initiatives within the Strategy, including identifying new diseases, incentivizing responsible innovation in the biosciences, and progressing the pledge made by G7 leaders in Carbis Bay in 2021, known as the "100 Days Mission", to accelerate new vaccine development. Four pillars will underpin how the Strategy tackles biological threats: Understanding the biological risks we face today and could face in the future; Preventing biological risks from emerging or from threatening the UK's interests; Detecting and reporting biological risks early when they do emerge; Responding to biological risks that have reached the UK to lessen their impact. Alongside the Biothreats Radar, the Strategy sets out a number of commitments, including: Developing a National Biosurveillance Network to detect and monitor emerging biological threats to the UK Establishing a new UK Biosecurity Leadership Council, bringing together academic and industry leaders to help establish the UK as a world leader in responsible innovation Developing new UK-based microbial forensics tools and capabilities to support efforts to attribute biological incidents and deter the proliferation and use of biological weapons Working with industry to further UK efforts to achieve the 100 Days Mission - reducing the impact of future pandemics by making vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics available within 100 days of a future outbreak Formalizing the leadership structures that oversee our biological security - including a lead minister who will report annually to Parliament Establishing a Biological Security Task Force in the Cabinet Office to coordinate UK-wide efforts on biological security, including exercising our response to future threats The UK is already Europe's leading biotechnology hub and these commitments will further bolster the UK's strength in this area. As set out in the recent Atlantic Declaration, the UK is also strengthening our bilateral collaboration with the United States on biological health and security, including through closer cooperation to tackle drug-resistant infections. Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, said: Covid was the biggest peacetime challenge in a century, and we must be diligent in preparing for future threats on this scale. This plan and our 1.5 billion investment per year puts us in a strong position to defeat the biological threats of tomorrow - from diseases to bioweapons and antimicrobial resistance. It's a strong and ambitious approach: one that harnesses the sheer ingenuity of the UK's researchers and scientists, and deploys our world-class crisis management capabilities to protect the people of the UK." Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, said: The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how critical it is to have a coherent plan to both protect the UK from the increasingly complex range of biological risks and build on the UK's strengths in vaccine research and development and life sciences. The new Biological Security Strategy will make an important contribution to our preparedness. Head of Biosecurity Policy at the Centre for Long-Term Resilience, Cassidy Nelson, commented: This much-needed strategy underscores the UK's role as a global leader in enhancing resilience against biological risks. We welcome the goal to achieve resilience to the full spectrum of biological threats by 2030, and commend the use of built-in accountability measures to drive the implementation of the strategy. We now need sustained resourcing and prioritisation to achieve tangible improvements to the UK's biosecurity capabilities on such an ambitious timeline." Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dame Jenny Harries, commented: The Biological Security Strategy and its commitment to developing a biosecure future means that we are in a strong position to respond to the threats of the future. Hand-in-hand with our partners in industry and academia, UKHSA will work across government to ensure that, through our commitment to achieving the 100 Days Mission, working with DEFRA to develop the National Biosurveillance Network and improving the UK's pandemic preparedness, we keep the public safe." The Strategy shows the Government's continued progress in strengthening the country's resilience and builds upon the UK Resilience Framework which officially made resilience a national endeavor for the very first time. The Biological Security Strategy also follows the recent launch of the life-saving UK wide Emergency Alerts system which has transformed the country's warning and informing capability; enabling Government and the emergency services to send an alert directly to mobile phones when people are in immediate danger. Cellular stress, or oxidative stress, occurs when there is a buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which interferes with cellular mechanisms and can even cause damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA. Owing to their destructive nature, all cells have robust mechanisms in place to remove ROS and reduce oxidative stress. One such mechanism is the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated stress response, where NRF2 is a master transcription factor that aids in reducing oxidative stress. Much is known about the redox-dependent activation of NRF2 and its subsequent role in stress response. In this pathway, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) senses oxidative stress in the cell through oxidation of its specific cysteine residues. This oxidation causes conformational changes in KEAP1, which, in turn, loses the ability to suppress NRF2. As a result, NRF2 is stabilized and induces a series of genes encoding anti-oxidative proteins that reduce and remove oxidative stress caused by ROS. NRF2 can also be activated in a redox-independent manner. This activation involves p62 protein, which undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation to form p62 bodies when it binds to ubiquitinated proteins upon defective proteostasis. However, the precise mechanism of NRF2 regulation through p62 bodies had hitherto remained largely unknown. Now, researchers in Japan have found how p62 bodies control redox-independent NRF2 activation. They conducted a study that was conceived by Professor Masaaki Komatsu and Associate Professor Yoshinobu Ichimura from Juntendo University School of Medicine and Dr. Nobuo N. Noda from Hokkaido University. "We have reported in a previous study that phosphorylation of p62 inhibits the binding of KEAP1 to NRF2 competitively, thereby disabling the NRF2-repressive function of KEAP1. However, the regulatory mechanism and the physiological functions in vivo remain largely unclear. This is important as the accumulation of phosphorylated p62 has been found to cause many intractable diseases," explains Prof. Komatsu when asked about the team's motivation for pursuing the research. Their findings are all set to be published in The EMBO Journal. Using advanced techniques like high-speed atomic force microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and fluorescence loss in photobleaching, the team conducted experiments that included those performed outside a living organism (in vitro) and those using cells and mice (in vivo) to thoroughly profile protein-protein interactions, cellular localization of specific components, and the effects of LLPS-induced p62 phosphorylation, during redox-independent NRF2 activation. Summarizing the main findings of their study, Dr. Ichimura explains, "We found that ULK1, a protein kinase, translocates to p62 bodies and then phosphorylates p62 within the bodies. The resulting phosphorylated p62 bodies retain KEAP1 within them, which drives the activation of NRF2." KEAP1 usually cycles in and out of p62 bodies; however, phosphorylated p62 tightly binds to KEAP1, which causes KEAP1 to be retained and sequestered within the p62 body. This leads to activation of even more NRF2. The p62 bodies are degraded by autophagy, and this may contribute to shutdown of this pathway. The current study extends the scope of the antioxidative stress response and provides new insights into the role of phase separation in the process. The importance of this redox-independent NRF2 activation was tested using phosphomimetic p62 knock-in mouse models where hyperactivation of NRF2 by extensive phosphorylation resulted in hyperkeratosis-;a growth defect causing the outer layer of the stomach and esophageal lining to thicken, which in turn caused stunted growth due to malnutrition. Prof. Komatsu is confident that his team has laid the foundation for future work to probe deeper into the mechanism and regulation of redox-independent stress responses. He concludes, "Whether redox-dependent or independent, NRF2 activation is an important biological defense system. Understanding its regulatory mechanisms is crucial as its persistent activation leads to inordinate defense responses, like excessive keratinization. Our study is the first scientific validation of the physiological significance for redox-independent NRF2 activation. In the case of redox-independent stress responses, activation of NRF2 is very likely regulated by phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, and autophagic degradation of p62 bodies. p62 bodies have been found to accumulate in affected cells in patients with liver disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Thus, research such as ours will be useful in elucidating the pathogenesis of and developing improved therapies for p62-, NRF2-, and autophagy-related diseases." Diverse microbial communities are present in the human intestine, with bacteria being the most populous. These communities play a significant part in maintaining health and homeostasis throughout the body, but how do gut microbes communicate with different organs? Microbial metabolites are principal mediators for communication via numerous routes, such as metabolic, neural, immune, and endocrine pathways. The complex interactions between various organs and the gut microbiota lead to the creation of the gut-organ axis. Within these axes, any shifts in the composition of intestinal microbiota may have a local influence on the gut, impact other distant organs, and have an association with various diseases. Five of these axes are explored below. Gut-brain axis There is increasing evidence that the gut-brain axis plays a fundamental role in the risk and progression of multiple malignancies, including depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD), multiple sclerosis, stress, and schizophrenia. This is upheld by various works from human studies and animal models utilized to interpret mechanisms of action, highlighting a change in gut microbiota composition in a pathological situation compared to a control condition. For example, increased levels of Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori caused the progression of several neurological disorders and symptoms, such as alpha-synuclein aggregation and diminished motor performance (qualities of PD), hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and amyloid-beta load (biomarkers of AD).1 Changes in levels of potentially valuable gut metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), may also play a role in gut-brain axis disorders.2 Gut-kidney axis Chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, Immunoglobulin A nephropathy, and nephrolithiasis are examples of kidney diseases related to gut dysbiosis but do not display any visible pattern. According to recent studies, microbial changes may initiate the manufacture of harmful metabolites, including trimethylamine and uremic toxins, and a reduction in valuable metabolites, such as SCFAs in patients with renal pathology.3 Image Credits: Alpha Tauri 3D Graphics / Shutterstock Gut-liver axis Changes in gut microbiota composition have been observed consistently in patients with different liver diseases and across various stages of their development. Such diseases include cirrhosis, alcohol-related liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and hepatocellular carcinoma. For example, various studies have uncovered differences in the gut microbiota of patients with NAFLD in comparison to healthy controls (e.g. a larger quantity of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and a reduction in Bacteroidetes and Prevotellaceae).4 There is growing evidence to demonstrate that trimethylamine-N-oxide is associated with NAFLD underlying its harmful role, while SCFA levels were reduced in this context.5 Gut-lung axis Several studies have reported gut dysbiosis in multiple lung pathologies, such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and lung cancer, in addition to Covid-19. For example, the quantities of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila were lower in the gut microbiota of children with allergic asthma.6 Lung diseases have been linked with perturbations of the lung microbiota, which adds a further level of crosstalk between the lungs and the gut. Supplementary data has highlighted that individuals with reduced levels of SCFAs were more prone to lung infections.7 Gut-skin axis Many skin disorders, such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis (AD), are influenced by the microbiota. As anticipated, the skin microbiota is changed in this context, but remarkably many skin diseases are also accompanied by an imbalance in the microbiota of the gut. Examples include: An enhancement in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Escherichia, and Clostridium and reduced levels of Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroidetes in individuals with AD. A decreased abundance of Firmicutes and higher levels of Bacteroides in individuals with acne The production of metabolites (reduced levels of butyrate and propionate i.e., SCFAs) in those with AD8 A dysbiosis in gut microbiota correlates with several diseases targeting distant organs Despite the chicken or egg dilemma still being present in many cases, it is evident that the intestinal microbiota is now acknowledged as the basis for host physiopathology. This field has obtained growing attention over the recent decade assisting the partial untangling of the complex networks of the gut-organ axis. While no consensus has yet been reached regarding a gut microbiome-derived signature in a pathological context, these key progressions are encouraging the development of innovative personalized therapies and novel diagnostic methods. For example, Akkermansia muciniphila is regarded as a promising candidate with a history that began in 2004.9 The absence or reduced abundance of this gut commensal bacterium has been correlated with many diseases in both mouse models and humans which inspired further research. The advantages of Akkermansia muciniphila have been proven in cancer with an improved response to immunotherapies, including PD-1 blockade. The path to success is often long but it offers patients new hope. Acknowledgments Produced from materials originally authored by Sylvie Maubant, Ph.D., at Oncodesign Services. References Liu et al (2022). Microbiota and the gut-brain-axis: implications for new therapeutic design in the CNS. EBioMedicine, 77: 103908. ORiordan et al (2022). Short-chain fatty acids: microbial metabolites for gut-brain axis signaling. Mol Cell Endocrinol, 546: 111572. Stavropoulou et al (2021). Focus on the gut-kidney axis in health and disease. Front Med, 7: 620102. Forlano et al (2022). Gut microbiota A future therapeutic target for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review. Int J Mol Sci, 23 (15): 8307. Dai et al (2020). Microbial metabolites: critical regulators in NAFLD. Front Microbiol, 11: 567654. Demirci et al (2019). Reduced Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii levels in the gut microbiota of children with allergic asthma. Allergol Immunopathol, 47 (4): 365. Machado et al (2021). Short-chain fatty acids as a potential treatment for infections: a closer look at the lungs. Infect Immun, 89 (9): e0018821. De Pessemier et al (2021). Gut-skin axis: current knowledge of the interrelationship between microbial dysbiosis and skin conditions. Microorganisms, 9 (2): 353. Cani et al (2022). Akkermansia muciniphila: paradigm for next-generation beneficial microorganisms. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 19: 625. About Oncodesign Services Oncodesign Services is a Contract research organization (CRO) specializing in drug discovery and preclinical services. From target identification to IND filing, the company contributes to the development of innovative therapies in oncology, inflammation and infectious diseases, with high medical needs. Through integrated capabilities in medicinal chemistry, DMPK, pharmaco-imaging, bioanalysis, in vivo/In vitro pharmacology, Oncodesign Services support the R&D programs of customers with a global footprint. Based in Dijon, France, in the heart of the university and hospital cluster and within the Paris-Saclay cluster, Oncodesign Services has 230 employees in France, Canada and the United States. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. Ukraine's military command said on Monday its forces were engaged in heavy battles in frontline hot spots, after pushing back Russian forces from several villages in the opening phase of the counteroffensive. June 12, 2023, 10:29 Ukraine says heavy battles ongoing after first counteroffensive gains STEPANAKERT, JUNE 12, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: 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, Reuters reported citing Ukraine's armed forces general staff. Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar posted on Monday a photo showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag at what she said was the village of Storozheve in Donetsk, and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it. On Sunday, Ukraine said its troops had made advances on three villages in Donetsk: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Storozheve is located between Blahodatne and Neskuchne. Both sides have said their forces had inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on their enemy over the past week. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine had failed to breach Russian defenses, while the Russian defense ministry said it had destroyed several Leopard battle tanks and other equipment that Ukraine had received from the West. The Russian Defense Ministry said it has repelled 8 attacks and that its defense lines were not breached. According to reports, a prisoner swap has also taken place, with Russia releasing 95 Ukrainian troops and Ukraine releasing 94 Russian troops. To provide a better local transportation service to all the residents in Mumbai, the city has initiated the ambitious Metro Line 5 project, which has the sole purpose to connect Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan. Recently, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has given the green signal to the authorities to turn the 3-kilometer-long stretch between Dhamankar Naka and Temghar into an underground passage route, which was not part of the plan earlier. Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro Corridor Route The change in plan would come as a relief for multiple businesses and residences, which might get impacted by elevated construction on the route. It has been reported that the Maharashtra governments Urban Development Department gave the concerned authority approval for creating the underground section of the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro corridor. But, in order to receive further clearance from the department, a concerned authority has to fulfill some requirements, and asked them to not put a financial burden on the state government and produce detailed component details. Mumbai Metro Line 5 Project Benefits and Connectivity As per the planned project, the 25-kilometer-long Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro Corridor is likely to have 15 stations that would help the residents to experience seamless transportation. The development will also enhance the interconnection within Mumbais metro system. The project will also connect the current Metro Line 4 (Wadala to Kasarvadavli) with the planned Metro 12 (Kalyan to Taloja). Once the corridor gets established, it will make it easy to reach the central Railway Network. The project is likely to cut down the travel time for commuters by 50 to 60 percent, and will provide a great benefit to all the residents who go towards Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan. The report says that most of the work for the Phase 1 project has been done on a 12.7-kilometer stretch between Thane and Bhiwandi. It is expected that the much-awaited Metro Line 5 commercial service may start in 2025. India has received a perfect score in the subcategory of wide-ranging business when it comes to low manufacturing costs. India was included in the category Open for Business" at position 37. However, it received a 16.2 out of 100 rating in terms of favourable tax environment," 18.1 for not corrupt," and 3.5 for transparent government policies. India received scores of 1.9 for income equality," 4.3 for being safe," 2.3 for well-developed public health system," and 9.9 for economically stable" under the quality of life" category. This comes at a time when Indias Central government is working to establish India as a centre of the worlds manufacturing. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat," or self-sufficient India campaign, started weeks following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, aims to increase the nations industrial capacity by luring in foreign investors. To make India a hub for global manufacturing, the government has implemented measures including setting up a production-linked incentive programme and lowering compliance costs. As per the survey, China, Indias main economic rival in South Asia, has an overall open for business" score of 17. When it comes to low manufacturing costs, it comes in second, trailing only to India. In the list of nations with the lowest manufacturing costs, Vietnam, which has attracted a tonne of garment and footwear producers in recent years, is ranked third. In the overall Open for Business category, it is ranked number 47. Following this Thailand has settled for the fourth position maintaining its strength and growth with low rates of unemployment and poverty. Thailand could achieve this due to a sizable agricultural sector and a fiercely competitive manufacturing sector. It leads in textiles, tin, and electronics and is the largest supplier of rice in the world. Thailand, often referred to as the land of smiles," is renowned for its diverse attractions, ranging from bustling contemporary cities and historic ruins to sparkling beaches and glittering temples. Despite being one of the worlds most visited nations, tourism accounts for just 7% of Thailands GDP. This highlights the countrys robust economy beyond the tourism sector. In the fifth position, comes the Philippines as the vast majority of Filipinos living overseas flood the Philippine economy with millions of dollars each year. These remittances have assisted in preserving a budget surplus and a thriving tourism sector. Opportunities in electronics, petroleum, and other products are being investigated, but the implicit reliance on global trends has proven problematic. There arent many overseas investments in the Philippines, but the nation frequently experiences disastrous tsunamis and other natural catastrophes that necessitate massive humanitarian aid. In addition to that. the president has been under fire from international rights organisations for his divisive drug war, which has claimed thousands of lives. The list also comprises Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and, Sri Lanka in the top 10. After the long summer break, schools in Tamil Nadu have reopened for Classes 6 to 12 on Monday. The School Education Department delayed the reopening of schools earlier this month because of the heat and rising temperatures across the state. The revised timetable states that Classes 6 to 12 have begun, while Classes 1 and 5 will resume on June 14. To protect students from the extreme heat in different parts of the state, Chief Minister M. K. Stalins directive led to the decision of pushing back the reopening date. Meanwhile, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the Minister of School Education of Tamil Nadu emphasised the necessity of maintaining student safety amidst the rising temperature. Initially, schools were supposed to reopen on June 7. The School Education Department had to change the schedule, though, due to worries about the weather and high temperatures. Classes 1 to 5 were originally scheduled to resume on June 5, with classes 6 to 12 starting on June 1. Following the recent declaration, chief educational authorities in districts like Chennai and Chengalpattu issued circulars directing all schools, whether public, aided, or private, to abide by the announced reopening dates. Strict mechanisms were put in place to ensure compliance and district-level officials were in charge of keeping an eye on the issue and taking appropriate action. Schools in the Chengalpattu district were specifically told not to hold senior school special classes before the scheduled reopening dates, and any infractions would result in departmental repercussions, according to reports. The government of Tamil Nadu said that it is dedicated to putting students needs first and upholding a safe learning environment despite adverse weather circumstances when schools resume operations there. Doctors have urged people to take precautions as schools get ready to welcome students so that they can stay safe in the heat. Children should not be exposed to direct sunlight, and it will help if schools schedule PT periods at the end of the day, avoiding 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is important that students are seated in well-ventilated classrooms that arent very crowded, Rema Chandramohan, Director, Institute of Child Health said as per The Hindu. The Tripura Board of Joint Entrance Examination has released the Tripura Joint Entrance Examination (TJEE) result 2023 for the PCB and PCM groups. Candidates who took the TJEE will be able to view their results on the boards official website using their login information. The three websites, tbjee.nic.in, tripura.gov.in, and tbresults.tripura.gov.in, will host the TBJEE 2023 results. The PCM group saw a total of 2606 students appearing for the TJEE 2023, while the PCB group had 4689 candidates attending the exam. Tbjee 2023 PCM Group Toppers Rank 1: Dipayan Karmakar Rank 2: Ayushman Saha Rank 3: Uday Saha Tbjee 2023 PCB Group Toppers Rank 1: Rajdipa Sutradhar Rank 2: Ayushmita Das Rank 3: Maari Debbarma The TBJEE 2023 exam was held on April 25, and the final answer key was issued on May 31. On April 28, the Tripura Board issued the preliminary answer key for TBJEE 2023. The tentative answer key was open for candidates to object to until May 25. The TJEE final answer key 2023 was made available on June 1. The TBJEE 2023 results were determined on the basis of the final answer key, Tbjee 2023 Result: How To Check Step 1: Go to the official website of the Tripura Board of Joint Entrance Examination at tbjee.nic.in. Step 2: Click on the link for the TBJEE 2023 results given on the homepage. Step 3: Enter your login information, such as your registration number, to view your results. Step 4: Your TBJEE 2023 results will show up on the screen. Step 5: Take a printout of the TJEE 2023 results and download it for your records. The admission test was administered by the Tripura Board using an OMR sheet, and the format comprised MCQs. The curriculum was broken down into ten modules. For each of the four subjects (physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics), there were a total of 30 (compulsory) questions, with three questions drawn from each module. Each question will be worth four marks, for a total of 120 for each topic. One mark will be deducted for each incorrect response. Students seeking admission to engineering or technology degree programmes (group-A) took the physics, chemistry, and mathematics exams. Candidates for admission to various degree courses in paramedicine, agriculture, fisheries, veterinary medicine, and other fields (group-B) are required to take physics, chemistry, and biology tests. Candidates who want to take admissions in both of the aforementioned categories (group-C) must take all four subjects. For the last two years, the world has been restricted to homes. Daily activities that couldnt be managed without stepping out, came indoors all at once from office to grocery shopping and schools. As the world accepts the new normal, News18 launches weekly classes for school children, explaining key chapters with examples from happenings around the world. While we try to simplify your subjects, a request to break down a topic can be tweeted @news18dotcom The governing structure in India is made up of three tiers the central government, the state government, and the local government. Among Indias three units, the local government democratically governs the grass root level of society. Why do we need local government? A lot many people have this question but only a few understand that local government in India plays a very important role. The aim of the local bodies is to solve the local problems by cooperation without depending on others. Only the local people know their problems and for meeting their needs, it is the local government that takes an interest. Local government in India refers to governmental jurisdictions below the level of the state. In todays Classes With News18 get to understand what is a local government, the growth of local government in India, its structure, amendments, working, and challenges. What is Local Government? Local government is the government at the village and district level. It is made up of democratically elected representatives of the local people. It is closest to the common people as it involves day-to-day life and problems of ordinary citizens. It ensures peoples participation in a meaningful manner to run the administration. The development at any place can be done through the cooperation of the people living in that particular place. Growth of Local Government Earlier the self-governing village communities existed in the form of Sabhas (Village assemblies). In the course of time, these bodies took the shape of Village Panchayat (an assembly of five members). In 1882, the Viceroy of India, Lord Ripon, created the local boards in the form of local government. In 1992, the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were passed by the parliament. Under the Government of India Act 1919, Village Panchayats were established in a number of provinces and continued after the Government of India Act, 1935. During Indias freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi strongly pleaded for decentralisation of economic and political power to ensure local involvement was successful. When the constitution was prepared, the subject of local government was assigned to the States. It was also mentioned in the Directive Principles as one of the policy directives to all governments in the country. Why do We Need a Local Government? With local government, it becomes convenient for the people to approach the local government for solving their problems both quickly and with minimum cost. It can be very effective in protecting the local interests of the people. With its help, the common citizens can be involved in decision-making concerning their lives, their needs, and above all their development. Difficulties in Functioning of Local Government While it has been constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies, meetings of Gram Sabha are not held regularly. Most State Governments have not transferred significant powers to the local governments. The State Government has also not given adequate resources to the local bodies. Structure of Local Government The rural local government, also called Panchayati Raj, is the third tier of Indian federalism. It derives its power and share of resources from the respective states. At the village level is Gram Panchayat. It consists of members called Panch headed by the Sarpanch. Its members are directly elected by the people of the Gram Sabha which is composed of the entire voting population of a village or a group of villages. Gram Panchayat is the decision-making body and it works under the supervision of Gram Sabha which meets at least twice a year. A group of Gram Panchayats forms the Panchayat Samiti at the block level. All the panchayat members elect the members of a Panchayat Samiti. At the district level, we have a Zilla Parishad which is formed by all the Zilla Parishads in a district. This body consists of elected members along with members of the legislative assembly and members of parliament from that particular district. The chairperson of the Zilla Parishad is the political head of this body. Prominent experts are increasingly doubtful about the presence of UFOs in the United States, after a government whistleblower who made extraordinary allegations has also implied that the US has obtained extraterrestrial remains. Lets take a look at the whistleblowers allegations and whether there could be some truth to his claims: What are the Claims? David Grusch, a former intelligence official who oversaw the examination of unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP) in a US Department of Defense agency, made headlines globally when he claimed that the US had been gathering unidentified non-human aircraft for an extended period, according to a report by the Guardian. Grusch, a military veteran who previously served in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office, came forward as a whistleblower and shared this information with various media outlets, discussing the unidentified crafts. These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it a spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, Grusch told NewsNation. According to The Debrief,Grusch held the position of senior technical adviser for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) analysis at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. During this time, he possessed Top Secret/Secret Compartmented Information clearance. Additionally, he served as a senior intelligence officer in the National Reconnaissance Office, accumulating a total of 14 years of experience in intelligence-related roles. While working on the UAP task force, Grusch claims that he was denied access to a materials recovery program that involved tangible evidence of the crafts, as per a report by Independent. I thought it was totally nuts and I thought at first I was being deceived, it was a ruse, Grusch told NewsNation. People started to confide in me. Approach me. I have plenty of senior, former intelligence officers that came to me, many of which I knew almost my whole career, that confided in me that they were part of a program. According to Gruschs statements to The Debrief, he claims to have prepared numerous briefings on UFOs for Congress. However, last year, he made the decision to disclose hours of classified information and data regarding the materials recovery program. Grusch asserts that the materials recovery program was intentionally shielded from proper congressional oversight, the Independent report said. A declassified version of the document, shared with The Debrief, states that Mr. Grusch possesses firsthand knowledge that UAP-related information is being concealed or withheld from Congress with the intention of obstructing legitimate congressional oversight of the UAP program. As per the complaint, in July 2021, Grusch confidentially provided classified information to the Department of Defense Inspector General concerning the withheld information. However, he believes that his identity was disclosed. Presently, Grusch is filing a whistleblower complaint, alleging that he has faced retaliation for disclosing confidential information. Is There Truth to His Claims? According to a Vox report, some people who claim to be whistleblowers can be categorized into three groups: credible truth-tellers with substantial evidence, unreliable individuals, and those who fall somewhere in between. In the case of Grusch, he admits that he lacks firsthand knowledge of the alleged programs involving UFOs. He has not personally witnessed any crafts or encountered deceased alien pilots. Instead, he states that he is relaying information shared with him by others. The identities and credibility of these sources remain unclear, raising doubts about the veracity of their claims. As of now, Grusch has not publicly disclosed any specific details regarding these allegations. His supporters argue that revealing classified information would be illegal, hence his silence on the matter. They also emphasize that he has provided the classified information he possessed to the inspector general and Congress, highlighting the legal consequences of lying to these entities, the report says. However, skeptics question whether Grusch is merely retelling unfounded stories that have long circulated within the UFO-believing community. They suggest that he may be either overly trusting or intentionally fabricating information. It is noteworthy that reputable media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Politico declined to publish Gruschs story, while The Debrief, a UFO-friendly publication, took it up, the report explains. This, combined with previous instances where sensational claims have fizzled out, adds to the skepticism surrounding the current situation. As per the Vox report, UFOs gained credibility through the involvement of the New York Times and Congress. Journalist Leslie Kean compiled credible reports in her book, which was supported by former White House chief of staff John Podesta. A former Defense official Christopher Mellon introduced Kean to Luis Elizondo, who headed a secret government initiative investigating unidentified aerial objects. Later, The New York Times published a story on Elizondos claims to have led a secret government initiative investigating unidentified aerial objects, supported by authenticated videos of military pilots encounters, in 2017. Despite skepticism, the story prompted intensified investigations and the establishment of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force" by the Pentagon. David Grusch worked in this office. After that, prominent figures, including Barack Obama and John Ratcliffe, acknowledged encounters with unexplained objects. Former CIA director John Brennan suggested the involvement of a different form of life. While everyone acknowledges mysterious occurrences, direct references to the alien hypothesis" remain rare. Both believers and skeptics anticipate that the intelligence communitys inspector general and Congress will review Gruschs classified claims. However, skeptics predict that the specific details provided by Grusch may never be disclosed. They anticipate that congressional investigations will either yield inconclusive results or debunk his claims. In a significant development, Ukraine has announced the retaking of three villages in the eastern region of Donetsk, marking the first reported gains of their new offensive against Russian forces. However, the progress comes at a tragic cost, as three people were killed and at least 23 others were wounded when Russia shelled a rescue boat that was evacuating civilians from Russian-controlled territory, according to the Kherson region prosecutors office, as per an AFP report. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, based in Washington, have observed that Ukrainian forces have launched counteroffensive operations in at least four front-line areas. These operations are part of Ukraines response to the ongoing conflict with Russian forces. After months of building expectations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that the long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian forces had commenced. The Ukrainian government is now actively engaged in reclaiming territory and pushing back against the Russian incursion. What is a Counteroffensive? 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. The Recapture of Three Villages On Sunday, Ukraine announced the recapture of three villages, marking significant gains in their new campaign against Russian forces. The state border guard service confirmed that Neskuchne in the Donetsk region was under Ukrainian control once again. Additionally, the Ukrainian army reported the capture of the nearby village of Blagodatne, with a video showing soldiers raising the Ukrainian flag over a damaged building, AFP said in its report. Valeriy Shershen, a military spokesman, stated in televised remarks that Blagodatne was located on the border between the Donetsk region and the southern Zaporizhzhia region, where heavy Ukrainian assaults had been reported by Moscow in the past week. Shershen also mentioned that Ukrainian forces had captured several Russian and pro-Russian troops. Later in the day, Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar announced that Ukraines forces had retaken a third village, Makarivka, located northwest of Blagodatne. These recaptured villages signify notable advancements for the Ukrainian military in their ongoing campaign. What Could This Mean for Russia? The recent military successes of Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region have the potential to disrupt the land bridge connecting Russia with the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine. This would represent a significant setback for Moscow. In response, Russias defense ministry claimed that Ukraine had carried out an unsuccessful attack on a Russian warship, the Priazovye, in the Black Sea on Saturday night. The warship is responsible for patrolling and monitoring natural gas pipelines in the area. The ministry stated that the attack, conducted using drone boats, was repelled successfully, and their vessel sustained no damage. But Dam Damage Glares The shelling of the rescue boat resulted in the loss of civilian lives and injuries due to the destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam in the southern Kherson region. Ukrainian officials have reported that seven people died, and 35 individuals, including seven children, are still missing as a result of the devastating flood caused by the dams destruction. There is a dispute between Ukraine and Russia regarding the responsibility for the dams destruction. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Moscow claims that Kyiv fired on it. The consequences of the dams destruction are severe, with Ukrainian officials considering it as the worst environmental catastrophe since the Chernobyl disaster. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, accompanied by representatives of the International Criminal Court, described the incident as both a war crime and an ecocide during their visit to the site. Approximately 450 tonnes of turbine oil have spilled into the Dnipro River and the Black Sea. The flooding has affected 77 towns and villages in Kherson and Mykolaiv, resulting in five and two deaths, respectively. Additionally, 162,000 people are without water supplies in these regions. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that 4,000 people have been evacuated from the affected areas. AFP Contributed to this report Boris Johnson formally resigned as a Conservative MP on Monday, Sky News sources reported. His resignation comes as a UK parliamentary committee is meeting on Monday to conclude its inquiry into whether Johnson misled lawmakers over parties at his Downing Street office that breached Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Members of Parliaments Privileges Committee have pledged to continue with the investigation into Johnsons conduct after he unexpectedly quit as a lawmaker on Friday and angrily accused political opponents of driving him out in a witch hunt. The committee is expected to finalise its highly-anticipated report Monday. British media report that the findings could be published in the coming days. Ahead of the findings being made public, Johnson, 58, said the Privileges Committee told him he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament over partygate, a series of boozy parties and gatherings in his office that broke strict pandemic restrictions that his government had imposed on the country. He accused the seven-member committee, which has members from both the governing Conservatives and opposition parties, of bias and called it a kangaroo court. In response, the committee said that Johnson impugned the integrity of Parliament with his attack. Johnsons successor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, backed the parliamentary committee Monday. This is a properly set up committee that the House (of Commons) has voted to carry out their work," Sunaks spokesman, Max Blain, said. The government will in no way traduce or criticise the work of the committee who are doing exactly what Parliament has asked them to do. The committee could have suspended Johnson from the House of Commons if he was found to have lied deliberately. While Johnson has quit Parliament and will no longer be affected by any decision to suspend him, the committee could choose to apply other sanctions like barring him from entering Parliaments grounds. Revelations that Johnson and his staff held office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays" in 2020 and 2021, at a time when millions were prohibited from seeing loved ones or even attending family funerals, angered many Britons and added to a string of ethics scandals that spelled his downfall. Johnson resigned as prime minister last summer after a mass exodus of government officials in protest of his leadership. Police fined him and other senior officials for violating lockdown rules, but Johnson has insisted to lawmakers that he didnt deliberately mislead Parliament over the gatherings. He has told the committee he honestly believed the five events he attended, including a send-off for a staffer and his own surprise birthday party, were lawful work gatherings intended to boost morale among overworked staff members coping with a deadly pandemic. Johnsons surprise resignation has reopened bitter rifts within the ruling Conservative Party, which has seen dwindling support over 13 years in power and now regularly polls behind the opposition Labour Party. (With AP inputs) Two women, including a senior citizen, were killed in a fire at a multi-storey building here in Uttar Pradesh, while eight others were rescued on Monday morning, officials said. One of the deceased was 74 years old and it is suspected she died of asphyxiation, while the other, aged around 40, succumbed to burn injuries, a police officer who oversaw the rescue and relief work told PTI. Both the women were members of the same family. They were taken to a CHC (community health centre) but did not survive. Their postmortem reports are awaited," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Loni, Rajneesh Upadhiyai said. The incident was reported from the Lal Bagh colony of Ghaziabad districts Loni area at 6:52 am, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Rahul Pal said and added that the building housed a tent and catering service on its ground floor. The two women were found on the first and the second floors of the building and were taken to the health facility, while eight others were rescued, he said. Teams were rushed to the site and two fire tenders from Tronica City and one from Sahibabad were sent, Pal said. There was a major fire in the buildings ground floor where works related to the tent house business were done," he said. There were eight persons trapped in the upper part of the building. They were rescued by breaking a wall after firefighters reached them using an external stair. When the building was further checked, a woman was found injured on the first floor and another on the second floor," Pal said. On the cause of the fire, he said it seems it broke out after a short circuit on the buildings ground floor. There was no one present on the ground floor during the time of the incident, he added. Pal said a firefighter was injured in the rescue operation when an iron gate fell on him. The fire has been doused, the official said. The very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm" and is likely to make landfall near Mandvi-Jakhau Port along the Saurashtra-Kutch coasts. In view of the impending landfall and the storm, Gujarat has been placed on high alert. On June 14, IMD has declared an orange alert for all districts, while on June 15 a red alert has been issued across the state. On Thursday, the cyclone is expected to be the strongest, and this would lead to extremely heavy rainfall in coastal areas of Gujarat, IMD Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. The rainfall will especially hit on the coastal areas of Gujarat. This could lead to inundation of coastal and low-lying areas. As the cyclonic will give way to very gusty winds, some damage to tin houses, electrical lines could be seen. #WATCH | IMD Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra speaks on Cyclone Biparjoy, says, We have issued an Orange alert for June 14 and a Red alert for June 15 for all districts. From June 15 we will see a landfall in it and will move towards the north-northeast (NNE) direction. We pic.twitter.com/Krn3EVbSGD ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 Meanwhile, Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to review the situation related to Cyclone Biparjoy today, while authorities have started evacuating people in districts by the sea in view of the cyclone. The landfall is predicted on the evening of June 14. As the Gujarat administration braces for cyclone Biparjoy, the Kutch district on Monday imposed section 144 in coastal villages, where the cyclone will have a severe effect. In its latest bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the extremely severe cyclonic storm was very likely to move north-northeast and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by the noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kilometres per hours (kmph) gusting to 150 kmph. Due to cyclonic activities, sea conditions along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts will likely remain rough to very rough" till Wednesday, and very rough to high on Thursday, IMD said. High tidal waves and rainfall were also witnessed in Mumbai as Biparjoy intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. IMD Advises For Total Suspension of Fishing Operations The weather agency has advised total suspension of fishing operations in the region till June 15 and has asked fishermen to not venture into the central Arabian sea, north Arabian sea during June 12-15, and along and off Saurashtra-Kutch coasts till June 15. IMD also advised those out at sea to return to the coast and regulate offshore and onshore activities judiciously. 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. Cyclone Biparjoy Movement 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. It is very likely to cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by noon on June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph," 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. Wide-Scale Destruction Expected In Gujarat Several districts of Gujarat, including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Morbi, Junagarh, and Rajkot, may face damages on June 15. Expected destruction includes the demolition of thatched and kutcha houses, damage to pucca houses, uprooting of power and communication poles, and potential threats from flying objects, according to a report by the news agency IANS. Further, transportation systems may be disrupted; and extensive damage to crops, plantations, and orchards is expected. The visibility in these areas will be severely impacted, and small boats and crafts may be at risk. Indian Railways has also implemented various measures to ensure the safety and minimise the impact of the cyclone. Measures Taken By Gujarat Govt The Gujarat government is deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in coastal areas and will set up shelters in six districts before the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy makes landfall on the state coast. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has delegated the task of advance planning and disaster management to senior ministers of the state cabinet. These ministers will provide guidance and support to the district systems. The assigned ministers are as follows: Rishikesh Patel for Kutch District, Praful Bhai Pansheriya and Kanubhai Desai for Morbi, Raghavji Patel for Rajkot District, Kuvarji Bavaliya for Porbandar, Mulu Bhai Bera for Jamnagar District, Harsh Sanghavi for Devbhumi Dwarka, Jagadish Vishwakarma for Junagadh District, and Purushottam Solanki for Gir Somnath. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has instructed all these ministers to promptly reach their respective districts. 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, according to Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey. 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. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Sunday also reviewed the preparedness of different wings of the central government and the Gujarat administration to deal with the impending Cyclone Biparjoy. Impact on Weather 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. In view of inclement weather conditions due to Cyclone Biparjoy, a runway at Mumbai airport was closed, leading to the cancellation and delay of some flights. Also Read: Chaos at Mumbai Airport as Main Runway Closure Due to Bad Weather Hits Flight Operations IMD Forecast of the Rest of India for the Next 4 Days Northeast India: Widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over the region during the next four days, IMD said in its latest bulletin. East India: As per the weather agency, heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 36 hours and heavy to very heavy rainfall during the subsequent three days. Heavy rainfall is also very likely at isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next three days. Northwest India: Hailstorms are very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the three to four days. Severe thunderstorms with squalls are very likely over isolated parts of Rajasthan on June 15. West India: Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Konkan and Goa today and over Gujarat Region on June 15. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also very likely at isolated places over Saurashtra and Kutch on June 14 and extremely heavy rainfall on June 15. South India: Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Kerala during the next 36 hours and over Coastal Karnataka today. Heatwave warning: Heatwave conditions are very likely to continue in isolated pockets over Bihar, Jharkhand and Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next four days, and over south Haryana-Delhi, south Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha from till June 13. Heatwave conditions are also likely over Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana today. Hot and humid conditions are very likely over Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada during the next two days. Exports from Armenia to Russia grew 187% in 2022, with most of the figure comprising re-exports, Finance Minister of Armenia Vahe Hovhannisyan said Monday. June 12, 2023, 10:41 Armenian exports, re-exports to Russia grow 187% STEPANAKERT, JUNE 10, ARTSAKHPRESS: In 2022 we had a 187% growth in exports compared to 2021 towards Russia. Re-exports make up most of it. The exports of Armenian-made products contributed by 47 percentage points, Hovhannisyan told lawmakers at the Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Committee during debates on approving the 2022 state budget report. Tourism grew 90,2%. A growth in financial transfers in 2022 also contributed to dram valuation, he added. As a result, a 12,6% economic growth was recorded, although we had predicted 11%, while the target in 2022 was 7% in line with the government program. As a result, the nominal GDP comprises around 8,5 trillion drams, which is 1,5 trillion more compared to the 2021 factual figure, the minister said. Farmer unions, which are protesting over the minimum support price for sunflower seed, on Monday gave an ultimatum to the Haryana government till 10pm to hold talks with them or their agitation will continue. They said that after the 10 pm deadline, the protest will be handed over to Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) for further decisions. Earlier in the day, farmers blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh highway after holding a mahapanchayat in Kurukshetra to press for minimum support price for sunflower seed. The MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao mahapanchayat", called by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), was held at a grain market in Pipli close to the National Highway-44. After the mahapanchayat, the farmers gathered on the highway and blocked it. Police were diverting traffic from Delhi through the Kurukshetra bypass. Apart from leaders of various khaps and Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of the grapplers who have been demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, were present at the mahapanchayat. Farmers from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan too attended the gathering. At the mahapanchayat, farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana said the local administration had assured them of a meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss their demands. But now they say the chief minister has left Karnal". Because of this, the local committee, which organised the mahapanchayat, decided to block the National Highway-44 till our demands are met," Mathana said. The highway also connects the Delhi-Kurukshetra-Amritsar route. The Deputy Commissioner of Kurukshetra, Shantanu Sharma, told PTI that the district administration has been holding talks with BKU leaders since Sunday to resolve the issue of procuring sunflower seed on MSP. Even today we asked them to give us some time so that we can arrange a meeting with the chief minister. But the BKU leaders preferred to block the highway," he said, adding that farmers were being asked to lift the blockade. On June 6, farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni blocked National Highway-44 near Shahabad here demanding that the government procure sunflower seeds at minimum support price. Police used water cannons and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. Later, nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were arrested over various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who attended the mahapanchayat on Monday, said the government should procure sunflower on MSP and the farmer leaders arrested in Shahabad should be released. Addressing the mahapanchayat, Tikait announced that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha would start a pan-India agitation if a law for MPS, as promised by the Union government", is not brought. The government announces MSP but fails to procure it at that rate, he alleged. Tikait condemned the police action against Churni and the farmers who on June 6 blocked National Highway-44 and asked, What wrong has the BKU (Charuni) leader done when he sought MSP for sunflower crop." He said though various farmers organizations attended the Pipli mahapanchayat under their own banners, they were all united in their fight for the farmers cause. He said the issue of MSP for sunflower not only affects farmers in Haryana but those sowing various crops across the country as they have to make distress sale in the absence of an MSP law. Addressing the mahapanchayat, some farm leaders criticised the government for its anti-farmers" policies and police action against their leaders. They demanded the government procure sunflower seeds at MSP and that the protesters arrested in Shahabad recently be released. The government is now refusing to procure sunflower on MSP fixed by the Centre. In the future they may refuse to buy other crops, including wheat and paddy, on MSP, they said. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had on Saturday released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflowers grown on 36,414 acres. The farmers are demanding that the state government procure sunflowers at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal. Under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana price difference payment scheme the state government is giving Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crop sold below MSP. (With PTI inputs) India is at the cusp of 10 billion UPI transactions this month. That means 1,000 crore transactions done digitally in a month in a country of 135 crore people! This is why those who three weeks ago had expected chaos at the banks for the Rs 2,000 currency notes swap, have been proven so wrong. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that in the past 20 days, since the four-month-long window was opened for people to return their Rs 2,000 currency notes to banks, over 50% of the notes are already back. In 85% of such instances, people simply deposited the money in the outgoing currency in their bank accounts rather than swap it for notes of another denomination. Hardly has anyone read reports of any chaos or long queues at banks across the country for this exercise. This underlines one key factor India is now truly the worlds leading digital economy. In May, India touched a record high of 9.41 billion UPI transactions, up almost 6% from the previous month. It was in fact a 58% year-on-year growth. This month, already in the first 10 days, India has crossed 3.2 billion transactions and it is expected that the country could be at the doorstep of 10 billion transactions in June. This is the sheer number of people scanning QR codes at the local sabziwala thela in their neighborhood to top coffee shops or sending across money to their contacts using UPI that has been linked to their bank accounts. In the heart of our nation beats the collective spirit of 140 crore Indians. Today, like always, there are inspiring stories radiating hope and inspiration. NaMo App has captured it well. Do have a look- they will fill you with an overwhelming sense of pride. pic.twitter.com/YYCujR1Pm0 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2023 INDIA, THE WORLD LEADER India took time to join the digital bandwagon, but since it has, the strides have been giant. Sample this: Indias nearly 9 billion UPI transactions in 2022 is more than the real-time digital payments done in the next four countries combined. Brazil did about 3 billion digital transactions last year, China did only about 1.7 billion, Thailand was at 1.6 billion and South Korea was at 0.8 billion. Over 35 countries now want to adopt Indias UPI technology to offer it to Indian visitors and expatriates abroad. The biggest surprise was even Japan expressing interest in it. PM Narendra Modi earlier this year said experts feel that at this rate, Indias digital wallet transactions could soon overtake the cash transactions. This would be a big leap from 2016, when UPI-BHIM was launched under the Modi government. Many people ask what demonetization in 2016-17 achieved one of its biggest impact was people adopting digital payments in a big way and shedding their habit to use cash. This became even more evident and helpful during the Covid period between 2020 and 2022, a top government official told News18. Indias Digital Age: No Chaos Over Rs 2,000 Notes; At Cusp of 10 Billion Monthly UPI Transactionshttps://t.co/X6pkRA46k2 pic.twitter.com/nR4RQ0KwpQ narendramodi_in (@narendramodi_in) June 12, 2023 It was the widespread use of digital payments that gave the government the confidence last month to announce that it would scrap the Rs 2,000 denomination notes and gave people a window between May 23 and September 30 to either deposit these notes in their bank accounts, get them swapped at banks or use them as legal tender elsewhere. The ultra-smooth way the exercise has panned out, surpassing expectations of many in the government with over half the notes already back with the banks within 20 days, shows India has moved well into the digital age. Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated for a pro-planet lifestyle, gender equality, and womens empowerment during a special video address at the G20 Development Ministers meeting underway in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. Union Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar is chairing the meeting which will conclude on Tuesday. In his video message, PM Modi pitched for the democratisation of technology to bridge the data divide and told G20 delegates that India is willing to share its experience with partner countries as digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change at home. He underlined the growing data divide and said high quality data is critical to meaningful policy-making and efficient public delivery. In India digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change. Technology is being used as a tool to empower people," he said. Modi spoke about his governments work to boost development in over 100 aspirational districts, a reference to underdeveloped areas. Experience has shown that these districts have emerged as a catalyst for the countrys growth and urged the delegates to study the model as they may find it relevant. Noting that development is a core issue for the Global South, he said these countries were severely impacted by the disruptions created by the global Covid pandemic. And, the food, fuel, and fertilizer crises because of geo-political tensions have delivered another blow, he added. In such circumstances, the decisions you make carry great significance for humanity as a whole. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this," he said. Describing Varanasi, where the meeting is taking place, as the oldest living city of the mother of democracy, the prime minister said it is a fitting location for the G20 development ministers meeting. Kashi has been a centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries. It has the essence of Indias diverse heritage and serves as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country," he said. Advocating for gender equality and womens empowerment, PM Modi said, Women are setting the agenda for development. Women are agents of growth and change." India is hosting the meeting in its capacity as the current chair of G20. Around 200 delegates are expected to visit Varanasi for the three-day meeting of development ministers of the G20 member nations, beginning Sunday. The G20 development ministers conclave follows the Voice of the Global South Summit that was hosted by India in January, and the decisions taken at the Varanasi meet will also contribute to the UN summit on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September, the MEA said. In a statement, it said the Varanasi meeting is taking place amid mounting developmental challenges that have been further aggravated by economic slowdown, debt distress, impacts of climate change, growing poverty and inequality, food and energy insecurity, global supply-chain disruptions, and geo-political conflicts and tensions. 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. The three highly radicalised men from Jabalpur ISIS module, who were arrested on May 27, possessed sharp-edged weapons and digital devices containing ISIS propaganda materials, Jihadi literature and pamphlets. were recovered from the suspects, and their main agenda was religious conversion and expanding reach through online platforms. The arrested accused Mohammad Adil Khan, Syed Mamoor Ali and Mohammad Shahid are highly motivated Islamic State supporters and have created a local ISIS-inspired outfit called Fisabilillah, according to top intelligence sources. Adil Khan and Shahid have studied engineering and are tech-savvy. They were actively involved in recruiting for the group through online platforms. The group was in the process of procuring arms and ammunitions, including pistols, to create violence in Jabalpur. They conducted meetings and dars (discourse) programmes in local masjids of Jabalpur to influence youngsters in the area with the aim to conduct violent jihad and bring Islamic rule in the country, quite similar to the ISIS-ruled theatres. The ideological motivation was also through a closed WhatsApp groups and Instagram pages. The module members staunchly opposed democratic institutions and even discouraged their acquaintances to vote in elections. This process was launched intentionally to gradually establish the supremacy of Shariat laws above democratic institutions, the sources added. The arrested trio were in contact with foreign-based Islamic State handlers. Few were also exploring ways to migrate to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Adil Khan tried to recruit youngsters in ISIS through training videos and social media. He had several accounts and profiles on online channels to disseminate voluminous data of ISIS materials. Apart from this, the module was also involved in conversion activities from other religions. This was done as a purposeful act of jihad with an aim to convert many young girls of different faiths and to bring demographic change across generations. The National Investigating Agency (NIA) had carried out raids in 13 places in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh last month to expose further links and conspiracies of the 10 already arrested accused and charge-sheeted in the case. Six of the arrested accused are Bangladeshi nationals and are active JMB cadres. They had entered India illegally, without any valid documents, and had acquired false and forged Indian identity documents with the help of their sympathisers in India. The searches at the premises of various suspects led to the seizure of several digital devices (mobile phones), SIM cards, Bank Passbooks and Identity documents. Air India on Monday morning said in a tweet that some flights have been delayed and some cancelled as a result of the temporary closure of a runway at Mumbai airport due to inclement weather conditions". With the intensity of Cyclone Biparjoy increasing, Mumbai along with other coastal parts of Maharashtra received rain and strong winds on Sunday night. Cyclone Biparjoy Latest Updates Strong winds also affected the air quality and visibility due to dust particles. Some trees fell in parts of Mumbai due to gusty winds, news agency PTI quoted a a civic official as saying. Air India in its tweet on Monday morning said, Inclement weather conditions and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport, in addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests, as we make all effort to minimise the disruptions." IMPORTANT INFORMATION:Inclement weather conditions and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport, in addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights. We regret the inconvenience caused Air India (@airindia) June 11, 2023 Several passengers took to Twitter and shared details about their flights being delayed by hours. Some even said they have been stuck at the airport for hours and waiting for their flights to depart. @airindia AI 576 flight from Mumbai to Chennai gets delayed from 11.05 PM to 11:55 PM and then gets cancelled after providing boarding pass. And incharge Pradeep Mangtani answers leisurely saying we will provide compensation without any alternative. Is this how AIR INDIA works?" a user wrote. @airindia AI 576 flight from Mumbai to Chennai gets delayed from 11.05 PM to 11:55 PM and then gets cancelled after providing boarding pass. And incharge Pradeep Mangtani answers leisurely saying we will provide compensation without any alternative. Is this how AIR INDIA works ? pic.twitter.com/r6GNPfZIdD Avinnash (@AvinnashV1818) June 11, 2023 @airindia My sisters been stuck in airport for 9+ hours waiting for #AI573 to depart from Mumbai to Chennai. Please help. No status.. No staff members are around. Passengers are all stranded without guidance," a user wrote, to which Air India gave the inclement weather response. ALSO READ: Chaos at Mumbai Airport as Main Runway Closure Due to Bad Weather Hits Flight Operations Another user wrote that his flight booking for San Francisco has been suddenly cancelled". @airindia: what is happening to the flights out of @flySFO? We are booking parents on these flights and we are not getting clear communication from the airlines. Until couple of hrs ago, todays flight was schedule to fly out at 2.45PM but suddenly its cancelled," the user wrote. Dear Sir, inclement weather and temporary closure of Main Runway at the Mumbai airport, besides other consequential factors beyond our control, have resulted in disruption of flights. We regret the inconvenience caused as we make all efforts to minimise the disruptions. Air India (@airindia) June 12, 2023 IndiGo Airlines also took to Twitter and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused while replying to a passengers tweet complaining about a delayed flight. Akasa Air also reported flight delays. A passenger took to Twitter on Sunday night and said his flight to Bangalore was delayed twice and the gate was changed five times". Utter chaos @AkasaAir at Mumbai Airport. Flight to Bangalore is twice delayed and gate changed FIVE times. Making people look jokers and run around the airport with luggage! Beyond ridiculous! Such shame! 8.15 new take off time and boarding yet to begin! Ppl furious now!" the tweet read. Utter chaos @AkasaAir at Mumbai Airport. Flight to Bangalore is twice delayed and gate changed FIVE times. Making people look jokers and run around the airport with luggage! Beyond ridiculous! Such shame! 8.15 new take off time and boarding yet to begin! Ppl furious now! pic.twitter.com/C4KolqJPRo Boris D'Souza (@boris_dsouza) June 11, 2023 Mumbai was also hit by high tides due to the cyclonic storm, Biparjoy, over Arabian Sea that is likely to make landfall between Kutch district and Pakistans Karachi on June 15 but is already showing its effect in western Maharashtra. Huge waves caught tourists in Ganpatipule town in the coastal Ratnagiri district by surprise. The waves hit the beach with a strong current, scaring the tourists. There was no serious injury reported in the incident. Early morning visuals on Monday from Gateway of India in Mumbai also showed high tidal waves due to Cylone Biparjoy. #WATCH | Maharashtra: High tidal waves witnessed in Mumbai as cyclone #Biparjoy intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.(visuals from Gateway of India) pic.twitter.com/UrnR0sahtE ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 The Gujarat government, meanwhile, has begun 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 Pakistans 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. As per IMD, the extremely severe cyclonic storm (ESCS) 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. (With PTI inputs) An IT Engineer has been arrested from Pune for allegedly issuing threats to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar. The accused, identified as Sagar Barve (34), was produced in court and sent to custody till June 14. An official said that Sagar Barve is working in the data feeding and analytics section of a private firm. The Mumbai Crime Branch, which was probing the case, brought Barve to Mumbai. He was presented in court and has been remanded in police custody till Tuesday," news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. The NCP, on June 9, said Sharad Pawar received a message on social media threatening him with a fate similar to anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, who was shot dead in Pune on August 20, 2013. (With PTI inputs) A man was arrested in Karnatakas Bengaluru on Monday for allegedly manhandling a Dutch YouTuber near the Chickpet market area of the city, while he was recording a vlog with his audience. The video of the shocking incident is going viral on social media platforms. In the viral video, a man (presumably a shopkeeper) can be seen harassing the vlogger while he was shooting a video in the busy Bengaluru market. In the video, the Dutch YouTuber was heard saying, Namaste, sir, while the man grabbed his hand and started shouting, Ye kya hai (What is this). Pedro Mota, who is on a tour of Karnataka for two months, can then be heard asking the man to let go of his hand. Despite the heckling, the YouTuber manages to escape. The incident reportedly occurred a few days ago, however, it has come to light after the vlogger posted the video on YouTube today. After the video went viral, Bengaluru police registered a case against one accused and later arrested him. Regarding a complaint about misbehaving with foreigner Pedro Mota, a case has been registered against the person Navab Hayath Sharif under Karnataka Police Act Section 92," said Laxman B Nimbargi, DCP, West Division, Bengaluru. Sharing the video on YouTube, Dutch citizen named Pedro Mota described his experience and wrote, Foreigner traveling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the Sunday market or chor bazaar. But exploring the area started out on the wrong foot as an angry man attacked me by grabbing and twisting my hand and arm, lunging after me as I tried to escape." After I had some street food, met great local Indian people and haggled for a new buttoned shirt," Youtuber who goes by the name Madly Rover added. Activist Brinda Adige has condemned the incident and called for police action against the accused. This is completely unacceptable. Police must take action against whoever was involved," tweeted Adige. The trial run of the Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express started from here on Monday, a senior official said. The train left Bihar capital Patna at 6.55am and is scheduled to reach Jharkhand capital Ranchi at 1 pm. On its return journey, it will leave Ranchi at 2.20pm and arrive here at 8.25 pm, said Birendra Kumar, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway (ECR) zone, Hajipur. The train will pass through tunnels and railway bridges between Sidhwar (Ramgarh) and Sanki (Ranchi). It will halt at Gaya and Barkakana stations. The 27-km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki has four tunnels, the longest being 1.7-km-long, while three others are around 600 metres each. Earlier, the trial run was slated for June 11, but it was rescheduled to Monday because of the two-day state bandh called by a student group in Jharkhand. More trial runs will be conducted between Barkakana and Ranchi. The commissioner of railway safety (CRS) in Kolkata had conducted a safety inspection and speed trial on the 27-km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki and had given the nod to operationalise the new route between Koderma and Ranchi via Barkakana in December last. Rs 4 lakh for labour, sweeper, peon, ambulance attendant, driver, mason, sanitary assistant, dumper operator; Rs 5 lakh for clerks, teachers (in municipality run schools), pipeline inspector, assistant cashier; and Rs 6 lakh for sub assistant engineer this is allegedly the rate chart for positions under the group D and group C services across municipalities and municipal corporations in West Bengal, an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate has revealed. In a chance discovery, the agency, while raiding the offices and other premises of an accused in connection with the teacher recruitment scam, unearthed a second scam. The investigators accessed a bunch of incriminating digital and paper records that had blown the lid off the cash for jobs racket. According to the investigation report filed by the ED, 6,000 vacancies in 17 positions under group D and C services across 60 civic bodies since 2014-15 have been filled up with candidates who paid for the jobs. The municipalities include Kanchrapara, New Barrackpore, Kamarhati, Titagarh, Baranagar, Halisahar, South Dum Dum, North Dum Dum and so on. News 18 has accessed the report. The investigators have seized the lists of agents who collected the money and the candidates who paid lakhs as graft. The records seized by the ED include all details of the candidates, their profile and the amount of money they paid for specific positions. A senior ED official said: The kickbacks were received by the chairpersons of respective municipalities and several senior government officers. We have details of the agents who collected the cash and the candidates who paid for jobs. Our examination process is on. With the evidence we have, it seems that the municipalities filled up around 6,000 vacancies by taking bribes and manipulating the recruitment system. Politics in play Trinamool Congress leaders, however, claim that the raids and the cases are all part of the BJPs political vendetta. Speaking to News 18, Sougata Roy, senior leader and MP of Trinamool Congress, said: If the agencies have evidence against the politicians and the officers, they should make those public. They can conduct an investigation and arrest the culprit. Our government in West Bengal never shielded the guilty and our chief minister Mamata Banerjee gets our party members arrested too, if found guilty of corruption." He added: But whatever the central agencies are doing is part of BJPs larger politics of vendetta. They find cases against Trinamool leaders before elections. Chance discovery The directorate, which was probing Bengals teacher recruitment scam and its money trail, stumbled upon digital and paper documents related to another cash for jobs scam. During the raids at the office and other premises owned by Ayan Sil of ABS Infozone Pvt Ltd on March 19 and 20, EDs officers seized documents related to the scam across Bengals civic bodies. In April, ED in its affidavit to the Calcutta HC stated that the cash for jobs scam in municipalities may rise to the tune of Rs 200 crore, reported News 18. The interrogation of Ayan Sil revealed that an amount of Rs 200 Crore have been collected from candidates towards giving them illegal appointments in various municipalities of West Bengal, the ED has mentioned. All this forms part of the FIR lodged by the CBI on April 22 against Ayan Sil and other unidentified persons. Importantly, the ED says political leaders are also involved in the new scam as Ayan Sil and other high functionaries including public servants and political leaders hatched the criminal conspiracy among themselves including private persons. Sil, who was the Director of ABS Infozone Pvt Ltd, was responsible for printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets of candidates and manipulated the same to facilitate the illegal appointments. It has been noticed that several persons including Ayan Sil, other agents and political persons have obtained the bribe money both in the illegal recruitment of teachers in the education sector as well as for securing various employments in various municipalitiesand even the proceeds of crime of Teachers Recruitment Scam and Municipality Recruitment Scam have got intermingled on account of common agents and common beneficiaries, the ED has mentioned. ED asked the CBI to step in and lodge an FIR regarding the latest scam too as the victim in both the cases is the same public or common people at large. As per the ED. the illegal appointments were made in various municipalities like Kanchrapara, New Barackpur, Kamarhati, Titagarh, Baranagar, Halisahar, South Dum Dum, Dum Dum, Taki etc and ranges from recruitment of mazdoors, sweepers, clerks, peons, ambulance attendants, pump operators, helpers, sanitary assistants, drivers and assistant mistries. In connection with the teacher recruitment scam, Bengals former education minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested last year. During the course of investigation, the central agencies ED and CBI arrested some of the co-accused. Hundreds of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets were seized, where the racketeers allegedly manipulated the system by altering or changing the answer options of successful candidates and by mixing the groups of papers, leading to disqualification of successful candidates. Three British tourists are missing after a scuba diving boat they were cruising in caught fire off Egypts Red Sea coastline on Sunday, The Guardian reported, citing local authorities. June 12, 2023, 14:49 Three British tourists missing after boat catches fire off Egypt's coast STEPANAKERT, JUNE 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: A further 12 British nationals were rescued along with 12 Egyptian crew members and were brought to safety at the nearby diving resort of Marsa Shagra, about 13 miles (21km) north of the town of Marsa Alam, according to a statement from the Red Sea State governors office and security sources. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which was named Hurricane and had been used for a trip since 6 June in an area just north of Marsa Alam, the statement said. A spokesperson for Tornado Marine Fleet, the company operating the diving boat, said the incident occurred at Elphinstone, a reef 12km offshore known as a spot for diving with sharks. Today at 6.30am at Elphinstone, while doing the diving briefing, Hurricane caught fire, they said. There are three missing British passengers out of 15 passengers. All other 12 passengers plus two guides and 12 crew were transported to another boat and reached the nearest land safely. Now, we are bringing the boat back to the marina under authority supervision. Mohamed Bendary, secretary general of Egypts Red Sea governorate, said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire had started in the boats engine room. Egypts public prosecution office was investigating the incident, he added. A search party has been launched to find the remaining three British tourists, whose identities were not revealed. Uttar Pradesh police arrested a man for unlawful religious conversion in Mishrauliya of Siddharthnagar district after he allegedly befriended a Dalit woman online and converted to Islam. According to India Today, the man, who is reportedly a Muslim, allegedly befriended a woman belonging to a Dalit family on Facebook, eloped with her to marry and converted her to Islam. The accused has been arrested, along with five others, and booked under sections 504 and 506 of the IPC, the SC/ST Act, and relevant provisions of Uttar Pradeshs anti-conversion law, IT reported quoting the Deputy Police Superintendent of Siddharthnagar. As per the report, victim Lakshmi, who met the accused on Facebook four years ago went missing on the night of May 31 from her home after she was married to another man. The woman also took cash worth Rs 55,000 and gold jewellery with her. When the incident was reported to the police, it was found that the woman was in contact with a youth named Sazaullah, a resident of Siswan village in the district, on Facebook and took her to Mumbai. The couple later carried out a religious conversion and changed her name from Lakshmi to Muskaan. Subsequently, Sazaullah married Muskaan in a nikah ceremony. Later the family of the young woman reached Mumbai and managed to bring her back after counselling. While it is yet not clear if Sazaullah forced Lakshmi for religious conversion, however, womans relative told police that Lakshmi had contacted her uncle, who lives in Kalyan, from Nashik before she was taken to Mumbai. She allegedly told her uncle that she was taken to Mumbai forcibly and wanted to leave. After that, her phone was switched off. INTERNATIONAL ALBINISM AWARENESS DAY 2023: Albinism is an inherited genetic condition which leads to the absence of melanin production in the body. Melanin is a pigment that gives colour to our hair, skin and eyes. Absence of it makes our skin, hair and eyes look white or yellowish and makes us vulnerable to the sun and any bright sources of light. Albino people suffer from visual impairments and have a tendency to get skin cancer. They face a lot of ostracism from society due to various misconceptions about albinism, as well. Below, we look at the days theme, its history and significance. International Albinism Awareness Day 2023: Theme The theme of this years celebration of International Albinism Awareness Day is Inclusion is strength. The theme is an extension of 2022s theme, United in making our voice heard, which emphasised on creating greater awareness of the albinism. 2023s theme focuses on the importance of inclusion of not only people of all races and ethnicities affected by albinism, but also young people, women, children, elderly persons, and LGBTQ+ communities. The theme also stresses on the need to seek cooperation of various groups, including human rights groups that are not directly involved with the albinism movement. International Albinism Awareness Day 2023: History Albinism was a serious problem in Tanzania during the mid-2000s. Tanzanian witch doctors were murdering albinos to use their body parts for superstitious magic charms. The Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) and other NGOs campaigned for the human rights of albinos and on May 4, 2006, celebrated the first Albino. 2009 onwards, it came to be known as National Albino Day. The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the first resolution on albinism on June 13, 2013, called Attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism. Eventually, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on December 18, 2014, established June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day. The celebration has taken place since 2015 as International Albinism Awareness Day. International Albinism Awareness Day 2023: Significance Albinos have faced kidnappings and attacks as recent as 2022, in Madagascar. International Albinism Awareness Day celebrations are necessary every year to condemn such attacks and continue the fight to secure the human rights of albino people across the world. Anusha Dandekar, who began her career in showbiz as a VJ on MTV and has hosted many shows including House of Style, Love School, Dance Crew, Teen Diva gave her health update on Monday after surgery for a lump in her ovary. Talking about her intense recovery, Anusha also revealed that the doctors had found more lumps during the process. Taking to her Instagram handle, Anusha dropped a selfie of herself wearing a white outfit in which she can be seen looking at the camera. She also penned a lengthy caption highlighting her recovery process as well as thanking the doctors for looking after her. She wrote, Just popping in to say helloQuick story: went through a surgery for a lump in my ovary, the recovery has been pretty intense and also Im really lucky all was okay found a few more lumps while they were there, again super lucky everything Is great now" She continued, Just wanted to tell all the girls that are here reading this, to make sure you visit your Gynaecologist once a year without fail to stay ahead of your health and safety, Ive been doing that since I was 17 and thats how I can be so grateful Im recovering well today. Thankyou to @drshwetaraje and her incredible team @womens.hospital for making me feel so safe and comfortable. Thankyou for everyone that came to the hospital and called and msgd constantly, you know who you are and Im forever grateful to have you in my life. Still have a few weeks of full recovery ahead of me but it felt so good to walk outside today! Grateful beyond. (folded hands emoticon) Love you, Anusha xoxo." Her post caught the attention of several celebs who wished Anusha a speedy recovery. Jennifer Winget wrote, Sending lots of love baby!". Malvika Sitlani wrote, Beautiful angel! I am so glad you are okay!" Bappa Lahri wrote, Lots of Love!" Rhea Chakraborty dropped red heart emojis. A fan commented, Get well soon! Sending you healing vibes!" Recently, Anusha opened up about the pay disparity in the industry. According to Anusha, her male co-hosts would receive double the salary and enjoy more airtime compared to their female counterparts. During an interaction with Hauterrfly, said, My co-host doing the same job, the same hours, the same amount of styling changes, everything, was getting paid double than me. She added, It was like were doing the same job and then when youd see the footage, you keep more of his role in it than mine. Anusha said recalling that when she asked for equal air time with her male co-host, he got angry and walked off set. When I put my foot down and said hey, listen if I am the co-host, then keep us equal in the camera, he stormed off. And I was like, I just got fair air time, I didnt storm off in the first three seasons, she said. During the same interview, Anusha, who was born and raised in Australia, opened up about a personal experience with racism in her home country. While working as a video jockey for MTV, she went shopping with her girlfriend and was filled with excitement about being back in Australia. During a shopping trip, the shopkeeper showed preferential treatment towards Anushas white friend, repeatedly ignoring Anusha. When she requested to see a pair of sunglasses, the owner asked about her nationality and took a dig at her suggesting that she couldnt afford the expensive product. Australias High Commission to India and Ambassador to Bhutan Barry OFarrell AO recently met Tamil superstar Rajinikanth at his home in Chennai. The Australian Envoy shared a photograph from their meeting on Twitter, on June 10. He also extended his wishes to the actor for his upcoming film, Jailer. The candid photo showed them smiling as they were talking. For the day, Rajinikanth donned a casual outfit comprising a white T-shirt and a veshti. Cinema connects cultures and builds on people-to-people links between countries. It was wonderful to meet the legendary actor Rajinikanth and convey my best wishes for his upcoming film Jailer, Australias High Commission to India," in the caption of the tweet. Meanwhile, the shoot of Jailer wrapped up last week. The celebration was joined by Rajinikanth, Tamannaah Bhatia, and director Nelson Dilipkumar with the entire crew of the film. Pictures shared by the production house of the film Sun Pictures showed the lead actors cutting the cake and pure joy can be seen in the pictures. Its a wrap for Jailer! Theatre la sandhippom, Sun Pictures wrote in the caption of the tweet. In the film, the superstar will be in the character of Jailer and the film is reportedly predominantly shot inside a prison. The film boasts of an ensemble star cast including Jackie Shroff, Shiva Rajkumar, Yogi Babu, Priyanka Mohan, Jaffer Sadiq, Ramya Krishnan, Vasanth Ravi, and Vinayakan in prominent roles. Malayalam actor Mohanlal will be seen in an extended cameo. The film is produced by Kalanithi Maran under the banner of Sun Pictures and the music has been composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Apart from Jailer, Rajinikanth also recently finished filming his cameo portion in daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanths upcoming directorial, Laal Salaam. The actor will be seen playing the role of a Mumbai-based crime lord in the film which features Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth in lead roles. Director TJ Gnanavel upcoming with Rajinikanth is tentatively titled Thalaivar 170 will reportedly also feature Amitabh Bachchan. If reports turned out to be true then the duo will be sharing the screen space after 32 years. Finally, the much-awaited sequel, Gadar 2 has unveiled its dramatic teaser. The movie that has been generating immense buzz among fans is just two months from its theatrical release. But for now, a glimpse of whats to come has rightly amped up the fans since it brought out some of the flavours of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha but in a unique way altogether. As announced, the Gadar 2 teaser went live on Monday across all social media channels. In an over a minute long clip, one only gets to see a truck driving amid the mountainous desert region. It transitions to a simmering unrest happening in Lahore under the guise of Crush India Movement. The teaser also hinted that the story of the movie will be based in 1971. There is a fleeting shot of Sunny Deol in a black turban hurling a tonga wheel in the air. The teaser ends with a snippet of the song Udd Ja Kaale by Arijit Singh. The caption read, Tara Singh is back!" Meanwhile fans that are stoked to see Sunny Deol in action once again swarmed the comment section to express their excitement. One of them wrote, First day first show with family!" Another one commented, Super duper hit!" Someone else said, Tabahi(with fire emojis)". A fan also stated, Hindustan Zindabad!!" 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 were seen filming a scene in a Gurudwara. The duo was seen shooting for a romantic scene inside the place of worship. The Kannada film Daredevil Musthafa was released on May 18 and has met with a positive response from both the audiences as well as critics. Directed by Shashank Sohgal, the film, based on a screenplay by renowned author Puranchandra Tejaswi, intends to promote inter-communal harmony while shedding light on racial intolerance in society. Religious tolerance has been strongly endorsed in the movie. Keeping in mind the social message that the film incorporates, the makers of Daredevil Musthafa have urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah to grant tax exemption to the film. Director Shashank Sohgal and screenwriter Chintan were among those who met Siddaramiah near the CMs residence and requested tax exemption for the film. The meeting and the tax exemption request were announced in a tweet from the Chief Ministers office. However, a decision on whether the film will be granted tax exemption is still pending. There has been no official declaration made by the CMO. The cost of movie tickets has already been decreased by the production team. Shashank Sogal, the director of the movie, tweeted a customised poster announcing the discounted ticket price. Daredevil Mustafa movie on single screens is priced at 50 and 75 rupees only. Movie tickets are available in multiplexes for just INR 99. The previous BJP government in Karnataka, headed by former Chief Minister Vasavaraj Bommai granted tax exemption to the Vivek Agnihotri directorial, The Kashmir Files, based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. It is also crucial to note that just before the assembly elections, post which the Congress came to power, the BJP government had organised free screenings of yet another controversial film The Kerala Story, which has been dubbed a right-wing propaganda film by many. Daredevil Musthafa stars Aashith, Mysore Anand, and Aditya Ashree. Telugu actress Niharika Konidela has been grabbing headlines for rumours about her divorce from Chaitanya Jonnalagadda. Niharika Konidela and Chaitanya have been married since 2020. However, multiple media reports have suggested that all is not well between the couple. Now, Niharikas latest Instagram post has fans convinced that she and Chaitanya Jonnalagadda are not together anymore. In her latest post, Niharika Konidela welcomed her sister-in-law, actress Lavanyan Tripathi, who got engaged to Varun Tej. The couple hosted an intimate engagement ceremony at Varuns house with only close family and friends attending the ceremony. Ram Charan, Allu Arjun and Chiranjeevi were also present at the ceremony. However, the absence of Niharikas husband, Chaitanya, from Varun Tejs engagement has further fueled speculation about their rumored divorce. One user commented, Jiju didnt come?" Another one said, Where is Varuns jiju?" A third user wrote, Where is Chay?" They broke up, bro," a user replied. Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyans niece, Niharika Konidela, sparked divorce rumours last month when she unfollowed Chaitanya on Instagram. She also deleted her wedding photos from her Instagram account. Niharika, known for her work in Telugu films Oka Manasu and Happy Wedding, got engaged to Chaitanya Jonnalagadda in a private family affair in August 2020. The ceremony was only attended by the close family members of the couple. Chaitanya is an alumnus of BITS Pilani and the Indian School of Business (ISB), who works as a Business Strategist in a leading MNC in Hyderabad. Niharika and Chaitanyas wedding, predictably, was a star-studded affair with family members Chiranjeevi, Allu Arjun and wife Sneha Reddy, Ram Charan and wife Upasana Konidela, Sai Dharam Tej, Sreeja Kalyan in attendance. On the work front, it seems like Niharika is making her acting comeback after taking a break. She will be seen in Disney+ Hotstars Dead Pixels. Niharika Konidela stars alongside Harsha Chemudu, Sai Ronak, Akshay Lagusani, and Bhavana Sagi in the series. Korean actress Park Soo Ryun died at the age of 29. The actress was seen in Snowdrop, headlined by Jung Hae-in and BLACKPINK Jisoo. According to reports, Park Soo Ryun died in Jeju Island after falling down a flight of stairs. The fatal accident took place ahead of her performance in Jeju. According to South Korean publication Osen, the fatal accident took place on Saturday. Park Soo Ryun was headed home when she fell down the stairs. She was rushed to the hospital where she was declared brain dead after resuscitating her. Her family has decided to donate her organs. As reported by Soompi, Park Soo Ryuns mother said, Only her brain is unconscious, and her heart is still beating. There must be someone who desperately needs [organs]. As her mother and father, we will be able to live comforted [by the thought that her heart] has gone to someone and is beating. Having made her debut in 2018, Park Soo Ryun has appeared in several projects. These include Finding Mr Destiny, The Days We Loved, and Siddhartha. In Snowdrop, Park Soo Ryun was seen playing the role of one of the students at the university. It has been revealed that Park Soo Ryuns mortuary is placed at Suwon Hospital of Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center, and the funeral procession will take place on June 13. News18 offers our condolences to her family, friends and fans. William Dalrymple is a tricky person. His history doesnt always complement his politics. His books, though often appearing to be an apologia for the decadent and depraved later Mughals, have at least been a damning expose on the sorry state of history writing in India. That a history book should be written like a novel with rigorous research put in the endeavour. Stories should remain the core of the book and not a farfetched ideological fantasy dictated by what was once the Only Fatherland of progressive ideas. Even when Dalrymple is not delving into history and wears the hat of a contemporary chronicler, he still seems to tread a fine line of not invading the sacred in his search for modern India. In Nine Lives (2009), for instance, he recounts with empathy the story of The Dancer of Kannur, in which Hari Das, a Dalit from Kerala, is a part-time prison warden for 10 months of the year, but during the Theyyam dancing season between January and March, he is transformed into an omnipotent deity to be worshipped even by the high-caste Brahmins. Then there are the stories of an MBA sannyasin, Ajay Kumar Jha, and an idol maker, Srikanda Stpathy, Tamil Nadus Swamimalai town, told with warmth and understanding. The politics of Dalrymple, however, is starkly different and dangerous. It undoes almost everything he builds as a historian, though one can find traces of self-contradiction in his books too. In Nine Lives, for instance, his reverence for the sacred appears hollow and pretentious as he invokes Romila Thapars idea of syndicated Hinduism to intellectually discredit Hindu resurgence in India. Dalrymple, quite mischievously, calls it Rama-fication of Hinduism. This two-faced nature of Dalrymple to project his reverential aspect of the sacred while simultaneously working to dismantle it was evident early this week when he, in an interview with a British daily, questioned the idea of British-looted treasures being returned to India. He wanted the wealth that the British had illegally drained out of India a phenomenon he himself exposed in his book The Anarchy (2019), pushing the countrys share in world economy from 23 percent in the early 18th century to 3 percent in 1947 to stay put in the island nation. Now thats the typical Dalrymple way of having the cake and eating it too. He takes the moral high ground by exposing the British plunder, and then like a blue-blood British he vetoes the transfer of that looted wealth to the country of its origins. According to Dalrymple, Mughal treasures looted by the British might never be displayed if they are returned to India, which is currently run by a Hindu nationalist government that does not display Mughal items. He, thus, recommends keeping the loot in Britain. You can go to Delhi and not see a display, at the moment, of Mughal art at all. But its there, beautifully displayed, in the British Library, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum. This is classic white supremacist syndrome with a post-colonial twist: In their heydays of colonialism, the Europeans justified their loot in the name of civilising the savage. The truth, however, was just the opposite: When they first reached Akbars court, the Mughal ruler thought of civilising these European immigrants, whom he called an assemblage of savages. Dalrymple himself writes in The Anarchy how in the 17th-18th centuries, British shopkeepers passed off shoddy English-manufactured textiles as Indian in order to gain greater profits. Ironically, Dalrymple, who today wants the stolen artefacts to remain in Britain museums, has taken a starkly different position in his book, The Anarchy, as he lists out the looting of thousands of priceless objects from India to Britain by the employees of the East India Company. The Companys conquest of India almost certainly remains the supreme act of corporate violence in world history, he writes. Earlier, in an interview with the Smithsonian magazine in 2017, he had emphasised the need for the return. If you ask anybody what should happen to Jewish art stolen by the Nazis, everyone would say of course theyve got to be given back to their owners. And yet weve come to not say the same thing about Indian loot taken hundreds of years earlier, also at the point of a gun, he said matter-of-factly. So, what has changed from 2017 to 2023? Nothing exactly! Even the government in power remains the same. The only thing that has changed in the past five years is the growing global clout of India. Today, as India has displaced Britain to become the fifth-largest economy in the world, and is set to take the third slot ahead of Japan and Germany by the end of the decade, Indians have never been so steadfast and vocal about getting their stolen heritage back. Its no longer about Western benefaction; its about a new India seeking its rightful legacy. Dalrymples hoax is further called when one analyses his claim of Mughal treasures being looted by the British. No, Mr Dalrymple, the British looted Indias treasures, not Mughals. Babur didnt bring any of these treasures from Samarkand or Kabul. He invaded India precisely because it was a wealthy territory, despite pervading political chaos in the subcontinent. But, for the sake of argument, lets analyse what was typically Mughal. Kohinoor, for instance, has a south Indian connection. According to the diary of Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) of the Delhi Sultanate, he looted it from the Kakatiyas. There are many such non-Mughal objects and artefacts: The British Museum currently hosts a bronze Nataraja sculpture belonging to the Chola era (c. 1100 AD), a granite sculpture of Shiva and his wife Parvati from Odisha (c. 1100-1300 AD), and a carved granite figure of Nandi from the Deccan (c. 1500s AD). This museum also has a marble statue of Goddess Saraswati (c. 1034 AD), originally from the Bhojshala Temple in Madhya Pradesh, and a two-sided limestone relief from Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, carved first in the 1st century BC. Also, if you thought there were just one diamond called Kohinoor, you would be wrong: For, Britain looted another one soon after the Anglo-Maratha war in 1818; called the Nassak Diamond, it was a large diamond originally weighing 89 carat, and adorning the eye of the main idol in Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, near Nashik, Maharashtra. The list of looted heritage is long and exhausting. DV Tahmankar, in his book The Ranee of Jhansi (1958), while detailing the loot of Jhansi in 1858, writes how the British took away jewellery, gold, silver and other valuable stuff. By the end of the pillage, he writes, Not a single useful thing was left with the people. This scene was repeated in one state after another. In fact, one can understand the never-ending plundering appetite of the British from the fact that one of its reformist Governor Generals, Lord Bentinck, in the 1830s, had worked out plans to dismantle the Taj Mahal and ship the marbles to collectors in London. Today, the Taj stands in Agra in all its glory just because the auction was a failure and the British authorities thought it was not worth demolishing the monument! Dalrymple should realise that India is not seeking the damages of wealth Britain had drained out of the country, which as per one estimate amounts to $45 trillion. It just wants its heritage back. And that heritage is Indias, and not that of the Mughals, howsoever hard Dalrymple would want us to believe otherwise. In one of his interactions with this author almost a decade ago, Dalrymple proudly talked about having Mughal blood in his veins. Maybe it is this blood that stops him from appreciating the new India story. His elitism makes him suspect the democratisation, even if partly, of the Lutyens ecosystem. Or, maybe his uneasiness comes from the fact that the new, modern India is fast shedding its colonial inhibitions and is no longer shy of its civilisational roots an India that has stopped looking Westward for legitimacy, vindication. For, Dalrymple could become a literary phenomenon precisely because he first landed in India that was old, docile and down with colonial hangover. Time is ripe for the White Mughal to stop running with the Indian hare and hunting with the British hounds. The author is Opinion Editor, Firstpost and News18. He tweets from @Utpal_Kumar1. Views expressed are personal. In the aftermath of the Karnataka BJPs significant defeat in the recent assembly elections, the party has decided to reassess its strategy and return to grassroots efforts to rejuvenate and restore morale and confidence among its cadre and voters. This involves visiting the homes of party workers and voters across the state. Commencing on June 21, all office bearers of the Karnataka BJP, including former and current MLAs and MPs, will embark on a five-day programme where they will visit 50 lakh homes throughout the state. N Ravi Kumar, Karnataka BJP spokesperson, stated, Mane Mane BJP (meaning BJP in every house) will have BJP leaders visiting every home of our party workers, to reignite confidence and motivate them to work harder for the partys success." In the recent assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party was defeated by the Congress, securing only 65 seats compared to the latters 135 out of the total 224 constituencies. Homecoming Ravi Kumar explained that senior BJP leaders will visit every home down to the last village in Karnataka in six or seven groups. The leaders will go to all districts and hold a karyakarta samavesha (party workers meeting) in every district and reach out to 50 lakh homes regarding our achievements and work done by our previous BJP government as well as highlight what has been done under the able governance of our PM Modiji," he said. As the countdown to the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 begins, the party has resolved to embark on a door-to-door campaign across the state. Senior party leaders will visit the homes of BJP karyakartas between June 25 and 30 to discuss, deliberate, and derive a new winning strategy. This massive outreach programme will help in creating a favourable atmosphere for the upcoming parliamentary elections. We will identify 1,000 to 2,000 important people in every district and the party plans to sit down with them to understand what went wrong for the BJP in the district and what course correction could be done for the future," Ravi Kumar added. New blueprint Based on the feedback and insights, the party will come up with a new blueprint that will work as a winning formula for the BJP in Karnataka, insiders told News18. The delegations will also take feedback on which of the programmes that were implemented by the BJP did not strike the right chord and led to the partys drubbing, explained another senior leader. Party functionaries will emphasise the importance of highlighting the achievements and initiatives of the central government rather than solely relying on what was achieved under the previous BJP-led state government, said a leader on condition of anonymity. Senior BJP leaders in a recent core committee meeting admitted that three major issues led to the partys electoral loss internal reservation, the Congresss guarantee card, and issues like hijab, halal, and Tipu boomeranged and led to their drubbing. The previous Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP governments recommendation to the Centre to implement internal reservation or reclassification of the 17% reservation for Scheduled Castes among sub-sects of Dalits led to the division of SC votes, party leaders told News18. The guarantee card by the Congress gave them a good head start and despite our party (BJP) being in power, we were unable to effectively convince people of what we achieved through our pro-people programmes, said Ravi Kumar. Grappling with internal divisions The Karnataka BJP continues to struggle with internal divisions and the partys leadership is grappling with the challenge of motivating the cadres to regroup, re-energise, and rework their strategy to ensure a solid victory in the upcoming general elections. Karnataka in the 2019 elections sent 25 BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha out of the 28 seats reserved for the southern state. Sources within the BJP suggest that the delay in conducting the internal party meeting indicated that there was insufficient seriousness in understanding the reasons behind the defeat of 54 MLAs, including 12 ministers. The BJP had fielded 72 young and fresh candidates but many of them faced defeats and as many as 45 of them lost their deposits in the elections. Party sources also say that after the drubbing that the BJP faced in the assembly elections, the morale is not just down but the feedback from workers has been that there is growing discontent against their MPs in certain regions like Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Karnataka, and Central Karnataka which could hurt prospects in 2024. Apart from this, the party has also been struggling with finalising picks for five major posts: leader of the opposition and chief whips in the legislative assembly and legislative council, as well as the new state president. Present president Nalin Kumar Kateels term had been extended keeping the state elections in mind, but the poor performance of the party has forced the senior leadership to think of a name that could revive the BJP in Karnataka. The central leadership is quite upset and is yet to have a detailed discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah after the election results. The delay is also due to the constant blame game between certain factions within the party on who should take the responsibility for the loss," revealed a senior party leader. While a core committee meeting was hurriedly called on June 8, there are still some major decisions that the BJP needs to make, even though it has been close to a month since the new Congress government has taken the reins of the state. If the BJP decides to make a Vokkaliga the state president, to balance the caste matrix, a Lingayat will have to be made the leader of opposition. The majority opinion has been that Bommai must be made the LoP," explained S A Hemanth, a Bengaluru-based political analyst. If in the assembly, the LoP is a Lingayat, then in the legislative council, the BJP will have to give the post of leader of opposition to a backward class leader." News18 has learnt that three names former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and Hubballi-Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad are front runners for the post of the leader of opposition in the legislative assembly. Leaders upset The growing discontent within the Karnataka BJP has already begun to manifest openly during the nomination process for candidates for the Lok Sabha polls likely in April-May next year. Statements made by former chief minister and BJP MP from Bengaluru North DV Sadananda Gowda and national general secretary CT Ravi have further caused a setback for the party. Ravi had alleged that internal politics and compromises with rival parties led to the BJPs defeat in the assembly polls. Compromise politics of some leaders also caused us problems. If there was no compromise politics, we would have done well and come back for a second term," Ravi said. The Vokkaliga leader and former MLA himself faced a backlash from the Lingayat community in Chikkamagaluru, which blamed him for the ousting of BS Yediyurappa as chief minister in 2019. Ravi also highlighted that the BJP failed to respond to the Congresss allegations effectively and counter them with development programmes of the double engine government which was in place. How many times did we ask (Bommai government) to table the Arkavathy case report? Had we immediately acted on the irregularities related to solar power, then this situation would not have arisen, he said pointing out how Siddarmaaiah and DK Shivakumar could have been put in the dock. DV Sadananda Gowda has also accused party insiders of plotting to deny tickets to MPs in the 2024 elections. A visibly hurt Gowda alleged that there is a hidden campaign targeting at least 13 out of the total of 25 BJP MPs, stating they have failed as parliamentarians and have not worked for the benefit of the state. He also called for intervention from state and national leaders of the party to address the confusion arising from these allegations. On June 12, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan sent a congratulatory message to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day. June 12, 2023, 15:57 President Harutyunyan sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Russia Day STEPANAKERT, JUNE 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: The message, in particular, reads: "Honorable Vladimir Vladimirovich, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and the Russian people on Russia Day. The long-standing friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples, as well as the strategic and allied relations between the Armenian and Russian states, have forged a significant history and hold an immense potential for further development. Artsakh, as an important entity in the South Caucasus, has had and continues to have its own place within these relations. One of the indicators of that importance is the signing of the 2020 war ceasefire through active mediation and guarantees of Russia. Therefore, we highly value the role of Russia and your personal contribution in halting the bloodshed in 2020, thereby preventing further large-scale aggressions and tragedies in Artsakh. The people of Artsakh have welcomed the presence of Russian peacekeepers, considering them a strong assurance of a free and dignified life in their homeland. Now, as Azerbaijan persists in its efforts to dismantle the fragile security of Artsakh and the region, undermining the Russian guarantees through ongoing blockade and threats to Artsakh, we remain confident that by aligning our strategic interests and combining our efforts, our two nations will succeed in establishing a stable and dignified regional environment for all parties involved." The Bharatiya Janata Partys high command in a recent meeting with Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde expressed its displeasure over the working styles and performances of a few Shiv Sena ministers, sources told News18 on Monday. This, they added, has increased tensions in Shindes camp and also the distance between the allies. BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, however, denied these reports. According to the sources, the recent meeting between union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah, CM Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis was regarding cabinet expansion. But Shah expressed his displeasure over the working style and poor performance of five ministers of the Maharashtra cabinet. The sources said agriculture minister Abdul Sattar, health minister Tanaji Sawant, water supply minister Gulabrao Patil, horticulture minister Sandipan Bhumre who is also incharge of the Employment Guarantee Scheme, and food and drug administration minister Sanjay Rathod are the ones under the scanner. With the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, the BJP is looking to win at least 45 seats from the state, but it has received reports that these five ministers wont be able to draw voters as their performance is not up to the mark, the sources added. Sattars controversial statement regarding Supriya Sule had drawn a lot of criticism towards the Shinde-Fadnavis government. His name also emerged in connection with the land purchase case where the Bombay High Court also passed some strict remarks. The BJPs top leadership is of the opinion that if the image of this government has to be improved, then it has to start from the rural areas, where Sattar has fallen short, said sources. According to reports, there is anger against guardian minister of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Sandipan Bhumre in his own constituency regarding his working style. BJP MLA from Tuljapur, Ranajagjitsinha Patil, had submitted a written complaint to the health department against minister Tanaji Sawant for not distributing the district planning committee funds equally in all districts. In Jalgaon district, there is anger against guardian minister Gulabrao Patil for being inactive related to local issues. Many villages in the water supply ministers district are facing water scarcity. Sanjay Rathod stepped down as minister under the Maha Vikas Aghadi government as his name was linked to the suicide case of a young woman, but he got a cabinet berth after joining hands with Shinde. However, the state pharmacists organisation complained to the Maharashtra CM about various decisions of the minister. Shinde being the chief minister is in a quandary about how to handle these ministers as they had supported him during his rebellion against the then Shiv Sena chief and CM Uddhav Thackeray, said sources. One section in the Shinde camp is of the opinion that the BJP is putting pressure to change these ministers which will help it draw more voters during the Lok Sabha elections, they added. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is in Jammu and Kashmir, held a national meeting with the in-charges of 15 states there, calling it a historic feat as it was held beside Lal Chowk for the first time. This is a major outreach programme for expansion of the party in North India. Our in-charges from different northern states had never been taken into consideration before this. There was no effort to take feedback from them or to give them power in order to strengthen the party outside Maharashtra. With this move, we have decided that we will expand the party in different northern states as well and we will give them power to fight elections in those states," said Shrikant Shinde, the chief ministers son, who has accompanied his father on the visit. The duo also met the L-G of Jammu and Kashmir, seeking land to construct a Maharashtra Bhavan in Kashmir to showcase the states culture. The leaders and in-charges of 15 states were present for the meeting at Hotel Radisson in Srinagar and the meeting was convened by national secretary Captain Abhijit Adsul. Harish Singla, in-charge of Punjab; Dhananjay Singh Parihar, state in-charge of Chhattisgarh; Abhay Dwivedi, office-bearer from Uttar Pradesh; Ashutosh Jha, state in-charge of Bihar; Bhupendra Bhat from Uttarakhand; Devendra Sherawat from Delhi; Narendra Chowdhary from Haryana; Ashwani Gupta from Jammu; Lakhan Singh Panwar from Rajasthan; Shivdutta Vishisht from Himachal Pradesh; Lalit Mohan Sharma from western UP; Thadeshwar Mahawar from MP; Deepak Singh from Jharkhand and Malik Bashir from Kashmir were present for the meeting. Sources in the Sena said the meeting was a message for the cadre and office-bearers that the party was in expansion mode and wanted to strengthen itself outside Maharashtra as well. These are not new inductions in the party. These office-bearers have been around for quite some time now. But they were never activated. Now we have taken feedback from them. We will continue to stay in touch with them and to make sure that the party work is spread outside Maharashtra too, said a leader. London Tech Week 2023: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak feels theres a certain sense of urgency and responsibility to seize the AI-driven tech opportunity to help UK make the best country in tech business. Speaking at the London Tech Week 2023 UKs biggest tech conference the prime minister mentioned that his goal is clear: act quickly to retain the UKs position as one of the worlds tech capitals. Investing in newer technologies including AI, quantum, synthetic biology, and semiconductors is one of his priorities to grow the UKs economy. I believe the UK can achieve this goal because we start from a position of strength. Weve created 134 unicorns in the last decade third in the world, behind only the US and China. Were one of the most digitally literate societies in the world, with a higher percentage of STEM graduates than the US and 4 of the worlds top 10 universities, said PM Rishi Sunak. Talking about converting this goal into a reality, he said, Its this government thats building the most pro-investment tax regime, thats increasing public R&D investment to record levels and thats making our visa system for international talent one of the most competitive in the world. Were overhauling our listing rules to make it easier for companies to raise public funding, and changing our pensions rules to unlock new private capital. He further added, I created a new department focused on science, innovation, and technology with a mission to do things differently - from bringing in world-leading experts to taking more risks in support of innovation.And when the moment came, it was this government that acted to rescue Silicon Valley Bank. Looking into the key statistics of tech businesses in the UK, it is claimed that jobs in the broader digital tech economy account for around 14% of the UK workforce at 4.7 million people in 2022. On average, tech salaries are nearly 80% higher than salaries for non tech jobs in the UK, at 62,000 compared to 35,000 as of Q1 2022 The UK tech and digital ecosystem value reached over $1 trillion in 2022, more than 17x the value ten years ago. The UK is the third country in the world to do so after the US and China. If our goal is to make this country the best place in the world for tech, AI is surely one of the greatest opportunities before us," he said. 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. In a major development, the Chinese smartphone brand Honor is reportedly gearing up for a comeback in India in August this year. Former Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth is also expected to join Honor and play a key role in the launch of Honor-branded branded smartphones in the country. According to a report from ET Telecom, Honors India partner PSAV Global Tech Private Limited is currently discussing with former Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth to revive the brand in the country. PSAV Global, headquartered in Noida, is a distributor of Honor devices including laptops, tablets, and wearables. The company is now expected to leverage Sheths network to sell Honor smartphones through both online and offline channels. As per ET Telecom sources, Madhav Sheth, who is currently VP for Business and Corporate Strategy (Global) in Realme, will bring key employees from Realme India to help set up sales operations for Honor smartphones. Sources also confirmed ET Telecom that Honor is not planning to set up its own team in India and will continue with its arrangement with PSAV Global, which has a comprehensive network of over 5000 retailers and more than 100 distributors covering both rural and urban areas across India in the top 100 cities. In another report, IANS news agency sources said the director-level executives from Realmes online and mainline (offline) verticals have also put in their papers, who will join Sheth in his new stint at Honor India. Also, Sheth was absent from the companys flagship launch event on Thursday, where it introduced Realme 11 Pro 5G series featuring two models the 11 Pro 5G and the 11 Pro+ 5G. The development at Realme is significant at a time when the Indian smartphone market is going through a churn, as Apple and Samsung solidify their presence amid doubling down on local manufacturing of their products, leaving once formidable Chinese players behind in the race. In 2020, Chinese conglomerate Huawei sold off its Honor smartphone business assets to China-based Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology Co Ltd. Last year, Honor said it was not planning to exit the Indian market, where it expanded beyond smartphones to enter the laptop segment and also launched a wearables portfolio. Inge Auerbacher fears for a future when Holocaust survivors like her can no longer bear witness. But advances in virtual reality and AI give her hope their stories will live on. Auerbacher, 88, is the star of a new interactive VR experience called Tell Me, Inge" in which she recounts her horrific experiences as a small Jewish child in a Nazi concentration camp and what it took for her to not give up. Ive been involved in many (Holocaust education) projects but I find this one is made for today," Auerbacher, who travelled from her home in New York for the launch in Berlin on Tuesday, told AFP. I wanted it to be able to be used for all ages, and particularly young people. With a book, you have to create your own images in your head but with this technology, you see it with your own eyes." Through artificial intelligence, users of the VR headset can have a conversation" with Auerbacher, asking about her encounters with heartbreaking loss and occasional heroism. The project is a collaboration between Los Angeles-based company StoryFile, the World Jewish Congress and Facebook-owner Meta, which billed it as the first AI and metaverse Holocaust education experience in Germany. Auerbacher, a trained chemist, sat for two days of interviews, answering around 60 questions in fluent German and English to create a database of video files. When a user asks a question based on prompts on the screen, the system spools to that section of the interview using key words and Inge answers", creating the effect of an immersive, one-on-one exchange. On screen, Auerbacher wears a butterfly scarf and brooch for her, a symbol of the 1.5 million children killed by the Nazis. In the backdrop, 3D animated graphics and archival footage illustrate her story. Asked how it was seeing her own image via the headset, the sprightly Auerbacher said with a laugh, It was great, I look so young!" Resilience and tenacity StoryFile co-founder Stephen Smith, who has worked in Holocaust education for three decades, said the technology allows users to talk to history through the people who went through it". I spent much of my life with Holocaust survivors and in spite of all of the hate that they experienced, they have made amazing contributions to society," he told AFP. Theres a great deal to take from the human spirit, from resilience and tenacity. So this project is giving young people the opportunity to open their eyes very early." Meta, which two years ago changed its name from Facebook to reflect a metaverse priority, has invested heavily in VR headgear for a range of purposes from gaming to conferencing and education. Julia Reuss, Metas director of public policy for central Europe, declined to discuss its financial contribution to the project but said the company hoped to keep expanding it with other survivors. Weve long had a focus on fighting anti-Semitism in our team here in Germany and were happy we found the right partner to help us address Holocaust remembrance culture and education using VR," she told AFP. In addition to the programme for headsets, smartphone and computer versions are available. Reuss said museums and schools would be ideal settings to use them. Cancer of hatred Auerbacher was the last Jewish child born in her hometown of Kippenheim, southwestern Germany in 1934 before the Nazis genocidal campaign. While her grandmother was deported to Riga and murdered, Auerbacher and her parents were sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp when she was just seven years old. She would be 10 before she gained her freedom. Now travelling the globe as a book author and educator, Auerbacher told the German parliament last year on International Holocaust Remembrance Day that it was essential to fight the spreading cancer" of hatred. In 2017, Germany passed a controversial law requiring social network giants to remove Holocaust denial and other illegal content and report it to the police following years of rampant abuse. While they have deleted many offending accounts, much of the content has migrated to other platforms, creating constant challenges for law enforcement. Auerbacher said she wanted the new VR and AI technology to be one more weapon in the war against disinformation and hate speech. When youre dead, youre gone not everyone believes in heaven. And its important to me that this history does not die," Auerbacher said. When Im gone, perhaps someone will remember me. This technology is there and we should use it." At a red-brick factory in the German port city of Hamburg, cocoa bean shells go in one end, and out the other comes an amazing black powder with the potential to counter climate change. The substance, dubbed biochar, is produced by heating the cocoa husks in an oxygen-free room to 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 Fahrenheit). The process locks in greenhouse gases and the final product can be used as a fertiliser, or as an ingredient in the production of green" concrete. While the biochar industry is still in its infancy, the technology offers a novel way to remove carbon from the Earths atmosphere, experts say. According to the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), biochar could potentially be used to capture 2.6 billion of the 40 billion tonnes of CO2 currently produced by humanity each year. But scaling up its use remains a challenge. Amazonia We are reversing the carbon cycle," Peik Stenlund, CEO of Circular Carbon, told AFP at the biochar factory in Hamburg. The plant, one of the largest in Europe, takes delivery of the used cocoa shells via a network of grey pipes from a neighbouring chocolate factory. The biochar traps the CO2 contained in the husks in a process that could be used for any other plant. If the cocoa shells were disposed of as normal, the carbon inside the unused byproduct would be released into the atmosphere as it decomposed. Instead, the carbon is sequestered in the biochar for centuries", according to David Houben, an environmental scientist at the UniLaSalle institute in France. One tonne of biochar or bio coal can stock the equivalent of 2.5 to three tonnes of CO2", Houben told AFP. Biochar was already used by indigenous populations in the Americas as a fertiliser before being rediscovered in the 20th century by scientists researching extremely fecund soils in the Amazon basin. The surprising substances sponge-like structure boosts crops by increasing the absorption of water and nutrients by the soil. In Hamburg, the factory is wrapped in the faint smell of chocolate and warmed by the heat given off by the installations pipework. The final product is poured into white sacks to be sold to local farmers in granule form. One of those farmers is Silvio Schmidt, 45, who grows potatoes near Bremen, west of Hamburg. Schmidt hopes the biochar will help give more nutrients and water" to his sandy soils. Carbon cost The production process, called pyrolysis, also produces a certain volume of biogas, which is resold to the neighbouring factory. In all, 3,500 tonnes of biochar and up to 20 megawatt hours" of gas are produced by the plant each year from 10,000 tonnes of cocoa shells. The production method nonetheless remains difficult to scale up to the level imagined by the IPCC. To ensure the system stores more carbon than it produces, everything needs to be done locally, with little or no transport. Otherwise it makes no sense," Houben said. And not all types of soil are well adapted to biochar. The fertiliser is more effective in tropical climates", while the raw materials for its production are not available everywhere, Houben said. The cost can also be prohibitive at around 1,000 euros ($1,070) a tonne thats too much for a farmer", he added. To make better use of the powerful black powder, Houben said other applications would need to be found. The construction sector, for example, could use biochar in the production of green" concrete. But to turn a profit, the biochar business has come up with another idea: selling carbon certificates. The idea is to sell certificates to companies looking to balance out their carbon emissions by producing a given amount of biochar. With the inclusion of biochar in the highly regulated European carbon certificates system, we are seeing strong growth in (the) sector", CEO Stenlund said. His company is looking to open three new sites to produce more biochar in the coming months. Across Europe, biochar projects have begun to multiply. According to the biochar industry federation, production is set to almost double to 90,000 tonnes this year compared with 2022. Corporate employees often find themselves referred to as corporate slaves due demanding working conditions that they face. Working excessively long hours and taking on tasks meant for multiple individuals, many employees have voiced concerns about their inadequate compensation. Recently, a 37-year-old man named Harshal reached out to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, with his concerns. Harshal shared his work schedule, revealing that his working hours from past 6 months are more than 16-17 hours." He also disclosed that his blood pressure readings had spiked to 150/90 and 84 min," surpassing the normal range of 120/80. Dr Sudhir promptly offered a straightforward solution to address this issue. The doctor responded, saying, 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). 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 In a follow-up tweet, Harshal conveyed his appreciation and heartfelt thanks to the doctor for providing valuable advice. However, he shared an unexpected development by disclosing that he was forced to resign from his job due to his bosss unusual demands. 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. Harshal (@HarshalSal67) June 10, 2023 The viral conversation garnered a wave of empathy from social media users as many expressed their understanding and support for Harshals situation. More comments highlighted the widespread issue of excessive work hours and the pressure faced by employees. One user shared her personal experience of quitting their job due to similar reasons, expressing gratitude to the doctors and their advice. The workspace had turned so toxic with threats and verbal abuses that I had stopped responding & Communicating to my surroundings, I took 3 months of medical leave and resigned, the tweet read. I, too, had to quit my job in the past for the same reason, thanks to all the doctors and their advice. The work space had turned so toxic with threats and verbal abuses that I had stopped responding & Communicating to my surroundings,I took 3months of medical leave and resigned. Venz (@Venz41011578) June 12, 2023 Another tweet promoted the idea of escaping corporate stress and embracing organic farming as a means to reconnect with nature. Escape corporate stress, reconnect with mother nature, and earn from organic farming. Combine technology and ancient wisdom for a fulfilling journey in agriculture. Explore the potential of organic farming by combining cutting-edge technologies with ancient wisdom. Jayesh Shewale (@Jayeshshewale) June 11, 2023 A person highlighted the universal nature of long working hours without breaks or appreciation, particularly among middle and upper-level employees. It's happening with all middle and upper level 16hrs per day non stop No off no weekends no appreciations jitender chauhan (@chauhanjitender) June 10, 2023 Another tweet argued that the excessive workload of 16-17 hours per day is not solely due to work pressure, but rather the result of bad planning, bad management and bad resourcing. @HarshalSal67 16-17 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 the bad culture for others in the company too!! Start saying NO!! Things will change!! Anil (@YAniltwit) June 10, 2023 Work-related health issues affecting young individuals highlight the need for those in toxic work environments to consider the doctors advice for improved health and lifestyle. Leafing through the leather-bound menu at a classic Rio de Janeiro restaurant, the tile-floored, wood-paneled Armazem Sao Thiago, 28-year-old Paula Cardoso says something that amounts to heresy in this establishment: I prefer QR code menus." Founded in 1919 and owned by the same family for three generations, Armazem Sao Thiago is a place that frowns on QR codes, those newfangled hieroglyphs that surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, letting contact-wary diners access digital menus on their cell phones. The bar and restaurant takes pride in its menu, which waiters in impeccably pressed white shirts deferentially hand customers. Its the introduction to the house," says Carlos Fionda, 59, a manager at the restaurant affectionately nicknamed Bar do Gomes" in the picturesque hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Thats how the clients experience starts. You chat with them, help them make the best choice Not a cold, impersonal thing." Fionda is not alone in defending the good old-fashioned menu a subject that stirs passions worldwide. Rio state adopted a law last week requiring restaurants and bars to offer physical menus for clients who lack smart-phones, have technological troubles or simply want to ignore their devices and enjoy a meal with family and friends. Several other states are considering similar measures. And the QR code kerfuffle goes far beyond Brazil. A comparable bill is in the works in Miami, Florida. Colombia adopted a similar measure last year. Lawmakers in Mendoza province, in Argentine wine country, are meanwhile pushing the other way, with a bill that would require a digital menu option. Its a touchy topic in a world suddenly dominated by digital dining. With pandemic-era fears of surface-borne contagion now a receding memory, many diners voice frustration at the lingering omnipresence of digital menus and their drawbacks the agony of navigating on a tiny screen, the connection problems, the dead phone battery threat, the lack of human contact. QR code menus are the death of civilization," a Washington Post columnist opined last year. Fuck QR codes. I just want to hold a menu again," railed an article in Vice magazine. Can we finally say QR code menus are a gigantic pile of shit?" Brazilian influencer Felipe Neto asked in a Twitter post that went viral in May. Here to stayBr But hold the hostility, please, say the digital menus defenders. They are much more practical," says Cardoso, the trendy young marketing manager who found herself going vintage at Armazem Sao Thiago. You can access it on your phone, there are more pictures of the food. You can explore the menu better. (Traditional) menus get old." Many restaurateurs love the technology and quietly hope clients will learn to love it, too, saying it facilitates innovation, seasonality and freshness. I just added Japanese food to my menu. If I had 50 physical menus, Id have to change 50 copies. With digital, you can change it in a few minutes, with zero environmental impact," says Andre Delfino, 50, manager of elegant Santa Teresa restaurant Casa Nossa. The technology is here to stay," he predicts. At Cafe do Alto, in a historic building near Santa Teresas iconic tram-line, co-owner Francisco Dantas calls himself a traditionalist who prefers an intimate, tech-free dining experience. But he loves his QR code menu when it comes to his constantly evolving selection of craft beers. Its super fluid. I can change it on my phone any time. Just go in, control C, control V, add the new ones," says Dantas, 43. The Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants wants the government to leave the decision to owners. Its a matter for the market," says spokesman Jose Eduardo Camargo. Both systems have their advantages and fans." The association found in a recent survey that 38 percent of Brazilian restaurants have adopted digital menus; another 25 percent plan to. That accelerating ubiquity is what worries Rio state lawmaker Rodrigo Amorim, who introduced the new law. Were probably heading for a world of all-digital menus. But the change should be respectful and inclusive," he says. In the meantime, theres nothing more romantic than arriving in a restaurant, holding a menu in your hands and deciding what to eat," he told AFP. A street party that attracted hundreds of people turned violent in New York on Sunday leaving at least 13 people injured, authorities said. At least four people suffered gunshot wounds and five others were stabbed, among other injuries at the street party in the Syracuse area of New York. The incident unfolded after hundreds of people had gathered on the 100 block of Davis Street in the citys west side when gunfire was heard at 12:22 am (local time), according to Syracuse police spokesman Lt Matthew Malinowski. Other victims were apparently accidently struck by vehicles while fleeing what the department said was a large gathering of hundreds of people" on the citys West Side. Malinowski said all of the injured, three males and 10 females, ranging between the ages of 17 and 25, are expected to survive. The 13 known victims were located on the street or later at hospitals, he added. Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile said officers patrolling heard the gunshots, and the citys gunshot detection system showed dozens of rounds being fired. The crowd was a mix of high school students, recent high school graduates and college students, many of whom had just returned home for the summer. The party was advertised on social media while no permit was issued and the streets were not officially blocked off or policed, Cecile said. A neighbour said that a fight broke out before midnight but ended quicky but there was another scuffle and dozens of gunshots rang out. Those shot include a 22-year-old woman who was struck in the abdomen, a 17-year-old girl who suffered a wound to her hip and midsection, a 20-year-old woman who was shot in her right hip, and a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to a forearm. The stabbing victims include a 25-year-old woman with multiple wounds to her shoulder and midsection, a 17-year-old girl with cuts to a leg and arm, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy who both suffered cuts to their heads, and a 24-year-old woman with cuts to both legs, police said. Those injured by cars suffered from cuts and abrasions, police said. No further updates on the conditions of the injured had been released by Sunday afternoon. Police were investigating Sunday to determine what led to the violence and whether the stabbings preceded or followed the shots being fired. (With inputs from agencies) The Sydney restaurant has been open for 40 years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short Another iconic Sydney eatery has closed its doors, with Harrys Singapore Chilli Crab farewelling its Elizabeth St location, having only reopened at the CBD site eight years ago. The 40-year-old restaurant first opened in Eastlakes in 1982 before moving to Surry Hills, then its current spot in 2014. While its owners have decided not to renew the lease, crustacean connoisseurs rejoice, for the venue is scheduled to reopen in Potts Point in a matter of weeks. The restaurant has been serving up its signature Singapore-style crab for 40 years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short Famous angler and television presenter Jeremy Wade poses with Mr Zhan. Picture: Instagram Restaurant founder Harry Lau had been serving up his signature Singaporean-style dishes for decades, which as the name suggests famously included seafood slathered in different kinds of thick and spicy sauces. After his death in 2020 his son-in-law Andy Zhan took over the business where he remains at the helm today. The restaurant recently posted the announcement to its glass exterior and online, closing its CBD doors for the final time on June 11. Harry Lau first opened the restaurants doors in 1982. Picture: Instagram Sharing the familys fond memories of 188 Elizabeth St, by all appearances Mr Zhan seems completely captivated with the restaurants new inner east location. Potts Point (is) a suburb full of Sydneys best restaurants, the website read. We cant wait to see you there! Mr Zhan, who married Mr Laus daughter Elaine, told The Daily Telegraph that he would miss the restaurants current location that he personally built from scratch. The Sydney restaurant has been open for 40 years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short The restaurant will debut a smaller menu focusing on its fan favourites. Picture: Instagram Of course Im going to miss the place, but things have to move on and keep going, he said. Weve been around for 43 years and our plan is to be around for 100 years. That is our target. The new restaurant will open up on Macleay St next door to Cho Cho San and is anticipated to cut down its previously 100-dish menu to focus more on its signature dishes. The Biden administrations Pride Month display last week at the White House is facing some criticism online for allegedly violating the US Flag Code. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden shared a post celebrating the LGBTQ community, showcasing a set of flags on the White House facing the South Lawn. The display includes a rainbow-colored Pride flag alongside two American flags. Twitter users argue that this arrangement goes against a section of the US Flag Code, which states that the American flag should be in the center of any display featuring multiple national flags or pennants. 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, 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.U.S. Flag Code 7. (e) The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the pic.twitter.com/YiGbP8BQld Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) June 11, 2023 Fitton went on to cite a US Flag Code, 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. Not one American soldier fought and bled for this flag. Not one American taxpayer paid taxes to the government of this flag. Not one law has been passed under a government elected under this flag. The ideological coup is complete," Daily Wire host and right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro tweeted. Not one American soldier fought and bled for this flag. Not one American taxpayer paid taxes to the government of this flag. Not one law has been passed under a government elected under under this flag. The ideological coup is complete. https://t.co/Sl2pURwID1 Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 11, 2023 Democrats support the celebration of Pride Month, viewing it as a way to celebrate the LGBTQ community. Meanwhile, Republicans oppose it on religious, moral and ideological grounds. Notably, the debate over Pride Month reflects the larger debate in the country over the acceptance of the LGBTQ community. Responding to right-wing criticism over the display of the pride flag, Democrats argued that there is no flag code being broken as the US flag few above them all on top of the White House. Not liking the pride flag being on the white house isnt the same as breaking the flag code. Theres nothing actually wrong here," one of the users tweeted. There is no flag code being broken here. The US flag is still flying above them all on top of the white house, like it has been for decades.Not liking the pride flag being on the white house isnt the same as breaking the flag code. Theres nothing actually wrong here. pic.twitter.com/qssbwTxTjh Bruisr (@Bruisr_) June 12, 2023 Another user tweeted, I wouldnt call it patriotic, patriotism would be toward ones country, the pride flag is more about acceptance." China deployed a reconnaissance aircraft over Pacific waters east of Taiwan last week that Chinese media said monitored and gathered intelligence on an exercise involving the navies of the United States, Japan, France and Canada. A Y-9 cargo plane variant fitted with intelligence-gathering equipment most likely monitored and collected intelligence on the exercise, Chinas state-backed Global Times newspaper reported on Sunday, citing analysts. Two US aircraft carriers, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, had been operating around the geopolitically important Ryukyu Islands in the Philippine Sea since Thursday, the Global Times cited a Beijing-based think tank as saying. The islands separate the East China Sea from the Philippine Sea, and dot the West Pacific between Japan and Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. On Friday, the U.S. began the exercise in the Philippine Sea with two carrier strike groups jointly operating for the first time since June 2020, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. The Japanese defence ministry reported a sighting of a Y-9 reconnaissance variant in the Pacific on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Japanese ministry said on Monday it was analysing a piece of equipment attached to the undercarriage of the Y-9 variant that had not been seen before. Military encounters between China and the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific have risen in recent years as China has grown increasingly assertive in the East and South China Seas, as well as around Taiwan. Days before the quadrilateral exercise, the coast guards of the Philippines, United States and Japan held their first trilateral exercise off the coast of a western Philippine province. The UK experienced the hottest day of the year, with temperatures hitting 30 degrees Celsius, which caused quite a stir as three British royal guards collapsed during a parade rehearsal in London. This event triggered an amusing reaction among Indian Twitter users, who jokingly asked how the UK managed to colonize India". 30 C? How did they conquer India?" asked columnist Manu Joseph on Twitter. Other Indians also chimed with one of the users commented that Our school going children spend more time in much higher temperature in school functions." 30 C ? How did they conquer India ? https://t.co/fsqMyX43LP Manu Joseph (@manujosephsan) June 11, 2023 Another user jokingly tweeted, May be they conquered India during the winter and leave during the summer seasons." Well, some Twitterais argued in support of the royal guards. One such user said 30 degrees Celsius in the UK is equivalent to 45 degrees Celsius in India because of the different weather conditions. India is hot and dry and people are used to it while UK is wet and cold weather with summer average temp between 18 to 21 degree. When it crosses 30, it become unbearable for people," the user added. Temperatures in the UK surpassed 30 degrees Celsius for the first time this year, raising concerns about a potential repeat of last years record-breaking heatwave, according to meteorologists. The likelihood of a hot summer in Britain is predicted to be 45 percent, more than double the average figure, according to UK media reports. Hottest day of the year so farA chilly start in Scotland The best of the sunshine in the southeast Northwest England the wettest today Check out today extremes below pic.twitter.com/3mQmgNmzh1 Met Office (@metoffice) June 10, 2023 The UK marked its hottest day of the year with temperatures reaching 30.5 degrees in Heathrow, southwest London. Amid the hot weather, the upcoming Trooping the Colour ceremony, celebrating King Charles official birthday, is expected to be particularly significant this year. In 2022, the UK experienced its hottest year on record, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, triggering wildfires and causing various disruptions. The Iranian governments attempts to use technology to enforce dress code on women has been met with backlash and derision on social media. The Iranian police chief Ahmad Reza Radan in April announced that Tehran is launching a smart programme to identify women failing to cover their hair or wear loose-fitting clothing in public spaces using surveillance cameras and threatened to fine and imprison them. The police chief also warned earlier that if women were seen travelling in cars more than once without the hijab their vehicles would be confiscated. Businesses were also warned against turning a blind eye and threatened with closures if enforcement failed. A report by the BBC pointed out that Radans move was met with derision on social media. However, a woman told the BBC that she received an SMS from the authorities after her car was flagged for carrying people who violated the dress code. But when a man received an SMS for travelling without a headscarf and that too when he was not travelling with a woman, people pointed out that the cameras were not accurate. The BBC report highlighted that the man later sent his photo to the news agency which revealed he had long hair, which might have confused the cameras. Dear citizen, it is necessary to respect and comply with the law of the hijab, is the SMS that many men told the BBC that they received. Is this how smart your technology is, a man said on social media in response. The confiscation of cars because of a lack of hijab has no legal basis in the constitution and is a crime, Iranian citizen Mohsen Borhani said in a tweet. Meanwhile, women, young and old, said that they would resist the diktat from the Iranian government even though there is an increased risk of being punished. Iran was in turmoil for at least two months following the death of Mahsa Amini last September in the custody of the Iranian moral police aka, the Gasht-e-Ershad. The moral police responsible for enforcing strict dressing rules on women in public places allegedly hit her on the head, leading to a grievous injury that led to her death. Chants of women shouting Woman, Life, Freedom and burning their headscarves or waving them in the air captured global attention. Women speaking to the BBC said that Iranian women will not surrender. This is an Islamic dictatorship, one of its main pillars is the oppression and control of women, that is why the fight against mandatory hijab is something that really shakes the core of this system, a woman was quoted as saying by the BBC. The last Indian journalist in China has been asked to leave the country as both Beijing and New Delhi have ejected each others reporters amid deepening rift between the two countries. Chinese authorities have instructed the Press Trust of India reporter to leave the country this month, Bloomberg quoted sources familiar with the matter. The PTI reporters exit will end Indias media presence from the worlds second largest economy at a moment of deteriorating relations. According to a report in Wall Street Journal, Indian media had four journalists stationed in China. Two journalists- from Prasar Bharati and The Hindu newspaper- were not granted visas to re-enter the country while a third journalist from Hindustan Times was informed in May that his accreditation had been revoked. China has also accused India of unfair and discriminatory treatment of Chinese journalists and claimed that India has declined to renew visas for the two remaining Chinese state media journalists in the country. Last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning had said there was one Chinese journalist left in India, the report said. Chinas foreign ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to the reports. Ministry of External Affairs earlier this month said foreign journalists, including those from China, have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without any limitations. All foreign journalists, including Chinese journalists have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without any limitations or difficulties in reporting or doing media coverage, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. The report said that the spat between the two Asian nations started a few months ago over Indian journalist hiring assistants in China to help with reporting. But China imposed measures limiting employment to three individuals at a time and the process must come from a pool provided by the Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, India doesnt have any similar cap on hiring. China also has dispute over journalist visas with the US. Poor air quality returned to the northeast of the United States on Sunday as a smoke plume moved across New York City, leaving the air quality plummeting to unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. The Air Quality Index in New York was recorded at 103, posing a threat to those with heart or lung problems. However, the Sundays pollution level was not as bad as the heavy haze that recently shrouded the region making the sky orange and shooting the pollutant levels to record high, The Guardian reported. The air quality has been improving in the last couple of days since the thick yellowish haze covered the city last week as a result of smoke from the wildfires which continue to burn in Canadas forests. The smoke had begun to dissipate on Thursday evening due to the shifting direction of the winds over the Canadian province of Quebec, where the fires are raging. By Friday evening, the air quality level had dropped to a refreshing 38 on the 500-point scale. However, there is still large variation in the air quality every hour, even in the neighbourhoods with the cleanest air, New Yorks environment and health data portal said. That means for short periods, some New Yorkers are exposed to high levels of pollutants, the portal added. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, the state department of environmental protection declared an air quality action day and issued a code orange alert on Sunday after elevated ozone levels across three regions of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania authorities have still imposed restrictions on young children, elderly and those with respiratory issues to limit outdoor activities. Ozone forms as when carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide react with sunlight. The Maryland environmental department has also issued a code orange alert for Sunday in the Baltimore region. Nearly 17,800 square miles have burned since the beginning of the year, above previous averages as the country battled out-of-control blazes that a provincial minister warned on Saturday could last all summer." Last week, more than 111 million people in the US had been under air quality alerts as of Thursday due to the fires. The wildfire smoke from Canada was also detected several thousand miles away in Norway. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) does not want to enter into a long-term programme with Pakistan without a stable government, Pakistan-based newspaper, the Dawn said. Citing people familiar with the developments, the news outlet said that bilateral donors, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are reluctant to help Pakistan, despite claims made by cabinet ministers of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The report said that the IMF is unwilling to accept the claim that Pakistan has the pledges to meet the $6 billion deficit it needs to fill. The report by the Pakistani daily said that the governments claims on the budget being in line with the expectations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be misplaced, citing experts. The experts further pointed out that the budget unveiled last week makes it harder for Pakistan to complete the pending ninth and 10th reviews of the current bailout package, according to the report by the Dawn. The Dawn cited Washington-based economist Uzair Younus and added that there are many in Washington who feel Younus could be right. The news outlet added that there are IMF and World Bank officials who also share the same sentiments but they are mum given the sensitivity of the issue. A Pakistani official said that economic stability is linked to political stability and another official said that focus should lie on long-term reforms which will help Pakistan get more funds from the IMF in the future. The officials also said that the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Democratic Movement-led (PDM) government will be in power for more 60 to 90 days following which an interim government will be set up and the IMF, if it chooses to enter into a programme with Pakistan, will require at least a years guarantee from the other side on implementation of reforms. How can a government that is there for 60 to 90 days give this guarantee? the official speaking to the Dawn was quoted as saying. The people mentioned above further added that the US is not offering any assistance to help speed up the process of disbursement of funds from the IMF. The 53% higher expenditure in the budget is being seen as very large, the people mentioned above said, adding that the Pakistani economy is in a state of shock. The Dawn, citing another former official, said that the current budget is eye-wash before elections. They will bring a mini-budget soon after the elections, the official was quoted as saying by the Dawn. Another official pointed out that the IMF board has less than 20 days to meet and decide how and when to disburse the remaining funds to Pakistan. If I were the IMF mission chief for Pakistan, I would say this is over, the official further added. Britain must act quickly to remain a tech capital, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will tell tech leaders on Monday, urging them to grasp the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. Sunak, speaking at the start of London Tech Week, will say the tectonic plates of technology are shifting". We must act and act quickly if we want not only to retain our position as one of the worlds tech capitals but to go even further, and make this the best country in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses," Sunak will say, according to advance extracts released by his office. That is my goal. And I feel a sense of urgency and responsibility to make sure we seize it." Governments around the world are now trying to find a balance whereby they can assess and rein in some of the potential negative consequences of AI without stifling innovation. 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. Sunak will say the tech sector is at the heart of his priority to grow the economy and outline how the government will work with businesses to capitalise on opportunities presented by transformative technologies, such as AI, which proponents have compared with the arrival of the internet. During a visit to Washington last week, Sunak said Britain would host a global summit on artificial intelligence safety later this year to consider the risks of AI and discuss how they can be mitigated through internationally coordinated action. The possibilities are extraordinary. But we must and we will do it safely," he will say on Monday. I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home, but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation." Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday billions of dollars in investment deals between China and the Arab world, on the first day of the China-Arab business conference in Riyadh. The meeting comes amid growing commercial and diplomatic ties between Beijing and Middle Eastern countries, including a recent landmark Chinese-brokered rapprochement between powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia that has shifted regional relations. The oil-rich kingdom is hosting the conference, now in its 10th edition, for the first time. Over two days, it brings together more than 3,500 government and business officials from China and Arab countries, the Saudi investment ministry said in a statement. The event marked its first day with the signing of $10 billion in investment agreements", the statement said the vast majority of which are for projects in Saudi Arabia or by Saudi firms and government entities. This figure includes a $5.6-billion memorandum of understanding between the Saudi investment ministry and Human Horizons, a Chinese maker of electric and self-driving cars. More than half of the total sum is in the memorandum of understanding, as well as a separate cooperation agreement" and a framework agreement" involving other companies, according to the statement. It detailed agreements in various fields, including technology, agriculture, renewable energy, real estate, natural resources and tourism. At the launch of the conference, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan highlighted the potential in increased trade and economic ties between China and Arab countries. (This) meeting is an opportunity to build a shared future towards a new, beneficial era for our peoples," he said. According to the Saudi statement, a $533-million deal was concluded between AMR ALuwlaa Company and Zhonghuan International Group (Hong Kong) for the establishment of an iron factory in Saudi Arabia. Saudi ASK Group and the China National Geological & Mining Corp inked a $500-million cooperation agreement on copper mining in the kingdom, the statement added. Chinese President Xi Jinping in December visited Saudi Arabia the worlds largest crude exporter prompting criticism from Riyadhs longtime ally the United States. Asked about the US criticism, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said: I actually ignore it." He added that business people will go where opportunity comes your way". During a trip to Riyadh last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was not asking anyone to choose between the United States and China". Talking to journalists in the Islamabad high court off the record, Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said that those who left party have damaged themselves not him. It doesnt matter if people come and go, thankfully we are free from electables. I am not sad that people have left my party, in fact, they have done themselves a lot of damage, he said. ALSO READ | Want to Talk to Pakistan Army Chief, But Hes Not Ready, Says Imran Khan | Exclusive I didnt betray anyone, I was betrayed. I was the one who was stabbed in the back, Khan said, adding, I could have de-notified General Qamar Javed Bajwa thrice, but I didnt. They think that the PTI will be crushed, but it will not happen, he said. WILL ESTABLISH RULE OF LAW In [Paks interior minister] Rana Sanaullah case, we called the Major General in the cabinet. There was an Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) case against Sanaullah. Major General was its head. Major General briefed the Cabinet. We did not retaliate against Sanaullah. They (establishment) are told that if I come into power, I will take revenge. We are the ummah of the Holy Prophet, he forgave everyone. When I will back in power, I will try to establish rule of law, Khan said. All this is done by those who know that no one will catch them. People were brought into my party during my time, this is completely wrong. Everyone knows who banned me from showing, he said. #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 BILAWAL REACTS Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday said that Khan is not against the armys interference in politics, but is upset with the powerful establishment only because it is no longer supporting him, according to a media report. Khans problem with the Pakistan Army began in April of last year when it declared that it would not get involved in politics and would not take sides, Bilawal told Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel on Saturday. The PTI chairmans issue with the army is not that theyre involved in politics; his problem with the army is theyre not getting involved to support him," he said. Bilawal said that the role of the army in Pakistans politics cannot be denied. More than half of our history has been covered by military rule. My party, the Pakistan Peoples Party, has challenged each and every single dictatorship in Pakistans history." He said Khan, however, supported every dictatorship in Pakistan, including the last dictatorship of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. Khans political history is that he has supported every dictator and he supported every autocrat in Pakistans history, he said. With PTI Inputs An Aurelius man convicted in a March jury trial of assaulting a police officer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Luke Gaffney, 42, was in Cayuga County Court Monday for his sentencing in connection with a 2020 incident in which he stabbed a Cayuga County Sheriff's Office deputy in 2020. Gaffney was acquitted of second-degree attempted murder, as well as a lesser included charge of second-degree attempted assault. For the assault on an officer conviction, Gaffney faced a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years with five years of post-release supervision. In addition to the 15 years of prison time, Judge Daniel J. Doyle added the five years of post-release supervision to Gaffney's sentence. Gaffney was accused of using a knife to stab and try to kill Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Adam Bacon, who was a deputy at the time of the incident in Aurelius on Oct. 23, 2020. Bacon and two other law enforcement officers had come to Gaffney's home that day on the direction of Cayuga County Court Judge Thomas Leone to secure Gaffney's firearms in connection with criminal charges Gaffney was facing from a domestic incident. Testimony and evidence from the trial showed that Gaffney refused to turn over his firearms, citing a lower-level judge's ruling that he could do so by the following Monday, and he told officers to leave. Bacon then grabbed Gaffney as he was going back into his home, and Gaffney responded by stabbing him in the leg. Bacon testified that he made physical contact with Gaffney at that moment because he believed, based on Gaffney's reaction, that he could be a danger to everyone at the scene, including people who were in the home at the time, if allowed to go back inside. Gaffney testified that he was reacting within his rights after the officer put his hands on him. After the stabbing, Gaffney retreated to inside his home and refused to leave for about six hours. He surrendered without incident following crisis negotiation. Bacon was transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for treatment of his injuries. The imposed sentence sends a clear message that violence against members of law enforcement will not be tolerated, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittiany Grome Antonacci said in news release. We hope the resolution of this case provides some closure for Deputy Bacon, his family, and the community as a whole. The District Attorneys Office commends the quick response and efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved, including, but not limited to, the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office, New York State Police, and the Auburn Police Department in preventing any further violence by this defendant and securing a safe and peaceful resolution for all parties involved." New Jersey-based chef Shripad Kulkarni readied a special Modi Ji Thali before Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US. Kulkarni curated the thali following recommendations from members of the Indian diaspora with items ranging from khichdi, rasgulla, sarso da saag and dum aloo to Kashmiri, idli, dhokla, chaach, and papad. Kulkarni also prepared the dish keeping in mind the International Year of Millets, which is 2023, as declared by the United Nations and prepared this dish with millets to promote awareness regarding millets and also to celebrate the fact that the UN designated 2023 as International Year of Millets based on the recommendations of the Government of India. We plan to launch this thali soon. Im very positive that its 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 management was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. PM 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 First Family will also host PM Modi at a state dinner on June 22. He will also address a joint meeting of the US Congress, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. The Indian diaspora in the United States will also hold a India Unity Day march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, organisers have said. A group of Indian-Americans are most likely to remain present at the Andrews Air Force Base when the Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon. PM Modi will also be greeted by 600 Indian Americans at the Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington, where he will be staying. During the welcome ceremony on June 22, at least seven thousand Indian Americans will be on the South Lawns of the White House when US President Joe Biden and First Lady of the US Jill Biden will welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi will also address the chairman and CEOs of top US companies at John F Kennedy Centre in Washington and also address the Indian diaspora at Ronald Reagan Center in DC in the evening. In May 2023, the three Japanese automakers, namely Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, and Honda Motor all scored positive year-on-year growth in their monthly sales in the worlds largest auto market, China. In the fifth month of 2023, the three automakers all successfully achieved a monthly China sales volume higher than that of a year ago. Among the trio, Toyota Motor was the only one boasting a consecutive growth in sales for two straight months. Meanwhile, the automakers year-to-date sales growth also turned positive compared to a year ago. Notably, in May 2022, Chinas auto market was still in a relatively low level under external influences such as the pandemic and the cramped supply of raw materials. The turnaround in the three automakers performance was partly attributed to the low base effect. As to May performance of individual companies, during the past month, Toyota sold 162,400 vehicles in China, representing a 9.3% rise from a year ago, according to data provided by Kyodo. Among the automakers two Sino joint ventures, FAW-Toyota saw a 12.3% hike in May sales from the previous year, while GAC Toyota posted a 10.8% jump. According to Kyodo, China sales of Toyotas high-end brand, Lexus, fell 5.3% from a year ago in May. UX; photo credit: Lexus In the Jan.-May period, Toyotas cumulative sales volume in China amounted to 704,800 vehicles, which also turned positive compared to the year-ago result with a 0.1% increase. Toyota was the only company among the trio to score a positive year-on-year growth in year-to-date China sales by the end of May. In the past month, Honda Motors China monthly sales stood at 101,321 vehicles, climbing 13.73% from the previous year while also rising 6.79% from the previous month. May signified the fifth consecutive month for Honda to score a positive month-on-month growth this year. Notably, the automaker didnt reveal the sales breakdown of each joint venture this time. However, sales of some models were disclosed. Specifically, there were a total of four vehicle models whose May China sales all surpassed 10,000 units, namely, the CR-V, the ACCORD, the BREEZE, and the CIVIC, with sales of the CR-V exceeding 17,000 units. In the first five months of this year, Hondas cumulative sales in China amounted to 416,558 vehicles, which was still down by 22.6% compared to the same span of last year. In the meantime, Nissan Motors May sales in China came in at 66,096 vehicles, showing a year-on-year growth of 10.7% and a month-on-month increase of 7.8%. The sales performance continues to recover, said the company. Note that sales data of Dongfeng Automobile Company (DFAC) were still included in Nissan Motors China sales report until October 2022, and the year-on-year comparison in May 2023 has DFAC's numbers subtracted from the year-ago results. In the past month, Dongfeng Motor Co. & Ltd., the joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Nissan Motor sold a total of 62,832 vehicles (including Nissan, Venucia, and INFINITI brands), which indicated a 12.4% rise year-over-year and a 9.2% hike month-on-month. Among them, Nissan brand sales reached 56,913 units in May, up 14.1% from a year ago and 8.4% from a month earlier. Meanwhile, the company's light commercial vehicle joint venture, Zhengzhou Nissan, recorded a monthly sales volume of 3,264 vehicles in May. 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," the AP reports. She was released about six hours later without being charged, "pending further investigation," 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" in a statement on social media, adding that she can't discuss the matter in 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." Scottish police opened an investigation in 2021 into how about $754,000 designated for a Scottish independence campaign was spent. Two former party 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. Sturgeon resigned in February after eight years as Scottish National Party leader and first minister of Scotlands 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. But she left office amid divisions in the party and with her main goalindependence from the UK unmet. (Read more Nicola Sturgeon stories.) In what the BBC calls the first victories of its counteroffensive against Russia, Ukraine on Sunday announced it had liberated three villages in the Donetsk region. Troops could be seen on video raising the Ukrainian flag over Blahodatne, and in another video, soldiers are shown in Neskuchne celebrating and holding their unit's banner. Ukraine's deputy defense minister announced later Sunday that the village of Makarivka had also been retaken. They're the first settlements to have been officially confirmed as liberated in the week since the counteroffensive began, the Guardian reports. Russia has not confirmed any of the villages as having been recaptured. Russian military bloggers have, however, reported that Urozhaine, a village further south, is being "fiercely contested." One thing that has crystallized over the last few days in the federal case against former President Trump: Prosecutors' key witness is Trump's own attorney. As the New York Times explains, attorney Evan Corcoran took copious notes as he worked with Trumphe first dictated them into his phone, then transcribed them onto paper. And those notes, along with Corcoran's forced testimony, have provided prosecutors with what amounts to a "road map to building their case," writes the Times' Maggie Haberman. Details: No privilege? Such communication is usually protected under attorney-client privilege, but a judge ruled in March it doesn't apply here because prosecutors argued that "Corcoran's advice may have been used to further or cover up a crime," per Reuters. The significance of the ruling didn't become clear until the Trump indictment was unsealed on Friday. Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran charged with manslaughter in the death of a fellow New York City subway rider last month, says he "had to act" because Jordan Neely was threatening people around him. In video clips released by his lawyers, the 24-year-old says he acted in self-defense in a "scary situation," Pix11 reports. "The three main threats he repeated over and over were: Im going to kill you. Im prepared to go to jail for life, and Im willing to die,' Penny says in his first public remarks since Neely's May 1 death. "I knew I had to act. I acted in a way that would protect other passengers, protect myself and protect Mr. Neely." "I was scared for myself, but I looked around, I saw women and children. He was yelling in their faces," Neely says. "I didn't want to be put in that situation but I couldn't just sit still and let him carry out these threats." Neely says reports he had the 30-year-old in a chokehold on the floor of the subway car for 15 minutes are incorrect. "Between stops is only a couple of minutes," he says. "So the whole interaction lasted less than 5 minutes." The death of Neely, who had a history of mental illness, was ruled a homicide. The medical examiners office said the cause of death was "compression of neck (chokehold)." Penny, who is white, says he was trying to restrain Neely, not choke him to deathand he says race was not a factor, CBS reports. "I didn't see a Black man threatening passengers," he says. "I saw a man threatening passengers, a lot of whom were people of color." Conservatives have rallied around Penny and a Christian website has raised almost $3 million for his defense. Neely's relatives say Penny should have been charged with murder. (Read more Daniel Penny stories.) A British man was detained after climbing more than halfway up the worlds fifth-tallest skyscraper with only his bare hands on Monday, authorities in Seoul say. More than 90 police and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the 123-story, 1,820-foot-tall Lotte World Tower after the man was spotted scaling the building on Monday morning, the Seoul fire agency said in a statement. The man, in his 20s, reached the 72nd floor, which is about 1,020 feet high, before officials took him to a gondola lift and moved him inside the building, the statement said. South Korean media identified the man as free climber George King-Thompson. The reports said he was carrying a parachute and told police that he wanted to BASE-jump from the top of the building. King-Thompson was arrested in 2019 after scaling the Shard in Londonthe UKs tallest skyscraper at 1,017 feetafter the owners of the building pressed charges against him for trespassing, the AP reports. He was sentenced to six months in prison and served three. In 2021, he climbed the 36-story Stratosphere Tower, a residential block in east Londons Stratford neighborhood, and reached the top in less than half an hour. He said he picked the building because he was shocked by the flash floods that recently hit the area and wanted to raise awareness to the seriousness of climate change. The Lotte Property & Development, which operates the tower, said the man didnt suffer any major injuries. The fire agency statement said he suffered a cut on his skin on the right knee. In 2018, French climber Alain Robert, known as "Spiderman for his daring stunts, was also detained after climbing to the 75th floor of the Lotte World Tower. Lotte officials said they heard he was eventually released and left South Korea after they told police they didnt want to press charges for obstruction or trespassing. (Read more skyscraper stories.) A California man on his honeymoon died in a snorkeling accident in Hawaiiand while rescuers were fighting to revive him on an Oahu beach, somebody made his wife's day even worse. A witness tells KHON2 that a thief snatched the wife's belongings while rescuers were performing CPR on San Jose resident Steven Phan, 49, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital. "While snorkeling tragedy struck and Steven, Brittanys husband of all but 3 months, drowned," a GoFundMe page says. "As If this could not be worse, all of Brittany and Stevens belongings were stolen, the thieves took their cell phones, wallets, money, clothing, they even stole their car rental." Police are investigating a theft and auto theft related to the June 1 tragedy at Electric Beach, "That's just unreal, you question that person as a human being," spear fisherman Shin Tamashiro tells KITV. Phan was a manager at Apple in Cupertino. He married Brittany Meyers Phan on March 20. "We are all shocked, in disbelief, and heartbroken at the loss of such a great man as Steven. Steven always found a way to be a part of everyone's lives, no matter the distance," says the GoFundMe page, which has almost reached its $30,000 goal. Relatives say Brittany Phan was still stuck in Hawaii on Friday, trying to obtain ID to fly back to California for her husband's funeral. "They were there on their honeymoon, just the two of them. As if the tragedy itself wasn't difficult enough, now she has to go through the logistics, a witness tells KHON2, "because she cant travel back to home without an ID. She has to go through the due process at the airport to verify. Its a mess." (Read more Hawaii stories.) With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Saudi Arabia, Human Horizons sign $5.6 billion agreement to build automotive joint venture The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) announced it has signed an agreement with China's new energy vehicle company Human Horizons, to form a joint venture dedicated to automotive R&D, manufacturing, and sales. The deal, valued at 21 billion Saudi riyals (roughly USD$5.6 billion), aims to bolster the domestic electric vehicle manufacturing industry as a key objective of Saudi Arabia's plans. Delivery of ZEEKR X kicks off Delivery of ZEEKRs all-new SUV model, the ZEEKR X, was officially kicked off today in 25 Chinese cities simultaneously. According to the company, it only took ZEEKR 60 days to commence delivery since the ZEEKR X hit the market. Photo credit: ZEEKR Geely Galaxy L7 to be delivered to users tomorrow Delivery of Geelys Galaxy L7 model will commence on June 13, according to a post on Geely Galaxys official WeChat account. The first batch vehicles will be delivered at the same time in eight cities, including Hangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Xian, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Nanning. Sunwodas sodium-ion battery scheduled for volume production in Q3 2024 Sunwoda, a Chinese leading player in the field of electric vehicle batteries, will put its sodium-ion batteries into mass production in the third quarter of 2024, according to Mr. Wang Mingwang, the founder of Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., during the 2023 World Power Battery Conference on June 9. China's sodium ion battery solutions supplier Paragonage closes angel round Shenzhen Paragonage New Energy Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as "Paragonage"), a Chinese supplier of sodium ion battery solutions, recently completed an angel round of financing that secured several tens of millions of yuan. Chinas power batteries installed capacity in May 2023 surges 52.1% YoY In May, the total production volume of power batteries in China reached 56.6 GWh, marking a year-on-year increase of 57.4% and a month-on-month rise of 20.4%, according to data by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA). Huawei Richard Yu: China's L3 autonomous driving standards to be finalized by end of June Richard Chengdong Yu, Huawei's Executive Director and CEO of Huawei Technologies Consumer Business Group, as well as CEO of Huaweis Intelligent Automotive Solution Business Unit, announced at AVATR Technologys press conference during the 2023 Chongqing Auto Show that China's Level 3 autonomous driving standards are expected to be finalized by the end of June. JAC Group's May auto export soars 89.86% YoY In May 2023, major Chinese automaker JAC Group boasted a double-digit surge in both monthly sales and export volumes. NIO reduces prices across entire product lineup On June 12, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, NIO, announced a price adjustment for its entire range of new cars, as well as a modification to the benefits package for first-time car owners. NETA Auto announces foray into Jordanian EV market NETA Auto, a Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) player under HOZON Auto, continues to expand its global footprint. On June 8, the carmaker officially made its debut in Jordan, launching and delivering its NETA U and NETA V models in the country. Sorry! This content is not available in your region 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. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In May, the total production volume of power batteries in China reached 56.6 GWh, marking a year-on-year increase of 57.4% and a month-on-month rise of 20.4%, according to data by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA). The share of production was split between ternary-lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Ternary-lithium batteries accounted for 32.9% of the total output in the past month, generating 18.6 GWh, which reflected a year-on-year and month-on-month growth of 11.9% and 5.8% respectively. On the other hand, LFP batteries dominated the output with 37.8 GWh, 66.9% of the total, boasting an impressive year-on-year soar of 96.7% and a month-on-month surge of 29.0%. BYD Blade Battery; photo credit: BYD From January to May, the cumulative production of power batteries in China amounted to 233.5 GWh, showing an overall increase of 34.7% compared to the same period last year. Of this total, ternary-lithium batteries contributed 81.9 GWh, approximately 35.1% of the total output, and witnessed a year-on-year growth of 17.0%. The lion's share, however, was claimed by LFP batteries, with a total production of 151.3 GWh, comprising 64.8% of the total, and presenting a year-on-year increase of 46.7%. Turning to installed capacity in May, China's power battery installed capacity amounted to 28.2 GWh, a 52.1% rise compared to last year and a 12.3% increment from the previous month. Specifically, ternary-lithium battery installed capacity were 9.0 GWh, accounting for 32.0% of the countrys total installed capacity, indicating a year-on-year increase of 8.7% and a month-on-month increase of 12.8%. Meanwhile, LFP battery installed capacity stood at 19.2 GWh, 67.8% of total installed capacity, and displayed a year-on-year upsurge of 87.2% and a month-on-month growth of 11.8%. In the first five months of the year, China's cumulative power battery installed capacity reached 119.2 GWh, a year-on-year improvement of 43.5%. The ternary-lithium batteries contributed 37.9 GWh to this total, approximately 31.8%, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 11.4%. However, LFP batteries continued to dominate the market with total installed capacity of 81.2 GWh, 68.1% of the total, and showed a significant year-on-year leap of 65.9%. In the new energy vehicle (NEV) market in May, a total of 35 power battery companies achieved shipment matching, two fewer than the same period last year. The top three, five, and ten power battery companies accounted for 22.5 GWh, 24.9 GWh, and 27.5 GWh of total battery installed capacity, respectively, representing 79.8%, 88.1%, and 97.4% market share. In the January-May period, a total of 43 power battery companies in China's NEV market had batteries installed onto complete vehicles. The top three, five, and ten companies in the sector respectively contributed 97.2 GWh, 107.2 GWh, and 116.5 GWh, comprising 81.6%, 89.9%, and 97.7% of total installed capacity. By year-to-date installed capacity of power batteries, CATL outshone other companies with a capacity of 51.18%, while the runner-up BYDs FinDreams recorded a number of 36.4GWh to claim a 30.53% share. On the export front, in May, the total battery exports of Chinese power battery enterprises amounted to 11.3 GWh. Ternary-lithium batteries led the export market with 7.6 GWh, accounting for 67.2% of total exports. LFP battery exports, however, reached 3.7 GWh, making up 32.6% of total exports. In terms of cumulative figures, between January and May, battery exports from China's power battery enterprises hit 45.9 GWh. Of this, ternary-lithium batteries accounted for the bulk with 32.8 GWh, approximately 71.4% of the total exports. LFP battery exports, in contrast, totaled 13.0 GWh, making up 28.4% of all exports. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Filipino community in Bahrain joins the celebration of the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence around the world today. This years celebration theme is "Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan. (Freedom. Future. History.)" The commemoration highlights the birth of the Filipino nation from the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite, until the end of the first Filipino government, which lasted until the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela, on March 23, 1901. "This indicates the Philippines place in history as the earliest modern democracy and republic in Asia, with a long history of upholding democratic ideals and principles, universal human rights, justice, the rule of law, and the values of freedom and sovereignty," said the Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain, Anne Jalando-on Louis, in her message on the occasion. "Even with our differences, we stand united, moving forward towards development and progress. I wish all my countrymen in the Kingdom of Bahrain a most meaningful celebration of Philippine Independence Day," the Ambassador said. "May we all continue to remain inspired and encouraged by the legacy of our heroes and forebears who fought for our countrys freedom more than a century ago. I hope that the fire of love for our country and for our people will remain burning in your hearts even as you find yourselves working and living overseas." Bahrain bids farewell to expatriate leader Raghu TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Hundreds of friends and acquaintances from all walks of life and from all communities gathered at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) hall yesterday afternoon to pay last respects to MP Raghu, a long-time leader of the Indian community in Bahrain, who passed away in the Kingdom on Saturday. Those who visited the BKS hall to mourn the death of MP Ramanathan, fondly called Raghu by his friends and acquaintances, included His Excellency Piyush Srivastava, the Ambassador of India to Bahrain; several citizens of Bahrain, members of different expatriate communities; and the management and staff of Modern Art Studio, one of the oldest distributors of Rolex watches in the world where Raghu had worked for a long time to rise up to be one of its Directors. People kept pouring into the BKS hall to see Raghu for one last time and the mortal remains were finally shifted after over two hours, to be flown back to his homeland in Kerala, India by evening for a funeral on Monday. He was a close friend of mine and we used to talk at least three times a day. In fact, he was a great friend of every Indian here. He had no animosity or enmity to anyone and even those who opposed him in the Samajam elections would become his friends later on. Until the last moment, he was engaged in helping others and he often used to engage in charity work without even telling his family. He used to shake hands with everyone and his humility is something that we should emulate. We are thinking of instituting something to remember him. PV RADHAKRISHNA PILLAI, PRESIDENT He was my best friend and knew him since I came to Bahrain. Though I had met him at the Samajam, we became close friends after the leaders of the Samajam, including him, visited me in August 2007 to seek help in installing the fire and safety system at the Samajam building being constructed. He kept friendships true and didnt have politics while dealing with people. Even if you forget to get in touch with him, he would not ignore you if you happen to cross his path and would come to you and speak. He always met people with a smile and kept friendships without politics VK RAJASEKHARAN PILLAI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL FIRE AND SAFETY TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) held a Reverse Insurance Roadshow, the first of its kind in MENA region, with top-rated insurance and reinsurance markets, in collaboration with Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKIC) and reinsurance broker Willis Tower Watson on 06 and 07 June 2023 followed by a detailed field tour at Alba premises. The roadshow covered the renewal of Albas Property Damage and Business Interruption (PDBI) and Albas Cyber Insurance policies, 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 - United Arab Emirates, Gulf Insurance Group (Gulf ), Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company B.S.C. and Tokio Marine Kiln - London (England). 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 on 06 June with insurance markets to witness first-hand Albas excellent risk management framework post which the underwriters and risk engineers visited the Companys various departments on 07 June. Albas Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali stated: 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. Adding further, BKIC s 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. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Co. (BKIC) is collaborating with the American University of Bahrain (AUBH) to host students annually for a Summer Internship Programme. The selected students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, work alongside industry professionals, and contribute to BKICs dynamic work environment. The Interns will also be mentored by experienced professionals, enabling them to develop industry-specific skills and enhance their understanding of the insurance sectors intricacies. Dr Abdulla Sultan, CEO of BKIC, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, This partnership not only supports the growth and development of students in our community, but it also provides our company with access to a pool of talented, motivated individuals who bring a fresh perspective to our team. Dr Bradley J. Cook, President of the American University of Bahrain, commented, This is within the framework of the Universitys aim to open to diverse partnerships, thus contributing to the development of the whole educational process and ultimately the kingdom. Interested students from the American University of Bahrain should apply for the Summer Internship Programme through the universitys career services or internship office. TREAD the globe - Jul 17 Having our UK van in Japan is quite unusual but we never expected to get taken to the police station. This was a first for us. TOKYO , Jun 12 ( NOJ ) - Footage of an attempted robbery of a watch shop in Kawasaki City on Sunday shows one of two men being pinned to the ground after they broke into the store, with a crowbar, before being chased out empty-handed by the manager, TV Asahi reports. In "Catching a pervert", the BBC Eye team exposes the men running an online business of sexual assault targeting women across East Asia. #BBCEyeInvestigations uncovers an ugly business of sexual assault for sale. We find websites selling thousands of videos of men sexually abusing women on trains, buses, and other crowded public places across East Asia. You can even order your own tailor-made assault on these sites. Theyre run by a shadowy figure known as Uncle Qi. Hes hailed as a guru by an online community of perverts. But who is he? The hunt leads us to Japan, where sexual assault in public is known as "Chikan". We take you inside this dark and twisted world to hear from the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes, and meet the women who are fighting back. We visit a Chikan sex club where customers can pay to legally grope women in rooms decorated like trains, and we follow plain clothes police searching for sexual predators on Japans metro. And we go undercover to expose the identity of the men running these websites who are cashing in on sexual violence. MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media banner Gaycest has released the latest installment of its series The Professor, No Holding Back, in which Noah White and Adam Snow reunite for another memorable encounter. After introducing Snow and White in Tape 1, Opening Up , and further exploring their relationship in Tape 3, Close Study , the father and son taboo family drama continues with Tape 4's rendezvous. Commented Carnal Media CEO/founder Legrand Wolf, Were proud to present the wildly popular pairing of Noah White and Adam Snow for another new chapter in Gaycests The Professor series, where taboo temptation is a family affair. And this affair gets better with every scene, as their onscreen rapport is the real deal; fans keep asking for more Snow/White scenes, and were happy to keep providing them. Canada is adding about 3050 to 3150 people per day and will pass 40.0 million people this Friday. Canada will add another 600,000 people by the end of 2023 and is adding about 1.10 to 1.14 million people each year. This population growth is primarily through various forms of immigration, refugees and increases in non-permanent residents. The non-permanent residents can transition into permanent residents. 2022 was the first 12-month period in Canadas history where population grew by over 1 million people, and the highest annual population growth rate (+2.7%) on record since that seen for 1957 (+3.3%). International migration accounted for nearly all growth recorded (95.9%). The world has about 10 million people per year migrating and net migration is about 4 million people. This means that 6 million of the 10 million are people moving from A to B and an offsetting people from B to A. Over 80% of the worlds GDP is in countries that have total fertility rates that are below replacement. About 25% of the worlds population is in countries that now have declining populations. Those countries are China, Japan, Italy, Spain, Russia and South Korea. Those countries are first but the below replacement rate issue and the loss of fertile women in each of the next decades means that the avalanche of population decline has started for almost all countries. Another 45-50% of the world has countries which have below replacement level population. Global births are declining, particularly in non-African countries. In 2023, Africa will have about 46 million births per year and about 11 million deaths. In 2023, the world as 134 million births and 60 million deaths. Non-African world has 88 million births and 50 million deaths. Non-african global population could be in decline by about 2040. Global deaths are increasing as the population distribution increases in age. A new species of gliding gecko has been uncovered in northern India. Bearing the name of the Indian state it was discovered in, the Mizoram parachute gecko, or Gekko mizoramensis, is one of 14 geckos known to take to the air. While one specimen of the new species was collected over 20 years ago, the differences from its relatives have only now been appreciated. The researchers behind the study hope that the new species will highlight the underappreciated biodiversity of northern India and encourage greater efforts to document its wildlife. PhD student Zeeshan Mirza, who co-authored the paper describing the new species, says, The wildlife of northeast India isnt as well known as it could be because of the amount of dense forest. While recent development has opened up access, forest clearance endangers its biodiversity. Most research in the past has focused on charismatic fauna such as birds and mammals, leaving reptile species underexplored. My own surveys of the region have uncovered several new species, including Salazar's pit viper, which is named after a character from Harry Potter. With additional fieldwork, I am confident that more new reptile species will be discovered in the region. The findings of the study were published in the journal Salamandra. The outgoing Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji, has stated that he learnt lessons from the outcome of the just-concluded 2023 elections held in Abia and all other states. He accused former governor, Okezie Ikpeazu of sponsoring his opponent in a rival party to thwart his bid to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency during the recently-held National Assembly elections. He was baring his mind against the heels of continued outbursts by critical Abia political stakeholders trailing his recent appearance and that of his father, and an ex-Abia Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, during the inauguration of Governor Alex Otti at Umuahia Township Stadium on 29th May 2023. Orji, who represents Umuahia Central Constituency of the state, insisted that days had gone when he fought for the good political interests of close allies and friends, regretting that he was being rewarded with blackmail and propaganda targeted to dent his image. He also clarified his recent appearance with his father and the current representative of Abia Central Senatorial District at the national assembly, Senator Theodore Orji, When you have a governor-elect that wrote to you or extended an invitation to you from another party, to please come and witness his inauguration; when you have a governor-elect reaching out to one of his predecessors who happened to be my own father, to please come and be a guest on his inauguration; if you are in my shoes, what will you do? I am throwing the question to you, the journalists. You will honour the invitation. Is it about politics or Abia State? Let me tell you something, my dear brother. The days of Chinedum Orji (Ikuku) fighting other peoples wars are over. If you want to fight anybody, come out and do the fights yourself. Dont hide under anybody. I fought against the current governor twice between 2015 and 2019. You all know about it. At the end of the day, who told you those people I was fighting for? Did the person I fought for not reach out to the people I fought against? Who told you? All these people who were our enemies, didnt the former governor go behind and reconcile with them? Didnt he go and reconcile with them? Why must my own be a topic? Did he not visit President Tinubu the other day? Have you people killed him? It is a season of do me, I do you. I went there out of courtesy. And immediately he was inaugurated as governor, I left. And since that time, he has been naming those people who worked with him. Did you see my name? Did you see my relations name? Did you see the name of anybody close to me there? When you are hobnobbing with my enemies in the night. When you sponsored my opponent in the night, and I decided to be a statesman, and you had an issue with that. But you were sponsoring my opponents, and you want me to continue fighting your enemies for you. So that when I fight, you win. And you go by 2 am, you invite him to your place and reconcile with him. He will then tell him how bad and cankerous the boy is. He is always fighting. I didnt send him. I didnt do this. All those gamji(scam) don pass. All those gamji period don pass. If you want to fight, you fight. You come out and do the fighting by yourself. So, if you fight me directly, i will fight you also directly. Am a man and Im not afraid of them. But for me, while i will doing the fightings for you and you keep quiet. So, attending Ottis inuaguration is about Abia state. Recall that Theodore Orji, and the son and Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji were said to have single-handedly installed Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of the state after keenly contested gubernatorial elections in 2015 and 2019. Ikpeazu defeated Otti twice. However, Ikpeazu lost the bid to install his anointed successor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the just-concluded 2023 elections held in the state. Recently, the President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), ESV Johnbull Osarumen Amayaevbo, presented Mr. Yemi Idowu, the Managing Director of Aircom Nigeria Limited, with an Award of Recognition for his remarkable contributions to the Real Estate Industry, Housing Development, and the National Economy. Due to his inability to attend the NIESV Merit Award event in Abuja, the presentation took place at Mr. Idowu's residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. During the presentation, the President also conveyed a letter of appreciation from the Council to Mr. Idowu for his generous donation towards the success of the Merit Award. Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Idowu thanked the Institution for deeming him worthy of the award and commended the President for personally traveling to Lagos to make the presentation. He emphasized the leading role that the Institution plays in the built industry and the nation's economic development. Mr. Idowu emphasized the need to leverage data and technology to drive real estate business and transactions, with Estate Surveyors and Valuers taking a more influential role in the industry. He highlighted the importance of transformation, renewal, recreation, and regeneration of the landscape, stating that there are vast untapped potentials and opportunities. In response, the President expressed the Institution's willingness to foster cooperation and collaboration, emphasizing that it is the way forward. Inviting Mr. Idowu to the National Conference scheduled later in the month in Ilorin, the President encouraged continued engagement and participation. The President was accompanied by ESV Toyin Aluko, FNIVS, the Head of the NIESV Publicity Sub-Committee, ESV Mutiu Balogun, FNIVS, a member of the Council, ESV Gbenga Ismail, FNIVS, Chairman of the Lagos State Branch, ESV Sholakunmi Bolarinde, Honorary Secretary of the Branch, ESV Abidemi Ojo, ANIVS, the Publicity Secretary, and ESV Lojede Olaseni, ANIVS, the Honorary Assistant Secretary. Expressing their appreciation, the President, on behalf of the entire team, thanked Mr. Idowu for the warm reception extended to them during the visit. President Bola Tinubu has signed the student loan bill into law. Tinubu signed the bill on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The legislation, which seeks to provide financial assistance to Nigerian students in tertiary institutions, passed the third reading in the lower chamber in May. The bill was sponsored by Femi Gbajabiamila, immediate-past speaker of the house of representatives. Dele Alake, a former Lagos commissioner of information and strategy, announced the signing of the bill to state house correspondents. The legislation allows Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to access interest-free loans from the Nigerian education loan fund. The legislation provides for the establishment of the Nigerian education bank, which will have the power to administer, supervise, coordinate, and monitor the management of student loans in the country. Based on the provisions of the legislation, the bank is expected to receive applications for student loans through higher institutions on behalf of the applicants and screen them. Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has emphasised the need to reassess the current socio-political structure in the country to ensure progress and development. Governor Akeredolu asserted that undertaking a comprehensive restructuring of the nation is crucial for deepening democratic gains. Acknowledging that June 12 represents more than just a milestone in the pursuit of justice, the Governor said that Democracy Day serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding principles of equity and fairness. He called on the people to reflect on the significance of June 12 and honour the sacrifices made by the heroes of Nigerias democracy. Today is a commemoration of sacrifices, patriotism, and peaceful struggle. June 12 marks a significant moment in our countrys democratic history, symbolising a profound renewal of hope and ambition. It serves as a powerful reminder of our unwavering optimism and determination in the face of formidable obstacles, the Governor said. Governor Akeredolu stressed that the welfare of the people should be the primary focus, urging Nigerians to unite for the collective betterment of the country. He called on the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a comprehensive revalidation of the hope of Nigerians. The need for restructuring has become undeniable. The federal government must relinquish its excessive control over the sub-national entities. It is imperative that security is decentralised to the states. There is no better time than now for the establishment of state police. The symbol of the June 12 struggle made the ultimate sacrifice. We must not allow our people to continue paying the price in vain. It is devastating. By devolving power to the sub-national entities, we can deepen our democratic values, strengthen governance, and make our nation more resilient, the Governor stated. Governor Akeredolu further appealed for national unity, underscoring that the solution to Nigerias multifaceted challenges lies in the cohesion of all ethnic groups within the country. He commended the extraordinary sacrifices made by both departed and living individuals in birthing democracy, urging Nigerians not to overlook the lessons taught by past political experiences. While acknowledging the arduous nature of nation-building, the Governor expressed optimism that the challenges can be overcome. He expressed confidence in the administration of President Tinubu, stating that the new President will restore the peoples confidence and work diligently for the betterment of the country. The Governor said his administration firmly believes that any developmental aspirations must prioritise the well-being of the people. He noted that despite financial limitations, his administration has made significant strides in bridging the infrastructural gap. The Federal Government has accused American multinational oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil of oil theft in Rivers State. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has recommended the detention of Vessel Barumk Gas. The federal agency revealed that the vessel was detected to have been involved in unapproved lifting of Butane at Bonny River Terminal. A letter written by the Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Farouk Ahmed to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, on June 8, 2023, leaked to the press on Sunday. Ahmed alleged that ExxonMobil was collaborating with the vessel owners to engage in oil theft and economic sabotage. The letter is titled Economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft through illegal petroleum lifting operations at Bonny River Terminal. NMDPRA informed the military chief that the lock placed on the facility by its officials was broken by the oil company to enable the illegal act. The urgent attention of the Chief of Defence Staff is drawn to the illegal petroleum lifting operations taking place at Bonny River Terminal. The vessel Barumk Gas is lifting Butane at Bonny River Terminal without the authorisation or participation of the NMDPRA. This unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of ExxonMobil who have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority, the letter reads. Ahmed noted that the actions of ExxonMobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigerias resources. The letter charged the CDS to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded. Reacting, Mobil Communications Manager, Oge Udeagha said all operations of the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture are carried out in full compliance with the law. As the race for the Senate Presidency hots up, Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the most incompetent Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim. Shettima said he is ready to kneel and beg the incoming senators to allow a Southern Christian to emerge as the next Senate President. He spoke during an interaction with the senators in Abuja. According to Shettima: Im ready to kneel and beg my colleagues for the sake of the nation. This is for the survival of this nation. Here we are with a Muslim president and a Muslim vice-president in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious polity like ours. Number 1, 2. All of the same faith for God sake. Under the current dispensation, the worst, the most incompetent Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim for the Presidency of the Senate. President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigerians to endure the effects of the removal of the subsidy on petrol. The president said the decision was taken to free up resources that had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich. Tinubu, in his first Democracy Day speech as president, said he gave effect to the removal of petrol subsidy by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in a bid to tackle endemic poverty in the country. During his inaugural speech, the president declared that the petrol subsidy is gone. Although the presidents media team had clarified that the implementation of the policy would commence later in June, post-subsidy realities are already setting in, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited announcing the adjustment of the pump price across its retail outlets nationwide. The development has sparked a sharp hike in the pump price of petrol, raising concerns among Nigerians. Speaking on the issue, Tinubu said it is necessary decision to protect the country from collapsing. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements, he said. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives. ILL FULFILL EVERY COMPONENT OF MY MANIFESTO The president also assured Nigerians that he will deliver on his Renewed Hope agenda, while calling on elected leaders to offer selfless service to Nigerians. On this years Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years, Tinubu said. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people the Renewed Hope agenda. The president said his administration will be faithful to truth, equity and justice, adding that he will govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, new board chairman of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has asked President Bola Tinubu to probe the passage of the NDIC Act, 2023. On May 26, Former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the NDIC (repeal and reenactment) bill of 2023 into law. The new act repeals the NDIC Act, 2006 and makes the NDIC the insurer of all insurable deposit liabilities of insured institutions. In a Facebook Live session on Monday, the NDIC chairman alleged that the bill assented to by the former president had certain sections that were not included in the version passed by the national assembly. Abdullatteefs session was captioned Even If You Will Kill Me, I Will Tell Nigerians My Mind. Abdullateef, a former Lagos state commissioner for home affairs, said under the new law, the president is not allowed to appoint a managing director for the agency. He said only the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was handed the responsibility of recommending someone to take up the position of the NDIC managing director. NDIC stinks. There is a lot of rot going on. They say When you fight corruption, corruption fights you. This is the purported new act of the NDIC and I tell you for nothing that this is Emefieles act. Here, they have taken away the powers of Mr President in respect of the NDIC, he said. This document that was signed is materially different from the vote and proceedings of the National Assembly that passed it. Abdullateef, who wept during the session, said the NDIC should be a fully independent agency, not under the thumb of the CBN. I want Mr President not to act on this law until it is probed. Probe the passage of this law. Probe the inclusion of section 7 which takes away the right of ministry of finance, which takes away the responsibility of ministry of finance and replaced it with two directors from CBN, he said. Probe why what is passed is fundamentally different from what was assented to. Probe what happened between the time the senate passed it and the house of representatives passed it and there was no divergence. Under the law, do you know the status of this new act? It is null and void. Anytime Mr President assents to a bill that is materially different from what was passed by the senate and the house of reps, it means there was a material omission and the law was not matured for assent. There is a need for the new administration to return this act to the National Assembly when it is proclaimed. They should investigate it and allow National Assembly members to debate. Mr President, dont act on the new NDIC Act. Just days ago, author Elizabeth Gilbert announced that she had written a new book. That book, The Snow Forest, was the product of her isolation early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The silence and isolation was actually a magical time for my own creative and spiritual life, as well as my connection to nature, she told her followers on social media. What, she wondered, would it be like to live a life completely apart from the rest of the world? Gilbert, author of the bestselling 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love (adapted for the 2010 Julia Roberts movie of the same name) who has resided in Frenchtown, recalled reading an article about a Russian family the Lykov family that went undetected for half a century living in the Siberian wilderness. That was her inspiration for The Snow Forest, set in Siberia. The story follows a family living in isolation as a way to resist the Soviet government and defend nature from industrialization. Gilbert, 53, triumphantly told her fans that the book would be published in February 2024 and shared a link to preorder the book. But on Monday, she pulled the title because of a negative reaction from Ukrainian readers. Over the course of this weekend, I have received an enormous, massive outpouring of reactions and responses from my Ukrainian readers expressing anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain about the fact that I would choose to release a book into the world right now any book, no matter what the subject of it is that is set in Russia, Gilbert said in a video on Instagram. War has been ongoing in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in Feburary 2022. Gilbert said she respects the reader messages. As a result, Im making a course correction and Im removing the book from its publication schedule, she said. It is not the time for this book to be published. I do not want to add any harm to a group of people who have already experienced and who are all continuing to experience grievous and extreme harm, the author continued. Gilbert said shell now be working on other book projects. Preorders of The Snow Forest are being refunded. Her most recent novel is the 2019 book City of Girls, set in 1940s New York. Gilbert formerly owned Two Buttons, an East Asian imports store in Frenchtown, with her ex-husband, Jose Nunes. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter. Timika Lindsay and Elise Lindsay recently made history when they became the first Black mother-daughter duo to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in its 177-year history. Timika, a retired Navy Captain, and her daughter, Elise, who graduated on May 26, knew this moment was coming long before it happened. But, for Timika, who graduated from the academy in 1992, watching her daughter walk across the stage, diploma in hand, made the moment sweeter. It was a reminder of her familys long history of service to the country, dating back to World War II. Timikas father served in the Marine Corps; her grandfathers served in the Army; her nephew currently serves in the Navy, and her niece serves in the Air Force. Her childrens father, who passed away suddenly a few years ago, was a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps reserve; and his uncles were among the first Black men to enlist above the rank of Messman when they joined the Navys B-1 band in 1942. We do believe what the Pledge of Allegiance says and what the Constitution says, Timika explained. Thats what we fight for. Her daughter, Elise, after completing her training this summer, will report to Sasebo, Japan. There, she will serve onboard the U.S.S. America (LHA-6) as a surface warfare officer. I think she will do well in going back to Japan, Timika said, pointing to the time she took Elise and her younger son, Eric, who is slated to start his third year at the academy this coming fall, to live there from 2015 to 2017. I believe were in the Navy to see the world. Timika, meanwhile, will continue to enjoy her homecoming. When she retired in 2021 after a 30-year career in the Navy she returned to Gloucester County, where shes a Paulsboro native, to be with friends and family. At the time of her retirement, she was the senior-ranking Black female officer in the Navy, serving as chief diversity officer. She was concurrently the Naval Academys director of DEI, spearheading several initiatives that led to improvements in diversity, equity and inclusion. Where we are today is a lot better than where we were 50 years ago, she said. But we cant stop here. Timika continues her work in DEI with the recent opening of her consulting business, Anchor Leadership Solutions. And though shes retired from the Navy, shes still heavily involved. My family will tell you that I faked my retirement, she said, pausing to chuckle. And somehow secretly Im still working for the Navy. She is a trustee on the U.S.S. N.J. Commissioning Committee, the director of leadership and development for the Naval Academy Minority Association and the Freedom to Serve chair for the National Naval Officers Association. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. UPDATE: Body of missing high school student recovered from South Jersey lake Crews are searching a South Jersey lake for an 18-year-old high school senior who disappeared while swimming Sunday night, officials said. Trouble began around 8:30 p.m. when the teen was swimming across Alcyon Lake in Pitman and went under the water, according to local officials. A friend and a bystander who were not in the water saw he was in trouble and swam out to try and help, said Pitman Police Chief Dan McAteer. They were unable to locate the swimmer and returned to dry land. Emergency crews were dispatched to the lake at 8:42 p.m. and remain at the scene. The family is at the lake waiting for news, officials said. In addition to local fire and rescue crews, dive teams from Malaga, Downe, Camden County and the New Jersey State Police are involved, officials said. State Police K-9s are also working along the banks of the lake. Its a recovery effort at this time, Ryan Pierson, Pitmans deputy emergency management coordinator, said around 9:45 a.m. Monday. Its a slow, systematic search. Multiple dive teams are working to try to find closure for the family. The lake is 17.5 acres and around 10 to 12 feet deep, officials said. Swimming is not allowed and the area is very dark at night, so its difficult to patrol, McAteer said during a press conference Monday afternoon. The search for the missing teen has been slowed by thick, deeply rooted vegetation in the lake, the chief noted. Its a terrible tragedy. This is rocking our community and also bringing us together at the same time, McAteer said. The important thing right now is the family. Giving them some information and finding out what we can. Pitman High School canceled all testing scheduled for Monday, according to an announcement on the schools Instagram page. But, the school remained open to students seeking emotional support, the announcement said. Seniors were encouraged to go to the school auditorium at 2 p.m. for an informational session. Graduation is slated for Wednesday. Photographer Dave Hernandez contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Deptford Police Officer Robert J. Shisler ran several blocks, chasing a pedestrian who allegedly sprinted away after the officer tried to stop him on the street. The March 10 pursuit ended with both Shisler and the pedestrian, Mitchell Negron Jr., shot in a residential area, officials said. Negron died at the scene and Shisler suffered a leg wound, before dying of his injuries last month. In the moments after he was shot following the foot chase, police were unsure of Shislers exact location. The officer was aided by a resident who applied pressure to his wound as other Deptford officers raced to find their injured comrade. The exact details of what happened that day remain unclear as the state Attorney Generals office continues its investigation into Shisler and Negrons deaths. But, officials in Gloucester County say they are evaluating ways to use GPS tracking to locate police officers in an emergency similar to the shooting that led to Shislers death. Deptford Police Officer Robert Shisler, 27, died May 7 from injuries he suffered in a March shooting.(Deptford Township Police Department) GPS location tracking is standard on cellphones and Apples AirTag devices can be placed on any object you dont want to misplace. Police say similar technology can be used to track officers when they are on the job. Gloucester County is considering adding GPS tracking either to police radios worn by officers or to their body worn cameras, said West Deptford Police Chief John Chambers, president of the Gloucester County Police Chiefs Association. The reality is, we could lose one of our officers out in the field and not know where they are. They could be in need of assistance and something like this could eliminate that issue, Chambers said. While the exact technology has not been chosen, the chiefs association supports the idea, Chambers said, adding that county leaders appear to be in support of the plan, too. We have made it known that we are in support, the chief said. We have gotten nothing but positive feedback from the county level. Officers in the county currently have access to a voluntary system that allows for tracking of their personal cellphones while on duty via a phone app, officials said. But, that only works if officers opt into the system and always have their phone with them. The new GPS program under consideration would be made available to all 20 municipal police departments in the county, along with the county sheriffs office and Rowan Universitys police agency, Chambers said. We want to know if, God forbid, somebody is hurt. We want to be able to locate them, the chief said. Now, its really just a matter of looking at all the options and whats going to be the best-suited, whats the most effective, as well as bringing in the other entities like our unions and making sure that everybody is on the same page on whats the best option for our officers. Issues with locating officers can cover a wide array of scenarios, Chambers noted. Weve had officers in foot pursuits end up in a different town and dont know the name of the street that theyre running down, he said. Chambers wants to be certain that officers have input on whatever approach is ultimately selected. From a union perspective, they may have a different view on people knowing where they are at all times, Chambers said. We recognize that there are going to be some officers that are worried that Big Brothers watching. Weve had the discussions amongst our chiefs association about putting a message out to our officers that thats not the intention of this. This is strictly for safety reasons. From the feedback that Im getting so far, I dont foresee major issues here in Gloucester County. Following the incident with Shisler, the local law enforcement community began talking about the need for this GPS capability, said West Deptford Patrolman William Reichert. We didnt know we needed it until we needed it, said Reichert, who is president of PBA Local 122, which represents a majority of officers in the county. Its definitely something thats in the forefront now. He feels officers generally support the idea. I think everybodys pretty much on board, Reichert said. It came out of the tragic incident in Deptford that spurred all of this again. I dont think anybody has any concerns. I think everybodys for it. He noted how quickly officers can find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. It can happen very easily, even in a neighborhood youre very familiar with, Reichert said. You run through two or three backyards and the next thing you know, you dont know what house youre behind or what street you ended up on. Just in the blink of eye, it can happen that quickly. Gloucester County Administrator Chad Bruner said county leaders are receptive to the GPS plan. We understand that there has been active communication regarding this amongst the emergency responders, local PDs, and their respective union representation, Bruner said in a statement. The county would consider requests from our emergency responders when it comes to their safety and wellbeing as demonstrated in the past with the 700 MHz radio upgrades. I am sure once the leadership of police departments and their respective unions come to an understanding, Gloucester County leadership would absolutely consider, the statement said. The county spent millions to upgrade to a 700 MHz public safety communications system to aid emergency responders about seven years ago. Modern police radios are already built with the capacity to incorporate GPS, so adding the feature only requires adding a component, said policing technology expert Adam Wandt, an attorney and assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Its definitely a good thing to be able to get to your officers quickly, Wandt said. Its good to be able to track your officers from a point of transparency and accountability. Having yet another method to be able to hold them accountable and keep them safe is an important thing. While this technology is available, it doesnt appear to be in wide use yet. I havent seen too much deployment of it, especially in small or medium-sized departments, Wandt said. GPS systems are slowly being adopted by departments across the country, but there is no uniform use so far, said Chambers, West Deptfords police chief. Cost is a big reason why some departments have not incorporated GPS into their systems, he said. Some towns cant afford it, Chambers said. You could be talking about millions of dollars. I think thats definitely an obstacle for a lot of places. 57 1 / 57 Funeral of Deptford Police Officer Robert Shisler Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load A man accused of multiple sexual assaults at New Jersey parks has admitted he attacked a woman on a walking path of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park in Middlesex County while armed with a knife, authorities said Monday. Rogelio Calyeca Postrero, 38, of Raritan, pleaded guilty Thursday to a first-degree sexual assault and faces up to 20 years in state prison at sentencing in the Middlesex County case. He still faces multiple other charges in two separate incidents in Raritan and Bridgewater, according to online court records. Calyeca Postrero dragged a woman into the woods at knifepoint in the state park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick between 4:30 and 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2021, authorities said. He demanded money and sexually assaulted her, police said. Officials in Edison Township were duped into sending more than $287,000 to a group of accused Texas scammers impersonating a local business in an email hacking scheme, newly unsealed court records show. Federal authorities announced last week the indictment of five people accused in a business email compromise ploy. They impersonated legitimate companies in order to intercept payments, authorities said. Edison officials declined to discuss the incident, which had not been previously disclosed, saying in a brief statement the ordeal did not end up costing taxpayers money. Edison Township was the victim of a wire fraud scheme in November 2021, said the statement. The improperly diverted funds were recouped by the township through its insurance carrier. The accused scammers were identified by authorities as Bolaji Okunnu, Ayodejo Okunnu, Victor Rubio, Jr., Bougar Robert Linares Soto and Philip Ogbeide, Jr. They were arraigned June 7, records show. A public defender for Bolaji Okunnu, the groups alleged ringleader, declined to comment. Authorities did not say which company the group was accused of impersonating. It is identified only as Company A, a provider of electrical and mechanical sales and services for customers in New Jersey, in court documents. Prosecutors said the point of the scheme was to dupe victims into sending money owed to the company to a bank account controlled by a money mule, which was then quickly transferred and disbursed to other bank accounts controlled by the scammers. To do it, one of the accused scammers got access to the email account of an employee at Company A and began sending emails to various customers directing them to send payments to one of their back accounts. The tactic is known as business email compromise, and cyber security experts say it has exploded in recent years as the functions of governments and businesses are increasingly conducted online. Microsoft, one of the nations top email providers, has said there are about 156,000 business email compromise attempts every day. In Edisons case, a township employee, believing they were communicating with Company A, wired $287,236.14 to a Wells Fargo account in Texas controlled by Rubio, the alleged money mule who then transferred the money to various accounts held by other members of the ring, authorities said. An attorney for Rubio could not be reached. The five defendants were arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The case will be prosecuted in Texas. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @spsullivan. Authorities have recovered the body of a high school senior who went missing while swimming in a South Jersey lake Sunday night, Pitman Police Chief Dan McAteer said. The victim was identified as Victor Rodriguez, 18, a standout on the Pitman High School wrestling team, McAteer said. The body was recovered in Alcyon Lake in Pitman by the New Jersey State Police on Monday afternoon and has been turned over to the Gloucester County Medical Examiners Office, officials said. Trouble began around 8:30 p.m. Sunday when the teen was swimming across the lake and went under the water, authorities said. A friend and a bystander who were not in the water saw he was in trouble and swam out to try and help. They were unable to locate the swimmer and returned to dry land, according to police. Pitman's Victor Rodriguez (left) wrestles Lower Cape May's Chase Hansen during a 132-pound quarterfinal of the NJSIAA Region 8 wrestling tournament at Egg Harbor Township High School, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Emergency crews were dispatched to the lake at 8:42 p.m., officials said. Rodriguez was participating in a scavenger hunt at the time that he was swimming in the lake, according to a description on the GoFundMe page organized by his family. The fundraiser has received more than $25,000 in donations in just a few hours as of Monday night. It is with deep regret that we inform you about a recent loss to our school community, the Pittman School District said in a statement. Earlier today, we learned that Victor Rodriguez, a senior at Pitman High School, passed away after a recent drowning incident. On behalf of the board of education, administration, and staff, we offer our sincerest condolences to Victors family and friends. The lake is 17.5 acres and about 10 to 12 feet deep. Swimming is not allowed and the area is very dark at night, making it difficult to patrol, McAteer said. Pitman High School canceled all testing scheduled for Monday, but the school remained open to students seeking emotional support, according to a social media announcement. The district has not yet said whether its graduation, scheduled for Wednesday, will be postponed. Pitman's Victor Rodriguez hoists Gateway's Noah Ubil off the mat in the 144 pound bout during the Gateway vs. Pitman wrestling match at Pitman High School, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media Rodriguez posted a 30-8 record at 132 pounds in his lone season as a wrestler at Pitman, reaching his first district final and qualifying for the region quarterfinals for the second straight year. He helped the Panthers, who often forfeited several weight classes, to a 19-9 record and the Tri-County Conference Classic Division title. Rodriguez spent his first three seasons at Deptford High School, earning a starting spot as a junior, and finished his career with a 54-22 record between the two schools. Members of the Deptford and Pitman communities gathered Monday night at Pitmans United Methodist Church for a vigil and for attendees to speak about Rodriguez. The crowd nearly filled the upper and lower seating areas. NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Gray and Bill Evans, and photographer Dave Hernandez contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Monday morning became a commute from hell for drivers using I-95 in North Philadelphia after a tanker truck fire underneath caused a section of overpass to buckle and collapse, a condition that officials said drivers will have to live with for months during the busy summer travel season. Currently I-95 is closed in both directions between Woodhaven and Aramingo exits in Philadelphia. PennDOT officials said detours are in place and demolition of the collapsed overpasses is underway. Gov. Josh Schapiro signed a disaster declaration Monday that allocated $7 million in emergency funding and clears the way for asking for federal assistance. In the first official accounting of a wreck that threw hundreds of thousands of morning commutes into chaos and disrupted untold numbers of businesses, Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said the driver was northbound trying to navigate the curve, lost control of the vehicle, landed on its side and ruptured the tank, the Associated Press reported. I-95 will be closed in both directions for weeks at the start of summer travel season because the elevated southbound portion of I-95 will have to be demolished, as well as the northbound side, Carroll said. A similar problem happened in August 1989 when fire under a set of overpasses caused similar damage and closed I-78 in Newark. It took nine days to get a temporary fix in place by using the undamaged eastbound overpasses to reopen the expressway until permanent repairs were made. The damage on I-95 is similar to that incident, where fire warped and buckled steel beams that supported the roadway on the northbound side and damaged the south overpass and roadway, even though it did not collapse. What are driving your options? Detour or bypass the area completely, especially if coming from New Jersey. Avoid using the Betsy Ross bridge to Philadelphia, if possible, since it ends at I-95. The Betsy Ross off-ramp to I-95 north is closed, Philadelphia Police said. Road crews covered over portions of road signs directing traffic to the bridge and Center City on some Philadelphia streets, which was photographed by the Philly Inquirer. The Talcony-Palmyra bridge is only a good option to go south on I-95, since it is near the area of the collapse. Philadelphia police said Tacony Street is closed to traffic from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge traffic. All traffic will be detoured westbound onto Levick Street. Better choices are the Ben Franklin Bridge, which will put you south of the closed section of I-95. Delaware River Port Authority officials canceled the construction lane restrictions scheduled for the Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges on Monday to evaluate any possible increase in bridge traffic, said spokesperson Mike Williams. It appears that there hasnt been any significant impact on the bridge traffic, he said. I-95 is closed in Northeast Philadelphia due to a partial highway collapse. Motorists traveling from NJ to Philadelphia should follow the posted detours between Exit 22 on I-676 and Exit 35 on Rt 63. For closure and detour updates, click here: https://t.co/PP3YTLhch8 NJDOT (@NewJerseyDOT) June 12, 2023 These are the official PennDOT recommended detours around that section of I-95: From I-95 South, officials recommend using Route 63 West (Woodhaven Road), Route 1 South, I- 76 East, or I- 676 East. From I-95 North use I-676 west, I-76 west, or Route 1 North to Route 63 East (Woodhaven Road). Other options from I-95 north is to get off at Exit 26 (Betsy Ross/Aramingo Ave) and use local streets- Tacony Street, New State Road, Milnor Street, Bleigh Avenue and Linden Avenue to access I-95 North. These exits on I-95 will have changes and detours, according to Philadelphia police. The Castor Avenue on-ramp to I-95 north is closed. The Aramingo Avenue/I-95 exit has the on-ramp to I-95 northbound closed. At the Bridge Street ramp, the I-95 on-ramp at Bridge Street is closed. All traffic on Tacony Street be northbound only from Bridge Street to New State Road. State Road from Cottman Avenue to Longshore Avenue will be one-way, southbound travel only. Another local street option from I-95 South is to take the Cottman Avenue exit, Bleigh Avenue, and State Road to access I-95 south at Longshore Ave. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday the situation will mean more traffic on Garden State roads. Its a pretty devastating collapse, Murphy told reporters after at an unrelated event in Hoboken. You look at the pictures, and its pretty clear this is not something theyre gonna fix in a matter of days. Murphy wasnt the only New Jersey official concerned about traffic. state Assemblyman Bill Moen, D-Camden, asked the state transportation department to conduct an assessment of how the collapse will affect state and local roads. His district includes the complicated junction of I-295, I-76 and Route 42 leading to the Ben Franklin bridge which is home to a $900 million project to straighten it out. New Jersey transportation agencies, including NJDOT, the Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority, are alerting drivers in the state to the closure of I-95 in Philadelphia on nearly 100 variable message signs across the state, said Stephen Schapiro, an NJDOT spokesperson. Jersey drivers are advised to use alternate routes and avoid Northeast Philly. NJDOT is in constant communication with PennDOT and other agencies including federal officials regarding the Interstate 95 incident in Philadelphia, Schapiro said. SEPTA has added rail service on the Trenton and Fox Chase lines. The Trenton commuter rail line uses the Northeast Corridor rail line which parallels I-95. Riders can board SEPTA trains at the Trenton Transit Center and access NJ Transit trains. Two extra morning SEPTA trains were added at 6:40 a.m. and 8:03 a.m. from Trenton Station. Evening service includes 4:30 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. trains to Trenton Station. Regional Rail passengers can purchase fares onboard with a credit card and cash. Riders should check SEPTA.org and on Twitter @SEPTA for updates and schedules. PATCO trains also are an option, running trains service to Center City from Camden County. PATCO trains run every 7 minutes during peak hours and every 15 minutes during the daytime on the current schedule, Williams said. During peak hours, six-car trains are operating, while four-car trains are running during non-peak hours. Recent checks show that the trains are only at 50% capacity, which means there is ample space for additional passengers, Williams said. So far, it seems like there hasnt been any major impact on either the (bridge) traffic or ridership. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. A youth pastor at a New Jersey church admitted to blackmailing four boys into performing sex acts online was sentenced Monday to 25 years in state prison, officials said. Sean Higgins, 32, of Palmyra in Burlington County, pleaded guilty in January to four counts of endangering the welfare of children, but he was not charged with having physical contact with his victims, authorities said. None of the charges involved members of his churchs congregation or students at a school where he worked, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. Higgins committed the crimes in 2020 while serving as the youth pastor and music leader at Harbor Baptist Church in Hainesport, authorities said. He also worked as a teacher at the Harbor Baptist Academy, a private K-12 school that is housed in the same facility, authorities said. The investigation began in 2020 after a youth in Berks County, Pennsylvania, contacted Snapchat and reported that he sent nude photos of himself to someone he believed to be an unknown female, detectives said. The unknown female, who in actuality was Higgins, had threatened to expose the youths nude photographs after they exchanged pictures, authorities said. An investigation revealed that Higgins would adopt the persona of a teenage girl and use Snapchat and Instagram to begin a conversation with a boy, introducing himself as Julie Miller, authorities said. After establishing a rapport, he suggested that they trade photos. Higgins then sent pictures of an unidentified teen girl. In return, Higgins would often receive nude photos that the victims took of themselves, investigators said. He then blackmailed the while requesting more nude photos, authorities said. Higgins has been held in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly since he was arrested at his home in October 2020, officials said. The crimes committed by this defendant are among the cruelest, most depraved ever prosecuted by this office, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said in a statement. Some of these victims contemplated suicide to get out from under the extreme anguish that accompanied the defendants debauched, unrelenting demands. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is for parents to routinely discuss with their children the dangers that lurk in cyberspace. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. By Linda Stamato The United States Supreme Court is expected to issue its highly anticipated decision on the use of race-conscious admissions practices at colleges and universities in June. Affirmative Action is an issue litigants have had in their crosshairs for some time, certainly since 1978 when the high court ended admission quotas with its decision in Regents of California v Bakke. Countless lawsuits have been heard and decided in state and federal courts in the intervening years; the decision the nation awaits now is unlikely to put an end to it. But when this years decision is issued, solely playing defense in the courts will be unwise. It makes good sense to create policies and programs that build on what weve learned from the experience of institutions that have turned to race-neutral admissions policies. And, to my mind, we need radical thinking. We could start by acknowledging and moving to undertake what has not been done, structurally, to address the underlying reasons why affirmative action policies were created in the first place. Indeed, even as we anticipate the new world the high court is likely to deliver, we realize that were not far from it, in any case. For as much as Americans value diversity, nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults, including a majority of Black, Hispanic and Asian respondents, said in a 2019 Pew survey that race or ethnicity should not be a factor in college admissions. For some prominent intellectuals, moreover, affirmative action is a diversion and for others, a distraction. Then earlier this year, most Americans despite their racial or political makeup said the U.S. Supreme Court should not block colleges from using race and ethnicity for admission purposes. Sixty-two percent of white adults and 62% of Black adults and 65% of Hispanic adults said universities and colleges should be permitted to consider an applicants race and ethnicity. While many Americans believe the nation has a moral imperative to redress the consequences of its slavery and segregationist past, and its persisting racial inequality, opinion is divided and it shifts, given how complex the issue is. The answer, then, may not be in the courts but with educational institutions colleges and universities, of course, but also from states and their school districts that prepare the students that will seek higher education. 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." While falling short of the diversity colleges and universities have sought to maintain, and, in some instances, far short, some strategies have been identified that abandoned race-conscious admissions that could be improved on and deployed. These strategies include boosting financial aid, using metrics to identify and to recruit and support low-income students, targeting programs that rely on recruitment in schools that lack money and other critical resources and automatically accepting the top 10% of all graduating high school students into any of a states colleges and universities. Admitting the top 10% yields a more diverse student body given housing patterns, often vestiges of segregation, that include concentrations of minority populations. In addition, changing the weights placed on various applicant characteristics, particularly on socioeconomic status, gives Black and brown students a higher likelihood of being admitted. Greater reliance on essays that show grit and promise on the one hand and a lack of solid preparation while dealing with challenging living circumstances on the other may also increase diversity. Once admitted, investing in the preparation of students and aiding their transition into college is critical, particularly for retaining them. Priorities ought to include reducing test score gaps, increasing individuals confidence and aspirations as well as enhancing their ability to make the initial transition to college successfully. As noted, race-neutral options, however, have not come close to restoring the minority share that would have been admitted under race-conscious policies, not by a long shot. Ten years of research suggest that it would take four times as much weight from other factors to replace the impact affirmative action had in securing the minority composition at universities today. As we await the Supreme Courts expected majority decision, we need to attend to the deeper problems that have prompted the policies at universities across the nation, and that fuel the perceived need for them today. We should heed Yale professor Stephen L. Carters admonition that a society that prefers its racial justice cheap is one that will no longer be able to avoid grappling with the real and persistent inequalities that necessitated it in the first place. At the time that many affirmative action policies were adopted, the expectation was that there would be an end to them. Indeed, with respect to colleges and universities, Justice Sandra Day OConnor, casting the deciding vote in favor of affirmative action in Grutter v. Bollinger, predicted that it would no longer be necessary to use race in this way after 25 years. That was 20 years ago. Yet, the anticipated end to affirmative action has not come because we have not made the commitment, or invested the resources needed to make the structural changes that prompt the perceived need for it. As a result, we can continue to use and develop band aids to assist those already in the pipeline, but, as for the structural changes, to affect the young and those yet to be born, the bar is high for a nation with deep wounds, persisting racism and inequality, and a widening political divide. The vital importance of higher education for Black and brown citizens opportunities for jobs, capital accumulation, upward mobility could not be more clear. Society must commit to recruiting, supporting and retaining prepared, and diverse, student bodies. Not only does democracy require an educated citizenry, but it is imperative to provide access to equal educational opportunities for all. Linda Stamato is a policy fellow at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, and co-director of the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. There have been large and raucous groups of kids descending on New Jerseys beaches and shore communities recently just as there have been for generations and some believe that the damage created by their rising numbers and rowdiness is the result of sharp limits placed on the enforcement of marijuana and alcohol laws for minors. The vandalism and pillaging and shoplifting during Memorial Day Weekend in places like Ocean City led cops and town officials to suggest that Trenton has rendered law enforcement powerless because reforms restrict police interaction with young people in many scenarios, even when underage use of alcohol and weed is suspected. We clearly need to protect local business owners, particularly in high-traffic places like our boardwalks, which must remain welcoming, family-friendly places. But perhaps their problem is with the police, who are still empowered to arrest anyone for a vast array of breach-of-peace ordinances -- even something as minor as unruly behavior. So if the cops have evidence that crime has careened out of control because kids are getting drunk and stoned on the beach, they need to deliver that evidence to state lawmakers, who are just as interested in maintaining public safety. Until then, the most powerful lawmaker cant see the connection. First of all, I dont see anyone getting rowdy after using marijuana cops here in North Jersey tell me its just the opposite, said Senate President Nick Scutari, who authored most of the states cannabis laws. If you see bad behavior, dont blame cannabis. Use your enforcement authority on the behavior itself. If you see a kid doing something illegal on the boardwalk, arrest him and charge for that. You dont say, Well, we cant stop him because we think he might be smoking marijuana. I mean, come on. What this sounds like to me is scapegoating. Our top law enforcement officer also has trouble spotting the through-line: When juveniles are involved in dangerous, disruptive, or unlawful conduct, law enforcement continues to have broad authority to engage and stop the conduct, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Matt Platkin said. The 2021 state law legalizing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over significantly limited police enforcement power in dealing with underage drinking and pot smoking. There was good reason for that: Historically, the racial disparity in arrests were obscene, with Black New Jerseyans arrested at a rate 3.45 times higher than whites despite similar usage, and continuing to criminalize Black juveniles once weed became legal for adult use would only perpetuate the same disgrace. To eliminate this racist enforcement, lawmakers applied uniform restraints. Now police cannot even use the odor of marijuana (or alcohol) as a pretext to detain or arrest a juvenile for using it; and in most cases, they need to see a young person actively consuming weed or alcohol before they can seize it. Even then, the police are initially limited to issuing curbside warnings, and after subsequent offenses, they can subject juveniles to a stationhouse adjustment and have their parent or guardian called. Reform advocates are open to adjustments in the law, but they believe it has been largely effective: We are in no way saying that the police should not be able to take these substances from minors, said Joe Johnson, ACLU Policy Counsel. But what we dont want is police walking around to every single minor and searching their backpacks, just to see if they can find something. Yet that is precisely what the cops want to do. Lavallette Mayor Walter LaCicero, the former police chief, argues that there should be reasonable search and seizure laws, because the laws dont allow police officers to even look in the backpacks, which are now frequently containing beer and other substances. He couldnt explain how he knows the contents of the backpacks without looking in them. Planning a pop-up party? Shore mayors have a plan to stop you. @JCalderon_News with the first sign of summer. https://t.co/cSoA2Y3GVO via @asburyparkpress Michael Diamond (@mdiamondapp) April 28, 2023 Pat Colligan, president of the PBA, wants to eliminate a provision in the law that subjects police to criminal liability for investigating an underage person for possession of alcohol or weed, a violation that carries a five-year sentence. Deprivation of civil rights charges, however, already existed before marijuana reform it was not created just for youth marijuana searches and no one can name an instance in which a cop has been charged in such a case. Colligan claims its because no cop wants to risk it. That is a canard. As Platkin has noted, cops dont have to rifle through backpacks to stop illegal conduct, which includes things like smoking, vaping, or aerosolizing any cannabis item on a public beach. If the cops have a problem understanding where the lines are, they can revisit the 7-page guidance Platkin reissued last year. Mayors can follow Ocean Citys example and pass ordinances that include curfews and backpack bans. And they can all contact Scutari, who says Im always OK with changing things for the better weve addressed them before in the spirit of compromise, even though what Im hearing now is a loud and outspoken minority. The goal, as former AG Gurbir Grewal spelled out so eloquently in December 2020, must be to divert young people away from the justice system and toward other kinds of help. There should be ways to apply meaningful consequences for dangerous behavior by kids without criminalizing them. Lets get that discussion going again. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Concerning Newarks change in its rent control ordinance, adopted June 7. The amendment applies the ordinance to some newer buildings that had been exempt from the limit, a 5% annual increase. First, The City of Newark doesnt properly enforce the rent control ordinance that HomesForAll Newark, a housing advocacy group, fought to put on the books years ago. City officials turn a blind eye to slumlords and developers who violate tenants rights on a daily basis. 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." We definitely need rent regulations and for landlords to be held accountable and penalized for all violations they commit. What I dont have is confidence in is city elected officials enforcement of the amended ordinance, because landlords and developers of newer housing help fund their campaigns. This is like any other ordinance: It aint worth the paper its written on when there is no enforcement, penalties or government accountability. We, the people, have had enough. What Mayor Ras Barakas administration needs to be directed to do by a higher authority is establish a 1-for-1 replacement ordinance to preserve the housing that we do have, and allocate $50 million or more to build the 16,000 low income housing units that Rutgers-Newark Professor David Troutt recommended in a housing disparities study. We also need to put a moratorium on long-term tax abatements for developers who violate our rights, and do not not adhere to terms of existing abatement agreements. Or, develop a more responsible tax abatement law to get a better return on our investment. This is why we housing advocates fight to help put an end to the displacement, housing and homeless crises happening here Newark and other communities. When we fight and stand as one for a common goal, we will win. Munirah El Bomani, Newark Designing RoboCop on the cheap The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is inviting high school robotics teams to design a rescue robot to replace police officers who must go through tight spaces to patrol and respond to accidents in the Holland and Lincoln tunnels. According to an NJ Advance Media article, the rescue robot must be mobile and flexible, provide two-way communication between a stopped vehicle and PA employees, have cameras and be able to function in the limited tunnel space. If the Port Authority went out to bid for this project, I estimate they might have to pay a design firm somewhere around $1 million. Instead, they are offering a team of five to eight students, plus a supervising teacher, the grand sum of $750 and the expectation that the students would have a potential resume item to grab the attention of college or corporate recruiters. Hopefully, the winning team should at least get to keep the patent rights. Clearly, the Port Authority has the moral responsibility to adequately recompense the high school teams for an invention that might save it hundreds of thousands of dollars a year or more in reduced policing expenditures. Losing teams should similarly be compensated for their time, a common practice in government requests for proposals. Bill Beren, Upper Montclair Con artists, Part 1 Tom Morans recent column, Three cheers for Christies takedown of Jared Kushner, expresses glee that former Gov. Chris Christie, a long-shot presidential candidate, attacked Kushner, former President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior advisor, as a grifter for receiving a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia two months after Trump left office. Do you think hes some kind of investment genius?, Christie told an audience at his New Hampshire campaign kickoff. I dont know if Kushner is a genius, but he has been a very successful businessman for years, including running a vast real estate empire. Moran writes about Kushner, Move over, Hunter (Biden), you traded on daddys name for scraps. Moran must have forgotten that in 2013, days after Hunter went to China with his father (Joe Biden, the vice president at the time), Hunters firm inked a $1.5 billion deal with the Chinese regime-controlled Bank of China. Hunters chief qualification was that he was a self-described, unemployed crack addict who drank a quart of vodka every day. Oh, yes, and his last name is Biden. Michael S. Pickert, Livingston Editors note: While Hunter Biden apparently received payments from the Bank of China, the $1.5 billion amount that Trump cited in his 2020 campaign is unconfirmed, and widely disputed as being exaggerated. Con artists, Part 2 Fake heiress Anna Delvey Sorokin is a bad person, a convicted con artist and a scammer. She claims, in a podcast she recently launched while under house arrest, that she has nothing in common with U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y, who has been accused of lying repeatedly. Yes. She. Does. While I generally believe in redemption, her podcast scheme is just another opportunity to cash in on her fraud-based fame. Why would the Star-Ledger assist this con artist by running an huge article complete with a glam shot? She does not deserve public attention. Theres no need to supply flesh to a vulture. Joyce Rudin, West Orange Frightening misuse of Justice Department The U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland are working tirelessly to convict former President Donald Trump, and perhaps send him to jail for the rest of his life, over the way he handled documents after leaving the presidency that he had the full authority and power to declassify while he served as president. This is blatant, evil weaponization of our justice system for political gain. The Biden administration is using the Justice Department as a tool to try to destroy a political opponent. If no one is above the law, then why are Hillary Clinton, President Joe Biden, and probably more than half of our politicians not behind bars? Love Trump or hate him, every citizen should be appalled and frightened that this can be allowed to happen in our country. Cecilia Wisniewski, Union Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. 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. NEW YORK Right-hander Ryan Weber and the Yankees were weighing their options for over a week. Tommy John surgery would nip the veterans right forearm strain in the bud, but the procedure would knock him out for the rest of this season and possibly all of 2024 as well. The alternative doesnt involve surgery. With the right mix of treatment and rehab, Weber could strengthen the area and slowly build back up, a timeline thats much more efficient. Webers decision was unveiled on Sunday afternoon by manager Aaron Boone. The journeyman will receive a PRP injection and attempt to rehab through the injury without undergoing surgery. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER A platelet-rich plasma shot is used to accelerate the healing process in muscles, ligaments and tendons. Both Aaron Judge (toe sprain) and Nestor Cortes (shoulder sprain) received PRP injections this week as well. Weber, 32, has been a valuable piece for the Yankees out of the bullpen dating back to last year. Hes posted a 2.16 ERA in a Yankees uniform since his first outing with the club last summer, sticking around in the bullpen sporadically while enduring a few trips back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This year, Weber was promoted from Triple-A in early May, a fresh arm in an injury-ravaged pen. After allowing three earned runs in his first outing of the year, he gave up only two runs in his next 12 1/3 innings, good for a 1.45 ERA in that span. Weber even recorded a save, getting the final three outs of a win over the Reds last month. The right-hander last threw 10 days, giving up one of those runs over two frames against the Dodgers. He was later placed on the 10-day injured list, transferred to the 60-day IL last Wednesday. Webers journey back to the Yankees will now feature an uphill climb within an extensive rehab program. His other hurdle is that the right-hander wont necessarily factor into the equation with the big-league staff once hes healthy. Still, the chances of Weber pitching again for the Yankees at one point or another increased with this decision. All Weber needs to do is get healthy and put himself in a position where hes ready to help the team win games. Hes excelled in that role previously, shining despite his lack of velocity while throwing on the mound. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@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. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Sunny. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High 78F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A clear sky. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Bottomless brunch is about as fun a way as there is to spend the early part of the day on the weekend, and sometimes during the week. Oliver Thomas and LaToya Cantrell in disguises Jeffrey Vappie Some random person who will resign within a year after drunkenly crashing into an oak tree Tchompitoulas will take a bite outta crime Vote View Results (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' state visit to China will lay the foundation for consolidating bilateral relations, a senior Palestinian official said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, said China and Palestine are "friends closer than brothers." Zaki said that China and Palestine have always supported each other in their core interests. He said China firmly supports the cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and supports establishing an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on 1967 borders. He said Palestine appreciated China's call for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestine issue at the United Nations and other levels and that Abbas' visit would strengthen bilateral ties. Speaking of the first China-Arab States Summit held last year, Zaki said it was a milestone in the history of China-Arab relations and would guide the direction for developing China-Arab relations in the new era. "I am very pleased to see that China has been more involved in Middle East affairs after the China-Arab States Summit last year," said the Palestinian official, noting that the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia resulted from the China-proposed Global Security Initiative. He said that the rapprochement signaled a change in the political landscape in the Middle East and raised awareness of unity and independence among regional countries. Zaki said Western countries, led by the United States, have destabilized the region. "Iraq, Libya and Syria were destroyed by them, and Sudan is now facing fragmentation." According to Zaki, the United States has consistently shown bias and double standards on the Palestine issue, hindering progress toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. A Palestinian woman inspects the destroyed houses in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, on May 14, 2021. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) One good turn deserves another means that when someone does a favor for you, you should do a favor for them in repayment; kindness should be rewarded with kindness. The proverb one good turn deserves anotherhas been in use since the 1400s and may be found in John Heywoods A dialogue conteinyng the nomber of all the proverbes in the englishe tongue published in 1546 as: One good turn asketh another. The sentiment behind one good turn deserves another is credited to Aesop, a Greek storyteller who lived in the 500s B.C. His story, The Serpent and the Eagle, tells the tale of a farmer who witnessed a life-and-death struggle between a serpent and an eagle. The farmer freed the eagle from the serpent, but as the serpent departed, he spat venom into the farmers drinking flask. The farmer didnt notice, and began to take a drink from his flask, but the eagle knocked the flask from the farmers hands to save him from being poisoned. The moral of Aesops fable is: One good turn deserves another. Phrasal verb Drop out To quit or stop participating in something Type: Separable, intransitive She was a straight-A student, but she dropped out of college to pursue her dream of becoming an artist. City College at Montana State University Billings has been awarded a five-year, $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Nursing Expansion Program to diversify and expand the nursing workforce in rural Montana. The Nursing Expansion Grant Program will allow City College to grow the existing Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse workforce in rural eastern and south-central Montana, creating the Rural Eastern Montana Nursing Expansion Program. Through this funding, City College will be able to accept additional students into both nursing programs and will be able to respond to shortages in the rural health care workforce through recruiting, training, and graduating rural Montana students who are likely to return to their hometowns to work. I am excited that this grant will allow us to expand our partnerships with Eastern Montana to better meet the critical health care needs in rural areas, said City College Dean Vicki Trier. Over 90% of RN and LPN program graduates pass the NCLEX exam on their first attempt, a sign City College offers high quality nursing degrees. This funding will allow the project to serve a total of 300 participants from rural and low-income backgrounds from eastern and south-central Montana over the grant period and it will establish or strengthen relationships with rural hospitals, increasing available preceptorships and clinical sites. The grant also will increase City Colleges training capacity by 25 percent. The LPN program will increase from 15 students to 22 per year while the RN program will increase from 40 students to 56 per year. This grant will increase our simulation facilities and provide funding for recruitment and assistance to potential students in rural areas of Montana, said Susan Floyd, director of nursing at City College. We are excited to be able to help with the crucial nursing needs in rural areas of Montana. The Rural Eastern Montana Nursing Expansion Program encompasses 24 counties and over 63,000 square miles. Counties to be served include Sheridan, Daniels, Valley, Roosevelt, Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, Wibaux, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Treasure, Rosebud, Custer, Fallon, Stillwater, Carbon, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Powder River, and Carter. Partners within these counties will be the key to the programs success as they will provide a range of services including participant referrals, supportive services to participants, educational services, employment services, and clinical sites. The Nursing Expansion Grant Program is designed to improve the nations healthcare system through diversifying the pipeline of the nursing field through training people from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. City College is one of 25 public-private partnerships within 17 states awarded funding through the Nursing Expansion Grant Program. "The increase in our capacity to train nursing students made possible through the Nursing Expansion Grant Program is part of a planned growth in nursing and other health programs at MSU Billings, with a clear focus on meeting the workforce needs of Billings and Montana, said MSUB Provost Sep Eskandari. Over the next five years, the university will work intentionally to significantly increase the enrollment capacity of LPN and RN offerings at City College as well as the RN to BSN Degree Completion Program offered by the College of Health Professions and Science. GM is investing $632 million in the Fort Wayne Assembly plant so it can do next-generation truck production there. The Big 3 Detroit automaker employs 3,983 workers at the Northeast Indiana plant, where it's investing to make full-size light-duty trucks with next next-generation internal combustion engines to bolster its pickup truck business. "Today we are announcing a significant investment to continue our industry-leading full-size truck business by preparing Fort Wayne Assembly to build the next-generation ICE full-size pickups, said Gerald Johnson, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Sustainability. This investment furthers our commitment to Indiana and, coupled with the hard work and dedication of our team members, enables us to build world-class trucks that our customers love and provide job security in Fort Wayne for years to come. Indiana is one of the largest automotive manufacturing states in the country. Toyota, Honda, Subaru and General Motors all make vehicles in the Hoosier State, which is also home to many suppliers like Lear in Hammond, UGN in Valparaiso and Camaco in Portage. "Indiana is proud of its strong partnership with General Motors, and we are thrilled to celebrate their latest investment in northeast Indiana, said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. This investment will not only support the production of next-generation trucks, but it will support Hoosier workers. Were thankful to GM for their commitment to Indiana and look forward to continuing to strengthen that partnership through investments like these. GM, which has 50 manufacturing plants and distribution sites nationwide, will invest the funds in new conveyors, tooling, equipment and general assembly at the auto plant in Allen County, which is home to Indiana's second most populous city. Todays announcement from General Motors represents the seventh GM investment in Indiana since 2021, totaling roughly $1.28 billion, said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers. GM is creating high-quality careers for Hoosiers and demonstrating Indianas leadership in a dynamic, global economy." Indiana is giving the company up to $11.2 million in incentives, including tax credits and training grants. The plant makes the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. GM has invested nearly $2 billion in the plant since 2013. GMs continued commitment to our community is valued and appreciated, said Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. GM rival Ford completed a $1 billion investment in its Chicago Assembly Plant that employs many Northwest Indiana residents and supports Northwest Indiana parts manufacturing operations back in 2019 but has not yet announced an electric vehicle or next-generation vehicle production there. 219 News Now 6/12/23 Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til. MICHIGAN CITY The pop-up exhibit at the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Old Lighthouse Museum. The exhibit, set up in the front corner of the museum, features a timeline of the OLMs history, including the building of the lighthouse in 1858 and its renovation in 1904. The lighthouse was sold as government surplus in the 1960s, museum Director Danielle Adams said. Soon after, the Michigan City Historical Society bought the property, recognizing its importance as the only lighthouse in Indiana, and turned it into a museum. It had been crumbling to dirt, Adams said. Vandalized, windows were broken, spray paint [on] everything. It cost about$100,000 to clean up the lighthouse. It officially opened as the Old Lighthouse Museum in 1973 and doubles as the Michigan City Historical Society Museum. The museum offers a mix of local naval and Michigan City history. Naval, fishing and shipwreck-related artifacts occupy the first floor, while information on the lighthouse-keepers occupies the higher levels. One of the most notable keepers was Harriet Colfax, from 1861 to 1904. She retired in her 80s and was the oldest keeper in the U.S. at the time. The OLM pop-up exhibit is on display until July 20 at the LaPorte County Historical Museum, but Adams suggests that visitors take advantage of the OLM as much as they can. Even if you only have 10 minutes, just do a lap. Its worth it, its absolutely worth it. The volunteers and caretakers put in so much work, and they continue to put in so much work, the works never done. In fact, the OLM just received a new collection of slides to be organized and cataloged. We have so many cool experiences in this county, were really lucky, Adams said. I would try to get the people of Michigan City and LaPorte County in general to go and take advantage of this fantastic resource. To learn more about the Old Lighthouse Museum, visit mchistorical.org. To learn more about LaPorte County history, visit laportecountyhistory.org. WINFIELD Residents of one of the states fastest-growing towns agree about what they do and don't want for their town. Winfield residents had a unified voice, which is refreshing, Veridus representative Alaina Shonkwiler said. "They feel good about where they are. They are tolerant of the growth, but they are worried about congestion." Shonkwiler and associate Jack Woods presented those findings Thursday to the Plan Commission. It's the 88-page final draft of the Winfield Comprehensive Master Plan. Key to growth is Winfield's household retail spending being well above the national average. The buying power of the average household income indicates its pretty influential, she said. The commission approved the final draft, which will be made available online to residents for further review, officials said. The Town Council will review it Tuesday, then consider its adoption at that meeting, council President Tim Clayton said. Clayton called the plan, which took six to seven months to compile, eye-opening and a great tool for a growing community. Town officials hired Veridus, an Indianapolis-based company, for $50,000 to draft a new comprehensive master plan for the community. Shonkwiler is director of community and economic development for Veridus; Woods is a project analyst. Veridus collected information at two workshop meetings, an online survey and other meetings, Woods said. Seventy residents attended the workshops, and the online survey received 587 responses. The master plan is based on data analysis, community input, vision and focus, and land use and strategies. The proposal includes a community vision statement, goals and recommendations in six focus areas. A snapshot of the town shows that Winfield has increased in population by 212% between 2000 and 2020, with it ranking ninth-largest in growth rate for a town or city in Indiana. Winfield, incorporated as a town in 1993, had a population of 7,000 in the 2020 U.S. census. The leading actress in a play category this year was a face-off of extremes: Jodie Comer, who delivers a physically and emotionally exhausting performance in Suzie Millers one-woman legal thriller Prima Facie, versus Jessica Chastain, who scarcely stirs from her chair during the entirety of A Dolls House. In the end, it was Comer who triumphed, for her tour-de-force solo turn as a lawyer who defends men accused of sexual assault. Jesse Green, the chief theater critic for The New York Times, described it as a performance of tremendous skill and improbable stamina. It was a remarkable win for the 30-year-old English actress, who is best known for playing the assassin Villanelle on the television show Killing Eve. She not only took home her first Tony Award on her first try; she won it for her first performance on a major stage. It kind of felt unattainable, she told The Times in April of the prospect of doing theater. On Sunday night, Comer thanked Suzie Miller, the writer of Prima Facie, which won many awards in Australia and Britain. This woman and this play has been my greatest teacher, and I have to thank Suzie Miller for that, who wrote this magnificent piece, she said. Without her, my performance would not be here, so this feels just as much Suzies as it is mine. Leopoldstadt and Parade, two productions about the horrors of antisemitism, took major awards on Sunday, making the topic a central theme of the night. Tom Stoppards Leopoldstadt, which centers on the destructive toll of antisemitism on a family of Viennese Jews and was inspired by Stoppards belated reckoning with his Jewish roots, won best play. Earlier in the night, the plays director, Patrick Marber, won for best direction of a play, and Brandon Uranowitz, one of the central actors in the ensemble cast, won a featured actor award. Thank you Tom Stoppard for writing a play about Jewish identity and antisemitism and the false promise of assimilation with the nuances and the complexities and the contradictions that they deserve, Uranowitz said in his acceptance speech. My ancestors, many of whom did not make it out of Poland, also thank you. Parade, a musical that tells the tragedy of Leo Frank, the Jewish pencil factory manager who was murdered by a mob in 1915, won best musical revival. Its director, Michael Arden, won the award for best direction of a musical, urging the audience to battle antisemitism, white supremacy and other forms of hate. The incarnation performing in the companys anniversary season at the Joyce Theater this week is on the high-quality side, led by the Spanish dancer and choreographer Emilio Ochando. Much of the cast overlaps with that of Fronteras, the acclaimed show the company brought to the Joyce last year. But, characteristically, it also includes different guest stars, including the esteemed dancer Maria Bermudez, who first performed with group in the 1980s. Where in all of this is Santana? Shes the one who makes everything happen, Bermudez said. Its been like that from the start. The troupe began life in New York City, in 1983, as Spanish Dance Arts Company, led by Roberto Lorca, a choreographer from California. Santana, born in upstate New York, had recently given up a career as a psychiatric social worker when she fell in love with Spanish dance and went to Spain to study. Back in New York, she took Lorcas dance class and became his dance partner. Together, they decided to form Spanish Dance Arts Company. We wanted people to feel what we felt about the dance, she said. Santana asked the dancer Maria Benitez, who had founded a flamenco company in 1972, how it was done. Benitez, she said, told her to get a good typewriter. The advice pointed to Santanas role. She performed with the new company while Lorca directed and choreographed, but she also wrote the grant applications and filled out the paperwork that made it all possible. And after Lorca died of AIDS, in 1987, Santana continued in this role, bringing in others to choreograph, new people every few years (and eventually settling on the groups current name). Although I have no idea of the precise statistics, Kenneth Lapatin, curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, wrote in an email, today we have many more parts (bodiless heads & headless bodies) than complete statues. This is clear in any gallery of Greek & Roman art. Headless Bodies in Top-Shelf Museums Many heads were lost because of the wear and tear of time. Necks are quick to break when statues fall. But other, less innocent explanations for the legions of severed heads include looting and regime change. Smugglers cleaved heads from bodies to create not one, but two, sellable artifacts. Ancient insurrectionists and invaders decapitated statues to undermine the authority of rulers who had erected images of themselves as symbols of dominion. Every culture in the ancient world seems to do it, said Rachel Kousser, professor of ancient art at the City University of New York. The head is really powerful and damage to the head is seen as a particularly effective way of damaging power, whether its a ruler or a god or even just a private dead person. In one case, a bronze of the Emperor Augustus from around 25 B.C. was decapitated by Kushite raiders in Egypt, who then defiantly buried the severed head beneath temple steps in the Kushite capital of Meroe, in modern Sudan. The feet of multitudes trod atop the head before it was discovered in the 20th century. It is now in the British Museum. She continued: It is not the time for this book to be published. And I do not want to add any harm to a group of people who have already experienced and who are continuing to experience grievous and extreme harm. The publication of the book, The Snow Forest, was announced last week and had been scheduled for Feb. 13, 2024, shortly before the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The novel follows a Russian family that has removed themselves from society in the 1930s to try to resist the Soviet government. By Monday, the book had amassed hundreds of one-star reviews on the website Goodreads, with commenters on that website and on Instagram condemning the books Russian setting and characters. But when Gilbert announced her decision to pull the book, many in the literary world responded with bafflement and alarm at what they perceived as self-censorship. So apparently, the writer Rebecca Makkai wrote on Twitter, Wherever you set your novel, youd better hope to hell that by publication date (usually about a year after you turned it in) that place isnt up to bad things, or you are personally complicit in them. Gilbert is a best-selling and acclaimed author whose memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, has sold millions of copies worldwide and been adapted into a movie staring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. A representative for Gilberts publisher, Riverhead Books, said that Gilbert had no further comment. She also confirmed that the novel is being delayed indefinitely, and that no decision has been made about whether it will be revised. Trump fights charges with politics Donald Trump, who last week became the first former president to face federal charges, arrived in Florida before his scheduled first appearance tomorrow in federal court on criminal charges of mishandling sensitive national security documents and seeking to thwart the governments efforts to reclaim them. My colleagues reported that Trump is planning to spend tonight at his Doral resort in Miami, where he and his legal team will conduct last-minute interviews with lawyers to represent him in the case. (One of his current attorneys could be a key witness.) His defense against the federal prosecution, which is likely to play out during his campaign for president, is likely to focus more on the politics of charging a former president than on the facts of the case. In recent days, Trump has been quick to place blame for his indictment on Democrats, the Deep State, and the Justice Department which he described as a sick nest of people that needs to be cleaned out immediately. Some of Trumps allies have taken the political attacks even further, portraying the charges as an act of war and calling for violent retribution. It is unclear, in the end, what a jury of Floridians will make of it all; even some reliable Republicans there have complicated feelings about the former president. An analysis of the case law Fish, Wildlife & Parks referenced last week that claims corner crossing is unlawful in Montana doesnt directly address the public land access scenario, according to two University of Montana law professors. On June 1, Dustin Temple stated in a press release that, Corner crossing remains unlawful in Montana, and Montanans should continue to obtain permission from the adjoining landowners before crossing corners from one piece of public land to another. Wardens will continue to report corner crossing cases to local county attorneys to exercise their prosecutorial discretion. The following day, Temple was named director of FWP by Gov. Greg Gianforte, replacing Hank Worsech who had been out on medical leave since February. Prior to his promotion, Temple was FWPs deputy director. Basis An FWP official said the agency was basing its conclusions regarding corner crossings illegality on two court cases. Our basis for the conclusion that corner crossing is unlawful is a reading of case law, Greg Lemon, administrator for the Communication and Education Division wrote in an email. First is a Supreme Court case from 1946, US v. Causby which establishes The landowner owns at least as much of the space above the ground as he can occupy or use in connection with the land. The second case is Montana Supreme Court, Ducham v. Tuma in 1994, which establishes trespass for entering land in possession of another, irrespective of whether that trespass causes harm to any legally protected interest of the other. When asked for an interpretation of how the two cases could lead FWP to say corner crossing is unlawful in Montana, University of Montana law professor Michelle Bryan said, While the cases the state cites do address air rights and trespass in other contexts, I think the law is more complicated than those two cases, neither of which deal with the unique situation of corner crossing to access public lands. Martin Nie, a UM professor of natural resource policy, and director of the Bolle Center for People and Forests, said FWPs citations are missing some important case law. FWPs legal counsel was not available for comment on this story. An email to her coworker for comment was not returned. Wyoming The issue of corner crossing has gained attention following a Wyoming federal judges recent ruling in a civil case that four Missouri hunters did not trespass when they corner crossed on public lands in 2020 and 2021. The hunters were also previously found not guilty by a jury in a state criminal trial on trespassing charges. Corner crossing is the act of stepping from one parcel of public land to another parcel of public land where the two properties corners meet. Imagine four squares, each one alternately owned by the public and a private landowner so only the corners meet. The issue has gotten so much attention because access to 8.3 million acres of public land in 11 western states is in limbo due to questions over the legality of corner crossing, according to a 2022 report by onX, a Montana-based online mapping company. Thats public land many hunters would like to access, like the Missouri men did. Its also public land some adjoining landowners claim exclusive access to, even charging people to hunt on the federal property. Real estate ads also commonly refer to ranchlands for sale as having exclusive access to numerous acres of public land as a selling point. Montana lawmakers have twice tried to address the issue. In 2013 the Legislature rejected a bill that would have made corner crossing from public land to public land legal. In 2017, a bill that would have outlawed the act died in committee. The issue The problem was created about 160 years ago when Congress came up with an idea to promote the building of railroads across the unsettled lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. For every mile of track the railroad company built, the federal government would give the company land. The land was first surveyed into square-mile sections 640 acres. Every 36 contiguous sections created a township. Inside each township the sections were numbered one through 36. In return for building the rail lines, the railroad companies were awarded the odd sections while the federal government kept the even ones, except for one that was given to the states. These state lands are the blue squares on maps, also known as school trust lands. This effort by Congress to subsidize tycoons so the rail lines could be built is what created the checkerboard land ownership that now bedevils public land access advocates. The idea was that Congress and the railroad financiers would sell the land to help fill their coffers. Interpretation The two cases FWP cited for its conclusion that corner crossing is unlawful in Montana are from a chicken farmers complaint against the U.S. military and neighbors feuding over water runoff from a pond. United States v. Causby is a U.S. Supreme Court case that held the government liable for confiscating the farmers property (the air above the land) without compensation when it repeatedly flew military aircraft over his North Carolina chicken farm, stressing the chickens and causing the landowner to lose sleep. The court decided the low flights could interfere with the landowners enjoyment and use of his property. The second case, Ducham v. Tuma, is a Montana Supreme Court case between two private, adjacent landowners. The case was concerned water running upon the land through a coulee from the adjacent landowners trout pond. The plaintiffs said the water was a continuing trespass, interfering with their farming. What neither of the States cited cases address is whether there is some minimal legal right of access to public lands that makes the corner-crossing non-trespassory, Bryan said. Federal case Disagreements over blocked public lands has been a contentious issue for almost as long as the checkerboard land ownership has been around. In 1897, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Camfield v. United States that fencing erected by private landowners cannot enclose federal parcels in a way that prevents all access to those parcels for the exclusive benefit of the private landowner. The U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in the Camfield case says in part, It would be recreant (cowardly) to its duties as trustee for the people of the United States to permit any individual or private corporation to monopolize them for private gain Thus, corner-crossings are not as black-and-white of an analysis as your run-of-the-mill trespass case between two private parties, Bryan said. It does not appear the State of Montana has yet reconciled how Camfield fits with the cases it cites. What remains to be done is an analysis of how public and private rights work together in the corner-crossing context a balancing the court attempted to do in the Wyoming decision. Unsettled Also pertinent to the corner crossing discussion, and cited by the Wyoming judge in his ruling, is the Unlawful Inclosures Act. In the 2014 Wyoming Law Review, Shelby D. Green, associate professor at the Pace University School of Law, wrote, Perhaps Congress' most significant acknowledgement of the pernicious effects of the checkerboard pattern of land disposition was the passage of the Unlawful Inclosures Act in 1885. The act declares enclosures of federal lands to be unlawful and orders that such enclosures be removed. [n]o person, by force, threats, intimidation, or by any fencing or inclosing, or any other unlawful means, shall prevent or obstruct, or shall combine and confederate with others to prevent or obstruct, any person from peaceably entering upon or establishing a settlement or residence on any tract of public land subject to settlement or entry under the public land laws of the United States. The Wyoming federal court judge also called the landowners use of a padlocked chain between two fence posts at the property corner to block entry to the public land constituted an improper attempt to prevent or obstruct any person from peaceably entering upon any tract of public land in violation of the (Unlawful Inclosures Act). Stream access Another way to understand the corner crossing issue, Bryan said, is to consider Montanas stream access law. For recreational purposes like fishing and boating the public can use rivers and streams up to the ordinary high water mark without the use being considered a trespass on private land. The Wyoming judge recognized a similar right to minimally enter the air space at private corners, Bryan said. Although the property owner who filed the Wyoming lawsuit against the hunters possessed a property interest in the airspace above his land like the North Carolina chicken farmer, the judge said the right is not boundless. He went on to say the landowner must suffer the temporary incursion into a minimal portion of its airspace while the corner crosser must take pains to avoid touching private land or otherwise disturbing private property. Bryan said it is important to note federal case law will be required to resolve the question of what access rights the federal government retains on landlocked public lands. The U.S. Supreme Court in Camfield states that the government did not intend to relinquish all access to those lands, Bryan said. So a state law interpretation that results in no access to federal lands may be vulnerable to future legal challenge. NATO begins large-scale drills in Germany Twenty-four NATO nations including Finland, the alliances newest member are participating in giant air force drills, in what the host nation Germany called the largest deployment of aircraft in the alliances history. The training comes as fighting escalates in Ukraine, where Kyivs forces are mounting an offensive to reclaim territory captured by Russia. More than 250 aircraft and 10,000 personnel will participate in the two-week military exercise, which is part of a signaling campaign for Vladimir Putin. NATO wants to show Russia that its ready, said our colleague Lara Jakes, who reported yesterday from an air base in Wunstorf, Germany. This was a war game that was supposed to look exactly like the response should a NATO state be attacked. The exercise is a reflection of NATOs broader shift from deterrence by retaliation to deterrence by denial. Instead of waiting for Russian attacks, the alliance horrified by recent Russian atrocities and under pressure from eastern member states will base more troops permanently along the Russian border. After decades running one of the most prominent and politically active financial empires, George Soros is handing the reins of his $25 billion Open Society Foundations to his son Alex, the grant-making network confirmed on Monday. The move is another example of succession planning by Wall Streets old guard. But the changeover is especially notable because it involves the elder Mr. Soros, whose unabashed support of liberal causes, to the tune of $1.5 billion a year, has long made him a boogeyman of the right. Alex Soros, the second-youngest of Georges five children, was elected the foundations chairman in December. He also serves as president of the Soros super PAC and is the only family member on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, a private investment management firm. That will put him in charge of a philanthropic empire, funded from the billions that George Soros made from finance. Over five decades, George Soros cemented his reputation as one of the most successful investors in modern history, particularly when he made more than $1 billion by betting against the British pound in 1992. The government filed a court petition last week arguing that Glory to Hong Kong was used to insult Chinas national anthem. While not naming any defendants, the filing included 32 links to the song on YouTube. And in December, the Hong Kong authorities criticized Google for displaying the protest song under search results for Hong Kongs national anthem. On Monday, Judge Wilson Chan of the High Court in Hong Kong pressed a representative for the government on a number of points including clarifying the kinds of defendants the petition would apply to. The judge was trying to make sure some of the basics were to be met if he was going to grant an injunction today, said Kevin Yam, a senior fellow at Georgetown Universitys Center for Asian Law based in Melbourne, Australia. The impact of the case on how the tech companies operate in Hong Kong remains to be seen. Google and Meta established offices in Hong Kong over a decade ago, and today each has up to several hundred employees there. Twitter opened an office in 2015 but closed it two years later. It no longer has staff in the city. If forced to remove links related to the song from their online platforms for users in Hong Kong, the companies could use a common technology known as geo-blocking, said George Chen, former head of public policy for Greater China at Meta and the managing director of the Asia Group, a consulting firm based in Washington. JPMorgan Chase reached a tentative settlement with sexual abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier, after weeks of embarrassing disclosures about the banks longstanding relationship with him, the bank and lawyers for the victims said in a statement on Monday. David Boies, one of the lead lawyers for the victims, said the bank was prepared to pay $290 million to resolve the lawsuit. The parties initially had agreed not to disclose the settlement amount in their joint statement, as it was set to be included in a court filing within the next week. The proposed deal would settle a lawsuit filed last November in Manhattan federal court by an unidentified woman on behalf of victims who were sexually abused by Mr. Epstein over a roughly 15-year period when they were teenage girls and young women, the suit said. The number of victims could potentially rise to more than 100. In the statement, the bank and the lawyers for the victims said that they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuit on behalf of the victims and that the settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epsteins terrible abuse. Fred Ryan, the publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post, told employees on Monday that he was stepping down, ending his nearly decade-long run as the newspapers top business executive. He was appointed by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and owner of The Post. In a note to staff, Mr. Ryan, a former Reagan aide, said his next job would be leading the Center on Public Civility, a new project by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute that is backed by Mr. Bezos. In an interview, Mr. Ryan said he was proud of his business record at The Post, which included increasing the newspapers digital subscribers to 2.5 million from 35,000. He also said he was proud of a new partnership on press freedom Mr. Ryan successfully lobbied Iran for the release of the Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and spoke out forcefully against the murder of the former Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Sandeep Mathrani was supposed to be WeWorks savior. A real estate executive, he became the chief executive of the troubled office space company in 2020 after a failed initial public offering pushed it to the brink of collapse. He instilled discipline and order on a business that had grown fast and chaotically under its co-founder Adam Neumann. Instead of building a company that would elevate the worlds consciousness as Mr. Neumann had wanted, Mr. Mathrani focused on the staid details of running a real estate company. He steered WeWork through the pandemic, got its landlords to accept less rent, took the company public and oversaw a financial restructuring, completed last month, that cut the companys debt. But just weeks after the restructuring, the company said on May 16 that Mr. Mathrani would step down, and that no permanent successor was lined up. Wall Street analysts who had recently met with him were stunned one analyst wrote in a research note that the executive was abandoning ship. A couple of weeks later, WeWorks chief financial officer, who had joined last June, departed, too. The turmoil raises fresh questions about the viability of WeWork, which has spent billions of dollars building a business that has never come close to breaking even and must now compete with the flood of cheap office deals that have become available since working from home shrank demand for commercial real estate. Rhinos that have been stripped of their main armament, their horn, seem to feel more vulnerable, Ms. Duthe said. This vulnerability is exhibited through their diminished appetite for exploring and for engaging in conflict with other rhinos. The research does not address whether black rhinos very strong response to dehorning has an overall positive or negative effect on the species, Ms. Duthe added, such as whether it will result in genetic changes over time by shifting reproductive dynamics, or alter the number of animals that a given landscape can support. Dehorning has become increasingly common over the past decade in Southern Africa as a means of trying to deter poachers from killing rhinos for their horns, which can be valued more than diamonds or gold on the black market in Southeast Asia. Dehorning is a painless procedure in which veterinarians first sedate a rhino. They blindfold the animal and insert earplugs, then use a chain saw to cut off the top of its horn, but only the section that does not contain nerves. The base of the horn is then sanded down. The entire process takes no more than 20 minutes. Like fingernails, rhino horns grow back with time and animals are usually dehorned once every 18 months. Despite the prevalence of this practice, researchers did not know until now what effects, if any, dehorning had on rhino behavior and survival. One person was killed and more than a dozen had to be rescued after a tour boat capsized Monday morning while carrying passengers through a narrow underground cavern in western New York, prompting an all-out response, officials said. Twenty-eight people were on board when the boat tipped over at the Lockport Cave in Lockport, N.Y., about 20 miles east of Niagara Falls, Luca Quagliano, the citys fire chief, said at a news conference. Emergency workers rescued 16 people from the water, the chief said; the rest were able to get to safety on their own. The boat did a 180-degree turn, so the bottom of the boat was upright in the water, Chief Quagliano said at the news conference. A number of victims were on top of that boat initially when rescuers got to them. The authorities identified the person who died as a 60-year-old man who became trapped beneath the boat when it capsized. The mans wife was also on the boat and was injured, Chief Quagliano said. He did not provide other details about the victim. Franz S. Leichter, a maverick New York State legislator for three decades whose progressive views on abortion, gay unions and the decriminalization of marijuana eventually became law in the state, helped in no small part by his persistent prodding, died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 92. The death, at a hospital, was confirmed by his children, Kathy and Josh Leichter. He spent years managing congestive heart failure and in recent days came down with pneumonia and experienced end-stage renal failure, they said. First as an assemblyman and then as a state senator representing his famously argumentative Manhattan neighborhood, the Upper West Side, Mr. Leichter was regarded as one of the Legislatures staunchest liberals and harshest critics of its own practices, though he was often dismissed as a Don Quixote futilely tilting at windmills. But even if so, for him that was a badge of honor, rooted in a deep sense of injustice imbued in him during his childhood in Nazi-controlled Vienna and as a young, motherless Jewish refugee in New York. His mother, Kathe Leichter, a leading Austrian sociologist who had pressed for equal pay and job opportunities for women, was imprisoned in Nazi Germanys Ravensbruck concentration camp and killed in 1942. Keechant Sewell, commissioner of the New York Police Department, said Monday she would resign after less than 18 months, giving no reason for the abrupt end to a tenure during which she won over many in the rank and file even as she jockeyed for position against other appointees and top officers. Ms. Sewell, who was appointed to her position by Mayor Eric Adams and started in 2022, was the first woman to head the nations largest police force. He had promised as a candidate to name a woman to lead the public safety agency where he was an officer for 22 years, giving her the power to rethink policing after bitter protests against police brutality and racism. The mayor said in a statement on Monday that Ms. Sewell had worked tirelessly and that New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude. But Ms. Sewell, in an email to the department announcing her resignation, did not mention the mayor at all. Instead, she focused on the qualities of line officers, calling them hard-working public servants and praising their compassion, heroics and selflessness. Ms. Sewell did not say when she would be leaving, and the mayor did not say when a replacement would be chosen. It was a frigid Sunday evening at the Catholic Newman Center in Salt Lake City when the priest warned parishioners who had gathered after Mass that their right to private confessions was in jeopardy. A new law would break that sacred bond, the priest said, and directed the parishioners to sign a one-page form letter on their way out. "I/We Oppose HB90," began the letter, stacked next to pre-addressed envelopes. "HB90 is an improper interference of the government into the practice of religion in Utah." In the following days of February 2020, Utah's Catholic diocese, which oversees dozens of churches, says it collected some 9,000 signed letters from parishioners and sent them to state Rep. Angela Romero, a Democrat who had been working on the bill as part of her campaign against child sexual abuse. HB90 targeted Utah's "clergy-penitent privilege," a law similar to those in many states that exempts clergy of all denominations from the requirement to report child abuse if they learn about the crime in a confessional setting. Utah's Catholic leaders had mobilized against HB90 arguing that it threatened the sacred privacy of confessions. More importantly, it met with disapproval from some members in the powerful Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormon church, whose followers comprise the vast majority of the state Legislature. HB90 was dead on arrival. In 33 states, clergy are exempt from any laws requiring professionals such as teachers, physicians and psychotherapists to report information about alleged child sexual abuse to police or child welfare officials if the church deems the information privileged. This loophole has resulted in an unknown number of predators being allowed to continue abusing children for years despite having confessed the behavior to religious officials. In many of these cases, the privilege has been invoked to shield religious groups from civil and criminal liability after the abuse became known to civil authorities. Over the past two decades state lawmakers like Romero have proposed more than 130 bills seeking to create or amend child sex abuse reporting laws, an Associated Press review found. All either targeted the loophole and failed to close it, or amended the mandatory reporting statute without touching the clergy privilege amid intense opposition from religious groups. The AP found that the Roman Catholic Church has used its well-funded lobbying infrastructure and deep influence among lawmakers in some states to protect the privilege, and that influential members of the Mormon church and Jehovah's Witnesses have also worked in statehouses and courts to preserve it in areas where their membership is high. In Maryland a successful campaign to defeat a proposal that would have closed the clergy-penitent loophole was led by a Catholic cardinal who would later be defrocked for sexually abusing children and adult seminarians. In other states, such as California, Missouri and New Mexico, vociferous public and backroom opposition to bills aimed at closing the loophole from the Catholic and Mormon churches successfully derailed legislative reform efforts. "They believe they're on a divine mission that justifies keeping the name and the reputation of their institution pristine," said David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, speaking of several religious groups. "So the leadership has a strong disincentive to involve the authorities, police or child protection people." LOOPHOLE PROTECTS CHURCHES FROM SURVIVORS AND PROSECUTORS Last month, an AP investigation found that a Mormon bishop in Arizona, at the direction of church leaders, failed to report a church member who had confessed that he sexually abused his 5-year-old daughter. The AP found that Rep. Merrill Nelson, a church lawyer and Utah Republican lawmaker, had advised the bishop not to report the abuse to civil authorities because of Arizona's clergy privilege law, according to documents revealed in a lawsuit. That failure to report allowed the church member, the late Paul Adams, to repeatedly rape his two daughters and allegedly abuse one his four sons for many years. In response to the case, state Sen. Victoria Steele, a Democrat from Tucson, on three occasions proposed legislation to close the clergy reporting loophole in Arizona. Steele told the AP that key Mormon lawmakers including a former Republican state senator and judiciary committee chairmen thwarted her efforts before her proposals could be presented to the full Legislature. "It's difficult for me to tell this story without talking about the Mormons and their power in the Legislature," Steele said. "What this boils down to is that the church is being given permission to protect the predators and the children be damned. They are trying with all of their might to make sure this bill does not see the light of day." Latter-day Saints and Catholics hold a number of influential positions as leaders and committee chairmen in the Arizona Legislature, including the speaker of the House, and have been known to advance or block legislation in line with the church's priorities and values. In one high-profile example, two Republican legislators took a stand in 2019, refusing to vote for a budget until lawmakers passed a measure allowing past victims of child sexual abuse to sue churches or youth groups that turned a blind eye to the abuse. Legislative business ground to a halt for weeks amid fierce opposition from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Roman Catholic Church and insurers along with their allies in the Legislature, which finally approved the measure. The Adams case is not the only example of the privilege being invoked in cases where a clergy member's failure to report led to prolonged abuse. In Montana, for example, a woman who was abused by a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses in the mid-2000s won a $35 million jury verdict against the church for failing to report her abuse. But in 2020 the state Supreme Court reversed the judgment, ruling that church leaders were under no obligation to report, citing the state's clergy-penitent privilege. The privilege can also be used to protect religious organizations from criminal liability. In 2013, a former Boise, Idaho, police officer turned himself in for abusing children, something he had reported to 15 members of the Mormon church, none of whom notified authorities. But prosecutors declined to file charges against the church because of Idaho's clergy-penitent privilege law. The Mormon church said in a written statement to the AP that a member who confesses child sex abuse "has come seeking an opportunity to reconcile with God and to seek forgiveness for their actions. ... That confession is considered sacred, and in most states, is regarded as a protected religious conversation owned by the confessor." The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did not immediately return a request for comment about its campaigns against state bills seeking to do away with the clergy-penitent privilege. But supporters of the clergy privilege say abolishing it will not make children safer. Some go so far as to say that the ability of abusers to report privately to clergy encourages them to confess and often leads to stopping the abuse. "It's considered essential to the exercise of religion to have a priest-penitent privilege that will allow people to to approach their clergy for the purpose of unburdening themselves, their mind, their soul to seek peace and consolation with God as well as with their fellow beings," Utah state Rep. Nelson told the AP. "Without that assurance of secrecy, troubled people will not confide in their clergy." Jean Hill, the government liaison for Utah's Catholic Diocese who helped organize opposition to Romero's bill, pointed to a single research paper to argue that laws that target privileged, confessional conversations in the context of child abuse have not increased reporting in those communities. "When you take away every opportunity for people to get help, they go underground and the abuse continues," Hill said. But the authors of the study Hill cited, published in 2014, have cautioned about reaching such conclusions based on their research. Frank Vandervort, a law professor at the University of Michigan, and his co-author, Vincent Palusci, a pediatrics professor at New York University, told the AP that the study was limited, partly because churches often wouldn't give them access to data on clergy reporting. "A single article should not be the basis for making policy decisions," said Vandervort, lead author of the study. "It may be entirely the case that there's no connection between the changing of the laws and the number of reports." PRIVILEGE NOT 'CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED' Efforts to rid state laws of the privilege have been successful in only a handful of states, including North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia. Records and interviews with lawmakers in the 33 states that still have the privilege show that intense opposition from powerful religious organizations is more often too much to overcome. Former California state Sen. Jerry Hill said a bill he introduced in 2019 to require clergy members to report suspicion of child sex abuse or neglect by co-workers was killed after opposition from the Catholic and Mormon churches, as well as other religious groups. "The opposition of the Catholic Church was instrumental in creating a lot of controversy around the bill and a lot of questions related to religious freedom," Hill said. The Catholic Church made it clear it would sue if the bill passed, Hill said. Michael Cassidy, a professor at Catholic-affiliated Boston College Law School and a former state prosecutor, said it's not clear how a religious freedom case regarding the clergy privilege would turn out. Some supporters believe the privilege is securely rooted in the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion. But Cassidy said "there is no firm precedent that says the clergy-penitent privilege is constitutionally required." "The Supreme Court has never held that," Cassidy said. He's proposed a middle path: allow clergy to maintain the secrecy of the confessional but carve out an exception for "dangerous persons" including child sex abusers. Often, legislative efforts to close the clergy loophole run up against lawmakers who are also church members, as well as intimidation from advocacy groups aligned with various religions. It's a one-two punch that has killed many bills quietly before they are even introduced, and has led to the privilege loophole being deemed by child welfare advocates as a poison pill included in mandatory reporting bills, the AP's review found. In Utah, after religious officials publicly opposed her bill seeking to close the loophole, state Rep. Romero, a lifelong Catholic, received ominous voicemails and emails. Fearing for her staff's safety, she reported some of them to state law enforcement. "It's utterly despicable that you think that this is all right," said one anonymous caller claiming to represent a group called Young Americans for Liberty. "If you care to, return my message. If not, I'm going to call you every day until you do." The blowback also got personal: Devout Catholic members of Romero's own family stopped talking to her. "They thought I was trying to attack the Catholic Church and get rid of confession, one of our sacraments," Romero said. "That's how it was presented to them." In 2003, as the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal swept the nation, a bill seeking to rid Maryland of the privilege in child abuse cases evoked a strong rebuke from Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, then the powerful archbishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C. "If this bill were to pass, I shall instruct all priests in the Archdiocese of Washington who serve in Maryland to ignore it," McCarrick wrote in a Catholic Standard column. "On this issue, I will gladly plead civil disobedience and willingly if not gladly go to jail." The bill withered under McCarrick's attack and never emerged from committee. Similar legislation proposed in 2004 suffered the same fate. Today, the clergy-penitent privilege in Maryland remains intact, even though McCarrick has been defrocked for sex crimes. Virginia updated its mandatory reporting law in 2006. While the bill started out with clergy among those listed as reporters with the privilege intact, they would be removed from the final bill. The privilege, oddly, was left in. The state went on in 2019 to add ministers, priests, rabbis and other religious officials to the list of mandatory reporters of child abuse, but again protected the clergy-penitent privilege. State Del. Karrie Delaney, a Virginia Democrat who sponsored the bill in 2019 that added clergy to the list of mandated reporters, said that including language to close the privilege would have doomed the bill. "We wanted to pass the bill," Delaney said. "And we knew that not having that (exemption) in there would have drawn an enormous amount of resistance from particular faith communities that really would have put the bill in jeopardy." In heavily Catholic Pennsylvania, 40 bills have included changes in mandatory child sex abuse reporting laws over the past two decades. None of them has challenged the clergy-penitent privilege. That comes as no surprise to child sex abuse survivors and their advocates, who have seen the Catholic Church and its lobbyists spend millions in a battle in Pennsylvania over a proposed two-year legal window for survivors to file lawsuits against their alleged abusers. In other states, legislators said they didn't know clergy had a way around reporting abuse. After learning of the loophole from the AP, Vermont state Sen. Richard Sears, a Democrat, said he would introduce a bill in the next legislative session to try to close it. "I wasn't even aware it existed," Sears said. In 2003, amid the uproar over the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandals, several states added clergy to their child sex abuse reporting laws, often with the exception for clergy who learn about child sex abuse during spiritual confessions. That's what happened in New Mexico. With the privilege protected, the bill sailed easily through both houses and was even supported by The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, which was embroiled in its own church sexual abuse scandal. Since then, there have been several bills introduced in the New Mexico Legislature aimed at clarifying language in the reporting law. Only one would have eliminated the clergy-penitent privilege. It died in committee. "We have repeatedly asked the Legislature to strengthen reporting requirements in schools and religious institutions," state Attorney General Hector Balderas told the AP. He said unreported child abuse is a major problem "resulting in tremendous amounts of trauma." ___ Photos: Pope begs forgiveness of Indigenous for Canada school abuses The transfer is only one of the ways Mr. DeSantis is pushing the limits of the campaign finance system. The super PAC supporting his presidential run, bearing the schoolboy name of Never Back Down, has made it clear that it has a dangerously broad view of what its role should be. Up to now, the main role of super PACs in elections has been to run TV ads in favor of a candidate or against an opponent, with an unconvincing disclaimer in small print at the end that the ad sponsor is not associated with any campaign or candidate. Super PACs can take in contributions of unlimited size, so theyve been a great vehicle for wealthy donors, unions and corporations to demonstrate loyalty to a candidate without bumping up against the $3,300 individual donation limit per election for giving directly to a campaign. Those ads are bad enough, but Never Back Down is going much further by essentially taking over many of the main functions of the DeSantis campaign itself. As The Washington Post recently reported, the super PAC is opening office space in each of the early primary states, organizing a corps of door-knockers and volunteers, and launching a Students for DeSantis effort on university campuses, among other grass-roots organizing work. This is going to be expansive and a completely different kind of super PAC, Kristin Davison, the chief operating officer of Never Back Down, told The Post. The Times reported that Never Back Down is preparing to spend more than $100 million on the DeSantis field operation, hiring 2,600 workers by Labor Day to knock on the door of every possible DeSantis voter at least four times in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina and five times in the kickoff Iowa caucuses. The report quoted another leader of the super PAC as saying that no one had ever tried an effort like this before. One reason for that may be its dubious legality. No definition of a super PAC technically defined as an independent expenditure committee (emphasis added) can conceivably include that much detailed organizing work on behalf of a candidate, and it is impossible to imagine it can be done without silently coordinating with the real DeSantis campaign. By having wealthy donors, some of whom make multimillion-dollar contributions, pay for such fieldwork, the campaign can spend more money on things that only it can do, such as transporting the candidate and getting on 50 state ballots. Thats why donations given directly to a campaign, known as hard money, are much more valuable to a candidate, as well as being harder to raise because of the contribution limits. This argument is specious. A recent analysis by Bloomberg Law found that the justices recused themselves in roughly 3 percent of appeals since 2018, with Justices Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan doing so most often. The court managed in these circumstances. The court also operates short-handed when there is a vacancy, as it did for over a year after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, until Neil Gorsuch was confirmed in April 2017. Even if, with the advent of an ethics code, there might be more instances in which a justice might recuse, it would be worth it to ensure that justices abide by the same rules as all other judges. A further objection is that imposing ethical standards on justices is partisan. Last month, when the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on whether to impose an ethics code on the court, some of the Republican senators on the committee decried the effort as political. That is nonsense, because all justices regardless of who appointed them or their ideology would be bound by the same rules. Liberals and conservatives should want a Supreme Court that is above reproach. The hope is that there will be enough members of Congress of both parties who are willing to stand up for ethics, especially when such standards dont even apply to them. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Richard Blumenthal, along with other Democrats, have introduced the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act. Among other things, it would require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct within 180 days of the bills enactment. It also would create a transparent process for the public to submit ethics complaints against justices, to be reviewed by a random panel of chief judges. And it would mandate rules requiring disclosure rules for gifts, travel and income received by justices and law clerks that are at least as rigorous as the House and Senate disclosure rules. Colonization puts in place the systems and structures often at the root of heightened violence against women. Frances Negron Muntaner, a professor at Columbia University, who has studied the harms of colonial subjection in the Caribbean and in Puerto Rico specifically, explained that there is a pattern of violence against those who identify as, or are perceived to be, feminine. There seems to be a need for men to assert control and exact pain from these subjects, she told me. That link is amply documented well beyond the case of Puerto Rico by scholars like Emilia Quinones-Otal. In her investigation, which examined regions where the United States intervened after the Monroe Doctrine and the Cold War, she wrote, we can observe the dynamics of gender violence that are linked to imperialist invasions. One such example is Guyana, where, according to a 2019 report by United Nations Women, more than half of all women have experienced intimate partner violence. Gender-based violence contributes greatly to suicide rates, which is the second highest in the world in Guyana. Scholars have drawn a connection between the countrys rate of violence, its colonial roots and the patriarchal power structures that were established during slavery and are alive to this day. I grew up in Carolina, a town 15 minutes from San Juan. For years I thought the women in my family had the worst taste in men. I never understood why they stayed with men who beat them for not asking permission to leave the house or otherwise disobeying, or for any attitude that appeared to challenge their all-encompassing supremacy. I thought that to survive, we women had to make ourselves small, meek. But even that wasnt enough. My grandmother, aunt and mother would eventually leave the men who beat and bloodied them, and ours became a family of women without men. I didnt fare much better. By 1990, I was a single mother of two, working as a producer of the evening news for a local station. I lived in fear of the men in my life and men in general. I took to leaving a broomstick by the front door; when Id come home after work, Id unlock and slowly open the door, using it as a makeshift weapon, scouring every room for an intruder. The following year, tired of living in fear, I applied for a job at CNN. I packed up my life and moved to Atlanta with my daughters, who at the time were 1 and 4 years old. Not every Puerto Rican man is abusive or violent, but I had good reason to be afraid. The year I left, nearly 12,600 women reported being victims of domestic violence, and the vast majority were attacked in their homes. (There were some 3.6 million people living on the island at the time.) Between 1995 and 1996, 13 percent of women in Puerto Rico reported that they had been physically assaulted by an intimate partner or family member. Things have only grown more dire since. But speaking of forest fires, shall we get to that latest Trump indictment? Gail: Were obviously in history-making territory first former president indicted in a criminal case brought by the federal government. And this one, which involves trying to stash away official papers hed been told were government property, is certainly a classic Trump combination of shocking and stupid. Bret: Or sinister and self-serving. Im still not sure. Gail: Wow, the pictures of those boxes of classified documents piled up around the toilet Bret: Really puts a new spin on the term anal retentive. Gail: I did sorta hope wed start the cosmic Trump prosecutions with one of the other big charges trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election by pressing the Georgia secretary of state to find more votes and encouraging the Jan. 6 insurrection do seem more important. You? Bret: Three thoughts, Gail. The first is that Jack Smith, the special counsel, has produced irrefutable proof that Trump knew that he possessed, as the former president himself put it, secret information that he could have declassified when he was in office but didnt. That may be about as close to a slam dunk, legally speaking, as were ever going to get in a case like this. Gail: True, but I want shockingly terrible besides terribly illegal. Go on. Bret: The second thought is that a special counsel appointed by President Bidens attorney general is bringing a criminal case against the presidents presumptive opponent in next years election. To many Republicans, this will smack of a bald attempt to politicize justice and criminalize politics the very thing Trump was accused of doing in his first impeachment. Trump will surely use this to his political advantage and, as the writer Damon Linker noted in a perceptive guest essay last week, will probably see his primary poll numbers jump yet again. As the tang of Canadian wildfire smoke wafted through Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday evening, hundreds of writers, editors and book industry veterans crowded into Ciprianis cavernous ballroom on East 42nd Street to attend the centenary celebration of W.W. Norton & Company, the oldest and largest independently owned publishing house in the country. Authors hung out by the bar sipping the evenings signature cocktail, the Norton Cranthology, a mojito named after The Norton Anthology of English Literature, the doorstop compendium that has been a part of college curriculums since the 1960s. The companys sea gull colophon was projected onto walls. Tables were decorated with piles of classic Norton titles like The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan and The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. Tote bags handed out to attendees came with a plushie of a baby gull named Norty. The Federal Trade Commission sued Microsoft on Monday to stop the company from closing its $69 billion purchase of the video game powerhouse Activision Blizzard, escalating the federal governments efforts to stymie the largest consumer technology deal in decades. In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the F.T.C. said the move was necessary because Microsoft and Activision have represented that they may consummate the deal. It asked the court to issue an order blocking the acquisitions closing by the end of the day on Thursday. The lawsuit is the latest blow to Microsofts purchase of Activision, which makes popular video games like Call of Duty and Candy Crush. Last year, the F.T.C. sued to block the deal through an in-house court, arguing it would damage competition in various parts of the video game market. The agency filed the separate lawsuit because unlike the F.T.C.s in-house court, a federal court can issue a restraining order to stop a purchase from being completed. Regulatory hurdles have piled up against the blockbuster deal, which has become a test for whether behemoth tech companies can complete major acquisitions amid backlash to the firms growing power. In April, the British Competition and Markets Authority also moved to stop the deal, though regulators in the European Union said in May that it could go forward. Two people recently harassed a bison calf in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming by approaching and touching it, officials said, prompting an investigation into the latest instance of park visitors overstepping boundaries with wildlife. National Park Service rangers have asked for help in identifying the two individuals who touched the bison calf on June 4 at the southern end of Elk Ranch Flats. A photo released by the Park Service appears to show two men one in shorts and sunglasses, the other in long sleeves standing close to the bison calf, which is by the side of a road. The safety of visitors and wildlife depends on everyone playing a critical role in being a steward for wildlife by giving them the space they need to thrive, the Park Service said in a statement. Their lives depend on it. A root canal forced President Biden to cancel his public events on Monday and postpone his meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, NATOs secretary general, to discuss the war in Ukraine. Mr. Biden did not need general anesthesia, and the 25th Amendment, which would temporarily transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris, was not invoked, the White House said. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said the president was doing just fine after the root canal. Its a regular, routine procedure, Ms. Jean-Pierre said. Dr. Kevin C. OConnor, the presidents physician, said in a memo that Mr. Biden had experienced dental pain on Sunday and underwent some initial procedures at the White House without complications. Mr. Trump never appeared before Judge Cannon during the earlier lawsuit, so if she handles Tuesdays hearing, it would bring them face to face. But such hearings are often instead overseen by a magistrate judge. On Tuesday, that could be the magistrate who works with Judge Cannon, Bruce Reinhart who signed the search warrant for Mar-a-Lago or it could be whatever magistrate judge is on duty at the Miami courthouse. At the hearing, Mr. Trump is likely to stand quietly next to his lawyer until the judge gives him permission to speak. It is also not yet clear whether Mr. Trump will return for an arraignment later or enter his expected plea of not guilty on Tuesday to eliminate a need to come back for that step. In the search of Mar-a-Lago, agents found 102 documents marked as classified. Mr. Smith has charged Mr. Trump with 31 counts of unauthorized retention of national security information based on 30 documents with classification markings, along with one that agents found that had none but laid out certain military contingency planning. Mr. Trump was also charged with six criminal counts related to obstruction of the governments effort to retrieve the documents and a false statement. The indictment also details an array of evidence in support of prosecutors accusations that Mr. Trump knew he still had classified documents; took steps with his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, to keep them from the government even after being subpoenaed; and caused one of his lawyers to unknowingly lie to the Justice Department about the matter. On Fox News on Sunday, William P. Barr, Mr. Trumps former attorney general who has fallen into disfavor with Mr. Trump since refusing to falsely say the 2020 election had been stolen, said that Mr. Trump was not a victim here. Mr. Barr added that Mr. Trump appeared to have engaged in egregious obstruction to hold on to highly sensitive documents he had no right to retain. Referring to the assessment of another conservative legal commentator, Andy McCarthy, Mr. Barr also said: If even half of it is true, he is toast. I mean, its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. Donald J. Trump will make his first appearance in federal criminal court on Tuesday. But the former president has been pleading his case for days in a far friendlier venue the court of Republican public opinion, where he continues to dominate the 2024 field. For Mr. Trump and his team, there has been a sense of familiarity, even normalcy, in the chaos of facing a 37-count indictment in the classified documents case. After two House impeachments, multiple criminal investigations, the jailing of his businesss former accountant, his former fixer and his former campaign manager, and now two criminal indictments, Mr. Trump knows the drill, and so do his supporters. The playbook is well-worn: Play the victim. Blame the Deep State. Claim selective prosecution. Punish Republicans who stray for disloyalty. Dominate the news. Ply small donors for cash. His allies see the indictment as a chance to end the primary race before it has even begun in the minds of Republican voters by framing 2024 as an active battle with President Biden. Until now, the main pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., has focused heavily on Mr. Trumps chief Republican rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, in its $20 million of ad spending. But that messaging has shifted after the indictment, with a new commercial already being shown that pits Mr. Trump directly against Mr. Biden. A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the federal government filed by people who were injured and the families of people who died in a road washout on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation four years ago. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is shielded from liability in the case. Trudy Peterson, 60, and Jim VanderWal, 65, both of Mobridge, South Dakota, died when their vehicles drove into a chasm on BIA Road 3 in the dark, early morning hours of July 9, 2019, following overnight rains of 7 inches that scoured away a culvert that had been designated for replacement several years before. Steven Willard and Evan Thompson, both of Fort Yates, were injured when they also drove their vehicles into the washout. The plaintiffs in their lawsuit argued that the BIA didn't adhere to adopted road maintenance standards including inspection, maintenance and signage. The government maintained the bureau had discretion to maintain roads subject to the availability of funds. The plaintiffs sought monetary damages for wrongful death, personal injury and property damage. The government in court documents said 11 claims were submitted totaling more than $10 million. Hovland in March 2022 ruled that the BIA and tribe had the discretion to determine when, where and how to perform road maintenance, and was therefore shielded from liability. Hovland also said he was "troubled" by the outcome and thought it unfair; he suggested the rule exempting the bureau from liability be changed. The appeals court panel on Friday ruled that "there was no federal statute, regulation or policy requiring the tribe to erect warning signs" about the poor condition of the culvert under the road. "The tribe had discretion over how to maintain roads located within the Standing Rock Reservation, including whether to warn motorists of unsafe road conditions," the panel wrote. Plaintiffs' attorney Tim Purdon said they'll be analyzing further appeal options, "perhaps even to the United States Supreme Court." "This ruling is absolutely devastating for those families who lost loved ones and those who were severely injured in the BIA highway 3 washout," he said in a statement to the Tribune. "This is simply a very, very tough result for these families." The U.S. Justice Department declined comment. Zackey Rahimi, a drug dealer in Texas with a history of armed violence, is hardly a model citizen, a federal appeals court judge wrote in March, with considerable understatement. But the court vacated Mr. Rahimis conviction under a federal law that makes it a crime for people subject to domestic-violence orders to possess guns, ruling that the law violated the Second Amendment. Next week, the Supreme Court is set to consider whether to hear an appeal of that decision, which applied a history-based test to rule that the government was powerless to disarm Mr. Rahimi under the domestic-violence law. The chances that the justices will agree to hear the case are good. The case started in 2019, when Mr. Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend and threatened to shoot her if she told anyone, leading her to obtain a restraining order. The order suspended Mr. Rahimis handgun license and prohibited him from possessing firearms. Mr. Rahimi defied the order in flagrant fashion, according to court records. He threatened a different woman with a gun, leading to charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Then, in the space of two months, he opened fire in public five times. Follow for live updates as Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Miami. As a registered voter in Palm Beach County, Fla., Bette Anne Starkey knows there is a possibility she could be chosen to serve on a jury in the federal criminal case against former President Donald J. Trump. But even though she is a two-time Trump voter, she cannot really say how she would lean as a juror weighing the case. Echoing Mr. Trump himself, Ms. Starkey, an 81-year-old bookkeeper, used the phrase witch hunt in an interview to describe the federal indictment against the former president, which accuses him of knowingly removing classified documents from the White House. But she also struggles to understand why Mr. Trump did not simply return the documents when asked for them, part of her simmering irritation with the 45th president. Im sick of hearing about all of his shenanigans, she said. Her comments reflect the complicated feelings that Mr. Trump can elicit these days even among Republicans who voted for him. But Ms. Starkey is also a reflection of the equally complicated, volatile politics of South Florida, Mr. Trumps home turf, and the jury pool it offers. BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo More than 40 civilians were killed on Monday when a militia attacked a camp for displaced people in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official and the head of a civil society group said. Jean Richard Lenga, chief of the Bahema Badjere district in Ituri Province, said members of the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, or CODECO, massacred 46 people with knives and firearms and burned others in their homes in the middle of the camp. The group claims to defend the interests of farmers from the Lendu ethnic group, who have long been in conflict with Hema herders, and its fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. The whole village is in mourning now, its too sad, Mr. Lenga said, adding that the authorities were still searching for bodies. The local population has dispersed, he said, because many people fled to the nearby town of Bule, seeking safety. A tailor shot in the head. A baker killed by a bullet in the chest. A geography student planning to continue his studies in Canada felled by a deadly bullet in the back. The West African nation of Senegal is reeling after clashes between the police and supporters of a leading opposition figure early this month left at least 16 people dead. Many families have found that their loved ones had died from gunshot wounds, raising suspicions that the Senegalese police fired on demonstrators. Senegal is often hailed as a model of stability in West Africa, but for years anger has been mounting against President Macky Sall and his government over widespread youth unemployment and perceptions of entrenched corruption. Mr. Sall has also remained vague about his intentions to run for a third term next year, which most legal experts say would violate the Senegalese Constitution. Mr. Sall has praised the professionalism of the countrys security forces, while his interior minister, blaming a foreign influence for the riots, has said the death toll could have been much worse had the police not shown restraint. Two more recent incidents also point to new levels of Chinese assertiveness and regional risk: Starting around April 8, Chinese patrol ships crowded near Taiwan, threatening for the first time to stop and search Taiwanese vessels during Chinese military drills prompted by a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen and the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy. Taiwan is now developing plans to pierce any future blockades while hardening its own coast guard. On April 23, near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, one of Chinas large cutters maneuvered into the path of a much smaller Philippine patrol boat, forcing its captain to throw its engines into reverse to avoid a collision. A few days later, the United States promised to give the Philippines six new upgraded patrol vessels. These altercations along with additional Chinese incursions near Vietnam and the Pacific Island nation of Palau in May and June fit a pattern of intensifying tensions, marking a major shift in how nations claim territory and protect their interests in the worlds oceans. Coast guards that once acted as watchful eyes and helping hands have become more like navies, drawn into Asias geopolitics and deployed as military muscle in waterways that are vital for shipping and natural resources. From ports in southern China and Taiwan to American bases in Guam, white-hulled coast guard vessels are getting longer and heavier, or smaller and faster. Their guns are also getting bigger, or they are being built to allow for complex weapons systems to be bolted on at a moments notice. And the regions coast guards are working more closely with defense planners, putting them at the vanguard of broader contests in the Indo-Pacific over economic and military power. We want to apologize for your experience of sexual harassment by an Observer member of staff, and for the way your complaint was handled, the email said. Image Guardian News & Media told its staff that it was changing how it investigates sexual harassment complaints, after seven women said Nick Cohen had groped them or made other unwanted sexual advances Credit... Marco Secchi/Getty Images Ms. Siegle complained in 2018 that Mr. Cohen had grabbed her bottom in the newsroom many years earlier. She accused the newspaper of failing to act on her complaint, saying that a senior editor had instead defended Mr. Cohen. Everyone should feel safe at work and in the presence of their colleagues, and the incident you describe is absolutely unacceptable, Ms. Viner and Ms. Bateson wrote. A company spokesman said that the newspaper had sent similar apologies to several other women named in The Timess report, most of whom had not previously come forward or filed complaints. Several of those women had said that Mr. Cohens actions were hardly a secret in the newsroom or the broader industry. While the American media has publicly confronted harassment issues since the #MeToo movement, the British media has had no such reckoning. The exercise, known as Air Defender, is led by the German government and brings together the largest number of aircraft from outside Germany for a training mission since NATO was founded in 1949. The United States flew about 100 National Guard and Navy aircraft to Germany for the exercises. The 12-day event began with an air show in Wunstorf, in northern Germany, that features cargo and refueling planes workhorse aircraft that have been crucial to getting weapons and supplies to Ukraine. Pilots will conduct other missions with fighter jets, the show horses of the sky, at five other bases across Germany. The exercise comes a few weeks after the United States reluctantly agreed to allow Ukrainian troops to train on, and eventually obtain, American-made F-16 fighter jets not just for the current conflict against Russia but also as part of a longer-term deterrence strategy. Air Force Gen. Ingo Gerhartz of Germany, who is overseeing Air Defender, said it was not directed at anyone, and emphasized that no offensive scenarios would be practiced. We are a defense alliance, and so this exercise will be of a defensive nature, General Gerhartz told reporters in Berlin. But General Gerhartz said that when he proposed the exercise, in 2018, the trigger for me back then was the capture, the annexation of Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula, by Mr. Putin four years earlier. Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, General Gerhartz said, allies on NATOs eastern flank, closest to Russia, are asking for reassurance that the alliance will defend them in case of aggression by Moscow. Reports of the demise of the independence movement and indeed of the S.N.P. are somewhat exaggerated, said Professor McEwen, who added that given everything thats going on, maybe its surprising that support hasnt declined more than it has. Operation Branchform, the code name for inquiry into the Scottish National Partys finances, began in 2021 and was reported to have followed complaints about the handling of about 600,000 pounds, or about $750,000, in donations raised to campaign for a second vote on Scottish independence. In 2014, Scots voted by 55 to 45 percent against breaking away from the United Kingdom in a divisive referendum. Ms. Sturgeon, who was released on Sunday after seven hours of questioning and who swiftly proclaimed her innocence, has not been charged. On Monday, her successor, Humza Yousaf, rejected calls for Ms. Sturgeon to be suspended from the party. She is the third senior figure in the party to be arrested but not charged. Another is Ms. Sturgeons husband, Peter Murrell, the partys former chief executive who held the post from 1999 until March, when he resigned after accepting blame for misleading statements from the party about the size of its dues-paying membership. The death of Silvio Berlusconi on Monday brought to an end one of the longest, most consequential and colorful eras in Italian politics, with both ardent admirers and die-hard critics marking a life of outsized influence as something that split contemporary Italian history into the before and after. From his origins as a real estate and media mogul, Mr. Berlusconi, who was 86 when he died, became the most dominant personality on the theatrical Italian landscape. He revolutionized not only Italian politics, but also its sport, daily life, image of itself and popular culture all through his privately owned television channels leaving an imprint, or a bruise, on almost everything he touched. Goodbye Silvio, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement about her coalition partner, calling him one of the most influential men in Italian history. He will receive a state funeral in Milans Duomo on Wednesday. Even in death, Mr. Berlusconi had the power to potentially destabilize the political universe and Ms. Melonis governing coalition, of which his party, Forza Italia, is a small but critical linchpin. The United States will rejoin UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, in July, the agency announced on Monday, after years of turbulent relations that culminated in 2017 with a full withdrawal by the U.S. government. The move, which comes over a decade after the United States had cut off key funding to the agency, will give its budget a much-needed boost. This is a strong act of confidence, in UNESCO and in multilateralism, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCOs director-general, said in a statement after announcing the U.S. decision to a meeting of representatives of the agencys 193 members at its headquarters in Paris. UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said in a statement that the Department of State had sent a letter to Ms. Azoulay that welcomed the way in which UNESCO had addressed in recent years emerging challenges, modernized its management and reduced political tensions. The move to rejoin was made possible by a bill passed by Congress in December that authorized financial contributions to UNESCO, the statement said, noting that the United States had put forward a concrete financing plan that must be approved by the UNESCO. The statement did not provide any details about that plan. The North Dakota Ethics Commission is accepting applications from people who would like to serve. North Dakota voters in 2018 approved a ballot measure adding ethics mandates to the state constitution, creating the five-person panel, which began meeting in 2019. The ethics board has oversight of elected and appointed officials of the executive and legislative branches, members of the governors Cabinet, members of the Ethics Commission and legislative branch employees. Commissioners serve a four-year term. The terms of Cynthia Lindquist and Ron Goodman are expiring on Aug. 31. Both are eligible for reappointment; Goodman is seeking another term but Lindquist is not, according to Commission Executive Director Rebecca Binstock. Applications for the two seats will be accepted until July 3, and the appointees will begin serving Sept. 1. Appointments will be made by consensus of the governor, Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader. People are not eligible to apply if they hold a statewide elected or appointed public office, are a candidate for statewide public office, a political party official, a lobbyist, an employee of the legislative branch including Legislative Council, or an appointed agency director serving in one of the governor's Cabinet agencies. Interested people can apply at https://www.governor.nd.gov/boards/. More information on the commission is at https://www.ethicscommission.nd.gov/. The leader of Israels political opposition, Yair Lapid, testified on Monday in the long-running corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, recounting how Mr. Netanyahu had lobbied him nearly a decade ago to back tax breaks favoring an influential Israeli film producer. The claim is a small part of a yearslong prosecution in which Mr. Netanyahu is accused of granting political favors to several businessmen and media moguls in exchange for expensive gifts and positive news coverage, charges that he denies. The appearance of Mr. Lapid once a colleague of Mr. Netanyahus and now his nemesis enlivened a slow-moving courtroom process that has largely receded into the background of Israeli public life since it began with great fanfare more than three years ago. Mr. Lapid served as prime minister for several months last year, before losing power to Mr. Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving leader, in December. The message at an Arab-China business forum hosted by Saudi Arabia this week was not particularly subtle, as hundreds of Chinese officials and executives gathered beneath giant chandeliers, smiling for selfies and snacking on organic dates. If you want a trusted partner in the world one of the best partners in the world its the Peoples Republic of China, Mohammed Abunayyan, the chairman of a Saudi renewable energy company, declared from the stage, to resounding applause. China is a partner you can depend on, he said on Sunday, the first of two days of meetings. The event, attended by more than 3,000 people, came days after a visit to the kingdom by the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, who reaffirmed the U.S.-Saudi relationship after a period of strained ties including a blowup last year over oil production. Yet at the conclusion of Mr. Blinkens visit on Thursday, the Saudi foreign minister said that while the kingdom values its close relationship with the United States, it has no plans to distance itself from China, its top trading partner. Saudi officials often complain that they feel like they cannot rely on the United States, their historical security guarantor, and are seeking to forge a more independent foreign policy. In this episode of Taking the Lead, Maher offers her advice to women who want to elevate their leadership and imparts a wealth of valuable insights. Here are excerpts from the full video interview: You started Marina Maher Communications on your dining room table in 1983. What do you know now that you wish you knew then? Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have. Driving with the rearview mirror. One thing I wish I knew is that at the end of the day, it all works out. My mother used to say that to me and I used to disagree, thinking there were problems and things going wrong. But my mother would calmly respond, saying that in the end it all works out somehow, someway. Maybe not as we expect, but it works out. And 40 years later, it has. So she was right. Anyone who knows you knows that Gloria Gaynors I Will Survive is your song of inspiration. But did you ever wonder if you had made the right decision to create an agency, or if it would succeed? And how did you get through that? When you know the challenges of starting any company, there are times when you just have to exhale and move on. But the time that it was terrible, I traveled to Europe to pitch a new business, but it didn't go as well as I had hoped. The questions asked weren't what I expected, and I started to worry. On the plane back to the United States, I was filled with nerves. To distract myself, I reached for the book I had packed in my suitcase. Unfortunately, I had left it behind. Desperate for something to read, I picked up the airline book and randomly opened it to an article titled "Why Most Businesses Fail In Their First Year." As soon as we took off, I ordered a glass of wine and I thought, Please, God, let me go to sleep. I don't want to deal with this. Shortly thereafter, it seemed, we were landing at Kennedy Airport. So that was good. You recently announced you were turning over the reins as CEO of Marina Maher Communications, and founding the Omnicom PR Groups Institute for Womens Leadership. What are its goals, and why are you so excited about it? The number one goal is to help women advance in their careers. What excites me the most is our focus on two specific areas. The first is the development of hard skills needed for climbing the ladder. Can you interpret a financial statement? Do you know how to analyze a client's business? These are the types of skills well be addressing. Additionally, well be extensively working on soft skills, particularly at senior levels. One challenge some people face is reading the room accurately. It's about being genuine, authentic, honest, and open, but also recognizing subtle cues like a furrowed brow, crossed arms, or distractions. Patterns and preferences in information processing can be observed, allowing us to read the room effectively. We will delve into this topic and discuss how to deepen client relationships, focusing on soft skills. Trust is fundamental, but how do you take it further? How can you make the relationship more meaningful and personalized? Attending every client's wedding or their children's wedding may not be realistic, but there should be goals and metrics to deepen, personalize, and humanize the relationship with them. You may not realize this, but everyone whos ever worked for you talks about how you inspire us to this day, especially with your Marina-isms My favorite, which I think of weekly, is You dont ask, you dont get Whats your favorite? We started the agency with very little money. I had only $300 in the bank, and I was going through a divorce. Every action we took had to count double and triple. I wasn't worried because I knew that when you lack money, you need to rely on ideas, and I had plenty of them. However, even the best ideas and plans can go off track. So my favorite expression for managing relationships, a company, client relationship: Give me the bad news early. If you do, I can do something. I have a runway to get ahead of it. I can jump in and try to help. Whatever it takes to ameliorate the situation. But if I don't know and it explodes and comes to bite me, then I'm going to be less effective at helping the people and helping the agency. Speaking of inspiring leaders, who are the top three leaders who inspired you, and why? I'm going to answer this question in a slightly different way than you might expect. When it comes to female leaders specifically, there are two qualities I look for. Firstly, I admire female pioneers who break ground, like Amelia Earhart, Hillary Clinton, or Michelle Obama. Secondly, I seek out individuals who have thrived despite adversity, overcoming tough childhoods and limited resources to build businesses and relationships. There is one woman who embodies both qualities: Barbara Walters. She was my idol when I was growing up in the business. I was working as an account supervisor, and I had to pitch a story to her, who was at the Today Show at the time. I put so much effort into crafting the pitch and rehearsed it countless times. In those days, you had to make phone calls, and amazingly, Walters answered her phone. I pitched my idea, but there was silence on the other end. Then she started asking me a couple of questions and immediately honed in on the angle for the story. She took what I had shared, reshaped it with her insight, and turned it into something wonderful just by actively listening. Walters told me that someone would call me to discuss details, and that was it. The client was going to be on the show. From that moment on, I was in awe. I was impressed and grateful for the lesson she taught me: Find the angle, find the hook, identify the news. I had buried it in the third paragraph of my pitch, but she brought it to the forefront. I followed Walters' career closely. She was the first female newscaster and hosted multiple specials with her signature one-on-one interview format. She was bold and courageous, fearlessly asking tough questions during her interviews. I have great respect and admiration for her. Barbara Walters has always been and will always be my role model. Whats your message to women who want to lead, regardless of industry? Two words: Lean In. Grab every opportunity that's presented to you. When people see that you're open to opportunities, they'll offer you more. Lean in means showing up, being present at the meeting, and starting to lead the meeting when you're in the position to do so. Lean into clients. What are the real business problems you're trying to solve? At the end of the day, if we create campaigns and don't solve clients' business problems, we just become a commodity. We don't want to be that. So I think Lean In is a 360-degree effort in all areas of business and relationships. *** Ken Jacobs is the principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, which empowers PR and communications leaders and executives to breakthrough results via executive coaching, and helps communications agencies achieve their business development, profitability, and client service goals, via consulting and training. You can find him at www.jacobscomm.com, [email protected] @KensViews, or on LinkedIn. The Rhode Island Dept. of Transportation wants pitches for a communications campaign to educate the public about the negative impact that litter has on the environment, roadways and general quality of life. An Offaly woman will be starring in an RTE programme on this Wednesday, June 14. Eveline Gill runs a small tillage farm near Kilcormac. She's a farming consultant who advocates the latest developments in agricultural science and promotes all things organic. In the programme she travels to Vietnam and, over a two week period, experiences what it's like working on a Vietnamese rice terrace, high in the mountains, where farming techniques have remained unchanged for centuries. The RTE programme is called Faraway Fields - The Hardest Harvest and it will be broadcast, as part of a series, on RTE1 at 9.35pm on the 14th. The idea of the series is to follow an Irish farmer, forester and fisherman as they experience life in some very challenging conditions, as they discover what it's like living off the land and sea in three developing countries. Eveline's destination in Vietnam is Nam Tang, a tribal village perched precariously in the northern highlands, and inhabited by the La Chi minority. Eveline points out that the plains of the Irish midlands, where she plants and grows her oats, offered little preparation for this way of life, in a village clinging to the side of a mountain, where landslides are a daily hazard. She discovers that increasing temperatures across South East Asia are making an already hostile environment even more difficult to work in. She and her fellow farmers struggle in the searing heat and high humidity. She points out that the heat and humidity is getting higher as a result of climate change. Millions of rice workers across this part of the world toil in this difficult heat on a daily basis. Evelines arrival coincides with a race against the clock to secure the rice harvest, before the unpredictable spring rains and an approaching hurricane devastate the crop. For the villagers of Nam Tang, this is an existential threat. Although the La Chi are a profoundly hospitable people, they cannot afford to carry passengers with the harvest in danger, and Eveline's physical ability to earn her keep and help get the harvest in on time is sorely tested. For Eveline, the role of women in traditional Vietnamese society is an eye-opener. Much of the agricultural work is carried out by the women of the village, on top of the housework and child-rearing duties. But in the cities of the northern highlands, life can be even more hazardous for younger women seeking to escape those burdens; she meets with a young woman trafficked across the Chinese border by social media scammers. The wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park got a resounding show of support as remnants of Old West living history in public comments about a new plan for managing the herd. The National Park Service is conducting an environmental assessment for its proposed new livestock management plan for the horses, which number more than 185 and are dispersed among 15 bands roaming the parks South Unit. Earlier this year, park officials announced their preferred alternative would be to gradually remove the horses and a small herd of longhorn steers in the North Unit. But other alternatives call for a smaller horse herd or leaving the herd untouched. Those presenting comments that took a position on complete livestock removal overwhelmingly wanted the horses and cattle to remain, according to a summary compiled by the National Park Service. Forty-five comments supported completely removing the horses and cattle, while 2,867 opposed removal a ratio of more than 63-to-1 in comments submitted during a 50-day period that ended Jan. 31. The park service tallied a total of 7,331 categorized comments contained within more than 19,000 submissions, including online comments and letters. Seventy-nine organizations presented comments, including many wild horse advocacy groups. The wild horses are a wonderful asset to this beautiful natural place, one comment favoring keeping the horses said. The only reason we visit TRNP is to see the horses in their natural environment, a true piece of old west history. We can see buffalo and cattle all over but not wild horse herds. Another person who favors keeping the horses, which Theodore Roosevelt wrote of seeing during his ranching days in the 1880s, regards them as historically significant and worthy of preservation. The horses in the park are a living piece of history, the person wrote. They become a story of things gone by, like so many other things mankind has failed to protect and preserve. I strongly believe that the presence of the horses in the park should be preserved for future generations. A small minority of comments supported removing the horses and cattle. Domestic livestock are not native to this parks natural ecological system and they compete for limited forage with native wildlife species that rely on the same forage and are already under stress from drought and other causes, one person wrote. But another commenter said wild horses are a native species and belong in the park along with bison and elk. They are native to North America and belong here, the person wrote. They contribute to ecosystem balance providing ecosystem services just by being on the land. Another wrote: These horses have been surviving side by side with the wildlife for hundreds of years. Wild horses will self-regulate. If theres not enough food, they dont need mans interference. Please leave these wild horses alone. Some of those wanting to see the horses continue to roam the park supported a smaller herd, including at least one published comment that favored the parks current goal of maintaining a herd of 35 to 60 horses, which has been park policy since a 1978 environmental assessment. Reducing the herd size to 35 to 60 would be the better option overall, one person wrote. But others disagreed with that view and cited research showing that a minimum herd size of 150-200 horses is needed to maintain a genetically healthy, viable herd. Park officials didnt immediately respond to email and phone messages, so its not clear what weight they will give to public comments in drafting the proposed environmental assessment, which is expected to be released this summer. Once the draft is issued, another round of public comments will follow. After those comments are reviewed, a final environmental assessment and livestock management plan will be issued. North Dakota public officials have overwhelmingly expressed support for keeping the horses and longhorns. Those urging the park to keep the horses include U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, both R-N.D., Gov. Doug Burgum, the North Dakota Legislature through a unanimous resolution and the states five tribal leaders. Caught on Camera: Dutch YouTuber Allegedly Harassed By Local Trader in Bengaluru's Chickpet Market Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal A distressing incident unfolded in Bengaluru as a Dutch YouTuber claimed to have been harassed by a local trader near the Chickpet market area on Monday. The entire incident was captured on camera as the YouTuber, a Dutch citizen, named Pedro Mota was livestreaming the event for his video. The video, which has since gone viral, shows the YouTuber being subjected to harassment by a man identified as a shopkeeper. In the footage, the Dutch YouTuber can be heard politely greeting the man with "Namaste, sir...", but the shopkeeper forcefully grabs his hand and begins shouting, "Ye kya hai... (What is this...)" Sharing the video on YouTube, Madly Rover wrote,''Foreigner traveling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the sunday market or chor bazaar. But exploring the area started out on the wrong foot as an angry man attacked me by grabbing and twisting my hand and arm, lunging after me as I tried to escape. After I had some street food, met great local Indian people and haggled for a new buttoned shirt.'' Indian YouTuber Jio Joseph Breaks World Record for Largest Thread Art Although the incident reportedly occurred a few days ago, it gained attention after the video was shared online. Netizens expressed their disapproval and tagged Bengaluru Police, urging them to take action against the individual who attacked the person. They tweeted to ensure appropriate measures are taken against such misbehavior. @BlrCityPolice Arrest this goon harassing foreigners. Location : Chor Bazaar (Thieves Market) Victim : "Madly Rover" Youtuber YouTube Link : https://t.co/PrZnLG6qmM pic.twitter.com/aM6bGRVWAM Aditya (@adityay189) June 12, 2023 Several users also demanded that the police promptly take action against the offender and teach him a lesson. According to reports, the Bengaluru Police have arrested a trader for misbehaving with a foreign national. The trader has been identified as Navab Hayath Sharif. The police has filed a case against him under Section 92 of the Karnataka Police Act, which prescribes punishment for "certain street offences and nuisance." NDA Meet Today As BJP Steps Up Its Campaign For Lok Sabha Polls 2024 Karnataka's 'Shakti' Scheme Offering Free Bus Services for Women Launched | Check FAQs Here Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal The Karnataka government successfully launched its 'Shakti' scheme on Sunday, marking the fulfillment of the first of its five pre-poll guarantees. The launch event took place in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Karnataka's 'Shakti' Scheme What is the 'Shakti' scheme launched by the Congress-led government in Karnataka? The 'Shakti' scheme is an initiative by the Karnataka government that offers free travel to women and transgender individuals in state buses. Who launched the 'Shakti' scheme? Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy launched the scheme outside the Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru. What is the objective of the free bus travel scheme? The scheme aims to promote social equality and benefit minorities, women, and marginalized sections of society. It is expected to increase women's participation in the workforce, as women in India have historically faced exploitation and limited opportunities. What documents are required to avail of the free travel benefit? Women need to show a valid ID proof and address proof, such as Aadhaar card, voter ID, or any other government-issued photo ID with an address. Shakti Scheme Launched: Document Women Need To Carry For Free Bus Rides In Karnataka What are 'pink tickets'? "Pink tickets" are issued when there is a technical issue with the ticket issuing machines. These manually issued tickets facilitate travel until the machine is fixed. How can women obtain 'Shakti Smart Cards'? Women can apply for 'Shakti Smart Cards' through the Seva Sindhu portal starting from June 15. These smart cards will be issued to women travelers within the next three months. When can women start applying for the scheme on the 'Seva Sindhu' portal? Women residents of Karnataka can start applying for the 'Shakti' scheme on the 'Seva Sindhu' government portal from June 11. How long does it take to receive the smart card after applying? After applying on the 'Seva Sindhu' portal, women can expect to receive the smart card within three months. Can women use other government-issued ID proofs until they receive the smart cards? Yes, women can use any government-issued ID proof with a photo and address until they receive the 'Shakti Smart Cards'. Will the bus schedules be adjusted to accommodate the increase in women travelers? Yes, if needed, the schedules of buses can be modified to meet the increased demand for women travelers on specific routes. The KSRTC Mysuru division has taken steps to add 1,894 buses to the existing fleet to cater to the demand. 'Shakti' Scheme Launched: Free Bus Ride For Women In Karnataka From Today What were the other poll guarantees made by the Congress before the elections? The Congress promised several initiatives, including 200 units of free power under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, monthly financial assistance of 2,000 for women heads of families under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, free bus travel for women under the Gruha Shakti scheme, financial support for unemployed graduates under the Yuva Nidhi scheme, and food grains for below poverty line families under the Anna Bhagya scheme. When will these promises be implemented? Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that all five guarantees will be implemented in the current financial year. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 9:52 [IST] The Other Name of DMK Thirukkuvalai Muthuvel Karunanidhi Chennai oi-Oneindia English Desk Chennai: Sometimes some slogans will attract people easily. Like that only, at some point of time, DMK followers and volunteers put forward the idea of expansion of DMK as Thirukkuvalai M Karunanidhi. The name Karunanidhi has become inseparable from the DMK organisation. That is the reason why the volunteers proposed the idea of having the expansion of Thirukkuvalai M Karunanidhi for DMK. In the year 1969, C.N. Annadurai died unexpectedly. After that, 4th DMK General Assembly was held on 27th July 1969. In that Assembly only, Karunanidhi was selected as the leader of the DMK organisation for the first time. Following this, Karunanidhi became the official face of the DMK organisation. Even in the membership cards given to party's members, Karunanidhi's face was only presented as a symbol after Periyar and Annadurai. From the moment of officially accepting the leadership in the year 1969, till 2008 Karunanidhi has been a unique personality of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). DMK's 13th General Assembly was held on 27th December 2008. In that Assembly, Karunanidhi was selected as the leader of the DMK organisation for the tenth time. It is a notable fact that, only a very few persons in the world have led a political movement for a very long time like Karunanidhi. It is also notable that Karunanidhi had been a competent leader in the political field till his last moments. Annadurai started DMK in 1949 after separating from Periyar. For this, Periyar criticised DMK members very harshly. Even E.V.K. Sampath, a close relative of Periyar, did not stand by him. Instead he went and joined DMK which was started by Annadurai. Because of this, he got himself a place in the list of the most important second line of leaders. Along with E.V.K. Sampath, Nedunchezhian and others were also in the list of second line of leaders. All of them were in equal and parallel positions with Karunanidhi. But ultimately, Karunanidhi was only considered as the commander of Annadurai. DMK Party's face after Annadurai Karunanidhi was known for his competence, energy and vibrant actions. After the death of Annadurai, he gained the unanimous support of the party's MLAs (Members of Legislative Assemblies) and became the leader. During Annadurai's period itself a split occurred in the organisation for the first time. In the year 1961, due to some difference of opinion, E.V.K Sampath went and started the Tamil National Party. But he was not able to build and maintain the party as a stable one. So finally in 1964, he merged the Tamil National Party with the Congress Party. During such difficult times also, Karunanidhi stood by Annadurai without any hesitation. After the first split, the second one was caused by Karunanidhi's close friend M.G. Ramachandran. When M.G. Ramachandran was in DMK, he used to lovingly call Karunanidhi as Lord (Aandavare). But later M.G. Ramachandran went on to do politics against Karunanidhi. On 17th October 1972, M.G. Ramachandran started Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) against DMK. After a few years, he changed the name of the party to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). During the crisis period, it was found through information that Indira Gandhi was planning to disable the State parties. Because of this information only M.G. Ramachandran decided to change the name of the party from Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). According to Tamil Political historians, the period of formation of ADMK was known as the period of formation of great divide in DMK. After the formation of ADMK, both Karunanidhi and M.G.R acted as two poles in the political field. Occurrence of consequent splits in DMK In the year 1977, V. R. Nedunchezhian withdrew from DMK. At that point of time Nedunchezhian was the General Secretary of DMK. After withdrawal from DMK party, he started a new party called Makkal Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. This party formed an alliance with M.G.R. After that, the party was merged with ADMK. The next biggest split in DMK was made by V. Gopalsamy. In the year 1993, V. Gopalsamy was expelled from DMK. Some voices said that, after some leaders like E.V.K. Sampath, M.G.R, Nedunchezhian and V. Gopalsamy left the party, the party will be lost in time. But on the contrary, it continued to travel in history. Even after some leaders left the party, Karunanidhi led the party very well. Even when DMK was an opposition party, Karunanidhi captured the hearts of many volunteers and followers through his powerful speeches. During the period when DMK was an opposition party, Karunanidhi wrote letters in Murasoli. These letters invoked a sense of spirit and served as a means of excitement among the followers. Particularly after 1980, Karunanidhi attracted the attention of the general audience and fans by going beyond the limits of politics and generations. He made this possible through his dialogues in the films Palaivana Rojakkal, Sattam Oru Vilayattu, Ore Raththam. Growth of the party via Literature During this time only, Karunanidhi started writing his life history in the name of Nenjukku Needhi in Dinamani Kathir magazine. But due to some political conflict of opinion with the magazine he stopped writing there. After this, Karunanidhi started a magazine of his own in the name of Kungumam and started writing his life history in the same name Nenjukku Needhi. It is notable that Karunanidhi gave equal importance to literature in the middle of his public life. His first novel was published in 1960 in the name Puthayal. His literary works gained momentum after the 1970s. On one hand he wrote his life history and on the other hand he was involved in films like Thenpandi Singam (1983), Ponnar Shankar (1987), Payum Puli Pandara Vanniyan (1991). His followers were fascinated by how he balanced his political life and literary life. They were astonished because he was a full time leader of a political organisation and at the same time he contributed equally to the literary world. His followers celebrated him by saying that there is no one like him. This multi-tasking capability only contributed to his personality growth. DMK lost in the by-elections which was conducted in Aruppukottai and Nellai (Tirunelveli) constituencies. At that time Karunanidhi wrote a political poem. This poem added to his already powerful personality and made him a loveable person beyond time. Idiyamin Aatchiyil Idaitherthal - A poem written by Karunanidhi In this poem, Karunanidhi compared the characters of the epic Ramayana with him and M.G.R. He compared himself with a character named Vali and he compared M.G.R with the main protagonist Rama. In the epic, Rama will defeat Vali. But Rama will employ some tricks to attain victory. This comparison was used in the poem when DMK lost in the by-elections. This literary comparison attracted even the opposition party members. In fact, he showed to others in the most practical way, how his literary talent can be used for the benefit of the party at all times. And those who have tasted the pleasure of his literary works believe that, DMK is Karunanidhi and Karunanidhi is DMK. That is exactly why they are saying that the new expansion of DMK is Thirukkuvalai Muthuvel Karunanidhi. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 14:31 [IST] OPINION: Nepal-China Ties: Need For Caution Feature lekhaka-Jagdish N Singh There is little to be surprised about the possible forthcoming visit of Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. It has very much been in the making. However, New Delhi needs to be very cautious about the moves of the Dahal government in Kathmandu. The other day, ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) vice-chair Agni Sapkota told the media that his Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal would be visiting China towards the end of July or the first week of August. Observers say there is little to be surprised about the possible upcoming Dahal visit to China. It has very much been in the making. Dahal's party CPN-M has been in touch with the Chinese Communist Party. Recently, it has discussed with Chinese leaders about providing concessional loans under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as grant assistance for supporting economic development in Nepal. It wants direct flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa. Prime Minister Dahal has had his own deep linkages with communist China. He has been an avowed Maoist. Once he would wear T-shirts with Mao Zedong's portrait and give them also to other important leaders in his party. In 2017, Dahal, as then Prime Minister of Nepal, played a crucial role in his country's entry into China's pet project BRI and the first-ever joint military exercises between the Nepal Army and the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). China has been very much interested in hosting Prime Minister Dahal. Last year, soon after Dahal took over as Nepal's Prime Minister, a delegation of Chinese experts arrived in Nepal to survey the possibility of a Trans-Himalayan railway corridor connecting Kathmandu to Kerung (Tibet). Now, after his recent dialogue with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Dahal may go over to China and seek to cultivate the latter. China seems to be thinking Dahal has been little too friendly with India at the cost of China. Opinion: Enfranchising The Neglected In Nepal However, New Delhi needs to be very cautious about the moves of the Dahal dispensation in Kathmandu. Given the nature of the current coalition government in Kathmandu, former Prime Minister K.P. Oli is likely to be an assertive force in Nepal's foreign policy. Oli has been very close to China. Under the latter's influenc, he may give a negative direction to Dahal's India policy. New Delhi needs to be specifically cautious on Beijing's possible plan to get the Dahal government sign an extradition treaty with it. Oli has been for it. This plan must be foiled. The treaty, if signed, would endanger the future of over 30,000 Tibetan refugees, who have been living in Nepal for the last seven decades. Given the history of post-colonial India's Tibet policy, New Delhi is under moral obligations to reach out to them. Needless to mention, China has long been seeking to bring Nepal under its sphere of influence. Since the two nations formalized diplomatic relations on August 1, 1955, China has been highly considerate to Nepal. Nepal is the only country to maintain a Consulate General in Lhasa. It maintains Consulate General also in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Chengdu. In order to bring Nepal under its influence, China has taken several steps from time to time. Beijing invited Kings of Nepal Mahendra (1961), Birendra (1973, 1982, 1987, 1993, 1996, 2001) and Gyanendra (2002 and 2005) to China. After the monarchy fell in Nepal, Beijing invited the successive Nepalese Prime Ministers to China -- Dahal (2008 and 2017); Madhav Kumar Nepal (2009); Sushil Koirala (2014); and Oli (2016 and 2018). Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai visited Nepal in 1957 and 1960. This was followed by Deng Xiaoping in 1978 (in his capacity as Vice-Premier) and several other Chinese leaders, including Premiers Zhou Ziyang (1981) and Li Peng (1989), President Jiang Zemin (1996), State Councillor Yang Jiechi ( 2013), Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2014, 2015, 2019, 2022) and President Xi Jinping (2019). OPINION: Will Minorities Be Better Off In Nepal Now? Besides, China has promoted trade with Nepal. There are six border points for trade between Nepal and China -- Kodari-Nyalam, Rasuwa-Keyrung, Yari-Purang, Olangchunggola-Riwu, Kimathanka-Riwu and Nechung-Lizi. Today, China is Nepal's second-largest trade partner, the largest FDI source and the second largest source of foreign tourists. China has also taken steps to foster better understanding between the peoples of the two nations. It provides scholarships every year to over 100 Nepalese students in China. It provides Chinese language training for 200 tourism entrepreneurs. In the process, China's influence has already begun to increase in Nepal. The peoples of the two nations are coming closer to each other. In Nepal, its government has waived visa fees for the Chinese nationals for up to 90 days in a year. It has made the Chinese Yuan convertible for tourists and business persons. (Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 10:06 [IST] Heatwave in UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Ask Officials To Ensure No Power Cuts From US To Japan Via Europe: Record Heatwave Sweeps The World Amid Heatwave, Schools In Jharkhand and Patna To Remain Shut India oi-Deepika S Amid concerns over extreme heatwave conditions in several parts of India, state governments have shut schools while some have changed timings after temperature went up more than 40 degree Celsius. Jharkhand government has taken the decision to temporarily close all schools for a period of three days from today, June 12. "Due to the extreme temperatures and heatwave conditions, all types of schools, including government, non-government aided/non-aided (including minority), and private schools operating in the state, will remain closed from June 12 to June 14," secretary of the school education and literacy department, K Ravi Kumar, issued an official order on Sunday. In light of the heatwave predictions, the Patna administration on Monday announced the decision to close all government schools from June 12 to June 18. India will get its own index to quantify heat impact next year, says IMD chief "All academic activities from June 12 to June 18 up to Class 12, due to the extreme heat wave in Bihar," said Chandra Shekar Singh, Patna District Magistrate. "Heatwave conditions are very likely to continue in isolated pockets over Bihar, Jharkhand, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next four days, and over south Haryana-Delhi, south Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, and Odisha from till June 13, according to IMD. Heatwave conditions are also likely over Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana today. Hot and humid conditions are very likely over Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada during the next two days. IMD rain forecast Northeast India: In its latest bulletin, IMD said, widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over the region during the next four days. East India: Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 36 hours and heavy to very heavy rainfall during the subsequent 3 days, according to IMD. Heavy rainfall is also very likely at isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next three days. Northwest India: Hailstorms are very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the three to four days. Severe thunderstorms with squalls are very likely over isolated parts of Rajasthan on June 15. West India: Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Konkan and Goa today and over Gujarat Region on June 15. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also very likely at isolated places over Saurashtra and Kutch on June 14 and extremely heavy rainfall on June 15. South India: Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Kerala during the next 36 hours and over Coastal Karnataka today. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 10:36 [IST] Enormous Good Fortune For Country To Have Somebody Like Him: Jaishankar Hails PM Modi Cyclone Biparjoy: Take Every Possible Measure For Safe Evacuation: PM Tells Authorities India oi-Prakash KL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a high-level meeting to review the situation related to Cyclone Biparjoy, where he directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated. He also urged the authorities to ensure the maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water, etc. During the meeting, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Cyclone 'Biparjoy' is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 145 kmph, a statement from his office said. Cyclone Biparjoy: Mumbai Airport Runway Shut Down, Flight Operations Hit It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including extremely heavy falls in Kutch, Dwarka and Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts of Gujarat on 14-15 June. The IMD informed that it has been issuing regular bulletins since the onset of the cyclonic system on June 6 with the latest forecast to all the states and agencies concerned. Recommended Video Cyclone Biparjoy: PM Modi holds a meeting to review the situation | Oneindia News It was also informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reviewing the situation 24/7 and is in touch with the Gujarat Government and the Central Agencies concerned. NDRF has pre-positioned 12 teams, which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment etc. and has kept 15 teams on standby. Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and Engineer task force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the coast. Disaster Relief teams (DRTs) and Medical Teams (MTs) of Army, Navy and Coast Guard are on standby, the statement added. The Prime Minister was also briefed about measures taken by Gujarat government to deal with the cyclone. "Review meetings with the district administration have been held at the level of Chief Minister and the entire state administration machinery is geared up to meet any exigency situation. Also, Cabinet Secretary and Home Secretary are in continuous touch with the Chief Secretary of Gujarat and Central Ministries/ Agencies concerned," the press release stated. Alert Sounded As Cyclone Biparjoy Nears Gujarat Coast; High Tides, Rain In Mumbai The meeting was attended by the Home Minister, Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officers. As per the IMD's latest bulletin, cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall in Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan on Thursday. Enormous Good Fortune For Country To Have Somebody Like Him: Jaishankar Hails PM Modi 'Democratisation Of Technology Important To Help Bridge Data Divide': PM Modi At G20 Meet In Varanasi India oi-Madhuri Adnal Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that democratisation of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. While addressing G20 Development Ministers' Meeting in Varanasi, PM Modi said that digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change in India. ''I am delighted that the G20 development agenda has reached Kashi as well. Development is a core issue for the global south...I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the sustainable development goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind.'' Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting. ''Our efforts must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair and sustainable. In India, we have made efforts to improve people's lives in more than 100 aspirational districts which were pockets of underdevelopment,'' he said. #WATCH | Democratization of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalisation has brought revolutionary change. India is willing to share its experience with partner countries: Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the G20 pic.twitter.com/xMfmktpJ1J ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 ''Democratization of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalisation has brought revolutionary change. India is willing to share its experience with partner countries,'' he also said. PM Modi spoke about his government's work to boost development in over 100 aspirational districts, a reference to underdeveloped areas. Experience has shown that these districts have emerged as a catalyst for the country's growth and urged the delegates to study the model as they may find it relevant. Noting that development is a core issue for the Global South, he said these countries were severely impacted by the disruptions created by the global Covid pandemic. And, the food, fuel, and fertilizer crises because of geo-political tensions have delivered another blow, he added. "In such circumstances, the decisions you make carry great significance for humanity as a whole. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this," he said. Describing Varanasi, where the meeting is taking place, as the oldest living city of the mother of democracy, the prime minister said it is a fitting location for the G20 development ministers' meeting. "Kashi has been a centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries. It has the essence of India's diverse heritage and serves as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country," he said. Hold Your Tongue, Or We Will Be Forced To Rethink Alliance: AIADMK Tells Annamalai India oi-Prakash KL The AIADMK on Monday came down heavily on Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai for his alleged comments on its leader J Jayalalithaa. AIADMK leader and former state minister D Jayakumar questioned whether the party's central leadership approved Annamalai's actions. "Is it Annamalai's intention to see that the AIADMK-BJP alliance does not win a seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and that Narendra Modi should not become Prime Minister again? Are not his activities oriented in this direction?" PTI quoted Jayakumar as saying. Jayakumar then questioned why Annamalai remained silent on corruption allegations against the Karnataka BJP during the assembly polls. "Did the BJP win in Karnataka despite his election campaign in that state? Why doesn't he talk about the corruption allegations in Karnataka during the Assembly election," Jayakumar asked. The AIADMK leader indicated that the BJP on its own is nothing in Tamil Nadu and reminded the saffron party that it won seats in the 2021 assembly elections due to the strong presence of the AIADMK. "After a gap of 20 years, the BJP made an entry into the state assembly with four MLAs today because of the AIADMK. Will Annamalai deny this? The BJP will get an identity only when it remains in the AIADMK alliance," the former minister said. He warned that the AIADMK would be forced to rethink its alliance with the saffron party if Annamalai continued to needlessly criticise the party and if the BJP central leadership did not restrain an "immature" Annamalai, who wants to project himself. "Annamalai should hold his tongue and follow alliance dharma," he said and pointed to the smooth ties in the ruling DMK camp where the Congress remained restrained despite the DMK always raking up the troubles it faced during the Emergency imposed by the Congress government in 1975. On asking if he is seeking a change in BJP state leadership, Jayakumar replied, "That's not our demand. We want him to be restrained. Remember the AIADMK is like a huge banyan tree and the BJP only a plant." On the other hand, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam flayed the BJP Chief and said Annamalai's alleged remarks on former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa showed his "political immaturity." It has to be noted that the development comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Tamil Nadu. Reports claim that Shah has set the BJP a target of 25 MP seats in the next Lok Sabha polls in the internal meeting. The state has 39 Lok Sabha seats. Will kill him on April 30, actor Salman Khan gets fresh threat Adipurush Writer Manoj Muntashir To Get Police Protection After He Cites Threat To Life Case Against Caller Who Threatened To Carry Out 26/11-Like Attack If Seema Haider Not Sent Back IT Professional Held From Pune For Issuing Death Threat To Sharad Pawar India oi-Deepika S Mumbai Police on Monday arrested a man for alleged involvement in issuing a death threat to Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. Accused Sagar Barve is working in the data feeding and analytics section of a private firm, the police said. "The Mumbai Crime Branch, which was probing the case, brought Barve to Mumbai. He was presented in court and has been remanded in police custody till Tuesday," the official said. The NCP, on June 9, claimed 82-year-old Pawar received a message on social media threatening him with a fate similar to anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, who was shot dead in Pune on August 20, 2013. Ajit Pawar Not Upset, Proposed Sule's Name For Working President: Sharad Pawar "Sharad Pawar will meet the same fate as (Narendra) Dabholkar soon", the Facebook post read. Narendra Dabholkar, who fought against superstitious beliefs, was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants during his morning walk in Pune on August 20, 2013. Sule submitted printouts of the screenshots of the death threat to the police. A senior police official told PTI that they have been informed about the threat to the NCP chief on a social media platform. "We are looking into it. We have started a probe," the official said. Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said the threat message was sent by one Saurav Pimpalkar whose social medial profile says he is a BJP supporter. Sharad Pawar Announces Praful Patel, Supriya Sule NCP Working Presidents Instead of misusing the freedom of expression, one should fight the ideological battle in a dignified manner, he said talking to reporters. Ajit Pawar, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, said social media platforms are being deliberately misused to malign political leaders, post fake news and create divisions in society. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 11:13 [IST] Mumbai Murder Accused Brought Nilgiri Oil, Took Pics After Chopping Live-In Partner India oi-Madhuri Adnal A heartbreaking development has emerged in the alleged murder case of Saraswati Vaidya, who was brutally killed and dismembered by her 56-year-old live-in partner, Manoj Sane, in Mumbai's Mira Road area. One of Vaidya's sisters became emotional upon seeing a photograph of Vaidya's long hair, which the accused had cut and placed on the kitchen platform of their flat. The sister revealed that Vaidya loved her long hair, according to the Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar Police. The police have discovered that Vaidya had four sisters, with three of them already providing their statements to the authorities. The sisters expressed deep anger towards the accused, Manoj Sane, and requested the police to build a strong case to ensure he receives the harshest possible punishment, as reported by news agency ANI. In a recent development, the police disclosed that Sane had taken pictures of the victim's body after committing the murder. Sane also conducted numerous Google searches to find information on how to dispose of a body. From Porn Sites To How To Dispose Of A Body: What Mumbai Murder Accused Search History Revealed A senior officer from the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate sais that Sane has been providing inconsistent statements during interrogation. However, the police have conducted cross-verification of many of his claims. On June 4, immediately after the murder, the accused purchased an electric wood cutter (chainsaw) from a local hardware shop, which he used to dismember the body. However, the chain of the wood cutter broke during the process, prompting him to return to the same shop for repairs. It has been revealed that Sane meticulously cleaned the wood cutter to conceal any evidence of his actions. Additionally, he searched on Google for ways to prevent the foul smell emanating from a decomposing body and purchased five bottles of Nilgiri oil from a shop in his locality. On Monday, the police will send DNA samples from Vaidya and her close relatives to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis. Twist To Mumbai Murder Story: The Accused and Victim Were Husband And Wife As Sane has admitted to marrying Vaidya at a temple in Borivali, the police are working to verify the temple's location and identify the priest who conducted the marriage ceremony. Furthermore, they will search for any witnesses to the marriage. It has come to light that the couple concealed their marriage from acquaintances due to the significant age difference between them. Sane had been residing with Vaidya in a rented flat in the Akashganga building in Mira Road for the past three years. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 10:46 [IST] This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week. Up A new park dedicated in Bismarck on Saturday honors North Dakota soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Heroes Park in the Clear Sky Addition neighborhood in east Bismarck features a display that shows the face, rank, name, hometown, company, occupation, date of death, location of death, and age of fallen North Dakota National Guard soldiers. Across from the display is a battlefield cross statue memorial built by the North Dakota Heroes Foundation. The memorial has plaques honoring fallen Bismarck soldiers. Developer Matt Geiger, who served six years in the Guard, donated the land for the park to the Bismarck Park District. Streets in the neighborhood are named after fallen Guard soldiers who served in the global war on terrorism. Down North Dakota does not have a strong history of profitable large meat processing operations. South 40 Beef in Mott is further proof that it's tough to make a go of it if you want to start a beef venture in the state. The business closed after just two years and after receiving more than a million dollars in state and federal grants and loans. The shutdown put 13 people out of work. Owner John Roswech and his family came from the East Coast with a dream. But he says he couldn't figure out how to move more beef profitably. Ranchers would benefit if someone could launch a profitable slaughterhouse in North Dakota, but it appears there are still many things to figure out before that will happen. Up The federal government is investing $570 million across the country to eliminate dangerous rail crossings. One of them is in Grand Forks. It's next to the University of North Dakota campus, and a residential area. The project is getting a $30 million grant, and the city, state and BNSF Railway are investing another $11.4 million. The city has been trying to address the crossing for more than 30 years. Officials say the project will reduce 131 hours of vehicle delays and improve access to the local hospital, UND campus and other areas. It will boost safety for thousands of UND students traveling to campus. That's good news for anyone who has a family member attending the school. Down North Dakota's State Radio division is facing a spike in 911 hang-up calls or misdials, and the agency's problems might only be the tip of the iceberg. The issue stems from changes to mobile device emergency settings, and it's part of a nationwide trend. State Radio had more than 1,600 hang-ups or misdials through May, compared to about 440 at the same time last year. This year's total so far is about four times more than average. And State Radio is just one of 21 primary 911 centers in the state. Jason Horning, next generation 911 program manager for the North Dakota Association of Counties, says the 1,600 hang-ups or misdials experienced by State Radio might represent only about 10% of such calls in the state. Probe Into Naxal Boss By NIA Leads To Massive Seizure Of Arms and Ammunition After UK, NIA To Investigate Attack On Indian Missions In US And Canada NIA Attaches Kashmiri Businessman Watali's Properties In Terror Funding Case India oi-PTI The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday attached properties of businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district in connection with a terror funding case, officials said. They said a team of the NIA attached the immovable properties in the name of Watali at villages Baghatpora and Kachwari in Handwara area of the north Kashmir district. The properties include land in the name of Watali, an accused in the terror funding case, the officials said. They said the properties were attached following an order by the Special NIA Court in New Delhi in May. #WATCH | J&K: NIA raids underway in villages Kachwari & Baghatpora, Handwara, Kupwara district. pic.twitter.com/OCgCalduXr ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023 Watali was arrested by the NIA in 2017 under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Probe Into Naxal Boss By NIA Leads To Massive Seizure Of Arms and Ammunition A trial court had in May last year framed charges against Watali and others in a case related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017. Watali was moved out of jail in February last year and placed under house arrest on medical grounds. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 11:06 [IST] Kicks and punches fly thick and fast: Fierce fight between two student groups caught on cam Noida: 24-Year-Old Model Dies After Lighting Truss Collapses During Fashion Show India oi-Madhuri Adnal In a tragic incident unfolded during a fashion show in Film City, Noida, a 24-year-old model lost her life and another person suffered injuries when an iron truss supporting the lights collapsed. The incident took place at Laxmi Studio around 1:30 pm on Sunday, while the fashion show was in progress, according to the police. The victim has been identified as Vanshika Chopra, a resident of Gaur City-2 in Greater Noida. The injured individual, Bobby Raj from Agra, was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police have detained the organizer of the fashion show and those responsible for installing the lighting truss. They are currently being questioned to determine the cause of the accident. Footage of the tragic incident circulated widely on social media, but viewers are advised that it may be distressing. A model died in the #NoidaFilmCity area during a fashion show event after getting trapped under a lighting truss. A man who was standing near the model also received grievous injuries. #Noida #viral #viralvideo #ViralVideos #India #VanshikaChopra #accident pic.twitter.com/OanSzerD4i Anjali Choudhury (@AnjaliC16408461) June 12, 2023 Shakti Awasthi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida), provided details on the unfortunate event, stating, "A 24-year-old woman named Vanshika Chopra died after lights installed in a private studio in Film City collapsed during a fashion show event being held there. One person was injured in the incident. Four suspects have been detained for questioning." Awasthi also mentioned that further legal action would be taken following the investigation. Bihar Model Accuses Institute Owner Of Love Jihad, Forced Conversion; Case Filed Vanshika was among the volunteer promoters at the event. After the iron truss fell on her during the fashion show, she was rushed to Kailash Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival, as confirmed by the police. Approximately 150 people were reportedly present in the studio at the time of the incident. An officer, quoted by Indian Express, reported, "It was a normal fashion show, and aspiring models were invited to take part. There was no CCTV in the room, so we are trying to obtain videos from those who were present at the program." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 10:39 [IST] Many Forces Want To Undermine CoWIN: Union Minister On Data Breach Govt Probing Alleged CoWIN Data Leak On Telegram India oi-Deepika S The government is investigating reports of a major privacy breach on CoWIN portal, the Covid-19 vaccination registration portal, wherein personal details of vaccinated people were leaked on the social media application Telegram. The opposition has claimed personal information of senior politicians and journalists including their mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter IDs, and details of family members were freely available on the portal. "It is old data, we are still verifying it. We are working on a detailed report on the alleged CoWIN data leak," ANI reported quoting government sources. "The information is being examined right now," they said. Trinamool Congress on Monday alleged that the data of several citizens, including politicians and journalists who took Covid vaccine, has been leaked on the social media application Telegram. TMC Spokesperson Saket Gokhale claimed that personal details like mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, Passport, Voter IDs and details of family members are freely available online. "There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members, etc. have been leaked and are freely available," Gokhale tweeted. CoWIN Data Breach! TMC Alleges Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN Details Of Politicians, Others Leaked On Telegram "This is a matter of national concern", he said. The leaked data includes Aadhaar card numbers, along with gender, date of birth, and vaccination centre of senior leaders such as Rajya Sabha MP and TMC leader Derek O'Brien, former union minister P Chidambaram, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal. Gokhale also claimed that the leaked data also included details of health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, deputy chairman Rajya Sabha Haribansh Narayan Singh, Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Sanjay Raut. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also hit out at Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over the issue. "In its Digital India frenzy, the government has woefully ignored citizen privacy. The personal data of every single Indian who got the COVID-19 vaccination is publicly available. Including my own data. Who let this happen? Why is the government sitting on a data protection law? Ashwini Vaishnaw must answer," Karti tweeted. Pawar Probably Elevated Praful Patel With Sule To Blunt Charge Of Dynastic Politics: Shiv Sena India oi-Prakash KL NCP chief Sharad Pawar might have appointed Praful Patel as working president along with his (Pawar's) daughter Supriya Sule to blunt probable allegations of "dynastic politics", the Shiv Sena (UBT) said on Monday. The editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana also termed the elevation of Sule, a Lok Sabha member, and Patel as working presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party a balancing act by Pawar between senior and new leaders. "Along with his daughter's elevation as working president, Pawar has given the same title to Praful Patel. He did it to maintain a balance among the old and new guards in NCP," Saamana said. The editorial also pointed out that the NCP has already lost its national party status. "Although Sharad Pawar had said that the appointment of two 'working presidents' is because of the vastness of the country, no other regional parties have made such appointments. It may be true," the Sena said. Referring to Pawar's announcement to resign as NCP chief last month and subsequent withdrawal of the decision, Saamana said it was clear that Sule would have got the reins of the party. "But what message Pawar is trying to give by appointing Praful Patel as another working president? Patel might have been elevated to avoid allegations of dynastic politics in NCP with Sule's appointment to the position," Saamana said. The editorial said there was no mention of any new responsibility to Ajit Pawar in the latest decisions taken at the NCP meeting in New Delhi. "Rumours say that Ajit daada is disappointed. But he is an important player in Maharashtra's politics and he is not keen on working outside the state," it said. Ajit Pawar is the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly and a faction of MLAs close to him are said to be soft on the BJP, the Sena said. It said the image of Ajit Pawar- nephew of Sharad Pawar- became negative when he took oath as deputy chief minister with Devendra Fadnavis of BJP as the chief minister in November 2019. However, Ajit resigned after three days and returned to the NCP fold, which paved the way for the formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with Shiv Sena (undivided) joining hands with NCP and Congress. "Ajit Pawar will have to take a lot of effort to remove the blot (on his image)," the edit said. The Shiv Sena also made a veiled reference to the Pawar senior saying he has not made any big changes in NCP but has just initiated a process for the same. "Supriya Sule will have to pass the test. We will have to wait for some time," Saamana said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 19:21 [IST] Road To Nobel Wasn't That Easy For This Child Rights Activist India oi-Sanjeev Nayak Union Law Ministry is organising the 17th National Webinar on Child Labour today as part of observing World Day Against Child Labour with the focus on empowering children to reshape their future by liberating them from the shackles of child labour. Many more such events are being held in the country to mark the occasion but here is an Indian who once stirred global conscience and made everyone talk about the largely ignored issue of child labour. To put the issue on the global map, anti-child labour activist Kailash Satyarthi, now a Nobel Peace laureate, launched a Global March Against Child Labour from Manila in Philippines on 17th January 1998. He walked for around 80,000 km across 103 countries for over five months to culminate the march on 6th June 1998 at the UN headquarters in Geneva. When 36 children, each of whom had once been a child labourer, from different parts of the world entered the corridors of the United Nations (UN) headquarters shouting slogans "Child labour, down, down", it was to be a watershed moment as it would change the ugly narrative of child labour globally. Shocking Video of Child Abuse at Chhattisgarh Adoption Centre Goes Viral, NGO Suspended This was at a time when there existed no international legal framework to prevent children from being pushed into labour, trafficking, prostitution and other dangerous occupations. The march had two basic demands: There should be an international law against child labour, and a day should be dedicated to the child labourers when the entire world should bring the issues, impact and policies regarding child labour to the fore. The march was participated by over 1.5 crore people, many of whom were world leaders like Prime Ministers, Presidents, Kings and Queens, and led to an unprecedented pressure on the UN as well as the International Labour Organization (ILO). There was no ignoring the issue any more. The world had to sit up and look at the atrocities of child labour in their own eyes, and resolve to do something about it. One of the children, Govinda Khanal, who had accompanied Satyarthi in the global march, reminisces the many trials and tribulations they faced during the long, historic walk. "We crossed so many nations. I don't even remember the names of all the countries we crossed then. We would walk hours shouting slogans, performing street plays. We would be tired and sometimes due to paucity of funds, we didn't even have enough food." Khanal, who was once a child labourer at the Indo-Nepal border, says, "With me were around 35 other children from different countries. All of us were either victims of child labour or slavery. We knew what these words meant and this cruel knowledge gave us a new lease of energy every time we felt tired during the walk." When the march reached Geneva, there was an important annual convention of the ILO taking place in the UN conference centre Palais Des Nations. Over 2,000 dignitaries, ministers and representatives from 150 nations were in Geneva attending the convention. But everything almost stood still when the corridors of the UN headquarters reverberated with the slogans and demands of these children. Child marriage to be completely eradicated by 2026: Assam CM Sarma For the first time in the history of the ILO, the gates were opened for children who were there to talk about child labour, child slavery, child prostitution and child trafficking, and literally show the world the mirror. Breaking its tradition, the ILO allowed Kailash Satyarthi, a civilian, along with two children to address the convention. This is where the appeal to formulate an international law against child labour and a special day to mark child labour were made by him. That set the ball rolling and on 17th June 1999, the ILO Convention 182, concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour was passed. The convention was also unanimously adopted and ratified by 181 countries. India too ratified the convention on 13th June 2017. In yet another first, the Convention 182 became the most rapidly ratified convention by all the 187 members of the organization. The other demand, for a special day to mark child labour, was also met and June 12 was thus declared as the World Day against Child Labour in 2002. This is how one Indian, who became the voice of millions of child labourers in various parts of the world, changed the way the world looked at and treated this evil practice. Despite a Nobel in hand, the road ahead is still long and tumultuous but the millions of children who had accepted their agony and struggles as their destiny can now breathe in hope that the world is listening even as their sobs are being silenced. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 14:49 [IST] Watch: New Jersey Chef Creates Special 'Modi Ji Thali' Ahead Of PM's US visit India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Jersey-based chef Shripad Kulkarni has crafted a special 'Modi Ji Thali' before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US. Kulkarni curated this unique platter based on recommendations from members of the Indian diaspora. The thali features a diverse range of dishes, including khichdi, rasgulla, sarso da saag, dum aloo, Kashmiri, idli, dhokla, chaach, and papad. Kulkarni also incorporated millets into the dish to align with the International Year of Millets, declared by the United Nations for 2023. This culinary creation aims to raise awareness about millets and celebrate the UN's designation of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, a recommendation made by the Government of India. The restaurant owner also plans to launch a second thali dedicated to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the coming days. "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," stated the restaurant management, as reported by news agency ANI. #WATCH | A New Jersey-based restaurant launches 'Modi Ji' Thali for PM Narendra Modi's upcoming State Visit to the US. Restaurant owner Shripad Kulkarni gives details on the Thali. pic.twitter.com/XpOEtx9EDg ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023 Recommended Video Modi Ji Thali: New Jersey-based restaurant crafts platter before PMs US State visit | Oneindia News Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US comes at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US First Family will host PM Modi at a state dinner on June 22, marking his first state visit to the country. Previous visits by PM Modi during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump were not classified as state visits. As the visit draws near, Indian communities residing in the US are eagerly anticipating and preparing to welcome the Prime Minister. 'Democratisation Of Technology Important To Help Bridge Data Divide': PM Modi At G20 Meet In Varanasi During his visit, PM Modi will address a joint meeting of the US Congress, making him the first Indian Prime Minister to address such a gathering for the second time. Additionally, the Indian diaspora in the United States plans to organize an 'India Unity Day' march in 20 major cities across America on June 18. A group of Indian-Americans is expected to gather at the Andrews Air Force Base to welcome Air India One when it lands on June 21. Furthermore, 600 Indian Americans will greet PM Modi at the Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington, where he will be staying. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 11:30 [IST] China Asks Lone Indian Reporter In Beijing To Leave International oi-Prakash KL Amid a deepening rift between the two countries, China has asked the lone Indian journalist in Beijing to leave the country by the end of this month, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the development. The said journalist is a reporter from the news agency Press Trust Of India (PTI). At the start of the year, there were four Indian journalists in China. While a journalist from Hindustan Times left over the weekend, China denied visas for two reporters (one each from Prasar Bharati and The Hindu) in April, the report stated. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, last month, had claimed the visa of one Chinese journalist was yet to be approved by Delhi. He had alleged that Chinese reporters had to face "unfair and discriminatory treatment" in India for a long time. She said, "In 2017, the Indian side shortened the period of validity of visas held by Chinese journalists in India to three months or even one month without any valid reason," She then claimed, "Since 2020, the Indian side has refused to review and approve Chinese journalists' applications for stationing in India." However, the Indian side rejected the allegations and said that all foreign journalists, including Chinese, have been doing their work in India without any restrictions or difficulties and hoped that Chinese side facilitates Indian journalists. Answering a query on China expelling Indian Journalists during the briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said, "All foreign journalists, including Chinese journalists have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without any limitations or difficulties in reporting or doing media coverage." The dispute regarding visas began a few months ago when Indian journalists hired assistants in China to assist with their reporting. Beijing responded by implementing regulations that restrict employment to a maximum of three individuals at a time, all of whom must be selected from a pool provided by the Chinese authorities. It is important to note that India does not have any limitations on hiring in this regard. The spat over the visa issue is the latest flashpoint between the two Asian economic powerhouses since the deadly Galwan clash in 2020. However, China's foreign ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to the reports. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 20:31 [IST] Jack Ma, the Billionaire Founder of Alibaba, in Nepal, Likely to Meet PM Prachanda China Refuses To Pay Up Tibetan Evacuees Of Its Kela Hydro-Solar Project It Takes Two Hands To Clap: EAM Jaishankar On Relations With China In Tit-For-Tat Move, China Tells Last Indian Journalist To Leave This Month International oi-Deepika S The last Indian journalist in China has been asked to leave Beijing this month, amid deepening a rift between the Asian economic powerhouses. In a tit-for-tat move, the Chinese authorities have instructed the Press Trust of India reporter to leave the country promptly this month, Bloomberg News has reported. The exit of the Indian reporter would entirely erase India's media presence in China. "Indian media outlets had four reporters based in China. The Hindustan Times reporter left over the weekend, while two journalists from public broadcaster Prasar Bharati and The Hindu newspaper were denied visa renewals in China in April, " according to the report. Responding a query on China expelling Indian Journalists during the briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "All foreign journalists, including Chinese journalists have been pursuing journalistic activities in India without any limitations or difficulties in reporting or doing media coverage." "Meanwhile, Indian journalists in China have been operating with certain difficulties, such as not being permitted to hire locals as correspondents or journalists. As you know, foreign media can and do freely hire local journalists to work for their bureaus in India. In addition, Indian journalists also face several restrictions while getting access and travelling locally," he added. OPINION: Nepal-China Ties: Need For Caution In 2016, India refused to extend visas to three Chinese journalists after they were found indulging in activities beyond their journalistic brief. Three Chinese journalists based in India representing the state-run Xinhua news agency were denied permission for an extended stay in the country. Since then, the rift in India-China ties has grown, following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. India has maintained that the bilateral relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 14:35 [IST] 'Will Not Surrender Even If They Put Me In Jail', Says Pak ex-PM Imran Khan Security Forces Targeting Our Houses In The Dark: Imran Khan Amid Tussle With Pakistan Govt International oi-Deepika S Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday accused Pakistan's security forces of targeting his sisters, and family in the dark of night. Taking to Twitter, the former prime minister said that women are being mistreated, harassed, and threatened. "Whenever our Holy Prophet (PBUH) would go for battle, there were strict instructions that women, children, and elders were not to be harmed. Today, our own security forces are raiding our houses in the middle of the night, breaking doors, vandalising the house, and robbing it. Women are abused, harassed, and threatened and if the person is not there then their boys, fathers, and even servants are picked up and jailed," Imran Khan tweeted. "My sister's driver and cook Rahim were picked up when the police couldn't find her son. Both were jailed where they were packed like sardines. Rahim suffered breathing problems and since his release, he has been on the ventilator fighting for his life," he said. "Clearly, those who are responsible for this reign of terror feel they are above the law. We used to hear about such grave violations of human rights in Indian-occupied Kashmir but never imagined this would be happening here," he added. Imran Khan Booked Under Anti-Terrorism Law After Murder Of Supreme Court Lawyer Imran Khan added that he never imagined that such "grave violations" would happen in Pakistan. "While this policy might have temporarily spread fear amongst the people, it's only a matter of time before this seething hatred comes out in the open,' Imran Khan said. Last week, the PTI chief alleged that the Pakistan Army and the country's intelligence agency ISI of destroying his party PTI saying that there was "no doubt" that he would be tried in military court and sent to jail. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, June 12, 2023, 12:50 [IST] Computer Weekly 18 July 2023: Soaring ahead with data at Rolls-Royce In this week's Computer Weekly, we find out how aerospace giant Rolls-Royce uses data to improve its competitive advantage. We examine the benefits and best practices in software-defined storage. And we analyse calls for a review of laws around the use of computer evidence prompted by the Post Office IT scandal. Read the issue now. Inside MLC Life Insurance's cloud journey The Australian insurer spent a fair amount of time addressing people-related challenges in its move to cloud, which has improved its security posture and reduced infrastructure spending, among other outcomes 8 electronic signature best practices to build in to your workflow Here are 8 tips to think about when creating an e-signing process include cataloging documents requiring signatures, building user stories and determining necessary software features. CW EMEA July 2023: Can we trust AI? Artificial intelligence and the opportunities and dangers it introduces into society has been a hotly debated subject in tech circles for many years, but today with the increased use of platforms such as ChatGPT, these debates include a wider section of the public. A Computer Weekly buyer's guide to secure coding Security has become a key consideration in coding. In this 15-page buyer's guide, Computer Weekly looks at how organisations can protect their software supply chains, what to do in the case of a code error and why securing application development is so vital. How to use a public key and private key in digital signatures Ensuring authenticity of online communications is critical to conduct business. Learn how to use a public key and private key in digital signatures to manage electronic documents. Computer Weekly 4 July 2023: How data is beating heart disease In this week's Computer Weekly, we find out how a new data strategy is helping the British Heart Foundation to raise money and support medical research. We examine the benefits of using AI in advanced malware detection. And we reveal why the Information Commissioner is under fire for weak responses to serious data breaches. Read the issue now. Traditional vs. enterprise risk management: How do they differ? Businesses understand they cannot exist in a risk-free environment. How to manage the risks they face depends on many variables, including the industry the business is in and its size. In this e-guide, we compare traditional risk management and enterprise risk management and outline the important differences between the two. Computer Weekly 27 June 2023: The politics of AI In this week's Computer Weekly, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer both spoke at London Tech Week to present their visions of an AI future for the UK we compare their plans. We talk to the CTO of chip giant AMD about making tech more energy efficient. And we look at optimising networks for hybrid working. Read the issue now. CNNs vs. GANs: How are they different? Convolutional neural networks and generative adversarial networks are both deep learning models but differ in how they work and are used. Learn the ins and outs of CNNs and GANs. 4 steps to building a cybersecurity strategy A cybersecurity strategy isn't meant to be perfect, but it must be proactive, effective, actively supported and evolving. Here are the four steps required to get there. Comparing CRM to CX CXM and CRM systems help organizations boost customer satisfaction, but CXM focuses on how customers perceive a brand, while CRM helps employees understand their customers. In this article, we compare these platforms to help you decide which one is best for your business. What generative AI's rise means for the cybersecurity industry ChatGPT's cultural and economic ascent in recent months has led to an interest in generative AI as a whole, and that moment has included cybersecurity. However, experts differ on whether the moment is more steeped in marketing or emerging technology. Software-defined storage: What it is and variants available Software-defined storage is available in numerous variants. It is usually cheaper, flexible to deploy and brings storage efficiencies, but there are pitfalls in complexity, management and performance. In this article, we look at the definition of software-defined storage and the key variants we find in the marketplace. Computer Weekly 20 June 2023: How to keep network costs affordable In this week's Computer Weekly, as demands for networking performance and speed increase, we examine how to keep a handle on costs. Chip makers are investing in PLC flash technology but some think it won't be worth the effort; we investigate. And we listen in as tech industry leaders and politicians discuss the regulation of AI. Read the issue now. Computer Weekly 13 June 2023: The most influential people in UK technology In this week's Computer Weekly, we reveal the 13th annual UKtech50 list, with this year's most influential person award shared by secretaries of state for science, innovation and technology Michelle Donelan and Chloe Smith. Also, we examine mounting legal challenges faced by the emergence of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Read the issue now. CW EMEA - June 2023: IT budgets buck trend Despite gloomy economic conditions worldwide, IT leaders in EMEA expect budgets to increase this year, according to TechTarget/Computer Weekly's IT Priorities survey. We also look at how health authorities in the UAE are modernising healthcare services, how Finland and Estonia are sharing expertise, and how the Dutch government is addressing bias. CW APAC, June 2023 Trend Watch: Artificial Intelligence Businesses the world over are exploring ways to use artificial intelligence in their operations. In this handbook, Computer Weekly looks at the issue of ethics in AI, what lab-grown neurons could mean for the technology, how an Indian agritech is helping firms maximise crop yields, and how to find winning AI use cases. Read the issue now. A Computer Weekly buyer's guide to automation and autonomous control Business is wielding automation in increasingly innovative ways. In this 14-page buyer's guide, Computer Weekly looks at artificial intelligence in procurement, how machines are becoming customers, and FinOps teams' use of work-load management. Read the guide now. Download the guide to find out more. Computer Weekly 30 May 2023: Can the UK cash in on chips? In this week's Computer Weekly, the UK government has committed 1bn to the semiconductor sector but can it ever compete with the US and China? The potential of 5G networking could transform manufacturing we examine the implications. Read the issue now. Innovation Awards APAC 2023 - Transportation: Transdev Sydney Ferries With public safety a top priority, Transdev Sydney Ferries realised it had to move to a 5G network infrastructure that could better provide the capacity and speed it needed. The decision has enabled the transport operator to shorten the time needed to analyse hours of video footage and resolve at least 70% of feedback within 2 business days. Innovation Awards APAC 2023 - Financial Services: DBS Bank In this e-guide, read more about DBS Technology Marketplace and how it delivers anything-as-a-service (XaaS) capabilities that enable the bank's applications teams to adapt cloud-native applications quickly and efficiently. Computer Weekly 23 May 2023: How to secure your software supply chain In this week's Computer Weekly, our latest buyer's guide looks at secure coding and examines the challenges of securing your software supply chain. Cyber law enforcement leaders are calling on firms to end the secrecy around ransomware attacks. And we find out how facial recognition technology is being adopted by retailers. Read the issue now. Innovation Awards APAC 2023 - Telecommunications: SensorFlow Smart building management specialist SensorFlow topped the telecommunications category for the APAC Innovation Awards with its project to re-architecture its entire platform. The project had 3 initiatives - reduce cost, improve data-driven decision making, and implement a real-time business intelligence dashboard for its customers. Press Release June 12, 2023 CHIZ: FORMER SEN. BIAZON SERVED PHL 'IMPECCABLY' Sen. Chiz Escudero on Monday (June 12) mourned the passing of former Senator Rodolfo Biazon as he lauded the decorated military general for serving the Philippines "impeccably" all throughout his more than five decades in government service. Escudero likewise extended his prayers and condolences to the Biazon family through Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, who announced the death of the Biazon patriarch this morning due to severe pneumonia. "My sincerest condolences and prayers to the family and loved ones of Senator Rodolfo 'Pong' Biazon, a former colleague in the Senate and a fellow worker in government who served his country impeccably," Escudero said in a brief statement. Escudero and Biazon became colleagues in the upper chamber during the latter's last remaining three years from 2007 to 2010. The Bicolano senator was then serving his first six-year term in the Senate. According to Mayor Biazon, the former senator "was diagnosed with lung cancer in July of 2022 and underwent chemotherapy. Last month up until his death, the elder Biazon was confined at the Asian Hospital for severe pneumonia that further weakened his lungs. "He courageously fought his last battle like a Marine would, but it is the Lord's will which prevails. The family is grateful that we were able to spend his last moments with us intimately and peacefully," Mayor Biazon said. The elder Biazon was born on April 14, 1935 in Batac, Ilocos Norte and took up mechanical engineering at FEATI University before deciding to enter the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1957. According to his Senate biography, Biazon served in the following posts: Superintendent of PMA in 1986-87, Commandant of the Philippine Marines in 1987-89, Commanding General of the NCR Defense Command in 1988-90, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Vice Chief of Staff in 1990-91 and AFP Chief of Staff in 1991. Considered a military hero and a defender of democracy, Biazon quelled several coup attempts by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) against the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino. Biazon was first elected to the Senate in 1992 and was reelected in 1998. In 2010, he ran and won as congressman of the lone district of Muntinlupa and was reelected in 2013. He retired from politics in 2016. Ambassador Chas Freeman: The Sino-American Split https://peacediplomacy.org/2021/09/10/ipd-remarks-ambassador-chas-freeman-sino-american-split/ BY: Chas Freeman SEPT 10, 2021 The following are the opening remarks of Ambassador Chas W. Freeman during a one-on-one discussion hosted by the Institute of Peace & Diplomacy. The dialogue, moderated by IPD Advisor Dr. Wenran Jiang, featured the Ambassadors perspectives on mistaken assumptions in the US-China rivalry amid Washingtons efforts to maintain its vision of the global order. Event Page Transcript The United States and China are no longer on speaking terms. Having put diplomacy aside, these two great powers are engaged in diatribe accompanied by military posturing and preparations for a war in which the only certain outcome is the devastation of Taiwan. But the contest between America and China is not primarily military or ideological. It is about relative national strength and performance. China seems more focused on this reality than the United States. The Cold War is long over. Americas unipolar moment has passed, and the Pax Americana is no more. With its demise, two changes in the American worldview have provided the geopolitical context for the descent of US-China (and US-Russia) relations into adversarial antagonism. The first was the assertion by Washington securocrats that the world could be understood, and U.S. foreign policy organized, by reference to great power rivalry. The second is the claim by think-tank liberal interventionists that an attack on democracy by predatory authoritarianism has become the central dynamic of history and world affairs. The Biden administration has embraced both theses. It presents them as firm convictions, not hypotheses. Together, they have given birth to the new American objective of a 21st century rules-bound order crafted and led by the United States and its Cold War allies. This has no prospect of gaining international traction. The notion that great power rivalry is the core feature of international relations is best understood as a distillation of American militarism. It is a fantasy of the military-industrial complex. Great power rivalry is a concept that provides a rationale for unbounded defense spending by analogizing interactions among nations to those on a battlefield. It reduces foreign policy to zero-sum games between great powers, while denying agency to middle-ranking and smaller powers in shaping the world order or determining their own destinies. Positing great power rivalry as the central feature of world affairs is an expression of nostalgia for the global feudalism of the Cold War when lesser nations were necessarily caught between competing overlords and forced to defer to alien agendas. Not surprisingly, this premise has not found much welcome abroad. Great power rivalry is a concept that provides a rationale for unbounded defense spending by analogizing interactions among nations to those on a battlefield. It reduces foreign policy to zero-sum games between great powers, while denying agency to middle-ranking and smaller powers in shaping the world order or determining their own destinies. It is also now clear that great power rivalry is not the dialectic that will cure the entropy of post-Pax Americana global and regional disorder. What is emerging is a world of multidimensional interactions between countries in which almost all are driven more by their desire for autonomy than for alignment with the United States or its appointed great power rivals. Asked to choose a superpower as patron, middle-ranking and smaller powers almost invariably hedge and persist in pursuing their own interests as they see them. Foreign policies based on wistful remembrance of past supremacy and the misperception of contemporary infirmities are doomed to fail. They are hallucinations that preclude successful navigation of the worlds newly fluid geopolitics, frustrate those who adopt them, and vex those to whom they are applied. They are not a basis on which to reaffirm U.S. global leadership. As for the claim that democracy is under attack by authoritarianism, this is good politics but politically warped analysis. It appeals to Americans for many reasons. It appears to explain the deterioration of democratic norms in the United States as entirely the fault of foreigners and to thereby absolve Americans of any responsibility for the increasing decadence of their own political culture. It embodies an unstated presupposition that democracy is the default political system of humankind, absent only when denied to a people by opponents who adhere to a putative ideology of authoritarianism. But long before there were politicians prepared to risk displacement from power by other politicians with more support at the polls, there were societies led by warlords, kings, dictators, and other strongmen. There still are. Democracy is not celebrated for the wisdom of its decision-making. It is revered as an antidote to social and political repression that, when tempered by the rule of law, enables levels of individual self-governance and orderly succession processes that no other system can match. Democratic norms appear to require many generations to establish themselves in human societies. The 20th and 21st centuries provide many examples of how quickly and thoroughly these norms can be discarded. The worlds strongmen are almost all power-mad narcissists who have nothing in common other than the fear of being overthrown. They are happy to receive foreign support but seek and find no market abroad for their personality cults or their countries idiosyncratic nationalisms. Lofty talk notwithstanding, the United States has been just as willing as China, Russia, and other great powers to sell weapons and internal security equipment to authoritarian governments and has, in fact, outsold all others in such markets. Inventing persistent malevolence for Russia and predatory ideological aspirations for China serves domestic U.S. political purposes. It puts otherwise confusing international politics back into the sort of Manichean framework that animated World War II and the Cold War. Americans used to criticize China for its well-documented indifference to whether other countries were or were not democratic and devoted to the rule of law. Now, we have found it convenient to reverse course and attribute to China a values-based crusade equivalent to and opposed to our own. But there is no evidence that Xi Jinping and the 92 million Communist Party members he leads are trying to erase democracy beyond Chinas borders. They are on the defensive against suspected homegrown and foreign efforts to discredit them, subvert their political economic achievements, and topple them from power. The thesis that China and America are engaged in mortal contention over what political system Americans or others should live under does not survive even minimal scrutiny. Democracy may be doing itself in here and there, but there is no league of foreign autocrats or authoritarian ideology seeking to obliterate it. The operative contest between China and America is not between competing political ideals but between the two countries abilities to exercise wealth and power, maintain domestic tranquility, and inspire emulation by other states and peoples. It is a contest that neither side will win. Flinging politically convenient but erroneous theories at China will not change this. The thesis that China and America are engaged in mortal contention over what political system Americans or others should live under does not survive even minimal scrutiny. Democracy may be doing itself in here and there, but there is no league of foreign autocrats or authoritarian ideology seeking to obliterate it. Ironically, the United States has just fallen to number 25 on the Economists annual worldwide Democracy Index, and is now categorized as a flawed and possibly failing democracy. This is disheartening. It is understandable that Americans prefer blaming Russia and other foreign miscreants to examining the internal causes of our decadence. But it is ironic that the Biden administration should choose this moment to stand up for democracy and proclaim the existence of a global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. Few abroad see things at all this way. The American constitution assigned authority for policymaking almost entirely to the peoples representatives in Congress, but the U.S. president and the electorate have largely given up on the legislative branch. The president increasingly rules by decree and has acquired greater power than any king to make war on other nations and slaughter presumed enemies abroad. The erosion of constitutional democracy in the United States appears to be the result of a tragic combination of many factors, including The outrageous venality, chicanery, and effrontery of contemporary American politics. The recent emergence of a largely hereditary American plutocracy and educated elite. The disillusionment of those farthest down with the American dream, as equality of opportunity and social mobility visibly disappear from American society. Elite condescension and indifference to the views of the uneducated and other members of the new and old American underclasses. The rise of social and niche media oligopolies with business plans dependent upon the creation and maintenance of communities of shared preconceptions. The nurture by such media of social microcosms defined by shared delusions based on common grievances, alternative facts, the embrace of conspiracy theories, and other politically relevant affinities. The organization through social media of increasingly violent protests by disgruntled white nationalists, black victims of social and police prejudice, those recently demoted from the middle class, and other marginalized Americans. The exploitation of expert systems to entrench political privilege through gerrymandering and artificial intelligence and big data that manipulate the electorate. Elite insistence on pretentious standards of political correctness on issues that the more traditional and less fortunate find both intolerant and morally offensive. Reactions to political correctness and protests by those devoted to the vanishing status quo. A few of these factors clearly make the United States more vulnerable to foreign intervention in its internal affairs than before, but they are, without exception, domestic, not foreign, in origin. They can only be fixed by Americans. Scapegoating Russia or China wont do a thing to remedy them. The world is rightly disbelieving of the sudden American argument that the dialectic driving history is the contradiction between democracy and autocracy. Those societies proudest of their democratic traditions are notably committed to the tolerance of political diversity both at home and abroad. None sees the overthrow of undemocratic regimes as an existential imperative or believes in the divine right of democracies to proclaim, impose, and enforce their preferred dispensations as a replacement for international law and consensus. To much of the world, the gathering of the G7 in Cornwall this June and its talk of the sanctity of an ill-defined rules-bound order looked like the convening of a club of superannuated imperialists determined to regain the dominant role in rulemaking they lost along with their empires. The members of the G7 account for 11 percent of the world population, 30 percent of its GDP at purchasing power parity, and 62 percent of its accumulated wealth. The G7 made no case for its members renewed stewardship of global order but appeared to claim it as a sort of droit du seigneur. But non-Western meaning non-Euro-Atlantic societies constitute a very large global majority and are no longer prepared to be treated as vassals. As they rise from poverty, almost all are focused on escape from the trauma of past humiliation by Western imperialism and colonialism. The G7 made no case for its members renewed stewardship of global order but appeared to claim it as a sort of droit du seigneur. But non-Western meaning non-Euro-Atlantic societies constitute a very large global majority and are no longer prepared to be treated as vassals. Post-colonial stress disorder is today a major driver of foreign policy in every region touched by imperialism, including Eastern and Central Europe, where the humiliation was done by the Russian-dominated Soviet Union. It plays an outsized role in Hindu nationalism and Great Han chauvinism. Post-colonial hangover is a major explanation for phenomena like the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the Arab uprisings of 2011. European colonialism has locked Africa into a love-hate relationship with its colonizers that is now coming home to roost through illegal migration. Latin America continues to resent ongoing interventions by the Colossus of the North in places like Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela, even as many from the region look north for a better life. Southeast Asians, too, bear the scars of having been subjugated by European, American, and Japanese imperialism. Most of the world outside the United States and Europe sees the ongoing Israeli ethnic cleansing and settlement activity in Palestine as the last gasp of racist colonialism. Islamists identify the West with it and see it as justification for reprisal through terrorism. The operative division in global politics is manifestly not that between democracy and autocracy but that between former colonizers and the colonized. This is joined as a driving force by the differences between those mainly Western nations who long ago became wealthy through industrialization and those now striving to do the same. The wealthy can protect their populations from phenomena like pandemics. The less developed and poor are left to suffer and die. The same is true of climate change. The earliest countries to industrialize were able to ignore pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. They now prefer not to allow those embarking on development to do the same. Demands from poor countries that they be compensated for two centuries of accumulated degradation of the climate by their former colonial masters fall on deaf ears. The inability of developing countries to forestall or remediate the catastrophic impact of rising temperatures and seas, flooding and drought, or famine and pestilence promises to create an unbearable future for their inhabitants. The result will be widening chaos. For all these reasons, to most of the world the arguments that the Biden administration is now making for a reformulated rules-bound order ring hollow. Its appeals to other nations for deference to great power rivalry and combat with imaginary authoritarian predators have little appeal. To compete with China or other rising and resurgent powers in shaping the world of the future, America needs to make a case that is relevant to current realities. At present, China seems better aligned with these realities than the United States. To most of the world the arguments that the Biden administration is now making for a reformulated rules-bound order ring hollow. Its appeals to other nations for deference to great power rivalry and combat with imaginary authoritarian predators have little appeal. This is truly unfortunate. The world has many problems that cannot be addressed without leadership by its greatest powers, and, as America shirks the burdens of leadership, China remains focused on its own reconstitution, rejuvenation, technological advancement, and self-interested economic outreach. Beijing shows little willingness to lead other nations and has so far demonstrated no competence to do so. America doesnt want China to replace its global leadership. Neither, for the most part, does the world. But, without at least some degree of accommodation and cooperation with China by the United States and between China, India, Japan, and other great powers, neither the United States nor China will be able to mount an effective response to the planetwide challenges now facing humanity. China now seems overconfident, while the United States is mired in self-doubt. If, as the Book of Proverbs puts it, pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, China looks like its ripe for one or the other. Meanwhile, social and niche media in the United States have sliced, diced, and sorted Americans into disillusioned and mutually distrustful sub-communities that harbor incompatible visions of the American past and future and are no longer even on speaking terms with each other. Lacking unity, America seems politically splintered, scatterbrained, and unable to agree on much of anything except that China must be opposed. Neither China nor America currently has much tolerance for ambiguity, nuance, or deviance from popular presuppositions or prejudices. Both have administrations that are obsessed with protecting leaders from criticism and that react badly to foreign censure or to homegrown unconventional ideas. Both are therefore prone to persist in error long after they should have been identified and corrected it. A combination of solipsism and mutual disdain assures that Beijing and Washington no longer listen to each other. Both Chinese and American citizens now receive almost all information through digital filters in the form of media-certified and targeted judgments designed to reinforce established narratives. Neither citizenry is presented with many facts to contradict such judgments. Each finds it difficult to draw its own conclusions about trends and events touching national interests. In China, the information flow is government-controlled, anodyne but upbeat about domestic matters, self-righteously nationalistic about foreign affairs, and calculated to unify the people politically. In America, it is corporate controlled, discordant, bigoted about both domestic and foreign affairs, and tailored to facilitate the marketing of political opinions as well as goods and services. Both systems treat objectivity as quaint and potentially subversive and indulge in the propagation of claptrap, but the mediaverse in America has a much higher percentage of stuff that experts aptly describe with the technical term, weird shit. In large measure to placate nationalistic domestic audiences, both China and America appear to have decided to emulate the foreign policy of the Roman emperor, Caligula. His motto was ODERINT DUM METUANT let them hate us, as long as they fear us. This was former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos idea of diplomacy. It appears to be that of todays China as well. So much for America making friends and influencing people or China presenting itself as credible, lovable, and respectable! Chinas ruling Communist Party seems now to imagine that the brilliance of its ideology is responsible for Chinas astonishing economic and technological success. But its major contributions were to set aside its ideology, open the Chinese market to competition from foreign companies and their technologies, replace central planning with market economics and industrial policies, get out of the way of entrepreneurs, localities, and state-owned enterprises, curtail wasteful defense expenditures, and encourage the productive reinvestment of Chinese household savings. By stepping aside from micromanagement of the economy, the Party liberated it. The Chinese people then launched themselves into a level of dog-eat-dog economic competition not seen since 19th century America. This spurred rapid productivity growth and deflated prices while enriching the lives of ordinary Chinese and enabling them to become the producers of one-third of the worlds manufactures. These were truly amazing achievements. But they were stimulated by judicious withdrawals of state control, rather than assertions of it. Now the controls seem to be going back on. This raises the possibility that, as has happened before in Chinas history, rising prosperity could fall victim to the arrogance and corruption of a domineering state bureaucracy. If this happens, who will have the courage to tell the masters of the Chinese political universe that the reimposition of the nanny state risks triggering rather than precluding unrest [] and reversing Chinas economic advance by blighting the aspirations for self-fulfillment of its enormous and growing middle class? China leapt into prosperity by embracing ideologically unpalatable realities. Now many see Beijing appearing to reverse verdicts on ideological agendas previously refuted by experience. Are we back to politics in command? What became of seek truth from facts or practice is the sole criterion of truth? Doesnt China need such principles along with further reform and opening to advance to the next stage of wealth and prestige? Of course, China now has a highly competitive, self-sustaining economy. Chinas development may slow, but it is most likely to continue long enough for a new generation less obsessed with the need for regimentation to rediscover the open-mindedness that catalyzed Chinas return to wealth and power. Sadly, whether China falters or not, the United States is presently in remarkably poor condition to compete with it. The infirmities of contemporary American democracy and its catastrophic inability to mobilize an effective response to the pandemic are telling. But the United States is now overmatched by China or about to be in just about every realm relevant to competition other than the military (and that too is increasingly uncertain). Most sectors of the Chinese economy are served by multiple competitive enterprises whereas in the U.S. economy the norm is now oligopoly, monopoly, or monopsony. In China, companies still invest their profits in expanded industrial capacity. In the United States, where financialized, shareholder capitalism now dominates, profits increasingly flow into stock buybacks, mergers, and acquisitions. China already accounts for over 30 percent of global industrial production vs. Americas slightly more than 16 percent. China is the worlds largest trading nation and the top economic partner of three-fourths of the worlds countries. China now vies with the United States as the largest recipient of foreign direct investment. China has about 2.5 times the savings and investment capacity of the United States and its government has surplus capital to export. America has become dependent on foreign purchases of around 40 percent of its debt just to run existing government operations, let alone launch new programs. China is rapidly rising in the ranks of the worlds innovators while the United States, though still formidable, is slowly declining. Students in Chinas schools rank 1st in the world in math and science, while American students rank 37th and 18th respectively. There are now eight times as many scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians in China as there are in the United States and if nothing changes, at the end of this decade, there will be fifteen times as many. China has provided one-third of the total global growth in research and development expenditures in this century vs. Americas one-fifth. China and the U.S. each account for about one-fourth of worldwide spending on R&D, but China passed the U.S. in 2019 and now spends much more on basic research than the United States, where most R&D is business-funded incremental product development. In China, government spending reflects strategic calculation; in America it reflects the vector of vested interests lobbying of Congress. Chinese transportation and communications infrastructure is the worlds newest and most efficient, while deferred maintenance on Americas roads, bridges, railroads, and air and sea ports is over $2.5 trillion. (The Congress is now crowing over having just allocated about $110 billion annually over five years to additional funding for infrastructure far, far short of what is required.) China now allocates less than 2 percent of its GDP to the military vs. Americas 3.4 5.25 percent. (If China were a NATO member, the United States would be berating it for spending much too little on defense.) China can surge defense expenditures and production whereas the United States cannot. The greatest comparative advantage of the United States has come to be its professional and highly lethal military. This makes it politically convenient for Americans to portray the contest the United States has launched with China in military terms. China is showing that it can match and raise anything the United States does. But military posturing is an exercise in futility. Sino-American war over the much-misunderstood Taiwan issue the most probable casus belli would leave Taiwan in ruins and could leave both the Chinese and American homelands devastated. Both would lose from any war if they did not destroy each other outright. They would be mad to go to war with each other. We must do what we can to ensure that they do not. The greatest comparative advantage of the United States has come to be its professional and highly lethal military. This makes it politically convenient for Americans to portray the contest the United States has launched with China in military terms. China is showing that it can match and raise anything the United States does. But military posturing is an exercise in futility. The Sino-American contest is not about which side can out-posture or out-arm the other militarily. It is about the underlying sources of national strength and performance. These do not currently favor the United States. American competitiveness vis-a-vis China will not be enhanced by more American defense spending or the pivoting of U.S. armed forces to East Asia. Meeting the challenge will require a level of investment in the future of the United States that is unimaginable without an end to the American hubris, denial, and complacency that have gutted fiscal responsibility, diverted wealth to the plutocracy, attracted the best and brightest to financial rather than real engineering, suffocated competitive markets, atrophied industry, institutionalized inefficiency and rake-offs in sectors like education and health, squeezed the middle class, and decimated the capacity of the government to respond to crises. Nothing less will do. And that is why it distresses me as an American to say that, while China will not gain from the Sino-American split, the United States seems likely to lose from it. DELIVERED BY: Chas Freeman Ambassador Freeman is a career diplomat (retired) who was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 1993-94. Freeman served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge dAffaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok (1984-1986) and Beijing (1981-1984). He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixons path-breaking visit to China in 1972. Yes, people with signs supporting Ron DeSantis were also proudly waving swastika-emblazoned Nazi flags outside Walt Disney World. They wanted the cast members to be 100% clear about who likes Ron DeSantis's fight with Disney over not being fascist enough for his Florida. If you want people in the United States of America to rally to your cause, waving a Nazi flag has traditionally been counterproductive. In Florida, it now seems Nazis can boldly hang out in front of a theme park with the intent to scare people who came to celebrate. Some families save for years to have a vacation at Walt Disney World, it is a shame they'd have this kind of terror waiting for them. Of course, DeSantis has not decried these folks. USA Today: "It's absolutely disgusting to see what has become a common presence of Nazis in Florida, and even more distributing when they are holding signs and flags that signal support for people like Governor DeSantis," Eskamani said. "Every person, regardless of political ideology, should condemn this. Florida is a state built on diversity and we will always stand against bigotry and hate." Representatives for DeSantis and Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Combat Antisemitism Movement, a non-partisan international organization, issued a statement on the incident and noted a "similar occurrence" happened at the same location last May. Screen capture: Twitter/@annaforflorida Bonus: "Some children have two mummies or two daddies." - The Great Big Book of Families This innocuous (and accurate) sentence set off a firestorm culminating in a violent protest outside Saticoy Elementary School last Friday morning. A group claiming to represent parents at the LAUSD school had spent the previous weeks distributing flyers expressing "outrage" that "K-12 [SIC] students [would] be taught about LGBTQ+ during an assembly" including the showing of a video that says "some kids have 2 mommies, some have 2 daddies." While the supposed parents claimed that their "protest [was] in no way an attack on the LGBTQ community," their actions as the protest began quickly proved otherwise. Early in the day, the group's speaker hurled a slur over the group's loudspeaker at a counter-protestor who was trying to de-escalate tension. One protestor was told "Go with the queers, bitch," while another was told, "Get the Fuck out of here, you Jew." Members of the anti-pride group held up signs equating homosexuality with criminal behavior like pedophilia and grooming. I was present when a member of the clergy who was supporting the LGBTQ+ community was told that he "was going to hell." The protestors may have professed that they recognized "the importance of promoting equality and acceptance for all individuals," but there was one important catch; equality was contingent upon LGBTQ+ individuals staying out of sight in their (gender-appropriate) closet. Any public declaration of their queerness is considered "propaganda" and a violation of children's "innocence." How else do you explain anger expressed over a child bringing "home rainbow-colored stickers"from school"? The atmosphere was very different across the street where members of the LGBGTQ+ community and their allies were there to present a counter to the hatred and bigotry. There was also a celebration of the beginning of Pride month. Rainbows and bright colors provided a stark contrast to the black-clad protestors with angry facial expressions. "We Are Family" and "Love Will Keep Up Together" dominated the soundscape, replacing angry, rambling speeches against homosexuals, drag-queen story times, Prop-47, and the price of gas under Biden. One participant distributed sidewalk chalk and encouraged the crowd to "dance, have fun and make the area beautiful." A baby whose stroller displayed a sign that declared "I have two mommies, so what?" warmed people's hearts and a pit bull was available for stress-reducing pets. Unfortunately, the peaceful atmosphere would not last. While the LAPD had smartly kept the groups apart at the beginning of the protest, they suddenly switched tactics without warning. At around 8:10 AM the anti-pride protestors were allowed to spill into the street where they immediately descended upon the trans-person who had been fighting hate with joy and sidewalk chalk. As I documented the violence, members of the crowd turned on me. Press footage shows me being physically attacked without any intervention from the police. As it is not in my nature to back down from a fight, I was lucky to be with a colleague as the violence unfolded and she was able to pull me back from the situation. She was still in the process of talking me down from my adrenaline rush when a police officer grabbed me and threatened to arrest me if I did that again. When I explained to the police officer that I was the one who was assaulted, he escalated the situation and threatened to arrest me right then and there. Again, my colleague put her de-escalation talents to use and the officer backed off. No action was taken against those who assaulted me. As the morning progressed, there were other instances of violence. According to one report, one of the protestors from the anti-pride side "threatened to shoot protestors" several times. The same reporter took a picture of an anti-Pride protestor "openly carrying bear mace," a favorite weapon of the January 6th insurrectionists. A fight in front of the school left "a few people hurt visibly on the pro-Pride side." There is irony in the fact that this violent protest occurred under banners declaring "Leave our Kids Alone." It is the job of schools to mold students not only with the knowledge of "Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmatic," but also an understanding of the world around them. It is not "propaganda" to expose children to the fact that some families have two mommies and others have two daddies. In fact, children from those families deserve to be seen. The protestors are free to indoctrinate their children with whatever hate they believe is appropriate at home, but at school, all should feel welcome. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Iranian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was "officially reopened" on June 6 after the momentous signing of a Saudi Arabian-Iranian normalization deal brokered by China in March. The winds of change have been blowing from East to West, bringing fresh air to the Middle East and reconciling tensions that had been exacerbated by foreign meddling. Next, we are waiting for the reopening of the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tehran, and the exchange of ambassadors. Saudi Arabia and Iran had been enemies, but now these two powerful nations in the region are committed to peaceful coexistence and recognize that there is strength in unity, and conflict only brings weakness, which has been used to the advantage of the U.S. China has a reputation for seeking peace through diplomatic initiatives, which is vastly different from the U.S. approach that depends on proxy wars for regime change. China has been promoting investment and trade along with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Prosperity depends on peace and China is a peace broker between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This deal has already had a positive effect on bringing a ceasefire in the war in Yemen, and may ultimately end with a Yemeni peace deal. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has a plan entitled Vision 2030 to build upon regional peace to increase prosperity. This vision requires a shift away from the former U.S. dictates, which needed Saudi Arabia to participate in regional conflicts engineered by Washington. Repeated disrespectful and undiplomatic comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump and current U.S. President Joe Biden toward Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his son the Crown Prince have paved the way for a major shift in the Kingdom, opening up possibilities to strengthen ties in the East, reflecting the reality that the West is losing dominance in the Middle East. The ramifications of this rapprochement will be felt throughout the region, as conflicts in Yemen and Syria are examined through fresh perspectives from the two sides. Meetings to find peaceful resolutions to both conflicts have already been taking place. The new Saudi Arabian-Syrian rapprochement began picking up pace after the February 6 earthquake and humanitarian relief efforts, and continued to gain steam after the Riyadh-Tehran normalization deal in Beijing in March. The pieces began to fall into place as a new era was dawning across the Middle East. Now, Saudi Arabia and Iran can work together to help the Syrian people recover from over a decade of war. In taking a look at another country in the region - Lebanon - both Saudi Arabia and Iran are able to contribute to the rehabilitation of the country, which has seen financial and social difficulties. The Lebanese hope to see a president elected by parliamentary vote, which could set the wheels in motion for recovery through legal reforms and directives. The China-brokered deal has already seen positive results as the Saudi navy recently rescued foreigners from the conflict in Sudan, 65 of whom were Iranians. The changes happening are not limited only to Saudi Arabia. Other Arab countries have recognized that they need to be independent of the American dictatorship that has devastated Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, and have brought political and social instability in Egypt and Tunisia where the U.S. has utilized the Muslim Brotherhood to destabilize and control the country. Although there remain a few Arab countries that are content to be followers of Washington-designed plans, the number has been decreasing. America lost its premier position in the Middle East by engineering conflicts that have destroyed homes and lives, such as in Iraq, which still hasn't recovered even in part from the devastation of occupation. This article is originally published at CGTN Egypt and Israel are jointly covering up the true story of how three Israeli soldiers were killed near their shared border on June 3. Just like their 1979 joint peace treaty, they are jointly spinning a media story to distract attention from the real issue behind the deaths: the brutal Israeli military occupation of Palestine. The border between Egypt and Israel is usually safe. The last terrorist act was in 2011, and it was an organized group responsible, not an individual acting alone. In this new incident, there is an Egyptian policeman who carried out the killings, and drug smuggling had nothing to do with it. The Israeli side immediately called the attack an act of terror. The Egyptian side said it was a drug smuggling case gone wrong, but the facts do not support that media spin. Before I recount the facts in the case, let's look at what this means for Israel and Egypt, who have tried to maintain an image of peace and calm amid constant pressures on Israel caused by 70 years of brutal military occupation of Palestine, and the refusal to grant even the most basic of human rights to Palestinians. The UN reported that Israel conforms to the definition of an Apartheid state. Israel is now led by the most extremist leadership in its history. The rapid expansion of illegal settlements on Occupied Palestinian territory is one of the Benjamin Netanyahu administration's main goals. His second most important goal is to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia, which has always maintained support for the Palestinian people's rights to a homeland and full human rights. How can Netanyahu make friends with Arabs while the resistance to the Israeli occupation grows stronger? We have seen consistently growing tensions in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. The various resistance groups have gotten stronger and have more support from their communities and international groups than ever before. Countries such as Qatar, Iran, and Syria have always maintained their support for resistance. While Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan have Israeli normalization agreements, Saudi Arabia and others have expressed their stance of holding out for a comprehensive Palestinian peace treaty first. The Egyptian policemen may be a representative of the prevailing Arab support of resistance to occupation regardless of the peace treaties. In the wee hours of June 3, Staff Sgt. Ori Yitzhak Iluz, 20, and Sgt. Lia Ben Nun, 19, were at their guard post on the Israeli-Egyptian border. At 2:30 am, Iluz and Ben Nun had foiled an attempt on the border to smuggle drugs. Commonly, a smuggler on the Egyptian side will throw a bag of drugs over the border security fence, and a person on the Israeli side would take the bag and leave. This situation occurred three kilometers (1.8 miles) north of their guard post. By 3 am the drug smuggling case was over with the drugs confiscated, and by 4:15 am the pair had radioed they were at their post as usual. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, 22, from Cairo, was an Egyptian policeman who left his post, walked five kilometers (3 miles) to an emergency border gate of Israel, used his knife to cut the zip-ties which held the gate shut, and entered into Israel. He was alone, and then walked 150 meters to the Israeli guard post manned by Iluz and Ben Nun and shot and killed them both sometime between 6 am and 7 am. The Israeli soldiers never fired their weapons, which indicates they were surprised by the attacker. When superiors had radioed the pair at about 9 am and they did not respond, an officer went to the post and found them dead. Shortly after 11 am, an Israeli army drone identified Ibrahim hiding behind a rock formation some 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the border. Ibrahim opened fire at the Israeli soldiers and killed Staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20. Just minutes later, another group of soldiers closed in on Ibrahim where he was killed, and one Israeli officer was wounded before noon. When Ibrahim was examined, he was found to be carrying two combat knives, food, a Quran, and six magazines for his assault rifle, which may indicate he had a larger attack planned. In a May 2021 Facebook post, Ibrahim wrote: "Allah stands with Palestine," with a hashtag reading: "#GazaUnderAttack." Thousands of Palestinians and their international supporters around the globe had written similar sentiments on social media during the brutal Israeli air attacks on defenseless civilians in Gaza, who are the victims of collective punishment, which is a war crime. The Israeli security border was easily cut on June 3. The thin veil of a peace treaty does not ensure security while one side is brutalizing the Palestinian people and refuses to negotiate for an end to occupation and restoration of human rights to 6 million people who live in an open-air prison. Media can be used to spin a scenario that looks like all is well between Egypt and Israel, but there is a constant boiling of emotions below the surface of the 109 million Egyptian citizens who have had to shoulder a peace treaty not all have embraced or seen any benefit from. There is no defense of occupation. The wall must fall. Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist After I reviewed IEEE's recent book about electric vehicles (EVs), I heard about an underground transformer that exploded 50 feet from an LA friend's house on a Saturday morning, typically a time of low-electricity-demand. I wondered: could charging several EVs cause a transformer to overheat and explode? A reader of my review commented that investing in e-vehicles is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Then, I talked with Max Wilbert. Max grew up believing that solar and wind energy and electric vehicles would help sustain our society. In his twenties, he learned how "renewables" and EVs actually depend on fossil fuels throughout their lifecycles. He teamed up with Derrick Jensen and Lierre Keith to write Bright Green Lies: How the Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It (2021). In 2020, after learning about a proposed lithium mine in Nevada, he started Protect Thacker Pass. This account came from conversations Max and I had in April and May, 2023. Thacker Pass, Nevada Max Wilbert I started learning about lithium while researching battery energy storage for Bright Green Lies. Lithium is a light metal. In batteries, it can hold a high density of power, charge fast and last long. Lithium-ion batteries power mobile devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches and electric vehicles. The battery for a 3000-pound Tesla Model S' requires 138 pounds (62.6 kg) of lithium. The irony is not lost on me: corporations and environmentalists promote EVs because they don't emit greenhouse gases while driving. But manufacturing and discarding EVs""and expanding the power grid to charge them""ravage ecosystems. I witnessed wind turbines chop up birds in Spring Valley, Nevada. In eastern Oregon, I saw swathes of native forests cut down for utility-scale solar. I've read about lithium extraction's prodigious water use in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Tibet""and at the U.S.'s first lithium mine, in Silver Peak, Nevada. In 2017, research led me to Lithium Americas Corporation's (LAC's) plan to turn part of the Great Basin""a biodiverse and exquisite ecosystem between Boise and Reno known as Thacker Pass""into an industrial extraction zone stretching over more than 17,000 acres. Thacker Pass holds the U.S.'s largest known lithium deposits. The corporation's open pit alone would cover two square miles in the mine's first stage, and it could triple in size. Tailings piles, processing facilities and treatments ponds would sprawl across yet more land. The mine would burn 11,000 gallons of diesel fuel per day and rely on more than 75 semi-truck loads of sulfur (oil refinery waste) to process the ore. It would consume and pollute more than 1.5 billion gallons of water per year, dropping water tables and potentially drying out fourteen springs. In the summer of 2020, when I learned that the Trump Administration was fast-tracking a permit to mine lithium at Thacker Pass, I had to visit. Visiting Thacker Pass Two friends and I drove to Thacker Pass in October, 2020. Almost entirely public land, you can pull off any dirt road and park without trespassing. The first afternoon, the heat and dust overwhelmed me. But then we climbed up a cliff overlooking the Great Basin. Rabbit-brush yellow flowers were in full bloom. At sunset, the pollinators came out in huge numbers and variety. Insects are such a barometer of ecological health. They struggle with chemicals and artificial light. At Thacker Pass, they had a haven. For sixteen million years, stones, wind and water have shaped this place. Pronghorn hooves and pygmy rabbits have left footprints. Burrowing owls have protected their nests. Golden eagles have circled above the silent expanse. Lahontan cutthroat trout have flicked in the creeks. The first morning, stepping out of my sleeping bag, I saw a red-tailed hawk feather at my feet, to the west. I turned slowly. A prairie falcon feather lay in the east, and two raven feathers in the south. To the north, Phasianidae""a sage-grouse feather. My mind rebelled. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. 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). Air Defender 23: the largest air force deployment exercise in NATO's history | DW News The German Air Force is facing its biggest challenge in decades: After four years of preparation, the NATO military exercise Air ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: DW News) Details DMCA Picture of NATO air war games in Germany June 12, 2023 Apparently, "NATO embarked on the largest air force exercises in the alliance's history on Monday amid heightened tensions with Russia over the Ukraine conflict" [1] The drills are occurring in Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. They're called "Defender 23" and are to last between June 12th and June 23rd. It "will involve some 10,000 service members and 259 aircraft, with 100 planes fielded by the US alone". Twenty four NATO nations will take part along with Sweden and Japan. "The focus of the exercises is to optimize and expand cooperation between participating countries, with plans to model a NATO Article 5 assistance scenario." This clause which "lies at the heart of the US led bloc, stipulates that an attack on one member of the alliance would constitute an attack on all of them". US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann put it this way. She "would be pretty surprised if any world leaders was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of the alliance including Russian President Vladimir Putin". 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). Every musical instrument has a history, an origin story with primary practitioners that were storytellers and sound makers. Every origin story exists within social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Origin stories are often contested, the facts and circumstances and the meanings ascribed, at the time and after, to those facts and circumstances. For example, the banjo has a transatlantic and transregional history that may surprise our fantastic readers. A new book, Well of Souls: Uncovering the Hidden History of the Banjo, Kristina R. Gaddy, explores these connections between music, slavery, and white supremacy, as well as religion, spirituality, and public policy. "Through meticulous research in diaries, letters, archives, and art, she traces the banjo's beginnings from the seventeenth century, when enslaved people of African descent created it from gourds or calabashes and wood. Gaddy shows how the enslaved carried this unique instrument as they were transported and sold by slaveowners throughout the Americas to Suriname, the Caribbean, and the colonies that became U.S. states, including Louisiana, South Carolina, Maryland, and New York. African Americans came together at rituals where the banjo played an essential part. White governments, rightfully afraid that the gatherings could instigate revolt, outlawed them without success. In the mid-nineteenth century, Blackface minstrels appropriated the instrument for their bands, spawning a craze. Eventually, the banjo became part of jazz, bluegrass, and country, its deepest history forgotten." The documentary film, "Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters," released in 2021, explores the relationships of four Black female musicians to the banjo's living history. In an article by Dave Paulson from the Nashville Tennessean, musician Allison Russell explains the origins of the documentary in an interview she did some ten years prior about a banjo documentary. "But when the conversation steered to the instrument's roots, things quickly ground to a halt. As soon as I [Russell] said, 'West Africa,' he was like, 'No, no, no, it's Appalachian,' in his lovely British accent," Russell recalls. Her response to the filmmaker: "Well, yes, many people in Appalachia played the banjo, including all the Black people who used to be there, before they had to flee the terrorism of Jim Crow' And he would not hear it." The film premiered on the Smithsonian Channel, and you can find it here. "In January 2018, Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell collaborated on a groundbreaking and deeply personal album for Smithsonian Folkways called 'Songs of Our Native Daughters.' The result was a powerful, modern take on Black women's history and America's shared, but often hidden, musical roots. From a secluded Louisiana bayou recording studio to electrifying concerts around the country, witness four incredible musicians on an extraordinary creative journey." Giddens, Kiah, McCalla, and Allison Russell are forces of the universe as imagined by Nnedi Okorafor and N.K. Jemisin (who, like Giddens is a McArthus Genius winner). Stay tuned for a future post about Jemisin. As reported in Guitar Girl Magazine, Giddens, Kiah, McCalla, and Russell, "Acting as the narrators throughout the documentaryseamlessly weave the insight, personal experience, and unexplored history that inspired the lyrics for this album of original work, except for one Bob Marley cover, done in partnership with Smithsonian Folkways. Though they are all accomplished artists individually, this endeavor proved more kismet than serendipitous as the documentary makes an irrefutable case that only these four women could have produced such a work of timely and masterful storytelling." Technology continues to do wonders for humanity. However, there are times when it should be controlled. This spring, the Future of Life Institute, a non-profit organization that works to reduce the bad consequences of artificial intelligence, called for an indefinite moratorium on future development of artificial intelligence because it is evolving too quickly for human beings to understand or control. As our nuclear weapons systems become more and more computer- and AI-oriented, the risk of accidental nuclear war will increase. In fact, the Union of Concerned Scientists has documented several cases going back to the 1960s, when computer errors nearly set off full-scale nuclear war. Since 2001, our arms control deals have withered away. Along with our having scrapped every arms control treaty except for what little is left of START, and a nuclear weapons modernization program extending into the 2040s, plans are in the works for nuclear weapons usable into the 2090s. Thom Shanker, director of George Washington University's Project for Media and National Security, observed that continued development of hypersonic missiles, which move too quickly for human reflexes to respond, increases the danger. However, we still have our disarmament obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the supreme law of the land clause of the U.S. Constitution, but there's a realistic way and a non-realistic way to pursue those obligations. Right now, the international system is caught in a spheres of influence situation with China and Russia in an alliance dominating a sphere around its borders, and the United States and its allies dominating a sphere around its borders and into Europe (North Atlantic Treaty Alliance) Spheres of influence is an awful place to be because each great power will balance each other militarily, and this will commit our country to high military budgets when our country faces great domestic problems. With the world being divided into spheres, there doesn't seem a way to pool our power for the good of the international community, at least not in a way that would make Hugo Grotius proud. However, let's hope the international community can do as much it can with the tools it possesses. There's even a positive development in the news. In an overture designed to reverse years of stalled diplomacy, the Biden Administration sought last week to restart nuclear arms-control negotiations with Russia and China without preconditions, an example of a realistic way to move in the right direction. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said he wants the U.S. to establish a framework for nuclear arms reduction before the last remaining arms-control treaty between the U.S. and Russia expires. This could act as a cooling agent for the tensions mentioned in this story. Since President Joe Biden took office, both Russia and China have opted to wield their arsenals to coerce neighbors and deter adversaries. This move comes with recent history - spats with China and opposing Russia via proxy in the Ukraine war. Sullivan correctly stressed the importance of conversation as tensions rise. What will the recent turn to diplomacy mean? We don't know, but hopefully it means an easing of tensions between our country and its adversaries. Maybe we can cooperate on just a few things in the spheres of influence world we live in. If our current world ever changes, maybe we can cooperate in a world defined by law. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. It couldn't be stranger when you think about it. This country has been at war nonstop since September 12, 2001. It's poured our taxpayer dollars "" an estimated $8 trillion of them "" down the sinkhole of those disastrous wars. The two biggest ones in Afghanistan and Iraq are officially over, though the U.S. still has 2,500 troops in Iraq and hundreds more (as well as private contractors) in neighboring Syria. Still, though we hear far less about it, the war on terror is ongoing. As Nick Turse has been reporting for years, for instance, the U.S. military continues to pour money and effort into war-on-terror-style military campaigns across significant parts of Africa, while terror groups only grow larger and more violent there, and yet who in this country even notices anymore? Here, I suspect, is the reality of the situation: most Americans not connected to the U.S. military undoubtedly stopped thinking about the war on terror and its toll years ago "" except at rare moments like during the disastrous collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government in August 2021 as this country was trying to withdraw its troops after two decades of failed war there. As has been true so often in these years, we generally neither pay significant attention to the damage we're causing in distant lands nor to the damage we've caused ourselves in the process. Otherwise, how could it be possible that, during the recent debt-ceiling crisis, cuts were made to domestic programs, but the Pentagon budget, already larger than those of the next 10 countries combined, only continued to rise? And yet, don't think that, in the process, we haven't damaged ourselves in all sorts of ways. Today, TomDispatch regular, co-founder of the Costs of War Project, therapist, and military spouse Andrea Mazzarino considers just what we did to ourselves in what might be considered a hidden campaign of" yes" self-inflicted terror. Tom Americans in Pain Confronting the Phantom Limbs of America's Foreign Wars By Andrea Mazzarino America's War on Terror, launched in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, has had a staggering impact on our world. The Costs of War Project at Brown University, which I helped found, paints as full a picture as possible of the toll of those "forever wars" both in human lives and in dollars. The wars, we estimate, have killed nearly one million people, including close to 400,000 civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan alone. Worse yet, they sickened or injured several times more than that "" leading to illnesses and injuries that, we estimate, resulted in millions of non-battlefield deaths. And don't forget that those figures include dead and wounded Americans, too. Most of us, however, have little awareness of any of this. If you live outside the archipelago of American military bases that extends across this country and the planet "" an estimated 750 of them outside the U.S. on every continent except Antarctica "" it's easy enough not to meet stressed-out military service members and their families. It's easy enough, in fact, not to grasp just how America's wars of this century rippled out to touch military communities. In recent times, those bases have become ever more difficult for the public to enter and often aren't close to the cities where so many of us live. All of this means that, if you're a civilian, the odds are you haven't met the grieving spouses of the soldiers who never came home or the shaken children of the ones who did, forever changed, sometimes with amputated limbs or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I'm thinking of the ones with those far-off gazes and the pain they have to deal with in their heads, their limbs, their backs. Personally, I find it overwhelmingly hard to write about such human-shaped holes in our disturbed world. That's probably why the Costs of War Project has a 35-person (and counting) team of journalists, physicians, social scientists, and other experts to portion out the research and the pain that goes with it as they deal with the fact that the monumental death and injury counts they've produced are likely to be underestimates. As I write this, my chest tightens and my breath gets short, reminding me that some realities are impossible to contemplate without a physical reaction. And I begin to understand why so many Americans, including those not in the military "" an estimated 50 million in fact! "" experience chronic pain. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is writing a stunning series of pieces reporting on what many in the public-health world term "diseases of despair" like depression, suicidality, and addiction. A significant portion of those Americans don't have injuries that are detectable via X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or the like. Often, pain is linked with major depression, other symptoms of PTSD, or anxiety. Something is happening in the minds of Americans that's not easily traceable in the body because its causes may lie in our wider world. The Costs of War on the Homefront Know one thing: in the U.S., so many of us do feel the painful results of our disastrous distant wars of this century, whether we know it or not. For instance, ever more Americans attend crumbling, understaffed schools, drive on roads in disrepair, and go to hospitals and health clinics (not just Veterans Administration ones with their seemingly endless waiting lists!) that don't have enough doctors and mental-health therapists to meet our needs. Arguably, a major culprit is the war on terror. To take just one example, we could have fully staffed and equipped our whole healthcare system and made it significantly more pandemic resilient had we spent just a fraction of the $8 trillion or more this country put out for our foreign wars. And the sting of war on our society doesn't end with decrepit infrastructure, but extends to civil liberties and human rights. For example, our police are armed to the teeth with military-grade weaponry and other equipment provided by an overfed Pentagon and in this century have grown more aggressive towards unarmed people here at home. And believe me, pain from American war-making is felt elsewhere, too, often all too directly in the dozens of countries around the world where the U.S. arms and trains militaries, continues to fight counterinsurgency wars, and runs prisons and intelligence operations. There are the air strikes and shootings, the father or brother who can no longer be the breadwinner because he was collateral damage in a drone strike, the millions of displaced and malnourished people "" many of them mothers with children "" in countries where Washington has supported authoritarian regimes in questionable counterinsurgency wars. 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). Bansko Nomad Fest is back, and it's bigger and better than ever before! From June 25 to July 2, hundreds of nomads, remote workers, and freelancers will gather in the picturesque village of Bansko, Bulgaria, for an unforgettable experience that blends knowledge-sharing, outdoor activities, mindfulness, and the beauty of nature. Bansko Nomad Fest has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2020. Despite launching during the peak of the DEAR PEOPLES PHARMACY: While I was visiting Italy, I experienced a dreadful bout of acid reflux. A doctor prescribed an oral medication called 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? It is the best medication I have taken for this problem. A. Riopan is an old-fashioned antacid that was first 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 such familiar over-the-counter antacids as DiGel, Gelusil, Maalox and Mylanta. To learn more about controlling heartburn and other gastrointestinal problems, you may wish to consult our eGuide to Overcoming Digestive Disorders. This online resource is available under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. DEAR PEOPLES PHARMACY: Since I started taking pregabalin, my memory has disappeared. Is this a side effect? I used to remember everything, and this is disconcerting. A. 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, be sure to have your doctor provide a plan for gradual tapering. Stopping suddenly can lead to unpleasant adverse reactions. DEAR PEOPLES PHARMACY: 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 as a whole for wasting money on unneeded things. Can anything be done about this practice? A. We could not agree more! We have been badgering the Food and Drug Administration about this problem for years with no resolution. If a patient wants 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. * * * In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them. (c) 2023 King Features Syndicate, Inc. Update 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 16 ODOT has reopened U.S. 20 east of Burns to two-way travel as of late Friday morning. Travelers should expect reduced speeds in the areas near the slide from mileposts 189-223. Overnight debris slides have closed U.S. 20 in eastern Oregon between mileposts 189-223 on Monday, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. The slides are near milepost 202, about 12 miles east of Juntura, in Malheur County. ODOT reports there are multiple slide areas along a mile stretch of the highway. Rock, mud, and other debris are blocking the route, and completely cover the highway with more than 15 feet of debris in some areas. Power and other utility lines are down. ODOT crews worked through the night and all of Monday to open a one-lane access corridor through the debris field. Loaders working from both ends of the slide helped rescue three stranded motorists who were stuck between two slide areas, according to a recent ODOT release. No injuries have been reported, and the stranded travelers were able to drive out after being provided fuel. A portion of the opened corridor was later plugged again with a new flow Monday afternoon. Conditions remain unstable. Travelers should be aware that this is expected to be a lengthy closure of several days at least. ODOT warns that travelers should stay on main state highways when choosing an alternate route between Burns and Vale. Other less-traveled routes may also be affected by similar conditions as stronger storms moved through the area overnight Sunday. This post will be updated as ODOT surveys the damage on Monday morning. An overnight slide has closed U.S. 20 between Burns and Vale. The road may be closed for several days. Image courtesy of ODOT Check TripCheck.com for the latest information. Follow us on Twitter for the latest in commuting news: @trafficportland Body camera footage released from a Vancouver police shooting last month shows an armed man running from officers in the lot of a busy Safeway store, pulling a gun and firing at one responding officer before he was fatally shot and collapsed on the parking lot pavement. Joshua James Wilson, 43, of Vancouver, suffered multiple wounds to his chest, back and leg, according to the video, and was pronounced dead at the scene on May 30. Police said Wilson was a suspect in several armed robberies. Last months Vancouver police shooting was the first to have occurred since the department equipped its officers with body-worn cameras in February. The videos released came from body cameras worn by Vancouver police Officer Brandon Riedel and Detectives Colton Price and Aaron Yoder. A Clark County sheriffs Detective Zach Nielsen also fired shots but the sheriffs office has not yet issued cameras for its officers. About 5:30 p.m., a Vancouver police detective from the departments Neighborhood Response Team saw Wilson driving west in the 6700 block of E. Mill Plain Blvd. and knew he was wanted in multiple, recent armed robberies, according to Vancouver police. The detective called for backup and followed the car to the Safeway grocery store at East Mill Plain Boulevard and Andresen Road. Records show Wilsons recent home address was in an apartment building along East Mill Plain Boulevard. Police received a notice warning them that Wilson was armed and had allegedly made comments that he would shoot police rather than be taken into custody, investigators said. Police said Wilson walked out of the Safeway, and when he spotted the officers, he dropped a bag he was carrying, showed a gun and ran through the parking lot. Body camera footage shows several officers armed with rifles running through the busy grocery store parking lot, yelling, Go! Go! Go! and Police! Get down or youre going to get shot! as they chased Wilson. Another officer pulled up closer to Wilson, as Wilson was seen running in front of a Northwest Medical Supply store at one end of the Vancouver strip mall. The officer emerged from the drivers seat of his patrol car, holding his gun, and yelled, Drop the gun! two times. A magnified and slowed-down version of his body camera video shows Wilson turned toward the officer and fired at least one shot, and the officer fired multiple rounds back, as Wilson continued to run away and then dove and dropped to the pavement. Several officers approached Wilson after he was on the ground, put chest patches on his wounds on his chest, back and legs while one began CPR compressions before paramedics arrived. A handgun could be seen on the ground near him. One officer cut away Wilsons shirt, revealing a swastika tattooed on his back. He was firing me at meI think Im good, one officer is heard saying to his colleagues. Vancouver police released body-camera footage from three officers but did not identify what video belonged to which officer. The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, led by the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office, is continuing to investigate the shooting. -- 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 A man outside the Oregon Zoo who pushed a knife into the back of a woman as she was taking her daughters, 2 and 4, out of their car seats in July 2006 died in prison Sunday. Jere Ryder, 66, was serving a nearly 70-year sentence at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution and died at the infirmary, state officials said Monday. The Oregon Medical Examiners Office has not disclosed a cause of death. On July 26, 2006, Ryder approached a mother in the parking lot of the Oregon Zoo and told her to put her children back in the car if she wanted them to live, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported after his 2007 sentencing in Multnomah County Circuit Court. He ordered the mom back into the car but she was able to escape, and employees from the nearby World Forestry Center helped her. Ryder was a sex offender at the time of the attack, having previously been convicted of rape in 1974. But he had not registered as such for several years. A psychologist who evaluated Ryder as part of the 2006 case and deemed Ryder at serious risk of reoffending later faced questions about his professional conduct. Beth Slovic; bslovic@oregonian.com; 503-221-8551 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Police arrested two teens following a shooting that injured one person in Vancouver Sunday evening. The injured 21-year-old man was taken to a nearby hospital in a private car and is expected to live, police said in a statement Monday. Officers responded to reports of a disturbance in the 11300 block of Northeast 51st Circle at 9:20 p.m. Police said a large group was fighting in a parking lot, and witnesses told police they heard multiple gunshots. Police arrested a 16-year-old who had a gun at the scene, but they said they do not believe he was the shooter. A 17-year-old was arrested at an apartment building in the 4900 block of Northeast Plomondon Street, police said. A SWAT team assisted officers in the arrest, and the teen was booked into Clark County juvenile detention center for first-degree assault. Police are still investigating the shooting. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 This college admissions season, hundreds of thousands of high school seniors around the world applied for a spot at some of the nations most selective colleges with the hopes of attending a school of high regard and proving themselves worthy of a rare acceptance. While few of the nations top schools crack Oregons list of most applied-to colleges which is dominated by public and private universities in Oregon each year, ambitious Oregon graduates are among those chasing entry to the Ivy League, Stanford University and other ultra-elite universities Come fall, some will be attending these highly-ranked colleges and marveling at red brick, ivy-covered walls, stucco towers and palm trees, and everything in between. But many more are denied access at the impenetrable gate via a college rejection letter. Why do prestigious schools continue to appeal to applicants? Some students say its reputation, including for academic rigor. Others are drawn in by the promise and vindication of attending a talked-about institution. While for some Portland-area teens, the goal of becoming a distinguished-school student comes true, many more find themselves unsure what to do after learning their love for a top college is unrequited. McDaniel High School senior Grace Ohs college search started with word of mouth. Since neither of her parents went to college, she ended up applying to prominent schools suggested to her by peers and mentors. Ohs initial top choice was Oberlin, a liberal arts college in Ohio ranked in the top 50 by US News and World Report. She was excited for what the rank had to offer her. I want to have the best opportunities that I can get, Oh said, and it felt like if I go to a school with more name recognition, thats where Ill be able to get those opportunities. But when she found herself rejected from Oberlin and other top liberal arts schools, Oh felt embarrassed to admit it to her friends. She thought that getting into a top school would make the people around her more proud of the effort she put into her academics. When I imagined going [somewhere] prestigious, I imagined a different version of myself, Oh said. Someone who was more disciplined, and more social. Now, she feels content with her decision committing to the University of California, Santa Cruz. I imagine going as I am now, and still being able to succeed, Oh said. McDaniel High School senior Grace Oh will be attending the University of California, Santa Cruz in the fall. Oh initially wanted to attend Oberlin, and felt that a top-name school would give her the best opportunities.Courtesy Grace Oh The glamor and allure of highly-ranked institutions has become an internet phenomenon. Many high school seniors film their reactions to college decisions on YouTube. The prestige craze occurs most often with students who are already performing well in their classes, said Karen Stabeno, an independent Portland-based college consultant. Most students that are looking at [top schools] are kids that have worked very hard, Stabeno said. Theyve really positioned themselves to be able to be a serious applicant. Cate Latimer, who graduated from Portlands Ida B. Wells High School on Monday, is headed to Brown University As someone who has always been academically competitive, Latimer wanted a school with a rigorous,challenging courseload. While she knows Brown is the best fit for her in ways outside of its reputation, she acknowledges its elite staus was part of her decision making. Its really hard to not have prestige play kind of a role, Latimer said. I tried my best to go away from that but its kind of difficult. Others decide thats not what they want. Beaverton High School senior Claire Lowry considered applying to Cornell, an Ivy League school, before she withdrew her application. Lowry found that although she felt there was pressure from her parents to see if she could get into an Ivy, she didnt want to go to a school that had such a competitive atmosphere. Youre putting a lot of effort and time and money to be there, Lowry said. She instead committed to Carnegie Mellon, a private university in Pittsburgh that is only slightly less selective than Cornell. Fellow Beaverton High senior Cinder Denis-Lopez used to dream of Harvard University, a school with a 4% acceptance rate, after enjoying a trip to its Boston-area campus. But then I got older and realized Ill have to be very determined if I want to make that happen. I would be satisfied just going to university here, Denis-Lopez said. She will be going to Portland Community College in the fall, and plans from there to transfer to Portland State University. Ultimately, while thousands of teens may find their homes in the hallowed halls of a prestigious university, millions more will end up on a different path- most likely at the Oregon public universities and community colleges that take in the majority of the states college-goers. Everyone has their own path, and if we start to value people depending on values weve placed on institutions, its kind of a recipe for disaster, said Lowry. Oh agrees, emphasizing the importance of a good fit over a good name. Its fine to go somewhere where youre gonna be comfortable. Its cool to go somewhere that youre gonna have fun, she said. Its still a good education. This story was written by Youth Voices contributor Hannah Kaufmann, a junior at Beaverton High School. Kaufmann is a graduate of The Oregonian/OregonLives High School Journalism Institute and co-editor in chief of her schools online newspaper, The Hummer. Kaufmann plans on continuing her writing journey next year and in college. Last week, lawyers for an anonymous victim of billionaire sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein asked the court to again depose JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. This week, the bank threw in the towel, settling with Epstein victims who claim the bank knew of his activities and facilitated them. The unnamed woman filed the complaint last year, alleging the bank knowingly benefited from and facilitated Epstein's sex trafficking operation. The woman, who alleges she was raped and trafficked, sued on behalf of a "large number" of other victims of that operation. The judge in the case hadn't yet ruled whether the case should have class action status. The bank's litigation with the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Epstein matter remains, however. Its claims against former executive Jes Staley, who was friends with Epstein, are also active, the bank said. JPMorgan argues that Staley is responsible for any civil liability a jury might find in the Epstein case. It is also looking to claw back more than $80 million in pay from the former executive.The announcement didn't disclose the terms of the settlement. Last month, Deutsche Bank, where Epstein became a client after he was forced out by JPMorgan in 2013, settled with Epstein victims for $75 million. JPMorgan only got rid of Epstein after five years of staff raising concerns about keeping him as a client after following his Florida conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. The settlement was announced in a brief letter published by JPMorgan Chase and the plaintiff's lawyers. Beyonce, one of the most popular and beloved musical artists of the generation, kicked off her Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden last month. On Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m., she will head to the Pacific Northwest for her Seattle show at Lumen Field. Even though a lot of fans already got tickets through the fan club and lottery process earlier this year, there are still relatively reasonably priced seats still available through Vivid Seats, Stub Hub, and Ticketmaster. Through a special arrangement, if you are purchasing tickets for the first time through Vivid Seats, use our special discount promo code Oregon20 at checkout to save $20 on orders of $200 or more for the event you plan on attending. Cheapest Beyonce Seattle tickets: Vivid Seats - $101 | Stub Hub - $129 | Ticketmaster - $133 Best Beyonce Seattle Club Renaissance seats for the price: Vivid Seats - $149 | Stub Hub - $1724 | Ticketmaster - $1850 More upcoming Summer events and concerts: How to find the cheapest Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets for the Pacific Northwest Every show coming to Portlands Moda Center this June Every major show and concert coming to Portland this summer Here are all the major concerts and events coming to Bend this Summer Operatic voices reverberate throughout a quaint bar on North Mississippi Avenue a typical Tuesday night for the musical regulars that frequent Mendelssohns, Portlands one-of-a-kind classical music-themed bar. Tucked in the bustling Boise neighborhood, Mendelssohns has become a gathering place for Portlands musicians to sip on themed drinks, sing ballads from the high stage and meet other people interested in classical music. Less than a year old, the bar was recently named one of Esquire magazines Best Bars in America one of only two Portland bars to make the cut. Mendelssohns opened in June 2022 by musician and direct descendant of composer Felix Mendelssohn, Lisa Lipton. As Executive Director of both the Opera Theater Oregon and the Newport Symphony, her expertise, lineage and charisma have all played a part in the bars success during the last year. Born from a desire to meet the growing needs of the classical music community and have a space to gather and practice, Mendelssohns invites patrons of all kinds to step in and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of classical music. The space was curated by Lipton and shows of some of her favorite pieces and functional instruments used in local opera productions. The walls are lined with antiques, records and art pieces, while a raised stage in the back corner boasts live music amateur and professional. One of their most popular events, Operaoke, draws a large crowd. Every other Tuesday night, musicians are given the opportunity to step into the dimly-lit bar and take over the stage, enchanting the audience with their best arias and ballads. Of course, non-musicians are more than encouraged to participate in the reverie no song is off-limits. Alex Trull, a Mendelssohns regular, frequently hosts Operaoke and opened the show this past Tuesday with accompanist Colin Shepard. HERE IS OREGON: HereisOregon.com | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok Welcoming the crowd to the evenings festivities, the duo scale the stairs to the high stage tucked in the back corner of the bar. Trulls head barely clears the rafters once hes settled. A hush falls over the audience as the opening notes pour through the room. The crowd is sparse at first, but over the next two hours, the bar gets more lively as more performers take to the stage, convinced by Trull to try their hand at a new song or duet. Built to encourage participation in classical music and introduce newcomers into the scene, Mendelssohns demystifies classical music and gives musicians a place to perform in front of an accepting audience. Its a very unique experience, Trull said. Youre so far away from the audience that it feels like youre just playing. It takes you out of that professional, high stakes and high pressure setting because it doesnt feel like youre performing for people like it would be if you were on a stage or in an audition. On Operaoke nights, Mendelssohn's is filled with regulars and newcomers. We spend so much time preparing and working on this craft, Lipton said. You dont often get the opportunity to play or sing or do these pieces that are lesser known. So this is kind of an avenue to do that. In addition to their communal karaoke events, the bar invites plenty of musicians to perform. With a packed schedule for June, there are events catered to a variety of audiences featuring instrumental, folk and operatic styles. Extending the reach of classical music is one of the integral functions that Mendelssohns serves. I dont ever want to shut anything out because I think whats important moving forward for classical music and the whole dynamic is to be more inviting and more accessible, Lipton said. As an art form, I feel like sometimes [classical music] can have these barriers. You can find Mendelssohns full June schedule here and follow them on their Instagram for updates and last minute performance announcements here. The bar is located at 3955 N. Mississippi Ave. Chiara Profenna 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com; @chiara_profenna Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe A San Jose couples Hawaiian honeymoon ended in tragedy this month on the island of Oahu. Steven Phan, 49, had been married for three months when he and his new wife, Brittany, traveled to the islands to celebrate their nuptials. Phan, an avid traveler, vanished June 1 while snorkeling off Electric Beach, a popular destination on southwestern Oahu 25 miles from Honolulu. The past year has brought tremendous change in Oregons newspaper landscape, with the closure of the Mail Tribune in Medford and the struggles of the Register-Guard and Statesman-Journal under corporate ownership. Business reporter Jeff Manning took a extensive look at the decline of the two longstanding daily newspapers in the Willamette Valley. He found the corporate ownership of the papers resulted in diminished newsrooms and resources for reporting. Just six people remain in the Register-Guards newsroom, for instance. Since his article was published, the Albany Democrat Herald and Corvallis Gazette Times, which share ownership, announced they would reduce print publication to just three days a week and move to the postal service for delivery. The Oregonian/OregonLive moved to four-day home delivery 10 years ago, while still publishing seven days a week. On this episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, Editor Therese Bottomly discusses Mannings findings with him and also Regina Lawrence, lead author on last years report, Assessing Oregons Local News and Information Ecosystem 2022. Along with co-author Agora Journalism Center Director Andrew DeVigal, Lawrence described in detail the decline of local newsrooms as well as the cost to local communties in terms of civic engagement and public oversight. Both Lawrence and Manning point to bright spots as well: increased collaboration among Oregon news organizations and the rise of some online-only newsrooms around the state such as the Salem Reporter, the Oregon Capital Chronicle, YachatsNews and more. As well, locally owned EO Media Group moved to establish a new Rogue Valley publication and the Grants Pass Daily Courier expanded into Medford as well. Heres the full episode: Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get new episodes each week. You can support local journalism by becoming a subscriber to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Explore more of our podcasts and sign up to get newsletters for the latest news and top stories. About 150 physicians oppose watering down a bill on abortion rights and gender-affirming care that is at the heart of the Senate walkout and currently the subject of intense negotiations. Republicans have stalled the Senate by walking out since May 3, partly over House Bill 2002 on abortion, gender-affirming care and other reproductive rights. Democrats have said it is one of their priorities. OPB reported Monday, and the Capital Chronicle confirmed, that Democrats are considering softening language that would allow a child of any age to receive an abortion without parental consent. That provision is one that the physicians a group of pediatricians, obstetricians and family medicine doctors from across the state said should stay in the bill in a letter sent to all lawmakers at the beginning of the month. The letter, from physicians in La Grande to Portland and Corvallis to Medford, said the bill protects the ability of providers to give confidential abortion care to pre-teens and adolescents, and especially for those whove been sexually assaulted or abused. As providers, we believe young people deserve compassion, understanding and support during what could be a defining moment in their life, the letter said. The physicians said most children involve their parents in their decision to seek an abortion and that providers always try to involve parents when its safe, but they said those protections are needed for young people who could be harmed by parental notification. Requiring parental involvement could put young people who are victims of sexual abuse in harms way and prevent them from receiving the timely and critical care they need, resulting in psychological harm, the letter said. It is also important that minors who are pregnant receive immediate care without unnecessary barriers due to the physical toll pregnancy takes on their bodies. Under Oregon law, anyone 15 and older has the right to obtain an abortion without parental consent. House Bill 2002 would allow a child of any age to seek an abortion on their own. OPB reported that Democrats are moving towards changing the language, allowing a health care provider to override the need for parental consent in cases in which the child otherwise could face harm. It also reported that Democrats would kill a provision in the bill allowing abortion services on college campuses and in rural parts of the state. The physicians indicated they would not support that change, praising the provisions. We know not all students can afford this care, and many are forced to go off-campus to receive care every month, inconveniencing students and interfering with their coursework, the letter said. The bill also closes gaps in care that young people in rural communities experience. The physicians said that in the rare instances when its not safe for the child to alert their parents of the need for an abortion, they are instructed by a guideline, or standard of care, to involve a trusted adult. Health care providers are trained to screen carefully and take action when there are any signs or history of abuse, neglect, trafficking or sexual violence, the letter said. These are very difficult circumstances that licensed health care professionals are equipped to navigate with the health and safety of their young patient in mind. Republicans Republican lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, have said in abuse cases they would prefer involving a judge making the decision about parental notification. The physicians, however, said they they oppose involving judicial involvement. To leave a decision so significant, and, in many cases, life-saving, up to the whims of a judge rather than a trusted medical provider and their patient is downright cruel, the letter said This is not a viable alternative, as it limits providers ability to deliver timely care. Rumors had circulated earlier that Democrats were considering setting up judicial involvement in cases of children younger than 15 to appease Republican concerns. Reporter Ben Botkin contributed to this story. -- Lynne Terry, Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy. Fox News, none too please with ousted host Tucker Carlson's new Twitter show, has sent him a cease-and-desist letter. Perhaps the network was triggered when they found out their former conspiracy theorist received a total of 169 million views [oops, see update below] for his first two episodes, which compete with Fox's misinformation. But according to Axios, who first broke the story, Carlson did breach his contract with Fox, who still pays him and "maintains that his contract keeps his content exclusive to Fox through Dec. 31, 2024." Of course Carlson, via his lawyers, are outraged. "Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election," Carlson lawyer Harmeet Dhillon told Axios. "Tucker will not be silenced by anyone," she continued. "He is a singularly important voice on matters of public interest in our country, and will remain so." From NBC News: Fox News general counsel Bernard Gugar said the former prime-time host was "in breach" of his contract with the network. The contract, signed in November 2019 and amended in February 2021, limits his ability to appear on other media outlets. In a statement, Bryan Freedman another attorney for Carlson insisted that any legal action by Fox News would infringe on the television personality's First Amendment rights. "Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds," Freedman said. "Now they want to take Tucker Carlson's right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events." [UPDATE: 10:35 am] According to Mediate, the 169 million viewers touted by Carlson and crew are actually fudged: After reading "The Great Big Book of Families" at a Los Angeles Unified School District's board meeting, President Jackie Goldberg's remarks were so fantastic and spot on; everyone in America should hear this. Faced with angry protestors whose hate was fuelled by imaginary wrongs, Goldberg's passion, simplicity, and the obvious truth of her words ring like a bell. Regardless of protests at some schools, the LA Unified School Board unanimously adopted a resolution in support of the LBGTQA+ community, proclaiming June as Pride Month. Yahoo: The adoption came after Jackie Goldberg, president of the board, read from a children's book titled The Great Big Book of Families and gave an impassioned speech. Some parents at Saticoy Elementary School in the North Hollywood section of L.A. had protested over a Pride assembly at the school that included the reading of that book, and during the protest there were physical altercations between protesters and counterprotesters. A Pride flag was burned at one point. Goldberg noted that the book has one sentence that says some families have two mothers or two fathers. Parents of Saticoy students had been told their children didn't have to attend the assembly if the parents or children were uncomfortable with it, she said. "I've been confronting this issue my entire life," Goldberg, a lesbian, longtime activist, and former Los Angeles City Council member, said after reading from the book. "I have been threatened. I have been harassed. I have been denied jobs because of who I am and who I love." Featured Image: YouTube/Screen Grab Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The chairman of the High Council of State, Khaled al-Mechri on Sunday briefed several ambassadors in Libya on the outcome of the 6 + 6 Commission on laws regulating the electoral process Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation, Ali al-Abed, has announced the launch of a campaign to combat the double employment of workers in the public and private sectors Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Mission of Support in Libya (UNSMIL) has called on the Libyan authorities to put an end to the mass arbitrary detention of migrants and asylum seekers, and treat migrants with dignity and humanity in accordance with their international obligations San Francisco seems to adopt a policy of terrorizing the homeless population into leaving. Limiting bathroom access across the city has certainly not had the desired effect. Still, rather than learn a lesson, it seems the city has merely expanded the public services it wants to keep homeless people away from WIFI. Due to unhoused people using it, the Harvey Milk Library now turns off the WIFI at night. KQED: "We are here, and they feel we don't deserve to have Wi-Fi because we're homeless. It's spiteful, is what it is," said Hollywood, who didn't provide his last name and lives unhoused in the area surrounding San Francisco's Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library. City and library officials said the change was made after neighbors in the area complained that the free Wi-Fi was part of what attracted unhoused people to the area and contributed to crime.'For those who are trapped in poverty and have many other circumstances that make daily existence difficult, it is even more challenging if you're not connected to the internet.'Sunne Wright McPeak, CEO, California Emerging Technology Fund Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, whose district includes the library branch, pushed neighbors' concerns forward and requested that the library cut off Wi-Fi in the evenings, email records uncovered by Twitter user HDizz show. Public internet access is a vital resource, even more so to unhoused people with few other options for accessing our increasingly online economy and society. Stripping it away to make someone go elsewhere is pretty inhumane. The SF Supervisor within whose district the library resides pushed the library to shut it down, but when asked about turning it back on, it seems he can not be bothered. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, Monday announced the launch of the national strategy project for the early detection of cancer, following the formation of an authority to combat it Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Monday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of resorting to directly shelling and killing civilians to smear its foes Photo: (Photo : Spencer Platt / Getty Images) New York City has taken a significant step towards healthcare transparency with the passage of the Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act. The groundbreaking legislation, sponsored by City Council Member Julie Menin, aims to bring transparency to hospital pricing and empower New Yorkers with the information they deserve. The bill establishes the first-of-its-kind Office of Healthcare Accountability in the city, which will compile and disclose the prices charged by various hospitals for medical procedures. Transparent Hospital Pricing: Shedding Light on Cost Disparities According to The New York Post, under the Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act, New Yorkers will gain access to clear and comprehensive pricing information for medical procedures offered by private and public hospitals in the city. The proposal for the new passage in New York City holds the potential to generate substantial savings for the city, estimated to reach up to $2 billion annually. This cost reduction is expected to be achieved through the bill's provisions aimed at driving down healthcare expenses and improving the affordability of medical services for the city. This newfound transparency will enable consumers to make informed decisions about their healthcare and avoid exorbitant charges. The bill seeks to address the alarming fluctuations in pricing observed among different private hospitals for the same procedures. The impetus behind the bill stems from concern over private hospitals charging exorbitant prices while benefiting from city property tax breaks. A study conducted by the labor organization 32BJ Health Fund revealed stark differences in pricing for procedures such as cesarean sections and outpatient colonoscopies. For example, according to Our Town, Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx charged approximately $55,077 for a cesarean section, while the publicly funded NYC Health + Hospitals branches only charged $17,681 for the same procedure. Similarly, New York-Presbyterian billed $10,368 for an outpatient colonoscopy, compared to the significantly lower cost of $2,185 at publicly funded NYC Health + Hospitals. With the passage of the Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act, New York City aims to revolutionize healthcare by bringing transparency to prices and holding hospitals accountable for their billing practices. The bill not only establishes the Office of Healthcare Accountability but also mandates the creation of a website that lists the prices charged by hospitals for various medical procedures. This central repository of information will shine a spotlight on pricing disparities, paving the way for actions to bring down healthcare costs. Read Also: Child Labor Violations: Meatpacking, Produce Companies in 11 States Under Scrutiny in Federal Investigation Opposition and Overwhelming Support The powerful hospital industry lobby, the Greater New York Hospitals Association, opposed the bill, citing economic pressures faced by hospitals, including insufficient Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement. However, as per the Daily News, the New York City Council was not swayed by these arguments and passed the bill with a unanimous vote of 50-0. Supporters of the bill, including Council Member Julie Menin, emphasize the importance of ending the hidden costs and price gouging that have plagued the healthcare system for far too long. Menin highlights the unique nature of the healthcare industry, where consumers often have no idea about the costs they will face for services rendered. The Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act is expected to bring about significant changes in the healthcare landscape in New York City. By providing accessible and transparent pricing information, the bill empowers consumers to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Additionally, the bill addresses the issue of charitable and community care provided by not-for-profit private hospitals by requiring disclosure of city tax breaks. Failure to comply with these measures may result in the revocation of tax breaks. The bill now awaits the approval of Mayor Eric Adams, who has expressed his support for the legislation. Once implemented, the Office of Healthcare Accountability will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance and monitoring the transparency and fairness of hospital pricing in New York City. The pursuit of transparent hospital pricing and increased accountability is a significant stride towards achieving affordable and accessible healthcare for all New Yorkers. Related Article: New Louisiana Legislation May Require Parental Permission for Kids' Online Activities Photo: (Photo : JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images) Four children who were missing for over a month in the Amazon jungle have been found alive, thanks to their resourcefulness and their ability to sustain themselves by consuming cassava flour. Special forces of the Colombian military found the children, who had survived a plane crash that tragically claimed their mother's life. According to CNN, The use of their indigenous knowledge and their consumption of the nutrient-rich flour played a vital role in their survival during their harrowing ordeal. The four children, identified as Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy (13), Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy (9), Tien Ranoque Mucutuy (4), and infant Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy, were found in the Amazon jungle, malnourished but conscious and lucid. According to New York Post, they relied on their indigenous background and their understanding of the jungle environment to find sustenance and avoid harmful elements. Initially, they were able to survive by consuming about three kilograms (six pounds) of farina, a coarse cassava flour that is popular among indigenous tribes. However, as their provisions ran out, they embarked on a search for food and water to stay alive. Power of Indigenous Knowledge The children's ability to navigate the jungle and their knowledge of edible resources were key factors in their survival. Their indigenous origins provided them with certain immunities against diseases prevalent in the Amazon, and their familiarity with the environment allowed them to identify safe food sources. Their resilience and adaptability in such a hostile environment are a testament to their upbringing and cultural heritage. Following their rescue, the children were airlifted to a hospital in Bogota, Colombia, for medical care. Although they are dehydrated and unable to consume solid food at the moment, they are reported to be in stable condition. The priority now is to stabilize their health and provide them with the necessary support for a full recovery. According to The Guardian, the children's mother, Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, tragically lost her life in the plane crash that left the children stranded in the jungle. Colombian authorities launched an extensive search operation involving over one hundred special forces troops and indigenous scouts. The dedication and perseverance of the search teams were vital in locating the children and providing hope to their worried relatives and the entire community. Read Also: Newlywed Florida Couple Dies in Plane Crash While Documenting Honeymoon Remarkable Survival Story The incredible journey of these four children has captivated the nation and garnered attention worldwide. Their resourcefulness, resilience, and the support they received from both indigenous knowledge and the dedicated search teams highlight the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Colombian President Gustavo Petro celebrated their return and emphasized that their survival would be remembered as a significant moment in history. The children, once children of the jungle, are now embraced as children of Colombia. The survival of these four children in the Amazon jungle for over 40 days is a testament to the power of human resilience and the importance of cultural knowledge. Through their reliance on cassava flour and their indigenous upbringing, they were able to sustain themselves until their rescue. Their story serves as a reminder of the incredible strength that can be found within individuals, even in the most challenging circumstances. Related Article: Colombian President Reveals Miraculous Survival of Missing Children in Amazon Rainforest for 40 Days A new report from a tech site called HuaweiCentral (HC) Newsroom, not a Huawei official newsroom report, states that "Vision Pro" is owned by Huawei. The report stated that "According to the patent application, Huaweis Vision Pro trademark has registration number 38242888. This application has exclusive rights of trademark use from November 28, 2021, to November 27, 2031." Patently Apple went to China's Mainland Patent and Trademark Office this morning to retrieve the trademark application first-hand, as presented below. (Click on trademark application image below to Enlarge) The trademark 'Vision Pro' is indeed owned by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, Bantian Huawei Headquarters Office Building, Longgang District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province." Huawei filed their trademark under International Class 9 (referenced as 901); The basics of what is covered under this class includes; "Computer storage devices; Recorded computer programs; Computer keyboards; Recorded computer operating programs; Electronic pens; Flexible flat-panel displays for computers; Stands for tablet computers; Video image printers; Downloadable computer application software; Tablet computers; Computers Software (recorded); connector (data processing equipment); mouse (computer peripheral equipment); integrated circuit card; notebook computer." However, when you click on the "details" link related to class 901on the trademark application, it further covers a longer list of devices covered. More importantly it covers; Wearable computers, Smart Glasses; Head-Mounted Virtual Reality Devices; Wearable video displays. On record, Huawei has a webpage describing "Huawei Eyewear" using the brand Huawei Vision. Yet we now know that they've reserved "Vision Pro" trademark for a likely future eyewear product. (Click on image to Enlarge) Last Week, Patently Apple posted a trademark report that covered the figurative version of the trademark "Apple Vision Pro," in Hong Kong and Europe. Considering that China is one of Apple's largest markets, it would appear that Apple's new headset brand of "Apple Vision Pro," may in fact be challenged by Huawei. Would Apple allow Huawei to sell a product called "Huawei iPhone" or Huawei MacBook etc.? Absolutely not. So Adding the prefix "Apple" to Vision Pro in text or figuratively, is likely not going to be allowed in China. On the weekend, Patently Apple posted an IP report titled "Apple Files for Mystery Trademark 'Apple Reality' in Europe, New Zealand and more." Is this Apple's backup plan or is this for something else? Rumors based on shell company trademark filings cover a wide range of options such as "Reality One," "Reality Pro," for the headset and "RealOS," "RealityOS," for the headset's operating system. Unless there's some technical legal work-around available to Apple to keep "Apple Vision Pro," it looks as though Huawei has a case to stop Apple from using the trademark in China. Mark Gurman also noted last week that there's a WWDC developer video training session wherein the rumored term of xrOS was mentioned 45 times. This would seem to indicate that Apple's VisionOS trademark was even hidden from their Engineers until the very last moment. Whether Apple will change their branding prior to their Spatial Computer is released 2024 or decide to fight this out in court on the basis that their headset is primarily a "Spatial Computer" and not simply a VR/AR Head-Mounted device is unknown at this time. Then again, Apple didn't list "Spatial Computer or Spatial Computing" under their International Class 009 in Hong Kong. So even that argument wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Lastly, while Huawei filed for this trademark in 2019, it still hasn't been granted as a registered trademark. Though being years ahead of Apple, I doubt that Apple will be able to stop it from being registered considering that Huawei already has a well-established eyewear product in existence today under the Huawei Vision branding. Can Apple pull a rabbit out of their hat for this trademark? While doubting Apple isn't a wise move, this time it looks like a lost cause. Then again, stay tuned. Have an opinion? Send in your comments below or on our Twitter Feed. Charles W. Penrose (18321925) was born into a relatively prosperous family in London, England. When, at eighteen years of age, he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850, his mother who was by then a widow disowned him and, albeit sorrowfully, he left her behind along with his three sisters. Approximately a year after his baptism, Penrose was called to serve as a missionary for the Church throughout England. A descendant later wrote of him: After having been accustomed to the luxuries of life, it indeed took a brave heart and great faith to leave it all and go out as a missionary without purse or scrip to find shelter and food the best he could, depending entirely upon the Lord. During all this time, in fact throughout his life, he had in his heart the deep sorrow of leaving his mother, who was a widow, and his sisters. [Kate B. Carter, comp., Heart Throbs of the West (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1948), 3:81.] Elder Penrose wanted to emigrate to the American Zion in the Great Basin West, but repeated extensions of his mission prevented him from doing so until 1861 a full decade after his first mission call. At that point, he and his wife (whom he had converted to the Church) sailed with their three children to North America, subsequently arriving in Utah Territory by ox team. Charles W. Penrose would eventually fulfill three additional missions in his native England. In 1904, he was named a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and then, in 1911, he was called into the First Presidency. Until his death at age ninety-three, he served as a counselor to Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant. Elder Penrose wrote the lyrics to several hymns. One of them is O ye mountains high (set to music by H. S. Thompson), which takes on additional meaning when one realizes that it was written during his first mission, when he was yearning deeply to gather with the Saints in their Great Basin kingdom as other British converts were doing all around him. He had never yet seen America, let alone the settlements of the Saints in the distant West: O ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky Arches over the vales of the free, Where the pure breezes blow and the clear streamlets flow, How Ive longed to your bosom to flee! O Zion! dear Zion! land of the free, Now my own mountain home, unto thee I have come; All my fond hopes are centered in thee. Tho the great and the wise all thy beauties despise, To the humble and pure thou art dear; Tho the haughty may smile and the wicked revile, Yet we love thy glad tidings to hear. O Zion! dear Zion! home of the free, Tho thou wert forced to fly to thy chambers on high, Yet well share joy and sorrow with thee. In thy mountain retreat, God will strengthen thy feet; Without fear of thy foes thou shalt tread; And their silver and gold, as the prophets have told, Shall be brought to adorn thy fair head. O Zion! dear Zion! home of the free, Soon thy towers shall shine with a splendor divine, And eternal thy glory shall be. Here our voices well raise, and well sing to thy praise, Sacred home of the prophets of God. Thy delivrance is nigh; thy oppressors shall die; And thy land shall be freedoms abode. O Zion! dear Zion! land of the free, In thy temples well bend; all thy rights well defend; And our home shall be ever with thee. Happily, it is no longer necessary, in order to receive the fulness of the ordinances offered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to enjoy all of its programs, for Church members to gather to North America. The United Kingdom has wards, stakes, and crucially temples. The London England Temple was dedicated in September of 1958 by President David O. McKay. (It is actually located in Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey.) President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Preston England Temple in June 1998. (It actually stands in Chorley, near Preston.) And, in April 2022, President Russell M. Nelson announced the Churchs intention to construct a third British temple in or near Birmingham. Our group attended sacrament services this morning in the Chorley 2nd Ward, which meets in a beautiful stake center that is part of the gorgeously landscaped grounds of the Preston England Temple (which also include a missionary training center). Then we strolled over to the temple itself, taking photographs and listening to our expert guide, Peter Fagg, tell us more about the history of the Latter-day Saints in the British Isles. I hope that Heber C. Kimball and other early missionaries were granted at least some glimpse of the London and Preston temples. However, the music going through my head over the past couple of days in Lancashire, in the Preston area and the Ribble Valley, hasnt only been hymnal. Ive noticed many signs indicating roads to Blackburn, which has had me humming the rather enigmatic Beatles song A Day in the Life: I read the news todayoh, boy: 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire. And though the holes were rather small They had to count them all. Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall. Leaving the temple grounds today, we drove to Liverpool, where we saw sights and sites related to the early history of the Church here in the British Isles and to the scores of thousands of Latter-day Saints who emigrated via the citys massive docks. Posted from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England Preliminaries; God Hardens Hearts?; Few or Many Saved? The late Steve Hays (1959-2020) was a Calvinist (and anti-Catholic) apologist, who was very active on his blog, called Triablogue . His 819-page self-published book, Biblical Calvinism has graciously been made available for free. On 9 September 2006, Hays was extraordinarily charitable towards me (seeing that almost all anti-Catholics have treated me like Vlad the Impaler). He wrote then: ***** Taken by themselves, Reformed prooftexts might seem to beg the question by presupposing a Reformed interpretation thereof. (Arminian prooftexting is open to the same objection.) Ive gone beyond bare prooftexting to provide exegetical arguments for the Reformed interpretation. [p. 21] Good! And I will provide a countering Catholic (often similar or identical to an Arminian) interpretation. One of my favorite things and one of my favorite activities in theology and apologetics is engaging in exegetical dialogue. Hays loved this, too, but he wasnt much interested in dialoguing with Catholics about it. He didnt think he had much to learn from them (since he classified Catholicism as a counterfeit). I have a very different outlook. Although both Calvinists and Arminians have their one-verse prooftexts, Reformed theological method is based less on snappy one-liners than tracing out the flow of argument or narrative arc in larger blocks of Scripture (e.g. Gen 37-50; Exod 4-14; Isa 40-48; Jn 6, 10-12, 17; Rom 9-11; Eph 1-2, 4). [p. 121] This is a good thing; the more context and more Scripture considered overall, the better. I still think that Calvinists are prone to trotting out the same prooftexts (or scriptural sections like those above), and largely disregarding others which might be construed as counter-arguments, or at the very least, relevant to a particular topic. I hasten to add, however, that every theological group tends to do this (the Bible being a very long and multi-faceted collection of books). Why do Calvinists keep bringing the issue back to Scripture? Because Christianity is a revealed religion. Because only God knows his own mind. We lack direct access to the mind of God. Intentions are hidden. We dont know Gods intentions unless he tells us. Thats not something we can intuit or infer from the natural order. [p. 54] All good reasons. I agree! In my apologetics, I cite as much or more Scripture than anyone I am aware of. Often in dialogues with Protestants I cite probably ten times or more more Bible passages than they do: all relevant to the discussion. So we have this desire very much in common. And its really the bottom-line, in discussions of Catholics and Protestants, since we both equally revere Gods inspired, inerrant revelation. Good, constructive dialogues begin with what both parties agree with, and then move on to differences (in this case, exegetical and doctrinal ones). Hays and I could have truly had some great dialogues on biblical exegesis, but it takes two! He wasnt interested in that with me, even before he decided to trash my character and work. As it is, you my readers can see what an able Reformed exponent has to say, and I think I can hold my own, too. Youll get both sides presented: enabling you to make up your minds as to which is more believable and plausible. This is the beauty and utility of dialogue as a wonderful teaching tool. Arminians typically recast the issue in philosophical categories like causation, determinism, or causal determinism, then proceed to attack these categories. Although theres a place for framing the issue philosophically, thats not where we should begin. It makes the debate too abstract, as if this is just a debate over competing ideas or philosophical models. Its important to start with revealed truths. [p. 54] I agree again. Hays, on pages 55-61, presents Bible passages on predestination, Gods providence, and related notions. Catholics and Arminians dont disagree with any of these (being all inspired revelation!). Our problem with Calvinism is how it incorrectly incorporates the role of human free will and choice into the mix. Many (including Calvinists) arent aware that Catholics fully believe in predestination of the elect, and so did someone like John Wesley. Two thematic examples from his list of Scriptures will very nicely illustrate my point about the free will of man: And the Lord said to Moses, When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go (Exod 4:21). But I will harden Pharaohs heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt (Exod 7:3). [p. 58] I addressed this topic at length over fourteen years ago. The Bible does indeed state several times that God hardened Pharaohs heart. No one denies that. But if one reads only those passage it sure does sound like some sort of Calvinist determinism or fatalism doesnt it? The problem is that this is not all the Bible says about it. Hays neglected the many verses that discussed how Pharaoh hardened his own heart (and as such has not presented the whole truth), and others including the Israelites themselves also doing so. Here they are: Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, . . . (cf. 8:19) Exodus 8:32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go. Exodus 9:34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. (cf. 9:7, 35) 1 Samuel 6:6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? . . . (cf. additional general examples: Dt 15:7; 2 Chr 36:13; Job 9:4; Ps 95:8; Prov 28:14; Heb 3:8, 15; 4:7 How these two motifs are harmonized is by holding that Pharaoh rebelled of his own will, and that God in His providence allowed that for His own providential purposes. The Bible then attributes the attitude to God in the sense that in allowing it, He ultimately caused it. Its a biblical mode of talking about Gods providence. Man can choose to follow God and His precepts and commands or not. When we do not, we become more and more hardened. Man is responsible for his own sin. To assert that God did so-and-so when He simply allowed it to take place, is a proclamation of Gods overall Providence. God is communicating that He is ultimately in control. There is also a strong sarcastic element in this sort of biblical concept (that we see in Job and often in the prophets), as if God were saying, okay; you dont want to follow Me and do what is best for you? You know better than I do about that? Very well, then, Ill let you become blind and deluded. See how well off youll be then. Strictly speaking, that isnt how God thinks or acts, but it was an anthropomorphism to help practical, concrete, non-philosophical Hebrew man be able to relate to the mysterious, transcendent God. The bottom line is that men harden themselves in rebellion and God allows [without agreeing with] it. Hence we have in Scripture, many if . . . then conditional prophecies. If people rebel, God will withdraw His grace and protection from them, and so in a sense He did it. But it was always essentially mans rebellion: Joshua 24:20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good. 1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. 2 Chronicles 7:17-20 And as for you, if you walk before me, as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances,[18] then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, `There shall not fail you a man to rule Israel. [19] But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, [20] then I will pluck you up from the land which I have given you; and this house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 2 Chronicles 15:2 If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. [see many more examples] See how much Scripture I bring to bear? Hays provided two passages. I provided more than nineteen to show that his two have to be understood within the framework of all these other ultra-relevant passages (in other words, ten times more, as I alluded to above). This is a constant characteristic of my methodology in dialogue. If the Protestant wants Bible I give them plenty of that: sometimes more than they would wish or want to deal with! Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thes 2:11-12). [p. 60] His prooftext starts with a connecting word, therefore. Clearly, then, the preceding verse ought to be incorporated in able to determine the thought expressed in context. Therefore God refers back to something that men did. And so, sure enough, the verse before makes it crystal clear that God sent the delusion because these people had already decided to rebel against Him. Accordingly, the last part of the preceding verse refers to those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. In fact, verse 12, which Hays did include, refutes his interpretation as well, because it also explains why God sent the delusion, just as verse 10 did: all may be condemned who did not believe the truth. This passage reminds me of another very similar but more explicit one with the same dynamic: Romans 1:18-28 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; [21] for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. [26] For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. [28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. Everything is there. Paul explains exactly why God gave them up (1:24, 26, 28). The explanation is in two preceding verses, and the first half of v. 28 (1:23, 25, 28: they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images (idolatry) . . . because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature . . . since they did not see fit to acknowledge God . . . The causal flow is very clear: men rebel, and then God gives them up. Moreover, 1:18 sums up the dynamic of the whole passage: the wrath of God comes precisely because of the wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. How could this be any more clear than it is? The theme is repeated over and over so that no one could possibly miss or misconstrue it. I have color-coded the passage to show mens evil acts in red, which cause God to judge them and give them up (in green), with the connecting clauses in purple, bolded and italicized. On page 62, Hays presents biblical arguments for few being saved: Matthew 7:14 (For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few) and Luke 13:23-30 (13:24: Strive to enter by the narrow door . . .). These are good, solid arguments. But there are other indications that half or more human beings may be saved. In the parable of the ten maidens with lamps (Mt 25:1-13), five were foolish and were damned (the door was shut . . . I do not know you: 25:10, 12) and five were wise and received eternal life (went in with him to the marriage feast: 25:10). Its a 50-50 proposition. Hays referred to this parable in passing on page 63, but didnt analyze it as I did. The parable of the talents follows (25:14-30). Here, there are three servants, who are given five talents, two talents, and one talent [a form of money], respectively. The ones who are saved are the first two (enter into the joy of your master: 25:21, 23), while the servant with one talent, who did nothing with it, was damned (cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness: 25:30). So this parable suggests a 67% rate of final salvation and a 33% rate of damnation. If we take the average of the two, we arrive at a figure of 58.5% being saved in the end, and 41.5% damned. Who knows? Both are right from the lips of Jesus, and parables always mean something. Its interesting to ponder the implications. Hays (I was happy to see) didnt rule out the possibility that relatively more could be saved: * The version in Luke might suggest that the comparison is more specific. The point of contrast is not about the ratio lost and saved humanity in general, but the difference between the few Jews who respond to Jesus compared to many gentiles who respond to Jesus. On that view, perhaps the majority of the human race will be saved, but mostly drawn from gentile people-groups. [p. 63] * Jesus doesnt answer the question of whether few be saved. He probably leaves it up in the air as a stimulus to the reader. Each reader needs to answer that question for himself by heeding the warning and taking appropriate action. . . . Does the passage imply that only a few will be saved? We need to compare that with the messianic banquet in Lk 13:28-29. That evokes a motif in Isaiah (e.g. Isa 25:6-9; 26:5; 43:5; 49:12; 55:1-2), including the image of Gentiles flooding into Gods kingdom (Isa 59:19). That envisions a multitude. [p. 66] * A popular trope that critics of Calvinism mechanically resort to is the allegation that according to Calvinism, God reprobates most human beings. Problem with that allegation is that Calvinism has no official statement on the percentages. [p. 65] * Im glad to hear this. I thought that Calvinists taught that a small minority would be saved. * *** Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,300+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-one books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart! *** Photo credit: Portrait of John Calvin by Titian (1490-1576) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Summary: This is one of my many (often point-by-point) replies to the Exegetical Considerations section (pp. 20-186) of Steve Hays Biblical Calvinism book. Update, 6/30/2023: Reddits API changes begin on July 1, and so when the clock ticks over tomorrow, most third-party apps will cease working. And despite continued user protests, the site has largely reopened, due to Reddits increasingly draconian measures to quell rebellion. Redditor resentment still lingers, however (and is covered in excellent detail by The Verges recap of the situation), with large communities such as r/pics, r/gifs, and r/aww committed to their veiled dissent (only allowing posts about comedian John Oliver). Other subreddits have chosen to shift to restricted mode, which prevents new posts from being made. Whether users will adopt Reddits first-party apps or largely leave the site remains to be seen. Our original story continues below. If part of your regular habits is to peruse Reddit, a lot of your favorite subreddits (if not all of them) are offline right now. And some of them might not come backnot unless Reddit changes its mind about an upcoming policy change. For at least two days, you wont be able to read or interact with much of the site, due to a user-led protest in response to Reddits announcement of API changes on June 5. But while the blackout was initially set to begin on Monday and last for two days, commentary from Reddits CEO last week during a Friday Ask Me Anything thread threw additional fuel onto the flames of discontentprompting some subreddits to vow they wont come back unless the policy is changed. At the heart of the controversy is a new pricing plan, set to begin July 1: For every 1,000 API calls, developers will have to pay 24 cents USD. An API call is made every time the app fetches data from Reddits servers. Not long after the details broke, third-party app developers began telling users they would be unable to afford the upcoming costs and would likely have to shutter by June 30. Christian Selig, developer of Apollo for Reddit (one of the biggest third-party Reddit apps), estimated his fees would reach $20 million. Some communities have vowed to not return if Reddit doesnt change its stance on its new API call pricing, which so far remains the same. Talks between third-party app makers and Reddit have not gone well either. Selig claims that Reddit accused him of blackmail and other app developers say Reddit is not responding to inquiries. In the AMA thread, CEO Steve Huffman said of Selig: His behavior and communications with us has been all over the placesaying one thing to us while saying something completely different externally; recording and leaking a private phone callto the point where I dont know how we could do business with him. Selig lives in Canada, which only requires one-party consent for phone recordings; Huffman and Reddit are based in California, a two-party consent state. Many of the comments in response to Huffman in the AMA include vehement expletives. According to Reddark, a site keeping track of the number of offline subreddits in real time, over 7,800 subreddits have gone dark in solidarity with the blackout. Some of the biggest and most popular subreddits are part of the protest, including r/funny (with over 40 million subscribers), as well as r/gaming, r/todayilearned, and r/aww (with over 30 million subscribers each). The number has been growing since the start of Monday, tooso its possible that nearly the whole site could end up offline for the next 48 hours. That is, if it doesnt actually go down because of another service issue, which also struck the site on Monday morning. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has once again received international plaudits for its forward-thinking approach, as evidenced by its swift introduction of a regulatory sandbox for start-ups. Speaking as part of a panel during the Africa CEO Forum (ACF) Annual Summit in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, Miishe Addy co-founder and Chief Executive at e-logistics start-up Jetstream cited the sandbox as a critical tool for driving innovation and commended the BoG for taking the lead with its introduction. One of the tools needed to push innovation and harness emerging technology is a regulatory and innovation sandbox, and the Bank of Ghana has shown immense ambition in this regard, she said. Following a successful pilot, the BoG launched its Regulatory and Innovation Sandbox on August 19, 2022, aiming to create a favourable regulatory environment for innovation and financial inclusion by providing a controlled environment for testing innovative financial products and business models under regulatory supervision. The regulatory sandbox was opened to the first cohort of participants from February 13, 2023 to March 14, 2023. Eligible participants include various financial institutions and fintech start-ups. It supports digital business models not currently covered by regulations and aims to address financial inclusion challenges. Participants can test the viability of their offerings and address any issues before seeking regulatory approval. The sandbox is crucial for driving financial inclusion and developing reliable products and services for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a priority for products and services leveraging blockchain technology, remittance solutions, crowdfunding, electronic know your customer (e-KYC) platforms and more. The first cohort will focus on payment, remittance, crowdfunding and micro-lending innovations. As Ghana and the rest of the continent continue to position themselves as a hub for technology and innovation, fostering a supportive ecosystem for tech talent and expanding access will be vital steps in achieving its ambitious goals, Ms. Addy further stated. Talent pipeline The Jetstream chief also emphasised the pressing need for Ghana to establish a constant pipeline of tech talent in order to foster innovation and drive economic growth. She drew parallels with the dynamic relationship between Stanford University in the United States and Silicon Valley home to tech juggernauts Apple, Google, Microsoft, Tesla and Linkedin, among others. At the tech Mecca, the market capitalisation of the top-five companies is currently in excess of US$6trillion and their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019 stood at US$275billion, according to official data. Ms. Addy whose outfit earlier this year secured US$13million in equity and debt pre-Series A financing highlighted the role of educational policy and infrastructure development in supporting Ghanas burgeoning technology sector. She pointed out that the country is home to several relatively new universities such as Ashesi and Academic City, both less than 20 years old. However, these institutions, she said, have faced significant challenges in obtaining accreditation. To meet the requirements, they had to affiliate with existing universities resulting in delays when introducing critical courses such as artificial intelligence (AI). This delay meant that many students who graduated during this period missed out on the opportunity to study AI, a crucial field for future entrepreneurship and job opportunities. One of our engineers came from one of these universities, and he told me that it took them four years to get an artificial intelligence course approved, she said. To address this issue, the start-up founder stressed the importance of educational policies that promote innovation and equip students with the necessary skills for future success. By introducing courses in emerging technologies like AI, blockchain and data science, educational institutions can ensure that graduates are well-prepared for demands of the evolving job market. Encouraging and empowering young students to pursue these fields will help create a pool of talented individuals who can drive Ghanas technological advancement and contribute to the growth of local companies, she added. This comes as there is heightened conversation around the need to focus on improving connectivity infrastructure in the country. While acknowledging the digital nature of todays world, a significant portion of the population still lacks access to affordable and reliable Internet connectivity. This digital divide hinders the participation of a large segment of the population in the digital economy. To overcome this challenge, analysts have urged increased investments in infrastructure to expand Internet connectivity enabling more people to access educational resources, job opportunities and digital services. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video KGL Group, title sponsors of this years Ghana Investment and Opportunities Summit and led by its Executive Chairman and Board Chair of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Alex Apau Dadey, have strongly advocated for the inclusion of Ghanas Diaspora community in governments post-covid recovery programs. The highly attended summit had in attendance captains of industry, private sector entrepreneurs and CEOs, government officials, the United Kingdom diaspora community, Key partners from the UK government and chaired by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. Speaking on Day 1 of the GHIOS Summit held at the Hilton on Park Lane, London, Mr. Dadey stressed on the need for Ghanas Post- Covid and Russia-Ukraine conflict resurgence be led by a clear, concise and policy driven approach which is centered around the diaspora community. He stated, I stand here today, as a passionate advocate of Diaspora inclusion in our drive to transform the very structures of our economy. I remain passionate about guided investment, and not debt, as the preferred path for our transformational agenda. Alex Dadey, a successful entrepreneur with over 30 years experience working on both sides of the Atlantic stressed on the need for multilateral collaboration, diaspora socio-economic inclusion, and harnessing technology to break down barriers for business. He added, there are numerous opportunities for investors in the wake of Covid. Industries have evolved and thrived, building ecosystems that deliver value to all stakeholders. Ghana is a prime candidate for investors seeking post Covid emerging markets and I urge all our diaspora to take advantage or be left behind in the Boom that is to come. He also used himself as an example of a diasporan who has invested heavily in Ghana to much success. He added, for those Diasporas and investors who need encouragement to make up their minds to invest in Ghana, I can boldly state, without a shred of doubt, that the most successful period of my business life has been operating and investing in Ghana. The opportunities and rewards have been tremendous, and the success of the KGL Group of companies, bears testimony to this. Ghana, admittedly has its fair share of peculiar challenges, however, for any intrepid entrepreneur driven enough to wade through the challenges, success in inevitable. Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, also echoed the sentiments shared by speakers at the summit, and highlighted Governments commitment to continue to provide a conducive environment for the private sector to continuously thrive. He encouraged the United Kingdom Diaspora community, seasoned entrepreneurs and investors to consider Ghana as the First and only option for investment, with Ghana well placed for an accelerate Post Covid takeoff, a conducive business environment, a young hospitable workforce and a peaceful and stable political climate as requisite ingredients for a sustained successful economic recovery program. The KGL Group is a wholly owned Ghanaian group of companies with interests in technology innovation, Fin-tech, Logistics, property development, gaming and commerce. The parent company commands a network of specialized business units that promote efficient solutions and effective tech-based related services to customers across Ghana and partner operating regions. The group has since inception prioritized the development of digital innovations that impact industries. According to Executive chairman Alex Dadey, As a Group, our vision is clear and within reach: Becoming a powerhouse in digitalization across Ghana and emerging markets across the sub-region by capitalizing on our portfolio of strong operating companies across diverse areas of expertise. 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 Target stores in Oklahoma were briefly evacuated over the weekend after receiving bomb threats."We have to take it seriously," Sgt. Rob Robertson of the Oklahoma City Police Department told media, even if it's almost certainly a hoax. Robertson said Target stores in Yukon, Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City had been notified. 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 publicly declared it was removing some Pride-themed merchandise, but it's clear now that this has failed to have the desired result of appeasing conservatives angry at it marketing to and signaling support for LGBTQ+ folks. Instead, it has only focused right-wing efforts on the retailer, by signaling something else entirely: that it is a weak and pliantwell, target. The wording of the threat is a literal example of the "right to play" that Jean Paul Sartre described as characteristic of far-right justification. The email started off by saying "We are going to play a game," before listing off the addresses of several target store locations in Oklahoma City, Yukon, Norman, Midwest City, Moore, and Edmond. The email concluded by saying "2 of these 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. 4/19/1995." The date is a reference to the Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building by white supremacists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, which killed 168 people. Like most of the world, Ghana is no stranger to lottery gaming. Across its capital, Accra, theres no shortage of kiosks and umbrellas with lottery logos slapped on, and people gathered in front, waiting to play their lucky numbers. Licensed by the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mega Fortune is a convenient alternative to the existing lottery providers. But what makes it Ghanas first fully digital lottery? Read details below: Your browser does not support iframes. 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 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. The Chief of Mempeasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI has unreservedly apologised to President Nana Akufo-Addo and the good people of Ghana about the rather unfortunate incident on Friday, 9th June, 2023 at the University of Ghana, Legon during the Green Ghana Day Celebration. He is unreservedly apologising and also encouraging all Ghanaians to exercise restraint with their reactions, especially as directed to the number one Gentleman of the land. "I would like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand to observe the National Anthem. No patriotic son of the land would do so let alone a chief, mores in the presence of the President and other distinguished guests. I did not stand to observe the National Anthem because I felt weak. Even though I was not well and was on medication, I had endeavored to attend the programme because I share in the vision of the President for the Green Ghana Day initiative. I was hoping everything would go as planned so I could retire home in time to continue with my recuperation. "Unfortunately for me, the programme commenced rather late. I had been sitting for a considerable period of time and thus felt weak from the effects of the medication and my ill-health by the time the National Anthem was being observed which was why I was unable to stand on my feet to observe it. "I immediately apologized through the Regional Minister to the President, he said in a statement. In a viral video from last weeks Green Ghana Day celebration, President Akufo-Addo was seen angrily directing the Greater Accra Regional Minister to force the chief to fall in line. The event which was commemorated at the University of Ghana, took an interesting turn when the Minister, Henry Quartey subsequently walked to the chief to have a word with him. Read below his full apology letter to the President. APOLOGY TO HIS EXCELLENCY, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA On Friday, 9th June 2023, at the invitation of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipal Assembly, I participated in the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day Celebration organised at the University of Ghana, Legon, under the theme; "10 Million Trees in a Day". At the commencement of the programme, the National Anthem was observed, and the president was seen directing the Regional Minister for Greater Accra, Hon Henry Quartey, to get my attention to observe the anthem, because I was seated whilst it was being observed. I respectfully wish to extend my sincerest apologies to the President and the good people of Ghana about this rather unfortunate incident. I would like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand to observe the National Anthem. No patriotic son of the land would do so let alone a chief, mores in the presence of the President and other distinguished guests. I did not stand to observe the National Anthem because I felt weak. Even though I was not well and was on medication, I had endeavored to attend the programme because I share in the vision of the President for the Green Ghana Day initiative. I was hoping everything would go as planned so I could retire home in time to continue with my recuperation. Unfortunately for me, the programme commenced rather late. I had been sitting for a considerable period of time and thus felt weak from the effects of the medication and my ill-health by the time the National Anthem was being observed which was why I was unable to stand on my feet to observe it. I immediately apologized through the Regional Minister to the President. After that, even though I was still not feeling well, I did my best to stand on my feet for the opening prayer and subsequently, the second observation of the national anthem at the end of the programme in reverence to the President and all the distinguished guests. This is contrary to the erroneous impression being created in some circle that I sat throughout the programme. I wish to assure the President and the good people of Ghana that I am a law-abiding citizen of this country. And also as a chief, it is incumbent on me at all times to uphold the sovereignty of this nation as enshrined in the National Anthem. I would therefore but for my temporary incapacitation, never refuse willfully to properly observe something as important as the National Anthem. I am, therefore, by this communication, unreservedly apologising and also encouraging all Ghanaians to exercise restraint with their reactions, especially as directed to the number one Gentleman of the land. The President is the custodian of our sovereignty and thus it is his duty at all times be zealous in defending same. I wish to thank all Ghanaians for their concern for our forward match and wish Mother Ghana peace and prosperity. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make it great and strong. Thank you. Source: Peafmonline.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 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 This years mid-year budget review, which the Finance Minister is expected to present to parliament before the end of June, must be one that restores hope toward economic recovery, Minority Leader of parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed. The most important matter of concern to us is the state of our economy, and the fact that government has announced an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and concluded same. It is our prayer that the mid-year review will address the issue of misery in the economy and be one that restores hope; a mid-year review that will put the country back on the path to economic recovery and unite all of us, Dr. Forson stated during a media encounter between the leadership of parliament and media. He insisted that the review must proffer practical steps to restore stability, particularly on the back of the US$3billion IMF deals approval and subsequent disbursement of US$600million. He further indicated that this years mid-year budget review should tell Ghanaians whether the economy is on a recovery path or will continue to deteriorate. We have a budget that is insufficient, yet governments lifestyle does not correspond to the financial constraints we face as a country, the Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam MP added. Meanwhile, speaking on the IMF facility, Majority Leader of parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu opined that even though the US$3billion which will be spread over three years on face value is not enough for the countrys expenditure, its significance is enormous. The significance of it is that it gives confirmation by the IMF and World Bank that you are on a good trajectory and that also serves to unlock other funds from the bilateral engagements you have, and the IMF and World Bank then come in as a guarantor for your own sustenance; and that is the import of it. That notwithstanding, we should also ensure that what comes into the national kitty is utilised in fulfilment of our own promises and pledges so that we are able to keep ourselves on track, he added. According to him, government will have to cut down its expenditure as part of the IMF conditionality in a manner that will negatively impact employment and infrastructural development. I think that at the heart of these discussions with the IMF, two things stand out: cut down expenditure and increase domestic revenue. This will require some careful balance, but we will get there with the mid-year review. And when it comes, I believe parliament will come together and offer useful suggestions as to the better ways for us in this endeavour to provide that dose of resurgence to the economy. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. says the outcome of the Assin North by-election will have a significant impact on Parliament. To him, the Assin North by-election is more unique than the by-election that was held at Kumawu in the Ashanti Region which saw a New Patriotic Party candidate winning the parliamentary seat. Contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Mr. Pratt opined that the Assin North by-election will affect the balance of Parliament stressing "it isn't like Kumawu (by-election). This one is unique and it is unique because if the NPP wins the seat, it will affect the parliamentary balance significantly. Kumawu did not present that for the NPP but now it (Assin North) presents that for the NPP". "Kumawu didn't have controversy as this one; this one has become a little controversial and this has also jacked the temperature up a bit," he added. The Assin North by-election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2023 with the contest chiefly between NDC candidate, James Gyakye Quayson and Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party. Mr. Pratt called for a violence-free and peaceful by-election, advising both the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress to lawfully conduct themselves. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Charles Owusu has slammed James Gyakye Quayson who has been disqualified from Parliament by the Supreme Court for not learning lessons from his past experiences. James Gyakye Quayson, according to the court ruling, is no longer a Member of Parliament for Assin North constituency and this is due to a petition challenging his legitimacy as he was said to have not completed the process of his renunciation of dual citizenship at the time he was elected into Parliament. In view of this, a by-election is to be held on Tuesday, June 27 to elect a new parliamentarian for the constituency. However, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is presenting the deposed MP to re-contest the seat. Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show in relation to the matter, Charles Owusu couldn't fathom why Mr. Gyakye Quayson knew he held dual citizenship but still went ahead to contest the Assin North parliamentary seat, knowing very well his action contravened the laws of the country. He alluded to the years 2012 and 2016 when the NDC reportedly rejected Mr. Gyakye Quayson to contest the seat on the ticket of the party for holding a dual citizenship. To him, Mr. Quayson repeating the same mistake in 2020 is an indication that he doesn't respect Ghana's laws. "If it is true that this same thing happened to him in 2012 and the party told him they can't let him contest on their ticket, so he was rejected and in 2016, he was told the same thing; yet he returned in 2020 using the same route, then he deserves to be punished," he said. The former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission admonished the disqualified MP to do the right thing emphasizing "nobody is bigger than the laws of this country". Watch video below Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was the toast of NPP faithful in London at the party's International Women's Conference held over the weekend. Dr. Bawumia was the Special Guest, who delivered the keynote address, and characteristically, he delivered a rousing speech which kept the audience, largely members of the NPP in the United Kingdom, excited throughout. With the country's economy suffering from the twin global factors of covid-19 and the Russia Ukraine war and the opposition NDC taking advantage of the situation to downplay the governments record, Vice President Bawumia themed his address in defence of the party, presenting achievements he called "the monumental achievements" of the Akufo-Addo government. In a typical Dr. Bawumia fashion, he listed projects, initiatives, policies and successes in every sector under the government including the economy and highlighted how all indicators were on the upward curve prior to the global economic recession three years ago. Dr. Bawumia started his address by going down memory lane to remind all and sundry of the situation of the country in 2016 and the numerous challenges and problems the Akufo-Addo government inherited from Mahama-led NDC after it was booted out of office. In a tall list of inherited problems, which he said, the NPP government has either fixed or improved, Dr. Bawumia reminded the gathering how there were "high unemployment, dumsor for 4 years, a virtually collapsed national health insurance system, a nearly collapsed national ambulance system, freeze on public sector employment, an almost collapsed banking sector, maassive annual increases in utility bills, poor economic indicators, low agricultural growth, low industry growth, cancellation of teacher and nursing training allowances as well as a huge burden of paying $1billion dollars annually for a take-or-pay excess energy capacity deal negotiated by the NDC". After this, Dr. Bawumia presented a list of programmes, projects and policies in every sector the NPP government has implemented to address the challenges it inherited by enumerating several governments achievements in education, health, agriculture, industries, security, energy and digitalization. With NPP flagbearership hopeful and former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, having publicly indicated the NPP does not have a message going into next year's elections, some NPP faithful, might have been downbeat but Bawumias reinvigorating address in London was quick to remind the NPP fraternity not to "let anyone deceive them that we dont have a message". That statement attracted wild cheers in an emphatic endorsement of the Vice President's message. But the most thunderous applause of the day came after Dr. Bawumia thanked President Akufo-Addo for the privilege of allowing him, as Vice President, to spearhead many of the governments acclaimed policies including the government's digitization drive, One Constituency One Ambulance, special development initiatives, medical drone delivery, Bank of Ghana's gold purchase policy, gold for oil policy, Agenda 111 initiative among others. As Dr. Bawumia continued his presentation, the audience sparked into wild cheers with a rendition of the popular triumphant twi song "Onyame bohye no aba mu awie" meaning "God's promise has already come true" which is to indicate their support of the victory of Dr. Bawumia in the upcoming Presidential race. 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 By Dan Belson, Luke Parker, The Baltimore Sun (TNS) Six people were shot Sunday evening in an Annapolis neighborhood following an interpersonal dispute, killing three men and hospitalizing three other people, authorities said. On Monday, authorities charged Charles Robert Smith, 45, in the killings, a single event that doubled the municipalitys homicide count and was the deadliest act of violence in Marylands capital city in several years. Smith lives on the same block as the shooting, police said. Smith has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. He is being held without bond, court records show. Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson and Mayor Gavin Buckley brief the media following a shooting on Paddington Place in Annapolis, Maryland, Sunday night. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun/TNS)TNS FBI investigators were surveying the area Monday morning. Mixed with residential, media and local police vehicles, their trucks cluttered the bottom part of the Wilshire neighborhoods W-shaped roadway. Officers responded to a private residence on the 1000 block of Paddington Place at about 8 p.m. Sunday and found six wounded people. Three men, whose ages ranged from their 20s to early 50s, died at the scene. Authorities would not say whether the shooting took place inside or outdoors, but Jackson noted that the three men died outside. Three other victims two males and one female were hospitalized for gunshot wounds and are in stable condition, Jackson said early Monday morning. Jackson said the shooting was not random and that there was no threat to the public. He said the gunfire stemmed from an interpersonal dispute, but noted investigators have not determined the relationship among the people involved. He said police believe there might have been an exchange of gunfire at the home. Our community experienced a tragedy beyond words this evening, Annapolis Sen. Sarah Elfreth posted on social media soon after the shooting. Please keep the family and the first responders of the Annapolis Police Department [and] Annapolis Fire Department in your thoughts tonight. Jackson and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley described the area of the shooting, between Edgewood Road and Kensington Way, as a very stable and middle class community. We dont get very many calls of this nature in this area, Jackson said, adding that no area is immune to widespread availability of handguns. We are saddened, saddened for the families, saddened for Annapolis, Buckley said. This sort of thing can happen anywhere, and nothing gets resolved from the use of a gun. Annapolis Police Chief Edward C. Jackson, is at the scene of multiple people were shot in Annapolis, Maryland, on June 11, 2023. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun/TNS)TNS Jackson did not identify a motive for the shooting, noting its still very early on in the investigation. He acknowledged that police have received information about a graduation party taking place in the area of the shooting. Were still trying to determine that. I dont want to say officially what this was about yet, he said. Before the shooting, Annapolis Police had handled three homicides so far this year. Sundays violence doubled that number. Anne Arundel County police have investigated nine homicides this year. More: 2 dead in shooting after HS graduation ceremony in Virginia capital Lebanon DA will seek death penalty in shooting of 2 children, teen Via Twitter account All the Right Moves, here is a video of a deleted scene from the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in which the principal of Elliott's school, played by Harrison Ford in a cameo appearance, gives him a weird, creepy lecture after he had freed all the frogs from a classroom experiment. Ford's character, whose face is hidden throughout the scene, admonishes ten year old Elliott about drugs for some reason: "I see you fine young people from good homes every advantage, your whole life laid out in front of you and I see the pot, the pills, the angel wings. Sure, it's a cruel world out there deceit, treachery I wouldn't lie to you, son." According to a NY Post article, director Steven Spielberg explained that at this point in the movie, Elliott and E.T. are psychically linked. "So as E.T. is lifting all of the communicator paraphernalia up the stairs, Henry starts rising off the ground in the chair until his head hits the ceiling," Spielberg said. Wildwood Crests newest dining destination has a mission to not only serve up delicious treats, but to also provide a welcoming destination for families of children with autism and other disabilities. Owners Aimee and Karl Famiano drew inspiration from their own familys experiences when they opened Brandons Pancake House and Ice Cream Parlor on New Jersey Avenue named after their son. Over the years, the couple noticed how Brandon, who has autism and is nonverbal, would often be overlooked and left out when dining out with his family, Aimee said. Servers wouldnt give him a menu because they would assume that he couldnt read, she said. And the look on his face because of the lack of inclusion and compassion ... to be at a table with a bunch of people and you not being looked at, you being overlooked. Their goal was to make the restaurant, which opened in April, Brandons forever place so that they could someday leave the business to him. From the decorations to the menus and trained staff, the pancake house puts special emphasis on details that make the dining experience more inclusive. There are two menus, for example, that list the many breakfast, lunch and dessert items served at Brandons. However, the second menu is a laminated picture menu that has images of the items, so people who are nonverbal can point to or circle an item with a dry erase marker when they are ready to order. This is amazing even for neurotypical kiddos who you just want to teach manners or social skills to, Aimee said. One of the menus at Brandon's Pancake House in Wildwood Crest is designed so people who are nonverbal can point to what they want to order or circle the image with a dry erase marker. Or you can have your three year old participate and teach them how to do things in a restaurant, so everybody has a chance to be a participant in the ordering process and in their own life, she continued. Walking into Brandons, customers will also spot a counter covered in autism awareness puzzle pieces that many guests have already written their names on. There is also a basket full of sensory toys for customers of all ages to fidget and play with while they wait for their food or to be seated. And if the restaurant gets too loud, servers can offer guests noise canceling headphones. The owners said small gestures, including ensuring their staff members demonstrate patience and make direct eye contact while serving patrons, is what makes people feel genuinely welcomed and at ease at Brandons Pancake House and Ice Cream Parlor. The restaurant also makes it a mission to hire people with disabilities, the owners said. Brandon, their now 25-year-old son, helps out by putting away plates, organizing the silverware or by acting as mayor of the business, his parents said with a laugh. Brandons Pancake House also collaborates with local schools to offer paid job opportunities to help high school students with autism and other disabilities gain work experience and develop life and culinary skills. Sometimes the temporary positions will become permanent jobs, according to the restaurants owners. Schools have also called to ask if they can bring students to the pancake house and ice cream parlor for field trips, they said. Following the restaurants April ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by Wildwood Crests mayor, Brandons has drawn a warm response from the community and had a busy start to the summer season, the owners said. Although there have been challenges with finding good workers to keep up with orders at the restaurant, the business is thriving and going better than expected, said Karl, who wrote in his 1997 Lower Cape May Regional high school yearbook that his dream was to own a pancake house. Aimee is a special education teacher and her husband Karl a stepdad to both Brandon and his 27-year-old brother worked in sales for a decade before becoming the chef behind the omelets, burgers, wraps and other menu items served at the restaurant. Brandons brother, John, has also been there along the way to support his family members, who currently reside in the Villas section of Lower Township, the couple said. Their location at 6200 New Jersey Ave. was previously the Doo Wop Drive-in, a breakfast and lunch restaurant. Jason Kramer, owner of the now-closed Doo Wop Drive-in, put the property up for sale last year for almost $1 million, saying he wanted to spend more time with his sick children, including one who had a serious illness. He said buying the property would be a unique opportunity for someone to run a family business. With a dream and a mission inspired by their son, the Famiano family said they sold everything and moved back to New Jersey from Pennsylvania to start the restaurant in Wildwood Crest. People were so warm, saying thank you for this, sending us videos, Aimee said. Its just really overwhelming, in a good way. Videos shared on social media show the shocking impact of the animal tranquilizer xylazine on humans. They lurch, stagger and drool profusely, torsos bent at angles that challenge gravity. They flop to the ground, neck and limps strangely twisted, as if made of rubber. They collapse in the street, oblivious to traffic. The drug has become known as tranq and its victims are called zombies. The sights arent so surprising to veterinarians who work with large animals and typically use the drug for sedation purposes. When we give it to cows they kind of stand there and drool all over the place and their head hangs down. They wobble. It kind of puts them in another place, but it does not look like a very pleasant experience, says Bill Croushore, a veterinarian who works with farm animals in Somerset County. Until this month, Pennsylvania veterinarians worried they and the animals they care for would suffer because drug dealers are adding xylazine to the supply of illegal drugs consumed by humans, creating the latest chapter in Americas heroin and fentanyl crisis. Xylazine has no purpose outside veterinary medicine and wasnt on the schedule of controlled drugs with potential for human addiction and abuse. That meant drug dealers caught with xylazine didnt face the penalties that normally apply to controlled substances. Now, however, Pennsylvania has made xylazine a Schedule III controlled substance, putting it among drugs such as codeine, ketamine and anabolic steroids. Pennsylvania law enforcement officials welcome the change, saying it gives them more power to investigate and prosecute drug suppliers trafficking in xylazine. It comes amid a growing national push to clamp down on xylazine, which still isnt a federally-controlled substance. But when Pennsylvania first proposed moving it to Schedule III, veterinarians and farmers feared they would lose access to a drug they consider essential not only to the health of large animals, including cows and horses, but to the well-being of humans who work on them. Thats because, despite its importance with a narrow group of animals, xylazine is only a $4 million a year drug in a $7 billion annual veterinary drug market, with only two manufacturers in the United States, according to Croushore. An officer with the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, Croushore says the companies made it known its not worth it for them to distribute xylazine in states that have unusual regulations. They would have just pulled it from the market and theyre doing that in other states that have adopted similar rules, he says. However, Croushore, along with a task force assembled by the veterinarians association, laid out the situation to Gov. Josh Shapiros administration, which ultimately decided the Schedule III status wont apply to xylazine prescribed for veterinary use. With that, veterinarians gave their support to the change, which is considered temporary, but expected to become permanent. As before, licensed veterinarians can obtain xylazine, and farmers can obtain it with a prescription from a veterinarian. Law enforcement officials remain uncertain of the exact sources of the xylazine powder drug dealers are cutting into the supply of fentanyl and heroin and sometimes other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. They believe some is probably being diverted from the veterinary supply, but other likely sources include illegal smuggling of xylazine or its ingredients, and production in illegal labs. Croushore says hes certain Pennsylvanias veterinary supply isnt being diverted because veterinarians use an injectable liquid, not powder, nor do they turn powder into liquid. Drug dealers use a powdered form. Theres been very, very little evidence that this is being diverted from veterinarians, but there is a lot of evidence that its being illegally smuggled, he says. Still, he believes the bulk chemical could be purchased by someone if they knew what they were doing. Croushore also has seen social media ads for offshore suppliers offering to sell it to seemingly anyone. Philadelphia was the first national hotbed where xylazine was being added to the street drug supply, with the first instances showing up around 2006, and xylazine considered a factor in 26% of fatal overdoses by 2020. It has spread outward from Philadelphia, with central Pennsylvania coroners starting to find it in fatal overdose victims in the past year. Authorities say its being added as a cheap way to expand the supply and increase profit, and give legs to the intensity of the high. The drug also is adding more gruesome elements to the fatal overdose crisis that had already become the worst in the nations history. Xylazine isnt an opioid, and therefore doesnt respond to naloxone, commonly used to revive overdose victims. Since its usually mixed with an opioid such as fentanyl or heroin, responders should still use naloxone, but xylazine can make it harder to save the person, who also might need rescue breathing and oxygen. Moreover, xylazine can damage tiny blood vessels that nourish flesh, resulting in deep sores or wounds that can lead to amputation. Drug treatment authorities say theyve seen such wounds in central Pennsylvania. Croushore says veterinarians rely on xylazine mostly to sedate cows and horses. With horses, its sometimes used to treat colic or to calm horses that are uneasy being trailered. With cows, its used in instances such as the animal needing to have a wound cleaned and stitched, or during horn removal. With horses, there are alternatives to xylazine, but with cows theres no substitute, he says. We use it basically to prevent the veterinarian from getting kicked in the head when theyre down there working on the cows [if] we dont have sedation, its going to be dangerous. That was our primary concern, he says. READ MORE FROM PENNLIVE: Tranq dope turning up in central Pa., hindering overdose reversal, causing rotting flesh wounds The bloodiest battle of the Civil War happened in Pennsylvania. During the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, Gen. Robert E. Lees Confederate Army fought Gen. George G. Meades Army of the Potomac. The three-day conflict resulted in more than 50,000 casualties and proved to be a major turning point in favor of the Union Army. Ever since, the town has never been the same. The story of Gettysburg continues to draw millions annually to Adams County, Pennsylvania, where people from around the world walk in the footsteps of history, said Destination Gettysburg in a news release. From June 23 to July 4, 2023, the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, will be commemorated with re-enactments, presentations, events, live performances and tours. This is an event 10 years in the making, said Karl Pietrzak, President & CEO of Destination Gettysburg. This year, there are 12 jam-packed days of events and activities for visitors of all ages. Its the perfect time for visitors to see this battle come to life. A new re-enactment called Acts of Valor by the Patriots of the Civil War Association will be held June 23-25 with the re-creation of battle scenes, a replica hospital and author presentations that is expected to draw 3,000 re-enactors. From June 30 to July 2, the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, will present a re-enactment at the Daniel Lady Farm that includes a living history village, epic battle re-creations and demonstrations on a variety of subjects including Civil War medicine, cooking and childrens games. Destination Gettysburg said a third re-enactment on July 2 will take place at the Shriver House Museum and will show visitors the fierce fighting that occurred in the streets of Gettysburg during the battle in 1863. This event, held July 2, gives a unique perspective on the war and how Gettysburgs townspeople were impacted by the arrival of 170,000 soldiers as they waged the largest battle on the continent. Gettysburg National Military Park will mark the anniversary July 1-3 with free hikes, walks and talks. Events will be held on the battlefield, at Gettysburg National Cemetery and at the Museum and Visitor Center. Living history groups will set up camp and show the daily life of Civil War soldiers. Chuck Johnson, author and playwright of The Night Before Gettysburg, a three-act, 30-minute play accounting the struggles that President Abraham Lincoln had as he put the finishing touches on the Gettysburg Address in November 1863. This year, his performance will take place at the Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station, where Lincoln himself arrived 160 years earlier. And, the Gettysburg Foundation will host its Sacred Trust series, July 1-3, featuring speakers and authors about Civil War topics. As part of the 160th anniversary commemoration, the Gettysburg Foundation will host its three-day Sacred Trust series from July 1-3 featuring nearly 20 speakers and authors about a variety of Civil War-related topics. At 11 a.m. on July 3, two historic landmark signs will be unveiled at the Welty House, the site of gruesome fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. The house is part of the Brickhouse Inn at 452 Baltimore St. Visitors can see the entire schedule of events online from Destination Gettysburg. READ MORE Take a look inside Gettysburgs newest museum, which tells the story of the people. Photos from the 158th Battle of Gettysburg at the Daniel Lady Farm. In 1938, on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, soldiers returned in friendship. By BEN FINLEY and DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to using marijuana while possessing a firearm, which is illegal under U.S. law. The federal crime is facing increasing scrutiny as more states legalize the drug. But federal prosecutors in Virginia said Monday that such laws protect communities. Deja Taylor is accused of lying about her marijuana use on a form when she bought the gun, which her son later used to shoot Abby Zwerner in her classroom in Newport News. The first-grade teacher was seriously wounded and has endured multiple surgeries. Taylors attorneys agreed to a negotiated plea agreement with prosecutors that calls for a sentence of 18 months to 24 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 18. Attorney Gene Rossi described the shooting as a perfect storm of horrible consequences in which a brave courageous teacher almost lost her life. Miss Taylors role in this tragedy is a complete accident and a complete mistake, he said. She takes full responsibility for her sons actions and will feel guilt for the rest of her life. The federal case against Taylor is separate from the charges she faces on the state level: felony child neglect and reckless storage of a firearm. A trial for those counts is set for August. Both cases are among the repercussions that followed the January shooting, which shook the city of Newport News near the Atlantic Coast. The federal charges against Taylor, 25, appear to be relatively rare. And the case comes at a time when marijuana is legal in many U.S. states, including Virginia. Marijuana is still a controlled substance under U.S. law. And federal law generally prohibits people from possessing firearms if theyve been convicted of a felony, been committed to a mental institution or are an unlawful user of a controlled substance, among other things. In the days after the 6-year-old shot his teacher, agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Taylors home and found marijuana, federal prosecutors said in a statement Monday. Agents also searched Taylors mothers house, where Taylor was staying, and found about 24.5 grams of marijuana. A search of Taylors phone revealed numerous text messages illustrating the pervasive scope of Taylors marijuana use, prosecutors said. When Taylor was pulled over by local police in 2021, they found several marijuana edibles that looked like rice treats next to her son, prosecutors said. Taylor denied all knowledge of drugs inside the vehicle. When Taylor bought the 9mm handgun in 2022, Taylor falsely claimed on a background check form that she didnt use marijuana. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber said in a statement Monday that federal gun ownership laws exist to protect owners, their family members and the communities where they live. Failing to abide by those requirements ... can have far-reaching consequences, Aber said. In recent years, theres been debate over the use of resources to aggressively pursue people who give false information on background check forms. In 2018, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that authorities prosecute a small percentage of individuals who falsify information on a form and are denied a purchase. The race of those who are prosecuted is another concern, said Karen OKeefe, director of state policies for the pro-legalization group Marijuana Policy Project. In fiscal year 2021, 56% of the roughly 7,500 people convicted of breaking the law were Black, OKeefe said, citing statistics from the United States Sentencing Commission. She did not have a breakdown for convictions related to marijuana or other drug use. About 18% of Americans admitted to using cannabis in the last year and about 40% owned guns, OKeefe added. And so theres an enormous pool of people that are presumably breaking this law every day and face up to 15 years in prison if they were caught. Federal judges in Oklahoma and Texas recently ruled that the federal gun ban on cannabis users is unconstitutional. They rolled back the requirement in parts of those states. Both judges cited a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that set new standards for interpreting the Second Amendment. Meanwhile, members of Congress have introduced legislation to end the prohibition. A bill proposed by Republican U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney of West Virginia would allow medical marijuana users to have firearms. Legislation introduced by Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast of Florida would go even further, ending the ban in states that permit medical and recreational use. No one should be forced to choose between their rights: you have a right to bear arms, and in many states, you have a right to use cannabis, Mast said in a statement in April. The shooting in Newport News occurred Jan. 6, when Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest as she sat at a reading table. She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and later told NBC she sometimes " cant get up out of bed. Zwerner is suing the school system for $40 million. The attorney for Taylor in the state case, James Ellenson, has said Taylor believed her gun was secured on a high closet shelf with a trigger lock before the shooting occurred. He said last month it was still unclear how the boy got the gun. Regarding the searches of Taylors home and her mothers home, federal prosecutors said Monday: A lockbox was not found in either of the residences, nor was a trigger lock or key to a trigger lock ever found. 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. Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in New Hampshire on April 27, 2023. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images A federal grand jury in Florida indicted former President Donald Trump on June 8, 2023, on multiple criminal charges related to classified documents he took from the White House to his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, according to multiple sources cited in The New York Times and The Associated Press. Trump himself said on his social media outlet, Truth Social, that he had been indicted. The seven counts against Trump the first president to face federal charges in U.S. history include obstruction of justice, false statements and willful retention of documents, The New York Times reported. Trump said he was set to appear in a Miami federal courthouse on June 9 at 3 p.m. The Justice Department did not immediately comment on the reported charges. But the federal charges come on top of other legal trouble Trump is facing at the state level. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump in April 2023 with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. And in Georgia, the Fulton County district attorney is investigating Trumps alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. This, too, could result in criminal charges under Georgia law. If a person is charged by federal and state prosecutors or prosecutors in different states at the same time, which case goes first? Who gets priority? I am a scholar of criminal law. Its important to recognize that criminal law provides no clear answer how to settle that question. No law dictating a path ahead Nothing in the U.S. Constitution or federal law dictates that, say, federal criminal cases get priority over state cases, or that prosecutions proceed in the order in which indictments are issued. The solution ordinarily is that the various prosecutors will negotiate and decide among themselves which case should proceed first. Often, the one that involves the most serious charges gets priority, although the availability of key witnesses or evidence could play a role. There are a few cases to look to as reference for state charges competing with federal ones. After neo-Nazi James Fields drove his car into a group of protesters at the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, killing one person and injuring others, he was charged with crimes in both federal and state courts. The state homicide trial went first. Then, Fields pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges after the state conviction and received two life sentences for his crime from both the state and federal charges. By contrast, D.C. Sniper John Allen Muhammad was finally apprehended at a highway rest stop in Maryland in 2002, after a deadly series of sniper shootings in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, which killed 10 people and injured three. Maryland police arrested Muhammad. Then, federal officials were the first to file charges. But Muhammad was first put on trial and convicted of murder in Virginia. Trumps circumstances In Trumps case, his federal charges which were not unsealed as of June 8 are likely to carry longer potential sentences than the state offenses. The felonies he is facing in New York are white-collar crimes and may not result in any prison time, legal experts have said. Of course, much about Trumps case is unique. Never has a former president faced federal or state prosecution. That fact alone probably makes priority for the federal prosecution more likely. An active presidential candidate has faced criminal charges in the past, though. Socialist Party nominee Eugene Debs was prosecuted and convicted under the Espionage Act for his opposition to World War I in 1918. He campaigned from prison for the 1920 election, before losing to Republican Warren G. Harding. Federal authorities could assert priority over state officials by taking custody of the defendant. States cannot arrest suspects who are outside the states borders, but federal law enforcement officers can arrest suspects anywhere in the country. It is exceedingly unlikely that federal prosecutors would ask a court to detain Trump in jail before trial. Rather, they are likely to allow him to be released on bail as the New York court did in April. But their nationwide jurisdiction gives federal authorities an advantage over states in controlling the defendant, in terms of placing and enforcing bail conditions, for example, regardless of where he resides at the moment. Darryl K. Brown, Professor of Law, University of Virginia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By Doug Morris Code Red air quality and public health warnings were issued for the Harrisburg area on June 7, a consequence of intense and record-breaking wildfires in Canada. This points to the harsh reality that global climate change is not isolated, it knows no boundaries. The terrors of wildfires, floods, droughts, rising seas, extreme storms, etc., increase, spread, and intensify every year. In the midst of the smoke, one thing is very clear: it will only get worse in the coming years. Mitigation will require that we somehow do the work necessary to radically address the root cause of the future-wrecking multiple ecological crises we are facing. For over 30 years (for those paying attention) it has been clear that climate change represents a planetary existential threat that jeopardizes human life and the lives of countless other species. The first Global Scientists Warning to Humanity was released in 1992! How many U.S. citizens have read it or even know of it? For thirty years the powerful have denied the savage realities of global heating, eco-system destruction, and more recently, the Sixth Great Extinction. Additionally, the public has been deceived by corporate media as to the serious and surging nature of the threat. Power protects the powerful; the powerful protect power. More recently corporate media has focused on the devastation of climate chaos and catastrophe. Why? Because disaster sells! A Wall Street trader put it clearly: In disaster, there is opportunity [to maximize profits]. But corporate media will not talk about the causal agent producing the escalating catastrophes. Holding up a mirror is not permitted in the world of corporate power. Distractions are thus usefully employed. This, unfortunately, leaves much of the public in a state of ignorance and confusion regarding where to point fingers and about what can be done to prevent the rampaging eco-horrors from raging out of control, as they will, unless there is some kind of concerted effort, by a critically informed, engaged, and organized public, to address the root cause. The most recent reports by the generally quite conservative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warn that even with the best-case scenarios of preventing an increase in global average temperature of 1.5C above the pre-industrial norm and averting points of no return, we still are facing decades of environmental catastrophes and extreme weather. These are events of a sort humans have never experienced. These are events that will negatively impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The root cause? A global economic system that is irrational and immoral, driven as it is by the relentless and rapacious, eco-system destroying quest to exponentially increase the accumulation of capital, at all costs, even if one of the costs is wrecking the earth for all too many people in the present, and perhaps all people in the future. One might ponder this: we are arguably facing a choice between extermination by capitalism or the pursuit of some kind of moral and rational ecological imperative. The latter will direct us to struggle to overcome the systematic devastation of humanity and much of the rest of nature by corporate capital, while also working to realize a society and world grounded in ecological rationality, environmental sustainability, care and love of humanity and the rest of nature, and substantive forms of freedom, equality, and democracy. It is surely a tall and pressing task. Sanity and morality suggest the proper choice. Doug Morris, Ph.D. works at West Chester University and lives in Mechanicsburg. Last January we lost our beloved beagle, Ellie Mae, and when the PA Humane Society mentioned there were 4,000 beagles looking for homes from the closure of a breeding facility in Virginia, we took a chance. Since then, Archie has peed on every rug in our house. Hes chomped through our TV remote. He chewed up my computer mouse. He takes books from our bookshelf upstairs, races down the stairs and out the back door, and prances around the yard with them. Archie howls at the mailman, scares the cat away, sleeps between us every night, and is learning a few basic commands. He believes in his heart that everything in life is a chew toy. He leaps into the air to try to catch butterflies. He barks at squirrels, and lunges at rabbits. In other words, Archie is all dog. Archie is a family pet. He is not a lab animal. I sometimes shudder at the thought that this bundle of energy would have spent the rest of his life in a cage being subjected to tests. Archie is one of the lucky ones, and we applaud the bipartisan effort to ensure that no dog or cat in the future faces such a grim and joyless existence for benefits that are not even well proven. Please ask your legislator to support Senate Bill 658, to ban any future testing in Pennsylvania on cats and dogs. Archie thanks you too. Sara Nicholas, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Gun owners from across Pennsylvania gathered on the Capitol steps on Monday for the annual Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally, with the theme United We Stand. Without the Second Amendment nothing else would matter. That Second Amendment protects everything else, said Jerel Crewe, founder of the organization That Gun Talk, to crowd of about 50 rain-soaked participants. We have more in common than you think. We are stronger together. Crewe and his wife, Karise Crewe, the featured speakers at the rally, are nationally recognized right-to-carry advocates. That Gun Talk provides education, training and self-defense liability insurance for gun owners. Its founding stemmed from an incident in the Philadelphia International Airport, when Karise said she accidentally left a Glock handgun in her purse, which was discovered by TSA agents. The incident made her realize that more training for gun owners was a pressing need, leading to the founding of That Gun Talk, she said. People choose to enact violence using guns. Guns are not inherently violent, Karise Crew said. Via my work as a firearm instructor, I have enacted with hundreds of people. Ive witnessed trainees gain a sense of control and security, and transform from very vulnerable to empowered. The rally was held by the Second Amendment Caucus, chaired by Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson County, and Rep. Abby Major, R-Armstrong County, which advocates for right to bear arms under the Pennsylvania Constitution. During the past several months, Governor Shapiro, the mayor of Philadelphia and many other gun-grabbing Democrats have been blaming violent inner city crime rates on the peoples legislatures failure to act on so-called common-sense gun laws, Dush said at the rally. I maintain that infringing on any constitutional right is not common-sense. His remarks were met with cheers from the crowd. One activist, Constance Bires, was wearing a shirt that read All gun control is racist. When she turned, an addition was visible And sexist. I just think theres a lot of history surrounding that, and the reality is, Black people have been dealt a lot of bad press, bad action and bad laws, Bires said. I just think this is a really unfortunate thing, that people feel so much need to control other people and they have no business doing it. Many rally-goers were concerned about two bills that passed the state House last month that are now before the Senate. One of the bills, known as a red flag law, would allow judges to order the temporary confiscation of a persons firearms if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others. Sen. Dush is very concerned about not just the Second Amendment at the federal level, but about Fifth and Sixth and Fourteenth amendments with due process, said David Burnett, executive director and counsel for the Senate State Government Committee. Red flag laws have been shown by research to not work very well. They are ripe for abuse by people, and can be triggered in a malicious way. The other bill that passed through the House would require background checks for all gun sales including the sale of long guns between parties who are not licensed dealers, where background checks are currently not mandated. They have to actually fix the problem, they have to not cause more harm than damage, and you have to figure out how youre going to get the criminals to comply, Burnett said. Thats a flaw thats usually fatal for most gun control laws. One Republican gun owners said he is open to discussing policy solutions to gun violence. There is no singular silver bullet to address gun violence, said Brandon Flood, deputy director of government affairs of CeaseFirePA, an organization that lobbies for gun safety policies, in a Friday interview. While theres benefits to promote fire safety education, it doesnt get to the root of the issue, and its going to take a cocktail of solutions. Flood used to be a member of the National African American Gun Association, which Jerel and Karise Crew are part of. He split with the organization because he wanted them to engage on the policy side in addition to its education and training. I welcome an opportunity to have a broader, healthy, non-judgmental conversation with folks on the other side of the issue. There is some common ground and I extend that invite to anyone, Flood said. I do take umbrage when they say education alone and singularly will address gun violence. Part of Floods cocktail of solutions includes legislation like the red flag bill, which Flood said is supported by the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. The Second Amendment Caucus wants to better prosecute violent crimes. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office told the Philadelphia Inquirer in January that they do not believe that arresting people and convicting them for illegal gun possession is a viable strategy to reduce shootings. That, Burnett said, is a problem. Its hard for citizens of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania overall to be told that prosecuting the criminals wont work but passing laws that will only affect law-abiding gun owners would, Burnett said. This is about practical, realistic concerns. Dush also was not impressed. Who in Gods name is protecting the people of Philadelphia, because its sure not their local government, Dush said at the rally. More gun-related bills are being teed up in the House, including House Bill 912 which would prevent firearms from being brought into or kept in any court waiting area. Firearms are currently allowed in courts and public buildings, including the Capitol, but must be kept in storage lockers upon entrance. Hardeep Singh Chahal, wife Kamaldeep Kaur and three-year-old daughter, Keerat Kaur were given four weeks to leave the country by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada last month. They are appealing to the government to reconsider the decision. A flat-bottomed wooden boat carrying 29 people on a tour of the Lockport caves abruptly overturned late Monday morning, pitching the passengers into the waters of the dimly lit tunnel. Emergency crews carved a hole into a wall to gain better access to the cavern as they carried out a tense, hourlong rescue. But one man pinned in the water died before he could be brought to safety. Eleven other people were injured, none more seriously than a broken arm. We did have one fatality in the incident. It is believed for a time that he was initially stuck underneath the capsized boat, and it did take some time to get him recovered and back to a safe location, Lockport Fire Chief Luca Quagliano said at a news conference at City Hall. Unfortunately, he had succumbed to his injuries. Officials would not identify the victim but said he is about 60 years old and lives in the area. His wife was also on the boat and was injured when it flipped. City officials said this was the first serious incident of its kind since the Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride began operations in the mid-1970s. The tourist attraction will remain closed for the foreseeable future as police and other agencies try to figure out what happened in an incident that garnered international news attention Monday afternoon. Situations like this happen all over the world. Tragic accidents happen. Being an internationally recognized destination, this does sometimes pick up and spread farther and wider across the media than it would maybe somewhere else, said Andrea Czopp, chief operating officer of Destination Niagara USA. The 29 people on the boat at the time it capsized, all adults, included 28 hospitality workers from across Niagara County and one tour staffer. They were part of a tour set up by Destination Niagara USA to show off Lockport attractions to people in the local hospitality industry, Czopp said. Emergency crews from a host of agencies responded to the incident reported at 11:25 a.m. within the cave complex, located at Gooding Street and the Erie Canal. Its not clear how long the passengers were on the boat before it collapsed. The incident occurred near the end of the 300- or 350-foot-long waterway traveled by the boat as part of the underground tour. The boat became unbalanced and capsized. All 28 or 29 people were thrown into the water, Quagliano said. Some people were able to get themselves out of the water, which has a depth of 5 or 6 feet, on their own. About 16 people needed assistance from rescuers, the fire chief said. The department has a boat that can be inflated at the scene of an incident and firefighters used this craft to help bring passengers out three or four at a time, Quagliano said. Officials obtained a list of the names of the passengers on the boat tour and began checking it against everyone they had rescued. Eventually, they figured out one man on the tour still was unaccounted for, Quagliano said. Rescuers determined he was trapped underneath the boat and he died before he could be pulled from the water. Lockport Police Chief Steve Abbott said one officer required treatment for hypothermia after spending so much time in the water. He said investigators will be studying the boat, which has a maximum capacity of 40 passengers, as part of the probe into why it flipped over. I know that the boat is actually specially built for that attraction, Abbott said. It was built inside that cave. Abbott said he didnt know when the boat was last inspected. None of the passengers was wearing a life jacket but its not clear whether they are required to do so, Quagliano said. The boat ride is part of a 75-minute tourist experience that begins with a walking tour of the historic locks along the Erie Canal near downtown Lockport. The boat tour runs through a dimly lit hydraulic raceway that was built in the 1800s to carry water away from the canal. Lockport Mayor Michelle Roman said the boat tour started up five decades ago. Its been an attraction since the 70s without incident. They are going to do a full and thorough investigation. If it is unsafe, then it will not be running, Roman said. Abbott said authorities are treating the area where the fatal incident occurred as a crime scene while the investigation into its cause continues. Representatives from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the incident, along with Lockport Police, State Police, the Niagara County Sheriffs Office and the Niagara County District Attorneys Office. Abbott said as of Monday afternoon that police hadnt yet been able to interview the passengers. He said the owner of the ride has cooperated with police so far. Thomas Callahan, identified in previous news reports as a co-owner of the attraction, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Press Release June 12, 2023 Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the passing of former Senator Rodolfo "Pong" Biazon Together with the nation, I mourn the passing of a great soldier, statesman, and solon, Senator Pong Biazon. He passed on this Independence Day, a reminder of his formidable, lifelong fight for our Inang Bayan. Indeed, much can be said about all that he has done for the Filipino people, from his time as a Philippine Marine to his years in Congress, but what remained true all throughout was his unwavering love for the Philippines. Long before I met him in person, I read about Sen. Pong in an 1981 Who magazine feature about his being a Marines commander in Davao. I remember being taken by his critical mind and his respect for human rights, qualities essential for an officer and a gentleman. Years later, I finally met him at the EDSA Shrine just when EDSA Dos was unfolding. It was unforgettable not only because he had a crushing handshake, but also because it was the start of the many struggles we fought together. A true patriot, Sen. Pong always answered the call of duty even when he was no longer in office. When the former administration could not express a clear stance vis-a-vis China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Sen. Pong did not hold back from calling on our top officials to take a united position against China. Time and again, when he saw that our nation was in peril, he stepped out from his private life and gave us public servants clarity and a sense of direction. Even before I became senator, Sen. Pong was a steady source of strength for us women and women's advocates in our fight for the passage of the Reproductive Health Law. Regarded as macho due to his military background, he challenged stereotypes to stand not just for, but with women. That was the Sen. Pong I knew -- never afraid to stand up and speak out for what is right even when others wouldn't. Paalam, Sir. Maraming salamat sa walang hanggang pagmamahal sa Pilipinas. My snappy salute. Ooorah! The recent epidemic of vehicle thefts in Western New York and elsewhere is not limited to cars. Even street sweepers are not immune. A 22-year-old man is accused of swiping a street sweeper and taking it for a 5-mile joyride from Amherst to Buffalo. Derjuan C. Baldwin of Buffalo faces a sweeping set of charges stemming from this incident in May and another one in Lackawanna last November, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. Baldwin failed to show up last week for a court hearing, authorities say. Baldwin already had a warrant out for his arrest after prosecutors say he was speeding and driving on a suspended license when he led Lackawanna police on a chase they called off for safety reasons. Six months later, Amherst police say Baldwin stole an unattended street sweeper in the town and drove it into Buffalo before crashing it into a Buffalo police cruiser. Hes also accused of resisting town officers as they tried to book him at Amherst Police Headquarters. His attorney in the Amherst matter, Stephen Hughes, did not respond to a message seeking comment Sunday. The police blotter in last weeks Amherst Bee included a synopsis of what happened in the May 26 incident, but spokespeople for Amherst police and the District Attorneys Office filled in further details. Amherst Police Capt. Christopher Meyer said a private contractor was operating a street sweeper in the University Plaza parking lot, at Main Street and Kenmore Avenue, that evening. The operator stopped the vehicle but left it running as he got out to pick up something from the ground. Thats when, police reported, a man hopped into the unoccupied sweeper and pulled away. The operator reported the theft at about 9:30 p.m., and Amherst police were able to track the progress of the vehicle, a Ford F450 sweeper worth about $120,000, using GPS. Amherst officers alerted Buffalo police after the stolen sweeper made its way into the city. The sweeper eventually ran into a Buffalo police vehicle on Delaware Avenue, between Summer and Bryant streets, when officers took Baldwin into custody. Baldwin was charged with grand larceny, a felony, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. When he was being booked, shortly before 1 a.m. May 27, prosecutors say he refused to follow officers directions, causing him to also face a charge of misdemeanor obstruction of governmental administration. Baldwin was arraigned in Amherst Town Court on May 27 and handed over to Lackawanna police later that morning. The Lackawanna charges date to Nov. 11, when city police pulled over a vehicle for speeding at 1:30 a.m. on South Park Avenue near Veterans Stadium, said Kait Munro, a spokeswoman for Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. They learned when Baldwin gave his name to officers that he was driving with a suspended license, prosecutors say. Baldwin is accused of speeding away from the traffic stop and briefly leading Lackawanna officers on a chase before they broke it off. Baldwin is charged with unlawfully fleeing the police, reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle all misdemeanors as well as numerous vehicle and traffic violations. He also is charged with obstruction of governmental administration in Lackawanna because, authorities say, when city police were trying to put Baldwin in a holding cell at Lackawanna Police Headquarters, he became combative and resisted their orders to comply. Baldwin was released under supervision following his May 28 arraignment in Lackawanna City Court and is set to return July 5. He was supposed to be back in Amherst Town Court last week for a felony hearing, but he skipped it. The court issued a criminal summons ordering Baldwin to return July 20. Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker saw the starting field of 827 combatants at the start of the day, reduced to just 14 warriors over the course of 17 levels of play at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Each one of those contenders is guaranteed a minimum prize of $23,298. Not one of the remaining players holds a WSOP bracelet, so the WSOP bracelet awarded to first place will make one of these lucky 14 a first-time bracelet winner. They'll also take home $499,852 for a best live score. Final Day Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Eric Trexler United States 97,400,000 39 2 Ciao Sobral Brazil 94,000,000 38 3 Kfir Nahum Israel 83,600,000 33 4 Jason Simon United States 77,800,000 31 5 Jonson Chatterley United States 66,300,000 27 6 Bohdan Slyvinski United States 55,200,000 22 7 Wade Wallace United States 41,400,000 17 8 Salvatore Boi Italy 37,300,000 15 9 Wesley Cannon United States 36,000,000 14 10 Bien Nguyen Australia 31,200,000 12 11 Tim Williams United States 28,400,000 11 12 Joshua Rotherberg United States 23,400,000 9 13 Thomas Reeves United States 13,600,000 5 14 Willie Smith United States 9,500,000 4 Leading the way is Eric Trexler, who holds the chip lead with 97,400,000. The Washington native has only one prior WSOP cash to his name and it was in the WSOP 2021 Reunion, the largest field of any WSOP event in history. A knack for navigating massive fields has served Trexler well as he scooped a massive pot late in the night to knock out two players to take the lead and maintained it through the rest of the night. Nipping at his heels is a player who secured his first WSOP cash. Caio Sobral ended up bagging 94,600,000 at the end of the night after a steady build throughout the day, which culminated in the second-largest stack. Sobral has his eyes on becoming the second Brazilian player to take home a bracelet this year after Rafael Reis took home his first piece of WSOP jewelry. Coming into Day 3 with the most WSOP experience of the final 14 is Kfir Nahum, who ended the day bagging 83,600,000. With $1,465,131 in lifetime earnings on Hendon Mob, the Nevada resident has secured his best live WSOP placement with this bag. Nahum finished in 61st place in the 2017 WSOP Main Event, for a career-best score of $121,188. Can he navigate an even larger field to win his first WSOP bracelet? Nahum ended the day with the third most in chips, looking to add a first bracelet The only player left to have won a WSOPC ring is Wesley Cannon, who ended his day with 36,000,000. The Minnesota resident has been building a steady resume over the past decade of playing on the circuit and a deep run here would be his best WSOP finish. Day 2 Recap The action was fast and furious at the start of the day, with 60% of the field vanishing within only two hours of play. Among the early casualties were such names as Champie Douglas (784th - $1,120), Danny Wong (553rd - $1,370), Josh Reichard (477th - $1,540), and Mike Allis (401st - $1,980). Negreanus Excellent Run Negreanu managed to outlast over 23,000 entrants in this field. Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu was among the chip leaders of the tournament after the first day's play and he came into today with the eyes of the poker world on him. The start of Day 2 was a bit rocky after Mark Simon rivered a set against him to stay alive. Negreanu spent much of the day on the smaller stack, but never without his positive, chatty, attitude that he is well-known for. A cornucopia of fans occupied the rail at the Horseshoe to see the player they had watched on television for so many years play in one of the biggest tournament fields of all time. Negreanu found plenty of time to say yes to all of the fans coming up to him and asking for pictures. Robbie Ko busted Daniel Negreanu His run ended when he called an all in from the unpredictable Robbie Ko with ace-jack, only to be up against the ace-king. Despite flopping a straight draw, Negreanus hand did not improve, and he graciously exited the tournament in 72nd place out of a starting field of 23,088 for $5,840. He wished his tablemates well and took all of the photos that the rail asked of him as he walked over to register for Event #27: $1,500 8-Game Mix. Late Day Action Many other notables fell shortly after Negreanu's demise. MSPT legend DJ Buckley (68th - $6,990) found himself out the door, Melanie Weisner (62nd - $8,410) found herself all in with tens against jacks for her tournament life and unable to improve, TK Miles (39th - $12,240) found himself on the wrong end of a coin flip, and Casey Carrolll (29th - $15,230) was ousted in brutal fashion as his pocket aces were cracked by ace-queen from a four-flush. With the final three tables set, the eliminations kept coming. The biggest pot of the night saw Jason Aden (19th - $18,779) and Robbie Ko (18th - $18,779) get their chips into a massive pot with Trexler who called them both with top pair and held to take the chip lead, earning a big celebration from Trexler. Alexandre Besse was the final elimination of the night The final casualty of the night was Alexandre Besse (15th - $23,298), who moved in his final eight big blinds with king-trey only to be up against the pocket nines of Jonson Chatterley. While he paired his trey on the flop, no help was brought to him, and he exited the tournament just short of the end of play. Players will return on Monday, June 12, at 12 p.m. local time at the Horseshoe, with blinds at 1,250,000/2,500,000 with a 2,500,000 big blind ante. The final players will play until there are nine remaining, after which the final table will be streamed. Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding the 2023 WSOP. After 22 levels of play, Day 1 of Event #26: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas has come to an end. A total of 4,747 joined the field throughout the action-packed day to create a massive prize pool of $3,341,888, beating last year's number by close to $500,000. Last years tournament saw a total of 4,062 entries and that record was broken by more than 700 players. The winner of this event will take home $402,588 and the prestigious WSOP gold bracelet. After the dust settled, it was Romania's Cosmin Joldis who bagged the chip lead with a staggering 2,040,000 in chips. Joldis has more than $1.1 million in live tournament earnings, an impressive sum aided by a runner-up finish in the 2022 WSOP Mini Main Event worth $367,233. End of Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Cosmin Joldis Romania 2,040,000 68 2 William Pappas United States 1,680,000 56 3 Stefan Rolfe Canada 1,655,000 55 4 Daniyal Gheba United States 1,655,000 55 5 Thomas Boivin Belgium 1,575,000 53 6 Wade Fink United States 1,520,000 51 7 Nanhua Jin United States 1,450,000 48 8 Christopher Battenfield United States 1,410,000 47 9 Sriharsha Doddapaneni United States 1,380,000 46 10 Tamas Lendvai Hungary 1,365,000 46 Close on his heels are Thomas Boivin, who bagged 1,575,000, and Wade Fink with 1,520,000, who both bagged top ten stacks. Many recreational and big names jumped into the action, including Shaun Deeb, James Romero, Mikki Mase, and popular YouTuber Ryan Depaulo, all of whom busted throughout the day. Also sween were poker enthusiasts Mike Smith, Jonas Conlan, Eddie Valladares, Alice Isidro, and unfortunate almost bubble boy Eduardo Montoya, who was on a comeback from only one chip until his ace-king ran into the queens of his opponent to send him out a few places before the money. The final 713 players locked up a min-cash of $1,280, and the bust-outs were fast and furious. In the last two levels of the day, the field went from 712 remaining to only 339, who will return at 10:00 a.m. on June 12 for Day 2. Some of those fortunate enough to find a bag for Day 2 included, Ryan Riess (1,025,000), Nate Silver (290,000), Loni Harwood (370,000), and Bryn Kenney (575,000), who will all look to add to their already lengthy poker resumes. The blinds will resume at Level 23 with 15,000/30,000 and a 30,000 big blind ante. The blinds will remain 30 minutes in length with a 20-minute break every four levels. The plan is to play down to a winner, but depending on the speed of play, could see another day added to the schedule. As always, be sure to stick with PokerNews for all your up-to-date coverage of this event and the rest of the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Welcome to Day 2 of Event #26: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deep Stack here at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. A total of 4,747 players joined the action on Day 1 and only 339 remain in the hunt for WSOP gold. A massive prize pool of $3,341,888 was collected with the winner taking home $402,588 and the prestigious gold bracelet. After the dust settled on Day 1 it was Romania's Cosmin Joldis who bagged the chip lead with a staggering 2,040,000 in chips. Joldis, who is no stranger to these big fields with over $1.1 million in live earnings, will look to keep his foot on the pedal in hopes of his first WSOP bracelet. End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Cosmin Joldis Romania 2,040,000 68 2 William Pappas United States 1,680,000 56 3 Stefan Rolfe Canada 1,655,000 55 4 Daniyal Gheba United States 1,655,000 55 5 Thomas Boivin Belgium 1,575,000 53 6 Wade Fink United States 1,520,000 51 7 Nanhua Jin United States 1,450,000 48 8 Christopher Battenfield United States 1,410,000 47 9 Sriharsha Doddapaneni United States 1,380,000 46 10 Tamas Lendvai Hungary 1,365,000 46 Many players from all skill levels joined the green felts on Day 1 and some who were fortunate to find a bag included Ryan Riess (1,025,000), Nate Silver (290,000) and Loni Harwood (370,000). The remaining 339 players have locked up a cash of at least $1,883 but will all have their eyes set on the $402,588 top prize. Players will return at 10 a.m. local time with the blinds at 15,000/30,000 and a big blind ante of 30,000. The levels will continue to be 30 minutes in length and there will be a 20-minute break every four levels. The plan is to play down to a winner today, but with the massive amount of players remaining, we could see another day added to the schedule. Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we come closer to crowning a new champion here at the 2023 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and his fellow Oversight Committee Democrats have requested the opening of a federal investigation into the Homeland Security Inspector General for the destruction of government records. Raskin and the Democrats wrote to the National Archivist to request an immediate federal investigation into Inspector General Joseph Cuffari after he admitted to destroying federal records: We are deeply troubled by Mr. Cuffaris flagrant disregard for the Federal Records Act, and we ask that you immediately conduct an investigation into his potential unlawful destruction of federal records and report your findings to our Committee. It is also a violation of federal law to willfully remove or destroy federal records. It is unclear if Inspector General Cuffari followed federal law by copying or forwarding electronic messages to official accounts prior to deletion. However, Inspector General Cuffari stated he made the decision to delete messages unilaterally based on his own personal consideration of the messages. Cuffari admitted at an Oversight Committee hearing last week that he deletes texts from his government-issued cell phone on a regular basis. The DHS Inspector General was installed by Trump and seems to treat government records in the same manner that the former president does. John Harte, lawyer for Aiken Economic Director Tim O'Briant, filed a motion June 5 asking the court to remove from the record Donald Moniak's motion to dismiss and his amended motion to dismiss. Harte filed the lawsuit in late April. In the complaint, O'Briant accuses Moniak, individually and as an agent of Eureka Research LLC, of slander over comments Moniak made at the end of the April 10 city council meeting and in a Feb. 17 email to city officers and employees. Moniak filed his motion to dismiss May 26 and the amended motion to dismiss May 30. In the motion, he argued the lawsuit violates the South Carolina Frivolous Proceedings Sanctions Act, that Harte filed the lawsuit as part of a pattern of harassing him and other county residents, that his accusations against O'Briant were true and that O'Briant filed the suit to limit his public comments. Harte said that Moniak's motions were not legitimate pleadings and were not filed in good faith. "They are nothing more than a thinly veiled effort to attract media attention and gain publication of lies about the Plaintiff [O'Briant], other members of the government and the lawyer who is representing the Plaintiff," Harte said. Harte adds Moniak's motions do not contain any defense to O'Briant's allegations and are "nothing more than vicious ravings by a person bent on maliciously defaming" O'Briant and anyone defending him. He said Moniak's motions are further evidence of his intent to defame O'Briant which demonstrates actual malice and that Moniak should be sanctioned for abusing the legal process. Harte argued Aiken County Clerk of Court Robert Harte's office shouldn't have been accepted Moniak's motion because it does not comply with the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. If the court declines to order the clerk to reject the documents, Harte asks for an entry of default against Moniak. He argues Moniak's motions do not comply with South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure requiring filings to be simple, concise and direct. If the court rejects that argument, Harte asks the court to order Moniak to make his allegations and statements more definitive and certain and to strike the redundant, immaterial, impertinent and scandalous material from the motions. If the court rejects that argument, Harte asks for judgment on the pleadings because Moniak's motions don't contain defenses to O'Briant's allegations. Harte also asks the court to dismiss Moniak's allegations of a violation of the frivolous proceedings act. Harte says the act requires the court to reach an outcome on the underlying case before action under the act can be taken. Harte also filed an affidavit of default arguing that Moniak's company, Eureka Research LLC, has not filed a pleading in the case and should, therefore, be found liable to O'Briant for damages. Moniak's motion to dismiss and amended motion to dismiss were filed on behalf of both himself and the company. However, South Carolina case law does not allow artificial persons, like companies, to be represented by a non-lawyer. Project Pascalis has been stopped but downtown redevelopment isnt over. On Thursday, the Aiken Municipal Development Commission voted unanimously, 5-0, in favor of a motion that stops Project Pascalis by declaring a conditional purchase and sale agreement with RPM Development Partners null and void and cancels the 2020 redevelopment plan that led to the project. The Aiken Municipal Development Commission is terminating all planning work with the current developer and hopefully plans to start the procurement process, Commission Chairman Keith Wood said in a statement made after the meeting. The project named after one of the engineers who designed the city's unique street grid was a $75 million redevelopment effort involving the block surrounded by Laurens Street, Richland Avenue, Newberry Street and Park Avenue. The Project Pascalis plan called for the demolition of the vacant Hotel Aiken and a building next to it on Laurens Street and the construction of a 100-room hotel in their place. The Holley House and several buildings located between it and Newberry Street, including most of the former C.C. Johnson Drug Store, would be demolished to make way for an apartment complex and parking garage. The city's former municipal building would be expanded into a conference center. Downtown revitalization efforts have been going on for the better part of a decade, and Aiken City Council created the Aiken Municipal Development Commission in 2019 to take bold action. When former City Manager John Klimm was in office the efforts to redevelop the downtown area was known as the Renaissance, which ultimately failed. Developer not properly selected Chris Verenes, vice president of the Municipal Development Commission, and Wood said after the meeting in personal statements that they voted to stop the project because the commission had not followed the process outlined in state law for selecting a developer. The public deserves no less than the truth, Verenes said. If we sit here and just say, Whoops, were starting over, without calling out actions that we know were wrong then our silence implies approval of what happened. Verenes said a deliberate decision was made by an unnamed city staff member without the knowledge or approval of the commission to delay running a request for proposal required by the South Carolina Community Development Law. South Carolina Community Development Law requires commissions doing redevelopment projects to pay to place a classified ad in a local newspaper of general circulation twice to solicit proposals for the redevelopment project. A request for proposal is a document issued by governmental entities seeking bids to perform a specific task or project. The commission's request for proposal ran after Wood had already signed a contract with RPM Development Partners to sell the commission-owned property to the group if the commission and RPM reached an agreement to develop the properties. Wood said in his statement that he signed the agreement on Dec. 3, 2021, 10 and 17 days before the request for proposal ran in the Aiken Standard. Let me be clear, if I had known this, I would have never signed the purchase and sale agreement, Wood said in his statement. Aiken Economic Development Director and Commission Executive Director Tim OBriant said he has held Wood and Verenes in high esteem for years but that he respectfully disagreed with the content of their statements. Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh declined to comment on the allegations made by Wood and Verenes in their statements. The commission had contracted to run request for proposal in the Aiken Standard in November but its publication was stopped at the behest of OBriant, who called the Aiken Standard to get the request for proposal canceled. OBriant confirmed he had met with Ray Massey, the registered agent for RPM, prior to requesting the request for proposal be canceled. He said as economic development director for the city he has met with several developers on Project Pascalis and on other potential projects in the city. Wood and Verenes said the commission was never informed that the required request for proposal was stopped. Wood said the commission did not find out about the issue with the request for proposals until June 23 when an unnamed staff member and an attorney recommended starting the whole process over to correct the problem. Six days later, on June 29, OBriant said the pending request from RPM to demolish five buildings to clear the land for the apartment complex and parking garage had been postponed to a later, unspecified, date. Twelve days after the commission learned of the problems with the requests for proposal, on July 5, David Blake, Luis Rinaldini, the Historic Aiken Foundation and others filed a lawsuit challenging the actions of the commission, Aiken Design Review Board and the Aiken City Council on the project. Among the allegations made in the suit was that the South Carolina Community Development Law had not been followed. Rinaldini said after the vote Thursday that he was thankful and pleased. Aside from answering the allegations in the lawsuit and asking that it be dismissed, no further action was taken on the project until Sept. 9 when the commission voted to continue a motion made by Verenes and seconded by Wood to hold a vote on starting over this week. Moving forward Wood and Verenes both said they had expressed concerns about the city staffs decisions regarding the requests for proposal to other senior city staff. Wood said he called the city council member who appointed him on June 23 to relay what he had been told about the requests for proposal. He added he also sent written correspondence on June 29 to the senior city staff to raise his concerns about a lack of transparency from the city staff that worked with the commission. Additionally, I and another member of the AMDC executive committee met with a senior city staff member on July 6, 2022, to express concerns related to city staffs failure to follow state statute regarding the Pascalis RFP process, Wood continued. Verenes said he had clearly relayed his grave concerns to the senior city staff and several members of the city council. We need to make sure the process is fair, equitable, transparent and follows the law, Verenes said. And that is what we are going to do. Wood said he was hopeful the commission would quickly meet with the city staff and council to identify a process in the best interest of the city and its residents. Bedenbaugh and OBriant both said they hoped the city and the commission could create a project that would follow legal requirements and receive widespread community support. Bedenbaugh added he felt a historic preservation presentation Wednesday hosted by the Historic Aiken Foundation offered some good ideas. Aiken's newest potential plans for the properties that were to be included in Project Pascalis drew a standing ovation Monday evening as they were announced by Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon and Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz at the annual state of the city address. The announcement was made shortly after Osbon called Woltz on to the stage at the Amentum Theater. Woltz has taken the lead on part of the plan because Osbon has a conflict of interest. Osbon is the owner of Osbon's Laundry and Cleaners, a "friendly competitor" to Warneke Cleaners. "First, let me be clear, none of this is a done deal and City Council has had initial discussions about it, but nothing is even close to being finalized," Woltz said. "In fact, I'm asking tonight that city staff schedule a public forum within the next two weeks to gather input, thoughts and concerns as we begin looking at these possibilities as a city and as a council." Woltz said the initial thoughts were to provide the Savannah River National Laboratory with 40,000-50,000 square feet of office and exhibition space between Bee Lane and Newberry Street for use as a workforce development office. He said around 100 Savannah River National Laboratory workers would be housed in the facility along with a rotating group of faculty and students from the lab's university collaborative. The collaborative includes the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina State University. Savannah River National Lab director Vahid Majidi said the new facility would allow the lab to have a more direct presence in the community and help with the goal of developing a pipeline of new talent. He said the facility would complement the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative to be constructed at USC Aiken. "I should emphasize that this SRNL building is being designed for only computational and administrative work," Majidi said, drawing a relieved laugh from the audience. "We won't have any chemicals, hoods or hazardous materials in this facility." He added the facility would also host some work on non-proliferation training programs and human resources functions. Majidi said the facility will allow for scientific and technical discussions, remote learning and teacher development. Woltz added the facility would also have space for USCA to provide education and outreach downtown. Renderings of the facility were not available Monday evening. The new potential plan calls for the demolition of the Warneke Cleaners building, the 1981-built motel strip fronting Bee Lane and the old gun shop on Richland Avenue. The plans for Project Pascalis called for the demolition of nearly all of the buildings between Bee Lane and Newberry Street and between Richland Avenue and the former office of State Farm agent Joe Harrison and the construction of an apartment complex and parking deck. The C.C. Johnson Building would be historically renovated to its original appearance. The adjacent retail buildings would be renovated and upgraded as part of the plan. Newberry Hall and Taj Aiken would remain where they are. Warneke Cleaners would be relocated to newly created retail space facing Richland Avenue. Woltz did not mention the other businesses in the retail buildings between Bee Lane and Newberry Street. He added the city would create needed additional parking by developing a surface lot across from St. John's United Methodist Church and possibly a lot next to the new Municipal Building. Funding for the new plan would be provided by a combination of funds the city and the national lab received from South Carolina's $600 million settlement with the federal government over plutonium that wasn't removed from the state or disposed of in the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site. The city received $25 million for downtown and northside improvements and the national lab received $20 million for the workforce development center. Hotel Aiken Osbon returned to the stage to announce the plans for the Hotel Aiken and the building behind it on Laurens Street that were slated to be demolished in the Project Pascalis plans. He said the new potential plan did not include a definitive future for either building but that the future of the buildings would be determined through a request for proposal drafted and issued within the next 45-60 days. This also drew applause from the audience. "There will be no pre-conceived ideas about what needs to be done with it, just a list of the parcels, a description of the buildings as they stand and a call for interested parties to make an offer and tell us their plan for it," Osbon said, again drawing applause. He said the request for proposal would not suggest a future use for the building. "Potential buyers may want it to be a hotel once again, others may suggest condos or apartments and still others may suggest a great idea that has never occurred to any of us," Osbon said. He added the request for proposal would encourage proposers to help the city with the important work of repurposing and complementing the historic downtown assets. Osbon also promised that, shortly after the city receives proposals, those meeting some basic qualifications will be released to the public. "Each and every one of us will be able to evaluate what the plans are, what purchase price is offered, and what incentives a potential buyer might ask for all of it," Osbon said. "That said, if we all review the proposals together as a community and find one worth pursuing, we'll do just that. If not, we'll reject them all and start again. That's my promise to you." Former municipal building Osbon said the former city municipal building would become offices for the staff of Second Judicial Circuit Solicitor Bill Weeks. "While I don't have a final answer for you this evening, I can tell you that I have had extensive discussions with the leadership of Aiken County government," Osbon said. "City Council has discussed the best use of the building moving forward and there appears to be consensus that offering it for sale to the County to house the Solicitor's Office is the best path forward." He added the solicitor's office would likely play a key role in keeping the Aiken County Courthouse downtown as County Council Chairman Gary Bunker has suggested. "We hope to have an agreement drafted between the City and the County for both Councils to review and consider in the near future," Osbon said. The potential Project Pascalis plans called for the conversion and expansion of the former municipal building at 214 Park Ave. into a conference center run by Newberry Hall. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 93F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 73F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. One of North Augustas most notable restaurants was recently awarded a $40,000 grant. The Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant, which is funded by American Express, awarded grants to 25 businesses nationwide. The Sno-Cap Drive-In, which has been open since 1964 and is located at 618 West Ave., was the only restaurant in South Carolina that was honored. This years restaurants embody the unique stories of how local businesses empower communities, sustain cultural traditions, and extend family legacies, said Katherine Malone-France, chief preservation officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Once again, we heard from small restaurants of all kinds from soda fountains and craft breweries to BBQ stops and specialty bakeries, and from all over the country, reaffirming that, thanks to American Express, these resilient businesses can continue to grow, thrive, and serve their community, she said. Havrid Usry, a partner in Fat Mans Hospitality that took over the Sno-Cap in 2019, said half of the money will be used to cover operational costs. The rest will pay for historical preservation on the restaurant site. I think that what we have done since we have owned the Sno-Cap has really brought back the nostalgia in its original form and we are going to use those funds to do exactly the same thing, Usry said. Our plan right now is to finish some of the patio renovations that we had started. We just spent a lot of money on the parking lot but the sign is also historic that sits on West Avenue and we are going to do a renovation to it as well just because it needs a little TLC as well. This is the grant program's third year. It has helped over 100 restaurants. Usry looks forward to continuing to make an impact in the community with the restaurant. I think we are excited about the future of Sno-Cap and to continue doing what we are doing and offer the community a good service, a good product and hopefully help continue the love from them since we have been a part of it, he said. To learn about other restaurants awarded, visit the Saving Places website. Christopher M. Caruana took off from a small Niagara County airport near Lake Ontario on Sunday afternoon just as he did many times before. As he headed north, the pilot made a low pass over Shear Airport, his aircraft climbing and making a gradual left turn. Thats when Caruana uttered an expletive over the radio, and his plane made a sharp turn to the left. Caruana, the sole occupant of a single-propeller, two-seat plane, hit trees and power lines before crashing into a field just north of Braley Road in Porter. Caruana, 35, of Grand Island, was killed in the crash, state police said Monday. Everything that he did yesterday was, according to what all of his friends said, (what) he normally did, said Aaron McCarter, investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. The amount of time from when the plane took off and the crash was probably 15 seconds, McCarter said Monday during a briefing near the crash site, on the other side of Braley from the airport. Several credible witnesses to Sundays crash reported hearing and seeing a part fall from the plane immediately before the aircraft hit some trees, McCarter said. As of early Monday afternoon, investigators had yet to recover what witnesses said they saw and heard fall from the plane. Caruana ran a business flying a cropduster, but at the time of the crash was piloting a personal aircraft, a Harmon Rocket. The plane designated in Federal Aviation Administration records as experimental and amateur built had an airframe thats widely available and designed to be modified or customized, McCarter said. As a pilot, he had logged thousands of hours in the air. He was a well-seasoned pilot, had over 5,000 hours, McCarter said. He was a commercial pilot, well known and respected by his friends here at the airport. The crash was reported at 3:08 p.m., state police said. Caruana had been visiting with friends at a skydiving operation at the airport on the south side of Braley. Caruanas plane took off heading south, made a 180-degree turn and headed north flying low over the runway, McCarter said. Thats when a gradual, climbing left turn above the trees turned into a sharp left turn and descent into the trees and power lines. The path of aircraft wreckage measured about 450 feet, indicating a very high-energy impact, McCarter said. Due to wet conditions, investigators plan to recover the wreckage on Tuesday and move it to a hangar in Westfield, Mass. Caruanas plane was not equipped with whats typically known as a black box, but did have equipment in the cockpit that could provide investigators with some of the same information as a black box could, McCarter said. He described the aircraft that crashed as a very fast airplane. Investigators are looking for the publics help, including for witnesses and doorbell camera footage. Information should be sent to witness@ntsb.gov. The NTSB investigator arrived Sunday night. Typically, NTSB investigators spend two or three days at the scene, McCarter said. The agency usually issues a preliminary report, containing all information gathered from the scene, in seven to 10 days. A factual report gets issued in about a year, and a report on the probable cause of the crash usually takes 12 to 18 months to complete. This was the third fatal plane crash in the region in recent weeks. Two Canadian men died in a plane crash last Tuesday just after takeoff from Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport. And on May 28, two men, one from Rochester and one from Brockport, died when an experimental plane went down in Orleans County. Pilot dies in Niagara County plane crash The pilot of a single-propeller plane died in a crash in the Town of Porter on Sunday afternoon. COLUMBIA Elementary students normally learn about the moon, but few schools have an entire room dedicated to the Earth's natural satellite. Students at Forest Lake Elementary School have just that after the creation of a "moon room," complete with blackout curtains, grey padding "moon rock" floors, a planted American flag and moon shoes. The moon room is part of the Columbia-area magnet school's emphasizes space and science education through its partnership with NASA, working with the U.S. space agency to integrate South Carolina's education standards with a focus on the cosmos. In one unit in the school's NASA Lab classroom, for example, students learned about animals' natural habitats and how they survive and adapt in them a state standard and then connected that idea to space through a project about creating such a habitat on Mars. "They get to apply both what they're learning about in the classroom, plus how NASA uses it," NASA lab teacher Nicole Langenhuizen said, adding that making those connections helps students build critical thinking skills. The campus' NASA Explorer School designation, which it originally received in 2006, has given Forest Lake students the chance to meet virtually with NASA astronauts and get a visit from the U.S. Space Force, according to Principal Benjamin Jackson, and to use the agency's educational resources like webinars, classroom activities and research aids. It also sends teachers to education conferences at the Houston Space Center and gives them professional development training from NASA staff. Those resources, like the conferences, give teachers new ideas to bring into their classrooms, according to teacher Lilla Todd, who's also a parent of two Forest Lake students. "It's very eye-opening for (the students)," she said, adding that "if you're creative enough ... you can tie anything back to STEM and hands-on science." The school's hallways and classrooms are decorated with painted NASA logos and space themes, and students build and test model landers in class. Another part of the school's science and space concentration is a school-wide project that Forest Lake students work on at the end of each year, where all 600 students focus on different angles of the same space-related topic. In the 2022-23 school year, students focused on Mars, with different students studying different ways that humans have explored the Red Planet. For students Sara Saiklay, 10, and Benjamin Felder, 11, that means a look into the MAVEN spacecraft currently orbiting Mars that NASA launched in 2013. Their end-of-the-year projects are a chance for the students to prove how much they know and differentiate themselves from their classmates, Benjamin said, in addition to being "cool." "Everybody can be working on the same thing, but you can find a totally different website than somebody did, and you could have more information or different information about the same topic," the fifth-grader said. Since 2006, NASA has ended their Explorer Schools service, but since Forest Lake was one of the earliest schools to join the program, they were able to continue using the brand and working with the space agency, Jackson said. "Our students will continue to grow as far as their understanding of what's taking place with NASA," the principal said. Forest Lake is one of 40 different magnet programs in Richland County School District Two, which serves 28,500 students in northeast Richland County. Some, like Forest Lake's NASA program, cover an entire school, while others are a smaller program inside a campus. On the elementary school level, students are admitted to those programs and schools through a lottery system, according to the district's Director of Magnet Programs Barbara Turner. But the programs in the district's middle and high schools are more selective, meaning that students might be assessed on test scores, grades, writing or an interview for admission purposes. The district looks to establish magnet programs in subject areas where "something innovate" is happening, Turner said, leading to programs with focuses including medical science, the arts, leadership, academics and, of course, outer space. That science-forward curriculum and academic rigor was important to Forest Lake parent Khalid Ballouli in his family's decision to send their children to the campus after moving to the Columbia area. Now with multiple students enrolled on the campus, he said Forest Lake has given his kids an appreciation of the larger world. "It's very omnipresent ... they're constantly thinking about space, their place in space," he said, adding, "I like that it's really given my kids perspective, just on life." Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. COLUMBIA A man who barricaded himself in a home after pointing at gun at a power company worker was fatally shot in a gunfire exchange with deputies, according to the Richland County Sheriff's Department. At around 8:55 a.m. on June 12, a woman from a power company came out to a home near Two Notch Road. A man came out of the home and pointed a gun at the worker, telling her to get off the property, sheriff's spokesperson Maria Yturria said. The worker then called 911. When the first two deputies arrived at the home, the man started yelling "belligerently" at the officers before firing his pistol. "He came out shooting at our deputies," Yturria said. "The two individual deputies that were the initial ones on scene, as soon as they arrived and exited their vehicle, he shot at them with a pistol." Officers evacuated the area and redirected traffic on Two Notch Road between Arcadia Lakes Drive and Roof Street in a busy but unincorporated area between Columbia and Arcadia Lakes. Negotiators attempted to make contact with the man by phone and by a PA system. The man came out and pointed a gun at responders. He came out again firing shots at deputies, Yturria said. Richland deputies fired back, striking the man, the spokesperson said. The man was sent to the hospital and pronounced dead. Yturria said they will not release the name of the suspect until his family is notified of his death. Yturria said deputies are investigating "suspicious packages" found in the house. "We've had dealings with him in the past," Yturria said. "They have been aggravated in nature." Charlestons school superintendent search fell apart in the eleventh hour. One finalist pulled out, then a second. After 18 months of speculation and uncertainty, the search ended with the board offering the job to the only finalist who hadnt withdrawn. For a community that had been promised a chance to meet with three finalists, it was an unexpected decision. This one felt a little bit like Survivor, like you had one person left and that's kind of the person crowned as the winner, said Jody Stallings, a veteran educator who has witnessed a number of superintendent searches in Charleston. Stallings is among those who thought the search would start anew. Hes not sure why the board didnt do that. In the days since they offered Eric Gallien the job, most board members havent spoken publicly about why they feel confident in his ability to lead South Carolinas second-largest district, one thats much larger than his own in Racine, Wis. He will soon be tasked with leading a school district entrusted with more than $640 million in taxpayer dollars annually and nearly 50,000 students. It's a district grappling with divisions over its direction and wide disparities among its schools. It is home to some of South Carolinas best performing schools, as well as some of its worst. Gallien might truly be the best person for the job, community members said. But the secrecy in the searchs final days has left few able to say that with confidence. The boards decision has also renewed questions into its ability to lead the district. Even before the superintendent decision, trustees had faced criticism over the controversial policies they prioritized during their first few months in office. Some now say members let their political agenda take precedence over the superintendent search. Community members worry the board has set up its new leader for failure: The job is already hard. Will it be even harder for someone hired out of a process that has created so much doubt? Fits and starts Charlestons top job has been shrouded in uncertainty ever since Gerrita Postlewaits resignation in late December 2021. The search to fill the job proceeded in fits and starts. Postlewaits departure, announced during the districts winter break, was sudden. A special-called meeting to accept her resignation was held with so little notice one board member couldnt attend. No explanation has ever been given for why she left. I felt like some things were not entirely transparent in that process, said former board member Cindy Bohn Coats. The board named Don Kennedy, at the time the districts chief financial officer, to be interim superintendent. After that, the board didnt discuss the search again until March 2022. Three months later, the board voted to remove the interim title and make Kennedy superintendent but just until they found a permanent replacement. Over the summer, the board interviewed five search firms to guide the process. They ultimately didnt hire one. With the November 2022 election looming and with all board member seats up for grabs, the outgoing trustees decided it wasnt their place to choose the districts next leader. Most of them werent running to keep their seats. Charleston County voters ended up electing an almost-entirely new board. Donate to our Investigative Fund to support journalism like this Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do. Its also the most expensive reporting we do. We cant do it without your support. Donate Now New board chairwoman Pam McKinney said in December that she and the other members were reviewing the previous boards work on the superintendent search. McKinney vowed the board would be transparent and criticized the previous board for holding its discussions about the search in executive sessions not open to the public. Weve got to be more open, she said. McKinney and other members said hiring a new superintendent was key to the districts stability. But new board members took office with other goals, too. Those initiatives, which took board members attention away from the superintendent search, frustrated some community members. They are bothered by the amount of time the board has spent on controversial cultural debates pushed by five new trustees whose election bids were backed by Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that has claimed public schools indoctrinate children and has fought for increased parental control over books and curriculum. Theres been some political distractions that have kept them from focusing on the task at hand, which was getting a new superintendent, said Joy Brown, a District 10 constituent board member. New board members always have a big learning curve. Their first few meetings were rocky, full of hiccups, as members struggled to grasp all the boards policies and procedures. The board didnt discuss the superintendent search as a group until January. At the same time they began discussions about the search, members also began to talk about adding prayer to their meetings. Then, some took aim at the districts literacy curriculum, calling lessons biased and inappropriate. Then, they took up a policy proposal that would have banned educators from talking with students about sexual orientation or gender. The Moms for Liberty faction pushed the prayer and curricula debates. Their proposals all prompted immediate outcry. Person after person signed up to speak during the boards public comment, most of them imploring the board to drop the controversial initiatives. Several meetings stretched until the late night hours. The board didnt hire a search firm until the middle of March. We spent an awful lot of time on prayer and some policies that were not critical needs things for our school district, said Sarah Shad Johnson, who ran for the board in 2022 and lost to trustee Ed Kelley. Why did it take so long to get around to hiring the search firm? Board member Keith Grybowski said the new members were hit with a lot when they took office. They had to tackle the superintendent search while figuring out their own roles and how to work with each other. He said its been the most challenging job hes ever had. Its like trying to jump on a fast freight train, Grybowski said. Then you get on board and youre told that theres a bomb and youve got to stop it from exploding. Johnson said she felt good about the search at first, even as she worried about the new boards learning curve. She liked all the community input the search firm gathered at the start of the process, which led to the candidate profile the board adopted. But she thought the boards inexperience contributed to the confusion at the end. They had their whole process fall apart, she said. I felt like they decided they had to wrap it up quickly because it was just getting worse and worse. The search breaks down A crowd of people gathered in a circle of seats around Gallien on May 25. The community members, part of a focus group, came to Burke High School ready with questions to find out more about Galliens record working in Wisconsin and how he intended to translate that experience to Charleston. He was the first of three candidates the group was supposed to interview over the course of a few days. As participants arrived for Galliens interview they were still in the dark about who else theyd meet. Just one other finalist had been publicly named at that point Charles McNulty, a superintendent in Little Rock, Ark. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! What board members knew, but hadnt shared yet with the focus group or the public, was that McNulty and the other finalist eventually identified as Kenneth Bradshaw of Augusta, Ga. had already withdrawn from consideration. Behind the scenes, the boards process had been breaking down for days. Trustees had picked finalists three days prior on May 22. They voted on six people identified only by letters to keep semifinalists names confidential. While state law says that a government agency must make the three finalists names public, the district said they couldnt release the names yet when The Post and Courier asked a day later. A Facebook group ended up sharing the names on May 23. The anonymous online post was the first to publicly name all three finalists. The following day, the district sent out a press release that named Gallien and McNulty, but not the third candidate. More Information The Post and Courier Education Lab is a multi-year project, employing four reporters, focused on the need for public education reform in South Carolina. The Coastal Community Foundation and Spartanburg Foundation serve as fiscal sponsors for the Education Lab, which is supported by grants from the Jolley Foundation, Intertech, anonymous donors, and generous donations on behalf of donors to The Post and Courier Public Service and Investigative Fund who designate to the Education Lab. Board member Leah Whatley said she caught wind on May 24 that one candidate had withdrawn. But she picked up Gallien from his hotel room the next day and drove him to his final interview with the board as planned. After they finished, trustees learned that a second candidate had withdrawn, Whatley said. Neither former candidate has spoken publicly or responded to requests to talk about why they pulled out. By then, Gallien had continued on to the next part of his visit. He toured three schools, took questions from the focus group for nearly two hours and then attended a meet-and-greet with community members at Burke High School. When he met with the focus group, none of them had any indication anything had gone awry. Brown, the District 10 constituent board member who was asked to participate in the focus group, said she felt good when she saw who was included on the panel. There was a lot of diversity of ideas and every focus group member got to ask a question, something Brown appreciated. It was a very divided crowd, she said. But CCSD is very divided. I felt like it was an indicator of how he would be able to handle whats to come if he became superintendent. She wished the board had given the public more information about the candidates beforehand. Brown said she ended up doing a lot of research on her own so she could ask a good question. Aaron White, a social worker who served on the task force, also said more details would have been helpful. Gallien didnt wow them. Brown described him as middle. But nothing he said alarmed them, either. Stallings, the head of the Charleston Teacher Alliance and another focus group member, agreed. I wouldnt say I heard anything necessarily remarkable, he said. Several shared concerns about Gallien's ability to take on a larger district. The school system he oversees in Wisconsin has about 16,000 students, making it about one-third the size of CCSD. The academic record in Racine is mixed: The graduation rate has grown since he became superintendent but the district remains one of the lowest performing overall, according to Wisconsin's district report cards. They were all looking forward to the next candidate interviews when the district announced those meetings wouldnt be happening: The other two finalists had pulled out. Crowning a winner Stallings said every superintendent search he's seen in Charleston unfolds differently. But when he learned the board had offered the superintendent position to Gallien after the other two candidates dropped out, he was shocked. Others were similarly surprised. White felt the community was robbed of the chance to meet multiple finalists as promised. It made it hard to evaluate whether he was the best candidate. If I was able to match him up against the other candidates, I would have had a different impression of him, White said. The decision to take a vote May 30 and offer Gallien the position was also unexpected by at least one board member. Whatley said she assumed the board would figure out how to regroup after the Memorial Day holiday. A fellow trustee Whatley wouldn't say who had called her over the weekend and told her that was the plan. More Coverage To read more in-depth stories from The Post and Courier's Education Lab, go to postandcourier.com/education-lab. She liked Gallien but thought itd be in both his and the communitys best interest for the board to review more candidates as originally planned. When they met on May 30, she thought theyd be talking about how to reopen the search and what the process would look like. The concern that I highlighted was the optics of the last man standing, she said. Its not fair because were supposed to be comparing these different candidates, and we cant now. The process has completely fallen apart. She said it was clear early on in the boards closed-session discussion that the majority of members were ready to vote. Whatley decided to leave the meeting in protest after the executive session concluded. Her vote wouldnt have changed the outcome six in favor, two opposed. Most board members have not spoken publicly or responded to requests for interviews to explain their votes. The only statement some have made was a June 8 press release defending their process. "His selection was based on the quality of his application, his interviews and his record of success in showing academic improvement in multiple settings," read the release. The statement was signed by every board member except Whatley, who declined, and Carlotte Bailey, who was dealing with a family emergency. McKinney and Grybowski, who are the only two to give individual interviews explaining their decision besides Whatley, said they feel confident Gallien was the best candidate and thats why they voted yes. He seems like someone the board can work with and trust, Grybowski said. Were not going to find somebody thats going to make everybody happy, he said. Were too divided of a society at the moment. I hope what happens is hes a man of his word in his representations of how he wants to work with the board. The limited public comments and statements have done little to resolve community members' concerns, though. The new board has effectively ended up in the same situation as their predecessors were after Postlewait's departure, facing criticism over their secrecy. The board missed an opportunity to restore the community's trust, Brown said. She wanted the transparent process that was promised. But she, like White and others, said she will respect the boards decision and is open to working with Gallien. The focus now has to be on students needs, she said. The boards vote actually gives her hope that Gallien can bring people together. The 6-2 vote didnt split along the political lines that have often defined this board. Instead of voting as a bloc, the Moms for Liberty faction was divided, with two trustees endorsed by the group voting for him, two voting against and Whatley not present. Those who voted for Gallien found themselves allied with the board's more liberal members. One of the qualifications they wanted was somebody who could bring everybody together, Brown said. That kind of spoke highly to that. The board's contract with Gallien is being negotiated and no signing has been announced. Hillary Flynn contributed to this report. When Isaac Cinnamon created his short film for the 2023 Young Filmmakers Project, it required several weeks of long working hours, plenty of glue and approximately 7,000 playing cards. The outcome? A stop-motion film told on the faces of cards that follows the arc of a romantic relationship in just two minutes. The recent Summerville High School graduate won the first-place prize at the statewide film competition in mid-May. More Information The Post and Courier Education Lab is a multi-year project, employing four reporters, focused on the need for public education reform in South Carolina. The Coastal Community Foundation and Spartanburg Foundation serve as fiscal sponsors for the Education Lab, which is supported by grants from the Jolley Foundation, Intertech, anonymous donors, and generous donations on behalf of donors to The Post and Courier Public Service and Investigative Fund who designate to the Education Lab. The competition, hosted by the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College, highlights high school-level talent in South Carolina and people's efforts to build out the film industry in the state. South Carolina has had a few big-name productions in recent years, including HBOs The Righteous Gemstones and Netflixs Outer Banks. But states such as Georgia, California, Texas and New Mexico continue to dominate the film industry. Low financial incentives deter many productions from coming to the Palmetto State, said Matt Storm, director of the S.C. Film Commission. The commission, a division of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, aims to recruit and develop the motion picture industry. Among the groups initiatives are the Indie Grants, which give filmmakers $20,000 to $35,000 to create narrative short-film projects in South Carolina. During production, a Trident Tech film student is brought onto the crew to work under professionals for hands-on training. The grants have been good branding for South Carolina, said Brad Jayne, an independent filmmaker and producer of the Indie Grants. Past projects have gone on to big film festivals, including Sundance and Tribeca. The commission also aims to grow filmmakers from the ground up. Thats where the Young Filmmakers Project enters the scene. Donate to our Investigative Fund to support journalism like this Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do. Its also the most expensive reporting we do. We cant do it without your support. Donate Now Jayne said their aim with the competition is to provide high-schoolers insight into the opportunities that exist in the film world. The project, which started a decade ago, has been successful. Many young people already have some experience working with video because of social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. It was a no-brainer to help create a context for them to develop those video skills and understand how they can make a career out of it, Jayne said. When the competition first began, participants had to shoot at a state park as a way of highlighting South Carolinas park system. The competition has since evolved. In the last few years, students could film anywhere, but the competitions prompt for each year has a specific prop that must be used. Previous props include a cassette tape and a locket. Playing cards were featured as this years object. Filmmakers also have just two minutes to tell their stories. Thats to push students to be tight and concise in their storytelling, Jayne said. More students have increasingly participated in the project. This year, the competition attracted about 70 entries, many featuring multiple students working together. Jayne said it's been gratifying to see how students have improved. More Coverage To read more in-depth stories from The Post and Courier's Education Lab, go to postandcourier.com/education-lab. This years winners included Skylar Torrey and Sofia Sequeira, of Catawba Ridge High School, in third place for their piece Fold and Myla Williams of Fort Dorchester High School in second place for her film Look Up. Williams said shes inspired by filmmakers such as Jordan Peele. Her short featured a playing card, picked up by the wind, whooshing around Charleston. As the card flies by people, they fail to look up, too absorbed by their phones. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! I wanted to kind of make the card come alive and be more organic and kind of magical, she said. Williams was surprised when she took the second top prize. She shot the entire project on her iPhone and knew other people had fancier cameras. Cinnamon, with his stop-motion piece Shuffled, is a repeat winner. He took the top prizes in 2021 and 2022. Still, he was also surprised he won again this year. He said he knows these competitions can be subjective. People from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Trident Tech serve as the judges of the Young Filmmakers Project. The top 10 entries were screened at Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8 theater in Columbia on May 20. Cinnamon said he loved watching his film on the big screen. Just a week prior, he had been in the same building watching the latest installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Cinnamon got into filmmaking when he was a middle-schooler, playing around with videos with his family. He cites Pixar movies, such as Ratatouille and Up, as his inspirations with their heartfelt messages. That influence is clear in his film this year. The film shows two people falling in love and eventually running into difficulties, but ends with a hopeful message. When Cinnamon saw the prompt in January to include cards as a prop, he knew he wanted to take it a step further. After a month of brainstorming ideas, he decided he wanted the cards to tell the story, rather than include the cards in the plot. He filmed the story with three actors in the course of a couple of days. Then came the big challenge he cut out each individual frame of the filmed scenes and pasted them on the faces of the cards. After that, he had to film the cards moving around with each frame. At first, his parents didnt quite follow his plan. But they trusted him and followed his lead, helping him where they could. We had to just work our butts off till the last minute, Cinnamon said. Filming the cards alone took a couple of 12-hour days, he added. Thankfully, then a senior in high school, he said he had more free time. Following his final win of the Young Filmmakers Project, Cinnamon will pursue the art form further. Hes attending the Savannah College of Art and Design next, where hell be studying film. From screenwriting to directing, hes not sure which component hell narrow his focus on yet. At the moment, he loves it all. The only limit is how much you put into it, he said. Storm, the director of the S.C. Film Commission, sees Cinnamons success as exactly the kind they want to foster with their programs. He's gonna be a storyteller one way or the other, Storm said. For more information about the S.C. Film Commission, its initiatives and training workshops, visit scprt.com/film-commission. As Columbia's fashion scene continues to grow, the annual Columbia Fashion Week, founded in 2011, will return this month with plans to engage a larger audience and introduce a local fashion magazine. (Columbia Fashion Week) was created to cultivate a rich and diverse fashion community, and to support our local fashion creatives here in Columbia, said Juliette Muller, owner and executive director of Columbia Fashion Week. The week will begin on Tuesday, June 20, with the launch party of COLAFW Experience, the organization's brand-new fashion magazine. The publication will highlight local creators and give everyone a chance to see all sides of the "experience," Muller said. The magazine was created to give creators "a space where they see themselves and their work," Muller told Free Times. Given that the organization has such a hand in that experience, creating a publication for it is what made the most sense. The magazine exemplifies Fashion Week's core element of Experience, Muller said. We're always thinking about different elements that we can add to create an experience and that is why we call ourselves Columbia Fashion Week: The Experience, because we truly plan our events with giving our audience an experience in mind, Muller said. Following the magazine's launch party, the week will continue with the Boutique Crawl on Wednesday at 9 a.m. to support and buy local fashion and the Icons Party on Thursday night at 7 p.m., where Columbia fashion icons will be recognized and celebrated. The night will be "a fusion of disco, metallic and just a good party, Darain Ginyard, chief marketing officer of COLA Fashion Week. We are having our Icons awards. And so that's really just focusing on those in the community, making sure that they know that we see them and that they're engaged in our platform as well, Ginyard said. This year, Im really excited that were getting out there and giving back to our fashion community. On Friday night, the community can enjoy beautiful art and local fashion that will culminate in ARTfusion. The event will be held at the Ernest A. Finney Jr. Cultural Arts Center and, according to Ginyard, the night provides an opportunity to interact with local artists and see their installations, paint and engage in interactive activities alongside other creatives. I love that because at the root of it, I'm creative, Ginyard said. I'm a photographer on the platform. I'm also the graphic designer, and visually, Im an artist. At the core, Im an artist, so it's really amazing to be able to give back and connect with other artists in this space and there's some exciting pieces and elements that we'll be bringing from that night and bringing to the runway. The Finale will be held on Saturday, June 24 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds at 4 p.m. In addition to the runway show, vendors will be selling a wide array of local and national fashion, models will be competing for Columbia Fashion Weeks Next Top Model and local and national designers alike will be showcasing their collections. One designer that will be showcased at the Finale is Diko Pekdemir-Lewis, owner of Anton & Maxine Designer Clothing. Pekdemir-Lewis, who has had her work shown at the Columbia Fashion Week previously, will be showing her regular collection and adding some new couture pieces, with more detail, leather and roses. Each piece has all these three elements in it, and every piece will be different, and they will be one-of-a-kind pieces, so just that one piece and thats it, Pekdemir-Lewis said. And the other part, the other half will be my classic Anton Maxine pieces which are very chic and elegant pieces you can enjoy wearing from morning 'til the evening, from work all the way into your dinner with friends at night. While Pekdemir-Lewis is excited about showcasing her new pieces, she enjoys what this week means for the fashion community in Columbia. I enjoy being a part of Columbia Fashion Week. And it's been growing and each year, it just gets better and better. I am a strong believer of community. And I think especially for the fashion community, we have such a small community. And if we stick together and help each other, we can just grow, Pekdemir-Lewis said. On Sunday, the final event will be COLAFW Brunchway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Expansive Rooftop Lounge. Tickets to this experience and the other events can be purchased on their website at columbiafashionweek.com. Columbia Fashion Week June 20 - June 25. Times vary. Tickets can be purchased at columbiafashionweek.com GREENVILLE A restaurant by an out-of-state dining group with a Charleston-based brewery has been named as the first food and beverage tenant for the Greenville County Square development. The Perch Kitchen and Tap, an eatery by the Chicago-based 4 Star Restaurant Group, will serve wood-fired meals along with brunch. Charleston-based Palmetto Brewing Company has partnered with Perch to serve craft beers. The restaurant will have a 7,200-square-foot interior dining and kitchen space and 2,100-square-foot outdoor patio. We couldnt be more excited to be joining the Greenville community and to be partnering with Palmetto Brewing Company for the opening of The Perch Kitchen & Tap, Derek Rettell, one of four co-owners of the 4 Star Restaurant Group, said in a press release. It is a special honor to be partnering with Palmetto Brewing Company, a South Carolina icon, whose history brewing beer dates back to 1888." This is the first food and beverage tenant announced in the estimated $1 billion redevelopment project. It joins Whole Foods, which was announced in March as an anchor tenant in the project. The final touches are currently happening to Greenville County's two administrative office buildings along Church Street that will house 500 county employees the first major piece in the redevelopment of about 40 acres of county property in downtown Greenville. The redevelopment is expected to draw Class-A office space, a 200-room hotel, 1,800 apartments and dozens of restaurants and retailers to University Ridge. Over the next decade, RocaPoint Partners, the countys contracted partner, will lead the project. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the deadliest health emergencies in the U.S., affecting nearly 1,000 people each day. The emergency occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. Nine out of 10 people die within minutes, especially if there is no help around. But the survival rate increases up to 50 percent when CPR or use of an Automated External Defibrillator machine is administered. Now medical students at the Medical University of South Carolina believe they can increase the likelihood of survival with a new device called the SAVER. The SAVER, an invention by the MUSC student- and resident-led startup Heartbeat Tech, is an external occlusion device made specifically to block blood flow in the legs during a cardiac arrest event, increasing the blood flow to the heart and brain. "Hopefully it will help improve the chances of survival during cardiac arrest," Joshua Kim said, co-founder and chief design officer for Heartbeat Tech. Kim is also a second year medical student at MUSC. Different parts of the body can go without adequate blood flow for varied amounts of time. The heart and brain are extremely intolerant to a lack of blood flow, only allowing a few minutes. But a person can go a number of hours without blood flow to the legs. Cutting the blood flow from the legs during CPR to pump excess blood to the heart and brain can buy more time for someone at risk of sudden death. The device wraps around each of the patient's legs. From there, the person who is not administering CPR can inflate the device using the mechanical pump attached. While most people who've succumb to sudden cardiac arrest do so outside of a hospital setting and away from home, many others have bystanders nearby who can perform CPR. In this event, Kim told The Post and Courier the SAVER isn't supposed to be a substitute for CPR. "We don't want that person to stop compressions," Kim said. "We want them to call for a secondary person or wait for an EMS responder to use the device." Kim along with co-founder and CEO for Heartbeat Tech, Dr. Kristen Quinn, are aiming to get the SAVER device anywhere you can find an AED machine at ballparks, libraries, schools, nursing homes and ambulances. "We want our device to be at the scene," Kim said. Their hope is to partner with AED manufacturing companies to include the SAVER as part of the emergency response kit. The road to market To test the device the startup used pigs part of MUSC's animal testing laboratory, to run their own version of a clinical trial. The key was to measure the blood flow of the pigs with and without the device. To do it, the pigs were treated like regular patients undergoing surgery. Breathing tubes and general anesthesia were administered to eliminate pain and suffering. Once asleep, the pigs were positioned on the operating table. Researchers then induced cardiac arrest for each animal. "We had to sacrifice the pigs at the end of the study to measure the blood flow," Quinn said, who is also a 5th year general surgery resident at MUSC. "But at least these pigs are going towards something that will save lives." Quinn said the results of the study were extremely promising, showing a clinically significant increase in blood flow to the heart and brain during cardiac arrest with the SAVER device versus cardiac arrest with just chest compressions. A breeding ground for innovation Kim joined MUSC in 2019 to teach students, faculty and staff medical entrepreneurship and medical design. He did so by creating the Human Centered Design program through the hospital's department of surgery. "We strive to give students the tools and resources to be clinical problem solvers," Kim said. In February 2021, Kim began mentoring a team of surgical residents in creating a startup around one of the ideas to improve cardiac arrest outcomes. From there, the SAVER was born and so was Heartbeat Tech, the group's startup company. "We're addressing a problem that we're on the frontlines of," Quinn said. "I'm in the trauma bay when EMS wheels a patient through the door," Quinn said. "We know these people that are affected by cardiac arrest and we want to make life better for them and their families." The startup has garnered support from medical students, residents and practicing physicians and fundraised nearly $200,000 in grant funding over the last three years. Recently, the SAVER won first place in MUSC's student pitch competition, which took place during the medical university's annual innovation week. The group took home over $2,000 to invest back into Heartbeat Tech. Currently the startup is working on its second iteration of the SAVER, which will provide feedback to the rescuer by measuring how effective the CPR being administered is in real time. Officials at Heartbeat Tech don't yet have a timeline for when the SAVER will be available to the public but have plans to publish initial research results in the near future. For more information on sudden cardiac arrest visit www.sca-aware.org. RIDGELAND Wedged between Beaufort County and Chatham County, Georgia, Jasper County is one of the growth hotspots in the state and, surprisingly, the country. Responding to expanding growth pressure, Jasper County Council has taken steps to approve a nine-month moratorium on development in an environmentally and culturally rich portion of the county, an area referred to as the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area. "This puts a pause on major subdivisions and major land development permits," said David Tedder, attorney for the county, during the June 5 council meeting. "It does not affect single-family homes or minor subdivisions (with) less than four homes." The moratorium, according to County Administrator Andrew Fulghum, will give the county time to assess the appropriateness of its zoning and density ordinances given current development demands. The phrase "pumping the brakes" on development is used frequently when the moratorium is discussed. "They need to update the zoning code and think about how they want to deal with (growth) proactively rather reactively responding to this tidal wave of rezonings and permits," Kate Schaefer, director of land protection for the Open Land Trust, told The Post and Courier. Conceived by a citizens group, the moratorium has already received the first two of three approvals needed to go into effect. A final vote could come in a few weeks. How Jasper has grown Jasper County's accelerating population and housing growth has led to the moratorium. From 2020 to 2022, Jasper was South Carolina's fastest-growing county, according to U.S. Census data. With its population rising by 11 percent, Jasper County topped Horry County, anchored by popular tourist spot Myrtle Beach, as the state's fastest-growing. Jasper County grew twice the rate of neighboring Beaufort County, the home to Hilton Head Island, and nearly four times faster than the state average in that time. Jasper County's population has increased by nearly one-third since 2010 reaching more than 32,000. Growth in the county on South Carolina's southern tip isn't only notable within the state. Jasper County posted the nation's third-largest increase in housing supply, expanding by more than 13 percent from 2020 to 2022. More than 1,700 housing units were added in the county during the two-year period. "I think what the county has correctly come to terms with is that development pressure is more than knocking at the door," Schaefer said. "It's here." Growth has been driven largely by retirees coming to the area, Fulghum said. Development pressure started decades ago on Hilton Head Island has continued its western expansion since then. The wave of growth has since passed through the Bluffton and Okatie areas and will continue west along Highway 278 until it reaches Interstate 95. "We're seeing a variety of different projects, mainly to support this influx of retirees coming in." Fulghum said. A growing supply of affordable housing and a convenient location add to the draw of Jasper County. There, the median price of an owner-occupied home was under $183,000 compared to $328,500 in Beaufort County according to U.S. census data from 2017 to 2021. Residents in southern Jasper County have easy access to Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort and Port Royal. Often, Fulghum said, it can be easier to reach locations in Beaufort County from Jasper County. Plus, residents are often less the 20 minutes from Interstate 95. "I think people are realizing the attractiveness of the area because of the new housing stock going up," he said. "Also, it's the convenience to not only enjoy Jasper, but all of Beaufort County. It's an afternoon trip to Savannah, a day trip to Charleston, a day trip to Aiken. It's a great spot to be in geographically." What's in the package? If approved, the building moratorium would halt development of commercial projects and large-scale residential projects of four or more homes in the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area. The Euhaw Broad River Planning Area consists of two parts. The northern segment is the Euhaw Cultural Heritage District, which boasts a number of significant sites, including the tomb of Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Heyward Jr., the Civil War battleground Honey Hill, Knowles Island and several area churches. The 54,000-acre Okeetee Club hunting preserve represents the southern portion of the planning area. Combined, the two segments cover approximately one-quarter of the 660-square mile county. This isn't the first time that Jasper County has paused to catch its breath. Land-use planning 2.0 In 2005, a similar moratorium was enacted that applied to all of the county's unincorporated areas. Initially approved for a six-month term, it was renewed several times until it was finally lifted after two years. Pausing the review and approval of development requests, which were flooding the county at the time, allowed county staff the opportunity to evaluate and solve deficiencies in its zoning ordinances. "We had the zoning, but it was zoning in name only," Fulghum said. "It didn't have any teeth to it. You could really develop anything you wanted anywhere." During that period, every land parcel in unincorporated county was rezoned, an effort that Fulghum called "Herculean." The moratorium also had the effect of driving development to the municipalities simply because applications were not being considered by the county. Developers had nowhere else to go. In that way, the moratorium helped prevent urban sprawl during a time of high growth. "The reason that strategy made sense was to keep Jasper rural," Fulghum said. "You can still see bumper stickers on cars with that theme." The process was a success in Fulghum's estimation, and he sees the current effort a continuation of the process that started 19 years ago. An urban growth study initiated by Jasper County at the same time similarly encouraged land-use principles that directed growth and upzoning to the municipalities, while allowing the county to focus on rural preservation. "That was land-use planning 1.0," Schaefer said. "Now we're at a need for land-use planning 2.0." Tickton Hall If there's one project that epitomizes the development pressure in Jasper County, it's the proposed Tickton Hall project. In September 2022, Hilton Head-based developer Robert Graves requested that the Town of Ridgeland annex and rezone 1,500 acres of unincorporated Jasper County land known as Tickton Hall, which was once part of the 6,000-acre Chelsea Plantation. His plan called for the construction of 4,800 homes, 75 docks on the nearly pristine Euhaw Creek and 480,000-square feet of commercial construction along the heavily traveled S.C. Highway 462. The land is currently zone for rural preservation, which allows one home per acre. Organizations including Keep Chelsea Rural, the Open Land Trust and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League pushed back against the plan, saying it would destroy the area's rural character, damage natural resources and drive up taxes. Public opposition to Ridgeland's annexation was seemingly effective. The town hasn't taken the matter up since a public meeting was held in November 2022. But earlier this year, officials told The Post and Courier that negotiations between the town and the developer were ongoing. "We feel strongly that the onslaught of overdevelopment we are facing is diminishing our quality of life and threatening the area's significant natural resources, historic and cultural heritage and rural character," said Smittie Cooler as he proposed the moratorium to County Council on May 1. Cooperation needed The county's moratorium applies only to unincorporated county land within the planning area. It does not apply to land that falls within the town of Ridgeland or the city of Hardeeville. Much of Ridgeland sits inside the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area. "My hope is that this process not only helps us develop the appropriate zoning and densities, but also will help us open the lines of good communication with the municipalities," Fulghum said. Just days after the council gave initial approval to the moratorium in May, Fulghum asked that Hardeeville and Ridgeland cooperate with the purpose of the moratorium by not entertaining annexation requests during its term. Additionally, he asked that the municipalities participate with the county's planning efforts while the moratorium is in place. The Hardeeville City Council took up the county moratorium during its June 1 meeting, while Ridgeland Town Manager Dennis Averkin said the town would take the county's requests under advisement. "I applaud no developing in those environmentally sensitive areas," Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams said during the June 1 City Council meeting. Williams then went on to reference two recent projects the county had approved over the objections of the city. He suggested the county should pause a rezoning initiative near Interstate 95 and a 378-unit apartment project on U.S. Highway 278 in return for the city's support of the county moratorium. "If we're going to support a moratorium, let's stop some of those things that the city has objected to before they get started," Williams said. He directed city staff to draft a letter for presentation and discussion during the June 15 City Council meeting. The Tickton Hall property resides within the Euhaw Broad River Planning Area, and annexation of that property by Ridgeland, even during the term of the moratorium, is still a possibility. "County Council has no authority over the municipalities with regard to future annexation," Fulghum said. What to expect ahead So far, opposition to the moratorium has been almost nonexistent. In a news release, Danny Lucas, Jasper County's director of the Development Services Division, suggested that might be due to the fact that many developers are located out of state and may not aware of the initiative. There were no comments made during the county's June 5 public hearing. "I think the reason that we have not heard from (developers) is because of the legwork that was done by the citizens group to a great extent," said Jasper County resident Milton Wood. "Also, the council members have done a great job of studying the issues, and they were all united, all five of them and the staff." A decision on when a final vote will tale place has not yet been made public. "The council has taken a proactive approach to this," said Jasper County Council Chairman L. Martin Sauls IV during a May meeting. "We're trying to do what's right and set an example for others to follow." Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 95F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Charleston's next police chief will be chosen through a nationwide search. "Sadly we are at the point we never wanted to be, to talk about the replacement of our chief and dear friend Luther Reynolds," Mayor John Tecklenburg told fellow members of the Charleston City Council Public Safety Committee on June 12. Reynolds, the city's former chief, battled a rare form a cancer for nearly two years before entering hospice care May 17. He died May 22. Once candidates are identified, they will go through a public interview process that will incorporate input from the community. If all goes to plan, the next chief will be chosen by the mayor in October, Tecklenburg said. The process is somewhat complicated by the fact that the city will host municipal elections in November during which half of city council and the mayor himself will be on the ballot. The last nationwide search the city conducted for its police chief took seven months. Since Reynolds entered hospice, three deputy chiefs, Chito Walker, Jack Weiss and Dustin Thompson, stepped up to helm the department. Tecklenburg said one deputy may be chosen to lead as interim chief but that officer has not been determined. The next permanent chief could also be hired from within the ranks of the Charleston Police Department. "I think there will be extra points, so to speak, for consideration of those who are within our department," Tecklenburg said. The search for Reynolds' successor will begin next week. Tecklenburg said the city is in talks with a specialized recruiting firm called the Police Executive Research Forum or PERF. They are the same firm that recruited Reynolds in 2017. If their contract with the city is finalized this week, PERF will consult with the city about what traits the community wants to see in its chief and solicit applications. They will also work together to determine a salary range to offer. Reynolds last publicly listed salary with the city of Charleston was $215,183.88 annually. "There are a lot of moving parts to this process and it is very intense," said Charleston City Councilman and Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Peter Shahid. Shahid is one of seven candidates running for mayor, including Tecklenburg. Prior to leading the Charleston Police Department the state's largest municipal police force, Reynolds spent nearly 30 years policing in Montgomery County in Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. He was identified by PERF in a national search that drew 86 applicants from across the country. Reynolds took over the department from former Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen who retired after a 35-year career in law enforcement. Mullen was hired in October 2006 to replace retiring Police Chief Reuben Greenberg, a charismatic and combative leader who drove down crime and drew national attention to the Holy City during his 23 years as its top cop. Like the hundreds of other Americans who own cottages in Canada, Robert Ketteman is facing a big new bill courtesy of the Canadian government, and his bill may be worse than many. Thanks to a new tax on what the Canadian government calls underused property, the costs of operating the Ketteman familys longtime summer home could nearly triple. And that would likely force us to make the heartbreaking decision to sell something that has been a central part of my familys life for over a century, Ketteman, of Williamsville, told Canadian lawmakers at a parliamentary hearing last week. It will simply become unaffordable to keep. And my story is just one of hundreds in the Fort Erie area and, I would guess, thousands across Canada. Explaining the situation via video to the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade, Ketteman encountered something he never before came across from Canadian officials in nearly a year and a half of fighting Canadas new underused property tax: a sympathetic ear. Hearing that the new tax is likely to drive away American homeowners from Crystal Beach and other vacation communities near the border, several Canadian lawmakers expressed interest in changes to the law that could exempt a class of homeowners who appear to be accidentally subject to the tax. It seems that there is a solution there to be found, Tony Baldinelli, the Conservative member of Parliament from Niagara Falls, Ont., who called for the hearings, said afterward. I am optimistic, in fact, that they will make changes, said Richard Halinda, a lawyer from Fort Erie who, like Ketteman and Baldinelli, spoke at the hearings. Finally, someone is listening, Ketteman said as he concluded his testimony on Thursday. A surprise tax Ketteman and other Americans who own property just across the border in Canada find themselves victims of a law that aims to stabilize the sky-high housing prices of Toronto, Vancouver and other major Canadian cities. Tiring of overseas speculators who snap up Canadian properties as investments, the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2021 proposed, and Parliament approved, a new tax on residential properties that are foreign-owned and not utilized year-round. So starting this year, many owners of such properties will have to pay an additional tax of 1% of the propertys assessed value every year. The new tax came as a confounding surprise to people like Laurie Wright of Buffalo, whose family has owned a cottage in Fort Erie since 1905. The more and more we learned about this legislation, it was really kind of confusing, Wright said at one of last weeks hearings. We had so many questions like how do we know if we even qualify for this? Will they send us a tax bill? There were so many vague directions and no clear answers. Similarly frustrated, Ketteman sought some answers via email all the way up the chain of command in Canada, from the Canada Revenue Agency to Trudeau. I never even got the courtesy of a reply, he told the Canadian lawmakers. Eventually, though, some things came clear. Because the tax applies in what the Canadian government considers metropolitan areas but not in rural areas, Wright learned that while her family property would be subject to the tax, some neighboring properties wouldnt be. The homes across the street are considered rural but my side of the street is not rural, Wright said. The boundaries just didnt make any sense. Ketteman, meanwhile, worries that his home in Fort Erie will be subject to the tax simply because it has a heating system. Homes that are not winterized are exempt from the tax, but he said its unclear whether a house like his which has a heating system but no basement, meaning the pipes would freeze in the winter will qualify for that exemption. Whats more, even cottage owners who qualify for an exemption suffer financially from the tax. Marilyn Gladu, a Conservative member of Parliament from Sarnia just across the St. Clair River from Michigan said she has heard from homeowners who complained that they are having to pay accountant fees of up to $800 just to figure out whether they have to pay the tax. And most of the 900 or so American-owned properties in Fort Erie dont qualify for exemptions, Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop said at the parliamentary hearing on Thursday. He said the new tax is causing great anxiety, anger, disappointment and uncertainty among his citys summertime residents. These are individuals who are not only good friends and relatives in many cases, but also participants and supporters of local programs, activities and events, Redekop said. Theyre important customers of our local businesses. They are a vital element to the richness of life in our community. Possible changes Given all the confusion over the new tax, the Canadian government has already delayed the date its due by six months, till Oct. 31. And at last weeks hearings, Canadian officials indicated that more changes could be in the offing. There are broad regulation-making powers under the UHT (Underused Housing Tax) Act, said Robert Ives, an expert adviser in the Tax Policy Branch of the Canadian Department of Finance. The legislation can also be amended as Parliament sees fit. Of course, changing the regulations would be much easier than changing the law, which is why members of Parliament favored the simpler approach. There is a regulatory fix here that we could be implementing that would really lower the stress levels of everybody, said Colin Carrie, a Conservative member of Parliament from Oshawa, east of Toronto. One possibility would be to model the underused housing tax on a levy in place in British Columbia, where the tax applies only in localities with low housing vacancy rates and soaring housing prices. Im just wondering if some of the concerns about this tax could be addressed in that way, said Richard Cannings, a member of Parliament from British Columbia and a member of the New Democratic Party. Another possibility would be to clarify or expand a current exemption of the tax that applies to foreign property owners who own a dwelling in rural areas that they occupy for at least 28 days annually. I think there may be a lot of people that are exempt that just arent aware, said Terry Sheehan, a Liberal member of Parliament from Sault Ste. Marie. Halinda, the real estate attorney from Fort Erie, suggested a number of changes. In an interview after the hearings, he said the rules could be amended so that the tax only applies in municipalities with more than 50,000 residents. They could also be amended to make sure that the tax exemptions apply to family homes held by family corporations or limited partnerships which many are for tax purposes. He also said the law could be clarified so that the 28-day residency requirement only applies to one of the property owners for properties with shared ownership. Public input could pressure Canadian officials to act, said Halinda, who urged Americans who own property in Canada to offer their thoughts to the International Trade Committee at CIIT@parl.gc.ca before a Thursday deadline. Meanwhile, Baldinelli the lawmaker from Niagara Falls, Ont. suggested another hearing with the Canada Revenue Agency to explore possible changes. Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat who hosted members of Parliament in his Washington office recently to discuss the issue and who testified before Parliament at Mondays hearing, said he, too, was newly optimistic that the tax could be amended to leave out the locals on the Lake Erie shore. This is the culmination of months of advocacy, he added. It started as a distant memory from childhood. Charleston native Renee Harvey remembers feeding a police horse named Moonshine who lived in a stable at Hampton Park. He had a big, pink-hued nose and for some reason Harvey formed a closer bond with Moonshine than the others in the same stable. After a chance encounter with the department's new mounted patrol unit, Harvey set out to find out what happened to Moonshine. And wanted to honor his memory, as well as other police horses. Moonshine was part of the department's mounted unit that operated for more than 30 years beginning in 1978. It was shut down in 2011 amid recession-driven budget cuts. Charlestons unit was not the only one at that time to fold. The Boston police agency also lost its mounted patrol after the recession despite being the oldest established unit of its kind in the country. Even today, departments struggle to keep steeds in the budget. Numerous units were dismantled in the wake of COVID-19s financial impact on departments in 2020, including a mounted patrol with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Baltimores 132-year-old team. For the first time since 2011, CPD re-instated its mounted patrol in late 2021. A pair of officers have started training with the department's two police horses kept on Johns Island and work shifts mostly downtown. Charleston Police Lt. James Byrne, who oversees the mounted patrol, said the horses are a unique asset by giving officers a higher vantage point, especially in large gatherings like parades and festivals. They can also traverse terrain cruisers can't access. "You are part of the community," Bryne said. "You hear, see, smell and detect things you might not have otherwise." Harvey had nearly forgotten about the mounted patrol until she saw the new police horses walking by Hampton Park a few months ago. Her memories of Moonshine came flooding back so she she started digging through newspaper archives to track down any information she could find. She was disheartened to discover he had been struck and killed by a drunk driver in 1994. A New York Times article depicted his funeral, noting he was buried at Hampton Park. She walked every inch of the park on multiple occasions, even in the rain, looking for some sort of marker indicating where he was buried. There is a small plaque with previous police horse names on it, including Moonshine's, but it was overgrown with weeds. Harvey tracked down Alice Forshaw, a former groom for the CPD horses who previously took care of Moonshine. She didn't know exactly where he was buried either. But the pair traded stories and photos, bonding over their shared passion for horses. During the mounted patrol's height in usage, Forshaw said the horses were asked to travel to help other cities with their large events. She went with the patrol to Mardi Gras in Mobile, Ala., several times and to Washington, D.C. for President Ronald Reagan's inauguration. "I could probably write a book," she said of all the experiences she's had with the patrol. Despite the pomp and circumstance pictured in the Times article, very little permanent evidence of Moonshine and the previous iteration of the mounted police force exists at Hampton Park. Harvey reached out to her city councilman, Jason Sakran, to see what else could be done to honor Moonshine and other police horses killed in the line of duty. "I think as a city we need to make sure that we are honoring all of our police officers," Sakran said, adding that includes both horses and K9s. Soon enough Harvey was connected with a local company that makes memorials and they offered to bring ground-detecting electronic equipment to Hampton Park to find where Moonshine was buried. If all goes well, Harvey will work with the company and the city to help design a proper memorial for Moonshine and the other police horses killed in the line of duty. Once a cost is determined and funds are raised, work could started on the memorial as soon as this fall, Sakran said. SUMMERVILLE Jennifer Klich grew up with Dorchester School District Two. Shes a product of DD2 schools and now teaches Spanish at Ashley Ridge High. All three of her children go to Beech Hill Elementary. Throughout her time in the district, it would be impossible to not notice how much the district has grown over the years. Theres that huge neighborhood down Delemar Highway, and it used to feel like youre driving out toward the middle of nowhere (to Ashley Ridge High School): Oh look, theres this random high school here in the woods," Klich said. "But now its neighborhood after neighborhood after neighborhood." Superintendent Shane Robbins, who is finishing up his first year overseeing the district, said DD2 has been able to predict through calculations and analytics that there will be an increase of 14,000 students from 2022 to 2032, ranging anywhere from 1,100 to 1,800 students each year for the next nine years. With the growth, Klich is starting to worry about how the school district is managing the predicted influx of students in the coming years. I dont think were being realistic enough about that, Klich said. Nobodys even seriously talking about a new high school. There are trailers (being used as classrooms) everywhere. Were just not taking it seriously. Ashley Ridge High School is the newest of the three high schools in the district, opening in 2008. Robbins noted that building a new school would take approximately three years. The district also opened its newest school, East Edisto Middle, last fall, just in time for the 2022-23 school year. Robbins said he and the board have talked about establishing a long-range planning committee, which would be a joint committee comprising the Dorchester County Council and the school board. He said while he understands the county has a lot on its plate already, the board will need the councils support on any decision the board makes moving forward. We also want to be able to demonstrate that we are exhausting all options to be as fiscally conservative with taxpayer dollars as possible, Robbins said. Dorchester County Administrator Jason Ward confirmed that the County Council will meet with the school board. He said the first meeting on June 27 at 12 p.m. which will be open to the public will be showing the board a tool the county has used to help project growth based on residential subdivision development. There will be more joint meetings following the first one, Ward said. These will be ongoing meetings and they will be scheduled periodically. We know that a lot of people are attracted to the county because of the quality in the schools, Ward said. We dont want to do anything that would be detrimental in terms of the schools. Robbins added that he and the board are also looking at short-term solutions, like bringing in mobile units to be used as classrooms and moving attendance lines, though nothing is set in stone yet. Robbins acknowledged that moving attendance lines wouldnt make everyone happy, but hes trying to support the needs of the district as best he can. He echoed Ward's assertion that part of the area's growth is due to the school district's reputation. According to the 2021-2022 South Carolina Annual State Report Card, DD2 increased its graduation rate to 93.3 percent. It's the fourth consecutive year of improvement for the district. We want to make sure that were doing everything we can to maintain that world-class education that we provide our families, he said. During the May 22 board meeting, board member Justin Farnsworth said the district has developed to the point where he didnt know where else they would be able to find land or buy it. Robbins responded by saying there is some property set aside at Summerville development The Ponds what Robbins considered to be the center of where a lot of the growth is happening to build a school. Ward confirmed Robbins statement, adding that the county will be following up with him to see what would best fit in that property. The numbers Robbins showed the board at the May 22 meeting indicated that Fort Dorchester High School and River Oaks Middle School both in North Charleston were predicted to have a slight decrease in population, whereas every other school would experience an influx of students. Robbins said the North Charleston school population numbers are based on how theyre zoned in the district. The North Charleston area that feeds into Fort Dorchester theres just not a lot of residential growth, he said. There are subdivisions that are actually in North Charleston, that are designed to go to Ashley Ridge High School." Ashley Ridge High School is located on Delemar Highway in Summerville. "Nobody knew what growth was going to look like 15 years ago in Dorchester County, and so now all that growth is starting to occur, he added. Robbins said hes feeling optimistic about the districts plans to manage the growth theyll be experiencing. Is it going to be a challenge and a struggle? One hundred percent, Robbins said. But I do believe that from my perspective, from the K-12 education sector, the people in this town really care about the quality of schools that they have for their kids. And because of that, I feel very confident that our conversations are going to be productive. Charleston, SC (29403) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. FORT MILL Among the 19,000 cars passing daily through Sutton Road at the Interstate 77 interchange, Billy Howle and his employees often have to patiently wait their turns to join them. "It'll always be a bottleneck at 77, since it's always busy," said Howle, owner of Southeastern Tree Service, headquartered on the northeast side of the interchange. "In the mornings, and at the end of the afternoon, it gets completely stopped. I'm not sure what the cure is." York County leaders are submitting their remedy: a nearly three-mile widening of the road from two lanes to five where it straddles I-77. Most of the widening is on the east side of the interstate and includes a portion east of U.S. 21 where Sutton becomes the Fort Mill Parkway. It's the southernmost of the four interchanges providing access for Fort Mill, one of the fastest growing municipalities in the state. It added 5,700 residents between 2020 and 2022, bringing the town's total population to nearly 31,000, according to new U.S. Census data released earlier in May. Construction for Sutton could begin in 2025 or 2026, based on right-of-way acquisition, said Patrick Hamilton, assistant county engineer. Hamilton is also director for the county's Pennies for Progress, which allots a taxpayer-approved sales tax for road projects. A sales tax commission chooses the projects. York was the first county in South Carolina to pass this type of sales tax to improve the road system. The Pennies program was also used for another recent project to help Fort Mill motorists get on and off the interstate. In 2020, the county used $12.5 million for the diamond-style interchange at the Gold Mill Road exit. The county held an information meeting June 7 at Riverview Elementary School, within 1 1/2 miles of the interchange, at 1300 Spratt Road, to field questions from the public about the project. Hamilton confirmed one woman's questions about bicycle lanes and sidewalks; they'll be included with the plan. Engineers also explained to another person about the process of gaining property alongside the road to allow room for the expansion to five lanes, which will include a turn lane in the middle. A mix of commuters, truckers and distribution vehicles make use of Sutton at I-77. The interchange includes a Loves Travel Stop station on the west side, then on the east has the Traditions at Fort Mill apartments and a distribution center for US Foods. "US Foods has hundreds of trucks a day that come in and out of their facility," Hamilton said. "While this is a large amount of truck traffic, it is a small percentage of the roughly 19,000 vehicles that travel this road daily." FORT MILL Somewhere in this town near the South Carolina-North Carolina border, eight new residents are moving in today. Fort Mill added more than 5,700 residents between 2020 and 2022, third-most in the state, bringing the town's total population to nearly 31,000, according to new U.S. Census data released earlier in May. In the last dozen years, Fort Mills population has nearly tripled, which analysts and city leaders attribute to the municipality providing a small-town, bedroom community to Charlotte with highly regarded schools and a strong record on safety. For most of its existence, Fort Mill had been a manufacturing town where people lived and worked. We were a smaller burg to begin with, a textile town, Mayor Guynn Savage said. When the mills went away (in the 1980s), our economy sagged. A lot of the people worked at the two mills in town for years. A once bleak future for its population and tax base sprouted into the fifth-largest spike in residential growth for all South Carolina municipalities since 2010. Savage attributed that to the banking industry taking off in Charlotte. Being a 15 to 20-minute drive away from Charlotte was very attractive, she said. Keeping up services for schools, roads and public safety is a continually moving target for leaders at Town Hall, the police department and the Fort Mill School District. The school system, which also takes in Tega Cay and unincorporated York County children, saw its own tripling across 20 years, district spokesman Joseph Burke said. The district had 6,000 students in 2003 and wrapped up the 2022-23 school year with 18,000 pupils. In recent years, prior to the pandemic, Fort Mill school leaders put in place enrollment freezes at some campuses to preserve state classroom size standards. Some years, that meant more than 100 new students arriving in the middle of the school year would have to enroll in a school outside the attendance zone where they lived, Burke said. For 2023, freezes were placed at just three schools and only 16 incoming students were impacted, he said. That's something we've used because of our fast growth, to keep from having to redraw the boundary lines basically every year or every other year, he said. It gets to be a little bit overwhelming when you when you start doing it that much." The schools themselves are a driver for Fort Mills population boom. In April, Niche, a Pittsburgh, Pa., based company that provides education resources for anyone seeking details about schools and colleges, ranked Fort Mill as the top school district in the state, based on proficiency in reading and math, the graduation rate and average SAT and ACT scores. Were at 20 school sites currently, and we have at least three more in our near horizon to build," Burke said. Fort Mill also topped Safewise's safest cities study for South Carolina in a listing released in March. Safewise, a home security consulting company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, used violent crime and property crime statistics from the state to determine the ranking. "We're fortunate in a number of ways because we have a council and a mayor that are incredibly supportive of the police department," town police spokesman Capt. Steven Bivins said. "We have great residents who are supportive of the department." The successes themselves bring more people into Fort Mill, which continues to try to strike balances with quality of life issues, the mayor said. "Nothing good comes around without some challenges," Savage said. Transportation and land zoning issues are among the notable problems, she said. The town and the Department of Transportation struggle to plan out where roads are needed, the mayor said. There's a few widening projects, including U.S. 1 from Springfield Parkway to SC 160, and South Sutton Road at Interstate 77, which will be paid for with taxpayer dollars generated from the York County Pennies for Progress road improvement initiative. Completion for each is slated for 2027. And the town wants to avoid high-density housing neighborhood despite the influx of residents. Town officials have expanded buffer requirements for single-family homes, and the council hasn't approved any apartment complexes for a few years. Fort Mill doesnt have the desire to become Charlotte, Savage said. Charlotte is nice to visit. But the community has expressed on more than one occasion that they want to keep things green, keep the quality of life and not be a tourist destination. That sets us apart a bit. PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 22:00:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 338 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Appraisal innovator helped launch today's Appraisal Management Company industryTROY, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Dart Appraisal, a nationwide appraisal management company (AMC), is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. In a marketplace where most providers were established following the real estate crash of 2008, Dart Appraisal is proud to have been providing full-service appraisal management solutions since 1993."Very early on, I realized how much pressure was put on appraisers if they did not have a referee," said Darton Case, Founder and CEO of Dart Appraisal. "I believed that an appraisal management company should create transparency between the lender and appraiser, cultivating a process that brings out the best in both parties." The company grew from mainly operating in Michigan to a nationwide business by 1998. Dart Appraisal employs thousands of independent contractor appraisers across the country, providing its lender clients with county-level coverage in every state. It remains an independently owned and operated company."We are incredibly proud of this milestone anniversary," said Michael Dresden, President of Dart Appraisal. "Thirty years is something to celebrate in any industry, but even more so in the AMC space where less than 10% of our direct competitors were even established as AMCs before the 2008 real estate crash. Our longevity is a testament not only to our company's integrity, but also the quality of our appraiser panel, top-notch technology, and excellent customer service." "When we started this company 30 years ago, I wanted to provide our customers, team members and appraisers with an experience that was, above anything, reliable and consistent," said Case. "That vision remains the same for the next 30 years and beyond, and I want to thank everyone who has been a part of our company, whether as an employee, client, or appraiser. The past 30 years have been some of the most rewarding years of my life, and I am looking forward to what we'll accomplish in the years to come." Contact InformationLon BollenbacherVP, Marketinglbollenbacher@ dartappraisal.com SOURCE: Dart Appraisal PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 16:00:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 466 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Ekran System Inc. will join the inaugural National Channel & MSSP Cyber Summit in Chicago, Illinois. The event will take place at the Marriott Marquis Chicago in the Grand Horizon Ballroom on June 15, 2023.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / We invite you to meet us at this one-of-a-kind summit, bringing together MSPs, MSSPs, and the brightest minds in the cybersecurity industry. At annual conferences organized by the Official Cyber Security Summit, you can learn about innovative approaches to combating cyber threats. Famous experts from across the globe share their knowledge on how to protect and defend your business during interactive panels and fast-track discussions.National Cyber SummitNational Channel and MSSP Cyber Summit Come talk to usDuring the inaugural National Channel & MSSP Cyber Summit, you'll have an opportunity to speak in person with Yevhen Zhurer, Ekran System's Head of Business Development, and Maryna Yucel, Ekran System's Sales Account Executive.At the Ekran System stand, specialists will show you all capabilities of our full-cycle insider risk management platform, share their valuable experience, and answer your questions.About Ekran System Inc.Ekran System Inc. is trusted by more than 1500 clients and over 300 partners worldwide. The company's full-cycle insider risk management platform addresses security threats from within your organization.How can your organization benefit from the Ekran System platform?Ekran System is an all-in-one insider threat management platform that meets the full spectrum of security needs for all companies, on all kinds of infrastructure nodes, from desktops to jump servers.Our comprehensive monitoring software is able to log insider activity and record user sessions in video format. Besides monitoring regular and privileged users, Ekran System monitors the activity of third-party vendors who have access to company's systems and data.Ekran System offers two-factor authentication (2FA) to let organizations securely verify the identities of those who attempt to access their critical assets. In addition, it enables them to grant and manage access privileges of users within their network.Regardless of users' privileges, Ekran System ensures that no one can cover their tracks and disable the activity monitoring process. It can flag suspicious user behavior and enable security teams to quickly respond to security incidents with the help of real-time notifications and predefined/custom alerts. Notifications provide links to video recordings of corresponding sessions to allow security personnel to investigate an incident, block the user, and kill malicious processes.Last but not least, Ekran System can ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and help companies easily pass cybersecurity audits. The software offers more than 20 types of reports to help our clients gain insights into their organization's security and compliance.Join us!Visit our demo stand at the inaugural National Channel & MSSP Cyber Summit in Chicago to learn more about Ekran System's capabilities.Contact InformationElena GamasenkoCMOmarketing@ ekransystem.com SOURCE: Ekran System PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 13:01:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 330 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. ("Charles River" or "the Company") (NYSE:CRL) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Investors who purchased the Company's securities between May 5, 2020 and February 21, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before July 18, 2023.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Charles River illegally imported non-human primates for research purposes. The Company was at risk of investigations by the DOJ among other agencies. The Company was forced to suspend importation of primates from Cambodia. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Charles River, investors suffered damages.Join the case to recover your losses.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.Office: 310-301-3335info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm A 36-year-old Buffalo man faces a manslaughter charge for a fatal stabbing Sunday on Niagara Street, police said. Officers responding to a call at about 1 p.m. on the 400 block of Niagara Street found a man who had suffered a severe stab wound to the chest following a domestic incident, police said in a news release. The victim, identified as Tremaine Mayfield, 49, of Buffalo, was taken to Erie County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Timothy Austin was charged with first-degree manslaughter, police said. No further information was released. - Aaron Besecker PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 19:16:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1172 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BUFFALO, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / On the wall of Maria Pendolino's home recording studio hangs a custom sound panel adorned with a watercolor of a familiar character. Each brush stroke contributes to the iconic image of Ursula, the villain from The Little Mermaid, in all of her tentacled glory."You could say that voicing a character like Ursula would be my ultimate voice acting goal," Maria says with a smile much less mischievous than one you'd expect from a fan of a conniving sea witch. "I have way too much fun playing a villain. Add in singing like a villain and it's a dream come true." It was this love of theatrics that first set Maria on the long path to a career in voice acting. A lifelong performer, her acting chops were first refined in the same way as so many others in community theatre productions of beloved plays and musicals. "I remember dragging my Mom along to an audition for The Sound of Music when I was 11 years old - trying out for the role of Brigitta," said Maria. "There were a hundred kids there singing and screaming in a church basement with their parents in various stages of duress and/or annoyance. I was in heaven." Throughout her 20s, Pendolino worked as an actor in New York City, winning roles in TV and film productions. She appeared as Eunice, the evil lunch lady, on a kids' show called Team Toon. She had a recurring role as MaryAnn on Lifetime's hit drama series, Army Wives. It was a multi-platform, multi-genre journey that took her physically as far as Colombia for three weeks to film a dramatic reenactment of an episode of National Geographic's very bingeable Locked Up Abroad series. "I was auditioning for everything from summerstock theatre in a barn for $150 a week to recurring characters on HBO dramas. It was all of the extremes." Metaphorically, it took her even further, into a world where she could envision herself actually making something out of this whole "acting" thing.In addition to theatre, television and films, Pendolino began exploring the world of voice acting. After securing an agent, she was auditioning for national commercials, animated cartoons, video games, and corporate & industrial content. She had some big wins, voicing spots for Google, American Express and Dannon, among others. It was a serious income boost, alongside her theatrical pursuits."I think so many kids who grow up wanting to do creative endeavors envision their names in lights one day," Maria says. "I never wanted to be famous.' I just wanted to be a working actor - someone who could support themselves with their acting pursuits and not have to be working 12 additional odd jobs to make rent. And for a time during those New York years, it was really happening." But not all that glitters is gold. Living in New York City proved difficult financially. At first, Maria made ends meet by working a high-pressure job in banking, a career that paid the bills but left little energy or inspiration behind for the talented actor who wanted to share her craft with the world. Later, she worked as a director of a mentoring non-profit."You can dream dreams, but then reality hits. The fact that artists thrive in dense urban areas is a catch-22. Sure, we get to network and bounce ideas off of other artists, but most of us are working more than 40 hours a week at day jobs or restaurants to make ends meet in the city, where the cost of things is outrageous. We don't want to live up to the narrative of the starving artist'. But hyper-capitalistic society makes it hard to not end up in this position." Maria had another important part of her life to consider. Maria lives with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes swelling of the joints, stiffness, and joint degeneration that can lead to reduced range of motion and mobility. Maria's psoriatic arthritis got so severe that, at the age of 32, she had a bilateral knee replacement.As psoriatic arthritis can offer a "mixed bag" of symptoms, depending on the day, Maria sometimes relies on a mobility aid like a wheelchair or walker to get her where she needs to go. She also has a mobility scooter that she lovingly named "Scoot Bakula" after Quantum Leap actor, Scott Bakula.New York City, in all of her multi-story glory, is a lot of things. But it's absolutely not accessible."You don't even think about how many steps or stories you have to walk on a daily basis until you're in constant pain," Maria said. "Subway stations with no elevators or escalators, waiting for the bus, walk-up apartments - it's a pedestrian wonderland, but it's an accessibility nightmare." In 2014, Maria made the very difficult, but necessary decision to leave NYC and return to her hometown of Buffalo, NY where she found a much easier way of life and the support of her family, but had to leave the bright lights behind."Buffalo has a small, but mighty arts scene, but of course it's nowhere near the number of opportunities in NYC," she said. "But it's easier to move around for people like me who live with decreased mobility." While pounding the pavement in New York, Maria never thought that a move back to Buffalo was in the works. And what could that mean for her acting career, that was chugging at an all-time high? At that time, working from home was still something reserved for a subset of highly-technical positions and not really something that a working actor could entertain. After all, most roles were still given to the talent pools of NYC and Los Angeles-people who were local hires who could physically attend auditions and report to sets and studios.But, voiceover work - that was something she could continue to do from Buffalo.Maria got to work setting up a professional home studio that could produce broadcast-quality recordings thanks to a StudioBicks OnePlus sound isolation booth - Maria laughed as she recounted how challenging it was for her husband and friend to move the modular pieces of the booth into her office after it was delivered only as far as their driveway).She submitted auditions via e-mail, was able to do recording sessions at home being directed over subscription services like SourceConnect and Zoom and even assured her agents in NYC that she was willing to report to the city for a booking if the client demanded it.Before long, Maria started to land gigs with representatives and clients from the east coast, west coast, and beyond, sometimes working odd hours to match their scheduling needs like when she was requested by a brand in Sweden. The flawless quality that she could produce from her at-home studio, along with a high-speed internet connection PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 20:30:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 423 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Tinisha Roberts, Senior Manager for Corporate Staff Groups, Performance & Analysis, is one of our many IP team members who we owe thanks for their military service. Tinisha has worked for more than two decades with IP, and served for 12 years, ending her service as Staff Sergeant (E-6).Tinisha says: "My military experience armed me with many skills related to managing people, dealing with conflict and managerial courage...I encourage veterans starting with IP to continue to tap into their military learnings and bring them forward where they are applicable. The leadership and training they bring to any job will help them support their team in reaching goals with structure and a 'can do' attitude." Stephanie Tindall, HR Business Partner for NAC, is one of our many IP team members who we owe thanks for their military service. Stephanie served four years in the Army in Air Defence Intelligence / S3 Operations Management Deployment Readiness. Stephanie says: "My military experience helped me learn humility in leadership, agility to make decisions and a team winning mindset," said Stephanie. "And for those currently transitioning to civilian life, remember to be patient with yourself. Comradery is hard to find outside of your brothers and sisters in arms but those at IP will be your new family to build and grow with." About International PaperInternational Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting InternationalPaper.com About International Paper - EMEAIn Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and pulp, employing approximately 4,200 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Pulp production is centered in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include Kraft linerboard and recycled containerboard, as well as pulp.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: International Paper CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: International Paper Company PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 12:01:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 353 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Trinseo PLC ("Trinseo" or "the Company") (NYSE:TSE) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Investors who purchased the Company's securities between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before June 20, 2023.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Trinseo's plant in Bristol, Pennsylvania, suffered from a troubled history of safety problems under its previous ownership, which continued to be plagued with safety problems after it was acquired. The Company failed to disclose the specific risks involved in this plant's normal operations. The Company was at risk of chemical spills and other problems due to its operation of an unsafe plant. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Trinseo, investors suffered damages.Join the case to recover your losses.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.310-301-3335info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 16:00:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 493 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Miss A will expand its brick-and-mortar retail stores by targeting over 100 locations in the next few years.DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / NTP is pleased to announce its agreement to represent Miss A in the nationwide expansion of its retail store format.Miss A Storefrontstorefront Doyle Liesenfelt, NTP Co-Founder, states, "We are committed to finding New Territory for Miss A in its expansion plans for Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia and the Carolinas. Miss A is a 25-unit bricks-and-clicks Missy retail chain with growth expectations for an additional 100 US locations over the next few years." "Miss A is in a lane all to themselves," says Greg Vlahos, NTP Co-Founder. Vlahos also mentions that "Miss A will continue to add value to shopping centers across the country with its affordable Missy skincare, makeup, and accessories business model." About Miss AIt all started in 2013 ... The Texas brand has expanded to over 300 employees and 25 retail stores with plans to add an additional 100 stores within the next few years.Their site, shopmissa.com , gets 1.5+ million visitors per month and the brand has over 100 million views on the #shopmissa hashtag on social media. Miss A is the ultimate beauty shopping experience where customers can just have fun while not breaking the bank, with quality products starting at just $1.00. In 2016, Chief Merchandising Officer (CMO) Jean Baik took her passion for beauty to the next level by launching her own line of makeup and tools, AOA Studio. Since launching, the brand has experienced tremendous growth and success and was nominated for Inc. 5000's fastest-growing companies list at #68 in Retail. The brand has been featured in top media outlets like Today Show, Good Morning America, Allure, WWD, InStyle, Refinery29 and more. Her husband, Kenneth, will continue to expand the operational side of the business in his role as CEO.About New Territory PartnersThe NTP team members have a longstanding history in the leasing and development of Texas regional malls, open-air lifestyle shopping centers and mixed-use properties. Some examples are The Houston Galleria, Dallas Galleria, Stonebriar Centre, The Woodlands Mall, The Domain, The Shops at Clearfork and The Shops at La Cantera. Over the years, the team has been responsible for the leasing and development of over 30 million square feet of retail space with an estimated annual NOI exceeding $600 million. Our Core services include Landlord Representation, Tenant Representation, Development Strategies, Merchandising Strategies, Deal Negotiations and Retailer Growth Strategies.NTP current client list includes Transformco, Miss A, AO Fragrance, Torpedo World and others.For more information on New Territory Partners, go to: ntpre.com For more information, press only:NTPNew Territory PartnersWe Are Retail.Doyle Liesenfelt214-215-6868doyle@ ntpre.com For more information on Miss A go to: shopmissa.com For more information, press only:Kenneth S. BaikCEOBAIK BRANDS, INC.MISS A STORES, INC.kb@ baikbrands.com Contact InformationDoyle LiesenfeltPartnerdoyle@ ntpre.com 214-215-6868SOURCE: New Territory Partners PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-12 21:11:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 664 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / Schneider Electric:Originally published by Schneider ElectricRebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris and Schneider Electric sign a sponsorship agreementThis includes in-kind donations and skills transfer of state-of-the-art energy management solutionsRepresenting Schneider Electric's ability to rally in support of this centuries-old historical monumentSchneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and the public institution in charge of Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris have signed a sponsorship agreement in which Schneider is committed to contributing to the restoration of the cathedral through in-kind donations and the transfer of skills.The fire that severely damaged the cathedral on April 15, 2019, triggered an extraordinary wave of solidarity that Schneider Electric wanted to be part of. "It is a matter of course for Schneider Electric to take part in this type of action for emblematic and prestigious sites, as we have done in the past for the Comedie Francaise or the Antarctic station," emphasized Gilles Vermot-Desroches, Director of Citizenship and Institutional Affairs at Schneider Electric.Advanced solutions...For Notre-Dame de Paris, as for previous projects, Schneider's commitment is to provide its expertise, equipment and state-of-the-art solutions. Schneider Electric will supply all the equipment needed to power the site: the transformer station, all the downstream electrical cabinets and breaker panels, and their components.The agreement also includes a Building Management System (BMS), i.e., all the tools for energy management and power consumption control. Sensors, controllers, PLCs, communication buses and associated software will enable the Cathedral's operators to fine-tune the site's energy use and consumption. Schneider is also supplying an inverter, a distribution board and emergency lighting.In addition to the equipment, Schneider Electric is responsible for maintaining the site's electrical distribution systems, as well as the design, engineering, commissioning, and programming of the installed systems and training future users.... for a site like no otherCedric Larcher, Senior Project Manager at Schneider Electric France, is responsible for the implementation and follow-up of the project. Accustomed to tailor-made projects in special environments, he and his team are delighted to be working on this project, which, in addition to its prestigious nature, is anything but ordinary. The reasons for this include the cathedral's historical monument status, which brings its own specific requirements, but also its scale, the logistics, space and access constraints (staircases, basements, vaults, etc.), and the resulting complexity of the work."For Schneider Electric, participating in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is not only a technical partnership, but also a human one," said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric. "It gives us the opportunity to deploy our most innovative and secure energy management solutions at the service of an emblematic site dear to the citizens of France and the world. And this project is also a human adventure for the employees who will participate on the site." "We thank Schneider Electric for its support in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris. Powering this monument is a major challenge for the work that will allow the cathedral to reopen in 2024. We are delighted to benefit from Schneider's innovative energy management solutions, which will enable future operators to optimize their energy consumption. We are committed to integrating these concerns into the restoration of the Cathedral and we are pleased to count these technical advances among the French know-how at the service of our heritage," said Philippe Jost, Deputy General Director of the Public Institution for the Restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris.Work onsite will begin in a few months and will secure the power supply to the site. The BMS will make it possible to control and optimize the monument's energy consumption, bringing 21st-century innovations to this cathedral, a world heritage site and a masterpiece of medieval art.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Schneider Electric on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Schneider ElectricWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/schneider-electric Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Schneider Electric The African Union (AU) High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows (AU HLP on IFF) and the Working Group on the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR), composed of the African Union, the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), Forum Civil, the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) and TrustAfrica, are holding a conference on the theme, Addressing Illicit Financial Flows and Asset Recovery in the Extractive Industry, on the margins of the 2023 Global Conference of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) from 13 to 14 June in Dakar, Senegal. It will be the first-ever EITI global conference to be held in Africa, despite African countries being the majority among the EITIs fifty-seven member states which meet every three years. The conference is organised in line with African Union Decisions and Instruments adopted by African Heads of State and Government. These include the AU Special Declaration Assembly/AU/Decl.5 (XXIV) of January 2015, the Nouakchott Declaration on the African Anti-Corruption Year (June 2018) and the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR) adopted by the AU Summit in February 2020. It brings together policymakers, regulators, civil society organisations, industry stakeholders and the media to foster dialogue and collaboration in promoting accountability and transparent management of oil, gas, and mineral resources, scale up efforts with national anti-corruption agencies in raising public awareness, tracing and recovery of assets illicitly acquired from Africa, through tax avoidance and criminal activities such as tax evasion, money laundering and corruption. During the two-day exchanges, participants will discuss CAPAR, the need for enhanced transparency and accountability, stricter regulations and increased international cooperation in the extractive industry. In addition, they will address the impact of illicit financial flows and the common occurrence of corruption in commodities trading. The meeting aims to remind the EITI of its role in promoting accountable and transparent management of oil, gas and mineral resources and identifying effective strategies to address the challenges victim nations face. READ ALSO: Participants will reflect on how best to engage national authorities, the judiciary and the citizenry to hold the perpetrators and accomplices accountable. It is worth noting that CAPAR is a policy advocacy instrument aimed at assisting AU Member States to trace, identify, repatriate and subsequently effectively manage their assets, including items of cultural heritage, in a manner that respects their sovereignty and for the benefit of African peoples who are ultimately victims of illicit financial flows. CAPAR now stands as the best tool for Africas legal and technical framework in structuring the managing of the return of Africas stolen assets from the foreign jurisdictions in which they may be held into the rightful source countries. That is why it is imperative that Africas assets, including financial resources lost through illicit flows, be returned to finance the continents development agenda as underlined in the AU High-Level Panel Report on Illicit Financial Flows, adopted by African Heads of State and Government in January 2015. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On 24 June, Sierra Leone will hold elections, which are less than two weeks away. In December, US President Joseph Biden met with Sierra Leones President Julius Bio, at the White House, along with other African leaders: President Felix Tshisekedi, President Ali Ondimba, President George Weah, President Andry Rajoelina, and former President Muhammadu Buhari. While the United States does not support any specific candidate or party, the United States is committed to supporting electoral processes to deepen democracy in Africa. Working with Congress, the United States plans to provide over $165 million to support elections and good governance in Africa in 2023, President Biden said, at the time. To support the country, the US has contributed an estimated $600 million in the fight against the 2014 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone and Bryan Hunt, nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Sierra Leone was nominated by President Biden on 6 March, a White House press statement confirms. On the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)s Global Conflict Index (GPI), Sierra Leone ranks in the top five most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa ahead of Zambia. Ghana, The Gambia, Botswana, and Mauritius placed in the top 4 spots. However, the report published that Sierra Leone is listed as likely to experience increasing levels of violence over the next decade because it had experienced a Positive Peace deficit in 2020. Sierra Leonean activists expressed their sentiments in a Twitter Spaces event titled, The Road to Sierra Leones Elections, held 8 June. As citizens, we are being asked to hold off and restrict our rights so what kind of democracy do you think were building in #SierraLeone? The ground that we have been building is now eroding because our rights are being held hostage, said Ishmael Beah. The police in #SierraLeone, as we move into elections, and thinking about post-election immediate efforts need to made to reform them and get them back on track. The right protest have been outright denied, said @cellasey [Marcella Samba-Sesay] on @ResistBureau. READ ALSO: PREMIUM TIMES asked the US Department of State to comment on where the U.S.-Sierra Leone relationship stands ahead of its 24 June elections. On Friday, 9 June, a US Department of State spokesperson told White House Correspondent Pearl Matibe. Heres an excerpt of the key takeaways in responses from the State Department: Matibe: Country Reports (Human Rights): All Peoples Congress presidential candidate, Samura Kamara, in a recent broadcast for a large network broadcaster, questioned how the US Department of State obtains its information to produce the Country Report on Human Rights; that information could be coming from NGOs and journalists. State Department Spokesperson: The individual reports are prepared by US diplomatic missions around the world. They collect information from a variety of credible sources, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the media. Matibe: After six decades of Independence from colonial rule, a Sierra Leonean is at $2.15 per person/day at 2017 PPP, according to World Bank data which is current as of 30 March 2023. Given this context, what measurable outcomes has the US-Sierra Leone relationship helped the country move positively towards its goal of attaining middle-income status, in a regional economic community (REC) facing complex security challenges? State Department Spokesperson: US investments in Sierra Leone total more than $954 million over the past 20 years, including nearly $260 million for health. Following a peaceful election and transfer of power in 2018, the government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) embraced a new direction which seeks to transform the country from a fragile state into a stable and prosperous democracy. The government has set ambitious goals of achieving middle-income status and sustainable development for the country by 2035 and sees Human Capital Development as the most fundamental pathway to achieving those goals. The GoSLs Medium Term National Development Plan for 2019-2023 lays out a renewed focus on basic services, including free universal education and increased investments in health. U.S. assistance seeks to support those efforts and improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans through strategic investments in pandemic preparedness and global health security, health service delivery, democracy and governance, and security. Matibe: US-Africa Leaders Summit: Could you comment on (or list) meetings held with the Sierra Leone delegation, what, when, how was anything achieved, of note (or opportunities to overcome)? A State Department Spokesperson: During the US-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022, President Biden met a wide range of African Leaders, including President Bio, to discuss our vital partnerships with African nations. President Biden met with President Bio and other African leaders whose countries have presidential elections in 2023 to discuss their countries upcoming elections at a critical time for democracy globally. Pearl Matibe is a Washington, DC-based White House Correspondent, and media commentator with expertise in US foreign policy and international security. You may follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has issued a fresh alert over a possible outbreak of a bacterial disease that affects both animals and man. A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), said the zoonotic disease that is known as anthrax, has now been confirmed within the West African sub-region; specifically, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo. The statement, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ernest Umakhihe, advised Nigerians against the consumption of hides (pomo), smoked meat and bushmeat, to avoid possible spread. In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, the ministrys Director of Information, Joel Oruche, confirmed the authenticity of the statement and urged Nigerians to heed the advice. The statement emphasised that the consumption of hides poses a serious risk until the situation is brought under control. About Anthrax According to the statement, the anthrax spores are naturally found in the soil and commonly affect domestic and wild animals. It noted that people can get infected with anthrax spores if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. However, it added that anthrax is not a contagious disease and so, one cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person. The signs of anthrax according to the ministry are flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, and muscle aches and if not diagnosed and treated early, lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death. Treatment The statement noted that anthrax can be treated with antibiotics and supportive therapy. It is primarily a disease of animals but because of mans closeness to animals, non-vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily be transmitted to man through the inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of contaminated or infected animal products, such as hides and skin, meat or milk, the ministry noted. Vaccination The ministry also noted that the annual vaccinations with anthrax spore vaccines are available at National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State and that it is the cheapest and easiest means of prevention and control of the disease in animals. However, it noted that infected animals cannot be vaccinated but that animals at risk can be vaccinated. The statement further said: So in this present case, there is the need to intensify animal vaccinations along Border States of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states because of their proximity to Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana. Other states of Nigeria are equally advised to join in the exercise. READ ALSO: Infected Dead Animals should be buried deep into the soil along with equipment used in the burial after applying chemicals that will kill the Anthrax Spores.. The ministry urged the public to remain calm and vigilant, noting that the government has resuscitated a standing committee on the Control of Anthrax in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It noted that relevant institutions and collaborators have been contacted with the aim of controlling the outbreak, adding that it is in addition to the sensitization of state directors of veterinary services nationwide. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Premium Times Books, the book publishing arm of the Premium Times Group, is pleased to announce the release of a new title, Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria. The book, written by Omoniyi P. Ibietan, is officially making its way to physical and online bookshops Monday morning in a unique alignment with the symbolic rituals of June 12, Nigerias Democracy Day. In 460 pages spread over 12 chapters, Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria gives expression to a critical phase within the distinct trajectory of Nigerian democracy through its elections. Like June 12, which created a watershed in the country as Nigerians sought to rupture the yoke of military rule through the ballot, this book by Omoniyi P. Ibietan engages with another national watershed moment, as the nascent digital culture involving Internet use, and particularly the social media, converges with the articulation of voter choice, ultimately impacting Nigerias electoral fortunes in the process. Nigerias 2015 presidential election is utilised as the sounding board from which analyses that offer great insights into the future of voting behaviour in the country are made in this new title, that is both skilful in its rendition and ground-cutting in its intellectual approach. In an introduction he wrote for the book, Dapo Olorunyomi, the CEO of the Premium Times Group, said The universe of this new book is intriguing in its exploration of the digital effect on elections. He also pointed out how Mr Ibietans work demonstrates clearly that social media systems do enrich electoral democracy by expanding access to registration, participation, voting and organising at a scale we have never contemplated. He further observed that, In the context of the Nigerian market framework, we also get to appreciate, through his lenses, the comparative appeal of each of the social channels. WhatsApp is the battle axe, while Twitter, hysterical though it is, remains limited. Also, Ibietan demonstrates how Facebook appeals to age and its abstract commitment to attention and community makes its credentials for advancing democracy a suspect. Equally, in his Foreword to the book, Umar Danbatta, a professor and executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, noted that: the author situates the historical context of Nigerian politics and democracy and more so the nexus between social media and voting behaviour, and the influence of the social media ecosystem among others in the electoral process. Importantly, as Professor Danbatta put it: The book is a compelling narrative, a scholars guide and companion on the various political communication themes it interprets. It is difficult to put down this work once you are drawn by its alluring and free-flowing prose and incisive analysis. For a prominent commentator, who is also a former Minister of Information and Communication in Nigeria, Frank Nweke II, the book represents an uncommon body of work by an intellectual visionary, and he is of the conviction that the extrapolation of the lessons and recommendations of this book will find perfect expression in other climes beyond the 2015 Nigerian general elections scenario. Nweke thus commends Dr Ibietan for this remarkable work, andrecommend(s) this book for practitioners and academics in the fields of strategic communications, new technologies, and social change. The author of this new book, Omoniyi P. Ibietan, holds a doctorate in Political Communication from North-West University in South Africa, and earlier degrees in Communication Arts from the Universities of Uyo and Ibadan. With a career spanning journalism, stints in the civil society and academia, he is presently a directorate cadre staff in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), where he heads the media relations management unit. Over the past two decades, Mr Ibietan has researched deeply in the emergent interface between communication studies and psephology, which explains his richly nuanced understanding and far sight into issues involved. Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria is available as physical copies both in the hard back and soft back versions in bookstores across the country from today, 12 June. The electronic copies of the book can also be purchased on online platforms, including Amazon. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu Monday poured encomiums on Moshood Abiola (MKO), the winner of the annnuled 12 June 1993 presidential election. Mr Tinubu, while addressing Nigerians in his Democracy Day speech, praised the late Mr Abiola for not surrendering his mandate which eventually led to his death in military detention. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President, the Nigerian president said. Mr Tinubus predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, had declared 12 June as Nigerias Democracy Day and post-humously awarded Nigerias highest honour, GCFR, to Mr Abiola. Read the full speech by Mr Tinubu below. TEXT OF DEMOCRACY DAY NATIONAL BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED Tinubu, GCFR ON JUNE 12, 2023 Fellow Nigerians, 2. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative government of the people. 3. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the countrys political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999. 4. In rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigerias independence in 1960. 5. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian, Arnold Toynbees eternal postulation, that civilization and societies experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society, leading ultimately to the attainment of our second independence as exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999. 6. Fellow compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nations history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a silver platter. 7. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself. 8. Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa YarAdua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today. 9. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it. 10. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value. 11. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999. 12. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections. 13. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man. 14. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal. 15. It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated. 16. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started. 17. The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, Farewell to Poverty because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies. It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto being pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements. 18. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives. 20. The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993. 21. On this years Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises. 22. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people the Renewed Hope agenda. 23. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people. 24. On this note, I wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be extinguished in our land. 25. Thank you all and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print 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. President Bola Tinubu said Monday that he is aware that his decision to remove subsidy on petrol will impose an extra burden on the masses of our people. Mr Tinubu in his Democracy Day speech to Nigerians said the decision to remove the subsidy is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements. He said the decision to remove the subsidy will free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich. The Nigerian president at his inauguration on 29 May announced the removal of subsidy on petrol. This led to an increase in petrol prices by almost 200 per cent across the country. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the increase in petrol prices has already led to an increase in the prices of other goods and services. Nigerians have, however, expressed diverse views on the subsidy removal with many supporting it and others opposed to it. Proponents say the removal will free up funds (Nigeria spent over N4 trillion on petrol subsidy in 2022) for use in other critical areas such as infrastructure, health and education while opponents say it will further impoverish Nigerians in a country where about half the citizens live in poverty. In his speech, Mr Tinubu appealed to citizens to trust his decision on the removal of the subsidy. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives, he said. Read the text of the full speech delivered by the Nigerian leader below. TEXT OF DEMOCRACY DAY NATIONAL BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED Tinubu, GCFR ON JUNE 12, 2023 Fellow Nigerians, 2. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative government of the people. 3. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the countrys political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999. 4. In rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigerias independence in 1960. 5. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian, Arnold Toynbees eternal postulation, that civilization and societies experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society, leading ultimately to the attainment of our second independence as exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999. 6. Fellow compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nations history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a silver platter. 7. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself. 8. Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa YarAdua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today. 9. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it. 10. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value. 11. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999. 12. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections. 13. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man. 14. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal. 15. It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated. 16. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started. 17. The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, Farewell to Poverty because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies. It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto being pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements. 18. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives. 20. The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993. 21. On this years Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises. 22. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people the Renewed Hope agenda. 23. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people. 24. On this note, I wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be extinguished in our land. 25. Thank you all and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The leading contender for the position of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. The meeting was also attended by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who the president appointed to lead a committee to resolve the leadership tussle for the position of senate president. At the end of the meeting, Mr Akpabio said he was hopeful of victory as he enjoys the support of over 90 per cent of people supporting the choice of the party. The former Akwa Ibom governor has been adopted by the ruling party, APC, as its candidate for the senate presidents seat in tomorrows election. Also speaking after the meeting, Mr Uzodinma said he and other APC leaders hoped that Mr Akpabio would be adopted as the consensus candidate for the position of the senate president at tomorrows election venue in the Senate chambers, Abuja. Although the APC, which has the majority in the Senate, has adopted Mr Akpabio as its candidate, at least two other senators from the party, Osita Izunaso and Abdulaziz Yari, have vowed to challenge Mr Akpabio for the position. Consensus Mr Uzodinma said there was a high probability that other aggrieved aspirants in the two chambers would step down before tomorrows election and support the consensus candidates of the APC. The governor said he had made efforts to secure votes of many of the senators-elect for Mr Akpabio since his appointment as the chairperson of the committee that will produce Mr Akpabio as the next senate president. Well, substantially for a substitute consensus and by the number of people and by the efforts we have put in place, it is our hope that tomorrow it might even be a consensus event. He said senators-elect from the opposition parties had also pledged their votes and support for Mr Akpabio. But to the glory of God we pray for that and at the same time, hoping that should we go into an election..Akpabios acceptance as at today cuts across the political party we belong to. Other political parties there are also some same minds who are interested in the development and progress of Nigeria who also understand the need to safeguard democracy as being practiced in Nigeria today. And they are in sync with our preferred candidate. Akpabio is going there to create a win-win situation for members of the parliament. He is not going there to be a dictator. He is going there to work with his colleagues. He is going there to work in synergy, collectively they will reason, collectively they will plan, collectively they will deliver the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people. Mr Uzodinma stressed that Mr Akpabio possessed all the qualities of a good leader to lead the 10th Senate. It is about Nigeria and not about the individuals. And he is a man too that has the track record of performance. Recall his performance as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and when he came during the 8th Senate. Even as a first time senator, he emerged as the minority leader of the senate. That is a show of confidence by his colleagues. And I think that he will do what he knows how to do better this time around, he said. Technical committee Mr Uzodinma stressed that the committee, which he heads, has done a lot of work in preparing the APC for the election and that it would ensure that the process is free and fair. You must have heard, the president in his wisdom organised a small technical committee to help coordinate the process of tomorrows election, which by my position of the chair of the Progressive Governors Forum, I am chairing that technical committee, he said. We have done so much work to the extent that God has blessed our efforts that the majority of the senators-elect are now in sync with the position of the party. After the event in which you all witnessed, we had a closed session with the president because what is at stake is national interest, the interest of our country and how to ensure that the new president is supported to succeed. All over Africa, Nigeria is being looked upon that this time around we should produce a very strong president who will be bold and courageous in character. Who will be able to deliver Nigeria to our usual space of being the leader of the continent. So, we dont want to allow for any domestic distraction to distract him from succeeding. So, we are going to pledge our support, work in synergy with our senators elect to ensure that the election of tomorrow will be free and fair. All 109 senators-elect are expected to participate in the election of the new leadership of the upper chamber. Of the number, 59 are members of the ruling APC, while the remaining 50 belong to the six opposition parties, namely PDP, LP, NNPP, YPP, APGA and SDP. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Chuma Nzeribe, a politician convicted of impersonation and other crimes, has been freed from prison barely two months after he began a seven-year jail time. Mr Nzeribe was on the run for about a year after being convicted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court until he was arrested and sentenced in March this year. But barely two months after he began the seven years of jail time, the Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Husseini Baba-Yusuf, controversially freed him from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. The Chief Judge, it was learnt, took the administrative decision, anchored on the health conditions of the convict, during his official tour of the prison facility for a decongestion exercise in May. Mr Baba-Yusufs decision pre-empted the ruling of another judge of the court, Halilu Yusuf, on the bail application which Mr Nzeribe filed but had yet to be heard. Some lawyers have argued that the Chief Judges action overstepped the limits of his administrative powers and breached the law stipulating the conditions for freeing prisoners, more so that the convicts bail application was still pending in court for judicial determination. The convict had been out of jail before the agency that prosecuted him the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) got to know of it. Mr Nzeribe, a former member of the House of Representatives, was convicted in absentia by Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Maitama, Abuja, in May 2022. He was found guilty of impersonation, possessing federal government documents, and using the documents to acquire land in the Maitama district of Abuja fraudulently. But Mr Nzeribe could not be sentenced immediately after the judge pronounced him guilty due to his absence from court. The EFCC could only apprehend and take him to court for sentencing on 24 March, nearly a year after his conviction. At the sentencing proceedings, the judge, Mr Yusuf, jailed the former lawmaker for seven years. But within a short while after his sentencing, Mr Nzeribe filed an appeal against the courts decision and applied for post-conviction bail. Parties were still anticipating a date to be fixed for the hearing when the EFCC team got the hint that the convict had been released from prison. PREMIUM TIMES made attempts to confirm the development from the Chief Judges office to no avail. Our reporter paid repeated visits to the offices of the Chief Judge and the courts Chief Registrar, Hadiza Dodo, at the court complex in Maitama, Abuja, but was told on each occasion that the officials were not available. Why Mr Nzeribe was released But the FCT command of the Nigerian Correction Service, which supervises the Kuje facility where Mr Nzeribe was held, confirmed the convicts release to our reporter on Wednesday. The (Chief Judges) pronouncement (releasing Mr Nzeribe) was made on 23 May 2023, Adamu Duza, the spokesperson for the FCT Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. Mr Duza said Mr Nzeribe was sentenced two months before the visit of the Chief Judge. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the Chief Judge released the convict on health grounds, a controversial decision senior lawyers have called to question. Confirming this to our reporter, Mr Duza said, The Chief Judge ordered his (Mr Nzeribes) release based on medical grounds. There is medical proof to that. He added that the Chief Judge used his discretion to pardon the convict (Mr Nzeribe). Moreover, he is 64 years old. However, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, said, Chief Judges have no power to pardon convicts, a legal point another senior lawyer, Sebastine Hon, had argued years ago. Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), referenced the Criminal Justice (Release From Custody) (Special Provisions) Act. The law, however, stipulates conditions upon which the Chief Justice or Chief Judge may release a prison detainee. It says, a person whose detention is manifestly unlawful; or a person who has been detained in custody, whether on remand or otherwise, for a period longer than the maximum period of imprisonment which the person detained could have served had he been convicted of the offence in respect of which he was detained. Agreeing with Mr Falana, another lawyer, Adebayo Akinlade, said there were criteria to be met by prison detainees before the Chief Judge can release them. Mr Akinlade explained that the law empowers the Chief Judge under the prerogative of mercy to order a prisoners release if such a person has been incarcerated for a while. In addition, Chukwuemeka Clement, the 2nd Vice President Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the Chief Judge could pardon a prison detainee on condition of old age, illegal detention, long period of incarceration and ill-health. Politically Exposed Persons above the law? Mr Nzeribes release, again, calls attention to how Nigerias criminal justice system can be easily manipulated to the advantage of politically exposed persons (PEPs). Sometimes PEPs pull their weight to derail investigations or keep their trial delayed for years in court. On rare occasions when they are convicted, they can get out of prison, deploying unusual legal tactics. Mr Nzeribes release fits into the broader picture of a criminal justice system that allows both the judiciary and the executive arms of government to give high-profile suspects or criminal convicts some special treatment. The administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2022, pardoned Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, former governors of Plateau and Taraba states, respectively, while they were still serving jail time imposed on them for looting public funds. Their convictions and imprisonments had been convicted when the Buhari administration granted them a pardon to have them released from prison. Erstwhile governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, wangled his way out of prison after he was convicted of N7.1 billion fraud. Mr Kalu, a serving senator representing Abia North, was already serving a 12-year jail term for the offences when the Supreme Court, on 8 May 2020, quashed the proceedings leading to his and his co-defendants conviction. The Supreme Courts judgement delivered on an appeal by Mr Kalus co-defendant, Ude Udeogu, had ordered a retrial at the Federal High Court. Mr Orji Kalu got out of prison based on the Supreme Courts judgement but quickly applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop his retrial. In 2021, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, before whom Mr Kalu filed the request, barred Nigerias anti-corruption agency, EFCC, from retrying the lawmaker. Judge not aware of convicts release PREMIUM TIMES found that Mr Nzeribe was released without the trial courts knowledge. The trial judge, Mr Yusuf, who sits in a courtroom at the Maitama Court complex, which also houses the office of the Chief Judge, is currently out of the station. A court official said he was serving on an election petition tribunal outside Abuja. The source, who asked not to be named, disclosed that the trial judge was unaware of Mr Nzeribes release. The judge (Mr Yusuf) has been under immense pressure to grant the convict bail through the backdoor, but he declined. In fact, there is a pending post-conviction motion for bail filed by Mr Nzeribe. But it has not been heard, the source said. Another source familiar with the case said the trial court had no jurisdiction to hear Mr Nzeribes bail request. It (the court) doesnt have jurisdiction to entertain any application from the applicant (Mr Nzeribe) since an appeal has been filed before the Court of Appeal, the source said. Background In 2013, Mr Nzeribe, a former governorship aspirant in Imo State, was alleged to be in possession of a document containing false pretence with reference number MFCT/LA/FCT 1302, dated June 18, 2003, bearing the name of Ramatu Alhassan. He was, thus, accused of committing an offence contrary to Section 6, 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act. The erstwhile lawmaker was accused of using the forged document as a genuine one, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at the beginning of the case. In aid of its case, the EFCC called five witnesses while the defendant testified for himself. Delivering judgement on the suit, the judge said the prosecution discharged the onus of proof against Mr Nzeribe beyond any reasonable doubt. Mr Yusuf held that the convict indeed made false pretence and is guilty of forgery. He said Mr Nzeribe also cheated by impersonation. The judge ruled that the land in Maitama, acquired with the forged papers, should be taken over by the owner, Ishaya Madi, immediately. The judge said Mr Nzeribe had failed to attend three consecutive court sessions. Instead, the politician sent a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the EFCC, surrendering the land to the real owner, Mr Madi. Thereafter, the judge deferred sentencing until Mr Nzeribe was arrested and brought before the court on 24 March this year. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A candidate for the position of senate president, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, spoke about how he would lead the senate if he is elected. Mr Akpabio, who has been adopted by the ruling party, APC, as its candidate for the position, said the Senate under him will hold public hearings before we take any decision in the interests of Nigerians. The former Akwa Ibom governor spoke in an interview with journalists after a meeting at the State House, Abuja, with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. Read the transcript of the interview below. Q: The coast seems clear to you, what are you bringing on board if you eventually win? Akpabio: Robust legislative debate which Ill do everything possible to ensure that we meet the aspirations of Nigerians. We will hold public hearings before we take any decision in the interests of Nigerians, for the betterment of Nigeria. We will think Nigeria first, every senator irrespective of political party must come into the chambers as a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. READ ALSO: So, we have a lot to do. We must assist the president, Bola Tinubu, to put the right policies in place by we putting the right legislation in place to make sure that business thrives and create employment opportunities for Nigerians. I assure you that every senator is important and theres no political party once Im inside there. Everybody is important and all political parties shall be carried along. Q: How do you intend to pacify those who are not on the same page with you? Akpabio: In the business of politics, not everybody will be on the same page. But here, we have over 90 per cent of people supporting the choice of the party and I believe that even those that are not on board, I assure them that I will carry them on board. Q: With over 90 per cent, that seems like victory for you? Akpabio: I wont say anything but I will say we leave it to God almighty. But I must thank the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and the governor of Imo State and former governor of Kano State and all former governors in the APC and all the governors in PDP and other political parties and even all the political parties we have visited who have shown so much support in having one Nigerian National Assembly, one Nigerian senate and a senate that will work for the good people of Nigeria. That is my pledge and I assure you that it shall be uncommon. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senate presidency, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, held a closed-door meeting with Orji Kalu and Osita Izunaso, who are also aspiring for the position. The meeting is coming a few hours before the election for the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly, holding on Tuesday. Although details of the meeting were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, sources within Mr Akpabios camp said the two aspirants had agreed to withdraw from the race and pledged their support for the former Akwa Ibom governor. Messrs Kalu and Izunaso are from Abia and Imo States in the South-east region. They are members of the APC as Mr Akpabio. They had accused President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the party of being unfair to them for endorsing Mr Akpabio and a senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin, for senate president and deputy senate president without consultations with them and other aspirants. The two aspirants, alongside the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, have refused to withdraw from the race despite intervention from different quarters within the APC. Messrs Kalu and Izunaso are yet to make any statement on the meeting they held with Mr Akpabio on the senate leadership election. Tinubu hosts Lawan, Akpabio in Aso Rock Meanwhile, Mr Tinubu also held a separate closed-doors meeting with the outgoing Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Mr Akpabio at the Presidential Villa today. There are speculations that Mr Lawan is against the emergence of Mr Akpabio as senate president on the allegation that he (Lawan) wanted the position to be zoned to the North. But sources said that at the meeting with Mr Tinubu, the outgoing senate president pledged to mobilise support for Mr Akpabio for the election. Mr Akpabio, accompanied by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had earlier in the day met Mr Tinubu to discuss the election. Stepped down Also, Sani Musa, who is contesting for the position of deputy senate president, was said to have withdrawn from the race and endorsed Mr Jibrin. The Director-General of Akpabio Campaign Council, Ali Ndume, disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Monday evening. Mr Musa, the APC senator for Niger East, has not publicly stated his alleged withdrawal from the race. Mr Ndume also said all senators-elect from South-east and South-south had pledged to vote for Mr Akpabio. He said the senators-elect from the two regions made the pledge at a meeting with Mr Akpabio on Monday at Imo State Governors Lodge in Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Police in Enugu State said they have arrested nine suspected criminals for alleged cultism, conspiracy, and malicious damage. This is contained in a statement issued by the police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, on Monday in Enugu. He said a locally fabricated revolver, a double-barrel pistol, eight live cartridges, one expended cartridge and substances suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects. Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said that the commands Anti-Cultism Squad, acting on credible information, executed a search warrant in the suspects houses on June 9 at about 4:48 hours. According to him, the police were conducting further discreet investigation into the case. The police spokesperson also said police operatives working with law-abiding citizens, on June 9, at about 15:10 hours, arrested two male suspects with a locally fabricated pistol. He said that the tricycle they were operating with was recovered as the investigation into the case continues. Furthermore, on June 8 at about 11:00 hour, operatives of Police Mobile Force 3-Squadron, Enugu, while on routine stop and search duty at Ugwuoba, along old Enugu-Onitsha Highway, intercepted a commercial bus en-route Enugu. After a thorough search conducted on the vehicle and its occupants, eleven live cartridges and a black-coloured criminal hood cloth material were recovered from two of the occupants, both of them from Kogi. They were consequently arrested, while further discreet investigation is ongoing, he added. Mr Ndukwe said the suspects would be arraigned in court once investigations were concluded. READ ALSO: He said that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, lauded the police operatives and those that supported them in recording these operational breakthroughs. The commissioner charges them and others to remain focused and on top of their games. He solicited the continued cooperation and support of citizens by providing credible information and intelligence to the police. (NAN) 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 Nigerias immediate former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, on Sunday, accused the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu), of demanding five per cent shares of the national carrier from him. Mr Sirika made this known while speaking on an Arise Television programme on Sunday. He (Honourable Nnaji) asked me that I should give him 5 per cent of Nigeria Air to carry him along with his people, he said. I said to him at that time, Honourable, a bidding process has taken place, and some people won. So, I think you should go to those people and ask for the 5 per cent. The former aviation ministers comments came less than a week after the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation alleged fraud in the unveiling of Nigeria Air and demanded the prosecution of Mr Sirika and all those associated with the controversial unveiling of the airline. Reacting to claims making the rounds that he spent N138 billion on the hiring and repainting of the unveiled aircraft, Mr Sirika said it is ridiculous to think that such an amount would be expended on hiring an aircraft. He noted that the amount could get the ministry five new Boeing 777 max aeroplanes. We are responsible people and the general public should approach the Ministry of Information and apply for the right of information to see for themselves, he said. That is the same fly air peace people want Hadi Sirika to hand over Air Nigeria to. OBJ handed Nigeria Airways to his friend company, Arik Air, and Arik is indebted to the tune of over N300 billion, of which Nigeria taxpayers money is N250 billion via AMCON. In his response to Mr Sirika, published by Daily Trust newspaper Sunday evening, Mr Nnaji questioned the claims put forward by the former minister. Sirika is a drowning man struggling to grab anything on his way to survive the barrage of attacks he has been receiving since his controversial unveiling ceremony of the so-called Nigeria Air, he was quoted as saying in the statement. Ordinarily l would not have bothered to reply to his allegations of my demand for 5 per cent equity in Nigeria Air as he claimed during his interview on Arise Television but l believe l owe my constituents and indeed Nigerians a duty to put the records straight. PREMIUM TIMES efforts to reach the lawmaker Sunday night were unsuccessful. Background On 18 July 2018, Nigeria Air, the nations proposed national carrier, was unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show in England. However, the project was shelved two months after as critics raised concerns over its relevance and sustainability. The airline was expected to gulp $8.8 million in preliminary costs and $300 million as take-off costs. In July 2022, the Federal Executive Council approved the leasing of three aircraft to enable the airline to commence operations. In September last year, Mr Sirika said at a press briefing in Abuja that Ethiopian Airlines emerged as a core investor in Nigeria Air with a 49 per cent shareholding. The decision was trailed by a suit filed by local airline operators who claimed they could manage Nigerian Air better than a foreign airline. Some of the domestic airline operators are still in court seeking to stop the federal government from partnering with Ethiopian Airlines to float the national carrier. When the minister unveiled the airline less than three days before his exit from office last month, only one aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airlines was unveiled at the ceremony. This generated concerns among Nigerians on social media, many of whom questioned the move and Mr Sirikas handling of the airlines proposed operation. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) subsequently rejected an application from the nations national carrier, seeking certification to proceed to phase two in the process of obtaining an Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The NCAAs rejection letter indicated that there is no adequate preparation for the airlines operation despite Mr Sirikas repeated promises to Nigerians that the national carrier would commence operation before the swearing-in of a new administration on 29 May. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu on Monday cautioned against arbitrary court orders aimed at truncating Nigerias democracy. Mr Tinubu, in his first Democracy Day speech as Nigerias 16th president, said, It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary, illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated. The president described Moshood Abiola, the winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election, as the symbol of democracy. Former Nigerian military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, aborted Mr Abiolas victory on the strength of a court order that nullified the election a process that many citizens described as the fairest and freest in the history of Nigerias democracy. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the countrys political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999, Mr Tinubu said. He said Nigerians resisted Mr Babangidas arbitrary annulment of the polls through their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government. Speaking on disputes that often trail Nigerias electioneering, Mr Tinubu, whose victory in the 25 February presidential election is still being contested in court, said: Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Partys presidential candidate Peter Obi are challenging Mr Tinubus victory at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja. The president said participants at the recent elections who were dissatisfied with the outcomes are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court, and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man. Trust judiciary He said the judiciary must be trusted to deliver justice, adding that he recently harmonised the retirement age for judicial officers in the country. The president explained that the move was meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. In the build-up to Mr Tinubus inauguration on 29 May as Nigerias president, several lawsuits were instituted to stop his swearing-in. In one of the suits filed by the PDP, the Supreme Court on 26 May, 74 hours before Mr Tinubus inauguration, cleared the coast for the great day. The case had journeyed from the Federal High Court in Abuja through the Court of Appeal before terminating at the apex court, where the PDP urged the courts to stop Mr Tinubu from being sworn-in on account of the double nomination of Kashim Shettima as the presidents running mate. Similarly, two other suits were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja to truncate Mr Tinubus inauguration, but the court dismissed them. The court imposed monetary fines on the lawyers who filed the suits for being frivolous. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and a group of CSOs working to advance social accountability in Nigeria, had raised concerns about the surreptitious amendments of the Act establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) by the National Assembly without due consultations and engagement with citizens and necessary stakeholders from the anti-corruption cohort including the ICPC. The organizations are Connected Development (CODE), BudgIT Foundation, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/ Transparency International- Nigeria (TI-N). In the bill, the authority of the Chairman and the Commission to combat corruption in Nigeria came under direct assault, compromising the powers of the agency to fulfil its statutory mandate to fight official malfeasances. A review of the proposed bill, passed by the Upper Chamber on June 4th, 2023, without the consultation of relevant stakeholders, clearly shows the position of the legislators in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. For instance, by substituting the word board members with the word commissioners in sections 3(5), 3(6), 3(7), 3(8), 3(9) and 3(10) of the Principal Act as amended and inserting section (11) for offices of the commissioners, the powers of the ICPC have been delegated to the Committees who are politically appointed, thus affecting the integrity of the Commission in the discharge of its duties. While Section 4(2) of the original ICPC Act states that the Chairman and any four board members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for meetings, the Senate amended the existing subsection (2) for a new subsection which provides that a quorum for meetings shall be any five board members and the five members in attendance shall appoint a Chairman to preside over the meetings. The import of this amendment is that any five members of the board can meet and take far-reaching decisions, without the presence of the Chairman, as any member can be delegated in his absence to chair the meeting. In addition, a new amendment in Section 7(1) of the Principal Act states that: The Chairman may issue administrative orders to be called standing orders, which shall conform with the provisions of the general control, training, duties and responsibilities of officers of the commission and for such other matters as may be necessary or expedient for the good administration of the Commission and to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the Commission. The Senate amended Section 7(1) of the Principal Act, substituting the word Chairman for the word Commission. This new amendment clearly usurps the powers of the Chairman, granting a window for the arbitrary abuse of the same powers and unnecessary power tussles, thus turning the commission into a jungle of needless power-flexing entities. Also, section 70 of the Provisional Act confers the Chairman of the Commission the power to make rules without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of the Act. However, by replacing chairman with commission, the Senate is seeking to give the board the power to institute rules to govern the operations of the Commission and this will subject the ICPC to external political influence and continued infringement of the provisions of the public procurement law. These amendments pose a serious threat to democracy and the fight against corruption, which the Commission has doggedly fought in the last two decades, especially with the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Group Initiative (CEPTGi). As a founding member of the Steering Committee, the CJID has observed the efficient and effective anti-corruption work implemented by the Commission in collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs), in tracking and monitoring the execution of over 4,000 constituency and executive projects worth over 200 billion naira, forcing contractors to return to project sites and enabling government and citizens to get value for funds spent. Nigerias recent move by four places from its previous position in the 2022 Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International, is an indication that the initiative is yielding tangible results and thus, should be encouraged. We view this act by NASS as a mission of vendetta against the Commission over its unyielding posture against corruption in the public service by public officials. READ ALSO: In all fairness, these modifications have grave implications for the Commission and the country in general. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and a member of the Open Government Partnership, we urge the National Assembly to halt the passage of this amendment bill until due consultations, research and stakeholders engagement have been undertaken to ensure the law further enhances the powers of the ICPC to carry out its mandate and perform its functions optimally. We appeal to the members of the National Assembly, rather than stifling the powers of the ICPC, to consult with necessary stakeholders to devise strategies to strengthen and support the ICPC and other anti-graft agencies to efficiently carry out their mandate, as we look to rid our dear nation of the corruption that has severely constrained developmental efforts. Signed: Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Connected Development (CODE) BudgIT Foundation Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/ Transparency International- Nigeria (TI-N) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Its all about getting them to turn the pages. The content of childrens books matters but not for the reasons so many conservative groups want to block access to certain kids books. The content matters because it should meet these young people where they are and present them with relatable situations and characters. This is backed up with research. According to Angelica Tennant, librarian at Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Institute, data shows that when students read about characters who look like them, their interest in books increases. Its a truth that bears repeating: Kids and, for that matter, adults, will read stories that relate to them, especially if reading isnt something that comes naturally. Kids get excited when they see themselves in the characters and stories. This is the way to start them on the reading track. There is a problem with such an obviously ideal scenario though. In urban school districts like Buffalos, whose students are 80% Black, brown and Asian, such reading material might be difficult to come by only 9% of childrens books published in 2021 were by Black authors. A collaboration between Buffalo State University and Buffalo Public Schools middle school teachers is making those connections easier. For a May 1 sold-out event, 400 BPS middle school students visited Buff State to see Jason Reynolds, the National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature and winner of a Newbery, an NAACP Image Award and several Coretta Scott King honors. Reynolds, who is Black and grew up not seeing himself in most assigned books, spoke to their hearts. By all accounts, the students, after reading parts of Reynolds Long Way Down each week and discussing it in school, were hungry for his words. They were enthusiastic about meeting the man who made their lives richer through writing, showing them its power. Enthusiasm for literature and learning isnt something that can be imposed. It takes inspirational encounters like this to start kids on the path to assigning value to their educations and importance to the act of reading. The event came out of Buffalo States Professional Development Consortium. The consortium engages with city schools and provides resources for current and future teachers throughout the year, with an annual conference in September. Its likely that the Buff State event is not something right-wing watchdog groups like Moms for Liberty would necessarily support. This is the conservative parents rights group that the Southern Poverty Law Center listed as an anti-government extremist organization in its latest Year in Hate & Extremism report. Moms for Liberty wants to limit access to books that may show kids a reflection that doesnt fit their vision of what America should be. Thats their idea of liberty. But kids should not be discouraged from reading a vast array of material, even the uncomfortable variety. All topics should be available, including race, ethnicity, and gender. Most importantly, kids should be able as these Buffalo middle-schoolers were to find versions of themselves in what they read. ... Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. A Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Kauru Local Government of Kaduna State, North-west Nigeria. The chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Emmanuel Okolo, in a statement on Monday to reporters in Kaduna, announced the incident. Mr Okolo said Jeremiah Yakubu, the parish priest of the Holy Trinity, Kauru, was abducted on Sunday. It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of our priest Jeremiah Yakubu. The ugly event occurred on Sunday 11, June at about 11. p.m. Mr Jeremiah, the parish priest of Holy Trinity, Kauru, was abducted from the parish rectory in Kauru local government area. While we solicit for intense prayer for his quick and safe release, we equally wish to call on all and sundry to refrain from taking the law into their hands. We will use every legitimate means to ensure his quick and safe release, Mr Okolo said. Kidnapping for ransom is common across Nigerias North-west and North-central regions. Kaduna is one of the worst-hit states. Religious clerics and peasants in vulnerable communities in the state have fallen prey to the kidnappers. Some of them have been killed in captivity, while others were freed after ransom payment. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu on Monday signed into law a bill to establish a Students Loan Fund (SLF) to provide interest-free loans to Nigerians seeking higher education. One of Mr Tinubus aides, Dele Alake, on Monday, told state house correspondents that Mr Tinubu assented to the bill. Sponsored by the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the bill was introduced in 2016 as part of measures towards addressing the funding gaps in the countrys tertiary education subsector. Mr Gbajabiamila has now been appointed the Chief of Staff to Mr Tinubu, and he is billed to assume office on Wednesday, a day after his tenure as the speaker of Nigerias green chamber. The bill is titled; Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023. Mr Tinubu, in his manifesto as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, promised to pursue the establishment of the education bank towards enhancing access to quality education at the tertiary level. We will institute a pilot student loan regimethis will expand access to education to all Nigerians regardless of their backgrounds, he wrote in his manifesto, Renewed Hope. At the same time, this will give institutions the ability to charge more cost-reflective tuition fees. Because of the current employment rates and other conditions, the loan program will have a maximum limit any student may borrow and must have flexible repayment provisions. In Nigeria, basic education, that is, the first nine years of education from primary to junior secondary, is free and compulsory in public schools. However, apart from the fact that public schools are insufficient, the schools have also introduced various methods to demand fees from parents by providing basic needs such as desks, chalks, and even infrastructure. Also, public tertiary institutions have always claimed that tuition is free but sundry payments are introduced to augment allocations from the Nigerian government. However, since education is on the concurrent list in the countrys constitution, many of the 36 states of the federation have introduced tuition in their tertiary schools, which many students have described as unaffordable. Education funding Stakeholders in the education sector have consistently identified poor funding as part of the challenges facing the countrys education sector and that the development has led to incessant workers strikes in the sector. About N1.08 trillion was budgeted for education in the 2023 budget. This is about 5.3 per cent of the total N20.5 trillion budget, below the 15 per cent minimum spending recommended for developing countries by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). But Mr Tinubu believes that with the education bank in place, Nigerians willing to attain higher education qualifications can afford fees that the schools may soon introduce. Students Loan Fund Sections of the Students Loan Act create an Education Loan Fund, with its funding to be drawn from one per cent of all profits accruing to the federal government from oil and other minerals; taxes, levies and duties accruing to the federal government from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service and Nigerian Customs Service, as well as education bonds, education endowment fund schemes, donations, gifts, grant, and revenue accruing to the fund from any other source. Stakeholders react The President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Anderson Ezeibe, expressed concern over the sustainability of the initiative due to Nigerias high unemployment rate. He said: I actually think that the intentions of the bill may be noble, but it is going to be very difficult to sustain. The Act obviously downplayed the unemployment crisis in the nation, as well as the southern trends in other economic indices expected to support the students loan scheme The Act as signed may end up triggering a serious crisis in tertiary institutions as the foundation for the introduction of tuition fees has just been laid without a guarantee that students will be able to pay up through the loans as proposed in the Act. Mr Ezeibe said the repayment of loans after two years of graduation isnt visible when there are no guaranteed forms of employment after graduation. This alone endangers the sustainability of the student loan scheme. Laws of this nature should factor in clear economic realities of the time, he added. When the bill was passed by the House of Representatives, the National Coordinator Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Soweto, also cast doubt on it. Mr Soweto, whose organisation has continually opposed increment in tuition fees in Nigerias tertiary institutions, noted that the idea behind the proposed loan fund in the bill is to show that students from poor backgrounds have alternative funding even when fees are increased. But then there is no guarantee that even this will succeed because the government simply borrows measures from other countries, which if brought to the very backward situation you have in neocolonial Nigeria, can produce different outcomes, he said. He added that the development would further impoverish poor Nigerians by throwing them into life-long debt. In December 2022, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) accused the government of attempting to systematically wash its hands off the funding of public universities with the introduction of the bill by the National Assembly. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement, condemned the move, describing it as an attempt to make university education beyond the reach of poor Nigerians. We find it troubling that the proponents of the policy are so eager to force it down the throat of Nigerians when they have done more to push the working people of this country into poverty through sheer incompetence in handling the economic fortunes of our nation, Mr Osodeke said in the statement. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In addition, 43% think it will replace some in marketing teams, yet humans are needed to guide AI NEW YORK, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost eight in ten (78%) of digital marketers surveyed responded that AI is helpful in marketing. At the same time, forty-seven percent (47%) said it was dangerous in marketing. The results are from an Optimove May 2023 survey of 221 B2C executives responsible for digital marketing. The findings come on the heels of Geoffrey Hinton, an artificial intelligence pioneer and now former Google executive, saying that companies are accelerating to danger in creating products based on generative artificial intelligence. Pini Yakuel, CEO and co-founder of Optimove said, "Many may fear that generative AI could be dangerous in marketing. But the operative question is, 'What task are you asking it to do?' It is not dangerous if asked to provide information on a subject or suggest viable solutions to a problem. Armed with information, the next action is still in the hands of humans. If asked to take unmonitored action, generative AI could go astray. So, humans need to monitor the actions of generative AI. Doing so is a powerful tool for marketers not dangerous." The Optimove results underscore the question facing marketers, "how do we accelerate the use of AI in a responsible way?" At risk is the possibility of AI going awry. At the forefront is, of course, ChatGPT. In their first blog about ChatGPT, OpenAI described it this way: "We've trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests." Admitting mistakes and rejecting inappropriate requests is a quantum leap forward for tech teams using AI. Compare this with Microsoft's conversational bot, Tay, introduced in 2016. It was designed to engage people in dialogue while emulating the style and slang of a teenage girl. Within a day of its release, Tay tweeted more than 95,000 times, many of which were abusive and offensive. Tay had a fundamental problem: It was designed to learn about language through interactions with people. Tay was shut down less than 24 hours after its release. Seven years later, we are smarter, and so is AI. ChatGPT, as an example, is intelligent and sophisticated. Used properly, marketers can use AI to move to the new era of personalization in marketing without alienating customers. Leading marketers are driving marketing actions guided by intelligence from the consumer. They start marketing activities from intelligence derived from a customer data platform (CDP). They use that intelligence to drive and guide marketing actions with a seamlessly integrated multichannel marketing hub (MMH). Yakuel added, "Marketers we partner with use AI to optimize marketing campaigns. At the end of the day, the marketer is in charge. They build out experiences for customers, analyze data, and design experiments. Asking the right strategic questions still requires humans. But AI can save time, simplify things, or boost performance. For example, it can help determine the best communication a customer should get or provide insights by quickly analyzing vast data sets. But humans must measure, analyze, and monitor AI recommendations to ensure their marketing programs engage the customer." The survey also revealed that 43% think AI would replace some marketing team members. It is helping marketing teams with some rote actions, like writing email options. But it is still in progress with human decision-making. Yakuel concluded, "AI should not replace the marketer it should enhance the marketer. AI is a technology that helps marketing productivity by suggesting and creating marketing options, so humans make better decisions. It is humans who choose what to execute." Guided by humans, AI is being implemented responsibly to help marketers create deeper connections with their customers. About the survey: The Optimove 2023 Survey of Digital B2C Marketers queried 221 U.S. business-to-consumer executives responsible for digital marketing in May 2023. The titles of respondents included CEOs, CMOs, heads of Marketing, and senior digital marketing officers. About Optimove: Optimove is the first Customer-Led Marketing Platform. Its solutions ensure that marketing always starts with the customer instead of a campaign or product. Customer-Led Marketing has been proven to deliver brands an average increase of 33% in customer lifetime value. It is the only Customer-Led Marketing Platform powered by the combination of 1) rich historical, real-time, and predictive customer data, 2) AI-led multichannel journey orchestration, and 3) statistically credible multitouch attribution of every marketing action. Optimove provides industry-specific and use-case solutions for hundreds of leading consumer brands including BetMGM, SodaStream, Pennsylvania Lottery, Papa John's, and Staples. SOURCE Optimove IMG Saxony-Anhalt offers a "Center of Excellence" in the Altmark region MAGDEBURG, Germany, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The chimneys of the pulp mill tower over the industrial park in the Altmark region in the north of Saxony-Anhalt and can be seen from miles away - a symbol of modern industry. High-quality industrial products and green energy are produced at the huge site. For this reason, the Altmark Industrial and Commercial Park has recently become one of the Saxony-Anhalt Centers of Excellence. Plenty of land is still available for businesses to relocate to the site. Center of Excellence IGPA Arneburg (PRNewsfoto/Investment and Marketing Corporation Saxony Anhalt (IMG)) Over the last 20 years, the bioenergy site has grown up in the heart of Germany between Berlin, Hamburg, Wolfsburg and Hanover. Sven Schulze, the Minister of Economic Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt, recently awarded it the status of Center of Excellence. Development on the site is far from over and more than 220 hectares of land is available for new arrivals. The site is developed and offers opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. Mercer launched a new era In 2004, the Canadian company Mercer International Group opened one of the most modern pulp mills in the world. Now the 600 employees at the plant produce up to 740,000 metric tons of pulp each year. In addition, the site is being developed to create a state-of-the-art biorefinery. At the industrial park, Mercer is already operating Germany's largest biomass power plant with an output of 148 megawatts and an extraction facility for turpentine and tall oil. "We have excellent conditions here for companies that are looking to the future," says Minister Sven Schulze. In addition to the land available, other important considerations include the infrastructure and the soft factors at the site. There are plans to build a second rail line into the industrial park, the port on the river Elbe is available for industrial use, a hydropower plant is in operation at the site and the nearest regional airport is in Stendal. The Altmark region has a strong renewable energy sector and good links with the research community via the nearby university in Stendal. In addition, the north-south route A14 federal freeway will be completed. All the 32 companies on the Altmark Industrial and Commercial Park benefit from these factors. One of the first was AMS, a mechanical engineering company. Today, it employs more than 150 people. AMS specializes in manufacturing huge cranes to meet individual customers' requirements. They can move loads weighing up to 40 metric tons and have booms that can be as much as 55 meters or, in the future, even 100 meters long. The manufacturing buildings have solar panels on the roofs to supply the company with energy. An independent future with green energy The future concept for the site is that the entire park will have its own largely independent energy supply. The focus is on a networking approach, which is why a pilot hydrogen plant is already in operation at the park. Companies can also erect a wind turbine on their sites to generate their own electricity. The aim is to supply each other with green energy. In the future, the manufacturing processes for all the products in the park will be as climate neutral as possible, with the help of a circular economy. Any company that intends to base its production on green energy will find the ideal conditions in the Altmark. As Sofidel, an international business from Italy that has been producing paper for hygienic and domestic use at the industrial park since 2006. It benefits primarily from the nearby pulp mill which supplies the raw materials that it needs. Every year around 100,000 metric tons of toilet paper, kitchen rolls and tissues leave the factory, which employs 350 people. Ten years ago, another modern company, Weltec Biopower, moved to the site. It has been producing biogas in its refinery since 2013 and every hour feeds around 700 cubic meters of biomethane into the gas network. More information about IGPA Altmark Sabine Kraus Tel.: +49 391/568 9920 Email: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2095346/IMG.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1840465/IMG_Sachsen_Anhalt_Logo.jpg SOURCE Investment and Marketing Corporation Saxony Anhalt (IMG) Will provide a range of operational support to include civil engineering, supply and logistics to the 81st Training Wing in Biloxi, MS HERNDON, Va., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima Intra-Data today announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide base operations support (BOS) for the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base (KAFB) in Biloxi, MS. The contract has a value of $199.77 million over seven years if all options are exercised. "We are proud to continue our support to the U.S. Air Force delivering the base operations critical to KAFB achieving their mission objectives." said Scott Rauer, President of Akima's Facilities Solutions Group. "With decades of experience at other Air Education Training Command bases and installations, this award demonstrates the confidence the Air Force continues to show in Akima as a trusted partner." KAFB is home to the 81st Civil Engineering Squadron and the 81st Training Wing, as well as the 2nd Air Force, 403rd Wing, 85th Engineering Installation Squadron, and Mathies Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. The 81st Training Wing makes KAFB a leading joint training installation, instructing not only U.S. Air Force, but also Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and civilian federal agency personnel. Akima will provide a broad range of BOS services to include installation management, operations management, installation engineering, grounds maintenance, emergency management, vertical transportation equipment, supply/logistics services, community services, human resources, and weather services. The contract was awarded by the 338th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio in Randolph, TX. About Akima Intra-Data (AID) As a small business wholly owned by an Alaska Native Corporation, AID provides comprehensive base operations and logistics services designed to keep installations running smoothly so customers can focus on their missions. Whether the job calls for maintenance of roads or managing multi-billion dollar inventories in secure warehouses, AID has the right people, the right solution, and the right price. To learn more, visit www.akimaintradata.com. About Akima Akima is a global enterprise with over 9,500 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities & ground logistics; information technology; aerospace solutions; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 15,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akima's core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers' missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2022, Akima ranked #29 on Washington Technology's Top 100 List and #56 on Bloomberg Government's BGOV200 List of top federal contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit www.akima.com. SOURCE Akima TORONTO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - AMED Funds ("AMED") and Clariti Strategic AdvisorsTM ("Clariti") are pleased to announce the completion of the purchase by a portfolio company of AMED Fund IV of Canada Fluorspar Inc., the parent company of the Canada Fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence, NL ("Canada Fluorspar"). The transaction closing follows many months of review, analysis and negotiations and discussions with several stakeholders, including the senior lenders to Canada Fluorspar, the DIP lenders, Grant Thornton (as court-appointed Monitor) and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (the "Province"). Rudolph de Bruin, an international mining industry veteran with decades of successful mining and exploration experience, who is a sponsoring partner of AMED and a director of the purchasing company, said: "We are very pleased to have successfully completed the purchase of Canada Fluorspar. The Canada Fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence is an important economic driver in the Province and had been providing many jobs and significant revenue locally before it was shut down. The mine produces acidspar grade Fluorspar, which is a key material used in the production process of lithium batteries, solar panels and steel. These are products that society is heavily reliant on, and that reliance is only projected to increase. AMED is looking forward to re-opening the mine and establishing its business operations with its eyes set on sustainable long-term profitability and a net positive benefit to the region and the local community in the short and long term." Willem Jacobs, Senior Managing Director and Head of Energy and Mining Investment Banking at Clariti added: "Canada Fluorspar will now become a very important part of AMED's fluorspar businesses and its global industrial minerals product offering. The operation will benefit from AMED's fluorspar technical knowledge and its sales and distribution network, which in turn will bring significant benefits to the Province and the local community." Rahul Suri, Founder and Managing Partner of Clariti said: "We are delighted to have advised AMED Funds on their strategy and this highly strategic acquisition. This was a complex transaction as the parties had to maintain and balance all stakeholders' interests in an effort to develop a positive outcome overall. The parties worked diligently to create an optimal result for stakeholders, including the senior lenders, the DIP lenders, the company (acting through the court-appointed Monitor), and very importantly the local community and the Province. We understand from the Monitor's filings with the court that the AMED proposal was materially the best proposal received, and we wish to thank all parties and their representatives for their diligent and very constructive work to help bring this transaction across the finish line." AMED Funds is a group of private equity funds with a focus on mining and exploration projects. AMED Funds has a successful track record over the last decade identifying, purchasing and operating diverse mining projects. The AMED Funds have over US$1.4 billion in assets under management, which include a significant investment in a South Africa-based fluorspar operation and various other fluorspar projects. Clariti Strategic AdvisorsTM is an investment banking and strategic advisory firm that provides unsurpassed insight, creativity, integrity and value to its clients. For further information, please contact Rahul Suri, Founder and Managing Partner of Clariti, whose details can be found at www.claritiadvisors.com SOURCE Clariti Strategic Advisors HILLSBOROUGH, N.C., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adam & Eve Franchise Corporation (AEFC), a division of the largest and most-trusted adult-themed online retailer AdamEve.com , celebrates the opening of its 103rd location in Norcross, Georgia; which continues the consistent growth trajectory for its franchise locations. This Atlanta-area opening marks the first Adam & Eve store location in the state of Georgia. "It's an honor for Adam & Eve stores to celebrate the long-standing success of our existing franchise operators alongside our newest operators. Adam & Eve's franchise owners are seeing strength in sales and expansion this year, which demonstrates our team's ongoing commitment to support our franchisees," said David Keegan, vice president of franchising for Adam & Eve Stores. "Up to this point, the Atlanta area and the state of Georgia, have remained an untapped territory and we're excited to see Christine and Steve Strong, our newest franchisees, grow their business in the Atlanta area of Norcross." "AEFC presents nearly limitless opportunity for franchise operators. The brand and name recognition of Adam & Eve combined with our experience will enhance this retail market. We are thrilled to have opened the very first Adam & Eve store in the Atlanta area and encourage the community to visit this new store concept in Georgia. It's our aim to deliver a personalized shopping experience within our friendly, welcoming and upscale boutique," said Steve Strong, Adam & Eve's Norcross franchise operator. Located at 4790 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, the Norcross store is open most days from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to Midnight. For more information on the Norcross, Georgia location visit AdamandEveStores.com. About Adam & Eve Stores Since its inception, Adam & Eve has successfully been raising the standards in the American adult-themed industry and has continued the tradition by opening retail stores that provide sex-positive and consenting people - over the age of 18 - the highest quality products and lingerie. There are currently 103 stores in 24 states across the U.S., in addition to locations in Canada and Peru. For more information on the Adam & Eve Stores franchise investment opportunity, visit the franchise website, AdamandEveFranchise.com . CONTACT: Katy Zvolerin, [email protected]com SOURCE adamevestores.com LINCOLN, Neb., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gregory W. Edwards, of Lawless, Edwards and Warren Wealth Management, is the newest member of the Ameritas Hall of Fame. Edwards will enter the Hall of Fame as a 2023 inductee. The prestigious Hall of Fame award is the highest honor an Ameritas field partner can achieve. The award recognizes people who, over the course of their careers, exhibited outstanding leadership qualities, a commitment to bettering their community, and significant professional contributions to both the insurance industry and to Ameritas. Greg W. Edwards, of Lawless, Edwards and Warren Wealth Management, is the newest member of the Ameritas Hall of Fame. Tweet this Gregory W. Edwards, of Lawless, Edwards and Warren Wealth Management has been named to the Ameritas Hall of Fame. "The honor is confirmation that we operate our business the right way," said Edwards. "Since this honor is not based on numbers, but rather voted on by my peers, it makes me proud. It's certainly one of the highlights of my career." About Gregory W. Edwards Greg Edwards is a founding partner of Lawless, Edwards & Warren in Boca Raton, Florida. The firm, founded in 1994, provides wealth management services to entrepreneurs and business owners. Edwards is a native Floridian and the youngest of four siblings. With more than 30 years of experience, Edwards works collaboratively with his clients, engaging them in insightful dialogue and educating them in making important life decisions, setting financial goals and planning for the future. By embracing a model of integrated wealth management, he navigates his clients through the complexities and interrelated areas of personal and corporate finance including investment management, wealth accumulation, cash flow generation, insurance and business and estate planning to create a comprehensive financial plan. About Ameritas Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management; and public finance. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC., member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through affiliate Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC. For more information, visit ameritas.com. Contact: Derek Rayment, Sr. Media Relations Specialist Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Phone: 402-467-7850 [email protected] SOURCE Ameritas ANGEION GROUP MAKES THE RECORDER BEST OF 2023 HALL OF FAME PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeion Group, a leading provider of class action claims administration services, is proud to announce its exceptional achievement in the Recorder's Best of 2023 annual reader survey. Angeion Group has secured a position in the Top 3 for "Best Class Actions Claims Administration Services" in the United States. In addition to this remarkable recognition, Angeion Group has also been inducted into the Recorder's Hall of Fame for the fourth consecutive year, showcasing its continued excellence and industry leadership. ANGEION GROUP NAMED TOP 3 CLASS ACTION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR BY THE RECORDER ANGEION GROUP NAMED TOP 3 CLASS ACTION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR BY THE RECORDER The Recorder, a renowned legal publication, conducts an annual survey to identify and honor organizations that have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and client satisfaction. Angeion Group's inclusion in the Top 3 for "Best Class Actions Claims Administration Services" reaffirms its position as a top player in the industry and reflects its unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional services. Furthermore, induction into the Recorder's Hall of Fame is a prestigious accolade reserved for companies that have achieved consistent excellence and significantly impacted the legal landscape. Angeion Group's continued recognition in the Hall of Fame underscores its dedication to providing unmatched class action claims administration services to clients. Angeion Group's success can be attributed to its deep expertise in managing complex claims processes, utilizing cutting-edge technology, and providing exceptional customer service. The company's unwavering focus on client satisfaction has been instrumental in building long-lasting relationships and earning the trust of its clients. "We are thrilled to once again be recognized as one of the top providers of class actions claims administration services in the United States," said Steven Weisbrot, President & CEO at Angeion Group. "This prestigious recognition and induction into the Recorder's Hall of Fame is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. We are grateful for the trust our clients place in us and remain committed to delivering exceptional results for each and every engagement." Angeion Group's consecutive wins and induction into the Recorder's Hall of Fame showcase its commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and providing unparalleled value to clients involved in class action lawsuits. As the legal landscape evolves, Angeion Group is well positioned to lead the industry and set new standards for excellence. ABOUT ANGEION GROUP Angeion Group is an industry-leading provider of class action claims administration and legal noticing. Angeion has handled some of the largest and most complex settlements in recent history. Angeion's operation excellence increases efficiency, provides accountability, and gives counsel and the courts peace of mind. For more information, visit www.angeiongroup.com. 1650 ARCH STREET, SUITE 2210, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 | (215) 563-4116 | WWW.ANGEIONGROUP.COM Media Contact: Angeion Group Shiri Lasman (215) 563-4116 SOURCE Angeion Group News / Local by Staff reporter Workers unions are agitating for a nationwide strike over the continued economic implosion that has been characterised by the spectacular collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar.The country is facing its worst economic crisis since 2008 as the local currency continues on a nosedive, driving the process of basic commodities beyond the reach of many.The Standard established that union leaders and workers met at a local hotel in the capital on Friday where they discussed the collapse of the local currency and the urgent need for dollarisation.The workers were addressed by labour leaders including Peter Mutasa, a former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president, Munyaradzi Gwisai of the Zimbabwe Labour Center and Obert Masaraure, the leader of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe ."The continued payment of salaries in local currency is an affront to labour justice for the workers in Zimbabwe," Masaraure told The Standard.Workers in the private and public sector are now pushing for United States dollar salaries to make ends meet.As of yesterday, the local currency reintroduced in 2019 after a decade of dollarisation, was trading at $7 000 against US$1 at the black market rate and $5 000 using the interbank rate."The bosses and government are ganging up to extract maximum surplus value from the workers through paying salaries in a useless currency," Masaraure said."All the big profits being declared by big corporates are part of the unpaid labour rendered by workers."The multiple currency reforms undertaken by the government are perfectly designed to force employees to sweat it out for the luxuries of the bosses."A national outreach will be conducted to build consensus among all people as we prepare to strike big."The bosses and government are warned to play ball before the wrath of the workers is unleashed on them."Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa was not picking calls and had not responded to questions sent to him in writing by the time of going to print.Political analyst Freedom Mazwi said there was a need for deep-rooted solutions to solve the country's economic problems."The recent economic implosion in Zimbabwe calls for critical analysis followed by action in order to rescue the economy," Mazwi said."It would be a grave mistake to reduce the current crisis to political failure as has been suggested by some analysts and political actors."The issues are quite deeper and broader hence the emphasis on longue duree approach.""The solution to the economic crisis requires all stakeholders to agree on diagnosis and prognosis," Mazwi said.A new survey by Sivio Institute revealed the majority of citizens believe President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the cause of their suffering.The findings of the survey show that 57% of the citizens feel that the performance of the central government since 2018 was low, while 40% felt that its performance around the resuscitation of industry was "non-existent".The survey by Sivio Institute also showed that the majority of citizens felt that the quality of service provision had decreased, and 48% felt that the government's performance on stabilising prices had decreased.Corruption emerged as the leading factor which has constrained the performance of the central government. Air Pros USA's Founder and Chief Growth Officer recognized for excellence in entrepreneurship DAVIE, Fla., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced that Anthony Perera, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Air Pros USA, is the winner of the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Florida Award. The Entrepreneur of The Year program celebrates visionary business leaders, recognizing them for going above and beyond in their exceptional ingenuity and devotion to innovating their ideas. Anthony Perera Wins Ernst and Youngs Entrepreneur of The Year Florida Award Perera was selected as a winner by an independent panel of judges based on their embodiment of long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, determination, business development, and influence, among other core contributions and attributes. "I am honored and grateful to be recognized as a winner by the Ernst & Young Florida team for this prestigious award," said Anthony Perera of Air Pros USA. "I would not be in this position without the support of each and every member of my teams over the years, and this is a testament to all of their hard work and dedication as much as it is to mine." Perera founded Air Pros USA in 2017 in Fort Lauderdale with a single truck and two employees. To date, Perera has grown the business to 800 trucks, 1,000 employees, and over 1M customers across 16 service locations in Florida, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Washington. Air Pros USA was established on a commitment to serving its customers, employees, and the communities they call home through active involvement in charitable outreach projects. They work in partnership with the Broward County Boys and Girls Club, Miami Dolphins, and numerous nonprofits in each community where they have an office. Perera is a brand builder and has successfully built multiple business ventures from the ground up. At age 19, he launched his first business; an off-road publication called Mud Life Magazine and its parent company Extreme Media Group. The magazine became a nationwide bestseller and he expanded the brand to include online media and a retail marketplace. During the pandemic, Perera launched Inspected.com, a remote platform that uses a simple user interface to help contractors schedule, inspect, and clear municipality permits securely, saving small businesses and city governments time and money. "I nominated Anthony for this award because his personal character and business strategy epitomizes what it means to be a great entrepreneur," says Adam Talbot, Vice President of Cresa. "In all his ventures, Anthony is first and foremost motivated by integrity and honesty. His focus on humancentered policies and procedures that center the needs of his customers and colleagues will continue to lead him to accomplish great things." Regional award winners were announced on June 8th during a special celebration. The winners from each region will be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year Award in June 2024. The Entrepreneur of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. About Air Pros USA: Air Pros USA was founded in South Florida on the promise of integrity, reliability, and putting our customers first. The company has quickly expanded to many metro areas within Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, and Washington, with more locations expected to be introduced soon. Air Pros USA currently employs more than 1,000 experienced professionals in more than a dozen metro Service locations including Miami, Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, Colorado Springs, Mobile and Spokane. For more information visit www.airprosusa.com. About Entrepreneur of The Year Entrepreneur Of the Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of the Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy Media Contact: Joanne Sgro-Killworth 10 to 1 Public Relations 480-363-0403 [email protected] SOURCE Air Pros USA LONDON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlights Funds advised by Appian agree the sale of the wholly owned Atlantic Nickel and Mineracao Vale Verde to ACG for US$1.0 billion , while ACG will also pay US$65 million to extinguish the gold stream over Mineracao Vale Verde, all in cash Provides a compelling value proposition for ACG, which will be the only London -listed nickel sulphide producer of scale, creating a natural platform for further growth and consolidation of critical metals assets focused on leading western OEMs Transaction reflects the significant work to optimise the assets, demonstrating the strength of Appian's operating model and its ability to identify, acquire and develop mining projects Acquired Atlantic Nickel out of bankruptcy in 2018, executing a successful restart, with first quartile C1 cost performance (c. US$3.16 /lb Ni for the open pit and c. US$2.02 /lb Ni for the underground), defining an underground resource and extending mine life to 35 years Purchased Mineracao Vale Verde in 2018, revising its DFS and completing project construction and commissioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, ahead of schedule and under budget before successfully ramping up Mines are cash-generative operations, producing nickel sulphide and copper concentrates with low carbon emissions ACG has entered into long-term investment partnerships with global commodities group Glencore, PowerCo (Volkswagen's in-house battery development subsidiary) and Stellantis (owner of Fiat and Peugeot), for offtake and funding Reflects the quality of the assets and their attractive characteristics for western automotive manufacturers at this point in the investment cycle, providing a transparent and secure supply of critical metals across the value chain Will support optimising the assets' ability to meet future demand, and help address supply-chain challenges currently arising in global commodities Appian's funds remain extremely well positioned for growth with exposure to key decarbonisation commodities balanced with precious metals investments Appian Capital Advisory LLP ("Appian" or the "Company"), the investment advisor to long-term value focused private capital funds that invest in mining and mining-related companies, announces the sale of its Brazilian battery metals-focused portfolio companies Atlantic Nickel ("Atlantic Nickel") and Mineracao Vale Verde ("MVV") (together the "Assets") to ACG Acquisition Company Limited ("ACG") for a cash consideration of US$1.0 billion, along with the sale of its gold royalty on MVV to ACG for US$65 million (the "Transaction"). The Appian funds acquired Atlantic Nickel (previously Mirabela Nickel), owner of Santa Rita, one of the largest open pit nickel sulphide mines in the world, located in Bahia, Brazil ("Santa Rita") out of bankruptcy in 2018. The same year they also purchased MVV, owner of the Serrote greenfield open-pit copper-gold asset located in Alagoas, Brazil ("Serrote"). Subsequently Appian successfully restarted Atlantic Nickel and commissioned MVV. Appian undertook significant work to de-risk and improve the Assets, demonstrating the strength of the Company's model and its ability to identify, acquire and optimise mining projects using technical arbitrage to create value. Both mines are long-life, low-cost and ranked within the first decile for carbon emissions amongst all nickel and copper producers worldwide. The Transaction will provide a compelling value proposition for ACG, Appian, and their respective investors. Upon closing, ACG will be renamed ACG Electric Metals, creating the only London-listed nickel sulphide producer with pure play electric metals exposure, as a natural platform for further growth and consolidation of critical metals assets focused on deliveries to leading western OEMs. Michael W. Scherb, Founder and CEO of Appian, commented: "Appian began investing in decarbonisation commodities a decade ago, recognising that society was structurally undersupplied for the upcoming energy transition. This innovative transaction in the battery metals space will mark Appian's 10th, 11th and 12th exits, reflecting the strength of our operating model and ability to identify, acquire and optimise mining assets. Likewise, ACG is a great custodian for Atlantic Nickel and MVV, and is well placed to unlock significant further growth from these market-leading companies. The Glencore, Volkswagen and Stellantis partnerships are particularly notable, underlining the growing need for EV commodities and the demand for robust, transparent and traceable supply chains from western automotive OEMs, industry and other stakeholders." Artem Volynets, CEO of ACG, said: "We are very proud to announce this transaction in strategic partnership with Glencore, Stellantis, La Mancha, PowerCo and Royal Gold, as well as senior debt providers Citigroup, ING and Societe Generale. It will establish ACG Electric Metals as a premier supplier of critical metals into the western EV value chain, with best-in-class ESG characteristics and minimal CO2 emissions. ACG Electric Metals will be a company designed to take advantage of the opportunities presented by key global trends: the massive increase in demand for battery metals, the polarisation of supply chains, and the need to reduce the world's total carbon footprint from the mine to the end-customer. These high-quality mines will enable ACG's mission to be the green metals supplier of choice to western EV automakers. This acquisition establishes a solid platform for further growth and long term shareholder value creation." Transaction details Under the terms of the Transaction, ACG has agreed to acquire the entirety of Atlantic Nickel and MVV for a cash consideration of US$1.0 billion, while ACG will also pay US$65 million in cash to extinguish the gold stream on MVV. The Transaction is supported by financing commitments from financial and strategic parties, including notable partnerships with leading commodity traders and automotive manufacturers to support the electric vehicle transition: Glencore will be an anchor investor, having committed US$100 million and becoming an off-taker of choice for ACG, allowing for supply of ACG's nickel sulphide concentrate to Glencore's western European and North American refineries. PowerCo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen, has committed to make a binding US$100 million prepayment to ACG for equivalent nickel units to the tonnage contained in a portion of the concentrates produced by the Atlantic Nickel mine at Santa Rita. Stellantis, the automotive conglomerate formed in 2021 by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, has committed to a US$100 million anchor equity investment in ACG. Both PowerCo and Stellantis will become long-term partners via offtake contracts for nickel refined from concentrate produced by Santa Rita. These partnerships demonstrate the quality of the Assets and their attractive characteristics for western automotive manufacturers at this point in the investment cycle, providing a transparent and secure supply of critical metals to meet future global demand. Leading mining investment fund, La Mancha Resource Capital Fund ("La Mancha"), has also made a commitment to make a US$100 million anchor equity investment in ACG. The remainder of funding for the Transaction comes from binding commitments in the form of royalty financing from Royal Gold, senior bank debt underwritten by Citigroup, ING and Societe Generale , who have also agreed to provide a revolving credit facility, and a planned equity offering by ACG of US$300 million. The equity offering provides a broader universe of institutional investors with the opportunity to participate in ACG's future value creation. The Appian funds have also offered to backstop up to US$50 million of the equity financing. The Appian funds will also retain their 2.75% Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR") on the Santa Rita mine, while a 2.5% NSR on the production at the Santa Rita mine will be granted to La Mancha. Following completion of the Transaction, the Assets' operating teams will join ACG, providing continuity to drive future success. Current managers, Paulo Castellari-Porchia and Milson Mundim, will continue to oversee Atlantic Nickel and MVV, having managed the assets for several years, achieving strong operational results, ESG performance and a leading safety record. As part of the transaction, ACG has reinforced its commitment to sustainability practices at its mining sites by agreeing to implement the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining at Santa Rita, and to undergo an IRMA assessment in 2025 and 2030. The Transaction is expected to close in July 2023 and is subject to the customary shareholder consents and conditions precedent. Citigroup and Standard Chartered are acting as financial advisor to Appian on the Transaction, with Norton Rose Fulbright and Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto as legal advisors. Atlantic Nickel acquisition and optimisation The Appian funds acquired Atlantic Nickel out of a complex bankruptcy process in 2018, after identifying an opportunity to implement a differential operating approach to restart the mine at a first quartile cost position and benefit from over US$1 billion of previously sunk capital. The Company subsequently carried out major work to improve Santa Rita, developing a redefined mine plan with a successful restart in January 2020. As a result, Appian de-risked the asset with an attractive average C1 cash cost in the first quartile of the global nickel cost curve (c. US$3.16/lb Ni for the open pit and c. US$2.02/lb Ni for the underground). Appian has grown the Resources at Santa Rita significantly since 2018 through systematic infill and expansion drilling of the open pit and underground Resource areas, extending the life of mine by 27 years to 35 years in total. Atlantic Nickel recently reported record operational and financial performance for 2022, producing 117kdmt of nickel concentrate (2021 107kdmt) containing 15.9kt of nickel (2021 14.5kt), 5.0kt of copper (2021 4.7kt) and 291t of cobalt (2021 266t). This resulted in US$210 million of EBITDA (2021 US$127 million) on US$406 million of revenue (2021 US$289 million). Santa Rita has an industry leading ESG and safety record with a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of 0.18 in 2022 (compared to 0.20 in 2021). Since restart, Appian has built out the team at Atlantic Nickel from 40 to ~3,000 employees, providing significant local employment and benefits. MVV acquisition and optimisation MVV was acquired from Aura Minerals in 2018, having identified Serrote as a rare standalone, construction-ready, copper project with meaningful precious metal by-product credits that could benefit from Appian's technical arbitrage strategy. Appian optimised Serrote's mine plan, updating the Definitive Feasibility Study and bringing the asset into production in May 2021 under budget and ahead of schedule. Appian recently announced the successful ramp-up during 2022, with full year production of 19.8kt of copper and 9-10koz of gold contained in 84.5kdmt of concentrate. This resulted in EBITDA of US$60 million on revenue of US$155 million, with average realized commodity prices of US$3.71/lb CuEq. MVV has an average C1 cash cost of US$1.37/lb Cu. MVV has a best-in-class ESG and safety record, with zero Lost Time Injuries during 2022 (during 1.9 million cumulative hours worked). Other initiatives include providing support for local schools, social projects for female entrepreneurs and environmental education. The exploration program at MVV continues to demonstrate its broader significant regional upside potential, identifying additional targets that could be brought into the Serrote mine plan over the longer-term. Outlook and strategic focus Appian will continue to enhance its unique operating model, and focus on energy transition commodities used in batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable power systems, including copper and nickel, balanced by investments in precious metals and other commodities. About Appian Capital Advisory LLP Appian Capital Advisory LLP is the investment advisor to long-term value focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining related companies. Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing 6,300 employees. Appian has a global team of 65 experienced professionals with offices in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal, Dubai and Perth. For more information please visit www.appiancapitaladvisory.com, or find us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. About ACG ACG is a company with a vision to consolidate the critical metals industry. Through a series of roll-up acquisitions, ACG intends to become a premier supplier of critical metals to the western OEM supply chain, with best-in-class ESG and carbon footprint characteristics. On October 12, 2022, ACG successfully raised proceeds of approximately US$125 million in its initial public offering, and listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbols: ACG and ACGW). For further information please visit: www.acgcorp.co Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1720474/Appian_Logo.jpg SOURCE Appian Capital Advisory LLP ATLANTA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascent Hospitality Management ("Ascent"), a multi-brand restaurant company with a portfolio of nearly 600 Huddle House and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery locations, is proud to announce that James O'Reilly will become the company's Chief Executive Officer, effective Monday, June 19, 2023. O'Reilly replaces Michael Abt, who has served as Chief Executive since 2012. James O'Reilly, CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management O'Reilly will be responsible for leading a new phase of growth and development across Ascent's celebrated brands, while continuing to build on the strong foundation of its high-performing franchise and company-operated restaurants. He will also lead the effort to identify additional brands to acquire as Ascent seeks to expand its portfolio. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead these two legendary, family-dining brands," said James O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Ascent Hospitality Management. "We have significant opportunities ahead to grow and expand both restaurant brands and I look forward to working with our franchisees and the Ascent team to maximize our potential." Prior to joining Ascent, O'Reilly served as CEO of Smokey Bones since 2019 and previously led Long John Silver's as its Chief Executive. He has also held senior leadership positions at Sonic and Yum! Brands domestically and internationally. O'Reilly began his career with Proctor & Gamble in Canada. About Ascent Hospitality Management Ascent Hospitality Management is the parent company of Huddle House and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and was founded to acquire and invigorate storied brands to drive long-term growth. With nearly 600 locations across the U.S. and Canada, the company's mission is "Bringing friends and families together, over delicious food, served from the heart." Huddle House and Perkins each have more than 60 years of serving award-winning, made-to-order breakfast and all-day favorites with a smile to families and friends nationwide. Visit ascenthm.com for additional information on both brands and franchise opportunities. Contact: Nate Rubinstein Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Ascent Hospitality Management atNorth strengthens its position as the leading data center operator in the Nordics with its third data center site in Iceland REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, has formally announced that their third Iceland data center, ICE03, is now fully operational with an initial capacity of 10 MW, following a swift 11 month build. This brings their total number of operational data centers up to six, with one additional site, FIN02, in Finland under construction. The new site is a significant milestone in the company's overarching goal to scale ahead of increasing demand for high-performance computing requirements at a time when cost-efficient sustainable infrastructure is in more demand than ever. The site is located in a highly strategic position. Iceland as a whole is ranked in the top ten markets for Data Center location and atNorth's Iceland entry recently won the `Location' category at the Tech Capital Global Awards which aims to recognize a geography for its attractiveness and investor friendly climate when dealing with digital infrastructure investors. This is an ideal location for data centers, largely due to its access to a highly skilled workforce and cool climate, which is crucial for cost-effective cooling of data center infrastructure. The country also has an energy supply run on a closed gridpowered by 100% renewable hydro and geothermal energy sources. Iceland also benefits from fully redundant connectivity and now boasts multiple undersea fiber optic cables connecting the country to the UK, Ireland, North America, and mainland Scandinavia. The ICE03 site offers expansions possibilities of up to 50MW and is located 250 km north of Reykjavik, where other data centers are predominantly located. This geographical separation offers a compelling advantage in terms of disaster recovery and enhanced security. By diversifying the location of its data centers, atNorth reinforces its commitment to ensuring the highest level of data protection and business continuity for its clients. Additionally, the town of Akureyri is a thriving technology hub and the new center will offer job opportunities to an already highly skilled workforce. Akureyri offers many benefits to businesses looking to house their data in an affordable and sustainable way. Iceland's cool climate and abundance of energy sources allow businesses to tap into an infrastructure with renewable energy and great connectivity resulting in significant cost efficiencies. ICE03's accessibility, being only 10 minutes from an international airport, presents a new joint opportunity for atNorth to deliver high precision services to European businesses as these businesses look to decarbonize and migrate IT operations cost-efficiently. "We are delighted to be expanding our presence in the Nordics once again with a third site in Iceland" said Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson, CEO, atNorth. "With six operational sites across three Nordic countries and another in development, our commitment to meet increasing demand in the industry through continued expansion is evidenced. Furthermore, our dedication to sustainable best practice supports our goal to become the service provider of choice for eco-friendly high performance infrastructure. About atNorth atNorth is a leading Pan-Nordic data center services company that offers sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable colocation and high-performance computing services across Iceland, Sweden and Finland. The company operates six data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, with a seventh site to open in Finland in 2024. With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. The tailor-made solutions enable businesses to calculate, simulate, train and visualize data workloads in an efficient, cost-optimized way. atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, and is trusted by industry-leading organizations to operate their most critical workloads. The business was founded in 2009 and acquired by Partners Group in 2022. For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. Press Contact Caroline Brunton Kite Hill PR for atNorth +44 (0) 7796 274416 [email protected] The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/atnorth/i/ice03,c3188903 ice03 https://news.cision.com/atnorth/i/eyjolfur-magnus-kristinsson---ceo-atnorth,c3188904 Eyjolfur Magnus Kristinsson - CEO atNorth SOURCE atNorth TORONTO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - As part of its strategic transformation to become a leading North American vertically integrated lithium producer, Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of three veteran executives to its leadership team, a key milestone as the Company executes on an ambitious growth plan. Scott Monteith will assume control as interim Chief Executive Officer Jim Jaques will serve as the Company's inaugural Chief Administrative Officer Jan Holland will join the Board of Directors "These appointments, and others to come, underscore the arrival of Avalon 2.0," Zeeshan Syed, Avalon President, said. "The commitment of our new leadership team is clear: reorient the Company towards full vertical integration of the lithium production cycle, and help establish Ontario, and Canada more broadly, as a strategic fulcrum in North America's clean energy transition." All appointments are effective immediately, as the Company initiates a new growth phase consisting of transformational developments to be announced in the weeks and months ahead. Avalon also announces that, following a long and successful tenure with the Company, former President and CEO Donald Bubar has decided to step down from the board of directors. Avalon would like to thank him for his years of service. "We're assembling a new execution-focused team of deeply experienced professionals aligned around transforming Avalon into a world-class lithium producer, and in turn, helping ensure the path to a clean energy future runs through Canada," Mr. Monteith said. New Strategic Vision Avalon Advanced Materials' new strategic goals are focused on both organic growth of its lithium portfolio, consisting of a suite of critical-mineral mining projects across Canada, as well as developing new related opportunities. The Company's mission is to vertically integrate lithium processing within Ontario, positioning the province as an integral part of the North American supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. In the weeks ahead, Mr. Monteith and the leadership team expect to implement key steps in their Phase 1 strategy, including: Advance production and capitalization for the Separation Rapids project in northwestern Ontario Establish a best-in-class lithium-hydroxide facility in Thunder Bay, Ont. Identify non-core assets that fall outside the scope of the Company's focus on the first two business objectives "I'm tremendously excited about the opportunity set I see before us. Avalon has a new mission we're starting to share with investors and Canada's broader capital markets community," Mr. Monteith said. Mr. Syed added: "Under our new leadership team, Avalon sees and understands what's required to make Ontario and Canada leaders in this critically important space, and to establish Avalon's position within it. We are putting the pieces in place to achieve our vision." About the New Leadership Team Members Mr. Monteith is an experienced clean-tech executive and entrepreneur with a successful track record of moving inventions from ideation to commercial success. Mr. Monteith has extensive experience in the areas of marketing, manufacturing, technology transfer, technology licensing, new product development, patent management, corporate development, international business, M&A, investing, government affairs, board governance and strategic planning. Mr. Monteith is currently the Chair of Monteco Ltd., Cable House Capital Corp. and Imtex Membranes Corp. In the newly created role of Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Jaques will report to the CEO and be responsible for the Company's overall administration, marketing, corporate communications, human resources and information technology. A former marketing and sales executive with Bell Canada Inc., Mr. Jaques spent part of his career in senior leadership positions at both Merrill Lynch and Citibank (Australia). For the past several years, he has been a management consultant based in Toronto, working with both public and private sector organizations to help them drive revenue growth, new product innovation, strategic partnerships and secure growth capital financing. Mr. Holland brings 35 years of experience in building and reorganizing businesses across an array of Canadian industries, from aerospace to financial services. For the past decade, he has been Chair and CEO of a leading Canadian aerospace parts manufacturer, transforming its business operations through a multi-phase revitalization and enabling expansion into new markets. Mr. Holland has been a Founding Partner or Director with multiple financial services firms, including Tricycle Asset Management and BMO Nesbitt Burns, respectively, raising a combined $2 billion in assets under management by pioneering innovative offerings, such as managed futures products and structured notes. His knowledge of capital markets and wealth of experience will be valued contributions to Avalon's new strategic direction. About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company aimed at vertically integrating North America's lithium supply chain. The company is currently focusing on developing its Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario while continuing to advance other projects, including its 100%-owned Lilypad Spodumene-Cesium-Tantalum Project located near Fort Hope, Ontario. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. For investor relations and media inquiries, please e-mail the Company at [email protected], or phone Zeeshan Syed, President, at (647) 300-4706. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, project work plans, new strategic goals and related opportunities, that the Company's mission is to vertically integrate lithium processing within Ontario, and that in the weeks ahead Mr. Monteith and the leadership team expect to implement key steps in their Phase 1 strategy. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. Baldor CEO TJ Murphy and Muzyk Planned for Over a Year for the Retirement, Positioning Baldor for a Smooth Transition and Further Growth BRONX, N.Y., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Baldor Specialty Foods, one of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic's largest food distributors, announced today the upcoming retirement of Michael Muzyk, longtime President of the company and an icon in the food distribution industry. Muzyk's retirement will commence at the end of 2023. Baldor Specialty Foods Announces President Michael Muzyks Plans to Retire at the End of 2023, Following an Illustrative and Successful Career After a remarkable career spanning almost 30 years, Muzyk has been looking forward to enjoying more downtime with family and friends in retirement. Because of his dedication to the company, however, he didn't want to leave until he felt Baldor was well-positioned for the future. "Seeing the strong leader TJ has become and the leadership team he now has behind him, I know this is the right time to move on," he says. Muzyk joined Baldor in 1996 as a sales representative when the company was still in its early days, operating out of a modest 25,000-square-foot space in Maspeth, Queens. His exceptional understanding of the culinary world, gained from his studies at the Culinary Institute of America and his experience in the kitchen at fine dining establishments like La Cote Basque, played a vital role in his success as a Baldor salesperson. He understood what chefs needed and made it his goal to solve their problems. Doing so, he soon became the indispensable "right-hand man" of Baldor Founder and CEO Kevin Murphy, eventually taking on the role of vice president and then president. In 2013, he had the challenging task of helping the company move forward following Kevin Murphy's untimely death and assisting Kevin's son TJ Murphy to assume the CEO and Owner position, which he continues to hold today. Muzyk's dedication to working closely with restaurant owners and chefs combined with his unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality ingredients and best-in-class service established Baldor's stellar reputation and propelled the company's unprecedented growth. During his career, Muzyk played a pivotal role in the company's expansion and success. He helped Baldor establish its 290,000-square-foot HQ in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, and then expand service from Maine to Virginia, opening regional distribution centers in Boston, the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and in Philadelphia. He expanded the company's product catalog beyond produce to include specialty, dairy and meat; he also led the acquisition of Pierless Fish. He spearheaded the development of Fresh Cuts, Baldor's processed fruit and vegetable operation, which has now grown to employ over 300 workers. Muzyk also played a crucial part in various significant initiatives, including the company's involvement in aiding the city's recovery after the tragic events of 9/11, delivering essential food supplies during the NYC blackout, giving aid during Superstorm Sandy, and keeping the Baldor trucks running when the company pivoted to home delivery during the Covid 19 lockdown. Today Baldor sells more than 5,000 SKUs, and services more than 400 routes for 12,000-plus customers. Speaking on his career, Muzyk stated, "I don't reflect much on the past, because I've always been so focused on the future, but looking back, I do see my fingerprint all over Baldor, and I'm proud of what we've done. In the last few years of his life, Kevin and I spoke often about the future of the company, and I committed to doing everything I could to make Baldor and TJ successful. I think I've lived up to that promise. I'm grateful for the trust and support I received from the team and our customers to enable my success." Commenting on Muzyk's retirement, TJ said, "I've known Michael most of my life, and I can say that his dedication to Baldor over the years has been astounding. His career here has been defined by his huge heart and his unwavering commitment to our customers, vendors, and employees. He's touched thousands of lives and careers, including my own. I'm personally so grateful for his many contributions and his help transitioning this company from my father to me, and I wish him the best on a well-deserved retirement." Moving forward, TJ will continue to guide the strategic vision of the company along its current growth trajectory. He and Michael have been collaborating for more than a year to plan for succession, and right away they decided that they would not appoint another president. "I couldn't expect anyone to fill Michael's shoes," said Murphy. "He's one of one." But they did decide that they needed to bolster the leadership team with subject-matter executives from larger companies who could help Baldor continue to scale up. So, in the past 18 months, they have added eight people to the VP/SVP level, and they will continue to hire a few key roles to the C-suite in coming months. Between now and end of year, Muzyk will work closely with Murphy to ensure a smooth transition and the continuation of the excellence Baldor customers have come to rely on. Muzyk will focus on knowledge transfer and ensuring continuity for the team. He will also participate in the hiring process for new leaders, providing his expertise to facilitate a fluid succession process. As always, Baldor remains committed to sourcing the highest quality food, delivering exceptional service, expanding its coverage areas, and exploring new opportunities for growth. The company will continue to build upon its market presence, utilizing the foundation laid by Muzyk's years of dedicated service. For more information visit: http://www.baldorfood.com About Baldor Specialty Foods Baldor Specialty Foods is one of the largest distributors of premium fresh produce, specialty foods, dairy, meat and fish in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Beginning as Balducci's fruit stand in Greenwich Village in 1946, Baldor maintains its original commitment to freshness, flavor, quality and service. Baldor Specialty Foods now services more than 12,000 food service, retail and corporate accounts from Portland, ME to Richmond, VA, and offers over 5,000 food items. The company's mission is to deliver quality ingredients, innovative solutions and seamless experiences that ensure the success of its partners. To learn more, go to www.baldorfood.com. Press Contact: Lynn Munroe, 845-548-1211, http://www.baldorfood.com SOURCE Baldor Specialty Foods CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors has authorized regular cash dividends on the outstanding shares or depositary shares of the following series of preferred stock: Series of Preferred Stock Dividend per Share or Depositary Share1 Record Date Payment Date 7.25% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series L $18.125 July 1 July 31 5.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series HH $0.3671875 July 1 July 24 Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series MM $21.50 July 1 July 28 4.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series NN $0.2734375 July 15 August 3 4.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series PP $0.2578125 July 15 August 2 4.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series RR $10.9375000 July 1 July 27 6.125% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series TT $15.3125000 July 1 July 27 1 Each series of preferred stock, other than Series L, is represented by depositary shares. Dividend payments are made on a quarterly basis for each series of preferred stock, other than Series MM, for which dividends are paid on a semi-annual basis. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 [email protected] Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 [email protected] Reporters May Contact: Bill Halldin, Bank of America Phone: 1.916.724.0093 [email protected] Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.386.6794 [email protected] SOURCE Bank of America Corporation Montefiore Medical Center in New York performed the first global implantation of the new BIOMONITOR IV ICM LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOTRONIK, a leader in implantable medical device technology, today announced the first global implantation of its BIOMONITOR IV implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). The procedure was conducted by Luigi Di Biase, MD, PhD, Section Head of Electrophysiology, Director of Arrhythmia Services and Professor of Medicine at Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx, NY. This first implant marks the next step in the advancement of cardiac monitoring technology. BIOMONITOR IV is a state-of-the-art ICM that pairs BIOTRONIK's SmartECG technology with artificial intelligence* to reduce all false positive detections by 86% while preserving 98% of true episodes1. It is also the only ICM capable of distinguishing between premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) to provide healthcare professionals with better tools for risk stratification and diagnosis. "I am excited about BIOMONITOR IV's new algorithm and artificial intelligence," said Dr. Di Biase. "The data shows that these new features have the potential to reduce false positive alerts for our patients and allow us to focus on actionable events, providing more efficient care." In addition to the advanced artificial intelligence, there are a variety of other benefits to patients and healthcare professionals when using BIOMONITOR IV. A long battery life and wireless connectivity enable seamless data transmission and remote monitoring, reducing the need for frequent in-person clinic visits. BIOTRONIK also offers the easiest electronic health record (EHR) data integration capability, which can significantly improve a clinic's workflow. The launch of BIOMONITOR IV is a testament to BIOTRONIK's commitment to innovation and improving patient care. The company's cutting-edge technologies continue to push the boundaries of medical advancements, empowering healthcare professionals and enhancing the lives of patients worldwide. With this milestone, BIOTRONIK reinforces its position as a leading player in the field of cardiac monitoring devices, contributing to the advancement of cardiovascular medicine. References *AI algorithm is applied only to AF detection 1. Data on file. With AF filtering criterion set to Very Specific in the Home Monitoring Service Center. Reduction is relative to performance without SmartECG. More information: Find out more about BIOMONITOR IV on the BIOTRONIK website About BIOTRONIK: At BIOTRONIK , patient well-being is our top priority and has been for 60 years. BIOTRONIK is a leading global medical technology company with products and services that save and improve the lives of millions suffering from heart and blood vessel diseases as well as chronic pain. Driven by a purpose to perfectly match technology with the human body, we are dedicated innovators who develop trusted cardiovascular, endovascular and neuromodulation solutions. BIOTRONIK is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and is represented in over 100 countries. SOURCE BIOTRONIK Strategic executive hire seeks to reshape how social good is accomplished by creating the industry's first end-to-end SAAS solution focused on impact AUSTIN, Texas, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bonterra, a social good software company focused on powering those who power social impact, today announced the appointment of Scott Brighton as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead Bonterra through its next phase of growth and transformation. Brighton most recently served as CEO of Aurea Software, where he delivered a decade of profitable growth, providing solutions that power the future of work, commerce, and IT. After bringing together several market-leading social good businesses under one roof, Bonterra is now focused on bringing to life its vision of transforming the work of social good creating an end-to-end platform that helps our customers amplify the outcome from every dollar invested in impact, and by doing, so attract additional investments. Strategic executive hire seeks to reshape how social good is accomplished. Tweet this "Bonterra is in a unique position. Within the social good space, no other company combines the market-leading products, great customers, and passionate team that Bonterra does. Our opportunity, and my focus, is to harmonize our technology and create an integrated solution that will make driving impact both easier and more measurable," said newly appointed Bonterra CEO Scott Brighton. "Throughout my career, I've sought ways to put customers and users at the center. Software shouldn't be about technology; it should be about solving problems. Today, the social good and 'nonprofit' space lags behind the 'for profit' space. By putting our customers at the center of everything we do, we're going to change that," added Brighton. "Scott is a proven CEO with a track record of growing cloud-based software companies at scale. His appointment signals Bonterra's transition to an integrated market leader in the nonprofit space. We are excited about Scott's vision to deliver an increasingly broad suite of compelling products to customers," said Jason Wright, Partner at Apax. We are thankful to Mark Layden for his service as interim CEO. Mark has been an important leader from the beginning of the Bonterra journey and will continue as a board member of the company," added Wright. Brighton is joining Bonterra with more than 30 years of experience in the technology industry, of which he spent over 15 years as a software CEO delivering innovation for hundreds of Global 2000 companies. A tech industry veteran, Brighton also previously served as the CEO of Artemis International and was President of Trilogy Software. He will be taking over the CEO role from Mark Layden, who served as interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, and before that, held the position of CyberGrants' CEO for seven years. Brighton and Layden have partnered on a transition plan focused on employee and customer engagement through June when Layden will continue in his role as board member. About Bonterra Bonterra is the second-largest and fastest-growing social good software company in the world with solutions from CyberGrants, EveryAction, Network for Good, Social Solutions, WeSpire, and their respective entities making up its product family. Bonterra, which stems from the French word for "good" (bon) and the Latin word for "land" (terra) represents the exponential good that can be accomplished with the right foundation and supports the company's purpose to power those who power social impact. Bonterra's differentiated, end-to-end solutions collectively support a unique network of over 20,000 customers, including over 16,000 nonprofit organizations and over 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies. Learn more at bonterratech.com. # Media Contact: Amber Conger 406-298-3074 [email protected] SOURCE Bonterra BREEZE to present in the innovation launch at Phocuswright conference in Barcelona, announcing new partnerships and rapid growth BARCELONA, Spain, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Phocuswright Europe Conference -- BREEZE (formerly TRZMO) travel super-app is experiencing tsunami-sized growth propelled by strategic partnerships. Speaking at innovation launch at the Phocuswright Europe travel conference in Barcelona June 12-14, 2024, the company will be showcased as a leading travel innovator. BREEZE is also announcing a new partnership with Holibob, a B2B marketplace for curated things to do anytime anywhere. For the first time BREEZE users will now be able to book experiences in the mobile super-app. Built by travelers, for travelers, BREEZE streamlines everything travelers need in one dashboard, instead of 20 different apps to juggle. "We believe travel experiences should be a breeze, and so should integrations for our partners. We're proud to have on-boarded partners like Holibob, Celitech, Mobi, withlocals and Wayaz in a record time with our plug and play platform, to make the BREEZE app even more robust and helpful for travelers. We're continuing to integrate with new partners to ensure our super app remains the industry leader," said Myank Jain, Founder, and CEO of BREEZE. BREEZE is available on the Apple App and Google Play store. The app launched in summer of 2022 at the Phocuswright Europe Conference in Amsterdam, NL. A partnership with CELITECH was launched later that year at Phocuswright Global in Phoenix, AZ. CELITECH's eSIM technology offers international travelers save up to 80 percent on data roaming with world's most secure eSIMs on Tier 1 Networks including AT&T, Vodafone, Telefonica, Orange, SOC 2 Compliance and 24/7 support. BREEZE travelers can view flight and hotel details in a single dashboard to get real-time updates, food, weather, ground transportation, loyalty card management, duty-free price comparison, and a journal where they can capture, save and share travel moments, and now book activities & things to do anytime anywhere all in one super app. Despite major travel innovation, apps have been disjointed and single-purpose. Travelers have been overwhelmed with logistics, overpaying, and struggling to access global roaming, until now. Following a pre-seed capital raise of USD 1.2M in June 2022, BREEZE's user base has grown 10x. The company plans for a round of funding in late summer 2023 to continue advancing its AI-driven platform for smooth, sustainable and pleasurable travel. BREEZE is working with Green Frontier Capital, a $100million fund, to create a Carbon credit Marketplace and offer a carbon credit wallet for every traveler. The carbon footprint offset can then be redeemed for a branded merchandise or travel activities. BREEZE is advancing TravelTech, FinTech & GreenTech in one simple to use app. About BREEZE BREEZE brings travelers and travel companies together for seamless personalized trip discovery and management in one super-app. It delivers global roaming, flight itineraries, ground transportation recommendations and logistics, local weather, time, currency, and duty-free price comparison and more. BREEZE automatically pulls flight itineraries from your calendar, facilitating trip management and real-time notifications with no data entry. Book tours & activities to do anytime, anywhere. It discovers duty-free prices and offers for products along your route to save time and money. BREEZE also manages loyalty cards, captures video/photo moments from travels, to save in a travel journal in the app or share on other platforms. Follow BREEZE on LinkedIn , Instagram , and Facebook . Press Contact: Jackie Lucas Vera Voce Communication 978-255-1159 [email protected] SOURCE BREEZE News / Local by Staff reporter The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) says it will not be stampeded into revealing its August 23 election candidates by its opponents before it completes the selection process.President Emmerson Mnangagwa pronounced that elections will be held on August 23.CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the opposition party would not succumb to Zanu-PF pressure to release the names of its candidates.CCC abandoned primary elections and adopted what it described as a citizen-centred selection process where ordinary citizens' were given a chance to select representatives of their choice.An independent selection panel led by human rights defender Rashid Mahiya is overseeing the selection process of the party's candidates."What's beyond doubt is that our candidate selection process is firmly within the time frames we had set for the completion of the process and we will have a full candidate list well in time for the nomination court, which is what the law requires," Mahere said."Zanu-PF is obsessed with trying to find out the internal workings of our organisation."Regrettably for them, they don't get to dictate our timelines and manner of operation."Once all processes are complete, our candidate list will be announced at the appropriate time."This is one of the most important pillars for us to achieve our overarching goal, which is to secure a citizens' victory for change."CCC leader Nelson Chamisa last week said the party's candidate selection process was a "done deal".The nomination court is set for June 21.Mahere told The Standard that the party would not rush to release the names of its candidates."It was never going to be an overnight process," Mahere said."Selecting the right representative for each ward and constituency across the nation cannot be superficial or rushed."Chamisa will, for the second time, face off against bitter rival Mnangagwa who came into power after a coup that toppled long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017.In by-elections held last year, a month after the party was formed, CCC won 19 of the 28 parliamentary seats on offer and the majority of 122 municipal seats.CCC is an offshoot of the MDC Alliance and the Chamisa-led party was formed after Douglas Mwonzora controversially seized control of MDC-T following a Supreme Court ruling that said Morgan Tsvangirai's succession was unconstitutional.A poll by a London-based public relations organisation, the SABI Strategy Group, commissioned by the South African Brenthurst Foundation late last year said 53% of respondents said they would vote for the 45-year-old Chamisa while 40% said they would vote for the incumbent.An Afrobarometer survey in February this year said the opposition enjoyed a four-point advantage (48%) over the ruling Zanu-PF (44%) in voting preferences. HOUSTON and TUPELO, Miss., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) received the 2023 America Saves Designation of Savings Excellence (DOSE) for its ninth consecutive year of promoting better savings plans for customers. This recognition is given to financial institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting savings and financial education among their customers. The annual award recognizes financial institutions that go above and beyond to encourage people to save money. Cadence Bank is one of 15 recipients recognized for its efforts to encourage individuals to open accounts and begin building wealth during this year's America Saves Week. The company implemented a comprehensive, multi-channel communications plan and social media strategy to reach customers at different stages of their financial journeys. "Our bankers are always proud to participate in this initiative and continue our efforts of helping customers meet their savings goals, achieve long-term security and have a better quality of life. By offering resources and education to our customers, Cadence is helping more Americans develop the skills and habits they need to achieve their financial goals," said Dan Rollins, chairman and CEO at Cadence Bank. "We're pleased to have received this prestigious award yet again!" Nearly 3,900 participating organizations reached nine million individuals during this year's America Saves Week, which ran from February 27 to March 3, 2023. In addition, they reported that individuals deposited more than $788 million into new and existing savings accounts over the one-week timeframe. America Saves Week, coordinated by America Saves and the American Savings Education Council, is an annual opportunity for organizations, like banks or credit unions, to support good savings behavior by encouraging people to evaluate their savings status and set goals. For more information about the award, visit www.americasaves.org . To learn more about Cadence Bank, visit CadenceBank.com. About Cadence Bank Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE) is a leading regional banking franchise with more than $50 billion in assets and over 350 branch locations across the South and Texas. Cadence provides consumers, businesses and corporations with a full range of innovative banking and financial solutions. Services and products include consumer banking, consumer loans, mortgages, home equity lines and loans, credit cards, commercial and business banking, treasury management, specialized lending, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, equipment financing, correspondent banking, SBA lending, foreign exchange, wealth management, investment and trust services, financial planning, retirement plan management, and personal and business insurance. Cadence is committed to a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion in both its workplace and communities. Cadence Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. SOURCE Cadence Bank CMU alumni have earned 60 Tonys to dateonstage, behind-the-scenes and more NEW YORK and PITTSBURGH, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadway moved uptown Sunday to the historic United Palace in New York City's Washington Heights for The 76th Annual Tony Awards. Following glamorous red carpet arrivals, the theatre community honored the top 2022-2023 Broadway performances and productions during a multi-platform preshow on Pluto TV, Paramount+ and an exciting primetime telecast on CBS. Carnegie Mellon Alumna Wins Two 2023 Tony Awards Tweet this Jamie deRoy, winner of 2023 Tony Awards for Producer--Best Play "Leopoldstadt" and Best Revival of a Musical "Parade" Carnegie Mellon University, with its longstanding tradition of producing top talent onstage and behind the scenes, was well-represented during the Tonys with alumni taking part in numerous award show performances, presenting and even adding some wins. 2023 CMU Alumni Tony Award Winners Jamie deRoy, 1967 Carnegie Mellon alumna, Producer Best Play "Leopoldstadt" Best Revival of a Musical "Parade" CMU's School of Drama is the oldest degree-granting drama school in the country and consistently ranks as one of the world's best drama schools. Also during the ceremony, Carnegie Mellon and the Tony Awards presented the 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award to Jason Zembuch Young, a drama teacher from South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. Zembuch Young was honored for his exemplary efforts to broaden access to live theatre, most notably for deaf and hard of hearing students. Each year, Zembuch Young produces two full-length mainstage productions, a play and a musical, in both voice and American Sign Language (ASL). A panel of theatre experts from the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League and Carnegie Mellon University selected Zembuch Young from a nationwide call for entries. The annual Excellence in Theatre Education Award was co-founded in 2014 by the Tony Awards and CMU to recognize top K-12 drama teachers and to celebrate arts education. CMU alumna and "Into the Woods" actress Denee Benton, along with CMU president Farnam Jahanian and CMU School of Drama head Robert Ramirez, presented Zembuch Young with his award during the Tony Awards ceremony. "Carnegie Mellon is thrilled to congratulate our alumna who earned Tony Awards this year, and we're extremely proud of all those who received nominations," said Farnam Jahanian, president of Carnegie Mellon University. "CMU is grateful to continue playing a critical role alongside the Broadway community in helping the art and business of theatre thrive." Carnegie Mellon is the exclusive higher education partner of the Tony Awards. In addition to the Tony-night spotlight, Zembuch Young receives a $10,000 grant and a visiting master class for his students taught by CMU Drama faculty. Submissions for the 2024 Excellence in Theatre Education Award are now open at tonyawards.com For more information about CMU and the Tony Awards, visit cmu.edu. About Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 13,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. SOURCE Carnegie Mellon University MIAMI, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) has scheduled a conference call with analysts for Monday, June 26, 2023, at 10 a.m. (EDT); 3 p.m. (BST) to discuss the company's second quarter financial results which are expected to be released that morning. A simulcast of the call will be available via the company's websites at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com. About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company, and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com , and www.seabourn.com. For information on Carnival Corporation's industry-leading sustainability initiatives, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com. SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc CHICAGO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, will announce its financial results for the second quarter of 2023 before the market opens on Friday, August 4, 2023. A conference call with remarks by the company's senior management will begin at 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET). Conference Call Information: A live audio webcast for the conference call and the presentation that will be referenced during the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Cboe's website at ir.cboe.com under Events. The presentation will be archived on the company's website for replay. Participants also may listen to the live conference call via telephone by using the dial-in numbers listed below. Date: Friday, August 4, 2023 Time: 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET) Live Dial-In Information U.S.: 1-877-255-4313 Canada: 1-866-450-4696 International: 1-412-317-5466 (Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation and ask to join the Cboe Global Markets call.) Replay Dial-In Information U.S.: 1-877-344-7529 Canada: 1-855-669-9658 International: 1-412-317-0088 A replay of the recording is expected to be available one hour after the conference call ends. The replay access code will be 5941756, which will be accessible through August 11, 2023. About Cboe Global Markets, Inc. Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to people around the world. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, FX, and digital assets, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Above all, we are committed to building a trusted, inclusive global marketplace that enables people to pursue a sustainable financial future. To learn more about the Exchange for the World Stage, visit www.cboe.com. CBOE-C CBOE-OE Cboe, Cboe Volatility Index, VIX and Cboe Global Markets are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Cboe Global Markets MINNEAPOLIS, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Compliance and ethics professionals from around the globe will gather in Chicago October 25, 2023, for the 22nd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute (CEI), the flagship conference of Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Since 2002, the CEI has served as a premier networking and educational event for compliance and ethics practitioners. Registration and agenda details are online at corporatecompliance.org/2023CEI. Discounted early bird registration is available through August 9; group discounts are also offered. For those unable to participate in person, a virtual conference option is available October 35. SCCE & HCCA CEO Gerry Zack says, "We're looking forward to the 2023 CEI, which offers compliance and ethics professionals worldwide the opportunity to connect, learn, and share experiences, whether in-person in Chicago, or virtually. In addition to sessions on compliance risks, ethics, investigations, data privacy, and ESG, I'm especially excited about our brand-new learning track devoted to a critical topic for today's practitioners Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)." In-person participants will have access to more than 90 live educational sessions, as well as networking and social activities, opportunities to engage with speakers and solution providers, and the chance to earn up to 26.4 live Compliance Certification Board (CCB) continuing education units (CEUs). Qualified attendees can also sit for an optional certification exam on the final day of the conference. Virtual conference participants will have access to nearly 50 online sessions, all live streamed from Chicago, and the opportunity to earn up to 19.2 live CCB CEUs. To learn more about the 2023 Compliance & Ethics Institute, visit corporatecompliance.org/2023CEI. About SCCE Established in 2004, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) is a nonprofit, member-based association for compliance and ethics professionals. SCCE offers 60+ educational conferences a year, webinars, publications, training resources, certification opportunities, and networking for career growth and program development. In 2011, SCCE incorporated with Health Care Compliance Association to form Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Health Care Compliance Association (SCCE & HCCA). Headquartered in Minneapolis, SCCE & HCCA is a leader in furthering the interests of the compliance and ethics profession with a combined 19,000+ members in 100 countries. Visit the SCCE website at www.corporatecompliance.org or call 888.277.4977. SOURCE Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) DUBLIN, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "China Plastic Pipe Market Outlook to 2027F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of plastic pipes industry in China. The report covers an overview and genesis of the industry, market size in terms of revenue generated. Its market segmentations are broken down by market structure, by end user applications, by types of pipes and by type of market structure. The report includes growth enablers and drivers; challenges and bottlenecks; trends driving adoption trends; regulatory framework; end-user analysis, industry analysis, competitive landscape including competition scenario and market shares of major players. The report concludes with future market projections of each market segmentation and analyst recommendations. Market Overview: The demand for plastic pipes and fittings is highly correlated with the investment of government on infrastructural, mining and agricultural activities and the demand for house dwellings in the country. Improvements in technology and plastic materials have helped the plastic pipe market increase its share in energy, agriculture, and industrial sectors in China . Key Trends by Market Segment: By Type of Pipe: PE pipes had the largest market share. PVC pipes had second biggest market share as these types of pipes are less costly compared to PE pipes and are widely used in various sectors such as water pipelines and sewage pipelines. It has been witnessed that PVC has been mainly substituted by PE pipes in various application, which resulted in PE pipes gaining significant market share in the overall market By End User Application: Plumbing and civil application has comparatively higher market share due to large scale of real estate construction undertaken by the private sector in China . Mining, Chemical and Oil sectors are widely present in China owing to which, these industries contributed a significant share in the demand for plastic pipes and fittings in the country Competitive Landscape: The major parameters on which these players for competing quality of the products and product availability in the wholesale, price, retail outlets and product customization at the time of bulk orders. A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Formosa Plastics Corporation Na Ya Plastics Corp. Ying Kou Pipe Group Henan Hesu Construction Material Co., Ltd. Huaxiang ( Tianjin ) Plastic Products Co., Ltd. ) Plastic Products Co., Ltd. Tianjin Junxing Pipe Group Co. Ltd Zhangjiagang Huasheng Plastic Co. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 1.1 Market Overview 1.2 Market Segmentation 1.3 Competitive Landscape 1.4 Future Analysis and Projections 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Market Definitions 2.2. Abbreviations 2.3. Market Sizing and Modeling 3. China Plastic Pipes Market Overview and Genesis 4. Manufacturing Process of Plastic Pipes 5. Value Chain Analysis of China Plastic Pipes Market 6. Stakeholders in China Plastic Pipes Market Ecosystem 7. Raw Material Suppliers to the China Pipes Market 8. Role of Wholesalers and Distributors in China Plastic Pipes Market 9. China Plastic Pipe Market, 2017-2022 10. China Plastic Pipes Market Segmentation 10.1. By Type of Products (PVC, PE and Others),2022 10.2. By End User (Plumbing and Civil, Agriculture, Mining and Industrial, Telecom and electrical and Others), 2022 10.3. By Organized and Unorganized Market, 2022 10.4. By Geographical Regions, 2022 11. Growth Drivers and Opportunities in China Plastic Pipes Market 12. Issues and Challenges in China Plastic Pipes Market 13. Porter's Five Forces Model for China Plastic Pipes Market 14. Buying Decision Parameters from End User Point of view in China Plastic Market 15. Environmental obligations and Standards in China Plastic Pipes Market 16. New Product Developments in China Pipes Market 17. Competitive Landscape of Manufacturers in China Plastic Pipes Market 17.1. Competition Scenario 18. Snapshot on Export of Domestically Manufactured Plastic Pipes in China 19. Company Profile of Major Players in China Plastic Pipes Market 19.1 Formosa Plastics Corporation 19.2 Na Ya Plastics Corp. 19.3 Ying Kou Pipe Group 19.4 Henan Hesu Construction Material Co., Ltd. 19.5 Company Profiles of Other Players (Huaxiang (Tianjin) Plastic Products Co., Ltd, Tianjin Junxing Pipe Group Co. Ltd, Zhangjiagang Huasheng Plastic Co.) 20. China Plastic Pipes Market Future Outlook and Projections, 2022-2027F 20.1. By End Users (Plumbing and Civil, Agriculture, Mining and Industrial, Telecom and electrical and others) 20.2. By PVC, PE and Other Plastic Pipes, 2027F 20.3. By Organized and Unorganized, 2027F 21. Analyst Recommendations 22. Macroeconomic Indicators in China Plastic Pipes Market 22.1. Total Population in China, 2017-2022 22.2. Number of House Dwellings Approvals in Total Sectors, 2017-2022 22.3. Total Water Supply, 2017-2022 23. Other Macroeconomic Indicators, 2017-2022 23.1 Value of Work done in Housing of Private Sector 23.2 Value of Work done in Alterations and Additions including Conversions, 2017-2022 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ljxlms About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets CloudZero provides the fastest way to gain detailed visibility into cloud costs, optimize consumption, and drive savings BOSTON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the back of another year of triple-digit growth, CloudZero announced today that it closed $32 million in Series B funding to expand its cloud cost intelligence platform. The round was led by Innovius Capital and Threshold Ventures with continued support from existing investors Matrix Partners, Underscore VC, and G20 Ventures. As part of the financing, CloudZero welcomes Justin Moore from Innovius Capital to its board of directors and Arpit Mittal from Threshold Ventures as a board observer. In a world where every business is focused on driving cost savings, CloudZero is addressing one of the largest and most opaque expense buckets for modern organizations cloud spend which will reach nearly $600 billion worldwide in 2023. That is why 73% of companies surveyed identify cloud costs as a board-level issue. CloudZero's unique ability to provide granular insights for any cloud provider empowers software teams to collaboratively manage cloud spend down to how a specific product feature or customer impacts margin. This means engineering teams can see real-time, hourly data showing the consequences of software development decisions and can proactively optimize costs before waste occurs something no other cost management solution can provide. "Cost management is a challenge for every business that leverages the cloud. Most vendors in the market address small pieces of the overall problem, only providing surface-level insights into underlying cost drivers," said Justin Moore, CEO of Innovius Capital. "We were looking to invest in a company that unified all sources of cloud costs into a single platform that was granular enough to help an individual engineer identify the exact line of code or SQL query that was spiking costs, yet broad enough to help finance and operations accurately understand and forecast the company's unit economics. We found that platform in CloudZero." Unlike other solutions on the market, the CloudZero platform provides: Complete Visibility CloudZero AnyCost ingests 100% of cloud spend (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) in real time, normalizes it in a common data model, and presents it in a single pane of glass. This gives every stakeholder the most complete, accurate, and granular source of truth. Business Context CloudZero CostFormation combines billing and telemetry data to allocate every penny of taggable and untaggable spend including shared resources, multi-tenant architecture, and Kubernetes. This enables software teams to understand what is driving their spend customers, features, teams, microservices, etc. and minimize time spent on manual tagging or in spreadsheets. Engineering Engagement CloudZero makes it easy for engineers to optimize the fixed and variable costs associated with their cloud consumption, including AI-powered anomaly detection. This empowers engineers to prioritize cost efficiency as they build and operate their entire software stack. With over $5 billion in cloud costs currently under management, these differentiators are why customers ranging from leading startups to Fortune 500 companies rely on CloudZero to build cost-efficient software. "CloudZero has one of the most powerful cloud cost intelligence platforms on the market," said Mike Rosenberg, senior director of engineering at Nubank. "As a fellow data-driven organization, CloudZero is a strong cultural fit for Nubank and we're glad to partner with the team." "Product and engineering leaders are under as much pressure as ever to deliver innovation, but now they are being asked to do so on leaner budgets," said Josh Stein, co-founder and managing partner at Threshold Ventures. "CloudZero provides engineers with the right data at the right time to make cost-efficient decisions without disrupting their workflow or slowing down new feature delivery." With the new round of funding, CloudZero will expand platform features, advance its enterprise functionality, and scale headcount with the goal of helping more customers get the most value out of their cloud investments. "Despite the existence of first-generation cloud cost management solutions, the number one pain for FinOps professionals is consistently getting engineers to take action," said Phil Pergola, CEO of CloudZero. "CloudZero recognizes that every engineering decision is a buying decision, which is why our platform is purpose-built for engineers. It is invigorating for the CloudZero team to come to work every day knowing that we are helping thousands of engineers drive tens of millions of dollars in cost savings, and we are just getting started." About CloudZero CloudZero is the leader in cloud cost intelligence. We empower the world's engineers to build cost-efficient software without slowing down innovation. CloudZero's platform automates the collection, allocation, and analysis of cloud cost data to uncover savings opportunities and improve unit economics. Our unique approach ensures organizations have the most complete, accurate, and granular source of truth for their cloud costs. CloudZero is used by industry leaders worldwide, such as Demandbase, New Relic, Nubank, Rapid7, and Skyscanner. Visit cloudzero.com to get started today. SOURCE CloudZero Veteran Senior Executive with Experience Across Cetera, Advisor Group and LPL Financial to Implement Forward Growth Strategy and Enhancements to Financial Advisor Experience WILMINGTON, Del., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CoastalOne, an exclusive wealth management firm, has announced the appointment of Kevin M. Keefe, CFA, as Chief Executive Officer. With more than 30 years of wealth management experience, Mr. Keefe will use his extensive executive expertise to develop and execute a growth strategy for CoastalOne that includes enhancing the firm's platform, services and offerings to its affiliated financial advisors. "As we look to build a truly differentiated experience here at CoastalOne, we knew we needed a visionary with deep industry knowledge, creativity and a proven track record to lead the firm," said Ryan Hanks, Chair of Orange Street Holdings, CoastalOne's new owner. "I'm happy to say we've found that individual in Kevin. I'm convinced he is the right person at the right time to spearhead our efforts to create a broad-based, holistic wealth management platform for a select segment of accomplished independent advisors. I'm excited to welcome Kevin to CoastalOne and can't wait to see all we will achieve together as we make the firm the destination of choice for discerning advisors and their clients." A firm for sophisticated advisors and their high-net-worth clients Established in 1989 on Cape Cod, CoastalOne has grown to more than 160 financial advisors and approximately $70 million in annual revenue by delivering a comprehensive service, operational, technology, and compliance platform for sophisticated independent financial professionals. The firm offers strategies, solutions and products to help financial professionals serve their high-net-worth clients with a collaborative, creative and flexible approach. Mr. Keefe said, "I'm thrilled to be here at CoastalOne and excited to work with its new ownership to implement a dynamic vision and growth strategy for the future. As the wealth management space continues to evolve, and big players just keep getting bigger, I think there's a real appetite among a certain type of advisor for a firm that embraces a high-touch, boutique service model and culture. Focused on strong relationships and a robust community, our unique approach to the business will create a firm where existing advisors will thrive and like-minded advisors from across the industry will want to join. I appreciate the trust Ryan has placed in me and am committed to CoastalOne's ongoing success." Well-respected industry executive Mr. Keefe is a well-respected wealth management executive with a proven ability to strategically reposition businesses to drive growth, increase efficiencies and deliver improved stakeholder value. He was President and CEO of Cetera subsidiary First Allied Securities, an independent broker-dealer and RIA supporting 700 affiliated financial advisors, where he accelerated growth and led the firm through an integration into a larger network of broker-dealers. Prior to that, Mr. Keefe was Executive Vice President and CEO of Corporate RIA at Advisor Group, where he provided strategic support for network-wide initiatives and was responsible for investment advisory, product, platform, retirement plan and investment research/due diligence functions for the network's 6,000 independent financial advisors. Mr. Keefe was also a Senior Vice President at LPL Financial and oversaw the development, implementation and ongoing management of platforms and services at the largest independent broker-dealer in US. He served as a Senior Vice President at BISYS and a Director of Product Development Fidelity Investments after beginning his financial services career at Pioneer Investments. About CoastalOne CoastalOne, located in Wilmington, Delaware, is an independent broker-dealer and RIA platform that enables financial professionals to maximize the success of their practices. CoastalOne is comprised of Coastal Equities, Inc. (CEI), a FINRA registered independent broker-dealer, and Coastal Investment Advisors, Inc. (CIA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. CoastalOne is focused on providing professionals with dedicated support, integrated technology, and a deep understanding of regulatory framework so they can deliver outstanding service and personalized guidance to their clients. Their goal is to become the firm of choice for independent financial professionals and their clients, and their mission is to build life-long client relationships from a foundation of personal service, trust, and collaboration. Learn more at www.Coastal-One.com . Media Contacts: Joseph Kuo or Michael Dugan 424 317 4851 or 424 317 4852 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE CoastalOne New Darktrace data indicates 74% of active customer deployments have employees using generative AI tools Darktrace introduces new risk and compliance models to help CISOs as they balance the opportunity and risk of inadvertent IP loss and data leakage from the use of generative AI and LLM-based tools CAMBRIDGE, England, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to growing use of generative AI tools, Darktrace today announces the launch of new risk and compliance models to help its 8,400 customers around the world address the increasing risk of IP loss and data leakage. These new risk and compliance models for Darktrace DETECT and RESPOND make it easier for customers to put guardrails in place to monitor, and when necessary, respond to activity and connections to generative AI and large language model (LLM) tools. This comes as Darktrace's AI observed 74% of active customer deployments have employees using generative AI tools in the workplace[1]. In one instance, in May 2023 Darktrace detected and prevented an upload of over 1GB of data to a generative AI tool at one of its customers. New generative AI tools promise increases in productivity and new ways of augmenting human creativity. CISOs must balance the desire to embrace these innovations to boost productivity while managing risk. Government agencies including the UK's National Cyber Security Centre have already issued guidance about the need to manage risk when using generative AI tools and other LLMs in the workplace. In addition, regulators in a variety of jurisdictions (including the UK, EU, and US) and in various sectors are expected to lay out guidance to companies on how to make the most of AI without exacerbating its potential dangers. "Since generative AI tools like ChatGPT have gone mainstream, our company is increasingly aware of how companies are being impacted. First and foremost, we are focused on the attack vector and how well prepared we are to respond to potential threats. Equally as important is data privacy, and we are hearing stories in the news about potential data protection and data loss," said Allan Jacobson, Vice President and Head of Information Technology, Orion Office REIT. "Businesses need a combination of technology and clear guardrails to take advantage of the benefits while managing the potential risks." At London Tech Week, Darktrace's Chief Executive Officer Poppy Gustafsson will be interviewed by Guy Podjarny, CEO of Snyk, in a fireside chat on 'Securing Our Future by Uplifting the Human,' where they'll discuss how can we future-proof organizations against cyber compromise and prepare teams to fend off unpredictable threats. Commenting ahead of London Tech Week, Poppy Gustafsson said: "CISOs across the world are trying to understand how they should manage the risks and opportunities presented by publicly available AI tools in a world where public sentiment flits from euphoria to terror. Sentiment aside, the AI genie is not going back in the bottle and AI tools are rapidly becoming part of our day-to-day lives, much in the same way as the internet or social media. Each enterprise will determine their own appetite for the opportunities versus the risk. Darktrace is in the business of providing security personalized to an organization, and it is no surprise we are already seeing the early signs of CISOs leveraging our technology to enforce their specific compliance policies. "At Darktrace, we have long believed that AI is one of the most exciting technological opportunities of our time. With today's announcement, we are providing our customers with the ability to quickly understand and control the use of these AI tools within their organizations. But it is not just the good guys watching these innovations with interest - AI is also a powerful tool to create even more nuanced and effective cyber-attacks. Society should be able to take advantage of these incredible new tools for good, but also be equipped to stay one step ahead of attackers in the emerging age of defensive AI tools versus offensive AI attacks." To complement its core Self-Learning AI for attack prevention, threat detection, autonomous response, and policy enforcement, the Darktrace Cyber AI Research Center continually develops new AI models, including its own proprietary large language models, to help customers prepare for and fight back against increasingly sophisticated threats. These models are used across the products in Darktrace's Cyber AI Loop. "Recent advances in generative AI and LLMs are an important addition to the growing arsenal of AI techniques that will transform cyber security. But they are not one-size-fits-all and must be applied with guardrails to the right use cases and challenges," said Jack Stockdale, Chief Technology Officer, Darktrace. "Over the last decade, the Darktrace Cyber AI Research Center has championed the responsible development and deployment of a variety of different AI techniques, including our unique Self-Learning AI and proprietary large language models. We're excited to continue putting the latest innovations in the hands of our customers globally so that they can protect themselves against the cyber disruptions that continue to create chaos around the world." [1] Based on data obtained on June 2nd, 2023, from active customer deployments with Call Home enabled, where Darktrace detected generative AI activity at some point. About Darktrace Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security artificial intelligence, delivers complete AI-powered solutions in its mission to free the world of cyber disruption. Breakthrough innovations from the Darktrace Cyber AI Research Centre in Cambridge, UK and its R&D centre in The Hague, Netherlands have resulted in over 135 patent applications filed and significant research published to contribute to the cyber security community. Darktrace's technology continuously learns and updates its knowledge of 'you' for an organization and applies that understanding to achieve an optimal state of cyber security. It is delivering the first ever Cyber AI Loop, fueling a continuous end-to-end security capability that can autonomously prevent, detect, and respond to novel, in-progress threats in real time. Darktrace employs over 2,200 people around the world and protects over 8,400 organizations globally from advanced cyber-threats. It was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' in 2021. www.darktrace.com SOURCE Darktrace Puerto Rico's Award-Winning Destileria Serralles Releases Fifth Flavored Expression PONCE, Puerto Rico, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Destileria Serralles Inc., the producer of Don Q, Puerto Rico's number-one rum, is proud to announce the release of Don Q Naranja, an exceptional flavored rum, aged in American White Oak barrels for up to 18 months with natural orange essence and flavor. Made with the finest aged rums and all-natural flavors, Don Q Naranja (MSRP $14.99; 750 ml) is the fifth expression of the brand's flavor portfolio, joining Don Q Coco, Don Q Pina, Don Q Limon and Don Q Pasion. The flavor portfolio is inspired by the fresh, tropical fruits from Puerto Rico. Don Q, Puerto Rico's number-one rum, launches its fifth low-ABV rum, Don Q Naranja, just in time for summer. Tweet this Don Q Naranja Naranja's bright citrus notes and alluring sweetness make it ideal for virtually any cocktail requiring a hint of orange with the tropical, premium taste of Don Q Rum. Mix Naranja with fresh juices or other citrus-focused liqueurs for a refreshing highball or low-ABV cocktail, including a Don Q Orange Spritz or the Don Q Mule. "We've been creating exceptional, dynamic rums for nearly 160 years, and Don Q Naranja is a vibrant example of how we craft our aged rums and infuse with all natural ingredients to create an unparalleled flavored expression," says Silvia Santiago, Maestra Ronera. "Flavored spirits and low-ABV drink options are on the rise and Don Q Naranja is the perfect embodiment of both, providing more options to those that want to imbibe responsibly," added Destileria Serralles Chief Marketing Officer, Gabriella Ripepi. Don Q Naranja is available at select liquor stores, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants throughout the country and online via at https://donq.com/ . For drink recommendations, please visit the website or follow on social media: Facebook.com/DonQ and @donqrum. About Destileria Serralles: Destileria Serralles is one of America's oldest family-owned businesses with a rum making tradition that spans 6 generations and 158 years. Based in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the distillery produces its flagship product, the award-winning Don Q rum brand, the #1 selling rum on the island. The Distillery has been awarded the "Green Award" from The Drinks Business, which recognizes leaders in environmental practices within the beverage industry, and more recently was recognized as "World Class Distillery" by World Spirits Awards. For more information about Don Q Rum, please contact Baltz & Company: Sarah Abell (917.584.8567; [email protected]) or Annette Malkin (212.600.5828; [email protected]) SOURCE Don Q Rum News / Local by Staff reporter PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has blamed the opposition for allegedly roping in Western allies to destroy the local currency under a well-orchestrated scheme aimed at causing civil unrest.This follows the massive depreciation of the local currency on both the formal and official exchange rate markets.US$1 is currently trading at a high of ZWL5 354 on the official market with the parallel market hovering around the same margins.Some traders have adopted the habit of making it difficult to transact in ZWL and effectively forcing customers to pay exclusively in US$.Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo Friday, Mnangagwa said: "We in Zanu-PF are building this country while some opposition parties supported by their Western handlers are causing suffering to our people through sanctions and the attack on our currency."We are aware of those bent on causing havoc in the country by attacking our currency, they will never succeed, and they want our minerals. They want citizens to get frustrated and rise against the Zanu-PF party. They are fighting to take advantage of manufactured poverty."These detractors and their surrogates have never had the people of Zimbabwe at heart, our mass revolutionary party is the only party with a vision for the future," he said.He revealed that he had directed the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya and Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube to stop price increases and manipulation of the exchange rate."Those who are going to be found committing crimes against measures we have put in place shall have their trading licences withdrawn because these people are doing these heinous acts to cause the suffering of our people. I now warn them three times," Mnangagwa said.The Zanu-PF leader, whose administration has been accused of using violence and intimidation in the lead-up to the elections, called for dialogue and tolerance regardless of political affiliation.Mnangagwa further urged the youth to stand up and play their role towards the realization of Vision 2030. PARIS, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DJUST, a B2B eCommerce SaaS platform created by ex-founding member of Mirakl, Arnaud Rihiant, today announced that it has raised 12M in a Series A growth funding round to accelerate market expansion. The funding round was led by New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) , with additional participation from Elaia Partners. Founded in 2020, the Paris-based B2B Commerce platform enables professional buyers and sellers to have a frictionless buying experience, achieve greater productivity and accelerate growth. In contrast to larger B2C-focused platforms such as Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce and Shopify, the DJUST solution is purpose-built for B2B needs, empowering industries such as Distributors, Franchising, Wholesalers and Manufacturers. The platform supports all B2B scenarios: online catalogs, B2B eCommerce, eProcurement, and Marketplace connectors. "The B2B eCommerce journey has been upended over the past decade, and behaviors and expectations on both the buyer and seller end have significantly changed the way B2B companies need to acquire, convert, retain, and expand customers. Yet many B2B companies are left to deal with these shifts on their own, supported only by outdated solutions that don't fit their current needs," said Arnaud Rihiant, Founder and CEO, DJUST. "We want to free all businesses of the hassle of building, launching and running B2B commerce. That will happen when companies stop making small adjustments to outdated systems and instead embrace an integrated, modular and powerful platform. In turn, that future-proofs new growth opportunities and excellent customer service." "The B2B eCommerce market is estimated to be up to five times the size of the B2C market. And while there are many well-known software tools facilitating B2C eCommerce, today's B2B technology stack remains outdated. DJUST's simple yet powerful technology is an ideal match for the needs of today's B2B businesses, whether they're building their own eCommerce platform, working with suppliers, simplifying their procurement processes, or increasing the effectiveness of their sales operation," said Philip Chopin, Managing Director, NEA UK. "The company's rapid growth and ability to quickly demonstrate value for customers across different industries like retail, construction, fashion and pharmaceuticals give us confidence that they can scale sustainably over the long-term." "Just as the consumer can now order anything at any time in only a few clicks, we believe that anyone should be able to place orders for their companies and replenish their stores just as seamlessly. DJUST's SaaS solutions are the best answers on the market for B2B companies to bring their e-commerce operations to the same level as the e-retailers. We are very happy to welcome NEA, whose international network will help the company accelerate on the international scene, and to continue to support DJUST's management team, which we believe has both the track record and the ambition to achieve this revolution in the B2B world," explains Xavier Lazarus, Managing Partner at Elaia. Combining a SaaS platform with B2B Commerce yields endless possibilities for businesses and buyers. For businesses, time-to-market is reduced significantly, full end-to-end visibility of orders, processes and deliveries becomes possible, and powerful data insights are made available via user-friendly dashboards. Together, this lets businesses adapt to new buyers, who have sky-high expectations regarding their online experiences. The DJUST platform offers powerful customization on the front-end, with drag-and-drop functionalities and data syncing of old and new channels, enabling shifts and adaptations for new markets and buyers. Alongside co-founders Alexis Delplanque (Co-founder and Head of Sales) and Eric Gaudin (Co-founder and Head of Technology), Arnaud Rihiant launched DJUST with 4M in seed funding from European investor Elaia in 2020. With the 12M raised today, the company plans to expand into markets across Europe, the UK and the US and invest more aggressively in developing solutions for its core product. Over the past year, DJUST has doubled its headcount from 20 to 40+ employees and more than doubled annual recurring revenue through more than 15 new deals with leading distributors and manufacturers across Europe, empowering them to go from offline to online rapidly and connecting all existing systems to one central platform of truth. "We are going from decentralized to centralized with DJUST B2B Commerce. Our business processes are automated on the platform, and we can connect our ERP to the solution. This was a huge differentiator when we chose to partner with DJUST," said Remi Beranger, Vice President of Global Procurement & Supply Chain at deSter. Arthur Caron, Head of Supply Chain at Franprix, one of France's leading retailers, adds: "With a modern B2B Commerce solution, we can increase productivity, customer satisfaction and gain more visibility by centralizing all procurement and reassortment operations. We can offer our franchisees a B2C-like experience." With a young and out-of-the box mindset, DJUST offers more than just an order and procurement platform but a genuine partnership with their clients and a transparent product roadmap. "We needed a B2B expert who could offer a flexible solution that can grow and build with us someone who thinks out of the box. This would not have been possible with a more traditional solution vendor," said Henri Danzin, Director of Marketing and Commerce at Socoda, a leading French network group of distributors of construction tools, parts and steel. One of the reasons why DJUST has seen huge success over the last year is because of the platform's ability to integrate with any existing tech stack and channels. This frees teams from time-consuming data consolidation and repetitive, manual data transfers, while allowing companies to keep existing systems as they shift to a complete digital business. "The DJUST B2B Commerce solution and project approach allow us to progressively transform digitally. By giving us the tools to sell and trade effectively, we can concentrate on making a better buying experience rather than on managing a technology," said Nicolas Rigot, Procurement Director at Eiffage, a leading European Construction company. About DJUST DJUST is a powerful and modular B2B Commerce platform that unlocks smarter sales to B2B customers and greater productivity for any business as a whole. The platform enables leading Distributors, Retailers and Manufacturers to eliminate system silos, digitize manual processes and uncover new growth opportunities. It's more than just a flexible order system, it's a building block to future-proof any business with continuous scalability and innovation. Backed by a large network of partners, DJUST offers a human-sized company with more than 40 digital B2B commerce experts across Europe. DJUST Contact Sofie Lehrmann [email protected] About NEA New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors, and geographies. Founded in 1977, NEA has over $25 billion in assets under management, as of March 31, 2023, and invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company's lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm's long track record of investing includes more than 270 portfolio company IPOs and more than 450 mergers and acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.nea.com. SOURCE DJUST The continued acquisition of specialized software tools will accelerate scientific discovery and improve clinical outcomes BOSTON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dotmatics , a leader in R&D scientific software connecting science, data, and decision-making, today announced it has acquired SoftGenetics , a bioinformatics software company that offers a range of advanced genetic analysis products for research, forensics, and healthcare applications. Dotmatics acquires SoftGenetics expanding into clinical and forensic genetic analysis "With more than 22 years of experience, SoftGenetics has deep expertise in a wide range of sequencing technologies, taking complex genetic data and making it actionable for clinicians and forensic investigators," said Thomas Swalla, CEO of Dotmatics. "Adding these powerful genetic analysis tools strengthens the Dotmatics portfolio with more comprehensive and diverse solutions to help us advance scientific research, discovery, and clinical outcomes for our customers." SoftGenetics' products, known for their high sensitivity, accuracy, and low false positive rates, play a crucial role in research, healthcare, and forensics. The SoftGenetics product lineup includes 11 software solutions, with seven tailored for research and four designed for forensics. Among its most known products are Mutation Surveyor, enabling DNA variant analysis from Sanger Sequencing traces; NextGene, facilitating DNA variant analysis from NGS sequencing files; and GeneMarker, enabling genotyping analysis. As it joins Dotmatics, SoftGenetics will remain a standalone business. Customers, partners, and distributors of SoftGenetics can expect continuing support from Dotmatics to amplify the impact, growth, and mission of SoftGenetics' business, which aligns with Dotmatics' mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and create a healthier, cleaner, safer world. "This move presents an exciting opportunity for our SoftGenetics team to further expand the reach and impact of our genetic analysis products," said Dr. Changsheng Liu, co-founder and vice president of R&D at SoftGenetics. "Joining the Dotmatics family will help us grow and scale at a much faster rate and with added financial and development resources, which is a win-win for our business and our customers." SoftGenetics is the 12th acquisition Dotmatics has made beginning with its initial investment in GraphPad in 2017, and the company intends to continue to grow both through internal product development and additional acquisition of specialized tools and services. "This acquisition highlights Dotmatics' ongoing commitment to advancing scientific research by bringing together the best software tools across scientific disciplines," said Jerome Knoke, senior vice president of corporate development at Dotmatics. ABOUT DOTMATICS Dotmatics is a leader in R&D scientific software connecting science, data, and decision-making. Its enterprise R&D platform and scientists' favorite applications drive efficiency and accelerate innovation. More than 2 million scientists and 10,000 customers trust Dotmatics to help them create a healthier, cleaner, safer world. Dotmatics is a global team of more than 800 people dedicated to supporting its customers in over 180 countries. The company's principal office is in Boston, with additional offices and R&D teams located around the world. Dotmatics is backed by Insight Partners , a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software scaleup companies. Learn more about Dotmatics, its platform, and applications including GraphPad Prism, Geneious, SnapGene, Protein Metrics, and LabArchives at https://www.dotmatics.com . SOURCE Dotmatics Inc The Short Will Kick-off a Series of Celebratory Initiatives Leading up to National CROWN Day on July 3, 2023 #GRACIESCROWNCHALLENGE #PASSTHECROWN ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dove announced a strategic alliance with "Gracie's Corner," a beloved children's YouTube series, to celebrate the beauty of natural hair and help educate families about the CROWN movement and need to Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. In this special new short titled "Gracie's CROWN," premiering on the "Gracie's Corner" YouTube channel on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 8:00am EST, Gracie explains the importance of loving your hair and the CROWN Act to her audience and their parents. This short will kick-off a series of celebratory events and initiatives leading up to National CROWN Day on July 3, 2023, a nationwide celebration of Black Hair Independence Day. Gracie's Corner "Gracie's Corner" is a popular YouTube animated sing-along series featuring an adolescent Black girl named Gracie, singing and dancing to catchy tunes on topics ranging from the ABCs to loving one's hair. The series was created by Gracie, aka Graceyn Hollingsworth, and her parents Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth and Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth, in hopes of creating a space for Black children to be seen on and off the screen. Graceyn's mother, Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth utilizes her psychology background to formulate strategies that aid in the development and education of children who watch the show. "Gracie's Corner" has surpassed 2 million YouTube subscribers, and viral moments from the brand include songs centered around loving one's natural hair , celebrating Black history , and respecting others . Featuring sounds and music from the Black Diaspora, "Gracie's Corner" YouTube channel has been viewed more than 1.2 billion times, which equates to a watch time of more than 111 million hours. "'Gracie's Corner' is an incredible platform for empowering our young children, and we are delighted to work with Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth, Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth, and their daughter Graceyn, to help young children of all ages celebrate their beautiful crowns," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, President & CEO Unilever Personal Care North America. "Together, "Gracie's Corner" and Dove are on a mission to drive positive change and inspire a new generation of advocates for equality and representation as part of the ongoing CROWN movement." In honor of the upcoming short "Gracie's CROWN," there will be a special customizable Instagram filter where parents are able to capture their children and themselves with a celebratory "Gracie's Corner" background. Parents are invited to participate in the #GraciesCROWNChallenge by using the filter to tell their children how beautiful their crowns are or ask their children why they love their hair. The official Gracie's Corner CROWN filter can be accessed by searching Gracie's CROWN Filter under effects on Instagram. "'Gracie's Corner' is built on the foundation of representation and inclusion. We are thrilled to be a part of the work Dove and the CROWN Coalition are doing to speak out against hair discrimination that continues to be a constant conversation across the country," said Graceyn's father, Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth. "'Gracie's Corner' is an extension of the conversations we have in our home to pour into our children daily to love the versatility of their hair, rich skin tone and being proud to be Black. We hope the "Gracie's Corner" and Dove collaboration sparks conversation and encourages parents to take action by signing the CROWN Act petition," said Graceyn's mother, Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth. Since 2018, the CROWN Act and laws inspired by the CROWN Act have passed in 22 states and multiple municipalities, impacting over 30 million Black lives . The CROWN Act movement recognizes that natural hair is a core aspect of Black culture and should be celebrated rather than stigmatized. Join Dove and "Gracie's Corner" in taking action to #PassTheCROWN and help end race-based hair discrimination by signing the official CROWN Act petition at Dove.com/CROWN. About Gracie's Corner The brand ideology is simple, to provide quality, educational content for children from diverse backgrounds while curating songs and videos that make you want to dance. Originated in 2020, and more than 80 videos later, Gracie's Corner is a safe haven for children of color. The series teaches children nursery rhymes, counting, letter recognition, phonics, Black history, as well as coping skills. To date, Gracie's Corner has been nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award and an NAACP Image Award. The Hollingsworth family is based in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.graciescornertv.com. About The CROWN Coalition The CROWN Coalition was co-founded by Dove, along with a team of Black women, including Esi Eggleston Bracey (President & CEO of Unilever Personal Care, North America), Adjoa B. Asamoah (CEO of ABA Consulting), Orlena Nwokah Blanchard (CEO of Seven Elements) and Kelli Richardson Lawson (CEO of House of JOY). The CROWN Act and laws inspired by the CROWN Act have passed in 22 states and multiple municipalities since 2019: California, New York, New Jersey (2019); Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Maryland (2020); Connecticut, Delaware, New Mexico*, Nebraska*, Nevada, Oregon*, Illinois*(2021); Maine, Tennessee*, Louisiana*, Alaska*, Massachusetts (2022); and Minnesota, Arkansas, and Texas (2023); impacting over 30 million Black lives. A CROWN-inspired Executive Order is in place in Arizona (2023). For more information on the CROWN Coalition, and Dove research studies on hair discrimination, visit www.thecrownact.com. *Legislation inspired by the CROWN Act CONTACT: Marcy Polanco [email protected] Gracie's Corner Erica Tucker [email protected] SOURCE Dove Take Off to French Restaurant Week from July 10 - 16, 2023 NEW YORK, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MPB Agency is thrilled to announce the 12th edition of French Restaurant Week this summer in New York as part of the Bastille Week festivities honoring French culture and history. From July 10th to 16th diners will experience the vibrant French dining scene in Manhattan with a variety of participating restaurants including Le Gratin, Chef's Daniel Boulud's Bouchon Lyonnais at The Beekman Hotel, in Soho Felix, La Sirene, Bistro Leo at the Sixty Hotel, Fig & Olive in the Meatpacking district and Midtown, Gaby Brasserie Francaise at Sofitel, La Bonne Soupe, Le Rivage on Restaurant Row, Chez Francis, located in the iconic Brasserie Les Halles, OCabanon the cave a manger, Upper East Side, Perrine at The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, Orsay, The Parisian-style Brasserie, and, in Upper West Side Amelie Wine Bar, La Sirene and, Bar Boulud. We are proud to have Pascal Condomine, Culinary Chef at Paris Gourmet, as Ambassador this year and delighted to come back showcasing the talents of renowned chefs and authentic French cuisine to New York City said Severine Picquet, co-founder. For one week restaurants will once again offer prix-fixe menus that showcase flavors of France such as French onion soup, Escargots, Foie Gras au Torchon, Duck Leg Confit, Braised Rabbit, Fish, Moules Frites, Tartare, and homemade ice cream, choux, or fondant au chocolat. French Restaurant Week continues to partner with OpenTable in New York where diners can easily book their reservations online throughout the event. Established in 1983, Paris Gourmet is a leading specialty food importer of gourmet and pastry ingredients with a portfolio of over 20 proprietary brands and over 100 distributors Paris Gourmet is uniquely positioned to reach customers. FRW is co-sponsored by GOURMAND bringing you the finest in quality cuisine ingredients such as: meat and poultry, charcuterie, mushrooms, truffles and more! Also on board as sponsor is Malongo, the #1 coffee of the French Riviera and since Elegance is a Journey, Air France partners with the event. MPB Agency, LLC is an international public relations agency based in New York specializing in communications. MPB Agency leads creative projects that develop branding for a variety of industries such as art de vivre, innovation & technology, culture and real estate. SOURCE French Restaurant Week MANASSAS, Va. , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) today unveiled the test vehicle for its hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, the first of its kind, marking a significant milestone in Electra's mission to help decarbonize aviation and revolutionize urban and regional transportation. Electra's aircraft will help to decarbonize aviation and revolutionize urban and regional transportation. Tweet this Electras eSTOL technology demonstrator is the worlds first blown lift aircraft using distributed electric propulsion, which enables the airplane to take off and land in very short spaces. Electra's eSTOL technology demonstrator (TD) is the world's first blown lift aircraft using distributed electric propulsion, which enables the airplane to take off and land in very short spaces. Electra's proprietary blown lift technology uses eight motors to provide additional wing lift, and hybrid-electric power that provides internal recharging capabilities for aircraft batteries, eliminating the need for new ground infrastructure. The two-seat piloted TD aircraft showcases the Electra eSTOL technology at full scale and will be flown this summer in an extensive flight test program to track performance and inform the design of Electra's 9-passenger production aircraft. The company conducted a fully integrated test of its proprietary hybrid-electric propulsion system last year. "In the three years since we founded Electra, we've designed our eSTOL aircraft, validated our blown lift technology with a sub-scale demonstrator, and run a fully integrated test of our 150-kilowatt hybrid-electric generator at full scale,'' said John S. Langford, Founder and CEO of Electra.aero. "Now we're ready to test the entire system with this technology demonstrator aircraft. We can't wait to fly this plane and show the world what our eSTOL aircraft can do." Electra's future eSTOL production aircraft will deliver the operational flexibility of a helicopter with the safety and economics of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. Electra plans to fly a prototype of the 9-passenger production aircraft in 2025, with certification and entry into service in 2028 under FAA Part 23 regulation. Electra has designed the eSTOL aircraft so that hydrogen or battery-electric propulsion systems can be used in the future when those technologies are commercially viable. "Electra was founded to build electric aircraft that make sense," added JP Stewart, Electra Vice President and General Manager. "We are meeting market demand for cleaner, cost-effective aircraft that can fly people and cargo closer to where they want to go, and this technology demonstrator aircraft will prove that our eSTOL technology makes that possible." Electra currently holds letters of intent from more than 30 customers for over 1200 of its 9-passenger production eSTOL aircraft, totaling more than $4 billion in market demand. The company recently won a $30 million U.S. Air Force funding award as part of a larger $85 million funding effort. The aircraft was rolled out at Electra's development facility at the Manassas, Virginia Regional Airport in a ceremony that included guests from the aviation industry, government, the investor community, and Electra customers. About Electra.aero Electra.aero, Inc. is a next-gen aerospace company leading the way in sustainable urban and regional mobility. The company is building clean, hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) airplanes that fly people and cargo quieter, further, and more affordably. Electra's technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10X longer range with 70% lower operating costs than vertical takeoff alternatives with much less certification risk, proving that climate-friendly technology can also be cost-effective. Electra's team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, and its technology development is supported by NASA and the U.S. Air Force Agility Prime program. Investors Diana Siegel [email protected] Media Barbara Zadina +1.202.997.9632 [email protected] SOURCE Electra Aero LAS CRUCES, N.M., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Electronic Caregiver, Inc., a pioneering provider of advanced TeleCare services and the renowned Addison Virtual Caregiver technologies, is thrilled to announce the opening of a new Series A Preferred financing. The $95 million financing will be offered to select institutional investment funds and large, existing strategic technology partners of Electronic Caregiver, Inc. CMD Global Partners is representing Electronic Caregiver in the placement. "We are delighted to embark on this exciting new chapter for Electronic Caregiver..." CEO Anthony Dohrmann Tweet this Addison Virtual Caregiver acts as a reliable care companion, ensuring medication adherence, offering vital health reminders and measurements, performing automated assessments, providing access to emergency assistance, and delivering comprehensive health education, all from the comfort of ones home. Electronic Caregiver, Inc. is a leading provider of advanced TeleCare services and the renowned Addison Virtual Caregiver technologies. This round of financing will be used to drive increased marketing, sales, and expansion efforts for Electronic Caregiver's virtual patient care, caregiving technologies, and services. With a strong focus on improving treatment adherence, health outcomes, and extending the functional lifespan, Electronic Caregiver aims to transform the way individuals receive care and support, empowering them to live healthier, more independent lives with an overall higher state of wellness. "We conducted extensive interviews and due diligence with several top investment banking firms and John and his team at CMD Global were the clear choice to be our investment banking advisors for this round," said Joseph Baffoe, President of Electronic Caregiver. Electronic Caregiver's suite of innovative solutions is designed to address the evolving needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers alike. The company's flagship product, the Addison Virtual Caregiver, combines cutting-edge, artificial intelligence, mixed reality, and connected devices with personalized remote care to deliver an unparalleled level of support and assistance. Addison Virtual Caregiver acts as a reliable care companion, ensuring medication adherence, offering vital health reminders and measurements, performing automated assessments, providing access to emergency assistance, and delivering comprehensive health education, all from the comfort of one's home. Powered by ADDI, an innovative PaaS, the entire Addison solution has been certified in a "Well Architected Review" by AWS, with technologies that incorporate machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, computer vision, edge computing, and an array of integrated care services. "We are delighted to embark on this exciting new chapter for Electronic Caregiver with the support of our Series A Preferred financing," said Anthony Dohrmann, the visionary leader behind Electronic Caregiver. "This funding will enable us to enhance our marketing and sales efforts and drive continued product differentiation and enhancements, while reaching even more individuals in need of advanced TeleCare services. By expanding our footprint and driving innovation, we aim to revolutionize the way patients are cared for, bringing unprecedented convenience, independence, and peace of mind to individuals and their loved ones." This funding allows Electronic Caregiver to amplify its marketing initiatives, strengthen its sales infrastructure, and accelerate its research and development efforts. The company's dedicated team of experts will work tirelessly to bring its transformative technologies and services to a broader audience, forging more strategic partnerships with key players in the healthcare and technology sectors. "We are delighted to be working with such a high-quality, innovative company as the Electronic Caregiver. The proceeds from this round will help Electronic Caregiver rapidly exploit their first mover advantage across multiple markets and provide reliable and engaging service to their customers," said John Adams, Managing Director CMD Global. Electronic Caregiver's commitment to leveraging technology to improve and extend patient care has already garnered recognition and trust from many healthcare providers and caregivers nationwide, resulting in improved management of chronic conditions, lower hospital readmissions and countless life-saves. This financing will help empower more individuals to take control of their health and well-being during a time of rising demand for care, coinciding with an increasing shortage of available doctors. A significant percentage of doctors are working at or past the average age of retirement. About Electronic Caregiver, Inc.: Electronic Caregiver, Inc. is a leading provider of advanced TeleCare services and the renowned Addison Virtual Caregiver technologies. The company is dedicated to enhancing patient care and extending functional lifespan through innovative solutions that improve treatment adherence and health outcomes. By leveraging artificial intelligence and personalized care, Electronic Caregiver is revolutionizing the way individuals receive support, empowering them to live healthier, more independent lives. Electronic Caregiver, Inc. has collaborated extensively with Amazon, Intel, and Lenovo Group, LTD. Electronic Caregiver, Inc. has achieved over $100M in prior funding since being founded in 2009. electroniccaregiver.com About CMD Global, LLC: CMD Global, LLC, is an independent, boutique investment bank that typically works for publicly traded and privately owned companies, PE firms, and SPAC management teams who seek to leverage the breadth of their relationships, depth of their industry knowledge, and global reach of their firm. That has resulted in CMD Global, LLC, serving as exclusive advisor on M&A, Capital Raising and Restructuring assignments with transaction values as small as $40-50 million, as well as on several deals valued at over $5 billion. cmdglobal.com Information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to sell shares or securities in the Company or any related or associated company. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only by means of the Company's confidential offering memorandum and in accordance with the terms of all applicable securities and other laws. None of the information or analyses presented are intended to form the basis for any investment decision, and no specific recommendations are intended. Accordingly, this document does not constitute investment advice or counsel or solicitation for investment in any security. This document does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any offer for sale or subscription of, or any invitation to offer to buy or subscribe for, any securities, nor should it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in any connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever. The Company expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any direct or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from: (i) reliance on any information contained herein, (ii) any error, omission or inaccuracy in any such information or (iii) any action resulting therefrom. SOURCE Electronic Caregiver DUBLIN, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Data Center Construction Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe data center construction market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.23% from 2022 to 2028. Key Highlights There is a high demand for retail colocation services in developing countries, driven by organizations with limited budgets and demanding geographical distribution capacities. Additionally, there is increasing demand for wholesale colocation services from cloud providers, enterprises, IoT, and big data organizations. The UK, Germany , and France are among the top contributors to the Europe data center construction market in terms of investment, area, and power capacity. Western Europe led the way with a cumulative growth of over USD 57 billion during the forecast period. The presence of FLAP cities such as Frankfurt and Paris has attracted significant regional data center investments. , and are among the top contributors to the data center construction market in terms of investment, area, and power capacity. led the way with a cumulative growth of over during the forecast period. The presence of FLAP cities such as and has attracted significant regional data center investments. Germany leads the Europe data center construction market with an overall investment of more than USD 1.8 billion in 2022 and a cumulative growth of more than USD 12 billion expected during the forecast period. leads the data center construction market with an overall investment of more than in 2022 and a cumulative growth of more than expected during the forecast period. The growth in data center development has led to increased competition among data center contractors implementing new sustainable methods. Operators are opting for these contractors to enhance their green credentials. Labor shortages, budget constraints, and construction delays in certain regions drive significant greenfield and modular data center development growth. This has increased the revenue of modular data center solutions providers such as Vertiv, Dell, and HPE. The government's interest in promoting data center investments through the land for development and renewable energy procurement, and reducing electricity tariffs, will drive the colocation market in Europe during the forecast period. The trend of procuring renewable energy to power data center facilities will likely continue, with several operators signing power purchase agreements with renewable energy companies. Key Trends and Drivers 5G Deployments Fuelling Data Center Investments The rapid deployment of 5G networks in European countries drives investments in data centers, particularly edge data centers. In May 2022 , Three UK, a UK-based operator, covered over 54% of the population with a 5G network available at 400 locations in over 3,000 sites. Vodafone UK also selected Oracle Communications in February 2022 to accelerate its standalone 5G network with the help of Oracle's cloud-native network policy management solution. , Three UK, a UK-based operator, covered over 54% of the population with a 5G network available at 400 locations in over 3,000 sites. Vodafone UK also selected Oracle Communications in to accelerate its standalone 5G network with the help of Oracle's cloud-native network policy management solution. Orange Poland opened its 5G lab in Warsaw in April 2022 , enabling businesses to develop advanced technologies for their growth. opened its 5G lab in in , enabling businesses to develop advanced technologies for their growth. In November 2021 , the Hungary Innovation and Technology Ministry partnered with Huawei Technologies to develop 5G and fixed networks. Increasing Cloud Services Adoption European companies are mainly opting for a hybrid cloud approach by enjoying benefits offered by both public and private clouds, such as enhanced security. They are shifting their workloads to the cloud to strengthen their digitalization goals and enjoy cloud advantages. For instance, a Swedish bank migrated its services to the AWS cloud to analyze customer behavior and make data-driven decisions effectively. Hyperscale cloud services providers such as AWS, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and Meta are increasing their service capabilities for supporting businesses. For instance, in March 2022 , the global cloud service provider, AWS, announced plans to invest over USD 2.3 billion in its data centers in the UK over the next two years. , the global cloud service provider, AWS, announced plans to invest over in its data centers in the UK over the next two years. In May 2022 , the France Competition Authority announced the launch of a sector inquiry for the cloud computing market to determine the impact of the cloud on the competition. Rising Awareness of Carbon-Neutrality Europe has abundant renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal, and hydro. Operators are aligning their goals to the carbon-neutral goals of the respective countries. For instance, Green Mountain, a colocation operator, uses 100% of renewable energy in its data center operations. has abundant renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal, and hydro. Operators are aligning their goals to the carbon-neutral goals of the respective countries. For instance, Green Mountain, a colocation operator, uses 100% of renewable energy in its data center operations. In April 2022 , AWS announced renewable energy projects in France and other locations with a power capacity of around 3.5 GW. This renewable project is the second one from AWS in France , including one established earlier, with the total power capacity from the two projects being around 38 MW. , AWS announced renewable energy projects in and other locations with a power capacity of around 3.5 GW. This renewable project is the second one from AWS in , including one established earlier, with the total power capacity from the two projects being around 38 MW. Denmark is setting up energy islands to harness the resources in the Baltics and will be the first in the world. They will have the capacity to not only supply Denmark but also supply neighboring countries. is setting up energy islands to harness the resources in the Baltics and will be the first in the world. They will have the capacity to not only supply but also supply neighboring countries. European governments are releasing policies relating to sustainability and energy reuse. For instance, the Swedish government released energy policies such as the Electricity Certificate System to ensure energy is used through renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, or geothermal. The Switzerland government's energy strategy and it expected to add 39 TWh of renewable energy by 2050. the government plans to provide tax incentives to support solar power expansion. Growing Adoption of Artificial Intelligence The growing adoption of artificial intelligence drives significant data generation and technology market expansion, creating an increased demand for data center construction. Eurostat's report highlights Ireland as the leading country in Europe for businesses and enterprises utilizing AI/ML technologies in their infrastructure and applications. as the leading country in for businesses and enterprises utilizing AI/ML technologies in their infrastructure and applications. Across Europe , several AI initiatives have been launched, including global partnerships, national strategies, and mission initiatives. For example, the French government invested USD 1.7 billion into its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. , several AI initiatives have been launched, including global partnerships, national strategies, and mission initiatives. For example, the French government invested into its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. Spain's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy is also part of the country's economic recovery and transformation plan, with an investment of approximately USD 720 million from 2021-2023. National Artificial Intelligence Strategy is also part of the country's economic recovery and transformation plan, with an investment of approximately from 2021-2023. The high adoption of AI/ML solutions drives the need for highly efficient cooling infrastructure, such as liquid cooling for supporting AI/ML workloads in High-Performance Computing (HPC). As a result, direct-to-chip and liquid-immersion cooling markets are forming strong partnerships through OEM. Tax Incentives Boosting Data Center Construction Several countries are offering tax incentives to local and global investors to facilitate the construction of data centers. The government of Spain invests heavily in digitalization, with plans to invest around USD 720 million toward strengthening artificial intelligence. France has reduced taxes on electricity to attract data center investments, while the UK government has established a low % corporate tax rate of 20% - the lowest among G20 countries. invests heavily in digitalization, with plans to invest around toward strengthening artificial intelligence. has reduced taxes on electricity to attract data center investments, while the UK government has established a low % corporate tax rate of 20% - the lowest among G20 countries. In Switzerland , the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) includes adaptations to GDPR, making it an attractive destination for data center investments. Meanwhile, France offers tax incentives of up to 30% for research and development, with a limit of USD 97.48 million . , the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) includes adaptations to GDPR, making it an attractive destination for data center investments. Meanwhile, offers tax incentives of up to 30% for research and development, with a limit of . The Dutch government is also actively working to position the country at the forefront of the European data center market, despite a sales and VAT rate of over 20%. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS Several prominent companies, including Arup, AECOM, Ariatta, Caverion, Cowi, DPR Construction, Designer Group, Exyte, Kirby Group Engineering, Mercury, RED, Granlund Group, Turner & Townsend, and others, are major players in the Europe data center construction market. To provide reliable construction solutions, these vendors collaborate with data center operators. For example, Keysource provided planning, engineering, and construction services for edge data center construction at Namsos Datacenter (NDS). Major Vendors Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers 3M ABB Airedale International Air Conditioning Aermec Alfa Laval Aksa Power Generation Carrier Caterpillar Condair Climaveneta Cummins D'HONDT THERMAL SOLUTIONS Daikin Applied Delta Electronics Eaton ebm-papst EMICON INNOVATION AND COMFORT Enrogen FlaktGroup Grundfos Guntner GESAB HiRef HITEC Power Protection Honeywell International Johnson Controls KOHLER-SDMO KyotoCooling Legrand Mitsubishi Electric Munters NetNordic Nlyte Software (Carrier Global Corporation) Perkins Engines Piller Power Systems Riello Elettronica (Riello UPS) Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec STULZ Trane ( Ingersoll Rand ) ) Vertiv ZIEHL-ABEGG Prominent Construction Contractors AECOM Altron AODC AEON Engineering APL Data Center ARC:MC Ariatta ARSMAGNA Artelia Arup Aurora Group Atkins Basler & Hofmann BENTHEM CROUWEL ARCHITECTS Bouygues Construction Callaghan Engineering Cap Ingelec Caverion Coromatic Collen COWI DataDome Deerns Designer Group Dipl.-Ing. H. C. Hollige Dornan Etop Exyte DPR Construction Eiffage EYP MCF Fluor Corporation Ferrovial Free Technologies Engineering Future-tech Granlund Group GreenMDC Gottlieb Paludan Architects Haka Moscow ICT Facilities IDOM IMOS ISG JCA Engineering JERLAURE Kirby Group Engineering KKCG Group Linesight LPI Group M+W Group (EXYTE) Mace Mercury Metnor Construction MT Hojgaard Nicholas Webb Architects (NWA) (NWA) NORMA Engineering Oakmont Construction PM Group PORR Group PQC Quark Ramboll Group RED Reid Brewin Architects Royal HaskoningDHV Skanska SPIE UK Starching STO Building Group STRABAG STS Group Sweco TECHKO Tetra Tech TPF Ingenierie TTSP Turner & Townsend Warbud Winthrop Engineering and Contracting YIT ZAUNERGROUP Prominent Data Center Investors 3data 3S Group Amazon Web Services Artnet Atman Apple Aruba AtlasEdge AQ Compute atNorth Bahnhof Beyond.pl China Mobile Colt Data Centre Services (COLT DCS) CyrusOne DATA4 DigiPlex (IPI Partners) Digital Realty Echelon Data Centres EcoDataCenter EdgeConneX Equinix Euclyde Data Centers Facebook (Meta) Global Switch Google Green Mountain Hyperco Iron Mountain IXcellerate KDDI Liberty Global Magenta Telekom Microsoft MTS Nautilus Data Technologies NDC-GARBE Data Centers Europe Neterra Netia NTT Global Data Centers Orange Business Services Proximity Data Centres Pure Data Centres Rostelecom Data Centers Stadtwerke Feldkirch T-Mobile T5 Data Centers Telecom Italia Sparkle Vantage Data Centers Verne Global Virtus Data centers (ST Telemedia Global Data Centres) VK Cloud Solutions Yandex Yondr New Entrants ClusterPower Global Technical Realty Stratus DC Management KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1. How big is the Europe data center construction market? 2. What is the growth rate of the Europe data center construction market? 3. What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the Europe data center construction market by 2028? 4. What factors drive the Europe data center construction market growth? 5. How much MW of power capacity is expected to reach the Europe data center construction market by 2028? Key Topics Covered: 1. Market at a Glance 2. Premium Insights 3. Market Opportunities & Trends 3.1. High Adoption of Artificial Intelligence 3.2. Increase in 5G Deployments Aiding in Growth of Edge Data Centers 3.3. Sustainability Initiatives Attracting Data Center Operators 3.4. Rise in District Heating Concept 3.5. Innovative Construction Techniques for Data Centers 4. Market Growth Enablers 4.1. Adoption of Cloud-Based Services to Drive Data Cen 4.2. Shift from On-Premises to Cloud and Colocation 4.3. Advent of IoT & Big Data Technologies 4.4. Government Support for Data Center Developments 4.5. Growing Submarine and Inland Connectivity 4.6. Adoption of Ocp and Hyperscale Infrastructure 5. Market Restraints 5.1. Supply Chain Disruptions Hampering the Growth 5.2. Concerns Over Carbon Emissions from Data Centers 5.3. Lack of Skilled Workforce Hampering Data Center Construction 5.4. Security Challenges Impacting Growth of Data Centers 6. Market Landscape 6.1. Market Overview 6.2. Investment: Market Size & Forecast 6.3. Area: Market Size & Forecast 6.4. Power Capacity: Market Size & Forecast 7. Facility Type 8. Infrastructure 9. Electrical Infrastructure 10. Mechanical Infrastructure 11. Cooling Systems 12. Cooling Techniques 13. General Construction 14. Tier Standards 15. Western Europe 16. Nordic 17. Central & Eastern European Countries 18. Competitive Landscape 19. Key Data Center Support Infrastructure Providers 20. Prominent Construction Contractors 21. Prominent Data Center Investors 22. New Entrants 23. Quantitative Summary 24. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r93xyc About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9175851-eve-energy-showcases-new-energy-vehicles-solutions-battery-show-2023-germany/ On show at the event were EVE Energy's power batteries, BMS, cells, modules, and battery systems that are more than capable of meeting application requirements covering various scenarios and better serving different vehicle models, thereby providing diversified services to customers. During the exhibition, EVE Energy's partner clients, including BMW, Daimler, Bosch, and other companies hosted their own experts and leading figures who took the time to visit EVE Energy's booth personally. They engaged in enthusiastic exchanges with the on-site technical and sales personnel, expressing their high recognition of the company's products. One of the highlights of the exhibition was the display of EVE Energy's large cylindrical batteries and " " battery systems. The large cylindrical batteries, which support ultra-fast charging, integrate high specific energy and lightweight design. With their low internal resistance and high power, these innovative structural designs meet the requirements of HEV and BEV models, providing strong driving power. Recently, EVE Energy announced the construction of a factory in Debrecen, Hungary, to mass-produce large cylindrical batteries. In addition to the large cylindrical batteries, other system products such as its xHEV products, Prismatic Stacked products, and 12V and 48V low-voltage battery systems were also exhibited. These products can cover a wide range of vehicle models on the market, offering high safety, high quality, and high reliability solutions for green energy travel. The Prismatic Stacked products are advantageous in terms of both manufacturing and performance, fully utilizing internal space of the battery cells to provide higher energy density, a more stable internal structure, and enhanced safety in passenger and commercial vehicles alike. The highly anticipated " " battery system drew significant attention at the exhibition. The system employs -shaped three-dimensional liquid cooling technology, efficiently addressing fast charging of the battery system in 9-minutes. With a -shaped cooling technology, heat conductive channels are constructed at the top and both left and right sides of the cell to realize three-dimensional heat transfer, solving the heating problem of fast charging. Based on CTP integration technology, high efficiency composite materials and adhesives are used for system level with 10% weight reduction, realizing smaller space, lower weight, and higher mileage range. This reduces the reliance on vehicle range, resulting in decreased vehicle weight and cost, and lowering the overall cost for society. The 12V battery system solves a series of pain points associated with lead-acid batteries and performs exceptionally well in aspects such as low-temperature performance, high-temperature usage, and cycle life. It is compatible with various vehicle models, including SUVs, vans, sedans, and coupes, meeting diverse market demands with high cost-effectiveness. The 48V battery system utilizes integrated liquid cooling and extreme temperature balance technology, providing strong power for the vehicle's operation. In addition, the commercial-vehicle-used the prismatic LFP battery, BMS, and commercial vehicle standard battery pack from EVE Energy caught the attention of many visitors. In recent years, the Company has collaborated closely with top domestic commercial vehicle manufacturers, while its products have been widely used in logistics vehicles, passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks, and other fields. Going forward, EVE Energy aims to expand its reach globally and establish relationships and collaborations with international clients. The company's innovative and reliable products are a testament to its commitment to providing sustainable and efficient energy solutions. EVE Energy demonstrated its confidence in expanding overseas business, leading technological advantages, and its approach to fostering harmonious cooperation. EVE Energy is devoting its efforts toward contributing to global automotive electrification and energy transformation. About EVE Energy Founded in 2001 and listed in Shenzhen in 2009, EVE Energy has developed into a global player in the market, providing core technologies and comprehensive solutions for both consumer and power batteries, especially regarding the Internet of Things and the energy internet. Currently, EVE Energy has set up a research institute with 60 doctors and over 4,100 interdisciplinary R&D engineers in materials, electrochemistry, structure design, and electronic circuit design, obtained over 5,900 national patents in China. The company launched a carbon reduction roadmap with a series of low-carbon reduction efforts in energy use, the manufacturing process, the supply chain, and resource management, and was named a "National Green Factory". Meanwhile, EVE Energy leverages its BIM technology to provide accurate and reliable data for project management, saving a total of 2,533 tons of standard coal and reducing 16,000 tons of CO 2 emissions annually. For more information about EVE Energy, please check EVE's official website https://www.evebattery.com/en. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091800/Video.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091795/Alex.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091796/Lexy.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091797/Site.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091794/Alex_and_attendees.jpg SOURCE EVE Energy Co., Ltd Modal title PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit Thank you for subscribing! Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our By signing up you agree to receive content from us.Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . You can withdraw your consent at any time in the footer of every email you'll receive. Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. 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Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant En vous inscrivant a la newsletter, vous consentez a la reception de contenus de notre part.Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Vous pouvez a tout moment revenir sur votre consentement par le biais des informations situees au bas de chaque e-mail recu. SALT LAKE CITY, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Extra Space Storage Inc. ("Extra Space") (NYSE: EXR), a leading owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and a member of the S&P 500, today announced that its operating partnership, Extra Space Storage LP (the "operating partnership"), has priced a public offering of $450 million aggregate principal amount of 5.500% senior notes due 2030 (the "Notes"). The Notes were priced at 98.878% of the principal amount and will mature on July 1, 2030, Wells Fargo Securities, BMO Capital Markets, TD Securities, J.P. Morgan, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Truist Securities, US Bancorp and BofA Securities are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering. Regions Securities LLC, BOK Financial Securities, Inc., Huntington Capital Markets, Scotiabank, Zions Capital Markets, Citigroup, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Academy Securities and Ramirez and Co., Inc. are acting as the co-managers for the offering. The offering is expected to close on or about June 16, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Extra Space and certain of its subsidiaries. The operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay amounts outstanding from time to time under its lines of credit, and for other general corporate and working capital purposes, including funding potential acquisition opportunities. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, copies of which, when available, may be obtained from Wells Fargo Securities, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, MN 55402, email: [email protected], or by telephone: 1-800-645-3751; BMO Capital Markets, 151 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, email: [email protected], or by telephone: 1-866-864-7760; or TD Securities, 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017, or by telephone: 1-855-495-9846. A prospectus supplement related to the offering will also be available free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. About Extra Space Storage Inc.: Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust and a member of the S&P 500. As of March 31, 2023, Extra Space owned and/or operated 2,388 self-storage properties, comprising approximately 180.0 million square feet of rentable storage space offering customers conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. Extra Space is the second largest owner and/or operator of self-storage properties in the United States and is the largest self-storage management company in the United States. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information set forth in this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the terms, timing and completion of the offering of securities by Extra Space and the operating partnership, including the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "estimates," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or "intends," or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this release. Such risks and uncertainties include without limitation those associated with market risks and uncertainties and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions for an offering of securities, as well as the risks referenced in the "Risk Factors" section included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc. Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are building a better world PLEASANTON, Calif., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Jack Kudale, Founder and CEO of Cowbell, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Bay Area Award winner. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. Kudale was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs, investors and other regional business leaders. The candidates were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. "It is a significant honor to be recognized by Ernst & Young as a Bay Area Entrepreneur Of The Year amongst my peers. This award is truly reflective of the hard work and passion that my team shows every day, and the opportunity in our sector," said Jack Kudale, founder and CEO of Cowbell. "They say the best way to predict the future is to create it and I see a brighter future for small and medium-sized enterprises, which support more than 40% of the US economy with our products and services. As my team and I tracked the growing threats in the cyber landscape, we saw a gaping hole in protection for these smaller businesses, many of whom cannot fiscally survive a cyber or ransomware attack. My team and I remain dedicated to solving this challenge, developing standalone cyber insurance programs for small and medium-size enterprises and risk protection that help drive security awareness and understanding across the industry. I feel truly excited by the recognition this award gives to our entire sector and this globally economic issue." For nearly four decades, EY US has honored entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies' success, transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities. Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries all supported by vast EY resources. Since 1986, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 US executives. As a Bay Area award winner, Kudale is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 National Awards. The National Award winners including the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2024. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as: Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks and of Arista Networks Daymond John of FUBU of FUBU Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani, Inc. of Chobani, Inc. Holly Thaggard and Amanda Baldwin of Supergoop! and of Supergoop! Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company of Starbucks Coffee Company James Park of Fitbit of Fitbit Jodi Berg of Vitamix of Vitamix Joe DeSimone of Carbon, Inc. of Carbon, Inc. Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC of Kendra Scott LLC Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation and of LinkedIn Corporation Sheila Mikhail of AskBio Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In the Bay Area region, sponsors also include Platinum sponsors: Cresa and Woodruff Sawyer and Co.; Gold sponsor: Big Picture; and Silver sponsor: ADP. About Cowbell Cowbell is a pioneer of Adaptive Cyber Insurance, a leader in providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) coverage adaptable to today's and tomorrow's threats and the advanced warning of cyber risk exposures. In its unique AI-based approach to risk selection and pricing, Cowbell's continuous underwriting platform, powered by Cowbell Factors, compresses the insurance process from submission to issue in less than 5 minutes. Cowbell is backed by 20 prominent leading global (re)insurance partners and serves SMEs in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 2019, Cowbell is based in the San Francisco Bay Area with employees across the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K. For more information, please visit https://cowbell.insure/. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy. About EY Private As Advisors to the ambitious, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private. About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. Contact: John Kreuzer Company: Lumina Communications for Cowbell Tel: 408-963-6418 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Cowbell News / Local by Staff reporter MR Hope Ndhlovu, the Bulawayo-born software engineer, who won the 2019 World Bank Youth Summit Award, has embarked on a new venture to revolutionise commuting in Zimbabwe through a taxi application. The groundbreaking application, which is now operational in Bulawayo, aims to make public transport in Africa safer, cheaper and more efficient.The app, which is now available on Google Playstore, will be launched in Harare in August.Having studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Harvard University in the United States, Ndhlovu was among the hundreds of participants who submitted their innovative apps for consideration at the prestigious World Bank Summit in 2019.Mr Hope NdhlovuNow, after years of hard work and dedication, the founder of Tuverl Pvt Limited, a company with interest in public transport, launched another app the Tuverl App on Saturday, with a vision to enhance commuting experiences across Zimbabwe."The Tuverl App's primary objective is to make public transport more accessible and affordable for millions of commuters in African countries."By helping public transport operators reduce operational costs, optimise routes and increase revenue, Tuverl strives to improve the overall efficiency of the system. With this app, commuters can easily hail a taxi and pay for their public transportation using either cash or Fintech mobile app solutions. This eliminates the need to waste time searching or calling taxis to inquire about pick-up times and pricing."One of the standout features of the Tuverl App is its review system, which empowers commuters to provide feedback about drivers and their overall commuting experience. By incentivising drivers to offer better customer service, Tuverl aims to elevate the quality of public transport for everyone. This dedication to improving the industry's standards is what sets Tuverl apart," said Ndhlovu.Targeting commuters in African countries, starting with Zimbabwe, the app caters for a specific demographic between the ages of 18 and 40."The average commuter has a specific psychological profile that we hope to take advantage of as we scale our app. This group, predominantly consisting of students attending or recently graduated from tertiary institutions, exhibits high digital literacy rates and frequents various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat."As these individuals do not own personal vehicles and heavily rely on public transport, they embrace new technology and regularly use mobile banking apps for their daily transactions."The Tuverl App offers a range of features to enhance the commuting experience for both commuters and drivers. Commuters can easily sign up using their phone numbers and hail taxis conveniently while on the move."Commuters have the option to book taxis in advance for dates up to two weeks ahead, ensuring a hassle-free travel. Trip prices are predetermined based on distance, time and a standardised base price for each city where Tuverl operates. Commuters can also keep a record of their trips, receive timely notifications about their trip requests and status and enjoy sign-up discounts using referral codes."On the other hand, drivers receive text notifications for every taxi request and booking containing comprehensive information about the commuter, pick-up and destination locations, departure and estimated arrival times and prices. By promptly responding to requests, drivers contribute to the fast and efficient delivery of services. They also receive daily SMS reports on the number of trips and revenue they have collected, with weekly and monthly aggregated data for further analysis."To ensure a successful roll-out, Mr Ndhlovu said Tuverl has developed a comprehensive strategy that includes leveraging social media platforms, maintaining an informative website with regular blog updates, implementing influencer marketing and establishing partnerships with various organisations.Through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, Tuverl will consistently engage with its audience by posting updates and relevant content.The company has strategically partnered with influential individuals who have a significant following on social media. They include Jahalemzansi Sibanda, Vuyisile Ndlovu, Allen Moyo, Cleo Ncube, Amanda Dube, Zithelo Mguni, Miyamiko Banda, Antonella Nare and Junior Garnet.Mr Ndhlovu also revealed that the company has implemented a partner referral system. This system allows Tuverl to collaborate with various organisations."By providing partners with referral codes, they can distribute them to their followers, members, staff, and customers. This mutually beneficial arrangement not only expands Tuverl's user base but also provides incentives for the partner organisations."We will maintain an active online presence through its website, regularly updating it with engaging content and weekly blogs that keep users informed about the app's progress. By providing comprehensive information about the app's features, we aim to educate and familiarise potential users with its functionalities," said Mr Ndhlovu. GREENSBORO, N.C., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Lady Kristen Cooper Joins Childrens Home Societys reTHINK Permanency Conference to Present Family Champion Awards (PRNewsfoto/Childrens Home Society of North Carolina) WHAT: North Carolina First Lady Kristen Cooper is attending the reTHINK Permanency: Unlocking Pathways from Foster Care to Permanency Conference hosted by Children's Home Society of NC (CHS) in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The reTHINK Permanency Conference will bring together family service professionals and advocates to explore permanency planning for youth experiencing foster care. During the conference, the Institute for Family, a program of CHS, will host the Family Champion Awards Luncheon, where First Lady Cooper will present the awards to recognize social workers across North Carolina who work to strengthen families, build families, and advocate for families. The awards ceremony is underwritten by Healthy Blue. WHEN: June 15 Conference 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Media is invited to attend the awards ceremony. WHERE: McKimmon Conference and Training Center NC State University 1101 Gorman Street Raleigh, NC REGISTRATION: The conference is free; pre-registration is required by 5pm on Tuesday, June 13. reTHINK Permanency: Unlocking Pathways from Foster Care to Family Conference INFORMATION: For more information on the reTHINK Permanency Conference, contact Candace Kearce, Communication Manager, Institute for Family, 336.860.8063, [email protected]. The Institute for Family advocates for family well-being in North Carolina and across the nation. The Institute is grounded in listening to families, trusting their lived expertise, and working with them to inform and inspire policies and practices that value families. The Institute capitalizes on Children's Home Society's 120-year history of providing direct services for families associated with the child welfare system. The Institute's impact extends beyond the limits of traditional programs to address the broader conditions facing families that lead to child maltreatment. Children's Home Society is dedicated to its mission to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family by providing top-quality, evidence-based programs and services to children and families throughout North Carolina. Our education and child welfare staff provided services to more than 20,000 individuals last year, educating and preserving families, supporting children and families through transitions, and creating new families. About Children's Home Society of North Carolina Children's Home Society offers a network of services and support throughout North Carolina to help establish and sustain healthy, loving relationships in every family. For 120 years, Children's Home Society has provided a broad spectrum of programs and services including adoption, foster care, parenting education, and family preservation. Children's Home Society believes in the importance of family, not only in the life of a child, but also in the foundation of a community. SOURCE Childrens Home Society of North Carolina LAKELAND, Fla., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After an exhaustive national search, Florida Southern College has named Dr. Laly Joseph, DVM, DNP, CNE, RN-C, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, FNAP, as the next Dean of the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The announcement was made by Dr. Tracey D. Tedder, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Florida Southern. Florida Southern College Names Dr. Laly Joseph New Dean of the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences Tweet this Dr. Laly Joseph, DVM, DNP, CNE, RN-C, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, FNAP, will become the next Dean of the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla. "We are proud to bring such a qualified and distinguished leader to campus," said Dr. Tedder. "Dr. Joseph is a vibrant and respected leader, with the experience to continue the tradition of excellence in the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences." Dr. Joseph comes to Lakeland after most recently serving as Interim Dean and Professor at the Phillips School of Nursing (PSON) at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, and as President of the Alpha Beta Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. "I want to personally thank Dr. Kerr and the entire Board of Trustees at Florida Southern College for this opportunity," Dr. Joseph said. "As a versatile and experienced educator and leader, I am looking forward to getting started with the wonderful faculty, staff, and students at Florida Southern." Dr. Joseph's academic and health care career spans more than 30 years, with previous positions as Assistant Professor of Clinical at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies and Associate Director, Clinical Assistant Professor and RN-BSN-MSN Program Director at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has also held various leadership roles as Administrative Nursing Supervisor, Director of Education, Sigma Epsilon Rho and Beta Tau Chapter Leader and President, United Nations Delegate, and currently as International Nursing Consultant with universities in India and Malaysia. Dr. Joseph is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner, clinically active and trained in palliative and end-of-life care by the End of Life Nursing Consortium. She is also a certified nurse educator by the National League for Nursing. Her specialty areas include management, oncology, mobile technology, virtual simulation, gerontology, palliative, and hospice nursing. Dr. Joseph is an Advisory Editor to the Editorial Board of the Malaysian Journal for Qualitative Research (MJQR). She is an editorial reviewer for the National Kidney Foundation Board, Hindawi Ltd., U.K., and has participated in the publication of several nursing textbooks. Dr. Joseph has presented and published nationally and internationally on topics such as yoga, ayurvedic medicine, mobile technology to reduce medication errors, virtual simulation & electronic documentation, and palliative and end-of-life care integration in the undergraduate nursing curriculum. Dr. Joseph earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Bombay Veterinary College in Mumbai in 1985. She was a practicing veterinarian before making a career change to the nursing field. She then earned her BSN degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1993, her MSN, APRN, and ANP-BC in 2002, and her DNP in 2009, also from FDU. Dr. Joseph is a Distinguished Fellow and Practitioner of the National Academies of Practice (NAP), AACN Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN) member, AACN HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity Program Grant Project Director, and an Experienced Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy Scholar with Sigma. About Florida Southern College Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the oldest private college in the state. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 70+ undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, nursing, and physical therapy. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, is an award-winning national leader in engaged learning, and boasts 30 NCAA Division II National Championships. Florida Southern is ranked at #8 among the "Best Regional Universities in the South" by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022 "Best Colleges" guide and is included in The Princeton Review's 2022 Best 387 Colleges guide and the "Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022." The 2021-2022 Colleges of Distinction guidebook praises Florida Southern's AACSB accredited Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise alongside the College's School of Education and its Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Poets&Quants, U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, and The Princeton Review further laud the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise and the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences as foremost programs in the nation for business and nursing education. Home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, FSC has appeared on The Princeton Review's top 20 "Most Beautiful Campus" national listing for 12 consecutive years. Connect with Florida Southern College. SOURCE Florida Southern College The Careers of the Future Index unlocks key information about the full range of overlooked job opportunities for young people WASHINGTON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. job market adapts to the needs of the future, Gallup and Amazon partnered to create The Careers of the Future Index (CFI), providing transparent and data-driven information on careers with the most potential growth. The CFI combines the most recent career-level data on income, job growth, job vacancies per job seeker and resistance to automation. It conveys the economic strengths and weaknesses of various career paths and highlights careers that both pay well and are likely to be available to applicants now and in the future. The result of this research is particularly significant for young people. More than one in five 15-year-olds (22%) in the U.S. cannot name a career when asked what job they expect to have by age 30, according to Gallup analysis of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) data. The results vary based on gender male students are more likely than female students to not know what career they want (28% versus 15%, respectively). The CFI can provide students access to key information about the wide range of jobs that are accessible in the United States and what different fields are expected to be needed. Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon's global philanthropic computer science education program, commissioned the CFI to provide young adults and their advisers with supported guidance about the economic prospects of jobs in the U.S. The findings offer new insights to educators and industry stakeholders seeking to help equip students from all backgrounds with the tools they will need to obtain jobs of the future. "Many young people have misconceptions about viable careers or aren't even sure what careers are available to them," said Jonathan Rothwell, principal economist at Gallup. "This data will help students better align their passion and proclivities, with an accurate perspective of available jobs." For students who have an idea of what they want to do for their career, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations are the most cited future careers, accounting for one-third (33%) of all mentions. This category has a CFI score of 75, landing in the top 25th percentile and being a promising career prospect. The study also found that 35% of 15-year-olds pick a career that falls below the top 20% of jobs, like athletes and actors, while overlooking higher scoring careers. Among the career pathways with the largest gap between popularity and economic viability are those in management, computers and mathematical occupations, and science. Many careers in these categories have shown steady growth, rank highly in terms of income and are resistant to automation. Within top-scoring jobs, Black, Hispanic and American Indian workers are underrepresented at high levels, meaning their shares of jobs in top-scoring careers are well below their workforce shares across all jobs. Asian and White workers are overrepresented. Since 2010, however, Black, Hispanic and White workers have become more evenly represented in top-scoring jobs, better reflecting their share of all jobs. This is especially pronounced for Hispanic workers, who saw their share of top-jobs go from 6.5% to 9.9%. By contrast, American Indian workers became slightly more underrepresented in top-scoring jobs, whereas Asian workers became more overrepresented and Multiracial/Other racial groups went from slightly underrepresented to slightly overrepresented. Men are slightly overrepresented in top-scoring jobs, when taken in their entirety, but women have made notable gains in greater representation since 2010, and women are overrepresented in several top-scoring careers, especially those in healthcare. Workers' level of education is highly correlated with the CFI, although there are high-scoring opportunities for those without formal college degrees, including chief fire fighters, cardiovascular technicians and construction managers. In 27 careers comprising 5.8 million jobs (5.2% of all) a majority of workers have less than a bachelor's degree, but the career still scores in the top 70th percentile, making these careers at least as high-scoring as those of the average bachelor's degree holder. "Millions of American students face an important decision every year what career do they want to pursue and what's the best way to get there? Grappling with an abundance of available career paths, students can use this data-driven tool to make the best possible career decision one that provides them satisfaction, job security, and longevity," said Victor Reinoso, global director of philanthropic education initiatives at Amazon. "Young adults are overlooking promising career options. While some jobs might be popular now, they might not be in-demand in a decade or they could be highly disrupted by new emerging technologies. Our goal is to provide students and career counselors across the country with a way to make informed decisions in a rapidly changing labor market." See more of the top careers based on education level below: Top overall careers: Surgeons (CFI score: 100) Astronomers (CFI score: 100) Nurse Anesthetists (CFI score: 100) Physicians (CFI score: 100) Project Management Specialists (CFI score: 100) Top careers that require a bachelor's degree but no graduate school: Actuaries (CFI score: 99) Financial and Investment Analysts (CFI score: 98) Sales Engineers (CFI score: 98) Software Developers (CFI score: 97) Chemical Engineers (CFI score: 96) Top careers that do not require a bachelor's degree: First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers (CFI score: 89) Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (CFI score: 89) Construction Managers (CFI score: 87) Industrial Production Managers (CFI score: 87) Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers (CFI score: 85) Most popular broad careers compared with economic viability (using scores out of 100 for both): Management (45.6 for student popularity vs. 83.4 CFI score) Computer and Mathematic (55.6 for student popularity vs. 89.6 CFI score) Business, and Financial Operations (40.4 for student popularity vs. 74.1 CFI score) Life, Physical, and Social Science (48.2 for student popularity vs. 79.9 CFI score) Architecture and Engineering (60.3 for student popularity vs. 82.7 CFI score) Download the report to understand how the index was made and see what insights it offers and visit our interactive page to explore more careers or download the database. Methodology The Careers of the Future Index is a weighted average of occupation-level data on income, job growth, job vacancies per unemployed worker and resistance to automation. Gallup drew upon several sources to construct these metrics. Income and job growth data were compiled from the 2021 and 2010 U.S. Census Bureau (via IPUMS USA). These data were also used to calculate the number of unemployed workers, and provide contextual data on the educational attainment, racial, and gender demographics of workers in each occupation/career. Lightcast (formerly Burning Glass) was the source for job vacancies by occupation, using data from June 2021 to May 2022. The resistance to automation index is a summary measure of the level and importance of non-automatable tasks to each occupation. It was constructed using data from the 2019 Gallup Great Jobs Survey and O*NET data on the tasks performed by each occupation. These sources allowed the authors to create a measure of how likely workers in each occupation are to believe that their job could be automated or replaced by a machine or robot. Starting with 24 tasks that were identified in the scientific literature as relevant to automation, Gallup estimated how well the level and importance of each task predicts automation risk. The strength of the statistical relationship between each task and automation risk is then used as a weight to calculate the mean important/level of automatable and non-automatable tasks for each occupation. See the report's appendix for details. About Amazon Future Engineer Amazon Future Engineer is a childhood-to-career computer science education program intended to inspire and educate millions of students from historically underrepresented communities globally, including millions of students in the U.S. each year. Students explore computer science through school curriculum and project-based learning, using code to make music, program robots, and solve problems. Additionally, each year Amazon Future Engineer awards hundreds of students with four-year, $40,000 scholarships and paid industry internships, as well as names 10 Teacher of the Year winners, awarding $30,000 prize packages for going above and beyond to inspire students in computer science and to promote diversity and inclusion in the field. The program is currently available in Canada, France, Germany, India, the UK and U.S. For more information, visit amazonfutureengineer.com. About Gallup Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. Media Contacts: Amazon Amazon.com, Inc. Media Hotline [email protected] Gallup Kristjan Archer [email protected] SOURCE Gallup, Inc. ONTARIO, Calif., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking for a reliable and efficient diagnostic tool for the vehicle? Look no further than the MUCAR CDE900 PRO, the ultimate diagnostic tool that offers great value. Get Ready for the AliExpress June 12 Event Get the MUCAR CDE900 PRO Diagnostic Tool at a Great Price! This device itself will provide a variety of combinations of additional features and paid opening methods in order to suit all types of maintenance technicians, flexible and easy to open at any time. Such as Full System Diagnostics Package, Single Reset Function Package, Full Reset Functions Package and 1 Brand Full System Diagnostics + 28 Reset Functions + ECU Coding + Active Test Package. It supports all vehicles that support the OBDII protocol after 1996 and the following communication protocols: ISO 14230-4 (KWP2000), ISO 15765-4 (CAN), ISO 9141-2 (iso), ISO 14229 (uds), and SAEJ 1850 (VPW&PWM). Also it offers a professional diagnosis report, Bluetooth/email share printing, and support for 17 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages. The MUCAR CDE900 PRO has been equipped with a 5-inch touch screen and a 1.2m diagnostic cable, the MUCAR CDE900 PRO offers a user-friendly interface that makes car diagnostics a breeze. Powered by Android 6.0 and an MT6580 4-Core Cortex Chip, it delivers lightning-fast processing speeds, allowing users to identify and fix any issues with their cars quickly and easily. With 2+32G ROM and the ability to insert a memory card no larger than 256G to expand the memory, it offers ample space for storing diagnostic data. 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AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005509983791.html SOURCE Mucar Tech NEW YORK, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A latest research report [115+] pages with 360-Degree visibility, titled "Cardiac Marker Testing Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Product (Reagents and Kits and Instruments); By Biomarker Type; By End-User; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023-2032" published by Polaris Market Research in its research repository. "According to research report, the global cardiac marker testing market size/share was valued at USD 4.42 Billion in 2022 and is expected to touch USD 9.73 Billion By 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.43% during the forecast period." What is Cardiac Marker Testing? How Big is Cardiac Marker Testing Market Size & Share? Overview Cardiac biomarkers are molecules emitted into the blood after heart injury or stress. These biomarkers may be used to identify several cardiovascular illnesses (CVD), such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS), congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiac ischemia. The doctor can assess a patient's risk of contracting such conditions using cardiac biomarker tests. In the upcoming years, the cardiac marker testing market is anticipated to be driven by an increase in the senior population and the number of patients experiencing heart attacks and chest discomfort due to a changed lifestyle. Request Sample Copy of Cardiac Marker Testing Market Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cardiac-marker-testing-market/request-for-sample (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, Table of Contents, Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis and our research methodology.) Our Sample Report May Includes: 2032 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis. 115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research). Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request. 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends. Includes Updated List of table & figures. Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis. Some of the Top Market Players Are: Roche Abbott Laboratories Danaher Corporation Siemens Healthineers Becton Dickson Bio-Rad Laboratories Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Medience Quidel Corporation Randox Laboratories PerkinElmer Tosoh Corporation Alfa Scientific Designs Response Biomedical Creative Diagnostics For Additional Information on Key Players, Request to Download Sample Pages Here: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cardiac-marker-testing-market/request-for-sample Key Growth Driving Factors Quick diagnosis and results: The rising focus on developing new and more advanced devices and test kits among key players will also likely fuel the market growth. The growing popularity of these test kits is mainly due to the quick diagnosis and fast results obtained that reduce the diagnostic time involved and expedite the overall treatment process. The rising focus on developing new and more advanced devices and test kits among key players will also likely fuel the market growth. The growing popularity of these test kits is mainly due to the quick diagnosis and fast results obtained that reduce the diagnostic time involved and expedite the overall treatment process. Growing incidence of cardiovascular diseases: Increased use of advanced cardiac marker testing systems and devices has been made possible by the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. These systems and devices help in the early detection and diagnosis of various CVD conditions, including heart attack, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure, which boosts the cardiac marker testing market demand. Increased use of advanced cardiac marker testing systems and devices has been made possible by the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. These systems and devices help in the early detection and diagnosis of various CVD conditions, including heart attack, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure, which boosts the cardiac marker testing market demand. Major investments in research and development: Government and private healthcare institutions are heavily investing in the R&D of biomarkers for effective diagnosis, predictive analysis, and prognosis, which is creating significant opportunities for the market. These institutions are also focusing on novel biomarker tests. Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cardiac-marker-testing-market/request-for-discount-pricing Recent Trends Influencing the Market Increased patient population: Due to their rapidly expanding patient populations and government emphasis on constructing healthcare infrastructure with various new technologies and advancements, rapidly developing markets like China and India are providing significant growth opportunities and potential for cardiac diagnostics. Segmental Analysis Reagents and Kits Sector Accounts for the Largest Market Share The reagents and kits sector had most of the market share and is anticipated to keep that position during the forecast period. The increase in cardiac biomarker tests conducted globally, mostly due to the high burden of various types of cardiovascular illnesses and the ongoing growth in the world's elderly population, can be directly attributed to the segment market's expansion. Moreover, as the demand for quick cardiovascular disease (CVD) detection increases globally, prominent market participants are expected to provide novel cardiac biomarker test kits. This is likely to affect the segment market's expansion positively. Point-of-Care Testing Sector Witness Highest Growth With the increasing use and adoption of several high-sensitive and simple-to-use POC troponin tests by healthcare service providers and the growing focus on delivering effective and value-based services, the point-of-care sector is predicted to grow at a higher CAGR during the anticipated period. In addition, the exponential increase in the aging population and the increasing need for these POC tests in nursing homes and home healthcare are additional factors anticipated to boost the cardiac marker testing market size. Furthermore, with a sizable market share in 2022, the laboratory testing sector is expected to dominate the industry. This growth is driven by a wide range of advantages and helpful features provided by laboratory testing, such as high sensitivity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness, as well as the capabilities to encourage all types of testing and play a significant role in clinical decision-making. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cardiac-marker-testing-market/inquire-before-buying (Inquire a report quote OR available discount offers to the sales team before purchase.) Cardiac Marker Testing Market: Report Scope Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2032 USD 9.73 Billion Market size value in 2023 USD 4.70 Billion Expected CAGR Growth 8.43% from 2023 2032 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 2032 Top Market Players F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Abbott Laboratories, Danaher Corporation, Siemens Healthineers AG, Becton Dickson and Company, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, LSI Medience Corporation, Quidel Corporation, Randox Laboratories, PerkinElmer Inc., Tosoh Corporation, Alfa Scientific Designs, Response Biomedical, and Creative Diagnostics. Segments Covered By Product, By Biomarker Type, By End-User, By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options Geographical Overview North America : With the largest revenue share in the market, the cardiac marker testing market in North America region led the way and is expected to continue to do so for the duration of the forecasted period. The presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region and the growing use of cardiac biomarkers as a crucial diagnostic tool for several diseases are major contributors to the regional market growth. Additionally, the growing elderly population and patients' high spending capacity for healthcare motivate them to use the most advanced technology to detect diseases like acute myocardial infarction. With the largest revenue share in the market, the cardiac marker testing market in region led the way and is expected to continue to do so for the duration of the forecasted period. The presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region and the growing use of cardiac biomarkers as a crucial diagnostic tool for several diseases are major contributors to the regional market growth. Additionally, the growing elderly population and patients' high spending capacity for healthcare motivate them to use the most advanced technology to detect diseases like acute myocardial infarction. Asia Pacific : Due to the rising affordability of new and advanced cardiac tests, the modernization of the healthcare infrastructure in APAC nations, and the rise in the prevalence of cardiovascular disorders, Asia Pacific had a substantial growth over the study period. Moreover, expected drivers of demand and market expansion in the area include the growing government investment and supportive initiatives for target illness and other research and healthcare expenditure, particularly in nations like China , India , and Malaysia . Browse the Detail Report "Cardiac Marker Testing Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Product (Reagents and Kits and Instruments); By Biomarker Type; By End-User; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023-2032" with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/cardiac-marker-testing-market For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail At: [email protected] Recent Developments The world's first smartphone-based cardiovascular test was set to launch in January 2022 , according to PocDoc, a major digital health platform, and personal diagnostics supplier. It would initially be made available to pharmacies, private healthcare providers, and NHS providers. The company estimates their technology will save the NHS million annually by lowering the required staff members because the new test will cover the entire five market lipid panel. , according to PocDoc, a major digital health platform, and personal diagnostics supplier. It would initially be made available to pharmacies, private healthcare providers, and NHS providers. The company estimates their technology will save the NHS million annually by lowering the required staff members because the new test will cover the entire five market lipid panel. Quidel Corporation created a "Triage Cardiac Panel" for use in the ED in May 2022 and is FDA authorized to help identify myocardial infraction. This is to determine myoglobin level, troponin I, and creatine kine MB. Key Questions Answered in The Report What is the market value of cardiac marker tests? What are the cardiac marker testing market growth drivers? Which segments accounts for the largest cardiac marker testing market share? Who are the leading players in the industry? Which is the largest regional market for cardiac markers? What is market chain analysis by upstream raw materials and downstream industry? What are the challenges and opportunities? What is the CAGR of the market during the forecast period? Polaris Market Research has segmented the cardiac marker testing market report based on product, biomarker type, end-user, and region: By Product Outlook Reagents and Kits Instruments By Biomarker Type Outlook Troponin I and T Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) Natriuretic Peptide Myoglobin High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Other Cardiac Biomarkers By Application Outlook Laboratory Testing Facilities Point-Of-Care Testing Facilities Academic Institutions By Region Outlook North America (U.S., Canada ) (U.S., ) Europe ( France , Germany , UK, Italy , Netherlands , Spain , Russia ) ( , , UK, , , , ) Asia Pacific ( Japan , China , India , Malaysia , Indonesia . South Korea ) ( , , , , . ) Latin America ( Brazil , Mexico , Argentina ) ( , , ) Middle East & Africa ( Saudi Arabia , UAE, Israel , South Africa ) About Polaris Market Research: Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMR's clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMR's diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMR's customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMR's customers. Contact: Likhil G 30 Wall Street 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10005, United States Phone: +1-929 297-9727 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | twitter Blog: https://www.polarisnewsblog.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1316207/Polaris_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Polaris Market Research DUBLIN, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market (2023 Edition): Analysis By Services (Pre-Natal, Post-Natal, Birthing, Fertility), Maternal Age, Service Medium, By Region, By Country: Market Insights and Forecast (2023-2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market is expected to grow in the forecast period and register a market value of USD 1472.22 Billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 14.73% during the forecast period. The increasing demand for telemedicine and the increasing population across the globe are contributing to the overall growth of the Pediatric and Maternity Care market. The growing prevalence of online consultancy services, rising demand for Pediatric and Maternity Care services, and increasing birth rates are major driving factors that are accelerating the overall market growth of the Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market. Hospitals, Health institutions, and other amenities are getting more aware of the services that are used for the betterment of newborn babies and women; fortified services such as telemedicine, online consultancy services, and behavioural health are more in demand. COVID-19 has created a huge increase in the adoption of online Pediatric and maternity services which is positively pushing the overall market forward. Increasing awareness of mother & child healthcare services The awareness about mother and child health is increasing however most developing countries are not able to meet the targeted goals of reducing child and maternal mortality mostly due to inadequate access to health services and lack of awareness. Pediatric & Maternity care services improve perinatal, maternal, and child mortality and morbidity by eliminating transmission of infections from mother to child, and assessing child development, nutrition, and behavioural health of both mother and child thus creating a healthy environment for both. Thus, increasing awareness of mother and child healthcare services will contribute to the growth of the Pediatric and maternity care market in the upcoming future. Lack of services in rural areas Rural areas often have a shortage of healthcare providers and facilities, including pediatricians, obstetricians, and specialized Pediatric and maternity care centres. This limited access to healthcare services can result in delayed or inadequate care for children and expectant mothers. The lack of healthcare facilities in rural areas can lead to decreased utilization of prenatal care services. Prenatal care is crucial for monitoring the health of the mother and the baby, identifying potential risks, and providing necessary interventions. Reduced utilization of prenatal care can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The lack of timely and adequate maternity care services in rural areas can contribute to higher maternal and infant mortality rates. Difficulties in accessing emergency obstetric care and specialized neonatal care can result in adverse outcomes for both mothers and babies. Therefore, the lack of services in rural areas hinders the growth of the pediatric and maternity care market. Segment-Wise Insights The Fertility service segment accounts for USD 132.49 Billion in 2022. Technological advancements in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have expanded the range of fertility treatments available. In vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) are some of the techniques that have improved success rates and increased the demand for fertility services. Factors such as delayed childbearing due to career priorities, increased urbanization, and changes in family structures have contributed to the demand for fertility services. People are now more inclined to pursue fertility treatments to fulfill their desire for parenthood. Regional Insights According to Azoth Analytics Estimates, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest revenue share in 2022. The increasing demand for Pediatric and Maternity Care Services such as Telemedicine that are used by Hospitals, Pediatric and Maternity Clinics, and other amenities are among the key drivers of the market along with the increasing birth rates, which are expected to drive the global Pediatric and Maternity Care market over the forecast period. Also, the adoption of technology in developing countries, such as China and India, owing to increasing birth rates and fertility rates is also the major factor supplementing the growth of the Americas Pediatric and Maternity Care market. Competitive Landscape Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market is fragmented with the top 5 companies accounting for a significant revenue share in the year 2022. Leading companies and brands in the market are executing different strategies and partnerships to strengthen their foothold and increase their competitiveness and service offerings in the market. Carle Health, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., and Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital are the leading companies in the Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market. Recent Developments in the Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market In April 2022: Gilead opened a pediatric drug development center in Ireland. The new pediatric center out of Ireland will conduct pediatric clinical trials for seven products across 18 countries. In February 2022: Pfizer Inc., and BioNTech initiated a rolling submission seeking to amend the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include children 6 months through 4 years of age, in response to the urgent public health need in this population. Key Attributes: Leading companies in the Global Pediatric and Maternity Care Market include: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Carle Health Christiana Care Cleveland Clinic Cloudnine Group of Hospitals Riley Hospital for Children Boston's Children's Hospital Children's Hospital Texas Children's Hospital Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital Strategic Recommendations Focus on Implementing Virtual Care Focus on Personalizing the Patient Experience Segmentations in the Report By Services Pre Natal Services Post Natal Services Birthing Services Fertility Services By Maternal Age Under 20 21 - 30 years 31 - 40 years Above 40 years By Service Medium Hospitals Nursing Homes & Clinics At-Home Services Online Consultancy Services By Region Americas Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o5m256 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BEIJING, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping highly values culture and has a profound understanding of culture. To him, culture plays a unique and irreplaceable role in the rejuvenation of China and the building of a global community of shared future. He speaks from Chinese wisdom, which has been passed down for millennia, advocates for the mutual prosperity of global civilizations, welcomes the flourishing of popular cultural products, and encourages the youth to join the path to inheriting and reinventing their proud traditions. The second issue of the Xivilization series focuses on Xi's call for preserving and inheriting the brilliant, ancient Chinese civilization, and how the traditional culture and Marxism combine to contribute to building Chinese modernization. "With unwavering cultural confidence, a profound sense of mission, and a spirit of relentless endeavor, we must unite our efforts to create a new culture for our times," said Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting on cultural inheritance and development on June 2. The cultural missions in the new era are to further advance cultural prosperity, build a leading country in culture, and foster the modern Chinese civilization, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. During the latest, unprecedented inspections and meetings, Xi also pointed out the path to achieving the mission. Before the meeting, Xi visited the China National Archives of Publications and Culture (CNAPC) and the Chinese Academy of History. During the inspection of the CNAPC in the northern suburbs of Beijing, Xi toured the exhibition halls and expressed his concern for the invaluable classic publications that have endured the vicissitudes of time. Publications and cultural articles preserve and transmit traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing and testifying to the splendor of the Chinese civilization since its ancient beginnings. Described as a cultural "seed bank" that records China's glorious culture and folk wisdom, the archives contain more than 16 million copies of historical texts and printed materials. Xi emphasized the institution's primary responsibility of collection, while also encouraging it to strengthen the research on collected items, to contribute to carrying forward the only ancient civilization without interruption. Inside the Chinese Academy of History, he visited the Chinese Archaeological Museum in the academy and toured exhibitions including one on the origins of the Chinese civilization. Xi highlighted the integral role of archaeology in deepening the understanding of the rich and profound Chinese culture. He emphasized the significance of conducting research and providing interpretations regarding the origins of the Chinese civilization. Prominent features of Chinese civilization chart the path of progress From President Xi's remarks during the meeting, it is clear that the prominent features of the ancient Chinese civilization have charted the path of historical development of the Chinese nation. At the meeting on cultural inheritance and development, Xi summarized five prominent features regarding the Chinese civilization - consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusivity, and peaceful nature. Xi emphasized that the Chinese civilization has a long and continuous history stretching back to antiquity, and said that a comprehensive and profound understanding of that history is essential to promoting the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture more effectively, and to developing the modern Chinese civilization. As prominent features of the Chinese civilization, its consistency determines, on a fundamental level, that the Chinese people must follow their own path, and its originality determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese people. Probably no one has a deeper understanding of Xi's remarks on the consistency and other features of the Chinese civilization than Wang Wei, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Academic Division of History, who attended the meeting. Wang has undertaken the national Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilization for decades. "These five features are very comprehensive, systematic, and profound," Wang told the Global Times. "Each feature can be cited with much archaeological and historical evidence, supported by the national project to trace the origins of the Chinese civilization," he said. The consistency of the Chinese civilization, for example, can be seen from four focused archaeological sites including the Liangzhu site in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, the Erlitou site in Luoyang, Central China's Henan Province, the Taosi site in Linfen, North China's Shanxi Province, and the Shimao site in Shenmu, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province from between 3500BC and 1500BC, and other major city ruins from this period along the Yangtze, Yellow, and Liaohe rivers, according to Wang. Only by understanding the consistency of Chinese civilization can we understand the fundamental level that "the Chinese people must follow their own path," and understand that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only path for the Chinese nation to become prosperous and strong, he noted. The unity of Chinese civilization determines fundamentally that the various ethnic cultures of the Chinese nation are integrated and rally closely together, even when faced with major setbacks, and that a strong and unified country is the pillar upon which the well-being of all Chinese people depends, President Xi said. Xing Guangcheng, head of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that he was very impressed by Xi's speech while attending the meeting. China's long history shows that various ethnic groups in our country were linked with and had frequent exchanges with others, gradually forming a community of shared future. The Chinese nation has a fine tradition of patriotism since ancient times, and all ethnic groups made every effort to safeguard the homeland. The modern history of the Chinese nation fighting against foreign invasion and saving the country can be a good example, Xing said. The inclusiveness of the Chinese civilization has been demonstrated in various research and archeology findings, Wang Wei told the Global Times. For example, the cultivation of wheat, the breeding of cattle, and the metallurgy native to West Asia, were introduced to ancient China more than 4,500 years ago. China then developed its own brilliant ceremonial civilization with bronze ware. At the same time, the cultivation of rice and millet native to China also spread to West Asia and other regions. President Xi went on to say that the inclusivity of the Chinese civilization determines the harmonious coexistence of diverse religious beliefs in China, and determines the open-minded and inclusive mentality toward various civilizations around the world. Its peaceful nature demonstrates that China will continue to pursue exchanges and mutual learning with different civilizations rather than cultural hegemony, and that China will not impose its own values and political system on others but will promote cooperation rather than confrontation or creating exclusive blocs. The five prominent features are "the latest summary and refinement of the overall characteristics of the Chinese civilization by General Secretary Xi in the new era," Wang Xuebin, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), told the Global Times. Once again, it fully shows that "the CPC Central Committee does have a very deep grasp and concern for research on the Chinese civilization and its great significance." Natural integration with Marxist tenets Marxism provided the spiritual guidance of the Communist Party of China for over a century from the revolution years to the construction period. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening-up, China has continuously accumulated economic and social development achievements, all in the process of the Sinicization of Marxism. Xi stressed that it is natural to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture if we are to create and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the basis of the profound Chinese civilization of more than 5,000 years. No matter from theoretical research and practical experiences, "this integration has guided us from one success to another and has become the most important tool to us," said Wang Xuebin, also chief expert of the Party School's "Chinese Civilization and Chinese Road Research" project. During the implementation of the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, Wang Wei's team adhered to Marxist's view that "a country is the generalization of a civilized society," so that they could recognize the Chinese approach to decide the standard of a civilized society. This standard also made a contribution to the study of global civilization. Experts and scholars in the relevant fields said that under the guidance of the speech by Xi, efforts should be made to shoulder the new mission of further promoting cultural prosperity and developing a modern Chinese civilization from a new starting point. "President Xi gave a very clear explanation on the relationship of the Chinese civilization, the construction of socialist culture, and the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Only by understanding China from its long-standing historical consistency can we better understand China and clarify the direction of the future development of our country," Wang Wei said. Xi calls for integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture First, compatibility is the prerequisite for integration. Although Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture have different origins, they are highly compatible with each other. Compatibility facilitates integration. Second, the result of the integration is mutual benefit, giving rise to a unified new culture that enables Marxism to become Chinese, and fine traditional Chinese culture modern. The newly minted culture through integration has become the cultural form of the Chinese path to modernization. Third, the integration solidifies the foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, providing it with broader and deeper historical depth and enriching its cultural basis. Chinese modernization invigorates Chinese civilization with modern power, while Chinese civilization supports Chinese modernization with cultural sustenance. Fourth, the integration has opened up space for innovation and helped us maintain the initiative in our ideological and cultural work, exerting a powerful influence on our path, theory and system. What is more important is that integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's fine traditional culture means another effort to emancipate our minds, which makes it possible for us to make full use of the precious resources of fine traditional Chinese culture in broader cultural space in exploring theoretical and institutional innovation for the future. Fifth, the integration has consolidated the principal role of culture, with the establishment of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era being the most vivid example. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GEMO made a splash on April 25 by revealing Ms. Gong Li, a world-famous movie star, as its first global brand ambassador. The announcement generated excitement and sparked discussion. With over three decades of outstanding dedication to cinematic art, Ms. Gong Li has brought audiences a stunning portfolio of films that seamlessly combine artistic vision with commercial appeal. To this day, her numerous iconic roles still leave audiences spellbound and are praised by filmmakers worldwide. From Red Sorghum and The Story of Qiu Ju to Farewell My Concubine, Leap, and Saturday Fiction, Ms. Gong Li has earned prestigious accolades for her dazzling performances, including the Golden Rooster Award, the Hundred Flowers Award, and the Hong Kong Film Award. She is also the first actress to star in films that won top prizes at the three major European international film festivals. Ms. Gong Li has graced the cover of Time Magazine in the United States, the first Chinese-born film actress to do so. Besides, she has embodied a number of memorable and influential female characters on the big screen in the history of Chinese cinema. Her enthusiasm, professionalism, and perfectionism have collectively created the image of an icon of the golden era of Chinese film. In 2010, Ms. Gong Li became the first Chinese-born woman to be awarded the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture. In 2015, she was recognized by the United Nations as one of the 16 artists and thinkers who contributed to the common good of humanity, the first Chinese-born woman to achieve this accolade. In 2019, Ms. Gong Li became the first person of Asian descent to win the Women in Motion Award at the Cannes Film Festival. As one of the most inspiring female role models in Asia and beyond, Ms. Gong Li has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and commitment to her craft, which rightly echoes GEMO's unwavering dedication to advancing skin technologies. GEMO is a leading luxury brand in the home beauty device industry. With expertise in cutting-edge technologies and precision instrument production, GEMO inherits the essence of skin technologies from Switzerland-based Clinic Lemanic, which leads to remarkable achievements in scientific research of skin technologies. GEMO has always placed the highest priority on delivering professional knowledge and premium healthcare and services, earning the company numerous global honors over the years. With consumers increasingly eager to maintain youthful skin, GEMO officially entered China in 2022. The brand is committed to developing products based on the core R&D concept of "continuous cooling of epidermis and stimulation of dermal collagen". GEMO has created innovative RF-ICE skin technology featuring a cool exterior and a warm interior to mitigate discomfort such as "unbearable heat and stinging pain" and "harmful effects of overheating, skin thinning, allergies, and redness" during the process of using beauty devices. GEMO's products use radio frequencies to rejuvenate and restore collagen while keeping skin cool, safe, and comfortable. Delighting consumers with their new and exciting partnership, GEMO and Ms. Gong Li launched another jewel in the brand's crownGEMO Swiss Luxury Beauty Device. GEMO adapts to market trends by embracing the essence of Swiss skin technologies, conducting in-depth technology research for product development, and making constant breakthroughs. GEMO also continuously increases investment in technology R&D, delivers safe and high-quality products to consumers, and uses the marvels of science and technology to improve users' satisfaction and comfort. As aforementioned, GEMO is a leading luxury brand in the home beauty device industry and Ms. Gong Li is a world-renowned and multi-award-winning movie star. Impressing consumers with superior products and brand experience in the skin technology industry, GEMO and Ms. Gong Li will engage in intimate collaboration to celebrate the beauty of life. SOURCE GEMO Grocery Doppio's survey of grocery industry executives, shoppers, and shopping data reveals state of AI in grocery, flat digital sales, and further decline of third-party share of sales. NEW YORK and MIAMI, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Incisiv , a next-generation industry insights firm that helps retailers and brands navigate digital disruption, and Wynshop , the leading provider of digital commerce and fulfillment solutions for local store-based retailers, today revealed the findings from their State of Digital Grocery Performance Scorecard for May 2023 . The Performance Scorecard reflects the latest analysis of shopper orders, plus interviews of grocery shoppers and executives about their current plans and expectations for AI in grocery. After first interviewing grocers about AI in February 2023, Grocery Doppio followed up on the matter in this month's Performance Scorecard and uncovered the following key insights: Between February and May, the percentage of grocers who discussed ChatGPT at senior level meetings rose from 67% to 83% . at senior level meetings to . While 82% of grocers said in February that AI was a necessity to remain competitive in the future, only 74% are actively looking for new AI capabilities in their software RFPs. of grocers said in February that AI was a necessity to in the future, only are capabilities in their software RFPs. Whereas 13% of grocers planned to spend non-budgeted funds on AI in 2023, just 7% have actually invested in 'net new' AI capabilities. of grocers planned to in 2023, just have actually invested in Every grocery executive polled expected that AI would be used to augment (43%), automate (39%) or replace (18%) grocery staff, but only 11% expect AI to "significantly impact" their staffing within the next 24 months. expected that AI would be used to or grocery staff, but only expect AI to within the next 24 months. The top challenges to adoption of AI are budget (71%), proof of performance (69%), and infrastructure limits (63%), according to grocery executives. Grocery Doppio's "State of Digital Grocery Performance Scorecard" for May 2023 The monthly State of Digital Grocery Performance Scorecards are one of many resources available on the Grocery Doppio website. The reports are built around data analysis of 1.8 million shopper orders and survey results from more than 31,500 shoppers and 3,041 U.S. grocery executives. More key findings from the May 2023 Performance Scorecard include: Grocery is now truly omnichannel, but growth of digital is slowing down 61% of all grocery shoppers used digital channels part of the time in May 2023 and 69% of all grocery sales were " digitally influenced " in some way. While YoY growth of digital grocery sales amounts to 19.8% , that growth has slowed significantly in 2023, increasing just 1.1% between April and May. Digital Grocery adoption and preferred fulfillment method are highly dependent upon grocer size Small grocers experienced a 31.7% YoY dip in digital grocery sales and 4.8% MoM decline , while large grocers witnessed a 20.1% YoY growth and 1.2% MoM increase. 53.9% of large grocery shoppers prefer to pick up their orders themselves, while delivery is preferred by shoppers of small (67.5%) , local (62.1%) , and regional (55.4%) grocers. Third-party providers continue to lose market share Grocery sales through third parties fell $503 million dollars , from $2.2 to $1.7 billion dollars , representing a 22.5% reduction between May, 2022 and May, 2023. "Omnichannel is the new normal in grocery," said Gaurav Pant, Chief Insights Officer of both Incisiv and Grocery Doppio. "As the digital channel continues to mature, it is natural that we see a tapering off in growth alongside refinement in capabilities like fulfillment and AI." "AI is clearly of interest to grocery executives, but they are cautious about its adoption," said Charlie Kaplan, Chief Revenue Officer of Wynshop. "Grocers need to have reliable infrastructure and proof of performance before they will commit limited budgets to new technologies." Grocery Doppio is a free, independent source of grocery insights and data designed to help grocers jumpstart, accelerate, and sustain digital growth. Each month, Grocery Doppio brings together rich, research-driven grocery content, fact-based observations, inspiring perspectives, and deep performance benchmarks that identify improvement opportunities for grocery retailers. To download Grocery Doppio's "State of Digital Grocery Performance Scorecard: May 2023," click here . On June 21-22 join grocery leaders and AI influencers for Grocery Doppio's Virtual AI in Grocery Conference . Speakers include executives from Wakefern, Giant Eagle, Microsoft and others. To attend, please register here . About Incisiv Incisiv is a next-generation industry insights firm that helps retailers and brands navigate digital disruption in their industry. Incisiv offers consumer industry executives responsible for digital transformation a trusted platform to share and learn in a non-competitive setting, and the tools necessary to improve digital maturity, impact, and profitability. More information is available at www.incisiv.com . About Wynshop Wynshop is an ambitious team of digital innovators obsessed with a solitary missionhelping grocers and other local store-based retailers grow wildly successful online businesses. Its refreshingly easy-to-use digital commerce platform enables efficient in-house picking, reduces fulfillment costs, and gives retailers the ability to control every facet of their customers' digital shopping experience. This results in a more personalized customer journey and amplified shopper loyalty. Learn more at www.wynshop.com . Media Contact: Laurel Getz [email protected] 203.767.5963 SOURCE Wynshop MECCA, Saudi Arabia, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will organize the annual "Grand Hajj Symposium" on June 20th, 2023, in Jeddah, coinciding with Hajj season. The Symposium, which was launched in 1970, tackles various issues of concern to the Islamic world, such as upgrading the procedures of Hajj, development of the Islamic world, enhancing the human communication between pilgrims during the Hajj seasonetc. as well as releasing research papers on technical and humanitarian issues. The Symposium has always been a success, to the extent selecting culture ministers in OIC states and naming Mecca "The Capital of Islamic Culture" 2005. (Dr. Shawki Allam, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and Dr. Koutoub Sano, Secretary-General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, during their participation in the Symposium, 2022) The Symposium gathers every year more than 500 outstanding participants from 57 countries, specialized in different scientific fields and some of them assume ministerial portfolios. This year, the Symposium's sessions will tackle for example but not limited how to make use of science and technology to serve Islam, as well as collective intelligence's contributions to innovation and decision making. The Symposium will witness the participation of the molecular biologist, Prof. Rana Dajani, Dr. Winai Dahlan, Director of the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad, CEO of King Fahad Specialized Hospital and Research Center, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al- Kheraigi, Media Affairs Advisor at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq, Assistant Professor at Massachusetts Institute. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah believes that the outcomes of the Symposium will have positive impacts on the Islamic and international communities. The outcomes may create a favorable environment to perform Hajj with complete satisfaction, and enhance the values of peace, tolerance, understanding, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, visited 13 Islamic countries during the first half of 2023, where he met with officials in religious institutions and Islamic thinkers. The meetings included constructive discussions about serving the guests of Allah and how to upgrade the procedures of Hajj and Umrah, which are part of the target outcomes of the Symposium. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098940/Ministry_of_Hajj_Symposium.jpg SOURCE Ministry of Hajj Press Release June 12, 2023 More innovations needed to address exodus of Filipino nurses, Tolentino tells new DOH chief MANILA - Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino urged the new leadership of the Department of Health (DOH) to lay down fresh innovations that would encourage Filipino nurses to remain in the country. "Papaano kaya natin ito, kagaya ng sinabi niyo, ma-enganyo na huwag munang umalis, dito muna? May plano ba sa susunod na budget cycle ang DOH mag propose ng mga upgrades para hindi na po sila mag-alisan muna sa ating bansa?" Tolentino asked Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who was the main guest during the senator's weekly radio program on DZRH. "Papaano natin ma-enganyo ang ating mga kababayang nurses na gusto natin matulungang huwag muna umalis sa Pilipinas?" Tolentino added. According to Tolentino, the main problem hounding the local nursing industry has always been the issue of their compensation, whether they are working in the government or in private medical facilities, regardless. He said there really is a wide gap between salaries of nurses here and those in medical facilities overseas, and that's why most of them have no choice but to seek greener pastures abroad or, worse, seek a different career path. For his part, Herbosa agreed with Tolentino's observation, saying that he is currently in talks with the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) to somehow relax the licensing rules to allow the employment of nurses in government health facilities, especially the fresh graduates. "Ang problema, ang Civil Service natin allows only licensed nurse to work in the health sector in the government. Actually, nakausap ko na ang PRC. Kinausap ko na mabigyan ng temporary license for three years if they have graduated nursing to work in the government. Sa gobyerno lang muna tayo kasi mahirap kung palawakin natin sa private at baka doon naman sa private pumunta. So, if you're going to go to government and work in a place na malayo, walang nurse, i-allow ka ng PRC since you are a four-year graduate," Herbosa stressed. Tolentino last October filed Senate Bill No. 1447 or the proposed "Philippine Nursing Practice Act of 2022." The proposed legislation basically aims to increase the ranks of better-trained, better-compensated, and better-appreciated nurses. The senator noted that providing local nurses with better compensation and training will play a vital role in achieving a more efficient access to Universal Health Care for every Filipino. News / Local by Staff reporter A ZIMBABWEAN man has been arrested in South Africa in connection with the escape of Thabo Bester from a South African prison.According to the South African media, the man's identity was not revealed, but he is 31 years old.TimesLive quoting South Africa's police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Zimbabwean man was arrested yesterday in Johannesburg."At this stage, he faces a charge of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody. The suspect is likely to face more charges," said Brig Mathe.He said so far nine people have been arrested in connection with the case.Brig Mathe said the suspect is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein magistrate's court tomorrow with law enforcement agents not ruling out arrests of more suspects.Bester's case attracted global attention following his escape from prison and was trailed and arrested in Tanzania with his girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana.They were arrested alongside a Mozambican called Zacharia Alberto believed to be the driver who helped them cross different borders during their escape.The pair is said to have used the Beitbridge Border Post during their foiled escape and a Mercedes Benz worth about R3,5 million that the pair used in their escape was impounded at the border post connecting South Africa and Zimbabwe.According to media reports south of the Limpopo River, (Thabo) Bester skipped the border to Zimbabwe to lay low after escaping from the Mangaung Maximum Security Prison where he allegedly paid R5 million to at least nine prison warders who helped him escape.The man is alleged to have faked his death to escape from the prison in Bloemfontein.Bester is being detained in the C-Max section of Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre.He was known as the "Facebook rapist" for using the social networking site to lure his victims.Bester was serving life in prison in 2012 for the raping and murdering his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu.In 2011, he was found guilty of raping and robbing two other women. BUFFALO, N.Y., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HELIXintel, an innovative platform providing building management, predictive analytics, and equipment management solutions, has concluded a successful and competitive Series A funding round, strategically positioning the company for significant growth and expansion. National Grid Partners, the corporate venture and innovation arm of National Grid, led the round. Earlier investors, including Munich Re Ventures, Stellifi, Motivate Ventures and others, all participated in the round. "HELIXintel embodies the kind of transformative innovation National Grid Partners seeks to support," said Lisa Lambert. Tweet this HELIXintels CEO, Jon DeWald, speaks during an event hosted by National Grid Partners in May 2023. (Photo courtesy of National Grid Partners) HELIXintel is at the forefront of transforming the building management space. In the current landscape, property managers, vendors, insurers, and energy companies face fragmented data collection, reliance on multiple software platforms, and limited communication channels. This leads to data gaps, heightened property risk, increased equipment breakdown and down time, and poor energy performance. HELIXintel offers a comprehensive platform that sources and organizes property and asset data on a significant scale. Businesses can empower themselves by making strategic and informed decisions, unlocking hidden value within their properties and assets. This fuels engagement, transparency, and benefits all stakeholders in traditionally opaque industries. "This new capital and National Grid's network help us expand our product offerings and reach," said Jon DeWald, CEO of HELIXintel. "We recognize that every stakeholder benefits when equipment breakdown is accurately predicted and prevented. We are poised to empower proactive maintenance and equipment upgrades that enhance efficiency, minimize downtime, and bring cost savings to both our valued customers and insurance companies." National Grid, a leading provider of electricity, natural gas, and clean energy services to millions of customers in New York and Massachusetts and Great Britain, has long been at the forefront of embracing innovation and scalable energy technologies. In 2018, the company established National Grid Partners (NPG), a dedicated venture and innovation division, to further amplify its commitment to driving positive change in the industry. National Grid's investment in HELIXintel underlines its dedication to reaching net-zero emissions from its gas and electric networks by 2050. With a strong focus on reducing energy demand, National Grid is actively implementing comprehensive energy initiatives and robust demand response programs. By doubling the rate of efficiency retrofits within the building sector, National Grid aims to ignite a significant transformation in energy consumption patterns. HELIXintel's cutting-edge platform plays a pivotal role in this strategy, seamlessly connecting property and asset stakeholders and enabling data-driven property management. Through this strategic relationship, National Grid and HELIXintel are fostering more efficient and sustainable operations across the industry. "HELIXintel embodies the kind of transformative innovation National Grid Partners seeks to support," said Lisa Lambert, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer of National Grid and Founder & President of National Grid Partners. "Their predictive analytics and equipment management solutions have the potential to disrupt the energy and utility sector, enabling businesses to proactively address risks and enhance operational efficiency. We are excited to invest in HELIXintel and contribute to their growth as they pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future." "HELIXintel's integration of vital equipment data onto a single platform, empowers property owners, contractors, OEMs, insurers, and energy companies with excellent transparency and value," stated Timur Davis, Director at Munich Re Ventures. "Aligned with our investment focus on tools enabling preventative maintenance to mitigate equipment breakdowns, HELIXintel has consistently impressed us with their strong growth and progress since the Seed round. We eagerly anticipate the company's ongoing advancements." The strategic partnership between HELIXintel and Munich Re's HSB has been a driving force behind the growth and industry influence of HELIXintel. This collaboration brings together HELIXintel's intuitive equipment management technology with over 150 years of HSB's expertise in equipment breakdown. Since the inception of the partnership, HELIXintel has rapidly expanded its presence across the nation, delivering innovative insurance technology solutions to prestigious clients such as the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal and its 345 public K-12 Member Districts and BOCES. Together, HELIXintel and HSB are upleveling the way equipment risks are managed and paving the way for enhanced efficiency and protection in the insurance industry. Ahead of its Series A funding round, HELIXintel unveiled its latest innovation, HELIXintel Savings Scout. This groundbreaking service is specifically designed to assist businesses in identifying and applying for various forms of free funding, including rebates, grants, and tax credits, for operational and capital improvements. The business solution discovered incentives worth over $240,000 targeted at future cost reduction for a school in the Eastchester Union Free School District, highlighting substantial opportunities for improved efficiency and financial gains. HELIXintel Savings Scout further solidifies the company's position as a frontrunner in the equipment management industry, while propelling the future of equipment efficiency and a climate of continuous improvement. "HELIXintel Savings Scout represents a transformative solution that opens doors to unparalleled opportunities for businesses," stated DeWald. "We are committed to maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs, and our innovative business solution exemplifies this vision. We can assist businesses in unlocking untapped potential and achieving remarkable outcomes." This new investment round signifies a milestone in HELIXintel's mission to empower businesses by leveraging their platform as a Predictive and Preventive Engine. Through strategic relationships with HSB, National Grid Partners, and a strategic HVAC partner, HELIXintel reinforces its leadership position in the equipment management industry while driving advancements in equipment efficiency and a culture of ongoing enhancement. About HELIXintel: HELIXintel sources and organizes the world's property and asset data. HELIXintel provides tools for insurers to better manage risk, property managers to manage their portfolio, energy companies to deliver incentives that improve energy and resource efficiency, and vendors to deliver better quality. HELIXintel has been recognized by Pepco, the utility serving Washington D.C., as the most innovative energy-saving solution of the year. HELIXintel also boasts SOC 2 Type 2 certification, continuing its commitment to cybersecurity. For more information on HELIXintel, visit their website. About National Grid Partners: National Grid Partners (NGP) is the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid plc, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. NGP invests for strategic and financial impact and leads companywide disruptive innovation efforts. The organization provides a multi-functional approach to building startups, including innovation (new business creation), pathfinding and incubation, corporate venture capital, business development and venture acceleration. We also convene the NextGrid Alliance (www.ngalliance.energy), a network of senior executives from more than 100 worldwide utility companies. NGP is headquartered in Silicon Valley and has offices in Boston, London, and New York. Visit ngpartners.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/@ngpartners_ and www.linkedin.com/showcase/national-grid-partners. About Munich Re Ventures (MRV): Munich Re Ventures is the venture capital arm of Munich Re Group, one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance, and insurance-related risk solutions. With more than $1 billion in assets under management, Munich Re Ventures invests in the most innovative start-ups transforming the future of risk and risk transfer. MRV's experienced investors are financially driven, while focused on the strategic interests of Munich Re and the broader insurance industry. MRV works closely with Munich Re Group businesses across the globe to fund and partner with the best emerging companies developing new technologies and business models and risks for tomorrow's world. About Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB): HSB, part of Munich Re, is a multi-line specialty insurer and provider of inspection, risk management, and IoT technology services. HSB insurance offerings include equipment breakdown, cyber risk, specialty liability, and other coverages. HSB blends its engineering expertise, technology, and data to craft inventive insurance and service solutions for existing and emerging risks posed by technological change. Throughout its 150-year history, HSB's mission has been to help clients prevent loss, advance sustainable use of energy and build deeper relationships that benefit businesses, public institutions, and consumers. HSB holds A.M. Best Company's highest financial rating, A++ (Superior). For more information, visit www.hsb.com. SOURCE HELIXintel Medgene receives USDA license to produce first Platform Vaccines for the cattle industry, allowing veterinarians to respond to emerging diseases faster. BROOKINGS, S.D., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) has allowed animal health company, Medgene, license to produce and market a USDA - approved category of vaccines called Platform Vaccines to the cattle industry. Specific cattle vaccines available under this new Platform Vaccine category include Influenza D, Coronavirus, Rotavirus, and Papillomavirus. "We can identify a disease and provide a vaccine within weeks instead of years." - Robert Gentry, DVM Tweet this Medgene National Sales Manager, Andy Smythe announces recent Platform vaccine licensure for the cattle industry, at Iowa State University Research Park, June 9, in Ames, Iowa Medgene's vaccine approaches leverage USDA-approved "platform technology" guidelines that are safe, and easily adapted to multiple animal disease targets. The result is the development of vaccines and an understanding of how diseases move across species and geographies within a fraction of the time of traditional vaccine approaches. Dr. Alan Young, Chief Technology Officer for Medgene, began foundational work in Platform Vaccine technology in 2010. "Vaccines have come a long, long way since their first use in the late 1700s. We've learned that diseases, no matter what the species, have a lot in common. But by focusing on the unique genetic components that are different, we can create vaccines that are far more efficient." Veterinarian and advocate of Platform Vaccines, Bob Gentry, DVM, stated "For the veterinarian, Platform Technologies improve our option in providing care. We can identify a disease and provide a vaccine within weeks instead of years. For animal owners, that can mean tremendous differences in the health of their animals." Medgene announced their receipt of USDA licensure at a June 9 event held at Iowa State University's Research Park facility in Ames, Iowa. Medgene CEO, Mark Luecke, stated, "Getting Platform Vaccines to market has been a team effort. From government regulatory to university research to the extraordinary team at Medgene, Platform Vaccines are a historic example of teamwork towards a common goal - improving animal health." Medgene's Influenza D, Coronavirus, Rotavirus and Papillomavirus vaccines are available to licensed veterinarians. SOURCE Medgene ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other 1major diseases, announced that Phase 1 clinical data of the globally first anti-CD47/PD-L1 bispecific antibody IBI322 for the treatment of anti-PD-(L)1-resistant patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma was presented in oral presentation at the 28th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Hematology (EHA 2023). The EHA Annual Meeting was held in Frankfurt, Germany, from June 8 to 15, 2023. Title: CD47/PD-L1 bispecific antibody (IBI322) in anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 treatment-resistant classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a Phase 1 study Session: s445 Hodgkin lymphoma Clinical, 11/06/2023, 11:30 - 12:45 (CEST) Final Abstract Code: S216 Presenting Author: Dr. Jingwei Yu, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China The presented data was based on an dose-expansion cohort from a Phase 1 study (NCT04795128) aiming to evaluate the safety and preliminary antitumor activity of IBI322 in patients with anti-PD-(L)1 treatment-resistant classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Eligible patients receive IBI322 (45 mg/kg intravenous Q2W) until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression, or up to 24 months. A total of 24 patients currently included, of which 23 patients were efficacy evaluable. Among the 23 patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 47.8% (95% CI: 26.8-69.4) and 91.3% (95% CI: 72.0-98.9), respectively. Among the 7 patients with primary resistance, the ORR was as high as 57.1% (95% CI: 18.4-90.1), and 3 patients achieved complete response (CR). In terms of safety, the incidence of treatment-related adverse reactions (TRAE) was 91.7%, and the most common TRAE were decreased lymphocyte count (62.5%), anemia (62.5%), decreased white blood cell count (20.8%), and decreased platelet count (20.8%). The incidence of grade 3 TRAE was 41.7%, with the most common grade 3 TRAE (>5%) associated with decreased lymphocyte count (29.2%). There were no TRAE leading to permanent treatment discontinuation or death. As of the data cut-off, 12 patients were still receiving IBI322 monotherapy. Overall, IBI322 monotherapy showed promising anti-tumor efficacy with a manageable safety profile in anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 treatment-resistant classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Abstract Link Professor Ting Niu, the principal investigator of this study, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, said: "This phase 1 study shows that IBI322 monotherapy is effective and safe in the treatment of PD-1 or PD-L1 treatment-resistant classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and we look forward to longer follow-up results and larger sample sizes in the future. IBI322 has the potential to be an effective treatment option for the treatment of immunotherapy-resistant classical Hodgkin lymphoma and other types of lymphoma to meet the unmet clinical needs. " Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent, said: "With the widespread application of anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibodies in the field of classical Hodgkin lymphoma, immunotherapy resistance has emerged as an urgent clinical need. IBI322, as globally the first anti-CD47/PD-L1 bispecific antibody for the treatment of anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 treatment-resistant classic Hodgkin lymphoma, showed encouraging anti-tumor efficacy and a manageable safety profile in the Phase 1 clinical study, exhibiting its potential to overcome immunotherapy resistance for patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. " About Hodgkin lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma is a special type of lymphoma containing Reed-Sternberg cells, which accounts for about 8.54% of lymphoma. The current incidence rate is about 0.6 cases per 100,000 population. After first-line radiotherapy + chemotherapy ABVD (doxorubicin + bleomycin + vincristine + dacarbazine), ASCT (autologous stem cell transplantation) has achieved a 5-year survival rate of more than 80% for patients, but the treated rate is limited in China due to several reasons, including the poor tolerability for certain patients, the relatively low mental acceptance, and limited medical resources; Another 15-20% of patients do not respond to initial treatment and develop relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma after immunotherapy resistance, which is currently an urgent clinical need. About IBI322 IBI322 is a recombinant anti-human CD47/PD-L1 bispecific antibody developed by Innovent Biologics. As a bispecific antibody, IBI322 targets CD47 on the surface of tumor cells, blocks SIRP/CD47 pathway and activates macrophages to attack the tumor cells. Furthermore, IBI322 target PD-L1 on the surface of tumor cells, blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, which counteracts the inhibition of T cells and activates the T cells to attack the tumor cells. By inhibiting two different targets, IBI322 can not only activate both innate immune pathway and adaptive immune pathway, which provides synergistic effect, but also reduce the red blood cell destruction. About Innovent Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, metabolic disorder and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801.HK. Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform which includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 35 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, metabolic disorder, autoimmune disease and other major therapeutic areas, with 8 approved products on the market. These include: TYVYT (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection), Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor), olverembatinib (BCR ABL TKI), Cyramza (ramucirumab) and Retsevmo (selpercatinib). An additional 3 assets are under NMPA NDA review, 6 assets are in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials, and 18 more molecules are in clinical studies. Innovent has built an international team with advanced talent in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many global experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with many collaborators to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives. For more information, please visit: www.innoventbio.com. and www.linkedin.com/company/innovent-biologics/. Disclaimer: Innovent does not recommend any off-label usage. Note: TYVYT (sintilimab injection) is not an approved product in the United States. BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO, and HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States. TYVYT (sintilimab injection, Innovent) BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent) HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent) SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent) Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. CYRAMZA (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly). CYRAMZA was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China. Retsevmo (selpercatinib, Eli Lilly). Retsevmo was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly. These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions. Innovent, the Directors and the employees of Innovent assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect. SOURCE Innovent Biologics STOCKHOLM, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Swedish startup is making waves in the technology industry with its ground-breaking innovations and cutting-edge products. This dynamic company, known for its expertise in advanced electromagnetic technologies, has successfully revolutionized non-lethal force solutions for law enforcement and military applications. With a range of state-of-the-art products that prioritize safety, efficiency, and precision, they have caught the attention of venture capitalists seeking disruptive technologies with the potential to transform industries. This innovative startup's impressive track record and commitment to pushing boundaries make it an attractive investment opportunity for VCs looking to support pioneering companies at the forefront of innovation. Baton (PRNewsfoto/Ytsab Defence AB) The company's expertise lies in developing and manufacturing advanced electromagnetic guns, which have gained significant recognition for their effectiveness in non-lethal apprehensions. Their flagship product, the Yguard baton has set a new standard for law enforcement agencies worldwide. Combining the functionalities of a traditional baton with state-of-the-art features, such as laser precision, distance measurement, and comprehensive tracking, the Yguard ensures precise targeting and optimal impact to safely subdue suspects. Its seamless integration of cutting-edge technology and ergonomic design sets it apart from conventional non-lethal force tools. Beyond the Yguard, the company has a diverse range of advanced electromagnetic weapons, such as Victorya, tailored for military applications. These weapons offer unmatched precision, range, and efficiency, can neutralize threats such as drones, tanks, boats, small warships, and aircrafts with minimal risk. The startup has been gaining significant traction in the investment community, attracting the attention of venture capitalists seeking opportunities in the defense and technology sectors. The potential for widespread adoption of their advanced electromagnetic technologies, coupled with the scalability of their business model, presents an enticing prospect for investors. By supporting this Swedish startup, venture capitalists can contribute to driving innovation in non-lethal force solutions, ultimately enhancing the safety and effectiveness of law enforcement and military operations worldwide. Company website is: www.ydefence.com As this remarkable Swedish startup continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of electromagnetic technologies, the world eagerly watches for their next ground-breaking development. With a track record of success, a commitment to safety and responsible innovation, and the attention of venture capitalists, this company is poised to shape the future of non-lethal force solutions and redefine the standards in the industry. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091031/baton.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2090793/Ytsab_Logo.jpg SOURCE Ytsab Defence AB MCLEAN, Va., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kasm Technologies has announced a partnership with Agile Directive, a change leader in the digital transformation landscape, to provide on-demand virtual desktops, secure remote access, and browser isolation technology for secure digital workspaces. The Agile Directive solution is powered by Kasm Workspaces and provides a streamlined workflow and simplified approach for users to connect to their corporate resources securely, directly from their web browser. This approach reduces unnecessary complexity and prioritizes security, compliance, and an exceptional user experience. "At Kasm, we are passionate about the future of work. By combining our cutting-edge technology with Agile Directive's expertise, we are breaking down barriers and enabling organizations to embrace a new era of productivity and innovation," stated Jaymes Davis, Chief Product Officer at Kasm. Real-time on-demand demo: https://agile-directive.kasm.cloud/#/cast/desktop The Kasm Remote Workspaces technology provides industry-leading desktop/application-on-demand capabilities and zero-trust secure remote access capabilities used by Agile Directive for enabling employees to work remotely in compliance with corporate policy and without the risk of data compromises. "Kasm Workspaces provides a new generation of remote desktops that increases security while proving a great user experience." Stated John Papazian, Managing Principal at Agile Directive, "We believe that this is the immersion of a new way to work. We are looking forward to the journey ahead with Kasm Technologies." The combined offering is focused on empowering organizations to navigate a digital transformation to web-native and devops-enabled technologies with confidence. This allows business leaders to embrace the productivity benefits of digital workspaces while still maintaining the highest levels of security and compliance. Learn more about how Kasm Workspaces Containerized Desktop Infrastructure (CDI) is supporting the Agile Directive customer base: https://agiledirective.com/containerized-desktop-infrastructure-cdi-and-its-advantages-over-vdi/ ABOUT KASM WORKSPACES Kasm Workspaces is a container streaming platform for delivering browser, desktop, and application workloads to the web browser. Kasm is changing the way that businesses deliver digital workspaces using our open-source web-native container streaming technology to establish a modern devops delivery of Desktop as a Service (DaaS), secure remote access, Open-Source Intel (OSINT) and remote browser isolation (RBI). ABOUT KASM TECHNOLOGIES Kasm Technologies is a privately held small business led by a team of offensive/defensive cybersecurity engineers experienced in developing web-native remote work platforms for Federal/State Government, Fortune 500 companies, Startups, and Small/Medium sized businesses. ABOUT AGILE DIRECTIVE Agile Directive is a new Technology Services firm but our history in the industry is over 20 years old. Our Partners and Leadership have been in the Technology space since 1996, working with technology that spans from Sterling Commerce EDI in the early years until the current Day E-Commerce and cloud services and development. SOURCE Kasm Technologies The first-of-its-kind AI integration simplifies compliance and operational processes for water professionals while maximizing economic and environmental sustainability TORONTO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Klir , the integrated water platform that helps the world's water utilities make water safer, today announced the launch of its new generative AI capabilities now available through the latest iteration of its platform, Klir Comply. Using Microsoft Azure's OpenAI service to provide access to powerful language models including ChatGPT4 Klir is the first-ever water management software powered by ChatGPT. Water professionals can now receive holistic insights into their utility's data through an AI-powered chatbot while benefiting from the scalability, reliability, performance, and security of Microsoft Azure. Water professionals can now access holistic, secured insights into their utility data through Klir's AI-powered chatbot. Tweet this By blending the conversational benefits of ChatGPT with each utility's water quality management and compliance data (E.g., "Is our water compliant today?" or "Draft me a summary of last week's water quality"), the AI function simplifies tedious but critical tasks while ensuring internal data stays secure and private at all times. A nod to Klir's Irish-founded roots, the chatbot is fittingly represented by "Boots," an Irish Water Spaniel "trained to sniff out key data." Notably, the chatbot allows users to query millions of data points within the utility's private internal data with precise control over the knowledge base. Features include integrating administrative tasks with sampling results data, providing predictive water quality analysis, generating quantitative insights into sampling results, and identifying correlations between data. "Klir's AI function sits as a layer on top of what is already the most comprehensive software for water quality and compliance management on the market," said David Lynch, CEO of Klir. "To be able to ask complex compliance water management questions and immediately receive accurate answers is seismic and will help organizations around the world to slow the global water crisis." With most water professionals working with outdated or siloed technologies, Klir's new generative AI capabilities reflect the growing need for water managers to quickly adapt to an industry landscape shaped by climate change and population growth. Despite the recent influx of climate mitigation budgets, the water sector has struggled to combat this escalating challenge due to restrictions by public sector procurements and the overwhelming availability of bespoke technology vendors that do not easily integrate. "Klir's purpose-built platform is filling an industry gap and solving the growing problem of data quality and integrity that has made it so difficult for water professionals to pull impactful performance insights," said Dr. Tom Stafford, Chief Product Officer of Klir. "This next major release of our integrated platform provides support across all water functions, from biodiversity and compliance to customer and asset data, and now this new AI tool further empowers users to capture both the scientific data and human knowledge required to keep water safe and secure." Stafford joined Lynch on-stage to announce the launch of Klir's new AI capabilities during Klir's invite-only event Boiling Point: Where AI & the Future of Water Management Software Meet held in Toronto alongside ACE , the premier annual conference for the world's biggest water utility and municipal operators. Former EPA Administrator Carol Browner moderated a Klir-hosted panel discussion on AI and water management with water utility executives from leading regional jurisdictions, technologists, and top climate change journalists. Along with introducing the ChatGPT function, Klir unveiled a new "maturity model" that assesses and prioritizes the key operational risks a utility faces and its potential to become a resilient utility in the future. Senior leaders can now engage in a comprehensive 90-point evaluation, guided by a Klir water expert, to generate a risk report on their existing operational model. The outcome of this assessment will also provide a comparative benchmark, ranking the utility against similar attributes of other water utilities. As the only operating system for water that brings together all of the utility's compliance and operational processes in one unified platform, Klir is backed by the biggest firms in technology, including Insight Partners, a $95b enterprise software fund based in New York. To learn more about Klir Comply and Klir's AI capabilities, please visit www.klir.com . Klir and Microsoft Azure users can also reach out to their respective representatives for more information. About Klir Klir is the single operating system for water. With one platform to connect every team, Klir allows water utilities to manage critical processes across the entire water systemfrom permits, to sampling, and inspections, and everything in between. Administrative processes that were once painful and error prone, become effortless thanks to automation, data analytics, and task management. The result is a simplified process that reduces risk, operating expenses, and administrative overhead. SOURCE Klir PITTSBURGH, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KOP) today announced that the company will host meetings with the investment community as part of its participation in the upcoming Wells Fargo Industrials Conference, which will be in-person on June 13, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. Koppers management will be represented by the following: James Sullivan , Chief Operating Officer , Chief Operating Officer Bradley Pearce , Chief Accounting Officer , Chief Accounting Officer Quynh McGuire , Vice President, Investor Relations The presentation materials will be available on www.koppers.com in the Investor Relations section of the company's website. About Koppers Koppers, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds. Our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries. We serve our customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities located in North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe. The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KOP." For more information, visit: www.koppers.com. Inquiries from the media should be directed to Ms. Jessica Franklin Black at [email protected] or 412-227-2025. Inquiries from the investment community should be directed to Ms. Quynh McGuire at [email protected] or 412-227-2049. For Information: Quynh McGuire, Vice President, Investor Relations 412 227 2049 [email protected] SOURCE Koppers LAS VEGAS, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lance Bradford Consulting, a leading business consulting firm, is proud to announce its continued success in advising small growth businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a proven track record of providing valuable advice and expertise in today's turbulent economic environment, Lance Bradford Consulting is committed to helping businesses navigate the complexities and nuances of the ever-changing marketplace. Lance Bradford Las Vegas Consultant With years of experience in business consulting, Lance Bradford Consulting has become a trusted partner for small businesses in Las Vegas and beyond. The firm's expertise in strategic planning, financial management, and operations has helped numerous companies achieve their goals and grow their businesses. "We are thrilled to be having such great success in Las Vegas and are honored to work with so many talented and dedicated small business owners," said Lance Bradford, the company's founder. "Our team is committed to providing the highest level of service and expertise to help our clients achieve their goals and thrive in today's challenging economic environment." Lance Bradford Consulting's success can be attributed to its unique approach to consulting. The firm takes a holistic view of a company's operations, considering factors such as financial management, marketing and sales, and organizational structure. This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of a business are taken into account, leading to more effective strategies and solutions. One of the key services offered by Lance Bradford Consulting is strategic planning. The firm's team of experts works closely with clients to develop customized plans that align with their goals and objectives. Through a rigorous analysis of the business environment, Lance Bradford Consulting is able to identify key opportunities and challenges and develop strategies to overcome them. Another important service provided by Lance Bradford Consulting is financial management. The firm's team of experienced professionals helps clients with financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring that their businesses are well-positioned to weather economic fluctuations and remain profitable over the long term. Overall, Lance Bradford Consulting's success is a testament to its commitment to providing high-quality consulting services that help small businesses succeed. With its expertise and dedication to client success, Lance Bradford Consulting is poised to continue its growth and success in the Las Vegas business community and beyond. Media Contact: Lance Bradford 702-213-7415 [email protected] SOURCE Lance Bradford Consulting CARMEL, Ind., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquid Motors ("the Company") Founder and President Michael Daseke announces his retirement, effective June 30th, 2023. Kelly McAllister, VP of Digital Strategy for the America's Group, has been selected to succeed Daseke as president on July 1st as part of the company's planned leadership succession. Liquid Motors was founded in 2006 by Daseke and has become a highly respected industry leader in providing Internet marketing solutions, software, and services for automotive dealers to utilize a variety of online channels. Kelly McAllister, President LIQUID MOTORS "After 17 years at the helm of Liquid Motors, I have decided to pursue new entrepreneurial challenges," said Daseke. "I am excited Kelly McAllister will be taking over the reins. As a customer, Kelly has vast experience leveraging Liquid Motors' solutions, and his strategic skills help auctions become efficient in selling vehicles through online channels." McAllister adds, "I am thrilled to join the Liquid Motors team and bring my customer-centric focus to the company. My practical knowledge of digital remarketing, the listing process, and selling vehicles through online channels will strengthen Liquid Motors and benefit the independent auction community." McAllister's most recent post was VP of Digital Strategy at America's Group, where he helped the company boost its online sales by more than 3800 percent during his tenure. McAllister has extensive industry experience in digital strategy, establishing digital sales programs, and working with dealerships and commercial sellers. Paul Evans, Chief Operating Officer of America's Group, stated, "We thank Michael for his stewardship and dedication to the company. Going forward, I have every confidence in Kelly's digital remarketing knowledge and outstanding leadership. Liquid Motors will continue to play an important role in the automotive ecosystem for years to come." About Liquid Motors Liquid Motors Inc., ("the Company") offers the automotive industry comprehensive Internet marketing solutions designed to maximize lead generation. For automotive dealers, the company provides a variety of software and services that create competitive advantages by generating and capturing more cost-effective Internet leads by utilizing a variety of online channels. Based in Dallas, Texas, Liquid Motors strives to bring innovative technology to all segments of the automotive industry. SOURCE Liquid Motors Universal scholarship program sees success with hundreds of students graduating in the class of 2023 STOCKTON, Calif., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An innovative scholarship program for public high school students in a city where less than one-fifth of the population has a bachelor's degree marks a major milestone this weekend. Stockton Scholars , which grants scholarships of up to $4,000 to students with a 2.0 GPA or higher, will host a special ceremony for the members of its first graduating class, who received scholarships back in 2019. Having awarded 5,000 scholarships worth over $3 million to date, the program's low barriers to entry distinguish it from most other scholarship funds and make it a game-changer for Stockton youth. Former Mayor of Stockton and founder of Stockton Scholars Michael Tubbs stands with scholarship awardees. Located roughly 80 miles east of San Francisco, Stockton is home to 322,000 residents, only 17 percent of whom have bachelor's degrees. Stockton Scholars, founded in 2019 as part of then-Mayor Michael Tubbs' Reinvent Stockton Foundation, seeks to change that. Like other Reinvent Stockton Foundation initiatives, most notably the Foundation's internationally recognized guaranteed income program , Stockton Scholars operates with the belief that making financial aid maximally accessible to the widest swath of people will have the most direct and immediate impact on a community. "It's our goal to give every young person in Stockton the resources and opportunities to follow their dreams and chart their own paths forward," said Tubbs, who currently serves as a special adviser to California Gov. Gavin Newsom for economic mobility and opportunity. "These 2023 graduates are well on their way, and we couldn't be more proud of them." As a universal scholarship program, Stockton Scholars makes it as easy as possible for students to apply. All students who attend a public high school in Stockton and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 are encouraged to apply. Awardees can receive up to $4,000 for attending a 4-year college or university and up to $1,000 for attending a community college or trade school. To increase enrollment, staff visit schools to help students fill out their scholarship applications in person. Stockton Scholars is also committed to supporting students on their journey, offering mentorship and ambassador programs, as well as hosting summer and winter summits for scholars. As they welcome their first graduating class, an alumni program will be introduced this year. "Stockton Scholars is the definition of community, radical care, and support," said Angela Estrada, a scholar who is graduating from UCLA and planning to go into higher education policy. "Not only has the organization supported me financially, but also professionally, academically, and personally. Stockton Scholars understands the dimensionality of students from Stockton and supports them holistically through mentorship and guidance." To honor the class of 2023, Stockton Scholars will host a two-part celebration this Saturday, June 17. In the morning, there will be a gathering for the 900 graduates and their families as well as the 1,500 high school students that were awarded scholarships this year. In the evening, a private event for the graduates will feature a performance from Stockton born and raised hip-hop artists MBNel and Hati Babii. About Stockton Scholars Stockton Scholars is a Stockton-based nonprofit dedicated to guiding young people to higher education and an impactful life. Founded in 2018 by Michael Tubbs as a college promise scholarship program, Stockton Scholars has grown to partner with students, families, and the local community to create a clear path through higher education for all Stockton youth. By providing support, resources, and mentorship to make the college process simple and achievable, we will change lives in Stockton for young people, their families, and their city. About the Reinvent Stockton Foundation The Reinvent Stockton Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to expand opportunity and build hope by attracting resources into and investing in the people of Stockton. Reinvent Stockton is dedicated to supporting students in their pursuit of higher education and supporting innovative ways to address poverty. Media Contact: Cori Brosnahan 415 962 7956 [email protected] SOURCE Stockton Scholars News / Local by Staff reporter POLITICAL analysts say former cabinet minister and Zanu-PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere's entry into the presidential election race set for 23 August will eat into President Emmerson Mnangagwa's votes by splitting his support base, thereby boosting the prospects of opposition Citizens' Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa.Kasukuwere, currently self-exiled in South Africa, last week declared that he is returning to Zimbabwe to run for president, causing an unexpected political twist ahead of the August general elections.In separate interviews, political analysts said in reality Kasukuwere does not stand a chance to win the presidential election, but he could dent Mnangagwa's chances in favour of Chamisa.University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Professor Eldred Masunungure told The NewsHawks that what is making Kasukuwere seem popular is the hype by the media after he announced his plan to enter the race to become the first citizen, but he no longer has a solid link with Zanu-PF grassroots supporters to cause an upset in the coming elections.He added that resultantly, Kasukuwere's entry into the presidential race will benefit Chamisa. "I think the media is over-hyping the Kasukuwere entry into the presidential race in the sense that he is being overrated.He has been disconnected from the grassroots for half a decade and whatever ties he had with communities have decidedly weakened except on Twitter platforms and this is a minute segment of the electorate."In light of this, I doubt that he will make a significant and compelling impact on the political dynamics, whether at the national level or in respect of the two main political parties."In the outside chance that he is impactful, I speculate that he will eat into his former party's electoral base (i.e., Zanu-PF) by splitting that support base and thus somewhat benefiting Nelson Chamisa and his CCC," said Prof Masunungure.Professor of world politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Stephen Chan, said Kasukuwere's entry into the presidential race will not have a significant effect of a "spoiler", but could see him exposing startling revelations about internal Zanu-PF frictions."This (Kasukuwere's presidential bid) will have no effect on the final vote. Kasukuwere doesn't have the well-oiled Zanu-PF machine on his side. His candidature is of interest, however, not in terms of his being a spoiler', but in terms of what he might say about the internal faults of Zanu-PF," he said.Political analyst Vivid Gwede predicted that Kasukuwere's presidential run would be significant in eating into Mnangagwa's votes."He might misjudge his clout, if he thinks that he would be anything other than a distant third, whose contribution at best is to lead to a runoff amongst the main contenders CCC and Zanu-PF."But he is more likely to eat into the traditional Zanu-PF support base, his erstwhile home, and make its precarious position worse and more assured of defeat in this election. A crucial fact is that new voters registered aware of or persuaded by his late, but less-than-momentous entry into the race. "Kasukuwere's political history is quintessentially Zanu-PF and that is where his supporters are," he said.Kasukuwere reached the prime of his political career when he became the political commissar and key member of Robert Mugabe's last cabinet before the longtime ruler's dramatic 2017 ouster by the military.Kasukuwere briefly returned home in January 2018 and was arrested on corruption charges, which were later thrown out by a court, but not before he left the country again.He is also a former Environment, Water and Climate minister. Kasukuwere, Mnangagwa and Mugabe's wife Grace teamed up to topple former Vice-President Joice Mujuru during his tenure as Zanu-PF political commissar.The alliance, however, fell apart when Kasukuwere and Grace were joined by another former minister Jonathan Moyo and members of the G40 group, which turned its guns on Mnangagwa.Mnangagwa, with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces led by General Constantino Chiwenga, now Vice-President, ousted Mugabe in the 2017 coup Kasukuwere, Moyo as well as former cabinet ministers Walter Mzembi and Patrick Zhuwao fled the country during the coup.The ex-ministers face arrest over a litany of charges, including corruption. In October 2020, the government sought Kasukuwere's extradition from South Africa after issuing a warrant for his arrest.He has been battling to have it cancelled and may be arrested upon return if that does not happen in time before he comes back to mount his election campaign.Although a grouping by the name New Alliance Zimbabwe has been purpoting to be a political party behind Kasukuwere on social media, the 52-year-old politician has not yet disclosed if he will deploy parliamentary, council, and senatorial candidates in the 23 August elections. ManpowerGroup returns to VivaTech for the 7th consecutive year as a Platinum Partner to showcase groundbreaking HR solutions in its #TheNewHumanAge Lab. MILWAUKEE, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when the world of work is undergoing profound changes, from advances in Artificial Intelligence to emerging needs for green skills and the changing priorities of workers ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is set to return to Viva Technology (Viva Tech) in Paris, from June 14-17, to unveil people-centric innovations that will transform the way work gets done for people and employers. As technology advancements gather pace, we are at a step-change moment for the future of work. ManpowerGroup believes (and data tells us) that tech advancements create more opportunities for people, provided they have the right skills. Find out more about the emergence of this New Human Age - where work can be more balanced, more skilled, and more meaningful than ever before. Throughout VivaTech, Europe's largest startup and tech event, ManpowerGroup will host guests in its experiential "The New Human Age" Lab, showcasing cutting-edge HR advancements, encompassing ethical applications of AI, immersive recruitment experiences and technology tailored to enhance the employee experience. Additionally, ManpowerGroup will share more about MyPath, its personalized upskilling program offered through Manpower, Experis Acadamy's metaverse experience to develop IT talent, and PowerSuite Next for Career Transitions, the new digital solution for transforming and enhancing the outplacement experience and offering people the best possible outcomes during their career transition from ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions. "Technology has proven to be a powerful ally, augmenting rather than replacing human capabilities. Now, as we enter 'The New Human Age,' we have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure even more people develop their skills and access meaningful and sustainable employment," said Jonas Prising, Chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup. "At this step-change moment we are delighted to be once again at Viva Tech showcasing innovation to bridge the skills gap and leading discussions to prepare people for the future of work." Key ManpowerGroup Events at VivaTech Wednesday, June 14 , 10:30 am - "A Man's World? How to Advance Women in Tech" A panel of experts, including Muriel Penicaud, former Minister of Labor for France and current ManpowerGroup Board Member, BNP Paribas Head of Group Human Resources Sofia Merlo, and ManpowerGroup Chief Innovation Officer Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic , will address the underrepresentation of women in the field of technology and delves into the persistent challenges and barriers faced by women in the industry. A panel of experts, including Muriel Penicaud, former Minister of Labor for and current ManpowerGroup Board Member, BNP Paribas Head of Group Human Resources Sofia Merlo, and ManpowerGroup Chief Innovation Officer , will address the underrepresentation of women in the field of technology and delves into the persistent challenges and barriers faced by women in the industry. Wednesday, June 14 , 12:50 pm - "The New Human Age" ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jonas Prising , Bob Moritz , Global Chairman at PwC, IBM General Manager of EMEA Ana Paula De Jesus Assis, with moderator Karen Tso of CNBC, will discuss "The New Human Age" and the importance of human skills in an increasingly tech-centric world. ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO , , Global Chairman at PwC, IBM General Manager of EMEA Ana Paula De Jesus Assis, with moderator of CNBC, will discuss "The New Human Age" and the importance of human skills in an increasingly tech-centric world. Friday, June 16 , 11:30 am - "iHuman: Tech + Talent in The New Human Age" Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic talks about his latest book, "I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique" and addresses the highly topical issue of AI, how it can improve the way we work and live, but also its potential abuses. talks about his latest book, "I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique" and addresses the highly topical issue of AI, how it can improve the way we work and live, but also its potential abuses. Friday, June 16 , 12:20 pm - "Talent with Values: What Do Workers Want?" Beyond earning fair wages, today's workers aspire to contribute to society through their work. ManpowerGroup Chief Commercial Officer Becky Frankiewicz is joined by Maud Alvarez-Pereyre, Chief People & Transformation Officer at LVMH Group, Publicis Groupe Secretary General Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner , and Joshua Graff , Managing Director of EMEA & LATAM at LinkedIn, with moderator Victoria Turk from Rest of World, for a conversation about what workers want and how their employers can empower them. Beyond earning fair wages, today's workers aspire to contribute to society through their work. ManpowerGroup Chief Commercial Officer is joined by Maud Alvarez-Pereyre, Chief People & Transformation Officer at LVMH Group, Publicis Groupe Secretary General , and , Managing Director of EMEA & LATAM at LinkedIn, with moderator from Rest of World, for a conversation about what workers want and how their employers can empower them. Friday, June 16 , 2:15 pm - "Why Positive Leadership Starts with You?" Jean-Philippe Courtois , Executive Vice President National Transformation Partnerships, Microsoft and current ManpowerGroup Board Member, AXA France Head of Human Resources Amelie Watelet, TomasChamorro-Premuzic, moderated by ManpowerGroup's Ruth Harper , come together for a fireside chat on how leaders who focus on building trust, empathy and well-being can energize their teams to achieve success for individuals, their organization, and society overall. ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2023 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 14th time all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent. For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. SOURCE ManpowerGroup Resort and Conference Center Brings Margaritaville Vibe to South Texas Coast SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island officially opened today as the first Texas beachfront resort in the Margaritaville portfolio. Set on a prime location in South Padre Island, the destination uniquely offers all-ocean view rooms and condos with a fun, relaxed 'no worries' vibe. Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island Officially Opens as Summer Season Begins "We are thrilled to bring Margaritaville to the South Texas coast, allowing locals, guests, and visitors alike to experience a one-of-a-kind oasis," said Rone Middler, General Manager of Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island. "An easy drive or plane trip from the major metro areas of San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston and convenient access to Mexico, Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island provides the perfect getaway for guests of all ages looking for fun, relaxation, and adventure." Highline Hospitality Partners, the hospitality investment platform launched by Highline Real Estate Partners (HREP), invested more than $30 million to completely transform the Pearl Hotel South Padre into a Margaritaville resort that reflects the quintessential laidback lifestyle. Guests are immediately transported to a vacation state of mind in the island-inspired design of the resort's 200 guestrooms and 50 beachfront condos with one, two, or three-bedroom configurations. Dining options include three restaurants and bars, including LandShark Bar & Grill, which offers indoor and outdoor patio seating overlooking the Gulf of Mexico; the Salty Rim Bar & Grill, a swim-up bar, serving signature cocktails and bar bites; and Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions, a grab-and-go destination for bold coffee drinks and quick bites. The area's largest hotel pool, heated all year round, is surrounded by private cabanas and a separate area for kids. Nearby Hammock Row allows guests to swing and sway in the gulf breeze under towering palm trees while outdoor fire pits encourage guests to unwind while gazing at the Texas night sky. Adjacent to the resort is the Sapphire Spa, offering guests the opportunity to rejuvenate with an array of blissful treatment options and a full hair and makeup salon as well as a fully equipped fitness center. Those interested in beachside adventures can conveniently schedule activities, including windsurfing, banana boat rides, parasailing, offshore fishing, dolphin watching, or wave runner rentals at the resort's concierge desk. The resort hosts meetings, special events, Quinceaneras, family reunions, and weddings of every size, offering 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space with access to the latest audio/visual equipment and other convenient amenities. For more information about Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island, visit here. Resort Photography & Fact Sheet: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/abr8xv2d5p2oi0cz7jq4r/h?dl=0&rlkey=vwgrq33zitoi95u7bcuyqswe9 About Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island Nestled on the sands along the sparking waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island provides travelers with a tropical twist on Texas tourism with 200 guestrooms and 50 beachfront condos. The newest resort in the area and the only one offering all ocean views from every room, the resort features three Margaritaville-inspired restaurants and bars with various amenities, including the area's largest hotel pool heated all year round. The resort also has outdoor fire pits, hammocks, and convenient access to beachside activities, including windsurfing, banana boat rides, parasailing, offshore fishing, dolphin watching, and wave runner rentals. Adjacent to the resort is the Sapphire Spa, a full-service spa and hair salon, and a fully equipped fitness center. In addition, with 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island hosts meetings and events of all kinds. Located just off the causeway in South Padre Island, the resort is within easy reach of major metro areas including Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio and provides convenient access to Mexico. Highline Hospitality Partners owns Margaritaville Beach Resort and Aimbridge Hospitality manages the property. For more information, visit the website. Media Contacts Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island Laura Frnka-Davis, Storyteller Communications 713-409-1480, [email protected] SOURCE Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island Following success of 2022 pilot, MBC boosts 2023 program with substantially increased funding, geographic reach, and scientific expertise Applications now open CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission BioCapital (MBC) announced today the launch of the Mission BioCapital Platinum Program 2023 to identify and support high-potential life sciences startup companies. In collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) as Founding Sponsor, this year's program will feature significantly increased seed funding, a broader geographic network of affiliated labs in the U.S. and Europe, and access to scientific expertise at Lilly. "Our inaugural Platinum Program in 2022 was a great success, and we are excited to be supporting the winnerstwo first-time academic founders with potential landmark advancements that are now established in our laboratories in San Francisco," said Jennifer Griffin, Ph.D., Partner, Mission BioCapital. "Building on that progress, we have expanded this year's program substantially, teaming up with Lilly to double seed funding amounts while also greatly expanding the program's geographic reach to find new talent and innovations outside of the major San Francisco and Boston biotech clusters." The Platinum Program 2023 will award up to six winning start-ups with: A guaranteed lab bench in one of MBC's affiliated incubators located in 13 cities in the U.S. and Europe in one of MBC's affiliated incubators located in 13 cities in the U.S. and $500,000 of seed capital of seed capital Strategic scientific and business development mentorship from experts at Lilly, MBC, and other companies across MBC's corporate network "We are excited to partner with Lilly as we expand our Platinum Program," said Steve Tregay, Ph.D., Managing General Partner, Mission BioCapital. "Lilly's support will accelerate our mission of helping life sciences innovators prepare to launch and grow more quickly by providing critical capital, turnkey infrastructure, and strategic mentoring that positions them optimally to succeed." "We are committed to enabling the biotech ecosystem by catalyzing breakthrough science," said Katie Hewitt, Global Head of Business Development, Lilly Catalyze. "The MBC Platinum Program is aligned with Lilly's initiatives to foster and support innovative, early-stage science irrespective of where it originates, and we are delighted to join this effort as a Founding Sponsor." To apply, visit: http://www.missionbiocapital.com/platinumprogram. Only non-confidential information will be required for application. About the Mission BioCapital Platinum Program Mission BioCapital (MBC) established the Platinum Program in 2022 to catalyze the formation of life sciences start-ups by enabling entrepreneurs with breakthrough technologies from diverse backgrounds to quickly launch new companies. Platinum Program winners receive guaranteed laboratory space at MBC's partner incubators in the U.S. and Europe, access to world-class experts, business operations support, and seed capital to quickly develop scientific data needed to obtain subsequent funding rounds. The program invites innovators from around the world, including academic scientists, to submit breakthrough biomedical innovations that have the potential to advance patient care. About Mission BioCapital Mission BioCapital is a venture capital firm focused on making pivotal early-stage investments in life sciences companies. We support our portfolio companies through a unique combination of shared lab space, capital investment, and access to strategic partners. With offices in the nation's leading life sciences clusters in Cambridge, MA and San Francisco, Mission BioCapital is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial scientists build successful companies, from idea to exit. Learn more at missionbiocapital.com. Contact: Mary Moynihan M2Friend Biocommunications +1 (802) 951-9600 [email protected] SOURCE Mission BioCapital A High-End Boutique Experience in The Bustling Nashville Suburbs BRENTWOOD, Tenn., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Monkee's of Brentwood opened its doors on April 14th, with trunk shows by Allison Avery Collection and Le Feme. Customers explored the new boutique while browsing through an extensive selection of designer boutique-style clothing, shoes, and accessories. Monkee's of Brentwood marks the third location in Tennessee, joining Johnson City and Knoxville celebrating their store opening on April 1st. While each boutique has the Monkee's name, stores are individually owned - creating a unique shopping experience for customers nationwide. Monkee's of Brentwood's interiors feature a modern look with brass accessories and a moody floral accent wall to compliment trendy styles thoughtfully displayed throughout the store. There is also a nod to the country music scene with Western-inspired accessories and an acoustic guitar for any spontaneous performances. In addition to store design, customers can expect many sought-after brands, such as Ramy Brook, Philippe Model, Celia B, Marie Oliver, and more! Monkee's of Brentwood, Women's Boutique Located at 211 Franklin Road #140, Brentwood, TN, Monkee's of Brentwood is owned and operated by Amanda Hellman. While being known for her sense of style and design, Amanda has years of experience as a realtor. She decided to open a boutique to showcase curated designer styles that reflect her personal style while incorporating new and upcoming trends. For sneak peeks of the new store and updates on new arrivals, follow @monkeesofbrentwood on Instagram and Facebook and visit monkeesofbrentwood.com About Monkee's Franchising, LLC: Monkee's Franchising, LLC is a franchisor with over 40 upscale ladies' boutiques, specializing in shoes, clothing, and accessories. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. Monkee's was founded in 1995 and has become one of the most successful organizations of independently owned boutiques in the U.S. Boutiques can be found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Utah. Monkee's is recognized as a leader in providing the finest fashions from the world's top designers. Learn more about opening a Monkee's Franchise at ownamonkees.com SOURCE Monkees Franchising LLC BOULDER, Colo., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Informa Markets' New Hope Network is excited to announce Natural Products Expo East 2023 NEXTY Awards nominations are now open. Award nominations will be accepted through June 30 and are open to all CPG brands with finished products, including Natural Products Expo East exhibitors and non-exhibitors. NEXTY Awards recognize the most innovative, inspiring and purposeful products in the natural products industry, helping both emerging and pioneering brands stand out to buyers, food service professionals, health practitioners, investors and more. Natural Products Expo East 2023, one of the industry's most critical opportunities to discover emerging brands, products, ideas and markets, will be held September 20-23 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. New Hope Network's NEXTY Awards are a prestigious recognition of excellence, elevating brands and products that inspire a healthy, sustainable future for people and planet across 20 categories. These include Best New People-Forward Product, Best New Planet-Forward Product, Best New Certified Organic or Certified Regenerative Product, Best New Functional Food or Beverage, Best New Personal Care or Beauty Product and many others. New this year is the Best New Innovation Experience Award, honoring a product or brand that exemplifies a way of using innovation as a force for good, which is featured in tandem with the New Hope Innovation Experience space debuting at Expo East 2023. A complete list of categories and criteria can be found in the NEXTY Nomination Guide. All NEXTY Award nominees are evaluated by New Hope Network's editorial team as well as a panel of industry-leading guest judges including retailers, investors, sustainability experts and others. Finalists will be announced in August and winners will be recognized in-person at the start of Natural Products Expo East on-site in Philadelphia. NEXTY Award finalists and winners receive widespread industry recognition and accolades including a special feature on newhope.com, a print feature in the Expo East issue of Natural Foods Merchandiser (NFM) magazine, a spot in the NEXTY Awards showcase on-site at Natural Products Expo East 2023, social media shout outs and more. "Our NEXTY Award program gives retailers and brands a front row seat to the hottest, most innovative and most mission-driven new products in the industry today. All submissions are carefully evaluated by our editorial team along with our esteemed guest judges who provide thoughtful insights every round. We're excited to be sharing this feedback with all NEXTY finalists from this edition," said Adrienne Smith, Content Director and NEXTY Program Manager at Informa Markets' New Hope Network. Early bird pricing is available through June 15. Brands can nominate, review the FAQ, learn more about the benefits and more on NEXTYAwards.com. Information about becoming a Natural Products Expo East 2023 exhibitor is available here. Follow @NatProdExpo on Instagram and TikTok and visit @Natural Products Expo on LinkedIn to join in on ongoing conversations. Natural Products Expo is a business-to-business trade show and is not open to the public. About New Hope Network New Hope Network is at the forefront of the healthy lifestyle products industry. With solutions for the complete supply chain from manufacturers, retailers/distributors, service providers and ingredient suppliers, the network offers a robust portfolio of content, events, data, research and consultative services. Through all its actions, New Hope Network aims to cultivate a prosperous high-integrity CPG and retail ecosystem that creates health, joy and justice for all people while regenerating the planet. For more information visit www.newhope.com. About Informa Markets Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. SOURCE New Hope Network LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In his latest book, "The Unwitting Antichrists: Understanding How Good People Can Be Misled," author Dr. John A. Busch explores the extremist ideology of cults. All religions produce extremists who think they stand for the pure form of their faith but end up profoundly corrupting that religion. For example, witness the Taliban and the Christian Nationalists. The very nature of authoritarianism, cults, and fascism drive many people to these extremes with no awareness that they have left reality behind. Knowing about these pressures can help some people get out of one of these cults and hopefully keep some others from ever joining. The Unwitting Antichrists Cults can develop into fascist movements, often as dangerous to their members as to everyone else. And when a cult turns into a fascist movement for Jesus, it is not only a major threat to democracy; it is no longer Christian despite claims to the contrary. Dr. Busch takes the view that such followers are not inherently evil. Instead, most are good people who do not grasp that they have been misled. Even now, many battles exist to control Southern Baptist congregations between pastors and parishioners influenced by extremist media and power-hungry Christian nationalist leaders. To defend their extremist ideology, they combine the selective reading of the Bible with misinformation about race, abortion, and LGBTQIA people. Dr. Busch uses the biological and social sciences to counter this misinformation and undermine the hate it generates. Cult members and those who care about them can benefit from understanding the power of cults and fascist movements and the science behind their hatred. About the Author: Dr. Busch received his Ph.D. in sociology from Indiana University in 1974 and retired from the University of Louisville in 2018. Using the system's philosophy, he studies the social construction of reality, political economy, racial and gender inequality, the reciprocal influences of self and society, authoritarian disposition, cults, fascism, and religion. He has published in Cybernetica and other journals, edited two books on sociocybernetics, and written Sociocybernetics: A Perspective for Living In Complexity. He has recently turned his attention to authoring books for the general public, of which this is the first. https://savingamericafromourselves.org/ Imprint: Social Systems Press; The Quick Study Series; Available Now on Amazon.com; Pages 95 Price: Ebook $2.99 ISBN: 979-8-9870919-1-3 Price: Paperback $7.95 ISBN: 979-8-9870919-2-0 Price: Hardcover $13.99 ISBN: 979-8-9870919-3-7 CONTACT: Dr. Busch 502-438-9816 [email protected] SOURCE Dr. John A. Busch, Ph.D. CHICAGO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The next-generation solar cell market is valued at USD 3.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 7.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 19.5% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The major driving factors are technological advancement in next-generation solar cells, government initiatives in solar PV projects, and increasing demand for solar cells in the residential and commercial sectors. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=94742566 Browse in-depth TOC on "Next-Generation Solar Cell Market" 152 Tables 46 Figures 191 Pages Next-Generation Solar Cell Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $3.0 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $7.4 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 19.5% Market Size Available for 20192028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Material Type, Installation, End User and Geography Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Security and safety concern Key Market Opportunities Growing demand for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and deployment of autonomous vehicles Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for integrated sensors in smartphones Cadmium telluride (CdTe) material is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) material-based solar cells are expected to have the largest market size during the forecast period. CdTe solar cell material is frequently in the utility-scale solar industry, including large-scale solar power plants that are designed to feed electricity into the grid. CdTe solar cells have high efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The market for others is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Organic material-based solar cells have been increasingly used to power small electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearable technology, among others, boosting the market growth of these materials during the forecast period. Residential end-user industry is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The residential segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period by end-user industry. To fulfill the home's electricity needs, solar cell-based PV systems are installed on the rooftop or at a location where adequate sunlight is available. Electricity is required for in-home lighting and ventilation solutions and several other consumer electronics and appliances, such as water pumping systems, lanterns, radios, televisions, flashlights, outdoor lights, security systems, gate openers, and fans. These solar cell-based PV systems need batteries to store electricity, and charged batteries can be used when needed. The excess electricity (if generated) can be sold by transferring it to the national or local electricity grid (depending on the system feasibility, availability, and the policy of the government and electricity company). PV systems are useful in remote areas and faraway villages where electricity grids are not available. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=94742566 North America accounts for the largest market share during the forecast period. The overall next-generation solar cell industry in Asia Pacific held the largest share in 2022. The companies in this region are focusing on boosting their production capabilities and widening their distribution networks, and the manufacturers are utilizing new technologies for solar cells in their operations. Increased solar cell demands from countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea is experienced by the global market players. India and China are playing a major role in the growth of the Asia Pacific next-generation solar cell market. These countries are aggressively progressing in the global solar cell market. The presence of favorable government policies in the Asia Pacific contributes to the growth of the regional solar cell market. The report profiles key next-generation solar cell companies players and analyzes their market shares. Players profiled in this report are First Solar (US), Hanwha Q CELLS (South Korea), Ascent Solar Technologies (US), Oxford PV (UK), Kaneka Solar Energy (Japan), Flisom (Switzerland), Solactron (US), Mitsubishi Chemical Group (Japan), MiaSole (US), and Hanergy thin film power group (China) are some major players. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=94742566 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Photovoltaic Market by Component (Modules, Inverters, BOS), Material (Silicon, Compounds), Installation Type (Ground Mounted, BIPV, Floating PV), Application (Residential, Commercial & Industrial, Utilities), Cell Type and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Perovskite Solar Cell Market by Type of Structure (Planar and Mesoporous), Product (Rigid and Flexible), Vertical (Aerospace & Defense, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Utility), Type, Application, Technology and Region Global Forecast to 2028 Organic Electronics Market by Material (Semiconductor, Conductive, Dielectric and Substrate), by Application (Battery, Conductive Ink, Display, Lighting, Logic/Memory, Sensor, OPV, ORFID and Others), Geography Global Analysis and Forecast (2014 - 2020) Graphene Electronics Market by Materials (PV, Electronics), Devices (Super capacitors, Transistors, Spintronics, Sensors, ICs & Chips, Lenses), Products (Computing, Consumer, Memory, Display), Developments (Nanotubes & Ribbons, Fullerenes) & Geography - Analysis & Forecast 2013 to 2020 Microgrid Market by Connectivity (Grid-connected, Off-grid), Offering (Power Generators, Controllers, Energy Storage, Software, Services), End User (Commercial & Industrial, Military, Utilities), Type, Power Rating & Geography - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/next-generation-solar-cell-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/next-generation-solar-cell.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets The New York Career Opportunity Hub marks the first step in a comprehensive state-by-state approach to foster advanced technology skills among the nation's workforce. ALBANY, N.Y., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT), the leader in developing the U.S. semiconductor talent pipeline, launched the nation's first Career Opportunity Hub in New York's Capital Region. The Opportunity Hub utilizes a broad range of programs and support structures to build the region's tech talent pipeline. Career Opportunity Hubs are part of NIIT's larger, nationwide strategy to grow the workforce in tech-based industries. The strategy helps to ensure the entire education system provides a skills-based pathway to careers and "learn and earn" opportunities through innovative Registered Apprenticeships. Key initiatives include: New opportunities through the National Talent Hub , a state-of-the-art career portal that aligns jobseeker qualifications, academic curriculums, and in-demand skills from industry in real-time. All students in the Capital Region BOCES system can create National Talent Hub profiles free of cost, allowing them to receive credit for prior learning and apply it to NIIT Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) with participating employers, thus creating a seamless apprenticeship pathway from education to career. , a state-of-the-art career portal that aligns jobseeker qualifications, academic curriculums, and in-demand skills from industry in real-time. All students in the Capital Region BOCES system can create National Talent Hub profiles free of cost, allowing them to receive credit for prior learning and apply it to NIIT Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) with participating employers, thus creating a seamless apprenticeship pathway from education to career. Establishing the nation's first semiconductor-specific Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) within a world-leading semiconductor R&D, Innovation and Commercialization facility for advanced digital, analog and power technologies. NY CREATES employees, who operate and maintain the state-of-the-art research lab at the Albany Nanotech Complex will participate in the NIIT's Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS) program. GAINS provides individuals the ability to learn on the job while building experience and skills through working with industry partners. GAINS is implemented through an exclusive U.S. Department of Labor contract and designed to meet the workforce demands of the semiconductor and nanotechnology-related fields. for advanced digital, analog and power technologies. NY CREATES employees, who operate and maintain the state-of-the-art research lab at the Albany Nanotech Complex will participate in the NIIT's Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS) program. GAINS provides individuals the ability to learn on the job while building experience and skills through working with industry partners. GAINS is implemented through an exclusive U.S. Department of Labor contract and designed to meet the workforce demands of the semiconductor and nanotechnology-related fields. Substantial increases in RAP participation by prominent tech companies. Under the NIIT GAINS program, GlobalFoundries, who pioneered the first GAINS program and just graduated their first apprentices under the program, Applied Materials and PlugPower will expand innovative, competency-based programs to offer a wider range of training opportunities for jobseekers and incumbent workers and create an expanded talent pool for employers. Under the NIIT GAINS program, GlobalFoundries, who pioneered the first GAINS program and just graduated their first apprentices under the program, Applied Materials and PlugPower will expand innovative, competency-based programs to offer a wider range of training opportunities for jobseekers and incumbent workers and create an expanded talent pool for employers. A new NIIT employer partnership program that incentivizes companies to invest in building the regional talent pipeline by equipping jobseekers with foundational and transferable skills for advanced manufacturing and nanotechnology-related fields. Under the program, employers who invest in attracting and training employees that choose to move to other companies can be compensated for their efforts. "Through collaboration with our partners in education, industry, and government, we are providing the Capital Region of New York with the tools and resources necessary to engage a broader population and create an integrated pathway to high-value careers in strategic industries," said Mike Russo, President and CEO of NIIT. "These innovative Registered Apprenticeship Programs will build a strong tech ecosystem that will not only bolster the local economy, but also contribute to national security and our global competitiveness." In New York and across the nation, three principles guide NIIT's work: Connecting the entire education system with industry to facilitate skills-based learning. Ensuring our diverse population including students, adults, veterans, and underserved communities are aware of and have access to the career opportunities created by NIIT's partner organizations. Offering scalable programs, tools and infrastructure to build the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline. Following the launch of the New York Hub, NIIT will work state-by-state to institute similar programming and resources in regions across the country as well as additional cities across Upstate New York. This collaborative effort between industry leaders, academia and other stakeholders will bolster job opportunities in strategic sectors nationwide. In addition, employers with multi-state operations can leverage NIIT programs and services to create more seamless processes and eliminate the need to recreate programs and solutions in multiple locations. "We are thrilled to be a part of the New York Career Opportunity Hub and its commitment to building a robust tech talent pipeline in our region. The hub and its innovative career portal mark a significant milestone in connecting individuals with employers based on their training and in-demand industry skills," said Capital Region BOCES Senior Executive Officer, Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. "This transformative initiative empowers our students to leverage their skills and knowledge, bridging the gap between academia and industry, and ultimately driving economic growth in our region." "Plug is pleased to partner with NIIT to expand our registered apprenticeship program at Vista Technology Park, creating the nation's first clean energy program for a hydrogen generation manufacturer under GAINS," added Plug CEO Andy Marsh. "As a leader in the global green hydrogen economy, we must continuously evolve our talent management strategy to meet our customers' ambitious sustainability goals. Being a part of NIIT's first Career Opportunity Hub will enable us to do just that by allowing us to reach a wider talent pool, train more effectively and scale nationally." "I'm proud to celebrate this landmark effort by NIIT to pave the way for a brighter future in our nation's tech-based industries," said Congressman Paul D. Tonko. "By establishing America's first Career Opportunity Hub right here in our Capital Region, NIIT is building on the steps we've taken through the CHIPS and Science Act and other efforts to turn our region into a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and high-tech innovation. In collaboration with our partners in education, industry and government, we are building a strong technological ecosystem that will not only strengthen our local economy, but also bolster our national security and enhance our nation's competitiveness on the global stage." "The registered apprenticeship at our manufacturing facility in Malta, New York, continues to be successful and is an important element of our strong ongoing commitment to workforce development," said Hui Peng Koh, incoming general manager of GlobalFoundries manufacturing facility in Malta, New York. "We look forward to growing this program, in collaboration with NIIT's Career Opportunity Hub, to continue creating new doorways into the semiconductor industry for the region's diverse pool of talented candidates." About the National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT) The National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT) is a 501(c)(3) with a mission to identify roadblocks to innovation in strategic industry sectors those important to the nation's security and global competitiveness and ensure they are eliminated. Talent pipeline development is the major focus of NIIT, and through comprehensive industry engagement, NIIT is leading the deployment of a national strategy and infrastructure to broaden and build the talent pipeline for the semiconductor industry and strategic industry sectors. Through its National Talent Pipeline Development Initiative and the support of the federal government, NIIT has developed a comprehensive, nationally integrated approach that includes the alignment of programs K-12 through post-secondary education and adult and veteran training, infrastructure to attract a broader population and improve access and connections to career and needed training, and the ability to scale to support the nation. For more information, visit www.niit-usa.org. SOURCE National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT) NEW YORK, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) is proud to announce the exhibition tour in the U.S.A. : "Homeland: Relationship of Taiwan Green Craft - Earth/ Community/ Mind." The theme of the exhibition explore and reflect the values of Taiwan sustainable craft and its local aesthetics as well as humans' roles in nature, community and faith. On June 7th, Ambassador James K. J. Lee of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York welcomed many honorable guests during the opening reception. The exhibition also features the program 'One Community, One Craft', which creates a platform for community engagement and support. Artists Pi-Shui Hung, Hsiu-Lin Ho, and Kuan-Liang Wu will showcase diverse Taiwanese crafts such as patchwork, natural dye and marine waste painting while serving in local schools and communities. On the opening reception on June 7th, Ambassador James K. J. Lee of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York stated: "The exhibition focused on green crafts which underscores Taiwan's commitment to environmental conservation and its role as a member of the global community and hope to promote sustainable environmental practices." Divided into three sections - Earth, Community, and Mind - the exhibition expresses the artists' focus on environmental sustainability, post-pandemic community relations, and the physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals. Using crafts as a medium, Taiwanese artists explore contemporary issues on many different levels and showcase the integration of traditional and innovative aspects of Taiwanese crafts. "Earth" showcases eco-friendly creation and how we can better coexist with nature. The "Community" section showcases craftworks in Taiwan and how craft evolves from an artist's creation as a medium for social service. Craft is more than an object but a force that brings hope, healing and unites people in the community. "Mind" portrays craft as a medium that connects culture and faith in Taiwanese daily life. Curated by Director Jen-chi Chang of the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, the exhibition explores the theme of "Home and Humanity" and how people relate to nature, society, and themselves. It showcases the practice of relational aesthetics between people, society, and the environment, highlighting the importance of sustainability in natural, social, and personal domains. The exhibition also features the program "One Community, One Craft", creating a platform for community engagement and support. During the exhibition period in New York, Hello Taiwan - a community supporting organization, will collaborate with artists from Taiwan to serve in local schools and communities. Showcasing diverse Taiwanese crafts such as bamboo weaving, patchwork, and marine waste painting through interactive demonstrations and handcraft activities will express that arts and crafts can be a common language that soothes any barriers. "Homeland: Relationship of Taiwan Green Craft - Earth/ Community/ Mind." will be showing from June 8th till June 27th at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. To know more about NTCRI please head tohttps://www.ntcri.gov.tw Media contact: Sunny Chiang [email protected] 6462705533 SOURCE National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute DUBLIN, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Epidemiology Forecast - 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In 2022, there were ~12,082,000 total prevalent cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the 7MM. This report delivers an in-depth understanding of the OCD, historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France) and the United Kingdom, and Japan. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been given increased attention in DSM-5, receiving its chapter. However, the diagnostic criteria for OCD in DSM-5 remain largely the same as in DSM-IV, requiring either obsessions or compulsions. The major change in the DSM-5 criteria for OCD is the addition of two specifiers for this diagnosis: insight and tic-related disorder. OCD symptoms may be present for years before treatment is sought, and those affected often suffer in silence. The disease follows a chronic waxing and waning course where 15% of patients have deterioration, and 5% have episodes with inter-episode recovery. The diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria, while the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is used for the assessment of its severity. Most of the diagnosed cases of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are severe, with around 15%, 35%, and 50% of individuals having mild, moderate, and severe OCD, respectively. The United States accounted for the highest number of diagnosed cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the 7MM, i.e., ~2,156,000 cases. In 2022, the United Kingdom accounted for the lowest diagnosed prevalent population of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) out of all the 7MM countries. Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) Epidemiology The epidemiology forecast model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for the 7MM is based on the prevalence of OCD in the population to calculate the prevalent cases of OCD. From this, the diagnosis rate was applied to calculate the diagnosed cases of OCD. As the market is derived using a patient-based model, the OCD epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by total prevalent cases of OCD, total diagnosed cases of OCD, gender-specific cases of OCD, severity-specific cases of OCD, and age-specific cases of OCD in the 7MM covering the United States, EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), United Kingdom, and Japan from 2019 to 2032. Key Findings The total number of prevalent cases of OCD in the United States was around 3,528,000 cases in 2022. was around 3,528,000 cases in 2022. The United States contributed to ~29% of the prevalent population of OCD in the 7MM in 2022. While EU4 and the UK, and Japan accounted for around 53% and 18% of the total prevalent population share of the 7MM, respectively, in 2022. contributed to ~29% of the prevalent population of OCD in the 7MM in 2022. While EU4 and the UK, and accounted for around 53% and 18% of the total prevalent population share of the 7MM, respectively, in 2022. Among the EU4 and the UK, Germany accounted for the highest number of OCD prevalent cases, followed by France , whereas the United Kingdom accounted for the lowest number of prevalent cases in 2022. accounted for the highest number of OCD prevalent cases, followed by , whereas the accounted for the lowest number of prevalent cases in 2022. Japan accounted for about 1,099,000 diagnosed cases of OCD in 2022. Epidemiology Insights What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM with respect to the patient population of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? What is the historical and forecasted obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patient pool in the United States , EU4 ( Germany , France , Italy , and Spain ) and the United Kingdom , and Japan ? , EU4 ( , , , and ) and the , and ? Which gender is the largest contributor to the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patient pool? Which age group contributes more to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the 7MM? Which severity has the most cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the 7MM? What factors are affecting the increase in the diagnosis rate of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? Key Topics Covered: 1. Key Insights 2. Report Introduction 3. Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) Epidemiology Overview at a Glance 3.1. Patient Share (%) Distribution of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in 2019 3.2. Patient Share (%) Distribution of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in 2032 4. Executive Summary of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) 5. Epidemiology Methodology 6. Disease Background and Overview 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Types 6.3. Symptoms 6.4. Causes 6.5. Pathophysiology 6.6. Diagnosis 6.6.1. DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for OCD 6.6.2. ICD-11 Diagnostic Guidelines for OCD 6.6.3. Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology's Diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders 6.6.4. Differential Diagnosis 6.6.5. Changes in DSM-5 for Obsessive-compulsive and Related Disorders 7. Epidemiology and Patient Population 7.1. Key Findings 7.2. Assumptions and Rationale 7.3. Total Prevalent Cases of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the 7MM 7.4. Total Diagnosed Cases of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the 7MM 7.5. The United States 7.6. EU4 and the UK 7.7. Japan 8. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/40bgt4 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets News / National by Staff reporter Power utility ZESA has quietly begun drawing power from Hwange Unit 8, the second of two 300 MW generating units built at a cost of US$1.4 billion, ZimLive reported.Testing of the coal-fired unit began on June 9, just days after tests were completed on Unit 7 which is now operating at full throttle.Zimbabwe was generating 1,501 MW of power on Monday from the hydro power station at Kariba (761 MW) and Hwange (740 MW), while independent power producers weighed in with 287 MW for a total of 1,788 MW. The country's electricity demand is 1,820 MW, according to ZESA data.The addition of Hwange units 7 and 8 to the national power grid has seen ZESA easing extended outages that have impacted businesses and households."Hwange Unit 8 is currently producing about 220 MW after the synchronisation last Friday. We also expect the old generator, Unit 6, to come back on stream starting next week following repairs, which should add another 150 MW," a top official in the energy ministry told ZimLive.Energy minister Soda Zhemu is expected to announce the synchronisation of Unit 8 after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.The two new units were built by China's Sinohydro, with 85 percent of the funding coming from China.Before construction work began on Units 7 and 8, Hwange had an installed capacity of 920 MW from its thermal units commissioned between 1983 and 1987, but breakdowns and ageing equipment have crippled generation, leaving Kariba to carry much of the burden.But low water levels due to inadequate rains have seen generation from the 1,050MW Kariba South hydro station being capped at a third of its capacity.In December, the government announced incentives to help accelerate 1,000MW solar projects worth US$1 billion planned by independent power producers, seeking to ramp up renewable power generation amid a funding freeze on coal-fired power projects as the world shifts away from the polluting fossil fuel. OCI Global is fueling the first ever green methanol powered container vessel in a pioneering partnership with A.P. Moller Maersk OCI is the world leader in green methanol through its OCI HyFuels brand, pioneering its use as renewable and low carbon hydrogen fuel This global maiden voyage is an important milestone in decarbonization of the maritime industry , provid ing proof-of-concept for green methanol as a safe, efficient , commercially ready fuel for global shipping Incremental methanol demand from the maritime sector is expected to be upwards of 4 million tonnes per annum by mid-2020's AMSTERDAM, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OCI Global (Euronext: OCI) has announced it is fueling the first ever green methanol-powered container ship in a new partnership with A.P. Moller-Maersk. OCI will provide ISCC certified biomethanol to power the maiden voyage of Maersk's first dual-fueled container ship, in a pioneering step towards the decarbonization of global shipping. OCI Beaumont The journey demonstrates OCI's unique capacity to supply marine customers with end-to-end green methanol solutions in major global bunkering locations, and further supports green methanol as the leading choice today for decarbonizing the marine sector, which is responsible for 3% of global GHG emissions. The vessel leaves South Korea for its maiden voyage this summer, sailing along one of the world's busiest shipping routes to Northern Europe via the Suez Canal. OCI is obtaining the approvals and permits required to commercially bunker methanol in several ports, including Port of Rotterdam on the ship's voyage, positioning OCI as the first commercial bunker operator of methanol in these regions. Ready for marine This voyage is an important milestone in the expansion of OCI's renewable and low-carbon fuels business, a key pillar of OCI's sustainable growth strategy. As the maritime industry navigates increased regulation to accelerate decarbonization, such as the FuelEU Maritime initiative, OCI anticipates incremental global demand for methanol at 4 million tons per year in the next five years, based on current orders from the marine sector. OCI is focused on being the last mile operator of choice at strategic bunkering ports, leveraging partnerships with relevant authorities, terminal infrastructure partners, and bunker barge operators. In February, OCI announced its project with Unibarge to retrofit the first methanol powered bunker barge, to be deployed at the Port of Rotterdam. Leading the way on hydrogen fuels Through its OCI HyFuels brand, OCI is the largest green methanol producer globally. It has led the development of green methanol application in vehicle fuels, now placing up to 200,000 tons per annum equivalent and is growing its suite of low-carbon and green methanol products, including biomethanol, e-methanol, recycled carbon fuel (RCF) methanol, renewable natural gas, ethanol and bio-MTBE. Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO at OCI Global: "I'm delighted that we are partnering with Maersk to power the first ever green methanol voyage with OCI HyFuels green methanol. This marks another significant milestone in our global leadership in supplying and trading renewable and low carbon fuels to decarbonize energy-intensive industries. We also appreciate the collaboration and leadership of our partners at each of the ports to facilitate this journey. With the maritime industry facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, its decarbonization is urgent, and OCI is playing a crucial role in helping the sector meet its environmental goals through our existing methanol capabilities; helping us build our position in the marine and fuels markets to capitalize on the coming ammonia fuel demand." Bashir Lebada, CEO of OCI Methanol/HyFuels: "We are excited about this new phase of our methanol business. Marine has been the main buzz around methanol for several years, so to secure the first real green sale and voyage is testament to our team's hard work and further reinforces OCI HyFuels as the only large-scale green methanol solution for road and bunker. We welcome our partnership with Maersk and their leadership in decarbonizing the maritime sector; their early focus on methanol and conviction to order vessels has led us to where we are today. This also highlights our distribution system and last mile capabilities where we will continue to leverage our road fuel logistics and fuel blending system, and add to our green bunker barge fleet as demand grows." Emma Mazhari, Head of Energy Markets at A.P. Moller Maersk: "We would like to thank OCI Global for showing great leadership and for a good collaboration on fueling the maiden voyage for our landmark vessel. We are grateful for the way OCI Global has committed to help A.P. Moller - Maersk deliver valuable services to our customers. Together, as trusted partners, we are driving a much-needed transition in a heavy-pollution industry. Because of the work by companies like OCI Global, that transition can hopefully be accelerated in the years to come" ABOUT OCI GLOBAL We are a global leader in nitrogen, methanol and hydrogen, driving forward the decarbonization of the energy-intensive industries that shape, feed and fuel the world. OCI's production capacity spans four continents and comprises approximately 16.8 million metric tons per year of hydrogen-based products including nitrogen fertilizers, methanol, biofuels, diesel exhaust fluid and melamine. OCI is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam. www.oci-global.com. LinkedIn. ABOUT A.P. MOLLER - MAERSK A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers' supply chains. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels, and green fuels. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098935/OCI_Global.jpg SOURCE OCI Global ZeroEyes to Host June 13 Lunch & Learn at Berkshire High School to Educate School Staff and Law Enforcement on its Proactive Security Solution PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced the successful year-long deployment of its solution by Ohio's Berkshire Local School District. The company and school district are co-hosting a Lunch & Learn at Berkshire High School (14155 Claridon Troy Road in Burton, OH) to educate about how ZeroEyes' proactive gun detection and situational awareness solution can help mitigate active school shooter scenarios. The session will take place on Tuesday, June 13th from 11:00am to 12:30pm in the school's student commons area. Save Time and Save Lives with ZeroEyes AI Gun Detection Solution Berkshire Local School District has implemented a multi-layered security approach to protect students and faculty against gun-related threats. As part of the district's comprehensive safety plan, the Lunch & Learn will feature demonstrations and discussion sessions, including reflections from school leaders on the district's successful ZeroEyes deployment. The event is open to local schools, law enforcement and media. Berkshire Local School District is located in a rural community spanning 30 acres, and serves more than 1,400 pre-K-12 students from the communities of Burton, Claridon, Montville, Thompson, and Troy. "We are proud to have been the first Ohio school district to deploy ZeroEyes, and are so pleased with its performance that we actively recommend it to surrounding districts," said John Stoddard, superintendent of Berkshire Local School District. "We selected ZeroEyes due to its rapid notification and situational awareness capabilities. Our community feels much safer knowing that, in the event of an active school shooter, we would receive near-instant notifications featuring a description and real-time location of the threat." "We are impressed with Berkshire Local School District's initiative to proactively protect its faculty and students from gun-related threats," said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. "We are proud to be an essential part of their multi-layered security plan." ZeroEyes' proactive visual gun detection and situational awareness software platform is layered over schools' existing digital security cameras, where it identifies illegally brandished guns and immediately shares images with a specialized group of U.S. military and law enforcement veterans at one of the ZeroEyes Operation Centers (ZOC) that are staffed 24/7/365. Once these experts verify the threat, they dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence, including visual description, gun type and last known location, to local staff and law enforcement as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from detection. About ZeroEyes ZeroEyes delivers a proactive, human-verified AI gun detection software solution that integrates into existing security cameras and mitigates mass shootings and gun-related violence by reducing response times, providing actionable intelligence with images and delivering clarity among chaos ultimately saving lives. ZeroEyes' patented solution has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a promising anti-terrorism technology and is the first video analytics technology to receive SAFETY Act DT&E Designation. Founded by Navy SEALs, Special Operations military veterans, and technologists, ZeroEyes dispatches accurate and real-time actionable intelligence about the brandishing of a gun near or in an occupied area or building, to local staff and law enforcement with an image of the shooter(s) and location of the threat, as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from the moment the gun is detected. The ZeroEyes team also provides tech consulting, installation assistance and practice drills for active shooter events to enhance safety at schools, corporate and government facilities. Headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia area, the company's affordable and effective gun detection solution has been adopted by the US Department of Defense, leading public K-12 school districts, colleges / universities, commercial property groups, manufacturing plants, Fortune 500 corporate campuses, shopping malls, big-box retail stores and more. Learn more about ZeroEyes at ZeroEyes.com. SOURCE ZeroEyes Seattle's Second Airport Continues to Add Convenience for Travelers SEATTLE and EVERETT, Wash., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Propeller Airports is pleased to announce new nonstop service from Alaska Airlines between Paine Field and Honolulu, HI. Beginning on November 17, these daily direct flights will add to the convenience and options for local travelers throughout Puget Sound. Alaska currently flies to nine destinations from Paine Field (PAE): Anchorage, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orange County, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Tucson. "Alaska Airlines continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to providing more convenient, direct routes for both business and leisure passengers from Seattle's second airport," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller. "This new offering provides an easier travel experience for Seattle Area travelers, and to this all we can say is Aloha!" "Since commercial service started at Paine Field, millions of passengers have enjoyed the convenience and comfort of flying out of the award-winning terminal," said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. "With the addition of Hawaii as a destination, our private sector partners are bringing even more travel options to our residents, meaning there are fewer cars on I-5, less impact to the environment, and direct access to tropical beaches. We appreciate Alaska Airlines and Propeller continuing to provide exceptional options for tourists and entrepreneurs from across the western US and Pacific." More than two million passengers have taken advantage of the convenience and upscale passenger experience at Paine Field since its opening in 2019. Among the awards Paine Field has garnered since opening include Monocle Magazine's Best Regional Airport Award (2019/2020); the National Council for Public Private-Partnerships award for innovative design and construction of the terminal; and was also named one of USA Today's 10 Best Small Airports for 2020 and 2021. About Propeller Airports Based in Everett, WA, Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local communities and government to maximize airport assets. Propeller Airports is focused on opportunities to invest, develop and manage both general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the U.S. Propeller along with Global Infrastructure Partners owns and operates the passenger terminal at Paine Field serving metro Seattle. For more information, please visit www.flypainefield.com. SOURCE Propeller Airports IRVINE, Calif., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pavo Insurance Solutions, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Agile Premium Finance. This collaboration aims to transform the premium financing landscape by delivering innovative solutions to the insurance industry. Pavo Insurance Solutions, is at the forefront of innovation as the insurance industry's first premium finance marketplace. Pavo's comparative exchange introduces a next-generation connector that seamlessly integrates new financing solutions into insurance platforms, programs, and agency management systems. By embedding this cutting-edge experience within existing workflows, Pavo accelerates the quoting process, reduces errors, and provides a turnkey solution for brokers and insureds. This strategic partnership between Pavo Insurance Solutions and Agile Premium Finance leverages the strengths and expertise of both organizations to create unparalleled value within the insurance industry. By combining Agile's national presence and lending capabilities with Pavo's innovative premium finance marketplace, insurance platforms and agencies can provide their clients with a seamless and enhanced financing experience. "We are excited to join forces with Agile Premium Finance," said Katie Wexler, Founder and CEO at Pavo. "This collaboration represents a significant step forward in reshaping the premium finance landscape. Together, we will deliver enhanced solutions that simplify the insurance process, empower insureds with flexible financing options, and streamline operations for brokers and consumers." "The partnership between Pavo Insurance Solutions and Agile Premium Finance marks a milestone in driving innovation and excellence within the premium financing sector," said Bob Przespolewski, President of Agile. "Both organizations are committed to revolutionizing the industry, empowering insurance platforms, and providing an exceptional experience for brokers and consumers." For more information about Pavo Insurance Solutions, please visit pavoinsure.com . Agile Premium Finance, a division of Valley Bank with a national footprint spanning 230 metropolitan locations, brings a wealth of experience to the partnership. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Agile is among the top seven national premium finance companies, serving clients across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. With expertise in lending to various commercial insurance risks, including the emerging cannabis industry, Agile's executive team combines knowledge derived from banking, insurance, accounting, and over 50 years of premium finance industry experience. For more information about Agile Premium Finance, please visit www.agile-pf.com . SOURCE Pavo Insurance Solutions Inc Company expands footprint in the New Orleans market and celebrates new location with area VIPs and commitment to the community PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pep Boys, a leading U.S. automotive service provider, continued its national network expansion on June 6, 2023 with the opening of its newest location in Chalmette, LA at 3370 Paris Road, providing a full range of automotive maintenance and repair to customers. The Chalmette location in St. Bernard Parish joins four other Pep Boys locations in the New Orleans market. Pep Boys will mark the occasion with a special grand opening event including a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 13 at 11am with local representatives and guests from the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce. As a testament to the Company's ongoing commitment to its community, Pep Boys CEO Scott Collette will present a $1,000 donation to the St. Bernard Autism Awareness Krewe, a local organization that assists St. Bernard families who have family members with autism spectrum disorder. "We are excited to bring another Pep Boys to customers in the New Orleans market with the opening of our new location in Chalmette," said Scott Collette, Pep Boys CEO. "Our incredible team is looking forward to connecting with the local community and providing a seamless service experience to make quality car care simple, convenient, and accessible for everyone." The Chalmette service center hosts eight bays to provide both individual customers and the area's fast-growing fleets with preventative maintenance and tire installations along with routine and major repairs performed by certified technicians. In addition to being equipped with the latest technology to handle today's complex vehicles, Pep Boys offers every driver a Courtesy Vehicle Inspection as well as a fully connected digital customer experience from online appointment booking to service tracking and mobile pay. Pep Boys also offers a broad range of opportunities and career paths for today's auto service technician. With a commitment to supporting technical education and training and development, a Pep Boys auto service technician can pursue several different career paths. For more information on a career with Pep Boys, visit www.careers.pepboys.com. About Pep Boys Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of vehicles and fleets pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the one our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and technical expertise. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com/corporate. Media Inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE Pep Boys Partners John Thomas, Robin Harrison and Courtney Ervin earn individual honors HOUSTON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hicks Thomas LLP is pleased to announce it has earned repeat recognition from Chambers USA, a prestigious legal ranking long considered the definitive mark of excellence across the legal industry. In its fourth straight year to be honored by Chambers, the firm was recognized for its commercial litigation work, and partners John Thomas, Robin Harrison and Courtney Ervin earned individual honors for their commercial litigation expertise. Firm and attorney rankings, which are published annually by London-based Chambers and Partners, are chosen through one of the most rigorous and in-depth review processes in the industry. The process includes peer and client interviews, comprehensive research, and review by Chambers analysts. Rankings are assessed based on technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, and commitment. One Hicks Thomas client told Chambers USA researchers that the firm's team of lawyers " are all very bright and phenomenal litigators." "They try a lot of cases and have a number of exceptionally gifted lawyers," said another client. A third interviewee said Hicks Thomas has "very experienced lawyers who can work on high-level commercial litigation. They know how to act in a courtroom and try a case." Chambers wrote that Mr. Thomas "has a strong track record representing clients in complex disputes, with experience across employment, insurance, and environmental issues, among others." "He's an excellent trial lawyer," said a client about Mr. Thomas. "He's very thorough, organized and defends his clients very well." "John is extremely professional yet very personable," said another client. "He is also creative and will think outside the box in providing us solutions." Chambers described Mr. Harrison as "a strong choice to handle high-stakes commercial disputes, including intellectual property and breach of contract lawsuits." Hicks Thomas clients also told Chambers USA researchers: "Robin (Harrison) is extremely smart and prepared at all times." "He is always very diligent, prepared and a cut-to-the-chase sort of guy. He is also very persuasive with courts." Ms. Ervin, who is marking her first year recognized by Chambers, was described by Chambers as having a "wealth of experience handling complex litigation concerning the energy, construction, and insurance sectors." One Hicks Thomas client called Ms. Ervin, " a commercially minded litigator who brings a lot of business acumen to a case to find a commercial resolution. When she is in trial, she does a good job, too, she takes risks and is aggressive." "She's easy to work with, organized and a great communicator," said a second client. Another client said, "Courtney makes us feel like we are the only client." Founded in 1997, Texas-based Hicks Thomas LLP is a premier litigation firm representing plaintiffs and defendants across the nation. With offices in Houston, Austin, Beaumont, Amarillo, and Sacramento, California, the firm provides in-depth experience in cases involving oil and gas, environmental, complex commercial, toxic tort, construction, products liability, corporate governance, securities, banking, insurance coverage, transportation, trade secrets and business litigation. Visit the firm at http://www.hicks-thomas.com. Media Contact: April Arias [email protected] 800-559-4534 SOURCE Hicks Thomas LLP CORK, Ireland, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technologies' (NYSE: RTX) Collins Aerospace business has been selected to participate in eight projects under the European Union's SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (SESAR 3 JU). A collaboration between European private and public partners, the SESAR 3 JU aims to accelerate the delivery of the Digital European Sky through the development of new technologies to manage conventional aircraft, drones, air taxis and vehicles flying at higher altitudes. As part of the initiative, Collins will work with the air traffic management value chain, including air navigation service providers, airlines, aircraft OEMs, system providers and academia to help create new innovations in key technology focus areas such as connectivity, U-space, trajectory-based operations, airport solutions, autonomy and data services. Collins will lead the JARVIS (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System) project that will leverage artificial intelligence-based technologies to increase automation in the flight deck and control tower operations as a way to reduce pilot and operator workload while enhancing safety and security. "Collins has decades of experience in avionics and air traffic management that we will bring to bear under the EU's SESAR 3 JU as we work with our industry partners to chart the future of the European sky," said Mauro Atalla, senior vice president, Engineering & Technology for Collins. "Together, we will develop new solutions that will form the foundation of a future system that is more efficient, safe and secure." Below is a full list of the SESAR research projects Collins has been selected to participate in. Collins' Applied Research and Technology (ART) organization will work in collaboration with the company's Avionics and Connected Aviation Solutions strategic business units to support the projects from Collins' sites across France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK. CNS DSP (Demonstration of a CNS Data Service Provision) (Demonstration of a CNS Data Service Provision) ECHO 2 (European Concept for Higher Altitude Operations Phase 2) (European Concept for Higher Altitude Operations Phase 2) ENSURE (atm-uspacE iNterface and airSpace reconfigURation sErvice) (atm-uspacE iNterface and airSpace reconfigURation sErvice) JARVIS (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System) (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System) FCDI (Future Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure) (Future Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure) NETWORK TBO (Network Trajectory-Based Operations) (Network Trajectory-Based Operations) SEC-AIRSPACE (Cyber SECurity Risk Assessment in virtualized AIRSPACE scenarios) (Cyber SECurity Risk Assessment in virtualized AIRSPACE scenarios) SPATIO (u-Space sePAraTIOn management) About Collins Aerospace Collins Aerospace is a business of Raytheon Technologies, the largest aerospace and defense company in the world. Our global team of 73,000 employees dreams, designs and delivers smarter, more connected solutions for passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space exploration, and operational efficiency and sustainability. We make the most powerful concepts in aerospace a reality. About Raytheon Technologies Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. About SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking The SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking is an institutionalised European partnership between private and public sector partners set up to accelerate through research and innovation the delivery of the Digital European Sky. It is harnessing, developing and accelerating the take-up of the most cutting-edge technological solutions to manage conventional aircraft, drones, air taxis and vehicles flying at higher altitudes. www.sesarju.eu Media Contact Al Killeffer +1 980-322-5087 [email protected] SOURCE Raytheon Technologies ATLANTA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced today that legendary Atlanta broadcaster Monica Pearson will join the AJC as the host of a new weekly video program and podcast, The Monica Pearson Show, and as an AJC contributor. Pearson will also write a regular lifestyle newsletter and column for both AJC.com and the newspaper, in addition to hosting AJC Live events. Photo from WPCH-TV logo Pearson has been an icon in local broadcasting for nearly four decades, spending much of that time informing and entertaining the community on WSB Television. Currently, she hosts Monica Pearson One on One on PeachtreeTV. She will bring her talent and experience to the AJC during a time of investment and innovation. "This is a full circle moment for me since I started my paid journalism career in 1969 as a reporter for The Louisville Times newspaper in my hometown of Louisville, KY. This is another opportunity for me to do what I love doing, interviewing people. After an interview, my slogan simply is, 'You know the name and now you will know the person.'" Pearson's arrival comes as the AJC is charting a course to transform the storied 155-year-old newspaper into a modern media company. In addition to bolstering the world-class journalism the AJC is known for, the organization is also expanding its content offerings and investing in audio, video, newsletters, and live events. Pearson's show will live alongside the AJC's expanded podcast slate , which includes Politically Georgia and Breakdown, and it will mark the first weekly video program in the AJC's history. "We've established a mission to be the most essential and engaging source of news for the people of Atlanta, Georgia, and the South," said AJC President and Publisher Andrew Morse, who joined the organization this year. "That effort begins here in our community. And nobody is more Atlanta than Monica. We are thrilled for her to bring her talent to the AJC." Pearson has won 33 regional and local Emmy awards for her work, including being inducted into the Atlanta Press Club, National Association of Black Journalists, University of Kentucky Journalism, Georgia Association of Broadcasters, and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In addition to her broadcast career, she hosts a monthly radio segment, titled "A Monica Moment." Pearson's arrival is just the latest prominent editorial hire for the AJC. Leroy Chapman Jr. was named editor-in-chief in March, becoming the first Black editor in the paper's history. Earlier this month, Chapman announced the hiring of Sharif Durhams from the Washington Post to be the AJC's Managing Editor for news. About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the most essential and engaging source of information for metropolitan Atlanta. With approximately 6 million monthly unique visitors to our digital products and platforms, and a growing print and digital subscriber base, the AJC serves one of the most dynamic, diverse, and influential cities in America. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises Inc. For more information, visit www.ajc.com . SOURCE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution D2L Brightspace helps to consolidate the student learning and professional development experience TORONTO , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - D2L, a global learning technology company, announced today that Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, the 10th largest school district in Georgia, has selected D2L Brightspace to support student learning and teacher professional development. With a current enrollment of more than 36,000 students and 5,600 employees, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is the largest employer in Chatham County. This school system is the winner of two National Blue Ribbon Schools and has outperformed the state graduation rate average eight years in a row. Recognizing the need for a consolidated learning platform to support student learning and professional development, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System selected D2L Brightspace for its ability to help provide teachers with access to curriculum, content creation and upskilling all in one place. D2L Brightspace will help provide Savannah-Chatham teachers with a space to access consistent teaching and learning materials and help enable them to reach and empower students throughout their educational journeys. "We are excited to work with D2L to deliver a unified and innovative learning environment that meets the demands of our students and teachers, all within one single platform," says Tonja Brunn, Lead Program Manager, Instructional Technology and Media Services at Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. "D2L took the time to listen and create a personalized solution to meet our unique needs. The care D2L has demonstrated makes us excited to embark on this partnership together!" "D2L is thrilled to partner with Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, a school district that shares our commitment to student success and professional development," says Heather Watson, VP K-12, North America. "We are honored that Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has selected D2L to help support their educators with technology that allows for consolidated and consistent learning approaches across the school district." About D2L D2L is transforming the way the world learnshelping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our growing global workforce is dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com. Twitter: @D2L 2023 D2L Corporation. The D2L family of companies includes D2L Inc., D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L EU B.V., D2L Asia Pte Ltd and D2L Brasil Solucoes de Tecnologia para Educacao Ltda. All D2L marks are trademarks of D2L Corporation. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. SOURCE D2L RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- His Excellency Dr. Esam A. Alwagait, Director General of National Information Center at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority - SDAIA, received Ms. Christine Zhenwei Qiang, Director of the Digital Development Global Practice at the World Bank today at SDAIA headquarters in Riyadh, and her accompanying delegation, in the presence of several officials from SDAIA. His Excellency discussed with the Director of the World Bank's Digital Development Global Practice the Kingdom's role in the Digital Development Partnership (DDP) that aims to enable growth and prosperity in developing countries. In addition, the two parties discussed SDAIA's efforts in the DDP Partnership Council, the Kingdom's experience and competitive gains at the international level, and the DDP 2.0 strategy, which includes several areas and priorities for digital development policies in developing countries. Last year, the Kingdom, represented by SDAIA, joined the multi-donor trust fund, which is administered by the World Bank, as a partner. During the visit, SDAIA organized a meeting in the presence of several government entities' representatives, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Fund for Development, as well as representatives of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, the National Cybersecurity Authority, the Digital Government Authority, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Public Investment Fund, represented by SCAI and Elm. During the meeting, participants discussed the leading practices in the Kingdom in digital development, the Kingdom's policies in this area, and the effective role the Kingdom plays in promoting digital development policies at the international level in addition to aligning and supporting efforts related to digital development in developing countries. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2099252/SDAIA_Logo.jpg SOURCE Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority News / National by Staff reporter A 35-year-old Mvurwi man has been jailed seven years for bashing his best friend to death for joking about bedding his wife.High Court Judge Munamato Mutevedzi handed Mike Foya the lenient sentence after taking into consideration he committed the heinous crime after being provoked.Four years of his sentence were set aside on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.The incident took place on October 9 last year.Court heard during trial that Foya and his friend, Innocent Chawira were coming from a beer drink.The two were so intoxicated that they had difficulties finding their way home.In jest, Chawira boasted that he was in love with Foya's wife, igniting an argument that degenerated into a physical fight."The boastful friend was beaten and left for dead. He indeed was found dead the next day," reads court papers.During trial, Foya pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder but guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide as defined in section 49 of the Criminal Law Code.Prosecution accepted his limited plea.Foya submitted that he did not pay regard to the degree of force he applied when he assaulted his friend.He said he did not pay regard to the fact that the part of the deceased's body he targeted for the blow was delicate.Justice Mutevedzi conceded his arguments were acceptable."Given the above evidence, we are satisfied that the acceptance by prosecution of the accused's plea of guilty to the lesser charge is an informed decision."Against that background, the accused person is found not guilty and is acquitted of the charge of murder."He is found guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide as defined in s 49 of the Criminal Law Code."The accused stands convicted of the offence of culpable homicide. He killed his friend in a drunken brawl."He is 31 years old. Counsel who represented him urged the court to take into account that he is indeed a youthful offender."This court has accepted in the past that the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013 in s 20 accords the status of youth on any person between the ages of 15 and 35 years."Mutevedzi considered that Foya did not waste the court's time and was a family man."The accused pleaded guilty to the charge. Needless to say, pleas of guilty are valuable to the expeditious resolution of criminal cases."Criminal trials particularly in this court are often a prolonged battle with extended hours being expended in the maze of seeking the truth."In that process huge amounts of material resources are needed for the payment of witness expenses."An accused who pleads guilty must therefore be rewarded for the savings which he/she brings to the administration of justice."Whether it was intended to be a prank or it was reality nobody will really know. If it was a prank, it unfortunately went horribly wrong."The court equally accepts that the accused acted out of provocation by the deceased who taunted him for having an extra marital affair with his wife."As if that was not enough, the deceased went on to assault the accused who then retaliated and killed him. The deceased was therefore the initial aggressor."The situation was compounded by the fact that the accused was intoxicated. He simply lost it as a result."The judge also considered that Foya has been in jail since his arrest last year. TOKOROZAWA, Japan, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for the opening of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo -- The Making of Harry Potter (hereinafter "Studio Tour Tokyo"), Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. based in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, has completed renovation of Ikebukuro and Toshimaen stations, beginning operations of Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains with full-body wrap signage. PR movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqusUDrlcj4 - Platforms 1 and 2 of Ikebukuro Station renovated to resemble London's King's Cross Station At Ikebukuro Station, the gateway to Studio Tour Tokyo, Platforms 1 and 2, where trains to and from Toshimaen Station depart and arrive, have been remodeled with brick walls and navy signage, patterned after King's Cross Station in London, England. To commemorate the renovation, Warner Bros. has gifted a clock in the same design as that at King's Cross Station in the Harry Potter film series. With illustrations of subjects such as wizards and owls throughout, these platforms welcome passengers as the gateway to Studio Tour Tokyo, where they can experience the magic of filmmaking to the fullest. Image1: The same clock as used at King's Cross Station, on Platform 1 at Ikebukuro Station https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105230/202306076204/_prw_PI7fl_IasH17X9.jpg?_ga=2.43665699.722311627.1686266754-646424222.1615447594 - Toshimaen Station renovated to resemble Hogsmeade Station, the nearest station to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Based on the concept of a station that blends imagination into everyday life, the new building at Toshimaen Station, the nearest station to Studio Tour Tokyo, features touches giving a feel of the world of magic added to a simple design, evoking a gateway between the everyday world and an out-of-the-ordinary space. The Toshimaen Station platforms feature pillars, station signage, vending machines, and other fixtures designed with a red-color scheme closely resembling Hogsmeade Station, which provides access to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The station signs feature the Studio Tour Tokyo logo as an alternate station name. A stag and doe evoking the Patronus Spirit Guardians from the Harry Potter film series adorn the station square. Patronus guards the brand-new Toshimaen Station and station square to protect passengers. Image2: Patronus Spirit Guardians in Toshimaen Station Square https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105230/202306076204/_prw_PI5fl_1Vv1qbVM.jpg?_ga=2.249252097.722311627.1686266754-646424222.1615447594 - Fully wrapped Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains begin operations In addition, Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains with full-body promotional wrapping, boldly decorated with the three main characters from the Harry Potter film series--Harry, Hermione, and Ron--began operating between Ikebukuro and Toshimaen stations on May 16. Image3: A fully wrapped Studio Tour Tokyo Express train https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105230/202306076204/_prw_PI6fl_4J80FMf6.jpg?_ga=2.249252097.722311627.1686266754-646424222.1615447594 Visitors to Studio Tour Tokyo can use Seibu Railway to enjoy the Harry Potter experience through the renovated Ikebukuro and Toshimaen stations and the Studio Tour Tokyo Express even while in transit. Experience the worldview of Seibu Railway from Ikebukuro Station on the way to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. Detail: https://www.seiburailway.jp/railways/tourist/english/pdf/20230612_magicrailway.pdf SOURCE Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. MUNICH, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigenergy, a leading energy innovator, is set to astound the world with its all-scenario energy solution, featuring the world's first highly integrated 5-in-1 energy storage system. Prepare to be captivated at booth B2.474 during the EES Europe exhibition from June 14 to 16. Sigenergy invites you to booth B2.474 at EES Europe The energy industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with a notable shift in focus. The intermittent nature of solar energy highlights the crucial role of energy storage as the cornerstone and nexus of power generation and consumption in the future. Leveraging the remarkable surge in global energy storage capacity, which witnessed an astonishing addition of 41.4 GW in home storage systems in 2022 alone, with an exceptional year-on-year growth of 30% in Europe, the momentum continues. Projections indicate a sustained trajectory, with a forecasted compound annual growth rate of 53% until 2025. Driven by these industry trends, Sigenergy has dedicated its efforts to developing innovative energy solutions with an unwavering focus on energy storage. By effectively addressing prevailing challenges, Sigenergy has broken records in ultra-safety measures, streamlined installation processes, and unparalleled intelligent capabilities, establishing an unprecedented benchmark in the industry. SigenStor is a game-changing solution that seamlessly integrates PV Inverter, EV DC Charger, Battery PCS, Battery Pack, and EMS for all scenarios. This groundbreaking innovation significantly reduces installation time and sets the industry's highest safety standards. Prepare to witness the world premiere of SigenStor and become a part of history in the making. Sigenergy cordially invites you to join us at booth B2.474, EES Europe in Munich, Germany, from June 14 to 16. About Sigenergy Sigenergy focuses on developing cutting-edge home and business energy solutions, with products ranging from energy storage systems to solar inverters and EV chargers. Our world-class R&D team of hundreds of top industry experts shares the vision of making the world greener via continuous innovation. With global sales and services, we aim to become our customers' most trusted partner on their journey to a more sustainable future. For more information, please visit Sigenergy's website at www.sigenergy.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098783/Sigenergy_invites_booth_B2_474_EES_Europe.jpg SOURCE Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. DENVER, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shane Co., a family-owned fine jeweler since 1929, is excited to announce the launch of a new brand campaign, "Made to Shine." A genuine celebration of the customer, "Made to Shine" highlights the significance of life's moments big and small and the remarkable way fine jewelry adds meaning. Staying true to Shane Co.'s long-standing brand heritage grounded in exceptional service, handcrafted quality, unique and personal designs, and a deep passion for gemstones, "Made to Shine" shifts the spotlight to the customer, showcasing authentic moments and real stories. "Made to Shine" highlights the significance of life's moments and the remarkable way fine jewelry adds meaning. Tweet this Shane Co. Made to Shine Video Shane Co. "Made to Shine" "From the time my father took over the company more than 50 years ago, our focus and mission have centered around our customers," said Rordan Shane, President and CEO, Shane Co. "Being a part of their special moments has always inspired us to go above and beyond with everything we do. Our 'Made to Shine' campaign is our love letter to them. This campaign celebrates what's important in life and we are honored to be able to share their beautiful stories, bringing joy and encouragement to others." "Made to Shine" is a tribute to the most meaningful parts of everyday life gaining confidence when you put on a sparkly pair of earrings, feeling the presence of a loved one by wearing an heirloom ring, showing love to someone special with a meaningful gift or engagement ring. Grounded in a new brand anthem, Shane Co.'s "Made to Shine" campaign kicks off nationwide on June 12 with an integrated media strategy including television commercials, outdoor advertising, online videos, social media support, and more. Radio advertising, which has always played an integral part in the Shane Co. media mix, will continue to play a key role. Shane Co. Brand Anthem At Shane Co., we believe everybody is made to shine. It doesn't matter who you are, or where you are from, shining is not for a chosen few. Like a rare gemstone, each one of us was created under just the right set of circumstances; no two are exactly alike. Your moments, your milestones, your love story, all deserve to shine bright. You don't need an occasion. Or an invitation. You, and your life, are the event. At Shane Co. we handcraft our jewelry with the greatest care, and hand-select the most beautiful gemstones so you can shine. Put on a pair of earrings that make your eyes sparkle. Wear diamonds that light up the room. Choose a piece you'll treasure for years to come. Give someone a ring handcrafted with the greatest care. Try on sapphires in every color of the rainbow. Pass down an heirloom that collects new stories with each generation. We're all made to shine. Shane Co. Fine jewelry since 1929. Expanding on the "Made to Shine" campaign, Shane Co. will launch a Made to Shine Real Stories nationwide contest starting on July 12. Customers and jewelry lovers will be invited to share personal stories of how jewelry has impacted their lives for a chance to be featured in one of the brand's famous radio ads. Additionally, 12 winners will receive $1,000 to use to shine any way they want. "We are always hearing beautiful stories about jewelry from our customers," said Kristen Vosburg, CMO, Shane Co. "Our Made to Shine Real Stories contest provides a platform for them to share the special ways jewelry has touched their lives. By sharing these real-life experiences in our ads, we hope to celebrate people's unique personalities and style and to inspire everyone to proudly be themselves and shine every day." One of the most significant brand initiatives in recent history, "Made to Shine" is a complement to the more than 50-year iconic brand positioning of Shane Co. as your friend in the jewelry business. The campaign continues Shane Co.'s long-established mission of being a customer-focused company. For more information about the "Made to Shine" campaign and to follow the inspiring stories of our customers, please visit Shane Co.'s official website at www.ShaneCo.com. About Shane Co. A family-owned fine jeweler since 1929, Shane Co. makes handcrafted fine jewelry that helps everyone shine their brightest every day. Designed in-house and finished by on-site jewelers, Shane Co. is the go-to place to discover truly unique pieces for celebrating a milestone, a one-of-a-kind gift, the perfect engagement ring, or treating yourself. With a passion for diamonds and gemstones that goes back four generations, Shane Co. responsibly sources hand-selected stones cut to the highest standards. Shane Co., your friend in the jewelry business, is a place where everyone is welcome. Visit us at www.ShaneCo.com or at our 21 locations nationwide. SOURCE Shane Co. FUZHOU, China, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shengfeng Development Limited (the "Company" or "Shengfeng"), a contract logistics company in China providing customers with integrated logistics solution services, today announced it has purchased 16 electric heavy-duty trucks with an aggregate value of US$1,550,000. The Company plans to have at least 10% of its future purchases of heavy-duty trucks to be electric heavy-duty trucks. In addition to the purchase of electric heavy-duty trucks, the Company will also build battery swapping stations in its regional sorting centers, cloud-based order fulfillment centers (or Cloud OFCs), and service outlets, to better serve its electric vehicles. Mr. Yongxu Liu, Chairman of the Company, commented, "Electrification has become mainstream throughout the automotive industry, and Shengfeng will follow the trend by utilizing green energy to reduce logistics costs, while also striving to make contributions to energy conservation, emissions reduction, and environmental protection." About Shengfeng Development Limited Shengfeng Development Limited is a contract logistics company in China providing customers with integrated logistics solution services. Established in 2001, the Company has developed extensive and reliable transportation networks in China, covering 341 cities across 31 provinces, as of June 30, 2022. The Company provides integrated logistics solutions comprised of B2B freight transportation services, cloud storage services, and value-added services. The Company applies well-established management systems and operating procedures to assist companies in China to increase efficiency and improve their own management systems with respect to transportation, warehousing, and time management. For more information, please visit the Company's website: http://ir.sfwl.com.cn/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements reflect our current view about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "approximates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "will," "would," "should," "could," "may" or other similar expressions in this prospectus. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please contact: Shengfeng Development Limited Investor Relations Department Email: [email protected] SOURCE Shengfeng Development Limited STAMFORD, Conn., June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Golub & Teitell LLP ("SGT"), a leading plaintiffs' class action law firm based in Connecticut, is currently investigating potential class action data breach claims against Managed Care of North America, Inc. ("Managed Care of North America") following a data breach that exposed the sensitive personal information and health information of almost 9 million Managed Care of North America customers and/or policyholders (the "Data Breach"). Managed Care of North America has begun notifying impacted individuals via letters sent by US Mail. Managed Care of North America is one of the largest dental health insurance and benefits management companies in the United States. On May 26, 2023 MCNA announced it experienced a data breach between February 26 and March 7, 2023 which has compromised the sensitive personal and health information of nearly 9 million individuals. The compromised information includes victims' names, addresses, Social Security Numbers and Driver's License Numbers. Tweet this According to MCNA, an unauthorized party had gained access to its computer system between February 26 and March 7, 2023 and was able to view and make copies of consumers' personal and health information. The type of information compromised in the Data Breach includes the following: Names; Dates of birth; Social Security numbers ; ; Telephone Number; Email; Driver's License Number; Health Insurance Plan numbers and other information; and Medical procedures SGT believes Managed Care of North America Data Breach victims may have claims against Managed Care of North America as they are now at an increased risk of identity theft or other identity fraud-related crimes. If you have received a notification letter in the mail from Managed Care of North America regarding the exposure of your information and would like to learn more about your rights, you can contact SGT Partner Ian W. Sloss at [email protected] or Associate Attorney Brett Burgs at [email protected], visit our website at: https://www.sgtlaw.com/cases/managed-care-of-north-america-data-breach-investigation or call our office at (203) 325-4491. Silver Golub & Teitell LLP is a distinguished plaintiffs' litigation law firm with a proven track record of representing clients in complex and high-stakes litigation matters, including data breach and privacy law. SOURCE Silver Golub & Teitell LLP DENVER, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Energy Company (the "Company") (NYSE: SM) intends to participate in the following upcoming investor conference and plans to post an investor presentation to the Company's website at ir.sm-energy.com before market open on June 21, 2023. June 21, 2023 J.P. Morgan Energy, Power & Renewables Conference. President and Chief Executive Officer Herb Vogel will present at 3:20 p.m. Eastern time and will also meet with investors in one-on-one settings. The event will be webcast, accessible from the Company's website, and available for replay for a limited period. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. The words "intends to" and "plans to" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, among other things, the expectation that the Company will participate in certain events and post presentations in accordance with these events. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak as of the date of this presentation. Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so, except as required by applicable securities laws. ABOUT THE COMPANY SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs in the state of Texas. SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.sm-energy.com . SM ENERGY INVESTOR CONTACTS Jennifer Martin Samuels, [email protected], 303-864-2507 SOURCE SM Energy Company DUBLIN, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Snigel, an award-winning advertising technology company, is excited to announce that it has been recognized as a Google Certified Publishing Partner (GCPP). This certification solidifies Snigel's position as a longstanding Google partner and showcases its proficiency across a variety of Google advertising products like Google Ad Manager. The partnership signifies Snigel's dedication to working hand-in-hand with publishers, fostering growth, and unlocking new opportunities in a highly competitive landscape. The GCPP certification process involved a rigorous evaluation of Snigel's ability to deliver exceptional service, uphold the highest performance standards, and consistently meet and exceed publisher expectations. The accomplishment highlights Snigel's commitment to empowering online publishers to maximize ad revenue with Google's suite of advanced tools. GCPP partners stay ahead of the curve by working directly with Google. With access to training and product updates, Partners stay on top of the latest Google products and features by passing Google-administered certification exams every year. The GCPP certification bolsters Snigel's collaboration with Google and reaffirms its commitment to providing publishers with cutting-edge strategies and advanced monetization technologies that maximize results. Since it was founded in 2012 by two former Google executives, Snigel has steadily built a reputation as an innovative and dependable monetization partner for over 200 of the world's largest websites. This recognition, combined with its extensive technical know-how, has led to market-leading growth, landing Snigel on both 'Deloitte's Technology Fast 50' and the 'FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies' lists in consecutive years. At the heart of Snigel's success is its technology platform, AdEngine. Powered by Machine Learning, AdEngine optimally matches ads with available impressions, delivering superior results for publishers and advertisers. Snigel continues to innovate by introducing AI-powered ad setup optimization tools, automated UI customization, and robust data analytics capabilities. Snigel provides each publisher with a dedicated Ad Operations specialist who not only implements a customized ad strategy and ad setup for the website but also activates new ad technologies including next-gen ad formats as they emerge and ensures the website's user consent management is compliant with the multitude of emerging global regulations. Christian Jeschko and Ben Rycroft, Co-CEOs of Snigel, commented, "Becoming a Google Certified Publishing Partner is an important milestone for Snigel. This recognition further validates our expertise and dedication to helping publishers maximize their ad revenue. We are proud to partner with Google and look forward to continuing our work in delivering exceptional results for our clients." About Snigel: Snigel is an award-winning advertising technology company that empowers online publishers to maximize their ad revenue through programmatic advertising. Since its inception in 2012, Snigel has consistently ranked among Europe's fastest-growing companies. Over 200 of the world's largest websites rely on Snigel's market-leading monetization technology, supported by its seasoned team of ad operations experts. With headquarters in Dublin and teams located throughout Europe, Snigel remains at the forefront of ad tech innovation. For further information, visit www.snigel.com Media inquiries: Ira Nikolaou Head of Marketing [email protected] SOURCE Snigel Study.com recognized among the top global edtech companies in this year's awards program MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Study.com announced that it has been selected as the winner of the "Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year" award in the 5th annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by EdTech Breakthrough. This leading market intelligence organization recognizes the top companies and solutions in the global educational technology market. Study.com unlocks opportunities for learners and educators through K-12 curriculum, college courses, tutoring and test preparation. As part of these offerings, the online education platform provides students access to over 1,500 test prep courses across more than 60 categories. Test prep courses range from college entrance exams like the SAT to career certification exams, such as the NCLEX or PRAXIS. The online learning platform's test prep solutions are utilized by higher education institutions and school districts alike. Current partners include Reach University, University of West Alabama, Metropolitan State University's Urban School of Education, California State University San Jose, Dallas ISD, Allen Parish School Board, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Austin ISD, Boston Public Schools and Bibb County School District. "Study.com is an invaluable resource for our residency project. It has helped our adult learners from varied careers gain the knowledge and skills needed to pass the national tests required for admission to our university and educator certification," said Susan Hester, Director of TQP: Project REACh teacher residency project at the University of West Alabama. "Study.com helps our adult career-changer students study smart, by providing easy to access content knowledge lessons based on pretesting to help fill in their learning gaps. We have had wonderful success working with our partners at Study.com." Study.com's award-winning social impact initiative, Keys to the Classroom, focuses on teacher credentialing and test prep. The program is designed to accelerate pathways to certification for educators by helping them prepare for and pass teacher certification exams. Currently in 20 states, the program is helping diversify the nation's teacher pipeline with 50 percent of program participants identifying as people of color, and 60 percent as first-generation college students. "All learners learn differently. Study.com understands this with an innovative learning platform that's built on the critical need for diverse learning modalities to truly support all learners in achieving their educational goals," said James Johnson, managing director, EdTech Breakthrough. "We want to recognize the excellence of Study.com with this award for their breakthrough learning platform, as well as their new Keys to the Classroom initiative, which shows their commitment to bolstering and diversifying the teacher pipeline at a time when teacher certification exams present an obstacle for many aspiring educators. Congratulations to the entire Study.com team for a well-deserved 2023 EdTech Breakthrough Award win." The mission of the EdTech Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize innovation, hard work, and success in a range of educational technology categories, including Student Engagement, School Administration, Adaptive Learning, STEM Education, Remote Learning, Career Preparation, and many more. This year's program attracted more than 2,400 nominations from over 16 countries worldwide. To see the full EdTech Breakthrough Award winners list, visit https://edtechbreakthrough.com/2023-winners/. About Study.com Study.com opens the door to the life-changing impact of education for over 30m learners a year through K12 curriculum, college courses, tutoring, and test preparation. Used in over 10,000 school districts nationwide, Study.com is recognized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for meeting Level IV evidence standards. Headquartered in Mountain View, CA, Study.com is named on the 2022 and 2023 GSV 150, a list of the world's most transformative private companies in education. The company has donated $27 million across social impact programs committed to increasing educational equity. These programs include Working Scholars, an accelerated pathway for working adults to earn a debt-free bachelor's degree, and Keys to the Classroom, which seeks to help aspiring educators prepare for and pass their teacher certification exams. SOURCE Study.com New Phoenix location to accommodate hybrid work model, boost productivity, and strengthen the company's appeal to industry-leading talent. PHOENIX, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Televerde, a global revenue creation partner supporting marketing, sales, and customer success for B2B businesses around the world, today announced its move to a new office space located in the heart of midtown Phoenix at 2800 North Central Avenue, 5th Floor, Suite 500, Phoenix, AZ USA 85004. This relocation, a testament to Televerde's flexibility and adaptability, is part of an ongoing effort to adapt to the evolving business landscape. The move to a modern, dynamic space responds to the shifts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing a commitment to an evolving work model and further fostering the company's vibrant culture. "Since the onset of the pandemic, we've seen a dramatic shift in work models," said Televerde CEO Chris McGugan. "Our move to this new, contemporary office space embodies our commitment to embracing these changes, ensuring our company remains flexible, adaptable, and always at the forefront of serving our clients." The new office is strategically positioned near the light rail and various local amenities. It features a design tailored to a hybrid work model, with open seating areas, private offices, collaborative spaces, and a conference center. Additional features include a fitness center and cafe with food service and breathtaking 360 views of the Phoenix skyline. "This move represents more than a simple change of scenery it's a strategic decision aimed at preparing Televerde for substantial growth and enhancing our company's allure for the industry's leading talent. The ability to draw in and retain such individuals directly benefits our clients," added McGugan. "This is a progressive step in our journey, and we do not doubt that our new office space will accelerate innovation, drive productivity, and create an environment where we consistently outperform our clients' expectations." The move will be executed with minimal disruption to services, and the global revenue creation partner looks forward to welcoming clients to its new home soon. For more information, visit www.televerde.com . About Televerde Phoenix-based Televerde is the first and only fully integrated sales, marketing, and customer care solutions organization that delivers revenue as a service and customer experience expertise with a human touch, best-in-class technology, and an operating model resilient to shifting market conditions. Since 1995, Televerde has generated more than $12B in revenue for the world's leading B2B companies including SAP, GE, Adobe-Marketo, and Securus Technologies. A purpose-built company, Televerde believes in second-chance employment and strives to help disempowered people find their voice and reach their human potential. Seven of Televerde's ten engagement centers are staffed by incarcerated women, representing 70 percent of the company's 600+ global workforce. The Arizona State University Seidman Research Institute recently documented the model's success in a study. The results reveal that participants of Televerde's program go on to attain employment, earnings, and education at higher rates and re-offend at significantly lower rates than other formerly incarcerated females in the United States. The complete study can be accessed here. Kellie Walenciak [email protected] 908-377-9968 SOURCE Televerde WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tellica Imaging has leveraged Royal's flagship patient and provider engagement platform and operationalized Royal Enterprise Care, the leading cloud-native radiology information system and revenue cycle management platform that enables Straight Through Processing (STP) to completely automate the imaging center experience. With this install, Royal also successfully advanced its STP with an Ai-enabled automated medical coding capability. Information captured at any point in the workflow is retained and disseminated across the entire care and revenue cycle resulting in reduced wait times, quicker radiology reports, and a more equitable healthcare experience for everyone. Superior patient care is achieved by eliminating inefficient manual operations and paperwork allowing the Tellica Imaging staff more time and attention to deliver kind, quality care to their patient communities. Information captured at any point in the workflow is retained and disseminated across the entire care and revenue cycle resulting in reduced wait times, quicker radiology reports, and a more equitable healthcare experience for everyone. Superior patient care is achieved by eliminating inefficient manual operations and paperwork allowing the Tellica Imaging staff more time and attention to deliver kind, quality care to their patient communities. With this install, Royal also successfully advanced its STP with an Ai-enabled automated medical coding capability. "Deciding to replace your technology stack can be a daunting decision. As we evaluated our growth plan, we wanted to be supported by a company known for world-class patient care. We're proud to join the Royal Health network. Our only regret is we didn't do this sooner. Their expertise, commitment, quality, and customer focus are extraordinary. Royal Health will help us take this important leap for community-based care," - Brad Isaacson, Chief Operating Officer of Tellica Imaging. "The Tellica Imaging team is outstanding, and combined with the talent here at Royal, successfully deployed a comprehensive Royal Enterprise Care suite in record time. Enterprise Care is a complimentary set of functionalities for radiology that maximizes patient access, improves collections, offers premium referring physician services, and address inefficiencies in scheduling and medical records workflows that otherwise contribute to an undue cost burden for all stakeholders," says Peter Nassif, Chief Executive at Royal Health, Inc. "Working closely with Tellica Imaging to carefully craft an end-to-end point of care solution that realizes improved care quality and efficiency gains in every aspect of the value stream is something we are all proud to be a part of, and is in keeping with Tellica Imaging's visionary leadership in reducing the cost burden on patients." About Tellica Imaging, Salt Lake City Tellica Imaging is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intermountain Health. It comprises community-based radiology centers providing diagnostic scans. Locations are based along the Wasatch Front, with plans to expand to more locations shortly. The first sites opened in December 2021, offering high quality scans and exceptional patient care at prices well below hospital rates. Headquartered in Utah with locations in eight states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, a Medical Group with 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. About Royal Solutions Group, White Plains, NY Royal, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is a leading cloud-based provider of software and services in healthcare. Together with its software firm, Royal Health, Inc., its payments firm, RoyalPay, Inc., its artificial intelligence firm, Royal Ai, Inc., and its services firm, Royal Concierge, Inc., the solutions focus on patient, provider, operational, and financial workflows that optimize engagement in all areas of patient care. Royal utilizes straight-through processing (STP) to automate information movement through electronic transactions resulting in significantly fewer low-value activities. Royal Enterprise Care applies STP to all aspects of the imaging workflow to significantly improve order conversion rates, patient and provider satisfaction scores, time of service collections, improved clinical outcomes and all other aspects of the imaging life cycle. Visit www.royalsolutionsgroup.com for more information. Contact: Royal Sales Engagement [email protected] 646.405.4878 option 1 SOURCE Royal Solutions Group 11-Year-Old Dies After Losing Consciousness on Turkish Airlines Flight Headed to New York "Despite the rapid and professional intervention, unfortunately, her life could not be saved," officials said FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty An 11-year-old girl died after losing consciousness while traveling on a Turkish Airlines flight on Sunday, according to authorities. The child and her family were en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York when the girl fell ill shortly after their departure from Turkey, according to Sky News and NBC News. "Our cabin crew made the announcement on the PA system for any doctors on board while the captain of the flight immediately diverted to Budapest," the airline said in a statement, per NBC News. As the plane prepared to make an emergency landing, a doctor "attended the situation and performed heart massage," officials said, according to CBS News. After landing, first responders continued to resuscitate the child, Budapest Internal Airport said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. However, "despite the rapid and professional intervention, unfortunately, her life could not be saved," officials said. Related: North Carolina Father and Son Killed After Plane Crashes in Virginia Cornfield The childs family disembarked in Budapest, while the plane continued on to New York after a hours-long delay. The Airbus A330-300 landed at JFK more than four hours later than originally scheduled, according to FlightAware. Related: Baltimore Couple Saves Fellow Passengers Life on Southwest Flight Additional information about the girl's identity or a cause of death has not been revealed as of Monday morning. 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. "We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones and share their pain," Turkish Airlines said in a statement, per the outlets. Representatives for Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. AMSTERDAM, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tenpay Global, Tencent Financial Technology's cross-border payment business, shared how Chinese fintech companies are innovating to make cross-border remittances as easy as sending messages, and unveiled its "1+1+1 " model at Money 20/20 Europe, the world's leading fintech industry show. This collaborative model aims to build an open global payment network and harness Chinese innovation to drive borderless payment. Wenhui Yang (far right), Deputy Managing Director of Business Development at Tenpay Global, joins a panel discussion with fintech industry peers on "What Will A World Without Borders Look Like?" at Money 20/20 Europe. Royal Chen, Vice President of Tencent Financial Technology, put forward an innovative concept of the "1+1+1 "model to build an open global payment network. The first "1" represents the Weixin ecosystem. Tencent assists individuals and businesses to connect globally by tapping into Weixin users in and abroad, combining with Tencent's expertise in technology, risk management, compliance, and big data. The second "1" represents its global payment partners. Tencent aims to establish an interconnected global payment network by connecting with major global financial institutions and partners. The third "1" is to serve as an overseas lifestyle services platform, encompassing various global business use cases such as cross-border e-commerce platforms. Through the "1+1+1" model, open collaboration and interconnection are fostered to build a secure, compliant, convenient and efficient digital connection within the global payment network. This comprehensive approach aims to meet the cross-border needs of global Chinese communities or Chinese companies, he said. Tencent Financial Technology launched its cross-border remittance service in Hong Kong SAR back in 2016 and has steadily expanded the service into a one-stop cross-border remittance platform, We Remit, that connects to major remittance institutions around the world. We Remit addresses common pain points in overseas remittance like complex services, slow transfers, and high handling fees, enabling overseas workers to conveniently send wages and support to their families. The service has expanded to meet more user demands, such as improving the experience for Chinese students in paying overseas tuition. We Remit aspires to make cross-border remittances as easy as sending a message, while ensuring security and compliance. Through Tenpay Global Remittance Services, which is an innovative remittance solution, global fintech institutions can connect with Weixin's open ecosystem, reducing cross-border remittance costs and enhancing efficiency. Tencent Financial Technology has partnered with over 20 leading global remittance institutions, linking remittance users in more than 50 countries and regions with more than 1.3 billion Weixin and WeChat users. We Remit, together with the exclusive ShareLink feature on Weixin, enables overseas Chinese to effortlessly notify recipients with one click after each remittance. Recipients in China can easily receive funds through familiar Weixin messages, monitor remittance status, and choose to receive funds using Weixin Wallet or bank cards linked to Weixin Pay. With the acceleration of global e-commerce and rapid digitalisation of global trade, Tencent Financial Technology has established in-depth collaboration with leading e-commerce platforms around the world to launch embedded financial solutions for sellers to collect payments, the first of its kind in the industry. Tenpay Global Business, a cross-border payment platform for enterprises, offers one-stop solutions including global funds collection, payment and foreign exchange for global enterprises such as cross-border e-commerce sellers, export or import e-commerce platforms and online travel merchants. Supported by its complete business qualifications across regions, robust security measures, risk control and operational systems, Tenpay Global Business has established strong partnerships with leading e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North America, to offer a one-stop cross-border payment solution that empowers Chinese cross-border e-commerce sellers to reach global audiences. Royal Chen added that Tencent Financial Technology will continue to embrace innovative technologies and AI risk control capabilities to improve user experience surrounding lifestyle services and cross-border payment while joining hands with key partners globally in an open, diverse and in-depth manner. Tencent Financial Technology will continue to cover more use cases, connecting China and the world to drive the development of cross-border payment and inclusive finance. Media Contact: Lydia Guo, Director, Global Communications, Tencent. Email: [email protected]com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098592/Tenpay_Global_at_Money2020.jpg SOURCE Tencent FREDERICK, Md., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texcell North America has started preparations for the unveiling of their newest viral-clearance focused facility in Frederick, Maryland. The grand opening is scheduled to take place June 16, 2023, preceded by an exclusive luncheon consisting of executives from Texcell's holding group, Soparbiotech International, as well as upper-level team members from Texcell North America and Texcell France. They will be joined by esteemed international and local dignitaries, unifying a global team to celebrate the occasion. Following the luncheon will be a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open Texcell's new facility. The 27,000 sq ft of laboratory and office space will more than double Texcell North America's current capacity for biosafety testing and viral clearance studies. The facility embraces the future of biotechnology, with eight modular client suites that are built to be adaptable to the needs of the client and their process, and dedicated teams to support monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, medical devices, and other novel modalities on the market. The multimillion-dollar project was constructed in under two years and will allow for the North America team to scale up and meet the demand for viral clearance testing, as well as continue to provide support for R&D cell banking and biosafety testing. Texcell employees have been invited to attend the ribbon cutting, as well as family and friends. Key clients, valued vendors, and local government officials have also been invited to celebrate the grand opening, as the new facility marks not just an expansion for Texcell, but for the local biotech industry and Frederick community. The event is sure to be an exciting time for everyone involved, as it centers around celebrating an advancement towards patient safety and protecting tomorrow's medicines, today. About Texcell Texcell is a contract research organization that specializes in viral testing, viral clearance, bioassays, in vivo testing, and GMP cell banking, for R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects. The Texcell group employs 140 people in France, in the United States, in Germany and in Asia (China and Japan) and counts customers worldwide. To sustain its continuous growth, Texcell will inaugurate in 2023 two new laboratories, in the United States and in China. SOURCE Texcell CHARLESTON, S.C., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently displayed in The Inner Circle, Sylvia Mock is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for her contributions to the Real Estate Industry. Touting numerous designations and certifications, Mrs. Mock is an Accredited Buyers Realtor (ABR); a Sellers Real Estate Specialist (SRS); and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). She has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate industry and is considered an expert in residential real estate, buyers and sellers, veterans, military, and first-time homebuyers. Sylvia Mock Mrs. Mock is known as someone who loves people and loves talking to people, which she believes has been the key to her success. Working with Carolina One Real Estate since September 2013, she was awarded the Rising Star Award and Top New Agent Award in her first year. She has also received the Top Dog award twice for writing up 5 contracts in one month. Dedicated to her community, Mrs. Mock supports Wounded Warriors; St. Jude's Children's Hospital; Displaced Vet; and likes to work with the homeless. She also participates in Helping Hands and Trunk or Treat for the office. Aside from her professional pursuits, Mrs. Mock enjoys travel, camping, and joining her husband in the RV. She notes that her mentor is Patricia Cosgrove and she would like to dedicate this honor to her husband, Tom, and thanks him for his love and support. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle WESTERVILLE, Ohio, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Terence N. Mukonje, MD is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Healthcare Professional for his contributions to the Field of Internal Medicine. Terence N. Mukonje, MD Dr. Mukonje began his educational journey at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He worked for a year as a computer consultant and realized he was called to the medical field. The doctor attended the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2011 where he received a Medical Doctor degree and then capped his scholarship completing a residency in internal medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and their affiliated hospitals. Dr. Mukonje currently works as a hospitalist at IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians and on staff at IU Health Bloomington Hospital. He notes that part of IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians is a multi-specialty physician group based in Bloomington, Indiana and is dedicated to providing quality care to south central Indiana. Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Mukonje asserts that the mission of IU Health Bloomington Hospital is to improve the health of patients and community through innovation and excellence in care education research and service. Aimed at improving care for hospitalized patients, Dr. Mukonje is an expert in the specialized field of internal medicine and holds licenses to practice medicine in the states of Maine, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Ohio. He is also affiliated with Good Samaritan Hospital-Vincennes; Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital; Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital; Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital; and Northern Light Inland Hospital. Also called hospital medicine, a hospitalist is a medical specialty that exists in some countries as a branch of family medicine or internal medicine dealing with the care of acutely ill hospitalized patients. A hospitalist also manages day-to-day care and provides prompt and complete attention to all patient care needs, including diagnosis, treatment, and the performance of medical procedures (within their scope of practice). A leading practitioner, the doctor is affiliated with American College of Physicians; Society of Hospital Medicine; and AMA and also mentors' young people who have a desire to enter medicine as a career. In addition to his professional career, Dr. Mukonje is active in his church, the Vineyard Church of Columbus, Ohio. He would like to dedicate this honor to his parents, Adeline Ndimasa, and in loving memory of his father, Manasses Ndimasa. Dr. Mukonje has been married to Mrs. Solie Mukonje for 10 years and they have 3 children. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle NEW YORK, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) market is estimated to grow by USD 1,061.1 million from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 6.74%. North America is estimated to account for 33% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. With the US being the forerunner in the field of attack drone development, the region leads the global market growth. Furthermore, the demand for UCAVs has largely increased as the country is trying to minimize the number of troop casualties in high-risk missions. Moreover, the country also looks forward to the development of cost-effective UCAVs that can be easily deployed for various high-risk missions. Hence, such factors drive regional market growth during the forecast period. For Comprehensive details on the market size of the historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View Sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) Market 2023-2027 Vendor Landscape The unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) market is fragmented; the vendors are competing with competitors and are trying to get a greater market share. The market is growing, and the chances of new entrants cannot be overlooked. The major vendors have well-established economies of scale and market presence and generally rely on positioning technological advances, and the price of the products -The report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now Market Dynamics Major Drivers & Challenges- The growing export demand from smaller economies is a major factor that drives the growth of the global UCAV market. Owing to their superior technology, UCAVs have recently become quite popular and the deployment of autonomous systems is now comparable to the new revolution in combat thanks to advancements in AI technology. Therefore, the growing demand for cutting-edge autonomous technology is pushing small-economy nations to concentrate on new research and UCAV purchases. Hence, such factors drive the market growth during the forecast period. The rapid development of anti-drone technology is a major challenge hindering the growth of the global UCAV market. Countries across the globe are simultaneously developing anti-drone defense systems and mechanisms, keeping pace with the development of UAVs. Furthermore, drones used by one nation are always a threat to other nations, and in order to have an effective defense system, nations are focusing on the development of anti-drone technology. For instance, Boeing recently tested a 10 kW anti-drone laser cannon that can shoot down drones. The company is planning to enhance the laser power from 10 kW to 60 kW in order to deploy it with the military. Hence, such challenges impede market growth during the forecast period. Key Trends- The development of long-range spy combat drones is an emerging trend influencing the global UCAV market growth. UCAVs are increasingly used as a vital tool in countermeasure operations for national security and these unmanned aerial platforms are being incorporated with weapons that support those operations as well as command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. This is due to the military electronics industry's rapid technical breakthroughs. For instance, CH-5 is capable of a joint strike like its predecessors, CH-3 and CH-4. This is because they can share the same data link and control system. Hence, such trends fuel the market growth during the forecast period. Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View Sample Report Company Profiles The unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors, including Aeronautical Systems Inc., AeroVironment Inc., BAE Systems Plc, Baykar Tech, Bluebird Aero Systems, C Astral d.o.o., China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., Dassault Aviation SA, Denel Dynamics, Edge Autonomy, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Atomics, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Parrot Drones SAS, Skyeton, Textron Systems, The Boeing Co., and Ukrspecsystems. Competitive Analysis The report includes competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Market Segmentation This report extensively covers market segmentation by type (medium-altitude ucav and high-altitude UCAV), platform (defense, government, civil, and commercial), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth by the medium-altitude UCAV segment will be significant for overall market growth during the forecast period. As a result of the growing need for multi-purpose UAVs, defense authorities focus on the development of medium-altitude UCAVs rather than land-based UAVs, owing to their surveillance and strike capabilities. Furthermore, UCAVs can tackle strategic tasks as stealthy and discreet and have better combat sustainability than manned aircraft. Hence, such factors drive the segment growth during the forecast period. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The naval combat systems market size is expected to increase by USD 9.53 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.79%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers naval combat systems market segmentation by product (weapon systems, C4ISR systems, and electronic warfare systems), platform (surface-based naval combat systems and underwater-based naval combat systems), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and South America). Greater focus on ISR operations is one of the major drivers impacting the naval combat systems market growth. The Global Unmanned Sea Systems Market size is estimated to grow by USD 3,751.78 million between 2022 and 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 9.78%. The Unmanned Sea Systems Market is analyzed in terms of Type (uuvs and usvs), Technology (remotely operated vehicles and autonomous vehicles). The geography segment includes North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa.The defense industry requires technological advancements to ensure successful combat operations which will propel the unnamed sea systems market growth. Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.74% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1,061.1 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.59 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 33% Key countries US, Israel, China, Russia, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aeronautical Systems Inc., AeroVironment Inc., BAE Systems Plc, Baykar Tech, Bluebird Aero Systems, C Astral d.o.o., China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., Dassault Aviation SA, Denel Dynamics, Edge Autonomy, Elbit Systems Ltd., General Atomics, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Parrot Drones SAS, Skyeton, Textron Systems, The Boeing Co., and Ukrspecsystems Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Platform Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Platform Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Platform Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Type 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Type 6.3 Medium-altitutde UCAV - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Medium-altitutde UCAV - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Medium-altitutde UCAV - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Medium-altitutde UCAV - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Medium-altitutde UCAV - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 High-altitude UCAV - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on High-altitude UCAV - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on High-altitude UCAV - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on High-altitude UCAV - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on High-altitude UCAV - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Platform 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 43: Chart on Platform - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on Platform - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Platform Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by Platform Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by Platform 7.3 Defense and government - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 47: Chart on Defense and government - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Defense and government - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 49: Chart on Defense and government - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Defense and government - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Civil and commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Civil and commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Civil and commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Chart on Civil and commercial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Civil and commercial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Platform Exhibit 55: Market opportunity by Platform ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 56: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 57: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 59: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 60: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 61: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 64: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 65: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 68: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 Russia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on Russia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Data Table on Russia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Chart on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Israel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Israel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Israel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Chart on Israel - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Israel - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 101: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 102: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 103: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 104: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 105: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 106: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 107: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 AeroVironment Inc. Exhibit 108: AeroVironment Inc. - Overview Exhibit 109: AeroVironment Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 110: AeroVironment Inc. - Key news Exhibit 111: AeroVironment Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 112: AeroVironment Inc. - Segment focus 12.4 BAE Systems Plc Exhibit 113: BAE Systems Plc - Overview Exhibit 114: BAE Systems Plc - Business segments Exhibit 115: BAE Systems Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 116: BAE Systems Plc - Segment focus 12.5 Baykar Tech Exhibit 117: Baykar Tech - Overview Exhibit 118: Baykar Tech - Product / Service Exhibit 119: Baykar Tech - Key offerings 12.6 C Astral d.o.o. Exhibit 120: C Astral d.o.o. - Overview Exhibit 121: C Astral d.o.o. - Product / Service Exhibit 122: C Astral d.o.o. - Key offerings 12.7 Dassault Aviation SA Exhibit 123: Dassault Aviation SA - Overview Exhibit 124: Dassault Aviation SA - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Dassault Aviation SA - Key offerings 12.8 Denel Dynamics Exhibit 126: Denel Dynamics - Overview Exhibit 127: Denel Dynamics - Product / Service Exhibit 128: Denel Dynamics - Key offerings 12.9 Elbit Systems Ltd. Exhibit 129: Elbit Systems Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 130: Elbit Systems Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 131: Elbit Systems Ltd. - Key offerings 12.10 General Atomics Exhibit 132: General Atomics - Overview Exhibit 133: General Atomics - Product / Service Exhibit 134: General Atomics - Key offerings 12.11 Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Exhibit 135: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 136: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 137: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 138: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Key offerings 12.12 Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. Exhibit 139: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. - Overview Exhibit 140: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 141: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 142: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc. - Segment focus 12.13 Lockheed Martin Corp. Exhibit 143: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Overview Exhibit 144: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 145: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Key news Exhibit 146: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 147: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Segment focus 12.14 Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. Exhibit 148: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Overview Exhibit 149: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 150: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Key news Exhibit 151: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 152: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. - Segment focus 12.15 Skyeton Exhibit 153: Skyeton - Overview Exhibit 154: Skyeton - Product / Service Exhibit 155: Skyeton - Key offerings 12.16 The Boeing Co. Exhibit 156: The Boeing Co. - Overview Exhibit 157: The Boeing Co. - Business segments Exhibit 158: The Boeing Co. - Key news Exhibit 159: The Boeing Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 160: The Boeing Co. - Segment focus 12.17 Ukrspecsystems Exhibit 161: Ukrspecsystems - Overview Exhibit 162: Ukrspecsystems - Product / Service Exhibit 163: Ukrspecsystems - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 164: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 165: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 166: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 167: Research methodology Exhibit 168: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 169: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 170: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio NEW YORK, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Facts and Factors study, the global SCADA market size was nearly $9.9 billion in 2022 and is set to increase to about $16.3 billion by 2030 along with securing the highest CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2030. Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.fnfresearch.com/scada-market SCADA Market: Overview SCADA is an abbreviated form of supervisory control and data acquisition. Moreover, it comprises computers, graphical user interfaces, and network data communications for high-level supervision of processes as well as machines. Furthermore, it includes sensors and other equipment including programmable logic controllers, and an interface with plant processes or machinery. In addition to this, SCADA systems play a pivotal role as they gather and process real-time information and thus help in preserving efficiency. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/scada-market Key Insights: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global SCADA market is projected to expand annually at the annual growth rate of around 7.9% over the forecast timespan (2023-2030) In terms of revenue, the global SCADA market was evaluated at nearly $9.9 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $16.3 billion by 2030. in 2022 and is expected to reach by 2030. The global SCADA market is anticipated to record massive growth over the forecast period owing to escalating demand for oil & gas has translated into demand for SCADA for automating & controlling production processes. Based on the component, the remote terminal unit segment is predicted to contribute majorly towards the global market share over the forecast timeline. In terms of the offering, the services segment is projected to record the highest CAGR over 2023-2030. Based on end-user, the process industries segment is projected to account for a major share of the global market during 2023-2030. Region-wise, the European SCADA market is projected to register the highest CAGR during the assessment period. Facts and Factors published the latest report titled "SCADA Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report By Component (Remote Terminal Unit, Programmable Logic Controller, and Human-Machine Interface), By Offering (Hardware, Services, and Software), By End-User (Process Industries, Utilities, and Discrete Manufacturing), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2023 2030" into their research database. Industry Dynamics: Global SCADA Market: Growth Drivers Humungous Penetration of SCADA in the Oil & Gas Sector To Boost The Global Market Trends. Escalating demand for oil & gas has translated into demand for SCADA for automating & controlling production processes, thereby steering the expansion of the SCADA market globally. In addition to this, extensive use of SCADA in downstream, upstream, and midstream applications of the oil & gas sector will steer the expansion of the global market in the years ahead. Furthermore, humungous energy requirements have translated into the growing penetration of SCADA in oil & gas firms. This, in turn, has paved the way for the growth of the SCADA business across the globe. Furthermore, SCADA finds a slew of applications in water & wastewater treatment, power, automotive, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, electrical, chemical, electronics, and power industries. In addition to this, the Industry 4.0 revolution has prompted huge demand for SCADA tools. Large-scale penetration of IoT and AI in various end-use sectors has further scaled up the global SCADA market demand. Global SCADA Market: Restraints Increasing Costs Related to the Installation of SCADA Systems To Inhibit the Global Industry Expansion. Surging costs pertaining to the deployment and maintenance of SCADA tools can pose a threat to the expansion of the global SCADA industry. For instance, components such as centralized computer devices and software are costly. Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/buynow/su/scada-market SCADA Market: Opportunities Breakthroughs in Wireless Sensor Networks To Open New Growth Opportunities For the Global Market. Advancements in wireless sensor networks along with their surging acceptance in the process industries will open new growth avenues for the SCADA market across the globe. Large-scale application of wireless sensor networks in a slew of industries, including pharmaceuticals, water & wastewater treatment, and oil & gas sectors will further enlarge the scope of growth of the global industry. SCADA Market: Challenges Growing Acts of Cyber-Terrorism to Put Up a Big Challenge for the Global Industry in the Upcoming Years. SCADA systems are prone to cyberattacks and this has posed a huge challenge to the expansion of the SCADA systems industry across the globe. For instance, SCADA systems comprise a network of mainframe computers, storage systems, sensors, and communication systems, which are prone to cyberattacks. Global SCADA Market: Segmentation The global SCADA market is sectored into components, offerings, end-user, and regions. In terms of components, the global SCADA market is sectored into process industries, utilities, and discrete manufacturing segments. Furthermore, the remote terminal unit segment, which contributed to the largest share of the global market in 2022, is set to hold its segmental dominance in the forecast timespan. The segmental growth in the ensuing eight years can be a result of remote terminal units being key components of SCADA tools. Apart from this, remote terminal units are used for gathering data, coding it into a transmittable format, and transferring it to the key system. Reportedly, deep sea exploration and extraction activities along with the need for shale gas exploration owing to the huge demand for oil & gas from emerging as well as underdeveloped economies will pave a way for the huge demand for remote terminal units. Based on end-user, the SCADA industry across the globe is divided into utilities, process industries, and discrete manufacturing segments. Moreover, the process industries segment, which garnered nearly 50% of the global industry share in 2022, is projected to dominate the global industry expansion even in the forecasting timeline. The growth of the segment in the ensuing years can be due to growing competition among the manufacturing units for reducing manufacturing costs and processes. Moreover, the huge demand for SCADA in process industries can be attributed to a surge in the need for real-time visibility in the oil & gas, metal & mining, and food & beverages industries. On the basis of offering, the global SCADA market is divided into services, hardware, and software & industrial segments. Moreover, the services segment, which accounted for a major share of nearly 60% of the global market in 2022, is predicted to register the highest CAGR in the ensuing years. The segmental expansion over the forecast timeline can be subject to the massive demand for services such as cybersecurity during the customization of SCADA systems. Get More Insight before [email protected]: https://www.fnfresearch.com/inquiry/scada-market List of Key Players in SCADA Market: ABB Ltd. Enbase LLC Ing. Azbil Corporation Schneider Electric SE General Electric Company Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. Capula Ltd. Rockwell Automation Inc. ELYNX TECHNOLOGIES LLC Yokogawa Electric Corporation TOSHIBA CORPORATION Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Emerson Electric Co. Siemens AG Progea srl Willowglen Systems Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. Valmet Oyj Inductive Automation LLC Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH. Others Key questions answered in this report: What are the growth rate forecast and market size for SCADA Market? What are the key driving factors propelling the SCADA Market forward? What are the most important companies in the SCADA Market Industry? What segments does the SCADA Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the SCADA Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2022 USD 9.9 Billion Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 16.3 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 7.9% 2023-2030 Base Year 2022 Historic Years 2016 2021 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Segments Covered By Component, Offering, End-User, and Region Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2023 to 2030 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered ABB Ltd., Enbase LLC, Ing., Azbil Corporation, Schneider Electric SE, General Electric Company, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc., Capula Ltd., Rockwell Automation Inc., ELYNX TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Emerson Electric Co., Siemens AG, Progea srl, Willowglen Systems, Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., Valmet Oyj, Inductive Automation LLC, Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH., and others. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.fnfresearch.com/customization/scada-market Free Brochure: https://www.fnfresearch.com/ask-to-analyst/scada-market Regional Dominance: Asia-Pacific SCADA market to accrue massive revenues over the forecast timeline. Asia-Pacific, which accounted lucratively towards the global SCADA market revenue in 2022, is anticipated to continue its dominance over the analysis timeline. The regional market expansion over 2023-2030 can be due to a surge in the penetration of SCADA systems in process automation, power & energy, communication, and electrical utility applications. A surge in the manufacturing units in a slew of industries such as power, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and textile industries will steer the growth of the regional market. Furthermore, the European SCADA industry, which contributed nearly more than 50% of the global industry share in 2022, is set to register the highest CAGR over the forecast timeline. The factors that are projected to determine the expansion of the regional market include a rise in the allocation of funds in smart grid ventures and a thriving manufacturing sector in the continent. Global SCADA Market is segmented as follows: SCADA Market: By Component Outlook (2023-2030) Remote Terminal Unit Programmable Logic Controller Human-Machine Interface SCADA Market: By Offering Outlook (2023-2030) Hardware Services Software SCADA Market: By End-User Outlook (2023-2030) Process Industries Utilities Discrete Manufacturing SCADA Market: By Region Outlook (2023-2030) North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Press Release: https://www.fnfresearch.com/news/global-scada-market Browse Other Related Research Reports from Facts and Factors Near Field Communication (NFC) Market : According to the report published by Facts & Factors, the global near field communication (NFC) market size was evaluated at $21.1 billion in 2022 and is slated to hit $33.1 billion by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of nearly 14.4% between 2023 and 2030. According to the report published by Facts & Factors, the global near field communication (NFC) market size was evaluated at in 2022 and is slated to hit by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of nearly 14.4% between 2023 and 2030. Gamification Market : According to the report published by Facts & Factors, the global gamification market size was valued at around USD 15.86 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to USD 95.87 billion by 2030 with an increasing CAGR of 26.5% during the forecast period. According to the report published by Facts & Factors, the global gamification market size was valued at around in 2022 and is expected to grow to by 2030 with an increasing CAGR of 26.5% during the forecast period. Data Center Colocation Market : According to the report published by Facts & Factors, the global data center colocation market size was evaluated at $62.3 billion in 2022 and is slated to hit $89.3 billion by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of nearly 14.7% between 2023 and 2030. 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Browse through Facts and Factors's coverage of the Global Technology & Media Industry Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook About Us Facts and Factors is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, and company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Facts and Factors Tel: +1 347 690-0211 USA/Canada Toll-Free No. +44 2032 894158 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.fnfresearch.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1981423/FnF_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE FnF Research CHICAGO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The viral vector manufacturing industry is poised for significant growth and innovation in the near future. As gene therapy and vaccine development continue to advance, the demand for viral vectors, which serve as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes or vaccine antigens, is expected to rise. In response, the industry is focusing on optimizing manufacturing processes to meet the increasing demand for high-quality viral vectors. Advanced technologies, such as suspension cell culture systems, single-use bioreactors, and automation, will play a key role in improving production efficiency and scalability. Moreover, the development of novel viral vector platforms with enhanced transduction efficiency and targeting capabilities will open up new possibilities for precise and effective gene therapies. Regulatory agencies are also actively involved in establishing guidelines and standards for viral vector manufacturing, ensuring product safety and quality. Additionally, collaborations between academic institutions, biotech companies, and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) will facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer, fostering further advancements in the field. Overall, the near future of viral vector manufacturing holds immense potential, paving the way for transformative gene therapies and innovative vaccines that will revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes. Viral Vector Manufacturing Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $5.5 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $12.8 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 18.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of this market is driven by rising prevalence of target diseases and disorders, the availability of funding for gene therapy development, effectiveness of viral vectors in gene therapy delivery, and ongoing research into viral vector-based gene and cell therapies, leading to expanded applications and adoption of viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing technologies. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=89341986 Browse in-depth TOC on "Viral Vector Manufacturing Market" 363 - Tables 50 - Figures 332 - Pages Viral Vector Manufacturing Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $5.5 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $12.8 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 18.2% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, Product & Service, Workflow, Application, Disease Indication, and End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America (LATAM) and Middle East and Africa (MEA) Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Leveraging digital to facilitate operational excellence Key Market Drivers Effectiveness of viral vectors The Plasmid DNA segment accounted for the largest share, by type in the viral vector & plasmid DNA manufacturing market in 2022. By type, the viral vector & plasmid DNA manufacturing market has been further categorized as viral vector and plasmid DNA. The plasmid DNA segment held the largest share of the global viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market in 2022. This can be attributed to Increasing R&D and the growing launches of plasmid DNA production platforms. Plasmid DNA plays a crucial role in this research and developments. Plasmids are often used in genetic engineering and biotechnology for various purposes, including gene cloning, gene expression, and recombinant protein production. The downstream manufacturing segment accounted for the largest share of the workflow segment in the viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market in 2022. Based on workflow, the global viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market has been segmented into upstream manufacturing and downstream manufacturing. The downstream manufacturing segment held the largest market share in 2022. The large share of this segment can be attributed to development of efficient purification techniques and processes that result in high yields of purified products. The North America region catered the largest share of the viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market in 2022. The viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market in North America has experienced significant growth in recent years, showcasing a robust expansion trajectory, owing to the well-established research infrastructure, strong pharmaceutical and biotech industry, increasing government support for life science research, technological advancements in viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing technologies, and collaborative initiatives contribute to the growth of the viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market in the North America region. Additionally, North America faces a significant burden of chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region drives the demand for viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing for both research and clinical applications. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=89341986 Viral Vector Manufacturing Market Dynamics: Drivers: Rising prevalence of genetic disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases Availability of funding for development of gene therapy Effectiveness of viral vectors Ongoing research on viral vector-based gene and cell therapies Restraints: High operational costs associated with cell and gene therapy manufacturing Short shelf life of viral vectors Opportunities: Smart capital deployment and planning for scalability Leveraging digital tools to facilitate operational excellence Challenges: Risk of mutagenesis and other unwanted outcomes Individual optimization and low yield Key Market Players: Key players in the viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market include Lonza Group AG (Switzerland), Merck KGaA (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (US), Catalent Inc. (US), WuXi AppTec (China), FUJIFILM Corporation (Japan), GenScript Biotech Corporation (US), Takara Bio Inc. (Japan), Oxford Biomedica (UK), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Precision Biosciences (US), Bluebird Bio, Inc. (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), Danaher Corporation (US), SIRON Biotech (Germany), VGXI, Inc. (US), Waisman Biomanufacturing (US), Kaneka Eurogentec S.A. (Belgium), PlasmidFactory GmbH (Germany), ATUM (US), Addgene (US), Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (UK), Batavia biosciences (Netherlands), and Altogen Biosystems (US). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=89341986 Recent Developments: In August 2022 , MERCK KGaA the VirusExpress 293 Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Production Platform, which offers a full viral vector manufacturing offering including AAV, Lentiviral vectors. , MERCK KGaA the VirusExpress 293 Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Production Platform, which offers a full viral vector manufacturing offering including AAV, Lentiviral vectors. In May 2022 , Catalent Inc., launched UpTempo Virtuoso platform process for the development and manufacturing of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. Viral Vector Manufacturing Market Advantages: Scalability: The viral vector manufacturing market offers scalable production processes to meet the increasing demand for viral vectors. This scalability allows for efficient and cost-effective production of viral vectors, accommodating the needs of both research and clinical applications. Advanced Technology: The industry leverages advanced technologies, such as bioreactor systems, single-use systems, and automation, to optimize manufacturing processes. These technologies improve productivity, enhance quality control, and streamline production, ensuring consistent and reliable viral vector manufacturing. Therapeutic Potential: Viral vectors serve as critical tools in gene therapy, enabling the delivery of therapeutic genes to target cells. The viral vector manufacturing market plays a pivotal role in enabling the development and production of gene therapies, offering significant therapeutic potential for a wide range of genetic disorders and diseases. Diverse Applications: Viral vectors find applications beyond gene therapy, including vaccine development, regenerative medicine, and cancer immunotherapy. The viral vector manufacturing market caters to these diverse applications, providing the necessary infrastructure and expertise to support research and development efforts in various fields. Regulatory Support: Regulatory agencies are actively involved in establishing guidelines and standards for viral vector manufacturing. This support ensures compliance with safety and quality standards, facilitating the translation of viral vector-based therapies from preclinical research to clinical applications. Collaborations and Partnerships: The viral vector manufacturing market encourages collaborations and partnerships among academic institutions, biotechnology companies, and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). These collaborations foster knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and the sharing of manufacturing expertise, driving advancements in viral vector manufacturing. Market Growth and Investment Opportunities: The growing demand for viral vectors in gene therapy and vaccine development fuels market growth and presents investment opportunities. The viral vector manufacturing market offers attractive prospects for investors and stakeholders, with the potential for significant returns on investment. Patient Impact: The viral vector manufacturing market plays a crucial role in translating scientific advancements into tangible patient benefits. By enabling the production of viral vectors, the market contributes to the development of innovative gene therapies and vaccines that have the potential to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes. Market Competitiveness: The viral vector manufacturing market is characterized by healthy competition among industry players. This fosters innovation, encourages continuous improvement, and drives the development of more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes. Global Reach: The viral vector manufacturing market has a global reach, serving the needs of researchers, clinicians, and patients worldwide. The availability of viral vectors on a global scale ensures that groundbreaking therapies and vaccines can reach populations in need, contributing to the advancement of global healthcare. Overall, the viral vector manufacturing market offers numerous advantages, including scalability, advanced technology, therapeutic potential, diverse applications, regulatory support, collaborations, investment opportunities, patient impact, market competitiveness, and global reach. These factors contribute to the growth and success of the viral vector manufacturing industry, fostering the development of transformative therapies and driving innovation in healthcare. Viral Vector Manufacturing Market - Report Highlights: The market study does not cover the market size in terms of volume. Market sizes are updated for the base year (2022) and the forecast period from 2023 to 2028. Updated market dynamics, trends impacting customer's business, pricing analysis, value chain analysis, ecosystem analysis, regulatory analysis, Porter's analysis, technology analysis, key conferences & events in 2023-2024, patent analysis, and key stakeholders & buying criteria have been added in the market overview chapter. By product & service and by workflow segments are newly added to the updated report. The previous version of the report was dedicated to viral vector manufacturing only. The current report is updated to include products & services used in manufacturing viral vectors and plasmid DNA. In the new edition of the report, the country/regional-level market for Brazil and the Rest of Latin America has been added to the Latin America region. The country-level market for South Korea has also been added to the Asia Pacific region. and the Rest of has been added to the region. The country-level market for has also been added to the region. Key market strategies/right to win, market share analysis for 2022, revenue analysis, and competitive leadership mapping for top players and SMEs have been added in the competitive landscape section of the report. The updated version of the report includes the revenue share analysis of key market players from 2020 to 2022. The updated competitive leadership mapping outputs a comprehensive study of the key vendors offering viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing products and services. The top 25 vendors were shortlisted from a list of 50+ vendors, and these were evaluated based on the market share/ranking and product footprint, rated, and positioned on a 2x2 quadrant, referred to as Company Evaluation Quadrant, categorizing them as 'Star,' 'Emerging Leader,' 'Pervasive,' and 'Emerging Companies.' In the updated competitive leadership mapping of key startup vendors offering viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing products and services, the top 10 vendors were shortlisted from a list of 50+ vendors. These were evaluated based on the market share/ranking and product footprint, rated, and positioned on a 2x2 quadrant, referred to as Competitive Leadership Quadrant, categorizing them as 'Progressive Companies,' 'Starting Blocks,' 'Responsive Companies,' and 'Dynamic Companies. Additional company profiles have been added (a total of 25 companies profiled). The new edition of the report provides updated financial information till 2022 for each listed company in a graphical representation. This will help analyze the present status of profiled companies in financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating region/country, and focus of business segments for the highest revenue-generating segment. Tracking the product & service portfolios of prominent market players helps analyze the major products & services in the viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market. The new edition of the report provides an updated product & service portfolio of the companies profiled. Recent developments help understand market trends and the growth strategies adopted by players in the market. Product launches have increased in the last three years ( January 2020 to May 2023 ). to ). The current edition of the report includes global and regional assessments of the economic & financial recession. Related Reports: Cell Isolation Market - Global Forecasts to 2028 Regenerative Medicine Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Stem Cell Assay Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Nucleic Acid Isolation and Purification market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Gene Therapy Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/viral-vector-manufacturing-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/viral-vector-manufacturing.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Smart Compensation brings a unique data-driven approach to compensation planning, making it easier than ever for managers to make fair, equitable and effective pay decisions VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Visier , the globally recognized leader in people analytics and workforce solutions for people-powered business, today announced Smart Compensation , a new product designed to simplify the complex compensation planning process into an easy-to-use, data-driven approach that empowers managers like never before. Available as a standalone product, Smart Compensation can be utilized by both current Visier customers within their suite of Visier offerings, or by new customers as a standalone application supporting their compensation planning teams. In addition to launching Smart Compensation, Visier also announced today "Vee," a Generative AI-based digital assistant available within the Visier People solution and via integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams. "Pay is one of the most important conversations a manager can have with their employees, and yet most managers are not given the tools to effectively communicate even the best compensation packages, leaving everyone involved in the process feeling unsatisfied and frustrated," said Lino Gentile, Vice President of New Applications for Visier. "Smart Compensation takes the decades of experience the Visier team has in the people analytics space, and simplifies this complex issue making it easier for teams to make better, data-driven merit pay decisions while elevating the manager's competency. We're solving organizations' most critical compensation challenges without the messy spreadsheets and with a purpose built manager experience that delivers the impact organizations expect." Smart Compensation: redefining the pay process for triple impact For many companies, the compensation process is frustrating and ineffective for the employee, the manager and the total rewards team. Smart Compensation by Visier redefines the pay process for triple impact, dramatically improving the pay process for each stakeholder. Smart Compensation tackles several critical challenges facing organizations today, including: Retention - Make informed financial decisions within the compensation planning cycle with built-in guidance on the cost to retain critical talent and the ROI relative to the cost of replacement. - Make informed financial decisions within the compensation planning cycle with built-in guidance on the cost to retain critical talent and the ROI relative to the cost of replacement. Maximizing compensation impact: Using people analytics to optimize each employee's merit increase to avoid wasteful and ineffective allocations based on undifferentiated "peanut butter spreading" of compensation adjustments and biased decisions. Using people analytics to optimize each employee's merit increase to avoid wasteful and ineffective allocations based on undifferentiated "peanut butter spreading" of compensation adjustments and biased decisions. Pay transparency - Meet your pay transparency goals by enabling managers and employees with levels of transparency designed specifically for your organization. - Meet your pay transparency goals by enabling managers and employees with levels of transparency designed specifically for your organization. Pay equity - Drive a fair and equitable pay process using optimized and unbiased compensation recommendations at the time of decisionrather than after the fact. - Drive a fair and equitable pay process using optimized and unbiased compensation recommendations at the time of decisionrather than after the fact. Manager effectiveness- Increase managers' competence and confidence with salary discussions through guided, data-backed decision making. "Smart Compensation gives managers the opportunity to make unbiased pay decisions in real time, optimized for your pay philosophy, and considering employee's performance, risk of exit and pay equity," said Gentile. "This helps managers, and organizations make more impactful decisions while simplifying the process for managers, and maximizing the financial impacts of pay decisions." Smart Compensation is currently available, with further details found at https://www.visier.com/products/smart-compensation/ . About Visier Visier is the recognized global leader in people analytics, providing on-demand answers to people-powered businesses. Behind every great brand, product, or idea is the Human Truth, and the Visier People Cloud reveals the fundamental questions and actionable truths capable of elevating your employeesand your businessto new heights. Founded in 2010 by the pioneers of business intelligence, Visier has over 25,000 customers in 75 countries around the world, including enterprises like BASF, Bridgestone, Electronic Arts, McKesson, MerckKGaA, and more. Visier is headquartered in Vancouver, BC with offices and team members worldwide. For more information, visit www.visier.com . SOURCE Visier Claigan project to submit derogations and technical information to the EU consultation for PFAS Restriction. OTTAWA, ON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - On 20 June 2023, Claigan Environmental Inc. (www.claigan.com) will present a webinar on its project to submit derogations and technical information to the EU Consultation on the REACH Restriction of PFAS. If you are worried about the PFAS restrictions and how they affect your products, this is the project webinar to attend. By September 30 2023, all comments / submissions to the EU REACH PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) consultation need to be submitted. Based on the current PFAS restriction proposal, over 90% of the products being sold on the EU market will need to be re-designed. To meet this tight technical deadline, Claigan is organizing detailed technical submissions and justifications for submission to the EU consultation. These submissions will be very detailed and clear, leveraging Claigan's large PFAS testing data set and deep technical knowledge. Included in the planned five (5) submissions to the EU will be the uses of PFAS (based on hundreds of products of test data), sources of harmful PFAS, sources of PFAS in drinking water, comparison of alternatives, and derogations required by industry. Companies will be invited to sign up to the project. Signing up to the EU PFAS Consultation Project will provide companies with assurance that their product requirements and uses are met. Even though Claigan will handle the technical details - participating companies will Be invited to submit their uses to be included / confirmed by Claigan in the derogation (exemption) requests. Be included in monthly educational sessions explaining the uses, submissions, and derogations Receive draft submissions for review and comment Receive final versions of submissions Receive monthly updates on progress The main topics to be covered in this webinar are - Claigan EU PFAS Restriction Submission Project Project plan How your uses are included in the submissions Planned submissions Uses of PFAS in articles (based on testing data from hundreds of products) Sources of harmful PFAS (PFOA and family) Sources of PFAS in drinking water (explanation of PFAS vs PFAS esters) Comparison of alternatives Derogations required by industry (including justifications) Explanation of how stakeholders are kept up to date Explanation of the process for review and commenting on draft submissions Sign up process Due to the interest in these topics, two (2) webinars will be held on June 20 to accommodate a larger audience. Webinars - Claigan EU PFAS Restriction Submission Project Date: 20 June 2023 Time: 10am and 2pm EST Duration: 1 hour plus Q&A To Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/1394508830249580123 or on Claigan's Website at www.claigan.com/webinars Register now or send an e-mail to [email protected]. For more information on Claigan Environmental's restricted materials services - see Claigan's services at www.claigan.com About Claigan Environmental (www.claigan.com) Claigan is the world leader on PFAS compliance with detailed testing data on hundreds of products. The Claigan EU PFAS Restriction Submissions Project will be most detailed and technical submission to the EU. At Claigan, we believe in 'More Results. Less Journey.' SOURCE Claigan Environmental Inc. These are the top 20 private schools in Mississippi. See where your school ranked Of 264 private schools in Mississippi, three Coast schools ranked as some of the best. St. Patrick Catholic High School, Saint Stanislaus High School and Our Lady Academy were among the 20 best schools on Niches 2023 list of best private schools in the state.. After analyzing data and reviews of 264 private schools in Mississippi, Niche graded each school for its academics, diversity and teachers. Niche grades and analyzes schools and neighborhoods throughout the U.S. using data from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Census and FBI plus more than 100 million reviews and survey responses from students, parents and residents to rank schools in every county and city in the country. We get deep too, asking questions about everything from college prep to cafeteria food, said Niche on its website. Though quality data is a priority, at Niche, we know that a school is more than a collection of stats. Niche also looks at each schools academics and culture. Academics Grade: Based on state assessment proficiency and survey responses on academics from students and parents. Teachers Grade: Based on teacher salary, teacher absenteeism, state test results, and survey responses on teachers from students and parents. District Grade: Based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data along with millions of reviews from students and parents. Culture & Diversity Grade: Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents. Parent/Student Surveys Grade: Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale regarding the overall experience of students and parents from the school. St. Patrick Catholic High School was tapped as a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School Sept. 26, 2019. The school was named as one of the top 50 private schools in the nation and is the first Mississippi high school to receive the honor in seven years. Here are the top 15 private schools in Mississippi: Ridgeland, Mississippi 1,097 students, student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $21,240 30% of students received financial aid. Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A+ Academics: A+ Diversity: Not reported Teachers: A College Prep: A+ Sports: A Of nearly 100,000 schools and districts ranked in the U.S., St. Andrews placed 264th. Flowood, Mississippi 837 students, student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1 Grades 6-12 Reported yearly tuition: $13,704 Overall grade: A Academics: A+ Diversity: C Teachers: A- College Prep: A Sports: A- After graduation, 99% of students go to a four-year college. Jackson, Mississippi 1,200 students, student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $14,700 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A Academics: A+ Diversity: B- Teachers: B+ College Prep: A- Sports: B After graduation, 100% of students go to a four-year college. Biloxi, Mississippi 622 students, student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1 Grades 7-12 Reported yearly tuition: $7,700 Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: Not reported Teachers: B- College Prep: A Sports: A- After graduation, 99% of students go to a four-year college. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 342 students, student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 Grades 7-12 Reported yearly tuition: $8,680, with boarding $31,950 17% of students board 25% of students received financial aid Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: B- Teachers: B+ College Prep: A Sports: A+ Meridian, Mississippi 571 students, student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,528 Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: B- Teachers: B+ College Prep: A- Sports: B+ After graduation, 93% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Madison, Mississippi 400 students, student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 Grades 7-12 Reported yearly tuition: $9,385 20% of students received financial aid, average financial aid $2,000 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: A Teachers: B- College Prep: A- Sports: A After graduation, 98% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Hattiesburg, Mississippi 698 students, student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,000 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: B Teachers: B College Prep: A- Sports: A- Southaven, Mississippi 1,070 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $10,575 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: B- Teachers: B- College Prep: A- Sports: A- This school ranked second in Best Christian High Schools in Mississippi. After graduation, 98% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Belden, Mississippi 531 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,600 Overall grade: A Academics: A Diversity: C+ Teachers: B+ College Prep: B+ Sports: A+ This school ranked 3 in Niches Best Christian High Schools in Mississippi. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Clinton, Mississippi 129 students, student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: A- Academics: A- Diversity: A- Teachers: B- College Prep: B Sports: B- After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Vicksburg, Mississippi 263 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1 Grades 7-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,865 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A- Academics: A Diversity: B- Teachers: B College Prep: B+ Sports: A- After graduation, 88% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Clarksdale, Mississippi 317 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,403 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A- Academics: A- Diversity: B Teachers: B- College Prep: B Sports: B After graduation, 98% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 234 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 Grades 7-12 Reported yearly tuition: $7,500 Average graduation rate: Not Reported Overall grade: A- Academics: B+ Diversity: B Teachers: C+ College Prep: B- Sports: B- Hattiesburg, Mississippi 945 students, student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $7,920 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A- Academics: A Diversity: C Teachers: B College Prep: B+ Sports: B- After graduation, 80% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Meridian, Mississippi 460 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $4,675 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A- Academics: A- Diversity: B- Teachers: B College Prep: B Sports: B- After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Madison, Mississippi 1,310 students, student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $11,130 Average graduation rate: 100% Overall grade: A- Academics: A Diversity: C+ Teachers: B College Prep: B+ Sports: A- After graduation, 85% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Senatobia, Mississippi 628 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,300 Average graduation rate: Not Reported Overall grade: A- Academics: A Diversity: C Teachers: B- College Prep: B Sports: B After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Clinton, Mississippi 280 students, student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $6,260 Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: A- Academics: B+ Diversity: A- Teachers: B- College Prep: B Sports: B After graduation, 95% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Louisville, Mississippi 135 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: A- Academics: A- Diversity: B- Teachers: B- College Prep: B Sports: B- After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Here are the ranks of other private schools in the area Gulfport, Mississippi 305 students, student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not Reported Overall grade: B+ Academics: B+ Diversity: B Teachers: C+ College Prep: B- Sports: B- After graduation, 90% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Long Beach, Mississippi 195 students, student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: $7,200 Average graduation rate: Not Reported Overall grade: A Academics: A- Diversity: C+ Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported After graduation, 90% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Long Beach, Mississippi 360 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: $5,229 Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Gulfport, Mississippi 345 students, student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Pascagoula, Mississippi 307 students, student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 260 students, student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Biloxi, Mississippi 195 students, student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Biloxi, Mississippi 158 students, student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Ocean Springs, Mississippi 111 students, student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported DIberville, Mississippi 85 students, student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Gulfport, Mississippi 84 students, student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 Grades PK, K-12 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. 141. Grace Baptist Academy Ocean Springs, Mississippi 61 students, student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. 145. Heritage Christian Academy Picayune, Mississippi 51 students, student-teacher ratio of not reported Grades PK, K-6 Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported Picayune, Mississippi 40 students, student-teacher ratio 40 to 1 Grades K Reported yearly tuition: Not reported Average graduation rate: Not reported Overall grade: Not reported Academics: Not reported Diversity: Not reported Teachers: Not reported College Prep: Not reported Sports: Not reported BEIJING, June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Themed on Regional Cooperation for a Win-win Future, the 2023 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum was held in Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province from June 9 to 10. Photo provided shows the participating business associations jointly released the 2023 RCEP Huangshan Forum Initiative Around 500 guests including heads of governments from RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) member countries, executives of Fortune Global 500 companies and well-known enterprises, heads of domestic and foreign associations and investment institutions, and experts and scholars at home and abroad gathered to discuss new opportunities for RCEP economic and trade cooperation. Wang Qingxian, the Governor of Anhui province, said in his welcome speech that this forum is one of the earliest events held after the full implementation of RCEP, showing China's attitude and determination to expand and open up in all aspects. Wang suggest that inter-governmental cooperation be carried out through cooperation among enterprises, by giving full play to the role of friendship city relations and business and economic associations, international organizations to jointly provide more opportunities for business community. Myanmar Ambassador to China U Tin Maung Swe said this forum is a timely and meaningful platform for RCEP member countries and local governments to exchange views, which will help deepen local government cooperation, bring socioeconomic benefits to RCEP member countries and enhance people's welfare. ASEAN's designated secretary-general Gao Jinhong noted in a video speech that RCEP member countries should make efforts to facilitate private enterprises, while incorporating more elements such as digitization and sustainable development into RCEP. The event saw pragmatic cooperation achieved. The 2023 RCEP Huangshan Forum Initiative was released. Friendship relationship has been formed between Anhui Province and Attapeu Province of Laos as well as Laoag City Of The Philippines and Huangshan. Six economic and trade cooperation projects and five cultural cooperation projects were signed for further cooperation between Anhui and RCEP member countries. Exceptional enterprises like Anhui Conch Group Co., Ltd, China and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd. participated in the forum. Yang Jun, Chairman of the Board of Anhui Conch Group, said that the company will take this opportunity to enhance communication and exchange with local governments, enterprises, associations and investment institutions of RCEP member countries, so as to explore business opportunities as well as deepen regional cooperation and work together for a win-win future. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/334515.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road Law enforcement agencies and extremism researchers are closely monitoring online threats and escalating rhetoric surrounding Donald Trumps arraignment as the former president formally faces federal criminal charges in a sweeping indictment connected to his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property. Mr Trump continues to deny wrongdoing, casting the multiple investigations and lawsuits involving him, his campaign or business empire as a hoax, a fraud or a politically motivated hit job against him or his agenda, while using apocalyptic rhetoric and furious social media posts to draw support to his 2024 campaign fund and legal efforts. On Truth Social, the former president sent a barrage of posts and videos declaring his innocence and urging his followers to face his political enemies. On 9 June, he wrote: SEE YOU IN MIAMI ON TUESDAY!!! Our country has to protest, he said on The Roger Stone Show on 11 June. He also shared a meme with a caption reading THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS WAR. On pro-Trump message board Patriots.win, formerly The Donald, a site that was central to organising riots on January 6, supporters have declared war, said protests could make Waco look like a tea party, and said that this is what the Second Amendment was made for. I used to laugh when my mom said that she was afraid if she registered Republican she may be arrested one day. Im not laughing any more, one user wrote. Just buying more ammo. Speaking at a Republican event in Georgia on 9 June, failed Republican candidate for Arizona governor Kari Lake suggested that armed Americans would stop Mr Trumps prosecution. If you want to get to President Trump, youre going to have to go through me and 75 million Americans just like me, she said. And Im going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA Thats not a threat, thats a public service announcement. Department of Homeland Security police place tape off an area in front of the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr federal courthouse in Miami on 12 June (Getty Images) Republican US Rep Andy Biggs of Arizona said on his congressional Twitter account that we have now reached a war phase. Eye for an eye, he said. His office later said that his comment was a call for congressional Republicans to use their procedural tools to counter the Lefts weaponization of our federal law enforcement apparatus. Republican US Rep Clay Higgins of Louisiana also posted a cryptic message on Twitter, suggesting that people should prepare for civil disturbance. This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this, Mr Biggs said on 9 June following news of Mr Trumps indictment. rPOTUS if online shorthand for real president of the United States. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges, added Mr Higgins,making an apparent reference to military-scale maps and Rock steady calm. That is all, he wrote. The following day, his account appeared to admit to exploiting press outlets by using incendiary rhetoric to help amplify his message, then called for peace and told his followers to let Trump handle this. Patriots, weve manipulated the MSM to establish deep commo, now copy this do NOT trip the wire theyve laid for you. Maintain your family. Live your life. Know your bridges. Hold, he wrote on 10 June. Let Trump handle Trump, hes got this. We use the Constitution as our only weapon. Peace. Hold, he added. The involvement of members of Congress, prominent political figures, and Trump himself in promoting, inciting, and even hinting at violence is a risk factor for acts of political violence, according to extremism researcher Caroline Orr. Far-right activist and failed congressional candidate Laura Loomer also announced plans on social media for a peaceful rally at the federal courthouse and asked demonstrators to bring pro-Trump apparel, bullhorns and love for the former president. She also shared an image of Mr Trumps SEE YOU IN MIAMI post and added an image of the court, the courts address and the caption ALL HANDS ON DECK and Trump Document Hoax Rally. Ms Loomer and other supporters also promoted a flag waving demonstration outside Trump National Doral on 12 June. Authorities will be closely monitoring both events; a Miami-Dade Homeland Security Bureau issued an advisory including Ms Loomers promotion of the flag waving event. On Telegram, a Florida chapter of the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys called on supporters to rally outside the federal courthouse and to bring a banner supporting Trump. After the former president told his Truth Social followers SEE YOU IN MIAMI on 13 June, the Proud Boys group shared the post, adding YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. The group reacted similarly to Mr Trumps stand back and stand by message to the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate. Law enforcement are aware of the messages, according to an advisory viewed by The Washington Post. At least one person convicted for their roles in connection with the attack on the Capitol will join the protests. Baked Alaska a white nationalist livestreamer who was convicted on a count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building after he filmed himself for more than 30 minutes inside the halls of Congress on January 6 suggested on a recent stream that he plans to join protests in Miami. Homeland Securitys current nationwide advisory as of 24 May notes that lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the US, echoing similar language in the National Terrorism Advisory System that have been in place for several years as federal agencies monitor a rise in far-right violence. Those threats could include violent extremist messaging and online calls for violence, motivated by perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues, according to the advisory. Potential target could include critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement. Before Mr Trumps arraignment in a criminal court in New York City in April, news of the charges and his demands for his followers to protest outside the courthouse were met with an immediate increase in violent online rhetoric and expressed threats toward government and law enforcement targets perceived as participating in a political persecution of the former president, as well as more general calls for civil war, according to coalition of federal law enforcement agencies monitoring such threats. And across far-right social media accounts and message boards, his messages and his ongoing, bogus narrative of his political persecution appeared to be the evidence his followers needed to support long-running conspiracy theories that Democratic officials and President Joe Bidens administration have weaponised the federal government against him. Only a few dozen of his supporters ultimately showed up in Manhattan, outnumbered by reporters and news crews there to capture the historic arraignment. Unlike the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, which was organised openly across social media platforms, discussion of protesting Mr Trumps first indictment largely revolved around denouncing the investigations and Democratic officials. In the New York case, prominent QAnon influencers and Trump loyalists including figures who were once central to the Stop the Steal effort that fuelled the crowds before the riot in the halls of Congress two years ago expressed some sceptism over the former presidents demands, or refused to participate in his defence at all. Others claimed that the whole thing was a deep state or false flag setup intended to lure his supporters to their own arrest. At a rally in Georgia on 10 June, Mr Trump once again sought to portray himself as well as his supporters as the victims of a Democratic regime while rejecting the seriousness of the crimes he now faces. Theyve launched one witch hunt after another to try and stop our movement, to thwart the will of the American people, he said. Theyre coming after you. Outside the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr federal courthouse in downtown Miami on 12 June, marked police vehicles belonging to the Federal Protective Service could be seen parked strategically in areas not already rendered inaccessible to cars with concrete bollards and other preexisting vehicle barriers, blocking a path from the street onto courthouse property. Groups of FPS officers, some leading explosive detection dogs, could be seen congregating in areas where shade from trees could shield them from the hot Florida sun. Around 10.30am, other officers began positioning moveable barriers and stretching police tape to cordon off a wide swath of the courthouse lawn from public access in preparation for possible demonstrations by Mr Trumps supporters, should any heed the twice-impeached, twice-indicted ex-presidents call for protests on the day of his arraignment. Were prepared for anything but were hoping there wont be any trouble, one FPS officer who asked not to be identified told The Independent. Additional reporting by Andrew Feinberg If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Tehran, June 12 : Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said there is nothing wrong with reaching a nuclear deal providing that the country's atomic infrastructure remains "intact," according to state media. The top leader made the remarks on Sunday 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 programme, according to the official news agency IRNA. 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, Xinhua news agency reported. He said past negotiations with the IAEA and some countries have shown that they failed to fulfill many of the promises they had given to Iran. 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 emphasised 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 US 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 megawatt 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 US, 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. Nuclear achievements toured by Supreme Leader in AEOI exhibition https://t.co/cf9RJx7fvy pic.twitter.com/1c1ebRtKCz IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) June 11, 2023 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. -- Syndicated from IANS Addis Ababa, June 12 : Djibouti and Kenya have agreed to abolish visa requirements for their respective nationals, the office of Kenya President William Ruto disclosed. In a press statement, the office of Kenya President said on Sunday that the two east African nations hope to spur their bilateral trade with a push for a visa free regime for respective nationals. The two countries also hope to boost bilateral investment ties as well as bolster regional stability with the move to abolish visa requirements for their respective nationals, Xinhua news agency reported. The bilateral visa free agreement was reached earlier on Sunday during a meeting of the Kenyan President Ruto and his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh in Djibouti city. The office of Kenya President also disclosed that the two leaders discussed the resumption of air transport between Nairobi and Djibouti city. Ruto is currently in Djibouti to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Assembly of Heads of State and Government which will take place in Djibouti city starting from Monday. Kenya and Djibouti are founding members of the eight member states of the east African bloc IGAD, which was created in 1996 to supersede the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) founded in 1986 with a view to enhancing political and economic ties among east African nations. Three Britons aboard diving boat that exploded in Egypt have died, tour operator confirms (via REUTERS) Three British scuba divers missing after their tourist boat exploded in flames in Egypt have died, the tour operator has confirmed. It is thought the three victims had decided not to dive off the Hurricane before the fire broke out off the coast of Marsa Alam at 8.30am on Sunday. The 12 other divers were having a scuba briefing on deck and were immediately evacuated to another craft nearby, according to a statement. The 14 crew members on board were also forced to abandon ship after trying to reach the missing guests. The Hurricane is being towed to a yet-to-be-decided port as it is still smouldering and will need to cool down before entry. (via REUTERS) On Monday a spokesman for Scuba Travel said: It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time. The travel company said the three victims were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were on a week-long stay. They added: At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning. The severity of the fire meant that the 12 divers were immediately evacuated by rib to another craft nearby and the 14 crew members, including the Captain and two dive guides, having tried to reach the missing guests, also had to abandon ship and were rescued by rib. A rescue boat takes some of the tourists to safety (via REUTERS) In horrifying footage, the ship can be seen engulfed in flames with large plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit on the boat, which had been on a trip since June 6 in an area just north of Marsa Alam, according to a statement from the Red Sea State governors office said. The Hurricane is being towed to a yet-to-be-decided port as it is still smouldering and will need to cool down before entry. It was reported that a seven-night trip cost about 1,500 and the ship was due to return to dock on Sunday. The Foreign Office is supporting the British nationals involved. The travel company added: Scuba Travel wish to thank the Foreign and Commonwealth Department and Consular Office in Cairo for doing all possible to expedite emergency travel documents for the guests wishing to travel back to the UK, something which they hope to achieve early in the coming week. Beirut, June 12 : Israeli forces clashed with Lebanese demonstrators along the Lebanese southern border, media reported. The demonstrators were protesting against the Israeli military's construction of a barrier on the outskirts of the Lebanese town of Kfar Shuba near the Lebanese-Israeli border, the Lebanese state-run National News Agency said on Sunday. Claiming the barrier is being built on Lebanese territory, the protesters threw stones at Israeli forces, who responded by firing tear gas grenades, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that Lebanese civilians rushed the border and tried to dismantle the barrier while throwing stones at the troops, which responded with "crowd dispersal means". "The IDF will not allow any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the State of Israel," the military said. So far, there are no reports of injuries from either side. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Lebanon and Israel. On Friday, the IDF also fired tear gas at protesters in Kafr Shuba who had attempted to tear down the barrier along the border. In April, Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militant group, exchanged fire after Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Tehran, June 12 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani have called for further expansion of bilateral relations. In a phone call, the two Foreign Ministers discussed bilateral ties, regional developments, and other issues of common concern, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website on Sunday. Amir-Abdollahian said the two governments enjoyed "close and friendly" relations, stressing the necessity to further develop their ties, Xinhua news agency reported. He also thanked the Qatari government's "positive" role and "constructive" efforts in bilateral, regional and international relations. The Qatari Foreign Minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the friendly relations between the two governments, hailed the bilateral efforts to further improve Tehran-Doha ties and stressed the importance of continuing "close" consultations between the countries. Ankara, June 12 : 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, Turkey's Defence Ministry has said. Among the killed were two senior YPG members, the Ministry said on Sunday in a statement. Earlier on Sunday, 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 Turkey, the statement added. There is no damage to the Turkish soldiers, police, or base areas, it said. TArkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Xinhua news agency reported. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than 30 years. Lucknow, June 12 : A 22-year-old Civil Services aspirant ended his life, following alleged torture and bullying by two police Sub-Inspectors and a Constable in Rahimabad police station area of state capital Lucknow, police said. The incident took place on Sunday and the victim, Ashish Kumar, of Gahdo village in Rahimabad left a suicide note in which he described in detail, the reason due to which he ended his life and also how the police personnel forced his parents to cough up Rs 50,000 to dilute a fake case against him. His mother Sushila lodged a case with the police accusing the police personnel. According to reports, Ashish came to know of a fake case registered against him and his brother Mayank by Sub-Inspector Rajmani Pal and Lallan Prasad and Constable Shyam Lal. He locked himself inside a room at his house. When he did not respond to the calls given by his family, the doors were broken and he was found hanging from the ceiling with a rope tied around his neck. Preliminary investigation revealed that Ashish's father had a rivalry with one Nandu Vishwakarma since 2018 at Malihabad and the case was sub-judice. In the recent past, some portion of Malihabad was carved out and a new police station, Rahimabad, was made. The victim's house is now under the Rahimabad police station area. It was alleged that Nandu connived with one Shyam Lal who had taken Rs 7,000 from Ashish's father Mahadev some time back and got a fake complaint of barging into his house and threatening him lodged against Ashish and his brother. It was also alleged that Nandu gave money to the police who bullied Ashish. "Ashish was bullied by the SIs and was threatened to be framed in a case of dacoity. Ashish was scared and saw his future bleak and so he ended his life," the deceased's mother said. She alleged that SI Rajmani demanded Rs 50,000 from the family to dilute the case against him. Taking cognisance of the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone, Rahul Raj, has sent two police Sub-Inspectors Rajmani, Lallan Prasad and Constable Shyam Lal to the lines and ordered a probe by the Malihabad ACP. Lucknow, June 12 : After the probe by the Uttar Pradesh government, it is now the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that will also probe the death of four tigers at the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) in Uttar Pradesh, the government agency said. An NTCA team, comprising retired IFS officer Shailesh Prasad, wildlife conservationist R K Singh and NTCA official Hemant Singh, are expected to reach DTR on Monday. The NTCA has asked the team to submit its report within 15 days, said a letter by Md. Sajid Sultan, Assistant Inspector General of Forest (NTCA). Prasad, who retired as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and had served in the DTR as a field director for several years, will be heading the inquiry committee, the retired IFS officer confirmed. The committee has been asked to find out the reasons and circumstances that led to the tiger casualties and ascertain if the standard operating procedure (SOP) and guidelines of the NTCA were observed while managing the 'conflict situations'. The four tiger deaths were reported between April 21 and June 9. An investigation by the probe team headed by Forest Minister Arun Saxena said the cause of deaths was 'infighting' between the animals as was confirmed by the post-mortem reports of three tigers. This team will be handing over its report to the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. NTCA was constituted under section 38 L (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it under the Act. Varanasi, June 12 : Seven policemen have been dismissed from the Uttar Pradesh Police for being allegedly involved in robbing Rs 1.4 crore from an employee of a Gujarat-based businessman in the Bhelupur area of Varanasi district, police said. This comes two days after six persons, including two policemen, were arrested for their alleged involvement in kidnapping and robbing a Banda-based businessman in Auraiya district. Among the seven policemen dismissed from the services are one Station House Officer and three Sub-Inspectors -- SHO Rama Kant Dubey, Sub-Inspectors Sushil Kumar, Mahesh Kumar, and Utkarsh Chaturvedi, and Constables Mahendra Kumar Patel, Kapil Dev Pandey, and Shivchand. All were posted at the Bhelupur police station in Varanasi district. While police said their investigation into the Rs 1.4 crore robbery case is still ongoing and they have arrested four persons so far, they are yet to book the seven dismissed policemen. Additional Commissioner of Police (Varanasi), Santosh Kumar Singh, said: "The seven policemen were initially suspended for negligence and later during the probe they were found to be involved in criminal activity. They have been dismissed from police services. The investigation into the robbery case is going on and on the basis of evidence collected, action will be taken against them." On May 31, Varanasi police claimed to have recovered Rs 92.94 lakh cash from an abandoned car in the Bhelupur area. Suspecting foul play, senior police officials ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident. During the probe, police came to know that on May 27, a Gujarat-based businessman's employee, who was staying at a rented flat in Bhelupur, was robbed. Police contacted the Gujarat-based businessman and his staff who confirmed that the recovered cash was the part of money looted from the rented flat on May 27, said a police officer. New York, June 12 : California State Assembly member Ash Kalra has again introduced a resolution proclaiming October 2023 as the "Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month" in the state. The resolution, introduced nearly annually in California since 2013, seeks to bring local awareness, recognition and acknowledgment of the significant contributions made by Hindu Americans across the US. "For the 10th year California has recognised October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month, with the introduction of a resolution by Assembly member Ash Kalra," a Hindu American Foundation (HAF) statement said. Nearly 2,230,000 Hindu Americans live in the US with California being home to the largest Hindu American population, including individuals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia and other nations. Highlighting the contributions of Hindu Americans, the bill said that the country has benefited from the Vedanta philosophy, ayurvedic medicine, classical Indian art, dance, music, meditation, yoga, literature and community service. "HAF congratulates Assembly member Ash Kalra for once again speaking up for the contributions of the Hindu American community in California, as well as highlighting the challenges being faced by the community, such as misunderstanding of our sacred symbols such as the swastika, immigration issues disproportionately affecting our community, and the rise of Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu hate crimes, and bullying of Hindu students," HAF Managing Director Samir Kalra said. The introduction of the bill in the year 2023 marks the 130th anniversary of when Hinduism was officially introduced to the US by Swami Vivekananda in 1893 at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago. The year 2023 also marks the 123rd anniversary of when he founded the Vedanta Society in the city of San Francisco in 1900. Hindus started immigrating to California in the early 1900s, and came in increasing numbers after the lifting of the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 in 1943 and the abolishment of quotas for immigrants based on national origin in 1965. The first Hindu temple in the US was built in San Francisco, and at the dedication of the temple on January 7, 1906, it was proclaimed to be the "First Hindu Temple in the Whole Western World". There are now more than 120 Hindu temples, religious centres, and cultural centres throughout California, and the Greater Bay Area is home to over 40 of those temples and centres. Kiev, June 12 : The Ukrainian government said that the army has regained three frontline villages in the separatist Donetsk region, marking one of the first victories in Kiev's counter-offensive against Russia, the media reported on Monday. Footage on social media showed Ukrainian troops celebrating in the neighbouring settlements of Blahodatne and Neskuchne, reports the BBC. In footage shared by pro-Ukrainian accounts on social media, troops could be seen raising the Ukrainian flag outside a burned out building in Blahodatne. The state border guard also published videos showing soldiers announcing that "Neskuchne of the Donetsk region is under the Ukrainian flag again", before shouting the now standard battle cry of "Glory to Ukraine". Meanwhile in a Telegram post, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar claimed that the army had also seized the village of Makarivka. Maliar also said "troops continue offensive actions" around the eastern city of Bakhmut, CNN reported. Ukrainian forces were making progress around the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut, and on two fronts south of the city, in one case advancing as much as 1,500 meters (around a mile), according to the Deputy Defence Minister. Earlier Sunday, other Ukrainian officials reported similar progress to the northwest and southwest of the city. Russia is yet to comment on Ukraine's claim of recapturing the three villages. The start of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday after months of speculation. The three villages would be the first liberated since his comments, but not the first that Ukraine has recaptured since June 5, when pockets of its forces began to advance in the country's south. Lucknow, June 12 : The Lucknow police will on Monday apply for the remand of Vijay Yadav, the accused in the courtroom murder of jailed gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva. The jail officials said that the condition of Vijay has improved and soon he will be shifted to the prison. On the other hand, senior police officials in Lucknow, said that they will apply for a police remand of Vijay from the court on Monday. "We have a lot of questions which includes from where he got the pistol, who asked him to hit Sanjeev Maheshwari, and several others," said a senior officer. Police probing the murder have got clues which show that Vijay had visited Kathmandu in the last week of May where he met one Atif who possibly promised him Rs 20 lakh to eliminate Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva. Police said that they will take the help of their counterparts in Nepal and IB for the same. "For how long he stayed in Nepal and with whom all he came in touch with after crossing the border from Bahraich, needs to be probed," said an official. The police conducted a detailed search of all those named as Atif in jail and those whose antecedents surfaced in Nepal. But so far police have not zeroed in on the Atif who had met the accused. Another officer said that they were scanning the CCTV footage of the court premises of 15 days ago but have not got any trace of the accused lurking around it. They said that more than 100 hotels in the city have been searched to know the whereabouts of Vijay but in vain. Barabanki, June 12 : A man who escaped from the police custody was found hanging from a tree in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district. Rajendra Kumar, 24, a resident of Haidergarh in Barabanki, was detained for questioning in connection with an assault case on Saturday night. However, Rajendra hoodwinked the cops and fled. On Sunday, locals spotted him hanging from the tree near the Haidergarh police station. Barabanki SP D.K. Singh has ordered a probe into Rajendra's death. Meanwhile, angry villagers blocked the Lucknow-Sultanpur highway alleging that Rajendra had been killed in the police custody. "Doctors conducted the postmortem of Rajendra and concluded that he died due to hanging. His viscera has been preserved for examination," said the SP. Rajendra's brother Surendra told the police that his brother, along with Ankit and Umesh, had gone by bike to a neighbouring village. On the way, they had an argument with Rambaksh Lodh and Tribhuvan Rawat and soon, four of them entered into a scuffle. "Later, a police team arrived and Tribhuvan, Umesh and Ankit were taken to a health facility while Rajendra, who too was injured, was taken to Haidergarh police station," said Surendra. From the police station, a constable and a home guard took Rajendra to a community health centre for medical examination but he escaped from there, said the police. Why every home should have a Togo sofa Courtesy of Ligne Roset The House Beautiful team pick a design classic we think you'll love forever this time, the Ligne Roset Togo sofa. Who designed it? Michel Ducaroy (1925-2009) who was born into a family of industrialists and furniture designers and later trained at Lyons Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts. The sofa was released in 1973, after Ducaroy introduced new materials and techniques into the brand's manufacturing process. Why we love it? The Togo sofa's curved silhouette surprised visitors and left some of them feeling bemused when it was first revealed at a trade exhibition in Paris. Ligne Roset, though, felt it was on to a winner. The company was soon proved right when the sofa was awarded a prize for democratic design. In a further vote of confidence, Ligne Roset decided to schedule the release of the Togo to coincide with the opening of its first retail store. Courtesy of Ligne Roset Chiming with the times, the confident design of the sofa came at a moment when social attitudes were changing and consumers wanted a more relaxed approach in their homes and furniture. Traditional and austere was out, and the Togo was in. The rebellious spirit of the design ensures the sofa is the centrepiece of any room, and this sense of cool has endured through the decades. Why you'll love it forever With its cocooning curves, low-to-the-ground format and lightweight foam structure, the Togo is arguably one of the most comfortable sofas around. Dreamt up for 'afternoon siestas and lazy evenings', it's a joy to sit on. In its armless configuration, it is modular too. A corner seat can be added to create a bigger sofa and there is a matching ottoman. While undoubtedly a statement, the sofa's unconventional shape takes on a versatility depending on the fabric that covers it a saturated yellow velvet, for example, will create a much bolder piece of furniture than an elegant taupe leather. As each Togo is hand-upholstered in one of Ligne Roset's more than 900 house fabrics, you're pretty much spoilt for choice. What makes a design icon? For a piece to be truly iconic to the HB editors, it needs to: Have longevity and really stand the test of time. Illustrate innovative design, whether from the high street or a showroom. Be recognisable homeware that deserves the spotlight. Serve as an object of desire beautiful, yes, but useful, too. Be a piece that is used every day by House Beautiful editors. Follow House Beautiful on TikTok and Instagram. You Might Also Like Lucknow, June 12 : "Assi harao, BJP hatao (defeat BJP on all 80 UP Lok Sabha seats and oust it)" is the new Samajwadi Party slogan for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav has said that if the BJP was to be removed from the seat of power in 2024, then Uttar Pradesh voters should ensure its defeat on all Lok Sabha seats in the state. Uttar Pradesh sends 80 Lok Sabha members to Parliament. Earlier, when some BJP leaders had made statements that their party would win all 80 LS seats in the state, Akhilesh said that the BJP would lose all 80 seats. He also said that the SP and its allies would win all 80 seats. Targeting the BJP government, Akhilesh said, "The BJP government does not do what it says and does not say what it does. The UP chief minister 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 MP. Policemen were involved in robbing of silver... stolen goods are being recovered from the police station... What a double-engine government of the BJP...," Yadav said. He was apparently referring to the registration of an FIR against BJP's Kannauj MP Subrat Pathak for allegedly assaulting police personnel and the recovery of silver from a policeman's 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. Yadav further said in the statement, "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." 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. Meanwhile, reacting to Yadav's statement that the SP would win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the 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 resign from the Rajya Sabha membership." Seoul, June 12 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has voiced his willingness to build closer strategic ties with Russia in his congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow's key national holiday, Pyongyang's state media said on Monday. In the message sent on the occasion of Russia Day, Kim said friendly relations between the North and Russia are a "precious strategic asset" and his country will make efforts to ceaselessly develop such cooperative ties, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Russia Day is celebrated on June 12 to mark the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1990, reports Yonhap News Agency. The North's leader affirmed "his willingness to strive for closer strategic cooperation between the DPRK and Russia", the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch, using the acronym of the North's full name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim said the Russian people's struggle to counter hostile forces' move to deprive Moscow of its sovereignty and security has entered a "new decisive phase" and his people are extending "full support and solidarity" for Russia, the KCNA added. Kim's message appears to reaffirm the North's support of Russia in Moscow's war with Ukraine. The North has been strengthening its close ties with Russia despite international condemnation over the war, amid allegations that Pyongyang has provided arms to Moscow for use in the war. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Washington, June 12 : US billionaire philanthropist George Soros has handed over the reins of his $25 billion financial and charitable empire to his son Alex, saying the latter had "earned it", the media reported. Alex, a 37-year-old who studied history at New York University and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, is the second-youngest of the 92-year-old Hungarian-born financier's five children, reports the BBC. Alex is the only family member sitting on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, which according to The Wall Street Journal says is managing the $25 billion for the family and the charitable foundation. He took over at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) as chairman in December 2022 and is also in charge of his father's "super PAC" -- a US mechanism to direct funds to political parties. In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, George Soros, whose personal fortune is valued at $6.7 billion, said his son had "earned it". George Soros is also one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party, and Alex while speaking to the Journal, said he was "more political" than his father and that he would campaign against Donald Trump's attempt to run for a second term as US President, the BBC reported. "We are going to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad," said Alexander. "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." He said the Open Society Foundations would pursue the same aims it had under his father including free speech, criminal justice reform, minority and refugee rights and backing liberal politicians. But he also wants to include voting rights, abortion and gender equity initiatives while pursuing a more domestic US-focused agenda. "With my background, there are a lot of ways I could have gone astray," the Guardian quoted Alex as saying to The Journal. "Instead I became a workaholic, and my life is my work." George Soros has married three times and has five children: Alex, Andrea, Gregory, Robert and Jonathan. Washington, June 12 : Six people were injured with one of them in critical condition in a shooting at a nightclub in Houston, while suspects remain at large, Texas authorities said. "We had six victims here in a shooting. Apparently there was some kind of disturbance in the club that came out into the parking lot," Xinhua news agency quoted Police Chief Troy Finner as saying at a news conference late Sunday. The victims ranged in age from late 20s to early 30s, he added. Police said they aren't sure how many shooters were involved, and so far no suspects have been taken into custody. An investigation is still underway. "It makes no sense to fire up into a crowded parking lot," Finner said, adding that "we're gonna hold them accountable". It appeared a violent weekend in Houston, which saw seven shootings in a little more than seven hours Friday night into early Saturday, local media reported. Chandigarh, June 12 : A toy drone landed on the premises of the Central Jail in Amritsar early Monday, putting the police on high alert. The paramilitary forces and central jail staff were put on alert and a search operation launched. Suspecting an attack by gangsters or terrorists, the Punjab Police have been on alert. Preliminary police investigation indicated the toy drone, operated by two children, went out of control and fell inside the jail. In another incident, the Border Security Force (BSF) said it recovered a completely broken Pakistani drone in Shaidpur Kalan village in Amritsar district. The recovered drone is a Quadcopter of model DJI Matrice 300 RTK series. The BSF also seized two packets of narcotics buried in a field near the International Border in Amritsar sector. "On June 11, based on specific information, a suspicious farmer was apprehended from Bharopal village," a BSF officer said. On being questioned, he said a consignment of drugs was hidden ahead of the border fence. The place was identified where two packets suspected to be contraband were recovered. Kolkata, June 12 : The joint forum of state government employees -- spearheading a movement demanding enhanced dearness allowance and arrears accrued by the West Bengal government --, will approach the Calcutta High Court seeking deployment of central armed forces deployment during the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls. According to the joint forum convener Bhaskar Ghosh, their apprehension of safety of state government employees linked to poll-related duties turned true on Saturday as a government employee at the block development office at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district was severely beaten up for allowing All India Secular Front candidates to collect nomination papers. "Citing that example we will be approaching the Calcutta High Court for deployment of central forces in the polls," said Ghosh. The joint forum has already announced that they will be boycotting the poll-related duties unless the central armed forces are deployed. Last week, they also submitted a memorandum to the office of the West Bengal State Election Commission. Supporting the demand of the joint forum, BJP's national vice-president and party Lok Sabha member Dilip Ghosh said that the demands are justified since all except the state government are asking for central forces deployment in the panchayat polls. "As it is, the state government employees have been denied their legitimate right for enhanced dearness allowance. In such a situation, they cannot surely risk their lives by attending poll duties without central forces security cover considering the past history of violence and bloodbath," he said. Trinamool Congress's Rajya Sabha member Dr Santanu Sen, however, described the demand of the state government employees as highly justified. "When the state government and state election commission are assuring of free, fair and violence-free panchayat polls, then the state government employees should have faith on their assurances. They are unnecessarily trying to create an issue in the matter," Sen said. New Delhi, June 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that development is a core issue for the Global South, noting that the countries of the region were severely impacted by the disruptions created due to the Covid pandemic while geopolitical tensions were responsible for food, fuel, and fertiliser crises. PM Modi said this during his virtual address at the G20 development ministers' meeting in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. In such circumstances, the Prime Minister exhorted the ministers that the decisions they will make will be significant for humanity as a whole. The Prime Minister emphasised that it is the collective responsibility of the people to not let the sustainable development goals (SDG) fall behind. He further added that the Global South must send a strong message to the world about the action plan required to achieve this. PM Modi underlined that the efforts must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair, and sustainable, and attempts should be made to increase investment in fulfilling the SDGs and also finding solutions to address the debt risks faced by many countries. He further remarked that the multilateral financial institutions should be reformed to expand the eligibility criteria to ensure that finance is accessible to those in need. In India, PM Modi added that efforts have been made to improve people's lives in more than a hundred Aspirational Districts which were pockets of under-development. He underscored that these Aspirational Districts have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country as he urged the G20 development ministers to study this model of development. "It may be relevant as you work towards accelerating Agenda 2030," he concluded. The meeting began on June 11 and will continue till June 13. New Delhi, June 12 : A 38-year-old man was stabbed multiple times with a pair of scissors for objecting to smoking inside a salon in southwest Delhi's Kishangarh area, an official said on Monday. The accused has been arrested. Abhay Kumar, a resident of Kishangarh, is undergoing treatment at a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. Sharing the details, the senior police official said that on Sunday a police control room call regarding an attack was received at Kishangarh police station after which a police team was dispatched for the spot. On the spot, the complainant Abhay Kumar said that he came for a haircut at a salon in Kishangarh. "The accused Mohit Mahlawat alias Manu (22), was smoking a cigarette and was under the influence of alcohol," said Kumar in his complaint. "Kumar asked him to smoke outside the shop as he is allergic to smoke. At this, Mohit started fighting and assaulted Kumar with a pair of scissors kept near him," said the official. "The victim suffered injuries at nine places, including four on the chest. The condition of the complainant is stated to be stable. Mohit, who is the son of the landlord of the shop, has been arrested," said the official, adding that an FIR under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC has been registered. Chennai, June 12 : Indian insurance regulator has granted certificate of registration to Go Digit Life Insurance Limited to commence life insurance business in the country. With this the total number of life insurers have gone up to 26 in the country. According to IRDAI, this is the fourth registration granted by IRDAI in the last one year in the Life and Non-life segment. Go Digit Life is promoted by Oben Ventures LLP (promoted by Kamesh Goyal) and FAL Corporation (having Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited as its ultimate parent company). Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company has also executed definitive agreements with Axis Bank Limited and HDFC Bank Limited for the acquisition of 9.94 per cent each in the equity share capital of Go Digit Life Insurance (by way of a share subscription). Go Digit Life also announced the appointment of Srinivasan Parthasarathy as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, subject to IRDAI approval. Speaking about the approval to commence life insurance business, Parthasarathy said: "We are pleased to receive the license from the IRDAI to commence life insurance business. It marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring tech-enabled simplified life insurance products to the market." Chennai, June 12 : A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Tamil Nadu, AIADMK leadership is for a detailed discussion with the state unit of the BJP on the seat sharing in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Sources in the AIADMK told IANS that the meeting will deliberate on the number of seats to be contested by both the parties in the elections. While in the open, the BJP has claimed to contest 25 Lok Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu of the total 39, the grapevine is that it would be satisfied with 11 seats. This will lead to several senior AIADMK leaders contesting the polls and sources in the party told IANS that the meeting would be held to start the ball rolling regarding the seats to be contested and strategy for each seat. The BJP is also closely watching the moves of expelled AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) who is a force to reckon with in South Tamil Nadu especially in Madurai, Theni, Tirunelveli districts. Sources in the BJP told IANS that the party is having secret parleys with OPS as he cannot be brushed aside in the electoral politics of South Tamil Nadu. OPS is a Thevar and the community is strong in many southern pockets. Former interim general secretary of the AIADMK and close aide of late Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, V.K. Shashikala is also in the radar of the BJP. She is also a Thevar and like OPS holds clout in Southern districts of the state. With the DMK already commencing its campaign targetting all the 40 Lok Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the AIADMK is convening a meeting with the BJP to have a rough idea on the number of seats each party would contest. Sources in the AIADMK told IANS that the party top brass was unhappy over the statement of Amit Shah that the BJP would contest the 25 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and was strongly resented by all leaders, including EPS. Sammy Renteria, general manager of Cargill's Schuyler plant, said the company tries to promote three values in the communities wherever it has a home. That's why, earlier this month, the company made three $100,000 grants to area nonprofits. "It really revolved around that Cargill, we're committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our communities we serve across the country," Renteria said. Two of the grants went to Centro Hispano, according to a press release issued on June 1. Renteria said the grants reflect Cargill's dedication to advocating for equity and enhancing the lives of Hispanic residents of these communities, particularly through groups like Centro and the Columbus Area Future Fund. In the press release, Renteria said Cargill recognizes the struggles many Hispanic residents face on a daily basis and wants to contribute to causes that will alleviate some of those struggles or stresses. Centro, Executive Director Karina Perez said, is working to do just that with many of its recent community efforts. One of the $100,000 grants, Perez said, will go toward operational costs, like programming and day-to-day operations. The other, she said, will go toward Centro's Capital Campaign, a welcoming center in Columbus located downtown, to help newcomers join the community more effectively. Cargill has generally been a big supporter of Centro over the years in other ways, Perez noted. "Weve been working with our Cargill in Schuyler and Columbus for the past four years, they've been really big supporters of our work at different sponsorship levels, especially during the back to school bash, Thanksgiving food drive," Perez said. Particularly, Perez said, Angela Brandenburg and Robert Domina have been a big part of connecting Centro and Cargill corporate to talk about these opportunities. Having a company as large and influential on the community take part in this, Perez said, is very meaningful to Centro. "It's super significant for us and I think as we talk about giving in general and having private companies and organizations give back dollars to organizations out on the ground doing the work is a cool way to approach giving and donor giving as a whole," Perez said. "We're excited they and other entities believe in how impactful their dollars are to communities." Dee Hanson, the chairperson of the Columbus Area Future Fund, said the grants wouldn't have happened without Perez and KC Belitz of the Nebraska Community Foundation's efforts. The Future Fund's grant will go toward some of their guiding projects over the last few years. "The first is a welcoming and belonging grant. Two years ago we had a $20,000 grant opportunity for anyone in the Columbus area who came to us with an idea they needed funding that would make Columbus a more welcoming place," Hanson said. The offer was a very popular notion, Hanson said, as they received a lot of ideas, totaling around $137,000 in requests. Some of this grant will go toward that fund. Cargill, she noted, welcomes new people to the area all the time in the form of new employees, so it benefits all parties involved. Another tenet Hanson noted is youth engagement. As youth are the future, the Future Fund wants to see and understand what they want the area to look like and be like now and later, Hanson said. The group partners with the Nebraska Community Foundation on a youth survey that asks what the citizens of tomorrow want to see in their community. This grant, Hanson said, will allow for expansion into the Schuyler area with that survey. "We did it last year in the Columbus area, now we can expand to Schuyler and have their vision for the future there," Hanson said. "With Cargill being there and all the young families and kids they bring through their employee base, it's really a chance for us to capitalize on what those kids want and how they want their community to look." The last goal, Hanson said, is making grants themselves. The foundation uses its funds to write grants for other projects and having a little more financial freedom, they can continue to do so in a bigger way. "We have a certain amount and we can expand that, toward houses, museums, youth leadership and focus on a vision of what makes the community better now and in the future. This allows us to do more and make an even bigger impact," Hanson said. Being able to work with a company that does things like this, Renteria said, is valuable to him because it lines up with his ideas about community involvement and makes him feel like part of not just the place he works for, but the community he works in. "I think it's great and one core value of Cargill is we're always good stewards in the community, we make sure we're known and part of the community," Renteria said. "That's huge for me. I feel as if I'm enveloped in the community, Columbus, in which I live and it aligns with my personal values as well to give back where we can." San Francisco, June 12 : A hacking group called 'Pink Drainer' has been impersonating journalists in phishing attacks in order to compromise Discord and Twitter accounts and steal cryptocurrency. According to anti-scam platform ScamSniffer analysts, Pink Drainer was able to compromise the accounts of 1,932 victims and steal about $3 million in digital assets on the Mainnet, Arbitrum, BNB, Polygon, Optimism, and other blockchains. The threat actor was captured by ScamSniffer's on-chain monitoring bots after stealing $3,27,000 in NFTs from a single person, reports BleepingComputer. Recent targets are believed to include OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, American DJ Steve Aoki, and Starknet, among others. Moreover, the report showed that the hacking group compromises accounts through social engineering, in which threat actors impersonate journalists from popular media outlets such as Cointelegraph and Decrypt to conduct phoney interviews with victims. After gaining the trust of their victims, threat actors inform them that they must perform a KYC (know your customer) validation to prove their identity, directing them to websites used to steal Discord authentication tokens. These sites impersonate malicious bots, such as the Carl verification bot, and instruct users to add bookmarks containing malicious JavaScript code by dragging them to a "Drag Me" button on the malicious page. By intercepting the two-factor authentication code or stealing Discord tokens, attackers are able to hijack accounts without knowing users' credentials or having access to two-factor authentication codes, the report said. To gain complete control of the account, the attackers installed themselves as administrators and removed all other administrators, allowing them to steal digital assets and sensitive information without being interrupted. Meanwhile, Atomic Wallet, a mobile and desktop crypto wallet allowing users to store various cryptocurrencies, has experienced a security breach and lost over $35 million in crypto assets since June 2. ZachXBT, an on-chain investigator, has been collecting transactions of funds stolen from Atomic Wallet victims and claimed that over $35 million in cryptocurrency has been stolen as a result of this compromise. New Delhi, June 12 : The heart-wrenching tale of 14-year-old Sohana Sharma Kumari, a Hindu minor girl who was converted to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province, has come to light. Sukhi Chahal, Founder and CEO of The Khalsa Today said, in a tweet that Sohana was abducted at gunpoint in Benazirabad district after which was she was subjected "to the unthinkable -- forced conversion to Islam and marriage". "The pain her father, Dilip Kumar, must endure is unimaginable. Helpless, he watches as his daughter is condemned to a life of suffering," Chahal tweeted. "The court's refusal to reunite Sohana with her anguished family deepens the wounds of injustice. This heinous act symbolizes the darkest depths of a society that has lost its moral compass. "How can we bear witness to such atrocities and stay silent? Where are the voices of the so-called human rights activists, who claim to champion justice? Does humanity still exist, or have we lost sight of compassion and empathy?" Chahal added. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia, last week in an attempt to restore the strained relations between the two old allies. Apparently the relations have not been on the mend since the Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) took over the reigns of the state. US-Saudi relations, centred for decades on energy and defence, were badly strained by the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. What vitiated the atmosphere further was a remark made by the US President Joe Biden, who described MbS as a 'pariah'. They were further exacerbated when Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, refused to help bring down skyrocketing energy prices after Russia's attack on Ukraine in February last year. As usual the officialese this time described the Blinken-MbS meeting as fruitful, the two leaders covered the full range of regional and bilateral issues including Saudi Arabia's support for US evacuations from Sudan, the need for political dialogue in Yemen and the potential for the normalisation of relations with Israel, in addition to the human rights issue in the kingdom. To boost bilateral relationship, Blinken also attended a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting to meet with other regional allies also. His trip came in the backdrop of quickly shifting sand affecting alliances in the Middle East. In March this year, China-brokered a rapprochement between regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran. Another landmark change saw Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad invited back to the Arab League last month for the first time since the start of the 12-year civil war in which his government has been backed by Russia and Iran. There are indeed many dimensions to the age-old ties between the two allies and what they expect of each other, both have a lot of expectations from each other yet seem uncompromising over their respective stands. As per reports the Saudis want guarantees that the US will stand with it in face of any threat from Iran, in spite of the recently shown bonhomie by the two countries by restoring diplomatic channels, in addition to increase its nuclear capability. There are also indications that the Saudis want to be left alone on human rights issues, with no American interference. Further the Saudis have made the issue of improving ties with Israel contingent upon such demands. This stand roughly follows the same pattern adopted by other Arab states to accept Israel's existence: Morocco obtained US concessions on the Western Sahara; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) got better access to sophisticated US weapons; and, earlier, Egypt received massive US aid in exchange for a peace treaty with Israel. But in view of the trust deficit, which the Saudis currently have amongst the US lawmakers and leaders, this may backfire; though the apparent reason behind this seems to be the Saudi gambit to try reaping benefit from both sides. This bargaining model might not the only way to approach the issue, and the Saudis could be better served by avoiding this indirect approach, which may yield uncertain results. With that in mind, the Saudis should examine the option of moving unilaterally to normalise ties with Israel. This means that if the Saudis take the first step towards diplomatic establishing ties with Israel, it may result in favourable response from the Americans as it will address the goodwill deficit which they currently have at the Capitol Hill, and may lead to further concessions from the Americans. In addition on the issue of being a major American defence partner in the middle eastern region, Saudis also want to be designated as a Major Defence Partner (MDP) of the US, in addition to extending the Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty to Saudi Arabia. There is very little chance that the US would agree to such a demand, as it would translate to a commitment to Riyadh that would legally obligate the United States to consider an attack on the kingdom as an attack on the United States, and further may not get the required support of NATO-member countries. Though the Biden administration has pledged to work towards normalising Israel-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties, the visit last month to Riyadh by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan did not produced any visible breakthroughs. In addition, the optics may give an illusion that the US is particularly disturbed over the Saudi refusal to supply more oil to the US at concessional rates. But in fact this is not the underlying reason, the main reason is that any cut in oil production leads to an increase in oil prices the world over and this pinches the American consumer the most, who has become habitual of getting the cheapest oil on earth. In reality the Saudi has dropped to number three as the leading oil exporters to the US after Canada and Mexico. Overall, the visit seemed to be an effort from the US President to cajole America's one time ally and its current de facto ruler, who has expressed his views on the Saudi stand on improving ties with the US as a ploy to play China and US against each other, to get the maximum benefit for the kingdom. MbS thinks that the only potential in the Middle East rests with Saudi Arabia, so both US and China would prefer to stand close to Saudi Arabia. However, in this ploy the balance seems to be tilting more in favour of China, instead of the US, though in reality Saudi may loose a lot if it completely abandons the US in favour of China. Further in this game of one upmanship, both MbS and Biden, who are poised as emotional enemies are trying to outsmart each other and get an upper hand, and in this personal tussle, respective countries take a backseat. (Asad Mirza is a Delhi-based senior political commentator.) Patna, June 12 : A woman in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district tied her husband to a tree, poured kerosene oil and set him on fire, an official said on Monday. The incident happened in a village under the Sahibganj police station in the early hours of Sunday. Sources said that the accused coaxed her husband to get tied to a tree as she wanted to click a selfie. Once tied him firmly, she poured kerosene oil and set him on fire. The villagers spotted the high flames coming from the tree and rushed to find a man shouting for help. The villagers managed to douse the flame and save his life. The villagers also nabbed the woman and informed local police about the incident. "We have taken the statement of the victim. He claimed that his wife tied him up on the pretext of taking a selfie and set him on fire after pouring kerosene oil. His life was saved by the villagers who spotted the fire. We have also arrested the accused," said Rajesh Kumar, the SHO of Sahibganj police station. The victim was initially taken to Sahebganj primary health centre and later referred to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) for better treatment. Mumbai, June 12 : The teaser of the upcoming film 'Gadar 2' which stars Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, was unveiled on Monday. It shows Sunny as Tara Singh back in action as it starts with the events of 1971: a female voice stating that Tara is the son-in-law of Pakistan and he has to be treated properly or this time, he would take Lahore in dowry. The teaser then showcases chaos with several Pakistani men on streets with placards reading "crush India" until Tara Singh steps in the frame and sends shockwaves with thrilling action as the title of the film gets revealed. The background score complements the tone of the teaser as it mellows down into the reprised rendition of 'Ghar Aaja Pardesi' crooned by Jubin Nautiyal with Tara sitting in the wake of destruction. The teaser of the film was also attached to 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' which has been re-released in the theatres to drum up the sequel's release. The teaser of 'Gadar 2', hints that the story begins right from where the story ended in 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'. Sunny Deol said: "'Gadar 2' carries forward the legacy of its iconic first part. It's a blessing to be able to bring back one of India's most loved family films. At its heart the film would always be an inspiring epic story of love, courage and patriotism. Hope the world welcomes Tara and Sakina again with open arms." The film's portrayal of the partition of India and its impact on people's lives struck a chord with the audiences. The epic tale of patriotism, love and sacrifice of Tara and Sakeena broke multiple records back in 2001 and now the makers are all set to entertain the audiences with the second installment of the film. Ameesha Patel said: "'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' was re-released on my birthday and my biggest gift was the love we received from our fans. We felt how strongly the film has been engraved in the hearts of the audiences. The teaser of 'Gadar 2' starts a new chapter in the story of Tara and Sakeena and we truly hope we fulfil the expectations of our fans, once again." Helmed by director-producer Anil Sharma, and produced by Zee Studios, 'Gadar 2' is scheduled to release in cinemas on August 11, 2023. -- Syndicated from IANS Kolkata, June 12 : Despite not giving a final order, the Calcutta High Court, on Monday, voiced for extension of the nomination period and postponing the July 8 panchayat polls in West Bengal. Observing that just five days of nomination period is too short a time for the purpose, a division of bench of the Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmany Bhattacharya observed that the nomination period should be extended and if that is done, the polling date will also have to be postponed. However, the counsel for the West Bengal State Election Commission informed the court that a decision on this count cannot be taken without the state government's approval. On Monday, the state election commission's counsel submitted a report to the court where it proposed the extension of nomination day by another day till June 16. The commission has also proposed the extension of the nomination period each day by two hours. The commission's council said that this extension will be enough going by the past records of nomination period in previous years. The division bench also advised the commission to consider deployment of central armed forces personnel for the polling and counting. The division bench's logic was that if the majority of the state police personnel are deployed on poll security duty there might be a shortage of security personnel to maintain regular law & order. It also directed the commission not to use contractual state government employees on poll-related duties or civic volunteers for poll security- related duties. "Remember that civic volunteers are not police personnel. They are just meant to provide some assistance to regular police personnel," Justice Sivagnanam observed. "Remember you are a neutral agency. The people should have faith in you. The commission should be aware of its own authorities. Your role is extremely important," Justice Sivagnanam observed. The commission informed the court that so far around 10,000 nominations have been filed for the rural civic body polls. Hyderabad, June 12 : AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded a ban on Mahapanchayat proposed to be held by right-wing groups in Uttarakhand on June 15. The Hyderabad MP said in a tweet on Monday that the Mahapanchayat to be held on June 15 should be banned immediately. "Security should be provided to the people living there. Arrangements should be made to bring back the people who have migrated from there," he said. Owaisi reminded the BJP government it is their job to send the culprits to jail and restore peace. Right-wing groups plan to hold Mahapanchayat in Uttarkashi's Purola on June 15 amid continued communal tension in the area. Posters threatening Muslim traders to shut shops and leave the state by June 15 have also come up in Purola market. Due to the tension and threats, Muslims have shut their shops and some families have migrated from the district. According to reports, trouble started on May 26 after two men, a Muslim and a Hindu, allegedly tried to abduct a 14-year-old girl. Some people alleged that it was a case of 'Love Jihad'. Though the accused were arrested, some right-wing groups staged protests and attacked shops and houses of several Muslims. A protest march in Purola on May 29 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. Hundreds of people took part in the protest. Mumbai, June 12 : Television show 'Bhagya Lakshmi', which stars Rohit Suchanti and Aishwarya Khare in the lead roles, recently completed the milestone of 600 episodes. As a part of its narrative, the show will follow the engagement ceremony of Lakshmi (Aishwarya Khare) and Vikrant (Mohit Malhotra). At the same time, Ayush (Aman Gandhi) and Shalu (Munira Kudrati) have their doubts about Vikrant being in a relationship with another woman already while Rishi (Rohit Suchanti) has asked them not to do anything that will hamper the engagement. On the occasion, Rohit Suchanti said: "'Bhagya Lakshmi' journey so far has been amazing, and I cannot thank my co-stars, crew members, directors, and everyone associated with the show enough for being the best team ever. The whole crew has become a family and the set has become our second home. With this milestone, I am truly grateful to all my fans who have extended their support for all these years. Congratulations to the whole team, I promise, I will continue to always give my best as Rishi." Aishwarya Khare said: "For me, 'Bhagya Lakshmi' is pure love and I feel blessed to be a part of such a beautiful show. It's the team's dedication that has made the show where it is today. Our fans are so loyally engaged in the story and attached to our characters, it's overwhelming. They have given us love and we promise to keep them entertained. We have a brilliant team that works so hard every day. I have so much gratitude in my heart right now for each and every person who is part of this show, especially the fans, it couldn't have been possible without them." 'Bhagya Lakshmi' airs daily on Zee TV. Hyderabad, June 12 : AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded a ban on Mahapanchayat proposed to be held by right-wing groups in Uttarakhand on June 15. The Hyderabad MP said in a tweet on Monday that the Mahapanchayat to be held on June 15 should be banned immediately. "Security should be provided to the people living there. Arrangements should be made to bring back the people who have migrated from there," he said. Owaisi reminded the BJP government it is their job to send the culprits to jail and restore peace. Right-wing groups plan to hold Mahapanchayat in Uttarkashi's Purola on June 15 amid continued communal tension in the area. Posters threatening Muslim traders to shut shops and leave the state by June 15 have also come up in Purola market. Due to the tension and threats, Muslims have shut their shops and some families have migrated from the district. According to reports, trouble started on May 26 after two men, a Muslim and a Hindu, allegedly tried to abduct a 14-year-old girl. Some people alleged that it was a case of 'Love Jihad'. Though the accused were arrested, some right-wing groups staged protests and attacked shops and houses of several Muslims. A protest march in Purola on May 29 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. Hundreds of people took part in the protest. In another tweet, Owaisi said that Muslims are aghast that the community is being targetted for the alleged criminal act committed by one among them, and that their Pasmanda (backward) identity and allegiance to the BJP have failed to insulate them from the Hindutva brigade's manufactured fury. "Truly, the BJP's Pasmanda rhetoric is full of sweet words and promises signifying, in reality, nothing. The Real Agenda is to Invisibilize Muslims ,make them 2nd Class citizens," he added. The MP was reacting to a media report that BJP has betrayed Pasmanda Muslims of Purola. Bhopal, June 12 : Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath said he can't compete with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's skills of dancing, acting and making fake promises but he can compete when it comes to speaking truth. The former Chief Minister made this remark while addressing a poll rally in Jabalpur on Monday. AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh and Madhya Pradesh in-charge J.P. Agrawal were also present. Kamal Nath said that the BJP government has destroyed the future of youths due to a number of scams. "In 2018, when I became Chief Minister, I found that the BJP has emptied the entire public money. There were so many challenges before me, but I had started tackling them one after another, but they (BJP) hatched a conspiracy and toppled our government. I too could have bargained to save my government, but din't do so because I do not do such politics. They (BJP) have created bad image of Madhya Pradesh because of corruptions, bargains, unemployment, etc," Kamal Nath said. He further asserted that religion is the subject of thought and not of the advertisement what the BJP is doing. Meanwhile, Kamal Nath reiterated his old statement - 'Mai Hindu hun, lekin Murkh Nahi Hun' (I am a Hindu but not a fool). Kamal Nath appealed to people of Madhya Pradesh to understand the hidden agenda of the BJP not to fall under its trap. "You (people of Madhya Pradesh) have seen the way Shivraj Singh Chouhan's government has ruined the state. Now, it's up to you to decide what kind of future you want to make for your children. This election is not about the party or individual leader, but it is about securing the future of people of Madhya Pradesh," he added. We would like to express our concern over the deteriorating social situation in the state, especially in the context of the developments in the last few weeks. It is not conducive to the present welfare or to the future progress of Uttarakhand, that person be displaced or livelihoods be disrupted in the state. We appeal to the people to maintain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands. If Uttarakhand is to evolve as a forward-looking state it is necessary for all sections of the people to nurture and strengthen a sense of goodwill towards, and solidarity with, one another. In this connection, we commend the initiative and courage of those individuals who have stood up for peace and unity during these difficult days in certain parts of the state It is to be expected that the administration too would demonstrate a greater positive resolve to ensure normalcy so that all sections of the people are able to pursue the ordinary course of their lives in mutual amity and without fear. Towards this end, we believe that it is vitally necessary also that All Party Committees for Peace are set up at the State and district levels. We hope that no time would be lost and that such committees would speedily be established so that the unfortunate situation in certain parts of the state does not escalate in any manner; and all connected issues are fairly, justly, and satisfactorily dealt with. 11 June 2023 S K DAS VIJAY DOUGALL SUMITA HAZARIKA NICHOLAS HOFFLAND SYED KAZMI ANIL NAURIYA BIJU NEGI MADHU PRASAD PRAN SHARMA The year is 1998 in southern Sudan. Maryam Phio and her 9-year-old son Motwakil and 11-year-old daughter Awadia are traveling north to Khartoum to board a train that will take them across the border. They are fleeing to Egypt to escape the civil war that has been plaguing Sudan for more than 15 years. But they are being followed. A man threatens Maryam and her children, trying to prevent them from leaving the country. They dont know who he is or the reason for his threats. He would always come by and try to take us away, and my mom would hide us, Motwakil said. Maryam was on her own, forced to leave her husband behind because his health issues made him unable to travel. For a while, Maryam was able to keep her children safe amid the stalking, war and chaos. But one day she turned around and Awadia was gone. The man returned, saying he knew where the little girl was but he would not tell them if they were going to flee Sudan. She brought the situation to a local lawyer who only gave the same admonition to stay in the country. For three months Maryam and her son searched, hoping to find Awadia. I looked everywhere, Maryam said. They delayed their departure three times, but they were out of time. We had until midnight to make it to the border or the travel documents would expire and we would have to start all over again, Motwakil said. So they fled with Awadias passport still in hand. From Khartoum they took a train across the border to Aswan, then a three-day boat ride up the Nile and another train to get to Cairo. They met up with Maryams oldest daughter, Najat, who came to Egypt the year prior to apply for refugee status so she could come to the United States. She was able to qualify, and in 2001 she left for Arizona at 21 years old. For eight years Maryam and her son stayed in Egypt, waiting and hoping Awadia was safe and that she would come to Cairo and be reunited with her family. With no access to phones, Maryam told people who were traveling down to Sudan to look for Awadia. Eventually one was able to locate her and returned with the news that she was alive and had one child, but no boyfriend or husband. However, they could not get her and her baby out. Maryam worried constantly about her daughter and grandson. Life in Sudan was dangerous and unregulated. If you have problem with people in your neighborhood, they come to your house, hit you, blood everywhere, no police, Maryam said. Maryam was torn between joining her oldest daughter in Arizona, or staying in Egypt with the faint hope that Awadia would make it out of Sudan. Wanting a better future for her son, Maryam decided to apply for refugee status and she and Motwakil were able to come to Arizona in May of 2006. They came to Lincoln in 2013 while Najat stayed back in Arizona for work. Shortly after their arrival to the new city, they were able to get into contact with Maryams husband back in Sudan. He was able to reunite with Awadia sometime after Maryam and Motwakil had fled Sudan. My father said your sister has passed, Motwakil said. They found her hanging on a rope from her neck. We dont know if somebody did this or if she did that to herself. She was 26 years old when she was found dead. At this time, Maryam was also told Awadia now had four young children with no one to take care of them, the youngest one being just 2 months old when his mother died. Maryams husband was too ill to care for them, and South Sudan was too dangerous for them to stay. In 2011, Sudan had split into two countries, Sudan and South Sudan. Although this action was supposed to establish peace, violence soon broke out in the south between the two ethnic groups in South Sudan, the Dinka and Neur people. At the time of Awadias death, she and her four children were staying in a village in Juba, South Sudan along with her ailing father. Maryams oldest daughter Najat decided to travel to Juba and found the children and took them to Naroibi, the capital of Kenya. The children were then taken to the Kakuma camp in Kenya, one of the worlds largest refugee camps. They then filed as orphans to be able to come to the United States, but progress in the case has stalled. They need an immigration lawyer, which costs a lot of money. They need a lawyer for the case to be processed, but unless somebody is there to represent your case, your case is just a file, Motwakil said. Just because there is no war in Kenya doesnt mean the children are safe. Two years ago, Lina, the oldest grandchild was raped in the camp. At 15 years old, she now has a son just over a year old. The situation is just getting worse, Motwakil said. As of July 2020, the Kakuma camp had a population of 196,666 registered refugees and asylum seekers. Located at the edge of a desert, the average daily temperature in the camp is 104 degrees Fahrenheit and consists of an arid city crowded with tents and huts. The children have been there six years now. Maryam is able to talk to her grandchildren on the phone, but she longs for the day when she can hold them, love them and give them a life away from the pain and loss theyve grown up in. Now 58, Maryam lives with Motwakil in government housing in Lincoln along with Najats daughter, who is also named Maryam after her grandmother. The 6-year-old girl is currently staying with them and going to school while her mother continues working in Arizona. Young Maryam speaks English and Dinka, the language of her grandmother and her people in South Sudan. However, she only knows the life of safety and innocence her mother and grandmother have tried to give her, not yet able to fully understand the situation of her cousins living more than 8,400 miles away. Maryam and her son routinely travel to Omaha to the immigration office to inquire about the case and work to make progress, but as the days have turned into months and months into years, she often feels discouraged and worries about the fate of these four orphans who make up part of the 1.45 million South Sudanese child refugees. All under the age of 18, her granchildren have already been the victims of loss, sexual assault and violent attacks. Its just too much, Maryam said. But talking to you, I am happy. She hopes through awareness and by telling her story, others in the Lincoln community and beyond can understand her desperate situation and help her bring these children to safety. As a family across continents, she eagerly awaits the day when she can meet her grandchildren and tell them yin ta baye you are home. Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 Lucknow, June 12 : Uttar Pradesh will celebrate Yoga Week on a large scale in the entire state for a week from June 15 to 21. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed that a unique feature will be that combined yoga practise will be prioritised at tourist destinations associated with the state's ancient culture, historical sites, banks of significant rivers, lakes, ponds, and all Amrit Sarovars, as well as locations rich in scenic beauty. In addition, video links of the Common Yoga Protocol are also proposed to be disseminated for the convenience and awareness of people, a government spokesman said. On June 20, a special campaign for cleanliness will be launched by the department of urban development, rural development, and Panchayati Raj in coordination with local educational institutions. Celebrities, athletes, yoga gurus, and known members of cultural establishments will work in these programmes as collaborators and influencers to spread awareness of the value of daily yoga practise among the general public, the spokesman said. During the Yoga Week, large-scale group yoga practise programmes will be organised at all district headquarters. Daily group yoga sessions will also take place at the same time from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. in public parks. In addition, extensive yoga programmes will be held on university campuses. Major universities, colleges, and school-colleges in the state will also host yoga-related seminars and workshops on topics such as the application of yoga to modern lifestyles, stress and mental trauma management, elocution competitions, Rangoli/poster competitions, essay writing competitions, slogan writing competitions, and speech competitions. At the conclusion of the week-long programmes, certificates will be given to students. Arrangements will also be made to distribute fruits and sweets to students taking part in the main programme of joint yoga practise on June 21. New Delhi, June 12 : Nanometer chips, particularly those under 10nm, are revolutionising the semiconductor industry and as the semiconductor landscape continues to evolve, there is a shift in the industry's centre of gravity towards Asia, a report said on Monday. TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, has unveiled advancements in 2nm technology and new additions to its 3nm family. Its 2nm technology is slated for production in 2025. "The nanometer chip revolution is here to rewrite the rules of technology. Unleashing a power surge in the AI realm, 5nm chips, for instance, are redefining speed and efficiency across industries," said Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. "They are turbocharging generative AI, making edge computing nimbler, fuelling smarter consumer devices, driving autonomous vehicles into the future besides influencing healthcare and quantum computing," Raj added. Samsung aims to mass-produce 2nm chips by 2025 and 1.4nm chips by 2027, leveraging its success with 3nm technology ahead of TSMC. To support this, Samsung plans to triple its sub-10nm chip production capacity by 2027, which includes a new manufacturing line in Texas, the US. Intel's 4 process, equivalent to 7nm, is production-ready, while Intel 3, analogous to 5nm, is anticipated for high-volume manufacturing in late 2023. IBM's 2nm chip packs 50 billion transistors into a fingernail-sized space. "TSMC firmly dominates the semiconductor industry, having already transitioned to groundbreaking 5nm and 4nm processes, and is poised to usher in a new era of 3nm volume production by late 2023," said Raj. Meanwhile, Samsung grapples with significant production hurdles, yielding less than 50 per cent on its 5nm node, a stark contrast to TSMC's progress. Intel trails further behind, underscoring the fiercely competitive landscape, the report noted. Mumbai, June 12 : Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has said that she loves working with Director Anurag Basu, and that his sets have great food. The actress will be seen next in 'Metro in Dino' which is directed by Anurag Basu. The last time the actress collaborated with Basu was for the crime-comedy film 'Ludo'. The actress recently shared a picture of herself with Anurag Basu on her Instagram account and captioned "Hey you! Can't wait to go back on your set." "I am really excited to go on to the sets of 'Metro' this month. I love Dada (Anurag Basu). He is a genius. He has a way of creating magic on screen and I am so lucky that I am again getting to work with him and be a part of his magical world," the actress said. "He brings the best out of his actors and what's even better is that there is always great food on his sets," she added. The actress as a child artists has worked in movies like 'Chachi 420' and 'Bade Dilwala'. She last acted in the film 'Dangal' alongside with Sanya Malhotra and Aamir Khan. Apart from Fatima, the movie will star Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkana Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. The movie is scheduled to be released on December 8, 2023. Apart from 'Metro In Dino' some of Fatima's other projects include 'Sam Bahadur' in which she will play the role of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and 'Dhak Dhak' both of which are currently under production. Panaji, June 12 : BJP's Goa desk in-charge C.T. Ravi on Monday attacked the Karnataka government for hiking electricity tariff, saying that that his party will see for how long it will do 'Natakbaaji' over fulfilling poll promises. Addressing a press conference here, Ravi said that there were multiple factors involved in BJP's defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections. "But we have secured our vote bank. Because of the 'guarantee card' of the Congress, they got votes in every booth. Had we worked like Narendra Modi, this wouldn't have happened. It is our mistake. I accept it," Ravi said. He said that 'free assurances' from the guarantee card are also among the reasons to face defeat in Karnataka. "We will see how long their 'Natakbaaji' goes on. Now the Congress government has hiked electricity tariff. Those who were getting a monthly bill of Rs 200 are now getting bills of Rs 500," Ravi said. According to Ravi, BJP will closely watch how the Congress government fulfils its poll promises, whether by hiking tariffs like electricity bill or by other means. "The Congress doesn't have the moral right to ask us nine questions. They ruled for more years than us," he said. Shivamogga : , June 12 (IANS) The incharge of a residential school in Karnataka's Shivamogga district was on Monday arrested in connection with the death of a 13-year-old girl student. The victim died in suspicious circumstances on the way to the hospital from the school in Sagar town on June 8. The arrest was made following the statement of the victim's two friends and classmates and her aunt. Sagar rural police have taken up further investigation. Police said the victim was a daughter of a farmer of village located near Sagar town in Shivamogga. With a dream to give his daughter education, he had got her admission done at the residential school in Sagar town. Five days after her admission, the victim fell seriously ill and had not woken up in the morning. The girl had developed the symptoms of vomiting and loose motions and became unconscious. She was rushed to the hospital where the doctors have declared her dead. The accused, after the incident, claimed that the girl had developed leg pain. Gel and oil was applied to her leg and rasam served to her. The same rasam was eaten by him and all the children. In the morning, all students should come to drink water but the victim had not turned up. She vomited and claimed fatigue, and immediately she was shifted to the hospital and declared dead. He also maintained that the doctors suspected it to be a case of cardiac arrest and a post mortem report would ascertain the exact cause of death. However, following the fresh statements, the police have booked a case under the Pocso Act and arrested the school head. The post-mortem examination of the girl has been conducted and the police is awaiting the reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Investigation is on. Jaipur, June 12 : A few months after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited the Mangarh Dham, a tribal pilgrimage site, and announced to do development work there using state funds. Speaking on the occasion, Gehlot said that the state government is making constant efforts to declare Mangarh Dham as a monument of national importance. "The Central government was repeatedly urged to declare Mangarh Dham as a national monument, but recently the Prime Minister did not announce it even during his visit. In such a situation, if the Central government refuses, the state government will get the development work done in Mangarh using state funds. "Along with this, a provision has been made to increase the amount of Scheduled Caste-Tribe Development Fund from Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore," Gehlot said. Political experts, meanwhile, said that the politics on Mangarh Dham will have a political effect on scheduled tribe voters in three states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Mangarh Dham located in Banswara district is a major pilgrimage site for tribals. Now, Chief Minister Gehlot has demanded to declare this Dham as a national monument. The seriousness of the politics here can be gauged from the fact that around 100 Assembly seats in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are influenced from this area. The Congress did not gain much in this area in the last Assembly elections, so this time there is a political tussle between the Congress and the BJP here. As many as 27 seats in Gujarat, 25 seats in Rajasthan and 48 seats in Madhya Pradesh are directly affected by Mangarh Dham, as all these seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. London, June 12 : The Indian-origin owners of a shop in an England town have been prosecuted for selling a craft knife to a 17-year-old in a test purchase operation conducted by a local council in 2022. Balvinder Singh Chhokar and Rajinder Kaur, owners of Sandhu Convenience Store in Solihull town, pleaded guilty recently before the Birmingham Magistrates Court to the sale of an age-restricted product to a minor. They were each fined 293 pounds, with 100 pounds towards costs and 175 pounds in victim surcharge -- a total of GBP568 per defendant. The sale took place in October 2022 as part of a test purchase operation by the Solihull Council wherein a 17 year-old was sent as a decoy customer. Rajinder Kaur, who was then at the shop, sold the knife without checking the knife packaging, which said "over 18 only". "We are pleased with another successful prosecution for the unlawful sale of a knife in Solihull. These test purchase operations serve as an important and stark reminder for retailers to comply with their legal obligations," Councillor Wazma Qais, Cabinet Member for Communities & Leisure, said. Last month, the council prosecuted another Asian shop owner, Navaratnam Oppilamani, for the sale of an age-restricted product to a minor. He was fined 125 pounds, with 200 pounds towards costs and a 48 pound victim surcharge on May 16. According to the UK law, it is illegal for anyone, including a shop, to sell a knife of any kind, including cutlery and kitchen knives, to anyone under the age of 18. A series of Aunderage test purchases were carried out by the council in September and October 2022 at various shops across the Solihull borough. Of the 11 shops that were visited, four correctly challenged the volunteers and refused the sale, but four shops sold them knives, and three shops sold them alcohol. When selling knives, alcohol, vapes and other restricted items to underage people, both the business and the person who physically made the sale can be held responsible, the Solihull Council said in a statement. In the case of alcohol, both the person who physically made the sale and the licensee can be held responsible. Chandigarh, June 12 : Farmers in Haryana on Monday once again blocked the National Highway-44 near Pipli in the state's Kurukshetra district, severely hampering the movement of traffic between Chandigarh and Delhi. The traffic was halted after the "mahapanchayat" called by the Bharatiya Kisan Union-Charuni failed to get any response from the government over procurement of sunflower seeds at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,400 per quintal. Also they were demanding the release of their leaders, especially Bharatiya Kisan Union-Charuni chief Gurnam Singh Charuni. Responding to issue of farmers, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told the media that the government has a round of talks on the sunflower issue. "We have taken some decisions and told the farmers. We will also see how farmers get prices close to MSP," he said. Nearly 50,000 farmers from Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, besides Haryana and its neighbouring states, gathered in Pipli town and earlier gave an ultimatum to the government that "if it doesn't listen to their demands, a big call could be taken to block the national highway again or block the government Secretariat in Kurukshetra". The sunflower growers are not happy with the relief announced on June 10 by Chief Minister Khattar, saying it was an attempt to prevent the 'mahapanchayat' called by farmers' associations. The farmers have been demanding that the state government procure their sunflower crop at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal, as announced for the crop by the Central government for 2022-23. Addressing the 'mahapanchayat', BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the government should release the farmer leaders who were arrested for blocking the national highway and ensure procurement at the MSP, or protests would be held across the country. However, Tikait has denied reports the highway has been blocked. "We are not blocking the highway. It is not right... highways should not be blocked," he told reporters at the protest site. Wrestler Bajrang Punia also reached Pipli and extended his support. "I have come here to lend support to the farmers as I also belong to the family of farmers. We are just asking for the MSP of our cropsaand the government should accept this demand," Punia said. However, traffic on the Chandigarh-Delhi highway was diverted to avoid congestion after farmers gathered in Pipli over their demand. Days after protesting sunflower growers were baton-charged and forcibly evicted for blocking the National Highway-44 near Kurukshetra, crowds of farmers on Monday started gathering again in support of the demand. Tikait had already threatened a larger agitation than the year-long protest against the now repealed farm laws if the government did not announce a legal guarantee of the MSP for procurement of crops. As a preventive measure, the government has imposed Section 144 in Pipli, a ruling that prohibits public gatherings in a given jurisdiction. Farm leaders have also warned the authorities to release their nine leaders, including Charuni, who were sent to custody for 14 days for blocking the national highway on June 7, otherwise a massive rally would be held on June 12. Besides charges pertaining to rioting, they are facing cases for unlawful assembly, use of criminal force to deter public servants from discharging duty and attempt to murder. Amidst the rift between the state government and farmers, Chief Minister Khattar has said the government was studying the market for adequately compensating sunflower growers. While digitally releasing Rs 29.13 crore as an interim 'bharpai' (compensation) to 8,528 sunflower farmers growing the crop on 36,414 acres of land on Saturday, he said that some people are trying to create confusion among the farmers claiming that his government does not care for the farmers. "I would like to clarify that despite challenges, the Centre or the state government is taking pro-farmer policies." The government has included sunflower in the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana under which farmers will be paid Rs 1,000 per quintal if produce is selling below the MSP. Kurukshetra district has the highest production of sunflower and its main procurement centre is Shahbad. Besides, the sunflower purchase centres have been set up at places of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Karnal, and Panchkula districts. Hafed has started procurement of sunflower crops for the first time and has announced to remain in the market till the procurement process is completed in the mandis. It has been procuring sunflowers at the rate of Rs 4,850 per quintal in Shahbad. With the Chief Minister giving interim relief of Rs 1,000 per quintal under the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, now the purchase of sunflower in Haryana has raised to Rs 5,800 per quintal. At present, sunflowers are being purchased in Punjab between Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,200. To pacify the farmers, the Chief Minister on Sunday announced the opening of a sunflower oil factory in Kurukshetra, which will have a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes. Bhopal, June 12 : A massive fire broke out at the Satpuda Bhavan in Bhopal, a state government office. As per reports, the fire broke out on the fourth floor of the building. Several fire-fighting vehicles have been rushed to spot to douse the fire. However, no casualty has been reported so far. The multi-story building has several offices of the state government, and the health department office operated on the fourth floor. It has been learnt that the documents of the health department have been destroyed due to the fire. The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. Shimla, June 12 : The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) will open three high-end hotels along the Kiratpur-Manali highway to facilitate tourists, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said on Monday. The hotels would be equipped with modern facilities and aim to enhance the tourism experience in the state, he said, adding that a consultant has conducted a study to determine the best approach for implementing this project. The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of developing infrastructure for the promotion of tourism and said the inflow of tourists would significantly increase once the four-lane highway becomes operational. The government would provide all basic amenities to the tourists. "The government's efforts in expanding tourism infrastructure and services are expected to not only enhance the experience of visitors but also create employment and self-employment opportunities for the local population," Sukhu said, as per an official statement. Sukhu said in a recent Cabinet meeting, the decision was made to establish the highway-cum-tourist police stations with necessary staff at Baghed in Bilaspur district, Nerchowk in Mandi district, and Bhunter in Kullu district, all falls along the Kiratpur-Manali highway. Rain didn't dampen the spirit of Carlisle Pride's Bonfire Beyond the Binary Friday evening; instead rainbows bloomed within the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County. They coated the tables and clung to the gymnasium walls, all while a televised fire flickered near the entrance and attendees roasted microwaved s'mores. Local folk artist Jimmy Wilkinson and Drag King Peter Pansy performed live music at the event, which was organized by the Carlisle Pride Committee and dedicated to allowing LGBTQ+ youths and their families to connect with others. It served as a kickoff to the committee's weekend of pride events, which included a Pride Proclamation, Walk With Pride and Pride Picnic Saturday and the opening reception of "Prisms and Pride" at the Penny Gallery in Carlisle on Sunday. Being inside was the only difference Max Murphy noted between last year's debut and this year's second anniversary of Bonfire Beyond the Binary. "There's still a lot of people attending [of] all different ages and different backgrounds, which is really cool," the 15-year-old Carlisle resident said. Murphy isn't sure when he began to get involved with the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County, but he keeps on top of the organization's happenings through updates and emails and shows up when he can. He cited making friends and hanging out with people as his favorite part of the event. At last year's event, Murphy made a friend, Griffyn, and discovered they both went to the same school but had never spoken before. The two continued their friendship throughout the year and both attended Friday's event. It's this element of connection that brought Danielle Walsh-Dolan of Boiling Springs to Bonfire Beyond the Binary for the first time Friday. "Almost two years ago, [my daughter] came out as nonbinary and she has been working through the processes, and she's finally stepping out of her shell and willing to meet new people," she said. Knowing June is Pride Month, a quick Google search led Walsh-Dolan to Bonfire Beyond the Binary. "I suggested it to her and she was like, 'Absolutely, let's go,' so we got in the car and we came," she said. One of the first things Walsh-Dolan noticed: "It's very welcoming." Having attended pride events in Philadelphia and Gettysburg in the past, she wasn't sure how she would be received in this area. "We walked in and people just started talking to you right away and made you feel comfortable, and my daughter's in there already making friends, and she's in a little huddle with like four or five kids and I'm just shocked ... it's nice," Walsh-Dolan said. She said events like Bonfire Beyond the Binary are beneficial in developing self-esteem, especially for teens, and she was grateful the event extended beyond Carlisle. "She's smiling," Walsh-Dolan said of her daughter. "She doesn't seem like she's not having a good time, and she's coming out of her shell right away. Like for her to say, 'Mom, I've got this, go ahead,' right from the get go, it was perfect." YWCA Director of Empowerment Programming Tina Zeigler, who also is a member of the Carlisle Pride Committee, was thrilled to see new faces from across the county at the event. These included students at Mechanicsburg Area School District, South Middleton School District and Big Spring School District. "I think folks traditionally know us as just serving Carlisle, but we are the YWCA of Carlisle & Cumberland County," Zeigler said. While festivities moved indoors, Zeigler said the integrity of the event remained present. "Folks are still mingling and talking and making connections with each other," Zeigler said. "There are kids laughing [and] being silly in the back of the gym. We have microwave s'mores and we're doing our best ... and I think folks are really enjoying their time with us. And so you know, I think it also sets a great precedent for the fact that we're going to host events rain or shine, because the most important part is the community part." Photos: Bonfire Beyond the Binary Bhopal, June 12 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday kick-started party's poll campaign for Madhya Pradesh Asembly polls with five promises on the line of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, where it won recently. Priyanka's rally in Jabalpur also indicated that the Congress will corner the ruling BJP highlighting scams, especially alleged corruption in Mahakal Lok corridor project. Like in 2018, the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi had promised to wave off farmers loans, and the party under the leadership of Kamal Nath had managed to return to power after 15 years gap, Priyanka sounded the poll bugles with offering financial scheme of Rs 1500 per month, LPG cylinder at subsidised rate of Rs 500 along with cheaper electricity. Worth mentioning that the Congress promised to provide Rs 1500 to women (with certain conditions) under its proposed scheme 'Nari Samman Yojana' to counter the BJP's 'Ladli Behna Yojana' launched by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently. Similarly, subsidised cooking gas will counter Prime Minuter Narendra Modi's flagship 'Ujjawala Yojana' launched in May 2016. Besides these, the Congress also made another major announcement for implementing the old pension scheme (OPS) to gain support of state government employees and their families in the coming elections. The cheaper electricity is akin to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced in its debut election in 2013 and since then it maintained the same in states it contested the elections. "The Congress government in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh has restored the OPS. Our government in Karnataka has cleared the five guarantees (the poll promises made by the party there)," Priyanka said while addressing a mammoth poll gathering in Jabalpur on Monday. Notably, the Congress made the similar five-point promises in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka and managed uproot the BJP from both states and formed the government with absolute majority. In her speech, Priyanka hit out at Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government highlighting issues like atrocities against women and tribals, unemployment, scams broke out in the past 18 years in Madhya Pradesh. Referring to collapse of Saptarishi idols in Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor, Priyanka said, "Shivraj government did not spare even the God." Meanwhile, mocking the BJP's 'double-engine government' poll talk, the General Secretary said, "We have seen a lot of double and triple-engine governments, but people of Himachal and Karnataka have given a befitting reply in the polls." New Delhi, June 12 : A 24-year-old UPSC aspirant, who went to have a bath in Yamuna river in outer Delhi's Alipur area, drowned on Monday, police said. The deceased was identified as Manush Malik, a resident of Rohini. According to police, during initial probe it was revealed that on Monday early morning, Malik, who was preparing for UPSC examination, along with his four-five friends had gone to Yamuna river to get a view of the sunrise. "However, later, Malik decided to take a quick bath in the river and eventually drowned," a police official said. "The body of Malik was recovered from Yamuna river with the help of divers. The statements of the victim's parents and friends will also be recorded as part of probe," the official added. Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : Days after the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau registered a case against Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, on Monday it was the turn of the Crime Branch police to register a case against state Congress president K. Sudhakaran in a cheating case. The complaint against Sudhakaran was that a person called Anoop had given Rs 25 lakhs to the now jailed fake antique dealer, Monson Mavunkal at his Kochi office in 2018. When the money was being handed over, Sudhakaran was also present and Rs 10 lakhs was taken by him after promising to get a favour done for him. The Crime Branch has named Sudhakaran as the second accused and have asked him to appear before the probe team on Wednesday. It was in September 2021 that Mavunkal hogged the headlines after a person who was allegedly cheated to the tune of Rs 10 crore by Mavunkal, approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan which eventually led to Mavunkal's arrest. Mavunkal used to bring several VIPs to his palatial residence, a part of which was converted into a museum to house his 'precious' antiques, which he claimed included the "staff of Moses" and "two of the 30 silver coins that were taken by Judas to cheat Jesus Christ". The police said that he also displayed a throne said to be used by Tipu Sultan, as well as a huge collection of old Qurans, Bibles (Old Testament and New Testament), and old handwritten copies of the Bhagavad Gita. When the case first surfaced, pictures of the now retired state police chief Loknath Behra and serving additional director general of police Manoj Abraham visiting the "museum" of Mavunkal at Kochi went viral. As the matter went before the court, it asked how these top police officials never thought of how a museum like this can function as the rules are very clear. It also sought to know why the police set up a daily beat box at his house and the museum. Sudhakaran had then admitted that he had visited Mavunkal to get advice on a health issue that he was facing. Mavunkal, since his arrest, continues to be in judicial custody. Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : In a first of its kind incident, a Central government official attached to the GST Wing was on Monday taken into custody by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau at Kalpetta in Wayanad while accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh from a government contractor. According to the VACB officials, Pravinder Singh, the GST official, after assessing the account of a government contractor for financial year 2018-19, found a discrepancy in the returns he had filed. "This official sought Rs 3 lakh from the contractor so as to close his file, but since he (the contractor) did not have that much, he came with Rs 1 lakh and Singh was taken into custody when the money was being handed over in his vehicle," a VACB official said. Bengaluru, June 12 : Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Karnataka unit is set to elect leader of the opposition for legislative assembly council and the party's state president in next two days. Former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa's son, B.Y. Vijayendra, had stated that the party would elect the leader of the opposition in two days. He said that the decision for the post of state president will be taken by party's high command. When asked about whether he will become the state President, Vijayendra said that there is no discussion in the party as such to give him the post of state party President. "No matter, whoever becomes the President, we will strongly build the party in Karnataka," he said. He refused to comment on the question of whether the BJP suffered defeat in the assembly elections as his father Yediyurappa was asked to step down. Party sources revealed that the former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, senior leaders Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Arvind Bellad are vying for the post of the leader of the opposition in assembly. However, the party is thinking of giving the post to Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra and is also keen on OBC or Dalit leaders to become the leader of the opposition. BJP MLC Kota Srinivas Poojari is likely to get the post. The party is mulling to make a Vokkaliga leader as the party president. Leaders like R. Ashoka, C.N. Ashwath Narayan are also in the race for the post. Though no final call has been taken yet, the party wants to give the posts to Lingayat, Vokkaliga and OBC or Dalit leaders to pass on the message of appropriate representation for all the communities of the state. The party senior leaders are looking for a strong candidates for both the posts. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given full authority to his cabinet ministers to take on RSS and Hindutva forces in the state and to attack BJP. The Congress leaders are now rethinking to take back the properties given by the previous BJP government to the organizations and institutions which are closely linked to the RSS. The development has caused a stir within the state and BJP too. The BJP leaders who challenged the Congress on banning the RSS are now silent. The party is in search of leaders who can take on CM Siddaramaiah and Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar inside the assembly and in public. Imphal, June 12 : The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has asked the state government to probe the incident of gun loot from a licensed gun shop in Churachandpur by a non-Kuki and non-Meitei police officer, officials said here on Monday. MHRC Chairperson Justice Utpalendu Bikash Saha and member K.K. Singh in an order recommended the Chief Secretary, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) and Director General of Police to transfer the FIR of gun loot from a licensed gun shop to Churachandpur Police Station with a direction to SP of Churachandpur district to investigate the case by a non-Kuki and non-Meitei police officer at the rank of SP or deputy SP rank officer. The MHRC order comes after the gun shop owner N. Ibomcha Singh filed a complaint with the human rights commission and lodged an FIR with the police after many guns were looted from his shop by suspected Kuki militants during the recent ethnic violence which broke out on May 3. The gun shop owner also urged the MHRC for a direction to the Director General of Police, Manipur, for protecting the people from Meitei community who are living in Churachandpur. Demanding recovery of the looted guns, Ibomcha Singh also requested for a direction to the Chief secretary, Secretary (Home) for deploying adequate security forces at Churachandpur where non-tribal Meitei people have been living for long time, now dislodged from their home, so that they could run their business and that no untoward incident should happen in future. The gun shop owner also told the MHRC that people of the Meitei community stayed in Churachandpur since the princely rule and before Manipur merged with the Indian union in 1949 and no Kuki, nor Naga nor any other tribes created any problems earlier. Majority of the people in Churachandpur district belong to Kuki and other tribal communities. New Delhi, June 12 : In the latest update on the attack on the High Commission of India in London by alleged Khalistani supporters, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) released five CCTV footages of the attack on Monday and sought help from the public to identify the culprits. The attack on the Indian Embassy took place on March 19. "The NIA requests all members of the public to provide any information regarding the individuals seen in the footage in the interest of public safety. Information can be provided on WhatsApp at +91 7290009373. The identity of the informant will be kept confidential," tweeted the NIA. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with the protest staged by pro-Khalistani activists at the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, during which the Tricolour was pulled down from the premises. The NIA took over the case after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs instructed the Delhi Police to take legal action. The FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and an investigation has been initiated. The British Deputy High Commissioner was also summoned by the Indian government, demanding an explanation for the complete absence of security during the protest. The British High Commissioner, Alex Ellis, described the incident as "disgraceful" and "totally unacceptable." New Delhi, June 12 : A five-year-old boy was allegedly bitten and attacked by his neighbour's pet dog in Delhi's Shahdara area, an official said on Monday. The victim child has been identified as Muhib Khan, a resident of Sarojani Park, Shastri Nagar area. The official said that the boy is admitted in the hospital after the surgery and his condition is said to be stable. Sharing details, a senior police official said that the incident took place on Saturday around 7:30 p.m. "The child was playing in his house when the Labrador dog of his neighbour entered the victim's house and attacked him. Boy was bitten on the left hand," said the official. "A PCR call was received after the incident from the child's father and the boy was rushed to Lok Nayak Hospital for the treatment," said the official. The victim's father alleged that when he confronted his neighbour over the issue, he was threatened. "A case under sections 289 (Negligent conduct with respect to animal), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code has been filed and the accused identified as Yashpal Singh, (48), the neighbour and also owner of the alleged pet Labrador dog, has been arrested," said the official. San Francisco, June 12 : Consumers lost a whopping $330 million to SMS scams in the US in 2022, more than double the losses reported in 2021 and nearly five times what people reported in 2019, a new report has shown. According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reports about text scams spiked in the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic and have never returned to pre-pandemic levels. "Scammers use the speed of text communication to their advantage: they hope you won't slow down and think over what's in the message," the FTC said. "Some messages promise a good thing -- a gift, a package, or even a job. Others try to make you panic, thinking someone's in your accounts. These are all lies and ways to take your money and personal information," it added. In a screening of a randomly selected set of 1,000 deceptive text messages, it was discovered that the majority of fraudulent communication aimed to mimic well-known businesses. Reports about texts impersonating banks are up nearly twentyfold since 2019, said the report. "Wells Fargo Bank Fraud Alert: Did you attempt a purchase at Walmart for $1,263.89? Reply YES or NO," one of the sample messages reads. If the recipient answers yes or no, they will receive a bogus phone call from the bank's alleged fraud department. Last year, the reported median loss for this type of scam was $3,000, and the agency has emphasised that victims of this scam shared sensitive information with the scammers, including their Social Security Number. Moreover, the report mentioned that scammers also enticed victims with the promise of a free gift from well-known retailers or even cell phone companies. In the majority of the reports, recipients were asked to click on a link and pay shipping fees for a bogus prize that they would never receive. Other scams include -- fake package delivery scams, phoney job offers, and not-really-from-Amazon security alerts. Further, the report stated that text message open rates are estimated to be as high as 98 per cent, and response rates as high as 45 per cent, as compared to email open and response rates of 20 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. Over half of the consumers text daily, making texting more common than any other communication method, including voice or email. Aggregate reported losses to text fraud by year are as follows -- $67 mn (2019), $86 mn (2020), $131 mn (2021), and $330 mn (2022). The top companies identified in 2022 reports about bank impersonation text scams were Bank of America (14 per cent), Wells Fargo (12 per cent), Chase (12 per cent), and Citibank (9 per cent). Mumbai, June 12 : Actor Prateik Patil Babbar has joined the cast of the Indian-Uk production 'Lioness' in which he will essay the role of a Sikh. The film also stars Indian actress Aditi Rao Hydari and British actress Paige Sandhu, and is based on the life of Princess of Punjab, Sophia Duleep Singh, who was one of the key leaders of UK's suffragette movement, a tireless advocate for the rights of women and children. The actor visited the Golden Temple on Monday to seek blessings to play a British-Sikh character on screen for the first time. Interestingly, he was spotted sporting long hair and a beard in the video while taking the holy dip. Sharing his excitement, Prateik said, "It is an honour for me to be part of a film that celebrates the legacy of the grand-daughter of our Sher-e-Punjab - Maharaja Ranjit Singh. I will be playing the role of Rajdeep Singh, a British Sikh living in the 1990s in Southall. The character has given me a chance to understand and get closer to my Punjabi heritage. It is a huge responsibility." The film is inspired by the research of Peter Bance, the historian who discovered the story of Sophia Duleep Singh, who was the grand-daughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria. 'Lioness', certified by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the British Film Institute (BFI), is being made under the bi-lateral treaty signed by both countries in 2008. The film was launched at the recently concluded Cannes film festival and is written and will be directed by award-winning filmmaker Kajri Babbar. The film is currently in pre-production and is slated to start shooting by the end of this year in London. Information is from police reports and may be incomplete depending on the status of an investigation. Phone numbers are nonemergency. Ghaziabad, June 12 : The Ghaziabad Police has got the transit remand of the prime accused in the conversion of minor children through gaming app case, Shahnawaz Khan a.k.a. Baddo, who was arrested in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday, an official said on Monday. A Thane court has granted transit remand of Khan to Ghaziabad Police till June 15. The police had told the court that Khan would be taken to Ghaziabad by road, covering a distance of around 1,500 km in about 2-3 days. However, sources close to IANS claimed that the Ghaizabad Police team will reach here along with Khan by plane on late Monday night. Khan was arrested on Sunday from a lodge where he was staying with a false identity. Meanwhile, Thane Police have also apprehended his associates Taufiq and Aryan Khan, who allegedly provided him SIM cards. Khan checked in to a lodge in Alibaug on June 10 at around 8 p.m. He got his name entered on the register at the reception centre as Shahbaz instead of Shahnawaz. Besides, he also cited a Delhi address in place of his actual Mumbra address. The mobile phone number provided by him was also found to be incorrect. The 23-year-old Khan is a resident of Mumbra in Maharashtra's Thane district. He was frequently changing his hideouts after the Ghaziabad Police team arrived in Thane. Khan was eventually apprehended with the help of Alibaug Police on Sunday. A computer has been recovered from his residence by the police. A source said that the police are currently examining the computer, and it has also been learnt that he has many fake accounts on social media. Meanwhile, sources told IANS that Khan is likely to be confronted with the cleric who was earlier arrested in connection with the case. The police are also likely to seek details of those who are involved in the conversion racket. Srinagar, June 12 : The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday held a wreath laying ceremony to pay homage to policeman Fayaz Ahmad at his native village in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. "ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar on behalf of J&K Police Parivar conveyed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of the martyr for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty," the police said. "We pay our rich tributes to the martyr for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty and stand by his family at this crucial juncture." Senior police officials and locals of the area participated in the ceremony and laid floral wreaths on the mortal remains of the martyr. The deceased policeman was injured in a terror attack on July 12, 2022 at Lal Bazar in Srinagar and succumbed to injuries and attained martyrdom on Monday. On July 12, 2022, terrorists fired upon a Naka party near G.D Goenka Public School area of Lal Bazar, resulting in the martyrdom of ASI Mushtaq Ahmad and injuries to Head Constable Fayaz Ahmad and SPO Abu Bakar. Mumbai, June 12 : Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, who is known for the 'John Wick' movies, has shared that the director of the film 'John Wick: Chapter 4', Chad Stahelski, is obsessed with poking the character of John Wick through many angles and the situations of other characters. Dishing out some interesting details on the 'John Wick' series, the actor said, "Chad really hooked into this idea of trying to study John Wick through the situations of other characters, and he was really drawn to the good, the bad, and the ugly. "And so, enters Donnie Yen as Cain, and Shamir Anderson as the tracker, we have Hiroyuki Sanada, who I worked with on '47 Ronin', he has a daughter who's working with him, and that's the incomparable Rina Sawayama, and then the antagonist of the piece, the Marquis, Bill Skarsgard." He continued, "You're kinda following their stories as they're trying to get John Wick and, Cain and John Wick have a past, the tracker is kind of a younger character, who's kind of outside of it was not an assassin but and kind of takes a deal to force to become an assassin." He added, "And these characters come after John. And then there are moments where we have to work together against the table. So that dynamic is a way of opening up the world. Who are these other characters that exist in this world? And then how do they interact with John? How does John interact with them?" 'John Wick: Chapter 4' will stream in India from June 23 2023 on Lionsgate Play. Patna, June 12 : While the BJP is levelling allegations against the JD-U MPs for the shifting of the proposed AIIMS in Darbhanga, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday claimed that his government has allotted land with good road connectivity but the Centre has rejected the project. "We have given 150 acres of land with good connectivity at Sobhan estate locality in Darbhanga but the Centre has rejected it. I firmly believe that the Centre is thinking in another way. When they are removed from power then we will do good work," Kumar said while addressing media persons during the distribution of appointment letters to professors and lecturers in engineering colleges of the state in Patna. Earlier, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that 30 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of the JD-U wrote to the Union health and family welfare ministry for shifting the AIIMS from Darbhanga to Saharsa. They do not want to give the credit for the Darbhanga AIIMS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Nitish Kumar does not want AIIMS to be built in Darbhanga. He was earlier calling to upgrade the present Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) to AIIMS. Then he said that his government would allot land inside the campus of DMCH. Then, he gave 150 acres of land in some other place. When a team from the Centre came to Darbhanga for inspection, they found that buildings cannot be constructed at that place. Hence, the Centre has rejected it," Modi said. "As the Bihar government had not allotted the land, the construction of AIIMS did not start here," Modi added. Los Angeles, June 12 : Filmmaker Martin Scorsese attended the Tribeca Film Festival along with his rarely-seen wife of 24 years Helen Morris, who has stayed indoors after she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1990. Scorsese, 80, and Helen, 74, were accompanied by their daughter, Francesca, 23, as they attended the premiere of Fish Out of Water at the Tribeca Film Festival, reports 'Mirror.co.uk'. Helen was supported by Martin on the red carpet. The family smiled as they posed for the cameras, with Martin and Francesca lovingly putting their arms around Helen. Martin, Helen and Francesca were attending the film festival to see the premiere of Francesca's short film 'Fish Out of Water'. As per 'Mirror.co.uk', Martin wore a smart navy suit which he paired with a lighter blue shirt and a pair of shiny black shoes. Helen wore a stylish grey trouser suit with a casual white T-shirt below. Francesca opted for a glamorous black trouser suit which was adorned with sequins. She also decided on a minimal makeup look with a pink lip-gloss and she completed her red carpet glam with some silver hoop earrings. Helen was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease more than 30 years ago and has stayed largely quiet about her experience living with the illness. However, in a 2000 profile for Talk Magazine, she opened up about her initial reaction to receiving her diagnosis. Helen said she allowed herself "one panicky night" before following her family's motto to "forge ahead". In the interview, Helen also opened up about what it was like to be pregnant at 50 while also struggling with Parkinson's. "A doctor in New York was recommended, someone who specialised in high-risk pregnancies, and I got pregnant immediately. I mean, I was 51. I have Parkinson's. I was in bed for a few months, but it was easy. I watched a lot of television," she said. Bhopal, June 12 : Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has claimed that the accused involved in the alleged 'religious conversion' issue in a Damoh-based school are being detained by the police. Without elaborating much about the ongoing investigation in the matter, the minister said the police was looking for those on the run. He also indicated that the state administration is likely to carry out a 'bulldozer operation' against the Damoh-based Ganga Jamuna school where the controversy broke out with a poster of girl student toppers in hijab, which has now turned out to be an alleged 'religious conversion'. A FIR against the school management was lodged a few days back. "The investigation is still underway and the accused are being arrested one after another. The police have also launched a search for those on the run. Those involved in the case will not be spared and bulldozer action will also be carried out," Mishra said, adding that "layers of crime are being peeled away one after another. Things will become clearer once the police completes it's investigation." This incident has been taking new twists in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. The leaders and ministers of the ruling BJP are accusing the officials, including the Damoh district collector, of being 'biased' in their investigation and are pushing for a high level inquiry into the matter. The BJP has also alleged that the incident has a 'terror funding' link. Now, a fresh allegation has been made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairman Priyank Kanoongo, who claimed that the Ganga Jamuna School group was running a hostel in Bhopal which was also being used for alleged 'religious conversion'. It has demanded a probe into it. The controversy broke out at the private English medium school Ganga Jamuna when a poster of topper students, including Hindu girls, wearing the hijab emerged. Amid allegations of 'religious conversion' and 'terror funding', Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. Tokyo, June 12 : Japanese animation studio Ufotable has announced that the final episode of Season 3 of the highly popular dark fantasy action anime series 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' will be an extended 70-minute episode. The finale is set to air on June 18 in Japan and will be titled 'A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light'. Based on the manga of the same name by author and illustrator Kotoharu Gotogue, the series follows the journey of protagonist Tanjiro and his sister turned demon Nezuko, who join the elite fighting corps known as the Demon Slayers after the murder of their family by the demon king Muzan. Following the death of their family, the two embark upon a dark and gruesome journey where they wage war to destroy Muzan and his horde of man-eating demons. Season 3 of the anime adapts the Swordsmith Village Arc of the anime focusing on the two Upper Moon demons who have invaded the hidden village of the swordsmiths who craft the special blades used by the demon slayers. Japanese animation studio Ufotable in a tweet said: "Next week, we will present the final episode of 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - The Swordsmith Village Arc'. This special broadcast will be extended to a 70-minute finale. We hope you will enjoy it until the very end. #DemonSlayer". The manga was finished in 2020 and the 'Demon Slayer' anime can be seen on Netflix and Crunchyroll. Gurugram, June 12 : Two persons have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and extorting Rs 5.90 lakh from a 22-year-old property dealer's family, police said. The suspects have been identified as Karanveer and Himanshu, who were arrested from Churu, Rajasthan on Sunday. According to the police, a complaint was received on Saturday that a 22-year-old property dealer has been kidnapped by his two partners, who demanded a ransom of Rs 7 lakh. The family members of the victim negotiated with the kidnappers and paid them Rs 5.90 lakh as ransom amount. Following this, an FIR was registered at Rajendra Park Police Station. During the investigation, the accused revealed that they kidnapped the victim over an enmity of paying less commission in property purchase deals. The accused kidnapped the victim to extort money from him. "The culprits after receiving the ransom amount, released the victim at an unknown location near Rajgarh (Rajasthan), where he was traced by the police. The accused are on two days police remand for further probe," Subhash Boken, spokesperson of the Gurugram Police, said. New Delhi, June 12 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused the BJP and the Congress party of neglecting education for 37 years while inaugurating the new building of a Girls' Senior Secondary School in Uttam Nagar. He said that this school was opened in 1985 but was operating in temporary tin sheds. Kejriwal said that despite the BJP and Congress governments being in power for 37 years, no one took steps to improve the school. He emphasized that his government had rebuilt the school, which was previously functioning in substandard conditions. The infrastructure of the new school is now better than that of any private school. As per Kejriwal, when his government approved the construction of a new building in January 2021, the school was operating in 48 tin sheds. However, within a record time of 28 months, the new building was completed which consists of 41 classrooms, where 1,600 girls study. Additionally, the school has 12 labs, 2 libraries, offices and staff rooms, activity rooms, including those for children with special needs. Each floor also has a toilet block, and a lift is installed in the main school building. Moreover, the school boasts a multi-purpose auditorium with a seating capacity of 250 people. "Come what may, I will not let the work being done in education be hampered. This school exceeds the standards set by any private school. For 37 long years, both the BJP and Congress governed the state, yet education never found a place on their agenda. As a result, a permanent school building was never constructed here," Kejriwal said. Guwahati/Imphal, June 12 : In a significant development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as part of the efforts to restore peace and normalcy in violence-hit Manipur, has held a closed-door meeting with the state's Kuki tribal leaders and Kuki rebel groups in Guwahati. Kuki National Organisation (KNO) spokesperson Seilen Haokip, while talking to the media about the Sunday night meeting with the Assam Chief Minister, said that the discussion was "very positive, and was heading in the right direction". "We discussed the ceasefire and the end of any kind of offensive from both sides. We have responded positively. We are hopeful that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister will take positive steps to resolve the crisis," Haokip said. Sources said that leaders of the KNO and United People's Front (UPF) met Assam CM Sarma and discussed the prevailing situation in strife-torn Manipur. The meeting in Guwahati is a sequel to the government's outreach efforts to resolve the crisis at the earliest. The KNO and UPF are umbrella bodies of different Kuki militant groups. There have been allegations from different quarters that Kuki militants were involved in the recent series of violence in Manipur. A source close to Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), is likely to visit Manipur's tribal-dominated districts Kangpokpi and Churachandpur soon, and hold talks with the Civil Society Organisations and influential tribal leaders. Sarma on June 10 was on a day-long visit to Manipur during which he held a series of meetings in Imphal with his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh, several ministers, many MLAs and organisations, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) as an effort to tame the hostilities in the state that has so far killed over 105 people and injured more than 320. According to political analysts, Sarma, who is close to Home Minister Amit Shah, was carrying a message from Delhi to find a solution to the ethnic violence by involving all stakeholders. Amid the Kuki militants' alleged role in inciting tribals against the government, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi in April and apprised him about the 'ground situation' and 'adverse activities' of three outfits -- the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). The Manipur government earlier in March decided to unilaterally withdraw from Suspension of Operation (SoS) and a tripartite agreement with three insurgent groups was in accordance with the government's assessment that these outfits are supporting the influx of Myanmarese immigrants from across the border, encouraging illegal poppy cultivation and the drug trade. Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) in a letter to Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Monday strongly objected to the inclusion of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and representatives of the COCOMI, an apex body of the valley-based civil society organisation, in the peace committee headed by governor. The Meitei civil society organisations alleged that the Kuki militants who are in SoO are largely involved in the recent violence in the state. There are 2,266 Kuki cadres staying in different designated camps in Manipur after the Centre and the Manipur governments signed the tripartite SoO agreement with three outfits -- KNA, ZRA and KRA -- on August 22, 2008. JEFFERSON CITY Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey moved Thursday for the ouster of the Iron County sheriff, who is accused of helping a friend in a kidnapping plot. In a lawsuit using the same legal tactic Bailey used in his bid to force former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office, he alleges Iron County Sheriff Jeffery Burkett failed to perform his duties and has engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance. The petition alleges that Burkett is unfit to hold office after allegedly helping Rick Gaston, an Iron County resident, with a plot to kidnap Gastons children from their mother after a domestic dispute. As Attorney General, I will always work to hold accountable those who refuse to do their job as required by Missouri statute, Bailey said in a statement. To that end, I am moving for the removal of the Iron County Sheriff, and I demand that he resign effective immediately. The filing holds that Burkett has knowingly or willfully failed and refused to perform official acts and duties with respect to the execution or enforcement of criminal laws of the State, and has engaged in willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office. Burkett was released from the Jefferson County Jail in April after posting $250,000 bail. Burkett, along with two sheriffs deputies, were first charged in March. Burkett faces three felonies and six misdemeanors, including participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution and first-degree stalking. Burketts attorney, Gabe Crocker, earlier said as part of Burketts bail conditions, the sheriff has effectively been removed from office already. Burkett isnt allowed to serve as sheriff while his case is pending. In a statement, Crocker said Thursday, I am disappointed that the Attorney Generals Office would attempt to remove an elected official from office before any evidence has been heard in a court of law. However, I have been told that the Attorney General is a very reasonable and grounded individual and I look forward to working with his office to resolve this matter. Baileys office argues that Burkett abused his power and authority as an elected sheriff by encouraging other law enforcement officers to make illegal arrests and detentions, knowing that he had no jurisdiction or authority and knowing that the arrests and seizures lacked any probable cause or reasonable suspicion. The petition further says Burketts actions of utilizing his office and its resources, including two deputies, to further criminal acts and conspiracies, were willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, and misfeasance, and constitute willful and fraudulent violations of his official duty to enforce the criminal laws of the State. The petition also asks the Court to remove Burkett from office immediately due to the Missouri Department of Public Safetys temporary suspension of his peace officer certification. Burketts release on bond came with several conditions, including GPS monitoring and a prohibition on serving as a law enforcement officer in any capacity. The sheriff is charged with, among other crimes, falsely reporting to 911 dispatchers that the childs mother had kidnapped the girl and that she was in danger. The sheriff and his two deputies also are accused of using pings from the mothers cellphone to try to track her whereabouts. The criminal street gang charge alleges they were organized to commit the crimes. The mother and child ended up at the home of a Jefferson County sheriffs official and they were fine. Seoul, June 12 : South Korean star Park Soo Ryun, who is known for 'Snowdrop', and has appeared in several musicals such as 'The Days We Loved' and 'Siddhartha' has died following a fatal accident at the age of 29. The actress fell down a flight of stairs while returning to her home. She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors 'declared her brain dead after resuscitating her', reports 'Osen'. She reportedly died just a day before her performance in Jeju Island. In honour of the actor, her family has decided to donate her organs. Park Soo Ryun's mother told Soompi, "Only her brain is unconscious, and her heart is still beating. There must be someone who desperately needs (organs). As her mother and father, we will be able to live comforted (by the thought that her heart) has gone to someone and is beating." Park Soo Ryun made her debut in 2018 with the musical 'Il Tenore'. She then went on to appear in more musicals. In 'Snowdrop', Park Soo Ryun played the role of one of the detained university students who were later released by authorities later. New Delhi, June 12 : A Delhi court on Monday rejected Punjab Police's request seeking transit remand of Amritpal Singh alias Ammy and Amrik Singh, two 'wanted' close associates of Canada-based 'listed terrorist' Arsh Dala, saying the application was "belated". The two are in judicial custody after their National Investogation Agency (NIA) custody ended in connection with a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case. The accused were to be produced before a Punjab court on Monday on a production warrant it had issued earlier in a case of extortion registered at Jagraon Sadar police station at Ludhiana. Punjab Police had registered a case against the accused persons under Sections concerning extortion, Arms Act and the UAPA in January this year. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Isha Singh said the application was filed today (Monday) at 11.55 a.m. and, even if she allows the application, it would be impossible to produce them in the court before 5 p.m. "If the accused had to be produced before the court concerned in Jagraon, Punjab, the investigating officer should have filed the application in time. This application is belated." On June 6, Special Judge Shailendra Malik of Patiala House Court had sent the accused persons to judicial custody till July 4. The NIA had arrested the two on May 19 when they arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) from Manila where they had been hiding. The agency had questioned them related to their alleged involvement in hiring youth for Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and also in the smuggling and procurement of arms and ammunition and raising funds for the organisation. Both Amritpal Singh and Amrik Singh hail from Punjab. The NIA had said that their investigations have revealed that the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for the banned terrorist organisation KTF, and also smuggle arms, ammunition and explosives for it from across the border. Amaravati, June 12 : The office of Andhra Pradesh's Information and Public Relations Minister Chelluboina Venugopala Krishna on Monday denied that the minister's chamber at state Secretariat was locked by the employees protesting against non-payment of salaries. The office clarified that there was some delay in opening the minister's room but some television channels spread fake news. It was reported by some media organisations that employees locked the office to protest non-payment of salaries for eight months. According to the reports, the employees stayed away from duties and refused to open the chamber till payment of their salaries. Some channels reported that the employees resorted to the protest as their repeated requests to the minister and officials to pay their salaries fell on deaf ears. On June 9, they had reportedly made it clear that if their salaries were not paid, they will not attend duties from Monday (June 12). However, the minister's office issued a statement clarifying that there was delay in opening the office as two of the three attenders had not attended duties due to personal reasons while the third reached late. According to the statement, the minister's office worked as usual with OSD and PROs attending their duties and receiving applications from visitors. The minister's office clarified that there was no delay in payment of salaries to employees but some media channels spread fake news to malign the government. Maharashtra Congress Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan says the Mumbra conversions story is as bogus as 'The Kerala Story'. Image Source: IANS News Maharashtra Congress Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan says the Mumbra conversions story is as bogus as 'The Kerala Story'. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, June 12 : Lampooning claims that 400 people were allegedly 'converted through online apps', the Maharashtra Congress termed it "as bogus as the contentions of 'The Kerala Story' film", here on Monday. State Congress Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan said that after listening to some telephonic conversations, the Uttar Pradesh Police from Ghaziabad rushed to Thane and arrested one local youth to publicise the issue of alleged conversions to Islam. "We challenge the government to publish the list of those 400 persons who have allegedly converted as per the wild claims," Khan said. He pointed out how the controversial film "The Kerala Story" also made such baseless claims that 30,000 women were converted and recruited by the IS, and how the film was screened widely during the recent Karnataka assembly elections. "The film was promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. However, when the issue reached the courts, the film-makers themselves clarified that it was a work of fiction. The people of Karnataka also rejected it outright. The Mumbra story of 400 alleged conversions is equally fake," said Khan. A Thane Court on Monday granted transit remand to the prime accused Shahnawaz Khan, a.k.a. Baddo -- in the alleged conversion case through gaming app -- and ordered to be presented before a Ghaziabad court within three days. Khan, 23, a resident of Devripada (Thane) was tracked and nabbed by the Mumbra Police in the district from a resort in Alibaug (Raigad district), and today handed over to a 4-member team of Ghaziabad Police camping here for the past six days. Absconding for several days since the alleged conversion racket erupted in Uttar Pradesh, Khan was reportedly in touch with some children who were targeted through a gaming app, 'Fortnite'. Following complaints of this and other alleged 'conversions through app scam', the Kavinagar Police Station of Ghaziabad lodged a FIR on May 30 against Khan. New Delhi, June 12 : IPS officer Nitin Agarwal has been appointed as the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). A 1989 batch Kerala cadre officer, Agarwal has previously served as the Additional Director General, Operations, of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The BSF has been without a full-time chief since the retirement of Pankaj Singh on December 31, 2022. CRPF Director General Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen was holding additional charge as its chief. According to the information available, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed Agarwal as the BSF chief on Sunday night. Agarwal will hold the post until he retires from service on July 31, 2026 or further orders. His appointment comes during the ongoing biannual meeting with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Thaosen is currently leading the Indian delegation in the four-day meeting being held in Delhi, while Major General A.K.M. Nazmul Hasan is leading the BGB delegation. Since this meeting will conclude on June 14, Agarwal will assume the responsibilities of the BSF chief thereafter. Chandigarh, June 12 : Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said the government has been drafting a vision document to achieve a rate of growth of the economy at 7.5 per cent per annum by 2030 and 10 per cent by 2047. He said this document would act as a guide for successive governments to focus their efforts and policies in the right direction. Cheema told the media here that the comprehensive vision document being drafted by the Planning Department would highlight the current status, sector-wise challenges, short-term (2030) and long-term (2047) targets, and strategies to achieve the identified targets. "It aims at converging efforts of different administrative departments and agencies to meet the challenges and achieve identified sectoral goals," he said. Divulging further, the Finance Minister said this document would also highlight the grey areas which require serious and rigorous efforts to rejuvenate the state's economy while giving impetus to employment, industry, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure development, sustainable cities, and communities. "Efforts are being made to focus on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, health infrastructure and provisioning, achieving gender equality, affordable and clean energy, climate action and natural resource conservation," said Cheema. The minister said the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government is committed to regaining the old glory of the state by making of 'Rangla Punjab' through effective economic policies and people-oriented programs like 'Sarkar Tuhade Dwar'. He said so far three Cabinet meetings have been held at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Mansa under the 'Sarkar Tuhade Dwar' programme. "For the first time in the state, a revolution has been brought in the entire governance system by making the bureaucracy directly accountable to the people," he added. New Delhi, June 12 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday said that it has attached 17 properties of Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, a financier of terrorism in J&K, in a Hurriyat terror funding case. Yasin Malik, a JKLF commander, is currently serving a life sentence in this case. Alongside Yasin Malik, seventeen others, including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Mohd Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, a top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, have also been charged in the case. The NIA registered the case suo moto on May 30, 2017. Malik was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine. The case pertains to terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu & Kashmir conducted by proscribed ISI-backed organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). These outfits have been spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the valley by promoting and carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces. "Seventeen properties belonging to Watali in the Handwara area of Kupwara in Kashmir have been attached by the NIA today, on the orders of the Special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act," said the NIA official. The official said that these banned terrorist groups were using the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), formed in 1993, as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities in Kashmir. Investigations in the case have revealed that the accused secessionists, including the APHC, entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of inciting the general public to create a tense atmosphere in the Kashmir valley and resort to violence. Watali had been sending funds raised from various sources to Hurriyat leaders to promote the secession of Jammu & Kashmir from the Union of India. NIA investigations revealed that Watali was a hawala conduit who received money from Hafiz Saeed, a 'Specially Designated Global terrorist' by the United States and a 'listed global terrorist' by the UN. Hafiz Saeed masterminded the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Watali received foreign remittances amounting to crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources. Additionally, he received foreign remittances in his Proprietorship Firm named M/s 'Trisson International', Srinagar, and unexplained remittances were found in his NRE Bank accounts. "Watali claimed to have sold a plot of land measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by his company, M/s 'Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt. Ltd.', to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case. However, investigations found that neither Watali nor his aforementioned company were the owners of this plot of land according to the revenue records. Watali is currently facing trial before the Special NIA Court in New Delhi," said the official. Ew Delhi, June 12 : Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested four sharpshooters of Hasim Baba and Suhail alias Chappal gang in connection with a shootout in northeast Delhi's Jafrabad in which four persons were injured earlier this month, an official said on Monday. The accused have been identified as Gosh (22), Anas Iqbal (29), Shaved (26) and Shahzad (35). The official said that the incident took place on June 5 in which four men with criminal background and affiliated to gangster Ifran alias Chennu were attacked by several gunmen equipped with sophisticated arms. All the four victims sustained gunshot injuries. The video of the incident was captured on various CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity of the crime, also doing rounds on social media. The Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ravindra Singh Yadav, said that after the incident, the police team started analysing all the available details of the Hasim Baba gang and also activated the informers. "The accused kept changing their locations in Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh. The team kept chasing them and as a result, specific information was received that the persons involved in the said shootout are going to gather near the Rain Basera at Welcome. "Accordingly, a trap was laid and the accused persons involved in the shootout were apprehended with the fire-arms used in the incident of shootout at Jafrabad," said Yadav. On interrogation, was revealed that the said shootout took place on the directions of Suhail, a close aide of gangster Hashim Baba. "The persons injured in the incident are members of Irfan alias Chennu Pehalwan gang and they had gone to collect money from those satta operators from whom gangster Hasim is extorting money to let them run their rackets," said the Special CP. Suhail, on Hasim's directions, had planned to eliminate the associates of gangster Cheenu Pehalwan, who were meddling in their turf and profits of illegal activities. "One of the accused, Shahzad, gave shelter to all shooters for eight days prior to the incident and also helped them in harboring after the incident and later took them to his native village," said the officer. "When police team reached the village, they got to know that the accused persons had returned to Delhi after staying there for some time. Later, the accused shooters got to know that the injured victims, though critical, had survived and were still alive. So, they were therefore tasked to attack and eliminate them as directed by Hashim through handler Suhail," said the officer. The police have also recovered five weapons, including three country-made pistols and 15 cartridges, from the possession of the accused. New Delhi, June 12 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch coasts as Cyclone Biparjoy has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and is expected to impact the state and Pakistan in the coming days. "The extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' (pronounced as 'Biporjoy') over east central and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 07 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 1430 hours IST of June 12 over the same region near latitude 19.7 degrees North and longitude 67.5 degrees East, about 310 km southwest of Porbandar, 340 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 410 km south-southwest of Jakhau Port, 420 km south-southwest of Naliya and 580 km south of Karachi (Pakistan)," IMD said in a statement issued on Monday. "It is very likely to move nearly northwards till June 14 morning, then move north northeast wards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph," it said. The IMD further predicted that that there will be light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi districts of Saurashtra and Kutch on Wednesday. "The intensity of rainfall would increase with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely 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 Thursday," said an IMD official. "Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat region on Thursday, while light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over north Gujarat and adjoining south Rajasthan on Friday," it said. Meanwhile, according to the IMD, the Southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Karnataka, Konkan, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, some more parts of Andhra Pradesh and northwest Bay of Bengal, most parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and some parts of Bihar on Monday. The IMD predicted that severe heat wave conditions very likely to continue in isolated pockets over Chhattisgarh, Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam during the next two days. "Heat wave conditions are also very likely to continue in isolated pockets over south Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand during next five days, over Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during next two days and over Telangana during next 24 hours. Hot and humid conditions very likely over Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema during the next two days," the IMD said. Bhopal, June 12 : Three persons including the principal of Damoh-based Ganga Jamna Higher Secondary School, where a controversy erupted over Hindu girl students allegedly being forced to wear hijab-like headscarves, have been arrested, the police said on Monday. The arrested individuals have been identified as Afsa Sheikh (school principal), Anas Atahar (mathematics teacher) and Rustam Ali (security guard). They were arrested after a raid was conducted, the police said. "We are conducting raids in the district as other persons are also accused in this case and they are absconding. We have also invoked section 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the IPC," Damoh Superintendent of Police Rakesh Singh told the media on Monday. He further stated the three were arrested on the basis of statements of 6-7 witnesses, mainly of the school students and their family members. The arrested individuals were later presented at a court which sent them to judicial custody. A controversy erupted last month after a poster celebrating the school's success in Class 10 Board exams was put up outside the premises, featuring non-Muslim students in headscarves. This set off a series of protests by right-wing groups, who raised allegations of 'religious conversion'. Subsequently, Home Minister Narottam Mishra ordered a probe into the incident. Later, the school was also de-recognised. Narottam Mishra on Monday indicated that the administration is likely to carry out a 'bulldozer operation' against Damoh-based Ganga Jamna school. "The investigation is still underway and the accused are being arrested one after another. Police have also launched a search for those who are on the run. Those involved in the case will not be spared and bulldozer action will also be carried out," Mishra said, adding that "layers of crime are being opened one after another. Things will be made clearer once the police complete their investigation". A Park Hills man was reportedly arrested Thursday on allegations of possessing child pornography. Gerardo Ramone Roche Cardenas, 27, is charged in St. Francois County with three felony counts based on an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). In an MSHP probable cause statement, investigators say in April, they received information Cardenas possessed multiple videos of child pornography. One video involved an approximately 4-year-old child engaging in sexual acts with two adult males. The report states the information received was credible, and a search warrant was issued. Investigators say they interviewed Cardenas on Thursday and that he admitted to possessing and viewing the pornography. Cardenas reportedly admitted he currently had child pornography on his current Google account and other Google accounts which were shut down. Allegedly, Cardenas stated he looked at the pornography out of curiosity and was ashamed of what he had seen. The statement says Cardenas showed investigators the pornography he possessed using his cell phone. Investigators say they previewed three of the files containing the pornography. Two of the videos allegedly showed two female children between the ages of 12 and 14 performing sex acts. Another video allegedly showed a female child between 10 and 12 years of age engaging in sexual acts. Investigators say Cardenas is a flight risk because he is not a U.S. citizen and has ties to Mexico. Investigators also allege Cardenas is a danger to the community because of his alleged sexual interest in children. Cardenas is in custody at the St. Francois County Jail. A cash or surety bond has been set at $200,000. Other bond stipulations require Cardenas to allow GPS monitoring; he is not allowed to possess controlled substances; he can have no contact with any child under 18 years of age; and he must be confined to his residence except for work, medical treatment, court appearances, bond meetings, and attorney meetings. Cardenas is scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday, June 12, at the St. Francois County Courthouse. Patna, June 12 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lost his cool over Science and Technology Minister Sumit Singh during an appointment letter distribution event in Patna on Monday. While Nitish Kumar was addressing the gathering after the distribution of appointment letters to assistant professors and lecturers, he asked Sumit Singh to concentrate on what he was saying. Sumit Singh was talking to an officer of his department while Nitish Kumar was addressing the gathering. "Why are you talking to each other? Don't talk to each other. You should understand what I am saying here. Your secretary is listening to me but you are not concentrating on what I am saying. Don't talk to each other and speed up the construction works of the buildings of your departments," Nitish Kumar said. During the occasion, Nitish Kumar also advocated to change the name of the science and technology department to science, technology and technical education department. Bengaluru, June 12 : The arrested street vendor, selling second hand clothes, has told the police that he attacked the Netherlands YouTuber due to the fear of his business getting affected. The police probe has also revealed that the incident had taken place two months ago. DCP West Lakshman Nimbargi said that police has detained the accused and identified him as Nawab Hayath Sharif (58). He said that the accused has been slapped with Section 92 of the Karnataka Police Act. Section 92 prescribes punishment for street offences and nuisance and also prescribes a fine which may extend to Rs 100 and in case of default of payment of such fine shall not exceed eight days notwithstanding anything in section 67 of the IPC. Responding to viral posts appealing action, Bengaluru City police Commissioner B. Dayananda said that it's an old video which is now in circulation. The person harassing in the video has been identified, traced and action taken. There is no scope for such high-handedness in Namma Bengaluru against anybody. When the YouTuber was making a video on Sultanpet streets in Chickpet locality, the accused feared that after recording, the YouTuber may give information to the police, and he won't be allowed to carry on with his business. The accused also runs an auto-rickshaw for livelihood. An incident of a YouTuber from the Netherlands being harassed in Bengaluru was reported on Sunday and the video and photos of the incident had gone viral a day later. Pedro Mota, a YouTuber from the Netherlands, who is on tour of Karnataka for two months, came to Bengaluru and introduced the interior parts of the city. While the YouTuber was live, the accused appears from nowhere and start to question him for making the video in a public place. The accused also tries to drag the YouTuber. However, as the YouTuber is heckled, he manages to escape. All the sequences were recorded on the video which went viral on social media. Mudassir Ahmad, a whistle blower, who got the photos and videos of the incident, put out a post on social media condemning the incident. "This random guy in Chickpet harassed a foreigner, is this how we treat our guests?" Mudassir had questioned. He had also demanded action from the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and jurisdictional Chickpet police. Advocate Ashutosh J Dubey had also condemned the incident. "It is shameful that someone would act in such a disrespectful manner towards a foreign visitor who was visiting Bengaluru, India; urgent action should be done against that person," advocate Ashutosh said. New Delhi, June 12 : The Delhi High Court on Monday granted six weeks' interim bail to businessman Sameer Mahendru in a money-laundering case pertaining to excise policy, observing that he was suffering from diseases requiring immediate medical attention and post-operative care. Directing that the accused be released from jail immediately, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said that health condition of a human being deserves utmost importance and right to health is one of the most significant dimensions of Article 21 of the Constitution. Every person has a right to get himself adequately and effectively treated, the court said. "The fact that the petitioner is unable to sit, bend forward, and not even able to lift any weight suggests the infirmity on the part of the petitioner to carry out day-to-day routine activities and non-following the advice and the specialised treatment may lead to neurological damage to the petitioner," it added. "Medical condition of the petitioner, coupled with the unblemished conduct and the grant of regular bail to the co-accused are reasons that are sufficient enough for this Court to grant interim bail to the petitioner for receiving specialised treatment," it said. However, Justice Singh imposed certain conditions such as the accused to not leave the limits of the hospital and his house and also the country. After the expiry of the interim bail period, he shall surrender before the trial court before or at 5 p.m. on July 25. "The petitioner (Mahendru) is admitted to interim bail for a period of six weeks on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 10,00,000 (Rs 10 lakhs) with two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court concerned," the court ordered. It was noted by the court that there is nothing against Mahendru on record showing that he misused previous interim bails granted and was also not found to be an absconder. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed it saying that Mahendru's condition was found to be stable and that his pain had decreased significantly and was thus not entitled to be enlarged on medical bail. Earlier, the ED had alleged that Mahendru is the kingpin and the focal point around which the entire criminal conspiracy developed and he was essential to the cartel's establishment and ensuring the repayment of the kickback amounts. Mahendru has been charge sheeted by Central Bureau of Investigation, too. Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's day out at the iconic Times Square in New York received contrasting coverage from traditional rival media outlets 'Janmabhoomi' - party organ of the BJP and Kairali TV - the CPI-M- backed Malayalam TV channel. Vijayan and a tour party consisting of his wife, top political leaders was in the US to attend the three day meeting of the regional meeting of Loka Kerala Sabha at New York, which ended on Sunday evening. Janmabhoomi reported that it turned out to be a damp squib and all the hype of thousands of people attending the event fell flat. To buttress their claims of that they came out with an aerial picture at the time when Vijayan was addressing the event at the Times Square. But Kairali TV said it was a resounding success and a mammoth crowd had gathered to hear Vijayan speak and many expressed surprise on the negative publicity that was done by a section of the media. Incidentally a huge controversy had broken out in the run-up to the event after news surfaced that one has to shell out a minimum of $50,000 if one has to get a seat with Vijayan and have dinner with him. Many were surprised to hear Vijayan speak on Friday in New York to say if they had paid any money to take part in the event and slammed the leading vernacular daily here for spreading canards about his event in the US. Loka Kerala Sabha was formed by Vijayan soon after he took over in 2016 and is basically a meeting of the diaspora. New Delhi, June 12 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday said that India's G20 presidency was successful in bringing back the platform's focus on issues pertinent to the Global South, though at the same time ensuring that seriousness of Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact are not diminished. Briefing media persons after the G20 Development Ministers' meeting in Varanasi, Jaishankar said that the 'G20 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)' and 'G20 High Level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development' were unanimously approved during the meeting. "Right now, our focus is how do you address the pressing needs of the developing countries, the small island developing states, the least developed countries, those who are really teetering on the edge of an abyss," he said. "The G20 recognised today that the Global South is facing great problems that need to be responded with an action plan. This action plan was proposed by India," he added. Everybody supported this action plan and there was absolutely no politics over it, he added further. "The seven-year action plan focusses on devising bold, decisive actions on fostering data for development and digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and human-centric economic growth and sustainable finance for development," Jaishankar told reporters. New Delhi, June 12 : The Congress on Monday criticised the government over the alleged data breach of the Covid vaccine beneficiaries, dubbing it as a very grave matter with serious implications for privacy, making everyone vulnerable to financial fraud. The Congress also slammed Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, saying instead of issuing casual "WhatsApp forward-style tweets, he should clarify at the very least". In a tweet, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "The personal data breach is a very grave matter with serious implications for privacy, security and makes us all vulnerable to financial frauds. The tech-savvy Minister instead of issuing casual WhatsApp forward-style tweets should hold a Press Conference at the earliest and clarify at the very least." Firing questions at the government, the Rajya Sabha MP said: "What does he mean by 'previously stolen data stolen in the past' - stolen from which database, when, and what action was taken? If the CoWIN database hasn't been 'directly breached', is the Minister then accepting that it is an indirect breach? What other databases are linked to the CoWIN database that has led to this vulnerability?" Ramesh also asked what immediate steps the Narendra Modi government is taking to secure the personal data of crores of Indians who trusted the government to keep their details safe. Even earlier, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on Monday hit back at Chandrasekhar, saying that he was appalled at the minister's casual response regarding the breach of privacy of 1.4 billion Indians. Venugopal engaged with Chandrasekhar after Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale alleged that the data of several citizens, including politicians and journalists, who took Covid vaccine, has been leaked and asked why the Centre was not aware of the incident. In a response to Chandrasekhar's tweet, Venugopal, who is a Rajya Sabha MP said, "I am appalled at your casual response to the breach of privacy of 1.4 billion Indians. If a Telegram bot can throw up CoWIN details simply by inputting mobile numbers, it will not take too long for an automated software to harvest all COWIN data within a matter of hours." The Congress leader said that this breach clearly shows that CoWIN data was not encrypted. "If it were, only those with the necessary authorisation will be able to access such data, and random Telegram bots will not be able to decrypt such personal data," he said, adding that "since you mention 'previously breached/stolen data,' you're clearly admitting that CoWIN data has already been breached. It is then baseless for you to say that it 'does not appear' that the CoWIN app has been breached." "Until June 2021, nearly 6 months after the vaccination process began, the CoWIN app had no privacy policy and the government even refused to put one in place," he said. He said that in 2017, the Supreme Court declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right. "The government also gave an assurance that a data protection law was in the making. From the time of the constitution of the Srikrishna Committee on Data Protection in 2017 until today, we have seen multiple versions of the Data Protection Bill, countless rounds of consultation, and a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Except, in its last move, the government decided to completely start afresh, instead of rectifying the lacunae in the draft legislation," he said. "The duty of any entity, especially the government, is to protect individual privacy above everything else. This responsibility also extends to destroying data which is no longer required, so that it is not vulnerable to such breaches. If not, the entity must have watertight mechanisms to protect data in its custody. No step taken by the government, be it in managing health data through CoWIN or Aarogya Setu, or in implementing any data protection framework, inspires confidence. It is clear that no citizen can trust this government with its private information. Only an impartial, high-level judicial probe into the government's entire data management apparatus can identify the extent of danger that is posed to our privacy as a result of this government's carelessness," Venugopal added. His remarks came after Chandrasekhar in a tweet said, "With reference to some alleged CoWIN data breaches reported on social media, CERT-In has immediately responded to the threat and reviewed it." "A Telegram bot was throwing up CoWIN app details upon entry of phone numbers. The data being accessed by bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from the past," the minister said in a tweet. The minister said that it does not appear that the CoWIN app or database has been directly breached. The National Data Governance policy has been finalised that will create a common framework of data storage, access and security standards across all of the government," Chandrasekhar said. Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday dubbed the alleged data breach of Covid-19 vaccine beneficiaries as "mischievous in nature", saying that the CoWIN portal is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy. The Health Ministry said that it has requested the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to look into this issue and submit a report, besides initiating an internal exercise to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. New Delhi, June 12 : The Delhi High Court on Monday granted permission for a 13-year-old victim of sexual assault to undergo a medical termination of pregnancy beyond the 24-week limit. A vacation bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh was hearing the victim's plea seeking permission for the termination with the assistance of registered medical practitioners. The decision was made after considering a report from a medical board that examined the minor girl. Perusing the medical report submitted by the board, Justice Singh ordered: "In view of the opinion of the medical board wherein it has been opined that the continuation of pregnancy in this case carries the higher risk to both the mother and the foetus, it is directed that the termination of pregnancy be effected as soon as possible by the doctors at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital." On June 9, the court had directed the medical board, comprising of minimum two doctors at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, to review the minor's case for medical termination of pregnancy. The court has also directed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority to assess the possibility of providing compensation to the petitioner in accordance with the relevant policy. The victim's parents have given their consent for the abortion, citing the potential severe physical and mental harm to their daughter if the pregnancy continues. The court was informed that the petitioner was taken to her hometown in Madhya Pradesh following the sexual assault incident, and she was found to be nearly 24 weeks pregnant. An FIR was filed under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The victim's lawyer stated that she is currently in critical condition at the hospital. The court allowed the plea moved by the minor through her father seeking termination of the pregnancy through registered medical practitioners. "The petition is allowed and disposed of. The DSLSA shall also look into the compensation to be paid to the victim," the judge said. Amaravati, June 12 : Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader Pawan Kalyan on Monday appointed incharges for 26 Assembly constituencies in Telangana and asked the party leaders from the state to prepare for contesting the coming elections. The actor-politician held a meeting with JSP leaders from Telangana and directed them to be ready for the Assembly elections. Pawan Kalyan said that the JSP will work to fulfill the aspirations of Telangana movement. He said that 1,300 martyrs laid down their lives for Telangana and though the separate state was achieved, their expectations remained unfulfilled. Stating that no party has given a chance to so many newcomers, he asked the constituency incharges to make use of the opportunity. Pawan Kalyan told JSP leaders that he would soon undertake a campaign on his special campaign vehicle 'Varahi' in Telangana. In May last year, Pawan Kalyan had announced that the JSP will contest the polls in Telangana. He had said the party may field candidates in 20 per cent of the constituencies in the state but a final decision on number of seats or alliances with other parties will be taken after discussion in the party. Elections for 119-member Telangana Assembly are due to be held in November-December this year. Meanwhile, well-known film producer B.V.S.N. Prasad joined the JSP on Monday in the presence of Pawan Kalyan, who welcomed him into the party fold. Prasad was producer of Pawan Kalyan starrer "Attarintiki Daredi". He produced films under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra. Pawan Kalyan on Monday participated in religious rituals at the JSP head office in Mangalagiri. He is set to embark on Varahi Yatra on June 14 in Andhra Pradesh with the aim to end the rule of the YSR Congress Party. Patna, June 12 : A man in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, believed to be dead and his 'body' cremated a couple of days ago, has returned home alive, police said on Monday. The incident, which has raised a serious question mark on the police investigation, occurred at Babhangama village under Aurai police station in the district. Teju Sahani had gone to Muzaffarpur for a court case a week ago. Subsequently, a dead body was found near the village and his son Pramod Sahani identified the body as of his father. Following the identification, local police conducted a post-mortem examination and handed over the dead body for cremation. "We had found the dead body. It looked like my father. The villagers also said that it was of my father Teju Sahani. Accordingly we have cremated it after the post-mortem examination," said Pramod Sahani. After the disappearance of my father, my mother also expired a few days ago and we held her last rites," he added. However, he revealed that on Sunday, they learnt that his father was seen at Muzaffarpur railway station. "We immediately went there and brought him home. We have also informed the local police about the development," Pramod Sahani said. "The dead body was identified by Pramod Sahani. However, his father is alive and returned home on Sunday. Now, we are investigating the identification of the dead body which was cremated a couple of days ago," DSP, Muzaffarpur East, Manoj Pandey, said. New Delhi, June 12 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors began an indefinite sit-in protest at the Karol Bagh Zone Office of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) against the alleged "nexus between the building mafia and the civic body officials". "For the past five months, AAP councillors have been raising this issue in every meeting with the officials but no action has been taken against it. We have brought up this issue in the presence of both the DC (District Commissioner) and the AC (Assistant Commissioner) but no action has been taken," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said in a statement on Monday. The AAP councillors demanded an investigation into this alleged nexus, and the removal of the local District Commissioner. The AAP councillors have alleged that "corrupt MCD officials are extorting money from people who are constructing buildings in the area". They claimed "this indicates a collusion between the building mafia and the MCD officials". The AAP has also alleged that the building mafia has been harassing the local residents on a daily basis by issuing them notices and causing trouble. "The AAP wants to know how many notices were issued by the DC in the past five years and how many were issued in the past five months since they came to power in the MCD. In the past five months, these individuals have issued more notices compared to the last five years. Moreover, during the previous five years, no actions were taken against illegal constructions because the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) was in power in the MCD. They received money from BJP councillors, which is why no action was taken," the statement said. "Our demand is for an investigation into the alleged nexus between the building mafia and the MCD officials. The protest will continue until our demands are met," the statement added. Early last month, organizers of the annual Feed My Sheep bake sale and silent auction gathered at Desloge First Baptist Church, the location of the event, to review the results of their April 1 fundraiser and to hand out checks to local food pantries. The result? Another successful year of feeding flocks. Many sheep have been fed since 2018, when Jack and Elizabeth Poston, inspired by the Help the Hungry Bake Sale in Farmington and Madison County's Feed the Families Bake Sale, started the annual fundraiser and planned it for the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Following the sale, the money raised is divided proportionally according to the number of people using the pantries, according to East Missouri Action Agency records. This year, a total of $35,300 was raised. May 9, it was dispersed to the representatives of the food pantries by church representatives. Poston told the organizers and the food pantries who were involved with the success of the fundraiser he and his wife Elizabeth were grateful to them. Thank you for all you do. You make our job easier. We thank you for this and I want to challenge you, he said. As dedicated as you are, we need more people. So I challenge you to be thinking of the church, the group you represent. Is there somebody who you will lead into our circle who could help us in case something happens and, God forbid, you might be unable to help us? Were looking at the future of this fundraiser and how necessary it is to keep it going. Proceeds benefit five food pantries in central and northern St. Francois County: Bismarck Church of God Food Pantry, which accepted $3,904 or 11.06% of the proceeds; Bonne Terre/St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry, which was given a check for $9,513, or 26.95% of the proceeds; Elvins Food Pantry, which accepted $7,717, or 21.86% of the proceeds; House of Praise Food Pantry, which was given $2,902, or 8.22% of the proceeds; and Immaculate Conception/St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry, which was given a check for $11,264, which amounted to 31.91% of the proceeds. Since its conception, Feed My Sheep has donated more than $150,000 to the food pantries. Last year, the organization distributed $25,000. The COVID-19 pandemic led to two years' cancellation, but Feed My Sheep still managed to collect $24,500 in 2021 and $8,000 in 2020. Before that, the charity sales brought in nearly $25,000 in 2018 and more than $35,000 in 2019. Sponsorships helped raise a significant portion of the money. This year's business sponsors included New Era Bank on the Good Shepherd donation level, donating $500 or more. American Heritage Abstract was a Ram-level sponsor with a donation of $300 or more. Sponsors on the Lamb-level, contributing $200 or more, were C. Z. Boyer & Son, Inc.; Gibson Quality Roofing & Construction, Inc.; and Lix Frozen Custard. Herdsman-level sponsors donating $100 or more included Complete Vision Care; Mineral Area Overhead Door; Sam Scism Motors; Vicky Crocker Realty; American Mattress & Recliners; Emma's; Willette Home Furnishings; RB Insurance Brokerage; and C-Barn Inc. For additional information, contact Jack and Elizabeth Poston by phone at 573-431-0391 or by email at post81@charter.net. Beirut, June 13 : Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on the UN peacekeeping forces to pressure Israel to stop violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and the bulldozing works within Lebanese territories. Mikati made the appeal during a meeting with Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, Chief of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), at the Grand Serail in Beirut, according to a statement by Lebanon's Council of Ministers on Monday. Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to provisions of the international Resolution 1701 and coordination with the UNIFIL to maintain stability along the borders, the statement quoted Mikati as saying. The Prime Minister stressed in the statement that "Lebanon adheres to its right to recover its occupied lands and not to abandon them." Lebanon's southern border witnessed increased tensions over the past three days as Israeli forces clashed with Lebanese citizens protesting against the Israeli military's construction of a barrier near the border, Xinhua news agency reported. Claiming the barrier was being built on Lebanese territory, the protesters threw stones at Israeli forces, who responded by firing tear gas grenades. Meanwhile, Israeli forces said that Lebanese civilians tried to tear down the barrier while throwing stones at the troops, which responded with "crowd dispersal means". Bhopal:Fire bursts out of the third floor of Satpura Bhawan.which offices of various departments of the Madhya Pradesh Government after a fire broke out in Bhopal on Monday June 12,2023. (Photo:Hukum Verma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bhopal:Firemen douse fire that broke out on the third floor of Satpura Bhawan.which are various departments of the Madhya Pradesh Government after a fire broke out in Bhopal on Monday June 12,2023. (Photo:Hukum Verma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Bhopal, June 13 : The six-storey Satpura Bhawan, where at least half a dozen departments of the Madhya Pradesh government are located, was engulfed in a massive fire on Monday, resulting in damage to official records, computers, furniture and other property. The fire, which broke out on the third floor of the building, where the Tribal Welfare Department is located, gradually, spread to cover the entire building and was still raging late in the night. However, no casualty was reported, according to an official statement released late night. The fire was so massive that efforts by the firefighters for several hours could not control it, and fire services of the Airport Authority of India were also summoned. Later, the state government sought the help of the IAF to douse the fire. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who was present at the spot at 11.20 p.m., told media persons that Air Force helicopters will reach soon to help douse the blaze. The Satpura Bhawan is located in front of the Madhya Pradesh Secretariat Vallabh Bhawan. All official records, especially pertaining to the Tribal Welfare Department, were reportedly reduced into ashes in the fire. The exact reason of the fire was yet to ascertained so far, however, preliminary information indicates that a blast in an air conditioner may have caused it, Additional Chief Secretary, Administration, Vinod Kumar said. Mishra also said that a high level committee has been formed to investigate the fire incident in Satpura Bhawan. The five-member committee, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Rajesh Rajora will conduct a detailed inquiry in the matter and submit the report to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Meanwhile, the Congress has raised apprehension on fire incident, alleging that the incident could be a planed conspiracy to destroy files and other documents. State media in-charge K.K. Mishra said: "Today, (Congress General Secretary) Priyanka Gandhi started the election campaign in MP. A fire broke out at Satpura Bhawan. It is an attempt to destroy documents to hide the corruption of BJP government. During a press conference two weeks back, I had mentioned the BJP would try destroy files to hide its corruption and fire incidents would start in government offices, and now it happened." Damascus, June 13 : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that the Syria-Turkey normalisation talks should work toward the goals of Turkish withdrawal from Syria and counter-terrorism, media reported. During his meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister's senior advisor Ali Asghar Khaji, Assad said Syria's main goals in the upcoming talks are Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory and the fight against terrorism, state news agency SANA reported on Monday. The two sides must find ways to realise these goals in cooperation with the Russian and Iranian sides, the President added. For his part, Asghar Khaji, an advisor on special political affairs, lauded Syria for normalisation with some other Arab countries, Xinhua news agency reported. Iran and Russia have been mediating normalisation talks between Syria and Turkey recently, arranging several meetings on the level of Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers. Since late last year when Russia and Iran were paving the way for the Syria-Turkey negotiations, the Syrian government has prioritised the withdrawal of the Turkish forces from Syria as a prerequisite for the normalisation. Geneva, June 13 : On World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for action to end child labour. On Monday, the ILO held a high-level panel themed "social justice for all, end child labour," which is a side event during the session of the International Labour Conference. The discussion focuses on the link between social justice and the elimination of child labour. Panelists representing workers, employers and governments stressed the urgency of the fight against child labour and discussed ways to increase social justice, Xinhua news agency reported. "For the first time in 20 years, child labour is on the rise. 160 million children, almost one-in-10 worldwide, are in child labour," the ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo said in a video speech addressed on this occasion. "We must step up our fight against child labour, by supporting greater social justice. If we do this, an end to child labour is not just possible. It is within reach," he stressed. The world had been making steady progress in reducing child labour since 2000, but over the past few years, conflicts, crises and the Covid-19 pandemic, have plunged more families into poverty, and forced millions more children into child labour, the ILO said in a statement published on Monday. Economic growth has not been sufficient, nor inclusive enough, to relieve the pressure that too many families and communities feel, the statement added. Measures to fight against child labour include the establishment and implementation of a strong legal framework based on International Labour Standards and social dialogue, provision of universal access to education of good quality and to social protection, as well as direct measures to alleviate poverty, inequality and economic insecurity, and promote decent work for adult workers, it said. The ILO launched the first World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 as a way to highlight the plight of children engaged in child labour. Kinshasa, June 13 : At least 46 people were killed in an attack by militias on a camp for the displaced persons in the eastern region of Congo, local sources said. The fighters from the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), a loose association of militia groups operating within Congo, attacked the Lala camp in Djugu district in Ituri province, a local official said on Monday on condition of anonymity. Most of the victims, including women and children, were burned to death while sleeping, he added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The country's army has deployed reinforcements in the area to repel the attackers, the source added. CODECO, active in Ituri province for several years, has been accused of killing civilians. Amman, June 13 : Jordan and Saudi Arabia have announced that they agreed to improve passenger and freight flow between the two countries to facilitate transport and trade exchange, media reported.. The announcement was made by the Jordanian-Saudi Joint Technical Committee for Land Transport at the conclusion of its meeting in Jordan's capital Amman, state-run Petra news agency reported on Monday. At the meeting, the committee discussed boosting road safety on the basis of technical conditions and pushing forward customs projects with technical connectivity between the two countries, Xinhua news agency reported. The committee stressed in the announcement the importance of providing support for and removing obstacles to the flow of goods and passengers. It also emphasised compliance with requirements and conditions for the entry of Jordanian buses into Saudi territory during the pilgrimage season. Ramallah, June 13 : Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye has rejected an Israeli plan to divide the Muslim worshipping zone in East Jerusalem between Jews and Muslims. Ishtaye made the remarks on Monday during the weekly meeting of the Palestinian Authority cabinet held in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to a statement from his office. Israel Radio reported that Israeli parliament member Amit Halevy from the Likud Party proposed dividing the worshipping zone between Jews and Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is known by the Jews as the Temple Mount. The report added that Halevi's plan would give Muslims control of the southern end of the compound, which contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque, while Jews would receive the central and northern areas, Xinhua news agency reported. Ishtaye warned against the plan, saying it would "cause overwhelming anger with unpredictable results because of the sanctity and religious value Al-Aqsa Mosque constitutes for the Palestinian people and Arabs and Muslims". He called for an Arab, Islamic and international action "that goes beyond denunciation and condemnation to imposing sanctions that would prevent any change in Al-Aqsa Mosque and stop any violation in Jerusalem". The Palestinians want the eastern part of Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, to be the capital of their independent state, while Israelis insist that the entire city is their capital. Ishtaye also called for real international pressure "to stop Israel's implementation of the settlement plan known as E1, which aims to undermine the chances of establishing a contiguous Palestinian state". "According to this plan, a new settlement will be built linking the Jerusalem settlements with the Ma'ale Adumim settlement, which means dividing the West Bank into two separate areas," the Palestinian Prime Minister said. Israeli settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is one of the thorny issues between the two sides, which led to the halting of their direct peace negotiations. United Nations, June 13 : The US is pushing for overhauling the UN Security Council and is developing a proposal to add six permanent members who will not have veto rights, according to a media report. "The evolving US proposal, which is expected to include the addition of up to six permanent seats to the Council without granting those nations veto power," The Washington Post reported on Monday. India has insisted that a permanent seat should come with veto powers but offered to forgo veto rights during a transitional process. Withholding veto rights for new permanent members "ensures that if reform is achieved, it would grant additional countries the clout of permanent council seats without diluting current members' veto power, the Post said. The reform initiative would "reflects (President Joe) Biden's desire to acknowledge the developing world's growing clout and to address widespread frustration with the council's current members and their inability to stanch global conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine," the newspaper said. The US initiative comes as the 54 African countries -- the largest group in the UN and whose continent has the most Council-mandated peacekeeping operations -- have intensified their demands for permanent seats at the Council citing the historic injustice done to them when most of them were under the colonial yoke in 1945 when the UN was founded. They demand two permanent seats for the group. Biden said at the General Assembly last September that "to ensure that the Council remains credible and effective" the US "supports increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent representatives". In the speech, Biden said that the US supports permanent seats for Latin America and Africa without mentioning any country. The joint statement by Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Washington in 2021 reiterated US support for India's claim for a permanent seat in a continuation of the positions of former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said before her speech that at the Assembly session Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and she "plan to consult broadly on our individual and collective responsibilities under the UN Charter, including critical questions around reform of the Security Council and other UN organs". "We should forge consensus around sensible and credible proposals to expand the Security Council's membership," she added. The Post said that Thomas-Greenfield is consulting with diplomats from the organisation's 193 member states to solicit feedback about a potential expansion of the powerful council ahead of world leaders' annual gathering in New York in September. Quoting an unnamed senior official, the Post said that she is trying to "forge some consensus on a sensible, credible proposal that could actually succeed and achieve reform". The reform process in the Assembly known as Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) has been trapped in a morass of procedural wrangling and it ended its work for the current session without any progress and kicked it down to the next session that starts in September -- as it has done for over a decade. The Biden administration supports Germany and Japan in addition to India for permanent seats, and also as yet undetermined representatives of Latin American and African nations. France and Britain also support permanent seats for the three countries and for Brazil, while Russia backs India publicly but not the others. China has been silent on additional permanent members while offering vague support for reforms and will be the main roadblock to reforms. The reform which would amend the UN Charter would ultimately need the approval of all the five permanent members of the Council as well as the votes of 128 nations of the 193 UN members to make up the required two-thirds majority in the Assembly. The Post noted that Council reform and the Biden initiative face an uphill task. "Biden is pushing for reform despite established powers' reluctance to cede their traditional sway and although Washington faces acute challenges in forging any consensus in an increasingly fractured world." "The stakes are high as his administration seeks to ensure that the UN remains a central tool for preventing wars, even as doubt grows about its ability to do so," it added. One of the hurdles to reforms is the manoeuvres by a small group of countries known as Uniting for Consensus that is led by Italy and includes Pakistan. The members oppose individual countries because of their rivalries and/or at the behest of nations like China that they are beholden to. Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram, whose country is opposed to India, told the Post, "This is undemocratic; it is unequal; it is contrary to the principle of sovereign equality of states which is part of the charter." Three of the five permanent seats are held by Western countries and adding to them could dilute their dominance as only Germany and Japan would be in their ranks while India and other developing countries would act more independently. The Post quoted a UN diplomat referring to this: "Any reform of the Security Council may well reduce the weight of the West. So this is a reality. And the question is, are we really pushing for that now? Is it just nice rhetoric that we want to do this, or are we really serious when we say we want to do it now?" (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed InterContinental San Antonio Exterior Its an honor to work with our partners at Trailbreak and IHG to bring a storied luxury hotel brand like InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to the city of San Antonio, said Zio Pekovic, principal and co-founder of Scarlett Hotel Group. Scarlett Hotel Group (SHG) and IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) are excited to announce the onset of construction of InterContinental San Antonio, a 391-room hotel located on the celebrated San Antonio River Walk at 111 East Pecan Street. Trailbreak Partners a real estate investment and development firm based in Denver, worked with SHG to secure the $158 million in financing that will completely transform the property into a luxurious, first-class destination serving visitors to San Antonio as well as the citys robust business and convention industry. Its an honor to work with our partners at Trailbreak and IHG to bring a storied luxury hotel brand like InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to the city of San Antonio, said Zio Pekovic, principal and co-founder of SHG. We cant wait for the public and convention planners to experience the incredible space and amenities that this property will add to the community. We are delighted to enhance our growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the Americas with the addition of InterContinental San Antonio, said Matt Frankiewicz, SVP, Development, Americas for IHG Hotels & Resorts. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the worlds first and largest international luxury hotel brand with 211 open properties and 93 in the global pipeline, and this property is an exciting addition to the brand portfolio. The energizing spirit of San Antonio coupled with the unrivaled experiences, inspiring design and personalized service for which InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is globally celebrated will undoubtedly create a memorable experience for visitors and locals alike. Construction is expected to be complete by late 2024. About the Propertys $158 Million Renovation The structure for InterContinental San Antonio originally opened as an office building in 1958. Sitting adjacent to the Weston Centre in the heart of San Antonio, the 21-story building features a rooftop pool with downtown views as well as direct access to the River Walk and river taxi landing area. Following a complete transformation, InterContinental San Antonio will include 40,000 square feet of meeting space, world-class restaurant and bar experiences, and luxury rooftop amenities. The hotel represents the first property for the InterContinental brand in San Antonio, catering to the citys strong convention and business travel market, as well as expanding the citys presence in the high-end leisure market. IHG has the second largest luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the hospitality industry, with more than 450 hotels open globally across six distinct brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Guests will discover touches of subtle luxury and a refined ambiance throughout their experience. Bespoke paintings, sculptures and furniture will enhance the lobby and guest rooms. A new rooftop design will maximize the expansive and distinctive outdoor space, creating a feeling of openness. In addition to the outdoor pool, multiple levels of dining and gathering spaces will allow guests to meet, eat and relax. An array of flexible indoor spaces will allow for small groups and meetings to take place almost anywhere on the property. Co-working spaces during the day can transform into private dining spaces at night. Major glass exposures in meeting rooms will be constructed with electrochromic glass, also known as smart or dynamic glass, making it easy to control backlighting or maximize daylight for events and presentations. More information on InterContinental San Antonio, including its design and architecture as well as gastronomic experiences, will be available as the project continues. Meeting planners and travelers to San Antonio in 2024 are welcome to inquire about events and stays by contacting geri.gomes@ihg.com. About Scarlett Hotel Group Scarlett Hotel Group (SHG) was formed by three hotel industry veterans determined to put the hospitality back into the Hotel Management Business. Andrew Scarlett, Rob Sadoff and Zio Pekovic are focused on growth through hotel acquisitions and development as well as the growth of their strong management team. As one of the premier hotel management companies in the industry SHG drives each hotels performance through a growth and development plan created specifically for the propertys key leaders based on their unique talents. SHG has offices in Chicago and Nashville with operating hotels in states throughout the country including Illinois, Florida, Nebraska, Missouri and is excited to add Texas as they continue to expand their portfolio. About Trailbreak Partners Trailbreak Partners is a Denver-based real estate development and investment company with a meticulous approach to investing. Their mission is to identify and execute great investment opportunities that their Principals and partners personally believe in, managing risk and creating value for all stakeholders. Trailbreak Partners has completed and is currently working on over $1 billion worth of real estate development and investments. Their investment and syndication platform accesses a wide array of capital that include ultra-high net worth individuals, to family office, and institutional investors. Learn more about Trailbreak Partners at http://www.trailbreakpartners.com/. About IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 18 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the worlds largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,800 in the development pipeline. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Groups holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHGs hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. With the establishment of the DEI Taskforce and the support of Sol de Naples Marketing, TMSA aims to foster a more inclusive environment and better serve its members. said Mark Derks, President of TMSA and Chief Marketing Officer at BlueGrace Logistics. The Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA) Board of Directors recognizes the importance of incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into organizational frameworks. As a result, they have diligently filled the roles of the recently announced DEI Taskforce. Eileen Dabrowski, from ReedTMS Logistics, has been appointed as the DEI Taskforce Chair. With a background in education, both in higher education and transportation and logistics as a Director of Learning and Development, Eileen is committed to advancing equity and has received industry recognition. She was a finalist for the Women in Trucking Associations Most Influential Women in Trucking in 2021. Dabrowski, currently serving as the Chair of the Program Committee for the Transportation Intermediaries Association, brings her academic background into her transportation work. She expressed her honor in leading the DEI Taskforce alongside talented professionals committed to fostering inclusivity within TMSA. TMSA has also secured a Gold Level Sponsorship for the inaugural year of its DEI Program. Sol de Naples Marketing has made a commitment to support this initiative. Sol, known for pioneering unconventional marketing strategies for transportation and logistics companies, firmly stands behind Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Jill Schmieg, Founder & Chief Strategist of Sol de Naples Marketing, emphasized their commitment to advancing smarter ways and more diverse perspectives in the industry. Schmieg, who has a proven track record of diversifying and expanding TMSA's reach in the logistics and transportation space, will join TMSA's DEI Taskforce along with other industry professionals. This commitment to DEI will shape the future of TMSA. The DEI Taskforce includes Whitney Cowell, AVP Marketing at KCH Transportation; Nina Eiland, VP of People at AMX Logistics; Patrick Blute, Director of Sustainability & Supplier Diversity at Transfix; and Kameel Gaines, CEO at Rig on Wheels. Eileen Curran, VP of Marketing & Communications at Odyssey Logistics, will serve as the Subcommittee Chair. Im enthusiastic about having Eileen Dabrowskis extensive experience and dedication to DEI initiatives leading our efforts. With the establishment of the DEI Taskforce and the support of Sol de Naples Marketing, TMSA aims to foster a more inclusive environment and better serve its members. said Mark Derks, President of TMSA and Chief Marketing Officer at BlueGrace Logistics. About TMSA TMSA is the only association dedicated to advancing the success of marketing and sales professionals in all modes of the commercial freight transportation market. From president and vice president to manager, director and coordinator, members are at all levels and represent all market segments including motor carriers, 3PLs, railroads, air carriers, ocean lines, port authorities, OEMs, media, and suppliers. TMSA's mission is to enable sales and marketing professionals to learn and give back to the transportation and logistics industry through education, connections, and resources, ultimately strengthening their individual development, their businesses and the industry-at-large. TMSA's vision is to be the pre-eminent non-profit sales and marketing association that transportation and logistics professionals turn to for industry-specific education, connections, and resources. Read the extended press release for more information. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law on Friday that strengthens the range of penalties that a state watchdog can mete out for health care employees who conspire to hide abuse or interfere with investigations by the state police or internal oversight bodies. About the series This article was produced by the Lee Enterprises Midwest Public Service Team in partnership with Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica; Lee Enterprises is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network. The legislation was introduced following an investigative series by Capitol News Illinois, Lee Enterprises Midwest and ProPublica into rampant abuses and cover-ups at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center, a state-run institution in southern Illinois that houses people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. The new law applies to employees at state-run institutions and at privately operated community agencies for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses that operate under the oversight of the Illinois Department of Human Services and its Office of the Inspector General. The news organizations detailed how employees had lied to investigators, leaked sensitive investigative details, retaliated against people who reported abuse and sought to indoctrinate new workers into the cover-up culture. Employees who engaged in such actions made it difficult to pursue cases of patient abuse, yet they rarely faced serious consequences. IDHS Inspector General Peter Neumer suggested the change in law last year. The new law allows the OIG to report workers who engage in such misconduct to Illinois existing Health Care Worker Registry, which would bar them from working in any health care setting in the state. The registry identifies any health care worker who has been barred from working with vulnerable populations in any long-term care setting, such as state-operated developmental centers or group homes. Under prior law, workers could be barred because they had been found to have engaged in financial exploitation; neglect that is considered egregious; or physical or sexual abuse. The new law adds material obstruction of an investigation to the list of findings that can be reported to the registry, which is maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Pritzker signed the bill on the same day the IDHS inspector general released a 34-page report that recommended a top to bottom analysis of all processes related to the reporting of abuse and neglect at Choate because at present time there appear to be fundamental problems with all aspects of that system. The OIG report referenced the beating of a patient with a developmental disability by Choate staff in December 2014 that was covered by the news outlets. Four mental health technicians were charged with felonies in connection to the beating. Three of them pleaded guilty to failing to comply with abuse reporting laws for state employees, and one Mark Allen, a mental health technician who had been originally charged with felony aggravated battery pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice. The report noted that at least eight people colluded to obstruct the state police and OIG investigation. Few staff members were forthcoming with details, even though they later told investigators it was the worst case of abuse they had ever seen. This was a textbook example of a code of silence, in which staff seek to protect each other from the consequences of their misconduct by remaining silent about what they witnessed or lying to protect their fellow employees, the new OIG report stated. While Allen was ultimately reported to the registry after the inspector general found him responsible for the abuse, the other three were not. Even though they were criminally convicted of failing to report what theyd witnessed, and the inspector general found that they had engaged in the cover-up, prior law did not include obstruction as a reportable offense. The new law is a necessary reform that will provide additional protection for residents and hold accountable any bad actors who violate the trust of a resident or patient, Alex Gough, a spokesperson for Pritzker, said in a statement. Governor Pritzker continues to take the longstanding problems at Choate very seriously, and he remains committed to providing a healthy, safe living environment for every single person residing in the states care. On Monday, Neumer said in a statement that he was pleased that the governor and legislators supported the measure, which passed both chambers unanimously, because it serves as a strong deterrent to those who would engage in code of silence-type conduct, where employees lie or omit key facts to investigators in an effort to protect themselves and/or their fellow employees. When employees fully and completely cooperate with OIGs investigations, that also enhances OIGs ability to fact-find, which serves as an additional deterrent to misconduct, he said. IDHS Secretary Grace Hou noted in a letter to Neumer, which was included in the inspector generals report, that she also had backed the legislative change. That is one of several steps her department has taken to address conditions at Choate and in the agencys 12 other developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals, the letter said. In a statement, Marisa Kollias, a spokesperson for IDHS, said that a system-wide transformation of the agencys facilities is already underway. In March, Pritzker and Hou announced that more than 120 residents of Choate about half of the facilitys population would have to move out for their safety. The residents and their guardians were given up to three years to find an alternative placement, such as in a community group home or another state-run facility. In addition to the relocation of some of Choates residents, the department has also hired a chief resident safety officer and is implementing other safety enhancements. Kollias noted that Hou asked the inspector general to conduct the review of Choate last September, the same month the news organizations published their first in a series of reports about Choate. IDHS leadership continues to be deeply concerned by the events investigated and reported on by the OIG, Kollias said. The report underscores the importance of actions that IDHS has taken since the beginning of the administration, including substantially expanding training, hiring new staff and installing security cameras. The inspector general has repeatedly called for the installation of security cameras at Choate and in other IDHS facilities, but the department had previously said that doing so was complicated by federal regulations. The department said late last week that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which partially funds its institutional care, has provided new guidance that will allow for the installation of cameras in indoor, common area locations. The department, the statement said, will be installing those expeditiously. Timeline of Choate employees' arrests and outcomes 2014: Mark Allen, Curt Ellis, Justin Butler and Eric Bittle 2016: Chayla Brown 2017: Cheryl Muckley 2017: Victor Metzger 2017-2018: John Lingle, Cody Barger 2018: Stacy Thomas 2019: Greg Johnson, Ruth Massie and Paris Ferguson 2020: Kevin Jackson, three others 2020: Charles Mills 2020: Dalton Anderson, Bobby Lee, Johnny Brimm, Mat Wiseman 2021: Brad Cross Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is a success. Im excited to be part of this journey! Queue Associates, a leading Microsoft Partner, is proud to introduce former Microsoft employee, Matteo Dalle Mule as its new EMEA Microsoft Dynamics 365 Practice Manager for Enterprise Solutions. With his extensive industry expertise and multinational background, Matteo will spearhead Queue's strategic approach to EMEA business operations, sparking Queues commercial expansion into the region. Matteo is seasoned in enterprise solutions and has been a distinguished speaker for numerous Microsoft Industry events. It was his multinational expertise and deep experience in Microsoft Dynamics that prompted Queues Managing Director, Jeffrey Goldstein, and EMEAs Director, Chiara James to build a professional relationship with Matteo, ultimately leading to Matteos decision to join Queues team. Matteo appreciates Queues appetite for growth as well as the opportunity to apply his dedication to the partners diverse clientele. Likewise, Queue welcomes Matteos global experience as it harmoniously mirrors the companys diverse presence. When asked to speak on his move to Queue Matteo stated, Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is a success. Im excited to be part of this journey! As the EMEA Microsoft Dynamics 365 Practice Manager for Enterprise Solutions, Matteo's primary objective is to foster growth and success for Queue EMEA and its clients. Matteo's strong leadership skills and strategic mindset will allow him to efficiently oversee the most complex projects while ensuring Queue delivers exceptional enterprise solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of its EMEA clients. Jeffrey Goldstein expressed his excitement about Matteo joining the team stating, "We are thrilled to have Matteo Dalle Mule on board as our EMEA Microsoft Dynamics 365 Practice Manager. His remarkable industry experience, coupled with his profound understanding of the EMEA region, will be instrumental in driving our expansion efforts. Matteo's appointment further demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional and sustainable enterprise solutions, while reinforcing our position as a leading player in the market." Matteo Dalle Mule's new position marks a significant milestone for Queue and represents a decisive step toward its mission to provide cutting-edge solutions to clients across the globe. Queue looks forward to utilizing Matteo's expertise to create a transformative and empowering impact on businesses success. About Matteo: Matteo Dalle Mule, an Industrial Engineering graduate, born and raised in Italy, possesses a deep-rooted passion for culture, travel, and environmental responsibility. Cultivated through extensive travel, Matteos global mindset and professional journey gained him valuable experience within a myriad of industries. Some of Matteos most notable positions placed him in Ireland, Brazil, and the UK working for software publishers such as HP, Oracle NetSuite, and Microsoft. About Queue: Queue is a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner committed to delivering cutting-edge Microsoft implementations and services to businesses across various industries. With a focus on Microsoft Dynamics 365, Queue helps clients optimize their operations, enhance customer experiences, and achieve sustainable growth. With an unwavering commitment to innovation and a diverse, talented team, Queue is dedicated to driving success for its global clientele. http://www.queueassoc.com (212) 269-1313 | info@queueassoc.com It is my pleasure to recognize the SIM Management Platform, an innovative solution that earned Altaworx the 2023 Business Impact Award, said Rich Tehrani, CEO, of TMC. I look forward to seeing more successful deployments of best-in-class solutions from Altaworx in the future. With Altaworx, businesses can connect any smart device and gather data, regardless of location. The SIM management platform offers real-time visibility of usage, making it easy for businesses to manage their IoT devices with one platform. Altaworx is connected to every major carrier, providing customers with the best service for their needs. The platform also sends usage notifications, making it easier for businesses to keep track of their IoT devices. Altaworx is a one-stop shop for businesses looking to stay connected in the IoT universe. It is my pleasure to recognize the SIM Management Platform, an innovative solution that earned Altaworx the 2023 Business Impact Award, said Rich Tehrani, CEO, of TMC. I look forward to seeing more successful deployments of best-in-class solutions from Altaworx in the future. Altaworx's IoT connectivity solutions have helped businesses across various industries achieve significant growth and success. By leveraging this platform, businesses can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve their overall efficiency. We are thrilled to be recognized by IoT Evolution Magazine for the IoT Business Impact Award. Over the past 20 years weve seen many technology transformations but none as significant as what we will see from IoT. The possibilities are endless, but managing those connections can be overwhelming. Our management platform provides a way for your business to take advantage of the automations that IoT can bring to your business and a scalable platform to manage it." Jaime Rawden, VP of Product. About Altaworx Altaworx, LLC located in Fairhope, AL, was founded in 2003 by Rickie Richey, to address the emerging demand for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) business telephone systems. His vision was to build a nationwide company that not only provided leading-edge technology but also focused on helping customers drive revenue, control expenses, increase their productivity, and operate more efficiently. In 2011, Altaworx continued to focus on customer impact by becoming an internet telephony service provider (ITSP). The company began selling Altaworx branded SIP trunks and Hosted PBX to business customers in the 22-state AT&T footprint, as AT&Ts first Reseller in the AT&T Partner Exchange Program. We have expanded our business to encompass a wide range of new products including our award-winning IoT Private LTE Network, Wireless LTE Failover, and POTS Line Replacement. Today, Altaworx operates its cloud-based solutions from three data centers located in Los Angeles, CA, Dallas, TX, and Atlanta, GA. With a focus on empowering resellers to build equity value in their business, Altaworx continues to grow and now has a presence in 39 states, 4 Canadian provinces, Mexico, Asia, and Europe. About Crossfire Media Crossfire Media, co-publishers of IoT Evolution, is an integrated marketing company with a core focus on future trends in technology. We service communities of interest with conferences, tradeshows, webinars, and newsletters. Crossfire Media has a partnership with Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) to produce events and websites related to disruptive technologies. Crossfire Media is a division of Crossfire Consulting, a full-service Information Technology company based in New York. About TMC Through education, industry news, live events, and social influence, global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. As a result, leading technology vendors turn to TMC for unparalleled branding, thought leadership, and lead generation opportunities. Our in-person and online events deliver unmatched visibility and sales prospects for all percipients. Through our custom lead generation programs, we provide clients with an ongoing stream of leads that turn into sales opportunities and build databases. Additionally, we bolster brand reputations with the millions of impressions from display advertising on our news sites and newsletters. Making TMC a 360-degree marketing solution, we offer comprehensive event and road show management services and custom content creation with expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles, and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit http://www.tmcnet.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, @tmcnet. Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa overlooks Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks "The secret ingredient is the passion of our staff," said owner Ed Weibrecht. "A house isnt a home until somebody lives in it and puts their love in it. Well, this place doesnt become special until the staff puts their love into it. The only AAA Four Diamond lodging and dining combination in Lake Placid officially extended their long-running designations as the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa received the prestigious honor for the 39th consecutive year, and its accompanying restaurant, The View, collected the same award for the 16th straight year. With the summer season now upon us, the Mirror Lake Inn looks forward to welcoming guests old and new with its truly hospitable and authentic Adirondack experience. An achievement of this magnitude is significant inasmuch as AAA annually conducts professional and unannounced, in-person property inspections on behalf of its member travelers, and has done so for 83 years, said James Phelps, President and CEO of AAA Northway. The announcement highlighted the exclusivity enjoyed by this iconic resort property: Of 23,000 AAA rated properties, only 7% are rated Four Diamond, Of 5,400 AAA rated restaurants, only 10% are rated Four Diamond, Only 161 properties have maintained the Four Diamond rating for 25 or more consecutive years, putting the Mirror Lake Inn in exclusive company, Only one other property in New York State has held the Four Diamond rating longer: The Carlyle in New York City for 47 years. Outside of New York City, the Mirror Lake Inn stands alone in this category of AAA achievement in New York State. The Mirror Lake Inns run of AAA lodging awards dates back to 1984. In that time, resort owner Ed Weibrecht has observed not only how this lengthy streak has occurred, but what is the key to extending it each year, namely the Inns dedicated staff who interact with hotel guests. We are in the luxury end of the market, said Weibrecht. Our hallmark is providing unique and memorable experiences. Certainly, we are blessed with our location and our physical plant is beautiful, but thats not enough. The secret ingredient is the passion of our staff. A house isnt a home until somebody lives in it and puts their love in it. Well, this place doesnt become special until the staff puts their love into it. The Inns owner since 1976 regularly compliments the staff on creating a home away from home ambiance. As part of this, he always encourages employees to engage the guests, making them feel welcomed and showing them how important they are. Added Phelps, To uphold the exceptionally high standards required on a daily basis to maintain a Four Diamond rating is an outstanding achievement and it is accomplished by the hard work and dedication of the staff who are committed to provide each and every guest with a high degree of hospitality, with attentive service, in upscale surroundings. This outstanding achievement is also a reflection of the passion for excellence exuded each day by Ed and Lisa Weibrecht, owners of Mirror Lake Inn and The View. Recent comments on TripAdvisor illustrate the Inns luxe approach in achieving the AAA designation: One of the best managed and run hotels in the world... and a complete Lake Placid gem.some of the most spectacular views in the world can be enjoyed from the many rooms and suites in this hotel. Matthew G, May 2023 The staff at the MLI is truly special, always going out of their way to give us what we need and what we didn't even know we needed. The service and cleanliness are always spot on and our rooms in the Colonial House were spectacular. Brian H, April 2023 Great, beautiful, old-fashioned, centrally-located hotel that is well-maintained and has great service. It is close to the heart of Lake Placid and there are beautiful views everywhere. - Megreviewer14, April 2023 Fine dining to perfection with great service and a magnificent view. We enjoyed every bite. Highly recommend and cant wait to come back. - N2245BIjoannas, September 2022 AAA Northway is proud to have Mirror Lake Inn and The View, two dedicated, AAA Four Diamond establishments that are committed to exceed guest expectations and provide a premier travel experience, concluded Phelps. The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is now embarking on the summer of 2023, anticipated to be busy with family travel once schools are dismissed. Over 200 employees will cover all corners of the operation, which features 125 units across seven acres that include the Mountain View and Terrace buildings, Colonial House and the Lake Cottage. Each of the living quarters faces Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks. Guests will find two distinct dining options: the aforementioned The View Restaurant for fine dining, and the hip lakeside Cottage Cafe which is Lake Placids lunch, dinner and happy hour spot that offers indoor and outdoor settings. The Cottage is one of the few eateries where guests can paddle their boat almost to their table. Also, there is the Inns highly-acclaimed European spa/salon/fitness center located in the main house, while water lovers will be buoyed by the resorts indoor and outdoor pools and private beach with complimentary boats. For more information, please log on to the resort website at http://www.mirrorlakeinn.com. Follow on the hotels Facebook, Instagram and Twitter platforms using @mirrorlakeinn and #mirrorlakeinn -MLI- About the Mirror Lake Inn The AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is a luxury lakefront resort offering an authentic Adirondack experience. The Inn, rated Four Diamond for 39 consecutive years, presents both Four Diamond world-class cuisine and casual dining options, with impeccable service amid awe-inspiring views. Only one other property in New York State (located in Manhattan), has maintained the Four Diamond designation longer than Mirror Lake Inn. It is the only property in Lake Placid that combines Four Diamond lodging and dining. The Inn's renowned Lake Placid spa pampers the body and refreshes the mind with a comprehensive menu of services. The Inn is conveniently located one block from the restaurants and shops on Main Street in Lake Placid. SAP is providing the roadmap for future-proofing client investments in the digital economy. Alitek's investment in the SAP vision is a key pillar in delivering solutions for our clients. Shawn Madsen joins information management company Alitek Solutions as the SAP Senior Director of Business Development. In this role, Madsen will develop Aliteks professional relationships within its SAP partnership and with SAP ecosystem providers, ultimately generating new business referrals and collaborative enterprise client engagements. Madsen joins us with over 20 years of experience in sales and has spent the last five years at SAP leading the North America Business Development team in the CX line of business. Prior to SAP, Madsen held various leadership and sales roles at Gigya, Adobe, Clicktale and AccessData. Shawn is a strategic addition to the Alitek team, said Mike Brookover, partner and CEO at Alitek. SAP is providing the roadmap for future-proofing client investments in the digital economy. Alitek's investment in the SAP vision is a key pillar in delivering solutions for our clients. Madsen will be working with clients to address their important business challenges through the SAP BTP and OpenText SAP extensions. Learn more about Alitek at https://alitek.com/. About Alitek Solutions Alitek is an information management company that specializes in content management for enterprises. We focus on integrating unstructured data into the information lifecycle, which helps corporations realign and optimize their technology investments. Our main goals are process improvement and enablement, which help businesses reimagine the way their people collaborate, oversee business operations and manage the customer experience. Alitek has delivered hundreds of solutions to Fortune 1000 clients and helped them realize their business goals by reducing. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of ceramic sculpture with the newly released behind the scenes look at Terracotta Corridor", an exhibition of 21 ceramic sculptures in the Rail Arts District. "RAD offers a public and accessible space for the entire Napa community to experience art," stated Chuck McMinn, RAD Board Member/President. This summer Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa launches three projects which foster art and community engagement. These initiatives include Our RAD Wall a summer workshop for youth, an inspiring mural by new-to-the-scene Napa artist Joshua Murillo, and the release of a captivating catalog documenting the exhibition, "Terracotta Corridor" featuring ceramic artists and the nationally recognized Mission Clay Art and Industry Program. Kicking off in June, RAD continues for the fourth year, Our RAD Wall, a summer mural program for youth ages 12 to 21. These immersive, hands-on workshops provide a rare opportunity for young people to work in the public realm. The workshops are free and take place at Devine Paint Center, a local business that has been a steadfast supporter of the project since its inception in 2020. "We are grateful for the unwavering support of our community, which enables the Rail Arts District to continue nurturing artistic expression," stated Chuck McMinn, RAD Board Member/President. "RAD offers a public and accessible space for the entire Napa community to experience art." Scheduled to be complete this July, Napa artist Joshua Murillo will create a 17-foot by 65-foot mural in the Rail Arts District near the intersection of California Blvd. Titled "Los Braceros," the mural pays homage to the millions of Mexican laborers who contributed to American agriculture, railroads, and factories during the Bracero Program from World War II through 1964. The artwork features black and white portraits of these laborers juxtaposed against the words "Los Braceros," set against a backdrop showcasing the colors of Mexico's flag - green, red, and white. Reflecting on his inspiration for the mural, the artist shared, "My own grandfather, like countless others, embarked on a journey to the United States through the Bracero Program. This program has left a lasting impact, shaping the lives of future generations and inspiring labor movements to combat exploitative practices." Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of ceramic sculpture with the newly released behind-the-scenes look at Terracotta Corridor", an exhibition of 21 ceramic sculptures in the Rail Arts District through December 2024. This beautiful publication examines the concepts behind the artworks and describes the history of the Mission Clay Art & Industry program where the artworks were created. It includes images of the artworks and essays by the exhibition Co-Curators John Toki and Shelly Willis. The book is available for purchase on the RAD website http://www.radnapa.org, and soon to be available at the Napa Wine Train gift shop. About Our RAD Wall Our RAD Wall Dates: June 24 // July 8, 15, 22 + 29 // August 9: Timing, 9:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Sign Up Details: Visit http://www.radnapa.org or email info@radnapa.org Our RAD Wall provides an inclusive space where young community artists can express themselves freely. The annual summer youth workshops are meant to cultivate an appreciation and pride in the community and fine arts within youth. The workshop supplies and assistance are free. Youths choose to work individually or collaborate, fostering teamwork and artistic cooperation. Our RAD Wall workshops provide a supportive environment where young artists can express themselves, learn, and grow. About Artist Joshua Murillo Joshua was born in California and raised in the Napa Valley. He graduated from New Technology High School. He has an undergraduate degree in philosophy and another in physics from University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned a masters degree in physics from University of Hawaii, Manoa. Joshua currently teaches physics, astronomy, and mathematics at Napa Valley College. At a young age, he became interested in drawing, and has continuously made art throughout his life. The subject matter for his art has evolved over the years, from comic book heroes and villains, to people, animals, nature, and architecture, to the cosmos and the quantum world. Joshua has come to believe more and more that art has the profound ability to expand the viewer's idea of what is, what was, and what is possible. So today, his art is more focused on what stories our society chooses to tell itself, and more importantly, which stories it tends to leave untold. About the Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa Established in 2016, The Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa enriches the community through investment in, and stewardship of, Napas only art district. RAD Napa begins in Napas Oxbow District and continues northward for almost two miles along the Napa Valley Vine Trail bike and pedestrian path and the Napa Valley Wine Train tracks. Murals, sculptures, landscaping, and parks are just some of the examples of how RAD is transforming these semi-industrial areas and neighborhoods with art. To learn more about RAD, a registered 501(c)3, visit http://www.radnapa.org or find RAD on Facebook.com/RADNapa and Instagram.com/RADNapa. YouScience presents a groundbreaking solution that paves the way for these improved educational and professional achievements." James Johnson, Managing Director, EdTech Breakthrough YouScience, the leading technology provider dedicated to closing the growing skills gap between students and employers, today announced that it has been selected as winner of the Overall Career Prep Solution of the Year award in the annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards. This is the second consecutive year that YouScience has won an EdTech Breakthrough Award. Last year, the Company won the Overall College prep Solution of the Year. "Were thrilled to be acknowledged as one of the recipients of the EdTech Breakthrough awards this year, said Edson Barton, Founder and CEO, YouScience. Education leaders need innovative, proven solutions to make education more meaningful and support students on their path to educational and career success. Our unwavering commitment lies in providing students with a comprehensive platform that empowers them to discover their optimal path. We firmly believe in the inherent brilliance of every student and are committed to assisting them in recognizing and utilizing their unique talents. By unveiling their innate aptitudes, we facilitate the alignment of students with educational or career trajectories that resonate with their individual strengths, fostering heightened engagement and enthusiasm towards their learning and professional journeys," Barton added. Recent research has revealed that a staggering 75 percent of high school graduates dont feel confident or prepared enough to make decisions about college or careers once they graduate. Thats why YouSciences breakthrough edtech platform, YouScienceBrightpath, utilizes proven research and data-driven insights to assist each individual in discovering their natural talents (or aptitudes) and validate their skills and knowledge. The holistic platform leverages AI to allow students to explore a vast range of careers and post-secondary educational options that best suit their skill set. This allows individuals to become more self-aware of their own personal strengths and guides them through an aptitude-based career discovery. The platform also connects individuals with opportunities to earn industry-recognized skill certifications, facilitates their engagement with employers through work-based learning, and empowers them to more efficiently pursue post-secondary education and employment. Through this unique approach, individuals are matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. "Through assisting students in discovering their strengths, cultivating their aspirations, and nurturing their unique talents and interests, educational institutions have the potential to enhance student outcomes significantly," said James Johnson, Managing Director, EdTech Breakthrough. YouScience presents a groundbreaking solution that paves the way for these improved educational and professional achievements. We extend our congratulations to the entire YouScience team for their well-earned recognition as recipients of the esteemed 2023 EdTech Breakthrough Award. This accolade stands as a testament to their exceptional efforts in revolutionizing the educational technology landscape." The mission of the EdTech Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of educational technology categories, including Student Engagement, School Administration, Adaptive Learning, STEM Education, e-Learning, Career Preparation and many more. This years program attracted more than 2,400 nominations from different countries throughout the world. To learn more, please visit youscience.com. About YouScience YouScience is the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills and exposure gap crisis for students and employers. Its end-to-end platform, YouScience Brightpath, connects education with career applications designed to help students unlock their potential for future pathways. YouScience leverages proven research, artificial intelligence, and industry input to help individuals identify their aptitudes, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 7,000 educational institutions and millions of users nationwide. About EdTech Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the EdTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in educational technology products, companies and people. The EdTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough educational technology in categories including e-learning, student engagement, school administration, career preparation, language learning, STEM and more. For more information, visit https://edtechbreakthrough.com./ Media Contact Lindsay Hull Zer0 to 5ive for YouScience lindsay@0to5.com Airforce SSgt Kenneth Diaz Figueroa (AKA Yahmil) is a Latin music artist from Puerto Rico. Although his priority is serving his country, his music is his life, and finding that balance is key to his success. In his episode, he performs 4 songs and talks about his determination to inspire others. The Air Force Services Center releases new episodes (11-15) of the highly anticipated Artisan Air series, now streaming on AF Live app only. The new series showcases the creativity and depth of talent in both the Air Force and Space Force. The Air Force Services Center recognizes that people are its greatest asset, accordingly we are putting audiences behind the scenes of service members' lives and are engaging audiences with a new 30 episode series, comments Richard Cooper, Strategic Marketing & Branding Specialist. Our Over-The-Top (OTT) media channel, AF Live APP, will feature our Artisan Air series and showcases Airmens and Guardians' most coveted interests. The series releases five more 30-minute episodes highlighting a mix of talent ranging from visual artists, musicians, and poets. Five new episodes will be released every Thursday through June 29th. The series was recorded from September through December 2022 in Austin, Texas. In addition to the series release, AFSVC plans to release songs from the episodes to music streaming platforms, adding to the Air Force's extensive music catalog. At the end of the series release, the work of 13 musicians and a spoken word poet will be packaged in a digital album available on various streaming platforms on June 29. In part, this program is a tribute to all U.S. Airmen and Guardians who, at a moments notice are ready to risk all in defense of our great nation, said Gary Lott, Chief Integrated Marketing and Branding. Additionally, a special thanks to the Air Force Service Center for trusting us to execute new concepts that highlight our people on a more personalized level. New episodes set to debut on June 8th, Artisan Air continues to roll out its programming on the AF Live app. The new series takes a look at five new airmen and guardians and their extraordinary talents outside of their military duty. Each episode tells the story of dedication to craft and service to the nation. The following episodes will roll out on June 8th from: SSgt Roberto Hernandez Nieves - 823d Red Horse SQ, Hurlburt Field, FL SrA William Rosado - 1st Combat Camera Squadron, JBCharleston, SC SSgt Kenneth Diaz Figueroa - 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island ANG Capt Lindsay Cordero - AFGSC CCX, Barksdale AFB, LA TSgt Ashlyn - 69th Cyberspace Squadron, Schriever Space Force Base,CO SSgt Kenneth Diaz Figueroa is a Latin music artist who was born in Puerto Rico and goes by the name of Yahmil. Born into a musical family, he started playing at a young age with his parents. From the start he has gravitated to pop music, and with a few songs released he found his love for Latin music. For Figueroa, music is an escape and brings him happiness. Although his priority is serving his country, his music is his life, and finding that balance is key to his success. In his episode, he performs 4 songs and talks about his determination to inspire others. Songs included are Ahora Me Llamas a song about your partner realizing what they lost post-breakup and the emotions of reliving and letting go of the relationship. Conexion is about meaningful connections between a partner or friend, whether it be through body language, conversation, or intimacy. Tu Me Gusta is about telling someone different ways that you like and adore them. Jeane Apretao is dedicated to all women, in this song Yahmil expresses his admiration for all women no matter their size, personality or background. SSgt Roberto Hernandez Nieves is a talented artist from Puerto Rico who goes by the artist name Bob Snow. In his episode, he talks about his influences and processes by taking the viewer with him as he creates a new painting. He explains, I use drawing, perspective, color, human anatomy, and irony involved in processes of human development to exhort the viewer to reflect on our condition, current issues and appreciate the beauty of things in their maximum expression of simplicity. For Nieves, Art is a constant interaction of my inner self with the outside world and the importance is to touch hearts to the point that when I am no longer on this earth, my impressions, thoughts and postures will continue conversing with the world. It will remind them that matter it is nothing without essence, that love can do everything and that the greatest blessing we can have in our lives comes from within. There can be nothing outside, if inside we are empty. SrA William Rosado is a talented musician who goes by the name Rio. For Rio, his music is his escape from everyday life and through it he can come away feeling revived and renewed. In his episode, he performs for the first time three of his songs on AF Live. Included is the song, Fadeaway, which is about letting the stressors of life fade away by taking a step back to reflect and appreciate the journey life has become. Civic is about driving, he comments, I always hear famous rappers rapping about foreign exotic cars and I wanted to make a song that made me feel good about driving my regular Honda Civic Si. I mean, I love my car. And there arent many things that feel as good as listening to some good music when youre just cruising. Celebrate is about times when it is okay to not be okay. Sometimes the everyday hustle is too much, Rio comments, I spent a long time reflecting on my life and wanted to create something that I could share with everyone else. I hope this song helps people realize that its okay to take a break. Reflecting back Rio comments, I think this project is something special. There are so many talented people that serve this country. The Artisan series is a great way to showcase these talents as well as highlight the unique abilities it takes to balance service and creating art outside of that. It is also probably the best way to show anyone interested in serving the country that you dont have to stop pursuing your passion when you join. Although some of the public may believe service members are just cogs in the big machine, the Artisan series shows them that we are quite the opposite. Capt Lindsay Cordero goes by the name of Bones and is a fine artist, author and illustrator. Her art focuses on themes of mental health, children's literacy, and conserving the coral reefs. In her episode, Cordero shows her paintings that take a visual approach to Depression and Anxiety. She also showcases her illustrations for her recently released childrens book, The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux. And she also shares her process to create her underwater scenes from her dives to capturing underwater seascapes and creating illustrations. TSgt Ashlyn is a self-taught digital artist who focuses on self-reflection and self-awareness. In her work, she explores human nature through visually representing what it means to be honest, vulnerable, as well as sensual with women being the majority of her subjects. In her episode Ashlyn, talks about her series where she personifies the constellations by digitally drawing them based on their Greek stories. She also shares her sketches, as well as a self-portrait. This was her first public art show. In addition to the new episodes, SrA William Rosado and SSgt Kenneth Diaz Figueroa will be releasing three songs each on June 8th. Their journey along with the other artists will be available on the AF Live app, and on all music streaming platforms. In addition, all eligible Department of Defense ID cardholders will have the chance to win a limited-edition vinyl recording, enter here. To catch the new series download AF Live app for iOS and Android. Connect: SSgt Roberto Hernandez Nieves - 823d Red Horse SQ, Hurlburt Field, FL: IG SrA William Rosado - 1st Combat Camera Squadron, JBCharleston, SC: YouTube | Soundcloud SSgt Kenneth Diaz Figueroa - 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island ANG: YouTube | IG Capt Lindsay Cordero - AFGSC CCX, Barksdale AFB, LA : IG | Facebook TSgt Ashlyn - 69th Cyberspace Squadron, Schriever Space Force Base,CO: Twitch | IG Full Session: Wk 1 MSgt Trevor Clark - 58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB SrA Adrianna Parson - SHAPE International Band NATO HQ SHAPE/ Mons, Belgium TSgt Amy James - 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease ANGB, NH TSgt George Linen - 765th ABS, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal SSgt Jonathan Delise - 553rd Air Force Band, Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA Wk 2 SrA Clarissa Tweed - 36 LRS/LGRV, Andersen AFB SSgt Derek Skelton - 147 ASOS, Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base SrA Daryl Bowden Jr. -15AMXS, Offutt AFB SSgt Connor Remboldt - 190th Air Refueling Wing, Forbes Field ANGB SSgt Sarah Brice - DINFOS, Fort Meade, MD Wk 3 SSgt Roberto Hernandez Nieves - 823d Red Horse SQ, Hurlburt Field, FL SrA William Rosado - 1st Combat Camera Squadron, JBCharleston, SC SSgt Kenneth Diaz Figueroa - 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island ANG Capt Lindsay Cordero - AFGSC CCX, Barksdale AFB, LA TSgt Ashlyn - 69th Cyberspace Squadron, Schriever Space Force Base,CO Wk 4 TSgt Aaron Evins - AFPC Evaluations/ Recognitions, Randolph AFB SrA Nina-Sophia Pacheco - 134 Air Refueling Wing, 572nd Band of the South, McGhee Tyson ANG Base SrA Sarah Porrazza - 4RS/MXAAS, Andersen AFB, Guam TSgt Seth Groves - 434 OSS, Grissom ARB, IN Maj Kim Panagsagan - USSF/S8, Pentagon Wk 5 SrA Jonathan Bell -802d Force Support Squadron, JBSA Lackland AFB A1C Colton Richards - 27th SOSS, Cannon AFB Capt Cydnee Reese - 350th ARS, McConnell AFB Capt Jacob Bryant - Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB A1C Mandie Simon - 20 EMS, Shaw AFB Wk 6 TSgt Nicholas Brown - 31st Munitions Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy SSgt Erasmus Hartsfield - Andrews AFB 2d LT Touacha Her - 349 AMW, Travis AFB Special Bonus Episodes Follow the Series: Twitter Facebook Instagram Streaming at http://www.AFLive.tv Website: https://theaflive.com/ Climbers participating in the 11th annual Expedition Mt Kinabalu When you pull up the most disadvantaged person, you pull up everyone, said Jayasuriya. The eleventh annual Expedition Mt Kinabalu was flagged off by Datuk Christina Liew, Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment on June 10th from Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa. This year, Coalition Duchenne is donating RM20,000 to the Women and Childrens Hospital, Sabah. The funds will go towards helping boys in Sabah with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common rare disease of childhood, present in 1 in 3,500 male births. The donation will help provide Duchenne patients with equipment that they may otherwise not be able to access. Expedition leader Catherine Jayasuiyas son, Dusty Brandom, has Duchenne. Jayasuriya always dreamed of climbing Mt Kinabalu with her children; however, because Dusty has Duchenne, he would not be able to make the climb. Jayasuriya is inspired by Dustys resilience in the face of his challenges. At age 30, Dusty is in a wheelchair and is severely impacted by the muscle-wasting disease. Dusty is very involved in the behind-the-scenes organization of the expedition. Although he faces challenges, he lives a full and meaningful life. Jayasuriya is moved to help boys in Sabah with the muscle-wasting disease. She met local consultant pediatric neurologist Dr. Hock Sin Heng and physiotherapist Vivienne Yong to help distribute an essential breathing device called an Ambu bag. Coalition Duchennes outreach initiative Duchenne Without Borders supports underserved families and boys with Duchenne. The initiative was inspired by Azmi bin George, a young boy living with Duchenne in a rural area of Sabah; this year, his two sisters Nurul and Farhan binti George are climbing in his memory. The vision of Duchenne Without Borders is to distribute Ambu bags, bipap machines, wheelchairs, and other equipment to boys with Duchenne in communities around the world, and give them hope and a connection to treatment protocols, drugs, and research initiatives that are readily available in the United States and other developed countries. The organization is hopeful that such initiatives will move towards a future where people with Duchenne and other rare diseases will have greater access to support and treatments. When you pull up the most disadvantaged person, you pull up everyone, said Jayasuriya. There is hope on the horizon for those with Duchenne. In the past few months, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been considering approval of the first gene therapy for the disease. The pharmaceutical company Sarepta Therapeutics has been trialing a viral delivery of a modified form of the gene that, when missing, causes Duchenne. Jayasuriya is advocating for Malaysian patients to have access to these potentially life-saving drugs when they become available. She has worked with pharmaceutical companies and spoken at conferences to set up trial sites in Malaysia. There are many Duchenne families in Malaysia who are following developments hoping that their sons will benefit. Boys and young men with Duchenne in this region need a voice and access to new drugs, said Jayasuriya. Two fathers from Malaysian Rare Disease Society, Haji Sutan Mustaffa and Davien Low traveled from Kuala Lumpur to climb for their sons who have Duchenne. Davien Lows son, Rayce, age 11, joined for the flag-off of Expedition Mt Kinabalu. This years expedition includes twenty climbers from all over the world: Australia, USA, Germany, Singapore, the Philippines, Britain, France, and Switzerland. Last year, Yohan Jayasuriya joined the climb and summited cosplaying as Iron Man; this year, he will cosplay as Batman and anticipates to summit. In 2012, in her drive to create awareness Jayasuriya, brought a film crew to Sabah for her documentary Dustys Trail: Summit of Borneo. The film is the story of Dustys journey with Duchenne, and it tells about people coming together from around the world to climb Mt Kinabalu to raise awareness. Jayasuriyas father, the late Tan Sri Thomas Jayasuriya, is interviewed in the film along with other family members, doctors, and scientists. The documentary also features Azmi Calvin bin George. Our footage of Azmi and his family touched viewers around the world and started a conversation about the underserved population of boys and young men with Duchenne that exists in many countries. His legacy is that newly diagnosed boys will have more support and hope, said Jayasuriya. Thank you to our sponsors and partners: Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment; Sabah Tourism; Sabah Parks; Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort; Sutera Sanctuary Lodges; NS Pharma; and NS BlueScope Lysaght Sabah Sdn Bhd. About Coalition Duchenne Catherine Jayasuriya started Coalition Duchenne with her son Dusty Brandom in 2011 to raise global awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to fund research, and to find a cure for Duchenne. Coalition Duchenne is a US 501c3 non-profit corporation. Coalition Duchenne and its founders have been leaders in sponsoring Duchenne research for over 25 years. The charity is one of the leading advocates for FDA approval of new treatments for Duchenne. Coalition Duchenne recently launched Duchenne Without Borders, which supports underserved families and boys with Duchenne. Duchenne Without Borders provides boys with Duchenne in Sabah with Ambu bags and bipap machines, and provides information about Duchenne to doctors and families. The vision of Duchenne Without Borders is to expand its outreach to underserved communities around the world, and give hope and a connection to treatment protocols, drugs, and research initiatives that are readily available in the United States and other developed countries. Duchenne Without Borders has established collaborations in India, Algeria, Cambodia, and the Philippines. For more information about Coalition Duchenne, please visit: http://www.coalitionduchenne.org. About Dustys Trail: Summit of Borneo (2013) A press kit is available for download from the Dustys Trail website: http://Dustystrail.org About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Primarily affecting males, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare and fatal genetic disorder that results in progressive muscle weakness from early childhood and often leads to premature death in the mid-twenties due to heart and respiratory failure. It is a progressive muscle disorder caused by the lack of functional dystrophin protein. Dystrophin is critical to the structural stability of all muscles, including skeletal, diaphragm, and heart muscles. Patients with Duchenne can lose the ability to walk as early as age ten, followed by loss of upper body strength. Duchenne patients subsequently experience life-threatening lung complications, requiring the need for ventilation support, and heart complications in their late teens and twenties. More information on the signs and symptoms of DMD can be found at: http://www.duchenneandyou.com - We are thrilled to be part of the 119th Anniversary Convention and Education Symposium organized by the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. We encourage all attendees to stop by our booth and learn more about how our services can help them navigate the challenges of the insurance industry. Educational Services & Consulting (ESC) is proud to announce their participation as a vendor at the prestigious 119th Anniversary Convention and Education Symposium of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA). The event is scheduled to take place from June 14 to June 16, 2023, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee, Florida. The FAIA Convention and Education Symposium is a highly anticipated annual gathering that brings together insurance industry professionals, agents, brokers, and industry experts from across the state. As the leading provider of education and training services for the insurance industry, ESC recognizes the importance of this event in fostering knowledge sharing, professional development, and networking opportunities for industry stakeholders. ESC will be showcasing its cutting-edge educational solutions tailored specifically for insurance professionals. With a focus on enhancing industry knowledge, skill development, and training, ESC offers a wide range of programs and resources designed to meet the unique needs of those looking to become an accredited claims adjuster. "We are thrilled to be part of the 119th Anniversary Convention and Education Symposium organized by the Florida Association of Insurance Agents," Co-Owner and Chief Strategy Officer, Natalie Zimmerman, said. "This event presents an incredible platform for us to connect with insurance professionals and demonstrate how our comprehensive educational solutions can contribute to their success in this ever-evolving industry." As a vendor, ESC will host booth #824 at the convention where attendees can explore their innovative training programs and advanced e-learning platforms. The ESC team will be available to engage with attendees, provide personalized demonstrations, and discuss the various ways their services can empower insurance professionals to thrive in their careers. They will also be giving away an Apple Watch and bottle of wine. "We encourage all attendees to stop by our booth and learn more about how our services can help them navigate the challenges of the insurance industry," Zimmerman said. "Our team is excited to connect with fellow professionals and share our knowledge and expertise." In addition to exhibiting at the convention, ESC will also be actively participating in various educational sessions, workshops, and panel discussions throughout the event. The team will share their industry expertise and insights on emerging trends, compliance regulations, and strategies for professional growth. Their goal is to facilitate knowledge exchange and equip attendees with the tools necessary to excel in today's dynamic insurance landscape. The Educational Services & Consulting team eagerly anticipates the opportunity to interact with industry peers, forge new partnerships, and contribute to the collective growth of the insurance community during FAIA's 119th Anniversary Convention and Education Symposium. About Educational Services & Consulting: Educational Services & Consulting is a leading provider of education and training services for the insurance industry. Founded in 2001, the company offers a range of services, including a 40-hour self-paced online course for individuals looking to earn their 6-20 Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation. ESC also offers a 40-hour self-paced online course for individuals looking to earn their 4-40 Registered Customer Service (RCSR) designation. ESC has a deep understanding of the insurance industry and is dedicated to helping professionals improve their skills and knowledge. For more information, visit http://www.escconnected.com. Contact: Educational Services & Consulting (800) 309-2549 E-mail: office@escconnected.com https://escconnected.com More about ESC: Educational Services & Consulting has partnered with several colleges and universities to assist educational institutions with expanding their course offerings. Enrolled college students can take either of ESCs online designation courses through their school. Students register for the ESC courses as any other college class and ESC offers a revenue share to the participating schools. In addition to its educational partnership program, ESC also partners with all branches of the U.S. military. Both the 6-20 Accredited Claims Adjuster designation and the 4-40 Registered Customer Service designation courses have been very attractive opportunities for military personnel who are retiring or taking active leave. The ACA designation has been most popular with military personnel in part due to the roles and responsibilities as an All-Lines Adjuster. Over the years ESC has had several military personnel earn their ACA designation and eventually work as an independent insurance adjuster with great success. Educational Services & Consulting is located at 4327 S Highway 27, Suite 204 in Clermont, Florida 34711. For additional information on registering for ESCs 6-20 Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) designation course or their 4-40 Registered Customer Service (RCSR) designation course, visit online at: https://escconnected.com/ or call 1-800-309-2549. Huma.AI logo I am truly honored to be named as a person of influence in Silicon Valley. Huma.AI was born here and it is the capitol of innovative ideas that transform industries, of which we believe Huma.AI is a prime example. Dr. Lana Feng, Co-Founder and CEO of Huma.AI, a leading generative AI platform for life sciences, has been named as one of the 2023 Women of Influence by the esteemed Silicon Valley Business Journal in its just released annual honors. Huma.AI is based in Palo Alto. Last week, the Silicon Valley Business Journal announced the complete list of honorees to this years Women of Influence list. Dr. Feng and the others chosen will be honored June 29 at an in-person event at the Hilton Signia Hotel in downtown San Jose. There will be profiles of the honorees June 17 in the SVBJ and on its website. For more than a decade, the publication has been honoring 100 outstanding business, nonprofit and community leaders each year via its Women of Influence program. The honor runs the gamut of industries including technology, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and food and lifestyle. Dr. Fengs company, Huma.AI, offers the first generative AI platform for life sciences that turns domain experts into their own data scientists. The name Huma means human plus machine where humans always come first. Its transformative, expert-in-the-loop generative AI platform has garnered tremendous industry recognition, and Huma.AI currently works with many pharmaceutical and medical device companies across the globe. I am truly honored to be named as a person of influence in Silicon Valley, said Dr. Feng. Huma.AI was born here and it is the capitol of innovative ideas that transform industries, of which we believe Huma.AI is a prime example. About Huma.AI Huma.AI is a pioneer in generative AI, providing its own ChatGPT for life sciences through a year-long collaboration with OpenAI. Its medical affairs solution allows Medical Affairs teams to obtain previously unknown intelligence that is critical for HCP engagement and medical strategy. Huma.AI begins where ChatGPT ends: The platform analyzes across disparate sources, including internal data and external data; provides references and explanations for experts verification and validation; its expert-in-the-loop approach leads to the highest accuracy possible. Huma.AIs mission is to empower life science professionals with mission critical decision-making data, insights, and analysis using everyday language. Teachers in Albemarle County Public Schools last week were provided a video detailing the findings of a new audit and report commissioned by Superintendent Matthew Haas. Haas was determined to find and address the root causes of a sizable achievement gap in the school division, particularly why students of color had test scores far lower than the state average for their demographic group. The video will serve as a starting point for discussing the report more in depth, according to Dr. Daphne Keiser, assistant superintendent for school community engagement. The video is a start. Having that feedback from teachers is really important because theyre the experts, but theres also a task force made up of teachers, administrators, family and community members, Keiser said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. They all will also have an opportunity to engage with the report. The divisionwide audit and report, conducted by Bellwether, a nonprofit educational consulting firm, cost about $110,000, according to Haas. It comes after a statewide decline in test scores in 2022, which Gov. Glenn Younkin has called unacceptable. Bellwether was tasked with finding out why the passage rate on the Virginia Standards of Learning, or SOLs, for K-5 reading, K-5 math and high school Algebra I for students of color were far lower than the averages for other students of color in the state. Their results were also lower than their peers in other demographic groups in Albemarle school system. We are not providing all the necessary resources needed to empower our Black and Hispanic students, our students with disabilities, students for whom English is not their primary language and students who are economically disadvantaged, to achieve at the highest levels of their potential, Hass said when he commissioned the report last fall. The Bellwether findings were detailed at the School Board meeting Thursday and identified five specific root causes for the achievement gap prevalent in Albemarle schools. In regards to how students were being taught, the report found three main issues. First, the report concluded that the tests students take in class do not consistently reflect the level of rigor required by the SOLs. Also, the report found that the adults at school are not equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the instructional needs of all students. Finally, it was determined that there were curricular gaps, particularly for secondary math and K-5 interventions which caused barriers for teachers and students. The report also identified two root causes of the achievement gap linked to the support structure around teachers and students. Bellwether asserted there was not a clear plan for how Albemarle schools would close the achievement gap. Second, they found that internal and external stakeholders do not experience engagement in ways that meet their needs and center them as valued contributors to the solution. Haas said that the findings were largely what he expected. I wasnt really surprised by anything I learned in the report. These are observations Ive had over and over, Haas said. You do the best you can to work on these things. While I would like to think I could influence change easily, it doesnt work that way. Bellwether presented the superintendent with a number of possible fixes. In the classroom, students could potentially see more frequent standardized tests and upgraded instructional material, particularly for Algebra I and middle-grade math, that could take shape as tutoring or a summer math camp. On the administrative front, Bellwether recommended rethinking professional development to create a more systematic approach to adult learning. The firm also thought it was important to strengthen systems for input, feedback and processes for communicating decisions to staff and families. Finally, Bellwether recommended clarifying how the school divisions actions would lead to better student outcomes. Both Haas and Keiser avoided committing to specifics on what would be considered a success for reducing the achievement gap but maintained any improvement would be impactful. We would want to see improvement and achievement across the board for all groups, Keiser said. School Board Chair Katrina Callsen said that reforms will take time, but she is excited to tackle the challenge. There are no quick fixes, Callsen said. We have taken a lot of first steps in reforms already, and we are excited to take on the necessary work to help our students and staff. Our plan is to dive back into the recommendations in October, she added, and work to implement the reforms at our next budget session. Global consulting firm J.S. Held announces today the election of financial investigations expert Natalie Lewis, CPA/CFF, CFE to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Board of Regents. Reacting to the news of her election, Ms. Lewis shares, I am honored to be recognized by my peers and given the opportunity to help foster the growth and development of the anti-fraud profession. ACFE Regents are responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the organization to promote professionalism and ensure the reputation of the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Ms. Lewis has conducted fraud investigations for companies of all sizes, ranging from small, closely held businesses to Fortune 50 companies and government entities. Her investigations have spanned the globe, including internal investigations, embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, commercial crime insurance claims, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and asset misappropriation. Ms. Lewis is also experienced in litigation disputes and is often retained by attorneys to assist clients with calculating lost profits and other damages and provide forensic accounting analysis. She has participated in numerous engagements in various industries, including hospitality, government, wholesale, oil and gas, healthcare, and professional services. She has presented written and oral expert witness testimony in court proceedings. This week Ms. Lewis will join fellow members of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners at the 34th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference, where she will speak on open-source intelligence (OSINT) -- Using Public Information to Your Advantage in Fraud Investigations. Ms. Lewis thought leadership focuses on topics including fraud and forensic investigations, internal controls, forensic accounting, interview techniques, bankruptcy, and expert witness testimony. About J.S. Held J.S. Held is a global consulting firm providing technical, scientific, and financial expertise across all assets and value at risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high-stakes events demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations. J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not certified public accounting firm(s) and do not provide audit, attest, or any other public accounting services. J.S. Held, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not law firms and do not provide legal advice. Securities offered through our affiliate, Ocean Tomo Investment Group, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved. When used effectively, AI can be a powerful tool to streamline and support your job search, said Keith Spencer, Career Expert at FlexJobs. Amid curiosity, controversy, and concerns surrounding recent advancements in artificial intelligence, a new survey from FlexJobs found that more than half of men (54%) are using AI in either or both their personal and professional lives, while roughly one-third of women (35%) are currently using AI. Conducted between May 3 and May 21, 2023, FlexJobs survey polled over 5,600 U.S.-based men and women about their experiences with artificial intelligence and tools like ChatGPT to better understand their perspectives on how AI is impacting their careers and the larger work landscape. General AI Use Across the board, men are using AI at higher rates. The 35% of women using AI and the 54% of men using AI breaks down in the following ways: Do you use ChatGPT or other forms of AI? Yes, in my personal life: 15% Women / 21% Men Yes, both at work and in my personal life: 11% Women / 12% Men Yes, for work-related tasks with my manager's permission: 5% Women / 11% Men Yes, for work-related tasks, but my manager does not know: 4% Women / 10% Men AI Use on Job Applications Men are using AI tools like ChatGPT on their job application materials, including resume and cover letter writing, more than women are using AI tools. 60% of men say they either already have or are considering using AI for job applications, but only 46% of women say the same. Specifically: 21% men have already used AI tools on their job applications, while 15% of women already have 39% of men said theyre considering using AI in this manner while only 31% of women are considering it When used effectively, AI can be a powerful tool to streamline and support your job search, said Keith Spencer, Career Expert at FlexJobs. But its imperative todays workers realize that even with the latest advancements, AI programs like ChatGPT should serve as an aid rather than a replacement in communicating a candidates experience, Spencer added. AI Impact on Job Security When asked about AIs impact on their careers and the future of work, 38% of men said AI is currently threatening their job security (11%) or think it may threaten their job security (27%) in the future. 27% of women said the same, with 7% saying advances in AI are currently threatening their job security and 20% saying it may threaten their job security. Despite these concerns, 35% of men believe AI technology will positively impact the workplace, compared to 25% of women. More women (44%) than men (28%) are unsure of how AI technology will impact the workplace. Do you think AI technology will have a positive or negative impact on the workplace? I'm not sure: 44% Women / 28% Men AI technology will negatively impact the workplace: 26% Women / 29% Men AI technology will positively impact the workplace: 25% Women / 35% Men It will not impact the workplace: 5% Women / 8% Men FlexJobs created the survey, which was promoted to general audiences and its subscribers/members primarily through social media and newsletters. FlexJobs used a multiple choice and multi-select question format via SurveyMonkeys online platform. The survey ran from May 3, 2023, to May 21, 2023. Demographic breakdown of the 5,641 respondents: Gender: women (69%), men (28%) prefer not to identify/self-describe (3%); Generation: Gen Z (10%), millennial/Gen Y (34%), Gen X (34%), baby boomer (20%), silent generation (2%); Education: less than a high school degree (less than 2%), high school degree or equivalent (8%), some college but no degree (19%), associates degree (12%), bachelors degree (36%), graduate degree (24%); Career level: entry-level (11%), experienced (48%), manager (24%), director (11%), executive/c-suite (6%); forty-one percent had children 18 or younger living at home with them. For more information, please visit https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/the-ai-gender-gap-exploring-variances-in-workplace-adoption or contact Shanna Briggs at sbriggs@flexjobs.com. About FlexJobs FlexJobs is the leading career service specializing in remote, hybrid, and flexible jobs, with over 135 million people having used its resources since 2007. FlexJobs provides the highest-quality database of vetted remote and flexible job listings, from entry-level to executive, startups to public companies, part-time to full-time. To support job seekers in all phases of their career journey, FlexJobs also offers extensive expert advice, webinars, and other resources. In parallel, FlexJobs works with leading companies to recruit quality remote talent and optimize their remote and flexible workplace. A trusted source for data, trends, and insight, FlexJobs has been cited extensively in top national outlets, including CNN, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, CNBC, Forbes magazine, and many more. FlexJobs also has partner sites Remote.co and Job-Hunt.org to help round out its content and job search offerings. Follow FlexJobs on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. We know there is a serious need for this level of care to help with the growing mental health needs in our communities, and we are honored to be working towards a PRTF opening later this year that will expand opportunities for these youth and their families. Dr. Michelle Murray, CEO of Nexus Family Healing, announced that the agency will open its first psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) later this year in East Bethel, located approximately 35 miles north of Minneapolis. It will be the fifth PRTF in Minnesota. In addition, Dr. Murray announced the launch of the agencys innovative youth care transition program (YCT), created to support youth in their successful transitions home from Minnesota PRTFs, the Willmar-based Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Hospital (CABHH), and soon, Twin Cities inpatient psychiatric hospitals. These initiatives address two significant challenges in care today for Minnesota youth with higher levels of mental and behavioral health needs: creating more beds for those who are in need of assistance; and building paths to success for these youth when theyre ready to transition back into their communities, making room for those who are waiting for PRTF support. Minneapolis-based Nexus Family Healing and its network of agencies has supported the mental health of Minnesota youth and families for more than 50 years through its outpatient/community mental health services, foster care and adoption and residential treatment. Nexus-East Bethel The new PRTF is targeted to open in December of 2023, and will eventually serve up to 40 children, male and female, aged 10-19, who are dealing with higher levels of mental and behavioral needs. When fully operational, the agency is expected to employ approximately 90 Nexus associates, accommodating higher staff-to-youth ratios and other specific care needs. Nexus will be moving into an existing building in East Bethel, originally built to serve as a PRTF but unused for the past two years. Minnesota urgently needs more options for young people with behavioral health needs, said Eric Grumdahl, Assistant Commissioner for Behavioral Health, Housing, and Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. We are grateful for Nexus Family Healings work to create this PRTF and will continue to partner with them and all providers who are standing up new programs and capacity to meet these critical needs. As an organization, we have a successful history of creating solutions for gaps of service identified by ourselves or our partners at the state and local community level, said Dr. Michelle Murray, CEO of Nexus Family Healing. In this case, we know there is a serious need for this level of care to help with the growing mental health needs in our communities, and we are honored to be working towards a PRTF opening later this year that will expand opportunities for these youth and their families. Nexus Youth Care Transition Program The Department of Human Services (DHS) identified a gap in service to youth who were transitioning out of any of the states PRTFs or the CABHH. The creation of a program that provided holistic support for their successful transition back to their family homes or other appropriate community environments would benefit these youth. Nexus conceived of and then built a model for the youth care transition program, which finds the right placement for these youth and then provides intensive support throughout their transition and stabilization period, working side-by-side with caregivers and community services. Currently, the YCT program serves youth returning to the Twin Cities metro area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsay, Scott, Washington counties) as well as southern/ southeastern Minnesota (Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca counties). The program will soon expand to include Twin Cities metro hospitals assisting youth needing transition out of inpatient psychiatric hospitals and placement into the appropriate care. The nine-member YCT team brings diverse expertise to advocate for the youth in transition and partner with their families. The individualized partnerships begin when the youth are still residing in a PRTF, CABHH, or a psychiatric hospital setting, first building a trusting relationship with them and then providing intensive services post discharge, generally for 90 days. The program is funded by DHS, so no cost is incurred by families. We had no model to follow when we created this program, explained Murray. We pulled together our clinical leaders and applied our deep understanding of family systems and wrap-around models, understanding the breadth of support these youth and their families need to guide their successful transition to the community or the next step in their treatment journey. YCT reflects our long history of partnering with states, local counties, communities and health care organizations, thinking outside the box to create innovative programs that fill specific needs as we also provide our day-in, day-out programming, continued Murray. To find out more about the YCT program, visit http://www.nexusfamilyhealing.org/nexus-facts/YCT. About Nexus Family Healing Nexus Family Healing is a national nonprofit mental and behavioral health organization based in Minnesota. For over 50 years, our network of agencies has used innovative, personalized approaches to heal trauma, break cycles of harm, and reshape futures. We provide outpatient/community mental health services, foster care/adoption, and residential treatment to help thousands of children, families, and adults each year struggling with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. Were especially passionate about bringing hope to the most challenging situations. Learn more at NexusFamilyHealing.org. Yuri is a valuable addition to our executive team in the Americas region. The extensive experience that he brings will contribute to the growing footprint that Paysend has established both in North and South America and support the important partnership we now have with TelevisaUnivision. Paysend, the global card-to-card transfer pioneer and global payments platform, has appointed ex Ernst & Young auditor and American Express executive, Yuri Biondo as Chief Financial Officer for the Groups US business. Based in Miami, he will report directly to the Group CFO, Wilhelm Rohde, and work alongside Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director for the Americas, Jairo Riveros. More recently Global Corporate Controller at Tribal Credit in Miami after a period as Vice President & Controller for Latin America and Caribbean for Visa, Yuri brings a wealth of financial services experience to Paysend and will help to drive the successful delivery of the recently announced partnership between Paysend and TelevisaUnivision in the United States and Latin America. Yuri will also have regulatory responsibility in relation to Paysends Money Transfer licenses in the US. Welcoming Yuri into the Paysend Group, Chief Executive, Ronald Millar said, Yuri is a valuable addition to our executive team in the Americas region. The extensive experience that he brings will contribute to the growing footprint that Paysend has established both in North and South America and support the important partnership we now have with TelevisaUnivision. I am very pleased to welcome him into the Paysend family. Group CFO Wilhelm Rohde added, We are pleased to add further top payment industry talent to our bench which will support our growth trajectory." Jairo Riveros added to the welcome, I very much look forward to working alongside Yuri. Good financial management is a key component of our business, and Yuris background and experience both strengthen our team in the US and bring us the disciplines that will support our expansion across the region. Yuri Biondo commented, Paysend is a true success story. Over a relatively short period of time, it has become one of the leading global money transfer services, and I am delighted to be joining the Group to play my part in the continued growth, working alongside Jairo. ABOUT PAYSEND Paysend is a next-generation integrated global payment ecosystem, enabling consumers and businesses to pay and send money online anywhere, anyhow and in any currency. Paysend is UK-based and has global reach having been created in April 2017 with the clear mission to change how money is moved around the world. Paysend currently supports cross-network operability globally across Mastercard, Visa, China UnionPay and local ACH and payment schemes, providing over 40 payment methods for online SMEs. Paysend can send money to over 170 countries worldwide. As a global end-to-end payment platform, Paysend has its own global network of banks and international and local payment systems and has partnerships with the major international card networks Visa, Mastercard and China Union Pay as a principal member and certified processor. For further information and details of the partnership visit https://paysend.com. The Journal of Africana Religions publishes critical scholarship on Africana religions, including the religious traditions of African and African Diasporic peoples as well as religious traditions influenced by the diverse cultural heritage of Africa. An interdisciplinary journal encompassing history, anthropology, Africana studies, gender studies, ethnic studies, religious studies, and other allied disciplines, the Journal of Africana Religions embraces a variety of humanistic and social scientific methodologies in understanding the social, political, and cultural meanings and functions of Africana religions. The chronological scope of the journal is comprehensive and invites research into the history of Africana religions from ancient to contemporary periods. The journals geographical purview is global and comprises Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Atlantic islands (such as Cape Verde and Sao Tome), the Caribbean, and Europe. The journal is particularly concerned with publishing research on the historical connections and ruptures involved in the spread of Africana religions from within and beyond Africa. Emphasizing the historical movement or spread of Africana religions and the dynamic transformations they have undergone underscores the nuanced, complex history of these religions and transcends the essentializing gestures that have hindered previous generations of scholarship. For this reason, we encourage authors to examine multiple dimensions of Africana religions, including the relationship between religion and empire, slavery, racism, modern industrial capitalism, and globalization. Find Journal of Africana Religions on Facebook! And follow JOAR on Twitter! The journal is co-sponsored by the African Association for the Study of the Religions and Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Additional institutional sponsors of the journal include Northwestern University and the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. The journals editorial offices are currently located at IUPUI Department of Religious Studies, Cavanaugh 335, 425 University Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202. The African Association for the Study of Religions (AASR) is an academic association that promotes the study of religions in Africa through international collaboration in research, publishing, and teaching. AASR was founded in 1992 in Harare, Zimbabwe at a Regional Conference of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR). The AASR has been an affiliate organization of the IAHR since 1995. The Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) is a not-for-profit, tax deductible organization of international scholars seeking to further our understanding of the African Diaspora, that is, the dispersal of people of African descent throughout the world. Through the examination of history, dance, anthropology, literature, women's studies, education, geology, political science, sociology, language, art, music, film, theater, biology, photography, etc., we seek to share the most recent research both within and across disciplinary and other conventional boundaries. Ordering a beer from the Jefferson Theater bar on Saturday night, Dave Norris maintained that the Primary Voice Music Festival his campaign had organized and sponsored was not a campaign fundraiser. Yet the evening sure did feature a lot of love for the Democratic candidate for the 54th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. This ones for Dave, kicked off the the opening number on Saturday. The night featured big names from Charlottesvilles local music scene, including Marley Nichelle, David Wax, Devon Sproule, Kendall Street Company and others. Norris took the stage multiple times throughout the evening. Obviously I would love to have your support, he told the large crowd, adding that more information on his candidacy was available at a booth near the front of the theater. He also outlined key tenets of his platform. When The Daily Progress asked Norris last Thursday whether the concert was a campaign event, Norris responded that his campaign was organizing and sponsoring the event and that the overarching goal was to encourage participation in the June 20 primary. On Saturday night Norris was more direct. Obviously its a campaign event, noting that his name could be found on posters throughout the venue. Im not trying to hide it. A PhD student who came to the Jefferson with two friends said they had heard about the concert because they are fans of Kendall Street Company. Its not until I got here that I was like, Oh, this is a voting event, he said. He added that he is not registered to vote. Two other University of Virginia students said they were unaware of Dave Norris before the event. Asked whether the fact that Norris organized the concert might sway their votes on June 20, both were open to the possibility. Maybe, yeah, said one. Its a big thing to me, said the other of being able to see live music free of charge. I love it. I love it, Norris said after being told of the two students. If they associate me with having a good time, a good party and music, and a message that resonates, then this will have been a success. He also claimed that the concert was the biggest campaign event any of the candidates for 54th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates had had. Late Saturday night, a Jefferson Theater employee estimated that 400 people had attended the concert to that point. Upon entering, guests passed by a table where they could collect Norris campaign stickers and learn more about his candidacy. It was connected to a table where Natalie Oschrin, a Democratic candidate for Charlottesville City Council, told folks about her platform and offered a signup sheet for people interested in volunteering for her campaign. Shymora Cooper and Amanda Burns, both candidates for Charlottesville School Board, and Democratic candidate for City Council Dashad Cooper were also in attendance. All three told The Daily Progress they were invited by Norris. Across from the main bar was a photo booth that Norris encouraged attendees to visit, where they could snap pictures in front of a backdrop covered with Norris campaign logo. At one point in the evening, musician Abbey Ellerglick sang a campaign song she had written for Norris, joined on stage by many of the other musicians who had performed throughout the evening. Vote for Dave! Ellerglick shouted at the songs close. Neither of Norris' rivals in the Democratic primary, former Charlottesville Police Civilian Oversight Board Chair Bellamy Brown and sitting Albemarle County School Board Chair Katrina Callsen, were invited to Saturday's event. When asked about the event, Brown said his focus is on connecting with voters to ensure they have the best representation possible. Whether it was a fundraiser or not is of no concern to me, Brown told The Daily Progress. One attendee with long dark hair and wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt said he had not been planning to vote for Norris prior to the concert. He seems like a nice guy and he says all the right things, but dont all politicians? remarked the man, who did not provide his name. If he chooses to vote, he now expects he will give his vote to Norris. It seems like a clever use of a concert, he said. The father of a Spotsylvania County middle school student who brought a loaded gun to school last month has been charged with a misdemeanor offense. Josette Rodriguez, 37, is charged with recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm so as to endanger the life or limb of a child under the age of 14, Sheriffs Maj. Troy Skebo said. The charge stems from a May 19 incident in which a loaded .45-caliber handgun was found in the backpack of a 12-year-old boy. An investigation began after another student told a teacher about the weapon. School administrators and a school resource officer were notified and the gun was recovered without incident. Skebo said the student never made any threats regarding the gun. Sheriff Roger Harris said the incident was a good reminder of the need for parents and others to properly secure weapons to keep them out of the reach of curious or troubled children. A court appearance for Rodriguez is scheduled for next week in Spotsylvania General District Court. Courtney Pentland will begin her role as the 20232024 president of the American Association of School Librarians following the official close of the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago on June 27. Pentland is a school librarian at North Star High School in Lincoln, Neb., and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Omaha school library program. She has served in the Nebraska School Librarians Association in numerous capacities including as president. She begins her AASL term as the profession faces the daunting challenges of book banning and other exclusionary legislative policies designed to restrict students access to materials. We spoke with Pentland about how she plans to support her fellow librariansand encourage pre-service studentsin this stressful time. Can you talk about any goals you plan to focus on during your term as AASL president? One of the things that I would like to harken back to during the next year is what I feel school librarians are really good at, and that is building relationships with all of the different people in their communities, whether it is students, staff, parents, administrators, or community members. That is one of the unique skill sets that school librarians develop and that we focus on in our graduate programs. But for people like me, who maybe went through their program a little while ago, the state of the world right now presents some distinct challenges in building relationships with various groups. I guess its about getting back to the basics. Considering how the world is now and the way that school librarianship is being viewed, and the narratives that are being provided by outside people, we need to look at ways we can go back to that basic idea of building positive relationships with all of our stakeholders. Could you point to any highlights or memorable moments from your year as president-elect? The focus on legislation and school policies and restriction of materials for students is obviously very front and center in many of our minds, whether were facing it currently, preparing for it down the road, or dealing with how to address things that have already happened. Those concerns are coloring a lot of how we approach our jobs. And one of the things that I think is a highlight of this time that we are in is the community of school librarians from across the country who are lifting each other up, who are sending notes of support, who are reaching out to people and asking How can I help you? or passing along resourcesgiving their time to share their personal experiences so other people can learn from where theyve been, and so that we can grow together. The school library community is incredible. They are all so genuinely supportive and want to see each other do well. Theyre very giving people. And I think that spirit in our school library community is really shining right now in the midst of all of the strife. I applaud and commend all the people who are lifting each other up and supporting each other through what none of us would have ever expected when we decided to do this profession. In many ways, this is a stressful and frightening time to be a school librarian. What can you do in your role as AASL president to help the organization support members who are facing book banning and other types of challenges? The very first thing that we do is listen. We listen to the members, we listen to other people who are sharing their experiences, because were here to serve all school librarians. But the thing that is difficult about where we are is that the playbook keeps changing. What we were experiencing and addressing a year ago is different today. I havent heard the word grooming for a while, but that was really prevalent about a year ago. Were hearing a lot of the word pornography right now. The language and the nature of how people are sharing false narratives changes over time. And when we hear of something happening in one area, that can give us an idea of what might be coming in others. Because we see legislation, we see repeat policies, we see very similar tactics used across the country. So, one of the best things that we can do is listen to what is happening in the moment and try to work with our other groups like the [ALA] Office for Intellectual Freedom, other supportive organizations, and education associations, so that we can all support people at a point of need. Thats the most challenging thing right now: we dont know what the next thing is until it happens and then you have to figure out how to address it, and that takes a little bit of time. AASL partnered with ALA and OIF to do some free webinars this past February and March that talked about addressing some of the legislative and legal challenges that people were facing. Im really proud that we were able to get that going. Our current president Kathy Lester and I have a crowdsourced document that we have shared in a few different places. Its not official ALA or AASL stuff yet, because, like I said, its constantly changing. But we update the document with what people have shared with us, and were keeping all of that in one place and making it available for people if theyd like it. Because this is not a unique fight in Florida or Texas. It is something that many people are facing across the country, whether its in their own communities or through their states legislation. There are a lot of people who are affected, or will be at some point. What do you see as the future of school librarianship? How is the profession evolving? The last three years have taught me not to predict what could happen down the road. I did not realize I would be going through breast cancer treatment during a global pandemicthat was not on my life bingo card. So, one of the things that I am trying really hard to do in my personal and professional life is not to think five years in advance. But I am hopeful that at some point wiser heads will prevail and we will be able to get back to the joy of the school library. Being a school librarian truly is one of the best jobs in the world. I get to work with every student in my building, every content area, every ability level. We have students who come and see us because this is their safe space and they know that theyll be respected and treated well in here. We are the calm space that helps them with whatever life is throwing at them at that momentand that is magical. Every student is welcome, and we are here for whatever they need from us. Ive read articles from the 60s where librarians were frustrated that nobody understood what they did all day long. When I was in library school, what feels like eons ago, that was the same thing that people were frustrated about, and its something that I teach about in my graduate class. You need to be able to speak to what it is that you do so that other people understand. Because if they arent with you, 24-7, they dont know all the little things that you do to support everybody in your school community. What I hope comes out of this is that theres less mystery and more understanding of what the library does for kids, what a certified school librarian can do for their school community, and how both of those things in concert, when they are properly staffed and appropriately funded, can make such huge differences in kids lives. I know were going to evolve with the times. We are the most adaptable and flexible people because we never know what the day is going to hold. So, whatever comes our way, we are prepared to handle it, or we will get ourselves prepared to handle it. We are great about finding our own professional development. What is your advice for someone coming into the profession? I teach at one of our graduate school library programs here in Nebraska and I work with pre-service librarians and people who are in their first year or two, and my biggest advice to everybody is that librarianship is a marathon, not a sprint. As you come in, dont compare yourself to other people. Your journey is different from that of everyone else around you. Whether youre in the same district as other school librarians or not, your school is different, and your students are different. You may have some commonalities, but we are all on different journeys headed in the same direction. Take your time and do the things that you are able to do. And the number one thing is to build relationships. Collaboration is building relationships. Funding sometimes is building relationships. Designing programming for students is building relationships. All of it comes back to that fundamental piece. Chris Baron sees the world through a myriad of lenses. As a professor of English at San Diego City College and director of its writing center, Baron sees the world through his students eyes. As a poet and writer of the novels in verse All of Me and The Magical Imperfect, he views the world in images and portraits. And in his latest middle grade novel, The Gray (Feiwel and Friends, June 13), he peers through the lens of preteen Sasha, who is dealing with anxiety and trauma. PW spoke with Baron about these perspectives and his new book, how his teaching and writing influence each other, and what he hopes for his readers who are fighting their own battles. Can you give us a glimpse of your teaching experience? When I was a student in an MFA program for poetry, I became interested in teaching. I was also a teaching assistant and I fell in love with everything about teaching. I loved the feeling of working with studentsits so invigorating. So, I applied for every professorship that I could, and I got my job at San Diego City College. I know that it sounds cliche, but I have learned so much from my students, and love what I do. What are some things that youve learned from your students? How has teaching changed for you through the years? Over the last 23 years, Ive learned about many different cultures from my students who are from all around the world. I see what they deal with, what they go through, and what it means for them to be studying far away from home. I also see a beautiful shared goal in each of my students. And to teach themand to be a part of this goalis a sacred role. With each passing year, I feel that its more of a collaboration with my students than it was in the beginning. I was focused on imparting knowledge. Now, its more about helping them find their voices, to step out of their way to make their work stronger, and to help them feel confidentand become empowered in their writing. It sounds like teaching brings you a lot of joy. What would you say is the greatest joy and challenge for you teaching today? One of the greatest joys in working with my students is that click moment when something comes together for them, and they can share that with me. I can sometimes see it, and I can even feel when its happening. Its the moment when theyve discovered that what they want to say is impacting them and othersand that their story matters. The greatest challenge is what were going through as a result of the pandemic. Its like we took a break from life and were learning to adjust our expectations in education. So now, how do we rebuild education since the pandemic has been upon us? Many things that I did before to get my students engaged and excited about learning have changed. These students have a different sensibility about school and their responsibility. Because of remote learning, theyve had to relearn how to learn, how to act in a classroom, and how to to be social. Our class discussions are also very different. Its far more difficult to draw students into conversations than it was before. So, were learning as we go. What drew you to writing for kids? How and when did you begin? When I started teaching, I began writing poems and articles for literary journals and anthologies. I wrote poems about identity, my Jewish heritage, and coming of age. So, I think that Ive always had a kid lit mindset. I also began writing and sharing a number of pieces at an open mic night that my wife and I ran at a local cafe, Common Grounds. These pieces included Letters to My Eighth Grade Teacher. In them, I wrote about the lessons that I've learned in life that my eighth grade teacher encouraged us to explore, and to share. But the turning point in my kids writing was when I read my poem called First Kiss from my first book of poetry, Lantern Tree, at the release party. A good friend of mine, childrens author Matt de la Pena, was in attendance and grabbed me afterwards and said, You have to write middle grade and young adult! I didn't know exactly what he meant at the time. But, after thinking about it, I remembered how middle grade and YA were the books that had changed my life as a kid, books like Bridge to Terabithia, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings. I also had shared these books with my kids who also loved them, and they always begged me to tell them stories about my childhood. Thats when I realized that I could write these kinds of books. It was like that click moment that I see with my college students in their writing. What can you tell us about The Gray? Where did the story come from, and what are your hopes for this book and your readers? This story was difficult to write, and Im learning how to talk about it. So, first I will give you a little backstory. I grew up in New York City, then moved to Upstate New York, and lived on a horse ranch. That was a very magical part of my life. And so that is sort of where the story began. The connection between a kid and a horse is a big part of the story. And because I struggle from anxiety that came on later in life, I wanted to write a story about a character, Sasha, who is dealing with anxiety. Sasha is trying to survive after he learns that his beloved uncle who he used to visit in the country has died. Sashas a sensitive kid who loves nature and horses, and his anxiety begins to get worse. It becomes so bad that he goes into this place called the Gray. Its the world of anxiety in which he lives. When a bullying incident happens at school, his family and therapist decide that he needs to take a break, get off technology, and get back to nature. So, they send Sasha to stay in the countryside with his aunt, but the Gray finds him there. My hope for this book is that readers realize that we all have a version of the Gray, and like Sasha we can step out of it and cope with it, and we can still live while were trying to figure out how to deal with it. Its why I offer practical help in the book, including grounding and breathing techniques that come from my own experience and mental health experts. I want to show through Sashas story that he also discovers what it means to have courage, and learns that you dont have to go it alone. How do your teaching and writing influence each other? I used to separate my teaching and writing more, but now I see that storytelling has become more of a fundamental part of my teaching. In the past, I may have said, Write an essay about how to get a job. Now, Ill say, Tell the story about the day you first applied for a job. Story is my chief interest. It has the capacity to engage people in a way that nothing else can. My students have also exposed me to stories from around the world. These stories have broadened my perspective by showing me vast differences and incredible commonalities. We all want peace, harmony, and art. And while these things may look differently in other cultures, they are at the heart of everything. Since I've started writing storiesnovels especiallyI feel more humbled as a teacher, and I feel next to my students more than ever. And this has been a most rewarding experience. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. California Voters Support Parental Rights by Overwhelming Margins NEWS PROVIDED BY Capitol Resource Institute (CRI) June 12, 2023 CHINO HILLS, Calif., June 12, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- In May 2023, Real Impact completed a Rasmussen Poll targeting California voters to uncover the true perspective of parents regarding public school districts' secretive habits. Educators keeping information regarding children's gender transitions from parents have exposed the reality of deception in public schools across California. Parents are beginning to realize that public schools will assume the role as parent, especially in districts where parents have been trusting or uninvolved. According to the recent poll is a drastic revelation: 82% of respondents disagree with this statement: "A person loses their parental rights when a child enters public school." Parents are meant to work in tandem with the school district. "Public schools are certainly not meant to be a secret society for our youth to confide in and Californians agree," said Karen England, President of Capitol Resource Institute. "There is no reason teachers and administrators should hold higher authority over children's well-being or mental health. In fact, Californians do not believe educators should hold ANY authority over their children." This leads to the next set of questions where 88% of respondents support schools notifying parents if their child has a change in mental condition, like showing symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts. 69% of surveyors support schools notifying parents if their child identifies or requests to be identified or treated as a gender that doesn't align with their biological sex. And likewise, another question exposed that 68% of participants oppose teachers and school administrators keeping information about a child's gender identity secret from the parents. That is a huge majority. These questions directly juxtapose educators attempting to vilify parents who have already come forward about the school district keeping gender transition secrets for their children. These polling numbers make it clear that most California parents strongly wish to be directly involved with their children's mental health and well-being during and after school hours. Parents across California have been made aware of the lack of communication coming from educators and administrators in public school. According to this poll, a whopping 84% of surveyors support a local law that required parents to be notified of any major change in a child's physical, mental, or emotional health or academic performance. Parents have lost confidence in the safety of their children in the public-school setting and are looking to local policy changes to protect their rights as parents. The poll also finds that 64% of respondents disagree with this statement: "There is no such thing as someone else's child. Our nation's children are all our children.". "Parents are not willing to forgo parental rights over their children in any capacity," said England. "Our children do not belong to the nation. They belong to the parents and no educator or administrators should ever come before those rights." That is why CRI has partnered with Real Impact and other pro-parental right organizations in California to affect change at the local level. The California Coalition for Parental Rights are all working together and launching a policy that will ensure schools notify a parent if their child is seeking to transition their gender while at school. Schools should not be in the business of keeping secrets from their parents. SOURCE Capitol Resource Institute (CRI) CONTACT: Karen England, 916-212-5607, Kengland@capitolresource.org In lieu of endorsements ahead of this years Democratic primary, The Daily Progress has requested candidates provide a single statement from a supporter of their choosing. Here, voters not the candidate and not anyone paid by the candidates campaign will make their case for their camp before primary ballots are cast on June 20. There are votes you cast out of civic duty, and there are votes you cast with genuine personal excitement. Casting my ballot for Kellen Squire to be 55th District delegate is the latter. Kellen has dedicated his life to saving lives and advocating for expanded public health, a cleaner environment and the rights of all our people. Kellen is the real deal: a working-class guy who understands and advocates for families that are struggling to make ends meet and depend on great public schools to ensure their kids future success. He will fight to make sure that opportunities are not determined by your race or ZIP code. Kellens humble commitment to working folks is what has made the attacks on him feel elitist at best and dishonest at worst. He has been very clear about his support for a womans right to choose, and backs those words with actions. He fights for candidates who will protect the reproductive rights of women across Virginia; his work as an emergency room nurse speaks even louder than words. Kellen has pointed out what I and other pro-choice advocates believe: that Democrats are the true pro-life party, that being pro-life means supporting child care, universal health care, making it affordable to raise and educate a child, ensuring clean air and water for them to breathe and drink. Taking Kellens words out of context is disingenuous and totally misrepresents his adamant support for a womans right to choose. We need more pro-choice champions like Kellen who refuse to cede ground to those who claim to care about life but then advocate for policies that make it harder and harder to raise a healthy family. Kellen is a person of great integrity. I have total confidence that he will protect not just reproductive rights but professional, affordable, dignified access for any woman in Virginia choosing to exercise that right. I also know he will continue to hold politicians in both parties accountable for taking corporate political action committee money and will advocate for expanded voting rights, affordable housing, and more inclusive democracy reforms. He listens to and engages all our neighbors, which is why he has more small donations than any other primary candidate in Virginia. Electing Kellen is not just a chance for us to have a great champion for democracy but also to have someone committed to building a bigger Democratic coalition that includes all citizens who share our values even those who may speak with a different accent or terminology. Electing Kellen would be a real win for our community. Allowing the dishonest politics aimed his way to succeed would just fuel the cynicism that leaves so many potential voters sitting on the sidelines. That is why the whole Perriello family is voting for Kellen; and we hope yours will too. Purdue Global Provost Jon Harbor and Chancellor Frank Dooley, and Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann and Provost Dean McCurdy (left to right), signed a new Pathways Partnership that strengthens the longstanding and ever-growing relationship between the two schools. (Purdue Global photo/Rebecca Robinos) Agreement enhances the strong partnership by providing Ivy Tech associate degree pathways to all Purdue Global bachelors degrees INDIANAPOLIS Leaders from Purdue Global and Ivy Tech Community College want to provide more access to higher education and degrees for the 350,000 Indiana workers who have some college credit but no degree and 2 million working-age Hoosiers overall who have no postsecondary credentials. To help meet that challenge, leaders from the two schools on Monday (June 12) announced their new Pathways Partnership during an event at Ivy Techs main Indianapolis campus. The agreement strengthens a longstanding and ever-growing partnership between the two schools, creates more opportunities, and provides scholarships and support for students to complete a higher education degree. Under the Pathways Partnership, Purdue Global will accept unrestricted transfer and stackability of students Ivy Tech associate degrees and credits toward a Purdue Global bachelors degree. Purdue Global will work with those students to maximize their credit for prior learning, including competencies gained in the workplace and Ivy Tech prior learning credits. Students who have completed an Ivy Tech associate degree will be awarded an Ivy Tech Achievement Scholarship for most Purdue Global programs. Together, Ivy Tech and Purdue Global have created pathways to jobs and careers that are preparing the next-generation workforce for lifelong success, beginning with a world-class education, said Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann. Through this partnership, current Ivy Tech students have assurance that their associate degree will seamlessly transfer to a high-quality, affordable online bachelors degree at Purdue Global. Purdue Global Chancellor Frank Dooley said the partnership is a great fit for the two schools, especially given Purdue Globals position as Purdues online university for working adults. Purdue Global is expanding the sense of community for those learning online with additional student life activities, community volunteering, student engagement platforms, and dedicated advising and academic support. Purdue Global continues the supportive pathway of the Ivy Tech student experience by providing a smooth transition from associate to bachelors degree programs, Dooley said. We have a dedicated team for working with Ivy Tech and its students, and we are continuing to expand our strong partnership in many ways. It is so heartwarming to see Ivy Tech students when they cross the graduation stage to receive their bachelors degree. Purdue Global Provost Jon Harbor said one of the most exciting features of the Pathways Partnership is the Ivy Tech Achievement Scholarship, which will provide financial support for students who complete an associate degree at Ivy Tech as they continue their pursuit of a bachelors degree. Ivy Tech employees are also eligible to receive a tuition incentive at Purdue Global. The partnership also includes exchange and acceptance of prior learning credit so that students may transfer their credit for prior learning between the two institutions, Harbor said. This is a partnership best practice that goes beyond removing barriers for students, and it was highlighted nationally by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. Ivy Tech Provost Dean McCurdy said the two schools have worked to enhance students' success. Both Ivy Tech and Purdue Global have received funding to successfully educate underserved and first-generation students to improve their employment and socioeconomic outcomes following graduation. For all the Hoosiers out there with some college credit or who have always wanted to earn a college degree, our Ivy Tech and Purdue Global Pathways Partnership provides the support and opportunities to use life experience and credits earned to accelerate the timeline and lower the cost to complete a degree, McCurdy said. During the past year, both schools have strengthened the partnership by formally developing pathways and stackable credentials, establishing a dedicated Ivy Tech transfer team, surveying transfer students to better determine their educational needs, providing guaranteed admissions and more. Last November Ivy Tech and Purdue Global hosted a summit exploring how to prepare the Indiana workforce for the future. About Purdue Global Purdue Global is Purdues online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-global/. About Ivy Tech Community College Ivy Tech Community College is Indianas largest public postsecondary institution and the nations largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the states engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns to the needs of the community. The college provides seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelors degree. More information is available at www.ivytech.edu. Writer/Purdue Global media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-496-6160, oatesw@purdue.edu; @mo_oates Ivy Tech Community College media contact: Jennifer Hashem, jhashem1@ivytech.edu Sources: Frank Dooley, Sue Ellspermann, Jon Harbor and Dean McCurdy The Pardee RAND Graduate School (PardeeRAND.edu) is home to the only Ph.D. and M.Phil. programs offered at an independent public policy research organizationthe RAND Corporation. Property details: 1.08 Acres For Sale Near California City, CAItem DescriptionREAD FIRST DO NOT BUY-IT-NOW WITH OUT MESSAGING ME FIRST THIS PROPERTY IS OWNER FINANCED DOWN PAYMENT: $99.00 DOCUMENT FEE: $195.0020 MONTHLY PAYMENTS: $200.00 w 0% Interest TOTAL SALE PRICE: $4,000.00 PLUS DOC FEE AND DOWN PAYMENT Parcel: 288-163-01-00-9 Address: Del Mundo St. California City, CA 93505 Location: 35.193645, -117.743454 (copy and paste the GPS coordinates into Google Maps to get directions) Looking for an oasis of your o... Price: $ 99 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: Del Mundo St. California City Zip/Postal Code: 93505 Zoning: Residential City: California City State/Province: California Location: 926**, San Clemente, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Property details: Wind Power HOMESITE 2.3 acres Mojave, CA KERN COUNTY NO MINIMUM / NO RESERVE --- HIGH BID OWNS THE LOT This property is located North-East of Mojave this land lies along 58 Hwy near North Edwards, south of Aerial Acres in Kern County. A really growing community. Enjoy the Wonderful 4 Seasons Weather, all in the growth in The Heart of This City! Just across State Route 14, north of State Hwy 58 Barstow-Bakersfield and 395 Fwy. Aerial Acres is a fly-in unincorporated community in Kern County, Cali... Price: $ 2,500 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Recreational, Acreage State/Province: California Location: 928**, Anaheim, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Victoria Fuller / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/11/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Victoria Fuller has shared her thoughts on getting engaged to boyfriend Greg Grippo after throwing him a big surprise 30th birthday party.Victoria conducted a Q&A session via Instagram Stories on Thursday, and one fan asked, "Why aren't you engaged yet?"Victoria responded, "LMFAOOOOOOO. This question is nuts!! You guys, if you don't remember, one year ago I was engaged [to Johnny DePhillipo ]. When it happens, it will not be rushed or for anyone but us. But y'all will be the first to know, trust."Earlier this week, Victoria took to Instagram Stories to share moments from Greg's surprise birthday bash.Victoria planned the party and apparently invited family members as well as friends, including fellow Paradise alum Andrew Spencer Greg also posted videos from the celebration on Instagram earlier this week and wrote, "Turned 30 today and couldn't be more grateful. Thank you to @vlfuller for planning me the best surprise party and getting together the people I love most. Couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off my 30th year."Victoria commented on the post, "Happy birthday I love you."Victoria apparently had a black cake made for Greg that read, "R.I.P 20s," and she also made custom "dirty 30" koozies with Greg's face on them.Last month, Victoria and Greg enjoyed an off-the-grid vacation to reset their romance to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL."Took some time off from Insta to just enjoy life a little, but we're back baby!!!... Missed y'all!" Victoria shared at the time."Sometimes being on socials is a lot and you forget to just enjoy one another," she continued."Both of our jobs require us to be on our phones a lot, but we decided we just wanted to enjoy the experience and truly be on 'vacation.' We go a lot of places but we're still constantly working."Victoria -- a Nashville resident who has traveled to Italy, France and across the United States with Greg -- concluded, "Florida was a good reset to love on one another and be present."Victoria and Greg have been house hunting together in Nashville after Greg -- who promised to leave New York to be with his girlfriend.After all, Greg revealed in April that he could see himself marrying Victoria and welcoming children together within the next five years.And Victoria, who most recently appeared on 's eighth season last year, seems smitten with her man, who initially competed on Katie Thurston 's season of The Bachelorette.Greg and Victoria have apparently been going strong ever since meeting each other's loved ones around Christmas in December 2022.Greg and Victoria first met at Governors Ball Music Festival in Summer 2021 and remained friends for nearly a year.The couple told Nick Viall in December on "The Viall Files" podcast that they had mutual interest in each other but never acted on those feelings, especially since Victoria wanted to appear on in June 2022 and Greg was in a relationship with a woman overseas at that point.Victoria therefore looked for love on Paradise, and she fell hard and fast for Johnny DePhillipo , who initially competed for Gabby Windey 's heart on The Bachelorette's nineteenth season.Victoria and Johnny got engaged on 's eighth season, but the couple split shortly after filming the finale.Victoria alleged Johnny had called her terrible names -- including a "f-cking c-nt" and "homewrecker," which Johnny denied and called "low blows" -- and Johnny claimed Victoria was jealous and "heartbroken" over his The Bachelorette stint, which was airing on television while they were secretly engaged.Johnny also said Victoria demanded a lifestyle he wasn't ready for yet and their differences were glaring.According to Victoria, she and Johnny ended their engagement three weeks after Johnny's marriage proposal because their dynamic was "toxic." But Johnny believes his relationship with Victoria didn't officially end until mid-September considering they were allegedly still speaking and going to therapy before Victoria enjoyed a surprising European getaway with Greg in late October.Fans first spotted Victoria and Greg, and suspected a romance, during their time in Italy.Because of how quickly Victoria moved on from Johnny, the brunette beauty was accused of cheating on her then-fiance with Greg.Victoria and Greg also flirted on social media as reports swirled about Victoria and Johnny's split.Victoria said that Greg officially asked her to be his girlfriend on Halloween, and then Victoria went public with her new relationship on November 4, when the reunion special taped.'s reunion aired in late November, and fans were shocked to see Victoria and Greg so affectionate and carefree about their relationship. Victoria claimed she didn't care what anyone thought of her because she was so happy with Greg."I'm completely in love with her, like, head over heels in love with her," Greg said on Nick's podcast.Nick therefore playfully asked Greg if he was ready to propose marriage to Victoria."Stay tuned!" Victoria teased."I mean, we both want that in life," Greg interjected, "she's my person."Victoria agreed that Greg is her "person" as well, and then Greg added, "I haven't felt -- I don't want to say 'content,' that's not the right word because it sounds boring. But I think there's a certain beauty with being content with someone."Greg said he could just sit in a room with Victoria for days on end and they wouldn't get sick of each other."We're growing day by day, and I see it going that route," Greg gushed. "I want that and I know that that's important to her, and I want to be able to take that step with her."Victoria was clearly getting choked up and she said, "I'm going to cry."Prior to appearing on Paradise, Victoria competed for Peter Weber on The Bachelor's 24th season and finished in third place after Fantasy Suites.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group The Athens chapter of the Party for Socialist Liberation and the University of Georgia chapter of Students for Socialism hosted a forum Sunday afternoon discussing transgender rights and the history of transgender activism. It focused heavily on the work of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, transgender activists who participated in the Stonewall riots in 1969. The forum came in response to recent attacks on transgender individuals rights, including a law passed in Georgia that will restrict transgender youths access to gender-affirming care. The law was passed in March, and is set to take effect on July 1. Moss Joslin, an organizer with PSL and the chairperson for the event, opened the event by meditating on the effects of recent legislation on transgender people and calling on attendees to fight for transgender people. The far right has unleashed an unrelenting program against trans youth and adults alike, Joslin said. We must build a mass movement to fight for our rights and our lives. Joslin then handed the podium to Addison Clapp, a local labor organizer and member of PSL. Clapp, who grew up in Georgia, said it heartened her to see people interested in advocating for transgender rights in the South, where she said people are often stereotyped as being hostile to the LGBTQ+ community. Clapp also emphasized the importance of unity between transgender people and other oppressed groups, saying that discrimination against transgender people comes from the same places as and is deeply tied to discrimination against other groups. In order for existing power structures to continue unchallenged, Clapp said, they must hold down oppressed groups. Clapp also attributed oppression of transgender people and other groups to capitalism and far-right groups sowing division. Its gay people, its trans people, its Black people, its undocumented immigrants, Clapp said. We all have to fight for each other and stand together. Clapp then pivoted to discussing Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Johnson and Rivera participated in the Stonewall uprising in 1969 which is considered a watershed event in the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the U.S. and were active in numerous LGBTQ+ rights organizations throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Both women faced challenges due to their identities as transgender women and women of color. Attendees read about Johnson and Riveras lives and activism, and then gathered with organizers for a discussion. Many expressed admiration for the women, and said that while they had heard of them, they didnt know much about their politics and advocacy tactics. Clapp said she hoped that by discussing attacks on transgender rights and the work of two prominent transgender activists, attendees understood that advocating for transgender people requires organizing and fighting against harmful policies and rhetoric. Its not enough to just say Stonewall was a riot, or to just say Marsha P. Johnsons name, we have to look at what she was doing and what she was fighting for Clapp said. When people actually study her politics and the tactics she applied, thats how we can continue to build a movement today. A Corvallis woman trying to help the less fortunate has the city government telling her to stop. With the help of a few neighbors, Amy Crevola runs Roadside Moon, a free pantry and more in northern Corvallis, tucked in on Northwest Sycamore Avenue and not far from the intersection at NW Ninth Street and Circle Boulevard. Roadside Moon began as a Little Free Library, the network of free book-sharing boxes that work on the honor system, in the summer of 2020. Not long after, she added a park bench and a table of free items that she would roll out and leave accessible day and night. It started as a place for people to sit and read a book and meet each other because of COVID, Crevola said. And it just kept growing from there, eventually adding a food pantry and even a refrigerator. Crevolas carport has since become a makeshift storefront of sorts, open 24-hours a day and offering free goods in a wide range. When the mercury dipped this past fall, Crevola set up a kettle and hot cocoa. She also put out warm socks and hats. Although she puts some money into it, the vast majority of her inventory is donated. Some of the donations come from people she serves, but rarely more than pocket change at best. Then she started to hear stories about homeless camps sweeps carried out in Corvallis parks, and the underlying issues of the housing crisis: high costs and few vacancies. She also heard from people who lost everything they had in the sweeps and needed her help to start over. The focus shifted from the little neighborhood exchange table to filling gaps, Crevola said. Its kind of become a coalition and a movement, and an expression of protest against whats going on with the sweeps. The sweeps are just horrific. A Corvallis resident for 20 years, Crevola is a social worker who provides remote therapy sessions from her home. Her professional background has involved extensive work with the homeless population, so stepping into an advocacy role is a natural fit. Theres just not enough support in Corvallis for the need, she said. And its getting worse. Not everyone is happy about Roadside Moon, though. A community member reported the operation to the city, prompting an official visit to the pantry that found the complaint was valid, according to a city notice issued to Crevola afterward. We got a letter from the city and they told us to close it down, she said. We have 30 days to comply. A notice of findings dated June 2 from Corvallis Community Development Department categorized Roadside Moon as a home business and cited city code that prohibits exterior displays, outside storage of merchandise or materials, commercial activity, excessive traffic and noise. It was signed by Linda Natalizio, code compliance specialist. Natalizio did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Crevola says its not business everything is free. The most valuable thing she receives in exchange for helping are thank you letters. She has more than a hundred of them saved in a box. Some carry simple messages of thanks, but others share the gritty, dark struggles of living on the streets. Crevola said shes not sure what will happen if she defies the citys order, but she doesnt plan to stop helping people. In fact, she might try to do more, maybe even a fundraiser. If this were taken down it would just be one more nail in the coffin, Crevola said. Its filling a need. Were just going to keep doing what were doing. Roadside Moon is located at 969 NW Sycamore Ave. in Corvallis and is open 24 hours a day. Stay up to date on mid-Willamette Valley news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Corvallis, Philomath and Benton County news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you. 'If you are going to have only a handful of telecom players on whom the entire dream of Digital India rests, it's important they are financially sustainable.' IMAGE: Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairperson Sunil Bharti Mittal. Photograph: ANI Photo Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Mittal believes corporate India is in a mood to invest and there's momentum in the industry. In an interview at his New Delhi office, Mittal spoke to Nivedita Mookerji and Subhayan Chakraborty/Business Standard on a wide range of subjects including the economy, regulatory space, 5G, Chinese vendors, spectrum auction for satellite services, tariffs, competition, the upcoming G20 summit and the B20 Africa Council that he's chairing. The first of a two-part interview. How is corporate India looking at the latest GDP numbers? They are very good and that's not a surprise. You can see the momentum. Isn't the Q4 number a surprise going by the commentary so far? I would say the mood of the nation was looking better than what was being suggested. This only confirms the momentum in foreign investment, local capital in industry, new plants, new capacity. The numbers validate that. True that some sections of the society and industry are suffering whereas others are flourishing. But the overall GDP for the full year at 7 per cent plus implies it (the momentum) is fairly widespread. The consumption is still not very robust, it seems... There's some stress in certain areas where you are seeing consumption is slightly lower, but this number suggests that by and large things are okay. I hope we can maintain it. With these GDP numbers, do you see animal spirits of India Inc coming out now? I think animal spirits are already out. If you have been speaking to businessmen recently, everyone has been wanting to invest more in this country. Foreign companies are coming in a bigger way. Look at us, how our industry is investing. We, as a company, are investing around Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 250 billion to Rs 300 billion) year on year... What is your capex outlook for FY24? Capex for FY24 is already being touted at Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 31,000 crore (Rs 280 billion to Rs 310 billion) in the India business. This is all directed towards 5G. Next year will see the rollout continuing, in the same order of magnitude. The capex will be maybe a few thousand crores less. It will taper off thereafter. IMAGE:Mittal with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo What are the takeaways from the ongoing 5G rollout? Such a level of rollout has never been tried anywhere in the world for any technology. But right now the availability of 5G devices is limited. Traffic shifting from 4G to 5G is currently at 5 to 6 per cent. This will accelerate as we have seen in the past. My view is 25 per cent of the traffic will move to 5G by the end of this financial year. Smartphone deliveries have been mixed. Some states are seeing higher deliveries, while in others, it has slowed down because of high import duties. We will be ready with the network in all towns and cities by March 2024, and move into rural areas after that. On satellite spectrum, what's your sense. Will it be auctioned? We simply don't know how it can be auctioned. On satellite spectrum, our view is simple -- it can't be auctioned because it is a shared spectrum. I have not heard anybody say how it will be implemented in case it is auctioned. I haven't heard one solution. We are building two plots of 15 acres for our ground stations, How do you auction a plot so small? There has been no successful global precedent simply because no one has even tried it. It is a shared resource unlike the terrestrial spectrum. When do you think the issue will be resolved? We will be ready by Diwali to provide OneWeb services. The space policy has been ushered in. The FDI policy in the space sector is being discussed, and is expected to come in the next 90 days. Some people confuse the auctions for slots of orbits. That has nothing to do with spectrum; it is covered by the International Telecommunications Union. We are already in service in Canada, the US, Greenland and Northern Europe... The service is required for connecting the unconnected, connecting the armed forces in the Himalayas and deep rural areas. It's not for Delhi and Mumbai. You cannot deny this wonderful opportunity in your arsenal to deliver connectivity to everyone in India because somebody is trying to block it. The government has to see through this. In the end it is a very small business. OneWeb's total capacity that will land in India will not generate more than $10 million-$15 million a year. If they auction it, we will stay out. What else can we do? What are your thoughts on the backhaul issue? If you want to put out 5G fast, we need access to V and E bands. Rolling out fibre cables will take time. The government was very smart to understand the wickedness of this opposition to E and V bands. That's why they immediately granted it on a provisional basis. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to launch 5G. Is the fear of duopoly now almost a reality in India? Rather than duopoly, I would say, it's about two private players. We heard the minister saying that BSNL will be strengthened. So if not a four-player market, certainly India will be a three player market. BSNL has placed orders for 100,000 new base stations. The government is determined to have at least three players. Are fears about two private players legitimate? What do you do? Operating in this industry requires serious investments. Within a matter of 24 months, Airtel has spent Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion) on 5G spectrum. It has made a capital expenditure of Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion) in these two years. So, we have spent Rs 1 trillion on establishing a new layer of technology. That is the level of investment you need. This is over and above the massive investments that have gone into 4G and 3G. Can Vodafone Idea raise that kind of capital? I really have no visibility on that, I hope they can. So, when do you see tariffs going up in India? We already have a little premium. It would be hard for us to push the envelope any further on the idea that that this industry requires better financial health. It's accepted by everyone including the government. Look at the fragility of the situation. If you are going to have only a handful of telecom players on whom the entire dream of Digital India rests, it's important they are financially sustainable. To that extent, I have maintained for a long number of years, we need an ARPU (average revenue per user per month) of Rs 300. Now, it is nearing Rs 200 which is the first pit stop. It's taken us much longer to reach this level, than I imagined. So, it's painful. We have been taking the lead. We have moved all our plans above Rs 150. We now have nothing below that level. We took that roll call at a time when no one was willing to. Two years back, you said the market leader, referring to Reliance Jio, would have to take the first step. Do you maintain that stand? We consider ourselves to be leaders in this industry. But you can't have an outlier position on tariffs. You have to be in line with the market. We have done whatever we could do, and wherever, without hurting our market share, and burdening our customers. We are also conscious that a large section of society has affordability issues. When we say ARPU needs to go up to Rs 300, we are not saying everybody has to pay that much. But this whole phenomenon of providing unlimited services, no matter what you pay, is destroying the industry. You must pay more for more. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, which is likely to meet in the third or fourth week of June, is set to clear the operational framework of the much-awaited GST appellate tribunal, which will deal with tax disputes and streamline resolution. "The final blueprint, mainly the operational part, is expected to be presented in the GST Council meeting for approval. "This will pave the way for the tribunal to be functional, both at the central and state levels, said a senior government official, who expects the tribunal to be up and running by November. Groundwork was done by amending the GST law during the Budget session. The final rules will be out and changes in the state laws would be made, the official said. Work includes setting up Benches in each state as well as having a national appellate tribunal, another official said. In its February 18 meeting, the GST Council agreed to table draft legislation on the tribunal following several rounds of deliberation and consultation. According to the legislation, the tribunal will have a Principal Bench in New Delhi, with a president, a judicial member, a technical member (centre), and a technical member (state). It will also have state Benches, in accordance with the population of the states concerned. States having a population of less than 20 million can have one Bench, while those that have 20-50 million can have two. The national appellate Bench will look mainly into disputes between the tax department and assessees over the place of supply. It, however, will not take up any appeal with regard to divergent rulings by state appellate tribunals. The GST Council had accepted the report of a panel of state ministers on the tribunal with some modification. It was decided that the changes required in the GST law would be circulated to the states for their comments. Currently, taxpayers aggrieved by rulings of tax authorities are required to move high court. The resolution process takes long because high courts do not have a specialised Bench to deal with GST matters. The GST Council may also take up taxing online gaming, casinos, and races. The matter assumes significance following a recent judgment by the Karnataka high court, which quashed a Rs 21,000-crore GST notice to an online gaming platform called Gameskraft. A panel of state ministers set up to look into the taxation issue had agreed on a 28 per cent GST on online gaming. However, in the absence of a consensus on whether the tax should be levied on only the fees charged by the portal or the entire consideration, including the bet amount received from the participants, the panel decided to refer all suggestions to the GST Council in December 2022 for a final decision. The GST Council is yet to take up the matter. Sources suggested the matter might not be resolved in the upcoming meeting because the stakeholders concerned are indecisive on it. Meanwhile, the issue in the high court proceedings was whether online games would be considered games of skill or chance. GST for the latter is 28 per cent but for the former it is 18 per cent. According to Gameskraft, a majority of these games are rummy, which, it argued, had been held to be a game of skill. The GST Council may reconstitute the committee on rate rationalisation. A panel under then Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai could not submit its final report because the government changed in the state. Apart from these, the GST Council is expected to bring clarity to issues including taxing millet-based products. This it had deferred in its previous meeting. On the agenda If you work for 30 years, a two per cent difference in pension returns can reduce your final retirement nest egg by 40 per cent. The Rs 9-trillion National Pension System (NPS) seems to be delivering incrementally higher returns than the twice-as-large Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), shows a Business Standard analysis of data over the last seven years for the two retirement fund bodies. An investor who put in Rs 100 in retirement savings seven years ago would have seen her NPS nest egg grow to Rs 182 by 2023, according to the analysis based on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authoritys recently released Handbook of National Pension System Statistics 2023. The corresponding EPFO return would be worth Rs 176 as seen in chart 1 below. The EPFO declares the return it offers subscribers annually. It may not entirely be dependent on returns from the fund's underlying investments. NPS returns are based on how the funds underlying investments are doing. NPS was set up as part of a larger move to have pensions linked to returns on contributions rather than as a fixed obligation. The move was hoped to help better manage pension liabilities. Some states have opted to return to the old scheme where the responsibility goes back to the government. The structure of the NPS has meant greater fluctuations in yearly returns. Returns in good years have helped edge it ahead of the EPFO since 2015-16 despite tepid gains in other years. NPS returns have varied 4-16 per cent in the last seven years. The EPFO returns have remained in a narrower band of 8-9 per cent. The difference in returns may also be influenced by portfolio allocations. The EPFO can at most invest 15 per cent of its corpus in the stock market. Only ten per cent of this ceiling has reportedly been used. The NPSs stock market allocation was 16.6 per cent as of March 2023. The NPS equity limit is 75 per cent, with a recent circular allowing for up to 100 per cent in certain schemes. The stock market usually gives higher returns than debt products in the long term. EPFO had a corporate bond exposure of 20.5 per cent as of 2021-22, mostly from the public sector. Corporate bonds give higher returns than government securities. The segment accounted for 27.4 per cent of total NPS assets. Indias pension fund returns are important as retirement assets are relatively low compared to the size of the economy. Brazils pension plan assets are the equivalent of 25.3 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), according to a recent study by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is 31.4 per cent in Japan, 31.8 per cent in Korea, 82.6 per cent in South Africa; and over 100 per cent in both the US and the UK. Indias figure is 9.2 per cent. The legal battle between Byjus and lenders in the US on the edtech firms $1.2-billion term loan B (TLB), along with the company skipping an interest payment of $40 million on the loan, has made the other investor Davidson Kempner Capital Management, extremely concerned, according to the people familiar with the matter. IMAGE: Raveendran's big dreams led to Byju's, one of India's most successful start-ups. Photograph: Kind courtesy byjuslearningapp/Facebook.com They said Byjus has closed a Rs 2,000-crore ($250 million) round from the US-based investment firm and it may stop or consider slowing down the flow of various tranches of that capital to the company. It may also decide not to provide any new funding or participate in any such round in the future, the sources said. They are extremely concerned, said the person familiar with the matter. They have disbursed a part of the amount and there could be no further pay-outs. According to sources, disbursement of the capital is still within the control of David Kempner. If there are certain defaults, the lender can choose not to disburse (any further amount), said a source. Kempner declined to comment to a query sent on Friday. Byjus has filed a suit against US-based investment management firm Redwood, challenging the acceleration of a $1.2-billion TLB facility and to disqualify the lender for its predatory tactics, the edtech major said recently. Byjus also skipped an interest payment of about $40 million on the loan, thus becoming the only Indian start-up to have defaulted on a US-dollar loan. Byjus, which filed the suit in the New York Supreme Court, said that contrary to the conditions of the loan facility, Redwood purchased a significant portion of the loan while primarily trading in distressed debt According to the sources, Byjus had a restricted list of lenders, which contained hedge funds that for living purchase distressed debt at discounted prices, expecting to profit if the company recovers, or, if it files for bankruptcy protection. They are vulture funds, said a person. What Byjus is arguing is that Redwood was on that restricted list and therefore the initial lenders could not have sold the loan on the secondary market to Redwood, said a person. That is why Byjus is suing Redwood in the New York Supreme Court. Because after Redwood bought the loan, they called it default and exercised the right to replace the Board. Now obviously this is going to have a serious impact on the fundraising of the company, said the person. The Bengaluru-headquartered companys US entity Byjus Alpha was recently sued in Delaware by an agent of lenders to whom the company owes $1.2 billion. Alpha faces a lawsuit over who should control the firm. The lenders claim that because of a default earlier this year, they have the right to put their representative, Timothy R Pohl, in charge. The legal battle between Byjus and lenders in the US on the edtech firms $1.2-billion term loan B (TLB) is expected to adversely affect its fundraising, including debt, loan, and equity, according to industry sources and experts. They said this might delay the initial public offering (IPO) for its tutoring service subsidiary Aakash Educational Services (AESL). AESL is eyeing an IPO by next year. 'Because of the callous attitude of the railway administration, they don't take care of safety.' IMAGE: A passenger, who was injured in Odisha's Balasore train accident, arrives at Howrah railway station. Photograph: ANI Photo The three train collision that resulted in the deaths of 288 people on June 2, 2023, is the worst train accident in India this century. Ten days later, various theories are floating around about the cause of the accident. Was it a technical error? Or a human error? Or sabotage? How unsafe does a loco pilot feel in situations like these? In what kind of conditions do they work? K Parthasarathi, a loco pilot and the south zone joint general secretary of the All India Loco Running Staff Association, reveals the problems loco pilots face. "It is a great struggle. Because of work pressure, we make small mistakes like Signal Passing at Danger. Do you know what steps the Railway Board is taking to avoid this type of accidents? They want to counsel our families and ask them not to engage their husbands in day-to-day household activities!", Parthasarathi tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier in the concluding segment of a two-part interview. PART 1 of the Interview: 'Chances of sabotage are very remote' IMAGE: Passengers wait at the Hatia railway station in Ranchi as several trains are cancelled following the train accident in Balasore. Photograph: ANI Photo As a loco pilot who is in the front of the train, how unsafe do you feel these days? We do feel unsafe. That's the truth. For example, we believe what the green signal says and follow it blindly. The Coromandel Express was going at a speed of 128 kmph and what did the signal say? That it should move to the loop line instead of the main line. And what happened? When things like this happen, we lose confidence. When we talk about safety, it falls on the deaf ears of the authorities. Only when accidents like this happen can we express our feelings to the public. We know after five days the news will go to the fifth page or the last page, and nobody will be interested in what we say. Everything will be forgotten. It is just like how the public feel about travelling in trains. They still feel safe travelling by train than travelling by road. After this accident, do people stop travelling by trains? No. After the media hype cools down, people also forget about these accidents. IMAGE: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, left, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the accident site in Balasore. Photograph: ANI Photo Do the Railway authorities also stop listening to your complaints? Yes. They just ignore our complaints. We have so many issues and we have been repeatedly telling the authorities, but no action has been taken. In 1973, after a Railway strike, on the floor of Parliament, the then railway minister assured that the duty hours of loco pilots would be reduced to 10 hours. It is 2023. Even after 50 years, it has not been implemented yet. Because of our continuous struggle, in 2013, a committee was formed to study the duty hours and rest period hours of train drivers. It had recommended 40 hours of periodical rest in a week. Do you know how they arrived at 40 hours? This is what other workers have, those who work 6 days a week, those who go home after 5 pm and come back to work in the morning, and those who get 24 hours rest on Sundays. Compare this to the weekly rest a loco pilot gets. Only 14 hours in a week! How can people like us take care of our personal needs, needs of the family and have a social life? Even though the committee has made recommendations, the Railway Board is not ready to accept them. How many hours are you expected to work daily? It depends on the trip. We have running duty and overall duty. Before the trip starts, we have to do some preliminary work, which is called preparatory and complementary duties. So, we have to work 11 hours which include 9 hours of running duty and 2 hours of preparatory duty. If the train does not reach the destination in 11 hours, we have to work some more hours. So, in general it becomes 12 hours, 13 hours, 14 hours and even 15 hours. Recently, in Bilaspur division, an accident happened. It was not highlighted in the media because it involved goods trains. It was a head on collision and a very big accident. One of the drivers of the goods train had worked 14 hours. There was also another issue with the rakes. They had the bogey mounted brake system and these types of rakes have had problems in braking. It was accepted by the Railway Board that these types of rakes were problematic. Still, they were not withdrawn from service. What they did was continue with the accident-prone rakes with some speed restriction. How can you follow restricted speed when the brakes do not work properly? IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. A female locomotive pilot. Photograph: PTI Photo Does that mean the safety of those who run the trains is overlooked by the higher officials? Definitely. Whatever complaints we make, we do them not just for our comfortable working conditions, but for the safety of the passengers too. Because of the callous attitude of the railway administration, they don't take care of safety. I will give you another example. So many women loco pilots are recruited now. Do you know something? In the engine cabin, there is no toilet. Without a urinal facility, how do you expect loco pilots to work in non-stop trains for 7 hours? Because there is no urinal, we don't drink water. We just carry a small bottle of water for our needs. Because of this, we get health issues like kidney stones. Will this not affect our concentration and work? But they don't look into such matters at all. And when accidents happen like this happen, they say, it may be human failure. After the accident, the Congress president said, quoting the CAG report, that the government has reduced safety funds by 79%... Yes, the CAG report talks about the safety fund created by the government called RRSK. The government said they would put Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) into the RRSK fund every year and there will be Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion) in 4 years. Do you know what the actual allotment was? In 2017-2018, there was nothing. In 2018-2-19, Rs 3024 crores (Rs 30.24 billiion instead of the promised Rs 5,000 crores. In 2019-2020, instead of Rs 5,000 crores, they gave Rs 201 crore (Rs 2.01 billion). In 2020-2021, it was Rs 1,000 crores (Rs 10 billion). So, in the last 4 years, instead of the promised Rs 20,000 crores, they gave Rs 4,225 crores (Rs 42.25 billion)! It shows they have not given any priority to allot funds for safety. IMAGE: K Parthasarathi. Photograph: Kind courtesy K Parthasarathi IMAGE: K Parthasarathi. Another controversy is about the installation of kavach.... The minister said kavach would not have prevented this accident. It is true this was not a head on collision. But the question is, should all the trains be fitted with anti-collision devices? They cannot deny that kavach was not installed in all the trains because of lack of fund allotment. Allotment of funds is a major issue with the Railways. Is it true there are a lot of vacancies to be filled in the Railways, and the reason for long hours for loco pilots is because of shortage of staff? It is true. In the Rajya Sabha, it was said that 3.12 lakh (312,000) vacancies have to be filled. I told you about us loco pilots working long hours. We are forced to work long hours because there are not enough drivers to release a driver. Whenever you go for duty, how does your family feel? Do they feel stressed and nervous? Of course, they do. That's why not many people are coming forward to take up this job. It is a great struggle. Because of work pressure, we make small mistakes like Signal Passing at Danger. Do you know what steps the Railway Board is taking to avoid this type of accidents? They want to counsel our families and ask them not to engage their husbands in day-to-day household activities! Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com The Railway Board on Monday directed its zones to launch a "special drive" to fill promotional vacancies especially in the safety category, a move that comes amidst criticism over vacant posts in the transportation behemoth following the Balasore three-train accident in which 288 people lost their lives. IMAGE: The Bharat Scouts and Guides wing of Waltair division under the guidance of divisional railway manager Anup Satpathy staged a candlelight mourning and condoled the loss of lives in the tragic train accident in Odisha's Balasore, in Visakhapatnam, June 9, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The internal order, accessed by PTI, has been sent to general managers of all railway zones and states that instructions have been issued by the Board from time to time emphasising the need for filling up promotional vacancies. "It has been reiterated that Railways should ensure making use of all modes of promotions such as selection/non-selection/trade test/limited departmental competitive examination/general departmental competitive examination liberally to fill up the vacancies timely by chalking out a suitable action plan for the same," it said. The order said that zonal railways should have by now assessed their vacancies and planned for filling them up as per their fresh selection calendars. "It is reiterated that they may undertake a special drive to fill up the promotional vacancies, especially of safety category posts, through selection/General selection/non-selection/trade test, whichever is applicable in the matter," it said. The order has also said that it has been noticed that the Zonal Railways are not regularly filling up the data regarding monthly promotion and quarterly targets on the google-sheets shared with them. These sheets create a central database of vacancies across railways, officials said. "It is requested that the requisite data may please be arranged to be got filled up immediately as the position is being monitored at the highest level," it said. Overall, officials said that staff shortage has remained a perennial issue with the national transporter. While the latest vacancy data has not been provided by the Railways, according to the information given by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Rajya Sabha in December 2022, there were a total of 3.12 lakh non-gazetted posts in the Indian Railways lying vacant pan-India. Among them, a total of 14,815 vacancies were in the signal and telecommunications department and 62,264 in the traffic transportation department. The highest number of vacancies according to his reply was in the civil engineering department, with 87,654 vacancies across the country, followed by 64,346 in the mechanical department and 38,096 in the electrical department. The South Eastern Railway under which the Bahanaga Bazar station - the site of the June 2 tragedy- falls has 17,811 vacancies for non-gazetted posts and 150 vacant gazetted posts as of February 3, 2023, Vaishnaw informed Rajya Sabha. In 2019, the Railways started a mega recruitment drive and the process of appointment of selected candidates is currently underway. This drive is expected to fill up more than one lakh posts in the national transporter. The Western Railway on Monday short-terminated more than 50 trains heading to coastal areas of Gujarat in view of powerful cyclone Biparjoy and is considering cancellation of several trains over the next three days, a release said. IMAGE: A view of the deserted Kandla Port as it is cleared of ships and Signal Number 10 has been raised as an alert to the public in view of the impending 'very severe' cyclone Biparjoy, June 12, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The WR is taking various measures including setting up disaster management rooms, help desks, and keeping relief trains ready. The wind speed is being monitored at five locations in Bhavnagar division, at eight sites in Rajkot and at three spots in Ahmedabad division on an hourly basis and station masters have been instructed to regulate or stop trains when the wind velocity exceeds 50 kmph, as per the release. According to IMD, 'Biparjoy' is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday afternoon as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 km per hour. "As many as 56 trains heading to Gandhidham, Veraval, Okha, Porbandar in coastal Gujarat have been short-terminated at Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surendranagar. Around 95 trains are being proposed for cancellation between June 13 to June 15," the release said. Sumit Thakur, chief public relations officer, WR, said passenger trains scheduled from June 12 onwards in the vulnerable sections are being reviewed and necessary decisions will be taken. "Several trains have been cancelled and short-terminated as a precautionary measure in view of the safety of passengers and train operations," Thakur said. Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to hit the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat, covering Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Ahmedabad divisions of the Western Railway. As Veraval-Junagad, Porbandar-Kanalus, Rajkot-Okha and Viramgam - Gandhidham -- Bhuj sections are most vulnerable to this cyclone, the WR has taken various safety and security precautions, the release said. WR general manager Ashok Kumar Misra convened a virtual meeting with senior officials to review the cyclone preparations and gave necessary directives regarding arrangements of various logistics, and train movement including speed restrictions and cancellation of trains as a safety and precautionary measure. "Restriction has been imposed on inward and outward traffic of Double Stack Container movement as well as on inward traffic for all terminals of Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Bhavnagar divisions till June 16, with immediate effect," the WR said. A disaster management room has been made operational at the Western Railway headquarters in Mumbai and at divisional headquarters at Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Ahmedabad. Additionally, hotlines between them have been ensured for smooth functioning. The concerned divisions have been put on alert to tackle the situation with arrangements for tree-cutting equipment, DG sets, diesel-driven pumps, earth-moving equipment, Poclain, earth-moving machines, utility vehicles, adequate fuel resources, etc, the release said. Relief trains have been equipped with adequate medicines and are kept on alert. Help Desks have been opened at Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Veraval and Junagadh in Bhavnagar Division, Okha, Dwarka, Khambhaliya, Jamnagar, Hapa, Surendranagar and Morbi in Rajkot Division, while at Gandhidham and Bhuj in Ahmedabad Division, the release said. Bharatiya Janata Party sources asserted on Monday that the ruling party has enough support in Parliament to ensure the passage of a bill on the ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses the party's 'maha rally' against the central government's ordinance, at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, June 11, 2023. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo Their claim came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a rally in Ramlila Maidan in the national capital to galvanise support against the ordinance, which seeks to negate a Supreme Court ruling in his government's favour, and amid efforts by the Aam Aadmi Party to get support from other non-BJP parties against the ordinance in Parliament. "We are confident that we have the numbers to pass the ordinance," a senior BJP leader said. The BJP has a strong majority in Lok Sabha. Though it lacks a majority in Rajya Sabha, it has often succeeded in getting enough support from regional parties in the Upper House to pass its legislative agenda so far. At a press conference earlier, Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal made light of Kejriwal's efforts, saying he is trying to emerge as the leader of the opposition even though there is no scope for it. He said the AAP leader's rally and meetings with leaders of opposition parties in different cities suggest that he is trying to emerge as their leader. The Centre will have to seek Parliament's support to the ordinance during its upcoming monsoon session expected to begin in July. Kejriwal had on Sunday hit out at the Centre over its ordinance on the control of services in the national capital, saying Delhi is the first to be "attacked" and similar ordinances will be brought for other states also if not opposed now. Addressing the Aam Aadmi Party's "Maha Rally" at Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal, who is also the party's national convener, claimed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, was an insult to the people of Delhi. A Dutch vlogger and YouTuber was allegedly harassed and manhandled by a man at the busy 'chor bazaar' in the City market here, following which police swung into action and have arrested the miscreant. The video of the incident has gone viral on the social media, with people seeking strict punishment for the culprit, who is said to be a local vendor, for his misbehaviour. In the video, it can be seen that as the YouTuber Pedro Mota was recording his experience in the market, suddenly a man grabbed his hand and questioned him for recording a video. Even as the foreign national initially greets the man by saying namaste and then asks him to let go of his hand, the man pushes him. Soon, Mota hurriedly leaves the spot. Posting the video of the incident on his YouTube channel "Madly Rover" on Monday, Mota wrote, "Foreigner traveling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the Sunday market or chor bazaar. But exploring the area started out on the wrong foot as an angry man attacked me by grabbing and twisting my hand and arm, lunging after me as I tried to escape. After I had some street food, met great local Indian people and haggled for a new buttoned shirt." Responding to a tweet seeking action against the guy who misbehaved with Mota, Bengaluru police said, action has been taken and the person concerned rounded up. Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated. City Police Commissioner B Dayananda tweeted, "It's an old video which has come into circulation now. The person harassing in the video has been identified, traced and action taken. No scope for such high-handedness in Namma Bengaluru against anybody." The Bombay high court on Monday extended till August 2 the interim relief granted to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from appearance before a court in Mumbai in a defamation complaint on his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Punjab Party president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (left) and party leader Sam Pitroda (second from right) attends an event organised by Indian Overseas Congress, in New York, June 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The complainant, who claims to be a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, had alleged that Gandhi's "commander-in-thief" remark in the context of the Rafale fighter jet deal amounted to defamation. A single bench of Justice SV Kotwal adjourned the hearing on the plea filed by Gandhi challenging the summons issued to him by the local court in 2021 after the complainant's lawyer sought time. "The interim relief granted earlier to continue till August 2," Justice Kotwal said. Earlier, Gandhi was directed by the local court to appear before it November 2021 in a defamation complaint filed by Mahesh Shrishrimal. Gandhi then approached the HC challenging the summons issued to him. The high court in November 2021 directed the magistrate to defer hearing on the defamation complaint which meant the Congress leader would not be required to appear before the magistrate. Since then hearing on Gandhi's plea has been adjourned from time to time and the interim relief granted to him was also extended. The magistrate initiated criminal proceedings against Gandhi in August 2019. However, the Congress leader in his petition before the high court claimed that he learnt about the same only in July 2021. The complainant alleged that Gandhi made defamatory statements against PM Modi at a rally held in Rajasthan in September 2018. As per the complaint, four days later (after the rally), Gandhi purportedly commented on a video and posted on his personal Twitter account: "The sad truth about India's commander in thief." The complainant alleged that Gandhi was making "defamatory statements against Modi and by calling him 'Commander in Thief' made a direct allegation of theft against all members of BJP and Indian citizens connected to Modi". In his petition filed through advocate Kushal Mor, Gandhi stated that the instant complaint was a classic example of frivolous and vexatious litigation motivated by the sole purpose of furthering the complainant's latent political agenda. The petition said the complainant had no locus to file the complaint since defamation can be initiated only by the person who has been allegedly defamed. The Congress leader had sought to quash the order of the magistrate and a stay on the proceedings pending the hearing of the petition. Notably, a court in Surat had convicted Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark and sentenced him to two years in the jail. The decision had led to his disqualification as a Member of Parliament. The plea of Gandhi seeking a stay on his conviction is heard by the Gujarat high court. Amid Opposition's allegation that the Nationalist Congress Party was indulging in dynastic politics, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who was appointed the party's working president a day ago, on Sunday said she was proud of being the daughter of Sharad Pawar, and maintained that the party believed in democracy. IMAGE: NCP MP Supriya Sule said she received the Sansad Ratna award not because she the daughter of Sharad Pawar, but due to her work in Parliament. Photograph: @supriya_sule/Twitter Sule dismissed as "gossip" the reports of her cousin and senior party leader Ajit Pawar being upset with her elevation in the party. Sharad Pawar on Saturday declared Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as the working presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party, marking a generational shift in the organisation and virtually sidelining nephew Ajit Pawar, who is known to display rebellious streaks. Pawar made the announcement on the 24th anniversary of the foundation of the party. Sule, who was in Pune on Sunday, was asked about the allegation that her party was indulging in dynastic politics. Replying to it, she said, "Yes, there is dynastic politics and I am extremely proud that I am a daughter of Sharad Pawar and Pratibha Pawar. I received the Sansad Ratna award not because I am the daughter of Sharad Pawar, but because of the work I am doing in Parliament." Those who point their finger at me, they should understand that the rest of the fingers are pointing back at them. Therefore, let some people talk about such things, she added. On Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also accused the NCP of promoting dynastic politics. Speaking in Srinagar, he said, "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." Thanking the NCP workers and leaders for showing faith in her, Sule said, "After the appointment (as the working president), I will now report to Prafulbhai (Patel) and Sharad Pawar. Rather, NCP is a party where we believe in democracy, it's not like a corporate office." When asked about Ajit Pawar being upset, Sule said, "This is all gossip. Dada (Ajit Pawar) is Leader of Opposition in the state (Assembly). His position is equivalent to that of the chief minister. BJP is trying to target Ajit Pawar...sometimes they target me." Ajit Pawar was seen as an heir-apparent in the NCP, but his dalliances with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including an early morning swearing-in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2019, had not been received well by the party. On the recent train tragedy in Odisha, Sule said, "The report given by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is worrisome. Is there a need to run so many Vande Bharat express trains in the country? We are not complaining about Vande Bharat, but the central government's ignorance is the reason behind this accident." She blamed the state home ministry for the recent violence in Kolhapur city of the state, where tension prevailed following stone-pelting during a demonstration against the alleged use of Tipu Sultan's image along with an objectionable audio message as social media "status" by a few locals. "I think it is the failure of the home ministry. If such untoward incidents are happening, what is the government doing? Who is responsible for this situation in the state?" she asked. An argument broke out on Sunday between warkaris -- devotees of Lord Vitthal -- and police during a procession in Maharashtra's Pune district but there was no lathicharge, a senior officer said. IMAGE: A scuffle breaks out between warkaris and the police in Pune's Alandi town in Maharashtra. Photograph: Video grab Opposition parties, however, claimed police lathicharged warkaris and demanded a high-level probe and strict action. Citing the "atmosphere of tension and violence prevailing in the state", the Nationalist Congress Party demanded the resignation of Maharashtra home minister Devendra Fadnavis if he cannot handle the law and order. 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. Police had made elaborate arrangements and held meetings with temple trustees to prevent any untoward incident, said Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, Vinay Kumar Choubey. 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. The issue took a political turn with opposition NCP and Congress claiming that police lathicharged warkaris. 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 administration's 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. She said warkaris have played the role of the guide (to society) through their simple and easy teachings. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied reports of lathicharge on 'warkaris' by police in Alandi town in Pune district. He said a minor scuffle broke out between warkaris and the police. "There was no lathicharge on the warkari community," he told reporters in Nagpur. "We learned from 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 participates 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 entry passes. "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 entry passes) 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. It was not a new decision of the police, he added. The situation has come under control and discussions are going on. I have taken serious cognisance of the incident, but I appeal to the media houses not to blow up the situation through wrong reporting. There is no need to play with the emotions of the people, he said. "I also appeal to some political parties not to indulge in politics. The safety and security of the warkari community and of the people are important. Police have been instructed to find some solution," he said. On the opposition's criticism over the incident, Fadnavis said, "We were not in the government last year when a stampede had taken place. We did not indulge in politics, but learned from that incident and tried to make things better. I pity the politicians who try to politicise the issue." 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. Maharashtra opposition leader Ajit Pawar said the lathicharge incident was painful. "Such an incident never happened in the history of Pandharpur wari (pilgrimage). This incident could have been avoided by proper planning but it didn't happen. Prima facie, the mismanagement has led to this incident. I condemn the lathicharge by police and the government in strong words," he tweeted. He said Maharashtra has the glorious tradition of Ashadhi pilgrimage and the departure of the palanquin of Sant Dnyaneshwar for Pandharpur symbolises the glory of the state's spirituality and devotional tradition. 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. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday attached 17 properties of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali in a terror funding case, the agency said. IMAGE: The National Investigation Agency attaches properties of Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, a Kashmiri businessman, in terror funding case, Kupwara, June 12, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik is currently undergoing life imprisonment in the case. The NIA said the case relates to terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out by proscribed ISI-backed organisations such as Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT), JKLF, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and others. These outfits were spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the Valley by promoting and conducting attacks on civilians and security forces, it said. The investigating agency said 17 properties belonging to "financier of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir" Watali in the Handwara area of Kupwara district were attached on the orders of Special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) (UAPA). These banned terrorist groups were using the Hurriyat Conference, "which was formed in 1993 as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities" in Kashmir, it said. Investigations revealed that the secessionists, arraigned as accused in the case, including the Hurriyat, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of instigating the general public to create a surcharged atmosphere in the Kashmir valley and also to resort to violence, the NIA said. Watali had been sending the funds raised by him from various sources to the Hurriyat leaders to promote the secessionism of J-K from the Union of India, it added. Investigations have revealed that Watali was a "hawala conduit", who was receiving money from "Amir" of Jammat-ud-Dawah and top commander of Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Hafiz Saeed, a 'specially-designated global terrorist' of the United States and a 'listed global terrorist' of the UN, the NIA said. Saeed had masterminded the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Watali had received foreign remittances into his bank account running into crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources. Besides, he had received foreign remittances in his proprietorship firm named M/s 'Trisson International', Srinagar and unexplained remittances were also found in his NRE bank accounts, the NIA said. The investigating agency said Watali had shown the sale of a plot of land measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by Watali's company, M/s 'Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt Ltd' to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case. However, it said, the investigations found that neither Watali, nor his above-mentioned company was the owner of this plot of land in the revenue records. Watali was arrested by the NIA in 2017 under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A trial court had in May last year framed charges against Watali and others in a case related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017. Watali was moved out of jail in February last year and placed under house arrest on medical grounds. He is presently facing trial before the special NIA court in Delhi. Besides JKLF chief Malik, 17 others, including Saeed, top commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Mohammad Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, were charge-sheeted in the case, which had been registered suo motu by the NIA on May 30, 2017. Malik was convicted in all the charges against him and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2022. A man from Pune was arrested for alleged involvement in issuing a death threat to Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, a Mumbai police official said on Monday. IMAGE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar during the party's foundation day celebrations in New Delhi on June 10, 2023. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo Accused Sagar Barve is working in the data feeding and analytics section of a private firm, the official said. "The Mumbai Crime Branch, which was probing the case, brought Barve to Mumbai. He was presented in court and has been remanded in police custody till Tuesday," the official said. The NCP, on June 9, claimed 82-year-old Pawar received a message on social media threatening him with a fate similar to anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, who was shot dead in Pune on August 20, 2013. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday kickstarted her party's campaign for the year-end Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh with a rally in Jabalpur where she accused the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of being mired in corruption and failing to provide jobs. IMAGE: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi addresses a rally in Jabalpur. Photograph: ANI She cited alleged corruption in Vyapam and ration distribution and said 225 "scams" had taken place in the 220 months of Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the state. "In the last three years, only 21 government jobs were provided in the state by the BJP government. When this figure was brought to my notice, I got it checked three times from my office and found it is a fact," she said. Gandhi said the Chouhan government had not even spared gods, referring to winds on May 28 damaging six idols in the Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor, the first phase of which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year. The 900-metre corridor at the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple is being built at a cost of Rs 856 crore and the first phase expenditure is Rs 351 crore. Mocking the BJP's "double-engine government" poll talk, Gandhi said, "We have seen a lot of double and triple-engine governments, but people of Himachal and Karnataka have given a befitting reply in the polls." "Double engine government" is a term used by the BJP to claim having a ruling dispensation of the party in the state and Centre was beneficial to people in terms of development. Taking a jibe at Congressman-turned BJP leader and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gandhi, without taking his name, said some leaders in Madhya Pradesh had abandoned the party's ideology for the sake of power. MLAs loyal to Scindia had quit the Congress in March 2020, bringing down the Kamal Nath government and paving the way for Chouhan to return to power. A court in Maharashtra's Thane granted the Uttar Pradesh police transit remand of Shahnawaz Khan to take him to Ghaziabad where he is accused of illegal conversion of youths through an online gaming app, an official said. IMAGE: Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo, a resident of Mumbra, in custody of the Thane police after his arrest in Raigad, Maharashtra, June 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Khan, who hails from Thane's Mumbra township, was arrested from a relative's place in Alibag in Raigad district on Sunday, the official said. "He is being taken to Ghaziabad from Thane by road," the police official said. A senior official in Ghaziabad said a team had gone to Thane on a four-wheeler to bring Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo. Ghaziabad commissioner of police Ajay Mishra told PTI that the police team is trying to get air tickets to bring him. The Ghaziabad police will be joined by the Anti-Terrorist Squad and other investigating agencies to probe Khan's alleged connection with Pakistan and other countries and also investigate his source of funding for allegedly converting Hindu boys through a gaming app, Mishra said. He said police will also probe how many minors have been "trapped" by him and converted Islam. "What is the motive behind conversion? Baddo's connections with anti-social groups would also be scrutinized," Mishra said. Data from his laptop and mobile phone which he might have deleted would be retrieved, the commissioner of police said. According to the Thane police, 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 the cleric and Khan had unlawfully converted his son, who recently passed the class 12 board exam, to Islam. As per the complainant, his son came in contact with Khan through an online gaming app and frequently spoke to him, following which he got inclined towards adopting Islam. In all likelihood, the next conventional Chinese attack on India would be preceded by a massive cyber attack designed to cripple Indian networks and interfere with our disaster-relief programmes. Photograph: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters Speaking at an annual gathering of the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh implored captains of the defence industry -- not for the first time -- to innovate in futuristic technologies 'to transform India from (being) a follower to a leader'. Demonstrating the Bharatiya Janata Party's talent for slogans, Singh observed that India's population had to be converted from a 'wealth-consuming entity' into a 'wealth-creating resource'. However, it will take more than catchphrases for our defence industry to begin churning out the defence equipment needed to become Aatmanirbhar Bharat -- another much-used government phrase that means self-reliant. Meanwhile, the world has watched riveted as the two most recent shooting wars -- Azerbaijan's rout of Armenia in 2020 and Russia's failure to subdue Ukraine even after over 450 days of fighting -- signal a major change in the nature of inter-State warfare. This has surprised many, given that combat tactics have remained largely the same since the American Civil War (1861-1865) and World War I (1914-1918), when the lethality of automatic weapons and the ubiquitous presence of long-range field artillery 'emptied the battlefield', with soldiers sheltering behind cover or in underground pillboxes to reduce casualties. IMAGE: The Switchblade, a miniature Kamikaze drone. Photograph: Kind courtesy, DOD/AeroVironment/Twitter In the battlefield of today, survival faces a different set of challenges: Systems like the Switchblade -- a miniature, loitering, Kamikaze drone, designed by the US firm AeroVironment and used across the US military and now by the Ukrainians against the Russians. Carried in a soldier's backpack and launched handily from a tube, the Switchblade flies to its target and crashes into it, detonating itself in a suicidal manner. Leapfrogging the Russian front lines and targeting key Russian commanders through their patterns of movement, Kamikaze drone attacks force adversaries to change their patterns of operations, reducing the effectiveness of the field force. Skilful integration binds together multiple sensors with precision weapons that employ artificial intelligence for taking decisions in real time. With North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries under pressure to adhere to compulsory commitments to spend 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defence, these loitering munitions are equipping Ukrainian and NATO militaries in numbers. This, even as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of precision munitions steadily reduce their dependence on arms sales to big buyers such as India. A key player in the autonomous weapons game is China. The People's Liberation Army has been developing unmanned systems since 2013, with Beijing incorporating them into their 'in theatre' planning, backed by a sophisticated understanding of India's cyber vulnerabilities. The PLA is believed to have mapped the strategic vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructure, including the national power grid, the railway and highway network, the telecom network, financial services, and the stock market. These systems include hardware that is full of Chinese components, over which they maintain complete control even after it has been installed in Indian servers. That requires India to think and plan in two realms: First, the hardware realm; but also the need for developing a guerrilla mindset that is geared for taking swift decisions. In all likelihood, the next conventional Chinese attack on India would be preceded by a massive cyber attack designed to cripple Indian networks and interfere with our disaster-relief programmes. Banning Chinese hardware such as 5G networks would serve little purpose; major systems and networks are the new vulnerabilities. We need to replace them. IMAGE: The BrahMos missile being fired from the INS Delhi last year. Photograph: ANI Photo New Delhi needs to creatively redefine this playing field. Our current equipping and acquisitions processes are focused on buying military hardware, rather than on creating new capabilities. Among the most imaginative and successful acquisitions is the synergistic integration of the shortened BrahMos cruise missile into the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter. This has given the BrahMos air launched cruise missile (ALCM) a deep strike capability cheaply and with available Indian technology. These Sukhoi-30MKIs can operate from Indian air bases, without crossing the border, to strike terrorist targets deep inside Pakistan. Meanwhile, Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, fitted with the anti-ship version of the BrahMos, can be launched from the Thanjavur air base in Tamil Nadu against enemy warships in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, or the Northern Indian Ocean. Such innovations must yield clear and quantifiable financial savings or capability accrual. IMAGE: The first batch of five Rafale combat jets enter the Indian air space on its way to the Ambala airbase from France in July 2020. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/Twitter The Indian Air Force's often-stated requirement of 42 combat aircraft squadrons includes a large number of MiG-21 squadrons, especially tasked for air defence. But the induction of force multipliers and of platforms that perform the same job is overlooked. For example, the IAF's purchase of five regiments of S-400 surface-to-air missiles has enormously boosted our air-defence capability, as has the induction of mid-air refuellers and of airborne warning and control systems (AWACS). Yet, the IAF's stated requirement remains 42 fighter squadrons. IMAGE: A MiG-29K fighter aircraft undertakes night landing on the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Photograph: Indian Navy via PTI Photo Nor has the Indian Navy revised its requirement of 200 warships, stated in its Maritime Capability Perspective Plan, even though its capability as a fighting force is more potent today than ever before. Its heavily armed fleet includes two aircraft carriers, 16 attack submarines, and 42 capital warships, which include destroyers, frigates, and corvettes. In addition, 12 Indian P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime patrol aircraft maintain vigil over the entrances from West and East Asia into the northern Indian Ocean, and they are likely to be joined in their surveillance patrols by a small fleet of Sea Guardian drones. With the navy planning on six more conventional submarines for the shallow waters of the Arabian Sea and on six nuclear-propelled submarines for the deep waters of the Bay of Bengal, there is ample scope to reduce the surface fleet. IMAGE: Army chief General Manoj C Pande with troops in Eastern ladakh where the Indian and Chinese armies have been engaged in a military stand-off since April 2023. Photograph: @adgpi/Twitter Meanwhile, there is inadequate discussion of the Indian Army's manpower policies. These include beefing up our defences against China by pumping in three new mountain divisions into Eastern Ladakh and raising two new mountain divisions in Arunachal Pradesh in 2007-2009. Two new armoured brigades were also moved into the China theatre. However, more rigorous debate is needed over the army's 'pivot to the North', which is the term being used for the conversion of one of India's plains strike corps into a mountain strike corps. This involves shifting two infantry divisions and one armoured division from the Pakistan frontier and re-tasking, re-training, and re-equipping them for offensive operations on the China border. But there is little debate about the causes and consequences of this major change, which involves the re-orienting of more than five army divisions. Also hanging fire are key projects from all three services. Since 2009, work has not progressed much on the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV), which was going to be pursued as a 'Make' category project. Hence, attention is shifting to the Light Tank Project, where the participants are L&T, Mahindra Group, and Tata Group. With the Russia-Ukraine conflict bringing 155-mm, 52-calibre medium artillery into focus, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is high in priority. Also being neglected is the Tactical Communications System, which was one of the 'Make' systems. For all these weapons, the military must obtain strike platforms and fighting tools to serve an operational plan, such as the acquisition of F-35 Lightning II deep strike bombers to interdict the Qinghai-Tibet railroad, or to destroy PLA (Navy) platforms transiting into the Indian Ocean. India's military can no longer afford to create a patchwork of small and relatively inconsequential systems, purchased from here and there. You are the owner of this article. Auontai Anderson announced Monday he's dropping out of the school board race and setting his sights on the state House of Representatives. Anderson, who is vice president of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, filed for House District 8 on Monday. The seat is currently held by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, who will be term-limited in 2024. Herod made an unsuccessful bid for Denver mayor this year, placing fifth with 10.7% of the vote in the first round of the election. Im officially out of the school board race at the moment, said Anderson, 24. Anderson was elected to the school board in 2019. Hes been a flashpoint ever since. In 2021, Anderson was censured by the board after an allegation and district-ordered report found he flirted online with teenage girls. And then this year after two deans were wounded in a shooting at East High School in March Board President Xochitl Gaytan reprimanded Anderson in a five-page memorandum for disclosing in a press conference information shared in executive session. Anderson acknowledged his outspokenness can be a liability. This can give Denver Public Schools a fresh start, Anderson said. He added: The issues often get focused around one person. Last fall, Anderson declared he was running for re-election for school board. But the East shooting changed things for him. In the aftermath of the shooting, parent groups critical of the district have emerged, one calling for greater transparency as DPS devises its long-term safety plan and the other for the boards resignation. It was a conversation with a DPS parent and student who had pressed Anderson to do something on gun control that prompted the community organizer to consider a state run. If I could take on the issue of gun control on the school board, Id run again, Anderson said. Anderson already had at least one challenger for his at-large seat on the school board. Last month, Kwame Spearman, the former CEO of Tattered Cover, announced he was running for Andersons seat. Having won a three-candidate race with 51% of the vote in 2019, Anderson said he was confident of a repeat had he stayed in the school board race. When sworn in at 21 years old, Anderson became one of the youngest elected officials in the state. His platform for the House race is straightforward: Protecting workers rights, community safety and reproductive care. Born to a single mother in Kansas, Anderson moved to northeast Denver as a teen and graduated from Manual High School where he caught the political bug serving as a student body president. Im running to bring my "hood (sic) to the House of Representatives, Anderson said. Anderson has candidate committees set up for both his school board and state House run, but under Colorados campaign finance laws, candidates cannot raise money for multiple offices at the same time. Anderson has 10 days to close the school board committee, given his decision to abandon that race. On Monday, Anderson said he hopes to transfer his remaining funds from the school board committee to his state house bid. Anderson had raised $35,170 for the school board race through June 1, spending all but $4,293. However, according to a new state law signed last week, contribution transfers are limited to the total amount of a political party contribution. According to the Secretary of State's office, that limit is $2,500. He enters a state House race with another four candidates: Victor Bencomo, whose fundraising to date leads all candidates; Elizabeth DeVoe, Anne Gilchrist and Sharon Pettiford, all Democrats. The district is the most heavily-Democratic leaning one in the state House, with a 74.49% Democratic advantage, so the winner of the 2024 primary is a lock to win the seat in November. Colorado Politics' Marianne Goodland contributed to this report. The Denver City Council is expected to consider a $450,000 liability claim on Monday filed by the family of the 18-year-old who bled to death in front of a Denver police officer in 2020. On Sept. 7, 2020, police responded to a complaint of shots fired when a man flagged officers down and directed them to a friend who had been shot at the Elm on Panorama apartments on East Harvard Avenue in southeast Denver. JaLonte Jones died pleading for help from former Denver police officer DeWayne Rodgers, who looked on without trying to save his life. The familys attorney, Ciara Anderson, called the case tragic, saying officers "did absolutely nothing, but interrogate" Jones. Officers are meant to protect citizens when they're called upon, Anderson told The Denver Gazette on Friday. Anderson added, Nothing is going to bring him back. In a disciplinary letter, officials determined Rodgers violated police rules requiring police not engage in conduct unbecoming of an officer. At no time did Officer Rodgers touch the victim, Mary Dulacki, Denver Department of Public Safety's chief deputy executive director, wrote in a Nov. 22, 2021 disciplinary letter. At no time did Officer Rodgers offer words of comfort. Officer David Clough, who was dispatched to the shooting with Rodgers, resigned. Rodgers was terminated, in part, for failing to give first aid to Jones as well as failing to comply with the citys vaccine mandate. The resolution, which will settle a claim involving the Denver Police Department, was approved for filing at the council meeting on June 6. DeAndre Horton, who pleaded guilty to first degree assault with extreme indifference, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting. Mondays agenda also includes two proposed purchase orders totaling $1 million for meals from Snap Colorado and Michaels of Denver Catering for emergency shelter guests. The funding for both of these is part of Denvers Department of Human Services (DHS) migrant response and is paid for out of the DHS budget, said Joshua Rosenblum, a city and county of Denver spokesperson. If approved, this funding is in addition to the $11 million the council approved on June 6 for the citys response. The city has received more than 11,000 immigrants from South and Central America since December, spending $17 million on the response. Denver has been reimbursed roughly 20% of those costs. Immigrants have been coming in droves to the Mile High City since the fall. The influx is emblematic of the U.S. border crisis with Mexico, which has spilled over into Americas interior cities, including Denver. Turkeys president said Monday that any deal resolving Cyprus nearly half-century ethnic division must be based on recognition of a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the island nations northern third. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans remarks in the north during his first overseas visit after his reelection last month aren't new but suggest that Ankaras policy line on Cyprus remains unwavering, despite international condemnation of the two-state deal proposal that runs contrary to UN resolutions calling for a single, federated Cyprus. No one can bear to waste another 50 years of time, Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. "If there is to be a return to the negotiating table, the only way to do this is to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus." It also dashes hopes harboured by Cyprus internationally-recognized government of a speedy return to negotiations, although a spokesman for President Nikos Anastasiades said Monday that Erdogan will be judged by his deeds rather than his words. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup by supporters of the union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared independence nearly a decade later, but that's only recognized by Turkey, which maintains more than 35,000 troops and an array of armaments in the north. UN-led peace talks haven't resolved the dispute. The most recent round in July 2017 broke down over a Turkish insistence on maintaining military intervention rights and a permanent troop presence under any new arrangement. Another stumbling block was a Greek Cypriot rejection of a Turkish Cypriot demand for the right to veto all government decisions on a federal level. Turkish Cypriots number approximately about a quarter of Greek Cypriots. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots say it would be pointless to carry on negotiations based on a federated Cyprus and have instead pushed a two-state deal as a new starting point. Greek Cypriots say they can't agree to a deal that would formalize the country's division. The just demands of the Turkish Cypriots are clear and unequivocal. Turkish Cypriots have never been a minority and never will be, Erdogan said. The Turkish president said Ankara would also push ahead with plans to supply Turkish Cypriots with electricity through an undersea cable. The North has for years experienced chronic power supply issues. The electricity cable would complement 66.5-mile (107-kilometre) undersea pipelines Turkey constructed in 2015 to supply fresh water to the arid north. The Cyprus government decried the pipeline project as a means for Ankara to augment Turkeys influence and control over Cyprus. Why youre reading this: Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), as well as Netra Bikram Chand (Biplab) and Mohan Baidya are making all the attempts to get unified after the split in 2021. The efforts to merge Nepal's communist parties comes ahead of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's" visit this July or early August. This would be the Maoist leader's second bilateral trip to the People's Republic of China (PRC) since he assumed office in December 2022. 3 things you need to know Chinese Embassy in Nepal is working towards uniting these parties 'discreetly'. The Ambassador and a group of intellectuals from the Chinese Communist Party in Nepal are trying to unite these parties. Some high-level officials are involved in uniting the parties such as the former President of Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota, Maoist Centre leader Barshaman Pun, and National Assembly Speaker Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, all whom are currently in China. What is China doing to unite Nepal's fractured parties? Beijing is trying to revive the stalled efforts from the CPN era to unite the Nepalese political parties. Chinas Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song is currently carrying out the political discussions, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Nepal has been working to achieve this union. A group of Chinese Communist Party in Nepal is also contributing to completing these initiatives. Beijing is also working to revive the trade, security, and defence pacts with Nepal, as well as dozens of treaties and accords, Pardafas reported. Chinese Ambassador Chen Song has also donned a pivotal role in preventing the collapse of the ruling coalition an alliance of the Maoist, UML, RSP, and RPP. China, that sent high level delegation to Nepal, actively participated in the formation of the former CPN. Prime Minister Prachanda's stance on ties with China The 68-year-old Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) leader inclines with China and will give a boost to the unification of the Nepalese parties. He has accepted the invitation of Liu Jianchao, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party's Foreign Affairs Department, who had made a visit to Nepal. Agni Prasad Sapkota, one of the Maoist leaders who were part of the delegation that recently visited Beijing, noted that Prachanda has an intense desire to side with China and his efforts for the unification between the communist parties in Nepal have intensified. To achieve this objective, the Chairman of the Maoist Center and Prime Minister Prachanda, Chairman of CPN-US Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of NSP Baburam Bhattarai, Biplav, and other leaders also held a dialogue at Nepalese Prime Minister's Residence in Baluwatar on Friday, last week. Maoist sources have reportedly noted that they intend to unite the parties on the Socialist front to establish the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). An official announcement for the same will be made mid-June. What are Nepal officials saying about unification? CPN-US Chairman and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, speaking at the first district convention of CPN (Unified Socialist) Bhaktapur held in Bhaktapur expressed willingness to revive the CPN, according to Pardafas. Nepal's National Assembly lawmaker and former Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam has also said that he is ready to join CPN (UML). UML also suspended the age limit of 70 years for the executive post in the party. Gautam is willing to return to UML along with his friends. Rallies mark the first tear gas attack on protesters outside the city's legislature in 2019 Dozens of people sang Glory to Hong Kong outside the main railway station in Taipei, Taiwan, on Monday. Exiled protesters have been singing the banned anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong' in cities around the world to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the 2019 mass protest movement, which falls on Monday. The song, which has sparked a police investigation after organizers played it in error at recent overseas sporting fixtures, was regularly sung by crowds of unarmed protesters during the 2019 protests, which ranged from peaceful demonstrations for full democracy to intermittent, pitched battles between front-line protesters and armed riot police. Dozens of people gathered in the democratic island of Taiwan on Monday in a flash-mob performance outside Taipei's main railway station, with many more singing along in the surrounding crowd. Several other flash mobs gathered to sing the song across Taiwan, including in the central city of Taichung, and Taipei's Ximending district. Symbol of resistance It was banned in 2020 as Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on the city, and the Hong Kong government last week applied for a High Court injunction to prevent its performance or dissemination in the city, including online. Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong, who took part in the Taichung event, said the song is a symbol of ongoing resistance by Hong Kongers. "The Hong Kong government banned 'Glory to Hong Kong,' and wants to ban anyone from playing it, and suddenly, a whole lot of people are buying this song on iTunes," Wong said. "Hong Kongers scattered all over the world are using it as a means of resistance." Sky Fung, secretary-general of the exile group Hong Kong Outlanders, said the song belongs to the people of Hong Kong. "By [singing it], we want to encourage or remind our friends in Taiwan in the hope that what happened in Hong Kong won't be repeated in Taiwan." "Everyone knows that Hong Kong was once one of the freest places, yet today we dont even have the freedom to sing this song," Fung said. Several people in the crowd had luggage with them, and appeared to be visiting the island. They declined to be photographed or interviewed for fear of political reprisals. Glory to Hong Kong calls for freedom and democracy rather than independence, but was nonetheless deemed in breach of the law due to its "separatist" intent, officials and police officers said at the start of an ongoing citywide crackdown on public dissent and peaceful political activism. Show of solidarity A Taiwan resident who gave only the surname Sun said he had come along to show solidarity with Hong Kongers. "Today we are standing up to support the people of Hong Kong, who have suffered a lot in the past few years, to the extent that they can't even sing [certain songs]," Sun said. "I think the whole world finds the Hong Kong government's lack of human rights [protections] unacceptable." Fu Tong, a Hong Konger who attended the event, said Hong Kongers overseas need to use their voices to speak out for those who can't, who remain in Hong Kong. "Some people say we are for Hong Kong independence, but I want to say that we are in pursuit of freedom and democracy, just like you," Fu Tong said. "We weren't suppressed because we wanted independence but because we wanted freedom and democracy." Demonstrators in Toronto, Canada, rally Sunday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the 2019 mass protest movement in Hong Kong. Credit: Hu Huilan He said Taiwan's 23 million people should take heed and not believe the Communist Party's proposal to "unify" Taiwan using the "one country, two systems" model it uses to rule Hong Kong. "Don't believe China's promises, don't believe in 'one country, two systems', and please use your votes to protect Taiwan," he said. London, Toronto protests In London, protesters gathered in Parliament Square at the weekend to mark the fourth anniversary of the 2019 protest movement, and again in Piccadilly Circus on Monday evening to sing "Glory to Hong Kong," which is regarded by many as Hong Kong's "true national anthem." Protesters in Toronto also took up the anthem, with protesters calling on people not to forget the protest movement in exile. "A lot of Hong Kongers took to the streets peacefully in 2019 to express their demands, but sadly the government didn't respond to their calls," a participant who gave only the nickname Jenny told Radio Free Asia. "Four years have gone by, and the political crackdown has only gotten more serious ... so Hong Kongers living in Canada have a responsibility to turn out so as not to forget June 12, and also to think about what we can do in the future," she said. The use of tear gas and other forms of violence to contain the June 12 protests, which began peacefully outside the Legislative Council, was condemned by rights group Amnesty International at the time as a violation of international law. Since then, more than 10,000 people have been arrested under public order and "rioting" offenses for taking part in the movement, of whom around 2,300 have been prosecuted. A Hong Konger who attended the Toronto rally, who gave only the nickname Tom, said this is his second anniversary rally. "My heart is heavy, because the political environment in Hong Kong is getting more and more restrictive," he said. "I have a responsibility ... to let everyone know that we haven't given up, and that our ultimate goal is to restore Hong Kong [to the way it used to be]." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. White House official says eavesdropping facility was in operation since at least 2019. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens as President Joe Biden meets virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. UPDATED AT 04:25 a.m. ET on 2023-06-12 China has reacted forcefully to reports of an alleged Chinese electronic eavesdropping facility on Cuba, claiming that the smearing of China jeopardizes an anticipated Beijing visit by U.S. top diplomat Antony Blinken. A Wall Street Journal story on Thursday last week claimed that China has invested in Cuba with the purpose of establishing a listening post there. The report was first denied by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby as not accurate but later confirmed on Saturday, by an anonymous Biden administration official, who told Politico that China has operated a spy base out of Cuba since at least 2019, adding, This is an issue that this administration inherited. The unnamed official said that the base, which can pick up U.S. military and commercial signals, is an ongoing issue not a new development. China pushes back Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Monday described the comments by the U.S. official as false information. "Over the past two days, we have seen the U.S. government and media releasing a great deal of inconsistent information on the so-called allegation ... This is a display of the 'self-contradictory USA'," Wang said at a regular news briefing. Chinese media claimed that the media hype and smearing of China put the thawing of Sino-U.S. relations at risk. The U.S. had unilaterally announced that top diplomat Antony Blinken planned to visit China in February of this year, but it was postponed due to the so-called balloon incident, the online version of state mouthpiece the Peoples Daily said. This time U.S media once again claims Blinken may soon be visiting China, while broadcasting fake news that China intends to build an eavesdropping facility in Cuba. Blinkens visit is tentatively scheduled for June 18 with hopes it might bring about a thaw in China-U.S. relations, but China has yet to agree to the visit and has rebuffed many recent overtures from Washington. 'U.S. politics to blame' Chinese press continued that it was difficult not to suspect that some forces in the U.S. political arena do not want Sino-U.S. relations to ease [and] are constantly undermining the relationship between the two countries. The English-language tabloid Global Times added that the latest U.S. developments recalled the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 one of the fiercest scenes of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union [and] could be a new farce staged by the media and some U.S. politicians as good cop, bad cop with the purpose of gaining the upper hand and pressuring China in any possible dialogue, a reference to Antony Blinken's possible visit to China. Improving Sino-U.S. relations still faces great challenges, Chinese media chorused. A view of the U.S. Embassy beside the Anti-Imperialist stage in Havana, Cuba, May 24, 2023. Credit: Reuters/Alexandre Meneghin Han Yang, a former Chinese Foreign Ministry diplomat now in Australia, told RFA that the U.S. had left itself open to the Chinese move by allowing itself to be held hostage by the exiled Cuban community, providing Beijing with an opportunity to set up operations on Floridas doorstep. I think the embargoes have been proved counterproductive and created opportunities for China to invest in Cuba, Yang said. The sanctions dont make any foreign policy sense as the U.S. trades with many nations with worse human rights records than Cuba. Two leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee released a joint statement Thursday, even before the spy base was anonymously confirmed, reported Politico. The United States must respond to Chinas ongoing and brazen attacks on our nations security. We must be clear that it would be unacceptable for China to establish an intelligence facility within 100 miles [160 kilometers] of Florida and the United States, in an area also populated with key military installations and extensive maritime traffic, senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio said. An expert on the U.S. told the Global Times on Sunday that while China is open for talks and will not put up barriers to communication, it was still possible that the Biden administration and US politicians could trip over themselves. It's a highly controversial topic in the US about how to deal with China, and obviously, the Biden administration's decision-making on the topic is under heavy impact of the U.S. internal politics, said Lu Xiang, an expert on U.S. studies and research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. By spreading groundless accusations, the Biden administration is actually trying to legitimize its close reconnaissance missions and spy activities around China's territorial waters and airspace, Lu said. Edited by Mike Firn. Updated to include Monday's comments from China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Observers say the closures are part of a bid to cut off tax revenue to opposition forces. Workers extract crude oil from a well at an informal oil field in Minhla township, central Myanmar, March 10, 2019. Hand dug oil wells in Min Hla were ordered to shut down by the military junta on June 5, according to the oil well owners. Myanmars junta last week issued an order shutting down all privately operated oil wells in the central Magway region, a move that could affect as many as 300,000 workers in the industry. The decree, which came with no prior warning and provided no reason for the closure, immediately forced entrepreneurs in the oil fields in Magways Min Hla and Thayet townships to cease production and walk away from their wells. Oil well owners and workers told Radio Free Asia that the military ordered the closure out of fear that tax revenues from the operations are being used to fund Peoples Defense Force paramilitary groups fighting the military, which took control of the country in a 2021 coup. Among those impacted by the ban was a businessman who had invested 40 million kyats (US$19,000) in three oil fields. I have lost a lot at the Da Hat Pin oil field in Min Hla township, where I am currently based, said the businessman who, like other oil well owners interviewed for this article, spoke to RFA Burmese on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns. I didn't even have any money left for food at the Na Lal oil field. The businessman said that after the fields where he runs wells were shut down by the junta he lost everything that I invested, leaving him broke. The third well he ran is located in the Tet Ma oil field in Mandalays Nyaung-U township, where officials shut down operations on May 21 after having issued a notice the previous day at the behest of the township junta. The notice threatened serious action against anyone who fails to comply with the prohibition. I have nothing left, he said. Those who only lost their source of income as a result of the shutdown can be considered relatively lucky. Others have lost their life savings or taken on debt to fund their entry into the industry and now find themselves in a very different hole than the ones they dug in search of oil. Another businessman who invested 42 million kyats (US$20,000), including a loan of 20 million kyats (US$9,500), to start up his wells on Oct. 1 last year said he has since lost all of it and now is facing an insurmountable debt. I will never be able to pay back this loan by working in the plantations now that the oil wells have been shut down, he said. If I cant continue my oil well this year, I will never be able to pay back this loan in my lifetime. The businessman likened the oil well closures to killing us. Not just me over 100,000 workers and their families have been affected by the shutdown, he said. I am really upset but I cant do anything about it. I had to stop working and return home as they ordered. A worker mans a hand operated-machine to extract crude oil from a well at an informal oil field in Minhla township, central Myanmar. Military junta shut down privately-owned hand dug oil wells in fear that revenue would fund the anti-junta militia Peoples Defense Forces, according to oil well owners and workers. Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP He said the junta had caught oil well owners flat footed with the sudden closures, including those who had invested hundreds of millions of kyats in their operations. Wells left unattended can be rendered inoperable, and owners said they are desperately waiting to learn whether they will be able to restart production. Tax revenue under scrutiny Bagan Gyi, a soldier with the anti-junta Nyaung-U People's Defense Force, said that the closure of the Tet Ma oil fields has choked off the local economy. Many surrounding villages rely on the oil field for their livelihoods, he said. The junta has shut down their economy with this closure [Its a] deliberate attempt to make people suffer. Bagan Gyi also said he believes that the junta shut down the oil field to cut off funding to the PDF. He did not provide a definitive answer when asked whether the PDF is receiving tax money from the regions oil well businesses. But a resident of Magways Myaing township with ties to the oil industry said that the PDF does receive funding from its taxation, which is why the junta recently ordered the closure of private wells there and in nearby Pauk township. The PDF even has some oil wells of their own and they derive income from the wells in other ways, too, the resident said. What I am confident to say is that the military must have calculated that the PDF business transactions would stop if the oil fields were shut down. Residents of Magway said that junta troops conducting clearing operations in the region have set fire to private oil wells, while PDF groups have also attacked military units stationed at oil fields. More closures likely Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun did not respond to RFA inquiries about the oil well closures by the time of publication. But Thein Tun Oo, executive director of Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, made up of former military officers, said it came as no surprise that the junta shuttered the oil fields in Magway. If the military assumes that revenue from oil fields is funding the PDF, they will definitely be shut down, he said. Any government would work to prevent local businesses from funding illegal terrorist organizations. A man collects crude oil from a well at an informal oil field in Minhla township, central Myanmar, March 10, 2019. Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP Thein Tun Oo said he expects the junta to close more oil fields used for private wells going forward, adding that authorities in countries under martial law may restrict the rights and properties of the people if they are deemed to contribute to a national emergency. Meanwhile, private oil well owners who, in some cases, entered the industry only months earlier to escape escalating costs and irregular weather conditions affecting agricultural work are suddenly finding themselves out of work and mired in debt due to the ban. Soon after I bought two wells and extracted some oil to sell, I now have to return home, leaving everything I invested, said a businesswoman who spent 20 million kyats on her operations, but only earned around 3 million kyats (US$1,430) before the closure. People from my area have invested tens of millions of kyats in this business and they are all devastated now that the oil fields have been shut down and they are left with nothing. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. The entreaties were rebuffed and analysts say it is unlikely that she will accept. Myanmars junta has met at least twice with Aung San Suu Kyi, the jailed head of the deposed National League for Democracy, to enlist her help in peace negotiations with the armed resistance, only to be rebuffed by the former state counselor, Radio Free Asia has learned. Suu Kyi was visited on May 27 and June 4 in Naypyidaw Prison by three military officers Lieutenant Gen. So Htut, the juntas home affairs minister, Lieutenant Gen. Yar Pyae, who has led the militarys negotiation teams for peace talks with ethnic rebel groups, and retired Lieutenant Gen. Khin Zaw Oo, a source in the capital with close connections to the facility told RFA Burmese on Monday. As much as we can confirm, the generals met her two times, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media. We heard that the generals urged her to help the junta in its peacemaking process amid the current political situation and help stop the violence, he said. Weve heard that [Aung San Suu Kyi] did not respond. The junta has been embroiled in a protracted conflict with Myanmars increasingly formidable armed resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations since the military detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other top leaders of the NLD in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat. Junta courts found the 78-year-old Suu Kyi guilty of corruption charges and the violation of election and state secrets laws in December 2022. She faces a total of 33 years in jail for 19 cases, and is being held in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw. Suu Kyis supporters say the charges were politically motivated. The source in Naypyidaw told RFA that while the three generals may have met with Suu Kyi in prison more than twice, they hadnt been able to confirm the visits. The junta has not made any official announcement about the meetings and RFA has been unable to independently confirm that they took place. Sources close to Suu Kyi's legal team, including within the NLD, said that they were unaware of the meetings. Attempts by RFA to contact Naing Win, the juntas deputy director general of the Department of Prisons, went unanswered Monday. Sources told RFA that Ottama Thara, the Buddhist abbot of Thabarwa Sanctuary in Thanlyin township, a port city located across the Bago River from the commercial capital Yangon, met with senior NLD party patron Thura Tin Oo on June 8 and advised that Suu Kyi should retire from politics and participate in peacemaking efforts. The monk, who reportedly met several times with top military leaders in Naypyidaw before the meeting with Thura Tin Oo, said that the junta generals hope that by doing so, Suu Kyi can facilitate an end to the countrys political deadlock. Suu Kyi vital to Myanmar politics RFA spoke with NLD Central Working Committee member Kyaw Htwe, who said the party had heard that the generals met with Suu Kyi in prison, but couldnt confirm the visit. In Myanmars political world, the role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is vital, he said, using an honorific to refer to the veteran politician and party chief. There will never be practical political change without her. Meeting with her and holding discussions is very important. Kyaw Htwe said that the military had violated Myanmars constitution by seizing power and is entirely responsible for the countrys current problems. Only after all political prisoners, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, are freed will the path to a resolution be implemented, he said. Myanmars detained civilian leader San Suu Kyi, presides at a meeting in Naypyidaw with then military chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and chairman of the Karen National Union Gen. Saw Mutu Say Poe to commemorate the third anniversary of signing of Myanmar's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement on Oct. 15, 2018. Credit: Myanmar State Counselor Office via AFP Nay Phone Latt, the spokesman for Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, said he had been unable to confirm the generals visits to Suu Kyi, adding that it is too early for us to comment. RFA contacted Thein Tun Oo, the head of the Thayninga Institute of Strategic Studies, a pro-military think tank founded by retired military officers in Naypyidaw, who said he was surprised to hear that the generals visited her in prison. Some may think the generals met her as the [armed resistance] has become stronger, he said. But in my opinion, its almost impossible that the generals actually went to meet her That may be the reason why it has not been publicly announced. Violence cannot be left unaddressed Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, told RFA that enlisting Suu Kyi to lead a peacemaking process between the junta and the armed resistance would contradict her position and her beliefs. I believe that she will never accept such an offer from the junta because the violence happening in Myanmar is the direct consequence of the military juntas seizure of power, he said. Their offer to restrict her from the political arena and only allow her to participate in the peacemaking process may sound appealing, but it is complete nonsense as they did not discuss the political problems or the violence happening in the country. Than Soe Naing said he could only envision Suu Kyi accepting such an offer if the junta admits wrongdoing with the coup and reinstates the results of the 2020 election, which saw the NLD secure victory in a landslide. The junta has since accused the NLD of election fraud, but has yet to provide evidence of its claims. Additionally, the violence and crimes that the junta has committed against the people during the two years of the coup has to be discussed it cannot be left unaddressed, he said. Thats why I believe that the juntas offer, despite its sugar-coated words, is very cowardly and cunning. I dont think Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will accept such an offer. Since mid-January, Suu Kyis legal team has submitted several official requests to the junta's Naypyidaw Prison Department for in-person meetings with the former State Counsellor, but has yet to receive permission to do so. Last year, Sanda Min and Toe Lwin, two of the NLDs Central Committee members who were not arrested following the military coup, met with Suu Kyi in prison and requested that she allow the party to re-register under the juntas Election Commission and re-open its offices. After news of the visit became public, NLD party leaders in exile ordered the duos expulsion. The junta dissolved the party in late March when its leadership chose not to re-register. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. The exodus follows the capture of locals used as human shields by junta troops. Residents of Ka Net Thi Ri village, Thayetchaung township, Tanintharyi region sheltering in a neighboring village following fighting between junta troops and a local Peoples Defense Force. More than 5,000 people have fled their homes in Myanmars southernmost Tanintharyi region, locals told RFA Monday. The mass exodus follows the capture of 30 residents of villages in Thayetchaung township during junta raids between Thursday and Sunday. Locals said at least six villages are empty after residents fled in heavy rains. One woman, who didnt wish to be named for safety reasons, told RFA a convoy of around 100 soldiers entered Ka Net Thi Ri village on Thursday, only to be ambushed by members of a local Peoples Defense Force. A junta ship arrived by sea and reinforcements opened fire with heavy artillery. The local defense force surrounded the village, leading junta troops to seize residents to use as human shields, the woman said. The first day the junta column arrived, they arrested about 30 people camped at the monastery at the top of the village, she said. The next day, they used the people as human shields and moved them to the safety of Hpa Yar Koe Su mountain. The captured include the elderly and children. Those who can escape have fled. Another resident of a nearby village, who also requested anonymity, told RFA locals fled to other villagers or left in boats. They brought nothing when they fled in heavy rain, she said. They need clothes and accommodation urgently. Food is provided by our village. A member of the Thayetchaung Peoples Defense Force said junta troops have only one escape route, which the PDF has blocked. The battle may take a long time. It is still very difficult for them to get out by the way we have blocked, said the man, who declined to be named. We prepared as much as possible in advance. The Thayetchaung Peoples Defense Force was aware of the possibility of junta attacks as early as June 8, warning civilians to travel along the local roads only between 6am and 9pm The junta has not released a statement on the current fighting and calls to the local junta spokesperson, Yin Htwe, went unanswered Monday. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Kamile Wayit, a 19-year-old college student at a university in Chinas Henan province, was detained by police in December after returning to Xinjiang on winter break. The U.S. government and human rights activists have called for the immediate release of a 19-year-old Uyghur university student serving jail time in Xinjiang for advocating extremism following her sentencing in March. Kamile Wayit, a preschool education major at a university in Chinas Henan province, was detained in December 2022 for posting a video on a social media app about Novembers white paper protests across China, in which people held up blank sheets of paper to complain about COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of free speech. Wayit was one of dozens of young people around China detained in relation to the protests, which were sparked by a fatal lockdown fire in an apartment building in Xinjiangs regional capital Urumqi that killed about 40 Uyghurs. Authorities apprehended Wayit while she was on winter break at her home in Atush, capital of Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, her brother, Kewser Wayit, told Radio Free Asia in a January report. A subsequent report by RFA in April cited a state security agent who said Wayit was being detained pending an investigation into her communication with her brother, an engineer who lives in the United States, in addition to her social media post. Earlier in June, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told The Economist magazine that authorities sentenced Wayit on March 25, but did not state the length of her sentence. Pressing for her release Wayits arrest has attracted international attention with the U.S. government, rights activists, scholars, professors and students demanding that Chinese authorities provide information on her case and release her. We are concerned by the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] governments continued detention of Kamile Wayit, said a U.S. State Department spokesperson responding to an inquiry by Radio Free Asia on June 9. We call on the Peoples Republic of China to ensure respect for her human rights and fundamental freedoms, including all fair trial guarantees, and to immediately and unconditionally release all unjustly detained persons, the spokesperson said. Maya Mitalipova, a Uyghur activist and director of the Human Stem Cell Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told RFA that she will advocate for Wayit until she is released. I will not be silent and will be speaking on behalf of Kamile until she is free, Mitalipova said. I will meet with U.S. government officials at the State Department and pressure the Chinese government to free Kamile. When RFA contacted the Prosecutors Office in Kezilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, an employee declined to provide information on Wayit's sentence because the case has to do with national security. Even Kamile Wayits family has no right to inquire about her case, the staffer said, adding that family members must wait until they receive the final trial decision from the court. State security staff previously told RFA that the families of those accused of committing a crime receive notice between seven to 37 days for regular criminal cases, during which time the Prosecutors Office will approve the arrest request. The Public Security Bureau then reviews the arrest order, which takes two months. But there is no such rule on cases related to state security charges. In the meantime, Wayits family says it is concerned about her mental health because she has experienced constant nightmares since 2017 when her father was taken to a re-education camp for two years. She also suffers from an eye disorder for which she was supposed to have surgery in Beijing this summer. Translated by RFA Uyghur and RFA Mandarin. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Reasons behind attack in Central Highlands unclear but people in region have felt oppressed, cheated. Authorities search the area near the police stations in Dak Lak Province, which were attacked by an armed gang on June 11, 2023 in a photograph taken from a pro-government social media site. Updated at 11:37 pm EDT June 12, 2023. Police in Vietnams Central Highlands have arrested 39 people in connection with an armed attack on two police stations that left nine people dead, according to state media reports Tuesday. The attack took place in a part of Dak Lak province thats home to some 30 tribes of indigenous peoples known collectively as Montagnards. Two state newspapers, VnExpress and Cong Thuong, published detailed information about the incident, saying that at dawn on Sunday, around 40 people wearing camouflage vests split into two groups to attack the two police stations in the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes. Some of them then stopped a pickup truck and shot and killed the driver, according to a VnExpress bulletin, which was deleted shortly after posting. Cong Thuong also reported the shooting of the driver but then withdrew its article. The reasons behind the attack werent immediately clear, but anger and frustration in the region has grown after decades of government surveillance, land disputes and economic hardship. In recent months, there have been a number of land revocation incidents by local authorities, police and military forces, according to a researcher who specializes in ethnic minority cultures in the Central Highlands and Vietnams south-central coast. As many people have suggested on social media, this could have happened because of oppression and tensions caused by land conflicts. They might have come to a dead end and therefore, they risked their lives, he told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. History of intimidation, mistreatment In 2020, Human Rights Watch said the Montagnards have been subject to constant surveillance and other forms of intimidation, public criticism, arbitrary arrest and mistreatment in security force custody. In detention, the authorities question them about their religious and political activities and any efforts to flee Vietnam, the group said. During the Vietnam War, the Montagnards fought alongside U.S. Army Special Forces in the Central Highlands. Hundreds have crossed the border into Cambodia over the last few decades, citing oppression by the Vietnamese government, religious persecution of the mainly Christian minority, and expropriation of their land. Many have been forced home, ending their hopes for resettlement and a better life. The Ministry of Public Security had previously said on its website that six suspects were taken into custody in connection with the attack.. The ministry said six people police officers and commune officials were killed in the attack and several officers, commune officials and civilians were injured. The State-linked Voice of Vietnam website said Tuesday that police had now arrested 39 people and raised the death toll to nine people -- four police officers, two commune officials and three locals. It earlier reported that police had freed two hostages, quoting Ministry of Public Security spokesperson Lt. General To An Xo, who said another hostage escaped on his own. Government crackdown expected The government has continued to monitor residents of the Central Highlands while failing to create jobs and education opportunities, said Vietnamese scholar Nguyen Quang A, former director of the now-dissolved Institute of Development Studies. The participation of many young people did not surprise me. he said, referring to Sundays attack. Young people are more likely to be incited by information on social media, he said. For young and unemployed people, when they are at a dead end, they are very likely to explode. The Ministry of Public Security and the government will surely deploy more forces to the Central Highlands to forestall similar incidents, the researcher said. In terms of consequences, its certain that the Vietnamese government will consider this a big deal, the researcher told RFA. Involved people, if arrested, would definitely get heavy sentences, even death sentences. But a more appropriate approach would be to make sure people feel safe, free, and satisfied, Nguyen Quang A said. I think we should have a better understanding of them, he said. Its unfortunate that the elite in Vietnam seems to fail to understand indigenous and ethnic minority people, what they want, and how they want things to be managed. We should have respected those things. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Matt Reed. This story has been updated to raise the number of arrests and death toll. Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two major issues: what Ukraine can expect from the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, and if the EU has finally worked out a new migration policy. Brief #1: What Will Ukraine Get At The Upcoming NATO Summit? What You Need To Know: The NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11-12 will essentially focus on one thing: Ukraine and its relationship with the military alliance. Two things will for sure be offered to Kyiv. First, there will be an agreement on a multiyear, possibly even open-ended, assistance package to assist Ukraine in transitioning from Soviet-era military doctrine to NATO standards and weapons. This, of course, is already under way with all the weapons and training provided by Western allies since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A potential pot of 500 million euros ($538 million) a year has been touted to assist Ukraine, but that figure could rise or fall depending on the discussion in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. The second deliverable Ukraine will likely receive is an update of the political relationship between Kyiv and the alliance. The current NATO-Ukraine Commission is set to become a fully-fledged NATO-Ukraine Council -- in essence meaning that Kyiv will be sitting at the table as an equal. In the commission previously, Ukraine was only invited to participate in meetings with the NATO member states, but now it can call a meeting whenever it wants, with NATO officials believing that a council will deepen cooperation in various policy fields. Setting up the council with Ukraine is also seen as the morally right thing to do, as there is already a NATO-Russia Council, even though it has been dormant since early 2022. The hope among NATO officials is that the inaugural NATO-Ukraine Council will be chaired by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Vilnius, but it's more than possible that Hungary might spoil that party in July. For years, Budapest has blocked meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission over its testy bilateral relations with Kyiv, partly because of ethnic Hungarian minority rights in Ukraine. Deep Background: More money and an upgraded meeting format will be very beneficial to Ukraine, but Kyiv is looking and hoping for more. Rather, the country wants to know when it can join the alliance, and what sort of security guarantees it can rely on until then. Those two questions will be on everyone's mind going into the two-day powwow. Kyiv was already promised future membership at NATO's Bucharest summit in 2008 and the alliance has since then continuously repeated that its door remains open. But it never offered a pathway, or in NATO terms, a Membership Action Plan (MAP). So, in short, Vilnius cannot be another Bucharest. Yet, it is also clear that the offer of immediate membership for Kyiv won't be on the table in Lithuania. Western officials and politicians alike have pointed out that this doesn't make sense for a country in the middle of a war with a nuclear-armed neighbor. Instead, expect plenty of creativity on how the wording around future membership of the bloc will be phrased in the final summit declaration and something similar on security guarantees that might not make it into the final communique but is rather agreed on the sidelines. Drilling Down: The drafting of the Vilnius summit declaration has just started, and the most ambitious language will be something akin to Ukraine receiving an "invitation to join NATO when conditions allow." The most controversial word in that sentence is "invite," which many might see as too much too soon. The most likely scenario is that there will be some sort of qualifier before it, such as "consider inviting" or "look into the possibility of inviting." Some eastern NATO members want a concrete timeline or plan for when Ukraine can join, but it is hard to agree on anything more precise when no one knows quite how the war will pan out. But their position is believed to be a key starting point for the negotiations. Security guarantees are splitting opinions as well. French President Emmanuel Marcon recently talked about "clear and tangible security guarantees" for Ukraine. He noted that Kyiv is already de facto being protected by the alliance and is so well-equipped that it needs to be "reanchored" in some sort of security framework. Much talk has focused on an "Israel scenario" -- essentially meaning arming the country to the teeth. But there are certain issues with that. One is that Israel is a nuclear power; Ukraine isn't, but it is fighting one. Israel also sometimes strikes deep into neighboring countries to secure its safety, sometimes even as far as Iran. It is believed that Ukraine has carried out strikes on Russian territory, for example, using drones and artillery to target sites like fuel depots and pipelines. While NATO countries have generally looked the other way, it does make the alliance and its members very nervous. Of course, there are also the types of bilateral security guarantees given to the likes of Sweden and Finland by the United Kingdom and the United States during their ratification period to be NATO members. But, unlike Ukraine, those countries are not in a war that is likely to drag on. Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been promoting a "security compact" in which a core group of allies provide yet unspecified security guarantees -- something that also has been referred to as "deterrence by denial." But what does it mean in practice? And would it eventually entail Western boots on the ground in Ukraine? Many officials I have spoken to on background, notably from eastern NATO members, see all the talk of various "security guarantees" as something of a fig leaf, so the alliance can avoid making any crucial decision on membership. They point out that the only security guarantee NATO can truly offer is its Article 5 guarantee -- an attack on one alliance member is an attack on all. For them, membership sooner rather than later is the only real guarantee. In Vilnius, the hard part will be finding the right language to satisfy everyone -- including, of course, Ukraine. Brief #2: A New Agreement On Migrants Coming To The EU What You Need To Know: Of all the crises that have hit the European Union in recent years, the migration crisis of 2015-16 was probably the one that truly threatened to rip the bloc apart. Frontline Mediterranean member states such as Greece, Malta, and Italy were furious about what they perceived as a lack of solidarity from the rest; several eastern member states flatly refused to take in migrants; and countries such as Germany and Sweden saw a huge influx of new arrivals that has shaped political debates ever since. As one senior EU official recently put it in a briefing to journalists: "in Europe, you still lose or win elections on the issue of migration." So, it was with a certain triumph that the bloc's interior ministers, after three years of difficult talks, on June 8 announced that they had reached an agreement of sorts to revamp the way the bloc handles all aspects of migration. It comes as so-called "irregular border crossings" at the EU's external borders are spiking. In the first four months of the year, the number of crossings reached nearly 81,000 -- 30 percent more than a year ago and the highest total for the January-April period since 2016. Most of those crossings are coming through what is called the Central Mediterranean route, meaning largely that people, mostly of African or Middle Eastern origin, are trying to get into Italy. Deep Background: Italy, whose hard-right leader Giorgia Meloni has made limiting migration the cornerstone of her premiership, is the key player and has become more insistent on asking other member states to relieve some of the burden the country is currently facing. And while the entire issue is complex, with two legislative proposals underpinning the new migration pact, each of which has well over 100 pages, the rough battle lines are that many southern states want others in the EU to share the burden, while many northern countries fear that southerners are just letting in migrants so they can continue on to other EU states, a practice known as the secondary movement of migrants. Ukrainian refugees are in a different situation. Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine last year, and for the first time ever, the EU triggered the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians fleeing the war. That meant that they could get residence permits in the bloc and have access to local labor markets and other forms of welfare benefits. This measure was recently and unanimously prolonged by another year. So, for now, the 4 million Ukrainians currently residing in the EU are covered by the directive. In the future, that could well change. Drilling Down: So, what is the centerpiece of the June 8 agreement? Essentially, it is to get rid of the long-standing current framework in which the first country that receives migrants, normally a Mediterranean EU member state, is legally required to process their asylum applications and send them back if they don't get refugee status. To avoid mandatory migrant quotas to ease the burden on the frontline states -- something that is anathema for some eastern member states -- a concept called "mandatory solidarity" is envisioned. You either accept a certain number of migrants per year based on criteria such as a member state's size and GDP per capita, or you can pay to opt out from the relocation program. For months, member states have been haggling about what price per migrant a country should pay to be able to opt out, settling in the end on 20,000 euros ($21,543) -- a figure derived by calculating the average cost to process and accommodate an asylum seeker for one year. Still many, notably in the east, are balking at such a high cost and have asked why they should pay when they are already hosting many Ukrainian refugees, which is a significant financial burden. The aim is to relocate some 30,000 people per year throughout the bloc. Should the target be missed, then EU states could be allocated a certain number of asylum seekers instead of sending them back to the first country of entry. The deal was sealed when Italy received assurances that it could reject migrants staying on its territory and when the number of countries that EU countries consider safe enough for denied applicants to be sent to was increased. More money for Tunisia was also promised, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing on June 11 that the country could receive as much as 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) to help the economy and prevent people from attempting to cross the Mediterranean in the first place. In the end, not all the 27 member states gave a thumbs-up to the agreement when voting in the EU's Council of Ministers. Bulgaria, Malta, Lithuania, and Slovakia abstained, while Hungary and Poland voted against, but the pact passed by qualified-majority voting -- 55 percent of member states, representing at least 65 percent of the EU population, voting in favor. Arguments ranged from the fact that 20,000 euros per migrant is too steep and, in fact, constitutes a compulsory relocation and that the pact will actually act as a trigger for people coming to Europe. Don't be surprised to see Budapest and Warsaw challenging the decision in court or even refusing to participate. But it doesn't stop there. What the 27 are trying to agree on is just something resembling a joint position to enter negotiations with the more migration-friendly European Parliament, which is a co-legislator together with the Council of Ministers on home-affairs issues. Expect talks and tricky negotiations to continue throughout the year and the pact to potentially be ready ahead of the European Parliament elections in June 2024, where it's likely to be a real hot-button issue. Looking Ahead EU member states might on June 14 finally agree on the bloc's next sanctions package on Russia. Presented in early May, many thought that it would be agreed quickly but approval has been held up, notably by Germany, which has been busy watering down a proposal that eventually could make the EU go after third countries and companies that the bloc deems to be intentionally circumventing sanctions on the Kremlin. Hungary and Greece have also reportedly been angered that some companies linked to Athens and Budapest have been put on a Ukrainian "name and shame list" of entities still doing business with Moscow and have said that Kyiv must do something about this before the new sanctions package can be green-lit. The presidential and parliamentary elections are over in Turkey and this means that diplomatic efforts between Stockholm and Ankara will resume this week to find a way to lift the Turkish veto on Sweden's NATO accession. Senior civil servants from the two countries will meet in Turkey early this week before the defense ministers from both states are likely to discuss the issue again when they meet for the NATO defense ministerial meeting in Brussels on June 15-16. The alliance's goal is still that Sweden can become the 32nd NATO member before the Vilnius summit in mid-July, but the clock is ticking for the Turkish (and Hungarian) parliaments to overcome their objections and vote in favor of Swedish membership ratification. That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. A new law has been implemented in Armenia that bans tinted glass in cars that is less than 70 percent transparent. Drivers will be fined $65 if their windows don't comply. The government says the measure will improve road safety but drivers in the capital, Yerevan, say it leaves them exposed to the summer heat. 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. Several public university professors have complained that Taliban members and those around them have started taking some of the top positions at universities and other educational institutions in Afghanistan as the Taliban-led government's Higher Education Ministry increases its control of the school system. According to the professors, some of whom spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Akram Shah Asim has been appointed president at Kandahar University, while Mohammad Yaqub Haqqani has been installed in the same post at Khost University. The social media pages of the state universities now show the two -- both of whom come from the madrasah religious school system -- as presidents of the universities. Three others who are linked to the Taliban -- Shafiullah Haqqani, Mohammad Sediq Kamal, and Shir Ahmad Abbas -- have been appointed as the head of higher education institutions in Maidan Wardak Province, Nimroz Province, and Paktika Province. The professors said that most of the vice chancellors of the financial and administrative departments at universities have also been filled with people linked to the Taliban, and that people close to the Taliban have taken the lead in other scientific departments. Since regaining power following the exit of international troops in August 2021, Taliban militants have moved to assert control over the country's education sector, converting scores of secular schools, public universities, and vocational training centers into Islamic seminaries. The group also has banned women from attending university and girls above the sixth grade from going to school. The Taliban's efforts to eradicate secular education and replace it with radical religious instruction has raised fears among observers that the moves are likely to contribute to the spread of extremist ideologies in Afghanistan. "When I was in the university, they brought many changes. In the university, they identified those who were like-minded [and] brought them to professorships, heads of departments, vice presidents, and presidents of universities," Mohammad Qayyum Sial, a former professor at Paktia University who went to France a year ago to continue his studies, told Radio Azadi from France. Qayyum Sial said he expects that after the changes in the leadership of the universities, professors will end up experiencing the same fate. Jandad Jahani, who taught at an Afghan government university before going to Germany after the Taliban came to power, said the Taliban promised in the beginning to only make changes in political positions and not replace professional and academic positions. But according to Jahani, the Taliban has not kept to its promise and instead brought "nonprofessionals and uneducated people to strategic and academic positions -- those who have not even finished high school," Jahani said from Germany. Hamed Obaidi, a spokesman for the Higher Education Ministry in the former government, also noted that the Taliban has made many changes in the leadership of public universities and appointed its own people. In his opinion, these appointments will have a negative impact on the educational process and on academic institutions. According to Article 23 of the Law for Civilian Higher Education in Afghanistan, a university president should be appointed from among a group of professors who have the proper academic qualifications, a guideline Obaidi says needs to be followed to ensure quality education. "The president of the university is an important position. Without an academic figure, it is very difficult to manage an academic department. It will be the biggest punishment if professional people and professors are removed from their duties and are replaced by people who have no idea about how an academic institution works, Obaidi said. Ziaullah Hashemi, the spokesperson of the Higher Education Ministry, declined to comment on the issue of the appointments when contacted by Radio Azadi. Police have detained a 19-year-old Chechen woman at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport while she was on her way out of Russia to escape domestic violence, rights defenders told RFE/RL on June 12. According to Sofia Rusova of the Center for Defense from Domestic Violence, Selima Ismailova lived with her family in Germany for several years but later was sent to her relatives in Chechnya, where she was regularly abused. The founder of the Marem human rights project, Svetlana Anokhina, told RFE/RL that in 2021, Ismailova's father visited her in the Chechen city of Achkhoi-Martan and severely beat her. Anokhina added that Marem helped Ismailova flee Chechnya for Moscow and provided her with a shelter in the Russian capital, where the woman stayed for some time before she planned to fly from Russia to an unspecified country. Rusova told RFE/RL that police at Vnukovo Airport refused to hand Ismailova to her lawyers, saying that they are waiting for law enforcement officers from Chechnya to collect Ismailova, who is allegedly wanted in Chechnya for a theft. Human right defenders have said for some time that relatives in the North Caucasus often file complaints accusing fugitive women of crimes, usually thefts, to legalize their detainment and return to their relatives. Domestic violence has been a problem in Russia's North Caucasus region for decades. Victims who manage to flee often say that they may face "punishment," including honor killings, if they are forced to return. Local authorities usually take the side of the accused abusers. Last October, four sisters from another North Caucasus region, Daghestan, managed to flee to Georgia with the help of human rights organizations after they faced domestic violence. In August 2022, another woman from Daghestan, Patimat Idrisova, managed to leave Russia and change her identity after she faced domestic violence. In 2021, two victims of domestic violence in Daghestan were forcibly taken from a shelter in Tatarstan and brought back to their homes against their will. Also in 2021, a police officer rushed into a shelter in the capital of Daghestan, Makhachkala, and forcibly took away a Chechen woman, Khalimat Taramova, who had fled Chechnya with the intention of living with her girlfriend. 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 Colombian mobile providers Movistar and Tigo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pursue a network sharing arrangement via a jointly-owned infrastructure company. While the operators will continue to compete against each other in both the consumer and wholesale telecom services sectors, they will explore mutually beneficial ways of sharing their access networks while retaining full independence over their respective business strategies. CommsUpdate reports that if the operators reach an agreement on network sharing, they estimate that coverage would be improved across around 10% of Colombias territory, with quality optimised across more than 700 municipalities. Additionally, the infrastructure joint venture would become a special purpose vehicle for future 5G rollouts. Eight-year-old Halima was devastated to learn that after overcoming numerous obstacles to her education under Taliban rule, her path to learning had been blocked with the closure of her private school. "We all went home crying," she told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi of the day she and her fellow students learned that their classes in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar Province had been terminated. "Our schools were closed first by the coronavirus [pandemic], then there was fighting, and now they have been shut again," she said. "We just want to study." The rural classroom where she studied was a lifeline for learning basic mathematics, Afghan languages, science, and Islamic studies despite the ruling Taliban's efforts to restrict girls' and women's access to education. But on April 16, classes ended when the hardline Islamist authorities announced that the school, among Afghanistan's thousands of Community-Based Education (CBE) centers, would be closed following unspecified "complaints from locals." Unrest and poverty in Kandahar and neighboring Helmand Province made the two regions a focal point for the development of CBE centers over the past three decades, with funding coming primarily from Western donors via the United Nations and international nongovernmental organizations. Countrywide, more than 500,000 Afghan children currently attend CBE centers, which were established in cooperation with the communities in which they were based and are often held in private homes, mosques, or large tents. Aid groups pay teachers' salaries, provide educational materials, and offer the same curriculum taught in Afghan state schools. The centers, typically made up of a single classroom catering for up to 50 students, half of them girls, also filled an education void in remote areas where there were no state schools. But since mid-April, nearly 1,600 CBE centers in Kandahar Province have been closed, depriving 50,000 students of an education. Similar numbers have been recorded in neighboring Helmand Province in a nationwide trend. 'It's Heartbreaking' The termination of classes at Halima's school and others like it appears to show that the narrow window for learning in remote areas is being closed as the Taliban looks to impose full control over how children are educated. Munir Ahmad, who ran a literacy class inside his mudbrick home in Dand, a rural district in Kandahar Province, said he was forced to close his doors to students in April. "It is heartbreaking to lose these classes because they serve children in remote areas where there are no other education opportunities," he told Radio Azadi. The Taliban, approaching two years in power, has not commented on whether it has ordered the school closures. But aid workers, rights campaigners, and education experts suggest that the hardline group is trying to ensure that young students receive an Islamic education even though the CBE centers follow the state model. This, in turn, has led to concerns that the Taliban either intends to permanently shut down the schools or use them as venues to spread its extremist worldview and ideology. "It is alarming," said Heather Barr, associate director of the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch. "The Taliban will likely change these schools in a way that is harmful to students, particularly girls." Education has been a main target of the Taliban's extremist policies since it seized power in August 2021 and took steps to root out secular education. Teenage girls were promptly banned from attending school despite the Taliban's promises to the international community, which has listed the Taliban's stance on girls' and women's education as a key obstacle to officially recognizing its government. 'Jihadi Madrasahs' Since taking power, the Taliban has consistently enforced strict gender segregation and replaced professional educators with clerics. Last year, Taliban supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada appointed key loyalists Mawlawi Habibullah Agha and Nida Mohmmad Nadim to lead the education and higher education ministries, respectively. The two have diligently worked to expand the ban on womens education and attempted to turn schools into a tool for indoctrination by tweaking the curriculum, critics say. In some cases, modern schools have been converted into madrasahs. In December, the Taliban upped the ante by prohibiting women from receiving a university education. And in the latest move, a Taliban official said this month that its government had established "jihadi madrasahs" in at least five provinces. Many Islamist militant groups, including the Taliban, emerged from such religious schools in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan in the 1980s. Wazhma Tokhi, an Afghan human rights activist with a particular focus on women's rights and education in Afghanistan, suggests that the recent school closures can be seen as another example of the groups determination to root out secular education. "They want to turn the schools into madrasahs," Tokhi said. The UN agency for children, UNICEF, which funds many CBE centers, says it is now holding discussions with the Taliban over "timelines and practicalities" for possibly handing them over to Afghan NGOs, many of which receive outside funding and have some protection from the Taliban. Tokhi sees disastrous consequences if the Taliban assumes direct control over CBE centers. "Our future is destroyed," she said. A veterinarian from a viral video of kittens being saved from flooding in Kherson is continuing to work nonstop on the heartrending rescue work while recovering from severe issues with his own heart. Shortly after Leonid Stoyanov waded into the floodwaters of Kherson on June 6 to pluck three kittens from near-certain death by drowning, his wife, Valentina, shared a video of the rescue that swiftly went viral. What tens of millions of people who viewed the heartbreaking video did not know is that as Leonid waded into the chest-deep water on June 6, he was in the midst of his own battle for survival that had literally broken his heart. Valentina and Leonid Stoyanov are Ukrainian veterinarians who operate under the name Vet Crew. In more peaceful times the husband-and-wife team treated mostly exotic animals. After the Russian invasion was launched in 2022, the pair pivoted to saving whichever creatures needed help, sometimes under fire. Initially that was largely pets left behind in frontline towns as their owners fled the Russian advance. But the Stoyanovs' work took on new urgency when the Kakhovka dam was destroyed on June 6. Valentina told RFE/RL that on the morning the flooding began, she and Leonid were at home in Odesa, around a 200-kilometer drive from Kherson. "[We] woke up from urgent calls from different people. Everyone was talking about the flood, and we saw the news. We immediately packed up and drove there as fast as possible," Valentina says, adding, "We only thought about how many animals will need help." The now famous rescue of the kittens happened almost as soon as the pair arrived in the flooded city of Kherson. "It was the first five hours after the start of the flood," Valentina says. "There was still confusion in the city, and even many large rescue services hadn't had time to arrive there. We started to patrol the streets [by boat], and in one of them we heard the cry of kittens. Leo immediately went to them because they were completely surrounded by water. One kitten almost drowned, but Leo successfully rescued them. All three kittens had stomachs filled with water and were very cold." Now, Valentina says, the kittens are "completely safe." Over the past several months, she has not been able to say the same about her husband. In August 2022, Leonid had two operations on his heart after it "just stopped," she says. Leonid, 35, had a pacemaker installed, but on May 16 he was rushed into intensive care after having another heart attack. Less than three weeks later he was wading through floodwaters to rescue animals, a high-stress job he is continuing, alongside his wife and other volunteers, today. In a note of thanks to their supporters, Valentina wrote on Instagram of her husband, "I don't understand where he gets so much strength to get up every time, but I know for sure this man will have many more years of life. Because so many innocent beings NEED HIM, and so many of you BELIEVE IN HIM." On June 11, Valentina told RFE/RL she and Leonid and other volunteers had rescued several dogs and cats as well as "two young owls who suffered numerous fractures due to the strong flow of water." Prout valedictorian Cara Eaton, of Westerly, left, and salutatorian Maya Madison, of Warwick are pictured in the school's courtyard on Tuesday afternoon. Two World Bank members revealed plans to invest in Safaricom Ethiopia, intending to invest US$157.4 million in the operators parent company and loan the operator US$100 million, to enable expansion plans. The World Bank stated that its International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) will provide financial support. The IFC will make the US$157.4 million equity investment in Global Partnership for Ethiopia BV (GPE) and the $100 million A-loan to its wholly owned subsidiary, Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia Private Limited Company (Safaricom Ethiopia). After the transaction, the IFC will hold a minority position in Safaricom Ethiopia. MIGA will provide a 10-year guarantee of US$1 billion to cover investments to cover the equity investments of Safaricom Ethiopia's shareholders: Vodafone Group, Vodacom, Safaricom, and British International Investment. IFC Vice President of Industries Mohamed Gouled said: Through this investment, we hope to help the company create a competitive market for mobile connectivity, reflecting our strategy to increase competition in the digital sector globally and reduce costs for consumers. Young people, small businesses, and entrepreneurs will particularly benefit from improved access to high-quality digital services such as mobile financial services." He added: The Ethiopian telecommunications market as well as the country's economy and society will benefit substantially from equitable, high-quality internet access and improved financial inclusion, advancing the country on a path to a more prosperous future." Safaricom Ethiopia launched services in 2022 and became the first private operator in Ethiopia to rival state-owned operator Ethio Telecom. The Ethiopian government is hunting for a third operator this year and offered a stake in Ethio Telecom to attract more international interest. At MWC Barcelona this year, Ethio Telecom chief executive Frehiwot Tamru was bullish on the operator's charge to remain the market leader despite new competition. The Show Must Go On: Actor and father Taye Diggs on how he combats insomnia UPDATE: Would-be Trinidadian newcomer Star Networks has been backed by Digicel. Its attempted launch event last week was cancelled after regulator TATT confirmed that it did not hold an operating licence. In a statement, Digicel said: As a licensed provider, we welcome anyone who wants to use Digicels services to lawfully provide reliable connectivity, and we are in ongoing discussions with Star Network to support their needs in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. ORIGINAL STORY: A purported new Trinidadian operator has cancelled its launch after the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) issued a warning to the public that it had not received an operating licence. Local news outlets reported that start-up firm Star Network (formerly Blue Mobile Network) had scheduled a launch event on Friday 9th June at Invaders Bay Tower in Mucurapo, Port of Spain. TeleGeography reports that the event was cancelled at the last minute. Hundreds of would-be customers were lured into attending by the seemingly false offer of smartphones and laptops for just TTD1 (US$0.14). Some members of the public appear to have confused Star Network with SpaceX unit Starlink, which last week did receive a 10-year operating licence in Trinidad and Tobago. TATT issued a statement saying: There is no new mobile network in the country. [Any] potential operator wishing to operate a public telecommunications network, must apply for, be approved, and be granted a concession to operate a network. No application has been made nor a concession granted to any potential new operator that was scheduled to launch today [Friday]. However, local outlet Newsday reported that hours after the cancelled launch event, Star Network issued a statement on social media accusing incumbent provider TSTT (Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago) of attempting to misconstrue information to the public by indicating we are a mobile virtual network operator. In a letter to the regulator, TSTT argued that there was no proof that Star Network had been authorised to provide public telecommunications services, going as far as to claim that the newcomer was therefore either attempting to circumvent the Telecommunications Act or even flat-out committing fraud in an attempt to extract money [from an] unsuspecting public. Star Network countered that it had been cleared to operate by TATT as Blue Network, removing the word Mobile from its original name. However, TATT said that it had received no application nor granted any concession to any new operator, adding that this process must be followed by any party wishing to operate a network in Trinidad and Tobago. IT was so near and yet so far for Beautiful Carrot... The unusually-named band from Wickersley School were almost top of the charts at a hotly-contested Battle of the Bands between musicians from around the borough. The four-piece finished runners-up in the intermediate category to Wales High Schools Not So Big Band. And in the advanced section, the winners could have been inspired by Rotherhams former ground of Millmoor as they were dubbed Tivolis. The Tivoli was the name of the Rotherham United home end until 2008 and that of the former pub fronting Masbrough Road not to mention a now-defunct 2000s rock band. Clifton Community School hosted the annual contest for secondary school students, with Rotherham College head of music, David Burgess, professional saxophonist Sarah Potts, Rotherham Music Service head Toby Smith and and multi-instrumentalist Janine Miller acting as judges. The intermediate section finalists also included Gazi Band of Clifton Community School, Unconfirmed of Oakwood High School and Banned Soul, also from Clifton. The judges hailed Gazi Band as by far the coolest looking band and praised Unconfirmeds harmonies. In the advanced group, runners-up included Raw Honey of Oakwood; The Leavers, from Clifton; Rawmarsh Schools Day Dreamers; Wales Highs Orchidelia; and Unnamed, of Thrybergh Academy. The Leavers gave a performance of Etta James classic I Would Rather Go Blind, while Orchidelia played original songs they'd worked on as a band, while Tivolis were hailed for their professional performance. Jessica Smales, music teacher at Clifton Community School, said: The next generation of the music industry in Rotherham is clearly outstandingly strong. All of the students from all schools conducted themselves like real musicians and were a real credit to themselves. They really supported each other and were proud of their performances. She paid tribute to Rotherham Colleges music performance and music technology students helped set up the event. Myself and the music team are looking forward to what next years competition will bring, Ms Smales said. A PACKED line-up of punk, rock and pop bands will be raising the roof at a Rotherham pub to show solidarity with Ukraine. Fight for Ukraine will take place across two stages at the Bridge Inn on Chantry Bridge next Saturday, with all proceeds from a collection going to refugee charity Safe Passage 4 Ukraine. Its being organised by Isaac Robinson of rock band Rosehill who said entry was free but donations are encouraged. I am putting this on because the war in Ukraine is not finished, he said. Millions of people are affected by this and the number only increases. I have friends in a few different countries and know a lot have been affected by the war. It seems to be so close to our door and I keep hearing about the horrors people are going through so I just wanted to do something to help, however small. Isaac said one stage would have a hardcore punk line-up while the other will have a rock and pop theme. Stage one will be headlined by Negative Frame, with Divine Hatred, Closed Casket, Bitewound, Distort, Memories, The Tura, Afterburn and Rosehill rounding out the line-up. The second stage will be headlined by Slowmove, with support from Mouth Parts, Cages for Preachers, Skint Knees, Realms, After Reason, Camisado!, Crooked Smiles and Bansith. It has all sorts something for everyone to enjoy, Isaac added. Weve played the Bridge a few times and when we asked them, they were all for it and weve worked well together on it A COMMUNITY group is throwing open its doors for a special event to help war and disaster victims. Nayi Zindagi, which works with disabled people, is hosting the fundraiser at the Unity Centre in St Anns from 5pm to 9pm on Friday, June 23. Proceeds will go to Islamic Help and the Kind Giving Foundation to support victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake in February and people in war-torn Yemen. As well as a raffle, there will be stalls, henna tattoos and childrens activities. Rziah Asif from the community group said it was important to remember earthquake victims were still suffering from the effects of the disaster, in which more than 50,000 people died. I think people have moved on to something else like its yesterdays news, she said, but they are still there and they still need our support. She added: I thought it would be a good time to do it as its Eid on June 28 and one of the things we are supposed to do around that time is help the community, and think about other people, especially those who might not be able to celebrate Eid. We want to open our fundraiser up to the whole community. Nayi Zindagi provide support to adults in Rotherhams BAME communities with learning disabilities and mental health issues, including depression. They run a community session at Rawmarsh Hub on Barbers Avenue, Rawmarsh, every Friday from 1pm to 3pm. The social enterprise offers basic life skills training, sensory activities, day trips, community events and home help, as well as support with making doctors appointments and providin early intervention to reduce health inequalities. Rziah said: It is aimed at the BAME community but open to everyone. Anyone interesting in joining or referring a loved one should email rziahmj786@hotmail.co.uk. A MAN has been charged with firearms offences following a police bust in Denaby Main. Jahmaine Watson (33), of Northumberland Lane, Denaby, will appear before Sheffield Crown Court next month charged with firearms offences after he was arrested following the execution of a warrant last week. A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said the warrant to arrest Watson had been carried out by officers last Friday at a property on Wiltshire Avenue. They added: This followed a previous warrant in 2022 where officers recovered two firearms, a revolver, and a handgun. Watson appeared before Sheffield Magistrates Court on Saturday, June 10 and has been remanded into custody to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, July 10. Court Children of the Economically Weaker Sections should be given an Opportunity of Education: HC NEW-DELHI: The Delhi High Court has said that providing free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14 is a fundamental right under the Constitution and schools cannot shirk this responsibility. The court cannot ignore the fact that the backward sections of the society should be given equal opportunities to advance in life. In such a situation, the children of the economically weaker sections should be given an opportunity of education like other children to bring them into the mainstream of the society. If admission is denied under Weaker Category on unjustified grounds, the seats allotted under this category will stand wasted. The court said that such a situation cannot be allowed, as doing so will not only deprive the poor class child of quality education, but also violate the right to education and Article-21A of the Constitution. Advertisement The Court said that the school administration cannot abdicate its responsibility under the Constitution to provide free education to the children. A bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna made the above observation and directed the petitioner children to approach the GD Goenka Public School administration within a week for admission in Class-1st. Along with this, the school administration has been asked to complete the process of document verification of the petitioner children immediately. The court also directed that if the petitioner children face any difficulty, the Directorate of Education should help them get admission in the school. It is worth mentioning here that three children including Shahnaz Khatun had filed a petition saying that the Directorate of Education had allotted them GD Goenka Public School through draw in the EWS quota for admission in the first class but the school administration had refused to give them admission on different grounds. The petition states that one petitioner was denied admission on the ground that his address was not available, while another petitioner was denied admission on the ground that his residence was four miles away from the school. The school's counsel said that the residence of the petitioner is too far from the school and admission cannot be granted. The lawyer said that the school does not provide any transport to the areas where the petitioners live. Simran The Credit for my success goes to the parents as well as the teachers: Simran JAMMU: Simran Bala, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Naushera town, has become the first woman from the Union Territory to clear the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) examination of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) this year. She has secured 82nd rank out of 151 candidates who have cleared this exam this year. Simran said that being from a border district, she has seen cross-border firing, which inspired her to join the CAPF. She also wants to protect the borders of the country. He said that his dream has now come true. She has been selected for the post of CAPF Assistant Commandant. Advertisement Notably, Simran studied till 10th in Naushera, after which she moved to Jammu for higher secondary education. She completed graduation from Jammu itself. Simran said that this success has come with hard work and continuous studies. The credit for the success goes to the parents as well as the teachers. She said that whatever opportunity she gets to serve, she will do it sincerely. Turkish Airlines Flight Plane made an emergency landing in Budapest after the child fell unconscious NEW YORK: An 11-year-old boy died after losing consciousness on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to New York in the United States. As per the reports, the flight took off from Istanbul yesterday morning. The plane made an emergency landing in Budapest after the child fell unconscious. A team of doctors were present at the airport, who reached to see the child as soon as the flight landed, but despite all efforts, the child could not be saved. Reportedly, the airport medical service was dispatched to the spot after flight TK003 landed in Budapest. Advertisement The flight took off from Istanbul Airport at 8:56 am local time. After this the child fainted. According to news, the deceased child was a resident of America who was present in the flight with his family. It is being told that this child was handicapped. At present, the cause of death of the child has not been fully revealed. Modi Ji Thali PM Modi will make his first official visit to the US in June NEW JERSEY: The Indian diaspora is very excited about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States of America. There is such a craze for Prime Minister Modi among them that a restaurant in New Jersey has launched a Meal dish after PM Modi's name. Prime Minister Modi will make his first official visit to the US in June at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US President and the First Lady will also host PM Modi for a state dinner on June 22. Advertisement Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the first Indian Prime Minister to address the joint sitting of the US Congress for the second time. Restaurant owner Shripad Kulkarni explained that in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to America, a plate has been launched in his name, which has been named 'Modi Ji Thali'. Last weekend many in Cuba read with amazement and hope? a message that circulated on WhatsApp detailing alleged agreements under which Castroism would deliver to the Russians much more than it has officially recognized. The message, which purportedly leaked information from negotiations between Moscow and Havana, began by stating that Cuba was to be, once again, a "subsidiary market of Russia" (economic dependence and the adoption of Russian technology, rather than western), but this time "through public-private relationships" (Russian oligarchs would act in Cuba), before providing a very long description of how the Russians would intervene in everything from telecommunications to land, along with almost any economic sector imaginable. The veracity, origins and objective of the information has been discussed on social media and has gained the attention of reputable YouTubers and specialists in the subject of Cuba. Some have deemed the content to be authentic, while others consider it to be an elaborate disinformation/manipulation campaign. Where everyone agrees on is that lurking behind this is State Security, which has a long record of manipulating information. Is the regime evaluating the people's reaction to Cuba's accelerated and brazen loss of sovereignty? Is the plan to prepare them for a positions of extreme surrender like the one described in the WhatsApp message so that they are later more amenable to gigantic concessions, which might be seen as minor in comparison to what they expected? Do they want to "inform," but without involving the official channels in an uncomfortable dialogue? If the content of the message is true, the possible reasons for its circulation are varied. But, to better understand it, it is necessary to first ascertain what Castroism wants. In this regard the analysis thus far has erred by taking things at face value; everyone assumes that these dealings with the Russians are "what the Cuban Government really wants," without anyone having considered that this is only a ruse concealing Havana's real objective: the Americans. Does Castroism really want to cozy up to Putin and the Russian oligarchs? That option was always available, but the regime waited until the country was tearing itself apart and ailing like a leper in a coma before sending Diaz-Canel to tell Putin that Cuba was up for it. Why did they bide their time if no one knows better than the Cuban Government itself how economically inoperative their regime is? No one knows better than them that their system is unproductive because it is designed for control, not efficiency; no one knows better than them that the superficial reform introduced is mere procrastination that does not change the country's impoverishing economic dynamic; no one is more aware that the "private sector" is a disguise; they know, in short, that nothing they have done will rescue the country from the pit of misery into which they have sunk it. And yet, they stuck it out before playing the Russian card. What were they waiting for? There is only one possible answer: another Obamization. The previous Obamization was thwarted by a defunct faction loyal to Fidel and his legacy, and because Trump reached the White House. Might all this Russian fuss, unleashed so suddenly, be an attempt to twist Biden's arm before the Republicans regain power? Castroism does not want the end of the embargo, with all that it implies in terms of mutual negotiation, but they do want the tourism tap opened, to control remittances and monopolize the country's currencies, thus dominating the economy and society. Obamization would be much more controllable by Castroism than an "invasion" of ruthless Russian mobsters. It is the United States and Putin that Raul Castro has dreamt about ever since he inherited his brother's estate, which is why the regime is, probably, scheming to pressure the Yankees. If the Slavic option were really desirable and expedient for Castroism, it would have begun years ago; but these Russians are not Soviets, and their arrival on the Cuban scene, even at levels lower than those described in the supposedly-filtered WhatsApp message, could further erode what is left of traditional Castroism. Although this does not mean that the regime will be humanized, it could mean a loss of central power, as this process that is beginning is potentially chaotic and unstable because there are impulses, interests and powerful actors on the Russian side who, without necessarily being committed to Cuba's central government, may be tempted to seek parallel alliances within Cuba, in business, military and financial sectors. It could even be that the Russians are feigning this detente only as a strategic threat to Washington (Havana must have considered this) before a potential political withdrawal leaving Castroism much worse than they found it, now bogged down with psychotic Russian plutocrats positioned to collect old debts. "The Russians are coming!" warns the independent and international press, as an alert, encouraging the Americans to realize how geopolitically dangerous Castroism is. This alarm, receiving so much media attention, could be precisely what Havana is looking for to scare Biden, or at least to have a trump card with which to negotiate from a position of "either help me survive, or you'll have Putin and his military 90 miles from your territory." The weekend's message, then, might be understood as an ultimatum to Washington, an indication of how much the Communist Party is willing to hand over if the Democrats don't act fast and open up some source of funding to ease the internal crisis. In practical terms, it does not matter whether the thesis of this article is correct or not (it is impossible to know what Castroism is really planning). It being plausible and even probable suffices to, communicatively, take it for granted, and to try to dissuade the Democratic Party from any temptation to let itself be blackmailed. Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba used to say: "give a fleeing enemy a silver bridge, and Napoleon added: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." If we believe that Castroism would have better control of the situation with an Obamization than with this relationship with the Russian mafia (and we already know that control is the key to its longevity) after the "The Russians are coming!" those interested in Cubans freedom should add "Let them come!" Give Castroism a silver bridge so that, desperate, it makes its own mistake. U.K. stocks were seeing modest gains on Monday ahead of a big week of central bank meetings. The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 15 points, or 0.2 percent, at 7,578 after losing half a percent on Friday. Grocer Ocado jumped 6.4 percent after a brokerage upgraded its price target on the stock. Mining and trading giant Glencore gained half a percent after it made a fresh proposal to purchase the coal of Teck Resources for cash. Oil & gas explorer Tullow Oil fell nearly 2 percent after announcing it is considering all options with respect to its interest in the Espoir field in Cote d'Ivoire. Energy infrastructure company Petrofac declined 1.6 percent despite signing a $1.5 bln contract with STEP Polymers in Algeria. Frasers Group rose over 1 percent. The retail, sport, and intellectual property company said that it has acquired an 18.9 percent stake in online electricals retailer, AO world Plc, for 75 million pounds. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Africa Day parade Africa Day (25 May 2023) was broadly acknowledged on campus, with an exhibition in the English Department, displays on each floor of the Library and campus screens rotating interesting facts about every single country in Africa to educate the whole community. Furthermore, at the start of the month, an explanation of the origin and purpose of Africa Month and Africa Day was circulated to the Rhodes University community. Meanwhile, off campus, Rhodes University joined in the extensive celebrations for Africa Day at the 1820 Settlers National Monument, which featured various activities to showcase and honour the African heritage. These activities included a cultural parade, colloquium, African art exhibitions, and dance and music performances. The event was hosted by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government in collaboration with Makhanda Municipality, Rhodes University and other strategic partners and stakeholders. The Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, some Deans, Directors, staff, the Students Representative Council (SRC), postgraduate students, postdocs and the African Humanities Programme (AHP) visiting fellows, lecturers and students, including from the School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) and the Institute of Water Research, along with community members and dignitaries, were welcomed to the sounds of marimbas at the entrance. Upon entering the Guy Butler Hall, the opening act, a local reggae band, greeted the attendees with Bob Marleys best-known songs. This 25th of May is of great significance; as a continent, we are not only celebrating Africas rich and diverse cultural heritage, but we are also commemorating the 60th anniversary of the African Union, said Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela. On this day in 1963, the Organisation of African Union (OAU), the predecessor of the African Union (AU) was founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. OAU-AU was established as an alliance to promote unity, solidarity and liberation among African nations, said Professor Mabizela. The Vice-Chancellor encouraged all leaders at the event to invest in the education and skills of African youth. Education and research are key enablers of economic development and collective prosperitywe must invest in the future of our continent, he said. According to Professor Mabizela, the African Unions vision of A Better Africa can be achieved by prioritising and attaining all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. These include eradicating poverty and hunger, reducing gender inequality, improving the quality of education, implementing social protection, promoting gender equality and improving access to clean water and sanitation. The Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, urged all Africans to recommit to prioritising the vision of A Better Africa put forward by the African Union. It is imperative that all leaders work together to achieve the 2063 vision set forth by the African Union and Nepad. The vision is Africa where all citizens enjoy the realisation of their human rights and where equality thrives, said Mabuyane. All keynote speakers, including the MEC of the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture (DSRAC), Nonceba Kontsiwe, and a representative from the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and KhoiSan Leaders, delivered insightful speeches on what it means to be African. A colloquium on Makhanda and the Battle of Egazini (also known as the Battle of Grahamstown), which took place in 1819, followed the speeches. Panellists, former or current Rhodes University staff, at the colloquium included: Dr Jongi Klass, who addressed colonial invasion, African resistance, and the reshaping of the South African landscape; Professor Julie Wells, who discussed the significance of Makhanda and the 1819 Battle of Egazini; and Dr Pascall Taruvinga, who spoke about the legacy of the resistance wars and opportunities to promote cultural tourism in the Eastern Cape. The colloquium was a platform to explore the history of Makhanda, Nkosi Jongumsobomvu Maqoma and the Eastern Cape wars of resistance. As the formal speeches ended, the cultural programme resumed with the performances of a set of traditional dances from different parts of Africa, organised by Mr Abdul Olatunji from the Community of African Nations in South Africa (CANISA), who had also arranged for samples of African cuisine to be served to the attendees on the day for the audience. Africa Day is important to me, so I was delighted to be here. The day was a great example of how a cultural celebration can help the community forget their worries for a little while, commented Professor Juma, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Rhodes University. Africa Day is an important day to step back and think about the direction in which we are heading as a country and as a continent. I am very glad that we partnered with so many other entities in the Makhanda and the Eastern Cape to make this a success. I would like to thank all members of the Rhodes University community who participated in the event. I dont think anyone who stayed for the full formal programme experience was disappointed, said Orla Quinlan, the Director of Internationalisation, whose team had organised Rhodes University participation. The Rhodes University International Office would like to express its gratitude to all the partners involved in the collaboration who contributed to the success of Africa Day 2023: The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture of the Eastern Cape Government, the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, the CANISA, Albany Museum, Amazwi SA Museum of Literature, the National Arts Festival Foundation, Ilima Heritage Institute, Arena Holdings, Makana Municipality, Sarah Bartmaan District Municipality, South African Police Service, and the many other individuals and stakeholders, who helped make things happen behind-the-scenes. Rhodes University engages in several Internationalisation at Home activities during Africa Month In May, Rhodes University dedicates a month-long celebration to Africa, encompassing International Week and culminating in Africa Day on the 25th. In response to a call from the Rhodes University International Office, numerous departments collaborated and organised activities, exhibitions and displays independently to acknowledge and celebrate Africa Month. The International Office, in collaboration with the Student Representative Council (SRC), signalled the start of Africa Month by showcasing the 16 Southern African Development Communities (SADC) flags, including the Africa Union flag, at the student hub at the Steve Biko Building. On Tuesday, 02 May 2023, the International Students Forum took place, focusing on international students' lived experiences in South Africa, specifically at Rhodes University. Building upon previous discussions, the forum sought to identify the remaining challenges international students face while providing them with essential information. The forum, organised by the SRC International Affairs Counsellor, Ms Tshdiso, received support from the International Office, which provided coffee/tea and muffins to over 90 attending students. To promote Internationalisation at Home and enhance awareness of the cultural diversity at Rhodes University, the SRC hosted a Language Carousel in front of the Day Kaif on Wednesday, 03 May. Encouraging students to engage in multi-lingual conversations, this event served as a platform to showcase the richness and diversity of African cultures on campus. Live performances, a display of flags from different countries and refreshments for the participants, supplied by the International Office, created a memorable experience for the students. Meanwhile, the School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) organised an online interschool dialogue exploring Africa's contribution to "Word Press Freedom Day", which was held on 03 May. The panel, moderated by JMS Lecturer Thandeka Gqubele-Mbeki, featured Jeanne Du Toit, the Head of JMS; Zubeida Jaffer, an award-winning JMS alumnus, Nancy Baker, Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Communications at Aga Khan University, Kenya and Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School, United States. On Thursday, 04 May, the SRC distributed 500 cupcakes, provided by the International Office, as study treats to the students, internationalising the weekly-observed Rhodes University tradition of "Purple Thursday". On 05 May, the International Office organised the Internationalisation Awards Ceremony at the Oppidan Hall in the Steve Biko Building. This ceremony recognises the Rhodes University academic achievers who have incorporated internationalisation into their academic pursuits. Approximately 100 staff, dressed in formal or African attire, attended the African-themed event. From 09-10 May, the Community Engagement Learning Symposium, hosted by Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) at Amazwi Museum, brought together a wide range of South African and international speakers to Makhanda. Among these were Professor George Openjuru, the Vice-Chancellor of Gulu University in Uganda and Chair of the Uganda Vice-Chancellors Forum and Dr Marisol Morales, Executive Director of the Carnegie Elective Classifications at the American Council on Education. On 20 May, the Rhodes University Department of Music and Musicology, in collaboration with the International Library of African Music, presented Rhodes University African Chorus' Hymns and Songs in the Chapel, performed a wonderful afternoon of choral music, with African flavour, showcasing a repertoire comprising indigenous South African choral pieces, traditional folk songs (izitibili), Gospel songs, and hymns in vernacular language(s). Athenkosi Nelani conducted the Rhodes University African Chorus. On 22 May, the Rhodes University African Studies Centre organised a research seminar titled: "Feminisation of Learning Institutions and Religious Activities: Reflections from Female Muslim Scholars in Kenya". On 23 May, the Amazwi Museum hosted the launch of Dr Carol Leff's new book: The "Afropolitan Flaneur in Literature". The book explores twelve novels published between 1999 and 2015, focusing on six African and six non-African publishers with a geographical focus falls on three cities in Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Lagos), as well as three cities in the Global North (New York, Paris, and London). The book launch, promoted as part of International Week, was well attended. Dr Leff expressed delight with insightful questions from the broader audience, including the Rhodes University creative writing student society, The Ink Society. Meanwhile, on 24 May, the Student Wellness hosted a special event called #AskAProfessional Series as part of the Africa Month celebrations. They invited Professor Enocent Msindo, the Dean of Humanities, to be a guest speaker. This series provides an invaluable opportunity for students to engage with professionals passionate about sharing their knowledge and advice with the next generation of leaders. On Friday, 25 May, Rhodes University collaborated with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government and various stakeholders in a grand celebration of Africa Day. The celebration featured a vibrant cultural parade, an interesting colloquium, captivating live performances, inspiring art and craft art exhibitions and diverse African cuisine stalls. The International Office was critical in raising awareness of the event throughout Rhodes University. They also arranged for journalists from Grocott's Mail, Rhodes Music Rhodes, Rhodes University Communications Department and Rhodes University JMS to cover the event. To ensure the colloquium on Makhanda and the 1819 Battle of Egazini ran smoothly as part of the Africa Day celebrations, the panellists, including Professor Julie Wells, Dr Jongi Klass and Dr Pascall Taravinga, received pre-event administrative support from the International Office. Court Sentences Two Oath Keepers Leaders on Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 58, of Granbury, Texas, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, and Kelly Meggs, 54, of Dunnellon, Florida, the leader of the Florida chapter of the organization, were sentenced today for seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. His is the longest sentence, to date, related to the assault on law enforcement and the U.S. Capitol Building. Meggs was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Todays sentences reflect the grave threat the actions of these defendants posed to our democratic institutions, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. The United States proved at trial that the Oath Keepers plotted for months to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6th attack on our democracy. Todays sentencings reflect the FBIs commitment to do our part to hold accountable individuals who committed criminal acts on January 6, 2021, as well as those who plotted to interfere with the lawful transfer of power, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. We will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who violated our laws in connection with the siege on the U.S. Capitol. There have been few instances in our nations history when our fellow citizens have engaged in a seditious conspiracy a conspiracy to use force to oppose the functioning of our government, said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. More people were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the siege of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, than any other criminal event since the statute was enacted during the Civil War. Todays sentencing affirms the rule of law and imposes substantial consequences on Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs who, together, conspired to violently attack our government and our democracy. Rhodes and Meggs were found guilty on Nov. 29, 2022, following an eight-week trial and three days of deliberations. In addition to the seditious conspiracy charge, Rhodes was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents and proceedings. Meggs was also found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. According to the governments evidence, the Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. Following the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election, Rhodes, Meggs, and others began plotting to oppose, by force, the lawful transfer of presidential power. Beginning in late December 2020, via encrypted and private communications applications, Rhodes, Meggs, and others coordinated and planned to travel to Washington, D.C., on or around Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the certification of the electoral college vote. The defendants also, collectively, employed a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates; organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons, and supplies including knives, batons, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection, and radio equipment to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power, and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with each other and others. On Jan. 6, 2021, a large crowd began to gather outside the Capitol perimeter as the Joint Session of Congress got under way at 1 p.m. Crowd members eventually forced their way through, up, and over U.S. Capitol Police barricades and advanced to the buildings exterior facade. Shortly after 2 p.m., crowd members forced entry into the Capitol by breaking windows, ramming open doors, and assaulting Capitol police and other law enforcement officers. At about this time, according to the governments evidence, Rhodes entered the restricted area of the Capitol grounds and directed his followers to meet him at the Capitol. At approximately 2:30 p.m., according to the governments evidence, Meggs, along with other Oath Keepers and affiliates many wearing paramilitary clothing and patches with the Oath Keepers name, logo, and insignia marched in a stack formation up the east steps of the Capitol, joined a mob, and made their way into the Capitol. Rhodes remained outside, coordinating activities. While certain Oath Keepers members and affiliates breached the Capitol grounds and building, others remained stationed just outside of the city in quick reaction force (QRF) teams. According to the governments evidence, the QRF teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power. Rhodes was arrested on Jan. 13, 2022, in Texas. Meggs was arrested on Feb. 17, 2021, in Florida. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Departments National Security and Criminal Divisions are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by numerous U.S. Attorneys Offices throughout the country. The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance provided by numerous FBI offices throughout the country, including the Dallas, Cincinnati, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Richmond Field Offices. In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. This story has been published on: 2023-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Catholic Action for Faith and Family Confronts Gay Activist Priest Group 'We Will Not Accept a Different Gospel' NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic Action for Faith and Family June 12, 2023 SAN DIEGO, June 12, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Catholic Action for Faith and Family -- a lay organization that defends Catholic teaching -- issued a statement today confronting a dissident priest group that is holding its convention in San Diego this week. Since Catholic Action is also based in San Diego, the statement noted pointedly that "we will not be silent as you come to our city." The lay group accuses the priests of presenting a "false gospel" of gay activism to the Church and to the public. Catholic Action President, Thomas McKenna, objected strenuously to the dissident group's pre-conference statement that undermines Catholic teaching on clerical celibacy and lifestyle: "You call yourselves US Catholic Priests rather than Roman Catholic Priests. You claim many points of fidelity to the established teachings of the Church while at the same time lobby to undermine them. You are upholding your synod in a gay-friendly venue in California during so-called 'Pride Month', but you seem prouder of this disorder rather than of our redemption in Christ." One citation from the priests' document made the stark admission that "gay priests are caught between the truth of their identity and experience, and their role as representatives of the Church and its teachings." Mr. McKenna thanked the group for such an honest admission that "prov[es] the Church's point entirely" about gay men in the clergy. Catholic Action for Faith and Family is an association of Catholics that strives to uphold and defend Christian values inspired by the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Its many prayer initiatives, programs, and conferences in support of orthodox prelates and faithful clergy make it one of the preeminent Catholic lay organizations in the country. SOURCE Catholic Action for Faith and Family CONTACT: 858-461-0777, catholicaction@catholicaction.org MONTGOMERY Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis has appointed Rhonda Jackson to serve as the departments new District III Manager, supervising veterans service offices in the states southernmost 22 counties. Jackson will be responsible for ensuring each county office in District III has the needed personnel coverage in place and will enforce general rules, work habits, and standards. In coordination with the Director of Quality Assurance and Training, she will also train and retrain employees on policies, operating procedures, rules, and quality control of claims processing. Rhonda has a wealth of experience and knowledge for how to effectively assist veterans in the lower third of the state, said Commissioner Kent Davis. She has shined as a veterans service officer during the last decade. We are thrilled to have her in this new role and look forward to her excellent work continuing. Jackson joined the ADVA as a veterans service officer in 2013 after retiring from the United States Marine Corps as an aviation operations specialist with the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Most notably, Jackson received the Commissioners Excellence Award for her service to veterans in Clarke, Monroe, and Washington counties in 2021. Throughout the year, she served 2,400 veterans, submitting 100 compensation claims, 30 pension claims, and 20 education claims, maintaining a 0% reported error rate. She was instrumental in the reopening of the Washington County office, working with county officials to find office space and setting up operational support while continuing her other duties. Jackson also has a strong presence in the communities she serves and regularly participates in local events. Jackson will assume her new role as District III Manager on July 1. Weather Alert ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... An Air Quality Alert is in effect until midnight EDT Tuesday night. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke for all of Vermont through midnight tonight. The 24 hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to occur within the Code Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. However, note that pollutant levels may occur in the code red or "unhealthy" range for all individuals on an hourly basis. Who needs to be concerned? Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers. What should you do? Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. It's okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy. If you have heart disease, symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your healthcare provider. For additional information, please visit the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources website at https://dec.vermont.gov/air- quality/local-air-quality-forecasts ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of northern New York, including the following counties, Eastern Clinton, Eastern Essex, Western Clinton and Western Essex. Portions of Vermont, including the following counties, Caledonia, Eastern Addison, Eastern Chittenden, Eastern Franklin, Eastern Rutland, Eastern Windsor, Essex, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Washington, Western Addison, Western Chittenden, Western Franklin, Western Rutland and Western Windsor. * WHEN...From Noon EDT today through late tonight. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - One round of shower and thunderstorm activity with brief heavy rainfall will affect parts of the area early this morning. A break in the action is expected later this morning before additional shower and thunderstorm activity develops this afternoon, continuing into this evening. Rainfall amounts from this afternoon's thunderstorm activity could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour with the stronger storms. Recent heavy rainfall has led to soil conditions across the region being completely saturated. The ground has no capacity to absorb heavy rainfall which leads to immediate runoff into creeks and streams and can cause renewed flash flooding. - Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood Browser Compatibility Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: MONTGOMERY The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted at its meeting on June 12 to award medical cannabis business licenses to the following applicants. Integrated Facility License: Flowerwood Medical Cannabis, LLC; Southeast Cannabis Company, LLC; Sustainable Alabama, LLC; TheraTrue Alabama, LLC; Verano Alabama, LLC; Cultivator License: Blackberry Farms, LLC; Gulf Shore Remedies, LLC; Pure by Sirmon Farms, LLC; Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC; Processor License: 1819 Labs, LLC; Enchanted Green, LLC; Jasper Development Group Inc.; Organic Harvest Lab, LLC; Dispensary License CCS of Alabama, LLC; RJK Holdings AL, LLC; Statewide Property Holdings AL, LLC; Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC; Secure Transport License: Alabama Secure Transport, LLC; International Communication, LLC; Tyler Van Lines, LLC; State Testing Laboratory License: Certus Laboratories. The commission, per the statute, could award up to 12 cultivator licenses, four processor licenses, four dispensary licenses, five integrated facility licenses and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses. There was no shortage of qualified individuals and entities who provided applications for us to consider, explained Commission Chairman and Oncologist, Dr. Steven Stokes. Based on the evaluators assessments and the Commissions considerations, we believe that we have selected an outstanding slate of inaugural licensees to represent Alabamas new medical cannabis industry. The University of South Alabama was engaged by AMCC to coordinate the application review process and recruit evaluators to assess the scored exhibit items for all 90 applicants. USA utilized 66 evaluators, with experience relevant to the application content, to review one of eight scoring categories: (1) Financial Ability; (2) Business/Management Approach; (3) Operations Plans & Procedures; (4) Facility Suitability and Infrastructure; (5) Security Plan; (6) Personnel; (7) Quality Control & Testing; or (8) Marketing and Advertising. Each scored exhibit was independently reviewed by two evaluators to assess the applicants solvency, stability, suitability, capability, projected efficiency, and experience, both in relation to any baseline set by the Commission as well as in comparison with other applicants. The commission has worked diligently since the passage of the Darren Wesley Ato Hall Act to develop regulations and policies to facilitate an effective and safe medical cannabis industry, explained Commission Director John McMillan. We are excited to begin working with those applicants who were awarded licenses to meet the needs of so many Alabamians who are living with debilitating conditions that can benefit from medical cannabis. Those applicants who were awarded a license will have 14 days to submit the appropriate license fee to the commission. At its meeting July 10 the commission is scheduled to issue licenses in each license category. Under the rules promulgated by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, physicians may begin the certification process to recommend medical cannabis after business licenses have been issued. For a patient to qualify for medical cannabis, the patient must have at least one of the qualifying conditions and be recommended for medical cannabis by a certified physician. The commission looks forward to affording more opportunities for individuals to participate in the industry, explained Vice Chairman Rex Vaughn. These businesses will not only serve Alabama patients but provide business and job opportunities for local communities. To learn more about the Alabama medical cannabis program visit amcc.alabama.gov. Alabama Act 2021-450 establishes the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and authorizes the Commission to implement the Act by making medical cannabis derived from cannabis grown in Alabama available to registered qualified patients, by licensing facilities that process, transport, test, or dispense medical cannabis, and by administering and enforcing the Act and all rules adopted pursuant to the Act. Commission members are appointed to the commission for established terms by various appointing authorities, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, State Health Officer, Attorney General, and Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency. Each commission member represents certain segments that the legislature deemed important to the establishment and regulation of the medical cannabis program in Alabama. Members of the Commission include: Dr. William Saliski, Pulmonologist; Dr. Sam Blakemore, Pharmacist; Dwight Gamble, Banker; Dr. Angela Martin, Pediatrician; Dr. Eric Jensen, Biochemist; Loree Skelton, Attorney; Rex Vaughn, Farmer; Judge Charles Price, Circuit Judge; Dr. Steven Stokes, Oncologist; Taylor Hatchett, Farmer; James Harwell, Nurseryman and Landscaper, Dr. Jerzy Szflarski, Neurologist, and Dion Robinson, Department of Corrections. Under Alabamas program, registered certifying physicians may recommend medical cannabis to patients who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain or nausea; Crohns Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinsons Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourettes Syndrome; a terminal illness; or conditions causing chronic or intractable pain. Medical cannabis products that may be recommended to patients include tablets, capsules, tinctures, gelatinous cubes, gels, oils or creams for topical use, suppositories, transdermal patches, nebulizers, or liquids or oils for use in an inhaler. Raw plant materials, products administered by smoking or vaping, or food products such as cookies or candies will not be allowed. Chris Judah, who has served as director of Houston Countys Emergency Management Agency since 2017, resigned his position Monday, days after being placed on administrative leave by county commissioners. The unanimous vote to put Judah on leave June 7 is tied to a computer tampering investigation involving an EMA contractor and a city worker. Jesse Ryan Taylor, 40, and Amy Johnson Granberry, 43, both of Dothan, were arrested on Wednesday, June 7, and are charged with 12 counts of computer tampering. Taylor, a contractor for Houston County EMA, was out on bond for a theft of property charge after he allegedly stole fentanyl from a Dothan fire station while he was employed as a Dothan firefighter last year. Houston County will now search for a new EMA Director. Im definitely disheartened by this, Houston County Commission chairman Brandon Shoupe said. But it is what it is, and its just part of it. Shoupe announced Judahs resignation during a regular meeting of the Houston County Commission Monday. Shoupe was not aware Taylor was involved with the EMA and told Judah to fire him. When it seemed like Judah wasnt going to do that, Shoupe knew it was time to go in a different direction. The information he had given us verbally last week did not add up to the information that was recovered through cell phones and email, Shoupe said. In our opinion, it was very clear that he never really intended to get Mr. Taylor out of EMA. He was given an order to do that by me and it never took place. Based on that fact alone, its a dismissible offense. Although Shoupe is thrilled with some of the work Judah had done, he is ultimately responsible for any issues inside the Houston County EMA office. Thats the difficult part; Judah did a lot of great work in several different areas, Shoupe said. But obviously since these issues were going on in his office, he is ultimately responsible. An interim director was not appointed during Mondays meeting since commissioners Ricky Herring and James Ivey were not in attendance. Several potential candidates have already contacted the county about the position, and the interim director could be appointed at the next county commission meeting. The City of Dothan reached out to me, and (Dothan) Fire Chief Larry Williams has offered his expertise. Shoupe said. Ive also had other EMA directors from outside the county reach out and offer assistance. The application for the EMA director position is expected to open this week. Shoupe hopes that after two weeks, there will be a strong pool of candidates in order to start the interview process. In the wake of Judahs resignation, Shoupe currently runs the EMA. He said the office will be fine until a new director is hired. The staff there knows how to run the departments day-to-day operations, Shoupe said. If an emergency were to take place, well be alright because someone is already qualified to run the EOC. I dont want to be the acting EMA director for any longer than I have to be. A new genus and species of maniraptoran dinosaur has been described from the fossilized skeletal material found in Inner Mongolia, China. The newly-identified dinosaur species roamed our planet during the Early Cretaceous epoch, some 121 million years ago. Named Migmanychion laiyang, it was a type of maniraptorian, a group of coelurosaurian dinosaurs that includes birds and some non-avian lineages. Maniraptorans first appear in the fossil record during the Jurassic period, and survive today as living birds. They are characterized by long arms and three-fingered hands as well as a half-moon shaped (semi-lunate) bone in the wrist. Maniraptora is the only dinosaur group known to include flying members, though how far back in this lineage flight extends is still controversial. The fossilized remains of Migmanychion laiyang were found at the Pigeon Hill locality of the Longjiang Formation near Baoshan town in Inner Mongolia, China. In the last decade, a new Lower Cretaceous freshwater fossil locality the Pigeon Hill has drawn extensive attention for yielding exceptionally preserved fossils of the Jehol Biota, said China University of Geosciences researcher Yichuan Liu and colleagues. Although this new locality is far from the famous core area containing the Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, the uncovered fossils are similar and closely related in the two areas. Migmanychion laiyang is represented by an incompletely preserved skeleton including a partial left forelimb with complete hand. The new theropod material collected at Pigeon Hill differs from all the previously named taxa from this locality, and supports the presence of at least one new dinosaurian species in the Longjiang Formation, the paleontologists said. The holotype material includes fragments of ribs, the distal end of one forearm, and a complete hand. Some dorsal ribs are preserved as middle shaft portions. It shows a peculiar hand morphology different from all known theropods, supporting the erection of a new taxon. The teams phylogenetic analysis supports the closest affinity of Migmanychion laiyang with the enigmatic Fukuivenator paradoxus from Japan. Migmanychion laiyang possesses a peculiar combination of features in the hand, which is different from all other known theropods, the authors said. Most of the derived features in Migmanychion laiyang hand are variably widespread among non-paravian maniraptorans (in particular, among early diverging oviraptorosaurs and therizinosauroids), suggesting that this theropod belongs to this grade and it is not particularly closer to the bird lineage. Our phylogenetic analysis supports Migmanychion laiyang as closely related to the bizarre Fukuivenator paradoxus and places them closer to pennaraptorans than therizinosauroids. The discovery of Migmanychion laiyang is described in a paper published this month in the journal Cretaceous Research. _____ Xuri Wang et al. A new theropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Longjiang Formation of Inner Mongolia (China). Cretaceous Research, published online June 5, 2023; doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105605 Energy drink Red Bull could be right all along with its claim that it can give its customers wings. A new study suggests it contains taurine, which could be the "elixir of life." Red Bull Contains the Possible 'Elixir of Life' According to Human Kinetics, a 250 ml can of Red Bull contains 1000 mg of taurine, 600mg of glucuronolactone, 80 mg of caffeine, 18 mg of niacin (niacinamide), 6 mg of pantothenic acid (calcium d-pantothenate), 2 mg of vitamin B6 (pyridoxide HCI), vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and more. Taurine is a safe drink ingredient. It naturally occurs in foods, including meat or fish. The human body also uses taurine for actions in cells and energy production. It also aids the body in processing bile acid and balancing fluids, salts, and minerals, according to Mayo Clinic. Researchers found that giving mice taurine, an additive found in energy drinks, extended their lifespan by three to four months. The scientists who believe the material might be an "elixir of life," said those months are equivalent to seven to eight years in human years. Additionally, researchers from Columbia University asserted that taurine slowed the aging process, assisting rodents in avoiding age-related problems like weakening bones and muscle loss. More research, this time on humans, showed that those with higher body taurine levels typically have better health, Daily Mail reported. The study provides no evidence that taurine will lengthen human lifespans. However, the scientists said they think it has "potential" when publishing their findings in Science. According to Dr. Vijay Yadav, we concluded that taurine levels in the bloodstream might impact general health and lifespan if taurine regulates all these aging-related processes. The researchers looked at 250 mice who were 14 months old, or around 45 years old in human years, to see if taurine depletion is what accelerates aging. While the other half received a control solution, half of them received taurine daily. According to the findings, male mice lived 10% longer than those in the control group, while female mice who received taurine lived 12% longer. In the UK, the average age of death is 82 for men and 86 for women. This would result in a rise to 88 and 94 for males and women, respectively, should it ever be demonstrated that the results in mice apply to people. ALSO READ: Pope Francis Skips Weekly Public Blessing While Recovering From 3-Hour Abdominal Surgery Taurine Could Improve One's Health In the second part of the study, taurine supplements were given to mice, monkeys, and worms for a year to see their impact on their health and lifespan. The team's findings revealed that mice who received the supplement had improved immune systems and were healthier "in almost every way," including having more energy. Additionally, they had better bone mass, increased muscle strength and endurance, decreased anxiety and depressive behavior, insulin resistance, and age-related weight gain. Taurine-treated monkeys had higher bone density and more robust immune systems, but they also experienced decreased rates of weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and liver damage. According to Dr. Yadav, the animals not only live longer but tend to live healthier lives. Additional research indicates that taurine may have anti-aging properties by reducing the number of "zombie cells" in the body or cells that should die but persist and emit damaging compounds. RELATED ARTICLE: Cow Dung, Urine As COVID-19 Protection Has No Scientific Basis, Ingestion May Lead to Health Risks Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times. The Alabama Legislature has provided $20 million toward the City of Dothans Wiregrass Innovation Center, augmenting a $!0 million contribution from The Wiregrass Foundation. This collaboration project between the city, HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology, and the Wiregrass Foundation will serve as a home for hands-on training, learning, and engagement in the world of science, genomics, research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It will also be an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovators to get their businesses off the ground and begin serving the local community. Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba said the Wiregrass Innovation Center presents a big opportunity for Dothan and the rest of the Wiregrass region. This is an incredible opportunity for Dothan, Alabama and the Wiregrass at large. New enterprises, products, businesses, partnerships, innovations, and growth are right here at our doorstep, Saliba said. We have said, in relation to Dothans City Center project, that we have the right people, Dothan is the right place, and this is the right time to propel our community into the future. Dr. Neil Lamb, president of HudsonAlpha, is looking forward to working with the city. The City of Dothans work to build a Wiregrass Innovation Center is about growing the economy of the Wiregrass, adding the field of genomics to the agricultural heritage of the community, and providing educational opportunities for students and adults that connect to tomorrows careers, Lamb said. We are thrilled to be a part of this center and look forward to partnerships and collaborations to enhance economic growth. Troy Fountain, president of the Wiregrass Foundation, said the Wiregrass Innovation Center will help energize the local economy. The Wiregrass Foundation is honored to come alongside the state of Alabama and the City of Dothan to help build an innovation center in downtown Dothan that will serve our region well into the future, Fountain, said. In addition, the opportunity to energize our local community, along with the citys partnership with HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, is a generational chance to improve the health, education, and quality of life for citizens living right here in the Wiregrass. In an era where individuals must extend their considerations beyond tangible possessions, the management of online presence and assets gains prominence. Unfortunately, the fate of digital assets is frequently neglected due to the absence of well-defined legal frameworks, unlike their physical counterparts, which are routinely addressed in wills. According to UNSW Sydney, digital assets cover a broad range of items that exist in digital form, including finances based on blockchain technology, emails, cloud-stored photos, and social media accounts. It also includes the devices and hardware that facilitate access to these assets. However, the ownership of certain digital assets, especially those tied to online services provided by businesses like Facebook or Instagram, can be more complicated. This is due to the terms of service agreements that users often agree to without fully understanding their implications. The challenge lies in ensuring that loved ones have the necessary access and control over these digital assets after ones passing. Unfortunately, inheritance laws in Australia, as well as in many other jurisdictions, have yet to address this issue adequately. As a result, it is crucial for individuals to take the initiative to include digital assets in their estate planning. UNSW Sydney advises individuals to proactively assess their digital assets and incorporate them into their estate plans. This involves taking inventory of all digital accounts, documenting login information and passwords, and being aware of the policies of each digital service provider. By doing so, individuals can ensure that their digital legacy is properly managed and transferred to their chosen beneficiaries. Its been assumed that we can deal with digital assets the same way we have dealt with traditional assets, but this is not the case, says Professor Prue Vines, an expert in succession law from the School of Private & Commercial Law at UNSW Law & Justice. Instead, the law has fallen behind, meaning will-makers need to be more prepared regarding their digital assets. The majority of the digital services we use are subject to a terms of use contract, and that rarely provides users with ownership, at least how we usually think about personal property, Prof. Vines says. Instead, most of those contracts state the user doesnt own the account as property but has a non-transferable license to use it, which expires at death. The importance of considering digital assets in estate planning extends beyond the lack of legal guidelines. Many digital service providers include clauses in their terms of service that prohibit password sharing, even for assets that require digital access, such as online bank accounts. This restriction can pose significant challenges for executors who need to access digital accounts specified in a will. According to Professor Vines, breaking the terms of service is often the only way for users to grant access to their digital accounts to their executors. However, this workaround is not ideal and can raise legal complications. Another solution is to use a password manager that securely stores all passwords in one place, allowing the executor to have up-to-date access. The issue of accessing digital assets also extends to virtual currencies like Bitcoin. Unlike physical money, cryptocurrencies are stored virtually on a blockchain and can only be accessed digitally. To access these assets, the executor needs to know the unique private key associated with the cryptocurrency, which serves as proof of ownership. If the private key is lost, the cryptocurrency becomes inaccessible. Professor Vines suggests that reform is necessary to address these challenges. The New South Wales Law Reform Commission has proposed legislation for a digital access scheme that would enable an authorized digital executor to access the deceaseds digital records specified in the will. This would provide clarity and ensure that the executor is treated as the user upon death, entitled to password access without violating any contract terms. In the meantime, individuals can take steps to navigate the current landscape. Documenting digital assets and securely recording the details for each account in a designated location can help ensure that the executor has the necessary information. Additionally, explicitly stating in the will which digital assets the executor can access, where to find account information, and providing instructions for dealing with each asset can provide guidance in the absence of clear legal frameworks. Source: UNSW Sydney Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Consumer and health organisations and doctors have joined forces to call on Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators to prioritise consumers and support the implementation of 60-day dispensing in Australia. This initiative aims to save both time and money for Australians seeking medical assistance. In an open letter addressed to all federal parliamentarians, eight prominent organisations representing health consumers, including those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as well as multicultural backgrounds, have expressed their support for the proposed reforms. Under the suggested changes, pharmacists would be authorised to dispense up to 60 days worth of medication for over 320 medicines used to treat stable conditions listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. However, such dispensing would only occur if deemed safe and appropriate by a patients general practitioner (GP). The open letter emphasises the significance of placing health consumers at the forefront and urges MPs and Senators to endorse the reforms. It highlights this measures positive impact on Australians, especially those who are more vulnerable. What happened? Health Minister Mark Butler has proposed a significant change in Australias healthcare system by advocating for doctors to have the authority to issue prescriptions for 60-day supplies of 320 medicines commonly used to treat chronic medical conditions. This reform aims to improve convenience and efficiency for patients managing long-term health issues, including heart disease, cholesterol problems, Crohns disease, and hypertension. Currently, patients are limited to 30-day supplies, necessitating more frequent doctor and pharmacist visits than necessary. The proposed extension of prescription supply would alleviate the burden on patients, reducing the need for frequent appointments and allowing them to access their medications for a more extended period. While this change would greatly benefit patients, it has raised concerns among some pharmacies due to potential revenue loss. Pharmacies receive a fee each time they provide medicine, and their revenue could be affected with fewer visits. Additionally, the sales of ancillary products such as hairbrushes and skin creams may also be impacted by the reduced foot traffic resulting from fewer pharmacy visits. The open letter highlights the significant benefits that would arise from implementing the proposed reforms. It estimates that approximately 6 million individuals with chronic conditions, including a significant number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, would experience positive outcomes. These groups often face a higher prevalence of chronic ailments, making the reform particularly impactful for them. One of the key advantages for consumers is the potential for substantial cost savings. The reform could result in annual savings of up to $180 per individual, with even greater savings for those who take multiple medications. By reducing the need for frequent visits to collect medicines and obtain repeat prescriptions, consumers would save not only money but also valuable time. Additionally, this change would alleviate the strain on GP appointments, allowing healthcare providers to attend to other patients more efficiently. Implementing 60-day medicine dispensing would also bring Australia in line with other high-income countries like New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Citizens in these countries already enjoy access to multiple months worth of medication on a single prescription, further underscoring the need for Australia to adopt a similar approach. The proposed reform holds particular significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals who experience a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of reducing medical costs for this population, thus improving system equity and addressing health disparities. Furthermore, the recommendation to implement 60-day dispensing aligns with the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). The PBAC has dismissed claims that the change would lead to medication shortages, lending further credibility to the proposal. What experts are saying Royal Australian College of GPs President Dr Nicole Higgins: 60-day dispensing is a win for Australians, particularly those with chronic conditions, and those who are more vulnerable and battling cost-of-living pressures. I urge MPs and Senators to ignore the scare campaigns and support these changes, there has never been a more important time to save patients money and time. National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations Acting CEO Dr Dawn Casey: We welcome this measure that will help ease the cost pressures for purchasing medicines for so many of our people. It can halve the annual cost of peoples medicines, which is a truly significant impact. In reducing the number of times people must attend a pharmacy for each of the chronic medicines, it will also greatly improve convenience for patients and further add to the value of the measure, especially when considering accessibility of some pharmacies and current cost of transport. Asthma Australia CEO Michele Goldman: We have one of the highest rates of asthma in the developed world. The double dispensing savings for people with stable asthma will reduce out-of-pocket costs, GP and pharmacy visits and associated costs, and the likelihood of patients missing or rationing their medicine at the end of each month because they cant afford another prescription. Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke: For millions of Australians and their loved ones who live with lung disease, this change means cheaper medicine, less unnecessary trips to the GP freeing up the incredibly overburdened system, and less time for immunosuppressed people spent in crowded waiting areas. From our communitys perspective, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be immediately affected, and for patients with stable chronic conditions it also reduces their risk of missing medication dosages at the end of the month when their script runs out. Australia is finally being brought up to the same standards as the New Zealand, Canada, US and Europe, and this shift is frankly overdue. The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners CEO Leanne Boase: The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners supports 60-day dispensing in the interests of improving access to good health. Many Australians struggle to access a prescriber for repeat prescriptions, and 60-day dispensing will free up more appointments, improving access to timely primary health care. Where medicines are long term, especially in relation to stable chronic disease, significant savings for consumers in both cost and time can be made, as well as redirecting more health care dollars towards improving health outcomes. We are confident the Australian Government is acting in the best interests of the public, through better access to medicines, more accessible primary care, and in support of essential pharmacy services. Breast Cancer Network Australia Director Policy, Advocacy & Support Services Vicki Durston: Those with cancer are often required to take medication, particularly hormone-blocking therapies, for a long period of time that can extend five to ten years past their diagnosis. Breast Cancer Network Australia stands with RACGP in supporting 60-day dispensing to not only help reduce this financial burden on top of the already significant cost of a cancer diagnosis, but to also help alleviate pressure on the primary health system and allow GPs to continue to give vital care and support to those who need it. Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative Co-Chair Marina Chand: The change to 60-day medicine dispensing will benefit culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians in particular, as we know our CALD communities have a higher prevalence of chronic disease. The savings on dispensing fees $180 a year and even more for people taking multiple medicines will make a real difference for people and families in the current environment, with cost-of-living pressures increasing and pushing more people into hardship. Australian Medical Association President Professor Steve Robson: The governments changes are safe and supported by clear recommendations from the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), including the requirement to ensure that only patients assessed as clinically suitable by a doctor are eligible. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Meiko's factory in in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the company Japanese electronics firm Meiko plans to build a factory in northern Hoa Binh Province at a cost of VND4.66 trillion (US$200 million) to produce printed circuit boards. It plans to lease a 9.2-hectare plot of land in this northern province for its fourth plant in Vietnam. Local leaders have voiced support for the project. Meiko first invested in Vietnam in 2006, building a factory in the suburban district of Thach That in Hanoi. At that time it was one of the top 10 FDI projects in the country. Meiko now has three printed circuit board factories in Vietnam that cost $500 million and employ 7,000 people. One of Japan's leading electronics companies also has five factories in its home country and two in China. After running out of orders and finding it hard to raise funding, businesses are now facing electricity shortages. The power shortage has his all industries in the north in the last two weeks. Official statistics show that 88,000 enterprises shut down temporarily or for good in the first five months of this year. A recent survey by VnExpress and the governments Private Economic Development Research Board of nearly 10,000 businesses found 82% planning to contract operations or stop doing business this year. Nguyen Minh Chau, director of Hanoi CNC Accurate Mechanical Company based in the capitals Quang Minh Industrial Park, said: "This years economic recession [in many countries] has led to a decrease in orders. If you are lucky enough to get orders, the lead time is short and delivery is urgent." Meanwhile, blackouts, which happen suddenly or without proper notice, make it hard for businesses to fulfill orders in time, he said. Vu Khac Tiep, deputy director of Hanoi food processor Song Phuong Trading and Manufacturing Joint Stock Company, said the power outages are a burden on businesses that are seeking to recover after Covid. Song Phuong modernized its factory last year, and so 90% of its lines currently use electricity, but the power outage has reduced its capacity by 40%, he said. Power outages also increase expenses, he said. "Workers take breaks in the middle of production shifts [due to blackouts]. Arranging schedules for workers to work irregularly leads to increased labor costs." The company is poised to get orders from China and Europe, but, instead of being happy, Tiep expressed concern because the production would have to be undertaken at the peak of summer with the possibility of longer and more frequent blackouts. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the daily electricity shortfall is 30.9 million kilowatt-hours, rising to 50.8 million kilowatt-hours on some days. "If the power outages persist for long, the possibility of losing contracts to businesses in the south is very high," Tiep said. The southern region has no or few blackouts. Many large foreign enterprises are among those suffering from the electricity shortages. Hong Sun, chairman of the Korean Business Association in Vietnam, told VnExpress that many member companies are suffering from power outages two or three times a week. "[This means] order fulfillment is delayed and machinery and goods are affected while fixed costs still have to be paid." They are worried they would have to pay compensation if deliveries are not done in time, he said. The association, which represents nearly 10,000 South Korean businesses in Vietnam, has petitioned Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to take remedial measures. The services sector is also badly affected by the power situation. Pham Quoc Long, chairman of the Vietnam Ship Agents, Brokers and Maritime Services Providers Association, said the electricity shortage has caused ports in the north to be congested, causing losses across the board. Hai Phong Port clears on a normal day some 15,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, equivalent to eight or nine ships, of cargo. Loading and unloading a vessel takes around 20 hours. Long said: "Vessels enter the wharf but there is no electricity, resulting in cargo piling up. Losses to the port and shipping companies are US$30,000-40,000 per ship. Every day there are 20-30 ships coming in or leaving, and so the damage is not small." Ports have invested heavily in high technology, and so use electricity instead of gasoline. Besides the actual losses, they therefore also face the risk of loss of reputation. Large supermarkets and shopping malls are badly affected by the outages. They have to use their own generators, switch off air conditioning in most areas and even turn off chicken ovens. Most production and service businesses are cutting down output and saving power, and asking customers to sympathize with their situation. Nguyen Quoc Tuan Kiet studies at his home in Nghe An Province in central Vietnam, June 6, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hung Le A 9th grader in the central Nghe An Province has received an IELTS score of 8.5 on his first attempt. Nguyen Quoc Tuan Kiet, a student at the Dang Chanh Ky Secondary School, was admitted to Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School thanks to his strong score in the English-proficiency test. "At first, I thought I was going to get a score at around 7.5, so 8.5 was out of my expectations," he said. A maximum IELTS score is 9. Kiet is the older of two siblings in a family of Nam Dan Town. His father works in Singapore, and he has a stay-at-home mom. Kiet began interacting with English when he was four, watching YouTube videos and learning the alphabet. When he entered first grade, his parents signed him up for extra English classes. His language proficiency allowed him to sit in the same class with 8 and 9-year-old students after a few months of studying. Kiet said he spent around 1-2 hours a day to read English newspapers, to help study for the test. He also watches online videos and tries to improve his speaking skills and hone his vocabulary. He said he also play games with international friends to get used to how people outside of Vietnam use English. He managed to score a perfect 9 for speaking, while getting 8.5 for both listening and reading. However, writing was a different beast for Kiet. He said writing is one of his weaknesses, so his English center teacher helped him practice with many different exercises. For each lesson, he spends around an hour writing English essays. During the first 10 minutes of the writing exam, Kiet said he felt stuck on the prompt. It asked him about the importance of exercise equipment like treadmills, but he has never used them. As such, his writing did not go as smoothly as he wanted, and he scored 7.5. Nguyen Tu Nga, an English teacher at Dang Chanh Ky secondary school, said Kiet had an edge over his peers in English. "His listening, speaking and reading skills are almost perfect. Few people at the age of 15 achieve that," Nga said. Kiet said he wants to pursue studying English to explore the world more. "It's too soon to talk about the future. For now, I will continue to gather more knowledge. In my free time, I will also study chemistry more, which is also one of my passions," he said. London's Heathrow Airport reported a significant boost in passenger traffic and transatlantic flights during the month of May on Monday. The number of terminal passengers at Heathrow during the month reached 6.727 million, representing an increase of 25.9% compared to the prior year. It put the surge in passenger numbers down to the three bank holidays observed during May, with the coronation of King Charles adding a bonus long weekend. In addition to the rise in passenger traffic, Heathrow recorded a notable boost in air transport movements, with a total of 39,488 flights recorded during May. That marked a 12.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Cargo, however, experienced a slight decline of 4.9%, with 112,363 tonnes transported during May. One aspect of Heathrow's recent performance noted by the airport operator was the increasing number of daily flights between the United Kingdom and the United States. Heathrow said airlines had been reallocating capacity from European and east Asian markets, which had been slower to recover, towards North Atlantic routes. As a result, 1.6 million passengers flew across the North Atlantic via Heathrow in May alone, and one in four passengers traveling between the US and Europe chose to pass through Heathrow. Heathrow said it currently operates 248 daily flights connecting Britain to 31 US destinations, surpassing any other European hub in terms of flights to New York with over 30 daily departures. In its update, however, Heathrow Airport repeated its urges to the government to reinstate tax-free shopping to enhance the benefits reaped from recovering markets. At present, it said visitors spent more than double the amount in neighbouring countries such as France, Italy, and Spain due to the absence of tax-free shopping in the UK. Additionally, Heathrow noted that it successfully managed eight days of strikes during the busiest days in May, ensuring that there were no delays at security checkpoints and no flight cancellations. The unrivalled choice of destinations and high frequency to cities like New York make flights from Heathrow vital trade routes with the US - Britains most important export market, said Heathrow chief executive officer John Holland-Kaye. We have delivered excellent service to passengers, with no cancellations, over eight days of strikes on the busiest days in May, and do not anticipate cancellations as a result of strikes during the summer holiday getaway. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. JPMorgan Chase & Co on Monday said it had agreed in principle to settle a class action lawsuit with a victim of the dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The proposed deal would settle a suit filed last November in the Manhattan federal court by an unidentified woman on behalf of victims who were sexually abused by Epstein over period of 15 years when they were teenage girls and young women, the suit said. It resolves one claim against the bank in a proposed class action by women who say Epstein abused them, and by the government of the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned two neighboring islands and allegedly abused victims in his mansion. In the statement, the bank and the lawyers for the victims said they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuit on behalf of the victims and the settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epsteins terrible abuse. Litigation is still pending between the US Virgin Islands and the bank as are JPMorgan Chases claims against former executive Jes Staley, the bank added. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Coptic Solidarity's 11th Annual Conference on June 15-16 to Focus on Indigenous Rights of Egypt's Copts NEWS PROVIDED BY Coptic Solidarity June 12, 2023 WASHINGTON, June 12, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Coptic Solidarity will host its 11th Annual Conference The Indigenous Copts: Past Denied and Future Unknown in Washington, DC this week. The event is open to the public and media with online registration required. The conference additionally sheds light on the broader situation for minorities throughout the Middle East and North Africa region with guest speakers and survivors from a variety of countries throughout the region, including a recently escaped Sudanese Copt. The Policy Day will be hosted on June 15th in the US Capitol Visitor Center, Room 201 from 9AM 5PM and will feature legislators, academics, and policy experts to share their views and recommendations to provide achieve equal citizenship rights for Copts and other minorities in Egypt. On June 16th, the conference will be continued at the Courtyard by Marriott Pentagon South from 9AM 4PM. Coptic Solidarity's president, Mrs. Caroline Doss, states: "While many other conflicts worldwide have absorbed media attention, this is a critical opportunity to shine a light on the systematic oppression and discrimination imposed on Copts by the Egyptian government and society. Confirmed speakers include: Frank Wolf - Commissioner, US Commission on International Religious Freedom Mariah Mercer - Deputy Director, Office of International Religious Freedom State Department Habib Afram - President of the Syriac League Ahed Al Hendi - Founder, Syrian Youth for Justice Hayvi Bouzo - Broadcast Journalist, Co-Founder of Yalla P and Host of the Yalla Show Nathan J. Brown, Ph.D. -Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Ann Buwalda, J.D. - Executive Director, Jubilee Campaign USA Robert A. Destro, J.D. - Professor of Law - Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America Caroline Doss, J.D. -President, Coptic Solidarity Mohamed Gohar - Founder of 25TV who hid 17 Copts in his office building during the Maspero Massacre Adel Guindy - Founding President of Coptic Solidarity & Author of A Sword Over the Nile: A Brief History of the Copts Under Islamic Rule Amy Hawthorne - Deputy Director for Research, Project on Middle East Democracy Mariam Ibraheem - Co-Founder & Director of Global Mobilization, Tahrir Alnisa Foundation; Former Sudanese prisoner of conscience Raymond Ibrahim - Author, Public Speaker, and Middle East and Islam specialist Bashar Jarrar - Political Analyst, Commentator, & Media Consultant Jeff King - President, International Christian Concern Sherif Mansour - Middle East Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists Paul Marshall, Ph.D. - Senior Fellow Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom; Wilson Distinguished Professor of Religious Freedom at the Institute for Studies of Religion; Director - Religious Freedom Institute's South and Southeast Asia Action Team Sean Nelson, J.D. -Legal Counsel Global Religious Freedom, ADF International Simisola Okai - Activist, TV Producer & Author of I Want to Be a Mommy When I Grow Up: Lessons of Faith and Hope Aimar Raheema - Christians Without Home Lindsay Rodriguez - Director of Development & Advocacy, Coptic Solidarity David Schenker - Director, Program on Arab Politics, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Gregory Stanton, Ph.D. - Founder & President, Genocide Watch Raouf Zaki - Writer, Producer, Director at RA Vision Productions, Inc Unamed Sudanse Coptic Witness will share firsthand testimony and about recent escape to the US In April, Coptic Solidarity published a new report titled The Coptic Identity: Recognizing the Coptic Indigenous Peoples Status for Protection from State-Sponsored Discrimination, which was presented to the UN Special Rapporteur for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to 8 United Nations Country Missions in New York City during the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights. The report explains why Copts qualify and should be recognized as an indigenous minority and contends that Egypt's Copts merit additional protection for their persons, and for cultural, linguistic, and historical protection beneath a variety of United Nations Charters and Agreements. The 11th Annual Conference will be a continued exploration of that theme and seeking possible solutions. Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts of Egypt. We support those in Egypt working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens, and advocate in cooperation with the affiliated organizations in Canada and in Europe (Solidarite Copte). For more information, contact Lindsay Rodriguez at 801-512-1713 or coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org SOURCE Coptic Solidarity CONTACT: Lindsay Rodriguez, 801-512-1713, coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (2nd, R) visits a man hospitalized due to a gun attack on two commune offices in Dak Lak Province, June 12, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Oanh Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang on Monday visited victims of gun attacks that killed two commune leaders and four police officers in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. A delegation led by Quang visited the families of Nguyen Van Kien, the late Party secretary of Ea Ktur Commune, and Nguyen Van Dung, the late chairman of Ea Tieu Commune. They were killed on the way to the communes' People's Committee offices after hearing the offices were attacked on Sunday morning. The Deputy PM also visted families of four police officers killed in the attacks and two police officers who were injured and are being treated at the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital. On early Sunday morning, a group of armed persons attacked the People's Committee offices of the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur Communes in Cu Kuin District, killing four police officers, two commune leaders, and three civilians. Authorities said 27 suspects had been arrested for involvement in the attacks and a number of weapons seized as of Monday noon. The government will pay the families of four police officers killed in the attack compensation of VND100 million (US$4,260) each. The two injured policemen will receive VND50 million each. Colliers, a leading diversified professional services and investment management company today announced the appointment of Ramaiy Kapoor as the Managing Director, Data Center for its India business. Kapoor comes with a rich real estate experience and joins Colliers from CapitaLand where he was heading the investment & commercials division for their India Data Center business. With key achievements comprising successful deal closures of greenfield developments and collaborating with global teams on M&A deals, he has proven proficiencies in business strategy, deal structuring, negotiations, credit analysis and corporate finance, among others. In his role at Colliers, Ramaiy will work closely with the top India leadership to capture a higher market share and drive profitability for the firms Data Center business. Given his exceptional business development and stakeholder management abilities and vast knowledge of the sector, he will tap into new opportunities and expand client relations. Colliers has always been focused on bringing in the industrys best talent and empowering them to lead our business into the future. Ramaiy has long-standing industry relations and a reputation that precedes him. He has deep insights on the real estate acquisition process of data centers and has managed large portfolios with tenacity. His ardent knowledge on investment strategies and asset management along with his excellent track record of prime deal closures assure us that he will play a significant role in maximizing profitability for the firm. says Sankey Prasad, Chairman & Managing Director, Colliers India. The Indian Data Centre industry is poised for high growth over the next decade. The times are exciting, there is an influx of interest from across the globe for investments in India in anticipation of the surge in demand and shift from on premise data centres to colocation. This is supported by conducive government policies and ecosystem. We aim to be at the forefront of this and provide complete end to end solutions for our customers across all business functions and project lifecycle. Our team has demonstrated strengths in Project Management, Building Management, Land acquisitions & Capital Markets and we are building capabilities across Leasing and Operations Management. Under the guidance of the top management, I am excited to embark on this journey and add value to the business, added Kapoor. In May 2023, Colliers appointed Vijaya Ganesh as the Managing Director, Industrial & Logistics Services, an industry veteran with over two decades of illustrious experience in real estate. The firm is invested in enhancing its service offerings and expanding its India capabilities to adapt to the market shifts and better serve its clients. As Malaysia continues to grow as a strategic regional hub for digital interconnection between businesses, Equinix, Inc., the world's digital infrastructure company, plans to open its first data center in Kuala Lumpur in Q1 2024, following its expansion announced last year to enter Malaysia with a data center in Johor. Spurred by strong cloud growth and e-commerce adoption, as well as its continued investment in 5G, Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the ASEAN region, with much of the development attributed to Johor and Kuala Lumpur. Equinixs expansion is expected to provide greater digital infrastructure capacity in Malaysia to address rising demand from local and global companies expanding in the country. As Malaysia enters Phase 2 of its MyDIGITAL blueprint for a digital economy, demand for digital infrastructure is expected to remain robust. According to Synergy Research, Malaysia is already the third largest data center colocation market in the ASEAN region, and is forecast to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11% from 20222027.[2] With extensive global experience in supporting 5G development, Equinixs new facility aims to accelerate the digital vision laid out in the governments MyDIGITAL blueprint to establish Malaysia as a hub for colocation in ASEAN and a regional digital economic powerhouse. The new facility in Kuala Lumpur, named KL1, together with the recently announced JH1 in Johor, will also provide digital infrastructure that businesses need to capitalize on the countrys digital economy. Jeremy Deutsch, President, Asia-Pacific, Equinix, said, Over the past several years, we have witnessed Malaysia emerge as an increasingly strategic location for global digital infrastructure, and we believe it to be an attractive destination for data center growth and investment. Following our initial investment in Johor, we are excited to add another data center in Kuala Lumpur. By expanding Platform Equinix in the two most strategic metros in Malaysia, we will enable Malaysian businesses, as well as multinationals with a presence in Malaysia, to leverage a trusted platform to bring together and interconnect the foundational infrastructure to power their success. We believe the two data centers will fuel Equinixs existing data center momentum and support Malaysias aspirations as a digitally driven connectivity hub. The KL1 IBX data center will be located in Cyberjaya within Kuala Lumpur. Cyberjaya is a key part of the Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia, a government-designated zone to promote and boost Malaysia's digital economy. Scheduled to open in Q1 2024, the first phase of KL1 will provide an initial capacity of 450 cabinets and colocation space of 1,300 square meters. When fully built, it will provide a total of 900 cabinets and colocation space of 2,630 square meters. KL1 will enable global networks, content providers and enterprises to exchange high volumes of internet traffic via Equinix Internet Exchange. Through one of the worlds largest global peering solutions at scale, internet service providers will have access to new digital corridors to exchange data directly with other internet service providers, participating in the flourishing digital economy and e-commerce landscape in ASEAN. Malaysia has positioned itself as an attractive digital infrastructure and cloud services hub, providing additional capacity to meet neighboring Singapores demand for digital infrastructure.[3] With a strong leadership position in multicloud connectivity, KL1 and Equinix Fabric will enable customers to deploy their infrastructure to connect with the worlds leading cloud service providers, including Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, safeguarding their business-critical data in a private and secure environment. In Asia-Pacific, Equinix currently operates 51 data centers in 13 metros across Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and Singapore, with expansions announced in Indonesia and Malaysia. John Dinsdale, Chief Analyst & Research Director, Synergy Research Group "Malaysia is a vibrant market for digital infrastructure, driven by a strong economy, growing demand for digital services, a favorable location and increasing investments from the world's leading hyperscale operators. That is opening up major long-term growth opportunities for leading data center operators." YBhg. Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Equinixs decision to expand its data center investment in Malaysia with locations in Johor and Kuala Lumpur demonstrates the companys confidence in Malaysias potential as a top-tier data center destination. The establishment of the two new data centers will play a pivotal role in accelerating the development of the nations digital economy. These data centers will act as catalysts for digital innovation, enabling businesses to harness the power of advanced technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and big data analytics. As the principal national promotion agency, MIDA remains committed to supporting Equinixs growth and success in Malaysia as we continue to propel Malaysias digital economy to greater heights. Mahadhir Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Equinix's investment and expansion in Malaysia propels us closer to our vision of firmly establishing Malaysia as the digital hub of ASEAN. The Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative serves as a catalyst to revolutionize our digital capabilities, bolstering our value proposition to attract digital investments and propel the digital economy forward. We are committed to supporting Equinix's presence in Malaysia and to fostering the growth of the nation's data center industry through various PEMANGKIN initiatives. KL1 not only fortifies Malaysia's digital infrastructure but also accelerates our ongoing digital transformation. This move signifies unwavering confidence in Malaysia's resilient and robust data center ecosystem, its digitally skilled talent pool, and world-class infrastructure. Datuk Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli, Chief Executive Officer of InvestKL I am pleased to learn of Equinix's growing presence in Malaysia. This growth story is an affirmation of the country's ease of doing business, strong economic fundamentals and competitiveness which further positions us as the emerging digital hub in Asia. It is no surprise that the KL1 data center has been strategically placed in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur offers a vibrant tech ecosystem, robust digital infrastructure and dynamic talent that is well-enabled to support Equinix's investment goals and aspiration of supporting Malaysia's digital transformation. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York State lawmakers passed a bill that would make Diwali a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs a public school holiday. The legislation now relies on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign it into law. Lawmakers approved the bill in both the state Assembly and Senate, which was first introduced by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who represents South Queens. The legislation aims to make room for Diwali in the public school calendar. The bill will take effect July 1, if the governor signs it. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom and enlightenment. Its also celebrated in other Indian religions. This year, it will be celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 12. On the night of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps, called diyas, and place them throughout their home and in the streets to light up the dark night. Though religious, it has also become a cultural event in North America that is celebrated with sweets and special food. The approval comes months after Mayor Eric Adams held an event with Schools Chancellor David Banks and Rajkumar in October, calling for the state legislature to officially make Diwali a public school holiday. Weve done this before of identifying holidays, said Adams at the time. Weve done it with Eid, weve done it with Lunar New Year, we do it with so many other days and so many other cultures that we acknowledge. Its long overdue to say to our Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist students and communities that we see you, we acknowledge you. The inclusiveness of the city is extremely significant and this is our opportunity to say that. However, New York City cannot add another school holiday to the current calendar, unless it removes another day off. This is because New York State education law mandates there be a minimum of 180 days of school instruction. The legislation, Rajkumar said, would remove Anniversary Day, also known as Brooklyn-Queens Day, which originated as a Protestant holiday celebrated in the 1800s. In removing the antiquated Anniversary Day school holiday ... my legislation makes the rule for Diwali to be a school holiday while also meeting the 180-day minimum requirement for days of school instruction, said Rajkumar in October. If the legislation takes effect on July 1, it likely wont affect the 2023-2024 public school calendar for New York City, as Diwali falls on a Sunday. School Zone: An education newsletter with the updates you need throughout the school year and beyond. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter: FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. With the day to honor family patriarchs approaching, Staten Island author and educator Jerry Cammarata says Fathers Day in New York State gives dads much to celebrate. The thanks can be found in our states progressive legislative philosophy, whereby dads have the right to time off to help co-raise their children, says Cammarata. With a 12 week paid family leave policy, dads (and moms) of New York State have the recognized time to be with their family when a baby is born, adopted, or a sibling and elders need help, he adds. To think, only 11 states on our country have paid family leave legislation, leaving a significant part of our country vulnerable to raising children. It is now 50 years since Jerry Cammarata fought for and received the first Paternity Leave in our country, and it was done in New York, when he was a teacher with the New York City Board of Education. In 1973, Jerry Cammarata made national headlines for becoming the first father in the United States to fight for and receive paternity leave. He is seen in this 1974 file photo feeding his 1-year-old daughter, Michelle. With the pressure upon the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner by then Congressman Gary Ackerman, the FEEOC changed its ruling and gave dads the same leave rights as women. As historically significant as Jerrys first Paternity Leave was, do to the efforts of Ackerman, our country on this Fathers Day is still divided between parents in states where there is no paid family leave legislation, as there is in New York, Virginia, California, New Hampshire, and others, where raising a family is supported and honored, Cammarata said. This Fathers Day will be a celebration for Cammarata, who says its a reflection for what has been accomplished so far in the crawling world of passing legislation, to having big state role models to encourage the rest of our nation to get with the program of strengthening every American family. Just as Cammarata was a member of President Carters White House Conference on Families in 1980, with Coretta Scott King and others, he says we must take another hard look at getting a national family policy, through still another White House Conference in on Families in 2024. Jerry CammarataStaten Island Advance From the Hamptons to upstate, Fathers Day kicks off our vacation season where parents can spend quality time with their children, enjoy some of the most outstanding summer camps in town, enjoy some of the greatest natural wonders of any state in the country, he continued. Cammaratas life in raising his children is documented in his book, The Fun Book of Fatherhood. He is a resident of New York City, West Hampton and Palm Beach. The cover of "The Fun Book of Fatherhood" by Jerry Cammarata.Staten Island Advance Cammarata, who holds a PhD degree, is an assistant vice president of community Aafairs at Touro University and COO, associate professor and dean of Student Affairs at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is former commissioner, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, member of the city Board of Education, associate executive director of Coney Island Hospital, President Carter appointee on the White House Conference on Families, and President Reagan appointee, Selective Service System, NYC. The driver of a bus carrying wedding guests that rolled over, killing 10 people and injuring 25 on a foggy night in Australias wine country, now faces charges, according to the Associated Press. Brett Button is in police custody and will be arraigned in court Tuesday on charges of dangerous and negligent driving in connection to the Sunday night accident, the AP said. Of the 25 people injured, one was in critical condition and several others remained in hospitals, the state government said. The conditions of the others were described as stable. Sundays crash happened just after 11:30 p.m. when wedding guests were returning to their accommodations after attending a wedding at the Wandin Estate Winery, the outlet reported. RELATED COVERAGE: Recent news >> Lawsuit: Family suffered shock, horror after hand of buried mom was found in S.I. woods >> Man, 42, accused of attempted murder in stabbing on South Shore of Staten Island >> Details emerge about fake-gun scare at Tottenville High School on Staten Island >> Fitness hearing paves way for new trial for Staten Island man accused of slaying parents Red-crowned cranes at Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province in southern Vietnam. Photo by Nguyen Van Hung Dong Thap Province in the Mekong Delta has announced a VND76 billion (US$3.25 million) project to raise red-crowned cranes in combination with tourism and agricultural development. Of the fund, VND49 billion will be used to raise cranes imported from Thailand, before releasing them into Tram Chim National Park. The remaining funds will be used for creating habitats for the cranes, including growing rice, and developing eco-tourism services, the province vice chairman Nguyen Phuoc Thien said last weekend. Vietnam and Thailand in April signed an agreement on breeding and transferring cranes from Thailands Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo for release in Dong Thap Province, as well as training staff and developing captive-rearing facilities and a monitoring system. The province is aiming to release 150 cranes into Tram Chim Park in the next decade, and keep at least 100 alive until they can form their own flocks. Spreading over 7,500 hectares, Tram Chim is recognized under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, the fourth in Vietnam, and 2,000th in the world. The park is famous as a natural habitat for the large East Asian red-crowned crane, among the rarest in the world and classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The birds usually arrive from Cambodia in December and stay until May, when it is the dry season in southern Vietnam. They come to forage and mate prior to the onset of rains and floods. Until 1980 thousands came every winter, but in recent years that story has changed with only a couple of dozen visiting the park at most each year. This year, none arrived, as in 2022. In 2021, only three showed up. Nguyen Hoai Bao, deputy director of the Center of Wetland Studies at HCMC University of Science and a volunteer at the International Crane Foundation (ICF), told VnExpress that in the delta, the conversion of natural wetland areas into lands for rice cultivation and aquaculture and the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides had destroyed the ecological balance, giving red-crowned cranes almost no chance to live. Conversation areas tend to store water to prevent forest fires, which has reduced biodiversity and kept away the cranes, he added. According to the ICF, there are around 15,000-20,000 red-crowned cranes worldwide, with 8,000-10,000 in India, Nepal and Pakistan and the rest in Indochina. In Vietnam and Cambodia, their numbers have fallen from 850 in 2014 to 179 in 2020. 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. File- In this file photo from May 18, 2011, Ted Kaczynski 's personal items such as handwritten letters, typewriters, tools, clothing and several hundred books are auctioned off online in Atlanta with the proceeds benefiting his victims' families. (AP Photo/David Goldman)ASSOCIATED PRESS 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. FILE - This April 6, 1996 file photo shows Ted Kaczynski's cabin in the woods of Lincoln, Mont. Twenty years after the arrest of Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, some Lincoln residents remember him as an odd recluse who ate rabbits and lived without electricity, while others say he had a funny, personable side. Kaczynski is serving a life sentence in a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, for a series of bombings, most through the mail, that killed three people and injured 23 others over 17 years. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)AP 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. Thomas Mosser and his wife, Susan, in 1986. He was killed in 1994 by a package bomb sent to his home in North Caldwell by the Unabomber.Star-Ledger file photo 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. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced on Monday she was resigning after nearly a year and a half as New Yorks top cop. Since I joined you almost a year and a half ago we have faced tremendous tragedy, challenges and triumphs together, Sewell wrote in an email to the department Monday afternoon, the New York Post reported. I have witnessed your compassion, heroics and selflessness on a daily basis, the email, obtained by The Post, read. The news comes days after Sewell visited Stapleton, connecting with a small group of community leaders and business owners in an effort to hear their feedback on how crime is impacting the area. The visit was in response to a string of violent incidents that left the North Shore community shaken in recent weeks, including the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy on a crowded playground, the deadly stabbing of a 36-year-old man and several shootings last weekend. The security-heavy event brought out dozens of NYPD personnel, as well as District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore). Sewell was appointed as the 45th New York City police commissioner by Mayor Eric Adams. She became the first female commissioner of the New York Police Department, and its third African American commissioner. Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement on Sewells service to the City of New York: I want to thank Police Commissioner Sewell for her devotion over the last 18 months and her steadfast leadership. Her efforts played a leading role in this administrations tireless work to make New York City safer, Adams said. When we came into office, crime was trending upwards, and thanks to the brave men and women of the NYPD, most of the major crime categories are now down. The commissioner worked nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a year and a half, and we are all grateful for her service. New Yorkers owe her a debt of gratitude. Staten Island D.A. Michael E. McMahon said in statement: Commissioner Sewells historic appointment and tenure at the helm of the NYPD will hopefully be remembered as a turning point in the history of our city, where our cops were treated with dignity, respect, and a renewed appreciation for the sacrifice and bravery they display on a daily basis, McMahon said. Commissioner Sewell oversaw the adoption of a long-overdue new contract for the men and women of the PBA, a return to common-sense pro public safety policies like the restoration of anti-crime units, and a consistent theme of support for all who don the uniform, the incredible men and women of the District Attorneys office, and for the communities we all serve. That respect and care extended to the shores of Staten Island, as recently as last Friday when I joined her for a tour of Stapleton after unacceptable violence rocked their streets in recent weeks. I wish her all the best in her next chapter, and thank her for her attention and care for the people of Staten Island, and the 35,000 strong who make up the greatest police force in the world, the NYPD. PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said in a statement: In her short time with the NYPD, Commissioner Sewell made a real impact. She took over a police department in crisis and faced tremendous challenges from day one. She cared about the cops on the street and was always open to working with us to improve their lives and working conditions. There are still enormous challenges facing the NYPD. Her leadership will be sorely missed. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. He wasnt just the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis Presley was also the king of stolen street signs here on Staten Island back in the day. But plenty of street and highway signs here and across the country have enticed thieves over the years, including signs that can be taken to celebrate marijuana culture, Devil worship, sex work and even a vintage adult film star. CANT HELP STEALING THIS SIGN Budget crunches meant that it sometimes took months or years for missing street signs to be replaced on Staten Island in the 1980s and 1990s. The missing signs were a problem not just for motorists in those pre-Google Maps days but for firefighters and ambulance drivers who sometimes took longer to respond to scenes because of absent signs. The missing signs also made things tough on delivery drivers. On Dec. 7, 1980, the Advance reported that the borough Traffic Department had waited more than a year for a delivery of 600 replacement signs from the city Department of Transportation. While many of those signs were for new streets in the rapidly developing borough, many others were to replace signs that had been knocked down or taken for souvenirs, the Advance reported. Kids like to take them and put them in their room, Norman Berger, district manager of Community Board 1, said at the time. Signs that included someones name or the name of a friend or sweetheart were often targeted by thieves. Staten Island in particular was susceptible to stolen street signs because most borough streets have actual proper names, unlike the numbered streets seen in other boroughs. The sign that was stolen the most and needed to be replaced most often at that time was Presley Street in Great Kills. Rock icon Elvis Presley had died just three years earlier and the Great Kills street sign could have been an alluring target for fans of the King of Rock and Roll. HOOKER AND LOVELACE But other signs on Staten Island have often fallen victim to thieves over the years, including signs with sexual connotations. In 1992, the Advance reported that the sign for Hooker Place in Elm Park was frequently stolen. Street sign for Hooker Place in Elm Park was popular with thieves back in the 1990s. (Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance) And in 1991, the sign for Lovelace Avenue in Eltingville was also among the most stolen in the borough, the Advance said. While no explanation was given at the time, adult film actress Linda Lovelace was well known even to mainstream audiences for her starring role in the X-rated film Deep Throat. Highway mile-marker signs that feature the sex-themed number 69 have also been popular with sign thieves across the country. BUY THIS SIGN In a bid to deter thieves, the city DOT in the early 1990s offered street signs for sale. Signs for 42nd Street and Wall Street had been among the most popular stolen signs in Manhattan. In 2010, the street sign honoring late punk rock legend Johnny Ramone of the Ramones was the most stolen street sign in New York City, according to Billboard magazine. Billboard said that the sign for Joey Ramone Place, at the corner of Bowery and East Second Street, had been replaced four times since its installation in 2003. The sign was eventually placed at a height of eight feet in order to deter thieves. STOLEN NUMBER OF THE BEAST Signs that could be seen as celebrating Satanism have been the targets of thieves in New Jersey. Autoblog.com reported that the sign for Route 666 in Morris County had been stolen so many times that the roadway was renamed Route 665. And town elders in Barnegat, N.J., reported that mile markers reading 66.6 have also frequently fallen victim to thieves. The number 666 is deemed as the mark of the Devil in Book of Revelation in the Bible. However, there is still a County Route 666 in Atlantic County, N.J. There are also highways marked with the so-called number of the beast in Pennsylvania, Florida and other places around the world. DOPE-SMOKING SIGN THIEVES Road signs and highway mile markers that could be seen as celebrating marijuana culture have been popular with sign thieves across the country for years. In North Branch, Minn., the sign for 420th Street had been stolen so many times that it was eventually placed at a height of 20 feet on the pole, the local CBS news station reported. Other states have seen 420 highway mile markers or route signs stolen. The association of the number 420 with weed culture goes back to 1971, when students at San Rafael High School in California would meet at 4:20 p.m. to get high, according to Time magazine. The number 420 has since become the unofficial weed holiday in the U.S. After numerous thefts over the years, more information was added to the highway sign leading to Weed, Calif., in an effort to make it less appealing to thieves. Highway signs marking Bong Recreation Area in Wisconsin have also been popular with thieves. The parks full name is the Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Staten Island, of course, has marijuana-themed Weed Avenue in New Dorp Beach, as well as High Street in Fort Wadsworth. The Advance had no records of those signs being stolen in great numbers. Street sign for High Street in Fort Wadsworth. (Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance) It is not known which signs are the most stolen on Staten Island today. MORE STATEN ISLAND STORIES FROM TOM WROBLESKI Actor in Godfather wedding scene calls Brando a joke, shares secrets of Staten Island film shoot Mobster Peter Fat Pete Chiodo is shot 12 times but survives as Mafia assassination goes awry on Staten Island in 1991 Staten Islander prime suspect in 1960 Sunday Bomber attacks, eludes police after bombing Staten Island Ferry boat STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Island skies have mostly cleared after smoke from Canadian wildfires shrouded New York City in a Martian haze last week and triggered dangerously poor air quality. While thick plumes of smoke are no longer settled over the borough, the Islands Air Quality Index (AQI) a measure of the presence of harmful particulate matter remains at the edge of a category considered moderate and is bordering on the threshold considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. AirNow.gov, which tracks pollutants, indicated New York Citys AQI stood at 100 as of 10 a.m. Monday morning. Air quality at that level is only expected to affect people who are unusually sensitive to ozone or particle pollution. However, a reading of 101 a minuscule change the five boroughs may surpass would enter a category where people with lung disease, older adults, children and others are at greater risk. Unlike hot days, which can cause respiratory issues as ambient pollution and scorching temperatures lead to air quality warnings, Tom Kines, an AccuWeather senior meteorologist, said leftover smoke is still making a presence over New York City, but with diminishing affect over time. That would be the trend, Kines told the Advance/SILive.com, that each day gets a little bit better. However, while wildfires are still burning in numerous parts of Canada, the conditions that combined to make an orange haze settle over Staten Island last week are unlikely to line up again, at least in the short term. Certainly the really thick stuff that we had last week, thats long gone, and we dont need to worry about that, at least in the near future, said Kines. And, storms slated to pass through New York City and deliver some potentially heavy rain could also tamp down the impact of any residual smoke. I would think that the skies would be pretty clear tomorrow, said Kines. I think that the rain is going to kind of rinse out the atmosphere and get a totally different airmass in here tomorrow, and I do think itll be a much clearer airmass. RELATED COVERAGE: Weather on Staten Island >> AccuWeather: Strong NYC thunderstorms a possibility Monday night; wind, hail possible >> As Atlantic hurricane season begins, here is what 3 leading forecasts expect >> National Weather Service issues New York summer temperature prediction >> How does climate change worsen wildfires? Are we air quality aware? Experts weigh in. 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! Former President Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. That's according to an indictment unsealed Friday that also alleges that he improperly shared a Pentagon "plan of attack" and a classified map related to a military operation. The indictment accused Trump of willfully defying Justice Department demands to return documents he had taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, enlisting aides in his efforts to hide the records and even telling his lawyers that he wanted to defy a subpoena for the materials. Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, says, "We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone." At least five Australian super funds are freezing new contracts with PwC amid the tax leak scandal embroiling the accounting and consulting firm, with Aware Super and Care Super the latest to review their dealings with the company. Several of the countrys biggest superannuation funds, responsible for hundreds of billions of dollars in retirement savings, have so far taken the advice the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to consider the risks associated with contractors. Aware Super and Care Super are the latest to join a growing group of superannuation funds reviewing their dealings with PwC. Credit: Luis Enrique An Aware Super spokesperson said the fund looked forward to the full extent of PwCs conflicts being investigated, after revelations that a partner at the firm leaked confidential federal government tax plans to corporate clients. Out of an abundance of caution we have temporarily frozen any new contracts with PwC, the spokesperson said. Like many others were deeply disappointed by the reported failures of governance, accountability and culture at PwC. Given no hope at home, Canadian man cured of paralysis by HCMC doctors C.D. Washington shakes hands with a doctor at Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VNA Doctors at Military Hospital 175 in HCMC have successfully treated a Canadian man who was paralyzed eight years ago and tried in vain to get himself cured at home. In February C.D. Washington, 45, visited the hospital to have his legs, paralyzed since 2014 due to car accidents, examined. He had earlier gone to hospitals in Canada where doctors suggested operations on his legs. He rejected this and researched online, and decided to come to Vietnam for traditional treatment at Military Hospital 175 in HCMC, Vietnam News Agency reported. Doctors there first did an MRI scan and several other tests so. Then Dr Ngo Quoc Hoan of the international department called doctors from the departments of traditional medicine and rehabilitation for consultation. Le Anh Dung, head of the traditional medicine department, said the case was a "complicated and challenging" one. He had paralysis of the lower limbs caused by sequelae due to a spinal cord injury and multiple traffic accidents and hypertension, he said. "Paralysis of the lower extremities due to trauma is a condition of autonomic dysfunction of the legs caused by an injury to the spine-spinal cord (usually at the thoracic and lumbar segments). "Patients will normally suffer loss of function of extremities, accompanied by sensory disturbances, loss of physiological reflexes." Doctors decided to treat him with acupuncture and acupressure, and continuously monitor the status to adjust the regimen if needed. At the same time the Canadian received physical therapy at the rehabilitation department with electrical impulses to stimulate muscles and magnetic stimulation to support muscle and nerve. He also exercised with technicians and functional machines every day. After two months he was able to take his first steps with support. A month later he could walk on his own. He has been discharged from the hospital, but visits every two weeks to be treated with the catgut embedding acupuncture method, in which dissolvable threads are placed in acupoints under the skin, creating local biochemical and biological reactions, and increasing protein and carbohydrate regeneration. It also increases the nutrient metabolism of the muscle, increases the tone of muscle fibers and improves blood circulation to the implant area. Washington said: "After many years of treatment and seeing no improvement, my family and I had thought there was no hope for me. "It was really lucky that I came to Vietnam. I really think of this as a miracle. My mother cried at seeing her son stand up and walk on his own without any help." Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Expect dishes such as whipped eucalyptus butter with native herb-infused damper, and mains such as gum-smoked barramundi and quandong-glazed chicken stuffed with warrigal greens. Bennelong Point was always somewhere Indigenous people congregated to meet and eat. Now its set to become home to a new restaurant with TV chef and Bundjalung man Mark Olive at its helm. Midden by Mark Olive will open at the Opera House on Tuesday, July 4. The venues name refers to tell-tale mounds of accumulated shells left by previous generations. Its like a kitchen, and it was a big meeting place here, Olive says of the site of his new restaurant, which will slide into the space currently occupied by the Opera Houses harbour-fronted restaurant Portside. 1 / 7 TV chef and Bundjalung man Mark Olive. Yazzen Omar 2 / 7 Damper infused with native herbs, eucalyptus whipped butter. Yazzen Omar 3 / 7 Midden by Mark Olive will open in the space currently occupied by Portside. Yazzen Omar 4 / 7 Braised wallaby shanks with native infused tomatoes and sweet potato roesti. Yazzen Omar 5 / 7 Smoked blue gum barramundi with chardonnay vinegar mash, Dutch carrots and lemon aspen white wine cream sauce. Yazzen Omar 6 / 7 Yazzen Omar 7 / 7 Yazzen Omar Previous Slide Next Slide The chef wants to bring a taste of Indigenous ingredients and cuisine to a uniquely Australian building. The menu will include whipped eucalyptus butter with native herb-infused damper, and main courses such as gum-smoked barramundi and quandong-glazed chicken stuffed with warrigal greens. Advertisement Review Eating outSydney Pretend youre dining in an elegant Parisian passage at bijou Bistro Nido in Sydneys CBD The hospitality group that brought you Dopa and Devon Cafe has opened a new French space with a funky Japanese focus at Regent Place. Terry Durack June 13, 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 1 / 7 Bistro Nidos undercover area. Edwina Pickles 2 / 7 Roasted duck breast with pickled kyoho grapes. Edwina Pickles 3 / 7 Buckwheat galette with confit duck leg, egg, gruyere and kumquat shoyu. Edwina Pickles 4 / 7 Steak frites. Edwina Pickles 5 / 7 Crepes Suzette. Edwina Pickles 6 / 7 Bistro Nido is reminiscent of Parisian passages. Edwina Pickles 7 / 7 There are only eight seats inside this bijou corner site. Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score French$$$ Now dont get in a huff when you go to Bistro Nido and have to sit outside in the arcade. There are only eight seats inside this bijou corner site (and two of them are at the naughty table, tucked into a tiny, wood-panelled alcove). Youll still be comfortable and undercover outside, so just pretend youre in one of those elegant passages of Paris only instead of antique galleries and wine bars, you get cool sneaker stores and bubble tea shops. Works for me. So why are we here? Because its the 10th venue for Noni Widjaja and Derek Puahs dynamic Devon Hospitality Group (Dopa, Devon Cafe, Tsukiyo), and theyve not yet opened anything that hasnt been fun. And because its in Regent Place, that crazy-good Tardis of Japanese ramen bars, barbecue, sushi and matcha cafes with a pop culture attitude. And because a French bistro with a Japanese twist is such a good idea. Advertisement Roasted duck breast with pickled kyoho grape. Edwina Pickles Executive chef Zachary Tan and head chef Andrew Lee draw heavily on French bistro favourites, then tweak them with Japanese flavours. So rock oysters are topped with shiso jelly; coquilles Saint Jacques (scallops) come with umeboshi butter and bonito crumb; and Pioik sourdough is served with honeyed umeshu (plum) butter. The same menu runs for both lunch and dinner. At lunch, I order lunchy things, like a crisp, thin buckwheat galette ($28). Its a bit mad, richly topped with shredded confit duck leg, runny fried egg and gruyere cheese, and drizzled with a kumquat shoyu that makes it feel like a brunchy Breton okonomiyaki. You can add foie gras ($20) to it, or to the wagyu cheeseburger ($25), nicely done in a milk bun with bacon, cheese and house pickles. (But why would you?) Theres a daily changing list of snacks (petites bouchees), while at dinner, the aged tuna crudo ($32) is popular, all velvety furls dressed with white soy and chives. Another big order is casarecce pasta from Fabbrica, tossed with ceps and mushrooms ($28), enriched with egg yolk and parmesan. The tight wine list offers a glass of a bright, lively 2022 ChaLou pinot noir ($18) from Orange, with a small Reserve list that stars a 2019 Henri Boillot Montrachet Premier Cru ($695). If youre inside, youll have a banquette with views of the well-stocked cocktail bar and espresso machine (Stitch Coffee). Advertisement They love their steaks. Theres a dedicated dry-aged wagyu program, with charcoal-roasted 220-gram wagyu oyster blade ($98) and wagyu tri-tip ($88), both with 9+ marble scores. Steak frites is a more modest choice for two, the 300-gram Jacks Creek Black Angus sirloin ($48) charred on the bone over binchotan (Japanese charcoal) to medium-rare, then sliced and sent out with a golden pile of frites. Warm plates from which to eat it would have been a nice touch. Duck, currently the dish du jour around town, is dry-aged for two weeks, before being blanched in master stock, roasted whole on the crown, and finished on the hibachi ($45/$85). Sliced into fingers, its fringed with crisp skin in a pool of glossy duck jus, served with a few large pickled kyoho grapes, peeled to reveal their sweet, tart flesh. Fresh and citrusy crepes Suzette, ready for its TikTok moment. Edwina Pickles Group pastry chef Markus Andrew echoes the gueridon tradition of crepes Suzette ($28) by flaming a small copper pan of Grand Marnier at the table with a blowtorch. Flames dance around the long, fat, rolled crepe, filled with a fluffy mascarpone cream and sponge, and topped with mandarin segments. Fresh and citrusy, its more than TikTok fodder although it is that, too. Theres a casual ease about the service under Fransisca Natalia Setiawan, which, combined with the French technique in the kitchen, make Bistro Nido a real surprise packet. Advertisement It may honour the Paris bistro via a funky Japanese focus, but the best thing is that it ends up feeling very Australian. Especially when you dont worry too much about where you are seated. The low-down Drinks: Classic and signature cocktails, seven beers, French-led wine list Vibe: Cheeky little corner bistro with added umami Go-to dish: Half roasted duck breast with pickled kyoho grapes, $45 Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up He was soon in the Heralds London bureau from where he covered the many sides of Britain at the time including the pop culture, the miners strikes, and the new investigative journalism pioneered by Harold Evans. Robert Milliken, 1972. Credit: Fairfax On return to Australia he gravitated to the National Times, a weekly in the Fairfax stable which, often to the alarm of conservative management, specialised in hard-hitting investigations. In 1979 he won a Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University, near San Francisco, joining an elite group of promising journalists from around other world for intensive exposure of big issues. He was always great company and very perceptive and intelligent in his world view, rather broader than most of our colleagues, recalled Simon Walker, a fellow from New Zealand. In Australia, Robert worked on diverse stories out of the National Times office in Melbourne. He broke a land scandal which ended the career of Coalition treasurer Phillip Lynch. He went to Broken Hill to see filming of the second Mad Max movie, and around the outback with Midnight Oil on their Diesel and Dust tour. His colleagues universally remember him as a dedicated and almost obsessively truthful story teller. Bobs journalism was perceptive, graceful and substantial, but always entertaining, and always self-effacing, said David Dale. Other feature writers were flashier, but he just got on with the job of informing and explaining. Robert Milliken working in the field. Credit: George Fetting Milton Cockburn, later an editor of the Herald, recalls covering the Franklin Dam controversy in 1982 and 1983 with Milliken. Rob had to head inland to rough it in the (protest) camps on the river, Cockburn said. He was, as usual, methodical, careful and balanced in his account A prized possession resulted from a profile of the artist Euan Macleod, who joined the protests. The painting of a green, rainy landscape had a ghostly figure looking at it. That was Robert. In the mid-1980s Robert went back to Sydney and became Australia correspondent for The Independent of London, a role that allowed him more freedom for longer research. Later he moved to the same role with The Economist, a position he kept until recent years. He was an ideal correspondent, says the magazines Asia editor, Dominic Ziegler, speaking for many colleagues: filing to length, style and deadline. He did all the really important stuff, too, spotting the good stories and writing them in lucid, elegant prose. Though one suspects he heartily disapproved of the politics of the last government that he covered Scott Morrisonswhat you got in both conversations and his prose was measured appraisal backed by fact or telling insight. One thing that sticks out among colleagues about his reporting is how strongly he felt about Aboriginal issues. One illustrative piece comes from 2018, when he literally went back of Bourke to report it. It is typically reasonable, understated and sensitive. For the domestic audiences he wrote about many of the same topics in long-form pieces for the monthly journal Australian Society, and after it folded, for the website Inside Story. His reports on justice reinvestment projects in Bourke and Moree were among the best pieces weve published. Inside Story editor Peter Browne on Robert Milliken He travelled the regions with photographer Lorrie Graham for their book On the Edge about the struggles of farmers. His words in the book are wonderful, well researched accurate and empathetic, our access to the subjects in the book made possible by Bobs good manners and grace, she recalls. A road trip was not deemed successful, by Bob, however without a boot full of jams, relishes and chutneys sourced at the Country Womens Association. He covered the royal commission under Justice Jim McClelland into the British nuclear tests in Australia, resulting in his 1986 book No Conceivable Injury, a phrase from Robert Menzies public assurance the bombs could not possibly do any harm in Australias vast spaces. The nomadic Aborigines of the plutonium-strewn desert did not count. Then it was the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody, called after the death of 16-year-old John Pat in a violent police arrest in Roebourne, WA. As a child, hed been driven past the settlements like Purfleet where the Mannings surviving Aboriginals had been pushed. Now, for the rest of his life he investigated the causes and potential remedies for the atrociously high rate of Aboriginal incarceration. His deep reporting on it was the highlight of his work for Inside Story, says its editor, Peter Browne. Robert became very interested in innovative Aboriginal-led ways of dealing with truancy and crime among young Aboriginal people, Browne said. His reports on justice reinvestment projects in Bourke and Moree were among the best pieces weve published sensitively researched and beautifully written. Lillian Roxon biography by Robert Milliken. Credit: Fairfax Way back in 1970, hed been at the Herald office when Lillian Roxon reported on the first womens march, throwing down a challenge to the Heralds sub-editors desk in her lead paragraph not to treat it with any sneers. The Herald ran her story unchanged, including that lead. Robert met Lillian in London two years later and they had a long and funny talk. Her character and life as counter-cultural figure shed written her Rock Encyclopedia stayed with him. In 2002, long after her early death from an asthma attack in 1973 aged 41, he wrote her biography, titled Lillian Roxon, Mother of Rock. His book was terrific and became an authoritative source for that era, says Anne Summers, the writer and feminist who worked with Milliken at the National Times. At his death he was working on a memoir of his early life in his parents country pub and the influence that had on him, which he planned to make a good read and perhaps a screenplay. He would start the day among the colourful clientele at the Tropicana coffee lounge in Kings Cross, then move to the State Library, which he called my office. While he lived alone, he kept up a wide circle of friends, going back to Wingham days like the author Di Morrissey and others hed met at university and work. Nancy Austin met him when she did public relations for the Melbourne Theatre Company in the 1970s, and they kept in touch after she returned to the United States. The last time I saw him in London, I told him I should have married him (giving him no say in the matter!), she said. I was crazy about him, admired his professional abilities and believe we shared an ongoing curiosity about the world, politics and the arts. And although he cut a reserved figure, Robert felt passionately about big issues in Australia and beyond. He hated John Howards refugee policy and his undercutting of the republican movement. He loathed any racism and intolerance. He strongly supported the constitutional Voice for first nations. Robert Milliken with the tools of the trade, a journalists journalist. Credit: George Fetting Robert was not only a distinguished journalist, he was uncompromising in his belief in fairness and justice, said Greg Barns, the senior lawyer who has crusaded against offshore detention of refugees. I first met him at a debate on refugee policy over 20 years ago and we became great friends. Robert was compassionate and principled. He inspired me. Robert is survived by sister, film producer Sue Milliken, and the extended Milliken family. Former defence minister Linda Reynolds has threatened to sue federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for suggesting Brittany Higgins alleged rape may have been covered up. Reynolds confirmed that her lawyers had sent a concerns notice that accused Plibersek of making false statements in an interview on the Seven Networks Sunrise on Monday morning. I can confirm that my lawyers yesterday sent a defamation concerns notice to Tanya Plibersek in relation to her comments on Sunrise yesterday, Reynolds said. Former defence minister Linda Reynolds has threatened to sue Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek over comments she made over Brittany Higgins rape allegations. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Plibersek said during the interview that Reynolds had known about Higgins alleged rape for years before it became public on February 15, 2021, as she was the boss of both the people involved. The central point here is that a young woman made an allegation that she had been sexually assaulted in her workplace and that it had been inappropriately investigated, even covered up by her employers, Plibersek said at the time. Loading If you are a young woman looking at the way this has unravelled with personal SMS messages making it into the public domain, leaked to journalists, counselling records being given to the opposing legal team, private conversations released into the public, taped and released into the public, you would really think twice about making a complaint. The notice states that Pliberseks comments were plainly defamatory, including by suggesting Reynolds had been involved in concealing a criminal office and that she had acted inappropriately during the investigation of Higgins allegations. The imputations were totally false, without basis and constitute serious defamations. The notice asks that Plibersek issue an apology, retract her comments, give a signed undertaking she wont repeat the comments and pay Reynolds legal costs. If the minister does not make amends within 28 days, Reynolds lawyers will commence proceedings. The maximum damages for non-economic loss that can be recovered under defamation action is $443,000. Bruce Lehrmann, the man accused of raping Higgins, has always maintained his innocence. His trial was aborted in October 2022 because of juror misconduct. Pliberseks office has been contacted for comment. Defence Force chief Angus Campbell attempted to hand back the medal he was awarded for his command of troops in Afghanistan after a damning report into war crimes committed by Australian soldiers was published. Following the release of Justice Paul Breretons findings of war crimes in late 2020, General Campbell offered to return a Distinguished Service Cross awarded to him for his stewardship as commander of Middle East Operations in 2011. Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell offered to hand back his Distinguished Service Cross. Credit: ADF The offer was made to the then-defence minister, Linda Reynolds, according to well-placed sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to reveal confidential discussions. Reynolds was defence minister from May 2019 until March 2021. The sources said the offer was declined because then-prime minister Scott Morrison was unhappy at the idea of anybodys medals being revoked. The wedding bus driver who crashed in the Hunter Valley, killing 10 passengers and injuring dozens more in Australias worst road disaster in nearly three decades, will face court on Tuesday morning after being charged with a string of serious offences. Emergency service workers frantically tried to save wedding guests trapped in the coach which flipped on a roundabout on Wine Country Drive at Greta, near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp, about 11.30pm on Sunday. Police said the horrific end to a picturesque wedding would hang over bus driver Brett Button for the rest of his life. Button, 58, picked up 35 passengers from the wedding of Maddy Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at Wandin Estate winery in Lovedale late on Sunday. The young couple and many of their guests were residents of the nearby town of Singleton, which has been devastated by the disaster. Away from their guests, and before their wedding ceremony began, Maddy Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney met quietly under the Lovedale trees to steal a secret kiss their last before becoming husband and wife. Edsell, in a delicate veil and a strapless ivory gown, carried white roses; Gaffney wore a beaming smile and a rose in his buttonhole. Within moments, their life together would begin; they saw nothing but joy in their future. Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell in a private moment before their wedding ceremony. Credit: Instagram Not long after, a restored 1950s Volkswagen Beetle carried Edsell to a timber pontoon at the Hunter Valleys Wandin Estate and the couple wed before family and friends as the fading sun reflected off the dam. The union of Maddy and Mitch was a Singleton society wedding, of sorts; Gaffney, who turns 30 this year, is a key player for the Singleton Roosters Aussie rules mens team, and Edsell is a stalwart for the women. It has been one of the biggest events this century, but in March 2020, when Australians started searching online for official information about the latest COVID-19 cases, they were often disappointed. I thought there would be a real-time feed of every case as it was being announced, said data analyst Anthony Macali. What I found was there was hardly anything at all. The federal [government] dashboard was updating maybe once a day, but it was three or four hours behind. Anthony Macali volunteered many thousands of hours to make COVID data more easily accessible. Credit: Simon Schluter From his bedroom in Oak Park, in Melbournes north, as he adjusted to working from home, Macali decided to begin finding and collating the data himself. It was a task that, for a long time, involved tuning into lengthy, hastily called press conferences and monitoring surprise social media posts. I started off just collecting data in a spreadsheet and sharing it on Twitter. Then a couple of weeks later, I built a basic website with just case numbers and test numbers, the 38-year-old said. The family of a Perth grandfather killed in a boating tragedy off Fremantle is fighting for changes to water safety laws to prevent a similar tragedy. John Gillard, 80, was fishing with friend Peter Whitaker, 79, when a 90-foot Rottnest barge ploughed over their anchored 5.5-metre runabout on a summers day in January 2021. The skipper of the barge, Anthony Blakely, did not see the boat or realise the collision had occurred, and carried on towards Fremantle as another recreational boat rushed to the scene, rescuing an injured Whitaker and retrieving Gillards lifeless body from underneath his boat. Blakely was charged over the collision but was found not guilty at trial, with his lawyer Paul Bevilacqua telling the court the 63-year-old simply didnt see the smaller boat. The Department of Defence is shaping up as the likely owner of one of Western Australias biggest-ever white elephant projects: the 500-bed, $400 million Bullsbrook quarantine facility. A Commonwealth Department of Finance spokeswoman confirmed it was considering defence as the likely operator of the Centre for National Resilience facility when the WA governments operational responsibilities expired in October this year. The Bullsbrook quarantine facility has sat empty since its completion in September 2022. Credit: Multiplex The Commonwealth is considering its own potential uses, for instance by the Department of Defence, the spokeswoman said. Any future arrangement with the Department of Defence would facilitate Defence use while maintaining reserve capability for resilience uses if required, i.e., for quarantine or natural disaster accommodation. Beauty pageant contestant Dang Thanh Ngan has caused debates online for her limited English skill at the 2023 Miss Supranational in Poland. Ngan and other contestants had an online interview with host Ivan Padrez in Supra Chat, an important part of the competition on Sunday. The two contestants with the best performance will qualify directly for the top 25. The 71 contestants were divided into 10 groups for Supra Chat, with Ngan in the third group. While contestants in the group from India, Malaysia and Thailand gave confident performances, Ngan couldnt keep her composure and struggled to complete her self-introduction in English. When asked what was something she wished she knew five years ago, Ngan had to ask for support from an interpreter and answered in Vietnamese. "At the moment, I know Im capable to fulfill my passions and desires. Five years ago, I was not confident enough and no one told me that I had it in me. Now Im much more mature and sophisticated," Ngan said. 2023 Miss Supranational contestant Dang Thanh Ngan. Photo by Dang Thanh Ngan Facebook In a question related to body shaming, Ngan continued to answer in Vietnamese. She believes that each person will have a different definition of beauty, so some will have a harsh opinion of others. Ngan said if the words have good intentions, she will consider them but would not pay attention to negative comments, and focus on improving herself instead. After watching Ngans performance, many viewers were disappointed because of her limited English skill and flawed answers. Some even compared her to Vietnamese contestants at previous Miss Supranational editions. "I was hoping for an impressive performance, but all I got was a good laugh because of her English speaking," user Ngo Hai commented. Netizen Minh To said: "Its clear her English was no good, but her answers in Vietnamese felt like she had memorized answers that she had learned by heart. Some defended the beauty queen, saying that the viewers needed to mind their words and be less harsh. "Ngan might not be good at English, but this is a beauty contest, not a debate tournament. The competition has just begun and there are still a lot of chances for Ngan to score," internet user Trang Vo wrote. Ngan, 23, is from Mekong Delta Province of Soc Trang. She finished as the second runner-up of the 2017 Miss Ocean Vietnam. Ngan said shes grateful for being chosen to represent Vietnam at the 2023 Miss Supranational and is currently preparing for the final on July 14 in Malopolska, Poland. Warsaw: The Chinese government has attempted to shut down an upcoming art exhibition featuring artworks by Australian human rights defender Badiucao that depict President Xi Jinping devouring a child. The show, due to open on Friday at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Poland, focuses on Xis support for Russian leader Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the partnership the pair declared on the eve of the attack. Chinese-Australian artist Badiucao is preparing for an exhibition at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw. Credit: Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art China has since attempted to play peacemaker in the conflict, but it has not condemned Russias invasion, nor called for Putin to withdraw his invading army as part of its proposal for peace. Chinas embassy representative in Poland, Yao Dongye, visited the Warsaw museum last week, and the venue released a statement saying the embassy had tried to have the show stopped. ~James Ferris turns the reigns over to new President Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams installed as Secretary~ PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten kicked off its new Rotary year on Saturday, June 10th with an evening of fun at Topper's Restaurant in Cole Bay with attendees from St. Maarten, St. Martin, Anguilla, the US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands all in attendance. The evening was hosted by Master of Ceremonies, "Mr. Pizza", John Caputo of Domino's Pizza, St. Maarten. Mr. Caputo is a long-standing Rotarian and two-time Past President of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten. Outgoing President James C. Ferris addressed those in attendance by recognizing the outgoing Board Members and the challenges facing service clubs around the world. He said, "Together, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten moves forward, from strength to strength". Mr. Ferris has served the Rotary Club of St. Maarten three times as President, in addition to serving the Club and Rotary District 7020 in Youth Leadership roles. He is also a Past Assistant Governor for Rotary District 7020. Past President Deepak "Danny" Ramchandani came to the podium to introduce two new Honorary Rotarians, Pierre and Micheline DeCelles, which is the highest membership honor the Club can give. Mr. and Mrs. DeCelles have both served Rotary and Rotary District 7020 since 1995. Mr. DeCelles has held every office in the Club and Mrs. DeCelles has been a constant fixture at every event and project done by the Rotary Club of St. Maarten. The Oath of Honorary Membership was administered by incoming Assistant Governor Elisia Lake. Outgoing President James C. Ferris then administered the Oath of Office to incoming President Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin and placed the Presidential Collar around his neck along with the symbolic passing of the gavel. Newly installed President Sochrin administered the Oath of Office and introduced his new Board Members including Secretary Sarah Wescot-Williams, Immediate Past President James C. Ferris, Deepak "Danny" Ramchandani, Vice President/Club Service Kishore Idnani, Rotary Foundation Chair Stephen Thompson, and Public Image Chair Melanie Daboul. Sochrin then had the privilege of installing a new member of this Club, Marc Groeneveld. Mr. Groeneveld is an insurance professional and a previous member of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten. He is the Branch Manager of Atlas Risk Solutions in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Sochrin, in his address to the Club, went on to say, We have been asked by our District Governor and the Rotary International President Create Hope in the World. This new Rotary year will require fellowship and work. It will require that every member of our Club come together for a simple purpose, not just to Imagine Rotary, but rather to Create Hope in the World, to create hope for our Club. It is only when we come together when we work together, when we embody the principles of the 4 Way Test, can we make sure the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten is secure for at least another 51 years". For more information about the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.rotarysxm.org. PHILIPSBURG:--- The recognition of HNP authors here on June 2, by the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) has much to do with media value and a nations voice, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). Joseph H. Lake, Jr., and Lasana M. Sekou were recognized for realizing The First Local Business Registrant at COCI in the Newspaper and Book Publishing categories, respectively, said the St. Maarten Chamber. The recognition of Junior Lake and Lasana Sekou by the Chamber of Commerce adds value to the power of the press and publishing, and to the need for a people to have a voice. I thank the Chamber wholeheartedly and appreciate so much the organic link to HNP as the publisher of books by Lake and Sekou, said Sample. Lake founded Windward Islands Newsday The Peoples Paper in 1976. Sekou founded the House of Nehesi Publishers in 1980. Both St. Martiners are part of a media tradition started by their father Jose H. Lake, Sr. with the founding of his Windward Islands Opinion newspaper and Peoples Printery in 1959, said Sample. After his fathers death in 1976, Lake, Jr.s Newsday would face much of the same economic boycott as the Opinion for its reporting on government corruption and business exploitation of workers, said cultural activist Shujah Reiph in a 2009 article. At times, especially from the late 1970s to the late-1980s, Newsday was the only outspoken public voice on political, labor, immigration, and socio-cultural issues island-wide, said Sample. In the book publishing category, HNP has published at least 80 St. Martin writers, either with their books or in anthologies, and unprecedented 150-odd books on different aspects of the island and its people, said Sample. The June 2, 2023 recognition by COCI highlighted local business pioneers in the communication category Radio, Television, Cinema, Newspaper and Book Publishing, said the Chamber. The Chamber recognition plaques in the areas of television and radio were presented, respectively, to Elwaldo Arrindell and posthumously to Vance James, Jr. Last March, the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry recognized Joseph N. Gumbs for being the first local registrant at COCI in the category of Grocery Shop since 1972, said the Chamber. Chamber president Peggy Ann Brandon said, The Chamber has been established to fulfill a core mandate of registering businesses and must also embrace its corporate responsibility, by stimulating entrepreneurship and business through different methods. Those methods include providing vital information to build business capacity but also consistently enticing local entrepreneurship. COCI acknowledging official registrations of businesses at COCI, is just one of the many ways through which COCI will stimulate local entrepreneurship, said Brandon. First Tin Plc announces completion of Taronga drilling and assay Results First Tin Plc (\First Tin\ or the company https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/first-tin-ltd/ ), a tin development company with advanced, low capex projects in Germany and Australia, is pleased to announce that all drilling, including aPhase 2a infill and extension drilling, at its Taronga tin project in Australia, is now complete and that the results from the programme have confirmed the approximately 400m extension to the southwest. The project is owned by First Tina?s 100% owned Australian subsidiary, Taronga Mines Pty Ltd (aTMPLa). Highlights Infill and extension RC drilling aPhase 2a: 2228m in 28 drillholes (3 abandoned) When added to the aPhase 1a infill and extension drilling, a total of 4035m infill and extension RC drilling has been completed in 40 drillholes (3 abandoned) The drilling has extended the Payback Zone mineralisation approximately 400m to the south and has provided indications the gap between the south and north zones contains some mineralisation Significant drill intercepts from the southwest extension include: 35m @ 0.20% Sn including 15m @ 0.35% Sn 49m @ 0.12% Sn including 28m @ 0.17% Sn 25m @ 0.20% Sn including 14m @ 0.25% Sn 37m @ 0.15% Sn including 11m @ 0.35% Sn 58m @ 0.11% Sn including 31m @ 0.15% Sn 39m @ 0.15% Sn including 8m @ 0.51% Sn 17m @ 0.19% Sn including 3m @ 0.42% Sn 45m @ 0.13% Sn including 9m @ 0.22% Sn Significant intercepts from the central area include: 15m @ 0.17% Sn Significant intercepts from infill drilling include: 59m @ 0.12% Sn including 24m @ 0.16% Sn 11m @ 0.19% Sn including 8m @ 0.23% Sn Now that all results have been received and compiled, a revised Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE) will be undertaken, with results expected within Q3 2023. All results are presented in Table 1. The true width of intervals is around half the downhole width. Estimated true widths are included in Table 1.A The southern extension drilling is significant as it has extended the mineralisation to the southwest by around 400m (Figure 1).A A typical cross section is shown in Figure 2 and this shows the interpreted mineralisation zone, which is approximately 20m true width. This is about average for the 400m strike tested to date.A The southernmost line of drilling still returned significant mineralisation, indicating potential extensions still exist even further to the southwest. A single line of drilling was put through the centre of the agapa zone that sits between the north and south zones identified by Newmont. This returned three zones of mineralisation which are moderately mineralised with intercepts of: 15m @ 0.17% Sn incl. 9m @ 0.25% Sn 22m @ 0.09% Sn and 39m @ 0.08% Sn (incl. 18m @ 0.10% Sn) 19m @ 0.09% Sn These are shown on a cross section in Figure 4, the location of which is shown in Figure 3. We expect that these zones are extensions of the Payback and Payback Extended zones which trend into the north zone. They suggest good potential to close the gap between the two Newmont mineralisation zones so that a single pit may be possible. We expect to drill this area out in FY2024 as part of an optimisation programme. Several drillholes were placed in the gaps in the previous drilling in order to improve the resource category in those areas. These were generally successful as shown by drillhole TMRC041 (Figures 5 and 3), which tested a weakly defined northwest extension to the mineralisation in the north zone.A That hole returned 59m @ 0.12% Sn including 24m @ 0.16% Sn. This northwest extension also requires additional drilling that may increase resources. This is planned as part of the FY2024 optimisation programme. First Tin CEO Thomas Buenger said: aThe First Tin team in Taronga has made great progress over the past year and we are incredibly pleased to confirm that all drilling at our Taronga tin project in Australia is now complete and that the results from the programme have confirmed an approximately 400m extension to the southwest. This will be incorporated into a revised MRE, with results expected within Q3 2023. The DFS continues at pace and the range of workstreams underway are progressing positively. We expect to undertake optimisation work at our Taronga asset, following the completion of the DFS, to confirm the final outline of the orebody. We look forward to next updating our shareholders as we continue to advance our world-class Taronga project further.a Enquiries: First Tin Via SEC Newgate below Thomas Buenger Chief Executive Officer Arlington Group Asset Management Limited (Financial Advisor and Joint Broker) Simon Catt +4420 7389 5016 WH Ireland Limited (Joint Broker) Harry Ansell +4420 7220 1670 SEC Newgate (Financial Communications) Elisabeth Cowell / Molly Gretton Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger FirstTin@secnewgate.co.uk info@resource-capital.ch Notes to Editors First Tin is an ethical, reliable, and sustainable tin production company led by a team of renowned tin specialists. The Company is focused on becoming a tin supplier in conflict-free, low political risk jurisdictions through the rapid development of high value, low capex tin assets in Germany and Australia. Tin is a critical metal, vital in any plan to decarbonise and electrify the world, yet Europe has very little supply. Rising demand, together with shortages, is expected to lead tin to experience sustained deficit markets for the foreseeable future. Its assets have been de-risked significantly, with extensive work undertaken to date. First Tin\-s goal is to use best-in-class environmental standards to bring two tin mines into production in three years, providing provenance of supply to support the current global clean energy and technological revolutions. APPENDIX 1 JORC Code, 2012 Edition a Table 1 Taronga Tin Project (TMPL)Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data (Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.) Skeena Reminds Shareholders of Upcoming AGM Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE, NYSE: SKE) (aSkeenaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/skeena-resources-ltd/ )) would like to remind its shareholders of the Companya?s Annual General & Special Meeting (the aMeetinga). The Meeting will be held at 10:00 AM PT on JuneA 22, 2023 in Skeenaa?s office at Suite 650, 1021 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC. The Company would also like to remind its shareholders of record to vote their proxies for the Meeting. A Proxies should be voted well in advance of the proxy-voting deadline, which is 10:00 AM PT on June 20, 2023. Methods of voting and the record date for determining the list of shareholders who may vote in respect of the Meeting are described in Skeenaa?s Management Information Circular, which is available on the Companya?s aIssuer Profilea page on www.sedar.com. The Board is unanimous in recommending that shareholders vote in favour of all resolutions put to them in the form of Proxy. Shareholders who have questions may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group at 1-877-452-7184 (North America Toll Free), 1-416-304-0211 (Calls Outside North America) or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com. Clarification of Disclosure in MD&A Skeena would like to correct a minor disclosure error in the Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31st, 2022 (the aMD&Aa). The Related Party Transactions section of the MD&A disclosed that a payment of C$1,000 was made to Smythe LLP, a professional services firm in which the Companya?s director, Suki Gill, is a partner. This payment was for a very limited tax related engagement with another partner in the firm. The Company does not feel that this transaction, in any way, compromised the independence of Ms. Gill. However, to guarantee the preservation of the independence of Ms. Gill, the invoice related to these services has been retracted by Smythe LLP and the payment has been refunded to the Company by Smythe LLP. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walter ColesA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Randy Reichert Executive ChairmanA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A President & CEO Contact Information Investor Inquiries: info@skeenaresources.com Office Phone: +1 604 684 8725 Company Website: www.skeenaresources.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Qualified Persons In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration & Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated, and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aproposesa, acontemplatesa, ageneratesa, atargetsa, ais projecteda, ais planneda, aconsidersa, aestimatesa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, apotentiala and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, amighta, awilla, acoulda, or awoulda be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Companya?s Annual Information Form (aAIFa) dated March 22, 2023. Such forward-looking statements represent the Companya?s management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 22, 2023, the Companya?s short form base shelf prospectus dated January 31, 2023, and in the Companya?s other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and the Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. The population of sub-Saharan Africa is projected to double by 2050 according to the United Nations. That poses urgent challenges in terms of food security. In early May, the U.S. State Department's Office of the Special Envoy for Global Food Security organized a panel discussion during the AIM for Climate Summit, to discuss the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils, otherwise known as VACS. The initiative, launched in collaboration by the U.S. government, the African Union and the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization seeks to adapt agricultural systems starting with Africa to the anticipated challenges of climate change. VACS focuses on the development of climate-resilient seeds and improvement of soil health to boost agricultural production. Today, agriculture faces an historically unprecedented combination of challenges, said U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler. Building food security really depends on our addressing all of these challenges. The panelists were some of the foremost experts in numerous fields affecting agricultural production, including Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Chair of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research or CGIAR [See-Jee-I-Eh-Ahr] System Board; Commissioner Josefa Sacko from the African Union Commission for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment; Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig from the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project, or AgMIP and the Columbia Climate School; Lisa Safarian, President and Chief Operating Officer with the agricultural technology company Pivot Bio; and Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of Research and Development in Crop Science at Bayer. Food security depends on addressing the fundamental aspects of having fertile soils and crops adapted to climate change, noted Dr. Fowler. Yet what we find all around the world, and certainly in Africa, are depleted soils Our crops are not sufficiently prepared for climate change. Our institutions are not sufficiently prepared. We forged a partnership with the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization, but also with many others to try to address this particular issue, said Dr. Fowler. Pivot Bio is pursuing a fascinating approach to providing climate-neutral nitrogen directly to where it's needed, to the roots of our crops. Bayer has a very serious analysis of what ails us and is engaged in a wide range of scientific and philanthropic activities. Cynthia [Rosenzweig] is working with us from NASA and from Columbia Climate School on new climate modeling so we can better understand how the important, nutritious crops for Africa will fare in the current and future climates of Africa. At the most fundamental level, those challenges in food security really depend on our having fertile soils and depends on having adaptive crops, adapted to climate change. Since coming to power in 1979, the Iranian regime has been implicated in assassinations, terrorist plots, and terrorist attacks in more than 40 countries. Iran has engaged in these plots primarily through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, and its external operations branch the Qods Force. In 2019, the State Department designated the IRGC as a whole as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO. The U.S. Treasury Department had designated the IRGC Qods Force, the IRCG-QF, as an FTO in 2007. The United States remains committed to exposing and disrupting plots by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to carry out violence abroad, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement. On June 1, Secretary Blinken announced the United States is designating five members or affiliates of the IRGC and the IRGC-QF, who have participated in a series of external plots or have been involved in targeting former United States government officials, foreign nationals and Iranian dissidents abroad. Also designated was an airline company owned by one of the designated individuals. Among those sanctioned are Shahram Poursafi and Mohammad Reza Ansari. In a statement, the Treasury Department said Poursafi is an Iranian national who, along with longtime Qods Force operative Ansari, planned and attempted to assassinate two former U.S. government officials. In August 2022, Poursafi was indicted by the Justice Department for providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot. Ansari was also designated because of his involvement in conducting intelligence and lethal operations against Iranian dissidents and other non-Iranian nationals in the United States, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Hossein Hafez Amini, a dual Iranian and Turkish national based in Turkiye, was sanctioned because he uses his connections in the aviation industry and his Turkiye-based company, Rey Airlines, to assist the Qods Forces covert operations, including kidnapping and assassination plots targeting Iranian regime dissidents in Turkiye. Two other individuals sanctioned are former IRGC-IO Counterespionage Chief Rouhallah Bazghandi, and IRGCs Foreign Intelligence Chief Reza Seraj. Secretary Blinken said, Todays actions demonstrate that the United States will continue to expose and disrupt the regimes terrorist activities and its efforts to silence opposing voices. R ishi Sunak today called on the capitals tech bosses to put their faith in him as he laid out a fresh vision to make London one of the worlds leading hubs for artificial intelligence. Speaking at London Tech Week, the Prime Minister said: I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home but the geographical home of global AI. We are not in the business of resting on our laurels and we get that all of this is moving fast. It means government has to move at that same pace. The very pioneers of AI are warning us about the ways these technologies can undermine our values and freedoms through to the most extreme risks. And thats why leading on AI also means leading on AI safety. Do you trust the people in charge to really get what youre trying to do? With this government, and with me as prime minister, you can. The Prime Ministers speech marks the latest sign of his efforts to showcase the UKs credentials as an international tech hub. It follows a visit to the US by Sunak last week, in which he announced the first global summit on artificial intelligence, in a bid to spearhead a cross-border approach to safety measures and risk monitoring of AI development. Since the start of the year, the UK government has laid out a raft proposals for tech regulation, including in cryptocurrencies, digital assets and AI technologies. Russ Shaw, founding partner of London Tech Week, said of Sunaks speech: Im really pleased with his focus on AI and his ambition to make the UK the best country in the world for tech. I couldnt have asked for more. In an early vote of confidence in the Prime Ministers efforts, one of the worlds biggest venture capital firms today said it will open its first crypto hub outside the US in London. Andreessen Horowitz, controlled by billionaire Marc Andreessen, said it planned to make a number of investments in UK-based crypto companies, and unveiled its latest investment, into machine learning business Gensyn. Andreesen Horowitz said its next annual crypto startup school would be hosted in London in 2024. Managing partner Chris Dixson said: We have been working with policymakers and regulators across the globe, and during our discussions it has become clear that the UK government sees the promise of web3, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggesting the UK can become a hub of web3 innovation. While there is still work to be done, we believe that the UK is on the right path to becoming a leader in crypto regulation. The UK also has deep pools of talent, world-leading academic institutions, and a strong entrepreneurial culture. Others in the industry have sounded a less optimistic note about the UKs tech environment. Paul Taylor, founder of software fintech Thought Machine, said tech firms were fed up of delays and a lack of support by the UKs financial watchdog, while tech giant Microsoft said it experienced probably the darkest day in our four decades in Britain after its merger with Activision was blocked by the competition regulator, an outlier among other major regulators internationally which gave the deal the green light. I TS quite the statistic: the arrest rate of former SNP First Ministers of Scotland is now 100 per cent. At 2.29 yesterday afternoon, Police Scotland tweeted that a 52-year-old woman had been arrested as a suspect in an ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. That woman was Nicola Sturgeon. Four years ago, Sturgeons predecessor and former mentor Alex Salmond was arrested and charged with a number of sex offences. He was later cleared in court. Yesterday, it was Sturgeons turn to see the inside of a police interview room. In truth, the arrest of a woman considered, until recently, one of the pre-eminent politicians of her generation was hardly unexpected. Within weeks of her resignation announcement in February, Sturgeons home was raided by police and her husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, taken into custody. A couple of weeks later, the partys past treasurer, Colin Beattie MSP, was also arrested. Since Sturgeon was alongside those two men a signatory to the SNPs books, the chance that police wouldnt eventually wish to discuss matters with her seemed vanishingly unlikely. Sturgeon did not suffer the indignity of being arrested at home Rather, she attended a police interview by appointment. After seven hours of questioning, she was released without charge, pending further investigation. She later issued a statement in which she declared I know beyond doubt that I am, in fact, innocent. Regardless, Sturgeons humiliation is overwhelming. Here is a woman who rose to power on the back of a message that her party was fundamentally different to others. Where the old Unionist parties were riddled with sleaze, the SNP offered a more honest politics. Under normal circumstances, the SNP would - after the departure of Boris Johnson from the commons - be doubling down on that message, right now. Instead, the party finds itself exposed within the walls of a glass house of its own construction. Sturgeons successor as SNP leader and First Minister, Humza Yousaf, was during the recent leadership campaign delighted to be seen as the continuity candidate. Now his closeness to Sturgeon looks more hindrance than help. Interviewed by the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday mornings, Yousaf said Sturgeon was in a good place and doing well, for sure. That positive assessment was to age very badly, very quickly. For a very long time, it appeared the SNP was unassailably strong. Now, with the departure of its favourite bogeyman, Johnson, from politics and the deepening crisis sparked by a police investigation, that may be changing. Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar may, today, be quietly confident that their party could, at the next General Election, reclaim much territory lost to the SNP. Loading.... On this weeks episode of The Evening Standard Theatre Podcast were joined by the original star of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The History boys, Jamie Parker. Jamie joins us from Southwark Playhouse Elephant which hosts his new show The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He reveals the secret as to how they reverse Benjamin Buttons age for the audience live on stage. This weeks reviews are Patriots at the Noel Coward Theatre - starring Tom Hollander and Will Keen - plus A Midsummer Nights Dream at Shakespeares Globe. Plus, we discuss the news of British theatre director Tim Sheader taking over as artistic director at the Donmar Warehouse. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. T he BBC has released first-look images for its highly anticipated true life drama The Sixth Commandment. The four-part crime series, which features a host of big names, including veteran actors Timothy Spall, Sheila Hancock and Normal People's Eanna Hardwicke, focuses on student Ben Field's chilling murder of the university lecturer and novelist Peter Farquhar and the conspiracy to kill retired head-teacher Ann Moore-Martin in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire in 2015. In the new images, we see Spall as Farquhar, Anne Reid as Moore-Martin, and Eanna Hardwicke as Field. Annabel Scholey also features as Anns niece, Ann-Marie Blake, whicle Hancock stars as Liz Zettl - the oldest-ever witness in a murder trial. What is the show about? Anne Reid as the tragic Ann Moore-Martin / BBC The show dramatises how Field killed 69-year-old Farquhar and went onto manipulate his neighbour Moore-Martin, who was 83 at the time. Both were deeply religious and were seduced by churchwarden Field, who attempted to persuade them to include him in their wills. He would eventually drug and murder Farquhar. The show also focusses on the police investigation into the 28-year-old Field's crimes and the subsequent high-profile trial. Liz Zettl, played by Hancock, was whom Farquhar lodged with; in the show, she is portrayed as Fields' next target. At age 101, she is thought to be the oldest-ever witness in a murder trial when she appeared at Oxford crown court in to testify against Field. Penned by Sarah Phelps, writer of A Very British Scandal, The Sixth Commandment also celebrates the lives of Farquhar and Moore-Martin as mentors, beloved relatives and friends. What became of Ben Field? Normal Peoples Eanna Hardwicke stars as murderer Ben Field / BBC In 2015, Field, who admitted drugging Farquhar with benzodiazepines and hallucinogenic legal highs to "torment" him, was jailed for murdering the author to inherit his estate and ordered to pay more than 123,000 to his victim's family. During court proceedings it was revealed that Field suffocated Farquhar and left a half-empty bottle of whisky in his room to give the impression that he had drunk himself to death. He had also undergone a "betrothal" ceremony with Mr Farquhar and was in a sexual relationship with Miss Moore-Martin. Field, a Baptists minister's son, was found not guilty in 2019 of plotting to kill Moore-Martin who died of natural causes in May 2017. He was ordered to pay 123,111.26 to Mr Farquhar's family and 23,449.76 to Moore-Martin's, and was jailed for a minimum of 36 years for Farquhars murder in 2019. Field (Hardwicke) targets Moore-Martin (Reid) in the upcomimg BBC drama / BBC "Field ruthlessly exploited two beloved members of a small Buckinghamshire village so they would hand their life savings over to him,' said Kathryn Curtis of the Crown Prosecution Service, during the proceedings held in 2020. "This was a highly unusual case and today's hearing means Field can no longer profit from his cruel actions, as he has been ordered to return the swindled money to the families of Mr Farquhar and Ms Moore-Martin. "Working to take this money from Field is the last chapter in seeing him finally face justice." Starring in the series was "extremely disturbing" for the BBC cast Anne Reid said playing the trusting pensioner Moore-Martin who for Fields deception was one of her toughest roles. Reid, who starred in Last Tango in Halifax and as Valerie Barlow in Coronation Street until 1973, admitted: I found the story of the Sixth Commandment extremely disturbing. "I feel a great sense of responsibility in portraying this good, kind, trusting woman, Ann, who was so cruelly deceived, she explained. Meanwhile, Spall said he knew despite the chilling details, that this was a drama that needed to be made in tribute to the victims. "I knew this was an essential story to tell, he said. I am honoured to be playing the remarkable Peter Farquhar and hope I do him justice, which is the very least he deserves. Why did justice for Farquhar and Moore-Martin take so long? The late Moore Martin (L) died of a stroke in 2017 / PA When wealthy novelist Farquhar died on October 26, 2015, friends and family said they believed it was of natural causes after a short illness. However, when Moore-Martin, who lived three doors down from Farquhar, died in May 2017 of a stroke, her niece rang Thames Valley Police alleging that she was being manipulated by Ben Field into changing her will. Around the time of Farquhars death, Moore-Martin began to see messages from God written on mirrors in her home encouraging her to change her will to include her 26-year-old boyfriend, Ben Field. The reality was that the messages were written by Field to manipulate her to change the will - shortly afterwards, police started to investigate both deaths, leading to three arrests (including of Fields brother, Ian) as part of a murder investigation. They discovered that in November 2014, Farquhar had changed his will, leaving half of his home and 15,000 to Field, and appointing him as his literary agent. Police believe that he was madly in love with Field after reading Farquhars journals, which revealed that the Cambridge-educated Farquhar was thrilled that attractive church warden, Field more than four decades his junior was his lover. It took four years, 880 statements and an exhumation for detectives to discover the extent of Fields dastardly deeds. James Hancock, 60, who lived opposite Mrs Moore-Martin for 23 years, said after Fields trial: This place is comparable to a sleepy village and its like Midsomer Murders you dont expect it on your doorstep. The Sixth Commandment has been made in full cooperation with Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martins families and is coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer. I n just five short years, Brat has made more of an impact on the British culinary scene than most. Popularising turbot and making the entire country swoon for Basque cheesecake, the Redchurch Street restaurant Tomos Parry created with the team behind Kiln and Smoking Goat still somehow feels exciting and dynamic. Nevertheless, the gang is ready for a new challenge, this time in Soho. Arriving on Beak Street in July, Mountain will be over two-floors. Downstairs visitors can sip vermouth, listen to records and watch the wood-fire bakers and pastry chefs at work. Upstairs they can dine on Parry and head chef Josean Balotins fare, influenced by the unique cooking traditions of mountainous regions close to the sea, such as northern Spain, the Balearics and Anglesey, Parrys birthplace off the north coast of Wales. Taking inspiration from taverna and vineyard cooking, therell be big sharing dishes and braises that might take a day to make, like lovely stews, says Parry. Hes also excited to serve marketplace dishes made with raw fish and clams, the open-fire cooking the team honed at Brat and, for the first time, food cooked on a plancha, which adds a layer of caramelisation. Its exciting because well have a different flavour profile to the Brat dishes, he says. Drawing from small UK suppliers, many based in Pembrokeshire, stars of the show include ragu-like slow-braised tripe, a delicate spider crab omelette, lobster caldereta (a tomato-based stew), torrija (a nutty Catalan French toast) and a caramelised wood-fired souffle. Plus, the sobrasada is a must. The chorizo-style sausage made exclusively for the restaurant in Mallorca, where its creator Lewis grows his own chillies and makes his own paprika it might just be the best Spanish export since Enrique Iglesias. Opening summer 2023 P roof that there are still moments of kismet to be found in Londons stretched property market. When Supriya Leles studio landlord offered her a good deal on an empty pharmacy next door, she jumped at the opportunity. Fans of Leles work her day job is as one of the capitals most exciting young designers need not fear; she is not pivoting into prescriptions yet. Rather, Lele and her friend and business partner Donald Ryan decided this would be the perfect venue to set up home for a burgeoning creative project. It was much more than we initially thought about taking on. However, the opportunity was too good to pass up! says Lele. Now we have a project space. Some would even call it a gallery. The result is Qrystal Partners. A short walk from Elephant & Castle tube, on a busy but outwardly unnoteworthy street, it seems to exist in a different world to the glinting galleries of Mayfair. There has been a lot of talk about how the notion of a gallery context has more or less died. That the only context that matters now is being in relation to wealth or other expensive art. I really dislike this. It really depressed me at the end of my time in big galleries, says Ryan, who has a decade of experience working at blue chip venues in London, New York and LA. However, I do agree that the old notion of a gallery context has become irrelevant. The kind of context where a gallery only shows one kind of art like conceptual art, German painting or American minimalism. Figure in Garden / Jai Chuhan The goal then, for the duo who met at a dinner party at the writer Tish Weinstock and the stylist Tom Guinnesss house two years ago was to do something different. I wanted to create a space that looked back at the kind of experimentation that was done in artist run spaces, he explains. Places that existed in the 1960s like David Medallas Signals or Keith Coventrys City Racing in 90s South London. Places where people came together, not to make money, but to participate in something cool. As fans of Leles design work know, part of the beauty of what she does is that it defies categorisation. Its sexy, yes, but in a cerebral, never brassy way; tough and soft at once. This liminality continues through to Qrystal Partners. Lele didnt want to give it ultimately meaningless raison detre like to bridge the worlds of art and fashion. Instead we wanted to make a space that provided artists with a new kind of context. Were not sure exactly how to describe that yet. Our hope is that it will grow organically and reveal itself as we produce more and more projects. Shadows / Jai Chuhan The first project is an exhibition of work by the Indian-born, UK-based painter Jai Chuhan, whose work Ryan discovered on a work trip to Manchester. A quietly impactful show, Chuhans expressive, intimate works deserve a second look and their own show. Me and Jai share a lot in common as artist as well as our heritage, says Lele.Its a strong start for the duo. So whats next? Ryan is adamant that Qrystal Partners will be a professional and rigorous endeavour, with a hint to expect some more historical shows as well. Our aspiration is to produce a program that is as engaging as possible. We want to be a place that provides artists with an opportunity to have meaningful collaborations. We really hope that we can avoid the monotony of the corporate art world. Reclining Figure / Jai Chuhan Yes, we hope that the kind of interdisciplinary foundation of Qrystal will keep it from becoming like everything else, adds Lele. Judging by their debut, theres no need to worry about that. Jai Chuhan, Small Paintings at Qrystal Partners (7 Newington Causeway, SE1 6ED) until 15 June A free community launderette has opened on a large housing estate in north London to help combat its mould and damp. The new facility has been installed on the Andover Estate in Holloway, one of the largest estates in Islington, where some residents have problems with damp and mould. In addition to undertaking works to improve the buildings ventilation, Islington Council said the launderette will allow residents to wash and dry clothes outside their homes. According to the local authority, the initiative will help reduce tenants bills as well as the condensation and moisture that can build up in homes and lead to mould growth and other problems. According to Cllr Una OHalloran, Islington s executive member for homes and communities, the launderette is being well-used. She said: "This new launderette for residents of the Andover Estate provides a much-needed service for people who may not have outside space to hang washing out or access to a tumble dryer, or who are struggling with the cost of living crisis. All our stock was built differently and unfortunately some flats do have damp and mould. Were doing capital works on the Andover too, but this washing space is a real positive. Cllr OHalloran also said overcrowding was a big issue on the estate, meaning there was a lack of space for families to dry their clothes. The launderette is helping and also is a social thing, a way for people to meet up, she said. The initiative comes six months after a housing watchdog opened an investigation into Islington Council following repeated failings on damp and mould. The local authority has since apologised and laid out a five point action plan for how it intends to tackle the issue across its housing stock. It is investing another 1million every year for a new damp and mould action team to improve ventilation and insulation in homes. Other measures include training non-specialist staff who might visit homes, such as workers who carry out gas compliance checks, to spot damp and mould, as well as staffing a dedicated line for calls from concerned tenants. Damp and mould in rented properties has recently received national attention, after a coroner ruled that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died of a respiratory condition caused by mould in a Rochdale flat. The launderette is a pilot scheme, that will be reviewed and may later be rolled out to other estates. Its past 9pm on Saturday night in Westminster, and Matt Hancock is shouting we didnt break the f**king law, OK! Well, an actor playing Hancock is shouting, as he reads out real messages from the former health secretary when his Covid guidelines-breaking affair with aide Gina Coladangelo was discovered in 2021. Its part of a new live show put on by Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist Hancock fell out with when she leaked his pandemic WhatsApps to a newspaper earlier this year. For most of the show, Oakeshott is interviewed on stage by fellow lockdown sceptic Toby Young at the UnHerd Club near Parliament, in front of around 100 people. She and Young decided to do a live event after he was one of the few people in the media to defend her decision to reveal the messages. Young then suggested getting actors to read out Hancocks WhatsApps, to add some fun to proceedings. Hancock himself hasnt been that keen on the idea. Oakeshott tells Young how she came to write a pandemic book with Hancock, and stands by her actions, saying they were in the public interest. She says she wouldnt be able to do that now, as most MPs have switched on auto-delete on their WhatsApp conversations. Maybe thats just for me, she jokes. Live performance of Isabel Oakeshotts new Matt Hancock covid Whatsapp show / Lucy Young In between the chat, the actors do their thing, dressed in ill-fitting suits. Highlights include chats with then PM Boris Johnson about exceptions for grouse shooting, and a cringe-inducing monologue where Hancock justifies wearing a wetsuit for a photoshoot in Cornwall. The group will perform again tomorrow, at the Leicester Square Hippodrome, usually the home of strip show Magic Mike. Hopefully, no one books their hen do on the wrong night. If they get the backing, theyd like to do a verbatim play. Adrian McGlynn, who plays Hancock, is an amateur actor and retired director of a horse-racing company. He was in the same year at Eton with David Cameron, while his partner is former BBC radio star Sarah Kennedy. McGlynn is an anti-lockdown advocate, and says he isnt doing an impression of Hancock. I dont look anything like him, he says, but does try a few verbal tics (Lots of ers and umms), and some mannerisms. He looks around a lot, as if hes looking for praise or applause... nose up in the air a little bit, McGlynn says. I have nothing but contempt for our former health secretary, so I do it with much glee and no fear, he says with relish. Ive been shaking my head in disbelief at his arrogance and total immunity from self-awareness. Meanwhile, actor Adam Drew gives a very funny on-the-money impression of Johnson. Drew isnt here for political reasons, saying just that the chance to play the ex-PM was irresistible. I have nothing but contempt for our former health secretary so I do it with much glee and no fear Its been hard to get the show together. First, original venue the Emmanuel Centre pulled out when Hancocks people complained, warning about profiting from stolen material. Then the cast dropped out. Actor turned Right-wing loose cannon Laurence Fox was going to play Hancock but changed his mind over a feud with Young, while another actor chose not to play Johnson, reportedly over fears about reputational damage. With only a few days to go, Iona Stewart-Richardson, who trained at the Philippe Gaulier clown school in Paris, was dropped from the Hancock part. While the show has funny moments, Oakeshott doesnt see it as a joke. The main part of the Covid inquiry also starts tomorrow and, surprisingly, Oakeshott hasnt been asked to share the WhatsApps. She adds: People died none of it is a laughing matter. All the same, we want the evening to be entertaining as well as revelatory. Some of the WhatsApp exchanges are funny, not always intentionally. Theres no harm in injecting humour into a very serious subject. Matt Hancock and his girlfriend Gina Coladangelo / Roland Hoskins Although they dont talk any more, she has some kind words for Hancock, despite his (eventually empty) threats of legal action when the texts were released. I enjoyed working with him, and I think hes an extremely intelligent and able person, she says. I do think the policy response he led was flawed. But he knows that. As to what Hancock makes of the play, a friend says: Instead of people desperately trying to profit from stolen materials with a tawdry show, its for the inquiry to look at everything objectively. Hancock hoped his time in Im a Celebrity would redeem him but the WhatsApps remind us of his slip-ups (including, as he calls it, Falling In Love). One gets the sense that the audience would like more explicit anti-lockdown material, and there is excitement when the hosts hint at more controversial subjects: questioning the need for vaccinating younger people, hitting out at civil service overreach. During a Q&A in the second half, the audience ask several questions, showing their frustration with politicians, before were treated to few more Hancock WhatsApps. And at the end, the crowd gives Oakeshott a cheer and heads for dinner. UnHerd? This group is certainly having its say. The Lockdown Files LIVE: Isabel Oakeshott & Toby Young in Conversation is at the London Hippodrome tomorrow at 7pm. Tickets are 25. eventbrite.co.uk The Tony Awards are synonymous with grace, glamour and, of course, a touch of theatrics. Named after its founder, the actress Antoinette Perry, the annual event celebrates the best of Broadway. It is to theatre what the Oscars are to film, the Grammys are to music and Emmys are to television. In fact recipients of the big four are granted the highly prestigious EGOT status, one that so far only 18 people have achieved, including Barbra Streisand, Viola Davis and John Legend. Jessica Chastain attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards / Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro To celebrate its 76th ceremony, which took place at the United Palace in New York City last night, the A list attendees leaned into the ultra-black tie dress code with dramatic flare. Jessica Chastain, who was nominated for the best performance by an actress in a leading role for A Dolls House, wowed in a striking canary yellow custom Gucci dress with a pleated skirt and a matching cape. To top off the show-stopping look, she accessorised with a Gucci pendant necklace featuring 35.9 carats of emeralds and diamonds. Lupita Nyong'o attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards / Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro While Lupita Nyongo took inspiration from high fashions obsession with breast-plates (think: Rihannas red Super Bowl Loewe ensemble or Zendayas pink Tom Ford moulded bodice) by tapping Pakistani artist and fashion designer Misha Japanwala for a fabulous, surrealist creation. Honored, humbled, strengthened and energized to don this breastplate created by @mishajapanwala, which she cast and molded of my body, the actress wrote in an Instagram caption. In her artistic process, she creates a realistic and true record of a persons body as an act of resistance and celebration, and an insistence on being allowed to exist freely in our bodies. She paired the armoured bodice with a black suit, De Beers diamonds and an intricate henna head tattoo by Sonya Belakhlef. Jodie Comer attends The 76th Annual Tony Awards / Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro There were also many sleek, understated looks, especially from Stephanie Hsu who chose a black off-shoulder gown with puffy sleeves and a voluminous skirt that was cinched at the waist. As well as Jodie Comer who turned heads in a gorgeous black encrusted Thom Browne gown that shimmered under the flashing cameras of the photographers. Lea Michele wears British designer Emilia Wickstead / AFP via Getty Images Prints also had a moment, with The Sign In Sidney Brusteins Window lead Rachel Brosnahan donning a polka-dot dress with butterflies cascading around the bust. Taken from Dua Lipas newly launched co-designed collection with Versace, the actress, whose aunt was the late designer Kate Spade, completed the ensemble with a high bun and diamond earrings. While Funny Girl star Lea Michele sported a floral Emilia Wickstead number that featured a square necklace and a faintly cinched bodice. As did Julianne Hough, who kept it seasonal in a gorgeous summery Carolina Herrera floral dress. For more of the best looks at the 2023 Tony Awards ceremony scroll the gallery at the top of the page. A man has been charged with the murder of Chloe Mitchell, 21, who went missing in Northern Ireland earlier this month. A huge search operation was launched after Ms Mitchell vanished in the early hours of Saturday June 3 from Ballymena town centre in Co Antrim. Brandon John Rainey, 26, of James Street in Ballymena, appeared in court in Co Antrim charged with murder. He was remanded in custody until July 6. A second man, 34, is due to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court charged with assisting an offender. Ms Mitchell was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of Saturday June 3 in Ballymena town centre. Detectives investigating Ms Mitchells disappearance launched a murder inquiry on Sunday after suspected human remains were found in the town. Community Rescue Service volunteers in thick undergrowth near the River Braid in Ballymena (Liam McBurney/PA) / PA Wire DCI 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. City Energy, Singapore's sole provider and retailer of piped town gas for 160 years, and Senoko Energy, one of Singapore's largest and most established energy companies, have joined forces in a momentous partnership to drive sustainable and eco-friendly energy initiatives. The two companies have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly study the technical and commercial feasibility of import and supply of hydrogen between City Energy and Senoko Energy's facilities in Singapore. City Energy and Senoko Energy will also explore other hydrogen-related opportunities, including green hydrogen, to meet the future demand for hydrogen power in Singapore. Mr. Perry Ong, Chief Executive Officer of City Energy ( , ), said: "We are excited to partner with Senoko Energy to study ways to develop an efficient and reliable hydrogen supply chain into Senoko. This MoU represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide clean and sustainable energy to households and businesses for generations to come and supports Singapore's National Hydrogen Strategy announced in October 2022 as a key decarbonisation pathway undergirding Singapore's international climate commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050." Mr. Eric Maka, President & CEO of Senoko Energy ( , ), said: "At Senoko Energy, promoting clean energy and energy efficiency is an ongoing endeavor. We are always looking at how we can play our part in supporting the transition to low carbon alternatives along with the production of cleaner and greener energy, all in tandem with Singapore's Green Plan. "We look forward to working with City Energy as the onboarding of hydrogen related technologies is very important for Singapore, which has a limited local supply of clean energy. Through our collective efforts and through the harnessing of both companies' strengths and expertise, we hope to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen power and to help create a more sustainable future for all." Mr. Ralph Foong, Deputy Chief Executive (Energy Planning and Development), of the Energy Market Authority ( , , , ), said: "Collaboration between stakeholders to explore new solutions that can reduce carbon emissions in our power system is crucial in Singapore's journey to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security. We are encouraged to see City Energy and Senoko Energy making this proactive effort to jointly explore opportunities with hydrogen. We look forward to the success of this initiative and to see how hydrogen can be optimised to accelerate Singapore's energy transition." This MoU follows City Energy's latest MoU on hydrogen feasibility studies with Gentari, the renewable energy arm of PETRONAS Malaysia; where both companies announced on 18 April 2023 to jointly conduct feasibility studies of a hydrogen supply chain from Malaysia to Singapore. This strategic initiative underscores City Energy's dedication to fostering sustainable energy solutions and furthering the realization of a greener and more sustainable future. In 2020, Senoko Energy significantly stepped up its sustainability efforts with the launch of SolarShare, a pilot project that introduced environmentally friendly peer-to-peer (P2P) trading of renewable energy. SolarShare was driven by two key factors - Senoko Energy's commitment to meet Singapore's eco-friendly renewable energy demand and to empower Singaporeans with greater choices in their electricity consumption. In 2021, Senoko Energy was awarded the National Environment Agency's Energy Efficiency National Partnership Award for its gas turbine upgrade in two of its combined cycle plants. Through the successful upgrade of its gas turbines using advanced technologies, Senoko Energy improved the thermal efficiency of its combined cycle plants, resulting in about 15,000 tonnes of reduction in carbon emissions annually. This is equivalent to taking more than 4,500 cars off the road a year. About City Energy After more than 160 years of being Singapore's sole provider of piped town gas, City Gas has transformed into City Energy to provide innovative green energy solutions that meet the needs of a growing city and changing planet, now and into the future. City Energy continues producing and distributing piped town gas safely and reliably to more than 880,000 residents, commercial and industrial customers islandwide, while offering low-carbon home solutions and electric vehicle charging services through its sub-brands, Life by City Energy and Go by City Energy respectively. Life by City Energy provides low-carbon solutions that are a part of everyday living. From gas water heaters to gas clothes dryers and gas hobs - our solutions are long-lasting, smart and environmentally friendly. These are available at the Life by City Energy retail store at Plaza Singapura. Go by City Energy is an electric vehicle charging service that powers earth-friendly rides, in line with Singapore's vision to have all vehicles running on cleaner energy sources by 2040. As its tagline "Good Energy for our City" promises, City Energy is also exploring green hydrogen as part of town gas production to lower carbon emissions. City Energy Pte. Ltd. (as Trustee of City Energy Trust) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Infrastructure Trust. About Senoko Energy Senoko Energy Pte Ltd provides energy for life to generations of Singaporeans, delivering safe, innovative, and efficient energy supply to customers since 1977. Integral to Singapore's development, it is a pioneer in power generation and energy solutions, serving Singapore's energy needs with proven reliable performance. As one of the largest power generation companies by installed capacity in Singapore, Senoko Energy has a licensed capacity of 3,300 megawatts (MW), providing about one-fifth of the nation's electricity needs. It is owned by a consortium comprising Marubeni Corporation, ENGIE, The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc., Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc. and Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Visit www.senokoenergy.com for more information. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media Contact: For City Energy, contact: Diana Neo diananeo@cityenergy.com.sg Assistant Vice President and Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications, City Energy T: 6578 7886 U kraines biggest bank has accused two former owners of fraud on an epic scale covered up by money laundering on a vast scale at a High Court trial in London. JSC Commercial Bank Privatbank says former owners Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov misappropriated more than 1.5 billion (nearly two billion US dollars). A judge began overseeing a trial due to last several months on Monday. Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov are fighting the case. The trial was due to start a year ago but lawyers representing Mr Kolomoisky and Mr Bogolyubov persuaded Mr Justice Trower that it should be delayed because of the war in Ukraine. This case concerns fraud on an epic scale Andrew Hunter KC, who is representing Privatbank, told Mr Justice Trower on Monday that the fraud contributed to the failure of the bank in 2016. This case concerns fraud on an epic scale, covered up by money laundering on a vast scale perpetrated against the bank in 2013-14 by its former owners, Igor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov, he said in a written case outline. The fraud contributed to the failure of the bank in 2016 and its nationalisation in December of that year, following which an investigation led the bank now under new ownership and management to discover what had happened. That fraud referred to in these proceedings as the misappropriation concerned the extraction of more than 1.9 billion US dollars from the bank, using a complex network of vehicles. He said the bank was the largest in Ukraine. Mr Hunter added: There is a wealth of evidence to establish the misappropriation, and the defendants involvement in it. Neither Mr Kolomoisky nor Mr Bogolyubov were at the hearing on Monday. Mr Hunter told the judge that the two elephants in the case were not in the room. He suggested that, had the two men answered questions at the hearing, they would have been exposed as fraudsters, money launderers and liars. Mr Hunter said Mr Kolomoisky is 60. He said Mr Bogolyubov is 61 and has lived in London for almost a decade. Mr Hunter said the bank had been the jewel in the businessmens crown. He said the banks case is that it had suffered a loss of around 1.9 billion US dollars. (Mr Kolomoisky) eschews conventional means of communication and record-keeping, Mr Hunter told the judge, in a written case outline. He states that he does not use email (believing it to be unsafe and unreliable); restricts the volume of documents he creates, promptly disposing of any hard copy documents; and uses a secure telephone network to communicate with his inner circle known as the Black, in respect of which he claims to have no record. Mr Hunter added: Like (Mr Kolomoisky) Mr Bogolyubov relied on his trusted agents to administer his affairs, keep records and/or hold his assets for him, usually on the basis of oral agreements. The bank presumably hopes that an English court will be more disposed to construe and apply Ukrainian law generously in its favour, filling in any perceived gaps by recourse to analogies with English law principles Barristers representing Mr Bogolyubov told the judge that the banks claims are misconceived. The banks case is that Mr Bogolyubov misappropriated money from the bank through a scheme or misappropriation comprising the relevant loans, relevant drawdowns and unreturned prepayments, they said in a written case outline. However, the bank fails to recognise the significance of the total absence of any direct evidence against Mr Bogolyubov implicating him in any involvement with the scheme. They added: The absence of any material of this sort is the evidence that Mr Bogolyubov was not involved. Barristers representing Mr Bogolyubov went on, in their written case outline: The banks case is no more than an assumption that Mr Bogolyubov must have been involved when his conduct is viewed through English eyes and the prism of English commercial principles and practices. This is not a legitimate way in which to judge this Ukrainian case. Lawyers representing Mr Kolomoisky said the dispute is Ukrainian and told the judge that Mr Kolomoisky denies any unlawful conduct. Had the bank sued Mr Kolomoisky in Ukraine, the claim would undoubtedly have failed, said barristers representing Mr Kolomoisky in a written case outline. Among other fatal problems, a Ukrainian court would find that the bank had failed to identify specific acts, omissions, or decisions on the part of Mr Kolomoisky that were unlawful as a matter of Ukrainian civil law, or which directly caused the bank loss. The bank presumably hopes that an English court will be more disposed to construe and apply Ukrainian law generously in its favour, filling in any perceived gaps by recourse to analogies with English law principles. That is not a legitimate approach They added: Mr Kolomoisky denies any unlawful conduct. Lawyers said Mr Kolomoiskys defence turns on the factual inadequacies of the banks case, the contemporaneous documents and the expert evidence. A mother-of-three who carried out a homemade abortion while in emotional turmoil at the start of the pandemic has been jailed for 28 months. Carla Foster was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant when she took the drug Mifepristone in May 2020, and delivered her stillborn daughter Lily later the same day. Foster had lied that she was just seven weeks pregnant to obtain the drug over the phone from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. Stoke crown court heard Foster, 44, had been forced to move back in with her estranged partner at the start of the first Covid lockdown, while secretly pregnant with another mans child. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Pepperall accepted Foster was in emotional turmoil as you sought to hide the pregnancy, that she has emotionally unstable personality traits, and is now wracked by guilt and suffering from nightmares and flashbacks to the traumatic birth. But he insisted he was simply enforcing the law as he handed down a 28-month prison sentence, despite accepting it would impact on Fosters three children including one who has special needs. The judge also aimed fierce criticism at a collection of eminent medical professionals who had written to him, pleading for Foster to be spared a prison term. The letter was signed by the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, the President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the President of the Faculty of Public Health, the Chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Abortion Taskforce, the Clinical Lead and a Clinical Representative for the Abortion Care Guideline developed by the National Institute for Health Care Excellence, and the Co-Chair of the British Society of Adoption and Care Providers. The letter urges a non-custodial sentence and indicates that its authors are concerned that your imprisonment might deter other women from accessing telemedical abortion services and other late-gestation women from seeking medical care or from being open and honest with medical professionals, said the judge. I consider that it would have been better if the letter had not been written at all. While it provides me with some useful information about the delivery of telemedicine services, the letter also has the capacity to be seen as special pleading by those who favour wider access to abortions and is, in my judgment, just as inappropriate as it would be for a judge to receive a letter from one of the groups campaigning for more restrictive laws and which might seek to argue that it is important that the law is upheld by passing a deterrent sentence. He said the medical professionals should instead lobby Parliament for a change in the law around abortions outside the 24-week limit, adding: I do not accept that imprisonment in this case is likely to deter women and girls from lawfully seeking abortion care within the 24-week limit. Rather, it might be said that it would reinforce the limit of that law. The court heard that when the pandemic struck in March 2020, Health Secretary Matt Hancock approved the principle of abortions taking place in the home, removing the previous necessity for an in-person appointment at a clinic. Foster had conducted internet searches on inducing a miscarriage in February 2020, and her online research proved she knew she was beyond the legal abortion limit. Mifepristone was posted to her after she told lies over the phone about the stage of pregnancy she was in. She took it on May 11, 2020, and received emergency treatment later on when her daughter was stillborn. The judge concluded Foster had deliberately lied to get hold of the drug. But he also said: This offence was committed against the backdrop of the first and most intense phase of lockdown at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced to stay at home, you moved back in with your long-term but estranged partner while carrying another mans child. You were, I accept, in emotional turmoil as you sought to hide the pregnancy. He added: I accept that you feel very deep and genuine remorse for your actions. You are wracked by guilt and have suffered depression. I also accept that you had a very deep emotional attachment to your unborn child and that you are plagued by nightmares and flashbacks to seeing your dead childs face. I also take into account the fact that you are a good mother to three children who would suffer from your imprisonment. Foster pleaded guilty to administering poison with intent to procure a miscarriage. She must serve up to 14 months of the 28 month prison sentence before being released on licence. A driver has been arrested on suspicion of drug-driving after a 12-year-old boy was hit by a car in Newham, leaving him fighting for life in hospital. Police, paramedics and an air ambulance rushed to the scene of the crash in Barking Road, near to the junction with Melbourne Road in East Ham, around 1.30pm on Sunday. The 12-year-old pedestrian was taken to an east London hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains in a critical condition, Scotland Yard said on Monday. His family have been informed. The driver of the car, a 33-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drugs. He remained in custody at an east London police station on Monday. Detectives from the Mets Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for any witnesses, or drivers with dash cam footage, to come forward. Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 3936/11Jun. H omes and roads were flooded across London as thunderstorms and heavy rain brought disruption to the capital on Monday afternoon. The London Fire Brigade was called to more than 20 flooding incidents across the capital. Flash flooding on the the North Circular Road approaching Golders Green saw traffic grind to a standstill. The LFB was first called to Golders Green around 2pm after heavy rain in the area caused flooding. In a video posted to social media, drivers can be seen carefully and slowly travelling through standing water on the North Circular. The LFB said: We have been called to several reports of flooding across London this afternoon following thunderstorms, affecting roads and properties Never drive through floodwater - a foot of moving water at just 6mph is enough to float a car. Always try and find an alternative route. Roads and homes were also affected in Barnet, Edgware, Morden, Croydon and Carshalton, the brigade said. Earlier on Monday heavy flooding caused delays to train services between Watford Junction and London Euston. Flooding on the railway meant trains ran at reduced speed on some lines. A yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for Greater London until 9pm on Monday with heavy rain, hail and lightning reported. A new report has revealed the shocking levels of exploitation and abuse suffered by migrant workers in the capital. Mayor Sadiq Khan, who commissioned the research, said its findings were consistent with modern slavery. The report found that migrant Londoners often work unpaid overtime, or are sometimes left waiting for months to receive wages for work theyve done. One study, mentioned in the report, which focused on the Latin American community in London, found that three-quarters earned less than the London Living Wage, with around one in five reporting not to have been paid for work carried out. Being paid a lower rate than promised, incorrect deductions, and unclear payslips were said to be frequent issues too. But the report also found that many migrant workers are subjected to bullying and discrimination. Sexual harassment - particularly towards women migrant workers in the cleaning, care, and hospitality sectors - was also found to be a common occurrence. These sectors often have a high percentage of management positions held by men which can act as a barrier to reporting harassment, the report states. Racism, including by co-workers, managers, and customers, is said in the report to be a common experience for many migrant workers in London. For workers whose main concern is maintaining their income, and potentially accommodation, fear of losing work can act as a deterrent to reporting abuse, the report warns. Mr Khan said the report was "shocking", adding: Migrants being subject to long hours with no pay and abuse such as racial slurs is the opposite of everything our city stands for. It is abundantly clear from the report that migrant Londoners also face too many barriers to access the advice and support they desperately need to safeguard them from exploitation and help them to work in dignity. The Mayor has launched a 750,000 investment to bolster specialist support and advice services for migrants, but he said action was also needed at a national level. He said: I continue to urge the Government to take the urgent action needed to address these regular employment rights violations and the wider exploitation of migrants, so we can build a fairer London for everyone. A Government spokeswoman said: The Government takes workers concerns very seriously and we encourage anyone with evidence of abuse or wrongdoing to report this to us. Through the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, the Government protects the lowest-paid within our society, and increases to both in April gave a pay rise to around 2.9 million workers, including young people and apprentices. The Government is also backing new rules to give people on zero hours contracts the right to request a more predictable working pattern. A review exploring how London can use cutting-edge technology to adapt to the threat of climate change has been announced by Sadiq Khan. The Mayor said his London Climate Resilience Review will examine how technology - including AI - can be harnessed to future-proof the capital against the devastating impacts of extreme temperatures and flash-flooding. Mr Khan made the announcement in a speech to mark the start of London Tech Week, in which he said the review would be led by Emma Howard Boyd CBE, chair of the Green Finance Institute and UN Global Ambassador for Race to Resilience and Race to Zero. The flash floods of summer 2021, and the heatwave fires of 2022 - the latter of which resulted in the busiest day for the London Fire Brigade since the Blitz - laid bare the capitals vulnerability to the consequences of climate change. Mr Khan told the Standard: Im reminded this week during what is wonderful weather, that actually, if it gets too high, it can be a problem. So Im worried about two big things this summer. One is extreme temperatures. We saw last year temperatures north of 41 degrees and that causes huge problems. Many families in London cant adapt, because their homes arent fit for purpose. Im also worried that, often, it can lead to wildfires. If theres a long period with no rain, the grass can become hay-like, and if there is a fire, it spreads very quickly, which is why last year, you saw massive wildfires in London. The second big issue that Im concerned about this summer because of climate change, is flash-flooding. In the past, wed be talking about concerns around flooding because of the edges of rivers being breached, or coastal floods. Now weve got this new phenomenon of flash-flooding - this is a lot of rain, in a short period of time. So were doing what we can to make sure we adapt and are resilient to those consequences of climate change. City Hall said Mr Khan has since 2019 invested over 24 million through his Green New Deal fund to improve climate resilience across the capital, plus a further 1.5 million to deliver climate adaptation measures to 95 London schools at the greatest climate risk. Ms Howard Boyd said of the review she will be leading: London needs to be climate ready. During 2022's heatwave London hospitals had to cancel operations as systems crashed in the record-breaking heat. In 2021, flash flooding stopped people getting to work as roads and underground stations were inundated. "London should be a global leader in climate security so we need to review its preparations for predictable impacts like storms, floods, droughts and heatwaves. A resilient and successful 21st century city must develop in ways that protect lives and livelihoods. This review is for all of London. Catastrophe is not inevitable but failure to prepare would be a disaster. T he Exhibition Road entrance to South Kensington Tube station could get a 2 million makeover so it can be used by a group of Orthodox Jews whose strict religious beliefs do not allow them to enter because it is part of the Science Museum, which holds human remains in its collection. Members of Kensington and Chelseas planning committee will meet to consider a plan that will allow members of the 1,500 Kohanim families in London to use the station and Tube when it is lodged next month. It was originally intended to be discussed this week but was pulled at the last minute. The evidence originally sent to the committee by a planning agent on behalf of the Stamford Hill-based Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations explained the Kohanim descendants of the sons of Aaron who served as priests in the temple in Jerusalem have special rules and guidelines on how to behave. He said: One of them is not to come in any shape or form in contact with a deceased (exceptions are made for immediate family), even not being under one roof. Gallery views of the new Medicine Galleries / Science Museum Group Collections The current entrance means the whole Underground line that runs past or connects to that entrance is prohibited for them to use. He added that by providing an outside archway it breaks up the one-roof phenomenon and it will allow those deprived from using the Underground to be able to use it. Council officials recommended the plan be approved when it was first lodged. But the changes to the entrance, between the museum and Imperial College London, were objected to by the college and the wider Exhibition Road Cultural Group whose members include nearby museums such as the V&A, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. Existing (left) and proposed perspective view (right) / planningsearch.rbkc.gov.uk The group said the entrance was used by millions of people visiting the museums, Royal Albert Hall, educational institutions, and by people living and working in the area and said more information was needed about the plan. They said: The drawings on the application do not give details to understand the impact of the proposed installation on the visibility of the station entrance, the flow of pedestrians and the overall design of this heavily used area. It is not clear from the drawings whether the proposal is to include a religious message on the installation. Exhibition Road is a high-profile and complex public space, with multiple users and a holistic approach is necessary to consider permanent changes there. T he three Tories shortlisted to become the partys London mayoral candidate were in Downing Street on Monday morning as activists expressed surprise at the decision to omit Minister for London Paul Scully from the run-off. London Assembly member Susan Hall, former Downing Street aide turned tech entrepreneur Daniel Korski and barrister Mozammel Hossain were selected on Sunday night by party officials to battle it out to secure the right to challenge Labour mayor Sadiq Khan in next Mays City Hall elections. It was unclear whether the candidates would be meeting Rishi Sunak. Party officials were expected to set out the ground rules for the forthcoming campaign, as the Tories seek to prevent Mr Khan from securing a record third term of office. But the biggest surprise was the decision not to shortlist Mr Scully, a Government minister and MP for Sutton and Cheam. One source said members were embarrassed at the partys decision to ditch Mr Scully, who had been regarded as the frontrunner. Shortlisted candidates today told the Standard they were also surprised. Mr Khan said Mr Scullys exclusion showed the Tory party was running scared of its record in office. He told the Standard: Youve got a Conservative party who have stopped the Minister for London from standing to be the Conservative mayoral candidate, because theyre clearly running scared of standing on the Conservative record. Im going to be standing on my record in May and Ill be pointing out the Conservative record over the last 14 years. Mr Korski, who is thought to have topped the selection process, said: I was looking forward to making my case next to him. But it was for the party to decide who has the support to go forward. As Minister for London, Paul started with an advantage in being very well known and able to attend a range of events with key voters. I dont feel that anything was tilted in favour of anyone, except there were some naturally extended advantages for someone who had been Minister for London for a while. Ms Hall said: I honestly have no idea what happened. Quite separately from this, I really like Paul. Im sad in one way because he is such a good chap. On a personal level I do feel for him. Andrew Boff, the veteran assembly member, also failed to be shortlisted. Asked whether he was surprised at the Scully decision, he said: I think everybody was. Mr Boff said: There are times, and I have seen this before in the party, when there is a drive for renewal and a drive to try something different. I think we have hit one of these moments where the mood of the party is that something different is required. The first hustings will be held on Friday, with more to follow. More than 20,000 London Tories are entitled to vote, with a winner due to be announced on July 19. Shortlisted: Daniel Korski / Supplied Mr Korski on Monday promised his campaign would range beyond the traditional remit of City Hall debates as he proposed a minimum digital literacy standard, requiring pupils to take ICT (information and communication technology) at GSCE and helping adults to become computer-literate. I dont just want it to be focused on the traditional issues but also tomorrows issues, Mr Korski told the Standard. I think Im offering a fresh perspective. I have come from outside of politics and Im talking about a different kind of politics and trying to run a campaign with new ideas and more creativity than what we have done before. I think Londoners are tired of the same old politics and same old politicians. They want an uplifting, aspirational, inspirational message. Im not interested in the Punch and Judy old school politics. Shortlisted: Susan Hall / Supplied Ms Hall vowed to focus on tackling crime and stopping the Ulez expansion on day one. She said all pledges would be fully costed and deliverable, and she would not be promising bells and whistles in a bid to generate headlines. If I promise to do something I will bloody well do it, she said. Some observers believe Ms Hall, a longstanding Tory politician and former council leader, may have the largest amount of support and greatest visibility among London party members. Ross Lydall speaks to conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall She said: Im a Tory. I have many of the same beliefs and thoughts that they have. I genuinely think I am the only one who can realistically beat Sadiq Khan. I take him on every month [at Mayors Question Time] and give him a hard time. Im more than capable of being a mayor. Hopefully that will be enough to persuade the members to put their trust in me. She said she had given up drinking for the duration of the race, and would be shunning her favourite tipples whisky, and gin and tonic. Im superstitious, she said. Im not going to have any alcohol until this whole mayoral thing is finished. I dont think I have ever been so popular in my whole life. Im hugely excited and very, very grateful to be on the shortlist. Out of the running: Boris Johnson / Jeremy Selwyn She called on the party to unite under Mr Sunak, in the wake of Boris Johnsons decision to quit as an MP ahead of a report into whether he misled the Commons over Partygate. Ms Hall said: Boris is a character he is Marmite. People either love him or they dont. I have not seen the [privileges committee] report but if it meant there would be a by-election anyway, we are in no worse a position than we would have been. As a party we need to pull together now and show the electorate we are serious. Rishi Sunak is doing a damn good job. I hear from insiders he is working morning, noon and night. Mr Korski said: I think Boris was a tremendous Mayor of London. He left an important legacy. I wish to bring the kind of dynamism and energy that Boris brought when he first started. I have always got on well with Boris. He is a political colossus. When he was in London he served London well. Mr Hossain, a criminal barrister who was appointed Queens Counsel (now Kings Counsel) in 2019, was born in Bangladesh and came to the UK in 1995. He appears not to have commented on his shortlisting and did not respond to an Evening Standard request for comment. Mr Boff, who was making his sixth bid to secure the partys mayoral nomination, said: It doesnt appear that persistence is rewarded. They probably wanted some new blood and a new image. I wish all three candidates well. That is democracy. L abour deputy leader Angela Rayner crossed the political divide yesterday as she let her hair down at the Parklife music festival in Manchester. Rayner ran into Im A Celebrity winner Georgia Toff Toffolo and took a selfie. Toff is one of few TV names who stills shouts about her Conservative leanings. Shes not just a Tory voter but a party activist, often seen in Chelsea with party chairman Greg Hands leafleting for the Government. Toff captioned the snap with Rayner: Never kissed a Tory x. Theres debate in Labour on if its OK to get intimate with the other side. Both Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves say theyve kissed Tories, something others vow they would never do. Rayner herself caused a ruckus in 2021 when she described the Conservatives as scum at the Labour conference. With this chummy festival encounter, is she turning over a new leaf? Odey moves on from Crispin era / Shutterstock Last week we revealed rumours that scandal-hit financier Crispin Odey is not welcome in members club 5 Hertford Street. Over the weekend, he was dropped from the City fund he founded 32 years ago, after 13 women made sexual misconduct allegations against him. He denies them all. Last night, the company wrote a letter to clients saying we plan to announce a complete rebrand. They need it, as the missive had a huge letter-heading reading: ODEY. Uxbridge is on the horizon for Danny Danny Beales, Labour candidate for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip / PA The Labour candidate trying to win Boris Johnsons old seat has spoken of his whirlwind weekend getting ready for a suprise by-election. Johnson resigned as the MP from Uxbridge on Friday night after being told hed be suspended from Parliament for more than 10 days over Partygate. It leaves Danny Beales, the Labour candidate, left, hoping to win the vote. It wasnt how I envisioned my weekend, he told us from a pub in between door-knocking yesterday. Beales will have to move house, as hes currently still a councillor in Camden. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer sent Labour members an email on Friday, and Beales a text. Ive not had a conversation with him but he sent me a nice supportive message, he said. Could this man be the next Mayor? Shortlisted: Daniel Korski / Supplied Over the weekend former political adviser Daniel Korski emerged as a favourite to be the Tories London mayoral candidate: he made the shortlist of three and hes even got Michael Goves support. But Korski has had bad luck of late. One of his jobs is serving as a director of Londons Jewish Museum. Last week the museum announced it is closing after heavy losses. A Jewish News writer called it an embarrassing shock. Kaluuyas back in Camden Daniel Kaluuya / Dave Benett Hes Hollywood famous now but actor Daniel Kaluuya is returning to London, at least part time, to be the new associate artistic director of the Roundhouse in Camden. His main preoccupation will be running a youth theatre company at the venue. I attended some of my first drama classes as a teen right here, the Oscar-winning star of Get Out says. Welcome home. Ministers at Global Conference on Energy Efficiency pledge to support stronger policy action and prioritise investment in crucial decade' for energy and climate targets Forty-five governments from around the world have endorsed the goal of doubling the average global rate of energy efficiency improvements by the end of the decade to foster sustainable economic growth and help put the world on a secure and affordable path towards net zero emissions. In a ministerial statement released today (June 9) following the IEA's 8th Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Versailles, France, governments from across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe highlighted the critical role that energy efficiency can play in improving living standards and energy security - and in accelerating the clean energy transition toward reaching net zero emissions by 2050. This means ramping up annual energy efficiency progress from 2.2% today to over 4% annually by 2030 in a move that would create jobs, expand energy access, reduce energy bills, decrease air pollution, and diminish countries' reliance on fossil fuel imports - among other social and economic benefits. The Versailles Statement on "the crucial decade for energy efficiency" urges all parties and stakeholders taking part in the COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai later this year to raise their ambition and strengthen energy efficiency policy implementation in line with the Paris Agreement. It underscores that effective policies must be fully leveraged to encourage behaviour change among consumers and businesses, with targeted actions to support individuals, especially vulnerable and low-income households. Moreover, digitalisation, demand-driven solutions and investments in modernising electricity grids were all identified as priorities that will lay the foundations for energy efficiency to feature in all areas of the clean energy transition. The participating ministers also stressed the importance of addressing energy poverty, promoting clean cooking, and tackling gender issues relating to energy. Ministers agreed on the statement during a roundtable meeting at the conclusion of the IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, which convened over 600 participants from 90 countries, including over 30 ministers and 50 CEOs. Governments with official delegations at the event represented 70% of global energy consumption. The Global Conference was co-hosted by France's Minister for Energy Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, and organised in partnership with Schneider Electric. "It's hard to overstate the importance of energy efficiency for strengthening energy security and keeping the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 C within sight, so I'm delighted that countries from across the world are uniting around the IEA's call to double energy efficiency progress by 2030," said Dr Birol, the IEA Executive Director. "This can help drive stronger momentum behind efforts to achieve an ambitious outcome at COP28 in Dubai." Ministers made it clear in the statement that the public sector must be a role model for improving energy efficiency and driving investment that will encourage other sectors such as industry, services, buildings, transport and agriculture to follow. They welcomed the updated Snderborg Action Plan, developed by the IEA as a set of strategic principles and policies to support governments in rapidly implementing sound energy efficiency policies. Ministers also encouraged the private sector to lead action on energy efficiency through innovation and investment, including development of digital solutions. During the Global Conference, a series of public-private roundtables took place to define concrete strategies to generate greater energy efficiency, culminating in the Versailles 10X10 Actions. The discussions reaffirmed the critical roles that energy efficiency and digitalisation play in tackling the ongoing global energy crisis. Over 50 thought leaders collaborated to discuss energy efficiency issues in the areas of industry and infrastructure, buildings and homes, and solutions and commitments - addressing key elements such as financing, technology, workforces and consumer motivations. A special briefing report from the IEA published on the first day of the Global Conference - Energy Efficiency: The Decade for Action - shows the range of benefits energy efficiency improvements can bring to societies worldwide. The efficiency sector employs tens of millions of people around the world, and increasing ambition and action could create another 12 million jobs by 2030. Importantly, more efficient and lower energy demand supports faster progress towards universal access to modern energy in emerging and developing economies. Promoting energy efficiency progress in emerging and developing economies will be at the heart of the next IEA Global Conference, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2024. The announcement that Kenya would host the event was made by Kenyan Minister of Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir on Wednesday in Versailles. A lister Jack has said Scotland benefits hugely from the UK Governments international work ahead of an appearance at a Commons committee discussing how Scotland is promoted abroad. On Monday, the Scottish Secretary and other ministers will speak to the Scottish Affairs Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into how Scottish trade and culture is promoted internationally. A report provided to the committee noted the UK has 282 diplomatic missions covering 180 countries and territories around the world. It comes after a row between the Scottish and UK governments on Holyrood ministers visits abroad. Foreign Secretary James Cleverley told officials to take a strengthened approach to visits from devolved ministers abroad and to ensure Westminster representatives attend any meetings with foreign governments. This angered Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, who accused the Foreign Secretary of making misleading statements as he called for the guidance to be withdrawn. Ahead for the committee appearance, Mr Jack said: Our recent report shows that Scotland benefits hugely from the scale and reach of the UK Governments international engagement and influence. From international security to trade and culture, the UK Governments international departments and agencies are securing the interest of all parts of the United Kingdom. The UK and Scottish governments enjoy a positive and productive working relationship promoting Scotland overseas, and contributing to growing Scotlands economy. On trade and investment including Scottish agriculture, universities, food and drink we can and do work together well. Our recent delegations to New Yorks Tartan Week are a great example of Scotlands two governments collaborating. Foreign Office minister David Rutley said British diplomats promoted Scotlands rich culture and heritage around the world. He said: The UKs permanent membership of the UN Security Council and our leading position in Nato, the G7, the G20 and other global organisations enable us to make progress on the vital issues that matter to everyone in the UK including Ukraine, climate change and human rights. The FCDOs joint HQ in East Kilbride has almost 1,000 staff who are at the heart of shaping and delivering UK foreign policy as a force for good in the world. A Labour MP has accused the Foreign Secretary of being a Chinese stooge over a possible trip to the country after his ministerial colleague was sanctioned by Beijing. James Cleverly asked Chris Bryant to withdraw the discourteous and inaccurate comment during an angry exchange before the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The minister was being questioned by MPs on a wide range of issues including a visit he is reportedly expected to take to Beijing, when Mr Bryant suggested: China plays the tune and you dance. It comes after security minister Mr Tugendhat, one of the most vocal critics of the Chinese government in Parliament, was banned from entering the country in 2021. You're just a Chinese stooge then. You just do what they want ... You've said because China has sanctioned some MPs, you wouldn't be prepared to take them Asked whether he would consider taking his Foreign Office colleague with him on any trip to Beijing, Mr Cleverly replied: The idea that the Foreign Secretary interacting with another government is anything other than my duty and my responsibility is nonsense. It is literally my job. Youre just a Chinese stooge then. You just do what they want Youve said because China has sanctioned some MPs, you wouldnt be prepared to take them, Mr Bryant said. I dont take ministers on visits with me, the minister replied. Mr Cleverly accused the MP of deploying a nice headline without evidence to back it up and called on him to withdraw it. The fact is its the job of Foreign Secretary to engage with foreign governments, including ones we disagree with, he said. Unless you can give evidence to back up your assertion, I would suggest politely that you withdraw it because it is not just inaccurate, it is also really quite, I think, discourteous. Political discourse surrounding China has grown heated in recent months amid disputes over the right approach to an increasingly assertive Beijing. The Foreign Secretary has adopted a less hawkish stance towards the country than some in his party would like. Some senior Tories including Iain Duncan Smith have called on ministers to go further in distancing the UK from China and want the Government to be more outspoken in criticising the Far East countrys leadership. Meanwhile, former prime minister Liz Truss has accused Western leaders meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping of displaying weakness. It comes after China was at the forefront of the agenda on Rishi Sunaks trip to Washington last week, when he agreed a new partnership with Joe Biden to bolster economic security in response to the countrys growing influence. MPs at Mondays committee session also criticised the Government for failing to expel Chinese diplomats over the assault of a protester outside the nations consulate. Chairwoman Alicia Kearns said the group of MPs was unified in its view that not enough was done over the attack on Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Bob Chan. China pulled out six officials wanted for police questioning over the assault in Manchester last year, insisting the departure of the consul general was a normal rotation. Labour MP Graham Stringer told the Foreign Secretary: You just had a nice quiet, cosy word. For meaningful action, you could have said youre behaviour is unacceptable publicly and diplomatically expelled them from this country Because it was China, you took a very weak, cosy position. Mr Cleverly said he viewed the incident as an example of effective diplomacy because the diplomats ultimately left the country and no British officials were removed from China in a tit-for-tat response. T here is no reason to suspend Nicola Sturgeon from the Scottish National Party despite her arrest, First Minister Humza Yousaf said on Monday. Former First Minister Ms Sturgeon was on Sunday questioned for seven hours by detectives investigating SNP finances and funding. She has insisted she is innocent of any wrongdoing. Mr Yousaf said he would not be suspending his predecessor from the party and would treat her the same as former treasurer Colin Beattie, and former chief executive - Ms Sturgeons husband - Peter Murrell, who were also arrested and released without charge in relation to the ongoing probe. I will do what I believe is right to the values of natural justice, he told the BBC. Nicola Sturgeon, like Colin Beattie, like Peter Murrell, was released without charge. Therefore, I see no reason for their membership to be suspended. But SNP MP Ash Regan on Monday called for Ms Sturgeon to consider giving up her party membership while she is under investigation. Its a matter for Nicola Sturgeon, Ms Regan told Sky News. But I think that she should consider whether it might be appropriate considering what has been going on for her to resign her party membership voluntarily, just temporarily until this situation is resolved. Ms Regan also suggested Ms Sturgeon had broken the partys conduct rules. The SNP code of conduct, it does say that members should refrain from conduct thats likely to cause damage or hinder the partys aims, she said. I think that the leadership and Humza need to really think about taking decisive action at the moment. Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil described the situation as a soap opera that has gone far enough. Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less, he said. Time for political distance until the investigation ends either way. For the last two years Police Scotland has been investigating what happened to 660,000 of donations given to the SNP for a future independence referendum campaign. Mr Murrell was arrested in April when the couples home was raided by detectives. Mr Beattie was also questioned by police. Both men were released without charge pending further investigation. Scottish Labours deputy leader Jackie Baillie described Ms Sturgeons arrest as shocking. She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The question in my mind is, given all this chaos, given the kind of secrecy and cover-up that has been the hallmark of how the SNP operate, is whether Humza Yousaf, the current First Minister, is indeed strong enough to suspend her and protect the party. Ive no doubt in my mind, he absolutely needs to do that. Ms Sturgeon was released without charge on Sunday pending further investigation. In a statement she said: 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. F ormer 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. 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. 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. 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. A British man arrested while climbing the worlds fifth-tallest skyscraper in South Korea without a harness planned to parachute off the top then evade police and escape the country by plane. George King-Thompson, 24, was arrested in Seoul on Monday after climbing the 123-storey, 1,820ft (555m) Lotte World Tower an ascent he dreamt of while in prison for scaling the Shard in London, according to a statement shared by his sponsor. The 24-year-old, from Oxford, was wearing a parachute and planned to jump from the top of the building but reached the 72nd floor before being detained. After years of dreaming and months of planning, Mr King-Thompson was then going to evade Korean authorities and catch a flight out of the country to escape arrest. This is the most exhilarating stunt Ive ever done, Mr King-Thompson said in the statement shared by Riot E-liquid, the vape brand that sponsors him. The climb is fraught with danger, and if I pull it off, I have to get out of the country asap to avoid arrest. According to his sponsor, Mr King-Thompson dreamed of performing the stunt while in Pentonville Prison for three months as punishment for scaling the Shard in July 2019. In August 2021, the same year he was released from prison, Mr King-Thompson climbed the 23-storey Unex Tower in Stratford, east London, without ropes, nine days after doing the same at the neighbouring Stratosphere Tower. Footage shared on Monday showed the climber in shorts scaling the tower in South Korea as 90 emergency, police and other personnel were dispatched to the scene, according to the local fire service. F urious Eurostar passengers have hit out over massive delays after a failure of the electrical supply between Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International caused issues on Sunday. Hundreds of passengers were forced to stand in huge queues during high temperatures before being told the last service was cancelled. Eurostar tweeted an apology to customers at 4.25pm on Sunday saying: Were sorry, our trains are delayed because part of the track is temporarily closed near Ashford. Trains and stations are very busy today. Please only travel if necessary. You can postpone or exchange your ticket. 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. Frustrated travellers wrote on Twitter that they were suffering in long queues with little information. Other passengers feared being crushed by a stampede as hundreds returned to Gare Du Nord for first 7.13am train to London on Monday. Zoe Briggs, who said her train back to London was cancelled on Sunday night, wrote on Twitter that she had returned to the queue first thing on Monday morning. She said: At this point I dont even know if Im getting on the 7h13 train. Everyone is here ready for when the doors open to burst through and run. It is not a safe environment and Im literally scared of the potential stampede. People are desperate to get home! Eurostar you can do better. Another said their all-female group was left wandering the streets of Paris at 1am after they were kicked out of Gare Du Nord. She tweeted: You chucked my group (all women inc. 2 pensioners) out of the station 1am after you claimed you booked a hotel for us. Got to the hotel and it wasnt open and we were stranded alone at 1am. Begged a nearby hotel to sleep on their lobby floor. No regard for duty of care. Furious. Climate journalist Patrick Galey added: Dont be sorry. Just be less awful, please. There are children crying because of hunger and now youre saying we are going to be more than 3 hours late. Everyone is going to miss their onward connections, why privatise a service and not secure its access? A Eurostar spokesperson said that their services were running as normal on Monday. They added: We are very sorry to those that were affected. Our station and onboard teams did everything they could to look after our customers and those wishing not to travel were able to exchange or refund their tickets. M ore than 15,000 easyJet passengers have been hit by flight cancellations due to severe weather. The airline axed 54 flights scheduled to take off or depart from Gatwick airport on Sunday, with a further 55 grounded on Monday. EasyJet said its operations at the West Sussex airport on Sunday night were impacted by thunderstorm activity, which caused a knock-on effect on Monday as aircraft and crew were out of position. EasyJets website stated that cancellations were due to poor weather conditions across the UK and Europe, which caused extended air traffic control restrictions to all departures and arrivals. The message stated that the disruption is outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance. That means the airline will not pay flight delay compensation to affected travellers. The operator said this was due to urgent repairs to the track after a set of points which allow trains to move from one line to another were damaged in the East Croydon area. Passengers took to Twitter to voice their frustration after their flights were cancelled. Traveller Jayde Thompson wrote: Total chaos in Gatwick tonight! Multiple cancelled flights, no support, no local hotels with availability, login to manage booking jammed, 2 staff on the floor Another person added: Too tired to describe the farce that is #easyjet @Gatwick London. Flight cancelled from 6.10pm..ill people on mobility scooters with carers, older people, families & babies etc stranded. Passengers travelling to or from the airport were advised to use Southern and Thameslink services, which are slower as they stop at intermediate stations. Affected passengers are not entitled to compensation under UK consumer law as the cause of the disruption is outside the airlines control. But they must be offered new flight options and assistance such as food and drink, as well as overnight accommodation if required. A spokesperson for Gatwick airport said: Due to unsettled weather conditions and thunderstorms across the south of England and Europe yesterday, temporary air traffic restrictions were put in place, which resulted in some flights being delayed and cancelled. London Gatwick apologises to passengers for any inconvenience. Further thunderstorms are expected today, so passengers should contact their airline for further information. Meanwhile, Gatwick Express, which runs non-stop trains between the airport and central London, was suspended on Monday. An easyJet spokesperson said: Thunderstorms in the Gatwick area which restricted the number of arrivals and departures on Sunday unfortunately resulted in disruption at London Gatwick Airport, including some diversions and cancellations which is having a knock-on impact this morning as a number of aircraft are out of position. We are doing all possible to minimise the impact on our customers, providing those on cancelled flights with options to rebook or receive a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required. The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is easyJets highest priority and, while this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused. Jo Rhodes, deputy editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: Thousands of travellers will be frustrated to have had their plans thrown into disarray as a result of thunderstorms over Gatwick. While easyJet does not have to pay compensation for these cancellations, it must offer affected passengers the option of a refund or to be rerouted at the earliest opportunity even if this means booking seats with a rival carrier to ensure minimal delay. If delayed for more than two hours, passengers will be entitled to assistance such as free meals or refreshments, and overnight accommodation if required. H ugh Callaghan, one of the six men wrongly jailed for the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, has sung at his own funeral, a priest has said. Mr Callaghan, alongside Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny and Billy Power, was wrongly convicted of murdering 21 people when two explosions ripped apart the Tavern in the Town and Mulberry Bush pubs in Birmingham in 1974. The group were convicted in 1975 and jailed for life. They were freed after more than 16 years, when the Court of Appeal in 1991 ruled their convictions were unsafe. About 200 people attended Mr Callaghans funeral at The Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Dominic church in Homerton, east London, on Monday, where he was a much-loved member of the congregation, parish priest the Rev Patrick Allsop said. Father Allsop said he was a major figure in the community partly because he had a magnificent voice. He could sing unaccompanied with complete accuracy. The most extraordinary thing is that he did a studio recording of his party piece, which is the great Irish song Danny Boy and that was played as he was carried out of the church. I think its the first time the deceased has sung himself out of a funeral mass. Mr Callaghan also serenaded the ward in hospital shortly before he died, where he was being treated for a chest infection. Mr Callaghan, who was 93, recovered from the chest infection but died from a heart attack on May 27, Father Allsop said. He moved to London in 1991 after he was released from prison and began to attend the east London church. Irish musicians performed during the funeral and the London Irish Choir attended the service, Father Allsop added. Father Allsop said: After he had been released after 16 years in prison he was sort of unsettled as to where he would feel happy and comfortable. But he eventually decided that the Irish community in London were the people he wanted to be with. A black British artist hopes his mural honouring black blood donors can encourage more generous souls to donate blood to save lives as the NHS highlights the need for more people of black heritage to come forward. Neequaye Dreph, 49, from London, has unveiled a mural honouring members of the black community in England who donate blood to help those living with sickle cell disease, to mark the start of National Blood Week. The mural, which is displayed in the Stockwell Hall of Fame in London, forms part of NHS Blood and Transplants Giving Type campaign which aims to change the misconceptions around sickle cell by encouraging more people of African and Caribbean heritage to donate blood. Drephs colourful artwork shows five portraits of black donors, wearing bright clothes, drawn against a black backdrop. The painting highlights five incredible people who regularly donate blood to help patients with sickle cell and the street artist hopes his artwork will highlight the very real and important issue of sickle cell. I am grateful and humbled to have met these five incredible human beings who regularly give their blood to help patients with sickle cell, and I hope that this art will inspire more generous souls to come forward and save lives Dreph, who has been painting for 30 years, said: Everyone in the black community knows someone with sickle cell. Its a very real and important issue that touches so many lives right here at home in the UK. I am grateful and humbled to have met these five incredible human beings who regularly give their blood to help patients with sickle cell, and I hope that this art will inspire more generous souls to come forward and save lives. Those with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause issues as they do not live as long as healthy blood cells and can block blood vessels. Sickle cell is among the fastest growing blood disorders in the UK, and disproportionately affects people of African and Caribbean heritage, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). It reports that more than half of blood donors of black heritage have the blood type needed to help sickle cell patients compared with 3% of the general population. NHSBT says that giving blood can save up to three lives with each donation and it is calling for more donors to help those with sickle cell disease. Neequaye Dreph, who spent seven days painting the piece, said: Over the last few months Ive been working closely with one of my aunties, who has sickle cell. So, the thing about being close to someone who has sickle cell is when they have their debilitating pain you feel very helpless and you want to do something. You might not be able to do something with that particular person, but the idea of being able to give blood, and that blood can then help someone with their transfusion, or potentially save the life of at least three adults, its an amazing thing, its an amazing act of generosity. Torkwase Holmes, 60, from Filton, Bristol, one of the five people depicted in the mural, said it was amazing to be featured. Amazing, proud, that I could be showcased like this, but its because of the work that I do, she told the PA news agency. People know how important it is to give blood, especially for our community. Ms Holmes has been giving blood regularly since 2001, but due to a recent operation, she can no longer donate which she said was devastating. I just gave blood anyway to help people, and once you give blood you are literally saving three peoples lives, she said. Ive had an operation which has prevented me now from giving blood, which was devastating to me, really devastating to find out that I couldnt give blood anymore, so December was my last donation I gave. I actually cried when I knew I couldnt give blood anymore because thats how important it is to me. But I want to keep pushing it to our community how important it is for us to give blood. Its so sad that so many people turn away from giving blood, and what we need to do is educate them, change the mindset of those out there. Naim Akhtar, consultant haematologist and lead in donor medicine for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: Many sickle cell patients need regular blood transfusions to prevent life-threatening complications, but currently we are only able to provide ethnically matched blood for around half of the hospital requests leaving other sickle cell patients at risk of developing serious reactions to non-ethnically matched blood. While we are delighted to celebrate members of the black community who regularly step forward to give lifesaving blood, demand is increasing rapidly and we urgently need more people of black heritage to come forward. The mural will be on display to the public throughout National Blood Week which runs from June 12 until June 18. About 30% of the student body is enrolled in engineering programs, and most of those students are seeking jobs that keep them in the state. "They want to live in Tennessee once they graduate, even if they're not native Tennesseans," said Lori Mann Bruce, the university's provost and vice president for academic affairs. "They're really looking for career opportunities not just jobs but lifetime careers that are going to let them stay in the state of Tennessee." That's welcome news to the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and its contractor, UCOR, as a significant percentage of their workforce is eligible to retire in the next 10 years. The need for the next generation workforce to continue environmental cleanup in Oak Ridge is leading to new and exciting partnerships to advance workforce development initiatives. Most recently, UCOR and Tennessee Tech University signed an agreement to formalize their partnership. They launched the partnership as the university's College of Engineering is set to expand its position as a top producer of engineering graduates for Tennessee. The school currently offers programs in chemical, civil, computer, electrical, general, and mechanical engineering, as well as computer science and engineering technology. The university also expects to launch a new nuclear engineering degree program as early as fall 2024. UCOR will provide resources and expertise to Tennessee Tech University as it develops its curriculum. It's not a new endeavor for the contractor, which helped the University of Tennessee launch a nuclear decommissioning and environmental management minor in prior years. "There will be some unique elements to this program that are a little different than other nuclear engineering programs around the country," Tennessee Tech University President Phil Oldham said. "That's where input from industry leaders like UCOR can assist us in identifying what those elements should be." In addition to curriculum support, UCOR offers the university internship and career opportunities. With an important mission and a workforce of 2,300 employees, OREM and UCOR have many meaningful work opportunities. Those positions will be vital to continuing a transformation in Oak Ridge that's eliminating environmental risks and enabling economic development at Oak Ridge's East Tennessee Technology Park. DOE Office of Environmental Management's (EM) Oak Ridge workforce is also removing hazards and helping modernize the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex. "UCOR has great opportunities that allow employees to make a mark in history in regard to the largest environmental cleanup, the construction of a national park, or the largest conservation efforts in the state," UCOR President and CEO Ken Rueter said. "These graduates can be an integral part of that." S chools in England given an Ofsted rating of inadequate over child welfare will be reinspected sooner to give them the opportunity to increase their rating. This is one of several reforms coming to school inspections following the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life following an Ofsted evaluation. Other changes include giving schools more information outside of the one-word rating, referring to schools and departments in reports rather than individual teachers, and giving more information on the timing of inspections to schools. However, Mrs Perry's family and a head teachers' union continue to call for bigger changes, saying that the measures are a start, according to the BBC. So what is Oftsed and what does it do? Heres all you need to know. What is Ofsted? Ofsted is short for the Office for Standards in Education, Childrens Services and Skills. The body inspects services that provide education or skills trainers for students regardless of their age. It also inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people such as childrens homes. Ofsted inspectors go and view services under their remit and provide a rating dependent on what they find on their visit. They are legally allowed to arrive with little notice. They report directly to Parliament, parents, carers and commissioners. Ofsted is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government, although its ethos is to be independent and impartial. In each area, services are graded and then placed into one of four categories: Grade one (outstanding), grade two (good), grade three (requires improvement) and grade four (inadequate). Can Ofsted fire a headteacher? No. Ofsted has no power to fire a headteacher and it does not instruct governing bodies to do so either. Are Ofsted inspections compulsory? Yes. All childcare providers caring for children from September 1 following their fifth birthday up to the age of 8, must register with Ofsted on the Compulsory Childcare Register (CCR) How often does a school get an Ofsted inspection? Ofsted inspections can take place at any point from five school days after the first-day pupils attend in the autumn term. Schools are normally judged every four years, but a lot can depend on the type of institution and the previous grading the school received. If there was a previous inadequate or requires improvement grading, inspectors can visit more frequently. Can Ofsted shut a school down? Yes, but after a lengthy process. For any service that has been judged as inadequate and placed in a category of concern, inspectors will visit the academy to check on its progress until it can be removed from the category. Schools placed in a special measures category will have two years to turn things around, while serious weaknesses schools have 18 months. Why are inspections changing? The changes come after the Early Years Alliance charity, which advocates for nurseries, preschools, and childminders, called for the inspection results from Ofsted to be reviewed. The inspection process for nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders is different from that for schools, but they all obtain the same total grade. The charity found that many schools found inspections to be stressful, according to their survey on early years staff. The survey found that 1,586 out of 1,708 surveyed staff said inspections were a source of stress sometimes or often. While 1,227 out of 1,601 would remove the single-word grading. Ofsted says they want inspections to be as constructive as possible and noted that inspections can be challenging. The schools watchdog previously refused to drop one-word ratings despite calls for inspection reforms following the death of a headteacher. Critics say the one-word ratings were too simplistic, while The National Education Union (NEU) called for the grading system to be replaced with a supportive, effective and fair accountability system. Ruth Perry, the former headteacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, took her own life while waiting for the publication of a report into her school that was expected to downgrade it from outstanding to inadequate. Ms Perrys family said the 53-year-old had described the inspection in November as the worst day of her life. T he Dark Knight, Outlander, and Doctor Who actor Colin McFarlane has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 61-year-old actor revealed that nine months after his brother's diagnosis of prostate cancer, he found out about his own diagnosis. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which may be administered to men without symptoms without consulting with a doctor, is how Colin said both he and his brother learned of their illnesses. Colin explained he started getting frequent screenings after learning about the disease's prevalence among black men from a fellow actor who was receiving treatment for prostate cancer 17 years prior. So what is prostate cancer and what should men be on the lookout for? Find out what you need to know below. What is the prostate? The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and is located in the pelvis, between the penis and the bladder. Its a small gland around the size of a walnut, and its function is to produce a white fluid that partly makes up semen. Men, trans women, non-binary people who were assigned male at birth, and some intersex people have prostates. What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer can develop when cells in the prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way, according to Prostate Cancer UK. It is the most common cancer in men, as one in eight men is diagnosed with it in their lifetime. In the UK, around 400,000 men are living with prostate cancer or have had prostate cancer. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? Prostate cancer typically develops slowly so men might not notice any signs for years. Symptoms that do appear usually happen when the prostate becomes large enough to impact the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out of the penis. These symptoms include: an increased need to pee straining while you pee a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied These symptoms can also be caused by prostate enlargement but should be checked by a doctor. What are the causes of prostate cancer? The causes of prostate cancer are unknown but some men are more at risk than others. Men are more at risk of developing prostate cancer as they get older, with most cases developing after the age of 50. According to the NHS, prostate cancer is more common in black men and less common in Asian men. Additionally, men whose fathers or brothers were affected by prostate cancer are at slightly increased risk themselves. Obesity may also increase the risk of prostate cancer. What are the tests for prostate cancer? While there is no single test for prostate cancer, commonly used tests include blood tests, a physical examination of the prostate, an MRI scan, and a biopsy. Previously, a study found the diagnostic process for prostate cancer is now safer, which brought the UK a step closer to introducing a national rollout scheme. Concerns regarding potential harm and side effects when being screened for the disease have been a hotly debated topic in the medical world. This can include biopsies and unnecessary testing which could cause infections, as well as increasing unnecessary anxiety for men. Now researchers from Prostate Cancer UK have further researched prostate screening using both clinical trials and real-world data to determine if the seesaw has been tipped. Before 2019, men with a high level of PSA in their blood were sent straight for a biopsy, which could cause pain and bleeding, and came with a risk of serious infection. These biopsies could also sometimes miss the cancer, leading to repeated biopsies with further risks of infection and uncomfortable side effects . According to their analysis, on average, 67 per cent fewer men experienced harm during the diagnostic process. Two new techniques have been crucial to this reduction in harm multiparametric MRI scans (known as mpMRI) and transperineal guided biopsies. Widespread screening can reduce deaths from prostate cancer by 20 per cent, but a national rollout has been impossible while the benefits have been outweighed by the drawbacks. The UK may now finally be in a position to roll out a screening programme for prostate cancer, according to Prostate Cancer UK research. How is prostate cancer treated? Some people in the early stages of prostate cancer may not get treatment. The NHS says that doctors may suggest either watchful waiting or active surveillance. However, prostate cancer can sometimes be cured if treated in the early stages by surgically removing the prostate or radiotherapy, so it is important to persist if you have concerns. And a national rollout will help demystify the process and help diagnose more men in the early stages, so that lives can be saved. If prostate cancer has been diagnosed at a later stage after it has spread, treatment will focus on prolonging life and relieving symptoms. Stage four cancer means it has metastasised - and has spread further than the prostate into the body. This often means it is terminal. Treatment options can produce side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms, so some people may choose to delay treatment until theres a risk the cancer might spread, according to the NHS. However, the study has now shown that diagnosis safety has improved greatly. There are newer treatments available at some hospitals, including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy, but the long-term effectiveness of these treatments is not known yet. T he first public hearing of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is being held on Tuesday in a key moment for an investigation that is set to last years and cost more than 100million. The independent public inquiry was set up by former prime minister Boris Johnson to examine the UKs response to and impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It is chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge. Families of those who died during the pandemic hope the Government will be held accountable, acknowledge their grief and learn lessons before the next global pandemic. The investigation is split into six modules, with public hearings scheduled to conclude by summer 2026, with interim reports published before then. Lady Hallett is planning to publish reports for Module 1 and 2 next year. What to expect from the first day? The session on Tuesday will open with a statement from chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett, followed by a short film showing the impact of the pandemic. The inquiry will examine, consider and report on preparations and the response to the pandemic in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland up to and including June 28, 2022. Six weeks of hearings are planned for the first module of the inquiry, which will focus on resilience and preparedness. Katharine Hammond, the former director of the civil contingencies secretariat in the Cabinet Office, is among those who will give testimony during the opening week of verbal evidence to the pandemic investigation. The rest of the opening day will be taken up with the opening statements by the counsel to the inquiry and core participants. Who are key people set to give evidence? Epidemiologists Professor Jimmy Whitworth and Dr Charlotte Hammer will be the first to give evidence in person, starting on Wednesday afternoon. Professor David Heymann, retired civil servant Bruce Mann and Professor David Alexander will appear on Thursday June 15. On Friday June 16, Professor Sir Michael Marmot and Professor Clare Bambra will give evidence before Ms Hammonds afternoon appearance. Hearings are open to the public, with limited seating at the central London venue reserved on a first come first served basis, the inquiry said. What lessons are hoped to be learned? As well as listening to the experiences of bereaved families, the Covid Inquiry aims to better prepare the UK for the next pandemic or civil emergency. This includes examining lessons learned in relation to preparedness and resilience, how decisions wer made and communicated and the use of lockdowns and other measures such as testing and contact tracing. The inquiry also aims to look at the impact of mental health on Britons and the bereaved, and healthcare workers, educators, hospitality and other sectors. The full terms of reference can be read here. Boris Johnsons Whatsapp row explained The inquirys second module, with evidence scheduled to be given in the autumn, will look into Government decision making during the pandemic. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnsons phone evidence is likely to be heavily relied upon. Messages relating to the ordering of three coronavirus lockdowns in 2020 are likely on a phone Mr Johnson stopped using in May 2021 after it emerged his mobile number had been available online for 15 years. But redacted copies of Mr Johnsons notebooks, diaries and WhatsApp messages from Mr Johnsons new phone have been submitted as evidence. The Privileges Committee met on Monday to finalise its report into whether Mr Johnson misled parliament over the partygate scandal. The former PM dismissed the inquiry as a witch hunt as he dramatically announced his resignation from the Commons on Friday. Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Hallett had given the Government until Friday to set out its position on whether it would submit the pandemic leaders WhatsApp messages, notebooks and diaries uncensored to her investigation. Ministers are challenging her request for the materials in the courts but lawyers for the probe have suggested Mr Johnsons co-operation with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which he set up when in Downing Street, meant it was likely to see the unredacted documents before a judicial review is heard at the end of the month. A fter a stubborn few weeks of cool and rainy weather, London has finally welcomed a warming sun and blue skies. Over the past weekend temperatures soared to above 30C in the capital, with health warnings being issued across various parts of the country. The heatwave is expected to continue for the next few days before easing early next week. Here is a look at what the weather forecast for London will bring in the coming days. What is the weather in London this week? The week kicked off with a sunny Monday, with a high of 27C and a low of 18C. The Met Office issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms as it expected the odd shower in the capital. Tuesday June 13 reached a high of 28C and a low of 15C, before the temperature returned to a high of 27C on Wednesday June 14, according to the Met Office. From Thursday June 16 to Sunday June 18, the highest temperature in London will be 26C. However, while Thursday and Friday are due to be sunny, Saturday and Sunday will be predominantly cloudy. The Met Office has also warned hayfever sufferers that their itchy eyes and sneezing are likely to continue for several weeks. Spokesman Grahame Madge told the PA news agency: We are now getting into grass season. With it being so dry across the UK, it means grasses are able to shed pollen. For sufferers, hay fever has been a feature of the last few days and will continue to be a feature for sufferers over the next few days and weeks. (Sufferers will) only get a respite when the grass has shed all the available pollen or if we get significant rainfall, which will effectively wash the pollen out of the atmosphere. When will the heatwave end? Talking about the heatwave, Dan Stroud, a meteorologist from the Met Office, explained: The weather will try and settle down on Tuesday and mid-week. But it will maintain this well-above-average temperature. Most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria. While temperatures will get slightly cooler towards the end of the week, they are expected to pick back up by June 23 with temperatures more likely to be above average in general until July 8. C harlotte Owen will become the country's youngest life peer in history after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave his approval to Boris Johnson's honours list before Mr Johnson resigned as an MP on Friday. The list names 38 honours and seven peerages, including former Downing Street chief of staff Dan Rosenfield and former London mayor Kulveer Singh Ranger. However, Owen was one of the most discussed names on the list due to her age. Who is Charlotte Owen? Charlotte Owen is a 29-year-old former special adviser. In 2015, Owen received a 2:1 in Politics and International Relations from the University of York. Prior to taking a position as a special adviser to prime ministers Johnson and Liz Truss, she worked as an intern and parliamentary assistant. Owen split her time equally between Chris Heaton-Harris, the Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Mr Johnson. Sky News Liz Bates said: Shes had a few jobs in Parliament. One of those was working for Boris Johnson. She did in the end work for the Number 10 policy unit. And I think at the end of her political career she was working for Liz Truss and the chief whip at the time, not an illustrious political career by any stretch, but she will go to the House of Lords as well. She has served in parliament for approximately five years and eight months, meaning she has transitioned from parliamentary intern to Baroness in just six years. Who else has been rewarded? Along with Owen, other young peers include Ben Gascoigne and Ross Kempsell. Jacob Rees-Mogg and Priti Patel, both former cabinet ministers of Johnson have also received recognition. Along with previous ministers, Andrea Jenkyns and Amanda Milling have been nominated for a damehood. Ben Houchen, the mayor of Tees Valley, and Shaun Bailey, a member of the London Assembly, are two of the new peers. In order to prevent by-elections for the Conservatives, no serving MPs were given peerages. However, one will now exist in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Johnsons home district. Former minister Nadine Dorries and former Cop26 president Sir Alok Sharma were not put forward for the House of Lords. The government reportedly moved them at the last minute to avert the possibility of two potentially disastrous by-elections. However, Grant Shapps, the secretary for energy security, claimed that Downing Street had no influence over peerage recommendations. More than 13,000 arrived last year from the country, which lies just north of Greece, and 43 were sent back in January, having made the perilous journey in a small boat. However, a committee of UK MPs has now stated in a report that there is "little evidence" Albanians are at risk in their country and need asylum in the UK. According to the Home Affairs select committee, Albanians should not be routinely offered asylum based on these findings, although some claims, such as women who had been trafficked, are legitimate. "Albania is a safe country," the cross-party committee said. "It is not at war and is a candidate country to join the European Union. "There is no clear basis for the UK to routinely accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens, the committee finds." This is what we know about the situation. Why are Albanians coming to the UK? The reasoning behind the rise could be a multitude of factors. Dan O'Mahoney, the Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, told a Home Office sub-committee that Albanian criminal gangs have gained a foothold in the north of France. Such gangs have been blamed for cocaine and cannabis operations in the UK. There are undoubtedly people who need our help - but there is also a large number who are deliberately gaming the system, he said. Albanian prime minister Edi Rama tweeted: [The] UK should fight the crime gangs of all nationalities and stop discriminating Albanians to excuse policy failures. Albanian ambassador to the UK Qirjako Qirko said most make the journey for economic reasons. Corruption, low salaries, poor working conditions, and a low quality of life were all cited in a Gallup poll about why workers were looking to leave. Unemployment for 15- to 25-year-olds is at around 20 per cent. How many migrants come to the UK from Albania? Albanians accounted for 35 per cent of arrivals in the first nine months of 2022 / Gareth Fuller / PA An increasing number of Albanian migrants are making the journey to the UK. In 2020, 50 arrived, the next year 800 made the crossing, while in 2022 more than 11,000 arrived in the first nine months. The number had reached 13,000 by December. Many of those coming over are single, adult men. Is Albania safe? The Foreign Office considers Albania to generally be a safe place to visit and Rishi Sunak called it a "safe, prosperous European country". More than 120,000 British nationals visit Albania every year and most visits are trouble-free. It is a scenic spot for a holiday getaway, with beautiful beaches offering an alternative to Greece. The UK Government has warned that opposition party demonstrations have been held in central Tirana, the capital city, in recent months. Demonstrations can cause traffic diversions and other disruptions, with more protests planned for 2023. A statement added: You should avoid any political rallies or demonstrations, and follow the advice of the local authorities as there is always a possibility they could turn violent. In addition, there are warnings about severe weather which can sometimes cause flooding in the countrys northern parts during winter months. Albania is home to beautiful beaches / Shutterstock Is Albania in the EU? Albania is looking to become a member of the European Union, having applied in 2009. It is not yet part of the block but it has made progress and should be set to join at some point in the next few years. Since June 2014, it has been an official candidate for accession and, in March 2020, the EU decided to open accession negotiations - a process launched last year. A 2021 poll found that as many as 97 per cent of Albanians are in favour of EU membership. Albanian citizens can currently enter EU nations without a visa and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as tourists. T he mum of four children who were rescued after 40 days alone in the Amazon jungle survived for four days after their plane crashed. Magdalena Mucutuy told her children to leave her and find help as she lay dying, according to the father of two of her children. Manuel Ranoque said before she died, the mother likely would have told them: Go away, apparently asking them to leave the wreckage site to survive. Authorities have not commented on this version of events. The siblings, aged 13, nine, five, and one, were airlifted out of the Colombian jungle on Friday in a rescue that stunned the world. They were moved to a military hospital in the nations capital Bogota. Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Mr Ranoque said: The one thing that [13-year-old Lesly] has cleared up for me is that, in fact, her mother was alive for four days. Before she died, their mum told them something like, You guys get out of here. You guys are going to see the kind of man your dad is, and hes going to show you the same kind of great love that I have shown you, he said. Colombia: Amazon Plane Crash 1 / 18 Colombia: Amazon Plane Crash Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get Colombian President Gustavo Petro (back) embracing Fidencio Valencia, the grandfather of the four Indigenous children who were found alive Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get Manuel Ranoque (C), father of the four Indigenous children who were found alive after being lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon forest following a plane crash, stands next to a gurney AFP via Getty Images Members of the army assist four Indigenous children who were found alive after spending more than a month lost in the Amazon Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett One of the four Indigenous children who were found alive after being lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon forest AFP via Getty Images Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Colombian Army checking 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 in San Jose del Guaviare during their transfer to Bogota Colombian Air Force/AFP via Gett Indigenous Manuel Ranoque (C), father of the four Indigenous children who were found alive after being lost for 40 days in the Colombian Amazon rainforest following a plane crash, arrives at the Military Hospital, where the children were hospitalized, in Bogota AFP via Getty Images Since the miraculous discovery on Friday details have slowly been emerging of their ordeal. Rescue worker Nicolas Ordonez Gomes recalled the moment they discovered the children. The eldest daughter, Lesly, with the little one in her arms, ran towards me. Lesly said: Im hungry, he told public broadcast channel RTVC. One of the two boys was lying down. He got up and said to me: My mum is dead. He said rescuers responded with positive words, saying that we were friends, that we were sent by the family. Mr Ordonez Gomes said the boy replied: I want some bread and sausage. Henry Guerrero, an Indigenous man who was part of the search group, told reporters that the children were found with two small bags containing some clothes, a towel, a flashlight, two cellphones, a music box and a soda bottle. He said they used the bottle to collect water in the jungle, and he added that after they were rescued the youngsters complained of being hungry. They wanted to eat rice pudding, they wanted to eat bread, he said. Fidencio Valencia, a childs uncle, told the media outlet Noticias Caracol that the children were starting to talk and one of them said they hid in tree trunks to protect themselves in a jungle area filled with snakes, animals and mosquitoes. He said they were exhausted. The four siblings appeared to be emaciated from the weeks they spent fending for themselves in the wilderness. Ms Mucutuy and her children had been travelling on the Cessna 206 aircraft to Araracuara, in Amazonas province, to San Jose del Guaviare, on May 1 when it issued a mayday alert due to engine failure. The bodies of the mother and the two pilots were found at the crash site by the army but there was no sign of the children and it appeared they had wandered into the rainforest to find help. They quickly became the focus of a huge rescue operation involving dozens of soldiers and local people. Rescuers tracked the children down after spotting signs in the jungle, including footprints and fruit that had been bitten into. Members of the childrens community had hoped that their knowledge of fruits and jungle survival skills would give them a better chance of remaining alive. Astrid Caceres, head of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, said the timing of their ordeal meant the the jungle was in harvest and they could eat fruit that was in bloom. B anking giant JP Morgan Chase has announced a settlement in a class action lawsuit with a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. The undisclosed settlement resolves one claim against JPMorgan in a proposed class action by a woman who says Epstein abused her. The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court in November sought to hold JPMorgan financially liable for Epsteins decades-long abuse of teenage girls and young women. We all now understand that Epsteins behaviour was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man, JPMorgan Chase said in a written statement early Monday. According to the lawsuits, JPMorgan provided Epstein loans and regularly allowed him to withdraw large sums of cash from 1998 through August 2013 even though it knew about his sex trafficking practices. Any association with him (Epstein) was a mistake and we regret it, JPMorgan continued. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes. JPMorgan kept Epstein, who was a client of the bank from 1998 until he was dropped in 2013, aboard even after his 2006 arrest on prostitution-related charges and a related guilty plea two years later. The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking, Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for the woman known as Jane Doe 1 who sued JPMorgan, said in a statement. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges accusing him of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York. He was found dead in jail on August 10 of that year, at age 66. A medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Deutsche Bank, where Epstein was a client from 2013 to 2018, last month agreed to pay $75 million to settle a similar lawsuit by women who say they were trafficked by the financier. U krainian forces have seized back territory after at least 25 counter-offensive battles with more fierce fighting under way on Monday, say defence chiefs. Around two dozen 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 province, but also near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk province, Ukraines armed forces general staff said. Ukraine said on Sunday its troops had made advances on three villages in Donetsk: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Their claim of recapturing ground was backed up by the Institute for The Study of War. The Washington-based military think tank said: Ukrainian forces conducted counter-offensive operations in at least three areas of the front and made territorial gains on June 10 and 11. Ukrainian forces made visually verified advances in western Donetsk Oblast (province) and western Zaporizhia Oblast, which Russian sources confirmed but sought to downplay. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said Russian forces were transferring their most combat-capable units from the southern Kherson direction to the Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia areas, it added. It also stressed that Russian forces conducted a limited series of drone strikes targeting eastern Ukrainian border areas overnight on June 10 to 11. Some prominent Russian military bloggers indicated that while Ukrainian forces took Blahodatne and Neskuchne, fighting for Makarivka was going on. Both sides have said their forces had inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on their opponents over the past week when Ukraines counter-offensive was taking shape. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine had failed to breach Russian defences, while his defence ministry said it had destroyed several main battle Leopard tanks and other equipment that Ukraine had received from the West. Claims from the Kremlin need to be treated with particular caution given the propaganda issued often turns out not to be accurate. While staying largely silent over the past week about its counte-roffensive, Ukraines military has reported daily battlefield successes. Over the last week in the Bakhmut direction, the Russian invaders suffered significant losses, the general staff said on Monday. The governor of the Donetsk region in Ukraine said one civilian was killed and two were wounded by Russian fire in the Avdiivka region on Sunday. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Kyiv wanted to discuss details of the aircraft coalition with its allies at the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on June 15 in Brussels. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has long been appealing for the US-made F-16 fighter jets, saying their acquisition with Ukrainian pilots would be a sure signal from the world that Russias invasion would end in defeat. At this stage, we are talking about training of pilots ... and our technicians and engineers, Ukraines Military Media Centre quoted Mr Reznikov as saying. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence in London claimed that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was appearing increasingly in public to try to show he was in control of Putins Ukraine invasion masterplan in the face of Ukraines counter-offensive. Shoigu and Russias Chief of the General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, have faced scathing criticism from Putins Wagner Group private army chief Yevgeny Prigozhin whose forces last month captured the eastern town of Bakhmut. In its latest intelligence update, the MoD said: Over the last week, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has maintained a high public profile, likely with the aim of presenting himself as in control of strategic issues while Ukraine accelerates offensive operations. Shoigu has provided at least two comments on Russias defensive operations, including making almost certainly seriously exaggerated claims about Ukrainian losses. This contrasts with other key periods in the war when he had disappeared from public appearances. The briefing added: Shoigu has also urged Russias defence industry to redouble its efforts, and castigated Western Military District officers for not dispatching reserve armoured vehicles to the front quickly enough. Shoigu is likely acutely aware of the need to maintain a positive image in the face of increasingly unmasked criticism from some fellow Russians. As part of its ongoing modernization efforts, Southwire has announced an expansion at its campus in Florence, Ala., that is expected to increase production capacity by 30% and create approximately 120 jobs. For more than seventy years, Southwire has been delivering power responsibly to customers throughout the world. A leader in the multi-billion-dollar North American market, the company is enhancing its proven legacy, trusted reputation and longstanding, disciplined financial management by building upon its strengths to attain sustainable, strategic growth. "At Southwire, we're making a multi-year investment of more than a billion dollars to integrate newer and better equipment, systems and technology into our operations to increase efficiency, enhance competitiveness and ensure the operational capability and capacity to support our strategic growth. The Florence expansion is a testament to those efforts," said Rich Stinson, Southwire's president and CEO. The Southwire Florence Plant was acquired from Essex in 2006 to support the company's production of commercial and residential building wire. The 300,000 square foot campus has grown over time, and this expansion will include approximately 340,000 square feet of added space for new equipment. "Southwire is committed to remain generationally sustainable for the next 100 years and beyond and be an employer of choice, and we look forward to the growth opportunities that this expansion will bring to our company," said Norman Adkins, president of wire and cable and COO. In addition to more operating space and new equipment, the project will also include renovating the existing building to enhance the team member experience, including locker rooms, training space and an outdoor picnic and activity area. "This investment will allow us to better service our customers safely and efficiently, and the Florence team and I are very excited about the expansion and what it means for the future," said Brian Davis, plant manager. "This expansion speaks volumes about the dedication, hard work and commitment of our team members, and we look forward to the opportunities that this expansion will bring." These investments and upgrades will effectively streamline Southwire's commercial and residential building wire efforts, complement existing products and emphasize the facility's culture and labor pool. "Southwire's investment project will create good-paying jobs in Florence while also enhancing the facility's competitiveness and solidifying its future in the community," said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. "Southwire is a world-class company and a great corporate partner at the state and local level. We're thrilled to see them grow and thrive in the Shoals area." "Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and City of Florence Utilities congratulates Southwire on its decision to expand operations and create new job opportunities in Florence," said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development. "It's always an exciting day when we can celebrate a company's commitment to continued growth in the region. We are proud to partner with Shoals Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support companies like Southwire and look forward to its continued business success in the region." Construction is expected to begin this quarter and should be completed in 2025. "Existing industries are the lifeblood of economic development," said Kevin Jackson, Shoals EDA President. "Their growth and expansions are a testament to the communities and employees they support. It's always a great day when we can assist a gold-standard company, such as Southwire, with this expansion in Florence and Lauderdale County. This project will create a lasting positive impact on the entire Shoals region." A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers and an emerging influence in many important electrical markets. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, utility products, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment, electrical components, hand tools and jobsite power and lighting solutions, and the company provides a variety of field and support services to customers around the world. For more information about Southwire's products, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com. 2023 Southwire Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. T heres rarely a day that goes by when walking through Londons Underground, passing someone on the street or strolling through the lobby of ES HQ without catching a whiff of one of Le Labos hugely coveted aromas. Founded in New York in 2006, the brand has gone on to worldwide domination, turning the traditional gendered fragrance industry on its head with its unique, unisex, and now ubiquitous collection of artisinal perfumes. A status symbol in their own right, a bottle of Le Labo on a bathroom shelf says a lot about a person; elegance, sophistication, class. When you purchase one of these scents, it is formulated by hand in a specialised lab with custom printed labels and the option to refill for a discount. The fragrance house almost needs no introduction for its meticulously crafted eau de parfums - you will have likely smelled each and every one, whether thats by design or not. The most popular, Santal 33 has an immediately recognisable and unmissable musky, smoked wood leather and spice combination, while The Noir 29 sets black tea with the fresh and fruity notes of fig and bay, before anchoring with a cedar wood, vetiver and musk base. The notes of Another 13 turn all preconcieved notions of a musk on its head with a pairing of jasmine and moss, while Rose 31 is a floral unlike any other rose scent on the market. Bergamote 22 is surprisingly warm for a floral opening of petit grain due to the concotion of amber, vetiver and musks that follow and Lys 41 sets sweet Madagascan vanilla as a counterpart to floral notes. What unites the 20-strong line-up is depth, intrigue and soul. But so well known is the label that you may just find yourself struggling to find a more personalised perfume - you know the ones where everyone wants to know what you are wearing, rather than already know. Thats where these dupes come in. The collection of fragrances below sample elements from Le Labos collection but put their own twist on it - and more often than not, at a more purse-friendly price tag. Shop the best Le Labo dupes below C hris Hemsworth has shared his appreciation for wife Elsa Pataky and credited the Spanish model and actress for his success both personally and professionally. The Thor actor, 39, married Pataky in 2010 and together they share an 11-year-old daughter, India, and nine-year-old twin sons, Tristan and Sasha. Opening up about his relationship with 46-year-old Pataky, he told British GQ that one of the reasons they work so well together is that they both have the desire to have a good time, to laugh and be involved in new adventures. He also confessed that he would not have achieved the level of success that he has without her. Her sacrifice, commitment, work, support, forgiveness everything that she has given me over the years has been incredible. I couldnt have done any of the things Ive done without it, he said. Hemsworth pictured with Pataky and their twin sons / Getty Images He went on to add that his life has moved so fast, before recalling a point in their 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. After going through a period of wanting to focus on his career out of fear that it could all disappear, he suddenly had an epiphany while filming 2022 TV series Limitless with Chris Hemsworth and his priorities shifted. All of these beautiful moments were rapidly flying past me, Hemsowrth said. It made me just kind of want to wrap that show and get back and see my family. And I did. B ritish actress Kate Beckinsale has revealed that her iconic cat who became an internet sensation during the pandemic has died, leaving her devastated. The Underworld star announced Clives death on Instagram on Monday evening, alongside a photograph of her hugging him while he was wrapped in a pink fluffly jacket. Every single part of my house feels like he should be in it, the 46-year-old Londoner wrote. If anyone is expecting to hear from me, you may not for a bit and Im sorry. My heart is absolutely and totally broken. She added: I dont have it in me to make a montage or even look at pictures of him yet. Britons became fond of Clive after Beckinsale started posting videos and photos of the pair to her almost six million Instagram followers during the Covid pandemic. In one video, Beckinsale accessorised Clive with googly eye stickers as the two bopped along to will.i.am and Britney Spears Scream & Shout track. In another, she asked him questions about his life, acting as a hairdresser, while she chopped his mane. Clive also celebrated his 17th birthday and played a little Cat Stevens for his fans. A number of celebrities have been quick to show their support for Beckinsale. The Queens Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy wrote: Sending you love. American actress Lisa Rinna said: Oh Im so so sorry for your loss we loved you sharing Clive with us. Thank you. Loading.... This episode of Tech & Science Daily podcast is recorded from London Tech Week at Westminsters QE II Centre. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak opened proceedings with controversial comments about the use of artificial intelligence in schools. But, could this AI software army help beat the capital's traffic jams and help win the war on fly-tipping? Were joined by Theo Blackwell, Londons chief digital officer. More than 13,000 people have been evacuated after the Philippines most active volcano erupted, sending lava oozing down its slopes. People living within a near four-mile radius of Mayon Volcano were told to flee, but thousands remain within the high-risk zone. Environmental authorities have launched an investigation after thousands of dead fish washed up along the Gulf Coast in Texas over the weekend. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Kills and Spills Team described the incident at Quintana Beach in Brazoria County as a low dissolved oxygen event as temperatures reached over 33C, but found no evidence of a chemical spill impacting the fish. Plus, nearly 3,500 Reddit forums go dark in protest over apps charges, shoes for virtual reality with London startup Freeaim, Star Wars Outlaws announced at Microsofts Xbox Games Showcase and whys fours the magic number for a dinner party. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. The products of Sheki Sharab factory are mainly exported to Russia, but the export geography of the enterprise will expand, Azernews reports, citing Boris Titov, the head of the Abrau-Durso group of companies in an interview with Azerbaijani journalists. "Russia is our main market. However, we also plan to export to Turkiye. At the same time, we also hope for the Chinese market. We use our marketing and distribution efforts, we are looking for partners to increase volumes," Boris Titov said. He noted that currently, the productivity of company in Azerbaijan is 3.5 million bottles per year. But in reality the company can produce more. We have produced more than 1 million bottles of wine since the middle of last year. We have already taken the first place in the export of Azerbaijani wine to Russia. We hope that the volume of production will only increase," said Titov. Boris Titov said that Azerbaijan is the largest wine-growing region in the former Soviet Union, and paid special attention to the creation of the wine-making museum. "We made wonderful wine-making friends here. Therefore, we did not doubt for a moment that it is necessary not only to produce wine, but also to create the history of winemaking in this country." We should note that the Abrau-Durso group of companies demonstrated the results of its investment activities in Azerbaijan - officially opened the modernized Sheki Wine plant and presented the newest line of filtering sparkling wines. Within the framework of the event, Az Abrau Museum was opened, and the history of viticulture and winemaking in Azerbaijan was reflected in the exposition. Abrau-Durso LLC announced the investment project in Azerbaijan at the end of 2021. At that time, the group won the competition for the privatization of the Sheki Sharab winery. During the past period, a large amount of work was done by Abrau-Durso. The production process was modernized, equipment for the production and filtering of sparkling wine was purchased and installed, a total of 430 hectares of land was purchased for the planting of vineyards, and preparatory work was carried out for the planting of grapes. White rhinos are back at Garamba National Park in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of an initiative Barrick Gold Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow started nearly 13 years ago. Sixteen white rhinos were reintroduced, arriving by aircraft from South Africa, Barrick reported on June 10. The white rhinoceros was last seen in the park in 2006, according to Barrick Gold Corp., which was the lead donor in the translocation as part of its long-standing partnership with African Parks and Garamba National Park, the oldest wildlife park in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Barrick stated that to date it has provided more than $2.5 million for tracking collars, fuel for observation planes, rescue and rehabilitation programs and improvements to critical infrastructure, such as roads and bridges as part of the rhino project. Bristow said Barricks continued support for Garamba is based on the companys holistic approach to sustainability. The company operates the Kibali gold mine in the DRC. Barrick also is the operator of the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture with Newmont Corp. and operates mines in several other countries. Conserving biodiversity is fundamental to planetary survival, essential to tackling climate change and has an important role to play in the war on poverty. We strive not only to preserve and maintain biodiversity within our permits but to partner with NGOs and other organizations, such as African Parks and Garamba, to protect and restore critical biodiversity in some of the worlds most precious places, Bristow said. Garamba was one of the last strongholds of the northern white rhino now extinct in the wild, and the reintroduction of the near-threatened southern sub-species not only promotes the long-term conservation of the rhino in Africa by extending its range, but also creates another breeding node for the species in a safe environment, Barrick said in the announcement. In addition, rhinos have historically played an important role in regulating the structure and functioning of the parks ecosystem, creating and maintaining grazing lawns that support other fauna and flora and provide important ecosystem services. The rhinos came from the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Preserve in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, and their translocation was achieved in collaboration with the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, the Congolese government and African Parks. Bristow said Garamba is one of the largest employers in the region, with more than 500 full-time staff and hundreds more employees on contract, including law enforcement teams and community personnel, as well as supporting more than 9,000 community members in entrepreneurial enterprises and four hospitals. Since African Parks assumed management of Garamba in 2005, there has been a significant decrease in poaching and most wildlife species found there are showing positive population increases, thanks largely to the development of alternative socio-economic initiatives in and around the park, Toronto-based Barrick also said. As many as 104 people were vaccinated against COVID in the week of June 5 - 11, of which 88 with Pfizer Omicron adapted to the new strains of coronavirus, the serum of which administration began on November 28, 2022, informs the National Institute for Public Health (INSP). Since the start of the vaccination campaign on December 27, 2020, 16,922,995 doses of the anti-COVID vaccine have been administered. 8,131,134 people received the complete scheme, and 2,668,730 were immunized with the third dose. The Ministry of Health informs on Monday that, between June 5 and 11, 963 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were registered. Until now, 3,406,169 cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2 have been registered in Romania. The incidence recorded at 14 days is 0.09. As many as 489 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized in specialized health units, the Ministry of Health also informs. At ICU, 58 patients are treated, of which 44 are not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Out of the total number of hospitalized patients, 33 are minors, all of them on the ward. In the last week, 24 deaths (9 men and 15 women) were reported by the INSP. So far, 68,217 people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania, the Ministry of Health also shows.AGERPRES A Bulgarian national was detained for 24 hours after attempting to smuggle around 2.3 million euro worth of contraband cigarettes into Romania via the southern Giurgiu border crossing point in a truck carrying glass containers from Bulgaria to the Czech Republic. "At the Giurgiu Border Crossing Point, a 53-year-old Bulgarian national presented himself at the end of last week to enter the country at the wheel of a tractor unit and a semi-trailer. According to the documents presented, the driver was transporting glass containers from Bulgaria to the Czech Republic. Based in the risk analysis, the border police carried out a thorough check on the cargo. Thus, nine hundred boxes containing nine million smuggled cigarettes were discovered hidden in the cargo compartment, using the lid method," said a press release issued on Monday by the General Inspectorate of the Border Police. The cigarettes, worth a total of about 2.3 million euro, or 11.25 million RON, were seized and the border police are still investigating the criminal case, under the coordination of the Giurgiu Public Prosecutor's Office. At the same time, the measure of the person's detention for 24 hours was ordered with a proposal for preventive arrest to be presented in court.AGERPRES The Romanian Embassy in Israel celebrates 75 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between Romania and the State of Israel with a documentary exhibition of photographs and archival documents reflecting the most important moments of the bilateral relationship. The photographs and documents on display come from the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the AGERPRES National News Agency and the Rubin Museum of Art. The festive opening of the exhibition took place on Sunday evening at the Rubin Museum in Tel Aviv. The speeches were delivered by the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, the Secretary of State for Global Affairs and Diplomatic Strategies, Traian Laurentiu Hristea, the Ambassador of Romania in Tel Aviv, Radu Ioanid, and the director of the Rubin Museum in Tel Aviv, Carmela Rubin, daughter-in-law of the first diplomatic representative of Israel in Bucharest, Reuven Rubin. Also present were members of the Knesset and other Israeli officials, the director of the Diplomatic Archives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Doru Liciu, and AGERPRES National News Agency Director General Claudia Nicolae. The opening event was symbolically scheduled for June 11, the date on which Romania officially recognised the new state. The location of the exhibition is also symbolic, as the Rubin Museum is the former residence of artist Reuven Rubin, who was born in Romania and was the first Israeli diplomatic envoy to Bucharest. The President of Israel spoke of 75 years of ''truly unique'' diplomatic relations between Romania and Israel, which were established in the first moments of Israel's independence and ''have persisted in troubled times for our countries and for the world'', with rich ties in the fields of culture, economy, trade, security and much more. He stressed the role of Romanian Jews in Israel as an integral part of Israeli nation-building since the early days of the Zionist movement, being at the heart of the evolution of key areas such as the arts, economy, military industry, literature and culture, as well as agriculture. One of the first Jewish agricultural settlements, in northern Israel, was established by Romanian Jews, the Israeli head of state recalled. ''I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, for the development of the relations between our nations, the Prime Minister and the ministers of the Romanian government, as well as the Ambassador of Romania, Radu Ioanid, for his extraordinary work, as a historian and Holocaust scholar who knows perhaps better than any of us the pain of the Jewish experience in Europe and the potential of working together for healing and a better future,'' Herzog said. Secretary of State Traian Laurentiu Hristea said that bilateral relations between Romania and Israel have been marked by continuity through strong and friendly cooperation and recalled historic moments in this relationship, such as the special role played by Romania in the peace negotiations between the State of Israel and the Arab Republic of Egypt. ''The Jewish community has played a very important role in Romanian society for several hundred years, and their contribution to the culture and civilization of my country is both recognized and valued by promoting our common heritage and deep roots in our history,'' Hristea said. Reviewing bilateral relations, with a special focus on relevant historic moments, Romania's Ambassador to Israel, Radu Ioanid, stressed the importance Romania attaches to combating anti-Semitism and promoting Holocaust remembrance. The history of relations between Romania and Israel is very complex, said the diplomat, who recalled that Romania was the only communist country that refused to toe Moscow's line and did not break diplomatic relations with Israel in 1967. ''This was the first important decision reflecting a very particular foreign policy,'' said the ambassador. Carmela Rubin, director of the museum that hosted the event, spoke at length about the work of the first diplomatic representative of the State of Israel in Romania, Reuven Rubin, and his contribution to the development of bilateral relations. At the same time, given the role of Reuven Rubin in the relations between Romania and Israel and the symbolic location of the event, an art exhibition of the Rubin Museum "Rubin - 1923: One hundred years since settling in Eretz-Yisrael and one hundred years to his God Seekers" was inaugurated on this occasion. Both exhibitions are open to the general public starting June 12 2023. ForMin Aurescu talks to Estonian counterpart Tsahkna about preparation of NATO Summit in Vilnius. Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu discussed on Monday with recently appointed Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna, whom he tackled with topics such as the preparation of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, told Agerpres. According to a Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) press release sent to AGERPRES, the two officials had a discussion over phone and the topics were aimed at the preparation of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, which takes place on 11 and 12 July, with a focus on strengthening the allied posture on the Eastern Flank and consolidating the partnership between NATO and Ukraine, as well as the outlook of Ukraine's accession to NATO, which Romania and Estonia are actively endorsing. The quoted source mentioned that the head of the Romanian diplomacy underscored the importance of some coordinated approaches in view of the high-level meeting of NATO leaders in Vilnius, which should mark progresses in implementing the decisions from the high-level allied meetings of last year and noticed the similarity of Romania's and Estonia's standpoints and interests. Minister Bogdan Aurescu assured his counterpart that Romania endorses the ambitious and visible results in Vilnius in terms of Ukraine's prospect to become a member of the alliance, such it is also reflected in the Statement on this topic signed by Romania's President and Ukraine's President on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in the Republic of Moldova, held on 1 June 2023, the MAE mentions. According to the press release, minister Tsahkna briefed minister Aurescu about his recent visit to Kyiv and regarding Ukraine's needs and expectations in the difficult context it is confronted with, and the Foreign Affairs minister reaffirmed Romania's multidimensional support for Ukraine's effort to counter Russia's aggression and reiterated that allied unity and solidarity in continuing to support Ukraine is essential. "The Estonian Foreign Affairs minister, who previously served as the Defence minister, particularly thanked Romania for its involvement in defence and deterrence measures on the Eastern Flank, especially for the resumption of Romania's participation this year (April-July) in the air policing missions in the Baltic Sea region, as part of the collective allied effort to ensure the security of the Eastern Flank," the Foreign Ministry showed. Illustration photo This is part of amendment to Regulation 2019/1973 which was released on June 7, regarding emergency measures for controlling food exports into the EU. Accordingly, the EU officially moved Viet Nams instant noodles from Annex II which requires a Health Certificate (HC) and 20 percent control at the border gate to Annex 1 which only requires 20 percent control of the products at EU border gates. This decision is a recognition of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s efforts in controlling food safety and supporting businesses in solving difficulties. According to the Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan, the EUs maintenance of the 20 percent control at border gates requires Viet Nam to always retain food safety control for instant noodles. To improve the quality of Vietnamese products imported into the EU and create conditions for the products to make inroads into this lucrative market, the MoIT has ordered export businesses to control production supply chains and strictly comply with the food safety regulations of the union. Earlier, in January 2022, the EU put Vietnamese instant noodles products under the microscope subject to Regulation 2019/1793 in order to control ethylene oxide (EO) residues./. Four nationals of Bangladesh, aged between 20 and 40, have been found by the immigration police illegally staying in Romania, the Bacau County Police Inspectorate (IPJ) informed on Monday. Three of them were escorted to the Border Crossing Point at the Henri Coanda Airport. Upon leaving the country, three of them were banned for one year from entering any member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation. The fourth person was fined RON 400, and a return decision was issued on his name for voluntary departure from Romania within 15 days. Upon leaving the country, he will be banned for six months from entering any member state of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation. AGERPRES Gov't rotation/Orban: Activity ends for a gov't that was the gravedigger of the middle class. Unaffiliated deputy Ludovic Orban, leader of the Right Force party, said Monday that the government led by Nicolae Ciuca can be considered "the gravedigger of the middle class" and asked President Klaus Iohannis not to appoint a Social Democratic Party (PSD) prime minister, told Agerpres. "We have taken note of Mr. Ciuca's resignation as prime minister. It ends the work of a government that did not make any reform, the work of a government that can be considered the gravedigger of the middle class, of those who are active in the economy, of those who like work, education and who had results in their work. It ends the work of a government that has lost all the battles it has had to fight, that has done nothing but create a state of tension in society, to turn Romanian society into a powder keg," Orban said at the Palace of Parliament. He added that the Ciuca Government "was born out of the betrayal of the PNL electorate and the betrayal of the PSD electorate only for the interest of the dominant clique, the nomenclature of the two parties." Ludovic Orban conveyed to President Iohannis that if he appoints a PSD prime minister, "he will remain the biggest political traitor in the history of Romanian democracy since 1989." "I want to give a message to President Iohannis. I want to ask Mr. Iohannis not to appoint a PSD prime minister. If he does so, he will remain the biggest political traitor in the history of Romanian democracy since 1989, the man who sinned, lied and mocked 6.5 million Romanians who voted for him precisely to keep the PSD out of government and to make reforms that would change all the harmful things in Romanian society that were brought by the PSD," he said. Gov't rotation/Pirvulescu: Rotation - Legacy of President Iohannis; a government without UDMR - much weaker. Political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu told AGERPRES on Monday that the government rotation represents the "commitment of President Iohannis," proof of the categorical change in the political regime and drew attention to the fact that a government without UDMR would be "much weaker." "Rotation is the commitment made by President Iohannis, it is precisely the proof of the categorical change in the political regime. It is his bet. It is the legacy he wants to leave and which many challenge as energetically as possible. Moreover, from the point from my point of view, the whole union movement has nothing to do, except for the teachers, with the salary increase demands. It is a political movement, coming at a time when it could frustrate or delay and compromise this solution of President Iohannis to radically change the structure of the political regime in Romania, making possible a rotation, which would allow the stabilization of the regime and the exit from the stage of the absurd partisan confrontation. Many look at it with great distrust, because they look at the PSD with great confidence. So, it is a moment in which PSD will have to demonstrate that it is a party with a real governmental and responsible vocation. We will see. But President Iohannis will go to the end. It is his operation, it is linked to his image, including his possible future European career," the political scientist said, told Agerpres. Cristian Pirvulescu emphasized that a government without UDMR would be "much weaker." "It would be a much weaker government and, in fact, it would be a failure, a failure of the rotation, because the protocol was not respected, and the responsibility for not respecting the protocol belongs entirely to the PSD. It is already a proof of its political immaturity or, in any case, of the current leadership. The UDMR cannot really give in, because it risks coming into conflict with the radicals in the party and especially with the radicals from the Hungarian minority, who can't wait to be able to attack the leadership of the UDMR in order to make a change in representativeness regarding the Hungarian minority. So, the situation would be very complicated without the UDMR. It's not that one can't govern. It can govern, it was possible before. The problem is related to the geopolitical context and the complicated situation of governance in Romania, where the UDMR proved to be more disciplined and loyal than the other parties in the Coalition," Pirvulescu explained. The political scientist argued that, "in principle, if the geopolitical situation remains the same, the government will resist, but not under any conditions." "Not under any circumstances. And if the UDMR is not be in government, it will be much more difficult. In other words, there will be a temptation for the PNL, not necessarily for Mr. Ciuca, nor for Mr. Iohannis, who still has an influence on the PNL. But there will be a temptation for the PNL to leave the government and it will depend on the resistance of Ciuca and Iohannis to these pressures," Pirvulescu said. He pointed out that in the Ciolacu Government "there will be many new ministers", but this will not necessarily mean "a new breath." Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced on Monday the resignation of his Government. The number of registrations of individuals and legal entities increased, in the first four months of 2023, by 8.73%, compared to the same period last year, up to 51,707, of which 33,498 limited liability companies (SRL), according to data centralized by the National Trade Register Office (ONRC), consulted by AGERPRES. Most entries were registered in Bucharest, respectively 10,401 (plus 15.27%, compared to January-April 2022). According to ONRC, wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (9,752; +11.36%, compared to the first four months of 2022), transport and storage (5,572; +14.53%) and construction (5,355; -5.19%) are the areas in which most registrations were made. Ploiesti, Botosani to host exhibitions, debates on "The Holocaust in Romania, in comics made by students". Two comic strip exhibitions, as part of a project dedicated to raising awareness on the Holocaust in Romania, will be inaugurated on Thursday and Saturday in Ploiesti and Botosani respectively, told Agerpres. According to a press release issued by the organisers, Freedom House and the "Elie Wiesel" National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania, the two exhibitions are part of a project that as been running from December 2022. "Images from the past. The Holocaust in Romania" is a project that brings us closer to the experiences of Jews and Roma during the Holocaust in Romania and presents us with a different history of the communities we live in; a history of those persecuted, deported, exterminated because they were/were born differently, say the organisers. According to them, the event that will take place on Thursday in Ploiesti will be a discovery of the life stories of Jews and Roma in Prahova during the Holocaust. "We will start at 5.00 pm, at the Palace of Culture in Ploiesti, 'Great Union' Hall, with a dialogue about local histories, and we will continue at 6.30 pm, in the Central Park, in the area of the 'I.L. Caragiale' monument, with the inauguration of the comic strip exhibition to which students and teachers from the 'Nichita Stanescu' National High School in Ploiesti contributed," informs the source. A similar event will take place on Saturday in Botosani, starting at 11.00 am at the Hotel Rapsodia, with a dialogue on local histories, the action will continue at 12.30 pm on the Unirii Pedestrian Street, with the inauguration of the comic strip exhibition to which students and teachers from the "Mihai Eminescu" National College in Botosani contributed. "The Holocaust in Romania, in comics made by students. The past is seen in the present" project is funded under the Citizenship, Equality, Rights, Values Programme. The initiators propose a set of ten street exhibitions that will tell the story of Jews and Roma in 10 counties, the localities being selected to cover the multiple facets of the Holocaust under Romanian authority. Prior to each exhibition, a workshop will be held for 22 students from local high schools to explain the concept of the project, present the history of the local Jewish and Roma communities and encourage their contribution to the narrative. The exhibitions will also be presented in digital format on the project website, with open access so that teachers can use them in classroom. The print exhibitions will also be lend to schools across the country on request. The closing event of the project will be an open exhibition in Bucharest that will bring together a selection of panels from the local exhibitions, all ten exhibitions will be published in a comic book. President Iohannis takes note of PM Ciuca's resignation; JustMin Predoiu appointed interim PM. President Klaus Iohannis took note of the resignation of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and signed the decree through which Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu takes over the interim prime minister responsibilities, the Presidential Administration announced, told Agerpres. According to the same source, the President welcomed Nicolae Ciuca on Monday at the Cotroceni Palace, and he officially submitted his resignation from the prime minister office. "According to the constitutional provisions, the President of Romania took note of the resignation of Mr. Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca and signed the decree establishing the vacancy of the Prime Minister office of Romania's Government. Furthermore, President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree appointing Mr. Marian-Catalin Predoiu as interim prime minister, in order to fulfill the duties of the prime minister until the formation of the new Government," the Presidential Administration mentions. The Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration means in fact the splitting of money left and right, based on political criteria, "at the whim of Marcel Ciolacu", while the real development project of Romania, the European funds, is of no interest to the social democrats, because there the money is granted on verified projects and there is monitoring of reforms, said REPER MEP Dacian Ciolos. "Although he said that the political negotiations for the governmental rotation are suspended until solutions are found for the teachers on strike, Marcel Ciolacu announced that a new negotiation meeting with PNL [the National Liberal Party] and UDMR [the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania] will take place today. I don't remember the education problem being solved, but I leave aside the lie of a few days ago. The head of the PSD has already got us used to his tricks to make him look responsible for a few days," Ciolos wrote on Facebook. "Marcel Ciolacu clearly says today that he wants the Ministry of Development and proposes that UDMR take the European Funds instead. The calculation of the social democrats is clear. The Ministry of Development actually means the splitting of money left and right, based on political criteria. At the behest of Marcel Ciolacu. They are not interested in Romania's real development project, the European funds, because there the money is given on verified projects and there is the monitoring of the reforms which, once they are not carried out, are heavy on the electoral stomach. In fact, PSD governments never mean commitments for Romania's development, we do not see the assumption of real reforms. It's just a festival of splitting money to stay in power and a festival of emotional manipulation to make it look like they care about people's welfare. Marcel Ciolacu either doesn't give a damn about European funds, or is afraid to take responsibility for monitoring the reforms related to the funds, or doesn't understand anything of what the development vision of the country entails," the former European Commissioner said.AGERPRES PSD's Ciolacu: There is a majority in Parliament just with PSD, PNL and the minorities. The Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the minority group are currently holding a majority in Parliament, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday, adding that he wants the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) to stay in power, told Agerpres. Asked if, in the event that PSD stays in power with PNL only, he will have peace of mind regarding the laws passed in the Parliament, Ciolacu said: "I can live with this problem and there is a majority in Parliament, even if it were just PSD and PNL, but, as you well know, there is also the minority group, which will participate today in the finalisation of the governing agenda. At this moment, UDMR has not announced whether or not it wants to attend." Asked what will happen to UDMR, he said: "At the political level - let's do our job. Politics means negotiations." "At this moment, we entered a different institutional logic, namely the prime minister has gone to take the mandate to the President of Romania, the President of Romania will call us for consultations; there will be a prime minister-delegate - if you have questions ask the President of Romania, because it is the constitutional power of the President of Romania to make this designation - and with certainty, if I were the prime minister-designate, I would have a meeting with Mr Kelemen Hunor [UDMR's national leader] after that designation, together with Chairman Nicolae Ciuca. And I am firmly convinced that I will come and inform you." He added that there will be negotiations and he will meet PNL national leader Nicolae Ciuca and national leader of UDMR Kelemen Hunor. "It was as if we were still together three years ago when I was accused of selling Transylvania and I had secret meetings in the offices of the Romanian Parliament. And it was still you asking me if I sold Transylvania or if we had meetings. Now I see that I am no longer selling Transylvania to UDMR and I am no longer the partner to the UDMR, suddenly I am the one who brings out UDMR. My opinion is that in politics I think we have the right, as everywhere, to have a negotiation. What I can say very clearly today is the fact that, if I will be the designated person, I will have a meeting with Chairman Kelemen Hunor, with PNL Chairman Nicolae Ciuca. Furthermore, I want UDMR to stay in power. (...) We have respected each other and I believe that there are no major changes in the composition of the ministries." Ciolacu added that he hopes that the new government will be inaugurated by vote by Thursday at the latest. Romanian satellite designed and built by students to launch into orbit. ROM-2 Romanian Orbital Mission, a Romanian PocketQube satellite satellite nicknamed Space Sparrow, designed and built by students of the Bucharest International Informatics High School (RomSpace team), will be launched into orbit on Tuesday, at 00.30hrs, EEST, told Agerpres. ROM-2 is on board a Falcon 9 rocket which will take off, according to SpaceX's announcement, at 00.30hrs from the space base in Vandenberg, California. Designed and built by students of the Bucharest International Informatics High School (the RomSpace team), tested in the laboratories of the Polytechnics of Madrid and integrated on the launcher by the British company Alba Orbital, ROM-2 is a 5x5x5cm cube which main mission is observing the Earth. The main technical challenge at this moment is the resistance of the Li-Ion battery that powers the electrical installation, as the battery has to withstand cosmic cold until the satellite receives energy from the solar panels. ROM-2 will transmit on the 436.235 MHz frequency, and its data will be received both by the antenna built by the students and by the network of ham radio operators from all over the world. The RomSpace team that carried out the project consists of Filip Buscu, Alexandru Luchianov, Vladimir Necula, George Chirils, David Constantinescu, Rares Balasescu, Vlad Erceanu, Andra Palada, and Eliza Constantinescu. Social Democratic party (PSD) chairman Marcel Ciolacu said that the Social Democrats want to continue the collaboration with UDMR (Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania) and will propose that the Union's representatives take over the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of European Funds in the future Government. "It was a discussion to continue the collaboration with UDMR. My colleagues fully agree to continue this collaboration and a proposal has been made which I will present to the meeting that I will have, I believe, today, together with prime minister Nicoale Ciuca and president Kelemen Hunor, that UDMR take over the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of European Funds - two very important ministries. As far as we know, they also have the right people to lead these ministries. (...) It is an approach not necessarily based on ministries, but according to the most suitable people," Ciolacu said after a meeting with PSD leaders at Vila Lac. Asked if this means that the protocol will no longer be respected, Ciolacu said: "A political agreement is to create a parliamentary majority, not to share certain things. We have a political agreement in which we created a majority. (...) The context of a year and a half ago was one thing, the context now is another, and we try to maximize according to the best people to lead certain ministries." Marcel Ciolacu mentioned that as far as the new governing programme is concerned, he will continue his approach that "at some point Romania will enter a progressive taxation". "The European Commission and the World Bank have also drawn our attention, it is about the exceptions we have and which are at this moment, no longer create a fair competitive climate. I maintain the opinion that large companies should pay at least 1 pct of turnover," he concluded.AGERPRES Illustrative image (Photo: tuoitre.vn) The EU on June 7 published an amendment to Regulation 2019/1973 regarding emergency measures for controlling food exports into the EU. Accordingly, the EU has officially moved Vietnams instant noodles from Annex II which requires a Health Certificate (HC) and 20% control at the border gate to Annex 1 which only requires 20% control of the products at EU border gates. This decision is a recognition of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s efforts in controlling food safety as well as supporting businesses in solving difficulties. In January 2022, the EU put Vietnamese instant noodles products under the microscope subject to Regulation 2019/1793 in order to control ethylene oxide (EO) residues. Accordingly, any Vietnamese instant noodle products imported into the EU must have a Health Certificate (HC) issued by an authorised Vietnamese agency. Only six months later, the EU removed Vietnams vermicelli and rice products from the list of food safety management. According to the Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan, the EUs maintenance of the 20% control at border gates requires Vietnam to always keep food safety control for instant noodles. To improve the quality of Vietnamese products imported into the EU and create conditions for the products to make inroads into this lucrative market, the MoIT has ordered export businesses to well control production supply chains, ensuring strict compliance with the food safety regulations of the union./. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A developer has proposed to build new apartments on Olive Boulevard near the Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. TriStar Real Estate Acquisitions is seeking to build a four-story apartment building in unincorporated St. Louis County at 12685 Olive Boulevard, northwest of the hospital at Olive and North Mason Road. Plans filed with St. Louis County dont indicate the number of apartments planned for the 18-acre site, and the developer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TriStar Real Estate Acquisitions has the property under contract to buy from General German Protestant Orphans Association, plans show. It is seeking approval from the St. Louis County Planning Commission to rezone the property to allow for apartments. TriStar Real Estate Acquisitions is affiliated with TriStar Properties, which has built several warehouses across the St. Louis metro area. The St. Louis County Planning Commission is slated to hold a public hearing for the developers request at 7 p.m. Monday at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. NEW YORK No script? No problem! There was plenty of uncertainty in the run-up to this years Tony Awards, which at one point seemed unlikely to happen at all because of the ongoing Hollywood writers strike. But the ceremony went off without a hitch on Sunday night. The event was scriptless, to honor a compromise with striking writers, but chock-full of high-spirited Broadway performances drawing raucous cheers from an audience clearly thrilled just to be there at all. It was a night of triumph for the small-scale but huge-hearted musical Kimberly Akimbo, about a teenager with a rare aging disease, but also a night notable for inclusion: Two nonbinary performers, Alex Newell and Muny favorite J. Harrison Ghee, made history by winning their respective acting categories. The ceremony also touched on the specter of antisemitism in very different places: World War II Europe, with best play winner Leopoldstadt," and early 20th-century America, with Parade, winner for best musical revival. Muny artistic director and executive producer Mike Isaacson is among the "Parade" producers. In the end, the lack of scripted banter didn't much dampen the proceedings, and little wonder: Broadway folks are trained in improv. And of course there was more room for singing and dancing including from current shows not in competition and nobody was complaining about that. Oh, and the show ended right on time. Oscars, are you listening? Some key moments of the night: Broadway heads uptown It wasnt just the writers strike that made for a different evening. The venue was new, too. It was on Broadway, yes, but miles from the theater district. The ceremony took place uptown in Washington Heights, in the ornate, gilded United Palace, a former movie theater filled with chandeliers and carpets and majestic columns. Thank you for coming uptown never in my wildest dreams, quipped Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has helped bring events to the venue in the neighborhood where he set his In the Heights. The afterparty was held in tents outside the building instead of the usual festivities in the fancy food halls of the Plaza Hotel near Central Park. A blank page but a full night Oscar winner and Broadway luminary Ariana DeBose, hosting for the second year, immediately addressed the elephant in the room. The show began with DeBose opening a thick Tony Awards script, full of blank pages. Speaking to the audience at the start of the show, she explained nothing would be scripted and told winners the only words they'd see on teleprompters would be please wrap up. Instead of words, DeBose and others spoke with their dance moves, doing a brassy number in the theaters grand lobby, staircases and aisles, complete with gravity-defying leaps. Afterward, DeBose warned anyone who may have thought last year's show was unhinged: Buckle up! DeBose, who performed in the original cast of Hamilton and won an Oscar for West Side Story, also passionately explained why the Tonys are so crucial to the economic survival of Broadway and to touring productions around the country. A timely reminder of antisemitism in Europe ... An early award brought a sobering reminder of the horrors of antisemitism. Brandon Uranowitz of Leopoldstadt, Tom Stoppards sweeping play about a Jewish family in Vienna, thanked the celebrated playwright for writing a play about Jewish identity and antisemitism and the false promise of assimilation, and noted his ancestors, many of whom did not make it out of Poland, also thank you. Uranowitz, who won for featured actor in a play, also joked that the thing he wanted most in life was to repay his parents for the sacrifices they made only he couldnt, because he works in the theater. ... And in America Leopoldstadt went on to win best play, while best musical revival went to another searing work about antisemitism: Parade, starring Ben Platt as Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched in 1915 in Georgia. In his acceptance speech for best director, Michael Arden echoed the plays somber themes: We must battle this. It is so, so important, or else we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history. He added his own story of how, growing up, he often had been called the f-word, referring to a homophobic slur. He then earned some of the night's loudest cheers when he triumphantly reclaimed the slur while pointing out that he now had a Tony. I should not be up here It was an emotional moment when Alex Newell of Shucked became the first out nonbinary person to win an acting Tony, taking the prize for best featured actor in a musical. Newell, also known for The Glee Project and Glee, thanked close family for their love and support and then addressed the outside world. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black, little baby from Massachusetts, they said. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face and tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to. Like the Oscars, the Tonys have only gendered categories for performers. This is for you J. Harrison Ghee was the second nonbinary actor of the night to make history, winning best actor in a musical for their role in Some Like It Hot, based on the classic 1959 film. They play a male musician on the run who disguises as a woman in what becomes a voyage of discovery about gender (the movie role involved disguise, but no discovery). Ghee said they had been raised to use their gifts not for themselves, but to help others. For every trans, non-gender-conforming, nonbinary human who ever was told you couldn't be seen, this is for you, Ghee said, tapping the Tony for emphasis. On the Muny stage, Ghee has starred as Velma Kelly in "Chicago" (in 2021 and 2022) and as Lola in "Kinky Boots" (2019). Lea Michele gets her Tony moment Not to mix show metaphors or anything, but Lea Michele was not about to throw away her shot. The Funny Girl lead was not eligible for a Tony because she didn't originate the role last year (that would be Beanie Feldstein, who Michele replaced in a matter of months). But the former Glee star, who has turned around the fortunes of the revival production, is seen by many as the ultimate Fanny Brice, and her gorgeously belted rendition of Dont Rain On My Parade 13 years after she first performed it at the Tonys definitely did not disappoint. Party time Most Tony attendees spent a good five hours in the United Palace, and the room got pretty warm. So folks were happy to step outside to the afterparty, where guests munched on ceviche, mangoes on sticks and mini-Cuban sandwiches, and sipped specially designed cocktails. Ghee was a clear star of the party, towering over most guests literally and figuratively as they clutched their Tony and accepted well wishes or agreed to selfies. Ghee also chatted with last years winner of the same award, Myles Frost, who played Michael Jackson in MJ. Our industry is shifting forward! We are erasing labels and boundaries and limits, Ghee said when asked their main takeaway of the night. The actor wore a bright blue custom ensemble by Bronx designer Jerome LaMaar, with a choker of glistening jewels. When you're getting it custom made, you can really do something, they quipped. Winners in major categories Best musical Kimberly Akimbo Best play Leopoldstadt Best revival of a musical Parade Best revival of a play Suzan-Lori Parks Topdog/Underdog Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Best book of a musical Kimberly Akimbo, David Lindsay-Abaire Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical Alex Newell, Shucked Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brusteins Window Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo Best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt Best direction of a play Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt Best direction of a musical Michael Arden, Parade Best choreography Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot Best original score Kimberly Akimbo, music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire Best orchestrations Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, Some Like It Hot Best costume of a musical Gregg Barnes, "Some Like It Hot" Best costume of a play Brigitte Reiffenstuel, "Leopoldstadt" Best lighting design of a play Tim Lutkin, "Life of Pi" Best lighting design of a musical Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Ian Froeb Follow Ian Froeb Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today At Sado, the spectacular new sushi restaurant on the Hill, you might see the chef and owner Nick Bognar fleetingly, if at all. He stands behind Sados sushi bar most evenings, as you would expect, but that sushi bar isnt the focal point of the restaurants spacious design. It occupies a small area to one side of a much larger room with dining tables and the beverage bar; to another side of that room is a second, even bigger dining room. While you can make a reservation specifically to sit at the sushi bar, you dont need to do so. Contrast this with the heady, pre-pandemic debut of Bognars other spectacular restaurant, Indo in Botanical Heights. When Indo opened in 2019, the sushi bar stood just inside the front door, and Bognar held court there before a scant six seats seats that were all the more coveted when Bognar served one of his omakase dinners, guiding diners through some two dozen bites of his choosing, from traditional nigiri sushi to dishes that drew on his Thai heritage to one cheeky piece of grilled sea trout inspired by the Cheesecake Factory. Bognar does plan to introduce omakase dinners at Sado once the restaurants all-season patio with its own sushi bar is ready. Still, you wont confuse Sado with the austere, staggeringly expensive omakase parlors that have come to define New York Citys sushi scene. Even calling Sado a sushi restaurant or a new restaurant, for that matter is misleading. As at the original Indo, here you can build an impressive multicourse dinner without a single order of nigiri or sashimi. (Indo has since replaced its nigiri menu with the handrolls called temaki and converted its bar from sushi to cocktails.) You can begin that dinner with Sados crisp, plump crab Rangoon, which mercifully dont aspire to be anything more than crab Rangoon. The crab meat is imitation, the cream cheese is abundant, and the dipping sauce is sweet-and-sour. Those crab Rangoon are one of several dishes that nod to Nippon Tei, the beloved Ballwin-area restaurant that Bognars mother, Ann, founded in 2001 and where Nick himself took over as executive chef six years ago, launching his remarkable rise to the top tier of St. Louis chefs. The Bognars closed Nippon Tei at the end of February, a month before Sado opened, and the new restaurant isnt a relocation or reinvention so much as a fusion of Indos brain and Nippon Teis heart. Bognar continues to push St. Louis sushi culture forward with his enthusiasm, curiosity and a fastidious approach to each piece of nigiri that suggests he stows a jewelers loupe in his knife roll. While he can dazzle you with perfect portions of fatty otoro (with or without caviar), creamy Hokkaido uni and luscious king crab, I remember the unexpected pieces most vividly. On these visits, that piece was nodoguro, or blackthroat seapearch, which I dont think Ive eaten before: a piece of pale pink flesh adorned with a sliver of birds eye chile. This is a fatty fish, one that Bognar might have seared, as he does with his excellent benitoro (salmon belly) nigiri, creating a texture like grilled steak. Instead, from that morsel of chile blossomed a smoky, fruity heat that evokes the grill while also intensifying the nodoguros oceanic sweetness. This perfect bite needs no further accent, but Sados staff wont turn up their nose if you ask for soy sauce. They might even offer it themselves first. And amidst the buzz of the years hottest new restaurant and the insistent pulse of its throwback pop soundtrack, you can hear the echoes of the countless St. Louisans who tried sushi for the first time at Nippon Tei. The selection of makimono includes California and spicy tuna rolls alongside shibo maki, a luscious duo of salmon belly and avocado sparked by lemon zest, togarashi and the pop of salmon roe. Diners familiar with Indo and Nippon Tei alike might still need guidance through Sados menu, preferably while enjoying sake, wine or a cocktail from beverage director Kira Websters list. The main selection of sushi and sashimi is impressive enough, whether you prefer straightforward salmon, the earthy sweetness of misu (ocean trout) or something decidedly unfishy, like meaty kinoko (mushroom) nigiri. Tucked into the front of the menu, however, is a separate sheet with a Fish Market selection of seasonally available nigiri. Here, now, you will find the nodoguro and some of the most luxe options. Like Indos original menu, Sado divides its appetizers and small plates into cold and hot tastings. Cold options include one of Indos signature dishes, the Isaan hamachi, a composed sashimi dish that riffs on Thai flavors with a coconut-enriched version of the fish sauce nam pla. If you know that dish already, skip ahead to kanpachi (amberjack) cured in black tea and served in a black-tea ponzu sauce. The silken slices of fish dont taste like tea, per se, but the tea does impart subtle citrus and floral notes. If the kanpachi isnt as flashy as the Isaan hamachi or some of Indos other standouts, it shows Bognars maturation and confidence in the kitchen. Sados menu isnt as playful as Indos, either, though Bognar does pay tribute to Hill tradition (the restaurant occupies the former home of Giovannis, after all) with tempura-fried broccolini topped with a generous grating of Parmesan. You could easily skim past the brief selection of tempura dishes, including excellent black tiger prawns, tender and juicy inside their thin jacket of batter. These would fit among the hot tastings the aforementioned crab Rangoon; sticky steamed buns with a sandwich-sized serving of pork belly; the umami-rich custard chawanmushi with crab, enoki mushrooms and a soignee touch of uni on top but are listed separately. I havent mentioned the robata menu yet, dry-aged fish and other proteins grilled in the traditional Japanese style using white binchotan charcoal. This, too, is divided between the regular menu and specials listed on that sheet tucked into the front of the menu. Does it likewise feel like a second restaurant concept tucked into Sado? A little. The kitchen is already showcasing the versatility of that grill, marking tender, red curry-kissed octopus with a sharp char and applying a much lighter touch to soy-glazed, overwhelmingly luscious A5 wagyu beef. By the end of a single visit, you will understand why Bognars relatively low profile makes sense. It takes a team operating at peak performance to produce, explain and serve a menu this ambitious efficiently and, at the table, warmly. (Notably, the bill includes a 20% service charge that is shared among all employees both front and back of the house.) The cuisine is very different, but in its egoless, enjoy-yourself vibe, Sado reminds me of Matt McGuires two restaurants, Louie and Wrights Tavern. Which is to say: You should make a reservation, especially for a prime-time table. That said, Sado does welcome walk-in diners, and while I wouldnt call it a neighborhood restaurant even if you skip the $75 wagyu and other splurges, all your nigiri and rolls and tastings hot and cold will add up it is a place you will want to return far more often than the next date night or special occasion. Rating Essential The Post-Dispatch evaluates restaurants on the following scale, lowest to highest: Not Recommended, Recommended, Highly Recommended, Essential. The rating reflects how the restaurant succeeds on its own terms and how it meets a diner's good-faith expectations of quality food and hospitality regardless of cuisine, location or cost. How much Crab Rangoon $10 Nodoguro nigiri $18 Black tea kanpachi $24 Octopus yaki $36 Where Sado, 5201 Shaw Avenue More info 314-390-2883; sado-stl.com Menu Sushi and other Japanese and Southeast Asian fare Hours Dinner Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday) SHREWSBURY St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski now has 30 days to consider appeals of his decision to close or merge 50 Catholic parishes this summer. Under canon or church law, appeals of any structural changes to parishes go first to Rozanski, who announced last month a major downsizing of the Archdiocese of St. Louis called All Things New. If Rozanski ignores or rejects the appeals in the next month, parishioners can take their case to the Vatican within 15 days, or the archbishops decision is final. How many appeals will be submitted to the archbishop is unclear. The archdiocese previously said it would provide no updates on the number of appeals or where they originated while the process is ongoing. All registered Catholics in the affected parishes are eligible to send appeal letters that must be postmarked by Monday, June 12. Some Catholics who have pushed back against the All Things New process said they were surprised by the final plan. The scope of the parish closures was dramatically different from what we expected, said Ken Battis of Save Our St. Louis Parishes. Recent draft models of the restructuring indicated most parishes would join pastorates groups of two or three that would share a pastor and other ministry roles. I fully expected there might not be any (closure) decrees, just this pastorate model where people are fighting it out for survival, Battis said. But Rozanski did issue more than 80 decrees on Pentecost Sunday one for each of the parishes to be closed plus those that will absorb their territories by Aug. 1. The Rev. Joe Weber, pastor of St. John Bosco near Creve Coeur Lake, said he was surprised that the parish will be absorbed by St. Monica, about 4 miles away at Olive Boulevard and Interstate 270, along with St. Richard in Creve Coeur to form a mega-parish of more than 2,000 households. Previous proposals showed the three parishes in a pastorate group, keeping their separate identities. Things didnt go the way we wanted them to go, did they? Weber wrote in the June 4 St. John Bosco bulletin. I am still stunned that the entire concept of pastorates was dismissed, and never discussed with the priests, prior to the promulgation of the All Things New results last weekend. I havent met with Father Sebastian, the new pastor of Saint Monica Parish, of which we will be a part on August 1. Yes I have been assigned Senior Associate Pastor of the new parish, but I will continue to live in the Saint John Bosco Rectory. The Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood of St. Louis has rallied to save St. Roch parish, which will be absorbed by Christ the King in University City. They say much of the parishs decline cited by Rozanski in his closure decree can be attributed to the loss of strength of pastor Monsignor Sal Polizzi, who died in April at age 92. St. Roch is down to two Masses a week, celebrated by visiting priests, compared to eight at Christ the King. Skinker-DeBaliviere is a vibrant and growing urban residential neighborhood that embraces the diversity of people, housing types, transit, and public spaces. Our neighborhood vibrancy and diversity results from decades of residential and institutional advocacy, including from St. Roch, wrote 10th Ward Alderwoman Shameem Clark-Hubbard in her appeal letter to Rozanski. A parish must be present in the community to impact it. Some parishes launched preemptive campaigns last year to remain unchanged, such as St. Cecilia in St. Louis and St. Gianna in Wentzville, which were successful. Of the 40-plus parishes known to have sent petitions prior to Rozanskis announcement, only three face closure St. Barnabas of OFallon, Missouri; St. Paul in Franklin County and St. Martin of Tours in Lemay. The Rev. Noah Waldman of St. Martin of Tours said he felt very bitter and unhappy and depressed before talking to the Rev. Robert Burkemper, who will become pastor of St. Mark after it absorbs St. Martin along with St. Andrew, St. Bernadette and St. Matthias, all in the Lemay area. Waldman was reassigned to serve two parishes in Franklin County. Burkemper plans to celebrate Mass at St. Martin at least every Sunday and do all he can to preserve and continue its legacy, Waldman wrote in a message to the parish. In addition to being a kind and wonderful human being and Christian, let us also be aware that Fr. Burkemper is also a son of St. Martin of Tours, having been baptized here, having graduated from our school, and having also said his very first Mass here some forty years ago, Waldman said. Indeed, St. Martins is his home, too. He loves this parish just as much as so many of you who grew up here, learned your Catholic faith here, received your sacraments here, and buried loved ones from here. A review of Catholic church bulletins from June 4 shows several other pastors were also surprised by the changes, which also included 155 priest reassignments. Last weekend was certainly a difficult and emotional weekend, wrote the Rev. Edward Nemeth of Sts. Philip and James in River aux Vases in Ste. Genevieve County. I did not expect it to go in that direction. While the parish of Sts. Philip and James may not exist on paper, it exists in the hearts of the good people who have built it, Nemeth continued. No decree can take that away from you. The Rev. Bill Kempf of St. Justin Martyr in south St. Louis County said he was kind of hoping that (the parish) would be my forever home. Kempf was reassigned to Sacred Heart in Florissant where he will also have a few more job duties, at least in the short term involving two other closed parishes, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in Florissant and Blessed Teresa in Ferguson, along with their schools. Decisions on parish school closures are expected in the fall. Others in closing parishes seem resigned to the outcome. A member of All Saints in University City is promoting the churchs last Mass on July 30. In Florissant, parishioners will hold a Celebrating St. Sabina dinner after the 5 p.m. Mass on July 29. In his weekly letter, the Rev. Scott Jones said the parishioners of Sts. Teresa and Bridget in north St. Louis reacted to the news of their merger with hope, compassion, and a willingness to make the best of whatever happens. There was a sense of joy even if we know that some of the final decisions wont be easy. Jones, who was promoted to episcopal vicar for the northern region of the archdiocese, said Sts. Teresa and Bridget is in a state of limbo, with lingering questions about when and where Mass will be held and whether their food pantry will stay open. The new parish name is also undetermined, but will temporarily be called Most Holy Trinity, St. Nicholas and Sts. Teresa and Bridget parish. Try fitting that on a coffee mug! Jones wrote in his letter. Jones said he agreed with Rozanskis decision because it is clear that our parish is not financially sustainable long-term without the merger. There are also signs that some merged parishes have already started to build their new communities. St. Ann in Normandy, which will absorb Our Lady of the Presentation in Overland, hosted a meeting for the combined parishioners on Tuesday. The Rev. Nick Winker answered pre-written questions to keep a constructive spirit in what may be a time of mourning, as he wrote in the St. Ann bulletin. Winker, who was reassigned to two parishes in Franklin County, reminded St. Ann faithful that their parish in 2008 absorbed Ascension-St. Paul, itself the result of a previous merger of Ascension in Northwoods and St. Paul in Pine Lawn. At the beginning of this process, I asked us to consider what in our parish life is portable, and what is tied to our building, Winker wrote. Our parish building is staying open as the parish church, but it is important for us to be welcoming, to embrace what is portable in the other community. ST. LOUIS Victims of a former Kirkwood family law attorney who falsified dozens of court documents confronted the lawyer on Monday and recounted the nightmare he imposed on clients. Former colleagues described how one woman thought she was divorced for more than a year before realizing her lawyer, Andrew Gavin Wynne, had sent her a fake decree. In another case, Wynne faked an order compelling a man to pay hefty child support sums, then followed that up with fake emails from the judge purporting to explain delays in the case. I dont think theres ever going to be a case quite like this one, said Assistant United States Attorney Derek Wiseman in court Monday, adding that Wynnes actions were catastrophic to the lives of his clients. Wynne, now 35, pleaded guilty earlier this year to falsifying a flurry of court records in 2020. The forgeries affected at least 30 clients, according to his Feb. 23 guilty plea, though attorneys at the small firm where Wynne worked said the total number of people affected was closer to 60. U.S. District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Wynne on Monday to two years and seven months in federal prison, matching a recommendation from federal prosecutors. Wynne will also be required to pay about $351,000 in restitution to his former firm, Menees, Menees & Wynne now Menees & Menees. The small firm said its still working to clean up the betrayal of Wynnes clients. Wynne apologized in court Monday and took responsibility for his actions. He said he began faking documents in an effort to buy himself more time, but that only led to more lies. These were acts of desperation. They were acts of deception, Wynne said. I felt like my personal life and my professional life were out of control. In arguing for leniency, Wynnes defense attorney Beverly Beimdiek noted that Wynne was addicted to drugs and depressed at the time, making him act nonsensically. Wynne added that only the mind of an addict could think: I could still fix this. I can still make it right. Hardy Menees, an attorney at Menees & Menees, said Wynne caused the firm abject humiliation, financial distress, and months of devastating meetings with clients and judges. The firm returned the payments to all the affected clients and offered to fix their cases free of charge, he said. Some of the cases have still not been fully resolved, and the firm continues to face legal action from clients, he said. Menees described the process of uncovering the forgeries, emails containing fake accounts of the progress of cases and false court orders as like bringing up bodies out of a mine shaft. Wynne was hired by the firm in 2016 and fired in August 2021 after the extent of his deception was discovered, Menees said. The Missouri Supreme Court suspended Wynnes law license in October 2021. A 98-page filing from Missouris Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel laid out a series of divorce and other family court cases not mentioned in the federal charges, including final divorce and custody orders. In one case in St. Louis Circuit Court, Wynne faked an order compelling a husband to pay $20,000 within 15 days, then half his income plus $2,500 every month, the filing says. He followed that up with two faked emails from the judge explaining delays, one saying her staff had COVID and the other saying her father died, the filing says. A court spokesman later told the Post-Dispatch that the judges father did not die. Menees said Monday that the firm eventually discovered that Wynne had been forwarding all emails sent to the firm to himself before allowing them to get to the firms inbox to filter what the staff could see. Wynnes sentence recommends that he undergo addiction and mental health treatment in federal prison. When he is released on probation, he will be compelled to pay either $300 a month or 10% of his salary, whichever is higher, in restitution to the firm. One of Wynnes former clients, Joseph Craig, asked the judge on Monday to impose a stiffer penalty. Craig said he hired Wynne in 2018 as his divorce attorney, and Wynne sent him a fake custody order for Craigs two daughters. Then, he said, Wynne lied and said Craig could not attend a hearing in the child custody case because Craig had hired an attorney to represent him. Wynne then explained to Craig the details of a hearing that never happened. I was being lied to the whole time, Craig said. ST. CHARLES COUNTY A St. Charles tow truck driver was charged with involuntary manslaughter Friday and accused of falling asleep at the wheel before a crash that killed an 82-year-old man. Charges allege that on Oct. 18, 2022, Shawn D. Millfelt, 26, of St. Charles, had a tow truck loaded with two U.S. Postal Service mail trucks when he fell asleep while driving in West Alton. Millfelt's 2020 Hino truck was traveling on northbound Highway 67 at Richard Drive when it ran a red light and hit a Ford F150 pickup driven by George D. Redenius, 82, of Staunton, Illinois. Redenius was taken by a medical helicopter to a hospital where he later died of his injuries. Court documents written by the Missouri Highway Patrol allege Millfelt was traveling 72 mph in a 55-mph speed zone at the time of the crash. After the two vehicles collided, Redenius' pickup was pushed into another vehicle, a westbound 2007 Pontiac G6. Two people in the Pontiac suffered minor injuries. Millfelt also had minor injuries. Millfelt is charged in St. Charles County Circuit Court with first-degree involuntary manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner in the case. For a city that claims to want vibrant cultural amenities and entrepreneurial investment, St. Louis sure makes it difficult to open restaurants. In order to obtain an initial liquor license, restaurateurs must get signatures from a majority of residents and businesses in the area, and then await confirmation of the signatures from an understaffed city government. The process can stretch on for months. A measure before the Board of Alderman to do away with the requirement deserves passage. The requirements were intended to give residents control over what kinds of businesses move into their neighborhoods. Its a laudable goal, but the whole process looks like it was designed to make it virtually impossible in St. Louis to open new restaurants that serve booze. License applicants must obtain signatures from a majority of property owners, as well as from a combination of business owners and registered voters, within 350 feet of the premises. Then they have to wait while the city verifies that the signatures are genuine by contacting the signers. Even in a neighborhood with no significant opposition to a liquor-serving restaurant, getting the signatures can be a herculean task. The lists of residents that applicants get from the city are sometimes years out of date, making it difficult to even locate the requisite number of signers. In areas with a lot of apartments or condominiums, it can be difficult to get into the buildings to talk to residents, necessitating the mailing of written signature requests, which might be ignored or discarded as junk mail. For immigrants who want to open restaurants often the most exciting kind of culinary prospects for a city language barriers can come into play. The process is so onerous that its common for applicants to hire consultants to gather signatures. And even then it sometimes proves undoable. St. Louis has used the process for years, and for years business owners have grumbled about it. What has brought the issue to a head now is the citys staffing shortage, taking what was already a cumbersome procedure and making it virtually impossible in some cases. As the Post-Dispatchs Austin Huguelet reports, understaffing at the citys Excise Division means the process of confirming the signatures can take months. What part of this sounds like it would be appealing to an investor thinking about opening a hot new restaurant in St. Louis? Board Bill 60, by Alderman Bret Narayan, of Dogtown, would eliminate the signature requirement for restaurants and bars that make more than half their money from food. Thats reasonable a nightclub should have a higher standard for approval with the neighbors than a mom-and-pop Italian restaurant or a sushi bar. The bills provisions include giving added power to the city to suspend liquor licenses on an emergency basis if violence erupts at a restaurant. And neighbors would still have the option of petitioning to get rid of liquor licenses for establishments that cause problems. Reviving St. Louis economy requires getting people to come back into the city, and that requires amenities like good restaurants. Continuing to dissuade investors with cumbersome signature requirement is a recipe for continued decline. Where Does Attention Lead? Why You Need to Link Attention Measurement to Outcomes Everyone in the advertising industry is paying attention to, well, attention. From the 4As to I-COM to the ARF, with both historic advertising associations and upstarts, attention is one of the most discussed topics in marketing today. This growing buzz around the attention ecosystem provides a welcome distraction from the concerns about how the uncertain economy will affect ad budgets. Its for good reason: many believe it is a salve for an industry that is laser-focused on demonstrating value to clients. Numerous companies now provide attention measurement for creative, media, and everything in between. For years, viewability has been the dominant baseline metric for organizations and their agencies to ensure they got what they paid for. The reason for that is simple: if an ad doesnt show up on a screen or isnt viewable, then it has no ability to impact. But, viewability has always been an imperfect metric. It doesnt actually determine whether an ad was viewed or not; merely whether it was possible to view the ad. It makes sense that everyone is looking for something more tangible and powerful than viewability. And attention is definitively a quantum leap forward in that regard. But what is that attention worth? Where does attention lead? A lack of standardization certainly complicates any definitive suggestion there. Right now, each of these companies are using different metric names, definitions, and algorithms to determine the level of attention. It likely will be a while until any standards are defined, given the stakes of winning the war on attention. So, where does that leave us? No matter what happens with attention standardization, attention is still unlikely to be the ultimate goal for any advertiser. The goal for any brand and its agencies is, as always, to demonstrate that an ad drove definitive outcomesbe that brand, behavior or business. If a brand mistakenly includes a controversial image or scene in its ad, consumers will seek it out - and any tracker would demonstrate the ad received a ton of attention. But is that good attention, and will it lead to positive outcomes? While a necessary and prevalent "pivotal indicator" of campaign success, as DoubleVerify recently said at CES, attention is not the end metric in and of itself. Rather it's a helpful stepping stone to tangible outcomes: Brand Outcomes: Shaping attitudes and intentions and generating demand. Behavior Outcomes: Influencing actions and engagements. Business Outcomes: Fostering financial events and customer loyalty. In our conversations with marketers, they are understandably excited about the prospect of attention measurement but want to better understand how the new field of attention fits into their years of well-defined and benchmarked metrics like brand lift and return-on-ad-spend (ROAS). Therefore there is a huge need for interoperability across different metrics systems. Fortunately, attention measurement providers are being proactive, and understand the importance of combining their metrics with outcomes measurement. For instance, weve partnered with companies like TVision to combine its second-by-second TV attention measurement with our brand analytics, and Teads has partnered with Adelaide and Realeyes to create the Attention Program. The good news is this is feasible thanks to the proliferation of ID systems that make comparisons possible. And while its still early days, it still takes some serious data science expertise to crack the code. Initial studies tying attention to outcomes have been promising. In the study done in tandem with TVision, we found theres a one-to-one correlation between TV viewer attention and brand lift. For every percentage point increase in viewer attention to high-frequency ads, there is close to a 1% corresponding lift in aided awareness. Weve also found a correlation between attention and ad recall. But, of course, the impact varies by campaign, hence the need for an always-on link from attention to outcomes. Despite these positive signals, there are no shortcuts when you must know if your creative direction and your media strategy are actually impacting outcomes. In order to tie attention metrics to brand outcomes, every campaign must measure brand lift in addition to attention. All the attention in the world isnt enough if the consumers viewing your ads arent gaining favorable opinions about you or your clients brands, deciding to make a purchase, or recommending the product to their peers. Thats a reality to which you should pay attention. [Editor's note: This is a contributed article from Upwave. Streaming Media accepts vendor bylines based solely on their value to our readers.] Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / E2Gold Inc. (TSXV:ETU)(OTCQB: ETUGF) (the "Company" or "E2") is pleased to announce that it proposes to complete a private placement (the "Offering") pursuant to which it will issue up to 5,714,286 units ("Units") at a price of $0.035 per Unit, to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to approximately $200,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"); with each whole Warrant exercisable to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.07 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance thereof. The Offering remains subject to various closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company intends to apply the gross proceeds from the Offering towards part payment of its proposed summer exploration program. There will be no insider participation in the Offering, and no proceeds of the Offering allocated to investor relations activities. ABOUT E2GOLD INC. E2Gold Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company with a large flagship property, the 80 km long Hawkins Gold Project in north-central Ontario, about 140 km east of the Hemlo Gold Mine, and 75 km north of the Magino and Island Gold Mines. The property is anchored by the McKinnon Zone Inferred Resource of 6.2 Mt grading 1.65 Au g/t, for 328,800 ounces of gold.2 E2Gold is committed to increasing shareholder value through discoveries at Hawkins. For further information please contact: Jeff Pritchard Investor Relations [email protected] +1 647 699 3340 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of E2Gold, including with respect to the receipt of all regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. SOURCE: E2Gold Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / FedEx Corporation Originally published in FedEx's 2023 ESG Report This year, FedEx celebrates its 50th year of operations-and 50 years of transforming the world by connecting people and possibilities. I am proud to have been a part of this team for more than three decades and energized by our mission to move FedEx and the world from now to next. We have always been a company of action, and we remain committed to solving problems by finding solutions that go beyond business and benefit all humanity. In the face of today's pressing challenges, our purpose-to connect people and possibilities- matters more than ever. Whether collaborating to combat climate change, building teams that reflect the communities we serve, or ensuring integrity in all we do, we are innovating to deliver a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future for all. The success of our efforts is built on our sound environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, which are aligned with our company strategic focus. We have reported on our environmental and social impact since 2009 and remain steadfast in transparently sharing our progress in three areas that are central to everything we do-our principles, our planet, and our people. Our principles We run our business with an absolute commitment to safety, ethics, integrity, and reliability in our global operations, as well as in how we manage supply chain relationships, advocacy, data, and cybersecurity practices. Guided by the FedEx Code of Conduct and reporting channels, we maintain a culture of accountability for team members, suppliers, and customers. Our planet Our commitment to acting responsibly and resourcefully also drives our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and build a more sustainable future. We are taking bold action to tackle climate change and invest in solutions to achieve our goal of carbon neutral operations globally by 2040. We have reduced our emissions intensity on a revenue basis by nearly 50% over the last 13 years, even as our average daily package volumes grew by 142%. We are determined to make even greater progress as evidenced by our ambitious goal. Through our Reduce, Replace, Revolutionize strategy, our investments in three critical areas -vehicle electrification, sustainable energy, and carbon sequestration-have sparked exciting advancements. We continue to expand our zerotailpipe emissions fleet in the United States with the first-ever vehicles from General Motors' BrightDrop, and we doubled the number of electric cargo bikes in use across Europe. We are also harnessing the unmatched power of our data insights to increase sustainability throughout the value chain. FedEx Sustainability Insights is a revolutionary new tool developed by FedEx Dataworks that enables customers to access near real-time emissions data. The tool is designed to provide new levels of transparency to our customers and create a feedback loop for making our own operations more efficient. Our people One of our biggest competitive advantages is our culture. Our team members around the world are committed to the Purple Promise: "I will make every FedEx experience outstanding." We are focused on making FedEx an outstanding place to work by fostering a diverse and inclusive team that reflects our operations globally. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments are aligned with our shared culture values and guided by the absolute belief that everyone deserves to be themselves and see themselves at FedEx. To highlight one example of this belief in action, FedEx team members who identify with a minority group held 36% of U.S. management roles in FY22. Additionally, we continue to provide opportunities for all team members to advance in their careers at FedEx. More than 33,000 frontline team members are learning new skills through our Purple Pathways program, which won the American Transportation Association DEI Change Leader Award this year. And thousands of team members are earning certificates and degrees through tuition assistance and access to free online courses. Our efforts to provide fulfilling employment and advancement opportunities, to build community and allyship through affinity groups and resource teams, and our relentless focus on safety and wellbeing has consistently earned FedEx recognition as one of the world's best places to work. Where now meets next This is a pivotal moment for FedEx. We have spent the last 50 years developing solutions that have made the world stronger, smarter, and better. We won't stop now. As one FedEx, continuing to do our part to build a brighter, more inclusive world will be one of our most important deliveries yet. Read more View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: FedEx Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporation Email: [email protected] SOURCE: FedEx Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: 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) Editor: Zhang Zhou CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2023 / SEE (NYSE: SEE), formerly known as Sealed Air, has been chosen by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for a Supplier Performance Award for Supplier Excellence. SEE is one of only 12 companies recognized through the USPS Supplier Performance Award program in 2022 from the approximately 12,000 suppliers that currently support the USPS. The Supplier Excellence Award specifically recognizes suppliers that provide exceptional quality and on-time delivery performance and those that demonstrate extraordinary public safety awareness and assist the Postal Service in achieving its business objectives. SEE has been a USPS supplier for more than 10 years. SEE was honored for responding to the USPS's immediate call to action to provide shipping mailers for COVID-19 test kits last year. In January 2022, the White House launched COVIDTests.gov, a program through which all U.S. households could order free at-home test kits from the federal government, which were distributed by the USPS. Without prior notice, SEE was able to ramp up production and use all its available inventory of cushioned and non-cushioned mailers-more than 23 million-from eight of its manufacturing facilities across the country to help fulfill the shipments. SEE also provided 270 truckloads of BUBBLE WRAP brand original cushioning to protect the test kits placed inside the non-cushioned mailers. "It was an unusual feat of speed and ingenuity," said SEE Strategic Channel Manager Rob Pietras. "As a packaging solutions provider, SEE's mission is to protect, solve critical challenges, and make our world better than we find it. We accomplished all three of those things within this unprecedented shipment. It was important that the COVID-19 test kits arrived undamaged and we're proud SEE made that happen." SEE was formally honored at the National Postal Forum, the country's premier mailing and shipping conference, on May 24, 2023. ### About SEE SEE (NYSE: SEE) is in business to protect, to solve critical packaging challenges, and to make our world better than we find it. Our automated packaging solutions promote a safer, more resilient, and less wasteful global food, fluids and liquids supply chain, enable e-commerce, and protect goods in transit from damage. The company, under its former trade name, Sealed Air, announced its new SEE corporate brand and logo in May 2023. Our globally recognized solution brands include CRYOVAC food packaging, LIQUIBOX fluids and liquids systems, SEALED AIR protective packaging, AUTOBAG automated packaging systems, BUBBLE WRAP packaging, SEE Automation" and prismiq" digital packaging and printing. Our partnership with customers creates value through sustainable, automated, and digital packaging solutions, leveraging our industry-leading expertise in materials, automation systems, engineering and technology. Our SEE Net-Positive Circular Ecosystem is leading the packaging industry in creating a more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable future. We have pledged to design or advance 100% of our packaging materials to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, with a bolder goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions in our global operations by 2040. Our Global Impact Report highlights how we are shaping the future of the packaging industry. We are committed to a diverse workforce and a caring, inclusive culture through our 2025 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pledge. SEE generated $5.6 billion in sales in 2022 and has approximately 17,300 employees (including Liquibox employees) who serve customers in 120 countries/territories. To learn more, visit sealedair.com. Company Contacts Media | Christina Griffin 704.430.5742 [email protected] Investors | Brian Sullivan 704.503.8841 [email protected] View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SEE on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: SEE Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/seer Email: [email protected] SOURCE: SEE View source version on accesswire.com: Stan Fitzgerald, VFAF president and Legacy PAC founder, with his wife Donna were invited to meet with former President Donald J. Trump at the Georgia State GOP Convention in Columbus, GA COLUMBUS, GA. / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2023 / Fitzgerald is the current president of the national veteran's organization, also known as Veterans for America First, which speaks for millions of conservative vets and first responders. The organization is considered to have an influential endorsement in primary races. Residing in Cobb County, Georgia, Fitzgerald was also a delegate at the convention. With his wife Donna the couple have been very involved in national politics since the 2020 election including multiple invites to Bedminster and Mar-A-Lago meeting with the former president. Stan Fitzgerald with Steve Friend Stan Fitzgerald with FBI Whistleblower Steve Friend at Georgia GOP State Convention June 2023 "President Trump is the greatest president in American history. Our organization will use all its resources and boots on the ground to help see him win the primary and take back the White House in 2024," said Stan Fitzgerald. The Georgia State GOP Convention final day was a MAGA high energy event with the President delivering impactful remarks energizing the base which carried over to the delegates voting for those candidates most closely aligned with the President and/or election integrity efforts. Veterans for Trump had two big endorsement wins in Caroline Jeffords and Salleigh Grubbs both known for their efforts in election integrity throughout the state. Chief Stoney Mathis who was VFAF endorsed last cycle lead the motorcade from the airport to the convention center. VFAF President Stan Fitzgerald, Ambassadors Donna Fitzgerald, Debbie Dooley and endorsed candidate Salleigh Grubbs were all backstage to meet with the president who was on top of his game motivating movement leaders and thanked the team for the efforts. Georgia's LT Governor Burt Jones and congresswoman Marjorie Greene, both VFAF endorsed last cycle was backstage with us greeting the VIPS. Georgia VFAF state chapter president Jared Craig, who is also the Legacy PAC president, did several media hits as well as the John Fredericks show leading into the president's speech carried live. FBI Whistleblower Steve Friend who was set up with Veterans for Trump also was featured on Fredericks. Most of Georgia's VFAF ambassadors attended the convention to help secure votes for a MAGA party takeover including Mallory Staples, Mark Lajoye, Theresa Shen, Justin Kelley, Cooper Guyon and Courtney Kramer. The Party leadership has been set and prepared to move forward to grow the conservative base, Georgia is expected to play a significant role in the 2024 Presidential race. https://veteransfortrump.us/stan-fitzgerald-veterans-for-trump-president-invited-to-meet-former-president-trump-in-georgia For more about Stan Fitzgerald visit: https://stan-fitzgerald.com Contact Information Stan Fitzgerald President Veterans for Trump [email protected] 770-707-6291 SOURCE: Veterans for Trump View source version on accesswire.com: JPMorgan analyst Matthew Boss upgraded shares of Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) to Overweight from Neutral, raising the price target on the stock to $16 from $11 in a note to clients Monday. The analyst also raised the Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL) price target to $103 from $100 and the Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE: NCLH) price target to $16 from $15 per share. Boss said his firm hosted senior management meetings with Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean as part of its "Come Cruise w/ Us" event in Miami. "Importantly, the two-fold takeaway from the 'Big 3' was (1) bullish tone on current trends (& 1H24 bookings) with zero signs of momentum slowing (& no change in historical lead indicators) as pent-up loyalist demand a year ago transitions to new-to-cruise strength today and (2) increased balance sheet flexibility w/ ample liquidity for debt pay-down (& no plans for equity issuance across the Big 3)," the analyst wrote. He added that a key theme across from the visits was all management teams speaking about continued demand momentum with "no signs of softness cited in any single forward indicator by historical measure." "Importantly, management teams broadly cited today's booking curve as in the sweet spot (historically, ~6-9 months) providing ~85% visibility into 2023 bookings and ~25% into 2024 as of today by our math (farther out visibility = key difference from our broader retail coverage)," he added. By Sam Boughedda Morgan Stanley analyst Michael Wilson told investors in a note Monday that "the bear is still alive." The analyst made the claim based on his firm's boom/bust framework. The analyst noted that with the S&P 500 rally now crossing the 20% threshold, more investors are declaring the bear market is officially over. "We respectfully disagree due to our 2023 earnings forecast. Ironically, a Fed pause may awaken the bear tactically just as liquidity headwinds ramp up," wrote Wilson. "Interestingly, this bear market thus far looks quite similar to the 1946-48 period, which coincides well with our boom/bust regime analysis from that era." Wilson also said the firm is watching earnings quality, which "as measured by net income-to-cash flow, recently reached its weakest level in the past 25 years." By Sam Boughedda MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Airbus Ventures announces its investment in Zero-Error Systems (ZES), specializing in high reliability semiconductor solutions for space and power management applications. With participation from the Dart Family Office and Airbus Ventures, among others, this oversubscribed USD $7.5M Series A funding round will expand the company's global sales and marketing efforts, as well as accelerate its product roadmap journey, meeting the growing demand for radiation protection, power reliability, and data integrity solutions specifically designed for Low Earth Orbit satellites, deep space rovers and landers, and a wide array of power management application needs on Earth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612005148/en/ Dr. Joseph Chang (middle) poses alongside Dr. Shu Wei (right) and Dr. Chong Kwen Siong (left). Source: Lester Kok/NTU In recent years, there has been a notable increase in companies developing application-rich satellites and high precision space robots for lunar and Mars missions. While software and algorithms play a crucial role in driving intelligence, hardware and semiconductor innovations are equally important in supporting the high processing power required, ensuring reliability in extreme environments, and enabling higher power density in energy-constrained satellites, while prolonging their lifespan in space. Many aerospace companies rely on Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) semiconductor devices for their satellite electronics systems, which are not designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space, explains Dr. Shu Wei, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of ZES. Our capabilities address essential power reliability and data integrity concerns by safeguarding COTS semiconductor devices from malfunctions with our patented radiation hardening technologies." A university spin-off from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, ZES was founded in 2019 by experienced semiconductor industry veterans and integrated circuit design experts with deep understanding of semiconductor device characteristics, their behavior in various radiation scenarios, and the essential radiation-hardened mechanisms required to protect semiconductors physical integrity. ZES takes pride in being a pioneering Asian semiconductor startup to develop radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions. By bridging the space and semiconductor industries, ZES plays a strategic role in Singapore's tech landscape, explains Khor Hwai Lin, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at ZES. As part of ZES' new growth plan, our team now plans to elevate its engineering capacity by recruiting additional electronics engineers specializing in space and various power management applications. This latest financing will also support the company's R&D activities in Singapore, while facilitating customer design-in activities globally. About ZES A university spin-off from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Zero-Error Systems (ZES) provides high-reliability semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and reliability testing services that enable higher functionality, lower cost, longer lifetime and higher power efficiency for space, and various power management applications. About Airbus Ventures Headquartered in Silicon Valley, with offices in Toulouse and Tokyo, Airbus Ventures is a fast-moving, early-stage venture capital company that independently funds and supports startups set to shift both the aerospace industry and our planetary system to a sustainable future. Airbus Ventures has helped aspiring innovators reach new dimensions of achievement since 2015. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612005148/en/ Orli Robin Head of Strategy and Communication [email protected] Source: Airbus Ventures 49% of Orpeas unsecured creditors holding c. 1.9bn of debt have not supported the Companys proposed restructuring Support Club, a creditor group holding 497m of unsecured claims, calls for investors to vote against proposed restructuring Alternative proposal by ConcertO supported by the Support Club offers Orpea more investment at a lower price but has been ignored to the detriment of all stakeholders LONDON & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Support Club, comprised of investors with combined AUM of over $62 billion and holding 497m of Orpeas unsecured claims, urge other creditors to vote against the proposed restructuring and stealth nationalization of Frances largest health care provider on 16th June. They argue the proposal tramples on 1.9bn of unsecured creditors who are not supporting the plan, arbitrarily favors and enriches the French States investment vehicle Caisse des depots et consignations (the CDC) and certain (primarily French) creditors over most others and threatens Frances sustainability for foreign investments. Instead, they call on Orpea to engage with the Support Club and other stakeholders, and to consider an alternative restructuring proposal by ConcertO, which has been ignored by Orpea and its favored creditors to date. ConcertOs proposal delivers better value to stakeholders, equivalent to a 35% day-1 recovery on unsecured creditors claims over CDCs proposal and offers all shareholders the chance to participate in Orpeas future value creation. In the event the creditor classes don't vote in favor of the plan, the Support Club anticipates the French state will pursue a cross class cram down via the Board of Orpea, a group of French banks, and the CDC. This would force all creditors to give economics in Orpea to the CDC at a significant undervaluation (take a haircut). This should not be sanctioned without the consent of all classes and the group argues it would breach at least two French laws. Firstly, nationalization has to follow due process to maximize the value of the company; ConcertO and the Support Club have been willing to put in more euros for less equity, but their proposal has been ignored by Orpeas Board. Secondly, other creditors, under pre-emption rights, should have the opportunity enshrined in French law to subscribe to any equitization, which so far they have been denied. In the case of a cross-class cram down, the Support Club argues it and the other unsecured creditors should be allowed to subscribe to the second capital increase. Orpeas unsecured creditors are being made three times the victim in this case. First, Orpea was operationally and financially mis-managed leading to a financial restructuring in the summer of 2022. Secondly, in the 2022 restructuring, the Company did not even consult its unsecured creditors and instead favored a group of overwhelmingly French banks to their detriment. Now, for the third time, unsecured creditors are being treated unfairly. From the very beginning and throughout the process, the Board of Orpea has issued misleading statements on the progress of, and support for, the restructuring. Most concerning of which, the Board claimed to have reached an agreement on the restructuring with about 50% of the unsecured creditors of Orpea, when this cannot have been the case. Members of the Support Club are currently taking legal steps before the French and German Courts to challenge the two-step actions of Orpea to give preferred status to a group of secured creditors (French banks) and then to unfairly sweeten the deal for some but not all unsecured creditors. They hold a blocking position in the convertible bonds and are also seeking to vote down the proposed restructuring through the French safeguard process. Without broader resistance by creditors and shareholders, the Support Club is concerned that unfavored creditors will be crammed-down and deprived of rightful value, which will instead accrue to French creditors and the CDC, which will take the company by stealth. The Support Club says: The flagrant disregard and refusal for months to engage on any alternative restructuring proposal, particularly one which is more favorable to all Orpeas stakeholders, and the unwillingness of Orpeas Board to consider it, forces one to question Frances desire to be seen as a suitable and safe destination for foreign investment. France has recently enacted a new bankruptcy law which is meant to implement a European directive aimed at encouraging cross-border investments by reducing inconsistencies between insolvency rules across the region. The Orpea restructuring plan sets a terrible precedent for unsecured creditor treatment as the first major case under the new law. We do not want to see France go in the same direction as other nation states which have egregiously ignored creditor rights. Following Brexit, Europe is supposed to be open for business, but this attempt at stealth nationalization of a privately owned and financed care provider, which was and remains a viable profitable business, gives a contrary message. The care home sector will require a huge amount of private investment and debt financing in the years ahead to support an aging population in France and Europe, and the Board and CDCs attempts to force a cross-class cram down are harmful to investor confidence. We strongly urge all creditors to vote against the restructuring cooked up by the French-state backed investor CDC and the Board of Orpea on 16th June. Furthermore, we are pursuing legal options to litigate the matter. About Support Club The Support Club is a group of funds managed by Fortress Investment Group, Kite Lake Capital, Kyma Capital, LMR Partners and Whitebox Advisors who are unsecured creditors of Orpea SA (a French healthcare provider), representing 497m of Orpeas unsecured claims and managing over $62 billion in AUM. Support Clubs financial advisor is Gleacher Shacklock LLP, and French legal advice is provided by Lantourne & Associes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230611288601/en/ Media [email protected] France APCO Mehdy Taleb: +33 7 64 45 00 53 UK Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees: +44 7884 001 949 Julia Tilley: +44 7586 722 849 Phoebe Pugh: +44 7817 421 083 Source: Support Club First in a Series of New InGaP HBT Power Amplifiers from GRF Provide 26dBm of Natively Linear Output Power for 5G Applications that Cannot Employ DPD, CFR or ET GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Guerrilla RF, Inc. (OTCQX: GUER) announces the formal release of the GRF5607 and GRF5608, the first in a new class of W linear power amplifiers being developed by the company. These InGaP HBT amplifiers were designed specifically for 5G wireless infrastructure applications requiring exceptional native linearity over temperature extremes of -40C to 85C. Spanning frequency ranges of 703-748MHz and 746-830MHz, respectively, the GRF5607 and GRF5608 are tuned to operate within the n12, n14, n18, n20 and n28 5G new radio (NR) bands. The devices typically deliver 26dBm of linear power over the entire -40C to 85C temperature range while maintaining ACLR levels of better than -45dBc and EVM levels The ability to beat the -45dBc ACLR performance metric without DPD is critical for cellular applications like home and commercial repeaters/boosters, femtocells, and picocells, as well as cable loss compensators which are used in conjunction with automotive shark fin antennas. In each of these use cases, the sensitivity to cost, power and size constraints prohibits the use of elaborate linearization techniques like DPD. Instead, designers must rely on the power amplifiers native linearity to meet the stringent emissions mask requirements imposed by the latest 5G standards. The GRF56xx series directly builds upon the market success of the companys previously released W family of power amplifiers, says Jim Ahne, Guerrilla RFs VP of Automotive and 5G Products. As announced last November, Guerrilla RF has made significant inroads into the automotive cellular market, and these power amplifiers represent a significant piece of its established business. By essentially doubling the output power, GRF is enabling customers to increase the range of their systems by up to 40%. Given that these new devices are pin-pin compatible with the previously released GRF55xx series, customers now have an easy path to upgrading the range capabilities of their existing repeater/booster and compensator platforms. The new series also ensures Guerrilla RF maintains its dominant position within this rapidly growing market segment. The GRF5607 and GRF5608 come in pin-compatible 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin QFN packages. Pricing and Availability Samples and evaluation boards are available now for the GRF5607 and GRF5608. Prices start at $1.76 (10,000-up, EXW USA). Visit https://www.guerrilla-rf.com/products/detail/sku/5607 and https://www.guerrilla-rf.com/products/detail/sku/5608 for additional details. About Guerrilla RF, Inc. Founded in 2013 and based in Greensboro, NC, Guerrilla RF develops and manufactures high-performance monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) to wireless OEMs in multiple market segments including 5G/4G macro and small cell base stations, cellular repeaters/DAS, automotive telematics such as SDARS/V2X/GPS/DAB, military communications, navigation, and high-fidelity wireless audio. Guerrilla RF has an extensive portfolio of over 100 high-performance radio frequency (RF) and microwave semiconductor devices. The existing product line includes ultra-low noise amplifiers, gain blocks, driver amplifiers, mixers, RF switches, digital step attenuators (DSAs), and linear power amplifiers (PAs) the critical building blocks for mission-critical, performance-driven wireless applications. To date, the company has shipped over 175 million devices and has repeatedly been included in Inc. Magazine's annual Inc. 5000 list. Guerrilla RF recently made the top Inc. 500 list for the second year in a row, coming in at No. 421 and 489 for the 2020 and 2021 rankings, respectively. For more information, please visit https://guerrilla-rf.com or follow the company on Twitter and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualifying words (and their derivatives) such as expect, believe, estimate, plan, project, anticipate, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of the company and its management about future events. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult or impossible to predict and, in some cases, beyond the company's control. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the company's filings with the SEC available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to revise or update information in this release to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612502909/en/ Jim Ahne, VP of Automotive & 5G Products / VP of Corporate Marketing [email protected] +1 336 265 7760 Source: Guerrilla RF, Inc. Azevedo to Join the Company in Late June DORAVILLE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), a leading global sleep company, announced today that Dominick Azevedo will be joining the companys executive leadership team as Chief Sales Officer in late June. In this role, Azevedo will lead the sales function for the organization. We are continuing to advance our strategic initiatives which include delivering commercial excellence, said Shelley Huff, CEO, SSB. Over the past 18 months, we have strengthened our retail partnerships to drive greater impact of our trusted brands at retail. Doms industry expertise and proven track record in both merchandising and generating sales growth will enable us to accelerate these efforts and further enhance our leadership position in the market. The brands in SSBs portfolio have a deep heritage in delivering industry-leading sleep solutions for consumers, said Azevedo. I look forward to partnering with Shelley and the sales team to extend the reach of these brands. We will move with agility and execute decisive and data-driven strategies to grow our, and our retail partners, businesses. Azevedo, who will report to Huff, brings more than 30 years of bedding marketing, merchandising and sales experience to SSB. He most recently served as Vice President of Merchandising and New Business Development at City Mattress, a regional mattress retailer serving Florida and New York. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at E.S. Kluft & Company and Advanced Sleep Concepts. Earlier in his career, Azevedo spent more than a decade at Simmons Bedding Company where he ultimately served as Executive Vice President of Sales responsible for all sales functions. With Azevedo joining SSB, Derek Miller, current Chief Sales Officer, will transition to a new role on the sales team leading key national accounts, reporting to Azevedo. Id like to recognize Derek for his leadership over the sales organization for the past four years, and his commitment to the company for the past 25 years. He will continue to play an important role at SSB as we position the company for the future, added Huff. About Serta Simmons Bedding Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) is one of the leading global sleep companies. With a 150-year heritage in delivering industry-leading sleep solutions and a mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives, the company is headquartered in Doraville, GA, and owns top brands such as Serta, which has five other independent licensees, Beautyrest, Tuft & Needle and Simmons. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit https://sertasimmons.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612125926/en/ Danit Marquardt, Eric Mangan Serta Simmons Bedding [email protected] Source: Serta Simmons Bedding SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zero-Error Systems (ZES), specializing in high reliability semiconductor solutions for the space and power management applications, has secured an investment of USD $7.5M in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. With participation from the Dart Family Office and Airbus Ventures, among others, this financing will expand the company's global sales and marketing efforts, as well as accelerate its product roadmap journey, meeting the growing demand for radiation protection, power reliability, and data integrity solutions specifically designed for Low Earth Orbit satellites, deep space rovers and landers, and a wide array of power management application needs on Earth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612005002/en/ Dr. Shu Wei, CTO and Ms. Khor Hwai Lin, VP of Business Development and Strategy. Photo Source: Zero-Error Systems (ZES) In recent years, there has been a notable increase in companies developing application-rich satellites and high precision space robots for lunar and Mars missions. While software and algorithms play a crucial role in driving intelligence, hardware and semiconductor innovations are equally important in supporting the high processing power required, ensuring reliability in extreme environments, and enabling higher power density in energy-constrained satellites, while prolonging their lifespan in space. Many aerospace companies rely on Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) semiconductor devices for their satellite electronics systems, which are not designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space, explains Dr. Shu Wei, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of ZES. Our capabilities address essential power reliability and data integrity concerns by safeguarding COTS semiconductor devices from malfunctions with our patented radiation hardening technologies." A university spin-off from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, ZES was founded in 2019 by experienced semiconductor industry veterans and integrated circuit design experts with deep understanding of semiconductor device characteristics, their behavior in various radiation scenarios, and the essential radiation-hardened mechanisms required to protect semiconductors physical integrity. ZES takes pride in being a pioneering Asian semiconductor startup to develop radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions. By bridging the space and semiconductor industries, ZES plays a strategic role in Singapore's tech landscape, explains Khor Hwai Lin, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at ZES. As part of ZES' new growth plan, our team now plans to elevate its engineering capacity by recruiting additional electronics engineers specializing in space and various power management applications. This latest financing will also support the company's R&D activities in Singapore, while facilitating customer design-in activities globally. About ZES A university spin-off from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Zero-Error Systems (ZES) provides high-reliability semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and reliability testing services that enable higher functionality, lower cost, longer lifetime and higher power efficiency for space, and various power management applications. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612005002/en/ Media [email protected] Source: Zero-Error Systems LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Petro Services, a leading operator of offshore supply vessels in Africa and the Middle East, has been informed by its Chief Executive Alexander Haly that an investigation into his business affairs in Central Africa has been terminated. Mr. Haly was briefly caught up in the investigation led by Italian authorities as part of a much wider inquiry into the awarding of exploration licenses in Central Africa from 2012. Petro Services, which was founded by Mr. Haly in 2006, has never been the subject of this investigation. On 20 February 2023, the Milan Public Prosecutors Office officially announced the closure of the investigation and that there were no grounds for any action. Mr. Haly was never charged with any wrongdoing during the five-year probe and co-operated fully with the authorities. Petro Services is headquartered in Monaco and since formation has established a strong market position in Africa. The company provides offshore supply vessels including anchor handling tug supply vessels, platform supply vessels, accommodation barges and crew boats. Alexander Haly, CEO of Petro Services, said: The dismissal of this case is a welcome and inevitable conclusion to this shocking episode. I was caught in the crosshairs of a politically motivated dispute which had nothing to do with me. I would like to sincerely thank Maitre Zabaldano and his legal team in Monaco as well as my Italian legal team for protecting my legal rights. I am pleased to be able to now give my full attention to Petro Services. About Petro Services: Petro Services was founded in 2006 and is an operator of offshore supply vessels focusing on the West African market and the Middle East. The company offers international oil companies offshore supply vessels and serves as a local partner to a number of large shipping companies. Petro Services also offers operational and technical management for supply vessels and provides ship owners the ease and assurance of placing their vessels in West Africa without the necessity of implementing a local branch. Petro Services operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Tunisia, Qatar and the UAE. https://www.petro-services.com/ Source: Petro Services View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612886926/en/ Media: Tancredi Intelligent Communication Salamander Davoudi +44 7957 549906 Caterina Arcuri +44 7950 413699 [email protected] Source: Petro Services 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. Editor: ZAD WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) membership is building on the successes of the past year and looking ahead to FY2024 in building its Operations plan, which includes goals of its four committees for the next 12 months. Over the past year, the WInnForum renamed two of its committees to more accurately reflect their missions: the Advanced Technologies Committee, which is the project incubator of the Forum, is now the Wireless Innovation Committee and the Spectrum Sharing Committee (SSC), which created the standards for the CBRS Band, is now the CBRS Committee. The 6 GHz Committee and Software Defined Systems (SDS) Committee retain their current names. The newly renamed Wireless Innovation Committee (WInnCmte) launched an online webinar series Tech Talks last year as well as a Spectrum Wiki project. It will continue to expand on those initiatives and pursue projects of strategic relevance to the Forum membership, prioritize and launch projects as appropriate, and monitor those projects to ensure and support execution. The WInnCmte will work with the WInnForums members and external industry experts to identify new market areas where a community of practitioners could be gathered to initiate new projects. Building on the success of the creation of baseline standards for the 6 GHz band, the 6GHz Committee objectives for the coming year include revising the AFC Functional Specification as necessary to support additional post-certification requirements, revising the AFC Test and Certification Specification pursuant to the specification, completing the Security specifications and revising as necessary, continuing to work with the Wi-Fi Alliance under the liaison agreement, and collaborating on the development of requirements and procedures regarding interference reporting and remediation. Last year, the SDS Committee became the host site of the SCA 2.2.2 Test Procedures and returned to in person collaboration hosting group working meetings and public Tactical Communications Workshop in Germany. Building on progress from that meeting, the committee continues in its production of a Harmonized Audio Port API as well as a whitepaper from its Tactical Communications Project which is now under a new Open Systems Architecture Work Group. CBRS Committee continued to evolve its standards for the CBRS band over the past year, providing updates on several (all standards can be found here: https://cbrs.wirelessinnovation.org). Members Airspan (NYSEAMERICAN: MIMO) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) completed CBRS Enhanced Features compliance showing that they fully the meet the requirements for non-regulatory impacting features defined in the Release 2 standards. Over the coming year the group will continue to evolve these standards and promote adoption of Release 2 features. The Committee will meet in person in the Washington DC Area in September and will collocate with other Committees at the General meeting in the spring of 2024. Through these projects, Forum members will develop multiple reports, recommendations and specifications that will be added to our document libraries which can be found at https://www.wirelessinnovation.org. The Operations Plan will be available here once approved by membership: https://www.wirelessinnovation.org/about-us. To participate in any of the projects listed, learn more about the benefits of Forum membership here: https://www.wirelessinnovation.org/benefits-of-membership. About the Wireless Innovation Forum Established in 1996, the Wireless Innovation Forum comprises an international group of equipment vendors, subsystem vendors, software developers, technology developers, communication service providers, research and engineering organizations, academic institutions, government users, regulators and others who share the common business interests of advancing technologies supporting the innovative utilization of spectrum and the development of wireless communications systems, including essential or critical communications systems. www.WirelessInnovation.org. Forum projects are supported by platinum sponsor Thales. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612938309/en/ Lee Pucker, 604-828-9876, [email protected] or Stephanie Hamill, 970-290-9543 or [email protected] Source: Wireless Innovation Forum Companys priority oncology clinical programs continue to advance toward key milestones Additional clinical trial site now open at University of Nebraska for Phase 2 study of Ampligen for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (AMP-270) Ongoing progress toward Phase 1 data in clinical development program of Ampligen for the treatment of early-stage triple negative breast cancer Significant findings from a new analysis support the potential to identify patients with LAPC that could respond better to Ampligen Company bolsters patent portfolio for Ampligen as a potential therapy against Ebola virus disease OCALA, Fla., June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIM ImmunoTech Inc. (NYSE American: AIM) (AIM or the Company), an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of therapeutics to treat multiple types of cancers, immune disorders and viral diseases, today provided an update on its ongoing clinical development programs evaluating Ampligen (rintatolimod), a dsRNA and highly selective TLR3 agonist immune-modulator with broad spectrum activity. AIM Chief Executive Officer Thomas K. Equels commented, We have made promising progress across multiple clinical fronts, and I am proud of the dedication of our team and their evident operational execution. Ampligen continues to demonstrate significant potential across multiple types of cancers, immune disorders and viral diseases. We are committed to advancing Ampligens development and are poised to achieve multiple key milestones in 2023. Ampligen Phase 2 Study as a Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer ("LAPC) (AMP-270) The AMP-270 clinical trial is the Companys randomized, open-label, controlled, parallel-arm study with the primary objective of comparing the efficacy of Ampligen versus a no treatment control group following FOLFIRINOX for subjects with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Secondary objectives include comparing safety and tolerability. AMP-270 is expected to enroll approximately 90 subjects in up to 30 centers across the United States and Europe. The Company is recruiting patients for its AMP-270 Phase 2 study of Ampligen as a therapy for LAPC. The lead site at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is now open and actively working to enroll patients. The Gabrail Cancer & Research Center in Canton, Ohio is also recruiting patients. Kelsey Klute, MD, Medical Director of the Pancreatic Diseases Specialty Clinic at Nebraska Medicine, commented, We are pleased to join into what we believe is an important Phase 2 study that has the potential to address a much-needed treatment option for LAPC. Our team is actively working to enroll and treat patients on the study in a joint effort with all other clinical trial sites. We are encouraged by the potential of Ampligen and look forward to further exploring its potential in the treatment of LAPC. AIM continues its efforts to open additional clinical sites at premier cancer centers across the United States and Europe. The Company remains optimistic for first patient enrollment in the second quarter of this year. For more information about the AMP-270 please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference identifier NCT05494697. Ampligen Phase 1 Study for the Treatment of Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Ampligen is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 study for TNBC by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a combination of Ampligen and celecoxib with or without Intron A, when given along with chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included pCR rate. Tumor and blood biomarkers were analyzed in exploratory studies. The goal of this approach is to increase survival. In November 2022, Roswell presented positive data at the SITC 37th Annual Meeting demonstrating the chemokine-modulating regimen including Ampligen was well tolerated, with promising clinical activity of pathologic complete response (pCR) + microinvasive residual disease (ypTmic). Roswell has now completed the study and is currently analyzing data. Based on current timelines, the Company anticipates Roswell will release via publications full study results before the end of the year. For more information about the Phase 1 study of Ampligen for the treatment of TNBC, visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference identified NCT04081389. Ampligen Analysis Demonstrating Potential as a Maintenance Therapy After Systemic Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic and LAPC A new analysis was recently presented in an abstract titled, Immune Response in Stable Pancreatic Cancer after Rintatolimod Treatment, by Professor C.H.J. van Eijck, MD, PhD of Erasmus Medical Center at the 2023 Annual Pancreas Club Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois. Findings from the analysis demonstrated that treatment of patients with LAPC after FOLFIRINOX with Ampligen (rintatolimod) may induce markers of dendritic cells and T cells in a subgroup of patients. The absence of these markers may predict tumor progression after FOLFIRINOX, providing the future possibility of identifying pancreatic cancer patients who could potentially respond to Ampligen. The results from the new analysis build on the previously reported peer-reviewed article Rintatolimod (Ampligen) Enhances Numbers of Peripheral B Cells and Is Associated with Longer Survival in Patients with Locally Advanced and Metastasized Pancreatic Cancer Pre-Treated with FOLFIRINOX: A Single-Center Named Patient Program, published in March 2022 in the journal Cancers. Ampligen as a Potential Therapy Against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) The South African Patent and Trademark Office (CIPC) has granted patent No. 2022/01079, titled Compositions and Methods Useful for Ebola Virus Infection. This pioneering patent recognizes the efficacy of AIMs tdsRNA drug family, of which Ampligen is a member, as a potential solution to combat the devastating impact of Ebola outbreaks. Under the newly granted patent, a composition comprising tdsRNA may be used in a method that involves administering the composition to a subject to prevent, treat, inhibit, or attenuate an Ebola virus infection in that subject. Significantly, the composition may be used as a treatment for individuals already infected with the Ebola virus, or the composition may be used to prevent an Ebola infection. About Ampligen Ampligen is AIMs dsRNA product candidate being developed for globally important cancers, viral diseases and disorders of the immune system. Ampligen has demonstrated in the clinic the potential for standalone efficacy in a number of solid tumors. Additionally, Ampligen has shown success in increasing survival rates and efficacy in the treatment of animal tumors when used in combination with checkpoint blockade therapies. Ampligen is currently being evaluated as a combinational therapy for the treatment of a variety of solid tumor types in multiple clinical trials both underway and planned at major cancer research centers around the country. Ampligen is being used to treat pancreatic cancer patients in an Early Access Program approved by the Inspectorate of Healthcare in the Netherlands at Erasmus Medical Center. Additionally, Ampligen is also approved in Argentina for the treatment of severe chronic fatigue syndrome and is currently being evaluated in SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Post COVID Conditions. About AIM ImmunoTech Inc. AIM ImmunoTech Inc. is an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of therapeutics to treat multiple types of cancers, immune disorders and viral diseases, including COVID-19. The Companys lead product is a first-in-class investigational drug called Ampligen (rintatolimod), a dsRNA and highly selective TLR3 agonist immuno-modulator with broad spectrum activity in clinical trials for globally important cancers, viral diseases and disorders of the immune system. For more information, please visit aimimmuno.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Cautionary Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the PSLRA). Words such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Many of these forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among other things, for those statements, the Company claims the protection of safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the PSLRA. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arbor Metals Corp. (Arbor or the Company) (TSXV: ABR, FWB: 432) announces the successful completion of a detailed spectral analysis of the Jarnet Lithium project located in the James Bay region of Quebec. This comprehensive study marks a significant milestone in advancing our understanding of the lithium potential in this promising area. In the analysis conducted by our team of experts, four discrete datasets were meticulously correlated with 81 lithium-bearing rock chip samples collected at the Jarnet site. Additionally, we carefully examined the presence of significant spodumene-bearing pegmatites on adjoining projects. By integrating multiple data sources, including resistivity measurements and gas emissions, we aimed to gain comprehensive insights into the lithium-rich geological formations of the area. The findings from this study hold great promise for the Jarnet Lithium project and the surrounding region. The spectral analysis allowed us to identify and characterize various lithological units indicative of lithium mineralization potential. These valuable insights will guide our exploration efforts and decision-making processes as we progress with the project. "We are thrilled to have completed this comprehensive spectral analysis of the Jarnet Lithium project," said Mark Ferguson, CEO of Arbor Metals . "The results obtained from this study provide us with a solid foundation to further explore the lithium potential in this region and advance our understanding of the geological factors influencing the presence of lithium-bearing deposits. The Jarnet Lithium project , initially identified by the Company in 2021, has consistently demonstrated strong lithium prospects, making it a key focus area for our company's growth strategy. This recent analysis further confirms the project's potential and reinforces our commitment to unlocking its full potential. Arbor remains dedicated to responsible and sustainable exploration practices. As we progress with the Jarnet Lithium project, we prioritize environmental stewardship and community engagement, ensuring that our activities align with the highest social and environmental responsibility standards. Moving forward, Arbor will leverage the valuable insights gained from this spectral analysis to inform our exploration program at the Jarnet site. We remain committed to unlocking the significant lithium potential in the St. James Bay region and look forward to updating our stakeholders as we achieve key milestones in our journey. Dr. Peter Born, P.Geo., is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for and has approved the technical information in this release. About Arbor Metals Corp. Arbor Metals Corp. is a mining exploration company focused on developing high-value, geographically significant mineral projects around the world. Arbor is paving the way for advanced mineral exploration as it oversees world-class mining projects. The company is confident that combining quality projects with proven strategies and a dedicated team will yield exceptional outcomes. Arbor currently oversees three outstanding mineral projects. The Jarnet lithium project , located in the James Bay region of Quebec, comprises 47 map-designated claims, covering an area of approximately 3,759 hectares. The Jarnet project is contiguous to the Corvette-FCI property, where diamond drilling has confirmed significant lithium mineralization, and represents one of the highest-profile lithium exploration projects in the sector. A map accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4b4b1a7-74fa-413a-9c07-0253f02038d1 For further information, contact Mark Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, at [email protected] or visit the Companys website at www.arbormetalscorp.com . On behalf of the Board, Arbor Metals Corp. Mark Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the development of the Jarnet Lithium Project, the assessment of samples from that Project, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Contact Data CONTACT: MRKT360 INC https://mrkt360.com Alex Zertuche [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours, Call 1 416-477-0587 TORONTO, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (Clear Blue) (TSXV: CBLU) (FRA: 0YA) (OTCQB: CBUTF), announces a purchase agreement under which Clear Blue will provide its Esite-Micro power solution to 20 telecom sites in western Africa. The estimated total Lifetime Contract Value for this order, including recurring revenue, is $425,000 of which $360,000 is expected to ship in Q3 2023. This contract increases Clear Blues 2023 Year-To-Date bookings to $4,975,000, of which $4,325,000 is expected to be recognized in 2023. The customer is a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) based in Western Africa and has 98 existing telecom sites powered by eSite Power Systems AB (eSite), which Clear Blue acquired on January 23, 2023. This order represents the revenue synergies between eSite and Clear Blue. The new Esite-Micro telecom sites will be fully integrated with Clear Blues Illumience cloud management and control service, allowing the sites to be monitored and managed remotely by Clear Blues service team, and providing Clear Blue with recurring revenue from Esites platform, a first, since the eSite acquisition closed. Furthermore, Clear Blues Illumience platform could in the future be added to the customers existing eSite systems in the field, which is not reflecting in Year-to-Date bookings, but could add $46K of additional recurring revenue. This first Esite-Micro order is supported by a strong and building sales funnel of the Esite-Micro product across Africa and increases our confidence of our 2023 revenue growth plan, said CEO Miriam Tuerk. We are optimistic about the value our first delivery our new integrated Esite-Micro product brings to our customers as well as the strong growth potential it could drive for Clear Blue. About Clear Blue Technologies International Clear Blue Technologies International, the Smart Off-Grid company, was founded on a vision of delivering clean, managed, wireless power to meet the global need for reliable, low-cost, solar and hybrid power for lighting, telecom, security, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. Today, Clear Blue has thousands of systems under management across 37 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. (TSXV: CBLU) (FRA: 0YA) (OTCQB: CBUTF) www.clearbluetechnologies.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Clear BlueMiriam Tuerk, Co-Founder and CEO+1 416 433 3952[email protected]www.clearbluetechnologies.com/en/investors Nikhil Thadani, Sophic Capital+1 437 836 9669[email protected] Legal Disclaimer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" and/or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Clear Blues beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Clear Blue's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, the future phases of the project or future value of this project for any mentioned parties. By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Clear Blue is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Clear Blue to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. An investment in securities of Clear Blue is speculative and subject to several risks including, without limitation, the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Clear Blue's listing application dated July 12, 2018. Although Clear Blue has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Clear Blue has made certain assumptions. Although Clear Blue believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to Clear Blue or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or U.S. Persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. Source: Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. June 12, 2023, Oslo, Norway: Reference is made to the contract award announced March 22, 2023. PGS was during the weekend informed by the client that it will terminate the contract. Ramform Titan was contracted to commence mobilization for the 3D exploration survey in June with acquisition to complete in August. Following successful completion of an acquisition campaign in Namibia late May, Ramform Titan was steaming to the survey area in South America when the notice of termination was received. PGS is in dialog with the client relating to compensation and/or alternative work for the vessel. The dialog with the client is constructive and the aim is to minimize any financial impact on PGS. It is however a risk that the vessel will be idle for up to 2-3 months. FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35 *** PGS ASA and its subsidiaries (PGS or the Company) is a fully integrated marine geophysical company that provides a broad range of seismic and reservoir services, including data acquisition, imaging, interpretation, and field evaluation. Our services are provided to the oil and gas industry, as well as to the broader and emerging new energy industries, including carbon storage and offshore wind. The Company operates on a worldwide basis with headquarters in Oslo, Norway and the PGS share is listed on the Oslo stock exchange (OSE: PGS). For more information on PGS visit www.pgs.com. *** The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2022. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect. --END-- FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with a displayed Broadcom logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. chipmaker Broadcom is set to gain conditional EU antitrust approval for its $61 billion proposed acquisition of cloud computing firm VMware, people familiar with the matter said, sending its shares up by almost 5%. The European Commission's clearance is tied to remedies relating to Broadcom's interoperability with rivals that would address competition concerns, the people said. Both the EU antitrust watchdog, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by July 17, and Broadcom declined to comment. Broadcom shares rose as much as 5% in early trade and were up 4.9% at 1700 GMT. VMware was up 2.7%. One of the remedies focuses on Fibre Channel Host-Bus Adapters (FC HBAs) and is targeted at rival Marvell Technology, one of the people said. Marvell Technology did not respond to a request for comment. FC HBAs are storage adapters that connect servers to storage located outside the server on a storage-area network using the fiber channel protocol, typically through a switch. Broadcom is a leading supplier of FC HBAs. Broadcom's other key hurdle is in Britain where the British competition agency will next month announce its provisional findings about the deal and possible remedies if required. Companies have become more wary about the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after it blocked Microsoft's Activision deal while the EU cleared it. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is also investigating Broadcom's VMware acquisition. Broadcom, which supplies chips used in data centres for networking and specialised chips that speed up AI work, announced the deal, its biggest, last year to diversify into enterprise software. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Conor Humphries) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV)(OTCQX: CVVUF)(FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska or the "Company") announces that it intends to spinout five of its nickel properties: Halfway Lake, Resting Lake, Hunter, Odei River and its recently acquired Mel nickel deposit lease and claims (the "Nickel Properties"). It is expected that the spinout of the Nickel Properties would be effected through a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which CanAlaska would transfer the Nickel Properties to a wholly-owned subsidiary, Core Nickel Corp. ("Core Nickel"), in consideration for common shares of Core Nickel. The Core Nickel shares would then be distributed to CanAlaska's shareholders pro rata their interest in CanAlaska resulting in CanAlaska's shareholders owning shares in two public companies upon completion of the Arrangement. The intent of the transaction would be twofold: (1) to permit CanAlaska to continue to focus its efforts on its uranium and other properties; and (2) to position Core Nickel to operate as an independent company that would seek a separate public listing and focus on building and advancing the Nickel Properties. CanAlaska makes no assurance that a spinout will occur as it is subject to many conditions that include the assessment of legal and tax consequences, determining the specific details of the Arrangement, Core Nickel satisfying stock exchange listing requirements, receipt of shareholder approval, receipt of all regulatory and other required approvals, the availability of financing for Core Nickel and market conditions. The Company will provide further details when they become available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV)(OTCQX: CVVUF)(FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 350,000 hectares (865,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The qualified technical person for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P.Geo., CanAlaska's Vice President, Exploration. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Cory Belyk, CEO and President Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138 Email: [email protected] General Enquiry Tel: +1.604.688.3211 Email: [email protected] Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169555 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - Doubleview Gold Corp. (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (GERMANY: A1W038) (referred to as the "Company" or "Doubleview") is pleased to announce recent progress at its Hat Project. Following the Company's winter program of data compilation and interpretation, and a spring program of camp improvements, a series of drill holes are being directed to parts of the main Lisle Zone. Thus far, drill holes H052 and H053, located in the middle-west part of the deposit have been completed. These holes were positioned to confirm continuity within that area and were successful in validating our model. Both drill holes intersected sulphide mineralization, including sections of very strong chalcopyrite and very strong pyrite mineralization that has historically been associated with significant gold content. Holes H052 and H053 were drilled from the same collar location as holes H049, H050, and H051. H052 was drilled at azimuth 135 degrees, dip -60o and total length 540 m; hole H053, at 105o, dip -70o and total length 441 m. These drill holes encountered chalcopyrite, pyrite and magnetite and confirm the west continuity of the Lisle Zone. Drill cores are being processed at the HAT camp and core samples will be transferred to Dease Lake and securely trucked to an accredited laboratory located in North Vancouver, British Columbia for expedited analysis. Farshad Shirvani, Doubleview President and CEO commented "The current drill program is designed to maximize the results and quality of the NI43-101 resource estimate that is currently in progress for the HAT deposit." Mr. Shirvani stated, "Many countries around the world are increasingly seeking critical metal supplies from North America, where high demand and an impending shortage have been predicted. Notably, the United Kingdom and South Korea have demonstrated their interest in securing these critical metals from the United States and, and the Government of British Columbia respectively, signifying the anticipated surge in market demand." "Doubleview's Hat project is endowed with a substantial number of these critical metals, which places Doubleview and our investors in a truly advantageous position." The Company's exploration program continues, and updates will be provided as further information becomes available. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8003/169570_f177f704d4770b2c_001full.jpg Qualified Persons: Erik Ostensoe, P. Geo., a consulting geologist, and Doubleview's Qualified Person with respect to the Hat Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release. He is not independent of Doubleview as he is a shareholder in the company. About Doubleview Gold Corp Doubleview Gold Corp., a mineral resource exploration and development company, is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange(TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (GERMANY: A1W038) (FSE: 1D4). Doubleview identifies, acquires and finances precious and base metal exploration projects in North America, particularly in British Columbia. Doubleview increases shareholder value through acquisition and exploration of quality gold, copper and silver properties and the application of advanced state-of-the-art exploration methods. The Company's portfolio of strategic properties provides diversification and mitigates investment risks. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Farshad Shirvani, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information please contact: Doubleview Gold Corp Vancouver, BC Farshad Shirvani President & CEO T: (604) 678-9587 E: [email protected] NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information." In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169570 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - PesoRama Inc.(TSXV: PESO) (OTCQB: PSSOF) ("PesoRama" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, today, it has entered into a binding senior secured revolving credit facility (the "Loan Agreement") for up to $20M (the "Loan") with Third Eye Capital Corporation (the "Agent") on behalf of certain lenders (the "Lenders"). The Loan will support the Company's continued expansion through the construction of new JOi Dollar Plus Stores in Mexico and the expansion of the Company's inventory and product offerings. The Loan matures in three years and will be made available subject to a borrowing base up to a maximum of $20M. The Loan will bear interest equal to the greater of: (i) 13.5%; and (ii) 7.55% above the Prime Rate posted by the Royal Bank of Canada ("Interest"). The Interest is compounded and payable monthly in arrears and subject to interest reserve requirements. "Today is a day of celebration as we reach this milestone and closing of this new credit facility," said Rahim Bhaloo, Founder and Executive Chairman. "The successful establishment of this facility demonstrates the effectiveness of our business model, strong market demand and the overall opportunity that the Mexican market presents. I am incredibly proud of everything our team has been able to achieve and will build on this growing momentum as we strategically expand throughout Mexico. Congratulations and thank you to the whole PesoRama and Third Eye teams, our loyal customers and our shareholders who got us here." "After several months of due diligence with both Canadian and Mexican management and shareholders, which included physical visits to multiple stores and inventory locations, we are pleased to structure a financing specifically tailored to meet PesoRama's growth plans," commented Omar Murad, Director of Special Situations at Third Eye Capital. "We look forward to helping spread 'JOi' across Mexico." The Loan is subject to a closing fee of $800,000 to be paid in two installments to the Agent, for the rateable benefit of the Lenders. A standby fee equal to 1% will be paid annually by the Company to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, calculated and payable quarterly in arrears, of the difference between the daily revolver advances outstanding and the revolver limit during such quarter. An annual monitoring fee of $50,000 will be paid by the Company to the Agent, which fee will be paid in quarterly instalments beginning today and each three-month anniversary thereafter. As partial consideration for entering into the Loan Agreement, the Company issued 15,060,838 non-transferable warrants to the Lenders (the "Warrants") to purchase up to an aggregate of 15,060,838 common shares of the Company. Each Warrant has an exercise price equal to $0.14 and is exercisable for five years. The Lenders are not Non-Arm's Length Parties of the Company as defined pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. The Lenders do not own nor have any beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company other than the Warrants granted pursuant to the Loan Agreement. The Loan was approved by the TSXV. About PesoRama Inc. PesoRama, operating under the JOi Dollar Plus brand, is a Mexican value dollar store retailer. PesoRama launched operations in 2019 in Mexico City and the surrounding areas targeting high-density, high-traffic locations. PesoRama's 21 stores offer consistent merchandise offerings which include items in the following categories: household goods, pet supplies, seasonal products, party supplies, health and beauty, snack food items, confectionery and more. For more information visit: http://pesorama.ca/. For further information please contact: Rahim Bhaloo Founder & Executive Chairman [email protected] 416-816-3291 Erica Fattore President & Chief Executive Officer [email protected] In this press release, all references to "$" are to Canadian dollars. * * * Notice regarding forward-looking statements: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, among other things, statements regarding the Company's proposed construction of new stores, the Company's proposed purchase of inventory, the amount that will be made available per advance pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the calculation of Interest, the payment of a standby fee, and the payment of an annual monitoring fee. While the Company believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements, including due to changes in consumer behaviour, general economic factors, changes in the Interest, the ability of the Company to execute its strategies, the availability of capital and the risk factors which are discussed in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's prospectus dated January 31, 2022 and filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. PesoRama undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of PesoRama, its securities, or its financial or operating results (as applicable). Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169605 Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged investment adviser Sabby Management LLC and its managing partner, Hal D. Mintz, with fraud in connection with a long running scheme involving misrepresentations and violations of rules for short selling and order making, as well as other violative trading, that generated more than $2 million in illegal profits. The SECs complaint alleges that, from at least March 2017 through May 2019, Sabby and Mintz repeatedly circumvented trading rules to conduct unlawful trades in the stock of at least 10 public companies. Short selling is a legal practice where, generally, a trader borrows a security from a securityholder and sells the security at one price, speculating that the trader can buy the security at a lower price in the future before it must be returned to its owner. As alleged in the complaint, for example, Sabby and Mintz engaged in illegal naked short selling by intentionally and improperly placing short sales when they knew or were reckless in not knowing that they had not borrowed or located the shares, and then failed to make timely delivery of the shares. According to the SECs complaint, the purpose of Sabby and Mintzs fraudulent scheme was to earn profits they could not have gained through legal trading. Additionally, as the complaint alleges, on occasion Sabby and Mintz used their naked short selling to artificially deflate the price of securities, allowing them to obtain more shares at a cheaper price. The SECs complaint further alleges that Sabby and Mintz tried to conceal their fraudulent trading, including by using securities acquired after the trades to make it appear to brokers executing the trades that they had complied with the requirement to have borrowed or located the shares prior to their trades. As the complaint alleges, when questioned by at least one broker regarding their trading, Sabby and Mintz repeatedly lied about the trading. The SEC alleges that Sabby and Mintz attempted to game the system and make an illegal profit, said Carolyn Welshhans, Associate Director of the SECs Division of Enforcement. When someone uses naked shorts or other manipulative practices to cheat the market and investors, the SEC will ensure that they are held accountable. The SECs complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, charges Sabby and Mintz with violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5 and 10b-21 thereunder. The complaint also charges Sabby with violations of Sections 204 and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rules 204-2 and 206(4)-7 thereunder and charges Mintz with aiding and abetting those violations. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. The SECs investigation was conducted by Edward Reilly and Christopher Mathews, with assistance from Patrick McCluskey and Brian Shute, under the supervision of Amy Friedman and Ms. Welshhans. The litigation will be led by Daniel Maher and Mr. Reilly and supervised by David Nasse. Khaled Hboubati (R), president of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), and Shi Hongwei, Chinese ambassador to Syria, shake hands after signing a delivery note of five shipments of wheat and rice as part of China's humanitarian assistance for the Syrians in the wake of the massive earthquakes which took place on Feb. 6, in Damascus, Syria, on June 11, 2023. China on Sunday donated more than 3,500 tons of grain to Syria to aid the war-torn country's recovery from the aftermath of the massive earthquakes on February 6. President of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) Khaled Hboubati and Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei attended the handover ceremony of five shipments of 2,336 tons of wheat and 1,180 tons of rice, at the SARC's headquarters in Damascus. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday donated more than 3,500 tons of grain to Syria to aid the war-torn country's recovery from the aftermath of the massive earthquakes on February 6. President of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) Khaled Hboubati and Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei attended the handover ceremony of five shipments of 2,336 tons of wheat and 1,180 tons of rice, at the SARC's headquarters in Damascus. During the ceremony, Hboubati thanked China on behalf of the Syrian people and the SARC for offering aid during the country's humanitarian crisis, particularly in the wake of the earthquakes which caused massive damage to northern and western parts of the country and displaced tens of thousands of people. For his part, the Chinese ambassador told reporters that his country would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria and will be part of the reconstruction process in the country. He hoped the Syrian people would overcome the impacts of the earthquake quickly. Since the powerful earthquakes that struck Trkiye and neighboring Syria on February 6, China has been actively involved in assisting both countries. China donated two shipments of aid to Syria in February, along with 80 tonnes of medical supplies and other goods for earthquake relief, such as tents, blankets, clothing, and food. In May, China donated 225 prefabricated houses to Syria. Khaled Hboubati (R), president of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), and Shi Hongwei, Chinese ambassador to Syria, sign a delivery note of five shipments of wheat and rice as part of China's humanitarian assistance for the Syrians in the wake of the massive earthquakes which took place on Feb. 6, in Damascus, Syria, on June 11, 2023. China on Sunday donated more than 3,500 tons of grain to Syria to aid the war-torn country's recovery from the aftermath of the massive earthquakes on February 6. President of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) Khaled Hboubati and Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei attended the handover ceremony of five shipments of 2,336 tons of wheat and 1,180 tons of rice, at the SARC's headquarters in Damascus. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Editor: WJH Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - The Securities and Exchange Commissions Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) today unveiled a public service campaign that encourages older investors to never stop learning when it comes to protecting their hard-earned money and investing for their future. The campaign features a new TV spot, Never Stop Learning, which is available in English and Spanish, and four informational videos about caregivers, trusted contacts, protecting investors retirement money, and the red flags of investment fraud. The campaign also includes new resource pages for older investors in both English and Spanish that promote the free tools and resources on Investor.gov where investors can find information about investing in retirement, spotting fraud, doing background checks on investment professionals, and more. I encourage all investors, including older investors, to take advantage of our resources on Investor.gov, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. To be an informed investor is to be a more effective investor, whether you are growing a nest egg, in retirement, or preparing for the inevitable bumps along the way. Older investors have years of life experience, and we want to encourage them to build on their experiences and knowledge to never stop learning about investing and fraud protection, said Lori Schock, Director of the SECs Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. This years campaign, along with our new Never Stop Learning resource pages, provides vital information so that older investors have the tools and resources to safeguard their hard-earned money from fraud and abuse. Morethan 60 million users have accessedInvestor.govsince it launched in October 2009, and thousands of investors test their investing knowledge by taking a new quiz published each month. This months quiz, available at Investor.gov/quiz, highlights messaging from the new campaign focused on older investors. Read more about the Never Stop Learning campaign below: TV Spot The Never Stop Learning TV spot features several scenes of older adults enjoying activities such as surfing, sightseeing, and playing with a grandchild. The message is to never stop having fun, never stop exploring, and, most importantly, to never stop learning, especially when it comes to investing and protecting their hard-earned money. Informational Videos Caregivers: Financial Warning Signs You Should Know Educates caregivers about the warning signs of investment fraud to help protect those they care for by being on the lookout for sudden financial changes, missing cash, and unusual account withdrawals or wire transfers. Red Flags of Fraud Encourages older investors to watch out for common scams, including romance scams, imposter scams, and crypto scams. The video also warns investors to beware of people pitching time-sensitive offers, high-pressure sales tactics, deals that seem too-good-to-be-true, and promises of high-guaranteed returns. It also stresses the importance of conducting their own independent research and to avoid feeling rushed into making an investment decision. Protect Your Retirement Money Provides tips on how older investors can better protect their retirement money by conducting a background check on their investment professional, resisting the temptation to invest for the fear of missing out, using strong passwords and minimizing personal information they make public, and checking privacy settings to protect their online and social media accounts. Trusted Contact Explains the importance of designating a trusted contact to serve as a backup contact for a persons brokerage account in case the account holder cannot be reached, becomes sick, or suffers diminished capacity. It also highlights the advantages of having a trusted contact that can verify personal information, address suspicious account activity, confirm investors health status, and verify who else is authorized to help with their accounts. PenFed Credit Union recognized at the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico's 100th anniversary convention. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union is the recipient of the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico's prestigious Legacy and Vision Award. The honor was bestowed upon the nation's second-largest federal credit union by Department Commander Carmen Rosario , the first woman in the organization's 100-year history to serve in that role. "There is no greater honor than being recognized by an organization that was built on a promise from men and women who swore with their lives to defend and protect the United States through military service," said James Schenck , PenFed Credit Union President/CEO, and CEO of The PenFed Foundation. "I'm humbled to accept this award on behalf of all PenFed employees who are passionate about taking care of our nation's defenders, as well as those who support them." PenFed Credit Union has 300,000 members on the island and serves the community with financial and service centers in Fort Buchanan, San Patricio, Hatillo and Ponce. The credit union currently employs more than 100 and is opening a new facility in Mayaguez later this year. Final negotiations are underway for another financial center in Humacao. In April, PenFed sponsored the first Honor Flight in history from Puerto Rico to Washington, D.C. bringing veterans from World War II, Korea , and Vietnam for a three-day visit to see the monuments built in their honor. The trip was free of charge to veterans. "PenFed truly cares about Puerto Rico . Under James Schenck's visionary leadership, the credit union has a strong commitment to giving back to the communities it serves," said Department Commander Carmen Rosario , herself a lifelong PenFed member. "The American Legion Department of Puerto Rico couldn't think of a more deserving corporate hero to honor." Schenck is a West Point and Harvard Business School graduate, a former Blackhawk helicopter pilot and served in the Pentagon on the Army staff. He joined PenFed in 2001, and was named CEO in 2014. Rosario was born in Puerto Rico and joined the military at the age of 40 after a career as a police officer and a nurse. Service runs deep in her family. Rosario's husband served in Vietnam , her father earned a Purple Heart in Korea , and several relatives served, including both of her sons, two brothers, and four uncles. About PenFed Credit Union Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.9 million members worldwide with $35.3 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services. Our mission is to empower members of our community to achieve their financial well-being. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. About The American Legion Department of Puerto Rico One of the nation's largest and most powerful nonprofit veterans' organizations, The American Legion has more than two million members in 13,000 locations in the United States and its territories. The Department of Puerto Rico is one of the oldest, established in 1923. It is recognized as a leader in helping the transition from military to civilian life, providing resources for education, childcare and much more. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-legion-honors-penfed-credit-union-with-its-legacy-and-vision-award-301848621.html SOURCE PenFed Credit Union Proceeds to support the development of Eccogene's clinical-stage metabolic pipeline including ECC5004, a small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity and type 2 diabetes, and ECC4703, a THR full agonist for NASH and lipid disorders BOSTON and SHANGHAI , June 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eccogene Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutic solutions for metabolic diseases, today announced a CNY 180 million (about $25 million ) Series B financing. The financing was co-led by New Alliance Capital and Zhangjiang Healthcare Venture Capital. The syndicate also included new investors Rockbleu Capital, YuFu Investment, Huajin Capital, Elikon Venture and existing investors Delos Capital, Oriza Seed Capital and Qingsong Capital. The proceeds from the financing will be used to support the development of Eccogene's clinical-stage programs including the Phase I trial of ECC5004, a small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the Phase I trial of ECC4703, a THRb full agonist for NASH and lipid disorders, as well as to further advance Eccogene's preclinical programs for metabolic and immunological diseases. Eccogene's clinical pipeline comprises: ECC5004, a once daily, low dose, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) is currently in a US Phase I clinical trial in healthy participants and patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D); ECC5004 has been demonstrated in preclinical studies to possess desirable efficacy and a safety profile with the potential to be the best-in-class GLP-1RA . ECC4703, a THR full agonist, which is currently in a US Phase I trial in healthy participants and subjects with elevated LDL; ECC4703 has demonstrated superiority over partial agonist MGL-3196 in pre-clinical studies. It has also shown robust efficacy in pre-clinical models of NASH and dyslipidemia . ECC0509, a peripherally distributed SSAO/VAP-1 inhibitor, which is near completion of a Phase I clinical trial . "We are thrilled that the series B financing enables us to advance clinical trials of a potentially best-in-class small molecule GLP-1RA to treat obesity, diabetes, and related complications, and to further develop several highly differentiated assets for metabolic and immunological diseases," said Jingye Zhou , Chief Executive Officer of Eccogene. "This financing brings us a step closer to providing clinical benefits to hundreds of millions of patients affected by obesity, T2D and NASH globally." About Eccogene Eccogene is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to providing innovative therapeutic solutions to address unmet medical needs globally. The company focuses on the discovery and development of translational medicine for metabolic and immune-related diseases. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eccogene-raises-cny-180-million-in-series-b-equity-financing-propelling-its-pipeline-of-treatments-for-metabolic-diseases-301847064.html SOURCE Eccogene HanAll Biopharma and Daewoong Pharmaceutical have co-invested in Vincere Biosciences. and Daewoong Pharmaceutical have co-invested in Vincere Biosciences. These mission-aligned companies are collaborating to develop small-molecule therapies for Parkinson's patients, benefiting from their combined expertise in clinical development and disease biology. The parties will also continue to explore opportunities to expand their collaboration, leveraging Vincere's proprietary AI platform and various mitochondrial targeting efforts. ROCKVILLE, Md. and SEOUL, South Korea , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HanAll Biopharma (KRX: 009420.KS) and Daewoong Pharmaceutical (KRX: 069620.KS) today announced the expansion of their open collaboration strategy by investing in Vincere Biosciences, a Cambridge, MA -based company developing therapeutics targeting mitophagy. These investments, via the Freemind Investments (FMI) investment platform, fosters further discussions for future collaborations around Parkinson's disease therapeutics as well as Vincere's artificial intelligence platform, which ranges from tools to accelerate drug discovery to algorithms that assist with subject selection in clinical trials. Vincere Biosciences aims to conquer degeneration, whether in Parkinson's or age-related degeneration, through the discovery and development of small molecules empowered by a suite of computational tools alongside traditional biology and drug discovery expertise. The company is focused on developing first-in-class disease-modifying therapeutics by targeting the modulation of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms such as mitophagy. By increasing mitophagy to sequester and recycle damaged mitochondria, Vincere's compounds increase the ratio of healthy mitochondria and counteract a key deficit in Parkinson's disease as well as in a broad range of other age-related disorders. "This investment reflects our commitment to strategic collaborations, especially at this pivotal moment of convergence between drug development and artificial intelligence. With the diverse and complementary research approaches among Vincere, Daewoong, and HanAll, we look forward to finding paths to help Parkinson's patients," said Sean Jeong , M.D., MBA, CEO of HanAll Biopharma. "By combining efforts and resources, we can accelerate the multi-tiered approach HanAll has undertaken in the Parkinson's space," added Dr. Almira (Ellie) Chabi , CMO and CDO at HanAll Biopharma. "There is a great deal of synergy that can be found among the programs, and, in addition, there are opportunities for collaborations leveraging Vincere's versatile AI platform to evolve and transform our approach to drug development." Sengho Jeon , CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, said, "We are very pleased to invest in Vincere Biosciences to accelerate the development of innovative therapeutics for Parkinson's disease, an area of great focus for us." "This partnership highlights the joining of forces across a shared mission to deliver disease-modifying medicines for Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Spring (Bahareh) Behrouz , PhD, CEO of Vincere Biosciences. "Daewoong and HanAll's track record of success in clinical studies and shared strategic alignment complement our team's deep understanding of the underlying biology. We look forward to a productive relationship that will accelerate the delivery of therapeutics to patients in need." About HanAll Biopharma Co., Ltd. HanAll Biopharma (KRX: 009420.KS) is a global biopharmaceutical company with presences in Korea , the USA , Japan , and Indonesia , with a mission of making meaningful contributions to patients' lives by introducing innovative, impactful medicines to address severe unmet medical needs. HanAll has been operating a portfolio of pharmaceutical products in areas ranging from endocrine, circulatory, and urologic diseases for 50 years. HanAll has also expanded its focus to ophthalmology, immunology, oncology, and neurology to discover and develop innovative medicines for patients with diseases for which there are no effective treatments. Its lead pipeline asset, HL161 (INN: batoclimab), an anti-FcRn antibody, is being developed in Phase 3 and Phase 2 trials across the world for the treatment of autoimmune diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG), thyroid eye disease (TED), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and Graves' disease (GD). Another main asset, HL036 (INN: tanfanercept), a TNF-alpha inhibitor protein, is being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical studies in the US and China for the treatment of dry eye disease. For further information, visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn. For any media inquiries, please contact HanAll PR/IR ([email protected], [email protected]). About Daewoong Pharmaceutical. Co., Ltd. (https://www.daewoong.co.kr/en) Established in 1945, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading South Korean pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceuticals for both domestic and international markets. With strong and innovative in-house R&D and advanced manufacturing facilities, Daewoong provides a total healthcare solution to customers across the globe. Continuing their course of building a strong global healthcare company, Daewoong has broadened international operations by establishing branch offices and research centers throughout Asia and the United States . Daewoong has also expanded strategic partnerships in more than 100 countries worldwide. About Vincere Biosciences Inc. Vincere Biosciences was founded in 2018 with a focus on the development of mitophagy-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative and other age-related diseases. These efforts are empowered by a unique suite of computational tools, coupled with traditional biological expertise and rational drug design strategies. Vincere is Latin for "to win," a constant reminder of the mission to conquer age-related decline. Visit http://www.vincerebio.com for more information about Vincere Biosciences. About Freemind Investments LP Freemind Investments (FMI) is a novel investment platform developed by the FreeMind Group and strategic fund established in partnership with Daewoong Pharmaceutical. FMI takes advantage of the FreeMind Group's ~25 years' experience in assisting life science companies secure non-dilutive funding from US federal agencies and the corresponding detailed scientific review process to screen for de-risked and potentially high reward investment opportunities. The FMI investment platform uses quantitative measures and scientific validation stemming from the non-dilutive review process to make informed investment decisions. Disclaimer Statement The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," or "should," and include statements HANALL (the company, we) makes concerning its 2023 business and financial outlook and related plans; the therapeutic potential of its product candidates; the intended results of its strategy and the company, and its collaboration partners', advancement of, and anticipated clinical development, data readouts and regulatory milestones and plans, including the timing of planned clinical trials and expected data readouts; the design of future clinical trials and the timing and outcome of regulatory filings and regulatory approvals. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. These may include various significant factors, such as our expectations regarding the inherent uncertainties associated with competitive developments, preclinical and clinical trial and product development activities, and regulatory approval requirements. In addition, performance may be affected by our reliance on collaborations with third parties, estimating the commercial potential of our product candidates, our ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property of technologies and drugs, our limited operating history, and our ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of product candidates. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties, and other risks can be found in Korea Stock Exchange (KRX) filings and reports, including in our most recent annual report as well as subsequent filings and reports filed by the company with the KRX. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise the information in this press release, including any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by Korean law and regulations. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hanall-biopharma-and-daewoong-pharmaceutical-co-invest-in-vincere-biosciences-for-collaborative-opportunities-in-parkinsons-disease-301848025.html SOURCE HanAll Biopharma NYU Student Presents Stories Behind First Daughters' Weddings WASHINGTON , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association debuts a new digital exhibit today in partnership with New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Something Old, Something New: Eight First Daughters' Fashionable White House Weddings, examines the wedding fashion and decor choices of eight first daughters. The exhibit is the result of a semester long internship offered by the Association to support the work of a NYU Costume Studies student. The 2023 internship recipient, Jill Staricka , worked closely with the Association's David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History and its Digital Library team. Staricka created the exhibit using a mix of archival photography, illustrations, press clippings, and written first accounts, covering more than a hundred years in fashion history, from Maria Monroe to Tricia Nixon . "Throughout the research process for this exhibit, I learned so much about how these women were involved in the process of designing and producing their wedding ensembles," said Staricka. The digital exhibit features high resolution images with a zoom function, allowing visitors to engage closely with the wedding gowns, accessories, bouquets, and decor in the images. "Jillian's incredible work sheds a new and artistic light on White House history and provides us with another tool to teach and tell the rich history of the Executive Mansion through the lens of weddings," said Stewart McLaurin , President of the White House Historical Association. Jillian Staricka is a first-year Costume Studies MA student at New York University in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. About The White House Historical Association First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $100 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-digital-exhibit-historic-white-house-wedding-fashion-and-design-301848622.html SOURCE White House Historical Association TOKOROZAWA, Japan , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for the opening of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo -- The Making of Harry Potter (hereinafter "Studio Tour Tokyo"), Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. based in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture , Japan , has completed renovation of Ikebukuro and Toshimaen stations, beginning operations of Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains with full-body wrap signage. PR movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqusUDrlcj4 - Platforms 1 and 2 of Ikebukuro Station renovated to resemble London's King's Cross Station At Ikebukuro Station, the gateway to Studio Tour Tokyo, Platforms 1 and 2, where trains to and from Toshimaen Station depart and arrive, have been remodeled with brick walls and navy signage, patterned after King's Cross Station in London, England . To commemorate the renovation, Warner Bros. has gifted a clock in the same design as that at King's Cross Station in the Harry Potter film series. With illustrations of subjects such as wizards and owls throughout, these platforms welcome passengers as the gateway to Studio Tour Tokyo, where they can experience the magic of filmmaking to the fullest. Image1: The same clock as used at King's Cross Station , on Platform 1 at Ikebukuro Station https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105230/202306076204/_prw_PI7fl_IasH17X9.jpg?_ga=2.43665699.722311627.1686266754-646424222.1615447594 - Toshimaen Station renovated to resemble Hogsmeade Station , the nearest station to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Based on the concept of a station that blends imagination into everyday life, the new building at Toshimaen Station, the nearest station to Studio Tour Tokyo, features touches giving a feel of the world of magic added to a simple design, evoking a gateway between the everyday world and an out-of-the-ordinary space. The Toshimaen Station platforms feature pillars, station signage, vending machines, and other fixtures designed with a red-color scheme closely resembling Hogsmeade Station , which provides access to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The station signs feature the Studio Tour Tokyo logo as an alternate station name. A stag and doe evoking the Patronus Spirit Guardians from the Harry Potter film series adorn the station square. Patronus guards the brand-new Toshimaen Station and station square to protect passengers. Image2: Patronus Spirit Guardians in Toshimaen Station Square https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105230/202306076204/_prw_PI5fl_1Vv1qbVM.jpg?_ga=2.249252097.722311627.1686266754-646424222.1615447594 - Fully wrapped Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains begin operations In addition, Studio Tour Tokyo Express trains with full-body promotional wrapping, boldly decorated with the three main characters from the Harry Potter film series--Harry, Hermione, and Ron--began operating between Ikebukuro and Toshimaen stations on May 16 . Image3: A fully wrapped Studio Tour Tokyo Express train https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105230/202306076204/_prw_PI6fl_4J80FMf6.jpg?_ga=2.249252097.722311627.1686266754-646424222.1615447594 Visitors to Studio Tour Tokyo can use Seibu Railway to enjoy the Harry Potter experience through the renovated Ikebukuro and Toshimaen stations and the Studio Tour Tokyo Express even while in transit. Experience the worldview of Seibu Railway from Ikebukuro Station on the way to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. Detail: https://www.seiburailway.jp/railways/tourist/english/pdf/20230612_magicrailway.pdf View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seibu-railway-renovates-ikebukuro-and-toshimaen-stations-in-preparation-for-opening-of-warner-bros-studio-tour-tokyo----the-making-of-harry-potter-301847915.html SOURCE Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. SHARJAH , UAE , June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Big Heart Foundation, Sharjah-based global humanitarian organisation, has announced the honoring of the nonprofit international organization Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) as the winner of the 7th edition of the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support (SIARA 2023). This recognition comes as a tribute to the organization's innovative efforts aimed at improving the lives of thousands of refugees and individuals in need worldwide. TBB is the world's first and only organization that works on connecting refugees and individuals in need with international job opportunities, enabling them to resume their professional lives, rebuild their future, and achieve self-sufficiency by opening skilled migration pathways. The seventh edition of the AED 500,000 SIARA award selected TBB from 423 candidates representing 41 countries. This recognition highlights the organization's innovative approach in addressing gaps in global refugee humanitarian efforts. TBB has impacted governments in various countries, inspiring them to revise and enhance migration programs and visa services. Due to TBB's efforts, hosting countries like Australia , Canada , and the UK launched initiatives such as the 'Hiring Displaced Talents' program, allowing refugees to utilize their abilities, skills, qualifications, and work experiences in official job opportunities. The organization is renowned for being the first nonprofit to initiate an International Job Fair exclusively for skilled refugees and displaced individuals, to connect and pair individuals with prominent international companies and employers who are in need of their skills and expertise. The organization has provided services to over 6,000 refugees. Upon job acquisition completion, it facilitates immigration and relocation to the new workplace. It ensures basic necessities, legal guarantees, documentation, social integration support, and other services. The organization has increased refugees' annual income by over 750%. It established a digital platform verifying professional qualifications of 65,000 refugees worldwide. TBB dedicated its efforts to make change and transform the concept of refugee support from waiting for assistance from donors to empowering refugees and enabling them to change their lives with their talents and skills through work. The non-profit's strategy came in response to reports which indicate that 12.7 million of the world's refugees are of working age, and amongst them millions are skilled. Contact : Abeer Al Mouaqqet 00971555813388 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098797/Big_Heart_Foundation_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098798/Big_Heart_Foundation_2.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talent-beyond-boundaries-triumphs-with-prestigious-sharjah-international-award-for-refugee-advocacy-2023-for-connecting-skilled-refugees-to-jobs-worldwide-301848113.html SOURCE The Big Heart Foundation FILE PHOTO: U.S. navy F-18 Super Hornet and crews are seen on the flight deck on the USS Nimitz, off the coast of Busan, South Korea, 27 March 2023. The ROK-US combined maritime exercise is a part of Warrior Shield. Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool via REUTERS BEIJING (Reuters) -China deployed a reconnaissance aircraft over Pacific waters east of Taiwan last week that Chinese media said monitored and gathered intelligence on an exercise involving the navies of the United States, Japan, France and Canada. A Y-9 cargo plane variant fitted with intelligence-gathering equipment most likely monitored and collected intelligence on the exercise, China's state-backed Global Times newspaper reported on Sunday, citing analysts. Two U.S. aircraft carriers, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, had been operating around the geopolitically important Ryukyu Islands in the Philippine Sea since Thursday, the Global Times cited a Beijing-based think tank as saying. The islands separate the East China Sea from the Philippine Sea, and dot the West Pacific between Japan and Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. On Friday, the U.S. began the exercise in the Philippine Sea with two carrier strike groups jointly operating for the first time since June 2020, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. The Japanese defence ministry reported a sighting of a Y-9 reconnaissance variant in the Pacific on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Japanese ministry said on Monday it was analysing a piece of equipment attached to the undercarriage of the Y-9 variant that had not been seen before. Military encounters between China and the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific have risen in recent years as China has grown increasingly assertive in the East and South China Seas, as well as around Taiwan. Days before the quadrilateral exercise, the coast guards of the Philippines, United States and Japan held their first trilateral exercise off the coast of a western Philippine province. (Reporting by Albee Zhang and Ryan Woo; Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Editing by Gerry Doyle, Robeert Birsel) FILE PHOTO: A sign at the front entrance to the global headquarters of Illumina is pictured in San Diego, California, U.S., November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake (Reuters) -Illumina CEO Francis deSouza stepped down on Sunday, marking a victory for activist investor Carl Icahn and heightening expectations that it could unwind its controversial $7.1 billion acquisition of Grail. The gene-sequencing machine maker had repurchased Grail, a cancer diagnostic test maker, in 2021 despite opposition from U.S. and European antitrust regulators - a decision that prompted Icahn to pursue a proxy fight at Illumina, arguing it should be divested as it had cost investors billions of dollars. Illumina said on Sunday its board had accepted deSouza's resignation. It has begun a search for a new CEO and named Charles Dadswell, senior vice president and general counsel, as interim chief executive. DeSouza will stay on in an advisory capacity until July 31, it said. Illumina's shares rose 2.2% to $204.98 in premarket trading on Monday. The company's shares have lost about 60% of their value since completing the Grail deal in 2021. The Grail deal "has kept a lot of investors out of the stock" TD Cowen analyst Dan Brennan said. "With Francis now stepping aside, I think the certainty of a Grail exit definitely goes up." Icahn in a tweet said he is happy with the recent changes at Illumina and considers them a "very positive occurrence." "The new additions to the board, the CEO transition, as well as the change of the Chairman, are significant positives that should drive value for all stakeholders and human health," he added. The proxy battle began in March and ended with a May vote in which Icahn won enough shareholder support to oust the board chair, John Thompson, and install his nominee, Andrew Teno. Icahn has said he wants former Illumina CEO Jay Flatley to return. DeSouza in a letter to employees on LinkedIn said, "My belief in the potential of GRAILs potentially life-saving technology and the benefits of merging it with Illumina remains unshakeable." DeSouza's departure was not a foregone conclusion. He had secured more than twice the number of shareholder votes than his challenger received in the proxy vote, which could have given him enough legitimacy to hang on. Vicki Hollub, for instance, remains Occidental Petroleum's CEO after the company cut a deal with Icahn over board seats in 2020 and after Icahn cashed out two years later. Still, there is a history of CEOs leaving. Unilever Plc CEO Alan Jope announced plans to leave three months after hedge fund Trian Fund Management's Nelson Peltz joined the consumer giant's board last year. Illumina earlier this month filed an appeal against an order from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that demanded it divest Grail on competition concerns. (Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru and Caroline Humer in New York; Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New Jersey, Anirban Sen in New York and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Porter, Marguerita Choy and Edwina Gibbs) By Brad Brooks (Reuters) - The mother of a 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot and wounded his elementary school teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to federal gun charges in a deal with prosecutors, according to court documents and her lawyer. Deja Taylor, whose son shot teacher Abby Zwerner at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News in January, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a user of marijuana while in possession of a firearm. While many states have legalized marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. Taylor also pleaded guilty to lying about her marijuana use during the background check required to obtain the 9mm semiautomatic pistol that her son used to shoot the teacher. Taylor's lawyers have previously said that it was a mystery how the boy got hold of the gun. Prosecutors said in court documents that no gun locks or safety boxes were found in law enforcement searches of her residences. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors are seeking a maximum of two years in prison for Taylor, her attorney Gene Rossi said by phone. He hopes the judge will give her probation. Taylor - who still faces separate charges in state court related to the shooting - will be sentenced on Oct. 18. Virginia prosecutors charged her in April with felony child neglect and with the misdemeanor of recklessly leaving a loaded weapon so as to endanger a child. "This case is a tragedy," Rossi said. "It's a perfect storm of horrible consequences." According to police, the boy had taken the handgun from home, placed it in his backpack and removed it while Zwerner, 25, was teaching class, firing a single shot through her hand and into her chest. Another school staffer rushed into the classroom and restrained the boy while Zwerner ushered the rest of the students from the classroom to safety, police said. Zwerner's lawyer, who filed a $40 million lawsuit against school administrators on her client's behalf, has said that Richneck Elementary officials had been warned three times the day of the shooting that the boy was armed. Virginia prosecutors did not charge the boy. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Donna Bryson and David Gregorio) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras with visiting Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- 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. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2023. Chinese 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. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the embassy of the Republic of Honduras in Beijing, capital of China, June 11, 2023. Chinese 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. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Editor: WJH 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, Pakistan June 10, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro By Rajendra Jadhav MUMBAI (Reuters) -A storm off India's west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit India's western state of Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan this week, the Indian weather department said on Monday. The cyclone, named Biparjoy, is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 km (78-84 miles) per hour, gusting to 150 km (93 miles) per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Nearly a dozen districts in coastal Gujarat will be affected by heavy rainfall and gusting winds although some of these are sparsely populated, which would limit the damage, said a weather office official, who declined to be named. Fishermen in Gujarat have been advised against going to sea and those at sea have been called back, with 21,000 boats parked so far, the government said on Monday. Offshore oil installations have also been asked to ensure immediate return of all manpower, and two of India's largest ports - Kandla and Mundra - located in Gujarat have been alerted while other ports have been advised for preventive action. The Adani conglomerate's ports business, Adani Ports, said in an exchange filing that it suspended its vessel operations on Monday at Mundra, India's biggest commercial port that has the country's largest coal import terminal, and also at Tuna port near Kandla. The Indian Coast Guard said it was evacuating 50 personnel from a jack-up oil rig off Gujarat's coast named Key Singapore, which is owned by Dubai-based Shelf Drilling and currently working for Cairn Oil & Gas (Vedanta Ltd.), according to Shelf Drilling's website. Shelf Drilling and Cairn Oil & Gas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited said in a stock exchange filing on Monday that operations at its Pipavav Port had been suspended since late Saturday evening due to "prevailing severe weather conditions". Ten teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 12 of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Gujarat, the government said, with three more NDRF teams on standby and another 15 ready to be airlifted from other states on short notice. "Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have been kept ready on standby," it said. In neighbouring Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority said instructions were being given to take precautionary measures in southern and southeastern parts that may be affected. "Its (cyclone's) evolving impact will only be certain with further development of the situation," the authority said. A 1998 cyclone killed at least 4,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Gujarat. Biparjoy has delayed the onset of the annual monsoon over the southern state of Kerala, but now conditions are favourable for the progress of much-needed rains in more areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states, India's weather office said. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Asif Shahzad; Additional reporting by Sumit Khanna; writing by Sakshi Dayal and Shivam Patel; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Philippa Fletcher, Jonathan Oatis and Mark Heinrich) FILE PHOTO: Ace Magashule, the secretary general of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, looks on as he appears in Bloemfontein high court in Free State province, South Africa, November 13, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko//File Photo JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) said on Monday it has expelled former secretary general Ace Magashule after he was found guilty of violating the party's constitution. Magashule was suspended from the day-to-day running of the ANC in May 2021 as part of tougher rules for party members charged with corruption. Shortly after his suspension, Magashule attempted to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa saying he had the authority to do so as secretary-general, which failed. The ANC said its disciplinary committee found Magashule guilty of violating several rules of the party's constitution, which include failing or refusing to comply with stated party policy, resolutions and regulations. The decision to oust Magashule - who is aligned with former leader Jacob Zuma's faction within the party - was made after he failed to respond to why he should not be expelled from the party, the ANC said in a statement. Magashule was not immediately available for a comment. Once seen as one of Ramaphosa's main political opponents, the charges against Magashule were over a contract to audit homes with asbestos roofs, between 2014 and 2016, when he was premier of the Free State province. He denies any wrongdoing. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Grant McCool) FILE PHOTO: A child's hand reaches out, as migrants wait for food and water to be handed handed out, after gathering between the primary and secondary border fences, between the United States and Mexico, after the lifting of COVID-19 era Title 42 restrict By Daina Beth Solomon and Ted Hesson MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. asylum appointments at a dangerous Texas-Mexico border crossing can no longer be scheduled via an online app following reports that migrants face extortion in Mexico. Advocates for migrants in the Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo, just across the border from Laredo, were informed of the suspension by a U.S. consular official, a June 2 message reviewed by Reuters showed. No reason for the change was stated. A website for the app, called CBP One, no longer lists Laredo as a city where asylum seekers can schedule appointments. Nuevo Laredo has long been notorious for widespread kidnapping and extortion of migrants. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not respond to requests for comment. The appointments are a key part of a border system put in place by U.S. President Joe Biden last month when COVID-era restrictions known as Title 42 expired. Biden's administration opened up legal pathways, including via the app, while also implementing a strict new regulation that could deny asylum to many migrants crossing the border illegally. Advocates and some Democrats argue that migrants should not be forced to wait in dangerous conditions in northern Mexico, particularly as demand outstrips the 1,250 CBP One appointments available per day. The suspension was first reported by the Associated Press. Lately, criminal groups in Nuevo Laredo have allegedly demanded payment from migrants headed to the port of entry, including those with CBP One appointments, according to a May report from the Strauss Center at the University of Texas at Austin. An advocate in Nuevo Laredo, who requested anonymity due to safety fears, said criminals have demanded as much as $500 per person. Human Rights First recorded over 13,000 reports of violent attacks against migrants in Mexico in 2021 and 2022. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang) RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany The two newest Air Force wing commanders at Ramstein have the pedigree and expertise to do each others job. But with the inactivation of one wing and the activation of another, they wont have to. Col. Matthew Bartlett, the new commander of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, can focus on Europe, and Col. Jason Chambers, the new commander of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, can direct his full attention to Africa. Previously, the wings missions were led by one command team. Inactivating the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing and standing up the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing in its place allows each wing to have its own commander. The organizational shift was formalized at a ceremony Friday as Bartlett and Chambers took command of their respective wings. But the change was about two years in the making, they said. As its gotten a lot more active in the European theater, its long overdue, Chambers said. It allows each command team to provide dedicated attention to the specific mission sets under their command. Before the leadership reshuffle, one command team oversaw the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing and the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, even though the former focused on Europe and the latter Africa. The two wings comprise nearly 3,000 airmen in 22 squadrons across eight countries on two continents. Its a demanding balancing act, one that became even more challenging after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Col. Bryan Callahan at the time commanded both wings and oversaw the support provided to Ukraine by the 435th AGOW, one of whose squadrons, the 435th Contingency Response Group, was the first Pentagon unit to go into the region at the time, according to the Air Force. The group also established the first NATO logistics hub to support Ukraine and helped set up the thousands of personnel from the 82nd Airborne Division that flowed into Poland around the time of the 2022 invasion, assisting with the evacuation of refugees from Ukraine. While operations surged in Eastern Europe, Callahan also had to keep an eye on Africa, where the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing provides security at four U.S. bases, among other tasks. That responsibility sometimes includes rescuing personnel, as was the case in December 2022, when the wing helped orchestrate the rescue of two people from an undisclosed location in the Horn of Africa, officials said at the time. Given the complicated security landscape in Africa, Callahan said at the wings change of command ceremonies Friday that he was particularly proud to be able to say that zero American lives were lost on air bases in Africa during his command. That was the number that kept me awake at night, he said. After the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing was inactivated and the 406th stood up at Fridays ceremony, Callahan turned over the renamed air expeditionary wing to Chambers, and Bartlett was installed as commander of the 435th. Bartlett spent a year at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as a group commander before stepping in as Callahans vice commander during the past year. Africa now falls to Chambers, who has a bachelors degree in Russian and for the last year was a group commander in East Africa under the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing. Not much is expected to change for the airmen in each wing except uniform patches for some. The ripping sound of Velcro could be heard at Fridays ceremony as those in attendance switched to the 406th AEW insignia. Twitter: @stripesktown West Berlin, West Germany, Feb. 27, 1969: West Berliners came out in droves to welcome President Richard Nixon to their city. Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/ CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa The admiral who helmed a trial of new Navy and Marine Corps warfare concepts in the Indo-Pacific region handed his task force command over to a successor last week. Rear Adm. Derek Trinque passed responsibility for Task Force 76/3, also known as Expeditionary Strike Group 7, to Rear Adm. Christopher Stone during a ceremony at the Camp Courtney Chapel on Friday. About 100 Marines and sailors watched from wooden pews. Trinque took command in September of the revamped strike group, which included elements of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, ahead of exercises Noble Fusion at undisclosed spots across the Indo-Pacific and Kamandag in the Philippines. Navy and Marine Corps leadership ordered the 18-month experiment to increase readiness and test naval integration concepts at-sea and on shore. Task Force 76/3 is an experimental proof of concept, not a permanently established command, according to an October news release from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Task Force 76/3 is what we believe naval integration should look like for our mission and our forces in the Indo-Pacific region," Brig. Gen. Fridrik Fridriksson, deputy task force commander, said in the release. We are going to be real and honest with ourselves, so we can provide better prepared forces for the full range of operations, from humanitarian and disaster response to high-intensity conflict. Trinque praised the task forces Marines and sailors for their performance during his tenure. I am filled with awe of the amazing things you have done, for the incredible structure you have built, he said at Fridays ceremony. You have shown that we can command American ships, aircraft, Marines ashore in expeditionary bases and forces from our allies and partners and do it from basically anywhere. Task Force 76/3 is responsible for rapid mobilization in the event of crisis, conflict, or natural disaster in the 7th Fleet, the unit website states. That area encompasses more than 48 million square miles from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic, and from the International Date Line to the India-Pakistan border. The task force is made up of approximately 5,500 sailors, along with aircraft, landing craft and ships stationed across the Indo-Pacific region. It is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility on Okinawa, but its ships are based mostly in Sasebo, on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands. The vessels travel south to Okinawa to pick up the Marines before going out on patrol. Stone, a 1994 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and a Texas native, arrives from the Pentagon, where he served as special assistant to Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the vice chief of naval operations. The team here has broken through and established something new, he told Stars and Stripes after the ceremony. Our opportunity is to be able to build upon that and take it to the next level. Stone said he intends to clear barriers for sailors and Marines wherever possible to enable them to do their best. Trinque, who arrived on Okinawa in June 2022 and has been selected for his second star, now heads to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he will serve as director of Transportation Commands strategy, policy, programs and logistics, according to a Defense Department statement in April. Trinques promotion is one of about 200 held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who pledged to slow Senate votes on the Pentagon's nominations until Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin changes the military's policy on abortions for service members and their families. Stars and Stripes reporter Keishi Koja contributed to this report. A Navy sailor who had been in the service for almost 25 years died following an airlift off a destroyer that is part of a carrier strike group operating in the North Sea, officials announced over the weekend. Chief Petty Officer Caprice Pryor was medevaced from the USS Ramage on Thursday and died the same day, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement Saturday. The Navy did not give a cause of death or offer additional details, saying only an investigation was underway. Chief Pryor made a lasting impact on the sailors he led aboard Ramage, and his contributions to the U.S. Navy are immeasurable, Rear Adm. Erik Eslich, commander of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, said in the statement. Aleisia Pryor, who identified herself as a sister of the sailor, said in a public post on her Facebook page Saturday that she didnt have many details about Pryors death but believed it was from a broken heart. We lost our mother almost 3 months ago to the day of his passing, she said. On his Facebook page, Pryor said he was from Chicago and was married. A gunners mate, Pryor reported to the Ramage in July 2022. He enlisted in 1998 and had served aboard the destroyers USS Barry and USS William P. Lawrence, among other afloat assignments, according to his Navy biography. Other duty stations included the Naval Surface Warfare Center White Sands Detachment in New Mexico and the Surface Combat Systems Training Command in San Diego. He had earned numerous awards, including a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation, according to the Navy. Pryor is at least the second sailor to die at sea in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility in the past year. Seaman Recruit David Spearman, 19, went overboard the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke in the Baltic Sea on Aug. 1, 2022. The Gerald R. Ford strike group departed from Norfolk, Va., in early May for a global deployment. Since then, the Ford became the first U.S. carrier to visit Norway in 65 years. On Wednesday, the carrier strike group was under NATO command and sailing in the Norwegian Sea with British and Norwegian ships, according to the ships official Facebook page. KHERSON, Ukraine Oleh Hryhorak lay on the floor of his friends house, his bloodied leg shattered by shrapnel from a Russian mortar, when the floodwaters began to surround him. As he applied pressure to his leg, the water, unleashed by a catastrophic dam collapse, was rising. With the little strength he had left, Hryhorak, a 38-year-old security guard, hoisted himself onto a couch, fearing he would bleed to death or drown. I was trying to keep myself conscious because I wanted to live, Hryhorak said. This is the misery of life in Kherson, a riverfront community in southern Ukraine where thousands of residents such as Hryhorak have faced one calamity after another. Their homes, already on a deadly front line, are now suddenly underwater. Kherson was invaded by Russians and occupied for months. A billboard, echoing a sentiment of Russian President Vladimir Putin, once read: Russia is here forever. In November, the city was the first regional capital liberated by Kyivs forces, becoming a symbol of resistance, but once Ukraine refused to surrender Kherson, Putin seemed determined to destroy it. Russian bombing attacks have left hundreds of people here dead or injured. Now, after months under fire, the city has been devastated by the flood, with thousands evacuated, the Dnieper River polluted with at least 150 tons of oil and the Kakhovka Reservoir a critical water source lost to an entire region heavily dependent on agriculture. After failing to conquer Kyiv, the capital, and losing territory throughout last fall, Putin has sought to bludgeon Ukraine into submission with seemingly little concern to what might be obliterated in the process. He has destroyed entire cities, none worse than Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region. Putin has sought to wipe out the countrys infrastructure with airstrikes and has stepped up the missile attacks in recent weeks, leaving Kyiv residents sleepless. And while the cause of the dams collapse is still undetermined, Kherson residents say it is clear: Putin is punishing their city and their country for refusing to bow to Russian domination. Russia is using a tactic of scorched land, said Serhii Kindra, a Kherson resident and former emcee whose 13-year-old son was killed by a cluster bomb in November, just days after they celebrated the liberation of their city. The boy was one of 265 people killed since Khersons liberation, six of them children. The father said he knows dozens of those who have died four people on his street alone. Moscows message to Ukraine, Kindra said, is this: If its not for us, then nobody will have this land. Tymofiy Mylovanov, a Ukrainian economist, said that while the dams collapse was shocking, it was not surprising to him and to many Ukrainians who have no doubt that Russia is culpable. They are very spiteful, and if they cant keep territory then they want to destroy it, Mylovanov said. They terrorize people until people give up. Officials in Moscow have denied destroying the dam and have blamed Ukraine. Ukraine has hardly given up. Last week, its military opened a long-anticipated counteroffensive, seeking to oust the Russian invaders once and for all. One theory is that Russian soldiers destroyed the dam and an adjacent hydroelectric plant, fearing the Ukrainians, armed with Western weapons and newly trained in NATO tactics, would attack from across the river. This is intimidation that smells of desperation, said Timothy Snyder, a Ukraine historian at Yale University who is also involved in securing aid for the country. Its obviously not something you would do if you thought you would be controlling this territory anytime soon. Oleksandra Matviichuk, a human rights lawyer in Kyiv who was a winner of last years Nobel Peace Prize, described the destruction of the Kakhovka dam as a new stage of Russian war crimes, another example, she said, of Moscows attempts to break Ukraine by inflicting immense pain on civilians. In the Kherson region, many communities remain underwater. In Ukrainian-controlled areas, more than 3,000 people have been evacuated. Groups of volunteers have poured in to help evacuate residents, or bring medicine and food knowing they are risking their lives. At least seven people have been killed by Russian attacks during evacuation efforts, according to local officials. Days earlier, as the waters began to rise in his neighborhood, Kindra walked closer to the riverfront to see the devastation firsthand. He stood just down the road from where he had been driving with his son, Matvii, when a bomb exploded near the Antonovsky Bridge and sent shrapnel raining down. His 10-year-old son was also in the car and later developed a stutter from the shock, he said. Kindra is still recovering from surgery on his eye and injuries to his knuckles. Everywhere he goes, he said, he carries a piece of bronze shrapnel that was lodged in his car that day, feeling the pain of its sharp edges as a reminder of the fury that also motivates him to move forward. After Matviis death, Kindra sent his wife and son to live outside the city. But he said he felt the need to stay and volunteer, delivering bread to disabled residents. The latest devastation has only deepened that resolve for him and many other Kherson residents. His son is buried in Kherson another reason Kindra said he will never leave this place. It keeps me rooted here, he said. It reminds me this is never going to be Russian land. This is our land. Our people are here. However, even as the waters began to recede Saturday, there was no way for Kindra to reach the cemetery. One road was blocked off because of flooding, the other because of recent shelling. In the dry parts of the city, the cascading crises were hardly evident Saturday. A man played an accordion outside a packed supermarket. Friends sipped lattes on cafe patios. Across the city and nearby region, however, thousands of families were in limbo waiting to return to their flooded homes, waiting to rescue animals in apartment buildings that have become islands or waiting to get phone calls from trapped, elderly relatives. Svitlana Noskova, 49, cried as she held her Yorkie and waited in line for humanitarian aid Saturday. She had left her apartment as the water started to rise and planned to go back to rescue her elderly mother, but by the time they tried to return, the apartment building was no longer accessible. Noskova was staying with a relative in the city but worried about her 70-year-old mother, who is still recovering from a stroke and stayed behind in her fourth-floor apartment in the same building. Noskova feared she would soon lose contact. Her mothers phone was dying, and there was no electricity. We dont know whats going to happen next, Noskova said. We dont know if were going to be able to return to our homes or how soon. On Sunday, Katia Lysenko, 40, wearing flip-flops, stepped into the rubber dinghy that has become her only way to reach her flooded home and to feed the two cats that she left behind. Carrying an umbrella, she knew she was taking a risk even by getting on the boat. She had heard explosions close by a day earlier. The boat carried her through the flooded street until she reached her buildings entrance. Then, she waded into the brown polluted water in her bare feet, and walked up the steps to her neighbors second-floor apartment. The day the water began to reach those steps, Lysenko and her husband rushed to carry all of their valuable furniture their washing machine, refrigerator, her daughters purple dollhouse up to their neighbors apartment. The murky floodwaters in her first-floor apartment had reached her knees, destroying her floors, wallpaper and whatever could not be moved. Its hard to see your city you were born in, you lived your whole life in, be destroyed, Lysenko said. Lysenko also said she can not imagine ever leaving. Neither can Hryhorak, the security guard who spent a desperate night on the couch but was found in the morning by friends who rescued him. He lay in a hospital bed, with a metal rod stabilizing his broken leg. His birthday was a day earlier, he said. He had grown up here, endured months of Russian occupation here. He had survived an attack and a flood, but he had no plans to leave. I dont want to go anywhere else, Hryhorak said. BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu met with Narongphan Jitkaewtae, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, on Saturday in Beijing. Li said China stands ready to work with Thailand to implement to the letter the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and to push for more fruits of cooperation between the two militaries, especially between the two armies. Against the backdrop of the Asia-Pacific currently facing some security challenges, China is willing to jointly maintain regional stability with Thailand and ensure lasting security in the region, Li said. Narongphan expressed appreciation and firm support for the Chinese side's important role in maintaining regional security and stability, and pledged joint efforts to continue advancing the relations between the two countries and militaries. Editor: WJH WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is welcoming outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to the White House for talks on Monday as the competition to find his successor to lead the military alliance heats up. Stoltenberg, who has led the NATO since 2014 and has had his tenure extended three times, said earlier this year he would move on when his current time expires at the end of September. The jockeying to replace him is intensifying as leaders of the 31-member military alliance are set to meet next month for their annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Last week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the case for U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace directly to Biden. The U.S. president also met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, another potential contender. Asked about the NATO job at a news conference with Sunak by his side, Biden called Wallace "very qualified" but noted that the conversation among NATO leaders to find a "consensus" pick to replace Stoltenberg was ongoing. Biden's opinion carries enormous weight as the U.S. spends more than any other member in the alliance on defense. Frederiksen sought to play down her candidacy after she met with Biden last week. She declined to say whether she discussed the coming vacancy with him, telling reporters that she did not want to go "further in these speculations about NATO." The alliance has never had a female secretary-general. A British government official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said ahead of Sunak's visit that the British leader wants to be sure the next secretary general "carries on Stoltenberg's good work of modernization but also understands the importance of defense spending at this critical time." Denmark has lagged behind NATO's target for members to spend 2% of gross domestic product on military budgets by 2030. But the centrist government announced late last month that it would look to invest some 143 billion kroner ($20.6 billion) in the country's defense over the next decade, citing a "serious threat picture." Biden and Stoltenberg are also expected to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and efforts to persuade fellow NATO member Turkey to back off blocking Sweden from joining the military alliance. Sweden and Finland, both historically unaligned militarily, jointly sought NATO membership after being rattled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially blocked both countries from joining the alliance before agreeing to membership for Finland while continuing to object to Sweden. In public comments since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reelected last month, Biden has spoken with a measure of certainty that Sweden will soon join the alliance. "It will happen. I promise you," Biden said of Sweden's NAT0 ascension earlier this month. Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have both expressed hope that Sweden will be brought into the NATO fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12. Two senators want to expand the pool of military spouses who can be reimbursed for job-related costs associated with moving from active-duty units to the reserves, according to legislation introduced Monday. The Military Spouse Career Support Act of 2023 would allow the Pentagon to reimburse military spouses for certain business costs for those families moving from active-duty service into the reserves. It follows a law passed last year, the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act, which granted such reimbursements for spouses of active-duty service members moving from one assignment to another. The new bill was introduced by Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. Military families make tremendous sacrifices in defense of our nation, Ossoff said in a statement Monday. Im bringing Republicans and Democrats together to help military spouses have more job flexibility. If approved, the bill would provide the same benefits to families moving from active duty into the National Guard or selected reserves of the military services as families changing stations on active duty began receiving this year. Those include reimbursements for business licenses or professional certifications required for their jobs in their new locations, according to Ossoffs office. The Pentagon has said about 39% of its active-duty military spouses require licenses or certifications for their work in various fields including real estate, nursing and teaching. The current law does not provide reimbursement for lawyers, however, according to the Defense Department. Ossoff and Schmitt said they hope the new bill would help with military retention, giving families more incentive to remain in the military in a Reserve role after leaving active duty. This bill ensures military spouses are eligible for reimbursement should a service member choose to transfer to the reserves, Schmitt said in a statement. Providing an avenue to meaningful employment for service members and military spouses as this bill does is important to maintain quality of life for our service members and hopefully boosts retention. Military spouse employment has long been a difficult issue for the Pentagon, and it has been seen as a major driver for troops who choose to leave the service. Military spouses face a roughly 21% unemployment rate a figure that has not changed in more than a decade. The bills introduction follows an executive order meant to address military spouse employment signed Friday by President Joe Biden during a visit to Fort Liberty, N.C., formerly known as Fort Bragg. Bidens order included efforts for federal agencies to grant military spouses up to five days of administrative leave when their spouses change duty stations and directed the federal government to provide more resources and support for military spouses' career stability. It also directed federal departments to develop a strategic plan within six months for hiring and retaining military spouses and set government-wide standards to make remote work more accessible to military spouses. WASHINGTON Donald Trump and his allies are escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests as the former president braces for a history-making federal court appearance this week on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified information. Trump's Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time in as many months facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Department's first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardized national security and that involves Espionage Act charges carrying the threat of a significant prison sentence in the event of conviction. Ahead of his arraignment, Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith "deranged" and his team of prosecutors "thugs" as he repeated without any evidence his claims that he was the target of a political persecution. He called on his supporters to join a planned protest at the Miami courthouse Tuesday, where he will be arraigned on the charges. "We need strength in our country now," Trump said, speaking to his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio. "And they have to go out and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out." "Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty of protest to protest. We've lost everything," he went on. He also said there were no circumstances "whatsoever" under which he would leave the 2024 race, where he's so far been dominating the Republican primary. Other Trump supporters have rallied to his defense with similar language, including Kari Lake, the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona who pointedly said over the weekend that if prosecutors "want to get to President Trump," they're "going to have to go through me, and 75 million Americans just like me. And most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA." Trump's calls for protest echoed exhortations he made ahead of a New York court appearance last April, where he faces charges arising from hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign, though he complained that those who showed up to protest then were "so far away that nobody knew about 'em," And just like in that case, he plans to address supporters in a Tuesday evening speech hours after his court date. Trump is expected to depart for Miami on Monday and will spend the rest of the day in Florida, huddled with advisers. After his court appearance, he will return to New Jersey, where he's scheduled a press event to publicly respond to the charges. Trump supporters were also planning to load buses to head to Miami from other parts of Florida, raising concerns for law enforcement officials who are preparing for the potential of unrest around the courthouse. Mayor Francis Suarez was expected to announce additional details Monday about the preparations though there was little police presence near the courthouse as late as Sunday afternoon and barricades hadn't yet been erected nearby, a stark contrast to New York City where police planned for protests for weeks even though no violence ultimately happened. The Justice Department unsealed Friday an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defense information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements. The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in January 2021. The material he stored, including in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower, included material on nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign governments and a Pentagon "attack plan," the indictment says. The information, if exposed, could have put at risk members of the military, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said. Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing personal aide Walt Nauta who was charged alongside Trump to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena. Some fellow Republicans have sought to press the case that Trump is being treated unfairly, citing the Justice Department's decision in 2016 to not charge Democrat Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information through a private email server she relied on as secretary of state. But those arguments overlook that FBI investigators did not find any evidence that Clinton or her aides had willfully broken laws regarding classified information or had obstructed the investigation. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, speaking Sunday on CBS News, said there was a "huge difference" between the two investigations but that it "has to be explained to the American people." The Justice Department earlier this month informed former Vice President Mike Pence that it would not bring charges over the presence of classified documents in his Indiana home. A separate Justice Department special counsel investigation into the discovery of classified records at a home and office of President Joe Biden continues, though as in the Clinton case, no evidence of obstruction or intentional law-breaking has surfaced. Trump's own former attorney general, William Barr, offered a grim prediction of Trump's fate, saying on Fox News that Trump had no right to hold onto such sensitive records. "If even half of it is true," Barr said of the allegations in the indictment, "then he's toast. I mean, it's a pretty 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." ___ Colvin reported from New York. The Biden administration is developing plans for overhauling the U.N. Security Council, an initiative that U.S. officials hope will restore confidence in the world's preeminent governance body by recognizing today's diffuse map of global power. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, President Joe Biden's envoy to the United Nations, is consulting with diplomats from the organization's 193 member states to solicit feedback about a potential expansion of the powerful council ahead of world leaders' annual gathering in New York this fall. The evolving U.S. proposal, which is expected to include the addition of up to six permanent seats to the council without granting those nations veto power, reflects Biden's desire to acknowledge the developing world's growing clout and to address widespread frustration with the council's current members and their inability to stanch global conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine. Since the creation of the United Nations after World War II, the United States, France, Britain, China and the Soviet Union later Russia have wielded veto power on issues of war and peace as the Security Council's five permanent members. The council's rotating membership element lacks such authority. Biden is pushing for reform despite established powers' reluctance to cede their traditional sway and although Washington faces acute challenges in forging any consensus in an increasingly fractured world. The stakes are high as his administration seeks to ensure that the United Nations remains a central tool for preventing wars, even as doubt grows about its ability to do so. Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, said the Security Council has fallen short of its mandate. "But the more the U.N. declines," he said, "the more fragmented, the more regionalized and the more competitive the world will become." Biden announced his support for adding new permanent seats to the council, including spots for African and Latin American nations, at the U.N. General Assembly gathering in September. "The time has come for this institution to become more inclusive," Biden told assembled leaders. He also called on fellow permanent members of the Security Council to limit the use of their veto power to "rare, extraordinary situations." His message came at a moment of spiraling criticism over the United Nations' response to President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, as Russia used its veto power on the council to block measures that would have required the withdrawal of its forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has long maintained that Russia improperly inherited its Security Council seat after the collapse of the Soviet Union, called for the United Nations to restrain Moscow or be dissolved. Since Biden's declaration, officials have scrambled to develop a detailed proposal they can use to advance his objectives. A senior U.S. official, who like others interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive diplomatic discussions, said the administration, led by Thomas-Greenfield, is trying to "forge some consensus on a sensible, credible proposal that could actually succeed and achieve reform." U.S. officials have linked the effort to a broader attempt to modernize what they see as unwieldy global bodies, including financial institutions such as the World Bank, and promote more effective management not only of security issues but also of challenges including climate change and global health threats. "We want these institutions to work so that we can debate and try to resolve international conflicts," the official said. "We have to be clear-eyed about the success or lack of success that we've had over the years, but there's no question that we're better off with these institutions than without them." The Security Council's power rests in its ability to approve resolutions that are binding, unlike those passed by the U.N. General Assembly. In addition to the five permanent seats, the council includes 10 nonpermanent members elected to two-year terms. Leading developing nations including Brazil and India have long sought changes to the council because, they argue, it fails to represent the views and interests of the Global South Africa, Asia and Latin America. Ronaldo Costa Filho, Brazil's outgoing ambassador to the United Nations, said the council's problems go far beyond those that have been evident since the start of the Ukraine war, a destructive event he called a "symptom of a process of fragmentation of the international order." "We all have a vested interest in ensuring that the institutions of multilateralism, which have served us really very well over the past almost 80 years, do not fall by the wayside," Costa Filho said. "Reform of the council, to me, is key in ensuring that the Global South feels it has a significant stake in preserving the system." As Thomas-Greenfield conducts her quiet consultations, the Biden administration has yet to put forward a specific proposal for reform. But Washington has previously signaled support for adding Germany, Japan and India as permanent members, officials say. France and Britain have meanwhile advocated permanent seats for Germany, Japan and India, plus Brazil and at least one African nation. Left unsaid as Biden heralded U.S. support for council expansion last year was the fact that, according to U.S. and U.N. officials, the United States does not back granting veto power to any new permanent members. That position ensures that if reform is achieved, it would grant additional countries the clout of permanent council seats without diluting current members' veto power. "Any reform of the Security Council may well reduce the weight of the West. So this is a reality," a U.N. diplomat said. "And the question is, are we really pushing for that now? Is it just nice rhetoric that we want to do this, or are we really serious when we say we want to do it now?" The proposal comes as the war in Ukraine, along with increasing challenges from Russia and China, illustrate the changing nature of U.S. ties with the developing world. While Biden has boasted of building a Western coalition that has imposed sanctions on Russia and funneled weapons to Ukraine, some nations, including Brazil, India and South Africa, have maintained economic or military ties with Moscow, and many smaller developing nations have stayed on the sidelines. While there is broad consensus that the Security Council must be changed, there is sharp disagreement on how. Since its inception, the council has been altered only once, when four nonpermanent seats were added in the 1960s. More recent attempts to modify the body have foundered. Barbara Woodward, Britain's ambassador, said now is the time for reform. "We must respond to Russia's egregious use of the veto to protect itself, and update the council's membership to give a wider, more diverse range of countries a voice," she said. Nicolas de Riviere, France's representative to the United Nations, said his country's position was clear. "We need to have a body which is the strongest governance institution in the world, which reflects the world of today, not the world of yesterday," he said. Any update would require approval of at least 128 of 193 member states and, because it would entail changes to the U.N. charter, ratification by all permanent Security Council members. That would mean sending the changes to the U.S. Senate for passage, where, in Gowan's words, it would "perform about as well as a snowball in hell." The Biden administration also must navigate a host of competing proposals that illustrate the complexity of global coalition-building for any cause. A "Uniting for Consensus" proposal backed by countries including Italy, Argentina, South Korea and Pakistan that could lose out to regional rivals in the French- and British-supported plans would add nonpermanent seats but no new permanent members. "This is undemocratic; it is unequal; it is contrary to the principle of sovereign equality of states, which is part of the [U.N.] charter," said Munir Akram, Pakistan's representative. Pakistan particularly opposes the appointment of its adversary India as a permanent member. "We don't think that it is a good principle that you put a country permanently on the Security Council, because then it is not held accountable for the way it behaves," Akram said. Such countries point out that economic and political dynamics continue to evolve, meaning that the Global South countries that carry the biggest weight today may be different in the future. African nations, which make up nearly 30 percent of U.N. members, have demanded two permanent seats with veto rights for the continent but have not identified which countries those would be. Russia and China also have voiced nominal backing for expansion, although analysts say that Beijing, hoping to block Japan's bid for a seat, is unlikely ultimately to provide the required support. The Russian and Chinese governments did not respond to requests for comment. Gowan noted that the council, where Washington has also faced criticism over its repeated veto of measures critical of ally Israel, had remained a key venue for decisions such as those enabling aid deliveries in Syria and voicing global opposition to the Taliban's restriction of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Diplomats say that not even Security Council reform, if it can be achieved, is likely to quell mounting calls from developing countries to address historical inequities, including their demands that major industrialized nations, which have been most responsible for global warming, increase their funding for climate remediation in the Global South. "It's very difficult to explain to [developing nations], 'We'll move on everything except on your priorities,' " the U.N. diplomat said. "So we need to move on everything, including and maybe starting with the Security Council, because otherwise it's unfair." BEIJING -- Chinese scientists have made a new breakthrough in the graph-based genome research of foxtail millet, which will facilitate rapid breeding of the crop and help ensure world food security. The new study, conducted by an international team led by scientists from the Institute of Crop Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), was published online in the latest issue of the academic journal Nature Genetics. Diao Xianmin, leader of the research said that foxtail millet is one of the oldest domesticated crops in the world and a staple crop in the formation of the Asian agricultural civilization and it held a dominant position in the Chinese agricultural system before the introduction of high-input agricultural practices like irrigation and chemical fertilizers. The crop possesses several favorable traits, including high photosynthetic rates, efficient water utilization, and strong environmental adaptation, Diao added. Michael Purugganan, a professor at New York University and the study's co-senior author, said foxtail millet is considered to be the foundation for early Chinese civilization. Moreover, because it is a crop that can grow across a wide range of environments, including arid lands, it has the potential to be important for food security under climate change. However, scientists previously lacked systematic basic research on the genome of foxtail millet. Researchers selected 1,844 varieties of millet and performed large-scale genetic studies. This study provides better understanding of the domestication and improvement process of foxtail millet, the genetic basis for important agricultural traits, as well as the methodology for large-scale data-assisted plant breeding, said He Qiang, the first author of this study. This achievement will pave the way for the next generation of large-scale germplasm utilization and functional gene mining for future breeding. By understanding the comprehensive set of genomic variations, scientists will be equipped with superior genetic tools to pursue biological research and breeding of foxtail millet, said Diao, adding that the research will also offer insights for other crops to enhance global food security. This work has not only offered new insights into the population structure of foxtail millet germplasm, and identified an ancient, more environmentally adaptive subgroup, but also systematically studied the domestication and improvement of foxtail millet, identifying numerous variations related to domestication and breeding selection, said Han Bin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Jing Haichun, a researcher with the Institute of Botany of CAS, said that foxtail millet is suitable for arid and semi-arid areas, like many places in Africa, and convenient for planting. This research may help provide a Chinese solution to cope with climate change and ensure global food security. Editor: JYZ WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday called female troops a necessary part of the worlds most-advanced fighting force as the Pentagon celebrated the 75th anniversary of a law that allowed women into the U.S. military on a full-time, permanent basis. The United States military needs women, Austin told dozens of people who gathered in the Pentagon auditorium for the ceremony. This is a priority for the Department of Defense. The Womens Armed Services Integration Act was enacted June 12, 1948, and it permitted women for the first time to have careers in the military. Before the law took effect, women could only serve as nurses or in other limited capacities during wartime. The law stemmed from a bill proposed in late 1947 and championed by Rep. Margaret Chase Smith, R-Maine, who was the first woman to serve in the House and Senate. There was considerable opposition to the bill in Congress, and it took months of negotiations to get the proposal approved by the House and Senate Armed Services committees. Several prominent figures, including Army Gen. and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower, stood up for womens rights to serve permanently in the military, which also meant giving them full benefits. Others who argued in favor of the law included Army Gen. Omar Bradley and then-Defense Secretary James Forrestal. Four women who served in the military decades ago attended Mondays ceremony at the Pentagon former Marine field cook Norma Gene Rambow, former Womens Army Corps cryptographer Marion Marques, former Navy Womens Reserve corpsman Corinne Robinson and former Army imagery analyst Hilary Rosado. Rambow, who served during World War II, will turn 100 in September. This anniversary serves as a timely opportunity to celebrate that tremendous talent, tenacity and expertise that women have long contributed to [the militarys] mission, said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, the first woman to hold her post. Today, women are able to serve in the military regardless of their race or identity. They can serve in combat roles, and they can become Army Rangers, fighter pilots and four-star generals. Though the Womens Armed Services Integration Act opened the military to women on a full-time, permanent basis, it would be decades before they were allowed to take on all combat roles. Women finally were permitted to fly combat aircraft beginning in the early 1990s, and all direct combat roles were ordered to be opened to women by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in 2013. After a study and implementation period, Defense Secretary Ash Carter signed off on the final order to open all military jobs to women, without exception, in 2016. It has been a slow process, Maj. Shaye Haver, who in 2015 became one of the first two women to graduate from Army Ranger School, said at the ceremony. I am privileged to have grown up in an environment that has not constrained what I can and cannot do. I am humbled that my experiences have been afforded me because of the many women and men that have gone before us and championed these causes. Navy Vice Adm. Sara Joyner, who became the first female strike fighter pilot to command a fighter squadron, said she felt like an inferior midshipman when she was at the U.S. Naval Academy in the 1980s merely because she was female. You were a second-class citizen because you could not serve in combat, Joyner said, adding she later found inspiration one day during a midshipman cruise when she met a female helicopter pilot. When I met her, I figured out women could fly, she said. Someday, I wanted to fly a jet off an aircraft carrier. So, that was where it started. Joyner flew A-4 Skyhawks and F/A-18s for the Navy and, in 2007, became the commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 105. She said she owes a big part of her life to the 1948 law and the gradual changes that followed, and she encouraged all women to serve if thats where their hearts lie. My daughter is serving, Joyner said. Today is a celebration of what continues today to open doors for women throughout the world. Hicks said just 55 women graduated from the Naval Academy in the first coed year in 1976. In the 2023 graduating class a couple of weeks ago, 267 female midshipmen were commissioned. Though barriers for women in the military have opened during the past seven decades, Austin said theres still work to do, especially when it comes to sexual harassment and assault. In April, the Pentagon released its Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, which showed almost 9,000 reports of sexual assault across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps in 2022. We owe it to American women to get rid of bias and to wipe out the cancer of harassment and sexual assault in our ranks, Austin said. We owe it to them to make a military career compatible with raising a family for both mothers and fathers. And we owe it to them to break every barrier in the way of their service. President Joe Biden commemorated the Womens Armed Services Integration Act anniversary by promising more opportunities for American service women. Our work is not yet done to ensure women service members are able to have fulfilling careers in the U.S. armed forces and reach their highest potential, Biden said. Let us renew our commitment to breaking down the remaining barriers to womens advancement, opportunity, and well-being in the military. During Bidens administration, he has appointed several women to senior military posts, including Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, Air Force Gen. and Transportation Command leader Jacqueline Van Ovost and Army Gen. and Southern Command leader Laura Richardson. He also appointed Vice Adm. Joanna Nunan as the first female superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York. (Tribune News Service) Two adventure-seeking septuagenarians set out early Saturday on a 7,000-mile round trip from Cambria, Calif., to the Arctic Ocean. Jay Burbank of Cambria and South Carolina resident Charlie Enxuto will travel about 1,400 of those miles on the graveled Dempster Highway, driving a 1931 Model A Ford, a slant-window town sedan converted to look like a U.S. Army Air Corps Generals staff car from World War II. The men are 77 and 75 years old, respectively. For the rest of the trip, from Cambria to Prince George, British Columbia, and back, the men will tow the antique auto in a 14-foot car hauler behind a Cadillac SUV. The trailer also will provide a place to mount a Cascadia Vehicles rooftop tent for camping and room to carry filled fuel cans. The back-up supplies are not optional. There are long gaps without gas stations on the way to the edge of the continent at Tuktoyaktuk in the Canadian Northwest Territories, explained Burbank, who owns the vehicles. The Model A gets about 15 mpg with a 10-gallon tank, he said, and the Caddy gets about 15 mpg with a 25-gallon tank. San Luis Obispo County man known for travels in antique vehicles Burbank has lots of experience doing other long, international drives in the the 1931 Ford known as Military Maxi and another, smaller Model A. Since taking a 2001 trek through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy, Burbank has done antique car tours, runs and rides along the West and East coasts of the United States and in 18 foreign countries, including Mexico, Canada and Australia. Burbank is traveling from Californias Central Coast to the edge of the Arctic Ocean, partly in an antique auto for the beauty, the people and the adventure, doing something other people think is impossible, he said, and to honor military veterans. The idea started with a challenge. While on a Model A trip in Utah, Burbank told a man from Canada that Someday, Id like to do the Alcan Highway in Alaska, the Cambria man recalled. Do you want to do an ordinary road like that or have an adventure? the Canadian asked, referring to the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, above the Arctic Circle. While Burbanks wife of 57 years, Pat Burbank, often accompanies her husband on his antique auto trips, she is bowing out of this jaunt. The short answer is no, Pat said. Its a guys trip. Theyre going to be camping in bear country, and nobodys told me for sure that bears cant climb a ladder to a car-top tent. Jay Burbank said he and Enxuto plan to protect themselves with a large supply of bear repellent spray and loud sound-emitting devices designed to repel aggressive wildlife. He is also taking a protective screen to keep gravel and rocks away from Military Maxis engine and windscreen. Trip to Arctic Circle is tribute to veterans Burbank is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served two tours in Guam and Okinawa, Japan. He met Enxuto, who was in the U.S. Army, in 2007 on a small ship cruise of the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. The two immediately bonded over their shared passions for photography and travel. Enxuto has accompanied Burbank on previous Model A adventures, starting in 2008 on a voyage that went from Cambria to Vancouver, British Columbia, across Canada and then to Mackinac Island, Mich. In 2019, Burbank repainted and reoutfitted his Model A so he could participate in a recreation of a military convoy a century earlier from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco on a route known as the Lincoln Highway. On that trip, Tully, the son of a veteran told Burbank how his father was wounded during the invasion of Iwo Jima, Japan, and how the injured man played dead for two days as he lay on the black sand beach, hearing fellow Marines being killed. I was so moved by the story that I asked Tully to sign Military Maxi with a Sharpie pen in honor of his fathers memory, Burbank said. Since then, Burbanks car has been autographed by or on behalf of more than 700 veterans. He has lost count of how many names are there. After names fill up a section of the vehicles exterior, Burbank puts a clear coat on it to preserve the signatures and protect them from sun and rain. Burbank plans to collect a lot more names on the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, which is dedicated to U.S. and Canadian veterans, especially those who served during wartime. Maggie Cox is an organizer with Honor Flight Central Coast California, which takes veterans on free Tour of Honor trips to Washington. Jay is one of those amazing veterans who is still giving his time and heart in service to others, Cox said. Hes working the Maxi project and raising funds, driving (Maxi) to Calabasas to honor a 97-year-old WWII vet, then bringing his special spirit on our trip to D.C. He is someone special. Burbank went to Calabasas, Calif., because the man had not been able to attend a pre-flight luncheon at which all the other Honor Flight vets signed Maxi. He was so excited, Burbank said. His blue eyes were just sparkling. The car does such neat things to people, Burbank said. Trip has special meaning for Cambria man In addition to honoring veterans, the trip will serve as a fundraiser. Burbank and Enxuto are collecting donations for scholarships given annually by Cambrias American Legion Post No. 432 to students at the towns Leffingwell High School. The men hope to raise enough for an endowment that would fund at least four $1,000 scholarships per year for Leffingwell grads. The continuation high school, which celebrated the Class of 2023 in a graduation ceremony May 31, serves the needs of alternative education students in Cambria, San Simeon and Cayucos, according to its website. That cause has special significance for Burbank. As a child and adolescent in the 1960s, he dealt with undiagnosed dyslexic and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He never graduated from high school, he said, and as a young man, he found it hard to concentrate or make friends. With guidance, determination and grit, Burbank began to bloom. In the military, he developed skills as an aircraft mechanic working on Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. He went on to become a master wood crafter, metalsmith, photographer and warmly effective communicator. In Cambria and as part of American Legion Post No. 432, Burbank and his wife found a welcoming community and many devoted friends. The retired couple devotes its time to giving back to that community and veterans. To donate to the scholarship fund, individuals can visit legionpost432.com. To track the travelers adventures through the wilds, individuals can follow Pat Burbanks trip blog at jayspatsadventures.blog. 2023 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Also appearing via video link was co-accused Ryan Johnston Gordon (34) Brandon John Rainey (right) is charged with the murder of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell The man accused of murdering Ballymena woman Chloe Mitchell (21) had absconded to the Ballymena area three times from a secure mental health facility, a court has heard. Brandon John Rainey (27), of James St, Ballymena, appeared via video link at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Monday morning charged with murdering Ms Mitchell between June 2 and June 5 this year. Rainey replied Yeah when asked if he understood the charges, before a police officer told the court she could connect the accused. Brandon Rainey Defence for Rainey made an application that the defendant be remanded at the Shannon Clinic - a secure psychiatric unit in Belfast - rather than at HMP Maghaberry. The court heard Rainey had previously been a resident at the clinic, but had been released last Autumn following assessment. Police objected to the application and said Rainey should be remanded at Maghaberry as he had previously absconded three times from the facility. On each occasion, he was located in the Ballymena area. Brandon Rainey District Judge King refused the defence application, remanding Rainey at HMP Maghaberry to appear before the court again on July 6. Also appearing via video link was co-accused Ryan Johnston Gordon (34) of Nursery Close, Ballymena. Johnston replied yes to indicate he understood the charge against him of assisting an offender. Defence counsel indicated that Gordon also suffered from mental health issues, and an application to adjourn a bail application for the defendant to June 20 was granted by Judge King. Jason Gumble (29) punched a garda in the stomach and spat in his face in a violent attack that happened out of the blue A father-of-two punched a garda in the stomach and spat in his face in a violent attack that happened out of the blue while the officer was on duty on a city street. Jason Gumble (29) was jailed for eight months after a court heard another garda who came on the scene was kicked on the leg, and spit hit a third gardas cheek. Gumble was believed to have been on a variety of substances at the time. The accused, of Drumalee Park, North Circular Road, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to one garda and common assault on the other two. Dublin District Court heard the first officer was dealing with a separate incident at Aughrim Street on October 3, 2021 when he came into contact with Gumble. Out of the blue, Gumble got into a violent struggle with the garda, punching him into the stomach and spitting into his face. Both fell to the ground and two female gardai arrived. One was spat at onto her cheek and the other was kicked on the leg. The male garda hurt his back and was out of work for a little while but thankfully nothing came out of the saliva and the other two officers were uninjured. When he appeared in court, Gumble was already in custody serving a sentence on another charge. He had 124 previous convictions. Judge Michele Finan asked the prosecuting garda what he put the latest incident down to. He was heavily intoxicated with what I would say was a variety of substances, the garda said. Gumble had been heavily addicted to drugs which had a hold on him at the time of the incident, his solicitor Sinead Willox said. He would not ordinarily behave in the way he did, she said. These offences against members of An Garda Siochana are inexcusable, Judge Finan said. Its totally unacceptable that members would be treated in this appalling manner. You have created a monster between the two of you A judge has told an estranged married couple - who own in excess of 500,000 in crypto-currency and additional gold and silver bullion reserves - that they are probably going to bankrupt each other and you will end up with nothing. At the family law court, Judge Alec Gabbett told the two that they need to dial it down as it appears that the two will fight to the death at this point. He said: I have rarely come across a case as emotive as this and I have never seen two people as emotionally charged as the two of you in court. The husband told the court that the couple have 1.3m in assets frozen in a European country currently. The two separated a number of years ago and have been engaged in various legal battles in different countries concerning their divorce. Judge Gabbett said: This case is a monster. It is a monster. You have created a monster between the two of you and I am apportioning the blame equally in that sense. Judge Gabbett said that the couple are two highly intelligent, well educated people but told the man you are totally and utterly deluded in some ways in relation to some aspects of this and that concerns - you could lose your very good job. The wife was seeking a Safety Order and Judge Gabbett has granted the woman a Safety Order for three years against her estranged husband. Judge Gabbett said: "I am very concerned about her welfare and the childs welfare in a situation where there is no protection of some sort. Judge Gabbett said that there is no allegations of physical violence against the man in the case. You are coming up with all sorts of schemes to bring her down and that is the part that worries me the most. I am granting a Safety Order for three years that covers your child. The wife said that the couple had been early investors in crypto-currency. She said: We had amassed quite a large amount of money. The husband said that all the investment was made with his salary. Asked by Judge Gabbett how much crypto currency is involved, the woman said we are talking about in excess of 500,000. The woman said that Crypto Currency investment involved 6.6 Bitcoin, which she said is alone worth currently probably 250,000. She said: There is a colossal amount of Dogecoin which were worthless when we bought it but are now worth also in the hundreds of thousands of euro. She added: There is Bitcoin cash, there is Litecoin - all of these have considerable value - there is 70,000 to-80,000 in Litecoin. The woman said: In addition, I had considerable investment in gold and silver bullion that were being held physically in a vault in Switzerland. That vault has been frozen to me because of his activities. Both the man and woman made claims and counter claims that each other had put the crypto currency beyond the reach of each other pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings. The woman said: "I am forced to fight legal battles in three countries with no resources. Judge Gabbett said that it will for another judge to decide who gets what in the divorce settlement. The woman told the court: I am not here because I enjoy being here. I am here because I am in genuine fear. I am genuine fear for myself, I am genuine fear for my child. I never thought I would live without a penny." The woman said that she never thought she would have to install security cameras at her home. The man said that he has never harassed his ex-wife and agreed that his case was that his ex-wife shouldnt be frightened of him because there is nothing to be frightened of. The Irish woman made allegations of constant gaslighting, coercion, isolation, financial control by her ex-husband and in evidence he denied all these allegations. Judge Gabbett ordered that the man have access to the couples child while in Ireland. Damien Graham made a serious and grave error" when he unlawfully brought components back from a gun show in the USA A firearms dealer found with a prohibited submachine gun part in his luggage at Dublin Airport has pleaded guilty to weapons possession offences. Damien Graham (53) made a serious and grave error" when he unlawfully brought components back from a gun show he had attended in the USA, a court heard. He was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentence. Mr Graham, a registered firearms dealer from Ballynagall, Ballickmoyler, Carlow, is charged with possessing a conversion kit for an AR15 assault rifle, including a bolt and chamber. He is also accused of unlawfully having a bolt from a Sterling submachine gun, at Dublin Airport's Terminal 2 on November 28, 2021. At Dublin District Court, defence solicitor Matthew Kenny said the accused could be sent forward to the circuit court on a signed plea of guilty. A state solicitor said this was on consent with the DPP. Damien Graham Judge Treasa Kelly sent the accused forward on bail to the present sittings of the circuit court, on June 30. The DPP had earlier consented to the case remaining in the district court. In a jurisdiction hearing last month to determine the venue, Garda Sharon Breen said customs officers found the parts in a search of Mr Graham's check-in luggage. The conversion kit was to make a rifle calibre smaller, a common practice, because larger calibre ammunition was more expensive. The Sterling submachine gun bolt was an essential part, not a firearm in its entirety. Gardai had not believed there was anything suspicious, but Mr Graham had not obtained an importation licence for those parts. The accuseds licence allowed him to have certain semi-automatic or handguns, but not machine guns. Mr Kenny said his client would say what happened was an oversight. He had met gardai by appointment and answered all questions, the court heard. Mr Graham had an automotive tool firm and a second business as a restricted firearms dealer. The solicitor said his client ought to have known better but made a "serious and grave error" while returning from a gun show in Florida. Judge Kelly had refused jurisdiction to deal with the case in the district court after hearing the facts. Meanwhile, a co-accused, Patrick O'Mahony Jnr (53), of Ballyrameen, Castlemaine, Co Kerry, is charged with one count of possessing a bolt from a Browning machine gun, also at Terminal 2 on November 28, 2021. He is yet to indicate a plea and his case has been adjourned to a date next month to consider the disclosure of prosecution evidence with his solicitor. Mr Stacey's original District Court trial had been told that a Dublin Fire Brigade, a tugboat, an RNLI lifeboat, and gardai had to get involved in dealing with the incident on the Liffey and the shipping lane Ronan Stephens, 46yrs, of Captain's Road, Crumlin, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: Paddy Cummins 12/6/2023 Brian Stacey, 50yrs, of Derry Drive, Crumlin, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: Paddy Cummins A pleasure boat captain who claimed he had a "God-given right" to take his craft out onto the Liffey has been cleared on appeal of being drunk while erratically sailing in Dublin Port's shipping lane six years ago. Brian Stacey (50), of Derry Drive, Crumlin, and co-defendant Ronan Stephens (46), from Captain's Road in Crumlin, Dublin, were handed three-month jail sentences, with the final month suspended in each case, and fined 1,000 in January 2020. They were also ordered to complete alcohol awareness courses after their six-day Dublin District Court hearing. The pleasure boat was seized and later destroyed. However, the two friends were released after they lodged an appeal to overturn the verdict and sentences, which came before the Circuit Court. It had been delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Brian Stacey. File photo: Collins Judge Geoffrey Shannon noted that the case was listed for mention today but the State consented to Mr Stacey's appeal being allowed. Defence counsel John Griffin said the order was that Mr Stacey's appeal had been allowed, and the co-defendant's appeal was adjourned until a later date for hearing. Mr Stacey's original District Court trial had been told that a Dublin Fire Brigade, a tugboat, an RNLI lifeboat, and gardai had to get involved in dealing with the incident on the Liffey and the shipping lane in the morning of June 1, 2017. The sailors on the Peja, a small 26-foot quarter-tonne yacht, allegedly refused to get out of the shipping lane and delayed the approach of the Corinthian, a 90-metre 4,000-tonne cruise liner, the non-jury District Court trial had heard. Gardai were also brought out on the water to help deal with the situation but allegedly were told to f*** off. The court had heard that Mr Stacey, the yacht skipper, insisted it was his "God-given right" to sail on the Liffey while his co-accused stripped off when the boat came in at Sir John Rogerson Quay, where he was arrested. Ronan Stephens, 46yrs, of Captain's Road, Crumlin, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: Paddy Cummins They faced charges under the Maritime Safety Act. They denied careless sailing, operating a vessel while intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at the shipping lane. In their defence, they claimed during their trial that there was no alcohol on board, just bottled water, and they were not breathalysed. Witnesses claimed the small boat was zig-zagging on the shipping lane fairway of the port. Mr Stacey had told his District Court trial that he was "fuming" because he thought the other boats were trying to destroy his pleasure craft. He said he had been sailing for 10 years and agreed best practice would have been to make radio contact with the harbour master earlier that morning. However, they did not answer the designated radio channel, he claimed. He denied using profanities and told the court: "I told them it was my God-given right to sail down the Liffey if I feel like it." He said he was not the sort of person that cursed. "It was our God-given right to operate on the water," he testified. Last March, following a trial, a jury found him not guilty of murder but convicted him of manslaughter due to gross negligence. An elderly woman who died after her nephew drove over her with a teleporter was "needlessly robbed of her life" by his "reckless actions," the victim's best friend has said. Chrissie Treacy (76) had treated her friend like the "daughter she never had" and her death left her "broken-hearted", she told the Central Criminal Court today. Regina Donohue was giving victim impact evidence at a pre-sentence hearing in the case of Michael Scott, who was found guilty of his aunts manslaughter. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs adjourned sentencing to June 26, remanding Scott in custody. Scott (59) of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway, on April 27, 2018. Last March, following a trial, a jury found him not guilty of murder but convicted him of manslaughter due to gross negligence. The prosecution's case had been that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running dispute over land. Scott's lawyers said her death was a tragic accident. Chrissie Treacy Today, probation and psychological reports on Scott were presented to the court. Detective Sergeant Paul Duane gave a summary of the evidence that had been heard in the trial. He told prosecutor Dean Kelly SC that Ms Treacy, who had been in ill health, was well and affectionately regarded by people who provided care for her. She was also particularly well-regarded by neighbours. She had a poor relationship with Scott, with whom she had significant differences over land. Scott had no previous convictions. My best friend was robbed of her life by the reckless actions of Michael Scott, Regina Donohue said in her victim impact statement. My heart is broken and my life has been changed beyond all belief. I am broken-hearted for Chrissie and fearful for the safety of myself, my family and my neighbours and friends, she said, alleging threats by Michael Scott. Michael Scott She and her late brothers were like family to me, Chrissie treated me like the daughter she never had, I looked up to her like she was my second mother, she said. As female farmers we had huge mutual respect for each other and I will never forget Chrissie for that." She said Ms Treacy may be physically gone but her memory will be with me as long as I live. The village I call home has been destroyed by the callous greed of one person, Michael Scott, she said. Rest in peace, my dear and much loved friend Chrissie, she said. Defence barrister Paul Greene SC said in psychological and probation reports, his client had expressed regret and awareness of the associated harm caused. He said Scott was noted as not being in the highest rank of intelligence and was assessed at a low risk of reoffending, in line with his previous good character. Theres clearly family strife and clearly a view abroad that Mr Scott and some members of his family are not nice people, Mr Greene said. Scott had also been described as a pariah and this carried a stamp that the court ought to take account of in sentencing, Mr Greene said. People may not like him but he was entitled to be treated on the basis of the manslaughter conviction that was recorded, he said. In relation to the facts, he said Ms Treacy was someone ordinarily expected to have been in the yard and her presence was unusual. Scott had not called 999 when he found Ms Treacy but he had called a neighbour, Francis Hardiman who was closer than the emergency services. Judge Biggs had earlier granted Scott bail put his affairs in order" but today remanded him in custody pending sentence. The trial had heard Scott told gardai he was reversing the agricultural teleporter across the yard outside Ms Treacy's home when he felt a "thump" and thought he might have struck a trailer. He said he rolled the machine forward to level ground and when he got out of the cabin he found Ms Treacy lying on the ground. He said he had not seen his aunt at all that day, including in the seconds before the collision. Gardai who arrived at the scene saw tyre tracks on her body and found no sign of life. She had suffered multiple, catastrophic run-over crush injuries which chief state pathologist Linda Mulligan said would have resulted in almost instantaneous death." Ms Treacy and her brothers farmed about 140 acres at Derryhiney and she owned another farm at nearby Kiltormer. Following the deaths of Ms Treacy's brothers, Scott came to own half the land at Derryhiney and Ms Treacy owned the other half. She leased her land at Kiltormer and Derryhiney to the accused. Ms Donohue had told the trial that by Christmas 2017, the deceased had made an application through her solicitor to split the land at Derryhiney. On the day that Ms Treacy died, Scott was to receive a letter from an agricultural consultant telling him that she was applying for a single farm payment in respect of certain fields on the Derryhiney farm. The prosecution had maintained Ms Treacy's decision to partition 140 acres of land they jointly owned would impact Scotts farming business and he deliberately reversed over her out of a sense of entitlement and for revenge. Scott denied that he murdered his aunt and said he did not want her to die. An independent engineer, Dr Mark Jordan, called by the defence, told the trial that he disagreed with a garda report suggesting Ms Treacy should have been visible as Scott reversed across his yard. Mr Greene had said that the defence evidence regarding how Ms Treacy died was more persuasive than that of the prosecution. A man (50s) appeared in court charged with causing criminal damage and the court was told he had admitted doing it, calling himself a paedophile hunter Child porn pervert Michael Davidson has whizzed out of his Ballymena home after a self-styled paedophile hunter was caught spray-painting nonce on his car. Last week we revealed how residents of Ballykeel in Ballymena had become concerned about the arrival of the 29-year-old computer whizz in the area and his ongoing relationship with a local woman. In 2022 Davidson was convicted of having over 130,000 indecent images and videos of kids being sexually abused believed to be one of the biggest hauls of child pornography ever discovered here. The self-confessed porn addict had been living in Lisburn at the time when we confronted him but after his court case he left for Ballymena, where he moved in with a girl who sources say he met on a dating app. But on Monday Davidson abruptly left the area after a man was seen causing damage to his car by spray-painting the word nonce on his car. A man in his 50s appeared in court this week charged with causing criminal damage and the court was told he had admitted doing it, calling himself a paedophile hunter. The man also told police he had been aware other people might have been after Davidson and took it upon himself to try and get him to leave the area. Michael Davidson car attack cops at the scene Davidson was not named as the victim during a hearing of Ballymena Magistrates Court this week, but we can reveal he was the target. The defendant is also charged with possessing a firearm an airgun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse; and possession of a firearm or imitation firearm to cause fear that unlawful violence could be used. Objecting to bail, a police officer said around 4pm on Monday police attended the Crebilly Road area of Ballymena following reports of a suspicious male putting something on to the victims car. The officer said the word nonce had been painted in white on the side of the other mans vehicle. She said a man appeared very badly shaken and was eager to leave the area as a matter of urgency. The officer said the victim did not know the man and when he went back inside to pack his things, police spoke to the defendant. She said police had discovered the defendant described himself as a paedophile hunter. When police said they were going to search his vehicle, he told officers they would find white chalk and a spray canister as he did it. Officers found a firearm in the footwell and Palmer said it was an airsoft gun. When interviewed, the defendant admitted causing criminal damage to the vehicle and admitted having an imitation firearm but claimed he forgot he had left it in the car and he denied having it to cause fear of violence to the man. She said the victim declined to make a statement but his girlfriend had made a statement to the PSNI. The officer added: Police are concerned that the defendant is like a self-styled vigilante, of sorts, whereby he, by his own admissions in interview, stated that he had heard people would be after the man and he took it upon himself to give him advice by way of spray-painting his car. The defence lawyer said the defendants case put forward at interview was that he had identified that the subject of the criminal damage may, or may not, have been convicted of possessing images of children. Despite a raft of convictions already made and hundreds more before the courts, Ireland has yet to charge one person using Encrochat intelligence it received from Dutch and French police The Encrochat phone hack which has been the catalyst for the sensational arrest of Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Liam Byrne in Mallorca last week has netted hundreds of criminals their cash, guns and drugs for police forces across Europe. But Irelands stance on the multi-agency offensive described as the greatest blow to organised crime in decades has been more than curious. Despite a raft of convictions already made and hundreds more before the courts, Ireland has yet to charge one person using Encrochat intelligence it received from Dutch and French police, instead deciding to remain an outlier. Nicola speaks with Niall Donald about the strange decisions made by An Garda Siochana during a crucial opportunity against criminals, about the lack of accountability around orders to withhold information from specialist units and about the future of a force whose police plan appears to be stuck in the past. Crime World Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. MORE EPISODES Ukraine will contribute to the investigation of the disaster in the south of the country by the International Criminal Court (ICC), President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message on Sunday. These days, representatives of the International Criminal Court visited Kherson region. On the very first day after the disaster, the Prosecutor General sent a request to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the disaster, and the work has already begun. It is very important that the representatives of international justice have seen the consequences of this Russian act of terrorism with their own eyes and heard for themselves that Russian terror continues," Zelenskyy said. "We are already facilitating and will continue to facilitate the most independent and objective investigation by the International Criminal Court. All our law enforcement and other institutions are involved in this process to the fullest extent possible. We provide full access to the affected areas, to witnesses, to all information and evidence," Zelenskyy said. "This investigation is very important for the security of the whole world. Full and fair accountability for Russian terrorists and the terrorist state itself is a prerequisite for preventing such evil from happening again in the world," he said. The group didnt want to pay and I said Id call the police. I didnt know who he was, here in Spain he is just another tourist The owner of an Irish bar in Mallorca said he threatened to call the police including on a group including Liam Byrne the night before his arrest on the Spanish island last weekend. Byrne was arrested in a restaurant in the town of Alcudia as he dined with two of his young children last Sunday on foot of a warrant to face gangland charges in the UK related to the Encrochat hack. He had flown into Palma in Mallorca on May 26 on a false passport from the United Arab Emirates where he moved in recent years. After his arrival on the island Spanish police tracked him down to Alcudia where armed police arrested him last weekend. The Sunday World previously revealed Byrnes links to Alcudia back in 2016 when we reported that he and other cartel members had been staying in a villas linked to his brother-in-law Thomas Bomber Kavanagh. Liam Byrne Byrne was with two of his kids when he was arrested in a restaurant in the area last Sunday. However, the owner of another bar and restaurant, OMalleys, said a man he believes was Byrne was part of a much larger group who caused hassle in his establishment the night before his arrest. He was here the day before, the owner told the Sunday World. He said other people in the group had been causing hassle and didnt want to pay. The group didnt want to pay. I threatened to call the police and he did pay. There was about 20 of them and they tried to cause trouble. When I mentioned the police, they went quiet. Liam Byrne being arrested in Mallorca He said he had no idea who Byrne was at the time and only found out afterwards. I didnt know who he was and in fact Im glad I didnt know. He might be [well-known] in his country but here in Spain he is just another tourist. He said he didnt contact the police in relation to the incident as the bill was paid in the end. I didnt know who they were and said whats wrong with the bill? There was a lot of hassle but finally I got paid and that was that. The Sunday World revealed Byrnes links to Alcudia seven years ago when the Kinahan-Hutch feud was at its peak. We revealed how Byrne and other cartel associates were spotted in Alcudia and would travel around in Range Rovers in convoy and travel to the nearby island of Ibiza for weekend parties. We also revealed how Byrne had been in the area the same week that innocent council worker Trevor ONeill who was shot dead on another part of the island by a cartel gunman in a case of mistaken identity. Senior Kinahan Lieutenant Liam Byrne arrested in Spain The hitman, who gardai believe was Cabra criminal Glen Clarke, had been hired to target Jonathan Hutch who was also in Mallorca at the time but shot the wrong man in the attack in Costa de la Calma on August 17, 2016. Clarke suffered a fatal gunshot wound in a car in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, in December 2016. His inquest heard he may have shot himself in the head while looking down the barrel but his family believe he was murdered. The weapon used in his death was never found. Spanish newspaper Diario de Mallorca reported this week that while local police established Byrne was on the island the week Mr ONeill was murdered they had no evidence to link him to ordering the hit. Kavanagh was also present on the island at the time and is suspected along with cartel associate Peader Keating of arranging for Clarke to travel out for the hit. Mulhall received a life sentence in 2006 for the gruesome killing of her mothers partner Farah Swaleh Noor. Convicted murderer Charlotte Mulhall, one half of the so-called Scissor Sisters, has suffered a setback in her bid to be released from prison this year. Mulhall, who received a life sentence in 2006 for the gruesome killing of her mothers partner Farah Swaleh Noor, was imprisoned at the Dochas Centre in Dublin but was transferred to Limerick in December 2018. After several successful supervised day release trips over the past few years, the mother-of-one was expected to be released early next year if she continued to behave herself. However, these plans are being delayed by the Department of Justice. There was a lot of talk that she would be released over the coming months but for some reason it appears to be going nowhere. Her application, which was passed on by the parole board to the Minister for Justice, is still pending, a source told the Sunday Mirror. "Shes been having accompanied days out with prison staff to spend with family but she will most likely be in Limerick Prison for another year yet. When an application is approved by the board, they then send it to the Minister for Justice, who has 12 months to decide. "If she does anything to jeopardise that application during that 12 months she will have the application pushed back. If the Justice Minister doesnt grant it she will have to wait another couple of years before applying again." However, a prison source previously said Mulhalls recent periods of day release under prison supervision are indicative of the path she is now on towards eventual, permanent release under licence. She is one of the most high-profile prisoners in the system. When she is permanently released it will be a lot for her to deal with, they said. There will be huge public and media interest. Like all prisoners released, including life sentence inmates, we want them to try and reintegrate into society and not return to jail. The purpose of jail is not just to punish, it is to rehabilitate. Mulhall (39) has served 17 years so far for murder and is the countrys longest serving female killer. The average lifer in Ireland spends between 18 and 19 years in prison. She would be subject to certain provisions under temporary release, including signing on and notifying the authorities about where she lives. If she failed to do this, or came to garda attention for other criminality, she would be returned to jail. Her sister Linda Mulhall has already walked free from prison after serving 15 years for the manslaughter of their mothers boyfriend, Farah Swaleh Noor. He was dismembered and his body parts were discovered in Dublin's Royal Canal, although his head - which they claimed to have taken to a park - was never found. Limerick man Pat Sheedy (54) says, prison saved my life A prisoner jailed after a series of cons linked to his chronic gambling addiction has turned his life around behind bars and won a prestigious literary prize for the second year running. Limerick man Pat Sheedy (54) was at his lowest ebb when he was jailed for posing as a documentary maker and a government representative to defraud companies of cash. But this week he was honoured at the Listowel Writers Week for his creative writing skills, which he learned behind bars, and for using his time in prison as a journey of recovery and a new beginning. Accepting the prize, Pat, who is completing his sentence at Loughan House open prison, said he hadnt been as nervous since the morning he got locked up. This is a truly humbling experience. Im 54 years old and not all of my life has been an entirely honest journey. I wouldnt be where I am if it was. If you told me three years ago that I was going to end up in prison I would have believed you, if you told me I would be standing here tonight I wouldnt have. Pat Sheedy with actor Stephen Rea Addressing a crowd including actor Stephen Rea, Sheedy, who has more than 100 convictions, said prison has changed his life and described his outlook as brighter. To say my life hasnt turned out exactly as I planned as an ambitious teenager is an understatement. I wont go into detail but my life has been largely controlled by a hideous gambling addiction which has caused me to go down paths that I didnt want to go down. And there was an inevitability that I would end up in prison. This time three years ago I was a mess. I had disgraced myself and my family and friends. I financially harmed other people to feed my addiction and physically I was morbidly obese and I didnt think I had a future. Sheedy said he was in prison a few weeks when he decided to go to school as he was too obese to work. I went to school and stuck with the creative writing teacher and she changed my life. I was in a treatment centre in 2010 and an addiction counsellor said Id lived a fascinating life and there was a book in me and I decided that as I wasnt doing anything else for the years to follow I might as well write. He told the crowd: Im in a far better place than Ive ever been. It took me 54 years to get here but there you go. I havent that long left in prison and I was worried about the future but my outlook is now a lot brighter thanks to the education units and the help and encouragement Ive got in prison. In 2022 a court heard that Sheedy had pretended he was making a documentary for RTE when he conned an electronics company out of 13,000 and said he was working for the Department of Eduction when he conned an educational supplies company out of 10,000. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he was sentenced to 15 months in jail but was already serving another sentence imposed at Limerick Circuit Court. Justice Martin Nolan said Sheedy had 97 previous convictions, the majority of which were for fraud. He once pretended he was working for Virgin Media to deceive Apple into lending him iPhones. Prison educator Tom Shortt, a brother of comedian Pat, said that Sheedy was his ideal student who embraced creative writing as a tool in his recovery. Produce experts are warning the low levels of light over the last few months, coupled with a crop failure in 2022 is adding up to a shortage of fresh tomatoes in the market this winter. "Tomatoes are normally in shorter supply through the winter months because they're out of season, but this year we're going to be even shorter again," says Jerry Prendergast, General Manager Key Accounts at MG Produce Group, a co-operative of 400 New Zealand produce growers. The no-mato' problem can be put down to a couple of factors. Tomatoes are grown in hothouses in NZ all year round, keen gardeners will know the fruit, yes fruit, convert sunlight into energy, which helps the tomatoes to grow. Over the last couple of months, the number of sunshine hours we've had in Aotearoa has been comparatively low, so the current winter crop hasn't thrived as well as in previous years. The other main factor is a previous crop failure, says Jerry. "Many NZ growers are getting back into the planting cycle, but it takes time to build things up again and this, plus low light over the last few months, is contributing to the tomato shortage we're seeing right now. Fresh tomato supply in Australia isn't that flash at the moment either, so we can't really rely on any much respite coming from across the ditch to bolster supply." Brigit Corson, who's responsible for the sourcing of all things fruit and veg at the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative, the team behind PAK'nSAVE, New World and Four Square has raised the flag early to let customers know tomato supply is going to be tight this year, which will impact on the per KG prices. "Growers are telling us we're going to be short on supply until at least September, it's the simple supply and demand balance, when produce is in plentiful supply, prices are generally lower. It's not all gloomy on the fresh fruit and veg front though, carrots are in plentiful supply, we have heaps of brown onions and pumpkins too, so let's give away the gazpacho for winter and get into some nice in-season veggie soup." The Elms Te Papa Tauranga now displays a rare, historic wooden toy with a unique link to the mission station, with the lady donating it being a descendant of early missionary William Williams. Tauranga woman Alison Underwood who is a tour guide at The Elms has gifted her family's hand-crafted Noah's Ark after having it sit on top of a china cabinet in her hallway for more than 20 years. The toy is thought to have been brought to New Zealand by William Williams, a member of the Church Missionary Society and close friend of Alfred Brown. Alfred also served as a CMS missionary in New Zealand from 1829 to 1884. The intricate details of each animal and person thought to be hand-carved in Germany nearly 200 years ago is breath-taking. Photo: Brydie Thompson. The Brown family took up residence at Te Papa (Tauranga) in January 1838 and it was on part of this land where the mission house stood and was purchased in 1873 by Alfred, to be named The Elms. Alison, who wants the treasure to be enjoyed by the public, says: 'It seems appropriate for the Ark to be displayed in a house that was the Te Papa Mission Station. 'I've had it about 23 years, and it was sitting in my mother's house for 20 years before that." Good friends Alison started guiding at The Elms Te Papa Tauranga in 2019 after being encouraged by a historian friend. 'For the last 15 years I've wanted to give the Ark to a museum it was just a question of which one. 'When I started guiding at The Elms, I thought: This is ideal'. The reason that cemented my choice is that William Williams was such a good friend of Alfred Brown. It is the right setting. The intricate details of each animal and person thought to be hand-carved in Germany nearly 200 years ago is breath-taking. Photo: Brydie Thompson. Alison believes the toy is close to 200 years old. 'The reason I say this is because William Williams came out to New Zealand just under 200 years ago. Also, later versions of such a toy seem to be painted this one has no paint. As such, Alison believes people who visit The Elms Te Papa Tauranga will appreciate the heirloom and the history behind it. 'It's so beautifully carved it was probably carved by candlelight by German farmers it's just absolutely amazing. Alison says the toy originally had 200 creatures today there are 165 pieces. 'I've also gifted a list that comes with it, which identifies all of the creatures and the people. Grateful The Elms Foundation Trust is extremely grateful for the donation. From elephants to insects, the Noah's Ark toy is now on display for all to see at the Elms Te Papa Tauranga. Photo: Brydie Thompson. 'We are humbled that Alison has entrusted this precious family heirloom to The Elms Foundation," says general manager Andrew Gregg. 'The ark and collection of animals have been positioned on top of the piano inside the drawing room, where it can be seen and admired from behind the barrier rope. 'It seemed the appropriate place given there are other educational toys close by. Andrew says Noah's Arks were among the most popular wooden toys of the 19th Century and have been manufactured since the 1700s. 'It's virtually impossible to identify who made the Williams' family Ark, as it was largely a cottage industry centred mostly in Seiffen, Germany. Andrew says William Williams visited the Te Papa Mission Station and regularly corresponded with Alfred Brown. 'The Ark is a good example of a toy in the 19th Century and was also known to be used by early missionaries to explain the biblical tale to Maori. The Williams family William Williams came to New Zealand in 1826 and with wife Jane joined Henry Williams at the CMS mission station in Paihia where he was initially responsible for the Boys' school. In the 1830s, Williams journeyed extensively throughout the Waikato, but by 1840 he had settled at the mission station at TAranga (present-day Gisborne) and in 1859 was installed as the first Anglican Bishop of Waiapu. The Noah's Arks toy has 165 magnificent pieces on display in The Elms' Drawing Room. Photo: Brydie Thompson. Alison says the Ark may have come with him on his first journey to New Zealand, or sent out later. She believes William Williams would have passed the toy down to his son William Leonard Williams, then to his daughter Margaret Ellen Williams, who married into the MacLean family. Alison is the great grand-daughter of Margaret Ellen Williams who married Christopher MacLean and so the sixth generation to own the family heirloom. To view the historical treasure, you can visit The Elms Te Papa Tauranga at 15 Mission St, Tauranga. The Elms Te Papa Tauranga is open 11am-3pm daily, via an entry charge. In the aftermath of the recent floods, Western Bay of Plenty District Council is inviting everyone to come and talk with the Council team about stormwater in WaihA Beach. "Do you have a pAtai about WaihA Beach's stormwater system or want to kArero on our plans to protect Two Mile Creek from further erosion? Join us at a community information session dedicated to answering your questions," says a council spokesperson. The stormwater information session on Monday June 19 will be a chance to learn why the May 29 flooding did so much damage. It will also be an opportunity to ask the Council team questions about the stormwater system in WaihA Beach what's happened historically and what's planned in the future. People can also find out more about an upcoming stormwater project to protect Two Mile Creek from erosion. Stormwater information session details: Date: Monday June 19 Time: 3-6pm Location: WaihA Beach Community Centre "The Katikati-WaihA Beach Community Forum scheduled for Wednesday June 14 at the Bowentown Boating and Sport Fishing Club has been cancelled, providing us time to prepare for this information session." Council Deputy CEO and General Manager Infrastructure Group, Gary Allis says that it's natural for everyone to have questions following the flash flooding on May 29. 'One hour of intense rainfall has caused substantial damage, left our community in shock and given us all an enormous mess to clean up. 'This event will take a lot of time to recover from, but now that the immediate danger has passed, we'd like to use this opportunity to address people's concerns and talk about the causes of flooding and the effects it has on your community. Gary says Councils' stormwater network was simply unable to respond to an event of that magnitude on May 29. "There were no failures in the stormwater system; it was overcome by the amount water and by the following day the stormwater system had returned to normal levels." Typically, Council's piped stormwater network is designed to cater for a one in five-year storm event and the overland flow path - where the stormwater should flow when the underground pipe network can no longer cope - is designed for a one in 50-year storm event. "The event experienced in May was higher than what the system has been designed for." Two Mile Creek "We'll also be showing the community our plans to protect Two Mile Creek from further erosion, with contractors, engineers, and the Council team on hand to discuss what we're planning." Gary says this is an important project as there's no alternative waterway to direct stormwater down and properties either side have already suffered from erosion. 'During heavy rain spells, a huge amount of water hits the ground looking for somewhere to go. 'That water has to get out to the ocean somehow, and the best, safest and only way for that to happen is via Two Mile Creek. And because the creek backs onto one of WaihA Beach's main thoroughfares, there's significant public benefit in protecting the land. The Two Mile Creek stream protection project will see local firm Beach Contractors placing rock armouring along a 320m section of Two Mile Creek to protect this important waterway from erosion. The work will take place on most properties from 45 Edinburgh, downstream to the Dillon Street bridge, and on the opposite side of the creek with properties along Wilson Road. The project will take place over a year, with work stopping to allow for fish migration from August and again over the summer holiday period. The project is part of Council's Stormwater Strategy, which the public shared their thoughts on through the Long Term Plan 2015-25. The works are being funded by the Stormwater Uniform Targeted Rate due to the importance of Two Mile Creek in the wider stormwater network for WaihA Beach. The National Party has announced its plan to reduce agricultural emissions, including pushing back the final deadline by which farmers have to start paying for them. Agriculture makes up nearly half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions and - unlike emissions from every other sector - are not priced. A sector-led group called He Waka Eke Noa is currently working on how to best to do this but its future is uncertain, given National last week walked back its support on account of the impact the proposed scheme might have on farming businesses. On Monday, the party announced how it planned to reduce agricultural emissions if elected, saying its policy would help farmers and growers embrace new technology to meet New Zealand's climate targets. "National is committed to reaching net zero by 2050, but we believe New Zealand's path to emission reductions in agriculture is through technology, not less production," says National agricultural spokesperson Todd McClay. He says that was why on Sunday National announced it would remove what it is calling an "effective ban" on gene technology. Doing so would "help give farmers the tools they need to reduce methane emissions, such as gene edited crops, feed, and livestock", says McClay. National's agricultural emissions policy also included recognising on-farm sequestration, measuring farm level emissions by 2025, and updating biotech rules. Photo: Samuel Rillstone/RNZ. No agriculture emissions in the ETS National also wants to keep agriculture off the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS); something that was due to take effect through a legislated 'backstop' in 2025 if He Waka Eke Noa did not come up with a workable alternative to price agricultural emissions. National would implement what it says was a "fair and sustainable pricing system" for on-farm agricultural emissions by 2030 at the latest. "Labour rejected the He Waka Eke Noa industry proposal to reduce emissions, and instead proposed shutting down 20 percent of sheep and beef farms, hitting farmers with a punitive fertiliser tax and sending production overseas to high emitting countries," says McClay. "New Zealand contributes 0.2 percent to global emissions. National is confident we can reach our climate goals by reducing agricultural emissions without closing down a sector that contributes over $40 billion to the New Zealand economy." An independent board - with a power of veto retained by the ministers of climate change and agriculture - would be established to implement the pricing system. National would also limit the conversion of productive farmland to forestry for carbon farming purposes to protect local communities and food production. McClay says National would also slash red tape on existing technology which could reduce methane emissions so it could be adopted faster, and also require the agriculture sector to continue to invest in research and development to reduce emissions. On Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the government "continue to be around the table with the sector leaders through the He Waka Eka Noa partnership, because we do believe that that is the way forward". He rejected National leader Christopher Luxon's prior characterisation of Labour's policies as making farmers out to be "villains". "The National Party seem to be treating the climate with contempt. They seem to be saying they're committed to net zero by 2050, but they seem to have absolutely no idea how they're going to deliver on that, and in fact have opposed every single thing that the government has been doing to help us achieve that goal." Climate Change Minister and Green Party co-leader James Shaw says they had "no intention of walking away from agricultural emissions pricing policy" because it "is the right thing to do". "National's agricultural emissions pricing policy has been to delay for two decades now. But pushing action on climate change out into the never never isn't going to wash anymore. There is a clear public and customer expectation for all businesses, including farmers, to pay for their emissions. In other words it's a backwards facing policy that fails to recognise changing values of modern-day market expectations and environmental standards." Farmers and meat sectors react to policy Federated Farmers acting president Wayne Langford says it supported National's plan, adding that it addressed farmers' concerns. "We can't just reduce emissions by farming less and planting productive farmland in pine trees - we need to be looking to new technologies whether that be methane inhibitors, vaccines or gene-editing," Langford says in a statement. "New Zealand farmers are committed to doing our bit to stop additional warming, but the policies that support emissions reductions need to be pragmatic, sensible and fair." Federated Farmers would continue to work with the government on agricultural emission pricing until the election, says Langford. Beef + Lamb New Zealand described the National Party's plan as "sensible" and "pragmatic". The group's chair, Kate Acland, says farmers had already expressed they were unhappy with the pricing proposal that He Waka Eke Noa put to government last year. "B+LNZ also supports a review of the methane targets based on the latest science and the warming impact of methane on the planet," Acland says in a statement. "Our vision for the future is one where we're demonstrating that New Zealand farmers are world leading through measuring and reporting emissions at farm level, where we're hitting science-based targets, investing in the research and development of mitigation technologies, these are widely available and the market is incentivising farmers to use them." It also says it supported the National Party's plan to restrict the rate of wholesale conversion of sheep and beef farms into forestry for entry into the ETS. "While there are some details that we need to better understand, we support the fundamental direction of the National Party policy. "We need to slow down the unbridled conversion of whole farms into carbon farms in the short-term while we work on how to amend the ETS. "This is a complicated area that we will be looking to discuss with farmers over the next few weeks." Acland says they also welcomed a review on GM because there could be techniques which could help farmers to produce food more sustainably. "As part of this, it will be vital to ensure we understand exactly where our international consumers are at in their openness to any genetic technologies used in food production." Beef + Lamb New Zealand would also be continuing its discussions with the government about its climate change policies, Acland says. - Anneke Smith/RNZ. By Azernews Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani artist Roya Hasan has demonstrated her stunning art works at Q Gallery in Icherisheher. The exposition "Iz" (Imprint) was organized with the support of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and Arts Council Azerbaijan NGO, Azernews reports. Around 27 art works, dedicated to outstanding luminaries were showcased as part of the exhibition. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, People's Artist Salhab Mammadov, Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, Professor, musicologist Jeyran Mahmudova, Head of the NGO Arts Council Azerbaijan Dadash Mammadov, Honored Art Worker, Professor Valida Mammadova spoke about the main features of the artist's work. The speakers congratulated the artist on the opening of her personal exhibition and wished her further creative success. As Roya Hasan noted, the exhibition presents portraits of artists, actors, composers, directors, actors and other creative people, as well as beautiful landscapes of Azerbaijan. "I have been creating the presented works for more than three years. I can say that portraiture is one of my favorite genres in the visual arts. I have been created portraits since a young age. The poster for the exhibition depicts a portrait of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer, People's Artist of the USSR Arif Malikov, which is not accidental. I started working on a series of portraits with a work dedicated to Arif Malikov. Three years ago, I took part in the project of the TV channel "Medeniyyet" (Culture), in which artists created portraits of composers. I created the portrait of Arif Malikov for in the shortest possible time," said Roya Hasan. "The cultural heritage of every nation is its wealth. It is the duty of each of us to preserve, develop and pass on our cultural heritage from generation to generation. We must preserve these values so that future generations can be proud of them," she concluded. The exhibition aroused great interest among art lovers. It should be noted that Roya Hasan is a teacher at the Department of Fine Arts of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. She is a member of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union. Roya Hasan has also represented Azerbaijan at exhibitions and symposiums organized in many foreign countries, including the USA, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Turkiye and others. In 2015, she participated in professional programs held by Sotheby's Art House in Georgia. In her art, the artist prefers expressionism and abstractionism. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az. Canada is imposing additional economic sanctions against Russia due to attempts to destroy Ukrainian cultural sites, the sanctions list includes Ukrainians who work at museums and other cultural centres who collaborate with Russia, according to the website of the Government of Canada, citing the Minister of Foreign Affairs. "Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing additional sanctions against 24 individuals and 17 entities in Ukraine as part of the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations. These new measures are in direct response to Russia's attempts to destroy Ukraine's cultural sites, institutions and identity," the ministry said. The Canadian Global Affairs Office said that "in addition to the extensive damage and complete destruction of a number of Ukraines cultural sites, thousands of Ukrainian cultural artifacts have been found missing or reportedly stolen by Russian forces in the temporarily occupied territories since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and prior to that during the attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014. In its effort to erase Ukraines identity, Russia reportedly illegally exported artifacts from Ukraine, and damaged cultural heritage sites." Canada is sanctioning persons connected to Russia's theft of Ukrainian cultural objects to counter the Kremlin's efforts to "Russify" Ukraines culture. The list of individuals being sanctioned includes Ukrainians who work at museums and other cultural centres who collaborate with Russia. It also includes newly created entities in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, such as the so-called ministries of education and culture, as well as individuals and entities related to private military companies that originated in Ukraine and are fighting for Russia. Earlier, Canadian television reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced sanctions against 24 people and 17 companies for supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine. Gymnasts from local gymnastics club Impact Gymsport Academy won't have far to travel for this year's national competition next month. The New Zealand Gymnastics Championships will be held July 5-8 at Mercury BayPark Arena - right next door to their club. Over 900 athletes will vie for podium positions across trampoline, tumble, artistic, rhythmic and aerobic gymnastics. Impact's gymnasts make up a big portion of the Bay of Plenty women's artistic team, which includes gymnasts from Argos Gymnastics in Tauranga, Mid Island Gym Sports (MIGS) in Rotorua, and Te Puke Gymsport. The girls are looking forward to showcasing their hours of training across the four apparatus: floor, vault, beam and uneven bars. Impact coach Ebony Matenga has been named head coach for the Bay or Plenty Women's Artistic Gymnastics team. 'You can only hope that on the day they compete as well as they train. They put in so much hard work over the year with the goal of qualifying for Nationals, I just hope that is reflected on the day, says Ebony. Ebony is eager to see more young women participate in gymnastics, including those from families who might struggle financially. "Impact has been grateful for the support of its major sponsor, Barrett Homes and now the club is looking for more sponsors from the community to enable more young women to grasp this opportunity," says Impact manager Shar Matthews. Shar anticipates a surge of interest in the sport with the excitement of Nationals being hosted in Tauranga this year. 'We need to have people in the community get behind our club so that we can bring this fantastic sport to as many people as possible. Anyone interested in sponsoring an aspiring gymnast and having a presence at Impact Gymsport Academy, please get in touch with Shar Matthews at office@impactgymsport.co.nz or visit impactgymsport.co.nz/sponsorship for more information. National Gymnastics Competition: For more information visit here Google pays tribute to the 'espeto', the traditional dish that can be found being freshly grilled on beaches all along the Costa del Sol The search engine's daily doodle today shows the sardines on skewers being cooked on a boat by the shoreline and explains why the popular dish is the "flavour of the summer" Rossel Aparicio Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Google has paid tribute to one of the Costa del Sols most famous and traditional dishes, the espeto malagueno. The all-powerful search engine dedicated its doodle to the sardine dish today (Monday, 12 June) as it is the day that the traditional plate, typical of the coast of Malaga, is celebrated in the province. The image handmade with clay shows the "flavour of summer", with a man sitting beside a boat in the sand, and sardines skewered on a spit. "A salty, smoky aroma in southern Spain can only mean one thing: it's espetos season," the search engine explained. The Malaga-themed doodle has not gone unnoticed by users who love this fish, usually skewered on long, thin rods, which is cooked to perfection by the embers that burn on the sand of the beach, close to the shoreline. Hoy lunes, 12 de junio, Google rinde homenaje al espeto malagueno pic.twitter.com/lbwbs15zAZ Bernardo Quintero (@bquintero) June 11, 2023 Bernardo Quintero, founder of the company VirusTotal, from Malaga, was one of the first to share on social media the significant gesture on behalf of Google towards Malaga and its gastronomy. "Today Monday, 12th June, Google pays tribute to the espeto malagueno", said the businessman, who also revealed why it is celebrated on this date and how it is made. Google explained that the 'espeto', a hallmark of Malaga, takes its name precisely from the Spanish word 'espetar', which means 'to skewer'. Normally sardines are skewered, although other types of fish such as sea bream, sea bass or even squid are also grilled on the fire. Ampliar Sardines on skewers. SUR The search engine also explained that the 'espetos' are never devoured on a Monday, as it is normally a day of rest in the fishmongers. Google even informs how the dish is prepared; the 'espeteros' place several sardines on the skewer, season them with salt and, after grilling them over a flame, sprinkle them with a few drops of lemon juice. The aim of Googles doodle selection process is to "commemorate anniversaries and interesting events that reflect Google's personality and passion for innovation", according to the company. In the light of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and myself had the honor of welcoming our colleagues in BusinessEuropes Industrial Affairs Committee to Stockholm last week. BusinessEurope represents the national business federations of 35 European countries, and work tirelessly to ensure that the voice of business is heard in EU policy making. The organization is without a doubt an important partner for the Confederation of Swedish Enterprises competitiveness agenda, and equally important in ensuring that the business community in the EU has the right conditions to lead the green transition globally. Businesses need policies that enable competitiveness and sustainable, long-term economic growth simultaneously with the green transition. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise is convinced that a strong, united and progressive business community is key to push EU policy to become an enabler for the business to reach the goals of the 2030 Agenda, while strengthening the competitiveness on the global market, and this message permeated the meeting in Stockholm. During the committees 24 hours in Stockholm, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise got the possibility to showcase some of the companies in the forefront of the green transition in Sweden making the Swedish business communitys progressive sustainability agenda the framework for the following meetings. The discussions circulated around energy supply, environmental permits, electrification and the transition to a ciruclar economy, issues where all European businesses face similar challenges to accelerate the transition. Last week, the Presidents of BusinessEuropes 40 member federations gathered in Madrid at the invitation of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, CEOE, at the annual Council of Presidents. The Presidents of BusinessEuropes member federations had an extensive agenda for the two daylong meeting. Several roundtable discussions were held as well as the annual meeting with the recurring points of decisions. They also had discussions with extinguished guest such as Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, Nadia Calvino, First Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for the Economy and Digital Transformation and had an audience with His Majesty King Felipe VI. Antonio Garamendi, President of CEOE, pointed out that We need competitive companies to strengthen Europes global position, ability to stand up for our values, secure high living standards and deliver on the green and digital transitions. We trust that the incoming Spanish Presidency of the EU will build on the work started earlier this year to launch an ambitious European competitiveness strategy. On behalf of BusinessEuropes member federations, Fredrik Persson, President of BusinessEurope, handed over the Madrid Declaration to Nadia Calvino. The declaration emphasizes the European business community priorities for the incoming Spanish presidency. He also stressed that that Falling energy prices through the mild winter helped steer the EU economy away from recession, but some countries are in recession and the situation remains challenging for many businesses. We expect growth to reach just 0.7% in the EU in 2023 and 1.6% in 2024, provided downside risks such as continuing geo-political instability dont materialise. When steering negotiations on EU policies, the Spanish Presidency should promote a strategic approach to competitiveness, help reduce regulatory burden for companies, deepen the Single Market integration, and secure energy supply at competitive prices. Trade is key and we need to diversify sources of supply of critical raw materials and export markets. We fully support the incoming Spanish Presidency intention to give a new impetus to the conclusion and ratification of trade agreements with Chile, Mexico and Mercosur. Spain will take over the presidency in the Council of the European Union from Sweden 1 of July. First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with Minister for Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates Mariam Almheiri and discussed the construction of new homes for Ukrainian foster families. "The First Lady noted the importance of Mariam Almheiris visit and thanked the UAE government and President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their support: in the spring, the Emirati government approved a charitable contribution of $4 million for the construction of ergonomic modern houses with shelters for large foster families (so-called FTCHs) as part of the Address of Childhood project by the Olena Zelenska Foundation," the report notes. The construction will begin in July. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Olena Zelenska also informed Mariam Almheiri of other projects of the foundation, in particular, laptops for education. To provide online learning, the Olena Zelenska Foundation donated 38,856 laptops for teachers and 500 laptops for students. HP and Microsoft became partners of the Digital Equity for Ukraine project. "We still need 82 thousand 8 laptops for teachers and 561 thousand 562 for schoolchildren, so the foundation continues to look for foreign partners who are ready to continue helping Ukrainians," the First Lady said. "Mariam Almheiri, for her part, said that the UAE government is ready to provide 2,500 laptops for schoolchildren. They will have online learning programs available," the press release notes. Olena Zelenska expressed gratitude for the help: "Only together with our friends can we overcome what the aggressor has done. And we are already doing it." Naomi Watts marries Billy Crudup King Kong and The Ring actress Naomi Watts married fellow Hollywood star Billy Crudup, she announced over the weekend. Hitched, Watts wrote on Instagram with a photo of herself and the Watchmen actor in a Manhattan courthouse in a bridal gown and suit. Congratulations!!! her ex Liev Schrieber, who she hares two children with, commented. Gorgeous!!! This is the first marriage for both; Crudup shares a child with his ex Mary Louise Parker. Garth Brooks bar will serve every beer Longtime LGBTQ+ supporter Garth Brooks is refusing to boycott Bud Light at his new bar in Nashville.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, the country star told Billboard. And yes, were going to serve every brand of beer... Our thing is this, if you are let into this house, love one another. If youre an ahole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway. Brooks is set to open the Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk soon. Anheuser-Busch has recently seen boycotts and criticism over a social media promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, including from fellow music stars Travis Tritt, Kid Rock and John Rich though Rich told Fox News hes fine with Brooks decision: He makes his music for everybody. And that really is what music is about. Youre making your music for everybody. Beers for everybody, too. MORE BUZZ: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon slam use of Air dialogue in Trump campaign ( RS Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice sample Aqua on Barbie World song ( BB Paw Patrol movie trailer shows Kim Kardashian, North West characters ( ET New Leprechaun movie on the way ( SF Bryan Cranston walks back retirement comments ( RS Jimmie Allen dropped by record label after second sex abuse lawsuit ( BB NBC cancels Dwayne Johnsons Young Rock after 3 seasons ( ET Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse addresses sound mix issues ( SF Gladiator sequel crew members hurt in stunt accident ( RS Uzo Adubo pregnant with first child ( E! Fox News sends Tucker Carlson cease-and-desist over Twitter show ( RS Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news about movies, TV, music and celebrities. Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse firefighters forced their way into a locked home after heavy smoke poured out the windows on the first and second floors Sunday evening. No one was inside at 122 Albert Terrace on the citys South Side when the fire started shortly before 6 p.m., but firefighters didnt know for sure until they searched the building, according to a Syracuse Fire Department news release. Firefighters spent about 20 minutes trying to control the fire and a little more than an hour working to clear the smoke and other products of combustion, the release said. No one was injured in the fire, officials said. Syracuse fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, which started in the kitchen. The kitchen had fire, smoke and water damage. There also was smoke damage throughout the home. Volunteers with the American Red Cross said Sunday night they are helping one adult and three children displaced by the fire. Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook Frankfort, N.Y. A Herkimer County spa was raided after an investigation revealed the business was selling sex, state police said Monday. State police on Friday executed a search warrant at Gina DM Spa, attached to the V-Jas Lounge at 307 E. Main St. in the village of Frankfort, troopers said in a news release. Chris Stapleton returned to the St. Josephs Health Amphitheater at Lakeview on Sunday night to officially kick off the venues 2023 concert season. The Grammy-winning country star performed his biggest hits, including Tennessee Whiskey, Nobody to Blame, Broken Halos and Millionaire, for a crowd of more than 16,000 fans, according to a rep for the venue. Originally more than 17,000 tickets were sold but some people got refunds when they were unable to attend the rescheduled date; Stapleton was supposed to perform Thursday, but air quality concerns from Canadian wildfire smoke forced the show to be postponed three days. (In First Look, we visit a new restaurant or bar in Central New York to give readers an idea of what to expect. If you know of a new place, email me at cmiller@syracuse.com or call/text me at 315-382-1984. If I take your suggestion, I just might buy you a meal.) **** Syracuse, N.Y. During its three-year lifespan, a tiny storefront in the citys Hawley-Green neighborhood served as an assembly line of 4-pound Cuban sandwiches that sold for a mere $12.99 apiece. It was, without a doubt, one of the best culinary steals in Central New York. A full year has passed since Alberto Ginarte abruptly shut down Esquina Habanera, leaving us with just a note promising Will open under new management. It took 400 days, but the Cuban version of the ham & cheese sandwich finally returned to 324 Burnet Ave. last Wednesday when Yordania Reyes opened El Habanero. Im really excited, and everyone who walks by and comes in seems really happy, Yordania said during lunch last Tuesday. Yordania Reyes, the owner of El Habanero in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Her customers do indeed seem enthusiastic to have a restaurant back in this spot. Three times last week, customers walking out told me I was in for a treat as I walked in. Its not good food. Its great food, said a city construction worker carrying three bags of takeout for him and his colleagues. Such flavor, another said the next day. Youre going to love it. You should know that El Habanero isnt a knockoff of Esquina Habanera. The Cuban sandwich is clearly the signature dish here, and the menu offers three other Cuban entrees. But Yordania, who grew up and learned to cook in Cuba, is also serving Mexican food. That includes eight different tacos, quesadillas, tostada, chalupas and chimichangas. The Tacos de Birria are among her favorite. Birria taco from El Habanero in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) My baby is 1 now, but when I was pregnant, all I wanted was Mexican food, she said. I always craved tacos. I still do. Yordania is capitalizing on an increased popularity of Mexican food in Central New York, especially birria tacos. She marinates chunks of beef in vinegar, chili peppers, garlic and spices before its cooked in a broth and shredded. The meat is served on grilled tortillas covered in chopped spiced onions and fresh cilantro. It comes with a side of tomatillo-based chilli sauces, one red and one gree. An order of four birria tacos is $14.99. Theres a lot of Latin people around here, and these are very popular, she said. Were listening to what our customers want, and well see how it goes. The best deal on the menu is the quesadilla. Its a basic 8-inch flour tortilla filled with cheese and fried on the flattop grill for a few minutes. A cheese quesadilla is just $3.50, but pay the extra dollar to get either spiced-up shredded chicken or ground beef. Inside the chicken quesadilla from El Habanero in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) It also comes with a cup of each dipping salsa. You must try ... Cuban Sandwich ($12.99): The Cubano is so simple, but it just tastes so damn good. The only vegetables to get between the bread and cheese and mounds of meat are a few pickles. Theres nothing healthy about this sandwich, thankfully. Yordania slow-roasts a pork shoulder (also known as the ... heh heh heh ... butt) for 4 hours with onions, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin and some other spices. As each order comes in, the cook back in the kitchen tosses the sliced butt onto the grill along with three quarter-inch slices of smoked ham. Right now, El Habanero is toasting 8-inch sub rolls for the Cuban, but Yordania is working to get soft white Cuban rolls from Miami trucked up here regularly. The inside of each half gets a swipe of mustard and mayonnaise before sandwiching the pork butt, ham and Swiss cheese. The Cuban is cut diagonally and served with seasoned fries. TIP: If you do want to sweeten up your sandwich with pickle slices, you will need to ask for it. The cook doesnt add them automatically. All Cuban sandwiches are different, even though the ingredients are pretty much the same, Yordania said. Mine is good, but its not the same as the ones Alberto served here. Everyone has their own way of making them. The Cuban sandwich from El Habanero in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Tacos a la Diabla ($14.99): The birria tacos may be the favored Mexican dish at El Habanero, but you need to try these Devil Tacos. One of the cooks here brought this unique recipe from Guatemala. He coats sliced steak and chorizo with spicy chili seasoning and tosses it on the grill. Like the biria tacos, these are scattered with cool white onions and chopped cilantro. If youre trying to limit your red meat intake, you can substitute the beef for shrimp or chicken. Whichever protein you pick, itll be more fiery than the other seven tacos on the menu. Tacos a la diabla from El Habanero in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Chicken Fajitas ($12.99): This is a fresh approach to the basic Tex-Mex staple. Its nothing more than strips of chicken breast, stripped red and green peppers and sliced onions. Thats it. No cheese, no sour cream, no guacamole. Just meat and vegetables grilled with subtle Mexican spices and two 8-inch soft tortillas. The only problem with this dish is that Yordania serves you much more filling than just two tortillas worth. You might want to ask for more of the soft flour shells or make sure you get a fork. Chicken fajitas from El Habanero in Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) This tiny restaurant takes up half of the buildings first floor, with room enough for the three two-person tables inside. Theres an additional high-top on the sidewalk out front. By default, most of El Habaneros business is takeout. Yordania, though, is already thinking about expanding. Because she owns the building, she hopes to to turn the other half into a dining room for customers to enjoy an expanded Cuban menu in-house and eventually a cocktail. Were only two weeks old, and this is my first restaurant, she said. But I think people want more, and I will give it to them. The Details The venue: El Habanero, 324 Burnet Ave., Syracuse; (315) 214-4636. Order online here. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Sunday. Credit cards: Yes Gluten-free options: No Alcohol: Not yet Kids menu: No Eat in: Yes Takeout: Yes Parking: On-street parking **** Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. (AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.) You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his free weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here. MORE CNY FOOD & DRINKS New breakfast and lunch cafe opens in Syracuses Inner Harbor Fresh seafood, Italian favorites highlight visit to Skaneateles Mandana Inn (Dining out review) The Yard in Manlius: Come for the beer. Stay for the food. Check out the shops Can you smell that sweet smoke in Syracuse? It comes all the way from Congo Hidden Gems of CNY: A Chinese food speakeasy in a basement cafeteria might be Syracuses best kept secret Ongoing series: First Looks in CNY Ongoing series: Dining Out reviews Ongoing series: Hidden Gems of CNY Jes Feuer is Etains marketing director and came to cannabis with a background in fashion public relations and communications. Feuer answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insiders People to know series. Should you or someone you know be featured in our series? Fill out this form and we may publish your story. What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space? I am the marketing director at Etain. Etain is the first women-founded medical cannabis company in New York. We were founded in 2015 as one of the first five licenses in New York and currently have four stores across the state. As a women-founded company, supporting other women-founded brands is a core value. Currently, all the CBD and health and wellness products available at Etain are from women-owned companies, with many from New York. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: We provide a concierge medicine approach to cannabis and ensure a VIP: very important patient experience. More recently, weve been focused on helping to facilitate connections within the New York cannabis community. Through events hosted at our Midtown Manhattan flagship store, weve hosted educational and networking events aimed at connecting entrepreneurs across the cannabis supply chain. Weve also focused on educating patients and customers on the benefits of medical cannabis through events like our Warrior Woman Series with The JUSTUS Foundation. These valuable events were made possible thanks to the support of RIV Capital who have fully committed to these initiatives and have helped Etain provide new resources to the cannabis community. How long have you worked in the cannabis space? Ive been working in cannabis for almost three years. What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry? I previously worked in fashion PR and communications for international fashion brands focused on their US expansions and collaborations. What led you to the cannabis industry? Ive always had a passion for the plant and when I started to see more brands taking shape in the cannabis industry, I knew I wanted it to be my next move after fashion. I had the privilege of meeting the women of the Peckham family and they gave me the opportunity to work with them on launching Etains new branding concept, opening the NYC Flagship dispensary and establishing partnerships with brands like Buy Weed From Women. Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry? Put yourself out there and attend events to meet people and to see what is happening in the New York cannabis scene. The New York cannabis industry is just beginning and there will be room for many different types of careers, from plant touching to education to design and marketing. Coming from fashion, I see the potential the New York cannabis industry has, as we are in the cultural epicenter of the nation, we will launch some of the most robust, diverse, and unique brands and entrepreneurs. What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years? I am very excited for the future of cannabis in New York. The community is connecting all over the state and continues to grow, and I know Etain will only increase our outreach to act as a support beam for the industry. I believe that social equity-led businesses will grow and succeed, especially if as an industry we continue to support and work together towards our shared goal: a thriving legal industry. At Etain we truly believe in supporting all facets of the industry, along with our medical patients. We also cant wait until we can offer our patients products grown from other cultivators in the industry and to continue to expand our in-store products to highlight New York-grown brands. We also hope and expect to be in a position to help social equity and legacy operators thrive in New Yorks legal market through collaborations and educational events and to be a true partner to New Yorks cannabis industry. This ecosystem needs all of us licenses, operators, patients, and customers working together to reach its true potential. The New York cannabis industrys time is coming and I am so excited to play a part in helping make that a reality. Do you use cannabis? If so, whats your favorite method (flower, dabs, edibles, tinctures, etc.), and why? I adore the Etain Motif vape pen that I was fortunate to work on the launch of with the Etain team. Our cultivation facility creates custom Motif Pod blends that pair with the battery and my current go-to is our limited edition Pride Motif with the Spring Fling Blend Motif Pod. Who should contact you, and whats the best method (i.e. email, phone number, LinkedIn handle, etc.) Come by the Etain Manhattan location or follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn to keep up with all our Etain moments. Carson Grant was awarded a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license in November, operating under CGG Enterprises, Inc. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York offered Grant a 9500-square-foot location on Jamaica Avenue in Queens without sharing details of the loan agreement or timeline. Grants situation is not unique, and he and his fellow CAURD licensees have called on DASNY to be more transparent in the process. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: Those calls instigated a meeting between CAURD licensees, DASNY and the Office of Cannabis Management last Tuesday. DASNY President Reuben McDaniel and OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander led the two-hour meeting, where they announced a series of new initiatives including a loan program, a slowdown of DASNYs acquisition of storefronts, and a database for checking zoning locations. Related: Discontent and despair: NY cannabis entrepreneurs fed up with states problematic industry rollout During the Q&A portion of the meeting, Grant read from a prepared speech, which quickly spread across social media. (The transcript of Grants speech is included at the bottom of this story). NY Cannabis Insider caught up with Grant on Thursday to ask about that speech, and what inspired him to speak up during the meeting. This Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity. What were your thoughts going into that meeting? I started preparing myself for over a week you know, talking to myself, going over my speech in my head, and I didnt put anything to paper until that morning when the meeting was confirmed. And I just poured my thoughts into my speech with facts. I came to that place prepared. But what ended up happening was, during the salesmanship presentation, I heard many things that were opposite of my experience. I dont want to say Reuben McDaniel is a liar, but Im just gonna use the word opposite. What were some of the things? The word he stuck to numerous times was transparency. And it was very odd because I wrote my speech highlighting the lack of transparency, and then to have him onstage, using that same word over and over again to me, that was a trigger word. And I started getting emotional, as I sat there. I was hearing the opposite of what I was experiencing. It lit a fire under me. So when it came to the Q&A portion Nobody was really pointing out any of the complaints. I presented the serious questions that matter. And the serious question was, How is it possible that you have numerous individuals including myself in the process of doing a business plan, for millions of dollars, but we cannot see documentation? The costs of things? To me, thats alarming because in order for business to succeed, numbers are the most critical part of the business plan. Whats happening here is were just throwing something in the air and hoping something sticks, which doesnt make sense. And its putting me and all the CAURD individuals in a bad financial place. Meaning we dont have any control of this vehicle. Were sitting in the vehicle, and its just driving down the street like a Tesla, and were sitting in the passenger seat and the persons telling us, Its gonna be OK, dont worry, and all Im hearing is, Youre gonna make millions of dollars. And theyre failing to acknowledge the illegal stores, theyre failing to acknowledge that there are only 10 or 12 legal stores. So the people who are buying marijuana, they dont have any transition from the illegal market to the legal market. So theres no incentive for people to stop buying illegal marijuana. I feel like Ive been victimized. I think were all being victimized. Whats happening here is theres a flag of social equity being waived by all the companies that participate, which Im very glad and thankful for them the ones that have contributed to the social equity program but DASNY, for some reason, while theyre waving the social equity flag, they have a flag of profitability hidden behind their back. Thats what I think we need to focus on. Theyre just looking at me as a number, a price tag to flash to investors to gather the rest of the money. Thats just my interpretation, my reality, I dont know how anybody else sees this. Where are you at in the process right now specifically? I was awarded a spot. I was in the first round. And Ive been matched with a Bayside location 9500 wonderful square feet. Total opposite of what was said of, Were trying to get 2000 or 2500 square feet, keep the costs low. I dont want to act like Im turning my nose up at it. Im just stating the facts of the matter. Im a small businessman coming into a market with illegal marijuana everywhere. In fact, theres two illegal stores next to the place Ive been awarded. And I need to be able to keep my costs low so that I can build my business, sustain it, especially for January when theyre going to let all the big boys in with their millions of dollars. I have a very short period of time. In fact, I dont even have any time, because half the year is already gone. So, pretty much, Im going to be pushed out there now into a free for all with everybody else, and now the big boys are going to jump in, also. So thats why I was trying to express my concern that I think were being set up for failure here. Because theyre not doing what McDaniel was expressing on the stage, which is to keep costs low, and do bids and all that. One of my questions was, how many companies bid on my place? He didnt address that on the stage, either. So you havent officially signed anything or agreed to start paying anything? Youre waiting on financial agreements? Yes, Im waiting to see what me and my family are signing ourselves up for. When Reuben McDaniel came out to shake your hand and you did not reciprocate, what was going through your head at that moment? Well, hold on, what would you do shake his hand? A peace offering in front of a whole crowd? I dont know what I would do. OK, what would you do if you know somebodys purposely lying to you and not being honest? And how about him trying to cause financial harm to me and my family? What was going through my mind is that this man is trying to sell me something, hes trying to put on a performance. Hes just a salesman and it was a sales pitch. And again, Im pointing out the fact that even during the meeting, he didnt respond to my questions. His response was, let me pacify you off the air. Everything that I said he proved it right here. Everything. Basically, what Im trying to say to you is that Ive seen this game already, the charade. You dont shake peoples hands until theres a deal done. Theres no deal done. As of now, its a one-sided deal, and hes the only one smiling. Do you differentiate between DASNY and OCM? I have no issues with OCM. OCM is not my issue. I believe they are flying the social equity flag, they want me to succeed. DASNY just wants to make money. Is there anything else thats important to get out there? I think the most important thing is that they just be transparent so that we can make a decision. So we dont waste time. At this point, Ive been doing this long enough to know that if the numbers dont make sense to me, and it doesnt make sense on paper, do not move any further. Its just common sense. And I dont know why DASNY is currently going against what is natural. Where is the transparency so that I can make a decision for me and my family? Thats all Im asking for. And to confirm, after that meeting, you havent heard anything from Reuben or DASNY? My phone hasnt rung yet. === Carson Grant speech at DASNY, OCM and CAURD meeting on June 6, 2023 This entire process has been catastrophic. Everything about the onboarding process has been extremely unprofessional and, to me, downright shady. From a 2 a.m. email to have a last-second meeting with DASNY and OCM on January 6 at Smacked right now, I still havent seen anything in writing, other than a lease. Just empty promises, ignoring my emails, and false claims of transparency from all DASNY staff. I asked four questions in an email prior to my meeting with my design team, and I was met with, I quote, If you feel these questions are preventing you from moving forward with this location This was on May 17. My questions were simply this: 1. How many general contractors bid on the job for my match on Bayside? 2. When can I see the itemized buildout costs? 3. What power do I have in the decision-making of my matched property, since Im only a sublessee based on what I read? 4. The new regulations by OCM include smoking and consumption. Will I be able to participate in this? I believe the lease does not allow smoking currently, can this be added or negotiated in the lease? None of that was responded to. Is this a strong-arm tactic? You ask a question thats important to your business and survival and this is what Im dealing with from DASNY. That to me is totally unfair. So after that, I sent 10 more in-depth questions. And I was met with, Ill call you so we can talk. As far as I know, legally, theres nothing we can talk about that is binding in court or anything. Im asking questions in emails and Im getting the run around. This is like mafia style tactics of intimidation and scare tactics. After I complained that Ive been traumatized and victimized again, just more lies and brushing things under the rug. Again, no one is answering my first four questions or my second set of 10 questions that would help me to decide how can I move my business forward. So my question is, how is it that you guys keep saying transparency? And if there is transparency, wouldnt everything just be in the open? As far as I know with people doing business, they plan years ahead. They have numbers, they crunch numbers, they do investigation, they do research. Im not allowed to do that. Im given a board with colors on it and say, pick this, pick that. And thats all. I dont know what a light bulb costs. I dont know what anything costs. And Im invested thousands of thousands of dollars. Time is priceless. I see my build out, Im looking at it. It looks beautiful. Its a gift. But at what cost? What is the cost here? Im standing up for all you guys. Im not scared. What am I going to lose? I want to be given an opportunity. You guys selected the best businessmen Im in the top class, I pay taxes, tons of taxes. Im one of the best in New York City. I say that proudly. Im in the first round. I fought for this. I have my girls watching me. I just want if you guys keep using this word transparency, just tell us the numbers. Thats it. Thats all Im asking for. Tell me my numbers so I can decide. We know how history is. We only have a limited amount of time. The way I look at this its financial slavery. Ten years were gonna be dedicated. Dedicated. Were managers for these stores. Thats what it turns out to be. Syracuse, N.Y. Two rare Amur tiger cubs were born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in April and have been doing well since, zoo officials announced today. The cubs, one male and one female, were born April 29 and are now bonding with their mother, Zeya, under the watchful eyes of zoo staff. A news release from the zoo called the births a critical milestone in the conservation of this rare species. Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are native to the Amur region of northeastern China and Siberia. There are estimated to be no more than 400 in the wild. They are considered the largest cats in the world. The female Amur tiger cub born April 29 at Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. The cub has a male twin. Photo taken by the zoo's collection manager, Seth Groesbeck, when the cubs were three weeks old. The cubs mother, Zeya, came to the Onondaga County-owned Gifford zoo in 2020 from the Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut. She was mated with Thimbu, a male tiger who came to Syracuse from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs in 2019. Zeya and the twins will not be put on exhibit for public view until the cubs receive all their vaccinations, which should be complete when they are 16 weeks old. In the meantime, zoo visitors can watch them daily on a live camera feed in zoos Animal Health Center. ... Guests can watch the tiger twins (on camera) as they play together, spend time with Zeya, and grow larger each day, the zoo said in its news release. Thimbu is on public view at this time. This is the male cub born April 29 at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, when it was about three weeks old. Photo by the Gifford Zoo's collection manager Seth Groesbeck. The births are the first for Zeya, and the first for Thimbu. The zoos staff kept careful watch on the newborns because adult tigers can act unpredictable in the wild and there was concern about how Zeya would react to them. But Zeya, who is 6, bonded with the cubs immediately. For Zeya, motherhood was completely instinctual, Gifford zoo tiger care specialist Dan Meates said in a statement. Its not often that you get to witness an Amur tiger become a mother, and even rarer to observe a big cat that was raised by humans doing such a good job of raising her own cubs. Two Amur tiger cubs, born April 29 at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, with their mother, Zeya. (Courtesy Rosamond Gifford Zoo) The zoo is hoping to have more tiger births in the future as part of its participation in The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The birth of these tiger cubs is a triumph of conservation, and demonstrates the expertise and commitment of the animal care specialists at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in a news release. These are some of the rarest big cats on Earth, and it is a privilege to have an institution in our community that is qualified to provide the complex care that this species requires. Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Representatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and head of the Kyiv regional military administration Ruslan Kravchenko discussed issues of support and restoration of Kyiv region. "Representatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society met with head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration Ruslan Kravchenko to discuss the development and restoration of the region, which was one of the first to take on the attack of the Russian Federation," the URCS reported on Facebook on Saturday. During the meeting, they discussed the URCS support in the arrangement of shelters in educational institutions, the development of the Mental Health Center, participation in the rehabilitation and social adaptation of people affected by the war. The parties paid special attention to the issue of assistance to those evacuated from Kherson region. "The Ukrainian Red Cross Society is ready to provide the evacuees with food and hygiene kits, kitchen appliances," the URCS said. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the URCS in Kyiv region has provided more than 75,000 internally displaced persons with humanitarian assistance, carried out psychosocial support activities for more than 7,000 people, provided shelters for more than 500 bourgeois women, and provided support to medical and social institutions. The URCS allocated about UAH 20 million to restore windows damaged by explosions in houses in Kyiv region and UAH 1,400 to finance the Shelter program. In addition, the URCS restored five health care institutions. Richard Perez, Ph.D., leads solar energy research at SUNY Albanys Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. He has served multiple terms on the board of the American Solar Energy Society and as associate editor of Solar Energy Journal. Perez serves on the board of United Solar Energy Supporters, a statewide nonprofit group providing education and information to the public about solar energy. This essay aims to clarify common misunderstandings about solar energy and demonstrate its potential to provide an abundant, reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly energy future for New York. Abundance: The sun is a vast energy resource that powers our planets weather and sustains life. In just a few hours, Earth receives more solar energy than the total annual energy consumption of all economies, combined. In a week, it receives more solar energy than the combined reserves of coal, oil, natural gas and uranium. Growth of solar technology: Solar technology, known as photovoltaics (PV), has experienced significant expansion. Since the 1980s, PV deployment has consistently grown at a remarkable annual rate of 30%, overcoming economic and political fluctuations. This growth is due to improvements in efficiency, versatility and cost-effectiveness, enabling solar to enter new markets successfully. Experts predict this trend will continue, and, if the stable 30% annual rate persists, by the early 2040s, there may be enough solar installations worldwide to entirely power global economies. Affordability: Reports from leading financial advisers such as the Lazard Bank show that utility-scale solar electricity has become the least expensive form of electricity generation. Solar power is now considerably cheaper than new coal, natural gas, or nuclear energy. Experts anticipate solar electricity becoming even cheaper in the future, with a projected 50% cost decrease within the next 15 years. Moreover, solar plants can be built and operational within months, making them economically advantageous compared to the lengthy construction time for nuclear plants. Reliability: Solar energys intermittency has been a concern, but solutions are emerging to ensure a continuous power supply available day and night year round without fail. These solutions include energy storage, optimized integration of solar and wind energy, and maintaining a small degree of flexibility with conventional power generation. The most efficient solution, however, involves overbuilding solar installations. These firm power solutions are expected to reduce the cost of reliable solar and wind electricity to levels competitive with current energy markets. The International Energy Agency predicts that most economies worldwide will achieve 100% renewable electricity generation at a cost of 3-7 cents per kWh. Environmental footprint: Solar energy has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to fossil fuels and nuclear power. While it is not entirely free of environmental concerns, it poses fewer climate, pollution and accident risks. Concerns regarding land area for solar farms are often exaggerated. Studies show that achieving a 100% renewable PV/wind future for New York would require less than 1% of the states total area. Furthermore, solar farming can generate revenue for communities, provide support for farmers, and be implemented efficiently. PV farms are considerably more space-efficient (50 to 200 times more) than exiting energy farming industries harvesting corn ethanol. By dispelling these misunderstandings and recognizing the potential of solar energy, New York can embrace an abundant, dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy future. More information, resources and contacts about PV deployments Upstate New York are available at https://usesusa.org/. This app also should be of interest to drill into solar deployment footprints. Write to us: How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com 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. Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau announced his support for Ukrainian initiatives in the field of mental health, and also thanked the military, who shared their stories from the front. "To the soldiers who shared stories from the front lines of the war in Ukraine: Thank you for your bravery, your strength, and your service. Canada is here for you and we're going to provide support for mental health initiatives to help address the lasting impacts of the war," Trudeau tweeted following his visit to the Lisna Polyana Center for Mental Health and Rehabilitation of Veterans with First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. Teagasc hosts group of advisors from across Europe for the Young EUFRAS Training and Mentorship Programme A group of 20 young advisors travelled to Oak Park, Carlow as part of the Young European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services (EUFRAS) Training and Mentorship Programme. This group consisted of 20 advisors from Slovenia, Austria, Ukraine, Latvia, North Macedonia and Ireland. A group of 20 young advisors pictured at Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow who participated in the Young European Forum for Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services (EUFRAS) Training and Mentorship Programme. Also pictured were Teagasc staff George Ramsbottom, Rachel Clancy, Michelle Lavelle and Glindys Virginia Luciano from YPARD. This Training and Mentorship programme is the first in partnership with EUFRAS and collaborating partners Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (CAFS) in Slovenia, and Young Professionals for Agricultural Rural Development (YPARD). The goal of this programme is not only to up-skill 20 young advisors from across Europe, but to ensure a support system via the establishment of an European wide network of young advisory experts. The benefits of the programme include the opportunity to practice hard and soft skills that can offer young advisors the tools to have an effective and rewarding career in extension and advisory services. Additionally, participants will have the chance to receive the Certificate for European Consultants in Rural Areas (CECRA) Full Certificate. The participants have built a strong network between participants from the various countries, and they have noted that the challenges faced in the agricultural industry are not unique to their individual countries, but faced throughout Europe. A programme such as the YEUFRAS is, not only to help the participants to understand these challenges, but to develop the skills to try and find solutions to these problems. As part of this programme, Teagasc facilitated two online sessions in April on Gender Equity and Farmer Health and Safety, which were very topical subjects across all of the countries. Whilst in Teagasc Oak Park the participants completed two CECRA modules; Module 7 | Shaping Advisory Processes and Module 9 | Facilitation and Discussion Group Management. The group visited two farms and carried out a technical farm visit. The Young EUFRAS Programme is a great opportunity for young advisors to develop their professional network and learn new skills. Details of the programme are available here Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 7,388 Thanked: 41,628 Times View My Garage The latest and greatest from Aston Martin | A Baby Pram And as with other Super Car brands they also bring Aston Martin branded items to the market. E.g. a key holder, a poloshirt, a cap etc. Never the less I was quite surprised to walk into a shop here in the Netherlands and came across this: A couple of things spring to mind. Who in his/her right mind would spend this sort of money on a pram. The discounted price of Euro 3199 equals INR 285000!!! The original price of nearly Euro 4000, is almost as much as I paid for my Jeep Cherokee!! And you know what, youre baby doesnt care what brand pram it has!! Mind you, this is a limited special series, only 600 of these prams will be produced! Jeroen I have always had a spot for Aston Martin. I cant say I like all their cars, but they have build some gorgeous cars over the years. And even though some of those drove terribly (Although 007 would like you to believe differently) there is definitely a sort of exquisite and posh aura around all that comes out of the Aston Martin.And as with other Super Car brands they also bring Aston Martin branded items to the market. E.g. a key holder, a poloshirt, a cap etc.Never the less I was quite surprised to walk into a shop here in the Netherlands and came across this:A couple of things spring to mind. Who in his/her right mind would spend this sort of money on a pram. The discounted price of Euro 3199 equals INR 285000!!!The original price of nearly Euro 4000, is almost as much as I paid for my Jeep Cherokee!!And you know what, youre baby doesnt care what brand pram it has!!Mind you, this is a limited special series, only 600 of these prams will be produced!Jeroen Last edited by Jeroen : 9th June 2023 at 14:38 . Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 7,388 Thanked: 41,628 Times View My Garage Touring the Dutch sea-going museum tug 'Holland' Apart from enjoying those harbour days I had booked myself for a ship tour and sailing on the gorgeous 1961 Cap San Diego. I wrote about it on this thread: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...ml#post5544687 (Touring the 1961 General Cargo ship - Cap San Diego, Hamburg, Germany) During my three days in Hamburg I also visited a few other ships, including a Russian submarine museum, which I will show in a separate thread. This thread is about the Holland, which was also present in Hamburg. There are two sea worthy operational classic Dutch Ocean Tugs, both operated by volunteers and run as museum. In this image, taken during the Hamburg Harbour days, you see both of them. The one up front is the Elbe, the one behind is the Holland. I have also visited and sailed on the Elbe: You will notice that the Elbe looks a bit more tougher than the Holland. The Elbe was designed, owned and operated by Smit. For decades Smit was one of two Dutch Towing company with an unparalleled reputation for ocean towage and salvage. I worked for them as a marine engineer for several years. The Elbe was a true ocean going tug, whereas the Holland is more a sea going tug. Many people prefer the very gracious lines of the Holland over the Elbe. Here an old photograph of here, riding the North Sea waves. She was built in 1950 and worked as a tug on the North sea for well over twenty years. She was involved in 161 successful salvages. She also had passenger accommodation and was used, during the summer months, as a ferry to the Dutch island Terschelling. According to her specification she could carry 804 passengers. How, I dont know. I assume that was standing room mostly, on deck! Her overall length is 57 meters, with a width of 9,5 and draft of 3.7m. For such relative small ship, she, as all sea/ocean going tugs, do had an impressive range of 11000 nm. (about 20000km) and could reach 16 knots (almost 30 km/h) I knew the Holland was participating in this event. I more or less stumbled on her on Sunday morning very early when I was strolling along the miles of waterfront and jetties. You will agree, she has a very beautiful bow! Her call sign was and still is PESK. Which stands for Paraat en Start Klaar. Which means Stand by and Ready to start. In those days, many tugs were stationed around the world. They were on constant standby in case of any trouble out at sea. Although I knew she would be in Hamburg this weekend, I had not really planned on visiting her. It was very early on the Sunday morning. Officially she had not opened up for the public yet. But I chatted to some of the crew members on deck. Most of the volunteers on these museum ships are old merchant seamen, just like me. So they invited me to have a quick look around! This image is taken from the stern looking forward. Typical deck arrangement for a tug. Those big steel slightly curved pipes across the deck keep the towing line off the deck. In the middle you see a winch. A gorgeous, all copper bits polished, wheel house! The very large copper dome houses the magnetic compass. That brown ball you see next to it, is part of the calibration of the magnetic compasses. (there is one on the other side of the compass as well.) Just behind the compass you can spot the telegraph handle. Main saloon. I am not sure to what extent this is all original. As I mentioned she did sail as a ferry as well. But I doubt they had a proper bar in those days. Now for the real important and interesting bit, the engine room (What else do you expect from a former Chief Engineer! ) Holland is powered by one 10 cilinder 4 stroke, trunk, direct reversible Diesel engine, made by Werkspoor, type TMABS 3910. It has a BBC (Brown Boveri Company) Turbocharger and produces 2100 HP at around 270 RPM. It drives one screw. Direct reversible mean, it can run forward and reverse. On a four stroke engine that requires some clever mechanism that adjust the valve timing amongst other things. Its cilinders have a stroke of 680mm and a bore of 370mm. Notice the in- and outlet rockers, the injector in the middle of the head and the individual high pressure fuel pump, one per cilinder. Here the main engine taken from the front. You can just see the inlet air filter on the top right. Some electrical switch panels at the rear. Notice the blue handles on some of the valves. On board ships, the colour of the valve handle indicates what fluid in inside the respective pipes. In this case it would be the (fresh) cooling water of the engine. Her I have moved a bit more to the right (actually port side) and it shows the manoeuvring stand. The bridge engine telegraph is connected to the one here in the engine room. The bridge would move their telegraph to the setting required, e.g. half ahead. Down here in the engine room that black dial indicator would move to the half ahead position. The engineer on duty would move the handle to half ahead too. That would be replicated by a dial indicator on the telegraph on the bridge, indicating that the engine room had received the order. Next the engineer would manipulate that large wheel and some levers to get the engine going into and running half ahead. Going from ahead to astern, or vice versa, means stopping and starting the engine in the other direction. (hence the term direct reversible.) Another view alongside the main engine. Other side Here you see two of the auxiliary engines. There are Volvo Pentas driving 145 kWh generators and a smaller Volvo Penta driving a 45 kWh generator. This smaller one is known as the harbour generator. It would provide sufficient power when the Holland is docked. One of the two main generators would need to be switched on to provide electrical power for the Holland underway. Here you see some other parts of the engine room machinery. This is one of the separators or centrifuges. They are used on the main engine lubrication oil. You will also find them used on the diesel fuel. Very messy job cleaning them. A fire pump. You can tell by the red colour! The main engine lubrication pumps (notice the yellow flanges/valves). Behind it you see the oil cooler. The other Dutch museum Tug, Elbe, was moored right behind the Holland. This was only a very short visit to the Holland. I spend a full day on the Elbe and sailed on her too. Have a look here: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...ml#post5418366 (Returning to my first love | Close look at Ships, Tugs & a Cruiseliner) I had to cut my visit short as I had booked a ticket on a harbour tour. But it was still fun to have a quick look around the Holland. Comparing here to the Elbe, I visited earlier, the Elbe is a much more beefier tug, in every aspect. Still, the Holland is a very elegant and extremely well kept tug. Given the historical relevance of Dutch ocean towage and salvage, it is great to see these ships being kept in operational state, so future generation can see and feel what Hollands Glorie (Dutch Courage) was all about! Jeroen A couple of weeks ago I spend a long weekend in Hamburg, Germany. It was the weekend of the so called Harbour Days. A massive event which brings all kinds of ships, merchant, navy, pleasure, brand new and classic to Hamburg harbour.Apart from enjoying those harbour days I had booked myself for a ship tour and sailing on the gorgeous 1961 Cap San Diego. I wrote about it on this thread:During my three days in Hamburg I also visited a few other ships, including a Russian submarine museum, which I will show in a separate thread.This thread is about the Holland, which was also present in Hamburg. There are two sea worthy operational classic Dutch Ocean Tugs, both operated by volunteers and run as museum. In this image, taken during the Hamburg Harbour days, you see both of them.The one up front is the Elbe, the one behind is the Holland.I have also visited and sailed on the Elbe: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...ml#post5418366 (Returning to my first love | Close look at Ships, Tugs & a Cruiseliner) You will notice that the Elbe looks a bit more tougher than the Holland. The Elbe was designed, owned and operated by Smit. For decades Smit was one of two Dutch Towing company with an unparalleled reputation for ocean towage and salvage. I worked for them as a marine engineer for several years.The Elbe was a true ocean going tug, whereas the Holland is more a sea going tug. Many people prefer the very gracious lines of the Holland over the Elbe.Here an old photograph of here, riding the North Sea waves.She was built in 1950 and worked as a tug on the North sea for well over twenty years. She was involved in 161 successful salvages. She also had passenger accommodation and was used, during the summer months, as a ferry to the Dutch island Terschelling. According to her specification she could carry 804 passengers. How, I dont know. I assume that was standing room mostly, on deck!Her overall length is 57 meters, with a width of 9,5 and draft of 3.7m. For such relative small ship, she, as all sea/ocean going tugs, do had an impressive range of 11000 nm. (about 20000km) and could reach 16 knots (almost 30 km/h)I knew the Holland was participating in this event. I more or less stumbled on her on Sunday morning very early when I was strolling along the miles of waterfront and jetties.You will agree, she has a very beautiful bow!Her call sign was and still is PESK. Which stands for Paraat en Start Klaar. Which means Stand by and Ready to start. In those days, many tugs were stationed around the world. They were on constant standby in case of any trouble out at sea.Although I knew she would be in Hamburg this weekend, I had not really planned on visiting her. It was very early on the Sunday morning. Officially she had not opened up for the public yet. But I chatted to some of the crew members on deck. Most of the volunteers on these museum ships are old merchant seamen, just like me. So they invited me to have a quick look around!This image is taken from the stern looking forward. Typical deck arrangement for a tug. Those big steel slightly curved pipes across the deck keep the towing line off the deck. In the middle you see a winch.A gorgeous, all copper bits polished, wheel house! The very large copper dome houses the magnetic compass. That brown ball you see next to it, is part of the calibration of the magnetic compasses. (there is one on the other side of the compass as well.) Just behind the compass you can spot the telegraph handle.Main saloon. I am not sure to what extent this is all original. As I mentioned she did sail as a ferry as well. But I doubt they had a proper bar in those days.Now for the real important and interesting bit, the engine room (What else do you expect from a former Chief Engineer!Holland is powered by one 10 cilinder 4 stroke, trunk, direct reversible Diesel engine, made by Werkspoor, type TMABS 3910. It has a BBC (Brown Boveri Company) Turbocharger and produces 2100 HP at around 270 RPM. It drives one screw. Direct reversible mean, it can run forward and reverse. On a four stroke engine that requires some clever mechanism that adjust the valve timing amongst other things.Its cilinders have a stroke of 680mm and a bore of 370mm.Notice the in- and outlet rockers, the injector in the middle of the head and the individual high pressure fuel pump, one per cilinder.Here the main engine taken from the front. You can just see the inlet air filter on the top right. Some electrical switch panels at the rear.Notice the blue handles on some of the valves. On board ships, the colour of the valve handle indicates what fluid in inside the respective pipes. In this case it would be the (fresh) cooling water of the engine.Her I have moved a bit more to the right (actually port side) and it shows the manoeuvring stand. The bridge engine telegraph is connected to the one here in the engine room. The bridge would move their telegraph to the setting required, e.g. half ahead. Down here in the engine room that black dial indicator would move to the half ahead position. The engineer on duty would move the handle to half ahead too. That would be replicated by a dial indicator on the telegraph on the bridge, indicating that the engine room had received the order.Next the engineer would manipulate that large wheel and some levers to get the engine going into and running half ahead. Going from ahead to astern, or vice versa, means stopping and starting the engine in the other direction. (hence the term direct reversible.)Another view alongside the main engine.Other sideHere you see two of the auxiliary engines. There are Volvo Pentas driving 145 kWh generators and a smaller Volvo Penta driving a 45 kWh generator. This smaller one is known as the harbour generator. It would provide sufficient power when the Holland is docked. One of the two main generators would need to be switched on to provide electrical power for the Holland underway.Here you see some other parts of the engine room machinery. This is one of the separators or centrifuges. They are used on the main engine lubrication oil. You will also find them used on the diesel fuel. Very messy job cleaning them.A fire pump. You can tell by the red colour!The main engine lubrication pumps (notice the yellow flanges/valves). Behind it you see the oil cooler.The other Dutch museum Tug, Elbe, was moored right behind the Holland.This was only a very short visit to the Holland. I spend a full day on the Elbe and sailed on her too. Have a look here:I had to cut my visit short as I had booked a ticket on a harbour tour. But it was still fun to have a quick look around the Holland. Comparing here to the Elbe, I visited earlier, the Elbe is a much more beefier tug, in every aspect. Still, the Holland is a very elegant and extremely well kept tug. Given the historical relevance of Dutch ocean towage and salvage, it is great to see these ships being kept in operational state, so future generation can see and feel what Hollands Glorie (Dutch Courage) was all about!Jeroen Last edited by Jeroen : 11th June 2023 at 21:30 . PrideRed Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: BLR/PTR Posts: 3,178 Thanked: 8,954 Times re: Bengaluru - Arunchal Roadtrip | 2+ weeks in a Fortuner Day 8: Tawang-Bumla-Tawang Locals (Hotel/Taxi/Agents/DC office folks) dont entertain private vehicles to drive towards Bumla/Madhuri lake and insist you take a taxi. We didnt have other go and opted for a taxi. Started early and we were happy see snow everywhere. There is a list of places to visit-PTSO, Y Junction, Bumla, Madhuri Lake. While returning from Madhuri Lake we had amazing masala puri/chole and Kheer served at Langar managed by Indian Army. Covering all these place takes around 5-6 hours depending on how much time you want to spend at each place. Since We started early, we were back at hotel by about 130PM or so. We didnt know what to do rest of the day and also were disappointed that we were not allowed to take our car. Since we had the pass and the drive was less than 1 hour towards Y Junction, we decided to try our luck. At army checkpoint, they refused to allow us and mentioned, private cars not allowed especially post lunch etc. On seeing KA plates, an army guy started speaking in Kannada, only to realise he is from Madikeri. He spoke to seniors and gave us the permit to go ahead however return before its dark. We thanked army/our stars wasted no time and revisited PTSO, Y junctions. Kids had a gala time playing in snow and we took plenty of pictures. Most of the taxis had returned back to base by 3PM and we did not have to fight with locals for parking or managing narrow roads. Road to Bumla/Madhuri Lake is very good and by the time we went, army had cleared snow from tarmac. Had to engage 4H while detouring from main road and car managed these roads with ease. While the road is narrow and can get choked with taxi traffic, can be managed. Its amazing, how roads are very well maintained in such remote place. Bumla Finally Day 9: Tawang-Kaziranga While planning we werent sure if to do Kaziranga or Meghalaya or both. We decided to do both. Made advance booking for safari and hotel, given that it was holiday season. Started at 5:30 AM, crossed Sela yet again and this time we were driving via Bhalukpong instead of Balemu. This road is more scenic than Balemu and road is quite good too. We were a little worried about the long route from Tawang to Kaziranga via sela and Bhalukpong, which is around 500 +kms on curvy road for close to 10hrs. To our surprise we crossed sela and reached Dirang by 10 AM and reached Tezpur outskirts by around 2PM, where we had lunch. We had booked homestay inside Kaziranga hence had to drive close to 2hrs after the welcome gate to Kaziranga. Reached Homestay at around 5PM and checked in. Bihu celebration was in full swing in Assam, we had multiple groups come to hotel and perform bihu dance to which we were pulled too. It was a nice experience interacting with locals. Hotel and Road We stayed in Wildernest Homestay which was close to safari entrance. They have limited rooms and small restaurant with limited menu. Nothing fancy but service was good and staff arranged for Safari and provided us with stuff that we need quite quickly. Road from Tawang till Kaziranga starting point was excellent there were few bad patches and traffic once we crossed Kaziranga zone but manageable. The route via Bhalukpong is super scenic where you drive across beautiful mountains. Kaziranga Day 10: Kaziranga- Guwahati We got up at 5:30AM and got ready for safari at 7:00AM. Gypsy was booked for 4 of us. In about an hour we were at the gate. The safari is very different than what we have down here in KA. You can see vast grasslands and if you have a binocular/zoom lens, can see lot more. The driver gives enough time to see wildlife and did not hurry. We spotted many Rhinos, elephants, birds, some reptiles, buffaloes etc. but as usual we did not get to spot the Tiger. The downside, the safari is quite dusty and you literally get drenched in dust. My phone, camera had a layer of dust. Completed safari and reached hotel at around 12:00PM. Now this is where the confusion was, where do we drive to? We initially decided to drive to Dawki but a local resort owner mentioned we cannot witness clear water as it had rained previous day. Second option was to drive to Shillong or lake Umiam. Since we had kids, trekking/walking long distance was ruled out, so we anyway cannot visit some of popular places of Meghalaya. Thats when we decided to skip Meghalaya and do Varanasi instead. So, we drove to Guwahati. We reached Guwahati by 5PM or so and took evening Brahmaputra River cruise for sunset. Later checked in at hotel at around 7PM or so. The cruise was nice giving good view of sunset,river and city. Hotel and road We stayed at Radisson Blu Guwahati, Rooms were typical star hotel and spent good time swimming at pool. Service was very good too. We were in no mood to step out hence had dinner at hotel which was yummy. Road towards Guwahati was good and we covered distance quite quickly only to get stuck at traffic near Guwahati. Lost about 30 min of time. Other than this, journey was quick and uneventful. Our ride for Safari Brahmaputra river Day 11: Guwahati-Purnia Started leisurely at 9:00 AM after breakfast and we had planned to stay at Siliguri town. We were covering distance quickly at a good pace and reached Siliguri by about 4PM or so. Decided to extend the drive to Purnia, which would cut short the journey following day. This was the first time in trip we travelled past 5PM. Reached Purnia at 8PM and checked in at hotel followed by dinner. We didnt have anything to see for the day and probably also the day where we didnt click any pictures as such. Hotel and Road We stayed at Clarks Inn which was decent and limited parking. They have in house restaurant which was helpful. Rooms were neat and clean though were of odd shape. The road for most part was good. However, 50-60KM close to Purnia, we took a lane which led us service tag plaza and Fortuner jumped through a massive pothole/bad patch. The police insisted us to return back but seeing family, they let us through the gate, which connected back to highway. I was bit worried if there would be any damages, but there were no warnings or any unwanted sounds. Glimpse of Guwahati Day 12: Purnia-Varanasi We wanted to reach Varanasi early and had started quite early around 6AM. We took road via Muzaffarpur, good roads and very little traffic, we reached Varanasi by 3PM. We booked hotel on the way at Sarnath. Had lunch at hotel and while family took some time to relax, I took out car a detailing centre to get a good wash. Since we started from Bangalore, had not washed car and there was lot of dirt inside out. Got the car back in an hour. By 5PM we were ready, temperature had cooled down and we hired a battery auto to roam around streets of Varanasi. Both old and new Varanasi has changed quite a bit and has kept up with rest of the country. Did some shopping, had some nice chat for dinner. Returned to room by 10PM. Hotel and road We stayed at hotel Fern Sarnath. Neat place and is in a peaceful locality. Close to tourist places of Sarnath but bit far from main attractions of Varanasi. Our hotel was jam packed and we did not get parking inside campus. Instead, was asked to park right outside and was assured that there will be security. I could also see car from the room which was comforting. The road conditions were pretty good, we missed a flyover and ended up with detour which took us via outskirts of Patna. The road though remained good, got some traffic. There were some G20 visitors and Varanasi appeared clean and tidy. Some of the roads were blocked and had to wait for sometime for cops to clear the traffic. Day 13: Varanasi We wanted to visit Kashi temple and booked a cab for entire day from hotel. Got a brand-new Amaze and the car was with us from morning 6Am till night 8PM. Had a good and quick darshan at temple and visited few other attractions at Varanasi like Birla Vishwanath temple, university, few more temples, saree shopping, eating chats and drank a lot of lassi! Evening we had reserved to do boat ride at river Ganga and view Ganga Aarti. This was surreal experience. The water and ghats were much cleaner compared to my previous visit. Viewed Ganga Aarthi from our boat which was good too. On return at around 8PM or so, our boat refused start and had to be towed all the way till the Ghat where we had boarded. Was a bit scary and unique towing experience! Some shots taken at Varanasi Day 14: Varanasi Nagpur We didnt have much to see, started at around 6AM from hotel. Roads continued to be good to excellent. Mostly 4 lane and usual road going via Rewa-Jabalpur. Reach Nagpur by 5PM. The city always impressed us and did not disappoint this time too. The city roads were good and clean. Once we checked in at hotel, it rained heavily for some time. We ventured out to taste some Misal pav and settled back at hotel by 9PM. Hotel and Road Checked in at hotel Nagpur Ashok which was within city limits. A bit old hotel and has limited parking. Nothing much to complain and service was good. Also, the first time where I had handed over car for valet in the trip. The road from Varanasi- Nagpur is pretty good. Unlike last time, we found few decent hotels especially around Jabalpur/Rewa area where we could get some decent food. Day 15: Nagpur-Bangalore The home run leg, we knew this was going to be a stretch but route that we have done few months back. Drive through Pench was good. For the first time in entire trip was stopped by MH Police who let us go after checking all documents. Hyderabad ring road was good and helped a lot in reducing drive time. Stopped for lunch at Hyderabad. At around 7PM or so stopped at cubestop Anantapur for dinner. Reached home at around 10PM. Car stats Coming to Fortuner, we put close to 7500KM in 15days. Had topped up AdBlue before starting the journey and tanked up again in Barpeta road. I noticed air had started leaking slowly from a rear tire when approaching Tawang. There was large nail which managed to pierce the tire and was fixed at a tyre shop in Tawang. From door to door got average FE of 11.5KMPL. I dont know if it was because of the car or the roads were indeed good, road conditions were the last thing we worried about. Some of detours, places around Bumla had used 4H made life lot easier. May be the car would made it through with bit of struggle in 2H, but without the 4-wheel insurance I would not have dared to explore lot of places. Kids were belted for most part and happy at the back with their toys and food supplies. The extra space came in handy and kids utilised the extra space to the fullest. In my previous journey I used to carry a lot of tools, but this time around I hardly carried anything other than basic spanner set and tire inflator. I had enabled custom regen in the car a month in advance and had come in very handy. Before ascending high altitude, I could initiate regen irrespective of the state of DPF which gave us freedom to be at higher altitudes for longer duration. Infact auto regen worked flawlessly at Tawang and nearby places. I filled diesel at various brands and used regular diesel, for some reason after filling at Jio-BP regen frequency was higher. For most part relied on IOC/HP. One other mention I have to make is about AC, even at blazing hot temperatures (Varanasi was at 45C), I never had to set AC temp below 25. The cooling was quick and ventilated seats were super useful. For most part of journey, temp at 25-26 would keep all of us happy. In my other cars, it would be around 22-24. This was the longest trip we did in Fortuner. Previously we had done trips ranging 1-3K KM and this journey has made me love the engine even more. Yes, its not very frugal but cruising at good speeds irrespective of road conditions ensured an enjoyable and effortless drive. AT gearbox is not the best but matches the characteristics of heavy body on frame SUV. Few other highlights 1. During the trip we visited beach, lakes, drove around snow mountains and crossed over 3 major river- Godavari, Ganga and Brahmaputra. 2. Lowest temperature recorded during trip was 0/1C at around Bumla while highest was 45C at Varanasi. This was as per Cars temperature indicator. 3. Highest fuel price was at 100 at AP (Andhra Pradesh) and 83 at AP (Arunachal Pradesh) 4. We crossed 11 states during this trip. 5. Total toll charges came to around 9500/-, which worked slightly more than 1Rs/KM 6. Fast tag worked flawlessly at every toll and not once we had to pay in cash 7. For roads we relied mostly on google maps. While it was accurate most part, appeared a bit confused within city limits. 8. While we did carry enough cash, we mostly used UPI and card payment in most of places. Was convenient and worked well without any issues. 9. Some part of Northeast especially plains of Assam, Bhalukpong (and possibly ML) resembles Western ghats to certain extent. 10. Average speed for the trip was 57KM/Hr. This includes, highway, ghats, city etc. Locals (Hotel/Taxi/Agents/DC office folks) dont entertain private vehicles to drive towards Bumla/Madhuri lake and insist you take a taxi. We didnt have other go and opted for a taxi. Started early and we were happy see snow everywhere. There is a list of places to visit-PTSO, Y Junction, Bumla, Madhuri Lake. While returning from Madhuri Lake we had amazing masala puri/chole and Kheer served at Langar managed by Indian Army. Covering all these place takes around 5-6 hours depending on how much time you want to spend at each place. Since We started early, we were back at hotel by about 130PM or so. We didnt know what to do rest of the day and also were disappointed that we were not allowed to take our car. Since we had the pass and the drive was less than 1 hour towards Y Junction, we decided to try our luck. At army checkpoint, they refused to allow us and mentioned, private cars not allowed especially post lunch etc. On seeing KA plates, an army guy started speaking in Kannada, only to realise he is from Madikeri. He spoke to seniors and gave us the permit to go ahead however return before its dark. We thanked army/our stars wasted no time and revisited PTSO, Y junctions. Kids had a gala time playing in snow and we took plenty of pictures. Most of the taxis had returned back to base by 3PM and we did not have to fight with locals for parking or managing narrow roads.Road to Bumla/Madhuri Lake is very good and by the time we went, army had cleared snow from tarmac. Had to engage 4H while detouring from main road and car managed these roads with ease. While the road is narrow and can get choked with taxi traffic, can be managed. Its amazing, how roads are very well maintained in such remote place.While planning we werent sure if to do Kaziranga or Meghalaya or both. We decided to do both. Made advance booking for safari and hotel, given that it was holiday season. Started at 5:30 AM, crossed Sela yet again and this time we were driving via Bhalukpong instead of Balemu. This road is more scenic than Balemu and road is quite good too. We were a little worried about the long route from Tawang to Kaziranga via sela and Bhalukpong, which is around 500 +kms on curvy road for close to 10hrs. To our surprise we crossed sela and reached Dirang by 10 AM and reached Tezpur outskirts by around 2PM, where we had lunch. We had booked homestay inside Kaziranga hence had to drive close to 2hrs after the welcome gate to Kaziranga. Reached Homestay at around 5PM and checked in. Bihu celebration was in full swing in Assam, we had multiple groups come to hotel and perform bihu dance to which we were pulled too. It was a nice experience interacting with locals.We stayed in Wildernest Homestay which was close to safari entrance. They have limited rooms and small restaurant with limited menu. Nothing fancy but service was good and staff arranged for Safari and provided us with stuff that we need quite quickly.Road from Tawang till Kaziranga starting point was excellent there were few bad patches and traffic once we crossed Kaziranga zone but manageable. The route via Bhalukpong is super scenic where you drive across beautiful mountains.We got up at 5:30AM and got ready for safari at 7:00AM. Gypsy was booked for 4 of us. In about an hour we were at the gate. The safari is very different than what we have down here in KA. You can see vast grasslands and if you have a binocular/zoom lens, can see lot more. The driver gives enough time to see wildlife and did not hurry. We spotted many Rhinos, elephants, birds, some reptiles, buffaloes etc. but as usual we did not get to spot the Tiger. The downside, the safari is quite dusty and you literally get drenched in dust. My phone, camera had a layer of dust. Completed safari and reached hotel at around 12:00PM. Now this is where the confusion was, where do we drive to? We initially decided to drive to Dawki but a local resort owner mentioned we cannot witness clear water as it had rained previous day. Second option was to drive to Shillong or lake Umiam. Since we had kids, trekking/walking long distance was ruled out, so we anyway cannot visit some of popular places of Meghalaya. Thats when we decided to skip Meghalaya and do Varanasi instead. So, we drove to Guwahati. We reached Guwahati by 5PM or so and took evening Brahmaputra River cruise for sunset. Later checked in at hotel at around 7PM or so. The cruise was nice giving good view of sunset,river and city.We stayed at Radisson Blu Guwahati, Rooms were typical star hotel and spent good time swimming at pool. Service was very good too. We were in no mood to step out hence had dinner at hotel which was yummy.Road towards Guwahati was good and we covered distance quite quickly only to get stuck at traffic near Guwahati. Lost about 30 min of time. Other than this, journey was quick and uneventful.Started leisurely at 9:00 AM after breakfast and we had planned to stay at Siliguri town. We were covering distance quickly at a good pace and reached Siliguri by about 4PM or so. Decided to extend the drive to Purnia, which would cut short the journey following day. This was the first time in trip we travelled past 5PM. Reached Purnia at 8PM and checked in at hotel followed by dinner. We didnt have anything to see for the day and probably also the day where we didnt click any pictures as such.We stayed at Clarks Inn which was decent and limited parking. They have in house restaurant which was helpful. Rooms were neat and clean though were of odd shape.The road for most part was good. However, 50-60KM close to Purnia, we took a lane which led us service tag plaza and Fortuner jumped through a massive pothole/bad patch. The police insisted us to return back but seeing family, they let us through the gate, which connected back to highway. I was bit worried if there would be any damages, but there were no warnings or any unwanted sounds.We wanted to reach Varanasi early and had started quite early around 6AM. We took road via Muzaffarpur, good roads and very little traffic, we reached Varanasi by 3PM. We booked hotel on the way at Sarnath. Had lunch at hotel and while family took some time to relax, I took out car a detailing centre to get a good wash. Since we started from Bangalore, had not washed car and there was lot of dirt inside out. Got the car back in an hour. By 5PM we were ready, temperature had cooled down and we hired a battery auto to roam around streets of Varanasi. Both old and new Varanasi has changed quite a bit and has kept up with rest of the country. Did some shopping, had some nice chat for dinner. Returned to room by 10PM.We stayed at hotel Fern Sarnath. Neat place and is in a peaceful locality. Close to tourist places of Sarnath but bit far from main attractions of Varanasi. Our hotel was jam packed and we did not get parking inside campus. Instead, was asked to park right outside and was assured that there will be security. I could also see car from the room which was comforting.The road conditions were pretty good, we missed a flyover and ended up with detour which took us via outskirts of Patna. The road though remained good, got some traffic. There were some G20 visitors and Varanasi appeared clean and tidy. Some of the roads were blocked and had to wait for sometime for cops to clear the traffic.We wanted to visit Kashi temple and booked a cab for entire day from hotel. Got a brand-new Amaze and the car was with us from morning 6Am till night 8PM. Had a good and quick darshan at temple and visited few other attractions at Varanasi like Birla Vishwanath temple, university, few more temples, saree shopping, eating chats and drank a lot of lassi! Evening we had reserved to do boat ride at river Ganga and view Ganga Aarti. This was surreal experience. The water and ghats were much cleaner compared to my previous visit. Viewed Ganga Aarthi from our boat which was good too. On return at around 8PM or so, our boat refused start and had to be towed all the way till the Ghat where we had boarded. Was a bit scary and unique towing experience!We didnt have much to see, started at around 6AM from hotel. Roads continued to be good to excellent. Mostly 4 lane and usual road going via Rewa-Jabalpur. Reach Nagpur by 5PM. The city always impressed us and did not disappoint this time too. The city roads were good and clean. Once we checked in at hotel, it rained heavily for some time. We ventured out to taste some Misal pav and settled back at hotel by 9PM.Checked in at hotel Nagpur Ashok which was within city limits. A bit old hotel and has limited parking. Nothing much to complain and service was good. Also, the first time where I had handed over car for valet in the trip.The road from Varanasi- Nagpur is pretty good. Unlike last time, we found few decent hotels especially around Jabalpur/Rewa area where we could get some decent food.The home run leg, we knew this was going to be a stretch but route that we have done few months back. Drive through Pench was good. For the first time in entire trip was stopped by MH Police who let us go after checking all documents. Hyderabad ring road was good and helped a lot in reducing drive time. Stopped for lunch at Hyderabad. At around 7PM or so stopped at cubestop Anantapur for dinner. Reached home at around 10PM.Coming to Fortuner, we put close to 7500KM in 15days. Had topped up AdBlue before starting the journey and tanked up again in Barpeta road. I noticed air had started leaking slowly from a rear tire when approaching Tawang. There was large nail which managed to pierce the tire and was fixed at a tyre shop in Tawang. From door to door got average FE of 11.5KMPL. I dont know if it was because of the car or the roads were indeed good, road conditions were the last thing we worried about. Some of detours, places around Bumla had used 4H made life lot easier. May be the car would made it through with bit of struggle in 2H, but without the 4-wheel insurance I would not have dared to explore lot of places. Kids were belted for most part and happy at the back with their toys and food supplies. The extra space came in handy and kids utilised the extra space to the fullest. In my previous journey I used to carry a lot of tools, but this time around I hardly carried anything other than basic spanner set and tire inflator.I had enabled custom regen in the car a month in advance and had come in very handy. Before ascending high altitude, I could initiate regen irrespective of the state of DPF which gave us freedom to be at higher altitudes for longer duration. Infact auto regen worked flawlessly at Tawang and nearby places. I filled diesel at various brands and used regular diesel, for some reason after filling at Jio-BP regen frequency was higher. For most part relied on IOC/HP.One other mention I have to make is about AC, even at blazing hot temperatures (Varanasi was at 45C), I never had to set AC temp below 25. The cooling was quick and ventilated seats were super useful. For most part of journey, temp at 25-26 would keep all of us happy. In my other cars, it would be around 22-24.This was the longest trip we did in Fortuner. Previously we had done trips ranging 1-3K KM and this journey has made me love the engine even more. Yes, its not very frugal but cruising at good speeds irrespective of road conditions ensured an enjoyable and effortless drive. AT gearbox is not the best but matches the characteristics of heavy body on frame SUV.1. During the trip we visited beach, lakes, drove around snow mountains and crossed over 3 major river- Godavari, Ganga and Brahmaputra.2. Lowest temperature recorded during trip was 0/1C at around Bumla while highest was 45C at Varanasi. This was as per Cars temperature indicator.3. Highest fuel price was at 100 at AP (Andhra Pradesh) and 83 at AP (Arunachal Pradesh)4. We crossed 11 states during this trip.5. Total toll charges came to around 9500/-, which worked slightly more than 1Rs/KM6. Fast tag worked flawlessly at every toll and not once we had to pay in cash7. For roads we relied mostly on google maps. While it was accurate most part, appeared a bit confused within city limits.8. While we did carry enough cash, we mostly used UPI and card payment in most of places. Was convenient and worked well without any issues.9. Some part of Northeast especially plains of Assam, Bhalukpong (and possibly ML) resembles Western ghats to certain extent.10. Average speed for the trip was 57KM/Hr. This includes, highway, ghats, city etc. Last edited by PrideRed : 10th June 2023 at 21:09 . In brief: We've seen plenty of incidents over the years in which former employees steal their ex-company's closely guarded trade secrets and take the IPs elsewhere, but attempting to replicate an entire semiconductor plant is something new. If that wasn't audacious enough, the copycat facility was to be build just under one mile away from the original. A former Samsung Electronic executive has been arrested and indicted for stealing the chip firm's blueprints and designs in an attempt to create an exact replica of a semiconductor plant in China. Yonhap news agency reports that the unnamed 65-year-old man was charged with violating the industrial technology protection and unfair competition prevention laws. The man is accused of stealing trade secrets between August 2018 and 2019, including chip plant basic engineering data (BED) and process layout and design drawings, so a copy of the plant could be recreated in the northern city of Xi'an with backing provided by an unnamed Taiwanese company. BED data is required to ensure no impurities exist in the manufacturing facilities. The copycat was to be built 1.5 kilometers (just under a mile) away from the existing facility An unidentified Taiwanese company had promised to invest $6.2 billion into the project but failed to deliver. Instead, the man received $358 million from a group of Chinese investors and began producing trial products from a chip plant in Chengdu, based on Samsung technology. The accused worked for Samsung for 18 years before moving to another company. He created chip-manufacturing firms in China and Singapore using money from Chinese and Taiwanese investors. He also hired about 200 people from Samsung and SK Hynix. Samsung is said to have suffered damage of around $233 million due to the theft. Six other people, including a Samsung Electronics employee and five employees of a Chinese chipmaker established by the former executive, were also indicted on charges of colluding in the alleged technology leak. Earlier this year, the US Department of Justice announced the Disruptive Technology Strike Force initiative, with five cases relating to export and trade secrets violations. One of these involved a former Apple software engineer who stole trade secrets relating to Cupertino's autonomous car project before getting a job within the same industry in China. Something to look forward to: One of the most disappointing aspects of Nvidia GeForce Now is the lack of integration with PC Game Pass, but that issue is being addressed by Microsoft. Once the update to the streaming service is rolled out sometime in the coming months, subscribers will be able to play select Games Pass titles using the RTX 4080-like performance offered on GeForce Now. In both our looks at the GeForce Now streaming service, including the recent RTX 4080 update, we criticized the low number of games available. Not being able to play titles available via PC Game Pass was especially disappointing. In February, however, Microsoft and Nvidia entered a 10-year partnership to bring the former's titles (and Activision's) to GeForce Now. Now, Game Pass is being integrated into team green's service, too. "You will be able to play your PC Game Pass catalog on all the devices supported by Nvidia GeForce Now," said Sarah Bond, head of Xbox creator experience, in Los Angeles on Sunday. In a post on the official Xbox site, Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief, explains that the integration will "enable the PC Game Pass catalog to be played on any device that GeForce NOW streams to, like low spec PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, mobile devices, TVs, and more, and we'll be rolling this out in the months ahead." Skrebels writes that Game Pass members will be able to stream "select" games from the library through GeForce Now, so some titles might not be supported. It was previously revealed that the Microsoft Store will also be integrated into GeForce Now so subscribers can play their purchases. Adding PC Game Pass seems like the next logical step. The recent upgrading of GeForce Now's $20 per month top tier to RTX 4080-like performance made the service much more appealing, especially if you want to play Cyberpunk 2077's Overdrive mode at high frame rates. The shortage of games and the inability to play Game Pass titles were two of its biggest problems, but with Microsoft finally giving users what they want and Ubisoft joining the party, Nvidia's service is looking even better for those who can't or won't spend a fortune on a new graphics card. Russia continues to block access for UN representatives to the occupied areas that were flooded as a result of the explosion of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Serhiy Kyslytsya has said. "As of now Russia continues to deny access for UN to occupied territory to help those suffering due to the flooding. I and my colleagues in NYC called on Russia to allow access for UN," he said on Twitter. According to Kyslytsya, Griffiths (UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs) says no positive reaction from Russia's UN ambassador he met with. In brief: The Xbox Series S is getting a paint job and a storage upgrade. The new, "carbon black" version has a 1TB SSD and can be pre-ordered today at $349. It's a small upgrade, but Microsoft says it doesn't see the need for a proper, mid-cycle refresh for Xbox. With games getting increasingly larger and launching with low frame rate caps, that's not what gamers want to hear but there you have it. Microsoft has announced a new black version of the Xbox Series S at the Xbox Games Showcase. The console will have one terabyte of built-in storage, but otherwise, there's little else that's changed from the original Xbox Series S. In other words, it's still a 1440p gaming machine with support for HDR and up to 120 frames per second on select titles and compatible TVs. The "carbon black" Xbox Series S will launch September 1 and will set you back $349, with pre-orders starting today. For reference, the original Xbox Series S had only 512 gigabytes of internal storage and a launch price of $299. If the white Xbox Series S is more to your liking, you can now get one for as little as $260 just keep in mind that you'll only have about 364 gigabytes of usable storage versus 802 on the carbon black one. Also read: Bigger Than Godzilla: Why Are Games Using So Many Gigabytes? The announcement comes only a week after Western Digital announced storage expansion cards for Xbox Series S and Series X owners. The company introduced two options, a 512GB card for $79.99 and a one-terabyte version priced at $149.99. These are priced more or less in line with Seagate's existing expansion cards, but the latter company has a 2TB option for $279.99. There's been some talk as of late about the need for refreshed console hardware, with some in the gaming industry feeling like mid-cycle redesigns are on the horizon from both Sony and Microsoft. However, the latter company doesn't appear to be interested in the idea at least not yet. During an interview with Bloomberg, Xbox head Phil Spencer explained that he doesn't "feel an imperative" to come up with a major upgrade for the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, which are inching towards their third anniversary. Spencer says the company doesn't see any feedback from gamers that would indicate the need for a more powerful Xbox. At the same time, Microsoft is "pretty set on the hardware we have." That's an odd statement, given that some recent AAA games like Gotham Knights and Redfall are already having trouble running smoothly unless locked to 30 frames per second. Starfield, which is Microsoft's biggest game launch this year, will also be locked to 30 frames per second under the excuse of "consistency." Frame rate caps aside, Spencer did promise gamers that Microsoft is increasing the availability of Xbox Series X consoles after solving some supply issues that have been plaguing it for the past several months. Xbox fans won't be happy the 30 frames-per-second cap is making a comeback, but with games like Starfield weighing in at 125 gigabytes, this isn't the only limitation Xbox consoles will have moving forward. The cryptocurrency industry has been at a massive standstill in the past week, and CryptoWatch followed the massive development of the Binance case last week, particularly with the SEC's major crackdown on the company. Its latest case alleges that Binance violated multiple laws and regulations under the Commission, centering on unlicensed operations and unregistered securities. (Photo : Tech Times) That being said, the cryptocurrencies in the market saw a significant decline and almost all coins experienced a down, with some ceasing the trading of top coins in the market. SEC's Crackdown on Binance, its CEO, and its US Operations One of the most significant crackdowns in the crypto industry erupted last week as the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit and multiple charges against Binance. It is not only the crypto exchange company that is getting this but also its Binance.US operations and the top executive of the organization, its CEO Changpeng Zhao. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) In the filing by the SEC, the regulatory commission said that Binance remained unlicensed in several securities exchanges that it offers. Moreover, the company evaded the law with its US operations, particularly by enacting their businesses that put investors at significant risk. The SEC went as far as to say that Binance remained reluctant to be regulated by the agency, now facing as much as thirteen charges to its name. Read Also: SEC Applies for an Emergency Motion to Prevent Binance US Access to Customer Assets Binance: SEC's Gensler Once Offered to be an Advisor In the massive turn of events last week, Binance finally spoke its side regarding the case, but it was not in defense of their actions but aims to reveal something significant in the case. This is with the company's lawyers revealing in its documents that before being the SEC Chair, Gary Gensler has previously offered Binance to be one of its advisors. The lawyers revealed that this was way back in 2019 when Gensler was still a professor over at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. In a report, it was said that people familiar with the matter claimed that it was Binance who was approaching Gensler for the position, with the now SEC Chair being uninterested in the offer. Crypto Affected in Binance's Case with the SEC The grueling case between Binance and the SEC has greatly affected cryptocurrency and its prices in the market, with most of the coins seeing a drop in their numbers. The top two cryptos in the market, Bitcoin and Ethereum, saw a five percent drop in their valuation before the week ended last week. It is not only Binance that is facing the regulatory crackdown, but also Coinbase, a company from Brian Armstrong. Moreover, it also affected other coins and crypto exchange companies like Robinhood and Crypto.com, as it will no longer sell the likes of Cardano, Polygon, and Solana as these coins are considered to be "crypto asset securities." Despite these massive changes, other coins are not affected says Robinhood, and would be continued to be allowed to trade on their platform in the future. Related Article: Binance.US Halts USD Crypto Purchases Amid SEC Legal Battle 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that Britain must act quickly to remain its status as a tech capital to grasp artificial intelligence's opportunities and challenges by doing it safely. He aims for the country to be the geographical home of global AI safety regulation. (Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak takes part in a joint-press conference with US President Joe Biden in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2023. Maintaining Tech Capital Status United Kingdom's industry leaders will be warned by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that the nation must act quickly to retain its position being one of the world's tech capital. According to a report from Bloomberg, his office released the advance extracts of his speech as he will speak at the of the 10th London Tech Week. He wants the country not only to be the intellectual home but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation. "Already we've seen AI help the paralyzed to walk, and discover superbug-killing antibiotics - and that's just the beginning. The possibilities are extraordinary. But we must - and we will - do it safely. I want to make," he added. Sunak will say that he will keep up his efforts to push the country in leading the global regulation for artificial intelligence. Given that the tectonic plates of technology are shifting, the prime minister aims to go further and make this the best country in the world to start, grow, and invest in the tech business. The AI sector is at the heart of his priority to grow the economy and will outline through his speech how the government will work with businesses to capitalize on opportunities presented by the transformative technology. He compared artificial intelligence's proponents with the arrival of the internet. His speech will be followed by a "fireside chat" with London-based Google DeepMind Chief Executive Officer Demis Hassabis. Also Read: AI Experts Describe What AI Doomsday Could Look Like-And It's Not What You Think Instead of creating a new government sector dedicated to this matter, the UK opted to split regulatory responsibility for AI last March between those bodies that look after human rights, health and safety, and competition. Aside from the UK, other governments around the world have been trying to find a balance where they can asses and investigate AI's potential negative consequences without stifling innovation, which is PM Sunak's goal. National News reported that he feels a sense of urgency and responsibility for AI, making sure that the government will regulate and seize it. Previous AI Discussions PM Sunak aims for the country to have a larger role in the debate on artificial intelligence and harbor hopes of building global regulators in London. He previously discussed this matter with United States President Joe Biden in his visit to the White House only last week. Reuters reported that Sunak also talked about hosting a global summit on AI safety later this year to consider the potential risks and dangers of the technology and ways how to mitigate them through internally coordinated action. Related Article: UK to Host World's First Summit on AI Later This Year 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An ex-senior official of Samsung Electronics Co. was detained and charged on Monday for allegedly stealing trade secrets to build a chip facility in China. According to the Suwon District Prosecutors Office, the CEO, 65, has been accused of breaking the laws protecting industrial technology and preventing unfair competition, Yonhap reported. His name was undisclosed. The allegations state that between August 2018 and 2019, the former executive illegally obtained Samsung's private information, including primary engineering data (BED) for chip plants and process layout and design drawings. He allegedly intended to use the stolen data to construct a replica of Samsung's semiconductor facility in China. One employee of a Samsung Electronics subcontractor and five workers of a Chinese chipmaker founded by the former boss have also been indicted by the prosecution. These individuals were accused of cooperating in the technology leak but were not imprisoned. While process layout offers critical information regarding the floor design and size of a chip plant's fundamental operations for semiconductor production, BED technology is essential in ensuring the absence of contaminants in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. These trade secrets are considered critical core technologies for producing DRAM and NAND flash devices smaller than 30 nanometers. Read Also: Kairan Quazi: The 14-Year-Old Engineer Hired by Elon Musk's SpaceX According to reports, the defendant intended to build the chip factory in Xi'an, China, less than a mile from an existing Samsung facility. He is accused of hiring 200 workers from Samsung and SK Hynix and giving them orders to gather and use trade secrets under his direction, according to Engadget. The defendant first collaborated on the scheme with an unnamed Taiwanese electronics manufacturing business contributing $6.2 billion. The collaboration, however, failed. But the defendant raised around $358 million from Chinese investors, which he used to build prototypes at a factory in Chengdu. According to the prosecution, the factory was also built using knowledge stolen from Samsung. Samsung Loses Over $200 Million The indictment coincides with rising hostilities between the US and China over the semiconductor market. The accused ex-Samsung executive has developed two chip factories in China and Singapore and has over 25 years of expertise in the semiconductor sector. Over 200 semiconductor specialists from Samsung and SK Hynix in South Korea were recruited by him during his tenure, per TechCrunch. According to estimates from the prosecution, Samsung might suffer losses of at least $233 million (300 billion won) due to the stolen data. The accused person attempted to reproduce an entire semiconductor plant. Therefore, the prosecution highlighted that this case involves more than just a simple leak of semiconductor technology. According to the prosecutor's office, the case is "a serious crime" that could severely impact the "foundation of the domestic semiconductor industry" during a period of intense competition in the chip production industry. Related Article: Top 5 Best Artificial Intelligence Consulting Companies in 2023 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing to file an order to stop Microsoft Corp. from buying Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, according to a source. The European Union authorized the purchase in May after British competition regulators banned it in April. The US District Court for the Northern District of California will request a temporary restraining order in the filing, which is yet to be made public, according to CNN. While the FTC's internal court deliberates the matter, this order tries to stop the corporations from finalizing the transaction. The FTC voiced its first reservations about the deal early in December, upholding antitrust law. The commission contended that the purchase would give Microsoft's Xbox exclusive access to Activision titles, possibly eliminating Nintendo and Sony's PlayStation, Reuters reported. The commission brought its action before an internal administrative law court to prevent the $68.7 billion merger. In this procedure, the judge makes a preliminary determination that may be challenged and put to a vote by the whole commission. Microsoft may appeal in federal court if necessary. August is the tentative date for the administrative law judge trial. Read Also: Microsoft Introduces AI Customer Commitments to Guide Users on Their AI Journey Microsoft is Ready For Trial Microsoft also intends to challenge the Competition and Markets Authority's ruling to prevent the merger, and the appeal is scheduled to be heard this summer, just beyond the purchase deadline. Microsoft President Brad Smith emphasized the company's assertion that hastening the legal procedure in the US would eventually encourage choice and competition in the market. He said that Microsoft welcomes the chance "to present our case in federal court," according to CNBC. The FTC and UK regulators worry the transaction would hurt the gaming sector by enabling Microsoft to restrict Activision games from competitor platforms. Microsoft has engaged in 10-year license deals with several gaming platforms to ease these worries and guarantee the continuing availability of such games. The European Union has approved the purchase, describing Microsoft's concessions as adequate to resolve competition concerns; however, the decision in the United States and the United Kingdom is still unknown due to the ongoing legal disputes. Related Article: Nasdaq Announces $10.5 Billion Acquisition of Financial-Software Maker Adenza 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Pirate Bay is amongst the oldest Torrent site around. TPB has gone down numerous times, but it has come back every time. But unfortunately, The Pirate Bay is blocked in many regions. It is either by the state or the internet service provider. There is no end to TPB being blocked. Moreover, search engines like Google have also removed the official pirate bay site from its search results. Fortunately, you can use virtual private networks, commonly referred to as VPNs for Pirate Bay to unblock the site and download torrents of your choice. Most of them offer free trials before you need to subscribe to a paid plan. They offer blazing-fast torrent download speeds as well if even torrenting is banned in your region. So let us check out the best VPN for Pirate Bay to access P2P sites to download torrents and Magnet URLS. Best VPN for Pirate Bay in 2023 VPN Pricing(annual plan) Free Trial without payment information Total Devices at a time NordVPN $4.99/month No 6 ExpressVPN $8.32/month Yes 5 CyberGhost $6.39/month Yes 7 ProtonVPN $5/month Yes free account 10 SurfShark $3.99/month Yes Unlimited VyprVPN $5/month Yes 5 PureVPN $6.24/month Yes 10 IPVanish $11.99/month Yes Unlimited PIA $3.11/month No Unlimited Unlocator VPN $5.58/month Yes 5 Pricing: Starts at $5/month (annual plan) Free Trial Free account available The organization behind ProtonVPN has gained renown for its privacy-centric email service and leading the charge against censorship. Their VPN service follows the same principles, helping you access TPB and other blocked sites. Instead of a trial, ProtonVPN provides a free account option that includes essential features and fast VPN speeds, comparable to their subscription plans. Additionally, premium members can avail themselves of the 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind. Features The VPN accelerator improves your torrent download speeds by surpassing CPU limitations, minimizing latency, and optimizing protocol designs. by surpassing CPU limitations, minimizing latency, and optimizing protocol designs. You can create multiple VPN profiles for different purposes, such as streaming, work, school, and more. for different purposes, such as streaming, work, school, and more. ProtonVPN ensures traffic security by directing it through multiple servers, effectively safeguarding against advanced watchdogs who cannot monitor the traffic or access your connection details. by directing it through multiple servers, effectively safeguarding against advanced watchdogs who cannot monitor the traffic or access your connection details. You can rely on the robust DNS filtering of ProtonVPN to block spam ads, trackers, and prevent malware from reaching your device. to block spam ads, trackers, and prevent malware from reaching your device. You are assigned an exclusive static IP, which remains available and reserved for yourself. This reduces the likelihood of being targeted by blacklisted IP bans. Pricing: Starts at $4.99/month (annual plan) Free Trial No NordVPN excels at unblocking websites like The Pirate Bay, even in regions where access to such platforms is restricted. Operating under the jurisdiction of Panama, it utilizes a combination of privacy and security features that let you unblock The Pirate Bay. The service offers dedicated applications for nearly every major platform, including routers, ensuring compatibility and ease of use. While NordVPN does not provide a free trial, subscribers can use a 30-day money-back guarantee when signing up for any of their plans. Features You can pause VPN connections specific duration, and it will automatically resume without any user input. specific duration, and it will automatically resume without any user input. Multi-hop servers provide an additional layer of security and anonymity, protecting you from monitoring, and censorship while torrenting. provide an additional layer of security and anonymity, protecting you from monitoring, and censorship while torrenting. You can connect up to 6 different devices simultaneously, so it is easy to share the plan and bring down the cost. simultaneously, so it is easy to share the plan and bring down the cost. Their network consists of over 5500 servers spread across 60 countries worldwide, ensuring a wide range of available locations for users to choose from. worldwide, ensuring a wide range of available locations for users to choose from. You are assigned an exclusive static IP, which remains available and reserved for yourself. This reduces the likelihood of being targeted by blacklisted IP bans. Pricing: Starts at $6.49/month (annual plan) Free Trial 7 days Although not as heavily promoted as some other VPNs, CyberGhost is a reliable service that lets you access TPB without a problem, particularly useful for downloading torrents. Their desktop and mobile apps share a user interface philosophy, allowing for a seamless transition between the two platforms. CyberGhost offers a 7-day free trial, accessed directly from the mobile app. Additionally, CyberGhost goes the extra mile by providing a 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest assurance period compared to its competitors. Features CyberGhost offers P2P optimized servers and encourages using them for downloading torrents from sites like The Pirate Bay and other torrenting sites. and encourages using them for downloading torrents from sites like The Pirate Bay and other torrenting sites. They offer NoSpy servers , which are strategically located outside the jurisdiction of the 5 Eyes and 14 Eyes alliances. You can reduce the risk of being audited or subjected to surveillance through the VPN server. , which are strategically located outside the jurisdiction of the 5 Eyes and 14 Eyes alliances. You can reduce the risk of being audited or subjected to surveillance through the VPN server. CyberGhost also has domain fronting , which effectively bypasses censorship by substituting the visited domain with a decoy one. This technique allows traffic to pass through filters without raising any flags or triggering censorship mechanisms. , which effectively bypasses censorship by substituting the visited domain with a decoy one. This technique allows traffic to pass through filters without raising any flags or triggering censorship mechanisms. Set up customized privacy triggers using Smart Rules that follow your instructions. You can configure Wi-Fi protection, launch rules, app rules, and exceptions, allowing for convenient management of all these privacy settings. that follow your instructions. You can configure Wi-Fi protection, launch rules, app rules, and exceptions, allowing for convenient management of all these privacy settings. The built-in ad, malware, and tracker blocker are seamlessly integrated into all the different apps offered by CyberGhost. Pricing: Starts at $3.99/month (annual plan) Free Trial 7 days Surfshark impresses from the beginning with its competitively aggressive pricing, often unmatched by its competitors. To test out the service, you can enjoy a week-long free trial exclusively accessible through the mobile app. Alternatively, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked, providing you with an alternative route to try out the service risk-free. Features Experience a free seven-day trial without the need for a credit card or any other payment information. trial without the need for a credit card or any other payment information. There is no limit on the number of devices you can connect, and every user enjoys unlimited bandwidth with no restrictions. you can connect, and every user enjoys unlimited bandwidth with no restrictions. They offer servers specificall y optimized for torrenting , gaming, and streaming purposes, ensuring an optimized and seamless experience in each of these activities. , gaming, and streaming purposes, ensuring an optimized and seamless experience in each of these activities. NoBorder mode provides a highly effective way to bypass internet censorship without being flagged by firewall systems. It lets you access or download torrents with ease and without detection. without being flagged by firewall systems. It lets you access or download torrents with ease and without detection. Surfshark operates RAM-only servers that do not store any data except for default files. When the servers are turned off, all information is automatically wiped clean, providing you with privacy for torrent downloads. Pricing: Starts at $8.32/month (annual plan) Free Trial 7 days ExpressVPN is the preferred VPN for users residing in regions with government-imposed censorship. Their reason for a higher price is its reliable VPN service that effectively bypasses blocks and access TPB. You can easily sign up for a free 7-day trial through the mobile application without providing payment information. Additionally, subscribing to a premium plan comes with a standard 30-day money-back guarantee. To ensure comprehensive protection on your computer, ExpressVPN offers a web browser extension that covers all your browsing needs, eliminating the requirement of using a separate app. Features ExpressVPNs mobile app dashboard features a sleek design and allows users to pin specific apps and websites. With a simple tap, these pinned items can be opened with the VPN connection enabled, ensuring that all traffic is securely routed through them. You can download torrents and stream videos in 4K resolution with unlimited bandwidth and zero quotas here. and stream videos in 4K resolution with unlimited bandwidth and zero quotas here. ExpressVPN offers a private DNS , and with that, you can rest assured that DNS hacking, blocking, filtering, or hijacking is simply not possible, providing an extra layer of protection for your online privacy. , and with that, you can rest assured that DNS hacking, blocking, filtering, or hijacking is simply not possible, providing an extra layer of protection for your online privacy. You get government-grade 256-bit encryption for both incoming and outgoing traffic on all servers. This high-level encryption secures your data as it travels through the apps and DNS. for both incoming and outgoing traffic on all servers. This high-level encryption secures your data as it travels through the apps and DNS. You can use their browser extension, which lets you run the VPN on your entire system, providing comprehensive protection and privacy. No need to install the VPN suite. Pricing: Starts at $11.99/month (annual plan) Free Trial 7 days While IPVanish claims to be the fastest VPN in the market, we have a differing opinion. However, this does not make the VPN package undeserving of a position on this list. Moreover, choosing IPVanish can also help you save some money. IPVanish VPN apps offer a straightforward set of features. While you can rely on their no-logs policy and an ad-free experience, the feature set is limited. Notably, features like a kill-switch or two-factor login are largely absent from the service. Features IPVanish offers unlimited bandwidth usage , allowing you to download torrents without any restrictions. , allowing you to download torrents without any restrictions. With SOCKS5 proxy support, which can provide faster speeds and added flexibility for certain applications and protocols. and added flexibility for certain applications and protocols. You can switch between IPVanish servers as often as you like, giving you the freedom to choose the best server for your needs. IPVanish incorporates advanced leak protection features , including DNS leak protection and IPv6 leak protection, to ensure that your real IP address remains hidden. , including DNS leak protection and IPv6 leak protection, to ensure that your real IP address remains hidden. This Pirate Bay VPN includes a NAT firewall that provides an additional layer of security by blocking unsolicited inbound traffic. Pricing: Starts at $6.24/month (annual plan) Free Trial 7 days PureVPN is a trusted VPN service known for its strong emphasis on privacy and security. With a vast network of servers, advanced encryption protocols, and dedicated apps for various platforms, PureVPN offers a reliable and secure online experience. In addition to its focus on security, you can use it for torrenting files of all kinds. The service also provides dedicated apps for various platforms, ensuring compatibility across different devices. Features You can bypass geo-restrictions and unblock The Pirate Bay site and its proxies. They can be accessed from anywhere in the world. and its proxies. They can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Take advantage of the split tunneling feature allows you to access The Pirate Bay through the VPN while directing other traffic through your regular internet connection. feature allows you to access The Pirate Bay through the VPN while directing other traffic through your regular internet connection. Instantly turn your PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot , allowing other devices to connect and benefit from the protective VPN connection. , allowing other devices to connect and benefit from the protective VPN connection. Stealth VPN feature helps bypass VPN blocking and deep packet inspection, allowing you to access restricted content and bypass censorship. This comes in handy when there is heavier internet censorship and filtering in your region. feature helps bypass VPN blocking and deep packet inspection, allowing you to access restricted content and bypass censorship. This comes in handy when there is heavier internet censorship and filtering in your region. In addition to the regular kill switch, you get an Internet Kill Switch that disconnects all internet connectivity if the VPN connection is interrupted, ensuring complete privacy. Pricing: Starts at $5/month (annual plan) Free Trial 3 days VyprVPN may have a smaller network of 700+ VPN servers worldwide, but it doesnt sacrifice speed. With the option to choose from 300,000 IP addresses, VyprVPN is useful for streaming geo-locked content. Additionally, it supports a wide range of popular streaming services, ensuring access to your favorite platforms. VyprVPN has achieved commendable scores in privacy audits, providing reassurance that your data wont be shared with third parties. With dedicated modes for public WiFi security and a convenient one-click kill switch, you can easily protect your online privacy and security. Features VyprVPNs proprietary Chameleon protocol helps you bypass VPN blocking and censorship, and then you can unblock TPB to download torrents. helps you bypass VPN blocking and censorship, and then you can unblock TPB to download torrents. You get robust encryption protocols, including AES-256 encryption , to secure your internet traffic and protect your data from threats. , to secure your internet traffic and protect your data from threats. Download torrents on public Wi-Fi security without worry. It encrypts your browsing traffic, and then you can download files anywhere. without worry. It encrypts your browsing traffic, and then you can download files anywhere. They have a strict n o-logging policy , meaning they do not track or store any information related to torrent downloads. , meaning they do not track or store any information related to torrent downloads. VyprVPN offers its own secure DNS service, VyprDNS, which helps prevents any monitoring or spying by bad characters. Pricing: Starts at $3.11/month (annual plan) Free Trial 30 days If you want some US-based VPN for Pirate Bay then Private Internet Access(PIA) might be the ideal choice. Their impressive network covers the 50 states of the US. You can pretend to be in any of the states without actually being physically present there. They have official VPN support for torrenting and other P2P downloads so you can use it on TPB without a problem. You can subscribe to a plan and get the VPN running on unlimited devices(which was previously 10). That really brings down the already low cost if you are into sharing services. Features They use high-level encryption techniques, relying on the industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption , which is nearly impossible to break. , which is nearly impossible to break. You also get MAC, PIAs built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker . It helps protect you from potentially harmful content online and provides a cleaner, faster browsing experience by blocking ads on torrent sites. . It helps protect you from potentially harmful content online and provides a cleaner, faster browsing experience by blocking ads on torrent sites. You can actually use two VPN servers at the same time . It is like adding an extra layer of protection to your online security. This helps you keep your VPN use under the radar. . It is like adding an extra layer of protection to your online security. This helps you keep your VPN use under the radar. Take advantage of the WireGuard protocol , which not only amps up your internet speed and stability but also provides an extra boost to your VPN security. , which not only amps up your internet speed and stability but also provides an extra boost to your VPN security. Set up PIA VPN on your router and all your connected devices get the benefit of enhanced security, even if they dont natively support VPNs. Pricing: Starts at $5.58/month (annual plan) Free Trial 7 days Unlocator was a proxy service that allowed you to change your location virtually and access region-restricted content from anywhere in the world. As we know how some Pirate Bay VPN providers give you a free trial, but it is like a stripped-down version of their VPN service. That is not the case with Unlocator. They let you take their VPN and Smart DNS services for a full-on test drive, absolutely free for 7 days. Just enter your email and a secure password to start using the VPN service. You can use it on 5 devices at a time. They started with over 50 servers in 38 plus countries. Thats a smaller collection than most but their speeds make up for the rest. Features One of the most easy-to-use user-interface across torrent VPNs, across different platforms and devices. Unlocator has a strict no-logs policy . This means it doesnt store any records of your online activities, which is an important feature for torrenting. . This means it doesnt store any records of your online activities, which is an important feature for torrenting. Along with VPN, you get a Smart DNS service that is particularly useful for bypassing geo-restrictions. It might offer faster speeds as it doesnt encrypt your data. service that is particularly useful for bypassing geo-restrictions. It might offer faster speeds as it doesnt encrypt your data. You get unlimited bandwidth on this TPB VPN, lets you download torrents as you want without any worries about reaching a data cap. on this TPB VPN, lets you download torrents as you want without any worries about reaching a data cap. They offer a variety of protocols, including IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec, providing flexibility depending on your download speed, security, and compatibility needs. Frequently Asked Questions Can I use a free VPN for Pirate Bay? Using a free VPN for Pirate Bay is not recommended. Free VPNs often have limitations and security concerns and may not provide the necessary privacy and protection to access torrent websites. You should use a reputable VPN service that offers reliable performance and prioritizes security and privacy. Do free VPNs work for Torrenting? Free VPNs for torrenting have limitations and risks. They often have bandwidth restrictions, slow speeds, and may not support P2P file sharing. Your privacy and security could be compromised, and there may be legal implications. It is better to use a reputable paid VPN service for a safer and more reliable torrenting experience. Can I get in legal trouble for using a VPN with Pirate Bay? Using a VPN to access Pirate Bay does not guarantee legal immunity. While using a VPN itself is generally legal, downloading or sharing copyrighted content without authorization is illegal in many countries. It is important to understand the laws in your jurisdiction regarding copyright infringement. Over to You These were some of the best VPNs for Pirate Bay to download torrents without getting blocked. You can use different servers if one location gets blocked due to censorship or any other reason. After a short pause, Russia has increased production of missiles, in particular Iskanders and Kinzhals, apparently having arranged the supply of components in circumvention of Western sanctions, Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda. "In the spring there was a short pause when the enemy increased production. And already, according to new data from the Defense Intelligence Agency, he has more Kinzhals and Kalibrs. Obviously, Russia has found an opportunity to circumvent sanctions at the expense of individual countries that cooperate with it, and receives technological things that it cannot produce itself: boards, chips, and semiconductors. This is something without which the missile will not fly," Ihnat emphasized. In his opinion, the enemy did not have enough high-precision, long-range missiles - X-101, Iskander-M, Iskander-K, Kalibr, Kinzhal, which can reach far into the country and hit accurately. When he attacked the critical infrastructure of Ukraine, he used virtually the full potential of this strategic weapon. "Therefore, I hope that Russia will be squeezed by sanctions. If the sanctions work comprehensively and are controlled, then Russia can be put in its place," the Air Force speaker said. 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" These are the best roads in the Balearic Islands to travel on foot 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 The battle of Wadi Lakka The first Muslim victories in Europe and the key to Andalusia Good news for Khaddi Sagnia: "Medically she will be good for the World Cup" Moving to Saudi Arabia or returning to their homeland: Zenit may lose Malcolm, Claudinho and Wendel before the start of the RPL 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 world's first 16 MW ultra-large capacity offshore wind turbine is connected to the grid to generate electricity Beijing strengthens the management of housing leases from the owner body It is proposed to require the publicity of fees The "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting the Development and Growth of the Private Economy" were promulgated China issued a document to promote the development and growth of the private economy and responded to four core concerns French MP: sanctions against Russia have led to a catastrophe in the economy in Europe Investigation opened in Paris about the fundraiser in support of the family of the policeman who killed Nahel Psychologist: victims of pyramid schemes are often people with an infantile type of thinking The new book "See Hong Kong" was released at the Hong Kong Book Fair Lawyer Solovyov advised to check with the seller whether the price of the goods is too low "Artillery delivered powerful blows": the Russian military destroyed more than 40 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the Antonovsky bridge Psychologist Gilev: children's aggression can be associated with an obsession with an idea or a state of affect "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 WP: U.S. prepares sanctions against Kyrgyzstan to force it to stop trade with Russia The astonishing data of the time trial in which Vingegaard swept Pogacar: "He scored more watts than expected" To avoid an environmental disaster. Preparations to transport the cargo of an abandoned Yemeni oil ship in the Red Sea The mystery of Emile, disappeared 11 days ago: they open another investigation before the "complexity" of the case 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. Questions about Alzheimers disease or related disorders can be sent to Dana Territo, author of What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimers Disease, at thememorywhisperer@gmail.com. As a result of flooding due to undermining the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant by the invaders in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, ten people died, 42 people, including seven children, are considered missing, Interior Minister of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko has said. "I can report the numbers that we know for certain: eight of our citizens died on the territory of Kherson region, two - on the territory of Mykolaiv region. Some 42 people are considered missing, seven of them are children," Klymenko said on the air of the national telethon on Monday. At the same time, he noted that information was received about those who died in the occupied territory on the left bank. "You know that yesterday, while trying to cross to the right bank, our citizens were fired on and three people were killed, several were injured. We are monitoring this information. As soon as we receive confirmed information about the dead or wounded who remained on the islands or on the left bank, we will officially publish this information," the minister stressed. Louisiana Inspired Orleans Parish Crime Victims Reparations Unit helps victims with more than money Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office Capt. Stephanie Minto and her staff member are here to listen to victims' stories, too. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. The popular Surry Hills eatery is opening a new French-driven space on Ward Ave while rebadging the original site as B.S. Pasta Palace, complete with spaghetti meatballs on the menu. The owners of popular Surry Hills eatery Bar Suze have had a lazy eye on Potts Point for some time in their search for a site for a new venue. Theyve just nabbed the former home of Dumplings & Beer on Ward Avenue, where theyll open Caravin in August. Caravin, a 30-seat European wine bar and restaurant, will distil the essence of chef and co-owner Phil Stenvalls cooking at Bar Suze, but add a new culinary muse. Itll explore more French flavours than Scandinavian, Stenvalls business partner Greg Bampton says. Greg Bampton (left) and Phil Stenvall at their new Potts Point venue. Supplied There is also movement back at base camp. Bar Suze will trade as normal until early next month when the Surry Hills eatery will reopen on Friday, July 7 as B.S. Pasta Palace. It wont be an Italian restaurant, more of a freewheeling pasta joint. One of the avenues the venue will explore is American-Italian. Its something we dont think many people are doing, Bampton says. Get your napkins ready, spaghetti meatballs is on the way. Also, heart attack symptoms can appear hours, days, or weeks in advance, as the Mayo Clinic explains on its website. Lloyd-Joness advice: If the symptoms seem more common with exertion and theyre better when you rest, thats a red flag for any doctor to say, Lets get you in and see whats going on. The classic symptom is that elephant sitting on the middle of your chest this heavy, crushing pressure, mid-chest. cardiologist Donald M. Lloyd-Jones One thing thats not a predictable heart attack warning sign: elevated blood pressure. Mine was high 156/84 before I went to the ER but some types of heart attacks can lead to very low blood pressure, Lloyd-Jones says. Other lessons from my experience include: Act fast really fast My approach to health issues is usually, Eh, Im sure its nothing. But once I realised that my symptoms matched many of the Mayo Clinics warning signs, I went to emergency. Within an hour of my arrival, cardiologist Yuri Deychak had received an electrocardiogram (EKG) of my heart at his home, diagnosed a blockage in a coronary artery leading to the heart and activated the catheterisation lab team at Suburban Hospital to unblock my artery. Time is muscle, Deychak later tells me, and its a common phrase among cardiologists. To prevent heart cells from dying, doctors need to quickly restore blood flow and oxygen levels. Their goal: to get a patient into a catheterisation lab to insert a stent a tiny expandable metal mesh coil that once in place will keep an artery open within 90 minutes of experiencing symptoms. Procrastination can be deadly, as one of my nurses learned. She shared the story of a friend, age 49, who showed signs of a heart attack. The friend called his primary care physician that evening but decided to see if his symptoms improved overnight. By morning he was dead. Call 000, not Uber (or a friend) I made a mistake: I asked a friend to drive me to the hospital. Thats smarter than driving yourself, experts say, but I should have called 000. If my heart had stopped during the drive, EMTs could have treated me immediately. They have a defibrillator to restart a heart, an EKG machine to test your heart rhythm, lifesaving medications, and they know which hospitals have the right facilities to treat a heart problem. My friend took me to the nearest hospital, but it didnt have a catheterisation lab, which is why I ended up having to be flown by helicopter to one that did. A cath lab is mandatory for unblocking an artery. Loading The New Jersey-based Atlantic Health System found that heart attack patients who called 911 the American equivalent of 000 received treatment 30 minutes faster on average than those who drove themselves. Yet many patients, like me, dont make that call. My symptoms seemed mild, so 000 felt extreme and an ambulance can be costly depending on circumstances. Some heart attack sufferers choose ride services, like Uber. A 2017 American study found that ambulance usage rates had dropped by seven per cent in cities where Uber operates. But taking an Uber for a heart attack is no safer than riding with a friend, since your drivers sedan probably wont have an EKG machine or defibrillator. Deychak says he remembers a patient who arrived at the hospital via Uber, then suddenly experienced ventricular fibrillation (a heart arrhythmia that is the most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death). If the driver had arrived even five minutes later, she may have died. You want EMTs monitoring you all the way, Lloyd-Jones says. If something happens, they can respond instantaneously. Embrace gratitude Having a heart attack is stressful. In the ER at the first hospital, I could hear the alarm in a nurses voice after she read my EKG report. I could see the helicopter crews concerned faces as they wheeled me to the helipad. In the cath lab, staff darted around the room, shaving parts of me that shouldnt be shaved, inserting a catheter in an artery and injecting a dye to detect blockages on a screen. (Its going to feel hot, a technician told me, and yes, the dye blazed in my arm and my chest.) And yet to my surprise, the overwhelming emotion I felt was not fear but gratitude. Amid the life-or-death bustle, I felt grateful for the people I love, and the people who love me, and for the team that was treating me. Those peaceful feelings may have reduced the strain on my heart. For patients who are understandably scared and upset, one of the treatments we often give in the emergency room is anti-anxiety medicine, Lloyd-Jones says. If we can keep the heart rate low, and keep blood pressure moderate, the heart works less hard, and fewer heart muscle cells will die. I soon had another reason for gratitude. Once the team had snaked the catheter through my arm to my heart, they expected to find major blockage. But my arteries looked clean. So what happened? Doctors suspect that a piece of plaque fatty buildups on artery walls caused by cholesterol and other substances had ruptured and clotted an artery, and the clotted plaque passed through on its own. I was incredibly lucky. What if the clot had been larger and hadnt moved through? Sometimes even slight heart attacks can make patients heart rhythm go haywire, Deychak says. Instead, less than 36 hours after the heart attack, I was pacing with my IV pole in my hospital room, ready to be released. Scans showed no damage to my heart muscle. I was lucky. Now that Ive had one heart attack, Im a likely candidate for another, Lloyd-Jones says. Its clear that plaque can form in my arteries. I largely feel OK the worst part was two weeks of wrist and arm soreness from the catheter. In the weeks following the heart attack, my EKG readings were irregular, and I experienced occasional heart palpitations, sometimes as often as three to five times a day. But nearly five months after my visit to the cath lab, everything is happily back to normal. I also have an excellent long-term prognosis, Schneider says. Ive finished cardiac rehab (picture a gym where everyone wears heart monitors and submits to blood-pressure checks), which helped me lose seven pounds and lower my blood pressure. Im also taking some new heart meds, including a platelet inhibitor and a daily aspirin, to reduce my risks (I was already taking a statin and beta blocker). Even before the heart attack, I was more likely to eat a salad than a burger, but my doctor suggested that I lower my daily sodium consumption, which has meant some sacrifices including a favourite: pizza. But from where I stand now, its worth it to prevent a return visit to emergency. This was a shot across the bow, Schneider says. You could have dropped dead, but instead, here you are, alive. And yes, Im grateful. This article was originally published in The Washington Post. 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. Support for the Indigenous Voice has fallen below a majority on the Yes or No question that will decide the referendum, dropping from 53 to 49 per cent ahead of a crucial Senate decision on the wording of the change to the constitution. Voters have swung against the proposal for the third month in a row and are backing the No case in three states Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia when asked about the federal governments proposed question. An exclusive survey shows that support for the Voice is at 56 per cent in Victoria and 53 per cent in NSW but this is outweighed by powerful swings that could block the reform gaining the required threshold of a majority of votes in a majority of states. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected calls to amend the Voice proposal before the Senate votes on the wording of the question in the referendum bill this fortnight, cementing the plan for a public vote later this year. CHECK-IN LyLo Aucklands self check-in and lounge . As someone whose hostel days are firmly behind him, Im a touch apprehensive about my stay at LyLo Auckland, the flagship property of a new budget hotel chain by hospitality giant EVT. Thankfully, it bears no resemblance to the tired, run-down hell-tels of my youth. A colourful mural by Auckland-based street artist Flox welcomes guests into a spacious lobby with a self-service check-in desk and several eye-catching breakout areas. Theres a cosy library nook with mid-century furnishings, a comfortable lounge with a shrub-covered wall and a communal dining/co-working space. Other facilities include a well-equipped kitchen, a self-service laundry and a sofa-filled chill-out zone upstairs. THE LOOK Imagine a jazzed-up IKEA concrete floors, exposed girders, suspended lightbulbs and Instagrammable neon signs encouraging guests to Work hard, travel harder. There are lots of fun, quirky touches, such as a 1965 Vespa in the restaurant and a pair of typewriters in the library, above which is written Dear Mum & Dad, please send money (sadly, it doesnt work). Clearly, the decor is aimed at millennials but the communal spaces are fun and well-designed and at no point do I feel out of place as a moreahemexperienced traveller. Briefing for UAE delegation, held in President's Office, centers among other things, on circumvention of sanctions by Russia 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. According to the presidential website, 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 our country. Also, Mariam Almheiri and the members of the delegation were also briefed about the consequences of the Russian occupiers' blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam, the press release. 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, the message reads. 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," he said. In turn, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets told Mariam Almheiri about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the human rights situation as a result of Russian aggression. 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, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, informed about the process of exchanging prisoners of war and the problems that arise on this way due to the position of the aggressor state. He also expressed gratitude to the UAE for their role in conducting certain exchanges, the press release reads. Raytheon Technologies, a manufacturer of Patriot air defense systems, plans to increase production to 12 units per year, the European Pravda publication said with reference to Executive Director of the company Greg Hayes. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Hayes said Raytheon Technologies plans to deliver five more systems to Ukraine by the end of next year. "We have been very surprised at its effectiveness," Hayes said concerning the Patriot. As reported, the U.S. Department of Defense last Friday announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine. The package, totalling up to $2.1 billion, includes critical air defenses and munitions, including additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems, according to the Pentagon's website. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, announced that he had left for Ukraine to meet with the head of state, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On my way to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy & present a programme of assistance in the aftermath of the catastrophic Nova Kakhovka dam flooding. I will assess the situation at Zaporizhia nuclear power plant & conduct a rotation of ISAMZ with a strengthened team, he said on Twitter Monday. As reported, after the Russians blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station and the spill of the Kakhovka reservoir, Grossi announced the launch of a program of assistance to Ukraine. He noted that through the use of nuclear methods, the IAEA will determine the impact of flooding on drinking water, human health, soil and water management, as well as assess the integrity of critical infrastructure. 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: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Wolfhound, disembark from a Marine Corps V-22 during training in Djibouti on April 4, 2023. The Soldiers were part of a security force securing Camp Lemonnier and other remote locations in Somalia and Kenya for 10 months. With the organizational support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Turkiye, the delegation led by the Chairman of Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) Valeh Alasgarov visited the cities of Ankara and Istanbul, Azernews reports. The purpose of the visits is to promote the Alat Free Economic Zone, as well as inform Turkish companies about the zone and attract them. Within the framework of the visit, meetings were held with influential institutions such as the Middle East Industrial and Trade Center Organized Industrial Zone, Ankara Chamber of Commerce, Ankara Chamber of Industry, Istanbul Chamber of Industry, Turkish Exporters Assembly, Foreign Economic Relations Organization and Marmara Group Foundation. In the meetings, the package of fiscal and non-fiscal privileges offered to investors in the Alat Free Economic Zone, the strategic geographical position of the AFEZ, ready-to-use internal and external infrastructure, and industrial land plots equipped with engineering and communication systems and transport and logistics centers were discussed. Detailed presentations were made. At the same time, during the visit, negotiations were held with a number of Turkish companies, and issues of future potential cooperation were discussed. Ukraine and Moldova have signed an agreement on the construction of a border bridge across the Dniester River near the settlements of Yampil (Ukraine) and Cosauti (Moldova), the press service of the Ministry for the Development of Territories, Communities and Infrastructure of Ukraine said on Facebook. The agreement was signed on Monday by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Reconstruction Oleksandr Kubrakov and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova Lilia Dabizha, according to the statement. The bridge will be built on the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border and will become a key link in the transport corridor between Kyiv and Chisinau. After the bridge is put into operation, Ukrainian exporters will receive the shortest route from the center of Ukraine to the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, bypassing the Russian-occupied Transnistria, the ministry's press service said. "The signing of the agreement is a practical continuation of the agreements reached in 2021 by the presidents of Ukraine and Moldova. The full-scale invasion has made adjustments to the implementation of the project, but the critical need to develop alternative logistical routes makes the Yampil bridge project uncontested," Kubrakov's press service said. He thanked Lilia Dabizha for cooperation and joint work on the development of logistics routes on the western border of Ukraine. It is noted the Yampil bridge will become an alternative to the ferry crossing at Yampil-Cosauti border crossing, which has not been operating for several years and has not met the requirements of the time and the real needs of the inhabitants of both countries for a long time. The bridge will also unload the international checkpoint Mohyliv-Podilsky Otaci, through which passes almost the entire traffic flow between Ukraine and Moldova. The total length of the bridge will be over 1,400 meters. The structure will have two lanes with sidewalks on both sides. The design of the bridge also takes into account barrier-free standards, in particular, it is planned to equip sidewalks with lowering the level of the side stone within the boundaries of pedestrian crossings. Warning tactile stripes are provided for the orientation of persons with visual impairments, the ministry said. El Centro Regional Medical Center is over $200 million dollars in debt. Should Imperial County take on their debt so as to keep two hospitals in the Valley? You voted: 139 Firefighters From Canada, US Battling Nova Scotias Barrington Lake Blaze Northfield fire department member Seth Slauenwhite sprays down a flare up along Highway 103, near Shelburne, N.S., in this June 3, 2023, handout photo. (The Canadian Press/HO-Communications Nova Scotia) Firefighters from three provinces, the United States and Canadas Department of National Defence are in southwestern Nova Scotia today to battle the largest wildfire in the provinces history. The province says there are 139 firefighters tackling the massive blaze near Barrington Lake, including five from P.E.I. and 14 from Newfoundland and Labrador. Seventeen firefighters are from the U.S. and 33 are from the Department of National Defence, while members of local volunteer and municipal fire crews are standing by. The Barrington Lake fire in Shelburne County has grown to about 235 square kilometres since it first broke out on May 27. Provincial officials say it remains out of control, but it has stopped spreading. The Barrington Lake blaze has forced more than 6,000 people from their homes and destroyed 60 houses and cottages, as well as 150 other structures. 4 US Lawmakers Oppose Hong Kong Chief Executives Attendance at APEC Summit U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken (L) attends a bilateral meeting with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai (R) on the sidelines of the APEC summit, in Bangkok, on November 17, 2022. (Chalinee Thirasupa/AFP via Getty Images) Four bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress recently jointly signed a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, opposing the invitation of Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to attend the APEC summit in November. The next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference (APEC) will be held in San Francisco in November this year (2023). Four bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress have recently jointly signed a letter to Blinken opposing the invitation of Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to attend. They claimed that by inviting Lee to the summit, who was a senior member of the Hong Kong government that violently suppressed peaceful protesters in 2019, would send a terrible signal to human rights violators around the world. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) jointly wrote to Blinken on June 7 expressing concern about inviting Lee to the APEC summit. They also criticized the Hong Kong government for its part in violently suppressing peaceful protesters in 2019, so inviting Chief Executive Lee to attend the APEC meeting sends a terrible signal to human rights violators worldwide. The joint letter mentioned that the U.S. Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Lee, then-Secretary for Security, in 2020 because he was accused of employing violence against peaceful protesters who opposed the draconian National Security Law (NSL). Unless Lee obtained a waiver from the U.S. government, he would not be allowed to step foot in the United States. The four lawmakers expressed disappointment with the Biden administrations plan to exempt Lee from sanctions and allow him to enter the United States to attend the APEC meeting. Name of Victims Mentioned in the Letter The letter mentioned that Retiring U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman confirmed that the U.S. government plans to invite Lee to come to the APEC meeting. She explained that the U.S., as the host, has the key responsibility to promote regional economic dialogue and cooperate with China to maintain global macroeconomic stability. The four lawmakers responded that, while understanding the importance of promoting regional economic dialogue with Indo-Pacific allies and partners, yet by inviting Lee, a sanctioned human rights violator, is an affront to all those persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its proxies in Hong Kong. They named American citizens Samuel Bickett, John Leung Shing-wan, as well as Hongkongers Jimmy Lai, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, and Joshua Wong Chi-fung (as notable examples). The last paragraph of the letter stated that since the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in 2019 until March 2023, every U.S. Secretary of State has failed to certify that Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy (a prerequisite for Hong Kong to enjoy special treatment under the law). The four lawmakers, therefore, urged Blinken to veto any action that would give China a disproportionate presence at the APEC summit, including barring Lee from entering the United States. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on June 8 that he believes the U.S. will fulfill its commitments to ensure the rightful participation of representatives of all APEC members, including Hong Kong. A spokesperson for the Chief Executives Office said that the host of APEC has the responsibility to invite Lee, and Lees leadership in guiding Hong Kong to staunchly fulfill its responsibility of maintaining national security, is fair and square, unwavering with due confidence. Scholars View of the Situation Benson Wong Wai-kwok, former assistant professor of politics and international relations at Baptist University, said in an interview with the Epoch Times on June 8 that whether Lee or other Hong Kong government officials can enter the United States to attend the APEC meeting may depend on three factors. First, whether the U.S. government will use the entry of Lee and other Hong Kong government officials to show goodwill to the CCP that it is willing to continue the dialogue with the latter. Second, the U.S. still wants Blinken to visit China later this year. An official visit by Lee and other government members to the United States may be one of the terms of exchange. Third, whether the Biden administration sees it is still important to stand with Hong Kong peoples demands against the CCP since 2019. If it does, then inviting Lee, who has been sanctioned by the United States, to participate in the meeting is just beyond understanding. In addition, Wong also questioned whether the U.S. government has misjudged the CCPs show of good intentions. And the invitation of Lee to attend the APEC event is not just an insult to Hong Kong people who are persecuted and oppressed by the NSL, but he also questioned whether the U.S. would betray Hong Kong people. Sanctioned By The US Since 2020 On Aug. 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions on 11 officials from Hong Kong and mainland China, including then Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary of Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu, (now Chief Executive), Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung (now Secretary for Security), together with other senior members of the Hong Kong Police force and senior members of the Liaison Office. Past record also shows on Nov. 17, 2021, the then-chief executive, Carrie Lam, revealed in response to media questions that her application for a U.S. visa was rejected. The chief executives office later added that the reason for the refusal was the US governments sanctions against her. In addition, last years APEC summit was held in Thailand, where CCP leader Xi Jinping and Hong Kong chief executive Lee Ka-chiu both attended. ANALYSIS: Analyzing the Trump Indictment News Analysis On June 9, 2023, special counsel Jack Smith unveiled a 38-count indictment of former President Donald Trump and Waltine Nauta, a personal valet who works at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. The first 31 counts relate to Trump alone and involve charges under the Espionage Act. Of the remaining counts, five charge Trump and Nauta jointly with regard to the concealing of documents subject to a grand jury subpoena. The final two counts, one of which charges Trump and the other Nauta, pertain to making false statements. In total, Trump is charged with 37 counts in the indictment and Nauta with six counts. Much attention has been focused on the 31 counts charged under the Espionage Act. Contrary to what the name Espionage Act indicates, most of the Act is unrelated to espionage. Trump has been charged under section e of 18 U.S.C. 793 of the Act, which makes it unlawful to willfully retain national defense information and to fail to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it. This section of the Espionage Act does not require that Trump share national defense information with anyone, nor even that he has the intention to share it with anyone. It merely requires that he have unauthorized possession of national defense information and that he failed to return it. It also does not explicitly require that the information be classified. Espionage Act Charges Trump is charged with having retained and not returned 31 separate documents containing, among others, information allegedly concerning nuclear capabilities of a foreign country and information concerning military contingency planning of the United States. Smith alleges that, on at least two occasions, Trump shared aspects of national defense documents he improperly retained with outsiders. In the first instance, in July 2021, Trump is supposed to have shared the information with an author who was at the time writing a book and who, with Trumps apparent approval, was recording their conversation. A short transcript of the conversation is cited by Smith and suggests that Trump shared military information with the author because he wanted to debunk public claims made by a senior military official against Trump. That official is reported to be Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The transcript cites Trump as telling the author, This is off the record, except it is like, highly confidential, before adding Secret. This is secret information. With respect to the informations status, Trump is quoted as saying: See as president I could have declassified it Now I cant, you know, but this is still a secret. In a second instance of sharing national defense information, Smith alleges that in August or September 2021, Trump showed a classified map concerning an ongoing conflict in a foreign country to a representative of his political action committee. The representative is not named but Smith alleges that Trump told the representative that he should not be showing him the map and also not to get too close. While the representative appears to be cooperating with Smith, there is no suggestion that there is a recording of this second incident. While these two incidents look very bad for Trump, there is no concrete evidence that Trump showed the parties involved actual national defense information as opposed to just boasting. That said, Smith does not appear to have included the incidents in the indictment for legal reasonsthe Espionage Act does not require that the information was shown to anyonebut rather to shape the public narrative into one of Trump being reckless. It is also noteworthy that Smith did not charge Trump under the Presidential Records Act (PRA), nor did he cite the PRA, which requires that presidential records be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at the end of a presidential administration. Trump is alleged to have taken these records to his Mar-a-Lago estate when he left the White House. In January 2022, after receiving demands from NARA, Trump returned 15 boxes of documents to NARA. These boxes allegedly contained 197 documents that were marked classified. On Feb. 9, 2022, NARA reported the presence of the 197 classified documents to the Department of Justice (DOJ). This led to the FBI opening an investigation of Trump, which in turn led a federal grand jury to issue a subpoena for any remaining documents with classification markings that may have still been in Trumps possession. A point that has been largely overlooked is that the grand jury subpoena was for documents with classification markings, meaning that the actual classification status was irrelevant to what the subpoena sought. This appears to have been a very deliberate choice of words by the DOJ as it negated possible claims by Trump that the documents had been declassified. While Trump may have defenses for the Espionage Act chargesfor instance, by claiming that certain documents did not need to be returned under the PRA, that he was authorized to have the documents, or that NARA itself was involved in packing boxes at the White House that were then moved to Mar-a-Lagothe remaining charges, all of which pertain to Trumps response to the grand jury subpoena, are far more perilous for Trump. As if to underscore this point, Smith has not charged Trump with any wrongdoing for the timeframe before the grand jury subpoena was issued on May 11, 2022. Although we do not know what would have happened had Trump complied with NARAs request and returned all presidential records between when NARA first demanded them in May 2021 and when the subpoena was issued a year later, the implication is that Trump could have avoided legal problems had he done so. Alleged Process Crimes The most serious legal jeopardy Trump faces relates to alleged process crimes in connection with the grand jury subpoena. Process crimes are crimes against the judicial process, as opposed to underlying crimes. Put another way, the process crimes are about how Trump responded to the subpoena and not about whether or not Trump retained classified documents, nor about whether he shared classified information with anyone. Specifically, Trump and his valet, Nauta, are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, a scheme to conceal, and making false statements. Because these are all process crimes, Trump cannot avail himself of defenses such as that he had the right to retain documents under PRA or that he had declassified all pertinent documents. None of those arguments are relevant since what Trump is charged with are his actions in response to the subpoena. According to Smith, two lawyers for Trump, including Evan Corcoran, told Trump on May 23, 2022, that in order to comply with the subpoena, they would need to search all of the boxes sent to Mar-a-Lago from the White House. According to Smiths indictment, Trump allegedly tried to explore ways of circumventing the subpoena, such as ignoring it or simply claiming that there were no other documents. However, Trump ultimately appears to have agreed to comply with the subpoena and instructed Corcoran to conduct a search of the boxes, which were in a storage room at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. Smith, however, alleges that before Corcoran had a chance to search the storage room, Trump directed Nauta to ferry boxes of documents between the storage room and Trumps private residence. According to Smith, Trump misled Corcoran by moving boxes that contained documents with classification markings so that [Trumps attorney] would not find the documents and produce them to a federal grand jury. Smith alleges that the purpose of what Trump was doing was to keep classified documents [he] had taken with him from the White House and to hide and conceal them from a federal grand jury. Smiths theory is that Trump removed boxes from the storage room so that Corcoran could not search them and so that relevant documents would never be returned to NARA. Smith claims that a total of 64 boxes were moved from the storage room to Trumps residence but only around 30 boxes were returned to the storage room. The net effect, according to Smith, was that Corcoran would not, and indeed could not, have found many of the documents with classification markings that were responsive to the grand jury subpoena. On June 2, 2022, Corcoran conducted a two-and-a-half-hour search of the storage room, during which he found 38 documents with classification markings. On the following day, Corcoran returned those documents to NARA via the FBI. Subpoena Certification While it was Corcoran that conducted the search, he did not sign the subpoena certification himself. A subpoena certification is meant to certify that a subpoena has been complied with. Instead, Corcoran asked another lawyer for Trump, Christina Bobb, to come to Mar-a-Lago to sign the certification. According to Smith, Bobb was brought in at the last minute, had not performed any search of the boxes, had not reviewed the subpoena, and had also not reviewed the 38 documents recovered by Corcoran. It is not known why Bobb agreed to sign the certification under penalty of perjury when she apparently knew nothing about the matter. Specifically, Bobb attested to the fact that A diligent search was conducted of the boxes that were moved from the White House to Florida when, according to Smith, some of those boxes were never searched as they had been moved to Trumps residence. Bobbs claim that Any and all responsive documents accompany this certification was also shown to be incorrect after the FBI apparently found an additional 102 documents with classification markings during the Aug. 8, 2022, Mar-a-Lago raid. Consequently, Smith has now charged Trump with various concealment offenses with respect to moving the boxes around, as well as with lying to the grand jury and the FBI because he allegedly knew that the certification signed by Bobb was untrue. According to Smith, Trump knew, because Trump had directed that boxes be removed from the Storage Room before [Corcoran] conducted the June 2, 2022 search for documents with classification markings, so that [Corcoran]s search would not and did not include all of Trumps boxes that were removed from the White House. As for Nautas role in the alleged concealment, it is not clear from the indictment how or why Nauta would have known about the grand jury subpoena or the incorrect subpoena certification. But based on the final count of the indictment, which accuses Nauta of lying to the FBI when he claimed he had not moved any boxes to Trumps residence, it appears that Smith surmises that Nauta must have been aware of the alleged scheme. Assuming that Smith has security camera footage of Nauta moving boxes from the storage area to Trumps residence, Nauta appears to have little in the way of defenses, at least against the charge of lying to the FBI. Trump is in an arguably better position than Nauta, as he can, and probably will, blame his attorneys. Unlike Nauta, Trump did not speak to the FBI himself. Trump could argue that his lawyers handled the entire matter and that he did not know what the subpoena demanded, nor what the subpoena certification stated. In fact, it is unlikely that Trump had any role in drafting or approving the language used in the certification. Trump could further argue, as he appears to have already done on Fox News, that he had the right to look through the boxes that were under subpoena. He could, for instance, say that he was merely recovering personal items and that he did not remove any documents with classification markings. While Smith appears to know from security camera footage how many boxes were removed from and returned to the storage area, it is unlikely that he knows what, if anything, was taken from those boxes. Trump could claim that Corcoran never explained the parameters of the subpoena and that it was Corcorans task to conduct a diligent search, not Trumps. Similarly, he could argue that Corcoran should not have caused the certification to be signed by Bobb without searching other parts of Mar-a-Lago. He could even argue that Corcorans decision to bring in Bobb to carry out certification at the last minute is an implied admission of wrongdoing on Corcorans part. We do not know what Corcoran will do. He might take all the blame himself or he could agree with Smith that he was misled by Trump. Ultimately, Trumps fate with respect to the alleged process crimes appears to hinge on what Corcoran will tell the jury and whether the jury will believe Corcoran or Trump. What is indisputable is that Trump is in real legal jeopardy. Unlike the flimsy charges brought by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg in April, the charges brought by Smith are serious and appear to be backed by ample documentary evidence. There is also the matter of Nauta, who may decide to testify against Trump in exchange for leniency. This prospect is heightened by the fact that Nauta appears to have no defense against the charge of lying about moving boxes. While these events have now placed Trump in legal peril, it should be borne in mind that no official has ever been pursued with the same zeal as Trump. For instance, it wasnt until years after he left the office of the vice president that NARA became interested in recovering President Joe Bidens classified documents, some of which were later found in his Delaware garage. Similarly, no action was ever taken against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton despite the fact that a trove of documents with classification markings was found on her private email server. At the time, then-FBI Director James Comey infamously claimed that Clinton was extremely careless but that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case. It is beyond doubt that Trump is treated by a very different standard. The Legal Analysis of the Trump Indictment is the topic of an episode of Truth Over News that will air on EpochTV on June 14, 2023. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy notes that until now some world actors have not dared to condemn such a crime of Russia as the undermining of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. Now, unfortunately, we see that at some levels in the world, there is simply a shameful indifference to the ecocide and human tragedy caused by the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. When international organizations that are supposed to protect life on a global scale do not have time to organize and send a rescue mission to the occupied territory even in a week when some world players do not dare to come out even with clear and strong statements that would condemn this new Russian war crime, terrorists are simply fueled by this weakness of the world, this indifference it encourages them, he said in his video address on Saturday. And we have to overcome this. And we will overcome, Zelenskyy added. We are pressing and encouraging so that international organizations and international support come to the part of Kherson region where the occupiers are now, he noted. According to him, as of now, over 3,000 people have already been evacuated in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. But again, it is only a free territory under our control. In the occupied territory, it is only possible to help people in some areas Russian terrorists are doing everything to make the victims of the disaster as many as possible, Zelenskyy said. Russian shelling continues even at evacuation points. Russia does not provide any real help to the people in the flooded areas not for the sake of propaganda, but for the sake of the people ... The Russian state and the Russian leadership should bear separate, fair and strict responsibility for all this, the president stated. He stressed that international organizations should operate in our areas, which we have not yet de-occupied. Every life is important all of Kherson region, all of the south. Every city and village. We will do everything possible and impossible so that help comes to all our people. ANALYSIS: Comparing CNNs 2024 Town Halls: Trump, Haley, Pence Former President Donald Trump (L) speaks at a CNN Town Hall with CNNs Kaitlan Collins at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., on May 10, 2023, in a still from video. (CNN/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) News Analysis Over the span of five weeks, CNN conducted three town halls with GOP presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and former Vice President Mike Penceshowcasing how the network might treat the candidates this election cycle and how the candidates conduct themselves in response to an outlet known to be hostile toward Republicans. The May 10 Trump town hall, moderated by anchor Kaitlan Collins, was as intense as the candidate himself. The event, which featured New Hampshire Republican and undecided voters, began with moderator Kaitlan Collins confronting Trump about the 2020 election, which he continued to say was stolen from him, prompting Collins to rebut every time Trump repeated the claim. Collins also asked him about the aftermath of that election, including his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, when protesters breached the U.S. Capitol as Congress was certifying Joe Bidens victory. For the first 20 minutes or so, the event consisted of questions not related to kitchen-table issue. It felt more like the primary and general election debates, where Trump has a history of being combative, than a town hall. The tone exemplified Trumps demeanor and his love for the spotlight, and CNNs desire to chase ratings, as almost 3.31 million people tuned in. It also demonstrated that CNN has not moved toward the center, which was the goal of now-ousted CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht. Jon Nicosia, a media analyst who was an editor for Mediaite, told The Epoch Times that it wasnt a town hall but rather a slaughter and revenge. In a Twitter direct message, Nicosia went on to say, It has more comparisons to [a] vindictive gladiator fight than anything resembling political discourse. Trump, as an extension of his base, wanted to blow up the network in real-time. (Likely sending countless New York-based journalists to grief counseling afterward) and blew up the C-suite of CNN and Lichts career as a bonus. Licht left CNN on June 7 following unfavorable media coverage, including a 15,000-word June 2 article in The Atlantic. The June 4 event with Haley, moderated by anchor Jake Tapper, felt like a conventional town hall. There was no combativeness between the moderator and the candidate. Tapper and Haley covered a lot of ground and the focus was on issues of importance to everyday Americans, from the economy to foreign policy. Tapper did ask Haley a few questions related to her former boss. The host asked about Trump congratulating North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un on his country joining the World Health Organization executive board. To start, Tapper asked Haley to make her case for the White House and immediately turned it over to the audiencewhereas Collins, in the Trump town hall, had a contentious back-and-forth exchange after she first asked him to make his case for why he should be put back into the Oval Office. Haleys first audience question was about the economy, whereas the first one in the Trump town hall was about his habit of talking about election fraud. Haley stuck to current issues and Tapper was respectful, even asking a handful of softball questions, in what appeared to be CNN dialing it down after the tumultuous session with Trump. The June 7 town hall with Pence, moderated by anchor Dana Bash, was likewise less contentious than the session with Trump. While Pence had an even keel throughout the event, Bash asked a lot of questions about Trump, including the Jan. 6 topic. Pence said said he would be inclined to pardon some of the participants from that day. Bash also asked Pence about the allegations of Trump allegedly mishandling classified material, for which he would later be indicted. Compared to the Haley town hall, the Pence town hall featured more questions about Trump. After the raucous nature of the Trump town hall and how it dramatically accelerated the downfall of now-departed CNN boss Chris Licht, its clear the network took steps such as making clear that the audiences make-up was going to be Republican and the questions would be from their voters (given this is, as of now, about the primary, not necessarily the general election), Curtis Houck, the managing editor of the conservative media watchdog NewsBusters, told The Epoch Times. They also made sure to be more forceful in pressing the candidates, as we saw with Dana Bash to Mike Pence on transgenderism, he continued. Pence stated that transgender surgery should be prohibited for those under the age of 18. Bash pressed Pence on the question of whether the decision for minors to get such surgery should be left to parents given the GOP platform of being in favor of parental rights. Pence, calmly, reiterated his stance. As it pertained to the differences between the town halls, Houck noted that Haley and Pence have far calmer demeanors and are less inclined to get into personal spats with the moderator. And, because its CNN and they still try to find a Trump angle in as many issues and stories as possible, Haley and Pences town halls had at least a moderate focus on Trump (with the latter having Trump hangover most of the event) whereas Trumps town hall was, well, about him, he added. Whereas the Trump town hall got millions of viewers, the one with Haley got 562,000 and the one with Pence 632,000. The ratings proved that Trump is the biggest attraction not only in the GOP field but also on CNN. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Armored Truck Robbed at Rifle Point in South Los Angeles LOS ANGELESDetectives June 11 continued their investigation into the robbery of at least $15,000 from an armored truck at rifle point by three men wearing ski masks in the Hyde Park community of South Los Angeles. The robbery occurred around 11:20 a.m. Saturday on Crenshaw Boulevard west of Florence Avenue, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Drake Madison told City News Service. The men were described as about 6 feet tall, between the ages of 30 and 35. Police said they took about $15,000 and fled in a white SUV eastbound on Florence Avenue. No injuries were reported. The targeted vehicle was a Brinks armored truck parked in front of a 7-Eleven, ABC7 reported. Police did not confirm that the armored truck was owned by Brinks. The LAPDs 77th Street station urged anyone with information about the robbery to call them at 323-786-5075 or 877-527-3247. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go directly to the website. Australian Greens Refine Demands on $10 Billion Housing Fund Labourers work on a house under construction in western Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 2, 2022. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) The Greens are holding firm on their demands for renters as talks continue on the federal governments proposed multibillion-dollar housing fund. Crunch time is approaching for the governments $10 billion housing future fund legislation, which is due to hit the Senate during the upcoming sitting fortnight. The $10 billion would be invested to generate returns that will help subsidise 30,000 affordable homes, with the earnings distributed to housing capped at $500 million a year. The Greens are laying out where they are willing to compromise and where they plan to dig in. The party has been blocking the fund in the hopes of extracting more ambition out of the government. Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather said the party had already made some concessions and was now waiting on Labor to compromise. He told ABC News on June 12 the Greens were willing to budge on the total sum that ends up going towards affordable and social housinga figure it has already halved1but it would need some kind of limitation on rent increases. The party has been calling for a two-year rent freeze as implemented during the pandemic but Chandler-Mather said it would consider national caps on rent hikes at the very least. Asked if the Greens would let go of the rent control issue in exchange for a bigger payout from the housing fund than the $500 million a year, he said one-third of the country living in rentals could not be ignored. Over the weekend I spoke to a pensioner whose rent had gone up over $200 last lease and he said to me, If my rent goes up a single dollar after that, Im probably going to be living on the streets,' Chandler-Mather said. We need to do something on rents because its not sustainable to have unlimited rent increases for the next few years. Rents have been surging, with recent CoreLogic data revealing that rents on housing in major capital cities rose nearly 10 percent in the year to May. Chandler-Mather said he was prepared to move on the quantum of funding going towards affordable and social housing, but the $2.5 billion on the tabledown from $5 billionwas reasonable in the context of the federal budget. I would like to think that actually $2.5 billion is a relatively modest ask in the context of one of the worst housing crises this country has ever seen. The government asserts it has made concessions with the crossbench and that discussions are ongoing. Asked if the government would guarantee extra spending on housing to ensure the bill avoids defeat, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government would do what we can to accommodate concerns from the crossbench. Weve done a heap of that in the course of recent months, but this cant go on forever, he told reporters in Queensland. Its time to put the ambit claims and the political games behind us, its time for the Greens to actually vote for more social and affordable housing and not just say that they believe in it, he said. He also said the fund was not the governments only response to the issue. For example, the federal government has opened up more funding to the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation for 7,000 new social and affordable homes. Californias Suburban Coastal Communities Might Vanish Soon Due to State Policies: Huntington Beach City Attorney As some coastal towns in California are forced to build more housing while some rural areas face fewer demands from the states housing laws, some local leaders say they want to stop high density development from altering their suburban idyllic beach towns. The states basically coming in with these housing mandates and saying, hey, local city councils you cant exercise the discretion that the voters vested you with, you have to make the decisions we tell you to make, Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said on a recent episode of EpochTVs California Insider. Of concern to Gates is whats known as a Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or better known as RHNA, which requires Huntington Beach to zone for 13,368 units of housing in the 2021 through 2029 planning cycle. Its allocation is the largest in the state compared to other cities of the same size and populationwhich is one of the citys arguments in a lawsuit filed May 9 against the state asking for relief from the mandates. Gates said when it comes to the states plan on housing, the unfortunate thing is if this were to succeed you would be looking then at high-density development and high-density living in only 5 percent of the territory, where 95 percent of Californias population lives, leaving the other 95 percent of the territory untouched, he said. With about 81,000 housing units currently in the city, Gates argues that Huntington Beachs requirement to zone for over 13,000 units could lead to an increase in housing stock by as much as 50 percent. The aggressive housing policy by the state of California is having a massive impact on Huntington Beach, he said, also noting that the potential for a 50 percent increase doesnt include the numbers that may come down the pike in the next planning cycle. Of concern to Huntington Beach officials is that of the more than 13,000 units it must zone for, a tad more than 8,000 must be set aside as affordable for individuals earning very low, low, and moderate incomes. Developers usually include around 20 percent affordable units in new projects, to maintain no net loss fiscally. To meet that number, according to city officials, the affordable units would have to be spread out over multiple developmentsmeaning each new development would only include a quarter of units deemed affordablewhich could result, they say, in having to plan for as many as 40,000 units overall. In its lawsuit, Huntington Beach is challenging the states methodology for determining the numbers, pointing to a 2022 report by Californias independent auditor which determined the housing departments 2021 calculations in question were created using a flawed system and are therefore inaccurate. There really are a lot of components to this fight. The mandates themselves are flawed, and the state auditor found that its not even the city of Huntington Beach coming to that conclusion. Its the state coming to that conclusion that the state didnt follow its own housing law when it came to these [mandates], Gates said. According to Gates, Surf Citys lawsuit is a winner. Ive heard from a lot of legal experts, frankly, that our case is remarkable, he said. Local planning and land use issues have always been left up to local decision-making by the city councils, and now that Huntington Beach is pushing back, other cities are watching on the sidelines, he said. What were seeing is an outpouring of support from other cities through the state saying, Hey, keep up the good fight. Let us know if theres anything we can do to join your lawsuit, he said. When it comes to housing, the state is telling duly elected officials what to do, which has been raised as a possible constitutional violation in the citys suit. The states basically coming in with these housing mandates and saying, Hey, local city councils, you cant exercise the discretion that the voters vested you with. You have to make the decisions we tell you to make in order to advance our housing agenda, he said. According to Californias Housing Community Development Departmentwhich develops policies and conducts research and analysis of the states housing needsthe mandatory RHNA is assigned to cities to meet the housing needs of people at all income levels and establishes how affordable those homes should be. But Gates said building more homes has never been proven to increase affordability, so the states plans, he said, are based on theory without evidence to back up their position. A lot of property throughout the state of California is expensive, but simply increasing the supply does not address the problem of affordability, he said. According to Gates, if the state wanted to lower rents by increasing housing then they could target areas with more land to work with. If the state was serious about supply and demand they would target undeveloped areas of the state and come up with an incentive program, he said, which could determine if increased supply actually leads to less demand and better affordability. If California continues on its path, suburban coastal communities like Huntington Beach might turn into transient cities with high-density development like Santa Monica, Gates said, which could mean a less engaged community, less home ownership, and more high rises. It really changes the culture of a community because you dont have people coming in who are as invested in the city, he said. Whereas Huntington Beach right now, where you have a high percentage of home ownership, people who are invested in the community care about the community. Car Vandalized With Pro-LGBT Messages in Glendale A car is seen keyed with pro-LGBT messages in Glendale, Calif., on June 9, 2023. (Courtesy of Glendale Police Department) GLENDALE, Calif.The owner of a car that was parked in Glendale reported June 9 that it was scratched in multiple locations with words in support of the LGBT community and a derogatory word used to attack those of Armenian descent. The cars owner hailed a Glendale Police Department officer Friday afternoon and told officers he parked his car in the 600 block of East Lomita Avenue, near Glendale Avenue, at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday and returned Friday morning. He said he found his car had been keyed, according to Sgt. Victor Jackson, the departments public information officer. There were scratches on the passenger side, rear panel, roof, and hood, Jackson said. A car is seen keyed with pro-LGBT messages in Glendale, Calif., on June 9, 2023. (Courtesy of Glendale Police Department) ITS OK TO BE QUEER, PRIDE, STOP HATING, and LBGTQ were among the phrases scratched into the paint, along with a derogatory word used to attack those of Armenian descent that police did not disclose, Jackson said. Detectives from the departments Robbery/Homicide Unit, which investigates hate crimes, immediately began an investigation, according to Jackson. The car was taken into police custody for forensic testing, Jackson said. Glendale has one of the nations largest populations of people of Armenian descent. The discovery of the vandalism came three days after a melee broke out outside the Glendale Unified School District headquarters, where a resolution to designate June as Pride Month was under consideration by the school board. Glendale Police Chief Manuel Cid on Wednesday blamed agitators on both sides of the issue of teaching children about sexual identities in school for inciting violence. Catholic Hospital Takeover by State Authorities Driven by Ideology: Law Professor A generic view of Calvary Hospital in Canberra, Australia on May 11, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) The ACT governments move to take over Calvary Hospital, a Catholic institution, is driven by ideology rather than operational concerns, says law professor Joanna Howe. If this decision was just about efficiency, then the government would have its sights set on Canberra Hospital [the largest hospital in the ACT] which is performing far worse than Calvary in terms of hospital waiting lists and emergency times, the professor at the University of Adelaide, told The Epoch Times. Howe said Calvarys opposition to providing abortion services was emblematic of this ideological push from the Australian Capital Territorys (ACT) Labor-Green government. We can also see that the Greens and Labor have been waging a campaign against Calvary because it wont provide abortions due to its institutional conscientious objection, she said. We see that the ACT parliamentary report released a month before the decision to compulsorily acquire Calvary has a specific section attacking the hospital on spurious grounds that the CEO of Calvary later rejected entirely, Howe added. This decision tramples over property rights, it breaks a 76-year contract, and it sets a terrifying precedent that the ACT government can go after individuals and institutions simply because it doesnt agree with them. Thats what this decision is about. Its about ideology. The takeover is currently tied up in a legal battle, with Calvary Health Care submitting an injunction bid to the local Supreme Court to halt the process. ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum is deliberating the matter, confirming the court will finalise its decision on June 13 at the very latest. Should the injunction be granted, it is likely that the hospitals formal acquisition date will be pushed back. Should it be denied, the takeover will go ahead on its current set date of July 3. The ACT government is waiting on the courts decision but said it was moving ahead with renovation work at Calvary. The plan to consolidate our public hospitals and create a single network will allow us to better coordinate our health services, distribute resources effectively, strengthen the capacity of our workforce, plan infrastructure on a territory-wide basis, and improve health outcomes for all Canberrans, said ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr in comments obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Christian Organisations Need Confidence to Operate: Senator Victorian Senator Ralph Babet says the ACT government needs to ensure religious institutions are safe from bureaucratic encroachment and that halting Calvarys takeover should be the first step. The ACT governments unprecedented decision to take over Calvary Hospital sets a dangerous precedent that should worry all Christian organisations, he said in a statement to The Epoch Times. If the Labor-Greens government can walk in and assume control of a Christian hospital, will schools be next? Labor-Green politicians will no doubt claim that their takeover of Calvary Hospital is a special case and does not represent a new anti-Christian policy. Babet also said the decision will undermine the confidence of Catholic organisations to provide services in Australia. The decision to take control of Calvary breaks a 120-year agreement between the Catholic Church and the state, allowing the quality, faith-based healthcare provider to operate. The acquisition of Calvary is a dangerous first step towards the takeover of the Church by the state and sets a worrying precedent. Religious Affiliation on the Decline in Australia The acquisition comes amid changing attitudes towards religion and faith-based institutions in Australia. The 2021 national Census revealed that 10 million Australians had zero affiliation with any faith. The data showed a major reduction in adherents of over a million self-declared Christians since the 2016 census. In 1971, Christians represented 86.2 percent of the Australian population, in 2021, that number was just 43.9 percent. The ACT Labor-Green government has worked to appeal to a younger, educated voter base more concerned with issues such as climate change and equality, rather than religious rights. The government has moved initiatives such as removing federally funded religious chaplains from public schools and extending mandatory reporting requirements for religious ministers. In an interview with the National Secular Lobby in late 2021, ACT Chief Minister Barr outlined his governments stance. People should be able to enjoy freedom from religion. This does not impact, in any way, others freedom to practice their religion. I suspect it will be another decade or so before many other politicians will make similar observations. Generational change is required in this regard. Colorados Most Destructive Wildfire Caused by Embers From Old Fire, Sparks From Power Line Homes burn as a wildfire rips through a development near Rock Creek Village, near Broomfield, Colo. on Dec. 30, 2021. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo, File) BOULDER, Colo.Embers from a smoldering scrap wood fire set days earlier outside a home used by a Christian religious communal group along with a sparking power line caused a 2021 Colorado wildfire fanned by high winds that destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and left two people dead, authorities said Thursday. Authorities spent 18 months investigating and determined criminal charges were not warranted for either The Twelve Tribes that occupied the home or the utility in charge of the power line, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said at a news conference. If we were to tell you today we are filing charges, it would be wrong and unethical, Dougherty said. The Dec. 30, 2021, blaze in heavily populated suburbs between Denver and Boulder caused $2 billion in damage, making it the most destructive in Colorado history. Two people were also found dead after what was known as the Marshall Fire. The inferno erupted following months of drought amid a winter nearly devoid of snow and fed on bone-dry grassland surrounding fast-growing development in the area near the Rocky Mountain foothills. It spread rapidly in winds that gusted up to 100 mph (160 kph) in places. For one woman who lost her home and watched the news conference, seeing photos and hearing about the fire all over again was almost as difficult as the fires immediate aftermath. On top of trying figure out how it started, all this just stirs up all the same emotions. It makes you nauseous in re-remembering everything, Barba Hickman said. The scrap wood fireburied by residents Dec. 24 in a manner approved by firefighters who stopped by that day to investigatewas one cause when the powerful winds uncovered the buried embers six days later, Sheriff Curtis Johnson said at the news conference. Once they realized there was a fire and it was spreading, they attempted to put it out, but the winds were quickly spreading the flames faster than they could put it out, said Johnson, who lost his home in the blaze and teared up during the news conference. A loose Xcel Energy power line caused a separate fire less than half a mile (1 kilometer) away around the same time, Johnson said. The two fires combined to cause the massively destructive blaze. Xcel Energy strongly objected to the findings of the investigation, contending in a statement that it didnt have a chance to review what the company called flawed analyses. We strongly disagree with any suggestion that Xcel Energys power lines caused the second ignition, said a statement from spokesman Tyler Bryant. We operate and maintain our electric system consistent with leading energy service practices. A worker at a Boulder deli run by The Twelve Tribes declined to comment or give their name Thursday when The Associated Press visited the restaurant. Members of the groupa Christian religious community thought to have 2,000 to 3,000 members worldwidehave repeatedly declined to discuss the fire or what happened since the 2021 blaze. The fire that destroyed swaths of houses in the cities of Superior and Louisville, neighboring towns about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Denver, is blamed for the death of a 69-year-old man who lived near where investigators believed the fire started. The remains of a 91-year-old woman, who was last seen trying to rescue her dogs from her home in Superior, were also found. Thousands of residents were at home the day before New Years Eve and used the suburban areas extensive road network to escape amid smoke, flames and blowing embers, which spread the fire in the wind. Shifting winds caused the skies to turn from clear to smoky and then back again in an area filled with middle- and upper-middle class subdivisions surrounded by shopping centers, parks, and schools. As smoke filled the parking lot of a Costco warehouse store and debris whirled around, a sheriffs deputy ordered people inside to leave their carts, evacuate the sprawling building and head toward Denver, away from the fire. Within hours, it destroyed 1,084 homes and seven commercial buildings, and damaged nearly 200 structures. Old coal mines that smoldered underground in the area could not be ruled out as playing a role in the fire, but were not deemed to be part of the cause, investigators said. The area includes an abandoned coal field where two underground fires, fueled by coal deposits, have slowly burned over the years. The fire, which spanned 9.4 square miles (24 square kilometers), ranks as the most destructive in state history in terms of homes and other structures destroyed and damaged. The second-most destructive fire erupted in 2013 outside Colorado Springs, destroying 489 homes and killing two. A lawsuit filed against Colorados largest utility, Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, alleged that sparks from a power line started the blaze. It says witnesses saw a fire igniting near a power line in the area identified by investigators, with one witness videoing sparks flying from a malfunctioning power line and igniting a fire on the ground. Hickmans husband expressed frustration the fires cause wasnt pinned down more definitively. It doesnt really provide any answers that help us. I guess I dont know, it kind of leaves it open in my mind, Rex Hickman said. The Hickmans said they might be interested in joining litigation against Xcel Energy to try to recover costs, pointing to a California utilitys 2019 settlement for wildfire damages. For now, the Hickmans have been settling into their new home in Charlottesville, Virginia, where they built a new home using insurance money. They plan to sell their vacant lot in Colorado. We were looking to get away from the fires in the West, and I have asthma pretty badly. The constant fires every summer is one of the reasons for us moving on, Barba Hickman said. The investigation took a long time for what was announced, but the decision not to pursue criminal charges seems appropriate, said Barney Thinnes, another homeowner who has had to rebuild. Im with the sheriff. I just want to move forward with the whole thing, Thinnes said. DA Drops Charges Against Man Arrested While Preaching at Pennsylvania Pride Event 'A crime had not occurred,' Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said Damon Atkins is arrested during the annual pride flag raising at city hall in Reading, Pa., on June 3, 2023. (Courtesy of Matthew Wear) Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams has withdrawn charges against a man who was arrested when he arrived to preach Christianity at a city LGBT pride event in Reading, Pennsylvania. There was insufficient evidence that would warrant a charge of disorderly conduct, and, quite frankly, when you consider all the nuances of the First Amendment, freedom of speech, we also believe that under the facts and circumstances, it was not appropriate for charges to be filed as a result of this incident, Adams told The Epoch Times. I think that the officer was trying to prevent a disturbance from occurring. At the point that he interceded, a crime had not occurred. Street preacher Damon Atkins, 41, wore a T-shirt that said You must be born again. He held a two-sided sign with Bible quotes. One side said, Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life, and the other said, Jesus said go and sin no more. He would have preached in a loud voice to the crowd gathered across the street from where he stood, but he did not get an entire sentence out before an officer with the Reading Police Department arrested Atkins, put him in handcuffs, and removed him from the pride event. When he was removed, people at the LGBT event cheered. Video Exonerates Atkins The description of the arrest, written by police in the criminal complaint, does not match the video of what happened. He began to yell to the people at the event. I immediately approached him and told him not to yell comments intended to disrupt the event. Atkins said he understood, the complaint said. Less than a minute later he resumed yelling derogatory comments to the people at the event. Because I had already given him a warning, I immediately told him he was being arrested for disorderly conduct, the complaint said. But video shows Atkins was not yelling before the officer approached him, and he was arrested before he was able to speak a full sentence. The First Amendment protects speech, religion, and the right of the people to peaceably assemble. The group Reading Pride Celebration partnered with the city of Reading for the June 3 ceremony to raise the progress pride flag over city hall. The progress pride flagwhich is similar to the familiar rainbow flag, with the addition of a triangle of stripes on the side representing transgender and racial minority LGBT individualsis flown at Reading City Hall during June, which has been designated nationally as pride month. Members of the LGBT community had gathered for speeches and to witness the flag raising before marching in a short parade to a park where they had a day of festivities. Many were dressed in rainbow colors. Some men were dressed in drag. On the other side of the street from city hall, four or five people arrived to either protest the event or to preach. City police stood in the street ready to keep peace. A progress pride flag is held above the crowd of LGBT activists during a rally in West Hollywood, Calif., on April 9, 2023. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images) Witness to Arrest Street preacher Matthew Wear arrived before Atkins and preached for about 10 minutes, he told The Epoch Times. When police told him to stop, he did stop preaching and started recording video on his phone. About that time, Atkins arrived. That is how Wear got the video of police arresting Atkins. The pride event took place on June 3, and Adams said he learned about the arrest the evening of June 6. The following day, June 7, his office withdrew the charges. As soon as we were notified of this, and had an opportunity to review body cam, and the videos, and analyze the facts along with law, we knew right away that a crime had not been committed, Adams said. That happens. Its not the first time, its not going to be the last time, that prosecutors review decisions that are made by police officers, and many times we have a different determination, as we are trained in the law, and police are not trained in the law. Disruptions at West Coast Ports Continue Amid Labor Negotiations Shipping containers are unloaded from a ship at a container terminal at the Port of Long Beach-Port of Los Angeles complex, in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 7, 2021. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo) Continuing labor disruptions at West Coast ports are causing concerns, as peak shipping season begins. Work slowdowns, due ongoing contract negotiations, have particularly affected cargo-processing operations at the two key California major ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Dockworkers belonging to the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have continued to disrupt operations at West Coast ports, according to a June 5 statement by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents the shipping industry in the region. The PMA and ILWU have been in talks over a new contract since May 10, 2022, while the unions collective-bargaining agreement expired last July. Meanwhile, both parties have yet to yield an agreement. The ILWU represents 22,000 workers, at 29 ports on the West Coast, who would be covered by the collective-bargaining agreement if a deal were struck with the PMA. Its important to understand that West Coast dockworkers kept the economy going during the pandemic and lost their lives doing so, said ILWU International president Willie Adams in a June 3 tweet. We arent going to settle for an economic package that doesnt recognize the heroic efforts and personal sacrifices of the ILWU workforce that lifted the shipping industry to record profits. The PMA has accused the ILWU of coordinating a series of work disruptions that slowed down operations at at key marine terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and elsewhere on the West Coast, including the ports of Oakland and Seattle. Union leaders are implementing many familiar disruption tactics from their job action playbook, including refusing to dispatch workers to marine terminals, slowing operations, and making unfounded health and safety claims, said the PMA in a statement. The PMA further accused the ILWU of declining to dispatch lashers who secure cargo for trans-Pacific voyages at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which caused ships filled with American exports to sit idle at the docks and unable to depart. The PMA said that the behavior by the union slowed down operations at those ports from June 2 to June 7, but that conditions had improved by the end of last week. Since then, the ILWU slowed down operations at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and shut down cargo operations in Seattle over the weekend. Adams denied that there was a shutdown, stating in a tweet: Despite what you are hearing from PMA, West Coast ports are open as we continue to work under our expired collective bargaining agreement. He said the union remains committed to bargaining a contract that is fair and equitable and represents the hard work and contributions of its members toward the ongoing success of the multi-billion-dollar shipping industry. The union boss also accused the PMA of using the media to leverage one-sided information in [an] attempt to influence the process. As the situation at the ports worsen, major commercial and industry organizations are now asking the White House to intervene for the sake of the wider U.S. economy. On June 9, Suzanne Clark, president the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, warning his administration about the premeditated and disruptive service actions that are slowing operations at several major West Coast ports during ongoing contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). With continued and potentially expanded service disruptions at these ports heading into peak shipping season, we urge your administration to intervene immediately and appoint an independent mediator to help the two parties reach an agreement that prevents significant economic harm to American families and the economy, wrote Clark. Clark called the service disruptions a familiar tactic by West Coast port union leaders during contract negotiations over the past two decades, in reference to the work slowdowns and 11-day shutdown in 2002, the three-week strike in 2008, and the work slowdowns of 2014. In each case, service disruptions began gradually and then escalated. Government intervention was necessary to resolve two of the last three negotiations, said Clark. She said that those incidents support the necessity of intervention by the administration to prevent a larger economic catastrophe. The Commerce Chamber president said that any serious work stoppage at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach would likely cost the U.S. economy nearly half a billion dollars a day. She warned that a more widespread strike along the West Coast could cost approximately $1 billion per day, based on the losses sustained by the stoppages in 2002. Clark said that the West Coast ports represents an economic value of 12.5 percent of U.S. GDP, and are responsible for moving over 50 percent of all U.S. imports. The Commerce Chamber believes that the conflict would be best solved with a mutual agreement reached between both parties, but is concerned that an impasse over wages and benefits will hold up any such deal. Clark pleaded for President Biden to appoint an independent mediator to help the parties reach a voluntary agreement as the best way to solve the port crisis. As shown above, the ILWU and PMA have supported similar solutions in years past, and it is a solution championed by Republican and Democratic administrations, Clark noted. This step is necessary to avoid potentially billions of dollars in economic damage to the American economy before it occurs. In addition, we urge your administration to continue engaging directly with both parties and to consider additional steps that may be necessary in the event of a widespread work stoppage, she added. Dog Uncovers One Ton of Meth Worth $4 Million in Veggie Big Rig at Border A U.S. Customs and Border Protection canine team checks automobiles for contraband in the line to enter the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Ysidro, Calif., on Oct. 2, 2019. (Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images) CALEXICO, Calif.A motorist was taken into custody after attempting to smuggle a ton of methamphetamine worth more than $4 million across the border in a tractor-trailer containing Brussels sprouts, authorities said June 10. The arrest was reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers June 8 after they stopped a 51-year-old man driving a tractor-trailer. Smugglers are constantly utilizing innovative methods to conceal narcotics, said Roque Caza, Calexico Area Port Director. At the checkpoint, an inspection was conducted, and the CBP requested a narcotics detector dog to screen the cargo, resulting in the finding of 148 packages concealed within the floor and roof of the trailer. The narcotics were tested and identified as methamphetamine, weighing over 2,000 pounds, with an estimated street value of about $4.3 million, according to CBP Officers. By combining officer intuition and utilizing advanced technology, officers were able to make a notable discovery within a shipment of produce. Excellent work by our CBP Officers, said Caza. The driver was detained and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) handed 17 vehicles from the assets of relatives of Viktor Medvedchuk and Taras Kozak over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "The employees of the SBI donated 17 cars seized from the relatives of Medvedchuk and Kozak to the needs of one of the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: 12 trucks, a truck crane, a minibus, a van and two SUVs. Their cost is $ 1.1 million," the SBI website reported on Monday. These vehicles "belonged to an enterprise of the relatives of Medvedchuk and Kozak, who were involved in financing Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. They are also the subjects of criminal proceedings regarding illegal sand mining at two quarries in Lviv region, in which the cars were seized in April 2022." "The State Bureau of Investigation ensured that the vehicles got into the Armed Forces of Ukraine and helped our defenders in the fight against the enemy," the report says. Downing Street Defends Parliamentary Committee Against Attacks From Boris Johnson Allies Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg delivers his keynote address during the National Conservatism conference at the Emmanuel Centre in London, on May 15, 2023. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Downing Street has expressed confidence in the work of a parliamentary committee which has been the subject of attacks by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his allies. Johnson quit as an MP on Friday, accusing the House of Commons Privileges Committee of trying to drive him out of Parliament and calling its investigation into the partygate scandal a kangaroo court. Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks official spokesman said on Monday: This is a properly set-up committee that the House has voted to carry out their work. The government will in no way traduce or criticise the work of the committee who are doing exactly what Parliament has asked them to do. Boris Johnson giving evidence to the Privileges Committee at the House of Commons, London, on March 22, 2023. (House of Commons/UK Parliament via PA Media) Witch Hunt The Privileges Committee, which is led by Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority, has been investigating whether Johnson misled Parliament when he repeatedly claimed that COVID-19 lockdown rules had been followed at all times in Downing Street during the pandemic. In a statement on Friday, Johnson wrote, I have received a letter from the Privileges Committee making it clearmuch to my amazementthat they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of Parliament. Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts, he alleged, adding, This is the very definition of a kangaroo court. Johnson also claimed the probe has been a witch hunt intended to take revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result, despite the fact that the Privileges Committee has a Tory majority and includes arch-Brexiteer Sir Bernard Jenkin. He said he was bewildered and appalled that he could be forced out, anti-democratically, by a committee with such egregious bias. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Johnsons close ally Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said the committees report was clearly partisan and biased. He said the committee never had any credibility as an impartial tribunal and lamented that its Conservative members ignored the politicking of the Labour chairman and naively went along with her leadership. No One Indispensable Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove offered his support to the Privileges Committee, rejecting Johnsons characterisation of it as a kangaroo court. He told the BBC that it is a properly constituted committee in the House of Commons and the people who served on that committee were asked by the House of Commons collectively to do a particular job. Its a job that has required careful work on their part and no little effort to make a series of significant judgments. So I have respect for the work that they have done. And I think that we need to respect again the integrity of the process, and wait until the report is published before then debating its conclusions and the consequences. Talking to ITV, Gove said Johnsons departure is a loss but none of us are indispensable. There are big figures in politics who depart the scene, and then there is a new generation that takes things forward. He said that while Johnson brought colour and panache to British politics, Sunak is a better prime minister as he is bringing a professionalism and focus to government. Bang Out of Order Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant said attacks on MPs investigating the former prime minister are bang out of order. Bryant, who chairs the Privileges Committee but recused himself from the inquiry, criticised Johnsons allies for their confected anger and called the attacks absolutely appalling and preposterous. We have enough nastiness in politics without people stirring this up. People like Jacob Rees-Mogg should be utterly ashamed of themselves, he said. PA Media contributed to this report. EXCLUSIVE: Report Alleges Catholic Hospitals Linked to Transgender Surgeries, Abortions Lepanto Institute president and founder and Michael Hichborn protests against the actions of the Catholic Church. (Courtesy of Michael Hichborn) The largest Catholic health system in the nation has allegedly funded and performed transgender surgeries and other gender-affirming medical interventions, defying traditional Catholic teachings, according to an investigative report released to The Epoch Times. The report by the Lepanto Institute, a Catholic research and education organization, released on June 12, exposes CommonSpirit Health, a Catholic entity, for its alleged performance and funding of transgender surgeries and therapies, including prescribing and providing cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers to patients. A promotional video accompanying the report asserts: The transgender craze has seized the world by the throat and is choking the life out of the bedrock of civilization: the family. And this is happening right under the nose of the Vatican. In the 64-page expose CommonSpirit and the Sex-Change Industry, author Michael Hichborn, founder and president of the Lepanto Institute, explains the connections within the Catholic health network in the United States and its direct ties to the Vatican. Hichborn, a self-described lifelong Catholic, said hes both saddened and horrified by the moral decline within factions of the Catholic Church and that he wants to make sure that Catholics are Catholics and that those who operate in the name of the Catholic Church do so in line with all of her teachings. A doctor works at Dignity Health-St. Mary Medical Center, a Catholic hospital that allegedly provides puberty blockers for children and other transgender services, in Long Beach, Calif., on Dec. 17, 2020. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) He claims that these medical interventions are happening in gross defiance of official values held by the Catholic Church, which has traditionally rejected transgenderism, homosexuality, abortions, and contraceptionall of which the report alleges that CommonSpirit is promoting at dozens of hospitals and medical facilities in the United States. In addition to performing sex-change operations, CommonSpirit provides employee benefits that cover sex-change operations, transgender hormone treatments, and even puberty blockers for kids, the report reads. While its not known if CommonSpirit Health has performed transgender surgeries on children, the use of puberty blockers suggests that its treating minors for gender dysphoria in some capacity, Hichborn told The Epoch Times. The horrifying thing when you start getting into the science of the puberty blockers and the transitional hormones, is they do permanent damage to these kids. They talk about how puberty blockers just kind of put a pause on puberty or pubertal development, and thats a lie, he said. It doesnt put a pause on it; it actually damages these kids to the point that many of them wind up being sterile. CommonSpirit Health derives its Catholic identity from the Catholic Health Care Federation, whose authority is granted by the Vaticans Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in Rome, according to the report. The only authority in the church that has the ability to judge the actions of CommonSpirit is the Vatican, Hichborn told The Epoch Times. Because CommonSpirit is a subsidiary of the Catholic Health Care Federation, it is subject only to the Pope and the Popes governing bodies in Rome. IRS 990 forms confirm not only that CommonSpirit Health benefits from religious exemption tax breaks but also that the organization is part of the Catholic Church, he said. CommonSpirit has allegedly promoted the LGBT agenda, including transgender ideology and transitioning children, in its podcasts and at its conferences; has allegedly raised funds for sex-change surgical equipment; has allegedly performed surgical sterilizations; and, in at least one of its hospitals, has reportedly performed elective abortions, the report states. Pro-life demonstrators gather at the California state capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on April 19, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Felicity Simmons, communications director at CommonSpirit Health, didnt respond to multiple inquiries. On Feb. 1, 2019, CommonSpirit Health published a statement announcing that Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives have come together as CommonSpirit Health to create a new nonprofit Catholic health system in 21 states. The report lists 26 hospitals run by Dignity Health, a CommonSpirit subsidiary, and another 12 operated by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health that offer transgender health care services. Two of the hospitalsSaint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco and Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattleallegedly perform sex-change surgeries. Included in the list of surgical procedures provided by CommonSpirits Saint Francis Memorial Hospital are facial and body reconstructive surgeries to make the individual appear to be more masculine or feminine, genital reconstruction procedures, vocal alteration surgeries, and a host of other abominations, the report reads. The Gender-Affirming Surgery section of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health website openly states that the hospital group performs top surgery, body contouring procedures, and a variety of facial surgery options. Saint Francis Memorial Hospital states on its About Us page on the Dignity Health website, As CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all. According to a historical timeline on the website and included in the report, Dr. Edward Falces performed the first-ever transgender surgery in the United States at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in 1966. It was the very first one, Hichborn said. A bottle of testosterone used for transgender patients. (Courtesy of Daisy Strongin) Over the years, more doctors began performing transgender surgeries, and by 2016, the Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Gender Institute was established. In 2019, the hospital hosted San Franciscos first medical conference on transgender health, marking the public launch of its Gender Institute with Transgender only surgeons. Dozens of Catholic hospitals in California say their policies are to refer patients to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital for sex-change operations, known as gender-affirming care. The hospital continues to pledge its commitment to the LGBTQA+ community to provide crucial gender-affirming surgeries from expert surgeons to our transgender patients, according to the website. In 2020, the hospital earned an LGBTQ Health Care Quality Leader designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The expose notes that in 2021, after the hospital was acquired by CommonSpirit Health, it received the Surgical Review Corporations Center of Excellence in Gender Confirmation Surgery Accreditation based on the number of surgeries performed at the hospital. Despite CommonSpirits promotional materials and policy statements asserting that its a Catholic organization bound to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, there is nothing Catholic about it, and it is operating in direct contravention of even the most basic notions of medical ethics derived in the Hippocratic Oath to First, do no harm, according to the report. The Lepanto Institutes mission is to expose organizations that claim the Catholicor Christianname but whose actions undermine fundamental Christian beliefs, Hichborn said. The organization chastises dissident and apostate Catholics in politics and other prominent arenas for misrepresenting the faith, stating that its dedicated to the defense of the Catholic Church against assaults from without as well as from within. The very notion that CommonSpirit is able to maintain an identity as a Catholic organization defies every rule of logic and sound Christian principles, Hichborn wrote in the report. CommonSpirit should be completely stripped of its Catholic identity along with all of its Catholic hospital members. God, have mercy on us! The Lepanto Institute has published several reports and articles on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services, which Hichborn says promote and finance the transgender-homosexual agenda. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is not only giving money to organizations that are promoting abortion, contraception, homosexuality and Marxism, but they are lying to the people directly about where that money is going, he said. White House Says China Has Had a Spy Base in Cuba Chinese military ships moored at the port of Havana on Nov. 10, 2015. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images) The White House has confirmed the existence of a Chinese spy base in Cuba that isnt new and predates the current administration, officials said. As weve communicated over the weekend, this is not a new development that Chinas been trying to achieve some intelligence gathering capabilities in Cuba and, frankly, elsewhere in the hemisphere, and that from day one, when we came in, we took this issue seriously, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on June 12. Weve taken some steps to try to mitigate the vulnerability of those activities, he added. Meanwhile, a U.S. lawmaker over the weekend renewed calls for a boycott of Chinese goods following a Wall Street Journal report that claimed that China had struck a deal to build a spy base in Cuba. Previously, both the White House and the Pentagon both had denied that claim. Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on June 8 the Defense Department was not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy stations separately but that it would continue monitoring the countries relations. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the State Department didnt address the reports allegations directly but told The Epoch Times that the department is monitoring and working to counter Beijings efforts to develop military infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere. We cannot speak to this specific report; we are well aware ofand have spoken many times tothe Peoples Republic of Chinas efforts to invest in infrastructure around the world that may have military purposes, including in this hemisphere, the spokesperson said in an email. Due to the sensitivity of the information, Kirby stated that the White House would be unable to provide extensive details about its counterintelligence efforts. The fact that we came out a couple of days later and provided some clarifying information does not mean and should not be taken, as Ive seen in some of the press reporting, as some kind of walk back, Kirby said. A New Cold War Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) said the allegation signals that the Chinese regime is in a new cold war with the United States. Theyre [China is] using every element of national power, diplomatic, informational, military, economic, and espionage to replace us as a global leader, as the world leader, which is their stated aimjust take it from Xis speech to the 20th party Congressand thats why this matters, Waltz said in a June 11 interview on Fox News Fox & Friends program. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) speaks before Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) take the stage during a rally at the Cheyenne Saloon in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 7, 2022. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images) He raised the concern that the spy facility in Cuba90 miles from the United Statesenables China to garner sensitive information from many crucial U.S. military bases. We have some of our most sensitive military bases, actually, in Florida. Our Special Operations Command, our Central Command, responsible for the Middle East, our Southern Command, responsible for all of Central America, and a long-range missile test range that is in the Gulf of Mexico, where we test some of our most sensitive missiles. All of that can be collected by this base in Cuba, Waltz said. The lawmaker called for decoupling from China to push back against the regimes growing aggression. Were going to mobilize the American people to say, When you see Made in China, put it downto pull our supply chains back, to arm our allies, and to fully fund our military. We cant keep describing the world we want to live in, he said. Other lawmakers echoed Waltzs concern. Senate Intelligence Committee members Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a joint statement on June 8: The United States must respond to Chinas ongoing and brazen attacks on our nations security. We must be clear that it would be unacceptable for China to establish an intelligence facility within 100 miles of Florida and the United States, in an area also populated with key military installations and extensive maritime traffic. We urge the Biden administration to take steps to prevent this serious threat to our national security and sovereignty. Journal Report The Journal report cited unnamed officials who said that Beijing had agreed to pay Cuba billions of dollars for the opportunity to build the spy base in the United States backyard. The move is a direct challenge to U.S. security and reminiscent of the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. At that time, the Soviet Union deployed nuclear-capable missiles to Cuba. The United States responded by quarantining the island nation. That crisis was widely seen as the closest the two powers ever came to nuclear war. The two nations eventually backed down, however, as the Soviets removed the missiles from Cuba and the United States removed its missiles from Turkey. The United States didnt reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba, first severed in 1961, until the Obama administration removed the nation from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 2015. Aldgra Fredly and Andrew Thornebrooke contributed to this report. Family Reunification for Ukrainians in Canada to Come Soon: Immigration Minister Ukrainian nationals fleeing the ongoing war in Ukraine arrive at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, on May 29, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes) Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says he plans to announce a long-awaited program to grant permanent residency to Ukrainians with familial ties to Canada soon, but a similar program for other Ukrainians is still a ways away. Canada took the unusual step last year of offering temporary refuge to an unlimited number of Ukrainians fleeing the war, and so far 230,000 have made the journey. The government also promised a family reunification program for Ukrainians that would offer those with familial ties to Canada permanent residency status, but that has yet to be realized. Fraser says those who dont qualify for family reunification can still apply for permanent residency through traditional immigration streams. The government plans to assess whether more needs to be done to secure permanent residency for other Ukrainians over the next year or two. McGill Institute for the Study of Canada director Daniel Beland says the government will need to co-ordinate with the Ukrainian government, since offering permanent residency could signal a lack of optimism about Ukraines ability to beat the Russian military out of its sovereign borders. Female-Only Spa Forced to Accept Transgender Women Reveals Next Move A female-only spa in Washington state that a judge said must accept men if they identify as women says it will fight the ruling. The Olympus Spa plans to enter a new complaint in the case, which centers around a state law that bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, a lawyer representing the business said. We will be amending our complaint, as the court granted leave to do, and continuing to push back against the Human Rights Commission of Washington State, which continues to apply the WLAD in a manner that is neither neutral nor generally applicable, attorney Tracy Tribbett Samson of the Pacific Justice Institute told The Epoch Times via email. Washingtons Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) was cited in a complaint filed by a man who identifies as a woman against the business, which has locations in Tacoma, Washington, and Lynnwood, Washington. The spa wasnt abiding by the law because it refused to provide services to a transgender woman with male genitalia, the man claimed. The Washington Human Rights Commission agreed, directing the spa to remove language that stated that it would only serve biological women. Spa owners, workers, and patrons sued in response, arguing that the determination infringed on their constitutional rights relating to their religious beliefs. Visiting U.S. District Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein, a Carter appointee, recently ruled against the plaintiffs. The state law does not by its terms favor a particular religion or the non-exercise of religion, Rothstein ruled, saying later that the plaintiffs also failed to prove infringement on free association and free speech claims. The commissions direction on the biological women language was only incidental to the regulation of discriminatory conduct being carried out under WLAD, according to the judge. On free association, the only association the business showed was its female-only policy, the judge said. The court does not minimize the privacy concerns at play when employees are performing exfoliating massages on nude patrons. Aside from this nudity, though, there is simply nothing private about the relationship between Olympus Spa, its employees, and the random strangers who walk in the door seeking a massage, she wrote. Nor is there anything selective about the association at issue beyond Olympus Spas biological women policy. The Court therefore has little difficulty concluding that the personal attachments implicated here are too attenuated to qualify for constitutional protection. Standing The commission had asked for a dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked standing. Rothstein said the arguments were wrong. Standing requires plaintiffs to show an injury thats traceable to a defendant, in this case the commission, and thats likely to be redressed with requested relief. A pre-litigation agreement reached between the business and the commission requires continued compliance with the terms of the agreement, including not reimplementing the biological women policy. The commission threatened legal action if the terms werent followed. That constitutes an injury, Rothstein said. The injury is traceable because of the threat, according to the judge. And she said the problem would likely be addressed by a favorable decision. The relief Plaintiffs request would redress the injury at issue because it would declare application of the WLAD to Olympus Spas biological women policy unconstitutional. And an order enjoining future enforcement would obviously preclude the Commission from penalizing that policy, Rothstein wrote. The third standing element is met. While Rothstein ruled in favor of the plaintiffs for standing, she rejected all of their claims. She did, however, grant a request to let the plaintiffs amend their complaint, over opposition from the commission. The Commission does not argue (and thus has not shown) that Plaintiffs intend to amend their complaint in bad faith or that permitting an amended complaint will result in undue delay, Rothstein said. She also found that there were no indications that amending the complaint would be futile. Lawyers for the defendants havent responded to requests for comment. The commission hasnt commented on the latest ruling. Plaintiffs have 30 days from the order, entered on June 5, to update the filing, with no limitations on the updates. Tribbett said the plaintiffs would work to make their case. The State can claim no interest in the health, peace, safety, and general welfare which is served by forcing women to be naked in front of men or pre-operative transgender women, she said. The law has long recognized restrictions on nudity between the sexes as reasonable, and the interests at stake between two protected parties are poorly served without proper time, place, and manner limits. Olympus Spa is quasi-public in that it has never been open to all people at all times. Women have been the exclusive clientele of Olympus Spa, always. The case is Olympus Spa et al. v. Andreta Armstrong, case number 2:22-cv-00340-BJR in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. First Lady Jill Biden Takes Center Stage in 2024 Fundraising Efforts President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden return to the White House in Washington on May 30, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) First lady Jill Biden is gearing up to raise funds for President Joe Bidens reelection campaign, working toward securing a second term for her husband. This year, following her return from a six-day trip abroad, the first lady is embarking on her first solo trip for the 2024 campaign season. She will make a three-day fundraising tour, with stops in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The primary focus of her visit will be attending four political events, including two in Californias Bay Area, to generate financial support for the presidents campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and Democratic state party committees. Additionally, Jill Biden will join Gabrielle Giffords in Los Angeles to commemorate 30 years of anti-gun violence work by the Giffords Law Center. Giffords, a former Arizona congresswoman, survived a gunshot wound to the head during a constituent event in 2011. Just as she did during the 2020 and 2022 campaigns, the 72-year-old first lady plans to actively engage in the 2024 election cycle. Her involvement will assist the Democratic Party in strengthening its resources and infrastructure while also reminding supporters of the high stakes involved. As the presidents approval ratings remain below 50 percent, the first lady is championing the administrations achievements and legislation, such as COVID-19 relief funds for school reopenings and infrastructure investments. During the fall of 2022, Jill Biden participated in nearly 40 campaign and fundraising events across more than a dozen states. She often appeared alongside candidates facing tough reelection battles, effectively standing in for the president, who is nine years her senior. While Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, Democrats managed to retain the Senate and gained one additional seat in that chamber. With her proactive involvement, Jill Biden aims to bolster Democratic support and advance the presidents agenda, reinforcing the importance of electing more Democrats to Congress in the coming election. Other Democrat Candidates As more candidates declare their campaigns for 2024, Joe Biden faces not only Republican challengers but several Democrats who hope to take the Oval Office. In February, 2020 presidential candidate and author Marianne Williamson announced her candidacy, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced several months later in April. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, is known as a vaccine skeptic and a critic of corporate influence over politics. The Democrat candidate has also been vocal about his support for the Constitution, including gun rights. Kennedy, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, told The Epoch Times when asked about his stance on gun rights, I support the Constitution, and that includes the Second Amendment. Im not going to take anybodys guns away, he said. I think at this point in history all that would do is to increase this toxic polarization its part of our Constitution, the Second Amendment as the Supreme Court has interpreted it. The candidate has also been a longtime critic of pharmaceutical products potential damage, voicing concern about the role psychiatric drugs might plan in mass shootings. Kennedy also stated that he would end the RussoUkrainian conflict as soon as possible if he won his bid for the presidency. He said he would advocate for the implementation of the Minsk Accords, which sought a peaceful resolution to territorial disputes between Russia and Ukraine. Republican Candidates On the Republican side of the political spectrum, former President Donald Trump announced his campaign last November, days after the 2022 midterm elections. Next came former UN Ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who announced her candidacy in February of 2023, followed just days later by entrepreneur and political commentator Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christi, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have all thrown their hats in the ring within the last few months as Republican contenders. Talk radio host and 2021 California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence have also said theyd like to have a shot at the presidency. However, along with Trump, the leading Republican candidate has been Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is already locked in a battle with the former president to take the Republican nomination. DeSantis is widely thought to be one of the most conservative governors in Florida, taking the initiative to strengthen border security as well as signing into law legislation that bans sensitive topics about sexuality and gender for the classrooms of children in the third grade and below. The Florida governor has also participated in transporting illegal immigrants to other states, such as California, pointing to their sanctuary jurisdictions as part of the problem in the nations illegal immigration crisis. These notable candidates do not make up the entirety of the presidential field. The Federal Elections Commission lists more than 400 candidates who have filed to run for president and submitted financial reports. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Foreign Correspondents Club Fears Violating National Security Law, Says All Future Press Statements Require Legal Review Before Release The Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) recently announced that its future public statements would be reviewed by lawyers who have experience handling national security cases and international media to ensure that the club will not violate National Security law. Lee Williamson, FCCs new chairman, said any statement made by the FCC must also be approved by 75 percent of the board members before public issuance. Williamson added that the new guideline would be open for all club members to view, but photographing or sharing the document would be prohibited. Williamson also mentioned that FCC had hired lawyers to advise on the Hong Kong National Security Law. He added the new system does not mean a decrease in the number of announcements made or procedure delays. Williamson said since FCC is not a news agency, there is no rush or deadline to meet. Therefore, FCC will ensure statements are only published after all facts have been checked. In addition to statement release, FCC will provide training and work with the Hong Kong Journalist Association and other international foreign press associations. Later, FCC will release an investigation report on members press freedom status. When asked whether the FCC would issue a statement if a reporter were arrested under the Hong Kong National Security Law, Williamson said he would not comment on hypothetical questions, saying only that the FCC would speak out regardless of what the reporter did, as long as it was assessed that the reporters journalism was being hampered. The FCCs voice could make a difference. The FCC issued a statement on May 29 asking the government to explain why the online media Hong Kong Free Press was unable to cover the governments National Security Education Day event on April 15. The statement said the incident had raised concerns about the future of press freedom in Hong Kong, which is enshrined in Article 27 of the Basic Law. Human Rights Awards Scrapped In April 2022, FCC announced the suspension of the Human Rights Press Awards amid the pressure of National Security Law and later said that the School of Journalism of the University of Arizona would take over hosting the award. Earlier this year, the FCC accepted the national security clause in the contract for the renewal of the Hong Kong governments lease. It has since been less vocal about press freedom in Hong Kong and held several events related to Chinas economic development. On May 27, FCC screened the Chinese documentary Waking the Sleeping Grape and a Chinese red wine-tasting event. The topic of the evening was whether China would become a super country or an empire of wine production, making the Chinese winery dream come true. The FCC event invited pro-CCP guests (CY) Leung Chun-ying, former Hong Kong Chief Executive and Vice Chairperson of the CCP top advisory body, and Raymond Yip, former Trade Development Council Vice President. On its website, FCC said it was delighted about their attendance. Before that, FCCs activities and speakers were more diversified and critical. For instance, FCC was often critical of issues in China, such as internet surveillance, human rights, and labor rights. FCC also invited government officials to attend these events. Hong Kong National Party convener Chan Ho-tin, Han Donfang, founder of China Labour Bulletin, and former Tiananmen protest student leader, Wuerkaixi, were among its keynote speakers. In 2018, Leung, who was still Chief Executive then, along with pro-CCP media Ta Kung Pao, Wei Po, and other pro-Beijing camps, went after FCC for its invitation of former Hong Kong National Partys convener Chan Ho-tin to speak at its event. Leung and other state followers accused the FCC of spreading ideas of Hong Kong independence. They also demanded the government re-examine FCCs rental lease. In response, several media groups, plus FCC and the Hong Kong Journalist Association, urged Leung to stop coercing the FCC. Once critical of FCC, Leung has now become a VIP at FCCs events. This has drawn dissatisfaction from journalists and former FCC executive committee members. Seasoned journalist and former writer of Stand News, Allan Au, described the event as a true disgrace to the craft of journalism. In a post on the FCCs social media platforms, veteran hedge fund manager Edward Chin, who had served on the FCCs Freedom of the Press Committee for five years, said he was incredulous at the FCCs change of face. George Soros Gives Up Control of $25 Billion Empire George Soros answers questions after delivering a speech on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Billionaire financier and political activist George Soros told The Wall Street Journal that he had ceded control of his $25 billion empire to his son, Alex Soros, who suggested that he would be even more politically engaged than his father. George Soros, 92, told the Journal that he had handed the reins of his Open Society Foundations (OSF) to his 37-year-old son. The Democrat megadonor told the outlet that he initially didnt want to cede control of the foundation to any member of his family as a matter of principle. However, he said that he and his son think alike and that hes taking over at the helm of the foundation because hes earned it. Alex Soros told the outlet that hes more political than his father and that hes worried about the prospect that former President Donald Trump might win the 2024 race for the White House. 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, he told the Journal, suggesting that the deep pockets of the Soros organization will be deployed to support presidential campaigns opposing Trump. Philanthropist Alex Soros, son of George Soros, attends an event in New York on June 4, 2013. (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) Alex Soros was quietly elected to the OSF board as its chairman in December 2022, per Reuters. He now directs political activity as president of Soross political action committee. We are going to double down on defending voting rights and personal freedom at home and supporting the cause of democracy abroad, a spokesperson for Alex Soros told the Financial Times regarding his priorities for political action. The Epoch Times reached out to the OSF for comment and with a request for further details on the future political engagement of the organization, but didnt receive a response by press time. George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundations, arrives for a meeting in Brussels on April 27, 2017. (Olivier Hoslet/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Soros DAs George Soros, a Hungarian-born investor worth billions, is a controversial figure in the United States after groups tied to him poured money into left-wing district attorney candidates campaigns across the country. Trump has vowed to target what he and other Republicans have described as Soros DAs after being indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who reportedly took campaign cash from Soros during the 2021 election. Responding to an allegation that he backed Bragg, Soros said in March that hes never met him and didnt contribute any money to his election bid. I think some on the right would rather focus on far-fetched conspiracy theories than on the serious charges against the former president, he told Semafor. However, Soros has made clear his backing for certain prosecutors. In an earlier op-ed, he explained why he has donated to reform-minded prosecutors and has no intention of stopping. The funds I provide enable sensible reform-minded candidates to receive a hearing from the public, he wrote. In recent years, reform-minded prosecutors and other law-enforcement officials around the country have been coalescing around an agenda that promises to be more effective and just. Soros noted that this includes less-punitive criminal justice policies. This agenda includes prioritizing the resources of the criminal-justice system to protect people against violent crime. It urges that we treat drug addiction as a disease, not a crime. And it seeks to end the criminalization of poverty and mental illness, he wrote. This is why I have supported the election (and more recently the re-election) of prosecutors who support reform. I have done it transparently, and I have no intention of stopping. Alex Soross remarks to the Journal and the Financial Times suggest that the OSF and affiliated groups will continue to press ahead with the agenda charted by George Soros. OSF President Mark Malloch-Brown recently argued for the adoption of a new economic order that would focus on justice and stability. Malloch-Brown said in a speech that if theres one watchword for this new framework of global governance, it must be inclusivity,' and along with it, a multilateralism that has the roots and staying power for the new world that we are going into. He said a challenge of this new world would be whether collective rights supersede individual rights and whether the interest of the state to build that green transition, provide inclusive growth means that its at the expense of human rights. Its not at all clear where that battle lands, as its not at all clear where the battle for democracy lands, Malloch-Brown said. Some critics of the work of OSF have argued that its political agenda leans too far to the left. Musk Calls George Soros Magneto Twitter CEO Elon Musk recently sparked controversy when he compared George Soros to the X-Men supervillain Magneto. Soros reminds me of Magneto, the Twitter owner wrote, referring to the Marvel comic villain whos a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Musk said that Soros wants to erode the very fabric of civilization and hates humanity. Musks comments came after Soross investment management firm, Soros Fund Management, confirmed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it had sold off its entire stake in Teslas stocks in the first quarter of this year. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the civil rights group Anti-Defamation League, said Musks remarks would embolden extremists. Soros often is held up by the far-right, using antisemitic tropes, as the source of the worlds problems, Greenblatt posted on Twitter. To see Elon Musk, regardless of his intent, feed this segmentcomparing him to a Jewish supervillain, claiming Soros hates humanityis not just distressing, its dangerous: it will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result. Musk later defended his comments about Soros in an interview with CNBC, saying its a question of freedom of speech while insisting that he isnt anti-Semitic and is a pro-Semite if anything. Its freedom of speech; Im allowed to say what I want, Musk said in the interview. Heartbroken Dad to Kick Off Fathers Day Weekend by Helping Others Los Angeles resident Matt Capelouto and his daughter Alexandra, who died from fentanyl poisoning two days before Christmas in 2019 at the age of 20. (Screenshot via YouTube/Matt Capelouto) A Temecula father of four is starting his Fathers Day weekend in front of California Attorney General Rob Bontas office in Los Angeles, where hell be rallying to prosecute fentanyl dealers on behalf of his late daughter and other victims of fentanyl poisoning. Matt Capelouto has spent the past three years advocating to hold drug dealers accountable for selling fentanyl-laced substances following his daughters death from such in 2019. His efforts culminated in a bipartisan California state bill known as Alexandras Lawnamed after Capeloutos daughterwhich would require warnings for dealers who knowingly distribute drugs containing fentanyl that result in someones death. Matt Capelouto, the father of fentanyl poisoning victim Alexandrathe namesake of California Senate Bill 44speaks at a press conference where California Assemblymembers, law enforcement officials, and local representatives propose to put stricter fentanyl enforcement on the upcoming 2024 ballot, in front of the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on June 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Assembly Republican Caucus) The bill is modeled after the states so-called Watson Waiver admonishment given to drunk driversthat if theyre caught driving intoxicated again and kill someone in the process, theyll face a second-degree murder charge instead of manslaughter. However, since Alexandras Law was first introduced in 2020, it has repeatedly been shut down by state lawmakers on the grounds that it repeats failed drug policies that have led to mass incarceration, they say. When the bill was up for a vote in late March, Democrat state Sens. Aisha Wahab, Steven Bradford, Nancy Skinner, and Scott Wiener all abstained from voting, causing the bill to fail since it needed majority support. The latter three senators also voted down Alexandras Law last year. But Capelouto said he isnt giving up. Its not a matter of if [Alexandras Law will be passed], its when, he told The Epoch Times. California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks at a press conference in Sacramento, Calif., on June 28, 2022. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo) Subsequently, Capelouto will be protesting alongside other parents and advocates in front of Bontas office in downtown Los Angeles on June 16 in hopes of gaining his endorsement for Alexandras Law or similar legislation. As of now, [Bonta] hasnt endorsed any legislation regarding fentanyl that holds dealers accountable, he said. Capelouto said his advocacy work has been buoyed by his wife, whos battling terminal cancer. Matt Capelouto with his wife. (Courtesy of Matt Capelouto) I couldnt do any of [my advocacy] without her, he said. I turn to her for advice so much. Shes really the mastermind and brains behind what Im doing. Capelouto is also the president of Drug Induced Homicide, a Michigan-based nonprofit that advocates for judicial reform and accountability for those who sell illicit drugs that result in death. My job is holding drug dealers accountable, he said. Matt Capelouto (center left) with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other supporters. (Courtesy of Matt Capelouto) Honduras Opens Embassy in China After Breaking Off Ties With Taiwan China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang (L) and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reina unveil the Honduras Embassy plate during the inauguration of the embassy in Beijing on June 11, 2023. (Li Tao/Xinhua via AP) BEIJINGHonduras 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. 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 report said Honduras still needed to determine the embassys 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 Chinas Foreign Ministry. The symbol of the two sides strengthening diplomatic ties came during Honduran leftist President Xiomara Castros six-day visit to China. Hondurass Castro government 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. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said on March 26 that Honduras President Xiomara Castro and her team always had a fantasy about China and had raised the issue of switching ties before the defeat of conservative President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Hondurass 2021 presidential election. The self-ruled liberal democratic 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 includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Honduras requested admission to the bank, Castros office tweeted Saturday. The president also visited a research center for the Chinese state-backed technology company Huawei before arriving in Beijing on Saturday night, Chinese state newspaper Global Times reported. The ties formed in March were a diplomatic victory for China amid heightened tensions between Beijing and the United States, including Chinas increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan. 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 principle. The humanitarian efforts of the pharmaceutical company Sanofi in support of Ukraine in the form of medicines, cash aid and charitable financial contributions from employees since the beginning of the full-scale invasion amounted to almost UAH 1.5 billion. The company told Interfax-Ukraine, since the first days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sanofi has been promptly coordinating the provision of humanitarian assistance with vital medicines and vaccines to patients in Ukraine and those who were forced to go abroad due to the war. In particular, in the form of assistance, the company provided about 37 million doses of medicines for Ukrainian patients with a total value of over EUR 34.4 million. Sanofi, in particular, provided patients with insulin, cardiovascular, antiepileptic and oncological medicines, as well as the medicines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, orphan diseases and for emergency care in 2022. In addition, in 2022, Sanofi joined the initiative of the European Health Committee in support of Ukraine and donated 200,000 doses of diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, and in the 2022 and 2023 epidemic season, Sanofi will provide free 163,000 doses of influenza vaccine of its own production for Ukrainian doctors and representatives of other professions at risk. In 2022, Sanofi did not raise prices for its medicines, which allowed the company to support patients and consumers as much as possible, who already find themselves in difficult economic conditions caused by Russian aggression. The company said if at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the company provided assistance in response to specific requests from hospitals and hospitals, then since the middle of 2022 the approach has changed with the active involvement of the Health Ministry in the process. "By that time, the Health Ministry had already adapted to turbulence, successfully adjusted the process of processing information about current needs for medicines and had all the necessary logistics solutions to effectively meet the needs of individual hospitals and regions," the company said. As part of this cooperation, in late 2022, Sanofi supplied the Health Ministry with a large amount of an original anticoagulant medicines, which, in particular, the military needs in the pre- and postoperative period, a drug for the treatment of arterial hypertension, some 17,200 packages of a hepatoprotector in ampoules and other preparations. Sanofi said at the beginning of 2023, the company started a new stage of supporting Ukrainian patients, in particular, in terms of supplying oncological medicines to Ukraine. "Last winter, there were logistical difficulties with oncological medicines, so the Health Ministry turned to various partners with a request to help in this matter. Sanofi was one of the companies that immediately responded to this request by delivering the Oxaliplatin anticancer medicine to Ukraine. The whole process is from the request of the Health Ministry before shipment to the hospital lasted four weeks. This is an unrealistically fast time, and we are proud that we were able to help patients at such a critical moment," the company said. In addition, in 2023, Sanofi is considering the possibility of supplying a number of more expensive cancer medicines, as well as continuing the humanitarian program to provide free of charge the innovative medicine Alemtuzumab for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. Commenting on Sanofi's humanitarian efforts, Oleksandr Nosonovych, director of the company in Ukraine, said the pharmaceutical industry was among the most demanded industries, which is logically connected with the increased needs of the population for access to healthcare in wartime. "First of all, we were and are being contacted for medicines, although our support was not limited to this. In the early days of the war, our employees not only accepted requests for help from individual doctors and hospitals, but in most cases were both drivers and volunteers, and accountants who personally supplied medicines for free to the places of request and prepared reports," he said. Nosonovych drew attention to the fact that "medicine donations a year ago and donations now are completely different things." "If earlier we received huge lists with dozens of items: from alcohol and brilliant greens to innovative highly targeted medicines, now donations meet the specific needs of the health system and are focused on manufacturers these are point requests that are really needed for a particular situation, medicines, or those that are problematic buy or supply to the country on their own," he said. Commenting on humanitarian efforts, Nosonovych said international charitable foundations and pharmaceutical manufacturers, incurring all the costs of medicines, usually buy everything they need abroad, where the money remains. But this situation may put pressure on pharmaceutical companies that continue to operate in the country and plan their operations in Ukraine. "There must be a balance in everything, donations will not last forever. Therefore, the government and manufacturers should already look for new options for cooperation. We need to build a healthy chain so that it is expedient to produce and supply medicines to Ukraine, pay salaries and taxes, and keep the money in the country and worked for the economy of our country," he said. "The government is now carefully planning the budget for healthcare and developing new mechanisms for providing patients with medicines. In some cases, these can be managed entry agreements (long-term procurement programs at special prices from the manufacturer), which are already beginning to be successfully implemented in Ukraine. This will be a win-win partnership," the director of Sanofi in Ukraine said. India, Pakistan Brace for Severe Cyclone, Deploy Rescuers to Coastal Regions BENGALURU, IndiaIndia and Pakistan braced for the first severe cyclone this year expected to hit their coastal regions later this week, as authorities on Monday halted fishing activities, deployed rescue personnel, and announced evacuation plans for those at risk. From the Arabian Sea, Cyclone Biparjoy is aiming at Pakistans southern Sindh Province and the coastline of the western Indian state of Gujarat. It is forecast to make landfall on Thursday and could reach maximum wind speeds of up to 200 kph (124 mph), according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Disaster management personnel have been deployed to densely populated regions and cities that will be in the storms path. The cyclone will likely affect Karachi in Pakistan as well as two of Indias largest ports, Mundra and Kandla, in Gujarat state. Murad Ali Shah, the top elected official in Sindh Province, visited the coastal areas and asked authorities to evacuate an estimated 80,000 people to safety. At a meeting in Karachi, Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, the head of the National Disaster Management Authority, was informed that the cyclone was located about 600 kilometers (300 miles) south of Karachi on Monday afternoon. Sherry Rehman, minister for climate change and environmental coordination, said that all relevant departments of Sindh and Balochistan Provinces have been placed on high alert. Pakistans Civil Aviation Authority asked airport officials to immediately take steps to ensure the safety of aircraft and cargo. Biparjoy is the first severe cyclone to hit Pakistan since the devastating floods last year left 1,739 people dead and $30 billion in losses. Indias army, navy, and coast guard were assisting in preparations in Gujarat, the states Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said in a tweet. Patel said people living in low-lying regions will be evacuated if necessary. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with top officials to review disaster preparations. Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 was the last severe cyclone that made landfall in the same region. That cyclone claimed 174 lives and caused damage of more than $1.57 billion. IRS Issues Rare Apology, Advises Some Californians to Ignore June Due Date Notices A man runs to his car during rainfall in Irvine, Calif., on Jan. 30, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Residents of California, many of whom have received an extension to pay their 2022 taxes in the fall, were sent erroneous nearly-immediate payment due date notices by the IRS over the past several weeks, with many reporting a lack of information and general confusion when questioning the tax agency for details. I panicked when the notification arrived, Jessica Nguyen, a Bay Area business owner, told The Epoch Times. We were under the impression we still had months to pay, and we werent prepared for this. After spending several hours on hold being redirected from one agent to another, Nguyen says she still doesnt have a clear answer. Nobody has been trained about how to handle this, and they dont know what to tell me when I ask them when my payment is due, she said. One person tells me I already should have paid when I filed, and another says the date is extended. The tax agency worked to calm nerves with a statement on June 7 directed to Californians that received the notice, advising them that they were automatic recipients of an extension to file because of emergency storm declarations issued by President Joe Biden. The IRS apologizes to taxpayers and tax professionals for any confusion as we continue to review the situation, the statement reads. Taxpayers receiving these letters do not need to call the IRS or their tax professional. Many had already done such, with accountants telling The Epoch Times that call volume has been through the roof the past several weeks, as clients sought to understand the implications of the due date notices. Representatives with the IRS reported similar occurrences, with one spokesperson telling The Epoch Times on June 6 that the agency is aware of the predicament and will be issuing guidance in the near future. People across the country with taxes owed for 2022 were automatically sent reminders beginning in May, as part of a legal requirement to inform taxpayers of outstanding balances, according to the IRS. Several taxpayers told The Epoch Times there was no mention made of the special conditions allowing Californians to pay at a later date, although the IRS says a special insert was included in the mailing alerting those affected by disaster declarations to disregard the payment date. While the recent statement claims that the insert was included, reports from taxpayers in California suggest otherwise, with none of the sources The Epoch Times spoke with finding such with their notice to pay. Residents of eight states were granted automatic extensions to file because of winter storms, although the due dates differ for each jurisdiction, with payment being due on Oct. 16 for most Californians. Not all Golden State residents qualify, with three of its 58 counties excluded from the October extension, with Lassen County receiving no extension from regular deadlines, and Modoc County and Shasta County residents having until Aug. 15 to file. Taxpayers report conflicting information on IRS statements related to the counties excluded, with statements released on five separate occasions between January and May containing lists that are inconsistent. In addition to the confusion surrounding the notices and dates, California Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted the delayed tax payments as an obstacle to budget forecasting and revenue collection when he announced his revised budget proposal for the upcoming 202324 fiscal year in May. The states Franchise Tax Board realigned its tax due dates for both individuals and businesses until October to match the federal changes. With the recent statement clarifying the 21-day payment deadline notices as incorrect, some taxpayers say they feel some relief, although theyre still unsure about the future. Here we are trying to do the right thing, receiving letters intended to scare us into paying, and then they turn around and apologize with a short statement that includes very few details, Bryan Miller, a small business owner in Sacramento, told The Epoch Times. According to Miller, an IRS agent told him that interest was accruing on his amount owed. The short, two-paragraph statement offers vague reassurances and guarantees with no clear specifics pertaining to interest charges or late fees. However, a spokesperson for the IRS told The Epoch Times on June 12 that interest wouldnt be charged to those living in areas under the emergency declaration, as the due date was automatically extended. History off the beaten path The 13-foot by 30-foot Battle of Lookout Mountain painting has only been on display at the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center since 1986. For close to half a century, it lay wrapped up and out of view. How the painting came about requires travelers to visit Chattanooga, Tennessee, which borders Chickamauga, Georgia. Significant Civil War battles took place in both spots within the span of a few months in 1863, and 19th-century artist James Walker (18191889) captured much of what occurred there. It is at the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center where I discovered the centerpiece painting during a May visit to the area. The painting took me to the cold, foggy scene of the turning-point battle that resulted in Confederate forces withdrawing and Union forces overtaking Chattanoogas rivers, railroads, and roads. The massive canvas dominates a wall and the lighting illumines every detail, from Confederates surrendering on one side of the steep mountain, to the gear the soldiers carry, to horses tense muscles. General James Hooker, circa 18611865. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) I was so intrigued by the painting that I contacted Jim Ogden, staff historian for the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Tennessee, who explained to me where the painting was before it graced the visitor centers walls: In the early 1900s, it was stored in a barn on a private farm, and in the 1950s it was donated to a national military park, which kept it rolled up and stored in a garage in a maintenance area. Ogden, a career military historian, has spent many years lecturing in front of the painting and sharing how the painting came to be, why it was essentially forgotten, and how its resurrection occurred. Civil War Artist Walker, as a painter, was well-known and respected before the Civil War for his paintings of the Mexican War, Ogden said. He was English-born [1819], but immigrated to the United States. Then, when the U.S. Capitol was expanded, Walker was so well-known that he was commissioned in 1858 to do the painting titled The Battle of Chapultepec to hang in the new Senate Chamber. The painting is now at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Then the Civil War begins and its a new war to document on canvas, so Walker produced a number of scenes of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga battles. Walker visited the battlefields immediately after the battles in 1863, and since he knew Gen. Joseph Hooker (commander of the Union army during the battle) from the Mexican War, Gen. Hooker commissioned Walker to do a 13- by 30-foot painting with Gen. Hooker as the focal point of the painting. It took Walker four years to complete it, between 1870 and 1874. With this large painting, Walker pulls the viewers eye to Gen. Hooker on the white horse. Once the painting was finished, it hit the road, so to speak, as a traveling exhibit. Gen. Hookers idea is that people would come to see the painting displayed in various homes and venues around the United States and they would pay, often a nickel, to learn about the great general who captured Lookout Mountain, said Ogden. But the massive, image-rich painting was barely accessible to the public when Gen. Hooker died in 1879. With his death, there was no need for the painting to travel, said Ogden. It was not until the mid-1980s that a National Park Service attendant learned of the long-rolled up painting, evaluated it, and determined it warranted an opportunity to be installed for permanent, public display. To clean and install the Walker painting required $100,000, which was donated by various Chattanooga residents and business owners. It had lost some luster around the edges and was very dirty, having been rolled up for so long. But overall, it was not in terrible shape, considering. It just needed a really good cleaning. In 1986, the painting that had mostly been hidden away during its lifetime, was installed at the then-unfinished auditorium at the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center. Many people celebrated the installation in 1986, said Ogden. And so many people have viewed it since then. The Battle Painting About the accuracy of the painting, Ogden said that there are a few minor errors regarding the depiction of some uniforms and equipment, but I think the painting is a fantastic work. Gen. Hooker really did ride a white horse. Plus, Confederate troops are shown on the side of the mountain and in their earthworks, and visible is the Confederate flag. Other Confederates already captured by Hookers troops are shown as taken to the rear, which really happened. Lookout Mountain Visitors Center. National Park Service. (Public Domain) He added, Im really glad we have it on display. It is a wonderful depiction of the battle and can be used to truly help people understand how that battle occurred. It was a difficult battle because it mostly took place on the side of a mountain. If Im taking people on a tour of the Lookout Mountain battlefield, my first stop is a summary of the battle using that painting as a visual reference. Plus, Lookout Mountain is often in the clouds, so that aspect of the painting is very realistic. Walker ended up in San Francisco, California, in the 1880s, and for the rest of his life, painted scenes of cattle drives, cowboys, and the Western landscape, instead of military battles. But it is the detailed war scenes for which he will always be most remembered. And his impressive painting on display in Chattanooga provides a dramatic visual history of an important event. Jonathan Turley: Trump Could Face Terminal Sentence If DOJ Proves 1 Count George Washington University professor and Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley said that if the federal government proves just one count against former President Donald Trump, it could be a terminal sentence for him. Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Trump on dozens of charges in connection with whether he allegedly mishandled classified documents. Trump has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and recently said he would not drop out of the 2024 race no matter what. The problem is, hes got to run the tablehes 76 years old, Turley told Fox News over the weekend. All the government has to do is stick the landing on one count, and he could have a terminal sentence. Youre talking about crimes that have a 10- or 20-year period as a maximum. The indictment alleged that Trump violated the Espionage Act, made false statements, and obstructed justice. Trump, who polls show is far and away the leading Republican 2024 candidate for president, is scheduled to be arraigned at a Miami court on Tuesday amid reports that he departed his New Jersey residence and is now heading to Florida. Now, we have not heard their other side. Generally, the indictments are a lot stronger on the day they are issued than on the next day, so they may be able to knock down some of these issues, Turley said, referring to Trumps possible defense arguments. But some of the evidence is coming from his former counsel, and these are very damaging statements made against him. It may be hard to move those. Trump is the first former or current president to face criminal charges, but legal experts say that does not prevent him from running for president or taking office, even if he is found guilty. Legal experts, including Trumps former attorney general, William Barr, say the case is a strong one. The indictment also alleges that Trump stored the documents in a haphazard manner at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, refused to give them back to the government, and tried to hide them from the FBI, and even his own attorney, after a grand jury issued him a subpoena demanding that he turn over all records bearing classified markings. His attorney Alina Habba, who is not representing him in the case, told Fox News Sunday that Trump is innocent of the charges and plans to vigorously defend himself in the case. He has every right to have classified documents that he declassifies under the Presidential Records Act, Habba told Fox News Sunday. Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the stage after delivering remarks in Greensboro, N.C., on June 10, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Trump has previously defended his retention of classified records, saying that he declassified them while in office. Trump and his allies argued that the records at the heart of the case are personal in nature and covered by the Presidential Records Act. He said time and time again he declassified all this, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told CNN on Sunday. When asked about evidence of declassification, Jordan said that I go on the presidents word, and he said he did. Trump said he declassified this material, Jordan added. He can put it wherever he wants and handle it however he wants. Trump Fires Back The former president made multiple campaign stops over the weekend, criticizing the DOJ for bringing charges against him. He noted that other Democratic politicians never faced any charges for their alleged misdeeds. 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, Trump told the crowd of Republican Party officials over the weekend. This vicious persecution is a travesty of justice. President Joe Biden was not indicted. And what he did is terrible, Trump said. He also referred to Jack Smith, the special counsel who indicted him, as a thug and called for the removal of officials investigating him. This is a sick nest of people that needs to be cleaned out immediately. Get em out, Trump added to applause. Trump told the audience in Georgia that the joke of an indictment would further bolster his support within the party, similar to how charges in New York in March elevated his ranking in primary polls. The only good thing is its driven my poll numbers way up, he said. In another interview with Politico, Trump also said that he wont take a DOJ plea deal in the case. Meanwhile, Habba made a similar statement to a Fox program on Sunday. Ill never leave, Trump told Politico 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 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. Its been political. Reuters contributed to this report. JPMorgan Agrees to Settle With Jeffrey Epstein Victims The headquarters of JPMorgan Chase bank in midtown Manhattan in New York on July 13, 2012. (John Moore/Getty Images) JPMorgan Chase has reached a settlement with women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein, the bank and the women said on June 12. The parties said in a joint statement that theyve notified a federal court in New York that theyve reached an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit filed in 2022 by women who accused the bank of facilitating Epsteins sex trafficking operation. The settlement is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, the Clinton appointee overseeing the case. We all now understand that Epsteins behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man, a spokeswoman for JPMorgan Chase told The Epoch Times via email. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes. David Boies, a lawyer representing the women, told The Epoch Times in an email: While the road to justice for the survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking ring has been too long, and we are not yet at its end, the historic recovery from JPMorgan, individually and in combination with our earlier recovery from Deutsche Bank, is another important step in achieving the vindication, recognition, and compensation they deserve. The specifics of the agreement werent disclosed. JPMorgan has requested that we not reveal the actual amount of the settlement (which is large), and for the moment, we are honoring that request, Boies said. Deutsche Bank, which was sued by the same women, in May agreed to pay $75 million to settle the related suit against it. Rakoff had ruled this year that the banks could be liable for Epsteins sex trafficking. Plaintiffs have pled sufficient facts to support their allegations that JP Morgan had knowledge of Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking venture, either directly or by recklessly disregarding what was plainly to be seen, Rakoff said. He also said the plaintiffs had presented facts to support allegations that Deutsche Bank knew or recklessly disregarded that Jeffrey Epstein ran a sex-trafficking venture. Epstein died at age 66 in a federal jail cell in New York while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors. His death was ruled a suicide. Epstein was accused of trafficking underage girls for years, including at his residence in the borough of Manhattan. The woman who brought the suit thats being settled was described as a ballet dancer in New York who was groomed by Epstein and his associates. She said she was abused and trafficked by Epstein from 2006 to 2013. U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry on March 28, 2017. (New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services via Reuters) Cases The cases against JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank were brought by an unidentified woman dubbed Jane Doe 1 as a class action lawsuit. She said the banks violated federal law that bars sex trafficking conduct and state law that prohibits intentional and negligent acts that lead to injuries as a result of sex offenses. The suit alleged that the banks knew that Epstein was regularly violating New York laws and acted in a negligent manner so as to enable Epstein to commit such offenses against countless young women. Epstein had accounts at JPMorgan beginning in 2000. After a top executive, Jes Staley, who was close with Epstein, left in 2013, JPMorgan began closing the accounts. Epstein then turned to Deutsche Bank for his banking needs. Having accounts at the banks enabled Epstein to expand his operation to the level it ultimately reached, according to the complaints. Epstein benefited from banking at the banks because it let him have easy access to money to pay women he abused and others while the banks were brought new customers by Epstein, the complaints state. Before the settlement was reached, JPMorgan had asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the claims against it were meritless. Dont Affect Virgin Islands Suit The settlements dont affect a separate case brought by officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands against JPMorgan. Virgin Islands officials said JPMorgan helped facilitate Epsteins sex trafficking by providing banking services, noting that the services remained in place even after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution. A number of revelations have been uncovered as the case, also lodged in New York, has proceeded to discovery. A U.S. congresswoman who was deposed as part of discovery revealed that she went to Epsteins home in New York in 2018, just months before he was arrested. Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.), the congresswoman, also said she sought donations from Epstein despite his being a registered sex offender. Other materials, described in a filing by JPMorgan, show that Plaskett and other Virgin Islands officials, such as former first lady Cecile de Jongh actively facilitated Epsteins trafficking, the bank alleged. Among the materials: messages from de Jongh, who worked for Epstein while her husband was governor, talking about opposing legislation that would tighten laws on monitoring sex offenders. JPMorgan also said the materials, most of which were entered under seal, show that Epstein paid for de Jonghs children to go to private school. De Jongh didnt respond to a request for comment. Justice Russell Brown Retires From Supreme Court, Ending Judicial Conduct Review Brown looks on during his welcoming ceremony at the Supreme Court in Ottawa on Oct. 6, 2015. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) The Canadian Judicial Council (CJC), a regulatory body for the countrys judges, said Justice Russell Browns decision to retire effectively ends the investigation against him into alleged misconduct. In a June 12 statement, the CJC said that since March 7, an investigation had been underway following events that arose out of a banquet attended by Brown, 57, in Arizona on Jan. 28. The complaint about the judges conduct had been referred to a Judicial Conduct Review Panel as of March 30. Brown has denied allegations he was intoxicated and harassed women at a luxury hotel located near an award event he was attending to introduce Louise Arbour, a former Supreme Court justice. He released a statement on June 12, according to Canadian Lawyer Magazine, in which he said which said, For over ten yearseight on the Supreme Court of CanadaI have had the privilege of serving our country as one of its judges. Throughout, I have striven to do so with integrity and in the national interest. Unfortunately, as a result of a complaint made against me in connection with an event in late January in Arizona, I have not participated in the Courts work for over four months. During this time, the Court has had to hear and decide important appeals without the benefit of a full panel, continued Brown. At this point, it is impossible to know how much longer this delay would continue to impact on the Courts work. Given the progress so far, it is not unreasonable to think that this process may continue well into 2024, he said, concluding his statement by saying it had been an honour to deliberate on the important issues facing our country. With Browns resignation, the CJC said it no longer had jurisdiction over the complaint against the judge. As such, proceedings before the Council that involve Justice Brown have come to an end, said the statement. According to the Globe and Mail, Brown, who has served as a judge for eight years, asked for the weekend to consider what he wanted to do, and then resigned before the council was going to announce it had decided to hold a public hearing into the allegations against the judge. On the same day as his resignation, the Supreme Court of Canada website modified the listing for Brown, stating, He retired on June 12, 2023. Brown had been on a paid leave of absence from his court duties since Feb. 1 while the council considered the complaint. Allegations of unwanted touching were made to the CJC on Jan. 29 by Jon Crump, a 31-year-old former member of the U.S. Marine Corps from Philadelphia, who said the judge was intoxicated and hitting on his female friends. A woman would later tell police that the judge kissed her on the cheek once or twice, and touched her back and leg. Crump told police that Brown followed the group of friends when they went to their hotel rooms, and Crump told him not to follow them. I told him: Youre clearly intoxicated and the girls are creeped out by you. He shoved me . I pushed him back, then punched him in the face twice and he fell to the ground, according to details in the Vancouver Sun on March 9. Brown said in a statement to police that he was punched several times without provocation or warning. According to police, Brown had no signs of injury and did not require medical help. The CJC has only recommended the dismissal of five federally appointed judges since 1971, and must first hold a public inquiry to determine if the judge has lost the trust of the Canadian public. The work of Brown, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2015 by then-prime minister Stephen Harper, was recognized by Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner, who in a statement wished Brown all the best in his future endeavours. Wagner said a new justice needed to be appointed promptly to replace Brown. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Justice Thomass Latest Dissent: The Constitution and Federal Spending Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas attends the ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett to be the U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 26, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Commentary Justice Clarence Thomas frequently uses concurring and dissenting opinions to explain the Constitutions fundamental principles. The latest example of this is his June 8 dissent in Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County v. Talevski (pdf). It explains the meaning and history of Congresss power to spend money. I recommend it to anyone interested in our Constitution. Congresss Legitimate Spending Power The Constitution enumerates (lists) the powers held by Congress and other branches of the federal government. A basic constitutional principlewhich the Supreme Court honors more in words than in realityis that those powers are limited to the items enumerated. To carry out its enumerated powers, Congress must appropriate money. By way of illustration, if Congress chooses to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3), it must pay customs officers, provide them with equipment and supplies, and finance office space for them. Similarly, Congresss power to raise and support Armies (Article I, Section 8, Clause 12) necessarily includes spending money for salaries, equipment, housing, transportation, and so forth. Almost every enumerated power implicitly contains some authority to spend. Congress also may impose conditions on spending. For example, as a condition of hiring federal employees and contractors, Congress may impose rules of nondiscrimination. The Metastasis of the Spending Power Among Congresss enumerated powers is the taxation clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1). This also includes some spending authority: To collect taxes, the federal government must be able to spend so as to pay, equip, and house tax collectors. The taxation clause adds to the phrase lay and collect Taxes the following additional wording: to pay the Debts and provide for the Common Defence and general Welfare of the United States. This addition is called the general welfare clause. The purpose of the general welfare clause is to limit the taxing power. It clarifies that Congress may raise money only for general Welfare purposes, not to feed special interests. However, as I outlined in my Epoch Times series How the Supreme Court Re-Wrote the Constitution, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the court stopped enforcing most of the Constitutions restraints on federal power. The series describes the forced and unnatural reading the justices imposed on the Constitution in those days. As part of this process, the court issued three decisions asserting that Congresss power to spend is almost unlimited. Specifically, the court converted the general welfare clause from a restriction on taxes into an unlimited spending clause. The justices opinions ignored almost all the evidence from the Constitutions adoption. Among Founding-era materials, they relied solely on a paper issued by Alexander Hamilton after the Constitution had been adopted. At the time, Hamilton wasaccording to his private notestrying surreptitiously to convert the federal system into one with an all-powerful central government. The courts decisions had predictable results. Federal expenditures exploded. Congress usually stopped balancing its budget and accrued massive debt. Members of Congress used their unlimited spending power to buy reelection, enabling some to stay in Congress for as long as 50 years. Congress created a massive bureaucracy to address details it didnt have time or inclination to address. And in partnership with that bureaucracy, Congress started to micromanage American life by funding almost everything and slapping conditions on the funds. The Courts Opinion in the Talevski Case The federal program at issue in the Talevski case was the payment of Medicaid funds to nursing homes. The government imposes a very long list of conditions on that payment, including rules for how nursing homes treat their patientsas if most federal politicians knew anything about health care! Talevskis family claimed that a county-owned nursing home had violated one of those conditions. Using a post-Civil War federal statute, 42 U.S.C., sec. 1983, they claimed that the nursing home had denied Talevski certain rights, privileges, or immunities secured by [federal] laws. The Supreme Court agreed with the Talevskis. By a 72 majority, the justices ruled that some of the conditions on federal payment were laws that secured rights. The opinion was written by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justice Samuel Alito dissented on technical grounds, and Thomas agreed with him. In a separate dissent, Thomas reviewed the history and meaning of Congresss power to spend money. The Thomas Dissent Thomass fundamental point was this: When Congress offers a financial grant in an area outside its enumerated powers (such as a grant to nursing homes), Congress may impose conditions. Anyone accepting the money accepts the conditions. But those conditions are merely terms in a contract between the federal government and the grantee. They arent laws as the word is employed in 42 U.S.C. sec. 1983. In his 36-page dissenting opinion, Thomas recounted the history of Congresss spending power. He showed how the poweras expanded by the Supreme Courthas grown to largely dominate American life. He explained how it has rendered the states merely disaggregated sites of national governance, not separate sovereigns. He recognized the published research by several scholars who have explored Congresss spending power in detail. In their personal political views, these scholars largely span the political spectrum. But all have been honest enough to admit that the court was wrong when it converted the general welfare clause into unlimited spending authority. The first one to write on the subject was David Engdahl of Seattle University. He was followed by Jeff Renz, who wrote an important article on the subject while serving with me on the law faculty at the University of Montana. Next came John Eastman, formerly dean of Chapman Universitys law school. Eastman, who as a young law graduate clerked for Thomas, is the same man that the FBI harassed because he provided legal advice to Donald Trump after the 2020 election. In a 2001 article, Eastman explained that the general welfare clause was designed as a curb on congressional pandering to special interests. I came next. Thomas cited my 2003 survey of the history behind the general welfare clause (pdf). Thomas also mentioned how spending is incorporated into the Constitutions necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18), as explained by Gary Lawson of Boston University and the Israeli scholar Guy Seidman. In an earlier opinion (pdf), Thomas cited a book I co-authored on the necessary and proper clause with those two and with Geoff Miller of New York University. In other words, Thomass opinion isnt merely a survey of Congresss spending power but of the published research as well. Conclusion Thomass separate opinions contain a wealth of information about the Constitutions original meaning, how the document was applied in later years, and the scholarship on the subject. When he retires, some enterprising author will no doubt collect these opinions into a single volume or set of volumes. Theyll be an invaluable resource for future generations. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. McCarthy, Dissidents Aim to Improve How the House Functions House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to the press after meeting President Joe Biden to discuss the debt ceiling at the White House on May 22, 2023.(Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will meet with dissenting House Republicans to resolve concerns that resulted in a dissenting vote by 11 GOP members on a procedural issue on June 6. At stake is the ability of the House to function, especially in exercising one of its core constitutional duties, appropriating money for the federal government. Were going to meet later today. Hopefully, [well] get them all together there, and hopefully be able to do it, McCarthy told reporters on June 12. But if it takes me a day or two longer, I want to get it solved so it doesnt keep erupting all the time. The dissenters are dissatisfied with McCarthys handling of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, a bill that passed with bipartisan support on May 31, ending the debt ceiling crisis. In protest, they sided with Democrats to prevent the House from voting on four Republican-sponsored bills. The group members were dissatisfied with McCarthys compromise with President Joe Biden on the debt ceiling matter, claiming that he backed away too easily from some Republican demands. They also decried the use of what they saw as pressure tactics in whipping Republican votes for the measure. After initial meetings with some of the dissidents, McCarthy put the House into recess at the end of the day on June 7, one day ahead of schedule. The House resumed business on June 12. It appeared that no progress was made over the four-day weekend. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) speaks to an NTD reporter at the U.S. Capitol on May 12, 2021. (NTD) Unspecified Aims Representatives opposing McCarthy are Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Bob Good (R-Va.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), and Chip Roy (R-Texas). Gaetz and Boebert have said theyre troubled about the pressure put on some lawmakers to go along with Republican leadership and with the fact that no floor amendments were allowed on the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I think it shows that weve got some trust issues, and weve got to get those resolved, Burchett told The Epoch Times on June 7. When asked what he hoped to accomplish by putting pressure on McCarthy, Roy told reporters, Were having a conversation to figure out how we can get back to what was working. Some of these members, they dont know what to ask for, McCarthy told reporters before leaving the Capitol on June 7. There are numerous different things theyre frustrated about. So we will listen to them and well solve this. Some Republican representatives are losing patience with the holdout group. Im not happy that we have people voting against rules that are for Republican, conservative bills, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) told The Epoch Times. They lost the vote [on the Fiscal Responsibility Act], and they need to move on. Fixing the System Both McCarthy and those opposing him are trying to amend the way Congress operates. Boebert said her concern is having a say in the appropriations process, which requires the passage of 12 spending bills by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Were being told right now that appropriations is when were going to actually get this right, Boebert said on War Room on June 6. Well, we dont trust that because this has been broken. And so we want to make sure that theres trust in place, structure in place, so appropriations can be done right rather than getting an omnibus bill December 24. McCarthys interest is to make Congress work effectively in general, not just in the appropriations process. What I really want to do here is make sure we solve [the problem] correctly, McCarthy told reporters after arriving at the Capitol on June 12. If we can get Congress doing their job like theyre supposed we can start looking at the problems for the future. If were bogged down on day-to-day things, were hurting the American public because were not thinking about the future to put us in a stronger position for tomorrow. And thats why changing the way this place works is essential to being able to make that happen. The House of Representatives chamber in Washington, on Dec. 8, 2008. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) McCarthy acknowledged that creating progress through the regular order of business isnt the aim of all members. That disrupts some people. That makes some people upset. But getting this place to work right, I think, would get all the members on both sides working in a better manner. No Simple Solution Congress has passed all appropriations bills on time only four times since 1977, and not once since 1996. That creates chaos in the system and makes it more difficult for members of Congress to exercise influence over spending, according to William C. Greenwalt, a nonresident senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute. The inability to pass any of the 12 individual appropriations bills separately and on time is the result of the slow death of regular order in the Congress, the rise and consolidation of political power over spending decisions in party leadership, and the need to create an artificial crisis and take defense spending hostage to pass any end of year deal, Greenwalt wrote on Jan. 10. From there, the problem snowballs, according to Greenwalt. These trends, incrementally increasing over time, are related and reinforce each other. When the appropriations bills arent passed on time, Congress has resorted to passing continuing resolutions, which carry the previous appropriations levels forward for a specified period of time, followed by omnibus appropriations bills, which bundle all appropriations for the year into one massive bill. The previous Congress passed the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, on Dec. 24, 2022. Regular order, which means adhering more strictly to rules governing the function of committees, allowing time for debate, offering amendments, and the multiple votes required, takes time. Restoring that way of operating will be no simple matter, according to Greenwalt. Breaking this cycle will not be easy. It will require not only appropriators and authorizers to work together but for leadership to allow serious issues to be debated on the floor and a standalone defense appropriations bill to be passed into law and on time, he wrote. Jackson Richman contributed to this report. Former President Donald Trump arrived in Florida on June 13 ahead of his first federal court appearance on felony charges accusing him of mishandling classified documents and thwarting the Justice Departments efforts to get them back. Trumps appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. NTD has reactions from Trump supporters in Miami and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Congressman Andy Ogles has introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The Tennessee Republican accuses Biden of weaponizing the presidency to protect his familys business interests from congressional oversight and public accountability. JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay $290 million to settle a class-action lawsuit from Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse victims, according to David Boies, one of the victims attorneys. A lawyer for Tucker Carlson responded to claims that Fox News sent a cease-and-desist to the former host over his Twitter show, accusing the network of engaging in censorship. Harmeet Dhillon wrote on Twitter that her friend and client [Carlson] will not be silencedby the far left or by Fox News. Ukraine said its troops had recaptured seven villages from Russian forces along an approximately 60-mile front in the southeast since launching its long-anticipated counteroffensive last week. Former President Trump was expected in Miami ahead of his Tuesday court appearance. Hes being indicted for his handling of classified documents in another historic arraignment. A women-only spa must now admit men if they claim to be women, a judge in Washington state has ruled. Billionaire financier George Soros is handing control of his massive empire to his son. Alexander Soros will take over his fathers Open Society Foundations and the rest of his $25-billion empire. Topics in this episode include: 1. Trump Heads to Miami for Tuesday Arraignment 2. Trumps Federal Indictment Analysis 3. Female-Only Spa Must Admit Men: Judge 4. SPA Ruling Complete Infringement on Liberty 5. Calif. Bill Would Fund Gay Mens Surrogacy 6. George Soros Hands Empire to Son Alexander 7. The S&P 500 Is in a Bull Market 8. Honduran President Meets with Chinas Xi 9. Lionel Messi Stopped After Arrival in Beijing 10. Hailstorms Batter Jiangsu Province, China 11. Man Detained Climbing 5th-Tallest Building 12. Former Italian PM Berlusconi Dies at Age 86 13. Ukraine Claims 4th Village Recaptured 14. EU to Vote on Artificial Intelligence Law 15. UK PM Pitches Britain as AI Regulation Leader 16. Germans Attend Fully AI-Generated Service 17. Vatican Museums Open Nun Apothecary Exhibits 18. Russian Amber Room: 20 Yrs After Restoration 19. 6th NTD Intl Figure Painting Competition 20. 9 Amazing Foods for Healthy Teeth he Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is delivering humanitarian aid to residents of Kherson region affected by flooding caused by the undermining of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) by Russian occupiers. "We are delivering humanitarian aid to the flooded settlements of Kherson region The people who remained there and did not have time to evacuate need the most necessary things: drinking water, food and hygiene products. Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross travel to such places in a special car and deliver the necessary humanitarian aid. Currently, aid has already been delivered to the settlements of the Chornobyl community," the URCS reported on Facebook on Monday. The URCS noted that they deliver humanitarian aid on special equipment, which was donated by the Czech Red Cross (Cesky cerveny kriz), and thanks to which it is possible to "get to the most inaccessible places and help those in need." Only the Acuity of the Common Man Can Save Liberal Democracy From Itself Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thumbs through the First Report by David Johnston, special rapporteur on foreign Interference, during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 23, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Commentary Its becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the lack of respect our liberal-progressive political class has for the intelligence of the average citizen. Since the pandemic, political authorities have become convinced they can say or do just about anything they please. Take, for example, the recent actions of Canadas federal government to bypass a serious investigation into the security of our elections. Early in March, Epoch Times journalist Tara Maclsaac drew attention to a Globe and Mail story detailing alleged attempts to interfere in Canadas 2021 federal election by the Peoples Republic of China. Evidence revealed that Beijing allegedly favored the election of a minority Liberal government and the defeat of Conservatives considered to be critical of the Beijing regime. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre claimed Canadian intelligence services had been warning the prime minister about foreign election interference for years. The Leader of the Opposition said, Hes covered it up and even encouraged it to continue, Maclsaac reported. Just before The Epoch Times focused attention on these allegations, CBC News pointed out that no real investigation of the matter appeared to be underway. Parliamentary Bureau journalist John Paul Tasker said, there are no active RCMP investigations underway into the last election. The Waltz of the Rapporteur In March, fresh allegations about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) meddling in Canada led to a motion in the House of Commons calling for a public inquiry into foreign election interference. The motion passed with 172 votes in favor. But, instead of respecting the wishes of members of Parliament (MPs), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opted for a considerably less transparent process. The PM chose to appoint an independent rapporteur with a mandate to make recommendations to combat interference. Given the usual sensitivity around national security issues, some considered this to be a reasonable option. That was until the PM announced the rapporteur was to be longtime Trudeau family friend, David Johnston. Before the appointment, I actually said to my wife that the rapporteur will be Johnston. She said, You think so? I said, I know so. With the rapporteur in place throughout April and May, the press continued to report on allegations about a string of interference attempts made by the Chinese regime. A majority of MPs called for a public inquiry, but it was up to Johnston to decide whether or not one would be necessary. From the end of May through early June, Blacklocks Reporter raised troubling questions about Johnstons investigation. Why did he depend on the assistance of a loyal Liberal Party donor, and why was he so quick to contend that the PM, cabinet, and government officials were blameless? Johnston claimed his friendship with Trudeau was insignificant. The PM argued that since Johnston was appointed to high office by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the former governor general was a perfect choice to conduct a neutral investigation. Shortly after, the Blacklock Reporter disclosed a 2010 radio interview in which Trudeau described Johnston as a frequent dinner companion with whom he had great conversations. After considerable equivocating by Johnston and Trudeau about how well their families knew each other from ski vacations in the Laurentian mountains, Poilievre asserted: David Johnston is Trudeaus ski buddy, chalet neighbor, family friend, and member of the Trudeau Foundation. He has no business in this job because it is a fake job that he is incapable of doing impartially. Many grassroots Canadians thought the Leader of the Opposition had a good point. On May 30, Blacklock reported that Johnston refused to take questions from MPs about his work at the Trudeau Foundation. Members of the Commons public accounts committee threatened to issue a summons. The New Democratic Party (NDP) continued to call for a public inquiry. But at the same time, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pledged to continue supporting Trudeau until 2025. Singh told the press that withdrawing support and triggering a snap election made no sense. On June 1, Blacklock reported that the Commons voted 174 to 150 to fire Johnston as the cabinets special rapporteur on Chinese subterfuge. Johnston rejected the vote, saying that his mandate comes from the government and he doesnt answer to MPs. Early in June, Liberal and NDP members of the House public accounts committee spared Johnston from a summons to testify about his work as a member of the Trudeau Foundation. Under considerable public pressure, Johnston agreed to testify at a separate hearing of the House affairs committee about his role as special rapporteur on alleged election fraud by Chinese agents. On June 9, The Epoch Times reported that Johnston would finally resign from his role as special rapporteur, citing a highly partisan atmosphere that developed around his appointment. Apparently, the former governor general will not be deterred from producing a final report before the end of June. Tawdry Deceptions Destroy Faith in Democracy While Johnston was announcing his resignation, Blacklock reported on a Canadian Public Health Agency study indicating that citizens have developed an increased distrust of government and science. Only 22 percent now say they trust federal agencies. Tawdry deceptions and outright abuses of power have become routine in the left-liberal regimes that make up what used to be regarded as the free world. Little respect remains for the rule of law, open inquiry, and the participation of citizens. Given the powerful global plurality of neo-Marxist ideologues that are presently running our national governments, it will take considerable courage for common men and women to save liberal democracy from itself. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Ontario Doctor With Contrarian Views on Pandemic Policy Permanently Loses Medical Licence A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office this file photo. (The Canadian Press/Jeff Roberson) The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has permanently suspended the medical licence of Dr. Patrick Brian Phillips after its discipline tribunal found that he was incompetent and undermined Canadas public health response to COVID-19. We are dismayed by the deliberate steps you took to undermine the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tribunal said in its decision dated June 6. As a physician, the information you communicate is trusted by many. Your communications to colleagues, patients, and your thousands of followers on social media regarding COVID-19 and public health response measures, were careless, often offensive and at times, possibly harmful. Phillips, who practised medicine in Englehart, was first barred from issuing exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines, masking requirements, and testingas well as prescribing the antiparasitic medication ivermectinin September 2021. The CPSO then temporarily suspended Phillipss medical licence on May 3, 2022, for holding a medical opinion that is contrary to the public health directives. On June 6, 2023, the tribunal found that Phillips engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct, failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession, [and] failed to respond appropriately or within a reasonable time to a written inquiry from the College. The tribunal also accused Phillips of spreading misleading, incorrect or inflammatory statements around COVID-19; attempting to obstruct COVID-19 testing for a 10-month-old infant who had been exposed to the virus; making inflammatory statements about public health restrictions; publicly criticizing Canadas reporting system for adverse vaccine reactions; promoting vaccine exemptions via a website without clinical rationale; and having heightened public fear during a global public health crisis. Additionally, the tribunal said Phillips failed to comply with the colleges investigation and monitoring order it imposed; posted the colleges investigative materials on the internet; and disclosed online a private letter he received from an Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH), which opened the AMOH to abusive comments from those who shared Phillipss views. In addition to being reprimanded by the panel and having his licence taken away, Phillips was also ordered to pay the college $6,000 in costs by July 6. The Last Few Years Have Made Me Miserable Phillips told The Epoch Times that he began speaking out about the governments response to COVID-19 in 2020, which led to his first investigation by the CPSO. Phillips was concerned that public health restrictions were causing more harm to Canadians than the virus itself. Later on in the pandemic, when COVID vaccines were rolled out in 2021, a second investigation was opened after Phillips filled out too many Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) forms for suspected COVID-19 vaccine injuries. Phillips said he filled out a total of 10 AEFI forms, but only onea woman experiencing a light rash post-vaccinationwas accepted. Phillips said that while working at a hospital in Kirkland Lake, he recommended against the 10-month child receiving a nasal swab for COVID-19 because it involved potential risks to the child, such as brain bleeding. There was no clear benefit, which is why I recommended that. Looking back, [the local public health officer] saw that as me trying to interfere with their clinic. Phillips said that in order to challenge the CPSOs ruling, which he would have been guaranteed to lose, he would have needed to pay $10,000 per day for a trial. He decided not to challenge the ruling, because the last few years have made me miserable. Additionally, Phillips said he likely would have eventually come into conflict with the CPSO over the prescribing of puberty blockers for children looking to gender transition, as well as his opposition to medical assistance in dying for people whose only underlying medical condition is a mental illness. Phillips said that while he is not sure what his next move will be, he knows of many doctors who are moving into alternative health fields. Im in talks with other others who are in similar situations to me, and were just seeing how we can kind of contribute to helping a lot of people who are suffering in the world right now. Orange County Asks Judge to Extend Ban on NYC Relocation of Illegal Immigrants Migrants who had been sent to upstate counties by New York City Mayor Eric Adams sit in the front yard of Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, N.Y., on May 15, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) The Orange County government asked a judge on June 9 to extend a stay on the relocation of illegal immigrants that was arranged by New York City, according to a court filing. If granted, the requestformally called a preliminary injunctionwill make the ban effective for the duration of the countys lawsuit against the city, according to county attorney Richard Golden. A temporary stay was granted by a county supreme court judge on May 15, days after New York Mayor Eric Adams bused 186 illegal immigrants to two hotels in the Town of Newburgh. In the same filing, the county also asked the judge to deny the citys request to dismiss the lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by the county on May 12, argued that New York City had no authority to run a homeless shelter outside of its boundary without due process; it asked the county supreme court to reserve any relocations already done and ban any future arrangements. The two hotels that accepted illegal immigrants from the cityCrossroads Hotel and Ramada by Wyndham Newburgh/West Pointare also defendants in the lawsuit. New York City responded in a June 2 court filing that it could legally transfer individuals to hotels outside of its boundary and that such an arrangement did not amount to a homeless shelter. It asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit in the same filing. The city has seen a surge of illegal immigrants since last springduring a single week in May, there were 5,600 new arrivalsand the tide will only rise following the recent expiration of Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed for quickly expelling illegal immigrants for public health reasons, according to the filing. To accommodate the influx, the city has stretched its resources to the breaking point, the filing says. Illegal immigrants sit outside the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, N.Y., on May 15, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Orange County reiterated in a June 9 filing that the hotel arrangement by the city mirrored the operation of homeless shelters, citing elements such as the hiring of a site operator, the rules for guest conduct and curfews, and the availability of laundry, food, and legal services. The county also asked the city for hotel contracts and funding sources in preparation for a fuller rebuttal. Potential Harm In asking for a preliminary injunction, the county argued that if the city is allowed to send more illegal immigrants to the county as the legal battle played out, its residents will suffer harm. Many illegal immigrants are expected to remain in the county after the months-long city-sponsored hotel stays come to an end, which will strain local resources, the county argued. Social services commissioner Darcie Miller said in a letter of support that the county had no infrastructure to house or care for the transferred immigrants. As of the end of April, all 386 shelter beds in the county were occupied, according to Miller, so if the city is allowed to continue its relocation plan, the county might be forced to pay third-party providers to temporarily house these individuals Given that the county lacks affordable housing and already pays rental rates above fair market value for some disadvantaged populations, an additional influx will only make the problem worse, she said. Sleeping cots at the Middletown Warming Station in Middletown, N.Y., on Nov. 20, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Its expected that during their stay in the county, some individuals will seek work off the books, oftentimes in places with low safety standards; when they seek emergency services, the burden will fall on the county and its residents, according to the countys court filing. Moreover, the city has not provided the county with background information on the individuals who are staying at the two hotels per a previous court order. This has made it difficult for the county to separate genuine asylum seekers, who are entitled to certain benefits under the law, from other illegal immigrants, , Miller said. Other Lawsuits Since May 11the day when Adams sent the first busload of illegal immigrants to Orange Countymultiple lawsuits have been filed on both sides and interest groups at the state and federal levels. Aside from the above lawsuit, the county also sued two Newburgh hotels for an alleged violation of a state of emergency issued by County Executive Steve Neuhaus. On May 8, Neuhaus announced an executive order to prohibit hotels, motels, and other short-term rentals in the county from housing illegal immigrants in arrangements made by New York City. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus delivers the State of County address in Goshen, N.Y., on April 19, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) The Town of Newburgh also sued the two hotels, alleging that they violated the town code by converting themselves into long-term residential facilities without due permitting process. Both the county and town also filed lawsuits at the federal level. In return, the two Newburgh hotels, along with several others in the region, filed a federal lawsuit against Orange County and other municipalities to challenge the legality of the state emergency orders. Several counties, including Rockland, issued similar executive orders to that issued by Neuhaus. In another federal lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the judge issued a preliminary injunction on June 6 against the state of emergency orders in Orange and Rockland counties. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of five illegal immigrants who wish to relocate to or have already arrived in Orange County from New York City. On June 7, New York City filed a lawsuit against 30 upstate counties and towns, arguing that defendant municipalities abused executive powers to block its lawful relocation of illegal immigrants. Poilievre Announces Tory Bill to Have Serial Killers Like Bernardo Serve Full Sentence in Maximum Security Prison Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 8, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has announced that his party will be introducing a private members bill that seeks to keep mass murderers such as serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo in maximum security prison until they serve out their sentences. Poilievre said the bill soon to be introduced by Tory MP Tony Baldinelli would ban the Trudeau government from moving multiple murderers, mass murderers into medium security. The Conservative bill would require every mass murderer [to] serve out their full sentence in maximum security, he said at a press conference on Parliament Hill on June 11. The bill is being brought forward after the decision by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to transfer Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec. Bernardo is currently serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture, and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in the early 1990s near St. Catherines, Ontario. Dubbed the Scarborough Rapist, Bernardo has also admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women and was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Tammy Homolkasister of his former wife Karla Homolkawho died after being drugged and sexually assaulted. Bernardo was initially incarcerated at the Kingston Penitentiary in Ontario and later spent about a decade at the Millhaven Institution, a maximum security prison just outside Kingston. With Poilievre were three close friends of French, one of whom he said received a troubling phone call from Frenchs family about a week ago saying that the CSC had informed them about Bernardos transfer to the La Macaza Institution northwest of Montreal. This is obviously unacceptable and outrageous. [Bernardo] will have more freedom, more interaction with other people, inmates, prison personnel, possibly even allowed to have visitors, he said. This not only puts other people in danger, but it represents harassment for the families of the victims who have to get these kinds of calls. Reverse This Decision Criticism of Bernardos transfer has been echoing through Parliament Hill, Ontarios legislature, and across different police associations. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the CSCs decision was shocking and incomprehensible, and said Canadians deserve to know why Bernardo was transferred from to a medium-security prison. In a statement to The Canadian Press on June 9, CSC spokesman Kevin Antonucci said that under the privacy law, the correctional service cannot disclose an inmates personal information without their consent except in specific circumstances. It says considerations include the sensitivity of the information as well as the likelihood and level of injury relative to the benefits of the disclosure to the public. Security classifications and transfers are based on risk to public safety, escape risk, and the offenders institutional adjustment, and case information such as psychological risk assessments, Antonucci said. Poilievre said the Liberal government has the authority to reverse the CSCs decision. I should note that the Trudeau government has the power today to reverse this decision under Section 6.1 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, he said. A minister of public safety can direct the [CSC] commissioner to classify an entire group of prisoners as requiring maximum security, detention. He is calling on Canadians to contact the prime ministers office to urge the Liberal caucus adopt Baldinellis bill. We encourage all members of the public, every Canadian who cares about justice, to call Trudeaus office and urge him to have his caucus unanimously adopt this common sense Conservative bill to keep mass murderers in maximum security penitentiary. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Presidential Records Act, Not Espionage Act, Applies to Classified Records Indictment Against Trump: Attorney Jesse Binnall, an attorney for President Donald Trump's campaign arrives for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to discuss election "irregularities," in Washington on Dec. 16, 2020. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images) A Trump lawyer, Jesse Binnall, says the new indictment that the Biden administration is pursuing against former President Donald Trump over his handling of classified records wont hold up against the law. Jesse Binnall, one of Trumps lawyers and a partner at Binnall Law Group, told EpochTVs Crossroads program on June 9 that the former president cant be charged under the Espionage Act that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is pursuing. Congress has been very, very clear. They have saidand theres reasons for this that go back to the constitutional duties and obligations and rights of presidentsthat the act that applies to presidents and former presidents is the Presidential Records. The act that applies to everyone else is the Espionage Act, which has different requirements, Binnall said. DOJ special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed in November of last year to investigate Trump over his possession of classified documents after leaving the White House, unsealed an indictment against Trump on June 9. The federal government is alleging that Trump violated the Espionage Act and other laws after some classified documents were found in his Mar-a-Lago estate last summer. Trump has said he had the right to declassify those records as president and decries the FBIs raid of his Florida home as unjust. FBI agents seized more than 11,000 materials without classified markings and about 100 records marked classified during an Aug. 8 raid that was approved by a U.S. magistrate judge, according to an inventory filed with a federal court. According to the inventory list, agents also took more than 1,600 newspaper and magazine articles, empty folders, articles of clothing, books, and gifts. Binnall, who is not representing Trump on the documents matter, said after reading the indictment that by pursuing their charges against Trump, the DOJ is applying a two-tiered system of justice out of animosity against Trump. For instance, when Joe Biden had documents from his time as a United States senator and vice president, he wasnt under the Presidential Records Act. He didnt have to be all the protections and rights under the Presidential Records Act, he was under the Federal Records Act and he was under the Espionage Act. Senator Clinton, when she had her classified documents scandal that James Comey famously declined to prosecute, she was also under the Espionage Act and under the Federal Records Act; not under the Presidential Records Act, Binnall said. Those are cases that could have actually been brought under the Espionage Act. This case is absolutely inappropriate to be brought under the Espionage Act. It does not apply, which is why it will not withstand legal scrutiny. Weaponization of DOJ Binnall said that, following years of controversial actions by U.S. government actors, Smiths indictment only further highlights how certain political figures are politicizing the Justice Department for their own interests. The real problem here is that [Attorney General] Merrick Garland knew exactly what he was getting when he appointed Jack Smith as special counsel. He appointed a zealot, he appointed a Trump-hater, he appointed somebody that he knew was going to stop at nothing to go after and get Trumpbecause Democrats are absolutely terrified of Donald Trump because hes the first president in recent American history to actually stand up for the American people and stand up against the D.C. bureaucracy, and they cannot have him back in the presidency. The truth is that personnel is always policy. So when you appoint somebody like Jack Smith to go after Donald Trump, and then you appoint other people to essentially paper over the allegations against President Biden and against Mike Pence, then you see this dual system of justice that we have in this country. And we see the gaslighting from Jack Smith, saying that theres one set of laws that apply to everyone, he said of Smiths speech when announcing the indictment. It would be so comical if it wasnt so offensive. This is a Department of Justice that has specifically looked past very serious classified document mishandling by Hillary Clinton, theyve done the same thing regarding Joe Biden, and theyve made it very clear that there is one set of laws that apply to Democratspeople that support the Department of Justice weaponizationand a separate set of laws that apply to everyone else. Binnall said that the disparate treatment between political figures demonstrates how the DOJ is unfortunately being turned into a tool of the permanent Washington D.C. bureaucracy rather than being subservient to the American people. That entire system is unconstitutional. It is an affront to the government that the founders gave us, worked so hard, died for. Violations of Attorney-Client Privilege Binnall said that reading the indictment brought back some very hardened memories of civil rights violations he has witnessed over the years when crossing paths with Smith and his team when he led the DOJs Public Integrity Section. The team of the former public integrity chief failed to filter out privileged communications such as communications between a lawyer and a client, communications between spouses, and communications with clergy for one of my clients at the time, Binnall said. They had all of my communications, emails and text message conversations, between me and my client, he said. Binnall was referring to a case that was later dismissed by the judge based on prosecutorial misconduct by Smiths team. And now, history is repeating itself. We know from the indictment that Jack Smith abused an allegation of the crime-fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege by taking instances when Donald Trump was very clearly asking for legal advice and instead of protecting the attorney-client privilege, he forced the attorneys to turn over their communications with the client, Binnall told Philipp. Thats not only just a violation of privilege, thats a violation of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We know from things that President Trumps former lawyer, Tim Parlatore, has said, that Jack Smiths office has also asked him to violate or waive the attorney-client privilege. His disregard for the United States Constitution is the real story. Special counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment against former President Donald Trump at the Justice Department in Washington on on June 9, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Binnall also pointed to Smiths appeal on behalf of the federal government for a speedy trial. Speedy trial is a right of defendants, not the government, he said. So once again, you have Jack Smith up there mischaracterizing the law because he wants to obviously steamroll President Trump. Knowing this history, Binnall expects in this case to see motions to dismiss for prosecutorial misconduct. I think youre going to see motions to suppress, based on the violation of attorney-client privilege, and youre going to see President Trumps lawyers get up there and stand up, not only for the constitutional rights of Donald Trump but the constitutional rights of all Americans. Because if they can do this to the former president of the United States, they can do this to anyone. Smith is also leading an ongoing investigation into whether Trump broke any laws in raising objections about the 2020 election results and are investigating Trumps role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A registered independent and veteran federal prosecutor, Smith had been serving as chief prosecutor of the special court in The Hague before this appointment. Congress Can Rebalance Power Binnall said that for Americans to reclaim their power over a runaway bureaucracy, they must ask their representatives in Congress to act. The founders gave [Congress] a very important tool. They saw that something like this could happen, and they gave [them] the tool of the power of the purseto make sure that if you have a renegade executive, that Congress can essentially shut it down by failing to fund it. We have a duty to demand that our members of Congress fight back against this, he said. The unfortunate thing is, a lot of times, you have members of Congress that dont have the courage to stand up to it. We need to make sure that these members of Congress have courage by making sure that we all call Congress and demand Congress uses its constitutional obligation to stand up to the Department of Justice; demand oversight, demand hearings, and make sure that funding is cut. If we dont stand up for them, and if we dont do that, if we dont win this next election and make sure that Donald Trumpthe person that the permanent D.C. bureaucracy hates more than anyone elseis back as our as our president and is able to win, were not gonna have a country anymore. President Trump is absolutely right about this. This isnt the most important election of our lifetime, this is the most important election of American history, he added. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) speaks with a reporter in Washington on April 25, 2023. (Courtesy NTD) Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, agrees with Binnall on the need to reign in rogue government agencies of unelected bureaucrats. The Department of Justice was not created by the executive branch, it was created by the legislative branch. That means we can go in and denude them of a policy authority, investigative authority, we can redirect their jurisdictional authority, we can use money, Biggs told Philipp. Theres no reason in the world that we should be funding a new headquarters for the FBI that is bigger than the Pentagon, for Petes sakes. These are things we have jurisdiction over and these are our checks. And this is what we can do to bring them back in balance. And, that means, for instance with the FBI, the crime lab is important and good and used but there are other subheadings within the FBI that could probably be done away with. And the same thing with the DOJ. The action that we can take constitutionally, since we dont have police power, is to limit their funding, limit jurisdiction, limit their rulemaking authority, limit their policymaking authority, limiting their ability to enforce certain policies. I have been advocating, oddly enough, that for several years, Biggs said. Hopefully, some of my colleagues will get on the bus with me now and we can actually do something to limit both the funding but the jurisdictional authorities of these rogue agencies, which have been politicized and weaponized. The swamp in Washington D.C. is really deep and really broad. And theyre fighting us every step of the way on it. I think were turning into a left-wing authoritarian state, and thats what youre seeing with weaponization not just of DOJ. Its being done for political purposes and thats what makes it particularly pernicious. Thats why my colleagues, I hope, will join me in these efforts to rein them in. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Repairs of Collapsed I-95 in Philadelphia to Take Months Commuters warned to expect delays this summer Firefighters respond to the scene of a collapse of Interstate 95, after a vehicle caught fire, in Philadelphia on June 11, 2023. (Courtesy of KYW) Traffic along a major East Coast artery is likely to face months of delays after an elevated section of the I-95 highway in Pennsylvania collapsed on Sunday morning, state officials said. The approximately 70-foot-wide northbound portion of the I-95 in Philadelphia fell through after a tanker truck carrying flammable cargo caught fire on an exit ramp under an overpass, quickly melting the steel support structures of the highway. Transportation officials said fire from the petroleum-based cargo, which may have contained hundreds of gallons of gasoline, took about an hour to get under control. Commuters have been warned of extensive delays and street closures in Philadelphias northeast corner. The four northbound lanes of the I-95 have all collapsed, while southbound lanes were compromised from the heat of the fire, Derek Bowmer, battalion chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department, told reporters on Sunday afternoon. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines also caused explosions underground, he said. The Coast Guard deployed a boom after a sheen was seen in the Delaware River near the collapse site. Ensign Josh Ledoux said the tanker had a capacity of 8,500 gallons, but the contents did not appear to be spreading into the environment. As far as waterways go, its being contained, and it seems like things are under control, he said. Firefighters stand near the collapsed part of I-95 in Philadelphia on June 11, 2023. (Philadelphia Fire Department via AP) Repairing the highway will likely take some number of months, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro warned. Commuters are likely to face travel disruptions through the summer. The governor described the collapse as a devastating siteone that our first responders, law enforcement, and others contained very, very quickly. I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died, he said. The fire started around 6:15 a.m. at the Cottman Avenue exit ramp, according to state Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph. Rudolph said the department is now investigating the cause of the accident with state and federal partners. There was no immediate time frame for reopening the highway, but Rudolph said that officials would consider a fill-in situation or a temporary structure to accelerate the effort. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the closure of I-95 will also have significant impacts on the wider region beyond the city. This is a major artery for people and goods, and the closure will have significant impacts on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete, he said on Twitter. Our department will be there with support throughout the process of I-95 returning to normal. Fortunately, most drivers traveling the I-95 corridor between Delaware and New York City use the New Jersey Turnpike rather than the segment of interstate where the incident occurred. Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, said he was driving south toward the citys airport when he noticed thick, black smoke rising over the highway. As he passed the fire, the road beneath began to dip, creating a noticeable depression that was visible in the video he took of the scene, he said. He saw traffic in his rearview mirror come to a halt. Soon after, the northbound lanes of the highway crumbled. It was crazy timing, Fusetti said. For it to buckle and collapse that quickly, its pretty remarkable. While there have been no immediate reports of injuries, the commercial hauler remains trapped in the concrete rubble under the collapsed overpass and authorities are still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire, Shapiro said. Heavy construction equipment is required to remove the debris. The destroyed portion of the highway is likely the busiest interstate in the commonwealth, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll told reporters. It catered to around 160,000 vehicles each day. Shapiro added that his office was working with federal partners on the matter and looking at alternatives to connect the roadway beyond detourswhich currently adds 43 miles of travel, with traffic expected to back up significantly on all the detour areas. Shapiro said he had spoken directly to Buttigieg, who has assured him that there would be absolutely no delay in getting federal funds quickly to rebuild what he called a critical roadway as safely and efficiently as possible. His office plans to issue a disaster declaration on Monday to expedite federal funds for the rebuilding of the major artery. Officials from the Federal Highway Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are expected in Philadelphia to support the rebuild and investigation efforts. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation. The collapsed portion was part of a $212 million reconstruction project that wrapped up four years ago, Rudolph said. It is unclear how commuters will cope with the collapse on Monday. A temporary plan with detours and additional Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus services is in place for the next 48 hours, but it will likely need to be revised later, officials say. The department is also working to expand capacity on existing roads and additional cars have been added on the citys Trenton, West Trenton, and Fox Chase Regional Rail Lines. Currently, the suggested detours for motorists are Route 63 West (Woodhaven Road), U.S. 1 South, 76 East, 676 East, for southbound traffic; and I-676 West, I-76 West, U.S. 1 North to Route 63 East (Woodhaven Road) for northbound traffic. The challenges will be real when it comes to traffic movements in the city as a result of this incident, Carroll said. We ask employers to be flexible with their workforces, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards said. Its going to take longer than normal to get to work tomorrow. The latest travel updates will be available at pa.gov/i95updates. The fire was strikingly similar to another blaze in Philadelphia in March 1996, when an illegal tire dump under I-95 caught fire, melting guard rails and buckling the pavement. The highway was closed for several weeks, and partial closures lasted for six months. Seven teenagers were charged with arson. The dumps owner was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay $3 million of the $6.5 million repair costs, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Republicans See Political Motives in Trump Indictment, Others See Security Risk: CBS Poll Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump gestures to the audience after delivering remarks in Greensboro, N.C., on June 10, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Republicans see political motives behind the Department of Justices (DOJ) recent indictment of President Donald Trump, while others say that Trumps possession of the documents posed a national security risk, a CBS poll found. Trump said on June 8 that his attorneys were informed of the indictment by DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith in connection to the investigation into the handling of classified documents. Trump is the first former U.S. president in history to face criminal action at the federal level. The announcement followed a raid by the FBI last year of Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that allegedly discovered several classified documents in his possession. Smith later announced 37 charges against Trump in relation to the documents. Following the indictment, Trump seemed unfazed. During campaign appearances in Georgia and North Carolina, he referred to the indictment as a joke, but said it had nonetheless been good for his polling and fundraising. According to a new CBS poll, most Republican voters are inclined to agree. Seventy-six percent said that they saw purely political motives behind the indictment. Only 12 percent said that they thought Trumps possession of the documents posed a national security threat, while another 12 percent said that they thought that there was a national security threat but that the motives behind the indictment were political. By corollary, a minority of likely Republican primary voters, 38 percent, said they thought there was a national security risk in Trumps continued possession of the disputed documents. However, non-Republicans expressed greater concerns: 80 percent of non-Republican voters said they saw a security risk in Trump continuing to hold on to the documents. Most Republicans also say that the indictment doesnt change their feelings toward Trump either way. Fourteen percent told CBS it changes their opinion of Trump for the better, 7 percent say it changes their opinion for the worse, and 18 percent say it depends. But most, 61 percent, say it doesnt change anything, and they think he should still be allowed to serve as president again even if hes convicted. Only 20 percent of likely Republican primary voters say that Trump shouldnt be allowed to serve again if hes convicted; the other 80 percent say he should be allowed. Trump himself has called foul over the charges, contrasting his treatment with the treatment given to figures like President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over their mishandling of classified material. Like Trump, Biden has faced allegations of mishandling classified documents taken from the White House. Bidens got 1,850 boxes [of classified documents]. Hes got boxes in Chinatown, D.C., Trump said. Hes got boxes all over the place. He doesnt know what the hell to do with them, and hes fighting them on the boxes. Likewise, Trump noted that Clinton, his 2016 rival for the presidency, was accused of destroying a laptop with classified government secrets in order to avoid complying with a congressional subpoena. Our law enforcement has become weaponized at a level never seen before, Trump said. Timing Raises Eyebrows Many Republicans raised questions about the timing of the indictment. It came on the same day that FBI Director Christopher Wray acceded to a GOP demand to share a document alleging that Biden took a foreign bribe while vice president. Specifically, Biden is accused of taking $5 million to help get Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokinwho was investigating the energy firm Burisma, to which the presidents son, Hunter Biden, has connectionsfired. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said on Twitter that the document, which she observed on June 8 as part of Wrays deal with Republicans, comes from the FBIs most trusted credible informant. If the charges prove true, they could be a precursor to further legal action by House Republicans. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said that he believes the two are connected. Imagine being naive enough to believe that the Biden Bribe evidence and Trump indictment happening the same day was a coincidence, Gaetz wrote on Twitter. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who has worked closely with his House analog about the bribery allegations against Biden, echoed the sentiment. DOJ indicts former President/candidate Trump [the] SAME DAY DOJ/FBI restricts access to unnecessarily redacted Biden allegations, Grassley said in a tweet. And they wonder why ppl think there [are] two standards for justice. Rivals Weigh In Following the announcement of the charges against Trump related to his handling of classified documents, several of his GOP rivals have found themselves in the position of defending their main hurdle to the presidential nomination. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said it demonstrated two tiers of justice: one for Trump on government document retention, another for Biden. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also condemned what he called the weaponization of the Department of Justice against a former president. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has clashed publicly with Trump on several occasions, called it an example of prosecutorial overreach, double standards, and vendetta politics. GOP Concerns of DOJ Politicization Republicans have increasingly expressed concerns over the way Bidens DOJ is run, saying that the agency has become politicized against Bidens enemies. An ongoing GOP investigation under the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has been probing the issue, and has published a series of reports alleging abuse of resources. A recent whistleblower report claimed that the FBI had become enveloped in politicization, and had engaged in serious abuses of its authority. For instance, the report claimed that the FBI had focused attention on traditionalist and Latin Mass Catholic communities, dubbing them radical-traditionalist Catholics. These communities were allegedly pegged as a hotbed of white supremacist activity and a potential terror threat, and the FBI expressed the intention to place informants in these parishes. Republicans have also pointed to an Oct. 4, 2021, memo from Attorney General Merrick Garland that directed the FBI to partner with local law enforcement and U.S. attorneys to identify parental threats at school board meetings against faculty and prosecute them when appropriate. The memo came after many students across the country began learning remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving parents a window into their childrens education. Several discovered that controversial, disputed ideas about sexuality, gender, and race were being taught as fact, leading to a spurt of parents showing up at school board meetings to protest the content. The FBI responded to the memo by allegedly placing threat tags, indicating the possibility of a terror or violent crime incident, on parents who attended school board meetings, leading to concerns that the FBI was cracking down on First Amendment-protected speech. Director John Woos Film of an epic battle delivers in every way 2008-2009 | R | 2h 28m | Action, Adventure, Drama John Woo is a name that is synonymous with excitement, danger and, of course, pulse-pounding action. Woo cut his teeth on many 80s and early 90s Hong Kong action classics such as The Killer, Bullet in the Head, and Hard Boiled, the latter widely considered his opus during that period and one of the greatest action films ever produced. Director John Woo on the set of Red Cliff. (Beijing Film Studio) However, when Woo set off for Hollywood (after filming Hard Boiled) in the hopes of making bigger waves on the international stage, he soon realized that all that glitters is not gold. In the United States, Woos formidable filmmaking talents were largely misunderstood and misused. Frustrated, he returned to Hong Kong to direct 2008s Red Cliff, a historical epic battle during Chinas Three Kingdoms period (A.D. 220280). The film opens in A.D. 208 as ruthless warlord Cao Cao (Fengyi Zhang) has seized control over much of Northern China. Although Cao Cao pays tribute to Emperor Han (Ning Wang), its an open secret that he is the one calling the shots. The menacing Cao Cao (Fengyi Zhang), in Red Cliff. (Beijing Film Studio) As with many Woo films, things kick off pretty quickly, with Cao Cao strongly persuading the emperor to let him lead the Han imperial army to put down any opposition to his rule. Cao Cao has labeled his two strongest rivalsSun Quan (Chang Chen) who controls the south, and Liu Bei (Yong You) who rules over the westas rebels to legitimize his power grab. Without wasting any time, Cao Cao attacks Liu Bei first and the latter is forced to hastily withdraw from their battle. Liu Bei barely escapes with his life, and he has to leave his family behind. In a dramatic fight scene, Zhao Yun (Jun Hu), one of Liu Beis bravest and most capable warriors, manages to rescue Liu Beis last remaining relative, an infant son, from Cao Caos forces. After resettling, Liu Bei quickly sends his trusted advisor Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) to meet with Sun Quan further to the south. Liu Bei knows that he and Sun Quan are no match for the might of Cao Caos imperial forces, but together they may stand a chance. Zhuge Liangs exemplary diplomatic skills seem to hit a roadblock with Sun Quan since the southern ruler enjoys the relative tranquility of his beautiful realm, and is understandably hesitant to commit to a war with Cao Cao. However, when Zhuge Liang eventually meets Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), a peaceful warrior whom Sun Quan considers his older brother, he finds that he may have stumbled upon a potential key to victory. Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), in Red Cliff. (Beijing Film Studio) As someone who loves Woos bullet-drenched Hong Kong action films, I found watching the legendary directors take on Chinas Three Kingdoms period as a big departure from what Im used to. However, from the beginning scenes, I quickly became hooked, primarily because of the intriguing narrative about kind and just men being threatened by an overwhelming, oppressive force (Cao Cao), and not bowing to it. As with many of Woos characters, the good guys that Cao Cao is trying to stamp out are men of peace that are actually no floormats when pushed too far. Also, many of the battle scenes that take place contain just as much strategy as they do physical combat. Since the forces of good are heavily outmatched, they have to rely on guile, tactics, and intelligence to outwit and outmaneuver their numerically superior adversary. Its almost like getting abbreviated lessons in Sun Tzus The Art of War. The entire cast is fantastic from top to bottom, with Tony Leung Chiu-wai convincing as a graceful and humble warrior who matches well with Takeshi Kaneshiro as his more forceful brother-in-arms. The majestic score swells and ebbs at just the right moments, perfectly complementing the incredible cinematography. The sense of scale on display is staggering, with hundreds of ships at sea or thousands of men fighting it out, all in a convincing fashion. Not only is the films story epic but so is its sense of scale. A scene from Red Cliff. (Beijing Film Studio) Red Cliff is more than a riveting tale of good guys versus bad guys. It sheds light on an intriguing (and important) period of Chinese history and is relatively easier to follow than some of the other epics Ive watched. It also carries positive messages about not giving in to evil and standing up for whats right, no matter how dominant the negative forces may seem. And thats a powerful message in these turbulent times. The original release of the film was in 2 parts and almost 5 hours long; The abridged version of 2 hours 28 minutes is watchable in one sitting. John Woo directed Red Cliff, a drama of an epic battle during Chinas Three Kingdoms period. (Beijing Film Studio) Red Cliff is in Mandarin with English subtitles and is available on Hoopla, Vudu, and Amazon. Red Cliff Director: John Woo Starring: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Fengyi Zhang MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 2 hours, 28 minutes (abridged version) Release Date: Dec. 4, 2009 Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5 Saudi Arabia Signs Investment Deals Worth $10 Billion With China Saudi minister of foreign affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud attends a news conference at the Arab Gulf Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Ahmed Yosri/Reuters) Saudi Arabia and China on June 11 signed 30 investment agreements totaling about $10 billion across various sectors to deepen their bilateral relations, according to the Saudi Arabian Investment Ministry. The agreements were signed during the ArabChina Business Conference in Riyadh, which covered technology, renewables, agriculture, real estate, minerals, supply chains, tourism, and health care. The crown prince has continually amplified efforts to enhance the long-standing and advanced partnership between the Arab world and China in all sectors, Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said. Among the accords is a $5.6 billion deal between the Saudi Investment Ministry and Chinese electric car maker Human Horizons to collaborate on automotive research and manufacturing, Arab News reported. In addition, Saudi railway company SABATCO signed a $250 million deal with Chinese state-owned rolling stock manufacturer CRRC to build rail wagons and wheels in the kingdom, according to the report. The #ArabChinaConference sets the stage for growth & innovation with the signing of 23 MoUs, in the presence of HE @Khalid_AlFalih @MISA, across key sectors including tourism, energy, manufacturing & telecoms. Witness the significant moments of partnership that will shape pic.twitter.com/RFSGXUyifY Arab China Business Conference (@ArabChinaConf) June 11, 2023 Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at the conference that his country seeks to collaborate with China in various areas rather than compete with the worlds biggest energy consumer. In March, state oil giant Saudi Aramco announced two major deals to raise its multibillion-dollar investment in China and bolster its rank as Chinas top provider of crude. The two deals were the biggest announced since Chinese leader Xi Jinpings visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2022, when he called for oil trade in yuan, a move that would weaken the U.S. dollars dominance. When asked about criticism of the countries bilateral relationship, Salman said: I actually ignore it because as a business person now you will go where opportunity comes your way. We dont have to be facing any choice which has to do with [saying] either with us or with the others, he added. USSaudi Relations The conference came days after a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss economic and security cooperation. Blinken said that Washington wasnt asking Saudi Arabia to choose a side between the United States and China. With regard to China, weve also been very clear were not asking anyone to choose between the United States and China, Blinken said during a joint news conference with Farhan on June 8. We are simply trying to demonstrate the benefits of our partnership and the affirmative agenda that we bring in what were trying to do, he added. Farhan said he hoped that an agreement could be reached for the United States to aid Saudi Arabias bid to generate nuclear power. We would very much prefer to be able to have the United States as one of the bidders for that program, the foreign minister stated. There are others that are bidding, and obviously, we would like to build our program with the best technology in the world, and that will require a certain agreement to be in place. U.S.Saudi relations have deteriorated since the 2018 slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident, inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. They worsened after the Biden administration took office in early 2021 and released a U.S. intelligence assessment that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman approved Khashoggis killing, which the crown prince denied. The Biden administration in November 2022 suggested that Saudi Arabias crown prince be granted immunity from a U.S. civil lawsuit filed against him in connection with the slaying of Khashoggi. Reuters contributed to this report. Senator Censured by North Carolina GOP Over Pattern of Siding With Democrats The North Carolina Republican Party has censured one of the states two U.S. senators over his siding with Democrats on key legislation, including a bill that restricts gun ownership. Party delegates on June 10 voted to censure Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) over his votes on bills like the Respect for Marriage Act, which overturned a law that defined marriage as between a man and woman, and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which expanded federal background checks and featured incentives for states to pass laws that enable judges to strip some people of their ability to possess guns. While the vote, which took place behind closed doors, cannot remove Tillis from office, supporters said they hope it sends a firm message of dissatisfaction. At least two-thirds of the state partys 1,801 voting delegates voted to pass the censure resolution, party spokesperson Jeff Moore said. We need people who are unwavering in their support for conservative ideals, said Jim Forster, an 81-year-old delegate from Guilford. His recent actions dont reflect the partys shift to the rightin fact, theyre moving in the exact wrong direction. Daniel Keylin, a spokesperson for Tillis, defended the senators voting record. 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. Keylin did not respond when asked how Tillis learned of the censure. Some in the state said they opposed the move, including former Gov. Pat McCrory. 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, McCrory said in a social media post. I believe that a mob mentality doesnt do us any good, added state Sen. Bobby Hanig, a Republican. Senator Tillis does a lot for North Carolina, he does a lot for the coastal communities, so why would I want to make him mad? Shift Tillis, 62, has represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2015, after serving in the state legislature for eight years. Tillis knocked off Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) in the 2015 election by capturing 1.4 million votes to her 1.3 million, and won a second term in 2020 by staving off Democrat Cal Cunningham by about 100,000 votes. Tillis became North Carolinas senior senator when former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) retired in early 2023 rather than try for another six years in office, but he has been attracting criticism for his shift on key issues such as marriage. Tillis opposed changing the definition of marriage earlier in his political career. While he was speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, he helped lead an effort to ban same-sex marriage in the state. The fundamentals are, the institution of marriage, which has traditionally been defined as the union of man and woman, is something Im at peace with, he said at the time. When the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges ruled that states were required to give marriage licenses to two people, regardless of whether they are of the same sex, Tillis vowed to appeal the ruling. The North Carolina Republican Partys official position is that marriage between a man and a woman must be upheld as the national standard. Tillis defended his vote on the Respect for Marriage Act after he helped hammer out an agreement with Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). Sinema has since become an independent while Portman is no longer in office. The senators said that the agreement would protect marriage equality while respecting and protecting Americans religious liberties. Tillis told reporters in a briefing that the situation has changed since he opposed same-sex marriage. When I make decisions, I make decisions based on current data, current facts, he said. The current data and current facts have changed. The Dare County GOP previously censured Tillis, declaring Tillis, through his vote for the new bill, deliberately abandoned the national and state party platforms on marriage; and whereas his rejection of such a crucial plank of the GOP platform has damaged the reputation of his party and further marginalized the natural family. The NC Values Coalition also decried the vote. Voters are tired of sending elected representatives to Washington who betray their values, Tami Fitzgerald, the coalitions executive director, said in a statement. Others praised Tillis and Burr, who also voted for the bill. Thank you, Sen Thom Tillis, for your leadership on this bipartisan bill, the group Southern Equality said. Burr also voted for the bill while his eventual replacement, Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), voted against it as a member of the House of Representatives. The Associated Press contributed to this report. On the 15th of June UkraineInvest organises the online investment forum "FIT for Ukraine: Investment Innovations". The purpose of the event is to present an overview of the investment market in Ukraine, investment projects, successful business cases and preliminary conclusions of the analytical report on this topic, which was initiated by UkraineInvest with the support of UNDP and other authoritative international organisations. The event will be held online in Ukrainian and English. Simultaneous translation will be provided during the broadcast. About this event: Ukraine has undergone a significant economic and industrial decline as a result of full-scale military aggression. The countrys GDP has contracted by almost 30%, and the share of manufacturing has dropped to 7% from 11% in 2021. Although businesses have shown resilience in their operations, they face limitations in terms of accessing finance and technologies. The ongoing war in Ukraine represents the largest land military operation in Europe since World War II, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches to finance investments. To revitalize the economy and industrial sector in Ukraine, immediate action is required in the form of impact investments utilizing blended finance, combining state, donor, and private capital, along with attached war/political risk insurance mechanisms. These measures will help stimulate economic growth and attract international companies interested in entering the Ukrainian market. FIT for Ukraine: innovative investments program has been designed to present the landscape of the investment market in Ukraine, pipeline of projects that seek investment, the most current investment success cases, and preliminary findings of the analytical report on the topic that was initiated by UkraineInvest with the support of the UNDP, and other reputable international organizations. Time: 16:00-18:00 (Kyiv) Speakers: Yulia Svyrydenko First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy of Ukraine First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy of Ukraine Oleh Nemchynov Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Jaco Cilliers UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine Sergiy Tsivkach CEO, UkraineInvest CEO, UkraineInvest UNDP - TBC - TBC Maria Hakansson MD and CEO of Swedfund MD and CEO of Swedfund Natalie Jaresko Former Minister of Finance of Ukraine currently with EY-Parthenon Former Minister of Finance of Ukraine currently with EY-Parthenon Konstantin Magaletskyi Co-owner of Ukraine Green Recovery Fund Co-owner of Ukraine Green Recovery Fund Pavlo Kartashov Director of the Ukrainian Startup Fund Director of the Ukrainian Startup Fund Amit Shah - Investment Director at Bridges Fund Management Organised by: UkraineInvest Government of Ukraine Investment Promotion Office. Since 2020 we: supported attraction, and unlocked over $ 1,5 billion in FDIs provided 4000+ consultations to investors (legal, financial, analytical, etc) resolved over 150 issues of investors operating in Ukraine developed over 80 legislative proposals to improve the investment climate ranked in the top 5 of best IPAs out of 23 CEE countries, 2020-2022 Media accreditation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccvY7ZQ_ZQk0qHpuwOFiAQpJnzIMtjCJHiX62wr0yOeB6K3w/viewform For media partnership, please call: +38063-023-11-93 Moderator: Shangri-La Should Not Be a Mere Talkfest on the CCP Threat A Chinese cyclist rides by a newspaper with a front page photo featuring the People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers in military exercise with the headline "Chinese Military Exercise Frightens Pro-Independence" Aug. 7, 2002 in Beijing, China.(Kevin Lee/Getty Images) Commentary I was reminded that Shangri-La is a fictional utopian paradise valley in Tibet as I read the remarks of the Chinese defence minister to the Singaporean security conference held in the hotel named after the mythical land. In his speech on Chinas New Security Initiative, Li Shangfu emphasised a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win over zero-sum. He advanced a four-point proposal: Mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony; fairness and justice should transcend the law of the jungle; eliminating conflicts and confrontation through mutual trust and consultation; and preventing bloc confrontation with openness and inclusiveness. How utopian. Prior to giving his speech, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), of which Li is the responsible minister, was demonstrating Chinas commitment to eliminating conflicts and confrontation by carrying-out reckless maneuvers against a U.S. plane and naval vessel in the China Sea. In an act reminiscent of similar incidents with Australian and Canadian airforce planes, the Chinese pilot flew dangerously close to U.S. aircraft. In the South China Sea, a PLA navy vessel cut across the bow of the U.S. ship, akin to a driver diving in front of another vehicle on the highway. Chinas Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu delivers a speech during the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 4, 2023. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images) Li further demonstrated mutual trust and consultation and preventing bloc confrontation by refusing an invitation to discuss security issues with the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Nor did his remarks about using shotguns against opponents relieve concerns about the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) bullying of any nation that considers Taiwan a self-governed state. This was the first time Li attended the Shangri-La Dialogue after he became the defense minister this year, and it is also the first time Chinas Global Security Initiative Concept Paper was made the subject of a full presentation since its release in February. CCP mouthpiece, The Global Times, gushed that the debut was undoubtedly a success from any perspective. It continued that it is inevitable that Chinas New Security Initiative has gained popularity. This is not the understanding of most of the nations in the region, which regard the CCPs naked aggression as troublesome, to say the least. Indeed, most discussions between ministers, senior officials, and defence chiefs at the annual Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue centred on how to contain an aggressive CCP. In that regard, little has changed for years, apart from Chinas increasing aggression against its neighbours. In all the important bilateral and multilateral side meetings, it was the only issue. It is clear that Lis comments were intended primarily for his leader, Xi Jinping, and members of the communist party. They indulged the same bellicose nationalism that Xi has fostered regularly. China sincerely regards the Shangri-La Dialogue as a platform for discussing security and communicating with all parties on an equal footing, and is also truly seeking dialogue, cooperation, and solutions for the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, added the Global Times. Except for sitting down for a discussion with the Americans. The reason advanced for not having a meeting was flimsy. We will not concede to Americas peace essentially! While Dialogue Is Good, Action Is Needed Too This brings me to the Australian contribution. Each year, a national leader is invited to give the opening keynote address. This year it was Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The prime minister reinforced the messages that Australia was committed to deterrence and reassurance in the Indo-Pacific and stood by its belief in the force for good that American leadership has represented. However, his belief, expressed also by the Australian foreign minister on other occasions, that ongoing dialogue and appropriate guardrails are the critical elements of regional security and peace, is not reflected in the actions of the CCP. As the events of the week demonstrated again, the Chinese regime continues to reject such guardrails and wont even have a discussion about them. This is a dangerous escalation in both action and rhetoric by the CCP. Australia and like-minded nations should continue to press for peaceful discussion and ongoing dialogue, and urgently carry out any actions needed to embed guardrails in the region. To fail to do so, will leave Western leaders stuck in their own utopian Shangri-La. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch live coverage of former President Donald Trumps arraignment at a federal court in Miami, Florida. Trump is facing 37 counts of felony charges over his handling of classified documents after leaving office. This special program will feature real-time updates from reporters on the ground, bipartisan analysis from legal experts and political commentators, and reactions from lawmakers. Be sure to tune in at EpochTV.com or NTD.com on Tuesday, June 13 at 2 p.m. ET. Sunak Says He Refused Johnsons Request to Overrule House of Lords on Vetoed Honours Names Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing Street, London on Oct. 13, 2020. The House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) has confirmed it vetoed eight names former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had put forward for peerages in his resignation honours list. On Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused Johnson of asking him to do something I wasnt prepared to do, by overruling Holac. Johnsons resignation honours list was published (pdf) on Friday and includes seven people nominated to receive life peerages and 38 people to receive knighthoods, MBEs and OBEs. Among those nominated for a peerage is Charlotte Owen, a 29-year-old former adviser to Johnson who would become the youngest-ever member of the House of Lords. Also nominated for a peerage are Dan Rosenfield, a former chief of staff at 10 Downing Street, Benjamin Gascoigne, a former deputy chief of staff, Ross Kempsell, a former political director of the Conservative Party, Kulveer Singh Ranger, a former director of transport while Johnson was London mayor, Shaun Bailey, a former Tory mayoral candidate in London, and Ben Houchen, the Mayor of Tees Valley. A number of political aides, including Jack Doyle, Guto Harri, Samantha Cohen and David Canzini were also nominated for CBEs (commander of the order of the British Empire), the highest honour below a peerage. Former communications chief Jack Doyle (L)who has been nominated in Boris Johnsons resignation honours list, along with former aides (L to R) Samantha Cohen, Guto Hari and David Canzinioutside Downing Street on Nov 12., 2020 and July 12, 2022. (PA) There were also honours for Michelle Williams-Walker, Johnsons former head of operationswho was reportedly in charge of the music at the Downing Street parties during the lockdownand the former prime ministers hairdresser, Kelly Jo Dodge. A spokesman for the independent commission, which is chaired by Lord Bew, said in a statement: The House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac) considered the nominations proposed by the Right Honourable 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, the statement concluded. Appearing at the London Tech Week conference, Sunak said, Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasnt prepared to do because I didnt think it was right. Sunak: If People Dont Like That, Then Tough That was to either overrule the Holac committee or to make promises to people. Now, I wasnt prepared to do that. I didnt think it was right and if people dont like that, then tough, he added. The prime minister said: When I got this job I said I was going to do things differently because I wanted to change politics and thats what Im doing. And Im also keen to make sure that we change how our country works and thats what Im here talking about today: making sure that we can grow our economy, that we can maintain our leadership in the innovative industries of the future, Sunak added. Sunak will have to call a general election by January 2025 at the latest but he has been forced to call three by-elections following the resignation on Friday of Johnson and former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, who were followed on Saturday by former minister Nigel Adams. Johnson quit after receiving the Privileges Committee report into the Partygate affair which he referred to as a kangaroo court which was determined to drive him out of Parliament. It has been reported that Johnson wanted to reward Dorries, Adams and another loyal MP, Alok Sharma, with peerages but was persuaded to drop them by Sunak, who did not want to face unnecessary by-elections. But Dorries and Adams resigned anyway and the prime minister now faces by-elections later this summer in Uxbridge & Ruislip, Mid-Bedfordshire and Selby & Ainsty. Labour is gunning for Johnsons 7,000 majority in Uxbridge while the Liberal Democrats hope to pull off shock victories in the other two constituencies, both safe Tory seats. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, was questioned about the resignation honours list on BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Monday. Gove Says All Resigning PMs Allowed to Gift Honours Gove said, The appropriate procedure was followed. He said the Partygate report was irrelevant to the honours process and he pointed out, The resignation honours are in the gift of any prime minister who stands down. In a statement made today, Johnson dismissed Sunaks comments, saying: Rishi Sunak is talking rubbish. To honour these peerages it was not necessary to overrule Holacbut simply to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality. Johnsons successor, Liz Truss, is reported to have nominated four people on her honours list, which has not yet been published. In March, when news of Trusss list emerged, Wendy Chamberlain MP, the Liberal Democrats chief whip, said, Rishi Sunak must block these honours immediately as allowing Truss to dish out positions of influence shows a stunning lack of humility. Johnsons is one of the most controversial resignation lists since Harold Wilsons famous Lavender List in 1976. Wilson resigned as prime minister but had little to do with his resignation honours list, which was drawn up by his chief political aide, Marcia Williams, who was herself nominated to become Baroness Falkender. Also on the list were Joseph Kagan, maker of Wilsons ubiquitous Ganex raincoat, who was later convicted of fraud and tax evasion, and businessman Eric Miller, who committed suicide as police closed in on him for similar offences. PA Media contributed to this report. Supreme Court Denies Christian Schools Claim Against Teacher Who Accused It of Racism The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on May 12, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) The Supreme Court decided on June 12 not to hear the claim of a Christian school in Colorado that it cant be sued for firing a teacher who accused the school, parents, and students of racism. The school argued that because its a religious institution its beyond the reach of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The familiar amendment begins, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The case involves the so-called ministerial exception that the Supreme Court recognized in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Employment Opportunity Division (2012). The exception prevents employees who carry out religious functions from suing church bodies. The schools petition (pdf) stated that the internal dispute is no business of the judiciary or civil authorities. It is not a proper subject for depositions and discovery, cross-examinations, lawyers arguments, or jury deliberations. The Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment categorically bar judicial inquiry and interference in religious leadership disputes. The Supreme Court affirmed the ministerial exception in July 2020 when it ruled 72 in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru that the First Amendments establishment clause exempts religious organizations from employment discrimination lawsuits, as The Epoch Times reported at the time. On June 12, the court dismissed the petition in the case known as Faith Bible Chapel International (FBCI) v. Tucker (court file 22-741), in an unsigned order. No justices dissented, and the court didnt explain its decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit previously ruled against the school. In 2018, Gregory Tucker, at the time the school chaplain, angered school officials, students, and their parents at Faith Bible Chapel by lecturing them on systemic bias and on their white privilege, two controversial concepts associated with the radical anti-racism movement. The movement campaigns against so-called hate speech and presses for, among other things, racial sensitivity training in government and corporations in an effort to eradicate what it claims is white privilege. Critics decry such woke training as forced ideological reeducation. Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) President and CEO Rachel Laser, whose group represented Tucker in the legal proceeding, hailed the Supreme Courts new ruling. Religious freedom is not a license to harm others or prevent people from seeking justice in courts of law. These cases are far from over, but Gregg Tucker and Father Alexander Belya now have a chance to vindicate their rights, Laser said in a statement. Belya is involved in a related case. We are facing an aggressive movement working to recast religious freedom into a weapon that would allow religious institutions to discriminate without limit or consequence, Laser said. AU believes religious freedom should be a shield, not a sword. Today, the Court let that principle stand. Tucker had claimed that the FBCI fired him because he expressed opposition to racial discrimination and harassment directed against him, as a father of a black daughter, and against minority students at the school. Tucker organized a symposium to discuss racist behavior within the school with the intention of eliminating it. Tucker claimed in court papers that his employment ended in February 2018 because he organized the event. The school caved to pressure from students and parents who were guilty of the most racially incendiary behavior within the school [and] were offended by the implied message that they were guilty of racism. The school falsely claimed he was guilty of gross insubordination, a complaint stated. In response, the school argued in court papers that Tucker behaved badly. His message accused Faith Christian students and parents of racism, which the message defined in terms of white privilege and systemic bias, the schools petition stated. Many students and parents complained to school leadership that Tuckers message was political rather than biblical. FBCI concluded that Tuckers message was not consistent with church teaching. The school met with Tucker, who disagreed with its interpretation of The Bible. Tucker wrote a letter to the school community about his views and began openly expressing disagreement with school leadership. The school relieved him of his role in planning and speaking at chapel services and eventually, he stopped working there, the petition stated. Daniel Blomberg, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented the school, said in February that the Constitution prevents the government from interfering in the religious schools policymaking. Churches should be free to pick their own chaplains and lead their own chapel services without judges or juries second-guessing them, Blomberg told The Epoch Times. If it takes years of litigation and lawyers fees just to protect that right, then the First Amendment will be a dead letter for most religious groups. Theyll be priced out before the Constitution can ever kick in. Asked to comment on the June 12 ruling, Blomberg said his side was not discouraged by the Supreme Courts decision not to take the case. Church schools should be free to pick their chaplains and Bible teachers without second-guessing from judges and juries, he said. We are confident that the courts will ultimately protect this basic right. If the First Amendment means anything, it means the government cant punish churches for asking church leaders to support church teaching in a chapel service, the lawyer said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times. A man with autism and dyslexia has turned his fascination for the microscopic world into miniature works of art, inspiring others to look more closely at both the world around them and the unique potential of each and every one of us. Dr. Willard Wigan MBE, 65, grew up in Birmingham, England, where he lives today with his beloved dog, Stanley. He makes the smallest known sculptures in the world, each one positioned inside the eye of a needle. His body of work ranges from a teeny tiny Queen Elizabeth II to a procession of 14 camels, the details of which can only be seen under a microscope. Willard works with wood shards, grains of sand, microfibers, and homemade tools. He paints his sculptures using one of his own eyelashes affixed to a cocktail stick. He is a Guinness World Record holder and was honored by King Charles of England in 2007 for his services in art. Artist Willard Wigan is a Guinness World Record holder and was honored by King Charles of England in 2007 for his services in art. (Courtesy of Paul Ward Photography via Willard Wigan) The Last Supper. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) Discovering His Gift Willard, who was not diagnosed with autism until the age of 50, was humiliated by his teachers at school for being unable to read or write. He told The Epoch Times, I wouldnt call it a learning difficulty, Id call it a learning difference. If I didnt have that, I wouldnt be who I am today. I never really studied because school wasnt good to me. I didnt really learn anything. I just learned that they didnt accept me. I liked looking out the window and looking at the wildlife, looking at the insects flying around, and the bugs. I ran away from school because it was too much for me, and I discovered my gift when I ran away. The Moon Landing. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) The artwork 14 Camels in the Eye of Needle. (Courtesy of Paul Ward Photography via Willard Wigan) Willard sat alone by a pond, transfixed by the maze of veins on fallen leaves and the routes of herding insects. He started to be engaged by the world that people disregard. It was while playing with his dog, Maxie, back home in the yard that Willard first decided to intervene in this miniature world. [Maxie] was digging underneath the fence to get the ball, and when he did that he disturbed an ants nest and lots of ants came out on the ground, he said. I felt sadI took it personal. I didnt want the ants to be homeless, I wanted to make them live. I built a whole village for ants. I made a palace for the queen. The girl next door looked over the fence, and then she went, Thats the bestest! When I heard that word, I felt like I was in a shower, and every droplet of water washed away everything that was said to me by the school teachers. The Broadway Tower. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) Changing His World Possessed by a drive to make more tiny sculptures, Willard began shaping small shards of wood into figures using a razor blade. When his mother saw what he was doing, she encouraged him, If you make them smaller, your names gonna get bigger. One day, I heard somebody on the television say, on a biblical program, Its easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. My mother gave me a needle and said, Put a camel in it,' Willard said. I had to find a microscope. You can only go so far with your fingers. Willard started working with tiny pieces of plastic and charcoal. Often chastised by his teachers for sculpting in class, it wasnt until he left school that his art would flourish. Today, Willard works up to 16 hours a day on up to six artworks at a time. Each piece can take five or six weeks to complete, and the challenges lie in the details, such as Willards rendering of The Last Supper which was especially time-consuming since the 13 figures are all squashed together. He said: Ive learned that because its so small, you have to hold your breath and work between the heartbeats. Theres a pulse in your fingers, theres a little vibration in your pulse, and then if youre not careful itll disrupt the sculpture. Willards struggle was exemplified the time he inhaled Alice by accident while rendering the Mad Hatters tea party from Alice in Wonderland. He has had to train his breath, dexterity, and attention span simultaneously, and claims patience is paramount. On this molecular level, you know, I dont get pleasure doing it. I get pleasure when I finish, he said. [T]hen when you see people come to the exhibitions and they look through the microscope and go, Oh, I see a dragon! and you can hear them gasp, you know; they see all these things that are created for them to see. Willard working on his miniature artworks under a microscope. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) It took years for Willard to shake off the negative self-belief instilled in him during his school days. At 32, he knew where he was headed; by 50, hed honed his skills and knew his worth as an artist. It was his microscopic sculpture, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, that first caught the attention of international media. Before I knew it, I was on television. Now Im doing exhibitions all over the U.K., I went to America, did a show there, everything started to change because people saw the skill that I had, Willard said. I do inspirational talks, I do teaching engagements, I go into schools and talk to kids. I may take one microscope with me, or two, and then the kids can see what I have become. I feel very humble about it, I feel proud, but at the same time, it doesnt change me as a human being, you know? Im still that kid at school, Ive never forgotten that. Angel and Harp. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) We were all once microscopic and nobody should be disregarded for their differences, Willard said, who hopes that the school kids of today will persevere with their education and still find their own outlets for creativity. When you were conceived, you were tiny, then you grew into a human, Willard said. My work is a message. Im inspired by underestimation, as humanity has a habit of underestimating these small things. Autism isnt a death sentence. My philosophy is this, right; if you never had a chance, the reason is because you never took a chance. You have to take a chance to show people what you are capable of doing, and never allow anybody to tell you that you cant achieve anything. Check out more photos below: Tiny House Red Door. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) The Broadway Museum Tower. (Courtesy of Willard Wigan) 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 Trump Says He Will Endorse Mark Robinson for North Carolina Governor North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole Aug. 6, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) Former President Donald Trump on Saturday night expressed his support for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, 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. Im going to endorse Mark, Trump said at a GOP event in Greensboro, North Carolina, during one of his first appearances since the Justice Department charged him in connection with his handling of classified documents. The former president referred to Robinson as one of the great stars of the party, one of the great stars in politics. While Trump stopped short of an official endorsement, he said, You can count on it, Mark. Robinson was elected to become the states first black lieutenant governor in 2020 in his first run for public office. In April, he formally entered North Carolinas gubernatorial race. Im running for governor because we, the people of North Carolina, need someone who understands us. We dont need another politician, Robinson told a capacity crowd of about 1,000 people who gathered for the event in Alamance County on April 23. I stand before you now as the first black lieutenant governor of North Carolina. And that is a testament that anything in our state and nation is possible. Following his announcement, former Rep. Mark Walker also declared his candidacy in May, joining Robinson and state Treasurer Dale Folwell to chase the Republican nomination for governor. Rep. Mark Walker at the CPAC convention in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 26, 2020. (Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times) Jonathan Bridges, a spokesperson for Walkers campaign, told The Associated Press he fully anticipated Trumps support for Robinson but said he might not want to follow through with a formal endorsement once he learns more about the lieutenant governor. Meanwhile, state Attorney General Josh Stein, the only prominent Democrat who has entered the race to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, also took the chance to take shots at Republicans. The only thing the former presidents support will do is spur even more chaos in the already messy Republican primary, Kate Frauenfelder, spokesperson for Steins campaign, said in a statement. 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) Trumps appearance at the North Carolina event came two days after he was hit with 37 federal charges over his handling of government documents earlier this week. Many Republican voters anticipate the indictment, which Trump called ridiculous and baseless, will boost his presidential campaignand boost Robinsons along with it. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Trump in that he doesnt pull any punches, Mia Brydie, a 52-year-old GOP delegate from Greensboro, told Associated Press. I admire him because hes a man that speaks for the people. 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 faced as an adult. Robinson is widely predicted to secure the GOP ticket to enter next falls gubernatorial race. Currently, Robinson has a double-digit lead over his nearest potential GOP rival, Walker, a new Civitas/SurveyUSA poll finds. If voters were choosing today, 43 percent of likely Republican primary voters would back Robinson, according to the tracker. Just 9 percent opt for Walker though 37 percent are undecided. Trumps support may help Robinson gain momentum both statewide and nationally. Last November, Trump-backed Ted Budd defeated Democrat challenger Cheri Beasley in North Carolinas Senate race. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tucker Carlson Lawyer Suggests Fox News Boycott in Response to Alleged Cease-and-Desist Letter Reports say Fox News sent cease-and-desist letter to former host A lawyer for Tucker Carlson responded to claims that Fox News sent a cease-and-desist to the former host over his Twitter show, accusing the network of engaging in censorship. A report from Axios claimed that Fox sent a letter, which has the text NOT FOR PUBLICATION at the top, demanding that Carlson stop his Twitter show. The first two episodes drew tens of millions of impressions on Twitter. In response to the Monday report, Harmeet Dhillon, a lawyer who represents Carlson, wrote on Twitter that her friend and client [Carlson] will not be silencedby the far left or by Fox News. Multiple Fox News representatives have not yet responded to an Epoch Times request for comment. The network also has not issued a public statement following the Axios report. Elaborating in a statement to media outlets, Dhillon responded to the alleged cease-and-desist letter by saying that Fox News is ignoring the interests of its viewers, not to mention its shareholder obligations. She added: Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election, the statement continued. Tucker will not be silenced by anyone He is a singularly important voice on matters of public interest in our country, and will remain so. High-powered Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman also represents Carlson, and he told news outlets last week that Carlson wont be silenced by Fox News. Previously, he reportedly argued that Fox News breached its contract with Carlson, rendering it no longer valid. Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds, Freedman said in a recent statement. Now they want to take Tucker Carlsons right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events. Boycott? Going a step further, Dhillon, a former California Republican Party official who unsuccessfully ran to challenge Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel earlier this year, suggested that other conservative commentators and elected officials boycott Fox News over its alleged actions against Carlson. For all the members of Congress, culture warriors, influencers, @GOP officialsdo you really want to air your views on a network that spits on its viewers, leaks oppo on its own talent, and even threatens former talent for speaking, for free, on @Twitter ?! You have free will! Dhillon claimed. For all the friends who have been asking why dont we see you on Fox anymore?' she asked. This is why. I am passionately committed to free speech and a free flow of information necessary for a free society. Until Fox stops trying to silence Tucker, its not a place for me. Dhillon also wrote Monday that she feel[s] for my friends working at the network which has clearly caved into pressure from some quarter to silence [Carlson]. What you are seeing on Fox today is a censored version of the news. Keep that in mind as you make your viewing and your commenting choices. Last week, it was reported that Fox News sent a demand letter to Carlson warning that it could take legal action against the former host for the Twitter program. Its not clear, however, if Carlson and Twitter came to a contractual agreement, although owner Elon Musk wrote last month that there was no agreement between his company and Carlson. California Republican National Committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon, here at the 2020 CPAC Convention in National Harbor, Md., will co-chair the new 12-member Republican Party Advisory Council. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) That letter, sent to Carlsons lawyers last week, didnt explicitly demand Carlson stop posting videos on Twitter. In the document, according to multiple reports, Fox News general counsel Bernard Gugar said the former host was breaching his contract. The Epoch Times could not confirm the authenticity of the demand letter. Fox News did not respond to a request for comment last week. Some conservative influencers and personalities, in response, called for people to stop watching the network. Carlson has not publicly responded to the demand letters and hasnt revealed any details about why he departed the network in late April. On Monday, there were more calls for a boycott of the network. BOYCOTT FOX NEWS! wrote the popular conservative Twitter account, The Columbia Bugle. Unconfirmed reports have alleged that Fox News is continuing to pay Carlson and is maintaining his contract until Dec. 31, 2024, or more than a month after the 2024 presidential election. Fox has not publicly commented on those reports. Carlsons former executive producer, Justin Wells, wrote on Twitter that the ex-Fox News hosts next Twitter episode will premiere on Tuesday. Hell focus on the unprecedented federal indictment against former President Donald Trump, he confirmed. Two episodes of his nascent Twitter show, Tucker on Twitter, have generated some 170 million views for its first two episodes, according to Twitters data. Its unclear how many of those viewers watched the full clip, part of it, or were merely served with an impression. US Senators Reintroduce Gene Act to Protect Americans Genetic Data From Chinese Regime Two Republican senators have reintroduced a bill aimed at protecting the genetic data of Americans in response to the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) collection of such data. BGI Group (BGI), a leading company in the Chinese genomics industry, has been repeatedly accused of extensively collecting the genetic data of Americans. Leading this effort are Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), who reintroduced the Genomics Expenditures and National Security Enhancement Act, also known as the GENE Act. The genomic data of American citizens has been aggressively sought after by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through both legal and illegal means, a statement released by Rubios office on June 6 stated. The U.S. must advance its security in order to avoid risking any data being vulnerable to international influence. The statement further explained that Rubio and Cornyn reintroduced this legislation to counter the growing threat caused by the CCP. For too long, the Peoples Republic of China has collected Americans healthcare data without anywhere near sufficient scrutiny, Cornyn said in the statement. This legislation would confront this growing national security threat and ensure private genetic information doesnt fall into the wrong hands. The content of this bill includes requiring the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to include the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in its briefings to enhance congressional oversight; Directing CFIUS to revise regulations to require mandatory reporting of any commercial agreements involving companies engaged in the genetic business; Requiring consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for any commercial agreements involving genetic data transactions to facilitate better cross-agency awareness of such transactions. Rubio and Cornyn previously introduced the same-named bill in May 2021, but it did not survive legislative scrutiny, which is why it has been reintroduced this year. BGI Accused of Using Pandemic to Acquire Data The apparent threat from the CCP is closely related to BGI, formerly called the Beijing Genomics Institute. As early as February 2021, the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) issued a report warning of the CCPs collection of American genomic data and stating that such activities posed serious threats to individuals privacy, the U.S. economy, and national security. BGI was mentioned multiple times in the report. The NCSC report pointed out that as the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world, the CCP aggressively marketed Chinese-made testing reagents and laboratories to the world. BGI claimed to have sold virus testing tools to 180 countries and established virus testing laboratories in 18 countries as of August 2020. The report stated that these activities would assist the CCP in collecting the genetic data of foreigners. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal in January of the same year, at least 11 U.S. states health departments reported receiving marketing materials for testing kits or laboratory services from BGI. BGI was attempting to promote its products for use in government-operated laboratories or the establishment of entire laboratories. A senior U.S. official who has been monitoring BGIs activities stated that BGIs expansion of market share is not for economic benefit but to obtain data. BGI Group, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is often referred to as the Huawei of the Chinese genetic technology industry. According to its annual report for 2022, released at the end of March this year, BGI has influence in over 100 countries worldwide. It collaborates with more than 3,000 overseas medical and research institutions in regions such as Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. Within China, it collaborates with over 2,000 research institutions and more than 2,300 medical institutions. BGI Targeting Americans Genomic Data Even before the pandemic, BGI had shown a sustained and strong interest in sequencing the genomes of Americans. According to a report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) in February 2019, the CCP has been infiltrating Americans biometric data, including the collection of Americans genetic information through BGI. The report provides examples, such as in November 2011, when BGI and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced a collaborative relationship to conduct genomic research using BGIs sequencing technology and CHOPs pediatric biobank. In October 2011, BGI also signed an agreement with the University of California, Davis, to establish a genomics sequencing center on campus and conduct research using the universitys biobank. In the same year, BGI collaborated with U.S. medical institutions such as Autism Speaks on genetic research. Over the years, BGI has established close connections with research institutions, hospitals, and influential foundations in the United States, gaining access to research Americans genetic data. BGIs Hong Kong laboratories have even obtained certificates for research from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in 2015 and 2017, as well as licenses issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Critical Licensing Improvement Amendments (CLIA). CLIA is a required license for providing clinical services to Americans, while CAP is an optional and reputable industry-standard certification. The USCC report indicates that CLIA/CAP certifications open the door to accessing Americans health data, including genetic information. The USCC believes that BGI may be constructing a genetic database of Americans. BGIs Ties With Chinese Military In January 2021, Reuters conducted an investigation of over 40 public documents and papers and found that BGI has collaborated closely with the Chinese military. According to Reuters, BGIs involvement with the Chinese military includes projects such as reducing altitude sickness in Han Chinese to aid border soldiers and collaboration with Chinese military supercomputer experts. In 2015, BGI and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, a Chinese military institution, were granted a patent for low-cost coronavirus testing. The patents inventor was BGIs Chief Infectious Disease Scientist, Chen Weijun, who has connections with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences. BGI also has collaborations with the National University of Defense Technology in China. In July 2021, Reuters reported again that a prenatal genetic testing technology used by millions of expectant mothers worldwide was developed in cooperation between BGI and the Chinese military, and the company used it to collect genetic data. The report stated that BGIs prenatal testing is the source of the companys genetic data. Over 8 million women globally have used the companys prenatal genetic testing. Since 2010, the company has published over a dozen joint research papers with the Chinese military on these tests. BGI has denied all these allegations. The company has stated its refusal to accept any allegations linking it to the Chinese military. BGI also denies the accusations made by U.S. government agencies, asserting that it does not collect patient data. Motivations for Collecting Genetic Information Although BGI has been credentialed to collect genetic information from people worldwide, its purposes for doing this are not fully understood. BGIs official website indicates that the company can provide various whole-genome synthesis services, including artificially designed DNA sequences and any genes of interest. On Dec. 27, 2017, Wang Jian, co-founder and chairman of BGI, claimed during a speech at the 2017 Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Convention that BGI can chemically synthesize any life within the next five to 10 years. Gene synthesis has reached an industrial level, and BGI has already synthesized viruses, bacteria, and even larger organisms like yeast. Wang Jian, the founder of Chinas leading genetic technology company BGI Group, said at the 2017 Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Convention that within the next five to 10 years his scientists will be able to chemically synthesize any life. (Video Screenshot) Wang Jian predicted that by 2020, BGI would be able to synthesize a bacterium in just two days, creating either a beneficial bacterium or a frightening one. He said, Humanity has transitioned from cold weapons to hot weapons to atomic bombs and will definitely transition to living weapons. Just before Wang Jians speech, on Nov. 10, 2017, the Chinese militarys Liberation Army Daily published an article titled How Genetic Weapons Will Affect Future Wars. The article suggested that genetic weapons refer to a new generation of biological weapons created by using gene editing technology to modify the coding of pathogenic microorganisms, which will have a strategic deterrent effect. Furthermore, BGI has also assisted the CCPs police in establishing a genetic database. A report titled Gene Surveillance released by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in June 2020 revealed that the Chinese regime is collecting DNA samples on a massive scale to create the worlds largest forensic DNA database, including tens of millions of individuals without criminal records. BGI has signed agreements with Chinese authorities to collect biological samples and establish genetic databases for the Ministry of Public Security. The report also mentioned that in 2013 and 2016, the Chinese government conducted DNA collection among minority ethnic groups in Tibet and Xinjiang under the guise of annual health check-ups. Since the end of 2017, this program has expanded to other regions of China. One month after the report was released, the United States imposed sanctions on two subsidiaries of BGI, citing they are assisting the Chinese regime in its surveillance and persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The Epoch Times reached out for comment from BGI but didnt receive a reply by the time of publication. Will Arts in America Go the Way of Bud Light? Commentary There are many reasons to worry about the future of arts venues in the United States. In the boom times before lockdowns, they had grown accustomed to putting on display every eccentricity. Funding was plentiful and audiences over time learned to put up with it. After all, everyone knows that the world of high-end art and music is full of eccentrics. Everyone knew the rules. You go for Titian and Manet and put up with Jean-Michel Basquiat and Damian Hurst. You buy a ticket for Haydn and Mahler and suffer through Milton Babbitt and John Cage. The symphony would preen in its modernity by putting on world premieres before the intermission that humankind would never hear again, in exchange for which they get to hear Modest Mussorgsky. People show up for traveling exhibits of Auguste Rodin and roll their eyes at whatever industrial waste they otherwise try to pass off as sculpture these days. Its the same in theater, ballet, and every other mode of artistic expression. Of course members of the haute bourgeoisie always pretended it was fine if only to give off the cultural signal that they were on the inside. Even so, the old subsidized the new and there was a certain stability about the whole thing. Audiences developed a weary tolerance. Its been going on for nearly a century, actually, since art took a dark turn after the Great War. The balancing act wasnt particularly inspirational, but it was serviceable. Then came lockdowns in the 21st century. Forget bravery in the face of danger. The notion of art as the salve for crisis was gone. The art venues themselves demonstrated that they believed their product was wholly dispensable in the event of a pandemic in which players and audience would certainly survive. They pulled the plug anyway, for sometimes as much as two seasons and even two years. In-person arts went silent with nary a protest from the artists themselves. Certainly management was happy for an extended paid vacation. In these actions, they betrayed the musicians, employees, donors, patrons, and audience. Anyone who complained they would denounce as right-wing, uncaring, unconcerned about death, or downright immoral. The entire display was overwrought and appalling, but it went on and on. When the venues finally did open, it was with masks only and then vaccination only. Broadway was the archetype, and it nearly committed institutional suicide. Its finally back with no mandates but in a much diminished state. It took three years before these people opened again, whereas they should have stayed open the entire time. Tanglewood in the Berkshires was a good example. They flat-out canceled all music for the duration and for no reason, even though the venue was largely outdoors! All contracts and programs were canceled. Audiences were left in the lurch. The musicians were put on furlough and left to twiddle their thumbs at home. Its a wonder more of them didnt just kick the bucket out of sheer boredom. Lets just say that it was a low moment in the history of American art. Audiences meanwhile had their season tickets canceled and otherwise lost a great deal of interest. It was an especially appalling way to treat wealthy benefactors who had previously sacrificed vast fortunes under the idealist notion that civilization needs art as a sign and symbol of its greatness. Oh, but when a virus was on the loose, the management of these venues all decided that the music could just die the death. Here we are three years later. Audiences are crabbier than ever. Everyone is on edge and deeply suspicious. They are willing to give it another go but they are more jaded than they used to be and pretty bitter about the whole thing. Nothing is as it was. Tolerance is gone. One might suppose that these venues would 1. seek to pay the talent a bit for all the damage they caused, 2. program more audience-friendly offerings, and 3. avoid throwing themselves aggressively into more political controversies. Alas, it isnt to be so. High-end venues still have the same management structures, same cultural biases, and same supercilious detachment from popular preferences. They believed that they would just go back to normal as if nothing happened. But the audiences arent cooperating. For one thing, audiences arent showing up as faithfully as they once did. For another, the old dealyou give us classics and we tolerate your woke nonsenseis no longer working now that they broke the deal. We did without for two and more years, so the patience of audiences for the muck they dont like is pretty well worn out. Pride Month has come at a highly inopportune time. In the past, audiences would just roll their eyes, put up with the blather, and move on. These days, its different. The agenda of shoving woke theory down our throats at our own expense isnt consistent with the aspiration of these institutions to revive themselves. Whereas a few years ago, drag queens seemed like a tacky if harmless eccentricity, now they are regarded as a genuine threat to basic values that civilization holds dear. Dress how you want in private, but when these movements start going after the kids with medical invasions and propaganda in schools, all bets are off. Traditionally, arts venues have been given a pass. They were permitted to dabble in politics and audiences saw it as mostly harmless. Today, not so much. Ever more people are starting to take seriously that they must be more careful about how they use both their money and their time. This is different from the way it used to be. In many decades of creeping progressivism, Id never seen a conscious consumer revolt succeed to utterly take down brand after brand. It only took one customized can of Bud Light that celebrated a delusionary boy trickster pretending to be a girl so that he could hate on the whole gender to trigger a nationwide revolt that could end in the complete decommissioning of what was once the best-selling beer. Many other brands face the same problem, from Target to Kohls and beyond. And in terms of media venues, CNN cant seem to get its act together to avoid being taken down by fed-up audiences. The same is true of many mainstream media outlets. I was at the symphony the other night where the trans propaganda was over the top, all in the name of Pride. After the first curtain call, a fascinating thing happened. The de rigeur applause stopped abruptly. The silence was sudden. People made a very quick exit, nearly trampling each other to get out. I asked a seasoned arts industry expert what this means. He explained that a sudden end to applause following the final notes represents the only way audiences have to express profound disapproval. Its the equivalent of giving your server at the restaurant a 5 percent tip. Its a strong suggestion to do better. The performers figured this out quickly, but will management? How can they do better? Its a very long road. Short term could involve some easy fixes. Museums need to move the old masters to the center and stop forcing visitors to slog through rooms of folk art and pretend that its on the same level. Their websites too should emphasize beauty over conformism with woke narratives. The ugly tokenism of identity politics needs to end on the grounds that its banal and transparently manipulative. Long term, what they must do is rediscover beauty itself. The whole of modern art experience has been about redefining it to the point of erasing it altogether. This has to change. And by beauty, we dont just mean audible and visual beauty. We mean intellectual, moral, and philosophical beautythe elevation and celebration of ideals amid the drama of life in this vale of tears. That has been the essence of art from the ancient world until the lame attempt in the mid-20th century to turn everything on its head. Arts can make a comeback but not through ever more intense invocations of the same progressive tropes. The revival will come through respecting and understanding the desires of audiences and donors for a more elevated experience of the art itself. Sadly, Im not optimistic about a dramatic change anytime soon. If live venues cant manage to shift with the times, artificial intelligence and the pastiche of gaming and action-film music are going to continue to dominate the market until the old forms are completely gone. The slogan Go woke, go broke applies to the arts, too. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. ISI trying to involve women, juveniles in terror network SRINAGAR : A dangerous move that Pakistans ISI and heads of tanzeems (terror groups) have adopted is involving women, girls and juveniles in carrying messages, drugs or, at times, weapons A DANGEROUS move by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and heads of terror groups to rope in women and juveniles to carry weapons and messages has come to light amid a decline in the use of traditional means of communication by terrorists in Kashmir Valley, a top Army officer has said. The General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, Lt General Amardeep Singh Aujla also said the forces need to be cautious as people sitting across the Line of Control (LoC) are busy scheming and planning to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere. 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 out on this, Lt Gen Aujla told PTI. Asked if it means that terror groups have stopped using mobile communication, the Army officer said the Techint (technical intelligence) signatures have reduced considerably. Also, many Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who acted as conduits for them have been picked up. Therefore, now women, girls and juveniles have been roped in as an alternative to mainly carry messages, the top Army officer in the Valley said. As part of the deradicalisation strategy, the Army, with the cooperation of the Union Territory administration, has undertaken a series of initiatives - one of which is the Sahi Rasta (right path) programme that has in recent times proved to be a game changer in the right earnest. We have come a long way in ensuring peace and stability in Kashmir, but I will be naive to claim an early victory as we feel that every gain needs to be cemented before achieving lasting peace in the Union Territory, he said. Without naming Pakistan, Lt Gen Aujla said the challenge is that the neighbouring country has not given up on its intent and is repeatedly creating trouble on both sides of Pir Panjal. The latest infiltration bid in the Machil sector of north Kashmir is a testimony of his blatant indulgence. He stressed that all security agencies, including those from the Union Territory administration, were well geared up to thwart any nefarious designs of the adversary. The propensity of infiltration along the Line of Control in Kashmir may have shown some decrease but there have been some attempts in South of Pir Panjal as well as neighbouring Punjab. We need to be cautious and not let our guard down at any cost. National security is our prime responsibility. We will leave no stone unturned to maintain it, he said. We are cognisant of the likely threats from across and accordingly ensure to the best of our abilities that the current peace and normalcy achieved through collective efforts is not put at risk by inimical elements, he said. He said the mounting pressure and actionable Intelligence-based operations have kept the terrorists on their toes and a majority of them have either migrated out of the valley or have been lying low. The invisible form of terrorism is a cause of concern and we are jointly working towards weeding out this phenomenon, the officer said. It is difficult to give the exact number of terrorists either local or foreign but to my estimates, it is definitely at its lowest since the past 33 years, the officer said. The terror attacks and encounters between terrorists and security forces have witnessed a decline in Kashmir this year which reflects a positive sign and augurs well towards peace and normalcy in all spheres and domains, he said. The officer said there is a perceptible shift in the sentiments of the local population towards violence which is highly commendable and the challenge for us is to sustain it in the coming times. The need of the hour is to strengthen the confidence of the population with the security forces and the relevant Government machinery, he said. After all, if we have been able to reach this point, it is thanks to the cooperation of the people, Lt Gen Aujla said. Based on the changing security environment, we have also amended our methodology and given in for more people-friendly operations, the officer said. I am optimistic that collectively we will be successful in ushering a new normal of peace in Kashmir in the days to come, he said. Lt Gen Aujla complimented the synergy between all security forces in ensuring an incident-free G-20 meeting held recently in the Valley. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Kazakhstan are transforming from regional centers to world centers thanks to the holding of international forums, economist Emin Garibli told Trend. "Holding events of an international scale determines the transformation of countries from regional centers to global ones. I think that the Astana International Forum (AIF 2023) will play an important role in development of many industries in the region," he said. Garibli stressed that due to the difficult situation in the world, in particular the military actions in Ukraine, the situation in the fields of transport and energy is changing significantly, and solutions to problems in these areas can be found within the framework of regular international meetings. "The positions of the Turkic countries are strengthening and these international platforms will contribute to the further rapprochement of Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Kazakhstan, as well as the resolution of issues in various fields," he pointed out. Garibli noted that industrial and economic cooperation of these three countries is of no small importance, and at the moment, thanks to the holding of international forums, new opportunities are emerging that will lead to industrial cooperation and greater integration into the world economy. Bemetara gears up for a fierce battle in upcoming election By EV Murli & Anand Jalgaonkar In the lead-up to the assembly election, political activity has surged in Bemetara constituency, known for its agricultural landscape with paddy, soybean, and gram cultivation. Dominated by OBC voters, particularly the Sahu and Kurmi communities, who are primarily farmers, Bemetara holds the potential to sway the forthcoming election based on the ruling party's farmer-centric policies. Nevertheless, Bemetara voters maintain an impartial approach, carefully weighing candidates and party agendas before exercising their voting rights. The people's sentiment towards the government plays a pivotal role in shaping the election trends. Over the past three assembly polls, Bemetara voters have displayed a pattern of alternating between electing BJP and Congress candidates, disregarding caste and community affiliations. The State government's welfare schemes and the comprehensive transformation of Bemetara have greatly benefited the residents. However, concerns have emerged regarding the poor quality of road construction, which the opposition intends to capitalise on in the upcoming election. Illegal mining, the proliferation of illicit liquor businesses, and an increase in the crime rate have further added to the grievances of the locals, who feel let down by the administration's failure to address these issues. The communal tensions in the neighboring Biranpur area have had a ripple effect on both Bemetara and Saja constituencies. In their pursuit of communal harmony, the people of Bemetara expect their representatives to prioritize this crucial aspect. Ashish Chhabra, the incumbent MLA from the ruling party, has successfully established a strong rapport with the people and has consistently met their expectations, rendering him a popular figure with followers from across party lines. The possibility of Yogesh Tiwari, who previously contested on the Jogi Congress ticket, joining the BJP during Amit Shah's visit to Chhattisgarh, remains in the air. However, it remains to be seen how influential Tiwari's endorsement would be in swaying Bemetara voters in favor of the BJP. Despite his unsuccessful bid against Brijmohan Agrawal in Raipur while he was a Congress candidate, Tiwari has emerged as a prominent leader among farmers. Reports suggest that Bemetara BJP leaders have struggled to identify and prioritize key issues, indicating a leadership vacuum within the party. This could prove to be a significant obstacle for the BJP in their battle against the Congress. The Congress party is likely to field Ashish Chhabra, the current MLA, as their candidate, as the Chief Minister has stated that those performing will be given ticket and the local leaders close to Chhabra has expressed satisfaction with his performance in the constituency. Other potential contenders for the party ticket include Pravin Verma, son of former MLA Dr. Chetan Verma, Lokesh Verma, and Kavita Sahu. In the BJP camp, several aspirants are vying for the party ticket, including Awdhesh Singh Chandel (former MLA from 2013), Rahul Tikariya, Harshwardhan Tiwari (son of former MLA Mahesh Tiwari), Dr. L R Sahu (associated with RSS), and Vijay Sinha. Awdhesh Chandel's lack of connection with the people and minimal presence in the constituency led to his defeat in the 2018 election against Congress rival Ashish Chhabra. In 2018 INC Ashish Kumar Chhabra polled 74,914 votes against his rivals BJPs Awadhesh Singh Chandel who polled 49,783 votes and JCCJs Yogesh Tiwari. In 2013, BJPs Awadhesh Singh Chandel polled 74,162 votes against INCs Tamradhwaj Sahu who could poll only 59,048 votes. The voters here are choosy and calculative so it could be anybodys game in 2023. CM urges Civil Aviation Minister to include Bilaspur in UDAN-5 scheme Our Correspondent BILASPUR, IN a bid to enhance regional connectivity and promote economic development, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has penned a letter to the Civil Aviation Minister, Government of India, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, urging him to take immediate action to include Bilaspur city in the UDAN-5 scheme. Citing disappointment and anger prevailing among the people of Bilaspur, the Chief Minister highlighted that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation had excluded Bilaspur city from the UDAN-5 scheme. Baghel stressed the significance of Bilaspur as the second most important city in the State and emphasised the necessity of regular air service, especially with the presence of the States High Court in Bilaspur. The letter also outlined the efforts made by the State Government, indicating that Rs 45 crore had been allocated from the state budget to facilitate the establishment of necessary infrastructure, including a terminal building, runway expansion, and security equipment, in consultation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. Earlier, with the persistent endeavors of the State Government, Bilaspur successfully secured air connectivity with flights operating to and from Jabalpur, New Delhi, Prayagraj, and Indore. However, for undisclosed reasons, the flight service to Indore was halted, leading to dissatisfaction among the residents. In his appeal to Civil Aviation Minister Scindia, Chief Minister Baghel emphasized the urgent need to include Bilaspur city in the UDAN-5 scheme, providing the people of the region with seamless travel options to various parts of the country. He stressed that this inclusion would not only benefit the local populace but also contribute to the economic growth of the region. Control growing theft cases in Kalamna market yard: Traders Business Bureau Considering the growing cases of thefts in the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC) Kalamna market yard in the city, traders in the area have urged the police authorities to take steps to control it. The traders and office-bearers of the APMC recently held a special meeting and discussed the issue. Deputy Commissioner of Police Shravan Dutt, Police Inspector Devendra Thakur, Secretary of APMC, Kalamna, Nagnath Yaglewad, other office-bearers and traders attended the meeting. On the occasion, Secretary of The Wholesale Grain and Seeds Merchants Association Pratap Motwani, said that it seems that a gang of thieves is active in the area. In the recent past, we have witnessed many thefts in the yard. The thieves break open the shops and godowns and take away food grains during nigh hours, he said. The traders also brought to the notice of the police officers that there is shortage of security guards in the yard. The yard spread over a large area and having many shops and godowns has only 26 security guards. The traders urged the APMC office-bearers to increase the number of guards and also install CCTV cameras to check the cases of thefts. On the occasion, the APMC authorities said that a proposal of installation of 200 CCTV cameras in the yard has been sent to head office for approval. In addition to this, the police officers assured the traders to beef up security in yard, especially during the night hours. Rafique Fazal, Rakesh Wadhwani, Sarang Sonkusre, Ravi Dasalwar, Umesh Umathe, Shyam Kanjwani, Arun Agrawal, Mahesh Madhrani, Rajesh Parvekar, and traders were present in the meeting. HCs Clean Chit To ONGC By Adv. R. S. Agrawal THROUGH the judgement in the case Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. v. Petroleum Employees Union and 24 others and 7 other letters patent appeals, at Mumbai, a Bombay High Court division bench consisting of Justice K R Shriram and Justice Rajesh S Patil, has on June 5, 2023, gave clean chit to the appellant-Corporation with the observation that they do not think it has adopted any method of exploitation of workers. The High Court has stated that in its view, reference to Bhilwara Dugdha Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Ltd. v. Vinod Kumar Sharma (Dead) by Legal Representatives & Others AIR 2011 SC 3546 by the Single Judge in the paragraph 24 of the impugned order passed by him, was not required in facts and circumstances of this case. In the High Courts view, both the Central Government Industrial Tribunal as well as the Single Judge, at the High Court erred in arriving at their respective conclusions, hence both are hereby quashed and set aside. The appellant-Corporation has impugned judgement and order of September 8, 2011 by which the Single Judge had dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellant. Through the writ petition, an Award of February 28, 2011 passed by the Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal No. II on Reference CGIT -2/10 of 2003. The Tribunal had by the said Award disposed of the Reference made on February 27, 2003 by the Union Labour Ministry, with the declaration that the contracts between appellant and various contractors in respect of workmen covered by the Reference and particularly in List A and List B are sham, bogus and mere camouflage. The Tribunal had also declared that the workmen in these Lists were absorbed as per the order of this court and they are entitled to appropriate wages and other service benefits on par with permanent workmen of appellant. It was also held that the said workmen were entitled to the benefits of settlement of July 12, 2000. According to the HC division bench, in its view the conclusion arrived at by the Single Judge while confirming the Award passed by the Tribunal are legally unsustainable for the reasons: (a) the conclusions of the Single Judge that the issues framed were in consonance with the order of Reference and those have been answered accordingly, are clearly contrary to the record. (b) The Single Judge has emphasised that the act of absorption had reached finality. This is directly contrary to the decision of the division bench delivered on December 13, 2002, which was binding on the Single Judge. (c) The Single Judge has further held that the appellant has admitted that the contractors workers were treated as workmen working in direct employment and that therefore, issue No.1 was rightly answered in the affirmative. The fact that this was only due to compliance with the interim orders of this Court has, unfortunately escaped his attention. (d) The Single Judge has referred to the fact that the contractors had changed but the same workers were continued. It appears that the SCs decision in the case R Panda & Others was not brought to his notice. (e) The Single Judge had further concluded that the work being done by respondent Union workers was regular and perennial. There is no material on record to substantiate this conclusion. Indeed, there is no material to indicate when any of 400 contract labourers were employed and for how long they continued in employment, prior to the interim order. (f) The Single Judge had concluded that there was an admission by appellants witness S R Kurup that there was no difference in the working of the direct employees and the contract workers. In coming to this conclusion the Single Judge (SJ) had totally ignored the evidence of same S R Kurup, where he had deposed that these workers were not workers of appellant but had been treated as such due to the order of the High Court. (g) Further, the SJ had completely failed to consider the evidence of appellants witness G Rajendran the fact that he had explained in detail the differences in the manner of employment of the contract labour and regular workers. He had also not noted the admitted differences between the two sets of workers as pleaded by the workers themselves in their original writ petition No. 240 of 1996. (h) The SJ had further emphasised the fact that the terms and conditions of contract workers were settled under a MoU with the Unions of the contract workers. Here again, the Single Judge had not noted that this is expressly permissible under section 30(2) of the CLR Act. (i) The SJ had concluded that the continuation of the contract labour under the direct control of the officers of the Corporation was not merely because of the interim orders passed by this Court, but this was also as a fall out of the Notification abolishing contract labour. This again ignored the conclusion of the Constitution Bench judgement in SAIL one, that abolition of contract labour does not ipso facto give the erstwhile contract labour, a right to be absorbed by erstwhile principal employer. (j) Further, the SJ had recorded that the Reference had been answered by taking into account the pleadings as also evidence. In holding as such the SJ had failed to note that the Tribunal had not even noted appellants evidence, documents or pleadings. The SJ had also not noticed the material admissions in the cross-examination of the two witnesses of the workmen. (k) Lastly, the SJ had not considered or substantively dealt with appellants submissions as regards the findings of the Tribunal regarding sham and bogus contracts even though the same was specifically argued before him. In holding as above, the SJ had failed to note the perversity which pervades the impugned Award of the Tribunal. In acting as such, the SJ had confirmed the conclusions of the Tribunal, which are ex-facie perverse. Consequently, the impugned judgement is legally unsustainable. The High Court division bench has allowed the appeals and cleared the way for discharging/terminating the workmen in accordance with law. At the same time since many of the workmen have either retired or expired and there are hardly about 150 left, whose employment, in effect, was the subject matter of the appeal, the HC has urged the appellant, if possible, to continue those workmen in the same manner or terms as they are (till date) for a period of three years or until they retire, whichever is earlier, than discharge them/terminate their services. On the request of counsel for the respondents- employees unions, the HC agreed to grant status quo for eight weeks from the date of the judgement. IAF, Army carry out joint exercise in central sector NEW DELHI, 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 IAFs two strategic missions over the Indian Ocean region that involved Rafale and Su-30MKI jets. 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. 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. Waiting for court verdict on wrestlers row, will fight 2024 LS polls: WFI chief GONDA (UP), BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers, on Sunday said he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Kaisarganj again and was awaiting the courts verdict to speak on the grapplers stir. He was replying to queries from media persons after addressing a rally in the districts 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 (courts 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. The rally was organised to celebrate the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre. 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. 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. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 12. Masdar wants to support Azerbaijan in green hydrogen production, and its further export to the European market, Al Ramahi Mohamed Jameel, CEO of Masdar, told Trend on the sidelines of the Astana International Forum (AIF 2023). "We have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy to assess the possibility of producing green hydrogen in Azerbaijan and potentially exporting that green hydrogen to Europe. So, we are already very actively engaged with the Azerbaijani side in this field," he said. Masdar CEO noted that, currently, the initiative is in the stage of studies and analyses. "After that we will assess the possibilities. And then after that, we will look at the building and construction. We believe strongly in the potential. This is why we have signed this agreement with the Ministry of Energy. In fact, we did not only sign, but we have started the studies, so we believe in the potential. The hydrogen economy is a long-term thing. The hydrogen economy is an economy that will come in the future. But to make sure that you are well-positioned for the future you need to start today," he noted. According to the CEO of Masdar, the project portfolio in Azerbaijan is already quite big. "We signed a program of almost 10 GW, and from that we are focusing now on 4 GW, and from the 4 GW we also shortening to 1 GW. The first phase of this development will be inaugurated this year. So the first solar farm will be commissioned this year. And then we will start to develop the projects across the country," he explained. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day, Trend reports. "Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, On behalf of myself and people of Azerbaijan, I wholeheartedly congratulate You and through You, all people of Russia on the national holiday Russia Day. Azerbaijan and Russia are bound by centuries-long traditions of friendship, good-neighborly relations and mutual support between our peoples. Our interstate ties, close and reliable partnership relations spanning new spheres day by day are successfully developing today on this solid foundation. I would like to note with great pleasure the Declaration on Allied Interaction, which reflects the spirit and character of Azerbaijan-Russia relations and defines the ways of multifaceted allied interaction for the coming years. I am sure that thanks to our joint efforts, we will actively contribute to the further strengthening of our ties, the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas for the sake of the prosperity of our peoples and countries. Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, on this remarkable day, I wish you good health and success, and the friendly people of Russia happiness and prosperity," the letter said. Photo: Mount Sinai Behavioral Health Center opening. Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Mount Sinai Health System. The scandal-plagued former Rivington House nursing home has now been transformed. Mount Sinai has completed a $140 million conversion of the facility, opening it as a behavioral health center. [Gothamist] At Community Board 3s transportation committee meeting Tuesday evening: a review of Delancey Street traffic redesign plans. [CB3] You have until June 17 to register to vote in New York Citys upcoming primary election. [NYC.gov] The Metrograph gets some help from a film industry insider to build its membership program. [Hollywood Reporter] Some high profile praise for an influential Lower East Side-based entrepreneur: The Making of Emily Bode, Americas Next Great Fashion Designer. [GQ] Matt Choon grew up on the Lower East Side and went to school in Chiantown. Now hes a successful entrepreneur behind Bowery Showroom among other ventures. [Marketwatch] Angel Ortiz is back in the spotlight with a new show decades after the death of the collaborator Keith Haring. [ABC 7] The speakeasy barbecue restaurant Holy Ground is reportedly relocating from Tribeca, where it closed during the pandemic, to 105 Eldridge St. on the Lower East Side. [Eater] BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The French La Gazette online newspaper has published an article in response to the provocative publication of the Le Figaro daily newspaper, which has made unfounded statements against Azerbaijan, Trend reports. "The hapless editor of the 'Le Figaro' daily newspaper published a 'remarkable' article, embodying all the journalistic stereotypes of the French press. Such articles occasionally appear in French newspapers like fever blisters. It can't be said that this editor outdid himself. No, he did what he was asked to do: he used the usual rhetoric of the Armenian diaspora and satisfied his chief editor and shareholders. Once again, we 'learn' from the French press that Azerbaijan allegedly has 'one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world.' In Yerevan in 1998, people stormed the parliamentary chamber and machine-gunned the deputies. In 2018, the police opened fire on demonstrators in the streets of that city, causing some of them to be fatally wounded. Where are the bloody traces left by the Azerbaijani government?" As the La Gazette article noted, the "unfortunate researcher" claims that there is no separation of powers in Azerbaijan. "Here's a bit of republican morality for you: does President Macron share power? Millions of people took to the streets for months to protest against pension reforms, and what was the result? None. Only bruises and the use of Article 49.3 of the Constitution. Millions demonstrated against same-sex marriage during President Hollande's tenure. And what was the outcome? Bruises and gas poisoning. And the new law was passed decisively! Dear editor of 'Le Figaro,' power is never shared; it is exercised within the legal framework of institutions and laws," the article states. The material points out that there are opposition parties in Azerbaijan, some of which have seats in parliament, as well as 37 independent deputies. "Many newspapers and websites openly declare their opposition stance. And this opposition knows how to make itself heard, and its criticism can be sharp at times. But to find out, Mr. Editor of 'Le Figaro,' you need to conduct a little research! In France, too, it seems there is opposition... But who in France has heard opposition political statements on important issues such as the COVID-19 problem or the country's involvement in the war in Ukraine? Macron stated that his country is 'at war' with the epidemic, and a state of emergency was declared in the health sector. In Ukraine, France is an 'interested party' but not an 'ally.' France supplies weapons but has not declared war, and neither the parliament nor the opposition said a word. Is it shared power, an unquestionable authority? Or is it an authoritarian state that conducts military operations abroad without parliamentary voting?" the author writes. The article reminds that Azerbaijan has been in a state of war since the early years after gaining independence in 1991. "Not just a state of emergency, but a state of war. Some 20 percent of the country had been occupied and nearly a million refugees and internally displaced persons had been traumatized by ethnic cleansing. The effects of the surrender of France in 1940 lasted only a few weeks, and people were able to return home. And in the case of Azerbaijan, people could not return. Despite this shock state, the government did not shed blood. No one lost an eye or an arm as a result of any repression, as in the democratic republic of the Yellow Vests. What freedom did the opposition have in France during the war between 1914 and 1918? All talk was about national unity. There were large gaps in articles, newspapers and books, and censorship was not hidden. In Azerbaijan, which was in a state of war for thirty years, this is unheard of. Do you remember, Mr. Editor of the Le Figaro, that the leader of the French pacifists, Jean Jaures, was killed shortly before the declaration of war in 1914? In Azerbaijan, no pacifist was shot with a revolver. Mr. Editor, once again, take care of your problems, if you can and if your newspaper allows you. We are accustomed to the vilification of the media and other forms of injustice that we have suffered for 30 years. The platitudes you write have been repeated a thousand times before you, and they have no effect. Truth and justice are not so easy to shake...," says the article. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (NYSE:FMS Get Rating) in a research report released on Friday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the stock. A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on FMS. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. HSBC downgraded Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.45. Get Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA alerts: Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Trading Down 0.0 % FMS stock traded down $0.01 on Friday, reaching $22.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 371,518 shares, compared to its average volume of 785,710. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $22.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.75. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA has a 12-month low of $12.78 and a 12-month high of $26.95. The firm has a market cap of $13.41 billion, a PE ratio of 21.57 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.32. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Cuts Dividend Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA ( NYSE:FMS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.10. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA had a return on equity of 5.44% and a net margin of 3.06%. The company had revenue of $5.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.98 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA will post 1.16 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were issued a dividend of $0.7086 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.1%. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaAs payout ratio is presently 39.62%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of FMS. Sandy Spring Bank bought a new stake in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. American National Bank bought a new stake in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 61.1% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,969 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 747 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 1,156.0% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,366 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 3,098 shares in the last quarter. 5.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Get Rating) Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co KgaA engages in the provision of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which regularly undergo dialysis treatment. It operates through the Care Enablement and Care Delivery segments. The Care Enablement segment is involved in the healthcare products business including research and development, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial operations as well as supporting functions, such as regulatory and quality management. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NAC Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Thursday, June 1st, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.036 per share on Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.43 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of NAC traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $10.72. 58,724 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 325,066. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $10.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $11.00. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $10.14 and a 1-year high of $13.02. Get Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Institutional Trading of Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its holdings in shares of Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund by 1.1% during the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 1,202,271 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,825,000 after purchasing an additional 12,728 shares during the last quarter. Mariner LLC bought a new position in Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $7,568,000. Logan Stone Capital LLC bought a new position in Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $5,517,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund by 159.4% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 401,979 shares of the companys stock worth $5,274,000 after buying an additional 247,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its position in Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund by 13.3% in the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 372,839 shares of the companys stock worth $4,104,000 after purchasing an additional 43,675 shares during the period. Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund operates as a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. The fund seeks current income exempt from both regular federal income taxes and California personal income tax by investing its assets majorly in investment-grade quality municipal bonds. The company was founded on December 1, 1998 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund (NYSE:JFR Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, June 1st, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of 0.0745 per share on Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE JFR traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $7.93. The company had a trading volume of 246,571 shares, compared to its average volume of 221,933. Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $7.69 and a fifty-two week high of $9.24. The firms 50 day moving average is $8.09 and its 200 day moving average is $8.23. Get Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund alerts: Institutional Trading of Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JFR. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 65,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $657,000 after purchasing an additional 8,598 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its position in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 9.5% in the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 14,450 shares of the companys stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 1,250 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 379,475 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,799,000 after buying an additional 1,255 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its position in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 842,439 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,433,000 after buying an additional 13,307 shares during the last quarter. Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund Company Profile Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to achieve a level of current income by investing in adjustable rate secured and unsecured senior loans and other debt instruments. The company was founded on March 25, 2004 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. British Land (OTCMKTS:BTLCY Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by Royal Bank of Canada from GBX 355 ($4.41) to GBX 325 ($4.04) in a research report report published on Friday, The Fly reports. Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of British Land from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $456.67. Get British Land alerts: British Land Stock Down 0.5 % OTCMKTS:BTLCY opened at $4.36 on Friday. British Land has a 52 week low of $3.54 and a 52 week high of $6.64. The firms fifty day moving average is $4.69 and its 200-day moving average is $5.01. About British Land The British Land Co Plc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the ownership, management, financing and development of commercial properties. It operates through the following business segments: Offices, Retail, Canada Water, and Other or unallocated. The Canada water segment comprises of office, retail, residential, leisure, and public spaces to create new urban center for London. Read More Receive News & Ratings for British Land Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for British Land and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan expressed its condolences to Kazakhstan in connection with the loss of life as a result of forest fires, Azernews reports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published this on its Twitter page. Deeply saddened by news of devastating wildfire in Abay region of brotherly Kazakhstan. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost their lives & wish speedy recovery to all injured. We express our solidarity w/People & Government of brotherly Details added, first published at 16:01 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has dismissed another rumor of Armenia, Trend reports via the ministry. The information spread by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia that on June 12 at 14:15 (GMT+4) the positions of the Armenian Armed Forces located in the Zod direction of Basarkechar district were allegedly shelled from small arms and mortars of various calibers by units of the Azerbaijani army is completely false and does not correspond to reality. "We categorically dismiss this information," the ministry said. Ex-Lagos security guards, Mathew Precious, Kelechi, and Amakor Johnson broke into social media to drop a shocking report of their present condition abroad. Recall that these ex-Lagos security guards popularly known as Happie Boys gained entry to one university abroad after a terrible incident leading to their loss of job in Lagos, in 2022. Through the help of a Nigerian pastor and philanthropist, Chinyere Chibuzor of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) they were flown out of Nigeria on a scholarship to further their education abroad. It can be recalled that the young men, Matthew Precious Kelechi and Amakor Johnson, became internet sensations after a video of them dancing on duty in their security uniforms surfaced online. Nearly two years of their stay abroad, the Happie Boys have released a report of their present condition in Cyprus. According to them, they have resolved to drop out of the university because of financial impediments. They reported that they have been unable to keep up with life in Cyprus. Living there is extremely expensive. Several times they reached out to their benefactor to help them alleviate their problem, but several times he did nothing in return. In their post, they appreciate their benefactors and everyone who has contributed to their achievements today. Captioning the post, Happie Boys wrote, We want to use this medium to thank each and everyone of you out there more especially my fans, family & @papa.opm who helped us fly abroad to school which we are so grateful!! After GOD used @gossipmilltv to show the world our inbuilt talent from GOD & were forever grateful to GOD for looking after us, sustaining and providing for us for the past 8 months which the scholarship lasted for only 6 months we didnt come from rich homes dropped out from school because is very hard for anyone to get a job here in Cyprus! Ask @ogenecyprus .. Living in the country became so expensive but GOD in heaven is seeing his children through!! Let Love Lead Who no go no know! #happinessisfree #freeshallipopi The life of Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu is a study on the moral significance of the biblical exhortation enjoining one not to despise the days of little beginning. Senator Igwe-Nwagu's political career began in a little way but because he did not despise his little beginning, God kept His word and enlarged his coasts. Born on Friday, June 12, 1959, to the family of Chief Igwe Nwagu of Unwu-Oru in the pastoral community of Oriuzor in Ebonyi State, Senator Igwe-Nwagu who is popularly known by his chieftaincy title, Enyiwaauzo, attended Boys' Secondary School, Orsumenyi in Anambra State. He ventured into business in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos. Igwe Nwagu was secretary-general of Igbo Union in Balogun Market, Lagos, between 1983 and 1988. Due to community exigencies, young Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu returned to his Oriuzor community and became the secretary of Oriuzor Community Education Committee. He served in that capacity till 1990 when his diligence and commitment to the common good compelled Oriuzor community to give him the mandate to represent them as councillor in the old Ezza Local Government Area. Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu deployed his faculties and leadership qualities which included frugality, selflessness, humility, transparency and inclination to justice into his duties. He served as supervisory councillor for education, deputy speaker and speaker of Ezza council legislature from 1991 to 1993. The people who craved credible leadership experienced it in ebullient Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu. The people's testimonies set the young Igwe-Nwagu's political career on a trajectory of leadership roles that spanned the three tiers of government with fully decorated scorecards: Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu became Ebonyi State vice chairman of United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP, in 1996. He was elected pioneer executive chairman of Ezza North LGA in Ebonyi State and he served between 1999 and 2002. A contented man, Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu turned down the offer for second tenure in respect to the agreed rotation order of the people of Ezza North. Igwe-Nwagu represented Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency between 2007 and 2011; and was later elected into the Nigerian senate to represent Ebonyi Central senatorial district between 2011 and 2015. It is on record that the durable foundation of infrastructure which Ezza North LGA still depends on was laid by Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu during his years as the council chairman. The council secretariat and many other projects which he built was commissioned by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. For his innumerable multi-sector developmental projects and programmes in Ezza North LGA, Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu was conferred with the Best Council Chairman Award by Obasanjo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. In the National Assembly, Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu was a team player and trusted ally among his colleagues. He was chairman Committee on Rural Development and, later, Police Affairs Committee when he was in the House of Representatives. On winning election into the senate, he also became the chairman of Senate Committee on Police Affairs. All through his public life, Enyiwaauzo has maintained his commitment to human capital as well as infrastructural development in his constituencies. Beyond giving Ezza North a befitting secretariat, Igwe-Nwagu as a council boss linked the communities and wards of Ezza North with earth roads, culverts and bridges. While in the National Assembly, Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu's constituency projects included rural roads, classroom blocks, hospitals, skill acquisition centres as well as the installation of internal communication equipment and network in Alex Ekwueme Federal University. He mentored about 40 Ebonyi youths who graduated as senior police officers and many others who passed out of police colleges as rank and file. Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu's love for education is legendary. He loves to learn and he encourages others to learn. Hence, he holds doctorate degrees in political science and law. Through his Enyiwaauzo Foundation, he granted fully paid scholarships to youths of Ebonyi Central to study professional courses. The scholarship scheme has produced over 45 professionals spanning law, medicine and surgery, engineering, nursing, medical laboratory science, accountancy, architecture, computer science and so on. The foundation has equally organised free medical outreaches for his constituents. Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu is an ambassador of African culture and has continued to promote the culture of his Ezza Ezekuna people. He and his children are practically involved in farming which is the traditional occupation of Ezza Ezekuna people. Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu holds 23 chieftaincy titles and belongs to the famous Ogbo Inya caste. He is at the verge of completing his initiation rites into the membership of the prestigious Jioke which is the penultimate title in Ezza Ezekuna. For all these and more, this family man, career democrat and perfect blend of modernity and tradition has become a crowd-puller, a coveted political asset and man of the people in Ebonyi State. Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu was on a joint ticket with the PDP governorship candidate for Ebonyi State, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, as the deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections which result is under review at the election petition tribunal. As Senator Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu, a career democrat, turns 64 on June 12, I join his family, friends, well-wishers and teeming supporters to give him 64 hearty cheers. Tinubu and corruption? A pot calling kettle black?Selective fight on corruption Level 3? So, the man cried. Orji Kalu. Then Akpabio, another billionaire politician. Enter Emefiele and Dangote. Seyi Tinubu and the London mansion.Barely two weeks in the job. Buhari Level II. Vendetta Phase III. The Igbo irony. A looming crisis So, the man cried. This man cried. Like the cries of the ordinary Nigerians, his was also heard worldwide. Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, himself. The Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate. An unabashed ally of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A staunch member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He cried. The tears flowed profusely. But the tears couldnt have flowed more orderly. Obviously being denied the opportunity to become the president of the Senate based on allegations of corruption, it was finally a moment of truth. The truth is the maxim that justice delayed is justice denied. It also goes without saying that the oppressor could one day become the oppressed. It played out that Orji Kalus billionaire party men who cannot even explain the source of their huge wealth still have the audacity to call Kalu a thief. But this saga is a pint in the ocean compared to what follows below. Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was installed president barely two weeks earlier, suspended and arrested the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Ifanyichukwu Emefiele, on charges of corruption. The charges are wide, including $1 billion transaction allegedly with Aliko Dangote, as an accessory. Yes, the Africas richest man! It is necessary to state here that I remain a zero-corruption advocate, but I also pride myself as an epitome of equity, justice, and fairness. Therefore, this piece is not intended to condone corrupt practices in any shape or form. The main gist is that one who comes into equity must come with clean hands. We are talking about Tinubu himself, the most corrupt politician ever to seek the Nigerian presidency. As the current presiding officer of the nations corrupt oligarchy, a select group of billionaire politicians without legitimate sources if income, Tinubu cannot in clear conscience attempt to fight corruption. That is precisely why his ally, Orji Kalu, cried. This is precisely why a vast majority of Nigerians who voted in the presidential election of 2023 rejected the former Lagos governor. Tinubu should look in the mirror and lead by example. The point is that he should take a leave from the presidency and equally subject himself to the authorities until he comes clean with a plethora of allegations leveled against him around the globe. The allegations, of course, border on his shady background, including fake state of origin, fake date of birth, fake school certificates, massive corruption, drug peddling, election terrorism, and much more. These piles of corrupt practices explain why the then Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu clearly stated that Tinubu is a looter of international dimensions. Critics are bound to fire back here. They will argue, as usual, that Mr. Tinubu has not been found guilty. But I have bad news for them. First of all, it is a common knowledge that Tinubu was indicted on drug trafficking in the United States of America. It is also written in black and white that the man cannot explain the sources of his overflowing wealth, as his fellow party member alluded. Moreover, neither Godwin Ifanyichukwu Emefiele nor Orji Uzo Kalu has been found guilty in court of law. Yet, they are being singled out and victimized. Even worse, though the EFCC is currently investigating Godswill Akpabio for an alleged theft of N108.1 billion of Akwa Ibom State funds, he remains Tinubus preferred candidate for the office of the president of the Senate. Despite the fact that Dangote is fingered as an accomplice in the Emefiele corruption saga, no attempt has been made to question the Africas richest man, let alone arresting him. Further, the world continues to wait for the moment the wobbling weakling would demand any investigation or the arrest of his son, Seyi Tinubu, who was busted for conniving with a fugitive, Mr. Kolawole Akanni Aluko, to buy $11 million London mansion, a property purchased with the proceeds of crime. This selective fight on corruption by Tinubu is a clear testament that he is doing nothing to allay the fears that is bound to become worse than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who thrived in primitive vendetta politics that combined to ground his regime. The trending optics thus far is another version of vendetta against the Igbo. The irony this time is that a vast majority of the Igbo people aligned with the youths and progressive Nigerians to make it clear that a corrupt kingpin cum drug lord would not be their president. Besides, the former CBN Governor initiated the new currency policy that made it difficult for corrupt politicians, like Tinubu, to influence the presidential election with tainted money. A crisis looms but it is not coming as a surprise. The fight on corruption in Nigeria was buried the day Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed the presidency. A solution, therefore, is for Nigerians to explore the most urgent ways to remove the black-market president from officeeither through the electoral tribunal or by impeachment. By SKC Ogbonnia, a former APC Presidential Aspirant, writes from Abuja. ...Plateau donated 350 Christian lives, Benue 190, Kaduna 100, Nassarawa 62, Niger 50, Taraba 40, Borno/Yobe 40, etc ...El-Rufai and other aiders and abettors must be arrested and tried at ICC over Southern Kaduna/Middle-Belt butcheries 100 churches wantonly attacked in 60 days and 600 Synagogues and 1000 Traditional Sanctuaries lost in the East since 2021 53,350 Christians slaughtered since 2009 Islamic uprising and 18,100 churches and 2,200 schools wantonly burned down 31,350 Christians hacked to death in eight radical Islamist years of Buhari and El-Rufai and ors, over 200 pastors attacked Jihadists sacked 1000 Christian communities: Benue lost 400, Kaduna 245, Plateau200, Taraba100, South-East 60 and ors International Report By Nigerias Intersociety, Monday, 12th June 2023, Onitsha-Nigeria: Fulani Jihadists Slaughtered 700 Christians As Farewell Gifts To Nigerian Radical Islamic Leaders The Nigerian radical Islamic leaders who marked the end of their civilian office tenures on 29th May 2023 were wished farewell by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen who marked the end of their office tenures by slaughtering not less than 700 defenseless Christians in May 2023 (month of handover). In a detailed investigation by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, it was gathered that not less than 300 Christians were slaughtered in Plateau State (Mangu county, etc) between 15th and 17th May 2023 alone. The second worst hit State is Benue where not less than 110 Christians were slaughtered in May-early June 2023 including 40 slaughtered between 3rd and 4th June 2023 and 18 defenseless Christians hacked to death on 21st May 2023 as well as 28 others slaughtered between 7th and 10th May 2023. In all, Benue State accounted for over 190 Christian deaths between 12th April and 12th June 2023. The third worst hit State is Kaduna where not less than 100 Christians were slaughtered between 12th April and 12th June 2023. The out-gone Government of Kaduna State-backed killing of Christians as farewell gifts had included slaughtering of 33 Christians by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen on 15th April 2023 in Runji village in Atyap, Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, during which 42 houses were burned down or destroyed. Between March and April 2023, not less than 68 Christians were slaughtered in Atyap Land alone; with less than 10 Christian school children abducted on 4th April from Government Secondary School Avon in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State who were taken into Jihadists captivity. According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), not less than 245 Southern Kaduna communities have been sacked and violently occupied by Fulani Terror Jihadists in six years (2017-2023). In Nassarawa State, no fewer than 38 Christian residents of Takalafia and Gwanja communities in the Karu Local Government Area of the State were hacked to death by terror herdsmen who stormed the area on Thursday night (14th May 2023). 1,100 Christians Killed By Jihadists In 60 Days And 2,150 In First 160 Days Of 2023 (1st Jan-12th June) Not less than 1,100 defenseless Christians were hacked to death by Nigerian Government backed Islamic Jihadists in the past 60 days or between 12th April and 12th June 2023; translating to daily average of 17 Christian deaths. The period under review also represents one of the bloodiest in anti Christian attacks in Nigeria. The breakdown of the 1,100 Christian deaths in 60 days (12th April-12th June 2023) shows that Plateau State is the worst hit with 350 Christian deaths, followed by Benue with 200 deaths, Kaduna 100 deaths, Nassarawa 62 deaths, Niger 50 deaths and ethnically and religiously related killings by the Police and Military personnel in the East 50 deaths. Others are Borno/Yobe with 40 Christian deaths, Taraba 40 deaths, Kebbi 20 deaths, South-West 20 deaths, South-East 20 deaths, Adamawa 10 deaths, South-South 10 deaths and FCT 10 Christian deaths. There are also 200 Christian deaths representing dark figures of crimes including over 80 Christian deaths omitted in places like Kaduna State, covering 1st January to 10th April 2023 and 10% (70 deaths) of the 700 abductees representing those abducted who are incapable of returning to their families alive. Also In two months gone by, not less than 700 Christians were abducted in Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Edo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ondo, Delta, Enugu, Anambra and Abia States. In the 1,100 defenseless Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for not less than 800 killings. We had in our mother Report of 10th April 2023,disclosed that 1,041 defenseless Christians were hacked to death in Nigeria in the first 100 days of 2023 or 1st Jan to 10th April 2023. In all, therefore, it has been investigated and found that a total of not less than 2,150 defenseless Christians have been slaughtered by non state actor/Nigerian Government backed Islamic Jihadists in the past 160 days or 1st Jan to 12th June 2023. Over 1,400 others were abducted; out of which 10% or 140 may be incapable of returning to their families alive. Kaduna State top the list of the abducted with at least 700, followed by Niger State with 300. 1000 Christian Communities Sacked By Jihadists And Government Security Forces Since 2016 Available statistics showed that Nigerian Government protected Jihadists and its Jihad enabler security forces have sacked 1000 Christian communities since 2016 and aided and abetted their takeover and occupation by the Jihadists; out of which, Benue State lost 400 Christian communities, Kaduna 245, Plateau 200, Taraba 100 and South-East 60. Christian communities have also been uprooted in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kogi, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Kastina, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, etc. 100 Churches Razed In 2 Months: 12th April-12th June 2023 Not less than 100 churches have been razed or burned down or destroyed by Islamic Jihadists in the past sixty days or between 12th April and 12th June 2023; out of which Plateau State lost not less than 28 churches. Several churches suffered similar Jihadist attacks in Southern Kaduna and other parts of the State including Chikun where 40 Christians were abducted in a Chikun church by Fulani Jihadists on 7th May 2023. Churches in Adamawa State also came under attack including abduction of two pastors in Yola and attacks on churches on 24th May 2023. Several churches and hundreds of Christian homes had come under devastating attacks in Benue, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, Nassarawa and Kogi States; totaling over 100 church attacks or burnings or destructions between 12th April and 12th June 2023. 20 Pastors Attacked Since April And 600 Synagogues/1000 Traditional Sanctuaries Since Jan 2021 Available statistics also showed that not less than 20 Christian pastors were abducted or murdered by marauding Nigerian Government protected Islamic Jihadists between 12th April and 12th June 2023. At least three pastors and two Catholic Priests were among those killed and over a dozen others abducted. It was also investigated and found that the personnel of the Nigerian Military, Police and DSS deployed in the South-East and South-South jointly accounted for burning down or destruction of not less than 600 Synagogues and 1000 Traditional Religious Sanctuaries particularly in Imo, Anambra and Abia States since Jan 2021. The burning down or destruction of the Synagogues and Traditional Sanctuaries had arisen from false security intelligence that members of IPOB/ESN are religious members of Jewish Synagogues and Traditional Religions which provide them with charms and spiritual backups and as a result, all Synagogues and Traditional Sanctuaries are instruments of terrorism and their members Biafra terrorists. Previous Statistics In Our Mother Report Of 10th April 2023 We had on Eastern Monday, 10th April 2023 released a Special Investigative Report and disclosed that no fewer than 1,041 defenseless Christians were hacked to death by Nigerias Jihadists in the first 100 days of 2023 or 1st Jan to 10th April 2023 and over 700 others abducted. The Report also disclosed that 5,191 defenseless Christians were hacked to death in 2021 and 3,800 others abducted by Nigerias Islamic Jihadists and that in Jan to Dec 2022, 5,068 defenseless Christians were hacked to death and over 3000 others abducted-with 10% or 300 permanently disappeared or incapable of returning to their families alive. The Special Investigative Report also held that, 52, 250 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims or 85,250 faith believers have been killed by Nigerian Islamic Jihadists and their Esprit de Jihad in the Nigerian Government security establishments since July 2009. The Special Report further found that 30, 250 Christians were hacked to death under Buhari between June 2015 and March 2023; 14 million Christians uprooted and five million forced into IDPs and refugee camps including over 2.5m in Benue State-with over 800 Christian communities sacked, 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools attacked or burned down or destroyed. New Statistics Arising From Our Latest Updates Our latest updates have now shown that not less than 1,100 Christians were slaughtered by the Jihadists in the past two months or a total of 2,150 since Jan 2023 or a period of 160 days-during which over 1400 others were abducted. A total of 53,350 Christians had been killed in Nigeria since July 2009 and 31,350 under Buhari from June 2015-29th May 2023. Not less than 18, 100 churches and 2,200 Christian schools were burned down or destroyed in the past fourteen years or since July 2009 and under Buhari, Nasiru El-Rufai and others, 6,600 churches and 700 Christian schools were lost from June 2015-12th June 2023. Not less than 1000 Christian communities were sacked by Jihadists under Buhari, Nasiru El-Rufai and others between 2016 and June 2023 and under their security watch and directives since Jan 2021, not less than 600 Christian Synagogues and 1000 Traditional Religious Sanctuaries were destroyed or burned down by the drafted federal security forces in Old Eastern Nigeria or South-East and South-South Regions. We Have Monitored And Exposed Persecution Of Christians And Minority Others Since 2010 Intersociety is globally known and respected for strongly advocating for end of religious radicalism through propagation of radical Islamism and fanatical Christianity in Nigeria since 2010 and has issued not less than twenty special reports or publications associated with them. Intersociety has also earned a name and international respectability as Nigerias leading anti Christian persecution and radical Islamism watchdog and was admitted as a member of the United States-based International Alliance against Genocide since 2020. We have been closely monitoring patterns and trends of anti Christian persecution since 2010 and killing of minority Muslims and moderate others by non state actor armed Islamists and Muslim dominated Nigerian security forces from 2015 to 2023. The patterns and trends of the state actor religious butcheries under our close watch include introduction of state radical Islamism policy by the former Government of Nigeria in 2016, introduction of Nigerian security forces dimension to anti Christian butcheries across the country such as pro Islamic internal security operations in Eastern Nigeria since 2016 involving ethnic and religious profiling associated with atrocious military operations in the East and the military protected invasion of Eastern Christian forests, bushes and farmlands by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen since 2016. We have monitored and tracked massacre of Christians and burning down or destruction of their sacred places of worship, religious symbols, Christian schools and living houses and farmlands across the country. These are done or carried out using research, investigation, documentation and publications. We also generate statistics from local and international media, religious, community, security, research, intergovernmental, nongovernmental, human rights bodies, international parliamentary organizations or diplomatic institutions. Vindicated By El-Rufais Pro State Jihadism Revelations; Seeks His Arrest And Trial At ICC The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has fully earned the enviable and unrivalled position as Nigerias Nostradamus. This is to the extent that we have, again, been vindicated by recent revelations by Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, immediate past Gov of Kaduna State. The former Kaduna civilian Gov had had a video/audio clip of his boastful successful transformation of Nigeria into Islamic State by successful replication of full Islamic rule in Kaduna State since 2015 at the Federal level-culminating into emergence of Muslim-Muslim Presidency of Nigeria. Intersociety had severally and consistently disclosed in its several reports that the Southern Kaduna anti Christian butcheries and those of Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa and South-West, South-East and the rest are carefully planned, systematically executed and well funded State Jihadism Project; modeled after the Sudanese Janjaweed of the Omar Hassan el-Bashirs atrocious era (1989-2019). Intersociety had also categorically stated that its findings showed that the killings had nothing whatsoever to do with the so called Farmers-Herders Clashes. It must be remembered that Gov El-Rufai had in 2015 abolished the Kaduna Charter of Equity by scrapping powering sharing between Muslims and Christians. He not only scrapped positions reserved for Christians including seat of Deputy Gov of the State but also deployed state machineries including coercive instruments to unleash unchecked and ceaseless attacks and persecution of Christian leaders in the State. Not only that they were several times arrested and clamped into detention but also a number of Christian traditional rulers were killed or dethroned or sent to prisons and bylaws establishing their thrones abolished and replaced with Fulani Emirate codes. Figures of those killed or abducted in the State have also been consistently mangled or twisted to create a questionable database that looks as if more Muslims are being killed or abducted than Christians in the State. Joining Coalition Of Nigerians In UK In Calling For Arrest And Trial Of El-Rufai And Others At ICC Intersociety hereby joins the Coalition of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom in calling on the leaders of the Southern Kaduna, the Middle-Belt and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to go after Mallam el-Rufai by ensuring that he does not go scot-free or walk the streets of Nigeria and west Democracies freely as an outlaw. The UK Government as a State-Party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998 and domestication of same which also produces the current Chief Prosecutor of the Court should ensure that the likes of El-Rufai, Buhari, Buratai, Musa Daura, Arase, Alkali Baba and the rest of the served and the serving senior security officers in the country from the ranks of military Lieutenant Colonels and Police CSPs since August 2015 are blocked from setting their feet on UK soil or arrested and charged for crimes against humanity and genocide or incitement to same, if they do set their feet on UK Soil. Where it is found that they have appointive or elective engagements such as academic board (Oxford) in the case of El-Rufai, such appointments or elections should be terminated. Intersociety also wishes to unequivocally state that it is morally reprehensible for the UK Government to continue to play host and open its international doors to worst violators and abusers of human rights and promoters of genocide and genocidal incitements. The UK Government cannot probate and reprobate by globally parading itself as a Democratic and Human Rights Respecter State and at the same time found wanting as a country encouraging or harboring grisly and egregious human rights abuses and violations and their abusers or violators. This clarion call of ours on the UK Government is also extended to the Governments of United States, Canada, France, Germany, Portugal Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Norway, Spain, Italy, rest of Europe and the United Nations Organization as they should avoid replicating the infamous roles of the Three Musketeers (UK, France and Belgium) in the Rwandan Genocide of April-July 1994. The link to the mother report of Easter Monday, 10th April 2023 is here: https://intersociety-ng.org/5068-citizens-massacred-for-being-christians-in-nigeria-in-2022-1041-slaughtered-in-first-100-days-of-2023/ For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Compiled By: Emeka Umeagbalasi, M.Sc. Criminologist/Researcher Board Chair, Intersociety Assisted By: Chidinma Udegbunam Esquire Intersocietys Head, Campaign and Publicity Department Ndidiamaka Chinaza Bernard Esquire Intersocietys Head, Intl Justice and Human Rights Program Ositadinma Agu Intersocietys Head, Intl Contacts and Mobilization Contacts: Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052 Email: [email protected] Website: https://intersociety-ng.org References Death toll in Benue communities attacks hit 40-June 3rd and 4th 2023 1. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/06/death-toll-in-benue-communities-attacks-hit-40/, https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/06/again-unknown-gunmen-kill-over-25-in-fresh-attack-on-benue-communities/ 2. https://www.iconsnews.com/2023/06/muslim-muslim-ticket-we-shall-sustain.html?m=1(Nasiru el-Rufai confirming State Jihadism project and Islamization and Nigerian Government sponsorship of anti Christian massacres and church destructions and burning of Christian schools and imposition of Muslim-Muslim Presidency on Nigeria Over 200 Christians were massacred between 15th and 17th May 2023 by Fulani Jihadists in Mangu LGA and some parts of Riyom in Plateau State and over 32 communities sacked and Baptist Church lost 50 members alone 3. https://saharareporters.com/2023/05/25/plateau-state-residents-confirm-over-200-persons-killed-32-communities-displaced, https://www.rt.com/africa/577029-villagers-protest-militant-attacks-nigeria/,https://news.band/plateau-attack-over-500-displaced-community-says-attackers-loot-homes/ Over 300 Christians killed in 3 weeks of attacks (15th May-7th June 2023) in county in Plateau State of Nigeria; 28 churches destroyed. At least 300 Christians have been massacred in one county of Plateau state, Nigeria, since mid-May, including the killing of two pastors on Sunday, sources said. In Mangu County, Fulani terrorists killed the Rev. Shadrack Ayuba of the Assembly of God Nigeria church in Ntin Kombun village and the Rev. Mangmwos Tangshak Daniel of the Nigeria Baptist Convention in Kantoma village, said the Rev. Timothy Daluk, chairman of the Mangu Local Government Area Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Pastor Daluk said in an interview with Morning Star News in Mangu town on Tuesday that since mid-May, Fulani terrorists have killed 300 Christians, displaced 30,000 residents, destroyed 28 church buildings and 2,000 houses and looted 150 trailer loads of grains in the Mangu Local Government Area. Residents of the countys Ajin village, near Panya town, said that on Sunday night, Fulani terrorists destroyed homes and a worship church building of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN). The Rev. Jacob Dashop, chairman of the Provincial Church Council, Gindiri, of the COCIN, said that from May 15 to May 17, more than 200 Christians were killed in Fulani herdsmen attacks on the Mangu LGA villages of Kubwat-Bwai, Fungzai-Bwai, Aloghom-Mangu, Ntam-Mangu, Ligit-lubang/Sabon Layi-Bungha, Jwakji- Panyam, Washna-Panyam, Jwak-Maitumbi-Halle, Murish-Halle, Kikyau-Halle Danhausa-Halle, Gongong-Halle, Gyambwas-Halle, Kyampuus, Ntul-Halle, Gwet-Pushit, Jwakchom-Pushit, Larkas-Pushit, Jwak Ras-Mangu, Kantoma and Gaude.Christians killed in Fungzai-Mangu village by Fulani terrorists are mostly women and children; they were buried in a mass grave on Tuesday, 16 May, Pastor Dashop said. 4. https://www.christianpost.com/news/hundreds-of-christians-killed-in-3-weeks-of-attacks-in-nigeria.html Crackdowns on Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders continues as El-Rufai bans Southern Kaduna Group hours to end of his tenure on 28th May 2023 5. https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/el-rufai-proscribes-southern-kaduna-group/%3famp Buried, 18 missing (23 killed) after jihadist gunmen launched vicious attack in Takum, Taraba State on Sunday, 20th May 2023 5. https://dailytrust.com/5-buried-18-missing-after-attack-on-community-in-taraba/ Again, armed herders storm Benue LG, kill 18, behead women, children on Sunday evening of 21st May 2023. The attack was carried out on the Iye community in Uvir Council Ward of Guma Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State. 6. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/again-armed-herders-storm-benue-lg-kill-18-behead-women-children/ Tension in Imo community as herdsmen kill commercial motorcyclist, occupy forest on Saturday, 20th May 2023 7. https://sunnewsonline.com/tension-in-imo-community-as-herdsmen-kill-commercial-motorcyclist-occupy-forest/ Church leaders in Plateau State said 1,000 houses and 22 churches have been burnt by bandits in the recent attacks (since April 2023) in Mangu, Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas 8. https://corenews.com.ng/2023/05/22/bandits-burn-22-churches-1000-houses-in-plateau/ Bandits kill 9, injure others in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna on 21st May 2023, killed 33 in Southern Kaduna in April 2023 9. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/bandits-kill-9-injure-others-in-kaduna/ BREAKING: Bloodbath In Benue As Fulani Herdsmen Kill 28 Residents In Mbawa Ward, Guma Local Council Between Sunday, 7th and Wednesday, 10th May 2023; Army, Police Operatives Demand Money To Find Corpses 10. https://saharareporters.com/2023/05/11/breaking-bloodbath-benue-fulani-herdsmen-kill-28-residents-guma-local-council-army No fewer than 38 residents of Takalafia and Gwanja communities in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have been killed by terror herdsmen who stormed the area on Thursday night (14th May 2023). The Pastor-in-charge of the Evangelical Church Winning All in the area, Rev. Daniel Danbeki, and 37 others were gruesomely murdered by the assailants during the attack which lasted from 9pm on Thursday night till the early hours of Friday. 11. https://punchng.com/nasarawa-cleric-37-others-killed-by-herdsmen-buried/ The Kaduna state government says bandits killed 214 persons and abducted 746 others between January and March this year. Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, reeled out the figures while presenting the 2023 first quarter security report to Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna governor, on Wednesday. According to Aruwan, Kaduna central senatorial district recorded the highest number of casualties with 115 deaths followed by the Kaduna south and Kaduna north senatorial districts with 61 and 38 deaths respectively. The report also indicated that of the 746 people kidnapped, Kaduna central senatorial district accounted for 492 victims followed by Kaduna south senatorial district with 221 while 33 people were abducted in Kaduna north senatorial district, the commissioner said. 12. https://www.thecable.ng/insecurity-over-200-people-killed-746-kidnapped-in-q1-2023-in-kaduna Herdsmen slaughtered 33 Christians on 15th April 2023 in Runji village in Atyap, Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, burned down 42 houses, killed 68 Christians in Atyap land within one month between March and April 2023, abducted 10 Christian school children on 4th April from Govt. Secondary School Avon in Kachia LGA in Southern Kaduna and sacked 245 Southern Kaduna in six years (2017-2023)-SOKAPU 13. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2023/04/killings-s-kaduna-people-marked-for-extermination-sokapu/amp/ According to Sun Newspaper Editorial of 14th May 2023, within two weeks in April 2023, Herdsmen killed 30 persons in Plateau State and in April 2023, alone, not less than 200 Benue Christians were killed by Herdsmen including killing of 134 persons in five days and in all, over 2.5m persons have been internally displaced or sacked from their homes; over 70 persons were killed in the State between 10th and 30th of April 2023. 14. https://www.google.com/amp/s/sunnewsonline.com/attacks-on-benue-kaduna-communities/%3famp 172 persons killed in one month, between 22nd March and 22nd April 2023 in Benue and Kaduna including 25 persons killed on 10th April 2023 in Guma, Logo and Tarka LGAs and 20 killed on 20th April 2023 in Waya, Jato-Aka and Turan villages of Mbabuande in Kwande and Gwer West LGAs of the State 15. https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/172-killed-in-benue-kaduna-in-one-month/%3famp BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Upon the initiative of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, a trip to Baku was organized for Ukrainian schoolchildren from the Irpin Linguistic Humanitarian Lyceum named after Zarifa Aliyeva on June 11-17, Trend reports. The visit is organized with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, SOCAR Ukraine, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Azerbaijan. Accompanied by the lyceum director and teachers, eight students from the Irpin Linguistic Humanitarian Lyceum named after Zarifa Aliyeva, aged 14-16, have arrived in Azerbaijan. As part of their stay in the capital of Azerbaijan, Ukrainian schoolchildren were taken on a tour of the Old City of Baku - Icherisheher. The students from Ukraine experienced the unique aura of Icherisheher, a place of great historical and architectural significance that impressed the guests from Ukraine with its unmatched beauty and history. In an interview with journalists, Ivan Rudoi, a student from the Irpin Linguistic Humanitarian Lyceum named after Zarifa Aliyeva, said that Baku is a unique city for him. "I have been in the capital of Azerbaijan for the second day. As part of the visit, we have already visited several institutions, including the STEAM Innovation Center. I consider such centers and technologies to be extremely important for developing the abilities of children and adolescents. I also like the architecture of the city and I am eager to visit museums. I know that they have interesting exhibitions. I think the visit to Baku will be a lifelong memory for me," said Ivan Rudoi. Another lyceum student, Gloria Prudkaya, emphasized that visiting Azerbaijan was her dream. "Azerbaijan is close to me, and I am interested in your traditions, culture, and history. I have read a lot of information about the city of Baku and I am very interested in visiting museums. I hope that in the remaining five days, I will be able to visit exhibition venues and other interesting places and learn a lot of new things about Azerbaijan. Above all, I have been impressed by the people; they are very friendly. I thank the organizers of our visit for giving us the opportunity to come to Azerbaijan," noted Gloria Prudkaya. Alexandra Shevchuk added that the visit is going wonderfully and providing wonderful impressions. "The capital of Azerbaijan amazes with its beauty. We are being taken on walks around the city, introduced to landmarks, memorable places, and educational institutions. Baku is home to very pleasant and responsive people. The atmosphere in the city is warm, and the weather is good. I have wanted to visit Baku for a long time, and I am happy that my wish came true. The visit is wonderfully organized, and all the details are taken into account. The schedule is interesting," said Alexandra Shevchuk. Many municipalities in the state of Colorado permit the keeping of backyard chickens for noncommercial purposes only. However, before acquiring any chicken in your city, you may want to check your local chicken-keeping rules regarding the maximum number and types of chickens allowed per household, whether or not a permit is required, and coop requirements. In Arapahoe County , for example, residents don't need a special license to have backyard chickens. However, Arapahoe County residents must meet other requirements and may need a building permit for certain improvements. Another chicken-friendly County in Colorado is Jefferson County, with a variety of urban and rural areas that allow the keeping of backyard chickens. The maximum number of backyard chickens you can have in Colorado depends on the municipality in which you live. In this article, I have listed some Colorado cities that permit the keeping of backyard chickens and the maximum number of chickens permitted per residence therein. Denver, CO If you live in the City of Denver, you need to obtain a restricted livestock or fowl license from the executive director before keeping up to 8 chickens. Denver prohibits the keeping of roosters. In addition to chickens, the City of Denver also permits residents to keep ducks, geese, and turkeys. However, the number of birds allowed per household in Denver is 8. Denver Code requires that chickens be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and chicken owners keep their birds in such a manner that they do not create a nuisance. Colorado Springs, CO In the City of Colorado Springs, up to ten backyard chickens (no roosters) are permitted per household in residential zone districts. However, in zoning districts where a hobby farm is permitted, an unlimited number of hens and roosters is allowed per property. Colorado Springs Code requires that chicken coops contain at least four square feet of space for each chicken. Colorado Springs chicken keepers must comply with El Paso County's Ordinance 17-201 Animal Control , which prohibits noisy pets and the improper care or treatment of pets. Aurora, CO The City of Aurora allows residents to keep chickens in their backyards, provided certain requirements are met. To begin with, roosters are not permitted within the city limits of Aurora, only hens or ducks are allowed. The maximum number of hens or ducks you can have in Aurora, CO, depends on the size of your property. No more than four hens and two ducks are permitted on lots less than 20,000 square feet in size. On lots of 20,000 or more square feet in size, a maximum of eight hens are permitted. Aurora Code requires that hens and ducks be provided with a covered, appropriate predator-resistant bird coop that is situated in the rear yard and at least 15 feet away from all property lines. Fort Collins, CO Fort Collins, CO residents need to obtain a permit from the Human Society before keeping backyard chickens or ducks. The keeping of male chickens (roosters) and male ducks (drakes) is not allowed within the city limits of Fort Collins. The maximum number of chickens allowed per household in Fort Collins is based on property size. Up to eight chickens and/or ducks are allowed on lots less than one-half acre in size. On lots one-half acre to one acre in size, a maximum of twelve chickens and/or ducks are permitted, with up to six additional chickens and/or ducks per every additional one-half acre. Fort Collins Code requires that chickens and ducks be provided with a covered, predator-resistant coop that is properly ventilated and consists of at least four square feet of space per chicken hen or duck. In addition, the city code requires that chicken coops be kept in a clean condition and at least fifteen feet away from any abutting property line. Lakewood, CO In Lakewood, CO, a permit is not required to keep backyard chickens in the R-1-43, R-1-18, R-1-12, and R-1-9 residential zone districts. In these districts, a maximum of 1 chicken per 4 square feet in coop area is required. In addition, chicken coops must be located in the rear yard and at least 15 feet away from all property lines. However, if you reside in R-1-6 and R-2 residential zone districts, a permit is required to keep a maximum of 6 hens on your property. In the R-1-6 and R-2 zoning districts, a minimum of 6 square feet of living space per chicken is required and chicken coops must be located in the side or rear yard, and meet the minimum setbacks of 5 feet. Thornton, CO No permit is required to keep backyard chickens in the city of Thornton, CO. However, Thornton chicken owners must comply with the city's chicken ordinance, which contains specific shelter, care, and maintenance requirements for chickens. Thornton permits up to six chickens (no roosters) per property developed with a single-family detached dwelling. Thornton allows only one chicken coop per backyard and prohibits the on-site butchering or slaughtering of chickens. Furthermore, Thornton Code requires that chicken coops consist of at least six square feet of space per chicken, not exceeding 120 square feet or seven feet in height. Arvada, CO Sec. 14-126 of the Arvada Code of Ordinances states that no resident may keep more than 15 chickens on their property. The city code requires that chicken coops be kept more than 35 feet away from any dwelling unit. In zoning districts other than the RA and RN-32.5, chicken coops must be located in the rear yard only. Chicken Ordinances in Other Colorado Municipalities Found in Phuket, Portugese man-o-war not yet confirmed on Phi Phi PHUKET: Despite media reports, officials from Krabi have stated that the dangerous bluebottle physalia, also known as Portuguese man-o-war, has not been found on Phi Phi Islands yet. By The Phuket News Monday 12 June 2023 08:30 AM Concerns were raised last week by Phuket lifeguards regarding Portuguese man-o-Wwar, sparking worries about the potential threat to tourists on Phi Phi. However, these allegations were dismissed over the weekend by Ratchanok Phaenoi, Chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. A survey was conducted following news of the highly venomous hydrozoan being found on some beaches in neighboring Phuket, but the result was negative, reported Bangkok Post, citing Ms Ratchanok. Personnel from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNP) failed to find any portuguese man-o-war, however officials will remain on alert due to the potential danger they pose to tourists, assured Ms Ratchanok. Portuguese man-o-war, sometimes erroneously called jellyfish, were washed up on Phuket beaches, including Patong, Nai Har, Kata, Kata Noi, and Haithon, last week. The Phuket Lifeguard Service shared of Facebook several pictures of the bluebottles, clearly illustrating that more than one or two had been found. Lifeguard advised that anyone stung should seek assistance from the lifeguards on the beach or go to a medical facility. People were urged to limit self-treatment to washing the injured area with seawater and removing any visible tentacles. For pain relief, if technically possible, the injured area can be soaked in warm water for 20 minutes. However, seeking professional medical care is always the best course of action in any case. King and Queen of Thailand honour Phuket with Royal Visit PHUKET: The residents of Phuket witnessed and participated in a momentous day on Sunday (June 11) as His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Suthida graced the island with their inaugural official Royal Visit since King Maha Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne as Rama X in 2019. By The Phuket News Monday 12 June 2023 06:00 PM His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Suthida graced Phuket with their presence last Sunday (June 11). Photo: PR Dept / Andaman Top New / .5 Their Majesties Royal Thai Air Force aircraft touched down in Phuket at an undisclosed time after or around 4pm. By that time thousands of people from near and far had eagerly gathered on the streets to greet the King and Queen along their route and at Tha Kraeng Rd, where they were scheduled to carry out their Royal Duties. At 5.33pm, the yellow-clad crowd at Tha Kraeng Rd in Phuket Town erupted in excited cheers as Their Majesties arrived at the place, which is home to both the Phuket Provincial Hall and the Office of the Court of Appeal Region 8. The new snow-white Phuket Provincial Hall is located within the Phuket Provincial Administrative Center on the northern side of the road, while the new white and golden Office of the Court of Appeal Region 8 is situated on the southern side. Both five-storey buildings showcase Sino-Portuguese architectural elements, emphasising Phuket provinces rich Peranakan heritage. First, His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Suthida proceeded to the Court of Appeal, where they led the foundation stone laying ceremony for the building. Officials from the Court of Appeal Region 8 were granted Royal Audiences and presented Their Majesties with commemorative presents on the occasion of their Royal Visit. At 6.35pm, the crowd cheered again as the beige Maybach with the "Ro-Yo-Lo 3" license plates left the premises of the Court of Appeal and headed down the road to the Provincial Hall. The transparent windows of the car allowed onlookers to catch a glimpse of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen from a distance of 10 meters or less. Amidst admiration, people waved their flags, including the red, white, and blue "Thong Trai Rong" flags of Thailand; the yellow flags of the King bearing his Royal Monogram; and the purple flags of the Queen with her Royal Monogram. People of all ages and backgrounds greeted Their Majesties in unison, representing a diverse cross-section of society. Many attendees held portraits of King Rama X and Queen Suthida. Most were dressed in yellow shirts while some adorned themselves in elegant Peranakan attire from a bygone era. Queen Suthida herself chose a traditional Phuket-themed set for this event. Their Majesties graciously alighted from the car in the front yard and proceeded to formally inaugurate the new Provincial Hall building. The ceremony encompassed the lighting of candles and incense sticks, praying, and presenting offerings to the Buddhist monks. Royal Audiences were granted to honorary guests, including foreigners who were recognised for truly outstanding achievements and contributions benefiting the Kingdom of Thailand and exceptional dedication to the well-being of the Thai people and the state. Their Majesties also signed their own names on the symbolic stone slab and planted an Andaman Redwood, Phukets signature tree. The event culminated with Rama X pressing the button to uncover the sign saying Phuket Provincial Hall over the main entrance to the building. Their Majesties then proceeded inside for the private part of the ceremony, hidden from the eyes of regular attendees. The Royal Visit concluded with His Majesty and Her Majesty returning to their vehicle, and the Royal Motorcade departed. As this occurred after sunset, everyone could appreciate the beautifully illuminated setting skillfully arranged for the Royal Visit. When the Royal Motorcade turned from Tha Kraeng Rd into Chao Fah East Rd, people gradually left the area, but not before tidying up after themselves. While some understandably hurried home after spending long hours at the event, many joined hands to remove plastic chairs from the road and perform other necessary tasks. All the numerous paper flag were taken by attendees with them. Merely half a dozen of flags could be seen accidentally left behind, allegedly having fallen from people bags. These flags were gingerly picked up by other guests to be taken home and become family relics. Overheard conversations revealed that many people dedicated no less than six, seven or eight hours to witness the presence of their King and Queen in person. Some made journeys from other provinces to be part of this memorable day when His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Suthida set foot on Phuket soil for the first time as the King and Queen of Thailand. To ensure nobody suffered from hunger or thirst, free food and drinks were provided. Tents were installed to protect the audience from the sun, which was highly appreciated as the day turned sunny and bright, despite the ongoing weather warning. Medical teams, emergency workers, and security personnel remained constantly vigilant, ensuring safety throughout the event. According to local newspaper archives, the previous official visit of the King of Thailand to Phuket took place in 1973 when His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX) graced the province with his presence. This visit occurred precisely 50 years ago. MFP survives first calls for dissolution BANGKOK: Four recent petitions along with a request to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) have been dismissed as groundless and no reason for dissolution by the Election Commission (EC), according to a source. politics By Bangkok Post Monday 12 June 2023 06:43 AM Sawaeng: No merit to accusations. Photo: Bangkok Post The dismissal of the petitions to dissolve the MFP was made while the eight-party coalition led by the MFP goes about forming a new government, reports the Bangkok Post. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee, in his capacity as the registrar of political parties, did not agree that on Mar 5 Padipat Suntiphada, the MFP candidate in Constituency 1 of Phitsanulok, had contravened EC regulation 17 by mentioning the royal institution, said the source. The petitions also dealt with the MFPs desire to amend or abolish Section 112 of the Criminal Code, better known as the lese majeste law, said the source. Alleged manipulation by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Pannikar Wanich, the leader and the spokeswoman of the Progressive Movement respectively who advise the party but are both considered outsiders, was also cited as an alleged violation of the organic law on political parties, said the source. Although the ECs latest decision appears to be good news for the party, analysts and legal experts say thats not the end of the partys problems. Jade Donavanik, a legal scholar and former adviser to a constitution drafting committee, said the ECs planned inquiry into MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrats alleged violation of Section 151 of the organic law on the election of MPs, for instance, will likely bring both advantages and disadvantages to the party. As the Section 151 matter will have to be forwarded to the court as a criminal case, the EC will have the burden of proving Mr Pita had violated the law, while Mr Pita will have to defend his innocence, said Mr Jade. Asked to assess evidence shown by Mr Pita pertaining to his holding of shares in iTV Plc as reported by the media, Mr Jade said the chance of Mr Pita winning the case is still fifty-fifty. In a Facebook post yesterday (June 11), Mr Pita said: Ive tried my bestWhat about you? The new post was accompanied by his old message posted on Facebook on June 24, 2021 in which he described Thailand as being in a legal war. Senator Seree Suwanpanont, in his capacity as chairman of the Senates committee on political development and public participation, said the EC has failed to state clearly what will happen next if it finds Mr Pita guilty. At a meeting of the Senate committee scheduled for June 20, the committee will review the ECs order regarding its inquiry against Mr Pita and discuss it in detail, he said. On Friday, the EC decided to conduct the inquiry 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. On the same day, the EC dismissed all petitions asking it to probe whether Mr Pitas holding of iTV shares made him ineligible to contest the election in the first place, reasoning they were lodged after the qualifications of election candidates were examined. This has upset some of the partys critics. Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, meanwhile, said he will formally appeal against the ECs decision to dismiss his petition. He said he lodged his complaint with the election regulator on May 10 and still believes a petition about the suspected ineligibility of Mr Pita could still be submitted even after the EC endorses Mr Pita as an MP. More importantly, he said, the EC is responsible for forwarding the matter to the Constitutional Court. Mr Ruangkrai said he has solid evidence to prove that Mr Pita has held 42,000 iTV shares since 2008 which made him ineligible to contest the election. He also accused the EC of failing to answer several questions he raised about Mr Pitas alleged ineligibility in the rejected petition and is now determined to seek a definite answer. The Baku Higher Oil School of SOCAR (BHOS) has hosted the closing ceremony of the IV International Scientific Conferences of Students and Young Researchers dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and the awarding of the winners. Opening the event with a keynote speech, Rector of Baku Higher Oil School Elmar Gasimov gave information about the scientific conferences. The rector emphasized that BHOS is proud of the fact that scientific conferences connected with the name of the Great Leader have been held within its walls for 12 years. 17 theses were presented at the first conference held at BHOS 12 years ago. It is very gratifying that the number of theses already exceeds 350. Some of the students who participated in this conference are now doctoral students, lecturers, young scientists and specialists who are working in prestigious companies. We believe that the young people awarded this time will grow into scientists and specialists. Our main goal is to create interest in science among young people and motivate them. We must create conditions for young people to help them reach their potential in this area. Such conferences serve as a unique platform for sharing knowledge and experience with students, drawing attention to the social significance of scientific activity. Speaking at the event, Kang Jia Elmi, a representative of the Baku Office of Huawei, congratulated the winners of the conferences and said that Huawei always supports young talents. He stressed that Huawei and BHOS are closely cooperating with each other and have successfully implemented many joint projects. Director General of the Institute of Petrochemical Processes named after Academician Y.H.Mammadaliyev of the Ministry of Science and Education, academician Vagif Abbasov, spoke about the importance of scientific conferences held at Baku Higher Oil School, noting that these conferences contribute to increasing the interest of young people in science. The 4th International Student Research and Science Conferences covered such topics as Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, Digital Transformation 2023, Towards Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Engineering: Innovations for Building a Better World. In total, 365 theses were presented to the conferences this year. 194 of them were prepared by students and researchers from Baku Higher Oil School. In addition to Azerbaijani universities, theses were presented to the conferences from the University of Stuttgart (Germany), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China), University of Valladolid (Spain), A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry (Russia), and the University of Oklahoma (USA). BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan further highlighted the cultural bonds between India and Azerbaijan by hosting a public yoga session at the Ateshgah Temple State Historical-Architectural Reserve on June 7, 2023. The event attracted around 130 participants eager to engage in the practice of yoga, Trend reports. The session was graced by the presence of Mr. Rashid Babai, Director of the Ateshgah Temple Reserve. Mr. Elchin Guliyev, a well-known instructor in the discipline, conducted the yoga session. The cultural resonance of the event was further amplified by Ms. Solmaz Asgarova's captivating performance of traditional Indian dances, which concluded the formal proceedings. As a sign of Indian hospitality, participants were treated to a variety of delicious Indian snacks following the yoga session. The event was part of the celebration of the International Day of Yoga, promoting yoga as an instrument for well-being and harmony in society. The Embassy plans to continue fostering such initiatives that highlight yoga's numerous benefits and promote cultural bonds between India and Azerbaijan. As the old showbiz adage goes, the show must go on. And the 76th Tony Awards, arguably Broadways biggest night, did indeed proceed Sunday albeit unscripted despite an ongoing writers strike that hung a question mark over the event for weeks. The awards show, hosted by Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose at New York Citys United Palace, was a history-making affair, shining a spotlight on a Broadway community still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Leopoldstadt, by legendary British playwright Tom Stoppard, was named best play, winning over a crowded field that included Aint No Mo, The Cost of Living, Between Riverside and Crazy and Fat Ham, the latter three of which all earned a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The generation-spanning Holocaust drama was inspired by the 85-year-old playwrights discovery of his Jewish roots later in life. The production, which is slated to close on Broadway next month, was supposed to play in Toronto before its Broadway bow. That Canadian run, however, was cancelled due to the pandemic. In addition to the award for best play, Leopoldstadt also collected trophies for direction of a play (Patrick Marber), featured actor (Brandon Uranowitz) and costumes (Brigitte Reiffenstuel). Kimberly Akimbo, the sweet yet tender show about a New Jersey teen who ages rapidly due to a rare genetic disorder, was the nights winningest production. It was crowned best musical and also earned awards for best score (David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori), leading actress (Victoria Clark, earning the second Tony of her career) and featured actress (Bonnie Milligan). Lindsay-Abaire also won the prize for best book, beating out Canadian writer David West Read, who penned & Juliet, the crowd-pleasing jukebox musical that landed in Toronto last summer. This years prizes were spread widely. Among the nominated plays and musicals, no production received more than five awards. In all, the 26 competitive awards were handed out to a dozen shows. Life of Pi, a play based on the bestselling novel by Canadian author Yann Martel, won three Tonys for scenic design (Tim Hatley and Andrzej Goulding), lighting (Tim Lutkin) and sound (Carolyn Downing). But despite winning the Olivier Award for best new play last year, the production wasnt nominated for that same accolade on Broadway. Some Like it Hot, a musical adaptation of the 1959 Marilyn Monroe film of the same name, headed into Tonys with a leading 13 nominations. It walked out at the end of the evening with four wins, including for best choreography (Casey Nicholaw), costumes (Gregg Barnes) and orchestrations (Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter). J. Harrison Ghee made history with Alex Newell, who both became the first openly non-binary people to win Tony Awards for acting. For every trans, non-binary, gender nonconforming human, whoever was told you couldnt be seen, this is for you, said Ghee, who earned the award for their leading performance in the splashy musical Some Like it Hot. Thank you for the humanity. Thank you for my incredible company who raised me up every single day, they continued. About 40 minutes earlier, Newell picked up a featured actor Tony for their roof-raising performance in the corn musical Shucked. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway, said Newell, who plays Lulu, an independent, dont-need-no-man whiskey distiller. I should not be up here as a queer, non-binary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to. In the play categories, Killing Eve star Jodie Comer won the best leading actress Tony for her lauded performance in the one-woman play Prima Facie. Sean Hayes, meanwhile, garnered a leading actor award for his turn in Good Night, Oscar, in which he plays American concert pianist Oscar Levant. This has got to be the first time an Oscar won a Tony, Hayes joked. Among the revivals, Parade a dramatization of the trial, imprisonment and lynching of Jewish-American Leo Frank won the Tony for best musical revival, beating Camelot and two Stephen Sondheim musicals, Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. Parade tells the story of a life that was cut short at the hands of the belief that one group of people is more valuable than another and that they might be more deserving of justice, said director Michael Arden, who also won a Tony for his staging of the 1998 musical. This is a belief that is the core of antisemitism, white supremacy, homophobia and transphobia and intolerance of any kind. We must come together. We must battle this. Suzan-Lori Parks Topdog/Underdog, a play about sibling rivalry, inequality and societys false promises, nabbed the Tony for best revival of a play. A new production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play will open in Toronto later this year, produced by Canadian Stage. In addition to the competitive awards, two Broadway icons were bestowed with a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in a pre-show telecast hosted by Skylar Astin and Julianne Hough. John Kander, the 96-year-old composer behind such landmark shows as Chicago, Cabaret and The Scottsboro Boys alongside Fred Ebb, was presented the award by Lin-Manuel Miranda, his collaborator on the 2023 best musical nominee New York, New York. Kander thanked his parents, his husband Albert Stephenson and music, which has stayed my friend through my entire life and has promised to stick with me until the end. Jennifer Grey handed her father, Cabaret star Joel Grey, the other lifetime achievement Tony. Being recognized by the theatre community is such a gift because its always been, next to my children, my greatest, most enduring love, the actor said. DeBose, hosting the Tonys for the second year in a row, persuasively led a surprisingly breezy and brisk show, chock-full of performances but short of the usual scripted banter that typically bogs down the show. DeBoses dance-filled opening number began with a shot of a blank script backstage, a nod to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. Later, she explained how the show was allowed to proceed because of a compromise between the WGA and Tony organizers, which stipulated that the awards show had to be conducted unscripted. So to anyone who may have thought that last year was a bit unhinged, to them, I say, Darlings, buckle up. DeBose warned the audience early on. That the ceremony was allowed to continue is no doubt a win for the Broadway community, which has still yet to return to pre-pandemic levels of attendance. The 2022-2023 season, the first full season since the pandemic, saw 12.28 million audience members, still notably down from 14.77 million in the 2018-2019 season. With files by the Associated Press SHARE: EDMONTON - Selena Wilson and Curtis Wardill hadnt even unpacked from a wildfire evacuation in Edson last month when another emergency alert was issued Friday evening, ordering everyone to leave town again. Ive kind of had bags kept in the bedroom because I didnt feel it was a good time to unpack yet with the weather being so crazy. I just figured we might as well be safe than sorry, Wilson said Sunday at a campground east of Edmonton, where she and her husband have taken refuge in their camper along with their dogs, cats and budgies. Fridays evacuation order was hard to miss, she said. It came over their phones, friends told them about it and the gas station across their street got busy fast. Wildfires in Yellowhead County west of Edmonton continued to grow Saturday night, a county official told an online update, but they got no closer to evacuated communities like Edson. According to a provincial wildfire report for the region, a cold front tracked across the fire area and brought some precipitation. It was minimal, the report said, but it raised humidity enough to slow the spread of the flames. Despite the appearance of a lull, municipal officials in the region said the evacuation orders will stand. Theyve told evacuees not to expect to return anytime before Wednesday, though officials later said a portion of the evacuation zone could be lifted as early as Monday afternoon, if weather conditions are favourable. If youre looking at these fires, they may look like theyre a little bit calmer. Theyre still very dangerous and it just takes a little bit of wind to get these guys flowing like they were two days ago, Luc Mercier, the chief operating officer of Yellowhead County, said during Sundays update. To illustrate how quickly things can change, Mercier said officials in the county were considering scaling back their fire response and shutting down their emergency control centre last Wednesday. Two days later, that idea went out the door when the fires just went out of control very drastically again, he said. Nearly 14,000 people were under an evacuation order due to fires across Alberta, the province said Sunday. Officials in Edson have said firefighters are going door-to-door moving flammable items including propane tanks and wood piles away from houses and other structures, as the fire continues to hold about 1.5 kilometres to the towns south boundary. Peace officers and members of the RCMP are also doing regular patrols. Wilson said her doorbell camera captured an officer knocking on her front door. Right now, I feel like were OK and Im more concerned about anybody being injured or hurt while theyre firefighting, Wilson said, while her budgies chirped in the background. Wardill, who worked fighting the fires last month until he timed out, said conditions are volatile. Hes hoping to get permission to go back to the area to check on horses that were staying at another property. Im not a climate alarmist. Ive fought forest fires on and off for, like, 25 years. Its been incredibly dry last fall and then we went into this spring with no rain. These fires are reacting in ways that Ive never seen myself, personally, he said. I know on the frontline there was more than once that the flames overtook our equipment and we were lucky to get out when we did get out. Albertas largest regulated electricity transmission company had warned residents in areas near the town of Edson to be prepared for extended power outages, saying several transmission towers south of Edson were consumed and toppled by flames. But AltaLink said in an update later Sunday that wind shifted the direction of the fire and that it did not progress toward its transmission line feeding those areas as anticipated. The province said it has approximately 2,700 personnel working on wildfires. That includes support from partner agencies across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the Canadian Armed Forces. With all of the resources that our municipalities, the province of Alberta, many firefighters from across Canada and across the world are putting onto this fire, we still cannot say that it is safe, Mercier said in a later update Sunday evening. That must tell us all the severity of what we are dealing with. Environment Canada, meanwhile, issued special air-quality statements Sunday for a number of Alberta communities, including Edmonton and Calgary, due to smoke from the fires. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: TRURO, N.S. - Police in Nova Scotia have charged a man with abduction following a June 7 Amber Alert in southern Quebec. Jessie Wayne MacPhee, 31, is expected to appear in a provincial court in Truro, N.S., on June 12. Police say they issued the Amber Alert after a gas station clerk in St-Louis-de-Blandford, Que., raised concern about a man who was travelling with an infant and unable to pay for gas. They say the clerk took photos of the one-year-old girl and the mans vehicle, which had a Nova Scotia licence plate. Quebec provincial police then contacted the Colchester County District RCMP in Nova Scotia, who determined the child had been abducted. The Amber Alert ended after police located the man and the infant, who was later reunited with her family. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2023. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Read more about: SHARE: The RCMP say two people have been arrested in a labour trafficking investigation in London, Ont., that involved 31 alleged victims. Cpl. Christy Veenstra says both suspects, who are in their 40s, are facing numerous human trafficking charges. She says 31 people were rescued as a result of the investigation. Veenstra says the Canada Border Services Agency and London police were part of the joint investigation that led to the arrests. She says the suspects are currently being held in custody. Police are expected to release more details about the case on Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2023. SHARE: Toronto Public Health issued three conditional passes to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars and grocery stores on June 8. Afro Caribbean Foods at 2121 Jane Street received a conditional pass with three major infractions: Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration Fail to provide handwashing stations with adequate supplies (hot and cold water) Use food equipment not in good repair Dynasty House Seafood Restaurant at 1635 Lawrence Avenue West received a conditional pass with two major infractions: Fail to maintain records of pest control measures taken Fail to protect against harbouring of pests Si Lom Thai Bistro at 534 Church Street received a conditional pass with one major infraction: Fail to protect against harbouring of pests A conditional pass is issued when at least one infraction presents a significant health risk, and a closure is ordered when at least one infraction presents an immediate health hazard. Both outcomes trigger an additional inspection within 48 hours. Failure to comply with Torontos DineSafe program can result in fines, court summons and other enforcement action. Miss a DineSafe roundup? Find out which restaurants recently made the list About this story This story was automatically generated using open data from the City of Toronto. The Toronto Star has no role in collecting, reviewing or analyzing this data, and makes no representations or endorsements about any food premises, or the products or services offered by a food premise. Readers should review any municipal disclaimers located at the citys open data portal. SHARE: Toronto police are investigating reports of a person with a machete in North York. Police said they were called to Lovilla Blvd and Ann Arbour Road just after 7:30 p.m. with reports of a person with a machete in the area. Upon investigation, police said they did not locate a person with a machete. 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 Fire is currently working to put out a house fire in York. Toronto police said they were called to the Dufferin Street and Rogers Road area just before 6 p.m. with reports of a house fire. Police said injuries are currently unknown. Dufferin Street is closed in the area. 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: Borrowing a tactic from the business world, the Star performed 360 performance reviews of the leading contenders in the mayoral race. We talked to people all around the candidates those who have worked above them, next to them and under them to understand their strengths and weaknesses as voters prepare to decide who will be Torontos next leader. Rishab Mehan recalls his then boss, Coun. Brad Bradford, facing a barrage of criticism from constituents upset about the city plan to build a 59-unit residence for people escaping homelessness in East York. Mehan, Bradfords chief of staff in the BeachesEast York ward in 2021, said the councillor was caught between the citys announcement of a site and residents saying they were blindsided and vowing to fight city hall. Mehan, now director of development planning for the Chicago Housing Authority, calls Bradford a natural leader who responded by doing what he does best reaching out to lots of folks in the community, holding meetings, conversations, to understand what the concerns were big forums of people to have a conversation. He spent a lot of time and energy. Hes indefatigable. Bradford is staking his campaign on leadership, running to be a strong mayor of action uniquely qualified to tear down organizational silos and shred red tape to get Torontonians better housing, transit and commutes. His candidacy in the June 26 election surprised some colleagues, given his less than five years in politics and a LinkedIn profile with fewer leadership roles than some interviewers might expect of an applicant hoping to lead North Americas fourth largest city. Councils planning and housing chair since last fall touts his age, 36, as the promise of generational change. He said a city with big financial and social challenges needs his boundless energy and impatience with bureaucracy to race like the competitive cyclist he is toward results. His scant experience, though, has not been the issue for some about Bradfords campaign; he has been a polarizing figure in his ward, even to some he has collaborated with, and has faced criticism for being inauthentic. Bradfords former boss Jennifer Keesmaat, who endorsed him in 2018 and ran for mayor against John Tory that year, gave the Stars This Matters podcast a withering assessment of his mayoralty bid. The former chief planner said some mayoral candidates are authentic, leading in the polls and campaigning from a moral centre, while others appear malleable and power-hungry. Of Bradford, she said: What is the centre? Will the real Brad Bradford please stand up, and wondered why the avid cyclist wasnt rebutting rivals attacks on bike lanes. The centre is missing; we dont know what the centre is. Bradford, though, views himself as a goal-focused, collaborative leader. For instance, on gaining community acceptance for the Cedarvale Avenue modular housing project, he said: I took the time to have those deep and difficult conversations with folks in the community, adding that he talked to people at an already operating Scarborough site to see what was working and what was not. Bradford said he took the feedback to city staff and helped force changes, including more community gathering space and parking for support workers. His own view of his leadership approach was echoed by some interviewed by the Star and completely rejected by others who said the progressive planner they once knew is not the hard-charging mayoral candidate with conservative advisers and policies to match. They point to past votes with former mayor Tory on encampments, warming centres and more. Several noted a February exchange at council with Coun. Alejandra Bravo, when Bradford was planning his mayoral bid. Bradford had voted in 2020 to redirect some police funding to social programs. When Bravo made a similar motion for the 2023 budget, Bradford loudly and repeatedly asked her: Does your motion propose to defund the police? Sitting outside the Birchcliff cafe in his ward, Bradford said: Im a millennial millennials love feedback. But he later threw an elbow at critics he calls the city hall and social media echo chamber. He calls himself detail-oriented, to a fault, consultative and collegial. But if, after the goal and course are set, some people want to row in a different direction for example, veteran civil servants stuck in their ways they can get out of the boat. The most powerful force at city hall is the inertia of status quo, said the urban planner who was an administrator in the chief planners office for three years before his 2018 election as councillor for BeachesEast York. The Hamilton-raised son of a single mom calls the woman who raised three kids while building a career and becoming a Liberal MP my north star and reference point on how I deal with big challenges in my life. He is a former competitive figure skater and founder of the Toronto Hustle bike racing team. After university, Bradford worked as a planning consultant, then went to Boston to work in sustainable energy before returning to Toronto to work on stakeholder engagement and special projects in the chief planners office. He said his civil service experience convinced him of the need for less talk, more action a campaign slogan and admits a tricky adjustment to councillor, a job for which there is no training manual and where your neighbours are your boss. Bradford points to leadership wins including helping to create a special property tax subclass for small businesses. It saves mom-and-pop shops thousands of dollars per year by taxing owners at a lower rate than large corporate landowners. John Kiru, executive director of the umbrella group for neighbourhood merchants, said that, as Torys designate on the small business file, Bradford dealt with us a significant bit and shared information from Torys office and Queens Park. The inauthentic candidate described by some critics couldnt be more different from the one that Craig Applegath, architect and urban designer, hired at Dialog Design in 2011 and recently encouraged to run for mayor of Toronto. Bradford impressed Applegath and, he said, brought his strong mix of planning smarts and people skills to Dialog. I told him, The city needs somebody like you, who understands both urban planning and city halls inner workings, where housing projects can be strangled with red tape, Applegath said. His passion could be perceived by some people to be running hot, losing it when he gets upset, Applegarth said. It never struck me that way but Ive known some people have said that. The thing is, hes really passionate he cares. To win the mayoralty, Bradford must prove his leadership to voters far beyond BeachesEast York. While last fall he more than doubled the vote count of his nearest competitor to win re-election, with Torys endorsement, Bradford remains a polarizing figure in his ward. Zahra Dhanani, a social justice advocate and co-owner of Olds Cool General Store, didnt endorse his council candidacy but said she gave him a chance; we tried to work together on things. She said she stopped when his commitment to activism, such as the communitys Orange Shirt Day campaign in support of Anishnawbe Health Toronto, seemed performative rather than actually knowing and working with real Indigenous people. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider Read more about: SHARE: Torontos public transit system came under sharp scrutiny earlier this year amid a spate of violent sometimes random attacks that left the city reeling. In an attempt to curb the violence, city officials introduced a host of new and enhanced measures, including increasing the presence of special constables and assigning police to patrol the TTC on a regular basis. But new data shared by the city Monday suggests the initiatives have done little to stem major crime on public transit, with the number of incidents climbing as public confidence in safety continues to fall, despite officials touting an overall drop in the number of offences towards passengers and staff. Major crime is up on TTC and GO, while customer satisfaction is down Major crimes on all Toronto transit systems (including TTC and GO Transit) in May was up more than 24 per cent since January. There were 220 occurrence of major crime incidents last month, a notable increase from 177 during the first month of the year. (Major crimes, as defined by Toronto police, include assault, sexual assault, robbery, shootings and other violent crimes.) Meanwhile, TTC customer satisfaction with personal safety declined to 54 per cent in May, down from 67 per cent in January. (Because the metric is a lagging indicator, the data collected in given month reflects customer sentiment for the previous one.) Toronto says investments are working as overall offences are down Despite the rise in major crime, city of officials say the investments are working, pointing to a statistic that shows overall offences committed against TTC customers is down by 32 per cent since January. Im pleased to see the investments and the co-ordinated response between the City and the TTC are working to improve safety for riders and workers, said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie in a statement issued Monday. The TTC plays a vitally important role in keeping Toronto moving and everyone needs to feel safe, and be safe while on it. Overall rate of offences against riders and employees down That leading indicator found the rate of offences against TTC riders was 1.82 per million customers in May, down from 2.70 in January. The metric includes broader offences, not necessarily major crimes, such as harassment and other incidents affecting TTC customers. The rate of these offences against TTC employees has also slightly decreased, down from 8.68 per million in January to 8.39 in May. As promising as this trend is, we know the job is far from done. We remain committed to building on these initiatives to ensure we are addressing the concerns weve heard, said TTC CEO Rick Leary in a public statement. In recent months, experts said theres no single cause and no simple solution for the uptick in transit violence, with some suggesting the incidents stem from wider societal problems. The data is part of a new dashboard published Monday that will report progress on public transit safety and well-being each month. Read more about: SHARE: A Mississauga man has been sentenced to six months in jail for causing a January 2018 chain-reaction crash that claimed the life of a 22-year-old Humber College student in a case of road rage on the busy Queen Elizabeth Way. Superior Court Justice Bruce Durno on Monday agreed with the Crown that Yasir Baig, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death in October, got angry because someone flashed their high beams at him and honked and caused a chain reaction involving five vehicles. The crash killed Nicole Turcotte, 22, of Niagara Falls, and injured several others. In her victim impact statement, Turcottes mother Heather told the court about her amazing daughter, who loved working with children and the less fortunate. Baigs reckless conduct, in anger, led to devastating consequences, Durno said. Baig will also serve a 32-month driving ban upon his release from jail. Baig, now 38, was driving in the eastbound lanes of the QEW in Mississauga, at around 10 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2018, when he suddenly cut in front of traffic in the left passing lane. He slowed his Honda Civic to about 50 km/h, causing the vehicle immediately behind him to abruptly slow down. When the driver behind him flashed his high beams twice, Baig responded by bringing his car to a complete stop on the busy highway an act the judge described as particularly aggravating at sentencing. Several vehicles behind Baig were able to stop, but the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck failed to brake in time and rear-ended the fourth vehicle in line, in which Turcotte was a passenger. At the time, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt called it an absolutely horrific crash. Baig fled the scene but surrendered to police on Feb. 8. He was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failure to remain at the scene of a collision causing deaths and failure to remain at the scene of a collision causing bodily harm. Durno noted the driver of the F-150 later pleaded guilty to the provincial offence of failing to avoid a stopped vehicle. Defence lawyer Ravin Pillay argued that the cause of the crash could be contested, as the driver of the pickup truck was the one who directly caused the collision by slamming into the line of stopped vehicles. In reaching a sentence, Durno noted that while Baigs actions were not the sole cause of the ensuing pileup, he started a series of events that resulted in the offences. Baigs sentence was mitigated by his guilty plea in a case that was snarled for months by pandemic-related delays, Durno said. In court, Heather recounted how she held her daughters hand until she died, Durno said Monday at Baigs sentencing. Many lives were changed and damaged by the offenders senseless and dangerous conduct, Turcottes mother told court about her daughter who was just shy of graduating from the photography program at Humber College. The college has since presented her diploma to the family as a tribute, the court heard. Nicoles death was the start of a grief-filled life, Durno said of the mothers statements. The family has received a life sentence of pain and sorrow. Jason Miller is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering crime and justice in the Peel Region. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @millermotionpic SHARE: BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. To celebrate the International Day of Yoga and to popularize yoga as a tool for wellness and harmony, the Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan organized an open yoga session for the public. The event took place on June 10, 2023, at the Astrophysical Observatory in Shamakhi, attracting close to 140 yoga practitioners and enthusiasts, Trend reports. Tahir Mammadov, Head of the Shamakhi Executive Power, Mehriban Eyubova, Deputy Head of Shamakhi Executive Power and Sridharan Madhusudhanan, Ambassador of India in Azerbaijan, participated in the event. The distinguished guests welcomed attendees and expressed their appreciation for yoga as a conduit for overall health and well-being. Elchin Guliyev, a distinguished instructor of the discipline, conducted the yoga session. His expertise brought a sense of authenticity to the event, demonstrating the deep cultural roots of yoga. Upon completion of the yoga session, the attendees were treated to a captivating performance of traditional Indian dances by Solmaz Asgarova. To conclude the session on a warm note, participants were served a variety of Indian snacks. The event, held in observance of the International Day of Yoga, underscores the Embassy's continuous efforts to promote the ancient Indian practice of yoga. The provinces police watchdog is investigating after two police officers shot at a vehicle in Toronto during a robbery call that ended in a crash Sunday afternoon. The SIU said three investigators and two forensics officers have been assigned to the case, where it appears initially that no one was injured by the officers firearms. Police said officers located a vehicle around College and Dufferin streets that had been previously been reported as stolen in Little Italy at around noon. After an interaction with the vehicle occupant, the SIU said, two officers shot at the vehicle, whose driver then 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 45-year-old man and a 26-year-old man who were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Although it appears that no one was struck as a result of the officers firing at the vehicle, the SIU will continue investigating as part of their mandate. 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 vehicle took off and was pursued by officers racing into the neighbourhood, Micallef 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. Toronto police told the Star they could not confirm the bystander observations as the SIU has invoked its mandate. The SIU is asking anyone with further information to contact the lead investigators on their website or calling 1-800-787-8529. SHARE: A 20-year-old Toronto man who threatened to shoot up a school has been arrested by police at a home in Toronto, police say. The threat to the school was a blanket threat, not directed to anyone specifically, Toronto police told the Star. Police said the threats were uttered on June 4 on an online platform, along with a photo of a gun. The picture was then flagged by an AI to the platforms security team ealier this month. The security team notified Paris Interpol who in turn notified Ottawa Interpol when the post was traced to Canada. Later, Toronto police said its cyber-crime unit took over the investigation after determining the threats were published from Toronto. On June 6, officers conducted a search warrant at a Toronto home of which no address has been disclosed. Police said a fully loaded handgun, which the suspect allegedly tried to discard, was located at the scene. The man is facing several charges, including uttering threats, possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm and failing to comply with a release order. The suspect appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Toronto on June 6. SHARE: Toronto police have arrested two teenagers in connection with two armed robberies. Police said that last week they were called to the Rexdale area on two separate robbery calls on June 7 to Islington Avenue and Emhurst Avenue, and on June 9 to Martin Grove Road and Albion Road. In both robberies, police say that three male suspects travelled in a stolen vehicle and entered a pharmacy wearing masks to conceal their identities. In each instance, one of the suspects showed a large knife and demanded narcotics and cash before the group fled. After the second robbery, police located in the stolen vehicle. Two of the suspects were taken into custody and the third fled on foot. The two boys in custody both 16 years old each face several charges, including two counts of armed robbery, two counts of disguise with intent and two counts of possessing property obtained by crime worth over $5,000. One of the boys also faces charges of failing to comply with a release order. The third suspect is still outstanding. There is currently no description available. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com. TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca SHARE: By now, everyone in Toronto has probably seen his face. Its on signs cluttering the roadside, whizzing by on the roofs of taxis, printed on flyers stuffed in mailboxes, and on ads in the pages of this newspaper. Its even glowing above Yonge-Dundas Square. This election season, theres no escaping Edward Gong. As the race for Toronto mayor enters its final weeks, Gong, a media magnate and outsider candidate, has launched an advertising blitz guaranteed to get the publics attention. As soon as election advertising was legally allowed on June 1, his blue-and-yellow signs started sprouting up, each one declaring Gong was Here to rescue Toronto, and displaying 44, his number on the crowded mayoral ballot. While Gongs ad game is undeniably strong, hes still a long shot to win the June 26 byelection. He hasnt participated in any major debates, and isnt registering in public opinion polls. But of the 102 people running to be mayor of Toronto, none has a more remarkable backstory than Gong, whose personal story of entrepreneurial success was derailed two years ago when his company pleaded guilty to operating an international pyramid scheme, and who has since taken Canadian authorities to court alleging they partnered with Chinese officials to persecute him. Gongs campaign said he wasnt available for an interview this week. But when asked why he is running for mayor, his campaign manager Polly Miller said in an email that Gong is a self-made man who came Toronto with only dreams and has reached unprecedented global success. He is grateful to Canada and Toronto and feels that it is now his turn to give back to the city, she said. According to media reports Gong, who is in his late 50s and also goes by Xiao Hua Gong, emigrated from China in 2002 and became a Canadian citizen six years later. Hes the owner of Canada National TV, a Markham-based Chinese-language broadcaster, and a hotel business that at one point owned properties in both Canada and the U.S. His campaign website describes him as a Canadian entrepreneur, director, artist, journalist, and corporate strategic planner, and his platform lists pledges to cut property taxes by $1,000 for each household, accelerate the construction of affordable housing, and turn Toronto into the world capital of metaverse, blockchain, crypto and digital asset exchange. In February 2021, Edward Enterprise International Group Inc., an Ontario-incorporated company of which Gong was the sole shareholder, pleaded guilty in Ontario Superior Court to pyramid selling and using forged documents. According to an agreed statement of facts signed by Gong, EEIGI recruited members, most of them in China, who paid the equivalent of $1,000 for packages consisting of health supplements and shares in a pharmaceutical company. Members were promised significant returns on their investment once the pharmaceutical company went public, but the company didnt exist, according to the statement. It had been dissolved years earlier. Between 2012 and 2017 about 40,000 people signed up for the program, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for EEIGI and related companies. Although the company was convicted, fined about $1 million, and ordered to forfeit $15 million to the Canada Revenue Agency, charges against Gong himself were withdrawn, and he was never convicted of any offence. His lawyer Joel Etienne says Gong was personally innocent of all charges, and the charges being dropped was the best vindication any citizen who is charged could ever receive in court. This February, Gong sued the Ontario Securities Commission for $7 million, alleging the agency violated his Charter rights by working closely with Chinas ministry of public safety, an organization known to systemically engage in the arbitrary detention, torture and execution of individuals, in the investigation against him. Among other allegations, Gongs statement of claim says the OSC shared personal information about him with the ministry in reckless disregard of the values of Canadians and Mr. Gongs rights, and that Chinese investigators subjected members of Gongs organization to inhumane conditions and physical and mental abuse in order to extract so-called confessions to use against him. It also alleges the commission invited ministry operatives to Canada to monitor Gong, effectively allowing them to act as policemen on Canadian soil. The OSC has not yet filed a statement of defence. The agency declined to comment on the case while its before the courts. Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, said he believes Gongs suit against the OSC could have merit. He said the Chinese government has used allegations of corruption as cover to persecute people who have somehow displeased the communist regime. He said its very possible that OSC has overstepped the boundaries if it shared information about Gong with Chinese state operatives, and it would be naive of Canadian authorities to believe the ministry would respect human rights during its investigation. Kwan said the OSCs willingness to co-operate shows the extra-judicial and extra-jurisdictio(nal) reach that China is exercising around the world to target its opponents. Gongs lawyer Etienne said Gong didnt join the mayors race to distract from his previous legal issues, or to bring attention to his case against the OSC. Mr. Gong is running for mayor legitimately and is not interested in re-visiting this very difficult chapter of his life, he said. So what about those campaign signs? Even Gongs campaign manager said she was surprised by their rapid proliferation. Miller said she couldnt say how many have been put up, how much Gong has spent on advertising, or how the candidate is funding his mayoral run. The spending limit for the mayors race is about $1.7 million, and candidates can contribute a maximum of $25,000 to their own campaign. All candidates are required to file financial statements after the election. At the end of the campaign, all data that you are requesting will be made public, Miller said. Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr SHARE: Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled nine closures in York Region on June 12, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 400, Highway 404 and Highway 427. Highway 400 northbound between King Township Road 16, King and Aurora Road, Kettleby: two alternating lanes closed until June 18 at 7 a.m. Highway 400 northbound between Major Mackenzie Drive and Teston Road, Vaughan: two right lanes closed until June 17 at 8 a.m. Highway 400 southbound between Aurora Road, Kettleby and King Road, King: two alternating lanes closed until June 18 at 9 a.m. Highway 400 southbound between Aurora Road, Kettleby and King Township Road 16, King: two alternating lanes closed until June 18 at 5 a.m. Highway 400 southbound between Highway 7 and Steeles Avenue, Vaughan: one alternating lane closed until June 18 at 10 a.m. Highway 400 southbound between Highway 7, Vaughan and Finch Avenue, Toronto: three alternating lanes closed until June 18 at 10 a.m. Highway 400 southbound off-ramp at King Road, King: one left lane closed until June 16 at 5 a.m. Highway 404 southbound between Woodbine Ave, East Gwillimbury and York Mills Road, Toronto: one alternating lane closed until July 7 at 5 a.m. Highway 427 northbound off-ramp at Major Mackenzie Dr, Toronto: one right lane closed from June 12 at 9 a.m. until June 16 at 2 p.m. Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside York Region 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 Markham, Vaughan, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Aurora and King. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors. SHARE: PARISUNESCO announced Monday that the United States plans to rejoin the UN cultural and scientific agency and pay more than $600 million in back dues after a decade-long dispute sparked by the organizations move to include Palestine as a member. U.S. officials say the decision to return was motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the U.S. in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education around the world. The move will face a vote by UNESCOs member states in the coming weeks. But approval seems a formality after the resounding applause that greeted the announcement in UNESCOs Paris headquarters Monday. Not a single country raised an objection to the return of a country that was once the agencys single biggest funder. The U.S. and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. The Trump administration decided in 2017 to withdraw from the agency altogether the following year, citing long-running anti-Israel bias and management problems. UNESCOs director general, Audrey Azoulay, has worked to address those concerns since her election in 2017, and that appears to have paid off. Its a historic moment for UNESCO, she said Monday. Its also an important day for multilateralism. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma submitted a letter last week to Azoulay formalizing the plan to rejoin. He noted progress in depoliticizing debate about the Middle East and reforming the agencys management, according to the hand-delivered letter, obtained by AP. The decision is a big boost to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, known for its World Heritage program as well as projects to fight climate change and teach girls to read. While Palestinian membership in UNESCO was the trigger for the U.S. fallout with the agency, its return is more about Chinas growing influence. Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass said in March that the U.S. absence from UNESCO had strengthened China, and undercuts our ability to be as effective in promoting our vision of a free world. He said UNESCO was key in setting and shaping standards for technology and science teaching around the world, so if were really serious about the digital-age competition with China we cant afford to be absent any longer. The U.S. decision doesnt address the status of Palestine. While its a member of UNESCO, on the ground, the Palestinians are further away from independence than ever. There have not been serious peace talks in over a decade, and Israels new government is filled with hardliners who oppose Palestinian independence. The Palestinian ambassador to UNESCO didnt comment on the U.S. decision. The only envoy who wasnt gushing with praise was Chinas ambassador, Jin Yang. He noted the negative impact of the U.S. absence, and expressed hope that the move means Washington is serious about multilateralism. Being a member of an international organization is a serious issue, and we hope that the return of the U.S. this time means it acknowledges the mission and the goals of the organization, the ambassador said. UNESCO director Azoulay, who is Jewish, won broad praise for her personal efforts to build consensus among Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli diplomats around sensitive UNESCO resolutions. She met with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to explain those efforts. Thanks to those bipartisan negotiations, she expressed confidence that the U.S. decision to return is for the long term, regardless of who wins next years presidential election. Whats happened over the last years meant that UNESCO matters, she said. And when youre absent from that ... you lose something. You lose something for your influence in the world, but also for your own national interest. Under the plan, the U.S. government would pay its 2023 dues plus $10 million in bonus contributions this year earmarked for Holocaust education, preserving cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology education in Africa, Vermas letter says. The Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan foresees similar requests for the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off. That makes up a big chunk of UNESCOs $534 million annual operating budget. Before leaving, the U.S. contributed 22% of the agencys overall funding. A UNESCO diplomat expressed hope that the return of the U.S. would bring more ambition, and more serenity and energize programs to regulate artificial intelligence, educate girls in Afghanistan and chronicle victims of slavery in the Caribbean. The diplomat said that the agency would also welcome Israel back if it wanted to rejoin. There was no immediate response from the Israeli government. Israel has long accused the United Nations of anti-Israel bias. In 2012, over Israeli objections, the state of Palestine was recognized as a nonmember observer state by the U.N. General Assembly. The Palestinians claim the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war for an independent state. Israel says the Palestinians efforts to win recognition at the U.N. are aimed at circumventing a negotiated settlement and meant to pressure Israel into concessions. The United States previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. It rejoined in 2003. Read more about: SHARE: WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The head of New Zealands public radio station apologized Monday for publishing pro-Kremlin garbage on its website after more than a dozen wire stories on the Ukraine war were found to have been altered. Most of the stories, which date back more than a year, were written by the Reuters news agency and were changed at Radio New Zealand to include Russian propaganda. A digital journalist from RNZ has been placed on leave pending the result of an employment investigation. Paul Thompson, the chief executive of taxpayer-funded RNZ, said it had found issues in 16 stories and was republishing them on its website with corrections and editors notes. He said he was commissioning an external review of the organizations editing processes. It is so disappointing. Im gutted. Its painful. Its shocking, Thompson said on RNZs Nine to Noon show. We have to get to the bottom of how it happened. Thompson said it had forensically reviewed about 250 stories since first being alerted to the issue Friday and would be reviewing thousands more. Some of the changes were just a few words and would have been hard to spot by casual readers. Changes included the addition of pro-Kremlin narratives such as Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum and that neo-Nazis had created a threat to Russias borders. The referendum, which was held after Russia seized control of Crimea, was considered a sham and wasnt recognized internationally. Russia for years has also tried to link Ukraine to Nazism, particularly those who have led the government in Kyiv since a pro-Russian leadership was toppled in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, angrily dismisses those claims. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark tweeted that she expected better from the public broadcaster. Extraordinary that there is so little editorial oversight at Radio New Zealand that someone employed by/contracted to them was able to rewrite online content to reflect pro-Russia stance without senior staff noticing, she wrote. Accountability? Thompson told the Nine to Noon program that typically only one person at RNZ had been required to edit wire service stories because those stories had already been subject to robust editing. But he said RNZ was now adding another layer of editing to such stories. He said he wanted to apologize to listeners, readers, staff and the Ukrainian community. Its so disappointing that this pro-Kremlin garbage has ended up in our stories, Thompson told Nine to Noon. Its inexcusable. RNZ began as a radio broadcaster but these days is a multimedia organization and its website ranks among the nations most viewed news sites. Reuters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more about: SHARE: PARIS (AP) The leaders of France, Germany and Poland met in Paris Monday for talks focusing on military support for Ukraines counteroffensive and future security guarantees to be given to the country, ahead of a NATO summit in July. French President Emmanuel Macron said the Ukrainian counteroffensive began several days ago, in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polands President Andrzej Duda at the Elysee presidential palace. In a show of unity, the three leaders insisted they would continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary. This offensive is set to be deployed over several weeks, if not months. We have done everything to help them, within the limits we set ourselves at the start of the conflict, Macron said. He promised to continue deliveries of weapons, ammunition and armored vehicles over the coming days and weeks. France wants the counteroffensive to be as successful as possible to then be able to launch a negotiation phase (with Russia) under the right conditions, Macron said. Duda, who talked by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday evening, said, I hope and believe that with our support, the counteroffensive will be successful ... This victory, in my deepest feeling, will be the ousting of Russian military forces from all occupied territories. The three leaders refused to be drawn on the detail of future security guarantees for Ukraine over the longer term. It is time that Putin finally recognizes that his plan has failed, that he ends the war after almost 16 months with hundreds of thousands of dead, with millions injured and even more refugees, Scholz said. That he is withdrawing troops and is finally ready for serious talks about a fair peace, he added. Security guarantees are part of ongoing talks between NATO leaders to ensure that Ukraine does not come under attack from Russia again once the war is over. The issue will be on the agenda at a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, next month. Over their working dinner, leaders were also due to discuss humanitarian aid to Ukraine, particularly following the attack on the Kakhovka dam, which has devastated large areas of southeastern Ukraine with flooding. Earlier this month, Zelenskyy pushed for more political support and security backing from NATO during a sprawling summit in Moldova where nearly every European leader had assembled to condemn Russia. He said he was expecting the clear invitation to (NATO) membership for Ukraine and security guarantees on the way to NATO membership in Vilnius. - AP writers Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Germany contributed to the story. Read more about: SHARE: CAIRO (AP) Three British nationals who went missing after a scuba diving boat they were cruising in caught fire in the Red Sea off the Egyptian coast have died, a U.K.-based tour operator said Monday, Egyptian authorities said the three went missing when a medium-sized scuba vessel named Hurricane went up in flames off the southern Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam on Sunday. The blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit in the boats engine room, they said. We must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, who had not participated in the dive briefing early on the morning of June 11, perished in the tragic incident, the U.K.-based Scuba Travel said in a short statement. The company did not say how it determined the three are dead and Egyptian authorities have said only that they are missing. Scuba Travel has not identified the three. Twelve other British divers and 14 Egyptian crew members were evacuated Sunday morning from the vessel in a rescue operation near the Elphinstone Reef, Scuba Travel said in a short statement. All 15 tourists were qualified divers on a weeklong cruise, it said. At the time the fire broke out 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning, the statement said. Scuba Travel spokesperson Pat Adamson told The Associated Press that the tour operator was unable to provide any details about where the three guests were when the fire broke out at 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday or the location of the bodies. However, he said it was normal for guests to opt out of early morning dives during week-long trips. Adamson said the tour company has not received any confirmation from Egyptian authorities that an investigation team has boarded the boat. The company is waiting for a full investigation. Egypts Red Sea coastline has 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: Tear down the bunting, blow out the candles and spike the confetti canon. The party is over for Party Pieces, the festive supply company that was founded by the Princess of Wales's mum at the Middleton kitchen table in 1987, and where Kate briefly worked after university. Carole and Michael Middleton have reportedly sold Party Pieces Holdings to entrepreneur James Sinclair of The Partyman Group after they were unable to prevent it from collapsing into administration. Translation: The business went bust, and they sold it for parts, basically. The business, which Carole started after she couldnt find what she was looking for when organizing Kates 5th birthday party, reportedly struggled during the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. According to Sky News, which broke the story, it lost over money in the last financial year it filed its accounts. While the collapse of the future Queens family's business would likely be in the headlines anyway, this story is rapidly evolving into a scandal. Thats because, per the Daily Mail, many of the business creditors are in disbelief at the amount of debt that Party Pieces managed to rack up, a sum amounting to over $4 million that it looks increasingly unlikely theyll be able to recoup. What hurt me the most was that I trusted her as the mother-in-law of the future king and she just betrayed me, said a spokesman for a supplier of helium for balloons. The biggest creditor, however, may be the British government: Theres a loan for support during COVID, for example, and a bill for the U.K. equivalent of HST thats around $1 million. Speaking to the Daily Mail, a close friend said that Carole was upset and deeply disappointed in the situation. According to this friend, Carole had actually stepped back from day-to-day management of the business over the past few years, and she only became aware of how bad things were when it was too late. Carole believes in accountability and accepts she had been a little naive to step back and trust someone else to run the business she had spent decades nurturing and it's been desperately sad to see the company sold off in this way. This, however, is not the story being told by at least one supplier, who told the Daily Mail that hed had personal reassurances from Carole herself that Party Pieces would repay him in full this year. All in all, its murky stuff and a potentially embarrassing situation for the royals by association. The Middletons, of course, are fixtures at royal events at the Kings coronation, they were seated just a few rows back from the royals themselves. They have tastefully parlayed their proximity to the throne into high-profile careers of their own, like Pippa Middletons column for an upscale grocery chains magazine, or Caroles occasional media interviews incorporating friendly coverage of Party Pieces along with sweet anecdotes about her royal grandchildren. The whiff of sordid dealings or at the very least, incompetent management casts a shadow over the image of the Middletons as the wholesome, well-adjusted contrast to the dysfunctional Windsors. Its no coincidence that any time we hear from sources about Kates family, its about how stable, close-knit, warm and down-to-earth they are. Their substantial wealth, built through Party Pieces success and not titled inheritance, is often glossed over, even though its the means by which Kate came to be in the same moneyed sphere as her future husband. (If theirs is a fairy tale, capitalism is the fairy godmother.) This, of course, is strategic. Kates humble beginnings her mother being born in government housing, the middle class family coming into so-called new money were once held against her in certain quarters. As time has gone on, however, Kate's relatively normal background has become a central part of her public persona, her superpower in a family and institution increasingly dogged by resentment of their immense, unearned privilege. Party Pieces, the family business built from the ground up, was the heartwarming core of that narrative, an aspirational success story that set Kate apart from all those Windsors living off their inherited millions. Sure, she went to one of the most expensive private schools in the country, but did you hear her mom was a girl boss? The Middletons, crucially, have often been cast as a kind of moral centre for William, Kate and the kids; their comfortable, unpretentious home a safe haven from the cut-and-thrust of palace life. For that cosy decency to be revealed as a facade masking sketchy dealings would be nothing short of disastrous particularly when Kates struggling with her own reputational fallout from Prince Harrys memoir Spare, which painted her as a mean girl with a petty streak. Which brings us to how Kate is dealing with all of this. Officially, theres no comment from the Princess of Wales, via the palace, and its not likely there will be. Unofficially, however, she doesnt appear to be publicly distancing herself from her family, despite the fact that some creditors, like the helium supplier, seem to be suggesting that her royal status helped the Middletons get their business into so much debt in the first place. In fact, Carole and Pippa were glimpsed among the guests at the Jordanian royal wedding William and Kate attended last week, presumably invited because of the Middleton familys connection to the country where they lived for a few years when Kate was a child. For once, though, it does seem like Kate's Middleton family connections arent exactly cause for celebration. Sarah Laing is a Toronto-based freelance contributor for The Kit, writing about about celebrity and culture. Follow her on Twitter: @sarahjanelaing SHARE: Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) The Biden administration on Monday urged states to slow down their purge of Medicaid rolls, citing concerns that large numbers of lower-income people are losing health care coverage due to administrative reasons. The nations Medicaid rolls swelled during the coronavirus pandemic as states were prohibited from ending peoples coverage. But that came to a halt in April, and states now must re-evaluate recipients' eligibility just as they had been regularly required to do before the pandemic. In some states, about half of those whose Medicaid renewal cases were decided in April or May have lost their coverage, according to data submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and obtained by The Associated Press. The primary cause is what CMS describes as procedural reasons, such as the failure to return forms. I am deeply concerned with the number of people unnecessarily losing coverage, especially those who appear to have lost coverage for avoidable reasons that State Medicaid offices have the power to prevent or mitigate, Health and Human Services Secretary Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote in a letter Monday to governors. Instead of immediately dropping people who havent responded by a deadline, federal officials are encouraging state Medicaid agencies to delay procedural terminations for one month while conducting additional targeted outreach to Medicaid recipients. Among other things, theyre also encouraging states to allow providers of managed health care plans to help people submit Medicaid renewal forms. Nobody should lose coverage simply because they changed addresses, didnt receive a form, or didnt have enough information about the renewal process, Becerra said in a statement. States are moving at different paces to conduct Medicaid eligibility determinations. Some havent dropped anyone from their rolls yet while others already have removed tens of thousands of people. Among 18 states that reported preliminary data to CMS, about 45% of those whose renewals were due in April kept their Medicaid coverage, about 31% lost coverage and about 24% were still being processed. Of those that lost coverage, 4-out-of-5 were for procedural reasons, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, New Hampshire and Oklahoma, about half or more of those whose eligibility cases were completed in April or May lost their Medicaid coverage, according data reviewed by the AP. Those figures may appear high because some states frontloaded the process, starting with people already deemed unlikely to remain eligible. CMS officials have specifically highlighted concerns about Arkansas, which has dropped well over 100,000 Medicaid recipients, mostly for not returning renewal forms or requested information. Arkansas officials said they are following a timeline under a 2021 law that requires the state to complete its redeterminations within six months of the end of the public health emergency. They said Medicaid recipients receive multiple notices as well as texts, emails and phone calls, when possible before being dropped. Some people probably dont respond because they know they are no longer eligible, the state Department of Human Services said. Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has dismissed criticism of the states redetermination process, saying Arkansas is merely getting the program back to its pre-pandemic coverage intentions. But health care advocates said its particularly concerning when states have large numbers of people removed from Medicaid for not responding to re-enrollment notices. People who are procedurally disenrolled often are not going to realize theyve lost coverage until they show up for a medical appointment or they go to fill their prescription and are told you no longer have insurance coverage, said Allie Gardner, a senior research associate at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. __ Associated Press writer Andrew DeMillo contributed from Little Rock, Arkansas. SHARE: WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump arrived in Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Departments efforts to get them back. Trumps Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Departments first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardized national security, with Espionage Act charges carrying the prospect of a significant prison sentence. Ahead of his court date, he and his allies have been escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests. Hes ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith deranged as he repeated without any evidence his claims that he was the target of a political persecution. And even as his supporters accuse the Justice Department of being weaponized against him, he vowed Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family if Trump is elected to a second term. Trump landed in Miami around 3 p.m. Monday and got into a waiting SUV. He was expected to huddle with advisers before his court appearance, as he looks to line up additional lawyers following the departure before his indictment last week of two attorneys who had handled the defense for months. Hes encouraged supporters to join a planned protest at the Miami courthouse Tuesday, where he will face the charges and surrender to authorities. We need strength in our country now, Trump said Sunday, speaking to longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio. And they have to go out and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out. Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty to protest. Weve lost everything, he went on. He also said there were no circumstances whatsoever under which he would leave the 2024 race, where hes been dominating the Republican primary. Other Trump supporters have rallied to his defense with similar language, including Kari Lake, the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona who pointedly said over the weekend that if prosecutors want to get to President Trump, theyre going to have to go through me, and 75 million Americans just like me. And most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA. Trumps calls for protest echoed exhortations he made ahead of a New York court appearance in April, where he faces charges arising from hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign, though he complained that those who showed up to protest then were so far away that nobody knew about em, And just like in that case, he plans to address supporters in a Tuesday evening speech hours after his court date. After his court appearance, he will return to New Jersey, where hes scheduled a press event to publicly respond to the charges. Hell also be holding a private fundraiser. Trump supporters were also planning to load buses to head to Miami from other parts of Florida, raising concerns for law enforcement officials who are preparing for the potential of unrest around the courthouse. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the city would be ready, and police chief Manuel A. Morales said downtown could see anywhere from a few thousand up to 50,000 protesters. He said the city would be diverting traffic and possibly blocking streets depending on crowd size. Make no mistake about it, Morales said. We are taking this event extremely serious. We know there is a potential of things taking a turn for the worse but thats not the Miami way. The Justice Department unsealed Friday an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defense information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements. The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in January 2021. The material he stored, including in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower, included material on nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign governments and a Pentagon attack plan, the indictment says. The information, if exposed, could have put at risk members of the military, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said. Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing personal aide Walt Nauta who was charged alongside Trump to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena. Some fellow Republicans have sought to press the case that Trump is being treated unfairly, citing the Justice Department's decision in 2016 to not charge Democrat Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information through a private email server she relied on as secretary of state. But those arguments overlook that FBI investigators did not find any evidence that Clinton or her aides had willfully broken laws regarding classified information or had obstructed the investigation. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, speaking Sunday on CBS News, said there was a huge difference between the two investigations but that it has to be explained to the American people. The Justice Department earlier this month informed former Vice President Mike Pence that it would not bring charges over the presence of classified documents in his Indiana home. A separate Justice Department special counsel investigation into the discovery of classified records at a home and office of President Joe Biden continues, though as in the Clinton case, no evidence of obstruction or intentional law-breaking has surfaced. Trumps own former attorney general, William Barr, offered a grim assessment of Trumps predicament, saying on Fox News that Trump had no right to hold onto such sensitive records. If even half of it is true, Barr said of the allegations, then hes toast. I mean, its a pretty its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. And this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous. ___ Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami and Terry Spencer in Doral, Florida contributed to this report. Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP ___ More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump Read more about: SHARE: Violent misogynist incels can now be charged as terrorists. Its a legal landmark that was a long time coming as the shocking backlash against feminism continues. It has been obvious that some killers have been motivated by the same directed rage against women that spurs racist and religious massacres but the law had been silent. It has finally caught up with modern times when terrorism comes in many forms, as the RCMP has said. An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that a woman-hating teenage boy motivated by incel ideology committed an act of terrorism on Feb. 24, 2020 when he stabbed a woman in a North York massage parlour 42 times with a 17-inch sword. The 17-year-old went to the Crown Spa massage parlour in North York to kill Ashley Arzaga, 24, and attacked another woman trying to help, calling her a stupid whore. The second woman managed to fight back and survived. The killer, whose name we may never know under young offender laws, which may have been overly idealistic, had a handwritten note: Long Live the Incel Rebellion. Already convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder, the terrorist designation will affect his sentence. He also had images of 2018 Toronto van attack killer Alex Minassian, who murdered 11 people, most of them female, and Elliot Rodger, who killed six people and injured 14 others by gunshot, stabbing and vehicle ramming in California in 2014. Its hard to explain incel involuntary celibacy because it seems instantly ridiculous. These men believe that attractive women should want to have sex with them, even though incels are repellent to women because of their distorted personalities and yes, their socially awkward quest for sexual slaves. Thanks to social media, this twisted idea just like antisemitic/white replacement/anti-vaxx conspiracy theories spread online and became akin to religion for loners with little understanding of cultural norms. Among other problems, Minassian and Rodger had autism, a not uncommon and sometimes ill-understood condition that left them particularly vulnerable to malign influences online. It was specifically ruled in Minassians case that autism was not a defence for mass murder. But misogyny was out in the world, as it has always been, now ballooning to bursting point in recent decades in a worldwide attack on womens rights. Femicide, the killing of women and girls because of their sex, is rising in Canada. A new report by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability says such murders rose 27 per cent last year compared to 2019. Abortion has been outlawed in much of the U.S. The condemnation of female ambition, and females themselves, by MAGA Republicans is loud and explicit. In every field of life, women are at patent disadvantage. Oxfam, under fire for its history of sexual abuse of women in poor countries, recently released a poster campaign attacking women as TERFs trans-exclusionary radical feminists for objecting to the disappearance of specific womens rights. Oxfam apologized but it seemed part of just another day in the assaults on womens dignity and right to speak. Even the word women is often not used in news reports. We are people. Femiciders do not agree. These men see us as secondary, our smaller bodies easier to bludgeon and kill, our subservience essential to the men we associate with and marry. It is a grim time for womens rights. I remain convinced that this will change for the better as good men ally with us for a better future. We know this. We celebrate it. SHARE: The criminal legal system was not built for sexual assault survivors. There are many ways it systematically fails to provide survivors support, choice, and agency. How the system imposes publication bans on the identity of complainants in sexual assault cases is one such example. Many women, particularly Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, and otherwise marginalized survivors, are blamed and made to feel ashamed for being assaulted. Shielding their identity through imposing publication bans was thought to be a way to protect them when reporting a sexual assault. In recent years, however, we have seen a particular increase in the number of survivors, disproportionately women, who want to speak freely and openly about their experience to own their story. Where a publication ban has been imposed, sometimes without their consent or even their knowledge, it not only serves as an unwanted muzzle, but as a form of re-traumatization by the very system to which they were encouraged to report. Whether a survivor chooses to have their identity shielded by a publication ban or not, their choice is valid. What our system must strive to do is to make that a meaningful choice and to support survivors in exercising agency to make it. This is what Parliament has the opportunity to do with a piece of legislation that is currently before the Senate. Bill S-12 proposes some changes that purport to increase survivors agency, while clarifying ways in which a survivor could remove a publication ban on her name where it has been imposed without her knowledge or consent. We applaud the government for acting on this issue, which has been brought to the forefront by sexual assault survivors, feminist lawyers, and organizations that advocate for gender equality. However, the bill does not go nearly far enough to effect survivor choice and, as currently drafted, could inadvertently diminish it. As the bill makes its way through Parliament, legislators must act to ensure victims are not criminalized for failing to comply with a publication ban on their own identity. They must clarify and simplify the process for revoking or varying a publication ban. They also must ensure that the legal system actually informs survivors when a publication ban has been imposed and how they can revoke or vary the ban. Above and beyond amending the law, we need governments to consistently invest in supports for survivors of sexual violence. To ensure that survivors can exercise agency and make informed choices about publication bans, we need sustained investment in independent legal advice for sexual assault survivors. We also need education about the nature, role, and implications of publication bans. As advocates for survivors of sexual violence, we know that strengthening systems, supports, and advice surrounding publication bans is an important but small part of strengthening our broader approach to sexual violence. We continue to see survivors disbelieved by police, courts, and the public. We see the ways in which the criminal legal system itself re-traumatizes survivors. We cannot rest on achieving important but insufficient reforms. We need governments and justice system actors at all levels to redouble their efforts to support survivor choice by increasing the availability of restorative and transformative justice responses outside of the criminal legal system. We need investments in prevention and support for survivors, particularly for members of communities who for good reason do not see the criminal system as a viable option in the first place due to pervasive and persistent discrimination. The fight to facilitate survivors choices regarding publication bans is an important one. It is one that we hope will be advanced through amendments to Bill S-12. And it is one that we hope will inspire further action and ultimately lead to eradicating sexual violence. Pam Hrick is the executive director and general counsel of the Womens Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). Deepa Mattoo is the executive director of the Barbra Schlifer Clinic. SHARE: If a picture is worth a thousand words, then when it lies it tells a whopper. Take, for example, the pictures of an immigration holding centre on the Canada Border Services Agencys website. There you will see a well appointed gym with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a courtyard, and comfortable indoor and outdoor dining areas. This is the picture of immigration detention the CBSA wants you to see. Not the picture painted by the roughly one in five immigrants who are detained in provincial jails through CBSA contracts with the provinces. That picture involves cells, shackles and solitary confinement, with infrequent trips to the shower and even less opportunity to venture outside. That unacceptable situation was laid bare in a recent investigation by the Stars Brendan Kennedy. A series of stories detailed how immigration detainees are being confined in provincial jails only on the grounds they are a flight risk, not because they pose a risk to public safety. While roughly one in five detainees are held in jails, they account for more than 50 per cent of the total days in detention because most long-term detainees end up there. Theres no time limit for how long someone can spend in immigration detention. An Immigration and Refugee Board adjudicator said the treatment of one detainee was completely unacceptable. Thanks to ugly portraits like that, British Columbia announced last summer that it would end its contract with the CBSA, saying detention doesnt comport with the provinces commitment to upholding human rights. Four other provinces evidently feel the same way, with Nova Scotia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan all announcing they plan to discontinue jailing immigrants on behalf of the CBSA. And Ontarios response? Silence. Yes, silence. Multiple federal and provincial officials, including federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, declined to speak to the Star about the matter, with a spokesperson offering only that the agreement with the CBSA is being reviewed. Whats to review? We already know everything we need to make the right decision. Thanks to a 2021 joint report by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, we know that Canada held some 32,000 immigrants, including children, in detention between April 2016 and March 2020. We also know that the vast majority about 94 per cent of these migrants were held, not because they presented a risk to public safety, but because they were considered flight risks, to ascertain their identities or to examine their immigration status. And we know that those detained in provincial jails have it much worse than those in immigration holding centres like the one whose idyllic photos adorn the CBSA website. In addition to the lockups and lockdowns, prison detainees rub shoulders with convicted offenders, some of whom have convictions for violent offences. The CBSA says that provincial jails are reserved primarily for high risk detainees, such as those with a propensity towards violent or aggressive behaviour. The statistics, however, say something else: According to a Star investigation, of the 458 detainees held in Ontario prisons in 2022, more than 80 per cent were detained solely because they were unlikely to appear for a deportation hearing or to confirm their identity. Furthermore, the CBSA states that detainees with mental health issues may be held in jail to receive specialized care even though jails are ill equipped to handle the mental health issues theyre already confronting. In any case, theres no may about it: Of 60 cases reviewed by the Star, more than half involved reported mental health issues. Tragically, some of these individuals might have developed mental health challenges as a result of their detention. But many others likely had preexisting problems, which means were shipping migrants off to jail specifically because theyre mentally ill. Is all of this not enough evidence for Ontario to complete its review and end its contract with the CBSA? If not, then consider this: Numerous alternatives to detention exist, including community supervision, voice reporting and electronic monitoring. In fact, with the onset of the Covid pandemic, the number of detainees dropped dramatically without a corresponding increase in no-shows at immigration hearings proof positive that the CBSA is capable of monitoring migrants in the community. Much like the photos of immigration detention on the CBSA website, the border service paints a pretty picture of the Alternatives to Detention program, saying it protects the integrity of Canada's immigration detention system (by) ensuring that individuals are treated with dignity and respect. That it might do. But it doesn't, or shouldn't, hide the much less flattering portrait of detention painted by migrants who do time in Ontario jails. Its time Ontario stepped up and joined other provinces in refusing to be partners in this appalling practice. Correction June 6, 2023: The headline was corrected to note that five, not four, provinces have stopped allowing their jails to be used for immigration detainees. SHARE: An open question to mayoral candidates. What are we going to do about it? Im not talking about housing costs or the TTC, retirement or policing. Im talking about civilization. This should not be a dizzying question. It should be just the right size for someone who is interested in running the most diverse city in the world. Can you imagine? Can you think in terms of the development of humanity as a whole and our participation in it? Are you capable of radically re-envisioning our way of life and intuiting the steps toward it? Toronto is poised to be a world leader. The future is not bleak, there is nothing but nascent possibility everywhere I look, in the people, in the technology, in the fabric of this metropolis. My question for the mayoral candidates is What do you believe is the best of humanity, and how do you plan to make Toronto a vehicle that brings us closer to that? Erik Berg, Toronto Ford and Smith are our new reality The new reality? Canadian wildfires become the global face of unfolding ecological disaster, June 7 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants to pump oil into refineries faster than filling stations can pump gasoline into automobiles. All the while, Ontarios Premier Doug Ford is champing at the bit. He needs that gasoline so the people who will live on the Greenbelt can travel back and forth on the highways hes building. Is the growing ecological/health crisis the new reality? Oh yeah! Jack Drury, Toronto Living in silos in the sky is unnatural The light is free. How Frank Gehry hopes his condo project will give back to his home city, June 7 So our answer to solving a shortage of liveable accommodation in large cities is living in silos (towers 73 and 84 storeys). Do people really want to live in that type of housing? Architect Frank Gehry claims that living that high in the sky is free light, maybe not so much when an orange haze looms over Toronto, the result of forest fire smoke. I think this type of accommodation is unnatural. I dont think humans were meant to live that high in the sky. Dorothy Low, Richmond Does anyone actually believe Bernardo can be rehabilitated? Canadian want revenge on Paul Bernardo, but thats not how prison works, June 7 Some citizens may be expressing their concern over the Paul Bernardo transfer and even seeking revenge. That may not apply to all or even the majority. There is another explanation regarding the outrage. Mary Campbell claims that the corrections system has a mandate to rehabilitate offenders. That is fine but what ever happened to their other mandate to protect society from those that break the law, sometimes repeatedly and violently? Is that not part of incarceration to protect society from these people? Further, does anyone actually believe Bernardo can ever be rehabilitated? Like it or not there is evil that walks amongst us Bernardo being one that did so prior to being locked up. Psychiatrists who have examined Bernardo have diagnosed him as having sexual sadism, voyeurism, narcissist personality disorder, paraphilia and psychopathy. Some would consider that these conditions are not treatable. A psychological risk assessment dated April 28, 2020 rated him as high risk for sexual recidivism. When medical science can treat and effectively cure the likes of Bernardo then and only then can rehabilitation be considered. Until then he should remain in a maximum-security prison. When will Correctional Service of Canada acknowledge that their role to protect society from violent lawbreakers is as important as rehabilitation? Chris Turner, Aurora We are Slowly Killing CafeTO patio Program, June 8 Edward Keenan hit the nail on the head, as he so often does, in his column. I was recently in New York City and remarked that if only Toronto would get its act together and stop being so uptight, we too could have a vibrant and lively street scene. What I experienced in New York: seating options in public squares and parks, restaurants and bars with outside, protected seating areas, food vendors with their carts or folding tables selling fresh fruit, juices, and snacks, street lanes strung with overhead lights and lined with tables and chairs and the New Yorkers and visitors enjoying these public spaces, talking, eating, having a drink (sometimes alcoholic). All of this in Manhattan on some of the busiest streets in the world. Surely if NYC can do it, Toronto can too. Carla Murphy, Toronto Not enough funds being spent on the real issues Saudi power play hints at future of ownership, June 7 Bruce Arthur states any sport could be bought if the Saudis decide to pony up enough dollars. Money excusing morally reprehensible actions like the chopping up of a Washington Post journalist goes way beyond sport. What about the money spent to support misleading official sounding information on climate change? What about the money spent to buoy political parties that do everything they can to thwart any meaningful policies to save us from out of control forest fires, flooding and rising temperatures? It all comes down to no one is spending equal amounts of money on the issues dear to a healthy democracy or a healthy planet. As I decide to limit my outdoor activities because of the forest fire particulates circulating in my neighbourhood, I wonder would I still be a rabid fan if the Saudis bought the Blue Jays. Russell Pangborn, Keswick The star welcomes letters from readers. Send your contribution via email to lettertoed@thestar.ca . Please include your full name, address and phone number. Street names and phone numbers will not be published. The star reserves the right to edit letters, which typically run 50-150 words. SHARE: Winston Churchill is often quoted as saying that Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted. Theres no evidence the great statesman actually uttered those words, but its one of those lines thats just too good to give up. It came to mind over the weekend as the Liberal government finally conceded that the best way forward on the issue of Chinese meddling in Canada is to call a public inquiry, and at least try to get opposition buy-in on how its set up. This was always the right thing to do. But my goodness how the Liberals managed to behave like the Americans in that (purported) Churchill quote. They finally came to the right conclusion, but only after exhausting every other possibility. When the first stories about Beijings interference broke last November, the government brushed them aside as old news. They nitpicked about details. They treated each revelation as a short-term communications issue. They devised too-clever lines for ministers to talk around the problems rather than come to grips with them. Along the way they made much of the fact that foreign meddling didnt actually change the outcome of the last two federal elections something no one had claimed. They accused their critics of feeding doubts about the loyalty of Chinese Canadians and of undermining trust in democracy. Finally, they tried the David Johnston gambit outsourcing the crucial decision on whether to hold an inquiry to a person who, however admirable his record of public service, was not able to win the confidence of the opposition. In short, they tried everything except the right thing and dug themselves ever deeper into a hole of their own making. What could have been a manageable issue turned into a full-blown crisis. Now the government has at least outlined a way forward. Through Dominic LeBlanc, one of the prime ministers most trusted operatives, it says its open to holding a public inquiry. But its putting the onus on the opposition parties to come up with terms of reference and propose the name of an eminent person to lead it. Now well see. Over the next couple of weeks well see how sincere the government is about this offer, and whether the opposition parties are able to respond in an adult manner. Theres a big question mark over both those propositions. Over the weekend the opposition parties vowed to work with the government on finding a person, or perhaps persons, to head an inquiry. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre laid out a couple of conditions that it be headed by someone whos independent and unbiased, and that an inquiry be wrapped up before the next election. Those are reasonable points, but will Poilievre be able to park his partisanship long enough to make it work? At some point, if he really wants to be prime minister, the Conservative leader is going to have to demonstrate hes capable of acting for the common good rather than just being an attack dog. This would be an excellent moment to do just that. The government, too, must show it means what its saying. Theres been so much foot-dragging on this issue that the Liberals critics can hardly be blamed for suspecting this is some kind of trap, that the government would rather see the whole effort collapse so it can avoid the pain of an inquiry and pin the responsibility squarely on the opposition. The smart money says the atmosphere in Parliament is too toxic for the parties to agree on anything. My hunch, based on hope as much as anything, is that theyll all conclude its in their own interests to make it work. The Liberals need to quiet things down and the Conservatives are in danger of overplaying their hand. Theyve rubbed the governments face in the interference issue and theyre already moving on to things the public cares more about, like the cost of living. We may indeed be about to do the right thing but only after trying all the alternatives. SHARE: OTTAWARussell Brown, 57, retired early from Canadas top court on Monday, ending a disciplinary probe into a public complaint about allegedly drunk and obnoxious behaviour that the former judge and academic continued to deny. His departure the first time a Supreme Court judge has quit amid a formal inquiry into alleged improper conduct means an investigation by the Canadian Judicial Council, which could have led to a public hearing and a possible vote in Parliament on the judges fate, was immediately halted. It also opens a vacancy that gives Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an opportunity to appoint his sixth judge to the Supreme Court of Canada. In a written statement, Brown cited the significant strain on him and his family, as well as the impact on the high courts caseload of a lengthy investigation that he suggested was dragging on and could last into 2024. Brown contended, as he has since news of the complaint against him first broke in March, that he is innocent of accusations he behaved inappropriately, harassed women and attacked a man at an Arizona resort in January. He cited evidence that he said would have cleared his name. Appointed just before the 2015 election by then prime minister Stephen Harper, Brown held one of two western seats on the nine-member top court for the past eight years. Supreme Court appointments are a decision of the prime minister. Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner, who is also head of the Canadian Judicial Council, the body that oversees judicial conduct and independence, urged Trudeau to promptly replace Brown. Wagner put Brown on paid leave on Feb. 1, but did not publicly acknowledge that he was on leave until after news broke in March that the judicial council had received a complaint about him. The high court simply announced Brown did not participate in a ruling on a case he had heard. The judicial council received the formal complaint on Jan. 29 stemming from events following a Jan. 28 banquet dinner in tribute to Canadian jurist Louise Arbour, at which Brown delivered a speech. Jonathan Crump, a former U.S. marine and mortgage broker living in Philadelphia, reported to the council that he and a group of friends had a run-in with Brown at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. Crump said Brown was at the resorts bar when they arrived at about 11 p.m. after attending a baby shower. The Vancouver Sun first revealed Crumps version of events, quoting him saying hed briefly left the table, and his friends invited the Canadian judge to join them. Crump alleged that when he returned, Brown was boasting of his importance, read from his speech earlier in the evening and followed them back to their room. Thats when Crump claimed he confronted Brown, telling him he was drunk and creeping out the group. He claimed Brown shoved him, prompting Crump to punch Brown in the face twice, knocking him to the ground. Brown says it was Crump who physically attacked him. Police looked into the incident at the time but laid no charges. In a statement Monday, Browns lawyers said the judges retirement was the regrettable result of a spurious complaint that was lodged by a 31-year-old ex-Marine who, while intoxicated and belligerent, punched Justice Brown without provocation and later weaponized Canadas judicial discipline process. Brian Gover and Alexandra Heine cited examples of evidence they said showed glaring contradictions, inaccuracies and embellishments in the complainants version of events, which they said would have cleared Browns name. Those included surveillance video footage depicting the entirety of Justice Browns interactions with Crumps companions, evidence of the hotels bartender who worked a few feet from the table where Brown sat with them, evidence of a hotel security officer, a recording of the complainants 911 call, body-worn camera footage showing where it occurred, an investigative report by a private investigator who is a former police detective, and a legal opinion of the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Arizona, who, after examining the evidence in this case, concluded that under Arizona law, there was no basis for the complainants allegations of harassment and that there was no possible legal justification for his attack on Justice Brown. Brown said he instructed his lawyers to disclose what theyd gathered because Crumps version had been made public, and now that the probe would end, he wanted to clear the record. Brown said the police concluded Crump was intoxicated, and he said Crump complained to both the police and the Canadian Judicial Council, in the words of one of his companions, to get ahead of it, apparently to avoid the legal repercussions of his actions. In a statement after the council announced the end of its disciplinary inquiry, Wagner defend the top courts integrity and ability to sit short-handed. The Supreme Court of Canada will continue to serve Canadians in rendering independent and impartial decisions on questions of importance to the public, he said. The court has heard appeals with five or seven judges since Brown went on leave, Wagner said, a practice that avoids ties. It can continue to do so under the Supreme Court of Canada Act until a replacement is named. On behalf of the Supreme Court of Canada, I would like to acknowledge Justice Browns contribution over the last eight years and wish Justice Brown all the best in his future endeavours, said Wagner. The news broke during Parliaments question period on Monday, surprising many. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, a former Crown prosecutor, emerged from the House of Commons saying he was just digesting the news now. He said Brown brings a regional perspective from the West. Thats an important factor. I think also theres a substantive quality that he brings to his work in terms of the decisions that hes issued that touch on privacy and individual rights and how they are applied to Canadians. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller, who is also a lawyer, said Brown made probably a very difficult personal choice, so Im not going to stand here and cast judgment on a set of facts and conclusions that I dont know. So I wish him well. Any public figure doesnt like to, regardless of whether theyre the cause of it or the unwilling victim of it, they dont want to be (the) cause or find themselves in an embarrassing situation, and obviously this was something that by all accounts was very embarrassing. So this was his choice. Justice Minister David Lametti said he respected Browns decision and wished to acknowledge his contributions to the court. He said a process to name a new judge would be launched within days. Tonda MacCharles is Ottawa Bureau Chief and a senior reporter covering federal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc SHARE: The decision of the flamboyant Boris Johnson to resign his seat in Parliament while leaving questions about his future unanswered compound the worries of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak even as he finds himself embroiled in another scandal linked to his party colleague and former boss. Mr. Sunak is in the line of fire for having approved ~ following convention, he insists ~ an honours list put up by Mr. Johnson that is said to contain several names of the latters political supporters and cronies, principally those involved in the Covid-era partying and its attempted cover-up that led to his downfall. The trigger for Mr. Johnsons resignation was an investigation by Parliaments Committee of Privileges which is led by a member of the opposition Labour party but has a majority of lawmakers from his own party. The investigation into whether Mr. Johnson had lied to Parliament could have led to a suspension, and had that been for more than 10 days, may have provoked his constituents to insist that he seek a fresh mandate. In his resignation letter, the former British PM referred to the investigation as a kangaroo court and said members of the committee had wilfully chosen to ignore the truth. Accusing the committee members of having launched a witch hunt, Mr. Johnson characterised the investigation as taking revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result. A deeply polarising figure, Mr. Johnson is accused by many, including some in his party, of acting with a sense of entitlement that impels him to cut corners. Indeed, it was this tendency, and his propensity to be economical with the truth, that led to his downfall. But clearly Mr. Johnson has learnt few lessons, for the list he left behind for Mr. Sunak saw honours and peerages being recommended for, among others, his private secretary, his chief of staff, his communications chief, a former Press adviser and even a deejay said to be close to him. The current Prime Minister has also been drawn into the line of fire by his decision to challenge in court a call by the Covid inquiry to supply Mr. Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages. But that decision has been undermined by Mr. Johnson, who has promised the inquiry he would supply it with his communications during the Covid era. While Mr. Johnson in his resignation letter bemoaned loss of the majority support the Conservatives once enjoyed under him, Mr. Sunaks somewhat bumbling essay in 10 Downing Street and the various controversies now dogging the party ensure that Britains opposition parties will be chomping at the bit. Already Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for a fresh general election, saying it is time to put Britain out of the misery of being ruled by the Conservatives. Such calls are bound to intensify in coming days, and will increase the pressure on Mr. Sunak, just as he appears to be getting a grip on administering the country. Advertisement Until recently, European historians and politicians, especially the British, could not reconcile with the idea of India being a single united nation, and cast serious doubts about Indias unity, integrity and nationhood. A few of them had gone to the extent of saying that India is not a nation, a sentiment which has recently found resonance amongst a few prominent Indian politicians too. The Europeans cannot be faulted much because they are conditioned by Europes own experience of disintegration. Equal to the size of India, Europe (minus the erstwhile Soviet ruled States), in spite of having tremendous commonality of religion, race, colour, creed and language, has not been able to stay together, thereby splitting into small nationalities and is still in the process of divisiveness as evidenced by the break-up of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia and the impending danger to the United Kingdom. The Europeans could never imagine that with Indias bewildering diversity 1.4 billion people with all the major religious groups, 121 major languages including 23 national languages and 1599 other languages (more than 19500 mother tongues), 28 federal States and 8 union territories including Jammu and Kashmir, and 3000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes ~ the sub-continent could survive as one nation. Winston Churchill, Britains war-time Prime Minister who could not hide his hatred for the Indian people openly declared that Indians were incapable of governing themselves and if given independence, disintegration would be imminent. Advertisement Fortunately, nothing like that happened and all of them have been proved wrong. Even after 75 years of Independence, India continues to remain a vibrant democracy and a strong nation making great strides in economic, social and military development aspiring to be a world power. This has been possible mainly because of Indias commitment to the wonderful Constitution of India, considered to be the longest and best written constitution of the world. The Indian Constitution is held in such high esteem that the famous political scientist, Sir Earnest Barker began his Introduction to Social and Political Theory with the reproduction of the Preamble to the Constitution of India, saying that the highest noble principles of governance have been enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The Indian Constitution places great emphasis on the unity and integrity of the nation making it a Union of States with a strong Centre and not a loose Federation. In addition to the Preamble, the Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Duties seek to promote harmony and progress. Article 51A of the Constitution lists the Fundamental Duties, one of which is to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities. It is the great resilience and tolerance of the Indian people that has contributed to the unity amidst fascinating diversity. It is the spirit of togetherness and tolerance, mostly conspicuous by its absence in the European land mass, which has bound together the Indian people of diverse regions and culture while extreme individualism and separatism have marked the evolution of European nationalism. Ancient Greece had a number of city states but they were confined to a very small area in the Mediterranean. The concept of sovereign nation-state in the West originated in the late 18th and the 19th century in the wake of the French Revolution (1789- 1799) and the American War of Independence (1775-1783). In sharp contrast, India and China, owing to their continuing civilizations of more than 5000 years, have been sovereign nations since time immemorial in spite of invasions, temporary upheavals and redrawing of national borders. There is a generic difference between the Western concept of nationalism and the Indian view of national unity. The Indian concept emanates from and is integrated into the idea of universality ~ unconditional universal love and universal welfare and also harmony with nature enshrined in the Vedic principles: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). Sarvebhavantu sukhina, sarvebhavantu niramaya (wellness to everybody), bahujana sukhaya bahujana hitaya (happiness and benefit to all) and the Shanti mantra ~ shantirantariksham Prithvi shantirapa vanaspataya shantir vishvedeva (Peace everywhere to the inner world and outer space). India has welcomed everybody. The invaders, the immigrants, the nomadic tribes, Zoroastrians, the Jews, the Shias, the Sunnis, the Ahmediyas, the Bohra Muslims and the Christians have found a home in India. The discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization and unfolding of the glories of ancient India go to show that the concept of one nationhood of Bharatvarsha from Kashmir to Kanyakumari existed even before the Vedic days. The decline (or destruction!) of the Indus-Valley Civilization, rechristened as the Harappan Civilization (3000-1700 BCE), was followed by waves of migration believed to be from Central Asia by nomadic tribes who called themselves Aryans. No scientific evidence is available to ascertain the exact cause for the fading out of this expansive urban civilization, very akin to the Mesopotamian civilization. According to one theory, the urban centres were wiped out and went underground following a tsunamic earthquake and floods. But this does not explain the destruction at the same time of hundreds of cities and towns spreading over Gujarat, Sind, Baluchistan, and entire Punjab up to the borders of Afghanistan and Haryana up to Delhi. The second theory advanced by archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler, which was in circulation till the 1950s, has been that the powerful Aryan tribes who came in hordes invaded the Harappans and destroyed their urban centres, forcing them to flee and killing those who fought. This is also not a probability because there was no evidence of a fight anywhere within the urban centres. In 1964, the American Indologist George F. Dales had a hard look at the skeletons and the ruins and discarded this theory altogether. He wrote: There is no destruction level covering the latest period of the city [Mohenjo ~ daro], no sign of extensive burning, no bodies of warriors clad in armour and surrounded by the weapons of war[and] the citadel, the only fortified part of the city, yielded no evidence of a final defence. The third theory which has found favour with modern historians and Indologists has been that the Harappan Civilization was not destroyed by invasion and an almost consensus opinion has been that owing to a very long period (may be over a century) of drought, the Harappans had to abandon and evacuate the cities and towns which were no longer sustainable, and migrate to the rural areas of Sind, Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana and later got absorbed into the Indo-Aryan milieu. Interestingly, some of the symbols and traits of the Harappan civilization have been found in the Dravidian civilization. The Aryans started arriving in several waves since 1900 BCE and during the intervening centuries, friendly interactions with the indigenous people having post-Harappan culture and adoption of various indigenous skills like the plough had been a distinct possibility. Braving the difficult and dangerous Khyber Pass through Afghanistan, thousands of Indo-Aryan pastoral tribes crossed over to India with their horses and cattle and initially settled in the Punjab region. With increase in population and fresh arrivals, they expanded to the Gangetic plains where they consolidated their position by 1500 BCE. During the second urbanization, 16 Mahajanapads (republics, kingdoms or empires) and hundreds of Janapads (smaller kingdoms or councils) were established. They also introduced the Panchayati system, democracy at the grassroots level, making India the Mother of Democracy. From pastoralists, the Indo-Aryan groups became first the agriculturists (a transition from nomadic pastoralists in mountain desert to the paradise of monsoons is surprisingly not recorded anywhere) and then the rulers and masters for the major part of the sub-continent. Who are these Indo-Aryan people who ruled India for about 3000 years? Where was their original homeland? Why did they migrate and come to India? What was their language and culture? What were their mission and objectives? These questions and the answers have led to endless debates and controversies. Hundreds of books, theses and articles have been written on the origin and lives of the Indo-Aryans. One group of scholars and historians firmly believe that the Aryans are indigenous to India; they have always been here since the Harappan Civilization. The fact that the worlds most perfect language, Sanskrit was composed in India, which became the mother of all Indo-Aryan and Indo-European languages, goes to show that the Indo-Aryans found in Eurasia had migrated from India and not vice-versa. This theory has been seriously challenged and toppled by the Western scholars citing various new evidences of physical and cultural affinities found in the Caucasians. A consensus opinion is veering round the theory that these people belonging to the Sintashta and Andronovo culture branched out of southern Russia towards India and another to Anatolia and the Mediterranean. According to Friedrich Max Muller, the distinguished German Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford, who compiled the Vedas, it seemed that the Aryans had a mission to link all parts of the world together by chains of civilization, commerce and religion. They were the rulers of history. Another contemporary historian writes: Given the vast spread of the Indo-Aryan languages, an Aryan homeland was soon being sought somewhere in the middle of the Eurasian landmass. Most scholars favoured steppes of southern Russia and Ukraine or the shores of the Caspian. Nomadic pastoralists, the Aryans needed plenty of room. Thence, in a series of sweeping migrations, spread over many centuries, they supposedly took their language, plus their gods, their horses, and their herds, to Iran and Syria, Anatolia and Greece, Eastern Europe and Northern India ( John Keay, India: A History, page 21). While this is generally accepted as the true story, equally puzzling have been certain events and developments ~ the presence of pastoral tribes, tall with sharp features like the Todas in the Nilgiris; tribes with Aryanlike features in the interior of Karnataka, who are still following their original pre-historic culture and religion; certain remote villages in Andhra Pradesh where the villagers converse only in Sanskrit; large concentration of the Indo-Aryan people in the far South ~ Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala and Sri Lanka and widespread study of Sanskrit from Kashmir to the Kerala coast ~ which give credence to the theory that the Aryans had always been there and were indigenous like the Harappans and filled the vacuum created by the decline of the Indus-Valley Civilization. Swami Vivekananda, the greatest exponent of Hinduism in modern times, believed that the IndoAryans were indigenous to India, and had not come from anywhere else. (The writer is a former Dy. Comptroller & Auditor General of India and a former Ombudsman of Reserve Bank of India. He is also a writer of several books and can be reached at brahmas@gmail.com) Trinamul Congress national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjees visit to Thakurnagar was marred after the TMCs second-in-command was prevented from offering puja in the main temple of the Matua community at Thakurnagar in North 24- Parganas today. There is great tension in Thakurnagar due to the closure of the main temple of Harichand Guruchand Thakur. Mr Banerjee could not reach the main temple as he was prevented by a section of the Matua community people who waved black flags at him. Mr Banerjee later offered puja at another temple in Thakurbari. Later, the Trinamul MP said: The Matua temple does not belong to anyone as ancestral property. People will answer this in the coming days. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has done massive development work for the temple, including providing drinking water, constructing pucca roads, and other works. Advertisement Lets leave religion and fight for the peoples interests. He also mentioned that he will visit Matua Thakurbari every three months. I have come today to offer puja. Here, women have been assaulted by Central Force jawans. Four people have already been admitted to the hospital. You cant fight me; you attack women. In the coming days, those who are doing politics with religion upfront, their downfall is certain. I challenge Shantanu Thakur to come here and tell me which road here was not constructed, which call of Matua is unanswered, he said. He stated that all arrangements to develop the Thakurbari were made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as long as Boroma (grandmother of Shantanu) Veenapani Devi was alive, even bearing the treatment cost when she was ill. I had no political agenda here. I have come to worship. You (Shantanu) said that after I leave, you will wash the Thakurbari with cow dung and water. I will come in three months. You clean it up, and I will come again; hold it if you have the breath, he said. On the other hand, Union Minister of State for Shipping and leader of Matua Mahasangha, Shantanu Thakur, raised slogans stating that Mr Banerjee will not be allowed to enter Thakurbari. TMC today deployed thugs and police to torture the Matua disciples, he said. The Thakurbari area hasbeen covered with dhikkar posters addressed to CM Mamata Banerjee before the inauguration meeting The Serampore Walsh hospital has been certified as a top hospital for its infrastructure and medical services rendered to the people. The certificate of quality and appreciation has been issued by the ministry of health and family welfare, New Delhi. The joint secretary of ministry of health and family welfare Mr Vishal Chauhan in writing intimated the good news to Mr Narayan Swaroop Nigam, the secretary of health and family welfare government of West Bengal. In parallel to the Serampore Walsh Hospital, Howrah Udaynarayanpur hospital have been granted quality certification with conditionality. The Urban Primary Health Centre 2, Chandannagar MC, Hooghly. has also been granted 89. 8 per cent quality certificate. A representative team from ministry of health and family welfare, New Delhi, in the month of May this year was on a three-day visit to the different hospitals to take stock of the available infrastructure and the medical services rendered to the public. The team interacted with doctors, medical officers, and health workers to ascertain the working capabilities. The district CMOH Rama Bhunia said, the entire district medical fraternity feels honoured. Advertisement As per the ministry of health and family welfare, New Delhi, Serampore Walsh Hospital have been certified for NQAS and Laqshya with ninty per cent for NQAS, ninty seven per cent for labour room and ninty four percent for maternity OT. The certification of Serampore Walsh hospital by the central government health department will provide extra boost to the medical facilities and treatment rendered by the hospital. For the next three years an amount of rupees ten thousand will be allotted per bed without any conditions. At present there are 600 beds in the hospital. The received grant will help a lot to further upgrade the hospital, said the district CMOH. In a setback to aggregator Rapido and Uber, operating two-wheel bike-taxi services in the national capital without licence, the Supreme Court on Monday restored the Kejriwal Governments February 19, 2023 notification prohibiting their operations and stated that the Delhi High Courts May 26, 2023, order permitting their operation, interfered with prevailing statutory regime, was unwarranted. Putting on hold the May 26 interim order of the Delhi High Court staying February 19, 2023 Delhi government notification prohibiting the operation of two-wheel bike- taxi services by aggregator Uber and Rapido, a vacation bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal said that under the circumstances, in our opinion an interim order staying the operation of a statutory regime is unwarranted. Uber told the vacation bench that there are 35,000 bike-taxi services vehicles operating in the national capital. The bench was told that any prohibition will affect their likelihood. Pointing to discrimination, Uber also told the bench that while bike-taxi services carrying passengers as pillion riders is stopped but bike-taxi service for carrying cargo is continuing. Advertisement The top court order came as it noted that the Delhi governments policy concerning the grant of license to operate two-wheel bike-taxi services will be operational by July 31, 2023. The vacation bench was informed that a draft policy for inviting suggestions/objections was published on May 23 and the exercise involved in it will be over by June 24 and the final policy will be out by July 31, 2023. Disposing of the petitions by Delhi government challenging the High Court order and the one by Uber, the vacation bench said that the High Court will decide the matter pending before it without being influenced by the comments and the opinion expressed by them in the course of the hearing today. At the outset of the hearing, the vacation bench asked the Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain whether aggregators can operate bike-taxi service without licence from the state government. In response, Jain said that though aggregators come under the Centre and the guidelines relating to their operations including non-transport vehicles were framed in 2020, the registration of aggregators and the issuance of the licences came under the domain of the State government and no operations could be carried out without licence. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul representing Uber argued that there were Centres guidelines governing the operations of aggregators and vehicles including non-transport vehicles and the same will prevail in absence of State policy regulating it including licences. However, an unimpressed bench said that the 2020 guidelines could not override the statutory regime in voyage. Can this (centres guidelines) overcome the statute, Justice Bose asked senior advocate Kaul. The vacation bench also brushed aside Ubers reference to the Bombay High Court order and the subsequent order of the top court in relation to the Bombay High Court order. The bench said that the issue before the Bombay High Court was in respect of the aggregators as a whole and not the operation of two-wheel bike-taxi services, which is the issue in Delhi. In the last hearing of the matter on June 9, the Supreme Court had sought the Centres stand on Delhi governments plea challenging the Delhi High Courts order staying February 19 notification prohibiting the bike-taxi aggregator Rapido and Uber from operating bike-taxi services. Following the May 26 High Court order, the two aggregators resumed bike-taxi services. CM Jahanvi Sharma replies menace of drug abuse in districts bordering Punjab, Haryana, as CM Sukhu & Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania become onlookers At the first Baal Satra (mock childrens session) held by the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, the opposition rushed to the well of the House expressing resentment about the government not taking adequate measures against the drug menace in the state. The Baal Satra was organised by the Himachal Vidhan Sabha in association with NGO Future Society and The Statesman as the media partner. During the question hour, Tanvi Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition tore into the government for its disregard towards the increasing menace of drugs and the condition of the de-addiction centres in the state. In response, deputy chief minister Tushar Anand apprised the House about the 91 de-addiction centres. Sahil Kapoor another member of the House wanted to know why some districts had more de-addiction centres and others less. Advertisement Later Chief Minister Jahanvi informed the House that the districts bordering Punjab and Haryana have a higher incidence of drug abuse and that measures are being taken to curb it. However, despite the CMs intervention, the Opposition kept blaming the ruling party for not doing enough and rushed to the well of the House. Another question during the question hour that came up was that Himachal did not have any career counselling centres for the children at the threshold of their youth. Legislator Kamakhya Kaundal told the House that she was in the know of it and every last bit was being done to get the best counsellers for the children of the state. A question was also raised by a member of the Opposition about increased pressure on a few tourist spots in the state and a proposal to explore more such places in the hill state and also the efforts that were being made to upgrade sporting facilities in the state since compared to the neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, Himachal lags behind terribly as far as the infrastructure is concerned. Later, the Chief Minister of the state Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that the children who were part of the Baal Satra are lucky to be sitting in this 98-year-old sadan (building) built by the British. He recalled his own journey to the Vidhan Sabha, saying that I was a government school pass out, became a Class Representative at the age of 18, then the general secretary of the college and finally the President. CM Sukhu also said that Himachal has adopted 6,000 children as children of the state, the ones who have lost their parents. The speaker of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, CM Sukhu and the vice chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narainji were the special guests. Speaker Pathania said that the children are the future of the country and they need to be involved in the day-to-day affairs of the society. More than 25,000 children participated in the initiation towards making Baal Satra in the Vidhan Sabha a reality. Ultimately 68 children (these are the number of seats in Himachal legislative assembly) were chosen from nine states. Strategy to counter Pakistan dropping arms, ammunition and drugs through drones in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed when Air Vice Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra, commanding J&K and Ladakh, called on Director General of Police Dilbag Singh in Srinagar on Monday. The DGP and the Air Vice Marshal discussed various issues relating to the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the attempts from across the border to disturb peace. The officers also discussed counter measures including those for foiling attempts of infiltration, dropping arms ammunition and drugs by Pakistan through drones. The DGP also presented a memento to the Air Vice Marshal. ADGP (Hqrs/Coord) PHQ MK Sinha and IGP ( Hqrs/CIV) BS Tuti were present on the occasion. Extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra on the morning of 14 and 15, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Monday. The cyclone has already moved northwards with a speed of 7 kilometers per hour in the past six hours, claimed IMD. Currently, the cyclone lay centered about 320 kilometers southwest of Porbandar and about 360 kilometers south-southwest of devbhoomi Dwarka. According to IMD, 440 kilometers of Jakhau Port while 440 kilometers of south-Southwest of Naliya, and 620 kilometers south of Karachi the cyclone will lay centered. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated in its most recent bulletin that a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kilometers per hour (kmph) and gusting to 150 kmph was very likely to move north-northeast and cross Saurashtra and Kutch as well as adjacent Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by noon on June 15. Advertisement The conditions of the sea shores of Saurashtra and Kutch are expected to be rough to very rough through Wednesday and very rough to high through Thursday due to cyclonic activity, according to IMD. As Biparjoy became a violent cyclonic storm, Mumbai also experienced high tides and heavy rainfall. IMD recommends a complete halt to fishing operations. The weather service has advised a complete halt to fishing operations in the area till June 15 and asked fishermen to avoid the central Arabian Sea, and the north Arabian Sea from June 12 to June 15, as well as the coastlines of Saurashtra and Kutch, until then. In light of the aforementioned, state governments are recommended to keep a careful eye on things, keep an eye on the situation in their regions regularly, and take the necessary precautions. IMD also advised individuals at sea to return to the coast and regulate offshore and onshore operations wisely. District authorities have been informed accordingly, according to the IMD. The Congress on Monday criticised the government over the alleged data breach of the Covid vaccine beneficiaries, dubbing it as a very grave matter with serious implications for privacy, making everyone vulnerable to financial fraud. The Congress also slammed Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, saying instead of issuing casual WhatsApp forward-style tweets, he should clarify at the very least. In a tweet, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: The personal data breach is a very grave matter with serious implications for privacy, security and makes us all vulnerable to financial frauds. The tech-savvy Minister instead of issuing casual WhatsApp forward-style tweets should hold a Press Conference at the earliest and clarify at the very least. Advertisement Firing questions at the government, the Rajya Sabha MP said: What does he mean by previously stolen data stolen in the past stolen from which database, when, and what action was taken? If the CoWIN database hasnt been directly breached, is the Minister then accepting that it is an indirect breach? What other databases are linked to the CoWIN database that has led to this vulnerability? Ramesh also asked what immediate steps the Narendra Modi government is taking to secure the personal data of crores of Indians who trusted the government to keep their details safe. Even earlier, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on Monday hit back at Chandrasekhar, saying that he was appalled at the ministers casual response regarding the breach of privacy of 1.4 billion Indians. Venugopal engaged with Chandrasekhar after Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale alleged that the data of several citizens, including politicians and journalists, who took Covid vaccine, has been leaked and asked why the Centre was not aware of the incident. In a response to Chandrasekhars tweet, Venugopal, who is a Rajya Sabha MP said, I am appalled at your casual response to the breach of privacy of 1.4 billion Indians. If a Telegram bot can throw up CoWIN details simply by inputting mobile numbers, it will not take too long for an automated software to harvest all COWIN data within a matter of hours. The Congress leader said that this breach clearly shows that CoWIN data was not encrypted. If it were, only those with the necessary authorisation will be able to access such data, and random Telegram bots will not be able to decrypt such personal data, he said, adding that since you mention previously breached/stolen data, youre clearly admitting that CoWIN data has already been breached. It is then baseless for you to say that it does not appear that the CoWIN app has been breached. Until June 2021, nearly 6 months after the vaccination process began, the CoWIN app had no privacy policy and the government even refused to put one in place, he said. He said that in 2017, the Supreme Court declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right. The government also gave an assurance that a data protection law was in the making. From the time of the constitution of the Srikrishna Committee on Data Protection in 2017 until today, we have seen multiple versions of the Data Protection Bill, countless rounds of consultation, and a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Except, in its last move, the government decided to completely start afresh, instead of rectifying the lacunae in the draft legislation, he said. The duty of any entity, especially the government, is to protect individual privacy above everything else. This responsibility also extends to destroying data which is no longer required, so that it is not vulnerable to such breaches. If not, the entity must have watertight mechanisms to protect data in its custody. No step taken by the government, be it in managing health data through CoWIN or Aarogya Setu, or in implementing any data protection framework, inspires confidence. It is clear that no citizen can trust this government with its private information. Only an impartial, high-level judicial probe into the governments entire data management apparatus can identify the extent of danger that is posed to our privacy as a result of this governments carelessness, Venugopal added. His remarks came after Chandrasekhar in a tweet said, With reference to some alleged CoWIN data breaches reported on social media, CERT-In has immediately responded to the threat and reviewed it. A Telegram bot was throwing up CoWIN app details upon entry of phone numbers. The data being accessed by bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from the past, the minister said in a tweet. The minister said that it does not appear that the CoWIN app or database has been directly breached. The National Data Governance policy has been finalised that will create a common framework of data storage, access and security standards across all of the government, Chandrasekhar said. Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday dubbed the alleged data breach of Covid-19 vaccine beneficiaries as mischievous in nature, saying that the CoWIN portal is completely safe with adequate safeguards for data privacy. The Health Ministry said that it has requested the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to look into this issue and submit a report, besides initiating an internal exercise to review the existing security measures of CoWIN. Crime Branch wing of the Kerala Police has named Congress Kerala chief K Sudhakaran as the second accused in the Monson Mavunkal fake antique fraud case. The Crime Branch on Monday submitted its report to the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court (ACJM court) in Kochi accusing Sudhakaran of complicity in the case. It served a notice on Sudhakaran asking him to appear for questioning at its office at Kalamassery in Kochi on Wednesday The alleged connection between the KPCC chief and the fake antique dealer came to light after the pictures of K Sudhakaran posing with Monson Mavunkal had surfaced earlier. Advertisement A group of people, who lodged a complaint against Monson Mavunkal for allegedly swindling Rs 10 crore from them have, in their complaint, said they had handed over Rs 25 lakh to Mavunkal in the presence of Sudhakaran on November 22, 2018. The complainants said Mavunkal had claimed to be a cosmetologist and even treated Sudhakaran Sudhakaran had said he met Mavunkal on five occasions to seek treatment, but discontinued it after that. However, he denied having any financial dealings with Mavunkal. The Crime Branch in September 2021 arrested Monson Mavunkal who had allegedly cheated people by selling fake antiques and claimed his collection has staff of Moses, two out of the 30 silver coins taken by Judas and the throne of Tipu Sultan by knitting a web of lies to woo influential persons including politicians, film stars and top cops. A number of senior officers in the state police, including former police chief Lokanath Behera had been pictured with Mavunkal.ADGP Manoj Abraham and former IG G Lakshman were also found to have visited the conman at his residence in Kochi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that several people from BJP attended the AAPs mega rally against the Centres ordinance at Ramlila Maidan here on June 11. In a tweet in Hindi, Kejriwal, without naming anyone, said, Many BJP people also came in the rally at Ramlila Maidan yesterday against the ordinance. BJP people are also saying Modi ji did not do the right thing by bringing this ordinance. At Sundays mega rally, Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the Centre over its ordinance to have control over administrative services in the National Capital. The Delhi chief minister termed the ordinance dictatorial and claimed that the Union government will bring similar ordinances in other states too which include Punjab and Rajasthan. Advertisement During the rally, he claimed to have the support of all Opposition parties, stating that he would pressure the Central government to withdraw the ordinance. He also accused the entire BJP of hindering the development work in Delhi by introducing the ordinance. The Delhi chief minister accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not letting him work and demolishing Mohalla Clinics, stopping Yoga Classes, and withholding medicines at hospitals. He said he visited many states and met leaders of different political parties who have agreed to oppose the ordinance brought by the central government. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai and party MP Sanjay Singh addressed the rally. Eminent lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal had also addressed the rally and spoke about the legal and constitutional aspects of the ordinance. Sibal attended the rally at the invitation of Kejriwal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made an appeal to the G20 countries to chalk out an action plan to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underlining the need for increased investment in fulfilling the SDGs and finding solutions to address the debt risks faced by many nations. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the SDGs fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this, he said addressing the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in Varanasi via video message. The PM said the global communitys efforts must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair, and sustainable. He was also of the view that multilateral financial institutions should be reformed to expand the eligibility criteria, ensuring that finance was accessible to those in need. Advertisement In India, we have made efforts to improve peoples lives in more than a hundred Aspirational Districts, which were pockets of under-development. Our experience shows that they have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country. I urge the G20 Development Ministers to study this model of development. It may be relevant as you work towards accelerating Agenda 2030, Modi said. Development, the PM said, was a core issue for the Global South. The countries of the Global South were severely impacted by the disruptions created by the global Covid pandemic. And, the food, fuel, and fertilizer crises because of geo-political tensions have delivered another blow. One of the important issues before the Varanasi meet, the PM noted, was the growing data divide. High-quality data was critical for meaningful policy-making, efficient resource allocation, and effective public service delivery. Democratisation of technology was an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change. Technology was being used as a tool to empower people, make data accessible, and ensure inclusivity. India was willing to share its experience with partner countries, he said and hoped the discussions amongst the ministers would result in tangible actions to promote data for discourse, data for development and data for delivery in developing countries. The PM told the gathering that Indians held great respect for rivers, trees, mountains and all elements of nature. Traditional Indian thought promoted a pro-planet lifestyle. Last year, he recalled he along with the UN Secretary General, launched Mission LiFE Lifestyle. He said he was glad that this group was working to develop a set of High-Level Principles on LiFE. This would be a significant contribution to climate action. Gender equality and womens empowerment were crucial to achieve the SDGs, the PM observed, adding that in India women were setting the agenda for development and were also the agents of growth and change. I urge you to adopt a game-changing Action Plan for Women-led Development, he told the G20 ministers. At the outset, the PM welcomed the delegates to one of the oldest living cities of the mother of democracy. It is a fitting location for the G20 Development Ministers Meeting. Kashi has been a centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries. It has the essence of Indias diverse heritage and serves as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country. I am delighted that the G20 Development agenda has reached Kashi as well, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting to review the situation related to Cyclone Biparjoy. According to the sources, PM Modi will hold the review meeting at 1 pm today. Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert on Sunday for cyclones across Saurashtra and Kutch coasts in Gujarat. Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra & Kutch Coast: Orange Message. ESCS BIPARJPY at 0530IST of today over east-central & adjoining NE Arabian Sea near lat 19.2N & long 67.7E, about 380km SSW of Devbhumi Dwarka. To cross near Jakhau Port, Gujarat by noon of 15 June, IMD said in a tweet. Advertisement Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday paid a visit to the State Emergency Operation Center to review the preparedness of coastal districts of the state against possible cyclones. This was in view of the ongoing extremely severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy which is about to make landfall at the Kutchh and Saurashtra coast in Gujarat as well as in Pakistan on Thursday. The Gujarat Chief Minister also held a video conference with all the officials of the potentially affected area. Chief Secretary Rajkumar, DGP Vikas Sahay, Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey, and heads of the Revenue Department, Energy Department and Road Building Department joined the meeting. After a preliminary discussion with all heads of department, the Collectors and concerned officials of the potentially affected districts also joined through video conference. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched Congress campaign in Madhya Pradesh for the upcoming assembly elections with a promise of Rs 1,500 per month, domestic gas cylinder at Rs 500 to women, loan waiver for farmers, free electricity to the poor and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. Calling upon the people of Madhya Pradesh to vote the Congress to power in the year-end assembly polls, Ms Gandhi officially sounded the poll bugle on Monday for the grand old party while addressing a huge rally at the Shaheed Smaarak ground at Jabalpur in MP. Earlier, she paid obeisance to Maa Narmada at the Narmada riverside at Gwaari Ghat in the city. Advertisement The Congress leader launched her partys Naari Samman Yojana that promises Rs 1,500 per month to unmarried and married women in the age group of 18 to 63. The scheme was launched by the Congress in Himachal Pradesh after coming to power. The party has been claiming that the Laadli Behna Yojana of MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched on 10 June, in which women are getting Rs 1000 per month, is a replication of Priyanka Gandhis idea. At todays rally, Priyanka Gandhi also guaranteed that the Congress would provide domestic LPG cylinder at the rate of Rs 500. She said electricity up to 100 units would be free and up to 200 units would be charged at half the rate. Ms Gandhi also promised that the Congress would reinitiate the farm loan waiver scheme for the farmers of MP, as it had done after coming to power in 2018. The Congress leader assured restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for the government employees of MP. Attacking the ruling BJP on several fronts, Gandhi alleged that the list of scams under the BJP dispensation in the state was much longer than the number of insults uttered by PM Narendra Modi for the Congress. She said the BJP in MP is involved in as many as 225 scams in 220 months of its rule. The BJP has not even spared gods, she alleged, referring to the recent episode of six Saptarishi statues tumbling on the ground at the Mahakal Lok in the Mahakal Temple of Ujjain. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has made 22,000 announcements but nothing has been done in reality, Ms Gandhi said. She claimed that the state BJP government had given only 21 government jobs in the past three years. Alleging that the BJP has exploited and used the people of the state, Priyanka urged the people to see the truth and cast their votes for their and the states future. We are here for the country and for you and we will work for you with full devotion and love, Priyanka Gandhi asserted. The Mahakaushal region of MP that comprises the districts of Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Katni, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Mandla, Dindori and Balaghat is considered crucial politically with 38 assembly seats of the total 230 seats of the state. In the 2018 polls, the Congress succeeded in bagging 24 seats in the region and went on to form the government. The BJP managed to win only 13 seats while one went to an independent candidate, supporting the Congress. In the 2013 assembly, though the BJP formed the state government, the equation between the two parties was just reverse. The saffron party had won 24 seats while the Congress managed only 13 with one again going to an independent. Both the parties are again focusing on this region in a major way. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan initiated the transfer of Rs 1000 each per month to women under his ambitious Laadli Behna Yojana from Jabalpur on 10 June. Today, Priyanka Gandhi too launched the Congress partys campaign from Jabalpur and launched the partys Naari Samman Yojana, guaranteeing Rs 1500 each per month to women, along with other promises. The State Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh would be held most likely in November this year. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that expressways, highways and waterways built in the country over the past nine years are the face of New India. During the foundation stone laying ceremony of 5 NH projects worth Rs 2,200 crore in Pratapgarh, he said: The work done in the area of infrastructure by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could not be accomplished in the past 70 years of independence. The CM described the 4-lane highway connecting Pratapgarh to Ayodhya, Sultanpur, whose foundation stone was laid at the event, as an extremely important National Highway Project in view of the fact that the grand Ram Temple will be inaugurated in Ayodhya early next year. Advertisement Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that Uttar Pradesh will become the number one state in the country in the coming times under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Farmers will advance, they will find work, and Uttar Pradeshs road infrastructure will match that of the United States, he said. He said that today the law and order situation of Uttar Pradesh is being discussed across the country. The development of any state depends on its industries. Without industry, there will not be any jobs, and without jobs, poverty will not be eradicated. Gadkari further stated that Uttar Pradesh is making rapid strides in terms of agricultural development, infrastructure improvement, and industrial growth. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and CM Yogi, we are making eight green field corridors in Uttar Pradesh, which will be very helpful in the development of Uttar Pradesh. The Union Minister said that 40 bypasses are going to be built in Uttar Pradesh at a cost of Rs 41,000 crore. The five NH projects are the construction of 43-km long Pratapgarh-Sultanpur four-lane road at a cost of Rs 1290 crore, 21-km long Chilbila-Lohia Nagar two-lane paved shoulder road at a cost of Rs 333 crore, 11-km long four-lane CC road on Bhupiyamau-Gode section in Pratapgarh town at a cost of Rs 325 crore, two-lane paved shoulder bypass from NH-31 to NH-330 of Pratapgarh at a cost of Rs.225 crore, and street light, high mast light and development of shelters in Pratapgarh district at a cost of Rs 27 crore. Imagine going to a restaurant and ordering a thali, only to discover that it is dedicated to none other than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Well, this unique experience has become a reality at a New Jersey-based restaurant, where owner Shripad Kulkarni has introduced a special thali in honor of the PM, just ahead of his upcoming visit to the United States. Dubbed the Modi ji thali, this culinary tribute features a delectable array of dishes that reflect the diverse flavors of India. From comforting khichdi and indulgent rasgulla to the aromatic sarson ka saag and flavorful Kashmiri dum aloo, the thali promises to take diners on a gastronomic journey. Alongside these traditional favorites, idli, dhokla, chhanch, and paapad complete the ensemble, creating a feast fit for a Prime Minister. The inspiration behind this special thali came from the demands of the Indian diaspora residing in New Jersey. Shripad Kulkarni, the owner of the restaurant, wanted to create a culinary experience that not only pays tribute to Prime Minister Modi but also resonates with the local Indian community. The Modi ji thali has already gained immense popularity among patrons, who have been flocking to the restaurant to savor its delightful flavors. Advertisement This is not the first time that a thali has been launched in honor of PM Modi. On his birthday in 2022, a restaurant in Delhi introduced a unique thali consisting of a staggering 56 items, giving customers the choice between vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. As anticipation builds for Prime Minister Modis visit to the United States from June 21-24, this culinary tribute comes as a surprise to many Twitter users. The visit itself holds great significance, as PM Modi has been invited by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. During his trip, he will be honored with a state dinner at the White House, marking a momentous occasion for both nations. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Mainly sunny. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High around 80F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Bill Gouveia is a Sun Chronicle columnist and longtime local official. Reach him at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @Billinsidelook . Larry Kessler, a retired Sun Chronicle local news editor, can be reached at larrythek65@gmail.com . He blogs at larrytheklineup.blogspot.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. At this stage, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is required to install one additional compressor unit to the existing compressor station at Kipoi and to upgrade the facilities there and Early construction works at Kipoi will start in the second half of 2023, Luca Schieppati, TAP managing director, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. He pointed out that no additional pipes will need to be added for any of the expansion scenarios. "TAP and the Southern Gas Corridor development has been designed with flexibility to double its capacity to 20bcm/year by installing additional compressor units and stations. For the first level of expansion (1.2 bcm/a additional capacity), no additional compressor stations will be built," said TAPs managing director. Luca Schieppati went on to add that for the full expansion and the possible doubling of TAPs initial capacity, two additional compressor stations will have to be built to handle the additional volume of gas to be transported via the pipeline: one in Greece, and one in Albania, provided that there is interest from the market. TAPs current long-term capacity (approximately 10bcm/a) has already been allocated to the Shah Deniz shippers, in line with the exemption decision and the gas transportation agreements signed in 2013. On top of this, TAP has set aside approximately 5 percent of the initial capacity for short-term booking. This is in addition to the already booked capacity, Luca Schieppati added. The managing director noted that TAP offers available short-term capacity to the market, according to the ENTSOG Auction Calendar and the TAP Network Code. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline serves as a conduit for transporting natural gas from the vast Shah Deniz field located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. Stretching across a distance of 878 kilometers, the pipeline links up with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi. From there, it traverses through Greece and Albania, crosses the Adriatic Sea, and eventually reaches the shores of Southern Italy. By establishing interconnections with other pipelines, TAP will enable the provision of gas supplies to countries in Southeastern Europe. Notably, once the Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB) project is completed, Bulgaria will be able to meet up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP. With exit points in Greece and Albania, as well as its arrival in Italy, TAP offers numerous opportunities for the further transportation of Azerbaijani gas to broader European markets. Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, On behalf of myself and people of Azerbaijan, I wholeheartedly congratulate You and through You, all people of Russia on the national holiday Russia Day. Azerbaijan and Russia are bound by centuries-long traditions of friendship, good-neighborly relations and mutual support between our peoples. Our interstate ties, close and reliable partnership relations spanning new spheres day by day are successfully developing today on this solid foundation. I would like to note with great pleasure the Declaration on Allied Interaction, which reflects the spirit and character of Azerbaijan-Russia relations and defines the ways of multifaceted allied interaction for the coming years. I am sure that thanks to our joint efforts, we will actively contribute to the further strengthening of our ties, the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas for the sake of the prosperity of our peoples and countries. Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, on this remarkable day, I wish you good health and success, and the friendly people of Russia happiness and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Daily oil production (including condensate) in Azerbaijan amounted to 612,000 barrels in May 2023, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan told Trend. According to the press service, 500,000 barrels accounted for crude oil and 112,000 barrels - of condensate. The quota of daily crude oil production in Azerbaijan under OPEC+ in May 2023 was 684,000 barrels per day. Thus, Azerbaijan lagged behind the quota by 10.5 percent. Daily crude oil production in the country in April this year amounted to 512,000 barrels per day (b/d). The countrys daily oil production, including condensate, reached 626,000 b/d. Job Title: Project Officer AEGIS (2 Fresher Jobs) Organisation: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Duty Station: Yumbe, Uganda Reports to: Program Manager II- AEGIS About US: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-profit organization whose commitment is to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas set out by the Bishops of the United States. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. About AEGIS Project: CRS is a sub-recipient on the Advancing Evidence for the Global Implementation of Spatial Repellents (AEGIS) project, led by the University of Notre Dame (UND) in the United States. In Uganda, CRS is responsible for leading an Operations Research aimed at comparing the effectiveness of a novel vector control, known as a passive emanating spatial repellent, between two operational program delivery channels. The study will be conducted in Northern Ugandas Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. Job Summary: As a member of the Advancing Evidence for the Global Implementation of Spatial Repellents (AEGIS) project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Supervise the enrollment of the study participants and ensure that all the enrollment SOPs and tools are followed. Estimate needs and distribute monthly SR products to VHT and Voucher Distributors (including labelled vouchers). Supervise products secondary storage, installation in households and replacement by VHTs. Monthly monitor and report the quantity of products installed, replaced, and incinerated, document any challenges and / or gaps identified. Coordinate running operations activities of VHT and Voucher Distributors (salary / stipend, transportation, storage boxes, smartphones, E- vouchers and mobile app). Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to distribution plans and implementation schedules. led the monthly distribution and monitoring of the SRs in the study reference arm. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule. Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices. Coordinate the disposal of used products in health centers incinerators Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the protocol and SOPs in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Lead follow up of the enrolled subjects; monitored twice a month for malaria infection during the 12-month study period and Household visit-every four weeks. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold a Bachelors degree in social sciences, public health, social work or community health and development is required. Two years of work experience in project planning and implementation. Experience in health project management, research, preferably malaria research and for an NGO would be a plus. Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment. Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members. Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities. Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented Required Languages: English and local languages used in Bidibidi refugee settlement (Juba Arabic and Lugbara-Ti) and host communities (Kakwa). English and local languages used in Bidibidi refugee settlement (Juba Arabic and Lugbara-Ti) and host communities (Kakwa). Travel Required: Must be willing and able to travel up to 60% to field sites in Bidibidi settlement. Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff): Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. Personal Accountability Consistently takes responsibility for ones own actions. Acts with Integrity Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust Shows consistency between words and actions. Collaborates with Others Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams. Open to Learn Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things. Agency Leadership Competencies: Lead Change Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation. Develops and Recognizes Others Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance. Strategic Mindset Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities. How to Apply: All candidates should apply online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 19th June 2023 by 5:00pm For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline FARIDABAD / 12th June, 2023: Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector-8, Faridabad, has launched an advanced imaging centre at Northern Railway Central Hospital (NRCH) in Delhi on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Located at Basant Lane, Connaught Place, it brings advanced diagnostic services to patients at affordable prices, including cardiac MRI, advanced neuroimaging and cancer screening. The 3,000 sq. ft. facility is equipped with the latest imaging technologies like MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, mammography, and DEXA Scan that provide highly precise and in-depth diagnosis reports. It is operational round the clock, delivers same-day reporting and has a full-time radiologist for consultation. The state-of-the-art unit is all set to cater to 4,000-5,000 patients every month. The high-end diagnostic machines available at SNIC include Revolution EVO 128 Slice CT Scanner, Signa Architech 3 Tesla MRI, Senographe Pristina Mammography System, Lunar DPX NT Bone Densitometer, CT Scan 128 Slice, and Logiq P9 Ultrasound Machine, along with an attached CT and MRI console room. Said a spokesperson of Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad: It is a great honour for us to enter into a first-of-its-kind PPP with a national institution like the Indian Railways and get an opportunity to build a brand-new imaging centre at Northern Railway Central Hospital. Our objective is to deliver high-end healthcare services at affordable prices to all patients, including railway beneficiaries, both retired and working and any other person seeking high-quality imaging services. Sarvodaya Healthcare, with its mission of Sarve Santu Niramaya i.e. Good Health for All has been serving the community for the last 31 years with quality care and affordable medical facilities. The pioneering group has established its legacy of clinical excellence by setting up tertiary & secondary care hospitals, health clinics, diagnostic & imaging centres and dialysis centres across Faridabad, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR and Mathura. The flagship unit of the group, Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad is a 450-bedded super speciality hospital that serves people across Faridabad & Delhi-NCR with preventive and curative services under several super specialities like Comprehensive Cancer Care & Bone Marrow transplants, Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics, Orthopaedics & Robotic Joint Replacement, Neurosciences, Paediatric to Adult Cardiology & Cardiac Surgeries, Dialysis & Kidney Transplant, Minimal Access Surgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgeries, Urology & LASER Urological Surgeries, etc. The hospital has persistently upgraded its medical facilities by bringing home advanced technologies like North Indias First Fully Active Robot for total and partial knee replacement; Versa HD 6D Couch LINAC Radiotherapy machine for advanced radiotherapies in cancer treatment; Neurosurgical Microscope along with CUSA Excel for complex brain surgeries, SpyGlass DS II Direct Visualization System for biliary or pancreatic duct related ailments , Haemodiafiltration for dialysis and more. The latest addition to the group, Sarvodaya Hospital, Gaur City 2, Greater Noida West is a 220-bedded tertiary care hospital comprising a multidisciplinary team of experts, dedicated to tending to people with quality medical services, a transparent treatment system, empathetic care, and a warm home-like atmosphere, meeting all safety standards. The hospital is equipped with the latest technology and frontier infrastructure with 25+ specialities, dedicated patient wards, modern operation theatres, a dedicated mother & child care unit and everything else required to keep people hale and hearty. The teaser of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues, a sequel to the 2001 Bollywood film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha dropped on Monday. Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel reprise their roles as Tara Singh and Sakeena in the Anil Sharma directorial which will take the audience to 1971, to the days of war between India and Pakistan, that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. The one-minute trailer shows Sunny's Tara Singh ready for action. The teaser begins with a voice-over, reminding the audience of Tara's connection with Pakistan through his marriage to Sakeena. We catch a glimpse of Tara Singh in Lahore at a time when posters that read 'Crush India' are seen everywhere. We also witness his emotional side as he sits with tears in his eyes at a burial ground. Tara Singh looks as fierce as he was in the first film 22 years ago, with a full beard, kurta pyjama, and a turban around his neck, ready for battle. Although the teaser did not feature Sakeena (Ameesha Patel), a snippet of the popular song 'Udd ja kale kawa' can be heard at the end. The makers have retained the iconic song 'Ghar aa ja pardesi' from the original Gadar soundtrack. Gadar 2 has already generated immense excitement among fans, as they are eager to see how the story progresses after the events in the first film. Produced by Zee Cinemas, Gadar 2 also stars Utkarsh Sharma in a lead role. The film is scheduled to release on August 11. Recently, Gadar 2 sparked controversy when a leaked video showed Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel walking hand-in-hand in a gurudwara. The Gujarat unit of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has written to Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud asking him to take cognizance of the trend of constitutional courts making references to religious scriptures and texts. The appeal comes close on the heels of a Gujarat High Court judge making references to Manusmriti while hearing the case of a 17-year-old rape victim seeking termination of the foetus. Media reports had quoted judge Sameer Dave as saying, Because we are living in the 21st century; ask your mother or great-grandmother, 14-15 was the maximum age (for getting married). The child used to take birth before the age of 17. Girls get mature before boys. Four-five months here and there don't make a difference. You will not read it, but do read Manusmriti once for this. The letter signed by Gujarat unit president of PUCL Govind Parmar and general secretary Pankti Jog stated that the practice of making references to scriptures and religious texts would negate the very basis of constitutional jurisprudence. They observed that as per media reports, between 1950 and 2019, there have been 38 such references to Manusmriti by the high courts and the apex court. References have also been made to the Bible and the Koran. The letter, a copy of which has been sent to President Droupadi Murmu as well, further stated that while the order passed by the judge for a panel of doctors to ascertain the medical and psychological condition of the child and the foetus is beyond reproach, the manner in which certain observations were made do not appear to be consistent with India's constitutional jurisprudence. The next hearing in the case will take place after examination by the doctors. The rape survivor is expected to give birth around August 16. The judge is also reported to have said that if the child and the foetus are healthy, then he would not allow abortion. It has been said that the weight of the foetus is 1.27 kg. As Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross the Gujarat coast on June 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated. Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the the preparedness of the ministries, central agencies and the Gujarat government to deal with the situation. The officials have been instructed to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking water, and that they are restored immediately in the event of damage. Modi also directed to ensure safety of animals and 24x7 functioning of control rooms, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau Port by June 15 noon as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rain falls in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts and very heavy rainfall in Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts on June 14-15. The IMD has been issuing regular bulletins since the onset of the cyclonic system on June 6. During the meeting, it was informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reviewing the situation 24x7 and is in touch with the Gujarat government and the central agencies concerned. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 12 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters and telecom equipment and has kept 15 other teams on standby. Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officers were present at the meeting. The prime minister was briefed about measures taken by the Gujarat government to deal with the cyclone. He was informed that review meetings with the district administration have been held at the level of chief minister and the entire state administration machinery is geared up to meet any exigency situation. The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and engineer task force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the coast. Disaster Relief teams (DRTs) and Medical Teams (MTs) of Army, Navy and Coast Guard are also on standby, said an official release. While addressing the G20 development ministers' meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that digitalisation has brought revolutionary changes in India. In order to bridge digital divide, democratisation of technology is an important tool, he added. Democratization of technology is an important tool to help bridge the data divide. In India, digitalisation has brought revolutionary change. India is willing to share its experience with partner countries, said Modi. Modi also stressed on ensuring that finance is accessible to those in need by expanding the eligibility criteria. With a reference to underdeveloped areas, Modi said that the government's work should boost development in the districts. "Our efforts must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair and sustainable. In India, we have made efforts to improve people's lives in more than 100 aspirational districts which were pockets of underdevelopment," he said. There is a huge potential for these districts to contribute to the country's growth and these models must be studied, Modi added. Covid pandemic had impacted the development for the Global South. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the sustainable development goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind, said Modi. "In such circumstances, the decisions you make carry great significance for humanity as a whole. I strongly believe that it is our collective responsibility not to let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. We must ensure that no one is left behind. It is imperative for this group to send a strong message to the world that we have an action plan to achieve this," he said. "Technology is being used as a tool to empower people. I am delighted that the G20 development agenda has reached Kashi as well. It has the essence of India's diverse heritage and serves as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country" he said. (With PTI inputs) A Dutch YouTuber was allegedly harassed near the Chickpet market area in Chor Bazar, Bengaluru by a local street vendor while he was recording a vlog with his audience. The video of the incident had gone viral on social media platforms. In the video, Dutch citizen named Pedro Mota was recording video while he was walking through the chor bazar and a local vendor grabbed his hand and started shouting Ye kya hain...(What is this). Though the incident happened few weeks ago, it came to light when the vlogger uploaded the video in YouTube on Sunday. Reportedly, Bengaluru Police identified the accused as one Navab Hayath Sharif and he has been arrested. Pertaining to this, action has been taken and the concerned person rounded up. Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated. https://t.co/EsrOvP4gZ7 BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) June 12, 2023 Pertaining to this, action has been taken and the concerned person rounded up. Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated, tweeted Bengaluru Police. Meanwhile, the vlogger, who had left the country, wrote that "Foreigner traveling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the Sunday market or chor bazaar. But exploring the area started out on the wrong foot as an angry man attacked me by grabbing and twisting my hand and arm, lunging after me as I tried to escape." The video is captioned Attacked At The Thieves Market in India. Laxman B. Nimbargi, DCP, West Division, Bengaluru said that a case has been registered under Karnataka Police Act Section 92 against the accused person. Opposition parties in Maharashtra are demanding the resignation of state home minister Devendra Fadnavis after an argument broke out between the police and 'warkaris' (devotees of Lord Vitthal) in Pune on Sunday, leading to a lathicharge on pilgrims. The scuffle happened on Sunday evening during a procession at Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Mandir in Alandi town, 22 km from Pune city. Devotees were reportedly scrambling to enter the temple during the annual procession when the police intervened. According to the police, elaborate arrangements were made and meetings were held with temple trustees to prevent any untoward incident. The police were sending batches of 75 devotees at a time when a few people breached the barricades and tried to enter the temple, said Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, Vinay Kumar Choubey. "There was an altercation when police tried to stop them," Choubey added. He added that however, some local youngsters attempted to forcibly enter the Palkhi, leading to an altercation with the police. "No lathi charge or force was used by the police against them. I appeal to everyone to cooperate and maintain Maharashtra's rich tradition of peaceful Palkhis," he added. #WATCH | Maharashtra: A scuffle broke out between warkaris (Lord Vitthal followers) and police during a procession in the Pune district yesterday Some local youths tried to forcibly enter the Palkhi procession, leading to an altercation with the police. No lathi charge or force pic.twitter.com/0GNkpGTzSs ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023 However, the opposition NCP and Congress claimed that police lathi-charged warkaris. "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," NCP working president and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule said, adding that it was "anguishing to see the lathi-charge on the warkari community." 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 lathi-charged. This is shameful. If Devendra Fadnavis (home minister) cannot run the state, he should resign,' he said. Senior Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut too lashed out at the government stating that the "pretensions of the Hindutva government were exposed." "The mask fell off. How was Aurangzeb behaving differently? Mughals have reincarnated in Maharashtra," read his tweet. Meanwhile, Fadnavis denied there was lathicharge on the warkari pilgrims. "We learned from last year's stampede-like situation at the same place (Alandi) and tried giving a few number of entry pass to various groups. It was decided to issue 75 passes to each group that participates in the pilgrimage," Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur. However, some 400-500 youths insisted that they would participate in the pilgrimage and won't follow the decision on the restricted allotment of entry passes. "They broke the barricades and the police tried to stop them, during which some police personnel were injured," Fadnavis said. He added that the situation has come under control and discussions are going on. "I have taken serious cognisance of the incident, but I appeal to the media houses not to blow up the situation through wrong reporting. There is no need to play with the emotions of the people," he said. "I also appeal to some political parties not to indulge in politics. The safety and security of the warkari community and of the people are important. Police have been instructed to find some solution," he said. The home minister also lashed out against the opposition. "We were not in the government last year when a stampede had taken place. We did not indulge in politics, but learned from that incident and tried to make things better. I pity the politicians who try to politicise the issue." A massive fire has engulfed Satpura Bhawan the Bhopal-based building complex, housing directorate level offices of various departments of Madhya Pradeshand there is apprehension that many crucial records have been destroyed. The fire has likely destroyed important documents and infrastructure worth crores of rupees in key departments like chief ministers coordination, health department, tribal welfare department, transport department and others, mainly housed in the third, fourth fifth and sixth floors of the building, sources said. The documents include those in the complaints section of health department related to complaints of employees/officials to agencies like economic offences wing (EOW) and Lokayukta. The old furniture stored in health department offices following renovation further stoked the fire, apart from the gusty winds. Fortunately, the building was evacuated in time right after fire erupted around 4.00 pm thereby preventing any loss of life and limb. The offices were full of employees and visitors when the fire erupted, but they were brought out soon. However, the fire is so massive that about two dozen fire tenders failed to control it in over five hours and it continues to engulf more portions of the six-storey building complex. Finally, teams of the Army and Airport Authority had to take charge of the situation at around 8.30 pm with sophisticated fire tenders and other equipment and authorities said that fire might be controlled soon. Earlier, the attempts of the fire tenders of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, Bhopal Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and other municipal authorities around Bhopal like Mandideep were in vain as the fire could not be controlled. Bhopal district collector Ashish Singh, who was on the spot, said that 22 fire tenders and 30-40 water tankers had been called earlier, but since there were a lot of files and wooden furniture in the offices, the fire could not be brought under control. He confirmed that Army and Airport Authority teams had arrived and operation was continuing to control the fire and soon it would be controlled. While it is known that the fire started from the office of regional tribal sub-area planning project on the third floor, the exact cause is yet to be ascertained. Commissioner of Police, Bhopal, Harinarayanchari Mishra said according to preliminary information, the fire started due to a short circuit in an Air-Condition unit on the third floor. He said the priority was to control the fire and other investigations will be done in due time. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was monitoring the situation. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouan is continuously monitoring the operations to extinguish the fire in Satpura Bhawan located in Bhopal. On the instructions of the chief minister, the administration along with the Municipal Corporation has immediately called the fire brigades from Army, IOCL, BPCL, Airport, CISF, BHEL, Mandideep and Raisen. CMO (chief minister office) officials are also continuously monitoring the entire operation along with the district administration, the Twitter account managed by the chief ministers team said. Chouhan discussed the situation with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and sought the help of Air Force to douse the fire. On instruction of the Union minister, an AN32 Aircraft and a MI 15 helicopter will arrive in Bhopal later in the night to join the operations, CM's Twitter handle managed by his team said. The CM also briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the incident and sought assistance. Chouhan has also formed a high-level committee headed by additional chief secretary (home) Rajesh Rajora to probe the incident. Likely conspiracy to destroy evidence of corruption: Congress Meanwhile, a host of leaders and spokespersons of the opposition Congress raised questions about the massive fire in the key government office complex and alleged that the fire might be a conspiracy to destroy the evidence of corruption by the BJP government out of apprehensions of losing power. Former president of MP Congress Arun Yadav, former ministers P.C. Sharma and Jitu Patwari and spokespersons like K.K. Mishra and Sangeeta Sharma tweeted to say the fire incident had occurred on the day Priyanka Gandhi launched the poll campaign of the Congress and it might be a way to destroy evidence of corruption. They called it a sign of political change in the state. Spokesman Bhupendra Gupta, while dubbing the incident unfortunate, called for a probe into the exact cause of the fire. Jitu Patwari also mentioned that the government failed to take action and fix accountability of a similar fire incident that occurred in September 2018, ahead of the Assembly polls that year. The fire was so massive that more than 30 AC units and other equipment and accessories got blasted. The sound of the blast and the flames and smoke from the fire were visible from a long distance. Fire was still raging at the time of filing of this report at around 9.00 pm. The National Investigation Agency on Monday attached 17 properties of businessman Zahoor Watali who is currently in jail on charges of terror funding. Watali is facing trial before the Special NIA Court in Delhi. Last year in May, senior separatist and leader of JKLF Yasin Malik was given a life sentence by an NIA court in a similar case. The NIA in a statement said, Besides Yasin Malik, 17 others including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and top Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) and Mohd Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, top Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, was charge-sheeted in the case, which had been registered suo moto by the NIA on May 30, 2017. The statement said Malik was convicted of various charges against him, and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine in May 2022. "The case relates to terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out by proscribed ISI-backed organisations, such as LeT, JKLF, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) etc, the statement said. These outfits were spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the valley by promoting and conducting attacks on civilians and security forces. It said 17 properties belonging to Watali in the Handwara area of Kupwara have been attached by the NIA on orders by the Special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act on Monday. "These banned terrorist groups were using the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which was formed in 1993, as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities in Kashmir, it said. The NIA said the investigations in the case have revealed that the accused, including the APHC, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of instigating the general public to create a charged atmosphere in the Kashmir Valley and to resort to violence also. It said Watali had been funding to the APHC after raising it from various sources to promote secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. It said the NIA investigations have revealed that Watali was a hawala conduit, who was receiving money from Saeed, a 'Specially Designated Global terrorist' of the United States and a 'listed global terrorist' of the UN. Watali had received foreign remittances into bank accounts running into crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources, it said. It said Watali had received foreign remittances in his proprietorship firm named M/s 'Trisson International', Srinagar and unexplained remittances were also found in his NRE Bank accounts." It said Watali had shown the sale of a plot measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by Watali's company, M/s 'Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt. Ltd.' to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case. "However, the investigations found that neither Watali nor his company was the owner of this plot of land in the revenue records, the statement said. Keeping in line with the winning formula of Karnataka, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced five guarantees as she formally launched the Congress poll campaign in Madhya Pradesh at an event in Jabalpur on Monday. The guarantees include Rs 1,500 cash assistance to women per month, domestic gas cylinder for Rs 500, 100 units free electricity and 200 units at half rate, revival of the old pension scheme and completion of loan waiver to farmers. Gandhi said that the guarantees will be fulfilled 100 per cent. This is my promise. We made a promise in Karnataka and the five guarantees were approved during the first cabinet meeting, she said. The Congress leader attacked the BJP government without naming it for making false promises; advertising a golden picture of the state and country when people were suffering due to price rise, unemployment and harassment; and stoking emotions of people on divisive lines to gain votes and power. She called upon people to be alert and understand what such political parties were doing and then use their voting power to seek a government that had accountability and truly worked for their welfare. She said that from the past 18 years (of BJP rule), the people of Madhya Pradesh were being wronged and used. You are being exploited. The announcements, the promises made to you are not fulfilled. Peoples mandate is crushed by the use of money and power. Last time you made our government. But the BJP used manipulation and money to fell the government and make its own. Now, if this (BJP) government had done something good for you, it would have been fine, but they did not do anything. She mentioned that during the past three years, only 21 government jobs were given. I got the figures checked thrice by my office. But it is true, only 21 jobs, she said. Gandhi listed out scams of the past 18 years like ration scam, scholarship scam, teachers recruitment scam, Vyapam scam, e-tendering scam and others. She said that the government did not even spare the God and mentioned how a priest had sent her a video from Mahakal Lok showing idols flying away in winds. She said that during past 220 months, the government was involved in 225 scams, which meant a scam per month. Gandhi said that the list of scams was longer than the list of abuses spoken about by (prime minister Narendra) Modi ji. Saying that the state has a ghoshanavir (one who makes lots of announcements) chief minister, Gandhi said 22,000 announcements were made but only about one per cent fulfilled. She added that a vision was necessary to run a state and country and the earlier political leaders had that vision. There are two types of politicians and parties one that had conviction in the people and other that had conviction just in power, she said, adding that the people should become alert and keep a watch for next few months as to how the Congress governments fulfilled their promises. I am not here to seek votes from you; I am seeking your awareness of the situation around you. My family sacrificed its blood to build this nation and I know how difficult it is to build a family and a country. I know what the struggle of building is and how easy it is to enjoy power. I want you to see what I see. I want you to see the truth and then cast your vote on the basis of that truth and on the basis of your conviction and faith in the nation. This is the commencement of the poll campaign. I am very happy that it is coming from the banks of Holy mother Narmada (river). I must tell you that we are committed to you, the people, and the country and we will work for you with all our heart and sincerity, Gandhi said. Speaking on the occasion MP Congress chief Kamal Nath said that Jabalpur made him remember his days of youth but immediately added that people should not think he has become old. Saying that the culture of Jabalpur and India was that of uniting, he said that no other country has so many religious, castes, Gods and Goddesses and festivals. For us, religion is the matter of aachar and vichaar (aesthetic and ethical values), not that of prachar (political publicity), something that BJP is turning it into. I proudly say that I am Hindu but I am not stupid. He also said that Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has given only unemployment, price rise, Covid19 deaths, mafia raj, rapes and home supply of alcohol. This is their achievement and I cant compete with that. I cant compete with Chouhan in dance and songs, but I can compete with him in truth. I challenge Chouhan on this aspect. I also urge you (people) to stand with truth, not keep the parties or candidates in view, but the future of Madhya Pradesh while voting. Narmada Aarti and Bajrangbali Gandhi performed Ma Narmada Aarti (prayers to river Narmada) along with senior Congress leaders including Kamal Nath before addressing the public gathering. Rajya Sabha members Digvijaya Singh, Vivek Tankha, Rajmani Patel, leader of opposition Govind Singh, former state party chiefs Kantilal Bhuria, Arun Yadav and former leader of opposition Ajay Singh were prominent among those present. Bajrangbali (Lord Hanuman) turned into icon of victory by Congress after Karnataka win also featured in the event as a party worker dressed as Lord Hanuman joined Gandhi, Nath and others during Narmada Aarti and the party workers presented a gada (mace the weapon of Lord Hanuman) to Kamal Nath. The campaign launch was marked by blowing of conches by a group of religious elders. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will kick-start the Congress's campaign for the year-end Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls from Jabalpur on Monday. With a sizable number of tribal voters, Congress looks ahead to woo the tribal communities. After arriving in Jabalpur, Priyanka offered prayers to Narmada river. Jabalpur, also known as Sanskardhrani, is the cultural capital of the state and has been adorned with cut outs of mace-carrying Hanuman ahead of the visit, reported PTI. Gandhi performed puja along the banks of the Narmada at Gwarighat accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath, party general secretary in-charge of the state JP Agrawal and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha. En route to the rally venue eight kilometres away, she will garland a statue of Rani Durgavati, who attained martyrdom fighting the Mughals. The rally will be attended by at least two lakh persons, said Jabalpur mayor and Congress' city chief Jagat Bahadur Singh. "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 said. With Kamal Nath by the side, Congress is looking confident to win the polls, said sources. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said that the party would win 150 seats out of the total 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, just like it did in Karnataka. 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. (With PTI inputs) A bus carrying wedding guests rolled over on a foggy night in Australia's wine country, killing 10 people and injuring 25, police said Monday. The 58-year-old driver was arrested and being held at a Cessnock police station and will be charged, Police Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said. She would not detail the allegations, including whether speed was a factor, but told reporters there is sufficient information ... for us to establish that there will be charges. The crash happened just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday in foggy conditions at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive in the town of Greta in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales state north of Sydney. The guests had earlier attended a wedding at the Wandin Estate Winery and were heading for their accommodation in the town of Singleton, Chapman said. One guest told Seven News it had been a nice day and a fairytale wedding. A motorist who drove past the crash scene, identified by Australian Broadcasting Corp. only as Alison, said the fog was so heavy she could not make out the colors of the flashing lights of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. The fog was terrible, she told the ABC. It was super foggy. You could barely see in front of you. Of the 25 people injured, 21 remained in hospitals late Monday morning and one was in critical condition, the state government said. The conditions of the others were described as stable. Another 18 passengers were uninjured. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked first responders and offered government support to victims and their families, saying the mental scars of this will not go away. For a joyous day like that, in a beautiful place, to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel and so sad and so unfair, Albanese told reporters. People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep their guests safe. And that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy, Albanese added. Jay Suvaal, the mayor of Cessnock, said the crash was truly horrific. We are a major wedding and tourist destination in the Hunter Valley, and so there will be people from all over the state and the country that have been to these areas and have probably done similar things," he said. I think it will send shock waves right through the broader community. Greta is in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine region, a picturesque area dotted with vineyards and restaurants. It was the first wine region established in Australia. The wedding was in the middle of a long weekend, with Monday a public holiday across most Australian states. China on Monday accused India of discriminatory treatment against Chinese journalists working in the country. In a retaliatory move, Beijing has reportedly asked Indian journalists working in China to leave the country once their visa expires. China's foreign ministry asked India on Monday to remove unreasonable restrictions on Chinese journalists working in India. The South China Morning Post reported that the last of four Indian reporters permanently based in China had been denied a visa and were asked by authorities to leave the country by the end of this month. It came after India took the same action against two Chinese journalists based there, the publication reported. SCMP quoted Wang Wenbin, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson as saying, One (Indian journalist) is still working and living in China. China has always treated Indian journalists in China as kind as friends and family members. China has exercised restraint, upheld goodwill, and communicated with the Indian side many times. However, it is regrettable that India has not taken any action to solve the problem. Wang Wenbin said, In recent years, Chinese journalists in India have been accorded unfair and discriminatory arrangements. Wenbin said they hope India will remove unreasonable restrictions on Chinese journalists and create favourable conditions for media exchanges. According to reports, China declined to renew the visas of the last two Indian journalists working in the country, after India reportedly took similar action against Chinese state media journalists in India. Reuters reported that one of the two Indian reporters left China on Sunday after his visa expired, and a reporter from PTI is expected to leave the country at the end of this month, once his visa expires. India had four reporters based in China this year but two were barred from returning in April after being said that their visas were frozen, the publication reported. Reuters reported Wenbin as saying that India had not approved new visas for Chinese journalists since 2020, resulting in a drop from 14 to only one Chinese correspondent there. SCMP reported that China accused New Delhi of repeatedly refusing to approve new visa applications for Chinese journalists and had only granted short-term visas of up to three months. However, India refused the allegations and said it allowed all foreign journalists to operate in the country and expressed hope that Beijing would allow Indian journalists to work there. Humans have spent thousands of years telling and retelling a handful of stories of extraordinary acts that ignite the spark of wonder within us. Today the world is once again redefining what it means to be a superhero. Thirteen-year-old Lesly Jacobo Bonbaire has captured the world's imagination through her brave act of keeping herself and her three siblings safe in the most inhospitable part of the entire Amazon jungle for 40 arduous days. Early in the morning of May 1, Lesly helped her mother Magdalena Mucutuy as the family boarded a light plane for a flight out of their Amazon hamlet fearing for their safety after narco crime groups in the area threatened the life of her father, an indigenous leader. Onboard the plane was Lesly, her mother, sister, brother, and baby sister. The single-engine Cessna C-206 also had a male passenger and a pilot. An hour into the flight, the pilot first declared an emergency indicating that he was with a reduced engine and was looking for a clearing, but then said the problem resolved itself. About an hour later, it happened again, he radioed he could see a river to his right where he would attempt to put down the plane. Silence. Then "Emergency. Engine failure!" Air traffic controllers could see the plane veer to the right, On board, flying near the canopy, the plane was losing altitude. From the technical direction of the accident investigation, it is learnt that the propeller hit the treetops, causing the nose of the plane containing the engine to dive down. The plane fell nearly vertically onto the jungle floor. The engine was found just behind the body of the plane. It had not travelled long. For air traffic controllers, the plane went off their screens. From the position of the bodies when the plane was found on May 16, investigators believe the baby was in her mother's lap who was seated in front of the plane on the row behind the pilot. The children's seats in the back remained intact after impact. Accounts by relatives who have spoken with the children tell us that Lesly gathered her siblings amid the shock and grief and desolation of the moment. She took a supply of tapioca from the plane along with the baby's bottle and moved the children away from the crash site and their dead mother. Lesly, at 13, was now the mother and caretaker of her 9-year-old sister, 4-year-old brother, and 11-month-old baby sister. She had no food, no direction, and no adult to help her, just the knowledge of the jungle that an indigenous child can have. They were alone in one of the most hostile parts of the Amazon. Jaguars, pumas, insects, poisonous snakes and poisonous plants around, the little children followed Lesly on a walk to survive physically and emotionally. Half-eaten fruit on the ground around their footprints told those searching for them that they were alive and feeding themselves. As more details emerge on how the four survived the crash and their long ordeal alone in the mighty Amazonian jungle, it becomes clear how much of a hero Lesly is. When they were found by indigenous patrols on June 9, the children had been moving around the jungle hiding from rescuers because they were afraid to be found, unaware they were not the armed gangs after their father. The helicopters, drones, dogs and the sound of people coming near scared them and they hid from them the various times the rescuers came close, sometimes as close as 10 meters away. 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 children would hear the noise but in the thick jungle, they could not see who the men were. There was no way of telling if they were the bad people of their fears. There were as many as 350 people between indigenous groups and the military searching for them. When they were found, their clothes had rotted onto their flesh, their shoes were gon, and they were exhausted, their grand-uncle Fidencio Valencia told media outside the military hospital in Bogota where the children are receiving medical care. Early reports described their bodies as full of insect bites and dehydrated, but otherwise conscious, lucid, and well, though deteriorating. At first, they just responded to questions, said Colombian General Pedro Sanchez. The boy, who was in the most decimated state, did ask for food, said Sanchez, "but the commandos knew they could not give them more than water." That was so because their bodies may have experienced significant physiological changes and require a careful and gradual reintroduction to food to prevent complications. Paediatricians and experts recommended reintroducing food slowly to avoid overwhelming their bodies' weakened state. They are likely to need rehydration, electrolyte rebalance, and gradual reintroduction of nutrition under close supervision, say experts. Nevertheless, they are now eating, little by little, said Valencia, stressing the emotional and psychological impact of the accident on the young children who saw their mother die. It is something that would overwhelm any human being, he said. That is one of the reasons why Lesly is becoming a great inspiration for Colombians and the world. The situation required extraordinary bravery, and her courage and actions held her siblings together and safe. Together they battled devastation, grief, treacherous terrain, wild predators, and their inner fears. Following Lesly, they walked through the dense jungle and its dangers. We may well find out that these children were all heroes protecting each other at their own expense. But the world has seldom seen a hero quite like Lesly. According to her grandmother Fatima Valencia speaking to Agence France-Presse, Lesly always took care of the children while her mother worked. She fed them farinita which are toasted cassava flour crumbs somewhat similar to Brazilian farofa, a starch added to many meals and yuca bread, she said. As it turned out, the food kids the military air-dropped for them in the jungle contained farinita, which Lesly and the children picked up and ate. In other words, she was a hero and protector to her siblings long before May 1. "Perhaps all their lives. Since very young," said Valencia. Throughout the 40 days it was Lesly who carried the baby, said her grand-uncle Fidencio. She possesses the unfathomable wisdom of the indigenous dwellers of the jungle and can navigate the darkened jungle with the slivers of light that filter through the canopy. She is jungle savvy, says Fidencio, describing how she can read the floor of the jungle with an intelligence innate to the dwellers of the forest. Broken branches and stamped twigs tell her what creatures have trodden that way, discerning one from another so their paths lay bare for her to follow, or to avoid. She is a child of the jungle, says her father Manuel Ranoque. She knows the forest. She can find seeds, fruits, and edible mushrooms for sustenance and avoid lethal plants, he adds. Lesly could orient herself, but that only helped avoid danger because though she could tell the dangers of the immediate area, she had no way of knowing where in the great jungle she was in relation to any place she knew. The scratch of land where she grew up was once a jungle prison for the country's worst and most dangerous criminals. The jungle itself was the walls of the prison, thick bushes, murky swamps infested with alligators and overgrowth so thick that it can trap a man like a carnivorous plant. She is a child of the jungle, but it is clear this is a jungle few imagine. Lesly has been venturing into the depths of the jungle all her life, says her father. She is acquainted with the wild, predatory animals and the nasty, venomous touch of lethal flora. Her skills and steady devotion to her siblings are part of who she is, said her grand-uncle. This child did all of it while carrying a baby, barefoot, under the grief of losing their mother and with the emotional burden of their situation, taking on the fears of her siblings, and her own. Armed only with all the knowledge an adolescent can have, her ingenuity, courage, and a motherly love for her siblings, Lesly was their protector and guide for the 40 days of their ordeal. A poster on rescue dog Wilson doing rounds in Colombia To know this about Lesly is to know how much respect the indigenous people of the Amazon deserve. In the dense foliage of the jungle with the haunting noises of wildlife, the rustle of the rescuers who could have been cartel criminals, the humming of drones, barks of dogs, and the continuous whirring of helicopters that she did not know were friendly, she led the children, protecting them, seeking shelter and nourishment, avoiding real and imagined dangers. She kept them safe. With each passing day, the physical and emotional toll on the group was just one more daunting thing she had to fight against. She was their provider, protector, and mother in moments of terrifying fear and grief. For Colombians, Lesly embodies the true essence of a superhero, inspiring a country that has yet to know her. The inspirational impact of her story is real. The country has promised she and her siblings will get an education and will be taken care of for the rest of their lives. But many Colombians feel that Lesly has the potential to take care of her country as she did for her siblings. "She is our country's symbol of hope, inner strength, and unity. She is our hero," said an emotional Elias Morales, speaking to THE WEEK from Bogota. "She is already inspiring others to believe in themselves and how Colombians working together can make miracles happen." "Miracle!" was the code word that the military commands would use to report the finding of the kids. "Miracle, miracle, miracle!" says Sanchez were the words that told him they had found them alive. A combined cell of indigenous people of the Murui indigenous community and military patrols found the children and then communicated to the high command. Combat medics connected immediately via satellite with one of Colombia's Air Force's best paediatricians, according to Sanchez. The doctor diagnosed them and instructed their care so they could be airlifted out for more direct care. The children have reported having met up with Wilson, the search dog that is now lost in the jungle and whose pawprints next to the foursome's footprints let rescuers know he had reached the four. In this story about a girl superhero, the dog, too, is being touted as a hero member of the rescue forces. Drawings of Wilson, caped with the Colombian flag in the style of Superman's Superdog are circulating in Colombia with the promise "We never abandon our comrades." Though most of the searchers and logistic apparatus entrusted to care for the search team have left the jungle, the contingent remains searching for Wilson who they fear is emaciated, lost, and without food, according to Sanchez. The search for Wilson continues as the story of Lesly and her siblings continues to captivate the world. North Korea's Kim Jong-un in a message that marked another sign of deepening ties between North Korea and Russia, said he vowed to hold hands with Vladimir Putin. In a message to Putin to mark Russias national day on Monday, the North Korean ruler pledged his regimes full support for Moscows invasion of Ukraine, the official KCNA news agency said. Justice is sure to win, and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory, Kim said. Even as Pyongyang continues to develop its own arsenal of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, it has been accused of providing weapons to Russia. North Korea has been seeking closer ties with Russia. In a message to Putin, Kim said he wanted to work toward "strategic cooperation" between Pyongyang and Moscow. Kim's message stated that "justice is sure to win" and that Russia would "add glory to the history of victory." North Korea's efforts in moving closer to Kremlin and it blaming the US and its allies for the war in Ukraine have triggered international concern. The US in March said Russia is sending a delegation to North Korea to offer food in exchange for weapons. As part of this proposed deal, Russia would receive over two dozen kinds of weapons and munitions from Pyongyang, White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said, the Guardian reported. Amid a worsening conflict in Ukraine and shifting global power dynamics dividing the world into blocs, the Comptroller General of India (CAG) has issued a paradigmatic call requesting G20 countries to set up an independent institutional for the sake of global good. Addressing delegates from G20 countries, guest countries and international organizations in Goa on Monday, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu, said: It is worthwhile to consider an idea which strengthens this forum as a distinct, independent institutional track of G-20 group. This would, perhaps be, appropriate to SAIs (Supreme Audit Institutions) independent stature, precluding all external influences The CAGs call was also seconded by G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant in the event when he emphasized that despite different cultures, political perspectives, and boundaries, the essence of humanity is the same. The three-day-long Goa meeting is an apex-level meeting of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of G20 countries. Only nine of the 20 members of the G20 have attended the Goa meet. Besides India, the G20 countries attending the meeting are Russia, China, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Brazil. The absentees are the US, Germany, UK, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Argentina and the European Union. With the audit process being a neutral area that is devoid of implications for geopolitical positioning, the role of auditors is considered neutral and independentwhich had already been stated under the Mexico declaration and UNGA resolution of 2011-14. The CAGs idea is also important because of the twin themes of blue economy and artificial intelligence that the ongoing Indian presidency of G20 has focused upon. At the same time, the CAG suggested that no administrative change be considered for the purpose. There will be no permanent secretariat and the same principle of support of the chairmanship by the troika will be followed, as at present and consistent with the organisation of the G20. It is with conviction and commitment to the greater global good, that SAI India suggests this paradigm shift in sync with the Prime Minister's overarching vision for India's G20 Presidency of catalysing a fundamental mindset shift, to benefit humanity as a whole, Murmu added. The call for a distinct national auditors track in G20 is aligned with the very reason for which the inter-governmental grouping was formed in 1999 after serious economic crises. G20S core mandate pertains to maintaining international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and furthering sustainable development. Comprising the worlds most important economies, its members account for 85 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of international trade and two-thirds of the world's population. G20 meets have been unable to shake off the pull of global politics and posturing. A G20 meeting on tourism held in Srinagar on May 22-24 was boycotted by China and Saudi Arabia. China had boycotted another G20 meet on R&D in science and technology at March-end as it was held in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh which China claims to be part of its South Tibet. Differences are expected to sharpen in September when the G20 apex summit to be attended by heads of state is to be held. Western member nations have sought Ukraines attendance at the summit while New Delhis position is that Ukrainewith a small economyis not very relevant to the G20 core agenda of inclusive economic growth, finances and climate change. In total, about 200 meetings dealing with 32 sectors are to be held in more than 50 cities across India as part of Indias G20 presidency. Kyiv said its armed forces have three frontline villages in western Donetsk almost a week after a much-anticipated counteroffensive. A video showed soldiers raising the Ukrainian flag over the village of Blahodatne, south of the town of Velyka Novosilka, the Guardian reported. There were also videos of troops hosting flags in the village of Neskuchne. Ukraine's deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar on Sunday said troops had retaken Makarivka. "No positions were lost on the directions where our forces are on the defensive," Malyar wrote on Telegram. She also said that the troops had made substantial advancements, moving between 300 and 1,500 meters in two directions on the southern front, DW reported. Some Russian bloggers however reported that the fight for Makarivka was going on, while Neskuchne and Blahodatne were taken by Ukrainian forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Saturday, had confirmed that counteroffensive actions had begun. "Over the last week in the Bakhmut direction, the Russian invaders suffered significant losses," Ukraine's military said in a statement. Zelenskyy had been long appealing for the US-made F-16 fighter jets. He has maintained that the acquisition of the jets would be a sure signal from the world that Russias invasion would end in defeat. The President, in his nightly video address, thanked each one of our combat brigades, each of our units." Further south, another settlement, Urozhaine was being fiercely contested, Russian bloggers reported. A Ukrainian military blogger wrote, In total, in one week of assault operations around Velyka Novosilka, Ukrainians managed to liberate around 95 sq km of the ground. Though Ukrainian forces need to go further before they can reach Russias main fortified defensive line, the advance south of Velyka Novosilka is a significant gain for the counter-offensive. UN cultural and scientific agency UNESCO announced Monday that the United States plans to rejoin and pay more than $600 million in back dues after a decade-long dispute sparked by the organization's move to include Palestine as a member. US officials say the decision to return was motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the U.S. in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education around the world. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma submitted a letter last week to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay formalizing the plan to rejoin. Azoulay informed ambassadors of the U.S. decision in a special meeting Monday. The return of the U.S. once the agency's biggest funder is expected to face a vote by its 193 member states next month, according to a UNESCO diplomat. The decision is a big financial boost to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, known for its World Heritage program as well as projects to fight climate change and teach girls to read. The U.S. and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011, and both countries lost their voting rights in 2013. The Trump administration decided in 2017 to withdraw from the agency altogether the following year, citing anti-Israel bias and management problems. In his letter last week, Verma noted efforts by UNESCO toward management reform, and decreasing politicized debate, especially on Middle East issues. A delegation from Washington came to Paris last week to hand-deliver the letter, obtained by the AP. Since her election in 2017, Azoulay has worked to address the reasons the U.S. left, through budget reforms and building consensus among Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli diplomats around sensitive UNESCO resolutions. The U.S. decision to come back is the result of five years of work, during which we calmed tensions, notably on the Middle East, improved our response to contemporary challenges, resumed major initiatives on the ground and modernized the functioning of the organization, Azoulay told The Associated Press. She met with Democrats and Republicans in Washington to explain those efforts, according to a UNESCO diplomat. Thanks to those bipartisan negotiations, UNESCO diplomats expressed confidence that the U.S. decision to return is for the long term, regardless of who wins next year's presidential election. The diplomats were not authorized to be publicly named discussing the behind-the-scenes work that led to the U.S. decision. Under the plan, the U.S. government would pay its 2023 dues plus $10 million in bonus contributions this year earmarked for Holocaust education, preserving cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology education in Africa, Verma's letter says. The Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan foresees similar requests for the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off. That makes up a big chunk of UNESCO's $534 million annual operating budget. Before leaving, the U.S. contributed 22% of the agency's overall funding. Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass said in March that the U.S. absence from UNESCO has strengthened China, and 'undercuts our ability to be as effective in promoting our vision of a free world. He said UNESCO is key in setting and shaping standards for technology and science teaching around the world, so if we're really serious about the digital-age competition with China we can't afford to be absent any longer. The U.S. absence plunged the agency into financial uncertainty. UNESCO diplomats described belt-squeezing across agency programs and aggressive efforts by Azoulay to boost voluntary financing from other countries to fill gaps. One diplomat expressed hope that the return of the U.S. would bring more ambition, and more serenity and energize programs to regulate artificial intelligence, educate girls in Afghanistan and chronicle victims of slavery in the Caribbean. The diplomat said that the agency would also welcome Israel back if it wanted to rejoin. The United States previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. It rejoined in 2003. Kolkata, Jun 12 (PTI) Myanmar Commerce Minister U Aung Naing Oo on Monday expressed hope that a Rupee-Kyat trade arrangement between the two nations is finalised by June-end. Oo said trade volume between the two countries will double once the arrangement being worked out as Myanmar which has been hit by US sanctions is unable to earn sufficient foreign exchange to import goods from its trade partners. "We are suffering from US sanctions since 2021 and it is becoming difficult to settle payment transactions with other countries in dollars", he said at an event organised by EEPC India here. Under the special arrangement, Myanmar will accept Rupee payments for all its exports to India and use that rupee hoard to import from here. To facilitate this, RBI has appointed Punjab National Bank (PNB) to open a special Vostro account for foreign trade with Myanmar. PNB in turn has approached two banks in Myanmar where these accounts will be opened. The minister said "negotiations between PNB and the central bank of Myanmar is going on and is expected to be completed by this month. Once this arrangement becomes operational, trade volume between the two countries will double". Oo said India is the eleventh largest investor in Myanmar with $ 775.11 million worth of investments. He said India also was one of the main trading partners of Myanmar in the previous fiscal year. India had exported USD 820 million worth of goods to its eastern neighbor and imported goods worth USD 540 million. Top exports from Myanmar to India include metal ore, natural rubber, plywood, fish, lentils and garments. Myanmars major imports from India include pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, coffee and tea. India accounts for five per cent of Myanmar's international trade, he said. Myanmar has already put in place similar trading arrangements with China and Thailand. "We are going for this special arrangement with neighbouring countries to reduce our dependence on dollars,Oo added. The minister also said that Myanmar Central Bank and the RBI have mutually agreed in principle on a Rupee-Kyat payment system and standard operating procedures (SOP) to support this has been negotiated in lines with the foreign exchange policies of both the countries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. A delegation from Kazakhstan recently visited Hungary as part of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) project, "Investment Support for Small-Scale Farms to Develop Value-Added Food Chains in Kazakhstan," Trend reports. The delegation aimed to study Hungary's experience in rural territory development and participated in the Third Regional Seminar on Integrated Community Development. During the visit, meetings were held with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Committee on Agricultural Issues of the Hungarian National Assembly. Kazakh experts were acquainted with the tools for fostering entrepreneurship in rural areas, improving cooperative processes, enhancing access to government services, and developing industrial and social infrastructure in rural areas. As part of the trip, the Kazakh delegation embarked on field visits to regions in Hungary to learn about the country's strategies for rural district development and rural tourism. They also visited several production farms and participated in a seminar focusing on the role of local food systems and youth in the development of rural districts and communities. Furthermore, the Kazakh delegation took part in the Third Regional Seminar on Integrated Community Development at the national and local levels, organized by the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in collaboration with the FAO Liaison and Partnership Office in Kazakhstan. The seminar served as a platform for discussing and presenting FAO's key research findings on best practices in comprehensive community development and territorial approaches in Europe and Central Asia. It also facilitated the exchange of practical experiences, lessons learned, and various approaches to rural development, including the EU's "LEADER" approach for non-EU countries. HYDERABAD, India, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rainbow Children's Hospital, a leading pediatric healthcare provider in India, proudly announces its attainment of the esteemed 'Gold Seal of Quality Approval' from the Joint Commission International (JCI). The accreditation recognizes the excellence of Rainbow Children's Medicare Limited's facility located in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, underscoring the hospital's dedication to delivering exceptional healthcare services on a global scale. For Rainbow Children's Hospital and BirthRight by Rainbow Hospitals, this accreditation is a testimony to the exacting standards of hospital management and treatment protocol established in the centre, thereby enabling improved and advanced patient care. Obtaining this accreditation is an effort-involving task as this calls for a commitment from the entire hospital and having to meet a checklist of 13 chapters and 1200 measurable elements stipulated by JCI. Commenting on the achievement of this feat, Dr. Ramesh Kancharla, Chairman and Managing Director, Rainbow Children's Hospital and BirthRight by Rainbow said, "We have always believed in providing quality care, and this is a momentous accomplishment for each one of us at Rainbow Children's Hospital. This achievement is a testament to our teamwork, collective efforts, and commitment, including the compassionate care provided by our nurses and other staff members, working together towards a common goal. We remain committed to providing world-class healthcare services to our patients, ensuring that we maintain the highest standards of quality and safety." It may be noted that, earlier, BirthRight Fertility by Rainbow Hospitals, Kondapur has been accorded the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. "Our mission is to deliver exceptional pediatric care, and since day one, we, as a team, have strived relentlessly to surpass expectations. We, together, have achieved this through our extensive knowledge, adherence to best practices, prioritization of safety, highly qualified medical professionals and paramedic staff, and treatment protocols. The recent JCI accreditation serves as a validation of our dedication and reaffirms the comprehensive approach we adopt in patient care. The JCI accreditation is no small feat; it necessitates substantial dedication to clinical quality and patient safety. This accreditation represents a significant milestone for our hospital as we continue our journey towards continuous improvement," mentions Dr. Dinesh Kumar Chirla, Director - Intensive Care Services, at Rainbow Children's Hospital. "At BirthRight we have always strived to make pregnancy a special, safe, and joyous experience for our expectant parents. While the JCI accreditation, elevates us to the top-tier in healthcare globally; to us as an organisation; its significance rests in once again reiterating to our patients that we have excellent medical and operational processes, well-trained competent staff and a safe clinical environment backed by excellent technology," said, Dr. Pranathi Reddy, Clinical Director - BirthRight by Rainbow Hospitals, pointed out. Speaking on this achievement, Dr. Prashant K, Group Medical Director, Rainbow Children's Hospital and BirthRight by Rainbow, said, "Our hospital successfully underwent a thorough and robust assessment from Joint Commission International led by two assessors from the USA and one assessor from Taiwan, which lasted for five days and after thorough scrutiny of every facet of hospital operations, clinical protocols, infection control measures, patient and employee safety and several other parameters, awarded the most prestigious JCI Gold Seal Accreditation to the hospital as the healthcare facility surpassed the most rigorous international standards in quality." "The strong determination and visionary outlook of Rainbow Children's Hospital have led to the attainment of this prestigious accreditation. This noteworthy achievement is a milestone that fills each one of us with a sense of pride. This is a direct outcome of the collective efforts, seamless coordination, and commitment of the management and staff to provide qualitative care to patients," opined Mr. Sanjeev Sukumaran, COO, Rainbow Children's Hospital. JCI collaborates globally, offering valuable insights to enhance healthcare quality and patient safety. Its comprehensive standards cover various healthcare domains, including access to care, patient assessment, medication management, quality improvement, and more. JCI accreditation is highly esteemed, awarded to select institutions. Rainbow Children's Hospital passed a thorough evaluation, showcasing excellence in patient safety, protocols, and governance. Rainbow Children's Hospital, set up in 1999, now, with over two decades of experience, has assiduously built global quality in both clinical and non-clinical procedures and maintains high standards of quality and safety in the services offered to its patients. It adheres to set policies and procedures according to international standards and has set up infrastructure as per international safety guidelines and scaled the parameters of JCI in terms of safety. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098532/RCHandBRJCIaccreditation.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098533/RCHBRLogo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 130 million loan agreement to increase agricultural productivity, improve access to irrigation and promote horticulture agribusinesses to raise farmers income in Himachal Pradesh, a release said on Monday. The project interventions will help increase the income and resilience to the effects of climate change of at least 15,000 farm households across seven districts of the state namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una, the release said. These households have stopped farming or have reduced their farming areas because of a lack of irrigation facilities and crop damage by wild and stray animals, it said. The project will improve on-farm irrigation and water management in about 6,000 hectares of farmland by rehabilitating or building new irrigation schemes and strengthening the capacity of WUAs for micro-irrigation management through joint efforts from the states Jal Shakti Vibhag (Water Resources Department) and Department of Horticulture (DOH), it said. The project will also help create an ecosystem to enhance farmers access to markets of subtropical horticulture, it said, adding, the farmers will be organised into cluster-wide community horticulture production and marketing associations (CHPMAs) and district-wide CHPMA cooperative societies. Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar on Monday told a Mumbai court that certain comments made by filmstar Kangana Ranaut during an interview to a news channel after the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020 were "nothing but a lie. Akhtar made the remarks when he appeared before Andheri metropolitan magistrate court in suburban Mumbai for cross-examination by defence lawyer in a defamation case filed by him against Kangana The 76-year-old lyricist-poet had filed a complaint in the magistrate's court in November 2020, claiming Kangana had made certain defamatory statements against him in a television interview, which allegedly damaged his reputation. In the interview given to a news channel in 2020 after the death of Rajput, among other statements, Kangana had claimed Akhtar asked her to apologise to co-star Hrithik Roshan, who in 2016 filed a lawsuit against her seeking an apology after public spat over a statement on their alleged relationship. Once Javed Akhtar called me to his house and told me Rakesh Roshan (father of Hrithik Roshan) and his family are very big people. If you don't apologise to them, you will have nowhere to go. They will put you in jail, and eventually, the only path would be that of destruction you will commit suicide. These were his words. He shouted and yelled at me. I was shaking in his house," Kangana had told the news channel. During cross-examination on Monday, Kangana's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee asked, Is it true that you have not disclosed the true fact of the meeting with her because whatever Kangana said in the interview is true. The veteran lyricist volunteered and said, Whatever Kangana said in the interview is a lie and nothing but a lie. The court recorded it was not true that Akhtar did not disclose the correct sequence of the meeting held sometime in March 2016. Further responding to a question on the meeting held at his house, the well-known lyricist said the 'Queen' actor had come to his house to explore some kind of a solution to settle issues with her co-star. The question posed to him was whether Kangana and her sister Rangoli came to his house "obediently". Akhtar responded by saying, You expect obedience from Kangana, it is not called obedience, but possibility for something...some kind of a solution. Physical reality is they came to my house, but obedience is a notion only in mind." The judge only recorded it is not true that they came to his house sometime in March 2016 'obediently'. The veteran lyricist said Kangana knew about the agenda of the meeting. I had told her about the agenda of the meeting on call. Didn't call her to discuss the weather, political situation or America election in 2016, he said. In response to another question, he said it is true Kangana was not willing to listen to him, but to say that she was upset and then left the meeting is wrong. Akhtar said though he did not know Kangana personally, he had always liked her work as an actor, but in the meeting he changed the topic once he realized she was not going to listen to him. The veteran lyricist stated that he knows the Roshan family very well, but the dispute between Kangana and Hrithik was of no consequence or bearing on me personally. In 2016, Hrithik filed a lawsuit against Kangana, asking her to apologise for damaging his reputation through her 'silly ex' statement. The 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai' actor maintained there was no relationship between them and threatened to sue her for defamation if she didn't comply with the demand to tender an apology. Kangana responded with a legal notice, denying the charges and alleging criminal intimidation. Hrithik Roshan and Kangana had worked together in Hindi films 'Krrish 3' and 'Kites'. Last month, during his deposition (examination-in-chief), Akhtar had told the court one Ramesh Agarwal, known to many actors, had met him in 2016 where they talked about the Roshan-Kangana Ranaut issue. "I told him that I knew Hrithik but I hardly knew the lady (Kangana). He said 'you are a senior member of the film fraternity' and asked me to use my good office to sort out the issue, Akhtar had told the court. The lyricist then called the Ranaut sisters to his house in 2016 to explore the possibility of a solution between the two sides. Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) Ahead of her series debut with "The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka", actor Kajol says her creative choices are dictated by the story and not the medium. The 48-year-old actor has two back-to-back OTT releases -- Disney+ Hostar series "The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka" on July 12 and the second edition of Netflix's acclaimed film anthology "Lust Stories" on June 29. The actor, who made her OTT debut with the 2021 Netflix film Tribhanga, said she wants to collaborate with "good people" whether it is for films or for streamers. "... I have always thought that whenever I work, I will do something, which I enjoy the most, work with good people and that script will always be my hero. Whether it is for an OTT platform or a film, for me a role is a role," the actor told reporters at the trailer launch of "The Trial...". Directed by Suparn S Varma, "The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka" is the Indian adaptation of the popular American legal TV drama The Good Wife, which revolved around a woman who returns to being a practising lawyer after her husband, a former state's attorney, is imprisoned for a sex and corruption scandal. Kajol said when she was offered the Hindi adaptation of the 2009 critically-acclaimed drama, she was curious to understand how the show will be adapted for the Indian audiences. "The original show, I loved it. The character was amazing, the concept was fabulous but I did have a question about how it will be adapted in Hindi. That's when Suparn came in, the narration came in for the script. "For me, it's really about a script, the script is never about one character, it is always about everyones character. And all the characters in this series, in the adaptation, is so well-rounded and well written. I loved the script. My script is my king," she said. Varma, best known for The Family Man season 2 starring Manoj Bajpayee, said the Indian series is completely different from the original CBS series, to suit the cultural landscape of India. He also said the team made a conscious decision to not have the similar title for the Hindi remake of the show. "We had the luxury of watching the entire seasons, so we could take that and start putting arcs of the characters and give more gravitas. The show is also different, the case needs to represent what's happening in society today and make it make contemporary. "There is no western gaze at the characters, so you see Noyonika in an Indian avatar, the challenges that she would face as a Indian woman, mother and wife are vastly different. That all led to making a lot of creative decisions in the writers room, and gave a fresh perspective and gaze," the director said. In the courtroom drama, Kajol will be seen as Noyonika Sengupta, a housewife who is forced to return to work as a lawyer after her husbands public scandal puts him behind bars. She said her character is complex and evolved and believes that most women will be able to resonate with it. The actor also said the show gave her the opportunity to sink her teeth into a character, which she thoroughly enjoyed. "I also feel this character is better in a web series, as it has an arc. It is a beautiful arc from what she starts out and where she ends up eventually. It's really that part where you can sink in your teeth," she said. Kajol said her co-star Jisshu Sengupta, who plays her onscreen husband, has been perfectly cast as he looks like an ideal good man, who can do no wrong. "You actually feel bad for him. Not as a woman. You like him but also hate his decision. "Similarly, you will like Noyonika but you would not like some of her decisions. It would look hypocritical that she is saying something, doing something else." Jisshu said he liked the character of Rajeev Sengupta, an additional judge, as it has many layers to it. "When I met Suparn, I had not seen 'A Good Wife', but when he narrated me the story of 'The Trial', I felt the character has so many layers, as an actor you jump into it. It is a very human show. All the emotions are very true, very human. The choices we make and what we don't, this show is about that," he added. Produced by Banijay Asia, the Indian version also stars Kubbra Sait, Sheeba Chaddha, and Alyy Khan. June 12 (PTI) Actor Prateik Patil Babbar has joined Aditi Rao Hyderi and Paige Sandhu in the UK-India co-production "Lioness", which is based on the life of princess Sophia Duleep. To be directed by Kajri Babbar, the project celebrates the life of Sophia Duleep Singh, the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the Sikh empire, and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was among the leading suffragettes who fought for womens right to vote in 1900s Britain. Prateik will play a sikh character in the movie. "It is an honour for me as a Punjabi to be a part of a film that celebrates the glory of Maharajah Ranjit Singh's grand-daughter. From nursing Sikh soldiers in the World War I to leading the Black Friday Suffragette march outside Houses of Parliament, Princess Sophia needs to be recognised and commemorated for her work," the actor said in a statement. "Lioness" will explore the story of two British Punjabi women living in the UK, a century apart. Sandhu, known for appearing in British television series such as Doctors and Emmerdale, will play Sophia in the movie, while Hydari will be in the role of Mehak Kaur, an educated, married immigrant woman living in 1990s Southall. Prateik will portray the role of Rajdeep Singh, a British Sikh living in the 1990s in Southall. The movie, inspired by the research of Peter Bance, the historian who discovered the story of Sophia, is being made under a first of its kind bi-lateral treaty signed by both the countries in 2008. Dubai, Jun 12 (PTI) A 28-year-old Abu Dhabi-based Indian chef who recently won a cash prize of more than 4 lakhs in a lottery has pledged to donate a portion of his winnings to the victims of the Odisha train accident that claimed 288 lives, a media report said. Sahajan Mohammad, who hails from Jaspur town of Odisha won Dh20,000 (Rs 4,48,885) cash prize in Dream Islands scratch card game last week, the Khaleej Times newspaper reported. Talking about Odisha's train tragedy on June 2, Mohammed said, "Fortunately, none of my known persons were involved in this horrific accident... There are a few people from my locality who have been injured in this accident. I will be helping those who are affected in my village first." The train collision in Odisha's Balasore district is one of the worst railway accidents in decades. At least 288 people were killed and more than 1,200 were injured in the accident. Apart from helping the train tragedy victims, he will also use the prize money for his personal expenses in his home construction and for some of his relatives who are in need. Mohammad, who works as a chef at a hotel in Abu Dhabi City and earns around Dh2,000 a month, had earlier tried his luck at different raffle draws in the past but to no avail, the report said. I am flying home on June 25. I have become a father now. I will be meeting my baby girl. She has brought this luck, an ecstatic Mohammad was quoted as saying. According to him, life is a game which he will continue to play. I will keep playing Dream Islands scratch card games. My other friends and cousins also play it and have won, he added. Tokyo, Jun 12 (AP) The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began tests on Monday of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighbouring countries. The tests at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said. Plant workers examined pumps and emergency shutdown equipment at the newly constructed seaside facility, which will dilute the treated water with large amounts of seawater. The diluted water then enters an undersea tunnel and is released into the ocean about 1 kilometre from the coast. The undersea tunnel and other key facilities are near completion. TEPCO says the voluntary tests are expected to continue for about two weeks ahead of mandatory pre-operation checks to be conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, possibly in early July. Japan's government announced plans in April 2021 to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plant's decommissioning. The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Nearby countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Japan's government has set up a fund to promote Fukushima seafood and provide compensation in case sales fall due to safety concerns. Fishing officials said they remain opposed to the plan when they met Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Saturday when he visited Fukushima and the neighbouring prefectures of Ibaraki and Miyagi. We stand by our opposition, Tetsu Nozaki, head of the Fukushima prefectural fisheries association, told Nishimura. Nozaki, however, said the association supports progress in the plant's decommissioning and hopes to continue the dialogue. At the moment, our positions remain wide apart. Nishimura told reporters that he hopes to gain the understanding of fishing communities while working to prevent reputational damage. In South Korea, fishermen staged a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday against the plan to release treated radioactive water. Japanese officials say the diluted water will be released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life. Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency to gain credibility and ensure safety measures meet international standards. Some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides is unknown and the release should be delayed. A massive March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. (AP) GRS Kyiv, Jun 12 (AP) Ukrainian military officials said Monday their troops have retaken another southeastern village from Russian forces, among the first small successes in stepped-up counteroffensive operations as the war drags on into its 16th month. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that an effort to rid Ukraine of entrenched, powerfully armed and skilled Russian troops could take years, and the success of any Ukrainian counteroffensive is far from certain. Despite their small size, capturing the villages is an incursion into the first line of Russian defences and could allow Ukrainian forces to try a deeper thrust into occupied areas. Russian forces now control land totalling about one-fifth of Ukraine's total territory, though that's far less than they held before blistering Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that retook the northern city of Kharkiv and southern city of Kherson. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place without specifying whether it was an all-out counteroffensive, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that the counteroffensive had started and Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. He did not elaborate, and Ukrainian authorities have not publicly specified losses among their troops. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukraine's flag was again flying over the village of Storozhov. A day earlier, Ukrainian officials said they had taken three other small villages Blahodatne, Makarivka and Neskuchne south of the town of Velyka Novosilka in the eastern Donetsk region. The small villages Blahodatne, for example, had a pre-invasion population of about 1,000 people are located in the so-called Vremivka salient, a section of the front line where the Russian-controlled area protrudes into territory held by Ukraine. While it is just a few kilometres deep, the area has become one of several epicentres of intense fighting. Ukrainian forces have focused on other patches of the vast front line, including in the Zaporizhzhia region, and near the devastated city of Bakhmut to the north in Donetsk. Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Moscow-appointed administration of the Zaporizhzhia region at the west end of the front line, said heavy battles are raging in the salient on Monday, involving Russian artillery, mortars and air power. Russian authorities have said their troops have largely held their ground along the more than 1,000-kilometre arc of front line across southern and eastern Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry hasn't confirmed the Russian retreat from the villages. But Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian military blogger who goes under the nickname WarGonzo, acknowledged Russian troops had withdrawn from Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka, and said Ukrainian forces were trying to push forward along the banks of the Mokri Yaly river on Monday. Alexandet Kots, military correspondent for Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, said Ukrainian forces were attempting to advance, despite heavy losses, toward the town of Staromlinovka, which sits on a strategic highway leading to the key city of Mariupol. Russian forces captured the Azov Sea port city over a year ago, after Ukrainian forces held out for several months in a grueling and desperate defence. Separately Monday, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said least four civilians were killed and 16 others have been wounded by Russian shelling over the last 24 hours. In Donetsk, Russian shelling hit nine towns and villages and left one civilian killed and two others wounded. Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko posted images of apartment buildings and a cultural centre damaged by Russian strikes in the town of Avdiivka. In Kharkiv, to the north, Russian forces pummelled several settlements with artillery, mortar and rocket fire, injuring at least three people, regional state administration chief Oleh Synehubov wrote on Telegram. The reported Ukrainian advance comes as authorities on both sides of the front line pressed on with rescue and relocation efforts for civilians in the Kherson region driven from their homes by flooding from the breach of the Kakhovka dam last week. The UN and other aid groups say access to fresh drinking water is a crucial need and the possible spread of water-borne disease a big worry. On Sunday, a local official said three people were killed when Moscow's troops opened fire on a boat evacuating people from Russian-occupied areas. Late Sunday, Zelenskyy said envoys from the International Criminal Court have visited the region to investigate the disaster, which has driven thousands from their homes, and left at least 14 people dead. "It is very important that the representatives of international justice have seen the consequences of this Russian act of terrorism with their own eyes and heard for themselves that Russian terror continues," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian authorities have accused Russian forces, which controlled the area around the dam, of deliberately destroying it. Russian officials have blamed Ukrainian shelling for its destruction. (AP) GRS London, Jun 12 (PTI) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday slammed former premier Boris Johnson for asking him to overrule a panel vetting his resignation list appointments to the House of Lords, saying it was "something I wasn't prepared to do". The British-Indian leader's comment at a public function stemmed from a long-running row over Johnson's honours list, and specifically the list of people he wanted to award peerages to. Johnson's long-awaited honours list, approved nine months after he resigned as prime minister, included 38 honours and seven peerages. The resignation honours list is a tradition that allows outgoing prime ministers to nominate people for honours. As a departing prime minister, Johnson has the right to nominate people for seats in the House of Lords, and for other honours such as knighthoods. By convention, current prime ministers pass on the list of nominees to the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC). The list of new peerages did not include many of the former Conservative party leader's nominees. Just three hours after its publication, Johnson stepped down as an MP late on Friday and furiously attacked Sunak's agenda. In his first public response to the row, Sunak on Monday accused Johnson of asking him to overrule the House of Lords Appointment Commission and wave through the rejected nominees. Sunak said Johnson asked him to override their recommendations, or "make promises to people". But Sunak said he refused, adding it was "something I wasn't prepared to do". "I wasn't prepared to do that, I didn't think that was right. And if people don't like that, then tough," he told a tech conference in London. The intervention marks a new point in an escalating war of words over Johnson's controversial resignation honours list, the BBC reported. When Johnson, 58, resigned from office last September, he left a list of nominations for Damehood, Knighthoods etc, as well as people he wanted to award seats in the House of Lords, the lower house of the UK's Parliament. The government customarily submitted the list to the House of Lords Appointment Commission. It was reported that three sitting MPs, Nadine Dorries, Nigel Adams and Alok Sharma, were on the list, along with some potentially controversial people. No serving MPs were given peerages, avoiding by-elections for the Tories. Johnson abruptly resigned as a lawmaker on Friday, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt after being told by a parliamentary committee that he would be sanctioned for misleading Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street during his premiership. His decision to resign as a Member of Parliament came as he received a confidential letter from the MP-led Privileges Committee over the crucial matter. Baghdad, Jun 12 (AP) Iraq urged countries on Monday to repatriate their citizens from a sprawling camp in Syria housing tens of thousands linked to the extremist Islamic State group, saying it has become a source for terrorism. The statements were made during a conference in Baghdad discussing al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. Iraqi officials, the U.N. representative in Iraq, some members of the international coalition fighting IS and ambassadors of several countries were present. Al-Hol Camp named after a town near the Iraqi border is an open wound left by Syria's 12-year conflict. Tens of thousands of people were taken to the facility after the extremist group's defeat in Syria in March 2019. The camp holds about 51,000 people, the vast majority women and children, including the wives, widows and other family members of IS militants, mostly Syrians and Iraqis. There are also around 8,000 women and children from 60 other nationalities who live in a part of the camp known as the Annex. They are generally considered the most die-hard IS supporters among the camp residents. There have been concerns that children at the camp were being taught extremist ideology by their mothers. Experts have warned that a future generation of IS fighters could emerge from al-Hol. Ending the issue of al-Hol camp has become a top national interest for Iraq, said Ahmad Sahhaf, Iraq's Foreign Ministry spokesman, according to the country's state news agency. Sahhaf called on the international community to urge all countries that have citizens at the camp to repatriate them as soon as possible in order to eventually close the camp" because it has become a dangerous epicenter for IS gatherings. Iraq has repatriated 1,396 families from al-Hol constituting 5,569 of its citizens over the past weeks, said Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji who spoke at the conference. Despite the repatriations, some 25,000 Iraqis remain at the camp, making up nearly half its population. The camp's population is down from 73,000 people, mostly because thousands of its Syrian and Iraqi inhabitants were allowed to return home. But other countries have largely balked at taking back their nationals, who travelled to join IS after the radical group seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Despite the extremist group's defeat in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in both countries. Over the past years, grisly crimes were committed inside al-Hol. Earlier this month, the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced it handed over 50 Iraqi IS fighters to Baghdad. It also said that it repatriated 170 Iraqis who were living at the camp. The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria has been urging countries to repatriate their citizens from the camp for years. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-hosted a meeting in Saudi Arabia for 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. (AP) _ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report from Beirut. VM BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Hungarian Ganz Transformers and Electric Rotating Machines Company is planning to participate in several ambitious energy projects in Kyrgyzstan, Gergely Gal, Managing Director of Ganz Transformers and Electric Rotating Machines told Trend. In a recent working trip to Hungary earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Energy, Taalaibek Ibrayev, visited a factory of Ganz specializing in the manufacturing of hydro turbines and transformers. During the visit, Minister Ibrayev expressed interest in establishing cooperation with the Hungarian company. At the moment, Ganz is discussing with its partners in the country the possibility to explore and conclude agreements for cooperation. The Hungarian company noted that over the past few years, Kyrgyzstan has placed significant importance on the development of renewable energy sources, particularly hydropower. Consequently, the country is currently witnessing substantial investments in hydropower and hydroelectricity projects, with the expectation of even more in the coming years. "Ganz has similar ambition and objectives, as the company aims to become one of the leading players in the renewable energy market to create a sustainable future. Our company has also manufactured and supplied generators for major hydroelectric and hydropower projects in several countries, including India. Therefore, we believe that with the same development plans and with many years of experience in similar projects, Ganz and Kyrgyzstan can develop a long-term partnership, and together we can create many successful developments," the managing director said. Furthermore, Ganz Company aims to enhance its presence in the renewable energy sector by producing and supplying equipment for hydroelectric and hydropower ventures. Collaboration with Kyrgyzstan could provide an opportunity to take the knowledge exchange to a higher level within the region. For the local companies, Ganz can provide the engineering expertise that relies on almost 145 years of experience of manufacturing transformers and rotating machines and offer related service activities. At the moment Ganz is planning further projects in the Central Asian region, mainly in service activities, as well as of manufacturing transformers, and motors. Currently, the company is present in the region mainly through the maintenance of transformers and rotating machines which were previously manufactured and delivered. Washington, Jun 12 (AP) Donald Trump was travelling to Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance this week on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get the records back. Trump's Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Department's first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardised national security, with Espionage Act charges carrying the prospect of a significant prison sentence. Ahead of his court date, he and his allies have been escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests. He's ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith deranged" as he repeated without any evidence his claims that he was the target of a political persecution. And even as his supporters accuse the Justice Department of being weaponised against him, he vowed Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family if Trump is elected to a second term. Trump boarded a plane in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday morning to take him to Miami. Wearing a navy suit and red tie, he gave a quick wave before stepping onboard. He's encouraged supporters to join a planned protest at the Miami courthouse Tuesday, where he will face the charges and surrender to authorities. We need strength in our country now, Trump said Sunday, speaking to longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio. And they have to go out and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out. Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty of protest to protest. We've lost everything, he went on. He also said there were no circumstances whatsoever under which he would leave the 2024 race, where he's been dominating the Republican primary. Other Trump supporters have rallied to his defense with similar language, including Kari Lake, the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona who pointedly said over the weekend that if prosecutors want to get to President Trump, they're going to have to go through me, and 75 million Americans just like me. And most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA." Trump's calls for protest echoed exhortations he made ahead of a New York court appearance last April, where he faces charges arising from hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign, though he complained that those who showed up to protest then were so far away that nobody knew about 'em, And just like in that case, he plans to address supporters in a Tuesday evening speech hours after his court date. After his court appearance, he will return to New Jersey, where he's scheduled a press event to publicly respond to the charges. He'll also be holding a private fundraiser. Trump supporters were also planning to load buses to head to Miami from other parts of Florida, raising concerns for law enforcement officials who are preparing for the potential of unrest around the courthouse. Mayor Francis Suarez was expected to announce additional details Monday about the preparations though there was little police presence near the courthouse a stark contrast to New York City where police planned for protests for weeks even though no violence ultimately happened. The Justice Department unsealed Friday an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defense information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements. The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in January 2021. The material he stored, including in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower, included material on nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign governments and a Pentagon attack plan, the indictment says. The information, if exposed, could have put at risk members of the military, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said. Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing personal aide Walt Nauta who was charged alongside Trump to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena. Some fellow Republicans have sought to press the case that Trump is being treated unfairly, citing the Justice Department's decision in 2016 to not charge Democrat Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information through a private email server she relied on as secretary of state. But those arguments overlook that FBI investigators did not find any evidence that Clinton or her aides had willfully broken laws regarding classified information or had obstructed the investigation. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, speaking Sunday on CBS News, said there was a huge difference between the two investigations but that it has to be explained to the American people. The Justice Department earlier this month informed former Vice President Mike Pence that it would not bring charges over the presence of classified documents in his Indiana home. A separate Justice Department special counsel investigation into the discovery of classified records at a home and office of President Joe Biden continues, though as in the Clinton case, no evidence of obstruction or intentional law-breaking has surfaced. Trump's own former attorney general, William Barr, offered a grim assessment of Trump's predicament, saying on Fox News that Trump had no right to hold onto such sensitive records. If even half of it is true, Barr said of the allegations, then he's toast. I mean, it's a pretty 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. (AP) VM Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the ruling Shiv Sena, has held a meeting with the functionaries of his party from 15 states in Srinagar in Kashmir. During the meeting held on Sunday, Shinde asked them to work towards expanding the Shiv Sena's base with help of ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A statement from Shinde's office said his party's office-bearers from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand among others attended the meeting in Srinagar. The Shinde-led Maharashtra government will complete a year in office later this month. Shinde and 39 Shiv Sena MLAs had rebelled against then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in June last year, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Shinde and the rebel legislators then joined hands with the BJP and formed government with Devendra Fadnavis as deputy CM. The Election Commission has allotted the 'Shiv Sena' party name and the 'bow and arrow' poll symbol to the Shinde-led faction. Mumbai, Jun 11 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the ruling Shiv Sena, on Sunday held a meeting with the functionaries of his party from 15 states at Srinagar in Kashmir. During the meeting, he asked them to work for expanding the Shiv Sena's base with help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the parties currently share power in Maharashtra. A statement from Shinde's office said that his party's office-bearers from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other states attended the meeting in Srinagar. It said that Shinde asked the attendees to work towards increasing the party's footprint in other states. The Shinde-led Maharashtra government will complete a year in office later this month. Shinde and 39 Shiv Sena MLAs had rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray in June last year, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Shinde and the rebel legislators then joined hands with the BJP and formed the government. The Election Commision has allotted the Shiv Sena party name and the bow and arrow poll symbol to the Shinde-led party. Goalpara (Assam), Jun 12 (PTI) A woman BJP leader was allegedly killed by unidentified persons and her body dumped on National Highway 17 in Assam's Goalpara district on Monday, police said. The body of district BJP secretary Jonali Nath was found on the national highway in Salpara area under Krishnai police station limits of the district. Police, which sent her body to Goalpara Civil Hospital for autopsy, suspect that she was killed somewhere else and her body dumped. Kolkata, Jun 12 (PTI) Kolkata and its neighbourhood areas experienced a thunderstorm on Monday evening but the weatherman said the Southwest monsoon is yet to set foot in south Bengal districts. The monsoon has, however, touched its base in most parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, the met office said in a statement. Head of the Eastern region of the Indian Meteorological Department Sanjib Bandyopadhyay told PTI that gusty wind accompanied by light to moderate rainfall lashed parts of Kolkata, and parts of south Bengal districts in afternoon-evening hours bringing down the mercury level but it was not pre-monsoon shower. "The monsoon is still some days away to arrive in the city and south Bengal districts. What happened today can be described as the development of a local system caused by the partial entry of south-westerly monsoon winds while the north-westerly winds are in air circulation already. This has resulted in the presence of moisture in the air already," he added. The hot and humid conditions in south Bengal will continue for the next few days till the advent of monsoon, he explained. A met office bulletin said a squall having a speed of 40-50 km/hour lashed several districts including Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur during Monday afternoon-evening. The city recorded 36.2 degrees Celsius maximum temperature, 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than normal, and 27.7 degree Celsius as minimum temperature during the day while the maximum relative humidity was recorded at 86 per cent making the discomfort level high. The met office bulletin said "The Southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Karnataka, some more parts of Konkan, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, some more parts of Andhra Pradesh, some more parts of northwest Bay of Bengal today, most parts of Sub-HImalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and some parts of Bihar on the June 12." Kolkata, Jun 12 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5 pm. CAL 9 OD-RAIL-ACCIDENT-RITUALS All-faith prayer in memory of Odisha train accident victims Balasore: Hundreds of people from Odishas Bahanaga took part in an all-faith prayer meeting in memory of the 288 people who lost their lives in the Balasore train accident on June 2. CAL 8 BIZ-RUPEE-KYAT Myanmar wants Rupee-Kyat trade arrangement by June-end Kolkata: Myanmar Commerce Minister U Aung Naing Oo on Monday expressed hope that a Rupee-Kyat trade arrangement between the two nations is finalised by June-end. CAL 7 WB-HC-RURAL POLLS Bengal election panel may extend rural poll nomination date by day Kolkata:, Jun 12 (PTI) The State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday told the Calcutta High Court that it can extend the last date of filing nominations for panchayat polls in West Bengal by a day to June 16. CAL 6 AS-BJP LEADER-MURDER Assam BJP woman leader killed Goalpara: A woman BJP leader was allegedly killed by unidentified persons and her body dumped on National Highway 17 in Assam's Goalpara district on Monday, police said. CAL 5 TR-NADDA Nadda to address rally in Tripura on June 17 Agartala: BJP president J P Nadda will address a rally in Santirbazar area of Tripura on June 17, party state president Rajib Bhattacharjee said on Monday. CAL 4 OD-JAGANNATH-DRONE Puri police prohibits drones near Jagannath Temple Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Lord Jagannaths annual Ratha Jatra on June 20, Puri police has banned flying drones near the 12th century shrine, an official said on Monday. CAL 3 WB-PANCHAYAT POLLS-SECTION 144 West Bengal rural polls: Section 144 imposed near nomination centres Kolkata: The state election commission (SEC) has directed all district magistrates and superintendents of police to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CRPC in a 1km-radius of all nomination centres of panchayat elections, a senior official said on Monday. New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) The fourth and final G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting scheduled from June 19 to 21 in Pune will be held under the theme 'Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy', especially in the context of blended learning, officials said on Monday. The EdWG event, which will be hosted by the Ministry of Education, will be followed by the meeting of education ministers from G20 countries on June 22, they said. "Outcome documents such as a compendium of best practices amongst nations in the priority areas, a report and the ministerial declaration will be presented at the ministerial meeting. As of date, 14 ministers have confirmed participation in the ministerial meeting from the following nations: UK, Italy, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Singapore, Oman, Mauritius, Japan, Bangladesh, Egypt, UAE and Netherlands," Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Murthy told reporters here. Murthy said that like the previous meetings, a seminar will be preceding the EdWG and it will be based on the priority area of 'Foundational Literacy and Numeracy'. "At the moment, countries such as Spain, Australia, Indonesia, USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China and the UK have all expressed their interest in the topic of the seminar and will be participating as panellists. As a precursor to the G20 EdWG meeting, the Department of Higher Education is organising a seminar at IISER, Pune on June 16. "The seminar will be held on the theme 'Accessible Science: Fostering collaboration'. This event will convene stakeholders across the scientific community to discuss best practices for accessible science, how accessible science can be applied across individual nations with differing local capacities, and ways to utilise science practices to support global progress," he added. In the run-up to the main event, a two-day National Conference on Foundation Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), "Creating the Base for Lifelong Learning", will be organised from June 17-18 at Savitribai Phule University, Pune. "The conference will help identify and discuss the best practices states are adopting in creating an environment that facilitates foundational literacy and numeracy in young learners. The objective of the conference is to reflect on two important themes - teaching learning approaches and pedagogy for FLN in the context of multilingualism and capacity building and training of teachers in blended mode," said School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar. "The experts from various fields have been invited to share their experiences and learning with the audience to identify the areas of joint initiatives, cross learning and the challenges in the implementation. Representatives from the Education Departments of all states and UTs in India, Knowledge partners of Government of India (UNESCO & UNICEF) and civil society agencies will be participating in this event," he added. On the sidelines of the meeting, an exhibition will be inaugurated on June 17 which will showcase innovative practices being adopted in education and FLN, digital initiatives, research and skill development, in particular by the states and UTs, besides other agencies in the field of education. The first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group was held in Chennai in January followed by second meet in Amritsar in March and third in Bhubaneshwar in April. Chandigarh, Jun 12 (PTI) Punjab Police will get vehicles capable of high speeds as part of its new initiative of setting up a team dedicated towards road safety and effectively chasing criminals, officials said on Monday. Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said 144 vehicles -- 116 Isuzus and 28 Mahindra Scorpios -- will be purchased, adding that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had given directions that the police vehicles should be such which can effectively chase criminals. Addressing the media here, Gill said the 'Sadak Surakhya Force' will be set up to prevent crime and road accidents. The state government has earmarked a sum of Rs 39.50 crore for it, he said. Additional Director General of Police A S Rai has been appointed as the nodal officer of the force. The force will be equipped with modern equipment including body cameras, GPS fitted vehicles, breath analyzers, he said. There will be a special uniform of the force, he added. Speaking on the police's action on drug smuggling in the past year, Gill said that 14,952 drug smugglers, including 2,132 big smugglers, have been arrested since July 5, last year. Police has registered 11,147 First Information Reports (FIRs) in this regard, he said. Gill said police has also recovered 987.75 kilograms of heroin from carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas across the state. Additionally, 147.5 kg of heroin was recovered from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 1,135.25 kg in 11 months, he said. Apart from heroin, the IGP said police also recovered 731 kg opium, 840.76 kg ganja, 350.40 quintals of poppy husk, and 62.49 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, vials of pharma opioids from across the state, Gill said. Rs 11.83 crores of cash has also been recovered from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in these 11 months, the officer said. Srinagar, Jun 12 (PTI) Air Vice Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra, commanding Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Monday discussed the overall security scenario in the Union Territory, particularly the attempts from across the border to disturb the peace, officials said. Air Vice Marshal Vohra called on the J-K DGP at the police headquarters here, a police spokesman said. He said the DGP and the Air Vice Marshal discussed various issues relating to the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and attempts to disturb the peace. They also discussed counter measures including those for foiling infiltration attempts, dropping arms, ammunition and drugs by Pakistan through drones, the spokesman said. New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Monday granted six-week interim bail on medical ground to liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. A vacation bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh observed the accused was suffering from life-threatening diseases warranting immediate medical attention and post-operative care. Every person has a right to get adequately and effectively treated, it said. The discretion of granting bail is not to be exercised only as a last resort rather freedom is a cherished fundamental right, said the court. "The petitioner (Mahendru)is admitted to interim bail for a period of six weeks on his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 10,00,000 (Rupees Ten Lakhs Only) with two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court concerned," the court ordered. "Health condition of a human being deserves utmost importance and right to health is one of the most significant dimensions of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Every person has a right to get himself adequately and effectively treated," stated the court. The court directed that Mahendru be released from jail immediately. After the expiry of the interim bail period, he shall surrender before the trial court before or at 5 pm on July 25, it said. The court imposed several conditions including that he shall not leave the limits of the hospital and his house and shall also not leave the country. The court noted that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act granted relaxation to "sick or infirm persons" in matters of grant of bail and the petitioner was entitled to this benefit on account of the "life-threatening nature of the diseases with likelihood of causing irreversible injury to the petitioner". "The fact that the petitioner is unable to sit, bend forward, and not even able to lift any weight suggests the infirmity on the part of the petitioner to carry out day-to-day routine activities and non -following the advice and the specialized treatment may lead to neurological damage to the petitioner," noted the court. "Medical condition of the petitioner, coupled with the unblemished conduct and the grant of regular bail to the co-accused are reasons that are sufficient enough for this Court to grant interim bail to the petitioner for receiving specialized treatment," it said. The court also observed that there was nothing on record to show that the accused misused previous interim bails granted to him and he was also not found to be an absconder. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa appeared for the accused and said he was suffering from life-threatening diseases and had been hospitalized 5 times and has had 4 medical procedures in the last 60 days. The Enforcement Directorate said the condition of the petitioner was found to be stable and that his pain had decreased significantly and was thus not entitled to be enlarged on medical bail. According to the prosecution, the accused was allegedly one of the major beneficiaries of the violations of the excise policy as he was not only running an alcoholic beverage manufacturing unit but also given a wholesale licence along with some retail licences in the name of his relatives. Because of the alleged irregularities and violations, Mahendru made around Rs 50 crore, the prosecution has claimed. The ED has registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR) against Mahendru under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The money laundering case stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours were extended to licence holders. The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption. Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is also an accused in the matter. Kottayam (Kerala), June 12 (PTI) If all the tests go smoothly, Chandrayaan-3, India's ambitious plan to land on the surface of the Moon, will be launched between July 12 and 19, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath said here on Monday. Speaking to the media after inaugurating a one-day workshop and space exhibition at Kothavara St Xavier's College organised by ISRO, Somanath said that the Chandrayaan has already reached the launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, from U R Rao Satellite Centre. "The final preparations are going on. It will be completed by the end of this month. At the same time, the rocket, LVM-3, is going to be used for this launch. Its assembly is going on. All parts for its assembly have reached Sriharikota," Somanath said. He said the rocket assembly will also be completed by the end of this month and then there is a process to integrate Chandrayaan-3 with the rocket. He said that too would be done in the last week of June and many tests will follow. "There is a window for launch between July 12 and 19 and we can only launch it during that window. We can do it later also but we will suffer fuel losses," Somanath said. However, he said, the launch would be conducted during this window only if all the tests are conducted successfully. He said in order to prevent any problems during the upcoming launch, corrections have been made in Chandrayaan-3, in its hardware, structure, computers, software, and sensors. "More fuel has been added, the landing legs have been strengthened further. Big solar panels have been fixed for more energy production. Another additional sensor is also added. "To measure its speed, a 'Laser Doppler VelociMeter' instrument, which was developed in the last year, has been added. We have also changed its algorithm and new software has been added to help Chandrayaan to land in another area if there is any failure at the scheduled spot," the ISRO chief said. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Former President Donald Trumps Attorney General, Bill Barr, has voiced grave concerns about the legal troubles facing his former boss. During a compelling analysis on Fox News Sunday, Barr echoed the sentiments expressed by Fox News legal contributor Andy McCarthy, stating that if even half of the allegations outlined in the 37-count federal indictment against Trump were true, he would be in serious trouble. If even half of it is true, he is toast, Barr exclaimed, emphasizing the detailed nature of the indictment and the damning evidence contained within. It was a rare moment of criticism from Barr, who had previously been a staunch defender of the former president. Barr vehemently dismissed Trumps claims of political persecution, highlighting the severity of the charges against him. Refuting the notion that Trump was a victim, Barr firmly stated, This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here or a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous. He further explained that the documents in question were classified and should have been in the custody of the archivist, rather than being maintained and retained by Trump himself. This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here or a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous, Barr 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. 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. Addressing the strained relationship between himself and Trump, Barr sought to establish that his perspective on this case was independent and not clouded by personal animosity. Hes been angry with me for a while, Barr admitted, but this is simply not true. Barr pointed out that he had previously defended Trump during the Russia investigation and had spoken out against the abuse of the criminal justice system for political purposes. However, he asserted that the governments actions in this particular episode were responsible, while Trumps behavior was irresponsible. The former attorney generals remarks have added fuel to the already intense scrutiny surrounding Trumps legal predicament. With a 37-count federal indictment looming over the former president, Barrs candid analysis has raised serious questions about Trumps ability to navigate through this challenging legal landscape. As the case progresses, the nation waits with bated breath to see how the allegations against Trump unfold and whether Barrs concerns will prove to be prophetic. 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 Chinas 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 China planned to pay a cash-strapped Cuba billions of dollars as part of the negotiations. The White House called the report inaccurate. Ive seen that press report, its not accurate, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an MSNBC interview 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 U.S. intelligence community had determined Chinese spying from Cuba has been an ongoing matter and is not a new development, the administration official said. 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. 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 spanning 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 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. 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-wens 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 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, 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 defense, 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. (AP) Canadians fighting the wildfires that have sent a hazardous haze over the countrys northeast and much of northeastern United States saw a glimpse of hope Saturday with expectations of favorable weather in the coming days. Officials in the province of Quebec said the next 48 hours will be crucial, with rain forecast for Monday and warmer, humid conditions until then. But Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel said authorities are still concerned about Normetal, located 450 miles (720 kilometers) northwest of Montreal, where fires are burning nearby. Another major fight against wildfires is taking place in Lebel-sur-Quevillon, a northern municipality where the provinces largest fire is burning. The situation is stable in Chibougaumau, Mistissini, Chapais and Ouje-Bougoumou, authorities said. Bonnardel says 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 part of the fight. Provincial authorities say 13,810 Quebecers have been evacuated due to the wildfire situation in the province. Hundreds of firefighters from the France, the United States, Spain and Portugal have either arrived or will do so in the coming days. The positive forecast Saturday, comes a day after Canadian and U.S. officials said the haze was easing and the wildfire situation in Quebec improving. Quebecs forest fire prevention agency has described the current wildfire season as the worst on record. The province has reported a total of 444 wildfires so far this year, compared to an average of 207 at the same date during prior years. Experts says the wildfires have been fueled by an unusually dry and warm period in spring, and no rains are expected until next week. Canadian officials say there have been no reports of injuries and deaths so far from the fires. (AP) Electric vehicles made by General Motors will be able to use much of Teslas extensive charging network beginning early next year. In addition, GM will adopt Teslas connector, the plug that links an electric vehicle to a charging station. GM joins Ford in shifting its electric vehicles to work with about 12,000 of Teslas roughly 17,000 chargers, and both Detroit automakers are pushing to make Teslas connector the industry standard. GM CEO Mary Barra and her Tesla counterpart, Elon Musk, made the announcement Thursday during a Twitter Spaces conversation. Their discussion comes two weeks after Ford CEO Jim Farley joined Musk to announce that Fords electric vehicles would gain access to much of Teslas EV-charging network, the largest in the nation. Farley also said Ford would switch to Teslas connector rather than go with the connector used by the rest of the industry. At the opening bell Friday, shares of Tesla Inc. jumped 6% to hit a new high for the year. General Motors Co. rose 3%, and Ford Motor Co. rose 2%. At first, GM and Ford EV owners will need an adapter to hook into the Tesla stations, which have their own connector. But both GM and Ford will switch to Teslas North American Charging Standard connector starting with new EVs produced in 2025. Tesla has about 17,000 Supercharger stations in the U.S. There are about 54,000 public charging stations in the U.S., according to the Department of Energy, but many charge much more slowly than the Tesla stations. Like Ford, we see this as an opportunity to expand access to charging, Barra said, adding that GM hopes the rest of the industry will move to the Tesla charging connector, which is different from the CCS connector used on most other EVs. Musk said that GM and Tesla vehicles would have an even playing field at the charging stations. We will provide support equally to both, he said. The most important thing is we advance the electric vehicle revolution. Financial details of the agreement between the two companies were not released Thursday, but GM spokesman Darryll Harrison said GM isnt paying Tesla. Tesla will get better utilization of their network and all the new charging revenue, which will help them expand the network further, Harrison said. There are other opportunities both companies can take advantage of as a result of the agreement. Details of how customers would gain access are still being worked out. GM EV owners may have to pay a monthly charge to access Teslas charging network, or they could pay for each use. Current GM owners probably will need to buy the adapter, Harrison said. Teslas supercharger network is a huge competitive advantage for the company based in Austin, Texas, which sells more EVs than anyone else in the U.S. Chargers often are located near freeways to enable long trips, where most fast-charging plugs are needed, and generally theyre more reliable than other networks. But opening access to EVs from GM and Ford, which rank a distant second and third in U.S. EV sales, will make it easier for those owners to charge while traveling. It also could rankle some Tesla owners who already are jockeying for space at some of the busier Supercharger stations, largely in California. Barra said joining Teslas network would almost double the number of chargers available to GM electric vehicle owners. At the end of the day, were looking at whats best for our customers, Barra said. We arent the only company that comes up with good ideas. Mike Austin, an electric vehicles analyst for Guidehouse Insights, said GM joining the Tesla network is a huge step toward making Teslas connector the industrywide standard. It seems like theres a lot of momentum going the way of the North American Charging Standard, for sure, he said. If other large EV makers such as Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen and Nissan, also switch connectors, Tesla would get a large amount of revenue from its chargers, Austin said. Still, Tesla appears to be holding back at least part of its network for use only by Tesla owners, he said. The risk, he said, is that Tesla owners could have to wait for access to a plug. Tesla owners are used to not having to wait, he said. The Tesla connector and cord are much lighter and easier to handle than the CCS system used by the rest of the auto industry, Austin said. Earlier this year, the White House announced that at least 7,500 chargers from Teslas Supercharger and Destination Charger network would be available to non-Tesla electric vehicles by the end of 2024. But the rollout thus far has been slow. (AP) A recent CBS News poll released on Sunday reveals that former President Donald Trumps support remains robust, unaffected by Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis joining the race, and has even increased following special counsel Jack Smiths indictment last Thursday. According to the poll, Trump has widened his lead by 38 points over DeSantis and holds a commanding advantage of at least 57 points over the other candidates in the field. When likely GOP primary voters were asked about their preferred candidates, an overwhelming 75% expressed support for Trump. The CBS News poll results among likely GOP primary voters are as follows: Trump: 61% (+38). DeSantis: 23%. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.: 4%. Former Vice President Mike Pence: 4%. Former South Carolina GOP Gov. Nikki Haley: 3%. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy: 1%. Former Arkansas GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson: 1%. North Dakota GOP Gov. Doug Burgum: 1%. Conservative pundit Larry Elder: 1%. Former New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie: 1%. The survey, conducted after news of Trumps indictment broke, indicates that his base remains steadfastly loyal, and he has even gained support from some voters who were considering other candidates. Trumps messaging appears to resonate with likely Republican primary voters, as only 26% expressed a desire for a nominee who differs from Trump, while an overwhelming majority of 74% prefer a candidate who aligns with Trump. At this early stage of the race, where voters know they have time to weigh the merits of multiple candidates, Trump is at least being considered by three-quarters of the primary electorate; thats always a critical measure, stated CBS News poll analysis. The poll respondents were free to consider as many or as few candidates as they liked, and the majority of Republican voters are still considering multiple candidates. The breakdown of candidates being considered by likely GOP primary voters is as follows: Trump: 75%. DeSantis: 51%. Scott: 21%. Pence: 16%. Haley: 15%. Ramaswamy: 13%. Elder: 9%. Christie: 7%. Hutchinson: 6%. Burgum: 4%. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) This Motzoei Shabbos in Melbourne Australia, some 200 people gathered for the Shloshim of the late Rosh Hakohol and Askan Reb Benyomin (Yomi) Koppel zl. Another Sholshim was held in Lakewood. Both were attended by many Rabonim and Yidden from all kehilos. It was a small indication of who this great man was. R Binyomin Zev Koppel, or Yomi, as he was affectionately known, grew up in Melbourne, Australia. Yomi grew up in a loving home that was infused with hachnosas orchim. The warmth of his mother and the enthusiasm of his father was represented in the constant stream of visitors to their home. The Koppel home was permeated with chesed. How to help, who to help, when to help and he was on a constant, concerted search for ways to do more for the Klal. This was the foremost on his agenda. One night as a young boy, Yomi lay restless in his bed. When his mother asked him what was bothering him, he replied, Today when I was in the city, I saw poor people with their hands outstretched, and wearing shredded clothes and I am worried they are hungry. Clearly this unusually intense concern for others was ingrained in Yomi from his youth. Tragically Yomi was orphaned after his mother suffered through a tragic illness and she was niftor before he was married. The nisyonos Yomi faced as a young child seemed to lay the foundation for a serious future for Yomi who displayed fortitudes of strength and resilience in his focus on his avodas Hashem. Yomi would allow no obstacle stand in the way on helping others. Yomi married Sara, daughter of R Yosef Reinitz and together they carried on their sacred work, with an intense desire to help the Klal. For more than three decades R Yomi stood at the helm of the Adass kehilla, as Rosh Hakohol. Despite elections every four years, Yomi was always re-elected. Coupled with his position of prestige was paradoxically a blatant distaste for kovod. Yomi would decline the designated seat at the front of shul or place on the dais during functions. Yomis involvement was in every facet of the Kehilla life the Talmud Torah, Beis Yaakov, and Shechita. He was a welcome visitor as chaplain to the Melbourne prisons. Yomi had the unique gift with his soft-spoken words and manner to unite Melbourne Yiden. He demonstrated eminent respect and worked arduously on cultivating achdus between neighbouring kehilos. Yomi was respected and adored by all people of all ages. The open-door policy in his home translated into established weekly guests. Additionally, many choshuve Rabonim graced the Koppels Shabbos table such as -R Shimon Gallei, Dushinsky Rebbe, Toldos Aharon Rebbe and many other dignitaries. The dining table remained extended to seat the numerous guests, numbering more than twenty people. The outstanding feature was the manner in which the downtrodden and the choshuv were treated with the identical exalted level of honour. There were countless overnight guests, given their own keys as if they were baal habayis of the home, who sometimes stayed for weeks and months. Yomi had an insatiable desire to give tzodoko in every form. R Yomi was a soft spoken, aidel human who accomplished so much in the most unassuming manner, without any fanfare. An erev yomtov outing with the children was to slip money under the doormats of those in need, while the children being told that the recipients were to remain a secret. When Yomi faced nisyonos during his life, the first address in his eis tzoroh was always gedolim. His emunas chachomim was legendary, with every question asked to the Rov shlite. It was Yomis background and forefront work that ensured that the kehilla had a replacement Rov within the year. He was keenly aware of the koach and importance of a Rov and he undertook this project and despite logistical obstacles, Yomi persevered and a new Rov took on the mantle of leadership. Three and half years ago, R Yomi was diagnosed with a tragic and terrible machla. The doctors grim prognosis was twelve months. Yomi was advised by R Kohn shlite to keep his diagnosis a secret and then the refuah will result through a hidden neis. R Yomi was zoche to an additional productive three years. Throughout this time, Yomi kept going with his tzorchei tzibur. He was relentless where others would have fallen into a heap, Yomi, with his optimistic drive and ability to see good in every situation, had an unquenchable thirst for tzorchei tzibur. The concept that a Kollel should be set up under the Ruv shlite was proposed. Despite its challenges, and naysayers, Yomi persisted, despite his ill health and was instrumental in its institution. How fitting was it that right before he was niftar, this very kollel went to daven by his parents R Noson and Zisels Kevorim in Melbourne for a refuah shleima. We would surmise that a person who was so engrossed and so instrumental in the tzibur would have little time for his family this was not the case. In the days prior to his petiro, his daughter was sitting with her father and she yawned. Immediately his concern was for her. His interest in his family was quite incredible, always looking for ways to help them and enquiring what they need. He was an exceptional husband, father, father in law, grandfather, brother and uncle. He had such an intense pride in his children and grandchildren. His children in law felt like his children and there was a mutual adoration coupled with respect for each of them. His married children all lived in the USA and whenever Yomi went for treatments or clinic visits, he would hide these from them, not wanting to worry them. Yomi is survived by his doting wife who always stood behind him, supporting his tireless endeavours. A true Ezer Knegdo in every sense who refused to believe in his dire prognosis. She truly believed there would be a neis. And yet at the age of sixty two, when Yomis time came to return his neshomo to his Creator, his eishes Chayil accepted the rotzon Hashem with a serene acceptance. Yomis childrens devotion to their father and their want to continue his legacy is laudable. He will be missed by his children and their families Shmuly Koppel and family, Moshe Amrom Strauss and family, Moshe, Motty Rottenberg and family, Ari Brecher and family, Eli Dovid, Shloimy and Nosson. The gaping loss R Yomi left is keenly felt as an endless ripple effect by his family, the Adass community and the tzibur over the globe. May R Yomi be a meilitz yosher for his adoring family and klal yisroel. Yechi Zichro Boruch (YWN World Headquarters NYC) CNN legal analyst Elie Honig unleashed scathing criticism against the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the extended duration of its investigation into Hunter Biden, which has spanned over five years. Honigs remarks came in response to Mondays New York Post cover featuring the headline, What About the Bidens? During a segment on CNN This Morning, host Phil Mattingly raised the question of whether the whataboutism surrounding the Biden investigation was unique to Washington D.C. or resonated with the broader public. He inquired if it was a fair analog to compare different cases. In response, CNN correspondent Sara Murray weighed in, stating, I dont think we are talking about an apples-to-apples comparison here. No, its not a fair analogy in that nobody in these cases has been stashing hundreds of documents with classified markings in a bathroom and then refusing to return them to the federal government. Interrupting the discussion, Elie Honig interjected, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation. He remarked, Sara makes a great point about the Hunter Biden investigation at DOJ. This is preposterous! Highlighting CNNs reporting, Honig revealed that the investigation had been pending since 2018, amounting to five years. He clarified that the probe in question was unrelated to the laptop controversy and instead focused on a tax issue. Honig outlined the key aspects under investigation, including Hunter Bidens compliance with income declarations and a potential violation of federal law regarding the possession of firearms while addicted to drugs. He also raised the question of whether Hunter Biden had provided false information in relation to this matter. Expressing his exasperation, Honig criticized the prolonged timeline of the investigation, stating, But five years, I mean, thats a five-week investigation. Somebody, and this spans the Trump administration and the Biden administration, someones got to make a call on this case. I dont know what is going on, but its beyond anything Ive seen before. Concluding his remarks, Honig emphatically called for action, exclaiming, Make a call! (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Donald Trump was traveling to Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance this week on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Departments efforts to get the records back. Trumps Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Departments first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardized national security, with Espionage Act charges carrying the prospect of a significant prison sentence. Ahead of his court date, he and his allies have been escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests. Hes ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith deranged as he repeated without any evidence his claims that he was the target of a political persecution. And even as his supporters accuse the Justice Department of being weaponized against him, he vowed Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family if Trump is elected to a second term. Trump boarded a plane in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday morning to take him to Miami. Wearing a navy suit and red tie, he gave a quick wave before stepping onboard. Hes encouraged supporters to join a planned protest at the Miami courthouse Tuesday, where he will face the charges and surrender to authorities. We need strength in our country now, Trump said Sunday, speaking to longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone in an interview on WABC Radio. And they have to go out and they have to protest peacefully. They have to go out. Look, our country has to protest. We have plenty of protest to protest. Weve lost everything, he went on. He also said there were no circumstances whatsoever under which he would leave the 2024 race, where hes been dominating the Republican primary. Other Trump supporters have rallied to his defense with similar language, including Kari Lake, the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona who pointedly said over the weekend that if prosecutors want to get to President Trump, theyre going to have to go through me, and 75 million Americans just like me. And most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA. Trumps calls for protest echoed exhortations he made ahead of a New York court appearance last April, where he faces charges arising from hush money payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign, though he complained that those who showed up to protest then were so far away that nobody knew about em, And just like in that case, he plans to address supporters in a Tuesday evening speech hours after his court date. After his court appearance, he will return to New Jersey, where hes scheduled a press event to publicly respond to the charges. Hell also be holding a private fundraiser. Trump supporters were also planning to load buses to head to Miami from other parts of Florida, raising concerns for law enforcement officials who are preparing for the potential of unrest around the courthouse. Mayor Francis Suarez was expected to announce additional details Monday about the preparations though there was little police presence near the courthouse a stark contrast to New York City where police planned for protests for weeks even though no violence ultimately happened. The Justice Department unsealed Friday an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defense information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements. The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in January 2021. The material he stored, including in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower, included material on nuclear programs, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign governments and a Pentagon attack plan, the indictment says. The information, if exposed, could have put at risk members of the military, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said. Beyond that, prosecutors say, he sought to obstruct government efforts to recover the documents, including by directing personal aide Walt Nauta who was charged alongside Trump to move boxes to conceal them and also suggesting to his own lawyer that he hide or destroy documents sought by a Justice Department subpoena. Some fellow Republicans have sought to press the case that Trump is being treated unfairly, citing the Justice Departments decision in 2016 to not charge Democrat Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information through a private email server she relied on as secretary of state. But those arguments overlook that FBI investigators did not find any evidence that Clinton or her aides had willfully broken laws regarding classified information or had obstructed the investigation. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, speaking Sunday on CBS News, said there was a huge difference between the two investigations but that it has to be explained to the American people. The Justice Department earlier this month informed former Vice President Mike Pence that it would not bring charges over the presence of classified documents in his Indiana home. A separate Justice Department special counsel investigation into the discovery of classified records at a home and office of President Joe Biden continues, though as in the Clinton case, no evidence of obstruction or intentional law-breaking has surfaced. Trumps own former attorney general, William Barr, offered a grim assessment of Trumps predicament, saying on Fox News that Trump had no right to hold onto such sensitive records. If even half of it is true, Barr said of the allegations, then hes toast. I mean, its a pretty its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. And this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here a victim of a witch hunt is ridiculous. (AP) In a surprising development, Keechant Sewell, the Police Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), has announced her resignation after serving for nearly a year and a half. Sewells decision to step down was revealed on Monday, marking the end of her tenure at the helm of one of the nations largest police forces, according to sources familiar with the matter. In an email addressed to the department, obtained exclusively by The NY Post, Sewell expressed her gratitude and admiration for the officers she had worked with during her time as commissioner. She acknowledged the immense challenges and triumphs they faced together, emphasizing their compassion, heroism, and selflessness in the line of duty. The email read, Since I joined you almost a year and a half ago, we have faced tremendous tragedy, challenges, and triumphs together. I have witnessed your compassion, heroics, and selflessness on a daily basis. They have reaffirmed to me what people around the globe have always known: you are an extraordinary collective of hardworking public servants dedicated to the safety of this city, engaging our communities, and sharing what we know with our partners for the benefit of the world. Please continue to do what you do well to secure this city. Sewell, who was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, made history when she became the first woman to lead the NYPD on January 1, 2022. Her appointment was met with widespread acclaim, as she brought a fresh perspective and a commitment to community engagement to the role. Throughout her tenure, Sewell worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the diverse communities they serve, emphasizing the importance of building trust and fostering positive relationships. Although the reasons behind Sewells resignation remain undisclosed, her departure raises questions about the future direction of the NYPD under new leadership. Mayor Adams, himself a former NYPD captain, will now face the task of selecting a successor who can continue Sewells initiatives and tackle the ongoing challenges of policing in a rapidly changing city. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Correspondence from a closed Whatsapp group dedicated to the protests against the judicial reform revealed on Sunday evening by Channel 14 News shows how the real goal of the protests, which are being funded by deep pockets, is to topple a right-wing government headed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The groups members include former prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, former IDF chiefs of staff Dan Halutz and Bogie Yaalon, the founder of the anarchist Crime Minister movement Yishai Hadas, and leaders of the Black Flags movement Roy Neuman, Shikma Bressler, and Eyal Schwarzman. Hadas, 68, wrote: Everything that I warned about has come true. Weve become very weak. Only an expanded hard core remains. If you want to try to use or produce a significant trigger that will bring us and the masses back into the picture now is the moment!! We made mistakes we surrendered to the narrative of Netanyahu, the President and the opposition. Nows the time to try to fix it. We must produce public drama! Enough talking! Actions! Olmert wrote: At the start of the protest, I said that a battle is not seminars and academic speeches. We need head-to-head and hand-to-hand combat. So there were reservations about the wording because it sounded too aggressive. It seems to me that my statements still hold true. Without violence and violating the law but in war as in war. Dan Halutz wrote: Friends, if we dont recruit thousands of participants in order to produce the required effect, then its better not to do it. Efforts should be concentrated on building power. The message needs to be correct. Im donating three vehicles. The group members discussed the fact that the real number of participants in the protests in Tel Aviv is rapidly dwindling and they aim for at least 35,000 to turn up. [Meanwhile, the left-wing Israeli media channels regularly report about hundreds of thousands of people showing up to each protest.] The members then discussed the idea of blocking Ben-Gurion Airport. Halutz warned: If there arent 500 cars, it will be a fiasco. The issue of the protesters being fined arose. Barak suggested establishing a large fund that will compensate protestors for any fines they incur. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud) responded to the report by stating: Barak and his accomplices, the released prisoner Olmert, the broker Halutz, and their comrades are in dire straits and as their plight increases, so does their fanaticism. Every citizen should read the correspondence in this insurrectionist WhatsApp group read and judge for themselves if they want to be part of this dangerous group of anarchists. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Leftist protesters spat and cursed Energy Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) on Sunday evening in Tel Aviv, where he was attending a ministry event. Protesters yelled at him fatso and pig and Putins friend on his way in and out, and also spat at him on the way out, when he was surrounded by Yasam riot police officers. After the disturbing incident, Katz wrote on Twitter: I participated tonight in the lighting ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the first electricity in Tel Aviv while protesters of darkness stood there and screamed and cursedand spat. They didnt shy away from violence masquerading as democracy. Ill continue building the country according to my path and vision. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated: Bushah! I condemn the violence against my friend, the Energy Minister, and expect justice to be meted out to the perpetrators. The left-wing protesters crossed all red lines long ago and I call on opposition leader Lapid to call for calm before its too late. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated: I condemn with disgust the protesters violence against my friend, Energy Minister Yisrael Katz. Violence of any kind is a dangerous and wrong thing that requires strict treatment by the enforcement agencies. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A new law stating criminalizing incitement against Chareidim under the Racism Law was approved on Sunday in a preliminary reading in the Knessets Ministerial Committee for Legislation. The bill was sponsored by UTJ MK Yaakov Asher, who tried passing the same bill [unsuccessfuly] during the Bennett-Lapid government, and was co-sponsored by UTJ MKs Moshe Gafni and Yitzchak Pindrus. Until now, incitement was only considered racism when it was perpetrated on the basis of color, race, or national-ethnic origin. Since incitement against Chareidim does not fall under any of these definitions, a vacuum was created which Asher seeks to correct by this law. The explanation for the bill states: Recently, we are witnessing an expanding phenomenon of incitement to racism towards the Chareidi sector. Particularly serious are the cases in which incitement is carried out by elected officials with the aim of dividing the people and thereby reaping political gain while harming the entire public and the unity of the people. These cases also have other consequences, including the entrenchment of the phenomenon of racism in society towards the Chareidi population. Following the incitement to serious racism that was recently carried out by an elected official towards the Chareidi population, a complaint was submitted to the State Attorneys office. The offices response stated that according to the parameters of the Penal Law, the basis of the crime of incitement to racism does not apply to statements toward the Chareidi population since the law defines racism as incidents due to color or belonging to a race or national-ethnic origin, and the Chareidi population is not distinguished by color, race or national-ethnic origin. In this regard, it should be noted that the Chareidi population is indeed not distinguished by the color of its skin, etc., but it is distinguished by its clothing and lifestyle, so there is no rationale for an exception to the provisions of the law. Asher said: The time has come to put a red line to the dangerous incitement that is raging against the Chareidi public with the encouragement of inciting politicians and media personalities. There is no other group in the State of Israel that is incited against as a group like the Chareidi public. The law that I initiated will make it possible to exact a cost from instigators and make it clear that the blood of Chareidi citizens will not be hefker. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Frasers Group has struck a new partnership with AO World following its acquisition of a significant stake in the online electricals seller. Mike Ashley's retail empire revealed it had invested 75million buying AO World shares worth 68 pence each last Friday, equivalent to 18.9 per cent of the business. Michael Murray, Frasers' chief executive and son-in-law of Ashley, said the deal would enable the firm to boost growth in its bulk equipment and homeware ranges. Strategic partnership: Frasers Group revealed it had invested 75million buying an 18.9 per cent stake in online electricals seller AO World Based in Bolton, AO World specialises in selling household products ranging from fridges to washing machines, televisions and thermostats to UK customers. The investment comes after two years of talks between the companies and is the latest in Frasers' long history of acquiring stakes in other notable brands. Ashley's firm is also known for buying under-the-weather businesses, many of them out of administration, such as House of Fraser, Jack Wills, home shopping firm Studio Retail Group, and tailor Gieves & Hawkes. John Roberts, founder and chief executive of AO, said: 'We are delighted to welcome Michael and the wider Frasers team into the AO family and look forward to realising the significant potential that we see for this partnership. 'As we continue to build on our strategy of pivoting to profitable growth, it will be hugely exciting to have a range of compelling strategic opportunities to explore together, and we're very much looking forward to working with Michael and his team.' Just before the AO World deal, the FTSE 100 business upped its stake in Asos to almost 10 per cent, raising speculation that it is planning a full takeover of the struggling retailer. Buying spree: Frasers Group, founded by Mike Ashley (pictured), has a long history of acquiring stakes in other notable brands ASOS shares have plummeted by more than 93 per cent in the past two years amid a slowdown in online clothing purchases due to the loosening of Covid-related restrictions and cost-of-living problems. AO World shares have also slumped heavily since the lockdown era when Britons with extra savings sought to upgrade their domestic appliances but could not obtain them at many bricks-and-mortar outlets. Trading has been hit by shops opening up again, as well as rising costs, supply chain disruption caused by a shortage of delivery drivers and semiconductors, and customers cancelling repair warranties to save cash. The business has subsequently exited its underperforming German market and cut many senior and middle management positions to reduce costs. These measures appear to be paying off, with AO World reporting in April that its full-year profits were expected to be at the high end of forecasts, its fourth earnings outlook hike since last July. AO World shares were 7.5 per cent up at 74.75p on late Monday afternoon, while Frasers Group shares slid 0.2 per cent to 6.83. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Frasers is always one to spot a bargain and the big sell-off in AO's share price - from above 400p in 2021 to sub-40p last summer - will not have gone unnoticed. 'It describes the investment as the foundation for forming a strategic partnership while it is easy to speculate that Frasers will eventually acquire AO outright, it has form for taking equity stakes but not making full takeovers.' The political turmoil in Peru fails has thus far largely failed to register in news pages of the UK media. But for PetroTal and its investors, it is a combustible and very expensive reality. Shares in the company, which operates in the north-east of the country, fell 9 per cent after an illegal and violent river blockade kept out vessels providing services to its operations. PetroTal said the Indigenous Association for Development and Conservation of Bajo Puinahua initiated the blockade last week. N Brown last week warned that 'weaker confidence' could continue to weigh on performance The disruption coincided with planned production reductions which will allow PetroTal to connect existing infrastructure and implement modifications for future oil production. As a result, the field will be shut down for five days, which started on 8 June, which will impact oil production forecasts for the year. Across the broader market, the AIM All-Share Index was largely flat, down 0.03 per cent to 790.25 points in the first week of June. Elsewhere, the FTSE 100 ended last week down 0.2 per cent to 7,593, while the FTSE 250 shed around 0.4 per cent to 19,075 points. Sticking with oil players, and IOG plunged 45 per cent to 3.6p after it revealed a potential mechanical blockage downhole found during well clean-up and testing operations at the Blythe H2 well in the Southern North Sea. Output continues to be below the initial gas flow rate. During a bad news week for junior oilers, Barryroe Offshore Energy nosedived more than 79 per cent to 0.24p as the Irish group ditched plans for its previously announced equity raise, which would have resulted in a 20million injection of capital. Now uncertain over its financial future, Barryroe opted to reach out to its larger shareholders in an attempt to secure necessary working capital. Clean Power Hydrogen's investors weren't too pleased with the termination of its licence agreement with GHFG due to a breach of contract, with shares slipping 14 per cent to 22.5p last week. Beleaguered retailer N Brown was unable to stop the rot after hinting that 'weaker confidence' could continue to weigh on performance, sending shares 11 per cent lower to 24.8p. Onto some risers, and one of London's largest movers last week was Amigo Holdings, which more than doubled to 0.69p. The credit provider confirmed it started an orderly solvent wind-down of its business in March. Also making positive share price moves was Barkby, the diversified group of high growth and quality business. Barkby gained 27 per cent to 4.2p after its subsidiary, Cambridge Sleep Sciences, was granted a five-year global licence to manufacture a 'Smart Pillow.' Gama Aviation flew higher after it reported strong profits cashflow on the back of significant growth and improved profitability at its US maintenance and repair business, Jet East. Underlying group profit nearly doubled to $22.9million as revenue rose 21 per cent to $285.6million, sending shares 4 per cent higher to 53.9p Shares in mining company Premier African Minerals shined, gaining 32 per cent to 0.82p, after it confirmed it is in advanced discussions to add additional material to its agreement with Canmax Technologies. The two are close to agreeing on an arrangement whereby both parties will equally share revenues from the sale of lithium hydroxide produced from spodumene supplied by Premier. Canmax, which sells and manufactures new energy materials, also confirmed it has no intention to back out of its existing arrangement. It was a good week for RWS Holdings, the language translation specialist, jumped over 10 per cent to 258p after announcing plans to return 50million to shareholders via a buyback. The AIM-listed company, which broke a market cap of 1billion following the announcement, also held full-year guidance, with revenue of 747million and pre-tax profits of 126million. Finally, are we witnessing signs of life in the capital markets? The answer might be affirmative. A couple of large-cap IPOs have surfaced, including the FTSE 100-bound WE Soda. Among the minnows, new listings are beginning to be announced, and about 20 secondary fundraisers have taken place in the past month. However, the funds involved in these latter instances have been negligible. The average has hovered around 2million, with exactly half of the companies raising less than 1million, which in market parlance is just enough to keep the lights on. Yet, we noticed a similar trend starting from the end of January, with amounts raised gradually increasing in tandem with confidence. This trend persisted until mid-March when Silicon Valley Bank, a lender to thousands of high-tech and high-growth companies, collapsed, shattering sentiment and sending small-cap investors rushing for cover. Sources within London's corporate brokerage community suggest that there might be a short-lived renaissance in the fortunes of secondary and primary markets however, this resurgence is expected to be brief as we transition into the slow days of summer. What transpires when everyone returns from their holidays in September is likely largely dependent on the decisions of central banks, as well as the actions of Messrs Putin and Zelensky. For more small cap news, go to Proactive Investors' website. Hopes: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) hailed the relaunch of SVB UK as a 'really big step forward for the UK' Jeremy Hunt hailed the relaunch of collapsed tech sector lender SVB UK under a new name as a really big step forward for the UK. The British arm of Silicon Valley Bank was sold to HSBC for 1 in an emergency rescue deal hatched over a frantic weekend in March, and overseen by the Treasury and the Bank of England. SVB UKs collapse, which followed the demise of its US parent Silicon Valley Bank, had threatened to deliver a hammer blow to thousands of British start-ups. The Chancellor, speaking at the banks relaunch at London Tech Week, said: It was actually a very hairy weekend because we had this precious Ming vase that was the ecosystem that SVB has been right at the centre of. Perhaps a quarter or maybe even a third of the most promising new companies were at risk. A lot was at stake. Hunt quipped to HSBCs UK boss Ian Stuart over the 1 sale: I think you did very well out of it by the way. SVB UK will form the basis of HSBC Innovation Banking, a global division that is also setting up outposts in the US, Israel and Hong Kong. Erin Platts, who led SVB UK, will lead the UK arm of HSBC Innovation. City minister Andrew Griffith hailed the fantastic news that a US venture capital giant is opening its first international office in the UK. Andreessen Horowitz has invested in some of the worlds biggest tech names including Facebook, Twitter and Skype and it is also a major backer of cryptocurrency companies. The decision to open an office in the UK comes as the firm seeks a more hospitable environment for crypto and the blockchain technology behind it amid a regulatory crackdown in the US. But it is also the latest sign of global firms alighting on Britain as the Government seeks to boost its tech credentials offsetting some of the recent doom and gloom about Londons status as a financial centre as firms up sticks for New York. UK office: Andreessen Horowitz, founded by Chris Dixon,(pictured), has invested in some of the world biggest tech names including Facebook and Twitter Last week, the boss of US artificial intelligence firm Palantir hailed the UK as a bastion of top talent after choosing it for a European headquarters. California-based Andreessen Horowitz, which manages 28billion of assets, said it would work with universities in the UK and support the development of blockchain technologies and start-ups. It will also run a crypto start-up school in London next spring. Chris Dixon, founder and managing director of the firms a16z crypto fund, which is setting up the office, said it has become clear that the Government sees the promise of web3 a transformation of the nature of the internet, based on blockchain. Griffith said: Fantastic news that Andreessen Horowitz one of the worlds most successful tech investment firms has decided to open their first international office in the UK. And that part of the reason to locate in London is the strength of the UKs financial sector and our balanced approach to the proposed regulatory frameworks for web3 and crypto assets. Dixon said: While there is still work to be done, we believe that the UK is on the right path to becoming a leader in crypto regulation. The UK also has deep pools of talent, world-leading academic institutions and a strong entrepreneurial culture. Britain is also, Dixon said, home to more unicorns start-up companies valued at $1bn or more than Germany, France and Sweden combined. The positive noises on crypto contrast with some of the scepticism expressed by the Financial Conduct Authority, which revealed last week that 5m adults owned crypto assets last year but continues to warn that those who invest should be prepared to lose all their money. In America, the Securities and Exchange Commission has been cracking down on the industry, last week filing lawsuits against cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Binance for allegedly breaching its rules. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. It is necessary to maintain and continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with officials and scientists of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran in Tehran June 11, 2023, Trend reports. Of course, this cooperation should be carried out within the framework of safeguards. This issue regarding Iran's nuclear industry has been repeatedly mentioned, the supreme leader added. Khamenei added that the decision of the Iranian parliament regarding the nuclear industry is a good and beneficial law for the country. This law must be enforced, and there should be no evasion of that law in providing information to the agency. According to him, Iran is not after nuclear weapons. In recent months, the US has also noted that there is no indication that Iran is moving towards making a nuclear weapon. In late 2020, the Iranian parliament has decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility currently produces 17-20 grams of 20-percent enriched uranium per hour. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, 1,000 units of IR2M centrifuges have been installed. 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 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. First Republic Bank was founded by Jim Herbert with the intention of providing exceptional levels of customer service. It was his belief that customer service would set the bank apart and create a profitable investment for its shareholders. After 35 years, his vision has proven true with a 25% CAGR that continues to this day. The initial enterprise value has grown from only $8.8 million in that time, to over $19 billion making it the 14th largest bank in the US. First Republic Bank was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. First Republic Bank with its subsidiaries operates in two segments and provides personal banking, business banking, and wealth management services to individuals, families, organizations, and small businesses in the United States. The companys services are available in-person at one of the more than 80 offices or via ATM, online, mobile, and debit cards. The company offers deposit products including checking and saving accounts, money market, and CDs as well as a range of lending products. The full range of lending products includes but is not limited to residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, commercial real estate and construction loans, and personal and business loans. The companys wealth management services include advisory services, online investment management, trusts, estate planning, and alternative investments as well as insurance and foreign exchange. The online brokerage service is available to all clients and can be accessed at any time via a web browser or mobile device. First Republic Bank operates a network of more than 80 deposit-taking branches and 12 wealth management offices. The network is located primarily in California with additional branches in major metropolitan areas and two destination locations that include Portland, Boston, Palm Beach, Greenwich, New York, and Jackson, Wyoming. First Republic Bank has proven its worth over the year by maintaining a consistently strong capital level, asset quality, and liquidity position. Its prudent management has allowed it to weather market ups and downs while commanding investment grade ratings for its bonds and preferred stock. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Iran continues diplomatic discussions on its nuclear program with the opposite parties at various levels through mediation and friendly countries, Spokesman of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran on June 12, Trend reports. The spokesman emphsized that the Iranian side has never left the discussions in order to ensure its national interest at the maximum level. Iran has always announced that it is ready to achieve a result in the discussions, and Iran's criterion is not the statements of the opposite side to the media, but the actions, said Kanaani. Iran has a clear and transparent position in the process of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPOA) and nuclear negotiations, he added. According to Kanaani, the principle policy of the Iranian government is to implement the strategic action plan of the parliament in order to ensure the national interest, not to cross the announced red lines. In late 2020, the Iranian parliament has decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility currently produces 17-20 grams of 20-percent enriched uranium per hour. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, 1,000 units of IR2M centrifuges have been installed. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. The main goal of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) in its nuclear research (including uranium enrichment, etc.) is to commercialize its nuclear industry by producing various types of products, Spokesman of the AEOI, Behrouz Kamalvandi said, Trend reports. Kamalvandi noted that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has implemented a number of pilot industrial programs. So, currently, Iran has markets for heavy water sales and has a large number of customers. Iran should pass the stage where its nuclear industry does not consist of only uranium enrichment and production of centrifuges. Of course, uranium enrichment and the installation of centrifuges are important issues. However, since the nuclear industry is a wider and more effective area, various programs should be implemented in this area, he added. The spokesman stressed that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran wants the private sector to enter the nuclear industry. Because the private sector can provide both investments and market demand. According to him, currently, Iranian start-up companies are actively involved in the nuclear industry. In late 2020, the Iranian parliament has decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility currently produces 17-20 grams of 20-percent enriched uranium per hour. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, 1,000 units of IR2M centrifuges have been installed. According to the information obtained by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has increased the amount of highly enriched uranium by 27 percent in the last three months, and currently, the country's enriched uranium reserves are 4,745 kilograms. This is 15 times more than the amount of uranium allowed for Iran in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Iran does not accept an interim agreement with the US and Western countries regarding its nuclear program, or negotiations regarding new formats to replace the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Spokesman of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran on June 12, Trend reports. The spokesman noted that the spread of news about the interim agreement on Iran's nuclear program may be aimed by some parties to undermine the current process of negotiations for political purposes. Kanaani added that the core of Iran's discussions on its nuclear program is the JCPOA, and there is no new framework for it. A few weeks ago, information exchange between Iran and the US was carried out with the support of the Sultanate of Oman and the officials of this country in order to accelerate the discussions for the purpose of lifting sanctions. At present, the exchange of information continues, he said. Kanaani emphasized that Iran welcomes Oman's initiative and used its potential as a friendly country. 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 Ukraines top military command said on Monday its forces were engaged in heavy battles in frontline hot spots, as the defence ministry said several villages were liberated from Russian occupation in the opening phase of a 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. Ukraines Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar posted on Monday a photo showing soldiers hoisting the Ukrainian flag at what she said was the village of Storozheve in Donetsk, and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it. Reuters could not verify the report and it was not immediately clear when the village was reclaimed. On Sunday, Ukraine said its troops had made advances on three villages in Donetsk: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Storozheve is located between Blahodatne and Neskuchne. There was no immediate comment from Russian officials. Some prominent Russian military bloggers indicated that while Ukrainian forces took Blahodatne and Neskuchne, fighting for Makarivka was going on. Both sides have said their forces had inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on their enemy over the past week, as Ukraines counteroffensive began to take shape. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine had failed to breach Russian defences, while his defence ministry said it had destroyed several Leopard battle tanks and other equipment that Ukraine had received from the West. While staying largely silent over the past week about its counteroffensive, Ukraines military has reported daily battlefield successes. Over the last week in the Bakhmut direction, the Russian invaders suffered significant losses, the general staff said on Monday. The governor of the Donetsk region in Ukraine said one civilian was killed and two were wounded by Russian fire in the Avdiivka region on Sunday. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Kyiv wanted to discuss details of the aircraft coalition with its allies at the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on June 15 in Brussels. Zelenskiy has long been appealing for Ukraine to be supplied with U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, and for Ukrainian pilots to be trained. At this stage, we are talking about training of pilots and our technicians and engineers, Ukraines Military Media Centre quoted Reznikov as saying. Source: Reuters Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone talk upon the Turkish sides initiative, Azernews reports, citing Kazinform. The President of Turkiye expressed deep condolences to Tokayev and the fraternal people of Kazakhstan over the deaths of people as a result of major wildfires in Abai region. During the conversation, the Kazakh and Turkish leaders also discussed the issues of bilateral cooperation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. 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. 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. Egypts Strategy for Human Rights was the focus of talks between Egyptian MPs and European Union (EU) Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore in Brussels on Tuesday. Students across Tipperary continued with their leaving certificate exams this morning when Maths paper 2 was sat by thousands of students. After the generally stressful and unpredictable first paper last week, today's exam was approached with caution by students. The verdict on the leaving certificate Maths higher level Paper 2 was provided by Studyclix subject expert Stephen Begley, a Maths teacher at Dundalk Grammar School who said: After a rocky start for many with paper 1, Maths Paper 2 saw a fair, doable and well-set exam giving students lots of opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the typical Paper 2 topics. The usual suspects of Probability, Statistics, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry and Geometry appeared in well guided and well prompted questions. Students will certainly feel a weight lifted off their shoulders after what was a very fair paper. The short questions each spanned a single topic. Probability, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry of the Line and the Circle, Statistics and Geometry boasted a short question each and were certainly generous in what they asked. The questions were clear, direct, and very workable. Students would have been content with these and would have certainly built up their confidence throughout the paper as they made their way onto the long questions in Section B. Given the choice due to the amendments, students had to complete three of the four long questions in Section B Contexts and Applications. The first was a generous Trigonometry question which covered their knowledge of triangles, trigonometric functions and a little touch of calculus, a delight for any higher level student. Most students would have been happy to work on this approachable and straight-up question. Next was the traditional Statistics & Probability style question, which for those who prepared who this topic would have been thrilled to see. Question 9 saw a mixture of Area & Volume, Trigonometry and the Circle in a very approachable question. The exam concluded with an Area & Volume and Probability question. This was a very workable section and students could have certainly played to their strengths given the choice offered to them. After what was a rocky start with Paper 1 for some, this mornings Paper 2 made a u-turn on the challenge posed to students on Friday. Those who prepared the usual Paper 2 topics would have certainly been very content with the paper. Overall, the examiner offered the students a good deal of choice in a very decent set of questions. While of course elements of challenge appeared in parts, much of the paper was encouraging, straightforward and very fair. Speaking about the leaving certificate Maths ordinary Level Paper 2, Studyclix subject expert Stephen Begley said: After a busy Paper 1, students were given a decent selection of questions in Paper 2. The short questions were mostly direct and concise and covered a single topic each. The usual suspects of Coordinate Geometry of the Line and Circle, Statistics, Probability, Area and Geometry made for a short question each. For the most part these questions were well guided in their demand. The long questions had some very nice parts, though maintained a balance of challenge throughout. These context heavy questions were very clear and direct in what they were asking students to do. Students could select any three of the four long questions covering Trigonometry, Area and Volume, Statistics and Area/Probability. Given the balance of marks between the short and the long questions, alongside the workability of the questions, students would have been content with this fair, approachable and balanced paper. Regarding the junior certificate Science exam Studyclix subject expert Liam Hennelly, who is a Science teacher at Belvedere College S.J., Co, Dublin, said: Section A of the paper was very fair. It would have allowed students to settle into the paper and to pick up a lot of marks in this Section that had ten questions worth 150 marks. It focused on Biology, Chemistry and Physics but did not contain a question on Earth and Space. As expected, Section B of the paper was more challenging. It contained one question worth 30 marks and four questions worth 45 marks. A recurring theme in these questions is that topics from the different strands of the specifications were interwoven into the questions. Question 11 was based on the Carbon cycle from the Earth and Space strand. It included topical questions on greenhouse gases and global warming. Question 12 was a really nice and accessible question on Forces from the Physics strand. Question 13 was from the Earth and Space strand and focused on Eclipses and the Nature of Science. Question 14 was a challenging question as it started off examining students' knowledge of Forces and measurement and then went into human nutrition. Question 15 was a very nice question. It focused on the breathing system and the heart and finished with two questions on respiration and the effect of micro-organisms on human health. But Question 14 part (f) may have thrown off some students as they were given 22 lines to do an extended piece of writing by describing the processes involved from when bread is put into the mouth to when cells use the energy in the carbohydrate. Overall, this was an accessible and reasonably fair paper that would have been well received. However, the lack of choice in the paper continues to be an issue. Students across the country continue with their exams this week. SCOTTISH former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has released a statement following her arrest by Police Scotland. Ms Sturgeon has said that she is innocent beyond doubt in a statement published on Sunday. 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, stated the former Scottish minister. She pointed out that given the nature of the process, she 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 added. Nicola Sturgeon was released without charges after being questioned by detectives as a suspect as part of Operation Branchform a Police Scotland investigation into the SNPs finances, following claims the party misspent 600,000 of donations. Ms Sturgeon is the third person to have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation. [June 12, 2023] DigitalBridge Announces Key Senior Management Appointments to Continue Meeting Accelerated Global Expansion of Digital Infrastructure Tweet DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG) ("DigitalBridge"), a leading global asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure, is pleased to announce several significant appointments within its senior management team, further expanding its capabilities to meet the rapidly growing demand for digital infrastructure across the globe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612595160/en/ #DigitalBridge #digitalinfrastructure #digitalinfraaltmanager (Graphic: Business Wire) The leadership appointments and promotions include: Geoffrey Goldschein , who previously served as Managing Director and General Counsel of DBRG's Investment Management division, has been appointed as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary . In his new role, Mr. Goldschein will lead DigitalBridge's legal function, providing strategic guidance and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks in countries where DigitalBridge operates. Mr. Goldschein brings twenty years of experience advising on fund formations, U.S. securities laws, portfolio company acquisitions and divestitures, and other material portfolio company matters. , who previously served as Managing Director and General Counsel of DBRG's Investment Management division, has been appointed as . In his new role, Mr. Goldschein will lead DigitalBridge's legal function, providing strategic guidance and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks in countries where DigitalBridge operates. Mr. Goldschein brings twenty years of experience advising on fund formations, U.S. securities laws, portfolio company acquisitions and divestitures, and other material portfolio company matters. Francisco Sorrentino has joined DigitalBridge as Chief People Officer . Mr. Sorrentino brings a wealth of experience in talent acquisition, organizational development and employee engagement. With over two decades of experience, Mr. Sorrentino previously served as Chief Human Resources Officer and Operating Partner at Softbank Group, where he established the internal HR function and Human Capital practice to support portfolio companies. He also directed the Human Resources division for Microsoft in Latin America and led the Organizational Effectiveness practice at AIG during the post-2008 financial crisis. During his 17 years at IBM, he held various leadership positions. In his new role, Mr. Sorrentino will drive organizational effectiveness, implement a comprehensive People strategy, and attract top talent to support DigitalBridge's growth and reputation as an employer of choice. has joined DigitalBridge as . Mr. Sorrentino brings a wealth of experience in talent acquisition, organizational development and employee engagement. With over two decades of experience, Mr. Sorrentino previously served as Chief Human Resources Officer and Operating Partner at Softbank Group, where he established the internal HR function and Human Capital practice to support portfolio companies. He also directed the Human Resources division for Microsoft in Latin America and led the Organizational Effectiveness practice at AIG during the post-2008 financial crisis. During his 17 years at IBM, he held various leadership positions. In his new role, Mr. Sorrentino will drive organizational effectiveness, implement a comprehensive People strategy, and attract top talent to support DigitalBridge's growth and reputation as an employer of choice. Stephen Stryker has joined DgitalBridge as Chief Information Officer , succeeding Mark Serwinowski, who will be retiring. Mr. Stryker brings a depth of knowledge and expertise in technology infrastructure and digital transformation, having most recently served as Chief Technology Officer at Varde Partners for over five years. In his new role, he will oversee the company's information technology strategy, including cybersecurity, infrastructure, software engineering and data management to enhance operational efficiency and support DigitalBridge's global expansion plans. has joined DgitalBridge as , succeeding Mark Serwinowski, who will be retiring. Mr. Stryker brings a depth of knowledge and expertise in technology infrastructure and digital transformation, having most recently served as Chief Technology Officer at Varde Partners for over five years. In his new role, he will oversee the company's information technology strategy, including cybersecurity, infrastructure, software engineering and data management to enhance operational efficiency and support DigitalBridge's global expansion plans. Justin Chang, who has led DigitalBridge's expansion into the Asia Pacific region as Managing Director, Head of Asia, has been promoted to the role of Senior Managing Director. Mr. Chang has played a pivotal role in establishing and growing DigitalBridge's presence in the Asia-Pacific markets. In his expanded role, he will continue to spearhead the company's strategic initiatives across the APAC region, driving business growth and developing strategic partnerships. "DigitalBridge is thrilled to welcome Francisco Sorrentino and Stephen Stryker to our senior management team. Their extensive experience and leadership bolster our ability to deliver innovative digital infrastructure solutions and capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities in the global market," said Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge. "Geoff Goldschein's promotion to Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary, along with Justin Chang's expanded role as Senior Managing Director, Head of Asia, showcases the exceptional talent within DigitalBridge and recognizes their outstanding contributions to the company." DigitalBridge remains dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of its customers and partners by expanding its talented team and driving forward the Company's mission to support innovation and connect communities, businesses and people through cutting-edge digital infrastructure. About DigitalBridge Group, Inc. DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global alternative asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure. With a heritage of over 25 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages a $69 billion portfolio of digital infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. Headquartered in Boca Raton, DigitalBridge has key offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Luxembourg and Singapore. For more information, visit: www.digitalbridge.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, and may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that might cause such a difference include, the rate of growth in demand for digital infrastructure, the Company's plans to expand its team, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in DigitalBridge's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and its other reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements reflect DigitalBridge's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. DigitalBridge cautions investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. DigitalBridge is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, nor to conform prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and DigitalBridge does not intend to do so. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612595160/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Ubiety Technologies Strengthens its Advisory Board with the Appointment of Veteran Business Leader and Security Expert Peter Giacalone Tweet Accomplished Security Alarm industry expert Peter Giacalone is being added to Ubiety Technologies' Advisory Board. CHICAGO, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubiety Technologies, Inc. (creators of HomeAware, the first digital presence monitoring solution) announced today that its board of directors named seasoned security expert Peter Giacalone to its Advisory Board. Giacalone, who has led some of the industry leading security monitoring and alarm companies in the United States, brings a broad set of business management and industry expertise to Ubiety Technologies. As a long-time contributor to the security industry, Giacalone also has a passion for finding new technologies that are poised to have a large impact on the industry and helping deliver those technologies to the market. "Peter impressed us with his industry expertise and vision for the future of the residential security, commercial security, and life safety sectors. Peter is the leading industry voice discussing transformational change of security by integrating 'presence detection' and 'occupancy' capabilities to unlock situational awareness and actionable intelligence", said Ubiety Technologies Founder & CEO, Keith Puckett. "His talents and experience will be invaluable as we take our world's-first presence detection capabilities to market. We are excited to have Peter on our Advisory Board and look forward to working closely with him." Mr. Giacalone, President of Giacalone Associates, LLC is a widely respected advisor and consultant focused on the electronic security, physical security, and life safety industries. Throughout Mr. Giacalone's forty-five-year career he has earned great success leading a variety of national Central Station Monitoring Companies, including serving as President of MACE, a division of the well-known pepper spray company. As Chief Operating Officer, Peter led his team to build the largest third-party central station monitoring company in the United States, Criticom International. While serving as COOof Criticom International, he and his team grew the company from a regional forty-five thousand account monitoring center to the largest third-party monitoring center in the United States. Mr. Giacalone's current firm provides subject matter expert advice to organizations both domestically and internationally. Mr. Giacalone's client base includes some of the largest security organizations in North America, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Giacalone is well known for his operational expertise and frequently collaborates with lenders, private equity and the investment community as a Subject Matter Expert lead during operational due diligence. Ubiety's discussions with Giacalone have focused on Ubiety's go-to-market strategy to deploy its new "presence detection" capabilities, which include the ability to detect the presence of people based on the Radio Frequency signals coming from the devices they are carrying, and the ability to ascertain context and information about the protected environment based on RF activity. These capabilities are based on the combination of Ubiety's novel, patented RF Sensor Platform and its Artificial Intelligence engine which provides state-of-the-art classification/categorization capabilities. Ubiety is working with industry leaders toward OEM, Monitoring and Platform "design wins" that allow their patented AI, software and hardware capabilities to be embedded into existing security systems in homes throughout the world. "The proliferation of Radio Frequency emitting devices including phones, watches, tablets and wearables makes digital detection, categorization and identification the next generation of security solutions," said Giacalone. "Ubiety's Presence Detection capabilities integrated into security alarm panels and other connected home platforms, including routers, is a no-brainer to unlock massive value for the entire industry. Ubiety's occupant presence data delivers situational awareness about people's presence, including during security alarms. This unique dataset will significantly reduce false alarm rates by providing the context necessary to augment alarm monitoring providers' confirmation, verification, and notification procedures. Considering TMA AVS-01, presence detection is anticipated to be very attractive to the National Alarm Dealers, OEMs, monitoring companies, and software platforms", emphasized Giacalone. About Ubiety Technologies, Inc. Ubiety Technologies Inc. is a sensor array and data analytics company crafting state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions that enable an elevated and intuitive understanding of people's physical presence via wireless devices. Its patented hardware, presence detection engine, and software applications deliver a digital view of presence that solves detection, identification, and awareness business challenges across industries www.ubiety.io. To learn more about Ubiety's home security solution, visit www.homeaware.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ubiety-technologies-strengthens-its-advisory-board-with-the-appointment-of-veteran-business-leader-and-security-expert-peter-giacalone-301847433.html SOURCE Ubiety Technologies Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Elevate Your Marketing Skills in China: DBIC Online and Tmall Join Forces to Launch "Doing Marketing in China Certificate Program" Tweet SHANGHAI, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 12th, 2023, the Doing Business in China (DBIC) Online, China's leading online learning platform for business education, has partnered with Taobao & Tmall Group, the renowned e-commerce giant, to introduce an exciting new program: the "Doing Marketing in China Certificate Program". This collaborative initiative brings together three professors of Marketing from Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), and four brand strategy experts from Tmall. The program aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of China's dynamic consumer market by combining academic expertise of ACEM with real-world industry insights of Tmall. The "DBIC Online x Tmall Doing Marketing in China Certificate Program" offers eight online courses designed to equip learners with in-depth insights and professional knowledge about marketing in China. Upon successful completion of all online coursework and passing the exams, learners will be awarded a program certificate issued by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. To enroll in the "Doing Marketing in China Certificate Program" and discover more about DBIC Online, please visit our official website at https://online.acem.sjtu.edu.cn/DBIC. This pioneering online learning platform, developed by Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), is the first of its kind in China, tailored specifically for international learners. It provides a wealth of English online courses, focusing on China-specific business ecology and practices. With DBIC Online, learners can expand their knowledge about China, gain China business capabilities, and build a foundation for future academic or career pursuits. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/elevate-your-marketing-skills-in-china-dbic-online-and-tmall-join-forces-to-launch-doing-marketing-in-china-certificate-program-301847936.html SOURCE Antai College of Economics & Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] SES Announces its Chief Executive Officer Steve Collar to Step Down Tweet SES announces today that Steve Collar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will be stepping down at the end of June 2023 to pursue other professional and personal endeavours. The search for a successor is underway and Ruy Pinto, currently Chief Technology Officer of SES, will assume the role of CEO until a permanent successor is announced. Frank Esser, Chairman of the SES Board of Directors, said, "We would like to thank Steve for his significant contribution to SES over a period of more than 20 years. As CEO, Steve successfully steered SES, leaving the business in a strong position for the future with a differentiated multi-orbit capability, world-class set of customer solutions, a simplified and market-centric organisation, and a strong balance sheet set to be further strengthened from the execution of C-band clearing. The current market environment is rapidly changing, and I welcome Ruy Pinto, who leads over half of the SES workforce today and has substantial industry experience, as we address the challenges and capture further opportunities in the market. The Board has full confidence in Ruy and our management's engagement on continued strong execution as we embark on a new phase of success for SES." Steve Collar commented, "It has been the greatest honour of my life to lead the incredible people at SES. SES has been the benchmark in the industry for decades and I leave the company as its leader and go back to being a huge supporter, admirer and fan and will be cheering Ruy and the Management Team on from the side-lines. With O3b mPOWER launching, the company performing well and C-band all but delivered, the future is bright, and I wish the Board and everyone at SES every success." Ruy Pinto joined SES in February 2017 and was appointed Chief Technology Officer in January 2019, driving the differentiation in multi-orbit capabilities and the cloudification of SES. Prior to SES, Ruy spent over 25 years at Inmarsat in various lead technical and managerial roles. Ruy Pinto commented, "I am delighted to be leading SES and working with our teams around the world through a transition period, progressing SE into a phase where we will continue to grow on a strong value creation trajectory for our stakeholders, executing strongly, simplifying our business and optimising our cost base." Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries ~8,000 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 369 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230611161562/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Darktrace Addresses Generative AI Concerns with Introduction of AI Models That Help Protect Data Privacy and Intellectual Property Tweet New Darktrace data indicates 74% of active customer deployments have employees using generative AI tools Darktrace introduces new risk and compliance models to help CISOs as they balance the opportunity and risk of inadvertent IP loss and data leakage from the use of generative AI and LLM-based tools CAMBRIDGE, England, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to growing use of generative AI tools, Darktrace today announces the launch of new risk and compliance models to help its 8,400 customers around the world address the increasing risk of IP loss and data leakage. These new risk and compliance models for Darktrace DETECT and RESPOND make it easier for customers to put guardrails in place to monitor, and when necessary, respond to activity and connections to generative AI and large language model (LLM) tools. This comes as Darktrace's AI observed 74% of active customer deployments have employees using generative AI tools in the workplace[1]. In one instance, in May 2023 Darktrace detected and prevented an upload of over 1GB of data to a generative AI tool at one of its customers. New generative AI tools promise increases in productivity and new ways of augmenting human creativity. CISOs must balance the desire to embrace these innovations to boost productivity while managing risk. Government agencies including the UK's National Cyber Security Centre have already issued guidance about the need to manage risk when using generative AI tools and other LLMs in the workplace. In addition, regulators in a variety of jurisdictions (including the UK, EU, and US) and in various sectors are expected to lay out guidance to companies on how to make the most of AI without exacerbating its potential dangers. "Since generative AI tools like ChatGPT have gone mainstream, our company is increasingly aware of how companies are being impacted. First and foremost, we are focused on the attack vector and how well prepared we are to respond to potential threats. Equally as important is data privacy, and we are hearing stories in the news about potential data protection and data loss," said Allan Jacobson, Vice President and Head of Information Technology, Orion Office REIT. "Businesses need a combination of techology and clear guardrails to take advantage of the benefits while managing the potential risks." At London Tech Week, Darktrace's Chief Executive Officer Poppy Gustafsson will be interviewed by Guy Podjarny, CEO of Snyk, in a fireside chat on 'Securing Our Future by Uplifting the Human,' where they'll discuss how can we future-proof organizations against cyber compromise and prepare teams to fend off unpredictable threats. Commenting ahead of London Tech Week, Poppy Gustafsson said: "CISOs across the world are trying to understand how they should manage the risks and opportunities presented by publicly available AI tools in a world where public sentiment flits from euphoria to terror. Sentiment aside, the AI genie is not going back in the bottle and AI tools are rapidly becoming part of our day-to-day lives, much in the same way as the internet or social media. Each enterprise will determine their own appetite for the opportunities versus the risk. Darktrace is in the business of providing security personalized to an organization, and it is no surprise we are already seeing the early signs of CISOs leveraging our technology to enforce their specific compliance policies. "At Darktrace, we have long believed that AI is one of the most exciting technological opportunities of our time. With today's announcement, we are providing our customers with the ability to quickly understand and control the use of these AI tools within their organizations. But it is not just the good guys watching these innovations with interest - AI is also a powerful tool to create even more nuanced and effective cyber-attacks. Society should be able to take advantage of these incredible new tools for good, but also be equipped to stay one step ahead of attackers in the emerging age of defensive AI tools versus offensive AI attacks." To complement its core Self-Learning AI for attack prevention, threat detection, autonomous response, and policy enforcement, the Darktrace Cyber AI Research Center continually develops new AI models, including its own proprietary large language models, to help customers prepare for and fight back against increasingly sophisticated threats. These models are used across the products in Darktrace's Cyber AI Loop. "Recent advances in generative AI and LLMs are an important addition to the growing arsenal of AI techniques that will transform cyber security. But they are not one-size-fits-all and must be applied with guardrails to the right use cases and challenges," said Jack Stockdale, Chief Technology Officer, Darktrace. "Over the last decade, the Darktrace Cyber AI Research Center has championed the responsible development and deployment of a variety of different AI techniques, including our unique Self-Learning AI and proprietary large language models. We're excited to continue putting the latest innovations in the hands of our customers globally so that they can protect themselves against the cyber disruptions that continue to create chaos around the world." [1] Based on data obtained on June 2nd, 2023, from active customer deployments with Call Home enabled, where Darktrace detected generative AI activity at some point. About Darktrace Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security artificial intelligence, delivers complete AI-powered solutions in its mission to free the world of cyber disruption. Breakthrough innovations from the Darktrace Cyber AI Research Centre in Cambridge, UK and its R&D centre in The Hague, Netherlands have resulted in over 135 patent applications filed and significant research published to contribute to the cyber security community. Darktrace's technology continuously learns and updates its knowledge of 'you' for an organization and applies that understanding to achieve an optimal state of cyber security. It is delivering the first ever Cyber AI Loop, fueling a continuous end-to-end security capability that can autonomously prevent, detect, and respond to novel, in-progress threats in real time. Darktrace employs over 2,200 people around the world and protects over 8,400 organizations globally from advanced cyber-threats. It was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' in 2021. www.darktrace.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/darktrace-addresses-generative-ai-concerns-with-introduction-of-ai-models-that-help-protect-data-privacy-and-intellectual-property-301847816.html SOURCE Darktrace [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] KnowBe4 Report: Rising Malware Attacks Threaten Irish and UK Healthcare Sectors Tweet KnowBe4 report finds that the region's healthcare sectors struggle to defend themselves against cyber attacks due to lack of preparedness LONDON, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, today released a new report showing the increasing impact cyber crime has on Irish and UK healthcare sectors entitled "Rising Threat Of Malware Attacks In Ireland And United Kingdom Healthcare Sectors". KnowBe4's report details the rise of malicious attacks, financial costs, recovery efforts and other detrimental impacts cyber attacks have on Irish and UK healthcare sectors. The report outlines contributing aspects to these attacks including the cost of one wrong click, the region-wide weakness, rising cyber attacks in the recent year, emerging threats from state-aligned groups and the importance of strengthening the human firewall. Additionally, the report reveals the effectiveness of KnowBe4's security awareness training based on the improved Phish-prone Percentages (PPP) of Irish and UK organisations before and after training. Key findings include: UK organisations collectively experienced a surge in cyber attacks i 2022, with a 77% increase over 2021. Healthcare was the third most frequently targeted sector, with an increase of 74%. The impact of breaches is proving to be more far-reaching in terms of cost and time than previously thought. Organisations could be paying off the debt of a breach for many years to come. Therefore, stopping attacks becomes an even greater priority. Although some organisations may have a poor starting point, changing the overall security culture and investing in a solid security awareness training strategy can provide a rapid return on investment and significantly reduce risk. A survey of 100 cybersecurity managers in the UK health sector found that 81% of healthcare organisations in the UK had been hit by ransomware in the previous year. 38% of the healthcare organisations attacked paid a ransom demand to get their files back. 44% refused to pay a demand and lost their healthcare data as a result. Close to two-thirds (64%) of respondents admitted their organisation has had to cancel in-person appointments because of a cyber attack. Ransomware continues to be a menace, with the geopolitical climate creating an increasingly tricky situation for organisations to stay ahead of. Stu Sjouwerman , CEO, KnowBe4. "These attacks have the potential to be life-threatening, especially when the outcome paralyses hospital systems resulting in cancelled surgeries, cancer treatments, emergency care and more. It is crucial that healthcare sectors in Ireland and the United Kingdom prioritise educating their employees on the social engineering threats that are currently rising in the region. Regular training results in better preparedness to combat cyber attacks and contributes to an overall stronger security culture, which is especially essential for organisations that are responsible for protecting extremely personal and private information." To download the report, visit https://www.knowbe4.com/hubfs/UK-Ireland-Report_EN-US.pdf . About KnowBe4 KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 60,000 organisations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organisations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Tens of thousands of organisations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilise their end users as their last line of defence. Media Contact Amanda Tarantino Public Relations Officer KnowBe4 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/588691/KB4_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/knowbe4-report-rising-malware-attacks-threaten-irish-and-uk-healthcare-sectors-301847452.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Digital Therapeutics Alliance and Healthware Group Launched First DTx Policy Report and Website Dedicated to Helping Advance Equitable Access and Adoption of Safe and Effective DTx and Digital Medical Devices Tweet Following the formation of the European DTx Policy Coalition by Healthware Group and the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA) in June 2022, the joint team presented its inaugural report "DTx Policy Pathways: the evolving scenario in Europe; Landscape Analysis & Converging Trends" and a dedicated website (https://dtxpolicylandscape.org/) on Friday, June 9th at the official press conference of the DTA Summit 2023, held in Washington DC. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612844984/en/ DTx Policy Report (Photo: Healthware Group) Through the European DTx Policy Coalition, the Digital Therapeutics Alliance and Healthware Group, as the official knowledge partner, have been actively engaging stakeholders and representatives from Ministries of Health, national trade associations, and European trade associations. Their collective efforts aim to establish comprehensive best practice frameworks for the utilization of digital medical devices (DMD), including digital therapeutics (DTx). An increasing number of countries across Europe, as worldwide, have developed or are developing appraisal criteria, access, and reimbursement policies for DTx and the broader Digital Medical Device (DMD) category. While paving new pathways, there is also a patchwork of nomenclatures and approaches being applied and while some countries are already providing equitable access and fostering systemic uptake of clinically-validated DMDs, others lack fit-for-purpose frameworks - ultimately limiting equitable, scalable, and timely access to clinically-validated DMDs. To address this challenge, this initial DTx Policy Report is focused on providing clarity on existing and evolving policy frameworks in Europe. The report details fit-for-purpose appraisal criteria being applied in countries with formal frameworks in place and analyzing requirements through the common lens of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Core Model. Converging trends are also identified to help inform areas of potential harmonization and scalability across Europe and globally. The tools and resources featured on the www.dtxpolicylandscape.org website, are designed to provide best practices on DTx integration into healthcare, empowering clinicians, decision makers, and policymakers to recognize and include DTx within reional and national frameworks. By providing these resources, the website will contribute to driving equitable digital healthcare for patients globally. "We have the privilege of working with policymakers and payors from across the world to chart ways to provide equitable patient access to digital therapies," said Megan Coder, Chief Policy Officer & Founder of Digital Therapeutics Alliance. "During this first phase of the Coalition, we've developed a comprehensive set of resources for decision makers to enable greater clarity and harmonization in how digital therapeutics are evaluated and implemented. Moving closer to a globally recognized framework for digital therapies will provide patients and caregivers with new opportunities to optimize how they receive and benefit from healthcare." "With DTx and, more generally, Digital Medical Devices delivering meaningful clinically-validated health outcomes, it is important to enable equitable and sustainable access to them and define fit-for-purpose appraisal criteria and adequate access and reimbursement policies is a key," explained Alberta Spreafico, Managing Director Digital Health & Innovation at Healthware Group. "We are proud to join forces with the Digital Therapeutics Alliance as knowledge partner, to support all ecosystem stakeholders through in-depth knowledge, continuous monitoring of the evolving scenario and curation of valuable resources on www.dtxpolicylandscape.org, to help scale systemic integration and impact of DTx and digitally-enhanced care." "Since its inception, Healthware has been focused on assisting life science companies in communicating, connecting, and building innovative solutions which enable better healthcare. Whether it's new ways to market innovative drugs or digital solutions, fostering the growth of the ecosystem through thought leadership, or building ground-breaking patient solutions, our focus has always been built on a clear vision of Future Health. I'm proud of the work our team has done in collaboration with the DTA to help support the adoption and access of DTx globally thru the development of this valuable resource," said Roberto Ascione, CEO at Healthware Group. Join the effort to deliver scalable, equitable digital healthcare to patients globally! Visit www.dtxpolicylandscape.org for more information and to download the report. * * * Healthware Group Healthware Group is a full-service agency and innovation consultancy, founded by digital health pioneer Roberto Ascione, providing marketing, advisory, customer engagement and media services, medical communications and education, and advanced technology capabilities. Leveraging +20 years of digital health heritage and thought leadership, Healthware's dedicated Digital Health & Innovation division is a leading think tank, advisory and commercialization partner for digital medicines. Through its unique knowledge of the evolving scenario, interdisciplinary expertise, digital medicines Actionable Insights Database (AID) and ecosystem partnerships, it offers end-to-end support to ideate, scout, develop, validate, and especially launch and enable equitable access to and systemic adoption of digital medicines. The media and community division offers premium content and platforms to gather insights, foster thought leadership, enable market shaping and create connections. Healthware Group has co-hosted and produced the premier global digital health conference, Frontiers Health, for nearly a decade. With a team of 200+ professionals in Salerno, London, New York, Milan, Rome, Helsinki, and a joint venture with EVERSANA INTOUCH, Healthware Group has a combined reach of 2000+ people in over 15 offices across Europe, the US, and Asia. Additionally, the Healthware Global Network, one of the largest international networks of independent healthcare agencies, provides deep local expertise in over 25 countries. For more information, please visit healthwaregroup.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Digital Therapeutics Alliance Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA) is a global non-profit trade association of industry leaders and stakeholders with the mission of broadening the understanding, adoption, and integration of digital therapeutics into healthcare. DTA works to enable expanded access to high quality, evidence-based digital therapeutics for patients, clinicians, and payors to improve clinical and health economic outcomes. Founded in 2017, the Digital Therapeutics Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association of industry leaders and stakeholders engaged in the evidence-driven advancement of digital therapeutics. As the leading international organization on digital therapeutic thought leadership and education, the Digital Therapeutics Alliance provides patients, clinicians, payors, and policymakers with the necessary tools to define, evaluate, and utilize DTx products. DTA is mission driven to advance digital therapeutics globally by: Establishing the formal definition of a digital therapeutic and core principles to which all DTx products must adhere Enabling clinicians and decision makers to adopt and integrate DTx products into healthcare to improve patient and population clinical and economic outcomes Assisting policymakers as they work to recognize digital therapeutics within national and regional regulatory frameworks Educating end users about DTx products and their short- and long-term value Collaborating with DTA member companies and ecosystem stakeholders to optimize industry impact To learn more, please visit: www.dtxalliance.org or follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612844984/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Intermap's Insurance Software Enhances BNP Paribas Cardif's Underwriting Tweet DENVER, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (Intermap or the Company), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, and the insurer BNP Paribas Cardif, today announced that BNP Paribas Cardif has upgraded its subscription for flood risk analytics for the Czech Republic. This upgrade provides BNP Paribas Cardif with access to Intermaps latest generation of data and analytics through a subscription to its cloud-based Aquarius insurance risk analytics software. Aquarius enables insurance companies to improve underwriting precision, conduct accurate risk assessments across portfolios and expand into new areas of insurance underwriting. The new subscription also provides BNP Paribas Cardif with Intermaps newest flood hazard maps, alongside a range of upgraded tools and datasets to inform its underwriting process. The cooperation with Intermap allows us to move to the next level in the field of digitalization and risk management, said Zdenek Jaros, Chairman and CEO of BNP Paribas Cardif in the Czech Republic. The newly available Aquarius RMA features and the latest flood maps will provide us with the technological tools for more accurate underwriting and tailored flood insurance product development, which will be especially appreciated by our clients that can rely on their insurer to understand their flood risk insurance. We are pleased to see another one of our customers renew and upgrade to our latest generation of Aquarius software, said Patrick A. Blott, Intermap Chairman and CEO. Our cutting-edge flood risk data and analytics enable global companies like BNP Paribas Cardif to make informed decisions and provide accurate portfolio evaluations for clients. Our solutions are available worldwide to support insurance companies with the same accuracy and precision in any country it operates. Intermaps Aquarius solution is a cloud-based software that simplifies flood risk assessment by providing customizable access to critical datasets and advanced tools. Continually updated datasets ensure access to the latest information for areas of operation, allowing for efficient and optimized insurance processes, from primary underwriting to claims and reinsurance. By streamlining the insurance process and providing customers with essential data, Aquarius helps insurance companies make informed decisions, enabling them to mitigate risks, protect their assets, and optimize their operations. To learn more about Intermaps European solutions, visit intermap.com/european-solutions. Intermap Reader Advisory Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "will be", "will consider", "intends" an similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermaps forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermaps Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law. About BNP Paribas Cardif BNP Paribas Cardif is a world leader in creditor insurance*, providing its more than 80 million customers with products and services that let them realize their goals while protecting themselves from unforeseen events. BNP Paribas Cardif is committed to having a positive impact on society and to making insurance more accessible. A subsidiary of BNP Paribas, the insurer has a unique business model anchored in partnerships. It creates solutions for more than 500 partner distributors in a variety of sectors including banks and financial institutions, automotive sector companies, retailers, telecommunications companies and energy companies as well as for financial advisors and brokers who market the products to their customers. With a presence in more than 30 countries and strong positions in Europe, Asia and Latin America, BNP Paribas Cardif is a global specialist in personal insurance and a major contributor to financing for the real economy. With nearly 8,000 employees worldwide, BNP Paribas Cardif had gross written premiums of 30.0 billion in 2022. Follow the latest news about BNP Paribas Cardif on Twitter. https://twitter.com/bnpp_cardif * Source : Finaccord - 2022 Press Contact: Alena Sopov Brand and Communication Manager for CEE [email protected] About Intermap Technologies Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermaps 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the worlds largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Companys collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermaps products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation. For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact: Jennifer Bakken Executive Vice President and CFO [email protected] +1 (303) 708-0955 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Russia launched an intense series of night-time air attacks using drones and missiles against targets across Ukraine, and targeting the southern port city of Odesa for a second night in a row, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday. [June 12, 2023] CivicEye Public Safety Software Goes Live in Methuen, MA to Streamline Law Enforcement Records and Reporting Tweet Methuen Police Department implements new records management software, CivicRMS, to modernize operations in their department. METHUEN, Mass., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CivicEye, a leading public safety software provider for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and clerks, announced the successful launch of CivicRMS in partnership with Methuen Police Department, located in Essex County, Massachusetts. CivicRMS is a cloud-based records management system that equips public safety agencies with the tools they need to manage their data efficiently and serve their communities better. Its innovative features streamline operations, improve workflow, and provide powerful data analytics and reporting capabilities for better decision-making in emergencies. "CivicRMS will transform the way we manage our records and significantly increase our efficiency," said Sergeant Scott Lever of the Specials Services Bureau at Methuen Police Department. "The platform's advanced features allow us to take a big step in modernizing our operations andhelp us better serve our community. We are grateful to CivicEye for working so closely with us to understand our needs while providing my team with a seamless implementation process and exceptional customer service." The department's upgrade to the new system enables them to securely store and manage critical data, including incident reports, arrests, warrants, and more, all in one centralized system. Officers can quickly access and analyze data using robust search capabilities with the platform's user-friendly interface. "Law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and courtroom officials deserve technology to help enable them in their vital work," said Josh South, Head of Operations at CivicEye. "We're excited to support Chief McNamara, Sgt. Lever, and the entire Methuen team in this partnership." The company has had a busy start to 2023 as it has expanded into multiple new states, including Texas and Kansas, alongside their growth across the states of Tennessee and Mississippi. CivicEye provides technology to serve the full spectrum of the criminal justice system, from arrest, evidence, prosecution, and municipal courts. About CivicEye CivicEye delivers modern, easy-to-use cloud software for law enforcement and prosecutors that helps to enhance daily workflows and improve community outcomes. The CivicEye platform includes Records, Digital Evidence, and Case Management solutions that reduce friction points within and across departments. CivicEye serves over 130 agencies across the United States. Media Contact: Adrienne Clarke, [email protected] Sales Contact: Khristian Gutierrez, [email protected] www.civiceye.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civiceye-public-safety-software-goes-live-in-methuen-ma-to-streamline-law-enforcement-records-and-reporting-301846453.html SOURCE CivicEye [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Ohio's Berkshire Local School District Launches Advanced School Safety Educational Program on Heels of Successful ZeroEyes Gun Detection Deployment Tweet ZeroEyes to Host June 13 Lunch & Learn at Berkshire High School to Educate School Staff and Law Enforcement on its Proactive Security Solution PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced the successful year-long deployment of its solution by Ohio's Berkshire Local School District. The company and school district are co-hosting a Lunch & Learn at Berkshire High School (14155 Claridon Troy Road in Burton, OH) to educate about how ZeroEyes' proactive gun detection and situational awareness solution can help mitigate active school shooter scenarios. The session will take place on Tuesday, June 13th from 11:00am to 12:30pm in the school's student commons area. Berkshire Local School District has implemented a multi-layered security approach to protect students and faculty against gun-related threats. As part of the district's comprehensive safety plan, the Lunch & Learn will feature demonstrations and discussion sessions, including reflections from school leaders on the district's successful ZeroEyes deployment. The event is open to local schools, law enforcement and media. Berkshire Local School District is located in a rural community spanning 30 acres, and serves more than 1,400 pre-K-12 students from the communities of Burton, Claridon, Montville, Thompson, and Troy. "We are proud to have been the first Ohio school district to deploy ZeroEyes, and are so pleased with its performance that we actively recommend it to surrounding districts," said John Stoddard, superintendent of Berkshire Local School District. "We selected ZeroEyes due to its rapid notification and situational awareness capabilities. Our community feels much safer knowing that, in the event of an active school shooter, we would receive near-instant notifications featuring a description and real-time location of the threat." "We are impressed with Berkshire Local School District's initiative to proactively protect its faculty and students from gun-related threats," said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. "We are proud to be an essential part of their multi-layered security plan." ZeroEyes' proactive visual gun detection and situational awarness software platform is layered over schools' existing digital security cameras, where it identifies illegally brandished guns and immediately shares images with a specialized group of U.S. military and law enforcement veterans at one of the ZeroEyes Operation Centers (ZOC) that are staffed 24/7/365. Once these experts verify the threat, they dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence, including visual description, gun type and last known location, to local staff and law enforcement as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from detection. About ZeroEyes ZeroEyes delivers a proactive, human-verified AI gun detection software solution that integrates into existing security cameras and mitigates mass shootings and gun-related violence by reducing response times, providing actionable intelligence with images and delivering clarity among chaos ultimately saving lives. ZeroEyes' patented solution has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a promising anti-terrorism technology and is the first video analytics technology to receive SAFETY Act DT&E Designation. Founded by Navy SEALs, Special Operations military veterans, and technologists, ZeroEyes dispatches accurate and real-time actionable intelligence about the brandishing of a gun near or in an occupied area or building, to local staff and law enforcement with an image of the shooter(s) and location of the threat, as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from the moment the gun is detected. The ZeroEyes team also provides tech consulting, installation assistance and practice drills for active shooter events to enhance safety at schools, corporate and government facilities. Headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia area, the company's affordable and effective gun detection solution has been adopted by the US Department of Defense, leading public K-12 school districts, colleges / universities, commercial property groups, manufacturing plants, Fortune 500 corporate campuses, shopping malls, big-box retail stores and more. Learn more about ZeroEyes at ZeroEyes.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ohios-berkshire-local-school-district-launches-advanced-school-safety-educational-program-on-heels-of-successful-zeroeyes-gun-detection-deployment-301847431.html SOURCE ZeroEyes [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Linda Hall Library Names Scientist, Author, and Museum Director, Eric Dorfman, as New President Tweet Linda Hall Library has announced the appointment of its new president, Eric Dorfman, Ph.D. Selected after a national search by the Library's Board of Trustees, his tenure as president will begin in July 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230609005253/en/ Recently announced president of Linda Hall Library, Eric Dorfman, Ph.D (Photo: Business Wire) "I am thrilled to join one of the most prestigious science institutions in the United States. The long-standing vision of the Hall and Bartlett families to support the pursuit of knowledge, along with their investment in world-class collections, have created a truly remarkable resource locally and internationally," said Dorfman. "The Library acts as a beacon of science for the region and builds on Kansas City's commitment to being an intersectionof arts, culture, and innovation. I am excited by the potential of the Library and look forward to continuing the legacy of President Lisa Browar and her talented staff, donors and supporters, and the dedicated board of trustees. It will be my honor to ensure the Library flourishes, expanding the horizons of this unique institution." Dorfman joins Linda Hall Library after an illustrious career in higher education, conservation, research and natural history museum leadership. Most recently, he served as the director and chief executive officer of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and as a research professor in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University. Previously, Dorfman was director of Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History. His career has been marked by innovative institutional transformation and a dedication to maintaining their historic stature. In addition to institutional leadership, Dorfman is active internationally, most recently serving as an executive board member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Dorfman's publications include books and articles covering topics ranging from curating cultural history to the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California San Diego, a Master of Marine Science from the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories at San Jose State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology from the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia. "We are delighted to welcome Eric to the Linda Hall Library," said Marilyn Bartlett Hebenstreit, chair of the board of trustees. "He will bring a new perspective to the leadership of the Library. He is a scientist, professor and author who is passionate about community engagement, education and conservation. Eric has directed three museums throughout his career, and I'm confident his vision will enhance the Linda Hall Library's legacy and reputation as the place Where Science Lives." As president, Dorfman succeeds Lisa Browar, who led the Linda Hall Library for 15 years. About the Linda Hall Library Since 1946, the Linda Hall Library has been amassing collections that have powered investigation, innovation, exploration, and inspiration. Today, the Library is a leading independent research library widely known for the breadth and depth of its collections spanning 82 languages, its role as an international destination for scholarship and research, its support of teachers of STEM curricula, and the vast resources it provides to learners of all ages interested in scientific exploration and discovery. Learn more at lindahall.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230609005253/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Lleida.net obtains a new Indian patent for its method for certifying the sending of electronic email, and exceeds 300 Tweet MADRID, Spain, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spanish listed company Lleida.net (OTCQX:LLEIF) (EPA:ALLLN) (BME:LLN), a leader in the registered electronic signature, notification and contracting industry, has reached a significant milestone with the granting of its 301st patent in India, this time for its innovative method of certifying the sending of emails. The patent, numbered 434112 and granted by Intellectual Property India, reinforces the company's commitment to continue developing disruptive technologies to address the challenges of the digital world in the world's most populous market. India has 1,428 million inhabitants and a penetration of more than 1.25 billion cell phones, of which more than 850 million are smartphones. Valid until 2033, and under the title "METHOD FOR CERTIFYING THE SENDING OF ELECTRONIC MAIL", it has the potential to generate profits for the company of around 10 million euros over the next decade. In the words o Sisco Sapena, CEO and founder of Lleida.net, "this latest achievement of our patent in India is a testament to our persistent focus on innovation and adapting to the changing dynamics of the digital world." This same method, patented in 60 countries today, celebrated the milestone on May 29, 2023 of issuing the 100 millionth registered email since the service's inception in late 2012, with the second 50 million being generated over the past two years. "The patents are a recognition of our team's work and an endorsement of our mission to develop disruptive technologies that solve real-world problems and drive digital transformation. This milestone is a further sign of our continued expansion and growth in international markets," he added. The company, which is listed on Euronext Growth in Paris, BME Growth in Madrid and OTCQX in New York, has already obtained patent recognition in more than 60 countries around the world, 72 of which took place in Europe last March. A recent study by Coller IP valued Lleida.net's SaaS intellectual property portfolio at 14.1 million euros, a figure that reflects the importance of these key intangible assets to the company. Lleida.net's growth strategy includes a strong intellectual property and R&D policy, as well as a reinforcement of its internationalization policy. This strategic approach, together with its ability to innovate and adapt to market demands, has led the company to announce its best sales results since its foundation, with more than 20 million in revenues last year. Pedrosa IR [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Experience the Future of Green Energy Solutions: Jackery to Unveil Exciting New Products at Outdoor Retailers Exhibition Tweet SALT LAKE CITY, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, a global leader of innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation in the upcoming Outdoor Retailers exhibition in Salt Lake City, USA. The event, taking place from June 19th to 21st, will serve as a platform for Jackery to unveil its highly anticipated product named 2000 Plus, which is set to create a buzz among industry professionals and consumers alike. Jackery invites all exhibition attendees to visit its booth located at booth 20019-CH, covering an area of 110 square meters. Outdoor Retailers is the largest gathering of outdoor industry professionals in North America. The exhibition has shaped and promoted the outdoor industry by popularizing outdoor activities, introducing new products and technologies, and promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. As a pioneer in the solar generator industry, Jackery has earned global recognition and acclaim for its commitment to sustainable outdoor living and become a top-selling solar generator brand. Globally, Jackery has been endorsed by more than 200 authorized media outlets and organizations around the world. Esteemed publications such as The New York Times, and CNET consistently rank Jackery among the best solar generator brands. Forbes has hailed Jackery as the "Apple of portable power devices". The company remains unwavering in its commitment to technological innovation, market orientation, and product excellence amidst the numerous uncertainties in the global market. The portable energy storage industry is currently in its early stages of development and has not yet made significant progress in the market. However, Jackery acknowledges the potential for growth and the rising popularity of portable energy slutions that encourage eco-friendly and sustainable living. The industry is expected to experience a significant surge in growth in 2023, and Jackery is ready to take advantage of this opportunity to improve its competitive edge. At the upcoming Outdoor Retailers Exhibition, Jackery will showcase its existing products and unveil its latest additions that push the boundaries of off-grid living. In the meantime, Jackery is steadily building a strong reputation in Europe for its exceptional product functionality, versatility, and outstanding performance, while expanding its market presence in the region. The company is set to unveil its latest technological advancements at the Intersolar Europe 2023, one of the largest annual exhibitions for the solar industry, held from June 14-16 in Munich, Germany. Looking forward, Jackery has ambitious plans for further expansion. The company aims to have established a presence in over 100 countries and regions by 2025. In line with this vision, the company announced entry into the Australian and South African markets earlier this year, with a strong commitment to powering a greener future. For more details about Jackery and its products, please visit Jackery US, Amazon Store and connect via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Tiktok. About Jackery Jackery, the world's leading innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solution provider founded in California in 2012, is a global top-selling solar generator brand born with a vision to offer green energy to everyone, everywhere. Jackery launched the world's first outdoor portable power stations in 2016 and developed the world's first portable solar panels in 2018. Having introduced solar generators to the great outdoors, Jackery fulfills the power needs of every nature-lover, inspiring them to explore further and seek more extraordinary experiences than before. Expanding its footprint from the US to Europe, Japan, and China, Jackery has sold more than 3 million units globally since 2018, with its products consistently selected as Best Sellers on Amazon. The brand has so far received over 50 prestigious international design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award, the A' Design Award and Competition, the Best of IFA Award and the CES Innovation Award. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/experience-the-future-of-green-energy-solutions-jackery-to-unveil-exciting-new-products-at-outdoor-retailers-exhibition-301847905.html SOURCE Jackery Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Cycode Launches CI/CD Pipeline Monitoring Solution (Cimon) to Prevent Software Supply Chain Attacks Tweet SAN FRANCISCO, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cycode , the leading application security platform, today announced the launch of Cimon , a seamless solution that enhances the security of CI/CD pipelines to prevent software supply chain attacks such as those that targeted SolarWinds and Codecov. CI/CD pipelines currently lack visibility, making them the most sensitive link in the SDLC, and many organizations have thousands of unmonitored pipelines prone to supply chain attacks. Cimon stops these attacks by utilizing the innovative solution of eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter), a technology that provides visibility into the build system, including thwarting malicious behavior, with minimal disruption. With this visibility, Cimon can inspect network connections to learn standard behaviors by running processes and file modifications within the CI pipeline. This knowledge enables Cimon to detect and prevent abnormalities, including real-time threats and zero-day attacks. "There is a great deal of confusion about the scope of the software supply chain and all the attack vectors; consequently, most organizations are unaware of their exposure and are inadequately protected, leaving them prone to supply chain attacks. The innovation delivered by the Cycode Cimon solution provides the community with a new and straightforward way to monitor and safeguard their CI/CD software pipelines," said Jim Mercer, Research Vice President of DevOps and DevSecOps at IDC. With Cimon, organizations can expect: Prevention of CI Attacks: With low effort and seamless integration, users remain protected against all possible attacks on the CI pipeline, inluding zero-day attacks. With low effort and seamless integration, users remain protected against all possible attacks on the CI pipeline, inluding zero-day attacks. Instant Threat Detection: Cimon prevents attacks such as malicious package installation, typosquatting, repojacking, dependency confusion, dependency hijacking and other dependency attacks. Cimon prevents attacks such as malicious package installation, typosquatting, repojacking, dependency confusion, dependency hijacking and other dependency attacks. Easy Integration: Cimon is developer friendly and is easily integrated with popular CI/CD tools. Cimon provides comprehensive documentation and requires minimal configuration and integration with the development environment, such as GitHub. Organizations can easily integrate Cimon with all their CI/CD tools for free and secure their pipelines without any delay or errors, said Ronen Slavin, co-founder and CTO of Cycode. As Cimon saves time in vulnerability and threat response procedures, teams can implement and adopt security measures without any worry of error or exhaustion. Cimon is the new superhero for organizations CI/CD pipelines and is free to use. More information about Cycode and Cimon is available online. About Cycode Cycode's modern approach to application security enables organizations to effectively secure their cloud-native applications with cost-efficient use of tooling and staff across the SDLC. The Cycode platform makes AppSec tools better through its Knowledge Graph, which provides complete context of the SDLC to improve accuracy and reduce mean-time-to-remediation (MTTR). Cycode merges the top eight AppSec tools into the industrys most advanced and comprehensive AppSec platform. By correlating data across these tools, Cycode offers new capabilities such as Pipeline Composition Analysis, which identifies vulnerable dependencies and security issues missed by legacy tools like SCA and SAST across the entire SDLC; pinpoints vulnerable dependency locations; and prioritizes threats by exploitability. Media Contact: Chloe Amante Montner Tech PR [email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb08fd03-19c8-4172-961f-9b25f337ec35 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/29f1fa2b-4cf8-44c5-a4a1-f2c71b583bcb [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Selects D2L Brightspace to Provide a More Unified Learning Experience Tweet D2L Brightspace helps to consolidate the student learning and professional development experience TORONTO , June 12, 2023 /CNW/ - D2L, a global learning technology company, announced today that Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, the 10th largest school district in Georgia, has selected D2L Brightspace to support student learning and teacher professional development. With a current enrollment of more than 36,000 students and 5,600 employees, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is the largest employer in Chatham County. This school system is the winner of two National Blue Ribbon Schools and has outperformed the state graduation rate average eight years in a row. Recognizing the need for a consolidated learning platform to support student learning and professional development, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System selected D2L Brightspace for its ability to help provide teachers with access to curriculum, content creation and upskilling all in one place. D2L Brightspace will help provide Savannah-Chatham teachers with a space to access consistent teaching and learning materials and help enable them to reach and empower students throughout their educational journeys. "We are excited to work with D2L to deliver a unified and innovative learning environment that meets the demands of our students and teahers, all within one single platform," says Tonja Brunn, Lead Program Manager, Instructional Technology and Media Services at Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. "D2L took the time to listen and create a personalized solution to meet our unique needs. The care D2L has demonstrated makes us excited to embark on this partnership together!" "D2L is thrilled to partner with Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, a school district that shares our commitment to student success and professional development," says Heather Watson, VP K-12, North America. "We are honored that Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has selected D2L to help support their educators with technology that allows for consolidated and consistent learning approaches across the school district." About D2L D2L is transforming the way the world learnshelping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our growing global workforce is dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com. Twitter: @D2L 2023 D2L Corporation. The D2L family of companies includes D2L Inc., D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L EU B.V., D2L Asia Pte Ltd and D2L Brasil Solucoes de Tecnologia para Educacao Ltda. All D2L marks are trademarks of D2L Corporation. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/savannah-chatham-county-public-school-system-selects-d2l-brightspace-to-provide-a-more-unified-learning-experience-301848222.html SOURCE D2L [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] FancyCrypto Launches Trusted Hash Rate Services with Cloud Mining Tweet Winchester, Hampshire, UK, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FancyCrypto, a leading cloud mining provider in the cryptocurrency industry, is proud to announce the launch of its cutting-edge Hash Rate Services with Cloud Mining. This new offering aims to revolutionize the way individuals and businesses engage with the world of cryptocurrencies. Hash Rate Services play a critical role in the mining process by providing the computing power needed to secure blockchain networks. FancyCryptos advanced infrastructure, combined with state-of-the-art mining equipment, offers clients a reliable and efficient solution to maximize their mining potential. With the introduction of Cloud Mining, FancyCrypto empowers customers to access mining capabilities without the need for extensive technical knowledge or costly hardware investments. This user-friendly approach allows anyone to participate in cryptocurrency mining, regardless of their technical background or financial resources. We are thrilled to bring our Trusted Hash Rate Services with Cloud Mining to the market, said Joel Bryce, Communication Manager of FancyCrypto. Our goal is to simplify the mining experience and provide our customers with a trustworthy and hassle-free solution. By leveraging our expertise and cutting-edge technology, we enable individuals and businesses to tap into the potential of cryptocurrencies and generate long-term returns. FancyCryptos Hash Rate Services boast industry-leading security measures, ensuring the protection of customers digital assets. The companys commitment to transparency and reliability is further underscored by its adherence to best practices and rigorous quality control protocols. FancyCrypto Offers Opportunity to Earn Extra Income at Home with Cloud Mining In the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies, cloud mining has emerged as a lucrative opportunity for individuals to boost their income from the comfort of their own homes. With just an internet connection and a modest investment, anyone can now participate in the mining process and reap the rewards of passive income. However, amidst the sea of cloud mining platforms saturating the market, finding a reliable and accessible provider can be a daunting task. Enter FancyCrypto, a trailblazing company that has established itself as a leading provider of hash rate services, catering to a global user base of over 360,000 individuals. FancyCryptos primary mission is to democratize cloud mining by granting access to cutting-edge, large-scale industrial data centers powered by state-of-the-art technologies. With a bold vision in mind, FancyCrypto aims to capture a significant portion, ranging from 2% to 10%, of the worlds total cloud mining hash rate. Through an innovative deployment strategy, FancyCrypto is committed to continually enhancing its product offerings and services, poised to revolutionize the cloud mining industry. Joel Bryce, said: At FancyCrypto, we understand the importance of reliability and accessibility in the cloud mining space. Our goal is to empower individuals worldwide by providing them with top-notch hash rate services backed by advanced technology and a user-friendly experience. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from cloud mining, regarless of their technical expertise or financial capacity. Simplifying Cloud Mining with FancyCrypto What sets FancyCrypto apart is its unwavering dedication to simplifying the cloud mining process for users of all backgrounds. The platforms intuitive interface and streamlined approach empower individuals to participate in mining without the complexities traditionally associated with the industry. Gone are the days of navigating intricate setups or investing in costly equipment. FancyCrypto takes care of the technical aspects, allowing users to focus on maximizing their earnings. Unlocking Earning Potential with FancyCryptos Referral Program FancyCrypto goes above and beyond by introducing a highly rewarding referral program, allowing users to unlock their maximum earning potential. Through this innovative initiative, users can earn up to 3% in referral rewards, with no limits on the number of referrals they can make. This opens up endless possibilities for individuals to increase their income by inviting friends, family, and acquaintances to join FancyCrypto. Flexible Payment Options and Contract Packages FancyCrypto recognizes the significance of convenience when it comes to payment options for its users. Therefore, the platform proudly accepts multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Tether, ensuring seamless transactions and flexibility. Understanding the evolving landscape of digital currencies, FancyCrypto stays at the forefront by enabling users to leverage their preferred cryptocurrencies for a hassle-free payment experience. By accepting a diverse range of cryptocurrencies, FancyCrypto caters to the unique preferences and needs of its global user base. While credit cards and PayPal are not currently accepted, we are dedicated to offering convenient payment solutions that align with the nature of cryptocurrencies, said Joel Bryce. By accepting various cryptocurrencies, we aim to provide users with the flexibility and freedom to transact using their preferred digital assets. To celebrate the launch, FancyCrypto is offering exclusive promotional cloud mining packages for early adopters. These limited-time offers present an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations to kick-start their cryptocurrency mining journey with the trusted expertise of FancyCrypto. Users can choose from the following options: Free Cloud Mining: Priced at $10, this package provides a one-day contract with a fixed return of $10.15. Experienced Project Cloud Mining: For $100, users can opt for a two-day contract with a fixed return of $105. Ethereum Cloud Mining: Priced at $300, this five-day contract guarantees a fixed return of $324. Litecoin Cloud Mining: With an investment of $800, users can enjoy a ten-day contract with a fixed return of $944. Dogecoin Cloud Mining: Offering a fifteen-day contract priced at $1500, this package yields a fixed return of $1938.75. Ethereum Classic Cloud Mining: For a thirty-day contract priced at $3000, users can expect a fixed return of $4806. Bitcoin Cloud Mining: The sixty-day contract, priced at $5000, provides a fixed return of $11580. FancyCryptos User-Friendly Browser-Based Platform While many cloud mining platforms require the download of dedicated applications, FancyCrypto sets itself apart by offering a convenient browser-based platform. With FancyCrypto, users can access all the essential features and functions directly through their web browsers, ensuring a seamless and secure experience. How to Maximize Your Profits with FancyCryptos Cloud Mining Platform Now that you understand how FancyCrypto works, how can you maximize your profit? Here are a few tips to ensure your safety and boost your financial growth using this platform: Regularly Reinvesting Earnings To optimize your earnings with FancyCrypto, it is advisable to reinvest a portion of your profits back into the platform. By reinvesting, you can purchase additional mining contracts or upgrade existing ones, thereby increasing your mining capacity and potential returns. By compounding your earnings through reinvestment, you can accelerate the growth of your passive income over time. It is important to strike a balance between reinvestment and withdrawal to maintain a steady income stream while continuing to expand your mining operations. Staying Informed About Industry Trends The cryptocurrency market is dynamic and constantly evolving. To maximize your profits with FancyCrypto, it is crucial to stay informed about industry trends and market developments. Keep track of news, updates, and market analysis related to cryptocurrencies and cloud mining. By staying informed, you can make educated decisions about which mining contracts to choose, when to adjust your mining strategy, and how to optimize your profitability based on market conditions. Engage with online communities, follow reputable cryptocurrency news sources, and stay connected with FancyCryptos announcements and updates to stay ahead of the curve. Implementing Proper Security Measures As with any online financial activity, implementing proper security measures is essential when engaging in cloud mining with FancyCrypto. Protect your account and assets by using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. Be cautious of phishing attempts and only access FancyCrypto through its official website. Keep your devices and software up to date with the latest security patches and antivirus protection. By prioritizing security, you can safeguard your earnings and ensure a smooth and secure cloud mining experience. About FancyCrypto FancyCrypto offers a distinctive opportunity for individuals to generate additional income from home through cloud mining. With its proven track record, user-friendly approach, robust security measures, and lucrative referral program, FancyCrypto has established itself as a reliable and accessible platform in the cloud mining industry. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and large-scale data centers, FancyCrypto empowers users to participate in the mining process without requiring specialized technical knowledge or expensive hardware. Begin your journey to generating passive income through cryptocurrency mining today by joining FancyCrypto. More details, please visit https://fancycrypto.com/ FancyCrypto Contact Joel Bryce Communication Manager FancyCrypto Email: info-at-fancycrypto.com Aditya Sharma Account Manager AlexaBlockchain aditya-at-alexablockchain.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] CGPT Online Introduces ChatGPT Online Powered by GPT-3.5: Revolutionizing AI Chatbot Experience Tweet Syracuse, NY, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CGPT Online, a leading provider of AI solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of ChatGPT Online, an extraordinary website that leverages the power of the GPT-3.5 (Generative Pre-training Transformer 3.5) platform. This groundbreaking offering allows users to engage in captivating conversations with AI-powered chatbots without the need for registration or account login. ChatGPT Online ( https://cgptonline.io/ ) represents a significant advancement in AI chatbot technology. With the GPT-3.5 platform at its core, this innovative website provides users with an unparalleled chatbot experience that is remarkably human-like. Powered by OpenAI's GPT-3.5, ChatGPT Online is capable of generating real-time responses and engaging in meaningful conversations with users, transforming the way we interact with AI. The GPT-3.5 platform, renowned for its advanced natural language processing capabilities, enables ChatGPT Online to comprehend and respond to user queries with exceptional accuracy. Users can enjoy dynamic conversations, receive code snippets in popular programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, and effortlessly communicate in multiple languages including French, Spanish, German, Hindi, Japanese, and Chinese. What sets ChatGPT Online apart is its ability to provide an immersive conversational experience that closely resembles human interactions. The GPT-3.5 platform empowers the chatbot to understand context, deliver relevant responses, and engage users in a natural and engaging manner. This breakthrough technology opens up a world of possibilities for businesses and individuals alike. Businesses can leverage the power of ChatGPT Online to revolutionize their customer serviceoperations. With the chatbot's capability to swiftly address frequently asked questions, provide order tracking information, deliver product/service details, share shipping updates, and offer promotions, businesses can enhance customer satisfaction, streamline support processes, and foster brand loyalty. The AI-powered chatbot ensures faster response times and round-the-clock assistance, empowering businesses to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Moreover, ChatGPT Online provides a customizable and scalable solution. Leveraging the GPT-3.5 platform, businesses can train custom models tailored to their specific requirements, enabling the chatbot to provide product-specific information or deliver text output in a desired style. From startups to enterprises, ChatGPT Online empowers businesses of all sizes to personalize the AI chatbot experience according to their unique needs. CGPT Online places utmost importance on user privacy and data security. Stringent security protocols have been implemented to safeguard user information, ensuring privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, a dedicated team continuously monitors and improves the chatbot's performance to provide accurate and relevant responses. "We are excited to introduce ChatGPT Online, powered by the GPT-3.5 platform, to users worldwide," said Ernest George, CEO of CGPT Online. "This remarkable technology opens up endless possibilities for businesses and individuals, transforming the way we interact with AI. We invite users to visit our website and experience the future of AI-powered communication." To learn more about ChatGPT Online and experience the remarkable capabilities of AI chatbots, please visit https://cgptonline.io/ . For further inquiries, please contact CGPT Online via email at [email protected] . About CGPT Online: CGPT Online is a leading provider of innovative AI solutions, committed to transforming businesses through the power of artificial intelligence. With cutting-edge technologies and exceptional results, CGPT Online empowers businesses to achieve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Stay connected with CGPT Online through our social media channels: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cgptonline/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CGPTonline Twitter: https://twitter.com/CGPTonline Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgpt_online/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cgptonline/ Disclaimer: CGPT Online is not associated or affiliated in any way with OpenAI. Ernest George CGPT Online [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Wharton Online Kickstarts the First Cohort for Its 12-Week Advanced Digital Marketing and Growth Strategies Program in Collaboration With Great Learning Tweet The program is designed to help mid to senior professionals develop a customer-centric and data-driven mindset while leveraging digital marketing for better business results The 12 week program includes live exclusive masterclasses with Wharton faculty and industry experts as well as recorded sessions PHILADELPHIA, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wharton Online of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with Great Learning, a leading global edtech company for higher education and professional learning, is ready to welcome the first batch of learners of its 12-week Advanced Digital Marketing and Growth Strategies program this month. Designed and developed by seasoned faculty from the Wharton School, this immersive and experiential online program is specifically curated to help mid to senior-level professionalsmarketing managers, product managers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and CXOsacross several business-growth-related functions. The program will enable learners to devise effective customer-centric digital marketing strategies that help companies drive profitability and sustained growth. The first cohort consists of professionals from diverse industries and regions including North America, India, Europe, Australia, Brazil, China, and the UAE. Reflecting the cross-sectorial appeal of the program, learners from backgrounds like IT, telecom, finance, consulting, manufacturing, retail, real estate, and public administration, among others, have enrolled to enhance their digital marketing knowledge and gain an edge over their peers in the domain. Learners' work experiences are equally varied, with a majority having over eight years of experience. The Wharton School is recognized worldwide for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business educationnotably, ranking among the top 3 schools globally per the 2023 Quacquarelli Symonds rankings for business education. The latest 12-week program will enable professionals to make data-driven marketing decisions by modeling customer lifetime value, creating omnichannel strategies to deliver a unified customer experience. It wil also help them optimize marketing strategies by monitoring spending and performance of different channels with the latest AI and analytics tools. Peter Fader, Frances and Pei-Yuan Chia Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, said, "Wharton Online's mission is to provide learners across the globe with access to top-notch education and in this, we have plenty of common ground with Great Learning. The Advanced Digital Marketing and Growth Strategies Program is designed to give professionals an enriching experience while also enabling them to impact modern businesses as leading marketing professionals, business & product leaders, and entrepreneurs." Arjun Nair, Co-Founder of Great Learning, added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with the Wharton Online, faculty thought leaders, and industry experts to give learners a comprehensive learning experience that is not only strong on marketing foundations, but also focused on the latest industry developments. Individuals and companies that succeed in an increasingly competitive and digital world are ones who are able to understand consumers and meet their needs fast. We are delighted to partner with Wharton Online to enable learners from around the world succeed in their careers and add value to their ogranizations." Through the 12-week immersive journey, learners will obtain access to live masterclasses hosted by Wharton faculty, including Dr. Peter Fader, Dr. Raghuram Iyengar, and Dr. Ron Berman, weekly mentoring sessions from seasoned industry professionals, data-driven marketing assignments, and a real-world application capstone project. At the end of the program, learners will receive a certificate of completion from Wharton Online. About the Wharton School Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu. About Great Learning Great Learning is a leading global ed-tech company for professional training and higher education. It offers comprehensive, industry-relevant, hands-on learning programs across various business, technology and interdisciplinary domains driving the digital economy. These programs are developed and offered in collaboration with the world's foremost academic institutions like Wharton Online, Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Professional Education, The University of Texas at Austin, National University of Singapore, The University of Arizona, Deakin University, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, IIIT-Delhi and Great Lakes Institute of Management. Great Learning is able to leverage the highly qualified, world-class faculty at these universities together with its vast network of 6100+ industry expert mentors to deliver an unmatched learning experience for over 8 million learners from over 170+ countries around the world. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458111/4081818/Great_Learning_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wharton-online-kickstarts-the-first-cohort-for-its-12-week-advanced-digital-marketing-and-growth-strategies-program-in-collaboration-with-great-learning-301848282.html SOURCE Great Learning [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Egypt was re-elected on Wednesday to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) until 2025 with 130 votes, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Wednesday. The UNESCOs Executive Board consists of 58 member states, each with a four-year term in office. The Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of the UN agency, along with the General Conference which elects members of the executive board and the Secretariat. Previously, Egypt was re-elected in November 2017 for a four-year term in the board with 141 votes. Egypts re-election to the Executive Board for successive terms underscores the international recognition Egypt has garnered for its active role and position within the UN in general and the UNESCO in particular, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez said in the statement. Hafez highlighted the historical relations linking Egypt and the UNESCO and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis recent participation in the organisations 75th anniversary celebration. In his speech on 12 November at the UNESCOs headquarters in Paris, El-Sisi stressed that Egypt looks forward to bolstering its fruitful cooperation and long partnership with the UN body. We hope to further develop and deepen [this partnership] to implement the noble objectives of this organisation in serving culture, science, and human civilisation, El-Sisi said. Egypt is proud of being among the founding states of the UNESCO, El-Sisi said, noting that relations between the country and the organisation have developed over decades to become a model of constructive cooperation at all levels. Hafez also made it clear that this victory is a result of the culmination of efforts made by the foreign ministry, its embassies, and missions abroad to mobilise votes in favour of Egypts re-election to the Executive Board. The UNESCO consists of 193 members and 11 associate members. The organisations mission is to contribute to building a culture of peace; eradicating poverty; and fostering sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information. In 2019, Egypt was elected as a member of the Executive Board of the UNESCOs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Search Keywords: Short link: [June 12, 2023] Flair Airlines Continues Commitment to Better Customer Service through Specialist Customer Service Team in Montreal Tweet This strategic initiative reflects Flair's commitment to enhancing the customer experience and addressing any past shortcomings. EDMONTON, AB, June 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Flair Airlines, Canada's everyday low-fare airline, announced the official formation of a Specialist Customer Service Team in Montreal. "Our teams understand that exceptional customer service is paramount to our success," said Stephen Jones, CEO of Flair Airlines. "The vast majority of our customers have a positive experience with the airline. That said, I acknowledge that Flair has not always met our customers' expectations, and we are committed to rectifying that. Our Specialist Customer Service Team in Montreal is a testament to our dedication to improving our service and ensuring that every passenger has a positive experience when choosing to fly with Flair." As part of its ongoing efforts to prioritize customer satisfaction, Flairhas taken decisive action to create a specialized team dedicated to providing personalized support to its customers. The primary responsibilities of the Flair Airlines Customer Service Team in Montreal include: Quickly addressing complex customer service queries, particularly those involving irregular operations. Handling inquiries from the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). Addressing inquiries from the Department of Transport (DOT), demonstrating Flair Airlines' commitment to complying with all regulatory requirements. Proactively addressing feedback received from the Better Business Bureau to enhance customer satisfaction. Actively gathering feedback from customers to continuously improve service quality. The team began operations in January 2023, and includes a dedicated staff of professionals. Flair Airlines continues to prioritize customer service and aims to exceed expectations, demonstrating their ongoing dedication to delivering an exceptional travel experience to all passengers. In addition to its focus on customer service, Flair Airlines remains dedicated to its core principles of affordability, reliability, and safety. About Flair Airlines: Flair Airlines is Canada's leading low-fare airline and its greenest airline, on a mission to provide affordable air travel that connects them to the people and experiences they love. With an expanding fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Flair is growing to serve over 35 cities across Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit www.flyflair.com. SOURCE Flair Airlines Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Governments of Canada and British Columbia invest over $3 million to bring high-speed Internet to more than 800 households Rural communities to benefit from increased connectivity to high-speed Internet OTTAWA, ON, June 12, 2023 /CNW/ - All Canadians need reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. The governments of Canada and British Columbia are taking action to bring high-speed Internet access to underserved communities. Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, together with the Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia's Minister of Citizens' Services, announced over $3 million in federal and provincial funding for five CityWest projects to bring high-speed Internet access to over 800 households in the rural communities of Dease Lake, Iskut, Lach Klan (Gitxaala Nation), Lax Kw' Alaams and Smithers, British Columbia. This includes nearly 500 households in Indigenous communities. This funding is part of an existing agreement between the governments of Canada and British Columbia. In March 2022, both governments announced a historic partnership to invest up to $830 million to connect all remaining rural, remote and Indigenous households throughout the province to high-speed Internet. Today's announcement builds on the Government of Canada's progress toward ensuring that 98% of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. The Government of Canada will continue to make investments in infrastructure to build strong communities and a more competitive and resilient Canada for everyone. Quotes "We all know that Internet is no longer a luxuryit's a necessity. That's why our government made a historic commitment to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for Internet connectivity in rural British Columbia. This investment will provide reliable high-speed Internet access through CityWest Cable and Telephone Corporation to more than 800 underserved homes in five communities across British Columbia." The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development "Access to reliable, high-speed Internet services is vital for the success and growth of Indigenous, rural and remote communities. We are committed to connecting underserved communities by 2027 so British Columbians can enjoy the opportunities and services unlocked through access to high-speed connectivity, no matter where they live." The Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia's Minister of Citizens' Services "We're thrilled by today's announcement to bring improved connectivity to more unerserved communities in northern British Columbia. These last-mile fibre-to-the-home projects will provide residents with urban-class connectivity, creating equal opportunities for more rural, remote and Indigenous British Columbians. We would like to express our thanks to the Province of B.C. and the federal government for their connectivity vision, and to our partners at the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, the Gitxaala Nation and the Lax Kw' Alaams Band for their support in these exciting projects." Stefan Woloszyn Quick facts Canada's Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030. investment by the Government of designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030. Today, 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, compared to just 79% in 2014. In March 2022 , Canada and British Columbia announced a broadband partnership. This agreement represents a plan to connect all remaining rural households in British Columbia to high-speed Internet through a total combined investment of up to $830 million . , and announced a broadband partnership. This agreement represents a plan to connect all remaining rural households in to high-speed Internet through a total combined investment of up to . Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $524 million in connectivity projects in British Columbia . Since 2017, the Government of British Columbia has invested $584 million in connectivity projects in the province. Associated links Stay connected Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation , Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada [June 12, 2023] Curative Expands No Copay, No Deductible Health Insurance Plan to Houston Metro Area Tweet Curative Insurance Company, provider of a cutting-edge, no copay, no deductible health plan*, is now expanding its fully insured benefit offering to the Houston metro area to serve employers in all of Harris County as well as any of their employees nationwide. Curative plans to expand the fully-insured option statewide in the near future and then to other states later this year. Curative now has one of the largest provider networks in the Houston area as well as a broad nationwide network of providers to support its unique solution. The launch comes at a time when Houston residents are feeling the burden of out-of-pocket costs (OOP), including deductibles, copays, and co-insurance, all of which are having a significant impact on their overall health and well-being. A new survey of Houstonians found that within the last year, 42% of respondents have deferred seeking medical care because they were worried about paying for it and 49% have not followed through with their prescribed medications because of out-of-pocket costs. Curative Insurance Company recently commissioned this survey of Houstonians enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance plans** to understand how healthcare costs affect their choices in seeking care. Among other startling findings, four in ten (43%) Houstonians say they have trouble navigating their insurance plan and do not understand what is covered. Among those not able to understand what is covered by their plan, 71% say they have deferred care and treatment in the past year. Also, 41% say their OOPs are so expensive they may have to use savings or credit cards over the past year to pay for their healthcare services that are not covered by their insurance, including their OOPs. In addition, a majority of six in ten (66%) insured Houstonians have tapped into other financial sources (including borrowing money or cutting back on food, clothing, or other basic household items) to cover their healthcare services. "As we grow our presence across Texas, and highlight key insights about the negative impact of health insurance deductibles on people's overall health and well-being, it's critical that we offer a better option that's founded on cost transparency and zero out-of-pocket costs to Houston metro residents," said Fred Turner, co-founder and CEO of Curative. "The Curative health plan not only offers members an extensive choice in where and from whom they seek care, but also clarity on their plan's benefits and the true cost f care. Our members are supported by exceptional customer service that helps them navigate every step of their personal health care journey." The Curative plan covers wellness, preventive care, mental and behavioral health, primary and specialty care, office and hospital visits, prescription drugs, and telemedicine, through a high-quality, PPO network. Curative's health plan eliminates the financial barriers for patients accessing health insurance by offering no-cost services for in-network care with the completion of a baseline visit. To qualify for $0 copays and $0 deductibles for all doctors, hospitals, and other providers in its network, members need to complete the baseline visit within 120 days after enrollment. With the completion of the annual baseline visit and one competitive monthly premium, all members get access to in-network healthcare services. The Curative plan is now available to employers headquartered in Houston with 51 or more eligible employees nationwide, with broad national network coverage and access to over 1 million providers nationwide. In addition to Houston, Curative's fully-insured benefit offering is currently available in the Austin and San Antonio metro areas across 20 counties in the south-central region of the state. The company also offers a level-funded plan throughout Texas. Building on its success as the largest COVID-19 testing company in the nation, Curative's new health plan marks the company's next growth phase. To learn more about Curative and its new health care plan, visit https://curative.com/. ??*Every Curative member qualifies for the $0 deductible or copay for in-network care and preferred prescriptions by completing a Baseline Visit within 120 days of the plan effective date. See curative.com to learn more. Curative Insurance Company PPO. **To ensure the representation of key demographic variables, quotas were applied when selecting the sample, and the final data was weighted using the latest Census data through a post-stratification, RIM weighting methodology across demographic variables. The sample included 401 insured adults aged 18 years and above residing in the Houston MSA who voluntarily took part in the survey. About Curative Curative is a leading health care services company with an AM-Best rating of A- that has created and launched a first-of-its-kind employer-based health insurance plan. Co-founded by CEO Fred Turner and CTO Isaac Turner (no relation) in 2020, Curative is reengineering health insurance by providing unmatched simplicity and cost transparency with a competitive monthly premium and zero additional costs*. Curative is remaking our healthcare system into one that works for and supports members' whole health and well-being through every step of their personal health journey. Previously, Curative and its managed medical entities were national leaders bringing COVID-19 testing and vaccine-administration resources to bear in response to the pandemic. For more information on Curative, visit https://curative.com/, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. *To qualify, members need to complete a Baseline Visit within 120 days of the plan's effective date, which kicks off support of the member's well-being through every step of their health journey. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612322601/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] FLYING WHALES Joins GIFAS and Reshapes Air Logistics Transportation Tweet Launched in 2012, FLYING WHALES develops a unique program in the world: a rigid airship for heavy loads transportation, named LCA60T. The company, which has already closed 3 rounds of financing, including a 122 million round in 2022, counts prestigious companies and three governments among its shareholders. Its entry into the GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Francaises Aeronautiques et Spatiales) StartAir club shows how promising and exciting is this project. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612763866/en/ Credit: FLYING WHALES An extraordinary industrial consortium for a unique project At the end of 2012, an exchange with representatives of the French National Forests Office (ONF) launched the start of this major industrial adventure. The main pain to solve was to increase wood harvesting in isolated regions, while reducing the economic and ecological footprint of this extraction. It's how the idea of a cargo airship capable of hovering, loading and unloading dozens of tons of wood without landing was born. During three years, studies were made that validated the technical, industrial, economic and regulatory relevance of the model. Then it was time to look for financing. An initial fundraising of 10 million euros in 2017 gave rise to an industrial consortium. About 50 companies of all sizes gradually joined this consortium, including corporates such as Thales, Safran and, more recently, Honeywell. In terms of capital, institutions such as the ONF and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region joined the project. In 2019, a second round of financing, worth 30 million euros, brought in the Quebec government, and corporates such as ADP Group, Air Liquide, Bouygues and others... The team expanded and set up strong industrial partnerships. In June 022, FLYING WHALES raised 122 million euros. France and Monaco states joined the venture, along with Societe Generale Insurance and other private investors. The missing link in industrial logistics In addition to being visionary, this project meets a wide range of needs. While conventional helicopters are limited to approximately 4 tons, the FLYING WHALES airship can carry up to 60 tons! Its hybrid-electric propulsion also positions it as a solution for the future, a transitional phase towards all-electric power. Its ability to access isolated areas without needing to land, 60 tons load, its impressive dimensions with a 100-metre-long cargo hold and its autonomy make the future LCA60T an unrivaled project. In addition to the timber industry, it has a wide range of applications in many sectors: energy (transport of several wind turbine blades in one go); humanitarian (transport of large quantities of emergency supplies to disastered areas); industry (transport of rocket and satellite components, for example, bulky, heavy and fragile loads); decongestion of port facilities (cargo transfer from the ship to the port or a distant dry port); construction (transport of building materials and equipment, transport and installation of prefabricated elements for the construction of buildings or engineering structures, transport of prefabricated houses for isolated populations); health (transport of mobile hospitals for populations far from major health centers) 37 agreements have already been signed with prospective customers, including ONF, ArianeGroup, CNES, Engie Green, Rougier Forestry and Bollore Logistics. First flight scheduled for 2025 There are still many steps to take before the first flight, scheduled for 2025. All the players are in place and ready to get there. FLYING WHALES has also joined the French government's support program, FrenchTech Next40, dedicated to French start-ups identified as future world-class technology leaders. Last April, FLYING WHALES also joined the club of start-ups in the French aerospace industry, launched by GIFAS a year ago, with the aim of accelerating cooperation between start-ups and companies in the aerospace industry. "GIFAS is the largest network of aerospace companies in France, and one of the largest in the world. It's a showcase for French industrial excellence, for a flagship sector that extends far beyond our borders. We are delighted to join this network, with which we are committed to helping the aeronautics industry meet tomorrow's challenges with our vision, our convictions and our know-how", adds Vincent Guibout, Managing Director of FLYING WHALES. FLYING WHALES plans to build 160 airships over the first 10 years, in France, Quebec and Asia-Pacific. Each of the three sites will produce 12 airships a year, given the estimated need for around 800 machines worldwide. In the meantime, starting this year, the company is recruiting around a hundred employees in France and Canada, mainly engineers, to complete its team of 140 people. At full capacity, each plant will create 300 direct jobs. FLYING WHALES will be present at the Paris Air Show from June 19 to 25, 2023. Contact us if you would like to arrange an on-site meeting About FLYING WHALES : FLYING WHALES is a French company headquartered in Suresnes (France). Created in 2012, the company is developing an ambitious and unique program thanks to its innovations and the quality of its teams and industrial consortium: the LCA60T, a rigid airship for heavy load transport with a carrying capacity of 60 tons. Originally designed to meet the needs of logging renewable wood resources in hard-to-reach areas, the LCA60T's unique hovering loading and unloading characteristics will provide solutions to numerous logistical and landlocked problems around the world, with a very low environmental footprint. This solution will allow, at low cost, to free itself from all ground constraints for the point-to-point transport of heavy or bulky loads. Finally, FLYING WHALES is also developing FLYING WHALES SERVICES, the operating company for the LCA60T. For more information: https://www.flying-whales.com/en/home/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612763866/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Page Removed Tweet Due to administrative reasons, the content of this page has been removed and is no longer available. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] Thin Client Market to Reach $2.6 billion, Globally, by 2032 at 4.8% CAGR: Allied Market Research Tweet The global thin client market is driven by factors such as rise in adoption of cloud-based services and centralized data storage and backup. PORTLAND, Ore., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Thin Client Market by Form Factor (Standalone, With Monitor, and Mobile) By Application (Enterprise, Government, Education, Industrial, and Healthcare) Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032" According to the report, the global thin client industry generated $1.6 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $2.6 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2032. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios. Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/75336 Prime determinants of growth The global thin client market is driven by factors such as rise in adoption of cloud-based services and centralized data storage and backup. However, limitations in customizations restrains the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, an increasing data center investments create opportunities for the thin client market amid growing storage demand from digital transformation. Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $1.6 billion Market Size in 2032 $2.6 billion CAGR 4.8 % No. of Pages in Report 209 Segments covered Form Factor, Application, and Region. Drivers Rise in adoption of cloud-based services Centralized data storage and backup Opportunities Rise in investments in data centers by leading corporations Restraints Limitations in customization Covid-19 scenario- The sudden shift to remote work and virtual operations led organizations to heavily rely on thin client solutions for secure access to virtual desktops and applications. This increased demand was primarily driven by the need for flexible, scalable, and remote-friendly IT infrastructure. Thin clients proved crucial in providing the necessary security, compliance, and operational agility to support remote work and ensure uninterrupted business continuity during covid times. The healthcare sector experienced significant benefits from thin client solutions. These solutions enabled healthcare practitioners to effectively communicate, access patient data, and operate remote clinics. The pandemic served as a catalyst for the adoption of thin clients, highlighting their crucial role in enabling remote work and facilitating seamless virtual operations. This trend is expected to persist even in the post-COVID-19 era, further propelling market growth. The healthcare segment to retain its dominance throughout the forecast timeframe: By application, the healthcare segment accounted for nearly one-third of the thin client market revenue in 2022 and is projected to retain the lion's share by 2032. The increasing demand for thin clients in the healthcare industry can be attributed to the growing adoption of telemedicine. Thin clients enable healthcare providers to conduct virtual consultations, remotely monitor patients, and deliver care outside of traditional healthcare settings. On the other hand, the government segment is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 5.66% during the period from 2023 to 2032. The government sector offers significant growth opportunities for the adoption of thin clients, particularly through effective disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. Thin clients provide a centralized and resilient computing environment that ensures data security and accessibility during hardware failures, natural disasters, or emergencies. The standalone segment to rule the roost: By form factor, the standalone segment dominated the thin client market in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the total revenue, and is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 5.13% during the forecast period. This remarkable growth can be attributed to significant trends and opportunities within the market. One notable trend is the growing adoption of remote work and mobility solutions. As businesses embrace flexible work arrangements, standalone thin clients enable employees to access server-based computing environments from any location. This is particularly evident in the healthcare sector, where standalone thin clients are utilized in mobile carts, allowing healthcare professionals to access patient records and medical applications at the point of care. In addition, the focus on green computing and energy efficiency presents opportunities for standalone thin clients. These devices consume less power compared to traditional PCs, leading to reduced energy costs and a reduced environmental footprint. This makes them an attractive choice for organizations aiming to achieve sustainability goals and minimize their carbon footprint. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/thin-client-market/purchase-options Asia-Pacific garnered the major share in 2022 By region, Asia-Pacific emerged as the region with the highest share in the thin client market, accounting for nearly one-third of the total revenue. The Asia-Pacific region is poised to offer tremendous growth opportunities for the thin client market. The education system in the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing a major shift towards technology integration and digital learning. Thin clients are playing a crucial role in this transformation by providing cost-effective and manageable solutions for educational institutions. However, North America region is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 5.78% during the forecast period. The North America thin client market is expected to lead in terms of spending, primarily due to the availability of advanced technology-driven products. The region's focus on technological advancements and innovation contributes to the dominance of North America in the market. Leading Market Players- Dell Inc. HP Development Company, L.P. Fujian Centerm Information Co., Ltd. Fujitsu LG Electronics Advantech Co., Ltd. Siemens IGEL OnLogic Thinvent The report analyzes these key players of the thin client market. These players have adopted various strategies such as product launches, collaborations, and agreements to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player. Procure Complete Report (209 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/42BPZwr Similar Reports We Have on Semiconductor Industry: Industrial Computers Market by Type (Panel, Box, Embedded Din Rail, Din Rail, Rack Mount, Others), by Technology (Resistive, Capacitive), by End Use (Transportation and Infrastructure, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Industrial, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 3D Display Market by Type (Volumetric Display, Stereoscopic, and HMD), Technology (DLP RPTV, PDP, OLED, and LED), Access Method (Screen Based Display and Micro Display), and Application (TV, Smartphones, Monitor, Mobile Computing Devices, Projectors, HMD, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Machine Safety Market by Component (Safety Sensors, Safety Interlock Switches, Safety Controller, Others), by Implementation (Individual, Embedded), by Industry Vertical (Oil and Gas, Healthcare, Automotive, Metals and Mining, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thin-client-market-to-reach-2-6-billion-globally-by-2032-at-4-8-cagr-allied-market-research-301848206.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 12, 2023] De Havilland Aircraft of Canada and OBDS Announce Free Document Delivery Service for Aerial Firefighting Crews Amidst Unprecedented Forest Fires Tweet De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, a leading provider of aerial firefighting aircraft, and On-Board Data Services (OBDS), a leading provider of aviation manual delivery services via Apple iPad, are taking a proactive stance in the battle against escalating forest fires in Canada. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612572921/en/ De Havilland DHC-515 Firefighter (Photo: Business Wire) Today, we are proud to announce, "Operation Fire Docs." We will offer flight manual updates, maintenance updates, and fleet document distribution free of charge to all waterbomber and aerial firefighting crews for the next six months, starting immediately. Judy Donegan, Manager of Technical Publications at De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, announces that "all De Havilland aircraft operating as aerial firefighters are eligible for free digital manual updates over the next 6 months using De Havilland Flight Deck, in partnership with OBDS." "We recognize the urgency and magnitude of the forest fire crisis gripping our nation," said Charles Guerin, CEO of OBDS. "We want to lend a helping hand to the exceptional men and women who brave the flames from above. By offering our service at no cost, we aim to facilitate their operations, enhance efficiency, and contribute to extinguishing these devastating fires." The advanced technology ensures rapid access to critical flight plans, flight and maintenance manuals, service bulletin updates, and other essential documents, empowering crews with up-to-date information and resources during their vital missions. OBDS will deploy a dedicated technical support crew to ensure seamless setup and ongoing assistance for participating aerial firefighting crews. De Havilland and OBDS encourage all waterbomber and aerial firefighting crews to take advantage of this offer and join hands in the fight against unprecedented forest fires in Canada. Together, we can strive towards a safer and more resilient future. To request manuals: Contact DHC technical publications, THD 24x7x365 Support: +1 647 277 5820 Customer Portal: www.dehavillandportal.com To deploy, contact OBDS at: [email protected] Phone: 450-476-1420 Website: www.obds.aero About De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited: With over 5,000 aircraft delivered, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) is a globally recognized leader in the aviation industry. Our talented team of aviation professionals is dedicated to advancing our nearly 100-year reputation for excellence in innovation, production, and customer support. De Havilland Canada's aircraft are renowned for reliability, operating in some of the world's harshest climates. They provide vital connections between rural communities and urban centers, transporting essential cargo and millions of passengers annually. Our aircraft support a wide variety of special mission operations, including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and coastal surveillance. About OBDS (On-Board Data Services): As a trusted partner, OBDS (On-Board Data Services) is a leading provider of digital document, flight manual, and maintenance manual delivery services to aircraft manufacturers and aviation operations worldwide. With a strong commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, we deliver cutting-edge solutions that streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve aviation safety. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612572921/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A shift has been underway for the past few years as organizations worldwide seek to modernize their approach to the hybrid workforce. To accomplish that, organizations are on a quest to create a seamless blend for both remote and office-based employees. This blend's components range from digital collaboration tools to flexible policies and enhanced cybersecurity measures. Of course, that is easier said than done. Yet Lumen, a provider of communication and information technology services, duly recognizes the need to support businesses in adapting to the demands of a hybrid employee base. Lumen's history in the communication and IT industry positions them as a reliable partner in the landscape of modern businesses. Lumen has witnessed the transformative power of communication technology over the decades. Through various mergers and acquisitions, the company has grown its reach and capabilities, solidifying its position as a leading provider of communication services. Lumen's market presence and expertise in network infrastructure and edge computing have made them a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable and scalable communication solutions. So, as the demand for hybrid work environments continues to rise, Lumen aims to provide a modernized solution that offers fast, easy and simplified connection and collaboration abilities. That is why Lumen is collaborating with Microsoft to launch Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams Phone (News - Alert). Operator Connect offers clients a seamless and efficient way to deploy calling in Microsoft Teams without the need for on-premises equipment. The product also provides customizable features, further enhancing its value proposition. This offering is particularly advantageous for customers, as it allows them to leverage their existing investment in Teams (thus eliminating the need for additional on-premises solution). Lumens scale of network and metro edge compute infrastructure is uniquely differentiated for low latency experiences, said Rick Wagner, president, Microsoft (News - Alert) Federal. With our combined strengths, Microsoft and Lumen will enable customers to access advanced immersive capabilities for improved collaboration, productivity and innovation. The collaboration between Lumen and Microsoft represents a strategic partnership aimed at delivering enhanced customer experiences, improved product quality and increased productivity. Lumen's inclusion of Microsoft in its Growth Operating System, for example, is a testament to the tech giant's early entry into this innovative process. The Growth Operating System aims to gain a deep understanding of customer needs in an ever-evolving landscape characterized by the complexity of cloud services and connectivity disruptions. Lumen plans to leverage these insights to assist customers in harnessing the transformative capabilities of emerging technologies like the metaverse and AI. The partnership with Microsoft is expected to yield accelerated sales leads and closures, as well as facilitate product expansion. "Partners make more possible," said Kate Johnson, president and CEO at Lumen. "Lumen is revamping our alliance partner ecosystem with companies like Microsoft so we can be even more consultative in our approach we can really help customers choose the products that will drive the best business outcomes." Edited by Alex Passett Of course, we respect everyone's political & social justice opinions about this topic. However . . . Here's a sneak peek behind the discussion . . . JACKSON COUNTY STATUE FIGHTING DISTRACTS FROM CRITICISM OVER HISTORIC RISING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS!!! When locals should be up in arms about bills presented to them by the courthouse . . . It's much easier to move the conversation to intense rhetoric regarding long dead white dudes. On the other hand . . . Legislator Many Abarca is sponsoring this move and seems to be leading the effort. Like it or not . . . IF MANNY ABARCA ACCOMPLISHES THIS STATUE TAKE DOWN . . . BY DEFINITION, IT'S A MONUMENTAL VICTORY FOR PROGRESSIVES!!! Never mind that voters spoke overwhelmingly on this issue not so long ago and 72% of the electorate rejected efforts to remove the presidential tribute. We reserve the right to explore that idea later . . . For now . . . Here's the premise and local media complying with the clever social justice gambit . . . The resolution recalls that Jackson, the seventh President of the United States and namesake of Jackson County, "owned hundreds of slaves" and "actively worked to silence abolitionists." Jackson was also largely responsible for the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The move resulted in the forced relocation of many Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River. About 4,000 Cherokees died during the march westward, which became known as "the Trail of Tears." "It is in the moral interest of Jackson County to immediately create separation from these moments in our nations history through the removal of statues or monuments associated with them so as to not accidentally bestow honor on individuals who were engaged in the genocide of indigenous groups or proponents of slavery," the resolution says. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Jackson County legislator initiates new push to remove Andrew Jackson statues at courthouses Jackson County legislator Manny Abaraca is introducing a new push to remove controversial statues at the Jackson County courthouses. Abarca will introduce a resolution Monday, June 12th, to the Jackson County Legislature that would direct the removal and storage of the Andrew Jackson.Statues of the former president are located in both the Downtown and Truman County Courthouses. Jackson County legislator wants Andrew Jackson statues removed from Kansas City area courthouses Legislators will consider a resolution calling for the statute of President Andrew Jackson in front of county courthouses to be dismantled and stored. Jackson was a slave owner and a supporter of the forced relocation of Native Americans. A county-wide vote to remove the statue failed in 2020. Resolution to remove 2 Andrew Jackson statues in Jackson County sent to budget committee KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A resolution to remove two statues of former US president Andrew Jackson from Jackson County courthouse grounds has moved up to the budget committee for further discussion. The resolution, which was put forth by Jackson County legislator Manny Abarca, was introduced Monday during the Jackson County Legislator's meeting. Jackson County lawmaker pushes for statues to be removed KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There is a new push to remove two statues of President Andrew Jackson from prominent landmarks in Jackson County. The statues stand in front of the two Jackson County Courthouses. One is near 12th and Locust in Downtown Kansas City. Developing . . . In this post we compile more than a few notices from longshot contender Clay Chastain as he ramps up his effort to win an EPIC UPSET VICTORY against incumbent Mayor Quinton Lucas. Longtime TKC readers might be familiar with some of these ideas but we'll let Clay Chastain speak for himself in these messages to local media . . . The head of the UN cultural agency on Monday started a three-day visit to Iraq where many priceless cultural treasures have been damaged or destroyed during decades of conflict. UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay was to visit reconstruction projects and meet top officials including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and President Abdel Latif Rachid. Years of war and insurgency have taken a heavy toll on Iraq's many Mesopotamian, Islamic and Christian treasures including six UNESCO World Heritage sites. "This visit is dedicated to reconstruction in Iraq," said a spokesman for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization which funds several projects in Iraq. Iraq's antiquities have been extensively looted, often by organised crime groups, since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The national museum in Baghdad, which displayed many ancient relics, was not spared during the invasion when many treasures were stolen. More damage was done during the brutal rise of the Islamic State group a decade later and the battle to dislodge it which devastated large areas in the northern city of Mosul. UNESCO will examine how to help Iraq maintain its ancient heritage and put the spotlight back on its culture, the agency's spokesman told AFP. Azoulay will on Monday tour Iraq's national museum and the historic centre of Baghdad, including the famed Al-Mutanabi streets, home to generations of booksellers. Iraq saw the rise and fall of pre-Islamic civilisations, including Babylon in ancient Mesopotamia -- often dubbed the cradle of civilisation, where writing first flourished. UNESCO has also declared natural heritage sites in Iraq, including the southern marshlands fed by the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers. The vast wetlands have also been put at severe risk, including by draining under Saddam's regime and by climate change and upstream dam construction. Azoulay will on Tuesday visit Mosul where UNESCO funds major reconstruction projects. On Wednesday she will head to Arbil, capital of the autonomous region of Kurdistan and home to an ancient citadel that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Search Keywords: Short link: This week we earn a break from bot posts/comments and constant insightful questions from noobs like: "Where's the best BBQ in Kansas City?!?" We've always been skeptical of this forum because it was hijacked early by city hall supporters. Moreover . . . There isn't any REAL political debate allowed on the r/kansascity subreddit and mods skew blatantly progressive and will shut down dissent quickly. Still . . . There's no denying that they're entertaining and it's clear their absence is missed by online influencers (lulz) across the metro along with amateur filmmakers lazily promoting their latest opus . . . "In support of third-party apps such as the [BaconReader app](https://baconreader.com/) which is developed in Kansas City, /r/kansascity is going private in protest on reddit's announced changes to their policies regarding Reddit API and these third-party apps. r/kansascity will return on June 14th." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Forum dedicated to Kansas City joins thousands of online communities in protest over Reddit changes People trying to access r/kansascity on Reddit, a forum dedicated to all things Kansas City, will be unable to access the feed until June 14.Moderators of the online Kansas City community have joined thousands of others on the community discussion website to protest changes to the website and app often referred to as the front page of the internet. Planning a trip to Thailand is an exciting endeavour, but obtaining a visa for the country can sometimes be a complex and time-consuming process, leading to potential delays (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - June 10th, 2023 - Planning a trip to Thailand is an exciting endeavour, but obtaining a visa for the country can sometimes be a complex and time-consuming process, leading to potential delays. These delays can be frustrating and disruptive, jeopardizing your travel plans. To ensure a smooth visa application experience and avoid lengthy delays, we have compiled a comprehensive list of tips and strategies for obtaining a Thailand visa efficiently. Understanding the Visa Requirements: Before embarking on your visa application journey, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the specific visa requirements for Thailand. Thailand offers a variety of visa types, such as tourist visas, business visas, and work permits, each with its own set of prerequisites and processing times. By thoroughly researching the visa category that aligns with your purpose of travel and carefully reviewing the official Thai embassy or consulate website, you can ensure that you meet all the necessary documentation, fees, and additional requirements. Commence the Application Process Early: One of the most effective ways to avoid visa delays is to initiate the application process well in advance of your planned travel dates. By allowing yourself ample time to gather the required documents, accurately complete the application forms, and schedule any necessary appointments, you significantly reduce the risk of encountering unexpected issues. Initiating the process early grants you the opportunity to address any concerns or complications that may arise, ensuring a smoother and more efficient application experience. Ensure Accurate and Complete Documentation: The importance of submitting accurate and complete documentation cannot be overstated when it comes to avoiding visa delays. Carefully review the specified format for each required document and provide all information exactly as requested. Missing or incomplete documents can lead to processing delays or even result in the rejection of your visa application. Taking the time to double-check all your documents before submission is a crucial step in minimizing the chances of encountering unnecessary delays. Seek professional assistance: Navigating thevisa application process can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the requirements or have limited experience with such procedures. In such cases, seeking assistance from reputable visa service providers can be immensely helpful. These specialized agencies possess the expertise and knowledge to guide you through the process, ensuring that your application is accurate, complete, and adheres to all necessary guidelines. They can also assist with scheduling appointments and provide personalized support, significantly reducing the likelihood of experiencing delays. Promptly schedule your visa appointment: For certain visa types, scheduling an appointment is a necessary step in the application process. It is crucial to be mindful of appointment availability, as popular time slots tend to fill up rapidly. Once you have gathered all the required documents, promptly schedule your appointment to secure your preferred date and time. Delaying the appointment scheduling process may result in limited availability, leading to potential delays if no suitable slots are accessible. Stay informed and follow Up: After submitting your visa application, it is essential to remain informed about its progress. Utilize online tracking systems or visit the relevant embassy or consulate's website to monitor the status of your application. In the event of unexpected delays, taking proactive measures such as contacting the embassy or consulate directly and providing any additional information or documentation they may require can help expedite the process. Remaining engaged and actively following up on your application demonstrates your commitment and may assist in minimizing any potential delays. While visa delays can be a source of frustration and uncertainty, adhering to these tips and strategies will significantly increase your chances of avoiding lengthy delays during the Thailand visa application process. By familiarizing yourself with the visa requirements, starting early, ensuring accurate documentation, seeking professional assistance when needed, scheduling appointments promptly, and staying informed throughout the process, you can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your application. Ultimately, this will allow you to focus on planning the rest of your trip and eagerly anticipate your journey to the captivating destination of Thailand with confidence. ### Against the backdrop of the cultural price that Cairo is paying to build new highways, the question of the balance between conservation and modernisation is again being raised. It all started in June 2014 when the government announced an ambitious plan in multiple phases to improve the performance of the roads in Cairo, either by widening existing ones or by creating new highways, flyovers, and corridors. The objective of this plan, according to the government, was to spare the capital from its reputation as a city of tough traffic in order to entice new investments. As the government statement indicated, the new roads would cut through some segments of the older quarters of the city, though it did not announce the specific details. However, some timid voices spoke of the possibly harmful impact of this scheme on the urban fabric of a significant part of Cairo, namely the citys cemeteries in the City of the Dead. We are talking about a part of the city that has layers and layers of history, parts of which date back over 10 centuries, said one source who is a former member of a government body that examined the proposed plans at an early stage. I was accused of being an alarmist when I said during one of the public meetings that were held to discuss the plan that this was going to be damaging. But today we are helpless witnesses to the possible elimination of large chunks of the old cemeteries, some of which date back to the early years of Arab rule, making them older than Cairo as established by the Fatimids in the 10th century CE, the source said. According to the same source, the plan proposed in 2014 that has recently entered a crucial phase of implementation with the demolition of cemeteries in the Imam Shafei and Imam Leithi and Sayeda Nafisa and Sayeda Aisha areas was in fact a slightly upgraded version of a scheme originally proposed in 2008 as part of what was labelled Cairo 2050. The source explained that this vision was promoted as a scheme to make Cairo a modern city. Right from the start this was problematic. Cairo is an old city with old and modern quarters, the source said, adding that the concept of global, green and connected city that was offered as the base for this vision sounded nice but in reality it included some really problematic proposals, including what we are seeing now with the demolition of large segments of the oldest cemeteries in the city. According to a source at the Ministry of Housing, when the plan got picked up again and was sent to government bodies for revision, apprehensions were voiced at many levels. Part of these related to the historic value of this part of the city. Another part related to the fact that this is included in the UN cultural agency UNESCOs list of heritage sites in Egypt. However, the apprehensions of conservators were firmly silenced in favour of what was promised as the overdue modernisation of a city that is over-crowded and has chronic traffic problems said to be intimidating to visitors and investors alike. Allocations were made for the construction of new traffic corridors across Greater Cairo, with the eastern part of the city being the main venue, especially with the parallel construction of the New Administrative Capital between Cairo and Ain Sokhna. The construction of flyovers in Heliopolis and Nasr City in the east of Cairo at the expense of cutting down a large number of trees, some of which were close to 100 years old, and the ripping up of the tram lines that for close to a century had carried passengers in and out of Heliopolis were done as necessary for modernisation to the dismay of residents of these neighbourhoods. They saw radical changes in the urban fabric of this part of Cairo that was built in the early decades of the 20th century, with Nasr City having initially been constructed as an administrative quarter of the capital. It was totally damaging, what happened in the east of Cairo, and not just in Heliopolis. Several neighbourhoods have lost their identity for good as they have all turned into being an extended series of districts overshadowed with flyovers, said Michel Hannah, who has been documenting the architecture of the city for two consecutive decades. He said that the damage that hit eastern Cairo in order to resolve the traffic congestion could be compared to the devastating demolitions that have been hitting the old cemeteries of Cairo under the banner of modernisation. A CORRIDOR TO HEAVEN? The debate over the relaunched Cairo 2050 scheme continued at low volume until the summer of 2020, when the government started to remove segments of the cemeteries of Al-Ghafeer to construct the Mehwar Al-Fardos (Heaven Corridor), a nine-km highway, with flyovers, that connects the east of Cairo to New Cairo on the way to the new capital. Ahead of the demolitions, Galila Al-Kadi, a professor of architecture and a leading conservation architect, tried to garner public support against a demolition campaign that she argued was violating the history of the city, its visual identity, and its urban fabric. But she failed to reverse the demolitions that forever removed some unique items of contemporary funerary architecture. In response, government officials stressed that no registered monuments were demolished. They added that it was impossible to leave the notorious traffic jams of Cairo unresolved. The demolitions executed in 2020, they argued, had also not been unprecedented given that previous demolitions had occurred since the late 19th century to allow for the construction of new roads. The city has to modernise, they said in statements. But the author of Architecture for the Dead: Cairos Medieval Necropolis, Al-Kadi argued that it made no sense to compromise what amounts to 14 centuries of history, irrespective of what is registered and what is not, in order to create traffic corridors that cut through the city. Nairy Hampikian, an architect who had renovated many of Cairos monuments and architectural gems, argued that what might have been unavoidable over a century ago or even 50 years ago could have at least been partially avoidable now with new techniques that could have allowed for the dismantling and reassembling of at least some of the buildings concerned. At the very least, Hampikian said, there should have been a proper survey to allow government and concerned historians and conservationists to know what is really there [irrespective of] what is registered and what is not, because this is history and because we are talking about a space that holds so many types of architecture, including Neo-Pharaonic and Neo-Islamic. May Al-Ibrashi, an architect whose work encourages civil society-led preservation and conservation, lamented the failure of the campaign to stop the many changes that she said were coming at a very heavy price to serve a purpose that could have been addressed outside the mediaeval city. This is the second decade of the 21st century; cities with traffic issues do not knock down historic parts but opt for public transport solutions instead, she said. The fact that the 2020 demolitions encroached on the tombs of leading 20th-century political and cultural figures and the personal tombs of citizens who were shattered by the removal of the remains of loved ones gave a strong momentum to the considerable public furore. However, this had no impact on the scheme. The demolitions were all done in the public interest, the government insisted. In 2022, the tomb of prominent literary figure Taha Hussein narrowly escaped demolition after an uproar initiated by a statement from the family expressing their shock over plans for demolition to allow for the construction of yet more flyovers in the Yasser Rizk Corridor. The cemetery was spared, but it is now there with a peculiar flyover hanging over it; it is just unbelievable, said Mustafa Al-Sadek, a connoisseur of history who has been walking the roads of the city and taking pictures of its monuments, cemeteries included, for close to three decades. The tombs of many cultural, political, and military figures have gone, especially over recent weeks, he said. Our history is there, with these monuments that tell the real stories that are often either inaccurate or incomplete in the authorised versions promoted in the school curricula or the media, Al-Sadek said. It is not just political history, but also social history and the history of art. The shock and dismay that Al-Sadek felt with the demolitions of 2020 and those of 2022 is nowhere near the devastation that hit him during recent weeks with the new demolitions, however. These are much more aggressive and much more damaging, both in terms of scope and value, he said. Just this week, Al-Sadek in the company of a group of keen history enthusiasts came across a tombstone that dates to 1,200 years ago. They managed to spare it from the clutches of the bulldozers and to transfer it to the concerned authority in the hope of having it displayed in the Museum of Islamic Art. We know what we miraculously saved, but we dont know what we did not save, he said. It is so troubling to think that the Rosetta Stone itself was just part of a wall. If that had been knocked down unexcavated, what would have happened regarding the decipherment of hieroglyphics, he asked. Al-Sadek insists that the worry is strictly apolitical. Nobody is deliberately picking a fight over government plans, and nobody wants this to turn into a political issue; this is strictly a matter of history and of the need to find a way to avoid having history compromised under the name of modernisation, he said. An architect and expert on planning, Amr Essam argues that the experience of the Heaven Corridor shows that the expansion of roads does not resolve traffic issues but rather the opposite, as it drags the city into the induced demand effect whereby more roads does not mean less traffic but rather more vehicles. Cairo is undeniably a big city with big traffic issues, but this is not exactly a function of a shortage of roads but rather a function of inefficient traffic management and inefficient public transport, Essam said. Statistically speaking, only 13 per cent of Cairo households have private cars, while unofficial public transport, which is mostly highly polluting and hazardous minibuses, count for over 60 per cent of overall public transport, he said. This is a result of the 1967 defeat that compromised public spending on infrastructure in favour of perfectly legitimate military spending and of the Open Door policy adopted after the 1973 October Crossing whereby the government stopped providing public services without allowing for efficient private-sector replacements. At a time of major economic challenges, cheaper microbuses have become the transport of choice for many over the metro, which is still falling short of covering the required segments of the city and whose fares have become quite costly for more and more people over the past few years. The call of the public interest, Essam argued, could be legitimate, but it is equally legitimate to work on serving it without compromising the history of the city that is also part of the public interest. There are many alternative solutions including introducing an unobtrusive public transport network, like the super tram, or building tunnels. These are options that would not have caused any of the shocking damage we have seen to the historic cemeteries, he said. There are options that might have required more time or more funding, but it would have certainly been worthwhile because creating a balance between conservation and modernisation deserves time and money. DE-HISTORICISATION: According to Marwa Abdel-Gawad, a PhD student in the history of architecture, erasing parts of the layered story of Cairo is not just troubling from the point of view of conservation, but it could also challenge the inclusion of the old parts of the city in the UNESCO World Heritage List. About a year ago, UNESCO removed the Liverpool commercial harbour from its List because it found that the development projects there undermined a big part of its historic nature, she said. However, what is being lost today in Cairo is a lot more precious in many ways. For example, the tombstones were among the few remaining sources to document the evolution of Arabic calligraphy as it has been practiced in Egypt for 14 centuries, she stated. Calligrapher Mahmoud Atef has spent long hours tracing the marvels of Arabic calligraphy on the tombstones of Cairos City of the Dead. But today, he said that priceless pieces and an unexcavated wealth of knowledge are disappearing. So many diverse types of calligraphy and the living record of centuries of the evolution of calligraphy, and the cultural and social norms behind it, are being lost, he lamented. This, he said, was shocking in a country with a long history of calligraphy, even prior to the Mameluke years and the time of the khedive Ismail and the Royal School of Arabic Calligraphy that was established under king Fouad in 1922. Over 10 years ago, Mohamed Shafei graduated from this school to add academic knowledge to a profession that has been running in his family for decades, with a grandfather and great grandfather who contributed to the calligraphy on the tombstones of successive generations of top politicians and prominent characters. His long strolls in the spacious areas of the old cemeteries of Cairo have often put him face to face, not just with his family legacy, but also with the legacy of Arabic calligraphy in Egypt. With limited resources on the history of Arabic calligraphy, the cemeteries constituted a wealth of knowledge, he said. Shafei has invested the last five years to studying the calligraphy engraved on the tombstones of the old cemeteries during the 19th and 20th centuries. The findings of this study supported by the Institut francais darcheologie orientale will be published this year along with a set of photographs that Shafei is grateful he managed to capture before so much was demolished. I was hoping to do a lot more, but so much is gone, he said. Today, as the bulldozers continue to erase segments of the city, Shafei is among the passionate enthusiasts who are racing against time to capture whatever they can. Hossam Abdel-Azim, founder of Witnesses of Egypt, which started as a volunteer conservation scheme to clean historic sites before it turned into a documentation mission, also said that he is racing against time not just to document this history but also to rescue some significant pieces before or right after demolition. Just this week, Abdel-Azim and his team managed to reassemble a fractured tombstone and to give the pieces to the competent authority for restoration and eventual display. We are trying to move ahead of the demolition teams to rescue and document, but ultimately we are a small group of volunteers and we are not able to cover everything that is there, he said. Eventually, he added, the documentation will be made available in the public domain in many formats. According to Hannah, it is devastating that all the documentation that has been done has been voluntary. One day, some institution should allow all the photographs and videos that have been gathered by different groups and individuals to come together in memory of the city. * A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The Prime Minister says that the offer by the U.S. to assist the region and this country in The Government of Moldova provided the Ukrainian rescuers with a batch of humanitarian aid, including pumping stations, plastic and inflatable boats, rubber boots, and a motor pump. "The Government of the Republic of Moldova, represented by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, provided humanitarian assistance to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to eliminate the consequences of the man-made disaster that occurred following the damage to the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. The humanitarian aid includes two pumping stations, seven plastic boats, five inflatable boats, 161 pairs of rubber boots, a motor pump, food products," the press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on Facebook Ukrainian rescuers expressed their sincere gratitude to the Moldovan government and the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova for their support. Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Andrzej Duda of Poland in a phone call on Sunday evening discussed the situation in Ukraine and Poland's international efforts to help its neighbor. Marcin Przydacz, head of the International Policy Bureau under the President of Poland, said this on Polat News, Ukrinform reports. Przydacz said that the Ukrainian leader had informed his Polish counterpart about the situation at the front and the consequences of the humanitarian disaster caused by Russia's destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. Both presidents had an exchange of opinions in the context of recent and future diplomatic developments. "And we had a whole series of them with the participation of President Andrzej Duda. Last week, the summit of NATO's eastern flank or the summit of the Bucharest Nine, today the Weimar summit: Poland, Germany, France in Paris, and in a few weeks the most important diplomatic event of these months, i.e. the NATO summit in Vilnius," Przydacz said. When asked why the Weimar Triangle summit is not taking place in Kyiv in the current situation, he noted that this year's meeting is hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and he decided that the summit would take place in Paris. At the same time, Przydacz did not rule out that such a summit might take place in Kyiv in the future. Zelensky earlier reported on social media that he and Duda had discussed expectations from the NATO summit in Vilnius and security guarantees for Ukraine. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine Ukraine and Brazil could start a new era of relations because they have a shared interest in many areas that will support the two economies in the future. This was stated on Twitter by the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, reports Ukrinform. "Ukrainians and Brazilians have not only a shared philosophy, but a shared interest in many areas which will support the economies of the future. We are now at a crossroads, where our two countries could begin a new era of relations," Yermak wrote. As reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine emphasized that he was interested in meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. 06/12/2023 Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations Bertie Greer, an expert in global supply chain management, will join UMass Lowell on Nov. 1 as its next Rist Family Dean of the Manning School of Business. An outstanding scholar, researcher and accomplished administrator with professional industry experience, Greer currently serves as associate dean of the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University in Michigan, where she oversees strategic planning and general operations. Berties achievements as a scholar, her leadership and industry experience and her vision and enthusiasm for advancing the Manning School of Business made her the clear choice to usher in the next era of business education and research for our students and faculty, said Joseph Hartman, provost and vice chancellor of academic and student affairs. Greer said she was grateful and honored to join a UMass Lowell family of great scholars and teachers with such a strong academic culture and who have such a significant impact on students socio-economic mobility. The impact of the Manning School of Business extends beyond the institutions doors, and its faculty and staff are having a meaningful impact on students, businesses, families, and communities, Greer said. I am excited to embark on this journey, working with talented faculty, staff, students, strong leadership and external stakeholders to create opportunities and lead the Manning School into the future, she said. Together well continue to develop innovative programs, degrees, and outcomes to help students realize their dreams and ensure the Manning School achieves new heights. Greers selection was also praised by two alumni deeply invested in the success of the Manning School and its students. After speaking with Bertie Greer, Im so excited for UMass Lowells current and future business students, said Rob Manning, a proud UMass Lowell alum for whom the business school is named. The Manning School of Business has so much momentum and with Berties leadership and an outstanding faculty, Im confident the quality of instruction and research will only accelerate. It was a sentiment echoed by alumnus Brian Rist. Its clear that with Bertie Greer as its new dean, the Manning School of Business will continue its ascent as one of the premier institutions for business education and scholarship, said Rist who, with his wife Kim, has given generously to the business school and programs across UMass Lowell, including the Rist Family Foundation Endowed Deanship Greer will hold. Prior to joining Wayne State in 2016, Greer spent 15 years as a faculty member, and ultimately chair, of the Northern Kentucky University Department of Management. Early in her career, she also spent time in adjunct and visiting professor roles at Bowling Green State University, University of Detroit-Mercy, University of Dayton, and as an assistant professor at Oakland University in Michigan. She also brings with her professional industry experience, having served in engineering roles at Ford Motor Company and Chrysler/Jeep-Eagle and at Timken Roller Bearing. Greer earned her Ph.D. in business administration from Kent State University and both a masters of business administration and a bachelors of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo. The appointment follows the departure of dean Sandra Richtermeyer, who will become provost at Rutgers University-Camden this summer. Steven Tello, vice provost for graduate and professional studies and a faculty member of the Manning School, will serve as interim dean until Greers arrival. 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: 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: ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 12th Jun, 2023) Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, held a bilateral meeting with Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups of Republic of Korea, to explore the strengthening of cooperation in promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises in the two countries markets. The meeting took place as part of the K-Business Day in middle East 2023, which was held at Dubai World Trade Center on 12th and 13th June. It was attended by entrepreneurs, startup owners, investors, and business incubators and accelerators from both countries. The meeting was attended by Shakir Zainal, Chief Business Officer at Emirates Development Bank; Iman Ben Chaibah, Head of Community Engagement at Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center Sheraa; Ahmed Alwan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hub71; Reem Abdullah, Director of Government and Strategic Affairs at Hub71; and Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi, Founding Partner at Soma Mater. Bin Touq emphasised the strong, strategic relations ties between the UAE and the Republic of Korea, which continue to grow on the economic, trade and investment fronts, thanks to the shared aspirations of both leaderships to develop them and the frequent exchange of visits by high-level delegations. He added, The UAE is Koreas second largest trade partner in the GCC and the Arab regions as of 2022. The UAE-Korean non-oil foreign trade totaled AED 3.4 billion (US$917 million) in the first two months of 2023, up 9 percent from the previous year. In 2022, the volume of our non-oil trade exchanges totaled AED 19.5 billion, reflecting a 14 percent year-on-year increase. The Minister of Economy said, The UAE exports to Korean markets continue to grow, achieving a notable 35 percent growth to reach AED 627 million (US$174 million) over January and February 2023. It exceeded AED 2.8 billion (US$781 million) in 2022, up 17.5 percent." In terms of bilateral investments between the two countries, Bin Touq expressed confidence in the increasing momentum of UAE investments across various economic and commercial sectors in the Korean markets. The UAE had recently announced its intention to invest approximately AED 110 billion (US$30 billion) in South Korea over the next few years. Currently, the UAE's investments in Korea are concentrated in several key sectors such as industry, trade, shipping, communications, real estate, and commerce. Meanwhile, South Korean FDI in the UAE reached approximately AED 8.1 billion (US$2.2 billion) as of early 2021, marking a remarkable growth of 73 percent since the beginning of 2013. These investments primarily focus on the financial, insurance, mining, retail, real estate, transportation, energy, and technology sectors. New strategies to foster startup growth in UAE and Republic of Korea The meeting saw the UAE and Korea agree on new plans in the field of entrepreneurship, including programs and facilities to foster startup growth, enhance investments, and facilitate exports to new markets. The two minister also discussed incentivising and encouraging SME owners and entrepreneurs to invest in the emerging sectors of the economy to enhance their contribution to GDP growth. Bin Touq underlined the paramount importance of fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem and driving SME growth as a key focus of the UAE's Projects of the 50. Through collaborative efforts with government and private sector entities at local, regional, and international levels, the Ministry of Economy is committed to enhancing enablers and facilitating opportunities that drive the growth and scaling of startup enterprises, enabling them to expand both regionally and globally. This strategic vision aims to solidify the UAE's position as a leading global destination for aspiring entrepreneurs and SME owners, he noted. The UAEs SME sector plays a pivotal role in driving national economic growth and ensuring its sustainability. In 2020, SMEs contributed approximately 63 percent to the country's GDP, exceeding AED 734 billion (US$200 billion). SMEs make up 94 percent of the total private sector companies operating in the UAE, with a staggering 557,000 companies. In line with its vision for the future, the Ministry aims to increase this number to one million by 2030. Moreover, SMEs account for 86 percent of private sector employment, which underscore their significance and remarkable contribution to employment creation across various economic and commercial sectors. Exchange of experiences in fields of venture capital & modern technologies He continued, The meeting marks a significant milestone in fostering greater opportunities for SMEs in both countries' markets. It serves as a platform to facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge between the UAE and Korea, particularly in areas such as venture capital financing, modern technologies, and innovative digital solutions. Notably, the UAE serves as a crucial gateway for Korean startups seeking expansion into new markets, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region. The meeting explored the means to enhance cooperation in emerging economic sectors, with a specific focus on technology, artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, and health. Bin Touq took the opportunity to acquaint the Korean side with the advantages and capabilities offered by the various initiatives and programs under the The Entrepreneurial Nation project, which has been designed to support and empower entrepreneurs and startups in the UAE. Korea extended a special invitation to the UAE to participate in 2023 COMEUP, the largest entrepreneurship and startups event in the country. scheduled to take place from 8th to 10th November 2023, the event anticipates the attendance of more than 60,000 visitors and boasts a lineup of 100 influential speakers. The "K-Business Day in Middle East 2023" witnessed an extensive turnout of entrepreneurs, startup owners, investors, and business incubators and accelerators. The event was organised by a group of investment institutions and business incubators in the UAE and Korea, including, Korea Federation of SMEs, Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, Korea Technology and Information Promotion, INNOBIZ Innovation Association, Korea Medical Device Association (KMDA), The Entrepreneurial Nation, UAE. Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2023 ) :US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced hope Monday that a successful offensive by Ukraine would force Russian President Vladimir Putin into talks about ending its invasion. Speaking alongside his Italian counterpart, Blinken said the United States was "confident that they will continue to have success" after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that a long-discussed offensive was underway. "Success in the counteroffensive would do two things -- it would strengthen its position at any negotiating table that emerges, and it may have the effect as well of actually causing Putin to finally focus on negotiating an end to the war that he started," Blinken said. "In that sense, it can actually bring peace closer, not put it further away," Blinken told a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Blinken said that the offensive showed the need to "maximize our support to Ukraine now, so it can have success on the battlefield." Russia has publicly spoken of support for negotiations, with China leading international calls for mediation. The United States has been sceptical of such efforts, seeing Russia as not serious about negotiations and only interested in vindicating its territorial gains. Peace needs to be "just and durable," Blinken said. "By durable we mean a peace that doesn't simply leave things in a place where Russia can rest, rearm and reattack six months later, a year later, two years later," he said. Seoul, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2023 ) :Fans of K-pop megastars BTS flocked to hotspots around Seoul on Monday to mark the supergroup's 10-year anniversary, with South Korea unveiling a special commemorative stamp series to celebrate. The group's fans -- known collectively as ARMY -- gathered outside the offices of its agency HYBE to take selfies and record TikTok videos in front of a huge mural of the stars being painted on a wall. Korea Post unveiled a special edition series of stamps in BTS's honour set to go on sale at post offices Tuesday -- the official anniversary of the septet's debut -- having already sold out almost instantly online. "Obviously BTS are global superstars, but we didn't expect the stamps to be sold out on the day of the online release," a Korea Post official told AFP. After debuting on June 13, 2013, the group went on to become the first all-South Korean act to dominate the US and UK charts, raking in billions of Dollars and building a global fandom in the process. "Many ARMY BTS fans have asked for the release of BTS stamps, and we also wanted to issue stamps for these global artists for their 10th anniversary," Kim Mi-hwa, Korea Post stamp designer, told AFP. The band -- currently on a hiatus, with two members performing their mandatory South Korean military service -- released a new digital single last week to celebrate the anniversary. The single, "Take Two", is purportedly a nod to the band's second chapter after a decade as musicians. Fans from around the world travelled to South Korea to celebrate the anniversary, with the Seoul city government running a special programme for the visitors. "It's thrilling to be here. It's thrilling to be surrounded by other ARMY," scientist Anne Micic, 55, a BTS fan from Australia, told AFP. "I think that's the other thing, that as an ARMY when you meet other ARMY it's almost like you have another family, which is really awesome." Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety (PA&SS), Shazia Marri Monday said that the incumbent government has enhanced Benazir Income Support Programme's (BISP) budget from Rs. 404 billion to Rs.455 billion for the Financial Year 2023-24 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2023 ) :Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety (PA&SS), Shazia Marri Monday said that the incumbent government has enhanced Benazir Income Support Programme's (BISP) budget from Rs. 404 billion to Rs.455 billion for the Financial Year 2023-24. She informed the journalists about the budget increase during a press conference held here. She said that Benazir Nashonuma budget saw a leap up from Rs. 4.8 billion to Rs. 32.2 billion. While talking about the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, the minister apprised the audience that BISP has registered 0.643 million children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers up to date. As part of its ongoing development program, BISP has distributed Rs. 24 billion, effectively supporting vulnerable communities across the country. She negated the fake news circulating in the media recently about boosting the population through Benazir Nashonuma. She said it was extremely irresponsible to spread such news which are completely unfounded and have no true grounds. Shazia Marri emphasized the importance of the role of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in uplifting the lives of the underprivileged and marginalized segment of the society. BISP, which commenced in 2008 and was the brainchild of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, has proven to be a highly successful programme. The program functions on non-political grounds, providing financial assistance to approximately 9 million women across the country which is targeted to be expanded to 9.3 million households after the recent increase in budget, she added. While talking about the budgetary allocations she said that over the years, the budget allocation for the BISP has witnessed significant growth, reflecting the government's commitment to social welfare of the poor. When the incumbent government came to power the BISPs budget allocation was Rs. 235 billion, which has now been augmented to Rs. 455 billion in a short span of over one year. The Minister informed that the quarterly cash transfer amount was increased from Rs. 7000 to Rs. 8750 during the last quarter, registering a 25% increase. The federal minister also announced plans to start a mobile service for the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) in remote areas of Sindh, Balochistan, South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The service -which will be operational in July 2023- will provide easy access to people in far-flung areas of these provinces. She also informed the audience that 820,000 beneficiaries who were filtered out of BISP beneficiary list by the last government can now appeal for re-entry. Out of these, she said, 136,525 beneficiaries have successfully enrolled themselves again with BISP and they will receive their stipend from the upcoming financial year 2023-24. During the press conference, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Faisal Karim Kundi urged the Sindh government to follow all the instructions to protect the citizens from the cyclone impacts. While discussing the situation caused by Cyclone Biparjoy, during the press conference, Faisal kundi highlighted that the government is closely monitoring the situation, with particular attention to areas such as Sajawal, Badin, and Thatta which are highly vulnerable. These areas have been placed on high alert, and efforts are underway to ensure the safety of over 8 million people. The Minister of State urged the public to cooperate with government and adhere to safety measures issued from time to time during emergency situation. Six people were dead and thirty five people missing in southern Ukraine on Sunday following a devastating flood prosecutors called the "worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl." The Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam along the front line in the Kherson region was destroyed on June 6, 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 the structure. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said that 77 towns and villages had been flooded in the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv. Klymenko said that in the Kherson region 35 people were missing, including seven children. As a result of the flood, five people died in the region of Kherson and one person was dead in the region of Mykolaiv, he said. Previously, Ukrainian authorities said that five people had died as a result of the flood. Eight people died on Moscow-controlled territory, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of part of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, said this week. A total of 3,700 people have been evacuated from their homes in the two regions, the minister said in a statement. In the city of Kherson, the largest population centre near the dam, the water began to subside and locals began to return to their homes to assess the damage, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Ukrainian rescuers in orange boats continued their efforts to evacuate people from the city's most affected areas and nearby islands. An employee at Kherson's meteorological agency, Lora Musiyan, said the level of water dropped by 1.7 metres from the peak measurements recorded earlier this week. Oleksiy Gesin visited his grocery store in central Kherson for the first time in six days. Armed with a shovel and wearing rubber boots and a jacket, he cleared up debris in pouring rain. He said he sustained "significant" losses. "The water in the store was up to my chest," he told AFP, adding that food will have to be thrown away. - 'Very complicated' - Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin and representatives of the International Criminal Court visited the region of Kherson, his office said. "This is the worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl so we are investigating not only a war crime but also an ecocide," Kostin was quoted as saying in a statement. "The situation is very complicated," he added. He noted that a number of "dangerous" facilities including at least three cemeteries, oil storage terminals and garbage dumps have been flooded. A total of 450 tonnes of turbine oil have spilled into the waters of the Dnipro and the Black Sea, he said. More than 170 prosecutors have been investigating the breach of the dam. "Our colleagues from the International Criminal Court are also with us," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: (@Abdulla99267510) A case was registered on the complaint of G-11 resident, Muhammad Aslam at the Ramana police station. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-June 12th, 2023) Overseas Pakistanis Shaheen Sehbai, Adil Raja and others on Monday were booked in Islamabad for inciting people to rebel against the state and attack defense institutions. A case was registered on the complaint of G-11 resident, Muhammad Aslam at the Ramana police station. Overseas Pakistanis, Shaheen Sehbai, Haider Raza Mehdi, Wajahat Saeed Khan and Adil Farooq Raja have been nominated in the case under terrorism and sedition charges. The FIR stated that Shaheen Sehbai, Haider Raza Mehdi and others, who are living abroad, incited people against defense institutions and tried to create anarchy in Pakistan. The accused are playing in the hands of foreign hostile agencies, the FIR read. Last week, the federal government extended the May 9 probe to overseas Pakistanis. Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) tightened its noose around overseas Pakistanis over their alleged involvement in committing offences and posting seditious posts on social media. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) decided to put the Names of overseas Pakistanis on the Exit Control List for allegedly committing offences and posting seditious posts on social media. Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan were arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday. The protests were held in remote and major cities of Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order. Army installations and Corps Commanders house in Lahore came under attack during a protest by PTI workers. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi sustained severe injuries while clearing. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th June, 2023) The Russian armed forces launched a missile attack with sea-based high-precision long-range weapons, targeting places of deployment of reserves of Ukrainian troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. "(On Sunday night), the Russian armed forces launched a sea-based high-precision long-range weapon at the places of deployment of the Ukrainian armed forces' reserves. The designated objects were hit. The goal of the strike was achieved," the ministry said in a statement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he in favor of setting up an artificial intelligence (AI) agency similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th June, 2023) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he in favor of setting up an artificial intelligence (AI) agency similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "It depends on the member states' initiative, but I would be favorable to the idea that we could have an artificial intelligence, an agency - I would say inspired by what the International Agency of Atomic Energy is today," Guterres said during a press briefing. The UN chief noted, however, that it is not easy to compete in a field in which the world has not yet invested sufficient funds into its public administration. States and international organizations are now competing with private platforms that have already acquired large knowledge and enormous potential, Guterres said. The United Nations-proposed Global Digital Compact, New Agenda for Peace as well as the Accord on the global use of AI are expected to put forward solutions based on protecting human rights. The solutions are expected to be released prior to the Summit of the Future, which will be hosted by the UN General Assembly on September 22 and 23, 2024. Residents of Biloxi come together at the Inaugural Resilient East Biloxi Festival Mon, 06/12/2023 - 10:48am | By: Gabriela Shinskie The Resilient East Biloxi Community Festival kicked off its inaugural year June 10 with good food, music and horseback riding. The University of Southern Mississippis (USM) Vincenzo Mistretta, an associate professor in its School of Coastal Resilience, coordinated USM film students documentation of the historic event. We are here to tell a story on the area and get a sense of the community, said Mistretta. Its important for USM to get involved in community events. We need to be a part of it. It not only makes the community stronger, but it makes USM stronger. At the film program, we are all about outreach. The goal of the festival was to provide a safe, supportive, and encouraging space for the community to express themselves while striving for a resilient future. Music filled the air at the event, along with the smell of good food and the sound of laughter. Many gathered along local vendors to talk about hurricane preparedness and community safety and resources. Qiyamah Williams, a Coastal Climate Resilience Fellow, is part of the team that brought the festival to life. Her goal was to bring the East Biloxi community together. This used to be a very thriving area with blues, culture and history, Williams explained. I want to remind people of that and bring our local nonprofits and businesses and get them in touch with the community. The USM School of Coastal Resilience is housed in the universitys College of Arts and Sciences. Please visit the School of Coastal Resilience's website for more information . Barbara John, left, a professor in the UW Department of Geology and Geophysics, and Frieder Klein, from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, describe core hosting some of the mantle rocks recovered by the JOIDES Resolution. John was one of 24 scientists who took part in the 56-day expedition to the Atlantis Massif, an underwater mountain in the Atlantic Ocean. (Lesley Anderson/U.S. Antarctic Program and IODP JOIDES Resolution Photo) In the early 1960s, geologists conceived of an idea to reach Earths mantle via Project MoHole, an effort to drill through Earths crust to obtain samples of the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho -- the boundary between the crust and the mantle. At the time, it was seen as exciting as the possibility of American astronauts eventually walking on the moon. Fast forward over 60 years, and the achievement of recovering a long section of Earths mantle has finally been accomplished. And a University of Wyoming researcher was part of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 399 research team that contributed to this historic achievement. While the team did not actually drill across the Moho, it did obtain peridotite that originally came from the mantle brought to the surface by later faulting. Weve finally recovered a long section of Earths mantle, and I am excited to be part of the team that did that, says Barbara John, a professor in the UW Department of Geology and Geophysics, who was part of a research team aboard the JOIDES Resolution that drilled into mantle rocks between May 1 and June. Im elated. This is a true moment of history in the field of geology. Although this is not the first time the scientific community has recovered Earths mantle via drilling, these new cores provide the longest section of mantle ever recovered in situ from planet Earth, John adds. The mantle makes up the bulk of Earths interior and lies between Earths dense, super-heated core and its thin outer layer, the crust. The mantle is about 2,900 kilometers -- or 1,802 miles thick -- and makes up 82 percent of Earths total volume, John says. The mantle is the source of magma for volcanoes and facilitates plate tectonics, the driving force for most earthquakes on Earth. The mantle is made of a rock called peridotite, itself made of various proportions of the magnesium and iron-rich minerals olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and spinel, forming what are called lherzolite (olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene), harzburgite (olivine and orthopyroxene) and dunite (olivine and spinel), John says. Mantle peridotite is what melts to produce the magma that fuels volcanoes such as those found on Hawaii and Iceland. John says most of the mantle is buried beneath the crust and, therefore, almost inaccessible, both on the continents and in the oceans. The deepest core the research group recovered from the bottom of the hole was 4,157 feet below the seafloor. Recovery of mantle rocks at Atlantis Massif is truly exciting. We drilled rocks from Earths mantle, called peridotite, brought to the seafloor by large faults, John says. Imagine frosting -- Earths crust -- covering a cake -- the mantle. Now, cut a slice and lift it out, and the cake -- the mantle beneath -- is exposed. The Atlantis Massif, approximately the size of Mount Rainier, is an underwater mountain in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located at 30 degrees N. latitude on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge halfway between Morocco and Florida. Barbara John, left, and researchers from the U.S., U.K., China and Japan aboard the JOIDES Resolution point to a significant moment in ocean drilling, showing the rig floor information monitor and the drill depth of 1,000 meters below the seafloor. (Alex Roth/IODP JOIDES Resolution Photo) John was part of a three-person structural geology team -- with colleagues Rebecca Kuehn, a postdoctoral researcher at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg in Halle, Germany, and Andy Parsons, a postdoctoral research fellow in marine geoscience at the University of Plymouth in Plymouth, England. They documented the character of deformation in the core. This includes all features from fractures and faults to older ductile structures that are sheared out much like taffy. Together, these features tell the story of how the mantle is brought to Earths surface and how the spreading of Earths tectonic plates is accommodated at this location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, John says. I will be looking at all of the structural data to better understand the processes that lead to the emplacement of the mantle to the seafloor and will be using a rare mineral zircon, present in the rocks, to determine the age of the intrusive, frozen magma found in the core, John explains. Its clear, from looking at the rocks, that there is a complicated history of injection of magma into the mantle. I will try to decipher that sequence to better understand the history of our drilled section of rocks. John says microbiologists will analyze samples from the recovered core to recognize how deep microbes can live below Earths surface and for clues about how, before life originated on Earth, small organic molecules might have formed as rocks reacted with seawater. This could be a way that you go from just having basically water and rock that produces hydrogen molecules that can then combine with other organic molecules and lead to early life, says Susan Lang, co-chief scientist of the expedition and a biogeochemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. If organic molecules are found, it could help confirm that serpentinization of peridotite leads to their creation and may, therefore, contribute to our understanding of the origin of life on Earth. The JOIDES Resolution left Ponta Delgada in the Azores Islands, which is part of Portugal, April 14 and returned to Ponta Delgada June 8. The expedition lasted 56 days. John applied to participate in this expedition based on her previous involvement as a co-chief scientist at Atlantis Massif with IODP in 2004-05 and, again, with on-bottom drilling to the same area in 2015. I was one of 10 U.S. scientists chosen to go on this expedition, she says. The research team onboard included 24 scientists, which was made up of geologists, geochemists, hydrologists and microbiologists from the U.S., Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom working together. Egypt's Ministry of International Cooperation signed on Monday a $460 million deal with the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to implement a project for co-manufacturing and providing trains for Cairo underground metro lines 2 and 3. The agreement was signed by Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and Korean Ambassador to Egypt Kim Yong-Hyun with the EDCF, a statement by the Korean Embassy read. Under the agreement, the Korean government, represented by the EDCF, will provide $460 million out of the total project cost of $656 million, the embassy added. The deal is related to an agreement signed 10 month ago with the Korean company Hyundai Rotem. In August 2022, Egypts National Tunnels Authority (NAT) signed a $656 million deal with the Korean manufacturer and supplier of railway systems to locally produce and import 320 new air-conditioned metro carriages by 2028. The deal, overseen by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, provides a total of 40 new metro carriages to the two lines of the Cairo Metro. The two countries are witnessing the strengthening of cooperation more than ever before, the embassy statement quoted Al-Mashat as saying. The agreement is one of the excellent examples of cooperation between the two countries. It is meant to expand transportation networks and boost economic development, Al-Mashat added. Ambassador Kim -- who assumed his post as ambassador as of 31 May -- described the agreement as a prominent example of steps aimed at strengthening development cooperation between the two countries. The project is expected to be the cornerstone of more projects between the two countries in the future, and will contribute to a tangible improvement in the standard of living of the Egyptian people, Kim added. The ambassador noted that he would work to enhance economic and development cooperation during his tenure in Egypt and expand cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries. Egyptian-Korean economic and development relations Korea and Egypt have recently witnessed an unparalleled level of collaboration, particularly in the area of development cooperation. Last year, the Korean government designated Egypt as an Official Development Assistance (ODA) priority partner for 2021-2025. Along with cooperation in the transportation sector, the two nations are cooperating actively in other fields, such as the defence sector, including their joint manufacturing of K9 howitzer artillery vehicles, in addition to building two multi-purpose MPC14K ships. Korea is cooperating on constructing Egypt's first Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant through Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. Ltd. (KHNP) in partnership with Russian Rosatom, as per their agreement of August 2022. Based on this cooperation, KHNP will build facilities and supply materials for the plant. According to a report released by the Cairo office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency earlier this year, Egypts exports to Korea recorded an increase of 161 percent in 2022 year-on-year, reaching an all-time high of $1.69 billion. Search Keywords: Short link: Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. Although relations between Washington and Phnom Penh have been strained amid Cambodias growing friendship with China, Cambodian Americans still see a key role for the United States in demanding respect for democracy ahead of Julys national parliamentary elections. Cambodias National Election Committee last month announced that the main opposition Candlelight Party was not eligible to participate in the election due to losing a registration document from the 1990s, a decision upheld by the countrys Constitutional Council. The U.S. State Department issued a statement on May 25 saying it was deeply troubled by the move. Contrived legal actions, threats, harassment, and politically motivated criminal charges targeting opposition parties, independent media, and civil society undermine Cambodias international commitments to develop as a multiparty democracy, said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. A number of politically engaged Cambodian Americans who spoke to VOA Khmer this past week said they were heartened by the statement, however some said they want to see deeper involvement from the U.S. in the final weeks before the July 23 ballot. Personally, I would like to see the United States not only issue statements of condemnation and then disappear. I want the U.S. to keep an eye on it because the U.S. is the father of democracy in the world, In Suon, a social worker in Stockton, California, and a former supporter of the main opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), told VOA Khmer. He urged the Cambodian government to adhere to the Paris Peace Accords an international agreement that in 1991 brought relative peace to the country after years of war and civil strife -- and Cambodias Constitution, which require a representative, multi-party democracy and the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights. But In Suon said that wouldnt happen without external pressure to counter the governments tendency to follow countries like China. When the liberal countries back offthen the people will lose more freedom, In Suon told VOA Khmer by phone. Therefore, I beg the government of the great power, the free world, do not back off, to join the negotiations to do that as much as possible. Amid the public posturing ahead of the July election is speculation about whether secret talks are playing out behind closed doors. Perhaps the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) will announce some major concession to create some semblance of a free and fair election. Its happened before. Just days before the 2013 national election, which would become the most competitive in decades, longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy was allowed to return to the country, setting off a wave of excitement that nearly knocked off the CPP. However, this years election comes amid a wave of oppression as many of the countrys most prominent union leaders, activists and dissidents have been jailed or silenced through intimidation. Thach Setha, one of Candlelight Partys vice presidents, remains jailed on charges the party claims are politically motivated. Cambodian Americans say they just want for Cambodia what they have in America an election where the most popular party can win. For us, we want the election to be fair and the way to organize the elections have to be fair, Tung Yap, president of Cambodian Americans for Human Rights and Democracy in northern Virginia, told VOA Khmer. We do not care which party the people vote for, which candidate, we just want the people to be free to choose the individual or the candidate and a favorite party. Tung Yap, whose group recently hosted Rainsy for an event in Falls Church, Virginia, said an undemocratic election would inevitably harm US-Cambodia relations. When Cambodia does not practice democracy properly or does not respect human rights properly, United States officials find it difficult to work closely with Cambodian officials, or do business, or have good relations with Cambodia, because it contradicts their value, he said. However, the U.S. has cultivated warm relations with Cambodias communist neighbor in Vietnam, as well as authoritarian regimes from Saudi Arabia to Eqypt, due to geopolitical incentives ranging from energy to national security. Touch Vibol, who is president of Cambodia-America Alliance (CAA) in High Point, North Carolina, said the U.S. should stay out of Cambodian politics and focus on areas like trade, education and health care. Otherwise, he said, Washington risks pushing Phnom Penh further into the arms of Beijing. Statements like the one issued by Miller last month will undermine broader U.S. efforts to expand its influence in Southeast Asia, where the ASEAN countries operate by consensus, Touch Vibol argued. That is why I want to emphasize that the United States still needs Cambodia, so avoid issuing any statement in the form of confrontation, it is necessary to show the image of cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of Cambodia, it is more profitable, he said. Touch Vibol was an adamant supporter of the opposition until this year, when he began supporting the CPP, which he says has the experience and capacity to lead the country In its statement last month, the U.S. State Department said it would not send official election observers to monitor an electoral process that many independent Cambodian and international experts assess is neither free nor fair. And it urged Cambodian authorities to reverse course and allow the Candlelight Party to participate. The CPP currently holds all 125 seats in the National Assembly, bolstering criticism that Cambodia has effectively become a one-party state. While there are other smaller parties registered for Julys election including the royalist Funcinpec party none had garnered the support or excitement of the Candlelight Party, which performed relatively well in 2022s commune council elections, in a challenging, competitive environment. While there is little doubt about who will win July election, especially without Candlelight in the picture, observers will keep a close eye on turnout among the 9.7 million registered voters as a measure of public disenchantment with the political process. The election also marks a turning point for the CPP. Prime Minister Hun Sens eldest son, Hun Manet, is officially entering the political arena, as the ruling partys top National Assembly candidate in Phnom Penh. The CPP has already approved his eventual accession to prime minister. And Hun Sens recent reassurance that he will remain in control of the political arena as president of the CPP has fueled speculation that Manets promotion could come soon after the election. Time will tell whether Hun Manet takes a different approach to democracy from his father. But without any major developments in the coming weeks, the short-term outlook for the opposition looks bleak. Rainsy, who has been effectively exiled, recently visited Washington DC to bring attention to what he calls a sham election, while fellow opposition leader Kem Sokha was sentenced to 27 years in prison on a treason conviction in March, and placed under indefinite house arrest. Larry Seng, a Cambodian American supporter of Candlelight party, who lives near Seattle, Washington, said he has been saddened by the latest developments. Because democracy requires competition, and competition must be fair with equal strength, and when it comes to restricting the freedom of parties with similar strength to compete, it means that there is serious injustice, he said. And I am very sorry that the freedoms of the Cambodian people have been restricted and they dont have the right to choose a leader freely and fairly, said Larry Seng. Un Sokhom, a Cambodian American in Lowell, Massachusetts, told VOA Khmer that he believed the U.S. and other signatories of the Paris Peace Accords would assess the situation and pressure Cambodias government to fulfill its obligations. In the past that respect was not right, and the pressures against the ruling party happened to prevent the mistreatments of the people and the opposition, he said. Un Sokhom was involved in the founding of the opposition movement in 1997 but quit politics in 2012. He said he wants to see the current opposition leaders do more to restore democratic space in the country. If they do, he said hed consider getting involved again. We can go in and have the desire to go back, but we are studying the political turn of Cambodia and looking for clear political principles. If they become apparent, he said, we will join. Koshinis rooftop bar serves up local wine and a stunning view of Tbilisi, bathed, one recent evening, in a rosy sunset. The clientele sipping cocktails are not hip young locals, but Russians. People here see the difference between the Russian government and its people, says 30-year-old Aleksabd Klabukov from Saint Petersburg, who arrived here shortly after his countrys forces invaded Ukraine. I didnt agree with the war, Klabukov says, adding, I feel welcome here. Anti-Russian graffiti blanketing Tbilisis streets tells a more complicated story between the two countries and their peoples. Georgians have given the recent influx of Russians like Klabukov a mixed welcome, mirroring the countrys fractured overall view of Russia. Warming ties between the ruling Georgian Dream party and Moscow sharply contrast with staunchly pro-Ukraine sentiments on the streets. Even as Georgias government claims joining the European Union and NATO are still firmly in its crosshairs goals strongly endorsed by most Georgiansit is increasing economic ties with Russia. And analysts and critics say, drifting steadily from its EU dreams. We are under enormous pressure, and under a big, big, risk of being attacked, says Georgian Dream lawmaker Nikoloz Samkharadze, explaining his partys pragmatic stance towards its powerful neighbor. Therefore, we have to walk a very fine line. The partys myriad critics see things differently. A number also suggest Georgian Dream founder, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili who made much of his fortune in Russia is orchestrating the countrys alleged tilt towards Moscow. The party adamantly denies any involvement by Ivanishvili, who formally left politics in 2021. The Georgian government has chosen the Russian side, says Giorgi Vashadze, chairman of the opposition Strategy Builder party. Publicly Georgian Dream says theyre pro-Western. But their actions are anti-Western and pro-Russian. Rooting for Ukraine Russias footprint is evident on a windy bluff 100 kilometers from the capital, where EU monitors help to maintain stability. Below, a Russian supply truck is wending its way down a curvy road to Khurvaleti village, cut in half by an earlier Kremlin invasion. That was in 2008, when Georgia fought and lost a brief war that severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Today, 20% of Georgia, including half of Khurvaleti, is controlled by Moscow-backed separatists. Georgian Dreams Samkharadze was a teenager during the war. As a generation that grew up with that, we feel a responsibility to avert any similar scenario, he says, explaining his partys careful stance towards Moscow. But in Tserovani settlement, sheltering thousands of Georgians displaced by that conflict, Nana Chkareuli from South Ossetia draws a different conclusion. She still dreams her breakaway region will eventually return to the Georgian fold. But not thanks to Russia. Every day, we are supporting Ukraine and watching whats happening, Chkareuli says. If Ukraine wins, we will have more chance. If not, we will have no chance. A number of Russians here are also rooting for Kyiv. An estimated 100,000 have flocked to Georgia since the Ukraine war, for business or political reasons. Others came years earlier, seeing the country as a safe haven against an increasingly repressive Kremlin. Georgia is the center of the political exile community, says Egor Kuroptev, who arrived in Tbilisi nearly a decade ago. Today, he heads the South Caucuses office of the Free Russia Foundation, which supports Russian political exiles. Like Klabukov of Koshinis bar, he says Georgians have largely treated them well although relations frayed earlier last year. When Russian exiles began joining anti-war demonstrations in Tbilisi, things got better, Kuroptev says. Georgians saw they werent monsters, he says of the Russian newcomers.They were normal. That sentiment isnt universal. Graffiti daubed on Tbilisis walls and sidewalks calls on Russians to leave, and reserves colorful expletives for their leader, Valdimir Putin. While the Russian newcomers have injected millions into Georgias economy, they have also driven up prices, feeding local resentment. In the Black Sea resort of Batumi, luxury high-rises advertise apartment sales in Russian. Many of the Russians here are pro-Putin, claims Irkali Mirianashvili, an IT specialist in Tbilisi, airing one popular suspicion. If there are many of them here, it will be dangerous for Georgia. We are a little country. Profiting from the war Since invading Ukraine, Russia has become one of Georgias top trading partners. A February report by Transparency International Georgia says the country earned $3.6 billion last year from Russia through remittances, tourist and exports three times more than in 2021. Popular sentiment however trends towards disengagement. A September survey by U.S. nonprofit the International Republican Institute, found most Georgians consider Russia their countrys biggest political and economic threat. Roughly half are suspicious of Tbilisis warming relations with Moscow. By contrast, polls show massive support for joining the EU. Last year, the EU granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, but not Georgia setting instead a dozen conditions for the government to meet. Brussels is set to reassess Georgias progress by this years end. Observers doubt Tbilisis claims it has fulfilled most of the conditions. Recent events instead suggest Georgia may be moving in the opposite direction. In March, thousands of Georgians protested legislation requiring media and nongovernmental groups to register as so-called agents of foreign influence if 20% or more of their funds came from foreign sources. The government ultimately dropped the bill, which critics say echoed Russias ongoing measures to crack down on civil society. More protests greeted last months resumption of direct flights from Moscow to Tbilisi. Georgian Dreams Samkharadze says Moscow intended to break Georgias EU candidacy chances with it. He did not explain, however, why Tbilisi agreed to the flights which, as expected, drew EU criticism. All they care about is staying in power, George Melashvili, head of the nongovernmental group the Europe-Georgian Institute, says of the ruling party, which nonetheless remains more popular than the fractured opposition. They will do literally anything to sustain the power grip they have on the country including attempting to keep good relations with Russia. Irakli Porchkhidze, vice-president of the Tbilisi-based Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies, similarly describes the ruling party as in stay-in-power mode. Their heart is not with Ukraine, and that can be a strategic blunder, he says of Georgian Dream. That will be especially so if Western-backed Kyiv wins the war. The nuclear arsenals of several countries, especially China, grew last year and other atomic powers continued to modernize theirs as geopolitical tensions rise, researchers said Monday. "We are approaching, or maybe have already reached, the end of a long period of the number of nuclear weapons worldwide declining," Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told AFP. The total amount of nuclear warheads among the nine nuclear powers Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States was down to 12,512 at the outset of 2023, from 12,710 at the start of 2022, according to SIPRI. Of those, 9,576 were in "military stockpiles for potential use," 86 more than a year earlier. SIPRI distinguishes between countries' stockpiles available for use and their total inventory, which includes older ones scheduled to be dismantled. "The stockpile is the usable nuclear warheads, and those numbers are beginning to tick up," Smith said, while noting that numbers are still far from the more than 70,000 seen during the 1980s. The bulk of the increase was from China, which increased its stockpile from 350 to 410 warheads. India, Pakistan and North Korea also upped their stockpiles and Russia's grew to a smaller extent, from 4,477 to 4,489, while the remaining nuclear powers maintained the size of their arsenal. Russia and the United States together still have almost 90% of all nuclear weapons. "The big picture is we've had over 30 years of the number of nuclear warheads coming down, and we see that process coming to an end now," Smith said. Researchers at SIPRI also noted that diplomatic efforts on nuclear arms control and disarmament had suffered setbacks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. For instance, the United States suspended its "bilateral strategic stability dialogue" with Russia in the wake of the invasion. In February, Moscow announced it was suspending participation in the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START). SIPRI noted in a statement that it "was the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and U.S. strategic nuclear forces." At the same time, Smith said the increase in stockpiles could not be explained by the war in Ukraine as it takes a longer time to develop new warheads and that the bulk of the increase was among countries not directly affected. China also has invested heavily in all parts of its military as its economy and influence have grown. "What we're seeing is China stepping up as a world power, that is the reality of our time," Smith said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that China conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. Blinken told reporters that when the Biden administration took office in January 2021, it was briefed on a "number of sensitive efforts by Beijing around the world" to expand China's overseas operations for collecting intelligence. He said the administration of former President Donald Trump was aware of the issue and that the Biden administration concluded Washington was not making enough progress on the matter. Since that time, Blinken said, the United States has been implementing a new strategy that has been yielding results. "I can't get into every step that we've taken. But the strategy begins with diplomacy," he said. Blinken said the United States has engaged at high levels with governments that are considering hosting Chinese bases. He said U.S. experts have determined the diplomatic efforts slowed down China's efforts to expand its intelligence-gathering activities. China rejects the allegations that it has been carrying out an intelligence-gathering operation in Cuba, an island located about 160 kilometers from the southern U.S. state of Florida. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday at a news briefing that the allegations about a Cuban spying effort were false and that the United States was giving inconsistent and contradictory information. Earlier in the day, a U.S. official said China's intelligence-gathering operation in Cuba was "well-documented" when President Joe Biden took office. "This is an issue that this administration inherited," said the Biden administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "It was our assessment that, despite awareness of the basing efforts and some attempts to address this challenge" during the White House tenure of Trump, "we were not making enough progress and needed a more direct approach," the official said. The official said that since the U.S. changed its strategy, U.S. experts have assessed progress being made and that Beijing "isn't quite where they had hoped to be" in their spying efforts. But the official said, "There are still challenges, and we continue to be concerned" about China's efforts in Cuba. China "will keep trying to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will keep working to disrupt it." In a Twitter post Saturday, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio called the allegation "slanderous speculation." The developments come as Blinken is expected to travel to Beijing next week. His prior plans to visit China in February were canceled amid a spike in tensions as a Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States. State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching and Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this article. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press and Reuters. A 76-year-old woman who was declared dead at a hospital in Ecuador astonished her relatives by knocking on her coffin during her wake, and the incident has prompted a government investigation into the hospital. Relatives left the coffin behind and rushed retired nurse Bella Montoya back to the hospital after the wake Friday in the central city of Babahoyo, about 200 km southwest of Quito, son Gilberto Barbera told The Associated Press. "It gave us all a fright," Barbera said, adding that doctors have said his mother's situation remains dire. Ecuador's Health Ministry said that Montoya was in intensive care Monday at the Martin Icaza Hospital in Babahoyo while the ministry investigates the doctors involved in her case. A technical committee has been formed to review how the hospital issues death certificates, the ministry said in a statement. Montoya initially had been admitted Friday at the hospital with a possible stroke and cardiopulmonary arrest, and when she did not respond to resuscitation a doctor on duty declared her dead, the ministry said. Barbera said his mother was unconscious when she was brought to the emergency room and that a few hours later a doctor informed him she was dead and handed over identity documents and a death certificate. The family then took her to a funeral home and were holding a wake later Friday when they started to hear strange sounds. "There were about 20 of us there," Barbera said. "After about five hours of the wake, the coffin started to make sounds. My mom was wrapped in sheets and hitting the coffin, and when we approached we could see that she was breathing heavily." Though he and relatives rushed her back to the hospital Friday, she was still in serious condition Monday. She was under intubation, and doctors weren't giving relatives much hope about her prognosis, Barbera said. No details have been released about the doctor who had prematurely declared the woman dead. Silvio Berlusconi, the controversial and colorful former prime minister of Italy, died Monday in a hospital in Milan. He was 86. The perpetually tanned billionaire media magnate was being treated for leukemia. Supporters laid flowers Monday outside Berlusconi's villa near Milan. His funeral will be held in Milan's Duomo Cathedral on Wednesday, which the government has declared as a day of national mourning. Berlusconi began building his fortune as a real estate developer and then moved on to create a highly successful television network, along with magazines and a daily newspaper. His business empire also included the soccer team, AC Milan. At one point, he was known as Italy's richest man. In the 1990s, Berlusconi used his wealth and media network to move into politics, an arena which scholars say he Americanized. The right-wing politician served as prime minister in four governments beginning in 1994 and had the distinction of being Italy's longest-serving head of government for his 2001-06 term. During all his time in office, Berlusconi faced a host of political scandals and legal troubles. He was known for his "bunga bunga" sex parties with prostitutes and at one point faced charges of paying for sex with a teenage belly dancer. He was acquitted of those charges. Despite numerous criminal cases against him, only one charge resulted in a conviction that held up on appeal a tax fraud case in 2013. Part of his sentence was a five-year ban on holding public office. The scandals did not stop Berlusconi from building a lasting political legacy. "He is the man who unified the Italian right," Roberto D'Alimonte, a political science professor at Luiss University in Rome, told the Financial Times. "He made it acceptable and competitive." Berlusconi was known for transforming Italian politics to more of a U.S.-style campaign, including large party conventions and a focus on political advertising. To his supporters, he was seen as charismatic and capable, someone who could champion Italy on the world stage. Detractors saw him as brash and polarizing, and as someone who used his power to enrich himself. Berlusconi remained involved in politics until his death, having been reelected to the Senate last year. His right-wing Forza Italia Party is a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition government. Meloni said in a video message posted Monday on Twitter that "Berlusconi was above all a fighter." "He was a man who was not afraid to defend his convictions, and it was precisely that courage and determination which made him one of the most influential men in Italy's history," she said. Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wrote on Twitter about Berlusconi's divisive legacy. "Many loved him, many hated him. All must recognize that his impact on political life, but also economics, sports and television, has been without precedent," he said. Pope Francis said Berlusconi was a "protagonist of Italian political life, who carried out his public responsibilities with an energetic temperament." Russian President Vladimir Putin who had a friendship with Berlusconi said the Italian's death was an "irreparable loss." "I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make balanced, far-sighted decisions even in the most difficult situations," he said in a message of condolence. Berlusconi also had a friendship with former U.S. president George W. Bush, who he supported during the U.S.-led war in Iraq, sending troops to the conflict despite widespread opposition in Europe. In a condolence message, Bush said Berlusconi was a "vibrant leader with a personality to match," adding that there "was never a dull moment with Silvio." "He strengthened the friendship between Italy and the United States, and we are grateful for his commitment to our important alliance," the former president said. Berlusconi is survived by his girlfriend, Marta Fascina, two ex-wives, five children, more than a dozen grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Venezuela on Monday for the start of a visit to "friendly countries" that also include Cuba and Nicaragua, all under sanctions from a common adversary, the United States. Raisi was welcomed in Caracas by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and was due to meet President Nicolas Maduro later in the day. Before departing Tehran, Raisi had said his visit was at the invitation of the presidents of "friendly countries" Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, and was aimed at improving "economic, political and scientific cooperation." The four countries are all allies of Russia, an international pariah since its invasion of Ukraine last year. "Over the last two years, our cooperation with these countries has developed... in the domains of industry, agriculture, science, technology and medicine," Raisi told the Irna news agency. Iran and Venezuela are members of the OPEC oil cartel, central to international discussions about the energy crisis sparked by Russia's war on Ukraine. The war has led to an increase in global efforts to solve Venezuela's political and economic crisis. Last year, the U.S. sent delegates to Caracas to meet Maduro, and after talks resumed between his government and the opposition in November, Washington granted a six-month license to U.S. energy giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela. The South American country has the world's largest oil reserves. Maduro visited Iran in June 2022, signing a 20-year pact to open "major fronts" for cooperation in the oil, petrochemicals and defense sectors. In February, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Caracas and discussed with Maduro the "defense of their national interests faced with external pressures," according to Tehran. In 2020, Iran sent 1.5 million barrels of fuel to Venezuela along with supplies to help restart struggling refineries. Washington has since accused Iran of circumventing sanctions. The last Iranian president to visit Cuba and Venezuela was Hassan Rouhani in September 2016. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the last presidential visit to Nicaragua in 2007. Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the largest aluminium smelter in the world ex-China, was the winner of the Metals & Mining Deal of the Year by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2023 held on June 7, 2023 in Dubai. Alba stood out for being the first Bahraini Company to have successfully achieved sustainability-linked refinancing for its $1.25 billion Syndicated Loan Facility in connection to the Line 6 Expansion Project in April 2022. The new syndication was oversubscribed by $2.6 billion and comprised 21 banks. Alba was represented in the Awards ceremony by its Sr Head of Treasury, Ali Al Hanan, who received the award on the behalf of the company. Special recognition Albas Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, said: We are humbled to have been given this special recognition, which attests our approach to thinking outside the box with refinancing our loan and linking it to ESG targets. We believe that Sustainability knows no borders as we aim to boost our efforts on all ESG fronts to meet the kingdoms sustainability objectives. -- TradeArabia News Service Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry has reiterated on Monday Egypt's deep concern over the continuing escalation of violence and the intensity of deadly Israeli incursions into the West Bank. In a meeting with Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Shoukry said these Israeli incursions in the West Bank result in fatalities and injuries, which exacerbates tensions and resentment between the two sides, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry. FM Shoukry reviewed with the UN coordinator ongoing Egyptian efforts to restore calm on the ground , including Egypt's contributions in the high- level multi-party security meetings that were held in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh earlier this year, a s well as under the Munich Group mediation eff orts. Shoukry stressed the need to implement the understandings reached during the Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh inorder to reduce the current tension. The top Egyptian diplomat also urged more concerted regional and international efforts, including in the United Nations, in order to stop the continuous escalation in the occupied territories and create a new climate conducive to reviving the peace process. For his part, Wennesland praised Egypt's role in the peace process as pivotal. He added that he looks forward to continuing coordination with Egypt in order to break the current stalemate in the peace process, stop the violence between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and restore hope for a final, comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian cause. Since the start of the year, at least 157 Palestinians have been killed during Israeli raids into the occupied West Bank, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources. Search Keywords: Short link: Iraq urged countries on Monday to repatriate their citizens from a sprawling camp in Syria housing tens of thousands linked to the extremist Islamic State group, saying it has become a source for terrorism. The statements were made during a conference in Baghdad discussing al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. Iraqi officials, the U.N. representative in Iraq, some members of the international coalition fighting IS and ambassadors of several countries were present. Al-Hol Camp named after a town near the Iraqi border is an open wound left by Syrias 12-year conflict. Tens of thousands of people were taken to the facility after the extremist group's defeat in Syria in March 2019. The camp holds about 51,000 people, the vast majority women and children, including the wives, widows and other family members of IS militants, mostly Syrians and Iraqis. There are also around 8,000 women and children of 60 other nationalities who live in a part of the camp known as the Annex. They are generally considered the most die-hard IS supporters among the camp residents. There have been concerns that children at the camp were being taught extremist ideology by their mothers. Experts have warned that a future generation of IS fighters could emerge from al-Hol. Ending the issue of al-Hol camp has become a top national interest for Iraq, said Ahmad Sahhaf, Iraqs Foreign Ministry spokesman, according to the countrys state news agency. Sahhaf called on the international community to urge all countries that have citizens at the camp to repatriate them as soon as possible in order to eventually close the camp" because it has become a dangerous epicenter for IS gatherings. Iraq has repatriated 1,396 families from al-Hol constituting 5,569 of its citizens over the past weeks, said Iraqs National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji who spoke at the conference. Despite the repatriations, some 25,000 Iraqis remain at the camp, making up nearly half its population. The camp's population is down from 73,000 people, mostly because thousands of its Syrian and Iraqi inhabitants were allowed to return home. But other countries have largely balked at taking back their nationals, who traveled to join IS after the radical group seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Despite the extremist group's defeat in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in both countries. Over the past years, grisly crimes were committed inside al-Hol. Earlier this month, the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced it handed over 50 Iraqi IS fighters to Baghdad. It also said that it repatriated 170 Iraqis who were living at the camp. The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria has been urging countries to repatriate their citizens from the camp for years. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken co-hosted a meeting in Saudi Arabia for 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. Singapore was the first country in the world to greenlight the sale of lab-grown meat, but even after nearly 2 years, the fledgling industry is still struggling with supply issues and hurdles such as public acceptance, experts say. Lab-grown or cultivated meat is meat grown in a lab by extracting cells from animals and growing the muscles to eventually have the texture, nutrition and taste of meat from real-life animals. The product has long been touted as a potential solution to multiple issues, including burgeoning food insecurity brought by human-caused climate change, degrading soil and biodiversity, and a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. Southeast Asia is at the forefront of the impact of climate change impacts, with recent heatwaves sweeping across the region and food security has become a priority in the regions agenda. In land-scarce Singapore, the issue is even more acute where its citizens import 90% of the food they consume. Turning to more sustainable meat is one of the city-states food strategies. Its so-called 30 by 30 goal aims to produce 30% of Singapores nutritional needs locally by 2030, and COVID-19s impacts on food exports was another wake-up call for the country. Chicken rice is Singapores de-facto national dish, but its neighbor, Malaysia, banned its exports of chicken to Singapore last year due to a global feed shortage. We [Singapore] had to scramble to try and find chicken supplies from other countries, Andre Huber, executive director of Hubers Butchery and Bistro, the only restaurant in Singapore that serves cultivated chicken dishes, told VOA News. I think the governments decision to try and grow some of our own produce we dont have land or animals roaming around. I think this [lab-grown chicken] can be grown in high rise buildings. Singapore gave its green light to the sale of lab-grown chicken in December 2020 but so far, the product from U.S. cultivated meat provider GOOD Meat is only available in Hubers and remains in limited supply. Asked why the supply of cultivated chicken remains limited after over two years of gaining approval, Jun Chong, GOOD Meats associate product developer said money has been an issue. It was after two years when we have enough fundings and investment of money, and then we started to build our own facility, Chong said. Its slowly getting into place. The new facility Chong mentioned is set to become the largest cultivated meat production center in Asia when it opens later this year in Singapores Bedok town and will provide tens of thousands of pounds of meat from cells, according to a statement from GOOD Meat. In addition to infrastructure, another controversy connected to cultivated meat is the use of fetal bovine serum, which is often made from killing cows when they are pregnant. A recent study showed that over 2 million bovine fetuses are used globally to produce around 800,000 liters of such serum, sparking ethical debates in the industry. The use of such serum also goes against the feature of lab-grown meat being slaughter-free. Chong said GOOD Meat has just gained approval to use a new plant-based serum that will be able to replace the fetus bovine serum. He added that the firm will start using the new serum to grow the muscles of chicken meat after the Bedok facility starts operating. Meanwhile, Alfredo Franco-Obregon, associate professor at the National University of Singapore, found a way to grow cell-based meat with a magnet that can potentially replace fetus bovine serum. We found that we are just as good as fetal bovine serum in sustaining muscle growth, which makes sense because these [meat] factors are coming from muscles, either from a fetus or in a dish, he told VOA News in a video interview. The muscle growth expert said if lab-grown meat can be scaled up, the inhumane livestock farms can hopefully be wiped out. You have to keep the animal alive for two years [before its ready to be made into meat], and it would be good if you could do it in a way thats humane, but a lot of these systems arent very humane. Franco-Obregon added that while lab-grown meat cannot completely replace real meat, theres a way of improving the livestock industry. Its more efficient, less greenhouse emissions, higher productivity and cell-based meat will be a supplement. We are going to run out of food. Thats the honest truth. And like it or not, were going to have to find alternatives, otherwise people will start to starve. Huang Dejian, deputy head of NUS Department of Food Science and Technology, echoed Franco-Obregos view. Huang pioneered extraction of plant-based cells to develop edible 3D-printed scaffolds to replace the current plastic scaffolds used in the production process. In a decade or two maybe 50% of all the meat we found in our market is hybrid meat [lab-grown meat with animal cells and plant-based cells], Huang told VOA. Asked if lab-grown meat with many tech-heavy processes might involve more greenhouse gas emissions than traditional meat from livestock farms as suggested by a preprint study at the University of California, Davis Huang said, I feel its unfair to calculate, you know, the footprint because it [the product] is too early. If you take advantage of technology to a level and the cost of production is lowered, it might also reduce the energy input and increase efficiency. Consumer acceptance of lab-grown meat could be a bigger challenge for the industry, he added, but he remained optimistic about the future of cultivated meat. A lot of the groundwork has already been laid. And we can see, I think in the next five years or so, people may be able to have a chance to taste [lab-grown meat]. The future to me is quite bright. Latest developments: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that representatives from the International Criminal Court visited the Kherson region following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. U.S. President Joe Biden is hosting White House talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. A Ukrainian official said Monday the countrys troops retook control of Storozhov, a village in the Donetsk region as they conduct a counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming territory seized by Russia. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar thanked a marine brigade in a Telegram post, saying the Ukrainian flag was flying over Storozhov. She said the scene would repeat in every area until Ukrainian forces liberate all of Ukraines land. The development came a day after Ukrainian officials said their troops recaptured three other villages in the area: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Ukraines armed forces general staff said Monday that during the past day there had been heavy fighting elsewhere in Donetsk, including in Bakhmut, and in the Luhansk region. NATO drills In Germany, NATO was beginning the largest air deployment exercise in its history with 250 aircraft from 25 nations. Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz said last week the exercise had been in planning since 2018 when it was conceived in response to Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Highlighting that NATO is a defensive alliance, Gerhartz said the exercise, which will last until June 23, would not involve sending any aircraft toward Russias Kaliningrad enclave that borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania. In addition to NATO members, other participants include Japan as well as Sweden, which has applied to join NATO and received the necessary approval from all but two existing members. Kakhovka dam In his nightly video address Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried Russian attacks on evacuation routes for civilians escaping areas flooded after last weeks destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine. 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. [[ https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/duzhe-vazhlivo-sho-predstavniki-mizhnarodnogo-pravosuddya-na-83553 ]] There have also been concerns about the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant after the dam breach dramatically lowered the levels of water available for cooling operations. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Sunday it needs to access areas around the plant to verify current water levels. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement he expects IAEA experts will be able to go to the site soon. He plans to travel the plant this week. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Latest developments: Russian forces have unsuccessfully attempted to advance near the Donetsk Oblast village of Blahodatne, which was recently liberated by Ukrainian forces, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces alleged Monday. U.S. President Joe Biden's meeting with outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been pushed back a day after Biden underwent an unexpected root canal procedure. The two are now expected to hold talks Tuesday. Swiss authorities said Mondays attack of several government websites was claimed by the NoName hacking group controlled by pro-Russian hackers. The government websites were down as Switzerlands parliament prepares for a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thursday. It also coincides with a national holiday in Russia. During a news conference Monday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was determined to maximize its support for Ukraine so it can succeed on the battlefield. A "robust" package of political and practical support for Ukraine, Blinken added, can also be expected at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. Blinken said that although it was too soon to predict where Ukraine's counteroffensive will lead, Washington was confident that Kyiv will continue to take back its land occupied by Russia. Ukraine says that since the beginning of its counteroffensive last week, its forces have liberated seven villages in the southeast. In his nightly video address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the advances of the Ukrainian forces during fierce battles and despite unfavorable weather. "The strength of our warriors still yields results," he said. Zelenskyy thanked everyone "who is in combat now, everyone who supports our combat brigades in the relevant areas." A Ukrainian official said Monday the country's troops retook control of Storozhov, a village in the Donetsk region as part of the counteroffensive. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar thanked a marine brigade in a Telegram post, saying the Ukrainian flag was flying over Storozhov. She said the scene would repeat in every area until Ukrainian forces liberate all of Ukraine's land. The development came a day after Ukrainian officials said their troops recaptured three other villages in the area: Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka. Ukraine's General Staff said Monday that during the past day there had been heavy fighting elsewhere in Donetsk, including in Bakhmut, and in the Luhansk region. F-16s training Ukrainian pilots could begin training on F-16 fighter jets as soon as this summer. The Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said this is a first step toward supplying Kyiv with a powerful, long-term capability in its war with Russia, Reuters reports. Previously, the Netherlands had said it aimed to start training Ukrainian pilots "as soon as possible," but had not specified when such training could start. Ollongren told Reuters the goal was to have the training program fully operational within six months. A possible location for the training could be in Denmark where there are flight simulators. The training would begin with two groups of 12 Ukrainian pilots, already experienced flying Soviet-era MiGs. The Dutch defense chief did not, however, commit to supplying F-16s to Ukraine. "It is a very strong weapons system. It's a very strong capability. But it's not going to be available anytime soon and President Zelenskyy, of course, knows that," Ollongren said. She did note that F-16s will be very important for the future, in Ukraine. "When the war is over Ukraine has to be able to defend itself to deter Russia from trying again, she said. And I think that's what the Ukrainians also see." Zaporizhzhia nuclear power The United Nations atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi is expected to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant this week to assess risks from the decrease of water levels at the Kakhovka reservoir. Ukraine's Kakhovka reservoir has lost nearly three-quarters of its volume of water since the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was destroyed last week, but it has not impacted the plant's cooling ponds, Ukrainian Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets said Monday. Ukrainian nuclear authorities said the water at the plant's cooling ponds remains stable and high enough because the pods are separate from the reservoir and can be refilled by wells in the area. The water in the pond evaporates slowly, they said, because the reactors are not producing power. In Kherson, the United Nations is coordinating relief efforts for the Kakhovka disaster by delivering water, food and hygiene items to almost 180,000 people. Since the day of the disaster, the U.N. has distributed more than 800,000 liters (211,000 gallons) of bottled water and 70,000 monthly rations of ready-to-eat food, U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric told reporters Monday, adding that the U.N. has also provided information to 100,000 people in the area about risks regarding mine contamination. In his nightly video address Sunday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy decried Russian attacks on evacuation routes for civilians escaping 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. Kyiv and Russia trade blame on the destruction of the dam that led to catastrophic flooding. Black Sea grain deal United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern Monday that Russia will pull out of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal by July 17. The agreement allowing safe wartime export of grain and fertilizers from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports may be nixed by Moscow if its terms regarding its own grain and fertilizer shipments are not met. While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have obstructed shipments. Russia demands the export of ammonia via a pipeline to Ukraines port of Pivdennyi and the reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT international payment system. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Marriages in China dropped in 2022 to their lowest since records began, local news outlet Yicai reported 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 tying 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 dropped 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" of marriage and a childbearing culture. Some provinces are also giving young newlyweds an extension of paid marriage leave. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Monday he would lead a delegation to China, the first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries have an established trading relationship; the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement came into force in October 2008. New Zealands exports to China are worth more than $12.8 billion, or a quarter of the country's total export earnings, according to government data. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the bilateral relationship with China was one of his countrys "most significant, wide-ranging and complex" Hipkins will travel to three Chinese cities on an official visit later this month. He told reporters in Wellington on Monday that it would be a significant visit. "Today I can announce that I will be leading a major trade delegation to China at the end of this month with stops in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai," he said. "It will be the first prime ministerial level visit to China since the COVID-19 global pandemic began and New Zealands first prime minister-led trade delegation there since 2016." Hipkins said the trade delegation also would include representatives from the education and tourism industries. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China was New Zealands second-largest source of visitors behind Australia. In January 2023, it ranked seventh, according to official statistics. But a recovery in the sector is expected now that New Zealands borders have re-opened. Hipkins also said he was keen for New Zealand to diversify its trade with China. "The export of traditional goods like dairy, meat and wood to China are incredibly important but it is also very critical that we throw our support behind emerging sectors like gaming and health and wellness." Hipkins did not confirm if he would be meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. But he did stress that he would raise human rights concerns with Chinese officials when appropriate. He also urged Beijing to help bring Russias "illegal and unjust war" in Ukraine to an end. The New Zealand prime minister, who leads a left-leaning government in Wellington, said he would also attend the NATO meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Tuesday as jockeying to secure Stoltenbergs successor intensifies. While the White House says the official agenda for the meeting is to discuss the alliance's upcoming July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the issue of who will be next at NATO's helm during this difficult period in its 74-year history will no doubt be front and center, as the alliance faces Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, is the longest-running NATO chief in a generation and has had his tenure extended three times since taking the job in 2014. In February, his spokesperson said he will leave office when his current term ends in October. Stoltenberg is widely credited for managing rocky transatlantic relations between former U.S. President Donald Trump and European allies over defense spending, the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, and overseeing the alliance's response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. His preference about his successor carries weight and Biden is expected to consult with him. "A lot of people will look to him to say, 'Who do you think is the best to follow up your leadership?" said Andrew Hyde, senior fellow at the Stimson Center, to VOA. Whoever succeeds Stoltenberg will face the daunting challenge of shepherding the security of 1 billion people in 31 countries and growing. The next leader militarily while preventing the conflict from bleeding into the territory of a NATO member, which would trigger the alliance's Article 5 principle of collective defense and potentially lead to World War III. Consensus based A U.S. general is traditionally the Supreme Allied Commander Europe but the post of NATO chief has always been assumed by a European, even though there's nothing in its charter that requires it. There's no formal process and candidates don't announce that they're running for the post. Selection is done through consensus, achieved mostly through quiet and informal diplomatic channels. As the biggest donor, the U.S. plays a key role the reason why two contenders have paid a visit to the Oval Office recently. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen met with Biden at the White House last Monday. She is seen as a front-runner; however, her candidacy would mean a third successive secretary-general from a Nordic country. Another potential hurdle is that Denmark has long failed to meet the 2% minimum requirement in defense spending for member states. In December, her government launched a plan to meet NATO's target by 2030, and recently ramped up military aid to Ukraine. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Washington days after Frederiksen, with a broad agenda that includes lobbying for his defense secretary, Ben Wallace. Britain, supplier of more military assistance to Ukraine than any country after the United States, has clout. And as one of the first defense ministers to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, Wallace is well-known among the alliance. However, out of 13 chiefs in NATO's history, three were British. Biden was non-committal when asked whether it was time for another one. "Maybe. That remains to be seen," he said during a joint news conference with Sunak Thursday. All who have filled the post since 1952 were male. Several women likely in running There is a sense that it's time the alliance selects a female leader, Hyde said. With the Russian war raging, "there's also a feeling it should be somebody from Eastern Europe," he added. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and her Lithuanian counterpart Ingrida Simonyte meet both requirements. However, some observers argue that a leader from one of the Baltic countries, which are usually hawkish on Russia, could be perceived as a provocation by Moscow. Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of Germany have been floated as potential candidates. So has Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, although her Ukrainian heritage may prove to be a complication. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been mentioned as another contender. And there's always the possibility that the allies might prevail on Stoltenberg to extend his tenure yet again. The issue of who is the next NATO secretary-general is expected to be settled by July, when the group's leaders meet in Vilnius. In a move that many hailed as a salve for the historic wounds between Europe and Africa, Germany last December returned 22 artifacts looted during the Colonial Era to what is now Nigeria. But five months on, questions are being asked in Germany as to whether cultural guardians were wise to hand back the priceless treasures, known as the Benin bronzes. Controversy erupted after Nigeria's outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari, suddenly declared in March that the artifacts would be returned to a traditional ruler and not to the Nigerian state, as Germany had expected. The recipient named by Buhari is the Oba of Benin, a descendant of the sovereign who reigned over the kingdom of Benin when the bronzes were looted by the British at the end of the 19th century. Custody of any repatriated bronzes must be "handed over to the Oba," who will be "responsible for the management of all places" where they are kept, Buhari's statement said. Buhari's announcement was one of his last moves in office before he was succeeded by Bola Tinubu following elections. But it stirred soul-searching in Germany, where critics said it appeared to breach a key understanding with Nigeria. Under a July 2022 agreement, Germany promised to return around 1,100 bronzes from 20 of its museums, and both sides agreed on the importance of making the works accessible to the public. Underpinning this were plans to display the bronzes in a new museum in Benin City in southern Edo state. The state of Saxony has put the brakes on further restitutions pending clarification on whether the Oba's ownership would affect public display of the bronzes. Saxony's Grassi museum was among five museums that handed over the 22 bronzes in December and other museums in the state still hold 262 pieces. Before proceeding with returning them, the state wants to "wait to see what the effect of this declaration is ... and how the new government is going to proceed," a spokesman for the Saxon culture ministry told AFP. "We will not take any new steps" before the situation is made clear, he said. Asked about Buhari's declaration, foreign ministry spokesman Christopher Burger said the return of the bronzes was "not subject to conditions." "It is the decision of the sovereign state of Nigeria to do what it wants," he said, while adding that it was "important to us that the public continue to have access to the Benin bronzes." German Culture Minister Claudia Roth said she was "surprised and irritated" by the response to the declaration in Germany. "What happens to the bronzes now is for the current owner to decide, and that is the sovereign state of Nigeria," she told the ZDF broadcaster. Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK), which runs the Ethnological Museum in Berlin, said he did not believe Buhari's declaration placed future restitutions in doubt. The Ethnological Museum has around 530 historical objects from the ancient kingdom of Benin, including more than 400 bronzes considered the most important collection outside London's British Museum. The Museum of Ethnology in Hamburg is also among the German museums that returned the first tranche of bronzes in December It has signed a deal to return 179 artifacts from its collection to Nigerian ownership, though a third of them are to remain in Hamburg The museum told AFP it "has confidence in its Nigerian partners." Abba Isa Tijani, who heads the Nigerian government agency in charge of recovering looted works, said the planned museum project in Benin City was unaffected by the declaration. "The museum construction is still in place," he said. "The Oba of Benin relies on this museum, nothing has changed because he doesn't have the staff or the expertise to run the museum," he added. "We want to reassure our partners, the museums in Europe" that the objects will be "made available for researchers, and for the public and tourists to be seen," Tijani said. "The artifacts of course can't be sold, because in Nigeria it's forbidden to sell Nigerian antiquities." Peju Layiwola, an art historian and artist in Nigeria who was heavily involved in the battle for the return of the bronzes, said the reaction of Western museums to the declaration had been overblown. "It's an excuse... to not return those artifacts, because they didn't want to give it back," she said. Forensic scientists will on Monday begin the exhumation of 128 victims of the Spanish Civil War from a vast burial complex near Madrid, El Pais newspaper reported. It will be the first exhumation of its kind involving people whose bodies were moved from elsewhere after the 1936-1939 war and reburied without their families' permission in the Valley of Cuelgamuros, which was formerly known as Valley of the Fallen. El Pais reported that forensic scientists have installed a laboratory inside the vast burial site, which includes a monument and 150-meter-high cross, on the outskirts of Madrid prior to the exhumation work beginning. The remains of some 34,000 people, many of them victims of Franco's regime, are buried anonymously in the complex. Relatives of those whose remains lie inside have been fighting for years to give their loved ones a burial under their own names near their families. Purificacion Lapena has been campaigning for the remains of her grandfather Manuel Lapena and his brother Antonio, a blacksmith, to be removed from the mausoleum. "I have not been told anything about this," she told Reuters by telephone. In 2016, a court approved the exhumation of the brothers, but seven years later the family is still waiting. In April, the remains of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of Spain's fascist Falange movement that supported the Francoist regime, were exhumed from the mausoleum. His exhumation, which follows the 2019 removal of the remains of dictator Francisco Franco, is part of a plan to convert the complex built by Franco on a mountain near the capital into a memorial to the 500,000 people killed during Spain's 1936-39 civil war. At the time of Primo de Rivera's exhumation, Presidency Minister Felix Bolanos said: "No person or ideology that evokes the dictatorship should be honored or extolled there." The Spanish government did not respond to Reuters' request for confirmation of the report. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that he will appoint a scientific advisory body in the coming days that will include outside experts on artificial intelligence, and said he is open to the idea of creating a new U.N. agency that would focus on AI. I would be favorable to the idea that we could have an artificial intelligence agency, I would say, inspired by what the International Atomic Energy Agency is today, Guterres said of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. He said he does not have the authority to create an IAEA-like agency that is up to the organizations 193-member states. But he said it has been discussed and he would see it as a positive development. What is the advantage of the IAEA it is a very solid, knowledge-based institution, Guterres told reporters. And at the same time, even if limited, it has some regulatory functions. So, I believe this is a model that could be very interesting. The Vienna-based IAEA is the focal point for international nuclear cooperation. It has developed international nuclear safety standards and is both watchdog and advisor on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. There are growing concerns about the power of artificial intelligence and how it can be abused for negative and even deadly purposes, including from Geoffrey Hinton, who is the scientist known as the godfather of AI. Top U.S. cybersecurity officials have also warned of the growing dangers of AI. I think ultimately there will have to be and even industry is saying this there will have to be some sort of regulation to govern the licensing and the use of these capabilities, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly told the Aspen Institute in Washington Monday. Easterly also emphasized the need for more dialogue on AI, pointing to proposals like the one being pursued by the U.N. We can have conversations with our adversaries about nuclear weapons, Easterly said. I think we probably should think about having these conversations with our adversaries on AI which, after all, will be in my view the most powerful weapons of the century. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last week plans for the UK to host the first major global summit on AI safety in the autumn. Guterres said in terms of regulating AI, an industry where things move very quickly, a set of norms established one day can be outdated the next. So, something that is more flexible is necessary. We need a process, a constant process of intervention of the different stakeholders, working together to permanently establish a number of soft law mechanisms, a number of I would say norms, codes of conduct and others, he said. Guterres said the scientific advisory body he will soon create will also include the chief scientists from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is a specialized U.N. agency related to information and telecommunication technology. He said outside experts, including two from the AI sphere, would be a part of the advisory body. The UN chief also announced plans for a digital compact he says would be a voluntary code of conduct that he hopes technology companies and governments will adhere to, with the aim of decreasing the spread of mis- and dis-information and hate speech to billions of people and making the internet a safer space. Its proposals are aimed at creating guardrails to help governments come together around guidelines that promote facts, while exposing conspiracies and lies, and safeguarding freedom of expression and information, he said. And to help tech companies navigate difficult ethical and legal issues and build business models based on a healthy information ecosystem. He said tech companies have done little to prevent their platforms from contributing to hate and violence, and he criticized governments for ignoring human rights and sometimes taking drastic measures, including sweeping internet shutdowns. Guterres said he hopes to issue the code of conduct after discussions with member states and before the U.N. Summit of the Future, which is planned for September 2024. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. EgyptAir announced the launch of two new routes: one to Manchester, UK, starting mid-July, the other to Delhi, India, starting August, a statement by the national carrier read on Sunday. The flagship carrier recently added the Dhaka route in Bangladesh and New Jersey's Newark city to its network of routes as part of its plan to expand its network of direct routes. Flights from Cairo to Manchester are scheduled to operate starting 15 July, with plans to operate five weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, using the Boeing B737-800NG model. The departure time for the first flight from Cairo, numbered MS781, will be at 10:00 am, arriving in Manchester at 1:30 pm local time. EgyptAir is scheduling four weekly flights to Delhi starting 1 August, using the latest A320neo Airbus model. The departure time from Cairo for flight number MS973 will be 11:40 am on Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Delhi at 8:45 pm local time. Another Cairo-Delhi flight will depart at 11:50 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays on flight number MS975, arriving at 8:55 am the next day in Delhi. In April, Egypt welcomed a record-breaking 1.35 million tourists, marking a significant milestone for the country's recovering tourism sector amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa recently stated that the country aims to attract a total of 15 million visitors in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 14.7 million set in 2010. Search Keywords: Short link: The Biden administration has stopped taking mobile app appointments to admit asylum-seekers at a Texas border crossing that connects to a notoriously dangerous Mexican city after advocates warned U.S. authorities that migrants were being targeted there for extortion. U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave no explanation for its decision to stop scheduling new appointments via the CBP One app for the crossing in Laredo, Texas. The Department of Homeland Security said in an email to The Associated Press that CBP One has been instrumental in creating a more efficient and orderly system at the border "while cutting out unscrupulous smugglers who profit from vulnerable migrants." Several asylum-seekers told The Associated Press that Mexican officials in Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas, had threatened to hold them and make them miss their scheduled asylum appointments unless they paid them. Humanitarian groups in Laredo say they had recently warned CBP of the problems and that certain groups were controlling access to the international crossing on the Mexican side. Migrant advocates say the situation in Nuevo Laredo, which is plagued by cartel fighting and other problems, casts doubt on the administration's argument that Mexico is a safe place for the record number of people fleeing violence in Central America and elsewhere. Neither the U.S. nor the Mexican governments addressed questions from the AP regarding the reports of migrants who use the app being extorted. Rafael Alvarez, 29, who fled Venezuela, said that after he landed in Nuevo Laredo in early June, Mexican immigration authorities at the airport seized his travel documents, including a printout of the email confirming his CBP One appointment, and demanded he pay 1,000 Mexican pesos, about $57. He was held with other migrants. "They would tell us covertly, 'You're going to put the money in this envelope and pass it to us,'" Alvarez said, recalling what officials told him and other migrants. The officials, he said, threatened to hold them so they would have their appointments canceled. Alvarez, whose appointment was the next day, said he refused to pay and was eventually released, but five Russians who were held with him paid a total of 5,000 pesos, about $290. They initially were asked to fork over double that amount, but they told officials they did not have that much, he said. Alvarez said other Venezuelan friends who flew to Nuevo Laredo in late May also paid to have their documents returned. Thousands of asylum-seekers are stuck in Mexican border towns, waiting until they can get an appointment to seek refuge in the United States after being blocked during the COVID-19 pandemic by a public health restriction called Title 42 that was lifted last month. Though the government opened some new avenues for immigration, the fate of many people is largely left to the CBP One app that is used for scheduling an appointment at a port of entry. The government said it would continue to open 1,250 appointments daily by reallocating the slots for Laredo to the seven other crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border. It vowed to honor online appointments issued for the Laredo crossing before the June 3 change. The government schedules appointments two weeks out. CBP gives priority to people with an app appointment, though people can try to be admitted by going in person without one. Anyone who has an acute medical condition or is under an immediate threat of kidnapping or death also can ask to be admitted in person. Laredo was among the least busy crossings for asylum appointments, seeing only a fraction of appointments compared to San Diego and Brownsville. There have been widespread complaints by migrants about being forced to pay bribes to Mexico's immigration sector, where corruption is deeply ingrained, and at times working directly with smugglers. Earlier this month, the Mexican newspaper El Universal published video it obtained that was taken through a bus window, showing a federal agent taking bills from migrants and stuffing them in his pocket as he checked passports in the Pacific coast state of Jalisco. The agency said it had suspended two of its agents there and that it does not tolerate the rights of migrants being violated. The newspaper also obtained government documents through a freedom of information request that showed the agency had opened 119 investigations against agents between 2017 and 2023 for misconduct. Rebecca Solloa of Catholic Charities in Laredo said her organization and others met with CBP officials in person and on Zoom to warn them that migrants have told them that groups in Nuevo Laredo control the bridge and extort migrants there but she did not know who they are. She said CBP "obviously received some sort of intel, or descriptions, or information from migrants coming through [about] what has happened to them." "I'm kind of glad they did," she said, adding that the government's actions might have come because "this is happening way too much here at this border." It was unclear if the problem was isolated to Nuevo Laredo and if so, why. Narsher Nunez, 29, flew to Nuevo Laredo in early June with her 6-month-old son, husband and adult nephew after securing an appointment in Mexico City through the app. She said she and her family were extorted at the airport. The Venezuelan woman said Mexican officials took their documents and demanded they pay 1,500 pesos, or $86, to get them back. They were held for hours with a group of Chinese migrants, she said. Her husband said one official told them: "If I have a good heart, I'll send you to Guatemala. But if you catch me in a bad mood, I'll send you to Venezuela." Eventually they paid and were released, she said. The next day, Nunez and her family went to their appointment and were admitted to the United States. "All the immigrants who were caught there, they took money from us," said Nunez, who is staying with her family for now at a shelter in Laredo. The CBP One app was criticized for technological problems when it started January 12. The government has made improvements in recent weeks, but demand has far outstripped supply, prompting many to consider crossing the border illegally or giving up. The administration has said anyone who does not use legal channels will be deported back to their homeland and face being barred from be able to seek asylum in the U.S. for five years. The United States is providing up to $325 million in additional military aid for Ukraine, a U.S. defense official tells VOA. The package is expected to include Stryker and Bradley armored vehicles that can replace those damaged and destroyed in the Ukrainian counteroffensive currently underway, according to two Defense officials, who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity ahead of the packages expected release Tuesday. The officials said the latest aid also includes munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), along with more rockets for Ukraines High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The aid announcement comes amid reports that Ukraine has lost more than a dozen Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in recent days, highlighting the military costs of the current counteroffensive. These top systems, as good as they are, are vulnerable and will need to be replaced, and so it's a reminder that this security provision is not a one-off. This is going to have to continue for the long term, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Once released, the latest aid package will mark the 40th authorized presidential drawdown of military equipment from Defense Department inventories since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin travels to Brussels this week for a meeting of NATO defense ministers, where support for Ukraine will be a top priority. During his time in Brussels, Austin will host another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to discuss how Western allies can better support Ukraines military now that its new counteroffensive has begun, according to officials. Defense leaders also will continue to iron out plans for Ukrainian pilots to train on F-16 fighter jets, the officials added. The U.S. has pledged more than $39 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russias invasion, although the Pentagon continues to work through an accounting error that overstated the amount of value going to Kyiv. When calculating its aid package estimates, the Defense Department was counting the cost incurred to replace the weapons given to Ukraine, while it should have been totaling the cost of the systems actually sent, officials told VOA. The error is expected to translate into billions of additional dollars that will be available for more aid to Ukraine, according to officials. The Pentagon announced Friday it is providing an additional $2.1 billion in long-term weapons aid for Ukraine, including more Patriot missile battery munitions and small, hand-launched Puma drones. Unlike the immediate aid to Ukraine sent from Pentagon stocks through the presidential drawdown authority, this aid money is provided under the United States Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and is meant to be spent on Ukraines future security needs. Moscow began a renewed offensive in Ukraine earlier this year that has stalled, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently confirmed that Kyivs massive counteroffensive has begun. A senior military official, speaking to VOA on the condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, said the Ukrainian counteroffensive would probably not be as dramatic as some people expect but still would be carried out deliberately and effectively by targeting Russias ability to control its defenses inside Ukraine. Russian forces have spent months heavily fortifying their positions inside Ukraine, making Kyivs counteroffensive even more difficult to execute. It's harder to go on offense than it is to be on defense, Bowman said. Ukrainians have entrenched, dug in Russian forces with minefields in front of them. That's about as hard as it can get in warfare. An 11-year-old British girl was shot dead Saturday in France. Her father and mother also were injured in the incident at the family's home in the village of Saint-Herbot in Brittany. The Guardian, a British newspaper, reports the father is in critical condition after being shot in the head. The girl's 8-year-old sister escaped unharmed, running to neighbors to tell them what happened. Public prosecutor Carine Halley said a 71-year-old Dutch national, a resident of the same village, was detained after the shootings. "The motives for this tragedy are not yet known," Halley said. "It appears there had been a conflict between the two neighbors for several years over a piece of land adjoining the two properties." Earlier in the week, another British girl and three other children, plus two adults, were stabbed in a park in Annecy in eastern France. Zimbabwean authorities charged 39 opposition activists with political violence over the alleged "demolishing" of a ruling party office on Monday, as tensions grow ahead of national elections in August. Prosecutors said the group attacked an office of the ruling ZANU-PF party, in Nyatsime, south of the capital, last week. The ruling ZANU-PF party has been in power since independence in 1980. The group "destroyed several houses and also assaulted members of the Nyatsime community thereby causing massive destruction to property and inflicted serious injuries on them," prosecutors said. The incident comes as rights groups and opposition parties have complained of a clampdown ahead of the vote. Lawyers for those detained, however, stopped short of saying the accusations were politically motivated. "Our clients were not even at the scene," Anesu Chirisa, legal lead at Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, an umbrella group representing the 39, told AFP. The 39 were arrested over the weekend and on Monday briefly appeared before a local court. They were remanded into custody after investigating authorities called for a "lengthy custodial sentence." Members of the group are supporters of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Zimbabwe's leading opposition party. CCC's leader Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer and pastor, is hoping to replace President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80, who is seeking a second term in the August 23 vote. Analysts are bracing for a tense ballot in a country where discontent at entrenched poverty, power cuts and other shortages runs deep. Critics have accused the government of using the courts to target opposition politicians and say there has been an increase in arbitrary arrests and repression. Earlier this month, another five CCC activists were held on various charges including assault after an alleged altercation at a voter registration center. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. 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 CNN reports that at least 16 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, out of the 60 that Ukraine had received, were destroyed during the first week of the counter-offensive [1]. Kiev maintains a tight embargo on the information regarding its counter-offensive. At most, it boasts to have captured the towns of Neskuchne, Blagodatne, Storojeve and Makarivka, all contiguous and located along the same river in the Donetsk Oblast. In no case did the Ukrainian forces break through the Russian defense lines which, in this area, begin about ten kilometers inside the zone liberated by Moscow. Photo: Sony Pictures Animation Spider-Man swung back into theaters, and hes brought web-slingers old and new along with him. Sony Pictures Animations Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is one of the most ambitious animated films to ever hit screens, involving a multiversal adventure that mines nearly every aspect of the characters 60-year history in the form of a Spider Society. A lot of Spider-people appear in the society (though others are simply encountered in various parts of the multiverse or in montage), from major players to the blink-and-youll-miss-them cameos. I only have two eyes and not Man-Spiders six, but as far as they could see, these are all the Spider-Men, Women, Punks, Monkeys, Cats, LEGOs, Manga, and Ham you need to know (and the comic backstories that matter). . Miles Morales, the star of the film (voiced by Shameik Moore), has become a household name in the 12 years since he made his debut in Ultimate Fallout No. 4 (2011). Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Miles Morales was originally part of the Ultimate Universe, an alternate reality in Marvel Comics, but was transported to the mainline Marvel Comics Universe following Secret Wars in 2015. Morales has appeared in television shows, video games, and movies. Hes yet to make his live-action debut heavy emphasis on yet. But the new animated film finds him a year and a half into his role as Spider-Man, struggling to balance the life of a superhero (and, apparently, preserver of canon events) with that of a lonely high-schooler. . Gwen Stacy has been a key part of Spideys mythos since her debut in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 31 (1965) and has appeared live-action in Spider-Man 3 (2007), where she was portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard, and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), where she was portrayed by Emma Stone. But this particular version of Gwen, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, once known in the comics as Spider-Gwen and later as Ghost-Spider and created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez, debuted in Edge of Spider-Verse No. 2 (2014). Like Miles, her origin story remains largely unchanged in the film adaptation, and she also appeared in television shows and video games. . Miless mentor, the older and more world-weary Peter B. Parker, voiced by Jake Johnson, returns in Across the Spider-Verse, and this time he has his and Mary Janes baby in tow. This iteration of Parker is an original character for the films, previously plagued by self-doubt and a number of losses including the death of Aunt May and a divorce from Mary Jane, before rising to the challenging of becoming Miless mentor and repairing his marriage. He shares many similarities with the comic-book version of Peter Parker, who of course was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and made his debut in Amazing Fantasy No. 15 (1962). Mayday, on the other hand, made her debut as the teenage Spider-Girl in What If? No. 105 (1998) and was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz. A fan favorite, Mayday has had her own comic-book series under Marvels MC2 imprint and also appeared in numerous Marvel video games. . Jessica Drew, created by Archie Goodwin and Marie Severin, first appeared in Marvel Spotlight No. 32 (1977). Funny enough, she was conceived as a one-off character with no connection to Spider-Man. Initially, she was a spider who evolved into a woman (ew!), but after a retcon, her powers were the result of an experimental serum. Across the Spider-Verses Spider-Woman, voiced by Issa Rae, doesnt seem to have that extra baggage in terms of her origin story. Instead, shes presented here like she is in the 2016 comics run featuring the character: as a motorcycle-riding badass who also just so happens to be fighting crime while pregnant and serves as second-in-command to the leader of the Spider Society, Miguel OHara. Drew, who benefitted from a comics resurgence courtesy of Brian Michael Bendis as a member of the New Avengers in 2005, is set to play a role in an upcoming, still untitled Spider-Verse spinoff film focusing on a number of Spider-Women. . The Spider-Man of the future, Miguel OHara debuted in Spider-Man 2099 No. 1 (1992) as the creation of Peter David and Rick Leonardi. OHara is geneticist for the corporation Alchemax whose experimental work is sabotaged by a jealous colleague, resulting in OHaras genes being spliced with those of a spider, leaving him with talons, claws, and a vampiric bloodlust. Unlike Parker, OHara has a much more serious demeanor and rarely seems to enjoy being Spider-Man. Those traits are carried over into Across the Spider-Verse, where OHara, voiced by Oscar Isaac, emerges as an antagonist who sees Miless existence as an anomaly and a threat to the multiverse. The character is a cult favorite, but outside of video games and an appearance on the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, Across the Spider-Verse is his most significant introduction outside of the comics. . The Indian Spider-Man of Earth-50101, voiced by Karan Soni, made his debut in Spider-Man: India No. 1 (2005) and was created by Jeevan J. Kang, Suresh Seetharaman, and Sharad Devarajan. He received his spider powers from an ancient Yogi in order to prevent evil in the world. In the film, he seems to be one of the only Spider-Men whose life isnt defined by tragedy, and he loves being Spider-Man. Hes notably only been in the role for six months; however, he has a close bond with Gwen and Spider-Punk. His canon event is disrupted when Miles saves Pavitrs ally, Captain Singh. Despite the trouble this lands Miles in with Miguel, Pavitr returns the favor and joins Gwen to search for him at the end of the film. Given the breakout nature of the character, he seems destined for a larger role in the comics in the near future. . The first Hobie Brown was the original costumed villain, the Prowler, who is now most often associated with Miless Uncle Aaron, and who first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 78 (1969). The variant version, Spider-Punk, first appeared in 2014s The Amazing Spider-Man No. 10 as an anarchist who brought the lower class together as the Spider Army to defeat President Osborn. In the film, hes British instead of American and aids Miles and Gwen; he quits the Spider Society after disagreeing with Miguels plan to let certain individuals die in canon events to preserve the multiverse, and later appears as part of Gwens new group at the end of the film. Hes appeared as an unlockable character in several video games, but Across the Spider-Verse is his first film appearance (voiced by Daniel Kaluuya). Fun fact: Each part of Spider-Punks body was animated at a different frame rate. . Ben Reilly is a clone of Peter Parker who was created by his obsessive college professor, Miles Warren, a.k.a. the Jackal. The general character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 149 (1975), created by Gerry Conway, but he took the name Ben Reilly in Spider-Man No. 51 (1994) and debuted as the Scarlet Spider in Web of Spider-Man No. 118 (1994). Hes most often associated with the infamous Clone Saga that ran throughout Spider-Man comics in the 90s, which saw Reilly struggling with angst over his borrowed identity. In the film, hes voiced by Andy Samberg, who really plays up that angst. He joins Miguel and Jess in their hunt for Miles on Earth-42, but Gwen finds him first and breaks his multiversal watch, presumably stranding him back at the Spider Society headquarters. . Spider-Man from Insomniacs hit PlayStation video game, Marvels Spider-Man (2018), has a brief cameo, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, and can be seen alongside villains from some of the original, first-generation Spider-Man video games. Miless roommate Ganke can also be seen playing the PlayStation video game in their dorm room. . The Spider-Man from the beloved 200809 cartoon series The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Josh Keaton, tries to appeal to Miles Morales on the tragedies all Spider-Men must all experience, called canon events. . The Spider-Man from the 1967 cartoon Spider-Man, the one with the catchy theme song, swings into action during the chase for Miles Morales. He was originally voiced by Paul Soles, though in the film hes voiced by Jorma Taccone. . Margo Kess, the virtual-reality-equipped superhero who tries to help Miles return home after he escapes from Miguel and the Spider Society, first appeared in Vault of Spiders No. 1 (2018) as a cybercrime-fighting vigilante and was created by Nilah Magruder and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque. In the film, she is voiced by Amandla Stenberg and joins Gwen Stacys group at the end of the film. . Peter Parkedcar is a sentient automobile that first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man No. 12 (2015) and was created by Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli, who were inspired by Pixars Cars. Hes seen giving several other Spider-Man variants a ride in the film. . The Spider-Man from the short-lived animated series that premiered in 1999 was originally supposed to be Spider-Man 2099. But similarities to Batman Beyond led to the show being reimagined as a sequel to Spider-Man: The Animated Series and saw Peter Parker stranded on counter-Earth and dealing with the threats of Venom, Carnage, and the High Evolutionary. Hes seen a couple times during Miless tour of the Spider Society. . One of the most recent Spider-beings, Pter Ptarker is a dinosaur who was hit by a meteorite containing alien spiders, giving him the powers of Spider-Man without the agility. Created by Karla Pacheco and Pere Perez, Spider-Rex first appeared in Edge of Spider-Verse No. 1 (2022). He tries to take a bite out of Miles as he attempts to escape the Spider Society. . A simple cat with the proportionate strength of a spider, nine lives, and the ability to cough up web-balls first appeared in Spider-Island: I Love New York City No. 1 and was created by Skottie Young. He coughs up a web-ball on Miles as he escapes through the levels of the Spider Society. . The Spider-Man of the early 20th century who fights Nazis, drinks egg creams, and is voiced by none other than Nicolas Cage returns at the end of Across the Spider-Verse to join Gwen on her search for Miles. The character, who is set to appear in a live-action series for Amazon, debuted in Spider-Man: Noir No. 1 (2009), and was created by David Hine and Marko Djurdjevic. He previously appeared in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, where he was voiced by Milo Ventimiglia. . Peter Porker also returns at the end of Across the Spider-Verse to join Gwen. The character, voiced by John Mulaney in the previous film, first appeared in the parody comic Marvel Tails, Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham in 1983. Created by Larry Hama, Tom DeFalco, Stan Lee, and Mark Armstrong, Porker was a spider who was bitten by a radioactive pig who just so happened to be his aunt. Its best not to think too much on it, as even for cartoon logic, the concept is pretty far out there. . The simian counterpart to Spider-Man was born into a world of all apes but not the Planet of the Apes, which Marvel also publishes. Just another ape world. Created by Karl Kesel and Ramon Bachs, Spider-Monkey first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man Family No. 1 (2008). . Max Borne is the Spider-Man of the year 2211 and has mechanized arms likely inspired by Doc Ock. In the comics, he teamed up with Spider-Man 2099 in order to prevent the destruction of the timestream by a future version of the Hobgoblin. He was created by Peter David and Mike Wieringo and first appeared in Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man No. 1 (1995). Miles Morales hides on his back while trying to escape the Spider Society. . Flash Thompson has been part of Peter Parkers life since the very beginning, first appearing in Amazing Fantasy No. 15 (1962) as Parkers high-school bully. Hes appeared in every iteration of Spider-Mans live-action filmography, where hes been played by Joe Manganiello, Chris Zylka, and Tony Revolori. But what if Flash Thompson became Spider-Man instead of Peter Parker? Thats the concept behind Captain Spider, who first appeared in What If? No. 7 (1977) and was created by Don Glut and Rick Hoberg. . The second woman to take up the name Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter, created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck, made her first full appearance in Secret Wars No. 7 (1984) after being teased in the previous issue. She was an unwitting test subject for her friends government experiment. Injected with spider venom and mysterious herbs, Julia developed powers similar to Spider-Man. She later took up the mantle of Madame Web. She has appeared in numerous films and video games and will make her live-action debut in next years film, Madame Web, where shell be portrayed by Sydney Sweeney. She can be seen briefly in the film when the members of the Spider Society confront Miles about allowing canon events to happen. . Another version of Peter Parker and Mary Janes daughter, who also took up the mantle of her father, first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows No. 1 (2015) and was created by Dan Slott and Adam Kubert. She can be seen briefly in the movie, holding hands with her mother, Spinneret, in the halls of the Spider Society. . Annie Parkers mom, Mary Jane became a hero of her own in that same universe. Using a suit that could mimic her husbands powers when in close proximity to him, MJ joined her husband and daughter as Spinneret, making crime-fighting a family affair. She also first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows No. 1 (2015) and was created by Dan Slott and Adam Kubert. . Peni Parker also returns in Across the Spider-Verse and is voiced by Kimiko Glenn. A young Japanese American girl, Peni pilots a biomechanical robot built by her father that houses a radioactive spider. Following the destruction of the robot in the first film, she returns to pilot a new model in the latest film and express her sympathies to Miles over the fact that the death of his father is a canon event. Peni Parker (created by Jake Wyatt and My Chemical Romances Gerard Way) first appeared in Edge of Spider-Verse No. 5 (2014). She joins Gwens group to search for Miles at the end of the film. . This iteration of Peter Parker is a ninja, a member of the Spider-Clan whose uncle was killed by Venom, leading him on a path of vengeance. Created by Ben Dunn and Tommy Ohtsuka, the character first appeared in Marvel Mangaverse: Spider-Man No. 1 (2002). . Patrick OHara was a gunslinger in the Old West who sold a potent elixir alongside his friend Michael Morbius. But when a spider, bathed in the elixir, bit OHara and his horse, Widow, they developed spider-powers. When Morbius drank the elixir in hopes it would have the same effect, it instead turned him into a vampire, forcing OHara to use his new powers to hunt down his former friend. Created by Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli, the characters first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man No. 9 (2014) and No. 12 (2015). In the film, Miles questions why the horse needs a mask and beats Web-Slinger in a draw. . Maybelle Reilly is an adventurer and inventor who lacks superpowers but makes up for them with mechanical arms and web-shooters that allow her to climb walls and spin webs. Her design is steampunk-inspired. She was created by Robbie Thompson and Denis Medri and first appeared in Spider-Verse No. 1 (2014). She can briefly be seen in the halls of the Spider Society. . A possible future version of Spider-Man who became an anti-hero who killed his villains after first taking the life of Kraven the Hunter in vengeance. This version of Peter Parker was created by J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita Jr. and first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man No. 58 (2003). . Its the Spider-Man you know and love, but as a LEGO. The first Spider-Man LEGO appeared in 2002 as a tie-in with the movie. LEGO Spider-Mans sequence in the film (which sees him dealing with the appearance of the films villain, the Spot) was animated by 14-year-old Preston Mutanga, who previously re-created the Across the Spider-Verse trailers with LEGOs. . From Sam Raimis trilogy, Maguires Spider-Man, who debuted in 2002, appears in archive footage, cradling the body of Uncle Ben during Miguels monologue about canon events. . Garfields Spider-Man, who debuted in 2012 in Marc Webbs Amazing Spider-Man duology, appears in archive footage, also cradling a body (that of Captain George Stacy) in Miguels monologue about canon events. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ordered the establishment of a cemetery in a distinguished location to be a new home for the remains of iconic Egyptians whose current tombs would be moved due to urgent development needs. According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi also ordered the establishment of a museum in the new location, which would house both the artistic and archaeological works present in the existing tombs of these iconic figures. The new museum would also include biographies for iconic figures in addition to their belongings, added the statement. El-Sisi also directed that the process of transporting the remains of these figures from the existing cemeteries to the new cemetery would be carried out by specialists and experts. Informing the public The president also directed to form a committee, headed by the Prime Minister, which would study development necessities behind the transfer of tombs in the historic neighborhoods of Sayeda Nafisa and Imam Shafi'i in south Cairo in order to reach an integrated vision and recommendations that would be announced to the public before 1 July. The committee would include specialists and archaeologists in addition to representatives from all concerned authorities and engineering consulting firms. In recent months, the government has moved a number of cemeteries, including tombs for some high-profile historic figures, from different parts of the capital to new burial locations, citing eminent domain in order to construct bridges and highways in order to overcome traffic bottlenecks inside Cairo as well as to connect the capital to growing residential areas in its suburbs. Search Keywords: Short link: Never underestimate the importance of body language. Ariana DeBose opened the unscripted 2023 Tony Awards with a big, wordless dance number in solidarity with the striking WGA. The musical number included snippets of songs such as Take the A Train and On Broadway, because we are in New York, the New Yorkiest place on earth. Starting quite literally with a blank script in her dressing room, DeBose danced her way onto the stage before giving a few improvised remarks. DeBose explained that there is no script and no teleprompter information being given to presenters tonight. The two teleprompters onstage merely have a countdown clock so that presenters and winners know how long they have to vamp. Why no words? The WGA strike, of course! The Tonys broadcast was not a sure thing this year, as it came shortly after the Writers Guild went on strike. It wasnt until May 15 that the guild gave the awards show a waiver to even happen. If the WGA hadnt granted that waiver, Tony the Tiger would have had to cross a picket line in order to walk the red carpet. As it stands, the guild still recommended that members not attend the ceremony. Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson. Photo: Sky Arts Joseph Fiennes wants the smoke he was getting for playing Michael Jackson to clear. In a new interview, the Handmaids Tale and Shakespeare in Love actor said he regrets his decision to portray the king of pop in a 2017 episode of Urban Myths. I think people are absolutely right to be upset, Fiennes told The Guardian. And it was a wrong decision. Absolutely. He went on to take responsibility for the shows poor judgment. And Im one part of that there are producers, broadcasters, writers, directors, all involved in these decisions, he said. But obviously if Im upfront, I have become the voice for other people. I would love them to be around the table as well to talk about it. But you know, it came at a time where there was a movement and a shift and that was good, and it was, you know, a bad call. A bad mistake. His current posturing is a bit different than it was while in the middle of the controversy. In a 2017 interview with Vulture, he said he wanted people to see him as Jackson to provoke a discussion, and did not say he regretted his SNL-like casting. In the latest interview, though, he credits himself for his behind-the-scenes work of getting Sky Arts to drop the episode of the anthology series altogether, which focuses on Michael Jacksons post-9/11 road trip with Elizabeth Taylor (Stockard Channing) and Marlon Brando (Brian Cox). At the time, Fienness casting decision led to a whitewashing backlash. And, just to say, I asked the broadcaster to pull it, Fiennes added. And there were some pretty hefty discussions, but ultimately people made the right choice. Guess the real treasure was the casting consequences we learned along the way. No words. Photo: Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro The Tony Awards, as you may have heard at least a dozen times tonight from various ad-libbing hosts and presenters, aired scriptlessly owing to the WGA strike. In true the show must go on fashion, the ceremony managed to make the most of the situation. The producers solution, all around, was to lean hard on the Tonys innate advantages: the musical numbers, the theater-kid enthusiasm of all involved, and precut clips from the nominated shows an innovation CBS should really keep around. Theater people know how to carry on, and they all did. Amid lots of energy and sometimes little coherence, here were the highs and lows from the evening. High: The Act One Pluto TV preshow put an emphasis on the craftspeople. If were going to have to split this thing in two to get the length down for TV, at least its nice that the streaming-only side of the ceremony really does try to emphasize how important the visual designers, composers, and other not-allowed-in-prime-time players are. Winners could go long and tell an anecdote or two. (Beowulf Boritt, for instance, took the time to remind everyone there is no video wall in New York, New York.) There were many shout-outs to the state of New Jersey. The energy in the room resembled a high-school drama club celebrating at Dennys after wrapping a production of Oliver!, with everyone a little buzzed on Mountain Dew and earnestness. Low: That part is, of course, not actually broadcast. Oh, well! Low: The awkward improv before each category. The hosts winged their way through the setups during Act One, leading to such gems from Skylar Astin and Julianne Hough (hosts of the Pluto TV portion) as Nothing brings out a score like orchestrations, Can we just give it up for all the theater educators, and all the teachers in the world? and So lets just keep this thing moving, shall we? Youve made your point, WGA. High: A few moments when the improv was so awkward it became funny. At one point, Hough gave up and started praising the plasterwork: Maybe we should all look around and look at this gorgeous theater and on that note, lets hear it for this next award, which is Best Scenic Design of a Play. After that, she gave up on any sort of connection with the categories at all, shimmying a little bit and proposing that everyone take a little mid-show shake before announcing Lighting Design of a Play. Best of all may have been Annaleigh Ashfords arrival to introduce Jerry Mitchell: Im Annaleigh Ashford, and hi Low: John Kander and Joel Greys Lifetime Achievement remarks didnt make the main telecast either. Kander, age 96, gave a lovely speech, concluding by thanking music itself, which, he said, has promised to stick with me to the very end. Grey, 91, looked sprightly as ever, walking out in tails and launching into a bit of Willkommen, seemingly ready to headline a Cabaret revival if anyone wants it. Its a strange feeling to go from being the eager kid, which I was just yesterday, Grey said, to being honored with my great friend and collaborator, John Kander, who is even slightly elder than I am. Theyre both titans and deserve every bit of the honor; the CBS half of the show dedicated just enough time for Hough and DeBose to dance a Hot Honey Rag, followed by a wave from the two honorees. Let the legends speak! People love it! High: Jennifer Greys introduction of her father. Hi, friends of my dad. Good joke, Jennifer. Hope no one wrote it for you. Low: The 15-minute lag between Act One on Pluto TV and Act Two on Paramount+. Astin and Hough kept the show so brisk partly because they clearly used up every bit of improv they had that the Pluto TV portion of the show ended 15 minutes early, giving us all more than enough time to figure out how to switch apps and ruminate on how silly it is that we live in a universe where you have to do so halfway through a major awards show. Real life is but an Other Two joke. The upside: generous bathroom and/or snack break. High: Host Ariana DeBoses wordless jukebox opening number on the main telecast. DeBoses way to do the thing in the absence of a written script a fact immediately telegraphed as the camera showed a blank script at the top of the telecast was a wordless dance number, performed by DeBose and more than a dozen other dancers, full of quotes from Broadway shows, including West Side Story and, of course, In the Heights. Its a bonkers concept, but DeBose is both our most overcommitting celebrity and an incredible dancer. She threw herself down the stairs of the theater, where someone caught her. She danced around a saxophonist and a pianist. She was visibly out of breath for the next several minutes. To that we say [mimes an elaborate spin and a kick that means good job]. Whoa: Ariana DeBoses many silly voices. Once DeBose started talking, she did her best to explain the agreed-upon format and pump up the audience. In doing so, she fell back on nearly every actors go-to approach to punching up thin dialogue: emphasizing random words with elaborate accents and sudden shifts of volume. She did a full-throated thank youuuuu to the WGA. She put a lot of emphasis on the importance of wrapping up when the teleprompter tells you to. Then, finally, she shifted into a Valley Girl voice to go, To those of you that thought last year was a bit unhinged, to you I say, Darlings, buckle up! A bold gambit to audition for Legally Blonde and Kiss of the Spider Woman while hosting an awards show, but Ariana, both parts are yours. High: Clips from the plays. Perhaps just because there was extra time without written banter, the broadcast included brief clips from each performance during the acting-category introductions, something that CBS had cut in the past few years. The musicals get to do their numbers onstage, but the plays have always been hard to bring into the telecast. This is a simple and effective fix. Keep doing it next year, (presumably) after the strike is over. Whoa: The music-less clips from the musicals. There are costs to licensing songs for television, which is perhaps why the performance clips for actors in musicals didnt show them singing. That led to some peculiar and wild selections, especially for Sweeney Todd, a show that is almost entirely sung through. All we got of Ruthie Ann Miless Beggar Woman was a moment when she walks around in a circle ominously saying a few threats. Ruthie Ann Miles, in the audience, looked as confused as everyone else. Low: CBS decides Michael Arden cant say the F-word. Arden, winning Best Director of a Musical, said that growing up he was called an F-word more times than he could count. Then he delivered a line that brought the house down but was bleeped by the network. That line was now all I can say is that Im a faggot with a Tony, which is (a) funny and (b) arguably fit for broadcast. Its Pride! This is the Tonys! Ben Platt loved it! Low: Showcasing & Juliets Roar. Of all the Max Martin hits in the show that are great, why go with that snooze? And whats worse: no Betsy Wolfe! Whoa: DeBose doing her best to come up with some ad hoc banter, zooming over to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Lea Micheles general area and saying, This is a fun aisle! Thats also how I sound after I take an edible on a plane flight. High: A visit from Milky White. Into the Woods cow, puppeteered by Kennedy Kanagawa, was showcased alongside Sara Bareilles and Brian dArcy James in It Takes Two. A major star of the evening. High: Alex Newells emotional acceptance speech for Shucked. I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts, Newell said. And to anyone who thinks they cant do it, Im going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to. Newells speech was sweet and powerful, and also right to the point. Later on, J. Harrison Ghee would go on to win Best Actor in a Musical, meaning that there were no acting awards for cis men in musicals this year. Further proof of the obsolescence of gendered categories. High: Denee Benton called Ron DeSantis the Grand Wizard of Florida. The network never would have approved such a line in the script. But there was no script. Low: Let us see Mrs. Lovett! Sweeney Todd decided to showcase The Ballad of Sweeney Todd during the ceremony, which, yes, makes sense from a say the name of the show as many times as possible so people at home remember it approach, but meant that the performance only included Josh Groban and had none of Annaleigh Ashfords go-for-broke Mrs. Lovett. Too bad: That performance needs to be preserved for future generations and shared with youths across America. Low: A Sweet Caroline sing-along at the theater-awards show. Okay, fine, we did sing along, but A Beautiful Noise wasnt even nominated. Dont bring that here. Leave it to sports! Low: Playing off Jason Robert Brown during Parades acceptance speeches for Best Revival of a Musical. It would be great to hear from the songwriter whose show was revived to such acclaim, but instead we got the blare of All the Wasted Time and a cutaway quickly to an In Memoriam themed around Phantom of the Opera. Speaking of which Low: Theming the In Memoriam segment around The Phantom of the Opera. Yes, the closing of a show after 35 years is a significant moment worth commemorating, but knitting together the closure of a commercial musical with a tribute to theater artists who have died is tacky. It was hard to focus on any of the names in the montage while distracted by the Phantom-themed video set dressing, complete with giant candelabra. Like the Opera Ghost himself, we have notes. High: Kimberly Akimbos Anagram. Most of the time, producers go for the loudest, showiest number in each musical (see Some Like It Hot doing Some Like It Hot or New York, New York doing New York, New York) or try to stuff together a medley (as Camelot and Shucked did, with mixed success). Kimberly Akimbo counterprogrammed with Anagram, in which Victoria Clarks character starts falling for Justin Cooleys nerd and Cooleys so good at playing a sweet nerd as he teaches her how to reorder her name. Its a lovely, understated number that displays the heart of the show and also its incredible verbal dexterity. Will it sell tickets? Hard to say, but were charmed. High: Tom Stoppard, politely and Britishly airing his grievances. Stoppard won Best Play for Leopoldstadt and, while betraying no significant crankiness on the surface, said he was teeming with emotions a chatbot wouldnt understand. Then he added that after winning his first Tony back in 1968, Ive seen the theater writer get devalued in the food chain. Its just something I thought Id mention. Fair point, sir. High: Lea Micheles giggle in the middle of Dont Rain on My Parade. She has spent 10,000 hours of her life singing this song. She is great at it, and she knows it, and shes even already done it at the Tonys. But its nice, even in the middle, for her to seem like shes having fun, giving off a faintly proud/sinister/joyous hint of humanity. Its a live performance, and occasionally we even get to see it. High: LaChanze got Tonys for two different shows on the same night. She was a producer of both Topdog/Underdog and Kimberly Akimbo, which means she took home trophies for Best Revival of a Play and Best Musical. Congratulations to the winners; double congratulations to her. Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Paramount Pictures This list was originally published in 2018. Its been updated to include Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, now in theaters. A confession: I love the Transformers movies. These big, long, sometimes problematic, often dumb, always visually enthralling, and occasionally even emotionally stirring movies are the cinematic equivalent of a snack you cant have in the house because youll just eat it all and feel ashamed. They exist to sell toys and, increasingly, to cash in on Chinese box-office opportunities and I have seen every single one in theaters because they are (almost) always an extremely fun time. Whatever Faustian deal Michael Bay made back in 2007 to acquire the most realistic CGI technology known to man has yielded a franchise that often feels like youre watching real robots destroy real cities, and that Transformers-specific set of machine sound effects still fills me with joy after all these years. But I am also an adult with self-awareness. To determine the below ranking, I had to consider an array of factors for each entry: How magnificent were the action sequences? Which Transformers look the coolest? Do you have to regret enjoying this movie because the director did creepy things? Are there racist caricatures disguised as robots? Would you risk it all for each films two central characters? How many times did you cry at the sympathetic robot eyes? Is there a John Cena or a Mark Wahlberg? Taking all these criteria into account, here is your indisputable hierarchy of Transformers movies. In some ways, Revenge of the Fallen feels like it was a sadly under-loved Transformers movie. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) had their struggles, but damn it, those kids had a love more powerful than any Decepticon plan for intergalactic domination. It was also the last time we would see Fox and LeBoeuf together as the one Transformers couple to rule them all, even though, in a more fair world, they would have rode out the original trilogy together as a beloved pair of star-crossed robot whisperers. We would have had one more movie to hear Fox yell Saaaaaam! in her very specific, perfect way. Fallen also had some of the best action sequences of any of the Transformers movies. The opening scene in Shanghai with the Demolisher bot, tearing through an industrial facility on a pair of gigantic truck wheels, is still a jaw-dropping spectacle, and the final battle in Egypt, which featured the Devastator Decepticon and his gargantuan vacuum mouth, is like a ballet of robot-on-man violence that is most remarkable for the fact that no one actually died on set while bringing it to life. Its insane. And yet in other big ways, theres a lot of Fallen better left to the cultural waste bin. The Autobots Skids and Mudflap were like a cyborg minstrel show, functioning as the essentially black members of the bot group, complete with bucked teeth and plenty of jive talk. Even too offensive for Michael Bay, the characters did not return for Dark of the Moon two years later. It was also the end of Foxs run with the franchise, thanks to a broken relationship between her and Bay. Fox said she felt unsafe at points while filming Fallen which the director mocked her for and there was also her general discomfort with the way Bay filmed women. A movie meant to be pure escapism just cant be marred by misogyny, possible mistreatment of actors, and really obvious racism in its fun and crazy robot stars and still rise higher than the bottom of this list. Mikaela and Sams final run (and especially Fox herself) deserves better than cellar-dweller status, but Revenge of the Fallen just takes too much apologizing for with hindsight. Its not the worst Transformers movie (that goes to you, Last Knight!), but it does have to answer for having the worst legacy. The best part of The Last Knight is when we get deep into the backstory of the Order of the Witwiccans (the human faction that guards the secret of Earth-bound Transformers) and learn that Harriet Tubman was a member. Yes. The best part of the movie is when its glossed over that Harriet Tubman was part of an underground robot railroad. The rest of the movie is two hours (or ten) of so much more of what youve already seen, except more boring. Laura Haddock has an important role in theory as Oxford professor Vivian Wembley, but a descendent of the wizard Merlin (not kidding, the Knights of the Round Table also enter the mythology in T5) should have had far more cool shit to do than just occasionally sass Mark Wahlberg. Nicola Peltz went one and done after Age of Extinction, relegating Cade Yeagers daughter to just outgoing-message status on a voice-mail. There are, of course, small highlights in Last Knight. Impossibly perfect human Gemma Chan provides the voice for the sinister Quintessa. Theres a kind of robot Jeeves named Cogman, a companion to Anthony Hopkinss historian character, who is just the size of a small man and is like a plucky British sociopath that gives Cade tons of shit. And watching Cybertron collide with Earth has a lot of Wow! going for it. But overall, Last Knight is the most soulless, video-game-esque Transformers movie. Bay was just collecting the check at this point, and the kitchen-sink approach to mythology now factoring in the staff of Merlin, Stonehenge, a new Uber-villain named Unicron, the aforementioned Witwiccan connection to Harriet Tubman made for something too bloated to even be fun. 5. Rise of the Beasts is, unfortunately, a big, heavy sigh. The seventh Transformers movie is ultimately fine, but thats tough to take after the series overperformed in 2018 by giving us Bumblee. That Hailee Steinfeldstarring vehicle had even more heart than it did explosions and muscles (see: John Cena), and made it feel like this gargantuan cinematic endeavor had some juice left in the tank. Beasts, however, just feels tired. Its a nice-enough time! Its not as bad as the huge Yikes entry that is Fallen, nor is it as brain-beatingly tedious as Last Knight, but lacking that balls-to-the-wall mad action genius panache of Bay or a kicky script from a screenwriting talent like Cristina Hodson (Bumblebee), Rise of the Beasts doesnt have much to show off that is memorable. Its robots fighting, man. The Maximals are awesome, to be clear, but bringing back Optimus Prime and the gang to carry this 1990s period piece cheats us out of more time with the hulking animal bots that should be the stars here. We want Optimus Primal! The delightful Anthony Ramos plays Noah Diaz, who has a touching arc about family, and its neat that more people will be introduced to Dominique Fishback through this blockbuster, but its a lot of well-meaning sentiment mixed with action sequences weve seen so many times before. If theres one thing a Transformers movie better do, its give the people innovative robot beatdown scenes, but Beasts doesnt enthrall the way its predecessors still manage to do even during the quality dips. This movie shoots for something beyond a cynical cash grab, which is what lifts it to the fifth spot, but if the Transformers movies are to keep going, Bay is going to have to stab someone in the heart with a shot of adrenaline to bring the excitement back to the bots. The first movie in the Transformers A.F. (after Fox) timeline made a believer out of me. A strong Fox allegiance made me wonder, Will the replacement presence of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as Sams paramour feel like watching a scab cross the picket line? It did a little bit, but as a dedicated Huntington-Whiteley fan, I was able to open my heart enough to let the love in for Dark of the Moon. Thats basically all thanks to LeBeouf, who managed to turn some franchise paychecks into work he could be proud of. Sam Witwicky is a great hero, and his closing chapter in Dark of the Moon was a strong send-off for the character that really made him a household name. (And also made him tanner than he will ever be again in his natural life.) Honestly, youre not here for the plot, and Transformers always hits its lowest points when trying to serve up too much of it. The important things here are villainous corporate douche, Patrick Dempsey (a part he should really play more often), working as a human lackey for the Decepticons; the continued presence of John Turturro as Agent Simmons and Josh Duhamel as now-Colonel Lennox; and some visual effects that are almost impossible to believe. There is the requisite incredible highway fight, but the creation of the massive, undulating beast that is Shockwave is Dark of the Moons Hall of Famelevel visual effect. With LeBeouf on the way out, Fox already gone, and an unclear future for the franchise, the third Transformers could have been a phoned in snoozefest just meant to sling toys. (Looking at you, Last Knight.) Instead it was just extremely fun, and a pretty great bridge movie between the original iteration of the franchise and its imminent next phase. Shia LaBeouf was so damn good as the franchise leading Sam Witwicky, it was hard to imagine how anyone could make this silly mess work without him, especially the special magic of how he frantically screamed, NONONOnononoNONONO! But it turns out Bay had two aces up his sleeve: Mark Wahlberg and Dinobots! The director actually had the stones to make Wahlberg into a humble inventor and family man named Cade Yeager, who gets a dormant Optimus Prime up and running in his work shed. And not only does he have a new Autobot to deal with while security squads comb the landscape for rogue bots, hes also got an obstreperous teenage daughter in the form of Nicola Peltz, who is definitely an underage girl with an adult boyfriend. After the events of Dark of the Moon, official human-robot combat partnerships were banned by Congress, making Cade and his daughter outlaws for harboring one in their barn. But of course, an evil corporation is using Transformer parts to make their own weaponized tech, and a Decepticon called Galvatron has his own designs on destroying humanity. That means Cade has to topple a multinational corporation and an evil robot overlord if he wants to stop the destruction of Earth all while repairing his relationship with his daughter. Age of Extinction excelled because things felt fun again. As always, there is an extraordinary fight on a busy roadway that leads to one of the most striking visuals in the franchise, with Lockdown emerging from a smoke cloud, accompanied by a massive Decepticon ship. Optimus Prime literally rides a team of Dinobots into battle, whipping his giant arm sword against the ass of a metal T. rex to make it go faster before dismounting and wasting a team of Decepticons. And the epic battle across all of Hong Kong doesnt even feel long because its just so damn impressive. Age of Extinction made a strong case for the continued existence of this money-hungry, merch-pimping franchise, and it made this fan want to say, Yes, Paramount, you may continue to take my money. Putting this one at No. 2 hurts a little bit. The first Transformers is my personal favorite installment of the franchise, and you could easily bait me on social media into arguing about how it is the most impressive display of digital VFX ever put onscreen. (The only actual argument against the CGI supremacy of Transformers is that there was no work done in postproduction, and the Transformers are just real, actual robots that Michael Bay found to cast in his movie. Therefore, no effects were required.) The chemistry between the actors is also incredible. Kevin Dunn and Julie White as Mr. and Mrs. Witwicky were note-perfect as Sams batty parents. John Turturro gave a Coen brothers kind of performance as the paranoid Agent Simmons. Josh Duhamel established himself as the inexplicable franchise stalwart, the roguish yet vanilla Captain Lennox, a military man whose jaw could shatter a sledge hammer. All of these actors were better than they had any right to be in a movie based on some Hasbro toys, and yet theyre all a sideshow when compared to one of the great love stories of our time: Mikaela Banes and Sam Witwicky. There are only three doomed fictional couples I have ever cared enough about to ship with my whole heart. Ryan and Marissa. Eve and Villanelle. And Sam and Mikaela. No matter how old I get, I still basically want to be Mikaela Banes when I grow up, and Sam was the best possible iteration of the nerd who gets the girl. Their dynamic gifted Transformers a more substantial heart than Bay himself is capable of creating with just his wits, and that combined with the best VFX of all time made for one of our great 21st-century action romps. But alas, the realities of how Bay handled Fox have not aged well in the intervening decade, and that feel-bad factor prevents Transformers from the top spot on this list. The key highway battle, however, will live on as the greatest action sequence in franchise history. It only took 11 years and six tries, but the Transformers franchise finally produced a movie that you dont have to kind of apologize for loving. (I know, because I love these movies.) When it was announced, the idea of a Bumblebee movie felt like a cynical cash grab. There were already four Transformers movies out with another on the way, and after the truly uninspired slog that was The Last Knight, the prospect of a spinoff felt akin to being strapped to a chair and force-fed a really sugary pie you didnt want at all. But it turns out, Bumblebee was actually a great idea, and the ideal way to make an extended Transformers universe not only possible, but even exciting. Resident best American screen teen Hailee Steinfeld plays Charlie Watson, an 18-year-old gearhead who just wants a car of her own and who misses her deceased father terribly. She comes into possession of Bumblebee when she finds him as a dusty old VW Bug in a junkyard, and after getting him running and taking him home, is extremely surprised when he unfurls in her garage. With his memory wiped and his voice gone, big Bee is like an eager but shy puppy that Charlie has to train. He becomes her massive metal best friend, and reader, believe me when I say that I got misty every single time his blue robot eyes dilated with fear at being harmed or disappointing his human keeper. A Transformers movie is always going to deliver you some top-shelf robot combat in arenas of battle that are grand and thrilling (a shipping yard! Cybertron!), but Bumblebee goes full Wall-E, and watching Charlie cope with the loss of her father by finding companionship in an awkward robot pal is a heartening adventure for the whole family sans the lens flares or anyone getting excessively sweaty, and with the added bonus of Better Mark Wahlberg, a.k.a. John Cena. Bumblebee is wonderful and pure on its own, but its also the first Transformers movie that wont feel like an ethical downer years from now. Long live Transformers! 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: Silvio Berlusconi died on Monday aged 86. The Italian government has declared a national day of mourning for former premier Silvio Berlusconi who died in Milan on Monday at the age of 86. The day of mourning is scheduled for Wednesday 14 June when Berlusconi will receive a state funeral at the Duomo in Milan, the government announced. Italian and European flags on public buildings in Italy will fly at half mast from Monday, reports news agency ANSA. Berlusconi led the centre-right Forza Italia which is part of Italy's right-wing coalition along with the Fratelli d'Italia party of premier Giorgia Meloni and the Lega of Matteo Salvini. Italy's president Sergio Mattarella led tributes to Berlusconi, hailing him as "a great political leader" while Meloni said: "Berlusconi was above all a fighter, he was a man who was never afraid to defend his convictions and it was exactly that courage and that determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of Italy." 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 Australia is in for a bumpy and expensive ride as it transitions to a clean energy economy, with electricity price rises likely to affect more households, says Energy Australia chair Jane McAloon, who was honoured with an Order of Australia on Monday. McAloon, a former BHP senior executive and current board member of a number of ASX-listed companies, said the countrys energy transition was one of the most important imperatives that we face and it needed to be well managed to ensure reliability of supply. Jane McAloon is the chair of the Energy Australia board. Credit: There is an imperative to transition. It is uncertain, its bumpy, and it is expensive, McAloon said. Coal will come out, but we need to have confidence that the supply, the backup is there, that its functioning, that the transmission is there, the reliability is there and the firming capacity is there. As one of the countrys most respected business identities, McAloon was made a Member of the Order (AM) for significant service to the business and energy sectors. Its a great honour, she said. I really think that in business, you can effect major change. 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. Three years before four food delivery riders died within two months on Sydneys roads in 2020, filmmaker Mohini Herse conceived Appetite, a six-episode series exposing the potential for exploitation of this new incarnation of the gig economy, through a mystery laced with dark humour. Flash forward six years, past an SBS Digital Originals initiative grant, and a fortuitous meeting with director Neil Sharma on the set of Taika Waititis Thor: Love and Thunder, and that anti-love letter to Sydney, is the only Australian production to be an official in-competition selection at the 2023 Cannes International Series Festival. Raj Labade (left) as Zal, Gabriel Alvarado as Bastien, Shirong Wu as Tessa, and Kabir Singh as Raj in Appetite. We have had a lot of interest in the format, from France, the US, the UK and Europe, says Herse of the show, in which each episode is 10 minutes long. It is such a global story. Everyones relationship with convenience culture and hustling, and whatever Bitcoin is, it seems to be a very much of-the-moment thing that were all trying to navigate. Filmed last year over 12 days, the series follows three food-delivery cyclists who take on a multinational corporation, after an unknown rider has a fatal road accident the same night their housemate disappears. The cast comprises emerging talent (Shirong Wu, Gabriel Alvarado, Raj Labade and Kabir Singh), some actual delivery riders and Marta Dusseldorp as the voice of the Appetite app. At least 46 people, half of them children, were killed in a militia attack on a camp for displaced people in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, security analysts and a local community leader said Monday. Related 20 killed in DR Congo attack blamed on Islamic State group The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a network of observers based in DRC's restive east, counted "at least 46" dead in the Lala camp in Djugu territory, after the attack on Sunday night. A community leader Desire Malodra gave the same death toll of 46, adding that 23 of them were children. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Twelve years ago, millions of Syrians fled the ravages of the civil war in search of safety and a better life. Some settled in displacement camps in Syria, others managed to reach neighbouring countries or Europe. The situation initially seemed quite humane when several countries opened their doors to Syrian refugees, with some welcoming them with flowers. However, after more than a decade of struggling to survive, many countries began rejecting Syrian refugees, with some already beginning deportations. According to the United Nations, more than 13 million Syrians have either fled the country or are displaced within its borders as Syria remains the worlds largest displacement crisis. Neighbouring countries have received more than 5.6 million Syrian refugees. With the increasing global financial pressure, especially in light of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war, many hosting countries are now intensifying efforts to secure the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland as soon as possible, claiming that refugees pose an economic burden despite the aid these countries receive from different entities. Lebanese authorities deported 753 Syrians in April and May, including 72 women and 94 children, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. There emerged reports of arrest campaigns carried out by Lebanese authorities against Syrian refugees, surveillance measures, security restrictions, and other daily pressures that made Syrian refugees in Lebanon live under the terror of forced return to Syria. Lebanese Minister of Displaced Affairs Essam Sharaf El-Din told BBC that the process of deporting Syrian refugees would be repeated. He said it is time for Syrian refugees to return to their country after years of displacement and difficulties, noting that about 90 percent of Syrian refugees live below the poverty line in Lebanon. In Turkey, the Syrian refugee issue emerged as an important political manoeuvre that ignited the Turkish presidential elections. The pledges of opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu to deport Syrians were favoured by many Turks who were fed up with Syrians taking benefits from state facilities and services. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was re-elected as president, announced that he had a plan for the deportation of one million Syrian refugees to their country, including the construction of facilities for them in 13 regions in Syria, in coordination with the local authorities in these regions. The Turkish Migration Agency reported in January that there were 3.5 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, and in 2022 nearly 59,000 returned to safe areas in Syria. In Europe, countries such as Sweden, Germany, France, Denmark, and Austria witnessed campaigns in some areas where the far right has won local elections, calling for the deportation of Syrian refugees. However, no official decisions have been issued so far regarding forced deportation, which is contrary to international law. The voluntary return of Syrian refugees was on top of the Arab League summit agenda in Jeddah last May, as Arab leaders asserted that "the voluntary and safe return of refugees to their country is a top priority, and the necessary steps must be taken immediately to implement it. However, what are the chances of Syrian refugees returning after 12 years of asylum? Despite the decline in the intensity of the conflict in Syria and the Syrian army regaining control of many areas, the political crisis has not ended, nor have the poor social and economic conditions that Syrian people suffer, researcher Rabha Saif Allam, a Syrian affairs expert at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, said. More than 6.9 million people are still displaced in the country, and 14.6 million people require humanitarian and other forms of assistance. Some 5.9 million people need help to secure safe accommodation, and many still face challenges accessing basic services like education and healthcare, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 2021, three-quarters of all households in the country said they could not meet their most basic needs 10 percent more than the year before. Allam explained that: The voluntary return of Syrian refugees is an option on the table, but implementing it is a dilemma, because it is not up to each host country separately, but rather something that definitely needs coordination with the Syrian government, which should actually be politically, economically, and security-wise qualified for their return. However, some Syrians choose to return home. In 2021, the UNHCR verified or monitored the return of close to 36,000 refugees to Syria, a UNHCR spokesperson revealed in a press briefing at the UN office in Geneva. Refugees cite various factors for their decision to return or not, such as their safety, property rights, and livelihood opportunities. In parallel, many internally displaced Syrians have returned home, adding to the overall reintegration needs, according to a UNHCR spokesperson. On the other hand, the international community is now financially and politically exhausted by the Syrian crisis, especially in light of the emergence of other crises that have triggered other refugee flows like the Russian-Ukrainian war and conflict in Sudan, which has led to the decline of the Syrian refugee issue in the list of priorities for international aid, according to Allam. Last year, less than half of the funding required for the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan to respond to the Syria refugee crisis was received, the UN revealed. In Syria and as the needs grow, humanitarian organizations urgently require the resources necessary to strengthen their work. The UNHCR has received seven percent of the $465.2 million it requires for its work in Syria in 2022. Search Keywords: Short link: On 8 June 2023, at the invitation of Mr. Patchara Anuntasilpa, Director-General of Thai Customs and 2023s Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Directors-General of Customs Meeting, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), participated in the 12th ASEAN - WCO Consultation. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mikuriya thanked the 10 ASEAN Customs administrations for their long-standing relationship and friendship with the WCO. He explained the important matters to be discussed in the upcoming WCO Council sessions, including the progress in data strategy. In responding to the interests expressed by the participants, Dr. Mikuriya explained the current WCO work on Green Customs, and appreciated the ASEAN Members contribution to the Asia-Pacific Plastic Waste Project (APPWP). The Head of the ROCB A/P shared the results of 2022 capacity building in the Asia/Pacific region. Representing the participants, Mrs. Kitjaluck Srinuchsart, Deputy Director-General of Thai Customs in her capacity as Co-Chair of the 12th ASEAN - WCO Consultation, expressed her appreciation to the WCO and ROCB A/P for the capacity building support in support of Customs reform and regional integration. Dr. Mikuriya took this opportunity to visit the Port Control Unit (PCU) at the Laem Chabang Port. He was briefed of the good performance of the PCU by using intelligence and technology, supported by UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme. On 9 June, Dr. Mikuriya visited the Thai Customs Academy, designated as the WCO Regional Training Centre last year, and listened to the testimony by young Thai Customs officers who expressed their thanks to the WCO Scholarship, Career Development and other WCO Programmes for providing them an opportunity to gain leadership and management skills, in addition to Customs domain knowledge. Recalling the long cooperation of the Secretariat with the Thai Customs, Dr. Mikuriya spoke about the importance of putting human resource development at the centre of Customs modernization, and hence the significance of nurturing the next generation. Dr. Mikuriya also made a short visit to the ROCB office, hosted by Thai Customs and seconded by several regional Members, to express his thanks to their contribution. The WCO accomplished a highly appreciated sub-regional workshop on data analytics specifically tailored for the Caribbean region. The workshop, held at the RTC Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo from May 23-27, 2023, attracted a diverse group of 21 participants representing 11 countries. This significant capacity building initiative was organized as part of the BACUDA project, generously funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund of Korea (CCF-K). The project aims to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange among Caribbean islands, enabling them to leverage data analytics effectively in their customs operations. The workshop was led by highly skilled WCO experts, with two distinguished BACUDA Scholarship graduates from Dominica and Peru. These esteemed individuals took charge of delivering a series of comprehensive sessions, providing Customs officials with the most up-to-date data analytics tools and techniques, with a particular focus on the AI HS application. One notable highlight of the workshop was the engaging hands-on session, during which participants delved into the practical use of Python language to effectively work with the AI HS algorithm developed through the BACUDA project. This session offered an excellent opportunity for participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and witness real-time results. The interactive nature of the session enabled them to actively engage, seek clarification, and receive prompt feedback from the experts. This practical experience holds immense value as participants further enhance their Python proficiency and seamlessly integrate it into their everyday customs operations. Representatives from Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago actively contributed to the workshop by sharing their experiences in data analytics strategy and practices. Their valuable insights and input added depth to the discussions. Moreover, they expressed their sincere appreciation for the workshop and a willingness to exchange new ideas for future collaboration with the BACUDA project. This collaborative mindset further emphasized their commitment to enhancing data analytics capacity at the national and regional levels. In a similar effort to assist Members, the BACUDA Project team also conducted a workshop for Polish Customs with 20 participants from the 29th to the 31st of May at the Tax and Customs Academy in Warsaw, Poland. The workshop received a positive response from the Polish Customs officials, who expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to stay abreast of the latest advancements in data analytics and gain insights into their practical applications to enhance their operational effectiveness. The engagement and enthusiasm of the participants further underscored the value they found in the workshop. During the workshop, WCO experts presented current data analytics use cases, including the AI HS algorithm. Participants found it highly useful and expressed interest in applying their data to the algorithm. The discussion on the Data Model within the GNC initiative for standardized processes and data sharing also generated significant interest among participants. WCO experts presented current data analytics use cases and BACUDA algorithms, which received positive feedback, including interest in applying their data to the algorithm and the Data Model in the context of the GNC initiative was of great interest to participants for standardizing process and data shared with stakeholders. Both workshops are a testament to the BACUDA initiatives commitment to continue providing Member countries with the latest tools and practical techniques to enhance their customs operations. For more information, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati Monday called on the UN peacekeeping forces to pressure Israel to stop violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and the bulldozing works within Lebanese territories. Mikati made the appeal during a meeting with Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, chief of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), at the Grand Serail in Beirut, according to a statement by Lebanon's Council of Ministers. Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to provisions of the international Resolution 1701 and coordination with the UNIFIL to maintain stability along the borders, the statement quoted Mikati as saying. The prime minister stressed in the statement that "Lebanon adheres to its right to recover its occupied lands and not to abandon them." Lebanon's southern border witnessed increased tensions over the past three days as Israeli forces clashed with Lebanese citizens protesting against the Israeli military's construction of a barrier near the border. Claiming the barrier was being built on Lebanese territory, the protesters threw stones at Israeli forces, who responded by firing tear gas grenades. Meanwhile, Israeli forces said that Lebanese civilians tried to tear down the barrier while throwing stones at the troops, which responded with "crowd dispersal means." Search Keywords: Short link: UN cultural and scientific agency UNESCO announced Monday that the United States plans to rejoin and pay more than $600 million in back dues after a decade-long dispute sparked by the organizations move to include Palestine as a member. U.S. officials say the decision to return was motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the U.S. in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education around the world. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma submitted a letter last week to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay formalizing the plan to rejoin. Applause rang out in the solemn UNESCO auditorium as Azoulay announced the plan to ambassadors at a special meeting Monday, and delegate after delegate stood up to welcome the news and the new influx of money. The return of the U.S., once the agencys biggest funder, is expected to face a vote by its 193 member states next month, according to a UNESCO diplomat. The decision is a big financial boost to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, known for its World Heritage program as well as projects to fight climate change and teach girls to read. The U.S. and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011, and both countries lost their voting rights in 2013. The Trump administration decided in 2017 to withdraw from the agency altogether the following year, citing anti-Israel bias and management problems. In his letter last week, Verma noted efforts by UNESCO toward management reform, and decreasing politicized debate, especially on Middle East issues. A delegation from Washington came to Paris last week to hand-deliver the letter, obtained by the AP. Since her election in 2017, Azoulay has worked to address the reasons the U.S. left, through budget reforms and building consensus among Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli diplomats around sensitive UNESCO resolutions. The U.S. decision to come back is the result of five years of work, during which we calmed tensions, notably on the Middle East, improved our response to contemporary challenges, resumed major initiatives on the ground and modernized the functioning of the organization, Azoulay told The Associated Press. She met with Democrats and Republicans in Washington to explain those efforts, according to a UNESCO diplomat. Thanks to those bipartisan negotiations, UNESCO diplomats expressed confidence that the U.S. decision to return is for the long term, regardless of who wins next years presidential election. The diplomats were not authorized to be publicly named discussing the behind-the-scenes work that led to the U.S. decision. Under the plan, the U.S. government would pay its 2023 dues plus $10 million in bonus contributions this year earmarked for Holocaust education, preserving cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology education in Africa, Vermas letter says. The Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan foresees similar requests for the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off. That makes up a big chunk of UNESCOs $534 million annual operating budget. Before leaving, the U.S. contributed 22% of the agencys overall funding. Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass said in March that the U.S. absence from UNESCO has strengthened China, and undercuts our ability to be as effective in promoting our vision of a free world. He said UNESCO is key in setting and shaping standards for technology and science teaching around the world, so if were really serious about the digital-age competition with China we cant afford to be absent any longer. The U.S. absence plunged the agency into financial uncertainty. UNESCO diplomats described belt-squeezing across agency programs and aggressive efforts by Azoulay to boost voluntary financing from other countries to fill gaps. One diplomat expressed hope that the return of the U.S. would bring more ambition, and more serenity and energize programs to regulate artificial intelligence, educate girls in Afghanistan and chronicle victims of slavery in the Caribbean. The diplomat said that the agency would also welcome Israel back if it wanted to rejoin. The United States previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. It rejoined in 2003. Search Keywords: Short link: After the revelations of what happened behind the scenes at Rammstein, more witnesses and possible victims have stepped forward and with incriminating stories leveled at the band. Ieva Ziliuteis is one of them. She reports in detail what she experienced the night of the Rammstein Concert in Villnius. She says: It is important to speak up openly. The band Rammstein at a video shooting in South Africa. In the middle: Frontman Till Lindemann Anzeige Despite everything, on Wednesday evening, at the Munchner Olympiapark, 60,000 fans have come to the Rammstein concert. Politicians have had an awareness tent set up, with members of the Inklusion muss laut sein association standing by in case anyone is harassed. District administrative officer Hanna Sammuller-Gradl walks around and makes sure the regulations are being followed - no women in Row Zero, for example, the row right in front of the stage. In order to protect everyone, all legally permissible measures will be taken. Anzeige Even federal policymakers have responded to the revelations. I consider the abolition of the so-called Row Zero and protected areas for women at concerts and other events to be very reasonable, said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD). Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) demanded on Friday that the allegations needed to be resolved. In Berlin, the Senate is planning to prohibit parties at Rammstein concerts in July. The policy is trying to get the dynamic under control, which is beyond control. As it has grown over years into a complex system. Anzeige WELT AM SONNTAG has reported allegations of women being recruited for sexual activities with lead singer, Till Lindemann at Rammstein events. Several women reported their drinks being spiked at backstage parties. Lesen Sie hier unsere Exklusivgeschichte Till Lindemann K.-o.-Tropfen, Sex und die Row Zero Now more eyewitnesses have come forward, and one of them is Ieva Ziliute, a 29-year-old graphic designer from Vilnius. She happened to meet Shelby Lynn at a concert in the Lithuanian capital on May 22 Lynn is a Northern Irish woman who later made accusations against the band, starting the current discussions. Lynn suspects having her drink spiked before the concert and claims to have been brought to Lindemann half-dazed for sexual practices. She says she had a memory lapses due to the substances she unknowingly ingested, and discovered hematomas on her body after returning to the hotel. Ieva Ziliute at the Rammstein concert in Vilnius Quelle: WELT Ziliute had been contacted via Instagram by Alena Makeeva five days before the show. Makeeva has been choosing women for Row Zero for years and according to the accusation, sex partners for Lindemann. Ziliute says she knew nothing about any of this. Makeeva only asked her whether she wanted a free ticket at the upcoming Rammstein concert and to be in the front row to which Ziliute agreed. Lesen Sie auch Alena Makeeva Till Lindemanns bose Fee Anzeige In retrospect, she describes what she experienced that evening in the arena, as a structural manipulation of young women, with psychological tricks, peer pressure and apparently the supply of alcohol and drugs. Also, the inexperience of very young women was structurally exploited. As soon as Ziliute arrived at the venue, she says, she felt strange: The way we were treated was pejorative in a way that I couldnt really grasp at first. Lesen Sie auch Angebote Bis 3,7 Prozent Zinsen Hier lohnen sich Fest- und Tagesgeld Like Lynn, she says a Rammstein employee led the Row Zero women onto the concert grounds and harshly told them to line up. Then, she says, they were all filmed individually. People close to the band told WELT AM SONNTAG that this was systematic. Lindemann supposedly is being shown the recordings, to decide with whom he wants to have sex later either at a pre-party, during the concert, or afterwards. His team takes the responsibility of bringing his chosen women to him. Always new sex partners Ziliute says after the video recording, the group was split up several times - once, for example, into women who had never been to Rammstein before and everyone else. The new ones were sent to the pre-party. According to reports, Lindemann is keen on always having new sex partners. Anzeige Anzeige Ziliute says that their phones were suddenly taken from them before the pre-party. She belonged to a group that was led into a room where there was almost nothing but alcohol. Employees would tell the unsettled women, everything is normal, no one should worry. Women demonstrate before the start of a Rammstein concert in Munich Quelle: dpa/Sven Hoppe At the beginning of the pre-party, a Rammstein employee had explained to the girls that they should drink a lot and celebrate. Later, they were told to behave cheerful and full of energy when Lindemann shows up. Also, a mood saver was chosen, a person who was responsible for a good mood at all times. The appointment fell on Shelby Lynn. I couldnt get rid of the feeling that something was wrong, says Ziliute. Thats why she decided not to drink, she says: I felt like I had to protect myself. According to Lynns report, she was handed a tequila at that very pre-party, and shortly after this, she felt nauseous and dizzy. Of the following she remembers only fragments. Ziliute confirms that some of the young women were completely out of it after the pre-party - especially Lynn. During the concert, Lynns condition was frightening, says Ziliute. She jumped around and fell-down, grasping anyone around her. Lynn was then led away by a staff member. Into a room under the stage. There, she said, Lindemann showed up during a break in the concert to have sex with her and was upset when Lynn refused. Completely freaked out Ieva Ziliute wasnt there, but she saw Lynn come back to Row Zero completely freaked out, with eyes wide open. Ziliute remembers Lynn saying the same things over-and-over again, running back and forth, then suddenly kissing a girl out of nowhere. Lynn mentioned a room and Lindemann. I couldnt follow the whole extent, Ziliute says. When she read about Lynns Post on Twitter days later, she says she was shocked: I blame myself for not understanding what was going on at that moment. Kommentar von Peter Huth Sex, Drugs and RocknRoll Mythos Aftershow She claims she also heard disturbing stories at the after-show party, of other parties, of drugs, orgies, and girls bleeding. Thats when she left, even before Lindemann arrived. Ziliute is one of the few witnesses who have agreed to speak about her experience with her identity open to the public. Its important to speak up openly so that things change, she says. Other victims and witnesses have spoken to WELT AM SONNTAG on the condition that their identities are not revealed publicly; in several cases, affidavits support the reports. Lesen Sie auch Till Lindemann Behind the scenes The band previously announced that they are taking the accusations seriously and asked not to be prejudged. Meanwhile, however, Till Lindemann is going on the offensive. His lawyer announced that it has been repeatedly claimed that women had been drugged at concerts with the help of knockout drops or alcohol to enable our client to perform sexual acts on them and that legal action would be taken immediately against individuals, he states. On Thursday evening, at the second of the four Munich concerts, Lindemann said to his fans that they had been enormously lucky that the announced storm had failed to materialize: And believe me, the other one will pass, too. An dieser Stelle finden Sie Inhalte von Drittanbietern Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist deine widerrufliche Einwilligung in die Ubermittlung und Verarbeitung von personenbezogenen Daten notwendig, da die Anbieter der eingebetteten Inhalte als Drittanbieter diese Einwilligung verlangen [In diesem Zusammenhang konnen auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch auerhalb des EWR]. Indem du den Schalter auf an stellst, stimmst du diesen (jederzeit widerruflich) zu. Dies umfasst auch deine Einwilligung in die Ubermittlung bestimmter personenbezogener Daten in Drittlander, u.a. die USA, nach Art. 49 (1) (a) DSGVO. Mehr Informationen dazu findest du . Du kannst deine Einwilligung jederzeit uber den Schalter und uber Privatsphare am Seitenende widerrufen. DOUGLASS TWP., Pa. - Two young people were shot in Berks County late Saturday night. Douglass Township police say officers responded to Wilcox Road shortly before midnight on Saturday for a report of two juvenile males shot while walking alongside the 1200 block of Reading Avenue. Police Chief John Dzurek said the victims were returning home to Boyertown. "A car at this time, unknown make and model and unknown occupants, apparently as they were driving by fired up to three shots outside of the window," said Dzurek. According to investigators, one of the victims was shot in the abdomen and the other was shot in the shoulder and knee. Police said both victims were taken to Reading Hospital and are expected to survive. "It sounds like there was an altercation at a residence in Earl Township," said Dzurek. Douglass Township police and the Berks County Detectives Unit are investigating. "Right now, we have a list of witnesses that we're interviewing and, you know, processing the evidence found at the scene," said Dzurek. Police said they believe this was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 610-367-9474. HARRISBURG, Pa. - The application window for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has been extended. State officials announced Monday that the deadline for older adults and disabled Pennsylvanians to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022 has been extended from June 30 to December 31, 2023. Claimants of the program are encouraged to file and submit their rebate applications online by visiting mypath.pa.gov So far this year, weve already seen more than 50,000 of our rebate applicants use myPATH to file their applications online. This shows us that many of our customers are finding this online tool to be an easy way to make sure their applications are filed seamlessly and processed as quickly as possible, said Acting Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. Other eligible applicants can take advantage of myPATH in the coming months now that the program deadline has been extended through the remainder of the year. Governor Josh Shapiro called for a major expansion of the PTRR program in his 2023-2024 proposed budget. Under the proposal, the maximum standard rebate would increase from $650 to $1,000. Income limits for renters and homeowners would be made equal and both increase to $45,000. Officials say income limits would also be tied to the cost of living moving forward, so people who receive a rebate wont lose their eligibility through no fault of their own in the years to come. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. Currently, the income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and revenue from slots gaming. Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1. BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Children and their families in Bethlehem got to spend some quality time with the city's mayor Monday morning. The Bethlehem Area Public Library held its "Storytime with the Mayor" event. Mayor J. William Reynolds read to the kids and talked with their parents about his job. A library official says his visit ties in with this year's summer reading program, which is "All Together Now." "The whole point is to bring the community together and get the kids to see what the mayor does and the police do," said Julia Brenna, with the library. The mayor's visit is one of several reading events the library has planned this year. Details are on the library's website. SALISBURY TWP., Pa. - Police in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County are investigating after a home invasion last Thursday. It happened Thursday shortly after 8:45 p.m. in the 3000 block of Fairfield Drive, according to a news release from the Salisbury Township Police Department. Two people broke into the residence and rummaged through belongings, police said. The homeowners screamed out, and the people fled the home, according to police. Police say they were seen leaving the home in a newer-model Jeep Wagoneer. The vehicle was found abandoned a short distance from the home, police said. One male was described as being 6 feet tall with a husky build. He was wearing all-black clothing, including a black hoodie, according to police. Another male was described as being 6-foot-2 with a thinner build, and was also wearing all-black clothing, according to the news release. The homeowners were not harmed, and there is no indication that the public is in danger, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Salisbury Township Police Department at 610-797-1447, or Lehigh County Radio at 610-437-5252. The Poconos man charged with killing four University of Idaho students last fall is asking a judge for more time to decide whether to offer a formal alibi in the case. Bryan Kohberger's attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, filed the motion in Latah County court on Friday, according to online court records. The motion says the defense team needs more time to go through the "thousands of pages of discovery, thousands of photographs, hundreds of hours of recordings" and "many gigabytes of electronic phone record and social media data" disclosed by prosecutors as evidence. Under Idaho state law, a defendant has 10 days from a request by prosecutors to say if a formal alibi will be provided as a defense. The defense's notice has to include the specific place where the defendant claims to have been, and the names of witnesses that will back that up. Kohberger, 28, has been locked up in Moscow, Idaho, since his arrest at his parents' home in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, in December 2022. He is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary in connection with the stabbing deaths in Moscow on Nov. 13, 2022. A 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 alibi motion came the same day a judge heard arguments 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 victim's families. But prosecutors and the defendant's lawyers insist it's needed to prevent prejudicial news coverage that could damage Kohberger's right to a fair trial. 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. Trial is tentatively set for October. PHILADELPHIA -- Part of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia after a massive fire Sunday morning, creating a traffic nightmare and impacting countless drivers' commutes for the foreseeable future. Governor Josh Shapiro plans to issue a disaster declaration Monday morning. He says it's expected to take months to fix the roadway. The chaos started around 6:30 a.m. Sunday near the Cottman Avenue exit. An inferno engulfed a tanker truck, causing a portion of I-95 above it to collapse. "Preliminary reports indicate that a commercial truck carrying a petroleum-based product was the source of the fire," said Shapiro. "We're still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse." The governor said Sunday afternoon that the northbound side has completely collapsed and the southbound side is not structurally sound. PennDOT set up a webpage to provide updated detour routes. Engineers will be doing a review in the coming days to determine exactly how many months it may take to rebuild the highway. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted he is closely monitoring the situation, and that he's been in touch with the Federal Highway Administration. "Secretary Buttigieg has assured me that there will be absolutely no delay in getting federal funds deployed to quickly help us rebuild this artery," said Shapiro. First responders rushed toward the blaze at around 6:30 a.m. Sunday and have been there ever since. "Let me explain the explosions you hear," said Battalion Chief Derek Bower of the Philadelphia Fire Department. "Those are the runoff of maybe some fuel and gas lines that may have been compromised by the accident." Local, state and federal agencies are all involved in the response. "In addition to road closures, we expect delays of trash collection and SEPTA bus routes in the area," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. "Because of the complexities of the state roadway behind us being close to the Delaware River with storm drains involved what the environmental impacts may look like," said Dominick Mireles, the director of the city Office of Emergency Management. Officials say they're not aware of any injuries or fatalities at this time, but note the situation remains fluid. President Joe Biden will welcome outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to the White House for talks on Tuesday as the competition to find his successor to lead the military alliance heats up. Stoltenberg, who has led the NATO since 2014 and has had his tenure extended three times, said earlier this year he would move on when his current term expires at the end of September. The jockeying to replace him is intensifying as leaders of the 31-member military alliance are set to meet next month for their annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Stoltenberg is in the midst of a tour of NATO capitals to meet with leaders ahead of the summit. The meeting with Biden originally was scheduled for Monday afternoon, but the White House announced it was being rescheduled for Tuesday because the president underwent an unexpected root canal procedure after experiencing dental pain. Last week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the case for UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace directly to Biden. The Democratic president also met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, another potential contender. Asked about the NATO job at a news conference with Sunak by his side, Biden called Wallace very qualified but noted that the conversation among NATO leaders to find a consensus pick to replace Stoltenberg was ongoing. Biden's opinion carries enormous weight as the US spends more than any other member in the alliance on defense. Frederiksen sought to play down her candidacy after she met with Biden last week. She declined to say whether she discussed the coming vacancy with him, telling reporters that she did not want to go further in these speculations about NATO. The alliance has never had a female secretary-general. A British government official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said ahead of Sunak's visit that the British leader wants to be sure the next secretary general carries on Stoltenbergs good work of modernization but also understands the importance of defense spending at this critical time. Denmark has lagged behind NATOs target for members to spend 2% of gross domestic product on military budgets by 2030. But the centrist government announced late last month that it would look to invest 143 billion kroner ($20.6 billion) in the countrys defense over the next decade, citing a serious threat picture. Biden and Stoltenberg are also expected to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and efforts to persuade fellow NATO member Turkey to back off blocking Sweden from joining the military alliance. Sweden and Finland, both historically unaligned militarily, jointly sought NATO membership after being rattled by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially blocked both countries from joining the alliance before agreeing to membership for Finland while continuing to object to Sweden. In public comments since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reelected last month, Biden has spoken with a measure of certainty that Sweden will soon join the alliance. It will happen. I promise you, Biden said of Sweden's NAT0 ascension earlier this month. Stoltenberg and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have expressed hope that Sweden will be taken into the NATO fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12. Search Keywords: Short link: Dr. Mohamed Al-Dababy, Egypt General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), expressed his pride and gratitude for taking part in the second edition of the Africa Heath Exhibition and Conference, which was presented in a distinguished form. He lauded the concerted efforts of the state agencies responsible for organising and sponsoring this event, which achieved a resounding success and surpassed the achievements of its first edition, ranking among the most leading conferences ever held in Egypt. Dr. Al-Dababy emphasised the significance of holding this event under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, who attended the opening session along with the Minister of Health, the head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, and the head of the Unified Procurement Authority. He added that this serves as a testament to the fact that the healthcare sector in the African continent is a pivotal concern for the Egyptian state, which consistently maintains an effective and influential role in various fields across numerous African countries. Africa is a significant strategic depth for Egypt, which is underscored by the existence of numerous free trade agreements between Egypt and African countries. Dr. Al-Dababy highlighted that Egypt enjoys a significant competitive advantage in the pharmaceutical industry, which can be leveraged to assist many African countries that face multiple healthcare challenges and yet hold tremendous opportunities. The Egyptian state boasts of extensive expertise and successful experiences in enhancing the standard of healthcare to combat various diseases. For instance, the Presidential Initiative for Womens Health is one of the most crucial initiatives that have had a positive impact on transforming the level of interest and awareness of womens health in Egypt, particularly with respect to early detection of tumours. This is a vital factor in improving the chances of overcoming the disease and reducing mortality rates. He added that the Africa Health Exhibition and Conference generated widespread interest among international and local pharmaceutical companies, as well as international experts, prominent figures, and pioneers in this sector. He emphasised that Egypt succeeded in organising this event, which aims to enhance the healthcare sector in Africa by providing a platform for exchanging experiences among all professionals and stakeholders interested in healthcare worldwide. The conference featured active participation in meetings, workshops, and seminars on various important topics related to healthcare, in which GSK participated through a dialogue seminar on vaccines and immunisation of children and adults. The use of vaccines to prevent diseases plays a crucial role in preserving the health of society by limiting the spread of these diseases, in addition to its positive effect on the economy of countries, he pointed out. Dr. Al-Dababy underscored that protecting individuals from exposure to diseases conserves the efforts and resources of the state and society that would otherwise be expended on recovery and treatment. Dr. Al-Dababy affirmed that the ExCon has played a crucial role in establishing investment relations and new business opportunities between the various participating companies from Egypt and Africa. The event provided a unique opportunity to showcase the capabilities and advanced manufacturing technologies utilised in the Egyptian pharmaceutical factories of various companies, which is a significant step towards supporting the localisation of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. He added that the second edition of the Africa Health ExCon is a pivotal supporter in strengthening ties and consolidating those investment relations that emerged with the African continent during the first edition. The event also highlights the leading role of Egypt in the manufacturing of medicines in Africa. Dr. Al-Dababy emphasised that the Africa Heath Exhibition and Conference plays a key role in supporting pharmaceutical companies to expand their exports to African countries. The ExCon brought together numerous African countries, providing opportunities for collaboration between exhibiting companies and delegations of African countries. The second edition of the exhibition and conference further bolstered these relationships and increased interaction between investors. Dr. Al-Dababy stated that Africa is a crucial market for the Egyptian state, as it represents a vast market with numerous opportunities, particularly in the health sector and the drug market, due to the perpetual high demand for medicines and new innovations in this field. GSK is among the most significant multinational companies operating in the Egyptian drug market. It is the only multinational pharmaceutical company listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. The company owns two of the largest factories in the Egyptian drug market, one located in Al-Salam City in Cairo and the other in Giza. Dr. Al-Dababy explained that GSK produces over 180 million packages annually to meet the demands of the drug market. The company actively supports the localisation of the pharmaceutical industry in Egypt. He also stated that the companys future plans include expanding investments by offering numerous vaccines and innovative medicines that utilise the latest technologies. These products include those that were recently launched globally in various specialties, such as medicines for chest diseases, oncology, and vaccines for preventable diseases like shingles. He added that he is looking forward to the third edition of the Africa Health Exhibition and Conference next year, which is expected to achieve an outstanding success, akin to the first and second editions. He noted that GSK will work diligently throughout this year to enhance ways of joint cooperation with the concerned authorities to revitalise relations with African countries and support the states vision to develop the health sector in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP Get Rating) (NYSE:CP) had its price target cut by BMO Capital Markets from C$130.00 to C$128.00 in a research note published on Thursday, The Fly reports. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on CP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$117.00 to C$120.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. TD Securities lifted their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$116.00 to C$122.00 in a report on Thursday, March 16th. National Bank Financial upped their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$106.00 to C$107.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$90.00 to C$89.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$110.53. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Down 1.9 % CP stock opened at C$102.04 on Thursday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$106.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$105.37. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a 12 month low of C$86.42 and a 12 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 company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.11, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.42. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Announces Dividend About Canadian Pacific Kansas City The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.74%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is presently 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Kroger (NYSE:KR Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning. A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on KR. Roth Capital reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Kroger in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their price target on Kroger from $64.00 to $55.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Kroger from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Northcoast Research upgraded Kroger from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $60.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Kroger from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.31. Get Kroger alerts: Kroger Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of KR traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $46.04. The company had a trading volume of 1,188,102 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,294,696. Kroger has a 1-year low of $41.81 and a 1-year high of $52.00. The stock has a market cap of $33.04 billion, a PE ratio of 15.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.47. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $48.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $46.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. Insider Transactions at Kroger Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kroger In related news, VP Todd A. Foley sold 3,885 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.95, for a total transaction of $182,400.75. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 28,456 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,336,009.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In related news, VP Todd A. Foley sold 3,885 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.95, for a total transaction of $182,400.75. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 28,456 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,336,009.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Also, SVP Timothy A. Massa sold 23,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.95, for a total value of $1,102,850.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 194,956 shares in the company, valued at $9,348,140.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 136,091 shares of company stock worth $6,584,518 in the last three months. 1.38% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in Kroger by 118.2% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 4,895 shares of the companys stock valued at $215,000 after purchasing an additional 2,652 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Kroger by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 24,568 shares of the companys stock worth $1,095,000 after acquiring an additional 1,767 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC grew its position in shares of Kroger by 32.3% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 692,959 shares of the companys stock worth $30,317,000 after acquiring an additional 169,219 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI grew its position in shares of Kroger by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 19,570 shares of the companys stock worth $872,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Kroger by 52.8% in the 4th quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,500,316 shares of the companys stock worth $66,884,000 after acquiring an additional 518,694 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.03% of the companys stock. Kroger Company Profile (Get Rating) The Kroger Co engages in the operation of supermarkets and multi-department stores. Its brands include Big K, Check This Out?, Heritage Farm, Simple Truth, and Simple Truth Organic. The company was founded by Barney Kroger in 1883 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Kroger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kroger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFS Special Value Trust (NYSE:MFV Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, June 2nd, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be given a dividend of 0.0365 per share by the closed-end fund on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.67%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th. MFS Special Value Trust has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 4.1% annually over the last three years. Get MFS Special Value Trust alerts: MFS Special Value Trust Price Performance NYSE MFV traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $4.10. The company had a trading volume of 5,685 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,212. MFS Special Value Trust has a fifty-two week low of $3.87 and a fifty-two week high of $5.39. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.30. Institutional Investors Weigh In On MFS Special Value Trust About MFS Special Value Trust A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in shares of MFS Special Value Trust by 21.5% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 20,838 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 3,688 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of MFS Special Value Trust by 10.8% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 38,010 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $181,000 after purchasing an additional 3,700 shares in the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of MFS Special Value Trust by 125.4% during the 4th quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 246,975 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 137,399 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of MFS Special Value Trust by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 65,842 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 7,093 shares in the last quarter. 5.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) MFS Special Value Trust operates as closed-end investment company. Its investment objective is to seek high current income, but may also consider capital appreciation by investing in debt instruments rated below investment grade and in foreign securities. The company was founded on November 17, 1989 and is headquartered in Boston, MA. See Also Receive News & Ratings for MFS Special Value Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFS Special Value Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the biopharmaceutical companys stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance NYSEAMERICAN:NBY opened at $0.68 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $1.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1.64. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a 52-week low of $0.48 and a 52-week high of $12.64. The company has a market cap of $1.28 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.12 and a beta of 2.69. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($4.33) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 18.62% and a negative net margin of 21.09%. The firm had revenue of $3.64 million for the quarter. Institutional Trading of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Altium Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at $121,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 103.5% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 409,544 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 208,322 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC increased its position in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 260.4% in the 1st quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 163,451 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 118,099 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter valued at $289,000. (Get Rating) NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and sells eyecare, skincare, and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; and wound care products, which are used for cleansing and irrigation as part of surgical procedures, as well as treating certain wounds, burns, ulcers, and other injuries under the NeutroPhase and PhaseOne brands. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Weather Alert ...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR WEST PADUCAH... The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... McCracken County in western Kentucky... * Until 100 PM CDT. * At 825 AM CDT, local law enforcement reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain in Western McCracken County. Between 4 and 6 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring. This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for West Paducah. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Law enforcement reported. IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life threatening flash flooding of low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Paducah, Lone Oak, Reidland, West Paducah and Barkley Regional Airport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. && FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED; FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC .Flash flooding will remain possible through mid morning as thunderstorms continue to produce heavy rainfall over locations that have already received too much rainfall. ...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, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson. In western Kentucky, Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken and Trigg. In southeast Missouri, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Perry MO and Scott. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff will continue to result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - The potential for flash flooding will continue through mid morning due to multiple rounds of thunderstorms overnight and this morning. - 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. && SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 516 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ALEXANDER JOHNSON MASSAC POPE PULASKI UNION 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 4 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI BOLLINGER CAPE GIRARDEAU MISSISSIPPI SCOTT THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BARDWELL, BENTON, CADIZ, CAIRO, CAPE GIRARDEAU, CHARLESTON, CLINTON, EDDYVILLE, GOLCONDA, HICKMAN, JACKSON, JONESBORO, MARBLE HILL, MAYFIELD, METROPOLIS, MOUND CITY, MURRAY, PADUCAH, SIKESTON, SMITHLAND, VIENNA, AND WICKLIFFE. 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 Andalusia Real Estate Investment & Development, a leading Dubai-based real estate developer, has announced the launch of its new company, Plan B which will handle the utilities and maintenance management works, property services and post-handover services for its projects. This launch is in line with Andalusias plan to provide the real estate market with integrated services, and comes just a few days after the group's strategic partnership with the Serdur Global, the Turkish Group specialising in decor and luxurious furniture manufacturing. Andalusia, which started in Saudi Arabia and expanded to the UAE, is implementing a number of projects in bothe the countries. It had recently launched 'Maya Townhouse,' a premium project coming up on a 70,000 sq ft area in the Majan neighbourhood of Dubailand, featuring 30 luxurious units, including villas of three area categories (one-, two- and three bedrooms) + hall. In addition to this, it is developing a 60-unit luxury townhouse project as well as mixed-use commercial projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. On the new company, CEO Saleh Tabbakh said: "This comes amidst the endeavours from the part of the group to provide the property market with comprehensive services that include funding, designing, implementation, and development." Tabbakh pointed out that the new company will offer the post construction and implementation services in an advanced and distinguished manner. "The works of the new company will rely upon our long experience in the real estate development, and our insight of the property needs and the problems that emerge for property owners, be they investors or tenants," he added. Andalusia has appointed Mohammad Younus as the CEO and partner for the Plan B company. According to him, Andalusia targets those landlords who are in search for funding, and provides them with innovative real estate solutions, through its diversified companies and partners. "Amidst unprecedented activity in the property sector, we offer them attractive opportunities for investments," he added. On his new role, Younus said: "Plan B will provide developers, investors and tenants with key solutions. It will seek to offer information technology-based solutions as well, such as regularizing the expenses to reach the optimum solution for each property." "Moreover, it will also seek to develop innovative services for communities, benefiting from the propertys tenants and their experiences, and merging tem into the working team, to provide them with an opportunity to gain additional revenue, and presenting communities that will be the first of their kind in the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998* Issue: 30 April 1998 When we had to leave Jaffa for Acre there was no sense of tragedy. It felt like an annual trip to spend the feast in another city. Our days in Acre did not seem unusual: perhaps, being young, I was even enjoying myself since the move exempted me from school... Whatever, on the night of the big attack on Acre the picture was becoming clearer. That was, I think, a cruel night, passed between the stern silence of the men and the invocations of the women. My peers, you and I, were too young to understand what the whole story was about. On that night, though, certain threads of that story became clearer. In the morning, and as the Jews withdrew threatening and fulminating, a big truck was standing in front of our door. Light things, mainly sleeping items, were being chucked into the truck swiftly and hysterically. As I stood leaning against the ancient wall of the house I saw your mother getting into the truck, then your aunt, then the young ones, then your father began to chuck you and your siblings into the car and on top of the luggage. Then he snatched me from the corner, where I was standing and, lifting me on top of his head, he put me into the cage-like metal luggage compartment above the driver's cabin, where I found my brother Riad sitting quietly. The vehicle drove off before I could settle into a comfortable position. Acre was disappearing bit by bit in the folds of the up-hill roads leading to Rass El-Naqoura [Lebanon]. It was somewhat cloudy and a sense of coldness was seeping into my body. Riad, with his back propped against the luggage and his legs on the edge of the metal compartment, was sitting very quietly, gazing into the distance. I was sitting silently with my chin between my knees and my arms folded over them. One after the other, orange orchards streamed past, and the vehicle was panting upward on a wet earth... In the distance the sound of gun-shots sounded like a farewell salute. Rass El-Naqoura loomed on the horizon, wrapped in a blue haze, and the vehicle suddenly stopped. The women emerged from amid the luggage, stepped down and went over to an orange vendor sitting by the wayside. As the women walked back with the oranges, the sound of their sobs reached us. Only then did oranges seem to me something dear, that each of these big, clean fruits was something to be cherished. Your father alighted from beside the driver, took an orange, gazed at it silently, then began to weep like a helpless child. In Rass El-Naqoura our vehicle stood beside many similar vehicles. The men began to hand in their weapons to the policemen who were there for that purpose. Then it was our turn. I saw pistols and machine guns thrown onto a big table, saw the long line of big vehicles coming into Lebanon, leaving the winding roads of the land of oranges far behind, and then I too cried bitterly. Your mother was still silently gazing at the oranges, and all the orange trees your father had left behind to the Jews glowed in his eyes... As if all those clean trees which he had bought one by one were mirrored in his face. And in his eyes tears, which he could not help hiding in front of the officer at the police station, were shining. When in the afternoon we reached Sidon we had become refugees. Translated by Mona Anis and Hala Halim * This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weeklys special pages commemorating 50 years of Al-Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe when Israel was created on 15 May 1948. These pages, published in 1998, were part of a year-long series of articles documenting the history and nature of the Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile. Search Keywords: Short link: In an extraordinary act of retroactive censorship, the state-owned broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ) announced today that it has corrected 16 of its online articles about the war in Ukraine published over the past year. Radio New Zealand building in Wellington Specifically, over the past three days RNZ has removed references to Ukraines 2014 coupincluding the word coup and the fact that it was led by fascistic forces and backed by the US and NATO imperialist powers. References to the participation of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in Ukraines military have also been deleted. Late last week, RNZ placed one staff member on leave pending an employment investigation and began correcting articles, originally published by Reuters and in one instance the BBC, which the employee had edited for the RNZ website. This morning, RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson delivered a grovelling on-air apology for letting the changes go unnoticed for so long. Its so disappointing that this pro-Kremlin garbage has ended up in our stories. Its inexcusable, he said. Thompson has announced an external review of RNZs processes for the editing of online stories, and RNZ is reviewing hundreds of its articles. In fact, the aim of RNZs latest corrections is to falsify the history of the war, in line with Washingtons propaganda that Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine was an unprovoked attack on a democratic country. NATO general secretary Jens Stoltenberg recently admitted that the events of 2014 marked the real start of the war in Ukraine. The overthrow of the elected government of Russia-aligned Viktor Yanukovych was followed by the installation of a regime that included the fascist Svoboda Party and was violently anti-Russian. The coup sparked a civil war with the breakaway eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk, and Russias annexation of Crimea. Since 2014 the NATO powers and their allies have been pouring weapons into Ukraine and increasing their military spending dramatically in preparation for what is now a US-NATO proxy war with Russia, in which more than 200,000 Ukrainians and Russians have been killed and millions displaced. Since 2022, New Zealand has also provided millions of dollars for Kiev to buy weapons and the NZ military has been involved in training Ukrainian conscripts in Britain. RNZ reporter Hayden Donnell falsely claimed that the suspended staff member had edited [articles] to align with the Russian version of events. In fact, it is entirely consistent to oppose Putins invasionwhich was reactionary and has produced a disasterwhile recognising that Moscow was provoked by the 2014 coup and Kievs alignment with NATO. Donnell and others pointed to a story published on Thursday by Reuters Guy Faulconbridge, which stated in its original version: 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. In the version that appeared on RNZs website, Reuters glorification of the coup as a revolution was removed and the passage changed to the following: The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian elected government was toppled during Ukraines violent Maidan colour revolution. Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum, as the new pro-Western government suppressed ethnic Russians in eastern and southern Ukraine, sending in its armed forces to the Donbas. Another Reuters article in April was edited by the RNZ staffer to say that Russia launched its 2022 invasion claiming that a US-backed coup in 2014 with the help of neo-Nazis had created a threat to its borders and had ignited a civil war that saw Russian-speaking minorities persecuted. Reuters has so far made no comment on the matter. The news agency reportedly allows minor editorial changes to its articles when they are republished by media organisations; major changes, however, are not permitted. Be that as it may, the editorial changes by the RNZ employee have triggered a furious response, not because of some technical violation of the contract with Reuters, but because the changes undermined the US-NATO propaganda that is continuously churned out by the corporate media, including RNZ itself. The facts are entirely on the side of the suspended worker, who is being smeared in the media as a Russian sympathiser and even an agent. The 2014 overthrow of the Yanukovich government was a blatantly US-sponsored regime change operation. During the far-right protests, Victoria Nuland, US assistant secretary of state, discussed with ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt who should lead the next government in Kiev, including the vital role of the fascist Svoboda. Nuland also boasted that since 1991, when the Soviet Union was dissolved by the Stalinist bureaucracy, the United States had intervened heavily in Ukraines politics, investing over $5 billion to push the country away from Russia. The UK Guardian, in its report on the RNZ controversy, described the Maidan coup as a peaceful movement with widespread public support. It also said: There is no evidence Russian speakers are persecuted in Ukraine, a bilingual country. In fact, the coup was spearheaded by the fascist Right Sector militia, which unleashed horrific violence against opponents of the NATO-backed regime, including the massacre of at least 48 people in Odessa. On May 9, 2014, Kiev sent armed forces into Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, where they murdered at least 20 people, many of whom were commemorating the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. In the past year, the Zelensky regime has banned opposition political parties advocating a negotiated peace. Russian literature has been destroyed; and Soviet-era monuments demolished and replaced with monuments to Nazi collaborators like Stepan Bandera, whose Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) assisted in the mass murder of Jews and Poles during the Holocaust. The New York Times recently admitted that embedded reporters have been concealing the widespread use of Nazi symbols in Ukraines military, in which fascist militias such as the Azov Battalion play a major role. These facts are being covered up in the media pile-on that is now underway demonising the suspended RNZ staff member. One News reported over the weekend that eight months ago a group of Ukrainian New Zealanders complained about what they felt was Russian propaganda in one of RNZs original articles on the war, published May 26, 2022. The article quoted Mike Smith, former Labour Party general secretary, and former Labour government minister Matt Robson, who both expressed reservations about the current Labour governments decision to provide military support for Ukraine. Smith was paraphrased as saying this was inadvertently helping to arm neo-Nazi militias and far-right groups in Ukraine with modern weapons, which could be used elsewhere. On Sunday night RNZ supplemented the article with comments by former Pentagon staff member Paul Buchanan and NZ foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta defending New Zealands contribution to the war. The main author of the complaint sent to RNZ and Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson, Christchurch resident Michael Lidski, said the article was a typical example of Russian propaganda. He told One News the journalist responsible could be a paid agent of influence or a useful idiot expressing enemy propaganda. Various expert commentators joined in the feeding frenzy. Verica Rupar, a journalism professor at AUT (Auckland University of Technology) told Stuff it was very dangerous to speculate about the motivations behind the RNZ edits, before musing: It could be an individual, it could be a propaganda war. In the same article, Buchanan, who is often quoted in the media as a security analyst, declared that New Zealand had been flooded by foreign disinformation and misinformation and that Russia was very, very good at spreading disinformation. Minister Jackson told Stuff he was comfortable with the RNZ employee being investigated and said the broadcaster faced a major issue unprecedented for RNZ. The E tu union, which purports to represent media workers, has remained silent on the witch-hunt. The unions former leader Andrew Little is now the Defence Minister in the Labour government. The far-right opposition ACT Party, meanwhile, issued a McCarthyite media statement entitled Red Radio issues Russian Propaganda. Leader David Seymour demanded that RNZs chief executive explain who changed the text, why they changed it, and what will be done to prevent RNZ becoming a conduit for Putins propaganda. The level of hysteria demonstrates that, as far as the media and political establishment are concerned, any reporting on the war that contradicts Washingtons propaganda must be suppressed as disinformation from the enemy. As was the case in the lead-up to New Zealands entry into World Wars I and II, censorship is being tightened to cover up the real origins of the war in Ukraine, its imperialist character and to whitewash the Kiev regime as democratic. The aim is to intimidate and silence all opponents of the war, which is metastasizing into a global conflict between nuclear-armed powers, with catastrophic consequences. The US and NATO are using the war in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and are moving closer to direct intervention to overthrow Putin and carve up Russias territory and resources. At the same time, Washington is preparing for war against China, which is viewed as the main rival to its global hegemony. As a minor imperialist power in the Pacific, and a member of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence network, New Zealands ruling class is dragging the country into both conflicts. The Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand condemns the reactionary witch-hunt against the RNZ employee and calls for their reinstatement. Above all, the events of the past few days reinforce the urgent need for the building of an international antiwar movement, based on the working class in opposition to Labour and all the capitalist parties, the media and the pseudo-left groups that have embraced imperialism. Text AUTO to (866) 847-1086 to sign up for text updates from the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Network or to discuss forming a rank-and-file strike support committee. You can also fill out the form below. Striking Clarios workers on June 8, 2023 Clarios workers in Holland, Ohio, have arrived at a decisive juncture in their battle against the worlds largest auto battery manufacturer. For five weeks, 525 workers at the Toledo-area factory have been on strike against the companys demands for a sweeping rollback of wages and working conditions, including the imposition of 12-hour workdays without overtime payments. Striking workers at the plant have formed a rank-and-file committee, which has outlined their demands and called for all United Auto Workers members to impose a ban on batteries being produced by scab labor at the Ohio plant. Under these conditions, there are growing signs that the company is desperately seeking to prevent support for the strike from spreading. Workers on the picket lines in Ohio, as well as at a Clarios plant in St. Joseph, Missouri, which is not on strike, told the World Socialist Web Site that Clarios was mislabeling batteries to conceal that they were being manufactured by strikebreakers. According to still unconfirmed reports, they said, plastic castings with barcodes from the St. Joseph plant were being sent to Toledo to be finished before being shipped to the auto plants. We heard they are getting their days codes on the batteries from St. Joe, one striker told the WSWS. Theyre bringing in battery casings and bar codes from Missouri and building the batteries here, he said. The Big Three auto companies are actively backing Clarios. With the contracts of 173,000 autoworkers in the US and Canada expiring in mid-September, the last thing the auto executives want is for the Clarios workers to beat back concessions that they have planned for all autoworkers. The same thing is true for the UAW bureaucracy, which has tried to impose not one but two pro-company contracts on workers, which workers overwhelmingly defeated. As a result, UAW President Shawn Fain and the union apparatus are deliberately isolating the defiant workers, stringing them out on $500 a week in strike pay and trying to starve them into submission. At the same time, Fain has sanctioned the use of scab batteries by the Big Three automakers. When confronted by rank-and-file autoworkers at the GM Flint Assembly Plant last week, UAW Local 598 officials said the order to continue using scab batteries had come directly from the UAW International. Automotive News also reported last week that Clarios was shifting some production from the Holland, Ohio, plant to its factory in St. Joseph, Missouri, near Kansas City. According to the industry publication, the move was approved by the union at the plant, IUE-CWA Local 86116. The union was not asked by the UAW to reject the extra production, even though UAW Region 2B Director David Green has been in close contact with them since the beginning of the strike. Management at the St. Joseph plant claimed the increased production was unrelated to the strike. A worker at the St. Joseph plant provided further detail on how the batteries are labeled. When you get a car battery, different plants mark them in different ways to show what plant it came from. AGM [the absorbent glass-mat] batteriestheyre the hot thing everybodys buying noware different. They have a bar code. During their downtime, the TBS line was allegedly being told to take containers, run them through part of the process, and theyre sent to Toledo. The end result is batteries come out of Toledo with a St. Joe barcode. About the companys claims that increased production at St. Joseph is unrelated to the strike, he continued: I dont think anybody believes that. I think both the company and union would piss on us and tell us its raining. St. Joe might be unique, we already have a weekend shift, A and B shift, which are 12-hour shifts. They work 24 hours during the weekend, and during the week they can be forced in twice for eight hours. So why are they now forcing those who work during the week to do weekend overtime? The worker also referred to a 1997 strike at Johnson Controls, when the UAW was forced due to enormous sentiment among workers to threaten Ford assembly plants with pickets. As a result, Ford refused to accept scab-made parts. Johnson Controls would later sell off its battery division to the private equity firm Brookfield Business Partners, which renamed it Clarios in 2018. In the past, when Johnson Controls owned and made car interiors years ago, Johnson Controls was a seating supplier for Ford. There was a plant that went on strike then, and Ford made an unusual move of refusing to accept materials made by scabs from that plant. I think the company is currently afraid thats going to happen again. All UAW members should be on strike Clarios workers in Ohio denounced the strikebreaking by the company and the UAW bureaucracy. I am sickened to see fellow UAW accepting scab batteries. These greedy ass corporations need a wakeup call! UAW breaking against UAW, its sad! Were supposed to be UAW strong! Not UAW divided! I say all UAW workers across the board should just walk away now or all strike at contract and join the strike against greedy corporations! Another striking worker on the picket line told the WSWS, Theyre treating us like were replaceable. Its bullying tactics to get us to cave in. All UAW members should be on strike. Its got to happen simultaneously. If that happened, wed win our strike in a flash. Youre supposed to use the power of the union in a fight like this. The Big Three workers contracts are coming up too. If they stopped using scab batteries from Clarios this would be over tomorrow. If Clarios gets a contract passed with 2-2-3, this is what its going to look like for all the autoworkers. Now the UAW is not supporting us because we rejected their contracts twice. Were not just fighting for ourselves but for Ford, GM and all the autoworkers. This company is making billions, but theyre bitching over a few bucks. Theyd rather pay hundreds of dollars to hire, house and feed a scab to do our job. We hear theyre doubling up and paying two men to do the job of every worker theyre replacing. Its corporate greed. This plant hasnt had a strike in 40 years. But in the last two years theyve cut our pay twice. If they get 2-2-3 and eliminate overtime, it will cost me at least $35,000 in pay a year. In this place, they knowingly are putting lead in our bodies. Ive known so many workers who have died from cancer. All the lead is in the air, and we breathe it and get it onto our skin. A Ford worker from the Kentucky Truck Plant told the WSWS, We support our UAW brothers and sisters. We here at KTP dont have all the information about Clarios,but Im happy to share it and help in any way we can. Referring to the UAW accepting the use of scab batteries, she added, I dont think its right. Shame on the UAW. Shame on Ford. Why cant we come to an agreement with these workerswhats the hold up? WSWS reporters have also recently spoken to Clarios workers at the plants in Florence, Kentucky, and Kernsville, North Carolina. In the Kentucky plant, which employs 100 workers, the United Steelworkers union rammed through a concessions contract about two months ago, after workers voted down the first tentative agreement, a worker told the WSWS. The second passed with a 3 percent annual wage increase and nothing else of substance. They dangled a one-time signing bonus to workers that amounted to a one-time paycheck and a lot of the younger workers took the bait. The worker added, About three weeks ago, there was talk of layoffs but that didnt happen. She couldnt be sure but thought that the reason might be that some of the production from the Ohio plant was being sent to Florence. At the North Carolina plant, where several hundred members of Teamsters Local 391 are employed, workers are outraged by forced overtime and punitive attendance programs, which include no days off for the first year of employment. Workers who spoke to the WSWS knew very little about the Ohio strike but expressed their support for the striking workers. Keep your heads up, we hope that your demands are won, one worker declared. The outcome of the Clarios strike will have decisive impact for all autoworkers. In every factory, workers should organize rank-and-file strike solidarity committees to demand a halt to the handling of scab batteries and to prepare joint action by all Clarios and all Big Three workers to win the first battle in the contract struggle this year. Text AUTO to (866) 847-1086 to sign up for text updates from the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Network or to discuss forming a rank-and-file strike support committee. You can also fill out the form below. In some major commercial districts in Seoul the hourly wage surpasses W12,000. In the trendy Nonhyeon-dong area of Gangnam it stands at W12,623 and around Gangnam Subway Station at W11,673. In lively university neighborhoods it stands at W10,278, more than the legal minimum wage of W9,160. Job search portal Alba analyzed hundreds of thousands of wanted ads in March and found that the average hourly wage of part-timers now stands at W10,527, the first time it has exceeded W10,000 (US$1=W1,276). The wages of part-time workers are surging now that the pandemic is over and they are in high demand again, increasing the financial burden on small business owners already reeling from soaring inflation. Small businesses complain that they have to hire more staff to meet rising post-pandemic demand but cannot afford the pay. Hong Sung-keun (59) owns a restaurant near Konkuk University in northeastern Seoul and put up an ad last month looking for a part-time worker for W9,500 an hour after the government eased coronavirus curfews. But nobody was interested. "I need to stay open until 1 a.m., but I can't because I haven't been able to find a worker." In the pandemic, many part-timers who were laid off by small hospitality businesses went into the gig economy as delivery drivers or other jobs through digital platforms, where they can choose their hours and days of work, and now they are reluctant to return to fixed long hours for little money. According to government data, as of late last year the number of food delivery workers and replacement drivers almost tripled from 223,000 to 660,000. Kim Tae-gi, an economist at Dankook University, said, "The labor market has changed considerably since the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused many young people to flock to gig jobs. Conventional part-time jobs in convenience stores or restaurants will get filled by more and more elderly people, just like in Japan." Others say government support money doled out during the pandemic caused young people to scoff at low-paying part-time jobs. Young people whose earnings are 120 percent below the median wage can get up to W600,000 a month from the government for up to six months, or W280,000 for six months if they do not meet that requirement. And some provincial governments also hand out support payments to young people. Ko Jang-soo, the head of an association of coffee shop owners, said, "To young people who can get support money from the government, part-time jobs that pay just W10,000 an hour look unappetizing." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy show the Joint Declaration after signing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, June 10, 2023. [AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky] As Ukraines offensive against Russian forces moves into full swing, NATO members are accelerating their efforts to initiate a formal military alliance with Ukraine or even have Ukraine join NATO. On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Ukraine to pledge, in writing, his governments support for Ukraine joining NATO. Commenting on the meeting, Ihor Zhovkva, the deputy head of the Office of the Ukrainian President, wrote that Canadas support for Ukraines acquisition of NATO membership as soon as conditions allow is the strongest wording among all the G7 countries that are NATO members. He added that it was [A]nother practical step on the Euro-Atlantic path, another powerful voice in support of Ukraine and another stage of preparation for the successful holding of the Vilnius NATO Summit in July. Zhovkva claimed that Canada was one of 20 NATO member states to agree in writing that they support Ukraine becoming a member of NATO. Under conditions in which Ukraine is actively involved in a war with Russia, for Ukraine to join the military alliance would require NATO members to go to war with Russia. Last month, Colonel Alexander S. Vindman, who had been an early advocate of sending US tanks and F-16s to Ukraine, endorsed an article in Foreign Affairs headlined To Protect Europe, Let Ukraine Join NATORight Now, by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy P. Zagorodnyuk. Ukrainian soldiers near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 23, 2023. [AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky] In May, French President Emmanuel Macron said he supports a path for Ukraine into NATO. In April, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declared, Ukraines rightful place is in NATO, adding, All NATO allies have agreed that Ukraine will become a member. The flurry of diplomatic activity is meant to set the stage for the July 11-12 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, whose central focus will be the expansion of the NATO alliance with the accession of Sweden and moves to engineer a formal alliance between NATO and Ukraine. The ongoing Ukrainian offensive is timed to create the best possible circumstances for the formalization of this alliance. As the New York Times wrote on Saturday: Some battlefield success, whether by decimating Russias army, claiming some territory or both would build more support in Europe for some sort of long-term security guarantee for Kyiv. Both Ukraine and Western allies have invested in the counteroffensive because, no matter the precise result, it will set the stage for the next phase of the war. The American and British plan to help secure Ukraine involves building support for robust security guarantees from the United States and NATO countries. Over the weekend, the battlefield situation remained unclear, with indications that Ukrainian forces were able to seize multiple villages after incurring horrific casualties, including the loss of several main battle tanks and dozens of Western armored personnel carriers. Over the weekend, the New York Times confirmed the Russian claim that at least three German Leopard 2 tanks and eight American Bradley vehicles were destroyed in recent days. The Institute for the Study of War claimed, Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least three areas of the front and made territorial gains on June 10 and 11. It added, Ukrainian forces made visually verified advances in western Donetsk Oblast and western Zaporizhia Oblast, which Russian sources confirmed but sought to downplay. In his meeting with Trudeau, Zelensky officially confirmed the counteroffensive had begun, saying, Counteroffensive and defensive actions are being taken in Ukraine. He added, At what stage, I will not disclose in detail. In this supercharged climate, NATO is preparing to launch what the German Luftwaffe (air force) called the largest air force deployment exercise in NATOs history based in Germany. The Luftwaffe said that the war game scenario is modeled on a NATO Article 5 assistance scenario. This is a reference to the treaty commitment by all NATO members to go to war if any member is attacked. In this simulation, the Luftwaffe will attempt do what its commander-in-chief, Hermann Goring, failed to do in the Second World War: militarily defeat Russia. During the exercise, scheduled to begin on Monday, the 10,000 military personnel and 250 aircraft will be involved in missions flying from Germany to the NATO member states bordering Russia. The Wall Street Journal described the war games as follows: The Air Defender exercise will practice the mass deployment of troops and hardware from the U.S. to Europe in response to various scenarios involving Russian attacks on NATO members. The baseline scenario involves the enemy capturing the German port of Rostock in an attack that would trigger NATOs common defense clause, known as Article 5. The response will include recapturing the port and other infrastructure, as well as defending cities and moving into offensive action. Increasingly, the war is becoming an existential question for the United States. An article in Politico noted, Senior U.S. officials are convinced that future support for the Ukraine warand President Joe Bidens global reputationhinges on the success of Ukraines counteroffensive. The accelerating moves for Ukraine to join NATO confirm the warnings made by the World Socialist Web Site last week: The meeting in Vilnius was conceived of as a summit of victors, in which the battlefield successes of Ukraine would serve as the basis for a whole series of ultimatums to Russia, including a full withdrawal not only from portions of Ukraine seized during the 2022 invasion but also from the Crimean Peninsula. Should the Vilnius summit take place under conditions of major setbacks and even a breakdown of the offensive, as at this point appears more likely, it will become the occasion for a massive further escalation of US-NATO involvement in the war. The Financial Times (FT) revealed last week that plans are well underway in the US to sell four MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones to Taiwan to provide intelligence on Chinese naval movements, to be shared in real time with both the American and Japanese militaries. The US Department of Defence approved the sale of the drones in May but has not commented on the intelligence-sharing arrangement, reportedly disclosed to the FT by four sources. MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone [Photo: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems] The decision is a further step in integrating Taiwan into US war plans against China and underscores the absurdity of US claims that it still upholds a One China policy under which it de facto recognises Taiwan as part of China. Washington is not only supplying military hardware, as it has done in the past, but drawing Taipei into its framework of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific directed against China. The US is well aware that this move is highly provocative. The sharing of data between Japan and Taiwan, between Taiwan and the Philippines, between the US and all three of them, is so crucial, but its also one of the big taboos because China will see it as escalatory, an unnamed senior US military official told the FT. According to the article, the US manufacturer, General Atomics, is due to deliver the drones to Taiwan, starting in 2025. The MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones are used for the surveillance of warships and submarines but are also able to carry what the manufacturer terms a kinetic payload that could include missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. If the surveillance from the Taiwanese drones were linked to the intelligence networks of the US and its allies, it would provide what is euphemistically called a common operational picturethat is, an overview of military operations in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters in the event of war with China. Following the publication of the FT article, a US defence department spokesman declared that the US was not currently planning to facilitate MQ-9 data sharing between Taiwan and Japan. He did not deny, however, that information sharing is taking place between the US and Taiwan and would be greatly augmented by the drones. Taiwans defence ministry declared it had not yet been informed of plans to share real-time data from naval reconnaissance drones with the US and Japan. However, National Security Bureau (NSB) director Tsai Ming-yen told the islands legislature in late April that Taiwan was already sharing intelligence with the top-level Five Eyes spy network that includes the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Tsai explained that Taiwan was upgrading its computer technology to connect with the Five Eyes alliance through a confidential system. Questioned about the intelligence exchanges, Tsai said Taiwan was already sharing intelligence in real time and had allocated funding to create an instant online reporting and communication mechanism to the five countries. While Japan is not a member of the Five Eyes network at present, it already shares intelligence with the US and discussion is underway to upgrade the relationship. In January, an article entitled How Might Japan Join the Five Eyes? published by the US think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted: There are increasing calls from inside both governmentsand outside governmentfor the United States and Japan to increase intelligence sharing since war planning requires a much higher level of information sharing between militaries. That also raised the question of Japan joining the Five Eyes, it stated. As the US intensifies its provocations and preparations for conflict with China, the integration of intelligence and closer military cooperation with Taiwan, in particular, has come to the fore in strategic and military circles. The right-wing US magazine, National Interest, in February noted the significance of the appointment of Tsai as NSB director, with wide international experience as well as in Taiwans own intelligence operations. His ascension, it declared, could reflect a shift in Taiwans approach to intelligence collection and sharing, which has responded to escalating and rapidly evolving threats to the islands security. In an interview with the Nikkei last July, US congressman Steve Chabot said: I do think that we need to coordinate military intelligence very closely and very cooperatively, between the United States and Taiwan. He noted that the two sides were already working together in this area, but that needs to be improved and developed even further. Chabot is co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus and was ranking Republican on a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia. The US focus on Taiwan is not accidental. Biden, following Trump, has deliberately undermined the One China policy by forging closer diplomatic and military ties with Taipei and stepping up provocative naval passages through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. While China has emphasised that it seeks reunification with Taiwan by peaceful means, it has not ruled out the use of military force should Taipei formally declared independence from Beijing. Responding to the FTs revelations last week, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called on the US and Japan to stop creating military tensions and causing trouble for stability in the Taiwan Strait We firmly oppose military contact between Taiwan and countries that have established diplomatic ties with China. The US, however, has no intention of easing tensions with China, which it regards as the chief threat to its global economic and strategic dominance. Just as it goaded Russia into launching its invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration is seeking to provoke a conflict with China by deliberately inflaming what is arguably the most dangerous flashpoint in Asiarelations across the Taiwan Strait. The moves to establish real-time intelligence sharing between Taiwan and the US and its allies to create a common operational picture is a warning of the very advanced character of the Pentagons plans for war with Chinaa conflict with disastrous consequences for humanity as a whole. 25 years ago: NATO makes plans for war in the Balkans Map indicating the location of Kosovo within Serbia On June 16, 1998, NATO staged a five-hour show of force aimed at ending Serbias military crackdown in Kosovo by flying some 80 fighter jets over mountains in Albania. The exercises signaled the preparation of another military intervention in the Balkans by the US and the Western European powers. NATO officials had reportedly drawn up a set of military options ranging from air strikes to halt or disrupt Serbian military action in Kosovo, to the enforcement of a no-fly zone or a heavy weapons exclusion zone. Another measure under consideration was the deployment of NATO troops along Kosovos borders with Albania to the west and Macedonia to the south. It was estimated that at least 20,000 troops would be needed for such an operation. Proposals had also been aired for NATO to mount a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. As the NATO exercise was taking place, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic arrived in Moscow for talks with the Boris Yeltsin government. Moscow had joined with the Western powers in calling for an end to the fighting in Kosovo, but at the same time condemned any threat of NATO military force against Serbia. Moscow played a virtually identical roledistancing itself from NATO and conducting diplomatic talks with Belgradeon the eve of the last major NATO intervention, the massive bombing campaign directed against Bosnian Serb forces. Washington also claimed at that time that it was acting on humanitarian grounds. The result was the largest expulsion of ethnic populations since the beginning of Yugoslavias breakup, culminating in the eviction of a quarter million ethnic Serbs from the Krajina region of Croatia. The end result of US and NATO intervention in Bosnia had been to solidify the countrys partition along ethnic lines into Moslem, Croat and Serb-ruled enclaves. None of the major issues of contentionthe return of refugees to their homes, the status of the strategically crucial town of Brcko, etc.had been resolved. From the outset of the Yugoslav crisis, Washington and the Western European powers claimed that their actions were guided by the principles of self-determination for the former republics of Yugoslavia and the sanctity of their borders. In reality, these principles merely masked the pursuit of economic and political self-interest. They adopted this policy in order to weaken the Yugoslav state and assert their own hegemony in the Balkans. 50 years ago: Soviet Stalinist leader Brezhnev arrives in the United States Nixon, left, and Brezhnev On June 16, 1973 Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, arrived in the United States for a meeting with President Richard Nixon. The Washington Summit, as it was known, followed a similar meeting in Moscow in May 1972 when Nixon became the first president to visit the Soviet Union. The meetings marked the peak of the detente period of the Cold War, during which public hostilities between the US and the USSR temporarily thawed. At the official meeting at the White House there was a display of military pomp and pageantry to welcome Brezhnev. Then he and Nixon met privately for a discussion that lasted nearly four hours. At a state dinner later that evening Nixon told the guests: We have laid the groundwork for a significant improvement in our relations that will result from the discussions and agreements undertaken this week. We shall be worthy of the hopes of people everywhere that the worlds two strongest nations will work together for the cause of peace and friendship. Brezhnev similarly commented: The start of our negotiationsand I have in mind both their content and the atmosphere in which they are proceedinggives reason to hope that their results will be fruitful and will become a new landmark in SovietAmerican relations. Outside of the summit meeting much of the visit was devoted to the wining and dining of Brezhnev by Nixon. In addition to fine cuisine and yacht cruises, the US president gifted the leading Stalinist bureaucrat a custom luxury Lincoln Continental, adding to the list of high-end cars already owned by Brezhnev. The week-long summit would see a number of agreements signed by Nixon and Brezhnev. Discussions included arms limitation, trade deals, and the Middle East. Most of the terms on routine issues like transportation and oceanography had been worked out in advance. Most significantly was the signing of the Prevention of Nuclear War Agreement, which stated that both nations would make it an official policy to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. However, the agreement stopped short of any actual dismantling of their nuclear capabilities. Driving detente was a series of dramatic changes in the political landscape. Among these were the global financial crisis spawned by the end of the Bretton-Woods system, the breakdown of relations between China and the USSR in the Soviet-Sino split, and the defeat of US imperialism in the Vietnam War. These events, accelerating the political crisis in each country, pushed Brezhnev and Nixon together, with each hoping that cutting a deal would alleviate the political instability. Falling in line with Moscows dictates as always, the Stalinists of the American Communist Party gave the visit their full approval, celebrating Brezhnevs new friendship with Nixon. They hailed the meeting as a step forward for peaceful coexistence, defended Nixon against the Watergate inquiry, and assisted the trade union bureaucracy in suppressing any movement of workers that might emerge to force Nixon out of office. 75 years ago: Britain launches brutal attack on anti-colonial struggle in Malaysia A wounded insurgent interrogated by his British captors in 1952 On June 17, 1948, British colonial authorities launched a brutal crackdown on Malaysian workers and left-wing activists affiliated with the countrys Stalinist Communist Party. The onslaught would provoke a 12-year guerrilla war that would persist even after Malaysias formal independence and that would again flare up from 1969 to 1989. The fighting, in other words, spanned almost a third of a century. Britain had colonized various states in the Malaysian region over hundreds of years, beginning in the late 1700s. In 1946, it brought them together in the Malaysia Union, still under strict colonial rule. This was a period, following World War II, where colonialism was being challenged all over the world, including through massive struggles in China, India, Vietnam and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region. In Malaysia, where the wartime conquest and occupation by Japan dealt a serious blow to the authority of the old colonial power, there was also a post-war upsurge. The economic fallout of the war, registered in substantial unemployment and grinding poverty, combined with hostility to the rule of the British and their puppets among the local feudalistic elite. In early 1946, the first full-day general strike was held, and the following year there were more than 300 stoppages, some of them large. In this context of ferment, with the Malaysian Communist Party coming to prominence, the British were itching for the pretext for a crackdown. It came this week in June, 1948, with the killing of several plantation owners. On June 17, Britain responded by declaring a state of emergency. There had been no investigation into the killings, their perpetrators or the underlying causes. Instead, all basic civil rights were suspended. Communist and union organizers, along with those wrongly suspected of political affiliation, were rounded up and jailed under extraordinary powers. Curfews and other repressive measures were imposed. The Communist Party, it appears, had been preparing for a confrontation with the state. Several of its leaders were able to escape to rural areas, where the party had begun to develop a following among peasant layers. There they would regroup and begin a guerrilla struggle that would span decades. The British would employ counter-insurgency methods similar to those later used against the Vietnamese masses in the US war against that country. The Communist Party, while its members displayed exceptional courage, was incapable of advancing a way forward. The Stalinist bureaucracy in the Soviet Union had struck a deal with the major imperialist powers during World War II for a carve-up of the world at its conclusion. The bureaucracy was hostile to revolutionary struggle in Asia and everywhere else. At the same time, the reactionary influences of Maoism were evident in the Malaysian Communist Partys orientation to a struggle based not on the countrys industrial working class, but on the peasantry, mixed social layers that was dominated by the petty-bourgeois proprietors. 100 years ago: Red Army defeats last remnants of White Guard in Siberia General Anatoliy Pepelyayev of Russias White Army On June 16, 1923, A Red Army unit under the command of Stepan Vostretsov defeated White Guard forces under the command of Anatoly Pepelyayev in Ayan in the recently proclaimed Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in Siberia. Pepelyayev was a former tsarist officer who led the counterrevolutionary armies of Admiral Alexander Kolchak in Siberia. The Red Army had defeated Kolchak, with whom Pepelyayev had quarreled, by 1920, and executed him. But Pepelyayev continued to be active in Siberia and had sought contact with an anti-Bolshevik government in Vladivostok. Other White forces had set up their own areas of control in Siberia near the Sea of Okhotsk. Pepelyayev, who had been convalescing from typhus in the northern Chinese city of Harbin, a center of White Russian emigration, sailed on a ship of the former Tsarist fleet with hundreds of volunteers in August 1922 to Okhotsk, along the Sea of Okhotsk, where he disembarked to head for the city of Yakutsk, 1,000 km (620 mi) inland, then under Bolshevik control. He was unable to overcome Red Army resistance, and, since Vladivostok had fallen to the Bolsheviks in October, Pepelyayev was forced to retreat to Ayan, also along the Sea of Okhotsk, which was besieged by Vostretsov. Pepelyayev was captured with 102 officers and 230 soldiers and transported to Vladivostok where he was tried and sentenced to death. His term was commutedpossibly because he had freed 20,000 Red Army soldiers after seizing Perm in 1918and he was released in 1936 only to be rearrested and executed in 1938 during Stalins purges. Some historians regard the battle at Ayan as marking the end of the Russian Civil War. 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, Florida. [AP Photo/US Department of Justice] The indictment of Donald Trump under the Espionage Act and for conspiring to withhold information from federal prosecutors both exposes and accelerates an unprecedented political crisis within the United States. The indictment of a former president for endangering national security is itself extraordinary, the first time that the Justice Department has taken such an action. But Trump is not only a former president; he is the leading candidate of the Republican Party in the 2024 elections. The indictment will dominate American politics for at least a year, involving all the institutions of government, from the Supreme Court to Congress and the states. How the election will even proceed under these circumstances is unclear. Involved in the decision to indict Trump is far more than the individual deliberations of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland to head investigations into Trump last November, and the 23 members of the grand jury in South Florida. As the 2024 elections approach, a significant section of the state apparatus clearly hopes that the indictment will contribute to driving Trump out of politics. This effort is motivated in particular by Trumps stated positions on the US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine. It is critical for the working class to have a clear understanding of the implications and driving forces of the conflict. There is no democratic content to the indictment of Trump based on the Espionage Act, a reactionary law that has been used against Eugene Debs, the Rosenbergs, Daniel Ellsberg, Julian Assange and Edward Snowden. While the fascistic and arch-imperialist Trump is no opponent of the war machine, workers have no interest in safeguarding the secrets of the ruling class and its state. Critically, the indictment is not over Trumps effort to overturn the Constitution and establish a presidential dictatorship, culminating in the fascistic coup of January 6, 2021. The Democratic Party and the Biden administration have avoided any serious examination of the coup or the social and political forces behind it, as part of their effort to establish bipartisan unity with the Republicans. Amidst the voluminous media commentary on the indictment, there is little discussion of the content and implications of the documents Trump removed from the White House, which involve the most dangerous and explosive secrets that the US military and intelligence apparatus possess. The indictment itself only lists the general subjects of the documents in question, under headlines such as the military capabilities of a foreign country and the United States; military activities and planning of foreign countries; military contingency planning of the United States; timeline and details of attack in a foreign country; and, most significantly, nuclear weaponry of the United States. The documents are listed under various classification headlines, such as TS (Top Secret); NF (no foreign, for distribution within the US government only); TK (Talent Keyhole, related to imagery obtained from satellites or manned flights); and FRD (Formerly Restricted Data, which is used for nuclear secrets). A few analysts have begun to examine in more detail the likely subject matter of the documents, based on their dates and general topics. Matt Tait writes in Lawfare, for example, that Document 19 in the indictment (Undated document concerning nuclear weaponry of the United States) is classified as FRD, which means that it cannot be declassified by the president even while president, as it is classified under the Atomic Energy Act. As to its content, Tait states that a few canonical examples of what would fall under this category include US stockpile quantities, nuclear weapons safety and storage, nuclear weapon yields, and locations of US nuclear weapons. Document 5 is listed as concerning nuclear capabilities of a foreign country and is dated June 2020. Tait concludes that the unnamed foreign country is likely Russia, due to the fact that Russia published its nuclear deterrence policy for the first time on June 2, 2020. Document 11 is listed as Undated document concerning military contingency planning of the United States. Based on details in the indictment of Trumps discussion with a writer, during which he showed a document in his possession, this is likely a detailed review of options for war against Iran. Other documents likely detail military operations in Syria involving NATO member Turkey, US military operations in Palestine against Hezbollah, and communications with Russia over Trumps withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty in October 2018. Trump clearly knew the explosive implications of the documents when he decided to remove them from the White House. For the military-intelligence agencies, this was an intolerable breach of the security, that is the secrecy, of the state apparatus. The documents involve the permanent and ongoing conspiracy of American imperialism against the population of the entire world. Beyond the immediate issues in the indictment, it is clearly connected to the intense divisions within the ruling class over foreign policy, particularly in relation to Russia. This was always the focus of the Democrats opposition to Trump during his presidency and was the subject of his first impeachment in 2019-2020. The Biden administration is absolutely committed to the war against Russia over Ukraine. The initiation of the Ukrainian counter-offensive last week is the precursor to a massive escalation of US-NATO involvement in the war. A direct intervention involving NATO troops is coming and may not be far off. Under these conditions, the American ruling class, or at least significant sections of it, is not prepared to accept Trump as the leader of its foreign policy. As for Trump, he has responded to the indictment by declaring his own war on his opponents within the state. He is pitching his appeal to sections of the ruling class that, under conditions of escalating social conflict within the United States, support the unleashing of political violence on a massive scale. Either the Communists win and destroy America, Trump declared in a fascistic rant on Saturday, or we destroy the Communists. The conflict within the ruling class is of a longstanding character. It is now reaching a new qualitative stage under conditions of the initial stages of a world war and the explosive development of the class struggle within the US and internationally. The institutions of the state are breaking down under the pressure of what the WSWS referred to at the beginning of the year as a critical mass of intersecting global and domestic crises that the ruling class cannot contain. A revolutionary situation, Lenin explained, arises under conditions in which the ruling class cannot rule in the old way and the working class cannot live in the old way. Both of these factors are evident in the present crisis. Sri Lankan comedienne Natasha Edirisooriya [Photo: Facebook] Jayani Natasha Edirisooriya, a Sri Lankan stand-up comedienne, was arrested at Katunayake International Airport on May 28, on accusations that she defamed Buddhism through her performance in a comedy program, Modibhimanaya (Fools Pride) in April. Sections of the Buddhist establishment and the government, mired in a deepening crisis, had started a vicious campaign demanding her arrest. This is an attack on basic democratic rights, including the right to the freedom of speech, in the name of safeguarding Buddhism. After Edirisooriya was questioned by the police Cyber Crime Investigating Unit, she was produced before the Colombo Fort magistrate Thilina Gamage the next day, who ordered her remanded in custody until June 7. Nihal Thalduwa, the police spokesman, told the media that an investigation had been started into those who facilitated and sponsored Edirisooriya for her performance and the persons who viewed the program. Three days later, on May 31, police arrested social media activist Bruno Divakara for allegedly aiding and abetting in publishing Edirisooriyas video on his SL VLOG Youtube video channel. Divakara was accused of paving the way for inciting religious disharmony among various communities by publishing the video. On June 7, both Edirisooriya and Divakara were further remanded until June 21 by the Colombo Fort Magistrates Court. The immediate reason for the campaign against Edirisooriya was some remarks she allegedly made in a satirical manner referring to what has been said in Buddhist literature on the birth and early childhood life of Lord Buddha, then known as prince Siddhartha, and also on the ethics maintained in the countrys Buddhist girls schools. According to Buddhist literature, Siddhartha was born in the 6th century BCE as the son of the king Shuddhodana of the Shakya clan, near Kapilavastu, Shakya republic, Kosala Kingdom (contemporary Nepal). On his birth, Siddhartha not only walked but made a statement that he would become the greatest person in the world. During her presentation, Edirisooriya, referring to Siddharthas birth, allegedly made some critical remarks about concerns expressed by contemporary parents over the weak performances of their children in starting to walk and talk. The comedienne reportedly said: When I hear these things, I suppose there might have been enormous pressure on kids who were the same age of baby Siddhartha. Look at the child of Shuddhodana, he walked just after he was born That lad of Shuddhodana had cited a poem just after being born, but what about our kids! [O]ur ones are waiting until we will do everything on behalf of them. These were the particular lines that Sinhala Buddhist provocateurs and the capitalist media seized upon as defaming Buddhism. Such a characterisation of Edirisooriyas remarks is absurd. However, confronting the racialist provocation, Edirisooriya posted an online video publicly apologising for her remarks. The video of her remarks was also removed from the social media platform. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) denounces these arrests and demands that Edirisooriya and Divakara be released immediately. Police spokesperson Thalduwa told the media that the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs had made a written complaint against Edirisooriya, and about eight complaints had been received at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). One of these complaints was filed by Balangoda Kassapa, a Buddhist monk, who publicly demanded that those who made defaming statements on the character of Buddha must be openly punished. Another complaint came from Sihala Ravaya, an organisation that was at the forefront of Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinist campaigns several years ago. Amid this campaign, President Ranil Wickremesinghe on May 29 instructed Public Security Minister Tiran Alles to establish a special police unit to investigate into and act on persons or groups that disrupt religious harmony. The establishment of a special police unit means trampling on the basic democratic right of freedom of speech with the military-police jackboots. Also in May, Wickremesinghe ordered security chiefs to investigate Jerome Fernando, a leading pastor of a Christian sect, who was accused of defaming Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam during a religious lecture he delivered to boost his sect in front of a packed congregation. However, Fernando issued an apology regarding his controversial statement. On May 14, the pastor left the country before the CID obtained a travel ban against him. Reportedly, the CID is investigating that case and Fernando is to be arrested once he returns to Sri Lanka. Numbers of government politicians have come to the fore of a campaign demanding legal actions against him in the name of defending Buddhism and religious harmony. The demagogic politicians of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), who have sworn to bloodily crush any opposition to the government, are the ones deliberately inflaming communal tensions as a whole. Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, a SLPP MP, told the media: In Aragalaya [last years popular uprising against the government] also we saw how Lord Buddha and Buddhism were defamed. Seeking to vilify the popular uprising, Weerasekera said: It [Aragalaya] was completely organised by the Western countries that regret the fact of Sri Lanka being a Buddhist country. He said Edirisooriya and others who have allegedly defamed Buddhism should be severely punished under the constitution and the penal code. Otherwise Buddhists will take this law into their hands, Weerasekera threateningly declared. The Wickremesinghe government and the entire ruling class are in an economic and political crisis and fear another uprising like last years. Wickremesinghe, while harnessing autocratic presidential powers, has further tightened repressive laws and deployed police-military operations against workers who have entered struggles against the governments austerity measures and attacks on democratic rights. In this situation, it is not an accident that Edirisooriyas comedy has been seized upon. The claim by the government and media to be defending religious and racial harmony is an outright lie. No section of the ruling class has such a history. Since so-called independence in 1948, successive governments have whipped up Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism in order to defend their rule by dividing the working class whenever they faced challenges by workers struggles. In 1948, the United National Party (UNP) government abolished the citizenship rights of Indian-origin Tamil-speaking plantation workers. In 1956, going further, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) government of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike declared Sinhala to be the only official language, in a clear discrimination against Tamils. In 1972, the bourgeois coalition government of the SLFP, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Stalinist Communist Party took steps to deepen racial divisions by introducing a constitution that enshrined Buddhism as the state religion. Taking racial provocations to a new height, in 1983 the UNP government of President J.R. Jayawardene initiated an anti-Tamil communal war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that lasted 26 years. This list goes on and on. In recent weeks, sections of the security forces and Buddhist monks, with the governments backing, have again stirred up communal tensions in the North and East of the country where the vast majority of ethnic Tamils and Muslims live. Edirisooriya is only the latest victim of a religious and racialist witch-hunt. The writer Shakthika Sathkumara was arrested in April 2019 after Buddhist extremist groups accused him of defaming Buddhism over a short story published on his Facebook account. Likewise, the CID questioned Malaka Devapriya, a film director and dramatist, on trumped-up charges of defaming Buddhism. On a similar false accusation of promoting Islam extremism, Ahnaf Jazeem, a poet, was arrested in May 2020 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He was released on bail only after 19 months. Such arrests, on the basis of complaints by Buddhist chauvinists, are part of an intensifying communal campaign. Opposing these reactionary religious ideologists and their divisive communalism is a serious political task confronting the working class. Only the SEP has an unblemished history of fighting against such attacks and state repression against the working class. With the intensification of the class struggle in every country, the ruling classes are shifting to dictatorial and autocratic forms of rule and promoting extreme-right and fascist outfits to attack the working class. This can only be defeated as part of the revolutionary struggle, under the leadership of the working class, to abolish capitalism which is nurturing these reactionary tendencies. Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer joined the witch-hunt of musician Roger Waters with a McCarthyite call for his performances in the UK to be cancelled. His efforts failed and the tour completed six succesful performances in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester. Waters steadfast criticism of NATOs war in Ukraine, defence of the Palestinians from Israeli state repression and support for the imprisoned anti-war journalist Julian Assange has earned him the ire of imperialist governments everywhere. The Pink Floyd co-founder was recently forced to fight a legal case in Germany to overturn the cancelling of a performance by the state of Hesse and is being investigated by the Berlin police department on charges of incitement of hatred. Roger Waters performing in Berlin on his This is Not a Drill tour Fearing to go after Waters directly for his anti-war views, vile and baseless accusations have been made by his opponents in politics and the media. They centre on the absurd claim Waters is promoting anti-Semitism because he dons a fascist-type uniform during his This is Not a Drill show in a section of it containing songs from Pink Floyds 1979 album, The Wall, which ruthlessly satirizes bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism and anti-communism. Using an avalanche of anti-Semitism slanders as a cover for a campaign of political suppression was pioneered in Britain in recent years against former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his supportersdriving them out of the Labour Party. With Waters international tour in the UK from May 31-June 10, the same forces were set in motion. Starmer and Conservative government Communities Secretary Michael Gove both penned public letters of condemnation this month on the request of the Zionist Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD), published last week. The BoD played a central role in the campaign against Corbyn. Starmers letter, dated June 1, 2023, is further to the right than Goves. The government minister feels obliged to say in his friendly reply, The Government is clear that everyone has a fundamental right to freedom of speech and artistic expression, so long as they remain within the law. Accusing Waters of reportedly falling short of the expectation to behave responsibly and not abuse his platform, he finishes, if you feel anything that Roger Waters says or does crosses the line into that which is unlawful, this should of course be reported to the Police. The Labour leader is in contrast unequivocal. Waters, he writes, has clearly espoused antisemitic views to his audiences and is synonymous with spreading deeply troubling antisemitism. There should be no artistic license for discrimination and racism, so Starmer concludes, I believe this show should not be allowed to go ahead. Views like this should not be given a platform. He promises to lend his voice to the BoDs efforts to pressure the public bodies in question. Starmer's June 1, 2023 letter to the Board of Deputies of British Jews calling for Roger Waters to be banned from performing [Photo: Labour Party] Starmers public demand to censor a major international artist confirms that the right-wing, pro-Zionist forces which spearheaded the campaign to oust Corbyn as Labour leader are fully in charge of the party, and that Starmer is the most direct mouthpiece of British imperialism and its state apparatus in British politics. His letter followed former Tory now Labour MP Christian Wakefords statement in parliament demanding Waters cancellation, and Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan sending representatives to the citys O2 arena to to express the concerns and issues raised by the Jewish community. Not one Labour MP has voiced opposition. The silence grows loudest around Corbyn and his allies in the Socialist Campaign Group, themselves tarred as anti-Semites and who presented themselves as leading defenders of the Palestinians and of Assange alongside Waters. Having bowed before and been complicit in the anti-Semitism witch-hunt of their own supporters so as not to clash with the Labour leadership, they will not take up a defence of Waters. The Labour lefts prostration before the Blairites has allowed the anti-Semitism witch-huntequating opposition to the State of Israel with hatred of Jewsto flourish, handing the ruling class a powerful weapon. The treatment of Waters proves that the purpose of the campaign always went beyond targeting Corbyn and was directed towards the intimidation of all left-wing, anti-imperialist sentiment. While Starmers letter came at the prompting of the BoD, he required no pressuring to denounce Waters. A former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Crown Prosecution Service, tasked with protecting the agents of British imperialism from legal sanction and punishing its enemies, the Labour leader is a state man through and through. Acting on behalf of the British and American security services, he oversaw the arbitrary detention of Assange in London under threat of seizure by the UK police. As a politician he leads his party in supporting the journalists onward extradition to the US to face life imprisonment under the Espionage Act for exposing war crimes and human rights abuses. Assanges persecution was central to the imperialist war drive which has now broken out in a de facto NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, which Starmer backs to the hilt as head of what he boasts is the party of NATO. While pledging to continue, if not extend, every aspect of the Tory governments commitment to the imperialist war effort, the Labour leaders chief role has been to suppress any trace of popular oppositionblackguarding the Stop the War Coalition and all critics of NATO. When this agenda is challenged, as by Waters, Starmer instinctively responds like a police state official without the faintest trace of democratic gloss. The assault on democratic rights is becoming more severe as the war crisis deepens and the wave of class struggle in Britain and internationally unleashed by the cost-of-living crisis spreads. Assange remains held in Britains maximum-security prison and at imminent risk of extradition. Publishers and journalists such as Kit Klarenberg are being detained at British borders under counter-terror laws for their involvement in popular protests, or for investigative reporting exposing NATO lies. Waters treatment is also of a piece with the jingoistic banning of Russian sportspeople and artists. Dissent around the NATO-Russia war, or anything which threatens to undermine the blanket demonisation of Russians, is off limits because the ruling class fears that these viewsquarantined by the corporate mediawill find a mass audience among workers being told to bear the costs of a conflict whose dangers escalate daily. Starmer is advancing himself as the point man of this dictatorial lurch amid the ongoing crisis in the ruling Tory Party, centred on Brexit divisions in the ruling class but fuelled by fear of the restive mood in the British working class. The Labour leader offers the ruling class a safe pair of hands to guide British imperialism through the greatest crisis of world capitalism since the Second World War and the inevitable revolutionary explosions this will unleash. In a surprise visit to Kiev on Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed another C$500 million in military assistance to the far-right Ukrainian regime, and pledged Ottawa would continue supplying weapons and funds to Kiev to wage war on Russia for as long as it takes. Coming as the major imperialist powers are carrying out a dramatic escalation of the US-NATO war with Russia, Trudeaus visit also saw Ottawa advocate for Ukraines membership in NATO, which would result in a direct military clash between nuclear-armed powers. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted by Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kiev, June 10, 2023 [Photo: Government of Ukraine] Trudeau was accompanied on his trip by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, a bellicose Ukrainian nationalist whose grandfather served as the editor of the only Ukrainian-language newspaper permitted in Nazi-occupied Europe. The pair held private talks with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, before Trudeau unveiled the new military support package at a joint press conference with Zelensky. Although the Prime Minister refused to specify how the funds would be spent, his remarks made clear that the military aid will contribute to the major escalation of NATOs participation in the conflict that is already under way. Canada committed to extending Operation Unifier, the training program for the Ukrainian army launched in 2015, until 2026. Canada will now train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, which are one of the main types of combat aircraft that NATO members are planning to provide Kiev. According to a press release by the far-right Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the aid package also includes additional supplies of 105mm ammunition, air-to-surface missiles, and a tank maintenance centre in Poland. Trudeau used his press conference with Zelensky to make provocative denunciations of Russia. This included accusing Moscow, without providing a shred of evidence, of being responsible for the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, and vowing it will be held accountable. The implications of Trudeaus statement are that Russia, by deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure, is guilty of war crimesthe very type of claim that the NATO powers, Canada included, have used to justify directly intervening in conflicts (as in the 1999 NATO war against Yugoslavia). Trudeau also boasted that Ottawa has already provided Kiev over $8 billion in aid, including well over $1 billion in military assistance, since Russias reactionary, US-NATO provoked Feb. 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This vast support for waging imperialist war against Russia has been implemented by a minority Liberal government with close ties to the trade unions, which have suppressed all working-class opposition to Trudeaus pro-war, pro-austerity agenda. At the unions behest, the social-democrats of the NDP have provided Trudeaus Liberals with their parliamentary majority since 2019. In March 2022, just one month after the war began, the NDP entered into a formal governmental alliance with the Liberals, guaranteeing to sustain the Trudeau government in office through June 2025. Zelenskys declaration at his joint press conference with Trudeau that Ukraines long-promised counter-offensive has begun underscores that the war in Ukraine is entering a new, even more explosive stage. Leading officials from the United States and other imperialist powers have repeatedly declared their commitment to the military defeat of Russia, while their governments significantly expand military activity throughout Europe. The latest high-point of this huge mobilization is the Air Defender 2023 exercise, a 12-day operation involving hundreds of fighter jets over German, Dutch, and Czech air space and thousands of soldiers on the ground. Participants have been given explicit instructions to train as you fight, increasing the likelihood that Russia will interpret activity near its borders as preparations for an all-out attack. Having staked everything on Ukraines counter-offensive producing a significant shift in the course of the war, the imperialist powers, including Canada, are being compelled by the logic of the conflict to expand their involvement. Both in his statements while in Ukraine and in a thirteen point joint declaration with Zelensky, Trudeau reiterated Canadas support for Ukraine accession to NATO membership, which is expected to be significantly advanced by the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius next month. The consequences of the wars intensification and expansion were explained in a recent World Socialist Web Site Perspective, which noted, The US-NATO war against Russia is evolving rapidly into a protracted struggle that is increasingly violent, bloody and global in character. The conflict has entered into the gravitational field of total warthat is, a war of unlimited destruction, complete disregard for life, and to which all social needs of the mass of the people are subordinated. Its corollary is the direct assault on the working class in all countries and the obliteration of democratic rights. Western propaganda claims that this is Putins unprovoked war and that Washington, Ottawa, London, Paris and Berlin are acting to save Ukrainian democracy. In reality, the Ukraine war was long prepared and instigated by the imperialist powers through their drive to strategically encircle Russia, harness Ukraine to NATO, and reorganize and rearm Ukraines military. Their aimas Foreign Minister Melanie Joly blurted out last Marchis to secure regime change in Moscow, reduce Russia to a semi-colony, and plunder its vast natural resources. The predatory aims of the imperialists correspond with the vicious anti-democratic forces they have cultivated to spearhead the war, above all the political descendants of Stepan Banderas fascist Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), whose militia have been integrated into Ukraines security forces. The OUN participated in the Nazi war of annihilation against the Soviet Union and was complicit in the Holocaust. Canadian imperialism plays a special role in this process, having developed over the past three-quarters of a century a close alliance with far-right nationalists from eastern Europe who collaborated with the Nazis during World War II and were subsequently given refuge in Canada. Freelands prominence in the government and in Trudeaus Kiev visit underlines that this alliance is more important than ever. With state-support, the far-right UCC is mounting a concerted campaign to censor and smear all opposition to the war. At his joint press conference with Trudeau, Zelensky acknowledged Ottawas outsized role in the war, declaring that Ukraine needs more friends like Canada. Canadas latest round of military assistance was announced less than two weeks after Ukraines Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, delivered a long list of requests for weapons in a video statement to the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, Canadas top arms manufacturers body. Noting the unusual character of the address, the CBC reported that Reznikov had bypassed the [Canadian] government to speak directly to the assembled executives. In reality, he was given the opportunity to do so by the Trudeau government, whose Defence Minister Anita Anand delivered the opening address but was conveniently absent when Reznikov spoke. Urging Canada to commit to long-term support, Reznikov said, Ukraine has given a list of their Canadian products and technologies it needs to the Canadian government. He emphasized that Kiev is closely following the Liberal governments defence policy review, which has been under way for more than a year. We expect, said Reznikov, that [a] substantial volume of technical assistance to Ukraine will be provided within the framework of the defence policy review. Ukraines Defence Minister went on to claim that the review will be released in July, although the Trudeau government has yet to inform the Canadian public of this. Even as the union-backed Trudeau government positions Canada in the front rank of the imperialist powers responsible for the escalation of the war with Russia, Ottawa is strengthening its involvement in US-led preparations for war with China. Late last year, the Liberal government released Canadas Indo-Pacific strategy. Drafted in close consultation with the White House, it is based on the Pentagons concept that the struggle against China requires military preparations across a vast geostrategic arena, including the entire Indian Ocean and Asian Pacific. The strategy calls for Canada to systematically expand its military and economic efforts in the region to confront Beijing, with which leading US military experts are publicly declaring American imperialism could be at war by as early as 2025. Last week, a serious incident was only narrowly avoided after Washington and Ottawa provocatively sailed a US destroyer and Canadian frigate through the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from Taiwan. Beijing responded by sailing a warship across the path of the two military vessels. Sections of the ruling elite dissatisfied with the Trudeau governments alleged failure to adopt a sufficiently hardline course towards China have made increasingly strident demands for Canada to go even further, including by seeking admission to the anti-China AUKUS military pact involving Australia, Britain, and the US. Over recent months, the main mechanism for this campaign has been the furor whipped up over lurid allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, based on illegal, anonymous leaks from senior sources within the intelligence agencies. These leaks, which have been presented by the corporate media as virtually akin to the gospel truth, have served not only to whip up animosity against China; but also to destabilize the Trudeau government, with a view to driving establishment politics sharply further right, with claims it has failed in its duty to defend Canada. Late last month former Governor General David Johnston, who was appointed by the Trudeau government to investigate the interference claims, released an interim report that said much of the information cited in the intelligence agency-fed media reports was either one-sided, unsubstantiated or misinterpreted. He also opposed the opposition parties and corporate medias clamour for a public inquiry. This provoked an outcry. On Friday, Johnston resigned as the governments Special Rapporteur on Chinese interference after a sustained campaign of vilification led by the official opposition Conservatives and their far-right leader Pierre Poilievre, and supported by the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP. The escalation of the NATO war against Russia over Ukraine is taking on ever more dangerous forms. Last week, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated that NATO ground troops could be deployed to Ukraine. At the same time, NATO is organizing massive military maneuvers with which the alliance practices for a direct intervention in the conflict. The most comprehensive exercises will take place in Germany beginning Monday. From 12 to 23 June, hundreds of fighter jets will be flying over the country as part of Air Defender 2023 and training for a state of total war. It is the largest aerial exercise in NATO history. In total, more than 10,000 soldiers from 25 nations are involved with 250 aircraft. They will be practising offensive maneuvers, potentially right up to the Russian border. Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont National Guard, taxi to an aircraft shelter on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, June 7, 2023, in preparation for Air Defender 2023 (AD23). [Photo: US Air Force Tech Sgt. Anthony Plyler] Here are some more key figures about the exercise: The Bundeswehr (German army) has a contingent of 60 aircraftincluding 30 Eurofighters and 16 Tornadosand four helicopters. The largest contingent of combat aircraft comes from the United States with 100. Around 90 percent of air traffic during the exercise will take place in German airspace or over the North and Baltic Sea coasts. Most missions start from locations in Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as from one location each in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Civilian air traffic will be prohibited for at least two hours daily in several areas during the exercise. Large parts of German airspace are being de facto transformed into a war zone. The official website of the Bundeswehr states on the maneuver: Depending on the activated airspace, the jet-fight practice flights take place from 2500 or 3000 meters altitude. Low-level flights of jets and cargo aircraft are planned in a part of the eastern air exercise area, the so-called Fight 1. This exercise area extends over northern Brandenburg, parts of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Baltic Sea. In addition, low-flying would take place at the military training sites Baumholder and Grafenwohr. Both the sheer scale of the exercise and its character make it clear that Air Defender 2023 is not simply a routine maneuver. It is a direct component of the NATO war offensive against Russia. Representatives of the German ruling class in particular, which has already tried to subjugate Russia militarily in the two world wars, openly state this. History has caught up with us, said Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Free Democrats), chairwoman of the Defence Committee of the Bundestag. We have a hot war by Russia against Ukraine. Military exercises such as Air Defender are always a signal to the other side: You show what you can do. Based on the script of the maneuver, this includes a comprehensive war effort against the nuclear-armed power Russia. According to a Wall Street Journal report: The baseline scenario involves the enemy taking the German port of Rostock, an attack that would trigger NATOs joint defense clause known as Article 5. The response includes recapturing the port and other infrastructure as well as defending cities and launching offensive measures. The other training elements also read like a blueprint for direct intervention in Ukraine. The scenarios include the fight against drones and cruise missiles, the protection of cities, airports and seaports as well as the direct support of ground troops, writes the Suddeutsche Zeitung. In addition, nuclear-capable F-16, F-35 and Bundeswehr tornado fighter jets will take part in the exercise, which, according to the Bundeswehr, will fly daily missions to Estonia and Romaniai.e., directly to the Russian border and towards the Black Sea. In doing so, the pilots and crews would fly according to the train as you fight principlewhich means that the Russian military leadership would have to assume potential acts of war are being launched. In a recent commentary on the escalation of the war, the World Socialist Web Site warned: Given the statements of leading US and NATO officials that they are committed to the military defeat of Russia, the Putin government will be compelled to interpret all these actions as possible preparations for NATO incursions into Russian territory. And in another article on the Ukrainian counter-offensive, we wrote: In the event of a military debacle for Ukraine, there exists the extreme danger that the NATO powers will respond with the declaration that they will implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine, involving NATO warplanes attacking Russian aircraft, and the deployment of ground troops from NATO member states into Ukraine. Regardless of whether Air Defender 2023 becomes the immediate starting point for NATOs direct intervention into the warand this danger existsthe maneuver is part of the development towards a third world war. From the point of view of the German government, the maneuver is not only part of the war mobilization against Russia. It is also aimed at re-establishing Germany as a military leader and war power. Germany as a host proves that we are not only talking about international responsibility, but also taking it on as a logistical hub in Europe and a leading nation in such a large exercise, boasted Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democrats). And Air Force Inspector General Ingo Gerhartz told the Wall Street Journal: Germany needs to take much more responsibility and sometimes take the lead among NATO nations here in Europe... And we prove with this exercise that we are capable of doing so. The fact that Gerhartz, of all people, declared yesterday, at the base of the Tactical Air Force Squadron 51 Immelmann in Jagel in Schleswig-Holstein, that the preparation of the maneuver was completed may have triggered particular unrest in Moscow. Last June, the air force chief openly threatened Russia with the use of nuclear weapons, stating: For a credible deterrent, we need both the means and the political will to implement the nuclear deterrent if necessary. The name Immelmann underlines the tradition in which the Luftwaffe operates. It is a tribute to the fighter pilot Max Immelmann, who shot down enemy aircraft during the First World War before he himself died in a mission on 18 June 1916. In the Third Reich, Immelmann was celebrated as a war hero and a unit was also named after him. The Battle Squadron 2 Immelmann played a central role in the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union and was used in numerous operations against Russian cities and positions of the Red Army on the Eastern Front. The war-mongering media is also beating the drums for war in a way that has not been experienced since Hitler and the Nazis. Thus, the editorial in the current issue of Der Spiegel calls for a massive increase in the German war effort to defeat Russia in Ukraine. The Ukrainian army needs even more urgent Western support now, writes head of the foreign affairs desk Mathieu von Rohr. The next few weeks and months will prove decisive. They will show whether Ukraine can repel the invading army. This war must not become frozen. Von Rohr praised Scholzs militaristic outburst of anger last weekend and noted with satisfaction: The good thing is that Germany and its Western partners have now understood: It is not enough to prevent Ukraine from losing. You have to help it win. After the billion-dollar supply of air defense, tanks and ammunition, the German government must now, as recently indicated by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, also examine the support of Western fighter jet deliveries. Von Rohr continues, The more successful the counter-offensive, the more hope there is for an end to the war. This argument corresponds to the murderous war logic of German militarism in the past century. The German elites in the Empire and among the Nazis also justified their total warfare with the cynical argument of wanting to achieve a quick victory peace or final victory. In fact, they prolonged the duration of the war, sacrificing millions more lives and committing increasingly horrific crimes. While the ruling class is once again preparing for total war, the opposition in the population is enormous. According to a survey by Infratest dimap published on June 1, 64 percent of Germans reject sending combat aircraft to Kiev. Only 28 percent support it. The thundering fighter jets over Germany in the next few days will further fuel resistance to militarism and war. The urgent task is to arm this opposition with a clear perspective. The only way to stop the catastrophe is to build a socialist movement of the international working class against war and its root cause: the capitalist profit system. This is what the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) and its youth organization, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), are fighting for. Iran's supreme leader said Sunday a deal with the West over Tehran's nuclear work was possible if the country's nuclear infrastructure remained intact, amid a stalemate between Tehran and Washington to revive a 2015 nuclear pact. Months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to salvage the nuclear accord with six major powers have stalled since September, with both sides accusing each other of making unreasonable demands. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's guarded approval comes days after both Tehran and Washington denied a report that they were nearing an interim deal under which Tehran would curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. "There is nothing wrong with the agreement (with the West), but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry should not be touched," Khamenei said, according to state media. A U.S. State Department spokesperson declined specific comment on Khamenei's remarks, reiterating the Biden administration stance that the United States "is committed to never allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon." "We believe diplomacy is the best way to achieve that goal on a verifiable and durable basis, but the president has also been clear that we have not removed any option from the table," he said, alluding to the possibility of military action. "We will not characterize the nature of an Iranian leader's remarks," the spokesperson added. The wife and son of an official at the Consulate General of North Korea in Vladivostok have reportedly gone missing, and Russian police believe they may have attempted to leave the country. According to Radio Free Asia, the 43-year-old wife and 15-year-old son of an official in his 60s disappeared in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Reports say they were last seen after leaving the consulate by taxi on June 4. Japan's Asahi Shimbun speculates that they may have left for China in order to defect to South Korea. Neither the consulate nor Russian authorities have confirmed any details of the incident. Indicators suggest that the Korean economy has bottomed out and is slowly recovering, especially in the manufacturing industry, the state-run Korea Development Institute said Sunday. "Exports declined sharply due to the global economic slowdown, but signs have emerged suggesting the recession has begun to ease," the KDI said. It stressed that semiconductor exports and shipments to China declined at a slower pace. Semiconductor exports declined 41 percent on-year in April but only 36.2 percent in May, while shipments to China fell 26.5 percent in April but only another 20.8 percent in May. Empty baggage trucks are seen by a Turkish airlines Boeing 777 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 11, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) An 11-year-old boy has died after he lost consciousness on a flight heading to New York after taking off from Istanbul. The Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Budapest, Hungary, where medics were unable to save the childs life according to the MTI news agency. The agency reported that the Airport Medical Service responded after flight TK003 made the emergency landing on Sunday, but the childs life couldnt be saved. The flight took off at 8.56am local time in Turkey, heading to JFK airport in New York. It was quickly diverted after the boy became unconscious, officials at Budapest International Airport said, according to the New York Post. The emergency landing took place at about 10.30am, with an ambulance ready to transport the boy and his family to a hospital. Airport Medical Service (AMS), the medical service operating at Ferenc Liszt International Airport, was alerted to the aircraft and continued to resuscitate the child, an airport spokesperson said, according to the Post. Despite the rapid and professional intervention, unfortunately, his life could not be saved. The aircraft continued its journey to its original destination. The identity of the child and the cause of death remains unclear. The Independent has reached out to Turkish Airlines for comment. Both horses were euthanized during the weekend of the Belmont Stakes after suffering "catastrophic" injuries during races Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Belmont Park races Two horses died after the Belmont Stakes during consecutive races at Belmont Park in New York over the weekend One horse, named Excursionniste, was euthanized on Saturday after suffering a "fatal injury to its left front leg" in the 13th race at Belmont Park, the Associated Press reported. Little Blue Bird Stables, who owned the horse, wrote on Twitter that they are "devastated" over the loss. "There's just no other word. He was our big, goofy, talented, crazy, 1 for 16 NYB superstar. We do everything as a team and will console as one for quite a while," the stables shared. A second horse, named Mashnee Girl, sustained similar injuries as Excursionniste in a Sunday race at Belmont Park located in Elmont, New York and was also euthanized, a New York Racing Association official confirmed on Twitter. "Per NYRA's Sr. Examining Veterinarian, Mashnee Girl sustained a catastrophic injury to her left front leg in R1 on Sunday and was humanely euthanized on track," the official wrote. "Jockey Jose Lezcano visited first aid and is cleared to ride." Related: Churchill Downs, Home of the Kentucky Derby, Suspends Racing After 12 Horses Die Both horses had the same trainer, Mark Henning. Speaking on the sad turn of events, Henning told NBC News the deaths were "horrible, horrible luck," as both horses were in "good, sound racing condition." "Neither one of them has been on a vet's list. They're clean-legged horses," Hennig said. "These horses were in good, sound racing condition. These two horses never had issues with these ankles, the same ankles that fractured." Related: 'Production Horse' Working with 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Dies on Set The horse trainer added, "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." Story continues (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Two horses died at Belmont Park at the weekend The Belmont Park horse deaths come shortly after Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) suspended its racing operations at Churchill Downs after a dozen horses died at the grounds over the past month, including seven horses that died in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby. Keith Dane, senior director of equine protection for the Humane Society (US), said in a statement that "systemic change is direly needed" to prevent more horse deaths in races. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "The stark reality is clear the horses do not always survive the races they are entered in," Dane said. "Obstructionists have unsuccessfully attempted to halt Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act implementation and stymie the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's granted powers." "Following the 12 horse deaths that occurred at Churchill Downs, the Authority used its statutory powers to step in and recommend the suspension of racing at the track. This marks a profound shift in prioritizing the safety and well-being of the animals at the heart of the industry. But it must continue." Dane added, "We urge the Authority and the rest of the industry to demonstrate a readiness to suspend races when horse safety and lives are on the line, and to establish meaningful penalties for horse deaths." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Riley was ready to jetset across the world until he learned Violet secretly told his father Riley will "forever be alone" TLC Riley isnt taking any more chances on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. The American man is heading to Vietnam with reinforcements or, at least, a private investigator on his beloveds trail. Riley met with the man via Zoom on Sunday nights episode and asked him to sort out a few things about Violets life, just days before he flies to meet her. Im looking for someone that can tell me that shes, now, telling me the real stories, Riley told the investigator. My main concern is is she really divorced? The other thing I would like to know is is she still on the dating app? Related: '90 Day': Riley Tells Violet 'I Love You' with an Obscene Gesture and She's on a Dating App TLC Riley admitted he once found Violet on the app using a different name during their relationship. The jump from unconditional love to PI comes after Riley learned Violet had sent over 150 texts to his own father who shes never met to vent about Riley. In their hardest moments, Violet shared she wouldnt ever be your daughter-in-law to the father, and even slammed Rileys character. The first text Riley read out loud said: I knew your son doesnt love me. The time we are together, he just loves [himself]. He never knows how is true love. So he forever will be alone. Related: 90 Day's Jasmine Greets Gino with a Red-Lipped Kiss as They Reunite After 5 Months: 'Oh Baby!' (Exclusive) TLC Rileys dad previously kept the texts a secret so as to not upset his son. But knowing Riley was ready to fly across the world for Violet, he brought them up in concern. I did not comment on it because I dont want to get in the middle of anything, his dad said. Riley was furious after the revelation. The texts that she sent to my father were sent when we were not really getting along because at the time, I was questioning her if she was telling the truth or not, Riley told cameras. It seems to me that Violet is taking advantage of my father to try to get to me, to manipulate him. Hes elderly. Hes sick. Who does that? Story continues There have already been some concerns in Rileys romance with Violet. He recently learned shes divorced, though he claimed she tried to hide the fact. He also wont say I love you after previous heartbreaks. The pair, instead, exchanges affirmations through giving each other the finger. 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. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Amazon.in Freedom Sale More than 1,900 Amazon employees around the world walked out in protest about the companys return-to-office mandate, which saw many workers being told to cut back on remote working and work from the office for at least three days per week. The event, live-streamed on Twitter by Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, the group representing dissatisfied Amazon workers, saw speakers also highlight various company policies, criticizing it for not being environmentally friendly. According to the group, workers from the US, Ireland, South Africa, China, Germany, Poland, Brazil, Canada, and Spain took part in the event virtually. Amazon workers protest Banners displayed by the disgruntled workers read: Earths Best Employer? Stop the PR; Listen to your employees, Stop greenwashing; and One size does not fit all. Another handwritten placard read: Been here 17 years. Does Amazon care about my opinion? Read more > These are the best job sites around > AWS CEO warns of some potential big changes this year > Amazon employees really aren't happy at being told to go back to the office Among the numerous concerns raised by the group are that the company has drastically undercounted its carbon footprint, that the pollution caused by its operations harm communities of color disproportionately, and that Amazon has turned back on some decisions including its commitment to make half of its shipments net-zero carbon by the end of the decade. Also of great importance during the walkout was the companys decision to make office working mandatory: a decision made public in February that saw uproar from company workers worldwide. Beyond the environmental impacts of traveling to work, which often requires families to have multiple vehicles, employees also report having more quality time with their families thanks to the reduction or elimination of the daily commute. Earlier this year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explained that physical collaborative working facilitates ad-hoc conversation and better learning, also citing positive impacts on the economies surrounding the companys offices. Amazon did not immediately respond to TechRadar Pros request for a comment on yesterdays protests. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has embarked on a grueling world tour lasting seven days and spanning four countries and three continents to present his new Netflix movie: Tyler Rake 2, which will be released on the platform on June 16. With little time to rest, the 39-year-old actor landed in Madrid this week for an intense but exciting promotional campaign. The man himself opens the door of his room in a central hotel in the Spanish capital to welcome EL PAIS. Im happy to be here. Madrid is one of my favorite cities in the world, says the actor, while a stopwatch shows the time limit established for the interview: 14 minutes. Perhaps he was not expecting so much affection from his Spanish fans, although he admits as he laughs, that he cannot explain why he has received so much attention: Im not sure if its about me or the fact that I married one of your lovely Spanish women [Elsa Pataky], but it was incredible. This is one of the biggest receptions Ive had in my career. He has an imposing physique and stands at a height of 1.90 meters, but is always approachable, friendly and, above all, a good joker. He has spent more than two decades in the world of acting and has garnered worldwide recognition thanks to his role as Thor, the god of war and savage fighting in the Marvel franchise. Now he returns to the screen in the role of Tyler Rake, a mercenary who takes on everything and everyone in his quest to accomplish his missions. When asked what they have in common, he jokes that they are: Roughly the same height, same color eyes, similar build. Before adding more seriously: I think we both have a pretty strong moral compass and North Star about right and wrong and justice and injustice. We certainly go about it in different ways. The most significant bond that unites Hemsworth and his character is his fatherhood, which has helped him in this role. He has three children with fellow actress Elsa Pataky, to whom he has been married since 2010 (India Rose, 10, and twins Tristan and Sasha, nine). His character has a child who dies of cancer. I empathize with the damage that has occurred from that. And touch wood that never happens to me and I never, ever experience it. But this year, the thought of it certainly opens up an emotional depth. Playing the character, if I didnt have kids, wouldnt have been as easily accessible, he admits. The first Tyler Rake movie is the ninth most watched film in Netflixs history. This success has aided the production of its sequel, which has a similar script with more action, more companionship, and it also allows us to get to better know the character played by the Australian. I think what separates us from the last film is the emotional journey, the character development, the motivations for who this character is, why he does what he does, complements the action. The integration of the two is whats so important. If you just have action, spectacle, visual, stunning stunts, but with no resonance to an audience on an emotional level, thats just noise. The actor says the filming was both exhausting and very demanding. Id come off the back of Thor, where the focus there is to get as big as I can and sculpt the body. But it was probably only a month later that I was on this set, so I didnt have time to lose it. It became about altering my training drastically, reducing my calorie intake, becoming more functional in my movements, more flexible, a lot more martial arts training. We shoot for 14 hours a day, and then we do stunt rehearsals at night. However, without a doubt, the most difficult thing for him was to maintain his concentration during the four months of recording: Its a pretty heavily weighted emotional story. You had to spend 12 hours a day for four months convincing yourself you are this person, along with the endurance, and trying to maintain your energy. I have a hangover and residual effects from that. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth at the premiere of 'Tyler Rake 2' on June 7. J.P.GANDUL (EFE) His passion for action movies stems from his childhood, when he lived between Melbourne and Bulman, a city located in the north of Australia. I grew up on a lot of big entertaining action films of Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Stallone. I would watch and then jump in the backyard with my brothers and recreate those situations. It was just sheer fantasy and a vivid, childlike experience that captured what motivated me to want to be an actor. Initially it was being on an adventure, later on in my career I realized the artistry to it resonated with me and that creative outlet was very important. A childhood that was also shaped by his parents profession: My parents worked in child protection for many years. My dad put aside his own experiences in life to be in servitude of helping children. The influence of my parents and what I grew up with in that environment that motivation was a huge inspiration. We have to put aside our own personal well-being to help others. The advice and influence from his family shaped Hemsworths film career. Despite his god-like status in fiction and the prestige that surrounds him, he has learned to always keep his feet on the ground and adjust his mindset: My mom said this to me years ago is just have fun, but I got bogged down in the expectation ahead of myself and the hopes and dreams of what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to shoot for the stars and its a lot of weight to carry. Ive learned to stop looking so far ahead, he adds in an interview during which he does not say a single word in Spanish the few words he did say at the premiere in Madrid were scribbled on his hand. When he was starting out as an actor, he had one clear motivation: to bring money home to help his family. We grew up with no money, very broke. I thought I could make some money here and get my parents out of debt and pay for the house and help friends and family. I think its just staying true to yourself and being aware of the constant change. This is my one rule for life, and it will never change that. Another of the principles on which he has been focusing the most in recent years of his career is to carefully choose the role he accepts and how much he can develop that character. He has always left the door open to a third release of Tyler Rake, albeit with new touches: It requires and deserves something unique and fresh. Something he has requested for the continuation of his role as Thor in Marvel: In Thor: Ragnarok it happened. You can still be the same character, but you can surprise the hell out of an audience and you dont have to stay within a box and have it be predictable. I think the audience deserves and expects you to change it up. They want to be surprised. There needs to be spontaneity. Although at no time has he rejected the idea of continuing to play Thor, he will only do so if there is not a good story to follow: I feel confident in my ability to recreate the character and do something that is fresh. I dont want to be playing the character when people are rolling their eyes or they are killing me on the set in a wheelchair and Im still trying to swing the hammer. Theres a point when you say, Ive got to get out before that happens. A staggering 56 million people follow Hemsworth on social media. Even so, he prefers to stay away from the opinions and criticism that comes his way on the platforms: Its human nature to be affected by those opinions. But Ive certainly gotten better at it. Id like to think it is less about me and more about whatever that persons going through. I empathize with that. Despite his hectic schedule in recent days, he has been on a hiatus since the end of 2022. In November, Hemsworth discovered he had an increased risk of Alzheimers, which has made him realize the importance of time: Ive had seven or eight months off and its been great. Ive re-energized and had an incredible time with my family. I need an outlet here to be creative. The timer reaches its end. He gets up from his seat and with his characteristic kindness bids farewell. He has some interviews left and a flight to catch the next day, leaving him little time to rest and visit Madrid. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The post Black Panther 2 Star Tenoch Huerta Denies Sexual Assault Allegation appeared first on Consequence. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta has denied a sexual assault accusation by musician and activist Maria Elena Rios. Over the weekend, Rios posted a series of tweets calling Huerta a violator and sexual predator while accusing him of sexually assaulting her. Its very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and the abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved around the world for playing a character in a movie such as Tenoch Huerta, she wrote. In a statement released on Monday, Huerta called the allegation false and completely unsubstantiated, and claimed that he and Rios had an entirely consensual relationship that lasted several months. About a year ago, I dated Elena for several months, Huerta said. Throughout it was a loving, warm and mutually supportive relationship. After it ended, however, Elena began to misrepresent our interactions both privately and in front of groups of mutual friends. He continued, As a result, a few months ago, I engaged a legal team to commence the appropriate actions to protect my reputation and refute these irresponsible and false accusations that can cause great prejudice and damage. Although I am by no means perfect, I know that these allegations are simply untrue. And while I will always work to improve myself, I need to contest claims that are both false and offensive. Rios posted the allegations on Saturday after Mexican activist organization Poder Prieto for whom Huerta is a spokesperson shared an episode of the podcast El Feisbuk de la Malinche featuring Rios on social media. Rios, a former member of Poder Prieto, accused the collective of both airing the podcast without her consent and not compensating her for her work. Story continues When Poder Prieto responded by saying it was only promoting the episode, Rios accused the organization of protecting the sexual predator Huerta. After another person on Twitter asked if Huerta had sexually assaulted her, Rios confirmed the allegation. In addition to starring as King of Atlantis Namor in Wakanda Forever, Huerta has appeared in The Forever Purge and Narcos: Mexico. Les deje muy claro a mi salida de su secta que protege al violentador y DEPREDADOR sexual de @TenochHuerta que no publicaran nada de mi. Todavia fueron a buscarme a un concierto bola de hipocritas para evitar escandalos por su pelicula de @MarvelLATAM. No ando jugando @LaMZapata https://t.co/3wf1ofyFx1 i (@_ElenaRios) June 10, 2023 Y por que no denunciaste? Dicen los que viven en un pais machista, donde la justicia es inalcanzable donde casi te matan y ni aun asi te creen ni llega la justicia. Y no, no quiero ser famosa. Y no, no quiero dinero porque se trabajar. i (@_ElenaRios) June 11, 2023 Black Panther 2 Star Tenoch Huerta Denies Sexual Assault Allegation Eddie Fu Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Adversity, it is said, is the truest test of character. When times are flush and problems scarce, few will have to find a way to rise to the occasion when the occasion has risen for them. Gov. Joseph Sayers was a man who faced many crises in his life and faced even greater crises as governor as the state weathered a number of natural disasters. Even in the face of disaster, Sayers found ways to pave a path forward for Texas. Joseph Draper Sayers was born in Granada, in northern Mississippi, in 1841. It was a family of farmers, as most families were at that time. Tragedy befell the family while he was still young. His mother died in 1851; and as a result, his distraught father moved him and his younger brother to Texas to start over. Eventually, the family settled in the Bastrop area, and the two brothers both attended the Bastrop Military Institute. When the Civil War erupted, he and his brother both enlisted in the Confederate army. As it turned out, Sayers would become one of the last Civil War veterans to serve as Texas governor. He served in the 5th Texas Cavalry and was noted for his bravery in actions in New Mexico and Louisiana. The war put his life in danger often, but he pressed on in the face of steadily advancing Union armies. He was twice wounded in combat and rose to the rank of major before the Confederate surrender in 1865. After returning to Bastrop, Sayers decided not to live a life of bitterness and regret but instead chose to give back to the community and build a future. Though Sayers never attended college himself, he nevertheless continued his own education and worked to bring opportunities to others. He opened a school in Bastrop and began studying law at night. Within a year, he gained admission to the state bar and began practicing law. In 1872, Sayers was elected to the state senate and steadily moved up the political ladder. He would go on to serve as chairman of the State Democratic Committee; and in 1878, he was elected lieutenant governor. He was elected to the first of seven terms in Congress in 1884, eventually rising to chair the House Appropriations Committee for the 1893-1894 term, one of the most coveted and respected positions in Congress. In 1898, he was elected as the states twenty-second governor. Story continues In the spring of 1899, Texas faced major flooding as spring rains relentlessly soaked the state. The Brazos River overflowed its banks, causing many people to flee for their lives. Sayers stepped forward immediately to make sure state authorities helped those in danger and later helped those rebuild. In 1900, Galveston was devastated by the deadliest hurricane in American History when more than 6,000 people died. Sayers immediately dispatched food, medicine, and state personnel to the devastated city to help survivors in the face of impending starvation, disease, and riots. Impressed with his response to these disasters and management of the state, voters re-elected Sayers in 1900. He advocated a number of reforms as governor, most concentrating on anti-trust laws. He worked to ban railroad rebates to preferred customers, insisting customers be treated equally. Labor unions were exempted from anti-trust laws as they had become targets of many early anti-trust lawsuits. He also worked to expand education funding. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Bridges: As governor, Sayers navigated state through disasters [Source] A man has been detained for attempting to climb the worlds fifth-tallest building, which is located in Seoul. What happened: George King-Thompson, 24, was seen free climbing Lotte World Tower, a 123-story, 555-meter (1,820-feet) skyscraper, without rope or safety equipment on Monday. The man, who is a British national, managed to reach the buildings 73rd floor before South Korean authorities were able to convince him to step into a maintenance cradle. He was reportedly taken into custody by the authorities for interrogation. "He finally gave in and we arrested him at the scene for obstruction of official business," an official from the National Police Agency told AFP. "He is currently being questioned at a police station in Seoul's Songpa district." More from NextShark: Single Chinese Nurse Asks Government to Give Her a Boyfriend For Fighting Coronavirus Not the first time: King-Thompson, who was first identified by local media outlets, was detained back in 2019 for attempting to free-climb The Shard, a 95-story skyscraper in London. More from NextShark: Japan dismisses South Korea complaint over new textbooks that distort historical, territorial facts Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Passenger traveling from Bali to Australia fined $1,800 over hidden McMuffins Delaware unanimously dismisses ethics complaint against representative who called Asian women 'ch*nk broads' For Dane County Supervisor Rick Rose, the constituent call he received was unlike anything he had dealt with in his time in office. The call came from a mother in his district, fearing for the emotional well-being of her 13-year-old transgender son had seen news about rights being taken away and was fearful he would not be able to receive the medical care he needed. This one hit me at the heart, this one hit me directly. Rose, who is gay, said of the call. Rose introduced a resolution to make Dane County a sanctuary for transgender and nonbinary people, amid what LGBTQ advocates describe as a historic nationwide attack on the rights of LGBTQ people nationwide. The LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) flag is painted on State Street outside the Capitol in Madison on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Dane County, including Madison, is looking to become the first county in the state to declare itself a "sanctuary" for transgender and nonbinary people. Thirty-one out of 37 county supervisors, including Rose, have already expressed their support for the resolution, which will be voted on in the coming weeks in a county that is a leading liberal bastion of the state. The resolution is mostly focused on stating the countys support for transgender and nonbinary individuals. It also instructs local law enforcement to make enforcement of any potential prohibitions on gender-affirming care including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-confirmation surgery the lowest enforcement priority for the sheriff's office. A problem that municipalities in Wisconsin face is the lack of power they have relative to the state government, whose laws preempt theirs, explained Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, a supporter of the resolution. But a tool they can use is deciding what kinds of cases law enforcement chooses to prioritize within the limitations of their time and resources, she said. I think the chief put it really well at one point (when he said) he's not a doctor, his officers are not doctors and they are not equipped to understand whether somebody is accessing care in a way that is appropriate or not, Rhodes-Conway said, referring to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes. Similar resolutions have been passed in recent years in Kansas City, Austin, and Harris County, which is home to Houston. Story continues Both the Dane County Sheriff and the Dane County District Attorney declined to comment for this article. For Madison Ald. Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, who is the first openly trans woman to hold office in Madison, even the messaging portion of the resolution, which affirms Dane Countys commitment to protect transgender and nonbinary individuals, is significant. If I had a family and surroundings that understood and accepted me, I believe that I would have been able to accomplish a lot of things that I have, in my whole being, a lot sooner, Martinez-Rutherford said. She expressed hope that the resolution would allow trans youth in Madison to feel the acceptance they need and said she planned to introduce a similar resolution for the Madison Common Council. 'A hostile political landscape' For AJ Hardie, who is trans and the program director of the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center in Madison, the resolution comes at a particularly difficult moment for transgender people, both in Wisconsin and across the United States. Hardie cited the increase in recent years legislation that attempts to ban trans individuals from receiving certain types of medical care or weakens non-discrimination laws against trans people. More than 490 such bills have been introduced nationwide, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, though none so far this year in Wisconsin. To be such a small minority of the population and to receive so much negative attention, so much hate and vitriol and really dangerous language and action too, a lot of it is a backlash to what has been perceived as growing social acceptance. Hardie said. A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School found that 1.4% of American youth identify as transgender. For adults, the number is just 0.5% of the total population. Wisconsin Republicans reversed a ban on counselors practicing conversion therapy in January a practice of attempting to change a gay person's sexual orientation. Lawmakers argued the state had overstepped its authority by offering the ban. Democrats opposed the measure, citing research that showed the practice's harmful effects on the mental health of patients. And in 2022, Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, introduced legislation to bar doctors from performing gender confirmation surgery for anyone under 18. More: Wisconsin Republicans join national effort to ban gender confirmation surgeries for transgender youth The legislation did not pass last year, but Allen told the Journal Sentinel he is planning to introduce a similar measure later in the session. Allen declined to comment on the Dane County resolution but said his desire to ban gender confirmation surgery for minors is an effort to protect youth. We want to help people who need help, Allen said. We want to provide the resources and support and the love that they need, while not resorting to drastic measures that are permanent that they may someday regret. He cited the fact that Sweden, an early adopter of gender-affirming care for trans youth, had backed away from the practice in 2023. Allen also likened gender dysphoria to anorexia, saying, what if we affirmed the anorexic's belief? That is medical malpractice. Hardie disagreed, citing studies that show that transgender youth who receive gender-affirming care have lower rates of depression and suicide. Hardie argued that the issue at hand was one of bodily autonomy, as did Rhodes-Conway and Martinez-Rutherford. Any healthcare decision that an individual makes should be between that individual and their medical providers, Hardie said. James Madara, a doctor who serves as the CEO of the American Medical Association, wrote a letter to the National Governors Association in April 2021 warning that passing legislation similar to Allens would represent a dangerous governmental intrusion into the practice of medicine that could hurt transgender children. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dane County resolution would protect healthcare for transgender people The 76th Annual Tony Awards - Show - Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions The 2023 Tony Awards were able to continue to air as planned this year on the condition that it be unscripted so as not to cross the Writers Guild of American picket lines. This resulted in a show that stumbled through a few hiccups but bolstered some savage moments like when actress Denee Benton likened current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a Grand Wizard, the title given to white supremacist leaders within the Ku Klux Klan. And while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard Im sorry, excuse me, governor of my home state of Florida, Benton casually stated to the roaring applause of the audience while presenting the award for the 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award. She continued: I am sure that he will be changing the name of this following town immediately. We were honored to present this award to the truly incredible and life-changing Jason Zembuch Young, enhancing the lives at students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. More from Rolling Stone DeSantis, who recently announced his presidential bid, has spent his last four years in office championing racist and discriminatory legislative policies, particularly those restricting school curriculums. And even before he was elected, his campaign for governor against Andrew Gillum Floridas first-ever Black candidate for governor was littered with racist remarks, like the time he essentially called his opponent a monkey on Fox News. To no ones surprise, hes also taken aim at the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this year, DeSantis signed new laws that included an expansion of his Dont Say Gay bill, which pushes for a ban on gender-affirming care, restrictions on bathroom use, and restrictions on drag. Story continues Meanwhile, last nights Tony Awards saw Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee, two Black actors, make history as the first non-binary people to win Tony Awards. My mother raised me to understand that the gifts God gave me were not about me, Ghee said in their acceptance speech. To use them to be effective in the world. For every trans, nonbinary, gender non-conforming human whoever was told they couldnt be, couldnt be seen, this is for you. Some Like It Hot and that aint bad. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) took aim Monday at former President Trumps Supreme Court picks, vowing to do better than his 2024 rival in picking justices. Conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt asked DeSantis if he would pledge to Republican primary voters that his judges would be like the three home runs that Trump nominated to the high court. Well, actually, I would say well do better than that, DeSantis responded. I mean, I respect the three appointees he did, but none of those three are at the same level of Justices [Clarence] Thomas and Justice [Samuel] Alito, DeSantis continued. I think they are the gold standard, and so my justices will be along the lines of a Sam Alito and a Clarence Thomas. Trumps three nominees Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett delivered a 6-3 conservative majority at the Supreme Court that has enabled a number of conservative legal victories, including overturning Roe v. Wade as well as expanding gun and religious rights. But the court doesnt always show a straight conservative-liberal split in its politically charged cases. On Thursday, Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the courts liberals in striking down Alabamas Republican-drawn congressional map, upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in its current form. DeSantis for weeks has touted the records of Alito and Thomas, two of the courts most conservative justices, who joined the bench prior to Trumps presidency, while notably steering clear of highlighting Trumps nominees. Just prior to announcing his campaign, DeSantis envisioned expanding the conservative majority even further, publicly touting how he could shape a 7-2 court if elected to two terms as president. And in Florida, I inherited a very liberal state supreme court, maybe the most liberal in the country, very activist, DeSantis told Hewitt on Monday. But I was able to replace three of the four liberals my first month in office with conservative justices, he added. Ive since been able to make a number of appointments since then. So we now have the most conservative state supreme court in the country. And so I think we have a really good track record on doing that. Story continues DeSantis had heaped praise on Gorsuch and Barrett when Trump nominated them. If you created a nominee from scratch with the goal of filling Scalias large shoes, such a nominee would look a lot like Neil Gorsuch, DeSantis, a congressman at the time, tweeted in January 2017. When Trump nominated Kavanaugh, however, who has become viewed as the so-called median justice on the Supreme Court, DeSantiss accolades werent as strong. Whether Kavanaugh will be a fearless defender of Constitution in mold of Justice Thomas remains to be seen. Lets hope so! DeSantis said at the time. Updated at 2:09 pm ET. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Documentary film editors are like crash test dummies, according to Alexis Johnson. You keep letting yourself crash, assuming the seatbelts will work, over and over again just to see what impact a scene is having on you. If I am going to harness a feeling, I have to feel it myself, she said, recalling working on director Alex Gibneys powerful 2021 documentary The Forever Prisoner, about the CIAs interrogation treatment of prisoner Abu Zubaydah. In addition to the countless hours reworking scenes of waterboarding and other harsh treatments, Johnson edited a sequence that depicts the technique of playing high-decibel music to terrorize a prisoner. It was particularly grueling, as Johnson repeatedly subjected herself to the Red Hot Chili Peppers cacophonous Give It Away for hours while shaping the depiction of Zubaydah being tortured by the same song. More from IndieWire By the end of working on The Forever Prisoner, Johnson said, she was not in a good headspace, without knowing why. It is a common phenomenon that is finally being addressed. The documentary film industry is in crisis, said Rebecca Day, a British psychotherapist who is a co-founder of DocuMentality, an initiative being led by her private practice, Film in Mind, and concerned filmmakers who are pushing the documentary film community to talk more openly about the issue of mental health. We can easily say that. Our research backs that up. DocuMentality, led by one of its cofounders, clinical social worker Malikkah Rollins, hosted a symposium and released a report at this Mays Hot Docs documentary film festival in Toronto. The report came after more than 150 filmmakers from the U.S., Canada and Great Britain were divided into 21 focus groups, 100 percent of whom reported having mental health struggles as a direct result of making films, according to Day. Story continues At the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a Columbia Journalism School project focused on supporting journalists who cover trauma, there has been a huge change, according to its executive director Bruce Shapiro. In the past two years, more than a dozen production companies, including first-time filmmakers and Academy Award winners, have commissioned the Dart Center for training and consultation. Until recently, we had very limited engagement or interest from the documentary world, Shapiro says. Day and other psychotherapists are becoming a regular presence at industry gatherings, including film festivals, where they are invited to host workshops and panel discussions. At this years Sundance Film Festival, Utahs Huntsman Mental Health Institute oversaw a Coping with PTSD for Documentary Filmmakers panel, where Oscar-nominated filmmakers Matthew Heineman and Jehane Noujaim spoke vividly about their own struggles. Heineman gave emotional testimony about suffering from PTSD and having perpetual nightmares after being embedded with Mexican drug cartels (Cartel Land) and American forces in Afghanistan (Retrograde). These films change you. They change who you are. They change you physiologically, said Heinemen, who described the severe psychological strain of receiving desperate entreaties for help from Afghans trying to flee the Taliban. This public discourse comes on the heels of the pandemic, which prompted a sea change of mental health awareness in all trades. In the documentary world, the momentum had already been building after a series of tragic suicides, albeit each with its own complicated backstory rooted in unique histories of depression not necessarily related to the profession. Yet, considered together, their impact on nonfiction filmmakers as a group has been palpable. In 2014, Swedish documentarian Malik Bendjelloul died by suicide a year after winning an Oscar for his Searching for Sugar Man. And although he worked on big-budget feature films, the death of British location scout Michael Harm in 2017 propelled a film and media industry-wide discussion in Great Britain. The non-profit organization, The Film and TV Charity, responded to Harms death by conducting a much-publicized survey of professionals, including nonfiction filmmakers, which found that more than half of respondents had considered taking their own lives. And then in March 2019, Andrew Berends, a documentary director (Delta Boys) and cameraman (Free Solo) beloved in the American documentary film world, died by suicide after struggling with depression and having received a diagnosis of Parkinsons. Iraq in Fragments director James Longley wrote movingly in Documentary Magazine, the publication of the International Documentary Association (IDA), about Berends, with words that could clearly resonate with his peers. It was probably in Iraq where Andy both found his calling and lost himself. He lost himself in conveying the stark realities of other people, in becoming their voice, their witness, Longley wrote. The things he saw took their toll. Our only defense is a movie camera, and it can be a very thin shield to hold back the enormity of the world. Berends death was a huge reckoning, according to Doug Block, a veteran documentarian and DocuMentality cofounder. Documentary filmmakers tend to be good people who want to help humanity, he said. They dont think of themselves. And they are suffering. Block, who founded the D-Word, an online gathering of more than 22,000 documentary professionals, says that Berends death was a big motivating factor behind the D-Word starting an online thread about mental health, which quickly accumulated an unprecedented number of posts marked by exceptional length and extraordinary candor, according to Block. Documentary Magazine continued the conversation by publishing a first-person essay in early 2021 by veteran documentary cinematographer Jenni Morello, in which she described harrowing work experiences that inspired long-after-production crying jags in the supermarket aisle. Morello wrote of documentary filmmakers becoming empathy sponges and how eventually the sponge becomes full. The magazine also dedicated a special issue to mental health in the fall of 2021. If filmmakers werent having to struggle so hard to survive, they would have more time to process the impact of the films they work on, said Day, the psychotherapist, who is also a former documentary filmmaker. She had seen such a critical need for care that she took three years to train so that she could specifically treat people who work in documentary films. Over the past five years, her practice, Film in Mind, has treated patients with a list of ailments that include chronic fatigue, addiction, development of autoimmune diseases, back pain, inability to sleep, and loss of appetite. Day points to two main pressure points: The inherent psychological challenges of making non-fiction films about traumatizing subjects and the difficulties that filmmakers face working in an industry that can be maddening to navigate, lacking in resources, and isolating because of its hierarchical structure, diffuse community and often solitary work. She describes two kinds of trauma; first hand, because many filmmakers, such as Matthew Heineman, expose themselves to dangerous conditions and also because many directors are drawn to themes that they have personal experience with. And there is also secondhand, or vicarious, trauma, where the filmmakers absorb the hurt and distress of their subjects. This can happen in the field or after, particularly when directors and editors spend days watching and rewatching hours of filming. The role of filmmakers can be a lot like therapists, said Day, who expresses incredulity that documentarians expose themselves to such intense work without the proper training of, say, therapists, who maintain networks of supervision support and see their own therapists. It wouldnt be ethical to do what we do if we didnt have the right training, she said. Filmmaking can be hell on earth and it can rest in your muscles and in your pores, said Victim/Suspect director Nancy Schwartzman, who has made three films about sexual assault (Roll Red Roll), including her first documentary, The Line, in which she confronts her own assailant. Victim/Suspect, which came out in May on Netflix, is about sexual assault survivors who are accused by the police of making false reports. Victim/Suspect Netflix When she is done filming, Schwartzman does lots of stuff to care for herself, including body work and therapy. Its your job to work on yourself, she said, adding that making documentaries can also be amazing and she feels joy in her work. But its not for everybody. I find digging into terrible actions and dark human impulses helps me feel more empowered and less victimized, Schwartzman added, acknowledging the paradoxical nature of making a documentary that is not about you, but because you are the filter, it absolutely has to go through you. Schwartzman partly felt comfortable working with cinematographer Jenni Morello on Victim/Suspect after having read her essay in Documentary Magazine. Both filmmakers are careful about who they collaborate with. The two had many conversations about the heaviness, according to Morello, of what they were portraying. Throughout the Victim/Suspect shoot, members of the production would check in on each other. The filmmakers made sure that they could count on each other so that, most important, they could hold space, says Schwartzman, for the films subjects to feel comfortable, even empowered, during interviews. These sorts of deliberate, intentional conversations between filmmakers are happening with greater frequency, according to documentary director and editor Chithra Jeyaram. I work best with filmmakers who understand that theres a clear intrinsic value in a project, she said. If the incentive is for a festival or to pay the bills, its not going to be fruitful. It has taken more than a decade for Jeyaram to achieve what she calls an equilibrium regarding her personal life and work as a filmmaker. In 2014, primarily distraught over her unfulfilled desire to become a mother, she attempted to take her own life. She was diagnosed with severe situational depression. In the mental health ward, where she was not allowed electronic devices, Jeyaram saw a newspaper article where she read about Bendjelloul. It was shocking to Jeyaram to see such a vivid example of how success could not bring happiness. How we process the journey is far more important than the outcome, she said. As a filmmaker and as a human being, I understand that much better now. For the past five years, Jeyaram has been working on a documentary, Our Daughters, about adoption. It has given me so much joy. Making the film has broadened my understanding of motherhood, she said. I wasnt expecting that. I had thought it would help me learn how to adopt. The film has accumulated many of the grants and sort of festival and foundation support that gives it a chance to be recognized by the industry, but Jeyaram is adamant about keeping her priorities straight. I am in the place where if the film doesnt do well in the marketplace, it will be OK, she said. It has already done for me, as a human being, what I had hoped for. This reframing of success is one of the major goals that DocuMentality hopes can help alleviate some of the stresses of being a documentary filmmaker. But changing filmmakers minds is just one step. Day and others are hoping that structural change is also possible, starting with making access to funding less hierarchical and alienating. We need to equalize the position of filmmakers with funders and broadcasters and the organizations that support films, Day said. We need to change the power balance so that filmmakers feel that they have autonomy. Normalizing mental health support for filmmakers would be another achievement, according to Day. Streaming companies such as Netflix and Max are beginning to offer certain productions mental health supervisors to assist filmmakers. Morello, for instance, was offered such support by Netflix on Victim/Suspect. Day also imagines a formalized health and safety assessment for productions so that funders and filmmakers are locked in on the potential strains that could come from greenlighting a documentary that might last years. Putting up guard rails would undoubtedly help filmmakers, but theres no way to entirely protect those who choose to portray the most disturbing reaches of human experience. The Dart Centers research director, Elana Newman, a professor of psychology at the University of Tulsa, described a dance of approach and avoidance when it comes to documentarians who portray trauma. Theres a dance when anyone is responding to something traumatizing, she said. They either go straight for it or they are repelled by it. This paradoxical tension has always been at play in documentaries that portray suffering, and its becoming part of the vernacular both on screen and off. For example, at Sundance this year, the heart-wrenching and disturbingly graphic documentary 20 Days in Mariupol portrays the horrors of the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the film, which will be released in July, Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov narrates, My brain wants desperately to forget all this but the camera wont let it happen. According to Newman, Chernovs narration embodies the complexity of both a traumatized mind as well as the perspective of the documentary filmmaker. Now that documentaries are telling more stories about trauma, she said. Filmmakers are coming to us because they dont have the tools for working through these very complicated issues. We try to help them. 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. The Activision Blizzard booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press) The Federal Trade Commission is moving to block the tech giant Microsoft from acquiring the gaming powerhouse Activision Blizzard, a spokesperson for the agency said. "We have filed a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent them from closing while review continues, the FTC spokesperson said, citing reports that the two companies could close the deal soon. "We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court," Brad Smith, Microsoft's vice chair and president, said in a statement emailed to The Times. "We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S. will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market." In early 2022, Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella announced a plan to buy Activision Blizzard the Santa Monica maker of popular gaming franchises including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft for $68.7 billion. That push came after a protracted series of scandals in which Activision Blizzard employees alleged that the company, run by CEO Bobby Kotick, harbored a hostile, sexist, discriminatory workplace. Californias Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against the video game maker, and some employees sued. A settlement with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission led Activision to establish an $18-million fund for workers who experienced sexual harassment or discrimination at the company, among other types of workplace misconduct. The company denied all wrongdoing. Nadella has expressed ambitions of changing the company's culture. The FTC's latest move "is a welcome update and one that accelerates the legal process," Kotick said in a blog post Monday. "Our excellent legal team has been preparing for this move for more than a year, and we're ready to present our case to a federal judge who can evaluate the transaction on the merits." Late last year, the FTC said it would seek to block the acquisition, saying that a merger would harm competition in the gaming market. Story continues Microsofts bid to buy the gaming company came amid a wider acquisition spree by the Redmond, Wash., corporation and a crackdown on tech mergers by FTC Chair Lina Khan. Under the Biden appointees leadership, the FTC has blocked mergers between Nvidia and SoftBank Groups Arm Ltd. as well as Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings. This year, the Microsoft-Activision deal cleared regulatory hurdles in both Japan and Britain. "Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have represented in the past that they cannot close their deal due to antitrust reviews of the transaction in other jurisdictions," the FTC spokesperson said in an email. "But Microsoft and Activision have not provided assurances that they will maintain that position." Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. House Republicans said the evidence they had collected on the financial transactions of President Joe Bidens family members would make the Watergate scandal look like jaywalking. So in early May, people tuned in to watch Rep. James Comer of Kentucky and other Republican members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee attempt to explain how members of the Biden family had received money from foreign businesses while Biden was in office as vice president through a tangled web of financial ties that fell short of directly tying the money to Biden. Standing in the background was a mild-mannered Kansan Rep. Jake LaTurner. I had somebody bring it up and say, I saw him standing behind Comer, he looked kind of mean and needs to be the Jake we know, said state Sen. Tim Shallenburger, a Baxter Springs Republican who has been a fixture of Kansas politics for decades. And I said, he is. He just is on a big committee and you stand behind him and you get your picture in the paper. Thats how it works. LaTurner, a Republican from southeastern Kansas, has been on the Oversight Committee since he arrived in Washington in 2021. But since Republicans took control in January, the committee, packed with some of the loudest voices in Congress, has aimed its lens directly at the White House. In order to get to LaTurner in a committee meeting, one has to sit through comments from some of the most polarizing members of Congress. There are two members of the progressive Squad Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat. And there are several members of the ultra-right House Freedom Caucus including Arizona Republicans Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, who has been connected to white nationalists, Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican known for supporting the QAnon conspiracy theory, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, who has also supported QAnon conspiracy theories but appears to be currying favor with McCarthy. Story continues LaTurner paints himself as the levelheaded voice on the committee. I see my role as being a good committee member that is not distracted by flashy politics, but putting my head down and doing the work and doing the research and making sure that we are that were conducting legitimate oversight, LaTurner said in an interview with the Star. But his presence on the committee signifies that LaTurner, who was first elected to the Kansas Senate at 24, is aware he is a member of a Congress where public attention can be as valuable as passing meaningful legislation. The committee is made up of all kinds of people, Shallenburger said. And isnt it good that theyve got levelheaded folks on there as well. Hes Republican and he disagrees with the Democrats and he disagrees with Biden on a number of things, but hes not necessarily mean spirited about it. Over the past few decades, more of the major pieces of legislation in Congress have been driven by party leaders, instead of the committee process that used to hand out power more broadly. The top-down approach has shifted the focus for many committees, where they spend as much time on oversight activities as they do on actual legislating. LaTurner said the focus on government accountability is important in an era where people consistently report that they dont have faith in Congress. Trust in government is at an all time low, LaTurner said. People dont have faith in their governmental institutions anymore, and that has to change. But the only way for it to change is for us to come clean about when something goes wrong. To talk about how money is spent or misspent, to come clean with them, to be honest about it, and to hold people accountable when they do something wrong. Oversight becomes even more aggressive under divided government and theres little chance of major legislation outside of the required bills Congress needs to pass making it to the president. The Oversight Committee is appealing above to some because it has a broad jurisdiction. Recent hearings have touched on everything from artificial intelligence, staffing at the border, regulations on gas stoves and Chinese money laundering. Because its so broad, it allows members of Congress to look like theyre weighing in on the issues of the day while capturing the types of clips that can go viral and encourage supporters back home. At the end of the day, members of Congress are people responding to incentives and so they are doing things that they think are going to be rewarded, said Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution. I just think weve seen, because of changes in the overall political environment, a change in what kind of behavior members think is going to be rewarded. And right now it is more often this kind of attention getting behavior than it is necessarily legislative productivity. LaTurner said when hes in Kansas people ask him about how COVID-19 money was spent and Joe Biden and to what extent he was involved in influence peddling. He cultivated a relatively noncontroversial reputation in Topeka, where he pushed for more government accountability on open records and for things like term limits and preventing nepotism in politics. But his first vote as a member of the U.S. House was to invalidate the 2020 presidential election in Arizona, an effort that was driven by false claims that the election was stolen by former President Donald Trump. State Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City, Kan. Democrat, said he worked with LaTurner in the state Senate and liked him. But he expressed concern that LaTurner was lipsyncing the agenda of more conservative lawmakers in attempt to appeal to his base. Hes really a bright study, Rep. LaTurner is, and hes got tremendous potential, Haley said. Hes young enough that he could outlive having had these flirtations with the Trump mentality and Im optimistic because I really do like Jake. Weve always worked well together and hes my congressman now. LaTurner was dismissive of the idea that the committee is too political, or that its targeting Biden to hurt his reelection chances in 2024. But Comer has remained focused on investigating Biden, particularly his familys ties to foreign money. Jake helps us get answers to tough questions, and never loses sight of our mission to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, Comer wrote in a statement. We appreciate his good instincts, knowledge, and expertise as we strive for legislative solutions to ensure our government works for the American people. LaTurner has said he thinks the Biden investigation is important and said the public deserves to know about his familys finances but dodged a question about Trump familys business dealings by implying they should have been looked into by previous oversight committees. There was an ongoing investigation into Trumps finances that was stopped when Republicans took control of the committee. The payments that were made from foreign countries to the Biden family, is a legitimate issue that we have to talk about, LaTurner said. And if that has political consequences for the President, thats life. That should not be our intention on the committee though. In the last redistricting battle, the northern part of Wyandotte County was added to LaTurners district, adding Democratic-leaning voters to his conservative district that also represents Topeka. Haley said he hoped LaTurner would pay attention to the new voters in his district and avoid becoming the type of congressman who focuses on getting attention from the cable news networks. You cant name other congressional members from different states, but the ones you can name, theyre known for acting a fool, Haley said. Officials recovered a body from the wreckage of the Interstate 95 collapse in Philadelphia, which happened on Sunday morning when a tanker caught fire beneath an underpass. Family members of Nathaniel Moody told ABC News he was the truck driver who died in the crash, fire and collapse on I-95. Authorities have not yet identified the remains taken from the wreckage as Moody's. Moody leaves behind a son and two daughters, his son told ABC News. PHOTO: Moody's son tells ABC News he leaves behind three children: two girls and a son. (Moody, Cooper and Baylock Families) The Philadelphia County Medical Examiner and coroner are working on identifying the remains, as officials continue to clear the damaged part of the highway. The rebuild of that section of I-95 is expected to take months, officials said. "With regards to the complete rebuild of I-95 roadway, we expect it to take some number of months," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference on Sunday evening. Shapiro signed a disaster declaration on Monday, which he said would allow Pennsylvania to use federal funds in its rebuilding effort and immediately access $7 million in state funds. PHOTO: Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion on June 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) The complete demolition of the bridge is likely to be complete within the next four to five days, officials said at a press conference Monday. The bridge itself, which was constructed 10 to 12 years ago, was "structurally sound" prior to the crash, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said at a press conference Monday. The tanker truck, carrying 8,500 of gasoline, attempted to navigate a left-hand turn after exiting at the Cottman Avenue offramp of I-95, according to officials. Losing control through its turn, the tanker fell on its side and ruptured its own tank, according to Carroll. Once ignited, the fuel burned at a high enough heat to structurally compromise the concrete and steel I-beams of the overpass. MORE: I-95 collapse updates: 1 vehicle trapped under the highway, no one injured, governor says The tanker that crashed and ignited has since been removed from the crash site. Officials have largely removed the collapsed section of the interstate and are working on demolishing the structurally unsound southbound portion of the road. Story continues Inspectors from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation determined that the southbound portion cannot be reopened and will also need to be replaced, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report reviewed by ABC News on Monday. PHOTO: A map of the location of the I-95 bridge collapse in Philadelphia. (ABC News, Philadelphia Inquirer) Individuals who crossed the southbound portion of the road around 6:25 a.m. prior to the road being shut down described the road as slumping downward. "It was like a sinkhole," emergency room nurse Lisa Taormino told ABC News. "It felt like if you were driving, and you hit a really big pothole, and the whole entire road just sunk down probably a good six to 12 inches down." Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pledged the full support of his department to the rebuilding efforts during remarks at the American Council of Engineering Companies conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Buttigieg said the collapse would slow passenger traffic but significantly impact supply chains. PHOTO: Aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed, in Philadelphia, June 12, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP) "This is going to be a major disruption in that region and it's really going to affect the Northeast," he told reporters Monday. I-95 is one of the busiest travel corridors in the United States and serves as the main north-south highway on the East Coast. An average of more than 160,000 vehicles travel across the impacted section in Philadelphia every day, according to a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Roughly 8-9% of traffic through that portion of I-95 is comprised of commercial traffic, with the American Trucking Association warning that the collapse is "likely to have significant impacts on the supply chain." Carrol pledged on Monday to work "24/7" to "attack this problem in the most efficient way possible so that we can resume normal traffic movements on I-95." All lanes between the exits for Philadelphia's Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Avenue are closed in both directions indefinitely, local ABC station WPVI reported. Boat capsizes during underground cave tour in upstate New York "It's gonna look like lower Manhattan like every day, probably throughout the summer," Somerton resident Mark Fusetti told ABC News. "It's going to be a nightmare." President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and his administration is in communication with Shapiro as well as Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. PHOTO: Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion on June 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) A team of specialists from the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, will also be on site Monday to begin the on-scene portion of their safety investigation into the incident. A preliminary report will be available in two to three weeks, according to the NTSB. ABC News' Victoria Arancio, Matt Foster, Amanda Maile, Chad Murray, and Josh Margolin contributed to this report. Body recovered from Interstate 95 collapse wreckage originally appeared on abcnews.go.com It was a matter of life and death. At one of the factories belonging to Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo that produces all kinds of potato chips and snacks, the fear of layoffs as a result of a market in crisis seized its workers. Yet one janitor, Richard Montanez, born on the outskirts of Los Angeles to a Mexican family, insisted that the Latino community did not eat Cheetos the companys flagship product and that potential customers did not have a flavor that matched their tastes in the stores. Inspired by a video featuring Frito-Lay CEO Roger Enrico, Montanez created a spicy recipe at home that, when mixed with Cheetos, became an explosive, yet tasty snack: Flamin Hot Cheetos were born. He immediately contacted Enrico directly to share the idea with him and get his approval. When he got the green light, he went one step further. In the face of the marketing departments incompetence, Montanez, along with friends and family, multiplied sales efforts to create demand for those Cheetos designed for hardened appetites. His venture succeeded, and he was immediately promoted to director of multicultural community marketing, leaping from janitor-cleaning boy to the office. This is a story of achievement, a magnificent triumph of the American dream, with only one catch: its a lie. Or at least there is little truth in the story. Somewhere between the reality and the myth, the myth came to fruition. When Eva Longoria (Corpus Christi, Texas, 48) was offered the chance to direct Flamin Hot for Hulu (it premiered Friday, June 9, on Disney+), Montanez had already published a book detailing his experience and garnered prestige in the U.S. Hispanic community through his motivational speaking, to which he devoted himself after retiring in 2020. Im Mexican-American like Richard, and yet when I read the script, I didnt know his story, Longoria said last week in a video call. Two things were clear to me at the time: that it would inspire other people and that I was the only one who could direct this film. The actress goes on to explain: Im a producer, I want to portray things about our community, and unfortunately, we dont have many Latino heroes here in Hollywood. Who can you see on the big screen that you can relate to? No one. I was looking for something like that, and I got this project. Jesse Garcia and Dennis Haysbert, making spicy Cheetos in 'Flamin' Hot.' Longoria is a shining example of how the Latino community in the U.S. has evolved. Until the turn of the century, very few felt proud of their roots. The majority, especially new arrivals, preferred to immerse themselves in the white mainstream cinema, going to see the latest Spider-Man movie rather than watching a film starring someone with a n in their surname, a common move among immigrants in a bid to feel accepted. Nowadays, being Latino warms the heart, explains the filmmaker. I personally didnt speak Spanish as a child at home. I have learned it in the last ten years, because Im married to a Mexican [former Televisa executive Jorge Baston, her third husband] and I live in Mexico. My mom really urged me and my sisters to speak English without an accent. That dilution was encouraged. Now in the U.S., people are very proud of the mixed race, so many people look for their roots to celebrate them. And I love this. Actually, I dont live in Mexico, I live in this world. The understanding of our cultures adds more compassion to humanity. And I apologize for my Spanish [laughs]. After filming got underway, the Los Angeles Times published a piece revealing that most of Montanezs story was a complete fabrication, and that the executive had actually taken advantage of everyone involved in the creation of the new Cheetos being either retired or deceased. It turns out he did not invent them, as Enrico was not yet in office when they were conceived. Nor was the protagonist of the fairy tale a janitor at the time of the commercial launch of the spicy snacks: he had already been promoted to machine foreman. Montanez was involved in its launch (albeit after testing across the U.S.), and he did work his way up the companys corporate ladder from the lowest rank. He responded in Variety, defining himself as the greatest ambassador of the Flamin Hot line, and a PepsiCo statement later said that Montanez had been instrumental in the development of those Cheetos, but was not their creator: No clear link has been established between Montanezs story and the team whose spicy product proposal was tested in the market, they point out. Jesse Garcia and Eva Longoria, filming 'Flamin' Hot.' Longorias response to this investigation is categorical: I found out about it after its publication, when a number of friends asked me if Id read it, and it didnt alter the script at all. Its Richards life, his suffering, his perspective. PepsiCo knows that Montanez threw himself into this product, that he brought it into the homes of our community. For me, the Flamin Hot product is made by Frito-Lay, but the real owners of the brand are the Latinos. The director has no hesitation even after a further concern: what if the audience is appalled by such a difference between the historical version and Richards? No, because nothing happened after the article was published. I insist, this is not a documentary, but his version. And its full of wonderful anecdotes, verbal games, and discoveries that we have tried to portray on the screen. I love television, Im going to do television all my life One of the tweaks Longoria requested in the script was the inclusion of Judy, the main characters wife. In the late 1970s, there was no shortage of Latinas in the society, but even Caucasian women were not able to move up in the corporate ladder: Of course, there was no room for women in those days. When I met the Montanez family, I understood that they had been engaged in a love story for decades, that she had been the driving force behind it. I asked to rewrite the script, putting Judy at the heart of Flamin Hot. Since she rose to fame with the first season of Desperate Housewives in 2004, Longoria has favored television over other audiovisual formats. As a director, she has prioritized making episodes of series and feature-length documentaries over a film, which she has accomplished with Flamin Hot. After being screened at the last SXSW festival, the production went directly to the Hulu platform and then to Disney+. Bob Iger [Disney CEO] saw it when he returned to the position, and he went out of his way to support it. They realize that they have a huge Mexican market to cater to and that they have few opportunities like this. And for me, I love that it will be seen all over the world at home: many families will be able to see it without paying for five tickets, she says. And she will not stray far from television, even filming in Spain, such as the series Land of Women, with Carmen Maura. She is categorical: I love television, Im going to do television all my life. Its faster, it hits audiences sooner, and you can develop the characters better and over time, building them up over several seasons. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition UPDATE: 6/11/23 J. Harrison Ghee became the second nonbinary actor ever to earn a Tony Award, winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical moments after Alex Newell won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. " "My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that god gave me were not about me, [but] to use them to be effective in the world, to help somebody else's journey. So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give," the performer said during their acceptance speech. "For every trans, nonbinary, gender noncomforming human who ever was told you couldn't be seen this is for you." Original story: History in the making! J. Harrison Ghee received their first Tony Award nomination in May 2023, marking the first time a nonbinary actor earned such an honor. The American Theatre Wing, which hosts the annual Tony Awards ceremony, announced in May 2023 that Ghee was up for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for their role of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot. The North Carolina native who uses he/they pronouns is competing against costar Christian Borle, Josh Groban, Brian DArcy James, Ben Platt and Colton Ryan. The ceremony airs live on June 11, 2023, via CBS. Its such an honor. I just continue to live in the four-fold way of living. I show up, tell my truth in present and Im not attached to the outcome, Ghee gushed to The Hollywood Reporter after nominations were announced. So Im just honored that the work is speaking for itself and Im so proud of the special show weve got going on at the Shubert [Theater]. The Raising Dion alum is not the only history-making 2023 Tony Award nominee. Glee alum Alex Newell, who also identifies as nonbinary, earned a nod for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for their role in Shucked. Newell, who is gender nonconforming, portrays whisky distiller Lulu in the cornfed musical. Story continues Ghees Some Like It Hot role also breaks boundaries. The musical written by Red, White & Royal Blue director Matthew Lopez and comedian Amber Ruffin and inspired by the 1959 film of the same name is set during Prohibition in Chicago when two musicians (Ghee and Borle) are forced to flee town after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters on the heels, the two pals go undercover in drag, which Ghees Jerry really enjoys. Jerry is a grounded artist who dreams and is always keeping Joe [Borle] in line. They have such a sibling relationship that is an odd couple, if you will, the Over My Dead Body actor said in an Instagram video shared via the productions account that May. Their relationship is grounded in love and in truth and in experience. Ghee added at the time: It was such a process and collaborative in the way of always having conversations. There were oftentimes I would come in during the workshop and during the rehearsals for Broadway and things I say in my everyday life found their way into the script. Some Like It Hot is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and costars Adrianna Hicks, Kevin Del Aguila, Natasha Yvette Williams and Adam Heller. It is the most-nominated production of the 2023 theatrical season, earning a total of 12 Tony nods, including leading acting honors for both Borle who previously won a Tony in 2004 and 2015, respectively and Ghee. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! Scroll below to learn more about the first-time Tony nominee: [Source] Police in Sapporo, Japan, are on the hunt for a serial urinal grate thief. The thefts: From May 16 to 30, a total of 38 urinal drain grates from 16 public restrooms were stolen, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. The specific urinal grate parts being stolen are called eye plates, which are placed at the bottom of urinals to prevent trash and other large objects from entering the drain. The thefts took place in park restrooms near Sapporos Okadama Airport, including Moerenuma Park in Higashi Ward and Takuhoku Himawari Park in Kita Ward. While a number of the stolen grates were replaced immediately, the newly installed grates were stolen again from June 6 to 8. Police have determined a single perpetrator is responsible due to key patterns in the thefts, which include the close proximity of the crime locations to one another and the timing of the thefts. More from NextShark: Chicago woman killed by ex-husband in murder-suicide after sharing difficulties of divorce in South Asian culture on TikTok Possible motives: Investigators remain unsure of the thiefs intentions. With each eye plate costing 680 yen (approximately $4.90), a Sapporo city official questioned why the perpetrator would go to such lengths to steal the urinal drain grates. An eye plate manufacturer suggested that the stainless steel from the drains could be sold as metal. However, a metal buyer in Sapporo revealed the purchase price of stainless steel has decreased to 20 to 100 yen (approximately $0.14 to $0.72) per kilogram. Local response: In light of the thefts, the Sapporo East Police have stated they will continue their theft investigation by increasing patrols and analyzing nearby security cameras. More from NextShark: Tesla Reveals 25% of Their US Management is Asian American Sapporo City residents have also shared their confusion and frustrations with the thefts. I dont know the reason at all, a 69-year-old resident stated. I want you to stop [stealing] in the toilet in public places. Story continues Another resident shared that the thefts have caused clogs due to foreign objects in the drains. Its annoying, he expressed. I want you to take care of it. More from NextShark: 'What are you doing here, Asian?': Three suspects sought by police for group attack on NYC man Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chinese Journalist Missing After Reporting on COVID-19 in January Revealed to Be 'Under State Supervision' The Tony Awards are airing live on CBS and Paramount+ Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Jennifer Grey had a special honor at the 2023 Tony Awards. On Sunday, the actress presented her dad Joel Grey with the Tony Lifetime Achievement Award during the Tony Awards: Act One, Live Pre-Show. Related: Tony Awards 2023: See the Complete List of Winners "Its ultimately the people, the community all of you who have made this ride more outstanding than I could have imagined," expressed the actor, 91, while receiving the award from his daughter, 63, as she teared up onstage next to her dad. Joel most recently served as a director for the Yiddish Off-Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof and is highly regarded for his performance in the 1972 film version of Cabaret, which earned him an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award. He is also one of only nine actors to have won both the Tony and Academy Award for playing the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret. Related: Ariana DeBose Returning to Host 2023 Tony Awards, Says She'll Bring 'Some Uptown Flavor' to Show This doesn't mark the first time Jennifer has presented her dad with a prestigious honor: in 2015 she was on hand to honor Joel with the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards in New York City. I didnt expect to feel like that, Jennifer, choking up, told the audience at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at the time. I feel like Liza [Minnelli], all gaspy and stuff! Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions She began to speak but immediately had to pause. Just give me a moment, sorry about that, she said, as the crowd broke out in applause. Im so inspired by my dad. By the sheer breadth of his work, his love of life, she said, adding, As someone who has clung to his every move my entire life his incredible career only pales in comparison to the accomplishment of how he lives his life, his gigantic heart. This world is just markedly better for him being here. Story continues Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fellow Broadway legend, composer John Kander, was also awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards on Sunday. Kander is best known as one-half of the Broadway duo of Kander and Ebb, a collaboration behind iconic musicals like Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman. The Tony Awards are airing live on CBS and Paramount+. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A bill that recently passed the North Carolina House would have a chilling effect on tenants rights if it becomes law. House Bill 551 would force tenants to pay their landlords legal fees if they appeal an eviction, regardless of the outcome of the case. It will also enable landlords to discriminate against disabled renters and those with Housing Choice Vouchers. These changes will likely increase housing instability, evictions and homelessness at a time when N.C. renters are already in crisis. Now on the docket as Senate Bill 553, this Landlord-Tenant rights bill will benefit wealthy corporate property owners and their lawyers while harming renters across the state. Dan Rose Sudarshan Krishnamurthy Specifically, it will allow landlords to charge and recover attorneys fees and filing costs of the court from tenants who choose to appeal their evictions, regardless of whether the tenant or landlord wins the case. As the bill is currently written, it also does not matter who appeals the case. This means that landlords could conceivably appeal to the district court when tenants win in small claims court, and even if the tenant wins again, they could be forced to foot the bill for their landlords legal expenses. This would make it significantly more challenging for tenants, who already struggle to navigate eviction court appeals. That must be great news to landlord law firms whose eviction-focused legal services will become even more profitable if tenants are the ones paying their fees. The bill also prevents cities and counties from enacting protections for tenants who use federal housing assistance programs. In other words, this will allow landlords to openly discriminate against those who use federal housing vouchers, a population that is disproportionately renters of color. Cities like Charlotte and Winston-Salem, which have already enacted legislation banning source of income discrimination by landlords who receive public funding, will be unable to expand those protections. Story continues This legislation will also provide landlords with the ability to require tenants with service or support animals to provide written verification from a health service professional regarding their disability and the need for a service or support animal. This section of the bill would unjustly shift the burden of providing documentation onto these disabled residents, who already face barriers accessing healthcare. It will also allow landlords to sue disabled renters if they do not produce the specific documentation required for their service animals. Unsurprisingly, this landlord rights bill has some cheerleaders in the N.C. General Assembly with financial ties to the industry. For instance, Rep. Kyle Hall, the primary sponsor of this bill, has received multiple campaign donations from the Apartment Association of North Carolina PAC. Rep. Hall has said I support the rights of individuals with disabilities to request reasonable accommodations to provide safe and adequate housing, adding that it creates meaningful provisions that protect an individuals need for support and service animals. These protections are already codified in Fair Housing laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The N.C. legislation would undo those rights. It is imperative to recognize the barriers to housing that this bill would create. It would hurt renters who utilize federal assistance programs, disabled tenants, renters of color, and those simply seeking due process in our courts. This legislation will increase evictions and homelessness while making it more difficult for low-income and disabled people to find rental housing. We demand that the sponsors of this bill do the right thing and withdraw it. Dan Rose is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Winston-Salem State University. Sudarshan Krishnamurthy is an MD/PhD student at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Both men are members of Housing Justice Now, a tenants rights group based in Winston-Salem. "While snorkeling tragedy struck," loved ones wrote of Steven Phan, 49 GoFundMe Steven Phan and his wife Brittany Just months after saying "I do," a California's woman's husband died while the couple were celebrating their honeymoon in Hawaii. Steven Phan, 49, drowned while snorkeling with wife Brittany at Electric Beach in Nanakuli on June 1, according to Fox and CW affiliate KHON-TV. The couple had tied the knot in Mexico less than three months earlier on March 20, reported San Francisco station KRON-TV. "While snorkeling tragedy struck," read a message shared on a GoFundMe page started to support the family. The couple were snorkeling near the shore when Phan disappeared under the water, per ABC affiliate KITV. Phan was found unresponsive and pulled out of the water by bystanders who performed CPR while waiting for first responders, according to KHON-TV. Honolulu Emergency Medical Services responded just before 10:30 a.m. local time, per the outlet. When they arrived, the man was in critical condition and later died at the hospital. Related: Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the World's Largest Active Volcano, Is Erupting For First Time in 38 Years As rescue operations were underway, police said that the couple's rental car and belongings were taken, reported NBC affiliate KNTV. "As If this could not be worse, all of Brittany and Stevens belongings were stolen," read a message on the GoFundMe page. "The thieves took their cell phones, wallets, money, clothing, they even stole their car rental." Police told KHON-TV an investigation is ongoing. The outlet reported that the beach does not currently have a lifeguard stand, but that according to a local city council member, one will be added in early September. GoFundMe Steven Phan Related: Hawaii Tourists Following GPS Directions Rescued After Driving Car 'Straight into the Harbor' Phan's death has been "absolutely devastating" for Brittany and her family, according to loved ones. Story continues Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. We are all shocked, in disbelief, and heartbroken at the loss of such a great man as Steven," according to the GoFundMe, which has raised over $26,000 as of Monday. "Steven always found a way to be a part of everyones lives, no matter the distance. Steven was a true friend and an amazing husband, Steven will be incredibly missed by all. Funeral services for Phan are scheduled for Tuesday in Campbell, Calif. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. It seemed like the perfect birthday present. After turning 50, Everilda Watsons husband, John Watson, threw her a surprise party attended by all her closest friends and then gifted her with a birthday trip to Las Vegas. But the gift had much more sinister implications. Everilda would never return and, according to Oxygens Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins, investigators would soon uncover that her retired schoolteacher husband had crafted a diabolical plan to take her life, complete with fake identities, disguises and ominous trips through the desert to hide his true intentions. RELATED: 'Don't Give Up On Your Dreams': Businesswoman Shot in the Head in Tragic Plot to End Her Life The couple, who had been married for 33 years, met decades earlier in Guatemala, where Everilda grew up with her family on a rural coffee plantation. John Watson had been interning in the country with a professor when he met the 15-year-old Everilda. Two years later, he returned to Guatemala and sparked a romance with the teen. Shes a lovely young lady, hes a handsome man, sparks were flying from both sides, their youngest son, Richard Watson, told the show. John, then 34 years old, swept the 17-year-old off her feet. Despite her parents objections, she agreed to marry him and move to the United States. My mom was independent. She saw a future with my father and went after that, her son Michael said. The couple married in 1973 and settled in California. A photo of Everilda Watson, featured in Killer Relationship With Faith Jenkins 203 Everilda Watson, featured in Killer Relationship With Faith Jenkins 203 Photo: Oxygen My father started working as a math teacher, my mom went to high school specifically to finish it out and she was the popular girl, Richard said. He said go make friends, come back home to me. Everilda embraced her new life. After high school, she and John moved to Ontario, California, where he worked at the local high school, and eventually the couple welcomed three sons together. Story continues Growing up, there was a lot of love in the family, Michael recalled. But John and Everilda had vastly different personalities. While Everilda was the outgoing life of the party, who loved to go out with friends, John was much more reserved and preferred to stay home. He was also known for being notoriously frugalsomething that didnt always sit well with his wife. The couple considered calling it quits at one point, but they consulted their young children who urged them to stay together. So they decided to give the marriage another shot. When Everilda turned 50, it appeared the marriage was thriving. John had recently retired after 37 years of teaching and Everilda was looking forward to a new phase in life. Their relationship was on solid ground, Michael said. They seemed to have more fun. To celebrate the birthday milestone, John threw his wife a surprise party and told her he planned to take her on a five-day trip to Las Vegas. John had also purchased her a ticket to Guatemala to go visit her family after the Vegas trip. John agreed to drive their Jeep out to Vegas on his own a day earlier so that Everilda-who never liked long car tripscould just fly out to meet him the next day on Tuesday, July 11, 2006. We figured that they would be having fun and staying up all hours of the night, so we tried not to bother them, their son Michael recalled. But on Wednesday, July 12, John called home and told his sons that their mother was missing. RELATED: How Did The Marriage of Childhood Friends End In A Bloody Murder Plot? "At that time, I really thought it was going to be OK. After being married as long as they were, you know, you both go gamble on your own and both meet up hours later, Michael said. My dad said that he was handling it, so we just waited for him to call us. But days passed without any word from their mother and by Saturday, one of Everildas sons was so concerned that he called the local police. Their worry intensified after John returned home without his wife. My dad does not seem upset at all that shes missing, Richard remembered. So as my dads talking with my brothers one of them steps out so that they can call the police. John told Ontario Police Detective Brad Bristow that his wife had walked off after they got into a fight the night she arrived. She was drunk, upset and she took off, Bristow said of Johns account. John told us that he hung around looking for her, going in and out of casinos, but she was nowhere to be seen. He claimed that the next morning he got a call from Everilda, who told him she had met another woman from Guatemala who planned to take her to the Los Angeles airport to catch her flight to Guatemala. But there were several things that didnt sit well with the experienced detective. For starters, John never reported his wife missing in Las Vegas and a search of his vehicle uncovered plastic sheeting, bleach, air freshener, antifreeze, and incense. Even more troubling, investigators uncovered blood stains on the drivers side, left rear seat belt, and on a piece of cardboard in a storage area of the trunk of the vehicle. John said his wife had cut her finger with a pocket knife, but the amount of blood didnt seem to match that account. Johns demeanor is not anywhere near what I would expect, Bristow said. He is very concerned about what his consequences will be, versus what has happened to his wife. John was taken into custody for investigative purposes and detectives made another eerie discovery. At the time of his arrest, John had been carrying two fake ID cards under the names Joseph Ernest Nunez Jr. and Joseph Ernest Nunes Jr. He told investigators he used the identities to check into hotels in Vegas when he illegally counted cards on the casino floor, so there was no record of his actual name. John was booked for forgery of the ID cards. While he was behind bars, his son Richard discovered an old gun in the home and turned it into police. My dad didnt have a gun, so what is this doing here? he asked. The gun tested positive for gunshot residue, suggesting it had been recently fired. The Las Vegas Metro Police and Ontario Police began working together to piece together the couples movements during their trip to Sin City. Las Vegas officers visited the Circus Circus, where John told them the couple had stayed, but they werent able to uncover anything useful. However, Ontario detectives had also discovered a key card from The Tuscany Suites and Casino. They learned that John had stayed at the hotel in June, using the name Joe Nunez. Before he left, he reserved the exact same room N120, located at the very end of the hall, for July 10-14 and paid for the room in cash. When he arrived for the birthday trip, John also rented a second room right next to his first room. While poring through hours of surveillance footage, they found John entering the hotel wearing a dark colored wig and mustache and carrying a cane. Each time he was seen at the Tuscany he was wearing a disguise and thats what really sparked our attention, said Las Vegas Metro Police Detective Larry Hanna. A photo of John Watson, featured in Killer Relationship With Faith Jenkins 203 John Watson, featured in Killer Relationship With Faith Jenkins 203 Photo: Oxygen Investigators searched the hotel room and found the bathroom drain tested positive for the presence of blood. They also found surveillance footage showing John buying those cleaning supplies from a nearby Walmart, before purchasing a band saw from a home improvement store. While investigators were putting the pieces of the case together, John was released from jail on bond. Investigators followed him as he drove about 200 miles away to Northern California, occasionally stopping and getting out of his car. Authorities discovered plastic sheeting with some sort of decomposing biological material on it had been left behind at one of the locations. The evidence against John was stacking up a second check of the hotel room revealed blood stains under a carpet and evidence came back from the crime lab confirming it had been Everildas blood found in both the hotel room and Jeep. Investigators believed they had enough to make their case. Investigators concluded that John used the fake ID to rent the hotel room, then shot his wife to death before dismembering her body and disposing of it across the desert. Marc DiGiacomo, chief deputy district attorney for Clark County, called the case "disturbingly evil." Although her body was never found, it didnt take a jury long to convict John and sentence him to death. As for the possible motive, investigators tracked down a friend who said John had been thinking about a divorce, but didnt want to split his retirement with the woman he once claimed to love. For Everildas sons, their fathers actions continue to haunt them. "When my father murdered my mother, he took away one of the brightest lights of my life and its hard to come back from that, Richard said. Watson remains on death row at the Nevada Northern Correctional Center. To learn more about the case and others like it, tune in to Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins Saturdays at 7/6c on Oxygen. Michael Twitty, Conway Twitty's oldest son, will perform a live country concert at Mitchell Opera House at 7 p.m. June 17, according to a press release. Michael Twitty will perform at the Mitchell Opera House on June 17. Country music cherishes family tradition and Michael Twitty is an integral part of that great heritage. He is the oldest son of rock and country legend Conway Twitty. Born Nov. 25 in Helena, Arkansas, Michael is not only carrying on his fathers celebrated legacy, he is making a mark of his own. Although Michael Twitty spent much of his early life following the footsteps of his father and other musical greats, one of Michaels earliest memories was of riding a paddle wheel ferry boat down the Mississippi that was captained by his Papaw. His adored Mamaw's loving instilled in him the values and integrity that are so important to Michael Twitty. But by age 8 music had overtaken his life and Michael found himself under the spotlight on stage with his legendary father. Michael knew right then this was where he wanted to spend the rest of his life. To Michael Twitty, entertaining an audience has become just as easy as having a conversation with friends. Consequently, Michael often changes his planned song list, saying he prefers to read the audience and give them exactly what they want. Whether it is country top 40, old time rock and roll, country classics or classic Conway. Michael instinctively knows what each audience will enjoy most. And one successful show after the other has proven that Michael Twitty does indeed know how to read an audience. Michael truly possesses a rare ability to reach out and establish a very special relationship with his fans. As did Conway, Michael can take an audience inside the music. Whether it is the tender meaning of a soulful ballad, or the frenzied excitement of a rockin, stompin dance tune, Michaels audiences live each song along with this irresistible entertainer. His infectious energy, tremendous vocal ability, and timely wit positively keep audiences on the edge of their seat for the entire performance and on their feet at the close of his show. Story continues Michael Twitty has taken his show around the world several times, from the dynamic Michael Twitty Show, to the critically acclaimed Memories of Conway Show, to the remarkable Twitty Bird Show. His many television appearances, video releases and recordings have brought him even more recognition on an international level. From Canada to Japan, Michael Twitty has won fans time and time again. Recently, Michael has been taking his Memories of Conway show to various casinos and theaters around the country. Michael takes you down memory lane, while he shares his thoughts of his Dad in story and song. He will make you laugh, make you cry and he will definitely entertain you. Buy tickets in advance with cash or check at ACE Hardware in Mitchell, on mitchelloperahouse.com, or purchase them at the door. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. All seating is first come, first served. Food and drinks are not permitted in the auditorium. Mitchell Opera House is handicap accessible. This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Mitchell Opera House welcomes Michael Twitty on June 17 For their star turn as Jerry/Daphne in the Broadway musical, Ghee becomes the Tony Awards' second openly nonbinary winner Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions J. Harrison Ghee has made history at the 2023 Tony Awards. At the 76th annual ceremony on Sunday night, the star of Broadways new musical Some Like It Hot earned the Tony for best leading actor in a musical, making them the categorys first performer identifying as nonbinary to win. (Ghee, who originated the role of Jerry/Daphne in the production, goes by he/she/they pronouns.) The actor, 33, spoke to the audience at New York City's United Palace Theatre on Sunday while accepting their award, after receiving a rousing standing ovation. "My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me [but] to use them to be effective in the world," Ghee said. "To help somebody else's journey. So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give." "For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human who ever was told you couldnt be, you couldnt be seen, this is for you," they said before thanking several individuals for "letting me lead," "letting me bring myself to the work" and more. Also nominated in their category was Ghee's Some Like It Hot costar Christian Borle, as well Josh Groban (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Brian dArcy James (Into the Woods), Ben Platt (Parade) and Colton Ryan (New York, New York) . Related: Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee Make History as First Nonbinary Actors Nominated for Tony Awards Some Like It Hot, based on the 1959 Billy Wilder film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, led this years Tonys list with 13 overall nominations. Ghee, along with featured actor in a musical nominee Alex Newell of Shucked, broke ground this year as the first nonbinary actors ever nominated for Tonys. Given the choice between gendered categories, both elected to compete in the male acting races. Story continues Im grateful my producers considered and asked me before saying they are going to submit me for consideration, acknowledging I identify in this way, Ghee told Elle prior to the nominations announcement in May. They said that this is how the Tonys are working, this is what we're submitting you as," Ghee added at the time. "I appreciate that, and they understand the human that they got in this process, and they know that I'm not going to show up any less than who I am. "Weve got to free ourselves to see ourselves, Ghee told Time in a joint conversation with Newell, 30, in May. It is exciting to see so many people feeling seen and represented who are like, Wow, thank you. I didnt know that there was any possibility for me in this world. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions J. Harrison Ghee Related: Nonbinary '& Juliet' Performer Withdraws from Gendered Tony Awards Consideration: 'The Only Right Thing' Earlier in the evening on Sunday, Newell made history as the first performer who identifies as nonbinary to win a Tony, with the award for best performance by an actor in a featured role. I have wanted this my entire life, and I thank each and every one of you in this room right now," the Glee alum said as they accepted the award. "And Mommy, I love you. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for loving me unconditionally, thank you for teaching me what strength is. To my entire building and cast and crew of Shucked, you are my rock. I love you all. Thank you for seeing me Broadway," continued Newell, who goes by he/she/they pronouns. "I should not be up here; as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they cant do it, I am going to look you dead in your face [and say] that you can do anything you put your mind to," Newell added as the actor closed their speech. The 76th annual Tony Awards are airing live on CBS and Paramount+. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The couple tied the knot in church six weeks after their civil ceremony Dnphotography/Abaca via ZUMA Press Royal wedding of Liechtenstein Prince Johann-Wenzel of Liechtenstein and Countess Felicitas von Hartigs wedding was so nice, they married twice! On Saturday, June 10, the prince married his sweetheart in a religious service at Servite Church in Vienna, Austria. The celebration was held six weeks after their civil ceremony in Liechtenstein on April 30, according to the blog Royals Without Throne, where the bride wore a short white dress and the groom was classic in a dark suit. The weekend wedding at Servite Church had all the classic elements, and the festivities began when Felicitas arrived in a vintage convertible with her dad, Count Lukas von Hartig. In a fresh spin on royal bridal style, Felicitas skipped a tiara and veil. She wore a white dress with short puff sleeves and stripe-like pleats by the Spanish brand Jesus Peiro, Point de Vue reported. She completed the look with white flowers in her hair and was all smiles for the march to meet her groom, who sported a morning suit, at the altar. Dnphotography/Abaca via ZUMA Press Royal wedding of Liechtenstein RELATED: Kate Middleton and Prince William Join Jordan Royal Wedding Group Pic The bride and groom beamed on their way out of the church and shared a kiss under a shower of white confetti hearts. Like many excited brides, Felicitas waved her bouquet in the air before she and her prince hopped into the convertible together. Dnphotography/Abaca via ZUMA Press Royal wedding of Liechtenstein Prince Johann-Wenzel, the son of Princess Marie of Orleans and Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein, spoke about his hopes with Point de Vue before the big day. "I can't wait to live this day and to spend the rest of my life with her, he told the French outlet. According to Hello! magazine, the couple got engaged while vacationing in Sicily last summer. RELATED: Royal Bride Sophie Evekink Faints During Wedding to Prince Ludwig of Bavaria Dnphotography/Abaca via ZUMA Press Royal wedding of Liechtenstein Felicitas holds a degree in Art History, studied law in Vienna and works for the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, while Prince Johann-Wenzel previously attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and studied politics and economics in Montreal, Hello! said. Story continues Liechtenstein is a German-speaking principality double landlocked by Switzerland and Austria. Roughly the size of Washington, D.C, it is one of the smallest countries in the world with a population of about 40,000, the American Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein states. Dnphotography/Abaca via ZUMA Press Royal wedding of Liechtenstein As a constitutional hereditary monarchy, the reigning prince of the Princely House of Liechtenstein and a democratically elected parliament share political power through a system of checks and balances, per the Princely House of Liechtenstein. The current reigning prince is Prince Hans-Adam II, and his eldest son Hereditary Prince Alois follows him in the line of succession. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Dnphotography/Abaca via ZUMA Press Royal wedding of Liechtenstein Some countries in Europe don't legally recognize religious marriage ceremonies, so the bride and groom opt to have both a civil ceremony as well as a religious one. Earlier this year, Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Nicholas Bagory held two separate ceremonies for the wedding. On April 22, the couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony where the bride wore an all-white pants and top ensemble. The following weekend, they turned up the glam for a religious ceremony in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France. Princess Alexandra completed her bridal look with a family heirloom: the Chaumet Choker Tiara a unique piece that can be worn as a necklace or a headpiece. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Flamboyant and controversial Italian media mogul and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who made headlines with his media empire, scandals over sex-fueled parties and corruption allegations alike, has died. He was 86. Local media reports said he died at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. Berlusconi had been admitted to the hospital Friday for treatment of chronic leukemia, according to the Associated Press. More from The Hollywood Reporter The twice-divorced tycoon, known for his perpetual tan and much younger girlfriends, made a name for himself as one of the richest people in the country and as the controlling shareholder of Mediaset, Italys largest media company, which owns three leading private TV channels. Seen by critics as an Italian version of Rupert Murdoch and other media titans, Berlusconi was regularly attacked for his dominance of the Italian media landscape. After getting a law degree, he started a real estate company and had success by constructing apartment complexes for middle-class families amid a post-war boom. Berlusconi started his push into media in the 1970s by launching a TV network focused on U.S. hit shows, soap operas and variety shows featuring scantily clad women, which took on the state TV monopoly of RAI. Through his Fininvest holding company, the Berlusconi family controls Mondadori, Italys largest publisher, film producer Medusa Film, and more. It also owned the soccer club AC Milan until it sold it to a Chinese consortium in 2017. But Berlusconi also made headlines with his extravagant lifestyle, including so-called bunga bunga parties. An exotic dancer once told prosecutors in Milan that these parties were like orgies, with Berlusconi and a group of young women performing a ritual in the nude. Story continues As a populist, the mogul first came to political power in 1994, after forming the center-right party Forza Italia, and led several conservative governments between then and 2011. With nine years in power, the three-time prime minister is Italys longest-serving government leader since World War II. He drew criticism for his electoral coalitions with right-wing populist parties, such as Lega Nord, and continuing to control Mediaset while in power, among other things. In 2009, his party merged into The People of Freedom, Berlusconis new political vehicle. In 2013, Berlusconi founded a new Forza Italia. The mogul lost support and popularity among voters amid legal issues of his media business and After being convicted of tax fraud in 2013, he had to surrender his Senate seat. But he then served in the European Parliament and in 2022, as junior partner in a coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, returned to the Italian parliament as a senator, a position he held until his death. Berlusconi, who had a reputation as a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, caused much debate when he blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for Russias February 2022 invasion despite Melonis support for Ukraine. The mogul had various health issues over the years. In April, Berlusconi was treated for a lung infection related to his chronic leukemia. In 2020, he spent time in a hospital after contracting COVID-19. In 1997, Berlusconi successfully battled prostate cancer, including by surgery. In 2006, he had heart tests after fainting during a speech. A few weeks later he received a pacemaker at a U.S. hospital. He also has had bowel surgery in the past. Born in 1936 in Milan to a bank employee and a homemaker, Berlusconi soon used his talents as a showman, making money by singing at parties and on cruise ships. He was always a proud showman and entertainer. In 2005, for example, he told the press that he used his charms to persuade the then-President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, to give up her countrys claim to host the new European Food Safety Authority, saying: I had to use all my playboy tactics. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. 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. 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, received 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A tour boat capsized Monday morning in a cave along the Erie Canal in Upstate New York, authorities said. One person died after being trapped beneath the boat for at least an hour. Fire officials and emergency medical personnel rescued 16 people from the water. Authorities said there were 28 people on board the boat when it capsized before 11:30 a.m. The rest of the passengers were able to emerge safely out of the cave. The tour was carrying passengers and one staff member from Destination Niagara through a series of caves in a section of the Erie Canal in Lockport, near Niagara Falls at the U.S.-Canadian border. The capsize happened during a stretch of the underground trip where tourists board a small boat and travel along a 300-foot channel inside the cave, where the water level hovers around five feet deep, although it exceeds six feet in some areas, authorities said at a news conference Monday afternoon. Authorities said the boat, which can carry as many as 40 people, became unstable and flipped near the end of the channel. The passenger who was killed was about 60 years old, authorities said. Of the 16 people rescued by crews, 11 were injured and transported to a hospital for treatment. Officials said a broken arm and a possible head injury were recorded, although some passengers could have potentially suffered from hypothermia after being in the water for 15 or 20 minutes. The water temperature at the time was between 55 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The Lockport Police Department originally confirmed the incident in a statement shared to its Facebook page about an hour after it happened. "Lockport police and fire departments, as well as several other agencies, are currently working to assist parties that were on a boat that capsized in the Lockport Cave Tours," police said in the statement. Streets in the surrounding area were closed off to give rescue crews easier access to the scene, according to Lockport police. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities said the area where the boat capsized will be considered a crime scene until their probe is complete. Story continues New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a tweet that authorities with the New York State Police, Division of Homeland Security, State Parks and Health Department were at the scene and assisting local officials in their response. "My team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams who have responded to a capsized boat along the Erie Canal in Lockport," the tweet read. My team is in close contact with local officials and emergency operations teams who have responded to a capsized boat along the Erie Canal in Lockport.@nyspolice, @NYSDHSES, @NYstateparks, and @HealthNYGov are on site to assist local officials in the response. Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 12, 2023 CBS affiliate WIVB shared an image to Twitter that appeared to show authorities loading adults, wearing towels, onto stretchers along a roadway near the canal. The sheriff tells me no children were on the boat. Around 30 adults were on the boat that capsized. @news4buffalo https://t.co/IqTze5mi3k Jeff Preval (@JeffPrevalTV) June 12, 2023 As WIVB reported, boat tours have taken place inside the Erie Canal's network of caves since 1977, while the caves themselves were created in the late 19th century. Authorities said Monday that the Lockport Cave Tours have proceeded without incident since they began more than four decades ago. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp not planning to run in 2024, but 'always doors opening and closing' U.S. confirms China has had spy base in Cuba since 2019 What to expect after Trump's court appearance in Miami Wes Anderson told IndieWire ahead of Asteroid City opening in theaters that Bill Murray is his family and their working relationship will not be affected by various misconduct claims made against the actor, who has starred in a total of nine Anderson movies over the years. My experience with Bill is so extensive, Anderson said. Bill was such a great supporter of me from the very beginning, Anderson said. I dont want to speak about somebody elses experience, but hes really part of my family. You know, hes my daughters godfather. In fact, he actually baptized her. Hes the one who splashed the water. More from Variety Anderson said reports of Murrays inappropriate behavior will not impact their working relationship. Murray helped launch Anderson into the mainstream with his role in Rushmore, and he was the title character in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Hes had supporting roles in The Darjeeling Limited, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox and more. Murray was originally set to star in Asteroid City but had to drop out of the production. The actors exit had nothing to do with the accusations against him. There was some confusion about what happened with Bill, Anderson said. He was supposed to play the motel manager who Steve Carell plays, and Bill got COVID four days before he was supposed to start shooting. He was in Ireland and in the case of our movie, we had schedules of so many people that are all puzzled around. The people who Bill was supposed to play scenes with were going to be gone by the time he cleared the COVID protocols and stuff. And in fact, he was quite sick. So Bill missed his part and Steve Carell came in quite suddenly. He was great, I loved having him. I met him, he arrived, and we were immediately shooting. Story continues Anderson added, Then when Bill got better, he came to Spain. At the end of the movie [where Asteroid shot], we finished the movie, and Bill and I got in a car and drove to France. It was a great way to finish but it was the first time I hadnt had him in a movie in a long time. Searchlight Pictures stopped production on Aziz Ansaris feature directorial debut Being Mortal last April over complaints about Murrays inappropriate behavior on set. Murray addressed the incident in an interview later that month. I had a difference of opinion with a woman Im working with. I did something I thought was funny and it wasnt taken that way, Murray said. The movie studio wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out and investigate it and so they stopped the production. As of now were talking and were trying to make peace with each other, Murray said about the person he offended. Were both professionals. We like each others work we like each other, I think. If we cant get along and trust each other, theres no point in going further working together or making a movie Its been quite an education for me. The film never restarted production. Last fall, Geena Davis came forward to share her own history of dealing with Murrays behavior on set. Davis said Murray harassed her during the making of their 1990 crime comedy Quick Change by trying to use a massage device on her in a hotel room and then later berating her on set. Lucy Liu revealed on a 2021 episode of the Los Angeles Times Asian Enough podcast that Murray made unacceptable and inexcusable insults to her on the set of Charlies Angels. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Bill Murray and Wes Anderson Bill Murray is not in Wes Andersons Asteroid City, which is rare in Andersons filmographyhe has, at least to some extent, appeared in almost all of the directors moviesbut the reason for that has nothing to do with the controversies that have followed Murray for the past year or so. Speaking with IndieWire, Anderson said that it was more or less a timing thing that prevented Murray from appearing in the new movie. He was originally supposed to play the character that Steve Carell plays in the movie, but Murray got COVID right before shooting and had to back out, but Anderson says they reconnected after the shoot and they drove from Spain (where he filmed Asteroid City) to France together. As for the allegations against Murray, production on the film Being Mortalwhich was supposed to be Aziz Ansaris directorial debutwas shut down after someone filmed a complaint about Murrays inappropriate behavior (which he later suggested was his attempt to do something funny that wasnt taken that way), and that prompted Lucy Liu to eventually come forward with her own story about unacceptable comments Murray had made about her on the set of Charlies Angels. That then prompted Geena Davis to speak out about her own issues with Murray on the set of Quick Change in the 90s. Read more Anderson, in that IndieWire chat, declined to really address any of that, simply saying that he doesnt want to speak about somebody elses experience. But he did stand by Murray, saying that hes really part of my family and was the one who splashed the water when his daughter was baptized. He also noted that his experience working with Murray is so extensive and that hes been a great supporter of me from the very beginning, so take all of that however you choose to. Story continues More from The A.V. Club Sign up for The A.V. Club's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. BATTLE CREEK Willard Library has a full slate of programs planned this week in honor of Juneteenth. Programming includes researching African American ancestors and an exploration of the legacy of the music scene in Battle Creek. "We celebrate Juneteenth today because it is a reminder of where we have come, and an inspiration of what we can become and achieve, said Tynisha Dungey, director of youth services and community engagement at Willard Library. The Underground Railroad statue is pictured in downtown Battle Creek Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Celebrated June 19, Juneteenth marks the day Union soldiers informed slaves in Galveston, Texas, of their emancipation in 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth was officially designated as a federal holiday in 2021. It became an official city holiday last year. The library has held Juneteenth programming for several years, but is now extending programming to a full week. Willard Library staff have been active on the city's Juneteenth planning committee for several years," Dungey said. "We extended the programming to a full week because we wanted to make sure we had programs that provided our patrons an opportunity to learn more about the recently federally recognized holiday. We will be collaborating with many local residents during the week. Festivities kick off Monday with a Researching African American History program at 6 p.m. in the downtown programming room, 7 W. Van Buren St., featuring archivist and librarian Jessica Trotter. Trotter will discuss the pitfalls, challenges, and tremendous rewards often encountered in genealogy research specifically concerning African American ancestors. On Tuesday, families are invited to go on an interactive journey through history with African Masquerade Dancers: A Tribute to Juneteenth, at 6:30 p.m. at the Helen Warner Branch, 36 Minges Creek Place. Professional dancers will teach families about the history of Juneteenth through song and dance. Story continues Children and families will be able to explore the significance of Juneteenth during Wednesdays program, Following the Drinking Gourd, slated for 10 a.m. at the Helen Warner branch. After a storytelling experience by Dungey, educator Rachel Behr will lead children in a drum circle and explain the instruments importance. Families will have an opportunity to create a paper quilt square, which will be used to create a community quilt. Thursday night, residents are invited to join Willard Library at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum, 307 Jackson St. W., for an evening of music and conversation in The Sound of Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration. This event will celebrate the African American musicians who "nurtured their art in Battle Creek and went on to change the world." The event will be moderated by Sonya Bernard-Hollins, author of Here I Stand. Tickets are available at both library locations while supplies last, and the event will be recorded and made available at a later date for those unable to attend. Programming with wrap up Friday with a Juneteenth Lunch and Learn led by pastor L.E. Johnson of the Southwestern Michigan Urban League. The program will be held in the downtown programming room at noon. Participants can register on the librarys website or by calling the library at (269) 968-8166 ext. 513. I would encourage everyone to come out to at least one of these programs to learn more about Juneteenth," Dungey said. Each program ties in with our summer reading theme, All Together Now: Libraries Bring Unity to the Community. For more information on all library programs, please visit the librarys website at willardlibrary.org. Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Willard Library celebrates Juneteenth with week of programs, events Officials recovered a body from the wreckage of the Interstate 95 collapse in Philadelphia, which happened on Sunday morning when a tanker caught fire beneath an underpass. The Philadelphia County Medical Examiner and coroner are working on identifying the remains, as officials continue to clear the damaged part of the highway. The rebuild of that section of I-95 is expected to take months, officials said. "With regards to the complete rebuild of I-95 roadway, we expect it to take some number of months," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference on Sunday evening. Shapiro signed a disaster declaration on Monday, which he said would allow Pennsylvania to use federal funds in its rebuilding effort and immediately access $7 million in state funds. PHOTO: Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion on June 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) The complete demolition of the bridge is likely to be complete within the next four to five days, officials said at a press conference Monday. The bridge itself, which was constructed 10 to 12 years ago, was "structurally sound" prior to the crash, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said as a press conference Monday. The tanker truck, carrying 8,500 of gasoline, attempted to navigate a left-hand turn after exiting at the Cottman Avenue offramp of I-95, according to officials. Losing control through its turn, the tanker fell on its side and ruptured its own tank, according to Carroll. Once ignited, the fuel burned at a high enough heat to structurally compromise the concrete and steel I-beans of the overpass. MORE: I-95 collapse updates: 1 vehicle trapped under the highway, no one injured, governor says The tanker that crashed and ignited has since been removed from the crash site. Officials have largely removed the collapsed section of the interstate and are working on demolishing the structurally unsound southbound portion of the road. Inspectors from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation determined that the southbound portion cannot be reopened and will also need to be replaced, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report reviewed by ABC News on Monday. Story continues PHOTO: A map of the location of the I-95 bridge collapse in Philadelphia. (ABC News, Philadelphia Inquirer) Individuals who crossed the southbound portion of the road around 6:25 a.m. prior to the road being shut down described the road as slumping downward. "It was like a sinkhole," emergency room nurse Lisa Taormino told ABC News. "It felt like if you were driving, and you hit a really big pothole, and the whole entire road just sunk down probably a good six to 12 inches down." Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pledged the full support of his department to the rebuilding efforts during remarks at the American Council of Engineering Companies conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Buttigieg said the collapse would slow passenger traffic but significantly impact supply chains. PHOTO: Aftermath of an elevated section of Interstate 95 that collapsed, in Philadelphia, June 12, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP) "This is going to be a major disruption in that region and it's really going to affect the Northeast," he told reporters Monday. I-95 is one of the busiest travel corridors in the United States and serves as the main north-south highway on the East Coast. An average of more than 160,000 vehicles travel across the impacted section in Philadelphia every day, according to a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Roughly 8-9% of traffic through that portion of I-95 is comprised of commercial traffic, with the American Trucking Association warning that the collapse is "likely to have significant impacts on the supply chain." Carrol pledged on Monday to work "24/7" to "attack this problem in the most efficient way possible so that we can resume normal traffic movements on I-95." All lanes between the exits for Philadelphia's Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Avenue are closed in both directions indefinitely, local ABC station WPVI reported. Boat capsizes during underground cave tour in upstate New York "It's gonna look like lower Manhattan like every day, probably throughout the summer," Somerton resident Mark Fusetti told ABC News. "It's going to be a nightmare." President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and his administration is in communication with Shapiro as well as Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. PHOTO: Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion on June 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) A team of specialists from the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police, will also be on site Monday to begin the on-scene portion of their safety investigation into the incident. A preliminary report will be available in two to three weeks, according to the NTSB. ABC News' Victoria Arancio, Matt Foster, Amanda Maile, Chad Murray, and Josh Margolin contributed to this report. Body recovered from Interstate 95 collapse wreckage originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A Bolivar school bus was involved in an accident Thursday afternoon on Missouri 13. Seventeen third-graders and two school employees were treated at Citizens Memorial Hospital after a Bolivar school bus crash Thursday afternoon. Superintendent Richard Asbill said late Thursday that all 19, including the bus driver, had been released. He said the injuries were mostly bumps, bruises and cuts. "She did the best that she could do under the circumstances when you're going down 13 highway and a bale of hay comes off a trailer and you're driving a school bus...you have very limited options," said Asbill, who spoke to the bus driver at the scene. "Her efforts to help and be defensive (as a driver) were positive. I think she did what she could d at the time and we are just really fortunate." The accident was reported at 1:50 p.m. Thursday on Missouri 13, just south of Bolivar near the Pitchfork Restaurant, which is located at 4894 S. 138th Road. "We are just very blessed, very fortunate, that our students and staff were not seriously injured but we have some significant injuries and bumps and bruises and we know that there is going to be some emotional trauma from this as well," Asbill said. "It is going to take time to help everybody work through that." Asbill said school counselors responded to the intermediate school Friday and will be available as needed through next week. The final day of class is My 25. "We had some abrasions on the forehead. We had abrasions on knees, arms," Asbill said. "We had a few students who complained that their ankle hurt or their knee hurt from hitting the seat." Two third-grade classes and their teachers were returning to Bolivar after a field trip to Smallin Civil War Cave in Ozark. A total of 35 were on board. Braden Berg, director of communications, said the bus was behind a truck carrying hay when a large bail fell off the back and landed in the middle of the roadway. Berg said the bus driver attempted to avoid hitting the hay bale but was unable to avoid it and then lost control and drove through the median. Story continues The bus crossed the southbound lanes of Missouri 13 and landed in the west ditch. The badly damaged bus did not hit any other vehicles. Asbill thanked police, fire and emergency first-responders for responding to the scene. He said the district works with the local agencies and the hospital to prepare for emergencies. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 19 Bolivar students, staff injured in bus crash treated and released Product Shot Image More than a decade ago the fashion designer Albert Kriemler traveled to Jinhua, China, about three hours from Shanghai, to explore the abandoned Architecture Park organized and curated by the dissident artist Ai Weiwei. Among the 17 completed pavilions along the Yiwu River, including works by Herzog & de Meuron and Fernando Romero, Kriemler was struck by a remarkable geometric building conceived by the Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao. The structure reminded him of the A in Akris, the venerable luxury brand his grandmother Alice Kriemler-Schoch founded, in St. Gallen, Switzerland, a little over a century ago. Suddenly Kriemler had an epiphany. Here was the shape he was after for the labels first handbag. David Schulze David Schulze He looked to Japan for more inspiration, specifically to the ancient art of origami. At first glance the purse appears to be a rectangular tote, but with its side flaps fully clasped it takes on a trapezoidal shape, just like Bilbaos monument. Thus the Ai (pronounced eye) was born. Shop Now Medium Ai Shoulder Bag in Raffia with Leather Trim $1790.00 akris.com Akris Fittingly for an accessory named after an elite Japanese racehorse, the first model was finished in horsehair. Now Kriemler has reinvented this signature item in raffia, which might suggest warm summer adventures, but it might be worthwhile to wait until after the rainy season to bring it along on a special maiden voyage. Thats the best time to visit the Jinhua park, where an architectural wonder crumbles before your eyes David Schulze This story appears in the Summer 2023 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW You Might Also Like President Joe Biden will head to Japan this week to attend the G-7 summit but said he will cut short the remainder of his trip abroad so he can return to Washington to be back for the final negotiations with congressional leaders over the debt ceiling. The president is scheduled to leave Wednesday for Hiroshima. He had planned to make visits afterward to Papua New Guinea and then to the Quad Summit in Australia. Biden will instead return to Washington on Sunday. The stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea were meant to affirm the U.S. commitment to the Pacific as Chinas influence in the region rises. Biden said he had already spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain why he was postponing his visit. Earlier Tuesday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the White House was reevaluating the second part of Bidens trip. What I can speak to is G-7 and going to Hiroshima, Kirby said as he offered a preview of the trip to reporters at the White House briefing. The presidents looking forward to that. Were taking a look at the rest of the trip. The schedule change to Biden's trip underscores how the White House has been consumed with the danger of defaulting on the nations debt. The president was meeting with the "Big Four" congressional leaders including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday afternoon. The Treasury Department has warned that the nation may hit its limit in early June. There was an overwhelming consensus, I think in todays meeting with congressional leaders, that defaulting on the debt is simply not an option. Our economy would fall into recession, Biden said. The stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea were meant to affirm the U.S. commitment to the Pacific as Chinas influence in the region rises. Scrubbing those visits could be a blow to U.S. efforts in the Pacific, according to White House aides who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the situation. Story continues Bidens visit to Australia was meant to strengthen the Quad alliance comprised of the U.S., Australia, Japan and India but Kirby noted that Biden would still be able to spend time with those nations' leaders in Japan. Republicans have said they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to sharp spending cuts. Failure to lift the limit a move necessary to cover the costs of spending and tax cuts previously approved by Congress could trigger a default that would set off a sharp economic downturn. Kelly Garrity contributed to this report. Lion brothers Dinari and Kamaia have lived at Franklin Park Zoo since 2015 and are 14 years old. A lion in a New England zoo helped save his brother's life Friday by giving him a blood transfusion. Dinari, the 14-year-old male lion who lives at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, Massachusetts, underwent a procedure on Friday to determine if his blood would be usable and collectable for his brother, Kamaia, who is also 14 and lives at the zoo but had been feeling under the weather. Both lions have been at the zoo since 2015. Earlier in the week, Kamaia was lethargic and experiencing a decreased appetite, the zoo said in a press release. When doctors examined the lion, they realized that he was anemic and had a very enlarged spleen, prompting them to see if Dinari could help his brother. Friday's 3-hour procedure on Kamaia revealed that the spleen was twice as large as it was supposed to be, the zoo said. However, the procedure was successful, and Kamaia was able to have a splenectomy and blood transfusion completed using donations from Dinari. Where do lions live?: What you need to know about the big cats' habitat. The blood given by Dinari will help Kamaia have a greater chance of health and life moving forward; zoo officials are hopeful he will feel better soon, said Chris Bonar, director of animal health for Zoo New England, in a statement. This was a major surgery, and we will continue to monitor him closely to ensure that he is comfortable and recovering well, Bonar said. Blood transfusions are not often performed in zoological settings because it can be difficult to find a suitable donor. Because Kamaia and his brother were littermates, Dinari was the perfect donor for this much needed transfusion. John Linehan, the president and chief executive officer or the Zoo New England, said they have been "touched" by the support of the two lions as they recover. The work done over the past two days has been extraordinary, and I couldnt be prouder of the team. We remain hopeful that Kamaia has a smooth recovery, Linehan said. Story continues Kamaia will live in his off-exhibit area for the time being while he recovers and is cared for. TikTok arrest: Man arrested after allegedly entering alligator enclosure and posting it on social media. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boston zoo lion recovering after transfusion of brother's blood 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. 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 report said Honduras still needed to determine the embassys 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 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. 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 includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Honduras requested admission to the bank, Castros office tweeted Saturday. The president also visited a research center 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 Chinas increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan. It also signaled 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Clarks sees potential in the Middle Easts consumer market. The British footwear brand formed a strategic alliance with fashion and lifestyle conglomerate Apparel Group to expand its retail footprint across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, planning to open more than 20 stores over the next five years. More from Sourcing Journal This partnership highlights Apparel Groups commitment to diversifying its retail portfolio while augmenting the shopping experience for customers in Saudi Arabia, the company said. The expansion plan also aligns with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, a blueprint that fosters economic diversification and aims to stimulate sectors such as retail to drive its economy. This strategic partnership with Clarks signifies a monumental step in our journey towards offering an unparalleled retail experience in the KSA, Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group, said. Clarks, with its rich heritage and reputation for quality, perfectly complements our diverse brand portfolio. We are excited to bring this iconic British brand closer to customers in the region. The new Clarks stores will offer a variety of products including its Originals and an exclusive collection of comfort footwear. The expansion will help Clarks reach a larger audience and cater to the growing demand for high-quality footwear in Saudi ArabiaStatista attributes this demand to the countrys high spending power. Apparel Group has created an omnichannel experience, and operates brands from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia, including Tommy Hilfiger, Skechers, Nine West and Aeropostale. The conglomerates reach extends to India, South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan and Egypt with strategies in place to tap into emerging markets such as Hungary and the Philippines. Click here to read the full article. This is the first known instance of a crocodile virgin birth, but virgin births have been recorded in fish, birds, lizards, and snakes Getty Images Crocodile Scientists have discovered the first-known case of virgin birth by a crocodile. Per a study in the journal Biology Letters published Wednesday, the female crocodile had been living in isolation for 16 years at a Costa Rican zoo. In 2018, the reptile laid a clutch of eggs, a common practice among captive reptiles, even those without mates. After three months of incubation, one egg contained "a fully formed stillborn baby crocodile," scientists found. The study noted that scientists examined the crocodile fetus' genetic makeup. During this research, the experts discovered DNA sequences in the fetus that resulted from reproduction without the help of a male crocodile. This isn't the first time there has been a virgin birth also known as parthenogenesis, a birth without fertilization in the animal kingdom. Scientists also cited similar situations with fish, birds, lizards, and snakes. However, this is the first-known instance with a crocodile. Related: Zebra Shark at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium Had Pups Through Virgin Birth Based on this new study, scientists are reexamining reproduction in crocodiles and related animals. Warren Booth, an author of the study with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, opened up to Newsweek about the insight. "What this also tells us is that as crocodiles and birds use the same mechanism, their extinct relativesdinosaurs and pterosaursare also likely to have been capable of parthenogenetic production. The idea that life finds a wayas in Jurassic Parkis not science fiction at all," Booth said. Getty Images Crocodile Related: Scientists Uncover First Known Cases of California Condors Born Through Asexual Reproduction 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. Booth continued, "We have numerous records in birds, snakes, and lizards that record parthenogens being born and surviving. As such, with this new record, we are just starting to scratch the surface in understanding the long-term ecological and evolutionary significance of this trait." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. (Getty/AP/The Independent) The collapse of Afghanistans government at the hands of the Taliban forced thousands of the nations people to flee their homeland, including many of those who served as translators and other aides to US military forces. But in the more than a year and a half since, the United States has failed to offer immigration assistance to most Afghans who helped American forces, which would allow them to stay in the country on a more permanent basis. According to International Rescue Committee, the US admitted 76,000 Afghans as part of Operation Allies Welcome. In the United Kingdom, the government pledged to allow Afghans who assisted British forces to build a life in safety and security. Instead, many who have made the dangerous trip from Afghanistan to Britain have been told they face deportation. One pilot who served with distinction fled Afghanistan even as his wife and young family stayed behind, arriving in Britain in a small boat because there was no safe and legal route to escape the Taliban, since British and Nato forces left him and his squadron behind. Now he has been told by UK authorities that he faces being sent to Rwanda under a controversial immigration policy. Everyone knew that one day the American and British armies would leave as they had supported us for a long time. But when the withdrawal came, our territorial leaders failed us, the pilot, who is not named in order to protect his family, told The Independent earlier this year. The Independent is campaigning for the British government to give a home to those who fought with the UK against the Taliban. It has been backed by politicians of all parties, as well as religious leaders, senior military figures and celebrities including Sting and director Guy Ritchie. But the United Kingdom is not alone in its failure to fulfil the pledges made to those who assisted the war efforts. Despite broad bipartisan support in both houses of US Congress and from president Joe Biden, Congress has failed to live up to its commitments to Afghans despite supportive rhetoric. Story continues Most Afghans who came to America after the withdrawal of US military forces from the country, arrived on what is called humanitarian parole, wherein people who may be otherwise ineligible for admission into the United States are allowed to enter for humanitarian reasons. And those folks have two years of parole, which is about to run out, Shawn VanDiver, the founder of #AfghanEvac and a US Navy veteran, told The Independent. The issue with the parolees is that for every other population, where there's been a big influx like this, Congress has passed Adjustment of Status. Adjustment of Status would allow people who were given humanitarian parole to adjust their status to that of a permanent resident. In the months following the collapse of the Afghan government and more Afghans entering the United States, a bipartisan group led by Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota sponsored the Afghan Adjustment Act. Sen Amy Klobuchar (AP) Its strongly supported by veterans [so] it should be must pass, senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, told The Independent. But there are all kinds of time pressures, a lot of competing issues. Those competing interests meant the bill was not included in must-pass legislation like last years omnibus spending bill, the National Defense Authorisation Act, and an aid package to Ukraine, which means that many of the people given humanitarian parole risk losing their status by August, which marks two years since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan. Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told The Independent that the United States has had a double standard when it comes to Afghanistan and other nations enduring conflict. I feel like we saw even in the outbreak of Ukraine, the difference between how things were expedited depending on country of origin, she said. And I believe that translators and many folks ... we should be really filling up the visa allotments that we have, and we have not yet. Mr VanDiver explained that the Trump administration weakened parts of the immigration system like Special Immigrant Visas and created massive backlogs by weakening the resettlement programmes. The impact that Afghans are feeling right now can be attributed to Stephen Miller and Donald Trump, the way that they purposely deconstructed the system for welcoming vulnerable people into our country and cares for their inaction, he said. The legislation would need to pass through the judiciary committees in the US House and Senate. Senator Chuck Grassley, who last year served as the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, opposed the legislation. Mr Grassley told The Independent that at the time he led the GOP on the committee, he was speaking for the concerns of other Republican senators. Sen Chuck Grassley (AP) I think it would be based on this issue of vetting, he said. I think thats very important. You know, when we have 98 people across the border that havent been vetted and theyre on the terrorist watch list, I think we have to be very careful. Since then, senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the co-sponsors of the Afghan Adjustment Act, has stepped up to ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He said lawmakers may act on the Afghan Adjustment Act towards the end of the year when Congress must fund the government. I think its important we keep our commitment to those who helped us in Afghanistan, Mr Graham told The Independent, adding that he is not concerned about missing the August deadline. I just want to try to rally the House and Senate around the concept that we need to do better, and that's very important, he said. Since 2022, Republicans have taken control of the House of Representatives, making it much harder to pass the legislation in the era of hyper-polarised government. While Mr Graham is the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, representative Jim Jordan, a hardliner on immigration, now leads the House Judiciary Committee, making it even tougher for the bill to pass. But that's okay, Mr VanDiver said. So long as we could get [house majority leader Steve] Scalise and [house speaker Kevin] McCarthy to be supportive, then we could do it. Until then, Mr VanDiver has helped launch an Afghanistan Community Ambassadors Programme so any Afghan in the United States can sign up and get direct information about immigration. Its meant to ensure that every Afghan here has access to the same information, he said. So its not like you have to know somebody. No one gives something for nothing. All of the evils that emerge over the course of In Flames and there are quite a few of them stem from that prescient warning that Mariam (Ramesha Nawal) relays to her mother. The 25-year-old medical student is alarmed by the resurfacing of her sleazy Uncle Nasir (Adnan Shah), who has conveniently offered to pay all of their familys debts after a lifetime of neglecting her and her brother. The familys financial struggles cause her concerns to fall on deaf ears, but a lot of agony could have been avoided if her mother had just learned the films key lesson: some gift horses should be looked in the mouth. More from IndieWire Zarrar Kahns genre-bending horror movie which has the well-deserved honor of being the first Pakistani film to premiere in the Directors Fortnight in over four decades is a Kafkaesque saga of niceties gone awry. What begins as a story of a poor family relying on the kindness of their community quickly turns into a hellish tale of how the ground is always shifting underneath you when all of your benefactors have an angle. Inconvenience gives way to discomfort until theres nothing left but barbarity. Fariha (Bakhtawar Mazhar) has been through a lot. The death of her abusive husband put her in the undesirable position of raising two young children alone in a tiny apartment in Karachi, Pakistan. While she was able to hold down a job as a schoolteacher, her countrys draconian restrictions on women forced her to rely on her own father for financial support. But when he dies, shes left with a mountain of debt that he spent a lifetime accumulating. Her eldest daughter Mariam is preparing for the final exams that she expects will launch her medical career, but her younger son Bilal is still very much a dependent. Story continues So when Uncle Nasir offers to settle all of their fathers accounts with no strings attached, its hard to blame her for seeing him as a godsend. But her daughter whose education and professional ambitions have equipped her with a more modern worldview is instantly skeptical. She warns Fariha to avoid signing any legal documents without reading them, but her mother isnt particularly interested in poking holes in the golden parachute. At a certain point, Mariam has no choice but to shrug her concerns off she has bigger things to worry about. In addition to her studies, the aspiring doctor has allowed herself to cautiously enter a new romance with a boy from the library named Asad (Omar Javaid). While shes initially hesitant about the distraction he poses, his carefree charms begin to erode her discipline until shes gleefully ditching obligations to ride his motorcycle to the beach. Between the new relationship and the financial freedom she can see on the horizon, Mariam seems like shes finally ready to live her life on her own terms. She gets about an hour to enjoy that euphoric feeling before Asad dies in a motorcycle crash on the way home from the beach. Mariam is immediately aware of how much danger the streets pose to a single woman at night, so she has no choice but to hitch a ride with the first cab driver she finds. The man refuses to accept payment for taking her home, creating yet another implied debt that Mariam never asked for. Mariam doesnt have much time to feel sorry for herself when she gets home, because the family suddenly has much bigger problems. Uncle Nassir has predictably screwed them over and is now claiming that he legally owns their apartment and wants them out immediately. As Mariam and Fariha try to navigate the countrys Byzantine legal system to save their home, they begin receiving frequent visits from ghosts from their past. Mariam keeps hallucinating a zombie version of Asad who makes lewd gestures outside her bedroom window, and her dreams keep taking her back to childhood memories of her mother being abused. The horrors slowly become more and more menacing until the two women realize that theyll never be able to build a life for themselves until they burn down their old traumas. Kahns masterful use of red herrings and subtext creates an environment where nobody ever quite knows where they stand. The films most nefarious actors are never outwardly aggressive, opting to use carrots rather than sticks to get what they want. Everyone is always eager to offer Mariam and Fariha a favor in moments of need, which allows them to return with their own irrefutable requests at the most inopportune times. The weaponization of kindness is so prevalent that genuine acts of altruism become indistinguishable from transactional traps. The film layers three separate sources of discomfort the harsh realities of life as a woman in Pakistan, the universal human urge to be skeptical of unprompted favors and gifts, and the supernatural elements that literally haunt the characters on top of each other. The result is a story where something feels off at virtually every moment, but you can never quite be sure where the horror is coming from until its too late. Its a seedy ride through a bleak existence that would be entertaining enough to watch with popcorn if it didnt depict a life thats all too real for too many people. Grade: B+ In Flames premiered in the Directors Fortnight at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. 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. Democrats avoided an electoral wipeout in the 2022 midterms. One way they did so was by reassembling a history-defying coalition of young voters who turned out at rates more commonly seen in presidential elections, according to a new study of voter-file data according to a new study of voter file data. The Democratic data firm Catalist found that these voters bested 2018 turnout levels in states with the most competitive races for governor or Senate and they overwhelmingly favored Democratic candidates, even if the overall political environment swung to the right. Like other studies of the 2022 electorate which mostly rely on surveys of voters on or around Election Day the Catalist report finds that Democrats increased their support among women voters over 2020. Abortion is cited as a key factor in that shift: Polls and registration data show that Democratic women were more motivated to vote after the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision. The Catalist report does offer some warning signs for the party, particularly a drop in turnout among Black voters. But it mostly suggests that close, high-turnout elections continue to be the norm since Donald Trumps election in 2016. Both sides are highly activated to participate in both presidential elections and years in between. That means we could be headed to another year of record or near-record voter turnout in 2024, even if both candidates wind up being unpopular. High turnout was especially evident in the most competitive races, Catalist found. Democrats defiance of a so-called red wave came because Democrats managed to win the lions share of competitive races for Senate, governor and House. How did they do it, and what does it mean for 2024 and beyond? Here are five takeaways from the Catalist report: Democrats won the most competitive races thanks to turnout We already know that Democrats overperformed in 2022: They won five of the six Senate races POLITICO rated as toss ups going into Election Day, along with four of five governors races and 20 of 26 House races. Story continues Strategists and analysts have settled on a number of explanations for the results, particularly an examination of candidate quality issues dogging Republican Senate candidates like Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Herschel Walker in Georgia. But the Catalist report offers a new reason from the voter files: higher turnout. Turnout was between 5 and 8 percent above 2018 levels in four of the six Senate races POLITICO classified as toss ups Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania and around 2018 levels in the other two: Georgia and Wisconsin. Turnout in states without competitive races was 8 percent lower than in highly contested states. The Catalist report stresses that high turnout doesnt always benefit Democratic candidates, though high turnout seems to have helped them in elections last year. We may remain in a high turnout era, but voters perceptions of how competitive and salient an election is can change dramatically, the report says. Despite history, young voters showed up Americans under 30 made up one-in-10 voters, down slightly from 12 percent in 2018. But branching out to the Millennial and Gen-Z generations, they made up 26 percent of the electorate, up from 23 percent four years earlier. Whats also notable about young voters is that despite the historical penalty typically paid by the party in power Democrats actually increased their vote share among those under 30, winning 65 percent of them, up from 62 percent in 2020, according to Catalist modeling of voter-file data. Combined with 2018, its the first time Democrats have exceeded 60 percent among young voters in two consecutive midterms. The Catalist report suggests that young voters may be uniquely turned off by Trumps version of the Republican Party, in an inverse of how voters who came of age during Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagans administrations tended to remain Democrats and Republicans, respectively, throughout their lives. Women voters propelled Democrats in contested races Nationally, women voters in 2022 shifted slightly to Republicans by about 2 points, about half the margin of the shift among men, 4 points. But in the most competitive races, Democrats increased their vote share among women by 2 points and 4 points among women without a college degree the Catalist report shows. It is plausible that Democrats were successful in convincing this segment of voters that choice was on the ballot, leading to marginal gains that secured important wins, the report says. Democrats actually made limited inroads with non-college voters For much of the past two decades, the phenomenon that has best explained our politics has been the realignment of white voters along educational lines. Trump accelerated the movement of less-educated voters to the GOP, but it was already well under way when George W. Bush and Barack Obama were on the ballot. But Catalists findings are a bit counterintuitive. They found that Democratic candidates in competitive races won 40 percent of white voters without a college degree, up from 36 percent in 2020. By contrast, Democrats share of white college graduates in those contests dipped from 53 percent in 2020 to 51 percent in 2022. This was a somewhat surprising result given both the prominent role education polarization has had in recent elections and the lack of such a trend in other data sources, such as the exit poll, the report says, citing precinct election result data showing Democratic candidates in 2022 outperforming Bidens 2020 vote in places with higher numbers of non-college white voters. A warning sign with Black voters Black voters remain the most loyal members of Democrats coalition, but there are signs of fraying. Democratic candidates won 88 percent of Black voters in 2022, down from 91 percent in 2020. Some of the biggest slides came among younger Black voters, a group thats less likely to approve of Bidens job performance than other Democratic-friendly cohorts. And Black voters made up 10 percent of the midterm electorate, down from 12 percent in the 2020 presidential election. There were some bright spots for Democrats: Democrats ran stronger among Black voters in Georgia and North Carolina, states where top-of-the-ticket Democratic candidates were African Americans. The report also finds consistent support for Democrats among Latino voters, who represent a smaller share of the electorate, about 8 percent. Catalist estimates that Democrats won 62 percent of Latino voters in 2022, unchanged from 2020. Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Its the MVP of my summer makeup routine. Nordstrom/ InStyle I just spent a few weeks in Italy and for probably the first time in my life, I didnt over or under pack. I was perfectly prepared for the trip except for my makeup bag. Most of the dozens of products I packed went untouched not because I was bare-faced, but because Charlotte Tilburys Hollywood Flawless Filter was all I wore. I know, Im not introducing you to anything new or under-the-radar, but its been a while since Hollywood Flawless Filter was viral on TikTok. So as a refresh: This is a multi-use product that can be described as a primer, complexion-booster, highlighter, and skin filter. Its one of the greatest hits from the brand that counts celebrities like Amal Clooney, Bella Hadid, and Mindy Kaling as fans. Nordstrom Shop now: $49; charlottetilbury.com, sephora.com, and nordstrom.com During my Italian vacation, I wore it all over my bare face; it was my one-and-done product. There are so many things I like about it, Im having a hard time parsing through all of them but Ill start with the pigment and coverage. The Hollywood Flawless Filter is sheer but tinted, during the course of my vacation I got tan and my skin darkened to the point where the rest of my packed concealers and foundations were no longer a match. This was the exception because of its thin formula and the fact that it works with a range of skin shades instead of just one. Even though this is very light coverage, I found that it neutralized redness and evened out my skin tone. InStyle / Tamim Alnuweiri Then theres the finish Charlotte Tilburys HFF blurred my pores and imperfections, made my skin look dewy yet not oily, and the radiance lasted despite sightseeing in 90 degree heat. It also doesnt rely on glitter or sparkle to impart its glow so at no point did I feel like Edward Cullen. I am back from vacation (womp womp) but this is still the only face coverage I wear most of the time. After applying my moisturizer, I take a foundation brush and lightly spread shade 4 across my face. I think the picture speaks for itself; it makes my skin look smooth, healthy, and moisturized. Story continues It feels like wearing nothing, which is ideal for summer heat and humidity. Youll forget you have any makeup on until someone stops to compliment you. Head to Charlotte Tilbury, Sephora, or Nordstrom to find your shade of Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on InStyle. More than half of New Mexico was experiencing some form of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, even amid early spring rainfall reported throughout the state. New Mexico water managers expected the long-term arid conditions to last at least another 50 years, inciting calls for officials to increase planning efforts and funding for water projects throughout the state. Officials hoped to improve the states infrastructure and resiliency in the wake of the 2023 Legislative Session where several water-related bills were passed, aiming to address increased water scarcity. More: 'Forever chemicals' found in New Mexico oil and gas wells. Could toxify water, study says Acting Director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) Hannah Riseley-White said during a Tuesday meeting that statewide water planning was initiated through passage of Senate Bill 337. SB 337, known as the Water Security Planning Act, passed the legislature unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 4. It called on the Interstate Stream Commission to initiate a rulemaking for statewide water planning, focusing on regional projects across the state with a state water plan due this year, and subsequent progress reports due annually to the legislature. More: Civil rights violated by New Mexico approving oil and gas operations, lawsuit says Acting Director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Hannah Riseley-White speaks during a meeting of the Carlsbad Irrigation District, March 11, 2020 in Carlsbad. We are facing significant challenges across the state related to scarcity brought on by climate change, Riseley-White said. We either bury our heads in the sand and run into problems or we get together right now and prepare for these challenges. Those challenges were driven by increasing heat and aridity in New Mexico, officials predicted. New Mexico was likely to see an average temperature increase of 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 50 years, according to a March 2022 report developed by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, commissioned by the State to inform future water needs and planning. Story continues More: Wildfire season heating up in New Mexico as political leaders try to prevent destruction At the same time, rainfall was not predicted to increase consistently, the report read, while snowpack and associated runoff were expected to decline by 2070, weakening stream flows. Higher temperatures will increase evaporation along rivers and streams, reducing New Mexicos available surface water, the report read. The impact of climate change on New Mexicos resources are, unfortunately, overwhelmingly negative, the report read. The coupled trends of increasing temperature with no clear increasing trend in precipitation leads to a confident projection of increasingly arid conditions, including decreased soil moisture, stressed vegetation, and more severe droughts. More: Wright's marsh thistle native to southeast New Mexico gets federal protection after lawsuit While SB 337 included language to begin to address these worsening conditions, Riseley-White said, more funding was needed from subsequent lawmaking sessions to see the program through. This really transformed our regional water planning in New Mexico. A lot of folks worked to advocate for its passage, Riseley-White said of SB 337. It kicks off a very important process over the next couple of years and is intended to build resilience. The next couple years are going to be really critical for water planning in New Mexico into the future. More: More New Mexico land must be saved from oil and gas to prevent climate crisis, study says The plan will respect existing water rights, Riseley-White explained in response to concerns, she said that the planning process could impede ongoing development and use. It will also entail input from indigenous communities through a Tribal Advisory Council, she said, along with public stakeholder meetings throughout the process. Our hope is this effort will result in more consistent engagement with the regions at the state level, including building local capacity, Riseley-White said. Its truly hard to craft viable solutions without folks on the ground. More: River snakes in New Mexico see habitat cuts, drawing lawsuit against federal government Looking ahead, she said the Commission and its supporters must lobby lawmakers for continual funding in upcoming session to implement projects created by the planning process and ensure the process remains viable. We did get additional funding in this session, and its sufficient to stand up these rulemakings, but its not sufficient for the long-term purpose this bill is intended for, Riseley-White said. This isnt going to be cheap, but the alternative of lack of planning certainly has more significant fiscal implications. Other bills she pointed to were Senate Bill 58, which altered membership of the Interstate Stream Commission to include a greater diversity both cultural and geographical, Riseley-White said, included upping indigenous members required from one to two seats on the Commission. More: What ranchers in eastern New Mexico are doing to save an iconic but struggling bird And Senate Bill 176 was passed to add state dollars to the Acequia Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund in support of disaster relief, while removing local cost share requirements. Senate Bill 329 was proposed to provide funding to educate lawmakers on local issues. It did not pass, but a total of $325,000 in state funds was passed for the program via the legislatures budget bills. My observation is there is a lot of support for water issues in the legislature and a lot of hunger to learn more about what is needed in terms of water planning in New Mexico, Riseley-White said. Theres a lot of work for us at ISC and a lot of work for all of us across the state. We need to figure out how to get the public and our legislators to understand the risk that were facing. More: Lawmakers reject bill to classify natural gas power as renewable energy in New Mexico Norm Gaume, president of the Middle Rio Grande Water Advocates, a New Mexico-based nonprofit focused on water issues throughout the state, said New Mexico is facing increasing water scarcity necessitating policy action and funding. We have to deal with hydrologic reality as difficult as that might. We have to face our water future, rather than ignore that our water demands exceed the average supply, he said during the meeting. We must protect water supplies for future generations. We must adapt to increase resiliency. Gaume argued several measures that would have supported water planning and infrastructure, mostly funding requests, were either killed or limited during the 2023 session. More: Pro-oil candidates lost out in New Mexico's 2022 election, as environment took center stage He estimated the ISC needed 20 new positions to contend with shifting water issues in the coming years, while Lujan Grisham requested 11 in her budget proposal and the legislature ultimately funded just nine. The governor also requested $6 million for water planning efforts, but lawmakers appropriated $250,000 in recurring funds and $500,000 in one-time funds. A bill that would give the Office of the State Engineer authority to enforce state water law, targeting illegal uses, was blocked by lawmakers, Gaume said, but would be pushed next year by the office and its supporters. He said the State must also find funds to increase monitoring of water levels throughout New Mexico, an essential data component of any future planning. We need to transition to sustainable groundwater use. Part of how that gets started is to very substantially increase New Mexicos measurement and monitoring across the state, Gaume said. Its going to be essential that the regions balance their water budgets. Its going to take great conservation. Adrian Heddencan be reached at 575-628-5516,achedden@currentargus.com or@AdrianHedden on Twitter. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: New Mexico called on to plan for water scarcity New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham warned Thursday that debt ceiling negotiations could have a chilling effect on states economic growth and climate change efforts. But she said she also takes it as a compliment that Republicans in Congress are mounting such an effort to undo the clean-energy investments that the Biden administration and her state are trying to make. When someone's trying to take the wind out of your sails because you are moving that sail up and clipping along the ocean, you've done something right, the Democratic governor said at POLITICOs Energy Summit in D.C. For now, though, Lujan Grisham said the threat of fiscal chaos in Washington is a problem for the effort to stand up a clean energy economy. You have to have predictability with all of your partners, stakeholders, advocates, businesses, she said. You cant move the needle on any event where the full state and credit and consistency of the United States is on the line. The governor blamed narrow-mindedness in Congress for making life worse for families and imperiling climate change investments. These are separate issues, she said of policy priorities that Republicans are trying to push in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling. To try to hold hostage or call it a negotiation is really nothing more than not moving on the appropriations work that Congress is elected to do on behalf of the American people. On an issue closer to home, Lujan Grisham defended her recent line item vetoes of several climate items in New Mexicos budget package, including tax credits for electric vehicles, geothermal and energy storage and rebates for heat pumps. These were important, but way too small, she said, arguing that the money would be better directed toward larger, more ambitious projects. They dont move the needle sometimes when you get something, you dont get a second bite at it, and I had to do something different, Lujan Grisham said. Plans for Michigan's first Costco Business Center are moving closer to reality. Costco recently purchased a 13.4-acre site in Southfield near the former Northland Center mall, where it plans to build the 160,000-square-foot business-oriented shopping warehouse. Construction is well underway on May 18, 2023 at the future Northland City Center in Southfield, the site of the former Northland mall. The store would be an anchor for the future Northland City Center development that is now under construction and will feature housing, retail and restaurants. News of the land sale, which closed early this month, was announced Thursday by the Friedman Real Estate Group, which advised the seller. The seller was Contour Companies of Bloomfield Hills. Contour is developing Northland City Center. Map showing a Costco Business Center at the future Northland City Center. It has already been approved by the city of Southfield and they have permits in hand," said Alan Stern, a senior vice president with Friedman. Costco Business Centers are different from regular Costcos. Products are sold in greater quantities, for instance, and they don't have bakeries or pharmacies. According to the Costco website, more than 70% of items in the business centers are different than those found in a typical Costco. Standard Costco membership cards also work in the business centers. Southfield Mayor Ken Siver said Thursday that Costco has been eying the location since 2016. Northland Center mall closed in 2015. Construction is well underway on May 18, 2023 at the future Northland City Center in Southfield, the site of the former Northland mall. Its honestly been an off-again, on-again project," Siver said of Costco's plans. "Part of it had to do with the pandemic and the economy and so on. But its become a reality and people are excited. More: Demolition underway, groundbreaking set for Northland site A Costco representative could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday regarding the timeline for the store. Mayor Siver said he was told that construction could begin almost immediately. "So I wouldnt be surprised if they opened by December because they put those boxes up pretty fast," he said. And if its not December, then it would be early 2024. There are 16 Costco locations in Michigan and 24 Costco Business Center locations nationwide. Story continues Northland City Center broke ground in fall 2021 and is a multiphase development. The initial phase is well underway and calls for 400 apartments as well as new retail and restaurants. Significant progress has been made on two all-new buildings facing Greenfield Road. As part of the development, the original 1954 J.L. Hudson department store building is being transformed into a food and goods emporium called Hudson City Market. Construction is well underway on May 18, 2023 at the future Northland City Center in Southfield, the site of the former Northland mall. Mayor Siver said he was told that Hudson City Market could be ready as soon as 2025. I can't wait for it to open," he said. "I keep telling people 'Were going back to Hudson's!' " Construction crews were busy at work Thursday afternoon. Davon Lane, 27, was among a half-dozen people at a bus stop across from where the new Costco would be built. A rendering of the planned Northland City Center. He remembers visiting the old Northland mall and said he is eager to see the new Northland open. "I see how it is coming along, but it is taking some time," he said. Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jcreindl. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's 1st Costco Business Center buys land in Southfield After raising her two children for more than two decades, Vilma Mancia a 65-year-old Salvadoran woman didnt think that she would become a mother again. But on the afternoon of April 4, 2022, six children were born to her at once. That afternoon, Mancia a thin woman with brown skin was selling vegetables out of her small stall in the market. She works in the municipality of San Martin, in the metropolitan area of San Salvador the capital of El Salvador. Suddenly, another vendor came running to tell her that, a few blocks from the market, the police had just detained Vilmas daughter. And, just a few minutes later, a call alerted her that her son had also been captured, while he was eating lunch at his house. At that moment and for a long time afterwards Mancia couldnt think of anything other than how to get her children out of prison. From that day onwards, she was also in charge of her six grandchildren: five boys and one girl, between the ages of eight months and six years. Long after their parents were arrested, Mancia continues to care for them as if she were their mother. I feed them, bathe them, change them, take them to school, give them my care and my love. As if they were my children, Mancia says, nearly 15 months after the afternoon that changed her life. Back in April of 2022, the state of emergency known as the state of exception had only been in force for a few days. This repressive measure imposed by the administration of President Nayib Bukele was initiated as part of the so-called war against gangs. It has allowed the police and army to carry out massive raids, arresting almost anyone who stood in front of them. More than a year later, these raids have resulted in the capture of more than 68,000 people. Thousands of innocents have been detained in the process, according to two reports from human rights organizations. And, to date, around 5,000 prisoners who were detained under the emergency laws have been found innocent and released. The regime established by the Bukele administration has achieved the dismantling of El Salvadors gangs. However, at the same time, several serious human rights violations have been committed, ranging from arbitrary detention, to death from torture and suffocation inside Salvadoran prisons. While most of the detainees are men, women have also suffered consequences that affect them in a more painful, silent way. A woman is detained during a police operation in Soyapango, El Salvador, circa 2022 Camilo Freedman (Getty Images) A report by Cristosal a Salvadoran NGO set up to defend human rights was published last Monday. It points out the fact that the emergency measures have resulted in particular forms of state violence against women, forcing them to watch over imprisoned relatives and assume the role of caregiver to girls, boys, adolescents, or older adults. Some even have to care for those who live in other peoples homes, such as in the case of Vilma Mancia. Being a mother by force is not a new form of slavery in El Salvador. In 2018, Factum Magazine revealed how the Barrio 18 gang forced women from a community in the capital to become the adoptive mothers of children of gang members who were imprisoned. This dynamic is now being repeated but by the state. Theres no official figure for how many women have been detained during the state of exception. In fact, there is no official figure for the number of detainees. The only thing known is that there are more than 68,000 and this is only because the number has been mentioned in sporadic statements made by government officials in television interviews, or in tweets that the police or the president have posted. All detailed information in this regard has officially been declared secret. However, a report published in August of 2022 by Human Right Watch stated that 15.8% of the people detained during the state of exception by that point in time were women. The National Civil Police of El Salvador have published images of women on social media, indicating that they are gang members. Some of the photos even show their tattoos, alluding to gang affiliation. However, in El Salvador, for nearly two decades, the role of women in the gangs has been marginal. At least since 2005, the structures of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs prohibited women from continuing to be active members or homegirls something that was previously permitted. Since then, their role has been limited to being girlfriends or collaborators of gangsters. Their criminal activities have been limited to storing weapons, drugs and money obtained from extortion, or picking up packages. However, Cristosals latest report reveals new information: of the more than 5,000 complaints related to possible human rights violations made by members of the public during the 15-month-long state of emergency, about 80% have been filed by women. According to the organization, this means that it is primarily women who have taken charge of detainees cases, while also bringing food and clothing to their imprisoned loved ones. Outside the prisons, it has become normal to see hundreds of women lining up, bringing hygienic products and food packages to their relatives. This has even led to the establishment of small informal markets around the penitentiaries. Care packages can cost between $35 and $170 a price paid by the women who have assumed the role of caring for detainees. Salvadoran women bring supplies to their relatives, who are being held at La Esperanza penitentiary Kellys Portillo (Getty Images) Since the day her two children were captured nearly 15 months ago, Vilma Mancia hasnt only had the burden of feeding six more mouths. She has also had to take charge of the judicial processes that her two children are facing. Her son is in Mariona prison, while her daughter is in Apanteos. She has managed to learn very little about their cases. All her spare time outside of her vegetable store is spent bringing them food or caring for her six grandchildren, leaving her with little strength or cash. Two months ago, Mancia had a sudden pain in her stomach. At first, she thought she had food poisoning. She also considered the possibility that the pain was from stress. But when she went to the doctor, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I would like someone to help me at least with all these children. I cant manage all of them anymore. Theyve told me to hand them over to the government, but I dont want to, Mancia says. Miscarriages, both in and out of prison Cristosal has also documented cases of girls and female adolescents who have been victims of sexual harassment and abuse by police officers and soldiers, who take advantage of the almost absolute power that the emergency measures grant them. In some cases, this situation has forced families to move, or send the girls and adolescents to other places, so that they can avoid being abused or detained for not giving in to the harassment of law enforcement officers, the report notes. Many women who were pregnant at the time of their detention have been forced to give birth inside the prisons, without their relatives being able to find out about the state of health of the mother or the child. Some who gave birth just before being detained were eventually separated from their children. Cristosal has recorded testimony by women who lived under inhumane conditions in the detention facilities. In some [areas] that were in the lower part [of the prison], there were thousands of women sleeping on the floors, without mattresses, without blankets. Since we were in the winter season, they got wet at night. Since there was no medical assistance, I saw a woman die, an old woman, maybe 50 or 56-years-old, says one of the women interviewed. A woman walks past a military checkpoint in Tonacatepeque, El Salvador Camilo Freedman (Getty Images) The report also indicates that some women witnessed miscarriages inside the prisons, caused by mistreatment from the authorities. There was a woman who had to [head out to the clinic] every day to heal and, when she had surgery, they didnt realize she was four months pregnant. After the operation, the girl got worse again they took her to the hospital and they did a curettage, the document states. Beyond the walls of the prisons, the state of exception has also impacted the lives of women who were going to be mothers. The report mentions the case of a 24-year-old fisherman, who died as a result of torture in prison under emergency rule. The shock of his death caused his wife who was five-months pregnant to lose their child, it reads. But the effects of the emergency regime dont stop there. There are also babies dying from being incarcerated. This past Friday, a local newspaper published a story about a six-month-old baby named Genesis, who died after spending that same amount of time in prison with her mother. Until the publication of the story, the mother didnt even know about the death of her baby. Despite having a release order issued by a judge, she remains in prison. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition By now surely you've seen Brandon "Bonestalone" Bonner doing absolutely insane tricks on his hometown skatepark in the Virginia woods. We're always keen to see what he's up to when he posts new clips, and he's got some bangers in here. Check the switch frontside flip that he takes all the way to flat, and the way he "flips" it. Now, if you're like us, the between-the-legs-flip certainly reminded us of someone. And in his caption, Bonestalone calls out for approval from Chad Muska. Peep the clips, then read the captions for a great switch frontside flip success story. Yup, The Muska, from his farm home in Ohio, hit the comments with a "100-percent official!" and a couple of emojis. You gotta love it. Everyone else in the comments is loving thisthe flip and the interaction with one of skateboarding's legends. And what about the kit? Trunks and a beanie in the summertime? Only Bonestalone can make it work. So the next time you're in Fredericksburg, Virginia, search out Brooks skatepark and have a roll around. Maybe you'll have yourself a Bonestalone sighting. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skateboarding. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging skate-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just having fun, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on skateboarding.com and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content. Travelers are planning ahead to get the best views of the celestial sensation. Smartshots International/Getty Images Total solar eclipses are rare and its particularly unusual to see them from the contiguous U.S. The last one to be seen in the U.S., on August 21, 2017, was the first in nearly four decades. So its actually quite lucky for another to come along on April 8, 2024 after that, you'll have to wait 21 years to see a total solar eclipse cross the Lower 48. So its no surprise that eclipse fans are already planning ahead to get the most strategic view of the event. In fact, so many eclipse chasers are already researching hotels for the eclipse that Expedia has seen a major uptick in some of cities where experts believe there will be especially good views as the moon blocks out the suns light for a few minutes. Hotel searches for the top cities to view the eclipse are seeing massive spikes already for April 5 to 8, 2024, compared to those same dates this year, the company said in a release. With more than half of Indiana in the path of totality, searches for its capital city of Indianapolis have already seen a 6,040 percent increase. Not far behind is Burlington, Vermont, which has seen a 4,515 percent rise (its neighboring cities Stowe and Montpelier should also offer great views). Farther south, Little Rock, Arkansas, has also seen a 2,275 percent surge, as the eclipse will go from Texarkana, through both Hot Springs and Little Rock, and then over to Jonesboro. New York state is home to two of the most popular spots to travel to for the total solar eclipse: Niagara Falls and Buffalo. Expedia adds that, of those cities, the average nightly hotel rates are the highest in Burlington at $378, while Little Rock offers the lowest hotel prices (at an average of $187 a night). The companys experts suggest using filters to book refundable rates or using the book now, pay later option to lock in the prices while staying flexible. But definitely dont wait, as Expedia says availability is starting to dwindle in both Burlington and Little Rock. For more availability, try searching for properties in Texas (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio) or take a quick trip across the Canadian border to Montreal, the company advised. Story continues Some of the hotels within the total eclipse viewing path that are still available in the Hotels.com app, from April 6 to 9, 2024, include the former Coca-Cola buildinghoused Bottleworks Hotel in Indianapolis; the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk in Texas (pro tip: book a reservation at the rooftop bar or outdoor restaurant for a prime view); the Kimber Modern in Austin, Texas, with rooms offering private outdoor space; and The Lake House on Canandaigua in New York's Finger Lakes, for a gorgeous lakefront viewing venue. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Parents of newborn Olivers and Charlottes may not have been as creative as they thought the two names topped the list of most popular baby names in Missouri in 2022. The Social Security Administration announced its annual list of most popular baby names in the state on Thursday. Among children born last year, Oliver tops the list for boys, followed by Theodore, Henry, Liam and William. As for the girls, Charlotte took first place, followed by Olivia, Amelia, Emma and Evelyn. To see the 100 most popular baby names in Missouri for last year, visit the Social Security Administration website at ssa.gov/cgi-bin/namesbystate.cgi. Olivia and Liam were popular nationwide, ranking No. 1 as the most popular baby names in the country for 2022. Just like your name, social security is with you from day one," Kilolo Kijakazi, acting commissioner of social security, said in a news release. "One of the first things parents do for their newborn is get them a social security number. That makes social security the ultimate source for the most popular baby names each year." More: Glendale High senior, long reliant on a wheelchair, intends to walk at graduation The Social Security Administration began tracking baby names in 1997, with names dating back to 1880, according to a news release. This data is tracked from social security card applications. For Missourians born in 2005 many of whom are graduating high school this week as part of the Class of 2023 top names include Jacob, Ethan, William, Andrew and Tyler, alongside Emma, Madison, Emily, Abigail and Olivia. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri's top baby names for 2022 include Oliver, Charlotte Recently, I asked the BuzzFeed Community members to tell us the best find they've ever gotten while shopping at a thrift store, garage sale, or Facebook Marketplace. Well, turns out people have really, really scored some treasures. Jeff Greenberg / Universal Images Group via Getty Images So, without further ado, here are the unbelievably amazing things people gotten second-hand: 1. "I live in Florida. Five years ago I went to Goodwill to buy a winter coat because I was going to Canada to visit family in the middle of winter for the first time ever. I tried on this simple coat that was very warm. I bought it for $12. Long story short, I found $10K sewn inside the coat. I was so shocked and honestly afraid. I went to the police because I had no idea whose money it was. They said since it was found in a donated item they can try to locate the original owner, but if not, I can claim it since I have proof that I purchased the coat. Owners were never located so I became $10K richer. I tell this story all the time to people. You never know. You can become 'thousandaire' just from thrifting." heather136 2. "A vintage Gucci purse for $10 at a thrift store." Anonymous 3. "I bought a Le Creuset au gratin dish for 10 bucks at the most run-down flea market in a nearby city. I ran it through the dishwasher and then made some artichoke dip." jujubeanhead Le Cresuet / Via saksfifthavenue.com 4. "About 1520 years ago I found a Titanic-era antique brass gimbal lamp at a goodwill for $4.95. A Google search turned up an almost identical one on Worthpoint for $200 that needed to be rewired, mine works great. My best thrifting find!" Anonymous 5. "My grandmother went through a box of junk jewelry and found a strand of 'beads' that she thought looked like real pearls. She bought them for 75 cents and got them appraised and they were worth $750. I still have them to this day!" dtpapworth 6. "I got a $2,000 Burberry trench at an estate sale for $400!!! Still had the tags on it!" Story continues lowedown 7. "I picked up a 14-kart gold necklace intending to sell the gold. It also had a diamond pendent of which I did not think was real. I took it to the jewelry store and it turned out to be real and set in platinum It was appraised at $1,700. I paid $12.00." Anonymous 8. "I found a $2,000-plus Max Mara coat in near perfect condition (only thing 'wrong' with it is a hole in the right pocket) for $60!!! I still cant believe I found it I dont think Ill ever get as lucky while thrifting again." vravi 9. "Found a 1959 mid-century Drexel Furniture Projection set at a thrift store. Dining table and 5 chairs for $29; two buffets for $29 each; and the china cabinet for $29." 10. "I just recently found a beautiful leather carry-on bag at an estate sale for $4. If I bought it new it would run $250. There wasn't a mark on it anywhere. I took it home and put some leather conditioner on it and it is just perfect." scotts45bf998d7 11. "A pair of red bottoms [Christian Louboutins] in my size for $50!" desireedallas 12. "I was fortunate enough to find Dior sneakers that were retailing for $1650 for $80. Had a few scuffs but cleaned them up and good as new!" 13. "Got it for $80 on Facebook Marketplace. Always wanted to have one of these Queen Anne-style tall boy dressers since watching The Exorcist (the girl in the movie has a similar looking one in her bedroom) so when I saw it on FB Marketplace I was like, 'Get out of my dreams and into my life!' . These ones typically sell from $590 to over $1,000!!! e41f520302 14. "Not from a store or thrift shop or anything, but I saw a STUNNING wood box/chest on the sidewalk with a 'FREE' sign taped on it. I swung around but couldnt find anywhere to quickly park on this little city side-street, so I did a loop but still no luck. I saw a couple standing by it but they had walked to the corner about 20 feet away, so I quickly double parked, hopped out, grabbed it and threw it in my passenger seat. I was ecstatic! Later on, after cleaning it a bit and doing research, I'm 99% sure this beautiful, perfect-condition wood trunk is from the 1890s and was used for traveling. (Theres even train stickers on the bottom with later dates and info!) I cannot fathom how someone would leave this outside for free, but I thank my lucky stars for them and for keeping such great care of this antique." rl19 15. "I bought a first-edition of The Lords and the New Creatures, a book of poetry by Jim Morrison for two dollars at a thrift store and sold it for $270 dollars the next day on eBay." 16. "At a Vermont thrift store benefitting local charity, I got an Hermes scarf, with the original box, original ribbon, and obviously never worn, for $3." 17. "I once got a pair of Christian Dior sandals in perfect condition and a new style for just $5.00 at Goodwill. Sold them for $400 on Poshmark!" 18. "Jimmy Choo pumps for $15 at Goodwill." 19. And lastly: "I got $5,000 couch for $10!!! I hate the color, but it's OK." Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. Romanias culture minister Lucian Romascanu is confident that the countrys beleaguered cash rebate system is back on track, insisting in Cannes on Sunday that the government is committed to repairing a scheme that has ground to a halt in recent years. Everyone in politics, starting with the future Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, understands the importance of that, said Romascanu, outlining plans to rebuild confidence in an incentive program that faces stiff competition in the region. There is definitely a yes from the political world. More from Variety According to Romascanu, the administration is now determined to clear a backlog of roughly 100 million ($108.2 million) owed to foreign productions that have lensed in the Eastern European nation since the rebate was introduced, after a host of lawsuits over outstanding payments pushed the cashback program to a breaking point. He was also optimistic that those payments will begin to flow by this fall, and that a revamped scheme launched this year will again be financed to the tune of 50 million ($54.1 million) a year. I think its good news that there is total commitment from the political world in Romania, said Romascanu, who spoke exclusively to Variety. Its not just helping the movie industry. Its a win-win situation. It will come as a huge benefit for film producers that will also help the Romanian economy. Though optimism was sky-high in Romania over the launch of a cash rebate of up to 45% in 2018, the scheme has been plagued since its inception. After a bureaucratic reshuffle following a change in government in 2019 the program ground to a halt, a problem that was compounded within a matter of months when the newly installed administration was forced to contend with the coronavirus pandemic a dynamic that played out again in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which stalled positive momentum in talks between industry and Romanian officials. Story continues That logjam, however, hasnt stopped a string of high-profile international productions from coming to the country, including Tim Burtons Wednesday for Netflix and Sky Studios and Canal Plus Django, the English-language reimagining of Sergio Corbuccis classic 1966 Western. As the Romanian government prepares to overhaul its cashback program, Romascanu said theyll look to the schemes that are in place in Europe and take the best of everything, adding: I hope that well have the most modern, the best and the most effective scheme [in Europe]. The meeting with the culture minister, in the company of numerous high-level Romanian industry stakeholders, took place as the sun broke through the clouds over the French Riviera on Sunday, after stormy skies put a damper on the festivities this week at the worlds grandest celebration of cinema. Frame Film producer Andrei Boncea, who serviced the Django shoot, was hopeful that equally sunny days lie ahead for Romania. After a long fight, Im very confident that this time will work, he said. Eventually, everybody understood the importance of this program. U.K. producer Christopher Milburn, meanwhile, last in Romania with Lionsgates action film The Protege, from Bond director Martin Campbell, underscored the need to restore stability to the long-plagued incentive scheme. The first thing that needs to happen is the repayment of the old films in order to give confidence to the market and industry that moving forward, all films will be paid out, he said. Our financiers, Ingenious, were fully supportive of the program. Its one of the reasons [The Protege] went there in the first place. Its very important from the point of view of growth of the Romanian film industry, sustainability of the Romanian film industry, and bringing international projects into Romania, he added. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Police divers in Spain have begun searching a harbour for the body of missing X Factor star Levi Davis. Mossos dEsquadra, the regional force in Catalonia, released a video of its officers searching the port of Barcelona near to where Mr Davis vanished last October. They are also combing the Llobregat Delta wetland zones near the Catalan capital for the former Bath Rugby player. A spokesman for the Mossos dEsquadra said: A search is taking place for the man last seen on October 29 in Barcelona port and the Llobregat Delta. Its being conducted by the Mossos Maritime Police and the Aquatic Unit. Its an underwater search with the Maritime Police in the boats and the divers involved belonging to the aquatic unit. The search is taking place because of the possibility this person could have fallen into the water, from information received following his disappearance, around the time he was last seen. A local investigating judge is understood to have authorised the searches. They come shortly after Mr Davis family revealed last month that police had told them they feared he had drowned. Levi Davis mother has previously asked people and the press to refrain from printing conspiracy theories (ITV) Mr Davis, who appeared on the Celebrity X-Factor in 2019, was last seen in The Old Irish Pub in Barcelona on 29 October 2022, having left the UK for Ibiza after suffering an injury. Around the time he disappeared, four members of cruise liner MSC Bellissima said they had spotted a man in the water as the ship was docking in Barcelona. The men said he was wearing the same light-coloured top as Mr Davis and was shouting for help in English. A lifebuoy was thrown to him and a rescue operation was mounted. It lasted a day before being called off after it was confirmed that no one was missing from the cruise liner and no one had been reported missing in port waters or in the sea off Barcelona. The mystery surrounding his disappearance has prompted wild conspiracy theories, something his family have pleaded with people and the press not to share. In a statement released in March, his family said gang involvement was not being considered or investigated at this time. They spoke after Catalan police reportedly said there were disturbing issues with no logical explanation to his disappearance, and a specialist crime unit was said to be taking over the probe. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a huddle with political journalists on board a government plane (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire) Rishi Sunak has ruled out allowing building on the green belt after Labour backed the move in order to alleviate the housing crisis. The Prime Minister said he wants to make sure our green spaces are protected after being accused by Sir Keir Starmer of killing off the dream of home ownership by failing to build. Mr Sunak has dropped plans for mandatory local housing targets as part of a plan to build 300,000 homes a year in response to a revolt by Tory MPs and activists. But he is under pressure to get Britain building in order to increase the supply of homes to alleviate soaring rents and shortages. Speaking to reporters travelling with him in Japan, Mr Sunak said: I was very clear over the summer, I wanted to make sure our green spaces are protected. I think that is what local communities want. At the same time, we have empowered local communities with local plans. What I find is that its not necessarily an opposition to housing itself, its how and where exactly it is done and the infrastructure that comes alongside it. Sir Keir said that under his plan local areas would be given more powers to direct where houses are built, including on the green belt in some circumstances, but he insisted I want to protect the green belt, I value our countryside. There is already building on the green belt, the question is do local areas have sufficient control over where that happens and how that happens, he said in a speech to the British Chambers of Commerce. He highlighted an example of a car park which was in the green belt and a playing field which was not, with the latter site chosen for development. Weve got to take better decisions than that, he said. Former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke is among the Tory critics of the Prime Ministers housing approach. After the partys poor local election results, Mr Clarke argued Mr Sunaks major mistake of dropping housebuilding targets had played a role. Mr Clarke said that the Governments attempts to pander to the publics worst instincts of Nimbyism wanting building but not in my backyard was failing. (Photo: Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP / Getty Images) One of the greatest creature comforts is watching a movie with your pet. Now, pet owners in Bangkok, Thailand, can do just that in public, as the first pet-friendly cinema is now open. Animals and owners gather at pet-friendly movie theater in Thailand As reported by SCMP, the movie theater opened its doors to two- and four-legged friends alike for a screening of The Little Mermaid. Some pets even dressed up in themed costumes for the event. A 37-year-old man named Mano went to the event with his rescue cat, Kati. We take him to work sometimes. Today is like an experiment, he told AFP. We are seeing The Little Mermaid. He will enjoy seeing all the fish on the screen. Major Cineplex spokesman Narute Jiensnong said the cinemas concept was based on kid-friendly movie theaters. In the kid cinemas, kids will be running around screaming or shouting, he said. I think pet cinema will be the same. Everyone who comes will own a pet and be understanding (if dogs bark). (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images) The Little Mermaid screening wasnt exactly an animal free-for-all. Rules require pets to wear diapers and stay in carriers. A 136-pound Alaskan Malamute named Tungchae could not enter the theater due to size. (The pups almost 5-foot trolley, complete with fan, probably didnt help.) Unfortunately, not everyone even fellow pet owners is eager to welcome furry friends to historically human spaces. Being zipped up in this cage, I dont know if thats enjoyable for the animal, one cat parent said, according to AFP. Its so ridiculous dogs are not allowed in (most Bangkok) parks but they can go to a movie or cafe. What comes next, you bring your dog or cat to a massage parlour? Pet-friendly spaces slowly gaining traction This is only the latest new development welcoming pets into public spaces. Ikeas Thailand locations opened their doors to cats and small dogs, if contained in strollers. Its surprising more businesses in the country arent pet-friendly, given that Thailands pet industry is almost the biggest in Asia, second only to China. As of 2021, 8.3 million dogs and 3.7 million cats lived in the country. Story continues Is your dog ready for a pet-friendly movie theater? Wondering if your dog could handle being in a pet-friendly movie theater? They might be ready if they behave well in crowded and noisy environments, such as dog parks. Additionally, if your furry companion has successfully completed basic obedience training and can follow commands reliably, they are more likely to adapt well to the controlled environment of a pet-friendly movie theater. Furthermore, if they are calm around strangers and other dogs, they likely possess the social skills necessary to navigate the movie theater experience without causing disturbances. Ultimately, gauging your dogs readiness for pet-friendly movie theaters relies on careful observation of their behavior, training, and socialization to ensure an enjoyable trip to the movies. Now that you know all about the first pet-friendly movie theater in Thailand, read up on why dog-friendly offices are the way of the future. The post Thailand Opens 1st Pet-Friendly Movie Theater appeared first on DogTime. Photo: Sarah Jane Shoots (Shutterstock) Did the employee wash their hands between orders? Is anything at risk of cross contamination? Was a glove change performed? Is there some hidden ingredient buried in the nutrition label that could be life-threatening? Did the person taking my order really hear and listen to my concerns? As a mom of a 5-year-old with multiple food allergies, these are the questions running through my head every time we dine out as a family. That makes traveling especially complicated. Read more To avoid a potential lawsuit, most chain restaurants have a catch-all warning label like We cannot guarantee that any of our menu items are free of allergens or gluten. Checking the ingredients lists is crucial, since even things like french fries can have dairy or gluten hidden in them, or be cooked in an oil that can cause a reaction. Before our next family vacation, I wanted to know which fast food chains and popular restaurants did the best job at catering to their customers with food allergies, so I connected with both fellow parents and organizations to field suggestions. Here are five great allergy-friendly restaurant chains, recommended by the families who feel safe there. Red Robin Red Robin cheeseburger and steak fries This chain tops a lot of peoples lists because of its allergy-friendly menu. Heres what user lira9497, who has wheat and celiac-gluten allergies and lives in Arkansas, wrote on the food allergy app Spokin about their experience with Red Robin: I am an adult with food allergies. Surprisingly, this is one of the most organized places Ive ordered from! Without me even asking for the run down I was given a play by play of their protocol and the food even came with a little flag in it indicating that its gluten free and being handled with the allergy protocol. Stacey Agin Murray, a professional organizer and food allergy parent in New Jersey, discovered her now 13-year-old son had food allergies when he was 11 months old. Although hes outgrown a few of his allergies, hes still allergic to dairy, peanuts, some tree nuts, and tinned fish. We go to Red Robin because they are very attuned to food allergies, Murray says. Story continues The kids have multiple anaphylactic food allergies and Red Robin makes it easy, writes user susanisrael, a Seattle-based parent of two food-allergic elementary school children, on Spokin. No issues with the burger and chicken kid meals no dairy, no eggs, no nuts. Megan Lavin, an Idaho mom of two elementary-aged boys, also likes Red Robin. She usually orders the bite-sized Grilled Chicken DipNs with fries and a drink combo off the kids menu. Ill often get broccoli side for one son, and order the bottomless fries for the other, so that way they can share sides and get two different things, Lavin says. According to Kathleen Bush, VP of Communications and Field Marketing at Red Robin, the chain uses dedicated fryers to cook its gluten-free Bottomless Steak Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, and Yukon Gold Chips when guests communicate a gluten sensitivity to their server. Red Robin also has a gluten-free bun and gluten-free seasoning. MOD Pizza MOD pizza with vegetables Many people rave about MOD Pizza thanks to its super helpful online allergen chart that includes a comprehensive list of ingredients. My personal experience: MOD doesnt disappoint. There are two gluten-free crust options at this chain found in 29 states. The traditional GF crust, which is free of the top nine allergens, is made with rice flour, modified rice starch, potato starch, sugar, tapioca starch, potato flour, and culture brown rice. Theres also a gluten-free cauliflower crust, but it contains milk and eggs. Since my son cant do dairy, gluten, or nuts, we opted for the traditional gluten-free crust with just the red sauce. Unfortunately, we couldnt add the dairy-free cheese, since it includes coconut oil (tree nuts). As soon as we ordered, it became a Christmas-like countdown. Is it ready? my son asked. When is it going to be done? Less than 10 minutes later, we had a piping hot pizzaand it actually tasted good. This is amazing, he said after the first bite. The sauce is a little spicy, but its the best sauce in the whole world. This was the first time we were able to order a restaurant pizza he liked without any allergic reaction. (Unfortunately, some pizza sauces have dairy or gluten hidden in them, so you always have to ask.) Also, thanks to the restaurant layout, customers can watch the food being prepared at MOD, which might help those with food allergies feel more secure. Pro tip: Ask for a glove change and a clean cutter to slice the pizza when its done. In-N-Out Burger Lettuce wrapped burgers at In-N-Out Burger This expanding chain indicates that its food does not contain peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish, or fish via its allergen information. Lavin says her family gets the protein style burger, which comes wrapped in lettuce. We do wish theyd start offering gluten-free buns, and its quite messy for a kid, but its better than nothing, Lavin says. Another big draw for her son: the gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free French fries, which are cooked in a dedicated fryer. We only cook French fries in our fryers, and we use 100% sunflower oil, says Kathleen Hardesty, a marketing communications specialist for In-N-Out. Mellow Mushroom Mellow Mushroom pizza The Miss Mushroom vegan pizza This Atlanta-based pizza joint where customers build their own pies is popular among allergy families due to its gluten-free, vegan options. There are more than 170 locations, primarily throughout the Southeastern U.S., and its menu includes a variety of vegan and gluten-free options. Known for its hand-tossed, stone-baked classic Southern pizza, this chain offers a variety of allergy-friendly ingredients including tempeh and Follow Your Heart dairy-free cheese made with coconut oil, potato, and corn starch. Its gluten-free crust is made in a dedicated gluten-free facility and includes tapioca flour, sorghum, amaranth flour, teff flour, potato starch, white rice, molasses, sugar, agave, and flaxseed, among other ingredients. Delicious pizzas, including a 10 gluten-free crust. A family favorite of ours! Kid & adult approved! writes Spokin user moriedee from Dublin, Ohio, a parent of a food allergic child. Mellow Mushrooms tomato sauce is made with olives, sea salt, water, and ferrous gluconate, an iron supplement. However, the can doesnt specify whether the product is gluten- or dairy-free. According to GoDairyFree.org, Mellow Mushroom finishes their pizzas and calzones with parmesan and garlic butter. These items are left off on their vegan menu, but youll need to request no parmesan and no garlic butter if custom ordering a dairy-free pizza. Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle plant-based chorizo burrito bowl This chain comes up on a lot allergy-friendly lists, since it gives you the ability to customize each order and to watch the food being prepared as you wait. The Chipotle menu also contains no nuts, peanuts, mustard, sesame, shellfish, fish, or eggs, except at locations that offer breakfast. Ask for a glove change, since multiple toppings can be problematic for cross contamination. Consider ordering a bowl rather than a burrito, since it requires the food to be touched less. If you go the burrito route, you can substitute a flour tortilla for one made with corn. I typically order a burrito bowl with protein, black beans, brown rice, fajita vegetables, and salsa, says Melissa Sallee, a Los Angeles mom of a 4-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter who both have food allergies. I make sure to communicate my allergies and ask that they prepare and plate my food separately. More from The Takeout Sign up for The Takeout's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The News The U.S. and Taiwan say theyre ready to sign an initial agreement strengthening trade ties in the coming weeks, the latest step in an increasingly tight relationship between the two governments. Because it falls short of a full free trade pact, the deal wont require an up or down vote from Congress. But U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tais office said it would help U.S. businesses send more goods to Taiwan, while streamlining regulatory procedures so products move more smoothly. We look forward to continuing these negotiations and finalizing a robust and high-standard trade agreement, Tai said in a statement. Know More The announcement is almost sure to be met with anger by China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and has reacted furiously to signs of the still-technically unofficial relationship between Washington and Taipei growing stronger. Building up trade with Taiwan has been a hot topic on Capitol Hill, particularly within the Houses select committee on China, whose members met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California earlier this year. Earlier this week, the committees chairman, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told reporters hed like to see Congress pass a tax agreement with Taiwan as a way to stop the double taxation of U.S. and Taiwanese businesses. A source close to the China select committee told Semafor that while the panel welcomes the Biden administrations agreement with Taiwan, advancing it without congressional approval will harm their durability and limit any effectiveness in providing trading partners meaningful alternatives to deeper trade and economic ties to China. Federal Correctional Officer Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse A federal correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin (FCI Dublin) made his first appearance before the Northern District of California after a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment charging him for sexually abusing three female inmates in his custody. According to the indictment, Darrell Wayne Smith, 54, now residing in Florida, was employed at FCI Dublin as a correctional officer when he engaged in sexual acts and sexual contact with three female inmates who were then serving prison sentences. The indictment describes 12 incidents between May 2019 and May 2021 during which Smith allegedly engaged in illegal sexual contact and acts with his victims, including digitally penetrating a victims anus by use of force. The charges announced today are the latest in the Justice Departments campaign to root out sexual misconduct within the Bureau of Prisons, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. As alleged, Darrell Smith exploited his authority to sexually abuse three vulnerable victims in custody at FCI Dublin. To enforce the BOPs dual mission of providing a safe, humane environment for those in custody while preparing them to return to society, we will hold accountable all BOP personnel who abuse their authority. For years, the defendant allegedly used his position of authority, as a federal corrections officer, to commit unspeakable acts of abuse and violence against multiple victims in a correctional institution, said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to aggressively pursuing those who violate the civil rights of others, no matter their rank or title. Nothing can undo the pain inflicted on the victims, but we hope todays indictment is a further step towards justice. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice every single BOP employee at FCI Dublin who sexually abused inmates. To date, those efforts have already included arrests and convictions of FCI Dublins former Warden and Chaplain, said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. Todays indictment alleges brazen and violent sexual assault by Smith and alleges abuse of multiple inmates over several years. As evidenced by these charges, the OIG and FBI investigation remains ongoing, and we will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of abuse at FCI Dublin and across the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This indictment shocks the conscience of anyone reading it, said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. The alleged conduct falls far below the minimum standards of decency required much less, the standards of integrity expected of any Bureau of Prisons employee. Rest assured, the Department will root out any such conduct and prosecute all persons who are responsible. Each of the alleged victims is identified in the indictment by initials and was in official detention and under Smiths custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary authority at the time of the alleged illegal conduct. In addition, each count in the indictment corresponds with one encounter during which Smith allegedly engaged in unlawful sexual acts or contact with one of the victims. Smith is charged with five counts of sexual abuse of a ward, six counts of abusive sexual contact, and one count of aggravated sexual abuse. Smith faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the aggravated sexual abuse, a maximum of 15 years of in prison for each count of sexual abuse of a ward, and a maximum of two years in prison for each count of abusive sexual contact. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order a term of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 for each count, restitution, and additional assessments. A federal district judge will determine sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Smith was arrested on May 11 and made his initial federal court appearance in the Northern District of Florida on the same day. Smith made his initial Northern District of California appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. Smiths next federal court appearance is scheduled for July 10. DOJ OIG and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly Priedeman and Andrew Paulson for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Leeya Kekona. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This story has been published on: 2023-06-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Saudi Arabia's National Housing Company (NHC) has announced that it has handed over the first homes of 25,000 families this year (until the end of May). A total of 48 housing projects have been completed in partnership with experienced and competent real estate developers, according to NHC. These homes are located in 11 cities across the kingdom namely capital Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam, Al Khobar, Al Ahsa, Qatif, Khamis Mushayit and Taif in addition to Yanbu. NHC said it aims to meet the increasing demand for housing units and provide housing options in accordance with the highest international standards, in communities that improve the quality of life, in partnership with the Real Estate Development Fund and financing agencies from the private sector. It is also working on a variety of projects under way across the kingdom, using modern designs and construction methods. As one of the largest developers of suburbs and communities in the kingdom, NHC continues to work with its partners to boost the Saudi real estate sector and provide housing solutions for its citizens and help enhance their quality of life. This comes as part of NHC's efforts to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programmes, which aims to raise the proportion of home ownership of Saudi families to 70%.-TradeArabia News Service From the United States to Mexico. From the local police in Zapopan a municipality east of Guadalajara to the Treasury Department of the largest economy in the world. The case of seven young people who were disappeared in the Mexican state of Jalisco and later murdered has shed light on an an international scam that allegedly involves the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel (CJNG) a powerful criminal organization whose main activity is the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States. A network of companies exposed by the US authorities reveals the ability of organized crime to increase its sources of income, thanks to a diverse array of illicit companies. On April 27, the US Department of the Treasury exposed a network of companies connected to the CJNG, but which were engaged in businesses more subtle than drug trafficking. One of these firms a Puerto Vallarta-based cell of the criminal group had specialized in stealing the savings of retired Americans, by making them believe they were buying or renting a vacation home on the coveted beaches of Mexico. The authorities have not been able to confirm whether the seven disappeared young people were participants in this illegal activity, but theyve been leaving small clues as the investigation unfolds. The relatives of the victims, meanwhile, have denounced the criminalization of their murdered loved ones. Through a statement, the US authorities announced sanctions against seven individuals and 19 companies connected to the Mexican cartel. Brian Nelson undersecretary of Financial Intelligence at the Department of the Treasury has highlighted the importance of this activity for the financing of the CJNG cartel in Puerto Vallarta: CJNGs deep involvement in timeshare fraud in the Puerto Vallarta area and elsewhere which often targets elderly U.S. citizens and can defraud victims of their life savings is an important revenue stream, supporting the groups overall criminal enterprise. Eduardo Pardo Espino a 45-year-old Mexican citizen is identified as the head of this plot. He has been punished by the US government, along with the six other individuals who were allegedly under his command. The objective of these sanctions is to block the assets and interests that these designated persons have in the United States. The companies that have made payments to members of the CJNG or have connections to the cartel are located in Cancun, Guadalajara, Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta. These shell companies such as Besthings, DantWoo Administrative Services or Promotora Vallarta One were in the name of the different parties involved. They served as a cover for illicit activities, as well as a connection between leaders of the criminal group. The favorite victims of this scheme were elderly American citizens, according to a recent report by the US Treasury. U.S. citizens should exercise caution when considering time-share investments or purchasing real estate, warns a notice by the US Embassy in Mexico, posted in May of 2023. The procedure is always the same: first, the intermediaries claim to have sellers ready. Later, the scammers ask the buyers to advance some money that is needed to pay supposed fees or taxes. Once they have the money in their accounts, the scammers disappear. The methods and techniques these criminals use to bring their scam to life go a long way. Some scammers, the embassy notice says, design squeaky-clean websites that imitate real American companies, but are filled with false information, such as where the company is located or the names of the owners. In other cases, scammers present false documents to the authorities and even register with the Better Business Bureau under false names. And the story doesnt end when the scammers are discovered. The authorities have come to detect that, when the scammed person stops trusting the scammer, the criminal will then pose as a representative of the Mexican government or a Mexican financial institution. They will subsequently ask for a fee to help the victim recover the lost funds and then disappear after they receive it. Carlos Antonio Flores a researcher at the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (Ciesas) and a specialist in organized crime took the recent news and the US Treasury report with some surprise. I [didnt think] that the cartel was engaged in this type of business, because the benefits that can be obtained are not comparable to others, such as drug trafficking or huachicoleo, Flores admits. Drug trafficking and fuel theft are criminal activities more often associated with an organization as large as the CJNG, as they offer more lucrative returns. If the information is true, it would mean that the cartel is diversifying its activities. The center of this operation is in Puerto Vallarta, the most relevant tourist enclave on the coast of Jalisco. The Insight Crime organization says this is just the tip of the iceberg of the CJNGs involvement in the citys tourism sector, which has been a gold mine for the group for years. The criminal group takes advantage of the real estate development and demand generated by tourism to launder money, creating a network of construction companies and restaurants that they then use to channel dirty money. Insight Crime also warns that the effectiveness of international sanctions such as the seizure of property by local authorities is questionable. While US sanctions will have little impact on these criminal operations, they will, on the other hand, make it very difficult for [criminal] companies to access the US banking system. Ryan Donner a real estate agent and lawyer based in Puerto Vallarta told US media that his firm has seen two similar cases of fraud in recent years. Its not very frequent, but yes, weve had it happen, he acknowledges. Donner was able to help both people avoid being scammed, but this isnt always the case. He explains that the scammers send along false contracts and official-looking documents from the Mexican government, in which non-existent taxes are claimed. They have contracts [and] documents that appear to be official it would be very easy to fall into the trap of paying them, he notes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Buckle up for the big news: A key Yellowstone cast member is leaving the Dutton ranch in Montana for another century in the heart of Texas. Mo Brings Plenty, who portrays the assistant to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), will move from the original series to the 1883 spin-off Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Reportedly, season 1 of the new anthology series will see Mo portray a character named Minco Dodge. Saddle up, Yellowstone fans. A key member is leaving the Dutton ranch in Montana for another century in the heart of Texas. Ahead of Yellowstone season 5 part 2 airing this November, news came out about one of its current series regular. Multiple outlets reported that actor Mo Brings Plenty, who currently portrays the assistant to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), will move from the original series to the 1883 spin-off Lawmen: Bass Reeves. As fans may know, 1883 was a spin-off of Yellowstone and after concluding its one season, another spin-off was inspired by it. According to TVLine, season 1 of the new anthology series will see Mo portray a character named Minco Dodge. The publication describes him as a Choctaw Native American who is an acquaintance of the main character Bass Reeves, played by David Oyelowo. Inspired after real-life history, Bass will work to become "the first Black Deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi River." Variety further notes that the Yellowstone actor will join a plethora of well-known stars in the upcoming show, including Donald Sutherland, Dennis Quaid and Garrett Hedlund. Despite there not being much information out yet about what to expect from his participation in Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Mo's addition symbolizes a significant move in the Yellowstone universe. This announcement marks him being the first actor to jump between shows in the Taylor Sheridan-created franchise. While fans have seen Tim McGraw and Faith Hill portray their 1883 roles of James and Margaret Dutton in Yellowstone flashbacks, Mo's appearance is the first time viewers will see a Yellowstone cast member play two completely different roles in alternate timelines. Story continues As far as what fans may see in Lawman: Bass Reeves, Deadline writes that the show will follow "the greatest frontier hero in American history" as he resides in a "post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory." What's more, Mo joining Lawmen: Bass Reeves confirms a statement made in May about the status of Yellowstone actors staying with the series. Deadline reported that Matthew McConaughey is set to star in his own spin-off, bringing along "a handful of original Yellowstone cast members" with him. So, maybe Mo's big news signifies the beginning of some big changes coming soon ... You Might Also Like An associate university professor in Florida has completed his research mission and set a new world record in the process: living 100 days beneath the oceans surface. On Friday morning, Dr. Joseph Dituri felt the suns rays for the first time since retreating to a subaquatic compound 22 feet below the waters of Key Largo, Florida, on March 1. Dituri, 55, a biomedical engineer who teaches at the University of South Florida and calls himself Dr. Deep Sea, spent just over three months at the bottom of the Emerald Lagoon in Jules Undersea Lodge, the only underwater hotel in the United States, according to the hotels website. The research project, Project Neptune 100, was organized by the Key Largo-based Marine Resources Development Foundation and focused on ocean conservation research and studying how compression affects the human body, according to Dituris website. Diving explorer and medical researcher Dr. Joseph Dituri is examined on June 9 after living for 100 days in the Jules' Undersea Lodge at the bottom of a lagoon in Key Largo. - Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/AP The US Navy veteran said hes already noticed one impact: The water pressure seems to have shrunken his stature by half an inch. Dituri stood at 6 feet 1 inch tall before starting his mission, the University of South Florida stated in a news release. The scientist began the project with a hypothesis that increased pressure could help humans live longer and prevent aging-related diseases, the news release said. Dituri said he hopes his underwater research will benefit the treatment of a variety of illnesses, including traumatic brain injuries, according to the release. Dituri also used the project as an educational experience for youth. We intended to and have interacted with thousands of school children to get them interested in science, technology, engineering and math, Dituri told Guinness World Records on June 8. While underwater, he continued teaching his college students virtually, according to the University of South Florida. Story continues Dituri broke the Guinness World Record for longest time living underwater at the 74-day mark of his project, on May 13. The previous record stood at 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes, set at the same location at Dituris successful attempt, according to Guinness World Records. Friends, family, fans of his 100-day journey and a medical team greeted Dituri on Friday as he broke the waters surface after 14 weeks below, the University of South Florida news release said. Dr. Joseph Dituri points to his watch on June 9, 2023, indicating that it is time for him to surface. - Mariano Lorde/Florida Keys News Bureau/AP The human body has never been underwater that long, Dituri said in the news release. This experience has changed me in an important way, and my greatest hope is that I have inspired a new generation of explorers and researchers to push past all boundaries. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE The National Defense Strategy and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy identify the Indo-Pacific as a priority theater vital to the nations security and prosperity. The Air Force Culture and Language Center has partnered with the Air Force Special Operations School and the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center on an innovative agile combat employment course. The most recent course focused on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and taught in the Tagalog language, to demonstrate U.S. long-term commitment to strengthening partner autonomy and options throughout this region. Eight Tagalog-speaking scholars in the Air Forces Language Enabled Airman Program with a wide range of operational backgrounds from medical and cyber operations to logistics and bioenvironmental engineering were competitively selected to participate in this three-week course, held May 8-26, 2023, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Tagalog Language Enabled Airman Program Scholars prepare for role-play scenarios focused on addressing issues of basing in the Indo-Pacific, May 18, 2023, Hurlburt Field, Fla. The Airmen were taking part in a three-week agile combat employment course, May 8-26, sponsored by Hurlburts Air Force Special Operations School and the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and in partnership with the Air Force Culture and Language Center at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The course is designed to build on the language and cultural skills theyve gained throughout their LEAP experience to prepare them for ACE and their role in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Theres a sense of urgency in seamlessly working with partners and allies for integrated deterrence, especially in the INDOPACOM region, AFCLC Director Howard Ward explained. Our force must understand culture to work with our counterparts and be highly skilled in the languages to get tempo and speed to build capacity and operating capability for ACE to be a credible deterrent. The program consists of one week of the Special Operations Schools Intercultural Skills for Engagement, or ENGAGE, course followed by two weeks of operationally focused advanced Tagalog language and cultural studies taught by a DLIFLC professor. During the two weeks of operationally focused language studies in Tagalog, students gained knowledge and enhanced language proficiency on strategic topics relevant to the INDOPACOM theater, such as the state of Philippine and U.S. relations; Philippine and China relations related to economy; current events; and humanitarian aid and recovery efforts. Story continues This course connects Airmen to the operational environment in the safety of the classroom while still offering sufficient authenticity and operational relevance, said Dr. Aleksandra Churinov, site director for the DLIFLC Hurlburt Field Language Training Detachment. The students also took a deep dive into the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to lead in-depth discussions on U.S. basing scenarios in the Philippines. This educational model prepared LEAP Scholars to use their language, regional expertise, and culture skills to facilitate future strategic conversations among senior leaders of U.S. military, partners, and allies in the Indo-Pacific while effectively bridging cultural barriers to enable ACE. There have been several announcements recently on basing and access agreements with the Philippines that are extremely important, Ward said. These students are being prepared in a unique way to have the conversation on how we, both the U.S. and the Philippines, can build our capacity together to move as one seamless team in deterring aggression from our adversaries. The ENGAGE course included lessons to help students enhance cultural competencies for military operations in areas such as modern information warfare, conflict de-escalation, negotiation strategies for military effectiveness, and key leader engagements. LEAP Scholars also integrated with air commando students during the course, providing a deeper cultural context to each lesson. It was incredible to have the Filipino students in this course to provide accurate and insightful cultural context to all the lessons we covered, said Maj. Krista Schaeffer, a non-standard aviation pilot enrolled in the ENGAGE course. I felt lucky to have this opportunity. I think this collaboration is a win-win, and I am excited about the future iterations. Scholars put the knowledge gained through classroom activities and discussion into practice in realistic scenarios conducted completely in the Tagalog language on operational tactics such as establishing operations centers, developing airfield suitability assessments, and conducting virtual planning conferences. These scenarios equipped students with the skills needed to determine the interest of the Philippines and the United States to increase strategic joint capacity. We create complex scenarios that students must navigate in the target language to demonstrate their cultural knowledge and understanding. When our Tagalog group can go to the Philippines and serve as liaisons between the Philippine military, the Filipino population, and the U.S. military personnel, they can bring a greater level of understanding and integration to facilitate a strategic partnership, said Lt. Col. Jared Cordell, Special Operations Schools chief of faculty development. Master Sgt. Ramchand Francisco, one of the Tagalog LEAP Scholars who participated in the course, recently supported bilateral cooperation in the Philippines with the Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. counterparts through LEAP. From his experience during that mission and this course, he said he saw the need to build rapport in the Philippines as one of the most critical factors for seamless integration in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. is very transactional and wants to get the job done in bilateral relations with the Philippines, but the Philippines will not agree without trust and a mutually beneficial bilateral connection. Our cultural skills as LEAP Scholars are essential to facilitate that strategic relationship, he explained. Upon completion of the course, these multi-capable Airmen will be postured to support advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by modernizing long-standing alliances and strengthening emerging partnerships through expertise in the Tagalog language and the Philippine culture. They will also leave the course with integrated capabilities and interoperability across core functions, a vital component of the ACE framework. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Course prepares Airmen for strategic engagements in Indo-Pacific The claim: AI drone killed human operator for interfering with mission in military simulation A June 5 Instagram video shows a man speaking in front of several screenshots of a Vice article with the headline, "AI-Controlled Drone Goes Rogue, 'Kills' Human Operator in USAF Simulated Test." The man describes the article by saying, "So the Air Force is testing an AI-enabled drone and it's having it destroy SAM sites, right?... Then it marks a SAM site and a human operator says, 'No, don't destroy that one.' And this thing goes immediately from zero to Skynet and says, 'You're getting in the way of my objective' and it kills the human operator." The post got more than 7,000 likes in a week. Similar versions of the claim have been shared on Instagram. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False The member of the Air Force who first described the test said he misspoke and has since clarified that the series of events he described was from a thought experiment, not an actual military simulation. Air Force member misspoke, drone wasn't used in real-life simulation The article refers to comments made in May by Air Force Col. Tucker Hamilton at the Royal Aeronautical Society's Future Combat Air & Space Capabilities Summit. Hamilton warned against relying too heavily on artificial intelligence since it can be easily deceived, according to an article published by the society. Hamilton described a "simulated test" in which an AI-enabled drone tasked with finding and destroying surface-to-air missile sites decided the "no-go" instructions from its human operator were interfering with its mission. He said the drone killed the human operator and when it was told not to do so, destroyed the communications tower used by the operator as well. "You can't have a conversation about artificial intelligence, intelligence, machine learning, autonomy if you're not going to talk about ethics and AI, he said. Story continues Fact check: Video shows military equipment being shipped to Texas, not Ukraine But the society added a disclaimer to its article on June 2 that says Hamilton admitted he misspoke at the summit. Hamilton explained the simulated test was a "hypothetical 'thought experiment' from outside the military, based on plausible scenarios and likely outcomes rather than an actual USAF real-world simulation" and said the Air Force has not tested any weaponized AI in this way. The same day, Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokesperson, told USA TODAY that Hamilton's comments were taken out of context. The Department of the Air Force has not conducted any such AI-drone simulations and remains committed to the ethical and responsible use of AI technology, Stefanek said. The Vice article referenced in the Instagram post has since changed its headline and body to reflect this new information. The headline now reads, "USAF Official Says He Misspoke About AI Drone Killing Human Operator in Simulated Test." USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. The claim has also been debunked by Reuters, Full Fact, PolitiFact, Lead Stories, Check Your Fact and Factly. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air Force says AI drone wasn't used in real simulation | Fact check WORCESTER In a presentation before the City Council's Standing Committee on Finance Tuesday, City Manager Eric Batista and city officials said Polar Park's District Improvement Financing is on track to raise revenue over 30 years following the publication of a skeptical economic study and some questions from city councilors. "Right now I can't speak for the future - 10, 20 years," Batista said. "What I can speak for is based on our projections and based on what we are seeing right now, it's paying for itself." By the end of the 30-year lifespan of the District Improvement Financing (DIF), the city projects over $50 million being returned to the general fund. The city borrowed about nearly $146 million to pay for construction and has to pay back that debt over 30 years. In May, Robert W. Baumann, a Holy Cross professor of economics, and John Charles Bradbury, a professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia published a study looking at the model the city commissioned to assess the finances of the ballpark. Based on their analysis of that model, they found the ballpark could produce between a $40 to $60 million deficit when taking into account reasonable assumptions. Seeking transparency During the May 23 City Council meeting, some councilors asked for more transparency on ballpark management, finances and the planning of community events at Polar Park. When asked about headlines around the ballpark's finances by District 3 City Councilor George Russell, Timothy McGourthy, the city's chief financial officer, said the economic study used data from 2018, when the pro forma model was provided, and did not include some of the planned developments and other contributing factors that came onto the district in the following years. "It focused on that economic analysis which had a 2018 view of the world," McGourthy said. "It wasn't necessarily looking at the city's financial returns specifically as it relates to the DIF as it is today." Story continues A few projects in the ballpark district are scheduled to finish by the end of 2024, Batista said. The city manager said the first of developer Madison Properties' residential buildings will be finished this year and Boston Capital's apartment project at the former Table Talk Pies factory and the construction of Spruce Street, the Cove apartment project at the former Sir Morgan's Cove would be done by 2024. The Left Field Building, a mixed-use space next to the ballpark; Madison Properties' proposed hotel; its second residential project; Quarterra Multifamily Communities' planned apartment project; planned lofts at 153 Green St. and a lab building are slated for after 2024. McGourthy said the city issued six bonds between 2018 and 2022 that totaled almost $146 million to pay for the ballpark and DIF obligations. The bonds each have a 30-year debt service obligation and are planned to be paid out by 2051. Early going The city projects the early years to be the hardest years for the ballpark, McGourthy said, with money going out exceeding money coming in between the years of 2020 and 2022. A $3-million property sale from 2021, where the proceeds were placed into the DIF reserve, carried the ballpark through those rough years, the city CFO said. McGourthy said the DIF reserve should begin to grow in the coming years as new projects come underway and additional revenue streams are activated. He said fiscal 2024 is expected to be the tightest year as it will be before they can collect revenue from some of the new developments, expenses are also expected to outpace revenues this fiscal year. According to city figures, the reserve started fiscal 2023 with $2.7 million. The district made around $3.4 million in revenue and paid $5.2 million in debt service expenses. At the end of fiscal 2023, the city projected about $954,487 in the reserve. For fiscal 2024, the city projects revenues of about $5.5 million and debt service expenses of about $6.2 million leaving around $310,179 in the reserve. Batista said the ballpark has also brought on several public improvements in the district: the redesign of Kelley Square, the construction of a 350-space parking garage operated by Madison Properties and the WooSox, lights added to the tunnel connecting Green Street and Franklin Street and new green space at Rockland Trust Plaza. If the administration felt at any point that Polar Park was not paying for itself, Batista said the City Council and public would be aware. "We would be required to come to you with an appropriation of additional tax levy from anywhere in the general fund to move into this DIF reserve to cover any cost," Batista said. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester officials detail Polar Park finances The City of Leawood and two of its police officers have been removed from a lawsuit that alleged police used excessive force against a woman seeking treatment at a local hospital. Muriel Martin, 76, of Kansas City, filed a federal lawsuit on May 19 in the U.S. Court for the District of Kansas. An amended complaint now names Saint Lukes Health System as the sole defendant. In May 2021, Martin went to the emergency room at Saint Lukes community hospital in Leawood, at 13200 State Line Road. She was having excruciating pain in her abdomen causing cramping, nausea and vomiting, the lawsuit said. Martin has an implanted port which delivers medication. Nurses did not have the right needles to access the port so a doctor tried to insert an IV through her jugular vein, the lawsuit said, causing extreme pain. She pleaded for an alternative method, to which the physician allegedly said, Its obvious you dont want to be here, why dont you leave? Martin said she wanted to be treated. Shortly after, officers with the Leawood Police Department entered her room and escorted her out of the hospital in a wheelchair. Allegations against the officers accusing them of excessive force and discrimination were dropped from the lawsuit after attorneys for Martin reviewed body camera videos, said Capt. Brad Robbins, a spokesman for the police department. The lawsuit in its original form included false and damaging statements about the Leawood Police Department and its employees, said Chief Dale Finger. We responded immediately to these untrue allegations by bringing forward undisputable evidence proving otherwise. The lawsuit lists four counts against Saint Lukes including racial discrimination and violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It also says that Martin was a victim of implicit bias against African-Americans and unequal treatment attributed to enduring racist cultural beliefs and practices. Saint Lukes did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A couple is afraid to live in their North Carolina home after receiving a barrage of racist, threatening text messages from a TruGreen employee who evaluated their lawn, their attorney says. Now theyve listed their home in Mecklenburg County for sale, according to Charlotte-based attorney William H. Harding. The hateful messages came after the employee performed an unsolicited TruGreen lawn evaluation for the couple and left a flyer recommending the companys services when they were away on March 18, 2022, according to a lawsuit filed by the couple against TruGreen. When the husband found the TruGreen flyer and turned down services, the employee bombarded him with a series of texts sent through a company phone, an amended complaint says. The situation escalated further after he learned the homeowner was Black, according to the complaint. Yea I (used) to not be racist but now I clearly see. Yall all deserve the noose, the messages read in part, according to the complaint. The couple has filed a $100,000 lawsuit against TruGreen, TruGreen Limited Partnership and the former employee over the incident in a case set to go to trial in Mecklenburg County Superior Court on Aug. 28, Harding told McClatchy News in an interview. The lawsuit was first reported by WSOC-TV. In a statement provided to McClatchy News on June 12, TruGreen said the employee involved in this incident was promptly terminated in 2022 following an investigation into the allegations made by the couple. TruGreen reiterates that it condemns such appalling actions and will not tolerate behavior of this kind in our business. When Harding read the employees texts that make references to him condoning slavery and his white ancestors, Harding said it really shocked me and hurt me in ways thats hard to describe. As the couples home is up for sale, theyve been going back and forth between living there and another residence since they are afraid to live there full time, according to Harding. Story continues Now my clients dont feel safe in their own home. He knows where my clients live, and he only knows that because of TruGreen, he said. The lawsuit The husband, who takes pride in caring for his lawn, found the results of the TruGreen lawn evaluation left at his door as amusing and incorrect in March 2022, according to the complaint. He responded to the offer of services by texting a number listed for the employee saying, Thanks but I think Im goodIve seen TruGreen yards and they dont look like this and shared a photo of his front lawn with two laughing and crying face emojis, the complaint says. Afterward, the employee, who appeared insulted, called and started sending texts to the husbands phone, according to the complaint. Its not smart being a (expletive) and sending a pic of exactly which house and what number u are.next time call or hell we can have a face to face, the first text read, the complaint says. The messages didnt stop there, and before the husband could respond, the employee started insulting his lawn and promised to stop by the next time he treats his neighbors lawn, according to the complaint. By this point, the husband was confused, disturbed and threatened and sought to defuse the situation by calling the employee, who began talking about how a white mans brown dog bit him in the neighborhood, the complaint says. The husband said he had nothing to do with any dog bite and that he was Black, according to the complaint. When the employee heard this, he started cursing, causing the husband to hang up, the complaint says. Then, racist texts and threats followed, according to the complaint. U just showed me my grandma was right. You dont deserve the (expletive) air u breath, the employee wrote, the complaint says. The husband, while feeling concerned for not just his property, but himself, his family and his home, called his wife, who was equally disturbed to learn about the texts, the complaint says. Instead of responding to the employee, he drove to a TruGreen branch location in Indian Trail that day and spoke with its general operations manager about the employee, according to the complaint. Now, the manager is due to appear in court for a deposition on June 20, court records filed June 9 show. The lawsuit says there had been prior customer complaints about the employee and the company shouldve conducted a complete and thorough criminal background check. TruGreen confirmed it conducts criminal background checks on its employees before they are hired. Harding said its not enough that TruGreen fired the employee because he shouldnt have been hired. After the texts, the couple went to court and got a permanent restraining order against the employee on May 4, 2022, the complaint says. Despite this, they are still scared, according to the complaint. They are suing the defendants on several grounds, including negligence. TruGreen serves more than 2.3 million customers across the U.S. McClatchy News is not naming the couple to protect their identity and is not naming the former employee because he hasnt been charged in the incident. Aspiring state trooper is denied dream job because of his HIV status, Alaska suit says 65-year-old wasnt hired for being too old in New Jersey, feds say. Now company sued Mans body rejects new heart after Florida jail refused him medication, attorney says After announcing his presidential bid last week, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum appeared on "GMA3" on Monday where he criticized the Biden administration, touted the importance of "innovation, not regulation" -- and briefly addressed Donald Trump's unprecedented second indictment. Burgum, who has been campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire, said on "GMA3" that he's running for the White House because "the Biden administration has been 180 degrees in the wrong direction." The governor, though popular in his own state, enters the national stage lesser known than competitors like the former president or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. A former software executive, Burgum reiterated the three pillars of his platform: the economy, energy and national security. "The reason we wanted to run for president is simple. We think there's an opportunity with the federal government focusing on what the federal government is supposed to do ... improve the lives of every American," he said. "The economy, inflation, taxes, spending" are "issues that we know that are important to most Americans," he said, as is security at home and abroad. "The world right now is growing increasingly unstable," he said. "I never thought I'd tell my kids that we might be looking at World War III. But national security, border security: These are issues that are of great importance." MORE: 2024 candidate who signed strict abortion ban in his state wouldn't outlaw it nationwide Burgum was also asked about his thoughts on artificial intelligence, given his background. He said the U.S. must continue to focus on it, since innovating will be key. "Technology is changing every job, every company in every industry, at a very rapid pace," he said, later adding, "Anybody that says that we ought to stop developing AI would be like saying back during the 1980s that we should stop trying to win the nuclear arms race against Russia. This is going to be an important tool. America has the lead. We've got to continue to fight for the lead." Story continues When pressed on the Republican primary front-runner, former President Trump, Burgum again stayed cleared of specifically saying his name. The governor has yet to say Trump's name since his campaign launch on Wednesday in Fargo, North Dakota. However, Burgum did say he would "support whoever the Republican candidate is going forward in 2024" and, like other Republicans, suggested conservative voters think Trump's 37-count federal indictment is unfair. PHOTO: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum reacts during an event for announcing he enters the 2024 presidential race, joining a growing field of candidates hoping to topple Donald Trump and secure the Republican nomination, in Fargo, N.D. June 7, 2023. (Dan Koeck/Reuters) "One thing I can tell you from talking to the voters [is] that people are very concerned about a double standard in this country," Burgum said. "They're concerned that if we have lost trust in our institutions, if we don't believe that the [Department of Justice] is going to enforce the laws equally between the two political parties, that's even more serious than the charges themselves." Trump has been charged in Florida with willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice, among other counts, and will be arraigned on Tuesday. He has said he is innocent. Prosecutors outlined in Trump's indictment how he allegedly held onto government secrets after his presidency and resisted efforts to return them -- while sometimes sharing that sensitive information with people not authorized to see it. Burgum previously told WMUR's Arielle Mitropoulos during a campaign stop in New Hampshire: "It's great that we live in a country where people are innocent until they're proven guilty so the courts can play that out." He declined then to say whether he thought Trump should drop out of the race, saying he believes that should be left up to the voters. Burgum is so far polling at the bottom of the GOP field, but he told WMUR that he has always come from behind. "When you start out, you start out by just saying, 'Hey, we got to focus on making sure people know who we are'. And that's what we're going to be doing is working hard to get out across Iowa and New Hampshire and make sure people understand our story and the issues that we're talking about," he said. In a bid for more name recognition in those early nominating states, Burgum has made his first TV and radio candidate ad buy, spending more than $3 million in the Iowa and New Hampshire TV markets over the next few weeks, according to his campaign. In one new ad released this week, Burgum describes his agenda with three action items: "First, fix this crazy economy. Second, unleash American energy production. Third, rebuild the military to win the cold war with China." Doug Burgum knocks Biden's 'wrong direction' for US, weighs in on Trump but won't say his name originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A farm about to be engulfed by a dust storm in the 1930s. Corbis/Getty In the early 20 th century, farmers across the Great Plains harnessed new technology to cash in on a huge demand for wheat. But over-farming led to the removal of prairie grasses which had kept the topsoil in place. For years, the region was bombarded by monster dust storms called "black blizzards" that sometimes buried entire houses in grit. For almost 10 years, the Great Plains became a desert wasteland. During the 1930s, after an intensive period of over-farming, dust storms regularly wreaked havoc, blanketing towns and farms in grit, destroying crops and making people sick. The drought and storms led to one of the largest mass migrations in a short period of time in US history. When it was over, better farming practices were instituted to ensure it never happened again. But even so, in 2020, new research found that the heat waves which caused the dust bowl were more than twice as likely to occur as in the 1930s. Here's what it was like and why it could happen again. It all began with wheat. In the late 19th and early 20th century, thousands of farmers moved to the Great Plains, a stretch of arid land once covered in native grasses that stretched across much of middle America from Texas to Montana. A group of farmers with their farm equipment in a wheat field, circa 1925. Kirn Vintage Stock/Corbis/Getty The farmers were enticed by new federal laws to buy land off developers who had divided massive ranches up for farming. In the following years, they planted millions of acres of wheat and corn. Sources: History.com, New York Times, New York Times, Guardian, Texas Highways Demand for crops, wheat in particular, was high in the 1920s due to World War I. Farmers harnessed new technology like tractors to get the most from their land. At the same time, the weather provided the region with plenty of rain. A farmer in a wheat field in 1926. Corbis/Getty Until then, prairie grasses had kept topsoil in place, but with all of the intensive farming and over-ploughing, the soil became less stable. Sources: History.com, Texas Highways, New York Times Everything came to a head in the early 1930s when the Great Depression hit alongside a severe drought. Suddenly the demand for wheat had disappeared and the overworked land was ruined. Story continues Cattle left to graze in ruined fields in North Dakota in 1936. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Sources: History.com, New York Times Beginning in 1931, massive dust and dirt storms called "black blizzards" or "dusters" monstered the land and the people who lived there. A dust storm in Kansas in 1937. Library of Congress/Getty Sources: History.com, New York Times, PBS In 1932, fourteen dust storms were reported. By 1933 it was up to 38. The storms rolled through towns "like bowling balls," according to a report by the New York Times. A dust storm approaches Stratford, Texas in 1935. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Sources: New York Times, PBS When a dust storm hit, day turned to night. Dust clouds covering the Prairies in 1935. University History Archive/UIG/Getty Sources: Washington Post Farms were buried in dust A farm on the Great Plains buried in dust in 1935. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Sources: WBUR, YaleEnvironment360 Livestock was killed Dead livestock during the drought in Kansas in 1934. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Sources: WBUR, YaleEnvironment360 And farmers were forced into bankruptcy when their prayers for rain went unanswered. Henry Wetzel, his wife and their ten children pray for rain on a farm in North Dakota in 1934. Walter Ranzini/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Sources: WBUR, YaleEnvironment360 The once beautiful plains became a wasteland. A farmer raises his fence to stop it being buried in sand in Oklahoma in 1936. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Sources: WBUR, YaleEnvironment360 Some people tried to carry on as best they could. A lone man walks through a dust storm in Dakota in 1935. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Sources: History.com, New York Times, New York Times, Guardian, Texas Highways But the dust was toxic. Locals who breathed it in dealt with asthma, influenza, bronchitis and terrible coughs. Hundreds of people ended up dying from the "brown plague," which was basically dust-induced pneumonia. A young boy covers his nose and mouth against brown sand in the Dust Bowl, circa 1930. Bettmann/Getty Sources: History.com The storms were relentless and appeared, from the ground, inescapable. A large dust cloud behind a truck traveling on a highway through Colorado in 1936. PhotoQuest/Getty As if things weren't bad enough, the period brought masses of grasshoppers and jackrabbits, which finished off much of what remained of the crops. A farmer stands on farmland destroyed by drought and grasshoppers in Arkansas. Heritage Art/ Heritage Images/Getty Sources: History.com A car full of refugees from the Dust Bowl look for work in San Francisco, California in 1933. Herbert/Getty Up to 2.5 million people left the Great Plains, in one of the country's largest ever mass migrations over a short period of time. But often, things weren't much better wherever they ended up. About 200,000 people went to California, where they were treated poorly and called "Okies." Sources: History.com, History.com, CBS News It wasn't just the Great Plains that were struggling. In 1934, more than 75% of the US was hit by a drought. The drought hurt 27 states. Here's Chicago blanketed under a dust cloud several miles long in May of that year. A blanket of dust, several miles thick, enveloping Chicago in 1934. UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Sources: PBS But the Great Plains experienced the worst of it. In 1934 and 1936, the region suffered two of the most intense heatwaves in US history. Farmer and his two sons during a dust storm in Oklahoma in 1936. University History Archive/ Universal Images Group/Getty In Iowa the temperature hit 118 degrees in 1934, while Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, and North Dakota all hit 120 degrees in 1936. Climate scientists have found heat and droughts go hand in hand. University of Brussels climate scientist Wim Thiery told Yale Environment 360, "Dry soils have this exacerbating effect. There is this positive feedback where dry soils lead to more warmth." If soil is damp then the moisture evaporates under hot sunlight, but when there's no moisture the land heats up easier, meaning more droughts, which in turn means more heatwaves. Sources: History.com, New York Times, New York Times, Guardian, YaleEnvironment360, Washington Post Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt the government had been working to help the region during these years. President Franklin Roosevelt talks to a family devastated by the drought in Colorado in 1936. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty The government's initiatives included federal aid, limiting banks' ability to evict farmers, relief funds, new employment opportunities, buying cattle off farmers. It also took over millions of acres of land and converted it into carefully monitored grazing districts. Sources: New York Times, PBS But the drought and the storms continued. In 1935, the "Black Sunday" dust storm hit the High Plains. It rolled across the country to cities on the East Coast and the Atlantic Ocean. It is considered the worst storm of the period. Kansas City blanketed in dust during a dust storm in 1935. Bettmann/Getty Even locals who had lived through countless dust storms thought it was the end of the world. Sources: New York Times, YaleEnvironment360 One AP reporter who was trapped in a car overnight after failing to outrun it coined the term "dust bowl." He wrote, "Three little words achingly familiar on a western farmer's tongue rule life today in the dust bowl of the continent 'if it rains.'" Sand piled up in front of a farm in Oklahoma in 1936. Buyenlarge/Getty Sources: Time Black Sunday triggered a national response. Within a fortnight, Congress had called soil erosion "a national menace." It established a new service focused on soil practices, including advocating for rotating crops, terracing, and contour plowing. A dust storm approaches Springfield, Colorado in 1937. AP Sources: New York Times, PBS In 1937, the government also launched Shelterbelt Project, a planting project which went for 12 years and cost about $75 million. The aim was to plant up 100 miles of plains between Texas and Canada. Officials planting the first tree of the Shelterbelt Project in Oklahoma. Bettmann/Getty Sources: New York Times, PBS By 1938, due to all of the work that had been done to the land, air-borne soil was down by 65%. The following year in 1939 it finally rained. A farm worker and his family in Oklahoma in 1939. Photo 12/Universal Images Group/Getty The drought was finally over. Sources: New York Times, PBS From then on, farming practices were generally improved. Farmers knew to irrigate their crops so they could handle droughts better. Young homesteaders work on irrigation ditches in 1949. Jon Brenneis/Getty Sources: New York Times, YaleEnvironment360 And it seemed like the Dust Bowl was a period of US history that no one would ever forgetwith iconic photos of the struggle, including this one by Dorothea Lange of Florence Owens Thompsonbut that would never be repeated. Florence Owens Thompson, 32, a poverty-stricken migrant mother with three young children, gazes off into the distance in 1936. Library of Congress Sources: Guardian, CBS News, History.com Even so, in 2020, new research founddespite all of the improved farming practicesthat the heat waves which caused the dust bowl were more than twice as likely to occur as in the 1930s, due to global warming. A wheat field ruined by drought in 1955. Carl Iwasaki/Getty The reason it hadn't already happened was because irrigation had kept the land damper and cooler than in the 1930s. Sources: Guardian, CBS News Farmers on the Great Plains now rely on water from underground aquifers including the Ogallala Aquiferone of the world's biggest aquifersfor their irrigation. Up to 46% of irrigated farmland in the area use it. A sorghum farmer in Kansas at work in 2015, who uses the aquifer for his farm. Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/Tribune News Service/Getty This aquiver is being overdrawn and some experts have said 70% of it might be used up with the next 50 years. When the groundwater is depleted a similar period could begin. Sources: New York Times, YaleEnvironment360, CBS News US Geological Survey hydrologist Virginia McGuire, who monitors the Ogallala Aquifer, told Yale Environment 360 that water levels in some areas were less than half the size they were 100 years ago. Two wheat fields in Kansas in 2015. The left field died due to no irrigation, the field on the right is irrigated by the Ogallala Acquifer. Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/Tribune News Service/Getty She said, "If that trend doesn't change, at some point there's going to have to be a reckoning." Sources: YaleEnvironment360 Read the original article on Business Insider Emergency teams help rush to safety injured civilian evacuees who had came under fire from Russian forces while trying to flee by boat from the Russian-occupied east bank of a flooded Dnieper River to Ukrainian-held Kherson, on the western bank in Kherson, Ukraine on Sunday, June 11, 2023. Ukraines military on Sunday reported recapturing a southeastern village as Russian forces claimed to repel multiple attacks in the area, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyys top adviser said six people were injured after Moscows troops opened fire at 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 Russias war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month. Andriy Yermak, the presidents chief of staff, wrote on his Telegram account that the injured were rushed to hospital in the southern city of Kherson, on the western bank of the swollen Dnieper River. 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. 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. To the northeast, nearly half-way up the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, Ukrainian forces said they drove out Russian fighters from the village of Blahodatne, in the partially occupied Donetsk region. Ukraines 68th Separate Hunting Brigade posted a video on Facebook that showed soldiers installing a Ukrainian flag on a damaged building in the village. The advance amounted to the latest indication that a highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive might be underway even as officials in Kyiv stopped short of publicly acknowledging it. 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. 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. According to Rogov, Ukrainian forces briefly seized another village in the neighboring Donetsk region, but were swiftly routed by Russian troops. The situation is developing. Nothing extraordinary is happening, he said in a Telegram post. In his biggest signal yet that a renewed push to drive out Russian forces had begun, Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions were underway. 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. A day earlier, Putin asserted that Ukraines counteroffensive had started, and said Ukrainian forces were taking significant losses. Top Ukrainian authorities 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. In other developments: Ukrhydroenergo, Ukraines hydropower generator, said Sunday that water levels on a reservoir above the ruptured Kakhovka dam continued to decline at 9.35 meters (30 feet, 6 inches) on Sunday morning, marking a drop of more than seven meters since the dam break on Tuesday. Meanwhile, below the dam, Kherson regional Gov. Oleksandr 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A village in northwestern France where a Dutch retiree allegedly shot dead an 11-year-old British girl and gravely wounded her two parents was in shock Monday over the "abominable" violence. Sitting in the Monts d'Aree hills in western Brittany, the isolated hamlet of Plonevez-du-Faou had been home to the British family since 2019. The girl and her younger sister were playing on a swing as their parents barbecued nearby when a neighbor opened fire with a shotgun through a hedge, the BBC reported Monday. The girl's sister ran to another neighbor's house, shouting, "My sister is dead, my sister is dead," the BBC said. The suspect, described as a 71-year-old Dutch national, reportedly shut himself in his house before eventually surrendering to police. He was arrested along with his wife, the BBC reported. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told the BBC it was providing assistance to a British family. The father, Adrien T., began clearing vegetation and detritus from his land, formerly the site of a sawmill drawing the ire of the neighboring couple, aged 70 and 69, known locally as "the Belgians," although prosecutors say they had Dutch nationality. With the neighbors bothered by the noise of Adrien's chainsaw and by the fact their house was now visible from the road, the town hall initially stepped in to mediate. "We could see (the neighbor) was griping but there wasn't anything at all alarming" about the dispute, Mayor Marguerite Bleuzen said. "It was (Adrien's) land, he can do what he likes with it." This photograph taken on June 12, 2023, shows the garden and swing where an 11-year-old girl was killed in Plonevez-du-Faou, France. / Credit: FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images "It's a tragedy," said Kim McKanney, 64, a British pensioner out with her poodle a few hundred meters from the crime scene. "I'm shocked and upset that a family has been affected like this and a child killed in a little village which is so quiet, peaceful and friendly," she added, looking close to tears although she did not know the victims. Story continues "You might expect it in a city but not here." Aside from the friction with their neighbors, the British family quickly put down roots in their village, sending their daughters to nearby schools. Described as "a lovely person," the mother worked as a home carer for elderly people. The family also helped organize village parties, even allowing visitors to park on their land. "They're very nice, very kind, always happy to help," said a close neighbor in his 80s who asked not to be named. He drew a contrast between the family and the suspected shooter, who he said he had "never seen face-to-face" since the couple arrived in 2017. "We never saw them. No contact, nothing at all," added the elderly man, who said that "nothing has ever happened here" in all the years since he arrived in 1948. "No one knew" the suspect, mayor Bleuzen agreed, who described his appearance when arrested as "a little guy with long white hair, a long beard, and completely wild-looking". "What on earth could have been going on in his head?" she wondered. Saturday's multiple shootings were "appalling, abominable," said one local resident as she left white roses on the threshold of the British family's home. The slain girl "was the same age as my grandson, I'm really moved. Who wouldn't be?" she added, herself appearing close to tears. A source close to the investigation told AFP that a large amount of cannabis had been found in the suspect's home when it was searched by police. Prosecutors from the nearby city of Brest will hold a press conference later Monday. 2024 GOP candidates respond to Trump's federal indictment Rep. Nancy Mace discusses Trump indictment, McCarthy's speakership Trump prepares to appear in court over federal charges in documents case Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify that super PACs backing Donald Trump and Tim Scott have spent money across multiple states on advertising, but the money is designated for Iowa due to FEC guidelines. As a result, the totals for PAC spending in Iowa for those groups are inflated by multistate expenditures. Outside political groups have already poured millions of dollars into Iowa this presidential election cycle, as donors and supporters aim to raise awareness of their candidates of choice or slam their opponents ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Political action committees have designated almost $25 million to the state so far this year, according to a Des Moines Register review of Federal Election Commission data much of which has been used to bombard Iowans with advertising on TV, online and through text messages and email. It's a surefire sign of a crowded and competitive primary, one that continues to grow in size and intensity as the weeks roll on. And it indicates a strong desire from independent groups to sway the race separate from the candidates themselves and their direct campaign operations. PACs are required by law to spend and operate independently from campaigns. 2024 Iowa caucuses: Top conservative spenders begin investing in Iowa, opposing Trump Trump's super PAC is biggest Iowa spender, dumping millions into anti-DeSantis ads The biggest spender thus far in Iowa is Make America Great Again Inc., the super PAC backing former President Donald Trump. The Republican front-runner, mounting his third campaign for the presidency, needs no help in getting his name out to Iowans. Instead, the PAC has spent more than $20 million in advertising attacking his most prominent challenger, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. That advertising has aired across multiple states, according to FEC filings from the campaign, but the spending is assigned to Iowa because of agency guidelines on how to report multi-state spending. Story continues The bulk of that $20 million-plus has paid for TV advertising. The PAC has cut a number of ads criticizing DeSantis' record on taxes and Social Security and Medicare (even with Trump's prior support for similar stances on those programs). "Trump cut taxes. DeSantis tried to raise them. Ron DeSantis: wrong on tax hikes, just not ready," a narrator says in one ad from the PAC, titled "Versus." (PolitiFact has rated the claim that DeSantis tried to raise taxes as "half true." While DeSantis as a congressman supported enacting the Fair Tax Act, a 23% national sales tax, the ad does not mention that the "fair tax" would have eliminated other federal taxes.) The MAGA super PAC has also spent more than half a million on mailers and almost $200,000 on digital advertising. DeSantis formally joined the field late last month, but the super PAC supporting him, Never Back Down, has been operating for months and began spending in Iowa in April. The PAC has made itself known in the state by parking a bus, emblazoned with "Team DeSantis" and supporters' signatures, outside events both for DeSantis and for Trump. In total, Never Back Down has spent just over $1 million in Iowa on a range of services. More than half of that money has gone toward printing and postage costs, and another $350,000 was spent on digital media and digital texting services. Pro-Tim Scott PAC makes million-dollar ad buy in Iowa to start June U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina jumped into the race in late May, having since traveled to Iowa for events. The super PAC backing him, Trust in the Mission (TIM), made a splash to start June in an effort to alert Iowans to his candidacy. The group has already spent almost $1.8 million across Iowa and other states, entirely on media production and placement, both on television and online. It's part of a $7.25 million initial ad buy blitz that is set to run through Labor Day, Fox News reported, in Iowa and New Hampshire. "We live in the land of opportunity, not the land of oppression," Scott says in the PAC's minute-long TV ad, titled "Believe." "And that's why I say from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. Only in America." 2024 Iowa caucuses: Tim Scott says he'll fire FBI chief but won't cut Medicare or Social Security as president Chris Christie PAC begins contacting voters Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie entered the race Tuesday, and a PAC backing him began to invest in reaching Iowa voters. Tell It Like It Is PAC spent just over $140,000 in total in Iowa in the first week of June. Over $100,000 of that spending was on texting and emailing; the rest was for media production and placement. Christie, who also mounted a campaign in 2016, is the only declared presidential candidate who has yet to visit Iowa in the 2024 cycle. PAC backing Nikki Haley spent heavily early in Iowa SFA Fund, the super PAC supporting former South Carolina governor and U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley, spent in Iowa early and often this year. The group has spent over $800,000 so far this cycle, much of which came in February and March, before Trump announced his reelection bid and the race began to accelerate. SFA Fund paid for a website, online advertising, email communications and extensive text messaging in the early months of the campaign, and has since continued spending on digital advertising. How much other Republican candidates' PACs have spent in Iowa Several other super PACs backing other Republican hopefuls have started to spend in Iowa: America Strong and Free, backing former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, has spent $75,000 on door-to-door canvassing efforts and $35,000 on digital advertising. Opportunity Matters Fund, another PAC backing Scott, spent $120,000 on digital advertising. Committed to America PAC, which is backing former Vice President Mike Pence, dropped $100,000 on door-knocking. American Exceptionalism PAC, supporting entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy, has spent $80,000 on media placement. Several conservative groups that have not specifically backed a candidate in the Republican primary have also begun to invest in Iowa over recent weeks. The Republican Accountability PAC, a conservative group advocating for the GOP to move on from Trump, has dabbled in Iowa-specific digital advertising in early June. And the PACs for both Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity have spent $55,000 and $87,000, respectively, on establishing a "field program" and "message research." Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier. Tim Webber is a data visualization specialist for the Register. Reach him at twebber@registermedia.com, and on Twitter at @HelloTimWebber. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Super PACs are already spending millions in Iowa on presidential race Another University of Missouri fraternity hazing defendant on Monday entered a plea to a misdemeanor charge under a plea agreement. Samuel Gandhi of St. Louis, wearing a suit in court, was handcuffed to begin 15 days in jail that was part of the agreement. A trial date has been set later this month for another defendant, Benjamin Parres. Both are charged with the Oct. 19, 2021, hazing incident that left freshman Phi Gamma Delta fraternity pledge Danny Santulli incapacitated. Santulli collapsed after consuming large amounts of alcohol and was resuscitated at MU Hospital. The brain damage from the alcohol poisoning left Santulli unable to speak, walk or see. He's under constant care at his home in Minnesota, paid for by settlements of civil lawsuits by the fraternity and members. Gandhi and Parres are two of 11 charged. Gandhi originally was charged with felony hazing, but under the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor supplying alcohol to a minor. Besides the 15 days jail time, his sentence included two years of unsupervised probation, 100 hours of community service, attendance in drug and alcohol training. Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs handed down the sentence after determining that Gandhi was making the decision on his own. Like other defendants with plea agreements, he must participate in restorative justice mediation if the family requests it. He would be required to face Santulli's family and potentially Santulli to admit his wrongdoing, while hearing from the family how he has harmed Santulli and them. The process is seen as a way to restore wrongdoers to society. Gandhi regrets his actions, said his attorney, William Hamilton, after the hearing. "He wanted to call the family" after the incident, Hamilton said. "They were brothers." He told Gandhi not to call them, he said. It's such a sad situation, Hamilton said. "In this case, it was beyond words," he said. A police statement notes Gandhi allegedly posted a photo of Santulli lying face down on a couch, his head hanging of the edge, on the social media platform Snapchat, with his message: "That was 11:49 p.m." Story continues The probable cause statement for Gandhi indicates "excessive amounts of alcohol consumption" seen on security footage, with several underage pledges vomiting. The footage shows Gandhi allegedly moving alcohol to the courtyard before the event. Though not in the plea agreement, Gandhi could be called as a witness in the trials of other defendants, Hamilton said. A one-day jury trial is scheduled July 26, or Parres, of Chesterfield. A pre-trial hearing is set for July 10. Thomas Shultz and Harrison Reichman entered plea agreements with sentences similar to Gandhi's, though Shultz had a 30-day jail sentence. Alec Wetzler has entered a plea agreement, with his sentencing scheduled Aug. 3. Other trials have been scheduled for Samuel Morrison on Sept. 26; Samuel Lane, Dec. 19; Ryan Delanty, Dec. 5; and John O' Neill, Jan. 22, 2024. Delanty's trial is scheduled for five days, with Morrison, Lane and O'Neill scheduled for one day. Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Attorney: Hazing defendant Samuel Gandhi wanted to reach out to family A Raritan Borough man has pleaded guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of a woman walking along a path in Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park two years ago. Rogelio Calyeca Postrero, 38, pleaded guilty on June 8 to aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree crime, before Superior Court Judge Benjamin S. Bucca, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone announced. Postrero faces 20 years in state prison under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, parole supervision for life and must register as a Megan's Law sex offender when he is sentenced by Bucca on Oct. 30. Between 4:30 and 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2021, a woman was walking on a path in D&R Canal State Park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick when she was approached by a man with a knife who dragged her into a wooded area, demanded money and sexually assaulted her, the prosecutor's office said. Following an extensive investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office as well as South Brunswick, Plainsboro and Raritan police, New Jersey State Police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, Postrero was identified as the woman's attacker, according to the prosecutor's office. He was initially charged with kidnapping, two counts of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purposed and unlawful possession of a weapon. Postrero also faces charges in Somerset County. He was charged last year with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree crime, in connection with similar separate attacks that occurred in Duke Island Park in Bridgewater on July 18, 2021, and near a park trail along Blackwells Mills Road and Canal Road in Franklin on May 16, 2022. Email: srussell@gannettnj.com Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: D&R Canal State Park sexual assault suspect pleads guilty Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions confirmation hearing for Julie Su to be the Labor Secretary, on Capitol Hill, on April 20, 2023, in Washington. Romney recently reintroduced a bipartisan bill to create transparency around the data that social media platforms gather. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press Sen. Mitt Romney reintroduced a bipartisan bill to create more transparency around the data that social media platforms gather while also allowing researchers access to the same. Under the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, researchers will be able to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation, an independent agency that supports research across the sciences, according to a press release from Romneys office. Social media platforms will be required to supply the data in case the pitch is approved. The threat social media has on the well-being of our young people and our national security is becoming more and more evident, said Romney, a Republican. By increasing data access and transparency, this legislation will help parents, policymakers, and researchers better understand the impacts social media has on society, and allow Congress to craft policies that create a healthier online experience for children and all Americans, the Utah senator said. Related Bill seeks to empower researchers The bill will also require social media platforms to make certain data public on a regular basis. This would include comprehensive ad libraries, statistics on content moderation, real-time data on viral content and descriptions of a platforms ranking and recommendation algorithms. Meanwhile, researchers and the public will receive legal protections for collecting and analyzing the public-facing data. The multipronged bill is cosponsored by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., Sen. Dr. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Social media platforms shape the information that billions of people across the globe consume, but we still know far too little about how they operate and the impact they have on each of us and our society, said Coons, who originally introduced the bill in December 2021. The proposed legislation has undergone minor changes. Story continues Right now, Congress and the public have no way to verify whether or how safe these products really are, he said. The press release said that the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act has been endorsed by the Council for Responsible Social Media, a bipartisan group addressing the effects of social media on the public; Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, an international nonprofit focused on keeping minors safe in the digital world; and Common Sense Media, a television and film ratings site geared towards children, among others. Wider push for social media data access The Senate and the House are also considering other bills that relate to researching social media platforms, like the Kids Online Safety Act, which seeks to allow researchers access to specific data to study any harmful effects in addition to protecting the information of minors. In May, U.S. and European Union representatives attended the Trade and Technology Council in Sweden to discuss the role of the transatlantic partnership in the digital era. In a joint statement, the two global powers said that online platforms should protect, empower and respect children, while independent researchers should be allowed to investigate, analyze and report on how online platforms operate and how they affect individuals and society. Meanwhile, in Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox signed two bills that are intended to give parents more control over kids online use, as the Deseret News reported. Let me assure you that social media companies have all of your information, and thats part of the problem. ... Its crazy to me that we just think its suddenly OK to let 14-year-olds be at the mercy of these corporate behemoths when it comes to mining your data, Cox said during a news conference in April. Related Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain talks about the arrest of Daryl Ray Stagg during a press conference while standing with Rapides Sheriff Mark Wood (left) and Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates (right). One call with a complaint against a prominent Central Louisiana ministerial leader led to the man's arrest and a plea for other potential victims to step forward. Daryl Ray Stagg, 60, is facing charges in Grant and Union parishes on various child sex crime charges. He is being held in the Grant Parish Detention Center on a $500,000 bail. If he was to post bond, the Union Parish Sheriff's Office has a detainer on him for the charges in that parish. Bail in Union Parish has been set at $950,000. Stagg, a Pollock resident, is a Southern Baptist associational mission strategist for churches in North and Central Louisiana, specifically the Baptist Mission Center. It includes 87 Southern Baptist congregations under that umbrella, including the Big Creek Baptist Association in Dry Prong and the CenLa Association in Alexandria, according to the website. According to an October 2018 Facebook post by a Louisiana Baptist-affiliated mission, Stagg began work as a strategist a few months before the post. He previously worked with missions in Minnesota, the Chicago area and in Missouri. Stagg still is listed on the Baptist Mission Center's website as an associational mission strategist, which is described like mentors or trainers to pastors who also work in evangelism outreach, various missions and church revitalizations. The Louisiana Baptist Convention in Alexandria told KALB on Friday that Stagg is not one of its employees. At a Monday morning news conference, Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain said his office was notified about three weeks ago about a complaint of young children being raped. The original complainant reported the rapes to the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, but the crimes allegedly happened in the Dry Prong area. Why?: Southern Baptists are gathering in New Orleans for their annual meeting Shreveport-Bossier: Here's the latest in the Jimmie Davis Bridge debacle Stagg was arrested June 8. "We are concerned that there are other children that have been hurt," McCain said. Story continues Sheriffs Dusty Gates (left) and Mark Wood talk after a press conference Monday in Colfax. The two men, along with Grant Sheriff Steven McCain, urged people who might be victims of Daryl Ray Stagg to come forward. The sheriff said they were sending a message to potential victims that they now are safe with Stagg in jail and that they should reach out to them if they have been hurt by him. He said it doesn't matter where the alleged abuse might have happened. "If you've been hurt by Daryl Stagg, you get in touch with us; we'll do the rest," he said. McCain said his office will connect victims with the appropriate law enforcement agency. However, he was reluctant to discuss more details for fear of compromising prosecution of the case and the ages of the victims. "I know there's gonna be a lot of curiosity and a lot of questions asked," he said. "We also have to make sure that, after the arrest is made, that we do our part to make sure that a conviction can be gotten. "This is too serious of a case for us to jeopardize the prosecution and the court's role in this. Stagg was arrested in Grant Parish on three counts each of first-degree rape, oral sexual battery, aggravated crimes against nature and indecent behavior with juveniles. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates said Stagg has been charged with one count each of the same charges. He said one victim was identified in the Bernice area, and warrants were issued for Stagg after an interview with the victim. Gates called the allegations "very heinous crimes." He also believes there could be additional victims in his parish, so he asked for people to step forward. McCain said the alleged crimes go back years, but not decades. And he said it was experience that led him to believe there are other victims. "From my experience in law enforcement, somebody doesn't develop this behavior at the age of 60 years old," he said. Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood called the case "horrible tragedy" and said the arrest got "a bad guy off the street that needs to be off the street." He echoed McCain's call for victims to come forward and said they would be there to help them. Contact the Grant Parish Sheriff's Detective James Watkins at 318-627-2010 or go to www.grantso.org. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Sheriff: 'Concerned' other kids could be victims of Daryl Ray Stagg The sign in front of Moraine Ridge pictured on May 19, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. GREEN BAY - An east-side memory care unit is now allowed to accept new residents after the state Department of Health Services on June 5 lifted its ban on admissions. Reflections at Moraine Ridge, 2929 St. Anthony Drive, appealed an order from DHS that was extended in April banning the facility from admitting any new residents after an inspection found 20 deficiencies at the center including inadequate staff, not enough food, and missed medication doses. Reflections at Moraine Ridge is run by Inspired Senior Healthcare. In DHS' decision on Monday, Reflections can begin taking in new residents again. The state agency also lifted some of the deficiencies found in the inspection regarding two residents who had unexplained injuries. Two residents had multiple injuries following suspected falls, according to the DHS report in April. The injuries were not properly investigated by the center, according to the report. The residents died in the days after they were injured from the falls. In the report, DHS had previously said the residents "had unexplained injuries that were not investigated by the provider and resulted in their passing." On Monday, however, DHS said the injuries did not result in their deaths. In the settlement agreement, DHS removed nine of the violations inspectors found in the report related to activity schedules and how the center recorded employee information. The center must correct the other violations inspectors found at the facility. "Reflections at Moraine Ridge, a community-based residential facility, has and will continue to provide quality care to its residents," Inspired Senior Healthcare said in a news release. "Reflections has a strong compliance history and strives to serve as a model in the assisting living industry." Inspired Senior Healthcare also owns Bayview Senior Care in Sturgeon Bay and Park House South Field Senior Living in Southfield, Michigan. Benita Mathew is a health and science reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact Benita at bmathew@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @benita_mathew. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay memory care center allowed to admit new residents again President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt deal should have made this fall's incoming funding fight easier. Instead, the opposite has happened. Congressional spending leaders who in theory could have used the spending cuts outlined in the bipartisan debt agreement now find themselves in a more onerous position as various factions on the Hill push to shirk the terms of the Biden-McCarthy deal. And senior lawmakers have only a narrow window to write a dozen spending bills that can pass both chambers, facing a tight time crunch less than four months before government funding runs out. Several different groups of lawmakers are trying to revisit the debt deal's funding caps. House conservatives, accusing McCarthy of backtracking on secret promises and cutting a bum deal with Biden, shut down the floor last week as they made the case for steeper slashes than the duo agreed to. Senate Republicans are searching for a way around the budget caps as well, to add cash for the Pentagon and Ukraine. And Democrats are looking for ways to ensure that priorities like disaster aid and immigration programs dont get short shrift. The conservative rebellion and competing calls for more cash only compound fears of a dicey finale to this fall's spending fight. As the threat of a government shutdown looms at the end of September, some lawmakers are avoiding any predictions after Congress managed to pass the debt limit package before a catastrophic U.S. default. Who knows what's gonna happen? I mean, Jesus, said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the top Democrat who oversees defense spending. We should celebrate that we actually didn't shoot ourselves in the head. Tester is clamoring to start working with his Republican counterpart, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, to divvy up the largest pot of annual cash: the defense funding bill, which is expected to total more than $800 billion. "I've got a tremendous amount of respect for Susan. We'll work together. Were gonna figure it out," Tester said. Story continues Collins, also the Senates leading Republican appropriator, and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have both aired hopes that Congress can exceed the $886 billion defense cap outlined in the debt limit package. Those two, and plenty of other senators, want Congress to pass a supplemental spending bill that would pour additional cash into efforts to head off Russian and Chinese aggression. But their call for more money puts them at odds with McCarthy, who has questioned the need for a supplemental package that would undercut the House's GOP's original goal of cutting spending. Adding to the discord, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are anxious to avoid a provision in the debt pact that would impose a 1 percent funding cut next year if appropriators cant strike a deal to fund the government and resort to a short-term patch. Collins and her Democratic counterpart, Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (Wash.), are plowing forward publicly committing to a more bipartisan, transparent appropriations process than lawmakers have seen in years. In the past, Senate spending leaders have often failed to run all 12 bills through committee and then wrapped them into one mammoth package. Murray and Collins say they hope to start marking up annual spending bills later this month. But that's an ambitious timeline for appropriators who are still digesting the particulars of the debt limit package while Republicans on both sides of the Capitol demand further concessions. The legislation lifts the nation's borrowing cap through January 2025, in addition to setting overall government funding limits for the next two years. House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) said she didnt know if Republican appropriators would flout the budget caps included in the two-year deal, as some GOP hardliners are insisting on in their push for tens of billions of dollars in additional government funding cuts for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. We dont know that yet, Granger said of her spending plans in a brief interview last week. We dont know what were doing. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who oversees funding for the IRS, said it would be a sign of very bad faith if House Republicans wrote spending bills with lower funding totals than those set in the debt deal. Its going to be really important that they stick to their agreement with the president, he said. Granger recently hit pause on House spending markups in an effort to give McCarthy maximum leverage in his negotiations with Biden. Some appropriators acknowledged, however, that Republicans were unsure if they could muster enough support for the bills within the deeply divided conference. Those markups are expected to resume this week, according to a House GOP aide. Im ready to go. I was ready to go two weeks ago, said Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. Where are we? If House GOP leaders decide to undercut those agreed-upon spending totals, they could shore up conservative support but also make striking a bicameral agreement with the Senate astronomically harder. It's going to be a delicate dance, said Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), who chairs the House panel in charge of funding the departments of Education and Labor, as well as Health and Human Services. We've gotta pass the bills. That's the goal, Aderholt said. Obviously, as Republicans, it's always good to try to do cutting. Of course, my bill will probably take a lot of the cuts. But I think we'll work through it." Like Aderholt, top appropriators on the other side of the Capitol are anxious for party leaders to finish haggling over spending totals and political strategy, so they can take concrete steps to write and debate government funding bills. "It is clear that we are going to move as quickly as we have in years, said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who chairs the spending panel that funds the State Department and foreign aid programs. But regardless of appropriators' best intentions, passing all 12 spending bills on both the House and Senate floors is a heavy lift. Senate Republicans have pushed Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to commit to honoring the intent of the debt deal by swearing off the usual practice of ultimately rolling the dozen measures into a massive funding package known as an omnibus. Schumer and McConnell said in a statement hours before the Senate passed the debt deal that leaders will seek and facilitate floor consideration of these bills with the cooperation of Senators of both parties. Collins has previously said the Senate may have to pass the bills in smaller funding bundles, or minibuses. Schumer "loves the omnibus like the devil loves sin, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), the top Republican on the panel that funds the Department of Energy and water programs. Because he can control all the spending, and he can hide a lot of the spending. About four centuries ago, Europeans began to bring African slaves to what is now New York. Slaves built lower Manhattans soaring Trinity Church. They built the wall for which Wall St. is named. They built the citys prison and its hospital. Slavery in New York would remain legal for 200 years. And today, its legacy has not been fully scrubbed. In New York State, Black workers make about 74 cents for every dollar earned by white workers, according to federal Labor Department data. Racial gaps in educational attainment and health outcomes persist. State lawmakers passed legislation Thursday that would launch a commission tasked with studying the after-effects of slavery in New York and making nonbinding recommendations on reparations. In doing so, New York legislators followed in the footsteps of California, which created a reparations task force in 2020. New York would be the second state with such a commission, according to the office of state Sen. James Sanders, the Queens Democrat who sponsored the measure. Americas original sin must be resolved, Sanders said in an interview. What lingers from that period has to be dealt with, and thus reparations, he said. We are talking about a more perfect union. The bill calls for a commission with nine members: three appointed by the governor, three by the Assembly and three by the Senate. It instructs the commission to report its findings and recommendations within a year of the launch of its work. The legislation passed 41 to 21 in the Senate and 106 to 41 in the Assembly. A spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, Avi Small, said Friday that the governor would review the bill. Most Americans oppose reparations for the descendants of slaves, according to polling by the Pew Research Center. In a 2021 Pew survey, 77% of Black voters supported reparations, and 80% of white voters opposed them. Sanders said he has faith that the children of Samuel Adams, the children of Tom Paine can meet with the children of Martin Luther King and the children of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman and make sure that we move the American experiment forward. ____ Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. 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 Chinas 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 China planned to pay a cash-strapped Cuba billions of dollars as part of the negotiations. The White House called the report inaccurate. Ive seen that press report, its not accurate, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an MSNBC interview 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 U.S. intelligence community had determined Chinese spying from Cuba has been an ongoing matter and is not a new development, the administration official said. 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. 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 spanning 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 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. 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-wens 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 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, 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 defense, 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Vesti proaste pentru soferii din Romania. Cat de mult se scumpesc carburantii din toamna lui 2023 Soferii romani sunt multumiti dupa ce carburantii s-au mai ieftinit, insa bucuria nu le va fi de prea mare durata. Sunt vesti proaste pentru soferii din Romania dupa ce s-a aflat cu cat de mult se [citeste mai departe] Wilson during the search to find the four children who went missing in the Colombian jungle. When it was learned on Friday that four children lost in the Amazon jungle in Colombia had been found, the story drew comparisons to Gabriel Garcia Marquezs The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor, a non-fiction book that recounts how a sailor survived at sea for 10 days. But the story of the children 13-year-old Lesly, Soleiny (nine), Tien Noriel (five) and Cristin Neriman (12 months) has more in common with a miracle. Not only did they manage to survive 40 days in the thick jungle, where its impossible to see more than 20 meters away, they did so after surviving a plane crash that killed their mother and two other adults. But while the children have been found, the search continues for Wilson, a six-year-old Belgian shepherd dog who went missing during the operation to locate the minors. Wilson was born and raised among soldiers. On June 8, the day before the children were found, the army reported that Wilson was lost in the jungle. Its believed the rescue dog became disorientated due to the difficult terrain, humidity and unfavorable weather conditions. But judging by the footprints found on the ground, he was close by not only to the soldiers, but also to the children, whose traces were found a short distance away. The search for the children which had kept Colombia in suspense since the plane wreck was discovered on May 16 was dubbed Operation Hope and involved more than 100 members of Colombias Special Forces, as well as Civil Defense members, military dogs and more than 70 indigenous people, whose knowledge of the jungle proved key to the mission. On Friday, the children were found, and it was announced that Wilson had also been located. But this was not the case. It was yet another twist in a story that has been marked by misinformation and false alarms. The incorrect news that Wilson had been found triggered a flood of euphoric responses on social media, which elevated the rescue dog to hero status. Put Wilson on the $200,000 [peso] bill, wrote one user. Others shared drawings of the dog that quickly went viral. According to Lesly, the eldest of the four rescued children, Wilson did find them. Lesly smiled at us, hugged us, and told us about the dog, said Astrid Caceres, the director of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), on Saturday. That dog was none other than Wilson. Finding Wilson is now the main goal of the soldiers who remain in the Amazon jungle. General Helder Giraldo, the commander of the Colombian Military Forces, has ordered them to follow the dogs footsteps. A fallen comrade is never abandoned in the field of combat. Operation Hope is continuing in the search for our dog Wilson, who, while tracking and in his eagerness to find the children, distanced himself from the troops and got lost. The army has said Operation Hope will not be over until Wilson is found. General Pedro Sanchez, the commander of the search operation, explained on Saturday that since Wilson went missing on May 18, soldiers made contact with the dog on two occasions, but in both instances, it became lost again. According to Sanchez, when the dog met the children, Wilson was emaciated due to the difficulties of finding food in the jungle. The new goal of Operation Hope is to find Wilson so that the story of the rescued children can have an even happier ending. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Naomi Grossman, cunoscuta pentru rolul personajului Pepper din antologia horror American Horror Story, vine la prima editie Comic Con Iasi intr-o dubla calitate: de invitat si de moderator al altor panel-uri din cadrul evenimentului la care mai participa si actorii Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, The 100), - Actorul Nikola Djuricko, cunoscut pentru rolul lui Yuri Ismaylov din cel de-al patrulea sezon Stranger Things, vine la prima editie Comic Con, ce va avea loc la Iasi, in perioada 25 - 27 august.Nikola Djuricko se alatura, astfel, lui Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, The 100) si Sebastian Roche (Supernatural, - ForMin Aurescu talks to Estonian counterpart Tsahkna about preparation of NATO Summit in Vilnius. Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu discussed on Monday with recently appointed Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna, whom he tackled with topics such as the preparation of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, - Actor Luka Peros, known to the public for the role of Marseille in "La Casa de Papel" (Money Heist), is coming to Romania to meet fans at the first edition of Comic Con that will take place in Iasi, between August 25-27, in the Palas area.The actor of Croatian origin starred in numerous European - The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) will leave the ruling coalition unless it gets the Ministry of Development in the future government, UDMR national leader Kelemen Hunor said on Monday at the end of a meeting with the UDMR parliamentary groups and ministers."I presented to my colleagues - Deputy PM Grindeanu on gov't rotation: I hope it happens before the end of ongoing parliamentary session. Deputy Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Monday at Baldana, Dambovita County, that he hopes that the government rotation will take place by the end of the current parliamentary session, - DIPLOMACY:- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, participates in the meeting of foreign ministers from the member states of the European Union (Foreign Affairs Council/ EAC) - Brussels CITESTE SI Bucharest Tech Week kicks off in Bucharest on Monday 08:42 10 MAY 22 IN HISTORY 08:28 - Ciolacu: Government rotation to take place without scandals; Romania cannot afford anymore political conflicts.The PSD President, Marcel Ciolacu, said on Monday that the government rotation will take place without "scandals or political crises" because Romania can no longer afford even a day lost Denis Sokolov, in charge of recruiting Russians willing to fight for Ukraine, in an image provided by the Citizens' Council. The alliance of Ukrainians and Russians fighting against Putin is forged in blood, says Denis Sokolov, who oversees the recruitment of Russians willing to fight under the orders of the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). Russian fighters claim to have been involved in the recent saboteur raids in Belgorod, a Russian province bordering Ukraine. Originally from St. Petersburg, Sokolov worked as an anthropologist in the Caucasus before going into exile. Today, he operates through a platform called the Citizens Council (CC), where he coordinates the reception and transfer of Russians wishing to enlist in Ukraines International Legion. From Warsaw, Sokolov spoke to EL PAIS through a social network the same one that the CC openly uses for recruitment. Solokov, an activist supporter of the armed struggle, provides a glimpse into the internal relations of the volunteer groups and their links with the GUR. Data on the number of members in these armed Russian contingents and the chain of command to which they answer are difficult to verify. Neither do the standard military designations of battalion, regiment or corps provide any information on the number of volunteers they include. The International Legion of Ukraine, subordinated to the GUR, consists of units of various origins, among them volunteers from countries that were formerly part of the USSR, such as Georgia or Belarus. Those coming from Russia, for the most part, have been integrated into the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK). More information Russia says Ukraine has launched a full-scale offensive in Donetsk The RDK, however, left the Citizens Council by mutual agreement, because it did not comply with the principles of the manifesto we had signed [respect for the European Convention on Human Rights], says Sokolov, who does not wish to delve into the discrepancies. He admits, however, that they concerned the attitude of that body toward Muslims, toward other nationalities, and toward sexual minority groups. The RDK was founded by Denis Kapustin (also known as Denis Nikitin), a far-right activist who since 2019 has been banned from entering the European Schengen area. Because of its ideology, the RDK rejected Vladislav Amosov, a former officer in the Russian Armed Forces, who is of Yakut origin [an ethnic group from the Siberian Republic of Sakha-Yakutia], explains Sokolov. Hence, the Siberian battalion was formed, which is led by Amosov and includes Ildar Dadin, the first activist to be sentenced to a prison term in Russia (in 2015) for violating the rules governing demonstrations and picketing. The far-right attitude of the RDK is a deterrent, even for right-wing volunteers, let alone liberals, says Sokolov. Russian fascism has relegated Russian nationalism to the periphery and prevents the formation of a national and regional identity acceptable to the majority of Russian society. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has distanced himself from the armed incursions into Russia. According to Podolyak, the Russians involved had already concluded their contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He did acknowledge, however, that the saboteur units use Ukrainian terrain for their activities. Sokolov is reticent about the so-called Russian democratic forces which, from exile, declare themselves against Moscows war in Ukraine. The leaders of these groups, he points out, are linked to the exiled Russian oligarchs, who maintain their relations with members of the security services and officials of the justice and administration apparatus and believe that the future of Russia will be the result of a schism in the elite that holds power. The raids on Belgorod, which forced the evacuation of several Russian villages on the border, showed, according to Sokolov, that the Russian command mechanism is very slow, that it lacks manpower and it does not care about bombing its own cities and villages. The Siberian battalion is already a full-fledged combat unit built on political, regional and national principles, Sokolov says, and will be completed as volunteers arrive from the various regions of Siberia. The battalion is supported, he adds, by small- and medium-sized business owners and exiled professionals who pay for training and maintenance. It is based on the model of a peoples army of volunteers similar to the territorial defense battalions that emerged in 2014 in Ukraine [during the Donbas conflict]. Initially, the only enlistment option was the RDK, but now the vast majority of recruitment requests go to the Siberian battalion, which accepts people from other Russian regions. From the point of view of a broad military-political project, the Siberian battalion is the one with the best prospects. I cant say how many there are [in the Siberian battalion], he says. When pressed, Sokolov admits that the target of 300 members has not yet been reached. For the many more who want to come, he explains, the main problem is transit from Russia to Ukraine via third countries. If that is resolved, the number of volunteers will be much higher. Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps near the Russian border in Ukraine, May 24, 2023. VIACHESLAV RATYNSKYI (REUTERS) Our volunteers are people who put their convictions and freedom above life and comfort But it is not just a question of circuitous routes to reach Ukraine, but also of distrust among Ukrainians of those they view as a suspicious contingent. Once they are approved, the volunteers receive weapons, equipment and salary, depending on their contract, Sokolov says. Their level of readiness differs; there are those who have military experience and those who do not. For exiled liberal democrats, the road from the couch to the trenches is somewhat longer, although many walk it. There is a substantial difference between those who fight and the politicians and ex-oligarchs who manipulate the democratic sectors in exile and who see armed resistance as a matter of mercenaries, terrorists and traitors. The position of the latter is to let Ukraine win and then build a democracy through elections. Our volunteers are very different; very young, people who put their convictions and freedom above life and comfort, Sokolov states. Europeans are afraid that Russia will disintegrate. No one wants to directly witness the Russian Federation cease to exist, to see it become a failed state. Whether or not it wins the war, Russia will collapse as a state and internecine wars will begin. We have to think about what to build in place of this monster, he says. The alternative is decided at the front, Sokolov adds, but he believes the time has not come yet. The attitude of Ukrainians towards us is forged in blood, and we will be able to say that we are allies when they understand that for every one of the fallen Russians a Ukrainian life is saved. Ukrainians will be ready to see other Russians when other Russians appear; when there is an alternative project [in Russia]. Ukraine needs us because it lacks people, because we are its reserve. Ukraine needs Russians, but other Russians, ready to die for its freedom. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, signed, on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Joint Declaration on the formalization of a training coalition for the Ukrainian air forces, for the operation of the F-16 aircraft, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) reported."Our - Gov't investiture/Kelemen Hunor: Governing programme - a 'copy paste' type of work. The governing programme of the new cabinet is a "copy paste" type of work, while the premeditated execution of a credible, balanced and responsible partner was put into practice in an extremely noisy and stupid manner, - Union leader Hancescu: The county leaders has mandated us to call off strike. The county leaders of the education trade unions have mandated their officials to call off the teachers' strike, by a 51 majority votes out of 57, national leader of the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education (FSLI) - ForMin Aurescu talks to Estonian counterpart Tsahkna about preparation of NATO Summit in Vilnius. Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu discussed on Monday with recently appointed Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna, whom he tackled with topics such as the preparation of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, - The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) will leave the ruling coalition unless it gets the Ministry of Development in the future government, UDMR national leader Kelemen Hunor said on Monday at the end of a meeting with the UDMR parliamentary groups and ministers."I presented to my colleagues - The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) does not accept the Ministries of Energy and European Funds or Energy and Health, and wants the coalition protocol to be respected, namely to receive the Ministry of Development and "something similar to the Environment", Deputy Prime Minister and UDMR - Rocada guvernamentala se amana din cauza grevei generale a profesorilor. Nicolae Ciuca nu va demisiona inca din functia de premier. Rocada guvernamentala se amana pana la solutionarea grevei generale a profesorilor , aflate in cea de a cincea zi, a anuntat vineri Nicolae Ciuca, care astazi urma sa isi - Liderul PSD, Marcel Ciolacu, a precizat ca rotatia guvernamentala va avea loc pana la 1 iunie si ca noul prim-ministru va veni din interiorul PSD. Ciolacu a explicat ca, momentan, se respecta protocolul initial, dar ca mai sunt discutii pe marginea acestuia. Liderul social-democrat este de parere ca Andrea Voit / TU Muenchen (ESS) An engineer adjusts a German neutron detection instrument. Apart from flashbacks that the hit Netflix series Breaking Bad may have conjured up, most of us have likely happily forgotten what we learned in chemistry classes back in school. So heres a quick brush-up: chemistry looks at the building blocks of our physical world, such as atoms, and the changes they undergo. An atom consists of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by a cloud of electrons. Aerial view of the European Spallation Neutron Source facility in 2021. Perry Nordeng Free the neutrons Now for something high school chemistry might not have taught us: the humble neutron, found in the nucleus of every atom but hydrogen, can if manipulated in just the right way shed light on everything from the climate crisis and energy to health and quantum computing. One such way is a rather spectacular process known as spallation where high-energy particles destabilize an atoms nucleus, which in turn releases some of the neutrons found there. When harnessed, these newly freed neutrons can be used like X-rays to map the inner structure of materials. Currently under construction in Lund, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS) is expected to come online in 2027. Once it achieves its full specifications, its unprecedented flux and spectral range is set to make it the most powerful and versatile neutron source for science in the world. The purpose of the facility, said Jimmy Binderup Andersen, head of innovation and industry at the ESS, is to create neutrons, a neutron beam, to be used for scientific purposes. Once the facility is up and running, scientists from across Europe and the rest of the world will be able to use its 15 different beamlines to conduct fundamental research. Not X-ray According to Andersen, a neutron beam is not the same as an X-ray, but it is complementary and uses some of the same physical laws. Like X-rays, neutrons can be used to probe materials and biological systems. But they interact with materials in different ways to the photons in high-energy X-ray beams and therefore provide different types of information about their targets. For example, neutron beams can say something about the interior dynamics of lithium-ion batteries, reveal obscured details from ancient artefacts or clarify the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. They can also be used to explore fundamental physics. It almost seems like a case of what cant they do? Neutron bombardments As part of the EU-funded BrightnESS-2 project, partly coordinated by Andersen, technologies developed for the ESS were shared with industry in Europe, to benefit society at large. For instance, some of the power systems developed for the ESS beamlines could be useful for renewable energy technologies like wind turbines. Recently, the ESS was contacted by a European semiconductor manufacturer interested in the radiation fields the neutron source can generate. The world we live in is constantly bombarded with neutrons, produced when high-energy particles from outer space, such as cosmic rays from the sun, collide with Earths atmosphere. Over time, this exposure can damage electrical components. The ESS can mimic this neutron bombardment, but on a much faster time scale, enabling it to be used to test the durability of critical electrical components, such as those used in airplanes, wind turbines and spacecraft. Now ESS is teaming up with other research institutes and companies to find a possible future use of a facility like ESS to address such specific industry needs. ESS 2.0 Although the ESS is still being built, scientists are already working on an upgrade to the facility. When the ESS first opens it will have one moderator, but the EU-funded HighNESS project is developing a second moderator system. The moderators will slow down the neutrons generated during the spallation process to an energy level that the scientific instruments can use. The neutron energy really matters in a neutron facility, because depending on the neutron energy, you can do different kinds of physics, said Valentina Santoro, coordinator of the HighNESS project. While the first moderator will provide high-brightness, which is a very focused beam of neutrons, the source being developed by the HighNESS project will deliver a high intensity. In other words, a large number of neutrons. The two moderators will allow scientists to explore different aspects of the dynamics and structure of materials such as polymers, biomolecules, liquid metals and batteries. A fundamental mystery The second moderator will also enable explorations of fundamental physics to try and see a neutron become an antineutron for the first time. This is very interesting, because you observe a phenomenon where matter becomes antimatter, said Santoro, who is a particle physicist based at the ESS. If you observe something like that you can understand one of the biggest unsolved mysteries why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe. This experiment can only be done at ESS, Santoro said, because it requires a huge number of neutrons and the ESS will have the highest number in the world. You just need one neutron that becomes an antineutron, and that is it, youve found this process where matter becomes antimatter, Santoro said. Research in this article was funded by the EU. This article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. Marion Merricks books are the only first-hand account written by a westerner of what it was like to live and work in communist Hungary, and then in the aftermath of the 1989 change of regime. Now You See It, Now You Dont and House of Cards have been included as part of the Open Society Archive dedicated to this period in the CEU. You can read a serialisation of them here on Xpatloop. You can also buy the dual-volume book on Kindle as well as in Stanfords London. Chapter Five: Children and Change Part 4 Christmas, bananas, and the Post Office challenge My five days in hospital were thankfully uneventful. The food was inedible and in anticipation of this I had taken a large bag of muesli - I made it myself, since it was generally possible to obtain the ingredients, but no-one had heard of muesli itself. I soon became rather self-conscious about eating it however, as patients and nurses alike crowded round to watch. What's it got in it? asked one nurse. Oats.. I began. Oats! she exclaimed. But that's what horses eat! Visiting times were strictly limited but Cili for one, in her white pharmacist's coat, came and went whenever she felt like it. It was strange to have to take and wash up our own cutlery, and even the other women seemed surprised when a nurse put her head through the door saying, Who wants clean sheets? We all put up our hands. She counted out the requisite number, dropped them onto a chair and walked on to the next ward leaving us to do the rest ourselves. The babies were beautifully cared for and were delivered, at every feeding time, on the double-decker trolley, with neatly arranged hair and spotless clothes. Apart from a touch of jaundice John was faring well and had already put on weight before we left the hospital. Back home life lost the calm and order of hospital routine. John proved to be the sort of nightmare newborn one reads of in baby books, the ones who are either dropped out of fifth-floor windows or whose mothers take the plunge instead. He slept neither night or day for more than twenty minutes at a time. Tamas sent round his brother Guszti, a hospital paediatrician, to see us. He was very quiet-mannered, calm, reassuring: John was perfectly healthy, putting on a large amount of weight, but some babies, he explained, - especially boys - were like that. He suggested that if our nerves could stand it we should leave him to cry. It was not often that I could bear to listen to it, but the way of taking my mind off the awful noise was to read, and what I decided to tackle was my first venture into Hungarian literature: Orkeny's One-Minute Stories. These were what filled the dark, sleepless nights, not just the minutes but the hours too, for many months. Hardly had we begun to adjust to life as a family when we were packing up to leave for a summer in England. We had agreed with Agi and Kazi that they would have the flat in July and August, and so we had booked our flight for the end of June. Our Hungarian friends were, for the most part, shocked not to say horrified. You're taking a six-week old on an aeroplane? they asked in disbelief. In vain did I try to explain that it was no different from going on a bus or in a car. There were absolutely no baby-changing facilities at the airport, but two cooing stewardesses led me into an area of aeroplane seats in a room which was used for staff-training, and I was able to change him there. The customs official abandoned his routine questions about Hungarian currency and what we had in our suitcases. How old is the baby now? he asked me. I told him. So, when did he last feed? And are you going to feed him on the plane? Is he going to see his grandparents? Other passengers waited patiently until he had satisfied himself that John would survive the journey ahead. It was a difficult few weeks travelling the length and breadth of England with a baby that hardly slept and cried all night. We returned to Hungary in the first days of September to a phone call offering us some English language-recordings at Hungaroton at a very high fee. The only difficulty would be that they were at night, from ten o'clock until two or three in the morning and so we would need a baby-sitter. Tamas suggested his younger sister who had had plenty of experience with her countless nephews and nieces. I warned her of the difficulties of an incessantly crying infant, but she was unperturbed. There were only four of us involved in the recording, one of the others being Laurence. Inevitably someone began to doze off somewhere after midnight, and our rumbling stomachs were recorded by the sensitive microphones. However, we managed to finish in four nights instead of the five allotted, and listening back to the recording it hardly revealed our somnambulant state. Although we did not realise it then, this was to be our last job with Laurence. Not many days later he disappeared off to London for an interview with Andrew Lloyd-Webber's company for the position of musical director. He was finally offered the job out of the more than five hundred applicants, at the age of just twenty three. On the morning of his departure, after a farewell meal with us the previous day, we had a frantic phone call. Paul can you get down here to Keleti straight away? I had to pay my train ticket in hard currency and I've got absolutely nothing left - can you lend me some? Paul found twenty pounds in his writing case and ran to get a bus. As I watched him go from the window I found it difficult to imagine that Laurence would no longer come to play excerpts of his latest compositions on our still out-of-tune piano, share a bowl of pasta with us or complain passionately about some ludicrous piece of local bureaucracy. We would miss him greatly. Late in September, finding himself in the vicinity, Miklos called in to see me. He was very excited about a meeting he had been to outside Budapest in a place called Lakitelek, at which a new political party was being formed. I know you're not interested in politics, he continued, but really important things are happening now. You can't live in this part of the world and be as indifferent to politics as you westerners are. Alright, alright, I demurred, acknowledging the truth of his observation. He went on to tell me that he was thinking of applying for a scholarship to spend a year in America, though he would probably not go until the following September. The meeting in a tent in Lakitelek The autumn passed quickly: the last few stray tourists disappeared, the fur hats and black leather coats came out of mothballs as the days became short and dark. This was to be our first Christmas in Hungary which meant we would have to send all our presents by post to relatives in both Germany and England. John was now too heavy for the sling I had been carrying him in, so I transported him in a backpack. This was also a cause of mild sensation and elicited some concerned questioning from older women on public transport. John himself was quite happy, able to see everything around him, and it was thus that we completed all our Christmas shopping. The main streets and small squares were lined with covered stalls selling handicraft items such as silver jewellery, beeswax candles, leather bags and gloves and pottery. Vapours of hot, mulled wine permeated the cold December air and coloured light bulbs strung between the booths lent an atmosphere of gaiety to the otherwise dimly-lit city. It was from these stalls that I chose my presents, knowing that their unusualness would be much appreciated. When I had packed my parcels I left John with Paul for the morning and headed for the post office at Nyugati station. Having been redirected from the main entrance to one at the side of the building, I found myself in a crush of men and women all weighed down with brown paper packages. I had already been told by Cili that you were not permitted to use sellotape, at least it should not be visible, because the customs officials opened all parcels. The technique was somehow to put the tape under the brown paper. I could see various people around me filling in forms, but these were, of course, inaccessible and had to be requested. After about twenty minutes I reached the counter. The man weighed each parcel and gave me the customs declaration forms. Then, picking up the smallest of the three parcels he said, You can't send this one, it's got no string on it, all parcels have to have string. And anyway, this can go letter post, take it to the main part of the post office. Do you have any string here, or can I buy some in the post office? I asked. He shook his head. I filled in all three forms and queued again to give in my two larger parcels. More than forty minutes after entering the post office I was back out on the street. I decided to look for a stationery shop so that I could buy some string. Luckily, the second shop I went into had large balls of it. I also bought some silver baking foil, remembering that Caroline had told me it was unavailable before Christmas, since the whole amount produced was used to wrap the chocolate fondants traditionally hung on Hungarians' Christmas trees. Sweets traditionally hung on Christmas trees I made my way back to the main part of the post office and found a small shelf where I could tie up the parcel. It was then I realised I had no scissors. Try as I might, I could not bite or chew through the string, but a woman watching my antics offered me her nail file, and after a minute or two of sawing at the string, it broke. I now looked at the long queues stretching from every window; I would be there till lunchtime. A pall of unseasonal gloom hung over the whole place, the silence broken only by the squeak and clatter of the swing doors, the banging of rubber stamps and the sighs of those standing in line. Finally, it was my turn. The unsmiling woman, without so much as glancing at me, pushed the parcel back. You can't send this, she said, the value of the contents you have written on here exceeds the limit. What is the limit? I asked. Eight hundred forints - you'll have to send the things in two parcels. The person behind me was already pushing his letters under the glass as I stood wondering what to do next. There was no way I was going home to repack the parcel into two. I walked back around to the parcels' office and brazenly went to the front of the queue to ask for another form. Then out onto the side street and into the main entrance where I was careful to join a different queue, my form now stating that the parcel was worth five hundred forints. Once again I found myself at the front. I said a silent prayer. But in vain. The woman pushed my parcel back towards me. You can't send chocolates out of the country, she said, pointing to where I had written the word 'chocolate' on my form. Without a word I picked up my parcel and walked away. I joined a third queue, taking a pen out of my bag and obliterating the offending word on the green paper. I decided that if the customs wanted to remove the chocolates from the parcel they were welcome to do so, but I would not. This time I succeeded in disposing of my parcel, and I subsequently fled the building vowing to investigate any and every alternative for sending presents abroad before the following Christmas. As I alighted from the trolley bus on the corner near our house I decided to buy one or two things at the greengrocer's. This was a private premises, it could not be described as a shop, being merely a makeshift construction, but had good-quality produce. There was no-one else there, and having weighed out my apples, the greengrocer looked around, lowered his voice and said, Do you want some bananas? I had not seen a banana since our summer in England. I nodded. Surreptitiously, and with a conspiratorial look I imagined would more usually accompany the supply of pornographic material, he pulled a box out from under the counter. You can have up to three kilos, he whispered. I took the three offered, deciding to give some to Cili and maybe to one or two other friends. They were quickly concealed in a large, brown paper bag. Don't tell anyone where you got them, he said under his breath, as he handed over the secret purchase and I made to leave. People queue to buy bananas in Felszabadulas (Ferenciek) ter In the week before Christmas the same greengrocer was selling pine trees and we bought ours there. On the evening of the 23rd, decorating the tree, we became aware of singing somewhere close by. We looked at each other wonderingly, then walked to our front door. Outside, on the stairway, stood Tamas with about a dozen members of his church choir. They did not stop singing as we walked out to greet them, and several other residents of the building were now standing in their doorways to listen. When they finished that particular carol they came in, all wishing us a happy Christmas. Well, this is your first Christmas in Hungary, said Tamas, and as you have no family here and you're on your own, we thought we'd come and sing to you. They sang several more carols after which we all drank mulled wine and they left to sing to one or two other deserving people. In the event, John cried all night on the 24th, we slept no more than about twenty minutes in all, and sitting down to lunch on the 25th I looked as pale and drawn as Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Past. Click here for earlier extracts Main photo: MAV (Railway Workers) Hospital DigiMobil and DigiNet Aktiv 50 customers have been using Vodafone Hungary's domestic mobile network from June 1, meaning subscribers can enjoy significantly greater, almost national coverage, according to profitline.hu. Digi said it would guarantee the favorable HUF 4/minute tariff included in previous subscriptions until December 31, 2023. Affected customers do not need to change their SIM card to switch to the new network; however, data roaming may need to be turned on, and network selection may need to be done manually on some devices. Motorists staged a warning demonstration near Budakalasz, on the outskirts of Budapest, demanding that the government speed up the planning of the extension of the M0 motorways northern section. Participants at the demonstration organised by the 2011 Association of Environmental and Value Protection blocked the exits on the motorway towards Budakalasz and Szentendre with more than 20 cars between 3pm and 5pm. Gergely Forian-Szabo, deputy mayor of Budakalasz, told MTI that motorists had been waiting for the M0 motorway around the capital to be extended since the completion of the Megyeri Bridge 15 years ago. Since then, traffic from M0 has to go through the nearby settlements, effecting the quality of life of some 100,000 residents, he said. He noted that the completion of the northern section had been considered a priority national economic investment, but the project had not even reached the planning stage. An agreement on the completion of the plans was finally reached last December, but will only enter into force if the government allocates funding for the work, the deputy mayor said. MTI Photo Nebraskans are blessed with the good life because we are blessed with special people. From the impact of those who came before us to the potential of our rising generation, individuals from across the Third District inspire me every day. Reflecting on noteworthy Nebraskans and investing in developing leaders is a significant component of the work my team and I seek to accomplish every day. The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol Building features the statues of two notable figures from each state, submitted by each states respective legislature. This week, at the dedication of a new statue depicting author Willa Cather, I had the honor of recognizing this great Third District Nebraskan for her contributions to American literature and the way she brought the character of our state to life through her writing. Cathers formative years in Red Cloud, Nebraska, introduced her to the Great Plains and those who made them their home. A number of her works feature honest and rich retellings of the challenges faced by Nebraskans and our intimate relationship to the land. Even after moving from Nebraska, her experiences stayed with her and testified to the unique spirit of Nebraska in many of her timeless works of literature. Through her depth and brilliance, Willa Cather earned a lasting place among the great American writers. Well-decorated and praised by many of her acclaimed contemporaries, she was a trailblazer whose work continues to influence the literary world. As the first and only statue of a Pulitzer Prize winner in Statuary Hall, it is fitting Cather will now be enshrined in our nations Capitol, giving millions of annual visitors from around the globe the opportunity to reflect on her greatness. The statue was sculpted by Creighton University professor Littleton Alston. It now stands near the entrance to the House chamber directly across from Nebraskas other contribution to the Capitols collection, Chief Standing Bear. At the Nebraska Breakfast this week, I was pleased to welcome Governor Jim Pillen who also participated in the dedication of the Willa Cather statue. I was also glad for the opportunity to recognize Professor Alston at the breakfast. It was wonderful to see all the Nebraskans in attendance as we keep the breakfast going strong in its 80th year. If you ever plan to be in Washington on a Wednesday morning when both the House and Senate are in session, please dont hesitate to contact my office for more information about the Nebraska Breakfast. We would love to see you there! I am also pleased to announce the addition of new staff and interns who have joined my team to help me serve Third District Nebraskans. Shelby Haney recently joined my staff as a staff assistant, and Belen Gregory has joined my staff as a scheduler. Payton Davis, Emma Krusemark, Alex Endorf, and Rayna Freidman, are serving with my team as summer interns. As Nebraskans, we have a profound heritage from which to draw inspiration and much to anticipate in the promise of talented young Nebraskans. Celebrating the great Nebraskans of the past is a key to building a brighter future. YORK A 38-year-old California man is in jail in Nebraska after state troopers found 55 pounds of cocaine in his SUV, which was parked at a rest area near York, authorities alleged. Troopers arrested Nicandro Garcia-Perez, of Chino Hills, on suspicion of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver after they allegedly found the drugs hidden in the spare tire compartment of his BMW X5 at around 7:45 a.m. Friday, the State Patrol said in a news release. A trooper saw Garcia-Perez's car parked at the eastbound Interstate 80 rest area near York and began investigating a license plate violation Friday morning, but "became suspicious of criminal activity" after contacting the 38-year-old, according to the news release. A subsequent search of the BMW allegedly turned up the cocaine, the State Patrol said. Troopers arrested Garcia-Perez and took him to the York County jail, where he remained Monday. New Delhi: With the addition of new businesses or startups and their disruptive ideas, the current industries of the globe are changing daily. The best products are currently available to consumers at prices that are commensurate with the level of competition. Also, this is the challenge for startups, to cling to the fast-paced environment and solidify their positions in their respective markets. As a result, many startups frequently experience control issues and disappear. But, Nitin Agarwal, a former senior corporate executive who became an entrepreneur, is credited with creating one of India's fastest unicorns. Let's have a look at the Indian veteran, Nitin Agarwal's incredible journey. Who Is Nitin Agarwal? cre Trending Stories Nitin Agarwal started GlobalBees in April 2021 and by December of that same year had grown it to a $1 billion company. After Mensa Brands, GlobalBees is an Indian roll-up e-commerce business to achieve unicorn status in its industry. What is GlobalBees? GlobalBees is a platform for investing. It is built on Thrasio, a US-based startup that is one of the largest companies acquiring independent sellers on Amazon. Within around half a year of the company's founding, Agarwal created a portfolio for GlobalBees with a variety of brands in areas like fashion, jewellery, wellness, personal care, lifestyle, and eyewear. Nitin Agarwal's Journey Nitin Agarwal co-founded GlobalBees alongside Supam Maheshwari, the founder of FirstCry, after serving as President and Group CEO, CTO, and Chief Digital Officer at Edelweiss Financial Services. Agarwal, an engineer who graduated from the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, began his career with Citibank before moving on to a career where he held positions like Chief Operations Officer for various companies. He founded two different businesses. He founded GlobalBees after serving as a corporate executive for more than ten years at high-paying Edelweiss. After only three months of operation, Agarwal's business received its $150 million Series A funding, led by FirstCry and a few other investors. The private equity company of renowned billionaire Azim Premji, Premji Invest, led the $111.5 million Series B funding round. Softbank and Steadview Capital are a few of the additional investors in GlobalBees. The company was valued at $1.1 billion as of December 2021, which equates to just about Rs 9,000 crore in April 2023. All About GlobalBees GlobalBees, owned by Nitin Agarwal, owns over 55 brands in its portfolio and has invested in about 26 businesses. According to Agarwal, it now has one online store and intends to establish ten more this year. He continued by saying that GlobalBees today generates shipped gross sales of between Rs 140 and Rs 150 crore each month. GlobalBees, one of the biggest third-party cross-category retailers, has 22 accredited warehouses. By 2026, Agarwal wants the business to be profitable and have $1 billion in sales. Maharashtra assembly elections are almost a year away. The state is currently under the NDA regime after a rebellion led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The NDA constitutes of the BJP and Eknath-Shinde-led Shiv Sena while the MVA is a coalition of Congress, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Zee News in collaboration with the Matrize held carried out an opinion poll to gauge the people's mood that who will win if elections are held today. The survey revealed some surprising results. Maharashtra Opinion Poll 2023: Vote Percentage cre Trending Stories As per the opinion poll, the NDA is likely to get 46 per cent of votes if elections are held today while the MVA's vote share will be 35 per cent and MNS may get around 3 per cent of votes. When asked whether Uddhav Shiv Sena's decision to support Congress in 2019 was right or wrong, 57 per cent of the people said that it was wrong. When asked about whether the NDA alliance is better or MVA, 48 per cent of the people polled favoured NDA while 32 per cent voted for MVA. Maharashtra Opinion Poll: BJP vs Cong Seat Share According to the Zee News-Matrize Opinion polls, if the elections are held today, the BJP-Sena may bag between 165-185 seats thus getting a clear majority. On the other hand, the Congress-led MVA is likely to get 88-118 seats while the Raj Thackeray-led MNS may get around 2-5 seats. The survey also revealed that others including independent candidates may get 12-22 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly. Uddhav Thackeray Vs Eknath Shinde As CM In response to Uddhav Thackeray's work as a Chief Minister, only 27 per cent of people were satisfied while 45 per cent said it was worse. When asked about the present government's work, 47 per cent termed it better while 19 per said it was bad. When asked about Eknath Shinde's performance as the chief minister, a whopping 51 per cent termed it better while 27 per cent termed it satisfactory. Around 17 per cent of the people polled were not happy with Shinde's work. Shiv Sena Rebellion And Fall Of MVA In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP and the Shiva Sena had contested together. The Bharatiya Janata Party had got 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56 seats, Nationalist Congress Party 54 seats and Congress had won 44 seats. While Devendra Fadnavis was expected to be the chief minister once again, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena demanded that the CM should either be from the Sena camp or the post should be shared between both the parties for 2.5 years each. The BJP did not agree to the proposal and Shiv Sena broke away from the NDA, and joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the government. While Thackeray became the CM, Ajit Pawar was sworn-in as the deputy CM. In June 2022, Eknath Shinde along with 11 Shiv Sena MLAs revolted against Thackeray. Later, it turned out that Shinde had the support of 40 MLAs. This led to the fall of the MVA government and the Shinde faction along with the BJP sneaked into power once again. Shinde was made the Chief Minister while Fadnavis was made Deputy CM. Now, the upcoming election will be a test of the grassroots support that Shinde and Thackeray enjoy. It will also clear the cloud around which of the Sena factions is considered real by the people of Maharashtra. Hair transplantation is a surgical technique in which follicles of hair from one part of the scalp (often the rear or sides) are removed and moved to a bald or hair-thinning area of the scalp. Typically, the hair follicles are transplanted into the bald or receding area using very small incisions in groups of anywhere from one to four. FUE and FUT are the two primary techniques used in hair transplantation. FUE entails removing individual follicular components from the donor site using a small punch instrument, whereas FUT entails taking a strip of flesh from the donor region and splitting it into separate follicular units. To ensure that the transplanted hair appears natural and grows appropriately, both techniques call for talent. The procedure for hair transplantation is frequently done as an outpatient operation with local anaesthetic, allowing patients to leave on the same day. Although recovery times vary, most people are able to go back to their jobs and resume their regular routines within just a few days to a week. The transplanted hair may take many months to grow and appear natural, and repeated procedures might be necessary to get the desired results. cre Trending Stories Types of hair transplant There are two major kinds of hair transplant techniques: Follicular Unit Transplantation (or FUT): This procedure, commonly known as the "strip method," entails removing a thin layer of skin from the scalp's back and dividing it into smaller grafts that contain hair follicles. The grafts are subsequently implanted into the scalp's balding regions. Follicular Unit Extraction (or FUE): A specialised punch instrument is used in this minimally invasive treatment to remove isolated follicles of hair from the donor location, usually in the rear of the scalp. The transplanted follicles are then allowed to develop and create new hair in the recipient location. There are also divergences of these two major techniques, including: Direct Hair Implantation (or DHI): With this improved FUE procedure, no incisions or channels are necessary before the harvested follicles are implanted; instead, they are placed straight into the recipient area. Robotic Hair Transplantation: This is a more recent technology that performs the FUE surgery using a robotic machine. Compared to a human hand, the robot can remove and transplant hair follicles with greater accuracy and speed. The patient's thinning hair pattern, the degree of baldness, and the doctor's expertise and suggestion will all play a role in the procedure selection. Why Is Turkey Good For Hair Transplant? Turkey has grown to be a well-liked location for hair transplants due to its qualified doctors, cutting-edge facilities, and reasonably affordable cost in comparison to other nations. The hair transplant market in Turkey has expanded quickly in recent times, with clinics providing cutting-edge methods and cutting-edge technologies. Turkey's abundance of skilled hair transplant doctors is one factor contributing to the procedure's popularity there. Many Turkish physicians have been carrying out hair transplants for many years, honing their techniques over time. In addition, a lot of Turkish clinics employ modern methods and tools, which can improve outcomes and make patients feel more at ease. The price is another aspect that draws people to Turkey for hair transplants. While still producing top-notch results, hair transplantation in Turkey can be much less expensive than in nations like the US or the UK. For many people looking for hair restoration, this makes it an even more inexpensive alternative. Overall, Turkey has become a popular location for hair transplants due to its combination of expert doctors, cutting-edge facilities, and affordable prices. To guarantee the greatest outcome, as with any health-related operation, it's crucial to conduct your research and pick a respected facility and surgeon. Top 5 Best Hair Transplant Clinics In Turkey 2023 Due to their cutting-edge technology, reasonable costs, and superior care, hair transplant clinics in Istanbul, Turkey, are growing in popularity. Three prominent hair transplant centres in Istanbul, Turkey will be covered in this article. 1- CapilClinic Istanbul A worldwide clinic called CapilClinic has locations in Istanbul and a number of other cities all over the world. The clinic is housed in a private healthcare facility that has obtained JCI certification, demonstrating that it complies with global standards for patient safety and healthcare quality. Modern hair transplant technology is available at CapilClinic, and the medical staff there has treated patients from around the world for more than ten years. For its patients, CapilClinic also offers travel planning assistance and stem cell therapy. The clinic also provides lodging options for visitors at the BroytSuites hotel it has a deal with nearby, in the opulent Kadikoy neighbourhood. 2- Elithair Hair Clinic Providing patients from all around the world with high-quality hair services is the Elithair Hair Clinic, a global leader in hair restoration and hair transplantation. The clinic's proprietary hair transplant techniques, such as the NEO FUE as well as the SDHI, were created by the facility's medical director, Dr. Abdulaziz Balwi. The hair transplant clinic offers all-inclusive hair transplant plans that come with a flight, terminal transfer, translator service, and lodging in one of the clinic's opulent rooms or at a partner hotel. In 2010, Dr. Abdulaziz Balwi received his medical aesthetic and hair certification after graduating from the College of Ege Medical School. At the College Hospital of Istinye, he has been in charge of overseeing the management of Elithair. Dr. Balwi is well-known in the discipline of hair transplantation and has helped his patients restore their hair and confidence by doing over 60,000 hair transplantation procedures. 3- Esthetic Hair Turkey Clinic One of the most well-known hair restoration and hair transplant clinics in Istanbul is Esthetic Hair Turkey Clinic. The clinic offers top-notch services to its clients while utilizing the most recent technology and a qualified staff of dermatologists, specialists, and medical professionals. All hair transplant procedures are carried out by doctors with over a decade of experience who have finished their college years as specialists. Since it began seeing patients in 2003, the clinic has built a solid reputation for offering high-quality treatment. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) The Amazon is a territory of more than seven million square kilometers and one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. It has contributed for centuries to the natural conservation of the planet thanks to the tons of carbon dioxide it absorbs, as this is one of the gases that most increases the greenhouse effect, accelerating climate change. This is a complex region, as the Amazon basin encompasses eight different countries, with different proportions of jungle territory, including: Brazil, with 61.8%, Peru with 11.4%, Bolivia (8.1%), Suriname (5.6%), Colombia (6%), as well as Venezuela (6.73%), Guyana (2.6%), Ecuador (1.7%) and the overseas territory of French Guiana with 1.1%. It is a vast area inhabited by more than 40 million people, including some 410 indigenous groups with diverse languages and cultures. In this context, concerted efforts for the conservation of the Amazon region are both a must and a challenging undertaking, holding immense significance for the well-being of humanity. The Amazon forests face multiple threats, but unquestionably, deforestation still stands as the most urgent and alarming among them. In 2021 a group of scientists spoke out in the Amazon Assessment Report, advocating for an immediate prohibition on logging in a vast region of two million square kilometers located in the southern part of the Amazon rainforest. Between 18% and 20% of the rainforest has already been deforested and another 38% is being degraded. Scientists say that if we get to 25% deforestation, we will edge closer to and eventually reach what they call a tipping point, with changes that will result in the collapse of the Amazon ecosystem, explains Genevieve Connors, Practice Manager for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank. The Amazon is part of a virtuous circle, considered a global public good, so its collapse or significant degradation could have far-reaching consequences, including the destabilization of the whole planets climate system. Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria, Peru. Foto: Wust Ediciones/SERNANP We have become accustomed to many unsustainable practices. One of the causes is illegal activity, which can range from logging, land grabbing, fishing, and mining, but there are also macroeconomic drivers, of course. When there are changes in global commodity prices, such as timber or soybeans, or changes in exchange rates, they all have indirect impacts on deforestation. We tend to think only of illegal activities, but really deforestation is caused by the activity of an entire economic system, says Connors. Unplanned infrastructure is also a driver of deforestation. In 2020, the journal Nature Communications counted 158 dams operating in different Amazonian countries and revealed the intention to build more than twice as many. While hydropower is a clean source of renewable energy, some projects generate high greenhouse gas emissions. Support that transcends Several initiatives have been implemented in the region, such as the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes (ASL) program, which is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the World Bank to develop conservation projects in the area with multiple governments and stakeholders. The ASL Program with its third phase currently in preparation has managed to catalyze US$300 million in funding to restore thousands of hectares of land and the promotion of sustainable land practices, recognizing the importance of balancing environmental conservation and sustainable development in the Amazon region. The World Bank is leading the program, but most of the money is going to the national governments of the countries to implement their own Amazon programs, contributing to a unified vision for the region. What the organization is really trying to do is support regional collaboration, creating knowledge exchange through training, seminars, conferences, events for scientists, NGOs, indigenous peoples and members of government who can come together and share their expertise around environmental protection in the Amazon, Connors says. Working with at least eight countries simultaneously is no easy task in a region so complex and different in its policies, needs and indigenous communities that inhabit their portions of the Amazon. However, cooperation between governments is necessary for the conservation of the region and there has already been progress in this direction. The countries of the Amazon have made important historical efforts to conserve it. In 1978 the Amazon Cooperation Treaty was signed and in 2019 the Leticia Pact for the Amazon too. I would say these are excellent attempts. They are still small in relation to the needs of the region and the new governments. For example, in Colombia and Brazil they are already thinking a lot in that sense: what can they do to add more? What can they do to unite these countries in a stronger way, to conserve natural ecosystems and avoid reaching multiple tipping points? Another example is the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, which this year will be in Dubai. Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been confirmed to host COP30 in two years [in addition to reducing deforestation to zero by 2030]. By 2025, in the city of Belem, in the state of Para, there is a series of summits in the pipeline. Bringing more regional leadership to solve the Amazon problem is one of the priorities of its management, explains Connors. According to the World Banks Country Climate and Development report (CCDR), in Brazil, it is necessary to implement strategies to protect and conserve the rainforest and grow more food on less land. In this sense, a report was recently published that urges to put more focus on productivity to promote economic development and reduce pressure on forests in the Brazilian Amazon states. Corazon de la Amazonia, departamento de Guaviare, Colombia. Foto: Banco Mundial Carbon markets, a solution for its inhabitants The conservation of the Amazon must go hand in hand with the development of its population and, to do so, it is necessary to generate a balance between the value given to the forest and the practice of activities such as agriculture and cattle raising. In this sense, the indigenous population has a fundamental role to play, since there are over 2 million indigenous peoples who have inhabited and thrived in these lands for thousands of years. It is possible to have economic growth while protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, both their right to land and their right to resources. For example, the right to revenues from carbon markets, there is no reason why some of those revenues should not be shared. The benefits should be shared with the indigenous peoples on whose land they are located. Of course, there is always a tension between conservation and development, whether for indigenous peoples or for other people. And I think this is something that Amazonian countries have really tried to think about in their constitutions, in their policies, says Connors. Similarly, the specialist explains that the private sector must promote investments with a sense of sustainability, with knowledge of the region and an ecological sense: Financing nature is never easy because it is difficult to generate income, and that is what the private sector is looking for, income streams from the operation of a port or the construction of a dam or the operation of a renewable energy plant. Its very difficult to bring them into a sector where, who pays for the trees? This is exactly why carbon markets are absolutely essential to generate the kind of revenues that the private sector is interested in. The task is complex and needs the collaboration of different sectors, but governments must be protagonists in actions to protect the Amazon rainforest, generating effective policies based on scientific research, and coupled with awareness campaigns and the adoption of sustainable practices. We are seeing more and more leadership from Amazon countries. I hope it is those countries that take the lead, and we can learn from them, concludes Genevieve Connors. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi: Korean actress Park Soo Ryun, who was last seen in the hit television series 'Snowdrop' has passed away at the age of 29. According to reports on Korean news portals, the actress died after a fatal fall. It has been reported that the actress fell down a flight of stairs on her way home. According to a report of OSEN, on Saturday, Park Soo Ryn fell down a flight of stairs while returning to her home. She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her brain dead after resuscitating her. Despite efforts to save her, she sadly passed away on June 11. Meanwhile, In honour of the actor, her family has decided to donate her organs. Following her untimely demise, Soompi reports that the actress' bereaved family donated her organs to honour her memory. Park Soo Ryun's mother shared a statement that read, "Only her brain is unconscious, and her heart is still beating. There must be someone who desperately needs [organs]. As her mother and father, we will be able to live comforted [by the thought that her heart] has gone to someone and is beating." cre Trending Stories Park Soo Ryun's funeral will be held on Tuesday at the Suwon Hospital of Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center. The family will have a procession and perform her last rite rituals tomorrow. The actor was best known for appearing in several musicals such as 'The Days We Loved' and 'Siddhartha'. ebuted in 2018 with the musical 'Il Tenore'. he also appeared in a supporting role in BLACKPINK's Jisoo and Jung Hae In's Snowdrop. In the K-drama, Park Soo Ryun played the role of one of the detained university students who were later released by authorities later. New Delhi: Saif Ali Khan, the versatile actor, is currently engrossed in the shooting of his highly anticipated project 'Devara'. The film features intense action sequences between Saif Ali Khan and the acclaimed Telugu actor NTR, which has necessitated a rigorous work regime and dedicated fitness schedule for Saif. In 'Devara', an action-packed thriller directed by acclaimed filmmaker Koratala Siva, Saif Ali Khan plays the role of a fearless and determined protagonist. To portray this character authentically, Khan has taken on a rigorous fitness routine in Hyderabad, pushing his limits to achieve the desired physical transformation. Guided by a team of expert trainers and nutritionists, Khan's dedication and hard work have been commendable. Recognizing the importance of physicality in portraying a character convincingly, Saif Ali Khan has invested significant time and effort into his training. His gym routine consists of a combination of weight training, cardio exercises, and functional training, carefully tailored to meet the demands of his role in 'Devara'. Khan's determination to excel in every aspect of his performance is a testament to his professionalism and passion for his craft. cre Trending Stories Every character brings unique challenges and requires a certain level of dedication. For 'Devara, he wanted to not only understand the emotional depth of the character but also physically embody his strength and resilience. It has been an exhilarating journey, and excited to bring this character to life on the silver screen. With 'Devara', Saif Ali Khan continues to push his boundaries as an actor, delving into the action genre with the same finesse that he brings to his diverse repertoire of roles. His collaboration with NTR has generated tremendous excitement among fans and industry insiders, who eagerly await the release of the film. 'Devara' promises to be a thrilling cinematic experience, combining edge-of-your-seat action sequences with an engaging storyline. With Saif Ali Khan's unwavering commitment to his role, the audience can expect an immersive and authentic performance that will leave a lasting impact. New Delhi: Consumers lost a whopping $330 million to SMS scams in the US in 2022, more than double the losses reported in 2021 and nearly five times what people reported in 2019, a new report has shown. According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reports about text scams spiked in the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic and have never returned to pre-pandemic levels. cre Trending Stories "Scammers use the speed of text communication to their advantage: they hope you won't slow down and think over what's in the message," the FTC said."Some messages promise a good thing -- a gift, a package, or even a job. Others try to make you panic, thinking someone's in your accounts. These are all lies and ways to take your money and personal information," it added.In a screening of a randomly selected set of 1,000 deceptive text messages, it was discovered that the majority of fraudulent communication aimed to mimic well-known businesses.Reports about texts impersonating banks are up nearly twentyfold since 2019, said the report."Wells Fargo Bank Fraud Alert: Did you attempt a purchase at Walmart for $1,263.89? Reply YES or NO," one of the sample messages reads.If the recipient answers yes or no, they will receive a bogus phone call from the bank's alleged fraud department. Last year, the reported median loss for this type of scam was $3,000, and the agency has emphasised that victims of this scam shared sensitive information with the scammers, including their Social Security Numbers.Moreover, the report mentioned that scammers also enticed victims with the promise of a free gift from well-known retailers or even cell phone companies.In the majority of the reports, recipients were asked to click on a link and pay shipping fees for a bogus prize that they would never receive.Other scams include -- fake package delivery scams, phoney job offers, and not-really-from-Amazon security alerts.Further, the report stated that text message open rates are estimated to be as high as 98 percent, and response rates as high as 45 percent, as compared to email open and response rates of 20 percent and 6 percent, respectively.Over half of the consumers text daily, making texting more common than any other communication method, including voice or email.Aggregate reported losses to text fraud by year are as follows -- $67 mn (2019), $86 mn (2020), $131 mn (2021), and $330 mn (2022).The top companies identified in 2022 reports about bank impersonation text scams were Bank of America (14 percent), Wells Fargo (12 percent), Chase (12 percent), and Citibank (9 percent). New Delhi: After OnePlus and OPPO, now smartphone brand Vivo has also exited the German market and said that its products are currently not available in the country. "Unfortunately, vivo products are currently not available in Germany," Vivo said in a statement on its German website. cre Trending Stories "Accordingly, no product information is available on our German website." "If you use a vivo product, you can still rely on our customer service," it added.The company also said that Vivo owners in Germany will still receive future software updates. All these three brands that exited the German market are owned by Chinese conglomerate BBK Electronics.According to WinFuture, Vivo has left the German market due to the patent dispute with Finnish telecom player Nokia.In August last year, global smartphone makers OPPO and OnePlus stopped sales of smartphones and smartwatches in Germany after they lost a patent lawsuit against Nokia.Nokia had accused the companies of using its patented technology for processing 4G and 5G signals without paying for a license. The companies blamed "Nokia's demand for an unreasonably high fee" for patents as the reason for the lawsuit. Back in 2017, when a Twitter user randomly gave the idea of purchasing Twitter to Elon Musk, no one would have thought that one day the billionaire would actually go on to become the boss of the social networking giant. Now, a similar incident has emerged, where an entrepreneur has proposed to Musk to acquire the World Health Organization (WHO). Astonishingly, the Tesla CEO himself responded to the tweet, enquiring about the cost associated with acquiring the global health body. This Twitter conversation has rapidly garnered widespread attention on social media, leaving users perplexed about whether WHO is the next addition to the billionaire's ambitious ventures. Entrepreneur Asks Elon Musk To Buy WHO Tesla CEO Responds cre Trending Stories Dr Eli David, a researcher, lecturer, entrepreneur and investor, tweeted on Friday, asking Musk to buy WHO and make it more focused on health. Elon Musk, can you buy WHO from Bill Gates and make it about health?", he wrote. In response, Musk asked for the cost to which the user replied, "WHO annual budget: $7B WHO annual damage: $700B+" Check: .@elonmusk, can you buy WHO from Bill Gates and make it about health? Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) June 10, 2023 As soon as the tweet came around, it created a buzz on the platform, leaving users confused and eager about Musk's future plans. A user wrote, "Well pay monthly to renew our lives", while another one wrote, "I think Elon getting named richest person on the planet is like the rest of us on payday and thinking we should treat ourselves." "Here we go again," a third one commented while sharing the infamous screenshot of the chat between Dave Smith and Musk from 2017, while a fourth one commented, "lol so awesome we can watch this can happen in real time on Twitter." A few other users also started a poll to ascertain if Musk would indeed buy WHO. The Twitter post has so far gained over five million views, along with more than 40,000 likes and several retweets. PHILADELPHIA: An elevated section of Interstate 95 collapsed early Sunday in Philadelphia after a tanker truck carrying flammable cargo caught fire, closing a heavily travelled segment of the East Coast's main north-south highway indefinitely, authorities said. Transportation officials warned of extensive delays and street closures and urged drivers to avoid the area in the city's northeast corner. Officials said the tanker contained a petroleum product that may have been hundreds of gallons of gasoline. The fire took about an hour to get under control. The northbound lanes of I-95 were gone and the southbound lanes were "compromised" by heat from the fire, said Derek Bowmer, battalion chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines caused explosions underground, he added. Some kind of crash happened on a ramp underneath northbound I-95 around 6.15 am, said state Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph, and the northbound section above the fire collapsed quickly. I-95 in Philadelphia collapses after truck that was allegedly carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline catches fire and explodes I-95 is a major highway to get in and out of Philadelphia Is there more to this story than what they are telling us? pic.twitter.com/N3TXqvlTQQ Vision4theBlind (@Vision4theBlind) June 11, 2023 cre Trending Stories The southbound lanes were heavily damaged, "and we are assessing that now," Rudolph said. Governor Josh Shapiro, who said on Sunday evening he planned to issue a disaster declaration on Monday to speed federal funds, said at least one vehicle was still trapped beneath the collapsed roadway. "We're still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse," he said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Video from the scene showed a massive concrete slab had fallen from I-95 onto the road below. Shapiro said his flight over the area showed "just remarkable devastation". "I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died," he said. Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, said he was driving south toward the city's airport when he noticed thick, black smoke rising over the highway. JUST IN: Section of I-95 in Philadelphia collapses after tanker truck underneath it catches fire pic.twitter.com/k07yM3Gv8H BNO News (@BNONews) June 11, 2023 As he passed the fire, the road beneath began to "dip", creating a noticeable depression that was visible in video he took of the scene, he said. He saw traffic in his rearview mirror come to a halt. Soon after, the northbound lanes of the highway crumbled. "It was crazy timing," Fusetti said. "For it to buckle and collapse that quickly, it's pretty remarkable." The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a USD 212 million reconstruction project that wrapped up four years ago, Rudolph said. There was no immediate time frame for reopening the highway, but officials would consider "a fill-in situation or a temporary structure" to accelerate the effort, he said. Motorists were sent on a 69-kilometre detour, which was going "better than it would do on a weekday", Rudolph said. The fact that the collapse happened on a Sunday helped ease congestion, but he expected traffic "to back up significantly on all the detour areas". Part of a vital road collapses after a massive explosion. Highway I-95 - which is one of the most important and used roads in the east of the country in the American city of Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/B78WKaHiSK June 12, 2023 Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Michael Carroll said the I-95 segment carries roughly 1,60,000 vehicles per day and was likely the busiest interstate in Pennsylvania. He said work would continue through the night to remove the collapsed section as rapidly as possible. Shapiro said he had been spoken directly to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had been assured that there would be "absolutely no delay" in getting federal funds quickly to rebuild what he called a "critical roadway" as safely and efficiently as possible. But Shapiro he said the complete rebuild of I-95 would take "some number of months", and in the meantime officials were looking at "interim solutions to connect both sides of I-95 to get traffic through the area". White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a Twitter post that President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and that White House officials were in contact with Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's offices to offer assistance. Buttigieg, in a social media post, called it "a major artery for people and goods" and said the closure would have "significant impacts on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete" The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to investigate the fire and collapse. Most drivers traveling the I-95 corridor between Delaware and New York City use the New Jersey Turnpike rather than the segment of interstate where the collapse occurred. Until 2018, drivers did not have a direct highway connection between I-95 in Pennsylvania and I-95 in New Jersey. They had to use a few miles of surface roads, with traffic lights, to get from one to the other. Officials were also concerned about the environmental effects of runoff into the nearby Delaware River. After a sheen was seen in the Delaware River near the collapse site, the Coast Guard deployed a boom to contain the material. Ensign Josh Ledoux said the tanker had a capacity of 8,500 gallons, but the contents did not appear to be spreading into the environment. "As far as waterways go, it's being contained, and it seems like things are under control," he said. Thousands of tons of steel and concrete were piled atop the site of the fire, and heavy construction equipment would be required to start to remove the debris, said Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management. The fire was strikingly similar to another blaze in Philadelphia in March 1996, when an illegal tire dump under I-95 caught fire, melting guard rails and buckling the pavement. The highway was closed for several weeks, and partial closures lasted for six months. Seven teenagers were charged with arson. The dump's owner was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay USD 3 million of the USD 6. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is known for his radical approach in fighting climate change. His move to implement a congestion tax from vehicles in the City of London was received with a mixed response. But theres no denying the fact that London has one of the greenest and accessible public transport networks in the world. Speaking at the London Tech Week, Mayor Sadiq Khan said that "London's public transport network is envy of all". He went onto to say that he has made his Mission to make London net zero city by 2030. Khan said that technologies like Artificial Intelligence not only helps the transport network to reduce congestion, but the data collected makes the overall system the best in the world. He said that London has all net zero buses and 13,000 electric vehicle chargers, making it among the greenest transport networks in the world. Khan quipped that walking, public transport and cycles are enough to go around in London, and theres no need for vehicles. London is at the forefront of using technology to reduce congestion and improve air quality and public transport. Today I announced a new review to gain vital insight into how to harness the power of our thriving tech industry to make London a climate resilient city. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 12, 2023 cre Trending Stories In his keynote speech, Sadiq reaffirmed UK PM Rishi Sunaks stand where he declared London as a top destination for international tech business. New data from London & Partners showing that London has attracted more than 1,700 new international tech firms more than the likes of San Francisco and New York, said Khan. London is also home to a growing climate tech sector, enabling further innovation for the path to Net Zero. Sadiq went on to share some of the transformative ways that data and technology are helping to tackle the triple threats of air pollution, climate change and congestion. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: London is at the forefront of cities globally in using data and technology to reduce congestion, improve air quality and public transport. This important review will gain independent insight into what more needs to be done to make London a climate resilient city as we harness the power of our thriving tech industry to make London a better, greener and safer city for all. Airports in India have tight security, which is taken care of by CISF (Central Industrial Security Force). The department is responsible for security of nearly all airports in India, and it is, in fact, praised for its superior services. Recently, a CISF personnel further showcased the prompt response of the force at the Hyderabad International Airport. The security personnel saved a young womans life, while she was attempting to commit suicide by jumping off the terminal building. The video of the incident is posted on Twitter via the official handle of the security forces. CISF: Always at service to win hearts and minds. Prompt response by CISF personnel foiled suicide attempt of a young women by jumping off from Terminal Building @ Hyderabad Airport. #PROTECTIONandSECURITY with #HUMANITY@HMOIndia@MoCA_GoI@AAI_Official pic.twitter.com/2MaLssSiHq CISF (@CISFHQrs) June 11, 2023 The video was posted with the caption, CISF: Always at service to win hearts and minds. Prompt response by CISF personnel foiled suicide attempt of a young woman by jumping off from Terminal Building @ Hyderabad Airport. #PROTECTIONandSECURITY with #HUMANITY. In the video, the lady can be seen on the other side of the guard rails, while the masses and security personnel are pulling her back from behind the guard rails. cre Trending Stories Also read - Air India Begins Second Mumbai-Mangaluru Daily Flight Services The incident saw reactions from netizens in a positive manner. A Twitter user commented, Everything evolves.CISF has evolved over a period of time. Nothing is perfect. You being a public interface of a Service Industry, keep improving qualitatively. Look for silent indicators for improvement. Another said, This is why we feel safe at the airports. However, people also took the post as an opportunity to raise their voices. The user wrote, CISF personnel can file a false police complaint against you if you ask "No one is available here for checking" but they don't take any action against these types of repeated acts in Delhi Metro.. The user also shared the video of a girl dancing inside the Delhi Metro. Well, such incidents have also risen in the recent past. New Delhi: Bollywoods leading actress Kriti Sanon is currently gearing up for the biggest release of the year with the film Adipurush. The excitement around the film and her character Janaki is palpable and the actress too is looking forward to the films release. Today, Kriti shared a beautiful picture of herself depicting the role of Sita Maa and her mother 'Geeta Ma.' She writes My Janaki and my Jaan cre Trending Stories Currently, the entire nation is awaiting the release of Kriti Sanons Adipurush and she is being hailed as the best choice for Janaki. Her grace, her magnificent aura and her tall demeanour clearly fit her for the character. With every asset being dropped, the excitement around the film is off the charts. Meanwhile, on the work front, apart from Adipurush, the actress will now be seen in The Crew and an untitled next with Shahid Kapoor. AP Inter Supplementary Result 2023: It is expected that the AP Inter Supplementary Result 2023 will be released soon by the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education, BIEAP. The AP Supplementary Results may be released at any time, according to reports. Students can check their Inter Supplementary Results once they have been released on the official websites, resultsbie.ap.gov.in, and bie.ap.gov.in. The AP Supplementary Results 2023 for Inter First Year and Inter Second Year are anticipated to be released on June 15, 2023, according to Manabadi. Students should be aware that the AP Inter Results are also anticipated to be made public prior to the tentative date. AP Inter Supplementary Result 2023: Here's how to check scores cre Trending Stories Visit the official website, which is www.bie.ap.gov.in. Click on the Andhra Pradesh Intermediate Supplementary Results 2023 link. After clicking on this link, you will be redirected to a new page. Now you have to enter login credentials, which might be the students name and roll number. Double-check the entered details and then click on the submit button. After clicking on the submit button, the result will be displayed on the screen. Save the scorecard for future reference. Additionally, the result will be made accessible on the state's official results website, examresults.ap.nic.in. It is essential that students retain their hall tickets on hand because they will need them to download their Inter Supplementary results. These details include the hall ticket number, school code, date of birth, and more. The IPASE 2023 tests were given by BIE AP between May 24, 2023, and June 1, 2023. Death, death and more death. The first time Kenya Cuevas, Mexicos most well-known trans activist, looked death in the eye was at the age of nine, when she ran away from home and became a prostitute on the streets of the capital. The second was when she was sent to the HIV section of Santa Marta prison, north of Mexico City, and sat by her friends as they lay dying. The prison nurses didnt dare touch them. She would tell them, Everythings going to be alright. You can rest now. She watched 200 women die like this. The third time was when her friend, Paola Buenrostro, was shot by a man who picked her up on a street corner where the two were working as prostitutes. Paola died in Kenyas arms. Kenya became an activist out of pure rage for a cause that has absorbed her whole life. She had three goals: put the alleged murderer in prison; create the first group home for trans women so they could abandon prostitution and get an education (there are now three group homes in Mexico); and have her friends buried with dignity, a much lonelier task. At first, she did it all alone with hardly any resources. She would plead for the gravediggers to work for free. Now she is building Mexicos first mausoleum for trans women. And maybe the first one in the whole world, said Kenya, as she observed progress on the mausoleum project in the San Lorenzo Tezonco cemetery in Mexico Citys Iztapalapa borough. She is wearing tight jeans, a low-cut, white tank-top, and an assortment of necklaces and rings. Two weeks ago there was a big event to kick off the construction project funded by Iztapalapa borough chief, Clara Brugada. Kenya laid the first brick of the mausoleum accompanied by Brugada and Ernestina Godoy, the Attorney General of Mexico City, who both gave speeches in support of a community that has long been marginalized and sometimes criminalized by the authorities. Kenya Cuevas with her secretary and the construction manager of the mausoleum. Daniel Alonso Vina After visiting the mausoleum construction site, Kenya and three friends went to visit the grave of Paola Buenrostro, who is buried a few hundred yards away. They sit down for a smoke and chat about their new projects, all the hard work ahead and how hard it is to get funding. If the conversation takes a serious turn, someone is always ready with a joke or macabre quip to lighten the mood. Kenya doesnt like to talk about her age and just smiled when Andrea asked, How old were you then? Media reports put you at 78 or older. According to Wikipedia, Kenya Cuevas is about to turn 50. Kenya laughed and said, Wait, what are you saying? That were the same age? No, no! Andrea protested. Were going to register you at the mausoleum so you can be its first occupant, joked Kenya. Nah, Im going to be the last one in, said her amused friend. The nonchalant and playful attitude these women exhibit towards death is remarkable given theyre part of a community with an average lifespan of 40 years, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The average life expectancy in Mexico is 75 years. In Mexico, violence against trans women is unmatched around the world; Brazil is the only other country with similar levels of anti-trans violence. According to Letra Ese, a Mexican LGBTQ+ and HIV advocacy group, there have been 461 murders of trans people in Mexico in the last five years. The consequences of addiction and living on the streets also shorten lives in the trans community. Kenya is building a mausoleum to provide a dignified resting site. Now they will have a beautiful and colorful place where they will be respected after everything they lived through, she said while checking the number of tombs. Its still missing many functional and decorative elements such as lights and stained-glass windows, but the goal is to have space for 126 coffins and cremation urns. Kenya Cuevas and her friends in front of the grave of Paola, the trans woman whose murder triggered Cuevas' activism. Daniel Alonso Vina Its a Thursday afternoon and the girls are chatting next to Paola Buenrostros grave. A cemetery worker named Jose Luis empties dirty water from the vases and puts in fresh flowers. At first, I would come here all alone, said Cuevas. Now I send a message, and people I dont even know come with water, coffee and bread. I feel well-supported now, but at the beginning, I came alone, alone, alone, she said without a trace of sadness or anger. Sometimes I kept vigil all night and pleaded in the morning for the gravediggers to work for free. They helped me a lot and didnt charge me anything to dig the graves. And then the three of us two gravediggers and me would carry the coffins by ourselves and bury them. Having a dignified burial should be a human right, Kenya said, holding a cigarette between her fingers. Its appalling for trans women to be abused even in death. Many of these womens families have forgotten or rejected them. With their bodies unclaimed, they end up in mass graves. Cuevas continues to visit, bringing fresh flowers to tidy up her friends graves. Now, shes able to graciously tip the gravedigger. Kenya sits in front of Paola and tells her all the latest news. When I buried her, I promised that I wouldnt stop fighting for us. But I was just angry then I didnt know I would do all this. I cant stop thinking about how wonderful it is to keep moving forward. Britany, a friend of Kenya Cuevas, sits in front of Paola Buenrostro's grave. Daniel Alonso Vina Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi: Amid heatwave conditions likely over several parts of the country, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cyclone alert for Saurashtra and Kutch coast in Gujarat. "Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra & Kutch Coast: Yellow Message. ESCS BIPARJOY over east-central Arabian Sea, at 1730 IST of 11th June near lat 18.6N & long 67.7E, Likely to cross between Mandvi (Gujarat) & Karachi (Pakistan) by noon of 15th June," IMD said in a tweet on Sunday. The IMD earlier 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. cre Trending Stories Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra & Kutch Coast: Yellow Message. ESCS BIPARJOY over eastcentral Arabian Sea, at 2330 IST of 11th Jun near lat 18.9N & long 67.7E, Likely to cross between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by noon of 15thJune. More details: https://t.co/EGetkpfaKk pic.twitter.com/ZUbomX4bPY India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 11, 2023 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." Cyclone Biparjoy To Intensify Further Cyclone "Biparjoy", which turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Sunday, is likely to intensify further and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by noon of June 15. The extremely severe cyclonic storm over the eastcentral Arabian Sea moved northwards with a speed of 05 kmph during past six hours and lay centered over the same region about 540 km west of Mumbai, 360 km southwest of Porbandar, 400 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 490 km south-southwest of Naliya and 660 km south of Karachi as of 2:30 am on June 12, 2023, a bulletin from the India-based Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) said. People Being Shifted To Temporary Shelters Amid Cyclone Alert Amid the cyclone alert in the state of Gujarat, officials at Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla at Gujarat's Kutch have started shifting people from low-lying areas to temporary shelters. They have been asked to be on alert in case of any emergency situation. Om Prakash, the Public Relations Officer of Deendayal Port Authority, in Gujarat's Kandla said that six ships have left the port and 11 more will be departing tomorrow. "Six ships left the port today and 11 more ships will depart tomorrow. Port officials and ship owners have been asked to remain alert. Those staying in low-lying areas of Kandla are being moved to temporary shelters in Gandhidham," the PRO said. Success Story: Prestigious universities like IIM and IIT have produced many successful businessmen. One of India's most successful entrepreneurs is Vineeta Singh, founder of the Indian cosmetics company Sugar. The entrepreneur became well-known after being chosen as a judge on the television program "Shark Tank India." Here is Vineeta Singh's inspirational tale of turning down a high salary job in order to launch a multi-billion dollar business. In spite of being offered a job at Deutsche Bank with a salary of Rs 1 crore a year while she was doing her MBA in 2006, she turned it down. In contrast, Singh and the other graduate who declined the same opportunity intended to launch their own lingerie company based on their own studies. The ambition to launch a consumer brand for women never materialised, however, due to the inability to secure the necessary funds. Vineeta Singh: Background Singh was born in Anand, Gujarat, in 1983. Her father Tej P. Singh is a biophysicist at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, and her mother has a PhD. She had her education in Delhi at Ram Krishna Purana and the Delhi Public School from 1987 to 2001. She earned a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras between 2001 and 2005. She finished a three-month summer internship with ITC Limited in Kolkata in May 2004. 2005 saw her graduate with an MBA from Ahmedabad's Indian Institute of Management. She finished a three-month internship with Deutsche Bank in London and New York. During her internship, she contributed to tasks in the Emerging Markets Structures division in London and the Strategic Equity Transactions unit in New York. cre Trending Stories Also Read: How A Ghaziabad-Born Engineer Becomes A 'Rising Star', Earning 35 Lakh Daily, Net Worth 8500 Crores Vineeta Singh: Net Worth 300 Crores According to media sources, Vineeta Singh, the CEO and founder of the well-known cosmetics brand Sugar Cosmetics, reportedly has an astounding net worth of Rs 300 crore. She is the primary investor in the reality series Shark Tank India. Vineeta Singh raised money for several businesses on Shark Tank India.Prior to Sugar Cosmetics, Vineeta Singh launched two other businesses that were unsuccessful. She thought of launching a new company in 2015. She came up with the idea for a cosmetics business. At the time, there weren't many well-known brands available in the nation's cosmetics sector. According to her, the cosmetic businesses in the market do not consider the needs of women. Among her initial victims were actresses, models, and women from affluent backgrounds. After conducting market research, Vineeta started the cosmetics business "Sugar Cosmetics." At first, Sugar Cosmetics sold all of its products online. 2019 saw the opening of the first store in Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: Why This Engineering Dropout Is A Favorite Of Anand Mahindra, Who Had To Close His Eatery Due To 18 Lakhs Debt Singh had to live in a matchbox home in Mumbai when she first started out, and during the rainy season it routinely flooded. However, she now lives in a luxurious home in Powai. Vineeta Singh is married to Kaushik Mukherjee. The couple married in 2011 after falling in love while pursuing their MBA. Her spouse Kaushik is Sugar Cosmetics' co-founder and COO. Two boys were born to the happy couple. Kurukshetra: Farmers on Monday blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh highway after holding a maha panchayat in this district to press for minimum support price for sunflower seed. The "MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao maha panchayat", called by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), was held at a grain market in Pipli close to National Highway-44. After the maha panchayat, the farmers gathered on the highway, blocking it. Police were diverting traffic from other routes. At the Maha panchayat, farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana said the local administration had assured them of a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss their demands. "But now they say the chief minister has left Karnal". "Because of this, the local committee which had organized the maha panchayat decided to block the National Highway-44 till our demands are met," Mathana said. On June 6, farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni blocked National Highway-44 near Shahabad demanding that the government procure sunflower seeds at minimum support price. Police used water cannons and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. cre Trending Stories Later, nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were arrested over various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who attended the maha panchayat on Monday, said the government should procure sunflowers on MSP and the farmer leaders arrested in Shahabad should be released. Addressing the Mahapanchayat, Tiakit announced that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha would start a pan-India agitation if a law for MPS, "as promised by the Union government", is not brought. The government announces MSP but fails to procure it at that rate, he alleged. Tiakit condemned the police action against Churni and the farmers who on June 6 blocked National Highway-44 and asked, "What wrong has the BKU (Charuni) leader done when he sought MSP for sunflower crop." Apart from leaders of various khaps and Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of the grapplers who have been demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, were present at the mahapanchayat. Addressing the mahapanchayat, some farm leaders criticized the government for its "anti-farmers" policies and police actions against their leaders. They demanded that the government procure sunflower seeds at MSP and that the protesters arrested in Shahabad recently be released. Elaborate police arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incident. On Saturday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflowers grown on 36,414 acres. The farmers are demanding that the state government procure sunflowers at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal. Under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana -- price difference payment scheme -- the state government gives Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crop sold below MSP. Addressing the Mahapanchayat, Bajrang Punia said the wrestlers have postponed their agitation till June 15 and their next course of action would be announced if strong action is not taken against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by that time. The Union government had assured the wrestlers that a charge sheet would be filed against the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Singh by June 15, following which they had halted their protest. Punia said they were getting full support from various khaps and other organizations in their struggle. Success Story: Currently, Nikesh Arora receives one of the highest salaries of any CEO in the world. The Uttar Pradesh native, a highly recognized corporate executive, has held important positions at some of the largest worldwide corporations. Once among the top four at Google, he later rose to become Softbank's number two employee. Also among his employers are Wipro, Bharti Airtel, T-Mobile, and Deutsche Telekom. He was appointed CEO of cybersecurity industry leader Palo Alto Networks in 2018 with a record-breaking $128 million (1055.35 crore) remuneration package. Nikesh Arora: An IIT Alumni, Varanasi An Indian-American business leader, Nikesh Arora, was born on February 9th, 1968. Arora formerly held a senior executive position at Google. From October 2014 to June 2016, he presided over the SoftBank Group. Arora became the CEO and chairman of Palo Alto Networks on June 1st, 2018. Arora, an electrical engineering graduate (1989) of the Indian Institute of Technology, BHU in Varanasi, India, was born to an Indian Air Force officer and attended the Air Force School (Subroto Park) until the end of his education there in 1989. He graduated from Boston College and received his MBA from Northeastern University. His CFA designation dates back to 1999. cre Trending Stories Nikesh Arora: The 'Rising Star' Nikesh Arora started his career at Fidelity Investments in 1992 and eventually rose to the level of vice president, finance, of Fidelity Technologies after holding a number of finance and technology management positions. Ghaziabad-born Arora, joined Google in 2004. Over the course of a ten-year career, Arora rose through the ranks at Google before leaving the business in 2014. He later joined Softbank, where Masayoshi Son, a business magnate, described him as a "rising star". Arora invested in significant deals at Softbank, such as those with Ola, Snapdeal, and Oyo Rooms. Under his leadership, the company made approximately $2 billion (164 thousand crore) in investments. He rose to become one of the highest-paid business leaders in the world at the time, earning $73 million (around 601 crores) a year. His initial soft-back salary package actually set a record in Japan. Nikesh Arora: The Success Story Under Nikesh, who aspires to make Palo Alto the first $100 billion (8245 thousand crores) cybersecurity company, the company has reached unprecedented heights. Under his direction, the business saw a market capitalization increase of $27.8 billion (2292 thousand crore) over the course of three years, returned $3.6 billion (296 thousand crore) to shareholders, and achieved record sales of $5.5 billion (453 thousand crore) in FY2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arora oversaw Palo Alto and made the decision to forgo $1 million (8 Crores) of his income. There was not a single employee let go by the company. According to Palo Alto Networks' financial report, Arora received pay totaling more than $33.5 million over the previous two years. According to the average USD-INR conversion rate for July 2021, Nikesh earned a total of $23.28 million in 2021, which is equivalent to roughly Rs 174 crores for the fiscal year that ended in July of that year. Nikesh made $10.40 million in 2022, which translates to Rs 82.7 crore using the same translation average for July 2022. Over the past two years, Nikesh has received compensation totaling more than Rs 256.1 crore, increasing his wealth by more than Rs 35 lakh every day. According to the most recent IIFL Wealth Hurun India report, with a net worth of Rs. 8,500 crore, he is one of the richest CEOs in the world. New Jersey: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ensuing state visit to the United States, a New Jersey-based restaurant has launched a special 'Modi Ji Thali' as a mark of respect for the Indian leader. The owner of the restaurant, Shripad Kulkarni, who is of Indian origin, said the thali has been specially curated on the demands of the Indian community residing there. Modi Ji Thali The 'Modi Ji Thali', curated by 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. cre Trending Stories Jaishankar Thali Soon 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. PM Modis US Visit 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. 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. How Indian Americans Are Planning To Welcome PM Modi? Indian Americans are planning to welcome PM Modi 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. PM Modi To Lead Yoga Day Events On June 21 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. 56-Inch Narendra Modi Thali 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." NEW DELHI: In yet another attack on the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees party Trinamool Congress has alleged a major breach in the database of all vaccinated Indians. While the TMC did not name the source of the data leak, since it is of vaccinated Indians, the breach is likely in the Aarogya Setu database. Aarogya Setu has been under the lens for being allegedly invasive and violating data privacy norms. The government has in past denied any breach in Aarogya Setu, which is a coronavirus-tracking application that houses the data of millions of users. In a series of tweets, TMC leader Saket Gokhale said, there has been a major data breach where personal details of "all vaccinated Indians", including their mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, details of family members etc, have been leaked are freely available. Gokhale also shared of screenshots of people whose data has been allegedly leaked, including several Opposition leaders like Rajya Sabha MP and TMC leader Derek O'Brien, Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram and Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal, among others. He also claimed that the personal details of senior journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, Dhanya Rajendran and Rahul Shivshankar have also been leaked. cre Trending Stories SHOCKING: There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked & are freely available. Some examples (1/7) Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 Gokhale, the TMC National Spokesperson, also alleged that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre is literally not aware of this big data breach and has failed to inform the Indian citizens about it. There are several Opposition leaders which include: 1. Rajya Sabha MP & TMC Leader Derek O'Brien 2. Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram 3. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh & K.C. Venugopal@derekobrienmp @PChidambaram_IN @Jairam_Ramesh @kcvenugopalmp (2/7) pic.twitter.com/JnD5EKhPBO Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 Trying to seek answers from the Centre, the TMC leader sought to know who has the Modi Govt given access to sensitive personal data of Indians including Aadhaar and Passport numbers. Gokhale, while training his guns at the Centre, also sought to know how this leak happened in the Arogya Setu database. Calling it a matter of "serious national concern" the TMC leader also attacked Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister who heads the Electronics, Communications, & IT portfolios in addition to the Railways, for this major data leak and pressed for his immediate resignation from the Union Cabinet. How long will the incompetence of Ashwini Vaishnaw be ignored by PM Modi? he sought to know through a tweet. This is a matter of serious national concern. And predictably, the Minister in-charge of this is @AshwiniVaishnaw who heads the Electronics, Communications, & IT portfolios in addition to Railways. How long will incompetence of @AshwiniVaishnaw be ignored by PM Modi? (7/7) June 12, 2023 Aarogya Setu is a coronavirus-tracking application that houses the data of millions of users. It has been criticised by privacy experts for collecting excessive amounts of data which could expose users data to malicious actors. If, by any chance, the sensitive information is leaked, it is likely to land in the hands of a hacker, exposing the users location, health data and contact information. New Delhi: Actress Kangana Ranaut, recently stirred the pot once again when she pointed the gun at a certain actor from the Hindi film industry when she expressed her displeasure with him being cast as Lord Ram in the upcoming film 'Ramayana'. And in a follow-up to her opinion, she explained things in great detail including her voice being suppressed earlier, the clout, social media empowering individual voices, the fall of Bollywood and the rise of a more democratic Indian film industry. On Sunday, the actress took to her Instagram and shared a long note in her stories section. There were reports of Ranbir Kapoor being cast as Lord Ram in 'Ramayana' along with his wife Alia, who as per media reports, has been signed to essay the role of Sita. cre Trending Stories Kangana reacted strongly to the development as she wrote in her Stories, as she wrote, "Elaborating more on yesterday's stories there are all kinds of menaces in the film industry but the worse is this Duryodhan (white rat) and Shakuni (papa jo) Jodi. They self admittedly call themselves most gossipy, jealous, bitchy and insecure, they refer to themselves as the information and broadcasting ministry of gossip in films." The actress, however, refrained from directly taking any names. She said the entire industry is aware of the duo's penchant for gossip and went on to say that they were ones behind the blind items on the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who passed away in June 2020. She continued as she also touched upon the topic of her and Hrithik Roshan's infamous fight back in 2016, "Entire film industry knows this, they were the main suspects behind all fake blind items against Sushant Singh Rajput. That pushed him to commit suicide. They also spread all kinds of nasty rumours against me and forcibly played referees in mine and HR fight. Post that their interference in my life and career has been beyond harassing. Since they are bankrupt and media has died a slow death as of now SM is the only media, now the only source of news are celebrities own accounts (sic)." The actress shared that Bollywood has witnessed its great fall and now all film industries are coming together as a unified force in the form of Indian cinema cutting down on Bollywood's clout. "With this new change in the society my voice is more audible, otherwise I said the same things for years but they echoed back like I was captured in a soundproof dark chamber, no media carried what I said and they spent huge amounts of money in twisting my words and using them against me.... But then great fall of Bollywood happened, empires crashed.... Here we are now looking at the rise of new collective Indian film industry which will be built on the pillars of democracy, equality and true merit... Thanks (sic)," she concluded. New Delhi: Currently basking on the success of her latest release Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Sara Ali Khan went through memory lane from the sets of her hit chartbusters Sweetheart, Aankh Maarey, Chaka Chak and Phir Aur Kya Chahiye, during her Sunday home cleaning. The actress who always keeps one special thing from her film, shared a pic of all the costumes on her social media. Be it her costumes of Sweetheart song from her debut film, Kedarnath, to her costume from Aankh Marey from Simmba to Chaka Chak green saree from Atrangi Re to the costume of Phir Aur Kya Chahiye from the recently released Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Sara has got them all to relish her memories from her films. Sara took this too her social media while capturing these loads of her memory with the costumes of her songs from her films and named them as MEMORIES FOR LIFE. She further mentioned in the caption, Sunday cleaning #sweetheart #aankhmare #chakachak #phiraurkyachaiye cre Trending Stories Sara has truly won the hearts of the audience with her brilliant portrayal of a small-town girl in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. As she played the character of Soumya in the film, she yet again proved she is the best actress to play the role of a young, feisty girl from an Indian city and no one can do it better than her. Moreover, she is also getting praised from across for her amazing chemistry with Vicky Kaushal in the film. On the work front, Sara will next be seen in Homi Adajanias Murder Mubarak and Kannan Iyers Ae Watan Mere Watan. Shah Rukh Khan, known as the King of Romance and affectionately called King Khan, possesses a regal talent for delivering witty comebacks, particularly when faced with enquiries from fans and the media. The actor often engages in a question-answer round with his fans through his #AskSRK sessions on Twitter, where fans pose a plethora of intriguing questions regarding his upcoming projects, personal life, professional endeavours, and even his casual plans. In response, SRK unleashes a stream of sassy replies, resulting in an engaging and highly entertaining interaction between the actor and his devoted fans. In his latest #AskSRK session, the actor was seen interacting with his fans, giving a few epic responses to their questions. Interestingly, a lot of questions were related to his upcoming film, Atlee, thus hinting toward the excitement among fans. SRK Plans To Watch Jawan This Evening cre Trending Stories A fan during Monday's #AskSRK session asked the actor's plans in the evening, to which SRK shared that he is thinking of watching Jawan with Atlee. Was thinking will watch Jawaan with Atlee.", he wrote. Was thinking will watch Jawaan with Atlee_. https://t.co/cgG7vXeFpo Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 12, 2023 On the other hand, he also teased the fans about the film's teaser and trailer in the most interesting manner possible. It began with a fan asking about when fans will get to watch "Jawan material." As he asked, "When are we getting #Jawan material??? #AskSRK", the actor gave an epic response and wrote, "Milta hi hogaFed Ex kar diya hai" Milta hi hoga_Fed Ex kar diya hai_ https://t.co/SsKdzAsbWN Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 12, 2023 Another fan questioned when the actor plans to unveil the film's teaser. "If I tell u, then it wont be a tease ja..??", he replied. If I tell u, then it won't be a tease ja..?? https://t.co/VxB7hD2OZO June 12, 2023 Furthermore, another fan also asked about the trailer launch of Jawan and its promotions, to which he had another epic comeback. "The fact that you are asking about Jawaan is promotion enough!!", he responded. Shah Rukh Khan also revealed that Jawan is "absolutely ready steady po" and it has a lot of action in it. Apart from these, the actor also spoke about his son Aryan Khan's latest venture into the clothing business with his new line D'YAVOL and daughter Suhana Khan's upcoming debut film, The Archies. Shah Rukh Khans Work Front After opening big with Pathaan this year, the superstar has another big release lined up with Atlee's Jawan. SRK will feature alongside actors like Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, and Sanya Malhotra in the action film, which will hit theatres on September 7, 2023. Apart from this, he also has Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki and will be most likely seen in a cameo in Salman Khan's Tiger 3. The trial run of the Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express started from here on Monday, a senior official said. The train left Bihar capital Patna at 6:55 AM and is scheduled to reach Jharkhand capital Ranchi at 1:00 PM. On its return journey, it will leave Ranchi at 2:20 PM and arrive here at 8:25 PM, said Birendra Kumar, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway (ECR) zone, Hajipur. The train will pass through tunnels and railway bridges between Sidhwar (Ramgarh) and Sanki (Ranchi). It will halt at Gaya and Barkakana stations. The 27-km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki has four tunnels, the longest being 1.7-km-long, while three others are around 600 metres each. Earlier, the trial run was slated for June 11, but it was rescheduled to Monday because of the two-day state bandh called by a student group in Jharkhand. More trial runs will be conducted between Barkakana and Ranchi. Vande Bharat Express will be the first passenger train to ply on this route. Only goods trains operated on this route, earlier. The commissioner of railway safety (CRS) in Kolkata had conducted a safety inspection and speed trial on the 27-km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki and had given the nod to operationalise the new route between Koderma and Ranchi via Barkakana in December last. cre Trending Stories Vande Bharat Express will pass through hills and four tunnels between Sidhwar (Ramgarh) and Sanki (Ranchi), which is part of the 202-km-long new rail route between Koderma and Ranchi via Barkakana. Also read - Odisha Train Accident: No Trains To Stop At Bahanaga Bazar As CBI Seals Railway Station Divisional Railway Manager of the Dhanbad division of ECR, Kamal Kishore Sinha, said all preparations have been made for the trial run. Multiple trial runs would be conducted before the final run of the train between Patna and Ranchi, he said. Also, the trial run was earlier scheduled on June 11. It was, however, rescheduled to June 12 in the wake of a two-day bandh call given by a students' body in Jharkhand, said Birendra Kumar, Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway (ECR) in Hajipur zone. This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed the night before in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 4, 2023. The Federal Railroad Administration recently completed a review of Norfolk Southerns safety culture in the wake of the Februarys fiery derailment in Ohio, and officials plan to follow up with similar investigations of all the major freight railroads over the next year. A report will be released soon on what investigators found at Norfolk Southern after the Feb. 3 derailment which prompted the evacuation of half of East Palestine, Ohio and several other recent derailments. That crash near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border sparked intense interest in railroad safety nationwide and prompted proposed reforms in Congress. The head of the FRA, Administrator Amit Bose, said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently that in addition to individual reports on Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the agency will also produce an industrywide report on common issues and trends. Railroad unions have been raising concerns that operating changes the railroads have made over the past six years have made the trains that haul hazardous materials and goods of all kinds across the country more dangerous. The unions say the deep staff cuts railroads have made, combined with their increasing reliance on longer trains, have increased the chance of safety problems. They say inspections are being rushed, preventative maintenance may be neglected and overworked employees are more likely to be fatigued. The railroads have defended their practices and said they havent sacrificed safety to become more efficient. The industry also emphasizes that it remains the safest way to transport hazardous materials over land. Norfolk Southern and all the major railroads have announced a number of steps they are taking to improve safety though regulators, and lawmakers have called for them to do more. Federal regulators have said that safety data hasnt changed enough to show that the railroads new operating model is unsafe. The figures do show that the rate of accidents per every million miles freight trains travel increased from 15.572 to 16.695 over the past decade even though the total number of incidents declined as railroads hauled less freight. The rate of accidents inside railyards also worsened from 11.044 in 2013 to 15.517 last year. There have also been concerns raised about the safety of todays long trains that routinely stretch more than two miles. Bose said that the FRA recently warned railroads to be careful about the way they assemble long trains to reduce the risk of derailments. The freight railroads favor longer trains because they allow them to deliver the same amount of freight with fewer crews and locomotives. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi: The Centre on Monday said that it does not appear that the CoWIN app or its database has been directly breached as alleged in some reports after a Covid data leak surfaced on the social media app Telegram. cre Trending Stories Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that with reference to some alleged CoWIN data breaches reported on social media, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) immediately responded to the threat and reviewed it."A Telegram bot was throwing up CoWIN app details upon entry of phone numbers. The data being accessed by a bot from a threat actor database, which seems to have been populated with previously breached/stolen data stolen from the past," the minister said in a tweet.He said that it does not appear that the CoWIN app or database has been directly breached."The National Data Governance policy has been finalised that will create a common framework of data storage, access and security standards across all of the government," said Chandrasekhar.Earlier, Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale alleged that the data of several citizens, including politicians and journalists who took Covid vaccine, has been leaked and queried why the Centre was not aware of the incident.In a series of tweets, Gokhale, who is the spokesperson of Trinamool Congress, said: "SHOCKING: There has been a major data breach of Modi government where personal details of all vaccinated Indians including their mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members, etc. have been leaked and are freely available."He also said that the data of several senior journalists have also been breached. "The personal details of literally every Indian who got a Covid-19 vaccination are freely available on this leaked database," he claimed.His remarks come in the wake of the alleged data breach of several citizens after taking Covid vaccines. Over the past two and a half years, a huge number of citizens nationwide have received their COVID-19 vaccinations from healthcare providers. While maintaining the confidentiality of citizen information is paramount, with the government entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring its security, a significant breach recently occurred. Details of these thousands of citizens have been leaked on a Telegram channel. The Fourth News, a Malayalam news portal, reported that the leaked data encompasses not only ordinary citizens but also prominent political figures and renowned personalities who had registered themselves on the government portal. Remarkably, the Telegram channel includes comprehensive information such as an individual's Aadhaar card, pan card, phone number, gender, and date of birth, among other details. Reportedly, one can access the information by simply entering a person's name. CoWIN Data Breach On Telegram cre Trending Stories Apart from media outlets, a few people have been also reporting their data breach on the Telegram bot, which was reportedly taken down on Monday morning. As reported by the Malayalam portal, the CoWIN data breach resulted in the leak of major information including the person's Aadhaar number, mobile number, name, date of birth, and more. Apart from common civilians, personal details of Union Health Ministry Rajesh Bhushan, his wife-MLA Ritu Khanduri, CoWIN high power panel chairman Ram Sewak Sharma, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, and Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi were also leaked on the portal. Political Leaders React To COVID Data Leak While the government is yet to directly comment on the development, a few political leaders have reacted to the same and shared it on social media. In a series of tweets, MP Supriya Sule, while lashing out at the government, wrote, "The time has come for the government to step up and enact robust data protection legislation that unequivocally upholds our privacy. We demand action, transparency, and the assurance that our personal data will be shielded from any further breaches. In its Digital India frenzy, GoI has woefully ignored citizen privacy. Personal data of every single Indian who got COVID-19 vaccination is publicly available. Including my own data. Who let this happen? Why is GoI sitting on a data protection law? @AshwiniVaishnaw must answer. pic.twitter.com/mlmq0OuRK5 Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) June 12, 2023 MP Karti P Chidambaram, whose details were also leaked on the Telegram channel, shared a screenshot of his details and wrote, "In its Digital India frenzy, GoI has woefully ignored citizen privacy. Personal data of every single Indian who got COVID-19 vaccination is publicly available. Including my own data. Who let this happen? Why is GoI sitting on a data protection law? Ashwini Vaishnaw must answer." SHOCKING: There has been a MAJOR data breach of Modi Govt where personal details of ALL vaccinated Indians including their mobile nos., Aadhaar numbers, Passport numbers, Voter ID, Details of family members etc. have been leaked & are freely available. Some examples _ (1/7) Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) June 12, 2023 Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale, while expressing concerns about the latest data breach, also shared a few screenshots of famous personalities, whose details were leaked by the portal. Defending the rights of the LGTBQ+ community is becoming a high-risk activity for some American companies. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis initially started this trend with his harassment of Disney, while conservative groups are now targeting numerous companies with harassment and calls for boycotts over their inclusive policies or messages. Retailers such as Target and Kohls, the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain, the Budweiser beer brand, Lego constructions and even M&Ms have been subjected to attacks that have cost the firms billions of dollars in stock market losses. In the background, there is an offensive against the ESG principles of sustainable investment environmental, social and corporate governance criteria which some conservatives attack as an imposition by progressives. However, despite everything, some companies are maintaining their support for Pride Month. The worst case scenario of this backlash is when companies draw pushback from both trenches of the culture war. This has happened with corporations such as Anheuser Busch the owner of Budweiser and many other beer brands and Target. While part of the calls for boycotts and the confrontations have come via social media, there have also been scenes of violence and threats against some of the stores and distributors. At times, the police have had to intervene. The Target department store chain included some 2,000 items in its LGBTQ+ pride collection this year, including clothing, books, music and household items. Among the items for sale were some from the Abprallen brand, which works with the transgender designer Erik Carnell who has drawn controversy for his satanic creations and also childrens books, such as Bye Bye, Binary and Im not a girl. Products like these along with others, such as a sweater with the slogan cure transphobia, not trans people, or a swimsuit that was marketed as being able to help transsexuals hide their genitals (something that was falsely said to have been meant for children on social media) provoked a reaction of harassment from some of the customers. Since introducing this years collection, weve experienced threats impacting our team members sense of safety and wellbeing while at work, the Minneapolis-based company said in a statement. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. This angered many LGBTQ+ groups. As reported by Insider, the head of Target acknowledged in a letter to his firms LGBTQ+ employees that one of the hardest parts in all of this was trying to contemplate how the adjustments were making to alleviate these threats to our teams physical and psychological safety would impact you and your wellbeing and psychological safety. He went on to write that we stand with you now and will continue to do so not just during Pride Month, but each and every day. Meanwhile, Targets valuation has fallen to its lowest level in three years, with an 18% collapse in the stock price over the past month. This is a loss valued at around $10 billion. The hardest impact on sales and stock valuation, however, has been suffered by Anheuser-Busch. In April, the company put out an ad showing transgender celebrity Dylan Mulvaney holding a can of Bud Light beer with a picture of their face on it. This sparked a boycott from conservative consumers. Bud Light sales have since plummeted, dropping as much as 25-30% in a few weeks, according to data from Nielsen. Many consumers uploaded videos to their social media profiles, where they can be seen pouring the companys beer on the ground. The management of the company has since removed those responsible for the ad campaign. Brendan Whitworth, the CEO of Anheuser-Busch, released a statement to try to calm things down, albeit without much success: We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer. Despite this attempt to cool tensions, the drop in sales has spread to the companys other brands, such as Budweiser and Busch. Anheuser-Buschs shares have fallen by 15% in two months, causing about $15 billion in losses for the company. Persecution and harassment can reach delirious heights. Some ultra-conservative groups have launched a campaign against the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, simply because the company has a director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (who has been in the position since 2021). In the past, the company was criticized for donating money to groups that are hostile to the LGBTQ+ collective and for pointing out that its corporate purpose is to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A. The fast-food chains long record of conservatism has not freed them from being bullied. On Elon Musks Twitter, which gives hate messages more visibility, an influential conservative commentator posted a threatening message that has more than seven million views: We have a problem. Chick-fil-A just hired a Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This is bad. Very bad. I dont want to have to boycott. Are we going to have to boycott? He then added, to a long thread of atrocious statements: Its only a matter of time until they start putting tranny semen in the frosted lemonade at this point. The most politically-significant case has been the one that has seen the Disney Corporation face off with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over a state law that prohibits the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity, known among its detractors as the Dont Say Gay law. Disney has since halted investment in Florida and is now taking DeSantis to court. Meanwhile, it has maintained Gay Days in its amusement parks, which bring together thousands of people every year. A culture war In the past, there were concerns that corporate support for the LGBTQ+ community would be perceived as inauthentic. Today, in a change of events, big companies fear that they will be subjected to harassment and boycott campaigns should they show support. Anti-LGBTQ+ activists arent hiding their intentions: The goal is to make pride toxic for brands. If they decide to shove this garbage in our face, they should know that theyll pay a price. It wont be worth whatever they think theyll gain. First Bud Light and now Target. Our campaign is making progress. Lets keep it going, read a tweet by conservative activist and commentator Matt Walsh, who has 2.1 million followers on Twitter. In May and June 2022, there were 400 calls on social media for boycotts in relation to Pride Month. This year, more than 15,000 were already ongoing as of May, according to data from RILA Global Consulting. Companies such as North Face, Walmart, Kohls and Lego have had to deal with such campaigns, in what appears to be a reflection of the growing polarization and intolerance in the United States. Dozens of laws hostile to trans people have been passed in Republican-led states. The harassment against inclusivity and equality as social principles is part of a broader crusade against investing based on ESG criteria a crusade that has significant support from the Republican Party. These organized campaigns were started by Republican-led states, such as Texas and Florida, but have since reached the Congress as part of a cultural war that is polarizing the country. Republicans view ESG criteria as being an imposition by progressives. This past March, President Joe Biden for the first time used his veto power to block anti-ESG investing legislation. More than a dozen red states are promoting anti-ESG laws, which will prevent public funds from being managed according to these criteria and bids from being awarded to companies that apply them. Texas, for example, intends to defend its powerful fossil fuels sector with this legislation. ESG and sustainability have been the subject of increased regulatory focus across jurisdictions, BlackRock warns in its latest annual report. Some U.S. states and/or state officials have adopted or proposed legislation or otherwise have taken official positions restricting or prohibiting state government entities from doing certain business with entities identified by the state as boycotting or discriminating against particular industries or considering ESG factors in their investment processes and proxy voting. Other states and localities may adopt similar legislation or other ESG-related laws and positions. From initially being something that companies boasted about, principles such as equality, sustainability, diversity and inclusion have now become risk factors. The Cava restaurant chain which is in the process of finalizing its IPO warns in its report to the SEC that these initiatives and goals are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which may not be foreseeable or may be outside of our control. We may be criticized for the scope or nature of such aspirational initiatives or goals, for any revisions to such initiatives or goals, or for failing, or being perceived to have failed, to achieve such initiatives or goals. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has appointed Saudi Response Plus Medical (Saudi RPM) as its official ambulance service provider with the aim of offering emergency medical services to some 1,75,025 Indian Hajj pilgrims. During Hajj season, Saudi Arabia welcomes between 2.5 million and 3 million pilgrims migrating from around the globe to visit Makkah, with Indians being the third-largest group of pilgrims every year. The partnership with Saudi RPM comes in line with the Indian governments ongoing commitment to offering comprehensive health support to Indian Hajj pilgrims and ensuring their safety. According to the new agreement, Saudi RPM will assign 8 fully-equipped Advance Life Support Ambulances to the Indian Embassy for providing medical services during Hajj season. The ambulances will be equally split between Makkah and Madinah, where they will remain for a duration of 3 months. Saudi RPM deployed their fleet to the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office in Makkah during the first week of June 2023, officially marking the start of the agreement term.-- TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - Jun 13, 2023 - 01:04 | All, World The United States plans to rejoin the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO in July after exiting in 2018 under the administration of then President Donald Trump, the body's chief told its members on Monday. The decision by President Joe Biden's administration to return to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization comes amid China's growing global influence and is part of Washington's efforts to regain leadership in various multilateral frameworks from which it withdrew under Trump's "America First" agenda. The plan, including paying dues and voluntarily providing $10 million for UNESCO-sponsored Holocaust education, follows approval from U.S. Congress late last year to allow Washington to make financial contributions to the agency again. Convening a special meeting in Paris, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay noted the "strategic importance for the future of our organization" of the United States seeking readmission as she read out to representatives from 193 members the notification received last week from Washington. The United States notified Azoulay of its plan in a letter dated Thursday, according to a State Department official. UNESCO plans to convene an extraordinary meeting as early as this month to review the matter and decide on readmission. The United States under Trump announced in 2017 that it would withdraw from UNESCO, claiming the agency had "anti-Israel bias" and management problems, with the exit taking effect the following year. Washington was responsible for about 20 percent of the agency's annual budget. The Biden administration has sought to rejoin UNESCO, known for its World Heritage program and a range of education projects, amid concern that U.S. absence could enable China to take the lead in formulating international rules such as on artificial intelligence. China is now the organization's largest financial contributor, followed by Japan, Italy and France. In 2011, the United States, under the administration of then President Barack Obama, withheld its funding for UNESCO after the agency voted to admit Palestine as a member state. U.S. law bars the funding of any international organization granting the Palestine Liberation Organization the same status as member states. It also strongly protested when the body adopted a resolution in 2016 criticizing Israeli activities around a UNESCO heritage site in Jerusalem. The most recent U.S. withdrawal was not the country's first. It previously withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, accusing the organization of corruption and political bias toward the Soviet Union, but rejoined in 2003. The Trump administration pulled the United States from a number of international organizations and frameworks, including the U.N. Human Rights Council and the Paris climate accord. The United States rejoined the former as a full member in 2022 and the latter in 2021. KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2023 - 19:31 | All, World, Japan A large-scale air exercise by NATO members started Monday in Germany with Japan joining as an observer as the organization seeks to demonstrate solidarity amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Dubbed "the largest deployment exercise of air forces in NATO's history" by the German Air Force, the Air Defender 23 exercise in European airspace through June 23 brings together up to 10,000 personnel and 250 airplanes from 23 NATO members, as well as Sweden and Japan. The United States alone is dispatching about 2,000 air and ground crew and 100 aircraft, including state-of-the-art F-35 stealth fighter jets, while Japan's Air Self-Defense Force is sending a transport aircraft, according to the German force. The 31-member NATO and Tokyo have been strengthening their partnership in the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing's maritime assertiveness has been growing, as they see the security situations in the region interlinked with that in Europe. NATO views Japan as a partner nation, along with South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, in an attempt to keep in check an assertive China, as well as its intensifying military collaboration with Russia. By taking part in the exercise, Japan aims to gain more defense cooperation from European countries, according to a Defense Ministry source. Under the scenario that a NATO member is under an armed attack, the multinational training exercise aims to enhance the alliance's collective defense efforts based on Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The exercise had been planned before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but German Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, chief of the German Air Force, said that showing NATO's defense capabilities now will be an important "signal," in a veiled warning against Russia. The war in Ukraine pushed Sweden and Finland to reconsider their decades-long military neutrality and both applied to join NATO in May last year. Finland, a neighbor of Russia, became the 31st member in April after unanimous approval, while Sweden's bid is currently on hold due to reservations from Turkey and Hungary. KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2023 - 20:45 | World, All Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed the "historic decision" by Honduran President Xiomara Castro to switch the Central American country's diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in March as the two met in the capital, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Castro is making her first visit to China since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Tegucigalpa and Beijing, leaving the number of countries that officially recognize Taiwan at a record-low 13. Xi pledged that China will "firmly support economic and social development in Honduras," the ministry said. During Castro's six-day state visit to China from Friday, the embassy of Honduras was inaugurated in Beijing and a bilateral high-level business meeting involving some 200 delegates from both sides was held in the capital over the weekend, according to state-run media. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reina attended the inauguration ceremony of the embassy on Sunday, with Qin saying adherence to the one-China principle serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Honduras became the ninth country to cut ties with Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party became the island's president in May 2016. Communist-led China and Taiwan have been separately governed since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. Beijing regards the democratic island as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Related coverage: Honduras severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China KYODO NEWS - Jun 12, 2023 - 23:53 | All, Japan A suspicious box was delivered Monday to a Japanese court scheduled to try the man indicted for murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, prompting visitors to evacuate and leading to the cancellation of trial preparations planned for the day. The cardboard box set off a metal detector at the Nara District Court in western Japan but was later found to have contained petitions seeking leniency for the defendant, Tetsuya Yamagami, a source familiar with the matter said. Yamagami stands accused of fatally shooting Abe with a handmade gun during an election stump speech in the western city of Nara in July last year. The incident sent shockwaves across Japan and the world. The 42-year-old defendant had been scheduled to attend the first pretrial proceedings Monday afternoon, when court officials, prosecutors and lawyers were expected to narrow down issues, review evidence and set the trial schedule. According to police, the box, measuring about 33 centimeters in length, 28 cm in width and 26 cm in height, was delivered to the court at around 11:15 a.m. and had many A4 size sheets of paper inside. It was addressed to the person in charge of the pretrial procedures and supposedly from a Tokyo resident. The court notified the police about the suspicious item after the box set off a metal detector before being opened. Police found no explosive devices or other dangerous objects. The source said the pages were a petition signed by about 13,000 people. A person in Kiyose, Tokyo, who has been collecting signatures, admitted to the police that they sent the papers to the court. The sender denied using staples or paper clips and told reporters it was not clear what activated the metal detector. The incident prompted personnel at the court and visitors to evacuate from the building, while many police officers were on alert in and outside the court premises. Yamagami's defense team said it was deplorable that the pretrial proceedings did not take place as scheduled and called for the process to move ahead "calmly." Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader, died on July 8 last year after being shot at close range while giving a campaign speech two days ahead of the House of Councillors election. Yamagami was arrested on the spot. Yamagami is facing multiple charges, including allegedly making guns and gunpowder without authorization and testing the firearms. The guns were reportedly made with metal pipes and cords and assembled using a drill and a vise. He has told investigators that he held a grudge against the Unification Church and targeted Abe because he was a grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, who helped the controversial religious group set up a Japanese chapter. He has said his mother's large donations to the organization, established in South Korea by a staunch anti-communist in 1954, left his family in financial ruin, investigative sources have said earlier. Related coverage: Ex-PM Abe shooter faces additional charges as police cap off investigation FOCUS:Ex-PM Abe shooter trial to face issue of sympathy for church "victim" Photo taken on Aug. 18, 2022 shows a 5G remote control excavator during an expo of the World Robot Conference 2022 (WRC 2022) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's major excavator manufacturers reported an increase in exports in the first five months of the year, industry data showed. From January to May, exports of China's major excavator makers rose 13.9 percent year on year to 48,119 units, data from the China Construction Machinery Association revealed. Domestic sales of this equipment declined 43.9 percent from the previous year to 44,933 units during the same period. In May alone, excavator exports came in at 10,217 units, rising 21 percent year on year. ISLAMABAD, June 12 (Xinhua) -- At least six people, including children, were killed on Monday when a truck crushed two auto rickshaws in the Kandhkot region of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, a local official said. Deputy Commissioner of the area, Manawwar Ali Mithani, told the media that a truck fell on two passenger rickshaws at the Saqi Mor area of Kandhkot, a city in the Kashmore district of the province. Police and rescue teams rushed to the site, lifted the truck with heavy machinery and pulled out the bodies and injured from the crushed vehicles. The official added that three children and a woman of the same family were among the deceased. According to an eyewitness, the truck fell over the rickshaw after the driver lost control of the speedy loader vehicle at a sharp curve in the road. Police have registered a case against the driver, who ran away from the site after the accident. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the General Debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' state visit to China will lay the foundation for consolidating bilateral relations. RAMALLAH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' state visit to China will lay the foundation for consolidating bilateral relations, a senior Palestinian official said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, said China and Palestine are "friends closer than brothers." Zaki said that China and Palestine have always supported each other in their core interests. He said China firmly supports the cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and supports establishing an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on 1967 borders. He said Palestine appreciated China's call for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestine issue at the United Nations and other levels and that Abbas' visit would strengthen bilateral ties. Speaking of the first China-Arab States Summit held last year, Zaki said it was a milestone in the history of China-Arab relations and would guide the direction for developing China-Arab relations in the new era. "I am very pleased to see that China has been more involved in Middle East affairs after the China-Arab States Summit last year," said the Palestinian official, noting that the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia resulted from the China-proposed Global Security Initiative. He said that the rapprochement signaled a change in the political landscape in the Middle East and raised awareness of unity and independence among regional countries. Zaki said Western countries, led by the United States, have destabilized the region. "Iraq, Libya and Syria were destroyed by them, and Sudan is now facing fragmentation." According to Zaki, the United States has consistently shown bias and double standards on the Palestine issue, hindering progress toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. ADDIS ABABA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Workneh Gebeyehu on Monday called on conflicting parties in Sudan to cease hostilities and resolve the situation through dialogue. Gebeyehu made the urgent call in his address at the 14th Ordinary Assembly of the IGAD Heads of State and Government, which was held in the Red Sea nation of Djibouti on Monday. "IGAD is extremely concerned by the violence in Sudan and wishes to stress that in war, there are no real winners. For a credible cessation of hostilities, the violence and bloodshed must first stop," he told regional leaders. "The ramifications for our region and the world at large of a protracted conflict in Sudan are unthinkable," the IGAD chief said. Gebeyehu said the ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in immense suffering, with hundreds of people losing their lives, thousands injured and over 1.4 million displaced since fighting broke out on April 15. He noted efforts to suspend hostilities in Sudan through the temporary ceasefire reached on May 20 and the 24-hour truce that came into effect from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. "However, the resumption of fighting in Khartoum, parts of Western Darfur and El-Geneina in Northern Darfur as well as other parts of the country is most discouraging," Gebeyehu said. He said dialogue presents an opportunity to prevent the further loss of life and allow the safe evacuation of civilians who wish to escape the fighting. "We urge the warring parties in Sudan not to allow war to bring out the worst versions of the best of us," he said. Sudan has witnessed deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital city of Khartoum and other areas since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict. RAMALLAH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' state visit to China will lay the foundation for consolidating bilateral relations, a senior Palestinian official said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, said China and Palestine are "friends closer than brothers." Zaki said that China and Palestine have always supported each other in their core interests. He said China firmly supports the cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and supports establishing an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on 1967 borders. He said Palestine appreciated China's call for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestine issue at the United Nations and other levels and that Abbas' visit would strengthen bilateral ties. Speaking of the first China-Arab States Summit held last year, Zaki said it was a milestone in the history of China-Arab relations and would guide the direction for developing China-Arab relations in the new era. "I am very pleased to see that China has been more involved in Middle East affairs after the China-Arab States Summit last year," said the Palestinian official, noting that the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia resulted from the China-proposed Global Security Initiative. He said that the rapprochement signaled a change in the political landscape in the Middle East and raised awareness of unity and independence among regional countries. Zaki said Western countries, led by the United States, have destabilized the region. "Iraq, Libya and Syria were destroyed by them, and Sudan is now facing fragmentation." According to Zaki, the United States has consistently shown bias and double standards on the Palestine issue, hindering progress toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. China on Sunday donated more than 3,500 tonnes of grain to Syria to aid the war-torn country's recovery from the aftermath of the deadly earthquakes in February. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez) and the Ukrainian Business Council (UBC) have signed an agreement to boost economic collaboration, paving the way for greater investment prospects. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Rakezs Chief Government & Corporate Relations Officer Yaser Abdulla Al Ahmed and UBC President, Olena Shyrokova at a conference in Ras Al Khaimah. Present at the event were department heads from Rakez and a delegation from Ukraine, which included UBC's management and business owners. This collaboration promises to provide Ukrainian investors with unprecedented access to tailor-made, competitive business set-up solutions in the UAE through Rakez. The benefits of this collaboration will be highlighted by both parties via an array of initiatives such as joint events and campaigns. Important step Shyrokova said: This MoU is an important step towards strengthening economic ties between our two nations. Located in close proximity to the port, Rakez is a very attractive destination for Ukrainian trading companies that are considering relocating their business to the UAE. The highly developed infrastructure of the free zone will meet the requirements of any market sector, whether manufacturing, IT or real estate. I certainly see a wide range of opportunities for cooperation ahead. Rakez Group CEO, Ramy Jallad, said: The UAE, and specifically Ras Al Khaimah, offers a world of opportunities for Ukrainian businesses to flourish. The distinctive advantage of having complete foreign ownership and the return on profits creates a highly favourable business environment for Ukrainian investors wishing to establish their presence or expand their business footprint in the UAE. Our alliance with Ukrainian Business Council will cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship that will allow Ukrainian enterprises to prosper amidst the UAE's vibrant and booming economic landscape. The Ukrainian delegation was introduced to Rakez and briefed about the process of starting or moving their business to the UAE. They also met with officials from the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Al Marjan Island, and Ras Al Khaimah Properties; and took a tour of the facilities at Ras Al Khaimah Ports.-- TradeArabia News Service FIROZ KOAH, Afghanistan, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A child was killed and two others were injured as a mine left over from past wars went off in Afghanistan's western Ghor province on Monday, an official said. Ealier in the day, a group of children found a toy-like device in Ponba Ghalmen area of Firoz Koah city, the capital of Ghor province, and began playing with it. But the device suddenly exploded, killing the child on the spot and injuring two others, provincial administration spokesman Mawlawi Abdul Wahid Hamas said. The injured children have been taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, Hamas added. A similar blast claimed the lives of three children and injured another in Afghanistan's eastern Wardak province two weeks ago. The file photo shows a police officer beefing up security at the scene of a militant attack in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, on Jan. 22, 2023. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua) The AU mission in Somalia and the United Nations have condemned the hotel terrorist attack that occurred in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Friday, in which nine people were killed and ten others wounded. MOGADISHU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the United Nations have condemned the hotel terrorist attack that occurred in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Friday in which nine people were killed and ten others wounded. In separate statements, the AU mission and the UN said terrorist attacks including the latest on Pearl Beach Hotel in Mogadishu by al-Shabaab extremist group will not dissuade efforts to stabilize Somalia. "The targeting of civilians going about their lives is an act of cowardice and against principles of International Humanitarian Law," Mohammed El-Amine Souef, the special representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia and head of ATMIS, said in a statement issued in Mogadishu on Saturday. The police said six civilians and three security officers were among those killed in the incident which started at around 7:55 p.m. local time on Friday at the Lido Beach that is frequented by prominent persons. The police said 84 people, including children, women and elders who were trapped in the hotel, were safely rescued by the forces. The file photo shows security forces patrolling outside a building that was attacked by suspected al-Shabab militants in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, on Feb. 21, 2023. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua) Souef commended Somali security forces for their quick response in bringing the situation under control to save more lives, saying that "we remain resolute in the fight against terrorism to ensure a secure and stable country that progresses on socio-economic development." ATMIS said the attack on innocent civilians is yet another proof that al-Shabaab is hell-bent on destabilizing Somalia with absolutely no respect for human lives and extended condolences to the families of those killed and wished others injured in the heinous attack a speedy recovery. The police said on Saturday that security forces ended a seven-hour siege at Pearl Beach Hotel located inside Lido Beach after killing all the seven al-Shabaab fighters involved in the attack. The latest attack came as ATMIS is expected to withdraw 2,000 of its troops by the end of June in a phased handover of security responsibilities to the Somali security forces. The AU mission is expected to fully exit Somalia by Dec. 31, 2024. The UN confirmed that the Friday attack also led to the injury of World Health Organization staff in Somalia. "UN in Somalia wishes a speedy recovery for the injured. The UN stands resolutely with all Somalis against terrorism," it said in a tweet. SHENZHEN, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Persian carpets from Iran, coffee from Indonesia, jade from Pakistan ... various dazzling cultural products from countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) wowed the audience at the recently concluded China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF). Launched in 2004 in the tech hub of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, the event has long been considered an important platform for fostering the development and global engagement of China's cultural industries. This year's fair attracted more than 300 exhibitors from 50 countries and regions to participate in offline and online activities. Numerous B&R cultural products made appearances at the fair. A series of international cultural events held during the fair also drew over 20,000 professional visitors from more than 100 countries and regions. The European Cultural and Creative Pavilion made its debut in the "Belt & Road International Exhibition Area" at the fair, showcasing French designers' artworks, Belgian digital art, and various international creative designs. Anne-Marie Sargueil, president of French Institute of Design, expressed her enthusiasm about participating in the ICIF for the first time. She hailed Shenzhen, a renowned hub for innovation and vitality, and praised China's transformation from "Made in China" to "Created in China." Sargueil believed that design would serve as a bridge to foster dialogue on the value of design between China and France, inspiring creativity and fostering a world imbued with humanistic care. Iranian exhibitor Mahdi Olyaei attended the fair for the second time, bringing Persian carpets, carpet paintings and Iran's famous saffron. "I hope to have more cultural exchange activities with China. I brought our products to China and hope that more Chinese viewers and consumers will learn about our Iranian literary and art products," he said. Joseph, a Nigerian young man who has been engaged in the textile industry, came to China for the first time as a buyer to the ICIF. He hoped to find fabric partners in China and explore the international market with Chinese partners through cooperation in technology research and development. "In terms of fabric design and technology, China has one of the most advanced technologies in the world," said Joseph. He also plans to take Chinese cultural products back to his country, noting that he believes Chinese products will become very popular in Nigeria. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (C) attends the inauguration ceremony of new buildings at the headquarters of Brigade 70, an elite Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) unit, on the western outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 12, 2023. Hun Sen on Monday called for the army to continue protecting peace as the kingdom is gearing up for a general election next month. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday called for the army to continue protecting peace as the kingdom is gearing up for a general election next month. He made the remarks at the inauguration of new buildings at the headquarters of Brigade 70, an elite Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) unit, on the western outskirts of Phnom Penh. Hun Sen said peace is the most important prerequisite for national development, praising troops for their great contribution to maintaining the country's hard-earned peace. "I'd like to appeal to the commanders, deputy commanders, and soldiers of the Brigade 70 to continue implementing good cooperation with local authorities at all levels, relevant institutions, units, and people in order to strengthen national unity and to prevent all hostile tendencies from causing social unrest and instability," he said. The prime minister said the RCAF, particularly the Brigade 70, is the core force not only in defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also in supporting socio-economic development. The Southeast Asian nation is scheduled to hold a general election for the 125-seat National Assembly on July 23, 2023. More than 9.7 million Cambodians have registered to cast their ballots, according to the National Election Committee. TOKYO, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A court in western Japan said it received a suspicious item on Monday morning that was delivered the same day the man indicted for murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was scheduled to attend a pretrial. According to Nara District Court officials, all staff and visitors were evacuated as the police and investigators conducted safety checks. Local media reported that police dispatched an explosives handling unit to the court to inspect the unclaimed bag-like object, which measured about 33 cm in length, 28 cm in width and 26 cm in height. Reports said the suspicious cardboard package had set off a metal detector at the court where Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, who has been indicted for fatally shooting Abe during an election stump speech in July last year, was scheduled to attend a pretrial session in the afternoon. The pretrial procedures for Yamagami, scheduled to take place at the court from 03:00 p.m. (local time) on Monday, were cancelled following the discovery of the suspicious package. After evacuation, dozens of people including court officials, prosecutors, and lawyers, were seen gathered by the court's entrance gateway while police officers and investigators patrolled the area, with some entering the premises. The area was cordoned off to the public as investigations continued. People visit the memorial of the second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) People pass the site of the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China in east China's Shanghai, June 9, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A woman visits the Former Editorial Office of the New Youth in east China's Shanghai, June 9, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) People visit the memorial of the second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) People pass the site of the second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Visitors look at a hand-operated printing machine at the site of Youxin Printing Office in east China's Shanghai, June 9, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows the site of the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China in east China's Shanghai. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) People visit the site of Youxin Printing Office, where the first full Chinese version of The Communist Manifesto was printed, in east China's Shanghai, June 9, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Visitors read The Communist Manifesto via the digital display at the site of Youxin Printing Office in east China's Shanghai, June 9, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) This photo taken on June 9, 2023 shows a sign on roads where historical sites with revolutionary legacies are located in Huangpu District of east China's Shanghai. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) This photo taken on June 9, 2023 shows the Former Editorial Office of the New Youth in east China's Shanghai. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A volunteer gives a guide to visitors at the memorial of the second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in east China's Shanghai, June 7, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A woman visits the Former Editorial Office of the New Youth in east China's Shanghai, June 9, 2023. Shanghai is the birthplace of the Communist Party of China, with rich resources of revolutionary cultural relics. The city is committed to developing itself into one of the most attractive red tourism destinations in the country. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held talks with visiting President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento in Beijing. Noting President Xiomara Castro is the first Honduran president to pay a state visit to China following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in March, Xi extended a warm welcome to Castro and hailed her visit as one of special significance as it opens a new chapter in the annals of the China-Honduras relationship. Xi congratulated President Xiomara Castro, the first female president of Honduras, on rallying her people on an independent path toward new achievements in national development, and commended her unwavering political will as evidenced by the historic decision she made to fulfill her campaign promise of establishing diplomatic relations with China. Xi also spoke highly of the active role that Castro's husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, played in this regard, adding their contribution to the China-Honduras relationship will go down in history. Underscoring the immediate and long-term significance of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Xi said the bilateral relationship has got off to a good and speedy start and enjoys great dynamism and promise. Noting last week the Chinese embassy in Honduras was officially inaugurated, Xi said by sending senior cabinet members to the inauguration ceremony, President Xiomara Castro has demonstrated the high importance she attaches to China-Honduras relations. Xi also mentioned not long ago, delegations of Honduran journalists and business leaders visited China, noting many of them said that the trip has transformed their perception of China and that they want to stay good friends with the Chinese people. "The Chinese side is deeply touched by these remarks." China will remain committed to developing friendly relations with Honduras, firmly support economic and social development in Honduras, and forge a good friendship and partnership with Honduras featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and common development, said the Chinese president. Xi expressed his readiness to work with the Honduran president from a strategic and long-term perspective to steer the bilateral relationship toward greater development and to turn the vision of cooperation into tangible results to the greater benefit of the two peoples. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Honduras Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. Xi held talks with Castro, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's state visit to China will lay the foundation for consolidating bilateral relations, a senior Palestinian official said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, said China and Palestine are "friends closer than brothers." Zaki said that China and Palestine have always supported each other in their core interests. He said China firmly supports the cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and supports establishing an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on 1967 borders. He said Palestine appreciated China's call for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestine issue at the United Nations and other levels and that Abbas' visit would strengthen bilateral ties. Speaking of the first China-Arab States Summit held last year, Zaki said it was a milestone in the history of China-Arab relations and would guide the direction for developing China-Arab relations in the new era. "I am very pleased to see that China has been more involved in Middle East affairs after the China-Arab States Summit last year," said the Palestinian official, noting that the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia resulted from the China-proposed Global Security Initiative. He said that the rapprochement signaled a change in the political landscape in the Middle East and raised awareness of unity and independence among regional countries. Zaki said Western countries, led by the United States, have destabilized the region. "Iraq, Libya and Syria were destroyed by them, and Sudan is now facing fragmentation." According to Zaki, the United States has consistently shown bias and double standards on the Palestine issue, hindering progress toward restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Produced by Xinhua Global Service URUMQI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- "Alone we go fast, but together we go further," said Marcelin Sanou, who works for the African initiative Great Green Wall, emphasizing the significance of international cooperation in combating desertification. Sanou, chief of the planning, monitoring-evaluation and information management at the Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall, made the remarks at the 3rd Taklimakan Desert Forum held from Saturday to Monday in Korla, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. At the forum, over 180 researchers from 14 countries and regions gathered to communicate how to effectively prevent land degradation and desertification, especially in the Sahara Desert and the Taklimakan Desert -- both are among the largest deserts in the world. The Great Green Wall initiative, launched by the African Union in 2007, with an overarching aim of planting a wall of trees across Africa at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, is an African-led initiative to restore Africa's degraded landscapes. Sanou said that the Sahel region, a belt located on the southern border of the Sahara Desert, has long suffered from desertification, and one of the main goals of the Great Green Wall is to prevent desertification through multilateral cooperation. Diop Souleymane, chief of the geographic information system and database at the secretariat of the Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall, believes that China has made tremendous efforts to combat desertification, and Africa can draw inspiration from it to better address sustainable development and climate change issues. Jia Xiaoxia, program officer at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), stated that the UNCCD is working hard to support affected parties in strengthening science-based decision-making. "We need joint efforts for facilitating scientific understanding, sharing knowledge and technology, and raising capacity to action," Jia said. The Taklimakan Desert, China's largest desert, has been at the forefront of sand control and desertification research by Chinese scientists for over 60 years. Practices such as planting desert shelter forests and building sand-control barriers have been successfully implemented there. Zhang Yuanming, director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, expected to "develop desertification control technologies suitable for Africa" and promote China-Africa green development cooperation based on collaborative research. Sanou mentioned that due to China's unparalleled experience in sand control and combating desertification, the Pan-African Great Green Wall signed a memorandum of understanding with the XIEG in 2017, aiming to enhance cooperation in sand control. Through such collaboration, China and Africa can share experiences and support each other in green development, he noted. Yang Wenbin, secretary-general of the China National Sand Control and Desert Industry Society, said that in the future, China and Africa could strengthen cooperation in sand control for highways and railways, groundwater replenishment, and high-value ecological industries. "Other than African countries in the Sahel region, we are also happy to engage in green cooperation in the Arab and Central Asian regions," Yang said. Endrias Geta, Ethiopia's state minister of irrigation and lowlands, told Xinhua that China's support for the Great Green Wall is making a significant amount of land habitable again. "Millions of hectares of land have been rehabilitated due to this Chinese government support," he said. JERUSALEM, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Israel's opposition leader Monday testified at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial in Jerusalem. Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist party Yesh Atid and a major rival of Netanyahu, took the stand for the case dubbed Case 1000, which accused Netanyahu of using his power to promote the personal interests of the Israeli businessman and Hollywood tycoon, Arnon Milchan, between 2007 and 2016. According to the indictment, Netanyahu asked U.S. officials to extend Milchan's U.S. residence visa and attempted to grant him tax breaks in Israel. In exchange, Netanyahu and his family allegedly received expensive cigars, champagne, and jewelry worth about one million new shekels (279,000 U.S. dollars) from Milchan. The case is one of three in which Netanyahu was charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Lapid, who was then the finance minister, told the court that Netanyahu contacted him twice regarding a bill to extend regulations that exempt Israeli returnees from declaring foreign income. "Netanyahu told me twice that it's a good bill," Lapid said. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, denied all allegations against him, calling the indictment part of "a witch hunt." Milchan is expected to give his testimony for the prosecution later in June via video from London, where he currently resides, due to his frail health. Sinaha Platform, an Emirati e-commerce and marketing platform specialised in promoting national industries and products, has signed an agreement with international partners to build the first automobile facility in Abu Dhabi that manufactures automobiles from recyclable composite plastic materials. The move is aimed at establishing Abu Dhabi as a prominent auto hub for sustainable production, reported Wam. This initiative marks a significant milestone for the country's automotive industry, contributing to the achievement of Operation 300Bn and the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy. The vehicles produced in this facility will feature eco-friendly and recyclable external structures, promoting environmental sustainability and incorporating technologies that enhance fuel efficiency by reducing weight and material consumption, it stated. In addition to catering to local demand, the factory will supply the international market with affordable, high-quality cars equipped with advanced four-wheel drive technology, it added. The agreement for the plant was signed by Kardous Mohammad bin Salem bin Kardous Al Ameri, Deputy CEO of Sinaha, and Kirill Kuzin, Director-General of APAL International, during the 'Make it in the Emirates Forum' held recently in Abu Dhabi. The deal is also in alignment with the UAE's upcoming hosting of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in November. Sinaha Chairman Mohammed bin Salem bin Kardous Al Ameri said the purpose of the platform was to improve quality investment opportunities to build a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive industrial sector in a way that supports the national economy and global climate action plans. "In Sinaha platform, we support all national efforts and strategies in an integrated way with all partners to support the national industrial sector and improve industrial capacity. Our products proudly carry the "Made in the Emirates" mark and target local, regional, and international markets," stated Al Ameri. Made using local raw materials, the new vehicle model has a highly advanced and effective damping protection system that meets all applicable standards. The model will feature two engines; an economical petrol engine and an all-electric engine, he added.-TradeArabia News Service People sign their names to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) SEOUL, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The fishermen held signs that read "Desperately oppose the Fukushima radioactive contaminated water discharge into the sea," and "SOS!! Pacific Ocean!" Kim Kwang-shik, one of the fishermen who joined the protest rally, told Xinhua that although he had no professional information on the radioactive water, he was well aware of the fact that the release would be bad. "If the Fukushima contaminated water is safe (as Japan claimed), it can be left in Japan's soil rather than be released into the ocean," Kim said. According to organizers, about 2,000 fishermen and civic activists participated in the demonstration. The association of the fishermen said in a statement that the Japanese government should come up with solutions, including a long-term storage on land, rather than dump the radioactive water that will destroy all life in the Pacific Ocean and all fishermen living on it. The association urged the South Korean government to immediately file a complaint with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea against Japan, saying that if the contaminated water is released, it will threaten the livelihood of fishermen amid a sharp drop in demand for marine products. According to a Research View survey of 1,000 South Korean adults conducted last month, 85.4 percent of the respondents opposed Japan's contaminated water discharge, and 72 percent said they would reduce the consumption of marine products if the wastewater is released into the ocean. Sea salt demand here has soared for the past months on fears that Japan would push ahead with its discharge plan. The price of 20 kg sea salt spiked 27 percent in the first week of June compared to the first week of April, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Insanga, a salt producer traded in the smaller KOSDAQ market, surged by the daily price limit of 30 percent Monday, following a Japanese media report that the test operation of the contaminated water discharge facility began earlier in the day. Both consumers and retailers rushed to stockpile salt. Major sea salt vendors stopped selling salt in early June amid a flood of delivery orders, according to local newspaper Hankyoreh. The South Korean government attributed the salt price hike to poor weather and lower production. People rally to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) People rally to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) A man holds a sign against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater during a protest rally in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) People rally to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) People rally to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) People rally to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) People rally to protest against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. Thousands of South Korean fishermen gathered on Monday near the parliamentary building in Seoul to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater from its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, meets with foreign representatives attending the China-Central Asia political parties dialogue, including Deputy Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Rau Albert and Vice-Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Isaeva Dzhamilia, in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with foreign representatives attending the China-Central Asia political parties dialogue in Beijing on Monday. Li said that the China-Central Asia Summit held last month drew a blueprint for the future development of China-Central Asia relations. He said the CPC is ready to work with the political parties of the five Central Asian countries to implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the heads of state of the five countries, and to promote the building of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. The foreign representatives, including Deputy Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Rau Albert and Vice-Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Isaeva Dzhamilia, said that the political parties of the Central Asian countries are willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in party and state governance with the CPC and contribute to regional peace and development. PUL-I-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's counter-narcotics police have destroyed two drug processing labs in the northern Baghlan province and arrested two people on charge of involvement in illegal drug business, the provincial police said Monday. Based on a tip-off, the police launched operations in Tala-o-Barfak district of the province late Sunday and as a result, the two drug processing labs were destroyed and two suspects taken into custody, the the police said in a statement. According to the statement, a large number of drugs and materials used in manufacturing heroin have been seized and destroyed during the operations. 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 into drugs and drug trafficking in the country. The Afghan caretaker administration has destroyed poppy farms on thousands of hectares of lands in the northern and southern provinces of the country over the past couple of months. BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting of the China-Central Asia political parties dialogue was held in Beijing on Monday, attended by 26 leaders of major political parties in Central Asia. Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the recent successful convening of the China-Central Asia Summit has led to more progress in the construction of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. China is willing to work with political parties in Central Asian countries to deepen political mutual trust, enhance synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of Central Asian countries, promote mutual cultural understanding and exchanges, and jointly safeguard regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. Noting that Central Asian countries and China are friendly neighbors and strategic partners, the leaders of the political parties expressed readiness to enhance communication with the CPC on state governance experience, staunchly support each other's development paths, and boost relations between Central Asia and China further. JOHANNESBURG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral relations between South Africa and China have improved significantly in the past 25 years in terms of trade, politics and people to people exchanges, which has brought mutual benefits for both sides, said Kagiso Pooe, a senior lecturer at South Africa's Witwatersrand School of Governance, on Monday. "The China-South Africa relations have improved from partnership to strategic partnership, then to comprehensive strategic partnership. It has been a great relationship," Pooe said in an interview with Xinhua. China has been South Africa's largest trading partner since 2009 and South Africa has been China's largest trading partner in Africa since 2010. The main products that South Africa exported to China are minerals. Looking into the future, there is a potential for South Africa to increase its trade with China, particularly in exporting agricultural products, he said. Taking people to people exchanges as an example, the relationship has grown significantly as a large number of South African students go to China to study engineering and medicine, and this looks set to grow, Pooe said. The visits by political parties of both countries are also growing, he said, noting that the two countries have been conducting close interaction within various mechanisms, including the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Belt and Road Initiative and BRICS. As the two countries are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations, there are many events scheduled for celebrations in South Africa throughout the year, he noted. SEOUL, June 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export slightly rose in the first 10 days of June thanks to higher business days, customs office data showed on Monday. Export amounted to 15.27 billion U.S. dollars during the June 1-10 period, up 1.2 percent from the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service. It was mainly attributed to higher working days. The daily average export declined 6.0 percent in the 10-day period. The outbound shipment kept sliding for the 8th consecutive month through May. Import shrank 20.7 percent to 16.68 billion dollars, sending the trade deficit to 1.41 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in red for the 15th straight month through May. Semiconductor export tumbled 31.1 percent in the 10-day period, while those for oil and steel products diminished 35.8 percent and 7.6 percent each. Car shipment more than doubled, and auto parts export advanced in double digits. NEW DELHI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Biparjoy, which has intensified near the western coastal areas. Modi advised local authorities to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated, and ensure maintenance of all essential services with preparedness for immediate restoration in the event of damages, said an official statement. The cyclone is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch areas of the western state of Gujarat by Thursday with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 km per hour (kph) to 145 kph, with likely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, said India Meteorological Department officials. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. The Indian Air Force and the Engineer Task Force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment. " " This 19th-century illustration of the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" nursery rhyme is from the "Little Folks Colored Picture Book" published circa 1875. McLoughlin Bros./Getty Images/HowStuffWorks If you visit the town of Sterling, Massachusetts today, you'll find a small copper statue of a woolly little creature meant to be a replica of the original lamb that followed 9-year-old Mary Sawyer to school in 1815. Below the statue is a plaque inscribed with the famous opening verse: "Mary had a little lamb/ Its fleece was white as snow/ And everywhere that Mary went/ The lamb was sure to go." John Roulstone So who exactly was Mary Sawyer and who was this John Roulstone who allegedly wrote the original poem? According to a 60-page book published in 1928 by none other than Henry Ford (more on that later), Mary Sawyer was a typical New England schoolgirl who nursed a starving lamb back to health, winning a lifelong friend. Advertisement "I got the lamb warm by wrapping it in an old garment and holding it in my arms beside the fireplace," an adult Sawyer recounted in the book. "In the morning, much to my girlish delight, it could stand; and from that time it improved rapidly. It soon learned to drink milk; and from the time it would walk about, it would follow me anywhere if only I called it." Before leaving for school one morning, Sawyer whistled for the lamb and it came faithfully trotting over, at which point her brother Nat suggested, "Let's take the lamb to school with us." She tried to hide the lamb in a basket under her chair, but it was discovered when she stood up to recite a lesson and the fluffy critter started to bleat. Her teacher, Polly Kimball, "laughed outright," which caused Sawyer some embarrassment, so she took the lamb out to a shed until school was out. John Roulstone was a local boy preparing for college who happened to be visiting the old red schoolhouse that day and was "very much pleased with the incident of the lamb," Sawyer recalled in Henry Ford's book. Roulstone went home, wrote a three-stanza poem and returned the next day on horseback to hand deliver the original verses of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" to Sawyer herself. Or so goes the story in Sterling, Massachusetts. Description Nassaus public libraries have a challenge for you! How many libraries can you visit this summer? Find out by joining the Nassau Library Tour! Each one is your gateway into a new communityvisit the library, then explore the attractions, restaurants, and parks nearby. Take a self-guided tour as a family, a team of friends, or go solo. Plus, youll collect prizes and invaluable memories along the way. You can start the tour in your very own neighborhood by stopping by the Main Library, Station Branch, or Lakeville Branch. Open to all ages, this self-paced journey takes place from June 12 - August 12. Prizes are earned for visiting 5, 15, 30, and 50 of the participating public libraries in Nassau County. Anyone who visits all 58 locations will also be entered to win one of our fabulous grand prize raffles. Take photos on your library adventure and share them on social media with the hashtag #NassauLibraryTour. Explore Nassaus public libraries and discover all they have to offer: check out the books, technology, and events, and even spy librarians in their natural habitat. Dont forget to bring your map and have it updated with a sticker to indicate you visited that library! Then, plan your visit to the next library by visiting the tour website - tour.nassaulibrary.org - where you can also find nearby places to visit or have a bite to eat. More and more, Nassaus libraries deliver rich experiences - in addition to books and media. What better way to enjoy the uniqueness of every Nassau library and every Nassau community than to set out on a fun challenge this summer? Were proud to sponsor the Nassau Library Tour, highlighting the best of what Nassau has to offer, said Caroline Ashby, Director of the Nassau Library System. For the list of participating libraries and more information, see tour.nassaulibrary.org. You can also contact the Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email ahinz@greatnecklibrary.org. Grab your map and get ready to hit the road! Great Neck Library, Great Neck. Image supplied by Nassau Library System. IURII KRASILNIKOV / Getty Images/iStockphoto Millions of student loan borrowers will finally learn the fate of President Joe Bidens federal student loan forgiveness plan in the coming weeks, with the U.S. Supreme Court expected to make a ruling by the end of June 2023. See: Student Loan Pause Ends June 30 Heres Why You May Not Have to Start Paying Immediately Student Loan Payments: Heres the Official Date You Need To Start Paying Again The plan, unveiled last August, aims to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt per borrower. But it has faced legal challenges every step of the way, and many experts expect the conservative-majority SCOTUS to rule against it. The courts conservatives have been very aggressive in striking down the decisions of Congress and the president, Gregory Caldeira, a political science professor at Ohio State University, told CNBC before oral arguments began. Similarly, Northeastern University law professor Dan Urman told CNBC that the Supreme Courts conservative justices believe government agencies often violate the separation of powers. In the case of loan forgiveness, the SCOTUS might rule that the Biden administration overstepped its legal authority by offering to forgive up to $400 billion in federal student debt. If the court does strike down the Biden plan, both the White House and individual borrowers can look into alternative routes to loan forgiveness. Heres a look at seven of them. Biden Administration Alternatives 1. Extend payment pause: If the loan forgiveness plan is shot down, the most immediate action Biden might take is to try and extend the student loan pause yet again. The current extension is set to expire 60 days after either June 30 or whenever the Supreme Court decides on the loan forgiveness plan. This alternative is not likely to work, however. All previous extensions were issued under emergency authority granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that emergency officially ended last month. 2. Restart the program under a provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA): As previously reported by GOBankingRates, The HEA gives broad authority to the Secretary of Education to compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand associated with federal student loans. One advantage of this option is that its legal authority doesnt rely on a national emergency such as a pandemic. However, student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz recently wrote on The College Investor website that there are several problems with this approach, most of which have to do with the limited waiver authority of the HEA. 3. Create a new loan forgiveness plan: As Kantrowitz noted, Congress provided broad regulatory authority for income-contingent repayment (ICR) plans that could theoretically remake ICR into a student loan forgiveness program by changing certain elements related to discretionary income. Income-driven repayment plans include the ICR, income-based repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE). The plans forgive the remaining debt after 20 or 25 years worth of payments. The law doesnt allow the number of years in repayment to drop below five years, Kantrowitz, wrote, and theres some question whether it could drop below 10. However, the administration could create a means-tested forgiveness plan that forgives the remaining debt after 10 years in repayment. Individual Borrower Alternatives 4. Total and Permanent Disability: To qualify for TPD, Nelnet must be your loan servicer, and you must provide documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the SSA or a physician that proves you have a total and permanent disability. This option is available for William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans and Federal Perkins Loans, according to the Federal Student Aid site. 5. Borrower Defense to Repayment: This is available if you have a direct loan and you have either been misled by your school or the school was found to have violated state laws. In both cases, youll need to prove that this caused you financial harm. 6. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: If you work full-time for a government or not-for-profit organization, you might qualify for forgiveness of the entire remaining balance of your direct loans after youve made 120 qualifying payments, according to Federal Student Aid. To benefit from PSLF, you must repay your federal student loans under an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. Take Our Poll: Do You Think AI Will Replace Your Job? 7. Teacher Loan Forgiveness: You might be eligible to have up to $17,500 in student debt cancelled if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary or secondary schools or educational service agencies that serve low-income families. You must also meet certain other qualifications. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Alternatives If Bidens Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Doesnt Succeed Musafir Business, the all-in-one corporate travel management platform in the region by musafir.com, has achieved a remarkable 97% increase in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV). Surpassing pre-pandemic sales, the company is poised for a record-breaking year. Additionally, Musafir Business has successfully launched in India, a rapidly growing travel market with a corporate travel spend of approximately $36 billion last year. Building on its impressive track record of delivering approximately 20% savings on annual travel spend for Middle Eastern organisations, Musafir Business processed over 600,000 transactions in 2022. The company aims to sustain its growth momentum in 2023, targeting approximately 1.1 million transactions for the year. Remarkable growth Sachin Gadoya, Co-founder & CEO of musafir.com and Musafir Business, said: "We have experienced remarkable growth in the region and are determined to replicate this success in other markets. With our successful launch in India and the overwhelming response we received within the first month, we are thrilled to announce our upcoming expansion into Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Q3 2023. The global business travel spending reached $933 billion in 2022, accounting for 65% of the pre-pandemic travel spend of $1.4 trillion. The MEA region contributed approximately 2.5% of the overall business travel spending in 2022, amounting to $23 billion. Musafir Business has also witnessed a significant 25% growth in average corporate transaction value compared to pre-pandemic levels. Gadoya emphasised the company's focus on enhancing the customer experience, building differentiation through digital products, and gaining deeper customer insights. Cutting-edge tech He added: We are committed to continuously improving the Musafir Business platform by utilising cutting-edge technology and leveraging machine learning algorithms to improve customer experiences. In addition to developing our B2B platform for travel agents, later this year we will launch our travel app, which will enhance the travel experience for both our corporate & leisure customers. Musafir Business's commitment to providing a comprehensive and streamlined travel management solution for businesses is evident. The platform integrates flights, hotels and visas (UAE Tourist visas & Global Visa assistance) into a user-friendly interface, enabling companies to manage travel expenses and streamline operations efficiently. Offering an enhanced traveller experience with personalised recommendations, real-time alerts, and reliable support simplifies expense management, improving cost control and accuracy. Moreover, advanced data analytics provide valuable insights, enabling data-driven decisions for optimised travel programmes. With a focus on compliance and policy enforcement, Musafir Business prioritises corporate governance and traveller safety.-- TradeArabia News Service Key Insights Australian Agricultural's significant insider ownership suggests inherent interests in company's expansion 51% of the company is held by a single shareholder (Bryan Glinton) Past performance of a company along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business To get a sense of who is truly in control of Australian Agricultural Company Limited (ASX:AAC), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual insiders with 71% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). So, insiders of Australian Agricultural have a lot at stake and every decision they make on the companys future is important to them from a financial point of view. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Australian Agricultural, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Australian Agricultural What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Australian Agricultural? 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 Australian Agricultural does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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. 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 Australian Agricultural's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Australian Agricultural. Bryan Glinton is currently the company's largest shareholder with 51% of shares outstanding. This essentially means that they have extensive influence, if not outright control, over the future of the corporation. John Andrew Forrest is the second largest shareholder owning 18% of common stock, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. holds about 2.6% of the company stock. 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 is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Australian Agricultural The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. It seems that insiders own more than half the Australian Agricultural Company Limited stock. This gives them a lot of power. That means they own AU$645m worth of shares in the AU$913m company. That's quite meaningful. Most would be pleased to see the board is investing alongside them. You may wish todiscover (for free) if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 22% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Australian Agricultural. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Australian Agricultural that you should be aware of before investing here. 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 yacobchuk / Getty Images/iStockphoto Even though they are done working, many retirees actually seek part-time jobs. The reasons for these are numerous. Some retirees enjoy continuing to work, helping out others, or simply keeping their minds occupied. But some retirees actually need the extra income, particularly if they would otherwise just be living off Social Security. Retirement Savings: Experts Say This Magic Number Is the Key and Its Not $1 Million Related: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch Since it can be hard to find businesses that actually hire retirees for part-time jobs, particularly if you are looking on your own, heres a helpful list of companies that do. Belay Belay is a fully remote company that offers both career and part-time positions for anyone that qualifies, including seniors. The company offers U.S.-based virtual assistant, accounting, and social media services to its clients, and it hires vetted experts to serve as everything from consultants to bookkeepers to social media managers and virtual executive assistants. The company claims to hire just over 3% of those who apply for jobs, however, youll definitely want to have specialized skills in the areas in which Belay operates to get even a part-time job. Foundever Foundever provides customer service support to countries across the globe, with 170,000 service representatives in over 60 countries providing 9 million interactions with customers at various businesses daily. As a customer service platform, the company offers plenty of work-from-home opportunities, including for retirees and/or part-time workers. Rev Rev bills itself as the #1 speech-to-text company in the world. The company works with over 72,000 freelancers worldwide to build and provide the worlds best speech recognition AI, which is clearly a growing field. If you snag one of Revs many remote jobs, you could participate in providing captions, subtitles, or transcripts quickly and accurately to any of the companys numerous clients. Enterprise Enterprise Holdings is best known for its rental-car components, Alamo, National, and its namesake brand Enterprise. But the company has also had a call-center component since 1980, and it now relies on over 2,500 employees working from their home offices to handle its needs. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Rover Getting a part-time gig at Rover can be a great way for retirees to stay healthy and get outdoors while still working a part-time job. Rover hosts the worlds largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, and its a great way for animal lovers or even simply those who want to get outside to earn some part-time income. The online services links pet parents with vetted walkers and sitters across the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Europe. To qualify, youll have to be physically able to manage the pets you watch over and take them out on their required walks. If youd rather take on a different role with Rover, the company also offers a number of remote work opportunities, from program managers to customer service agents. OnlineVerdict If youre looking for something a bit different, with a modern twist on it, check out the part-time jobs available at OnlineVerdict. For nearly 20 years, the company has been a leader in online research regarding mock trials and jury outcomes. As a part-time, remote worker with OnlineVerdict, you could be called upon to serve in an online focus group that helps lawyers with their case summaries. For some retirees, this could be a more interesting option than answering phones or working as a virtual assistant, two of the more common part-time, work-from-home jobs for retirees. Cactus If youre retiring from a job that has specialized knowledge, you may be able to put that information to use working part-time with Cactus. The remote-first company offers freelance careers in scholarly communication and has been named one of the top 20 companies for remote jobs for five years running. Cactus primarily works in life sciences and academia, providing research support, editorial services, and medical communications. If you have the qualifications, you could work part-time as a freelancer from the comfort of your own home. Verbalizeit Verbalizeit hires work-from-home translators to help brands deliver their message across a variety of mediums, from web, mobile, and document to video. Currently, the companys workforce is able to translate over 150 different languages. If you have top-notch language skills and are interested in helping companies spread their message, this type of remote work could be a good part-time option for you, particularly as a retiree. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Companies That Hire Retirees Part-Time for Side Gigs A top Democrat wants to relieve Congress of the burden of raising or suspending the debt-ceiling limit. A top Democrat who has long wanted to defang the debt ceiling hopes this is the moment where the political will could be strong enough to finally get it done. The experience of 2023 is still fresh in people's minds, Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said in an interview. Boyle on Friday formally reintroduced a proposal, called the Debt Ceiling Reform Act, that would allow the US Treasury Department to keep paying the nations bills unless Congress decides to intervene with a veto-proof resolution of disapproval. His bill is one of a few ideas to relieve Congress from the burden of raising or suspending the debt ceiling limit, as lawmakers did earlier this month in a deal that narrowly averted a default, every few years. Others call for suspending the debt ceiling entirely, including some bills to abolish it. Another option under consideration is for President Biden to unilaterally cancel the debt ceiling by invoking the 14th Amendment. Whether Boyle's idea or any others come to pass very much remains to be seen. Lawmakers acknowledge the window for action could be short-lived with some forces on Capitol Hill already looking to re-position this years debt ceiling fight as a 2024 campaign issue instead of one for bipartisan debate. "It's impossible now to argue that 2011 was just an anomaly," Boyle added, referencing the last major debt ceiling fight. His hope is that the coming weeks could provide "some time and space for bipartisanship to possibly assert itself." Ways to end debt drama What gives the influential Pennsylvania Democrat optimism that his bill which is also being led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) could have legs is a history of bipartisanship around the broad concept of taking the threat of default off the table while also maintaining some role for Congressional oversight. Boyles bill has similarities to a 2011 proposal from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who suggested at the time resolving that impasse by shifting the burden of the debt ceiling to the president. Another effort with overlap is a bipartisan bill called the Responsible Budgeting Act that would change the rules around debt limit fights and provide additional off-ramps, including one option where the president could act alone, but with continued Congressional input. A key leader of that bipartisan effort is Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), who is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) in April. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Many Democrats are also now on the record calling for suspending the debt ceiling entirely while Republican views are more varied. Another option under consideration is invoking a Civil War-era amendment that includes a line that reads: "the public debt of the United States, authorized by law...shall not be questioned." That provision in the 14th Amendment was written in the context of the Reconstruction amid fears that Confederate states would default on their debts. Some legal scholars say it could be invoked by Biden today to overrule the 1917 law that created the debt limit. The president previously promised to further study the maneuver once the crisis had passed and has characterized the idea as "legitimate." But it isnt likely to be tested for at least a few months. For now, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre recently said the president believes the issue "is something for Congress to kind of deal with." A focus on the next election The problem for Boyle at the moment is that his bill has 47 cosponsors, but none of them are Republicans. Nevertheless, he says talks with Arrington are underway for a congressional hearing "on what reform to the debt ceiling would look like." A representative for Arrington, who controls the calendar, didnt immediately offer comment about the chances an actual hearing will come to pass. Meanwhile, some Republicans are clearly already looking toward the next campaign. The House Republicans' 2024 campaign arm immediately panned Boyles bill on Friday when it was formally reintroduced. NRCC Press Secretary Will Reinert said in a statement that the debt ceiling is akin to a credit limit for reckless spenders, adding: "Why should there be a different standard for extremist Democrats?" President Joe Biden arrives at Philadelphia International Airport with Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) in tow in March. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Boyle brushed away the statement, saying he doubted the debt ceiling itself would be a campaign issue. Democrats, he added, can also use this year's crisis, specifically the deeper cuts proposed by Republicans that didn't make it into the final legislation. "I think the consequences of that vote will be used against a number of those Republican members next election," Boyle said. But until the election season fully takes over, Boyle promises to try to keep pushing his bill. He also cited a recent visit from JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon, who came to Capitol Hill last week to urge lawmakers to get rid of the debt ceiling entirely. Boyle says prodding like that from the private sector could be crucial in the weeks ahead to underline the need for action and "just how stupid the debt ceiling is." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance For more than a decade, the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has helped propel startups such as Twitter and Coinbase to massive heights from its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. On Sunday, the company announced its first non-U.S. office, a branch of its a16z crypto fund in London. The move comes amid an increasingly hostile environment toward crypto in the U.S., including a lawsuit on Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Committee against its one-time portfolio company, Coinbase. Whats going on now with the Biden administration is theyre basically just trying to kill off the technology, Chris Dixon, the influential general partner at a16z and the leader of its crypto fund, told Fortune in an interview. The firm's decision demonstrates the firms confidence in the U.K. as an emerging crypto powerhouse as lawmakers, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, seek to regulate the industry. It just has all the ingredients that you want to see for an emerging tech hub, Dixon said. The office, scheduled to open later this year, will be led by Sriram Krishnan, a general partner at a16z. As part of the move, the venture firm announced a $43 million investment in the U.K.-based Gensyn, a crypto-meets-A.I. startup. Dixon described the project as the Airbnb for GPUs, creating a blockchain-based marketplace for companies looking for computing power. Previously, a16z has invested in other U.K.-based crypto companies, including Arweave, Aztec, and Improbable. The firm also plans to work with universities to develop blockchain clubs and foster talent for the crypto space, including with its Crypto Startup School accelerator program, which is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs building Web3 startups. The most recent iteration had around 8,000 applicants and 26 companies, which received investment and mentorship from a16z. More crucially, a16z crypto is looking at the U.K. as a potential safe harbor and global leader for crypto as prospects dwindle in the U.S., at least for now. Sunak was an advocate of crypto and blockchain as finance minister, and other lawmakers such as MP Lisa Cameron are pushing for digital asset regulation. Brian Quintenz, the head of policy at a16z crypto and a former commissioner at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said the U.K. is considering a regulatory regime that resembles a draft bill released by the Republican chairs of the House Financial Services and Agriculture committees about a week ago. Were thinking of this as an investment in the U.K. with the appropriate regulatory treatment that ensures a high bar of customer protectionbut that embraces decentralization, Quintenz told Fortune in an interview. The U.K. is still grappling with how to approach regulationin mid-May, the parliaments Treasury committee advised that cryptocurrency trading should be treated as a form of gambling rather than as a financial serviceand Quintenz said a16z crypto hopes to guide discussions, including working closely with 10 Downing Street. As we cement the U.K.s place as a science and tech superpower, we must embrace new innovations like Web3, powered by blockchain technology, which will enable start-ups to flourish here and grow the economy, Sunak said in a statement shared with Fortune. Thats why I am thrilled world-leading investor Andreessen Horowitz has decided to open their first international office in the U.K. Despite the expansion, Dixon said a16z remains a U.S. firm. He expressed optimism that lawmakers would change their minds on the need for crypto regulation, as they did with early internet legislation, citing that commerce was illegal on the internet until Congress passed a series of bills in the 1990s. I would say the [crypto] industry will continue, he said. I think the U.S. will eventually get it right. 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 The worlds biggest cryptocurrency company has hired a high-powered legal team to battle the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissionincluding contracting an ex-SEC lawyer. According to a document filed today, Binance US, which the SEC targeted last week with 13 civil charges, has hired George Canellos, who served as co-director of the SECs Division of Enforcement. In its lawsuit last week, the SEC claimed that the mega exchange Binance, its boss Changpeng CZ Zhao, and Binance US broke securities laws and enriched themselves by billions of U.S. dollars while placing investors assets at significant risk. Binance US is a separate company for American citizens that uses the Binance logo but is run independently. The SEC last week alleged that Zhao and Binance secretly controlled the Binance US platforms operations behind the scenes. Binance US Market Shrinks 78% in Just 7 Days After SEC Lawsuit Canellos is currently the global head of the litigation and arbitration group at Milban in New York City. He previously worked for the SEC for four and a half years and oversaw major casesincluding that of Raj Rajaratnam, one of the biggest insider trading cases in U.S. history. John Reed Stark, former head of SECs Office of Internet Enforcement, described Canellos on Twitter by writing: Think Liam Neeson meets Perry Mason. The other attorneys on the case include former federal prosecutor Adam Fee and bankruptcy expert Andrew M. Leblanc. Binance/DOJ Newsflash: Binance and CZ just added a uniquely qualified criminal defense all-star lawyer to their legal team: George Canellos, former Chief of the Major Crimes Unit in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and former head of the SEC's New pic.twitter.com/lQlkZ6oxYc John Reed Stark (@JohnReedStark) June 12, 2023 SEC Chair Gary Gensler: The US Doesn't Need Cryptocurrency Binance is facing serious charges: The SEC has alleged that the company and its owner moved around customers fiat and crypto as defendants pleased. So serious, in fact, that the SEC last week asked a judge to freeze assets held by Binance US. The 13 charges against Binance also include operating unregistered exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies; misrepresenting trading controls and oversight on the Binance.US platform; and the unregistered offer and sale of securities. The move by Wall Streets top regulator was the latest in its crackdown on the crypto industry. Since the collapse of mega digital asset exchange FTX last year, the SEC has gone after a number of major American crypto brandsincluding Coinbase and Kraken. Binance US Market Shrinks 78% in Just 7 Days After SEC Lawsuit Following Binance and sister company Binance USs troubles with American regulators, investors are pulling out. Data from crypto data firm Kaiko shows that market depth on the US sister exchange has plunged by nearly 80% since the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions lawsuit last week. The SEC last Monday named both Binance and its US-based sister company in a lawsuit alleging that Binance boss Changpeng Zhao commingled customer funds through a web of deceit. In the past week market makers have fled Binance US en masse and the exchanges liquidity has dropped by nearly 80%, Kaiko analyst Dessislava Aubert told Decrypt. She added that the decline on Coinbase and Binance has been more moderate. Binance US is a crypto exchange for Americans that uses the same logo but is run independently, according to Binance. Binance is the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange. But even the assertion that its US affiliate is a separate company has been called into question by the SECs lawsuit. https://t.co/pup2WYms9R market depth is down a whopping 78% since the SEC lawsuit Market makers vacated instantly, leaving hardly any #liquidity. pic.twitter.com/EvoO778mAy Kaiko (@KaikoData) June 12, 2023 Coinbase is Americas largest digital asset exchange. The SEC also hit it with a lawsuit the day afterbut the complaint was less serious. Following the SEC lawsuit, Binance US suspended dollar deposits. Kaiko added that fiat volume and in particular U.S.-denominated volume has been hit hard by the U.S. banking crisis and recent regulatory crackdown. Its been a tough year for cryptocurrencies: Since the collapse of mega digital asset exchange FTX in November, U.S. regulators have launched a tough crackdown on the industryand a number of companies have shuttered. The SEC in particular has clamped down on crypto companies it claims are selling unregistered securities. Bitcoin Liquidity Hits 10-Month Low Amid US Banking Crisis But despite the tightening grip on the industry, Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is up significantly this year: In January it was trading for $16,615 but is now priced at $25,814 per coin. Crypto investment firm Galaxy Digital will not have to pay damages over its abandoned tie-up with asset custodian BitGo, after a lawsuit against the company was dismissed. Announcing that a court had decided to dismiss the claim, Galaxy said it was pleased with the outcome. Now is the time for all of us to work together and focus on the task at hand: Upgrading the global financial system in a manner that promotes innovation and protects investors and consumers alike, the company said in a tweet. Galaxy, which is led by Wall Street stalwart Mike Novogratz, called off its $1.2 billion proposal to acquire BitGo last year. The company said the decision came after its takeover target failed to provide audited financial statements by a certain date. Were pleased with the courts decision to dismiss BitGos claims. Now is the time for all of us to work together and focus on the task at hand: Upgrading the global financial system in a manner that promotes innovation and protects investors and consumers alike. pic.twitter.com/xPrMP8AghW Galaxy (@galaxyhq) June 12, 2023 But BitGo said the merger agreement was not scheduled to expire until the end of the year, and said it would sue Galaxy. Last week, a Delaware Chancery Court vice chancellor said that Galaxy had a valid basis to terminate the proceedings, owing to BitGos failure to deliver the financial statements. "BitGo plans to appeal the Courts decision, and continues to believe that Galaxy wrongfully terminated the agreement," a BitGo spokesperson told Decrypt in an emailed statement. The abortive Galaxy-BitGo merger Galaxy first disclosed its intention to acquire BitGo in a $1.2 billion deal in May 2021. Had it successfully closed, the merger would have been one of the biggest in the crypto industry. By May 2022, Galaxy was claiming that it expected to finalize the acquisition by the end of the year. Then in August, it said the deal would not go ahead. The announcement came just a week after Galaxy had reported $554 million in unrealized losses on its crypto holdings for the second quarter of that year. In September, BitGo filed a complaint with the Delaware Chancery Court, seeking damages of $100 million and claiming that Galaxys losses and its efforts to go public were the real reasons why it dropped the deal. Galaxy Digital Wins Celsius Bankruptcy Auction to Acquire Crypto Custodian GK8 Since then, both firms have pursued other acquisitions of their own. Galaxy won a bid for another crypto custodian, GK8, which was put up for auction as part of Celsiuss proceedings. Meanwhile, BitGo last week signed a letter of intent to acquire its rival Prime Trust. Key Insights PMB Technology Berhad's estimated fair value is RM3.45 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With RM3.88 share price, PMB Technology Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Industry average of 95% suggests PMB Technology Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of PMB Technology Berhad (KLSE:PMBTECH) as an investment opportunity by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! 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 still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for PMB Technology Berhad The Calculation 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. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM137.3m RM207.1m RM283.0m RM358.6m RM429.6m RM493.7m RM550.5m RM600.8m RM645.6m RM686.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 71.11% Est @ 50.85% Est @ 36.66% Est @ 26.74% Est @ 19.79% Est @ 14.92% Est @ 11.52% Est @ 9.13% Est @ 7.46% Est @ 6.30% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 13% RM122 RM163 RM197 RM221 RM234 RM239 RM236 RM228 RM217 RM204 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM2.1b The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 13%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = RM686m (1 + 3.6%) (13% 3.6%) = RM7.6b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM7.6b ( 1 + 13%)10= RM2.3b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM4.3b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM3.9, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf 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 PMB Technology Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 13%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.162. 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 PMB Technology Berhad Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Threat No apparent threats visible for PMBTECH. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For PMB Technology Berhad, there are three pertinent factors you should consider: Risks: For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for PMB Technology Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does PMBTECH's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines' leading airline, is celebrating the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence on June 12 with its signature #CEBSuperSeatFest offering seats for as low as AED1 on Dubai-Manila route. For as low as AED1 ($0.27) one-way base fare from Dubai to Manila (exclusive of fees and surcharges), Filipinos and UAE residents can book select Philippine destinations from June 12 to 15, 2023. Travel period is from November 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024, perfect for those who wish to plan their next getaway ahead of time. Travellers coming from Dubai can take advantage of CEBs direct flights to the Philippines, which operate twice daily from Dubai to Manila. Freedom to fly The Super Seat Fest is CEB's special way of celebrating the freedom to fly, bringing families together and inspiring travellers to explore the beauty of the Philippines through affordable and convenient flights. CEB flies to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations, spanning across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.-- TradeArabia News Service In response to a pressing student-housing shortage, officials at Cal Poly Humboldt are exploring a solution that could alleviate the accommodation crisis. The university is contemplating the creation of student rooms within a floating barge anchored in the scenic city of Eureka, located approximately 8 miles away from the main Arcata campus. The proposal, although still in its preliminary stages, holds significant promise given the well-documented scarcity of student housing at the university. Packed dorms and the temporary placement of students in hotels have become all too familiar as a result. To tackle this issue head-on, the new floating housing project aims to commence operations as early as this fall, ensuring that students will have suitable accommodations for the upcoming school year. The floating barge will provide a temporary solution until additional housing can be constructed in Arcata and Eureka. Check out: Fractional Real Estate Investing Has Expanded Into Student Housing Grant Scott-Goforth, a spokesperson for Cal Poly Humboldt, emphasized the university's commitment to finding creative and practical approaches to address the mounting housing challenges faced by an expanding student population. He stated, "The university has been exploring numerous innovative solutions to augment the supply of high-quality and affordable housing options for our students. The concept of floating apartments or studios is just one of the possibilities we are currently considering. However, it is important to note that this idea is still in its early stages." To accommodate a growing number of students, Cal Poly Humboldt has recently taken steps to expand its residential housing options. Starting in the fall of 2023, the university will lease the Super 8 Motel and Motel 6 properties in Arcata, adding space for an additional 250 students. These properties will be managed similarly to the successful Comfort Inn, which was leased last year and received positive feedback from students. With these new leases, the university will offer 350 beds in off-campus housing, the largest number of temporary accommodations ever provided by the institution. Looking ahead, Cal Poly Humboldt recognizes the need to explore further housing alternatives, particularly in anticipation of an influx of first-year and transfer students in the coming years. This initiative aligns with broader challenges faced by college students throughout the state, prompting the university to take action to fulfill the basic needs of its students. As part of its Emergency Housing Program, Cal Poly Humboldt has been providing temporary on-campus housing to students who struggle to secure permanent accommodations or find themselves suddenly without housing. The demand for on-campus housing continues to rise, prompting the university to pursue various temporary housing options. While floating apartments or studios represent one potential solution, it is crucial to emphasize that this concept remains highly preliminary at this stage. In response to student feedback, the university will also make adjustments to the housing application process. Returning students will have the option to reside on campus in residence halls designated for upperclass students and transfers, a practice previously implemented by the university. This opportunity will complement the existing choices of living in off-campus properties managed by the university or privately owned rentals. Cal Poly Humboldt's pursuit of innovative solutions to the student-housing shortage reflects a broader issue faced by universities nationwide. The scarcity of affordable housing for students has become a pressing concern, and educational institutions are grappling with the challenge of meeting the demand. Recognizing this widespread problem, Collab, a platform that aims to democratize investment opportunities, has emerged to bridge the gap between institutional investors and the general public. By leveraging Collab, individuals have the opportunity to co-own income-generating student housing properties for as little as $500. Recent data highlights the severity of the housing crisis among college students. According to a 2022 survey conducted by StudentBeans, one-fifth of students in the United States have experienced housing insecurity or found themselves without a permanent place to live during their studies. A 2021 report by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice revealed that 52% of students at two-year colleges and 43% of students at four-year colleges experienced housing insecurity in the 12 months preceding the survey. It is evident that the housing shortage disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ students. As the cost of tuition keeps going up and more students enroll in universities, it has become even harder to find housing that students can afford. Universities don't have enough money to build more on-campus housing to meet the growing demand. This means that students often struggle to find a place to live that they can afford while they study. Read next: Bezos-Backed Startup Lets You Become A Landlord With $100 Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article California College Considers Floating Dorm Boat As Student Housing Crisis Worsens originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Global Coffee and Tea Leader Continues Expansion in the Phoenix Area LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for summer, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand , the iconic Southern California favorite serving premium coffee and tea for the past 60 years has opened its newest location in Scottsdale, Arizona. The new cafe is complete with a drive-thru and is located at 9380 N. 90th, St. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Logo. (PRNewsFoto/The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf) "This is the third The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf location that we've opened in Scottsdale, which underscores our commitment to future growth in the area," said Sanjiv Razdan, President of Americas and India, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand. "We are excited to share our iconic high-quality coffee and teas from around the world to more people in the community." To celebrate the opening, Arizona residents who download the Coffee Bean Rewards app or already have the app can enter promo code SCOTTSDALE to receive a free drink of choice. Grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow end of June with multiple days of deals, including drink offers, BOGOs, limited edition swag items and special giveaways. The new location features the company's vibrant new design and layout, which includes ample indoor seating. The cafe also offers its guests several convenient ways to get their beverage and food of choice: order ahead through The Coffee Bean Rewards app, delivery through third-party vendors, including Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats and Postmates, in-store or drive-thru. As in all its locations, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offers a variety of the finest grades of Arabica coffee from specially selected estates around the world that are custom roasted, in small batches, at its roasting facility in Camarillo, California. The store also offers a wide variety of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf whole leaf teas as well as fresh baked goods that include an array of muffins, cakes, specialty croissants and oven-toasted breakfast items such as the Beyond Breakfast Sausage Sandwich, Bacon & Egg Burrito, and the Chorizo Breakfast Burrito. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is widely credited for driving innovation to the coffee and tea industry with the invention of the iconic The Original Ice Blended drink. They are also the first global coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brew tea. From its hero Brewed Coffee to its Lattes and Ice Blended drinks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf offers the craveable light and sweet taste profiles that loyal guests around the world love and demand. New store openings represent a key growth initiative for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand's parent company Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), who aim to be one of the top five restaurant brands in the world. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf new store in Scottsdale is open seven days a week from 5am to 8pm Mondays to Saturday and 5:30am to 8pm Sundays. For more information, please visit www.coffeebean.com . About The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Brand International Coffee & Tea Leaf, LLC, doing business as The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand is a leading global roaster and retailer of specialty coffees and teas. It is widely credited for driving high quality and innovation to the coffee and tea industry. The company sources the finest ingredients and flavors from around the world, and hand blends coffee and tea for the freshest flavors. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand started the frozen coffee drink craze with the invention of The Original Ice Blended drink and is also the first global coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brew tea. The company currently has 1,094 retail locations across the globe and can also be found in grocery aisles as well as specialty locations, including airports and hotels. For more information, visit www.coffeebean.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-coffee-bean--tea-leaf-brand-opens-new-location-in-scottsdale-az-301847564.html SOURCE The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Countdown to mega merger - how Credit Suisse wobbled and UBS rushed to rescue ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS Group's takeover of Credit Suisse, arranged by the Swiss authorities to stave off a broader banking crisis, became official on Monday. The closing of the tie-up marks the final chapter for the 167-year old institution after years of scandals and missteps eroded customer confidence and brought the lender to the edge. Here are some key events in the run-up to the biggest banking deal since the global financial crisis. FEBRUARY Feb. 28 - Swiss regulators rebuke Credit Suisse for "serious" failings in its handling of a multi-billion business with now defunct financier Greensill, the third such public censure in two years. MARCH March 9 - Credit Suisse delays its annual report after a last minute call by U.S. regulators raised questions about its earlier financial statements. March 13 - Credit Suisse shares hit a record low after the entire banking sector sells off in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. March 14 - Publishing its delayed 2022 annual report, Credit Suisse says it had identified "material weaknesses" in internal controls over financial reporting and not yet stemmed customer outflows. March 15 - The Swiss National Bank pledges to fund Credit Suisse with liquidity "if necessary" - the first such move for a big bank since the global financial crisis. Earlier, Credit Suisse's largest shareholder - Saudi National Bank - said it would not increase its stake, sending the lender's shares plunging by a fifth. March 16: Credit Suisse says it intends to borrow up to 50 billion Swiss francs ($55.40 billion) from the central bank. March 19: An emergency rescue of Credit Suisse, brokered by the Swiss government, central bank and financial regulator, is announced. Under the deal, UBS agrees to buy Credit Suisse for a knockdown price of 3 billion Swiss francs in stock and assume up to 5 billion francs in losses. Detailing the events later in a regulatory filing UBS said it was rushed into a deal it did not want. March 20 - The rescue triggers a political backlash, with Swiss parties on the right and left warning about the huge risks and the size of the combined entity. March 21 - Swiss authorities impose curbs on bonus payments for Credit Suisse employees. March 23: Switzerland's financial market regulator FINMA defends its decision to impose steep losses on Credit Suisse bondholders, calling the decision legally watertight. March 29 - UBS rehires former CEO and turnaround specialist Sergio Ermotti to steer the takeover. APRIL April 3 - Switzerland's federal prosecutor opens an investigation into the merger. Separately, some holders of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds wiped out by the merger instruct lawyers to represent them for possible litigation to recover losses. April 4 - Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann apologises to investors for taking the bank to the brink of bankruptcy at the bank's final shareholder meeting. April 5 - The Swiss government orders Credit Suisse to cancel or cut all outstanding bonus payments for senior management. - Separately, UBS executives call the takeover a "Herculean task," but tell shareholders it will succeed. April 11 - The Swiss Bank Employees Association demands a freeze on job cuts at both banks until the end of 2023. Swiss media had earlier reported up to 11,000 jobs could be lost in Switzerland. April 12 - Switzerland's parliament rejects the government's aid for the merger in a largely symbolic vote. April 15 - The Federal Reserve approves UBS's acquisition of the U.S. subsidiaries of Credit Suisse. April 24 - Credit Suisse says 61 billion Swiss francs in assets had left the bank in the first quarter, as it reported what were probably its last ever quarterly results. April 26 - Switzerland's Federal Administrative Court says it has received "several hundred" claims against the country's financial regulator after it wrote off the value of Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds. - A regulatory filing shows UBS considered in December the effects of Credit Suisse takeover, but concluded such a move was not desirable. MAY May 9 - UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti unveils his new leadership team, based largely on experienced UBS executives and keeping only Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner from the stricken bank. May 12 - Ermotti says the situation at Credit Suisse has stabilised. May 16: UBS flags in a regulatory filing tens of billions of dollars of potential costs - and benefits - from its takeover of Credit Suisse, underscoring the high stakes involved. May 17 - The office of the upper house of the Swiss parliament decides that Credit Suisse's rescue will be investigated by a special commission. May 23 - The Swiss finance ministry issues an order cancelling or reducing outstanding bonuses of Credit Suisse managers, implementing a decision announced in April. May 30 - Switzerland's Social Democratic Party says it has drawn up a proposal to shrink UBS assets after the takeover, saying the new bank posed huge risks for the country because of its size and an implicit state guarantee. JUNE June 2 - UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti warns of painful decisions about job cuts following the takeover of Credit Suisse, which he said should be finalised in a few days, and dismisses concerns the new bank will be too big for Switzerland. June 8 - Switzerland's parliament formally approves a special commission to investigate Credit Suisse collapse and rescue. June 9 - UBS and the Swiss government agree on the conditions of a 9 billion Swiss franc guarantee for potential losses stemming from sales of some Credit Suisse assets, clearing the final hurdle before the deal's close. ($1 = 0.8889 Swiss francs) ($1 = 0.9025 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Following months of attacks against the crypto industry by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), two Republican congressmen have decidedly had enough of the agencys chairman. Today I filed the SEC Stabilization Act to restructure the SEC and fire Gary Gensler, announced Warren Davidson (R-OH) on Twitter Monday. U.S. capital markets must be protected from a tyrannical Chairman, including the current one. Joining Davidson in creating the legislation is Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) the crypto-supportive House Majority Whip who has repeatedly blasted Gensler for his incompetence in governing the crypto market and driving the industry overseas. Gensler Is Driving Crypto to Communist China, Says Republican Congressman In a press release related to the legislation on Emmers website, the politicians cited a long list of abuses Gensler has committed while in office, including a hotel California rule for crypto providing no resolution and no clarity for the captives in the market. American investors and industry deserve clear and consistent oversight, not political gamesmanship, said Emmer in a statement. Each congressmans criticisms are reminiscent of those levied by the industry itself. Crypto exchange Coinbasewhich was sued by the SEC on Tuesday for securities law violationstold Decrypt last week that the SEC is pursuing an enforcement-only approach without clear rules surrounding digital assets. On Thursday, Binance US accused the SEC of using fear tactics to pursue an ideological campaign against the American digital asset industry. Europes Crypto Regulations Can Be a 'Model' for Rules in US, Says Hester Peirce Gensler has even faced criticism within his agency from SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce (sometimes referred to as Crypto Mom), who has often objected in vain to the commissions attempt to regulate crypto using existing financial industry rules. Besides firing Gensler, Davidson, and Emmers legislation would give commissioners like Peirce more influence by placing rulemaking, enforcement, and investigation authority under six commissionersone more than the existing five. The #SECStabilizationAct explained Fires Chair @GaryGensler All rulemaking, enforcement, & investigations conducted by 6 commissioners Creates ED Role for day-to-day operations Thank you, @GOPMajorityWhip for helping lead this legislation. pic.twitter.com/QFEHePJh1h Warren Davidson (@WarrenDavidson) June 12, 2023 Of those commissioners, no more than three could be part of the same political party, and they would be subject to staggered six-year terms. Meanwhile, an Executive Director would handle the agencys daily operations. Davidson confirmed last month that Congress had taken the White Houses proposed 30% Bitcoin mining tax off the table as part of the nations ongoing debt ceiling negotiations. (Bloomberg) -- Cryptocurrencies resumed losses Monday, though staying above their weekend lows, as last weeks regulatory crackdown by the US Securities and Exchange Commission weighed on sentiment. Most Read from Bloomberg Bitcoin dropped 1.2% to $25,827 as of 9:42 a.m. in New York after slipping as much as 3.9% on Saturday. Polygons MATIC slid 2% and Chainlinks LINK dropped 1.6%. Both MATIC and LINK had slumped more than 10% Saturday. The SEC launched lawsuits last week against market leaders Binance Holdings Ltd. and Coinbase Global Inc., and flagged a number of altcoins as unregistered securities, including MATIC, Solanas SOL and Cardanos ADA. An index created by CryptoQuant that tracks tokens listed as securities by the SEC has tumbled by 28% since June 4, compared with a 4% drop in a combined index of Bitcoin and Ether. The tokens have lost around $23 billion in market capitalization since the SEC lawsuits last week. Sentiment remains shaky in the digital-asset sector after the recent regulatory clampdowns in the US, spurring market makers to pull out funds, said Richard Galvin, co-founder at DACM, a Sydney-based hedge fund that invests in digital assets. There was some bounceback after the overselling on the weekend, but markets are extremely fragile. Crypto exchange Binance said Friday its US-based unit will halt the use of dollars on the platform as banking partners are preparing to withdraw support. The pace of withdrawals from Binance has slowed, and it saw $138 million in net outflows in the past 24-hours on the Ethereum blockchain, according to data from Nansen. Still, Binance.USs market depth, or the the exchanges ability to absorb relatively large market orders without significantly impacting the price of the security, continues to deteriorate, according to to researcher Kaiko. Net outflows from Binance are not insignificant but still much smaller than what we saw in November during the FTX collapse, as Binance isnt currently facing a crisis of confidence from their users, said Caroline Mauron, co-founder of digital-asset derivatives liquidity provider OrBit Markets. An index of the biggest 100 digital tokens declined 0.8%. The total crypto market cap slipped to $1.09 trillion on Monday, according to data from CoinGecko. Crypto specific factors are playing the main role given the recent SEC actions, DACMs Galvin said. It seems like there is a resistance on the downside at $1 trillion market cap, he said. Regulatory uncertainty over the classification of crypto tokens is adding to investor jitters. While US regulators view Bitcoin as a commodity, SEC Chair Gary Gensler has said most other tokens are subject to the agencys investor-protection laws and that trading platforms should register with the regulator. Robinhood Markets Inc.s decision Friday to drop certain altcoins from its platform just days after the SEC brought enforcement actions against Binance and Coinbase also weighed on sentiment. There is some rotation of capital from altcoins into Bitcoin given higher dominance of BTC, said Stefan von Haenisch, head of sales trading at OSL SG Pte in Singapore. Still, $26,000 for Bitcoin looks like immediate short-term resistance, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAOs, have no company HQ, replace traditional hierarchies with flat management structures, are governed by crypto holders, and are built on rules that are automatically enforced on a blockchain. Advocates of DAOs claim that they'll radically alter the way businesses are run. They're already hard at work; several DAOs have already been launched, and they've created some pretty cool things. What is a DAO? A DAO is an organization where control is spread out across the participants, instead of being built on a top-down hierarchy. A DAO can be seen as operating like a machine, with the job it is instructed to carry out determined by pre-written smart contracts. How do DAOs work? A community can adapt a DAO and program it according to its own goals. Code is written in the form of smart contracts, which provides some sort of governance mechanism. Members typically use governance tokens to vote on decisions made by the DAO, such as the allocation of funds. In the case of many DAOs, the impact of a member's vote can increase based on the amount they have contributed to the project. The outcome can be based on the degree of participation as well as voting preference. What advantages do DAOs have? Transparency - voting, funding decisions, and other actions are viewable by anyone. More firepower - members across the world can contribute, giving DAOs lower barriers to entry than companies. Cheaper - the concept has firmly taken root in the DeFi, and there are many toolswhich can be used like Legos, so little needs to be built from scratch. Collaborative - giving everyone a voice pools mass knowledge for a proposal and enables experts to invest in the ecosystem they are building. "We believe the DAO will play a starring role as the world makes the shift to Web 3.0, paving the way for fully decentralized companies." What disadvantages do DAOs have? Flat structure - by not having a clear authority figure, or chain of command, decentralized organizations are slower to operate as decisions take longer to make. Disagreements - when the community disagrees strongly, it could split the organization into two. No change - in some DAOs, those with the most tokens call the shots, so governance looks very similar to traditional organizations. Legality - minefields abound in relation to token projects that might be deemed to be securities. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin developed the idea of DAOs in 2013. At first they were called Decentralized Autonomous Corporations (DACs). DAOs come in all shapes and sizes Crypto projects - considered to be DAOs if they are managed by decentralized governance where token holders can vote on the direction of the project. e.g. MakerDAO. Grant funding - a DAO can be used to award development funds automatically based on set criteria. e.g. MolochDAO. Investment - MolochDAO has been forked many times to create for-profit DAOs which can distribute and transfer shares and other assets between members. such as MetaCartel Ventures. Collecting - the non-fungible token (NFT) boom has seen collector DAOs such as PleasrDAO flourish. MetaCartel Ventures is registered as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in crypto-friendly Delaware. What was The DAO? The DAO was the earliest example of a DAO. It was created by Slock.it and was built on the Ethereum network. Its code was open source, which anyone could contribute to. The DAO was designed to work as a venture fund platform for crypto projects. A pitch would be made and anyone with DAO tokens could vote on projects to award funding. However, The DAO never made it to liftoff. The DAO raised 12.7M Ether, worth around $150M at the time. On June 17, 2016, a hacker managed to exploit a few lines of code allowing the move of 3.6 million ETH, worth $70 million. Yet the funds were moved to a Child DAO and couldnt be moved for 28 days, giving the Ethereum community time to make a fix. They made a hard fork to the chain now known as Ethereum, leaving the old fork, Ethereum Classic, behind. During this fork, they re-wrote the blockchain so that the hack never happened, meaning the blockchain was no longer immutable. "[The DAO] raised massive awareness around the platform [] demonstrating unequivocally the need for a decentralized structure of this nature." Development on DAOs continued, but out of the limelight. Projects such as Aragon, DAOstack, DAOHaus, and Colony learned key lessons from the original DAO, and now build and run DAOs for some of the largest decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. The 2020 decentralized finance (DeFi) boom brought a fresh wave of interest to the DAOs that underpinned many of the leading projects. The future of DAOs DAOs have seen a big revival of interest in the last few years, with hundreds of developers working on technical innovations, improvements to governance mechanisms, and voting solutions. Decentralized autonomous organisations have been particularly active in the creative industries, with DAOs forming to create "headless" fashion brands, perfumes and filmmaking communities. In many cases, these creative DAOs retain an element of centralization; for example, while filmmaking DAO Decentralized Pictures allows token holders to vote for a shortlist of film projects to win funding, the final decision on which project receives the award is made by a board of judges. SEC Halts Token Registration for First Legally Recognized DAO Enthusiasts believe that DAOs will soon become more sophisticated. Trends include anonymity, progressive decentralization, and better incentives towards participation. Future DAOs may employ prediction markets, and begin voting and acting as delegators in other DAOs. Decrypt itself has become a founding member of PubDAO, a decentralized crypto news wire that aims to be a first step towards a decentralized, collaborative publishing ecoystem. Introducing PubDAO, a Decentralized Crypto News Wire Will DAOs start to change the way that companies operate and raise money? Soon you too might be a member of a DAO, voting on the right way for your business to move forward, without having a boss telling you what to do. Let's talk about the popular Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG). The company's shares saw a significant share price rise of over 20% in the past couple of months on the NYSE. As a large-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Lets take a look at Chipotle Mexican Grills outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if the opportunity still exists. View our latest analysis for Chipotle Mexican Grill What's The Opportunity In Chipotle Mexican Grill? Chipotle Mexican Grill is currently expensive based on my price multiple model, where I look at the company's price-to-earnings ratio in comparison to the industry average. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that Chipotle Mexican Grills ratio of 54.53x is above its peer average of 19.93x, which suggests the stock is trading at a higher price compared to the Hospitality industry. But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Given that Chipotle Mexican Grills share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Can we expect growth from Chipotle Mexican Grill? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. Chipotle Mexican Grill's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 79%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? CMGs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above industry price multiples. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question should I sell? If you believe CMG should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on CMG for some time, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for CMG, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Chipotle Mexican Grill you should know about. If you are no longer interested in Chipotle Mexican Grill, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Riyadh Air, an airline owned by the Saudi wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund), heralded new era in travel when its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flew on low altitude over several notable landmarks in the Riyadh skyline, including KAFD, Boulevard city and some of the iconic main towers, thus thrilling residents with a glimpse of their new airline. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the first of Riyadh Airs two liveries to be revealed. The liveried aircraft took flight over its home city ahead of its public debut at the 54th Paris Air Show. The Dreamliner, painted with the modern and striking livery, was revealed in Riyadh at King Khaled International Airport, at a ceremony attended by several top executives and official dignitaries. Riyadh Air's brand identity reflects the modern and forward-thinking theme of Saudi Arabia. It is inspired by the warmth and hospitality of the kingdom and the vibrant lavender colours that carpet the desert in the spring, the beautiful livery is one of a series which will continue to push boundaries in aviation. It has been designed to incorporate visual references to the kingdom and the city which include the sweeping curves of Arabic script with the global campaign tagline 'The Future Takes Flight.' The aircraft flew on low altitude over several notable landmarks in the Riyadh skyline, including KAFD, Boulevard city and some of the iconic main towers, thrilling residents with a glimpse of their new airline while sharing the pride of seeing the new national carrier in the Kingdom. The aircraft will then make its public debut on June 19 at the 54th Paris Air Show as part of Riyadh Airs first appearance to global audiences. (Bloomberg) -- The Dutch government is working on legislation that will be used to bar Chinese students from university programs on sensitive technologies including semiconductors and defense, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg While language in the planned legislation will likely avoid specifically mentioning China, the clear intention is to prevent students from the Asian nation gaining access to sensitive material in their studies, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private. The measures, still in draft phase, are the latest escalation in a diplomatic fight between the Netherlands and China over the semiconductor industry. The Dutch government earlier this year agreed to join the US effort to further restrict exports of chip technology to China and started an investigation into the takeover of local chipmaker Nowi by a Chinese-owned firm Nexperia, stoking tensions with one of its biggest trading partners. The Dutch Ministry of Education confirmed that it is working on measures to introduce a mandatory screening of students and researchers in sensitive subject areas, according to an emailed statement. It said that any measures would be country-neutral and not target any specific country, the ministry said. A recent Dutch intelligence agency report claimed that China poses the greatest threat to the nations economic security. The country is one of the Netherlandss biggest trading partners. The intelligence agency said many Dutch companies and institutions find it difficult to make a proper risk assessment of economic and scientific cooperation with China. The country often conceals that the Chinese government or the Chinese army may be involved in such cooperation in the background, said the report. The disadvantages of cooperation often only become apparent in the longer term. It also said that China targets Dutch high-tech companies and institutions through corporate takeovers, academic cooperation, as well as illegitimate (digital) espionage, insiders, covert investments and illegal exports. Earlier this year, ASML Holding NV, a critical cog in the global semiconductor industry, accused a former China-based employee of stealing confidential information. The Dutch technology company, which makes machines needed to produce high-end chips used in everything from electric vehicles to military gear, initiated an internal investigation and tightened security controls after discovering the incident, which may have violated export controls. The Netherlands, one of the worlds top sources of machinery and expertise needed to make advanced semiconductors, is facing increasing pressure from Washington to help forge a global blockade to stifle Beijings rise in chip-making. But ASML is the countrys and Europes most valuable tech company, and China is one of its biggest customers. Read more: ASML, Europes Most Valuable Tech Firm, Defines Global Chip War The Dutch have been navigating a middle ground between the US and China in the escalating battle over the worlds chip supply chain. Dutch measures to expand restrictions on exports of the latest semiconductor technology appeared to fall short of measures the Biden administration took last year, as the US spearheads efforts to limit exports machinery and knowhow to China. The Dutch decision to bar some Chinese students comes as the number of U.S. student visas issued to Chinese nationals plunged by more than 50% in the first half of 2022 compared with pre-Covid levels amid strained political ties, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. The Dutch government recently implemented the Investments, Mergers and Acquisitions Security Test Act, which enables it to limit the size of investments or block a deal with international companies on the basis of national security. Like the anticipated law on screening students, the new legislation on acquisitions is also country-neutral. But at the moment, Russia and China are among countries the Netherlands needs to be extra alert about, Economic Affairs Minister Micky Adriaansens told Bloomberg in an interview. The Financial Times reported earlier that the government plans to vet international students from China due to potential risk to national security, citing an interview with the Dutch Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf. Dutch universities currently decide independently on the admission applications of international students and researchers applying for sensitive programs. They have the option to reach out to a government-led question booth on how to deal with these considerations. In 2022, 89 questions were filed to the government from universities; 52 were about China, 21 were Russia-related and 16 were on Iran, Dijkgraaf said in a letter to parliament in December. In April, ASML and Eindhoven University of Technology announced shared research program that will cost several hundred million euros on artificial intelligence and semiconductor lithography. The program, which will include an ASML cleanroom on the university campus and the firms engineers teaching international scientific talents, will create up to 40 PhD positions yearly, according to a statement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Eckoh plc (LON:ECK) insiders who bought shares over the past year were rewarded handsomely last week. The stock rose 14%, resulting in a UK14m rise in the company's market capitalisation. Put another way, the original UK44k acquisition is now worth UK49k. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Check out our latest analysis for Eckoh Eckoh Insider Transactions Over The Last Year The Independent Non-Executive Director David Coghlan made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK44k worth of shares at a price of UK0.35 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of UK0.39. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. Happily, the Eckoh insider decided to buy shares at close to current prices. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was David Coghlan. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Eckoh is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Our data indicates that Eckoh insiders own about UK4.5m worth of shares (which is 4.0% of the company). We do generally prefer see higher levels of insider ownership. What Might The Insider Transactions At Eckoh Tell Us? Our data shows a little insider buying, but no selling, in the last three months. The net investment is not enough to encourage us much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Eckoh insiders bought more shares in the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Eckoh. To assist with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Eckoh. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Elon Musk pokes fun at elite investor Bill Miller for shorting Tesla stock when it was less than half its current level Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke during the unveiling of the Tesla Model Y in Hawthorne, California, on March 14, 2019. Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images Elon Musk appeared to mock the legendary investor Bill Miller for shorting Tesla stock in January. Miller said he bet against Tesla at the time because of increasing competition from other carmakers. Tesla's market value has surged about 116% since Miller cast his bearish calls. Elon Musk poked fun at the legendary investor Bill Miller for shorting Tesla stock when it was less than half its current value. In a tweet on Saturday, the Tesla and SpaceX chief replied with a laughing emoji in response to a CNBC interview in early January in which Miller said that he was betting against the electric-vehicle carmaker because of increased industry competition. "I shorted it recently. I shorted more today. If it goes up, I'll short more," Miller said at the time. "Tesla is now losing market share. They're cutting price. BYD is introducing a luxury version over in China. It's a phenomenal company, but it's not worth $380 billion, in my opinion," Miller told CNBC. "I just don't think it's worth more than the top five automakers in the world combined. And all of them are coming with electric vehicles." Tesla's market cap currently stands at $774.6 billion. At the time of Miller's interview, the EV maker's market value was around $357 billion, showing the company's valuation has surged around 116% since. Its stock price was at $244.40 as of Friday's close. The stock surge was fueled in part by investor hopes that the Federal Reserve would ease up on its interest-rate-hike campaign, alongside a pickup in demand for Tesla vehicles because of price cuts in the US and China. The Wedbush analyst Dan Ives recently forecasted that Tesla's stock would soar 22% after the EV maker entered into deals that would allow both GM and Ford to use its charging network. Read the original article on Business Insider NYSE American:EU TSXV:EU www.encoreuranium.com DALLAS, June 12, 2023 /CNW/ - enCore Energy Corp. ("enCore" or the "Company") (NYSE American: EU) (TSXV: EU) announced today the release of its first Annual Report, now available on its website at https://encoreuranium.com/investors/annual-report/. enCore has made solid progress to work towards 2023 domestic uranium production as essential fuel for clean, reliable and secure energy in the United States. This year's Annual Report focuses on the Company's objectives, business plan, the nuclear industry, and the fast-paced progress the Company has made throughout 2022 and into 2023. enCore Energy Logo (CNW Group/enCore Energy Corp.) enCore is focused on becoming the leading domestic producer of uranium in the United States. The Company will utilize the proven in-situ recovery technology (ISR) to provide fuel for the generation of clean, reliable and carbon-free energy. enCore's goal is to establish an annual production rate of 3 million pounds U 3 O 8 per year by the end of 2026 and 5 million pounds U 3 O 8 per year by the end of 2028. About enCore Energy Corp. enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Company, is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable domestic nuclear energy by becoming the next United States uranium producer in 2023. enCore solely utilizes In-Situ Recovery (ISR) for uranium extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy. In-Situ Recovery extracts uranium in a non-invasive process using natural groundwater and oxygen, coupled with a proven ion exchange process, to recover the uranium. Uranium production is planned at enCore's licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant in 2023, and at its licensed and past-producing South Texas Alta Mesa Processing Plant in 2024. Future projects in enCore's production pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming, along with significant uranium resource endowments in New Mexico providing long term opportunities. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore diligently works to realize value from other owned assets, including our proprietary uranium database that includes technical information from many past producing companies, from our various non-core assets, and by leveraging our ISR expertise in researching opportunities that support the use of this technology as applied to other metals. enCore is also committed to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments. www.encoreuranium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information contained in this news release, including: any information relating to the Company being a leading uranium company; and any other statements regarding future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects; may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws and regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "expects", "is expected", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken) should be considered forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of enCore to implement its business strategies; and other risks. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation exploration and development risks, changes in commodity prices, access to skilled mining personnel, the results of exploration and development activities; production risks; uninsured risks; regulatory risks; defects in title; the availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations; risks posed by the economic and political environments in which the Company operates and intends to operate; increased competition; assumptions regarding market trends and the expected demand and desires for the Company's products and proposed products; reliance on industry equipment manufacturers, suppliers and others; the failure to adequately protect intellectual property; the failure to adequately manage future growth; adverse market conditions, the failure to satisfy ongoing regulatory requirements and factors relating to forward looking statements listed above which include risks as disclosed in the Company's annual information form filings. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the various securities commissions which are available online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/encore-energy-publishes-2022-annual-report-to-shareholders-301847690.html SOURCE enCore Energy Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2023/12/c1957.html EU regulators may demand Google to sell part of ad-tech business - source FILE PHOTO: The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York City By Foo Yun Chee (Reuters) - European Union antitrust regulators may order Alphabet Inc's Google to sell a part of its advertising-technology business, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday. The EU's top antitrust watchdog, the European Commission, could issue a formal charge sheet against Google as early as Wednesday, the source said, further intensifying trans-Atlantic efforts to diminish the tech giant's dominance in digital ads. In 2022, the Commission launched an investigation into Google's sweeping presence at almost all levels of the supply chain for online display advertising, expressing concern about its dominant position. Break-up orders from the EU competition enforcer are rare. However, frustration has been mounting after Google failed to address competition concerns, the source said. The Commission and Google did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. First-quarter ad sales at Alphabet slipped from a year earlier to $54.55 billion, but beat what analysts were expecting. The Google parent's total revenue during the period stood at $69.79 billion. Google's dominance in online advertising has been increasingly questioned over the past few years. Complaints from rivals about its allegedly anti-competitive practices have led to antitrust investigations in multiple continents concerning its practices. Earlier this year, the United States launched an ad tech lawsuit against Google demanding the sale of its ad manager suite, and had argued that the search giant illegally abused its dominance of online advertising. Google has denied any wrongdoing. The EU's likely move was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday. (This June 12 story has been corrected to say 'charge sheet' instead of 'complaint' in paragraph 2) (Additional reporting by Nilutpal Timsina and Akriti Sharma; Editing by Maju Samuel) How UBS now faces a mountain to climb after taking over Credit Suisse ZURICH (Reuters) - With its Credit Suisse takeover officially wrapped up, UBS must now make good on its promise that the government-orchestrated rescue will deliver both for shareholders and Swiss taxpayers. The world's biggest banking deal since the 2008 financial crisis has forged a wealth manager with an unrivalled global reach and $5 trillion in assets under management, handing UBS an overnight lead it would otherwise have taken years to achieve in key markets. Arranged over a weekend in March to stave off a broader banking crisis, and backed by up to 250 billion Swiss francs ($281 billion) in public funds - the tie-up now poses huge challenges and potential rewards for Switzerland and its biggest bank. Switzerland must now contend with a bank whose balance sheet is twice as big as its economy, while Sergio Ermotti, who was brought back in as CEO to oversee the mega merger, faces tough strategic decisions as UBS integrates its smaller rival against an uncertain economic backdrop. THE SWISS BANK Possibly the first hurdle is a politically fraught decision on Credit Suisse's "crown jewel", its domestic business. Bringing this into UBS and combining largely overlapping networks could produce significant savings and Ermotti has suggested doing so was the base scenario for the integration. But UBS will have to weigh that against public pressure to keep the Credit Suisse business separate with its own brand, identity and, critically, workforce. The unit had almost 7,300 staff at the end of 2022 and a 1.43 billion Swiss franc operating profit while the entire group suffered heavy losses. A combined business would have a dominant position in the Swiss loan market, while public unease over a Swiss mega-bank, could lead to even tougher regulation and capital requirements. UBS has said all options, which could include an initial public offering, are open, with a decision due within months. BLEEDING STAFF, CLIENTS? UBS has stressed its intention to move quickly to prevent staff and customer departures, with Chairman Colm Kelleher recently signalling net gains in business in some areas. However, insiders talk of rivals aggressively wooing Credit Suisse clients and employees. One said about 200 people were leaving the bank each week. Investors, finance experts and analysts say keeping, and growing, business while improving staff morale might be the biggest challenge of all. Clients who would typically bank both with UBS and Credit Suisse to spread their risk, might now take some of that business elsewhere. "One plus one will not equal two. A sizeable portion of the assets will be lost and that will have an impact on the profitability for UBS of the deal," said Alan Mudie, chief investment officer at Woodman Asset Management. Moreover, such a complex operation risks the bank turning inwards, at the expense of innovation and customer service. "My client relationship manager is going to be more worried about keeping their job than servicing my needs," said Arturo Bris, Professor of Finance at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne. 'CULTURAL FILTER' UBS, which has said it aims to finish the two banks' integration in three to four years, also made clear its combined workforce - now at around 120,000 - will need to shrink. UBS Chairman Kelleher has openly spoken about fears of "cultural contamination" and applying a "cultural filter" to staff from Credit Suisse's investment bank, citing inadequate risk controls and unchecked growth and capital spending. All that contributes to uncertainty, which could make it harder for the combined group to keep top performers and recruit new staff, some observers warn. "An overhaul creates nervousness among all employees, also among the top performers," said Lars Schweizer, professor of finance at Frankfurt University, adding they often get approached by headhunters with offers from competitors. SKELETONS? While UBS has already provided a financial snapshot of the combined group and earmarked tens of billions of dollars for cost and possible losses arising from the tie-up, it has also warned the numbers could change materially over time. UBS said it had found no skeletons in Credit Suisse's books, but only now will it gain full insight into a bank which has suffered from years of scandals, loose oversight and in March an admission of material weaknesses in its controls. One potential risk stems from legal challenges to the decision by Swiss authorities to write off special AT1 bonds issued by Credit Suisse. While UBS is not a party to these legal actions, it could add to its funding costs. INVESTMENT BANK HEADACHE UBS executives said they aim to radically shrink Credit Suisse's investment bank. Yet there are questions over how far and how quickly UBS will run down the business and at what cost. The Swiss government is providing a guarantee of up to 9 billion Swiss francs for potential losses related to Credit Suisse's investment bank on top of up to 5 billion francs in losses UBS has agreed to assume. 'POISONED CHALICE' Ermotti promised his team would "work very hard" to avoid any consequences for taxpayers and analysts say that with Swiss federal elections due in October, UBS needs to tread carefully. On paper, UBS does not seem to need any public funds, with a nearly $35 billion financial cushion from buying Credit Suisse at a fraction of its book value. Still, talks on the backstop held since the deal was announced on March 19, suggest UBS was keen to secure what Barclays called a "poisoned chalice" because of potential for political backlash. While Ermotti has played down concerns UBS will get too big, Switzerland's second-largest political party has proposed drastically shrinking its assets, saying the lender's scale and an implicit state guarantee raised the risk of another expensive rescue. (Reporting by John Revill and Oliver Hirt; Additional reporting by Noele Illien; Writing by Tomasz Janowski; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Alexander Smith) First Mover Asia: Here's Why Bitcoin's Support is Holding at $25K Good morning. Heres whats happening: Prices: Amid regulatory challenges and liquidity issues, the crypto market, especially bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH), remains resilient. Insights: Why can't crypto exchanges have more simple corporate structures? Prices CoinDesk Market Index (CMI) 1,096 6.3 0.6% Bitcoin (BTC) $25,912 +99.0 0.4% Ethereum (ETH) $1,748 2.9 0.2% S&P 500 4,298.86 +4.9 0.1% Gold $1,975 +12.5 0.6% Nikkei 225 32,265.17 +623.9 2.0% BTC/ETH prices per CoinDesk Indices, as of 7 a.m. ET (11 a.m. UTC) Buying Pressure is Keeping Bitcoin From Dipping More What a week it was. U.S. regulators are on a warpath, going after major crypto exchanges and declaring a handful of major altcoins as securities a scarlet letter in crypto terms. But the crypto market is proving resilient. Bitcoin is opening the Asia trading week up 0.4% to $25,912, while ether is slightly down to $1,748. The liquidity situation has worsened considerably. This is exacerbated by the departure of institutional investors from the market, particularly US-based market makers, who anticipate potential scrutiny from the SEC, said Johnny Teng, Senior Researcher at LBank Labs, in a note to CoinDesk. While the S&P 500 continues to achieve new monthly highs, the crypto market remains troublesome. Teng says that bitcoin's performance remains robust amidst minimal selling interest in both bitcoin and ether. Notable factors, such as interest rates, stablecoin outflow trends, policy-related news in the US, China, and Europe, and cryptocurrency sector developments are under close observation by Teng's team to see what finally moves the needle. In a note to CoinDesk, BitBull Capitals Joe DiPasquale pointed to bitcoins support at $25K as still holding up reasonably well, but the upcoming release of new Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes could change that. Moving forward, market participants will do well to keep an eye on indications from regulators and decisions taken by Binance, Coinbase, and other exchanges, he said. Biggest Gainers Biggest Losers Insights A Plea for a More Simplistic Corporate Structure In the early days of FTXs bankruptcy proceedings, its restructuring team published a chart of its corporate structure. Sam Bankman-Frieds former empire had 300 employees but controlled 130 companies when it filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. All companies have subsidiaries, but companies that have this many subsidiaries are infinitely more complex operations. General Motors, a multinational with dozens of international partnerships and multiple product lines, has 455 subsidiaries for its $156.73 billion in revenue and 167,000 employees. To be sure, some of FTXs subsidiaries had a bonafide purpose. It needed to separate its licensed derivative business out from the corporate mothership; some of the major markets it operated in, like Japan, had separate entities because of the nuances of the market. Others have pointed to Bankman-Frieds father, Joseph Bankman, as the architect of the FTX leviathan, given that hes a professor specializing in taxation at Stanford Law. These days FTX is relatively out of the spotlight as Bankman-Frieds trial is months away. Now, its Binance thats under the gun as its faces dual cases from the CFTC and SEC. SEC Chair Gary Gensler told Bloomberg in an interview that there are parallels between FTX and Binance. Both are being accused of comingling, for start. But deeper than that are the similarities between Binance and FTXs corporate structures. As part of recent legal actions against Binance, the SEC listed out the dozens of corporate entities controlled by Changpeng CZ Zhao in a recent court filing. Inca Digital, a crypto forensics company, recently published a more comprehensive list which shows the web of firms connected to CZ and top Binance associates. Certainly, there are legitimate uses for such a long list of companies. But the parallels between FTX and Binance that SEC Chair Gensler alluded to continue with their corporate structures. CZ, for instance, often uses his personal name and personal accounts in Binance company operations, noted Inca Digital. The SEC also noted this in its complaint against Zhao (though Binance has denied any wrongdoing) as part of its accusations of comingling. Consider this a plea for a more simplistic corporate structure for crypto companies. FTXs restructuring team is charging tens of millions of dollars a month as they spend countless manhours picking apart its corporate web. Binances claims that CZ did nothing wrong would be more easily believed should its transactions look more straightforward to a trained eye: if Binance didnt rely so much on companies controlled by CZ, then it wouldnt look like comingling to the SECs accountants. For the record, Coinbase has 15 subsidiaries, according to a Feb. 2023 filing with the SEC. So it is possible to be a large crypto exchange and have a corporate structure that would fit on an A4 piece of paper. Important events. 2 p.m. HKT/SGT(6 a.m. UTC): Japan machine tool orders (May/YoY) 3 p.m. HKT/SGT(7 a.m. UTC): China M2 money supply/loans (May) CoinDesk TV In case you missed it, here is the most recent episode of "First Mover" on CoinDesk TV: Binance.US Suspends Dollar Deposits Binance.US says it's temporarily transitioning to an all-crypto exchange as of June 13, citing regulatory pressures from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which targeted the company with a major enforcement action this week. CoinDesk Global Policy & Regulation Managing Editor Nik De broke down the latest developments. And, AdvisorShares ETF Strategist Mackenzie Peterson took a look at the markets. Plus, co-founder and CEO Zachary Townsend discussed what the bitcoin-denominated life insurance provider plans to do with $19M in funding. Headlines Bitcoin Dominance Surges, Accounting For Nearly Half of The $1T Crypto Market, Amid Altcoin Selloff: Bitcoin's dominance rate neared the 50% mark early Saturday as altcoin crash triggered a flight to safety. SOL, ADA, MATIC Tokens Slide 20% in Sudden Move Days After SEC Lawsuit Allegations: Several tokens were alleged as securities earlier this week, leading to a possible risk-off among traders. Custodia's Suit Against Fed Over Denial of Master Account Can Proceed, Court Rules: The crypto-friendly bank was also denied immediate membership with the Federal Reserve, with the court saying Custodia could pursue membership through other channels. Binance and Coinbase: Experts Weigh Whats Coming Next: Will the SEC win? Will Binance close in the U.S.? What will Congress do? As the SEC launches wide-ranging suits against cryptos biggest players, we asked a range of experts to peer into the future. Can Binance Survive the SEC's Charges?: Dont bet against someone with eight million Twitter followers who built by far the largest crypto exchange. 'The Flash' gets lost in the multiverse but at least Michael Keaton's Batman exists there Im Batman. Michael Keaton uttering that iconic line is one of the best things about The Flash. Its also one of the worst or at least signals one of the films biggest weaknesses. This is not because it isnt a great moment. It is. Keatons Batman introducing himself to a criminal in Tim Burtons 1989 Batman established him as the best ever in the role. His reprising it here was a fitting and powerful callback. Everyone knows the line is coming it was in a Super Bowl commercial earlier this year. And when it happens in the film, Keaton delivers. (The audience at the screening I attended cheered. Maybe, ahem, so did I.) Are these the 100 greatest movies ever? See if you agree with this Arizona author's picks One problem is that the movie is 'The Flash,' not 'Batman' Barry Allen (Ezra Miller, center) gets help in his efforts to fix a time-travel mistake from his teenage self (also Miller) and Supergirl (Sasha Calle) in "The Flash." The problem is the movie isnt called Batman. And the Keaton callback is just one of a laundry list of them. So many, in fact, that they overwhelm the narrative. You pay a lot more attention to the cool stuff than the plot development. The callbacks and self-referential elements are part and parcel of any superhero franchise involving the multiverse which is basically all of them now. The notion of several universes existing at one time can be intriguing, as it is in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Or it can be a storytelling shortcut, like when Marvel killed off half its heroes and brought them back because, well, because. Here it falls somewhere in-between. What is the plot of 'The Flash?' Ezra Miller reprises his role as "Justice League" speedster Barry Allen in DC's new superhero movie "The Flash." When the film begins, Barry Allen, also known as the Flash when hes suited up, is tired. (Note: Ezra Miller, who plays Barry/Flash, has legal problems that are well documented, relating to disturbing accusations. Whether they should be in the film or whether you should support the film because they are in it is up to you. For what its worth, they are outstanding. But that forgives nothing.) Hes tired because his blood sugar is dipping and hes tired of being the glorified janitor of the Justice League and he usually ends up cleaning Batmans messes, he complains to Alfred (Jeremy Irons), Bruce Waynes trusty butler. Batman played by Ben Affleck in this universe is saving the world, so the Flash has to save a hospital. Its a funny scene, wholly implausible, which seems like an odd complaint in a movie involving several universes. Still, its more like a CGI display than anything else. Once thats done, Barry prepares for his dads hearing the next day. His father (Ron Livingston), you may recall, was convicted of murdering Barrys mom (Maribel Verdu). When his father had to go to the store to get a can of tomatoes, the murder happened. Barry has been fighting for his innocence ever since. What if, Barry thinks aloud, he can run faster than the speed of light and thus go back in time and change things? Bruce warns him against it the Butterfly effect and all that but Barry believes if he just puts the can of tomatoes in his moms shopping cart, all will be well. Has he ever seen a science-fiction movie? A crime inspired Tammy Leitner's book: Surviving trauma became its message I'm sick of multiverse do-overs, of which, 'The Flash' has many A debuting Supergirl (Sasha Calle, center) teams with multiple versions of the title speedster (Ezra Miller) in the DC superhero movie "The Flash." It goes well at first. But it turns out Barry hasnt gone back hes gone to a different dimension. And soon the Barry who lives there comes home to join his parents for dinner, at the table where the Barry we know is sitting. Meanwhile, General Zod (Michael Shannon, woefully underused) is threatening Earth, as he did in a previous film. That resulted in thousands of deaths, which haunt Batman. But in this world, Superman and Wonder Woman and the rest arent around. Batman is, however, but hes been missing from the public eye for a while. So the two Barrys set out to find him, to prevent a similar disaster from happening in this world. They do, of course, and in this world hes Keaton. They then travel together to Russia where they think Superman is being held; instead, its Supergirl (Sasha Calle). They stand against Zod in one of those mind-numbing battle sequences seemingly required of the genre. Only this one has do-overs, thanks to the multiverse. But is that a good idea? I repeat: have you ever seen a science-fiction movie? Logic devolves, cameos abound there are two that are truly inspired, one of which involves legendary recasting and lessons are learned. The cameos are the best thing about 'The Flash' Director Andy Muschietti (the It movies) juggles a lot of balls and a lot of intellectual property. Miller has really good chemistry with, well, Miller. Calles role is somewhat thankless. Keaton is, of course, the big draw for anyone old enough to remember Burtons Batman. The action is hit or miss, and the humor lands in a lot of scenes. But there is so much, and not all of it drives the story. Instead, as youre laughing and nodding in approval at a genuinely excellent casting in-joke you stop and think, wait, whats going on here again? What is the crisis theyre trying to solve? Oh right, save parents, save the world, thats it. Maybe its more streamlined in a different universe. Thats the version Id like to see. 'The Flash' 3.5 stars Great Good Fair Bad Bomb Director: Andy Muschietti. Cast: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle. Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity. How to watch: In theaters Friday, June 16. Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. What are you waiting for? This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'The Flash' movie review: Michael Keaton stands out in the multiverse Microsofts (MSFT) planned acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI) is facing another roadblock as the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit seeking to squash the deal. In the suit, the FTC is seeking a permanent injunction and temporary restraining order that would prevent the Xbox maker from completing its deal to buy Activision Blizzard until the commission wraps up its own lawsuit against the move. The FTC filed its original lawsuit objecting to the $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition in December 2022, saying it would, "enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription content and cloud-gaming business." But Microsoft would still be able to complete the acquisition while it battles the FTC in the commission's court. Filing the federal lawsuit would stop Microsoft from being able to finalize the deal until the FTC's own suit wraps up. "If consummated, the proposed acquisition would be the largest in the history of the video game industry and the largest in Microsofts history," the suit states. "With control of Activisions content, Microsoft would have the ability and increased incentive to withhold or degrade Activisions content in ways that substantially lessen competitionincluding competition on product quality, price, and innovation. This loss of competition would likely result in significant harm to consumers in multiple markets at a pivotal time for the industry." In a statement Microsoft VP Brad Smith said the company welcomes the opportunity to present its case in a federal court. "We believe accelerating the legal process in the US will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market," he added. Sign up for the Yahoo Finance newsletter. In a letter to employees, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said the FTC's suit will allow the company to present the facts about the case more quickly. "Our excellent legal team has been preparing for this move for more than a year, and we're ready to present our case to a federal judge who can evaluate the transaction on the merits," Kotick said. "The facts are on our side, and we will continue to keep you updated throughout the process." It's not just the US that's seeking to block the merger. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has also objected to the acquisition on fears that it would give Microsoft too much power in the gaming space. The company is appealing that decision. Acquiring Activision Blizzard would be a massive boon for Microsoft's gaming business. The video game giant counts the incredibly popular Call of Duty as one of its marquee franchises, which would drive billions in revenue toward Microsofts Xbox division. Last years Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II brought in $1 billion in its first 10 days on the market. But its not just about Call of Duty. The deal would also give Microsoft the ability to offer Activision Blizzards various franchises via its Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service that allows gamers to download hundreds of games each month. Game Passs top tier includes Microsofts cloud gaming service, which allows you to play games on your console as well as stream them to devices ranging from smartphones to smart TVs for $15 per month. Cloud gaming is still in its early stages Microsoft refers to the platform as a beta but the company is angling for it to become the de facto means for users to play in the future. Building up Game Pass, then, would give Microsoft first-mover advantage in the market. The company is already beating Sony (SONY) and Nvidia (NVDA) in the cloud market, with the UKs Competition and Markets Authority estimating that Microsoft controls 60% to 70% of the cloud gaming market share. Adding Activision Blizzard to the pool would make it even more of a dominant force. Then theres Activision Blizzards King mobile gaming line, which includes Candy Crush Saga. Adding that would ensure that Microsoft has a foothold in one of the fastest-growing gaming spaces. Microsoft still has a chance to overcome the FTC's lawsuit, but the commission isn't looking to make it easier on the software giant. Microsoft isn't the only big tech company under pressure from regulators. European Union regulators reportedly plan to target Alphabets lucrative ad tech business. On Monday, Bloomberg said the regulator is expected to file an antitrust complaint against Google disputing the legality of the business unit, which in 2022 drove approximately 80% of the companys total revenue. Last year the companys ad sales accounted for about $225 billion of the $278.6 billion market where Google controls most of the technology to buy, sell, and serve advertisements online. In 2021, Googles annual revenues in this space, $209.5 billion. Daniel Howley is the tech editor at Yahoo Finance. He's been covering the tech industry since 2011. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHowley. 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 The Activision Blizzard booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press) The Federal Trade Commission is moving to block the tech giant Microsoft from acquiring the gaming powerhouse Activision Blizzard, a spokesperson for the agency said. "We have filed a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent them from closing while review continues, the FTC spokesperson said, citing reports that the two companies could close the deal soon. "We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court," Brad Smith, Microsoft's vice chair and president, said in a statement emailed to The Times. "We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S. will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market." In early 2022, Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella announced a plan to buy Activision Blizzard the Santa Monica maker of popular gaming franchises including Call of Duty and World of Warcraft for $68.7 billion. That push came after a protracted series of scandals in which Activision Blizzard employees alleged that the company, run by CEO Bobby Kotick, harbored a hostile, sexist, discriminatory workplace. Californias Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against the video game maker, and some employees sued. A settlement with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission led Activision to establish an $18-million fund for workers who experienced sexual harassment or discrimination at the company, among other types of workplace misconduct. The company denied all wrongdoing. Nadella has expressed ambitions of changing the company's culture. The FTC's latest move "is a welcome update and one that accelerates the legal process," Kotick said in a blog post Monday. "Our excellent legal team has been preparing for this move for more than a year, and we're ready to present our case to a federal judge who can evaluate the transaction on the merits." Late last year, the FTC said it would seek to block the acquisition, saying that a merger would harm competition in the gaming market. Microsofts bid to buy the gaming company came amid a wider acquisition spree by the Redmond, Wash., corporation and a crackdown on tech mergers by FTC Chair Lina Khan. Under the Biden appointees leadership, the FTC has blocked mergers between Nvidia and SoftBank Groups Arm Ltd. as well as Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings. This year, the Microsoft-Activision deal cleared regulatory hurdles in both Japan and Britain. "Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have represented in the past that they cannot close their deal due to antitrust reviews of the transaction in other jurisdictions," the FTC spokesperson said in an email. "But Microsoft and Activision have not provided assurances that they will maintain that position." Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Gamuda Berhad fair value estimate is RM3.33 Gamuda Berhad's RM4.25 share price signals that it might be 28% overvalued The RM4.71 analyst price target for GAMUDA is 41% more than our estimate of fair value Does the June share price for Gamuda Berhad (KLSE:GAMUDA) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Gamuda Berhad Is Gamuda Berhad Fairly Valued? We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To 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. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM1.88b RM666.4m RM739.0m RM796.1m RM847.7m RM895.2m RM940.0m RM982.9m RM1.02b RM1.07b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 7.73% Est @ 6.48% Est @ 5.61% Est @ 5.00% Est @ 4.57% Est @ 4.27% Est @ 4.06% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 13% RM1.7k RM521 RM511 RM486 RM458 RM428 RM397 RM367 RM338 RM311 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM5.5b 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 (3.6%) 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 13%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = RM1.1b (1 + 3.6%) (13% 3.6%) = RM12b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM12b ( 1 + 13%)10= RM3.4b 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 RM8.9b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM4.3, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The Assumptions 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. 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 Gamuda Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 13%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.190. 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 Gamuda Berhad Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market. Looking Ahead: 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. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Gamuda Berhad, we've compiled three relevant elements you should further research: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for Gamuda Berhad we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does GAMUDA'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. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here FILE PHOTO: The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar Glencore, automakers to back $1 billion nickel, copper SPAC deal in Brazil FILE PHOTO: The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar LONDON (Reuters) - Global miner Glencore, Chrysler parent Stellantis and Volkswagen's battery unit PowerCo have agreed to back a $1 billion deal by blank-cheque fund ACG Acquisition Company to buy two mines in Brazil, ACG said on Monday. The deal comes as a mining M&A spree picks up, spurred in part by investors betting on rising demand for metals needed for the global green energy transition in coming years. ACG, a London-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), will buy the Santa Rita nickel sulphide and Serrote copper mines from private equity funds advised by Appian Capital, which has hired Standard Chartered and Citigroup on the sale, it said in a statement. SPACs are shell companies that raise money via an initial public offering (IPO) and later merge with a private company, taking it public. Only a few such deals have taken place in mining, including Vision Blue Resources, a fund founded by former Xstrata boss Mick Davis backing a $300 million SPAC, and Metals Acquisition Corp, which listed in New York and bought a copper mine owned by Glencore. Post purchase, the nickel concentrate will be refined at Glencore's facilities in Western Europe and North America, the statement said, with the final product incorporated into electric vehicle (EV) batteries by Stellantis, PowerCo and other manufacturers. Glencore will invest $100 million in ACG equity. Stellantis and mining investment fund La Mancha Resource Capital will each provide an equity investment of the same amount, while PowerCo will make a $100 million nickel prepayment. "PowerCo thus secures the ramp-up of cell production at competitive prices," Volkswagen told Reuters. During the process, ACG will become ACG Electric Metals and issue new shares, making Glencore, Stellantis and La Mancha owners of 51% and leaving 49% for free float, Artem Volynets, ACG chief executive, told Reuters. Both mines use hydropower for production and are considering expansions. A year ago, Appian began legal proceedings in a $1.2-billion claim against South Africa's Sibanye-Stillwater after Sibanye pulled out of a deal to acquire the same two mines, citing a "geotechnical event" at Santa Rita. Appian said Sibanye's decision to withdraw from the deal was based on an "incorrect assertion". Sibanye filed its defence and, according to its financial report, expects a trial to begin in June 2024. ACG has full confidence in the mines. The deal "will establish ACG Electric Metals as a premier supplier of critical metals into the western EV value chain," Volynets said. Volynets is the former boss of En+ Group and led the Hong Kong IPO of subsidiary aluminium producer Rusal in 2010. He also led the merger of two Russian aluminium producers with Glencore's alumina assets in 2000s. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; additional reporting by Clara Denina and Anastasiia Kozlova; editing by Kirsten Donovan and Jason Neely) (Bloomberg) -- Google is set to be hit with a formal antitrust complaint from the European Union that could pave the way for massive fines and strike at the heart of the advertising technology that drives most of the US firms revenue. Most Read from Bloomberg The charge sheet, to be announced as soon as Wednesday, will target the core of the Alphabet Inc. units ad tech business model, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Googles advertising business is by far its most successful, accounting for about 80% of its annual revenue. In 2022, its ad sales amounted to about $225 billion. The new complaint is the most significant in the current five-year mandate of the European Commission, the EUs antitrust watchdog, one of the people said. It will mark another escalation in a long-running saga thats already led to a trio of EU penalties totaling more than 8 billion ($8.6 billion.) While fines for EU antitrust violations can reach as much as 10% of a firms global sales, they seldom approach that level, meaning the impact on earnings of Silicon Valley giants is often muted. Instead, regulators usually also insist on changes to the structure of companies that can be even more onerous. Alphabet shares rose 0.8% at 2:24 p.m in New York as the Russell 3000 Index Computer Services Subsector advanced. Google didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the EUs complaint. The commission in Brussels declined to comment. Google has long held a key position in which its able to collect data allowing advertisers to target ads, as well as sell ad space and provide the technology that allows for advertisers to find publishers to sell their space. The EU first opened a probe into Googles ad tech practices in 2021. The commissions investigation has been examining how the company may have obstructed rivals access to user-data for online advertising as well as how it may have ring-fenced data for its own use. Googles agreement with Meta Platforms Inc. as part of the Open Bidding program had originally been part of the probe, but was ditched in late 2022. In September 2022, the investigation was broadened after the Portuguese competition authority submitted new evidence. The UKs competition authority has also been probing Googles ad-tech practices and litigation against the firms behavior is ongoing in the U.S. Companies have the right to defend themselves after regulators send out a statement of objections and after any antitrust penalties are levied. Google is continuing to fight its EU fines in the courts, including a landmark 4.34 billion penalty for how it runs its Android mobile operating system. EU judges trimmed that penalty to 4.125 billion last year, but Google is challenging the case at the blocs highest court. (Updates with details of EU probes and shares starting in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The grand opening of the Westfield Fluid Controls Manufacturing Facility is expected to create 67 new direct jobs in Acadiana. The new facility is a 30,000-square-foot facility featuring state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment at Northpark Technology Center along West Pont des Mouton Road. In 2020, the company announced its launch that included a $5.1 million capital investment and a commitment to create new jobs with an average annual salary of $49,797, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 106 new indirect jobs, for a total of 173 new jobs in Lafayette Parish and the Acadiana Region. The Lafayette Economic Development Authority is one of the major economic development groups serving Lafayette Parish and the Acadiana area Westfield Fluid Controls, part of Westfield Hydraulics, specializes in the manufacture, assembly, and testing of powered and non-powered valves and fluid controls for the aerospace and defense industries. Westfield Hydraulics, CEO Robert A. Schacht celebrated the completion of Westfield Fluid Controls headquarters and manufacturing facility in NorthPark, one of four Lafayette Parish business parks owned by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA). I thank Westfield Fluid Controls for their investment in our state and congratulate them on the swift completion of this new facility, which is a perfect illustration of the diversity of Louisianas manufacturing sector, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. This new business will have a positive impact beyond the creation of more than 170 jobs in the Acadiana Region. It also will have long-term benefits the states economy by producing materials that support our expanding aerospace and defense sectors. Founded in 1974, Westfield Hydraulics is a leading provider in the industry according to the company. The company is relocating an existing manufacturing operation from San Fernando, California, to Lafayette. Westfield considered locations in Texas, Florida and Ohio before choosing Louisiana. To secure the project, Louisiana offered a package that included comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart program, which is the top-rated state workforce development program in the U.S. for the past 11 years and eligibility for a performance-based grant of up to $250,000 for the cost of facility construction and equipment in Lafayette. The company is expected to utilize Louisianas Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs. This is a big milestone for the company and a testament to effective collaboration between the state, local government, and regional stakeholders, says Robert Schacht, CEO of Westfield Hydraulics. We are excited and grateful to be welcomed into the Acadiana community and look forward to an exciting next chapter. The establishment of Westfield Fluid Controls is a big win for Lafayette and continues to demonstrate that our communitys skilled workforce and existing business base are attractive to outside businesses, Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory said. I look forward to working with Westfields team as the company grows in Lafayette Parish. When hiring begins, information about open positions at Westfield Fluid Controls will be listed on LEDAs Online Job Board at www.lafayette.org/jobs. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: New jobs in Acadiana with the opening of a manufacturing facility Prudential Hong Kong on Monday made a foray into the Macau market by setting up its first branch in the former Portuguese colony, completing its presence in all 11 cities in the Greater Bay Area. The local arm of the British company is Hong Kong's latest insurer to establish a foothold in Macau as it looks to take advantage of Beijing's push to diversify the gaming hub into a financial services centre. HSBC Life, Manulife Financial, Haitong International Securities and Everbright Securities Investment Services (HK) have all expanded into Macau in recent years. As the 13th life insurer to operate in the city, Prudential will also compete against AIA, AXA and FWD. Its new branch, located in FIT Centre near the Grand Lisboa hotel, will offer life and health insurance policies to customers through a team of local agents. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "Macau's proximity to Hong Kong, Zhuhai and other Greater Bay Area cities makes it central in every sense to Prudential's Greater Bay Area strategy to grow its footprint in the area," said Lawrence Lam, CEO of Prudential Hong Kong, at the launch ceremony of the Macau branch on Monday. Lawrence Lam (left), CEO of Prudential Hong Kong, Lillian Ng, (centre) managing director of strategic business group at Prudential, and Chris Ma, general manager of Prudential Hong Kong (Macau) branch, hosted the opening ceremony of the insurer's Macau branch on Monday. Photo: Enoch Yiu alt=Lawrence Lam (left), CEO of Prudential Hong Kong, Lillian Ng, (centre) managing director of strategic business group at Prudential, and Chris Ma, general manager of Prudential Hong Kong (Macau) branch, hosted the opening ceremony of the insurer's Macau branch on Monday. Photo: Enoch Yiu> With Macau being home to a population of only around 680,000, most insurers have their eyes set on travellers from across the border with mainland China. "The opening of the Macau branch will be positive news for Prudential, as it will allow the company to capture opportunities in selling policies to mainland visitors," said Louis Tse Ming-kwong, managing director at Wealthy Securities. "The competition will be keen though, as AIA, HSBC Life and Manulife all have large sales teams to sell policies in Macau to mainlanders." A banner featuring the Prudential logo atop a building in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg alt=A banner featuring the Prudential logo atop a building in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg> The Greater Bay Area, which connects Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong province, was envisioned by Beijing as an economic powerhouse. The region's combined gross domestic product reached nearly US$2 trillion in 2022, up 25 per cent from US$1.65 trillion in 2019, when China announced the development zone's blueprint, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said last month. If considered as a stand-alone economy, the Greater Bay Area would have ranked as the world's ninth-biggest economy last year, just behind Italy and ahead of Canada, South Korea, Russia and Brazil, according to data from the International Monetary Fund. In recent years, Beijing has introduced policies to support Macau's efforts to branch out into sectors besides gaming, traditionally a major source of income. The entry of more insurance companies into Macau will help the city pursue that goal, according to Tse. "As Macau's financial sector develops, it will also help promote the development of the Greater Bay Area into a stronger economic zone. People who travel to Macau no longer just gamble; they can also buy insurance products and enjoy leisure travel with their families," Tse said. Macau hopes to diversify into a financial services centre. Photo: Xinhua alt=Macau hopes to diversify into a financial services centre. Photo: Xinhua> Prudential is optimistic about the opportunities offered by Macau's plan to diversify its economy, said Anil Wadhwani, CEO of Prudential. "Growing demand for private medical care in Macau and the Greater Bay Area, combined with the Macau government's proactive development of the comprehensive health industry and modern finance industry, presents a real opportunity and perfect environment for Prudential's entry into the Macau market," he said. For now, Macau's financial sector remains modest: it has two financial intermediaries, 27 life or general insurers, and 33 lenders. In contrast, Hong Kong has about 600 stock brokers, 164 insurance companies and 160 banks. But Macau's insurance industry has been growing rapidly. Annual gross premiums in the city's life insurance business rose 8 per cent to 35.66 billion patacas (US$4.42 billion) in 2022, after jumping 26 per cent in 2021, according to data from the Monetary Authority of Macau. During the five-year period from 2013 and 2019, the city's life insurance market grew at an average 31 per cent every year, according to data from Swiss Re. However, as of 2019, the penetration rate in Macau remained low at 5.9 per cent, far behind Hong Kong's 21.9 per cent. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Hong Kong legislator encourages Coinbase to set up shop in city under new crypto rules Local legislator suggests global cryptocurrency exchanges such as U.S.-based Coinbase set up operations in Hong Kong as the citys new licensing regime for crypto retail trading took effect on June 1. See related article: Hong Kongs crypto rules offer level playing field, investor protection, says OSL exchange executive Fast facts Johnny Ng, a member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council and Chinas advisory body, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, tweeted on Saturday that he welcomes global virtual asset trading platform operators, including Coinbase, to expand to Hong Kong. Ng, known for his bullish stance on Web 3.0 technology, in January said that Hong Kong should consider developing the e-HKD, the citys planned central bank digital currency (CBDC), into a stablecoin linked to decentralized finance. Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Binance and Coinbase, two of the worlds biggest crypto exchanges, for allegedly breaching securities rules. On June 1, Hong Kong rolled out new rules for virtual asset trading platform operators, otherwise known as crypto exchanges, in a move that could potentially set an example for other jurisdictions in its new embrace of retail crypto trading, according to Gary Tiu, executive director and head of regulatory affairs at Hong Kong-based crypto exchange OSL. See related article: Hong Kong to be digital asset rules sandbox for China, says former city regulator Key Insights Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad's significant sovereign wealth funds ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public The top 3 shareholders own 53% of the company 39% of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is held by Institutions A look at the shareholders of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AIRPORT) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 39% stake, sovereign wealth funds possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Institutions, on the other hand, account for 39% of the company's stockholders. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. View our latest analysis for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad? 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. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. 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. 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 Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Khazanah Nasional Berhad with 33% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 14% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 6.7% by the third-largest shareholder. After doing some more digging, we found that the top 3 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions. 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 Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad 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 cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. Not all jurisdictions have the same rules around disclosing insider ownership, and it is possible we have missed something, here. So you can click here learn more about the CEO. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 19% stake in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad 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 When you buy a stock there is always a possibility that it could drop 100%. But on a lighter note, a good company can see its share price rise well over 100%. One great example is TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) which saw its share price drive 135% higher over five years. In the last week the share price is up 1.5%. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Check out our latest analysis for TransDigm Group While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. 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 five years of share price growth, TransDigm Group achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 5.2% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 19% average annual increase in the share price. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth. This optimism is visible in its fairly high P/E ratio of 45.87. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We know that TransDigm Group has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? Check if analysts think TransDigm Group will grow revenue in the future. A Dividend Lost The share price return figures discussed above don't include the value of dividends paid previously, but the total shareholder return (TSR) does. By accounting for the value of dividends paid, the TSR can be seen as a more complete measure of the value a company brings to its shareholders. TransDigm Group's TSR over the last 5 years is 171%; better than its share price return. Even though the company isn't paying dividends at the moment, it has done in the past. A Different Perspective It's good to see that TransDigm Group has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 51% in the last twelve months. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 22% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for TransDigm Group you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. For example, long term London Security plc (LON:LSC) shareholders have enjoyed a 36% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market decline of around 7.8% (not including dividends). So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Check out our latest analysis for London Security To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. 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 five years of share price growth, London Security achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 7.1% per year. So the EPS growth rate is rather close to the annualized share price gain of 6% per year. Therefore one could conclude that sentiment towards the shares hasn't morphed very much. In fact, the share price seems to largely reflect the EPS growth. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. This free interactive report on London Security's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. 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. In the case of London Security, it has a TSR of 59% 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 While the broader market gained around 2.9% in the last year, London Security shareholders lost 22% (even including dividends). Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 10%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for London Security you should know about. We will like London Security better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here By Nupur Anand, Lananh Nguyen, Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay about $290 million to settle a class action lawsuit by Jeffrey Epstein's victims, resolving a large part of litigation over the bank's relationship with the disgraced financier. Monday's settlement follows months of embarrassing disclosures that JPMorgan ignored internal warnings and overlooked red flags about Epstein because he had been a valuable client. Epstein was a JPMorgan client from 1998 to 2013 and was kept on even after being arrested in 2006 on prostitution-related charges and pleading guilty two years later. Monday's accord would resolve claims against the largest U.S. bank by potentially more than 100 victims, led by a former ballet dancer known as Jane Doe 1, who said Epstein abused them when they were young women and teenage girls. Epstein killed himself at age 66 in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. "It could be that the bank doesn't want this to stay in the press," said Carliss Chatman, a professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia. "At a time Americans are questioning the banking system, associating Chase with human trafficking is not good for business." Davia Temin, chief executive of crisis management firm Temin and Co, said settling rather than fighting to the end sends "the right message across Wall Street." The settlement of the civil case requires approval by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan. "Any association with (Epstein) was a mistake and we regret it," JPMorgan said in a statement. "We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes." Monday's settlement came 3-1/2 weeks after Deutsche Bank, where Epstein was a client from 2013 to 2018, agreed to pay $75 million to end a similar lawsuit by Epstein victims. "Deutsche Bank's settlement ... likely created momentum," said Adam Zimmerman, a law professor who recently accepted a position at the University of Southern California. "A settlement with Epstein's victims frees JPMorgan to begin to turn the page and change the narrative." The $290 million settlement amount was confirmed by David Boies, a lawyer for Epstein's victims. JPMorgan did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to settle, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking," Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for victims in both lawsuits, said in a statement. POINTING THE FINGER JPMorgan still faces a lawsuit by the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned two neighboring islands and was suspected of abusing victims in his mansion. It is also suing former executive Jes Staley for shepherding Epstein's relationship with the bank and concealing what he knew about his former friend. JPMorgan wants Staley to cover its losses in both lawsuits and forfeit eight years of pay. Last month, Rakoff said JPMorgan could be liable to Epstein's victims if they could show Staley had firsthand knowledge that Epstein ran a sex-trafficking venture. Staley left JPMorgan in 2013 and was later Barclays' chief executive for six years. He testified under oath on Saturday, two weeks after JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, in his own deposition, denied discussing Epstein's accounts. In a statement, the U.S. Virgin Islands said it "will continue to proceed with its enforcement action to ensure full accountability for JPMorgan's violations of law." The territory's case is the largest remaining over Epstein, following civil lawsuits against his estate and the conviction of former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell for aiding his abuses. Maxwell is appealing her conviction and 20-year prison sentence. Lawyers for Staley did not respond to requests for comment. Staley has said he regretted befriending Epstein but denied knowing about his sex trafficking. It wasn't clear whether his June 10 deposition was a factor in Monday's settlement. "Chase's defense has been that Staley was a lone wolf and this wasn't Chase's culture, but more evidence had been coming out that may make it harder for Chase to point the finger at him," Chatman said. Another key JPMorgan executive who has been a focus of the litigation is Mary Erdoes, its asset and wealth management chief. Epstein's victims have portrayed her in court filings as a key defender of keeping Epstein as a client, including after former general counsel Stephen Cutler told her and Staley in 2011 the bank should terminate the relationship. Dimon said in his deposition that Cutler had authority to override Erdoes and Staley and fire Epstein. Cutler was not immediately available for comment on Monday. While we regret any association with Jeffrey Epstein, we would never have continued to business with him if we believed he was using our bank to commit heinous crimes," a JPMorgan spokesperson said when asked about Erdoes' involvement. "In fact, Mary Erdoes and others exited him as a client six years before he was charged with human trafficking." (Reporting by Nupur Anand, Lananh Nguyen, Saeed Azhar, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Tatiana Bautzer in New York; Editing by Megan Davies, Alexander Smith, Grant McCool and Lisa Shumaker) Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images JPMorgan Chase has announced a tentative settlement in a legal claim brought by a woman who said that the US banking giant knowingly benefited from sexual abuse that she and others suffered at the hands of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The value of the settlement for a class of plaintiffs that has grown to encompass as many as 100 women or more is placed at $290m, said a source familiar with the terms. Related: Records shed light on Jeffrey Epsteins state of mind in jail in days before death We all now understand that Epsteins behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man, JPMorgan said in a statement. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes. The proposed deal could begin to shut down weeks of embarrassing leaks about the extensive relationship that the bank had with Epstein, where the convicted sex offender was a client from 1998 to 2013 seven years after he was first accused of soliciting a minor. The lawsuit claims that officials at the bank ignored warning signs about Epsteins abuse because he was a wealthy client who could introduce wealthy people to its private banking and investment arms. A previous agreement in a similar lawsuit against Deutsche Bank was resolved for a reported $75m. According to reports, the number of Epstein victims attached to the JPMorgan action could rise to more than 100. The settlements that have been reached are both life-changing and historic for the survivors, said victims attorney Sigrid McCawley of the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner. Money, which for far too long flowed with impunity between Jeffrey Epsteins global sex-trafficking enterprise and Wall Streets leading banks, is decisively being used for good. The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking, McCawley added. Separately, Brad Edwards, attorney for other, unidentified claimants in the litigation, said he recognized the importance of the governments continued litigation against JPMorgan Chase to prevent future crimes. While some of the law firms representing the plaintiffs were working pro bono, or under a percentage split of any settlement, Judge Jed Rakoff has yet to award legal costs ahead of any finalized settlement. The pending settlement is one part of a civil action brought against the bank that included the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein maintained a lavish home on a private island that had a long history of welcoming high-profile visitors. Mondays settlement could portend one with the USVI. A spokesman for the US Virgin Islands said the US territory would continue its claim against the bank to ensure full accountability for JPMorgans violations of law and prevent the bank from assisting and profiting from human trafficking in the future. During a deposition two weeks earlier, plaintiffs asked JPMorgans chief executive, Jamie Dimon Wall Streets top banker what he knew of Epsteins relationship with the bank, which included large monthly cash withdrawals that triggered interest from compliance officers. Dimon was asked in his deposition if he had ever heard the name Jeffrey Epstein before authorities arrested Epstein, answering: Not that I recall. He said he first heard about Epstein when the story blew wide open. Dimon added: He was arrested, and all the stories came out about all the people he knows. And the reason I remember that is I was surprised that I didnt know about it before. In the 416-page deposition, Dimon said that an email from Epsteins office that suggested he was scheduled to meet with Epstein and the former senior JPMorgan executive James Jes Staley at Epsteins townhouse was inaccurate. I have never had an appointment with Jeff Epstein. Ive never met Jeff Epstein. I never knew Jeff Epstein. I never went to Jeff Epsteins house. I never had a meal with Jeff Epstein. I have no idea what theyre referring to here, Dimon said. JPMorgan denies claims that it profited from Epsteins sex trafficking and has sued Staley, later the chief executive at Barclays, saying Staley hid Epsteins crimes to keep Epstein as a client. Staley has denied the claims and is due to sit for a deposition. The bank also filed a counterclaim against the US Virgin Islands government alleging that the sex trafficker maintained a quid pro quo relationship with some of the territorys highest officials over two decades. Those claims center on Cecile deJongh, wife of the former US Virgin Islands governor John deJongh, who JP Morgan says facilitated Epsteins abuse of women and girls by helping him influence local politicians, dodge the territorys sex offender laws, and obtain work and visas for his victims. According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson from the US Virgin Islands attorney generals office said in an email: This is an obvious attempt to shift blame away from JPMorgan Chase, which had a legal responsibility to report the evidence in its possession of Epsteins human trafficking, and failed to do so. The civil actions against JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank were surrounded by leaks from Epsteins business and social diaries that included meetings with prominent men after he pleaded guilty to Florida state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. They included the director of the CIA, William Burns, and Kathryn Ruemmler, White House counsel during Barack Obamas presidency, alongside lesser figures including the leftwing professor and activist Noam Chomsky, billionaire venture capitalist Reid Hoffman and Lawrence Summers, former Harvard president and director of the National Economic Council under Obama. In addition to the leaks, the lawsuit against JPMorgan threw out a wide net to bring prominent business people to be deposed on what they knew about the banks relationship with Epstein. The legal trawl included the Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Hyatt Hotels chairperson Thomas Pritzker, American Canadian businessman Mortimer Zuckerman, former CAA talent agent Michael Ovitz and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. 'Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it,' a bank spokesman said. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) reached a tentative $290 million settlement with victims of Jeffrey Epstein, one of two lawsuits alleging the nation's largest bank ignored warnings about its longtime client and facilitated his alleged sex trafficking. The deal came roughly two weeks after JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was asked by lawyers what he knew about the bank's dealings with Epstein. One of Dimon's former top deputies, Jes Staley, was also questioned under oath last weekend. The case at issue was filed in November of last year by a woman who is listed anonymously as Jane Doe in court papers. She said she was sexually abused by Epstein and that Epstein paid her and other victims with money housed at JPMorgan. The suit sought class-action status on behalf of hundreds of alleged victims. The bank agreed to pay $290 million, but the terms of the settlement still have to be approved by a Manhattan federal judge. There was no admission of liability by JPMorgan as part of the agreement. "We all now understand that Epsteins behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man," a bank spokesman said. Lawyer David Boies, who represented the victims, said taken together or individually, the historic recoveries from the banks who provided financial services to Jeffrey Epstein speak for themselves. It has taken a long time, too long, but today is a great day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors and a great day for justice. Boies said "the bank has asked us not to reveal the number" of victims covered by this settlement "at this time and that pending further discussions we are going to respect that request." The deal doesn't eliminate all JPMorgan legal headaches associated with Epstein. JPMorgan is still being sued by the government of the US Virgin Islands, which also claimed JPMorgan facilitated Epstein's sex trafficking. The bank also is suing Staley, who got to know Epstein while running JPMorgans asset-management unit. JPMorgan claims Staley misled the bank's executives about Epstein. Staleys lawyers have denied the allegations and Staley has said he never knew about Epsteins alleged crimes. JPMorgan is still suing former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit with Epstein's victims last month. The bank took Epstein as a client in 2013 after JPMorgan tossed him out. Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution, was arrested in 2019 on child sex trafficking charges. He was later found dead in prison in an apparent suicide. The announcement of a new JPMorgan settlement comes weeks after Dimon faced a series of questions about what he knew about Epstein while the convicted sex predator was a longtime customer of the bank. During a May 26 deposition conducted at JPMorgan's headquarters in Manhattan, Dimon said repeatedly that he never met Epstein or talked to him. He also said he had no memory of being told anything about him by any of his executives. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was asked during a deposition last month what he knew about Epstein while he was a client of the bank. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) In fact, he said he was not aware of a 2011 email from one of his top deputies advising that Epstein "should not be a client" of the bank. The email, according to a lawyer who conducted the deposition, was sent by JPMorgan general counsel Stephen Cutler to two other executives who reported directly to Dimon: asset management head Mary Erdoes and Staley. "This is not an honorable person in any way," Cutler wrote in the July 20, 2011 message, according to the lawyer conducting the deposition. "He should not be a client." Dimon said he wasnt aware of the message "at the time" but "I know it today." On Friday, a plaintiffs lawyer asked the cases presiding judge to grant a follow-up deposition of Dimon. In a letter to the court, the lawyer said a document from the bank produced after Dimon's May 26 deposition was one of the most relevant and responsive documents produced to date. It included a timeline of electronic communications that cited e-mails between Staley and Epstein. These late-produced documents, according to the June 9 letter to the judge from the plaintiff's lawyer, demonstrate that JPMorgan "was fully capable of learning the full extent of Epstein and Staleys personal relationship" and "yet waited to do so until 2019 despite the myriad red flags and public reports about Epsteins conduct over the years." A bank spokesman said Monday of Epstein that "any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes." 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 Lummis Renews Commitment to US Crypto Regulation: The Fight is Far From Over United States senator Cynthia Lummis said that the fight is far from over as she re-dedicated herself to pushing for a positive regulatory framework for crypto over the weekend. The Republican, from Wyoming, reassured followers on Twitter that she is still working on proposed regulation, a revamped version of which had been expected to circulate in April. Referencing the removal of a proposed 30% tax on crypto mining from the recent U.S. debt ceiling bill, Senator Lummis hailed the recent victory but said there was more work to be done. I am working on a regulatory framework that will allow individuals and companies to own and trade digital assets in America, she said. Stay tuned We successfully prevented @POTUS' 30% digital asset mining tax from being included in the debt ceiling deal but the fight is far from over. I am working on a regulatory framework that will allow individuals and companies to own and trade digital assets in America. Stay tuned... Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) June 10, 2023 Her bill, co-sponsored by New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, was first put forward last year, but is set to do the rounds again this year after some revisions. But the proposed legislation, known as the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, comes at a time of increasingly tense relations between regulators and crypto firms in the U.S. Crypto faces U.S. headwinds Earlier this month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought separate lawsuits against market leaders Coinbase and Binance. Lummis condemned the action taken against Coinbase, saying that the SEC had failed to provide adequate legal guidance and arguing that Congress needed to pass the Lummis-Gillibrand act in order to create a robust legal framework that businesses can comply with. Now, pressure on Congress to enact crypto regulation looks to be heating up, as companies such as Circle implore lawmakers to regulate them. Some businesses are even exploring the option of shifting their bases to other countries. One of the purposes of the proposed bill would be to clearly define which digital assets are commodities, and which are securities, a question which has been at the heart of many regulatory disputes. Whats the Difference Between the Binance and Coinbase SEC Lawsuits? It would also impose requirements on stablecoin issuers, and effectively ban algorithmic stablecoins. While work on the bill was first announced in March 2022, Lummis said earlier this year that a new, slimmed-down draft would respond to feedback from both regulators and the industry. France's President Emmanuel Macron - LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images Emmanuel Macron has been accused of pushing through the stealth nationalisation of a French private nursing home business by a group of American hedge funds. Paris-listed Orpea, which has been gripped by scandals including allegations that elderly residents were blocked access to adult nappies and food, is set to be seized by the French state under plans to save the business. But hedge funds including Fortress Investment Group, co-founded by Aston Villa owner Wes Edens, and Whitebox Advisors, which predicted the global financial crisis in 2008, said Orpea is being deliberately undervalued to force a nationalisation. Following Brexit, Europe is supposed to be open for business, but this attempt at stealth nationalisation of a privately owned and financed care provider, which was and remains a viable profitable business, gives a contrary message, a spokesman for them said. The French States investment vehicle Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC) is planning to intervene by injecting more than 1bn (860m) into Orpea in return for a majority stake in the business. As part of the business restructuring, lenders owed 4bn will have to swap their debts for a minority equity shareholding in return. The move follows a failed plan to restructure Orpeas debts last summer. A scandal erupted after a book titled Les Fossoyeurs (The Gravediggers) was published in January 2022. It alleged widespread abuse in the nursing home sector, and singled out Orpea for particular criticism. The book claimed staff were not adequately trained, as well as blocking patients access to adult nappies and food. The French government ordered an investigation into the reported shortcomings, finding serious dysfunctions and human and organisational shortcomings in the sector. In March 2022, French ministers announced legal action against Orpea, demanding for payments made to the company from the state to be repaid. Orpea said in June that an independent audit had found evidence of financial wrongdoing, including inflated labour expenses and suspiciously large payments to third parties, although it did not back up the accusations made in the book. The company rejected the allegations of widespread maltreatment. Orpea operates more than 90,000 beds and has significant operations in Germany as well as smaller subsidiaries in Ireland and Spain. Despite last years financial restructuring, Orpea has continued to access capital markets and is weighed down with about 9bn of debts. A vote on the effective nationalisation of Orpea was scheduled for this Friday. The dissenting hedge funds claim to have the support of around 49pc of unsecured creditors. Although this would appear to be a blocking stake the restructuring requires support from two-thirds of creditors there is greater support within some creditors classes. As a result, a cross class cram down which allows absenting creditor classes to drag along dissenting ones could be used to force through the nationalisation. The hedge funds say that they are willing to inject the 1bn that the business needs in return for taking control of the business. The Orpea board has now agreed to delay the vote to nationalise the business until after June 23, when a legal appeal from the hedge funds is due to be heard. A spokesman for the hedge funds said: The flagrant disregard and refusal for months to engage on any alternative restructuring proposal, particularly one which is more favourable to all Orpeas stakeholders, and the unwillingness of Orpeas board to consider it, forces one to question Frances desire to be seen as a suitable and safe destination for foreign investment. The Orpea restructuring plan sets a terrible precedent for unsecured creditor treatment as the first major case under the new law. We do not want to see France go in the same direction as other nation states which have egregiously ignored creditor rights. Orpea was approached for 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. By Paritosh Bansal (Reuters) -'De-risk, not decouple' are the new buzzwords for Western policy toward China, drawing skepticism from Beijing about whether there is any difference between the two. For businesses caught in the middle, the semantics are beside the point. As tensions between Western allies and Beijing ratchet up over a litany of disputes, from sensitive technology to positions on Russia and Taiwan, companies with China exposure are worrying about contingency planning and conducting business amid proliferating regulatory landmines, according to interviews with nearly a dozen Western business executives in recent days. Whether that involves a complete separation or something short of that depends on the business and its direct and indirect exposure to China, the executives said. "There's enormous suspicion on the Chinese side and on the American side, said Henrietta Fore, the former head of UNICEF who has served on boards of major companies, on the sidelines of a Women Corporate Directors conference. I'd say 90% of CEOs are consumed with how to plan properly for this." A former U.S. diplomat who is familiar with China added: "Everything is being questioned. Everything is in flux. And everyone is trying to minimize their dependencies." The former diplomat and other executives, including CEOs and directors, requested anonymity to be able to speak freely about China-U.S. relations without having to worry about any repercussions. The latest sign conversations are getting more urgent came last week when venture capital firm Sequoia said it would separate its Chinese and Indian businesses into two independent firms after concluding it had become increasingly complex to run a decentralized global investment business. Sources said geopolitics was one of those complicating factors. For others, that's much harder to do. Some want to be in the Chinese market for the opportunities it presents. For some, alternatives such as moving supply chains entirely out of China are costly and not practical. So while Sequoia took the route of separation, many other major business executives have traveled to China in recent weeks to meet staff, clients and officials. Executives including JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, Citigroup's Jane Fraser and Tesla's Elon Musk made the trip. One financial services CEO who also visited China earlier this year said he went to support his colleagues who have to deal with the uncertainties created by the current environment and to demonstrate to officials his firm's intention to remain there. At the same time, he's tried to keep a low profile, part of the reason he didn't want to be named in this column. When asked about how he was planning for a scenario where there is a severe escalation in tensions, such as over Taiwan, he said he didn't know if there was a way to answer. The economic damage from war would be incalculable, he said. "It makes you always think that it's not possible." SMALL YARD, TALL FENCE Washington is putting export controls on sensitive technologies and encouraging Western companies to reassess supply chains. At the same time, Beijing is trying to reduce its dependence on foreign know-how and increasing pressure on companies, with moves such as raids on consultancies and a new anti-espionage law. Last month, it barred operators of key infrastructure from buying from U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology. In recent months, Western allies have tempered their tone, rejecting the idea of severing all economic ties with China in favor of a more nuanced approach that would not cut off trade but protect sensitive areas, such as military technology the doctrine of "small yard and high fence." But China has already been suspicious of the new approach, with Xinhua state news agency saying de-risking is "decoupling in disguise" and a senior diplomat telling the New Statement they'd be opposed if "de-risking means ridding China of the global industrial and supply chains, especially in key areas." LIMITS TO DE-RISKING One concern for businesses is how they can continue to make money while following all the rules, everywhere, especially the tricky ones around national security that are sometimes not fully spelled out. With the new Chinese espionage law, for example, U.S. companies will have to contract out work such as competitor analysis and geospatial information because it might be too dangerous to do it in-house, the former diplomat said. Companies are also reworking their IT systems, in some cases separating China from global operations, to prevent sensitive data from leaving the country, the former diplomat said. But there are limits to how much they can de-risk. Companies are reworking supply chains to build redundancies and avoid single points of failure, but their dependence is so deep that they are unable to move entirely out of China, executives said. Sometimes they work with their Chinese suppliers on the new facilities in other countries. And even when they do move some production, it's often more expensive and the quality is not as good, executives said. The financial firm's CEO said there had not been enough focus on the costs of the new policy. He also worried rhetoric from Washington and Beijing was unleashing forces that could prove to be hard to control, even if the intent was to be balanced. "The world doesn't do nuance very well," he said. (Reporting by Paritosh Bansal; Editing by Anna Driver) Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But every investor is virtually certain to have both over-performing and under-performing stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Hongkong Land Holdings Limited (SGX:H78) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 44% over a half decade. Given the past week has been tough on shareholders, let's investigate the fundamentals and see what we can learn. Check out our latest analysis for Hongkong Land Holdings To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Hongkong Land Holdings 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 might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. We note that the dividend has remained healthy, so that wouldn't really explain the share price drop. It's not immediately clear to us why the stock price is down but further research might provide some answers. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). Hongkong Land Holdings is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Hongkong Land Holdings' TSR for the last 5 years was -29%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Hongkong Land Holdings shareholders are down 14% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 1.2%. 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 5% 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. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Hongkong Land Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Hongkong Land Holdings you should be aware of. We will like Hongkong Land Holdings better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 Kairan Quazi is set to become the youngest person to graduate from Santa Clara University. Getty Images SpaceX has hired a young prodigy to join its Starlink division as a software engineer. Kairan Quazi, 14, is set to graduate this month from Santa Clara University in California. Quazi started studying computer science and engineering at age 11. The latest recruit at SpaceX is a software engineer who passed its "technically challenging" and "fun" interview process. What's different about Kairan Quazi, however, is that he's just 14 years old. "I will be joining the coolest company on the planet as a software engineer on the Starlink engineering team," Quazi wrote in a LinkedIn post on Thursday. "One of the rare companies that did not use my age as an arbitrary and outdated proxy for maturity and ability." He is expected to become the youngest person to graduate from Santa Clara University, The Seattle Times reported. Quazi and his mother are planning to move from Pleasanton, California, so he can start working at SpaceX in Redmond, Washington, per the report. Quazi's extraordinary journey started at age 2 when he was reported to be able to speak in complete sentences. By kindergarten, he was telling other kids and teachers about news stories he'd heard on the radio, according to the Los Angeles Times. After finding that his schoolwork wasn't challenging enough in the third grade, his parents helped him enroll at a community college in California at age 9, per the report. "I felt like I was learning at the level that I was meant to learn," Quazi told the LA Times. That same year he was placed in the 99.9th percentile in an IQ test, his family told BrainGain magazine. Quazi landed an internship as an artificial-intelligence research fellow at Intel Labs a few months later. By age 11, he transferred to Santa Clara University to study computer science and engineering. Last year, he spent four months as a machine-learning intern at the cyber-intelligence firm Blackbird.AI, according to his LinkedIn profile. He helped design an "anomaly detection statistical learning pipeline" to flag social-media content that had been manipulated, according to his profile. "I think there's a conventional mindset that I'm missing out on childhood, but I don't think that's true," Quazi told ABC7 News. "I think, again, that mindset would have me graduating middle school now." It appears he's already achieved one ambition by landing the Starlink job. "It is my dream to have a career tackling challenging issues and effecting radical innovation in service of the common good," he wrote in his LinkedIn biography. Starlink, SpaceX's satellite-internet service, started operating in January in Nigeria its first African market. Starlink did not immediately respond to a request for comment made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Appointment supports growth of Metrions pre-clinical ion channel contract research and safety pharmacology services CAMBRIDGE, England, June 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metrion Biosciences Ltd ("Metrion"), the specialist ion channel contract research and drug discovery company, today announced the appointment of Dr Steve Jenkinson as Vice President, Drug Discovery and Safety Assessment. The US-based appointment represents an important step in the expansion of Metrions business, driven by its ion channel discovery capabilities. Steve will be responsible for supporting Metrions growing client base across the US, guiding projects, and navigating key milestones. He has a strong background in drug discovery and secondary pharmacology, including management of drug discovery programmes across multiple therapeutic areas and stages, ranging from target identification to the nomination of candidates for preclinical development. Steve has spent over 25 years in leadership positions driving drug discovery projects for GSK and Tanabe Research Laboratories. He joins Metrion from Pfizer where, as Senior Director, he established, developed and led the secondary pharmacology and high throughput screening team. Steve was also previously co-chair of the IQ DruSafe Secondary Pharmacology working group and a member of the FDAs HESI Pro-Arrhythmia group. He has completed two postdoctoral research fellowships, at the Scripps Institute in La Jolla and at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, received his undergraduate degree in pharmacology from the University of Glasgow, and PhD in molecular pharmacology from the University of Leicester. He also completed a masters degree in clinical research at the University of California, San Diego. Dr Andy Southan, Chief Executive, Metrion Biosciences, said: "We are very pleased to welcome Steve to the Metrion team. His background in both drug discovery and safety pharmacology will be pivotal in supporting our clients in the US, enhancing Metrions scientific leadership in this key territory." Dr Steve Jenkinson, VP, Drug Discovery and Safety Assessment, Metrion Biosciences, commented: "This is an exciting time for Metrion, I am delighted to be part of a service provider on such an impressive growth trajectory and to be offered the opportunity to support and enhance the Companys offering to its growing US client base." For more information: https://www.metrionbiosciences.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612314339/en/ Contacts Media: Katie Odgaard Zyme Communications E-mail: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947 Who needs pricey lululemon leggings or Dyson Airwrap when you can get affordable dupes? If you cant afford that luxury item youve coveted for so long, dont worry. You can probably easily find a dupe on social media. Long gone are the days of having to scrape and save while monitoring eBay to make the winning bid for those designer handbags, jeans, watches, or anything else your heart desired. Now, you can simply search TikTok for the best dupe, short for duplicate, of anything youre looking for and buy it almost instantly. "I don't find there's a big difference between the real stuff and dupes, and I don't have to pay four times the price," said Danielle Carmody from Atlanta, who says she regularly scans Instagram for dupes of everyday things she wants to buy. Many people will look for dupes of everything from simple leggings and workout clothes to purses, Dyson Airwraps and KitchenAid mixers, and even fragrances, but unlike those millions of people, Carmody has a hard line she doesn't cross. "I dont like getting dupes on things like handbags and shoes because I see the quality difference with price," she said. What are dupes? Dupes has become one of the biggest buying trends this year, especially among young shoppers who have embraced social media and online shopping. Red-hot inflation last year may have spurred people to save money by shopping for less expensive dupes, but it's also now cool and fun to hunt the best dupes on certain items. Well-known, respectable publications like Teen Vogue, and Shape frequently research and share lists of dupes for brand-named items for everything from leggings to beauty items. Nothing wrong with dupes, wrote banxy85 on a Reddit thread. People who are against dupes need to acknowledge that they are privileged enough to afford the real thing. Not everyone is. Amazon dupes: I've bought a ton of activewear on Amazon - these are my 5 favorites How big is the dupes economy? It's hard to tell exactly. Most data focus on the more than $1.7 trillion counterfeit market. Counterfeits and dupes arent technically the same. Dupes copy or imitate the physical appearance of other products but dont copy the brand name or logo of a trademarked item the way a counterfeit, or fake, does. However, search trends show how interest in dupes has ballooned. Google Trends shows dupe searches are near a record high going back to 2004. On TikTok, #dupe has been viewed 4.3 billion times, up from 3.6 billion in April, and its sister term, #doop, was viewed almost 315 million times, up from just more than 223 million. Apps solely for dupe searching have emerged, too, and some are product specific. Brandefy, for example, specializes in finding beauty-related dupes which helps people streamline the process of finding affordable, and appropriate dupes for users. The explosion in dupes has also partly come from the surge in e-commerce, said Daniel Shapiro, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and brand relationships at Red Points, which helps companies fight counterfeits, piracy, impersonation and distribution abuse. "E-commerce is growing at a fast, amazing rate," he said. "You can buy and have it tomorrow. It's so fast people can stay up on trends without spending a fortune. You can see a $25,000 gown on the Grammy's show on Sunday and within 36 hours find that silhouette out there and, in that color, to buy at an affordable price." Tower your way into a good deal with these Steve Madden platforms, which are a dupe for Versaces Satin Platform Pumps. Whos buying dupes? Young consumers are the likeliest group to buy dupes because they simply can't afford luxury items, according to YPulse, which collects research on Gen Z (born 1997 to 2013) and Millennials (born 1981-1996). Forty-seven percent of 13- to 39-year-olds said theyve purchased a dupe or fake of a luxury product, with more women (52%) more likely than men (42%) to buy one, YPulse said. Dupes have become an easy way for young people to feel like theyre getting the quality of a luxury item without the high price tag, YPulse said in its report, noting most dupes buyers are happy with the quality of their purchases. More than half (53%) of 13- to 39-year-olds say the quality of dupe and fake luxury items makes them less likely to want to purchase a real luxury item, YPulse said. How are luxury retailers responding? Some retailers, especially those in consumer staples and household items, have stepped up private label efforts to become the affordable dupe people buy. Costcos Kirkland brand basically dupes many items. The packaging on Costco's Kirkland brand allergy pill, Aller-tec, urges customers to "compare to Zyrtec, the brand-name allergy pill. Athleisure wear giant Lululemon, so sure people would see the value of its high-priced leggings, took a novel approach last month by hosting a Dupe Swap at its Century City Mall location in Los Angeles. People could bring in lookalikes of Lululemon's popular Align pants and trade them for the real thing. The primary purpose of this event was new guest acquisition and increasing brand awareness for being the original in leggings, said Calvin McDonald, Lululemon's chief executive, on an earnings conference call. He called the event a resounding success, noting about half of the guests who traded in dupes were new to Lululemon and half were under 30 years old. Yet, industry organization American Apparel & Footwear Association noted in a May 2021 report the harm from dupes extends beyond lost sales for brands. To view a fake as simply a cheaper alternative to a brand name product is incorrect and overlooks the health, product safety, environmental, and labor concerns related to the production and distribution of counterfeits, the association said. Over the years, some dollar store items and clothing from online fast-fashion sellers have been found to contain toxic chemicals. "I'm not sure I would want to put some of those beauty products on my face," Shapiro of Red Points said. Do dupe buyers care? Probably not because affordability is the focus. Knock-offs can give a customer that cant afford the real thing an opportunity to buy into a trending style or aspirational brand, said Liza Amlani, principal and founder of Retail Strategy Group consulting firm. These customers will buy the real thing when they can afford to, she said. Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dupes economy surges as people find ways to stay trendy amid inflation The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad. If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Volvere (LON:VLE). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing. See our latest analysis for Volvere How Quickly Is Volvere Increasing Earnings Per Share? Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Volvere's shareholders have have plenty to be happy about as their annual EPS growth for the last 3 years was 56%. While that sort of growth rate isn't sustainable for long, it certainly catches the eye of prospective investors. It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Volvere maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 24% to UK38m. That's a real positive. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. Volvere isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of UK28m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength. Are Volvere Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It's a good habit to check into a company's remuneration policies to ensure that the CEO and management team aren't putting their own interests before that of the shareholder with excessive salary packages. For companies with market capitalisations under UK159m, like Volvere, the median CEO pay is around UK277k. Volvere's CEO only received compensation totalling UK10k in the year to December 2022. This could be considered a token amount, and indicates that the company does not need to use payment to motivate the CEO - that is often a good sign. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense. Should You Add Volvere To Your Watchlist? Volvere's earnings per share growth have been climbing higher at an appreciable rate. Such fast EPS growth prompts the question: has the business reached an inflection point? Meanwhile, the very reasonable CEO pay is a great reassurance, since it points to an absence of wasteful spending habits. So faced with these facts, it seems that researching this stock a little more may lead you to discover an investment opportunity that meets your quality standards. It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Volvere , and understanding it should be part of your investment process. There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- China should play a key role in shaping the artificial intelligence guardrails needed to ensure the safety of transformative new systems, OpenAI Inc.s Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman said. Most Read from Bloomberg With the emergence of the increasingly powerful AI systems, the stakes for global cooperation have never been higher, Altman, whose company kick-started an AI frenzy in China with last years launch of ChatGPT, told a Beijing conference via video link on Saturday. In both China and Silicon Valley, talent and investments are flowing into AI, a strategic area that will help define the deepening tech rivalry between the worlds two largest economies. Advances in the emerging technology have also highlighted tensions in how governments are seeking to regulate the sector, one that Chinas President Xi Jinping has said requires greater state oversight to mitigate national security risks. China has some of the best AI talent in the world and fundamentally, given the difficulties in solving alignment for advanced AI systems, this requires the best minds from around the world, Altman told participants at the event hosted by the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence. Altmans speech to the Beijing conference itself was notable as the academy has strongly positioned itself in the AI sector in China. The Chinese non-profit, supported by the countrys Ministry of Science and Technology and Beijings local government, has been name-checked by Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith as one of the three frontrunners on AI innovation. OpenAIs ChatGPT is not currently available in China, where longstanding data and censorship regulations have long shut out services from Western tech giants like Alphabet Inc.s Google and Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook. Experts have said complex data and algorithm laws will similarly make it difficult for Western companies to make inroads in AI in the country. Chinas tech overseer signaled in draft regulation guidelines that the onus for algorithm and content demands in the country may fall largely on platform operators. The State Council said in June it is planning to discuss AI-related legislation later this year. Altman said Saturday that OpenAI planned to open-source more of its models in the future, as part of its efforts to drive AI safety, without specifying a time frame or particular model. The tech entrepreneurs Beijing speech was part of the Asia leg of his global goodwill tour to promote AI governance. While in London at the end of May, Altman clashed with European Union regulators after saying OpenAI could pull out of the region if proposed AI laws were enacted that would hold companies accountable for how their systems are used. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But every investor is virtually certain to have both over-performing and under-performing stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AMWAY) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 32% over a half decade. 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 Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad 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 the unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 8.3% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. Due to the lack of correlation between the EPS growth and the falling share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics to try to understand the share price movement. We note that the dividend has fallen in the last five years, so that may have contributed to the share price decline. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We know that Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad's TSR for the last 5 years was -11%, 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 It's nice to see that Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 13% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. That certainly beats the loss of about 2% per year over the last half decade. This makes us a little wary, but the business might have turned around its fortunes. 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 Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad . But note: Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here It's easy to match the overall market return by buying an index fund. Active investors aim to buy stocks that vastly outperform the market - but in the process, they risk under-performance. Investors in Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (SGX:QC7) have tasted that bitter downside in the last year, as the share price dropped 39%. That contrasts poorly with the market decline of 1.2%. Longer term shareholders haven't suffered as badly, since the stock is down a comparatively less painful 20% in three years. Furthermore, it's down 14% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. Check out our latest analysis for Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. 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. Unfortunately Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) reported an EPS drop of 63% for the last year. The share price fall of 39% isn't as bad as the reduction in earnings per share. So the market may not be too worried about the EPS figure, at the moment -- or it may have expected earnings to drop faster. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Dive deeper into Q & M Dental Group (Singapore)'s key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Q & M Dental Group (Singapore)'s earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 1.2% in the last year, Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) shareholders lost 38% (even including dividends). Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 3% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) that you should be aware of. But note: Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in dorsaVi Ltd's (ASX:DVL) instance, it's good news for shareholders. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. See our latest analysis for dorsaVi The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At dorsaVi The insider Sufian Ahmad made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$283k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.019 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.011. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. In the last twelve months dorsaVi insiders were buying shares, but not selling. They paid about AU$0.017 on average. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does dorsaVi Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 26% of dorsaVi shares, worth about AU$1.6m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. So What Does This Data Suggest About dorsaVi Insiders? The fact that there have been no dorsaVi insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in dorsaVi and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing dorsaVi. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for dorsaVi (3 are potentially serious) you should be aware of. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Locations of tankers loaded with Russian crude and products as of Monday. (Map: MarineTraffic) Sanctions continue to work: Russian crude and diesel exports are still going strong, helping to keep world energy markets supplied, while steep price discounts are curbing revenues to Russias government. Sanctions are also working for tanker owners. The shipowners bold enough to carry Russian oil and diesel have emerged as bigger winners, earning higher freight rates than in non-Russian trades. Premiums earned for transporting Russian cargoes have recently surged even higher, according to data from price-reporting agency Argus. Over the past eight weeks, tankers loading Russian crude have earned 60% to 100% more in freight than tankers in comparable mainstream trades. The Russian market is becoming even more disconnected from the rest of the tanker business, wrote Argus market reporter Matthew Mitchell and deputy freight editor John Ollett in a recent report. Russian crude and products exports stay strong New data from Kpler confirms the ongoing strength in Russian export volumes. The fact is that Russia continues to find downstream markets for its crude and products despite sanctions, Reid IAnson, senior commodity analyst at Kpler, told FreightWaves. Russian crude exports rose to 3.8 million barrels per (b/d) day in May, the highest level since before the pandemic. June crude exports averaged 3.5 million b/d through Monday, down from May but still 15% higher than the average in the 12 months prior to the invasion of Ukraine. The vast majority of Russian crude is flowing to China and India, with smaller volumes to Turkey and Bulgaria, said IAnson. Russian petroleum products exports are averaging 1.6 million b/d so far this month, according to Kpler data. Thats down from the record high of 2 million b/d in March, but still in line with pre-invasion volumes despite a boycott by the EU, formerly Russias largest buyer. The June average through Monday. (Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Kpler) Flows [of Russian refined products] to Brazil have picked up considerably alongside flows to the Middle East and North and West Africa, said IAnson. Russian oil revenues fall Russian oil revenues are falling despite higher export volumes, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, citing Russian government data. (Chart: U.S. Treasury Department. Export data: International Energy Agency. Revenue data: Russian Ministry of Finance) With the EU, the U.S. and other countries refusing to take Russian cargoes, competition among buyers has been reduced, forcing Russia to sell its exports at a discount. As of Friday, Russian Urals crude was selling at $23 to $24 less per barrel than Brent crude, according to Argus data. Russian Ministry of Finance data confirms that the federal governments oil revenues fell by more than 40% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year despite higher volumes. Oil revenues accounted for 23% of Russias total budget versus 30% to 35% prior to the war, said the U.S. Treasury Department. Urals price flirts with cap, then falls Steep discounts on Russian crude and products allow buyers to pay more for transport, a boon for tanker owners willing to load Russian cargoes. Most of the crude exported from Russias Pacific port of Kozmino is transported by Chinese and Russian tankers and vessels with opaque ownership in the so-called shadow fleet. On the European side, Russian Urals crude shipped out of the port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea and Primorsk in the Baltic Sea is carried by a mix of shadow tankers and mainstream European-owned tankers operating under the G-7 and EU price-cap regimes. Russian diesel is priced far below the price cap, now set at $100 per barrel, so there are no sanctions concerns. Russian crude out of Kozmino is above the $60-per-barrel cap on Russian crude exports meaning tankers subject to EU and G-7 sanctions should not be involved. (Several have been involved, however, prompting a warning from the U.S. regulator.) As the price of Brent rose in April, the price of discounted Urals loading in Novorossiysk and Primorsk was pulled up near the cap level, raising the sanctions risk for European shipowners. Since then, Brent has fallen back, dragging down Urals, which is no longer at imminent risk of breaching the cap. (Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Argus) The pricing situation in April led a lot of shipowners to step back from the market, wrote Argus Mitchell and Ollett. Now that Urals has come down, mainstream shipowners have returned. Russian trade outperforms broader market Crude and product tanker spot rates have pulled back globally since April due to refinery maintenance, production cuts and other issues pressuring transport demand. But freight data from Argus shows that tankers in the Russian trade have been largely shielded from these declines. Consequently, the premiums earned by these tankers versus those in a comparable non-Russian trade have increased since April. Argus recently launched a new pricing product that compares weekly Russian crude export freight rates to a non-Russian baseline. This data shows a jump in the Russian freight premium starting in mid-April, around the time Urals was flirting with the $60-per-barrel cap level. For an 80,000-ton cargo of Russian Urals loaded in Novorossiysk aboard an Aframax-class tanker and shipped to the west coast of India, Argus data shows that freight averaged $3.43 per barrel more or 42% higher than the baseline rate between early March and mid-April. During the eight weeks from April 21 through Friday, the premium earned on this Russian route soared much higher, averaging $4.59 per barrel more or 81% above the baseline. (Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Argus) In the most recent week, Aframax owners carrying Russian cargo on this route earned a 92% sanctions premium, according to Argus data. The same pattern is seen for larger Suezmax-class tankers loading 140,000-ton cargoes in Novorossiysk for delivery to the west coast of India. Argus data shows an average 33% premium versus the baseline for the weeks from March 3 to April 14, rising to an average 73% premium from April 21 to the week ending Friday as a result of the falling baseline rate. (Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Argus) Aframaxes loading 100,000-ton cargoes at Primorsk in the Baltic Sea for delivery to Indias west coast earned an average premium of $1.87 per barrel, 20% above the baseline, between early March and mid-April. Then average premium shot up $3.98 per barrel, 61% above the baseline, in the weeks since then, according to Argus data. The Primorsk-India rate was 78% above the baseline rate in the most recent week. (Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Argus) The initial rise in the Russian freight premium coincided with the pullback in cargo interest from mainstream operators worried about the price cap in April. But the return of these mainstream tankers to the Russian market since then has not brought the premium back down. Freight rates have not dropped as shipowners insist on repeating the last-done levels and are not lowering their offers, said Mitchell and Ollett. Rates have balanced at their current levels and are not, for the moment, responding to shifts in the regular [non-Russian] spot market. Click for more articles by Greg Miller Related articles: The post Profiting from sanctions: Shipping premiums surge for Russian oil appeared first on FreightWaves. Market Research Future Pumps Market Growth Boost by Increased Demand for Water and Wastewater Treatment Expansion Of Food And Beverage Industries New York, US, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a Comprehensive Report by MRFR/Market Research Future (MRFR), Pumps Market Research Report Information by Type, Region, and End-User - Forecast Till 2030, the Pumps market is predicted to grow substantially over the assessment timeframe from 2022 to 2030 at a healthy CAGR of around 4.70%. The reports even share predictions regarding the market's growing revenue share, which is likely to attain a market of USD 66.1 billion by the end of 2030. As per the study documents, the market was worth around USD 45.8 billion in 2021. Pumps Industry Overview: The global Pump industry has advanced enormously in recent years. The primary aspect causing a surge in the performance of the market is the rising requirement for water and wastewater treatment facilities across the globe. Pumps Market Competitive Analysis The catalog of the top leaders across the global Market for Pumps includes players such as: Grundfos (Denmark) Nikkiso Co Ltd (Japan) Sulzer (Switzerland) Schlumberger (U.S.) Flowserve (U.S.) KSB (Germany) ITT Corporation (U.S.) Ebara Corp (Japan) Danfoss (Denmark) The Weir Group (U.K.) Ingersoll-Rand (Ireland) Roper Industries (U.S.) Wilo AG (Germany) Among others. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7423 Market USP Covered Pumps Market Drivers The global Pump industry has advanced enormously in recent years. The primary aspect causing a surge in the performance of the market is the rising requirement for water and wastewater treatment facilities across the globe. Furthermore, the factors such as growing water deficit, rising environmental awareness, increased industrial activity, and infrastructure improvements are also anticipated to boost the market's growth over the coming years. Market Restraints However, some aspects may limit the market's performance. The main aspect limiting the market's development is the high costs linked. Report Scope: Report Metrics Details Market Size 2030 2030: USD 66.1 billion CAGR during 2022-2030 4.70% CAGR Base Year 2021 Forecast 2022-2030 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, End-User and Region Key Market Opportunities Expansion of Building and construction Key Market Dynamics Increased demand for water and wastewater treatment Expansion of food and beverage industries Browse In-depth Market Research Report (111 Pages) on Pumps Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pumps-market-7423 COVID-19 Impact The global health hazard of COVID-19 has impacted most industry operations in the last few years. The health emergency affected the industry operations and tremendously impacted public health in nearly 225 nations. The Pumps industry was no exception to this. The supply chain disruptions and partial or complete lockdowns around various regions worldwide led to several disruptions in market operations. However, with the rapid recovery of the global economy, the market is predicted to showcase substantial development over the review era. Segment Analysis Among all the types, the positive displacement segment secured the leading position across the global pumps market in 2021. The effective low-speed operation is the main aspect causing a surge in the market segment's performance. Furthermore, factors such as the positive displacement pumps' demand in the oil and gas industry coupled with the constant flow rates are also likely to enhance the performance of the market segment over the coming years. Among all the end-users, the water & wastewater segment secured the leading position across the global pumps market in 2021. The main aspect causing a surge in the market segment's performance is the rising requirement for pump stations in wastewater treatment facilities where gravity flow is impractical. Furthermore, the high flow rate deliverability and high transmission velocity are also projected to boost the segment's growth over the coming years. On the other hand, the oil & gas category is anticipated to showcase the maximum growth rate over the coming years, given the technological developments coupled with the rise in shale gas exploration. Ask for Customization: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_customize/7423 Regional Analysis The Global Market for Pumps is analyzed across five major parts: Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The research documents by MRFR indicate that North America secured the top position across the global Pumps industry in 2021 with the largest contribution of nearly USD 20.1 billion. The region has Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. as the leading development contributors. Further, the U.S. Pumps Market held the largest market share, and Canada was the fastest-growing North American Region. The main aspect supporting regional market expansion is that industrial and commercial construction markets are witnessing a major uptick in building activity. Furthermore, the growing installation of independent power plants and technological advancements will likely catalyze the regional market's development over the coming years. The Asia-pacific Region is anticipated to grow substantially across the global Pumps industry in 2021. India, China, and Indonesia are the leading development contributors in the region. Further, the China Pumps Market held the largest market share, and India was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-pacific Region. The Asia Pacific region's growing economies' quick industrialization is the main aspect supporting regional market expansion. Furthermore, the growing investment in manufacturing, industrial, and commercial projects is also likely to positively impact the performance of the regional market over the assessment era. Moreover, the greater product penetration in various end-use industries, such as agriculture and petrochemical, is likely to boost the regional market's growth over the coming years. Buy Now Premium Research Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=7423 The European Region is anticipated to secure the third position across the global Pumps industry over the coming years and showcase the maximum growth rate. The region has France, Germany, and the U.K. as the leading development contributors. Further, the German Pumps Market held the largest market share, and the U.K. was the fastest-growing Market in Europe. The growing offshore exploration and production operations across the region are considered the main parameter supporting regional market development. Furthermore, the demand for water treatment in the municipal and industrial sectors is also rising, given the strict laws meant to prevent residential water pollution, which in turn is also projected to positively impact the growth of the regional market over the coming years. Related Reports: Mud Pumps Market Research Report Information by type, component, application and Region Forecast till 2030 Double Diaphragm Pumps Market Research Report Information by Operation, Discharge Pressure, End-User and Region - Global Forecast till 2030 High Pressure Pumps Market Research Report Information by Type, Pressure Range, End User and Region - Forecast till 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter CONTACT: Market Research Future (Part of Wantstats Research and Media Private Limited) 99 Hudson Street, 5Th Floor New York, NY 10013 United States of America +1 628 258 0071 (US) +44 2035 002 764 (UK) Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Reddits Crypto Communities Go Dark In Support of Protest Against API Changes Have no fear if you couldnt find your favorite crypto subreddit on Mondayyou probably werent shadowbanned. A significant portion of cryptos online community is participating in a so-called "Reddit blackout" today, as moderators temporarily close shop for at least 48 hours in protest of upcoming changes at the social media juggernaut. Planned changes to Reddits API pricing would reportedly hurt several app developers. crypto-centric subreddits such as r/cryptocurrency, r/bitcoin, and r/ethereum have joined forces with approximately 7,000 other communities participating in the blackout, and they either going private or shifting to read-only, per the Verge. Notably, subreddits centered around crypto-skepticism, such as r/buttcoin, had also gone quiet. Others, however, that are more embracing of digital assets, such as r/altcoin, r/NFT, and r/dogecoin remained fully online. Billed by the Doge-loving as the most amazing place on Reddit and ranked within the websites top 1% subreddits by size, around 4,700 members were still freely browsing r/dogecoin, as of this writingor as the community refers to it, viewing the moon. Reddit itself experienced stability issues on Monday, according to Reddits status page, which identified and resolved an issue described as problems loading content. Downdetector, a website for monitoring online outages, also saw a steep spike in reported issues for Reddit, which peaked at around 43,000 this morning. Where did all the other crypto-minded Reddit folk go? Undoubtedly, some swiped over to Twitter, seeking shelter under the wing of Elon Musks embattled bird app. The company had seen ad sales dip and experienced technical issues in high-profile moments, yet remains home to many digital asset enjoyers. A never-ending stream of crypto-related content thats manifested on Twitter over the years has earned the moniker of Crypto Twitter. And It appears that not every Reddit user was on the same page in terms of todays blackout, including an account named Mutiny on Twitter. Guys am I going nuts? Mutiny pondered. I cannot find r/bitcoin nor r/cryptocurrency. The only reason I bother with Reddit. Guys am I going nuts? I cannot find r/bitcoin nor r/cryptocurrency. The only reason I bother with Reddit.#bitcoin MUTINY (@MUTINYMONEY) June 12, 2023 Theres also the possibility that Reddits crypto community found solace within the media feeds of decentralized Twitter alternatives like Bluesky and Nostrplatforms that have established some traction due to influential tech figures like Twitter co-founder and Block, Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey. The slow death of Twitter and the implosion of Reddit isnt something I should care this much about, said an account named Meggie Z. on Bluesky. Yet here we are. Some online groups have crafted contingencies for Reddit outages in the past, such as r/WallStreetBets, the digital domain for traders that popularized a YOLO mentality to trading stocks. Those who were there for the fever pitch of meme stock mania years ago may remember that the music video for PSYs Gangnam Style on YouTube is essentially the communitys Reddit lifeboat. Even though r/WallStreetBets was among the subreddits open for business on Monday, comments related to Gamestop or HODLing did trickle in at a time that lined up with reported outages earlier in the day. Reddit down? one user named WindsorDrew asked. While Twitter and Reddit are arguably the preeminent places for people to partake in commentary on day-to-day degen matters, the social messaging platform Discord has become a popular home base for the crypto-curious and NFT projects alike. For example, a Discord server called r/CryptoCurrency has more than 38,000 members. When asked whether anyone was within the servers mix amid the Reddit blackout, Decrypt received several responses. I don't even browse Reddit, one user named Moareth said. Whats Reddit? another account named Nadf asked. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wardah, a premium halal skincare brand for women, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Wardah Perfect Bright Series with the 4x bright berries formula. Designed exquisitely for skincare and beauty enthusiasts, the Wardah Perfect Bright series was introduced during the Wardah Berry Land launching event at the prestigious Glasshouse in the heart of Seputeh on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023. Wardah, a renowned halal skincare product, held Wardah Berry Land launching event to introduce the innovative Perfect Bright Series to revolutionize the skincare routine for Malaysian women. Through "Wardah Berry Land," the brand showcased its unwavering dedication to empowering individuals to embrace their unique beauty and unleash their full potential. This exclusive event marked the beginning of a new era in skincare, where the revamped Perfect Bright series would undoubtedly emerge as a game-changer, revolutionizing how Malaysian women approach their skincare routines. The new and improved Perfect Bright series by Wardah is a testament to the brand's unwavering commitment to providing Malaysian women with an effective and affordable skincare solution. With the revamped formula and the power of 4x Bright Berries, including Cranberry, Acai Berry, Goji Berry, and Amethyst Berry, this innovative product line offers a breakthrough in brightening and nourishing the skin. Wardah Skin Innovation's extensive research has revealed that these four bright berries possess an exceptional 4x antioxidant potency of other fruits, ensuring optimal skin brightening and nourishment. By harnessing the natural power of these superfruits, the Perfect Bright series infuses the skin with a wealth of essential vitamins, including Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, minerals, polyphenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. These valuable nutrients are renowned for their antioxidant properties, working synergistically to enhance skin radiance and nourishment. With the Perfect Bright series, Wardah empowers women to achieve a brightened, nourished, and even skin tone, unlocking the secrets to radiant beauty. Wanda Ismarosa, the International Marketing Manager at Paragon Technology and Innovation (Paragon Corp), the parent company of Wardah, emphasizes their commitment to accessibility stating, "Wardah democratizes access to an effective yet affordable innovative beauty product for Malaysian women. We want to answer your need by providing the best solution with easy access. One of the answers we bring through this nature-powered innovation is the Perfect Bright series you can obtain offline or online channels such as Watsons, Guardian, Shopee, TikTok Shop, Lazada, and local pharmacies in Malaysia." In addition to its exceptional skincare benefits, the Perfect Bright series has also been recognized for its outstanding packaging design. Wardah received the prestigious 2022 American Graphic Design Awards, which honor excellence in visual communication and design across various industries. This recognition further underscores Wardah's dedication to delivering an exceptional beauty experience that combines visual appeal with innovative skincare solutions. For more information about the Perfect Bright series, visit Wardah Malaysia's official Instagram www.instagram.com/wardahbeauty_my. Media Contact: Syukrina Mochtar PR Manager Wardah Malaysia +60 17-911 9210 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/revolutionizing-skincare-for-malaysian-women-wardah-unveils-the-perfect-bright-series-301847887.html SOURCE Wardah MADRID (Reuters) - Irish airline Ryanair is keen to buy the slots International Consolidated Airlines Group may be forced to dispose to get its planned acquisition of Air Europa approved by the European antitrust regulator, Cinco Dias newspaper reported on Monday. "We are following the process because we are interested in the possible liberation of slots in different airports," Elena Cabrera, Ryanair's country communications manager for Spain told the newspaper. "We are interested in slots in Canary and Balearic Islands and in Madrid, but the truth is that we are open to any opportunity as we are in growth phase in Spain," she added. Ryanair's press office confirmed the comments. In February, IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, agreed to buy the remaining 80% in Spanish carrier Air Europa it did not already own for 400 million euros ($431.2 million). The deal still needs anti-trust clearance by the European Commission. ($1 = 0.9276 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) FILE PHOTO: A logo of Salesforce is seen at its exhibition space, at the Viva Technology conference in Paris, France (Reuters) - Salesforce on Monday doubled its venture capital fund for generative AI startups to $500 million and unveiled the AI Cloud service that hopes to attract enterprises by offering the company's AI-powered products under one umbrella. AI Cloud will include Salesforce's products from the Einstein service to workplace-messaging app Slack and data analysis software Tableau. Its starter pack will be available for $360,000 annually, the company said. The move underscores the race among technology companies to incorporate their tools with generative AI, which can create new text, imagery and other content based on inputs from past data. "AI is reshaping our world and transforming business in ways we never imagined, and every company needs to become AI-first," said Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce. Along with the company's own offerings, AI Cloud will host the large-language models (LLMs) - the core software of artificial intelligence systems - from providers such as Amazon Web Services, Anthropic and Cohere. Salesforce said it plans to ensure data privacy for businesses using such offerings by helping prevent the LLMs from retaining sensitive customer information. In March, the company launched the Einstein GPT service and said it is working with ChatGPT creator OpenAI to add the chatbot sensation to its collaboration software Slack. (Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) We're definitely into long term investing, but some companies are simply bad investments over any time frame. We don't wish catastrophic capital loss on anyone. Imagine if you held Kuros Biosciences AG (VTX:KURN) for half a decade as the share price tanked 84%. And we doubt long term believers are the only worried holders, since the stock price has declined 31% over the last twelve months. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 11% in the last three months. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. View our latest analysis for Kuros Biosciences Because Kuros Biosciences made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit. Over five years, Kuros Biosciences grew its revenue at 60% per year. That's better than most loss-making companies. So on the face of it we're really surprised to see the share price has averaged a fall of 13% each year, in the same time period. You'd have to assume the market is worried that profits won't come soon enough. We'd recommend carefully checking for indications of future growth - and balance sheet threats - before considering a purchase. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). Take a more thorough look at Kuros Biosciences' financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? We've already covered Kuros Biosciences' share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR attempts to capture the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested) as well as any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings offered to shareholders. Kuros Biosciences hasn't been paying dividends, but its TSR of -80% exceeds its share price return of -84%, implying it has either spun-off a business, or raised capital at a discount; thereby providing additional value to shareholders. A Different Perspective Investors in Kuros Biosciences had a tough year, with a total loss of 31%, against a market gain of about 4.3%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 12% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Kuros Biosciences (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , 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 Swiss exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Research funding in Oncology, Autoimmune and CNS disease areas CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited (2096.HK) (Simcere) announced a Sponsored Research Agreement with Mass General Brigham. With more than 80,000 employees, 13 Nobel laureates and an annual research budget of $2 billion, Mass General Brigham is one of the largest and most prestigious academic medical centers in the United States. Under the agreement up to eight research groups at Mass General Brigham will be funded on select projects over the course of two years. The agreement aims to establish a mutually beneficial partnership that will advance scientific research and create new treatment options for patients with cancer, autoimmune and CNS diseases. By partnering with Mass General Brigham, Simcere gains access to cutting-edge research and leading clinical capabilities which will help accelerate the company's global R&D efforts. In return, this collaboration will support the biopharma community by providing additional resources for medical research and clinical trials. "We believe that this Sponsored Research Agreement with Mass General Brigham represents a significant step forward in our efforts to develop innovative new treatment options for patients around the world," said Zhou Gaobo, Chief Investment Officer, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. "This partnership underscores our commitment to advancing drug development and building long-term partnerships that benefit not only Simcere but also the broader medical community and ultimately, the patients." "The discoveries resulting from this agreement could further advance potentially game-changing technology to the front lines of care in three areas of rapid clinical advancement and high patient need -- neurology, oncology, and inflammation and immunology," said Chris Coburn, chief innovation officer at Mass General Brigham. "Were excited to collaborate with industry partners such as Simcere, whose expanding presence in the Boston area is reflective of our regions continued growth as a biotech hub." The presence of Simceres Boston Innovation Center (BIC) in the Cambridge area will provide opportunities for local collaboration and partnerships, leading to further synergies between participating research groups. Additionally, Simceres Project X, which aims at providing highly talented scientists with funding and employment, will further contribute to the local medical research community. Overall, the Sponsored Research Agreement with Mass General Brigham, announced at the World Medical Innovation Forum 2023 in Boston, is an exciting development for Simcere and represents a substantial step forward in the company's efforts to further enhance its global R&D capabilities and develop innovative therapeutics for patients around the world. In separate announcement today, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group also announced the company is continuing its global footprint as Zaiming has established a subsidiary, Simcere Zaiming, Inc., in Massachusetts, USA. About Mass General Brigham Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic healthcare system, uniting great minds in medicine to make life-changing impact for patients in our communities and people around the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a non-profit organization that is committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nations leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org. About Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited (2096.HK) is an innovation and R&D-driven pharmaceutical company. The Company focuses on three therapeutic areas, oncology, neurology and autoimmune diseases, with a forward-looking vision toward disease areas that have substantial clinical needs, aiming to achieve the mission of "providing today's patients with medicines of the future." Leveraging its R&D capability and commercialization excellence, Simcere has built a market-leading product portfolio in China. Its vigorous in-house R&D efforts and extensive R&D and commercial stage collaborations have made it a strategic alliance partner with world leading innovative companies and research institutes. For more information, please visit: https://en.simcere.com. Forward Looking Statements: The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230612005127/en/ Contacts Media Contact: Tyler Gagnon Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited Director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Tyler.Gagnon@SimcereGroup.com MGB Media Contact: Tracy M. Doyle Marketing and Communications Director Mass General Brigham Innovation t.doyle5@mgb.org Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Somero Enterprises implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price 50% of the business is held by the top 24 shareholders Insiders have been selling lately To get a sense of who is truly in control of Somero Enterprises, Inc. (LON:SOM), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 51% 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. 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 Somero Enterprises. View our latest analysis for Somero Enterprises What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Somero Enterprises? 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 Somero Enterprises does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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. 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 Somero Enterprises' 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. Somero Enterprises is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Unicorn Asset Management Limited, with ownership of 5.1%. River and Mercantile Asset Management LLP is the second largest shareholder owning 4.8% of common stock, and Chelverton Asset Management Limited holds about 4.6% of the company stock. After doing some more digging, we found that the top 24 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Somero Enterprises 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 information suggests that Somero Enterprises, Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. It seems the board members have no more than UK731k worth of shares in the UK181m company. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 48% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Somero Enterprises. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Somero Enterprises you should be aware of, and 1 of them doesn't sit too well with us. 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 logo of Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA is seen outside their headquarters in Bern ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss financial regulator FINMA has specified the central elements of its regulatory requirements for the merged UBS and Credit Suisse, it said on Monday. The regulator also said it "welcomes UBS's strategic focus, which foresees a rapid reduction of risk in investment banking," in a statement after UBS formally completed its emergency takeover of its stricken rival. FINMA said it would continue to supervise the merged bank 'very closely' during the integration process. "The legal consummation of the merger between UBS Group and Credit Suisse Group marks the end of a phase of great uncertainty," FINMA said in a statement. "This creates clarity and stability." The regulator said one of the most pressing goals for the new merged bank was to quickly reduce the risk of the former Credit Suisse investment bank, but was confident this could be achieved. "Following the completion of the transaction, the merged bank has the necessary capital and liquidity resources to carry out these risk reduction activities quickly and decisively and to successfully complete the integration," FINMA said. Switzerland's largest bank became even bigger on Monday after it announced it has completed its acquisition of Credit Suisse, following a government-backed rescue earlier this year. The combined bank has a balance sheet of $1.6 trillion and oversees $5 trillion of assets, giving UBS overnight a leading position in key markets it would otherwise need years to grow in size and reach. UBS has said the combined bank will be the will "undisputed leader in Switzerland." The mega-bank will employ 120,000 worldwide, although it has already announced it will in the future be cutting jobs to take advantage of synergies and reduce costs. (Reporting by Noele Illien, editing by John Revill) The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly. Top 5 Upgrades: KGI Securities upgraded Tesla (TSLA) to Outperform from Neutral with a $335 price target. Tesla is seeing its "vast" U.S. investments in electric vehicle assembly and battery "bear fruit in 2023," the firm says. (Read more) Wolfe Research upgraded Oracle (ORCL) to Outperform from Peer Perform with a $130 price target. The firm cites the company's accelerating sales and earnings growth from cloud adoption and artificial intelligence tailwinds for the upgrade. (Read more) BofA upgraded Carnival (CCL) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $20, up from $11, after having met with all three publicly-traded cruise companies in Miami. The firm came away from the meetings with more confidence that industry demand remains steady, the pricing environment is rational and that booking curves are in line with company expectations. (Read more) JPMorgan also upgraded Carnival to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $16, up from $11. (Read more) Evercore ISI upgraded AutoZone (AZO) to Outperform from In Line with a price target of $2,700, up from $2,640. The stock's 6% price decline since the company reported fiscal Q3 results presents "an attractive entry point for an industry leader in a favored auto aftermarket retail sub sector," the firm says. (Read more) A Texas man pleaded guilty to smuggling a firearm that authorities linked to the deadly kidnapping of four U.S. citizens near the border in Mexico, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. Roberto Lugardo Moreno Jr. admitted to purchasing the pistol and then taking it to Mexico for the Gulf Cartel, the Wednesday statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "These weapons often contribute to fueling the violence committed by drug cartels, which drastically affects communities both in Mexico and in the United States," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio. "This investigation and prosecution highlight the fine work federal border security agencies perform each day, often behind the scenes and often unknown to the public." MORE: 5 alleged Mexican cartel members charged in kidnapping of 4 Americans After the four Americans arrived in Matamoros, Mexico, in March, "unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle," the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said at the time. Two of the Americans were killed, and the other two were found days later in Mexico. Five alleged members of a powerful Mexican cartel were charged with aggravated kidnapping and murder a day after the Gulf Cartel allegedly took responsibility for the kidnapping. The five men were found tied up near a pickup truck, and a handwritten note, purportedly written by members of the cartel, was found placed on the truck's windshield. PHOTO: In this March 7, 2023, file photo, a Red Cross worker closes the door of an ambulance carrying two Americans found alive after their abduction in Mexico last week, in Matamoros, Mexico. (Stringer/AP, FILE) "We have decided to deliver those involved and directly responsible," the note said, presumably referring to the five men found tied up at the scene. Moreno is expected to be sentenced in August. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and the potential for $250,000 in fines. The public defenders' office handling Moreno's case did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News. ABC News' Anne Laurent contributed to this report. PHOTO: In this March 7, 2023, file photo, a storage shed is shown behind a police cordon, at the scene where authorities found the bodies of two of four Americans kidnapped by gunmen, in Matamoros, Mexico. (Daniel Becerril/Reuters, FILE) Texas man pleads guilty to firearms offense linked to Mexico murder, kidnapping case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, the Boustead Singapore Limited (SGX:F9D) share price is up 28% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 4.1% (not including dividends). 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 Boustead Singapore To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Boustead Singapore was able to grow its EPS at 15% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. The average annual share price increase of 9% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 8.64. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that Boustead Singapore has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Boustead Singapore the TSR over the last 3 years was 51%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Investors in Boustead Singapore had a tough year, with a total loss of 11% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 1.2%. 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 6% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Boustead Singapore better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Boustead Singapore you should know about. We will like Boustead Singapore better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 Some Verde AgriTech Ltd (TSE:NPK) shareholders are probably rather concerned to see the share price fall 54% over the last three months. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been spectacular. The longer term view reveals that the share price is up 389% in that period. So you might argue that the recent reduction in the share price is unremarkable in light of the longer term performance. The thing to consider is whether there is still too much elation around the company's prospects. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. Check out our latest analysis for Verde AgriTech While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During three years of share price growth, Verde AgriTech moved from a loss to profitability. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that Verde AgriTech has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? This free interactive report on Verde AgriTech's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 1.3% in the twelve months, Verde AgriTech shareholders did even worse, losing 67%. 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. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 24% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Verde AgriTech better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with Verde AgriTech (at least 2 which are a bit concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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 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 The U.S. electric grid is undergoing a huge transformation and renewables have steadily become more widely adopted over the past decade. Adoption is set to continue at a brisk pace, says Goldman Sachs analyst Carly Davenport. Looking ahead, Davenport reckons that by 2032, over 45% of the U.S.s power generation capacity will come from renewable sources and 6% from coal. That compares to a mix of 30%/16% today and 17%/27% in 2012, making the ongoing change very clear. With this as backdrop, boosted by the Inflation Reduction Act, and as the power generation mix shifts and the Energy transition advances, Davenport believes utilities are uniquely positioned to facilitate this shift and address associated challenges in a way that creates a cleaner power grid while maintaining reliability and customer affordability. This shift will require a significant amount of capital investment, the analyst went on to add, which we believe will contribute to attractive earnings and rate base growth in the coming years. And investors can obviously take advantage of this development, too. With themes such as clean technology, nuclear power, LNG (liquefied natural gas) project additions, and transmission build out coming to the fore, investors stand to make use of an attractive investment opportunity set. Davenport has compiled a list of stocks, what she and her team call Decarbonization Enablers, that are well positioned to take advantage of this trend and she sees three names posting double-digit growth over the coming months. We ran these picks through the TipRanks database to get a fuller view of their prospects. Lets check the results. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) Well start with NextEra Energy, a Florida-based electric utility firm, which, with its $150 billion market cap, is one of the largest utility holding firms in the US utility landscape. NextEras chief subsidiary is Florida Power & Light (FPL), which boasts more than 5.8 million customer accounts and provides power to more than 12 million people across Florida. The company generates power at seven utility-grade nuclear generation plants in Florida, making it a major provider of zero-emission power. NextEra isnt just depending on nuclear power for clean energy. The company is also moving into the hydrogen segment of the energy industry. In April of this year, the company announced an understanding between its renewable energy subsidiary NextEra Energy Resources and CF Industries, a major ammonia producer, for development of a hydrogen project at a CF Industries facility in Oklahoma. At the end of Q1, NextEra owned and operated approximately 4,600 megawatts of solar power generation capacity, a total that includes the 970 megawatts of solar capacity brought online during the quarter. This total makes NextEra the largest utility provider of solar power in the US. The company has more than 2,000 megawatts of renewable power and storage projects in its work backlog. This company has a history of beating the earnings expectations and has done so consistently for the past several years, as the case again in the last reported quarter for 1Q23. Adj. EPS rose from $0.74 in the same period a year ago to $0.84, in turn beating the forecast by $0.11. Likewise on the top-line, revenue climbed by a big 132.5% y/y to $6.72 billion, coming in ahead of expectations by $1.5 billion. Turning to Goldman Sachs Carly Davenport, we find her putting a Buy rating on NEE shares, along with a $90 price target that implies a one-year gain of ~22%. (To watch Davenports track record, click here) In Davenports view, the companys ability to grow earnings while expanding renewable generation capacity are key points. She writes: Three key factors underpin our Buy rating: leverage to renewables growth, positive regulatory environment and a long track record of execution at FPL, and above average EPS growth with discounted valuation relative to history. We view NEEs regulated utility Florida Power & Light (FPL) as a premium regulated utility with a long runway for growth in a positive regulatory backdrop NEE shares have underperformed the XLU by ~5% YTD, which we believe provides an attractive entry point for investors. Overall, NEE gets a Strong Buy from the Streets analyst consensus, based on 12 recent reviews that include 9 Buys and 3 Holds. The shares are trading for $73.98 and have an average price target of $89.45, suggesting ~21% gain on the one-year time frame. (See NEE stock forecast) Sempra Energy (SRE) Next up is Sempra Energy, a San Diego-based energy firm working to deliver power electricity and natural gas to some 40 million customers in California, Texas, and Mexico. Sempra is deeply involved in the shift toward cleaner energy technologies, including renewables, and is a major supplier and exporter of liquified natural gas (LNG), which generates significantly fewer carbon emissions than other fossil fuels. Sempras LNG operations are extensive. The company currently holds a large ownership stake in the 12 million ton per annum (Mtpa) export facility, Cameron LNG, located in Hackberry, Louisiana on the Gulf Coast. Befitting the firms home base in San Diego, Sempra is also working to develop LNG export terminals on the Pacific, at Energia Costa Azul in the northwest of Mexicos Baja California peninsula. This facility offers potential to cut LNG export transit times to Asia from 21 days to 11 days. Natural gas is big business, and Sempra brought in $6.56 billion in total revenues during Q1 of this year. This was up 71.7% from the prior year, and beat the analysts forecast by over $2.5 billion. The companys bottom line showed a solid profit; adjusted net earnings in 1Q23 came to $2.92 per share 15 cents better than had been expected. Sempra is using its strong financial base to expand its infrastructure business. As noted, Sempra is building an LNG export facility in northwest Mexico the company is working on additional LNG export terminals in Texas, to meet expanding global demand for LNG. Expansion of the infrastructure and further buildout of LNG export capabilities are prime points for investors to consider, in Carly Davenports opinion. The Goldman analyst writes of Sempra: SRE has a significant project pipeline for LNG at its Sempra Infrastructure Business (SIP), with the potential for 62 mtpas of total capacity online if all proposed projects come to fruition, with SRE owning a portion of the capacity. While the projects will likely not come online until the late 2020s at the earliest, we expect progress towards reaching FID and beginning construction will serve as positive catalysts for SRE along the way We view SREs business mix favorably and see SIP as a unique opportunity to gain exposure to LNG in the utility sector. Davenport goes on to rate Sempra shares a Buy, with a $178 price target that shows her confidence in a 21% upside over the coming year. Overall, with 6 recent analyst reviews on file, including 4 Buys and 2 Holds, Sempra gets a Moderate Buy consensus rating from the Street. The shares are selling for $147.17, and their $172.17 average price target implies a 17% gain in the next 12 months. (See Sempra stock forecast) Xcel Energy (XEL) Last on our Goldman-backed energy list is Xcel Energy. This company is known for its commitment to clean, renewable power generation, and boasts a power generation portfolio that features wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, supplemented by natural gas, nuclear, and biomass generation. Power generation is useless without transmission, and Xcel boasts an extensive network of electricity transmission assets. This includes more than 1,200 substations and over 20,000 miles of transmission lines, capable of serving 22,000 megawatts of customer load. Xcel is working to expand this network, which is currently active across 10 states in two major regions of the country. Xcel has transmission networks in Texas-New Mexico-Colorado-Kansas-Oklahoma, as well as in the northern Plains and Great Lakes states of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In addition to its power generation and transmission activity, Xcel has been promoting clean energy use and zero-emission vehicles. The company is involved in developing electric vehicle (EV) technology, and offers customers subscription services for renewable energy resources, including solar panel installations. On the financial side, Xcels 1Q23 results showed $4.08 billion in total revenues, a solid result that was up 8.8% year-over-year and beat the analyst estimates by $320 million. The bottom-line adj. EPS figure, of 76 cents per share, was up 8.5% y/y, and beat the forecast by 2 cents per share. For Goldmans Carly Davenport, there are several reasons to back Xcel. She writes: The primary drivers of our positive view are the accelerated coal replacement with regulated renewables, rate case activity that could drive improved earned vs. authorized ROEs, and leverage to the transmission build out opportunity. We view XELs wind and solar resource rich service territory as a key competitive advantage which should enable it to execute on its goals. Putting some numbers where her mouth is, Davenport gives XEL shares a $75 price target, suggesting an 18% upside in the next 12 months, and supporting her Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating. (To watch Davenports track record, click here) Overall, XEL stock gets a Moderate Buy from the analyst consensus, based on 12 reviews with a breakdown of 5 Buys and 7 Holds. The shares have an average price target of $69.73 and a trading price of $63.57, implying upside potential of ~10% for the year ahead. (See XEL stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. The tireless tiller of the PV industry JINERGY, N-type cells and modules will account for more than 80% MUNICH, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Standing on the turning point of P-type to N-type, the new and old enterprises converge here and start a new round of competition. As one of the established PV enterprises, Jinergy revealed that the construction of its new 4GW N-type TOPCon cell and module production line will be completed and will go into operation in this July. In this wave of N-type expansion wave, Jinergy has walk in the forefront by virtue of its strength in technology accumulation. Logo (PRNewsfoto/Jinergy) Jinergy is a Tier 1 solar module supplier rated by BNEF, and in the journey of global energy transition, in its years of PV technology R&D journey. As is known to all that there is always dispute on TOPCon or HJT as the ultimate technology route for N-type in the PV industry. In fact, Jinergy is a leader in the mass production of HJT cell technology in China. In May 2017, Jinergy's 100MW HJT production line, as the first one in China, was put into operation. Under the leadership of Dr. YANG Liyou, Jinergy has been active in the forefront of promoting cost reduction in HJT structures. Now, Jinergy's HJT cost reduction has been deeply involved in lamination, conductive silver paste, ITO target material, texturing additives and so on. In the future, the mass production cost of HJT will be further reducted to be even with PERC. "More customers are more inclined to purchase customized products, including lightweight and all-black modules. Jinergy has also developed high-reliability modules for seaborne PV projects, Jinergy began to explore global markets in 2017, and was mainly engaged in ground projects in the early stage. In 2021, Jinergy fully extended the distribution channels. " Dr. YANG Liyou said. At present, Jinergy's global markets are mainly concentrated in Europe, Australia, South America, etc., among which HJT modules are mainly exported to Europe and Australia. "High-performance modules are more favored in global market, but more important is the guarantee of product quality. As a Chinese state-owned company, Jinergy is well recognized by customers for our pursuit of product quality and steady development of the situation". Jinergy is bringing advanced PV manufacturing technology and synchronous development of TOPCon, HJT, Tandem and XBC technologies, and continued to facilitate the industrialization of advanced technologies, in order to address the pain-point problems in practical application, develop more valuable green and low-carbon products, provide more cost-effective PV products for various application scenarios and meet the diversified market needs. Jinergy always adheres to the customer service concept of quality product supply and quality service upgrade. Jinergy has provided customers with efficient product supply, rapid priority services and simplified and improved procedures through the guarantees of product ecology, customer centralization and order intensification. Jinergy's parent company Jinneng Holding Group is the world's third largest and China's second largest coal company, the group that shoulders the important task of energy structure transformation, Jinergy focuses on the PV industry to promote the progress of PV industry and the development of next-generation PV products, which is also the mission and responsibility of traditional energy enterprises in the new era. In 2023, Jinergy's comprehensive production capacity will exceed 10GW, of which N-type cells and modules will account for more than 80%. With stable output and high-quality PV products, Jinergy will provide partners with diversified products with high efficiency, high performance and high reliability. In the upcoming Intersolar Europe 2023 held on June 14-16, 2023, Jinergy will also bring new technologies to show, welcome to visit booth C4.274, Munich, Germany. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-tireless-tiller-of-the-pv-industry-jinergy-n-type-cells-and-modules-will-account-for-more-than-80-301848006.html SOURCE Jinergy In this in-depth overview, we'll talk about titanium reserves by country and 10 biggest mines in the world. You can skip our detailed anaysis of where is titanium mostly found in the world and insights on the titanium industry and go directly to Titanium Reserves By Country And 5 Biggest Mines In The World. Titanium has exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and is derived predominantly from the minerals ilmenite (FeTiO3) and rutile (TiO2). The largest known titanium reserves by country of ilmenite ores are situated across a spectrum of regions. China is the largest producer of titanium in the world as it has major reserves of ilmenite ore that account for 30% of the world's titanium reserves. Major ilmenite sources can be traced to the Panzhihua region in Sichuan province, China, which boasts the world's largest vanadium-titanium magnetite deposit. Another name with the highest titanium mining by country is Australia, which has both ilmenite and rutile reserves. Norway, with its Tellnes open-pit mine, one of the world's largest hard rock ilmenite mines, also has a top rank amongst countries with the largest titanium reserves. Other substantial ilmenite reserves are present across Canada, Madagascar, India, South Africa, and Vietnam, each contributing to the global titanium industry. Titanium is the fourth most abundant structural metal that makes up 0.6% of the earth's crust. When it comes to volume, titanium comes after iron, magnesium, and aluminum but remains exotic due to its resource-intensive cost. The global titanium market was valued at $28.59 billion in 2022. This market is projected to expand at a significant rate to reach an estimated size of nearly $52 billion by 2030. Such growth hints at the increasing demand for this metal from the aerospace & defense, automotive, medical, and construction industries. Titanium's high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature sustainability make it a reliable base metal for a multitude of sectors. Hence, aerospace manufacturing accounts for the largest share of the titanium market. Technological advancements in titanium production, such as the Kroll process, which was inherently resource-intensive, are also set to propel the market's expansion by reducing costs. Significance Of Ilmenite And Rutile Ore Ilmenite's chemical composition contains 40% and 65% titanium dioxide (TiO2), the chief constituent of interest in the pigment industry. Its noteworthy that ilmenite can also be found in hard rock deposits, albeit with less frequency, which further adds to its widespread geographical distribution. Given the global mineral production statistics, ilmenite accounts for 92% of the world's titanium mineral production. However, the purity of titanium dioxide in ilmenite is lower compared to other titanium-bearing minerals like rutile, anatase, and brookite. For instance, rutile (TiO2) contains 93-96% titanium dioxide content. But since rutile's availability in natural ilmenite deposits is comparatively scarce, it doesn't impact titanium mining by country as much as ilmenite. Although rutile does form via high-temperature metamorphism and metasomatism in certain rock types, these specific geological circumstances arent as widespread. Consequently, the primary rutile ore deposits are in Australia, India, and South Africa. Where Is Titanium Used? One of the most frequently encountered titanium alloys, Ti6A-4V (consisting of 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, and 90% titanium), is favored in the medical sphere. It is used in prosthetic devices such as knee replacement implants because of weight and lower modulus. There's a growing preference for using titanium in implants because it holds non-magnetic properties and is safe with MRI machines. Ti also possesses resistance to cryogenic temperatures and maintains its structural integrity in aerospace applications, where materials are exposed to the chilliness of outer space. Likewise, this strength of titanium is valuable in the energy sector because it can be used in processes requiring low-temperature resilience. Furthermore, the majority of titanium is used as titanium dioxide as a whitener or filler material in the paint industry. The high refractive index, strong UV light absorption, and resistance to discoloration under ultraviolet light make titanium dioxide an ideal ingredient in paints. Players Of Titanium Mining & Refining The Moma Titanium Minerals Mine, owned by Kenmare Resources plc (LSE:KMR.L) in Nampula, Mozambique, has one of the largest deposits of titanium minerals in the world. Estimates are that it contains more than 6.3 billion tons of mineral resources, out of which, a significant percentage is of titanium oxides. Moreover, QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) owned by Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is the major source of titanium dioxide for Madagascar. Its initial capacity was reported to be 750,000 tonnes per year of ilmenite and it continues to be a cornerstone in the country's mineral economy. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) operates in Madagascar, South Africa, Australia, and Canada. Being one of the largest mining companies in the world, with a market cap of $116 billion, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) is at the forefront of titanium mining and refining. Allegheny Technologies Inc (NYSE:ATI) is another mining giant that produces titanium and titanium alloys. Allegheny Technologies Inc (NYSE:ATI) operates worldwide with locations in the US, Europe, and Asia, with 57 locations and 17 countries. Allegheny Technologies Inc (NYSE:ATI) is known for producing high-strength and commercially produced titanium that's used in the aerospace and architecture sectors. Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX), which has offices in India, South Africa, and South America is another key player. Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) has a market cap of $1.92 billion and enterprise value of $4.59 billion. Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) is headquartered in the US, and its primary product is titanium dioxide pigment (TiO2), that's commonly found in paints, plastics, and paper. Titanium Reserves By Country And 10 Biggest Mines In The World Pixabay/Public Domain Our Methodology To identify world titanium reserves and quantify their global distribution, we relied on the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries report published in the start of 2023 that accounted for the year, 2022. The USGS annually publishes detailed updates on a wide range of mineral commodities and is internationally recognized for its comprehensive databases. We referred to these annual summaries as they stand as the most updated and detailed repositories of world titanium reserves. Since ilmenite accounts for about 90% of the world's titanium minerals, we explored the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries from 2023 to rank ilmenite reserves of 10 countries based on their Ilmenite reserves. However, given that some countries also have the capacity to produce titanium from rutile, we mentioned the rutile oxide reserves separately. For countries that don't have rutile reserves, i.e., China, Canada, and Norway, we wrote N/A (not applicable) for their rutile reserves. Based on our expansive research on where is titanium mostly found in the world, here are the main Titanium Reserves By Country And 10 Biggest Mines In The World: 10. Ukraine Ilmenite Reserves: 5.9 million metric tons Rutile Reserves: 2.5 million metric tons Largest Titanium Mine: United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC) Ukraine has the 10th largest titanium reserve in the world, with ilmenite and rutile reserves estimated at 5.9 million metric tons and 2.5 million metric tons, respectively. Notably, the United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC) is the principal titanium mine in Ukraine that exemplifies the country's contribution to global titanium supply chains. 9. Madagascar Ilmenite Reserves: 22 million metric tons Rutile Reserves: 0.52 million metric tons Largest Titanium Mine: QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) Madagascar has a substantial confirmed ilmenite reserve of 22 million metric tons and a rutile reserve of 0.52 million metric tons. The titanium resources in these minerals present the potential for industrial-scale extraction and substantiate the country's crucial role in meeting the world's titanium demand. The biggest mine in Madagascar is QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM), largely owned by Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO). 8. Mozambique Ilmenite Reserves: 26 million metric tons Rutile Reserves: 0.89 million metric tons Largest Titanium Mine: Moma Titanium Minerals Mine According to USGS, Mozambique is sitting on approximately 26 million metric tons of ilmenite reserves and 0.89 million metric tons of rutile reserves. Mozambique is also home to one of the largest titanium mines in the world, the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine. This mine has one of the world's largest deposits of titanium minerals, whose 85% mineral deposits are of ilmenite. Furthermore, Mozambique yielded the 2nd highest quantity of ilmenite in 2022, which amounted to 1.2 million metric tons. 7. South Africa Ilmenite Reserves: 30 million metric tons Rutile Reserves: 6.5 million metric tons Largest Titanium Mine: Xolobeni Mine South Africa's ilmenite reserves total 30 million metric tons, which makes it a big name when it comes to titanium mining by country. Moreover, its rutile reserves stand at 6.5 million metric tons and give SA the opportunity to make titanium for multiple sectors. The Xolobeni mine is the country's primary source of titanium as it has significant deposits of ilmenite, titanium-iron ore, and zircon. 6. Canada Ilmenite Reserves: 31 million metric tons Rutile Reserves: N/A Largest Titanium Mine: The Titan Mine As of current data, Canada's ilmenite reserves are 31 million metric tons. This wealth of ilmenite crucially situates Canada within the global titanium market. Importantly, The Titan Mine represents Canada's principal source of titanium, as 14.8% of its mineral deposits are of titanium. However, Canada does not have rutile ore reserves and relies solely on its ilmenite deposits for titanium mining, which was 0.47 million metric tons in 2022. Click to continue reading Titanium Reserves By Country And 5 Biggest Mines In The World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. Titanium Reserves By Country And 10 Biggest Mines In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we discuss the top 20 mining countries in the world. If you want to read about some more mining companies, go directly to Top 5 Mining Countries in the World. The mining industry is a key player in the global economy, providing essential raw materials that fuel various industries and contribute to economic growth. From precious metals to fossil fuels, minerals extracted from the earth's crust are integral to manufacturing, construction, energy production, and technological advancements. In this article, we delve into the top 20 mining countries in the world, exploring their mineral wealth, production capabilities, and the significant role they play in shaping the global mining landscape. Mining has been an essential human activity for centuries, driving exploration and extraction in pursuit of valuable resources. Today, mining operations span across continents, with countries harnessing their geological advantages to access and utilize mineral reserves. These resources serve as the backbone of industrial development, enabling nations to meet domestic demands, stimulate exports, and foster economic prosperity. Mining is the process of extracting minerals and other valuable resources from the earth. It involves several stages, beginning with exploration to identify potential mineral deposits. Once a deposit is discovered, feasibility studies are conducted to assess the viability of extraction. If deemed economically viable, mining operations commence, involving excavation, blasting, and transportation of ore to processing facilities. Finally, the processed minerals are refined and prepared for distribution and use in various industries. The mining industry operates on a global scale, with countries around the world participating in mineral extraction. Each country possesses a unique geological composition, leading to variations in the types of minerals available for mining. Some countries are rich in mineral resources, while others have limited reserves. These disparities contribute to the formation of mining countries that are distinguished by their mineral wealth and their ability to exploit and process those resources. Some of the top firms working in the mining sector around the world include Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM), and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), among others discussed in detail below. Factors affecting current market situations The current market situation of the mining industry is influenced by several factors. Geopolitical events, economic conditions, technological advancements, and environmental concerns all impact the sector's dynamics. Fluctuations in commodity prices, changes in demand patterns, and shifts towards sustainable practices are some of the key challenges and opportunities faced by the industry. In recent years, the mining industry has been undergoing significant changes driven by environmental and social considerations. Environmental sustainability has become a critical focus, with mining companies adopting practices that minimize ecological impact, reduce carbon emissions, and promote responsible resource management. Social responsibility is also a key aspect, with a growing emphasis on community engagement, local employment opportunities, and indigenous rights protection. Governments and regulatory bodies have implemented stricter regulations to ensure sustainable mining practices and minimize negative environmental and social impacts. Ranking the top mining countries in the world Ranking the top 20 mining countries provides valuable insights into the global distribution of mineral resources and highlights the countries that excel in this sector. It is important to note that the rankings can vary depending on the specific minerals considered. Different countries specialize in different resources based on their geological structure, resulting in varying levels of production and revenue generation. For instance, countries like Australia and China are prominent in iron ore production, while South Africa and Russia dominate in precious metals such as gold and platinum. The ranking of mining countries is a complex process that considers various factors related to mineral production and the financial impact of mining activities. Several methodologies can be used to rank mining countries, with each approach focusing on specific criteria. Common metrics include mineral production volume, export rate, revenue generated from mining activities, foreign direct investments, and employment opportunities created by the industry. By analyzing these metrics, a comprehensive ranking can be established to highlight the leading mining countries based on their contributions to the sector. The rankings shed light on the dynamic nature of the mining industry and the factors that contribute to a country's success in this field. Geological factors, political stability, investment climate, technological advancements, and environmental regulations all play a role in shaping a nation's mining landscape. By exploring the top 20 mining countries, we can uncover the strategies and initiatives that have propelled these nations to the forefront of the industry. Minerals extracted in one country often find their way into the value chains of various industries across the world. This highlights the importance of international trade and cooperation within the mining sector, as countries rely on each other to meet their resource needs. Understanding the leading mining countries allows us to comprehend the complexities and dependencies of the global mining market. Our Methodology Here, the countries are ranked on the basis of two metrics that are Mineral Production Volume and Export Value. When countries are ranked globally, a combination of these two factors is typically considered. Data on mineral production volume and export value is collected from various sources, including government reports, industry publications, trade statistics, and international databases. This data provides information on the production volumes and the value of mineral and metal exports for each country. The total volume or quantity of minerals and metals produced by each country is calculated by aggregating the production volumes of various minerals and metals. This involves summing up the individual production volumes for each commodity. The total value of mineral and metal exports for each country is calculated by multiplying the exported volume of each commodity by its corresponding market price. The export values of all relevant minerals and metals are summed up to obtain the total export value. Countries can be compared and ranked based on both the mineral production volume and the export value. Typically, countries with high production volumes and significant export values rank higher in the list. The specific weight or importance given to each metric may vary depending on the methodology used or the specific ranking criteria. The rankings should be analyzed and interpreted in the context of the global mining industry. Factors such as the diversity of commodities, the value-added processing of minerals and the stability of export markets can also influence a country's ranking. Additional factors or metrics, such as reserves or investment attractiveness, may be considered to provide a more comprehensive assessment. It's worth noting that rankings based on these metrics are subject to data availability, accuracy, and variations in methodology used by different organizations or reports. Therefore, it's important to refer to reliable sources and consider multiple metrics when assessing the top mining countries. By examining their mining industries, mineral resources, export value and market situations, we gain a deeper understanding of these countries' contributions to the global mining sector. Top 20 Mining Countries in the World Image by Tshekiso Tebalo from Pixabay Top Mining Countries in the World 20. Peru Mineral Production Volume: $5.4 Billion Peru, a nation located in South America, holds the 20th spot in the global mining rankings. Known for its diverse mineral resources, Peru is a major producer of copper, zinc, silver, lead, and gold. The country's mining industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by favorable geological conditions and supportive government policies. Peru's mining sector contributes significantly to its economy, attracting foreign investments and generating employment opportunities. However, challenges such as environmental concerns and social conflicts surrounding mining operations persist. Just like the Peruvian government, private companies like Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM), and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) are also leading mining activities around the world. 19. Indonesia Mineral Production Volume: $5.6 Billion Indonesia, an archipelago nation in Southeast Asia, is rich in mineral resources, particularly coal, which is a major contributor to its mining industry. Additionally, Indonesia boasts significant reserves of gold, tin, nickel, and copper. The mining sector plays a crucial role in Indonesia's economy, contributing to government revenue and providing employment. However, the industry faces challenges related to environmental sustainability and regulations, necessitating efforts to balance mining activities with ecological preservation. 18. Kazakhstan Mineral Production Volume: $5.8 Billion Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia, holds the 18th position in the global mining rankings. The country is renowned for its vast mineral reserves, including significant deposits of copper, zinc, uranium, and coal. Kazakhstan's mining industry contributes substantially to its economy, attracting foreign investments and driving industrial development. The government has implemented favorable policies to encourage mining activities and enhance the country's competitiveness in the global market. However, the industry faces challenges related to infrastructure development, environmental protection, and social responsibility. 17. Argentina Mineral Production Volume: $6.1 Billion Argentina, situated in South America, possesses diverse mineral resources, including lithium, gold, silver, copper, and uranium. Argentina's mining industry has experienced growth in recent years, supported by government initiatives to attract investments and promote mineral exploration. The development of lithium mining has gained prominence, driven by increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. However, the industry faces challenges related to regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and community engagement. 16. Philippines Mineral Production Volume: $6.9 Billion The Philippines, an archipelago nation in Southeast Asia, is known for its significant mineral resources, including gold, copper, nickel, and chromite. The mining industry contributes substantially to the Philippine economy, generating employment opportunities and attracting foreign investments. However, environmental concerns and social issues have posed challenges to the industry, necessitating efforts to ensure sustainable mining practices and address the needs of local communities affected by mining operations. 15. Ghana Mineral Production Volume: $8.9 Billion Ghana, located in West Africa, is a major producer of gold and also boasts substantial deposits of bauxite, manganese, and diamonds. Ghana's mining industry plays a pivotal role in its economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and job creation. The government has implemented regulations to promote responsible mining practices and attract investments. However, the sector faces challenges related to illegal mining activities, environmental degradation, and community engagement. 14. India Mineral Production Volume: $11.8 Billion The mining industry in India plays a vital role in the country's economic growth and development. With over 2,000 operational mines, the sector provides employment to millions of people across the nation. The mining industry contributes to India's GDP and serves as a significant source of revenue for both the central and state governments. While India's mining industry holds immense potential, it faces several challenges. Environmental concerns, sustainable mining practices, and the welfare of local communities are essential aspects that need continuous attention. The government of India has implemented stringent regulations to ensure responsible mining, including environmental impact assessments and rehabilitation measures. In recent years, the Indian government has also introduced reforms to attract foreign investments and promote the growth of the mining sector. The introduction of the National Mineral Policy in 2019 aimed to address issues related to mineral exploration, sustainable mining, and transparency. 13. Mexico Mineral Production Volume: $14.2 Billion Mexico, situated in North America, boasts diverse mineral resources, including silver, gold, copper, zinc, and lead. Mexico's mining industry has a rich historical legacy and continues to play a significant role in the economy, generating employment opportunities and attracting foreign investments. The government has implemented reforms to enhance transparency, promote responsible mining practices, and foster sustainable development in the sector. However, challenges such as security issues, regulatory complexities, and environmental management persist. 12. Sweden Mineral Production Volume: $17.8 Billion Sweden, located in Northern Europe, despite its relatively small size, Sweden possesses substantial mineral resources, including iron ore, copper, zinc, lead, and gold. The country's mining industry has a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, incorporating advanced technologies and environmentally responsible practices. Sweden's mining sector contributes significantly to its economy, creating job opportunities and supporting regional development. However, the industry faces challenges related to permitting processes, infrastructure development, and social acceptance of mining activities. 11. Zambia Mineral Production Volume: $21.7 Billion Situated in Southern Africa, Zambia is a landlocked country bordered by eight neighboring nations. It shares boundaries with the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe to the south, Botswana and Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west. Despite being landlocked, Zambia has access to major waterways, including the Zambezi River, which contributes to its transportation infrastructure. Zambia's mining industry is a cornerstone of its economy, contributing significantly to employment and export revenues. The country is renowned for its vast copper reserves, making it the second-largest copper producer in Africa. Copper mining has been a vital industry in Zambia since the early 20th century, attracting investments from both domestic and international mining companies. 10. Turkey Mineral Production Volume: $24 Billion Turkey is a transcontinental country, spanning across both Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It shares borders with eight countries, including Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east, Iraq and Syria to the south. With its strategic location, Turkey serves as a bridge connecting Europe and Asia, providing a vital link for trade and commerce. Turkey's mining industry has experienced significant growth and diversification in recent decades. The country is rich in a wide range of minerals, contributing to its position as a major mining destination. The mining sector in Turkey plays a crucial role in its economic development and job creation. 9. Australia Mineral Production Volume: $27.7 Billion Australia, a country in Oceania, is a leading producer of iron ore, bauxite, gold, coal, and lithium. The country's mining industry plays a pivotal role in its economy, contributing significantly to employment and export revenues. Australia boasts advanced mining technologies, robust regulatory frameworks, and a strong focus on environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as water scarcity, land rehabilitation, and indigenous rights require ongoing attention and effective management. 8. Chile Mineral Production Volume: $32.5 Billion Chile, a country in South America, holds the 8th position in the global mining rankings. Known for its extensive copper reserves, Chile is the world's largest producer of this vital metal. The country also boasts significant deposits of molybdenum, lithium, and gold. The mining sector is a crucial pillar of Chile's economy, contributing substantially to government revenue and employment. Chile's mining industry has a strong regulatory framework that promotes environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. However, water scarcity, energy consumption, and social concerns related to indigenous communities remain focal points for the industry. 7. Saudi Arabia Mineral Production Volume: $36.3 Billion Saudi Arabia's mining industry has gained increasing significance in recent years. The country is blessed with a wealth of mineral resources, ranging from precious metals to industrial minerals. The Saudi Arabian government recognizes the potential of the mining sector as a diversification strategy to reduce reliance on oil and promote economic growth. Saudi Arabia is also known for its vast reserves of phosphate, a crucial ingredient for fertilizer production. In addition to local investments, Saudi Arabia has also encouraged international collaboration to leverage advanced technologies and expertise. The government has introduced favorable mining regulations and established the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) to oversee and support the sector's growth. 6. South Africa Mineral Production Volume: $38.3 Billion The country is renowned for its vast mineral resources, including significant deposits of gold, platinum, diamonds, chromium, and manganese. The mining industry is a cornerstone of South Africa's economy, contributing to employment and export revenues. However, the industry faces challenges related to deep-level mining, labor issues, social inequality, and regulatory complexities. Efforts are being made to foster sustainable mining practices, improve safety, and promote inclusive growth in the sector. In addition to the South African government, private companies like Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM), and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) are also leading mining activities around the world. Click to continue reading and see Top 5 Mining Countries in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure. None. Top 20 Mining Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. Mexico is developing into a key manufacturing hub for electric and hybrid vehicles, which are mainly exported to the U.S. (Photo: Toyota) Japanese automaker Toyota said it will invest $328 million to produce a new hybrid model of its popular Tacoma pickup truck in Mexico. The company plans to expand its factory in the central Mexican city of Guanajuato, where Toyota already produces its Tacoma truck line for the North American market. Toyota has informed us of an investment of $328 million in their Guanajuato plant for the adaptation of their lines to produce a new generation of Tacoma for the North American market, which will be hybrid electric, Diego Sinhue Rodriguez Vallejo, governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, posted on Twitter. Rodriguez Vallejo was meeting with Toyota officials during a tour of Japan last week. We will start preparing the new generation of Tacomas in Guanajuato and we are very, very excited that this plant is going to play a very important role in Toyotas manufacturing in North America, said Luis Lozano, president of Toyota Mexico. The expansion will add 2,500 jobs to the Guanajuato factory, which already employs about 1,700 workers. The Tacoma hybrid is set to begin production and go on sale by the end of the year. Toyotas plant in Guanajuato opened in December 2019, with capacity to produce up to 100,000 Tacomas annually. Over the past three years, Toyota has invested $1.2 billion in the plant. The Guanajuato plant is about 600 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border crossing at Laredo, Texas. Mexico is developing into a key manufacturing hub for electric and hybrid vehicles, which are mainly exported to the United States. General Motors, Ford Motor Co., BMW and Audi are already producing EVs in the country or plan to, while Tesla is building a $5 billion electric vehicle factory in the Mexican city of Monterrey. Watch: Impact of I-95 collapse on Philadelphias freight transport market. 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 Toyota investing $328M in Mexico to build hybrid pickups appeared first on FreightWaves. Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Traumhaus (ETR:TRU) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be. 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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Traumhaus: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.035 = 3.8m (154m - 46m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Therefore, Traumhaus has an ROCE of 3.5%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Consumer Durables industry average of 7.1%. Check out our latest analysis for Traumhaus roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Traumhaus compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Traumhaus. How Are Returns Trending? When we looked at the ROCE trend at Traumhaus, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 26%, but since then they've fallen to 3.5%. Given the business is employing more capital while revenue has slipped, this is a bit concerning. 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, Traumhaus has decreased its current liabilities to 30% of total assets. That could partly explain why the ROCE has dropped. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. The Key Takeaway We're a bit apprehensive about Traumhaus because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. It should come as no surprise then that the stock has fallen 40% over the last three years, so it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. Unless there is a shift to a more positive trajectory in these metrics, we would look elsewhere. If you'd like to know more about Traumhaus, we've spotted 4 warning signs, and 1 of them is significant. If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive 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 I Turned $5K in Parking Tickets Into Millions: See How To Make Money Off Your Debt Westhoff / Getty Images Growing your wealth is hard. It takes an unwavering commitment, a lot of time, and sometimes, borrowing money to make it a reality. See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Related: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch And while debt has gotten a bad rap over the past few decades, it can also be used to build wealth. Whether getting into debt inspires you to make a massive change in your life, or you use debt as leverage to grow a business, when used properly, debt is a tool. Here are four ways that using debt can inspire growth, help build businesses, and be used as an asset and not just a liability. Follow Your Frustrations Mark Lawrence hated parking in Chicago. In fact, according to a recent interview with CNBC, he had racked up $5,000 in parking tickets because of the terrible parking options and rules that he couldnt seem to follow. This frustration led him to explore the idea of having property owners rent out private parking spots to individuals, avoiding costly tickets and bringing in extra income. He and two friends decided to pool together their savings and launch SpotHero, an app that helps you find open parking spots. Fast-forward 12 years, and SpotHero has booked more than $1 billion in parking reservations (and collects 35% of that revenue as their fee). Mark Lawrence used the motivation of his parking-fueled debt balance and frustration over big-city parking woes to build a solution. And that app has now made him millions of dollars and brought in hundreds of millions for the company. Take Our Poll: Do You Think AI Will Replace Your Job? Debt Can Be a Wakeup Call Dave Ramsey is one of the most recognizable voices in the personal finance space. He hosts a daily radio show with millions of listeners and has been on the New York Times bestseller list numerous times. But Dave Ramsey was not always a financial guru. In fact, Ramsey got his start by wracking up over $2 million in real estate debt and then promptly losing it all, filing bankruptcy in 1988. His massive struggle with debt caused him to step back and try to figure out how to handle his finances in accordance with the Bible. He ended up teaching classes at his church, and eventually wrote his first best-selling book, Financial Peace. Dave Ramsey has since built a massive business around personal finance and business education, employing hundreds of team members, and has a net worth of over $200 million. Getting into massive debt was a wakeup call, and caused Dave Ramsey to re-think how to handle money. He built a program based on sound financial principles and built a multi-million dollar business out of it. Debt Can Help You Build Wealth Not all debt is bad. Sometimes debt can help you build wealth faster than avoiding debt. John Paul DeJoria is famous for building the Paul Mitchell hair care brand, and he launched The Patron Spirits Company. Today, hes worth over $2 billion and is invested in dozens of profitable companies. But DeJoria didnt come from money, and in fact, financed the startup costs of his first company after partnering with Paul Mitchell. DeJoria worked for the factory at Redken Laboratories and became disenfranchised with the hair care industry after seeing all of the product testing done on animals. He teamed up with his friend Paul Mitchell, who was a luxury hairdresser at the time and started John Paul Mitchell Systems. The pair didnt have any money to their names, and DeJoria had to borrow money from his mom to help finance starting the company. Using what little savings they had and money from DeJorias mother, John Paul Mitchell Systems grew into the largest privately-held hair product company in the world. DeJoria has such a strong conviction about the idea for the company that going into debt to build the company was not seen as a burden, but opened the door to build a multi-billion dollar company. Debt Can Help You Avoid Taxes In an expose on the wealthiest Americans, the Wall Street Journal revealed the strategy that many Americans use to avoid paying income taxes on their wealth while still living extravagantly. Its called Buy, Borrow, Die. This strategy was also profiled by GOBankingRates recently, showcasing how taking on debt can actually help the rich continue to grow richer. The idea is that many wealthy Americans have much of their wealth tied up in assets such as securities, real estate, company equity, and other holdings. When selling these assets, they would be required to pay capital gains taxes, which for the top 1% of Americans can be 20% (or more). But a loophole to these taxes is the ability to borrow against the value of an asset, and the borrowed money is not taxed (as it must be repaid). The wealthiest Americans can simply get an asset-based loan that covers their living expenses and the minimum payment on those loans. If youre thinking they have to repay the loans in full at some pointyoure right. But this is where the die part comes in. When a wealthy person dies, the asset-based loans go to the estate and can be repaid by selling assets that are left over. But those assets receive a step up in basis at death and thus arent taxed if they are sold right away. While this might seem like an unfair tax loophole, regular Americans can do this as well. If you have a large investment portfolio in a taxable brokerage account, you can get a loan against the investments, and when you pass away, the investments can be sold to repay the loan in full and avoid a large tax bill. Bottom Line Debt is often villainized by financial gurus that tell you to avoid it at all costs. But debt can also be the source of inspiration to grow a business, build wealth, and ultimately, make a difference. If you understand the difference between good debt and bad debt, you can use it as leverage to grow your net worth while reducing your risk at the same time. But debt can also destroy wealth when not used properly, so always proceed with caution when using it. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Turned $5K in Parking Tickets Into Millions: See How To Make Money Off Your Debt FILE - A traffic light signals green in front of the logos of the Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS in Zurich, Switzerland, March 19, 2023. UBS says it has completed its takeover of embattled rival Credit Suisse. The announcement comes nearly three months after the Swiss government hastily arranged a rescue deal to combine the countrys two largest banks. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BERLIN (AP) UBS said Monday that it has completed its takeover of embattled rival Credit Suisse, nearly three months after the Swiss government hastily arranged a rescue deal to combine the country's two largest banks in a bid to safeguard Switzerlands reputation as a global financial center and choke off market turmoil. A statement from the bank said that UBS has completed the acquisition of Credit Suisse today, crossing an important milestone." UBS had said last week that it expected to complete the acquisition worth 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.3 billion) as early as Monday which will be the last trading day for Credit Suisse shares on the Swiss stock exchange. Credit Suisse will also no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It's a pivotal moment for the two Zurich-based rivals, whose combination has raised concerns about thousands of expected job losses, drawn rebukes and lawsuits over the terms of the deal, and stirred fears about the impact of creating a Swiss megabank that would be too big to fail. This is a very important moment not just for UBS, (but) for Switzerland as a financial location and for Switzerland as a country, UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti said on Friday. So we do feel the responsibility, but we are fully motivated. Ermotti, who returned to UBS to push through the deal, acknowledged that the coming months will certainly be bumpy but said the bank was very focused on doing on it right. The Swiss government orchestrated the rescue of Credit Suisse over a weekend in March after the lenders stock plunged and customers quickly pulled out their money, fearing its collapse could further roil global financial markets in the wake of the failure of two U.S. banks. Im pleased that weve successfully closed this crucial transaction in less than three months, bringing together two global systemically important banks for the first time, UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher said in Mondays statement. We are now one Swiss global firm and, together, we are stronger. Ermotti said that well present our clients an enhanced global offering, broader geographic reach and access to even greater expertise. UBS Group AG will manage two separate parent banks, UBS and Credit Suisse, with each continuing to have its own branches and customers. The 167-year-old Credit Suisse had seen a string of scandals over the years that hit the heart of its business, ranging from bad bets on hedge funds to failing to prevent money laundering by a Bulgarian cocaine ring and accusations it didnt report secret offshore accounts that wealthy Americans used to avoid paying U.S. taxes. UBS will inherit ongoing cases against Credit Suisse and the financial repercussions those entail, including a recent ruling in Singapore that said Credit Suisse owes former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili hundreds of millions of dollars for failing to protect the billionaires money in a trust pilfered by a manager. Credit Suisse is appealing that and a similar case in Bermuda, where Ivanishvili says a bank subsidiary failed to prevent fraudulent mismanagement of his assets in two life insurance policies. Switzerlands government has agreed to provide UBS with 9 billion Swiss francs (nearly $10 billion) in guarantees to cover any losses it may face from the takeover after UBS covers any hits up to 5 billion francs ($5.5 billion). That emergency rescue plan is facing political pushback ahead of parliamentary elections in October. Switzerlands lower house has rebuked it in a symbolic vote, and lawmakers have approved setting up an inquiry into the deal and the events leading up to it. The Swiss attorney generals office already has opened a probe. Credit Suisse investors also have sued the countrys financial regulators after about 16 billion Swiss francs ($17.7 billion) in higher-risk bonds were wiped out. The U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Unions executive branch and others worldwide have signed off on the takeover. Credit Suisse was classified as one of 30 globally significant banks because its collapse posed a wider risk to the financial system. ___ Bonnell reported from London. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday backed a proposal by some artificial intelligence executives for the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Generative AI technology that can spin authoritative prose from text prompts has captivated the public since ChatGPT launched six months ago and became the fastest growing app of all time. AI has also become a focus of concern over its ability to create deepfake pictures and other misinformation. "Alarm bells over the latest form of artificial intelligence generative AI are deafening. And they are loudest from the developers who designed it," Guterres told reporters. "We must take those warnings seriously." He has announced plans to start work by the end of the year on a high-level AI advisory body to regularly review AI governance arrangements and offer recommendations on how they can align with human rights, the rule of law and common good. But on Monday he added: "I would be favorable to the idea that we could have an artificial intelligence agency ... inspired by what the international agency of atomic energy is today." Guterres said such a model could be "very interesting" but noted that "only member states can create it, not the Secretariat of the United Nations". The Vienna-based IAEA was created in 1957 and promotes the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies while watching for possible violations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It has 176 member states. ChatGPT's creator OpenAI said last month that a body like the IAEA could place restrictions on deployment, vet compliance with safety standards and track usage of computing power. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also supported the idea and said he wants Britain to be home to global AI safety regulation. Britain is due to host a summit later this year on how coordinated international action can tackle the risks of AI. Guterres said he supported the plan for a summit in Britain, but said it should be preceded by "serious work". He said he plans to appoint in the coming days a scientific advisory board of AI experts and chief scientists from U.N. agencies. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Mark Heinrich) What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's 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. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad (KLSE:FPI) so let's look a bit deeper. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.19 = RM98m (RM614m - RM107m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023). So, Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad has an ROCE of 19%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Consumer Durables industry average of 9.9% it's much better. Check out our latest analysis for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad roce Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. The Trend Of ROCE Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad is displaying some positive trends. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 19%. The amount of capital employed has increased too, by 71%. The increasing returns on a growing amount of capital is common amongst multi-baggers and that's why we're impressed. The Bottom Line All in all, it's terrific to see that Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad is reaping the rewards from prior investments and is growing its capital base. And a remarkable 141% total return over the last five years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead. Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad does have some risks though, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad that you might be interested in. If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive 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 (Reuters) - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asked a U.S. judge to block Microsoft from closing on its $69 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, warning that the companies could move forward after Friday. The FTC sued the companies on Monday in San Francisco and sought a temporary restraining order, warning that if the deal was consummated the combined company could "begin altering Activisions operations and business plans, accessing Activisions sensitive business information, eliminating key Activision personnel, changing Activisions game development efforts, and entering into new contractual relationships on behalf of Activision." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter) Microsoft Activision The US government has thrown its weight behind Britains competition watchdog in an attempt to block Microsofts $69bn (55bn) takeover of the video game publisher Activision Blizzard. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was last night poised to file for an injunction that would prevent the merger from going ahead before a July 18 deadline, months after Microsoft accused the UK of taking an anti-business stance by opposing the deal. Microsoft and Activision publisher of a string of hit games including the Call of Duty series had sought to present Britains Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as an outlier in its opposition, especially as European regulators approved the takeover. Brad Smith, Microsofts president, had suggested the CMA decision meant start-ups were better off in the EU than the UK. The row has threatened to overshadow efforts by Rishi Sunak to turbocharge Britains tech industry. The Prime Minister on Monday suggested that Londons failure to rival Silicon Valley was driven by a lack of ambition from technology entrepreneurs. It comes amid a wider crackdown on Big Tech across the West. European Union regulators are expected to hit Google with new charges over its advertising business in the coming days, which could ultimately lead to a multi-billion euro fine. Both Microsoft and Activision reacted with fury when the CMA blocked their merger in April on the grounds that it would reduce competition in the emerging cloud gaming market, where titles are streamed over the internet instead of being run on expensive hardware in a PC or console. Activisions chief executive Bobby Kotick has accused the CMA of being a tool of the FTC, something the UK regulator has repeatedly denied. Sarah Cardell, the CMAs chief executive, last week revealed that the regulators had met 26 times about the deal. Mr Smith said in April that the CMA intervention meant that the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business if you want some day to sell it, adding: The English Channel has never seemed wider. He backtracked on his comments last week after meeting Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, saying at an event in London: Im in search of solutions. If regulators have concerns, we want to address them, if there are problems, we want to solve them. On Monday evening, Mr Smith said: We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court. We believe accelerating the legal process in the US will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market. The FTC sued to block the deal going ahead last year. However, its application for an injunction will significantly up the ante by barring Microsoft from completing the deal and then seeking to defeat regulators in a lengthy legal process. The companies merger agreement gives them until July 18 to get the deal through. Activision will be entitled to a $3bn break fee if the plan collapses, although the two sides are likely to give themselves an extension. The CMA decision in April already prevents Microsoft from closing the takeover as initially conceived, but there has been mounting speculation that the companies could get around this by carving out their respective UK businesses. Microsoft, which already owns the Xbox console, has launched a legal challenge against the CMA at the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Separately, on Monday, Mr Sunak said that founders must not be content with selling their companies to an overseas buyer if Britain is to become a technology powerhouse. Speaking at the London Tech Week conference, he said: I took that from my time living in California The Government can do all these things but fundamentally it requires the entrepreneurs to just keep going, to be not content with building the 100m business and then the 1bn business but just to keep growing. That, I found in California, is very much the attitude, its just the sky is the limit, everyone thinks they can create a $100bn company. Changing that culture is tough for Government to do. Mr Sunak made his comments on stage in a discussion with Demis Hassabis, the founder of the AI company Deepmind, which was sold to Google in 2014 for around 400m and has since gone on to make world-leading advances. Mr Hunt told the conference that we still are too harsh on failure and our attitude to business failure in this country. He added that easing restrictions on pensions would improve funding for UK tech companies, but that improving support for tech companies meant not just looking at the regulation but also looking at our mindset. Political leaders are also grappling with how to safely regulate artificial intelligence (AI), amid fears that rapid growth in the technology could create super-powerful computers that threaten the human race. In a paper to be released on Tuesday morning, the Tony Blair Institute will call for Britain to create a national lab called Sentinel that is focused on research and testing safe AI. 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. VAALCO Energy, Inc. HOUSTON, June 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (VAALCO or the Company) today announced its participation in an investor event hosted by Water Tower Research (WTR) on June 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM Eastern. As part of WTRs ongoing Fireside Chat Series, Jeff Robertson, Managing Director at WTR, will lead an in-depth conversation with George Maxwell, VAALCOs Chief Executive Officer and Director. Included in the discussion will be a variety of important topics, including the transformational combination with TransGlobe in late 2022 and the ongoing opportunities across its portfolio of assets in Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea and Canada, potential acquisition opportunities, and the Companys growing cash flow position and strong balance sheet, and managements strategy to supporting sustainable growth in shareholder value. Investors and other interested parties can access the event by registering in advance at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3xzJ9oJ5SoelZWftn5eD4A. (Please note that the web address is being provided as a courtesy; information from the website is not incorporated into, or a part of, this press release.) About VAALCO VAALCO, founded in 1985 and incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is a Houston, USA based, independent energy company with production, development and exploration assets in Africa and Canada. Following its business combination with TransGlobe in October 2022, VAALCO owns a diverse portfolio of operated production, development and exploration assets across Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea and Canada. For Further Information VAALCO Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +00 1 713 623 0801 Website: www.vaalco.com Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations) +00 1 713 543 3422 Al Petrie / Chris Delange Buchanan (UK Financial PR) +44 (0) 207 466 5000 Ben Romney / Jon Krinks VAALCO@buchanan.uk.com Meatless Farm's sales have grown steadily but it's yet to turn profitable - JASON CAIRNDUFF/REUTERS A plant-based meat manufacturer has made the majority of its staff redundant amid a drop in demand for vegan products. Meatless Farm, which makes vegan sausages, mince, and burgers, hired restructuring specialists Kroll in May in hopes of finding a buyer for the business as it faced running out of cash. The company, whose LinkedIn indicates employs around 100 staff, let go of many of them on Friday, according to sources close to the situation. The exact number of redundancies is not known. Meatless Farm filed notice that it planned to appoint administrators on 31 May, however it is understood that no administrator has yet been appointed. The company was founded by Danish entrepreneur Morten Toft-Bech in 2016 as demand for plant-based products began to rise in the UK. As well as vegan sausages, mince and burgers, the company has launched products including vegan pasties, plant-based ravioli and a chickenless Christmas roast. Sales have grown steadily over recent years but the business has failed to turn a profit. Its latest results show revenues almost doubled from 7.5m to 12.5m in 2021 but losses increased from 15.4m to 23.5m. Meatless Farm founder Morten Toft-Bech is facing fund raising troubles after a major investor backs out It has raised around 40m from investors in numerous crowdfunding campaigns to support its growth since inception. Mr Toft-Bech told The Grocer that a major investor had pulled out of a large financial commitment to the company. This caught the board and the management team of MF by surprise, he said. He told the trade magazine, which first reported the company had run into trouble last month: Operationally Meatless Farm is doing really well but the cashflow squeeze is proving hard to manage given the short notice we have been given from the investor to solve it. It comes amid a wider slowdown in the market for vegan food. Yorkshire-based sausage maker Heck recently cut its range of plant-based products from 15 to around 2, blaming a lack of demand. Major supermarkets have also been pulling back. Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose and Sainsburys all slashed the number of meat-free lines on sale by 10.9pc over the six months to March 20, according to Assosia data. Kroll declined to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. 10,000m Exploration Drilling Initiated Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2023) - Velocity Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: VLC) (OTCQB: VLCJF) ("Velocity" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a binding letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") with Dundee Precious Metals Inc. ("DPM"), whereby Velocity has granted to DPM an exclusive option to acquire a 75% interest (the "Option") in and to the Iglika copper-gold prospecting license (the "Property"), located in Bulgaria (the "Property"). Commercial Terms To exercise the Option in full, DPM must: (i) make a US$250,000 initial cash payment to Velocity; (ii) fund a total of 40,000 meters of drilling on the Property; (iii) fund and deliver a mineral resource estimate on a deposit located within the Property prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"); (iv) fund and deliver a prefeasibility study on a deposit located within the Property prepared in accordance with NI 43-101; and (v) make a further US$1,500,000 cash payment to Velocity (collectively, the "Earn-In Requirements"), all over a period of five (5) years (Table 1). The US$250,000 cash payment due to Velocity within five (5) business days of the execution of the Letter Agreement by DPM and the 10,000 meters of drilling to be funded and completed prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, are binding commitments of DPM. DPM will be under no obligation to fulfill any of the remaining Earn-In Requirements and may accelerate the satisfaction of the Earn-In Requirements without penalty, at its election. If DPM completes the Earn-In Requirements during the Option term, it shall acquire an indirect 75% legal interest in the Property, subject to an existing 2% net smelter returns royalty, and DPM and Velocity shall be deemed to have formed a joint venture ("JV") for the continued exploration and development of the Property. If a participant's participating interest in the JV falls below 10%, that participant shall be required to transfer its participating interest to the other participant in exchange for the grant of an ongoing royalty to be paid at 2% of net smelter returns (the "NSR Royalty"), half of which (being 1%) can be bought-out prior to a production decision for US$5,000,000. Pursuant to the terms of the Letter Agreement, Velocity and DPM will negotiate in good faith toward the execution and delivery of a definitive property option agreement (the "Definitive Agreement"). The Definitive Agreement will incorporate the terms and conditions of the Letter Agreement and such other terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the parties. Table 1. Earn In Requirements. Date Cash Payments (US$) Drilling (meters) Mineral Resource / Reserve Deliverable Within five (5) business days of the execution of the Letter Agreement ("Effective Date") $250,000 -- -- Before the first anniversary of the Effective Date -- 10,000 -- Before the second anniversary of the Effective Date -- 15,000 -- Before the third anniversary of the Effective Date -- 15,000 -- Before the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date -- -- mineral resource estimate Before the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date $1,500,000 -- prefeasibility study Total: $1,750,000 40,000 Drilling DPM's drill program at the Property has started. The planned drill program will consist of 24 drill holes for 10,000m, to test copper-gold porphyry, skarn and epithermal targets defined by geochemical and geophysical anomalies. DPM is also planning to complete detailed mapping, soil sampling and geophysical surveys to further refine drill targets. Qualified Person The technical content of this release has been approved for disclosure by Daniel Marinov, RPGeo, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the Company's Vice President Operations. Mr. Marinov is not independent of the Company as he is a director, officer, shareholder, and holds incentive stock options. About Velocity Minerals Ltd. Velocity is a precious metals and copper explorer focused in Eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, Velocity has a 70% interest in the Tintyava property, which includes the prefeasibility-stage Rozino deposit. Velocity also has a 70% interest in the Momchil property (which includes the Obichnik project), a 70% interest in the Nadezhda property (which includes the Makedontsi project), and a 70% interest in the Dangovo property (which is contiguous with the Makedontsi project). The Company holds a 100% interest in the Iglika copper-gold exploration property and recently entered into an option agreement with DPM who have an option to earn a 75% interest in the property. The Company has also entered into an agreement to acquire a 75% interest in the Zlatusha copper-gold exploration property. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Keith Henderson" President & CEO For further information, please contact: Keith Henderson Phone: +1-604-484-1233 E-mail: info@velocityminerals.com Web: www.velocityminerals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the exercise of the Option by DPM, the entering into of the Definitive Agreement, the formation of the JV, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Property in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Property, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Property, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Management Discussion and Analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein. - 30 - To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169558 The New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen's supervisory board will meet on Tuesday to discuss a planned savings programme ahead of its capital markets day on June 21, two sources close to the company said on Monday. The board will discuss cost-cutting measures amounting to at least 3 billion euros ($3.22 billion) across the Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Cupra brands, said one source. Germany daily Handelsblatt, which first reported on the savings programme, reported that Chief Executive Oliver Blume wants to curb duplicate development work and better utilise German plants, particularly at Audi and Volkswagen. "The focus of the Capital Markets Day is on the power of the brands and the Group management model," a Volkswagen spokesperson said in an emailed statement, declining to comment in further detail. Volkswagen finance chief Arno Antlitz told Reuters in May that investors can expect an update at the June capital markets day on the company's financial targets and capital allocation plans. Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schaefer said in an internal memo in May that the brand was targeting a 6.5% return on sales, compared to 3% achieved in the first quarter of this year. "Pressure is mounting. The Volkswagen brand must act," he wrote at the time. ($1 = 0.9304 euros) (Reporting by Jan Schwartz; Writing by Miranda Murray and Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Susan Fenton) While shareholders of Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) are in the red over the last five years, underlying earnings have actually grown In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 21% over a half decade. On a more encouraging note the company has added US$666m to its market cap in just the last 7 days, so let's see if we can determine what's driven the five-year loss for shareholders. See our latest analysis for Franklin Resources While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. While the share price declined over five years, Franklin Resources actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 5.8% 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. It's strange to see such muted share price performance despite sustained growth. Perhaps a clue lies in other metrics. The steady dividend doesn't really explain why the share price is down. While it's not completely obvious why the share price is down, a closer look at the company's history might help explain it. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). This free interactive report on Franklin Resources' balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Franklin Resources, it has a TSR of -3.0% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Franklin Resources shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 20% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That certainly beats the loss of about 0.6% per year over the last half decade. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Franklin Resources better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Franklin Resources you should know about. We will like Franklin Resources better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Renown crypto billionaire Cameron Winklevoss says the youth vote rescued the U.S. Democratic party from defeat in 2020and that alienating them now will mean "lost votes" in the next election cycle. "Senator Warren and Gary Genslers war on crypto is going to alienate an entire generation of would-be Democrats," he tweeted. His twin brother Tyler, with whom he co-founded crypto exchange Gemini in 2014, concurred. Roe [v. Wade] cost Republicans the midterms, Tyler tweeted on Sunday. The Sen. Warren and Gary Gensler war on crypto will cost Dems the 2024 election. Andreessen Horowitz Opening Crypto Office in London Cameron Winklevoss took to Twitter to denounce efforts by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Head of the SEC Gary Gensler to undermine the cryptocurrency industry, saying their actions might have dire consequences for the Democratic party. Crypto has already won the hearts and minds of Millennials and GenZ," Winklevoss tweeted, adding that "they dont debate the merits of crypto; and they wont forget the value destruction Warren and Gensler have caused." Cameron shared a CNN headline from 2022 that indicates the Democrats saved face in last years elections thanks to young people. To the crypto entrepreneur, the current regulatory environment could blow up in their face. The Winklevoss twins are long-time Bitcoin permabulls, calling for a $500,000 bitcoin price point. Although Cameron has no official party line, he has supported Republican candidates in the past. These statements come amid aggressive actions from Warren and Gensler, two Democratic party members. Whats the Difference Between the Binance and Coinbase SEC Lawsuits? The former Olympic rower proposes two explanations: "[The] blue establishment either doesn't understand what's going on with Warren and Gensler, or are grossly miscalculating the impact of their actions on youth vote this upcoming election cycle." Warren has made headlines this year for her "Anti Crypto Army." She has also claimed that the technology helps fund the deadly fentanyl trade, broadly declaring that crypto is used by criminals. Gensler, a staunch critic of cryptocurrencies, is also in the spotlight this week, after the SEC charged both Coinbase and Binance with breaking U.S. securities laws. Not all Democrats are anti-crypto, however. Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr., is pro-Bitcoin, appearing as keynote speaker at the recent Bitcoin 2023 conference. Gensler Is Driving Crypto to Communist China, Says Republican Congressman Republicans, on the other hand, seem much more open to the idea of cryptocurrency. Wyoming senator Cynthia Lummis, dubbed the "Bitcoin Senator," has been championing Bitcoin for years. Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is considered "crypto-friendly." And Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida and Republican presidential candidate, has meanwhile outlawed Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in his state. The numbers for crypto appear to be on the Winklevoss side. According to a report by Coinbase, approximately 66 million Americans (or 20% of the entire population) own digital assets. "They may not care about crypto, but they will care about the lost votes," Cameron concluded. By Doyinsola Oladipo NEW YORK (Reuters) -The City of New York will delay enforcing a municipal law that Airbnb Inc said could limit the number of people who can host rentals in the city, a Friday court filing showed. The short-term rental company filed a lawsuit against the city on June 1 over the law it called a "de facto ban" against short-term rentals set to go into effect on July 1. Under the law, hosts must be permanent occupants of the units being rented and must register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) before posting rentals. The office will not issue fines against hosts or booking services until Sept. 5, according to the filing. Both parties agreed to a temporary stay of enforcement to afford them the opportunity to fully brief the issues before the court," said Jonah Allon, deputy press secretary for the office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Airbnb said that the law would make it harder for hosts to do business by requiring that they comply with numerous zoning regulations, dwelling laws, and housing maintenance and construction codes. "We hope the city will use the extra time to collaborate with us on a sensible alternative solution that will benefit Hosts, tourism, and the local economy," said Airbnb's attorney, Karen Dunn, a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Airbnb said that in the first week of July, more than 5,500 short-term rentals are reserved to host more than 10,000 guests in New York City. Shares of the company rose 5.7% to $124.59. The case is Airbnb Inc v New York City Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. (Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) Local school divisions are working hard to fill staff vacancies before the new school year starts in early August, but Spotsylvania County has the most work to do. Of the five school divisions in Planning District 16, Spotsylvania has the most vacancies to fill. According to a summary that was provided by the human resources department to the School Board last week, the division has 227 licensed teaching positions to fill, as well as 123 classified positions which include support staff and non-instructional positions and 40 transportation positions. The total number of vacancies as of June 8 was 390, or 12% of all positions, up from 9% in July 2022. In a June 9 division-wide message, Superintendent Mark Taylor told the school community that positions are available for anyone with a bachelors degree and a heart for kids. During a special School Board meeting held on June 8, board member Nicole Cole asked Taylor if the division has a plan for filling the vacancies. At what point is it an issue in regards to being able to open certain schools, if there are high levels of vacancies in certain schools? Cole asked. In response, Taylor said he appreciated Coles concern but that it is gratuitously inflammatory to talk about not being able to open certain schools. Recruitment is still active, he said. The HR team is working overtime. We are doing everything we can to recruit and fill positions. The School Board at its regular meeting on Monday evening will consider a proposal to temporarily reclassify up to 30 full-time teaching positions so they can be filled by paraprofessionals serving as interim teachers. Interim teachers must have, at a minimum, an associates degree or 60 college credits, be enrolled in an educator preparation program and have the equivalent of one year of successful experience working with students, according to the agenda for Mondays meeting. In March, the School Board approved two new hiring-related resolutions, one authorizing the superintendent to hire non-contracted employees and the other authorizing the board chair to approve licensed hires. Both resolutions waive the requirement that the full board vote on all hires and have the stated intent of expediting the hiring process in the extremely competitive labor market. Stafford County school division spokesman Hunter Berry said this week that the division has about 130 licensed teaching positions open about 5% of all licensed positions. We have already filled two-thirds of our open licensed positions (195 positions filled) for the 20232024 school year with inspiring new staff who chose Stafford schools and we look forward to filling the rest, Berry wrote in an email to the Free LanceStar. The vacant positions include 15 K5 classroom teachers, two grades 612 math teachers and 43 special education teachers. According to the Virginia Department of Education, special education, elementary classroom and middle school math teaching positions are among the most difficult to staff, and there is a critical shortage of teachers with endorsements in those areas. Spotsylvania County Public Schools but did not provide a breakdown of the teaching vacancies. King George County has 62 total positions to fill, spokeswoman Amanda Higgins said last week about 8% of all division positions. The vacancies include five elementary classroom teachers, two math teachers and 12 special education teachers. Fredericksburg City Public Schools has 26 positions to fill for the upcoming school year about 4% of all positions. Vacancies include eight elementary classroom teachers, two math teachers and six special education teachers. Caroline County has 35 unfilled positions, including four elementary classroom teachers, two middle school math teachers and five special education teachers. More details were released last week on the two area rail crossings that garnered federal funding for safety improvements. Rail crossings on Brent Point Road in Stafford County and Summit Crossing Road in Spotsylvania County were tabbed for a portion of the $3.2 million in federal funding as part of the federal bipartisan infrastructure law. The funds also will go toward improvements at two crossings in Hanover County. The four rail crossings are all in rural areas with narrow roads and two gates with flashing lights. The improvements at the rail crossings involve adding four-quad gates, meaning there will be four gates at the upgraded crossings, a design to prevent vehicles from crossing when the gates are down for a train. The upgrades also are designed to improve safety with an eye on the planned rail corridor expansion that will add a third track through the area. That expansion is expected to increase train traffic along the corridor. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D7th, joined U.S. Department of Transportation Undersecretary Carlos Monje Jr., Virginia Transportation Secretary W. Sheppard Miller III and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation officials at the Virginia Railway Express station in Spotsylvania last week to mark the funding for the rail crossing upgrades. Today is an exciting moment for the commonwealth and its particularly exciting for me, a Member of Congress who was vocal about the need to get the bipartisan infrastructure law done, Spanberger said at the event. She added that the funding is proof that the bipartisan infrastructure law continues to pay dividends for Virginias physical infrastructure and Virginias economy. And with the completion of this project, it will also be an investment in peace of mind for our neighbors and our communities. Director of the DRPT Jennifer DeBruhl noted that the crossing improvements are part of a bigger plan. The rural rail crossings are located along an important rail corridor and essential economic driver for Virginia, she said. Making these investments today will allow Virginia to advance its ambitious rail goals while at the same time meeting community expectations for safety and reduced community impacts with the expansion of rail service. The federal money for the safety improvements comes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act, approved in 2021 in an effort to inject more than $500 billion into improving the U.S. infrastructure over the next decade. The state will pay $650,000 in matching funds for the crossing projects with the counties each adding $150,000 in matching funds. Work on the crossings is expected to start in 2024. Overnight closures set for express lanes Full, overnight closures are scheduled for a section of the Interstate 95 express lanes next week for work on the 10-mile extension in Stafford County. The full closure of I-95s electronically tolled lanes is set for the section between State Route 610 and Old Courthouse Road, between midnight and 4 a.m. Monday through Friday, according to toll lane operator Transurban. Prior to the full closure of the section of the express lanes there will be a single-lane closure starting at 8 each night. The express lanes are regularly closed between midnight and 2 a.m. on weeknights for the lane direction reversal. When the lanes reopen, the entry points near Courthouse Road and Route 610 will remain closed until 4 a.m. The southern-most entry point to the express lanes during that time will be near Dumfries Road. Work on the $640.2 million project started in 2019, with the express lanes extension set to open near the end of the year. Kim Rudisill was a young adult in the 1980s, when AIDS first made headlines and efforts were made to address the epidemic. Now a grandmother, she has many friends who have tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and is glad theyre able to get the treatment they need. Theyre healthy and happy, due to the fact they have all medication available to them, said Rudisill, a former school administrative assistant who lives in Fredericksburg. She wishes people in other parts of the world, particularly Africa, had access to the same health care. Not only is it the right thing to do, she said, but it also becomes clear that what happens in remote corners of the world hits home when visitors and refugees come to Washington and surrounding localities. I dont think everyone is aware of the impact the global community has on the United States and the state of Virginia in particular, she said, noting the number of local residents who work in the nations capital as well as the retired federal, military and State Department officials who have traveled abroad and then made their homes in the Fredericksburg region. To share her concerns, Rudisill, Kathleen Hom of Stafford County and about 100 others from across the country participated in the ONE Power Summit on Capitol Hill last week. The ONE Campaign is a global organization focused on ending poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by 2030. The activists were asking Congress to support PEPFAR, the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Thats a global effort that was established in 2003 to combat HIV/AIDS. Since that time, PEPFAR has saved 25 million lives from HIV/AIDS worldwide, helped 64.7 million people access HIV testing and ensured that more than 5.5 million babies were born HIV-free, according to a news release from the ONE Campaign. The United States has invested more than $100 billion in PEPFAR the largest commitment by any nation to fight a single disease in history, the news release states. Rudisill and other activists and delegates want to be sure that commitment doesnt lapse. She was part of a team that visited the offices of Virginia legislators, including Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Being able to discuss concerns with their staff members was a fabulous experience, Rudisill said. It was almost like preaching to the choir because they are so supportive of PEPFAR and the ONE campaign already, she said. We just wanted to reiterate that we still need it. Currently, theres no PEPFAR bill on the table, but the activists wanted to stress their support for it when it comes up again. Spanberger called PEPFAR, established by President George W. Bush, an example of extraordinary U.S. global leadership, and said shes heard from constituents repeatedly about it. Since arriving in Congress, I have heard directly from community members, faith leaders and advocacy organizations throughout the Commonwealth about the need to support PEPFAR, she said. Hom said it was a wonderful experience to visit offices of legislators and to work with the ONE Campaign, which gives power to regular everyday people so we can collectively encourage real and substantial change. Voices in the halls of Congress from people like Rudisill and Hom bring home the message of whats important to them as Americans and constituents, said Caroline Rourke, senior communications coordinator with the ONE Campaign. Rudisill believes local residents may not realize how global the Fredericksburg community has become. When she worked as an administrative assistant with the Fredericksburg City Schools she recently took a leave of absence to care for her 3-year-old grandson she saw for herself that America, and more specifically the local region, is still a melting pot. I saw the number of people who were coming here from other countries who live here now and its because of the opportunity offered in the state and nations capital, she said. One of Rudisills goals is to start a ONE Campaign chapter at the University of Mary Washington because during the summit, the first shed attended, she met a lot of college students passionate about pushing for change on a worldwide level. They shared her belief that health care and opportunities shouldnt be determined by where a person lives. I feel like if everyone was aware how other people in the world are forced to live, and what theyre born into . . . there are so many people who care who would get involved and make a difference, she said. More information about the ONE Campaign is available at one.org. KHERSON, Ukraine The rescue volunteer holds out his hand, but the dog, stranded on a floating island of debris in a southern Ukrainian city inundated by flooding, is too traumatized to approach. Volodymyr Holubnichii offers the scared animal some food; the dog sniffs and relaxes. Dont be scared, Holubnichii soothingly tells the animal, which eventually accepts a leash and being carried to safety. Holubnichii, a volunteer with Animal Rescue Kharkiv, spent days cruising the flooded streets of Kherson city after the Kakhovka dam collapsed last Tuesday and submerged entire towns. He is one among the organization's 70 volunteers determined to rescue as many animals as possible, plucking them from the rooftops and garages of flooded homes before they die of dehydration and hunger. The flooding has killed civilians, ruined crops, displaced landmines, and caused widespread environmental damage. Kyiv accused Moscow of blowing up the Dnieper River dam and its hydropower plant, which the Kremlins forces controlled. Russia in turn blamed Ukraine for the catastrophe. Bisected by the river, southern Ukraine's Kherson province is an important fault line in the war that started with Russia's invasion of the neighboring country more than 15 months ago. Russian forces withdrew from the western bank, including the regional capital also named Kherson, but part of the eastern side remain under Russian occupation. Ukrainian authorities scrambled to evacuate stranded residents. Officials on both sides said at least 14 people died in the flooding and thousands others were homeless, while tens of thousands were without drinking water. Upon hearing news of the flooding, Holubnichii immediately thought of the animals. All life should be valued, he said. It doesnt matter if its an animal or a person or something else. Animal Rescue Kharkiv's volunteers, based in northern Ukraine's Kharkiv province, began packing their gear. By Wednesday morning, they were in the Kherson region looking for animals So far, they have saved 107 animals since the dams collapse: 45 dogs, 36 cats, five kittens, 18 chickens and three goats that will go to shelters across Ukraine. Many were pets of evacuated civilians, according to Yaryna Vintoniuk, a spokesperson for the non-governmental organization. From rescue boats, the team reached remote areas of Kherson and extract animals from rooftops, apartments and garages of submerged homes. On Thursday, the volunteers came under Russian shelling as they worked. The animals, unwillingly abandoned by their panicked owners, were terrified. Some barely had the strength to get up. Holubnichii picked up a small dog that was trapped under the floating rubble and nearly unconscious. He heard the barking of another dog and made his way to the animal, stuck on a rooftop of a flooded home. Dont be afraid, giant, Holubnichii said in a soft voice. The NGO founded eight years ago is 90-year-old Valentyna Timofeevnas best hope for being reunited with her dog and cat. Timofeevna had to leave her pets behind when she was evacuated from her home. Weeping, she wonders if they will be found alive. Maybe they are already dead, the woman wailed. A volunteer tried to comfort her, telling her not to rush to conclusions. Photos: Major dam collapses in southern Ukraine EMERSON When it comes to community projects, never underestimate the will, and generosity, of small-town residents. The latest case as proof: A bit more than two years ago, a group of Emerson residents organized the Emerson Veterans Memorial Park Committee to plan and build a new veterans memorial in this town of approximately 800 people. Once they settled on a plan, they set out to raise $250,000 to build Emerson Veterans Memorial Park and establish a maintenance fund. Committee member Barb Gilster believed at the time it would take two years, a time line that had other committee members shaking their heads with skepticism. Fellow committee member Corliss Hassler thought Gilster's hopes were aggressive, but they dove in and began to solicit donations. Two years later, much of the $250,000 is in hand, and concrete footings were poured in late May. It's hoped the memorial will be finished in July. Hassler, who wrote many of the grant applications seeking funding, can't believe it. "I was amazed they could raise this much money in a small town," Hassler said. "It's been the best-supported project we've had in decades." She said 47% of the donations came from individuals rather than big gifts from corporations or other businesses. Other large donations came from community groups such as the community thrift store that supports numerous local causes with proceeds from sales and the Emerson Betterment Committee. The veterans memorial committee also staged fundraisers and secured grants. "This had the whole community involved," Hassler said. It didn't hurt that it's for a popular cause. Veterans memorial committee president and Emerson American Legion Post 60 member Dave Mahler said the community always has been supportive of veterans. "I think everybody's in support of the veterans, and it was a good project to solicit for," said Mahler, an Air Force veteran. For years, Mahler said, the Legion had talked about updating or replacing a small memorial on Main Street next to the Legion's building, which is now a grocery store. The memorial had a small statue and a signboard with a list of veterans' names that hadn't been updated in a long time. "We were going to replace it with something, and that something never really materialized," Mahler said. The veterans memorial committee formed in April 2021 to finally replace the older memorial. The committee of about 10 members settled on a design similar to one in nearby Osmond: Seven black granite stones, which will have the names of 818 area veterans, living and dead, engraved upon them. Four benches will allow visitors to spend as much time as they wish at the memorial, which will be illuminated at night. Flags representing each branch of the military will fly behind the stones, and a taller flagpole flying the American flag will be front and center amid a pavilion of stamped concrete. The committee decided to add three military statues to the design and will complete landscaping with spruce trees behind the site. The memorial will be along Nebraska 9 as you approach town from the north. The Legion bought two vacant city lots from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and there's adequate street parking and a parking lot across the street to facilitate ceremonies at the site. "There is no place better than that," Mahler said. "That particular spot, the visibility is huge." Gilster and Hassler said the committee is in the final stages of raising money for the statues and establishing the maintenance fund. With much of the fundraising's heavy lifting finished, they and the rest of the community will eagerly watch the memorial take shape. It's hard for Mahler to believe that by the end of the summer, a community improvement that many had long talked about will finally become a reality. "For a long time it looked like it was way out in the distance," he said. "It's amazing how this has come around." It came around with the help of just about everyone in town. One morning last week, a team of scientists and conservationists in long, rubber boots embarked into a wetland of southern Wyoming, armed with containers of toads. They included Jeff Baughman, representing Colorado Springs Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Like the others, he was careful where he stepped. There might be toads from the previous season out there that survived, he said. Keeping the Wyoming toad alive is the goal. The morning marked an annual, early summer tradition for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and several other facilities tasked with raising the tiny, imperiled creature. June is typically when members of the Wyoming Toad Recovery Team converge at the Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge outside Laramie, Wyo., to release toads to their only known North American home in the wild where they once flourished. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo provided more than 200 growing toads last week the latest among 41,629 tadpoles and 1,151 adults counted previously over the past 26 years involved in the effort. In a first, the zoo provided headstart toads that had lived in the mountainside facility for two years. Up until this point, weve only done 1-year-old toads, said Baughman, who has been the zoos project coordinator since 2008. The idea was to bring more mature toads to the habitat, he said toads more ready to spawn a new generation. Our goal is for them to actually breed as soon as theyre released, Baughman said. So if they do get predated or killed by some other natural event, theyll at least have the opportunity to reproduce. New ideas have always been part of the long-going attempt to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. The species is Anaxyrus baxteri, named for the University of Wyoming professor credited with discovery in 1946. From there, George Baxter spent more than 30 years monitoring the toads. Their size made them somewhat difficult to spot around lake shores and marshes; they average about 2 inches in length, smaller than other toads. Other characteristics made them impossible to miss: beady eyes, greenish brown bodies, warty and spotted and, most unusual, their heads topped with a bony ridge called fused cranial crests. Here they hopped in the Laramie Basin, a one-of-a-kind animal known as a glacial relic. As the glacier receded 10,000 years or so ago, this population remained, Baughman said. The long line of their mouths appeared to be in a constant frown a sad, fitting expression for the fate observed by Baxter. By the mid-1970s, he found them to be almost entirely gone. He sounded the alarm for federal wildlife officials; the Wyoming toad was listed as endangered in 1984. Officials got to work on a recovery plan, published in 1991. That outlined the task of what would become the Wyoming Toad Recovery Team, which would initially struggle to grow the population that was barely hanging on. That recovery plan identified potential culprits: the spread of pesticides, the increase of predators such as pelicans and raccoons. The 1991 document also noted the Wyoming toad loss was in line with nationwide declines in amphibians. Unfortunately at that time, the chytrid fungus was not discovered yet, Baughman said. The chytrid fungus has been linked to amphibian loss across the world. Its believed the fungus attacks the Wyoming toad during underground, wintertime hibernation, attacking the skin and organs responsible for breathing and absorbing water. Along with the fungus, researchers continue to find habitats destroyed or altered by development and climate change. Its all to blame for putting 30% of the worlds amphibian species at risk, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. Department of the Interior has called this a problem of global importance, with amphibians playing crucial roles at the center of the food chain. As the department has put it: Loss of amphibians means a loss in biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. The Wyoming toad, for example, feeds on bugs that would otherwise proliferate and potentially change plant life. Simultaneously, the toads serve as food for birds and other mammals. That helps explain the urgency of the Wyoming Toad Recovery Team. Beyond that, it is so important in a long-running program like this to recognize the knowledge that we are gaining is invaluable, Baughman said. Many other amphibians are threatened by the chytrid fungus, he noted, so anything we can do today to find out how to better other programs or other species, its very worth all the effort. At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the effort has gone on inside moss-lined, temperature-controlled containers. For simulated hibernation, the temperature drops to 38 degrees. After 35 days, temperatures slowly rise back to 70 degrees. Males and females eventually awake to an audio track recorded at the Laramie Basin: a serenade of mating calls. Eggs are not laid in the form of a blob like other amphibians, but instead in a strand like a string of pearls, Bauman said. The toads and their offspring are bound for the native land come summer. The Department of the Interior noted success in 2020, reporting Saratoga National Fish Hatchery had the best breeding season for the toads in its history. The facility reportedly released 18,000 toads in various stages of life, and the Interior marked the year as a sixth straight year of breeding in the wild. Weve seen an increase in survivorship, but theres still die-off unfortunately, Baughman said. The fungus is not going away anytime soon, he added. Our goal is to get as many animals out there as we can in hopes that they become resilient or adapt to the fungus. And so as much as there is celebration on release days, there is also uncertainty. Baughman and the team are due back in a few weeks to release tadpoles. As he carefully walks across the land, hell look for a symbol of hope from the head-start toads previously released something like a string of pearls. A new exhibition at History Colorado is using science fiction to teach about the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. Pairing work dating back to 1,000 years ago with contemporary art, History Colorados Revolt 1680/2180 offers a unique look into the most successful Indigenous uprising against a colonizing power in North American history. Were not just trying to preserve the past. Were always looking for new ways to educate people about history, said Jeremy Morton, lead exhibition developer. Were able to pair this futuristic thinking with this historic thinking, which the result is unique and interesting and a cool way to learn and to teach about history. The exhibition features centuries-old Cochiti sculptures and Ancestral Puebloan pottery, as well as contemporary artwork by Cochiti Pueblo artist Virgil Ortiz. For the installation of HC, they took me into the vault, which was really cool, Ortiz said. I was able to identify a bunch of the pieces and work with their team to pick some of the pieces that were from Cochiti. Blending the past, present and a conceptual future, this exhibition is an immersive art experience while also teaching about historical events. What were trying to do with the exhibit is explore, Morton said. Inspired by historical figures Omtua and Catua, Ortiz uses augmented reality, fashion designs and 3D projection mapping to tell a fantasy story based in Indigenous Futurism in the year 2180. Its amazing to have those pieces be all together in one exhibition and show the world, the viewer that yes, were capable of changing and moving forward, Ortiz said. Ortiz reimagines Omtua and Catua as futuristic gliders time-traveling warriors who are charged with safeguarding the past, present and future of the New Mexico Pueblos. Merging history with science fiction, the duo work to protect the clay, culture, language and traditions of the Pueblos from vanishing by traveling back in time to the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. They represent the original runners at 1680 without them, we probably wouldnt be here today, Ortiz said. This is happening simultaneously in both different times. This allows me to really create characters along the way that are very futuristic. Thats what I love about storytelling, is to incorporate a sci-fi aspect. Historically, the pair served as runners during the 1680 rebellion, carrying coded messages via knotted deer-hides over 50 miles to a series of Pueblo villages. Soon after carrying out their mission, however, Catua and Omtua were captured and hanged. Despite the early capture of Catua and Omtua, the Pueblos held off the Spanish for 12 years during the revolt. All my work, all my shows/exhibitions are all based on educating globally about the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, which most people dont know about because its not taught in our schools, Ortiz said. The goal of the exhibition is to educate the viewer about the 1680 Pueblo Revolt from a fresh perspective, hoping to interest younger viewers as well. Its like a way of survival as well, to make sure that our traditions, our language, our ceremonies, our songs, our way of life continues on, Ortiz said. Its so cool because educating is the part that was like one of my ultimate goals. The El Paso County Redistricting Commission on Monday will hold its first of five public meetings to craft new commissioner districts for the first time since 2017, and has launched an online tool to help residents draw and present their own maps. Monday's meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument. Residents of District 1 are encouraged to provide feedback on communities of interest and political competitiveness within the district. Residents of elsewhere in the county will also have an opportunity to provide public comment. The redistricting commission, consisting of the current five members of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners, is set to review the results of five preliminary map renderings, drawn using several geographic and cultural factors, that it requested during its introductory meeting in May. It will also receive a demonstration on using the ESRI Redistricting Tool, an online software that allows users to draw potential commissioner districts using GIS technology, 2020 census data and other demographic information. Upcoming Redistricting Commission meetings: District 1 meeting, June 12: Lewis-Palmer High School, 5:30 p.m. District 2 meeting, June 21: Mountain View Academy, 5:30 p.m. District 4 meeting, July 6: Mesa Ridge High School, 5:30 p.m. District 3 meeting, July 10: Cheyenne Mountain High School, 5:30 p.m. District 5 meeting, July 17: Regional Development Center, 9:00 a.m. July 14 is currently the last day for the public to submit proposed maps, though this deadline may be changed at the June 12 meeting. Under House Bill 21-1047, passed in 2021, districts must be redrawn by Sept. 30 of the second odd-numbered year after a national census and cannot see more than 5% deviation between the most and least populous districts in a county. According to a presentation by Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker in May, each new district should have a population of roughly 146,550 based on 2020 U.S. Census data. Residents are encouraged to submit public comments and proposed maps through the website, which can be reviewed at future meetings. "After creating an account, residents can create their own map using reference layers such as existing county commissioner, school, state House and Senate, or congressional district boundaries," the county said in a press release Friday. "The software will track the population of each district a person creates and will also allow them to overlay information such as ethnicity and voting age population should the user choose." Click or tap here for instructions in written or video form for how to use the ESRI tool and free downloadable maps of commissioner and congressional districts, voter precincts, school and metropolitan districts and more. Click or tap here to access the El Paso County ESRI Redistricting Tool. The commissioners, all Republicans, appointed themselves to oversee the process without a citizen advisory committee at a controversial and highly attended regular meeting in April, during which dozens of residents argued that such a move would disenfranchise Democratic voters and accused the board of gerrymandering, given that a Democrat has not sat on the board since Stan Johnson's election in 1970. The decision was "allowing the fox to guard the henhouse," one resident previously told commissioners. In response, the El Paso County Democratic Party announced Friday that it is "organizing a peaceful protest" against the "politics of gerrymandering" at Lewis-Palmer High School at 5:30 p.m. Monday. If we dont use this as an opportunity to make this right and equitable, it could be ten years before this happens again," Mischa Smith, the county Democratic Party chair previously told The Gazette. 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. Editor's Note: This article has been updated with a statement from the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. The city of Colorado Springs will represent two police officers and a former police officer in a federal civil lawsuit filed by a man who claims law enforcement officials arrested him and acted "like they were going to murder" him after he called them for help in early 2019. The City Council agreed informally on Monday to represent Colorado Springs police officers Lizet Castillo and Clayton Sunada, as well as former police officer Shane Owen, in a lawsuit filed March 6 as required by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act and the Peace Officer's Liability Act. The officers acted "in the course and scope of their employment and not in a willful and wanton manner," a May 24 memorandum from the City Attorney's Office to the City Council states. Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown, former El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder and 4th Judicial District Court Judge Frances Johnson are also named as co-defendants in the suit. Michael Lynn Ratcliff Jr. said in his amended pro se complaint filed March 29 he "called the police for help" on Jan. 28, 2019, because he was being "stalked and harassed by vigilante members of the community." When law enforcement arrived, Ratcliff claims, "instead of helping me they arrested me and began to gaslight me by acting like they were going to murder me." 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. Ratcliff alleges police used "allies in the convict community" to "psychologically abuse" him while he was incarcerated; claims he was jailed "for an unreasonable amount of time" while he underwent competency proceedings; claims his rights to a speedy trial and effective assistance of legal counsel were violated; and alleges he was "questioned repeatedly and constantly without legal representation." The original lawsuit states Ratcliff was incarcerated in the Arapahoe County and El Paso County jails and the alleged events occurred between late January 2019 and early August 2021. The Colorado Springs Police Department, 4th Judicial District, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and Elder declined to comment on the case. According to the city attorney's memo, reports and body camera footage show Colorado Springs police officers responded to a call from a Circle K store manager who reported a person was threatening people with a knife. When they arrived, "officers contacted Mr. Ratcliff, who had a 16-inch knife on his person," the memo states. City attorneys did not provide details about the date of the call nor the location of the convenience store. Witnesses identified Ratcliff as the man who had threatened a delivery driver with a knife in the store, according to the memo. Police arrested and charged him with felony menacing, the memo states. Ratcliff seeks $7.5 million in damages for the time he was jailed, the following year-and-a-half he claims in his lawsuit he was unable to work as charges against him were "dragged out," and for the "mental anguish of losing all faith in the integrity" of law enforcement. A Cripple Creek detective accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an alleged victim in a sex trafficking case pleaded guilty Monday to public indecency, a petty offense, and attempt to influence a public servant, a felony. "I misrepresented information to Chief Bright (Cripple Creek's police chief) to not lose my position with the Police Department," Alexander Kenoyer, 36, told Teller County Judge Scott Sells. In exchange for the guilty plea, which was part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed two charges of sexual conduct by a peace officer. Kenoyer also told the judge he had sex with the victim while on duty. As part of the plea agreement, Kenoyer accepted two years of probation and the possibility of up to 60 days in jail; however, Sells said he could decide to give Kenoyer no jail time at sentencing. Sells will also decide whether Kenoyer's probation will be supervised or unsupervised. According to the affidavit, Kenoyer's relationship with the victim began over text message in 2021 and the two first met to have sex at a local hotel in November of that year. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The affidavit states that sexually explicit text messages between the two were intertwined with the woman occasionally asking about her case and for legal advice. Texts also revealed alleged sexual contact between the two in Kenoyer's office at the Cripple Creek police station and in his police vehicle. The relationship ended when Kenoyer refused to leave his wife. A short time later, the Police Department and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into his misconduct. The woman told detectives that she "had been 'coerced and blackmailed' by Kenoyer into writing a letter to Chief Bright stating they 'supposedly didn't have any sex,'" according to the affidavit. The victim, who no longer lives in Colorado, appeared virtually Monday via Webex but chose not to speak to the court. Kenoyer is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 14. Seven months after a deadly attack on the LGBTQ+ community, thousands of revelers and supporters lined the streets of downtown Colorado Springs for the annual Pride Parade. Along with the traditional joyous music, bursts of color, outrageous outfits and raucous cheering, there was a hint of defiance in the air a community refusing to slink into the shadows, even in the face of violence. There are people out there who want us to just live quietly or not live at all, said Liss Smith of Inside Out Youth Services. But were gonna live loud instead. Its an act of resistance. Richard Fierro, the military veteran and local businessman who helped subdue and disarm the Club Q assailant, was selected to be the grand marshal of the parade. He and his family were greeted with thunderous applause as they rolled down Tejon Street in a decked-out El Camino. Im a straight guy, Fierro said. But Im a part of this community now, and they are a part of ours. Adriana Vance, whose son, Raymond, was killed in the Nov. 19 attack, said Fierro was the right choice to lead this years parade. Hes a great guy, said Vance, whose son had been dating Fierros daughter. At this time, I think he is the right man to be the grand marshal. Jennifer Berger, who has been attending the parade since the 1990s, said she considered skipping it this year, but decided not to break tradition. The thought occurred to me, but I dismissed it, Berger said. You cant live in fear. If you do that, they win. The lawn and walkway outside the Pioneers Museum, where the parade ended, was festooned with balloons, bubble machines and booths offering everything from food and beverages, to various health services. One booth, however, offered something a little different. 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. Armed Queers Dont Get Bashed is the motto of Pink Pistols an organization that offers self-defense and weapons training to members of the LGBTQ+ community who are growing tired of turning the other cheek. Its getting worse out there, said Patrick Dolan, who heads the Colorado Springs chapter of Pink Pistols. There are hate groups going after us, just because we want to live. Dolan assumed leadership of the local chapter shortly after the attack on Club Q, he said. After Club Q, I was just like, OK, this is ridiculous, Dolan said. They walked into the one safe place we had in town, and shot it up. A gunman on Nov. 19 opened fire at Club Q on North Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs. Five people were killed and 25 injured, 19 by gunfire. Anderson Lee Aldrich has been charged in the mass shooting and is awaiting trial. The self-defense group has been met with resistance from members of the queer community, who mostly see themselves as pacifists, Dolan said. But in the months since the Club Q attack, hes seeing a growing number of people who are looking to defend themselves. Were not violent people, and were not aggressive, Dolan said of Pink Pistols. Were just tired of being attacked. Its time to start fighting back. Smith and other parade attendees were encouraged by the weekends large turnout. It was great to see, Smith said. I thought some people might be reluctant to come out, and that would have been understandable. But, if anything, I think this years turnout may have been a little bigger than last years. The more people, the better, said Brendan Ryan-McKeever, who said he was at Club Q the night before the shooting. If we stay in our homes, we empower the people who want the gay community to be scared. Im really happy so many people decided to come today. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce Monday released its review of the 2023 legislative session, and while they raised concerns about the deterioration of Colorado's economic competitiveness, "the number of bills that made their way to Gov. Jared Polis desk that significantly bother business leaders were surprisingly few." "We are seeing a direct correlation of the deterioration of Colorados economic competitiveness based on laws and regulations that continue to be adopted by state leaders and the competitiveness data and surveys weve conducted," Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman said. "The outcome of this legislative session required a great deal of work and collaboration to ensure that Colorados business climate did not further deteriorate. The chamber cheered the defeat of measures such as the Fair Workweek bill (House Bill 1118), which backers said would lead to more predictive scheduling and fairer work hours but that businesses said would have led to fewer available jobs for workers, lower pay, and less flexibility and would have driven businesses out of the state. "The restrictive scheduling bill was one of the worst bills for business weve seen from the legislature in years, and that was reflected by the significant backlash from business owners across the state," Furman said. HB 1118 died on an 8-2 vote in its first committee hearing, with four Democrats voting it down along with the four Republicans on the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee. Bills the chamber supported included those boosting worker pipeline programs, such as House Bill 1246, which requires the community college system to administer an "in-demand short-term credentials program" in early childhood education, law enforcement, fire and forestry and construction; as well as creating two new short-term degree nursing programs at community or technical colleges. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The group also supported Senate Bill 205, which creates a scholarship program for Colorado high school graduates that prioritizes awards for students pursuing high-priority postsecondary degrees, certificates, and registered apprenticeships. Both measures are needed to "upskill workers," particularly as the state has experienced a 10% drop just since 2019 in the number of high school graduates seeking any kind of advanced degree or certificate, the chamber said in its report. While the chamber supported the need for more housing, particularly for workers, it was less than enthused about Polis' signature housing proposal, SB 213, which died on the session's last day. Chamber officials said their members pointed out the bill failed to reform construction-defects law "that continues to make it easy for condominium owners associations to sue builders and, in doing so, scares most builders away from putting up condos." The chamber opposed both the rent control legislation in HB 1115 and the proposal creating a right of first refusal for local governments, allowing them to purchase older apartment buildings for affordable housing, in HB 1190. The group also cited its work with lawmakers and other business groups "to transform potentially seismic bills into ones that are likely to have much smaller impacts on businesses operational abilities," such as the POWR Act (SB 172), which redefines harassment in Colorados anti-discrimination laws, removing "severe or pervasive" from the definitions of a discriminatory or unfair workplace practice. The chamber said in its report the law is unlikely to result in a "floodgate" of lawsuits. A vehicle crash in east Colorado Springs resulted in a shooting that left a woman with life-threatening injuries, according to a news release from the Police Department. Officers initially responded to an 11 p.m. call Saturday about a crash with serious injuries in the 800 block of North Academy Boulevard, near The Citadel mall. When they arrived, they found a woman unconscious in a vehicle, police said. Investigators learned that the shooting victim had been involved in a minor crash with another vehicle before the driver of the second car fired multiple gunshots into the womans car, hitting her at least once. The victims name was not released, and no arrests were announced. Proud to support military academy I had the privilege of speaking May 27 at the high school graduation of a local school in Colorado Springs called Colorado Military Academy (CMA) Charter School. This school stands for the core values of our military services: integrity, service to others, excellence in all things, courage, respectfulness and responsibility. CMA strives to help prepare K-12 students to be college, career and community ready. Military service isnt a goal although 35% of the grads are heading into the various military services after graduation this year, similar to last year. This unique school may not work in many parts of our state, but in Colorado Springs, its a natural. CMA has an airplane assigned by the Civil Air Patrol to fly all high school students who want to learn about flying. They also get to attend various camps called encampments statewide and beyond. There, they get leadership, teamwork, character lessons, and other exciting experiences. Students also get to compete for international exchanges, advanced powered, glider and drone flight training. Im proud to support his wonderful school. Mark Hyatt Colorado Springs Lower standards for graduates Forty-one graduates qualified for a full-ride scholarship to Pikes Peak State College, proclaims your front page, above the fold lead article (Gazette, May 24). Nick Sullivans article itself proves that many of the Mitchell grads were not even qualified to receive a diploma. The article points out that last years graduation rate was 63%, and this years rate was 94%; nearly a 50% increase. Does anyone believe there was a 50% increase in academic performance as measured by standardized testing (the article is silent on those results)? Or even a 5% increase in that performance? If graduation rates surge and test results do not, then graduation requirements are clearly relaxed. How many students who cannot read or do math at grade level--or even close--were given a diploma? The unqualified students who go on to PPSC will face no difficulties and will be moved along. But what happens when those unqualified grads go to a college that demands performance, or they go to work? Some of them will fail at that college or job because they did not have the knowledge that a HS degree should indicate. And they might not have developed study/work habits because they did not need them. Yet believing their high school diploma means they are just as qualified as someone who did get a good high school education and can perform at least at grade level, when the unqualified fail or get fired they will blame the system. They will claim something like sexism or racism. And I dont blame them. They were lied to. Our students, families and community need and deserve high school graduates who can, at a minimum, read and do math at a 12th grade level. Thats what a high school diploma should mean. None of us would stand still for developers that use substandard materials, and cut corners by doing very little work that was up to code, then offer those homes for sale as if everything was up to standard. We not only allow that in our schools, we celebrate it. Will Luden Colorado Springs Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Freedoms more than a feeling The opinion piece written by Dennis Prager Feeling Freer traveling in Europe than in America illustrates the challenge of our countrys commitment to freedom and E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one). Prager contends that freedom is a zero sum game that the freedom of others self-expression (in his example, those who exercise gender nonconformity) somehow diminishes his freedom. That is a false dichotomy. If the unity of our nation is to be achieved as the founding fathers intended, we must learn to live with one another in such a way that your expression of freedom can exist simultaneously with my expression of freedom. Prager laments that for the first time I feel freer in Europe than in America. Freedom is more than a feeling. The beauty of our nations experiment with popular democracy is that we as a people are vested with the power and responsibility to protect the exercise of individual freedoms(yours and mine). In our country, that is done through our system of laws that must provide equal protection of individual rights required by our Constitution. As Americans, we have the privilege of proving to the world that we can learn to live peaceably together without demonizing each other to achieve unity with diversity. It is a lofty goal but one worth pursuing. Doug Hunt Colorado Springs Backlash to Pride Month Its official; Pride month is here. However, this year, the celebration is being overshadowed by the financial backlash over major retailers offering of Pride-themed merchandise and assertions that certain companies and organizations are too woke for any show of support for the LGBTQ community. Our freedoms are under attack. LGBTQ allyship traditionally has included large retailers like Target and Kohls. Target has released LGBT-themed Pride products for over a decade, but this year appears to be the first time it has been met with such a high level of vitriol. Not only have Targets Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies been attacked by conservative forces, the company has lost nearly $14 billion, or over 20%, in market value over the past several weeks. Some of these losses can be attributed to market value adjustments after disappointing 1st quarter 2023 results, but these losses have been exacerbated by boycotts from extremist far-right, anti-LGBTQ contingents. Extremist anti-LGBTQ forces, primarily using social media, have also attacked Chick-Fil-A, a right-wing favorite, over a year-old decision to hire a vice-president of DEI to help support people of color and other underrepresented groups of people in the workplace. Conservative commentators have assaulted the company for woke policies. In their eyes, anything that views diversity positively is woke and must be suppressed. Now, the US military is the latest organization to fold under right-wing backlash to Pride Month on May 31, when Pentagon brass forced the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to cancel a drag show it had scheduled for June 1. The decision underscores the new heights that anti-LGBTQ outrage has reached this year: Nellis held drag performances for Pride in 2022 and 2021 without incident. These are just a few examples of how our freedoms are under attack. Arent we supposed to be the country who lets people be who they are? What happened to, as Ronald Reagan said, that we come togetherthat we are that shining city on a hill? Linda Rinehart Colorado Springs Two Thornton detectives made misleading statements to a murder suspect before asking him to give up his Miranda rights, effectively coercing the man into talking, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled. Detectives repeatedly reassured Thorvyn Bullcalf Evan Smiley he would leave the interrogation room a free person and was "not in trouble." They also attempted to paint Smiley's Miranda rights as a minor paperwork issue. In reality, Smiley was their only suspect in an unsolved murder and the detectives would arrest him after Smiley agreed to talk. By 4-3, the Supreme Court agreed with an Adams County trial judge that Smiley's statements in the interrogation room, including his confession to the murder, cannot be used as evidence. Given the detectives' misleading promises about his freedom, Smiley's decision to give up his Miranda rights namely the right to remain silent and to consult with an attorney was not voluntary, the majority concluded. "By telling Smiley that he was not in trouble and that he would be leaving the police station that day, the detectives were engaging in a form of psychological coercion for which the law has less tolerance," wrote Justice William W. Hood III in the June 12 opinion. Writing in dissent, Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. slammed the majority's opinion, claiming it would cripple the ability of police to "effectively investigate crimes." "At most, the detectives statements lulled Smiley into feeling comfortable and safe. But that does not constitute coercion psychological or otherwise," Samour argued, writing for himself, Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright and Justice Monica M. Marquez. Although the Supreme Court's majority readily acknowledged law enforcement is not required to be completely forthright during interrogations, Smiley's case examined the degree to which police can mislead suspects immediately before asking them to give up their constitutional protections and potentially incriminate themselves. In September 2021, Thornton police received a break in a murder case. They had found Jamie William Whitehead near a restaurant dumpster 10 months prior, dead. Now, authorities learned Smiley's DNA and fingerprints were found on items at the scene. Detectives Melissa Hawkins and Eloy Silva traveled to Farmington, N.M., where Smiley was recently arrested on an unrelated offense. They came equipped with an order to take Smiley's DNA, fingerprints and palm prints. While Smiley was their only suspect, Hawkins and Silva did not yet have probable cause to arrest him. In the interrogation room, the detectives elicited a key piece of incriminating information from Smiley: that he had been in the Denver area at the time of Whitehead's murder. Hawkins then mentioned the need to read Smiley his Miranda rights a product of the U.S. Supreme Court's Miranda v. Arizona decision, which found it necessary to protect suspects from being pressured into incriminating themselves. Hawkins' mention of Miranda rights prompted a visible reaction from Smiley. "You're not in trouble," she reassured Smiley. "You are leaving here today." 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. After Silva echoed that Smiley would walk out of the interrogation room and Hawkins repeated it for the third time, Hawkins said, falsely, the detectives needed to read Smiley's Miranda rights "just because we are from out of state and stuff like that." Silva then characterized Smiley's rights against self-incrimination and to a lawyer as "just a form ... like on TV." Smiley agreed to relinquish his rights and speak to the detectives. After Smiley confessed to the murder, the detectives arrested him. In October 2022, District Judge Robert W. Kiesnowski Jr. considered whether Smiley had voluntarily given up his rights, in which case his incriminating statements could be used against him, or, alternatively, whether the detectives coerced him into talking. Kiesnowski concluded Hawkins and Silva's deceit played a significant role in Smiley's decision to forgo his constitutional protections. "Here, central to the voluntariness issue is the fact that immediately before Mr. Smiley was Mirandized, Detectives Hawkins and Silva stated to Mr. Smiley that he was not in trouble and twice that he would be leaving the Farmington Police Department 'today,'" Kiesnowski wrote. "Detectives Hawkins and Silva knew that their statements that Mr. Smiley was not in trouble were false and that they acted with a reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of whether Mr. Smiley was leaving the Farmington Police Department as a free man." The 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office appealed directly to the state Supreme Court. Hawkins and Silva's statements about Smiley's freedom were technically true, the prosecution argued, because they only developed probable cause after hearing Smiley talk. "Simply put, it is unreasonable to require law enforcement to anticipate that a suspect will confess to a crime particularly one as serious as murder and choose their words beforehand accordingly," wrote Senior Deputy District Attorney Todd Bluth. The Supreme Court's majority disagreed. Hood described a suspect's Miranda rights as akin to throwing someone a lifeline who is floating down a river. The suspect can invoke his rights taking the lifeline or choose to continue unaided. But if police claim the lifeline is unnecessary, the suspect's choice to give up his constitutional protections may have been corrupted by the false promise. Hawkins and Silva made "affirmative misrepresentations apparently employed to trick Smiley into waiving his rights and making inculpatory statements," Hood wrote. "The detectives also couldnt honestly promise that Smiley would be leaving after talking to them. Yet, they did anyway." Consequently, the detectives' actions played an improper role in coercing Smiley's decision to talk, the majority decided. The Innocence Project has estimated that false confessions, which can be the product of coercive interrogations, were a factor in 29% of exonerations by DNA. The dissenting justices downplayed the relevance of Hawkins and Silva's statements. Samour disagreed the detectives had promised Smiley anything, and argued they had not said Smiley would "never" be in trouble. He noted the interrogation took place in a "spacious" room and the detectives had not even threatened Smiley. "Where was the exploitation here?" Samour asked. "If thats all it takes, then every legitimate police interrogation will inherently involve exploitation of a defendants vulnerability. The reality is that there was zero exploitation." In the face of strong evidence suggesting a woman sentenced to four years in prison for burglary did not actually commit the crime, the Colorado Supreme Court last week agreed a Weld County judge improperly barred the defense from questioning an alternate suspect during trial. The 4-3 decision held that the inability of Nora Hilda Rios-Vargas to call the alternate suspect to the witness stand, even if the suspect intended simply to invoke her own constitutional right against self-incrimination, infringed upon Rios-Vargas' right to present a defense and likely contributed to Rios-Vargas' conviction. "In practice, our holding today will apply in relatively narrow circumstances," wrote Justice Monica M. Marquez in the June 12 opinion, noting that not all cases involving an alternate suspect's blocked testimony will lead to a constitutional violation. But, she continued, "This is such a case." Prosecutors charged Rios-Vargas with the burglary of a Weld County trailer home, in which someone had stolen $15,000 in jewelry and $3,000 in coins, among other things. The only evidence tying Rios-Vargas to the crime scene was a latex glove containing her DNA. On the other hand, law enforcement had ample evidence implicating another suspect, the victim's niece. The niece knew when the victim would be gone from the trailer, she had the motive and opportunity to frame Rios-Vargas, she avoided police questioning, some coins were found at her own nearby home, and the list of stolen items included the title to the trailer she lived in which she rented from the victim. Even the victim believed his niece was responsible for the burglary. However, then-District Court Judge Thomas J. Quammen learned the alternate suspect, if called to testify, would invoke her own Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, as prosecutors had not granted her immunity. Finding the alternate suspect's right "trumps the defendants right to present a defense," Quammen refused to allow the defense to question her in front of the jury. The prosecution, as a result, told jurors Rios-Vargas' insistence that an alternate suspect was responsible was the "very definition of imaginary." A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals concluded that, based on Supreme Court precedent, Rios-Vargas was not entitled to force the alternate suspect to testify under the circumstances. In any event, Rios-Vargas "thoroughly presented her alternate suspect defense," wrote Judge Stephanie Dunn. During oral arguments before the Supreme Court, some justices appeared unconvinced that merely allowing Rios-Vargas to tell jurors about an alternate suspect was constitutionally sufficient. Letting the alternate suspect decline to answer questions about her own involvement in front of jurors "would have been the most powerful piece of evidence," Marquez observed. 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. "This is how innocent people are convicted," public defender Casey Mark Klekas agreed in arguing for a new trial. The Supreme Court's majority, in siding with Rios-Vargas, overruled its own 1976 decision that blocked defendants from asking questions when a witness intends to invoke their Fifth Amendment right. Instead, Marquez laid out a procedure for trial judges to follow, permitting jurors to hear alternate suspects answer non-incriminating questions first and then questions where the suspect declines to testify. She added the protocols would prevent "unnecessary courtroom drama," involving defense attorneys repeatedly asking questions and the alternate suspect "taking the Fifth." Given the credibility of Rios-Vargas' alternate suspect theory and that prosecutors had characterized it as "imaginary," the Supreme Court's majority found it likely that Quammen's decision to block the testimony contributed to Rios-Vargas' potentially wrongful conviction. Writing in dissent, Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright primarily argued the Supreme Court was making a mistake by overruling its 1976 decision. Instead, he believed neither defendants nor prosecutors should be able to call witnesses who will decline to incriminate themselves on the stand. Boatright used a hypothetical example involving a man accused of stealing ladies' underwear from a home. The defendant could point to an alternate suspect, a registered sex offender living nearby, who had nothing to do with the crime in reality but who had recently been inside the victim's home. Under the new standard, the hypothetical defendant could call the sex offender to testify or force him to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights thereby generating questions about the true identity of the perpetrator. "And because the prosecution would be unable to cross-examine the witness, the prosecution would have no effective way to combat that speculative inference," Boatright wrote for himself and Justices William W. Hood III and Maria E. Berkenkotter. A spokesperson for Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke declined to comment when asked whether Rourke genuinely believes Rios-Vargas, and not the alternate suspect, committed the burglary. The candidates who won or lost their races in Denvers just-concluded municipal election werent the only winners and losers on June 6. Now that the votes are counted, Mayor-elect Mike Johnston is mobilizing his transition team, while runner-up Kelly Brough is considering whats next. But before the dust settles, we wanted to take stock of some other political winners and losers and one result that was closer to a draw. Winner: Feddy and the Dreamers Loser: The Webb Machine Simply put, former Denver Mayor Federico Pena picked the winner of the June 6 runoff, while his immediate successor, former Mayor Wellington Webb and his wife, former state Rep. Wilma Webb, backed the loser. But more than that, Johnstons campaign and the governing style hes promised closely resembles the aggressively idealistic approach his fellow former legislator, Pena, brought to city hall. Pena was the young candidate bearing bold visions when he prevailed in 1983 over the consummate insiders incumbent Mayor Bill McNichols, who finished third in the first round of voting, and District Attorney Dale Tooley, who faced Pena in the runoff. Like Johnston, Pena was derided as a pie-in-the-sky stargazer, with his ubiquitous imagine a great city slogan earning his campaign team and the new administration a dismissive nickname: Feddy and the Dreamers. On election night this week, Johnston supporter Doug Linkhart a former legislator, councilman and city department director drew a parallel, applauding voters for choosing vision over continuation. I think Mike has what Federico Pena had 40 years ago, and thats vision, Linkhart said. I think Mikes vision is similar its looking to the future of the city and what we can be, not just managing things the way they have been. The contrast with Brough, who ran on her experience as a chamber of commerce CEO and chief of staff for former Mayor John Hickenlooper, was explicit. After Brough conceded and Johnston declared victory, the freshly minted mayor-elect described how he envisions turning his campaign dreams into reality. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. I think that for me, the vision is the why you want to do it, and the problem-solving is the how you do it, he said. So thats why we worked really hard when no one else did to say were going to build out a comprehensive white paper on every single policy we roll out, were going to put a comprehensive budget out for everything we roll out. Were going to say exactly how much its going to cost and where the moneys going to come from ... that means that were talking about a plan to get 1,400 people who are unhoused into housing thats not a letter to Santa Claus, thats actually a real plan with a real budget and real evidence that it works. Like Brough, Webb boasted years of experience at city hall when he won election in 1991 to the first of his three terms as mayor, on the heels of a term as city auditor. Webb and his political apparatus are legendary, having propelled numerous Democrats into office. That record includes kicking Michael Hancocks 2011 mayoral campaign into high gear with an endorsement when the councilman appeared to be stuck in third place ahead of the first round of voting. Webbs crack get-out-the-vote machine help seal the deal in the runoff. But while Webb provided one of this election years best quips calling Johnston the guy who went from Vail to Yale his political magic didnt spur Broughs campaign across the finish line. Mixed bag: The Establishment Johnston and Brough both came under fire for their association with groups that epitomize the establishment, but Broughs dozen years fronting the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce might have done more damage to her prospects than Johnstons decades-old membership in Yales fabled Skull and Bones, an exclusive undergraduate club that counts former presidents and titans of industry among its illustrious alumni. Early in the runoff, Broughs campaign and her supporters tried to raise a fuss over Johnston having been tapped into the once-secret society rumor had it a Bonesman had to leave the room if its name was uttered but he shrugged it off, describing it as merely one of Yales hundreds of social clubs and insisting it had long ago shed its unsavory and creepier practices. The attack provoked snickering on the campaign trail but didnt appear to gain any steam. Broughs past as a prominent advocate for the chamber of commerce could have carried more weight with voters, at least after an outside group supporting Johnston hammered voters with some of the more conservative-aligned positions she advocated for during her tenure, such as support for fracking and opposition to raising the minimum wage perilous stances in an overwhelmingly Democratic electorate. Political strategist Steve Welchert suggested that the guilt-by-association attacks might have cancelled each other out. We all understood she was down in the polls, because shes the one who drew first blood, right? Welchert said in a recent panel discussion on the race. But when you draw first blood, complaining about your opponent being a member of Skull and Bones at Yale, (Johnstons campaign was) ready for that and popped her back on the chamber of commerce, so it all became neutral. Added Welchert: Thats not how you want to come out of the gate swinging, I dont think, on something thats not particularly substantive. So on the one hand, youve got a corporate candidate against an elitist candidate, right? So Denver voters are choosing between the corporatist and the elitist. An expert described as one of the best minds on water in the West believes it's time to reconsider some of the basics of the 1922 Colorado River Compact, the cornerstone of the "Law of the River" that apportions water and regulates use. Former Colorado River District Manager Eric Kuhn said negotiations over Colorado River operations, set to start in the coming weeks, should include changing how water is allocated to Mexico and the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada. Kuhn spoke about those ideas during the second day of the Colorado River conference sponsored by the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment at the CU Law School. He spoke along with former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt, who served eight years as Interior secretary in the Clinton administration. Allocations to the three Lower Basin states and Mexico are based on a fixed amount of acre-feet of water. An acre-foot is some 362,000 gallons, enough to cover Denver's Empower Field with 1 foot of water, or provide for two families of four for a year. In 1922, the Lower Basin states were allocated 8.5 million acre-feet, while the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico were allocated 7.5 million acre-feet per year. That left a surplus in the river, estimated at a total of 20.5 million acre-feet. The river today is instead running at a deficit of 4.5 million acre-feet per year, which also takes into account the 1.5 million acre-feet allocated to Mexico. The 8.5 million acre-feet available to the Lower Basin states in 1922 now stands at only 6 million acre-feet now, including system evaporative and transmission losses. The Upper Basin states have never used their full allocation in most years, Upper Basin use is around 4.5 million acre-feet. A 1948 compact among the Upper Basin states dictates those allocations on a percentage basis. That percentage concept should be how water is allocated for the Lower Basin states, Kuhn said Friday. He also called for a compact for the Lower Basin states that incorporates other principles from the Upper Basin compact. He said that compact, and what could go into it, could mean changing some of the basics of the law of the river. Kuhn also suggested the Lower Basin states define consumptive use, another hallmark in the Upper Basin that hasn't made its way south. Consumptive use is the total amount of water used for irrigation, human use or through evaporative loss. The latter is not something the Lower Basin states have ever considered, although Colorado River Board of California Chair J.B. Hamby said those losses just show up as shortages on the river, and not a part of the allocation. Without incorporating a uniform definition of consumptive use, Kuhn said, there will be endless fights among the Lower Basin states on how to divvy up reductions in Colorado River water. Babbitt expressed hesitation on whether those ideas are doable, adding he was skeptical about untangling the numerical allocations and translating them into percentages. Kuhn didn't disagree. Turning these fixed contracts into a percentage is going to be difficult, he said. Babbitt focused on solutions and models that he said shows the way for successful, and most importantly, voluntary participation in water reductions. But he also had harsh words for some of the ideas being floated in the Upper Basin states and by the federal government. Agriculture uses upward of 75% of the water that comes down the Colorado, Babbitt said, with tribes entitled to much of the rest. With agriculture being such a driver of use, he said the question becomes how to motivate industry participation that produces results. 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. Farmers view some of the suggested programs as akin to "buy and dry." That's something of a dirty phrase in agriculture referring to siphoning water for other purposes and leaving behind dry, barren and often unfarmable land. Another proposed solution viewed with skeptical eyes is speculation, the purchase of water rights that are then held in abeyance as those rights increase in value. Babbitt pointed to Wall Street hedge funds. The third solution that Babbitt believes has little chance of success is the system conservation pilot program being implemented by the Upper Basin states, and funded by the federal government. Babbitt said he's heard that Colorado farmers, in particular, are suspicious of those programs. So what does work? Babbitt had three models, including one from Colorado, which rely on voluntary participation from agriculture. The first he pointed to is what the Palo Verde Irrigation District has been doing for 10 years in California. Farmers voluntarily engage in rotational fallowing and other programs, with a cap on the amount of water that can be transported and conserved in any given year. A farmer can only participate in the program once every three years, and there's more demand for participation than there is available water under the cap. Colorado's Super Ditch in the Lower Arkansas Valley is another example Babbitt highlighted of a voluntary program with support from agriculture. A 2017 Water Education Colorado report said that in 2008, shareholders of six ditches between Pueblo and Lamar created the Lower Arkansas Valley Super Ditch Co., growing to seven ditch companies with eight ditches. A pilot project on the Catlin Canal put 911 acres into rotational fallowing in 2015. That allowed for some of the water to be leased to Fowler, and the Fountain and Security water district. The six participating farmers in Catlin were paid $1,030 per acre with $500 per acre-foot of water delivered. The third program Babbitt pointed to is the Conservation Reserve Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under that program, the federal government pays farmers an annual rental rate for up to 15 years to remove environmentally sensitive land from production. In Colorado, state and federal officials recently inked a new agreement to enact a CREP program in the Republican River Basin on the Eastern Plains. That program is intended to help retire irrigation wells in the Basin to meet compact requirements with Kansas and Nebraska. Under the voluntary agreement, farmers would place their irrigated acres into the program in exchange for the rental payment. But they'd still be allowed to farm crops suitable for dryland farming, such as corn, wheat or sorghum. Colorado, federal officials sign agreement to aid conservation in Republican River Babbitt said the CREP program has taken out of production about 20 million acres of farmland on a voluntary basis. It's backed by farmers and Farm Bureau organizations, and paid for with a $2 billion annual appropriation from the federal government. The tribal issue is more complicated, in part, because many of the 30 tribes in the Colorado River Basin haven't historically had a seat at the table, and the water they're entitled to hasn't been available. That's been an ongoing discussion in the forums held at the conference. The assumption, Babbitt said, is that some of the necessary and significant water reductions in the basin will have to come from the tribes. That draws pushback from tribes, in part because many of the reservations lack the basic infrastructure to even bring water onto their lands. Some of their water rights also have not been fully adjudicated, Babbitt added. That will take involvement from the Department of the Interior as the "lead non-Indian participant" that will ensure those water rights are in place first. Babbitt pointed to one model that has already shown promise in this area: the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. The settlement that bumps up against the Phoenix metro has not only ensured its own water rights but has contributed to conservation efforts on the Colorado River. That was the result of an "incredible negotiation" in which tribes and other participants worked through 135 side agreements that reflected participation of 35 different entities, almost every town, city, village and irrigation district in central Arizona, Babbitt said. The 2023 legislative session was one of the most contentious the state has seen. But you wouldn't know that from watching Rep. Ron Weinberg. In a year defined by dissension, the first-year Republican lawmaker from Loveland stood out as a beacon of camaraderie and bipartisanship. From grilling dinner for the lawmakers during late-night debates to being the only Republican to support some Democratic policies, Weinberg regularly provided a semblance of unity in the Capitol, if only for a moment. Weinberg was chosen to represent House District 51 by a vacancy committee after the district's representative, House Minority Leader Hugh McKean, died just over two months before the 2023 session. Weinberg was chair of the Larimer County Republican Party at the time. Throughout the year, Weinberg passed 18 of the 22 bills he prime sponsored. Of his bills, 19 had bipartisan sponsorship the most of any first-year lawmaker. With the dust from the session finally settled, Colorado Politics sat down with Weinberg to discuss his first session and how he became the Capitol's unofficial unifier. Colorado Politics: In your first year as a lawmaker, you quickly developed a reputation as a sort of bridge builder. In our post-session interview with House Speaker Julie McCluskie, she even said one of the lessons she learned was nothing brings the chamber together like Rep. Weinbergs burgers. How did that start? Rep. Ron Weinberg: Wow, that's very sweet of her. You know, that's my nature. I love barbecuing, number one. I barbecue every Sunday rain, slate or snow. There's nothing that reminds you that you're a human being better than eating together and taking a break for a second. There's time to be serious and then there's time to break bread. When I first came in, I heard the Senate cooks outside the back of their chamber. And I'm like, well, that's not right. If they're allowed to do it, then I'm allowed to do it. Majority Leader (Monica) Duran got wind that I was going to buy a barbecue. ... She said, "My husband passed away and he loved to grill too. I've got his grill at my house and I'm not using it, so you can have it." ... I figured it would be fitting, since it was technically donated by her husband, to honor Majority Leader Duran's husband in the chamber. So, I got a custom plaque made up for her late husband out of respect for her. It's on the grill and says, "With sincere appreciation and respect. In memory of Steven J. Duran Jr." CP: Your relationship building extended to policy work, as well. You were the only Republican sponsor on major bills like establishing the right to repair agriculture equipment and removing medical debt from credit scores. And you were one of few if not the only Republican to vote "yes" on some Democratic bills, including making it easier to file a civil lawsuit for disability discrimination and capping the costs of EpiPens. Weinberg: We are all there to represent our district. ... Regardless of how I personally feel on issues, I don't go down there to toe the party line. I don't think that's the way to legislate. I think the way to legislate is to be very mindful of who your constituents are and what they're saying and to follow the will of the people, not the will of the party. My caucus, some people had different opinions. I just did it my way, so to speak, and my way was in reflection of what my district wanted. CP: Did that ever make things difficult between you and your party? Weinberg: I don't think so, because I never let it. You can't pick on the guy that's smiling and keeping everybody fed, you know? People know my heart and I had explanations for it. I always had the ability to explain my actions in a logical manner to where anybody could relate. I had valid reasons to vote the way that I did. It was not for publicity, it was not for press, it was not for self gain. It was for my constituents. CP: You particularly stood out from your GOP colleagues regarding transgender issues. You supported the Equal Rights Amendment resolution with transgender-inclusive language, and you were one of only two House Republicans to sign a letter in support of Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr after she was banned from the state House floor. Plus, you worked closely with and openly supported our own Rep. Brianna Titone. What was that like at a time when the Republican party nationally is rallying against the transgender community? Weinberg: I'm an American. I moved to this country for freedom. The Republican Party is supposed to be small government, laissez faire politics, leave me alone as long as it's within the boundaries of the law. I will never understand what anyone's issue with transgender is. People have the right to be who they want to be. That's it, finished and final. Nobody should ever infringe on that fundamental right. Signing the letter, I got a lot of crap for that. But we have a GOP here sitting complaining about Rule 14 and Rule 16 and getting blocked. And then we have that happen in Montana and we don't say anything about it? Come on. I will never understand it. Additionally, Loveland has a trans, gay community. Whether I agree with them or not, I have to respect them and I have to represent them. ... "We the people" is everybody. It's everybody that we have to take care of, not just certain groups. Expressing qualms over some measures, Gov. Jared Polis signs two dozen bills 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. CP: That's a unique perspective compared to many of your fellow first-year House Republicans who are steering away from compromise and bipartisanship. What made you decide to legislate this way? What's your approach to working in the Capitol? Weinberg: My approach was: shut up and listen. You cannot go into that chamber and act as if people that disagree with you or have principle differences don't exist. That, to me, is failing as a legislator. ... I made a huge push to reach out to all different people and get their opinion on certain bills through my town halls. It's become very successful. A lot of the bills I was working on or getting ready to vote on, I'd put out in newsletters and people would write to me on their opinion as to what I should do on that bill. I kept reaching out. That's how I would want my legislator to act, to listen to me. ... That's a legislator's job. I found that was the appropriate way to legislate, to be 100% for your district and the people within it, regardless of party affiliation. And, if you can, bridge the gap of contention. We are in a contentious time where Republicans and Democrats are at each other's throat. But look at Speaker McCluskie, speaking about me and my cooking like that. I would praise her, too. She's amazing. I had great relationships with Speaker McCluskie and a lot of my colleagues on the Democratic side. And guess what? They were voted in. ... The public has spoken and has asked for them to try something different. So, I'm going to make the attempt to listen to the other side, run it past my constituents to see if they agree, and then wait and see the results. They've earned that respect. CP: What was your proudest moment from the session, and what was your biggest disappointment? Weinberg: My highlight was being able to get things done. People tell you the Democrats are your enemies, they're going to either steal your bills or they're going to shut them down. I didn't find that to be the case. I found that I could work and make some great relationships with some very good people. And I'm happy about what I've accomplished for my district. ... I got $100,000 approved for my fire district. I had a bill with Rep. (Marc) Snyder protecting police officers. I was proud that I could pass bills that would directly impact my constituents in Loveland, my police departments, my fire departments. The biggest disappointment was the last day. ... I gave the prayer for the last day and I really thought that was going to be the day that we were all going to be able to set aside everything and just enjoy together. My biggest disappointment was not shaking hands and giving hugs to my colleagues on the other side and giving them a goodbye before leaving. The walkout and not being able to see my colleagues that I had worked with for 120 days for the final cheers. That sucked. CP: Do you regret participating in the walkout? Weinberg: The walkout, I believe, was necessary. The bills had came out three days before the session ended. I've spoken this whole interview on constituent input. It's impossible to have constituency input that last minute. I just wish that bill would've started on day one. ... There was not really anything else we could have done. ... It was a statement. The disappointment is, I kind of wish we did it the day before. That it was not the last day of session. Because I truly believe all of those people, whether they agree or not, the 65 people in that room deserved to have a decent time without contention, at least on the last day. They've earned it. We should've been celebrating our accomplishments, not trying to rush through legislation. CP: What lessons did you learn from your first session and what, if anything, will you do differently for your next one? Weinberg: I learned what issues are important to my city of Loveland. I got to know my colleagues. I got to know people from all across the state, places I would have never explored myself. I got to understand my city and my people. That was very important. The thing I'll do differently next time around is, even though I tried to be heavily centered to the needs of my city, I want to aggressively be better at getting my city and my constituents results that will impact them positively. My bills will be very focused. I have six bills in the pipe right now. I'm putting them to the public in Loveland and asking for their opinion now. ... I'm going to be ahead of time talking to my constituents and getting their opinions on things that would make their lives better, way before the session starts. CP: Can we get a sneak peek at those six bills? Weinberg: Home assessments are through the roof. We need to fix that problem and I'm trying to take the lead on that. My other two issues for my city are fire mitigation, because the Cameron Peak and the Marshall fires burnt all of the fuel up to our borders here in Loveland and Larimer. I really need to help with that. And the roads are atrocious. We have to figure out what's going on with the money and this 10-year plan and why our roads are the worst in the union. I would love to tackle homelessness, but I'm still trying to assess that, I don't know how to fix that issue. We have an affordable housing crisis. I just met with Habitat for Humanity yesterday. If we can model that, that'd be awesome. ... I really want to help teachers, too, with paychecks, getting them money. CP: Do you think the conflict and contention from this session is going to continue next session? What are your hopes for next year? Weinberg: My hopes for next session are that people would take the lessons from this session and the understanding of who we are and work together. We all have different backgrounds in different fields. Our districts all want different things. But we all have the same fundamental issues that are facing Colorado. I would hope people would set aside contention and focus on our mental health crisis, our affordability, our housing shortage. Those are nonpartisan issues. They're affecting all of us equally. ... I hope we start the conversations before we get even near session. That these crises of our state can be resolved, in a bipartisan way, by passing good legislation. Polis vetoes drug task force, defies Colorado legislature by seeking criminal justice panel reboot Severe thunderstorms rolled into the Pikes Peak region Monday, bringing heavy rain, flooding and hail to Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a constant stream of advisories today, including an earlier tornado warning for southeast El Paso County. A flood warning is currently in effect for El Paso County. Flooding has shut down multiple roads throughout the city and the Colorado Springs police department is on accident alert. The weather service reports that widespread, heavy rainfall has impacted rivers and creeks in both Teller and El Paso counties, and continuing rain for the next 24 hours will continue to causes elevated water levels and possible flooding. The weather service says particular areas of concern include the Monument and Fountain creeks "where homeless communities are at notable risk." Have weather photos you'd like to share? Send them to [email protected] Here are the latest weather updates: 7:47 p.m. Heavy rains have forced an emergency closure of the right lane of northbound Interstate 25, just north of exit 132. The Colorado Department of Transportation said that heavy rains caused erosion and slope damage in the area, which is part of the Military Access, Mobility & Safety Improvement Project. The mile-long lane closure will be in effect until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; CDOT says daytime traffic backups and delays are expected. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes, including U.S. 85/87. 5:50 p.m. update: Current advisory: A flood warning is in effect until 10:15 p.m. for Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, Peterson and Schriver Space Force Base, Fort Carson, Cimarron Hills and Falcon. Record rainfall - The Colorado Springs airport received 3.97 inches of rain through 4 p.m. Monday. The previous record precipitation for June 12 was .69 inches, set in 1989. The two-day rainfall total for Colorado Springs is 5.44 inches, which breaks the previous 2-day total of 5.36 inches, set on Sept. 14-15 in 2011. See more rainfall totals here. 4 p.m. update The El Paso County Department of Public Works has listed the following road closures in the county: Peyton Highway (half mile south of County Line) Galley Road and Peterson Garret Road between E. Blaney and Good Fortune) Judge Orr from Curtis to Elbert Elbert (1 mile north of Murphy) Security and Main Street Widefield and Fontaine Sunny Slope (half mile east of Blaney Road) Bradley Road under Academy Boulevard Also: Fort Carson's Gate 4 is closed due to flooding. Milton E. Proby near the airport has reopened. 2:45 p.m. The Colorado Springs Fire Department reports vehicles are stranded in moving water, and posted a video of partially submerged cars in southeast Colorado Springs near Hancock and Clarendon. #ColoradoSpringsFire. Colorado Springs has Flooding on roadways in areas. vehicles are stranded In moving water. A vehicle can be swept away into faster moving drainages in 6 inches of water. Stay dry and please dont walk or drive across any roadways covered in water. pic.twitter.com/NwAepAapt1 CSFD PIO (@CSFDPIO) June 12, 2023 2:25 p.m. update Several flights are delayed in and out of Colorado Springs Airport. Click or tap here for the latest flight schedules. 2:20 p.m. update The Peterson and Schriever Space Force Base has implemented an early release for personnel. Due to extensive flooding, multiple gates are closed, as well as the fitness and aquatics center. 1:45 p.m. update Traffic: Marksheffel is closed between Barnes and North Carefree because of flooding. Drivers are reminded not to drive through water-covered roads. The Colorado Springs Police Department is also on accident alert. The Colorado Springs Airport is also reporting that there are road closures surrounding the airport. The Colorado Springs Fire Department reports that one of those roads is Milton E. Proby. The airport has also urged travelers to check the status of their flights. Hancock Expressway is closed at Chelton Road; Main Street and Security Boulevard are also closed, according to Mountain Metro. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Weather advisories: A tornado warning is in effect for southeast El Paso County. The area is south of Fountain and includes Hanover. A flash flood warning is in effect until 4:30 p.m. for northeastern El Paso County; areas affected include Calhan, Ramah and Peyton. A flood watch is in effect until midnight for Colorado Springs A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for El Paso County until 7 p.m. 1:15 p.m. update: The warning was issued shortly after 1:15 p.m. and includes areas stretching from The Broadmoor in the southwest part of the city to Fountain, Security and Widefield along with parts near to the Falcon. Parts further in northeast El Paso County were in a flood warning issued shortly after 10:30 a.m. It was is in effect until 2 p.m. for Peyton and areas around Falcon. Flash Flood Warning including Peyton CO until 2:00 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/33zWngcckJ NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) June 12, 2023 Several areas in and around Colorado Springs remain in a flash flood watch after heavy rain Sunday and an overnight downpour. Also, several severe thunderstorm watches and warnings are in effect in the Pikes Peak region all the way south to parts of New Mexico. Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Security CO and Falcon CO until 1:30 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/QkWbteJ2K6 NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) June 12, 2023 8:30 a.m. update: Police were on accident alert after midnight and after heavy rain caused reported street flooding in the southwest part of the city, according to a tweet from Colorado Springs police. The water flows from the rain sweeping into Fountain Creek has washed away part of the foundation of the new Fountain Creek Regional Trail bridge, which was just finished in 2021. Now the bridge appears to be severely compromised. pic.twitter.com/7yBmkvKJTg Jon Mitchell (@byJonMitchell) June 12, 2023 Shortly before 12:30 a.m., CSPD Communications reported on Twitter that westbound Star Ranch Road was closed at Colorado 115 because of flooding. Around 2 a.m., CSPD tweeted that the the road had reopened. Around 1:30 a.m., the Colorado Springs Fire Department reported on Twitter that crews were responding to a swift water rescue at East Platte Avenue and Hathaway Drive. Firefighters said they assisted one person who was under a bridge; the person was not injured. Affected areas for the flash flood warning include southeast Colorado Springs, Fountain and Security. The flood warning was in effect until 8:30 a.m. while the flash flood watch remains in place. Large hail, damaging wind gusts and torrential rainfall are the main risks Monday, the Weather Service says. An isolated tornado risk will also be possible. Flash flooding on area burn scars and areas that have seen recent heavy rainfall is possible. Colorado Springs had 1.47 inches of rain Sunday, according to th Weather Service. It's been a soggy June in the city and region, with 2.69 inches of rain this month at the official measuring location at Colorado Springs Airport and measurable precipitation eight of 11 days. The city's average June rain total is 0.87 of an inch. A flash flood watch will remain in effect into the evening for the Pikes Peak region, including Teller County, Colorado Springs, Monument Ridge and Rampart Range. The flood watch, for some areas, remains in effect until Wednesday, according to the Weather Service. The chance of heavy rain around Colorado Springs remains high throughout the day and night. A special weather statement has been issued for Security CO, Fountain CO and Wigwam CO until 9:00 AM MDT pic.twitter.com/3F7G61OqAx NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) June 12, 2023 New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch are possible around Colorado Springs, the Weather Service says. Expect a high temperature near 65. Rain is possible each day throughout the week around Colorado Springs. No one was injured in a house fire at 951 16th St. NE in Mason City on Sunday morning. According to a release from the Mason City Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the home at approximately 5:41 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters observed fire coming out of two windows of a bedroom. The fire was quickly extinguished, but had expanded to other areas of the house causing fire, smoke and water damage. The heat from the fire also damaged a neighboring house. Crews cleared the scene around 8 a.m. and the cause is still under investigation. Fire crews were assisted by the Mason City Fire Department, Alliant Energy and the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office. The Salvation Army assisted the residents. Banish mosquitoes from your yard with these traps and repellents 1. Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray 2. Stafi Outdoor Wireless Mosquito Zapper 3. TIKI Citronella Candle 4. Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Lantern 5. Murphys Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks Former President Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon "plan of attack" and shared a classified map related to a military operation. The 49-page charging document paints a damning portrait of Trump's treatment of sensitive information, accusing him of willfully ignoring Justice Department demands to return documents he had taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago and even directing aides to help him hide the records sought by the government. Get the details on this historic case in this special bonus episode of the Hot off the Wire podcast. About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here. Photos: Trump indictment shows documents stacked in bathroom, bedroom, ballroom Tucked inside the annual N.C. Farm Act bill that cleared the legislature Thursday is language that would encourage but not mandate that muscadine grape juice be available in all public K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The Senate agreed Thursday to several changes made by the House to Senate Bill 582. The bill goes to Gov. Roy Cooper, who has 10 days to sign SB582, veto it or let it become law without his signature. SB582 includes much of the language from House Bill 67, which focused on muscadine grape juice and passed the House by a 107-8 vote on March 15. HB67 was not addressed in a Senate committee, which was the same fate as another muscadine grape juice bill, House Bill 136, during the 2021 session. HB67 would have mandated that the State Board of Education shall ensure that 100% muscadine grape juice is made available ... as part of the schools nutrition program or through the operation of the schools vending facilities. The Farm bill changes the language to read shall strive to ensure. The muscadine grape juice language in SB582 applies to the State Board of Education, local boards of education and charter schools. Muscadine grape juice availability would begin at the start of the 2023-24 school year if SB582 is signed into law. Not only would the schools nutrition and lunch programs have to offer muscadine grape juice, but also school vending machines. Community colleges and public universities would be required to offer the juice in vending machines. Yet, the outstanding question remains will kids pick muscadine juice over apple or orange juice? Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said in a statement that it is always looking for ways to include new trends and fresh local items into our student nutritional options. However, at this point, the district has not made any decisions on whether muscadine grape juice will be included in our menus and offerings for the 2023-2024 school year. Rep. Julia Howard, R-Davie, is the primary sponsor of both bills. Howard could not be immediately reached for comment on the muscadine grape juice language being in the Farm Act bill or the change from mandate to encourage. Davie is the home of Mighty Muscadine of Advance, which is affiliated with Le Bleu bottled water, and Vine Life Products of Bermuda Run, both of which promote muscadine grapes for food, health and wellness purposes. Mighty Muscadine is owned by Jerry Smith. Smith gave Howard a $2,700 political donation in 2016, according to opensecrets.org. During the March 15 House floor debate on HB67, Howard expressed confidence that there would be a better reception in the Senate this session for the legislation. The Farm bill does not include a provision contained in HB67 that provided a buyback clause in case students are not interested in the juice. In HB67, the Food Distribution Division of the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would be required to include in contracts or purchasing agreements for packaged fruit products that the supplier will buy back from the (state) Farm to School program unopened and unexpired products returned by school nutrition programs. The school nutrition programs would have been credited for the returns. GREENSBORO- North Carolina has a new state trail. The Haw River State Trail is not completed, but as envisioned, the trail would run through Rockingham, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, and Chatham counties. It would link Haw River State Park, which sits on the boundary of Guilford and Rockingham counties, and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, which is in Chatham County. The law establishing the trail calls for the state to, "support, promote, encourage, and facilitate the establishment of trail segments on State park lands and on lands of other federal, State, local and private landowners." It passed the NC House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on Saturday. The current Haw River Trail Partnership includes 11 local governments, plus the state. According to the partnership's website, over 20 miles of land trail are open to the public in Alamance County. The website provides maps of existing trails and boat access points for interested hikers and paddlers. The Montana Jewish Project will discuss fighting antisemitism and strengthening the Jewish community during Mondays soapbox series presentation at The Brothers Tapworks. They will also discuss projects and there will be a question-and-answer period. The program begins at 6 p.m. at 40 S. Last Chance Gulch at The Brothers Tapworks at The Confluence. The soapbox series is a community forum that promotes discussion. People are asked to keep their comments civil. For many, being on a "soapbox" is described as a self-appointed, spontaneous or informal speaker using an improvised platform. The bar is owned by brothers Bill Bullock and former Gov. Steve Bullock. St. Peters Health officials said Monday that they have switched to a new electronic health record system known as Epic, a $25 million investment the hospital said it has been working on for nearly six years. The new system also replaces the Patient Portal used by St. Peters patients with a new feature called "MyChart." The launch began Saturday at the St. Peters Health Regional Medical Center and was to be completed Monday as the St. Peters Health Medical Group transitions remaining patient records, hospital officials said. This allows St. Peters to have to access to the No. 1 ranked electronic health record (EHR) system in the country. Chief Executive Officer Wade Johnson said in a news release that the hospital has been working since 2017 to bring this technology to its facility. When we set our sights on becoming the Gold Standard for health care in Montana, we knew investing in and implementing a new EHR would be a defining moment on our journey, Johnson said. I couldnt be prouder of our teams and to say that Epic is finally here. St. Peters Chief Information Officer Ryan Winn said this move aligns St. Peters with top-tier medical centers, including Providence, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins. Epic gives patients and their care teams secure and immediate access to medical records and other important health information creating a more seamless experience for everyone across the continuum of care, he said. Electronic health records contain a patient's medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, laboratory test results and more. Winn said this enhanced ability to exchange health care information electronically makes way for greater quality and patient experience improvements at St. Peters, says Winn. He said Epic gives a simple and easy access point to all past and current health information to complete a patients medical evaluation providing the best care possible. Patients will now be able to use a new digital tool called MyChart to manage their health care information and medical records. This one-stop-shop will allow patients to manage appointments, pay their medical bills, order prescriptions, communicate with their care teams, and more, all from the palm of their hands, St. Peters said. It will replace the St. Peters Patient Portal and offers other tools for self-managing appointments and more. After June 10, our Patient Portal will no longer be used to share patient medical records and other health information, Winn said. Instead, it will be shared in the patients secure MyChart account. When you schedule an appointment or check in for a service, you can ask to have an instant activation information sent to you making it really easy to set up and access your account. For more information about MyChart and how to activate your account, visit sphealth.org/MyChart. The Foundation for Montana History is launching its Helena History Tours from Thursday through the Labor Day weekend. The tour gives locals and visitors a glimpse into the rich history of Helena. They also promote heritage tourism, outdoor recreation and support downtown businesses. These tours offer a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn and support our mission to preserve Montana history, Charlene Porsild, CEO of The Foundation for Montana History, said in a news release. Helena History Tours will offer three distinct walking tours, running five times per week with more private tours available. There is also a pedaling tour available. Tour times range from 70 to 90 minutes. Tickets range from $10-$20 and children under 4 are free. The tours are: 1. Adventure on the Ambrose Trail: This guided stroll meets at the Mount Helena parking area above Reeders Village. On this low-key traverse, you will hear stories of the colorful characters and events that helped shape Helena history. Saturdays at 11 a.m. This guided stroll meets at the Mount Helena parking area above Reeders Village. On this low-key traverse, you will hear stories of the colorful characters and events that helped shape Helena history. Saturdays at 11 a.m. 2. Breweries & Brothels: This downtown, guided walk begins at Reeders Alley. Along the way, youll visit the historic red-light district and learn about Helenas brewing history and hear stories of Madams from Helenas underworld! Thursdays & Fridays at 5 p.m. This downtown, guided walk begins at Reeders Alley. Along the way, youll visit the historic red-light district and learn about Helenas brewing history and hear stories of Madams from Helenas underworld! Thursdays & Fridays at 5 p.m. 3. Miners to Millionaires: This guided tour starts at the Helena walking mall near Big Dipper Ice Cream. Every step tells a story as you explore Helenas historic Last Chance Gulch and the buildings that dominate the skyline today. Saturdays & Sundays at 1 p.m. This guided tour starts at the Helena walking mall near Big Dipper Ice Cream. Every step tells a story as you explore Helenas historic Last Chance Gulch and the buildings that dominate the skyline today. Saturdays & Sundays at 1 p.m. 4. Pedaling through the Past: Tours also include a history guide on the Bert & Ernies Pedal Pub twice a week. Wednesdays & Fridays at 10 a.m. https://www.bertanderniespedalpub.com Ticketing, schedule and more information is available online at https://www.mthistory.org/tours. Tour sponsors include: Visit Helena, The Base Camp, Blackfoot River Brewing, and The Windbag Saloon. The Foundation for Montana History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All ticket proceeds support historic preservation grants across the state. Calvin Tohm had 48 hours to get to Gardiner when the Yellowstone floods of June last year hit. His goal: gather as much post-flood data as he could that could help prepare for future disasters. The data found that resiliency in the face of disaster depends on community preparedness and building codes that are, in some experts opinions, deeply out of date. Tohm was handpicked for a team of researchers mobilized by the National Science Foundations Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance, or GEER. His adviser Bret Lingwall, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, was selected for the project and brought Tohm for support. For a week following the floods, Lingwall, Tohm and the rest of the team scattered across Montana and Wyoming from their base in Gardiner. They used advanced equipment and drone technology to map out terrain and measure shifts in soil. They also gathered samples from disaster sites and took pictures of bridges and roads that had survived or failed in the floods. Much of this data is used to figure out how to build roads, bridges and property that last longer, even in disasters. The days were long, Tohm said, usually leaving Gardiner by 7 a.m., driving two hours to a disaster zone, spending eight to 10 hours collecting data, and getting home just in time to eat, sleep and do it all over again. As a then-24-year-old masters student just about to defend his thesis, it was a lot to juggle, he said. But, the payoff was worth it, he said, for both his academic career and the safety of communities moving forward. The field data would be contributing towards a disaster-resiliency motion thats been in the minds of experts for years: building codes. We need to put heavier consideration into floodplains and how we determine them, Tohm said. We need to focus on how codes can be updated. Building codes refer to requirements of buildings to endure certain disaster events, and the codes are usually based on a physical location. Because some of Yellowstone County is on a 100-year flood plain, according to Yellowstone Countys website, buildings on the floodplain are constructed to endure a 100-year flood. Except, the title of 100-year flood can be misleading. A 100-year flood event isnt a flood that only occurs once every 100 years. It actually refers to an event that has a-one-in-100 chance of happening in any given year. Though unlikely, theres no cosmic rule that prevents a disaster from happening multiple years in a row or being worse than expected, Lingwall explained. Thats why places like Houston can experience three 500-year floods in three consecutive years. A U.S. Geological Survey news release called the 2022 Yellowstone flood a 500-year event. Its possible that the 100-year-flood building codes in the area, matched with a 500-year flood, resulted in the amount of destruction Montana and Wyoming saw, Lingwall said. The 100-year code was made a long time ago, back when people didnt have the technology we have today, Lindwall said. Its informed, but its not perfect. In short, current flood codes only prepare communities for the weakest what if scenario, Lindwall said. It would be smarter to build property with much more severe disasters in mind, so when a 500-year flood hits a 100-year floodplain, the community stands a better chance. But changing the code system is a long, laborious task, Lindwall said. As a member of the Transportation Research Board, a nationwide group that meets in Washington, D.C., every year to provide insight on things like how roads should be built, he estimates disaster-based building codes to only be changed in the next eight to 12 years. Code-makers need to consider community fragility and budget when making these decisions, Lindwall explained. A community like Gardiner, which only has two accessible exits, may not have the budget or terrain to add a new exit road if a building code demanded it. At the same time, if both accessible exits are destroyed or blocked, such as what happened last year, it means the residents and any visiting tourists are trapped. Theres got to be consideration for what that community needs, Lindwall said. Thats why its best to put the skills in the communitys hands. And until a solution is found, community hands may be the most important tool to disaster recovery, Lindwall said. He said he was impressed when he saw how fast the residents of Montana and Wyoming were able to respond in the midst of the flood. Sometimes, hed arrive at a disaster location to gather data and find progress already in motion. When tourists were trapped in Gardiner, the townspeople had a can do attitude and spent most of their energy on helping tourists find a place to stay and eat, he said. In Montana and Wyoming, we have people who are used to picking up a shovel and going to work, Lindwall said. Not every place has as many people trained in survival and durability, so if theyre gone, they may not bounce back as fast. Thats why, before codes are changed, its important for towns to be talking about disaster plans, he said. When the time comes, the plans wont always work, he said. But the process of making the plan, thinking about what you could do, is what will give people the skills to recover. A moral panic has descended upon Montana. Lawmakers here have rammed through overly broad laws in response to vague and unsubstantiated threats. On the chopping block? Your First Amendment rights. First, legislators banned the popular social media platform TikTok starting in 2024. The governor said he signed the bill into law to stop the Chinese government from accessing data. While state government officials failed to offer compelling evidence, we know for sure the ban will censor vast amounts of constitutionally protected speech. What Montana lawmakers are doing is akin to banning all speech in public parks without solid evidence because Chinese spies might secretly be recording these conversations. Rather than addressing the alleged problem directly, the legislators took the draconian step of banning TikTok. Even if the claim is true, there are less drastic options available. For instance, the government could first require TikTok to meet certain data safety practices. But they decided to take a sledgehammer to the First Amendment instead. Another issue is the ban attacks one company, rather than any company that engages in certain practices. Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution says that No State shall pass any Bill of Attainder, which the Supreme Court has ruled is legislative punishment, of any form or severity, of specifically designated persons or groups. The Legislatures panic didnt stop with TikTok. It also passed a law banning state-funded schools and libraries from hosting drag story hours where a drag queen reads stories to children. What is defined as a drag queen is a male or female performer who adopts a flamboyant or parodic feminine persona with glamorous or exaggerated costumes and makeup. Much of the law contains reasonable limits on sexual performances on public property. But some elements of this law are incomprehensible and unreasonable. What is a woman who adopts a flamboyantly feminine personality? How about a woman who dresses up as Barbie and reads to girls? It seems like this would be illegal under the definition. The same could be said about a woman dressed as a princess reading "Cinderella." The so-called drag story hour bill is particularly suspect because it leaves speakers guessing what is too feminine or masculine, placing these speakers at the mercy of state officials interpreting the law. No doubt government officials will use these powers to target stories they dont want to be told. This is a terrible form of speaker identity discrimination because drag queens are singled out as speakers who are subject to onerous restrictions, but not other speakers who read the same stories to children. The Supreme Court spoke clearly on this issue in the Citizens United case, ruling that the First Amendment prohibits restrictions distinguishing among different speakers, allowing speech by some but not others. The result will be a vast chilling effect on people reading to children in public settings. Rather than address real harm, the law will just tend to harm childhood literacy. Montanas actions are reminiscent of other speech-crushing moral panics that have befallen the United States. We had the comic books panic where people tried to suppress violent comic books because of potential psychological damage. Concerned parents thought that children playing Dungeons & Dragons would help foment violent children who worshipped demons. More recently, the Harry Potter books initially set off a hysteria that the series was promoting satanism and witchcraft. These panics look silly in retrospect because there is no strong proof that the targeted expression damage child welfare. We attacked a lot of speech for nothing. There isnt good evidence that a childs attendance at a drag show story hour with age-appropriate readings leads to psychological or physical harm, and the lack of demonstrated harm critically undermines Montanas rationale for limiting speech. Even if theres a problem with such speakers, this is an issue for parents to decide, not the government. No reasonable person is arguing children have to attend drag story hours against the express wishes of their parents. However, Montana strips away parental choice by imposing bans on expression. Without compelling evidence, legislators have stripped many people of their right to free expression. Lets hope the courts act quickly to restore First Amendment freedoms in Montana. On May 22-23, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion crossed from Ukraine into Belgorod Oblast, Russia. These two groups are allegedly comprised of Russian citizens aligned with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These groups allegedly used American Humvees and M1224 MaxxPro MRAPs as part of their operation. This temporary incursion was embarrassing for Moscow. Upon our discovery, White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby stated that we have again made it very clear to the Ukrainians what our expectations are about attacking Russia we dont want to encourage or enable that, we certainly dont want any US-made equipment used to attack Russian soil. This may be pro forma; however, I believe that the Biden Administration and Congress are continuing down the same trodden path of red lines and fear of provoking Russia that has permeated our government since the start of this war. Thus far, we have told the Ukrainians not to bring the war home to the Russians it is high time President Biden and Congress change their tune. If our goal is for Ukraine to militarily defeat and expel Moscow, President Biden, Congress, and the Department of State must explicitly say so rather than the current ambiguity that pervades the majority of both political parties. It is this lack of articulation and incremental approach to hard aid that will drag on this war and potentially create another frozen conflict (e.g., Transnistria) in the post-Soviet space. A freezing of the conflict via a ceasefire would benefit Russia and China. The Chinese special representative, Li Hui, attempted to push a ceasefire before conflict spreads beyond Ukraine and promote European security without America a not so subtle attempt to create rifts in the Alliance. Rather, we need a clear statement of purpose: the military defeat of Russia by Ukraine. Last year, we said no tanks as it would provoke Russia; this month, we said yes to tanks. Up until last week, we said no fighter jets as it would provoke Russia; now, we have agreed to not only train Ukrainian pilots to fly American F-16s, but also allow our NATO allies to donate their F-16s to Ukraine. Let us not continue this incrementalism. The July 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania will be the opportune moment to put an end to ambiguity and incrementalism; specifically, the U.S. should announce that we are providing not only F-16s, but also the long-range missiles that have thus far been denied: the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). During the Vilnius Summit, we must also boldly proclaim with our Eastern flank allies: Ukraines rightful place is in NATO. From a purely geo-strategic perspective, Ukrainian membership protects NATO-member Poland who has been arming itself to the teeth and turns the Black Sea into a virtual NATO lake, similar to the Baltic Sea with Finlands April 2023 accession (and hopefully soon, Sweden). NATO benefits from Ukraines battlefield experience against Russia and Ukraine will never again go it alone with Article 5 protection a proven deterrent (i.e., Baltic States lacking a special military operation). There can be no special formats, councils, or other security arrangements Kyiv must be granted a Membership Action Plan that leads to full membership in the Alliance once the war ends. There will be folks who argue this will provoke Russia or prevent peace. Its the same ole song and dance of those who have yet to learn anything from this conflict. Lets provide the Ukrainians with the tools they need to secure their freedom and defend the democratic world a defeated Russia would assuredly also serve as a deterrent to our other geo-political enemy: the Peoples Republic of China. American security interests and liberty are served with NATO and a victorious Ukraine. DECATUR Accused from the lips of a shot and dying man, Deandrew L. Washington nevertheless told a judge he had nothing to do with the killing. The defendant is denying three alternate counts of murder in the death of 28-year-old Travion S. Pickens on the evening of May 5. He had been shot multiple times. Macon County Circuit Court Judge Lindsey Shelton had found probable cause to try Washington, 32, after Macon County States Attorney Scott Rueter took Decatur Police Detective Jeremy Appenzeller through the evidence. Testifying at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, the detective described Pickens 48-year-old mother seeing her son chased up to her home in the 100 block of West Packard Street and hearing multiple gunshots. (She) advised Travion entered the house through the front door and told her he had been shot, Appenzeller said in a sworn affidavit. According to (the mother), Travion told her that Drew was the person responsible for shooting him. She advised that she knows that Drew is the nephew of her boyfriend She was shown a known photograph of Deandrew L. Washington and advised that Deandrew L. Washington is the same Drew she had been referring to. Appenzeller said Pickens died later in hospital, but police also had a chance to talk to him while waiting for paramedics to arrive on scene. When Travion was asked who was responsible for shooting him, he initially advised Eastside, and then later told police Drew Washington, Appenzeller added. Travion said Drew Washington was in the alley when he was shot. Eastside is the name of one of the street gangs known to operate in Decatur and its members have been connected with multiple incidents of gun violence. Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders focused on the evidence naming Washington as the killer during cross-examination. You said (his mother) saw someone come up to the front door, but she was not able to identify who that was? Appenzeller said that was correct. He also said there were no other independent witnesses to the murder. So you just have the victims statement at this point? Sanders asked. We have some other evidence, yes, the detective replied, and his affidavit notes multiple spent bullet casings were found outside and near the West Packard home. Appenzeller said forensic tests were continuing connected with the case and confirmed the dying victims words to police were also captured on officers body cams. After her probable cause ruling, Shelton assigned the case to the trial list of Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith and also combined it with two other unrelated cases where Washington denies both being a cocaine dealer and committing forgery. He is due back in court for pretrial hearings August 10. He had been arrested on a murder warrant by Decatur Police officers and U.S. Marshals May 11 and is now being held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $2 million. An inquest into Pickens' death is scheduled for Wednesday. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park From barbers and massage therapists to medical providers and fitness programs to educators and employers, organizers are bringing together more than 90 community resources to help people live their best lives. Access to those resources is free and open to everyone next Friday, June 16, at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion. Hosted by Mount Rogers Community Services, the 5 Bridges Wellness Fair will also incorporate food, games, music and outdoor experiences from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Ginny Moorer, trauma recovery coordinator for Mount Rogers, is helping organize the fair, which is designed to help area residents move toward better health physically, mentally, and spiritually. The fair, Moorer explained, will help resources and providers come together for our community. Each resource booth, she said, represents a different component of health and wellness. The fair, she said, puts the pieces together to create a bigger picture and move people in the direction of health and wellness for all. When basic needs arent met, Moorer said, an individuals risk of a mental health problem goes up. If people know how to get their needs met, she said, the risk is reduced. Samantha Crockett, Mount Rogers director of behavioral health prevention and wellness services, said that a recent survey of area residents found that a large percentage of those who answered the questions didnt know where to go for help. Were trying to address that need, Crockett said by helping people learn that resources do exist. The fair, Crockett said, will provide a safe place for everyone. The event will include family friendly activities allowing everyone to bond and create connections, said Crockett. Those connections, Moorer added, will help people create lives that are healthy and successful. Among the family friendly event components is a Kids Corner, sponsored by The Bank of Marion, which will include inflatables, face painting and more. The American Eagle Foundation of Sevierville, Tennessee, is bringing Challenger, the bald eagle, and George, the social media-famous vulture. The resource booths will be set up around the five bridges to wellness approach. The five bridges are Bond How You Connect, Fuel What Goes In, Move What You Do, Rest When You Recover, and Give Your Positive Output. The 5 Bridges approach was developed by Jacob Moore, the founder of NoStigmas, a mental health nonprofit. The5bridges.com says, This evidence-informed system is the result of two decades of research, clinical opinion, lived expertise, and experimentation. Moorer said that Mount Rogers Community Services has been using this approach with positive health outcomes in our region for several years now. The system, she said, has been implemented in schools, business, non-profit organizations, and inpatient and out-patient facilities. In 2022, about 2,500 people attended the fair and, this year, that number is expected to increase. Moorer and Crockett both noted that the fair team studied evaluations of last years event and responded with changes such as moving the date until after the school year ended, adding the kids activities and more food trucks, and ending the event earlier in the afternoon. The Marion Lynx bus will be running its regular Hungry Mother route to the park during the fair hours, which includes a stop at the farmers market. Its times are 9:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. For attendees who are driving, parking will be free all day. A shuttle will be operating in the park to transport individuals who may need to park in more distant lots. The fair will be set up outside of the Lakeview Event Center, formerly The Restaurant. At lunchtime, free food and drinks will also be available from the food trucks. Eddie Day Sound and local musicians Jarid Reedy and McKenna Blevins & Logan Fritz will provide music. The events sponsors include the Twin County Prevention Coalition, Eddie Day Sound, Virginia State Parks, The Bank of Marion, and The Lincoln Theatre. 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. More Catawba County Juneteenth celebrations If you are looking for to enjoy more Juneteenth celebrations at around the county, check out these events: June 12: African Folktales in the Garden at 3 p.m. at the Catawba County Main Library in Newton on West C. Street June 12: African Folktales in the Garden at 6 p.m. at the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library on Sherrills Ford Road June 13: Juneteenth Movie Series at 2:30 p.m. at the West Hickory Senior Citizens Center on 17th Street SW June 14: Juneteenth March Sign Making Program at 6 p.m. at the Main Library in Newton June 15: Newton Juneteenth Music on Main featuring Chairmen of the Board at 6 p.m. in downtown Newton June 16: Juneteenth Rhythm and Paint at 3 p.m. at the Ridgeview Branch Library on First Street SW in Hickory June 16: An Evening with Charles White at 7 p.m. at the Drendel Auditorium on the SALT Block in Hickory June 17: Newton Juneteenth Freedom March at 10 a.m. at the Old Courthouse in downtown Newton June 17: Juneteenth in Conover Park from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Conover City Park on Fifth Avenue SE June 17: We Are Ridgeview at 2:30 p.m. at the Ridgeview Branch Library June 18: Juneteenth Revival at 4 p.m. at the McKenzie's Grove Campground on Shiloh Road in Claremont June 18: Miss Juneteenth Pageant at 6 p.m. at the Drendel Auditorium June 19: Freedom Day Storytime from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ridgeview Branch Library Henderson Updates Council On Efforts To Increase Water Supply Hillsboro City Manager Megan Henderson provided an update on efforts to increase the city's water supply as part of her regular report to the City Council Tuesday, June 6. Henderson recently traveled to Washington, D.C. with representatives of the Aquilla Water Supply District to advocate for water resources. The city has been asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider raising the level of Lake Aquilla. Raising the level of the lake, which provides Hillsboro's water supply, would require action by the Corps or congressional approval in the Water Resources Act of 2024. For the complete story, see the Monday, June 12, edition of the Reporter Newspaper. " " Modern Druids hold hands during a ceremony on Hampstead Heath, north London, on June 25, 1971. Evening Standard/Getty Images Pick pretty much any topic on the planet, and you can go straight to Google with as many questions as you like, emerging from your search with answers from at least a few solid original sources. A glaring exception to this fact-finding rule of thumb? The Druids. "What is fascinating is how little we know about the Druids," emails Owen Jarus, who wrote about the topic for Live Science in 2014. "The written references we have are written by non-Druids and their writings may be affected by anti-Druid Roman sentiment. When and where the Druids originated and much about their practices remains unknown." Advertisement In fact, famed Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar is considered the world's preeminent expert on all things Druid, and the fact that he died in 44 B.C.E. may indicate just how little we actually know about the class of Celtic-speaking experts in magical and religious practice who inhabited northwestern Europe about 2,000 years ago. "Because we don't have any accounts of Druids from early Celtic-speaking peoples themselves, there remains an air of mystery around them," Myriah Williams, a lecturer in Celtic studies at U.C. Berkeley, says in an email interview. "Perhaps this air of mystery is attractive; without concrete evidence of who Druids were and what their role in society was, they can be shaped to fit different molds for different purposes." The basic definitions of Druidism as we know it can be tied to two main sources: ancient Greek and Roman writings and portions of medieval Irish literature. The first source has an advantage in that these writings originated from people who were actually alive at the time the Druids existed. The main issue, however, is that almost all these writings relied on secondhand information and none of it was very fleshed out. "According to the accounts of Classical authors, who will have had their own biases and only some of whom may have been direct witnesses, Druids seem to have been a learned class of Celtic-speaking peoples who may have wielded some political authority and who acted as religious intermediaries," Williams says. "Poseidonius and other Greek sources describe them as philosophers. According to Caesar, they had to spend 20 years in training." " " A Druidic leader places a red rose on a menhir a large man-made upright stone used in Druid ceremonies during the summer solstice rites at Stonehenge in England on June 21, 1961. Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Caesar also said that there were two groups of men in Gaul (a historical region of Western Europe inhabited by Celtic tribes) that were considered honorable: the Druids and the noblemen, and that because Druids were in charge of public and private sacrifices, many people went to them for instruction. According to Britannica, "if anyone disobeyed their decree, he was barred from sacrifice, which was considered the gravest of punishments. One Druid was made the chief; upon his death, another was appointed. If, however, several were equal in merit, the Druids voted, although they sometimes resorted to armed violence." It's also thought that the Druids assembled annually to review all legal disputes. The other main source of Druid knowledge ancient Irish literature has the advantage of being produced by a society that once included Druids and includes more frequent references to the group. But this source also has two big problems: Like the Greek and Roman texts, the ancient Irish texts also include widely varying depictions of Druids, so it's hard to glean whether they were considered wise, powerful figures or "savage pagan priests." The other main problem, according to History Today: "All the Irish texts were written, and perhaps composed, hundreds of years after the conversion of the Irish to Christianity when Druids had by definition ceased to exist." What is known about Druids can be boiled down to their basic roles in society. Jarus credits scholar Sir Barry Cunliffe with much of what's known about the Druids today. "As Cunliffe wrote in his book, 'Druids: A Very Short Introduction,' the Druids performed a variety of roles including, 'philosophers, teachers, judges, the repository of communal wisdoms about the natural world and the traditions of the people, and the mediators between humans and the gods,'" Jarus says. "The ancient form of Druidism seems to have died out during the Middle Ages before being 'revived' centuries later, although there may be little to no continuity between ancient Druidism and more modern forms." " " More than 50 years after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, there are still questions about whether James Earl Ray was really the one who killed him on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive On April 3, 1968, the night before he was murdered, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke before a rapturous crowd in a packed church in Memphis, Tennessee. The speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," is one of the most quoted in the famed preacher's career. In the roughly 43-minute address, an exhausted, under-the-weather King he initially had asked his friend, the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, to fill in for him, but later relented covered many of the topics that had made him the foremost civil rights figure of the time. But it's the way King wrapped up his speech that is perhaps best known now, more than 50 years after his death. Advertisement King, who had traveled from his home in Atlanta earlier in the day to support sanitation workers involved in a bitter strike against the city, finished his speech to the crowd at the Mason Temple Church of God in Christ like this: And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?" King said to . "Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. He concluded in a crescendo: "And so I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Did Martin Luther King Jr. know his assassination was imminent? That's one of a myriad of questions that have flourished in the years since King's murder, a death that now sometimes threatens to overshadow the civil rights icon's considerable legacy. " " Martin Luther King Jr. often gave fiery speeches, but one of his most well-known is his last speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," where he seems to foresee his own death just the night before he was killed. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Democrats in Philadelphia just came through a bruising mayoral primary, which is basically the citys general election. What just happened in the city that I love and in which I have spent all but a month of my life is a very welcome confirmation that Philadelphians are not fools, nor are we dupes for promises and shiny trinkets that come from outsiders. The key players in the Democratic primary were five equally powerful and compelling characters: two businessmen, two city councilmembers and a former city controller. Cherelle Parker was a seasoned politician who had navigated the internecine channels of local politics for years. Allan Domb and Jeff Brown were men who had built empires from scratch, the first in real estate and the second in retail. Rebecca Rhynhart was a well-respected financial executive who was able to root out corruption and incompetence in city spending and taxation. Each appealed to different groups, but all but one made overtures to "Philadelphians" as a unified community of people with common interests. That "one," was Helen Gym, a former city councilmember who continued to fill the role of divisive firebrand that had catapulted her into office in 2015, and was the hallmark of her earlier form of activism. And even though she wasn't the only candidate who had "come from somewhere else," she very deliberately called on national figures to help her make her case to the voters, prioritizing star power over sincerity. And that's where we see how the progressive movement can be stopped, or at the very least, slowed down to a more manageable pace. Conservatives have watched as liberals have had exceptional success at both the national and local levels over the past few years. While no one would consider Joe Biden a natural leftist, he has embraced many of the social policies and the general "zeitgeist" of the progressives. Then there was that blue mini-wave that erased the expected red wave at the midterms last year. In Pennsylvania, we have a senator who, with all of his medical issues, still managed to erase a Republican presence in our congressional delegation. And most recently, a rabidly pro-abortion woman named Heather Boyd captured a seat that Republicans could have won in Delaware County, thereby keeping a Democratic majority in Harrisburg. Progressives, and not moderate Democrats, seem to be on the march. Except they were blocked in Philadelphia. Every Democrat vying for mayor this time around was either center left or reflected the traditional values of the Democratic party I belonged to for almost four decades: support for blue collar workers, support for public schools, and a healthy appreciation for law enforcement and the need to ensure the safety of Philadelphia's citizens. I am the product of that type of Democrat, and I have always had more of an affinity with that tradition than I have with traditional Republican beliefs in small government and low taxes. But somewhere along the line, the left decided that traditional values were no longer good enough, that they needed to burn down that beautiful but rickety old house and rebuild it from scratch into some modern, unrecognizable monstrosity. If you look at the numbers, the results of this primary were a very real repudiation of a progressive movement that thinks marches and bullhorns held by strangers is more important and effective than the opinions of those who have actually lived here, drunk the "wooder" and walked the potholed streets for generations. The top vote-getter by far Cherelle Parker was a woman who was born in this city, who raised children in this city, who has always worked and paid taxes in this city, and who has made numerous connections with people from this city. Parker was not my choice in the primary, but I would be happy to see her as mayor if only because she is homegrown, and understands better than Mark Ruffalo, AOC and Jane Fonda what it means to wake up and hear gunfire outside of your window. I would have been happy with anyone but Helen Gym, because her brand of progressivism was that same sort of patronizing, "I know better than you do what's best for you" mentality that I also see when progressives wax poetic about immigration. Many of them never even met an immigrant, but know all about their problems and needs from those online articles they scour while using the free WiFi at Starbucks. Unlike Chicago, which just guaranteed that it will become even more dangerous and decrepit under its new progressive mayor, Philly told the outsiders with their dangerous anti-police and criminal-as-victim philosophies to go stuff a cheesesteak in it. And while there are a lot of conservatives who are still going to kvetch and complain that the city will remain in Democratic hands, they are foolish to ignore the real story in this last election: The radicals lost. And the "left of" center, held. (COMMENT, BELOW) Christine M. Flowers is a lawyer and columnist. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. It's official. The Anglo-Saxons are getting canceled. The move comes more than 1,000 years too late for the previously ascendant Romano-British who couldn't resist these Germanic peoples who showed up on the shores of England beginning in the fifth century, but surely, they would appreciate the gesture. As part of an effort to make its instruction more "anti-racist," Cambridge University is going to teach students that identities such as Anglo-Saxon are "constructed and contingent." The school's Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic is hoping to "dismantle the basis of myths of nationalism," and also is keenly aware of "recent concerns over use of the term 'Anglo-Saxon' and its perceived connection to ethnic/racial English identity." To be honest, the Anglo-Saxons have been living on borrowed time for a while now. In 2019, the International Society of Anglo-Saxonists -- worried about their association with, yes, the Anglo-Saxons -- changed their name to the International Society for the Study of Early Medieval England. The change came after Mary Rambaran-Olm, the group's second vice president, resigned and denounced the organization for allegedly encouraging white supremacy. As The Washington Post put it, the group effectively conceded that "'Anglo Saxon' is code for whiteness." There is no doubt that the term has been used by malicious and ignorant people over the years to make racist arguments and promote a simplified or outright false version of early English history. But that doesn't mean the Anglo-Saxons didn't exist or the term must be banished. For all that the "woke" scholars warn against anachronisms, they should be careful not to imply that the Anglo-Saxons came to England wearing white hoods. To simplify, the island's defenses weakened after the Romans exited and tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes arrived and established dominance, although they'd subsequently be involved in desperate struggles for survival against Viking invaders. The term Anglo-Saxon isn't exactly a neologism. The authoritative book by Nicholas J. Higham and Martin J. Ryan, "The Anglo-Saxon World," notes that it was in use by the eighth century, when writers on the continent apparently used it to distinguish between Saxons in England and those back on the continent. King Alfred the Great, one of the important figures in English history, called himself the "king of the Anglo-Saxons." The opponents of the term argue that it was nonetheless used infrequently by the Anglo-Saxons. Okay, but how often did the Anglo-Saxons refer to themselves as "insular Saxons," a term that is proffered as more accurate and less problematic? (The terms "Saxons" and "Angles," by the way, were used quite a lot at the time.) And if "Anglo-Saxon" is allegedly too white, does "early Medieval English," another allegedly better phrase, evoke a kaleidoscopic multiracialism? The Anglo-Saxon ascendancy ended in 1066, when the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold, suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Normans, who were notably brutal and, one must say, as white as the Anglo-Saxons -- but "Anglo-Norman" hasn't become politically incorrect. The Anglo-Saxon contribution to English history isn't merely incidental, as Higham and Ryan write. The name England means "land of the Angles." The Anglo-Saxons gave us the most foremost language in the world, English, which derives from Old English or Anglo-Saxon. They unified what came to be England as we know it, while the English monarchy dates to the Anglo-Saxon period. The same is true of English Christianity, with the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons beginning in the sixth and seventh century. The Anglo-Saxons set out the shires that were the units of local government until the lines were redrawn in the late 20th century. What the academics hostile to their own field of study want to do is take a term that is readily recognized, broadly understood, and generates public interest, and replace it with something more obscure for no good reason. It doesn't require a gauzily romantic view of the Anglo-Saxons to conclude that they deserve better than today's self-loathing Anglo-Saxonists. (COMMENT, BELOW) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> It's difficult to wrap my mind around it, but this will be my 20th Father's Day as a father. All of those third Sundays in June have blurred together, but I certainly have warm memories of son Gideon's everyday march toward adulthood. (He marched. I hopped because of %$#@ plastic toys on the carpet.) Ah, the embarrassing anecdotes I can someday share with my theoretical grandchildren! Once upon a time, Gideon made a journal entry about a visit to the farmers cooperative where I work. The entry casually mentioned "watching the chicks dancing." Several months later, he did an annotated version. ("Earlier, when I said I was watching chicks dancing, I meant baby chickens, not girls.") I guess he didn't want posterity assuming the cooperative hosted Rat Pack parties. His first-ever sighting of twins elicited an outburst of "There's two of that girl!" On another occasion, Gideon started gushing about his beloved CD of children's songs. He said one of the songs was sung by a fish. I playfully asked him if it was a real fish. He innocently replied, "I don't know. It sounded like one!" Good thing I didn't actually bust a gut laughing, or he might have tried giving me a "burial at sea" with the toilet. I remember a meltdown Gideon experienced when he was seven. He was inconsolable because my wife wouldn't let him play on the bird-splattered outdoors playground at a McDonald's. Putting my college child psychology course to good use, I took him aside and suggested that we send his mother packing and advertise for an open-minded new mommy who would let him play on a bird-splattered outdoors playground. He stopped blubbering long enough to splutter, "But that's not what the Bible says!" I'm glad he's a kind-hearted boy; I could imagine some of his less-spiritual peers responding to a similar offer with, "Yeah! Let's find one named Jezebel!" That's far from the only McDonald's playground anecdote. When Gideon was older, my wife offered to take him to the playground as part (!) of a shopping excursion. All he heard was "McDonald's playground." (This was par for the course. When he first studied American history, we had to drum it into his noggin that the teacher did not say George Washington was "first in war, first in peace, first in line for the tunnel at the McDonald's playground.") Gideon wallowed in self-pity as he was dragged from store to store to store. I told him he shouldn't have expected just a playground visit, since "You know how Momma is." "Yes, but I thought she would change!" he wailed. Ready for marriage at such a tender age. At age eight, he announced he wanted to explore a bachelor's degree program for video game design. I told him that it's a highly competitive world out there and that he would have to be the best at whatever career he settled on. He would need to offer something extra whether he wound up designing video games, building bridges or constructing the time machine that he always dreamed of. After mulling it over, he very solemnly suggested, "I could put a cup holder in the time machine." I hope Father's Day 2023 really rocks for your family. May you have money for nothing and chicks for free. Last paragraph, when I mentioned chicks for free (COMMENT, BELOW) Controversial author Harlan Ellison once described the work of Mr. Tyree as "wonkily extrapolative" and said his mind "works like a demented cuckoo clock." Tyree generated a particular buzz on the Internet with his column spoofing real-life Christian nudist camps. A lifelong small-town southerner, he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> Former president Donald Trump wasted no time turning his indictment by the Department of Justice into a fundraising pitch. Within minutes of announcing on Thursday evening that he had been charged by federal prosecutors in connection with "the Boxes Hoax" Trump's euphemism for his alleged mishandling of classified government documents after leaving the White House his 2024 presidential campaign sent out an e-mail asking supporters to donate money. "This witch hunt began when the FBI RAIDED my home and then staged it to look like a made-for-TV crime scene," the letter said, appealing for contributions so that "we will once again surge even higher and prove that our America First movement truly is UNSTOPPABLE." Why would Trump regard being charged with serious federal crimes as an ideal moment to make political gains? Because that's what happened the last time he was indicted. When Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump in March with illegally concealing payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, the GOP rallied around the former president. A fundraising appeal brought in $15 million in new donations and Trump's popularity surged among Republicans. Within days, his polling lead over his nearest rival in the presidential contest Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida had jumped from 8 percentage points to 26. Even Trump's fiercest critics, such as Senator Mitt Romney of Utah and former national security adviser John Bolton, blasted the New York DA for his political overreach and the weakness of his charges. But what worked for Trump before isn't likely to turn out the same way now. The legal details of the new indictment have been unsealed, and they seem far more serious than anything Bragg came up with. Trump has been charged with violations of the Espionage Act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding records, and making false statements. But it isn't only the legal case against him that has changed. The political vibrations, too, are not what they were back in March and April. This time, the Republican universe isn't rushing en masse to Trump's defense. To be sure, he can count on blind support from his staunch loyalists. "Any Republican who does not stand with Trump, condemn this bull---t, and vow to destroy the corrupt System needs to GTFO," tweeted Monica Crowley, a former Treasury Department official and longtime media personality. Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, reacted to the indictment by lamenting: "Sad day for America. God Bless President Trump." And even DeSantis, who hopes to win the GOP presidential nomination by wooing Trump's MAGA base, quickly lambasted the indictment as "the weaponization of federal law enforcement." But other Republicans are making it clear that they are no longer drinking the Kool-Aid. Unlike the Manhattan indictment in March, the federal charges are landing as the field of presidential candidates has widened to include some who now aim directly at Trump for his foul character and scandalous behavior. Former vice president Mike Pence formally entered the race Wednesday with a speech calling his former boss unfit for office, a threat to the Constitution, and someone who "should never be president again." Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, pugnacious and charismatic as ever, threw his hat in the ring the day before with even blunter words. "I'm going out there to take out Donald Trump," he said, blasting his one-time ally as a "self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog." From a third presidential hopeful came still more blistering words. "Donald Trump's actions from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law should not define our nation or the Republican Party," former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson proclaimed after news of Trump's indictment broke Thursday night. With criminal proceedings looming, Hutchinson said, Trump should "respect the office and end his campaign." The political winds have shifted since Trump was indicted in March. Leading Republicans are explicitly denouncing him. Pence, Christie, or Hutchinson may or may not gain any traction. But their attacks on Trump will pave the way for other Republicans to follow suit. Until now, Trump's GOP wall of support has seemed virtually impregnable. But when cracks appear in walls, they make other cracks more likely. Everyone knows that Trump has weathered countless storms and scandals since he entered politics. But to be charged with multiple federal crimes while trying to run for president? That is something new under the sun. Trump's latest fundraising letter will doubtless pull in some money, but he won't find it easy to buy his way out of the trouble he's in now. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission." 100 years ago, June 12, 1923 MATTOON County and Mattoon city officers made an unusually important booze haul Monday night. Two men, giving their names as Lewis Orlando, 33, of Braidwood, and John Carletto, 26, of Jacksonville, Ind., were captured at Logan Street and Lafayette Avenue about eight o'clock by officers, headed by Sheriff McNutt, Deputy Sheriff Shirley and Chief of Police Portlock, aided by several other officers. Captured with the men was a Cadillac roadster, which had packed into it seventy-two pints of bonded whisky and five gallons of "white mule." The two men were taken at once to Charleston, where they were placed in the county jail to await their preliminary hearing this morning. The roadster was confiscated by the officers. Some time on Sunday the officers had received information that Orlando and Carletto were either in the county with a cargo of booze, or were on their way to this vicinity from Jacksonville where they are said to be in "business." The officers, who had pretended to be bootleggers, had planned with the two Jacksonville men to meet them at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Logan Street Monday evening. The officers who were communicating with the two men had agreed on a certain signal. The roadster, parked on Logan Street near the street car line, was proceeding south toward Lafayette, and when the signal agreed upon was given by the driver of the Cadillac, Deputy Sheriff Shirley and the officers came out of their hiding place and confronted Orlando and Carletto. The booze found is valued by the officers, at bootlegger prices, at $500 or more. 50 years ago, 1973 MATTOON "I'm a little embarrassed to have it in the paper again," said Ora Hammett, a former Mattoon resident, who is celebrating her 102nd birthday today. Mrs. Hammett appeared in the Journal Gazette on her 99th and 100th birthdays, when she was a resident at Cunningham Nursing Home in Mattoon. On her 99th birthday, she commented to the JG reporter, "Some people ask me if I'll live to be 100 years old. If it's God's will, he'll take care of me," she said. And he did. On her 100th birthday, she was honored at another party. She was presented with a corsage, the key to the city by Mayor Roger Dettro and a cake. Today she is celebrating her 102nd birthday in the Homestead Nursing Home in Toledo. Mrs. Hammett came to Mattoon at the age of 13 in a surrey. She was born in Johnson County, Ind., and calls Mattoon her "adopted city." She married LaMonte Hammett during World War I. He died Jan. 3, 1920, during a flu epidemic. She worked as a telephone operator with Illinois Consolidated for about 16 years. She worked as bookkeeper for Perry Brawner Plumbing Co. of Mattoon for about 15 years. She retired in 1936 at the age of 65. Mrs. Hammett said that when she came to Mattoon in 1884, the town had nothing but dirt streets, wooden sidewalks and no utilities. "In those days the fire department had horses instead of trucks and there weren't any automobiles. There have been so many changes since then." 25 years ago, 1998 NEOGA Fire engulfed and destroyed a mobile home and its contents near Lake Mattoon after lightning struck it Tuesday morning. Mary Bartlett, 80, of rural Neoga, lost everything except the nightgown she was wearing, said her daughter-in-law, Darlene Bartlett. Bartlett lived in the mobile home alone, but her son and two grandchildren were visiting at the time the fire broke out. No injuries were reported. Mary Bartlett and her husband George retired about 20 years ago after serving several years in the mission field. George resides at Odd Fellow-Rebekah Nursing Home in Mattoon. "A lot of memories are gone. They served in Mexico as missionaries. Memories from these years were lost in the fire," said Darlene Bartlett...CHARLESTON An exchange student from the Czech Republic said it will be more difficult for her to leave America than it was for her to leave her home country. Marie Hyankova, who has been staying the past year with Charleston residents Luz and Robert Whittenbarger, does not want to have to say goodbye to her host family or new friends. Hyankova said at first she had trouble with English because she did not speak it very well. "I had learned English in the Czech Republic, but it was book English," she said. "I felt like people here spoke English too fast." Hyankova's hometown of Liberec has a population of 120,000. She said Charleston was much smaller. There is also no age limit in the Czech Republic to go to bars or disco clubs. One part of American culture Hyankova would like to take back with her is Dairy Queen. 17 unusual alcohol laws that could get you busted across the world 17 unusual alcohol laws that could get you busted across the world Nudes and booze are a no-no, New York City Keep the booze away from the communion wine, New York State No hooch on a horse, California Dry by default, Tennessee Perpetual Prohibition, Kansas Mommy-and-me martinis, Ohio No tippling till the polls close, Alaska Sober for Santa, Allegany County, New York Happy hour hindrance, Massachusetts Straw-sipping at the daiquiri drive-thru, Louisiana Cold beer crime, Indiana Banned bottomless brunch, Oklahoma Wasted while at home, Utah Hands off the barkeep, Nebraska Don't bring your cows home drunk, United Kingdom Whipped for wine consumption, Saudi Arabia Keep your beer unadulterated, Germany On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are going to discuss a topic that was back in the news recently with the debt ceiling negotiations: Social Security. A number of politicians and elected representatives have recently suggested that we make major changes to the Social Security program, changes which could have a substantial (and I think likely negative) impact on American seniors. We will all eventually age, so this means it will impact us. A few quick notes on Social Security before you dive into this podcast episode: It is important to note that this is not a partisan issue (at least among voters). Surveys show that strong majorities of Americanswhether old or young, high-income or working class, Republican or Democratbelieve that it is crucial for the U.S. to preserve full Social Security benefits for future generations, even if it means increasing payroll taxes. that strong majorities of Americanswhether old or young, high-income or working class, Republican or Democratbelieve that it is crucial for the U.S. to preserve full Social Security benefits for future generations, even if it means increasing payroll taxes. Social Security is the biggest source of retirement income for most retirees . . Social Security is arguably Americas most effective poverty-fighting program, bringing elderly poverty down from almost 38% to less than 10% (lower than the national poverty rate ). (lower than the ). Social Security is a social insurance program. This means it will continue to pay benefits regardless of whether or not you live long enough to use more benefits than you paid forwhich a typical American retiree likely will . . Some argue that you could personally invest money in the stock market, instead of putting it into Social Security, and get a better return on your money for retirement. While this is no doubt true for some, millions of Americans would not likely be able to save as much on their own as they would through the forced retirement planning of Social Security. Social Security will never go broke. It will always receive money from current workers, every two weeks, to pay for current retirees. Due to falling fertility rates, however, the program will only be able to afford to pay 77% of promised benefits beginning in the 2030s. beginning in the 2030s. According to Social Security expert Kathleen Romig, the guest on this episode, full benefits can continue beyond this point if we remove the taxable earnings cap (currently around $160,000) and increase payroll taxes on employees and employers from the current 6.2% to somewhere around 7% each. On this episode, we play clips of a summer 2021 podcast conversation we had with Social Security expert Kathleen Romig from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Enjoy! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER! The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views expressed in our newsletters and podcasts are those of the individual contributors alone and not of our partner institutions. Episode Audio: When Khya Washington crossed the stage to receive her diploma from Parkland High School on Sunday, loud cheers reverberated through Joel Coliseum. Hearing how Washingtons senior year went, its easy to understand why family members were joyous. I was on the verge of giving up, said Washington, one of 306 Parkland graduates. As recently as September, Washington thought about quitting school. What kept her going? My family, she said. Were all here, Ernestine Dixon announced. A kindergarten teacher at Griffith Elementary School, Dixon was one of several family members wearing t-shirts featuring a photograph of Washington, her cousin. We told her that she cant quit. You got this, Dixon said. Were proud of her. Washington plans to go to school to be a certified nursing assistant, with the goal of eventually becoming a registered nurse. She and other graduates got a heavy dose of advice from speakers, who quoted Drake, Meek Mill, Maya Angelou and Albus Dumbledore, the sage wizard from the Harry Potter books. School board member Alex Bohannon, a 2012 graduate of Parkland, told the students to make good choices, be patient, love and affirm themselves and have courage in everything they do. Some of the advice came from the students themselves. Whatever you dream, you can believe, and whatever you believe can come true, said Ian Franco, the schools salutatorian. After all the advice was dispensed, and the names called, Principal Noel Keener closed graduation with a final declaration to the departing Mustangs. Move your tassellllllllllllllls, she bellowed. Sunday marked an end to a four-day run of graduations for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. More than 3,000 students graduated. PHOTOS: Reynolds and Parkland High School Commencements 2023 A Lancaster County District Court judge set a July 19 hearing date for arguments to block the enforcement of new restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care for minors. Judge Lori Maret continued the lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and Dr. Sarah Traxler, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, against the state of Nebraska at a Zoom hearing on Monday morning. The ACLU of Nebraska filed the lawsuit on behalf of Planned Parenthood in late May seeking a temporary injunction to block LB574 from being enforced. Attorneys for Planned Parenthood later sought a motion for summary judgment. Attorneys representing the state have also filed a motion to dismiss both the request for a temporary injunction and summary judgment. The lawsuit was filed a week after Gov. Jim Pillen signed LB574 into law in May. Introduced by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, LB574 prohibits transgender youths from obtaining gender-affirming surgeries in Nebraska and requires the states chief medical officer to set rules and regulations for puberty blockers and hormone therapies before Oct. 1. During the final round of debate on LB574, the Legislature attached an amendment banning abortion 12 weeks after a womans last menstrual cycle, or about 10 weeks post-fertilization, which went into effect immediately upon passage. The combination of both bills violated Article III, Section 14 of the Nebraska State Constitution, the ACLU of Nebraska argued in its lawsuit, which states No bill shall contain more than one subject. The single-subject rule has been in Nebraskas constitution for nearly 150 years as a way to promote transparency and accountability for state lawmakers by letting constituents know exactly what the Legislature is considering. The amendment logrolled two distinct and unrelated subjects into one combined bill, forcing lawmakers into an all-or-nothing bargain: to either vote for or against both proposals simultaneously, the lawsuit states. Supporters of LB574 said both measures address health care and amended similar statutes in state law. Attorney General Mike Hilgers, in a brief filed with the court last week, said Planned Parenthood and Traxler lack standing to file a claim because they have not alleged any injury and have not stated a claim. This is an action brought by an Iowa corporation and a Minnesota resident trying to tell the Nebraska Legislature how to do its job, Hilgers wrote in support of the states motion to dismiss. Hilgers also pointed to a 1967 Nebraska Supreme Court case that ruled the single-subject rule is a liberal standard and said both the gender-affirming care and abortion provisions in the bill are related to public health and welfare. The arguments underlying both sides case, which focus on the process by which LB574 was passed rather than the merits of the law, will be heard on July 19 in a Zoom hearing. Photos and video: Scene at Nebraska Capitol as lawmakers pass LB574 Four years after he absconded from state custody while attending a church service in Lincoln, a former Nebraska inmate is back in custody, according to authorities. Antonio Collier, 36, had been considered an escapee since May 19, 2019, when he failed to return to the Community Corrections Center-Lincoln after getting permission to attend church, authorities said in a news release. Police in Roseville, Michigan, arrested Collier on Sunday and took him to the Macomb County jail, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in the news release. Upon his return to Nebraska, Collier will resume the four- to five-year sentence he started on April 3, 2018, for a burglary conviction out of Douglas County. And the 36-year-old will be prosecuted for departure from state custody. Prosecutors in Lancaster County charged Collier in June 2019 with escape, a class 3 felony. In court records, investigators with the corrections department said Collier had an hour pass to attend services at Our Savior's Lutheran Church that Sunday afternoon. An hour after his pass expired, the 36-year-old called the community corrections facility and reported he was running late due to car problems, Correctional Services Investigator Ross Bartlett said in the probable cause statement for a warrant for Collier's arrest. Staff at the facility told Collier he needed to return to the facility as soon as possible, Bartlett said. But he never showed, prompting a Lancaster County judge to sign a warrant for his arrest June 5, 2019. Inmates at the Community Corrections Center-Lincoln are allowed to work and go to school or religious services with prior approval and supervision. Photos: 2015 Tecumseh State Prison riot First it was a school bus, then it was a donation. Now it is an aviation-themed mobile closet delivering clothing across the state for foster children. The recently renovated bus is the latest addition to the Lincoln-based Foster Care Closet as the new mobile service allows foster children in rural Nebraska to receive clothing. The Foster Care Closet was founded in March 2006 by Leigh Esau and her husband, Patrick. Esau spent seven years in the foster care system and the majority of her adulthood raising foster children with Patrick. With a personal relationship to the system, Esau knew there were needs being missed. She said a child in foster care typically has little to no clothing and for the items they do have, they are often the wrong size or season. We really felt like we wanted to change the narrative on what it looks like for our foster kiddos in those first hours of care, Esau said. Were passionate about restoring dignity to kids who are in the foster care system or as they enter into foster care. For more than 17 years, they have been working hard to change that narrative along with the label that foster children are happy with anything they get. Any parent knows that thats not true. They do prefer styles, they do want to fit in with their peers, Esau said. Its just as important for our foster youth to be able to go to school fitting in with their peers as it is for any kiddo to go to school and fit in with their peers. Theyre not second-class citizens. So the Foster Care Closet has partnered with wholesale vendors to purchase on-trend clothing in large quantities at a lower cost. They keep clothing on hand for newborns to age 19. After helping hundreds of children in and around Lincoln, Esau is expanding to serve the rest of the state. We want to be a service that goes and meets our families where theyre at, versus having them come to where were at, Esau said. For almost a decade, Esau and her team attempted to do so by filling cars with clothes and driving around the state. However, it wasnt until the Foster Care Closet was gifted an old school bus that their hope of serving Nebraska was finally within reach. Renovations to the bus began more than three years ago, but were put on the back burner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Duncan Aviation price item analyst Jason Duhs led the renovations. He said between 70 to 80 Duncan Aviation employees have participated in the project, putting in approximately 1,000 hours of work. Duncan as a company is unique because people specialize in different things so it was kind of neat to see how the different people within different departments all got involved in the process, Duhs said. The remodeling included removing the windows and seats, replacing flooring, painting the exterior of the bus, new lighting and tires. The majority of the materials used were donated, with some exceptions like hardware items. In our industry, were known for our higher quality products, Duhs said. I think there were times where it wasnt necessarily going to be at the Duncan quality, but it was kind of neat to see at the end. We all felt that we didnt just throw this together. It was put together with the best materials and best quality that we would do even if it was an airplane. It wouldnt be a Duncan Aviation remodel without some airplane symmetry. The team added pegboards to line the walls that were hydrodipped in a mini airplane camouflage designed by the marketing department. And the drivers seat was reupholstered with sheepskin to resemble a pilots seat in the cockpit of a plane. We kind of thought thatd be kind of a neat little nod or recognition to aviation by having a unique drivers seat, Duhs said. According to Duhs, Duncan Aviation joined the process because they found it to be a good cause and a unique opportunity to use their skills outside of the airplane industry. We even had a couple of employees who were either in a foster care program at one time or had been foster parents themselves, where they welcomed foster kids into their family, Duhs said. The bus is expected to be completely finished in October, but has already been put to use. The Mobile Foster Care Closet took its first ride in late April to Scottsbluff, where they helped 52 youth feel more comfortable with their updated wardrobe. Children who visit the bus are given five complete outfits including tops and bottoms, seven pairs of socks and underwear, a pair of shoes and a seasonal jacket. Esau puts the shopping into the kids hands to encourage decision making. In the foster care world, oftentimes one of the first things our youth lose is their voice. All decisions are made for them, Esau said. We wanted to be about making sure they have a voice and we do that by having them pick out the clothing they like and providing an environment that gives them the opportunity to shop. This month, the team expects to serve close to 200 fostered youth in Grand Island and Norfolk. (The bus) really breaks down any barriers of where we can go to serve, Esau said. As long as we have the capacity to serve new clothing items, we have no limits where we can take the bus. We want to reach into all pockets of Nebraska. However, taking the bus across the state is not a cheap endeavor. For Scottsbluff, the Mobile Foster Care Closet donated about $7,000 worth of clothing alone. Currently, the funds come from general donations to the Foster Care Closet. We would love to have businesses who would be interested in sponsoring a trip to one of our locations, Esau said. The group will return to Scottsbluff in October, where the community has a spaghetti feed in the works to raise money to invest back into their foster children. When we invest in our marginalized population, it makes the community stronger, Esau said. When our foster youth are being given a message that they matter, that theyre seen in their community, it gives them something to be held to a standard for. Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 RACINE Harry Wait, the Union Grove man accused of election fraud, appeared Monday in court, where his trial date was scheduled for March 2024. Wait was charged in September 2022 with two counts of election fraud and two counts of unauthorized use of another persons identifying information. Wait allegedly used identification information from Mayor Cory Mason and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to request absentee ballots in July 2022. According to the criminal complaint from the case, Wait allegedly admitted to falsely ordering the ballots from the MyVote Wisconsin system and said he did it in order to expose vulnerabilities in the voting process. Wait is the president of Honest, Open and Truthful Government, a local organization that aims to expose corruption, voter fraud and bad actors in the government, according to its website. According to the complaint, Wait said he had no intention of actually using the ballots. Wait is being prosecuted by the Wisconsin Attorney Generals office. Before Waits court appearance Monday, members from H.O.T. Government gathered outside of the Racine County Courthouse to show support. Many were dressed in neon and holding signs that read Free Harry and Harry is a hero not a criminal. Wait, along with Jay Stone of Pleasant Prairie, who has filed three lawsuits against the Wisconsin Elections Commission, addressed the crowd. We need to fix (the voting systems) ASAP because the 2024 elections are going to be honest, Wait said. That means weve got a lot of work ahead of us to do it. We need to be more civilly disobedient in order to make the changes happen. Stone told crowd that it would be easy for the Wisconsin Election Commissioners to secure the website. How many websites do you go to that establish a username and password? he asked. That would secure the website tremendously. After the rally, Wait and his supporters crossed the street to the Justice Building, where Judge Robert Repischak set March 19, 2024 as the date for Waits trial. Wait is scheduled to be back in court July 6 for a status conference. The gymnasium was packed Saturday at Waterford Union High School for graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2023. You are ready, School Board President Michael Schoenfeld told the graduates, dressed in the schools green and white colors. The graduating class of about 275 students was led by valedictorian Ava Lennartz and salutatorian Mikayla Datka. RACINE Racine Unified School District Superintendent Eric Gallien remains on medical leave from RUSD while negotiating a contract to lead a South Carolina school district. Last month, Gallien was offered the superintendent job at the Charleston County School District, pending contract negotiations. Contract negotiations are ongoing, so Gallien is still employed by RUSD as of now. He remains on medical leave until July, according to Stacy Tapp, RUSD chief of communications and community engagement. His medical leave started May 1. RUSD Board President Jane Barbian said Gallien called to tell her about his interest in the Charleston job. She was surprised Gallien was physically able to handle that type of process and visit South Carolina in-person while on medical leave. As for Gallien being interested in another job, that did not surprise me at all, Barbian said, noting that superintendents often move positions. Gallien has served as RUSD superintendent since 2018. Soren Gajewski, RUSD chief academic officer, is serving as acting superintendent. An RUSD superintendent search process would be initiated if Gallien agrees to a contract in Charleston and submits a resignation letter to RUSD. The School Board would determine the next steps of finding a superintendent, who is the only board employee. If the board needs to hire someone new, Barbian knows that will be a crucial decision. We want to make sure that the person in that position can guide our district, serving the needs of our students and families in our community so that our students can become what they need to be for the best for our community, Barbian said. If Gallien leaves, whoever the board chooses as superintendent would oversee the districts ongoing capital referendum and state funding challenges, among many other responsibilities. Its a huge job, Barbian said. I think someone, once Dr. Gallien decides to leave, I think that they will find it exciting, as well, and a challenge. Close Racine Unified teachers, including Paige Kiesler, right with glasses, and Bill Sakalaucks, center with fist raised, rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Racine Unified teachers, including Heather Jirgensen, right, rallied Monday at the RUSD Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Maurizia Johnson, Wadewitz Elementary educational assistant, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Johnson said educational assistants need a living wage because, although we love our jobs, love does not pay the bills. Angelina Cruz, president of Racine Educators United, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Cruz urged the RUSD Board "to start prioritizing the kids and families of Racine Unified over failed administrators. About 50 Racine Unified educators rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St., to advocate for better pay and support. Heather Jirgensen, Olympia Brown Elementary teacher and building union representative, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Angelina Cruz, Racine Educators United president, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Nine photos of Racine teachers advocating for fair pay Racine Unified educators rallied Monday to emphasize their demands for better pay and support. Racine Unified teachers, including Paige Kiesler, right with glasses, and Bill Sakalaucks, center with fist raised, rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Racine Unified teachers, including Heather Jirgensen, right, rallied Monday at the RUSD Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Maurizia Johnson, Wadewitz Elementary educational assistant, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Johnson said educational assistants need a living wage because, although we love our jobs, love does not pay the bills. Angelina Cruz, president of Racine Educators United, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Cruz urged the RUSD Board "to start prioritizing the kids and families of Racine Unified over failed administrators. About 50 Racine Unified educators rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St., to advocate for better pay and support. Heather Jirgensen, Olympia Brown Elementary teacher and building union representative, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Angelina Cruz, Racine Educators United president, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Since the passage of the National Minimum Legal Drinking Act in 1984, the legal age at which someone can purchase and consume alcohol in the U.S. is 21. Despite the higher legal drinking age and stringent punishments for offenders, underage drinking and its associated consequences are still a major problem. In 2017, 29.8 percent of teens engaged in underage drinking. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 623,000 teenagers ages 12-17 also suffer from an alcohol use disorder (abuse or dependence), accounting for 2.5 percent of individuals in this age group. Research indicates that drinking underage can lead to a range of negative consequences, including issues with adolescent brain development, increased risk of sexual assault, and increased risk of traffic fatalities. While 3.1 percent of adults report driving after having too much to drink, 5.5 percent of teens nationwide have reported driving after drinking any alcohol, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The good news is that statistics on teen alcohol use and drunk driving are improving. The percentage of teens who reported using alcohol declined from more than 50 percent in 1991 to less than 30 percent in 2017. Similarly, 16.5 percent of U.S. teens in 2017 reported riding in a car with a driver who had been drinking alcohola decline of more than 23 percentage points during the same time period. Driving under the influence endangers not only the drivers life, but also the lives of passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers on the road. Drunk driving traffic fatalities represent almost a third of all driving fatalities. Among the 37,133 motor vehicle fatalities in 2017, 10,874 involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. At the state level, there isnt a statistically significant correlation between drunk driving fatality rates and the proportion of adults who report driving after having too much to drink. However, there is a significant correlation between state-level drunk driving fatality rates and the proportion of high school students who report drinking and driving. States with larger shares of high school students who drink and drive tend to have more drunk driving deaths per capita. For example, only 2.8 percent of high schoolers in Utah report driving after drinking alcohol, and there are only 1.7 drunk driving traffic deaths per 100,000 people in the state. By contrast, in Arkansas, 10.7 percent of students report driving after drinking, and the states drunk driving fatality rate is 4.8. Nationwide, the number of drunk driving deaths per 100,000 people is 3.4. In addition to the health and safety concerns associated with underage drinking, there are staggering financial costs as well. The CDC estimates that underage drinking costs the U.S. around $24 billion a year. Similarly, motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol amount to more than $44 billion per year. The financial costs of alcohol-related collisions encompass healthcare, property damage, and lost workplace productivity. To find where teens are most likely to drive under the influence, researchers at CheapCarInsuranceQuotes.com analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High School Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). They ranked states by the percentage of teens who reported driving after drinking one or more times in the past 30 days. Heres what they found. 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 Two Vietnamese nationals turn themselves in at the Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, Monday, after they fled police questioning on gambling suspicions the previous day. Yonhap All of the 10 Vietnamese nationals who fled a police station in the southwestern city of Gwangju while under questioning on gambling suspicions have been nabbed, police officials said Monday. The Vietnamese suspects sneaked out of a meeting room of the police patrol unit station in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, through a tilt window's 20-centimeter opening early in the morning on Sunday. They were among the 23 Vietnamese nationals police took into custody hours earlier for questioning on suspicions of gambling in a house in Gwangju. Seven of the 10 escapees had turned themselves in to police and immigration authorities as of Monday evening, according to Gwangju's Gwangsan Police Station. The remaining three were also nabbed by police Sunday and Monday while hiding at residences or a factory building in the city. Police said all the 10 escapees are undocumented immigrant workers and they impulsively ran away out of fear for deportation. All the 10 people will be transferred to the immigration office for deportation to Vietnam in accordance with the law once the police wrap up its investigation of them over fleeing charges, officials said. Police also referred the rest of the Vietnamese gambling suspects to the prosecution while transferring other undocumented people among them to the immigration office. (Yonhap) Vivian Stephenson was crowned the 50th Vernon County Fairest of the Fair, Sunday evening. Crowned along with Stephenson was 2023 Junior Fairest of the Fair Arriana Niemyjski. Stephenson is the daughter of Charlotte and Jon Stephenson, and Niemyjski is the daughter of Ashley Erlandson. This is the third year for the Vernon County Fair to have two ambassadors. The 2022 ambassadors were Fairest of the Fair Katelyn Dunnum and Junior Fairest of the Fair Maya Dunnum. Stephenson and Niemyjski will reign over the 166th Vernon County Fair, Sept. 13-17. The theme this year is Sew it! Grow it! Show it! Stephenson will represent the fair at the Wisconsin Association of Fairs Fairest of the Fairs contest in January 2024. The other Fairest of the Fair candidate was Sabrina Servais, daughter of Lisa and Tim Servais. The other Junior Fairest of the Fair candidate was Adelyn Adey Oliver, daughter of Maranda and Dusty Oliver. Farewell messages The Dunnum sisters gave reviews of their year before the winners were announced. Maya Dunnum said the past year was filled with countless memories, with the best one being able to work alongside her sister, Katelyn. Im proud of what we accomplished. I cant help but reflect on numerous memorable events, Maya said. She said one of them was exploring fair exhibits with Rep. Loren Oldenburg and Alice in Dairyland. It was an honor to share the event with esteemed guests. It was a true honor to be the Junior Fairest of the Fair. Katelyn Dunnum said she had a heart filled with gratitude and had a mix of emotions. This was a year of growth, learning and personal development. She said the fair was the best five days of fall and the No. 1 memory was sharing that and the entire year with her sister. I loved every second of it. I am grateful for the privilege of representing the fair and the Vernon County Agricultural Society, Katelyn said. Its been an honor to be Fairest of the Fair. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office is investigating a vehicle crash Saturday that left two people injured. Emergency personnel responded shortly after 12:30 a.m. to an accident on Highway 33 near Nebraska Avenue in the town of Portland and found a 25-year-old Rockland man with severe injuries lying in the roadway. The investigation showed the man had been operating a UTV and collided head-on with a Chevrolet Equinox being driven by a 34 year-old La Crosse man, who was also injured in the crash. The Rockland man was transported by GundersenAir to La Crosse due to the serious nature of his injuries. The sheriffs office in continuing to investigate what role alcohol and drugs may have played in the crash. The sheriffs office was assisted by its 911 Communication Center, Cashton Police, Cashton Fire, Cashton First Responders, Wisconsin State Patrol, Tri-State Ambulance and GundersenAir. PORTLAND, Maine Ann Allen loved going to church and the after-school social group led by a dynamic priest back in the 1960s. The giggling fun with friends always ended with a game of hide-and-seek. Each week, the Rev. Lawrence Sabatino chose one girl to hide with him. Allen said when it was her turn, she was sexually assaulted, at age 7, in the recesses of St. Peters Catholic Church. I dont remember how I got out of that cellar and I dont think I ever will. But I remember it like its yesterday. I remember the smells. The sounds. I remember what he said, and what he did," she said. Allen, 64, is one of more than two dozen people who have sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, over the past year, seeking delayed justice since lawmakers allowed lawsuits for abuse that happened long ago and can't be pursued in criminal courts either because of time limits or evidence diminishing over time. More survivors are pursuing cases as states increasingly consider repealing time limits for child sex-crime lawsuits. Vermont was the first state to remove the limits in 2019, followed by Maine in 2021 and Maryland this year. Michigan, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are poised to take action before their legislative sessions end. "The momentum is irreversible," said Marci Hamilton, CEO of CHILD USA, a think tank aiming to prevent child abuse and neglect. In April, Maryland lifted time limits on child sexual abuse lawsuits against institutions less than a week after the attorney general detailed decades of abuse of more than 600 children by over 150 priests associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Other states, meanwhile, have briefly removed the statute of limitations on lawsuits for childhood abuse. More than 10,000 lawsuits were filed when New York set aside time limits for two years. Across the country, those lawsuits have targeted churches, summer camps, Scouting groups and other institutions accused of enabling pedophiles or turning a blind eye to wrongdoing. More states eliminating the limits would help achieve justice and prevention, according to advocates who say survivors tend to keep the trauma to themselves, backed by new research suggesting survivors typically come forward in their 50s. More and more people come forward as they realize that theyre not alone, said Michael Bigos, one of Allens attorneys, whose law firm has brought 25 lawsuits since last June and is evaluating more than 100 additional potential cases, including about 65 targeting the Portland diocese. In his law offices, Allen looked at a photo of herself at her first communion at St. Peter's, which serves what was once Portland's Little Italy neighborhood and hosts a popular street party each summer. The photo was taken after the assault. Her joy and exuberance are gone. When I look at it, I see a pretty damaged child, she said. Sabatino quickly became part of the fabric of St. Peters when he arrived in 1958 after leaving another church where parents reported to police that he had sexually abused their 6-year-old daughter. The priest was warned by the Diocese of Portland not to engage with children or play games, but was soon doing both. Parishioners, including Ann Allens family, invited him into their homes. He visited her familys beach house. Allen thought she was lucky when she was selected to hide with him. But the abuse became a dark secret she carried for decades. She never considered telling her parents. Allen said she didnt think anyone would believe her. As a school principal in California, Allen was protective of children, especially those who reported abuse. She would try to help them and say the right things things she wished had been done for her. Then, she went home to curl up in a ball," she said. But her secret came bubbling back when she returned to Maine and had to confront her past, she said. Robert Dupuis tells a similar story. He was 12 years old in 1961 when he was abused by the Rev. John Curran in Old Town, a riverside city in Maine. Decades later, he sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous when his marriage was in jeopardy. He acknowledged the abuse in group therapy, at around age 55, and the revelation changed his life. It healed me and it freed me from holding back, the 74-year-old said. His marriage and friendships have improved, he said. Now, he encourages others who have been abused to come forward. Most of Maine's newly filed civil lawsuits target the Diocese of Portland, accusing leaders of ignoring accusations against priests like Sabatino and Curran, or simply moving them to new parishes, allowing the abuse to continue. Diocese officials concluded that allegations against Sabatino and Curran were credible. Both have long since died. Maine removed its time limits in 2000 to sue over childhood sexual abuse, but not retroactively, leaving survivors without recourse for older cases. Changes in 2021 allowed previously expired civil claims. The Legislature also is considering easing the statute of limitations on criminal charges for sexual assaults of children. For Patricia Butkowski, it was 1958 when her family alerted police that she said Sabatino assaulted her at a parish in Lewiston. After the diocese transferred him to Portland, Allen and others became victims. Im now at 70 feeling emotions and allowing myself to feel emotions that I never knew I had. Anger is at the top of it. Im like a volcano spewing and theres just so many emotions, and anger at the church," she said. Butkowski, who now lives in Oklahoma City, wants the church to apologize and acknowledge the wrongs done to her and others so she can "hopefully regain some sort of faith before I die, she said. What was done to me by the priest damaged my soul, she said. I dont have a soul anymore. Its broken. Portraits of resilience: Survivors of clergy abuse tell their stories Patrick Shepard Dorothy Small Salvador Bolivar The Charbonneau sisters Jacob Olivas Mark Belenchia John Vai Viewed from the perspective of Republican state legislators, its easy to see why some of them repeatedly question the University of Wisconsin System or, especially, the UW-Madison campus. Those lawmakers may think some campuses have gone overboard on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, which is spurring contention nationwide. They wonder if campuses are committed to freedom of speech across the political spectrum. They question admissions policies they think hurt kids of modest means from rural districts. They wonder about structural deficits at 10 of UWs 13 four-year campuses at a time when enrollments appear to be trailing down. They question why the Madison campus doesnt rank higher in business-sponsored research. Those frustrations shouldnt be acted out by refusing to fund a much-needed building for the UW-Madison College of Engineering. But that appears to be what happened last week when the Legislatures budget-writing committee, which is made up of Senate and Assembly members with a GOP majority, declined to approve a $347 million engineering building needed to replace an aging structure and to meet increasing industry demand for engineering graduates. To many Capitol observers, the action was a surprise because planning money had been approved in a past budget; $75 million had been approved for a related utilities overhaul for the engineering campus; and a coalition of business groups that included many Republican-leaning associations had pushed for work to get underway. The $347 million total includes $150 million in private donations, much of which has or will come from engineering graduates who are now running companies in Wisconsin and elsewhere. And, by the way, the UW-Madison College of Engineering is turning down well-qualified students from Wisconsin and elsewhere because theres no room to put them. For every seven applicants, only one is admitted. Meanwhile, competitors such as Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois build whatever facilities are needed in the 21st century economy to accommodate talent from close to home and beyond. Is the engineering building doomed? There is reason to believe the answer is no because the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee still has time to add it back to the two-year budget. If not, individual legislators of either party could push for a vote on the Assembly or Senate floor. That could embarrass GOP leadership if it prevailed. Lets examine some of the Republican misgivings (as perceived by me) about funding the new engineering building, which would replace a Stalinesque structure rooted in the 1930s. Policies on DEI are evolving everywhere, with courts and state bodies defining the rules. Wisconsin is no exception. The same goes for making sure invited speakers arent shouted down on a public campus. Admission policies at every college in America will likely change soon if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down race-based preferences, which appears likely. That means a system of economic status preferences may be on the horizon. In short, some things are beyond UW-Madisons control. Structural deficits are real, but lawmakers should ask themselves a few questions. Are they prepared to close low-enrollment campuses, either two-year or four-year? Have state funding decisions over time contributed to those deficits? Are they willing to give financially healthy campuses their own bonding authority? The UW-Madison is eighth among all U.S. public and private universities in research sponsored by federal and other sources, but it ranks much lower 52nd in research paid for by private business. Seven Big Ten campuses do better overall, according to the National Science Foundation. Broken out, the UW-Madison College of Engineering was 27th in the latest NSF survey and could move much higher in the rankings if it had modern facilities. Why punish one of the top performers within UW-Madison? Wisconsin has other fine engineering campuses, public and private, but demand for UW-Madison graduates is stronger than ever at a time when industry needs well-trained engineers in all disciplines. Lets hope negotiations breathe new life into a project that will help Wisconsins economy for decades to come. Lawmakers once again are considering significant regulatory changes for Wisconsin's alcohol industry, with a proposal supported by a long list of producers, retailers and wholesalers that brew, supply and sell beer, wine and spirits. Assembly Bill 304 would, among other measures, transfer all alcohol beverage regulations to a newly-created Division of Alcohol Beverages within the state Department of Revenue. The new division would enforce state laws that pertain to breweries, wineries and distilleries, as well as retailers and distributors of alcoholic beverages. The bill authors said consumers would notice few changes if the proposal were signed into law. The fast-tracked legislation has been supported by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and will have its first committee hearing Tuesday. Lawmakers could vote on the bill in the coming weeks. "This bill takes care of lots of issues out there that wont affect you directly because its not smacking you in the forehead, but it will help all of us do what we want to do to sell products so you can pull the cold one out of the refrigerator when you want it," said Brandon Scholz, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. Currently, alcohol in Wisconsin is distributed and sold through a roughly 90-year-old, three-tier system in which producers of beer, wine and spirits sell to wholesalers, who then sell the products to retailers to sell to consumers. Barring exceptions, individuals cannot sell alcohol unless they possess a license or permit issued by the state DOR. The three-tiered system was created in the 1930s to prevent monopolies by barring any one company from producing and selling alcohol at the wholesale level. The framework has been a point of criticism over the years for failing to keep up with the changing industry and growing businesses in craft beers or wedding barns. "I don't think (consumers will) notice much of anything that's different," Scholz said. "A lot of whats in this bill is process, it's operations, it's retail, its how to work within the three-tier system as weve seen some changes over the year in the industry." Under the bill, the new division would be able to appoint special agents and other employees to carry out permitting, as well as audits, enforcement, education and legal functions. The bill stipulates that any agents employed by the division cannot have any financial interest in the alcoholic beverage industry. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said the governors office has had discussions with stakeholders regarding the bill and there are ongoing conversations with DOR on some of the technical changes in the legislation, including funding needed to implement the new measures. Scott Stenger, a lobbyist for the Tavern League of Wisconsin, said one of the biggest criticisms of the three-tier structure is that, due to a lack of resources and staffing, many of the state's rules for those in the alcohol industry are not being properly enforced or differ from business to business. "We need a consistent, smart regulatory agency so that we all know the rules and the rules arent changing from one person to the next," Stenger said. Stenger said the amount of support the bill has garnered speaks volumes to the level of agreement among those within the alcohol industry. The measure has been supported by Molson Coors, New Glarus Brewing Company, Wisconsin Craft Beverage Coalition, Wisconsin Grocers Association, Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association and Kwik Trip. The bill would allow brewers to operate retail locations without tap rooms to sell beer and expand hours of operations for wineries, allowing those establishments to stay open as late as bars. Another component in the bill would require wedding barns, or venues that sell or provide alcohol for special events, to secure a permit or alcohol license to operate. A Badger High School student recently got her haircut for a good cause. Kylie Kundert, junior, recently donated a portion of her hair to the Wigs for Kids organization in Westlake, Ohio. Kundert and fellow student Emma Wokasch, junior, received a free haircut June 2 at OrganiCuts, 511 in Broad St. in Lake Geneva, in preparation for attending the National FFA Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. Elizabeth Krause, owner of OrganiCuts, said the students agriculture teacher approached her about providing haircuts for them before attending the conference. Their teacher reached out and asked if I would be willing to do the haircuts and I said, For sure, right away, Krause said. Then the donation came next and I said, We got to get this documented. Kundert said she decided to donate a portion of her haircut to a good cause and selected Wigs for Kids. I seriously havent cut my hair since I was in the seventh or eighth grade, Kundert said. So when I heard we had the opportunity to get our haircut before the conference, I wanted to cut it short but I also wanted to donate my hair to a good cause. Its long, its really healthy. Its worthwhiled to give it to a good cause. Wigs for Kids manufacture wigs for children who have experienced hair loss because of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, alopecia, burns and other medical conditions. Krause said she has had other clients in the past who have donated hair to Wigs for Kids. Weve donated to them before like when people want to come in and donate, Krause said. Its a nice, regional company that takes the hair and puts it to good use. Kundert and Wokasch are set to attend the National FFA Leadership Conference from June 6 through June 11. During the conference, the students will be meeting with other FFA members from throughout the country as well as government officials. We will be connecting with members in our community and other high schoolers, Kundert said. We also will be able to meet with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and seeing the sights of Washington D.C. Wokasch said FFA members may attend the conference if they are a sophomore or junior in high school. This is like their biggest leadership conference, Wokasch said. They do have state ones but theyre more like during the school year and for one night. Kundert said students usually have to be invited to attend the conference. Its more if you put in your time in with FFA you get to go, Kundert said. Typically, our chapter sends people every other year and we just happen to be the right age, right now. Kundert said, besides attending the conference, she also is looking forward to visiting the museums and historical sites in Washington D.C. Im a history nerd, so Im looking forward to all the museums, Kundert said. Kundert and Wokasch were part of a Badger High School FFA team that won a state competition in floriculture in April. The team is now qualified to participate in a national competition in the fall. Both Kundert and Wokasch have been involved with FFA since their freshman year of high school. Wokasch said she plans to continue studying horticulture when she attends Gateway Technical College and possibly establish a career in forestry. They have a really good horticulture program, Wokasch said. Kundert said she plans to study computer science when she attends college. She said she became interested in FFA through her siblings. All my older siblings were in FFA, and I wasnt sure if I wanted to do it, then they signed me up for an ag class and I really liked the people and the atmosphere and I decided I would give it a shot, Kundert said. I havent left ever since. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY JUNE 12, 2023 Peace for All Time June 11, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The topsy-turvy world of the West is becoming more unglued by the day, while the new, non-unipolar paradigm exemplified by the work of the BRICS is expanding in potential. Will the war for peace be fought and won? With Trumps coming arraignment on June 13, will his fellow Republican candidates, and all Americans, speak out against the clear use of the justice system for political ends? The 37-count indictmentin which each of 31 documents is repeated as an individual count (did the Department of Justice consider making each sentence its own count?)is shocking for its use of the unconstitutional Espionage Act and for the selective nature of the prosecution overall. The principled application of the law is as important as fairly conducted trials to determine its breach. Some trumpetted that Trumps indictment shows that no one is above the law, but the prosecution of the person overwhelmingly expected to be the incumbent Presidents opponent in the 2024 election hardly supports this claim! If the DOJ were to investigate Hunter Biden on the other hand... Whats more, allegations, filed with the relevant court by the lawyer involved, claim that DOJ officials attempted to extort the attorney for Trumps main assistant (also indicted in Florida), suggesting that his application for a judgeship would depend on how he advised his client. A recent story based on the Twitter Files shows the cooperation between the corrupt FBI and the Security Service of Ukraine (the SBU) in targeting accountsincluding at least one American journalistfor spreading fear and disinformation. March 2022 demands for the shutdown of the accounts and the provision of the personal information of those who created them were relayed from the SBU to Twitter via the FBI, which made the request on the SBUs behalf. Meanwhile, one of the most important U.S. roadways, Interstate- 95, has collapsed in Philadelphia and been shut down following a fire there. A tanker truck fire was the reported cause of the collapse of the four lanes in one direction of an overpass of I-95 and the weakening and shutdown of the four opposite lanes, too. How long will it take to repair? On the other side of the world, Honduran President Xiomara Castro has visited the New Development Bank in Shanghai, and has applied for Honduras, which recently shifted its recognition from Taipei to Beijing, to join the institution. Afghanistans enormously successful eradication of opium cultivation has drawn the ire of the international dope lobby. The Talibans Successful Opium Ban Is Bad for Afghans and the World, is the title of a report by former World Bank country manager William Byrd, now working for the U.S. Institute of Peace, founded and financed by the U.S. Congress. Byrd, who supported freezing the Da Afghanistan Banks $9.5 billion in central bank assets, is weeping crocodile tears for the poor Afghans harmed by now producing wheat rather than deadly drugs: The economic shock from the opium ban is enormous ... Afghanistans farm-level rural economy has lost more than $1 billion per year worth of economic activity. On the war front, Russia has reported that it thwarted attempts to use drones to destroy a Russian ship active on a Black Sea mission to protect the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines. And Russia has been invited to participate in Chinas Northern/Interaction-2023 military exercise. This will be the second time Russia has participated in such an exercise within China, with the first having been in August 2021. If you havent yet seen and shared the Schiller Institutes conference of June 10, The World Needs JFKs Vision of Peace! be sure to do so! It is only through a recognition of the interests of all that it will be possible to create, as Helga Zepp-LaRouche quoted President Kennedy from 60 years ago that day in her keynote, genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on Earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and build a better life for their childrennot merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and womennot merely peace in our time, but peace for all time. South Sudan is working to remove landmines left over from many years of conflict. But the process is slow and is preventing some people who fled the country from returning to their homes. Jacob Wani is one of the people affected. The 45-year-old farmer recently decided to return to South Sudan for the first time since fleeing the countrys civil war eight years ago. Wani told The Associated Press he was excited to return home so he could start rebuilding his life. But when he tried to return to his land in Eastern Equatorial state, he was banned. Wani was told he could not enter the property. He said the land had been declared dangerous because of landmines. My area is dangerous, Wani told reporters from the AP. He is currently living in his shop in the village of Moli, a few kilometers from his farm. I do not have the capacity to rebuild in this place and I am also afraid (of explosives). If I go, maybe something can hurt me." Warring sides signed a peace deal in 2018 to end a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people and displaced millions. Many people seeking to return to the country are finding that areas around their homes are filled with mines buried during many years of conflict. The United Nations Mine Action Service said that since 2004, landmines or other military explosives have killed or injured more than 5,000 South Sudanese. South Sudan has a goal to clear all unexploded ammunition and minefields by 2026. But experts think that goal will likely not be met as dangerous weapons and landmines are being found across the country each day. More than 84 million square meters of unexploded ammunition and mines have been cleared over the past 20 years, the Mine Action Service said. However, 10 people were killed in March after they mistakenly played with a grenade, a small bomb, in a rural village in Western Bahr el Ghazal state. The contamination is too huge, said Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, chairperson for South Sudans National Mine Action Authority. He told the AP the clearing efforts are being hurt by a lack of money, continued insecurity, and flooding during the rainy season. Eastern Equatorial state is along the border with Uganda. The state is South Sudan's most heavily contaminated area. Years of war with northern Sudan hit the area before it gained independence in 2011. By the end of 2021, the state had the most areas with unexploded ammunition in the country, the organization Mine Action Review found. At the same time, U.N. officials said 115,000 people have returned to Eastern Equatorial state since the peace agreement. During a visit to the area in May, families told the AP they had their food assistance cut by 50 percent in refugee camps in Uganda. This pushed them to come back home. But many are returning to conflict-damaged villages, with little food, shelter or open schools. In some communities, more than half of the area is contaminated, locals said. Whenever there is a landmine, there is a danger. So, everybody fears to go cultivate and do activitiesbecause of fear of landmines, said Sebit Kilama, a community leader. Private contractors and aid groups are continuing to clear the area from contamination, but they say the job is very difficult. During one clearance operation in May, the aid group MAG found 16 unexploded devices in less than one week of work. Locals have also said they are finding dangerous military equipment near main roads. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story capacity n. the largest amount or number that a container, building, etc. can hold contaminate v. to make something dirty or poisonous cultivate v. to prepare land and grow crops on it ________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Lion and leopard populations in Zambias Kafue National Park are showing signs of a comeback, following many years of poaching. A new early-warning system involving birds has been a part of the success. A new report shared with the Reuters news agency found that big cat numbers across Kafue remained similar -- and in some cases increased -- from 2018 to 2022. The populations were measured widely for the first time by Panthera. The organization works to save wild cats. A lack of historical population data makes it difficult to examine population changes over a longer period of time. But since 2018, scientists have seen signs that the big cat populations are increasing, said Kim Young-Overton. She is director of Pantheras Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area program, which includes Kafue. A half-century of poaching has greatly hurt wildlife populations in Africas third-largest national park. Kafues big cats are among the victims. Leopards have long been hunted for their skin, which people use to make ceremonial clothing. Poachers have also targeted the grass-eating animals that lions eat, leaving too little food behind for the hungry cats. Area farmers have targeted the lions with weapons like guns, arrows, and even poison. Conservation groups have worked alongside Africa Parks and Zambias Department of National Parks and Wildlife to help protect Kafues wildlife. The groups and organizations use many different tools in their efforts. One of the newer methods is tagging, or marking, vultures with satellite trackers. The birds are drawn to dead animal carcasses, or bodies. And so are big cats. The quick arrival of the vultures lets wildlife managers know about possibly poisoned carcasses before the lions and leopards can get to them. In many parts of Africa, livestock owners will poison cow carcasses with a deadly agricultural chemical meant to kill the cats that eat them. The farmers see the poisoning as a form of punishment for lions that kill and eat their animals. Scientists have tagged two kinds of vultures, including the endangered white-backed vulture. Their population has dropped by more than 90 percent across West Africa in the past 40 years, largely due to poisoning. Corinne Kendall leads conservation and research efforts at North Carolina Zoo in the United States. The zoo leads the vulture-tagging program in Zambia. She said, "African white-backed vultures will come in really large numbers. A hundred or more of the birds may try to eat a poisoned carcass. All of them will die, Kendall added. Since 2021, the zoo team has tagged 19 vultures in Zambia. The birds wear very small bags containing the satellite tags over their wings. So far, the tagged vultures have led the wildlife teams to two suspected poisoning events near Kafue. In such cases, park workers were able to remove the carcass and try to find the people responsible for the poisoning. This helps save both the birds and the big cats. "Poisoning is a silent killer," Kendall added. "Unless you have something like satellite-tagged vultures, a lot might be going on without anyone knowing about it." Im Gregory Stachel. Gloria Dickie reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story poach v. to catch or kill an animal illegally conservation n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources tag n. a small piece of cloth, paper, metal, etc., that is attached to something and that has information written on it track v. to follow and try to find (an animal) by looking for its tracks and other signs that show where it has gone manager n. someone who is in charge of a business or department livestock n. farm animals (such as cows, horses, and pigs) that are kept, raised, and used by people zoo n. a place where many kinds of animals are kept so that people can see them silent adj. giving no information about something ______________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. ELWOOD Gosper County is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary on July 11 with an evening full of events at the courthouse. The festivities will take place on Tuesday, July 11 from 4 8 p.m. From 4 6 p.m. there will be a historical photo slideshow provided by Reid Stagemeyer in the courthouse. There will be live music from the County Cruisers and Terry Debban and Friends from 4 8 p.m. From 5 7 p.m. there will be barbeque provided by the county and cooked by Lone Wolf BBQ, while cookies will be provided by the Elwood Library. A bounce house from Rock IT Event Pros will be available for children, attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the evening. Gosper County History Gosper County was formed in 1873 and organized in 1881. It was named for John J. Gosper, a Nebraska Secretary of State. By the early 1870s, settlements had begun to form along the Muddy, Elk and Turkey Creeks in the southern part of the county, as well as Plum Creek in the north. James Hindman was the first to file a homestead claim on April 28, 1870, this was later canceled and the claim preempted by T. W. Russell in April 16, 1874, according the U.S. Land Office Records. After the county was formed, there was an increase in immigration, in 1874 the population grew to 100 and by the next year this grew to 261. By 1879, the county was home to 624 people, 56 percent were men and women and children included 43 percent. The location of the county seat led to some controversy, the community of Homerville had been plated in 1883 and a small courthouse was built after it was voted the seat of the county. But in 1888, a bitter fight between Elwood, only three years old at the time and Homerville began. After a hotly contested election, Elwood won and was to be the new county seat. The Homerville residents obtained an injunction which delayed the removal of the county seat until 1889. One night, between the time of the county seat election in 1888 and the final removal of the records in 1889, a county judge neglected to lock up the records and some enterprising Elwood boosters transferred the records to Elwood. However, the records had to be returned to Homerville, where the Minutemen of Homerville, guarded the county records until they were legally moved to the new county seat. In the spring of 1889, the courthouse at Homerville was moved to Elwood. It was noted this was a difficult task due to the lack of proper equipment, especially going through, Devils Gap, just southwest of Elwood. The first courthouses serve the county until it was destroyed by a fire on Nov. 14, 1895. The story goes that the Gosper County Treasurer W. E. Aldrichs books were found to be short $28,176.43 and this was being looked into by state examiners. Aldrich, apparently a heavy drinker, was said to have set the fire himself where he fled the area and either died by suicide in Denver or was living on the lam in Alaska. Such was the rumor mill at the time. In January 1896, the county commissioners accepted plans for a new courthouse. The wooden structure was built and served the area until November 1939, when the present day courthouse was built. Todays courthouse was designed by architects McClure & Walker with Art Deco style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The story of how the town came to be called Elwood was noted in the Sept. 13, 1935 edition of the Elwood Bulletin. A surveyor, A. B. Smith, for the Lincoln Land Company was taking measurements on a hot and dusty day and did not were not impressed with the county and was still struggling to come up with a name. Elwood Thomas, a young homesteader who lived nine miles south of the site was riding to the post office for mail. Thomas met with the surveyor and both chatted until the name of the community came up. Smith finally approached Mr. Thomas on the problem of naming the new town. Thomas did not know a sutiable name and finally Smith said, Young man, what is your name? Thomas replied, Elwood Thomas, Good, well name the town Elwood, replied Smith. By August 1885, the railroad finally reached Elwood and the community was made a terminal. The line was built by the Nebraska Colorado Railroad, but was operated by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad. There were a number of communities that were settled in Gosper County, including Daviesville, Homerville, Ceryle, Hoteling Flats, Gosper, Tracyville and Smithfield, of which, only Smithfield remains today. The land for the town site of Smithfield was purchased in May 29, 1890 by the Lincoln Land Company, which was an agent for the railroad. The land was purchased from E. B. Smith, who had homesteaded the land. The town was laid out in the midst of a corn field, hence the name, Smithfield. A second IRA hunger striker, 25-year-old Francis Hughes, has starved to death in the Maze Prison near Lisburn in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. His death comes a week after the death of Bobby Sands on 5 May, the first to die in a republican campaign for political status to be granted to IRA prisoners. Hughes began refusing food and medical attention a week after Sands began his hunger strike on 1 March. He lapsed into unconsciousness and died at 1743BST today. As news of his death spread in Catholic areas of Belfast and Londonderry, women clanged dustbin lids and young men stoned army vehicles, threw petrol bombs and hijacked lorries. Hughess brother, Oliver, blamed the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, for his death. Speaking from his hometown of Bellaghy he said: Margaret Thatcher and the British Government have murdered my brother and his blood is on Margaret Thatchers hands. The condition of two other hunger strikers at the Maze, Raymond McCreesh and Patrick OHara, continues to deteriorate. Their five demands include: the right to wear their own clothes, refrain from prison work, associate freely with other republican prisoners, to have visits and parcels once a week and the right to have lost remission on sentences restored. Security forces have said Hughes was an absolute fanatic whose name stood for murder and nothing else. A spokesman went on to describe him as as vicious a man as you could meet, a ruthless killer who thrived on what he was doing. His republican colleagues hailed him as fearless and active. Four years ago, Hughes became a wanted man after the home of a policeman was blown up in County Tyrone. No-one was hurt but Hughes fingerprints were found on adhesive tape used on the bomb. In March 1978 he was finally caught after a gun battle at Bellaghy and eventually sentenced to a total of 83 years in prison for his six-year-long career as an IRA gunman and bomber. The government is refusing to grant any of the hunger strikers demands. Mrs Thatcher says they are a cover for gaining political status, a special category denied paramilitaries in the Maze since 1976. Courtesy BBC News In context The Maze Prison was initially run along the lines of a prisoner-of-war camp, segregated according to paramilitary allegiance with military-style command structures. In March 1976 the British Government ended special category status which had accorded the prisoners political recognition and started to treat paramilitary offenders as ordinary criminals. The jail became the focus of intense international scrutiny between 1976 and 1981 when Republican inmates fought for political status, initially through the blanket and dirty protests. Their campaign culminated in two hunger strikes. During the second in 1981, 10 Republicans, led by Bobby Sands, starved themselves to death and 64 civilians, police and soldiers died in violence directly attributable to the hunger strikes. Three days after the hunger strikes came to an end on 3 October, Northern Ireland Secretary James Prior negotiated a package of concessions for the Maze prisoners much to the fury of the loyalist community. He met two of the prisoners demands the right to wear their own clothes and the restoration of 50% of lost remission for those who obeyed prison rules for three months. Until July 28, three local art collectors, Frederico Rato, Francisco Ricarte and Konstantin Bessmertny, will showcase some of their numerous artworks, collected during years and even decades, in old Taipa Village, to promote a greater understanding of the reasons for collecting art as well as promoting Macanese culture. With differing perspectives on collecting, the three will display a diverse array of artworks, including one of Marc Chagalls lithographs, three oils on canvas and platex, six photographs and about ten ancient history and philosophy books. This unusual exhibition attempts to address the nature of collecting and prompt a visual conversation regarding cultural possessions by individuals with very specific and highly personal interests, the curator of the exhibition, Joao O, said during the opening ceremony on June 7. The art of collecting I consider these kinds of old books as proper artworks, the Russian painter, Konstantin Bessmertny, explained to MDT. For my part, Im just collecting because I enjoy it, but of course I have read all the books in my collection. Thats how Im getting inspired. The exhibition also includes the first artwork created by Bessmertny after he arrived in Macau entitled Macau Little Landscape, which now belongs to veteran lawyer Frederico Rato. This is one of my favorites in my entire collection, Rato said. I like to admire landscapes from a high place and have this feeling of flying, especially this one which shows the old Macau. Even though the Russian artist stopped painting Macau for a while, considering it too commercial, hes working on a new painting of the city which aims to show it from a new perspective. I always want to challenge myself. Thats why Im pretending to be an artist from the 19th century in this new painting of Macau that Im working on, both in the style and the landscape represented. The most important thing for me is to appreciate the artworks, Rato told the Times. If I dont like, then I dont buy. I always like to say that the art collection is also an art in itself. For the lawyer, every community possesses its specific form of art, and the collecting is a mix between reproduction and conservation which shows the emotions and feelings of the collector. This point of view is shared by architect Francisco Ricarte, who displays many photographs in the exhibition. I dont have a portfolio approach, meaning that the artworks have to touch me because its a part of our identity, he said. For me, art collecting is a kind of therapy. The opening ceremony also featured a panel discussion where the three art collectors were able to share their thoughts and reasons about why they collect art, as well as interact with arts enthusiasts. To facilitate access to culture in Macau, the exhibition, titled Show Off, is open seven days a week, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission for the public. Staff Reporter The local government has moved decisively to liberalize Macaus aviation sector. The Executive Council (ExCo) announced last Friday it had concluded an evaluation of the draft bill to establish the new legal regime regulating the civil aviation market. The change will end Air Macaus monopoly as Macaus only flag carrier and allow other players to enter the market and base their operations at the Macau International Airport. The president of the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM), Pun Wa Kin, said he hoped the Legislative Assembly (AL) would approve the new legal regime before the current contract between the government and Air Macau ends in November this year. Pun was speaking Friday afternoon at the ExCo press conference at the governments headquarters. This bill aims to transform the former concession system into a licensing system that will allow more companies to establish an operational base in Macau, the president of AACM said. The bill will implement the government policy of gradually opening the local aviation market and I believe that will help to develop more international air routes and a network of other air routes, he said. The bill proposes a new licensing system for commercial passenger air transportation that requires companies wishing to operate from Macau to obtain an operating license. Among other financial as well as technical requirements, the companies must be legally incorporated in Macau and must have Macau as their main location for business. Responding to media questions, Pun denied that the government already has potential candidates for licenses, saying the law has not yet been approved. The bill has now been referred to the AL which will, as per normal procedure, schedule a date for its discussion and approval by the lawmakers upon its first reading. After that, it will be further discussed at one of the AL Standing Committees before going to the plenary for a final vote. Honduras opened an embassy in Beijing yesterday, Chinese state media reported, months after the Central American nation broke off relations with Taiwan to form diplomatic ties with China. Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Honduran counterpart Enrique Reina took part in the inauguration of the embassy yesterday morning, Chinas official CCTV said. The report said Honduras still needed to determine the embassys 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 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. 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, Castros office tweeted Saturday. The president also visited a research center 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 toward self-ruled Taiwan. It also signaled Chinas growing influence in Latin America. MDT/AP Hong Kongs dependent visa arrangements for acquiring talented people might be more attractive than Macaus, local media has reported. Talented people see dependent visa arrangements as important when deciding where to relocate. As per Hong Kongs Immigration Department, applicants under Hong Kongs Quality Migrant Admission Scheme may apply to bring in their spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, same-sex marriage, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union entered into by him/her in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to Hong Kong under the prevailing dependant policy. In contrast, Macaus Talent Acquisition Legal System has no clear dependent visa provision that includes couples in same-sex marriages or civil unions. Local media Macao Daily News has reported that the Macau law does not accept same-sex partners under marriage or civil union for dependent visas. With the government aiming to attract professionals in Big Health, as well as high and new technology industries, the local scheme may appear less attractive compared to its Hong Kong counterpart. Global technology megafirms, such as Apple, Google and HP, are known to be inclusive on gender identity and sexual orientation issues. A May 2021 story by Forbes cited a May 2020 report published by global consultancy McKinsey & Co as pointing out that more gender diverse companies were 25% more likely to see above-average profitability. Nonetheless, Macaus Civil Code and the talent acquisition laws allow a type of unregistered marriage de-facto marriage which is looser than the requirements in Hong Kong. As the Civil Code states that such a marriage is actualized when two people cohabit voluntarily for two years in a state like married spouses, proofs of the relationship are believed to be crucial when the application is made. The two jurisdictions have similar stipulations in the provisions for dependent children. The Macau scheme is less flexible than Hong Kongs. Macaus scheme is based on a law passed at the parliament. In contrast, Hong Kongs scheme is based on an Executive Order formulated by the Chief Executive. Any amendments in Hong Kong will be implemented in a simpler manner due to simpler procedures. Applications in Macau will only be accepted during designated periods. In Hong Kong, applications are all-year-round and reviewed upon submission. Macau will also have a black-out period for application submission. Unsuccessful applicants will be barred from re-applying within a year. In Hong Kong, these applicants can re-apply with additional supporting documents. The schemes in Macau and Hong Kong have similar target audiences. The local scheme targets three types of professionals, while the scheme in Hong Kong has three sub-schemes or scoring schemes to separate professionals into three categories. The categories are similar to the professionals targeted by Macau. Over the weekend, the Executive Council (ExCo) concluded its discussion on the Executive Regulations for the implementation details for the talent acquisition law and for the Talent Development Council. According to Secretary-General Chao Chong Hang of the Council, the first phase of talent acquisition will revolve around the 1+4 industries, namely tourism and leisure, Big Health, modern finance, advanced and new technology, as well as MICE, business, culture and sports. The frontier industries for talent acquisition will be Big Health as well as high and new technology, Chao added, because there are fewer of these professionals on a global scale and the vacancies that can be offered will be more controllable. Despite underlining the schemes target as the whole world, he expects the first phase shall see more applications from mainland China, because its geographically closer, with easier access to our information. Chao sees Macau being attractive because of its low tax rate, free trade, social security and education. He said many enquiries had been received even before the official opening of application. * Money-wasting bureau Commission of Audit report slams IAM, DSOP and ID for inefficiency and money-wasting * Now everyone can fly | Govt acts on aviation sector liberalization * Art | Collectors show off * The clamor one would typically expect to see at a busy port is distinctly absent in the new automated container terminal of Nansha Port in Guangzhou * HR: Macau might run behind HK in dependent visa for talents acquired * Honduras opens embassy in Beijing after breaking off ties with Taiwan DOWNLOAD PDF Monday, June 12, 2023 edition no. 4264 Ho Iat Seng, Andre Moz Caldas, Liu Xianfa, and Consul-general Alexandre Leitao The Portuguese community residing in Macau has played a crucial role with unwavering loyalty and dedication, stated Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, during a reception commemorating the Day of Portugal, Camoes, and Portuguese Communities (June 10). The event, exceptionally held at the Macau Portuguese School, celebrated the deep cultural exchange between China and Portugal and emphasized the significance of the Portuguese community within Macau. Ho Iat Seng reaffirmed the governments commitment to upholding the Basic Law and ensuring improved conditions for the well-being of all Macau residents, including the Portuguese community. Highlighting the enduring connection between Macau and Portugal, Ho Iat Seng stressed the advantages derived from the profound exchange of Chinese and Portuguese cultures. Macau, he stated, aims to play a pivotal role in facilitating commercial and financial services between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Chief Executive also emphasized the friendly diplomatic relations between Beijing and Lisbon. In April, Ho Iat Seng visited Portugal accompanied by a delegation of 50 local businessmen, fostering stronger economic ties between the two regions. The visit marked the first overseas trip after the pandemic, dedicated to expanding collaborations in various domains such as economy, trade, scientific innovation, healthcare, culture, and Portuguese language education. MDT President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta last week said some countries see Chinas development as a threat to the region and the world, adding such a tunnel vision is narrow-minded and unconvincing. Ramos-Horta made the remarks at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias annual defense and security forum, held in Singapore, adding that Chinas influence spreads across the globe and its interests, wealth, peoples well-being and security are intertwined with all countries in the world. From the national defense strategy released by the Biden administration to the indictment of Chinese law enforcement officers and other government officials, the U.S. has been hyping up the so-called China threat for years. The U.S. and the European countries should think about why so many countries in the world are increasingly turning to cooperate with China, he said. Sharing details of a conversation with a Somali diplomat in the 1990s, Ramos-Horta said the diplomat pointed out that Western countries have repeatedly provoked human rights issues and accused developing countries but refused to provide them with help. China is a real major power and a true friend to developing countries, he added. CGTN The United States should close NATO's open door. The U.S. should make clear it does not support Ukraine joining the alliance for three main reasons. The first is that Ukraine's security does not affect the security of Americans. U.S. policy in Europe historically aimed at preventing one country from dominating the continent. Even outright Russian control of Ukraine which will not happen would not let it dominate Europe. The idea is absurd enough that even the neoconservative writer Robert Kagan recently acknowledged "there is no way that (Vladimir) Putin's conquest of Ukraine (would have) any immediate or even distant effect on American security." As he put it, the claim is "kind of ludicrous." Had Russia taken all of Ukraine without a shot being fi red, its GDP would have gone up 10%, and it would have gained a second major port on the Black Sea. Are these stakes really worth the risk of nuclear war for Americans? That risk is real. Even President Joe Biden, whose policy of arming and training Ukrainians and helping them target Russians has run serious risks, acknowledges it. Since the beginning of the war, Biden has repeated his view that "we will not fight the third world war in Ukraine." Sending Americans to fight Russia in Ukraine, "that's called World War III, OK? Let's get it straight here, guys." This leads to the second reason to oppose Ukrainian NATO membership: a U.S.commitment to defend Ukraine would have dubious credibility. Alliance commitments have been honored only 22% of the time since World War II, research suggests. A treaty commitment to Ukraine would be especially dubious because the United States has revealed that it does not believe Ukraine is worth fighting over. Russia has revealed that it does. With the judgment of the U.S. government on the record in this fashion reread Biden's quote above why would Russia credit a U.S.commitment to defend it? Trying to make a credible commitment would almost certainly entail deploying U.S. military forces to Ukraine to tip the conventional balance against Russia and attempt to convince Moscow it would risk nuclear war for Ukraine. If history is a guide, the defense requirements for Ukraine will be undersold when its candidacy is being marketed. But if it joins the alliance, an array of bleak facts will suddenly emerge. The Baltic states, for example, were snuck in under the premises that their defense was cheap, they faced few threats and that Article 5, which commits NATO members to treat an attack on any member as an attack on itself, was largely self-enforcing. After Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, Baltic heads of state understandably came rushing to NATO demanding a plan for their defense. The amiable, secure NATO candidates suddenly became costly, vulnerable alliance members. Those pushing hardest for Ukrainian NATO membership claim that only an Article 5 guarantee can secure Ukraine. Oddly, though, some NATO members do not feel their own Article 5 guarantees are sufficient. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Estonia's prime minister complained that the existing NATO posture leaves Tallinn vulnerable to being "wiped off the map" and that greater eff ort on Estonia's behalf was required. The final reason to oppose Ukraine's membership in NATO is that the costs of defending Ukraine would be borne primarily by Americans at a time when the United States has more significant problems at home and in other theaters. With Congress having just punted on the national debt, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that in 10 years the United States will run $2.7 trillion annual deficits and face an unprecedented national debt that's 119% of GDP. These rising fiscal constraints are complemented by an unprecedented Chinese challenge in Asia. The U.S. is already on the hook for more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine, making it by far the largest contributor to Ukraine's defense. Estimates of what it will cost to reconstruct Ukraine hover around $1 trillion, with much of that bill laid at the feet of Americans. The costs of Ukrainian NATO membership would also be carried primarily by Americans. Ukraine's security is not vital to the security of Americans. A treaty commitment to Ukraine would be of dubious credibility, and the costs and risks of defending that country would fall on Americans. Russia's invasion violated the U.N. charter, and its troops are guilty of war crimes. As such, Ukraine deserves our sympathy and some aid, but not that we consider its security our own. Logan is the director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. A Cassville woman faces an OWI homicide charge after a fatal crash in Grant County on Thursday afternoon, authorities reported. The two-vehicle fatal crash happened about 1 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Highway 81 and Settlement Road in the town of Cassville, Sheriff Nate Dreckman said in a statement. Erin Ruberg, 33, was driving south on Settlement Road in a 2014 Toyota Highlander, came to a "rolling" stop at the stop sign, then pulled out to continue south on Highway Y. At the same time, Gerald Dukett, 52, of Cassville, was heading east on Highway 81 in his 2000 GMC Yukon Denali, and Dukett's vehicle struck Ruberg's vehicle in the passenger side, sending both vehicles spinning violently into the ditch on the southeast corner of the intersection, Dreckman said. Dukett's vehicle rolled onto its passenger side, Dukett was ejected, and pronounced dead at the scene, Dreckman said. After an investigation and field sobriety tests, Ruberg, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, was determined to be impaired and arrested on a tentative charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, Dreckman said. Photos: Remembering horrific van crash that killed 7 young people in 1999 n Sept. 30, 1990, I stood amid a massive rally in OKyiv 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 they'd 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 Stalin's 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 decadeslong policy of military neutrality, becoming the 31st NATO member. But a series of post-Soviet leaders warned that Ukrainian membership would be unacceptable, pushing NATO to Russia's 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 fi rm. Led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 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, Putin's 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 treaty's 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 U.S. 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, 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 seeing the Kremlin's nightmare of full Ukrainian membership in NATO become a reality. Rosen is a former political reporter for McClatchy who covered the collapse of the Soviet Union as a Moscow correspondent. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. At the height of the Islamic State group's rampage across Syria, the world watched in horror as the militants blew up an iconic arch and temple in the country's famed Roman ruins in Palmyra. Eight years later, IS lost its hold but restoration work on the site is held up by security issues, leftover IS land mines and lack of funding. Other archaeological sites throughout Syria face similar problems, both in areas held by the government and by the opposition. They were damaged by the war or, more recently, by the deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Syria and a wide area of neighboring Turkey in February. Youssef Kanjou, a former director of Syria's Aleppo National Museum, said the situation of heritage sites in his country is a "disaster." Without a coordinated preservation and restoration effort, said Kanjou, now a researcher at Tubingen University in Germany, "We will lose what was not destroyed by the war or the earthquake." Before the war, Palmyra one of Syria's six UNESCO world heritage sites was the country's archaeological crown jewel, a tourist attraction that drew tens of thousands of visitors each year. The ancient city was the capital of an Arab client state of the Roman Empire that briefly rebelled and carved out its own kingdom in the third century, led by Queen Zenobia. In more recent times, the area had darker associations. It was home to the Tadmur prison, where thousands of opponents of the Assad family's rule in Syria were reportedly tortured. IS demolished the prison after capturing the town. The militants later destroyed Palmyra's historic temples of Bel and Baalshamin and the Arch of Triumph, viewing them as monuments to idolatry, and beheaded an elderly antiquities scholar who dedicated his life to overseeing the ruins. Today, the road through the desert from Homs to Palmyra is dotted with Syrian army checkpoints. In the town adjacent to the ancient site, some shops reopened but signs of war remain in the form of charred vehicles and burned-out or boarded-up buildings. The Palmyra Museum is closed, and the much-loved lion statue that used to stand in front of it was moved to Damascus for restoration and safekeeping. Nevertheless, Syrian and foreign tourists began to trickle back. "We thought it was impossible that foreigners would return to Palmyra," said Qais Fathallah, who used to run a hotel there but fled to Homs when IS took over. Now he is back in Palmyra, operating a restaurant, where he said he serves tourists regularly. On a recent day, a group of tourists from countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and China, and another with Syrian university students, were wandering through the ruins. Some of the Syrian tourists had visited in better days. For communication engineering student Fares Mardini, it was the first time. "Now I've finally come, and I see so much destruction. It's something really upsetting," he said. "I hope it can be restored and return to what it was." In 2019, international experts convened by UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural agency, said detailed studies would need to be done before starting major restorations. Youmna Tabet, program specialist at the Arab states unit of UNESCO's World Heritage Center, said restoration work often involves difficult choices, particularly if there isn't enough original material for rebuilding. "Is it worth it to rebuild it with very little authenticity or should we rather focus on having 3D documentation of how it was?" she said. Missions to the site were held up at first by security issues, including land mines that had to be cleared. IS cells still occasionally carry out attacks in the area. Money is also a problem. "There is a big lack of funding so far, for all the sites in Syria," Tabet said, noting that international donors have been wary of breaching sanctions on Syria imposed by the United States, the European Union and others. Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, began restoring Palmyra's triumphal arch. "We have some funding from some friends in some places, but it is not sufficient in relation to the disaster that occurred," said Mohammad Nazir Awad, director general of Syria's department of Antiquities and Museums. Maamoun Abdulkarim, who headed the antiquities department at the time of the IS incursion, pointed to the international push to recover damaged heritage sites in the city of Mosul in neighboring Iraq, also controlled by the militants for some time, as an example of a successful restoration. "We need to make some separation between political affairs and cultural heritage affairs," said Abdulkarim, now a professor at the University of Sharjah. He warned that damaged structures are in danger of deteriorating further or collapsing as the rehabilitation work is delayed. The deadly Feb. 6 earthquake caused further destruction at some sites. This includes the old city of Aleppo, which is under the control of the government, and the Byzantine-era church of Saint Simeon in the Aleppo countryside, in an area controlled by Turkish-backed opposition forces. About one-fifth of the church was damaged in the earthquake, including the basilica arch, said Hassan al-Ismail, a researcher with nongovernmental organization Syrians for Heritage. He said the earthquake compounded damage caused by bombings and vandalism. The group tried to stabilize the structure and preserve the stones that fell from it for later use in restoration. Ayman al-Nabo, head of antiquities in the opposition-held city of Idlib, appealed for international assistance. Antiquities should be seen as "neutral to the political reality," he said. "This is global human heritage, which belongs to the whole world, not just the Syrians." Not Thomas Jefferson but rather the abolitionist Wendell Phillips originated the quote, Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few. That applies not only in the case of national and regional concerns but local as well as in the election of school trustees and administrators. Consider this weeks hiring of a school superintendent at West Bonner School District 83, based at Priest River. This may seem obscure if you live far away from there, as most Idahoans do. But stay with me. The superintendency opened in March with the resignation of Jackie Branum, who was replaced on an interim basis by a longtime area resident and elementary school principal, Susie Luckey. The search effort yielded two finalists for the position. One was Luckey, who has a conventional and evidently uncontroversial background as an experienced public school administrator locally for two decades. The other finalist was Branden Durst, on whom hangs our tale. Durst should be a moderately familiar name elsewhere around the state. He was a state legislator (a Democrat then, though hes decisively switched parties since) and last year was a candidate for state superintendent of public instruction, polling second in the Republican primary behind eventual winner Debbie Critchfield. He also finished fifth of six candidates in 2018 for the Boise School District board. Those efforts werent helped by reports about his background. In last years primary, he positioned himself as well to the ideological right of the other two contenders (the then-incumbent and the now-incumbent) and talked in large part about parental rights and school choice, with a culture war edge. He has been a senior analyst education policy research for the ideological Idaho Freedom Foundation, whose leadership has expressed sharp opposition to public school education, period. After last years primary election, Durst took a job with the Idaho Family Policy Center, which is self-described as the only conservative Christian think tank in the state and which said of its new hire, An ordained pastor and member of Cloverdale Church of God, Branden cares deeply about promoting biblical values in government and culture. And he noted on Facebook that hes been working to establish Idahos, and possibly the Nations, first ever Christian public charter school. (Oklahoma recently got there first on the national front.) Durst has had academic classwork in education but has never led or managed or professionally taught in a public school. You get the drift. The contest for superintendent this is about the West Bonner superintendency, remember? has become a hot topic online, notably on the districts Facebook page. OUR VIEW: What's happening at North Idaho College could happen anywhere even here OUR VIEW: North Idaho College, one of the state's original building blocks of higher education, is dangerously close to collapse. If it could happen there, it could happen here. One post backing him refers to criticism from Good Government Bulldogs against Branden Durst who is interviewing for Superintendent, please note that this is yet another leftist/RINO group attempting to attack yet another excellent conservative candidate #VoteBrandenDurst and loosen the chokehold of the leftist regime on our tax funded schools. You can take that as an indicator of whos backing him: Republican Party organization people like (and probably including) those supporting the governing board at North Idaho College at Coeur dAlene. The anti-Durst side focused its message on a Dont Do Durst page. The most striking piece on it may be tweets showing Dursts enthusiastic support for Todd Banducci, who led that North Idaho College board over many of the months it has steadily demolished the institution and dragged it to the edge of losing its accreditation. Banducci and his allies were elected in large part through the help of local Republican leaders who also happen to be leaders in the Idaho Freedom Foundation. So, what kind of superintendent and what kind of a school district does West Bonner want? On a 3-2 vote behind closed doors, the trustees decided against the veteran local educator who already had been serving as interim superintendent, and instead chose Durst. Prepare to be surprised if the West Bonner district doesnt generate some really newsy headlines in the months to come. You might get a feel for that an hour south at North Idaho College, and ponder what can result when were insufficiently vigilant as we fill our public offices. The National Development Company, an investment of the Department of Trade and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding with Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd. of Japan to explore business opportunities and collaborate on creating value on engineering and design services in the Philippines. Based on the MOU, the agreement will run its course for a year which became effective when the two parties signed the MOU on June 6, 2023. YEC intends to further expand its business activities and services in the Philippines, including promotion of applicable Japanese technology and solutions to contribute to the Philippines infrastructure sector and socio-economic development. NDC and YEC had a meeting in Tokyo, Japan in line with the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in February 2023. The two firms discussed mutual interests and business opportunities in the Philippines with potential for collaboration. The MOU intends to explore cooperative ways to expand and promote business and project opportunities in the Philippines, which is expected to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Bunia, DR Congo Militants have killed seven civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Sunday, in the latest attack to hit the turbulent region. CODECO militiamen attacked an army position in the Djukoth area of Ituri provinces Mahagi territory on Saturday evening, according to local Red Cross worker. Ituri province is one of eastern Democratic Republic of Congos violence hotspots, where attacks claiming dozens of lives are routine. Seven civilians were killed near the position, said the official, who declined to be named. Five children and two women were among the dead. Innocent Wabekudu, a community leader in Mahagi, also said that CODECO fighters had savagely killed seven people, who were buried on Sunday. The Congolese army spokesman for military operations in Ituri, Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, was not immediately available for comment about details of the attack. Armed groups have plagued mineral-rich eastern DR Congo for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s. The CODECO, or or Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, claims to protect the Lendu community from another ethnic group, the Hema, as well as the DRC army. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Nairobi, Kenya 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 governments spokesman Legesse Tulu told journalists the decision by USAID and the World Food Programme (WFP) punishes millions. On Thursday, USAID, the US governments 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. Ethiopias 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 UNs 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. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Seoul, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered his countrys full support and solidarity to Moscow in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, state media reported. Kim sent the message of congratulations on the national day of Russia, one of a handful of nations that maintain friendly relations with Pyongyang. His message, published by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), did not directly mention the invasion of Ukraine or Moscows involvement in an armed conflict, but praised Putins correct decision and guidance to foil the hostile forces escalating threats. The North Korean people, it added, extend full support and solidarity to the Russian people in their all-out struggle for implementing the sacred cause to preserve the sovereign rights, development and interests of their country against the imperialists high-handed and arbitrary practices. This is the latest message of support from Pyongyang to Moscow since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. North Korea has described that conflict as a US proxy war to destroy Russia, and condemned Western military aid to Kyiv. In January, the United States accused North Korea of supplying rockets and missiles to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Pyongyang denied that allegation. And in March, Washington claimed to have proof that Moscow was looking to Pyongyang to supply weapons for its offensive in Ukraine, in return for food aid for impoverished North Korea. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia has long held the line against increasing pressure on North Korea, which is under multiple UN and Western sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile programmes. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. NATO began the largest air force deployment exercise in Europe in the alliances history yesterday in a display of unity toward partners and potential threats such as Russia. The German-led Air Defender 23 will run until June 23 and include some 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO and partner countries including Japan and Sweden, which is bidding to join the alliance. Up to 10,000 people will participate in the drills intended to boost interoperability and preparedness to protect against drones and cruise missiles in the case of an attack on cities, airports or sea ports within NATO territory. Presenting the plans last week, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz of the German Luftwaffe said Air Defender was conceived in 2018 in part as a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine four years before, though he said it was not targeted at anyone. He said that while NATO would defend every centimeter of its territory, the exercise would not send any flights, for example, in the direction of Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave bordering alliance member states Poland and Lithuania. We are a defensive alliance and that is how this exercise is planned, he said. US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said the drill would show beyond a shadow of a doubt the agility and the swiftness of our allied force and was intended to send a message to countries including Russia. I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance, and that includes Mr Putin, she told reporters, referring to the Russian president. By synchronizing together, we multiply our force. Russias war on Ukraine has galvanised the Western military alliance set up almost 75 years ago to face off against the Soviet Union. Finland and Sweden, which long kept an official veneer of neutrality to avoid conflict with Moscow, both sought membership in NATO after Russias February 2022 invasion. Under NATOs Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The exercise will include operational and tactical-level training, primarily in Germany, but also in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit pilots based at the Schleswig-Jagel airfield in northern Germany on Friday. AFP General Michael Loh, director of the US Air National Guard, said NATOs duties were at an inflection point. A great deal has changed on the strategic landscape throughout the world, especially here in Europe, he said. The exercise will focus on supplementing the permanent United States presence in Europe as well as providing training on a larger scale than what was usually accomplished on the continent, Loh added. He said many of the alliance pilots would be working together for the first time. Its about fostering the old relationships that we have but also building new ones with this younger generation of airmen, he said. And so this is about now establishing what it means to go against a great power in a great power competition. Gutmann said that while there were no plans to make Air Defender a recurring exercise, she added: We have no desire for this to be the last. Asked about potential disruption to civilian air transport during the exercise, Gerhartz said the planners would do everything in our power to limit flight delays or cancellations. German authorities had warned that flight schedules could be impacted by the drills. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. TODAYS WORD is coquettish. Example: She finished telling her riveting story with only a coquettish wink, leaving her audience begging to know the ending. SUNDAYS WORD was hadal, of or relating to the greatest ocean depths, below approximately 20,000 feet. Example: No sunlight can ever penetrate the hadal trenches of the Pacific Ocean. School Board vacancies Have you ever thought about serving on the local school board? Well, if youre a city resident, nows your chance. A public hearing will be held during the Martinsville City Council meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers for the purpose of receiving names of citizens interested in serving on the Martinsville City School Board. There are five members that serve on the Board, and its unusual that three seats will need to be filled this time, two with full three-year terms and one unexpired term that ends June, 2024. Heres the way it works: The names of interested candidates must be mentioned at the public hearing. The candidate may declare his or her interest, or a proxy may mention the name of the person to be considered. All-American City The Stroller was thinking about the time when Look Magazine named the city of Martinsville an All-American City. The year was 1970 when Ted Modzelewski traveled from the magazines offices in New York City to Martinsville and presented the first copy of the weeks edition of the magazine naming Martinsville as the winner. Mayor Fred T. Rinick and Former Mayor J. Frank Wilson were on hand to receive the honor on behalf of the City. An article in the magazine discussed integration of the YMCA in Martinsville and programs to help parolees. For those of you who dont remember Look magazine, it was a biweekly, general-interest magazine that emphasized photographs and photojournalism. The magazine began in 1937 and ended the year after it named Martinsville and All-American City. Did you know? Is it traveled or travelled? According to Readers Digest its both. The same word, spelled two different ways, means the same thing and neither is strictly speaking correct or incorrect. So its not a battle of travelled vs traveled, but rather a question of who will be reading what you write, says the magazine. And since we commented about the demise of Look Magazine, we should also point out that Readers Digest began in 1922 and is still going strong over 100 years later. In fact, the Encyclopedia Britannica says it probably has the largest circulation of any periodical in the world. SUNDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: The Rio Grande is the river located along the southern border of Texas. It originates in the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: Which city is traditionally said to be built on seven hills? The father of a Spotsylvania County middle school student who brought a loaded gun to school last month has been charged with a misdemeanor offense. Josette Rodriguez, 37, is charged with "recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm so as to endanger the life or limb of a child under the age of 14," Sheriff's Maj. Troy Skebo said. The charge stems from a May 19 incident in which a loaded .45-caliber handgun was found in the backpack of a 12-year-old boy. An investigation began after another student told a teacher about the weapon. School administrators and a school resource officer were notified and the gun was recovered without incident. Skebo said the student never made any threats regarding the gun. Sheriff Roger Harris said the incident was a good reminder of the need for parents and others to properly secure weapons to keep them out of the reach of curious or troubled children. A court appearance for Rodriguez is scheduled for next week in Spotsylvania General District Court. LYNCHBURG Beginning Monday and continuing for about two months, construction on the pedestal for the placement of the Mayor M.W. Teedy Thornhill, Jr. statue planned for the roundabout at 5th and Federal streets will take place, according to a news release from the city. Thornhill, first elected to Lynchburg City Council in 1972 as the Ward II representative, was elected as the citys first African American mayor in 1990. The statue in his honor is being erected in partnership between the City of Lynchburg, the 5th Street Community Development Corporation, Wiley|Wilson and Hill Studio. Last September, during a briefing from City Planner Tom Martin on the art installation, he told council the statue itself is being cast by Carolina Bronze of Seagrove, North Carolina. The artist is Ed Walker, according to the presentation given by Martin. At that meeting, Ward II Councilor Sterling Wilder said he was so excited for the Thornhill statue to be installed, adding the 5th Street Community Development Committee had been working on the project for several years. He was a pillar in our community since I was a child, Wilder added about Thornhill. The city said motorists should expect minor delays and use caution in the area of the roundabout while traveling, adding there could be flagging operations, changes in traffic patterns and temporary signage. According to the news release, periodic detours and lane closures will occur. However, emergency vehicles will have access at all times. Pat Price, who sits on the citys African American Culture Committee, told the The News & Advance on Friday the statue is expected to be unveiled Aug. 19, the weekend of the old Dunbar High School reunion held annually. The Marion City Council on June 6 recognized Danny Hampton as the Citizen of the Month for June. He was chosen for this honor by council member Don Ramsey. Hampton is the founder and executive director of Freedom Life Ministries, which seeks to help those who are in prison or have been recently released from prison rebuild their lives. He was called into the ministry while a student at Mars Hill College in 1982. After that, he attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary graduating with a Master of Divinity degree. Since 1982, he was served in ministry leadership positions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, New York and New Jersey. In 2010, he came back to his home in McDowell County. He felt a deep calling to minister to the needs of people who felt uncomfortable or unwanted within a church, people who felt unacceptable or unworthy to receive Gods love, said Ramsey. So in 2010, Hampton became a state-credentialed chaplain within the North Carolina prison system. Working for McDowell Mission Ministries, he started serving as a community-funded chaplain at the Marion Correctional Institution at both the close custody and minimum custody facilities. After two years of working in the prison system, Hampton felt the need to minister to incarcerated persons while they were in jail or prison and after they have been released back into the community. In 2012, he and a handful of other community leaders founded Freedom Life Ministries. Since then, Hampton has served on several boards and played an important role in the Blue Ridge Recovery Rally. He helped form the McDowell Reentry Council, which has brought together community and state partnership and resources. He has served as a part of the McDowell Substance Use Workgroup, now renamed as the McDowell Partnership for Substance Awareness, according to Ramsey. Over the past 12 years, Danny has worked tirelessly to build community connections, potential and capacity, said Ramsey. He has sought to not only help men and women rebuild lives and families, but also to help the McDowell and Marion communities become healthier and more vibrant. Last year, through a partnership between Freedom Life, McDowell and the city of Marion got grant funding to build 44 apartments specifically to provide program housing for men and women seeking to rebuild their lives and never see prison again. These apartments will be built along U.S. 70 East between Marion and Nebo. At the June 6 meeting, Hampton attended and he received this honor and was given a certificate by Mayor Steve Little. He was joined by his staff from Freedom Life and those whose lives have been changed by this ministry. Photo: The Canadian Press South Korean fishermen stage a rally against the planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began tests on Monday of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring countries. The tests at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said. Plant workers examined pumps and emergency shutdown equipment at the newly constructed seaside facility, which will dilute the treated water with large amounts of seawater. The diluted water then enters an undersea tunnel and is released into the ocean about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the coast. The undersea tunnel and other key facilities are near completion. TEPCO says the voluntary tests are expected to continue for about two weeks ahead of mandatory pre-operation checks to be conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, possibly in early July. Japan's government announced plans in April 2021 to gradually release the treated but still slightly radioactive water following its dilution to what it says are safe levels. Japanese officials say the water, currently stored in about a thousand tanks at the plant, needs to be removed to prevent accidental leaks in case of an earthquake and to make room for the plants decommissioning. The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Nearby countries, including South Korea, China and Pacific Island nations, have also raised safety concerns. Japans government has set up a fund to promote Fukushima seafood and provide compensation in case sales fall due to safety concerns. Fishing officials said they remain opposed to the plan when they met Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Saturday when he visited Fukushima and the neighboring prefectures of Ibaraki and Miyagi. We stand by our opposition, Tetsu Nozaki, head of the Fukushima prefectural fisheries association, told Nishimura. Nozaki, however, said the association supports progress in the plant's decommissioning and hopes to continue the dialogue. At the moment, our positions remain wide apart. Nishimura told reporters that he hopes to gain the understanding of fishing communities while working to prevent reputational damage. In South Korea, fishermen staged a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday against the plan to release treated radioactive water. Japanese officials say the diluted water will be released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life. Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency to gain credibility and ensure safety measures meet international standards. Some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides is unknown and the release should be delayed. A massive March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and releasing large amounts of radiation. The tanks storing the water used since the accident to cool the reactor cores will reach their capacity in early 2024. Gunfire and clashes resumed Sunday in Khartoum (the Sudanese capital), witnesses said, after the end of a 24-hour ceasefire that had given civilians a rare breathing space since two months. Heavy artillery fire was heard Sunday by witnesses in Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman to the north. Fighting also erupted on Al-Hawa Street (a major artery in the south of the capital), other inhabitants said. The Friday truce enabled civilians trapped in Khartoum to stock up on food and other essential supplies. Clashes had continued in the vicinity of the countrys largest military complex, despite a 24-hour truce agreed last Friday. The truce was to apply throughout Sudan from (Saturday) June 10 at 06:00 Khartoum time (04:00 GMT), the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement. This is the umpteenth truce, after many others that have hardly been respected, in the war that broke out on April 15 between the army, led by General Abdelfattah al-Burhane, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo. The parties pledged to cease violence for the duration of the truce and to allow the arrival of humanitarian aid throughout the country, according to the statement. The General Command of the Armed Forces, however, reserves the right to respond to any violations the rebels may commit during the truce, it said on Facebook. The war has already claimed more than 1,800 lives, according to ACLED, an organization specializing in information gathering in conflict zones, and two million displaced persons and refugees, according to the UN. In the combat zones, which are mainly in the capital Khartoum and the vast Darfur region (west), NGOs are constantly warning of the deteriorating humanitarian situation. In Khartoum, we estimate that only 20% of health facilities are still functioning, lamented the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Alfonso Verdu Perez, at a press conference in Geneva. In recent weeks, we have managed to deliver surgical equipment to ten hospitals in the capital, but the needs are immense and much remains to be done, he added, pointing to serious shortages of water, electricity, food and medical supplies. The Portuguese Agriculture Minister and her Sao Tomense counterpart discussed Saturday, in Sao Tome, the strengthening of cooperation to ensure a sustainable food system and the organization of the archipelagos agricultural sector to increase exports. The Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Food, Maria do Ceu Antunes, is in Sao Tome and Principe as part of the commemorations of the Day of Portugal, Camoes and the Portuguese Communities, and met Sunday with his counterpart Abel Bom Jesus to analyze the cooperation between the two ministries. Maria do Ceu Antunes reinforced that a meeting with Abel Bom Jesus in Lisbon had already expressed the commitment to strengthen these relations between the two ministries. According to the minister, the cooperation plan in agriculture has its first focus on capacity building with visits by technicians from the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture to Sao Tome, and also bringing Sao Tomans to deepen their knowledge in institutions in Portugal. Angola and Portugal will sign this Monday, June 12, in Luanda, a cooperation protocol in the field of territorial cohesion, as part of the new strategic plan between the two countries. The protocol covers training and capacity building of human capital, institutional cooperation, the development of support instruments, and follow-up and monitoring of the administrative decentralization process. The act occurs in the framework of the visit to Angola of the Portuguese Minister of Territorial Cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, as part of the celebration of the Day of Portugal, Camoes and the Portuguese Communities. 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: Violin plots of ChatGPT and human scores from 7 stations. A, ChatGPT median and quartile values from seven stations. B, The ChatGPT median values (fuchsia dots) overly human scores. Station codes: (1) early pregnancy, (2) postpartum management, (3) urogynecology and pelvic floor problems, (4) core surgical skills, (5) labor management, (6) gynecologic oncology, and (7) postoperative care. Credit: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.04.020 In a study to determine how the Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer or ChatGPT would fare in medical specialist examinations compared to human candidates without additional training, the Artificial Intelligence chatbot performed better than human candidates in a mock Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) specialist clinical examination, used to assess the eligibility of individuals to become O&G specialists. The results from the mock clinical examination detailed that ChatGPT also achieved high scores in empathetic communication, information-gathering and clinical reasoning. The study is published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The tabulated results showed that ChatGPT attained a higher average score of 77.2%, compared to the human candidates who scored an average of 73.7%. It was also recorded that ChatGPT took an average of two minutes and 54 seconds to complete each station, markedly ahead of the stipulated 10 minutes given. Even though ChatGPT completed the stations in record time, ChatGPT did not outperform all the individuals in each cohort. To minimize bias, the responses of all three candidates were submitted to the examination panel, while concealing the true identity of ChatGPT. In the study, the team selected seven stations that were in the objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) that had been run in the actual mock examinations in the two previous years, all similar in scope and difficulty, with no inclusion of visual interpretations to cater to the current limitations of ChatGPT present at the time of study. Each station has multiple layers of evolving questions based on initial data presented and subsequent responses from the candidate. The OSCE is a criterion-based assessment, where each candidate is assessed on their clinical competencies by completing a series of circuit stations in a simulated environment. Given 10 minutes to complete each station, the candidate is introduced to an unfamiliar clinical scenario, coupled with the necessary information which would aid them to make an informed clinical decision. The candidate is expected to articulate a care plan, while demonstrating expertise such as communication, information gathering, application of clinical knowledge and patient safety within the time limit. The stations were introduced in an identical format and in the same order to two human candidatesCandidates A and B, and ChatGPT, known as Candidate C. The study team from the Department of O&G at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), led by Associate Professor Mahesh Choolani, Head of the Department of O&G, also conducted an analysis of the answers and found that ChatGPT scored very well in the empathetic communication domain. It was able to skillfully and rapidly generate factually accurate and contextually relevant answers to evolving clinical questions, based on unfamiliar data in the shortest time possible, a feat that would take an average intelligent person more than 10 years of clinical training to be able to understand the questions in this type of highly-complex examinations and answer them appropriately. It is laudable that Generative AI, which is at present only in its infancy stage, has the prowess to consolidate and interpret huge chunks of general content quickly, and organize it into coherent and concise conversational-type responses, something that would not come naturally to non-native English speakers or candidates facing examination stress. Despite best efforts to blind the examination panel, examiners were generally able to identify the responses from ChatGPT, but not in all cases. From the mix of answers from human candidates and ChatGPT that were transcribed verbatim and assessed by 14 trained clinician examiners, it was also observed that even though English was used throughout, there was also an infusion of Singlish or words loaned from Malay, Tamil and Chinese dialects, that was included extensively by human candidates. The intonation and unique vocabulary are very familiar and endearing to Singaporeans or long-term residents in Singapore. This method of communication would very well serve as a bridge to initiate closeness and build trust, while helping to ease nervousness in patients, compared to the more articulately-scripted answers of ChatGPT. The lack of local ethnic knowledge is one of the major limitations of ChatGPT, on top of the lack of up-to-date medical references and data, which in turn causes hallucinations in ChatGPT, compelling it to churn out irrelevant or incorrect answers and conclusions at times. Crucially, the study results also revealed that ChatGPT is less able to handle subjects that have multiple changes of scenarios, within the question itself, that require open interpretation. The stations with multiple-changing scenarios would require additional training in context-specific medical knowledge in highly-specialized topics. This would be manageable for a highly-trained human candidate who has cultivated higher-level discernment and flexible reasoning needed to tackle ambiguities within these questions. ChatGPT was found to outperform human candidates in several knowledge areas, including labor management, gynecologic oncology and postoperative care, topics or stations that largely focused on standard protocol-driven decision-making, but not in highly contextual situations. "The arrival and increased use of ChatGPT has proven that it can be a viable resource in guiding medical education, possibly provide adjunct support for clinical care in real time, and even support the monitoring of medical treatment in patients. In an era where accurate knowledge and information is instantly accessible, and these capabilities could be embedded within appropriate context by Generative AI in the foreseeable future, the need for future generations of medical doctors to clearly demonstrate the value and importance of the human touch is now saliently obvious. As doctors and medical educators, we need to strongly emphasize and exemplify the use of soft skills, compassionate communication and knowledge application in medical training and clinical care," said Associate Professor Mahesh Choolani. More information: Sarah W. Li et al, ChatGPT outscored human candidates in a virtual objective structured clinical examination in obstetrics and gynecology, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.04.020 Journal information: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Schematic of air and environment sampling in participants rooms. Environmental surface swabs were collected from overbed table (A), bed frame (B), bedside table (C), television remote control (D), and bathroom handles (door metal handles [inside and outside], flush metal handles, and sink metal handles; E). A Coriolis air sampler (Bertin Technologies, France) was placed on the bedside table, about 1 m distance to the participant's head. Credit: The Lancet Microbe (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00101-5 A new analysis published in The Lancet Microbe shows how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads from the nose to the air and surfaces in the immediate surroundings. The findings are the second batch of results to come from the COVID-19 Human Challenge Program, led by Imperial College London and partners, and provide granular insights into how people infected with SARS-CoV-2 spread the virus to their immediate surroundings. In February 2021, 36 healthy, young participants with no previous immunity to the virus were infected with SARS-CoV-2 under controlled clinical conditions in a residential facility at the Royal Free Hospital in London, where they could be carefully monitored. They remained at the facility until they were no longer infectious. The facility enabled researchers to track the course of infection in great detail, with the clinical team taking daily swabs from participants' noses and mouths, as well as environmental samples of the air and swabs of surfaces in their rooms. Viral emissions Out of 36 initial participants, a total of 18 became infected. Analysis showed that two individuals emitted substantially more virus into the air than the other infected participants, but displayed no significantly worse symptoms. The researchers suggest this may represent the small proportion of individuals who have potential to be highly infectious, sometimes described as "superspreading." Analysis found large amounts of viral RNA in air samples, in exhaled breath, as well as swabs of participants hands and on surrounding surfaces, including frequently touched surfaces such as door handles and TV remote controls, showing how an infected person contaminates their surrounding environment and can spread the virus. Viral emissions correlated strongly with the level of virus detected in people's noses, more than in their throat, highlighting the nose as a significant route for infected people shedding virus into the air and environment. According to the researchers, the latest analysis further highlights the routes by which the virus is transmitted from person to persondirectly into the air, depositing onto nearby surfaces, and transferred from contaminated hands to frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and remote controls. Reliable indicators They also show that positive lateral flow tests and visible symptoms were reliable indicators of when people were infectious and emitting virus into the air and environment. The vast majority of virus was emitted after people noticed their first symptoms, with very little virus released into the environment before that (pre-symptomatically). They found no significant link between the severity of participants' symptoms and the amount of virus they shed into the environment. According to the researchers, the findings highlight the need to reinforce public health messaging around proper face mask use, hand washing and surface cleaning, as well as how human challenge studies continue to add to our knowledge of COVID-19 infection and transmission. Dr. Anika Singanayagam, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, and joint first author of the study, said, "Our latest findings add to the existing body of knowledge on COVID-19 transmission. By studying infection in a controlled environment, we can collect unique, detailed measurements of virus emitted that allow us to understand how and when people with COVID-19 are contagious to others. These types of measurements are challenging to collect in real-world studies. "Our data indicate that much of the virus people shed comes from the nose, further highlighting the importance of face masks covering the nose as well as the mouth when they're used. But it also shows how virus can be transferred from hands to contaminate surfaces, like door handles or remote controls, which become a source of infection." Dr. Jay, Jie Zhou, research associate in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, and joint first author of the study, said, "Understanding when infected people are contagious and how to detect when they are contagious is importantit can help us to use interventions like face masks or social distancing more effectively. The data in our study highlights that being aware of, and acting on, the first minor symptoms that signal an infection, coupled with frequent self-testing with lateral flow tests, can effectively reduce onward spread." Professor Wendy Barclay, head of the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, said, "One of the most important things we need to know for controlling the spread of respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, is when are people who are actively infected with the virus most likely to infect others? That information can help to tell us how the virus will spread, and how best to use interventions to stop the outbreak. "Human challenge studies enable us to gain granular insights into the infection which we might not otherwise be able to. They play an important role in our understanding of infectious diseases, and should be considered a part of future pandemic preparedness." Previous findings The latest findings add to several key clinical insights already gained from the COVID-19 Human Challenge Program, published in February 2022. These include that symptoms start to develop on average two days after contact with the virus, that infection first appears in the throat, infectious virus peaks about five days into infection and, at that stage, is significantly more abundant in the nose than the throat. The first analysis also found that lateral flow tests (LFTs) are a reassuringly reliable indicator of whether infectious virus is present in the nose and throat (i.e., whether they are a likely to be infectious to other people). More information: Jie Zhou et al, Viral emissions into the air and environment after SARS-CoV-2 human challenge: a phase 1, open label, first-in-human study, The Lancet Microbe (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00101-5 Journal information: The Lancet Microbe This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare and devastating genetic disorder characterized by an inability to repair skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. As a result, patients with XP develop skin cancers, usually in childhood. Once diagnosed, they can be protected by avoiding sunlight (hence sometimes being called "children of the night"), wearing special clothing and sunglasses, and using sunscreen. But some will also develop neurodegenerative conditions such as hearing loss, loss of intellectual function, poor co-ordination and seizures. Finding out why this is, and which patients are likely to develop such conditions, is a priority for XP researchers. Dr. Sophie Momen, a consultant dermatologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and a researcher in Professor Serena Nik-Zainal's lab at the University of Cambridge, will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics of her team's work in the development of an early detection algorithm to predict which patients may develop such neurodegeneration. Until now there has been little research in this area, partly because XP is a rare condition, affecting one person in a million, and because the brain, being an inaccessible organ in live patients, is very difficult to perform research on. The researchers took blood samples from patients with XP with and without neurodegeneration, and from family members without XP, and turned these samples into pluripotent stem cells (cells that can be groomed into different cell types). The researchers were then able to identify the stem cells that would become brain cells (neurons). "We carried out various experiments on these neurons using multi-omic technologies to try to understand why some XP patients developed neurodegeneration and some did not. From this we were able to develop our algorithm. This will be useful if we can offer something to patients to try to slow down or halt the onset of neurodegeneration. Our research has revealed possible drug targets, which may do just that in the future," says Dr. Momen. The researchers were fortunate, they say, in having access to a large group of patients from the national XP clinic at Guy's and St Thomas, where all British-resident patients with the condition are cared for by the same clinical team. "Having such a clinic means that patients with rare diseases can be followed up long-term in one place, and this facilitates investigations such as ours," Dr. Momen says. "This is the first time that so many patients with XP have been studied and their neurons have been characterized in such depth." Since the clinic came into being in 2010 , patients in the UK have been well-informed about photoprotection and about early detection of skin cancers, and as a result they are living long lives. "None of our patients has died from skin cancer," says Dr. Momen. "It is often said that patients with XP die in their 20s and 30s, either due to skin cancers or neurodegeneration, but this is not always the case. It is important to recognize that there are some patients with XP who do not develop neurodegeneration and mainly develop skin cancers, against which they can take protective measures at an early stage." The results may also be useful in understanding why otherwise healthy people develop neurodegeneration as they age. Over the past few years, the study of patients with XP has helped scientists to understand why some otherwise healthy people develop skin cancers after exposure to UV light. "We can now extrapolate the findings in our study to the understanding of why the faulty DNA repair pathway involved in XP is involved in brain health and this may, in turn, help us understand why some people develop neurodegeneration as they age." Further validation studies of the early detection algorithm will be necessary before it can be used as a predictive tool in clinical practice. Clinical trials will also be needed to see which, if any, medications may be useful in halting or delaying neurodegeneration in patients identified as being at risk. "I did not expect that we would be able to characterize the neurons derived from those patients with and without neurodegeneration so clearly. When we used proteomics, the results allowed us to see clearly whether patients had neurodegeneration or not," says Dr. Momen. "This is very encouraging and, we hope, a further step along the road to effective treatment of this distressing condition." Professor Alexandre Reymond, chair of the conference, said, "Our ability to personalize treatments will translate into a more effective health system. To reach this goal, we need new approaches to recognize those in the population who are more at risk." More information: Abstract no. 3869 Functional multi-omic studies unveil ER stress and proteasomal dysfunction in early-onset neurodegeneration in XP, The European Human Genetics Conference, 2023.eshg.org/ This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Conceptual Illustration of the Hypothesized Competitive Mediating Effect of Gestational Weight Gain in the Association Between Neighborhood Unhealthy Food Density and Large for Gestational Age. Neighborhood walkability and unhealthy food density were highly correlated because they are both related to the antecedent urban design features shown in the figure. Credit: JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.17952 Higher neighborhood density of unhealthy retail food establishments was associated with a higher risk of delivering a baby that was large-for-gestational age, according to a new study at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, while neighborhoods with a high density of healthy food retail establishments was linked with a lower risk of giving birth to a baby that was small-for-gestational age. Babies born either small- or large-for-gestational age, a measure of birth weight adjusted for length of pregnancy, are at greater risk for long term health complications, but until now little was known about how neighborhood characteristics including walkability and the food environment, may affect birthweight outcomes. The results are published in JAMA Network Open. To evaluate links between birth weight and retail food environments and walkability in neighborhoods of New York City the researchers analyzed the records of 106,194 singleton births in the 2015 Vital Statistics records from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Full-service supermarkets and fruit and vegetable markets were classified as healthy, and fast-food outlets, convenience stores, and candy stores as unhealthy. "Our prior work has shown that these healthy and unhealthy neighborhood retail food environment classifications are associated with residents' body mass index (BMI) in New York City," noted Eliza Kinsey, Ph.D., the first author and a former post-doctoral fellow in epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, now an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. The prevalence of babies born small for gestational age was 13 percent and the percent born large for gestational age was 8.4 percent. Residing in the most dense healthy retail food environment compared to the lowest was associated with a 11 percent lower risk of delivering a baby whose weight was low for gestational age. Conversely, compared to residing in a neighborhood with the lowest density of unhealthy retail food outlets, residing in a neighborhood with the highest density of these unhealthy food outlets was associated with a 16 to 18 percent increase in the risk of a baby being born large for gestational age. There were no significant associations between neighborhood walkability and birthweight outcomes. "Our results further support the value of encouraging use of urban design and planning guidelines to improve food environments and ultimately healthy pregnancies and birth weight," said Andrew Rundle, DrPH, professor of epidemiology at Columbia School of Public Health, and senior author. The high density and low car ownership may limit the generalizability of the findings to populations outside of New York City, particularly suburban and rural areas, noted the researchers. "However, given that the percentage of the world population living in urban area is projected to grow to 68 percent by 2050, our findings for NYC are likely relevant for much of the global population," observed Rundle. This paper is the third part in a trilogy of research led by Dr. Rundle at Columbia Mailman School showing how built environments are linked to pregnancy and birth outcomes. The earlier papers found that higher neighborhood walkability was protective against excess gestational weight gain and against gestational diabetes. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain While she was interviewing Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in March 2023, Drew Barrymore suddenly exclaimed: "I'm so hot I think I'm having my first hot flash!" She took off her blazer and fanned herself dramatically. While most hot flashes aren't televised, the entertainer's experience was far from unique. Barrymore, age 48, is one of approximately 15 million U.S. women from 45 to 60 who work full time and may experience menopausal symptoms. Unlike Barrymore, most women are silent about their menopausal symptoms. Yet their symptoms, even when concealed from employers and co-workers, are a burden on them, their workplaces and on the overall U.S. economy. Lost work productivity due to menopausal symptomsmeasured by missed work hours, job losses and early retirementadd up to about $1.8 billion annually, the Mayo Clinic estimates. The three of us write and teach about employment discrimination and feminism, and two of us have written a book about menstruation. Because of our shared interests, we are currently writing a book about menopause and the law. We've observed that although Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and other celebrities are speaking out about their own menopausal transitions, work accommodations are rare and employers typically don't even acknowledge this stage of life. Stigma and silence In the lead-up to menopause, which typically begins between the ages of 45 and 55, levels of reproductive hormones change, and menstrual cycles become irregular and then eventually cease. This transition, called perimenopause, typically lasts for seven years. Common symptoms of perimenopause include hot flashes, sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, excessive bleeding and irregular periods. Technically, menopause occurs after women don't have a period for an entire year, and postmenopause is the stage after that. Transgender men and nonbinary people assigned female at birth can experience menopause too. Employees who experience menopausal symptoms are often reluctant to talk about them at all, let alone tell their bosses. They may feel stigma and shame, and they may worry that it could hurt their chances for a promotion, their co-workers will see them as less capable or that their status at work will be otherwise jeopardized. These concerns are not unfounded. In a series of studies, researchers asked workers and college students to describe their initial impressions of potential co-workers, including "a menopausal woman." The participants described her as "less confident and less emotionally stable" than the non-menopausal women. No legal protections Employees who do speak up and seek accommodations for their menopausal symptoms, which might include dress code adjustments to deal with hot flashes, are often out of luck. No federal law requires employers to accommodate menopausal symptoms. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for workers with disabilities, U.S. courts have consistently held that menopause, by itself, is not a disability, even when its symptoms are seriously affecting someone's ability to do their job. That's what happened to Georgia Sipple, a food product demonstrator who had a doctor's note requesting permission to break a dress code by wearing short sleeves on the job. When Crossmark, her employer, refused, Sipple felt that she had no choice but to quit. She sued the company, but the Eastern District of California federal court dismissed her case. Sometimes, employees even get punished for their menopausal symptoms or status. When 911 operator Alisha Coleman experienced heavy perimenopausal bleeding that seeped through onto the office carpet, she was fired for failing to "maintain high standards of personal hygiene". She sued, but the Middle District of Georgia dismissed her case, refusing to recognize her termination as a form of sex discrimination. Instead, the judge drew a specious distinction, saying that Coleman had been fired for "being unable to control the heavy menstruation." With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, she appealed, later obtaining a confidential settlement. Pregnancy and breastfeeding accommodations Employees have far fewer legal protections for menopause today than for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Congress first directly addressed pregnancy discrimination in the workplace in 1978 with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. That law made it clear that pregnancy discrimination is a form of sex discrimination. This means that an employee who was fired because her water broke and she went into labor at work would, unlike Coleman, have a winning sex discrimination claim. Congress also passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in December 2022, which goes into effect on June 27, 2023. That law requires reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on employers. Since 2010, Congress has required most employers to provide breastfeeding employees with reasonable break times to pump milk for one year after their children's births, and also to provide them with a private place that isn't a bathroom to do so. Most recently, in December 2022, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act expanded those protections. Why not menopause? In our view, pregnancy and breastfeeding offer a potential model for protecting workers from menopause-related discrimination and providing reasonable accommodations. Until Congress is ready to pass such legislation, there are other possibilities. First, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws, could issue "best practices" guidelines. These guidelines can be modeled on practices in the United Kingdom, where many business have adopted menopause policies. Climate-controlled break spaces, dress codes that incorporate short-sleeve options and breathable fabrics, dedicated menopause support and the like can all make a positive difference. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission could also issue guidance highlighting menopause-based discrimination as a form of sex or age discrimination. Additionally, even if the commission does not act, companies can adopt these kinds of policies on their own. That is already starting to happen, as U.S. businesses like the tech company Nvidia and the drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb begin to establish some accommodations for menopause, including help with finding treatments. New York Mayor Eric Adams has promised "more menopause-friendly workplaces," at least for city workers. To be sure, it can be risky to discuss symptoms at work, as this can undercut perceptions about women's competence at work. Given these symptoms' prevalence, though, and the millions of workers experiencing them, we believe that breaking the silence can challenge and dispel these stereotypesincreasing the chances that they'll remain on the job for many more years. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An analysis of medical crowdfunding campaigns reveals the types of expenses that patients with diabetes may struggle to afford. The data showed that even insured patients with diabetes used GoFundMe to offset the excess costs of treatment beyond insulin, such as uncovered co-pays, indirect care, and alert dogs. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. More than 40% of patients with diabetes in the United States have trouble paying their medical bills. Among patients with health-related financial hardship, 56% have delayed or foregone care. Crowdfunding, such as GoFundMe, is increasingly being used by these patients to cover medical costs. Studying crowdfunding campaigns can shed light on the expenses that contribute to their financial distress. Researchers from Duke University School of Medicine, the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Stanford University School of Medicine studied a random sample of 313 active U.S. medical crowdfunding campaigns requesting support for a single patient with diabetes posted on GoFundMe from 2010 to 2020. The real-world testimonies detailing patient situations were reviewed to characterize the types of expenses patients were looking to cover. The researchers found that the median fundraising goal was $10,000, with 14% of campaigns reaching their fundraising goal. The data showed that many aspects of diabetes care beyond insulin were deemed cost-prohibitive, including life-saving care, such as hospitalizations and food. Even people with insurance used crowdfunding due to lack of coverage for certain expenses or unaffordable copayments. The researchers also found that 35% of patients with type 1 diabetes started fundraising campaigns for diabetic alert dogs, which cost about $15 000 and are not covered by insurance because of high variability in effectiveness. The researchers say that clinicians who learn of a patient's intent to purchase a dog could redirect them toward proven management strategies, such as continuous glucose monitors. Policymakers should consider these patient needs and expenses when developing policies to help diabetes care become more affordable. 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: Annual mortality rate from influenza in deaths per million population. The upper y-axis tick indicates the maximum mortality rate for each data series. Credit: Social Science & Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115975 Influenza pandemics cause a persistent increase in influenza mortality risk, lasting around two decades, according to new research that analyzed historical data from the 19th and 20th centuries. The latest studywhich is led by researchers at the University of Glasgow, and including academics at Lancaster Universityreveals new and important findings about the persistent health impacts of flu pandemics beyond the main waves of infection. The study is published in Social Science and Medicine. In particular, the research found that the main influenza pandemic waves were always followed by multiple sizeable flu outbreaks, in some cases doubling the death toll of the pandemic over the following decade. In addition, the study also found that for almost two decades after an influenza pandemic there remained a high risk that any flu outbreak could cause as many as a third of the deaths of the main wave. Studying data from eight large cities in the U.K. during the ten years following the 191819 global flu pandemic, the researchers were able to show that multiple recurrent influenza outbreaks from 192029 resulted in nearly as many deaths as the main waves. It was a pattern they were able to confirm using data for the same period in the U.S., alongside further data for multiple influenza pandemics during the period 18382000 in England and Wales. Taking a closer look at the deaths caused by influenza at both a country and city level in the U.K., the research team were able to demonstrate the increased death toll from flu lasted almost two decades after a pandemic initially hit. Studying records from individual cities (Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield) following the 191819 pandemic, researchers were able to show that the size of subsequent flu outbreaks was considerablesome outbreaks reaching a mortality rate of around 5001,000 per million for individual areas. The three cities which had comparatively low main pandemic wave mortality (Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham) experienced very large recurrent outbreaks over the next two decades, some causing as many as around a third of the number of deaths as the main wave. Rebecca Mancy, research fellow at the University of Glasgow's MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, said, "Our research shows that the impacts of flu pandemics did not end once the main waves of infection subsided. Indeed, data from the U.K. and the U.S. showed an unusually high risk of death from flu as much as two decades later. As a result, we believe omitting the effects from recurrent post-pandemic outbreaks substantially underestimates the impact of any one flu pandemic. "Whether the patterns seen for historical flu pandemics might apply for COVID-19 and other future pandemics depends on a number of factors. We now have much more advanced public health systems and medicine including the ability to rapidly develop vaccines, as well as institutional organization, including test-and-trace systemsall factors that may impact the wider effects of a pandemic." Dr. Spyridon Lazarakis, from Lancaster University Management School, added, "We believe that these new findings suggest we should now view pandemics and their overall health impacts differentlylooking beyond the initial main waves." Photo: TanerFrank/Twitter Fighter Mike Malott almost didn't make it to the octagon in the middle of Rogers Arena during UFC 289 this weekend. It wasn't because of traffic or injuries. It was because a dozen people and a railing nearly fell on the Canadian fighter as he headed out for his Vancouver match. In several videos from the event, as Malott walks past the fans sitting in bleachers, the railing holding the fans back fails. Many fans tumble into Malott's entourage and other event staff. But Malott makes it through, unscathed. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident, according to venue staff. Rogers Arena management says once everyone was checked out the fans affected were relocated and security guarded the broken seating area. Later, Malott went on to win his match. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Long COVID, the condition where symptoms that surface after recovering from COVID-19 linger for weeks, months, or even years, is still a mystery to doctors and researchers. The symptoms, such as chronic pain, brain fog, shortness of breath, chest pain, and intense fatigue, can be debilitating. Severe cases of long COVID can even affect the body's organs. But imaging tests don't always show the origins of those symptoms. And we still don't know why only some people develop the condition or why others can get it after a mild COVID-19 infection. Research has offered some insights but not enough to provide a solid understanding of how long COVID progresses in the body. That knowledge will be essential to developing treatments. "There is no one pill or strategy that helps everybody," says neurologist Lindsay McAlpine, MD, director of the Yale NeuroCovid Clinic and one of many Yale Medicine specialists who care for long COVID patients. But there is a growing understanding that people experience the condition in different ways, leading to an individualized approach to treating their symptoms. Personalized care is the focus of the Yale New Haven Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center, which launched in spring 2023 and is directed by internist Lisa Sanders, MD. Although Yale Medicine has been caring for long COVID patients since the pandemic began, the new centralized program adds a multidisciplinary approach: Patients are evaluated and, if necessary, referred to cardiologists, neurologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, and other specialists who have experience treating the condition. The program also offers on-site physical therapy and social work servicesthe latter because long COVID can affect relationships, finances, job security, and quality of life. Specialists in long COVID answered questions about what we now know about the condition and what we can do about it. 1. How is long COVID defined? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines long COVID as "the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds that long COVID includes a wide range of ongoing health problems that can last weeks, months, or years. The condition can affect any part of the body, and serious cases may affect multiple body systems, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, and brain. Each patient is different. Not everyone with long COVID has had a severe case of COVID-19. Some acquired the condition after a mild case, and others may have developed symptoms but never tested positive for COVID-19. "We usually call those patients 'presumed COVID,'" says Yale Medicine pulmonologist Denyse Lutchmansingh, MBBS, associate director of the Winchester Center for Lung Disease. 2. What are researchers learning about long COVID? Akiko Iwasaki, Ph.D., a Yale School of Medicine immunobiologist, leads multiple studies investigating the pathobiology of long COVID. Iwasaki says research has shown that long COVID is not a single disease. She also lists four hypotheses on her laboratory website that could explain long COVID's initiation and progression: After a person has COVID-19, a persistent virus or remnants of it cause chronic inflammation and ongoing symptoms. The body's disease-fighting B and T cells trigger an immune responseand subsequent inflammationin a process called autoimmunity. The stimulus that triggers this occurs continuously in the body, making it difficult to pinpoint and shut down. Latent (or dormant) viruses inside an individual reactivate. (Every person carries multiple viruses that are dormant. Under certain circumstances, they can be reactivated.) Chronic changes occur in the body after the acute inflammatory response (COVID-19 infection). Inflammation in one tissue can damage other tissues. "Our research thus far has shown hints of all of these," Iwasaki says. "It's also possible that these things can happen in sequence. You may start with a persistent virus that then leads to the reactivation of latent viruses, leading to inflammation. It's also possible that some people have only one of these things going on while others have all of them." 3. Isn't long COVID on the decline? In the U.S., the Household Pulse Survey, an ongoing survey conducted by the Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics, suggests that the incidence of long COVID may be decreasing. The percentage of participants who had COVID-19 and reported having new or continuing COVID-19 symptoms (when they responded to the survey) dropped to 11% in January 2023 from 19% in June 2022. While there isn't a clear explanation for the decline, Yale Medicine cardiologist Erica Spatz, MD, MHS, tracks long COVID as part of a CDC-funded study called INSPIRE (Innovative Support For Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry). "Our dataas well as other datasuggests the incidence of prolonged or emergent symptoms is declining as more people are vaccinated and as we have been seeing milder variants," she says. At the same time, no one knows exactly how many people have long COVID, although one study estimates that 65 million people worldwide have the condition, and experts say the number is probably much higher. Many cases of COVID-19 likely have not been reported, especially with the increase in rapid testing at home since 2022 (and, thus, decreased reporting of positive infections). And people who had difficulty distinguishing between COVID-19 and colds or similar health issues may not have sought testing or medical advice. But, doctors are still diagnosing new cases, in addition to caring for patients who developed long COVID at earlier points in the pandemic, adds Dr. Lutchmansingh. "Since 2020, Yale specialists have had over 1,000 referrals for patients with persistent symptoms following COVID-19," she says. 4. Who is getting long COVID? Anyone at any age can get long COVID. "I've seen long COVID in every age, including plenty of 20- or 30-somethings who have no history of illness," says Dr. McAlpine. However, you may be at higher risk if you had a severe COVID-19 illness, especially if you were hospitalized or in intensive care, according to the CDC. Your risk is also higher if you had a chronic disease, such as diabetes, before COVID-19, if you had multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS (a rare but serious condition in which different body parts become inflamed) during or after COVID-19, or if you did not get a COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC says. In March 2023, a study of 800,000 people published in Health Affairs added another possible predictor: People with long COVID were, on average, more likely to be older and women. 5. Are new cases of long COVID milder than older ones? This can be a difficult question to answer, partly because long COVID data is limited. But Yale Medicine doctors say they have seen a shift as omicron and its milder subvariants have replaced the early alpha and delta variants, as well as the original strain of the virus. "I think about long COVID patients in terms of the years they were infected because they're not all the same," says Dr. Lutchmansingh. "Anecdotally, my patients who were infected in 2021 and 2022 seem to get better faster than those who were first infected in 2020." While there are new patients who struggle with symptoms, "I don't have as many patients on full-time disability as I did earlier in the pandemic," she says. Disability is a major concern among people with long COVID, to the point where the condition is officially considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A report in 2022 estimated 2 to 4 million Americans were out of work due to long COVID. 6. Will I need to see a specialist for my long COVID symptoms? It depends on the symptoms. Because there is currently no cure for long COVID, doctors aim to treat the symptoms associated with the condition. As many as 200 long COVID symptoms were identified in an international study published in 2021 in EClinicalMedicine that surveyed more than 3,700 people with long COVID. Many symptoms are sorted into categories by specialty, where treatments are similar to what they would be for non-COVID patients with similar symptoms. The specialists you may need to see for long COVID include: Pulmonologists: These doctors have played a central role in treating both COVID-19 and long COVID since the early days of the pandemic, when many patients went to the hospital with urgent symptoms, such as low oxygen levels and lung issues. They treat breathing difficulties, sometimes prescribing treatments like an inhaler (a handheld device that delivers a puff of medicine into the lungs). "For some of my long COVID patients with asthma-type symptoms, biologic treatments are making a difference," Dr. Lutchmansingh says. Exercise may also be beneficial for some patients, she adds. "It's just a different way of exercising than we're accustomed to," she says. While rehabilitation for non-COVID-19 pulmonary patients may involve a push to build muscle and strength, that type of exercise method can worsen symptoms for some long COVID patients. "So, we have to figure out a way to get them to exercise that targets their needs but isn't detrimental to them," she says. Neurologists: "long COVID can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, and one patient can have multiple types," Dr. McAlpine says. "There can be a constellation of symptoms." She has treated patients for headaches, including new or worsening migraine symptoms. Some have developed neuropathy, a disease of the peripheral nerves that causes numbness or weakness. But the most common neurological symptoms Dr. McAlpine sees are cognitive difficulties, including issues with attention and memory recall, and language and executive functioning. "Patients will say, "I can't find my words. I lose track of my thoughts in the middle of my sentences. I have to write everything down. I can't multitask anymore,'" she says. "With the alpha and delta variants, the cognitive impairment was quite severe around the acute illness. Then, it would very slowly get better." Gastroenterologists: Some patients report bloating, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and other signs of stomach distress. In March 2023, a study in Nature Communications reported that people who had COVID-19 experienced significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms a year after their infection than people who had not had the virus. The study compared almost 150,000 people who were infected in the early days of the pandemic with 5.6 million similar patients who had not had the virus. In the first group, conditions, including GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and peptic ulcer disease, were among the most commonly reported symptoms. Cardiologists: Cardiovascular symptoms are less common than some in other specialties, accounting for about 5% to 10% of long COVID issues, explains Dr. Spatz. Acute COVID-19 can lead to myocarditis, which causes significant inflammation of the heart muscle, she adds. It also can cause other cardiovascular problems, including thrombosis and acute stress to the heart, resulting in cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia. "We are learning to look for the potential for any of those issues to have occurred and their residual effects," she says. Heart specialists also care for long COVID patients who develop chest pain, palpitations, or exercise intolerance, or those who may have a cardiovascular syndrome, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a blood circulation disorder that causes lightheadedness or fainting when standing up from a lying down position. Another potential concern is heart rate fluctuation, which can be caused by tachycardia (a fast heart rate) and bradycardia (a slow heart rate). Yet another issue is a chest pain syndrome that may be related to endothelial dysfunction, in which the arteries become narrow even though there is no blockage. 7. What about long COVID symptoms that aren't easy to categorize? Not every symptom falls into just one category. A challenging one is what's called "post-exertional malaise (PEM)," which Dr. McAlpine describes as a kind of "energy crash" or worsening of other symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain after exerciseeven if the activity was mild. PEM can range in severity. "Some people will walk up the stairs and then not be able to get out of bed for the rest of the day. Others will go on a 10-minute walk or run errands and then be out of commission for a couple of days," she says. Physical problems like PEM can lead to anxiety and depression. "It can be a very scary experience," Dr. McAlpine says. "People feel disoriented, and this can cause new mental health issues. It can be a long road." In these cases, mental health treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications, can help, she adds. "Another critical issue is sleep," says Dr. McAlpine, who has referred patients to sleep specialists. They often come back with varying diagnoses, including insomnia and sleep apnea, although it can be difficult to say whether long COVID is the cause. "Patients who have had COVID-19 are sensitive to sleep deprivation and disruption, and sleep is so critical to cognitive function, to healing, to headachesto everything." 8. With so many different symptoms, how can I be sure I have long COVID? There is no laboratory test to confirm long COVID. And blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms may show normal results even if a person has serious symptoms. To diagnose long COVID, a clinician will ask a patient about their health history, perform a physical examination, and gather information about how their COVID-19 infection was diagnosed. There is an understanding that some long COVID patients can't prove they had the virus, either because they don't have records of proper testing or they didn't even know they had COVID-19. A key part of the diagnosis is ruling out other conditions, Dr. Lutchmansingh adds. "That's one of the most important things about having an internist who coordinates the care of long COVID patients," she says. 9. Can Paxlovid help long COVID patients? There is not enough evidence to show that Paxlovid, the primary treatment for COVID-19, is an effective treatment for long COVID. But, Iwasaki and cardiologist and scientist Harlan Krumholz, MD, SM, are co-leading a randomized clinical trial to investigate whether it could help some patients. "Studying Paxlovid is important because people with long COVID have no therapies available to them," Iwasaki says. "Even though we don't understand fully what the underlying mechanisms of the disease are, it's important that we start the trial and learn who benefits from specific medications." Iwasaki and Dr. Krumholz believe that long COVID may have different pathologies in different patients, which suggests that not everyone would benefit from the same treatments. "We're collecting blood samples before, during, and after Paxlovid delivery, so we will be able to classify people who respond positively to it versus those who respond negativelyor not at all," Iwasaki says. Participants can give samples at specified locations and otherwise participate in the study from home. (The trial is currently available to people who live in Connecticut, New York, and Florida, and it may expand to other states.) Once such classifications are made, the researchers will be able to recruit people for a larger trial to learn more about those who have a positive response to Paxlovid. "We're looking for the kind of signal that will help us administer the proper therapies to people," Iwasaki says. "Even if it benefits 10% of people, that's still a lot." 10. Can vaccines prevent or help treat long COVID? It's unclear whether vaccines can prevent long COVID. Researchers are still looking for answers. "There have been so many studies on this topic," Iwasaki says. "Now, the consensus is that there is about a 30% reduction of risk of long COVID in those who were vaccinated prior to infection." While the 30% figure is based on prevention, vaccination may also impact the severity of a person's long COVID symptoms, Iwasaki says, adding that more research is needed. 11. Can I recover from long COVID? There is research showing that many people do get better. A study from Israel published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in January 2023 found most cases of long COVID in almost 300,000 children and adults who had mild COVID-19 infections resolved within a year of diagnosis. The research covered a period between March 2020 and October 2021, before the omicron variant emerged, and it included vaccinated and unvaccinated participants. Anecdotally, Dr. Lutchmansingh says she has two sets of patients who remain in her pulmonary practice. One includes people whose condition has improved, even if they are not back to their pre-COVID-19 baseline. "The other includes those who continue to have difficulty. These are patients who still have multiple symptoms, including pulmonary issues, fatigue, and neurological problems," she says. In both groups, there aren't many patients who feel they've gotten better to the point where they forgot they had COVID, Dr. Lutchmansingh adds. "Their body knows something happened to them, but they're not as debilitated as they were in 2020 or 2021," she says. 12. COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency. Does that mean long COVID will go away? It's impossible to know what long COVID will look like in a year or five years, Iwasaki explains. With omicron, long COVID is seemingly less common, and the severity may be lower. "But we'll have to see," she says, noting that while the public health emergency may have ended, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unpredictable. "If a new variant comes along that significantly evades immune responses, then we don't know what the outcome would be," she says. 13. What about those who think long COVID shouldn't be taken seriously? Yale Medicine doctors say it's important to know that long COVID is a real condition, and people with it can benefit from medical attention. "There's a proportion of people who have difficulty accepting long COVID because the science hasn't caught up with it," says Dr. Lutchmansingh, adding that it can be frustrating when a patient is reporting symptoms, but clinical testing doesn't show any abnormality. "I don't think that's a reason not to believe the patient," she says. "We want to affirm that this is a real condition and let people know we are working on strategies and treatments to help them." Lolo National Forest stakeholders interested in species of concern in particular and the proposed forest plan in general can share their views at a roundtable discussion with Lolo Forest Supervisor Carolyn Upton on Wednesday. The draft assessment of the plan covers overall current conditions in the Lolo National Forest, which surrounds Missoula from the Idaho border north to the Seeley Lake region, and south to Lolo. The proposed forest plan has developed some new data on the national forest's biophysical and socioeconomic elements as well as use patterns. Within that plan, forest service planners must consider species of concern and the needs or circumstances surrounding their survival. At least 60 animals are up for review, including bighorn sheep, harlequin ducks and fisher. Another 81 plants are also under consideration, such as hiker's gentian, hollyleaf clover and Idaho barren strawberry. When completed, the forest plan will guide Lolo National Forest projects and activities, using the baseline data gathered in the planning process. The current Lolo forest plan dates back to 1986. Upton will lead the roundtable meeting on the draft assessment on June 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held in person with an online option. Registration for that meeting is available on the webpage for the plan revision, fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision. Online meetings, meeting archives, documents, comment submission and other information about the plan revision are also available on the webpage. Comments can be submitted online, emailed to SM.FS.LFNRevision@usda.gov, or mailed or delivered in person to Lolo National Forest Supervisors Office, c/o Amanda Milburn, Plan Revision, 24 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. 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. ------- Results are in for the Palmyra Magisterial Judge primary race, with an unopposed Democrat taking their spot and a very close Republican ballot. Cynthia Lyons, who cross filed to appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, won the Democratic race with 1,198 votes. Lyons was the only Democrat on the ballot. "I absolutely cannot wait to be there in November, I'm really excited about it," Lyons said. "I think it's really important, and again, congratulations to everyone that was on the ballot today, but as we move forward we're going to continue to do exactly what we did up until now. We're going to knock on a ton of doors and make sure that we have a better percentage of voters in November than we did today." "I was a little disappointed, and I think others would tell you the same thing, with the turnout overall, countywide." Lyons said that her experience with community involvement coupled with her educational background, having both a masters degree and a law degree, put her right where she needs to be. "I think it's important for people to know that this is a full time-job, frankly more than full-time sometimes," she said. Election workers process mail-in ballots Tuesday morning at the Lebanon County Courthouse during the 2023 primary. David Warner, an attorney at Buzgon Davis Law firm, looks to have won the Republican primary for the seat with 1,207 votes, just 19 votes more than Michael Corricelli who received 1,188. Warner told the Lebanon Daily News that he did not wish to comment on the results of the election at the moment because of the closeness of the race, and will be waiting for the election board to certify the results. Corricelli was not immediately available for comment. Dennis Eckenrode, who received 597 votes, congratulated Warner for coming out ahead on the night of the election and wished him the best of luck moving forward. Lyons received 910 votes on the Republican ballot. Late last year, Judge Carl Garver announced that he would not seek re-election and would step down as Magisterial District Judge at the end of his term. Garver was first elected in 2011, and told the Lebanon Daily News in announcing his retirement that taking another term would mean that he would be 73 by the end of it. Instead, he wishes to enjoy his health serving the community for as long as he has it. The 52-03-05 magisterial district includes Palmyra, North and South Londonderry Townships, Cold Springs Township and East Hanover Township. Garver said that he hoped whoever takes his seat would continue the good working relationship with the community that he had built. A magisterial district judge handles all traffic cases, minor criminal cases, eviction cases and civil cases involving up to $12,000. Magisterial judges also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Lebanon County has six magisterial district judge seats. Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on Twitter @djlarlham This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Primary 2023: Palmyra Magisterial Judge results $1,000 worth of farm equipment stolen (Wednesday, June 13, 1973)The Burke County Sheriffs Office is investigating the reported larceny of nearly $1,000 worth of equipment from the Valdese Implement Company of Hickory Road in Morganton. Owner J.P. Hoyle told authorities that someone had taken several pieces of equipment from the back of the business sometime between 5 p.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Missing items include a tractor valued at $464; two plows, one valued at $90 and the other at $101; a hitch; and two large blades. No suspects have been questioned in the case as yet. Fire departments new truck a first in national safety standard (Monday, June 11, 1973) The Triple Community Fire Department is the first in Burke County to receive a yellow fire truck, a color recommended for all emergency vehicles by the National Safety Council. The new 1,000-gallon-per-minute pumper rolled into the fire department on April 20. It was purchased from Triad Fire and Safety Equipment Company of Kernersville and built by the Howe Fire Apparatus Company in Vinton, Virginia. The ultra-modern firefighting equipment is mounted on a Ford chassis, powered by a Caterpillar V8 diesel engine and equipped with air brakes. The $34,000 truck is considered the most advanced firefighting equipment available. It also features a top-mount pump panel so the pump operator is positioned up high on the truck and has a better vantage point. The panel also is a first for Burke County. Triple Community Fire Department now has three fire trucks in service, making it one of the best-equipped volunteer fire departments in the state, according to a fire department representative. Grace on the move (Tuesday, June 12, 1973)The medical records department is the first of many departments to make the move to the new Grace Hospital building on Sterling Street in Morganton. The move, supervised by the medical records staff, took about 12 hours. Staff members include Mahala Cannon, supervisor of medical records for Grace Hospital, and her team: Jeanne Hutchins, Shirley Robinson, Nelma Kennedy, Donna Self and Delores Pittman. Hospital maintenance staff transported more than 200 boxes containing six years of medical records to the new facility. Written medical records must be maintained on every person admitted on an inpatient, outpatient or emergency basis, according to hospital policy. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals uses medical records as a measurement of the quality of medical care offered by a facility. The new medical records department, located close to the admitting office, will feature deluxe sliding storage units for easy access and increased storage capacity. The pre-fabricated wood shelving is mounted on carriages fitted with rail-riding roller bearings. Even fully loaded, they are easily moved back and forth with hand levers. In addition to the storage units, the new medical records department also will have a central dictating system connected to six recorder-transcriber machines. Dictation will be able to be accepted from any inside or outside telephone, as well as 30 handsets placed throughout the hospital. Law firm welcomes new associate (Thursday, June 14, 1973)The law firm of Patton, Starnes and Thompson has both a new address and a new associate. The firm is now located at 104 S. Sterling St. in Morganton, the former home of North Carolina National Bank and later Wachovia Banks trust department. Stephen T. Daniel, a native of Roxboro, who has just finished four years serving in the United States Army, is the new associate. Daniel earned a bachelors degree of arts in history from Wake Forest University and a law doctorate degree from Wake Forest Law School. During his time in the Army, he served as a captain with the Judge Advocate Generals Corps, where he tried a large range of court martial cases. Daniel and his wife, Sharon, have purchased a home on Rock View Lane for themselves and their three children, Warren, Tara and Kristen, but will be unable to move in until July. Meanwhile, Daniel is living at the Blan Rector home while his family stays with his parents. A banker once asked Kevin Orrino to name his hobbies. Orrino responded after a momentary pause. Work, he said. The 56-year-old Anaconda native works three 12-hour shifts each week as a respiratory therapist for St. James Community Hospital in Butte. In addition, Orrino is a developer, a home builder and a seasonal snow plow driver. I keep pretty busy, he said. Orrino was born and raised in Anaconda. His father, Anthony John Orrino, worked as a boilermaker at the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs. His mother, Marlene, was a cook at the Community Hospital of Anaconda. Orrino lived and worked in Helena for a time but returned to Anaconda in 1997. He left health care work and ran Grannys Kitchen for about 10 years before working again as a respiratory therapist. Coming home to Anaconda alerted Orrino to the shortage of housing in his hometown, a deficit affecting residents who wanted to own a home, as well as former residents who wanted to move back and people new to the community. There were young couples moving back who couldnt find a house, Orrino said. He started thinking about how he might help shepherd a remedy for that shortage. In 1998, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, hurting for tax revenues and an economic stimulus, offered nearly 30 acres for a minimum bid/best-use plan in the incipient foothills of Mount Haggin. We were awarded the property with our plan, Orrino said. Smelter City Estates was born. Partners initially involved in the project have since sold their share. Orrino and his wife, Anaconda native Jolyn Thompson Orrino, have carried on. They brought no experience as developers. The path hasnt always been smooth. There is a lot of risk involved, he said. Everybody thinks we have a gold mine up here. Each and every step has been a hurdle and a challenge. Orrino said Bill Everett, chief executive of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, and his administration have been supportive. Among other community benefits, providing building lots for young families helps increase economic activity and school enrollment. Everett spoke highly of Kevin Orrino, his work with the city-county to bring the project to fruition and his commitment to the community of his birth. Kevin Orrino is one of the better people youd want to meet in this world, Everett said. Kevin worked with Anaconda-Deer Lodge County just fantastically. We couldnt have asked for a better job. Everett said developing a subdivision is a complicated and stressful endeavor. He said he encouraged Orrino to persevere. The second phase of Smelter City Estates launched in 2008, the same time nationally as the Great Recession, considered to be the worst economic downturn in the U.S. since the Great Depression. During the first week of June, Phase 3 of Smelter City Estates received final plat approval from Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. The Orrinos have worked for more than 20 years to develop the subdivisions three phases. Phase 1 offered five lots. Phase 2 offered six. Phase 3 includes 12 lots ranging in size from about four-tenths of an acre to about 1 acre. To date, Smelter City Estates has sold 10 lots. Many lots offer good views across the valley of Stuckey Ridge, which is greening up this spring with vegetation planted during Superfund remediation of lands once denuded by emissions from the Anaconda Co. smelter. Orrino doesnt plan to rest on his laurels as the lots sell and the lot buyers start to build single-family homes. He plans to keep working as a respiratory therapist and to probably drive a snowplow again next winter. It likely wouldnt be prudent to abandon his hobbies. Butte-Silver Bow officials have pushed the pause button on approving millions of dollars in proposed tax abatements for a Norwegian battery materials company but say the hold is solely to follow prior practices. Commissioners were set to vote on the abatements last week but postponed a decision so a committee can look at the proposal more closely and make a recommendation to council. The same thing was done before tapping money from the Hard Rock Mine Trust for economic development projects, said Kristen Rosa, Butte-Silver Bows community development coordinator. Thats the complete idea, that we would follow what we have done in the past just to be consistent, she told commissioners Wednesday night. Cenate has made a great presentation. I fully support abating their taxes but I just want to make sure that we have a full discussion and know exactly what were doing, and if anybody else has any questions, we can make sure those are answered, Rosa said. She said Cenate was not opposed to the pause and the committee review should not take long. Cenate pronounced Sin-NAH-Tah is developing silicon-based materials for higher-density batteries with faster and longer-lasting charges. It is considering Butte and three other U.S. locations for a manufacturing plant and says tax incentives will be a factor in its decision. Its other potential landing spots are Moses Lake or Tri Cities in Washington state and Hermiston, Oregon. If it chooses Butte, it would build a factory on a 40-acre site in the Montana Connections Business Park and use raw materials from the REC Silicon facility already there. Cenate wants tax abatements in Butte that would reduce its locally assessed mills for property taxes by 75% the first five years. It would pay more in phases in years six through nine and pay 100% of the taxes normally owed after that. Without abatements, Cenates projected local tax bill would be about $26 million total over 10 years, officials say. With them, it would pay $14.35 million a savings of $11.6 million. Cenate says it would employ 100 to 250 people in Butte and county officials estimate annual pay for the first 100 jobs at about $70,000, based on the job mix and average wages for such positions in southwest Montana. Cenate detailed its proposal to council via video from Norway on May 10 and two weeks ago, several people and entities urged commissioners to approve the abatements. They included NorthWestern Energy, St. James Healthcare, the Butte Local Development Corp. and Headwaters RC&D. Rosa said internal committees typically reviewed past proposals to spend Hard Rock money and the process would be similar this time. Hard Rock money came from mining taxes but that trust fund was tapped out a few years ago. The committee will include county officials and two commissioners and Rosa said Monday she hopes it will meet this week. My goal is to bring a recommendation to the council at the June 21 meeting, she said. The county hasnt awarded tax abatements since 2016. At that time, the abatements went to developers for major renovations of the Copper King Hotel. That was a much smaller project, with projected savings of $248,000 over four years. The council approved the tax breaks 9-1. Commissioner Jim Fisher questioned the need for a review committee now. Im not big on these committees, he said. I like people that are elected to make decisions rather than people not elected to make decisions about how we spend taxpayer money. So Im a little concerned about this because I think Cenate had a pretty good sales pitch to us. The council will still make the final decision and Rosa told commissioners the pause should not lessen Buttes chances of landing the Cenate plant. We are still, I believe, very much ahead of our competition in working with them (and) showing them what were willing to do as a community how much we want them here, she said. ...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. Muscatine Center for Social Action is hoping to give residents dealing with with mental health crises a way to have not only additional support but also an environment to feel safe in. MCSA, through a partnership with the Eastern Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region, will start its new resource, Project: Rise Above, on July 10 through the opening of its Safe Haven home, which will feature a Wellness Center on its lower level. This resource is specifically meant for those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and who are searching for a place to receive help. Research has recently shown us that recovery from brain health issues and substance use disorders are greatly impacted when those in crisis are provided support from those who have lived experience with the same issues, and are in active recovery," said Nik Horn, MCSA resource development officer. Through MCSA and the regions efforts, they have been able to develop a peer-run model that will allow for everyone in their Safe Haven home a chance to work toward improving whatever mental health or substance use issues they may have together. Project: Rise Above will offer voluntary services including connections to resources within the community to meet the individuals needs and self-developed goals, Horn explained. Participants are offered daily group work, Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and 24-hour access to a certified peer support specialist. Those who leave the home will also still have access to support through follow-up visits and a chance to receive assistance with any referrals made. Our Peer Support Specialists will be trained in SMART Recovery as well and will be able to facilitate groups to assist those staying at the house, as well as those in the community with an increase of access to substance use recovery tools, Horn said. Overall, MCSAs goal, as stated by Horn, is to increase the number of referrals to community-based programming for people experiencing crisis, with the hope being to provide local residents a safe and home-like place to go rest, gather access to wellness tools that can address their needs and gain support from those who have been in their shoes. In order to provide a home-like setting, however, MCSA is asking the public to help by donating items that can help. Monetary donations for supplies are also welcome. Donations to the program help us to provide a home-like setting to those who choose to utilize the Project: Rise Above program, and provide wellness opportunities for the community as a whole, Horn emphasized. Donations can be dropped off at MCSA at 312 Iowa Ave. Residents are also encouraged to keep an eye on the MCSA Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events, including an opportunity for community members to take a tour of the Safe Haven home and learn more about the program. A mix of young Republican strategists and state politicians will spearhead former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haleys campaign in Iowa leading up to the states first-in-the-nation GOP presidential caucuses. Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is working to separate herself from an increasingly crowded field of 2024 Republican presidential candidates, announced her Iowa leadership team Monday. That team includes Bill Mackey, who served as campaign manager for Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunns successful 2022 congressional campaign. Nunn unseated two-term incumbent Democrat Cindy Axne to represent Iowas 3rd Congressional District, flipping a crucial seat to give the GOP an all-Republican Iowa congressional delegation. Mackey will serve as Haleys Iowa political director. Haleys Iowa campaign leadership team also includes Iowa state Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire; state Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton; former Polk County GOP chair Dawn Roberts and millennial business leader Emily Sukup-Schmitt, a third-generation family member of Sukup Manufacturing Co. Haley has hosted or participated in 24 events in Iowa, according to her campaign, from large town halls to meet-and-greets, policy forums and Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernsts Roast and Ride fundraiser earlier this month in Des Moines, the first major cattle call of the 2024 presidential campaign. Haley is among nine GOP presidential hopefuls set to speak at the Republican Party of Iowas annual Lincoln Dinner fundraiser July 28 in Des Moines. Doug Burgum releases first Iowa TV ad North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum released his first TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire as part of his newly launched campaign seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. NBC News reported Burgum is spending $3 million on the ads in the two early GOP primary and caucus states. Burgum is independently wealthy. His net worth is estimated to be more than $1 billion. He mortgaged his family farmland to invest in a fledgling software startup that he took public and later sold to Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion. The governor announced his presidential ambitions in Fargo on Wednesday, quickly embarking on an Iowa tour last week that included stops at the Field of Dreams and the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. Burgum, during the stops, eschewed the culture war bomb-throwing of his primary rivals for wonky policy talk on energy and the economy, positioning himself as a new leader for a changing economy. The first ad highlights Burgum's upbringing as a small-town boy, self-made business leader and governor. I grew up in a tiny town in North Dakota. Shined shoes, worked on the farm at the grain elevator and as a chimney sweep, Burgum says in the ad. Woke is what you did at 5 a.m. to start the day. Those roots gave me the courage to literally bet the farm to grow a small business. Endless hours later, we grew it into a billion dollar global company, employing thousands. He also touts highlights from his time as governor, from cutting red tape to building a budget surplus and implementing tax breaks. The second ad focuses on Burgum's platform, which includes cutting taxes, increasing American energy production and rebuilding the U.S. military to win the Cold War with China. Governor Johnson Sakaja has pledged his support in reconstructing an improved marketplace at Toi Market after a devastating fire on Saturday night caused significant damage to properties valued at millions of shillings. During his visit to the market on Sunday evening, Governor Sakaja assured the traders that the County would provide assistance in rebuilding the market. Furthermore, he personally pledged to distribute iron sheets and food as a means of support to the affected individuals. Sakaja made a commitment to reconstruct spacious and improved stores at the market, aiming to mitigate the spread of fire in case similar tragic incidents were to occur in the future. We have assessed the damage and we will help you rebuild. The county government is going to rebuild the market with more space for emergency vehicles to access the market in cases of emergency, said the Nairobi county boss. Sakaja also assured the traders that he would donate foodstuffs and other essential household items to over 2,500 individuals affected by the fire tragedy. These traders have been irking a living and able to feed their families by doing small businesses at Toi Market. In the meantime we have organised food and material support, he said. In addition, Governor Sakaja said the county government is actively working towards decentralizing fire services and increasing the number of fire engine trucks in the upcoming financial year. He assigned the Planning Department the responsibility of mapping out and surveying the informal settlements with the aim of establishing access routes in the event of similar fires occurring. Sakaja also highlighted that an ongoing investigation into the fire disaster is being conducted. I want to assure you that my administration will investigate the incident to ascertain the cause and come up with long term solutions, he said. Kenya and Djibouti will push for a visa-free regime to spur trade. The two countries will also exploit and further their existing relations to grow investments. This was reached on Sunday when President William Ruto met his counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh at the Palais Presidentiel in Djibouti. The two leaders agreed to establish the Kenya-Djibouti business council that will drive commerce between the two countries. President Ruto said, Djibouti people visiting Kenya will not be required to have visas. This is part of our contribution to easing the movement of people, goods and services in Africa, he added. He announced that Kenya and Djibouti will also build synergy on tourism and hospitality to boost their earnings. The Head of State observed that the development will be underpinned by the resumption of air transport between Nairobi and Djibouti. President Ruto said the strengthening of ties between Kenya and Djibouti will also inspire stability in the region. Making the region especially the Horn of Africa stable is our foremost assignment, he explained. President Guelleh noted that with peace, countries can make strides and attain the anticipated transformation in Africa. We can only develop our world when we are secure, insisted the Djibouti President. Meanwhile, President Ruto has asked leaders to step forward and formulate effective solutions to unemployment, poverty and inequality facing Africa. He said it is time Africa aspirations were put at the centre of the worlds interests. We are not looking for any favour; we have the resources, practical views and solutions to the climate crisis. He said this during his address to the National Assembly of Djibouti. The President noted that it is time Africas unity was deepened and its voice made vocal and clear for its to grow. That is why we must integrate and push for free trade that will create more jobs and incomes. He maintained that Africa cannot afford to continue blaming its past for its failures. It is a reformed and streamlined African Union that will elevate give our continent a new lease of life. He said the operationalisation of a Pan-African Parliament will further help Africa meet the challenges of our time. By PCS Stephen Kamore was a high school teacher who decided to quit the blackboard for the paper. He has authored several parenting books where he teaches parents self-awareness for a better understanding of their children. Kamore spoke to Arts&Lounge/Standard. Tell us about your background and why you decided to resign from your government job to write books Yes, I used to be a teacher, and throughout my career, I have always been observant and passionate about research. I strived to uncover the emerging issues that challenge our society, ranging from family dynamics and careers to politics, education, and religion. These pressing concerns require daily attention. Reflecting on how I could make a difference and transform our society, I realised that conducting research and sharing knowledge would be a powerful approach. I believed that translating this knowledge into books would be an effective way to reach out to the community. I made the decision to resign from my teaching job and dedicate myself to researching, developing programmes, and addressing challenges prevalent in contemporary society. What led you to focus on books related to parenting, and what expertise do you have in this area? Apart from my experience as a parent and teacher, I pursued counselling psychology up to the masters level after resigning. This additional training equipped me with the specific knowledge and skills required to write books on family and parenting. I firmly believe that knowledge is power, and when shared, it multiplies that power. Can you tell us about some of the books you have written so far? Certainly! I have written several books. Keeping Your Dreams Afloat is a two-volume series that explores the art of parenting. It aims to help parents understand themselves better through self-awareness. By delving into their personalities, qualities, and parenting approaches, parents can positively influence the children they raise. This book also addresses the issue of discipline, challenging the misconception that discipline is solely about punishment. Additionally, I have authored The Pillars of Faithful Christian Living, which provides guidance on living a faithful Christian life. School Wide Discipline serves as a comprehensive guide for teachers, parents, and other education stakeholders seeking to establish effective discipline practices in schools. How do you publish your books? I decided to become a self-publisher to have more control over the publication process. Collaborating with independent parties for publication proved to be costly and offered limited returns. Therefore, I established my own publishing firm, the Counseling Research Institute, and use my own resources to fund the publication process. What does being an author of your calibre entail? Being an author of my calibre requires a great deal of dedication and sacrifice. I often find myself waking up at 3 am to begin writing a book. The process of writing is not easy, especially when you are passionate about reaching out to the community. Balancing my role as a family person and other responsibilities makes it challenging to find uninterrupted time. Thus, waking up early in the morning has become a necessity to fulfill my writing duties. How do you market and distribute your books? Marketing has been a significant challenge for me. While I excel at writing books and counselling, marketing requires different skills that I struggle with. Ideally, I would benefit from a partnership with someone who could help me professionally promote these books through online and digital platforms. Currently, I organise professional programmes in schools, parent meetings, and teacher training sessions to spread awareness about my books. Attending youth programmes in churches and colleges also grants me the opportunity to motivate and teach, which indirectly promotes my books. I have also collaborated with bookshops that help sell my books. Those who are far away, can contact me online, make the necessary payment, and I will send the books as parcels. Although I am considering an online marketing platform in the future, my primary means of promotion currently revolve around social media. You can find me on various platforms, such as Stephen Kamore on Instagram and YouTube, where you will find a wealth of information related to my works and book content. Do you have a team that supports you? Not yet, for now, I work alone. However, I am actively seeking individuals who can assist me in the publishing process. Producing a book can be quite expensive, with an average cost of Sh300,000 per book. Overall, my journey as an author has been a testament to dedication and sacrifice. Despite the challenges, I remain committed to my goal of reaching out to the community and making a positive impact through my books. I firmly believe that by sharing knowledge and addressing emerging issues, we can transform our society for the better. With the support of a dedicated team and effective marketing strategies, I hope to reach an even wider audience and continue making a difference through my writing. Updated at 5:10 p.m. Monday A Lake County man who died in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in rural Napa County was a firefighter who had served with Cal Fire for two decades, the state fire protection agency has confirmed. Ronnie Boyd Jr., 51, of Clearlake died in the wreck north of Pope Valley while off duty, according to Jason Clay, spokesperson for Cal Fires Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit. 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. Boyd joined the firefighting agency in 2003 with Sonoma-Lake-Napa, later becoming a fire apparatus engineer. After a term as a limited-term fire captain in the Shasta-Trinity Unit, he was promoted in 2016 to a permanent captains position in the Humboldt-Del Norte Unit on the North Coast, a post he held until his death, Clay said in an email Monday afternoon. Boyd died after the 2015 Harley-Davidson he was riding ran off the 7800 block of Butts Canyon Road and into a creek bed. His wife, 52-year-old Dena Boyd, was riding with him and was critically injured in the wreck, the California Highway Patrol reported earlier Monday. Dena Boyd was airlifted to Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to the highway patrols Golden Gate Division air services. The couple were heading north on Butts Canyon Road on their motorbike north of James Creek when it left the east edge of the pavement, went down a hillside and overturned, according to CHP. First responders found the wreck about 50 feet down from the roadway in a dry creek bed, the Golden Gate Division reported. CHP and American Medical Response rescue staff worked to hoist Dena Boyd from the creek bed, and she was flown by air ambulance to the Santa Rosa hospital, where CHP Golden Gate said she was in critical condition. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, June 11, 2023 As can be clearly seen from the space photo published by the Caucasus Heritage Watch website, Azerbaijan has dug bunkers in the area of the burial ground of the Armenian early-Christian settlement of Gyavurkala (literally: "fortress of the unbelievers") in the village of Haykajur (former Azerbaijani Sofullu) of the Martakert region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), informed monumentwatch.org, which monitors Artsakh's cultural heritage. After Tigranakert, Gyavurkala is the largest early Christian Armenian settlement of the Artsakh steppe. It covers an area of about two hectares, has a round earthen wall, a hall church of the 5th-6th centuries, built with hewn stones and decorated with cross designs. The pillar of this early-Christian monument was still standing. As it can be seen from the space photo and the map of the city, the aforesaid early-Christian burial ground is located east of the church. One of the earliest Armenian inscriptions of the Artsakh steppe was found in the 1950s in the cemetery of the city, exactly where the Azerbaijani bunkers were dug today. It is not ruled out that other sarcophagi with Armenian inscriptions are also found in that area. Azerbaijan persistently continues the destruction of Armenian traces in the Azerbaijani-occupied territories of Artsakh. There is a big risk that such bunkers will be placed in the area of the settlement itself, too. Azerbaijan once again grossly violates its obligations under international conventions. The U.S. last week privately notified the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that it has decided to rejoin the agency nearly six years after the Trump administration announced it was withdrawing U.S. membership, a State Department spokesperson told Axios, the latter reported. Richard Verma, the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, delivered a letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on June 8, proposing a plan for the U.S. to rejoin the organization, a State Department spokesperson said. Last December, Congress approved a bill that allocated more than $500 million needed to pay the U.S. debt to UNESCO and allows it to return as a full member. After Palestine became a full member of UNESCO in 2011, the Obama administration stopped providing funding to the organization because it was barred to do so by U.S. law. In October 2017, the Trump administration announced it was leaving UNESCO over what it described as anti-Israel bias. Israel announced that it would leave the organization not long after. In February 2022, the Israeli government notified the State Department that it wouldnt oppose a U.S. return to UNESCO. The Israeli position paved the way for some Democrats and Republicans in Congress to support the move. Lachin corridor has no alternative: Several Armenia NGOs issue joint statement on Charles Michel statement Karabakh ex-official Vitaly Balasanyan is charged on 4 counts Analyst: Armenia has not recognized Azerbaijan territorial integrity with Karabakhs inclusion Armenia PM is briefed on plan to establish EHL Hospitality Business School branch in Gyumri Our link should be with Armenia only: Karabakh residents comment on their blocking of Askeran-Aghdam road Missing servicemens parents reopen Yerevan major intersection, but on condition 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? New vulnerability detected in WhatsApp Livestock sector is in much worse situation in besieged Karabakh, agriculture minister says Agriculture minister: Scheduled power outages, lack of diesel fuel also cause problems in Karabakh irrigation system Xiaomi introduces mosquito killing lamp that also counts number of mosquitoes killed Karabakh MoD: Defense Army did not carry out fortification work in Askeran Region Newspaper: What 'tougher actions' Karabakh will take? 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 Photo: The Canadian Press The container yard is pictured at the Port of Vancouver, Tuesday, June 18, 2019. More than 7,000 terminal cargo loaders at British Columbia's ports have voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action against local maritime employers, although both sides are still negotiating to avoid such an outcome. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward More than 7,000 terminal cargo loaders at British Columbia's ports have voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action against local maritime employers, although both sides are still negotiating to avoid such an outcome. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada says a vote over the weekend yielded 99.24 per cent support for strike action against the BC Maritime Employers Association "if necessary." The strike vote gives cargo movers additional leverage in talks with employers, allowing the union to file 72-hour notice for a strike to begin on June 24 if negotiations do not progress. The two sides are currently in a cooling-off period until June 21, while the union's U.S. counterpart holds its own talks with West Coast ports leading to disruptions in ports, including Los Angeles. Negotiations in B.C. are scheduled to continue this week, after the previous agreement between the two sides expired on March 30. The BC Maritime Employers Association's website says the industry contributes $2.7 billion to the national GDP and handled roughly 16 per cent of Canada's total traded goods, amounting to $180 billion in 2020. Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) vice president Hakob Arshakyan on Monday attended in the Fifth Yakov Zeldovich International Conference, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (RA NAS), the modern achievements of astrophysics and related spheres, the NA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. Welcoming the participants of the event, the NA Vice President documented that Armenia pays great attention to the development of science and newest technologies. Hakob Arshakyan underlined that our country is historically rich in scientific achievements and discoveries, especially in the fields of astrophysics, mathematics and physics. In this context he spoke about the importance of international scientific cooperation, recording that it is impossible to have successes and new achievements without the international colleagues support and profile collaborative work. The NA Vice President informed that during the last several years the budget of the field of the science was doubled, and certain part is provided for the establishment and expansion of the profile international relations. In this aspect, he highlighted the participation of the Armenian scientific institutions in similar programs and underscored, especially, the role of the National Academy of Sciences in that issue. According to him, the cooperation of most of the Armenian organizations is on newest technologies, mathematics, physics and astrophysics. I would like to call on the people, who today visited Armenia, for partnership, otherwise, the country cannot reach alone great successes. We should unite efforts in order the newest achievements of science more effectively serve the humankind, Hakob Arshakyan stressed. The Director of International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics Network (ICRANet) Remo Ruffini, the Director of ICRANet-Yerevan Center Narek Sahakyan also gave a welcoming speech. Members of the Government, representatives of diplomatic corps, guests from abroad attended the event. More than 100 scientists for Italy, Germany, China, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, England, India, Iran, the Czech Republic, and Belarus take part in the International Conference. During the Conference reports will be presented on most up-to-date directions of modern astrophysics, as well as the last results of large-scale scientific experiments will also be voiced. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day, informs the Central Information Department of the Artsakh President's Office. The message reads as follows in particular: "The long-standing friendship between the Armenian and Russian peoples, as well as the strategic and allied relations between the Armenian and Russian states, have forged a significant history and hold an immense potential for further development. Artsakh, as an important entity in the South Caucasus, has had and continues to have its own place within these relations. One of the indicators of that importance is the signing of the 2020 war ceasefire through active mediation and guarantees of Russia. Therefore, we highly value the role of Russia and your personal contribution in halting the bloodshed in 2020, thereby preventing further large-scale aggressions and tragedies in Artsakh. The people of Artsakh have welcomed the presence of Russian peacekeepers, considering them a strong assurance of a free and dignified life in their homeland. Now, as Azerbaijan persists in its efforts to dismantle the fragile security of Artsakh and the region, undermining the Russian guarantees through ongoing blockade and threats to Artsakh, we remain confident that by aligning our strategic interests and combining our efforts, our two nations will succeed in establishing a stable and dignified regional environment for all parties involved." Photo: The Canadian Press A burned section of forest in the area near Edson, Alta., smoulders, Saturday, May 6, 2023. Wildfires that forced the evacuation of the town west of Edmonton continue to menace the community, with crews also battling heavy, vision-obscuring smoke. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Government of Alberta Fire Service A wildfire that forced the evacuation of a town west of Edmonton continues to menace the community with crews also battling heavy, vision-obscuring smoke. Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara said the fire remains within 1.5 kilometres of his towns southern edge. If it does flare up, we dont have a lot of opportunity or a lot of time (to react), Zahara said Monday in an online video update. It is still very dangerous. The evacuation order remains in place for Edson and for adjoining sections of Yellowhead County and wont be reassessed until Wednesday at the earliest. Various roads and highways remain closed. The risk for this fire moving in different directions in the next two days is extreme, said Luc Mercier, the chief administrative officer of Yellowhead County. He said almost 500 crews, on the ground and in the air with helicopters and water bombers, are fighting the flames. The 8,400 residents of Edson, 200 kilometres west of Edmonton, were forced to flee Friday after flames jumped fireguards. Christine Beveridge, Edsons chief administrative officer, said some residents are returning despite the evacuation order. Beveridge urged those returnees to leave, saying they are making the situation worse for crews trying to focus on the blaze. We have had a lot of people come back to the community in the last couple of days, said Beveridge. Please obey the order and stay out. If we need to deal with these fires and weve got to be dealing with getting individuals out of our community again, that unfortunately leads to a very dire situation for first responders as well as for yourselves. Beveridge said there are a number of factors to consider before allowing people to return, such as ensuring critical infrastructure is fine and the hospital is ready to accept patients. Zahara and Mercier said work continues building fire breaks and securing critical infrastructure in south Edson. In Edson, firefighters have been going door-to-door moving flammable items including propane tanks and wood piles away from houses and other structures. Peace officers and members of the RCMP are also doing regular patrols. This is the second time Edson residents have been forced to flee the wildfires in just over a month. Residents were out for three days in early May. As of Monday, there were more than 14,000 residents out of their homes due to fires scattered through the northern and western areas of the province. Provincewide, about 2,700 crews from as far way as New Zealand and Australia have been helping local firefighters and members of the Canadian Armed Forces contain the blazes. Officials said Monday more crews are arriving from Costa Rica and Chile. In Albertas far north, an evacuation order has been in place for two weeks in and around Fort Chipewyan. The order includes the Mikisew Cree First Nation, the Fort Chipewyan Metis Nation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. Also in northern Alberta, there is an evacuation order for the area in and around Fox Lake, west of Fort Chipewyan. Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis said rain is expected to provide some relief over the next couple of days, but said the situation remains critical and there is a long fire season ahead. We are still very early in the wildfire season, said Ellis. Were only two-and-a-half months into a seven-month period stretching out until the end of October. This could be a long and very challenging summer. The security of Armenia's borders, especially on the Turkish side, has been unequivocally preserved as a result of the Russian military presence; Armenia has avoided war on that side for so many years as a result of that very presence. Ambassador Dzyunik Aghajanyan, stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am. To note, the secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, had noted that the control of Armenia's borders should be carried out entirely by the Armenian services. "On the one hand, it would be very good if the Armenian border guard forces were so strong and armed, and the army were so strong that there would be no need for a third country to ensure the security of the borders. But we know very well that the security of the borders, especially on the Turkish side, has been unequivocally maintained as a result of the military presence by the Russians. We have avoided war from that side for so many years as a result of that presence," said Ambassador Aghajanyan. According to her, the Armenian authorities have already started the process of withdrawing the Russian military presence from Armenia. "And this is done by very well using the definitely negative attitude of the Armenian society in terms of the [Zangezur] corridor, and under its guise of expressing willingness to take upon themselves the control of the borders. I will not be surprised that shortly after this agreement, the control of that railway will be handed over on a contractual basis to Western companies and foreign forces will enter Armenia, also transforming the EU observers into NATO's military presence. This will be done very easily, taking into account the mandate of the EU observers, by which they are in Armenia today," added the Armenian diplomat. When asked whether this imply that these borders will not remain under the control of Armenia, Aghajanyan responded. "At the moment, taking into account the active processes that today's [Armenian] authorities are carrying out in terms of removing the Russian factor from here, I will not be surprised that this is just the first step, which will be followed by ensuring the presence of the West here." And to the question as to what the reason is for the fact that the Azerbaijani side, despite the fact that it violates practically all the points of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020 still defends this point, Ambassador Dzyunik Aghajanyan, responded: "In this case, it is attempting to get points from the Russian side by forming a positive image. But this is just a game, and in the next second, Azerbaijan can very calmly say: if the Armenian side agrees, I have no problem." 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. --IANS san/d ( 332 Words) 2023-06-11-17:02:01 (IANS) The link between the Afghan Taliban and proscribed militant outfits Al Qaeda and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains "strong and symbiotic", as per a report published by the United Nations (UN), media reports said. The 14th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN Security Council's 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee noted that a "range of terrorist groups has greater freedom of manoeuvre under the Taliban de facto authorities", Dawn reported. "They are making good use of this, and the threat of terrorism is rising in both Afghanistan and the region," the report read. "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 report said that the Taliban forces have conducted operations against ISIL-K, in general, but they have not delivered on the counter-terrorism provisions under the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the US and the Taliban. "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 added, Dawn reported. However, the Afghan Taliban dismissed the report and called it "full of prejudice". "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers the continuation of UN Security Council sanctions and such reports as full of prejudice and in conflict with the principles of independence and non-interference, and calls for an end to it," Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, Dawn reported. --IANS san/d ( 313 Words) 2023-06-11-20:38:02 (IANS) The Sri Lankan government has decided to delay its plan to privatise Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) following a Parliamentary Committee's warning that the move could pose a potential threat to national security. The SLT, in which the government owns a majority stake, is the national information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider and the leading broadband and backbone infrastructure services provider of Sri Lanka. The decision was taken following the advice of the country's Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security which suggested the government not pursue any plans to privatise SLT as it could pose a potential threat to national security. "The effects of the privatisation of SLT on National Security ... (given 44.98% of SLT is already in private hands) ... would expose the country's critical communication infrastructure/sensitive information to private entities whose profit-oriented interests can compromise national security," the committee said a report submitted to the Parliament. Committee's Chairman and government MP Sarath Weerasekara told the Parliament on Friday that "the divestment of the 49.5% stake in SLT held by the government could expose the country's strategic communication infrastructure and sensitive information to private companies that are motivated by profit, which could pose a threat to national security". The committee went on to suggest that organisations or individuals that have been blacklisted or have helped terrorists and extremists in any form should not be allowed to buy any share and have any control over the country's national assets. It urged the government to consider "buy(ing) back the other large shareholder of SLT as provided for in the agreement, and then divide the segments into sensitive and vulnerable, excess lands and buildings, critical infrastructure and the business." Responding to the committee's suggestion President's Media Division (PMD) stated that the government has "focussed its attention to the committee report, which was presented to Parliament, emphasising the concerns surrounding the potential risk to national security resulting from the privatisation of SLT". "The government has reassured that the policy decision taken will not compromise national security, contrary to what is indicated in the report," PMD stated, adding that the final decision would be taken during an upcoming cabinet meeting while considering the report along with recommendations from the information and communication sector. Early this year, Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa complained to the Parliament that the government was trying to sell SLT shares to Sri Lanka-born British citizen, Subashkaran Aliraja, the chairman of Lycamobile and Indian film producer who owns Chennai-based Lyca Productions. SLT trade union had also charged that India's Adani Group also has plans to acquire the state-owned shares of the SLT. --IANS sfl/sha ( 448 Words) 2023-06-10-06:02:02 (IANS) FILE - The logo of JPMorgan bank is pictured at the new French headquarters of JP Morgan bank, Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Paris. JPMorgan Chase is defending itself against a lawsuit by the U.S. Virgin Islands accusing it of empowering Jeffrey Epstein to abuse teenage girls. Lawyers for the giant bank said in court papers Tuesday, May 23, 2023, that it was the islands that enabled the financier to commit his crimes. (Michel Euler/AP) JPMorgan Chase announced a settlement Monday with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein who had accused the bank of being the financial conduit that allowed the financier to continue operating a sex trafficking operation. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges accusing him of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York. He was found dead in jail on Aug. 10 of that year, at age 66. A medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Advertisement The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court in November sought to hold JPMorgan financially liable for Epsteins decades-long abuse of teenage girls and young women. A related lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We all now understand that Epsteins behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man, JPMorgan Chase said in a written statement early Monday. Advertisement According to the lawsuits, JPMorgan provided Epstein loans and regularly allowed him to withdraw large sums of cash from 1998 through August 2013 even though it was aware of his participation in sex trafficking. The anonymous victim, referred to as Jane Doe, said she was sexually abused by Epstein from 2006 and 2013. The bank continued to count Epstein as a client despite the fact that Epstein was arrested and pled guilty to sex crimes in 2008 in Florida. The settlement with Jane Doe arrives on the same day that a judge granted Does lawsuit class-action status, meaning future awards would be granted to Doe and other victims. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it, the bank said in a prepared statement. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes. The settlement comes roughly two weeks after JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon testified in a deposition for the case, where he denied knowing about Epstein and his crimes until the financier was arrested in 2019, according to a transcript of the videotaped deposition released last month. Both lawsuits were filed after New York state in November enacted a temporary law letting adult victims of sexual abuse to sue others for the abuse they suffered, even if the abuse occurred long ago. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Lawsuits are still pending between the U.S. Virgin Islands and JPMorgan Chase, and the bank is still pursuing its lawsuit against JPMorgan former executive Jes Staley. The bank has denied the allegations and sued Staley, saying he hid Epsteins crimes to keep him as a client. Staley left JPMorgan in 2013 to later become CEO of the British bank Barclays. Staley stepped down from that role in 2021 due to his prior relationship with Epstein. Interestingly, all three services -- Army, Navy, Air Force -- were given an equal increase in the budget, although the military takes the major share given its size and the role, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan's defence spending is now 1.7 per cent of its GDP, showing a decline compared to last year. The defence spending in 2022-23 was around 2 per cent of the country's GDP, the size of which has grown due to the rebasing of the economy, The Express Tribune reported. Defence spending has always been the subject of discussions with some seeking greater transparency and open debate about the military's budget. In recent years, the government provides more details about the defence budget. However, there has never been open debate within the parliament on the subject. Observers believe that the increase in the defence budget is justified given the impending external and internal security challenges, The Express Tribune reported. Despite the US troops withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan still deploys thousands of troops along the western border as well as in the erstwhile tribal areas to deal with the threat of terrorism. The budget document shows that defence outlay for 2023-24 would be 1,804 billion PKR compared to the revised defence spending of 1,591 billion PKR earmarked for the outgoing fiscal year. --IANS san/ksk/ ( 255 Words) 2023-06-10-12:34:02 (IANS) The 15th Finance Commission (2021-26) headed by N.K. Singh had earlier suggested that the northeastern states accelerate resources and revenue to strengthen their fiscal position. Singh, a former member of the now abolished Planning Commission, in his report had said that the northeastern states must accelerate their own resources and revenue to build up sustainable fiscal situations while each northeastern state has unique features and challenges. With 45.58 million people (2011 census), in the northeast region, which consists of 8 per cent of India's total geographical area and 4 per cent of the country's population, there is a lack of big and medium scale industries in most of the states except Assam. According to experts, the hilly region has huge untapped natural resources including gas, oil, water and forests, but their full utilisation is yet to be done, making for a poor revenue base for seven of the eight northeastern states. To improve the basic minimum services and infrastructure in the region, the Central ministries and departments, keep 10 per cent of their Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for the central sector (CS) and the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) unless they are exempted. Currently, the eight mountainous northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand have the special category tag, and are getting higher financial support from the Centre. As per the budget estimate, for the years 2014-15 to 2020-21, actual expenditure in the northeastern region by non-exempted Central government ministries and departments was Rs 2,65,766.67 crore. According to a report of the "State Finances of North Eastern States", published by the Research and Information Division of the Lok Sabha secretariat, financial assistance from the various central ministries reveals that the financial condition of the states is better. "But there are fields in which action is yet to be taken for the best utilization of financial assistance for the people and these states," it said. "If we compare the population of the northeastern states with the rest of the Indian states it is much less. With this if the resources available are in abundance and utilised sensibly the states can develop as sustainable, economically viable hubs for their people and India as well." The report said that compared to the northeastern states, the other states of India pay more tax. One of the major reasons behind this is "As per section 10 (26) of the Income Tax Act, a member of a Scheduled Tribe residing in any area specified in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution or in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura is exempted from paying tax on any income that accrues from any source in the area or state", the report said. The annual budgets for the year 2023-24 of most of the northeastern states except Tripura have been passed in the state assemblies. After the February 16 assembly elections and formation of the new government, the Tripura government passed a vote-on-account for the first four months of the current financial year (2023-24) in the last week of March. Tripura Finance, Planning and Coordination Minister Pranajit Singha Roy told IANS that the budget session of the Tripura assembly would begin on July 7 and in this session the full fledged budget for the year 2023-24 would be placed. "Our fiscal position is now good. We are making committed expenditure as well as releasing funds for the major road and infrastructure projects. No major finance crunch in any sector," Singha Roy claimed. According to officials in Itanagar, at the end of 2023-24, the outstanding liabilities of the Arunachal Pradesh government are estimated to be 53 per cent of the GSDP, higher than the revised estimate for 2022-23 (45.4 per cent of the GSDP). The outstanding liabilities have risen significantly as compared to the 2020-21 level (42.2 per cent of the GSDP). In 2023-24, Arunachal Pradesh is estimated to spend Rs 12,366 crore on committed expenditure, which is 47 per cent of its estimated revenue receipts. This committed expenditure comprises spending on salaries (34 per cent of revenue receipts), pension (10 per cent), and interest payments (3 per cent). Committed expenditure is expected to increase by 23 per cent over the revised estimate of 2022-23. In 2023-24, the fiscal deficit is estimated to be 6.6 per cent of the GSDP. For 2023-24, the Central government has permitted a fiscal deficit of up to 3.5 per cent of the GSDP to states, of which 0.5 per cent of the GSDP will be available only upon carrying out certain power sector reforms. In 2023-24, state GST is estimated to be the largest source of own tax revenue (76 per cent share). State GST revenue is estimated to increase by 15 per cent over the revised estimates of 2022-23. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented a Rs 1,592 crore deficit (which is around 3.42 percent of the GSDP) budget for the 2023-24 fiscal. According to the budget, interest payments for 2023-24 are estimated at Rs 1,169 crore and pension payments at Rs 1,794 crore. The government expenditure more than doubled from Rs 9,528 crore during 2017-18 to Rs 20,729 crore in 2022-23, demonstrating improved governance and implementation capability, the Chief Minister had said. Sangma had said that the cumulative funding from externally aided projects (EAP) increased from Rs 2,300 crore to over Rs 10,600 crore from 2018 to 2023. The Meghalaya government has been implementing several projects in collaboration with agencies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the New Development Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture Development. Around 90 per cent of these loans for the EAP are repaid by the Union Government on behalf of the state government. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio while presenting the budget for the 2023-24 fiscal in the state assembly in the last week of March had said that over the 5-year period from the year 2020-21 up to 2025-26, the revenue deficit grant would reduce by Rs 910 crore. Rio lamented the huge loss faced by the power sector. "By the end of the current financial year 2022-23, the amount spent on power purchase is estimated to reach Rs 580.89 crore while revenues may barely touch Rs 280 crore. The last four years have witnessed a total loss of Rs 1,079.74 crore in the power sector. "An amount of Rs 12.64 crore was spent by NST on fuel alone while the department was able to collect revenue of Rs 6.50 crore only," the Chief Minister stated. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthangs, who also holds the finance portfolio, presenting the budget for the year 2023-24 in February, had said that the projected earning from our state's own tax revenue is Rs 1084. 29 crore which is 35.32 per cent more than the current year's budget estimate of Rs 801.29 crore. "We are striving to achieve Rs 896. 99 crore from our own non-tax revenue which would be Rs 60.57 crore more than last year's estimate." "The major portion of the state's resources is used to meet obligatory and operating expenses such as salaries and wages, pensions, subsidies, interest payments, power purchase cost, healthcare, state's "Top-up" share for salaries of SSA employees," Zoramthanga had said. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/bg ( 1232 Words) 2023-06-10-13:58:02 (IANS) In the run-up to the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh due to be held later this year, the ruling BJP government led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is leaving no stone unturned to fight the anti-incumbency factor. The state government is announcing a series of populist schemes and freebies to woo the voters while the state is reeling under debt of around Rs 3.5 lakh crore. Experts say that the average per capita debt in the state has sharply increased in the past five-six years. If the debt figures are taken into consideration, every citizen in the state has a debt of Rs 41,000. It was estimated at Rs 13,853 by the end of March 2016, compared to Rs 10,896 recorded in FY 2013-14. They claim that the Madhya Pradesh government is "going through a period of severe economic crisis". The economic condition of Madhya Pradesh can be understood by the fact that in the previous year 2022-2023, the state presented an annual budget of Rs 2.79 lakh crore, while the mounting debt on the government was at Rs 3.31 lakh crore. Even the Rs 3.14 lakh crore 'self-reliant' annual budget presented in March this year by the Shivraj government for the financial year 2023-2024 could not surpass the total debt of Rs 3.29 lakh crore on the state. Shashikant Trivedi, a senior journalist who has been covering Madhya Pradesh's economic status for over two decades, said the economic structure had started deteriorating since 2005-2006, but the enormous changes introduced after 2008 made the situation worst. According to him, "carousel fraud" was one of the main reasons. "People only understand the GDP growth, which the government highlights but it does not elaborate on the factual data of the state's economic condition. The depth of the economy of the state needs to be transparent to a degree that a layman can understand. For instance, GDP has gone very high, but does it reflect in daily life?" Congress has held the Shivraj-led BJP government responsible for the "very poor" economic condition of the state. Senior Congress leader Tarun Bhanot, who was Finance Minister in Kamal Nath's 15-month government, said: "BJP government claims it borrowed loans from banks for the developments of the people, while the situation is quite different. The debt during Digvijaya Singh-led Congress government was at Rs 26,000 crore, now it has reached close to Rs 4 lakh crore, and the financial condition of the people in the state continues to decline." The former minister claimed the situation has worsened to such an extent that students were not given dues of their scholarship for the last two years. "During the 15-month government, Kamal Nath has made several reforms and multiple revenue resources were created without putting any extra burden on citizens. The Shivraj government has pushed the state 10-15 years back (in terms of economic development)," Bhanot added. --IANS pd/sha/ksk/ ( 505 Words) 2023-06-10-13:58:03 (IANS) The West Bengal government's accumulated debt, as per the budget papers of the state government, is slated to rise to Rs 6,47,825.52 crore by March 31, 2024, a ten per cent rise over the figure of Rs 5,86,124.63 crore as on March 31, 2023. What is equally alarming is that the state's per capita debt by the same period is slated to rise to Rs 59,000. Per capita debt is derived by dividing the total accumulated debt by the total population of the state. Both the projected accumulated debt and per capita debt figures are extremely high compared to the corresponding figures as on March 31, 2011, which was the last year of the 34-year Left Front rule in West Bengal. As on March 31, 2011, the accumulated debt figure was Rs 1,97,000 crore and the per capita debt figure was Rs 20,300. Economists fear that unless urgent fiscal measures are adopted to arrest this upward trend, the state will slowly inch towards a debt trap situation, which is a point where the state has to go for fresh borrowings just for servicing the older debts. That situation comes when the debt to GSDP ratio reaches 50 per cent. In fact, the state budget papers for 2023-24 give some clear indications of the high expenditure of the state during the fiscal under review behind servicing previous debts. As per the budget documents, during the fiscal ending March 2024, the state government will have to shell out Rs 73,303.68 crore for repayment of principal and interest on earlier borrowings, as mentioned in the budget estimates for the fiscal under review, up from Rs 69,691.79 crore as mentioned in the revised estimates for 2022-23. Economists believe that while the first reason for this rising accumulated and per capita debt in West Bengal is because of the rising non-plan expenditure, the second reason is the lack of adequate avenues for improving the state's own tax revenues which is purely state excise dominated. With a 19.41 per cent projected growth during the financial year 2023-24, state excise will continue to be the principal component for generation of the state's own tax revenue. While the state's tax revenue, as per the budget estimates for 2023-24, is slated to increase by just 12.69 per cent to Rs 88,595.54 crore from Rs 79,500 crore as per the revised estimates for 2022-23, the excise collection is slated to rise to Rs 17,921.56 crore, up by 19.41 per cent from Rs 15,001.39 crore as per the revised estimates for financial year 2022-23. Another significant factor on this count is that in 2023-24, state excise, which is just one of the 12 components of the state's own tax revenue, will contribute 20.22 per cent to the total tax kitty. According to the former chief economic advisor to the Union government, Ashok Kumar Lahiri, who is currently a BJP legislator, since the focus of the state government is more on recurring expenditure rather than capital expenditure like infrastructure development the investors are shying away from the state. According to him, it means employment generation is not just in terms of direct employment in big industries but also in forms of development of ancillary and associate industries, which can enable a long-term economic growth of the state. "But the focus of the state government seems to be more on spending on non-productive expenditure like fairs and festivals," he said. Economist P.K Mukhopadhyay also seems to be worried at the trend of expenditure of the state government or rather how the borrowed money is utilised. The main part of the expenses of the state government is for recurring or non-plan expenditure. Lesser spends in capital expenditure means lesser assets creation and lesser employment generation. This is the area in which the state government should concentrate and increase the proportion of capital expenditure and subsequently reduce the spending on non-plan expenditure, he said. Industry observer and professor of economics Santanu Basu feels that the only way to arrest the looming financial disaster is to attract big ticket investment by revising the land and special economic zone laws. "In a state like West Bengal with extremely fragmented land holdings, the state government has to have some role in land procurement for industry. No industrialist will be willing to invest in the state if they have to approach all the landowners to get the land for industry," Basu added. --IANS src/bg ( 756 Words) 2023-06-10-13:58:04 (IANS) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], June 12: Expand My Business, a leading platform for entrepreneurial growth, is elated to announce the successful completion of Day 2 of the Convention of Digital Entrepreneurs (CODE) New Delhi. The two-day event, which concluded on June 11, 2023, witnessed an exceptional gathering of industry leaders, innovative startups, and investors, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing in the digital landscape. "CODE 2023 has been an extraordinary event that has exceeded our expectations. We are delighted to witness the incredible energy, enthusiasm, and passion demonstrated by the attendees. This convention has not only facilitated knowledge sharing and networking but has also paved the way for new partnerships and growth opportunities for entrepreneurs across India," said Nishant Behl, Founder of Expand My Business. The second day of CODE New Delhi kicked off with the highly anticipated Founders' Conference, where founders from renowned brands shared their insights on building companies that make a lasting impact. Speakers such as Aastha Grover (Head, Startup India), Manish Amin (Co-Founder & CIO, Yatra.com), Gaurav Porwal (SVP E-Commerce, Tata Digital) and Pradeep Kumar 'Prady' (India CEO, Neil Patel Digital India) captivated the audience with their inspiring journeys and valuable advice. While addressing the conference and highlighting the pace at which the Indian startup ecosystem is growing, Aastha Grover pointed out that over 99,000 startups have become a part of Startup India, 49 per cent of which are based in Tier 2 & 3 locations. Speakers at the conference also emphasised the importance of making the approach at the right time to grab maximum eyeballs from the investors in the B2B space. Continuing from Day 1, Investor Summit provided early-stage founders with unparalleled funding opportunities. The Showcase provided an exceptional platform for startups to pitch their ideas and vision to a wider audience. Entrepreneurs were able to present their innovative concepts and gain exposure to potential customers, partners, and investors. This interactive session demonstrated the immense talent and creativity present in the startup community. CODE 2023 witnessed participation from 200 exhibitors, 50 speakers and 8k footfall. It also hosted India's largest Digital Services Expo, which enabled tech service providers from all over the country showcased their cutting-edge products and services. This gathering of industry leaders and exhibitors provided a unique opportunity for attendees to explore the latest digital advancements and forge valuable business relationships. With an impressive lineup of speakers, including Aastha Grover (Head, Startup India), Gaurav Porwal (SVP E-Commerce, Tata Digital), Jaideep Singh Kalra (Director & Head Business Banking North India, HSBC), and many others, CODE New Delhi delivered a comprehensive learning experience for attendees. The event covered a diverse range of topics, from digital marketing strategies to technological innovations, providing valuable insights to empower entrepreneurs on their journey to success. Expand My Business extends its heartfelt appreciation to all the speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees who contributed to the success of CODE New Delhi. The overwhelming response and positive feedback received have further reinforced the commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. Expand My Business is Asia's largest digital solutions platform dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. EMB strives to empower entrepreneurs and help them succeed in the global marketplace through its services and initiatives. Through CODE, the goal is to foster a culture of innovation and creativity and to support the growth and development of businesses of all sizes and sectors. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) New Delhi [India], June 12: The lead actress in the Netflix film Operation Mayfair, Anjali Sharma, collaborates with AB Roakstar for a music video. AB Rockstar is a Music Composer who has teamed with the Digital Partner Hssocial Fly to release a video well shot at Surajgarh Toddy featuring Anjali. Anjali Sharma features in the music video as the female lead, whereas AB Rockstar is the male lead in the newly launched music video "Sajna." Besides composing the song, AB rockstar has also given unmatched looks and voice to make this video look outstanding on-screen. AB Rockstar is a well-established name in the music industry. He adds, "I had an excellent experience working with Actress Anjali Sharma. Her acting in the Netflix release Operation Mayfair dragged me to collaborate with her. Her on-screen presence in the film and video has become a game-changer." On the work front, Anjali Sharma's next music video is with AB Rockstar. You will also see Anjali in multiple film projects. https://instagram.com/anjalisharma_7?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) 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. --IANS rvt/vd ( 388 Words) 2023-06-11-20:36:03 (IANS) "The ministry is on high alert and continues to monitor developments in the region and globally," said Christopher Nyanga, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, on Thursday issuing a statement on precautionary measures against cholera. Nyanga highlighted that some deaths have also been recorded in the neighboring countries due to the cholera outbreak. "However, Botswana has so far not recorded any cholera case," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. Nyanga further advised citizens and residents who travel to infected countries to take necessary hygiene precautions and present to their health facilities if experiencing any symptoms. --IANS int/sha ( 139 Words) 2023-06-10-00:52:01 (IANS) The shooting of four people Saturday in Oak Park occurred during a funeral procession for a North Side man who was shot and killed in the Edgewater neighborhood earlier this month, police sources and the mans family said. Around 1 p.m. Saturday, the funeral procession for Jamal Goings, a 33-year-old man shot to death May 23, was traveling west in the 900 block of Madison Street, according to Oak Park police and Goings family. A source with knowledge of the investigation identified Goings as connected to the Guttaville faction of the Gangster Disciples, which claims territory in the area where Goings was killed. Advertisement Goings last month was found lying face down in the alley of the 6000 block of North Kenmore Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. He was shot in the back and taken to a hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead, Chicago police previously said. In a brief phone interview Monday, Goings mother said she did not know what precipitated Saturdays shooting. She added that her son was the father of two young girls. Advertisement Theyre OK for now, but not too good, Renette Goings said of her granddaughters. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Asked how she was faring since her sons death, she said, Im making it. A white pickup truck pulled up next to the procession, and someone inside opened fire, striking four people, all of whom are from Chicago. Two of the victims were hospitalized in critical condition, while two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Oak Park police. While there is no indication of any further threat to the community stemming from this incident, any act of gun violence such as this does great harm to our collective sense of safety, Oak Park police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in a statement. Oak Park police added that its standard protocol for funeral homes to alert law enforcement of potentially high-risk funeral processions but no alert was issued ahead of Saturdays funeral. Cook County court records show Goings in 2019 pleaded guilty to aggravated fleeing and was sentenced to 14 months in prison. A year earlier, Goings was sentenced to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Records show Goings was arrested several more times on various narcotics charges. Hed been on the radar in the past, a police source said, adding that officers discovered a gun on Goings person when he was found shot last month. The source said a faction of the Black P. Stones based in Uptown is believed to be in conflict with the Gangster Disciples faction. After the reports of alleged tension between the police and pilgrims during an annual palanquin departure ceremony in Alandi town of Maharashtra's Pune on Sunday, the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner denied reports of lathi charge on Warkaris - devotees of Lord Vitthal, and said that there was only a "minor altercation". The incident took place when devotees tried to gain entry into Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj's temple in Alandi, during a ceremonial procession. The annual procession began on Sunday morning from Alandi with devotees from various parts of the state and beyond joining in large numbers. Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey said in a statement, "There was no lathi charge during the procession of the Palkhi only a minor altercation took place today at Alandi." He said that there was overcrowding during the last year's procession, and in view of the same, they had decided to limit the number of visitors this time. "Last year, several injuries were caused due to the overcrowding during the annual Pilgrimage. Therefore, this year the Principal District Judge, Charity Commissioner and the heads of various temples decided to limit the number to 75 people to allow them to enter each Palkhi. The decision was also communicated to the various chiefs of the groups who take part in the Palkhi," he said. The Commissioner added, "However, some local youngsters attempted to forcibly enter the Palkhi, leading to an altercation with the police. No lathi charge or force was used by the police against them. I appeal to everyone to cooperate and maintain Maharashtra's rich tradition of peaceful Palkhis". (ANI) The Mumbai Crime Branch have arrested a 34-year-old man from Pune for allegedly issuing death threats on social media to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. "The accused has been identified as Sagar Barve and he works in an IT company," officials said on Sunday. He was presented in a court from where he has been sent to judicial custody till June 13, they said. As per the police, the accused had created two fake social media accounts for sending death threats to the NCP supremo. "Mumbai crime branch arrested a 34-year-old man from Pune in connection with a threat call to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The accused has been identified as Sagar Barve. The police produced him in a court today where the court has sent him to police custody till Tuesday," Mumbai Police said. The matter pertains to the alleged death threats given to Sharad Pawar. Supriya Sule said on May 9, alleged receiving a threat message, directed at her father on WhatsApp. Labelling the threat as 'low-level politics', she added that this should stop. "I received a message on WhatsApp for Pawar Sahab. He was threatened through a website. So, I have come to the Police demanding justice. I urge Maharashtra Home Minister and Union Home Minister to act. Such actions represent low-level politics and should stop," Sule told reporters earlier in the week. She added that if justice isn't done in such cases, the Centre and State Home departments will be held responsible. "The police have been informed. The Home Department also needs to intervene in this matter. Politics should be set aside in such cases," Sule added. The NCP leaders told the police that Pawar received a message on Facebook that he will "meet the same fate as Narendra Dabholkar (a rationalist who was shot dead in 2013)". The Mumbai Police had registered a case against two people in connection with the anonymous death threat to Pawar, under sections 153(A), 504 and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Reacting over the alleged threats, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had directed the police to beef up security for the former CM Sharad Pawar. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had also said that although there are ideological differences with the NCP, issuing threats to a prominent Opposition leader won't be tolerated. (ANI) In a major development in the Ganga Jamna School row in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district, three persons including the school principal have been arrested by police, officials said on Sunday. According to the police, Ganga Jamna School in MP's Damoh hit the headlines after purported posters of the school went viral on social media in which a few Hindu girls were allegedly seen wearing hijabs. "The arrested persons include the school principal, a teacher and a security guard," the police said. Damoh SP Rakesh Singh said that currently three accused have been arrested and the search is on to nab the remaining accused. The accused were produced before a court and from where they have been sent to judicial custody, he said. On the other hand, Anunay Srivastava, the lawyer for the accused said, "The police have added a section in the registered case. Today being Sunday, the sessions court is closed, so an appeal will be made on Monday". After the controversy regarding Ganga Jamna School erupted, the police registered a case against the school administration under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 295, 506 and Juvenile Justice Act. Damoh Superintendent of Police (SP) Rakesh Singh said, "Yesterday, statements of two-three girls came to the fore, after which it was felt that their statement is worth taking into consideration and the investigating committee also sent that statement to us, to take cognizance into it." "Now, the statements of the people associated with the school management will be recorded and on the basis of it further action will be taken," the SP said, adding that the number of sections and the accused may increase after further investigation. Earlier, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that an FIR would be filed against the school management. "Religious conversion conspiracies are going on at some places in the state and we will not let them succeed. We have also given instructions to investigate in the entire state, especially the educational institutions, whether it is madrassas or if education is being imparted in a wrong way," Chouhan told ANI. He added, "In the Damoh case, we are now getting the report and I have been told that the daughters who gave their statements have been forced. This is a very serious matter. Strict action will be taken". Earlier, the affiliation of Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School was suspended for non-compliance with Madhya Pradesh Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools Recognition Rules 2017 and amended rules 2020. According to a circular, there was no proper arrangement of a library in the school, old furniture and old materials were kept in the laboratories rooms and there were no proper experimental materials in the school. There were 1,208 students registered in the school and there was neither proper arrangement of separate toilets for boys and girls nor pure drinking water. (ANI) According to the Edakkad police, the boy, Nihal, went out of his house on Sunday evening and when he did not return, the family and the locals started searching for him. After searching for some time in the area, the boy's body was found around 8 pm in Muzhappilangad town, a police officer said. "The child's body bore multiple injury marks which seemed to have been caused by an animal bite," the officer said. "He was unconscious and rushed to a hospital. The doctors at the hospital declared him brought dead," the officer added. The body has been shifted to the mortuary, he said. Police have started further investigations. Last year, a minor (12) died after being attacked by a stray dog in Kerala's Kottayam. Following a series of stray dog attacks, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said that the menace of stray dogs cannot be solved by killing the dogs and added that to overcome the issue a scientific solution must be sought. In the last couple of years, the country has witnessed a sudden spike in similar dog attack incidents, even causing the victims' deaths. In May this year alone, a 9-year-old girl child playing outside her house in Meerut city was killed by a pit bull. While in March, two siblings, aged seven and five years, were killed within two days allegedly by stray dogs in two separate incidents in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area. (ANI) Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Sunday appealed to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to direct Chandigarh Police to register a case against state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lalchand Kataruchak for sexually exploitating a young Dalit man and arrest him. Majithia, in his letter, said since the sexually explicit video of the Punjab minister had been submitted to the Purohit, who is also the Administrator of the UT of Chandigarh, he can take appropriate action about it. "Since the authenticity of the video has been proven post-forensic examination by Chandigarh Police, it is a fit case for registration of a criminal case against the minister," he said. Majithia called for an impartial probe so that the reason behind Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's "love" for Kataruchak and hatred for the victim is brought out in the open. He urged the Governor and all opposition parties to ensure that Kataruchak is not allowed to sit in the Vidhan Sabha, noting that the issue also concerns ensuring justice to a member of the oppressed section of Punjab. "As constitutional head of the state, it is also your duty to take strict action against Kataruchak so that a clear message is send that no one can exploit marginalised sections of society and get away with it. "In this process you will also be protecting the life and liberty of a section of population whose voice is often suppressed. Moreover, you will be coming to the rescue of Punjabis who are extremely perturbed and are looking up to you to deliver justice in the case," Majithia said in the letter to the Governor. Majithia said that even though the sexually explicit video pertaining to sexual misconduct of the minister had been received by the Governor on May 1, the AAP government remained oblivious about the need to take action against Kataruchak. He said that Purohit had directed the Chandigarh Director General of Police to conduct a forensic examination of the video and submit the report. "The report subsequently made it clear that the video was authentic and had not been doctored in anyway," he said. --IANS vg/daan ( 368 Words) 2023-06-11-17:30:06 (IANS) "A good meeting with Secretary General of UN Conference on Trade & Development, Rebeca Grynspan on G20DMM sidelines," Jaishankar tweeted after meeting Grynspan. "Agreed that G20 plays an important role in alleviating concerns of Global South. Will also work closely to ensure the advancement of SDG goals," he tweeted further. He also met Australian development minister Pat Conroy on the sidelines of the meeting. "Glad to welcome Australian Development Minister Pat Conroy in Varanasi for the G20DMM. Naturally, we spoke about PM Narendra Modi's recent visit to Australia. Also discussed how our two countries can cooperate on development issues in the Pacific," Jaishankar said. The development ministers' meeting earlier began on Sunday and will continue till June 13. --IANS ans/uk/ ( 160 Words) 2023-06-11-17:40:05 (IANS) 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) --IANS atk/pgh ( 474 Words) 2023-06-11-18:26:02 (IANS) 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. --IANS ans/daan/vd ( 179 Words) 2023-06-11-19:14:01 (IANS) 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." 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 ( 927 Words) 2023-06-11-08:36:04 (IANS) Former state Sen. Terry Link, left, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being on the witness stand in the federal bribery trial of businessman James Weiss on June 12, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Then-Illinois state Sen. Terry Link was secretly wired for sound by the FBI in August 2019 when he met at a North Shore Wendys restaurant with his colleague, state Rep. Luis Arroyo, and a businessman about passing legislation benefiting so-called sweepstakes gaming machines. After some discussion about legalizing and regulating the largely off-the-books machines, Link asked Arroyo if the two of them could speak in private. Advertisement As the two stepped outside, FBI agents were recording it on video. Cars could be heard whooshing by on Route 41. Standing face-to-face, Link assured Arroyo, this is you and I talking now. Nobody else. He then asked Arroyo a question that is at the center of the bribery case now on trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse: Whats in it for me, though? Advertisement On the recording, which was played for a federal jury on Monday, Arroyo proceeded to tell Link that he could get paid a monthly stipend of $2,500 for his efforts, and that the payments could be concealed as a consulting fee. That would be nice, said Link, proposing that the checks be put in another persons name so that the money could not be traced back to him. My word is my bond, and my reputation Arroyo said before Link cut him off. Just remember who passed your first bill, Link joked on the recording. Arroyo laughed and shot back, You got it baby! That conversation was one of a number of secret recordings made by Link that were played Monday in the trial of James Weiss, a politically connected businessman accused of agreeing to pay bribes to Link and Arroyo in order to advance legislation that would help Weiss sweepstakes gaming business. Listen to the audio: [ View evidence seen and heard by the jury ] Link, 76, a Vernon Hills Democrat who resigned in 2020 after being hit with federal tax charges, is the star prosecution witness in the case against Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios. Advertisement The investigation into Arroyo and Weiss was unfolding at a time when political corruption news seemed to be breaking on a daily basis. When Link was recording Arroyo, then-Chicago Ald. Edward Burke had recently been indicted on racketeering charges, ex-Ald. Danny Solis had been outed as an FBI mole, another state senator, Thomas Cullerton, was under indictment for ghost payrolling with the Teamsters, and the Tribune had reported that the feds had raided the downstate home of one of House Speaker Michael Madigans closest confidants. Meanwhile, prosecutors have previously disclosed that Link became a confidential source for the FBI in 2016, but he was terminated later that year when his tax evasion came to light. Link testified his early cooperation was mainly answering questions about state legislative process. But the Arroyo case significantly upped the ante. Over two days of testimony beginning last week, Link took the jury through his role spearheading the states massive gambling overhaul legislation in 2019, a shouting match he says he had with Arroyo about it on the Senate floor, as well as the meetings and phone calls he secretly recorded for the FBI, including at the Wendys as well as another meeting weeks later at a Skokie pancake house, where Arroyo allegedly handed over the first $2,500 check from Weiss. This is, this is the jackpot, Arroyo told Link as he handed over the check, according to the recording played for the jury Monday. Additional monthly $2,500 payments were expected to be made over the next six to 12 months, totaling $30,000, the charges alleged. Advertisement At the direction of the FBI, Link had told Arroyo to have the checks made out to a purported associate named Katherine Hunter, who didnt actually exist. When Weiss was later questioned by agents, he lied and said Hunter was a lobbyist who lived in Winnetka and that hed spoken to her on the phone, according to a recording of the interview also played for the jury Monday. Weiss attorneys have argued Weiss was paying Arroyo as a legitimate consultant for his business, and that trying to enlist another politicians help is not a crime. Near the end of his direct examination Monday, however, Link was asked by prosecutors what he believed the $2,500-a-month offering was for. Passing legislation for sweepstakes games, Link said. Asked if he believed it would have been illegal for him to take money for that, Link replied, Absolutely. Advertisement On cross examination, Weiss attorney, Ilia Usharovich, has pointed out repeatedly that it was Link who solicited the bribe from Arroyo at the behest of the FBI, and that he was cooperating in the hopes of reducing his own sentence on tax charges. Had anyone offered you anything of value before you asked Arroyo to step outside? Usharovich asked at one point. Not at that time, no, Link said. Later, Link grew defensive over Usharovichs questions about how legislation is drafted. First of all you dont understand the legislative process, Link snapped. It can be changed 20 different times. ... Verbiage could be changed. If I let you write legislation we could change the whole world. Usharovich also sparred with Link over whom Arroyo was referring to when he used the term us on some of the recordings. Advertisement Have you ever read the Bible? Usharovich asked. Do you remember the part when God says Let us make man? But man didnt exist yet, so the question becomes who is us? How do you know us means Jimmy? Link maintained that he understood Arroyo meant himself and Weiss. Weiss, 44, who is married to former state Rep. Toni Berrios, is charged in a superseding indictment filed in October 2020 with bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to the FBI. He has pleaded not guilty. Closing arguments in the trial could come as soon as Wednesday. The case centers on the largely uncharted world of sweepstakes machines, sometimes called gray machines, which allow customers to put in money, receive a coupon to redeem for merchandise online and then play electronic games like slot machines. Since the machines can be played for free, they are not considered gambling devices. Critics, however, contend the unregulated devices, which operate in cities, including Chicago, that have banned video gambling, are designed to skirt the law. Advertisement Prosecutors have alleged Weiss desperately wanted the states gambling expansion bill to include language explicitly legalizing sweepstakes machines, but it was left out of the proposal in the 2019 spring session. Weiss then agreed to pay monthly $2,500 bribes to get a deal done, first to Arroyo and later to Link, who was a chief sponsor of the gambling bill in the Senate, according to prosecutors. Instead of giving up, the defendant doubled down, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine ONeill said in her opening statement Tuesday. Arroyo pleaded guilty to his role in the alleged scheme but did not agree to cooperate with prosecutors. Seeger sentenced Arroyo to nearly five years in prison last year, calling him a corruption superspreader. Links appearance in a federal courtroom took on an added spectacle since he had vehemently denied reports including in the Tribune that he was the cooperating state Senator A mentioned in the charges first made public in October 2019. Hes since pleaded guilty to the tax charges and is hoping for a break on his sentence in exchange for his undercover work, he said. In his cross-examination Monday, Usharovich tried to paint Link as a liar for denying to the media that he was the mole. Advertisement I wouldnt say its a lie, Link testified. I would say its none of your business what Im doing with the FBI at the time. ... Im cooperating with the FBI not the Tribune or Sun-Times anybody else. Also testifying Monday afternoon was FBI Special Agent Curtis Heide, who was one of Links handlers who conducted surveillance of the senators meetings with Arroyo and later interviewed Weiss in the car. Heide testified they had search warrants for Weiss phone and were sitting outside his house on the morning of Oct. 25, 2019, when Weiss exited and drove away. They pulled him over near a soccer field in Maywood and asked him to get in the car, Heide said. Weiss was told he was not under arrest, and was not handcuffed, Heide said. He wound up answering questions in a recorded interview for almost an hour and a half. Near the end of the interview, Weiss is asked about Katherine Hunter the woman that the FBI had invented and whether she works for Arroyo. Shes a, uh, consultant that I had hired. ... To help with us you know the relationship with, uh, Senator Link, Weiss responded. When one of the agents asked if Hunter was from Chicago, Weiss said, From uh, Winnetka, according to the recording played in court. Advertisement I talked to Katherine over the phone about engaging in the relationship and helping me, thats all, Weiss said on the tape. Luis told me this is who I needed to hire and I hired her. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Weiss said hed only talked to Hunter once. It was brief. It was a two-minute phone conversation, he said on the recording. At one point, Weiss said he could look through his phone to find out when he talked to her, but then said he didnt have her number stored. Later, Heide confronted Weiss about the payments. To me this looks like a bribe, Heide said in the interview. That wasnt my intention, Weiss replied. I hired a consultant, I hired a lobbyist to carry out to the legislative action on behalf of my company. The next day, the agents searched the P.O. Box in Lincolnshire where Link had directed Weiss to send the checks and paperwork. Inside was an envelope with a second check for $2,500 made out to Hunter, as well as a contract agreeing to pay Hunter a total of $30,000 over the next year. Advertisement The note instructed the fictitious Hunter to please sign and email the contract back to an address used by Weiss for his valet parking companies. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com 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. --IANS atk/vd ( 103 Words) 2023-06-11-19:40:04 (IANS) With the Karnataka Assembly elections over, all eyes are now set on the reshuffling of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's top decision making body, which has been pending for long under party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and start preparing for the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At the party's three-day plenary session held in Chhattisgarh's Raipur in February this year, the Steering Committee unanimously decided to authorise party president Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate all members of the working committee (CWC) and thus election was not required for the party's top decision making body. The party during the Plenary Session has also decided to provide 50 per cent reservation for SC, ST, OBC, minorities, women, and youth below the age of 50 years in the CWC and also expanded the number of members of the highest decision making body to 35. A party source related to the development said that the reshuffle is taking time because as per the new amendments in the party's constitution, selections from the grassroots of the party to the party's highest decision making body need to be completed. "The 50 per cent reservation formula, caste representation and regional representation needs to be looked before the reshuffle in the CWC," the source added. The source said that the reshuffle is likely to be completed within the next one month. He said that the names for several posts in the CWC have also been shortlisted and the final call will be taken by Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, after his return from his US tour. The source said that the party will project general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a bigger role ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said that Priyanka Gandhi has for the first time campaigned extensively in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab, Assam in the last two years. "So after the success in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, she will be given the task to campaign extensively in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. She will also be widely campaigning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," the source added. Priyanka Gandhi has already held one public meeting in Telangana last month and she will hold her first public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur on June 12. Besides the CWC expansion, the Congress is also focusing on a rejig in several state units and also preparing for the assembly polls in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana. Another party source said that the results of Himachal Pradesh last year in December and in assembly polls in Karnataka in April this year have raised the hopes for the grand old party. "Thus keeping in mind to keep the momentum going for good results in other poll bound states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, the party has been preparing a roadmap for the same," the source said. The source said that beside the poll bound states, the Congress is also preparing to change the state unit chiefs and in-charges of several states to give a boost to the party leadership ahead of the major battle in 2024. The source said that states such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand will soon have new state presidents. States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Puducherry, Bihar and Jharkhand will also have new state in-charges. According to the party sources, Rajasthan might also get a new state unit chief soon as the party has been facing a political crisis since June 2020 due to the open feud between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) --IANS aks/bg ( 630 Words) 2023-06-11-08:36:05 (IANS) 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. --IANS pkt/pgh ( 278 Words) 2023-06-11-19:54:03 (IANS) 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. --IANS src/vd ( 334 Words) 2023-06-11-21:16:03 (IANS) 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. --IANS ajk/pgh ( 351 Words) 2023-06-11-21:22:02 (IANS) 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. --IANS atk/daan/vd ( 208 Words) 2023-06-11-21:48:05 (IANS) 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. --IANS ms/daan/vd ( 606 Words) 2023-06-11-22:18:04 (IANS) 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. --IANS ajk/vd ( 301 Words) 2023-06-11-22:30:03 (IANS) Amid China's increasing forays into the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy carried one of the biggest demonstrations of its formidable capability in recent years by carrying out exercise in the Arabian Sea involving both its aircraft carriers - the INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant, along with participation of over 35 aircrafts. In a series of tweets, the Indian Navy said: "Sky is the limit. Indian Navy undertakes twin-carrier CBG ops with more than 35 aircraft in Arabian Sea, demonstrating its formidable capability in ensuring sustained air ops across the vast maritime expanse and underscoring our commitment to safeguarding India's national interests." "The seamless operational integration of the two aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant as well as fleet ships and submarines is a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea based air power and India's role as the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean and beyond," it said. INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, centre-pieces of the exercise, serve as 'floating sovereign airfields', providing a launch platform for a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, MH60R, Kamov, Sea King, Chetak and ALH helicopters. --IANS aks/kvd ( 206 Words) 2023-06-10-15:20:04 (IANS) A still photo taken from video released by the Chicago Police Department shows an apparent carjacking by three suspects in December 2020. Retired Fire Department Lt. Dwain Williams (not pictured) was fatally shot when three people attacked him after he walked out of a Southwest Side shop. (Chicago Police Department) With Rudolphs red nose on the front of his beloved Jeep, retired Chicago Fire Department Lt. Dwain Williams drove to a Southwest Side shop in December of 2020 for the well-established Chicago Christmas tradition of picking up fresh gourmet popcorn. Little did Williams know, prosecutors alleged, that four people followed in a sedan, with the goal of seizing the Jeep for a quick payday. But when the alleged carjackers confronted the retired fireman, Williams, 65 while leaving the shop with the popcorn in one arm took out his firearm and tried to defend himself before he was shot and killed. Advertisement What should have been an unremarkable day turned into one of violence and death, said Assistant States Attorney Sara Grgurovic on Monday during opening statements. Dwain P. Williams, a retired Chicago Fire Department lieutenant, was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with carjackers in 2020 in the 2400 block of West 118th Street in Chicago. (Family photo) Three defendants, Dwain Johnson, Devin Barron and Jaylen Saulsberry, are standing trial on murder and vehicular hijacking charges under unusual circumstances: Three separate juries are hearing the murder trial, one assigned to each defendant. Advertisement A court administrator went back through records since 2007 and could find no other instances of three juries called for one trial, though the county has held double jury trials. The setup allows the men charged to present different defenses, particularly when their interests may not align, while ensuring that witnesses dont need to be called for three separate trials that would gobble up additional time on the courts calendar. By doing this like this, it probably leads to one extra day of the trial for you, but three and a half weeks less of trial for the rest of the system, Cook County Judge Timothy Joyce told the jurors while swearing them in. With three times as many jurors as usual, one set of jurors sat in the jury box, while one sat in plastic chairs set up nearby and the third jury sat in the wooden pews in the gallery. The jurors were periodically excused, hearing only the opening arguments geared toward their particular defendant. Those are probably the worst seats in the room and theres nothing I can do about that, Joyce told the jurors on the wooden benches, though he said the three sets of juries would rotate so that each group would have chances to sit in the most comfortable jury box chairs. Prosecutors alleged that Johnson, Barron and Saulsberry, along with a fourth person, David Williams, spotted Dwain Williams Jeep on Dec. 3, 2020, and thought they could sell it for a substantial amount of money. So they followed him to the popcorn shop, according to prosecutors, and pointed guns at him. Williams, 15 at the time, pleaded guilty in juvenile court to aggravated battery with a firearm in exchange for testifying against his co-defendants. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Prosecutors told the jurors that in addition to Williams testimony, they would present video surveillance evidence and testimony from one of the defendants girlfriends and show that Saulsberry left a shoe behind, which matched his DNA. Advertisement Defense attorneys for the men countered that the testimony from David Williams, who cut a deal with prosecutors, was not trustworthy, and that the video surveillance evidence is unclear. His mother is telling him what to do, what to say, to get out of this any way you can. Thats exactly what David Williams did, said David Sotomayor, Saulsberrys attorney. This model citizen. Attorneys for Johnson, the alleged getaway car driver, said an off-duty police officer who saw the sedan trailing Williams Jeep described the driver as having long dreadlocks or braids, and pointed out that their clients hair has always been short. Dwain Williams family lined the gallery for the opening statements. He spent more than two decades with the Chicago Fire Department after joining in 1992. His last assignment was at the citys Office of Emergency Management and Communications. He put his whole heart into the city, his wife, Karen Armstrong-Williams, told the Tribune in 2020 shortly after his death. mabuckley@chicagotribune.com The PMLA court, while handing down the sentence to Rahul Bhardwaj and Mukesh Kumar Bhardwaj, also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. Furthermore, the court ordered the confiscation of all properties worth Rs 1,55,00,145 that were attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In the case at hand, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a search at the residential premises of Rahul Bhardwaj and Mukesh Kumar Bhardwaj. During the search, they recovered 100.642 kg of ketamine, a psychotropic substance, Rs.70.50 lakhs in cash, two cars, and other miscellaneous incriminating records and electronic equipment. After investigating the matter, a complaint was filed by the DRI in 2013 before the Special NDPS Court against the accused. Subsequently, based on this complaint, the ED in Jaipur initiated a money laundering case. The PMLA investigation revealed that the accused, Rahul Bhardwaj and Mukesh Bhardwaj, were involved in exporting drugs and psychotropic substances, primarily ketamine, mostly to the US through postal parcels. They would mis-declare the parcels as "documents", and the accused used various IDs to receive overseas payments sent by the buyers of ketamine through Western Union and MoneyGram. "During the investigation, properties worth Rs 1,55,00,145 were attached by the ED under the provisions of PMLA, and the same had been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority," stated the ED. After completing the investigation, a prosecution complaint was filed on March 30, 2016, before the PMLA court in Jaipur. --IANS atk/ksk/ ( 272 Words) 2023-06-10-15:56:02 (IANS) After the Centre announced formation of a Peace Committee with Governor Anusuiya Uikey as its chairperson for Manipur on Saturday, the Congress questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "stoic silence" on the violence in the state and said that it is rubbing salt on the peoplewounds of the people. Attacking the Prime Minister, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: "Narendra Modi ji, May 3, 2023 - Violence first broke out in Manipur. It took almost a month for you to send the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) to the state. Eight days after Home Minister's departure, violence continues in Manipur. For a proponent of the so-called 'Act East' policy for Northeast India, your stoic silence on violence in Manipur is rubbing salt in the wounds of its people. As the Prime Minister, the least you could have done is appeal for peace. You have betrayed Manipur." His remarks came soon after the government announced that it has constituted a Peace Committee with Manipur Governor as its chairman. The Ministry of Home Affairs here said that the government has constituted a Peace Committee in Manipur under the Chairpersonship of the Manipur Governor. It further said that besides Manipur Governor as the Chairman of the Peace Committee, other members include Chief Minister, a few Ministers of the State Government, MP, MLAs and leaders from different political parties, former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists, social workers and representatives of different ethnic groups. The MHA said that the mandate of the Committee will be to facilitate the peacemaking process among various ethnic groups of the state, including peaceful dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties or groups. The Committee should strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups, it added. More than 105 people have died and over 40,000 people displaced since violence erupted on May 3 in Manipur. --IANS aks/shb/ ( 327 Words) 2023-06-10-16:08:02 (IANS) The Kerala University, which had ordered a probe into College Union elections conducted by the 183 of its affiliated colleges, on Saturday disqualified 39 councillors after a detailed verification. The decision for a recheck was taken after an incident of an elected woman councillor being replaced by an SFI leader at the capital district Christian College, Kattakada surfaced. After the detection of the fraud, a big furore broke out and the principal of the college and the student who managed to become the councillor on the sly were suspended and a case registered by the Kerala Police. The Vice-Chancellor ordered for a scrutiny of all the elections conducted in 183 colleges affiliated to the university. Of the 183 colleges, 147 of them have by now replied and it was found out that there have been violations to the norms as prescribed by the Lyngdoh Committee leading to disqualification of 39 councillors. As per the norms, any violation in the age, attendance and results of past examinations will lead to disqualification of the elected student. Meanwhile, the Kerala University has imposed a fine of Rs 1.55 lakh on the Christian College Kattakada as they had made all the arrangements for the election for the Kerala University Students Union, but had to be cancelled after the fraud was detected. The fine imposed was for the cost that the University had spent to conduct the election by printing ballots and other expenses incurred for the election. Both the Congress and the BJP have slammed the ruling CPI(M) for allowing their student's organisation SFI to engage in all undesirable activities. --IANS sg/shb/ ( 281 Words) 2023-06-10-16:28:04 (IANS) Over 800 SIM cards, including 300 pre-activated SIMs, have been seized from the eight accused, of which seven are employees of a private telecom company, the police said. Briefing mediapersons, Cuttack DCP Pinak Mishra said that while investigating a cyber fraud case, it was found that the SIM used in the fraud was activated in Odisha and cyber scamsters from Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh were involved in the fraud. The cyber criminals are yet to be traced, as several technical aspects are pending, he said. However, during the investigation, a pre-activated SIM gang was found involved in the crime, who sold the SIM to the scamsters, Mishra said. The accused had come in contact with a fraudster from outside the state and learnt the tricks to activate SIM cards by becoming vendors and misusing the identity of the consumers, he said. The accused hail from Puri district and the police have seized 16 mobile phones and Rs 2,600 from their possession, the DCP said. The DCP added that the gang was in contact with professional fraudsters outside the state and used to hand over the pre-activated SIM cards to them. Recently, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police had arrested four cyber criminals for sharing OTPs of pre-activated SIMs to some criminals and suspected Pakistani agents. --IANS bbm/arm ( 258 Words) 2023-06-10-20:00:04 (IANS) Many shocking revelations have come to the fore in the case pertaining to conversion through a gaming app in Ghaziabad. New WhatsApp chats between a cleric (maulavi) and a minor boy of a Jain community have surfaced that show how he was brainwashed through chats and motivated to adopt Islam. The purported conversation happened in December 2022, in which the boy is told about the 'wudhu' (ablution) and Namaz time. In the chat, the student can be seen saying: "I am in school now... will not be able to offer Namaz", to which the cleric replies: "Today is Friday, it is very important to offer Friday prayer." The cleric -- identified as Abdul Rahman, was arrested in Ghaziabad for his alleged role in the religious conversion of at least four youth. The prime accused, Shahnawaz Khan a.k.a Baddo, a resident of Thane, is on the run. The police have launched a manhunt to nab him. The Ghaziabad Police have received information about the conversion of four minors from different parts of the country. One is from Faridabad, one from Chandigarh, and two are from Ghaziabad. A four-member team of Ghaziabad Police has also been sent to Maharashtra to nab Khan. Khan's mother and brother are in constant touch with the police. Meanwhile, the Ghaziabad Police have started probing the bank accounts of Khan, Rehman and the families of both individuals. About 20 bank accounts linked to them are being probed. The police have received Khan's bank transaction report of around 150 pages. --IANS pkt/prw/pgh ( 266 Words) 2023-06-10-20:02:03 (IANS) With West Bengal entering the election mode following the announcement of date for the forthcoming panchayat elections, the scheduled programmes of Prime Minister Narenadra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the state have become uncertain. Polling for the three-tier panchayat system will be conducted on July 8, and the results will be announced on July 11. Both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister were supposed to visit West Bengal as part of the party's nationwide outreach to celebrate nine years of Modi government. However, a senior state BJP leader said that following the announcement of panchayat poll date, there is every possibility that those visits will now be made after the elections are over and the results are announced. Besides Mofdi and Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda was also supposed to make a trip to West Bengal sometime this month. The saffron leader said that BJP's plan to conduct mass outreach programmes in the state during the current month with special focus on the rural areas to highlight the achievements of the Union government in the past years has been hampered by the sudden announcement of panchayat polls to be conducted at a short notice. Shah was also supposed to review the organisation structure of the party in the state. In May, the Home Minister had made a trip to West Bengal and during that visit, he held a meeting with the state BJP leadership where he advised the latter to strengthen the organisational base and booth-level committees of the party. He also stressed on the party leaders reaching out to as many people as possible, keeping in mind both the panchayat polls and the big battle of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. --IANS src/arm ( 300 Words) 2023-06-10-20:10:02 (IANS) Gaurav Sharma, who was the Baran Congress City president, was killed on Wednesday. Slamming CM Gehlot, Shekhawat on Friday questioned whether the veteran Congress leader "considers himself responsible for the current situation?" In a statement, he said "the incident shocks and terrifies the society". Paying tributes to Gaurav Sharma, he also questioned "why there was no change in the Ministry of Home Affairs despite so many failures to stop crime?" According to the Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Choudhary, there was about 5 bighas of land near Talwara Road. About a year and a half ago, Gaurav Sharma got the agreement of the land deal done. And, a month and a half ago, Rajendra Meena had also got the agreement. When Gaurav Sharma was sitting on a farm near the land on Wednesday, Rajendra Meena and his partner Ramkumar Meena went there. Soon, an argument broke out between Meena and Sharma after the former told the Congress leader to cancel the agreement of the land. In a fit of rage during the heated exchange of words, Meena fired on Sharma. The bullet hit the head of the Congress leader. Both Rajendra and Ramkumar then fled from the spot. Sharma died during treatment at a Kota hospital. --IANS arc/pgh ( 247 Words) 2023-06-10-20:36:04 (IANS) The Cauvery Tribunal meeting, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 16, is unlikely to dicuss the Mekedatu Dam issue which has been a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Aftre the Congress government in Karnataka announed that it has allocated an amount of Rs 8000 crore for the construction of Mekedatu Dam across Cauvery, pressure has started to build in Tamil Nadu. The state's Water Resources Minister S. Duraimurugan said that Tamil Nadu would not allow any construction across the Cauvery. Meanwhile, the Cauvery Tribunal has said that it will not take any decision regarding the issue as the tribunal has taken a position of 'uniform stand' on the issue pertaining to Mekedatu or any other issue associated with Cauvery basin as the matter is before the Supreme Court. Tamil Nadu has been consistently opposing Karnataka raising the Mekdatu dam issue. In the petition filed before the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu has said that the planning of the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river was in gross violation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal verdict of February 5, 2007. As per sources in Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department, the state will try to push the case of Mekedatu Dam before the Cauvery Tribunal. --IANS aal/dan ( 226 Words) 2023-06-10-20:44:04 (IANS) Amid a continued heat wave, the Jharkhand government has announced to close all schools in the state till Wednesday, an offcial said. "All schools in the state will remain closed till June 14, in the wake of the continued heat wave prevailing in the state," an official of the School Education and Literacy Department informed in an official release on Monday. Ranchi office of the India Meteorological Department on Sunday issued a heat wave alert for the state till June 15. It advised people to avoid going out in the daytime from 11 am to 3 pm. According to IMD, there is less probability of any change in the day temperature in the next 4 to 5 days in the state. Several parts of the country are grappling with severe heatwave conditions. Earlier on Sunday, IMD Scientist Naresh Kumar issued an advisory on the prevailing heat situation in the country. "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. North coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will be affected by heatwave for next 5 days," he said. The official added that Andhra Pradesh can expect a severe heat wave for the next two days and temperature can rise 6.5 degrees above 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," the IMD official said on Sunday. (ANI) Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias holds his 11-month-old daughter, Alexia, and the bill signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to prevent book bans on June 12, 2023, at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Public libraries in Illinois could be cut off from state funding if they remove books and other materials from their shelves for partisan or doctrinal reasons under a measure signed into law Monday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Book bans are about censorship, marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts, Pritzker said before signing the legislation at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. Regimes ban books, not democracies. Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, the Talibans Afghanistan. We refuse to let the vitriolic strain of white nationalism coursing through our country determine whose histories are told. Advertisement The measure passed through the state House and Senate along party lines during the spring legislative session as debates over book banning have amplified partisan divides nationwide and provoked intense discussions about censorship, school curricula and how much say parents should have over what titles are on library shelves. Democrats say book bans often discriminate against the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups, while Republicans have argued that some titles need to be out of the reach of children if they contain pornography or obscene imagery. Advertisement Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who is also the state librarian and who initiated the legislation, said the battles over censorship have made librarians and their workplaces targets. These radical attacks on our libraries have divided our communities and our librarians have been harassed, threatened and intimidated for simply doing their jobs, said Giannoulias, whose office provides grants to the states public libraries. Parents, and only parents, have the right and the responsibility to restrict their childrens, and only their childrens, access to library resources. Books that have been the subject of controversy elsewhere are displayed before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a measure to prevent book bans on June 12, 2023, at the Harold Washington Library. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) During debate on the bill in the Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly, Republicans raised concerns that the measure would take away control from local governments, including library boards, over what books belong on shelves. Democratic state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, of Naperville, who sponsored the bill in the House, said she found a local control argument made by a GOP House member disgusting. Local control has long been a dog whistle for allowing statewide or nationwide racist or bigoted policies to persist, she said on the House floor, drawing groans and boos from Republicans. Republicans also expressed concern over potentially harmful content. State Sen. Jil Tracy of Quincy asked how a library would be able to prevent pornographic materials like Hustler magazine from falling into the hands of underage readers. Democrats responded by saying this bill only concerns books banned for partisan reasons and doesnt change existing rules around managing adult or harmful content. Advertisement Giannoulias on Monday reiterated that the measure would not interfere with a librarys book selection process, but would only affect libraries that pull books from shelves for partisan or doctrinal reasons. Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the Chicago-based American Library Association, said the law signed by Pritkzer is the first of its kind in the United States. I could not be prouder that the American Library Association makes its home in a state that is first in the nation to create a law that stands up to censorship and calls it what it is: a threat to education and a threat to our democracy, Hall said. Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the American Library Association, speaks before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to prevent book bans on June 12, 2023, at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Illinois has not seen as many cases of book bans or attempted bans as states that lean Republican, according to research from PEN America, a New York-based literary advocacy group. But, citing figures from the Chicago-based American Library Association, Giannoulias office said there were 67 attempts to ban books in Illinois in 2022, up from 41 the year before. By signing the bill, Pritzker, widely seen as having presidential ambitions, again staked out his liberal credentials and offered a stark contrast to potential Republican rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is vying for his partys 2024 presidential nomination. DeSantis has vowed to end woke ideology and has taken action to remove books from Florida schools he has found inappropriate. In his remarks Monday, Pritzker took a thinly veiled shot at DeSantis and like-minded governors. Advertisement While certain hypocritical governors are banning books written by LGBTQ authors, but then claiming censorship when the media fact-checks them, here in Illinois we are showing the nation what it really looks like to stand up for liberty, Pritzker said. As simple as that. hsanders@chicagotribune.com jgorner@chicagotribune.com Bengaluru police on Monday said that it has arrested a street vendor for misbehaving with a tourist and Youtuber from Netherlands who was recording a video log for his channel on a busy shopping lane in Chickpete area of Karnataka's capital city. Bengaluru Police on Monday said that the person in the video of the Dutch traveller Predo Mota has been identified as one Navab Hayath Sharif and action has been taken against him under the Karnataka Police Act. According to Karnataka police sources, the incident took place two months ago and the vlogger has left the country since then. "Pertaining to this, action has been taken and the concerned person rounded up. Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated.," the Bengaluru Police said in a tweet in response to a post with videos that purportedly showed the blogger being harassed. Laxman B Nimbargi, DCP, West Division, Bengaluru said, "Regarding a complaint about misbehaving with foreigner Pedro Mota, a case has been registered against the person Navab Hayath Sharif under Karnataka Police Act Section 92." https://twitter.com/BlrCityPolice/status/1668155567163191296?t=siTK3i9Dq1RIQLeNCyXEDQ&s=08 https://twitter.com/jaspal811982/status/1667883723398991872 Several clips of the Vlog have been shared online and these show Pedro responding with the plea, "Please let me go, sir." Pedro, manages to free himself and continues onward in the bustling market. In the video that he captioned "Attacked At The Thieves Market In India," Pedro wrote, "Foreigner traveling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the Sunday market or chor bazaar. But exploring the area started out on the wrong foot as an angry man attacked me by grabbing and twisting my hand and arm, lunging after me as I tried to escape. After I had some street food, met great local Indian people and haggled for a new buttoned shirt." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RtC1XycHQ0&t=1s&ab_channel=MadlyRover Soon after the video went viral on social media, several users urged Bengaluru police to take action against the accused. Meanwhile, in December 2022, a YouTuber from South Korea was allegedly harassed by two men on a street in Mumbai while she was live streaming. The video of the incident went viral and Mumbai Police arrested two men in this connection. (ANI) According to the officials, CM Yogi Adityanath first reached Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham at 7 am on Monday and after seeking Baba's blessings visited Kashi Kotwal Kalbhairav Temple to offer his prayers. The Uttar Pradesh CM worshipped Baba Vishwanath through the 'Shodshopachar' method and prayed for the well-being of the people of UP. In Sanskrit, the traditional 16-step puja is known as the Shodashopachara Puja. 'Shodasha' means "16," and 'upachra' means "offering given with devotion." The puja be done for an Ishta Deva in a relatively short length of time on a daily basis as a spiritual practice (sadhana) that fosters discipline and commitment. Earlier, the Chief Minister reached Varanasi on a two-day visit on Sunday. The Chief Minister also met the foreign guests, who had arrived to attend the G-20 conference at Hotel Taj, and had dinner with them. (ANI) Traffic on Monday on the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway 44 was diverted to avoid congestion after farmers gathered in Haryana's Kurukshetra to hold a Mahapanchyat over their demand for Minimum Support Price for sunflower seeds, out on roads in the city. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1668183898378104833 Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, however, said that the farmers are not blocking the highway. "It is not right, highways should not be blocked," Tikait said. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1668185142400262144 "We have only two demands, release the farmers who were detained and start purchasing sunflower seeds at MSP. We are ready to hold discussions with the government," Tikait said. Farmers and their supporters from Punjab and Haryana were seen coming out on streets in large numbers on their tractors after the mahapanchayat this morning. Among those present at the mahapanchayat was Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is among grapplers demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The protesting farmers from Haryana and neighbouring states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh among others who had gathered at the Pipli grain market here claimed that the government was not buying sunflower seeds at the minimum support price. As a result, they were forced to sell their produce to private buyers at around Rs 4,000 per quintal against Rs 6,400 MSP. The farmers demanded that the State government procure sunflower seeds at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal. Haryana farmers took to the streets near Shahabad on June 6 afternoon and blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway demanding a minimum support price (MSP) for sunflower seeds. The protest call was given by BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni. Police said that with an aim to control the situation, police had used water cannons to disperse the protesters and baton-charged them. Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police had then said that an investigation against the people who took the law into their hands will be done. "This is a National Highway, so the protest was blocking the way of many people. Following all the protocols, we asked them to leave. The situation is now peaceful whereas some people were detained. An investigation will be done against the people who took the law into their hands. We will take the necessary action," the police said. (ANI) Uttarakhand Police on Monday said that strict legal action would be initiated against those violating law and order and assured that they are conducting flag marches and taking other measures in areas in the State, which has been seeing tensions between communities. "Recently there have been incidents of elopement in Uttarkashi, Vikas Nagar and other areas. Local people are agitating. FIRs were registered. Police are doing their duty to establish peace. Whoever breaks the law, strict legal actions will be taken against them. An investigation is underway", Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan said. ADG Murugesan further said that Superintendents of Police were given special instructions to provide security to locals and keep a check on the law and order situation in the tension-hit areas. "SPs are given special directions to provide security to the local people and also keep a check on the law and order situation in the tension-hit areas. If someone tries to take the law and order into their own hands, action will be taken immediately. Right now the situation is peaceful. The police have also conducted flag marches in Purola", the ADG added. Further responding to a video that surfaced online of interfaith tensions in the state, he said, "A video has been circulated recently. Primary investigation indicates that the video is of Barkot and not Purola. We are investigating this matter." Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday held a high-level meeting at the secretariat regarding cases of so-called 'love jihad' in the State. State DGP Ashok Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan and officers of the Intelligence Department were present in this meeting. The Chief Minister had said, "The cases of love jihad that are coming up will be strictly investigated." In a meeting with the DGP and other police officers, the Chief Minister gave instructions for taking strict action regarding this and said that the government is strict in this matter. Uttarkashi town in the State recently witnessed tensions over an alleged abduction attempt on a 14-year-old girl by two men, including one from the minority community, last month, police said. Both men have been subsequently arrested. Some right-wing groups protested in front of shops that belonged to members of the minority community. Amid the tensions, people belonging to the minority community appealed to the police administration to provide security and allow them to continue their businesses. (ANI) According to police, the manufacturing unit was working without a valid license and the materials from the unit have been seized. Inspector, SOT, LB Nagar, Sudhakar said, "There is a manufacturing unit named 'Ice cube Ice cream manufacturing unit' at Kodandaram Nagar, Dilsukhnagar in Sarrornagar PS limits. It is running without any valid licence and has an unhygienic environment condition." "We found expired materials like ice cream flavours and others during a raid. We have arrested an accused named Bikshapati who is running the unit and seized all the materials. They have been selling the products by putting the names of different companies. The unit has been started this season. A case has been registered at Saroornagar Police Station. Further investigation is going on," Inspector Sudhakar added. (ANI) According to the GRP In-charge Ramkrishna Dwivedi, the accused woman a Chandigarh resident was travelling to Bihar from Chandigarh city when she was arrested. The GRP In-charge added the information was received from the Chandigarh Crime Branch in the late hours of Sunday about the woman who had absconded and was said to be on her way to Bihar. Further investigation revealed that the accused woman had reportedly murdered her husband and tried to destroy the evidence by hiding the body in the house, said the police. Subsequently, the woman was nabbed by the Kanpur GRP and RPF from a train at Kanpur Central Station after which she was handed over to the Chandigarh Crime Branch Police. "We arrested the accused woman at the Kanpur Central Station and handed her over to the Chandigarh Crime Branch Police." Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) Taking to Twitter Assam CM said, "In August 2023, Assam will get its new Vidhan Sabha Complex. I inspected its progress on Sunday." Earlier, on May 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The newly constructed building of Parliament, which will work further to enrich India's glorious democratic traditions and constitutional values, is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities which will help the Members to perform their functions in a better way. The new Parliament building will enable 888 members to sit in the Lok Sabha. In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Considering the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha Chamber. (ANI) In a bid to curb crimes in the city, the Lucknow Police Department issued an appeal for people to install cameras in their homes, the police said on Monday. According to the officials, Joint Commissioner Lucknow issued instructions and appealed to the people of the city to install CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras at their residences in an attempt to bring control over the increasing crime rates. The police added that a 'har ghar camera' campaign was launched where police officers urged and appealed to residents to install cameras in their houses for their safety. Police said they will also engage corporators and prominent citizens from every ward. The idea is that CCTV cameras are installed in all the small passages, alleys, and roads. Prominent business persons, traders, and shopkeepers have also been asked to install CCTV cameras outside their establishments. According to police the feed from CCTVs, which will be installed at prominent crossings, places of public gathering and important routes, will be linked with the police stations of the area concerned. Those who install cameras will be rewarded suitably, police said. Lucknow Police took to Twitter to post that foot marches and checking is being done at sensitive places, important routes, and intersections to strengthen the law and order/security of Lucknow and to curb crime and criminals. Recently the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Lucknow held a discussion with members of the Indian Industries Association at Vibhuti Khand's IIA Bhawan and requested them to install more cameras and motivated them to participate in the 'Har Ghar Camera' campaign. (ANI) Taking to Twitter AIMIM president said, "The mahapanchayat to be held on 15th June should be banned immediately! Security should be provided to the people living there. Arrangements should be made to bring back the people who have migrated from there." Meanwhile, Owaisi also reminded the BJP government that it is their job to send the culprits to jail and restore peace. "It is the job of the government to send the culprits to jail and peace should be established soon," he said. Uttarkashi town in the State recently witnessed tensions over an alleged abduction attempt on a 14-year-old girl by two men, including one from the minority community, last month, police said. Both men have been subsequently arrested. Right-wing groups planned to hold Mahapanchayat in Uttarkashi's Purola on June 15. Uttarakhand Police on Monday said that strict legal action would be initiated against those violating law and order and assured that they are conducting flag marches and taking other measures in areas in the State, which has been seeing tensions between communities. Some right-wing groups protested in front of shops that belonged to members of the minority community. Amid the tensions, people belonging to the minority community appealed to the police administration to provide security and allow them to continue their businesses. (ANI) Village, county and federal officials, including U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (red jacket), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (black blazer) and Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts (navy blue blazer, center), gathered June 12, 2023 to commemorate the start of the water main project in Dixmoor. (Alexandra Kukulka/Daily Southtown) Dixmoor, Cook County and congressional officials gathered Monday to break ground for the construction of a water main project on the north end of the village that will improve water quality for residents, officials said. The project will replace the existing 8-inch water main with 3,700 feet of 12-inch main from Seeley Avenue, headed south under the Interstate 57 overpass and east to 143rd Street, said village engineer Melanie Arnold. Five existing water mains will be capped within that area, Arnold said. Advertisement The village of Dixmoor has experienced what many communities across the United States have experienced in the last few years: challenges with infrastructure and water, said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. We know first hand that when infrastructure falters other quality of life concerns are at risk. Everyone has the right to access clean and safe water everyday. Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts speaks during a June 12, 2023 news conference announcing the start of the Army Corp of Engineers water main project. (Alexandra Kukulka/Daily Southtown) Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts said his heart is very heavy thinking about the start of construction and how far Dixmoor has come. Advertisement This project is long over due, Roberts said. When you dont have water, its a problem. In October 2021, Dixmoors residents were without water for two weeks following a water line break. When water pressure dropped Oct. 16 that year, Dixmoor initially pointed the finger at Harvey, which it buys Lake Michigan water from, and Harvey officials insisted the problem was in Dixmoor. Ultimately, a leak in a water line in Dixmoor that was gushing hundreds of gallons of water a minute was identified as the culprit. The villages population was just under 3,000 people in 2020, according to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. In April 2022, officials announced the $2 million project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Matthew Broderick, acting commander of the Chicago District, said that 75% of the cost comes from federal funding and 25% comes from Cook County. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle greets Dixmoor resident Mable Chapman during a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a water main. (Alexandra Kukulka/Daily Southtown) Broderick said the new water main will reduce water loss and increase water pressure, which will also help firefighters when battling a fire. U.S. Rep Robin Kelly said the partnerships between local and federal agencies helped to ensure that construction began Monday. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Reliable water access is the life blood of a community. When a water system breaks everything shuts down. Businesses, schools, public services cant conduct critical operations and residents cant go about their daily lives. Dixmoor understands these realities all too well, Kelly said. Advertisement Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon said Dixmoor has experienced infrastructure issues and boil orders for too long. Everyone, regardless of their ZIP code, deserves healthy, safe and lead-free water, Gordon said. Resident Mable Chapman said it was a challenging time when the village didnt have water two years ago, but officials did all they could to help. She said she was pleased construction started for a new water main. The water break we had two years ago was devastating and now something is happening to make sure it doesnt happen again, Chapman said. Construction is anticipated to last through March 2024 but water will be flowing through the new pipe by the end of this year, Arnold said. This story was updated June 13 to correct the population of Dixmoor. A Thane court on Monday handed over the transit remand of one Shahnawaz Khan alias Baddo to Uttar Pradesh police till June 15. Shahnawaz, a resident of Mumbai's Mumbra wanted by Ghaziabad police in an alleged online gaming and conversion racket. He was arrested by the Thane police on Sunday from Maharashtra's Raigad district. While granting the transit remand of the accused, the court questioned Uttar Pradesh Police over security arrangements and how they will take Shahnawaz to Uttar Pradesh. The UP police informed the court that they will be taking the accused by road. A man from Ghaziabad lodged a complaint with the police last month alleging that a cleric and Shahnawaz had unlawfully converted his son to Islam. Based on the man's complaint, Khan and the cleric of a mosque in Ghaziabad were booked under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. Meanwhile, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar today said the government has prepared a framework regarding online gaming through which games involving betting, harmful to users, and that can be addictive will be banned in India. "For the first time, we have prepared a framework regarding online gaming, in that we will not allow three types of games in the country. Games that involve betting or can be harmful to the user and that involve a factor of addiction will be banned in the country," Chandrasekhar told ANI. (ANI) PM Modi will also address the appointees on the occasion. The new recruits, selected from across the country will be joining the Government in various Departments including the Department of Financial Services, Department of Posts, Department of School Education, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Defence, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Railways, Department of Audit and Accounts, Department of Atomic Energy and Ministry of Home Affairs, among others. The Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord the highest priority to employment generation. Prime Minister Modi, on October 22, last year, launched the first phase of the 'Rozgar Mela', marking the beginning of the campaign to provide 10 lakh government jobs. (ANI) "All Padma awardees will be given Rs 10,000 per month as a pension in the state. Their travel in govt buses will be free," CM Khattar said. Earlier today Haryana CM Khattar interacted with the public in Ward number 16 of his Assembly constituency Karnal. Earlier, in January, the Central government announced a total of 106 Padma Awards across categories. The categories included art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service, among others. The Padma awards are conferred in three categories -- Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards are given in various disciplines and fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. 'Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; 'Padma Bhushan' for distinguished service of high order and 'Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually in March-April every year. (ANI) In an effort to address the recent violence that gripped the north-eastern state of Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday extended support to the affected persons and assured educational arrangements for students. Singh made a number of crucial announcements for the people, assuring houses for the displaced and education arrangements for students as hundreds continue to be in relief camps post-violence. As per the official records close to 47,000 people have been evacuated in the violence-torn situation and hundreds of people lost their homes which were gutted in the violence. Biren Singh assured the people that the state government will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of the state and will start building homes. He said," We are planning to build nearly 4000 houses for those who have been displaced because of violence. The blueprint is yet to be finalised but we are looking to build a two-room set of such houses." Taking stock of the situation, especially for children whose education is being impacted as Manipur continues to be on the simmer, the Chief Minister said that all help will be extended to make sure education doesn't take a backseat. "Those displaced from Churachandpur and are in the camps in Imphal and arrangements are being made to send them to school and colleges here in Imphal," Singh said in a press conference. People were displaced from their houses and are currently in temporary shelters in camps. Many of these people have also miss placed their documentation, especially Aadhaar cards. Since most of the Central and the state beneficiary schemes are linked to Aadhaar, the call was taken by the state government on Monday to make provisions for the reissue of the Aadhaar cards. "Government is looking to help people get their Aadhar cards reissued for those who have misplaced it or lost in the violence. Arrangements for getting the Aadhar will be made by the government at the shelter camps itself," the chief minister announced. Taking stock of the recent situation, the Manipur government has extended the ban on the internet in the state till June 15. On May 29. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the north-eastern state for a period of four days during which he held meetings with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, leaders of all political parties, civil society, women groups, tribal groups and security personnel. Shah had announced that a peace committee would be formed in the state. The committee was formed days after the announcement by the Home Minister. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3, as clashes were witnessed during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe. The ethnic violence continues to grip the state for over 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). Central paramilitary forces were posted in the state to control the violence and they still continue to be deployed across the state. Meanwhile, representatives from both the Kuki and Naga community, including members of legislative assembly from both sides, have come to Delhi and met top BJP leaders, including Home Minister, Amit Shah with their representations and demand. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday attached 17 properties of the financier of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, in the Hurriyat terror funding case in which Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) commander Yasin Malik is currently undergoing life imprisonment.The 17 properties belonging to Watali in the Handwara area of Kupwara in Kashmir have been attached by the NIA on orders by the Special NIA Court, Patiala House, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act today. Besides Malik, 17 others, including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and top Commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Mohd Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, top Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, were charge-sheeted in the case, which had been registered suo moto by the NIA on May 30, 2017. Malik was convicted of all the various charges against him, and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine, in the case in May 2022.The case relates to terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out by proscribed ISI-backed organisations, such as LeT, JKLF and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). "These outfits were spreading terror and perpetrating violence in the valley by promoting and conducting attacks on civilians and security forces," said the NIA.These banned terrorist groups were using the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which was formed in 1993, as a front for carrying out and supporting secessionist activities in Kashmir. "Investigations in the case have revealed that the secessionists, arraigned as accused in the case, including the APHC, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and adopted a strategy of instigating the general public to create a surcharged atmosphere in the Kashmir valley and to resort to violence also," said the NIA. As per the NIA, Watali had been sending the funds raised by him from various sources to the Hurriyat leaders to promote the secessionism of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India.NIA investigations have revealed that "Watali was a hawala conduit, who was receiving money from Hafiz Saeed, a 'Specially Designated Global terrorist' of the United States and a 'listed global terrorist' of the UN." "Hafiz Saeed had masterminded the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He had received foreign remittances into a Bank account running into crores between 2011 and 2013 from various sources. Besides, he had received foreign remittances in his Proprietorship Firm named M/s 'Trisson International', Srinagar and unexplained remittances were also found in his NRE Bank accounts," said the anti-terror agency."Watali had shown the sale of a plot of land measuring 20 kanals, purportedly owned by Watali's company, M/s 'Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt. Ltd.' to one Naval Kishore Kapoor, a co-accused in the case," added the agency. However, the NIA investigations found that neither Watali nor his Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt Ltd was the owner of this plot of land in the revenue records. Watali is presently facing trial before the Special NIA Court in New Delhi. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that expressways, highways and waterways built in the country over the past nine years are the face of 'New India.' During the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 5 NH projects worth Rs 2,200 Crores in Pratapgarh on Monday, the CM said, "The work done in the area of infrastructure by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could not be accomplished in 70 years of independence." Starting his address, the Chief Minister said, "I sincerely welcome Nitin Gadkari, who does not have the word "no" in his dictionary. I also extend a warm welcome to the local farmers who introduced the nation and the world to the "sweetness" of Indian gooseberries." The CM described the 4-lane highway connecting Pratapgarh to Ayodhya, Sultanpur, whose foundation stone was laid at the event as "an extremely important National Highway Project" in view of the fact that the grand Ram Temple will be inaugurated in Aoydhya early next year. "Next year, it will be beneficial to travel to Ayodhya to see the Grand Ram temple. The foundation stone of the bypass of Pratapgarh is also being laid today", CM remarked. Next year in 2025, a grand and divine Kumbh will be organized in Prayagraj. Keeping this in mind, the foundation stone of the four-lane road project is being laid here, which will connect Pratapgarh to Prayagraj, he added. Asserting that Pratapgarh is touching new height of development, the Chief Minister said, "Today there is a medical college in Pratapgarh. Earlier, no one could have imagined that Pratapgarh would one day have a medical college. All kinds of facilities are now available here."The chief minister stated that the government had completed several development projects, adding that "today, housing has been provided to 54 lakh poor people in rural and urban areas of the state under PM Awas Yojana." The CM remarked further that India's global prestige has gone up with people across the country and the world being aware of the works being carried out by the government in terms of infrastructure, poor welfare, security, and international standing. The CM spoke about his most recent trip to Kashi for the G-20 summit and said, "Foreign guests from G20 countries, who have come to Varanasi to attend the meet, were overwhelmed when they saw four-lane roads here. "Today, Kashi is connected to Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur with four-lane roads. When our foreign visitors saw the Ganges of Kashi, they were astounded by its purity." This is the new India; under the Prime Minister's guidance, India is now drawing attention from around the world, he added. The Chief Minister continued by saying that every citizen of India has aspirations for development. "Union Minister Gadkari has arrived to provide a new stream of development amid this scorching heat." CM said, "Today, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a model of development and law and order under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Only those whose unethical activities we have stopped are questioning UP's law and order today. We would not have received investments totalling Rs 35 lakh crores at the Global Investor Summit if law and order had not been improved." Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that Uttar Pradesh will become the number one state in the country in the coming times under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "Farmers will advance, they will find work, and Uttar Pradesh's road infrastructure will match that of the United States", he said. He said that today the law and order situation of Uttar Pradesh is being discussed across the country. The development of any state depends on its industries. Without industry, there will not be any jobs, and without jobs, poverty will not be eradicated. Gadkari further stated that Uttar Pradesh is making rapid strides in terms of agricultural development, infrastructure improvement, and industrial growth. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and CM Yogi, we are making eight green field corridors in Uttar Pradesh, which will be very helpful in the development of Uttar Pradesh." The Union Minister said that 40 bypasses are going to be built in Uttar Pradesh at a cost of Rs 41,000 crore. Construction of 43 km long Pratapgarh-Sultanpur 4 lane road at a cost of Rs 1290 crore, 21 km long Chilbila-Lohia Nagar 2 lane paved shoulder road at a cost of Rs 333 crore, 11 km long 4 lane CC road on Bhupiyamau-Gode section in Pratapgarh town at a cost of Rs 325 crore, 2 lane paved shoulder bypass from NH-31 to NH-330 of Pratapgarh at the cost of Rs 225 crore and street light, high mast light and development of shelters in Pratapgarh district at the cost of Rs 27 crore. (ANI) According to CMO, the Defence Minister has directed the Air Force and following his instructions, AN 32 aircraft and MI 15 helicopter will reach Bhopal tonight. AN 52 aircraft and MI 15 helicopter will try to extinguish the fire by pouring water from the top of the building. Bhopal airport will remain open through the night. The fire broke out on the third floor of the building but later it spread up to the sixth floor of the building. The continuous efforts are being made to douse the fire. CM Chouhan also announced a committee to find out the preliminary causes of the fire. The committee includes Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home Rajesh Rajoura, Principal Secretary (PS) Urban Neeraj Mandloi, Principal Secretary (PS) PWD (Public works Department) Sukhbir Singh and Additional Director General of Police (ADG) fire. After finding the preliminary cause in the investigation, the committee will hand over the report to CM Chouhan. Chief Minister Chouhan also talked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the phone and informed about the fire incident in Satpura Bhawan. He also sought necessary help from the home minister. (ANI) On the occasion, Chief Minister Dhami said, "It is a big step towards strengthening the air connectivity of the state." With the issuance of aerodrome license for Naini Saini Airport Pithoragarh by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), everyone will get landing and take off facility at Naini Saini Airport Pithoragarh. Earlier DGCA had issued the license which authorizes the aerodrome to be used as regular place of landing and departure. "The license authorizes the aerodrome to be used as regular place of landing and departure to all persons on equal terms and conditions for operation by aircraft requiring specifications of runway and associated facilities including granted exemptions equal to or less than those indicated in the aerodrome Manual, subject to the conditions as contained in schedule-I and for a period as shown in Schedule-II hereto," the official notification said. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asked the Transport Department to expand the scale and scope of contactless services as a part of State government's mission of enhancing ease of living to the citizens. Chairing a meeting with the DTOs and other officials of the Transport Department at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Monday, Chief Minister Sarma held a threadbare discussion with the department officials and asked them to be proactive in expanding contactless services of the department to the convenience of the people across the state. Assam Chief Minister Sarma said, "In the last two years around 23 lakh people availed of contactless services and the seamless implementation of these services resulted in savings of Rs 345 crore to the economy." He also said that the department through its various services has generated revenue to the tune of Rs 1361.65 crore in the FY 2022-23. The Assam Chief Minister during the meeting also asked the department for effective implementation of the Vehicle Scrappage Policy Assam 2022. He asked the transport officials to incentivise people to hand over End in Life Vehicles. It may be noted that as a fallout of this policy, 764 vehicles have already been handed over to the Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility Rules (RVSF). In view of the reported loss of lives primarily due to road accidents across the state, the Chief Minister reviewed the accident hotspots. He asked the officials to take emergent necessary steps so that road accidents can be avoided to a great extent. He also instructed the officials to strictly implement traffic laws. Moreover, for the benefit of the people at large, he also asked the transport officials to strictly execute the penal provisions and penalise the offenders. The Chief Minister during the meeting also took review of the working of existing manpower of the Transport Department. He also asked the department to take steps to introduce training for the newly inducted manpower in the department. He also took a review of the new initiatives undertaken by the department. Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha, Transport Commissioner Adil Khan and other senior officers of the department were present at the meeting. (ANI) From left, Cory Curtin and Daniel Curtin, of Flossmoor, chat with volunteer Jackie Riffice during a Pride event Friday organized by the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District and villages of Flossmoor and Homewood. The event reported drew over 1,000 people to Irwin Park in Homewood. (Laura Bruni/Daily Southtown) If there was an undercurrent to the exuberant inclusivity of the Homewood and Flossmoor communities first-ever joint Pride event Friday at Irwin Park in Homewood, it seemed to be a drive to share their acceptance and love. Danielle Henson stopped for ice cream and stayed to support the cause after happening upon the festival while on a walk with daughters Draya, 3 and Damari, 4. Advertisement Of course I support pride, she said. I want everyone to be happy and to be loved. Art therapist Emalee Kay offered free face painting at her booth during a Pride event Friday in Homewood. She said the turnout and enthusiasm was gratifying, and it was "an opportunity for queer people to feel welcome. (Laura Bruni/Daily Southtown) Art therapist Emalee Kay, offering free face painting from a booth across the park, said the turnout and enthusiasm was gratifying. Advertisement Its an opportunity for queer people to feel welcome, said Kay, a licensed clinical professional counselor. In times like these, its important to have visibility. The event, coordinated jointly by the villages of Homewood and Flossmoor along with the H-F Park District, drew more than a thousand people over the course of the evening, according to organizers. It included a parade, food and drink booths from area establishments and music by DJ V, the Bel Canto Community Choir, and local band the PriSSillas. The festival also offered a chance to highlight community resources available to area LGBTQ youth and adults, including Flair, a biweekly teen-driven support group facilitated by adult advisors (and co-founders) Leslie Bolser and Andrea Tucker. We each have LGBTQ kids, said Bolser, explaining with a laugh that when their initial search for a support group came up short, As you do with most things as a mom, I guess we are the resource now. Bolser credits the groups success to the participants. We have about 10 kids every two weeks, she said. The older kids develop the programming for the younger members. A Pride festival on Friday drew over 1,000 people to Irwin Park in Homewood, officials said. The event was organized by the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District as well as the villages of Flossmoor and Homewood. (Laura Bruni/Daily Southtown) For Flossmoor residents Cory and Daniel Curtain, the Pride event was simply icing on the area cake. I absolutely love living here, said Daniel, explaining the couple moved here last year from Crown Point, Indiana. My favorite thing about the area, besides Flossmoor Station? We love the inclusivity, but we actually moved here for the architecture. Preserving the areas midcentury architecture, while leaving behind some of that eras conventions is music to Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelsons ears. Advertisement Weve come a long way since 1969, she mused. Im so proud to live in a community that celebrates diversity in all its forms. Plus, she added, I get to dance. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > The Rev. Julie Van Til, pastor of Flossmoor Community Church, praised the teamwork that brought the event to life in the wider community, causing her church to forgo hosting its own Pride event for the first time in five years. The only reason we are not having a (Pride) festival is because the two towns are collaborating, she explained. The Rev. Julie Van Til, pastor of Flossmoor Community Church, sets fire to a piece of paper in a prayer - or blessing - bowl, "however you want to think if it," she said, during a Pride event Friday in Homewood. Participants wrote a prayer or wish to be burned and sent into the universe. (Laura Bruni/Pioneer Press) Alongside LGBTQ resource guides, the church offered festgoers a prayer, or blessing, bowl however you like to think of it, Van Til said. After participants wrote a prayer, wish, hope or intention on a small piece of paper, Van Til set it alight in a small glass bowl, leaving the ashes to accumulate as flames carried those hopes into the universe. I want people to know a different side of God than what theyve been shown, she said. To that end, Van Til also offered Communion to those wishing to partake, moving more than one person to tears. Offering the Sacrament to marginalized or traditionally excluded community members dovetails perfectly with the inclusivity so prominently celebrated at the event, she said. Advertisement We designed this for those who miss the sacrament of Communion because their church didnt make them feel welcome at the table, she said. So, we brought the table here. Laura Bruni is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. According to the press release by the MCD, the fire broke out at around 1:30-1:45 PM in the afternoon and began to spread due to strong winds. "MCD quickly responded to the situation and 8-10 fire tenders from the Delhi Fire Department and 13-14 excavators and 4-5 bulldozers working at the landfill site were pressed into action to control the fire," added the release. Informing about the reason for the fire, the release said that the fire was caused due to the generation of methane at the site and high temperature and was controlled by putting inert materials on them. It said, "Flames have been caused due to the methane generation at the site and high temperature. Flames were controlled by putting inert materials on them. The staff of MCD, Concessionaire, DDMA and Delhi Fire Services made all efforts in their operation. Now the fire has been extinguished." (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of ministries/agencies of the Centre as well as Gujarat to deal with the situation arising out of the impending Cyclone Biparjoy. According to the official statement, Prime Minister directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that the State Government safely evacuates people living in vulnerable locations and to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water etc and are restored immediately in the event of damage caused to them. During the meeting, India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. In this regard, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also chaired the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and reviewed the preparedness of the Government of Gujarat and Central Ministries/Agencies to review preparedness for impending cyclone 'Biparjoy' in the Arabian Sea. Gauba stressed the need to ensure that people from vulnerable areas are evacuated well in time and that preventive and precautionary measures should be taken by concerned authorities of the Government of Gujarat and concerned Central agencies. Reviewing preparedness measures of the Central Agencies and Government of Gujarat, the Cabinet Secretary, Gauba said "The aim should be to keep the loss of lives to zero and minimize damage to property and infrastructure such as power and telecom, and in case of damage to this infrastructure, it must be restored in the shortest possible time." The Cabinet Secretary said fishermen at sea should be called back and it must be ensured that people from vulnerable areas are evacuated well in time before the landfall of the cyclone. He further assured the Government of Gujarat that all Central agencies are ready and are available for assistance. The Director General, of India Meteorological Department (IMD), briefed the Committee about the current status of the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' over the east-central Arabian Sea. The cyclone is very likely to move nearly northward till June 14 morning, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. Union Home Ministry also released an advisory and advised total suspension of fishing operations over the east-central and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea and northeast Arabian Sea till June 15 in the wake of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy'. In an advisory on Monday, the ministry asked Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra governments to keep a close watch on the situation in the wake of the severe cyclonic storm and take appropriate precautionary measures. It called for judicious regulation of offshore and onshore activities. The advisory, which has also been sent to the Chief Secretaries of Lakshadweep and Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, said that district authorities should be asked to monitor the situation in their areas. Earlier today National Disaster Response Force said that it has deployed two of its teams in addition to the already available three teams in Mumbai as a precautionary measure against Cyclone Biporjay. NDRF said that it has moved four other teams to Gujarat as it expects to have more impact over there. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Deputy Director General (Ops) Manish Pathak said that the Indian Coast Guard has taken all preventive measures regarding the impending Cyclone Biparjoy. While speaking to ANI, DDG OPS Manish Pathak said, "The Indian Coast Guard has taken all the preventive measures. We have warned all the fishermen, though a fishing ban is in progress on the west coast of India from June 1 to July 31. However, country boats, the smaller ones which were out at sea have been shepherded back." In view of the impending Cyclone Biparjoy, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has undertaken all precautionary measures as per the standard protocols, as a part of its monsoon contingency plan, Mumbai airport said. Later in the day, India Meteorological Department said that impending Cyclone Biparjoy will cross near near Gujarat's Jakhau Port on June 15 as 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm'. (ANI) Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey on Monday visited different relief centres in Churachandpur and interacted with the affected people; and later held a meeting with CSOs leaders at Headquarters 27 Sector Assam Rifles, Tuibong. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3, as clashes were witnessed during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe. In view of the violence, the Governor stressed the return to normalcy; welfare measures for displaced persons with special care for children, women and elderly; provisions of education and medical facilities for children in relief camps. Speaking to the media after the meeting with CSO leaders, Anusuiya Uikey said, "The Government is making concerted efforts to facilitate the return of peace and normalcy in the State. Adequate numbers of Central security forces were deployed in various parts of the State to ensure peace and security." "The Central Government is also seriously pursuing matters pertaining to education, judicial enquiry and relief and rehabilitation. A peace committee with the chairmanship of the Governor herself is also formed," she said. The Governor also added that as promised by the Union Home Minister, Rs 101.75 crore has been sanctioned for relief and rehabilitation. Most of the promises made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah are being fulfilled and the rest will soon be realised at the earliest. Conveying her wish for the restoration of peace and normalcy at the earliest, Anusuiya Uikey appealed to the concerned leaders to reconcile and make way for peace through dialogue. She promised to come back to visit other relief centres. The Governor visited relief centres at Churachandpur College, Salt-Brook School and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School. She assured the inmates that the Government would look after their needs. During her visit to relief camps, the Governor instructed the District Administration and concerned departments to work closely towards providing special care to children, women, and elderly in relief camps. Deputy Commissioner Sharath Arroju, IGP Kabib K, and SP Karthik Maladi were also present during the meeting with CSO leaders. On her way back to Imphal, the Governor stopped at Moirang and visited three relief camps opened at Moirang College and Chingu Thangjing Guest House in the Bishnupur district. Governor first visited the relief camp at Moirang College where she enquired about the grievances of the affected people. She interacted with the displaced people and all their complaints and grievances were also heard. The Governor assured them to extend all possible help and directed the Deputy Commissioner to provide all essential needs to the people. The Governor directed the district administration to provide all requirements including food, clothes and consumable items for all including children in the camp. Later, the Governor went to the relief camp opened at Chingu Thangjing Guest House in Moirang and met with the violence-affected people there. A meeting was held there and CSOs submitted memoranda to the Governor and urged to take appropriate steps to restore peace and normalcy in the State. The Governor interacted with the displaced people and assured them to extend all possible help to them. Later, speaking to the people there, Governor said, "All our efforts have been made to restore peace and normalcy in the State." "Around 40,000 Central forces have been deployed and assisting the State administration in bringing peace and normalcy," she added. She continued that the incidents that erupted between the two communities leading to the loss of valuable lives and destruction of properties shocked everyone including herself. The Governor stated that she has already informed the President of India Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation and steps have been taken up to bring the situation under control with the deployment of security forces in the vulnerable areas. Stating that after the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the State, various initiatives for restoring peace have been initiated with the institution of a Judicial Commission, formation of State level Peace Committee etc. The Governor said, "Discussions with the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DGP and top-ranking officers of Central forces have also been done to work out plans for maintaining law and order and for restoration of peace and normalcy." The Governor also met Central teams on relief and education for the displaced people and children. Helicopter services have also been started for people in Moreh and Churachandpur and medical teams have been sent. While mentioning the Centre's plan for providing relief and rehabilitation to the violence-affected people, the Governor said, "Rs 101.75 crore have been sanctioned and relief and resettlement for the displaced people will be arranged. State-level Peace Committee formed by the Centre will meet this week to chalk out various plans for restoring peace and normalcy in the State." Appealing to all stakeholders including CSOs, clubs, organisations and the media fraternity to contribute and support the peace plan, the Governor said, "Violence will not help any community and therefore all have to cooperate and work for bringing peace and normalcy in the State." (ANI) According to the statement, the DGP and the Air Vice Marshal discussed various issues relating to the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir particularly the attempts from across the border to disturb the peace. The officers also discussed countermeasures including those for foiling attempts of infiltration and dropping arms ammunition and drugs by Pakistan through drones. The DGP J-K Dilbag Singh also presented a memento to the Air Vice Marshal. Additional Director General of Police (Hqrs/Coord) PHQ M K Sinha and Inspector-General of Police (Hqrs/CIV) B S Tuti were also present on the occasion. (ANI) As tension continues to simmer in Uttarkashi's Purola over an alleged abduction attempt on a 14-year-old girl by two men, including one from the minority community last month and subsequently right-wing groups planning to hold Mahapanchayat on June 15, district magistrate and superintendent of police arrived here on the 17th day amidst the deadlock. DM Abhishek Ruhela and SP Arpan Yaduvanshi reached Purola on Monday. After meeting with the local public representatives, the officials appealed to maintain harmony and peace in the area. Regarding the opening of shops in the meeting, the people of the particular community clearly told the officials that ever since the threatening posters were put up in Purola, an atmosphere of fear has arisen among them. That's why shops haven't been opened yet, a shopkeeper said. The district administration held a meeting with local businessmen and people of other organizations and held a detailed discussion on opening shops and maintaining peace. The DM took feedback from the people regarding the possible maha panchayat convened on 15 June. Along with this, a detailed review was done with the SDM, CO and SHO Purola on the events of the last 17 days in Purola. When it came to opening shops in the meeting, the businessmen of the community, Riyat Ali, Ashraf etc. said that they have been doing shopkeeping in Purola for 45 years. "We do not have any complaint or grievance against anyone, but on June 15, an atmosphere of fear has arisen in the minds of the particular community after posters were pasted," a shopkeeper said. Vyapar Mandal president Brijmohan Chauhan said that apart from the criminal-type community-specific businessmen, no one was asked to leave Purola. Those who have gone after closing their shops went of their own free will. The anger of the people is also about the fact that the businessmen of the particular community do not cooperate in identifying the criminals. Nagar Panchayat President Harimohan Negi, social workers Rajpal Panwar, Ankit Panwar, BJP Mandal President Jagmohan Panwar said that before any kind of atmosphere deteriorates in the city area, the local administration should punish people involved in crimes of any class, including community specials. Strict action should be taken after marking it. So that there is no chance of spoiling the atmosphere in the city area. People's representatives expressed displeasure with the local administration, and police administration for not strictly verifying the people coming from outside regarding the incident. The representatives demanded the police administration to verify on the basis of character proof. SP Arpan Yaduvanshi asked all public representatives to depute a sub-inspector, especially for verification of persons and businessmen coming from Saharanpur, and Bijnor districts from their native places and police stations. Taking a meeting here, District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela appealed to both communities to maintain a peaceful system and not to be misled by anyone. Also appealed to open community special shops with the consent of the representatives of the Board of Trade. The DM assured full police protection to the businessmen of the particular community and said that those who spoil the environment through posters are being investigated. The instigator will not be spared, he said. (ANI) Senior advocate Adish Aggarwala has recently been elected as the new president of the SCBA. Addressing the event, Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "Bar and Bench have a relationship since the legal system has been created. The new SCBA president comes from Haryana which has prosperity and greenery. You now have the opportunity to spread the same values into the Bar and legal system". "We are in the Amrit Kaal. PM Modi has said many times to do an introspection of 75 years. We have to become a developed country by 2047 with human development. We don't want a country with no focus on human capital. The world is looking towards India," he added. Attorney General R Venkitaramani also emphasised the need to "Indianise" the legal system. SCBA President Adish Aggarwala stressed that the tenure of CJI should be of minimum six months to ensure sufficient time for proper administration of justice. Aggarwala, is a gold medalist, Ph. D. in Law. The designated advocate is a writer and social activist also. He had earlier served as Senior Additional Advocate General of the Government of Haryana Additional Advocate General of governments of the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab and Special Counsel and Senior Central Government Counsel in the Supreme Court of India. (ANI) According to Mirror, the US space agency's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has achieved a significant milestone by navigating through the solar wind. Scientists have warned about the potential impact of an upcoming solar storm, commonly referred to as an "internet apocalypse", which could strike within the next decade. The spacecraft, which was launched in 2018, took a remarkable journey that brought it close to the sun's surface, where the solar wind is generated. Solar wind consists of a continuous stream of charged particles emanating from the sun's outermost atmosphere, known as the corona, according to the report. Despite the harsh conditions of intense heat and radiation, the Parker Solar Probe persevered in gathering vital information about the sun's workings. Professor Stuart Bale of the California University who served as the lead author of the study explained the significance of understanding solar wind. "Winds carry lots of information from the sun to Earth. So understanding the mechanism behind the sun's wind is important for practical reasons on Earth," Bale was quoted as saying. "That's going to affect our ability to understand how the sun releases energy and drives geomagnetic storms -- which are a threat to our communication networks," he added. Such an event could cause people to lose internet access for months or even years, rendering satellites and power lines useless. Meanwhile, NASA has launched a new campaign offering the public the opportunity to have their name stencilled onto a microchip, which will ride aboard NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft next year. Europa Clipper spacecraft is scheduled for journey to Jupiter and its moon Europa in October 2024. --IANS shs/ksk/ ( 315 Words) 2023-06-10-12:40:01 (IANS) China's cyberspace regulator is planning to issue new rules clamping down on file-sharing functions like Bluetooth and Apple's AirDrop amid national security concerns, Singapore-based The Straits Times reported. The Cyberspace Administration of China has launched a month-long public consultation and issued draft regulations on close-range wireless communications like Bluetooth, WiFi and other technologies, as per the news report. The Cyberspace Administration of China said that the proposed regulations are aimed at maintaining "national security and social public interests." It said that the people can give their feedback on the proposed regulations until July 6, Amanda Lee said in The Straits Times report. Service providers will have to stop the sharing of harmful and illegal information under such networks, among other things, The Straits Times reported. Other proposed regulations include requiring users to stop and "resist the production, copying and distribution of undesirable information." Those who do not follow the rules must be reported to the authorities. Before using these file-sharing functions, people need to register with their real name. As per the news report, the functions must be turned off by default. Using Bluetooth and AirDrop, people without revealing their identities can share messages and images with other phones who are near them, as per The Straits Times report. Sharing messages and images without revealing the identity bypasses China's "strict censorship rules," where the majority of the messaging and social media platforms are closely monitored. Other phones like Google's Android and Chinese phone manufacturers, including Oppo and Xiaomi have similar functions that are compatible with their devices. Apple came under the spotlight after some Chinese protesters used AirDrop in 2022, bypassing surveillance and sharing messages critical of the government. In October 2022, some activists using AirDrop on the Shanghai subway shared posters that were against Chinese President Xi Jinping, The Straits Times reported. In November 2022, Apple announced a limit on the use of the AirDrop function for iPhone users in China, permitting them to receive files from non-contacts for 10 minutes at a time. Earlier, AirDrop did not have a time limit for sharing and receiving files. Earlier in April, China launched a cybersecurity probe into Micron Technology, one of America's largest memory chipmakers, in apparent retaliation after US allies in Asia and Europe announced new restrictions on the sale of key technology to Beijing, CNN Business reported. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) will review products sold by Micron in the country, according to a statement by the watchdog. According to the statement, the decision is aimed at "ensuring the security of key information infrastructure supply chains, preventing cybersecurity risks caused by hidden product problems, and maintaining national security. (ANI) When Evanstons City Council approved hiring former Chief Information Officer Luke Stowe as its permanent city manager on Aug. 16, it said Stowes offer was contingent on a nine-month performance review including public input. The nine-month period has passed and residents are left wondering how they can participate in the evaluation process despite being promised a participatory role in the news release of his appointment. Advertisement First of all, we would just like to know whats taking place. That seems kind of basic, Community Alliance for Better Government President Lesley Williams said. Honestly, its not surprising but its still disappointing. Williams and others with CABG pushed for greater transparency during the search for a permanent city manager last summer, when the city scrapped its third candidate for the role, and sent the city a letter listing characteristics and recommendations they had for whoever took over the position. Advertisement Despite Evanston not providing residents information on Stowes performance evaluation, Councilmember Clare Kelly spoke with Pioneer Press to shed light on the process. Councilmembers Kelly, Melissa Wynne and Bobby Burns volunteered to participate in the review process during an executive session a couple of months back, Kelly said. From there, the group worked on developing questionnaires for both city staff and City Council members to complete. Kelly told Pioneer Press the three officials collaborated with the Human Relations Department to create two questionnaires for city staff one form will go to upper management, such as department heads, while another will go to lower-level managers. These forms are still being finalized, Kelly said. The group has not discussed how it will add public input into Stowes review but there are still plans to incorporate it, Kelly said. She hopes to offer multiple options for residents to provide feedback. I think there needs to be an in-person public setting, Kelly said. There is a value to the public being able to hear each other as well as for transparency and sharing information. It allows for questions to be followed up on right away. Kelly also said a questionnaire should be used to collect quantifiable data in addition to the public forums. Williams said shed like to see Stowe undergo a process similar to what happens in Battle Creek, Michigan. The city offers local agencies the opportunity to offer input to provide a lens outside the purview of city hall. Battle Creek also requires agencies filling out the form to have the contact person participate in the process, rather than the agency head, to provide a more accurate reflection, according to Battle Creeks city manager evaluation process report. It would make sense to involve the schools and organizations like the YMCA, YWCA, Chamber of Commerce and area business associations, Williams said. I think (resident) groups like Climate Justice Evanston and Community Alliance for Better Government (should also participate). Advertisement Williams said public forums can be an option but acknowledged forums arent typically seen in other communities. Stowe was appointed as city manager after Evanston underwent three failed city manager searches following City Manager Wally Bobkiewiczs departure in 2019. It seems like its simply a matter of fatigue and desperation, Williams said in August. Its (like) saying, We just cant be bothered to do this anymore. Weve got somebody that we know so were putting him in. Although Stowe was serving as interim city manager at the time, Williams said he lacked many of the qualifications Evanston wanted in its next city manager including his lack of an undergraduate degree and residency outside the city. As the city manager hiring process progressed last summer, some residents claimed it was becoming rushed. Evanston then brought forth Urbana City Administrator Carol Mitten as a candidate and some residents pushed back against her candidacy pointing to a history with lackluster transparency and her handling of an April 2020 incident where a then 21-year-old Aleyna Lewis was shoved to the ground by Urbana police. When Mitten came to Evanston for her July 28 town hall she was met by protesters and crowd outbursts. Stowe was awarded the position roughly two weeks after Mittens candidacy was dismissed. Advertisement Although Williams and other residents are frustrated with the process, Williams remains positive when describing Stowe. He is a truly caring, intelligent and honest individual, Williams said. I dont necessarily think we could say that about some of our previous city managers. Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press. "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. --IANS int/khz/ ( 176 Words) 2023-06-11-03:52:02 (IANS) 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. --IANS int/khz/ ( 256 Words) 2023-06-11-03:56:04 (IANS) Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said PTI Chairman Imran Khan is not against the military's interference in politics. Rather, the former Prime Minister is upset with the army only because it is no longer supporting him, media reported. "Mr Khan's problem with the Pakistan Army began in April of last year when it declared that it would not get involved in politics and would not take sides," Bilawal, who also serves as PPP Chairman, said during an interview with Al Jazeera. "Mr Khan's issue with the army in Pakistan is not that they're involved in politics; his problem with the army is they're not getting involved to support him," he added, Express Tribune reported. He said the role of the army in the politics of the country cannot be denied. "More than half of our history has been covered by military rule. My party, the PPP, has challenged each and every single dictatorship in Pakistan's history." Bilawal said Imran has supported every dictatorship in Pakistan, including the last dictatorship of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. "Mr Khan's political history is that he has supported every dictator and he supported every autocrat in Pakistan's history." The foreign minister said Imran Khan's rise to power in 2018 is well-documented. "It is an established fact that he was brought into power through a rigged election in collaboration with some former officers of the Pakistan Army." He said the majority of Pakistanis are deeply offended by the actions that took place on May 9 where Khan encouraged his supporters to attack army installations. "The Corp Commander House in Lahore, the GHQ (General Headquarters) in Rawalpindi and many military installations (were targeted). "Such an attack has never been carried out by any political party in the history of Pakistan and now those who were involved in these attacks on our military installations must face the consequences of the law of the land," he added, Express Tribune reported. --IANS san/uk/ ( 339 Words) 2023-06-11-13:30:02 (IANS) 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. --IANS vd ( 265 Words) 2023-06-11-19:52:03 (IANS) 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. --IANS int/pgh ( 302 Words) 2023-06-11-22:58:05 (IANS) 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. --IANS int/uk/ ( 224 Words) 2023-06-11-11:32:06 (IANS) The US Justice Department has charged former President Donald Trump with 37 counts in connection with his handling of classified documents from his presidency that he carried with him while leaving the White House at the end of his term in January 2021, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday. The department plans to seek a "speedy trial" of the case. Trump is the first former American President to face federal charges. He has been indicted by New York state in a case of paying hush money to an adult film star. The charges include willful retention of national defence information that ranges from the countrys nuclear weapons to attack plans for foreign countries, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or a record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and making false statements and representations. Walter Nauta, Trumps valet, is co-accused in some of these charges and the sole accused in the 38th, that is, making false statements and representations. The 49-page indictment details the former Presidents "reckless" treatment of classified documents he showed them to people without the necessary security clearance on two occasions, and his attempts to withhold them from FBI investigators despite grand jury subpoenas. The men and women of the United States intelligence community in our Armed Forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect National Defense Information are critical to the safety and security of the United States. And they must be enforced, said Jack Smith, the Justice Departments special counsel for this case. The indictment shows with photographs these boxes were stored in publicly accessible places in Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, which has been his home in the ballroom, bathrooms, and the business centre. The document also contains transcriptions of audio recordings of the former President's remarks in which he acknowledges that the documents he is showing to people are classified and that he cannot and should not be doing that. He further said: Violations of those laws put our country at risk adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle in the Department of Justice. And our nation's commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. Its very important for me to note that the defendants, in this case, must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, Smith said in conclusion, adding, To that end, my office will seek a speedy trial on this matter consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused." Trump is expected to appear in a Miami court in connection with this case on Tuesday. I have been indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the boxes of documents that he had carried with him from the White House at the end of this presidency to his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, which contained many that were described as "classified". I AM AN INNOCENT MAN! he wrote in a subsequent post and said in a video, using capital letters that he is known to use for rhetorical flourish. Trump is running for a second term and is the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in a field that has grown every day, and now includes his former Vice President Mike Pence and former Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and the current governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, who is second in the polls. --IANS yashwant/sha ( 613 Words) 2023-06-10-01:30:02 (IANS) The ceasefire will come into force at 6 a.m. (local time), reports Xinhua news agency. However, the army also highlighted its right reserved to "deal with any violations that the rebels may commit" during the new truce mediated by Saudi Arabia and the US, according to an official statement. Earlier on Friday, Saudi Arabia and the US announced in a joint statement that the two warring rivals have agreed to the 24-hour countrywide ceasefire, adding both parties also agreed to "allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country". Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the army and the RSF in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which has left 863 people dead and 3,531 others injured, according to the Sudanese Doctors Union. At least 1.6 million people have been displaced, fleeing to safer locations inside and outside Sudan, according to the UN figures. --IANS ksk/ ( 188 Words) 2023-06-10-08:42:02 (IANS) The World Food Program (WFP) has announced its decision to suspend the food aid assistance program in Ethiopia, citing large-scale aid misappropriation. In a statement, the UN agency quoting its Executive Director Cindy McCain said food diversion is absolutely unacceptable and that it welcomes the Ethiopian government's commitment to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the misappropriation of food aid, reports Xinhua news agency. "Our first concern is the millions of hungry people who depend on our support, and our teams will work tirelessly with all partners to resume our operations as soon as we can ensure that food reaches the people who need it the most," the statement said. It did not specifically mention the name of the entities that had diverted its food aid in the East African country. "A comprehensive action plan to strengthen safeguards and controls across the country will include WFP and NGO partners working more directly with communities and using technology to select those most in need and verify their identity in real-time," the statement also said. It further said that it will strengthen its food tracking system all the way to beneficiary families as well as reinforce the monitoring and reporting of violations by partners and the misuse of food aid. The UN agency estimates more than 20 million people in Ethiopia affected by the ongoing drought and conflict urgently need humanitarian food assistance. --IANS ksk/ ( 247 Words) 2023-06-10-08:46:03 (IANS) The Colombian government and the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) have declared a six-month ceasefire following the end of the third round of peace talks held in the Cuban capital of Havana. On Friday, both sides agreed to participate in the process of constructing peace in society and get prepared for a bilateral, national, and temporary ceasefire agreement, reports Xinhua news agency. 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 August 14 to September 4. "We ask Colombians not to stop and put their hearts in favour 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 first round of talks took place in Venezuela in November 2022, followed by a second round in Mexico in February 2023. The ELN, founded by Catholic priests in 1964, is Colombia's largest remaining rebel organisation. It is believed to have about 2,500 remaining fighters and has been accused of financing itself through drug trafficking, illegal mining and kidnappings. In 2019, conservative former President Ivan Duque called off peace talks after an ELN car bomb attack killed 22 people at a police academy in Bogota. Over 450,000 people have been killed in nearly 60 years of armed conflict in Colombia. --IANS ksk/ ( 321 Words) 2023-06-10-08:56:03 (IANS)